Unlike dogs, cats do not have an innate instinct for family life. For a dog, the concept of a family is natural, because its ancestors lived and hunted in packs that had a highly developed social structure. With the exception of lions, the large and small representatives of the cat family are lonely hunters, and they are used to taking care of themselves. You cannot force a cat to do what she does not want to do. Therefore, in order to change any of its unwanted behavior, you must offer an alternative that will suit both of you.

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

The positive point is that for a cat, habit plays a very large role. After she understands where she can sharpen her claws, what to chew and where to go to the toilet, she will get used to the new routine.

Whether the story of this kitten will have a happy ending depends on how successfully its new owner will be able to cope with problems in his behavior.

YES, Pussycat!

Reward your cat for good behavior with praise, goodies, affection and games. If the cat sharpens its claws on a special column, then be sure to let it know that you approve of it: play with it a toy on a string, a tennis ball or something else. Praise the cat for using the cat tray, eating her plants, not yours, and attacking her toys, not your slippers. Your cat was not born with knowledge of the rules of living with people, and if you make the implementation of these rules pleasant, then you will have a much better chance that the cat will follow them.

No, kitty!

Never hit a cat and never give her a reason to think that any punishment comes from you. Physical punishment for a cat is not only meaningless, but much worse. And even worse, it causes stress in the cat and makes it afraid of you.

The cats have a different trick: they 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, a sofa that she likes to sharpen claws about is now covered in something that makes her uncomfortable to touch. Each time she jumps onto the table, she feels the tingling of electric discharges with her paws or a jet of water hits her from behind.

The following is a list of traps that repel cats very effectively.   and help you live with a cat in complete harmony and harmony.

A spray bottle is one of the tools to solve behavioral problems. But best of all, it helps in the case when the cat seems that the water comes "from nowhere."

Use water and loud sounds. Try to gently spray a cat with a stream of water from a spray bottle or release compressed air from a spray can. You can also shake a tin can with coins (a cat is frightened off by loud unpleasant sounds) or squeeze a squeaky toy for dogs (cats do not like this sound, but dogs love it, so do not use this technique if you have a dog!). All these tricks will make the cat stop at the time of the "commission of the crime", and most likely she will decide that to continue or repeat is not in her interests.

Use coating.   Cover surfaces that the cat should not touch with double-sided adhesive tape, foil or plastic, or plastic rugs with sharp tips pointing up. An electrostatic mat called Scat Mat (which can be found in pet stores or ordered from the catalog), which gives a slight electric shock, is perfect as a cover for tables and furniture.

Wooden mousetraps.   Another device that will help explain to the cat where it should not be. Buy a few mousetraps without bait and place them upside down on a table or in a bin, placing a newspaper on top. This device is not intended to catch a cat or injure it, but simply to frighten it. When the cat touches the trap, it will jump and slam shut with an expressive click that will help convince the cat that it is better not to go where such traps are.

Coverage with something unpleasant. Cover the place where the cat should not step with a substance with a disgusting taste for the cat - for example, Tabasco sauce or Bitter Apple bitter cream. This, in fact, is another kind of trap that helps in some cases. No need to use a lot of unpleasant substance: your cat has a very sharp sense of smell and taste!

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

Health to your pets!

Feline dementia is a very real problem in cats over 10 years old.

This is one of the most common diseases in elderly cats, and sometimes it’s difficult for the owner to understand what happens if you do not take this “delicate” moment into account. Dementia in cats, as in humans, is caused by brain damage caused by natural aging.

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

• disorientation;
• improper social behavior;
• loss of appetite
• anxiety;
• inability to recognize people;
• changes in the nature of sleep;
• increased vocalization;
• loss of skills (for example, the animal forgets how to use the tray, or other learned actions).

The best way to deal with dementia is to preserve the "active" brain from a young age. For example, encourage a cat to play every day. Do not let her become lazy.

Use premium training. Even if your cat already has symptoms of dementia, try to learn it new. 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 your cat's anxiety and find ways to eliminate or reduce it. Maybe she suffers from arthritis and has difficulty climbing. You can install steps or slopes. Similarly, if the cat is having trouble with the tray, move it to a more accessible place. Cats with dementia are often disoriented. Reducing disorientation is achieved by limiting one area of \u200b\u200bthe house where there is less space to get lost. Make sure that the cat is not isolated from communication and the conclusion does not drive it into even greater stress.

Make big changes slowly. If a change in habitat is expected (moving, moving, new family members, etc.), make sure that you introduce these changes slowly and carefully. Sudden dramatic changes will cause additional concern and only exacerbate dementia.

It is important to overestimate the cat's diet. The nutritional needs of a kitten and a 12 year old cat are not the same thing. Older cats need food that they can easily digest, while vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids help keep the mind alive.

Observe the behavior and inform your veterinarian of any changes, even if this seems insignificant. It is important to notice the signs of dementia as early as possible, so you can take steps to slow it down.

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

Keep it socialized. Do not leave your cat alone often and permanently. This will only increase her anxiety and lead to antisocial behavior. If you must inevitably be absent for a long time, ask someone to look after the cat.

