How to Keep Your Kitten from Becoming a Terrorist

April 17, 2019

Author: Melissa Sitzman

You’ve more than likely come across a cat, or two, that seemed innocent and cute, until you tried to pet it! Cats who bite, claw and attack strangers and sometimes even their owners…. are like little terrorists! Only with fur, fangs and claws! No one wants to end up with a cat like that, or a cat that hisses, growls and hides from people.

There are a number of things that can lead a cat to act in such a way. Some of those reasons could, possibly, be related to health. Therefore, if you have a cat who suddenly becomes aggressive, or that starts hiding, please take them to a veterinarian.

What I’m going to focus on, is; how our behavior can influence our cat’s behavior. This is especially important when you’re raising a kitten. What you teach them and the experiences they have, in their youth, will shape how they act, in the future.

First, it’s extremely important to socialize a kitten. Not just with people but, also with other pets. The American Veterinarian website, has an excellent article on the proper way to do so. Of course, you should give the kitten a few days, to adjust to new surroundings, before doing so.

Second, you need to teach your kitten that biting people isn’t ok. The way I taught all four of my cats, was to gently stick my finger in their mouth, just far enough to hit the gag reflex. You only want to do so, for a split second. They quickly learn that biting, isn’t a pleasant experience!

If you would rather, you can try blowing in the kitten’s face, instead. Cats don’t like it and they’ll usually stop, when you do. Whatever technique you choose, you should loudly say, “ouch,” when the kitten bites. This reinforces the message that you don’t want to be bit. If the kitten is really out of control, grabbing it’s scruff (the extra skin at the back of its neck, above it’s shoulders) and saying “no,” works. However, I like to use that as a last resort.

You should, also, avoid using your hands, fingers, feet or your clothes, as toys. For instance, putting your hand under the covers of your bed, and moving it around to provoke the kitten, is teaching the kitten that it’s acceptable to attack your hands! Use a toy with a wand on it, instead. Anytime you play with the kitten, a toy should be involved.

Also, if you have children, it’s important to teach them that they need to be gentle with the kitten. Squeezing, hitting and playing rough with it, can result in a fearful and or aggressive cat.

Another thing that can impact behavior is being left alone, for extended periods of time. Kittens require time and attention. If you’re gone all day, it’s a good idea to have someone that can stop by, check on, and play with, the kitten. Playing with the kitten on a daily basis, will not only help tire it out, it will help you raise a happy, friendly cat, as well. Bonding is another bonus!

Disclaimer:

I am not associated with, or receiving compensation from any of the websites I’ve linked to. I’m only sharing helpful resources, combined with my personal experiences. Please, always consult a veterinarian when caring for pets!

Sources:

Martin K., Martin D. (2017 February 25) The Keys to Kitten Socialization American Veterinarian Journals. Retrieved from https://www.americanveterinarian.com/journals/amvet/2017/february2017/the-keys-to-kitten-socialization

How to Care for a Stray, Feral or Abandoned Cat

April 5, 2019

Author: Melissa Sitzman

There are so many cats that are feral, stray or that have been abandoned by irresponsible owners, that I felt this was important information to share. However, before taking any action to help a cat, please find out the laws pertaining to stray and feral cats, in your area. There are places that prohibit feeding them and in some instances, by feeding a cat, you become it’s lawful owner. That’s why it’s important to know the laws, before you act so that you can decide what’s best.

It’s also equally important to make sure you’re dealing with a cat that really is a stray, feral or that was abandoned. In order to find out, it’s a good idea to ask people in the area if they know anything about the cat. You can even take pictures and distribute flyers so that any potential owner might see them. There are also groups on social media sites that publish pictures of lost pets, for most areas. I highly recommend looking there and on classified websites to try to find any owners. If you’re able to, you could even put a collar on the cat with a tag that reads; “If this is your cat, please call (your phone number).” If you do so, make sure it is the kind of collar that breaks off, if the cat gets caught on something. They’re called “break away collars.”

While waiting to hear from any potential owners, providing food, water and shelter could save the cats life! You can leave these things, in the area where you’ve repeatedly seen the cat. A mixture of dry and wet cat food is best because it could have problems eating dry food, if it has untreated dental issues. A shelter can be made very inexpensively. There are many options for doing so. A good shelter could be made out of a large, old cooler. Just cut a hole, big enough for a cat to get through, in one end. Another option is to use two plastic storage containers with some foam insulation, in between the two containers.

