How to Teach a Cat Tricks

Contrary to popular belief, cats are trainable. You can teach them useful behaviors as well as novelty tricks. You can even train them to compete in agility tournaments.

There are some differences between the way cats and dogs are trained, of course. According to the ASPCA website cats aren’t as likely to be motivated by praise as dogs. Cats are also less instinctively driven to work in partnership with their human companions. But that doesn’t mean they’re not superstars in waiting. With the right methods — and a little creativity on your part — your cat will soon amaze you with the things he can learn.

Remember: Cats respond to positive reinforcement, not negative punishment

Cats should only be taught new behaviors with positive, reward-based training. Punishment and dominance are not healthy methods, nor are they effective. “Punishment creates stress, and stress is one of the most common causes for problem behaviors in cats, including eliminating outside of the litter box and compulsive grooming,” says the ASPCA website. So with that in mind, here are some steps to get you started:

 1. The best reinforcements you can use are treats — but not just any treats. ”My foster cats love to train with me,” says Jane Harrell, Petfinder’s senior producer and long-time cat foster mom. “But they won’t work for just anything. They want the soft, gooey, stinky treats.” And Jane’s fosters aren’t alone. Many cats need something special to motivate them. This means you should toss the kibble back in the cat food bin and look through your cabinets for the good stuff your cat loves. Diced chicken or turkey, low-sodium tuna, meat-flavored baby food and commercial cat treats might be effective, depending on your cat’s individual preferences.

2. Get your cat used to receiving rewards in response to specific behaviors. Start with a simple trick like “high five” to show your cat that good things happen during your training sessions. Watch this video to learn how to teach a cat high five.

3. Practice, practice, practice… but not too much. Repeat this training process several times in a row so that your cat learns why he’s getting rewarded.

You don’t want to wear your cat out or bore him, but you do want to drive home the relationship between a particular reward and behavior — as well as the command associated with that behavior. Petplace.com recommends teaching only one command or trick at a time and limiting sessions to 10 to 15 minutes of practicing. You will, however, want to repeat the routine again the next day and continue it on a regular basis so that your cat doesn’t forget what he’s learned.

4. Try using a clicker to reinforce timing and – eventually — cut down on treats.

It’s important for your cat to be rewarded as soon as she performs the desired action, but it can be difficult for many people to time their rewards precisely with their cat’s behavior. A clicker can help with timing by introducing a sound that tells the cat that what they just did was good.  To teach your cat what the clicker means, “charge” the clicker by clicking and treating your cat without requesting any action. After a few times your cat will learn that the clicker noise means good things are coming and, eventually, the clicker can be its own reward. You now have an aid for perfecting the timing of a reward.

5. Once your cat has fully mastered his first trick, move on to others. Using treats and your clicker, you can introduce common tricks like “down,” “stay” and “come.” But feel free to get creative. You might also want to consider teaching your cat practical behaviors like how to walk on a leash.

If you’re committed to teaching your cat tricks but are having trouble with the process, contact a trainer in your area. Just be sure that he or she has expertise in working with cats. Also be certain that anyone you hire shares your belief in positive reinforcement.

Are Black Dogs Really Less Adoptable?

Petfinder has designated this week (September 17-23) as Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week, and aims to build awareness about adopting pets who have black fur, are older or have special needs.

Photo: Second Chance for Dogs Facebook

Black dogs have a reputation for taking longer to get adopted at shelters or through rescue groups than lighter-colored dogs. This phenomenon, called Black Dog Bias (also known as Black Dog Syndrome), may be due to a number of factors, including fear stigma against certain breed types; the fact that large, black dogs are often portrayed as aggressive in books, movies and on television; or due to superstition. Some potential dog adopters may associate the color black with evil or misfortune (similar to the common superstition surrounding black cats), and this bias transfers over to their choice of dog.

Photo: Second Chance for Dogs Facebook

Shelter staff and rescue group workers have repeatedly said that black dogs take a longer time to adopt. However, researchers are divided as to whether the color of a dog’s fur is a legitimate factor when choosing a dog to take home. What is clear is when shelter dogs are photographed to display their best features, it increases their chances of being adopted.

A 2011 study by the ASPCA found that looks do play a role in potential adopters’ selection of a dog, with more than 27 percent of adopters citing appearance as the single most important reason. But the study doesn’t go any further to specify what looks were preferred with potential adopters.

