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    • What to expect as your cat gets older
    • Dementia in older cats – symptoms, care and treatment
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    • Wow- 10 more facts about cats
    • More facts about your cat
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  • Answers to questions
    • Why do female cats screech after mating and attack the male?
    • Why is my cat aggressive?
    • Do cats have lips?
    • Do cats have arms or legs?
    • Can cats learn a new name?
    • Do white cats make bad mothers?
    • Do cats see in colour?
    • Why does my cat follow me into the bathroom?
    • Dwarfism in cats and dwarf breeds
    • Why are cats called ‘cats’?
    • Do cats have a sixth sense?
    • Cat terminology – what does this mean?
    • Why do cats like boxes, bags, drawers, bowls and small spaces
  • Cat stuff
    • Best cat and kitten toys for Christmas
  • Home
    • The Big MEOW with Charlie ShortTail
      • The big meow – hello
  • Looking after cats
    • Symptoms and Care of Cat (feline) Asthma
    • First aid for cats and kittens
    • Caring for older cats
    • What to expect as your cat gets older
    • Dementia in older cats – symptoms, care and treatment
    • Arthritis and Osteoarthritis in Cats
    • All you need to know about cat fleas and how to get rid of them
    • A good diet for my cat
    • House plants that are toxic to cats
    • Music for Cats
  • Amazing facts about cats
    • Healing power of your cats purr
    • Wow- 10 more facts about cats
    • More facts about your cat
    • Cats special powers
    • Can cats and other animals sense and predict earthquakes and other extreme weather events?
  • Training cats
    • Very Clever Cats
    • Test your cat
    • How clever is your cat
    • Cat Behaviour – understanding your cat
    • Brain training for older cats
  • cat breeds
    • Which cat breed to choose – cat personalities
    • Cat Breeds from around the world – Asia
    • Cat breeds from around the world – Europe and Russia
    • Cat breeds from around the world – Great Britain
    • Cat breeds around the world – the Middle East and Africa
    • Cat breeds from around the world – North America
    • Abyssinian Cats – all about this beautiful and intelligent breed.
    • Manx cats – a breed with no tail
    • Persian Cats
    • Siberian Cats
    • Turkish Van cat
  • Answers to questions
    • Why do female cats screech after mating and attack the male?
    • Why is my cat aggressive?
    • Do cats have lips?
    • Do cats have arms or legs?
    • Can cats learn a new name?
    • Do white cats make bad mothers?
    • Do cats see in colour?
    • Why does my cat follow me into the bathroom?
    • Dwarfism in cats and dwarf breeds
    • Why are cats called ‘cats’?
    • Do cats have a sixth sense?
    • Cat terminology – what does this mean?
    • Why do cats like boxes, bags, drawers, bowls and small spaces
  • Cat stuff
    • Best cat and kitten toys for Christmas
caring for your catcat wisdomcats factsLooking after cats

Why is my cat aggressive?

June 25, 2019 December 3, 2019 Charlie ShortTail

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Why does my cat bite me and behave aggressively?

There are so many different reasons why your cat may be behaving in an aggressive way – hissing, biting, growling or swiping and scratching.

It is important to understand why your cat is behaving in this way – it could be that your cat is in pain, or is fearful of something, it could be stress  – caused by changes to his or her environment or routine. Sometimes a change in behaviour can be due to changes to the family set up – a new person in the home or an additional new pet. Alternatively, it could be that your cat does not like something, such as being picked up or petted for a long time. In play, a cat can become easily overstimulated resulting in aggressive type behaviour.

If you try to understand why your cat is displaying aggressive behaviour then you can try to solve the problem and both you and your cat will be happier.

11 reasons why your cat may be aggressive:

Fear – your cat may be frightened (you can recognise fear by observing if the ears are held back, if the pupils are dilated, the body may be crouched with the tail tucked underneath).

