Clever Cats Livonia

14/08/2024

Providing places your cat can scratch has many benefits. Here are some tips.

My brand new infographic for PPGs event: Celebrating Life Together!

01/07/2024

Do you have difficulty weighing your cat? We just started fostering two ten-week old kittens that have a history of running away when attempting to pick them up. Setting up for successful weigh-in was accomplished! The baby scale with a soft pad was placed next to a wall, and then each kitten was lured onto the scale with a lickable paste (Churu, Catit, Delectables). A trail of treats could also be used.

Our foster kittens walked onto the baby scale immediately, but you could first present the treat while the soft pad is off of the scale. Then perform weigh-in with the pad on the scale. Be sure to set the scale to zero.

www.CleverCatsLivonia.com

19/04/2024

Fun tricks with cats and dogs by Melissa Millett and her amazing The Ultimutts !!

29/03/2024

Do you want to provide a better future for all kittens? Join the Online Kitten Conference, June 8 and 9, 2024. Early bird discounts are available through May 9, 2024. Scroll down in the link to see the speakers and presentations.

Presented by the National Kitten Coalition. Registration includes access to the archived recordings of the conference after it is concluded.

The Online Kitten Conference is a virtual convention for anyone who’d like to create a better future for all kittens! Join us for this kitten-focused event presented by The National Kitten Coalition in partnership with the Community Cats Podcast. This two-day virtual gathering will feature present...

03/02/2024

Make it easy for your cat to find the litter box by keeping it in the same place. If your cat likes it there, why move it?

If you do need to relocate a box, move just a few inches each day so the change isn't too drastic.

23/01/2024

Is your cat bored, wandering around the house crying, knocking items onto the floor, or scratching inappropriately? Teaching her fun tricks is mentally stimulating and will motivate her to love you more.

Learn how from my Clever Cats Livonia YouTube channel and website (How to Train a Cat: 5 Points to Remember).

I was asking Caleb to give me a high-five, but Rosie just had to get in on the action.

www.CleverCatsLivonia.com

03/01/2024

This was one of our most-shared posts of 2023! It is important to recognize what the relationship is like between your cats, because catching signs of conflict early is important to maintaining a peaceful household.

Cats are social animals. Their relationships with other cats can range from friends to foes or anywhere in-between. Which of these behaviors do you see between your cats? Where does their relationship lie on the spectrum?

03/12/2023

Does your cat readily cooperate having her nails trimmed? Here are some helpful tips to make it easy.

Decide what your cat loves (i.e. Churu paste, chin scratches or brushing). Pair that delight with your cat seeing the nail trimmer. Progress through steps of pairing that delight with touching the shoulder then gliding to the paw, gently pushing on the paw pad to extend a nail, and then trimming just one nail. Take a break between each step. Do this when your cat is relaxed or sleepy.

Our black foster kitten Pow! is having his first nail trim while we distract him by feeding him delicious Churu in this video. Our grey foster kitten Zap!, is learning to willingly accept nail trims in the next video. We already did the reward/touching pairing steps. Here we trim one nail THEN give her Churu. The nail trim predicts good things will happen. Notice, we like to train the kittens to feel comfortable on their backs to make access to the nails easier. You can position your cat in your fleece-covered lap too.

23/11/2023

Do you wonder why your cat bites you for no apparent reason? There are subtle signs you can observe in your cat’s body language that will help you know what your cat is thinking. Watch this Fear Free Happy Homes video to understand when your cat his happy, agitated, or fearful.

Learn ways to better understand your cat in the following body language guide for safer, happier interactions and strengthened friendships.

25/10/2023

Are you going to travel with your cat? Even a short drive to the vet can be less stressful if you acclimate your sweet cat to the carrier and movement in the car. Here are some helpful tips from Katharine Schwarz, RVT, KPA CTP from a Cattle Dog Publishing blog article.

Remember to always keep your cat’s carrier out all the time in a quiet location. Place a fleece blanket inside where your cat can find random treats as well as take a nap. Smelling her scent on the carrier will decrease her stress during car rides. Happy travels!

At some point, you and your cat will need to travel. You may feel stressed by the idea, but with a bit of effort and planning, cats can learn to cope with the trip. Preparing your cat beforehand can make the experience less stressful for both of you.

