Cat panicked by use of new broom

Q: Yesterday I bought a new broom (Swiffer type), and my cat freaked out while I was used it. She was hitting it, attacked it, and was hissing.

Later that night, she was acting the same way toward toys she?s had for five months. Today when I came home, I had to bring her upstairs. She was very hesitant. Not wanting to be on the floor, and she was looking at it like something was there, and she was going to pounce but never did. She was on my bed and acted the same way (very sketchy, not wanted to be petted, held, etc.).

I have hidden all her toys, and am hoping she calms down. I am very concerned about her behavior, because it is very unlike her. Any ideas on what could be up?

A: What you are experiencing is fairly common. Cats are exceptional at generalizing a frightening experience to other situations. What I mean is that when a cat becomes completely panicked, sometimes it takes a couple of days for them to recover. For some, they generalize the fear and the physiologic panic through a process called classical conditioning, so they react to any stimulus that was present during the traumatic incident in the same way that they react to the stimulus itself. In other words, that traumatic incident may have really changed your cat. Hopefully, she will recover quickly, but some cats do not. Try the things below, and if they do not work within a couple of weeks, or she becomes aggressive toward you, seek professional help by going to www.dacvb.org.

1. Give your cat some space. Just as you need personal space when you are upset or angry, your cat needs the same right now. Giving her some cooling off time without approaching her, petting her or otherwise trying to interact with her will help her to recover more quickly. If she wants to lie on the bed without being touched by you, leave her alone. She should start to show improvement in about a week.

2. Give her back some toys that have not elicited the fear response. If she likes to play, she will recover more quickly if she has the opportunity to engage in that behavior.

3. Put the Swiffer away when your cat is in the room. In other words, put your cat in another room before you even open the closet where the Swiffer is. At this point, it is better not to let her see it at all.

Dr. Radosta

Lisa Radosta DVM, Diplomate ACVB
Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
PO Box 210636
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421-0636
561-795-9398
www.flvetbehavior.com
Read more articles by Dr. Radosta | Ask her a question

Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2013/09/26/cat-panicked-by-use-of-new-broom/

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Stressed terrier goes into barking rage

Q.: We rescued a male mixed terrier a little more than 3 years ago. He will soon be 7 years old. He is the most loving and sweetest dog one could ever ask for. But, every time my husband or I open the door to go outside or leave in the car, this little dog goes into this crazy barking rage. Thank goodness it only lasts for just a few minutes. We don’t know if he did this before we got him or not. We have tried the kind, sweet way to get him to stop, as well as the firm NO word but NO luck. We hope that you could give us some advice on what to do.

A.: It sounds like your terrier gets very stressed when you leave the house. Because the barking only lasts a short period of time, you have a good chance of helping him. A videotape of what happens after he stops barking would be very helpful, because you are not only measuring the barking but also the level of stress of the animal overall when they are left by themselves.

Barking is just one sign of stress. For example, what if he paces and pants the entire time that you’re gone? He is still showing signs of stress, he just isn’t working. We want to know how stressed the patient is when the owner is gone, so we can work toward providing a better quality of life, not just alleviating the barking. So, first get that videotape.

Once you know the duration of your dog signs, it will be easier to treat him. If he truly just barks for a couple of minutes and goes to sleep, you can probably handle that by simply giving him a food toy with yummy treats and it about 15 minutes before you leave the house. Also, you want to make sure that you ignore any and all barking that he does. Finally, you can practice simple exercises such as the down/stay, where you work on walking around the house so he can learn to be independent from you.

If the video shows your dog is highly distressed for long periods of time, you should seek help from your primary care veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. You can find one at www.dacvb.org.

Dr. Radosta

Lisa Radosta DVM, Diplomate ACVB
Florida Veterinary Behavior Service
PO Box 210636
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421-0636
561-795-9398
www.flvetbehavior.com
Read more articles by Dr. Radosta | Ask her a question

Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2013/08/08/stressed-terrier-goes-into-barking-rage/

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Best Pet Products Website?

You have pets and are looking for the best pet products? Formybestpal.com is the best website for online shopping for pet supplies.

They carry pet products for many small pets including:
*Large and small Dog supplies
*Cat products
*Small animal products like cages, food, toys and collars
*Supplies for reptiles
*The best products for birds
*Fish supplies like tanks, food and accessories

Shop now at Formybestpal.com for all the best pet products.

Source: http://poochieheaven.blogspot.com/2012/04/best-pet-products-website.html

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Types of Dog Carriers for Small Dogs

Dog carries for small dogs are great when you want to travel with your dog or love to keep your dog by your side wherever you go. It is important that you get the right dog carrier, as there are many available in the market to choose from.

Smalls dogs tend to be livelier and restless as compared to larger dogs. So if the dog carriers are used properly, they can benefit both the dog and the owner in a number of ways.  Transporting dogs in cars or vehicles can be dangerous if the dog keeps disturbing the driver, so it is best to buy a dog carrier to keep both the driver and the dog safe while traveling or on the move.

Dog carriers for small dogs are widely available in any design and shape so buy the right one. You will need to consider many different things such as space, material and durability of the carrier. This is because it can affect how safe and comfortable your dog is in the carrier.

You will find small dog travel carriers, strollers and purses in the market. The travel carriers are best if you want to take your dog with you when you are traveling by plane or car, as they are easy to carry and are very durable. The strollers are great if you want to take your dogs in events where there will be many people. You can easily keep your dog safe during the event. Whereas the dog purses are best if you want to take your dog for a walk in large crowds, because purses can easily be turned into leashes and harnesses for your dog to move about.

So when you are out and about, why not take your dog with you as they would defiantly love some fresh air with the help of these dog carriers.

Source: http://poochieheaven.blogspot.com/2012/04/types-of-dog-carriers-for-small-dogs.html

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Super Kitty Poses in Batman Costume

We sell so many dog costumes, but many people don’t realize that the smaller sizes fits cats, too! Here is a perfect example of a great pet costume for cats. Behold the Bat Cat! He’s the hero this city needs, keeping Gotham safe from rodents and vicious birds. Photo Source: krpenn019 LOL, what a great [...]

Source: http://blog.costumecraze.com/2014/01/super-kitty-poses-in-batman-costume

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Upcoming Events - June 2012

Source: http://www.groovypetblog.com/2012/06/upcoming-events---june-2012.html

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Rotate your pet's food for long-term good health!

Source: http://www.groovypetblog.com/2012/09/rotate-your-pets-food-for-long-term-good-health.html

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