Comments on: Interspecies conflicts: Can’t we all just get along? http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/ Blogging by a team of pet-care experts led by Dr. Marty Becker. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:56:39 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Schnauzer http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-115843 Schnauzer Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:07:16 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-115843 In "The Beast in the Garden: The True Story of a Predator's Deadly Return to Suburban America by David Baron" Baron has all sorts of interesting stuff about cougar moms and their kittens, how they teach the youngsters to hunt, and how if Mama has a taste for deer that's what she teaches the kids to hunt, if she likes domestic dogs, thats what the babies learn to hunt. Makes sense. I DO live with terriers and would not have the nerve to have a "prey" type of pet. There are some things that are just too hard wired. In “The Beast in the Garden: The True Story of a Predator’s Deadly Return to Suburban America
by David Baron” Baron has all sorts of interesting stuff about cougar moms and their kittens, how they teach the youngsters to hunt, and how if Mama has a taste for deer that’s what she teaches the kids to hunt, if she likes domestic dogs, thats what the babies learn to hunt. Makes sense.

I DO live with terriers and would not have the nerve to have a “prey” type of pet. There are some things that are just too hard wired.

]]> By: MaineMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-115672 MaineMom Tue, 28 Aug 2007 01:08:39 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-115672 From watching and reading about cats for many years, I've concluded the hunting instinct is genetically imprinted - but feral queens and barn cats teach their kittens that prey is food, not just something to be played with or brought to us lowly humans as a gift. I've seen some cattery raised cats stalk and capture prey with amazing agility and speed - and also consume it. Breed seems to have a lot to do with it. A Persian may bat at a moth, but a Maine will go into true "hunt mode" and quickly capture and consume it. Some of the big "natural" breeds will stalk and capture doves and rabbits. I had a retired show cat stalking and capuring pigeons on my roof a few years ago. His mom never showed him how to do that! From watching and reading about cats for many years, I’ve concluded the hunting instinct is genetically imprinted - but feral queens and barn cats teach their kittens that prey is food, not just something to be played with or brought to us lowly humans as a gift. I’ve seen some cattery raised cats stalk and capture prey with amazing agility and speed - and also consume it. Breed seems to have a lot to do with it. A Persian may bat at a moth, but a Maine will go into true “hunt mode” and quickly capture and consume it.

Some of the big “natural” breeds will stalk and capture doves and rabbits. I had a retired show cat stalking and capuring pigeons on my roof a few years ago. His mom never showed him how to do that!

]]> By: Diane http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-115584 Diane Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:29:25 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-115584 Serijina has something there. Our Smokey(who unfortunately died this year at the age of 10) was a very small kitten when we got him. My son also had a hamster named Fred. Soon after Smokey came to live with us, we noticed Fred seemed to be making a lot of late-night escapes from his hamster habitat. One night, I saw Smokey hooking his paw under the exercise wheel on the side of the cage and popping it off. Still, Fred died a natural death. Smokey knew how to let him out but not what to do afterwards. He'd just follow Fred around with a confused expression on his face. Serijina has something there. Our Smokey(who unfortunately died this year at the age of 10) was a very small kitten when we got him. My son also had a hamster named Fred. Soon after Smokey came to live with us, we noticed Fred seemed to be making a lot of late-night escapes from his hamster habitat. One night, I saw Smokey hooking his paw under the exercise wheel on the side of the cage and popping it off. Still, Fred died a natural death. Smokey knew how to let him out but not what to do afterwards. He’d just follow Fred around with a confused expression on his face.

]]> By: Serijna http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-114944 Serijna Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:04:27 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-114944 Now that we have scared the devil out of Gina, we should remember that Clara was never a stray or feral ,taught by mom how to kill prey. I have watched in amazement how feral mom cats brought still living but disabled prey(like mice or small bunnies) to their 10/12 wks old kittens and then sit back supervising them. Even though instinct prevails, there is also a certain acquired knowledge from feral Mom to become a fast effective killer IMO.. Now that we have scared the devil out of Gina, we should remember that Clara was never a stray or feral ,taught by mom how to kill prey.
I have watched in amazement how feral mom cats brought still living but disabled prey(like mice or small bunnies) to their 10/12 wks old kittens and then sit back supervising them.
Even though instinct prevails, there is also a certain acquired knowledge from feral Mom to become a fast effective killer IMO..

