When I started working with cats about 25 years ago, it was purely out of self-interest. My cat, Kitamus, recently passed away. I decided to volunteer at a local animal shelter to spend more time with cats. necessary I wish I had more cats in my life. At the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in San Francisco, there was plenty of instant gratification, like snuggling with purring cats and playing with playful kittens. These people had no problems finding new homes.
However, there was another population of cats at the shelter, some of whom were not coping well with the transition to shelter life. Cats who lost their place, hid, hissed, and didn't want to be hugged were what we called “badly behaved cats.” When I got to know them, I realized that my mission at the shelter was not to meet my own needs, but to meet theirs.
Although these animals didn't give me instant gratification, working with them ultimately became the most rewarding part of my experience at the shelter. Their rehabilitation required a lot of patience and time (not to mention gentle handling, treats, and playtime). The good news is that they have always been able to find new homes where they can bloom.
But finding a home for your cat isn't the only thing that's important. We must ensure that the cat can live in the home. Cats often end up in shelters because of their behavior. Fear, aggression, dirt in the house, etc. are intolerable for humans. I decided to become a cat behavior consultant because I wanted to learn everything I could about cats and be able to help remove them from shelters.
Eventually, I found myself in my first customer's living room. They were a newly engaged couple who had just merged their family: Jennifer and her elderly cat, Simon, and John and his energetic pup, Chip. Simon was peeing on the couch and didn't want anything to do with Chip, so it's safe to say he didn't get along.
As I talked to them to get more information, I noticed that John was avoiding eye contact with me. He sat hunched over with his arms crossed. A few minutes into our conversation, he stormed out of the room.
“He wants me to put Simon to sleep,” Jennifer whispered with tears in her eyes. In fact, I almost cried a little myself. Have I gone crazy? Should she tell her to dump John?
After the moment of panic wore off, I realized the stakes were high. I was able to help Jennifer identify changes she could make to her environment, such as moving the bathroom to a place where Simon felt safe. Adding pet stairs will give Simon access to higher spots where he can escape from chips. I introduced her to a reputable dog trainer who will help Chip become a happy and well-mannered puppy, and I plan to shower both pets with treats when we are together to build a positive relationship with each other. I set it up.
Since then, I've worked with hundreds of cat owners and seen it all. Couples who break up because of cats or who sleep in separate beds. People are afraid to have guests over because their house smells like cat urine. A sleep-deprived human and a cat who stays up all night.
Many of these people have realized that even though they have lived with cats their entire lives, they often don't know much about the cat species. Cats have instincts to scratch, climb, hide, hunt, and eliminate in clean spaces. They are territorial and can be wary of newcomers. These instincts can lead to conflict if you don't give your cat an acceptable outlet, such as a sturdy scratching post, cat tree, hiding place, or clean litter box. And if you try to introduce another pet too quickly, the fur can literally fly away.
Once pet parents understand their cat's happiness, they will know how to provide a healthy environment for their cat. Although cats can't directly tell us what's bothering them, we can learn a lot by observing them carefully. From there, we can better interpret what our cat's behavior is saying and, as a result, develop a better relationship with him.
A few years after I met Jennifer and John, they came to the same San Francisco shelter where I started this work. They were happily married and looking for a new cat to adopt. Simon recently passed away from old age. His relationship with Chip went so well that the couple felt ready to bring home another cat. It ended much better than I expected as I sat in their living room that first afternoon.
When I started on this path, my only goal was to help cats. It's what gets me out of bed every morning and what gives my life meaning. It took me a while to realize how useful this work actually is to humans as well.
Mikel Maria Delgado is a scientist and author based in Sacramento He is also the author of the upcoming book “Let's Play with Cats!'' A basic guide to interactive play for happier, healthier cats. ”