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Pain – your cat may be in pain (liver or kidney disorders, hormonal problems, arthritis, dental decay, abscesses, bite wounds, infections and high blood pressure can all be medical causes of aggressive behaviour).

Older cats especially can be in pain and will mask any problems quite well, you may just think they are slowing down.

Urinary infections are common in cats and this will be very painful for your cat.

egyptian mau cat

Possessive – of food or toys or even of a family member.

cat playing with toy mouse

Territorial – cats are territorial and will defend their territory and you! If you have a new partner your cat may display hissing, staring and growling to show his or her ownership.

Competitive – if you have more than one cat or your cat is in competition with a family member.

Felix sleeping with baby Felix

Maternal – mothers with kittens will be on guard and display aggressive behaviour if they feel threatened or sense danger.

cat with kittens feeding

Dominance – one cat may behave aggressively to show dominance over other family cats or intruders (or visiting pets of friends).

Older black and white cat

Play – your cat may get over stimulated when playing and revert to aggressive hunting behaviour.

Predatory – if your cats is in hunting mode he or she may show aggressive tendencies to others.

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Pathophysiological – due to an injury or undiagnosed cause or in older cats dementia can cause aggression as the cat becomes disorientated.

Redirected aggression – when your cat is frustrated or agitated then turns on you.

Checklist to help identify causes of aggression in your cat

If your cat is behaving out of character a trip to your vet can help allay any fear that your cat is unwell or in pain.

  • Any recent changes to your home (building works or re-decoration) may upset your cat.
  • Has a family member been absent – cats miss people and may become anxious?
  • A tomcat will benefit from castration to solve any aggressive tendencies.
  • Do you have a new pet? Bringing a new cat or dog into your home could trigger aggressive behaviour as your cat tries to make sure the new arrival understands the pecking order.
  • If your cat is getting agitated by watching another cat or dog outside try blocking the view (closing the curtains or blinds) and allowing the cat to calm down. They may be frustrated as they cannot get to this other animal.

Why is my cat aggressive towards my new partner?

If your cat is displaying attacking behaviour towards your new girl or boyfriend it is probably because your cat is fearful, anxious or confused by the new addition to the household.

Strategies to help to build a bond between your cat and your new partner

 

  • Ask your partner not to force their attention on the cat
  • Tell your partner not to stare at the cat (this can be perceived by your cat as aggressive and challenging behaviour)
  • Suggest to your partner that they feed the cat and give any treats (positive reinforcement of good associations each time the cat is fed)
  • Go slowly and at the cat’s pace with all interactions and gradually encourage your partner to play with the cat to help with the bonding process
  • Patience usually pays off – if your partner is kind the cat will usually start to accept him or her
  • Keep to the usual routines to reassure your cat that everything else in their world is stable

Orlando

Charlie says:

ginger cat meows welcome to Lovecats

Never punish your cat; look for ways to help your cat become happy, relaxed and at ease with everyone in your household.

 

You may also like:

Cat Behaviour – understanding your cat

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Why are cats called ‘cats’?

June 25, 2019 November 6, 2019 Charlie ShortTail

Definition of ‘cat’.

A cat is a small domesticated mammal kept as a pet and also found as feral (wild) in the countryside. A cat has soft fur, four legs and a tail and is a predatory animal catching mice and other small creatures.

white cat with heart

‘Cat’ name in different European countries

There are many similar variations of the name ‘cat’ for instance:
French: chat
Swedish: katt
Norwegian: katt
German: Katze
Italian: Gatto
Dutch: Kat
There are many other slight variations of the name ‘cat’  used throughout Europe.

Turkish Van cat showing colours

In Turkey the word for cat is ‘kedi’ which may be where our word ‘kitty’ is derived from.
The word ‘puss’ or ‘pussy’ is linked back to the Egyptian cat goddess ‘Pasht’.
It is widely believed that the Egyptians domesticated cats descended from the North African wild cat (Felix Lybica).
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‘Cat’ refers to domesticated felines and also wild cats such as lions, tigers, panthers, leopards and forest cats.