Animal behaviorist Dr. Emily Weiss cites in an ASPCA blog post a recent study that dispute the black dog syndrome. The researchers used Poodles with four variations: large black, small black, large white and small white, and instead found that black Poodles were rated as friendlier than white Poodles. The researchers’ conclusion was that because there are more black dogs in the dog population, there are more black dogs in need of adoption, and this is why it appears that black dogs take longer to be adopted.

Stock photo black dog.

Black dogs often don't photograph well. Their facial features disappear, which can make the dog appear less expressive. Most shelters have websites and also promote dogs for adoption through social media channels, so the prettier the picture, the quicker a potential adopter will fall in love.

Here are some tips for taking better photos of black dogs:

• Avoid harsh sunlight and shoot outdoor photos on a cloudy or overcast day. If this isn’t possible, snap the picture during the early morning or late afternoon/evening hours. Hollywood directors refer to this time of day as “golden time” because of the lack of shadows and flattering warm glow.
• Get down on the dog’s level for a better perspective.
• Avoid having a busy background that may take away attention from your subject.
• If you’re shooting indoors, select an area that has a lot of natural light. Use a fill light or bounce the flash for best results.
• Add a white or bright-colored background, such as a quilt, so that the black dog stands out.
• Another idea is to shoot the dog in profile, to show off his or her features.
• Seth Casteel runs Second Chance Photos, a nonprofit that teaches volunteers how to take photos of shelter pets. He suggests taking the dog on a vigorous walk or run before the photo shoot, “so that he or she will pant, which looks like a smile.”
• Tie a brightly colored bandana around the dog’s neck to add color and contrast.
• If you have an image editing application such as Photoshop, you can adjust the contrast in the shadows to help make a black dog's eyes stand out.

Avoid harsh sunlight when shooting a photo of a black dog. Photo: Second Chance for Dogs Facebook

Do you have a black dog? Did the color play a role in choosing the dog? What do you think about Black Dog Bias? Let us know in the comments

How to Figure Out Your Cat's Personality Type

Years ago, at a job I've mostly forgotten, our boss had us all take the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) personality profile. While I'm not always a fan of labeling or pigeonholing people, this test changed my life. It helped me understand myself and the people I worked with. 

Many of you may have heard of the MBTI, or other personality profile instruments like it. Take a simplified version online if you're curious about how it works. Basically, it ranks you on four spectrums:

• Introvert-extrovert
• Thinker-feeler
• Intuiting-sensing
• Judging-perceiving

It got me to thinking, can we personality-type our cats? Why not? Maybe it can help us understand our cats better! It may be that the science behind this is completely ridiculous and doesn't apply to cats at all, but it's fun to imagine what your cat's personality type could be.

Use this simple assessment for your cat, and you may end up understanding her better, yourself better, and your interactions better!

       1. Is your cat an introvert or an extrovert?

Does your cat love to be the life of the party? Or does she prefer her alone time? More importantly, what seems to give her more energy, being alone or spending time with other cats, pets, or her people? Does she talk incessantly or is she quiet, with a tiny or nonexistent voice? Does she practice the silent meow (one of the cutest cat things I've ever seen)?

Little cat sleeping after party 

Introverts need quiet time to recharge their energy. Extroverts are energized by large groups of people. So, watch your cat! If she seems to need her quiet time to recharge, let her have it. (Of course, if the behavior is unusual for her, use your common sense and make sure that something else isn't causing the changed behavior -- medical or otherwise!)

       2. Thinking or feeling?

This one may be harder to transpose to our feline friends, but I'll try. In the MBTI world, a thinker is a logical decision maker. The feeler makes decisions based more on feelings, others' feelings, or harmoniousness. If you have a cat who loves to see everyone get along (other household cats, pets, people, etc.) then your cat may be a feeler. On the other hand, when instinct takes over, there's no time for feelings! I don't imagine that a cat stops to consider the mouse's feelings before the cat pounces.

Still, watch your cat closely. I have a friend with a very logical, methodical kind of black cat. I think of him as the "manager" of her household. He knows if the kids are late for the school bus; he places himself where he can watch all the goings-on in the house. This seems like a thinker cat (more so than a feeler cat).

