Walk The Cat

Mara

Source: Jennifer

Yes, you can train your cat.

Train your cat to walk on a leash.
Does that sound ridiculous? It's not, leash training your cat can be a great source of fun for both you and your cat. I'll give you some tried and true methods for training a cat to walk on a leash.

It's best to leash train a young cat but older cats will conform to the leash quite easily with your patience and persistence. The truth is cats in general are not as independant as everyone seems to think. All cats need a lot of praise and rewards when training and a successful trainer is open to the cats sensitivity and special needs. Many people are exposed to many different dog training methods but there isn't much going on in regards to cats. A long held myth is that cats don't want to have anything to do with being told what to do. The reality is cats love being with you just as much as dogs and they will go by whatever rules you set down if you are consistent and patient.

No scolding or punishment is necessary when working with cats, they don't give in to domination methods as dogs do. While it may be appropriate to show a dog who's boss, doing this while training your cat will only lead to a panicked flight or fight response. The best way to get a cat to co-operate with you is to be gentle yet firm at the same time. You do have to be confident because just as with dogs, cats need to feel you are a secure individual that can be trusted. Stability of character is a must for training cats as they usually can sense frustration and irritability and will become uneasy around you.
Get a harness that is designed to pull from the torso, not the throat. Cats can easily slip out of the neck collar or even a loose fitting harness. Choose a harness that is lightweight, has tightly closing clips and adjust it so that you can fit a finger between the harness and the cats body.Once you've purchased the leash and harness, let the cat play with them.
Don't put it on them yet, just leave both leash and harness lying around so the cat can get used to them being there. You could even rub them in catnip or honeysuckle to get them to be interested in them. Make them look and feel friendly to your cat. After a couple of days, make your cat's favorite meal and just before giving it to him/her, slip the harness on and give her the food. If she's fussing with the harness after the food is gone, distract her by playing with her favorite toys. Praise her continuously. Remove the harness once she is relaxed. Do this a often, once or twice a day for about a week. Keep doing it until he/she doesn't fuss about the harness at all, only then can you proceed to the leash.

Now, it's time to clip the leash onto the harness. Don't try to walk your cat yet, let him walk around the house dragging the leash along. Never leave him unattended though as the leash could get caught in something. Follow him around while he gets used to it and praise him profusely. If he becomes agitated by the leash, distract him with treats and toys. Be positive with him at all times. As he gets used to this you can pick the leash up and follow him around. Don't try to control him, just tag along keeping the leash slack. Don't begin a tug of war or take control too much. Gentle nudges and maybe a few course corrections to encourage him/her to follow you is good enough but let your cat know you are doing this together.

Once you've practiced this for awhile you will be able to determine when your cat is ready for some loving direction. Go easy on your cat using a sweet, higher pitched voice, saying her name a lot and just being encouraging with your tones. Kitty is never going to walk like a dog but if you praise her when she does follow you and treat her gently while leading her she'll learn to trust your direction and follow along confidently. Don't go outside yet, keep this in your home for awhile until your cat is totally at ease with having you guide her. You may notice that when your cat feels resistance she either comes to you or lays down on the spot. Be patient, never pull or jerk the cat back into place or she'll form a very negative opinion about you and the leash. Gently persuade your cat to follow along, let him explore and always have his favorite treats or toys with you.

If your cat has adapted well to the training then he's ready for the great outdoors. Again, keyword here is patience. Don't expect to go on a brisk walk, cats just don't work that way. On your first outing you may not get out of your yard. That's fine, just make sure you and your cat can explore in a peaceful setting where there is nothing shocking to a cat's keen senses, i.e.- cars, motorbikes, lawnmowers, dogs, construction sites, etc. Also remember that walks for dogs are all about getting the energy out. Dog walking is usually fast paced and rythmic. Walking your cat is going to be a slower process with stops and starts designed to peak his/her curiousity and get him interested in doing things with you.

