The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [32]
Never force the two together. Cats feel most secure when they have “four on the floor” (all four paws touching the ground). Control the contact between them and go slow. Always maintain control of Marley and let Allie enter and leave the room freely.
Some dogs and cats can form close friendships. Others tolerate one another. As long as Allie feels safe — and Marley heeds your commands — life should get less fearful for Allie.
Harassing the Houseguests
Q My cat Simon is an outgoing cat who struts around like he rules the house. Although he is neutered and well behaved (at least with me), his reactions toward houseguests vary, depending on who is visiting, how long they stay, and to what extent they disrupt his routine. Sometimes he is quite friendly, and other times he is downright mean. He even peed in my uncle’s open suitcase during one long visit. My other cat, Garfunkel, treats all houseguests the same. He runs and hides and tries to stay out of their sight. What can I do to ease Garfunkel’s fears and make Simon treat our guests with better manners?
A With names like these, it’s a shame there is a lack of harmony with houseguests. One of your problems may be that cats crave routines. They become accustomed to a sedate, indulged life. They usually don’t enjoy surprises like the arrival of a strange-smelling person who may rudely commandeer the spare bedroom where they are accustomed to taking their afternoon naps. Too many changes, too fast, without proper planning, can trigger acute stress and unhappiness.
Even sociable cats like Simon can get annoyed or over-stimulated by houseguests. How each cat reacts depends a lot on his age, health status, temperament, personality, lifestyle, and previous experience with unfamiliar people. Some cats become upset enough to mark their territory by urinating on the belongings of guests.
One thing you can do to make visits go more smoothly is to remind your guests of all your furry roommates and describe any particular habits. For example, my 19-year-old cat is becoming somewhat senile and is partially blind, so he meows quite a lot and occasionally bumps into walls. My cats also like to sleep with my visitors, so I warn people to shut the bedroom door if they don’t want company at night. I also mention a few house rules regarding my furry housemates.
No sneaking them table scraps or other human food.
Be careful with the outside doors — my cats live indoors only.
Don’t rush up to them — let them approach you first.
As for Simon and Garfunkel, plan ahead a few days, if possible, before the arrival of your guests. Slowly relocate your cat’s bedding from the spare bedroom to a new safe haven that is off-limits to guests, such as your bedroom closet or a utility room or a small bathroom.
FELINE FACT
Famous persons in history known for being true fans of cats were Leonardo da vinci, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Abraham Lincoln, sir winston Churchill, sir Isaac Newton, and Florence Nightingale.
When guests arrive, strive to maintain as much of a daily routine as possible. That means cleaning out the litter boxes regularly and feeding your cats at the usual time and place. Spend at least a few minutes each day playing with your cats and devoting some time for cuddling. You may consider masking loud or unfamiliar noises (like your uncle’s heavy snoring or your sister’s high-pitched giggles) by playing a radio or CD player softly in your cats’ safe haven space. Don’t force your pets to interact with your guests.
For cats exhibiting signs of stress, you may ease anxiety with a product called Feliway. It mimics a comforting facial pheromone produced by cats and comes as a wall plug-in. This product, available at pet supply stores, diffuses the pheromones throughout a room.
If your cat does engage in inappropriate elimination or other destructive behavior, recognize