The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [47]
A Cats can’t read, of course, but they are intensely curious. Gizmo is a member of a lively, playful breed, so he is even more interested in what you are doing and in trying to capture your attention. When he opts to take a closer look, he leaps in — literally.
Try this solution: take a few sheets from sections you don’t read, perhaps the classified ads. Prop them up like a tent on the floor next to you. Tap on the sides to attract Gizmo’s attention. Hide a favorite toy or a small treat under the pages. Encourage him to leap and pounce and dive on his own part of the paper, leaving the front page, the sports section, and the comics for your eyes only.
You can also turn unwanted sections of the newspaper into a magical carpet ride for your cat. Place them at the start of a long uncarpeted hallway and encourage your cat to take a running start, leap on the paper, and slide down the hall. I’ve discovered that the slick ad supplements work far better than the actual news sections of your paper.
STRAYS TURNED STARS
Shamu the killer whale may be the main headliner at Sea World, but dozens of talented cats are making a splash of their own at the theme park. The former strays star in a zany show called “Pets Rule,” which also features dogs, birds, and a confident pot-bellied pig. Felines who jump from a 10-foot tower onto the shoulders of a trainer prove that cats can perform with the same skill as dogs and whales.
During the show, cats and dogs rush onto the stage from various entry points — all off leash and all undistracted by the applauding audience. The cats traverse tightropes, run through tunnels, and weave between the legs of a striding trainer. In one scene, three black cats leap into a gigantic milk bottle on stage and three white cats leap out.
Renowned animal trainer Joel Slaven told me there is nothing more gratifying than adopting a shy, untrained cat from a shelter and seeing it transform into a confident and happy performer. Slaven purposely selects cats who were surrendered because of unwanted behaviors such as curtain climbing, countertop prowling, and top-shelf leaping.
Slaven has found that the most trainable cats are those with good attention spans and outgoing personalities and who are highly motivated by food, praise, or grooming sessions. He observes each cat’s natural behaviors and selects tricks based on preferred activities. A cat who likes to climb drapes, for instance, can be trained to climb a rope. A cat who trips you by rubbing against your legs could be directed into weaving in and out of legs on cue.
Slaven identifies patience and a positive attitude as two keys to feline training success. He builds on each small accomplishment and conducts brief training sessions, encouraging the cats with praise and treats.
MANY, MANY TOES
Count the number of toes on your cat’s front paw — it should total five. Now check the back paw — you should count four toes. Some cats, however, sport as many as seven toes on each paw. Having extra toes, or being polydactyl, is a congenital abnormality but not a health concern. Any feline breed can sport extra toes, though the CFA does not register polydactyl cats for showing.
Legend has it that seventeenth-century sailors regarded polydactyl cats as lucky, because the added toes made them better hunters and gave them better balance during rocky weather.
Visitors to the home of the late great writer (and cat lover) Ernest Hemingway come not only to marvel at his way with words but to meet and greet the numerous polydactyl cats roaming the grounds. About 60 live on his estate and are protected by the terms of his will. That explains why polydactyl cats are sometimes nicknamed “Hemingway cats.” Other admirers call