Unlike dogs, cats do not have an innate instinct to live in a family. For a dog, the concept of family is natural because its ancestors lived and hunted in packs that had a highly developed social structure. With the exception of lions, felines large and small are solitary hunters and are accustomed to fending for themselves. You can't force a cat to do anything it doesn't want to do. Therefore, to change any of her unwanted behavior, you must offer an alternative that suits both of you.

The cat loves you and enjoys your company. But if you want to convince her to do things “your way,” you must answer the most important question for her: why do I need this?

The positive thing is that habit plays a very important role for a cat. Once she learns where to sharpen her claws, what to chew, and where to go to the bathroom, she will get used to the new routine.

Whether this kitten's story will have a happy ending depends on how successfully his new owner is able to cope with his behavior problems

YES, kitty!

Reward your cat for good behavior praise, treats, affection and games. If your cat sharpens his claws on a special post, be sure to let him know that you approve of this: play with him with a toy on a string, a tennis ball, or something else. Praise your cat for using the litter box, eating her plants rather than yours, and attacking her toys rather than your slippers. Your cat wasn't born knowing the rules of living with people, and if you make following those rules enjoyable, you'll be much more likely to have your cat follow them.

No, kitty!

Never hit a cat and never give it a reason to think that any punishment is coming from you. Physical punishment for a cat is not just pointless, but much worse. What's worse is that it stresses out your cat and makes him afraid of you.

Another technique works for cats: she must be convinced that any wrong action on her part automatically entails an unpleasant reaction for her - and that you have nothing to do with it. For example, the sofa that she likes to sharpen her claws on is now covered with something that she doesn't like to touch. Every time she jumps up on the table, she feels the tingling of electrical discharges on her paws, or a stream of water hits her from behind.

Below is a list of traps that are very effective at repelling cats. and will help you live with your cat in complete harmony and harmony.

A spray bottle is one of the tools for solving behavioral problems. But this helps best when the cat feels like the water is coming “out of nowhere.”

Use water and loud sounds . Try gently spraying your cat with a stream of water from a spray bottle or releasing compressed air from a can. You can also shake tin can with coins (cats are scared off by loud noises) or squeezing a squeaking dog toy (cats don't like this sound, but dogs do, so don't use this trick if you have a dog!). All of these techniques will cause the cat to stop at the moment of "committing the crime", and, most likely, she will decide that it is not in her best interest to continue or repeat.

Use a cover. Cover surfaces you don't want your cat touching with double-sided tape, foil or plastic, or plastic mats with pointed tips pointing up. An electrostatic mat called Scat Mat (found in pet stores or ordered from a catalogue), which produces a mild shock, is excellent as a covering for tables and furniture.

Wooden mousetraps. Another device that will help explain to the cat where it should not be. Buy several unbaited mousetraps and place them upside down on a table or in a trash can with newspaper on top. This device is not intended to catch or injure the cat, but simply to scare it. When the cat touches the trap, it will jump and slam shut with an expressive click, which will help convince the cat that it is better not to go where such traps are located.

Covering with something unpleasant. Cover the area where the cat should not tread with a substance that tastes disgusting to the cat, such as Tabasco sauce or Bitter Apple. This is essentially another type of trap that helps in some cases. There's no need to use a lot of nasty stuff: your cat has a very keen sense of smell and taste!

• disorientation;
• loss of appetite;
• anxiety;
• changes in sleep patterns;
• increased vocalization;

Health to your pets!

Feline dementia is very real problem in cats older than 10 years.

This is one of the most common diseases in older cats, and sometimes it is difficult for the owner to understand what is happening if this “delicate” moment is not taken into account. Dementia in cats, like in humans, is caused by brain damage caused by natural aging.

Signs of dementia vary between felines, but in general, they include:

• disorientation;
• incorrect social behavior;
• loss of appetite;
• anxiety;
• inability to acknowledge people;
• changes in sleep patterns;
• increased vocalization;
• loss of skills (for example, the animal forgets how to use the litter box or other learned behaviors).

The best way to combat dementia is to keep your brain active and young. For example, encourage your cat to play every day. Don't let her become lazy.