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Popular cat names:

Girls: Molly, Poppy, Bella, Daisy, Lily, Rosie, Tilly, Willow.

Boys: Oscar, Charlie, Milo, Alfie, Jasper, Harry, Monty, Merlin.

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Do cats have lips?

June 24, 2019 July 3, 2019 Charlie ShortTail

Cats do have lips

Our feline friends do indeed have lips. As mammals, they are born with the ability to suck or suckle (this is known as a primary reflex). This is instinctive behaviour and does not need to be learned.

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Cats lips

The lips tend to be small and may be hidden with fur. The bottom lip is fuller, whilst the top lip is quite thin and not clearly visible. The lips contain a scent gland; this gland is used for marking territory. Your cat may also rub against you to mark you as his or her own. If you bring something new into to your home your cat will rub against it and leave it’s scent on the new object.

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If a cat has a swollen lip he or she may have been stung by an insect or have rubbed against a plant causing an allergic reaction.

The colour of cat lips

White and lighter coloured cats, including ginger cats tend to have pink lips. Black, grey and tabby cats generally have black lips, although some cats may have lips which are pink and black (common in tortoiseshell cats).

 

mewcat

The pink lower lip of this cat is clearly seen, whilst the thinner upper lip is covered in fur.

 

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Do cats have a sixth sense?

June 23, 2019 June 23, 2019 Charlie ShortTail

Does your cat have extra-sensory powers?

Would most cats owners’ answer ‘yes’?

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Everything is calm and quiet, there is no noise or movement yet your cat or kitty raises it’s hackles. The term ‘hackles’ means to have the back arched, fur standing up, ears held back, eyes with the pupils dilated, tail twitching and possibly matched with hissing. The cat is in extra-sensory perception arousal, listening, detecting smells and other signals which we are not aware of. Cats can be aware of approaching danger (such as storms, vibrations – including volcanic eruptions, or approaching animals or strangers). Our cats are simply using their finely tuned senses to monitor their surroundings. Cats have amazing brains and intelligence; they may not be ‘mystic’ or have ESP but they are truly astonishing.

forest-cat


In Medieval times cats were linked to witchcraft and were very misunderstood. Some people believed that witches could turn themselves into cats. There are old-wives tales of cats smothering babies and yet a cat would not deliberately harm a baby; they are naturally curious and may want to check out the new arrival to the family. Black cats have been thought to be unlucky and still to this day black cats are harder to re-home than other types of cat. Black cats are magnificent and are as loving as any other type of cat.

Havana cat

Cats have well-developed senses, impressive homing abilities and should never be underestimated.

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Lando Enzo tabby cat
caring for your catLooking after cats

Arthritis and Osteoarthritis in Cats

June 21, 2019 November 25, 2019 Charlie ShortTail

Arthritis explained

Arthritis is a degenerate joint disease. In simple terms it means that the cartilage around the bones has worn away causing the bones to rub together; this causes inflammation, swelling and pain. Arthritis used to be thought to be uncommon in cats, but this is mainly because cats mask weakness or pain very well and therefore we may be unaware that they are suffering.

X-ray of cat bone

Why do cats get arthritis?

Arthritis can result from an old injury, such as a sprain or fracture or be caused from a bite into the joint which in turn causes infection. This type of arthritis may be seen in younger cats who have suffered a trauma. Older cats are more likely to be suffering from wear and tear to the joints – cruciate ligament damage or deterioration of the cartilage. Many of the arthritis drugs (such as aspirin and phenylbutazone) given to humans and dogs are poisonous to cats so don’t be tempted to give your cat any medication you might be taking yourself.

Osteoarthritis in older cats

This is a chronic condition resulting in the degeneration of the joint which causes erosion (wearing away) of the cartilage. New bone forms around the edges of the joint; the joint swells and becomes painful, the normal cartilage that cushions and protects the joints has degenerated.