Eventually your cat may get comfortable with strolls around the neighborhood as long as she trusts you to protect her from any dangers. Some cats however, will never be interested in anything outside of your yard and for many older cats, laying around on the lawn, sniffing a cool summer breeze is about as much outdoors as they want to experience. Adjust yourself to your cats needs and you'll get along just fine.
The greatest benefits of leash training your cat is that you will both be able to spend more outside time together without leaving your cat vulnerable to the dangers that exist when leaving a cat to wander the streets alone.
Please, never leave your cat unattended outside. Indoor cats lead much better and longer lives than cats that go out alone. The only thing is that indoor cats need you to help them excercise. Take some time out and enjoy watching him explore the world while providing the protection he needs to be a healthy, confident kitty.

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Lynx - Why we need to care -

© Copyright 2012 Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders At Work

Learn and Care

The lynx is a medium-sized cat characterized by its long ear tufts and short (bobbed) tail with a black tip. It has unusually large paws that act as snow shoes in very deep snow and its thick fur and long legs make it appear larger than it really is.



Fast Facts
Height Around 2 feet (.61m)

Length 2.5 - 3 feet (.76 - .91m)

Weight: 10-23 lbs (8-10 kg)

Lifespan: 10-15 years.

Diet:
Lynx are specialized hunters and can survive only where
there are adequate snowshoe hare populations. Lynx are also known to eat mice, voles, grouse, ptarmigan and red squirrel.

Population:
Perhaps 1,000 lynx exist in the lower 48 states.

Range:
Historically, lynx lived in four geographically distinct areas within the continental United States. These areas included the Northeast, the Great Lakes states, the northern Rocky Mountains/Cascades and the southern Rocky Mountains.

Did You Know?
Lynx have excellent eyesight: they can spot a mouse at 250 feet! Also, the black tufts of hair at the tops of their ears serve to enhance their already phenomenal hearing.
In the United States today, lynx are known to occur only in Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington. A recent reintroduction program has reestablished a population in Colorado.

Behavior:
Generally solitary animals, lynx usually hunt and travel alone and are slightly more active at night than by day. Lynx have complex needs for their habitat. They require different forest types, including young forests with thick vegetation for hunting snowshoe hares and older forests with good cover for their dens.

Reproduction:
Mating Season: March and April
Gestation: 63-70 days
Litter Size: Average of 4 kittens.
Kittens stay with their mother for the first year while they learn to hunt.

Climate Change and Other Threats:
Lynx are threatened by climate change in different ways. Lynx depend on areas with abundant snowshoe hare populations and lots of deep, soft snow where their large snowshoe-like paws give them a competitive advantage over coyotes, bobcats and other predators. Rising temperatures will decrease snowfall overall, and more melting snow will cause more frequent refreezing, creating a hard crust atop softer snow. These conditions will be more favorable to competitors like coyotes.

Defenders at Work:

Defenders has been working for two decades to draw attention to the plight of the lynx, provide it with federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, and protect critical lynx habitat.

Lynx need a mix of young and old forests in close proximity to each other. Young forests with lots of underbrush are where snowshoe hares live, but lynx need older forests with a lot of downed trees to den in. As climate change is altering forest dynamics and increasing the number of forest fires, there may be less older forest for lynx to den in. Lynx are also threatened by logging, which destroys the habitat both it and the snowshoe hare rely upon for survival.

Reasons For Hope:
Many efforts have gone into helping preserve the lynx.

Reducing mortality: Once hunted and trapped for their fur, the lynx is now protected from all hunting in the U.S., except in Alaska.
Protecting habitat: In 2000, the lynx was recognized as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. In February 2009 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 39,000 square miles of forest in six states to conserve the threatened cat. That includes 12,834 square miles in two areas of Montana.
Restoring a population: In 1999, Colorado began an ambitious lynx restoration program in the remote San Juan Mountains, and by 2005 more than 200 animals had been released. And as proof that conservationists’ hard work has paid off, in June 2009 ten lynx kittens were found in 5 dens in Colorado!

Legal Status/Protection:
Endangered Species Act: Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the lynx is listed as threatened.

Ruhka

By Jennifer Theories

Ruhka - Feb 1994 to March 6 2011
Source: Jennifer


Unconditional love


Every step I've taken for the last seventeen years,
has been followed by the girl with the black, fluffy ears.
She's my joy, my comfort, my shining light,
by my side always, warm days or cold nights.

Her eyes, they probe deeply and grow with each turn,
with each passing moment I watch as she learns
about the wonders of life, the birds and the bugs.
And she'll never turn down a session of hugs.

