Category Anita Kelsey

4cats valerian toy review by cat behaviour expert Anita Kelsey – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

04
Sep

Tested exclusively on cats by Anita Kelsey

I am very lucky that I work with cats everyday! All sorts of breeds, temperaments, ages and sizes! Perfect then to try out various cat products for cat product companies.

On this note; meet the wonderful cat toy company called 4cats. Those toys are available in the Katzenworld Blog Shop.

I was sent a huge variety of valerian cat toys to try out on my furry clients which was really exciting for me. All shapes and size cat teaser toys filled with Valerian from fried eggs to large fat sausage shaped valerian kickers.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

First of all. What is Valerian you may well ask?

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has tiny, sweet smelling flowers that grow in bunches, and jagged leaves. But it’s not the flower or the leaves that get cats excited: it’s the root. Like Catnip, smelling valerian root sends cats into a euphoric frenzy. And like catnip, no one knows exactly why! More information is written about here.

Like Catnip, Valerian is safe for cats although, from a human point of view, can be rather stinky. Think old socks :-)… However, our cats love the smell so, I’m afraid, that is that!

I’m still trying the toys out on cat grooms and cat behaviour consultations but so far the results have been brilliant. All catties have given a high five paw as you can see from the You Tube videos below.

From a human point of view the toys are very well made, colourful, fun and easily stored away. The only downside is that Valerian is slightly stinky but this can easily be overcome! Stop smelling it and give it to your cats to smell instead 😉

From a cat’s point of view. The toys are easy to batt, toss, lick, kick and rub on. They come in different textures and are fun, simple, safe toys to leave around the home. The smell of the Valerian seems to last longer than catnip too which is great value for money. Like Catnip, it gives a little high for your cat to kick back and let their fur down.

Not all cats react to Valerian or Catnip but most do so great toys for xmas.

I especially like the Cat Wrestler toy which came in very handy on my grooms with some of the larger breeds; Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest and Siberians. However, as you can see from the photo below, every cat likes to have a fun kicking session and it’s great that the kicking doesn’t end up on our arms, hands or feet!!

So, to the 4cats company I give 5 out of stars! Great product, especially coming up to xmas. Get buying folks!!!

To purchase some of the toys check out my specially curated list of toys on the Katzenworld Shop:

Selected Cat Products by Anita Kelsey

For more information visit their website on: 4cats.de .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops. Click here for an Etsy author signed copy with your message.

 

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The Best Cat Toys for Blind Cats – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

07
Feb

by Anita Kelsey – UK’s leading cat behaviour consultant

I often work with cats that are blind and one of the things that I’d like to talk about now is getting it right when it comes to toys. Therefore this blog post will concentrate on the best toys for blind cats and how we can improve their quality of life.

Just like a human, who is visually impaired or blind, other senses becomes stronger and it is no different for the feline species. A cat will rely on smell, hearing, touch and vibrations to survive and blind cats do very well indeed. It never fails to amaze me actually.

Whilst blind cats can cope extremely well indoors, memorising where objects are placed and remembering distances for jumps on the bed or width and depth of stairs, toys and playtime can become a tad boring because the wrong toys are considered.

What we have to remember with a cat that no longer uses its eyes, is that the other senses kick in so toys with a strong sense of smell, such as catnip and valerian, or toys that make a sound such as rod toys with a bell on, or a ball with a bell, can perfectly entertain. Even textures such as fur or cardboard puzzle toys such as a toilet roll sealed either end with holes in the middle and treats inside, can be a great fun toy to bat around, with the smell of the treats as a guide.

 

Some cats, who are not totally blind, can see some light so any ball toys that give off light are great.

Words to google, when looking for the best toys for blind cats are cat toys with bells on, cat balls with bells, cat balls that light up, Crinkle cat toys, real fur hunting cat toys (with a bell on), catnip or valerian toys.

When it comes to climbers. Cats can judge distances extremely well and blind cats are no different. To give a helping hand I would concentrate on cat trees that have a ramp such as:

 

Or one’s that have platforms close together:

You can guide your cat onto a cat tree by scent such as catnip leaves, the smell of favourite treats or the jingle jangle of a favourite toy. They will soon love exploring their new cat tree and will soon be familiar with the distances of the platforms.

