Herding Cats at Home - March 2005

Another possibility is that you - out of love and a craving for her returned affection - might occasionally be "smothering" her (in her eyes, anyway). Cats generally object to being picked up and held, or stroked, when they don't feel like it - or when it's not their idea. Rather than seeing this as a sign of your love for her, your cat may see this as just "too much" - and thus prefer your husband, who may not be so "pushy" (again, in her eyes) in his attentions. I always make it a policy to let my cats come to me when they want to snuggle or just be together, rather than me approaching them. They come and go from my lap, computer table, etc., as they please and are quite adept at taking turns. (I have 9 cats.) Always remember: With cats, it's best to "never insist."

A: A cat Misha's age should be seeing her veterinarian at least twice a year - and immediately if you have any qualms at all about the state of her health. If Misha really gets life-threateningly upset going to the clinic (which is possible in such an elderly animal), ask your veterinarian of he or she might be willing to make a house call to see Misha. Many vets are happy to do this, especially for longtime clients. But one way or another, Misha really needs to see the doctor ASAP.

Cats in general tend to get worse very quickly when they're ill, and elderly cats even quicker. Even a "minor" infection could have serious consequences at her age. As I'm not a veterinarian, I can't speculate on what might be bothering Misha. Elderly cats are prone to a number of conditions that can severely reduce their quality of life, and keep them in constant pain or distress. Even if it's difficult for her, you'll be doing Misha a great favor by getting her veterinary attention as soon as possible.

I, too, have an elderly cat. Nika is about to turn 19, and she doesn't like going to the vet either! But we do go - for regular well-kitty checkups and whenever I'm concerned at all about her. She "sings" loudly all the way there, but I feel I owe it to her to make sure she gets the care she deserves.

A: I'll let an old-timer answer your question! The following quote is from an 1851 farming manual entitled, "The Farmer's Guide to Scientific and Practical Agriculture, Detailing the Labors of the Farmer In All Their Variety, And Adapting Them to the Seasons of the Year As They Successively Occur:" The author sagely advises his readers - farmers and hard pressed homesteaders -- that "...there is no way of scaring rats and mice from a steading so effectively as cats... a regularly fed cat... being in stout condition, from its daily wholesome food, feels itself strong enough to encounter any vermin and will destroy numbers in the course of a day."

What worked in 1851 still works today; a well-fed, healthy cat will dispatch many more rodents than a starving or desperate cat. The hunting instinct is deeply ingrained in cats, and is distinct from the hunger drive. Cats will stalk, chase, pounce and kill rodents even if they are full - because that's what cats do! The fitter and healthier they are, the more effective mousers they'll be.

The 1850 writer also advised his readers to provide for the comfort and pleasure of their working cats, so as to entice them into not only staying around, but working harder. "Let each cat receive daily, at its own particular place, and at a stated hour, say 11 o'clock AM, a mess of new milk and porridge, when it will attend to receive it as the hour arrives; and let each have a soft, warm, comfortable bed made for it in some quiet spot..." he writes.

I'm glad you're trapping your ferals for neutering and spaying as well as feeding them. I hope you're also getting them vaccinated against the common cat illnesses at the same time. I suspect you already know about these groups, but just in case, they all have loads of information and resources on feral colony management, trap-neuter-release and much more.