Use premium training. Even if your cat already has symptoms of dementia, try teaching her new things. This will help her mind stay active. For example, to get a treat, train your cat to jump to a special place on command. Your cat may not be able to learn, but it's worth a try - at least challenge her mind.

Reduce stress. Identify what is contributing to your cat's anxiety and find ways to eliminate or reduce it. Maybe she has arthritis and has difficulty negotiating heights. You can install steps or slopes. Likewise, if your cat has difficulty using the litter box, move it to a more accessible location. Cats with dementia are often disoriented. Reducing disorientation is achieved by limiting oneself to one area of ​​the house where there is less room to get lost. Make sure that the cat is not isolated from communication and the confinement does not drive it into even greater stress.

Make big changes slowly. If there are changes to your usual environment (moving, reshuffling, new family members, etc.), make sure that you introduce these changes slowly and carefully. Sudden, dramatic changes will cause additional anxiety and will only make the dementia worse.

It is important to reevaluate your cat's diet. The nutritional needs of a kitten and a 12-year-old cat are not the same. Older cats need food they can easily digest, and vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids will help keep them sane.

Observe the behavior and report any changes to your veterinarian, even if they seem minor. It's important to spot signs of dementia as early as possible so steps can be taken to slow it down.

Stimulate your sense of smell. Scent is a huge part of how a cat experiences life. With age, the olfactory function fades. Introduce new scents, but be careful: synthetic perfumes, air fresheners and essential oils are not suitable for these purposes. Use safe, cat-friendly scents such as catnip, commercial treats (chicken breast strips, etc.)

Keep her socialized. Don't leave your cat alone often or for long periods of time. This will only increase her anxiety and lead to antisocial behavior. If you inevitably have to be away for a long time, have someone look after your cat.

Have regular checkups with your veterinarian, even if your older cat appears healthy. There are many physical problems that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Don't jump to the conclusion that your cat has dementia until you have ruled out all other health problems common in older cats, such as renal failure, arthritis, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and heart problems.

You can make life with dementia much easier for both your pet and yourself, or even prevent it if you take action as early as possible. Don't forget to stimulate your pet's brain. Reduce stress and don't skip visiting your veterinarian.

Health to your pets!

Based on materials from PetCouncil 2017 No. 5

All cat breeds have common behavior patterns. They sleep most of the time, purr when petted, well-mannered ones regularly go to the toilet in their accustomed place.

The cat behavior scenario is repeated every day and the owner gets used to it.

But there are times when a pet behaves differently than usual, displaying manners that are completely unusual for it. Changes in the behavior of cats should not be ignored; they can indicate certain internal problems in the animal’s body.

Cats have been close companions to humans for a long time, and it is natural that all the animal’s manners are studied and there are explanations for all changes in behavior.

Tray refusal

An unpleasant and inconvenient problem is the sudden refusal of the tray. Cats begin to ignore their usual place and relieve themselves in the most unexpected places.

Educational measures will not help in this case. Unusual behavior indicates problems in the pet’s body. This may be inflammation of the urinary tract, which provokes painful urination; painful symptoms may occur with inflammation of the intestines and problems in the kidneys and liver.

Cats don't have logical thinking, they only know what is good and what is bad for them. So it turns out that the tray is associated with
animal in pain. There is no need to waste time; the animal urgently needs a veterinarian examination.

The second reason for refusing a litter box is less alarming; it may be a consequence of stress. Cats react painfully to a change in their usual environment or to the appearance of a new pet. In this case, only more attentive and affectionate treatment can help, but without excessive intrusiveness.

Sometimes the owners themselves provoke their pet to retaliate with their rude behavior.

Sleep disturbance

Sleep for cats is an important component of their health. Just like people, cats restore spent physical and mental strength during sleep and, there is an assumption that they dream.

The similarities don't end there; just like humans, they can have sleep disorders. If cats, for one reason or another, do not get the necessary portion of sleep, their behavior radically changes.

Uncharacteristic behavior is manifested in excessive irritability and uncontrollable appetite. Insomnia in cats is mainly caused by stress, and the reasons for its manifestation are the same as in the case of the litter box.

