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GAZEHOUND’S ANIMAL COMMUNICATION NEWS November 2009
================================ Keeping in touch with the animals…. ================================ Due to the fact that November is National Novel Writer’s Month, and I’ve signed up this year, I’m sending out the November issue of Creature Thoughts a couple of days early…. In light of this, consider today “November 1st” where the gift certificate special is concerned, as well. “The Third Cat Syndrome” In honor of our third challenge game, “Here, Kitty Kitty”, I thought I would dedicate the theme of this issue to cats. A very common reason I am called for help is what I refer to as “The Third Cat Syndrome”. It goes like this: A cat-owned household has a lovely pair of felines. All is well, all is peaceful, and (most obviously) all is clean. Mom and/or Dad see(s) a lovely cat or kitten who is telling them loud and clear that it wants to come home with them. They have plenty of room, after all, and all the resources to care for three cats. They certainly have more than enough love to go around. So, they bring the third cat home. And all h**l breaks loose. Possible scenarios: cats start fighting (often even the two that have always gotten along), hairballs are upchucked all over the place, someone goes off their feed, kitties start doing naughty things they’d previously never think of doing. And what is the real ugh factor almost guaranteed to be part of the plan? Mom and/or Dad start finding really stinky wet spots all over the house (or maybe just in one select spot … which is NOT the litter box). Who’s The Culprit? The first thought is usually that it’s the new cat performing the bad behavior. This, however, does not always turn out to be the case. When that “odd cat out” comes into the picture, even the most well-behaved and immaculately trained cats can act out. Although, in some cases, of course, it is the new cat, one should not be quick to assign blame until the investigation is complete. It could very well be Mommy’s own angel-kitty who’s whizzing up the carpets! It’s also common thought that “male cats spray”, and (in addition) that neutering them will stop the spraying. Although this may be true to some extent, and often neutering does make a difference, we’re now looking at a totally different scenario. If you’re dealing with the “Third Cat Syndrome”, be sure not to automatically assume it’s one of the boys peeing in the corners. In fact, in my experience, having dealt with many dozens of such cases in the last decade, it’s more often a female … and often the “queen bee” of the household … who starts what we not so affectionately refer to as the “pee wars”. Cats is Cats Cats are wonderful, cats are marvelous, cats are magical, and cats are a blessing of life I could not live without. Cats are also cliquey snobs when it comes to accepting a new “purrson” into their ranks. They have a hearty dislike of change (in fact, although adding a new member, or a shift in household citizens, is a very frequent cause, it’s not uncommon that any major … in the cat’s mind … change can cause an upset in behavior). Cats also use a unique social language to express their distaste. It’s a language which makes perfect sense to them, of course, and it’s surprising how many kitties are actually quite baffled as to why their humans are getting so … pi**ed off … at them! Although the “Third Cat Syndrome” most often happens when two cats find themselves three, the number is actually just a generalization. Whenever cats are comfortable with their ranks, and another cat enters (and, though not as frequently, it can also happen when cats suddenly find their numbers reduced), chaos can erupt. I’ve also seen this happen when the owners of a contented only-cat decide their kitty needs a companion (and this is a major reason why our Sasha is still an only cat, after the passing of his dear mother Sachet … who, by the way, was our “queen bee” and always the little angel to initiate the pee wars in our house. We’re afraid to upset our peaceful little apple cart, because after an initial period of grieving, Sasha has become very happy to be an only kitty.) Prevention Is The Best Cure The problem of cats acting out is frequently a preventable one, although most of the time people are taken unawares by the sudden appearance of a Mister Hyde in the midst of their darling little Jekylls. Anitra Frazier, in her book, The New Natural Cat (which has now been re-released as The Natural Cat, though I do not have the new edition) outlines a charming way to introduce a new cat into a household. In a nutshell, her method involves convincing the resident cat(s) that the new one was left behind by accident, and that the true owner has forgotten to collect him. Then, this gradually becomes: “since you’ve gotten used to him, I guess we’ll let you keep him”. I have in fact seen this method work quite well. I’ll let you