26/09/2023

Along with the great suggestions in this poster, arthritis pain in your senior cat can be alleviated with a low sided litter box (cut a U shape on one end). Veterinary recommendations for pain medications can also be helpful.

If your cat has limited mobility, it's time to set up your home to make their life easier!

- Offer steps or ramps up to favorite high perches like the couch, bed, or window sills.
- Provide horizontal scratchers in case your cat finds it uncomfortable to stretch up a scratching post.
- Heated beds, electric blankets, or heating pads are like magic for older cats. It's cozy, comfy, and soothes their achy old bones.
- Add rugs or exercise mats to hard floors to give your cat more confidence moving around.
- Place resources (food, water, litter boxes, etc) on one floor of the house, if possible. Or have resources available on every floor so your cat doesn’t have to use the stairs if they don’t want to.

25/08/2023

Seeing a tornado warning alert on my phone last night, quickly I took ahold of our timid cat, put her in a carrier, grabbed the other carrier which Caleb was already heading into, and hurried to the basement with treats.

Are your cats comfortable entering and resting in their carrier? It certainly makes vet visits and emergency situations like this tornado warning less stressful.

Helpful suggestions include always having an easily accessible open carrier with fleece inside. Randomly place treats or feed meals inside the carrier. Play using an interactive wand toy nearby so your cat runs in and out of the carrier chasing the toy. I like clicker training games where after touching a target stick, my cat goes after the treat I tossed inside. Coming out, kitty walks onto a mat, click, treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Lastly, add a “kennel up” cue right before kitty goes inside.

Our cats enjoyed delicious treats and some wet food while waiting out the storm. Thankfully all are safe.

25/05/2023

We all want our cats to be happy. Read 8 simple ways in this interesting article by Dr. Mikel Delgado.

Just like humans, cats can experience situations that cause anxiety and depression. Learn 8 easy ways you can help reduce stress in cats.

18/05/2023

Do you have more than one cat? Keep their stress low by having multiple places they can eat. Providing food puzzles also helps lower their stress.

Cats don't naturally eat together. They are solitary hunters that are used to enjoying small meals, like mice, alone.

Forcing them close together over a vital resource like food can create internal conflict: "I'm uncomfortable eating near that cat, but I'm hungry."

You should provide separate feeding areas for each cat in your home, ideally plus one extra. That way each cat has a choice about where to eat.

If you're saying, "but my cats eat out of the same bowl all the time!" That's fine if they have the option to eat somewhere else and choose to eat together. But if you're only providing one bowl, they're only eating together out of necessity and may not be happy about the situation.

15/04/2023

Just a bite of any part of the six petal asian lily can quickly cause renal failure and death in cats. They are common in floral bouquets. Easter lilies are in this category.

An important reminder:

13/03/2023

We don’t need to use stressful aversive training techniques when humane positive reinforcement techniques work. Read more from Laura Cassiday’s article.

Air cans or shock mats are considered remote punishers. They appear to work because the cat gets startled, the behavior is interrupted, and the cat avoids the area in the future. However, there are many problems with their use.

28/01/2023

Just because your cat may not prefer to sit on your lap doesn't mean kitty isn't displaying affectionate behavior in other ways. Your cat may prefer to sit next to you or sit just out of reach. Your cat may enjoy being on your lap but without being stroked. What's important is that you provide your cat with the choice of where to be and whether to interact physically. When you offer choice and respect your cat's preferences, that's how you build trust and the bond will strengthen.

Pay attention to whether your cat wants to be petted, as well as where on the body is enjoyable and where it isn't. For most cats, that's around the head area, but pay attention to YOUR cat's specific preferences. And, it's not just about where to pet, it's also about how you pet and for how long. Does your cat like to be scratched under the chin or are gentle strokes on the back of the head more enjoyable? Does your cat have a petting time limit? Pay attention to what your cat does or doesn't like. If your cat isn't giving consent to be petted, it doesn't mean affection isn't being shown in other ways. Don't miss those signs.

03/01/2023

Your cat will enjoy a treat or food after play hunting.

To get the most out of a play session with your cat, think of it as hunting practice! Cats have a series of behaviors that chain together as part of their prey sequence:

They start by smelling, hearing, or laying eyes on their prey.

