Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
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I can help you understand why your cat's behaviour is challenging and from there it becomes clear how to address the problem. I have a wealth of experience working with cats with behaviour problems over the past decade. Explore the tips and advice on cat behaviour in the blog.
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
7M ago
Watch the video here - https://youtu.be/Zc6Ue4VHBcA?si=zy6TwFB4Zk00alix
Have you ever wondered if you are a good cat owner? Or whether you are doing the right things for you cat? Or questioned whether your cat would be happier somewhere else? We all have these doubts sometimes, but I am here to reassure you - you are an amazing cat caregiver - and here are the signs to know for sure!
Number one is that you know no two cats are the same and adapt your cat parenting style just for them. They have different needs, different personalities and different quirks and the fact that you know your cat a ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
7M ago
Watch the video here - https://youtu.be/SfTccFiNznY
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to give up your sofa, carpets or favourite arm chair the moment you bring your kitty home, despite the many tiny daggers attached to those cute fluffy paws. However, we've all been there when you set your brand new scratch post down, just to see it left totally ignored in favour of your duvan bed or plush new squashy carpet.
However, it's not enough to plonk a scratch post down and hope for the best. In all honesty, sofas do make better scratchers than most posts! They are big and heavy and padded so ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
7M ago
Watch the video here… https://youtu.be/6CeDSlZCigo
Why do cats hide?
Cats are very defensive in their aggression and usually prefer to run away from something scary than attack it. We've all seen the videos of cats being spooked by cucumbers and they mostly all choose to run away and hide rather than attack them. But why?!
Cats are species that are naturally both predators and prey. This shapes the way they think in two different ways. Firstly, they need to escape from predators, they in this respect, hiding will be much m ore successful than fighting to keep themselves safe (and alive). Seco ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
7M ago
Watch the video here! https://youtu.be/wiQR0Sl0hOQ
It's not just about WHAT you feed your cat. HOW you feed them can make a big difference to their behaviour.
Being a cat behaviourist means I see lots and lots of cats showing behaviour problems and in my experience, feeding two large meals a day - breakfast and dinner - can lead to the development of behaviour problems, or make existing problems worse.
The big one - if the first thing you do in the morning is give your cat breakfast, it will be the only thing on their mind when the morning comes round. They can become super preoccupied with w ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
1y ago
?My final Top Tip for multicat households is a sad one and potentially controversial?
??We need to be open to rehoming, if it’s in the interest of one or both cats.??
I realise this isn’t a tip to helps cats get along. And it absolutely does not apply to most multi cat households where there is tension. But it does to some. And I feel it’s an important area to discuss. I know rescues are full, and I know it’s never an easy decision and never one I would take lightly. ???
?However, some cats are trapped and miserable. ? And that makes me so sad. ? Some can’t fully rest or relax unless they are ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
1y ago
? Top Tip number 4 for multicat households: Encourage avoidance!?
This one seems backwards I know. But once cats have fallen out, we can’t make them be friends - they want to be in control of their social relationships. ??
What we can do, is help give them that control. Setting up the territory to encourage avoidance means they have all their needs met independently, and they are not forced to interact with each other when they don’t want to. ??
Here are some things you can do:
?️ Feed them apart so they are not forced to come together at mealtimes
? Provide plenty of litter trays in separate ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
1y ago
?My next Top Tip for multicat households: Reduce Stress!?
Did you know its actually quite rare for cats to be truely socially bonded? Particularly if they were introduced as adults rather than kittens. (If yours are - share - I LOVE seeing bonded cats! ❤️)
This means the social relationships in a multicat household often depend on how tolerant the cats are. Tolerance levels (for us as well as cats) are not set in stone, they are influenced by the world around them and their physical and emotional state - their stress levels. ?
Identifying and reducing stress for all cats in the household can ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
1y ago
?My second Top Tip for multicat households: Be Proactive!?
When you know your cats don't get along too well, the moment they walk into the same room, everyone is waiting with bated breath to see what happens. Before you know it, one cat has chased the other one out, who disappears upstairs for the rest of the day. ?
But if we are proactive, we can avoid these situations and make it easier for the cats to be around each other. Most of the time we can tell when a cat is going to chase another, they will watch them intently and tense up ready for a pounce. This is the moment to step in, redirect ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
1y ago
I've had lots of questions on helping cats get along in multicat household so I will be sharing my 5 top tips to help as many of you as I can! Remember all situations are different, but hopefully there is something for everyone to try.
?Tip 1: Reduce competition?
??⬛ Ever wondered why colonies of cats live together without a problem but sometimes our cats struggle? Free living cats will only form groups if there's enough food and shelter to go round - in other words - there is no competition.
??⬛ Reflecting this in our homes relieves tension and associated aggression. However, it is much mo ..read more
Lucy Hoile Feline Behaviourist Blog
1y ago
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With energy bills continuing to rise, most of us are looking to keep our fuel bills down and finding alternative ways to keep warm - in our house it’s blankets, slippers, hot water bottles and extra layers!
But what about the cats?
Give a little extra thought to how your cat used to keep cosy (radiator beds? That sweet spot on the under floor heating) and how this might have changed. Here’s how you can keep your cat warm and snuggly until warmer days return:
? A warm cat bed
Lots of cats like to sleep on our furniture, but having their own beds can help to keep them toasty. Soft cat igloo ..read more