Feral Paws Rescue
........Saving Feral Cats (TNR)
Cats have lived in close association with humans for
at least 3,500 years. It is believed that the first domestic
cats were kept by Ancient Egyptians who used them to
keep away mice and other rodents that threatened their
stored grains. Companion cats vary a lot in physical
appearance but the various breeds are believed to have
all descended from small African wild cats. The wild cat
is thought to have evolved in a desert climate and the
behaviour of companion cats gives some evidence
to this theory. For one, cat feces are usually dry,
and cats prefer to bury them in sandy places.
Cats also enjoy heat and solar exposure, often
sleeping in a warm area during the heat of the day.
They like to be warmer than humans do and don’t
seem to get uncomfortable until their skin reaches about 52ºC.
People enjoy the company of cats because they
can be so affectionate and have a lot of
personality. Some people also admire the cat’s
independent nature. But cat “independence” has
often been a point of confusion. Companion cats
are descended from wild animals, but don’t
forget that domestic cats have been shaped by
their relationships with humans. You are a major
part of your companion cat’s social life, especially
if he or she lives indoors. Your companion cat will
have a more fulfilling life if you can learn to interpret
what he “says” to you, through his actions and gestures.
Unlike wild dogs, who rely on being part of a hunting
team to get food, wild cats are usually solitary
predators. Though domestic cats maintain their
hunting instincts and will still catch small animals,
those who have food and shelter provided for them
lose the need to compete with other cats and often
prove to be highly sociable. Domestic cats actually
need a lot more attention than humans might think,
especially if they stay indoors and are the only
cat in the house. Cats that are ignored or left
alone can become bored and depressed so it is
important to greet your companion cats as soon as
you get home and intentionally spend time with them
each day. An ignored cat will often start misbehaving
if she finds it is the only way to get your attention, just
as a neglected child might.
Cats’ displays of affection are subtle, especially
compared to dogs. A nose touch, a slow eye blink,
or a tilt of the tail can all be very deliberate and
sincere signals from your cat. Learn to recognize
your companion cat’s signals and reciprocate by
stroking, playing, and talking to her. A cat that
doesn’t seem to like attention or touching will often
warm up to the affection if you don’t force it. Pet and
hold your companion but stop or let her
go at the very first sign of struggle. Once
she sees that you are allowing the contact
on her terms, she is much more likely to enjoy it.
Cats greet their friends by rubbing faces. Your
companion cat may try to reach your face to
do this but, when they can’t reach, they’ll
settle for rubbing against your legs or lying
in front of you. Cats will show that they
trust you by putting themselves in a
vulnerable position, for example by stretching
out at your feet with their bellies up.
Cats keep themselves clean by licking their fur with
their slightly prickly tongues. Their saliva is a
powerful cleaner, (which, unfortunately, many people
are allergic to). Believe it or not, cats use as
much fluid grooming as they do urinating. Your
companion cat may occasionally try to lick
your hair or your skin. This shouldn’t alarm
you and doesn’t deserve scolding. For cats,
grooming is not only for cleanliness, it is also a
demonstration of love and caring. The first thing
a kitten experiences is the feeling of its mother
licking and washing it. So, when your cat licks you,
take it as a compliment – she is probably showing
you that she accepts and cares for you.
Urgent Alert! Rescued Cats Need Medical Treatment
71% of cats and kittens entering U.S. animal shelters are destroyed
420,000 kittens can be produced from one female cat and her offspring in 6 years
Sometimes cats seem to knead things
by digging their claws in and out
contentedly. It is usually something soft,
like a blanket, sweater, or your lap. If she
does this on your lap, it probably only happens
when you are relaxed, either sitting or lying down.
Kittens learn that it is time to nurse when their
mother lies still and, as they suckle, they use their
paws to knead the flesh around the nipples and
keep the milk flowing. When mature cats “knead,”
they feel safe and comfortable, and are
probably recalling the peace of being a kitten.
When you have guests over, don’t be offended or
annoyed if your cat tries to hang around the
one person who dislikes or fears cats. If several
people are staring or trying to pet her, the
safest place in the room, from which she
can examine everyone comfortably, might
be the lap of the person who is ignoring her.