Some cats can even be walked on a lead when blind. If very much depends on whether the cat is confident and showing signs of wanting to go outside. If the street outside is quiet and your cat has taken well to lead training and shows an interest in wanting to explore a little outside then why not! Let them guide you.

Life doesn’t stop with a blind kitty. Get the right toys and climbers and your cat will love you for it.

There are some very famous blind cats that are a real inspiration such as Honey Bee below:

Or Oscar:

A blind rescue cat can be one of the most amazing companions so don’t walk past if you see a blind cat in need at a rescue. I have met the most incredible blind cats and they are some of the most affectionate cats I have had the pleasure of spending time with.

Thanks for reading!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops. Click here for an Etsy author signed copy with your message.

 

 

 

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PurrForm complete raw cat food diet review by Anita Kelsey – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

17
May

This is my PurrForm complete raw cat food diet review. I decided to re-focus on my cats’ diet to try and get the best possible dietary nutrition for them and so contacted PurrForm , a company who are specialists in feline raw cat food and nutrition, to see if they would send a few trial packs my way to review. I have always been interested in cat food labelling and did some extensive research a while back which readers can see HERE on my feline and grooming behaviour advice blog.

It has always fascinated me how many unnecessary products are mixed into commercial cat foods as bulking agents and how little real meat actually gets to our cats’ bellies! It was one of the reasons I started researching and digging deeper and so finally, having made up my mind, I jumped feet first into the world of the raw cat food diet.

  • WHY IS A RAW DIET THE BEST DIET FOR  HEALTHY CATS?

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they need certain nutrients that they cannot synthesise. These are only found in meat.  All cats are hardwired to hunt, kill and eat. In the wild they are the ultimate predators and their survival and health depends on eating the flesh and bones of their prey. The study of a cat’s anatomy shows the unique design of the teeth and jaws are for ripping meat from bones with the digestive tract designed specifically for meat consumption. Sourcing the meat ethically for a raw cat food diet is something a vegan (me) can do should they wish to A: have a cat and B: feed it the appropriate diet for its species. US cat behaviourist, Jackson Galaxy, also a fellow vegan, advocates a raw cat food diet on his excellent website.

An excellent book that goes in-depth on feline nutrition is ‘Feline Nutrition. Nutrition For The Optimum Health and Longevity Of Your Cat’ by Lynn Curtis.

Further info can be found on the PurrForm website Blog

  • What does my vet, Dr Andrew carmichael at Addisons Vets, feed his cat? RAW chicken wings. Raw bones can be digested but cooked bones are hard and sharp and can splinter in a cats mouth and throat causing obstruction. For this reason never give your cat cooked bones as this is DANGEROUS!!!

 

  • MEET THE CATS TRYING THE PURRFORM COMPLETE RAW CAT FOOD DIET

This is Kiki and Zaza. They are Norwegian Forest cats and are 10 years old. They have been used to a commercial cat food diet all their lives. They are usually fed Thrive Complete, Lily’s Kitchen complete and a few complete high quality high meat kibble. They also get a few Thrive Freeze dried treats. I don’t believe in a dry only food diet and I don’t buy into the myth that dry food cleans a cat’s teeth but that’s a whole other issue and blog!! You can read about my thoughts HERE.

  • THE TRANSITION ONTO THE  COMPLETE RAW CAT FOOD DIET

PurrForm offers complete raw cat food to cat owners in a variety of ways including a standard and premium range.

Pouches,

Tubs 450g,

Tubs 250g

Meat on the bone (if making your own food) *** (see below)

On advice from a representative at Purrform I went for the rabbit and ground bone pouches to begin my cats on the journey to the best optimal diet for their species. The food was speedily delivered to my door in a sturdy box full of ice packs and 14 pouches to get me going.

The transition was easy and took 7 days although it differs with all cats. The key is patience and slowly introducing the new diet like you would any new cat food.

