Cat Psychology - Is My Cat Frightened?

Fear in cats and anger have a few elements in common and both come from the same set of instincts - the ones that tell them to fight, flee or freeze. These instincts are used by most animals to judge a situation and their reaction to it. But what other signs are there that a cat is frightened and what can be done to calm them down?

Signs of fear

A frightened cat will often show signs associated with anger because this is better than showing fear. They will hiss, spit and growl at the cause of their fear while making themselves look big and fearsome by standing their fur on end, called piloerection. If the cause of the fear comes closer to them, they will scratch, swipe or bite the object to try to get it to leave them alone and this can be nasty if your hand is the object in question.

A frightened cat is most likely to retreat to a hiding spot, often behind a sofa, under a bed or other dark and sheltered spot. This is where they feel safe and that they defend the position against an attacker. Alternatively, if the cat is caught out in the open it is likely to freeze as many predators work by motion and cannot detect prey that stays perfectly still as easily as moving prey.

Another sign of fear is losing control of their bladder or bowels outside the litter box. This is particularly common in younger cats who have less control of their waterworks and in older cats for the same reason. This may accompany freezing in one place as the fear causes the reaction and their instinct tells them to stay perfectly still.

Causes of fear

Lots of things can cause a fear reaction in a cat, some seem natural and other completely irrational. Cats can even suffer from phobias, often beginning when they are young and have negative experiences that form into a phobia of the stimulus involved.

Cats can be afraid of another animal, especially one seen as a predator such as a dog. They can also be frightened by people they don't know or even a specific person they do know if they have negative connections in their mind. Kids often frightened cats because they move quickly and make loud, random noises that the cats can't understand. Loud noises also cause fear, which is why if you drop something, the cat will often flee even if the falling item doesn't touch them. This is why fireworks are particularly stressful for cats even without seeing the lights - the loud bang makes them jump and they cannot see anything causing it.

Dealing with a frightened cat

The most important thing to remember when dealing with a frightened cat is that you can't talk them down, calm them down or force them to stop being frightened. If you approach them in this state, you are likely to receive an injury. Give them space, try to keep everything relatively calm and quiet and leave them in their hiding place until they have calmed down.

Credit: Angela Tempest

The Three Commands You Need To Teach Your Dog

Before we start, have you ever wondered why we don't have special training for pet owners? Simply put, those who are supplying the dogs (shelters and breeders) have other things on their mind. The shelters have too many dogs and not enough staff, and the breeders are already preparing for the next litter. There is not thought placed on the actual life of the animal, just the means to an end.

This begins the vicious cycle of too many dogs and not enough owners. Then when they do find an owner they are too busy pulling at their heartstrings to get them to adopt than to a) make sure they are the right home for the dog, and b) instruct in the proper care and training of their new family member. Typically they are assuming you know what you are in for, and sadly most pet owners do not.

So by starting with these three simple words to teach your pet, and then you can take it to another level of learning beyond that once these have been mastered. And when using these words, be sure to use them with authority! Your voice should be clear, strong, firm and shifted slightly from your normal everyday voice. And NEVER use wishy-washy baby talk! This is your friend, your best friend, and s/he deserves respect from you so s/he can give it in return.

So are you ready?

STOP. Not "no", "don't do that", or "get away from that". Dogs respond to one syllable at a time while the rest of what you are saying after that first word fades into the background. STOP is used when you want your dog to stop walking and just stand still or when you want to get your dog's attention away from what it is doing.

DOWN. Down can indicate sitting or lying down, which ever your dog does instinctively based on their breed. Some dogs will lie down, while others will sit. Go with your dog's natural tendency and s/he will learn the command that much faster. If your dog has a tendency to lie down, after learning this command you can then teach your dog to move from that position to then sit up.

IGNORE. This is a common command for service dogs and should be taught by all puppies when they are first learning to walk on a leash and are easily distracted by that squirrel or another dog.