Girl with a cat looking out the window 

       3. Sensing or intuition?

Do you make decisions based on that indescribable intuition? Or do you need details, facts, and the five senses to arrive at conclusions? And what about your cat? Personally, I think cats can ride both sides of this spectrum. Absolutely, their behaviors are led by their acute senses. Just watch them alertly spotting something in the yard that you can't see. Or jumping and smashing a bug in a nanosecond.

Yet, how do you explain when your cat knows you're sad and comes to comfort you? Or when your cat knows you're reaching for a can of cat food, even before you've moved to the cupboard? Is this intuition or extremely honed senses that we don't even understand? Who can say?

Child hugging a young Scottish Fold cat 

       4. Judging or perceiving?

Does your cat complete a task one step at a time, or is she all over the place, easily distracted, and a multitasker? Does she make decisions easily, or waffle? When I first took this test, my "P" (perceiving) was almost off the charts, meaning that I'm very spontaneous and can have a hard time focusing or making a decision. I have learned to take things one step at a time, but it definitely takes some effort. Observe your cat -- what's her M.O. when it comes to getting things done?

       5. Putting it all together!

Now that you've figured out where your cat (or you) fall on each spectrum, put the letters together. You'll have your personality type; one of 16 possible combinations. For example, I am an INFP (introverted-intuitive-feeling-perceiving). 

My highly uneducated guess is that Chester is a feeler -- he loves harmony and wants everyone to get along -- but don't most orange cats?

I can hardly do the MBTI justice, but I think it's a fascinating way to understand people, and possibly, our cats. 

Dogs and Fireworks: The 5 Stages of Grief

We're just a few days away from the Great Misery, according to your dog. Despair. Suffering. Blackness. Fireworks. 

When the BOOM begins, your dog will undergo a wrenching emotional journey there in the back of the closet, while you drink your beer and eat whatever is left on your friend's plate -- dill pickles? Hope you're happy. 

       1. Denial

Wow, that was loud. I'm sure it won't happen again.

What a nice -- BOOM! -- day. I feel -- BOOM! -- great. There's nothing the matter at --BOOM! -- all, though I am having a little trouble trying to get to -- BOOM! -- sleep. 

       2. Anger 

Are you kidding me with this?

Who authorized this? Why wasn't I consulted? You think you can drop a stunt like this on me without any warning? Think again, hot-shot. This ends NOW or you might as well throw the poop bags in the trash because I'm crapping on your pillow for the next nine years. 

Don't try me. It's your social life.

       3. Bargaining

This is negotiable, right? Tell me this is negotiable. 

Okay, I get it, I understand you are now insane and have to make loud booms. So how about you do just one more and call it a day? BOOM! Please? BOOM! Just one more?BOOM! Come on. BOOM! Just one more. BOOM! Please? BOOM! Just one more.BOOM! Just. BOOM! One. BOOM! More. BOOM! Please? BOOM! 

SCREW IT I'M EATING THE WINTER COATS. 

       4. Depression

I remember when I thought things were funny.

I can't eat, I can't sleep, I am trapped in a black pit of despair, wedged next to the suitcases in the hall closet that nobody ever goes in. It is so dark. 

Would it kill you to put light in here? 

Whoa, that was a big one, but I feel nothing. 

Well, not true, I felt that one in my pancreas. What's going on with fireworks? Maybe it's time to cool it on the fireworks technology, ya think? 

I'm depressed. I'm not really depressed. Dogs don't get depressed. Let's move on. 

       5. Acceptance 

I'll just be here under my hat.

This is life. The boom boom boom. The bam bam bam. I can't go on. I'll go on. It's going to be okay. Life continues. There is still a soft couch, there is still a bowl of food, there is still running around barking at cars, there is  -- BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM. 

[Pause]

BOOMITY BOOMITY BOOMITY BOOM ... pop.   

[Cheering, then quiet. The dog detaches her snout from a hole in a suitcase and spits out a loafer.]

What's this? We're finished now? The fun is over? We're brushing our teeth? We're turning out the lights? Just like that? We're patting my head? We're all just going to go to bed like good little boys and girls and dream of nice things? Is that what you think?

Oh no, my friend.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. 

Now THIS is a celebration.

Yes, this was all fun and games, but on Thursday, July 4, we'll have a real post on how to help your dog survive the Fourth of July. Be sure to catch it. 

