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Question
I have 2 questions..I have a 4 year old female cat who is very affectionate and is a total lap cat. My husband and I were just married last month and we just fully moved into our home on October 16 when we came back from our honeymoon. That is also the day that we brought Skyla, our cat, to our new home. She was getting used to everything. Then on October 27, we brought home a male boxer puppy. He's very fiesty with Skyla at times. She has to get to the highest part of the couch to get away from him, or go behind the couch. She hisses at him and swats her paw, only that makes Coupe (our boxer pup) think that she's playing so then he starts going crazy barking and jumping in the air. We make the "SHH" sound and say no to him and then he'll find his toy to play with. How can we make it easier for them to be around eachother? She tries to go on my lap, but once the pup sees her, she quickly goes back on top of the couch. My other question is Skyla has this problem where she constantly feels that she is going to have a hairball. So, when she hisses alot, she crouches down, holds her neck out and makes a "congested cough sound" as if a hairball were to come up, but it never does. She has very long hair. Is this normal for long haired cats to do? Is there anything I can do to help her not do this?
Lisa,
The dog must be taught control around the cat. It isn't fair for him to terrorize the cat, after all she as there first...Leashing the dog would allow you to implement commands and train the dog so that he gains manners. Puppies aren't known for having lots in the way of manners. Cesar Milan's book/shows may help to get things going in the right direction for you as he is the Dog Whisperer.
As for the hairball issue - I would recommend feeding Skyla about a tablespoon of canned pumpkin 2x daily, just be sure it's not pumpkin pie filling as this would likely be poorly received. Failing that you can get commercial preparations of hairball remedy or speak to your family vet about medications like tonic-lax or laxatone. Brushing Skyla in a quiet, dog free room with a de-shedding tool once daily may help to alleviate the furball issue.
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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