read the details of the method in Frazier’s own words, as it would be a disservice to try and fumble through a second hand account here, but I think you get the idea. Another common method of reducing stress when a new cat is introduced is to confine the newcomer in one small area for some time, and only allow introductions in a gradual and highly supervised manner. Take baby steps. The temptation is to rush the process, and this almost always leads to problems. Once the cats are, in a supervised way, interacting peacefully, return New Kitty to his or her “bedroom” at night (or when you have to leave the house) for some time. Even though they may allow the “visitor” into their space during the day, cats are very protective of their sleeping quarters, and of being “exposed to the stranger” while they expect to be safely snoozing. Feeding the new cat with the others … and always giving New Kitty his dish last … is a way to acclimate the tribe, as well. Feeding times should always be supervised, with the new cat fed in a visible but distant area at first, and his dish gradually moved closer to the main clan’s supper station. Similarly, treats and treat-training together (once introductions are well under way) is a good way to gradually draw in the new cat. When cats’ minds are preoccupied by something fun, such as clicker training, they are more likely to reduce their protected personal space and allow a new cat to interact with them. Watch the cats carefully. It is said that if several cats can stay in a room together, and pretty much ignore one another, they are well on the way to becoming integrated. Always remember that the existing cats in the household are most needy of your attention. For a while, don’t pet or fuss over the newcomer in front of them … reserve his attention to his own room. It’s only after you’ve begun to see clear signs of acceptance that you’ll start treating the new cat as an equal in front of your other kitties. All Hope Is Not Lost Of course, I am usually not called until after the problems have already begun. The “Third Cat Syndrome” is not the end of the world. One does not have to resign themselves to living in a house that smells like cat pee. However, difficult problems very rarely have easy solutions, and the human heads of household are going to have their work cut out for them to solve the problem. The first step in solving the problem, oddly enough, is a step backwards. Look up at the “prevention” suggestions above, and see what can be implemented in the light of starting over. During the starting over and/or re-training, it’s essential to locate and thoroughly deodorize any spots the cats have been using to express their frustrations. A black light is a big help with that process, and look for enzymatic deodorizers such as “Nature’s Miracle” in large quantities. Do you have a favorite deodorizing product? Visit this post on the website and leave your recommendation in the comments section! You will also have to isolate, and probably retrain, your prime offender. Although no one likes to do this, it’s essential if you want to stop the problems permanently. If more than one cat is involved, it’s possible you may have to confine them all in a small space, such as a small bathroom or large cage, with a litter box for a while. Most of the time, a week will suffice, and the cats will have to be watched carefully after they’re let back out. You may wish to confine them again when they can’t be supervised, for some time, to prevent the problem reoccurring. In addition, the use of Cat Attract litter or litter additive is reported to be very helpful in some cases. An animal communicator can help with the process by explaining to the cats why their humans are so upset, and the purpose of the confinement. However, talking to the cats is not going to work on its own … it’s a tool to use in addition to the actions taken by the humans. The biggest mistake many people make is not starting the “tough love” measures soon enough. The longer the habit has been going on, the harder it will be to eradicate. In Closing Kitties are wonderful little people. They also can create wonderful little … and not so little … problems when they become upset and attempt to communicate to one another, and their humans, that they have issues. “The Third Cat Syndrome” is one of the more common negative experiences people have with their cats, and I hope this article sheds a bit of light on it for my readers. If the pee wars have already begun in your house, don’t worry … they are fixable. It may take a bit of work on your part, of course, but you can get a handle on the problem … and find a solution that doesn’t require getting rid of the cats! Oh … and apologies to all my cat-less friends out there! Maybe next month’s article will be dogs-only! Links of Interest Anitra Frazier’s “The Natural Cat” ================================
FYI NOTES and NEWS Holiday Special on Gift Certificates!
