Cattitude Feline Behavior Counseling

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Cattitude Feline Behavior Counseling Over 45 years' experience cat behavior (academic, clinical & shelter), excluding university ethology courses, research

01/11/2025

II. Is breeder giving you correct advice? (One told a client to not neuter her Maine C**n for a year...absurd. It also accounted for behavioral issues that were wonderfully sorted after Noodles got fixed.) Is s/he amenable to phone calls, feedback? (One client's breeder deleted negative feedback.) Belong to breed-specific or general official ones? Registered complaints? How many weeks' old is Noodles before she goes? Has she stayed with mom? Get breeder's copies of bloodwork, other lab results--crucial to see what's been taken care of, what preexisting issues there may be, etc. (If she 'doesn't have them', alarm, again. Big time.) See if her vet has them.
What happens if you return the cat?
And yes, if she's anti-vax, run away, report! NO EXCUSE for not vaxxing Noodles. NONE.
Too many times I've seen Noodles frightened of/ aggressive to strangers or to other cats, which them makes me wonder just how she was raised.
Sounds picky. But Ive seen people more concerned about human adoption...and I don't think there's much difference when taking on an animal.

29/10/2025

I. Getting Noodles from a breeder? (Please consider breed rescues, first.) A few suggestions, based on client experiences. Often, that initial excitement turned distressing, b/c of the minority using mama's womb as a money-making device. (I only refer to breeders who should be shot.) Ask questions; if you don't get answers, listen to those internal alarm bells. And observe, both the inhabitants and their surroundings; if breeder doesn't let you, those alarms should deafen. Walk out.

How was Noodles raised? Remember, those weeks the breeder has her are critical, absolutely crucial to her ability to socialize, both w/ other animals and humans. Cages? Communal areas? How many cats around her/him? What’s the home life like? Are cats separated from the humans, or part of a household? What’s the household like? Who’s in that place, kids, dogs, other animals, etc? Ho many litters has mama had? Is Noodles completely weaned? Was it —arranged? (as in ‘forced’)? Or natural? How were the cats fed? How much affection, and from whom? How long has breeder had her, and what's her policy on when her kittens should be sold?
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28/10/2025

III. If Noodles is showing symptoms such as increase stress, being extra alert or startling easily, active shunning or evading, new aggression towards a particular person w/o (seemingly) reason, hiding, grooming herself more than usual, get that vet check, of course. But mention PTSD, and ensure she has a thorough physical exam, with careful symptom observation and yes, bring notes about her behavior, both ‘typical’ and not.
Together w/ environmental de-stressing (UP towers, in front of windows, say), a course of anti-anxiety meds may help considerably. (No, it shouldn’t be permanent.) You can’t blanket Noodles in cotton wool for life, but try to anticipate those triggers, and be sensitive to where she likes to hide, or at least rest—alone. That’s where you create those safe spaces. (Some higher up, some tucked away from the social traffic.) No, more love isn’t the Whole answer, but when catto's open to it, wanting it…there’s nothing like that reassurance and soothing. The way She likes it.

25/10/2025

II. According to one theory, genetics may well play a part in a cat's tendency towards PTSD. Breeding and upbringing crucial to a cat's temperament, so one whose parents were fearful, mistreated or injured can pass on fearful tendencies to its kits. To which I would add that treatment as an adult be it in shelter, owner, outside...
However arrived at, how to deal with Noodles' PTSD, especially once you've been able to identify triggers? Desensitization: exposing her to a low level of that feared trigger, while in a safe, non-threatening environment--then that exposure to it gradually, slowly increase over time, so she learns that exposure to it is not followed by distressing results. Add counter-conditioning, which changes the meaning of something bad (to her) to something welcomed. For example, I have to apply a transdermal to one of my cat's ears--a process she loathes. By preceding and following it with a few dabs of push-up treats, she now has no problem with that at all. A client's husband, who walked heavily, w/ a booming voice, both qualities their calico feared, became the caregiver. By providing everything good--treats, food, and IF solicited, a soft pet--little girl learned to accept, even appreciate the fellow's presence. She easily learned to tolerate his style, as well.
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22/10/2025

