Learn how to Groom Your Cat, Trim Their Nails, and Give Them Medicine (PPiC Ep12)

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Watch episode 12 of The Pawsitive Put up in Dialog on Youtube or underneath, pay attention by means of your favorite podcast app or underneath, or scroll right down to learn one of the most highlights.

Husbandry for cats

On this episode we chat about how you can groom your cat and how you can take care of mats, in addition to how you can trim your cat’s nails. We talk about the various the reason why it’s vital to not “declaw” your cat and the way it’s in reality like an amputation. Scratching is a herbal habits for cats and we speak about the type of submit to supply to stay your cat satisfied.

We additionally talk about the tough matter of how you can give meds in your cats, together with pilling, towel-wrapping, and tips to make meds more straightforward. Alongside the best way we proportion tales about our personal cats and naturally a couple of pointers for canines as neatly.

On the finish we chat in regards to the books we’re studying. 

Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Glad by way of Zazie Todd is to be had from all excellent bookstores.

All the books discussed within the episode are to be had from my Amazon retailer.  

The Paw Venture: Cats’ paws want their claws https://pawproject.org/ 

BC’s 2018 ban on declawing cats was once excellent information for cats, learn about displays  

What sort of scratching submit do cats desire?  

Taking good care of a diabetic cat will get more straightforward with time, learn about displays  

Learn how to give your cat an insulin injection (iCatCare)  

Learn how to teach your cat to make use of an bronchial asthma inhaler  

Educate any cat AeroKat (iCatCare)  

Learn how to clip your cat’s claws (iCatCare) 

Two folks giving a cat a tablet (iCatCare) 

Medicating pointers and methods (Essentially Tom cat)  

Convenience cats in a towel wrap (Dr. Sophia Yin)  

Contemporary and Fearless: Fundamental Grooming Made Simple (Kristi Benson)

The Books

Kristi’s advice is Crimson, White and Royal Blue: A Novel by way of Casey McQuiston. 

Zazie recommends Unbroken: My Struggle for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Girls and Ladies by way of Angela Sterritt.

The books are to be had from all excellent bookstores and the Spouse Animal Psychology Amazon retailer. 

Highlights of the dialog on cat husbandry

Z: Let’s get started with speaking about how continuously we brush our cats and the way we do this, as a result of considered one of my cats Harley completely likes to be brushed. And it took me a couple of years to find this about him as a result of he is a brief haired cat and he did not in reality want brushing. My different cat Melina isn’t more than happy [about it], she is going to settle for it however it is not one thing that she in particular loves. Harley simply naturally loves it, Melina does not adore it. 

However Harley loves to be brushed each day it seems. And he has a excellent interior clock so he is aware of what time it’s when it is time for him to be groomed, which was once if truth be told simply now, and he’s going to come and meow at me and say it is time for me to be groomed. And that meow is a quite other meow from when he is meowing as a result of it is time for his time for dinner. So he must be brushed out at this set time within the morning, that is when he expects to be brushed, and he additionally does roughly want it as a result of he sheds so much. Although he is short-haired he does shed so much. Even if he is simply been brushed he nonetheless sheds so much, and he is getting on a little as a result of he is 14. Older cats continuously want a little of grooming despite the fact that they did not prior to. So for him it is each day. 

For Melina, she comes and appears when I am doing Harley and every so often she’s like k you’ll brush me a little bit bit and I’ve to do in reality in reality quick strokes with the comb, roughly like you recognize if a cat was once licking any other cat there’d be in reality quick licks. In order that they need to be in reality quick while with Harley I will be able to if truth be told do moderately a protracted brush and he likes it, however for Melina it must be quick after which she’s k. Any other day she’s like no I am going away nowadays, she does not need it. So how about Apricat? As a result of Apricat is short-haired is not he? 

Ok: Sure short-haired and we do brush him however form of when he wishes it, and so I might say a couple of instances a yr nearly. And perhaps I am having a look at it with like a canine particular person’s lens however I see his coat appears to be like a little bit other and I am like oh it is time to brush him now and I brush him. However you recognize if you find yourself announcing older cats wish to be brushed extra, this is attention-grabbing and I am questioning if that is what they are announcing he looks as if. 

You understand whilst you requested me to speak about this I checked out him and I believed, oh you recognize what it is if truth be told it is almost certainly time to groom him at this time, I feel his coat is having a look a little bit bit like he must be brushed. However most often I feel he’s taking care of himself in that method beautiful you recognize, his coat has a tendency to be beautiful great so when his coat begins to appear now not like his stunning Apricat self then I give him a broom and he is k with it. 

However he most effective likes it for a brief period of time, identical as form of maximum sorts of petting he’s going to most effective publish with it for a little bit bit after which he is identical to “and now I am finished.” However I feel he likes it in that point he does not depart you recognize till he is like k now.

Z: And I feel maximum cats desire issues to be quick. It is like maximum cats desire most effective to be petted for a short while after which they have had sufficient after which they would adore it almost certainly to occur once more moderately quickly with the patting. While that is the ordinary factor about Harley, he moderately likes it to head on for a very long time. Once we hadn’t had him for extraordinarily lengthy, if we had been petting him and we stopped, from his viewpoint it was once too quickly, he would chunk us after which he would observe us meowing like “I would like extra!”. So he is an excessively cuddly affectionate roughly cat in that method despite the fact that he isn’t a lap cat. However I feel short-haired cats do not want it very continuously. 