Now that you know the commands, how do you teach them? Over and over and over again! Whether your dog is a senior or a puppy they can learn new commands easily, with repetition as the key to learning them until they become second nature. Typically after 2 weeks you and your pet will be in sync with the rhythm of the new commands making walks and playtime much more enjoyable.

However, don't stop with just these three commands, as there are many you can use to create a great relationship with your pet. A few more to try are: Forward (when you want your dog to walk), Back (when you want your dog to back up or move away from something or some situation), and Up (as in sitting up, getting in the car, or getting up on the couch next to you).

Creating a quality relationship with your dog takes time, effort and patience. Remember, your pet has to learn your language and familiarize themselves with your world all while learning these commands. So give them the patience they need from you to make the transition as easy as possible.

Before we go, here is are two excellent tips that will help you and your dog build a better relationship:

Always use a standard leash when walking. Retractable leashes, which we will discuss in detail in another article, are the cause of too many accidents and deaths for dogs. They give you no control over your dog's actions and make it impossible to teach your dog commands correctly.

When you walk with your dog it's all about them, not you, and give them enough time to enjoy themselves! Too many pet owners think they can combine walks with their dog into an exercise regime, eliminating their dog's actual needs. This is their time to smell the grass, pee, poop, and just take in nature. Dogs are naturally outdoor beings that we have brought inside, making their walk time the only time they get to be themselves. So if your dog wants to run with you that's great, but don't think that is a replacement for their own time with nature.

So there you have it, the three most important commands to teach your pet no matter what its age, and a few extra tips to help you through the learning curve. Be sure to take your time, have patience, and in no time you and your dog will have the most amazing relationship making all the other pet owners jealous!

Credit: Lisa LaMendola

Cat Psychology - Is My Cat Happy?

As cat owners, we do worry that our cats are happy and want to do whatever we can to make them so. One of the best ways to make sure your cat is happy is to understand their body language and the signs of happiness to give you reassurance and to help spot potential problems.

Signs of happiness

Cats are quite good at body language because that's how they communicate with other cats. Cats have a range of vocalisations that they use to tell the world what they fell and think and when it comes to happiness and contentment, the purr is one of the most obvious. Cats purr when they are happy, feel loved and are comfortable and even if you can't hear them, you can always feel a purr as it rattles through their whole body. Other little noises can be signs of happiness, depending on the cat, little trills and chortles that show they are relaxed.

The physical signs of happiness in their body language is also quite obvious, more for their lack of signs. An angry cat is visibly angry with erect fur, wide eyes, ears forward and a tail slashing the air. Likewise a frightened cat may make themselves small, curl their tail around themselves and duck down to be submissive and less threatening. Yet a relaxed and cat happy cat will have their ears erect to listen to what's going on or swivelling around to follow the conversation. They will tuck their tail loosely around them or leave it lying across the floor. Their fur is smooth and their whiskers sit comfortably.

Happy behaviours

A sleeping cat is often a happy cat as this means they feel comfortable enough in their surroundings to have a nap. If they felt threatened or in danger, they would remain awake and on guard. Similarly, grooming is a sign of being happy. Cats groom themselves to keep their coats in order and do derive pleasure from the act. By concentrating on their grooming and not their wider environment, they are vulnerable to attack therefore will only focus wholly on their grooming when they are happy in their home.

Eating properly is a sign of happiness and healthiness. While cats might try to 'greed' from people for treats or other morsels, this isn't because they are hungry but more a type of game. They may really fancy a little of the fish you are eating but not because they are desperately hungry. A happy cat is one that eats normally, though different cats have a different sense of normal. Some eat their meals in a single sitting while others are grazers who come and go to the food bowl.

Happy kittens

Sometimes with kittens, they may seem angry or vexed at something but this may merely be a part of their play. Kittens learn about the world around them through play and most everything around the house will be a part of this. So while they might hiss or spit at something, whip their tail around or even bite and scratch something, this doesn't mean they are angry and unhappy but simply that they are working their instincts.

Credit: Angela Tempest