February 2, 2009

Dear Obie,
Could you please explain to our human daddy why we like to jump up on the kitchen counters? Our mommy is rather cool with it and just puts us down with a warning but daddy hollers and runs and stomps his feet almost scaring us - but we know he really does love us. Also why we like to play in water whether it's in the bathroom sink, kitchen sink or even in the shower. We think it's very normal.
Purrs and mews-
Max, Shasta and Shy-Shy
P.S. We also started our lives at Salem Friends of Felines but then our foster mommy and daddy decided that they just couldn't let us go and adopted us so now we have mommy and daddy and MissyP and Reba Mae and Cia and us all living together. It's pretty neat having so many kitties to terrorize.


Dear Max, Shasta and Shy-Shy,
First off, it's great hearing from kitties who came from Friends of Felines! That's such a great place! And it's so cool that you are "failed fosters!"

First off, there are a couple reasons why we kitties love the kitchen counters. One of those is the fact that we love to be up high, where we can see everything going on in our home, whether it is the activities of our feline brothers and sisters or being better able to see what mommy and daddy are doing. We also love the kitchen counter just because it smells so good! That is where food is prepared, and even if your humans clean the counter, us cats with our sensitive noses can still smell the food!

I know the dangers, that we might jump on a hot stove or ingest cleaning solutions, and the reason your humans chase you off is because they love you! There are several tried-and-true ways to deter kitties from getting on the counter other than the squirt-with-water method or the stomp-and-yell. One is to apply sticky tape to the edges of the counters. We hate the feel of sticky anything on our paws. Another idea is to lay aluminum foil on the edge of the counter. It not only feels icky, it makes loud noises, and we don't like loud noises. Some humans have taken metal coffee cans, put just a few pennies in them, and set them at the edge of the counter, with just a few inches of room between them. When the kitty tries to jump up, the cans will fall, and will make enough racket to send us running as far as we can!

There is a product out there called Ssscat! It has this little electronic sensor thingie that detects the motion of the cat, which then trips a loud alarm, coupled with a quick spray of a harmless gas. It is supposed to work pretty well.

Now about the water. It is a myth that all cats hate water! Some really enjoy it. A lot of the big cats, like tigers, love to swim! House cats usually don't like water, mainly because our coats trap water, and it is really annoying to be all wet! But a lot of cats enjoy playing in the tub or a sink. The water in many cases is moving, which attracts our attention, and we prefer drinking water that is not stationery or stagnant. But the main reason some cats love water is curiousity! We're cats! We have to investigate everything! And, like humans, we have personalities that are unique to us.

Thanks for the email!
Your friend,
Obie

*****

Dear Obie,
When I have guests over, my kitty, Mario, has a tendency to approach the people who don't like cats rather than the cat-lovers. Why does he do that?
Sincerely, Thomas
City of Industry, California


Dear Thomas,
If a kitty walks into a room full of strangers, he is drawn to the person who ignores him and will walk right past people who are open and inviting. Why is that? Because in the cat world, when one kitty is threatening another, it will stare boldly at the cat it is threatening. So, Mario will transpose that behavior onto the strange humans he meets, and approach the human who is exhibiting "cat friendly" behavior. Unfortunately, that is usually the one human in the room who, for whatever reason, doesn't like cats!
Your friend,
Obie

*****

Everyone, please make sure and keep your kitty up-to-date on vaccinations and vet visits! I know we don't like going to the vet, but regular check-ups with a vet will sometimes help in catching a problem in its early stages! So, see the vet! The vet is your friend!

*****

Remember, folks, I am not a vet! I am a cat! Always talk to your vet before making any medical decisions regarding your cat! Please!