On the Edge Feline Behavior & Training

17/01/2025

It's hard to believe that people leave their pets behind. I consider them family, and wouldn't leave a child behind. Anyway, here is a list, courtesy of Cornell Feline Center, that you might want to print out in case of emergency. I keep lists on my fridge for both me and the cats. In a panic, one tends to get "analysis paralysis". I have a bucket of lightweight litter that is only for emergencies. You can get disposable litter boxes that look like they're made from egg cartons material. A little folding pocket camping spade that fits on your belt is helpful for cleaning the box and/or digging holes. I also made a first aid kit in a plastic tool box just for animals. I have collapsible food and water bowls in my truck and in the first aid kit. Think about stuff that is lightweight and easily packed.
I would also recommend some Quiet Moments calming chews with melatonin by NaturVet (no, I don't get paid or kick backs from them) that I recommend to my clients, as I have found through experience, work better than most calming products.

05/01/2025

Sharing from the Feral Cat Project...

Extreme weather alert!

Please feed your cats in the afternoon Sunday, ahead of the snow and give them lots of fresh water. Monday morning and afternoon, do not encourage your cats to come out of their shelters. Cats coming out during this event will have snow melting off their fur. This increases their chances of hypothermia. Cats are smarter than we are. If they are not coming out for food, that is normal behavior. Leave their food in feeding stations and make sure it is protected from wind and water. They will come out when it is safe to do so.
Wind is also a deterrent for cats to be out and about. It is their survival instincts. Those instincts have been in place for thousands of years. We all worry about our friends outside but sometimes intervening can be a danger to the cats.
So help them by letting them do what nature has taught them and give them some extra food today!
More tips below:
Leave fresh food and water at their feeding stations.
Do not move any food closer to or inside their shelters! Cats won't sleep where there is food and they will leave and try to find alternate shelter which can lead them into danger.
Do not call your cats out. If they are hunkered down, there is a reason for it.
Some cats may hunker down for a day or two rather than venture out - this is normal.
Take a shovel to create a path for the cats or you may need to dig them out if a snowdrift covers the opening to their shelter door.
If you know of a cat that seeks shelter under a deck, shed, or even under a car to escape the high winds, heavy snow or sleet.....they could get snowed in and trapped. They won’t and can’t dig out.
So, if you don’t know where the cat is, think, “If I was a cat, where would I hunker down?
Mix kitten dry food with cats meals for extra calories, if possible.
Feeding at the high point of the day will give the cats the longest duration before wet food freezes.
Do not mix wet and dry food together in winter months. Dry food freezes but cats often swallow whole.
Ping pong balls floating in water bowls keeps the surface moving and delays freezing.
A teaspoon of salt dissolved in a bottle of water and placed in water bowl will keep the water from freezing. (Make sure the lid is on tightly.)
Very important: Do not dump ice from water bowls at the feeding area. When ice melts, it will create dangerous wet / muddy ground, exposing cats to frigid water.

02/01/2025

There are caveats here. Feeding raw meat to cats is great. You can feed them something other than poultry. Cats are lactose intolerant, so you shouldn't give them dairy anyway .

31/12/2024

Happy Hogmanay and Happy New Year!

24/12/2024

Merry Catmas!

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from
On the Edge Feline Behavior and Training!

25/11/2024

Please remember that cats can't eat the same things dogs can, even though they may want to.
One caveat to this list- what whipped cream you use can make a difference. Cats are generally lactose intolerant, so don't let them have too much.

A Happy and healthy Thanksgiving to one and all!

13/11/2024

This is helpful if feeding stray and feral cats. Technically, it's not simply high calorie because that could be carbs like grains which are not all good for cats, but high protein for muscles. Muscles, the liver, and heart generate heat.
As mentioned here, younger cats need more calories because they're more active and growing which is why kitten food is suggested for higher calories. Then, they don't need it quite as much in mid life, but need higher protein again when they become seniors (along with less ash and more fiber.) Squashes and pumpkin are good for that. Gauge what you feed by the general age of the cat, too.

29/10/2024

Happy National Cat Day everyone!

