Recent Content by pat traufield

I recommend using play and treats to get her acting more normal again. Use an interactive toy - a toy like Da Bird where you are really participating with her.

What was different about the 2-3 months she did not go outside of the box? If you have taken fecal samples in a worked with the vet to rule out medical causes - well that is the first step. If you have ruled out medical causes then you may want to work with a behaviorist. When I do a...

Otto and Darlili are right on!!! Pair these brief exposures with your resident kitties very very favorite treats - for awhile they only time she should get these goodies is during the brief exposures. Keep them brief - better to end an exposure on a positive note after 30 seconds than have...

I agree that ideally you should consult with a professional cat behaviorist. Have you tried putting bitter apple spray on your skin?

1. I used unscented, clumping clay litter (precious cat brand) 2. Regular extra large open cat litter boxes. Litter boxes should be 1.5 times the length of the cat (minus the tail). If kitty is 12 inches from tip of nose to base of tail litter box should be 18 inches long. 3. Located in...

Usually when introducing dogs to cats it is the cats safety that is a concern. In those cases where the cats is the aggressor it is treated like a cat to cat intro.

The first time I encountered ringworm in a shelter I was also suprised to learn that euthanasia was their solution. After all I had gotten ringworm myself when I was a groomer and it was easily cured. As I learned more I found that the problem with ringworm in a shelter environment is that the...

I also have an animal shelter background fortunately at a really good shelter. The shelter I used to work for actually intentionally home-fosters adult cats during the spring/summer and brings them back into the shelter when kitten season is over. Can you apply to become an official foster...

There are several ways to tell playing from fighting. Play should be recirocal - they should take turns chasing and being chased, swatting and being swatted, etc. Also if the cat who seems to be getting the worst of has a chance to escape and does not take it it is probably play.

I have done pet behavior consults for years and have never heard a tale like this. What would be ideal is if there is a pet behavior specialist in your area that can actually come into the home and perform a full-scale evaluation and case history before making any recommendations.

The grey tabby is just comforting himself - not an abnormal behavior.

I also use vinegar most of the time. I occassionally use bleach and when I do that I keep the cats and dogs away until the floor is dry.

If an animal has been starving the impulse is to feed feed feed. That can be hard on their bodies. Try to feed her freuqent but small meals.

Meals followed by play is great for the cat and possibly deadly for the dog - standards poodles have bloat tendencies. It does seem like the poo gets good physical exercise. Agility and/or any obedience training would be great. Probably she should also practice Nothing In Life Is Free with...

En enzyme cleaner is what you need and make sure to follow the directions closely. There is a stage in the process where it will smell worse - as the enzymes eat the proteins in the urine their disgestive by-product is ammonia.