See also: the Rates and Services page, where the special will run throughout the season. Don’t forget, also, that gift certificates do have an expiration date. If you’ve given them as gifts, or have them tucked safely away at home, check those dates and be sure to redeem them before they expire. I’ll continue to post this reminder in each issue of “Creature Thoughts”. New Newsletter Format Coming Soon As of January, 2010, the Creature Thoughts newsletter will be mailed out by a new server, rather than YahooGroups. Current subscribers should not have to do anything to implement the change. Website Features Challenge Games Our third Challenge Game, “Here, Kitty Kitty!” is online! Have you played yet? Remember that it will be replaced by the next game mid-month. Visit the site by the link above, and join us in a new intuitive experience! The Book Shop Featured Items:
Some Recent Rambles
I have added a Poll feature in the left sidebar of the website. The polls will change monthly. Feel free to stop by and add your vote! Testimonials Have I helped you with your animal friends in a way that you’d like to share with others? You are welcome to visit the Testimonials Page, and leave a “Reply”! I’d love to see your pets featured on the site! And Other Stuff, too! Don’t forget that you can always keep up with changes and info on rates, policies, and “other fun stuff” on my website, including the archives of Creature Thoughts. Additional Web Address! In case it’s easier to remember, we have a second domain name: AnimalCommunicator-NY.com. Visiting that address will automatically redirect visitors to the regular website, and hopefully, it will be easier for people to write down and share. Off-Site
E-News List It has become more important than ever, that all of my clients are subscribed to my e-news list. Thus, whenever anyone inquires about information, or sets up an appointment, they will receive both an invitation to the list and a separate note from me letting them know they’ve been invited. I strongly encourage all my clients to stay in touch, by remaining subscribed to this list. And please feel free to forward this newsletter issue to any friends, family, and acquaintances whom you feel might be interested in joining us. As noted above, come January 2010, I will be changing servers for my e-news list. List members won’t have to do anything to implement the change, it will all be automatic. If you suddenly stop receiving your Creature Thoughts newsletters, however, email me right away and I’ll try to help remedy any problems. Free Help For Our Animal Friends at NELR Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary and New York Wildlife Rescue (an IRS 501(c)(3) charity) accept Paypal donations through their website at http://www.redmaplefarm.net. I’ve dedicated much time and love in the past several years toward helping to build a safe place for our wild friends in need, and our livestock rescues, and am extending the offer to all of you to aid in their care as well. And now, we have a totally painless (and free) way for anyone to support the animals at NYWRC/NELR. If you sign up to shop online through iGive.com, at no cost to you, every purchase you make through the iGive gateway will earn a donation for the animals. To sign up to shop through iGive for NYWRC: http://www.igive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter And even if you don’t sign up (but why would anyone not sign up since it’s free and painless?), you can still earn money with each internet search you do simply by logging in to the iGive search engine rather than Google or whichever other search engine you normally use: http://www.isearchigive.com/NYWildlifeRescueCenter I set the above link as my homepage in my browser to remind me to search through iGive and earn pennies for the animals each time I search. iGive’s usual one cent per search is doubled through the month of December, too, so get using it now while we can earn the big bucks! ================================ Gayle Nastasi (of Gazehound’s Animal Communication) is a professional animal communication consultant and writer, who hopes her connection to the animal world can serve as a way to help her fellow humans enrich their relationships with their animal companions. By better knowing our non-human friends, we ensure a kinder future for our world and we learn what it means to be a unique and essential part of all that is. Permission is given to forward this article to anyone you feel might enjoy it, as long as it is understood that copyrights are held by Gayle Nastasi, and the author’s name, and links to her website(s) are left intact. If this publication has been forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe to Gazehound’s free monthly e-newsletter, “Creature Thoughts”, just visit the newsletter link below. ——————– |
–Gayle
When: November 1st through December 31st