How to Train Your Cat

5 tips from a professional tiger trainer

(Family Features) If the thought of training your pet cat seems like a difficult feat, consider the daunting task of training one of nature’s biggest cats.

After welcoming two 4-year-old Sumatran tigers, Frances and Huntley, the keepers at Nashville Zoo are doing just that. The training program, which is sponsored by TEMPTATIONS™ Cat Treats, is on display for the public to learn about how these colossal cats are trained.The trainers offer these tips and tricks from their experiences working with their tigers that you can use to train your cat at home. For more information on cat behavior, visit TemptationsTreats.com.

Start Smart

While your training might be inspired by the behaviors you’d like your cat to adopt or change, beginning your training by rewarding your pet’s existing good habits is often an easy way to reinforce behavior. For example, if your cat sits patiently for food, pair this with a treat and verbal reassurance to praise the behavior and encourage it in the future.

Identify Motivators

When beginning the training process, identify your cat’s likes and dislikes. Some cats are motivated by toys while most are motivated by food. When starting the training process, try out a few different treat flavors to identify what gets your cat’s attention. Treats such as TEMPTATIONS™ Cat Treats come in a wide variety of flavors, making it easy to find one that will make your cat come running. For cats with health or weight restrictions, utilize toys or tactile reinforcement like petting for motivation.

Be Consistent

To prevent confusion, remain consistent when rewarding behaviors and only give praise when your cat completes a trick or task. If you reward your cat for following a command halfway or missing a step, you’re not rewarding the behavior you’d like to see in the future.

Focus on Practicality

Cats are smart creatures and full of potential when it comes to training. Pinpointing practical habits that can serve you and your cat’s lifestyle in the future is a smart and achievable goal to tackle while your cat is young and his or her habits are malleable. For example, if you plan to travel, make crate training a priority. If your cat shows resistance with nail trimming and being held, focus your training on desensitization, which will allow you to more easily groom him or her or assess injuries later on.

Celebrate the Small Victories

Training your cat can be difficult, but it’s a great opportunity for bonding and relationship building. Have patience and reinforce your pet’s hard work by acknowledging his or her effort along the way and provide encouragement to keep him or her learning and advancing in training.

Photos courtesy of Adobe StockSOURCE:
Temptations

Cats Bond Securely to Their Humans Maybe Even More Than Dogs Do

BY MICHELLE STARR

Many think of dogs as loyal, love-filled companions, and cats as cute beasts that tolerate us – but we might have to rethink that a little. According to new research, cats can get just as bonded to their human friends as dogs do.

(Valeriia_abrakadabra/iStock)

This may not come as a huge surprise to those who live with cat companions, but it suggests two important things. Firstly, it looks like we’ve underestimated the depth of the bond cats can form with their people. Additionally, it shows that dogs don’t have a monopoly on secure social bonding with Homo sapiens.

Continue reading …

‘National Pet Fire Safety Day’ Prevention Tips to Keep Pets from Starting Home Fires

An estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by home fires, however, nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets, according to a new data analysis by the National Fire Protection Association.

Photo by Tomas Ryant on Pexels.com

The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) and ADT Security Services have joined forces once again for the third annual National Pet Fire Safety Day (July 15) to spread awareness about how pets can start home fires but more importantly how to prevent them.

“Not many pet owners realize that their pet can actually be the cause of a devastating fire,” said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson.  “Simple preventative measures, such as flameless candles and stove knob covers, can mean the difference between life and death for your four-legged friends.”

Chris and Kay Wardlow of Oklahoma know that all too well.  Their curious dog Lucy was home alone and spied a cake on the stove top. As Lucy tried to get a taste, her paw accidentally hit the stove knob and turned on the gas burner that was under the cake pan. Within minutes, the house was filled with smoke, triggering the Wardlow’s ADT monitored smoke detector. Firefighters were called to the scene, the house was saved and Lucy was rescued.

“Planning for unexpected emergencies like home fires and taking these precautions are an integral part of responsible pet ownership,” Peterson said.

AKC® and ADT offer the following tips to educate pet owners on how to prevent your beloved pet from starting a fire, as well as how to keep your pets safe.

Prevent your pet from starting fires

• Extinguish open flames – Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.
• Remove stove knobs – Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a stove or cook top is the number one piece of equipment involved in your pet starting a fire.
• Invest in flameless candles – These candles contain a light bulb rather than an open flame, and take the danger out of your pet knocking over a candle. Cats are notorious for starting fires when their tails turn over lit candles.
• Beware of water bowls on wooden decks – Do not leave a glass water bowl for your pet outside on a wooden deck.  The sun’s rays when filtered through the glass and water can actually heat up and ignite the wooden deck beneath it. Choose stainless steel or ceramic bowls instead.