For more information on what to expect as your cat gets older

Did you know?

A cat’s skeleton has about 10% more bones than a human body. The skeleton of a feline needs to be strong and flexible but also light.

cat skeleton

The spine – spondylosis

Spondylosis can be due to an excess of vitamin A in the diet (an all liver diet can be a cause as liver is very high in Vitamin A). With more knowledge and a wide variety of quality cat foods this is now rarely seen.

Diagnosis of spondylosis

An x-ray can show if there are bony lesions visible; these lesions will be permanent and require treatment. Anti- inflammatory medication and pain relief can be prescribed by your vet.

How can I tell if my cat has arthritis?

Symptoms of arthritis in cats:

  • Spending more time laying down and sleeping. Being less active.
  • Not being able to jump or climb up stairs
  • Lameness or limping after sleeping,
  • Difficulty using a litter tray
  • Stiffness or swollen joints
  • Not playing as much
  • Not interacting with the family as much
  • Decreased flexibility
  • Less agile
  • Stiff or less active in colder and wetter weather
  • Abyssinian cat lying down

Fact

Arthritis is a progressive and painful condition and can seriously affect your cat’s quality of life.
If you think your cat may have arthritis you should seek advice from your vet.

Diagnosis of arthritis in cats

 

  • Your vet can observe your cat’s movements and examine the cat for flexibility. By manipulating the joints, the vet can detect any stiffness or rigidity
  • X-ray
  • Analysis of samples taken from the affected joints
  • Blood sampling

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Treatment for arthritis in cats

  • Pain relief
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Supplements – for example glucosamine
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Massage
  • Acupuncture
  • Maintaining a healthy weight

Pain relief

Metacam (meloxicam) is a licenced treatment for pain relief in cats that your vet can prescribe for chronic pain.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy and gentle massage may help to keep your cats’ joints more mobile.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a complementary treatment that may be of help if your cat is amenable to handling and would tolerate the treatment.

Adequan

This is a product that your vet can inject into the painful joints to help relieve arthritis.

Always seek advice from your vet as to the best way to treat your cat.

Exercise

Gentle exercise can also help to keep the joints mobile.

Dietary supplements

  • Glucosamine and chondroitin
  • Essential fatty acids
  • Turmeric

The above is usually given in combination, for example, Seraquin is a supplement suitable for cats which can be crumbled into food or hidden in treats; it is chewable and has a chicken flavour.

How to make a cat with arthritis more comfortable

Simple steps can help to make life easier and more comfortable for your feline friend.

  • Make sure that your cat has a comfortable bed or soft blanket in a position which is easily reachable to the cat. The cat also needs to feel safe so the ‘igloo’ style bed is ideal for a cat with painful joints as the cat can curl up inside and feel comfy and secure.
  • Ensure that food and water are easy to access.
  • If you provide a litter tray for your cat, make sure it has shallow sides or side so that the cat can use it without causing pain.
  • Cold, damp weather can make the chronic pain worse so make sure your pet is kept nice and warm.
  • Check that your cat can use the cat flap without difficulty – you may need to add a little step if it seems hard for your cat to manoeuvre.
  • If your cat has a special place that it likes but cannot get to (due to not being able to jump) consider providing a ramp for the cat to walk up.
  • Give your cat a gentle massage if he or she is happy to be handled.
  • Groom your pet as a cat with painful joints may find this difficult to do for themselves.
  • Keep your cat a healthy weight to prevent undue strain on the joints. Your vet can weigh your cat and advise if the cat needs to lose weight or if indeed your cat is a good, healthy weight to be maintained. Just as with people being overweight can make the symptoms worse.

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Older cats (senior cats) with arthritis

More than 80% of elderly cats (over the age of 10 years) and 90% of cats over the age of 12 years old will have some level of osteoarthritis. If you think that your cat is just getting slower and sleeping more due to age, then it may be that your cat has chronic pain due to arthritis. Consider taking your cat to the vet to have him or her checked.
The hips, shoulders, spine and elbows are most likely to be affected by wear and tear and degeneration of the cartilage between the joints. This means that the bones rub together causing pain, swelling and stiffness.

