Hello again and welcome to November's Our-happy-cat.com newsletter. The nights are drawing in and all our Kitties are bagging the warmest and most comfy places in our homes. Little Mo has started giving us that look which says, "Why have you made it so cold"? I'm sure many of you know that look yourselves. Thanks to every one who has submitted their cat pictures and stories etc to our web site, it certainly is turning into one of the best cat communities on the web. A CALL FOR YOUR HELP I would like to put out a call to all of you who have given a home to a lost or rescued cat at sometime. To submit your own cat rescue story, tell us how you came by your rescue cat and how your lives together have been. Also if you have any advice for others who may be thinking of giving a home to a rescuer cat. The point of this is that I am wanting to promote the cat rescue section on the website to highlight all the good work that cat shelters and charities do. By encouraging others to adopt a rescue cat, rather than buy one from a pet store and to sponsor the good work the shelters etc , I hope that in some small way we all can help to reduce some of the suffering of all the homeless cats. To submit your story simply fill out the form HERE Thank you for your contributions DONATION THANK YOU I would just like to say a big thank you to all of you that so kindly sent me a donation after I responded to one of your cat questions this month. It really doea help me continue with the site and also it lets me know that my advice is helpful. Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy the rest of this months newsletter. Till next time Best Wishes Kate CONTENTS 1. What's new on Our Happy Cat.Com 2. Competition 3. Little Mo's Diary Update 4. Article - Seperation Anxiety 5. Special E-zine subscribers offer 1. What's new on Our Happy Cat.Com Cat Health Videos - The cat health pages here on our site are very popular and s I thought I would make them even more interesting by adding some very useful videos regarding cat care. There are four new videos to see: Cutting your cats claws Cleaning a cats ears Administering an injection How to give your cat a pill Cat Stories - This month two book authors of cat stories have submitted a little excerpt from their books for us all to get a sneak preview. They are: Cats Among the Cedars by Olivia Meynell Tatianna's Daily Ritual by Linda Mohr Cat poems - we have also been sent some charming little poems by visitors to the site Fat Cat by by Briana Catunto and Sweet New Pet by Diana Briand. You can find them HERE on our cat poem page where you can also submit your own poems. ----------------------------------- 2. Competition Number Nov08 Here is Novembers Caption Competition. You are the first to see it as it doesn't get posted onto the site for a few days, so it gives you extra time to get your entries in first. Simply send us your caption to go with this picture. Click here to submit Caption The deadline for this competition is November 24th. The best caption will be chosen and the winners name and caption will be posted on the www.our-happy-cat.com competition page. This month the prize will be a Christmas Cat Stocking Full of toys and a catnip pouch. GOOD Luck -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Little Mo's Diary Update 27th October 2008 Yikes it has been so cold I can hardly bring myself to go outside any more. In fact I have taken to crawling under the duvet on my mum and dads bed. I don't think they mind, in fact they say it's cute, whatever that is. I only hope they remember I ham under there before they jump on the bed. It is also that time of year when there are lots of loud bangs and sparkly lights in the sky at night. I think it is called Guy Fawkes night. I don't really mind all the bangs and whizzes but my friend Pixie hates it. She gets so frightened. I tell her to hide under the sofa and to use her litter tray instead of going out at night. Must go the sun has just come out and I must get my Sun fix. Meow Little Mo Click here to read more of Little Mo's Diary Click here to read more of Little Mo’s Diary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Article - Separation Anxiety And Your Cat Separation anxiety is the term used to describe the condition where an animal has developed too close a relationship with its owner. They become overly dependant on their owners and find it difficult to cope with situations without them. This condition is usually associated more with dogs than with cats as it is usual for a cat to live a more solitary independent life naturally rather than a dog that would live in packs in the wild. A dog requires following a leader and so the bond with their owner is more of a dependant one. However over recent years research has indicated that cats can make very strong bonds with their owners and for some, this bond becomes more of a dependency. This can be exasperated by owners who treat their cats more like a baby than a pet and is therefore encouraging the cat to behave in a more infantile way rather than develop their adult behaviours. Generally most cats see us as their mothers and indeed they change their behaviour around us from the hunter to the kitten. They will even change the cries they make and revert to sounds kittens make to encourage their mothers to feed them and pay attention to them. This interaction as a rule works very well, but problems arise when a cat doesn't then revert back to its adult state and continues to behave like a kitten. Cats who display this type of behaviour generally follow their owners around everywhere, rather than explore the outside world. They may even continue the suckling behaviour and chew and suck on their owner's cloths and even hand. Separation anxiety for these "adult baby" cats is therefore quite understandable, as they become very afraid and unsure of how to behave when they find themselves alone and without their protective mother figure. Signs of this condition are: Constant following of owner or companion animal. Hiding and sulking when the owner is about to leave. Attempted blocking of door as owners try to leave. Inappropriate urination of defecating in the house when they are left alone. Excessive chewing or scratching of items in the house. Inability to eat or use their litter tray until the owner returns. Excessive grooming, causing bald spots (although this is rarer). Any of, or a combination of any of the above, may be a sign that the cat has become over attached to their owner. Although it is always advisable to have a cat that is displaying any of these signs checked by a veterinarian first to endure that the behaviour is not associated with any underlying illness. Of course prevention is better than cure and the best way to prevent separation anxiety occurring in the first place, is to make sure that kittens are well socialised during the first few weeks of their life and they are introduced to many new experiences, people and other animals. However if the condition does arise the treatment is essentially to help the cat become more independent and more adult like. This can be quite difficult for the owner as it involves stepping back or removing themselves from the cat's attentions, which can feel like they are rejecting their cat. But as the saying goes you are essentially being "cruel to be kind". Treatment involves: Letting other people take over some of the feeding routine. Only provide affection when the owner and not the cat initiate it. Reject advances by the cat in a non-aggressive way by removing your self from the situation. The cat should be encouraged to pursue other activities like going outside to explore or by providing the cat with other stimuli like toys and even in some cases another animal. Gradually reduce the amount of petting time given to the cat from the owner. Leaving radios or a television on when the cat is left alone in the house. When leaving or returning to the house, leave a ten-minute gap where you do not pay any attention to the cat. These treatments will take time and persistence from the owner and it should be done in a gradual manner so as not to stress the cat too much. The idea is to basically increase the cats other activities and to get them to share their loyalties around to other people or companion animals. Thus preventing their great sense of worry and fear if one particular person is not around all the time.

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