But excessive sleepiness in your pet may indicate more serious problems. Special attention You need to pay attention to the position in which the cat sleeps. If she is upright and very spread out, she may have a fever. Excessive sleepiness can be a sign of heart disease and thyroid problems.

Do not forget that changes in the weather such as heat and severe frost also cause drowsiness in cats. But if you notice any deviations from the norm, it is better to consult a veterinarian. Extra prevention never hurts.

Cats have very high self-control and are able to hide signs of illness for a long time. In many cases, only the sensitivity of the owner helps prevent the development of the disease.

There is a cat living in your house, and it seems to you that you know absolutely everything about your pet, you have studied its habits and... It is so usual for you that she is lazy all day long, washes herself while sitting on the doorstep, and when she wants your affection and your attention, she rubs herself so funny against your legs... It is noteworthy that if you interview several cat owners, then this “standard description of cat behavior” will fit if not all representatives of the cat family, then certainly the majority of them. And, in principle, when we get a cat in our house, we expect it to behave this way...
But, what to do if your pet’s behavior suddenly changes dramatically? She behaves differently than before, and this plunges you into bewilderment, and you seriously begin to worry and worry about her health.
About some changes in cat behavior and why it happens and what it means– our publication today...

In order to understand the essence of the problem, which is directly related to changing the cat’s behavior, it is necessary to understand what motivates your cat when she changes her habits, and what she wants to achieve by changing her behavior...

Let's start with the most common and not very pleasant problem - the cat goes to its usual place and ignores its cat litter and instead relieves itself where it has to. You have already tried both the stick method (in this case, you “told” your cat more than once that you can’t do this) and the carrot method (you tried to persuade her in a good way), but nothing helped. A previously well-mannered and clean cat has suddenly turned into an uncontrollable animal that causes mischief in all corners of your apartment. Why? Oh, did you know that

refusal to use the toilet may be associated with... physiological problems in the animal’s body.

So, for example, painful urination (which can be an independent disease or act as a accompanying symptom other diseases) the cat may begin to associate with its litter box, so in order to avoid pain, the cat will avoid its litter box. In this case, you should definitely show your animal to a veterinarian in order to eliminate the possibility of inflammation of the lower urinary tract, in which urine begins to crystallize in the animal’s urethra and thereby causes pain to the animal during urination itself. Also,

If your cat has stopped defecating in her litter box, you should check her health for possible inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism, liver and kidney disease.

All these diseases are also accompanied by painful urination and defecation. If we consider this change in your cat’s behavior from a psychological perspective, then the most common explanation for what is happening is the stressful situation in which the animal finds itself. Moving, rearranging - cats react to all this in their own way, and not like you and me...

Your cat’s “love” for indoor flowers and plants has a very prosaic explanation...

Your cat has declared war on your houseplant, and you caught her at the crime scene, where she was eagerly eating the leaves of your favorite indoor flower. What does all this mean? - Oh, what

your cat has serious health problems and when she eats indoor plants, at that moment a strong instinct of self-preservation is triggered in her body and thus she tries to independently find a cure for her illness.

As a rule, such eating of flowers is the first symptom that can tell you about problems with the digestive tract in your pet. You should not scold the animal for such pranks - after all, it was trying to help itself, just take the cat for a consultation with a veterinarian. Another option to explain this love for green vegetarianism is. In this case, it would also be appropriate to consult with a specialist who can prescribe you the course of vitamins necessary in your case...

Has your affectionate cat suddenly become aggressive? Does she lunge at you, bite and scratch you? And when you try to pick her up, she starts growling? In a word - your animal seems to have been replaced - this is your opinion... But, in fact -

During such aggressive attacks, your cat is very unhappy because she... is in severe pain.