Symptoms of arthritis in older cats

    • More time sleeping, resting and less active
    • Stiffness, lameness
    • Inability to jump or climb
    • Not grooming or overgrooming the affected joint
    • Less interaction
    • Irritable when petted or handled

With less activity, some cats may develop overgrown claws so do check your cat, especially if you have an indoor cat.
Keep your cat comfortable, at a healthy weight, adapt his surroundings to suit his mobility and seek medical help from your vet to alleviate the pain of arthritic joints and ease inflammation. Our cats are living longer and there is much we can do to ensure that they have a good quality of life in their senior years.

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Which breeds of cat are more prone to get arthritis?

  • Devon Rex
  • Abyssian
  • Persian
  • Siamese

two persian kittens

You may also like What to expect as your cat gets older

Brain training for older cats

Charlie says:

charlie shorttail ginger cat meowing

Regular vet checks, a good diet and pain relief if needed can help your older cat live well and continue to enjoy a good quality of life.

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the big meow

Charlie ShortTail and the Horrid Creature

June 13, 2017 June 23, 2019 Charlie ShortTail

 

 

Charlie ShortTail has a scary encounter with “the Horrid Creature”.

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I was out for a nice, relaxing evening stroll and then I saw it, the horrid creature.🙀

Charlie on evening walk

It was smelly, hairy and it had slobber drooling from it’s mouth.

I cringed, drew back and felt the fur on my back rise and bristle. My tiny (but very cute) tail bushed up in fear.

It was the man next door!

I ran quickly to hide under the bushes. Lando was nowhere to be seen. He’s supposed to be on guard.

The creature’s big feet thumped along the path to Mama’s house; the man rang the door bell. What could he want? I hoped I could sneak into the shadows and climb over the wall to safety. With a swift jump I was gone! I couldn’t risk him seeing me. What if he tried to touch me?

The creature spoke in a loud, deep voice but I couldn’t understand what the man was saying.

It got worse, the ‘Dad’ opened the door and let the horrid creature into Mama’s  house.

The creatures clothes were tatty, dirty, smelly and oily. He had huge, scary boots. What could he possibly want?

I leapt quickly over the side roof, and ran along the hedges to the back garden to warn Lando.

This was a disaster. When would it be safe to go home?

Mama came into the garden and called us. “Charlie”, “Lando” she called; we crept out of the thick bushes with trepidation.

“What is wrong?” She asked. We looked towards the house…. Mama knows we are scared of him.

Oh! Him, he has just bought some eggs for us … “come in you two”.

I let Mama carry me, and Lando walked close to Mama.

Always trust your instincts me and Lando think. We don’t trust him….What do you think?

 

Read about Charlie’s awful tar episode…

 

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Charlie and the awful tar episode

May 7, 2017 May 7, 2017 Charlie ShortTail

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Tar on my cat paws

I came home today with tar on my paws. Mama panicked in case they were burnt too.

It was thick, black, sticky, stinky and matted into my fur. Mama held me and dipped my paws into vegetable oil right away as this is supposed to soften the tar.

She was able to get a big lump of it off, but holding me in one arm and trying to clean me wiv the other hand was proving too difficult, if not impossible.

Help from Nan.

So, Mama phoned the Nan (not on da banana fone). Mama wrapped me in a blanket and Nan soaked my paws in oil and used a Qtip to get in between my pads.

I was very good (mostly). After they cleaned what they could, the next stage was to cut off the fur that was really caked in the awful tar.

Nan was worried about which was fur and which was paw, so I shut my eyes and hoped for the best. It was okay she didn’t hurt me at all.

The final clean up

After all this they scrubbed my paws with washing up liquid and then rinsed with lots and lots of warm water.