Cats get PTSD. Heavens, yes. Experiencing human or animal abuse/ attacks, natural disasters, medical procedures...cat aren't Teflon. Those scars, whether emotional or physical can last a lifetime. If Noodles then gets a --to her--reminder through even inadvertent movements, objects or situations by the human? Trigger. So often, human has no idea, never having had information about her background. (Why else have clients called me the Freud of cat behavior? Grin, but however possible, to whatever degree, I want to understand motive, not just symptoms to alleviate.) The first thing to do? Try to recognize when there are changes to Noodles' behavior, or even an uncharacteristic reaction, and try to pinpoint triggers. Yes, they can be subtle, fast, even unfathomable. Or stinkingly obvious: one recent client found her baby in a plastic bag on the freeway. (Happy ending, I promise you!) You're caregiver to her head and heart, not just her body. What to do?
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20/10/2025

We people and cats share the need for oxytocin ('love hormone'). That neurochemical responsible for maternal or fraternal affection is as crucial for bonding. Trust and stress regulation for both, it calms, eases negativity of thinking, decreases blood pressure and pain.
We've known for ages that warm interaction between humans and dogs releases oxy, but it's only been recently found the same's true for that cat-person connection. A brief period of cuddling, just stroking, raised that anti-stress level, in both of us. During and after.
Without pushing it; if attention's even gently forced,there's little increase; same for organically distant felines.
However, I've found as even the most feral cat begins to trust, no matter how long that takes, this changes. The zoom in oxy levels is higher with dogs than cats--but then, nobody's measured if amounts are Proportionate to the animal.
So. Avert gaze (cats hate staring); slow blink instead. Dogs are almost 'hard-wired' to accept stroking and cuddling, but a cat's trust isn't that preprogrammed, as the haven't needed obvious social signals to survive. Saving trust only when they feel safe. Earned. Takes time....sometimes a lot.
Be nonthreatening. Don't pick them up unless Noodles requests it. Ensure every time she comes to you, there's a reward, be that warm blink or Slowly outstretched hand so if she feels like a skritch, she instigates it, not you. HER agenda. She loves consistency. That's why ferals respond to structure even more than our 'domesticated' kids do, in my experience. Once trust's given, it's reinforced by that oxytocin. Isn't that fun? Honor that returned blink or cuddle.
What joy when Feral does something to show that today, that she didn't do yesterday. Hanging around longer outside your door, even after food's been eaten. Padding a weeee bit closer. At least, less likely to dash off at the sight of you. Being curious, less threatened by your inside cats. Eating more slowly.
What tiny signals have shown you that Ms Feral's softening?

18/10/2025

Cats hide symptoms, but it can be easier than you think to spot a red flag. At least an orange one. A simple one, say: Noodles' thirst. Suggestion: have clear glass drinking bowls. (Wide, shallow. Cats don't like dipping their heads down into a bowl. Blocks vision. They don't like whiskers and faces submerged.) Sharpie or felt-pen the line around the top of the water. Note how quickly it goes down. Take photos--and talk with your vet.
If she's drinking more than usual, a vet check could well be in order for diabetes, kidney or thyroid issues. If you have more than one furr at home, and you're not sure which one, isolate one at a time for 24 hours--check not only her drinking, but also the amount of urine in her box. (Toss out the auto-box.) Take shots of that too. All this can be a valuable marker.

15/10/2025

Goood interview with a fellow doing his thesis on design—'to reduce anxiety in indoor cats'. We discussed, among other things, cat walls. Sore spot. Whether displayed from shop or home, I often see style (?) over substance: cute for human, but not cat-friendly. The slabs of wood or plastic to rest on are always far too short and shallow. Sometimes they're sideways 's''s--very uncomfortable--or even glassed-in small wood hexagonal things: ridiculous. They're tethered to the wall so can't be wrapped in soft fleeces for resting, kneading, changing for hygiene. The other issue? As with many cheaper cat towers, the platforms aren’t designed for a cat's legs, gait and weight, so she can't easily climb, leap or step from one to another. Moral: do keep that in mind. The concept of a cat wall is great; it should be suited to the cat's wants and natural inclinations. (I mean, the rest of our lives are wrapped around the critters, so...)