I mentioned older cats as a result of I feel continuously older cats if they have got a little of arthritis or one thing it may be a little tougher for them to achieve positive spaces so perhaps their pants may want grooming a little extra, like their trousers, the again in their legs for instance. And with Harley I even brush him at the tummy however I’ve to do it when he is status up and I roughly achieve spherical underneath his abdominal and brush his abdominal and he’s going to settle for it if he is status up. He if truth be told loves to rub his head on one thing so we’ve a suite spot and he has someplace he can rub his head whilst I am brushing him and it is simply ecstasy for him. 

I feel longer haired cats, and I’ve had longer haired cats prior to, they want much more brushing. And I feel a Persian cat would no doubt want much more brushing doubtlessly each day, and that roughly cat, as a result of they have got a extra squashed face and a few folds of their faces they almost certainly would want wiping round their eyes identical to some canines want wiping round their eyes as neatly. 

Ok: Yeah and you then should by no means get mats in. Apricat as a result of he is a brief haired k I do not believe so, I am looking to assume, I do not believe he is ever had the rest like mats any place. Yeah no, his hair is beautiful constantly quick you recognize and he does, he’s beautiful simple to maintain and he is on us so much. It is not like you recognize if in case you have a canine or a cat or one thing that does not love to be touched every so often I feel mats can creep up you recognize after which rapidly you might be like whoa I suppose I have not patted your you recognize abdominal or no matter for a very long time,  or at the back of your ears or anywhere canines in most cases get mats. However as a result of Apricat sits on my lap for like hours an afternoon, he does not need to essentially be patted that entire time however he loves to form of sit down on my lap, I feel as a result of I am form of touching him always I’d really feel it.

Z: Yeah I feel you possibly can. And I suppose the trousers and perhaps the armpits and there are particular spaces perhaps at the back of the ears in all probability as neatly the place mats are much more likely. Perhaps they’re commonplace throughout cats and canines I do not know. 

Ok: Yeah I do not know. In case you have a protracted haired cat it you’ll pass over mats in case you are now not cautious as a result of they may be able to really feel advantageous whilst you stroke them at the floor however the mat will also be beneath. 

Z: Yeah yeah, they may be able to be moderately deep after which that may be in reality uncomfortable for the cats. So something you’ll do about this is if truth be told simply to roughly tease the hairs aside. It takes some time and you want a affected person cat however you’ll simply roughly tease the mat aside. And that is the reason continuously higher than looking to minimize it, as a result of in the event you minimize it you might be risking chopping the cat by accident and that is the reason now not excellent. And naturally if it is dangerous then you want to invite your vet to assist out. And yeah you’ll take them to the vet and feature them shaved if essential on the vet and you then get a blank slate to start out once more. However in reality it is one thing it is best to do and to start out doing when you have them when they are younger, it is a lot a lot more straightforward. However like canines you’ll educate them at any age. Sorry pass on.

Ok: I used to be gonna say if you are taking them, identical because the canine you recognize, every so often folks will come as much as me and say oh I noticed that you’ve like Jane’s grooming path, I’ve a canine that hates to be touched and has matting. And I continuously counsel you communicate in your vet and let’s examine if we will do a groom the place the canine is receiving form of scientific help, get all of it groomed and that will give you such as you mentioned a clean slate to start out working towards so to get started with no need to be like that rigidity of being like Oh my God my puppy has a mat and it is uncomfortable for them and I wish to like paintings on it. You’ll be able to simply be like here is a recent get started for me and my cat or my canine. I will be able to get started running. I will be able to get started doing counter conditioning and get the animal in reality at ease being groomed which I feel is a pleasant it is a great reward for you and your animal. 

Z: Yeah and you might be proper in regards to the particular person’s rigidity as neatly as a result of in case you are considering oh there is a mat I have were given to take care of, you’ll need to get on and take care of that, and on the identical time in case your goal is in reality to show the cat or canine to experience being groomed if truth be told it’s a must to pass at their tempo, which is more or less contradictory to finding out the mat. So it is a good suggestion such as you say, in the event you get that finished on the vet then you’ll be aware of doing the educational correctly and get that finished. Yeah it makes it a lot a lot more straightforward. And it is so excellent that you’ve those this path to be had to assist folks with that I feel it is good. 

Ok: Yeah yeah completely.

Z: Yeah. Such a lot of folks such a lot of folks want assist with that. After which nails as neatly. So your path appears to be like at canines’ nails, the person who you’ve got to be had, however cats every so often want their nails trimmed too particularly if they are indoors most effective. It is a bit other if they are outside cats as a result of they use their nails for a large number of issues they almost certainly climb bushes with them and so forth they usually almost certainly put on them down a little extra however how continuously do you do Apricat’s nails? 