More links to advice regarding the transition period from commercial to raw cat food diet:

PURRFORM TRANSITION ADVICE

FELINE NUTRITION ADVICE

I mixed 10% of the raw food in with the commercial food as advised and increased the percentage as I went along. My cat Kiki, the large white one on the right in the photo above, loved it right from the start and is now on fully raw. My cat Zaza, the grey one on the left in the photo above, is taking a little longer and, I would say, is on 50/50 at the moment. To encourage her I have been sprinkling ground Thrive freeze dried treats on the top and this seems to be working well. My portions, when making my own, went into ice cube trays. 2 cubes per session each although some cats may wish 3 ice cube portions each per session (depends on cats weight and how many feeding sessions per day).

Using ice cube trays can help with easy food portions, when making own raw cat food

Each night I took out the amount of food from the freezer to defrost for the next days feed. Take out the meat 20 mins before serving to get meat room temperature. Cats will not eat fridge cold food.  You can also add a tiny amount of hot water from a tap to make meat appear warm (fresh prey temperature).

The videos below were taken on day 4.

  1. VIDEOS OF THE RESULTS/WORK IN PROGRESS WITH KIKI & ZAZA

 

  • THE DIFFERENCE IN MY CATS BEHAVIOURS ON THE COMPLETE RAW CAT FOOD DIET

I know it’s been a short period of time since starting the raw diet but I have noticed a difference in my cats general activity levels. They are playing more so seem to have more energy and interest. I am hoping Kiki’s weight will reduce which will happen naturally over time with renewed energy and the correct diet. Their fur seems in excellent condition too. Kiki had a problem with biting into her fur a lot, one of the reasons I made the switch to a raw diet, and this has been an issue my vet and I have been trying to get to the bottom of for a while now . I always thought it might be diet related and may be something to do with inflammation of tissue/joints. This issue, I can say hand on heart, has noticeably decreased and only time will tell if it stops completely.

 

  • ***MAKING YOUR OWN RAW CAT FOOD RECIPES

As part of this process I also started to explore the making of Kiki and Zaza’s food, seeing as PurrForm sell cuts of meats for this very purpose. When making your own recipes it is important you get the right advice regarding adding the correct nutrients/supplements because these depend on the cuts of meat you are using. PurrForm sell the added supplements but buying a cat raw food recipe book will state which supplements need to be added to which meals. Making your own raw cat food will need a meat/bone grinder and various other utensils. As a vegan I sourced my meat from a local butcher who only deals with free range grass fed animals. This works out more expensive but for me it is important I source my cats raw diet as ethically and morally as I can, whilst following my own beliefs and path.

 

  • OVERALL IMPRESSION OF PURRFORM COMPLETE RAW CAT FOOD DIET

Really happy.  There products offer the cat owner the very best high quality complete raw cat food with a wealth of advice and support. The delivery was quick and well packaged. The pouches are a great idea, very convenient and my cats are liking the process, especially Kiki, who cannot wait for her mealtimes now!!

  • VIDEOS OF DR BECKER DISCUSSING A RAW FOOD DIET

Thanks to PurrForm for sending me their product for review.

Visit the PurrForm website for more information: https://www.purrform.co.uk

I hope you have enjoyed reading my PurrForm complete raw cat food diet review. Thanks for dropping by.

For for further advice on all things cat why not visit my feline advice page!

 

 

  • IMAGE BELOW FROM JACKSON GALAXY’S WEBSITE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats.  Middlesex University also awarded Anita the Gerry Fowler Prize for achievement in recognition of her work and final result.

Anita is also a specialist mobile cat groomer who works closely with vets on aggressive or phobic cats. She writes for Your Cat magazine and is on their experts panel for cat grooming. Visit http://www.catbehaviourist.com.

 

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Understanding the low Petting Threshold in Cats by Anita Kelsey. – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

25
Mar

Understanding the low petting threshold in cats. 

By London cat behaviourist Anita Kelsey

Two common issues I come across in my cat behaviour and grooming practise, is low petting aggression and cats that do not like being picked up. Both issues rely on a change of expectations from owners when it comes to how a ‘pet’ should be. It’s a difficult area, especially when it comes to grooming these types of cats, because, of course A: cat owners want and expect something back from the animals they care for and B: grooming is a necessity for cats with long fur.

