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Ask The Cat Lady!
Sally Bahner is a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and has a private feline consulting practice. She is the "Dear Sally" on Tracie Hotchner’s Cat Chat Radio (www.catchatradio.com), found on Sirius, the Martha Stewart Living channel. She is a longtime editor and writer on everything feline.
Q: Dear Sally,
Help! I have an 8-year-old male cat that bites me whenever he is angry. He was a stray we adopted at around 6 weeks of age. He did not have to be neutered since he had no testicles. There are no other pets in the house. He comes and goes freely and is front declawed.
One night I would not let him out because it was cold. He waited until my arm was outside the bedding and bit me hard. If I slap back at him, he will wait until I am distracted and go for me again. Even if I am petting him, sometimes he will turn around and nail me! He has taken to biting the grandbabies when they want to play with him. I have been able to deal with him but it is unacceptable for the children.
I am the one who feeds him, gives him special treats, makes excuses for his poor behavior, etc. However, I have had just about enough. My vet suggested "kitty downers," but he goes outside so I feel that would not be a good idea.
Any suggestions?
Alicia
A: Dear Alicia,
Part of the problem I see here is that even though you can't see your cat's testicles, they are there, so he is essentially an unneutered male, which is contributing to his aggression. (Does his urine smell strong?) The term is cryptorchidism; the testicles are undescended and the surgery to neuter him is a bit more complicated. I'm surprised your vet didn't notice the problem. I think once that problem is fixed, he should calm down. If the aggression is a relatively recent thing, he should be checked out anyhow.
However, declawing can also result in a cat that tends to bite to make up for having no claws. Managing involves watching his body language (ears back, eyes dilated, tail swishing) and not giving him the chance to attack. Keep some small balls or toys to toss to distract him when he gets aggressive.
Finally, I'm really uncomfortable with a declawed cat going outside unsupervised, though in your case, he seems to be able to stand up for himself.
Make sure the kids know proper kitty etiquette – if the cat has a tendency to be edgy, he's sure to overreact around the kids, who may be overbearing in their approach. It couldn't hurt to keep him separated when they visit.
Sally
Guinea Pig Expert!
Whitney Potsus has owned guinea pigs for nearly a decade. She is Vice President of The Critter Connection, Inc., a Durham-based non-profit dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned and neglected guinea pigs. You can find the rescue on the Web at www.ctguineapigrescue.org. Please direct all your Guinea Pig questions to Whitney.
Q: Hi Whitney,
I recently read a magazine article on clicker training for dogs. The author mentioned in passing that clicker training can be used for guinea pigs too. Is this true?
Thanks, Gabrielle
A: Hi Gabrielle,
You can, theoretically, train a guinea pig. It takes A LOT of time and patience, and you may or may not be successful. For most behaviors (read: "tricks"), guinea pigs are not easily trainable; they pretty much decide to do their own thing, which may or may not be in line with what you want. (Pop over to http://guineapigconnection.typepad.com/pig_notes/2008/12/bugsy-the-guinea-pig.html to see what one trainer did for Bugsy the guinea pig in the Adam Sandler movie, "Bedtime Stories.") They’re like cats in that they train their humans, and are just clever enough and cute enough to convince us that we have trained them.
I suppose you could try, if you wanted to invest the time. I question whether a clicker would, ultimately, be any more effective than, say, offering treats to entice and reward the desired behavior. As smart as guinea pigs are, they are not as responsive to commands as dogs are; simple repetition of behavior on your part in response to behavior on their part is just as likely to yield results (for free).
What do I mean by this? For a time, when I first got guinea pigs, I believed I had somehow trained them to do a "happy dance" when they got their nightly carrots. In truth, things evolved much differently. They came to me quite young, not having lived in a home environment, working entirely from instinct. They would squeak when they heard the fridge door open while they were out for playtime. I gave them carrots "since I was already in the fridge." I’d come in to the living room, give them their carrots, and they’d do their happy dance. In weeks, they’d do their happy dance while I was still in the kitchen. In time, it became a ritual. Such a ritual that if I went to bed without having given them a snack, they’d break out into a riot of righteously indignant squeaking. I’d acquiesce, give them their snacks, and they’d do their happy dance. I live with the unshakeable feeling that it is I who has been trained, not them.
Guinea pigs are guinea pigs, and you just let them happily be who and what they are. One of the true joys of owning guinea pigs is watching how their personalities blossom under your tender loving care. Personally, I think there's a lot more rewarding things you could do with your time with them. Like cuddling with them while you watch a movie. Like testing your creativity to give them a fun home and a fun play environment.
I'm content to let guinea pigs be what their innate personalities dictate they're going to be. When I’m ready for an animal I can train for tricks, I’ll adopt a dog.
If you do want to try training your guinea pigs, keep within the boundaries of their physiologies and true natures — avoid the kind of "stupid human/pet tricks" like the one I blogged about at http://guineapigconnection.typepad.com/ pig_notes/2007/01/do_not_try_this.html, or the one that Guinea Lynx wrote about at http://www.guinealynx.info/animal_planet_promotes_abuse.html.
Ask the Vet!
Lauren Mascola is the veterinarian at Petcare Veterinary Services in West Hartford. She studied at UConn for undergraduate and Tufts for Veterinary Medicine. She has over 10 years experience and 2 dogs and 3 cats of her own. She is excited to answer your questions!
Q: Dear Dr. Mascola,
Are invisible fences for dogs safe, would you recommend it?
Mayra Galicia
A: Dear Mayra,
I think invisible fences are a good idea. My advice would be to have a professional install it, even though there are many do-it-yourself kits available now. Although some clients have successfully installed their own products, I do hear of some failures of the fencing units that people have installed themselves.
The company I get the best feedback on is Invisible Fence. Invisible Fence will install the product and do multiple training sessions with your pet. There are some breeds whose drive to wander is higher and the company will warn you of these. As far as safety, the shock from the collar is mild, but intense enough to be annoying to your pet. I usually recommend that potential buyers receive the shock themselves, so they know how it feels. Most people tell me it does not hurt. I have never experienced the stimulus myself, though.
Good Luck,
Dr. Mascola
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