Is my cat being spiteful?
A^ There is always a good reason why an
animal performs a certain behaviour – it
will never be out of spite. Most of the time,
there’s some need that requires fulfilment
and the animal is trying to communicate
that need, or the behaviour is being
reinforced in some way. In this case, there
are a few possibilities: it’s fun for your cat
- they’re predators, and seeing something
move or drop after batting at it can be quite
satisfying; they’re bored and have found
something to keep them entertained; or,
the behaviour gets a response from you
and they’ve learned that it’s a means of
getting attention. All of these reasons
involve a need: to express normal predatory
behaviour, to be mentally stimulated, or to
interact with their favourite human.
Q (^) How can I stop my cat from deliberately knocking items off the
kitchen counter?
Fortunately, there’s a simple solution.
I would take a two-pronged approach:
remove any likely targets from your
counter to prevent your cat from
practicing the behaviour and get out the
toys! Play with your cat on a daily basis,
particularly around the time she would
usually indulge in her object-destroying
habit. A teaser toy is a great option, and
you can put some catnip on it for extra
stimulation. This kind of play satisfies all
three needs: instinctual behaviour, mental
stimulation and human interaction. Over
time, once this kind of play has become a
new habit (for you and your cat), you can
gradually start returning hidden objects
to the counter.
Katherine Brown, behaviourist
Q
Should I have my rat sterilised before getting
a friend for him?
A
Rats are very social creatures and really
enjoy each other’s company. They are
happier with a companion. They do, however, have
a very fast rate of reproduction due to the fact that
in nature, they fall prey to many predators. A female
Sterilised rat
rat can have up to five litters of seven to 14 pups in one
year. For this reason alone, it is recommended to have
your pet rats sterilised. It is simpler to sterilise the male
but female rats develop significantly less mammary
tumours (a common cancer in rats) if they have been
sterilised. We also find that sterilised rats are
more easy-going and less likely to fight as
their hormone levels are lower.
Dr Dorianne Elliott, veterinarian
FOCUS
your questions answered
HEALTH, NUTRITION, BE HAVIOU R & TRAINING
Find a behaviourist on
http://www.animal-behaviour.org.za
to help you cope with your cat’s
behaviour if you struggle.
Q
I recently rescued a dog from a shelter,
but he doesn’t seem to be interested in
play. Are there dogs who don’t play? How can I
get him to play?
A
Given his recent adoption it may be that
your new dog needs time to adjust in
the home. He is still in a settling period and
could be feeling overwhelmed by his new
surroundings. Have your vet examine him from
top to toe to rule out any possible medical
condition that may be causing discomfort, pain
or compromised senses.
In some cases, dogs who have been brought
up in sterile and impoverished environments
have no idea how to play. Similarly, if a dog
has been punished repeatedly for ‘normal
dog behaviours’, which would include
investigatory and play behaviour, he may be
displaying ‘learned helplessness’ whereby
he is too afraid to engage in any play activity.
This could very well be a repercussion of the
lack of correct early nurturing as opposed to
personality and genetics.
Play brings enjoyment and pleasure to both
us and our dogs. It is a voluntary and internally
motivated activity. Slowly and quietly introduce
an array of novel items and toys with different
textures, sizes, shapes and movement. Start
by implementing easy food games such as a
feeding Kong. As food is a great motivator, the
enrichment games will build his confidence and
hopefully encourage him to engage in other play
activities. Be patient – time is a great healer.
Samantha Walpole, behaviourist
Playtime