Do regular check-ups with your doctor, even if an older cat seems healthy. There are many physical problems that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Do not prematurely conclude that your cat has dementia until you have ruled out all the other health problems that are characteristic of older cats, such as kidney failure, arthritis, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and heart problems.

You can make life easier with dementia for both your pet and yourself or even prevent it if you take appropriate measures as early as possible. Remember to stimulate your pet's brain. Reduce stress and do not neglect to visit a veterinarian.

Health to your pets!

Based on materials from Pet Council 2017 № 5

All cat breeds have common behaviors. Most of the time they sleep, purr when they are stroked, well-mannered regularly go to the toilet to the accustomed place.

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

But there are times when the pet does not behave as usual, showing completely unusual manners. Do not ignore changes in the behavior of cats, they can talk about certain internal problems in the body of the animal.

Cats have long been close companions of humans, and it is natural that all animal manners are studied and there are explanations for all changes in behavior.

Discard tray

An unpleasant problem that causes great inconvenience is a sudden rejection of the tray. Cats begin to ignore the usual place and relieve themselves in the most unexpected places.

Educational measures in this case will not help. Extraordinary behavior indicates problems in the body of the pet. It can be an inflammation of the urinary tract, which provokes painful urination, painful symptoms can be with inflammation of the intestine and with problems in the kidneys and liver.

Cats do not have logical thinking, they only know what is good for them and what is bad. It turns out that the tray is associated with
animal with pain. Do not waste time, the animal urgently needs a veterinarian examination.

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

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

Sleep disturbance

Sleeping for cats is an important component of their health. Just like humans, cats recover their spent physical and mental strength during sleep, and there is speculation that they dream.

The similarity does not end there; they, like people, may have sleep disturbance. If cats for one reason or another do not receive the necessary portion of sleep, their behavior changes radically.

An uncharacteristic behavior is manifested in excessive irritability and in an uncontrolled appetite. Insomnia in cats is mainly caused by stress, and the causes of its manifestation are the same as in the case of the tray.

But excessive drowsiness of a pet can talk about more serious problems. Particular attention should be paid to the position in which the cat sleeps. If she straightened up and stretched out, she might have a fever. Excessive drowsiness can be a sign of heart disease and thyroid disorders.

Do not forget that such changes in the weather as heat and severe frost also cause drowsiness in cats. But if you notice any abnormalities, it is better to consult a veterinarian. Excessive prevention never gets in the way.

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

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

   In order to understand the essence of the problem, which is directly related to the change in the behavior of a cat, you need to understand what drives your cat when she changes her habits, and what she wants to achieve with such a change in her behavior ...

We start with the most common and not very pleasant problem - a cat in a familiar place and ignores his cat toilet and instead relieves his need where necessary. You have already tried the whip method (in this case, you have repeatedly told your cat that you can’t do this) and the carrot method (you tried to persuade her in a good way), but nothing helped. A previously brought up and neat cat suddenly turned into an uncontrollable animal, which is dirty in all corners of your apartment. Why? Oh, did you know that

refusing a 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 concomitant symptom of other diseases) can begin to be associated with a cat's toilet in a cat, this, in order to avoid pain, the cat will avoid its toilet. In this case, you should definitely show your animal to the veterinarian in order to exclude the possibility of inflammation of the lower urinary tract, in which the urine begins to crystallize even in the urethra of the animal and thereby causes pain to the animal during urination itself. Also,

if your cat has stopped fulfilling the need for its cat toilet, you should check its health status for possible inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism, liver and kidney diseases.

All these diseases are also accompanied by painful urination and bowel movements. If we consider such a change in the behavior of your cat from a psychological point of view, then the most common explanation for what is happening is the stressful situation in which the animal fell. Relocation, rearrangement - cats react to all this in their own way, and not like you and I ...

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

Your cat declared war on your houseplantand you found her at the crime scene, where she ate with appetite the leaves of your favorite indoor flower. What does all this mean? - Ah, what

your cat has serious health problems and when she eats houseplants, at that moment the strongest instinct of self-preservation works in her body and thereby she tries to find a cure for her illness on her own.

As a rule, such eating of flowers is the first symptom that can tell you about the disturbances of the digestive tract in your pet. Do not blame the animal for such tricks - it was trying to help itself, just take the cat for a consultation with a veterinarian. Another option for explaining such a love of green vegetarianism is. In this case, it will also be appropriate to consult with a specialist who can prescribe the necessary course of vitamins in your case ...

Has your affectionate cat suddenly become aggressive?   Does she throw herself at you, bite and scratch? And when you try to pick her up - does she start to growl? In a word - your animal, as if replaced - this is your opinion ... And, in fact -

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

It can be intestinal cramps, toothache, problems with hearing and vision, anything (this “anything” will help you know a veterinarian) ... Remember yourself when it hurts

- Do you always behave culturally and with restraint? So what is required of your cat? In this case, do not respond with aggression to aggression, try to help the animal by finding out the cause of its painful sensations and eliminate them. Then your cat will again become kind and affectionate, and yet, she will be very grateful to you for being able to help her ...
Your cat at night, instead of sleeping, behaves uneasily, 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 disturbing her, something is hurting her, or she is afraid of something. Talk to your cat (she understands you perfectly), calm her down, caress ...
Yours is on your heels and does not leave you for a minute, and at the same time, it’s meowing and plaintive? This means only one thing, the animal feels the approach of childbirth and asks you for help and support. Well, and you, as a caring owner, are simply obliged to take care of her and help her, especially in this difficult period for her ...
  These are just a few good examples of why your cat’s behavior is changing and what is behind it. We hope that our recommendations and tips will help you better understand your animal, and your cat will again become happy, affectionate, happy and healthy ...