It could be intestinal colic, toothache, problems with hearing and vision, anything (a veterinary specialist will help you find out this “anything”)... Remember yourself when you are in pain

– Do you always behave in a civilized and reserved manner? So, what should you ask from your cat? In this case, do not respond to aggression with aggression; try to help the animal by finding out the cause of its painful sensations and eliminating them. Then your cat will become kind and affectionate again, and she will also be very grateful to you for being able to help her...
At night, instead of sleeping, your cat behaves restlessly, walks around the apartment and meows... What does all this mean? No, this is not a manifestation of sleepwalking - this is a way to tell you that something is bothering her, something hurts, or she is scared of something. Talk to your cat (she understands you perfectly), calm her down, caress her...
Yours follows you around and doesn’t leave you even for a minute., and at the same time meows protractedly and pitifully? This means only one thing, the animal feels the approach of labor and asks you for help and support. Well, you, as a caring owner, are simply obliged to take care of her and help her, especially during this difficult period for her...
These are just a few clear examples of why your cat's behavior is changing and what's behind it. We hope that our recommendations and advice will help you better understand your animal, and your cat will once again become contented, affectionate, happy and healthy...

Video about cat behavior:

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How old is your pet? Ten? More? Then this is definitely the place for you! Because after 8-10 years, various age-related changes begin to occur in the cat’s body, which you need to be aware of and take into account. May your four-legged pet live happily ever after!

By the way, previously the age limit for our pets was much lower - 12-year-old cats were considered long-livers. It was man who raised the quality of life, and with it its duration, by one and a half to two times.

And now it is easy to meet cats that have reached 16-19 years of age, or even more. For example, in our clinic we see two cats, each 21 years old, and the most significant thing that worries them is their teeth, or rather, tartar, which is removed from them from time to time.

Well, the age of cats from the Guinness Book of Records generally exceeds the 30-year mark.

So, among pets, the number of “elderly” pets (approximately 30%) who need optimal care is increasing.

It is a fact that with the increase in the number of years lived, everything changes (and not only for cats :-)). Age-related changes affect all body functions. For now, we will consider only behavioral ones.

Reasons for behavior changes can become a number of diseases (including systemic ones) acquired by the animal over the years of life, brain pathologies, as well as CDS - cognitive dysfunction syndrome. First, let's look at medical ailments, and then move on to the most interesting part.

Osteoarthritis (joint disease) can be observed in 65% of cats over 12 years of age (the elbow and hip joints are most often affected, less often the knee and shoulder). Joint pain leads to decreased mobility and the appearance of aggressiveness when communicating with people and other animals.

Systemic hypertension (high pressure) often causes the pet to scream at night, disorientate them in space, lose consciousness, meaningless circular movements and even seizures.

Chronic kidney disease most strongly influences behavior change: polyuria (increased volume of urine) entails urination in the wrong places, and with a lack of water, dehydration of brain tissue. Polydipsia (increased thirst) causes cats to drink from containers that are not intended for this purpose. The development of acidosis (increased body acidity) causes weight loss and drowsiness. And severe uremia (self-poisoning of the body with nitrogenous waste from urine) leads to uremic encephalopathy, a non-inflammatory disease of the brain. In addition, kidney disease is often accompanied by hypertension (see above).

Hyperthyroidism (increased thyroid hormones) leads to the same consequences as chronic renal failure. In addition, it affects the concentration of thyroxine in the brain (manifests as anxiety and aggressiveness), causes polyphagia - the cat’s taste and appetite change.

Diabetes has the same consequences as chronic renal failure and hyperthyroidism. In addition, it can cause sensory or motor neuropathies (irritability, increased sensitivity to external influences (touch), muscle pain).

Urinary tract infections cause the animal pain and discomfort in the bladder or kidneys. The result is “incorrect” urination, anxiety, aggression, and depression.

Changes in appetite, weight loss, gastrointestinal diseases appearing due to physiological changes and pathological processes, are associated with a deterioration in the sense of smell and taste, pain in the oral cavity, for example, due to periodontal disease.

Hearing and vision loss Cats quickly adapt to blindness. With deafness the situation is worse. Cats with poor hearing begin to make loud noises (possibly at night) because they have difficulty hearing their voices.

Brain tumors more common in older cats (11 years and above). Meningioma, lymphoma, glioma, pituitary tumors are expressed by restlessness, circular movements and convulsions.

