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Expert: - 12/5/2008


Question
I have two cats, both male aged 10 and 4 who very rarely go outside and because I am out at work all day they look to me to entertain them when i get home which I dont always have time to do. The elder cat does sometimes go out, but wants to come back in after about 2 hours. I live in a city so it is not really a good area for them to be out and about all the time, even so, I feel really guilty for leaving them in the house all day and then not having time to play with them. They dont get on with each other and so dont play together other than when they are fighting!! Please help, as im sure they are always bored and they both show signs of over-grooming. Thank u in advance,

Kerry G
England

Answer
Kerry,

You could try a dvd series designed for cats viewing pleasure and entertainment. It's called The Cat Sitter dvd and as far as I know there are three volumes in the series so far. These movies have great shots of prey animals, wildlife and fish and most cats will be entertained. Some of these videos have "digital catnip" added to them where a cartoon bug flits across the screen back and forth unpredictably and most cats enjoy that. If you do want to have your cats watch these videos I would recommend that you make sure there isn't anything breakable on top of your tv and that you have a chair or two in front of the television so that the cats can get up close to their tv show. These videos are designed to run continuously once they are started so you can set a timer on the vcr or dvd player when you want the cats' show to start....I hope this helps to solve the entertainment dilemma in your household.

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Ali

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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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