Mama was much calmer at this point as she could see I had not burnt or hurt my paws.

I was a bit of a mess though! I had streaks of oil in my fur and loads of wet patches. I looked a bit pitiful Mama thought.

The reward

Because I was so good and let mama hold me in the blanket, and let the Nan clean me up without biting or scratching I got a big bowl of tuna.

What happens next?

I’m grounded because no-one knows where the tar was from. Mama says tar is really toxic for cats and we mustn’t be allowed to lick it.

If it hadn’t of come off Mama would have had to cover my paws with something. That would have been trouble so we are all glad it got sorted out.

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Why do cats like sitting in boxes of all sizes and even bags, drawers and bowls?

March 19, 2017 May 18, 2017 Charlie ShortTail

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Why does your cat like boxes?

Holly O Purr relaxes in her box.

Understanding why your cat like sitting in a box, bag or drawer.

Charlie ShortTail says : Cats like boxes because:

Cats enjoy a feeling of safety and security when sitting or sleeping in a box.

A box can be lovely and warm –the cardboard provides insulation and cats love warmth.

The ideal temperature for a cat is somewhere around 86-97 degrees or 30-36 oC – our homes are generally cooler than this.

 

Play – cats enjoy hiding and then pouncing on unsuspecting prey or toys, and even other pets or family.

A box provides a good place to watch and observe.

A cardboard box is great to scratch and bite.

Lando sat in this little box to play and also hid his favourite mouse toy in the box.

 

Do not disturb – your cat can sleep or rest and not be bothered by you or others.

Cats sleep for around 18-20 hours per day.

A box can provide stress relief – a sort of getting away from it all.

Research by some scientists seems to show that rescue cats given boxes are able to cope better and adjust to new surroundings quicker.

 

Cats are difficult to study and we still do not know all the reasons why cats love boxes, large, small, tiny and of course drawers, suitcases, handbags, bowls and even shoes.

Leo loves to hide away in a bag.

Holly O Purr sitting pretty in the drawer.

Sources and more detailed information on why cats love boxes.

According to the metro.co.uk

‘Studies collated by Bryan Gardiner at Wired.com have revealed the main reasons behind your cats affinity with boxes.

Firstly, they’re a source of stress-relief. Gardiner cites a recent study by veterinarian Claudia Vinke of Utrecht University in the Netherlands who monitored the stress levels in shelter cats.

After providing hiding boxes for a group of newly arrived domestic cats while depriving another group of them completely, she found a dramatic difference in stress levels between the two groups.

In a nutshell – cats with boxes became accustomed to their new surroundings faster, seemed less stressed faster and sought human company sooner.

Secondly, your cat prefers to flee, rather than fight and a box might represents the perfect shelter from conflict, or just too much attention.’

The ‘Metro’ also refers to ‘The Domestic Cat: The Biology of its Behaviour’ : ‘Cats do not appear to develop conflict resolution strategies to the extent that more gregarious species do, so they may attempt to circumvent agonistic encounters by avoiding others or decreasing their activity.’

An article in Cathealth.com refers to a recent study in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that boxes can actually help reduce a cat’s stress levels.

Reducing stress for new cats  or for shelter cats

A group of new shelter cats were randomly assigned to either receive a box or not. After just a few days, researchers reported that the cats that were given boxes recovered faster and adapted to their environment more quickly than the cats without boxes.

The dailymail.co.uk also states that according to a report by Bryan Gardiner in Wired.com veterinarian Claudia Vinke of Utrecht University in the Netherlands recently studied stress levels in shelter cats. She discovered that cats who had boxes got used to their new surroundings faster than those who didn’t because the boxes acted as a coping mechanism.

Care2.com refers to an article by Steven B Williams /February 9, 2015

Steve writes that: ‘This box-loving aspect of a cat’s personality has long puzzled their human carers, and it’s also caught the attention of scientists. Researchers, who published their findings in Applied Animal Behaviour, investigated whether hiding in boxes might reduce stress for cats in animal shelters.