Pain, especially constant, greatly exhausts the animal. Chronic pain most often occurs with artiritis, as well as with inflammatory processes in other organs, for example, with periodontal disease and diseases of the digestive tract (obstruction). Cats, due to their evolutionary development, are able to cope even with severe pain.

Infectious diseases (viral immunodeficiency, viral leukemia, infectious peritonitis, toxoplasmosis) are the cause of neurological disorders and, consequently, behavioral changes.

So, there are many medical reasons for behavioral problems in older cats. And identifying them often requires a number of diagnostic studies. But if diseases are excluded, that is, when there is no obvious cause, then it is believed that the animal’s behavior changes under the influence cognitive dysfunction syndrome(SKD)

Alzheimer's? In cats?!

Yeah, something like that. Everything is like the big ones.

In cats with cognitive dysfunction syndrome, changes occur in the brain that lead to decreased mental abilities. This affects the processes of thinking, memory, learning new things, and using acquired skills.

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome is a progressive disease with increasing signs of senile behavior

A third of 11-14 year old cats have at least one of the behavioral disorders caused by CDS, and in 15 year old cats the number of such problems is no less than 50%.

The most striking symptom of cognitive dysfunction is disorientation. The cat seems to get lost in the apartment, hides in a corner or under furniture, bumps into door frames in an attempt to find the door, does not recognize the owners or other animals, and does not respond to calls.

The sleep-wake pattern is often disrupted (as a rule, the cat sleeps more during the day and much less at night).

The proportion of purposeful actions decreases and the frequency of aimless wandering increases. There may be movements in a circle or involuntary oscillatory movements - tremor, or, conversely, immobility, weakness.

Elderly cat may go to the potty less often and go to inappropriate places more often.

The quality of communication with the owners deteriorates, the animal asks for less and less affection and attention.

Where does SKD come from?

Possible reasons:

1. disturbance of cerebral blood supply - a change in the circulatory system of the brain due to hypoxia caused by heart disease, hypertension, anemia, impaired blood clotting, the formation of small hemorrhages near blood vessels, arteriosclerosis
2. tissue damage from free radicals As cells age, they process nutrients less and less well, the amount of energy decreases, and the number of free radicals in the cells increases, which the body’s antioxidant defense does not have time to neutralize. An excess of these radicals leads to tissue damage, with brain tissue being especially sensitive.

ACS diagnostics

For precise definition The reasons for changes in behavior in a cat require a complete examination. Unfortunately, both diagnosis and treatment of behavioral problems are often complicated by the presence of various diseases in the animal. And sometimes a combination of pathologies makes behavioral disorders especially severe.

On the other hand, sometimes behavioral symptoms that are actually caused by a serious illness are attributed to cognitive dysfunction syndrome.

The owner’s task is to identify “abnormalities” in the pet’s behavior and promptly report them to the doctor. In addition to changing behavior, it is important to monitor the amount of food and water consumed, weight loss, frequency of bowel movements and urination, etc.

And, of course, older animals need to regularly (1-2 times a year, more often with significant deviations) visit the veterinary clinic for a comprehensive examination (measurement of body weight, blood pressure, determination of the condition of the retina, concentration of thyroid hormones, motor activity, conducting orthopedic and neurological examinations, ultrasound diagnostics, tests and blood tests (general and biochemical), urine, etc.).

Dear owners! Timely detection of the disease and its correct treatment mean extended years of life for your pet.

Treatment of SCD

Treatment depends on the disease, this is understandable. What to do with “feline Alzheimer”?

Alas, while dogs diagnosed with SCD have been treated with medication (L-deprenyl is a drug used for people with Parkinson's disease), and then only in the USA and Canada, there are no approved medications for cats (some human remedies sometimes give positive result, but everything is still at the experimental stage).

Changing your diet may help. Ideally, food for older cats should contain antioxidants (a set of vitamins C, E and beta-carotene), essential fatty acids, as well as chondroprotectors (methionine, glucosamine, chondroitin) and the amino acids L-carnitine and lysine.

Someday!... In the meantime, we can offer our wards all possible treatment, comfort, peace, good food, and, most importantly, our love and care. Let our pets age gracefully!