If you don’t want to disturb your non-cat-loving
friend or your companion cat, ask the other
guests to leave the cat alone until she
seeks their attention herself.
It is important to never punish or reprimand
cats – it could really sour your relationship.
Cats live by their own rules and generally
do not respond to scolding. A punished cat
will associate you with unpleasant experience
and, if anything, learn to continue the bad
behaviour when you’re not home or not
looking. If you want to change your companion
cat’s behaviour, the only way is to
reward good behaviour, like clawing the
scratching post, with petting, affection,
and treats. You can also try to make bad
behaviour unappealing, for example, by
spraying an unpleasant citrus or
menthol smell on furniture
you don’t want scratched.
Cats who live outdoors or in homes with
multiple cats will develop a dominance
hierarchy where one or two cats are
more dominant than others. Each
cat has its own territory, with dominant
cats occupying the largest areas,
but there are also neutral areas
where cats watch and greet one
another without any conflict or aggression.
This behaviour doesn’t just come from
aggressive males – females and
neutered males are equally territorial.
When two cats encounter each other,
the “superior” cat may confront the
“inferior” cat by staring or meeting it
face-to-face. Sometimes they will fight by
slapping, scratching, biting, and chasing,
until one cat runs off. If one cat wants to
let another know that it doesn’t want to
argue, it will walk slowly in a wide path
around the other cat, usually
without even looking at him.
Cats will often become extremely upset
when a new cat moves into their area or home.
This can be exasperating for humans
who, assuming their companion will appreciate
friends, adopt new cats. But a bad reaction
from your companion should not be surprising.
After all, how would you feel if a new stranger
moved in to your home without any warning
and without your consent? In most cases,
the cats will gradually get used to each
other and fight less frequently. Some will
become friends while others may
take to ignoring each other.
Cats feel the need to check up on their
territory regularly, leaving their scent
behind in various places. They may also
consider their human family members to
be part of their territory and can become
upset when people they don’t know touch
their human companions. The cat may feel
better about it if you greet her first,
before you greet any humans.
Kittens are born deaf and blind, so their first
communication with their mother is through
feeling the vibrations of her purring to them.
Her purring lets the kittens know that she is
near and ready for nursing, and they begin
purring in response when they are about a
week old. It is generally believed that cats purr
only to show their pleasure, but they also
purr to appear non-threatening, for example,
when another cat is being aggressive. A cat
who is in pain or frightened may also purr to let
others know that she needs help, so be attentive.
The domestic cat hunts and eats over a
thousand species, many of them invertebrates,
especially insects — many big cats will eat fewer
than a hundred different species. Although
theoretically big cats can kill most of these
species as well, they often do not due to
the relatively low nutritional content that
smaller animals provide for the effort. An
exception is the leopard, which commonly
hunts rabbits and many other smaller animals.
Even well-fed domestic cats may hunt and
kill birds, mice, rats, scorpions, cockroaches,
grasshoppers, and other small animals
in their environment.
As a consequence of their exceptional hunting
ability, cats can be quite destructive to
ecosystems in which they are not native,
where local species have not had time to
adapt to feline introduction. In some cases,
cats have contributed to or caused extinctions —
for example, see the case of the Stephens
Island Wren. Due to their hunting behavior,
in many countries feral cats are considered pests.
Domestic cats are occasionally also required to
have contained cat runs or to be kept inside
entirely, as they can be hazardous to locally
endangered bird species. For instance,
various municipalities in Australia have
enacted such legislation. In some localities,
owners fit their cat with a bell in order
to warn prey of its approach.
Declawing is a major surgery known as
onychectomy, performed under anesthesia,
which removes the tip of each digit
(from the first knuckle out) of the cat's forepaws
(and rarely the hind paws). The primary reason for
declawing cats is to prevent them from damaging
furniture; in the United States, some landlords
may require that tenants' cats be declawed.
Rarely, vicious cats, cats that frequently fight
with other pets, or cats that are too efficient
at predation of songbirds etc. are declawed.
This controversial procedure is uncommon
outside of North America, and is prohibited by
animal cruelty laws in many countries worldwide.
An alternative to declawing is the application of
blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the
claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic
replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths
(about every four to six weeks). However, the cat
will still experience difficulties because the capped
nails are not as effective as claws.
