Cats Getting Along Too Well, Cats Not Getting Along…

My Dog Has Anxiety Around Certain Sounds and Situations

Dear Off-Leash: We rescued Ella Blu, a 1 1/2-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier (62%Aussie 22%/Hound 16% unknown) mix 3 years ago. She really is the sweetest girl. She likes all other dogs, and most people (except sometimes men wearing hats)  

She has shown more anxiety towards objects, sounds and sometimes people as time has passed. She is not aggressive — she’s very docile, except toward the vacuum/mop. She will bite at it, and with power tools (lawn mower/blower/drill) she goes crazy and will even jump at the user. Drop something, and the noise sets her off running and barking.  

Sometimes she acts standoffish, won’t come near or even take a treat from myself or my husband for no apparent reason, takes off to hide, but then is fine a few minutes later (she is like this around our son when he visits each year, so we have seen the behavior before now, but not with us).  

She is now being given CBD daily, but sometimes she still paces/acts nervously. What other suggestions can we try? Is this a patterned behavior that can be explained? Things we need to look out for later? 

     -Nervous Pupper 

Dear Nervous: It sounds like fear/anxiety may be the source of these issues. I would first start with a calmative that is a daily, long-acting supplement. You are on the correct path with CBD, but sometimes that is not enough, or doesn’t work well for long-term situations. I would look for a long-term supplement that may contain Biota seed, Polygala, Valerian, Skull cap, and passion flower.  

Finally, I would enroll all three of you into some training classes that help reinforce to her that you/your husband can be trusted to handle stressful situations, and if there is something that is making her anxious, she should look to either of you for guidance. From what you describe, she is scared and doesn’t trust that someone will protect her from what she thinks is an unsafe situation.  

If you change this relationship through practiced training and behavior, she should start to come to you for comfort instead of running away and acting scared. It’s a process which will require patience on everyone’s part. But it’s clear how much you care about your dog, so I know that you have what it takes. Good luck to you and Ella Blu, and let me know how it goes! 

     -Dr. Katy 

Separation Issues with a Bonded Pair of Kittens

Dear Off Leash: I have a bonded sibling pair of cats that just turned 6 months old. When I say “bonded”, I mean best friends-for-life, do-everything-together, never-had-a-disagreement kind of bonded. These are my first cats as an adult so I’m still learning the right etiquette and what to expect.  My question is about what to do when just one of them needs to go to the vet. Early in adopting them, one had a minor complication in his neutering recovery, so I had to bring him in. He cried the whole way there and was clearly very unhappy. But, several weeks later, when I took them both in the same carrier to finish their shots, they were much more at ease and even fell asleep during the drive!  

We have a comfy bed in their big carrier (and a backup one too) and leave it out in a calm elevated spot so they don’t just associate it with the vet/leaving the apartment.  

When, inevitably, just one of them will need to see the vet, would you recommend splitting them up? Or is it okay to let them travel together considering the extra comfort they provide each other?  

     –Don’t Separate Them 

Dear Don’t Separate: I think it is perfectly fine to keep them together when they might be experiencing a stressful event. Sometimes this will not be possible, and in those cases I would turn to a fast-acting calmative.  

Also, consider using a Feline Appeasing Phermone (FAP) product. These can be found as diffusers (for use in your home with the pet that is staying), or collars/sprays you can use in a carrier with the one leaving. These will not likely solve all anxiety issues but should reduce it to a level that is more manageable.  

     -Dr. Katy 

My Two Cats Aren’t Getting Along

Dear Off Leash: We have two kitty siblings, supposedly Turkish Angoras, adopted as adults. We had seen video of them grooming one another prior to adopting, but now they barely get close and commonly hiss at each other before they get fed. The breed is relevant, because they’ve got LONG fur (we brush them and get their fur trimmed at least once a year). When we adopted them 5 years ago, one had severely matted fur and we ended up taking her to the vet to get shaved.   

One of the humans in the house speculates that this traumatic event somehow turned one cat against the other. What’s your take? And is there any hope of re-establishing the connection?  

     -Keep ‘Em Separated 

Dear Keep ‘Em Separated: First, great job with the feeding and brushing. This should reduce any physical discomfort or health issues that may lead to “unfriendly” behavior. It sounds like they need more territory and, perhaps, separate territory.  

Make sure any competitive resources have one for each cat, plus one “extra,” so they have an overabundance of choices. This would mean for two cats having three litter boxes, three water sources, and three separate (as in other rooms and multiple levels) feeding stations. I would also consider their sleeping/lounging accommodations as well. Make sure there are high and low places to relax in, such as a few cat trees, window perches, etc. so that they can have two or three places that they can have the same “resource” at the same time, without any apparent competition. 

You can also introduce forms of Feline Appeasing Pheromone (FAP) into the environment. This can be done with diffusers placed in the most occupied and disputed territory, giving each a collar, and sprays on furniture and bedding they share.  

Hopefully, this means the more dominant cat won’t compete against the more docile cat for anything. This should lead to them not feeling the need to “compete” and thus a more relaxed relationship for them both.  

     -Dr. Katy 

Does your dog do something totally crazy? Are you curious about your cat’s dietary preferences? Off Leash Advice would love to hear from you! Send us your question, and check back to see each month’s letters, along with advice and tips from Dr. Katy! https://www.blog.mudbay.com/advice