The Way of Cats

Why will cats not acknowledge their mistakes? Why, no matter how badly a maneuver goes wrong, will they claim They Meant to Do That?

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This is an expression of the cat’s instincts in a wild world where they are both solitary, and relatively small. Showing weakness or lack of confidence would let larger predators see an opening, would let rivals try to intimidate them out of their territory, and would undermine the confident projection of ability that is part of the body language signals sent between predator and prey.

Some prey animals, feeling themselves observed by a predator, will “show off” by doing some extravagant display of their running or jumping skills. It would seem that they should be reserving this strength in case the predator makes a move on them. But the prey who shows off is communicating something to their would-be pursuer. They are saying they are so fast and agile that the predator should find some easier target.

Whether the cat is hunting or being hunted, (and the cat displays both skill sets,) it is important that the cat act confident. No matter what they are really feeling.

The dog, secure in a pack and instinctively urged to show deference to those in charge, will be happy to greet strangers with instant trust. Cats tend to reserve their displays of affection to those who convince them they will not take advantage. This is why the cat requires trust to show their vulnerability, and their affection, to us. This is not a pose they can drop lightly.

Even cats we know well will not want to admit they missed the table or misjudged a turn. Because cats don’t just want our love.

They also want our respect.

So the right thing to do when they get into difficulties is to help them out of it, and not make too much of a fuss over the situation they are in. It’s okay to tell them that they shouldn’t have been playing with the blind cords, or trying to weave their way through breakables, and that’s why they got in trouble. This is why we told them to leave those things alone in the first place.

But our trust is what will help a cat get themselves out of a situation without causing further damage. Don’t try to chase a cat away from a situation where their panicked reactions are going to knock more things over. Calmly reminding them they aren’t supposed to be there will give them the time and space to get out of things more delicately. This allows them to use their natural agility and planning skills .

Leaving them an opening, or creating one, where they can help themselves out will resolve the danger, safely. Remember that the cat’s reflexes are 20 nanoseconds faster than ours. We’re not going to beat them at any speed game.

We should always remember the cat’s natural instincts. After all, it’s something they cannot forget.

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There’s more ways to understand our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on WHY CATS DO THAT.

You might not have heard of the Four Paws boycott. A friend of mine told me about it a few weeks ago. I didn’t buy any Four Paws products in the interim, I wrote a note in my Palm Pilot, but I didn’t follow up until a recent email from a reader informed me of the latest developments. This new information has moved me to immediate action.

On June 22, 2008, a lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a Four Paws product, the common Pimple Ball with Bell, that resulted in the amputation of his tongue. He is now permanently disabled.

The vet explained the defect in the product that led to this injury. Chai’s person reported the injury to the company. On the morning of Friday, August 29th, according to an intrepid reporter who has been monitoring the site and emailed me, a recall notice appeared on their website. They are sending out a letter in response to inquires, which states, in part:

We want you to know that we have stopped shipping these toys to our distributors and we have asked them to have retailers immediately remove the toys from their shelves and return them at our expense.

It sounds sensible and responsible, doesn’t it? We can all relax about the safety of our pets.

Until you find out that a lab mix named Cole was injured from this same defective product.

He died.

He was a 5 year old bouncy beautiful lab mix that wagged his tail up till the very end when we let him cross the rainbow bridge due to the horrendous injury to his tongue.

In July of 2005.

It doesn’t seem like they are living up to their slogan, does it?

Here’s what Chai’s person says on her blog:

I sent [the vet's] information along with the reference to Petunia the french bulldog to Four Paws Inc, and it is their position that there just aren’t enough instances to do anything about this. I told their Insurance company’s case manager that was not a good enough excuse, It was inferred that my dogs value wasn’t much and that his pain and suffering don’t count as he is just a piece of property.

I am livid. They knew. They knew. And they did nothing.

Because …there just aren’t enough instances to do anything about this. When even one should have been enough. If we can truly trust them.

Which, it seems obvious, we cannot.

Remember all those pets who died in the contaminated pet food scandal? That was another clear case of profits over pets.

It’s time this stops.

I’m sure the boycott helped. They are taking the toys off the shelves. Finally. But I don’t think it is enough.

After all, the company is stalling about compensating these pets and their people for their horrible pain and loss, hoping it will all go away. Because all they care about is their money.

Not about suffering.

So let’s speak to them in a language they do understand. If it’s about money, let’s make it about money.

I am asking Petsmart, the chain I shop at, to remove all Four Paws products from their shelves. Send them back and don’t order any more until Four Paws settles, properly, with the people they have caused such grief and anguish.

I love what PetSmart does to further pet adoption and letting pets into the store. I’m sure they would not approve of the way Four Paws failed to act, eventually was forced into the recall, and ultimately failed to protect our pets as they promised.

If they really cared, they would have acted back in July of 2005, when a beloved dog, Cole, died after much agony, because of a defective toy.

Chai would still have a tongue.

And they wouldn’t have the nerve to mock the love we have for our pets by putting up this picture on their website.

Are you as angry as I am? Visit my Four Paws Boycott action page.

It has the letter I wrote, and contact information so you can write, email, or call pet suppliers and demand action.

It has the links to the blog about Chai and other pertinent sites on the web.

We can do this. We can get justice for the dogs. Together.

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There’s more to The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my LATEST CAT ADVICE.

No matter what breed you have, or what their coat is like, a consistent grooming schedule is an important part of good cat care. It’s a bonding ritual that will let you and your cat have fun times together, gets them used to handling, and helps you keep tabs on their health status. Here’s how to get this process started at any age.

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Grooming does more than reduce shedding and hairballs. Grooming lets the cat get used to human contact, by persuading them with a feel-good reward that is built into the process. If our cat is hand shy, or skittish about contact, a consistent grooming schedule is a way to connect with the cat.

• Start slow. Kittens will regard it as a game, adults will regard it as an intrusion. They will learn to see the fun in your approach with comb (long hairs) or brush (short hairs.) Start with a few strokes along the back, like petting, and with adults, try the back of the neck and then a face touch up. Follow with a treat. Let them wrestle with the tool at first. Later, when they learn to enjoy it for its own sake, they will stop doing that.
• Don’t push. This isn’t a task to be completed. Grooming stimulates the cat and they can get rowdy. If this happens, stop. It’s time for a treat. As the cat learns to relax and enjoy the petting aspect, you can cover more territory in a grooming session.
• Once the cat enjoys the grooming, don’t start with the face. Start with the tail, and work your way towards the face, which is their favorite part to be groomed. This way they learn to wait for their favorite part, and have more tolerance for touchy areas like hindquarters and belly. If they bail midway, let them. Come back the next day to go over the missed parts. Remember, fun.
• They will probably want the treat anyway, but get some token strokes in before you give it to them. Otherwise, they will milk the stuation.
• Take this opportunity to check their ears, their paws, and their teeth. They will put up with it for the reward they know is coming, which is the face fussing as much as the treat.
• Enjoy it. Get some petting and ear rubbing and affection in, and make it part of the grooming ritual.
• Don’t be offended if they go off and do touchups on your handiwork. This is part of coming down from the stimulation of the grooming, which cranks the cat up.

Grooming isn’t always about keeping the cat looking good, since most of them feel they are quite capable of that, thank you. Grooming is a way to connect with the cat and take care of them. So approach it with love, and they will respond.

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There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.