It was, therefore, interesting to read an article in the March issue of Your Cat , by Sue Parslow, about this very subject. Entitled Handle With Care (pages 14,15,16), Sue discusses a more hands off approach with cats and highlights the fact that many cats do not like the barrage of attention and holding that humans like to lavish on them.

First of all, Lets look at Low Petting Aggression. It’s actually becoming a common feature of my visits leaving owners feeling rejected and scared of their cats. Low petting aggression happens when a cat is conflicted by the need for closeness from the owners and the dislike of being stroked for too long.  This causes inner conflict which erupts with an aggressive response in an attempt to stop the physical touching. This type of aggression can also be due to over stimulation and arousal but still leaving the cat with conflicted emotions. Some cats have a very low threshold which can be seconds whilst others can go for much longer before lashing out. Usual signs that a cat is becoming irritated are:

  • Swishing of the tail
  • Rippling of back (over stimulation)
  • Ears back or flatter
  • Hissing

Sometimes the cat will show no signs of irritation but will simply lash out, seemingly without reason and leaving the owner feeling shaken and with a bad scratch or bite wound.

LIVING ALONGSIDE A CAT WITH A LOW PETTING THRESHOLD

The biggest challenge when living with cats that don’t like too much stroking is to recognise that not all cats like to be touched the way we think they do. And this is where respect and lower expectations come into play. First of all a cat may like to come and inspect their human and to place their scent on them as a way of greeting them or certain guests that visit the home. This is not a green light to reach out to stroke the cat with a low petting threshold. This is a greeting that the cat likes and can ‘handle’. It is best to get on the level of the cat and to relax the arm downwards so that the hand is there for the cat to rub against. A cat may like to do this several times, purring away to show contentment. Some cats may hiss and attack straight away should that relaxed hand then reach above them to stroke their head! So, first things first. Watch and listen to your cat.

  • What makes them relaxed?
  • What are their likes and dislikes?
  • How long do they enjoy a stroke before you see signs of discontent?
  • Do they actually look like they enjoy being picked up?

Understanding a cat’s body language and respecting what your cat wants and feels is the way to achieving a balanced relationship without the human caretaker getting harmed.

As Sarah Fisher, a Teddington Touch practitioner, righty states:

When your cat sits on your lap, it’s likely he just wants your body warmth and to be close to you. He doesn’t necessarily want a lot of fuss while he’s there

Which leads us to the question:

How much touching and attention do our cats really like?

In the Your Cat article, mentioned above, Vikki Halls, author of many books on cats, speaks about the need for reflection and a change of approach when it comes to cat owner expectations and it’s an approach I have spoken about at length on many of my feline behaviour consultations in the past. I quote:

Imagine,whenever you walk into a room, you’re immediately greeted with over the top enthusiasm . After high pitched greetings and baby talk, you were scooped up, smothered in kisses and squeezed. If that happens every single time you encounter that person, you are going to stop going into the room where they are. You would probably start to avoid them altogether.

We should be slowing down and tuning into the signals our cats are struggling to communicate to us, in terms of how they like to be handled. A less demanding or imposing approach will mean you may see more of your cat. Cats prefer low intensity, less intrusive interactions, in short bursts.

They prefer to be in control; when they say it ends it should end. Full on body and eye contact, and constant touch, are alien to most cats. We should be more sophisticated in how we read our cats. It’s a hard truth that cats learn to tolerate certain interactions that they feel uncomfortable about, as a means to an end.

But my cat loves me and wants me to touch them?

I hear this many times but again it is down to reading signals from your cat and not assuming that just because it head butts your leg that it wishes to be rubbed frantically on the head and scooped up like carrying a baby. Some with cats that show their belly to you. This is a sign that a cat is feeling very comfortable within its territory and within your presence but is not a green light for a human hand to suddenly start doing the jazz hands rub over its most venerable area!

Nelly enjoying closeness on a lap. Note how the hands are not stroking but gently placed for reassurance. Nelly is one of my timid rescue consultation cats. She has now blossomed and loves being close to her owner Cathy.

