Amy Shojai > Quotes

“September Day sloshed another half cup of coffee into the giant #1-Bitch mug, and glared out the frosty breakfast nook windows. North Texas didn’t get snow. That’s why she’d moved back home—well, one of several reasons. She shivered, relishing the warmth of the beverage, and toasted the storm with a curse. “Damn false advertising.” Her cat Macy meowed agreement. The blizzard drove icy wind through cracks in the antique windows and made the just-in-case candles on the dark countertop sputter. She pulled the fuzzy bathrobe closer around her neck. Normally the kitchen’s stained glass spilled peacock-bright color into the kitchen.”
― Amy Shojai, Lost And Found

“He told himself, “good-dog” but it wasn’t the same.”
― Amy Shojai, Lost And Found

“A correction works to interrupt the behavior by startling the kitten so she stops what she’s doing. It doesn’t take much to break her concentration. Once that’s done, you have a few seconds to engage her attention and direct it in a more positive, acceptable behavior. After she’s re-targeted the behavior, you reward her. For instance, interrupt the kitten from scratching the sofa, redirect her claws onto the legal cat tree, and reward her for scratching the right target.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“the carrier to elevate the benefit of hanging out in the carrier. Offer A Treat. Many cats respond well to treat rewards. To make the carrier an even better experience, try tossing a few inside for your kitten to discover. If he figures out that every now and then, going inside brings a bonus of yummies, your kitten will be more likely to explore and figure out the crate is a terrific place. Make sure that the treats you use for crate training are irresistible, and reserve them for this situation only. Once your cat has begun to visit the crate on his own, try offering an occasional high-value meal (like pungent canned food) but only when he’s inside. Teach Him Tolerance. After your kitten spends time willingly inside, try shutting the door briefly. Most kitties tolerate the door shut at least as long as they have something to munch. Praise the dickens out of him! He should know that staying calmly inside the crate earns him good things, maybe even a game of chase-the-red-dot. Repeat several times over the next few days, each time letting the kitten out after a few minutes. Extend Crate Time. By the end of the first week, you can begin increasing the time the kitten spends in the crate. Some cats feel calmer when inside the carrier if you cover it with a towel because this shuts out at least the visual cues that may raise stress. Scent the towel with the Feliway. Carry Kitty Around. Once your kitten feels comfortable in the carrier with the door shut, drop in a couple of treats and then pick up the carrier while he’s in it and carry him around. Give him another treat or play a favorite game as soon as you let him out.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Create multi-levels in your home. Leave half a shelf empty, so Kitty has a place to perch and claim her place.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“When training kittens, consistency must rule, or else! Don’t allow your kitten on the countertop one day and chastised him for it the next. First of all, it’s not fair to him to change the rules in the middle of the game. Also, inconsistency sabotages any training progress you’ve made.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“When pain or illness consumes her with little hope of recovery; when your cat knows her fight is done; when prolonging her life offers no hope for enjoying that life; these are determinations only you, as your cat’s best friend, can make. People who are closely bonded to their special cats just know when the time is right. Listen to your heart, and your cat will tell you when she’s ready to say goodbye.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

“According to the 2013-2014 National Pet Owners Survey, there are 86.4 million cats kept in 45.3 percent of U.S. households, a number expected to rise.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

“When looking for a brush, be sure the bristles or nubs are soft enough not to scratch tender kitten skin, but firm enough to reach through the fur and brush efficiently. A curry brush is rubber or plastic with short nubs”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Segregate the kitty returning from the vet in a room alone for at least half a day. That gives him time to self-groom and remove all the icky clinic smell from his fur,”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“your cat to explore. It should be convenient for you to access, too, and away from lots of traffic so the cat has a private place to retreat. Leave the top portion of the carrier open or take it off completely, and let him sniff it inside and out. Consider some “second story” locations, so that your kitten has the added allure of an elevated lookout. Take a cue from your cat’s current favorite hangouts, and offer a location he already loves. Many cats love warm sunny spots, so a window view could be a great location. Don’t make a big deal of it. Make It A Happy Place. Place a snuggly kitty blanket inside, or even a fuzzy shirt that YOU have worn. That associates the carrier with your familiar and trusted scent. Adding a spritz of a feline facial pheromone product like Feliway also may help. Add A Toy or Game. Toss a toy inside to create positive experiences with the crate. Ping Pong balls are great fun inside the hard crates. Offer a catnip toy to make points with reluctant cats. Lure your kitten inside with a chase-the-red-dot laser game, or flick a feather toy in and out and let him catch it, once he’s inside. Reserve his favorite toy to use only near or inside”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Rescue Remedy or similar products can help shy and fearful pets.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Provide Soothing Sounds.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Shadow vaulted from the car, and cleared the sprawled figure with one joyous leap. He found September’s scent, and hop-scotched and bulldozed through snow so deep it scraped his belly. But the bloody paw prints left in his wake spelled a message of fear, hope, and determination that only good-dogs could read.”
― Amy Shojai, Lost And Found