21/10/2024

Hi folks,
This is my rant against prescription foods sold by vets. I don't mean to insult vets. I love them, but most are not schooled specially in cat nutrition.

Part of my certification is in cat nutrition.
There is nothing in an Rx diet that requires a vet's prescription, yet the pet stores won't sell it to you without one. It's a marketing ploy. Vets get a kickback for selling the stuff, and charge double what it should be. $4.28 a 5oz can?! Even the best cat foods on the market don't cost that. Don't let your vet sell you that stuff. It contains by-products, grains, and carrageenan (a proven animal carcinogen ). I have checked the ingredients on these and many easily obtainable brands plus ash levels. Some like Weruva, Wellness, Tiki Cat, Soultistic do not have any of that stuff, and with most, the cost is under $3.00 a can.

Anyone that is interested in regulating your cat's diet because of illness should contact a veterinary nutritionist rather than your general vet. Depending on the age, breed, medical issues, etc., different vitamins or minerals may need to be added to cat food. You can do this better on your own. I have talked to a few people who are too lazy to do it on their own , and pay a ridiculous amount of money for the Rx foods, and believe it helps. I don't.

The Aussies and New Zealanders appear to be tops in pet nutrition. One vet did a very extensive analysis of lots of brands from cheap ones to expensive ones in both dry and wet foods. It is available online. The folks Down Under have a number of great brands that are available (and cats love them!), but are only going to be found at the better specialty pet stores, not Petco or PetSmart.

08/08/2024

Hello Miss Kitty, Mme. Chat, Señor Gato, et. al.!

08/08/2024

This is something I try to pass on to folks about scratching posts. I did not create these convenient clips. Someone else did, but I'm passing them on. Thanks, Fundamentally Feline!
I would also add- do not spray Feliway on a scratching post. Feliway imitates facial pheromones. A cat places a different paw pheromone on scratching posts, so you would confuse them and they may not scratch on the post. You can use catnip spray as an attractant.

13/07/2024

Cats are just too cool!

06/07/2024

It's HOT outside! While we tend to think of cats as heat seekers, they have their limits - when you feel hot, chances are your cat does too. And just like us, our feline friends can be susceptible to overheating, heatstroke (hyperthermia) and dehydration, especially during hot weather and humid days.

A cat's normal body temperature falls between about 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Heatstroke occurs when a cat’s body temperature reaches above normal and the cat can no longer effectively cool itself off.

These are the most common symptoms of heatstroke:
-Panting/trouble breathing
-Restlessness
-Rapid heartbeat/increased heart rate
-Drooling
-Lethargy/weakness
-Increased body temperature
-Stumbling/loss of balance
-Vocalizing
-Bright pink or red gums
-Red tongue
-Glazed eyes

If your pet shows any of these signs, or you suspect your pet has heatstroke, make every effort to minimize their stress and keep them calm. Contact then transport your cat to a veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital immediately. Heat stroke is a true medical emergency. If your cat isn’t cooled down promptly, it can lead to irreversible organ damage and/or loss of life.

To help cool down an overheated cat, you should take the following measures:

1. First, get the cat to a cool, calm and soothing environment. This can include bringing your cat to a cool or air-conditioned room. This can help reduce your cat’s stress and start to get the situation under control.

2. Rinse your cat in cool (not cold) water—only if water won’t further stress your cat. If water stresses out your cat, try rubbing them with a damp towel. Do not place ice cubes on your cat or submerge your cat in water, as this can increase his stress level, putting him at even higher risk of medical complications.

3. Make drinking water available. If your cat refuses to drink, use an eyedropper or syringe to drop a couple of beads of water in their mouth at a time. Do not shoot water into their mouth or down their throat, as it can cause choking.

4. Take your cat to the vet. Try to continue cooling techniques while transporting them to the vet.

While indoor cats can develop heatstroke, especially if they’re in a house without air conditioning in the summer months, outdoor cats generally have a particularly high risk because it’s harder for them to escape excessive heat. Compared to indoor cats, outdoor cats may also have more limited access to cool water.

While high temperatures are the underlying cause of heatstroke, age, underlying medical conditions and breed can increase a cat’s risk of overheating. Shorter faced (brachycephalic) cats such as Persians, Himalayans, and Scottish Folds are at higher risk for being unable to cool themselves effectively.

