Lara Cattery recently attended the Pet Industry Association conference in Cairns. These conferences help us keep up to date with information about nutrition, animal welfare, care of the pet when boarding etc. A great talk by Dr Kim Kendall a veterinary feline specialist in NSW. Her observations and recommendations regarding feline behaviour make us feel that we have got it right in the way we care for your pets here at Lara Cattery.
We take Work Experience Students from the Gordon TAFE in Geelong who are studying Certificate Three in Veterinary Nursing and Veterinary Students from Melbourne University.
They have the opportunity to gain insight into cat psychology, learn the principles of cross infection and why we work the way we do. Practice first class hygiene and discussions on cattery design and management overseas.
We do this to help improve feline care and management in catteries as these people when qualified will be the first port of call for many owners when asking questions about their pets.
“If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat”!
-Mark Twain
Cats are different from dogs, why?
Your cat is an independent self contained machine. It does not rely on a pack as does the dog and consequently has had no need to develop hierarchical social organization. Dogs have developed many submissive postures such as avoiding eye contact, wagging their tails etc. Your cat has no need for this as it is a solitary hunter and can only rely on itself. Consequently in our interaction with our cats we can get it wrong if we compare their behavior with that of a dog!
Social bonding between cats is usually defined by sitting close together, mutual grooming and sleeping or dozing together. Try a slow blink to your cat whilst talking to her, blinking and yawning are bonding signals.
If you have more than one cat in a household the dynamics between them can sometimes be up and down. Some cats will just tolerate each other and have no problems as long as there is enough space for them to get away. As they have not developed the messages that dogs use to appease, cats will prefer to avoid, threaten or fight with each other, consequently being crowded can be stressful for cats.
If you’re looking for a cattery in Geelong who understands your cat, contact us to make a booking or to inspect our facilities.
90 Coonawarra Drive,
Avalon, Victoria.3212
03 5282 5555
enquiries@laracattery.com.au