8 Things You Should Know About Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Cats

One day I walked into my vet clinic for my cat’s regular checkup. In the back room I could hear lots of action and a cat screaming in terror and pain. I’d waited about 15 minutes for the vet to come in for my cat’s exam when one of the receptionists arrived. “I’m sorry for the wait,” she said. “but an emergency came in just before you got here. They’re working on a cat that threw a clot.”

“No problem. I totally understand,” I said. “If my cat were having an emergency, I’d expect the same treatment.”

I have no idea what the outcome of the cat’s treatment was, but when I went back home and researched blood clots in cats, I found out that the most common cause was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, also known as HCM, a disease that even the most conscientious cat caretakers and vets might not be able to discover until the cat has a health crisis. Here are some things you might not have known about the most common heart disease in cats.

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the walls of the heart's left ventricle enlarge.

1. What happens in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

You probably remember from science class that the heart is a muscle and it has four chambers, two atria and two ventricles. In HCM, the muscles of the left ventricle, which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body, enlarge and become abnormally thick. This overgrowth reduces the heart’s ability to squeeze and relax, thereby causing less blood to be pumped to the body.

2. The causes of HCM are largely unknown

A genetic mutation or predisposition can lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -- this is best documented among Maine Coons and Ragdolls -- but for most cats, the cause remains a mystery.

Maine Coon cats are known to have a higher than average predisposition to HCM.

3. It occurs mostly in middle-aged cats

HCM is most often found in cats between the ages of five and seven years. In older cats, cardiomyopathy may be caused by hyperthyroidism or high blood pressure. In these cases, the progression of the disease can be halted by appropriate treatment.

4. The first sign may be a heart murmur

Because HCM affects the heart’s ability to pump blood, some of the blood from the enlarged ventricle may swish back into the left atrium, which causes a sloshing sound veterinarians refer to as a murmur. Heart murmurs are graded on a scale from I to VI, with I being barely audible with a stethoscope and VI being so loud you can hear it with a stethoscope barely touching the cat and sometimes causing vibration throughout the chest cavity..

Vet listening to a cat's breathing and heartbeat

5. As the disease advances, more serious symptoms can occur

Symptoms of HCM such as lethargy and loss of appetite can mimic that of many other diseases. But clues related to a heart problem include limited exercise tolerance, odd heart sounds, difficulty breathing, weak pulse and a bluish discoloration of the paw pads and nail beds due to poor circulation. In a crisis, a cat with HCM may collapse, develop congestive heart failure, or throw a blood clot that blocks the artery that provides the blood supply to the rear end, like the cat I mentioned above.

6. Two primary tests are used to diagnose HCM

If a cat goes to the vet presenting the above symptoms, your vet will do an X-ray or ultrasound to determine the degree of thickening of the ventricle wall. He or she may also do an electrocardiogram (EKG) to determine what is going on with the electrical signals your heart is sending to create its rhythm.

A health crisis caused by HCM may require hospitalization and intensive treatment.

7. HCM is incurable, but it can be managed

Although HCM is a progressive disease -- it will get worse over time -- a number of medications are used to manage the symptoms. These include medications to manage the heart rate, alleviate congestive heart failure and eliminate fluid buildup in the body, prevent blood clotting and improve the flow of blood from the heart.

8. Research on HCM is ongoing

The Winn Feline Foundation is doing extensive research into HCM, which is being supported by its Ricky Fund, which was started by nationally syndicated pet columnist Steve Dale.

What Does a Cat Fashion Icon Have to Do to Get to New York Fashion Week?

Every Fashionista looks FURward fur New York Fashion Week, and this year Fancy Feast sponsored Malan Breton and he made three looks inspired by the Fancy Feast kitty. How MEGAPAWsome is that? The dream of every Fashionista is to become a MUSE (when God when?!?). Anyways since I'm feeling especially superbitchy I'm getting my claws out fur NYFW. Let's start with the three looks the Taiwanese designer made fur Fancy Feast!

Malan Breton I was waiting more from you!

Okay it's elegant and stylish fur sure but come on Malan you have a silver Purrsian as a muse! Didn't his huge beautiful emerald eyes strike you?? What about the shade of silver fur?? Maybe you got intimated in front of such majesty beauty -- mmm I will give you a hall pass! Of course I complained with Fancy Feast fur not taking me with them, I had to do it I'm a good customer and no other kitty is into fashion as I am.