“Playing with your kitten can be a powerful bonding and training tool. Make a point to play with your kitten for at least twenty minutes, twice a day.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Claws grow at different rates depending on the kitten. Once every week or every other week is a good schedule. A good time to trim kitten nails is when she is relaxed, and cuddled for a nap on your lap. It’s a great idea to get Kitty used to having her paws handled, so she won’t be startled when you need to trim her nails. Pet her paws, and handle them gently, several times a week—not just when you plan to snip claws.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Studies have shown that contact with cats offers great physical and emotional health benefits to people, from children and adolescents, to adults and senior citizens.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

“Although senior cats are the same constant friend we’ve always known, they tend to become less patient as they get older. She’ll rely more on routine, want her dinner right now, and demand attention this instant.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

“BACH FLOWER REMEDIES Flower essence therapy can also help with behavior modification. These herbal remedies are made from plants, trees and bushes. The essences are said to carry the imprint of the plant’s energy, so the patient’s body somehow “recognizes” this image, which wakes up the system so it can heal itself. In a percentage of cases, flower essence therapies work extraordinarily well. The most familiar products are Bach Flowers composed of 38 individual remedies. Each benefits a different emotional state, and is sometimes used in combination with others for greater effect. Rescue Remedy, for instance, is a premixed combination of the essences Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose and Clematis, recommended for any kind of stress. Most health food stores carry Bach Flower remedies. They’re safe to use alongside other medical treatments, and choosing the “wrong” essence won’t cause harm. Once you’ve chosen your flower essences, here’s how to put them to work. · Maintain the original undiluted bottle as your stock bottle. It should last a very long time. ·           To create a treatment strength mixture, place two drops of the undiluted remedy in a one-ounce glass dropper bottle, and then fill the bottle three-quarters full with spring water, and shake 100 times. Don’t use tap water or distilled water—they go stale too quickly. Refrigerate the mixture. It lasts up to two weeks.  ·           Give the pet four drops four times a day from the treatment bottle until the behavior changes. This could be anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks. It can be given straight from the treatment bottle dropper into the pet’s mouth or on his nose if this doesn’t stress him out too much. Don’t touch the dropper to the pet or that could contaminate the bottle. ·           Alternatively, add drops to a treat, like a teaspoonful of plain yogurt, or add several drops of the remedy to the drinking water for all the pets to sip.”
― Amy Shojai, ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multi-Cat Household

“The most familiar products are Bach Flowers composed of 38 individual remedies. Each benefits a different emotional state, and is sometimes used in combination with others for greater effect. Rescue Remedy, for instance, is a premixed combination of the essences Impatiens, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry Plum, Rock Rose and Clematis, recommended for any kind of stress. Most health food stores carry Bach Flower remedies. They’re safe to use alongside other medical treatments, and choosing the “wrong” essence won’t cause harm. Once you’ve chosen your flower essences, here’s how to put them to work. · Maintain the original undiluted bottle as your stock bottle. It should last a very long time. ·           To create a treatment strength mixture, place two drops of the undiluted remedy in a one-ounce glass dropper bottle, and then fill the bottle three-quarters full with spring water, and shake 100 times. Don’t use tap water or distilled water—they go stale too quickly. Refrigerate the mixture. It lasts up to two weeks.  ·           Give the pet four drops four times a day from the treatment bottle until the behavior changes. This could be anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks. It can be given straight from the treatment bottle dropper into the pet’s mouth or on his nose if this doesn’t stress him out too much. Don’t touch the dropper to the pet or that could contaminate the bottle.”
― Amy Shojai, ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multi-Cat Household

“Once you’ve finished, be sure to give Kitty a fabulous treat. She should soon understand that if she puts up with the procedure, she’ll get a tasty reward.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Segregate an ill cat from the others, especially if they're treating him poorly.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“we consider cats to be middle aged at seven to eleven years old, and geriatric thereafter.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

“Scissors-style nippers are also a good choice. They may take the least getting-used-to, if you are new to pet nail trimming.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“approach the entrance and trigger it open. Prop the door flap open so the kitten can see through to the other side. Use a favorite treat or toy to repeatedly lure her back and forth through the opening until she becomes used to the idea. Remember to praise her lavishly when she's brave and pushes through the door.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“An excellent kitten restraint that works well for adult cats, too, is the pillowcase. Simply put the cat inside, with her head (or other body part that needs attention) sticking out the opening.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Every time the phone rings, it’s about another body.”
― Amy Shojai, Lost And Found

“train your kitten from an early age to accept you brushing her teeth. You can greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for professional teeth cleaning simply by brushing Kitty’s teeth at home. You’ll need kitty toothpaste. Your veterinarian and pet supply stores carry special non-foaming products designed for cats that are flavored with chicken or malt.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care

“Therefore, Hill’s Pet Nutrition therapeutic diet called Prescription Diet Feline l/d for cats with liver disease is supplemented with carnitine, taurine, and arginine. Depending on your cat’s specific needs, other therapeutic diets may be appropriate as well.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Care for Your Aging Cat

“Also, offer your kitten a favorite game or a treat once you’ve finished.”
― Amy Shojai, Complete Kitten Care