Shelter pets are lucky ones
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
Special to the Star-Herald
It is almost time for the biggest fund-raiser of the year for CAHS. The 2010 Paws for the Cause is almost here. This year our walk will be Saturday, June 5. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the walk is at 9:30 a.m. The Presque Isle Animal Hospital will be having a rabies clinic at our walk from 10-11 a.m. and Hotham’s Veterinary Services will be offering a micro-chipping clinic from 1-2 p.m. We will have a dog wash, pictures, refreshments and much more. For a pledge sheet please visit the shelter or go to www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org. You can also help us by printing out some posters and posting them around your town and school. We hope to see you there and bring your friends!!
Pedigree has a commercial; it says “Shelter dogs aren’t broken, they’ve simply experienced more life than other dogs. But do not pity shelter dogs, Help them.” I am not endorsing Pedigree, but I believe their commercial says it all.
People say to me “I can’t go to the shelter, it breaks my heart.” But the animals at the shelter are the lucky ones, the ones who were not hit by a car, torn apart by a coyote, left chained to a dog house or dying of starvation. They are the ones who are warm and fed, loved and taken care of; they are in a temporary home, waiting for their forever home, but safe. It is the same for cats; how many cats die of starvation or freeze to death in the winter? Many more than we care to think about. We are happy to help the ones at the shelter and continue to do so every day, whether you hear about it or not. Our job is non-stop, continual.
So even if it is tough on your heart, come to the shelter and see the wonderful work we do. You may just find a “forever friend.” So be part of the solution and help us to help them!
One reason that cats are brought in or sometimes returned to the shelter is for spraying, even female cats.
Feline behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett says “It surprises many cat owners to learn that female cats can spray. When a cat displays this behavior, she is marking her territory because she feels that it’s in danger. It may be because of something that’s changed in the house, or it could be because she spotted a strange cat outdoors. You need to be a detective and figure out what could be causing her to feel threatened. Do you have more than one cat? If so, perhaps the relationship between them has changed.”
Johnson-Bennett notes cats who spray are stressed, so don’t punish your kitty. Get to the root of the problem. Something has changed in or around your house, and it has caused your cat to become alarmed. It may be something that seems minor to you but is of major concern to your cat. The areas where she is spraying may help provide clues as to what the cause could be. If she’s spraying near windows, it could mean that she has seen a cat outside.
While you are conducting your investigation into the cause, Johnson-Bennett says be sure to clean and neutralize the areas she has sprayed. An enzymatic cleaner will remove the stain and odor. Using an ordinary household cleaner will only cover the odor. A cat’s sensitive nose will still be able to detect a trace of urine, which will trigger her to return to that spot.
WWW.usask.com suggests the following to deter your cat from urinating/spraying. There are several suggested behavioral methods of treating this problem. Be creative and use supplies around your house but remember that any method you use should not further stress the cat. The following are some popular methods:
• Place the cat’s food and water in the location(s) where the cat marks. The cat is less likely to mark near its food and water;
• Place aluminum foil or plastic at the base of the marking site and on the marking site. The cat may not like the sound and feel associated with them. The cat also cannot smell the site before marking so it disturbs the marking pattern;
• Pepper or cat repellent on the site(s) may deter the cat from marking;
• Place a tray of pinecones or marbles at the base of marking site(s). Similarly, covering the base of the site with upside down mousetraps is suggested by some experts; and
• Spraying the cat with water as it begins marking may be an effective deterrent. The cat should not know where the water is coming from. If the cat associates punishment with the site(s) and the behavior rather than the owner, it is more effective.
As you use these methods, pay close attention to the cat’s reaction. If the cat’s anxiety level increases, then discontinue and move on to another method.
Unfortunately, results of behavior modification methods vary. Some cats may be cured while others will simply change the urine marking site.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please consider adopting from the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441. Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