Maybe next year will be my year!

As usual NYFW was full of celebrities (except me as we already stated!) and of course most of them try to dress their best fur the shows.

As I always say be careful with the light! Can be your worst enemy!

Sometimes I'm like WTDP (What the Dog Poop) is the designer thinking!!! In this case like Lisa Perry REALLY?? What was she thinking? The following dress might be kitty inspired but that doesn't mean that is CUTE or ACCEPTABLE at all.

Futuristic whore uniFURm??

On another paw Marc Jacobs collection was very into black and white stripes/polka dots, sequins and pastels! Very retro feeling.

Sorry but nobody models like me!

Fur last I want to show you the Rebecca Minkoff designs that were inspired by Frida Kahlo! I think the collection is very colorful and wearable! I think the clothing would look good in different body types.

One of my FAVES fur sure!

Does Your Cat Inspire You to Be a Better Person?

I try to be a pretty good person. I don't necessarily align with a religion, but my moral compass is something like "try to be nice" or "do good in the world." Pretty simple. Naturally, I'm human, and I don't always live up to my aspirations. In this way, my cats have been some of my greatest teachers through their behavior and through my caring for them. Not only do they help me "be good" or "do good in the world" -- but they take it even further. They raise the bar for me, and I end up being an even better person.

Here's how:

       They teach me courage

I can safely say that going through illness or end of life with a beloved cat is one of the scariest experiences I've had in my life. If there's ever going to be a time in your life when your bar gets raised, this is it. Thing is, can I jump over the bar?

These experiences have taught me that I have untapped depths of courage I had no idea resided in me. When I'm handling a drawn-out illness or possible end of life, every decision seems like stepping on a tightrope. How much food should the cat be getting? Is the cat withdrawing? Do I leave her alone? Take her in? Do I have to learn to do an unfamiliar procedure? Can I handle it?

I'm not one of those people who'd do naturally well in the medical field, and I'd make a horrible first responder or EMT. The first time I had to give a cat subcutaneous fluids, I almost fainted. But I got over it and it became very easy. My cats have placed me in situations where I've had to draw on courage I didn't know I had. Every time I face illness or decline with a cat, I'm reminded of this, again and again.

       They help me trust my intuition

I'm pretty intuitive, but I'm pretty good at ignoring my intuition! I guess this is because it often seems that the world ignores intuition, so I do, too. Intuition is a different kind of knowing -- something that requires me to get out of my own way. (And that is a huge challenge for me most of the time!) But because cats can't talk our language (and even that's debatable -- just listen to some cats and it seems that they are certainly trying to talk our language!), sometimes we have to read between the lines or see beneath the surface. Bingo -- that's intuition. It's nothing mystical, and I bet a lot of us do it daily without even knowing it.

Have you ever had the sudden feeling that your cat wants something very specific? Such as a meal, or assistance of some sort? I have had this experience, for example, with a declining cat who needed help going to the bathroom. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I just knew that he needed help. So I helped him and got him to the litter box. Simple things like these enhance my understanding of that quiet intuition that may reside in us all. It can get drowned out by the noise of the world, but it's there and your cat can help you access it.

       They teach me compassion 

Sometimes, it's easy to get frustrated with other humans. Here's where our cats can help us! Doesn't it seem like it's much harder to get frustrated with a cat? They're so pure, loving, fun, and so cat. I think they can help train me to get along better with the rest of the world. They bolster that sense of compassion and caring in me. Not only am I a better person when I am with my cats, but I can try to take the compassion out into the world. Cats are my greatest teachers!

       They teach me how to play

When the world turns too serious, I turn to my cat. Nothing can make me laugh more naturally, or make me feel better instantly, than the antics of my cat. It's impossible to remain grumpy for long when your kitten is rolling around on his back, waving his paws, demanding to play. It's impossible to be crabby when I'm working on a deadline at my laptop and my big Turkish Van plops down onto my lap. It just makes me concentrate on the work harder, since one slip of my wrist might send him sliding on to the keyboard and wreck my work. Who can NOT laugh when the cats are at it, playing and racing around, being cute, sucking up for attention, and all the mannerisms I've come to know and love? I certainly think they make my days better, and make ME better as a result.

Do you think your cats make you a better person? What have they taught you about being a good human? Share your thoughts in comments!