Example of home made feral cat shelter. — Here’s one that I made for my cat, Scrappy, when she was still outside.

The Alley Cat Advocates website has really good instructions on how to make your own cat shelter. Just click on the word “instructions” above and then click on the icon that reads: “Download Pdf.” Once you’ve made a shelter, place it in the same area where you’ve been feeding the cat. You do want to leave, at least, a little space in between the food and the shelter, as the food can draw the attention of other animals.

If you haven’t heard from someone claiming the cat, within a week or two, you need to decide what to do with the cat. If it’s truly feral, meaning it doesn’t want human interaction, at all. Then, it should be trapped and taken to a shelter that has a trap, neuter and release program. If you can’t find a shelter that participates, in your area, you can approach the shelters near you, about starting a program. The Alley Cat Allies website goes into much more detail about how to do so, here.

If the cat is trapped and taken to a shelter they will evaluate whether the cat is adoptable or not. If it is adoptable, they will put the cat up for adoption. After it has been sterilized, received shots and any needed veterinary care. If the cat isn’t adoptable, the shelter will get in touch with you after the cat has recovered from surgery, to take the cat back where you trapped it, for release. Doing this helps cut down the feral cat population.

If the cat is friendly and, like I did, you decide you want to try to integrate the cat into your household, it’s important that the cat receive veterinary care before you bring it indoors. Not only for the health of any other pets but, also for the health of yourself and your family. Cats can be carriers of parasites that can be transferred to humans. It’s also important that the cat be tested for Feline Leukemia (FeLv) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) before being around any other cats. There are no cures for either disease and they are contagious to other cats. A cat with FeLv should not be with other cats under any circumstances.

However, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is only spread when cats wound each other during a fight. So, if you do have other cats, you can decide whether you want to take that risk or not. If you decide to take the risk, please introduce the cats to each other, using extreme caution. You can read how to do so in my blog post titled, “How to Successfully Introduce New Cats or Kittens to Older Cats.”

My cat, Scrappy is FIV positive. My husband and I, integrated her into our home, with two other cats, without any issues. It took quite a while to do so but, I’m really glad that we did. She’s a good cat!

Disclaimer:

I am not a veterinarian nor am I affiliated with or receiving compensation from any of the other websites that are linked to, in this blog post. Please always consult a qualified veterinarian for advice when dealing with cats.

Gonzo’s Antics – Memories of One Cool Cat | Part III : The Flying Feline

March 1, 2019

Author: Melissa Sitzman

Gonzo 3

Gonzo thoroughly enjoyed hiding under and attacking couch cushions! He was about 2 or 3 years old, here.

Part III :

The Flying Feline

After having to buy a new mattress, things settled down, nicely. Which left me time to think about decorating my condo. Since the living room had big vaulted ceilings and two sky lights, I decided I wanted to hang some plants. I did my research, and found out that Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are one of the safer plants you can have in a house, with cats.

So, I got a spider plant and one of those macramé plant hangers. I ended up hanging it in the living room, directly under a skylight and over the love seat. The plant loved its new home and it grew like crazy! It even started to “spider out,” after several months. I was really happy with it and even happier that Gonzo and Princess hadn’t noticed it! Or so, I thought……

It had been another long day at work. Only, I had switched jobs and now worked as a receptionist for a company in Boulder, Colorado. It was about a 35 minute commute. So, after battling traffic, I was happy to be home! I stuck my key into the door and turned the handle….chaos ensued.

Gonzo was swinging through the air, as if he were on a trapeze! All I could see was his butt, sticking up, out of the planter that had contained my spider plant. He was digging in the soil, as if searching for buried treasure. Soil and pieces of plant were everywhere! I was so shocked, all I could yell was, “Gonzo!”

Upon hearing that, Gonzo lifted his head, distracted from his adventure and let out a chattering noise that sounded like a dolphin! He realized he was in trouble. Yet, still swinging, and with potting soil stuck to his nose, he went back to digging. Only, with more urgency, as he knew his little adventure was coming to an end. I attempted to jump and grab at him but, he was too high up! “Get out of there,” I said in a half angry, half trying not to laugh, voice. I couldn’t reach him so, I started climbing onto the back of the love seat. As soon as I was within reaching distance, Gonzo leaped to escape! He took off running like a greyhound, chasing a rabbit.