Video about cat behavior:

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How old is your pet? Ten? More? Then you are definitely here! Because after 8-10 years, various age-related changes begin to occur in the cat's body, which you need to know about and to be reckoned with. So that the four-legged pet lived happily ever after!

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

And now it’s easy to meet cats that have reached the age of 16-19, or even more. For example, in our clinic, there are two cats, each 21 years old, and the most important thing that bothers them is their teeth, or rather, tartar, which they remove from time to time.

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

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

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

Causes of Behavioral Changes   can be a number of diseases (including systemic) acquired by an animal over the years of life, brain pathology, as well as SKD - a cognitive dysfunction syndrome. First, consider medical ailments, and then pass on to the most interesting.

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

Systemic hypertension   (high pressure) often becomes the cause of night-time cries of the pet, disorientation in space, loss of consciousness, senseless circular movements and even seizures.

Chronic kidney disease   most strongly affects behavioral changes: polyuria (an increase in urine volume) entails urination in the wrong places, and with a lack of water - dehydration of brain tissue. Polydipsia (increased thirst) makes cats drink from inappropriate containers. The development of acidosis (an increase in the acidity of the body) causes weight loss and drowsiness. And severe uremia (self-poisoning of the body with nitrogenous urine toxins) leads to uremic encephalopathy - a non-inflammatory disease of the brain. In addition, kidney disease is often accompanied by hypertension (see above).

Hyperthyroidism   (an increase in thyroid hormones) leads to the same consequences as CRF. In addition, it affects the concentration of thyroxine in the brain (manifests itself as anxiety and aggressiveness), causes polyphagy - 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, hypersensitivity to external influences (touch), muscle pain).

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

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

Hearing and vision loss   Cats quickly adapt to blindness. Deafness is worse. Cats with poor hearing begin to make loud noises (possibly at night), because they can hardly hear their voice.

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

Pain , especially constant, greatly exhausts the animal. Chronic pain most often occurs with arthritis, as well as with inflammatory processes in other organs, for example, with periodontal disease and diseases of the digestive tract (obstruction). Cats, by virtue of 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, for behavioral disorders in older cats there are many medical reasons. And to identify them often requires a number of diagnostic studies. But if diseases are excluded, that is, when there is no obvious reason, then it is believed that the behavior of the animal changes under the influence of   cognitive dysfunction syndrome   (SKD)

Alzheimer? Have cats ?!

Yeah, kind of. Everything is like big ones.

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

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome   Is a progressive disease with increased signs of senile behavior

The third part of 11-14 year old cats has at least one of the behavioral disorders caused by SKD, and the 15-year-old cat has at least 50% of such problems.

The most striking symptom of cognitive dysfunction is disorientation. The cat, as it were, gets lost in the apartment, hides in a corner or under furniture, stumbles on jambs in an attempt to find the door, does not recognize the owners or other animals, does not answer the call.

Often the sleep and wakefulness patterns are disturbed (as a rule, the cat sleeps more during the day and much less at night).

The proportion of targeted actions decreases and the frequency of aimless wanderings increases. Movements in a circle or involuntary oscillatory movements are possible - tremor, or, conversely, inactivity, weakness.

An older cat may walk less often in a potty, and more often in inappropriate places.

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

Where does SKD come from?

Possible reasons:

1. violation of cerebral blood supply - a change in the circulatory system of the brain due to hypoxia caused by heart disease, hypertension, anemia, a violation of blood coagulation, the formation of small hemorrhages near the blood vessels, arteriosclerosis
2. damage to tissues by free radicals As cells age, they process nutrients worse and worse, the amount of energy decreases, the number of free radicals in the cells that the body's antioxidant defense does not manage to neutralize increases. Excess of these radicals leads to tissue damage, especially brain tissue.

Diagnosis of ACS

To accurately determine the cause of a change in behavior in a cat, a complete examination is necessary. Unfortunately, both the 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 a violation of behavior especially severe.

On the other hand, sometimes behavioral symptoms attributable to a serious illness are attributed to cognitive dysfunction syndrome.

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

And, of course, age-related animals need to visit the vet clinic regularly (1-2 times a year, with significant deviations) for a comprehensive examination (measuring body weight, blood pressure, determining the state 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 identification of the disease and its correct treatment are the extended years of your pet's life.

ACS treatment

Treatment is carried out depending on the disease, this is understandable. And what to do with “cat alzheimer”?

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

A change in 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 amino acids L-carnitine and lysine.

Here is someday! ... In the meantime, we can offer our wards adequate treatment, comfort, peace, good nutrition, and, most importantly, our love and care. Let our pets age beautifully!