Does your cat hide under the bed when hearing loud noises from the vacuum, washing machine, or fireworks? Maybe kitty runs away when a visitor arrives in your home. Perceived or real threats that cause stress to our pets not only make them unhappy, but continuous increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol will wreak havoc on their health, upsetting their digestion, immune system, thinking ability, emotional well being, as well as other bodily functions. Understandably, it distresses us to see our precious pet suffer. Watch my video to see how to help your cat.
Our cat, Caleb, was very fearful of the loud noise from construction equipment that was placing rip rap rocks along the shoreline during our recent visit to my mother’s home. As soon as he heard the banging, Caleb, out of fear, flattened himself into a corner under the bed. We implemented a training technique called desensitization and counterconditioning. Caleb relaxed within a few minutes.
* The key is pairing something wonderful your cat loves Churu for Caleb during the stressful event, while keeping him below threshold. Threshold being the point where he changes from being relaxed to expressing distress, fear, or anxiety.
* Stressed body language would be leaning away from the stimulus or hiding. More subtle indicators to look for include ears turned toward the stimulus, flattened ears, wide eyes with pupils dilated, hair raised, furrowed brow, head lowered, hypervigilance, as well as tail and legs tucked close to their crouching body. Another is lip licking when the cat is not eating food.
* To stay under threshold, the stressor (loud noise) should be far enough away so the cat relaxes.
* Relaxed body language is shown when the cat is willing to take the favorite treat, looks to you, slow blink, eyes relaxed with pupil slits, ears up and forward. The body and head are upright with the tail loosely wrapped.
* Slowly increase exposure to the stimulus either visually or decrease distance then give the delicious treat.
* We closed shades, turned on white noise (air purifier) and played Through A Cat’s Ear calming music. Offering Caleb Churu enticed him out from under the bed.
* When we saw him turn his ears or look toward the noise, we offered him Churu. Eventually, he would look toward the noise, then immediately look to us for his treat. We opened the shades. He could see and hear the equipment making the noise. When he looked back to us treat!
After a few minutes, he was willing to sleep on top of our bed in his cozy spot, so we left him alone. But later, Caleb bravely chose to join the family near the sliding glass doors where he could see the outside construction and noise. Yes, he got more Churu treats! More training. Here is the video we took on day two. Later, he was relaxed, sprawled on the floor, after playtime with my husband Mike. Success!
Victoria Blais
www.CleverCatsLivonia.com
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