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Cats/my new 8 month old burmese x

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Expert: - 8/10/2009


Question
hello i have just got a 8 month old burmese x ginger male cat he lived with 9 other cats and now he is living with a dog he constanly walks around the house crying trying to get out side i have had him for 5 days he is used to me and my young son but weiry of my other half he was let outside a few hours a day at his old house but i am too scared to let him out due to my previouse cat gatting hit by a car how do i try and stop his crying and when would it be safe to let him out side  he has the best personality but i also want him to be happy what should i so

tarryn

Answer
Tarryn,

Obedience training with cats needs to be done gradually and for some cats they have to believe that the whole trick was their idea. I'd recommend finding out what motivates your cat as this will make him easier to teach. Some cats will do anything for food, other cats respond well to play or praise as rewards for good behavior. At the moment it's best not to force the issue with the leash since it sounds to me like he's already had some negative experiences with it. I'd suggest starting with other tricks to help build his confidence. Sit, sit pretty and beg are fairly easy to teach. Ideally you'll have some of your kitty's favorite treat in your hand (fish, chicken/turkey work well, if you want to give the meat raw that's fine but make sure the fish is cooked completely). Once you have your cat's attention you'll have the treat in between your fingers slightly above his nose then you'll slowly move the treat  backwards while it's still just out of your little guy's reach. He should naturally sit quite nicely for you, once he's mastered sit you can expand on that with sit pretty which means that he's just barely standing up on his haunches, beg means he's actively standing on his hind feet. Take your time, be patient and above all keep the training sessions short. If you push the issue too much you and your cat are going to be frustrated. I'd suggest 2-3 training sessions each day that last about 5 minutes or so given this kitty's age - he's still a kitten, if you notice that he's getting bored or frustrated stop the session ASAP on a positive note such as asking him to do something he's comfortable with such as a sit. Ignore behaviors you don't want, reward the ones you want. Cats are very intelligent and they'll learn just about any trick if it's presented to them the right way. Best of luck to you with this kitty's training sessions. Please, feel free to contact me again if you have any questions, concerns or you'd like me to pass along some more information about training your cat.

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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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