I started cleaning his mess and, at first, was pretty pissed off about it. However, after seeing that it didn’t really do any damage and all the soil cleaned up with a little vacuuming, I giggled to myself. I took a step back and realized the distance that he had to have jumped, in order to even get into that pot! I still don’t know how he did it. It was at least a good 5 to 6 feet from the back of the love seat, to the pot that the plant was in!

I concluded that he was crazy and went looking for him, so he could be scolded. Everytime I got close to him, for the rest of the day, he took off running. After which, he would stop (once far enough away that there was no chance I could reach him), look right at me, and meow in triumph! Gonzo 2 – Humans 0

Gonzo’s Antics – Memories of One Cool Cat | Part II

February 25, 2019

Author: Melissa Sitzman

Gonzo 2 — Gonzo – Wasn’t He A Gorgeous Cat!?

Part II

It was a hot summer day and work had been hell! I couldn’t wait to get home to relax and unwind. I usually took a shower after work because, being a veterinary assistant, is a dirty job. I was too tired, though. I just wanted to lay back on my bed and cool off.

I had a California king size waterbed, at that time. If you’ve never had a waterbed in the summer, you haven’t lived! You turn the heater for it off and it’s like laying in an ice box.

I was finally home! I put my purse down where I always kept it, next to the bed, and kicked my shoes off. I turned with my back towards the bed and plopped down on it with my entire body. SPLASH!! I screamed because the water was so cold and I was drenched!

Luckily the waterbed liner held up, keeping the water from flooding my condo or the condominium downstairs. I immediately suspected a cat popped the mattress but, couldn’t be sure. Being on the top floor made draining the water that remained in the mattress, a great time. I had hoses running out the window and down the side of the building to a grassy area.

Once all the water was cleaned up and I was left with a ton of wet towels, it was time to investigate. I started inspecting the mattress to see where the hole was. I couldn’t find it, at first. Then I saw it! At the very corner were three very distinct rips. It was a cat!!

My ex and I had adopted a second cat, a female that we named Princess. It was time to see which cat was guilty. I took each cat and gently pushed their paws so their nails came out and tried lining the nails up with the three tears. Princess was still too little. It didn’t match up.

As soon as I picked Gonzo up and walked over to the mattress, I knew he was guilty. He started wiggling and trying to get away from me! I managed to get him to calm down enough for me to try to see if his nails matched up to the rips.. BINGO! His nails lined up with those tears, perfectly!

I couldn’t be mad at him though, I should’ve known that waterbeds and cats, just don’t mix. Gonzo 1 – Humans 0

Gonzo’s Antics – Memories of One Cool Cat | Part I

February 22, 2019

Author: Melissa Sitzman

Part I

In 1999 I married my, now, ex husband and we bought a nice two bedroom condominium. It was on the top floor, had big vaulted ceilings and skylights and beautiful cream colored carpet. I worked as a veterinary assistant at a vet hospital that was just a few miles away. Despite being busy with work, I felt like something was missing from my life and decided I needed a pet!

I always had dogs while growing up but, didn’t think a condo would be ideal for one. So, I decided to go to the local animal shelter to look at cats. I had my heart set on adopting a black one because, they’re usually the last to be adopted.

There were so many cats there, I felt bad for the ones I passed by! They were all meowing and acting crazy, trying to get my attention. Then I came to a jet black cat with huge copper colored eyes. He didn’t make a sound and sat in a very “prim and proper” manner. I knew right then, he was the one!

I went and told the shelter staff which one I wanted to see, and was met with a sigh. The lady told me that I couldn’t adopt that one because he was scheduled to be euthanized the next day. She explained that he had an upper respiratory infection and had been sick for awhile. I was really upset! They were going to put him down over a respiratory infection!? Telling me that just made me want him more.

I demanded to talk to a supervisor and explained that I worked at a veterinary hospital. I told them I wanted to adopt him, despite him being sick! I knew he could get better after just a few days on antibiotics. After the supervisor realized that I worked at one of the veterinary hospitals that did spays and neuters for them, she agreed to let me take him home. However, it was under the condition that I had to return him, if he wasn’t better in one week. I agreed.

I filled out all the paperwork and took him home. I named him Gonzo because my sister in law had a cat named Fozzie. He recovered from his upper respiratory infection within three days so, I got to keep him! The veterinarian I worked for, thought he was about 9 months old and so, Gonzo’s antics began…..