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-114939 The OTHER Pat Mon, 27 Aug 2007 03:45:34 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-114939 Sue Ailsby is one of my "clicker gurus", along with Shirley Chong. http://www.shirleychong.com Both of those ladies can read animal body language and come up with wonderfully benign yet effective solutions. It's really something to see (or read, as the case may be!) Sue Ailsby is one of my “clicker gurus”, along with Shirley Chong.

http://www.shirleychong.com

Both of those ladies can read animal body language and come up with wonderfully benign yet effective solutions.

It’s really something to see (or read, as the case may be!)

]]> By: Schnauzer http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-114931 Schnauzer Mon, 27 Aug 2007 03:24:45 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-114931 also, look into clicker training for Clara. I especially like some of the "zen" stuff they do on this site. I realize it's dog centric, but the idea is the same for llamas and chickens and cats too. There is a yahoo group where you can ask questions as well.. http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%20Dog1/levels.html also, look into clicker training for Clara. I especially like some of the “zen” stuff they do on this site. I realize it’s dog centric, but the idea is the same for llamas and chickens and cats too. There is a yahoo group where you can ask questions as well..
http://www.dragonflyllama.com/.....evels.html

]]> By: MaineMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-114836 MaineMom Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:05:31 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-114836 Gina - soda cans with pennies in them really shake up most cats. But beware, I've had Maines on top of an almost 7' cabinet - with nothing but the floor for a starting off point. From the looks of Clara she's a mainly Maine lady! Gina - soda cans with pennies in them really shake up most cats. But beware, I’ve had Maines on top of an almost 7’ cabinet - with nothing but the floor for a starting off point. From the looks of Clara she’s a mainly Maine lady!

]]> By: Gina Spadafori http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-114784 Gina Spadafori Sun, 26 Aug 2007 23:03:36 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-114784 I have lots of heavy books around here. I'm going to try that. I think even I could hit the wall with one. And Eddie doesn't tend to get off the hanging play stand. We'll work it out. Neither is leaving, so I'll have to manage the situation. I have lots of heavy books around here. I’m going to try that. I think even I could hit the wall with one.

And Eddie doesn’t tend to get off the hanging play stand.

We’ll work it out. Neither is leaving, so I’ll have to manage the situation.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-114764 Stephanie Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:20:41 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-114764 You already tried a squirt bottle. There goes my reading comprehension. :) Is there anything else you can try? Books may work better, or thrown shaky cans. That situation really does sound like a sad possibility for disaster. You already tried a squirt bottle. There goes my reading comprehension. :)

Is there anything else you can try? Books may work better, or thrown shaky cans. That situation really does sound like a sad possibility for disaster.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/comment-page-1/#comment-114762 Stephanie Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:16:01 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2007/08/26/interspecies-conflicts-cant-we-all-just-get-along/#comment-114762 If Clara is that interested in Eddie, you should probably consider training before separation. If Eddie jumps down for whatever reason, are you absolutely sure you can get to him before Clara? I have five cats (three of which were ferals, four of which are serious hunters) and seven parrots, including three small ones. I'd highly recommend sitting around with a squirt bottle, a shake can, or a book, and waiting for Clara to look interested in Eddie. If you can do something without her linking it to you, all the better, but either way, startle or disturb her whenever she looks at him. An example -- I have a flighted African grey parrot, and had at the time a newly adopted Maine Coon (well, I still have both, but Gus isn't newly adopted anymore). Said cat really, really, really wanted to consider eating the parrots. I set up a situation in which the parrot would fly past the cat, out of easy reach, and I could stand near the cat but out of eye sight. The instant the parrot took off, I threw a book at the wall behind the cat. 1.5 years later, he has never looked at a parrot in a predatory fashion since. I would never leave them alone, but I know that if one of the birds lands on the floor, the cat is not going to instantly try to kill them. If Clara is that interested in Eddie, you should probably consider training before separation. If Eddie jumps down for whatever reason, are you absolutely sure you can get to him before Clara?

I have five cats (three of which were ferals, four of which are serious hunters) and seven parrots, including three small ones.

I’d highly recommend sitting around with a squirt bottle, a shake can, or a book, and waiting for Clara to look interested in Eddie. If you can do something without her linking it to you, all the better, but either way, startle or disturb her whenever she looks at him.

An example — I have a flighted African grey parrot, and had at the time a newly adopted Maine Coon (well, I still have both, but Gus isn’t newly adopted anymore). Said cat really, really, really wanted to consider eating the parrots. I set up a situation in which the parrot would fly past the cat, out of easy reach, and I could stand near the cat but out of eye sight. The instant the parrot took off, I threw a book at the wall behind the cat.

1.5 years later, he has never looked at a parrot in a predatory fashion since. I would never leave them alone, but I know that if one of the birds lands on the floor, the cat is not going to instantly try to kill them.

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