How to maintain a good relationship with the cat

About what can hurt cats and when to expect them to revenge, says Oles Assumption - felinologist, vetfeldsher in UDTS "damn business."

- How many cats you have and where are they?

- Kotov seven. Their names Kys, Lynx Plush-Leksyush, Sir Max, Sanya Cat, Sam-Sam (Semen Semenovich) and Pingvi. Most of them are conscientious objectors and podobrantsy.

Kysenka came to me at the age of three weeks, when there is not really know how. It was my first cat, the first pet. Rysyusha I turned six months. He conscientious objector from the receiver. The former owners took it as a decoration on the sofa and returned a week later - say, "decoration" nothing does not wish to decorate.

Since I started as Leksyushi felinologist. He came to me from a very dysfunctional conditions. Little kitten he was taken to the family for the girl who played enough in two months and said: "You have it, please, take back, mom, dad, and bring me back a little."

Cat is not thrown out, and left in a country house. From 3 to 9 months he spent in the attic - it means a complete deprivation of communication in an age when the kitten is socialized and forms its own view of the world and people. When he got to me, he had a lot of problems. Firstly, the "blockade syndrome". He ate with great force to vomit in the bowl. Secondly, because of the dust in the attic in his blood, cracked paw pads. We are very much treated paws. But the worst thing happened to his psyche. In the kitten I had a terrible fear of the swing. I do not know what to play with him this girl, but the kitten was afraid of hands. He had a broken nose. He was afraid of people and are not able to communicate with other animals. Sad story.

Then I worked as an assistant in a veterinary clinic and asked for help from colleagues. They told us that we need a specialist in behavior modification. As it turned out, these specialists on the dogs a lot, and for fur seals - a lot less. We can say that 5 years ago, there was virtually no.

One of her friends advised me to turn to Julia Islamova. She is a specialist in behavior modification of dogs and cats. I invited her for consultation. It was 4:00, which completely changed my life and my perception of cats. And I at that time considered herself an experienced cat owner. Thanks to her Leksyusha come to life.

- It is clear that there are simply awful owners. It also happens that people and animals are on good terms with each other. Cats pee in sneakers, for example. They are "revenge" for the wrongs?

- People tend to attribute human qualities to cats, with often not the best. How idiotic demotivators walks and anecdotes about the fact that cats vindictive and hurtful? That they are not attached to the host, and the house?

I am especially glad the myth of vengeance. In fact, to develop and implement a plan of revenge, it is required to have abstract thinking, which cats do not possess the same way as dogs. Their thinking is linear, they live in the moment - here and now. At the same time they are very good at remembering things, povlokshie of a pain, stress - in a word, unpleasant experience. It's only behavioral patterns that are critical to the survival of the species.

Despite the appearance of a cat, a creature with the emotions and desires of space, which must be respected. Cats do not happen for no reason or behavior from harm - it's always something due.

- And yet how house cats are prone to dislike?

- They do not tend to dislike, and in general to stress. The fact that the cat is very important stability. In general, it is important for all of us and means the same thing - clarity, predictability and safety. A place that I know and I know - safe. Predictable person who behaves logically - safe.

- In other words, everything that is considered to be manifestations of nature, nothing more than a reaction to a stimulus? Talk about the offense can not be?

- Correctly. The same habit of "mark", in particular, is associated with the manifestation of territoriality. Cat calms herself, covering her strange smell: "It smells like me - it is clear to me." Something that can be taken for antipathy may be due either to a specific person or a situation.

Come guest, I sat in a chair. He could not know that this cat's favorite chair. What happened was that the smell of a man she did not like. It is highly likely that the animal pee on this place and will block a foreign smell. If some person associated strong negative - for example, he was the last arrival on the cat I come and hurt her - she can mark his belongings, because the smell reminded her of his experiences stress. He worried about her and annoying. If he will be gone, it will be more comfortable - everything is logical.

The cat may not like the body language, the human voice. This is the reason why cats have problems with their children. They, with the cat's point of view, do not look like people: children of different smell, move and sound.

Cats are almost always talk to us via body language. And just read our messages that we freely-unwillingly send them.

In fact, everything depends on the type of the nervous system and behavior strategies. Most likely, the cat does not have a pronounced territorial behavior, try to avoid an unwanted guest. If it is marked "territorialschik", it is very possible that he would try to attack, to expel from its territory. But most are simply trying to avoid the unknown and unpleasant. It is called - "avoidance response".