Their focus is now tuned into the prey and they bide their time. They might slowly approach, stalking.

When close enough, you might see the classic butt wiggle as the the cat prepares to pounce on the prey and grab it, using their claws to hold on.

Finally, they bring the prey to their mouth for the final killing bite.

20/12/2022

Here is a wonderful example of how changing the environment a little, strategically feeding, and playing interactively with your cat builds kitty confidence, lowering fear. Read how to do it.

https://iaabcjournal.org/case-study-jumbo/?fbclid=IwAR2xUDTq7oLQEK1pj-wft0fC6krtcH28D7l2GjUhyIfFGYDOVKdJRLakE2E

An IAABC Foundation Publication

30/11/2022

Does your cat like to watch TV? Read some tips from Dr Mikel Delgado of Feline Minds that will entice your kitties to have fun.

Do cats like to watch TV? In this blog post we take a look at the research and what cats respond to on a screen

18/10/2022

Thank you to all the hard working veterinary technicians that love our pets and help keep them happy and healthy.
National Veterinary Technician Week October 16 -22. 🥰

19/07/2022

Does your cat hide from strangers? Learn how to help your cat enjoy meeting visitors in your home, as demonstrated here at Friends For Life Animal Shelter. Key is allowing your cat to choose whether she wants to engage or not. Have very tasty treats ready.

Do this training first with people your kitty knows well, then with less familiar people and lastly with individuals your kitty is meeting for the first time. Have fun!

https://youtu.be/UglbKSvwrHo

Cats who approach and interact with shelter visitors are much more likely to get adopted and have shorter shelter stays. That’s why it makes sense to train o...

02/07/2022

I love this! Also up high, cozy, in a sunny spot is icing on the cake. Where does your cat like to retreat to?

Cats need a place for privacy and to feel safe, so make sure your cat has lots of safe areas to retreat and hide.

https://bit.ly/3DaipRg

07/06/2022

Here are a few good reads about cat behavior and training to warm your heart.

https://iosswa.com/7-best-books-about-cats-that-will-help-you-understand-your-feline-friend/?fbclid=IwAR2f_WbNgJ6UQ4EQUzrgiEBDxpm4wsTUCOY34P-M2H9uYL4EcyKnTrGpTx4

Our feline friends are kind, intelligent - and often misunderstood. But cat lovers have always known that cats do not fit into the stereotypes of society. in

12/05/2022

A recent study showed that training cats to get used to a carrier using positive reinforcement reduced their stress on a 10-minute car ride and vet exam!
Leaving your cat’s carrier out all the time with fleece material and randomly placed treats inside is a great start!

Cats see the veterinarian far less often than dogs. There are multiple reasons for this, but a primary one is that owners find it harder to get them there. Cats who see the carrier come out only once a year to take them to a strange and stressful place are likely to be uncooperative at best--and who...

25/04/2022

MARYLAND GOVERNOR SIGNS ANTI-DECLAW BILL!
The Paw Project thanks Governor Larry Hogan and the bills' authors Delegate Lorig Charkoudian and Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan. Many thanks to Alley Cat Allies, HSUS, HSVMA, Maryland Votes for Animals, and everyone else who worked so hard on this. When the law becomes effective on October 1, Maryland will be the second US state to ban declawing. New York's anti-declaw law, authored by Linda B. Rosenthal was enacted in 2019.

04/04/2022

Simple tips encouraging your cat to keep off your counters.

Every cat is an individual, and behavior is complex. If you need help training your cat, please seek out a qualified feline behavior professional.

17/03/2022

What cats need to be happy.

NEW! For cat lovers:
Download from doggiedrawings.net/freeposters (Sorry, I am not sure why it looks so blurry on FB)

05/03/2022

Helpful tips when introducing a new cat to your family from Cat School Cat Training.

18/02/2022

Cooperative care in zoos has been the norm for decades, helping animals feel less stress when given care. We can do the same for our cats in our homes. Untrainable Cats demonstrates conditioning a chin rest. Useful for the cat to give consent to be examined or to be touched, including eyes, mouth, teeth and more.

https://www.facebook.com/UntrainableCats/videos/1352857841850626/?vh=e&extid=0