 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
| Home > Cat Chat > Purr-sonal Space |
|
| |
|
| |
| Purr-sonal Space |
| |
When you walk into the living room you notice Simba staring warily at the coffee table from six feet
away. He throws an accusing glance up at you, then turns his attention back to the suspicious table. What, you wonder, is this nut up
to now? Then you remember that you moved the coffee table six inches closer to the couch so that you could more conveniently
rest your feet on it. Does this move offend Simba's sense of feng shui? Not really. It's just that Simba, as a member of the feline
species, does not like change, especially involving any object he interacts with on a daily basis.
Cats are known for their curious nature, exploring new areas carefully and completely. But anyone who has lived with a cat
knows also of its need for routine once its territory has been established and is completely familiar. Cats are indeed predators,
but they are also prey, and in the wild a change in a cat's territory might mean the presence of a dangerous intruder. A cat develops
intimate familiarity with every object and space in its surroundings, and the slightest move can cause Simba great suspicion and a reason
to re-orient himself to everything (as though everything is suddenly new).
Imagine, then, the distress at moving to an entirely new living space. Yes, our world has been packed into boxes and turned upside
down and sideways, but we knew what was coming and could plan for it. Since our cats always have us do the heavy lifting, we
must also plan for a safe and stress-free transition for Simba.
First, while moving out and moving in, always keep your cat confined to a "safe room". There are fewer chances for accidents
this way, and Simba can often make this new confined space his territory so that he feels safe in the midst of all the ruckus around him.
Make his transition slowly. Keep familiar things with him in the old place, then move all of these things into the "safe" room
in the new place.
Check the new space carefully for any means of escape or danger such as open dryer vent windows or even attic vents, make sure
screens are sound and make sure there is no access into a wall from around pipes under the sink, for instance. If you find anything
that may present a danger, fix it before you bring Simba into the new space-don't assume you'll beat him to it once you're in.
Keep Simba in this "safe" room until you've got everything in, unpacked and put away. In his curiosity, he may jump on top
of something unstable and knock it over or get into substances such as cleaning products that you typically keep locked away.
Once the space is ready for the introduction, take a few of his things that carry his scent and place them strategically, so that
he smells something familiar as he begins to explore.
Now that everything is ready, spring him from his "safe" room, but follow him around and make sure you watch where he
goes and what he does. If there was ever a time for feline misbehavior, it's now, and you don't want to establish bad habits in a new place.
Even the cat with the best manners can make a "mistake" now and then. It's a perfectly understandable instinctual reaction to
a sudden change in his environment, causing him to literally mark his territory. Reassure him, give him treats or catnip, whatever
he needs, and don't crowd him. Let him take it at his own pace.
Also, to alleviate stress during this transition, consider homeopathic products such as Calm Down
and Homeopet Anxiety Formula. These all natural products can be administered
directly or indirectly through the cat's food or water supply. Also, if the new surroundings were once occupied by other dogs or cats, Simba's
territorial nature may kick in. To avoid spraying of areas formerly inhabited by other animals, consider using a pheromone based product such as
Feliway or Comfort Zone.
These products have been highly effective in addressing cat spraying.
Finally, maintain the "safe" room for him and even after he's been freed, go through the process again, leaving the
room open for him to retrieve his safe place. Just remember that he needs to establish his own level of safety, and it just takes
some time, patience and love.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