Raw Pet Food, The FDA and My Sick Cat

February 11, 2019

Author: Melissa Sitzman

My interest in raw pet food started when my cat, Princess, was diagnosed with feline diabetes, in 2008. At that time, her veterinarian wrote a prescription for insulin and showed my husband and I, how to give injections. She got them twice a day.

After a few years of insulin shots, and feeding an expensive food that her vet recommended, Princesses health hadn’t improved as much as hoped. In fact, the vet kept increasing the insulin doses plus, she had also developed IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). I was scared we were going to lose her! That’s when I began my own, intensive research on feline diabetes and feline nutrition. My findings left me in complete shock! For eight years, I had been feeding her a food that might have been responsible for her poor health!

Let me pause here to say, I am not affiliated with, nor am I receiving compensation from any of the companies, brands, websites, people, agencies and/or organizations that I’m about to mention. I’m simply recounting my personal experiences. I am not a veterinarian and you should always do your own research and work with your pet’s veterinarian to make decisions about your pets health and diet.

Now back to where I left off.

Thanks to the website catinfo.org, authored by Lisa A. Pierson D.V.M., I learned what a species appropriate diet for a cat, really is. I was forced to ask myself, “what would a cat eat in the wild?” The answer; not kibble! Cats would eat raw meat. For example; mice, birds, rabbits, squirrels and maybe some fish (if they were lucky). Cats are carnivores, yet, most commercial pet foods are packed with grains, vegetables, and all kinds of mysterious ingredients (some of which I can’t even pronounce).

Veterinary offices profit from selling “prescription diets” that manufacturers and distributors sell, exclusively, to them. This isn’t because of any law or regulation. It’s simply a marketing tactic used by pet food manufacturers. Most people think that the food must be good for their pets health, if a veterinarian is selling it, right? That’s not necessarily true.

In 2012, I took a leap of faith and decided, against our veterinarian’s wishes, to start feeding both of my cats, a raw pet food. Rad Cat was just about the only raw cat food on the market, at that time, that could be purchased locally. So, that’s what I switched my cats to. At first, my cats didn’t want to eat it. It wasn’t until I mixed it with canned food, that they devoured it! I started weaning them off of kibble and slowly replaced it with more raw and canned food.

Then, one day, Princess didn’t seem to be doing well, at all. I rushed her to a vet hospital, where I learned that her blood glucose levels were dangerously low! Because I had changed her food, and because her regular veterinarian had kept her on the same amount of insulin (despite me telling him about the diet change), she nearly died! Her blood glucose had dropped to dangerously low levels. After the vet stabilized her, I decided it was time to switch veterinarians. The new vet taught me how to test blood glucose levels at home, and how to know when, and if, Princess needed insulin. She hasn’t had an insulin injection, since!

Feeding raw food, not only seemed to send Princesses diabetes into remission, it seemed to cure her digestive issues, as well. I had never seen my cats so healthy and happy! I wish I could end this blog post here but, I can’t….

Princess will be turning 19 years old this coming April and due to unforeseen circumstances, I’m now afraid for her health, once again! A few months ago, I went to buy more Rad Cat and was told that it was no longer available. Apparently, the manufacturer had gone out of business. I couldn’t make sense of what I was being told! When I first started feeding it, it was very hard to find. Over the years, it became widely available and quite popular! My local pet food store had an entire freezer dedicated to Rad Cat but, now it sat empty. So many questions ran through my head, and a sinking feeling washed over me as I realized what this meant for Princess and her health! There are no other raw foods that have the same ingredients, that are widely available, that I can switch her to! I, literally, cried.

I was forced to feed only the canned food that I had been mixing with Rad Cat for years. I had no idea how to make raw pet food, myself. I was scared to even try! I feared I wouldn’t be able to create a balanced diet, with everything cats need. Desperate and determined to help her, I bought EZ Complete mix for cats and started making raw food, myself. Despite my efforts, Princess was recently rushed to the local emergency veterinary hospital. She had blood in her stool. Her IBD symptoms came back, after all these years. It became obvious that I’m not able produce the same quality or recipe that Rad Cat could. Why was all of this happening!? Why did Rad Cat go under?

Upon visiting Rad Cat’s official website, and reading a page titled “The Rad Cat FDA Experience,” (which I’ll link to below) I was horrified to read what happened to their company! The FDA, seemingly, targeted them, and continues to target other raw pet food manufacturers, for unknown reasons. Reasons that don’t even make sense. All of Rad Cat’s products ended up being recalled and it was financially devastating to their small company. I hadn’t even been aware of the recalls and not one time, did my cats exhibit illness, while eating their food. In fact, quite the opposite. Plus, no one living in our house ever got sick from a food borne illness, either!