There are days that are dark and I have to cry
and she's always there 'til my wet cheeks are dry.
Even then she stands proudly, right by my side.
This little one's presence makes me glad I'm alive.

Ruhka came into this world as an unwanted puppy, sometime around February of 1994. We met her in May of 1994. She was running lose in the streets, happily chasing birds and her own curiousity. She ran out into the street and my husband had to lay on the breaks to avoid hitting her, meanwhile a car went racing through a stop sign at the intersection that my husband would have been passing through had he not stopped for this little black pup. No one knows for sure how serious of an accident it would have been but she either saved his life or at least alot of problems and damages.

My husband opened his car door and little Ruhka jumped right in and curled up on his lap.

We called all the city resources thinking someone must be missing this little bundle of pure joy but no one came to claim her. We are so grateful.

Seventeen years later, we are suffering through this feeling of loss but we know that we provided her with a grand and wonderful lifestyle and we know that she appreciated every second of it.

God has always blessed you Ruhka. Save a spot there for me.

Ruhka left her little body behind on March 6 2011 at 5:30 am. She was active and happy until the very end. I cannot truly express the love that we shared, so free from second guesses and alterior motives, so unselfish and so pure. She gave every moment her all. Even in the last two years as she began losing some of her senses - her hearing and her eyesight - she did everything she could to adjust and keep on being happy and affectionate. My husband and I held her as she breathed her last breath on this planet as our little black dog. She moved on naturally without anasthetic lying between us on our bed. She wasn't sick. Her whole life was a blessing from start to finish and although she has left her body behind, she continues to love fully as a free spirit.

Ruhka in October of 2010
Source: Jennifer
Love Your Dog

Comment from original posting:


Old Poolman Level 8 Commenter 8 months ago

This was beautiful and I can tell you truly understand unconditional love. Not everyone has experienced or can grasp this concept. This was a fantastic hub and thanks for sharing.

Status: Approved



Jennifer Theories Hub Author 8 months ago

Thank you Old Poolman. Even though I knew this was coming soon, my Ruhka's passing has hit me hard. This has been a year of great loss and grief for me and I hope that one day I have the courage and the ability to care for another 'unwanted' dog. Seventeen years, oh what do I do without her.

I also want to add that I noticed there are google ads for dog breeders on my page. I don't want that. Please, please, please, never buy a dog (or cat, rabbit or anything else) at a breeder or a pet store. There are literally MILLIONS of dogs and other animals waiting for homes in shelters and city pounds. If you are considering 'buying' rather than adopting because you want a specific breed, then find a shelter or organization that caters to that breed. People abandon animals with equal opportunity so no matter what breed you think you need to own find one that needs you and stop the senseless breeding of animals for profit.

I am so sorry that these google ads are here on my page and I will try to find a way to fix that even if I have to remove any ads. I need the money because I care for other animals fulltime but I don't want to have anything to do with animal breeders or pet stores.

Status: Approved


Crow Raven 8 months ago

What a wonderful journey you have been on together! The ending was beautiful but heartbreaking. Ruhka brightened each day like a sunbeam shining through the clouds. I will remember and celebrate Ruhka.

Status: Approved


Sharyn's Slant Level 7 Commenter 7 months ago

Hi Jennifer,

OH, I love this story. I recently had to have my dog, Buttons, put down last year on August 20. He was almost 15 years old. My cats in my life have somewhat eased my pain of missing Buttons. But it still hurts . . . I haven't been able to bring myself to write about him, yet. But I will eventually because he was the best. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story!

Status: Approved



Lucky Cats Level 8 Commenter 6 months ago

Ohhhhhh...this is so beautiful. So beautiful. Your loving tribute to your baby, your little black dog Ruhka. Your writing skills are incredible and matched only by your sensitivity and loving nature. What a blessing that you are on this earth, Jennifer. Your heart is right here, for all to see...and I am so glad to know that you are as you are..loving, kind and so aware of the value of all life. As you know, I share this feeling with you...a love and caring for my animal companions. We are GOOD people, Jennifer. Bless you, my friend. Kathy Of course, up, awesome, beautiful, like on FB and shared on FB...