While most species of dog can adapt to shelter environments relatively quickly, cats often experience high levels of stress. Previous studies have shown that cats prefer areas where they have the ability to hide, but until now scientists have not studied whether so-called “hiding enrichment” might benefit a cat’s sense of well-being and specifically if providing boxes for cats to hide in might help to ease those turbulent first few weeks in a new shelter.

To investigate this, researchers took 19 newly arrived cats in a Dutch animal shelter and randomly split them into two groups, one where the cats would be given access to hiding boxes, and one group who wouldn’t have access. The researchers then observed the cats for 14 days, and they used a scale known as the Kessler and Turner Cat-Stress-Score to estimate, based on visual clues and habits like grooming and eating, how stressed the cats were during this initial settling-in time.

The researchers found that by day three and four there were significant differences in the stress levels exhibited by cats without boxes to those who had boxes, with the cats who had hiding boxes showing a total average stress score lower than their non-box counterparts. An interesting note is that box-access seemed to reduce stress no matter the breed of cat, suggesting that this isn’t just a preference for some but a much more firmly ingrained cat trait.’

Charlie says that a box can be a nice place to relax away from stress and all cats like to feel secure and safe. 

Providing a box or hide-away container can help nervous, new or cats that are in new and strange surroundings.

Charlie would like to thank his furriends Holly, Jo, Lando and Gertie for their gorgeous pictures.

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Can cats and other animals sense and predict earthquakes and other extreme weather events?

February 23, 2017 November 27, 2017 Charlie ShortTail
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Can cats and dogs predict earthquakes and other extreme weather events?

Many owners and some scientists believe that yes, animals do sense changes before an earthquake or extreme weather event.

Animals are more sensitive to electro-magnetic changes in the earth.

Animals may detect high-frequency sounds that are emitted prior to earthquakes and tsunamis.

Animals have been observed to flee before the extreme weather events occur.

According to The Daily Mail (article by Sarah Griffiths) March 2015 ‘animals can predict earthquakes’.

Griffiths states that:

  • Animals CAN predict earthquakes: Scientists document behavioural changes with seismic activity.
  • Scientists filmed the behaviour of animals in Peru before an earthquake and found that many fled to lower ground and holed up days before the event.
  • Expert from Anglia Ruskin University said rodents are extra sensitive.
  • Study suggests animals respond to disturbances in the ionosphere.
  • Positive ions in the air lead to disagreeable side effects in animals.

Earthquake rubble

Can cats and other animals predict earthquakes? The earliest reference of unusual animal behaviour before earthquakes.

There is anecdotal evidence of unusual or bizarre behaviour by animals before an earthquake that dates back to 373 BCE in Greece. (According to the US Geological Survey)

The Greeks observed that rats fled from the city of Helice days before the major earthquake struck.

Animal Planet documents theories about how cats and other animals might sense these impending seismic shifts, including the ability to detect the vibrations that occur before an earthquake, known as primary waves (P waves).

 

What do cats, dogs and other animals sense before earthquakes, tsunamis and extreme weather events?

Cats and other animals are more sensitive to earthquake-related electromagnetic field variations.

Dogs have extraordinary hearing and some scientists think that dogs flee from extreme weather events because they can hear the high-frequency sounds that are caused by earthquakes.

Dogs and other animals survived a Tsunami by fleeing before the event.

tsunami

Why do pets show seemingly bizarre behaviour before earthquakes and extreme weather events?

These behaviours are driven by fear and are part of your pets’ natural survival instincts.

Cats and dogs may start exhibiting odd behaviours anywhere from weeks to seconds before an earthquake hits. Scientists question as to whether this behaviour is due to the weather events or other circumstances.

Pet owners’ may be certain themselves that their cat or dog was displaying very unusual behaviours not normally seen.