Keep your pets safe

• Keep Pets Near Entrances When Away From Home – Keep collars on pets and leashes at the ready in case firefighters need to rescue your pet.  When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
• Secure Young Pets – Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.
• Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home – Consider using monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center so emergency responders can be contacted when you’re not home. These systems provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.
• Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach the static cling to a front window. This critical information saves rescuers time when locating your pets.  Make sure to update the number of pets listed.

In partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council, pet owners can obtain a free Pet Fire Safety Window Cling on National Pet Fire Safety Day, July 15th at local volunteer firehouses nationwide. For a list of locations, visit www.nvfc.org/windowclings.  The clings are also free online at www.adt.com/pets and will be available this September at your local AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day.  This year’s flagship event will be held in Raleigh on September 25th.  Visit https://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/ for more information on an event near you.  Additionally the clings will be available at Meet the BreedsTM, October 16th and 17th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. For more information, visit www.meetthebreeds.com.

Compliments American Kennel Club and ADT.

6 signs your cat has fleas

6 signs your cat has fleas – Fleas are something no cat parent wants to encounter, but they’re all too common among companion animals. Unfortunately, once fleas are in the house, they can affect everyone in the household – including people.

Photo by FOX on Pexels.com

The following six signs of flea infestations are not always apparent, especially when they aren’t in abundance, but they are something cat and even pet owners can watch out for.

1. Scratching, licking and biting: Fleas set up residence in hard-to-reach places, says PetMD. The head, neck and tail of a cat or dog are common areas where flea infestations occur. An animal that is consistently picking at these areas may have fleas.

Easter Lillies Can Kill a Cat?

Easter Lillies Can Kill a Cat? – This popular plant is deadly to cats.

Yes, I know Easter has passed and this should have been published sooner, but better late than never.

Metro Creative Photo

Australia to Kill Feral Cats

Australia to Kill Feral Cats – Australia is serious about trying to rid the country of feral cats by killing them.

Photo by Nihat on Pexels.com

A feral cat is a wild domestic cat. In Australia feral cats are said to be enemy number one. Australia wants to kill nearly 2 million feral cats by 2020.

In Queensland, they are even offering money for the scalp of a cat.

Happy Valentine’s Day

We thought we would try to find a Valentine Graphic to share with our readers and we found one by She Knows.

In this Valentine graphic you see a kitten inside a heart and a caption that says I Love You More Than Cat Nip. Again this graphic is by she knows.

Meet Bagheera the Diabetic Cat

Meet Bagheera the Diabetic Cat – Just like hoomans, cats can get and have diabetes. #Bagheera

Begheera is a Bengal cat born in 2005. By the summer of 2012, he was diagnosed with diabetes but that won’t stop this cat from being a cat. He even has an extra toe!

He has got to fly around in planes too.

As a hooman caretaker, you have to put the needs of a diabetic cat before your own.

Cat Café

Cat Café – A Cat themed cafe where you can watch or play with cats. #CatCafe #CatCafé

A Cat Café is a theme café whose attraction is cats that can be watched and played with, per WikiPedia. Plus, you can enjoy your favorite cup of java (coffee).

The world’s first Cat Café, “Cat Flower Garden” (貓花園), opened its doors in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1998.

Screen Shot of Cat Cafés

However, I am not sure of any Cat Café near us. However, they are very popular in Japan. ネコ カフェ (Neko Kafe).

I know my hoomans would visit one just to see all the cats there. Maybe they can open up one in East Tennessee?

Daily Mews

Here is one in Charlotte, NC. It is called Daily Mews. The provides a safe haven for adoptable rescue cats in a cozy, café environment. That seems to be the closest one to us.

Mac Tabby

Plus, Charlotte, NC has another one called Mac Tabby.

Waffles and Whiskers

If you like Belgium style waffles, this Cat Café might be the one for you. Located in Kernersville, NC. They are called Waffles and Whiskers.

Do you have A Cat Café near you?

If you do, please tell us about it in the comments below. What the name of the cafe is. Where it is located and what they specialize in.

Check your Hoods for Cats!

Check your Hoods for Cats! Make sure to bang or knock on your car hoods before you start your car. It could help save the life of a cat! #KnockKnockCats

Cooler weather brings feral cats to the warmth of an engine block. If you don’t bang on the hood of your car, you just might start it and kill the cat! Not to mention, cause damage to your vehicle. Check your Hoods for Cats!

ノック・ノック・キャット

Bang on your hoods! Knock on your hoods!

In Japan, Nissan and TBWA\Hakuhodo helped to get this started and they called it “Knock Knock Cats”.  As a reminder to knock on the hood of your car. 

That banging on the hood just might scare any cat that may be inside trying to stay warm with the cool or cold weather.

Even check between your tires, that is another spot for cats to seek shelter for warmth during cold weather.

Plus, keep antifreeze out of reach so cats and dogs don’t get into it too.

Below are pictures of cats inside of cars.

These pictures were randomly taken from google image search.

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  Check your Hoods for Cats!

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  Check your Hoods for Cats!

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to help save the lives of cats!