The FDA recently started collecting samples, only from raw pet food companies, and testing them for things like Salmonella and E. Coli. Why not collect samples from all pet food manufacturers. Does this really seem fair? I don’t think so and neither do the manufacturers, themselves! Please visit the Rad Cat website and read their side of the story. Please also visit some of the other, related, links below.

My issue with all of this is; First, my cat has been sick since Rad Cat went out of business and I know I’m not the only one going through this. I belong to a multitude of cat health groups on Facebook, where many people have expressed concern for their cats health now that Rad Cat isn’t available. My second problem is with the reason the FDA has given for cracking down on raw pet food… because it doesn’t make sense! On the website titled; “Raw Pet Food and the AVMA’s Policy” (which I will link to below) they quote the FDA as saying,

“FDA does not believe raw meat foods for animals are consistent with the goal of protecting the public from significant health risks…”

Also, the FDA’s website states that raw pet foods are more likely to be contaminated with food borne pathogens. Which simply isn’t true!

If you go to the website Truthaboutpetfood.com and read the article titled; “Let’s Get the Facts Straight FDA,” the author breaks down, for comparison, how many pounds of dry kibble and how many pounds of raw food were recalled for salmonella, over a five year period. Dry kibble had far more pounds of food recalled than raw food did. I highly recommend reading the entire article (I will link to it below.)

Therefore, if the FDA is REALLY so concerned about public health, then why are they only testing raw pet foods? Why not test all pet foods, equally? Do they not care about the public health hazards that dry kibble obviously has? Why is dry food exempt from such scrutiny? Is there some sort of agenda to put the raw pet food manufacturers out of business? Could it be because raw food actually makes pets healthy and when pets are healthy, pharmaceutical companies lose business? The FDA’s actions seem to be at the very least, biased. At worst, completely corrupt!

So, who makes sure that the FDA is following laws and regulations? No one does and they apply them as they see fit. The law states that there has to be enough pathogen present in a food TO MAKE AN ANIMAL OR PERSON SICK, in order to force a recall. (This information is on the Rad Cat website.) Not any amount! The FDA clearly has too much power and that is power is being abused!

It also should be noted, that pets can be carriers of pathogens, themselves, without ever exhibiting any symptoms. Therefore, just because an animal or its feces test positive for a pathogen, DOESN’T MEAN IT CAME FROM THEIR FOOD! Pathogens are everywhere, wild animals shed them, humans shed them, etc.. Salmonella can live on hard surfaces and fabrics for hours. There is no possible way to conclusively determine where an animal was expose to a pathogen. Yet, the FDA wants companies to recall their foods based on such findings. Even when pathogens they find from food samples don’t match with pathogens taken from a pet or their feces! As is the case with another raw food manufacturer, Hare Today. (Again, I will leave a link below.)

So what are concerned pet parents to do? I’ll tell you what I’m going to do and I hope many of you will join me. I’m going to send a copy of this to the FDA, Congress, The White House, all local representatives, etc… and demand something be done about it!

Also, if you do feed your pets raw food; wash your hands, regularly sanitize all surfaces in your home including pets food and water dishes and handle feces with disposable gloves. If you practice safe food and waste handling procedures, like we have in our home, you will eliminate most of the risk.

If you don’t feed your pets raw food, I believe that you should know the percentage of carbohydrates and protein in the food that you are feeding. Because this isn’t required on pet food labels, a little math is required in order to figure this out. The website catsite.com has a really good examples of the required calculations in an article titled, “How To Compare Cat Foods & Calculate Carbs: Dry Matter Basis.” I highly recommend reading the information they share on that webpage. (I’ve included a link below.)

Just a little research, can go a long way when it comes to the health of your pets!

Website links in the order they were mentioned:

Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition

The Rad Cat FDA Experience

Raw Pet Foods and The AVMA’s Policy: FAQ

Let’s Get the Facts Straight FDA

Second Raw Pet Food Maker Refuses to Recall Product

How to Compare Cat Foods and Calculate Carbs: Dry Matter Basis

Other related websites that may be of interest:

FDA Recommendations Conflict with Their Own Data

Some Points on Two Recent Raw Dog Food Recalls

The Two Percent of Pet Food that is Hated by Regulatory