Category: Fun Facts

Cats CAN Play Fetch

8/28/2018

by Nomi Berger

While fetch is a game most commonly associated with dogs, cats have also been known to enjoy playing fetch with their owners. The Siamese, for example, are felines famous for their love of fetch, but any kitty has the capacity to learn how to retrieve provided her owner is committed to teaching her the ABC’s of the game.

Whereas dogs may awaken from a deep sleep the second they hear their owners utter the magic word “play”, the same can’t be said for their more mellow meow-mates. To them, naptime is strictly that, naptime, thereby making it essential for committed coaches to catch their cats when they’re fully alert and feeling naturally energetic.

To capture and hold your own cat’s attention, choose a toy that she enjoys playing with, but isn’t always available. Test how catch-able it is by sliding it across the floor or tossing it down a hallway before you begin. Why? Because some toys are extremely light and aren’t fit for fetching.

Once you’ve chosen the ideal toy and your cat’s “all ears”, put some high-value treats in your hand and position yourself in such a way that you can toss the toy and she’ll have plenty of room to run after it. Then, show her the toy and toss it. While she may chase after it, she probably won’t return it to you on the first or even the second attempt.

Call her back by “flashing” her the treats as an incentive. If she drops the toy and comes running or if she has the toy in her mouth but won’t bring it back, you’ll have to, slowly and patiently, show her precisely what you want her to do. Walk over to the toy and pick it up from the floor or gently remove it from her mouth and return to your starting position.

Show her that you have the toy and call her to come to you. If she doesn’t respond, go over to her, lift her up and bring her back with you to the starting point. Then, once you, your cat, and the toy are all in the same place, toss the toy again. Repeat these steps again. And again. And again.

It may require several sessions before your cat puts the entire game together. Always use the same starting point and always toss the toy in the same direction. As with any new action or behavior, repetition and consistency are key. The first time she successfully fetches the toy, reward her with affection, praise, and some of those high-value treats. The idea is to have her associate her action with a reward she finds especially satisfying.

Cats are extremely intelligent, but they’re also extremely independent. Some of them may learn to play fetch in one session, others may learn over a period of several days, while still others may simply refuse to participate. Take training one step at a time, one day at a time, and if your kitty still turns paws down at playing what’s primarily a dog’s game, choose one that truly tickles her fickle feline fancy instead.

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5 Unique Interspecies Friendships

12/27/2017

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Guest Article written by: willisfabrigus

Animals can make inter-species friendships if their need for social interaction exceeds their usual biological demands. Thus, a cat that has been raised from the beginning with a dog might not realize it is a cat and that the dog is biologically an enemy. Over the years many scientists have observed animals from various species searching for unlikely bonds to be made. Dogs have become best friends with squirrels, lambs and llamas, cows nurture lambs, rabbits become friends with deer, and a chimpanzee plays with tiger cubs. These are just a few examples of amazing interspecies friendships that prove that animals are more than just silly beasts but are in fact capable of both compassion and love. For a long time scientists stated that the apparent friendships between different species were just an evolutionary tactic for survival and friendship was unique to humans. Observation has showed us that many contacts can’t be related to the animal’s need for survival. Animals of different species can bond if both parties are engaged and are interacting for a long period of time. Some accommodation is also required, as the species have different behaviors and communication methods. Cats in particular have been known to be very independent and selective and thus they seem very unlikely to form bonds with other species. Still, there were many cases reported where cats and other species formed tight bonds.

1. Mishkin the Cat and Kodi the Dog
Cats have been known to have a difficult relationship with dogs in particular. Though it is very true that cats and dogs have different physical and social traits there were many occasions reported where they have put their differences aside & become best friends. One of these cases is the friendship between Mishkin and Kodi. Although dogs at times may display aggression against cats, some can bond with other species. Kodi has been attracted to other species his whole life, including rabbits, horses and neighbor cats. He later developed a very strong friendship with a furry little kitten as soon as it was brought to the house.

Source: https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/interspecies-friendships-when-cats-join-pack/270

2. Emmy the Cat and Her Baby Squirrels
A cat from Mississippi has been nominated as “Mother of the Year” after she showed incredible motherly instincts when she adopted a baby squirrel. She put it along with her baby kittens and feed it with milk just like she did the others. The squirrel, called Rocky and the cat have an extraordinary deep bond in one of the cutest interspecies cat relationships. The fact that the squirrel has been raised among many other kittens all its life has made it change its behavior and even learned how to purr just like the other kittens do.

Source: http://www.catster.com/the-scoop/cat-mom-adopts-a-very-unusual-kitten

3. The Monkey and the Stray Kitten
Jojo and Alan have a great friendship that began by chance. Jojo is a-monkey that was rescued in 2011 from a gaged life in a restaurant in Thailand. Happily, she was able to heal properly from what she’s been through and was even able to make an unlikely good friend: the stray kitten Alan. Alan started wandering on the field where the macaques lived and formed an instant bond with Jojo. Their friendship goes so far that Jojo even shares her food with Alan, they play together and are posing for photos.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/22/rescue-monkey-adopts-stray-kitten-who-wandered-into-its-enclosure-6869952/

4. The Cat and the Deer
A cat owner in Pennsylvania noticed that his cat disappeared every morning and he became curious. One day he followed his cat and discovered that he had a daily meeting with a friendly deer, whom he interacted and played with. The cat and the deer have a very sweet but unusual friendship. The bond goes so deep that the cat even grooms the dear and kneads his fur. The deer responds to this appreciation and nuzzles up his friend.

Source: http://honesttopaws.com/cat-and-deer-friends/

5. Sappy the Cat and Dakota the Horse
Cats and horses are known to show kindness to one another. Cats don’t mess with horses because they wouldn’t have a chance to win in a battle. However, they are not know to form deep bonds as Sappy, a 1-year old cat and Dakota, a 15-year old horse have. The cat spends time in Dakota’s stall every single day during feeding time and not only. The cat follows the horse when it is ridden as if he was a dog. The horse shows much appreciation for the cat and even though he could kill it with a single step, it is very gentle to it. Inter-species friendship shouldn’t be so bewildering or unbelieving, a human loving a dog, and a dog loving a human, is a common scene. However, it is astonishing to conceive how this happens. For me, it is love that connects and it’s alike for animals and humans. It demolishes the obstacles and differences and is powerful enough to render the natural enemies, lovers or friends. So, please keep on loving.

About the author: This was a guest post from Pedro (pictured), Editor-in-Chief of We're All About Cats. Click over there and show Pedro and his family some love! And make sure to like their Facebook Page!

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Author
Blog articles for TCMR are written by Nomi Berger, an established author and journalist of 40 years, living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who graciously volunteers her time and talent to help further our rescue efforts.