 

The National Geographic reports that “Sheldrake did his own study looking at animal reactions before major tremors, including the Northridge, California, quake in 1994, and the Greek and Turkish quakes in 1999.

In all cases, he said, there were reports of peculiar behaviour beforehand, including dogs howling in the night mysteriously, caged birds becoming restless, and cats behaving nervously, vocalising and hiding.”

Japan and the study of whether cats and fish can predict earthquakes

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The devastation has caused the loss of many lives and left enormous damage to property. Researchers in Japan have studied animals for a long time to try to discover what they hear or feel before the Earth shakes. They hope to use this knowledge to help predict earthquakes in the future.

Mitsuaki Ota, a professor of veterinary science at Azabu University states that “Electromagnetic waves are emitted before an earthquake happens. Animals have the ability to detect these electromagnetic waves,” Ota says. “Actually, the Thais showed that after last year’s Indian Ocean tsunami caused by an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra that not a single animal was killed by the wave. The only answer I can offer for that is that the animals detected the earthquake and then fled to safety.”

 

Companion Animal psychology has an article discussing animals and the prediction of earthquakes in Japan. They document that “Japanese scientists Hiroyuki Yamauchi et al (2014) conducted an internet survey of pet owners. As well as obtaining demographic information about pets, they asked about any unusual behaviour exhibited in the minutes, hours and days prior to the earthquake. The checklist included things like howling and barking (for dogs), vocalizing (for cats), trembling, being restless, and escaping.

Of those who reported unusual behaviours in dogs, they were most commonly observed immediately prior to the earthquake, in the seconds and minutes before it hit (60% of cases). 16.7% said it happened from 1 to a few hours before. In cats with unusual behaviour, 44.6% showed it immediately prior and 30.4% in the few hours before the earthquake. Some owners reported changes 6 or more days before (6.3% of dogs and 2.9% of cats with unusual behaviour).”

The Japanese continue their studies in the hope that our pets may help us to predict future earthquakes, tsunamis and extreme weather events and in doing so, saves lives.

walking tabby cat

References
Yamauchi, H., Uchiyama, H., Ohtani, N., & Ohta, M. (4). Unusual animal behaviour preceding the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, Japan: A way to predict the approach of large earthquakes Animals, 131-145
Kirschvink, Joseph L. (2000). Earthquake Prediction by Animals: Evolution and Sensory Perception, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 90, pp. 312-323.
Quammen, D. (1985). Animals and earthquakes: This World, San Francisco Chronicle, April 21, p. 15-16.
Schaal, Rand B. (1988). An Evaluation of the Animal Behaviour Theory for Earthquake Prediction, California Geology, v41, n2.
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cats facts

Do cats have arms or legs?

February 5, 2017 July 4, 2019 Charlie ShortTail

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Why do cats have legs and not arms?

Cats generally get around on all four limbs, that is they are quadrupeds.

They walk on four limbs or legs. They may be able to walk on two legs, but not as a preference.

Cats have legs; front and hind legs.

Legs are weight-bearing limbs for locomotion.

Cats are ‘digitigrades’ that is they walk on their toes (dogs do as well).

The word “arm” refers to a limb that has a hand on the end of it, not a foot. Therefore, again cats have legs, not arms.

Do cats have knees?

Cats have knee and elbow joints but not wrists or ankles.

Cats have knees on their back legs and have elbows on their front legs.

Cats have patellas, or kneecaps, on their back legs but not on their front legs, this means two knees and two elbows per cat.

Cats use each leg as if it has both a knee and an elbow though.

Cats do have knees.

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Why do cats have paws and not hands or feet?

A paw is defined as something that belongs to an animal, not a human.

A paw is the foot of an animal; this can be a fore or hind-foot.

Paws are usually furry and roundish with claws.

Feet are mostly hairless, longish in shape and have nails.

Only people, primates and a minority of creatures have appendages that can be called “hands”.

Cats have paws.

 

 

You may also like do cats have lips?

Why are cats called cats?

 

 

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