Ok: I do his nails after they begin to hurt me when he sits on my lap. So he’s taking care of them himself every so often a little he does have a scratching submit that he likes to make use of and every so often I feel that the nails get form of worn down or they shed there, however I do stay cat nail clippers proper at my table after which when he is sitting on my lap, it offers me a chance to trim his nails. So now not up to I’ve to do the canine’s nails needless to say, since the canines’ nails, I try to do them each and every week, however it finally ends up almost certainly being as soon as a month simply because it is onerous to do this roughly stuff however perhaps as soon as each and every couple months I might say I’ve to do it so every so often. He is excellent right here that is why my arm is doing just like the tram form of factor. 

If he is right here and he is at ease I will be able to form of gently seize one foot, do one nail after which pat him and he is advantageous with it. In order that’s some of the ways in which I love to do it. 

The wrong way is I stay Churu within the closet there and and I will put a plate down if he wishes all of his nails finished and and I want I need to do them briefly, I will simply put a little bit little bit of Churu at the plate and he’s going to lick it after which I will minimize a nail after which I will give him a little bit bit extra. So it is form of adore it’s each a distraction and a counter conditioning I feel form of protocol. It is a little sloppy, do not inform Jean {Donaldson]! Nevertheless it works and he is going bananas for the style of that stuff and it takes a complete tube necessarily, or you recognize two-thirds of the tube after which I am getting via all of his nails and his entire frame and he is at ease and satisfied after which it is finished. 

In order that’s how I do it once more. I put a little bit bit at the plate to get him orientated to the plate after which I pick out up his foot and I clip a nail after which I give him a little bit bit extra so I ensure that after each and every nail clip he will get some treats so that he is making that affiliation. 

Z: Yeah and I feel it is one thing folks do not continuously understand they may be able to do with cats, or even so far as canines and husbandry behaviors pass we want extra consciousness that you’ll use meals to assist your canine experience this stuff. However for cats we want much more folks to grasp that the use of meals is a great way to coach your cat or to make use of this as distraction for one thing. And yeah the ones the ones tubes are Churu. I feel each and every cat turns out to like them. 

Ok: Yeah they are very helpful, very at hand. And they are great as a result of they are shelf strong so I will be able to simply have them in my administrative center you recognize and pull them out when it is time, and they are now not extraordinarily pricey so throughout excellent stuff. 

And I feel I have been fortunate as a result of Apricat could be very handleable, so it is at all times been simple for me to select up his foot. He does not like his foot being held you recognize however he does not, you realize it hasn’t taken a large number of paintings like a few of my canines have taken a large number of paintings. Sitka has taken a large number of paintings to get at ease having her nails trimmed. However I suppose it is you recognize form of for cat homeowners to understand if their cats are in reality uncomfortable having their ft held you’ll communicate to a behaviorist you recognize or discover a excellent coaching plan. Is there one in Purr? I will be able to’t consider. 

Z: Now not for nails. The 2 coaching plans in Purr are one for a trick referred to as sit down beautiful and the opposite one is instructing your cat to head within the provider. And I most effective had house for 2 coaching plans. Nevertheless it tells you numerous about how you can teach your cat so it will give you the entire normal ideas that folks can use.  

Ok: Yeah so I imply you’ll want to you’ll want to get a hold of a coaching plan or paintings with a cat behaviorist on a coaching plan the place you recognize so as a substitute of going proper to grabbing and maintaining their foot and roughly like wrestling them to carry their foot after which minimize their nail. You get started with one thing in reality easy and that the cat’s already happy with, perhaps like a company contact to their shoulder or one thing and you then give them one of the most deal with and over the years when your cat is demonstrating that they are  at ease in expecting the treats you progress into this like higher and bigger form of nearer and nearer to the real nail clip. However in any case then you find yourself clipping their nails and it is all stunning and angels sing! 

Z: And yeah so that you get started with the shoulder and transfer right down to the paws as a result of they almost certainly do not adore it in the event you simply seize them by way of the paw. They are now not used to that so you’ve got to begin with one thing they are extra used to. After which there may be the put in force as neatly. So I am certain that is what you probably did with Apricat of revealing the implements one after the other and getting them used to the put in force. Or perhaps you did not wish to as it did not are expecting the rest did it? 

Ok: I’d, I had to do this with Sitka, construct a separate plan. However with Apricat no, he’s simply that straightforward that he is like oh meals certain I will will let you do this. You understand despite the fact that he is form of like within the I do not love this however I will tolerate it, he does not have an issue. I do not believe he is ever had a real painful revel in having his nails finished as a result of it is moderately simple. As a result of nails are white you recognize so it is simple sufficient. And Sitka does not are compatible on my lap so it is roughly a distinct state of affairs. 

Z: Yeah this is extra of a problem but when any individual’s canine or cat have prior to now had dangerous stories then you possibly can separate out the put in force and you possibly can counter-condition them to seeing the Put in force as neatly. 

Ok: Yeah and every so often canines do not even want a dangerous revel in to only to find issues frightening. So you recognize your canine very best or your cat very best. In the event that they to find one thing frightening then you might be gonna must do the educational for it. If you are fortunate sufficient to have an Apricat you’ll transfer a little extra briefly.