- As more people may cause the seal stress?

- There is, unfortunately, the methods of mass. Cats communicate with each other and with us through body language. People use them is not always competent, but cats read our signals in any case. We are accustomed to thinking of cats with something small and harmless, and very few people could have imagined that the cat has a private space, which should be respected. Therefore cats squeeze, disturbed sleeping animal, kept on hand as he dislikes. In addition, imagine the ratio of the size of a cat and a man - she feels when she paced and hang over it. Same with strokes. Often people will wear hand on top, and the majority of cats do not have the fear of the swing, it is unpleasant.

Many people like to take a fluffy cat over her cheeks and kiss. A cat thinks that people went crazy and now he is going to eat.

Keep the animal on your hands, it is possible to bring a person to his muzzle. And the seal in such a situation is likely to potrotsya cheek. But we must at the same time just unscrew the head, sideways - so we reduce the level of anxiety.

If the cat does not give a quiet rest, sooner or later it will begin to avoid people. They all important high places for observation and rest. Therefore, I come to dread every time an apartment furnished with low furniture and animals in such conditions have nowhere to go.

Another point that is easy to drive the cat to stress - is an attempt to punish her. Seals useless punishment. More to say - bad! On the Internet, most often advised to curb dominant behavior. Do, say, how come cats with kittens: take the collar and lift-to-face. Or vice versa - pressed to the ground. In short, to show who is boss. However, the only thing that cat will understand: a man - a dangerous and unpredictable creature who should be afraid.

Think about it: who thus comes with a cat? Grabs, throws up? Anyone who tries to kill her, like a dog. What emotions cat must feel after that to a person?

Well than, for example, for a cat is so different from the other raised horizontal surface? Nothing. Sometimes it is only a "comfortable" place in the house. If people are against the fact that the cat was on the table, there are lots of ways to make this place an unwelcome. However, if the owner will complain cat will make a single conclusion - when it is not on the table to climb. And, accordingly, will climb up in his absence. The owners are surprised: "Well, he understands that it is impossible!". How and what does he know? Animal understands that you do not approve. You do not have a negative object there - then everything is possible.

We must not forget that, barring something that we have to offer an alternative to the cat. You do not want it to be climbed on the table - ask him to the windowsill.

- Where is the line between domestic cats attributing human qualities and potential harm from it? Comparing the human and feline emotions, we come to the conclusion that they are very similar.

- You are absolutely right. Emotions have virtually identical. The only thing - the cat simplified their range. "Slozhnosochinonnye 'emotions, conscience or revenge, they are not available due to the lack of abstract thinking. But the joy, love, fear, negativity, aggression - is their inherent reaction.

- How, then, are usually constructed relationship between domestic cats and how to correct them?

- When I came to the youngest cat Pingvishka, my Sir Max - beautiful creature with neubivaemoy nervous system, good-natured goof with the underground nickname "Tailed nannies" - it literally adopted. Pingvi went with Max on the tail, was sleeping on his belly. Typically, friendly cats linked parent-child relationship. It's funny that the role they can change: Now Pingvi grown, it is still very warm talks with Max and caring for him - licks his or brings rare goodies.

Towards me cats are exactly the same show as child and parent behavior - in the side to climb, honey mash. In a word, concern. I can wake up because I wash all together and bring the pillow something of high value.

If the cat does not associate warm relations, they are more neutral to each other and coexist peacefully. Seals are very polite creature, not like conflict and discomfort.

my animals logic is: the best of everything is when we are all together. Feeding with it the most delicious and desirable - only together. Love, iron, cheshem - also together. If someone starts to interfere, leave everything. Thus, they quickly realize that cursing them is not profitable. Profit from this will not be anyone. This is not a punishment. I just do not like when the seals when I find out the relationship. I am not comfortable. I do not approve - and stop handing out the desired distance themselves.

- What not to do to maintain a good relationship with your cat?

Not to impose their society, to respect his private space, to respect the right to rest, happily respond to any contact initiative. In addition, it is important to create a home cat comfortable environment. Behavioral problems in cats is often caused by a bad arrangement trays and stove benches. As felinologist, I help people look at his apartment cat eyes. However, I do not mean that we should forget about their own convenience, but you can always find a compromise.

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