Whether or not your cat falls into the high-risk category, veterinary experts recommend keeping all cats out of the direct sun as much as possible. As with humans in warm weather, cats need access to shade, cool areas and water to stay hydrated, especially on really hot days. Cats generally are protected best when they’re inside and in a cool area.

Overheating in cats can be a medical emergency. Familiarize yourself with these 11 signs so you can be prepared to take action, if need be.

04/07/2024

Happy Independence Day from On the Edge Feline Behavior and Training!

09/06/2024

One of the things I discuss with all clients, even though I might be visiting for a behavior issue, is nutrition. This is part of my holistic evaluation. Stress can cause a cat to overeat if you let it. Too many times I have clients who leave a big bowl of kibble, or even wet food, for the cat(s) when they go to work so the cats can graze all day whenever they want. This is bad, and leads to the issues below. Cats should have a fixed amount per day according to age, weight, health, pregnancy, etc., and be fed no more than that. Believe me, they won't starve. They can get treats in between, but be aware that some treats are high calorie, so don't overdo.
If you want the proper amount to feed your cat according to his age, weight, activity level, health, etc., consult a nutritionist, a vet qualified in nutrition, or someone like me who can calculate it for you.

As a note, beware that the kibble designated as "prescription" (Hill's, Royal Canin) for certain conditions may still contain too many bad fillers and carbs for a cat. (Some are up to 33% carbs!) Always check the ingredients. There is nothing in these that actually requires a vet prescription because there are no controlled substances in them. If your cat has a condition, you can save money (these are very expensive) by asking specifically whether there needs to be higher protein, less ash, etc., for the specific problem and adjust the diet yourself.

27/05/2024

04/05/2024

Don’t Judge a Cat by His Ear Tip

Spencer was trapped when he was about 4 to 5 months old. His trapper guessed by his size that he was too old to be socialized, so she had him ear-tipped along with the other cats in his colony. But when she brought him home for recovery, he showed signs of being a tame kitty. Was he a socialized kitten who lost his home or just a good-natured feral-born kitty who was willing to take a chance on humans? His trapper didn't know, but decided to keep him for a while to see if he could find a home instead of returning to the large colony where he was trapped.

Spencer tamed down almost immediately and was a social clown of a kitty. A month later, he was adopted into a home. He settled in quickly and life was good. Until it wasn't. A few weeks after adoption, Spencer slipped out the door when a visitor accidentally left it ajar. Susan panicked but called the trapper right away to get advice. She set traps, passed out flyers, called the microchip company and posted him on social media.

For three weeks, there was no action in the traps and no calls on the flyers. But there was one neighbor a block away feeding a new kitty. She posted the look-a-like kitty on a different social media site, but when somebody suggested it might be Spencer, the idea was quickly shot down. A "knowledgeable" member shared a popular meme showing a photo of an ear-tipped cat. The graphic explained that ear tips are used to identify an altered feral cat. She added, "So, this is obviously a FERAL cat, not the missing cat." You could almost see the eye roll in her writing.

Luckily, another neighbor saw the post and shared it with Spencer's mom. She moved the trap to the feeder's yard, and he was home by the next morning. It is important to educate people on the meaning of ear-tips. But it is just as important to educate them on what they DON'T mean. An ear-tipped cat is altered and won't be reproducing. That's ALL an ear-tip shows. An ear-tip doesn't tell whether a cat is tame or feral, free roaming or owned. Ear-tipped cats may be feral. But they can also be a rescued cat who was altered at a feral clinic.

When people equate ear-tips with feral, it puts a label on the cat that can have devastating effects. An ear-tipped cat is more likely to be labeled as a feral at a shelter, especially if he arrives in a trap. This feral label puts them at higher risk of euthanasia or may result in inappropriate placement in a barn cat program. Many shelters know not to judge a cat by its ear tip, but if a member of the public labels the cat as feral when they bring it in, an over-crowded shelter may not have the time to give the cat the benefit of the doubt.

Pass the word. Don’t judge a cat by his ear-tip!