Re: Long Haired Cat advice

Re > Next question. ET has jumped on
For the most part, I think the animals tend to sort that sort of stuff out on their own over time, but I understand your reluctance to let ET bully the others. So, I would suggest you resort to training your pet, which also takes time. You catch him in the act, you tell him NO. You see him looking like he might misbehave, you tell him NICE! You let him Know what you will & won't tolerate and you follow through with tiny punishments and rewarding treats. They are smart and will figure it out pretty quickly. 


Third question, how do you reconcile danger vs. nature?
Much depends on your environment. I have no problem letting my boys stay outside all night if they want. It's very safe here. As to disease, they get all their shots and one or two extra that aren't part of the regular package, so they are protected against pretty much anything. If your area is more dangerous - coyotes, traffic, nasty kids - you would have to try to keep them in. However, it's a royal pain trying to keep a cat in that is use to being outside and likes it. Even tho neutered, when they're young they get around a bit, but the older they get, the closer they stay to home. and I like the arrangement too. 

Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message ----- From: "DP" <pulis@mindspring.com> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 2:12 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Long Haired Cat advice
Thanks for the cat advice. I will get a comb and blunt-nosed scissors. You're right, Noreen, a mat is like felt.
Next question. ET has jumped on Dreyfuss (the elderly dog) and Diesel (2 year old cat) without provocation. Before we brought ET into the utility room, he avoided the dog. Any way to stop this? I suspect it's alpha cat behavior, but I'm reluctant to have him beat up my furkids.
Third question, for those of you with indoor-outdoor cats. To me, being "inside" is being safe. ET can't live with us as it is, and he adores being outside, even though he craves attention and wants to follow me in and out. If we can't find another home ( oh, yeah- he attacks shoes, too), how do you reconcile danger vs. nature? 

d
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jesse Bell" <silverhawk@flash.net> 
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Long Haired Cat advice



Same here...I've had several long hair cats...and they get into a
routine of wanting to be brushed. I left the brush on the laundry room
counter and when I would go in to change a load of laundry over...they
would follow me in there and wait to be brushed. It got to the point
where one of them actually listened for the buzzer go off on the dryer
and he would run in there and wait for me. If I didn't brush him...he'd
knock the brush off onto the floor and start yelling at me "HEY! You
forgot something..helloooooooooooo, brush time, remember!!! HEY"




----- Original Message ----
From: "TeichFauna@aol.com" <TeichFauna@aol.com>
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Sent: Saturday, May 3, 2008 1:30:11 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Long Haired Cat advice

We've had pretty much nothing but long haired cats.  It is  almost
impossible to get a mat (almost like felt if it is an old mat and has gotten wet).....my suggestion would be to cut any mats out of the fur, and then just begin a routine to groom the cat. Daily is not necessary, although you can. THey will get used to it quickly and actually enjoy it. My old cat Flaksey used to 
come every morning for his grooming, if I  didn't have time, he would get
highly upset until I literally HAD to do it, just to have peace. LOL I've never had to use a slicker brush (metal) on our long haired cats. A comb or a bristle brush would do fine. Cats (even some dogs) have sensitive skin, and don't care for the feel of the metal. Long haired cats don't usually get matted easily unless they go outside. They usually are pretty good about getting anything out of their fur themselves if it is stuck. A treat after being 
good for the  brushing, doesn't hurt either.

Congratulations on the new kitty.
Noreen
zone 9
Texas Gulf Coast


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