14/10/2025

'She just won't play.' I hear that sometimes. Some cats seem to prefer snoozing, interspersed w/ siestas, naps, a wee rest...anything but movement. But continuing to encourage Noodles to hunt, catch, chase, stalk, even just air-toss adds crucial stimulation, not to mention exercise. It may well increase mental acuity, although that's not been measured.
But why are some kids not interested in predatory play? Was it mom--again? (She gets a lot of guff, w/ cats or humans, for developmental issues.) It was found in a small study that kits separated from mom at 4-5 months played more. (More Mother during prey-exposure when they're young improves kits' future prey-catching behavior. But Object play doesn't seem to have much result w/ Adult preying.) And having access to food doesn't make that much difference. (Kids hunt satisfactorily when they're not hungry.) Feral kids I study seem to hunt more efficiently the longer they saw mom doing so. For them, their expertise on zero-ing in, and their determination was sharpened; play was less the issue than preying. Survival. Either way, even for a minute or two at a time, complete w/ small treats to encourage playing, be it bird-prey or ground-prey, is a matter of truly improving your cat's quality of life.

11/10/2025

A few more aggression questions to ask yourself: How does Noodles show hers? Is it 'real' aggro, as in 'I want to rip you apart'? Teeth and claws and vocalization and fur flying? Snarls before launches? Where on the body are the attacks? For ex., your own walking legs or waggling fingers or swaying arms make for great prey. Nothing mutual about it? (The victim doesn't return to continue the action.) Or is it overaggressive play? Discerning the difference means understanding motivation (Real fear? Or fun that got a little carried away?) Understanding that difference, as fast-moving and subtle as it may be, means a real difference in resolution: separating them, or carefully watching them continue, as long as nobody gets...well, carried away.

08/10/2025

Motive is every bit as crucial as the symptoms: when Noodles gets ratty towards you or other humans, some sleuthing is in order. Why? Is she aiming teeth and claws at anyone specifically? We need to know how to target the resolution. Is it gender-based? Even age-based? Makes you wonder if she had previous problems with/lack of any exposure to a particular s*x. I had a case where Bella's anger was aimed at children. (Given her background w/ uncontrolled six-year-olds, no surprise.) I also ask if the hostility happens at a particular time of day or daily event; say, meal- or playtime or bedtime or other structured activity. One cat zoomed to the window at 6 am in time to see a couple of cats visiting the yard--and the nearest human Got It. (Redirected aggression.)
Answering these questions--or at least as many as pos--means more effective aggression 'therapy'--it's not one-size-fits-all.
(A few more, coming up...)

07/10/2025

II. More on moving: unpack & organize everything before Noodles comes, to avoid as much disruption as you can--you wouldn't believe how much that can distress the feline mind. Prepre one room at the new home w/ his beds, litter boxes, food, toys, scratchers, tall cat towers at the windows, etc. --remember that familiarity does help ease stress. Rub the room's walls as high as a cat can reach up, plus sofa, table, chair legs w/ Noodles own scent. Keep her feeding/playing sched the same. After a day or two, let Noodles out to explore, closing off some of the other rooms, at first. (Closets, bathrooms, say.) It’s his own pace, but you don't want to overwhelm. Reassure him: play and attention and affection when He wants it. And keep your eye on any flickers of anxiety: his appetite, elimination, hiding, etc. Instead of plugging in hundreds of $ of Feliway diffusers in every room, try lightly spraying a felt/fabric collar w/ the stuff, letting it dry, then slip it over his head, instead. (If he really hates it, the stress isn't worth it.) And try to get as much info as you can about outside cats--which neighbor leaves her charges out, any strys, ferals, etc. Home ain't home without him--it's up to you to make the change as easy as possible for him. You'll decrease behavioral issues as a result, I promise you.

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