#pet behavior

There is no such thing as perfect pet ownership, but staying educated from credible sources matters. I don't have a good framing for it in terms of what the medium is, but I get the question you're asking.

What I've noticed over the almost-decade of running this blog (yikes) is that most people really want to do better by theirs pets, and in doing so they turn to whatever resources are most accessible to them. If people aren't exposed to scientific resources about behavior - if they don't know they exist or can't access them - then it makes sense they'd rely on "folk wisdom" about pets that's online or their family member who has had lots of pets. And yeah, a lot of that easily available "wisdom" is based on outdated behavioral concepts or rumor, but that's the unfortunate reality of the information ecosystem we live in.

When you know better, you do better. And I've seen this play out for years and years here. So many asks the blog gets are from people who have either identified a gap in their knowledge and are looking to fix it, or from people who are really worried they've been a bad pet owner for doing xyz without knowing better. But not everyone has the same access to information about animal care. It's unkind and unproductive to condemn someone for not knowing they didn't know something. So I think for me the middle ground is wanting people to try to do their best by their animals, and be willing to change their management practices if they learn there's a better way.

there was definitely an adjustment when I first adopted my rabbit phyllis.

at first she was very docile, but as she felt safer she would defend her territory and bite and get very mean.

then i realized she was just traumatized because the people who abandoned her were assholes.

1. Keep a small container of treats in every room that you spend a lot of time in, preferably within arms reach of whichever seat you occupy most. Regularly reward your pet for desirable behavior. Remember that training isn’t a one and done thing. Animals can revert to old habits if they don’t feel like they have a strong reason to keep doing what you want them to do. Be patient and create positive associations with desirable behavior

2. Don’t yell or raise your voice at an animal unless it’s an emergency! If you yell at them frequently it just becomes background noise and will lose all effectiveness when it matters most (like in a dog fight).

3. Avoid scolding as much as possible (this one is hard to unlearn but it’s so so important). If your dog is chewing on something they shouldn’t, skip the scolding and redirect them to a toy instead. Same with cats. Scolding just tends to make animals want to get away with as much as they can before they get dragged away from whatever it is they want, so if the thing that they want is harmful for them, scolding can actually make the situation more dangerous.

4. Try to stay calm even if you don’t feel it. Animals pick up on our emotions, even those we’re not fully aware of. If your pet is acting up, try to de-escalate the situation. Things like yelling, chiding, or raising your voice are more likely to add unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation. Stay calm and stay confident. (Think about it like this: if you’re stressed or angry, are those feeling going to be amplified or softened when someone starts yelling at you for exhibiting stressful behavior?)

Obviously these are just some cursory thoughts, and I could add a lot more, but I think these are the most important things to practice when you’re dealing with problematic behavior (fun fact: most of these methods work on people too).

Surely, as a pet owner, you want the best for your pet's friend. But, honestly, some habits may be unintentionally harming them. In fact, even minor improvements can significantly improve your pet's life.

Here are ten habits to avoid:

1️⃣ Overfeeding Treats: It is easy to provide too many snacks, but this might support obesity.

2️⃣ Skipping Medical Visits: Regular checkups are necessary for long term health.

3️⃣ Lack of mental Stimulation: In addition to physical play, pets require mental stimulation.

4️⃣ Inconsistent Exercise: Pets require a regimen for physical wellness.

5️⃣ Not Giving Them Enough Space: Pets require personal space to feel safe.

6️⃣ Ignoring Behavioral Problems: It is critical to address behavioral difficulties as early as possible.

7️⃣ Neglecting to Clean Their Environment: A filthy living environment might contribute to health issues.

8️⃣ Over Bathing: Giving your pet too many baths might dry up his or her skin.

9️⃣ Using Harmful items: Always make sure pet care items are safe.

🔟 Not Socializing Enough: Social contacts are critical for emotional health.

Avoiding these practices can ensure that your pet feels truly cared for while remaining healthy and happy. Surely, a little more effort can make a significant difference in their well being.

Your Pet Deserves Your Best!

I have two cats, one very large 9yo male named Mobii, and one very small 1yo female cat named Tempest. We believe Tempest’s growth may have been stunted due to malnourishment as a kitten, whereas Mobii has been especially large ever since he was a kitten (the first time we took him to the vet when we got him at ~5 weeks old the vet took one look at him and said he was going to grow up to be giant and she was right). That is to say, they have a very big size difference, with the newer cat being significantly smaller than our first cat.

They’ve more or less gotten over most of the growing pains of introducing a new cat to a household. Mobii was initially very aggressive and territorial, but he’s mellowed out significantly. Tempest for her part deserved some of it, she originally really liked antagonizing him, stalking him around corners and sometimes running over and trying to grab his tail.

More recently, I’ve noticed a different trend in their behavior. Mobii will chase her and try to bop her with his paw multiple times, and she will run and sometimes hide. Mobii’s not growling or hissing, his body language seems like he’s playing (tail raised, ears forward), but her body language reads as submissive and scared (tail lowered, keeping her body low to the ground). Often when she sees him approaching, she will lay down as he approaches, which I’m not certain what that means, I’m not sure if I’m misreading Mobii’s body language and he is being aggressive, or if him being so much bigger intimidates her even if he’s just playing.

On the other hand, despite her body language, Tempest does still try to chase him back sometimes.

Dedicated to Jackson Galaxy

YOU KNOW THE MELODY

Naughty cat, naughty cat They should be training you Naughty cat, naughty cat It's not your fault

You're keeping them up all night The neighbours cat you try to fight You pee on stuff and scratch the sofa And steal and chew the loofa