Status: Approved



Jennifer Theories Hub Author 6 months ago

It takes one to know one, is the first thing that came to mind when I read your post. I thank you and I receive your compliments whole heartedly. We are good people, us that love and respect the lives of animals. I wouldn't be me without the experiences that I've had with that little dog. She made my son happy, she brought me and my husband closer together, she let us know she needed to be cared for and that she cared for us. Thank you for noticing this article and seeing that it was real, an expression of deeply felt love. Sometimes I think our culture is so fixated on sensationalism that no one notices but Kathy and the others that commented, you've shown me that people do notice and respond to just love, egoless love. Thank you so much.

Polar Bear Ice Flows - Let’s Fake It

 

I was watching William Shatner’s Weird or What show a while ago and there was a bit about why the seals that usually hang out somewhere off the coast of California suddenly took off a couple of weeks before an earthquake. The details of this segment aren’t all that important because it’s not really what this is about. The show got me thinking about what the seals were doing there. They hang out on the docks and peers of the harbor. Just wooden platforms set out on the water.

This is what led me to thinking about our beautiful-but-in-trouble polar bears of the north. Because of global warming the ice is melting more rapidly and the polar bears are losing their most important form of water transport – the ice flows. These polar bears need something to help them get from one area to another for breeding and feeding throughout different times of the year. It occurs to me that ice flows with ocean currents. All the flows follow the oceans’ lead as to where they are going and how fast they get there. If the ice is melting to fast and the bears can’t use them any more then why don’t we help them by building fake ice flows?

By fake ice flows, I mean that we should be gathering up any sort of recyclable plastic we can get our hands on and forming it into fake ice flows. Then we just place them in the proper ocean currents and let nature take it from there. These fake ice flows would float just as the ice does.

Why not use our plastic garbage to build fake ice flows for polar bears and other animals that use ice flows in and around the artic?

Is there any decent human out there that can help me implement this? Or any decent company that will take the reins (with me involved) to make this real?

Are there any scientists that can tell me that this isn’t a good solution to an immediate problem? Or any that can tell me it is and back me up on this? This really seems like it could work to save hundreds of polar bear lives. Sure, we may have to remove the fake flows once balance is restored but for right now, why not use the fake ice flows.

I am just one person – actually I am one very simple and isolated individual with no real resources to implement this except for reaching out to others that care about this situation. When I am not writing or working on my artwork I am taking care of animals which really means that most of my time is spent taking care of animals. It is a lot of work to really look after animals. I am not very active in the business world and I really shy away from politics and current economic and business practice because it makes me so angry. Because of this I don’t make much money – I never smooze people and as an artist of sorts I am repelled by the process of selling even though it would be in my best financial interest if I was less modest about my work. I am telling you this because this idea of creating fake ice flows as at least a temporary solution to the problems that the polar bears are facing is a good idea that deserves attention. I am not prone to running around trying to get attention for anything but I think this is important enough to warrant me asking around if anyone can make this happen.

So, I am asking. Got any ideas?

Christian the Lion Continues to Inspire

October 28, 2011

Christian the Lion Continues to Inspire





Dear Friends of Real Paid Estate

Last night’s edition of the cable TV program “Oprah’s Lifeclass” featured video clips of Christian the legendary lion — who’d been rescued from a London department store and returned to the wild — being reunited with his former owners. The segment was narrated by Oprah Winfrey, who evidently was moved to tears by the footage.

Christian’s stunningly heart-warming reunion with his two human friends, captured in a documentary by Born Free co-founders Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna (my parents, I’m extremely proud to say), went “viral” on YouTube and has inspired millions of people worldwide. Christian, by the way, spent four months living in my garden before being released to the African wild!

See a slideshow in which my mother recalls details of Christian’s story.
Enjoy footage my parents took of Christian’s reunion with his human friends.
Watch the “Lifeclass” segment about Christian.

And please help spread the word by forwarding this e-mail to your family and friends, and consider posting it on Facebook and Twitter so that all your contacts will have the chance to see Christian the lion’s reunion and to learn more about how Born Free USA works to protect lions.

For the animals,

P.S. Christian the lion received a second chance in Africa and we work to help all wild lions in Africa, so please donate toward the cause.