TOP TIPS ON HANDLING CATS

The best thing we can do for our cats is be mindful of their body language and understand touching and handling from their perspective. With all of the above in mind my top 5 tips would be:

  1. Be aware of body language and stop touching if your cat is getting twitchy or too aroused. A nip or scratch will be forthcoming if you continue to ignore the signs.
  2. Don’t be disappointed if your cat isn’t a lap cat. Many of the long hair breeds of cat overheat when sitting on our laps so prefer to sit beside us and as, Sarah Fisher (Tellington TTouch Instructor) rightly points out ‘accept that sharing the sofa with your cat is a compliment from that individual …
  3. Some cats do not want to be stroked whilst sitting on our laps but merely want to enjoy the warmth our laps bring (S Fisher – Your Cat) or to be close to us so, again, accept the compliment. One cat I know called Mish Mish had a very low tolerance level. I found out very early on, when she first sat on my lap, that stroking her resulted in a nasty bite with no prior warning!
  4. Get on a cats level and loosely hang the hand down for a cat to rub against it with no attempt to stroke the cat. Cats with low level handling tolerance love this approach and feel comfortable with it. Remember that some cats from rescue centres view the hand approaching them or reaching above their heads, with trepidation. Perhaps the movement is connected to a negative association from experiences in the past?

Teddington Touch has an excellent approach to cats that do not do well with high concentrated handling and touching. Among the techniques offered are light strokes with a feather or an artist watercolour brush, lightly stroking the head and cheeks. An area most cats love (S Fisher – Your Cat)

EXTRA HELP

Abu is keeping her distance but enjoying being in the same room as a human

Help should be sought by an accredited cat behaviourist should any cat owner be struggling with a cat that is excessively timid or phobic of strangers. Many things can be addressed including changing the territory to help these cats alongside gentle challenge exercises to help a cat gain confidence.

Every cat and case is different but understanding natural basic feline behaviour is a good starting point.

I hope you have enjoyed my article on low petting threshold in cats.

Please do post your handling and stroking tips with your kitties. Would love to hear your stories and feedback.

Good luck.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops. Click here for an Etsy author signed copy with your message.

 

 

 

 

 

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4cats valerian toy review by cat behaviour expert Anita Kelsey – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

15
Feb

Tested exclusively on cats by Anita Kelsey

I am very lucky that I work with cats everyday! All sorts of breeds, temperaments, ages and sizes! Perfect then to try out various cat products for cat product companies.

On this note; meet the wonderful cat toy company called 4cats.

I was sent a huge variety of valerian cat toys to try out on my furry clients which was really exciting for me. All shapes and size cat teaser toys filled with Valerian from fried eggs to large fat sausage shaped valerian kickers.

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

First of all. What is Valerian you may well ask?

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) has tiny, sweet smelling flowers that grow in bunches, and jagged leaves. But it’s not the flower or the leaves that get cats excited: it’s the root. Like Catnip, smelling valerian root sends cats into a euphoric frenzy. And like catnip, no one knows exactly why! More information is written about here.

Like Catnip, Valerian is safe for cats although, from a human point of view, can be rather stinky. Think old socks :-)… However, our cats love the smell so, I’m afraid, that is that!

I’m still trying the toys out on cat grooms and cat behaviour consultations but so far the results have been brilliant. All catties have given a high five paw as you can see from the You Tube videos below.

From a human point of view the toys are very well made, colourful, fun and easily stored away. The only downside is that Valerian is slightly stinky but this can easily be overcome! Stop smelling it and give it to your cats to smell instead 😉

From a cat’s point of view. The toys are easy to batt, toss, lick, kick and rub on. They come in different textures and are fun, simple, safe toys to leave around the home. The smell of the Valerian seems to last longer than catnip too which is great value for money. Like Catnip, it gives a little high for your cat to kick back and let their fur down.

Not all cats react to Valerian or Catnip but most do so great toys for xmas.

I especially like the Cat Wrestler toy which came in very handy on my grooms with some of the larger breeds; Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest and Siberians. However, as you can see from the photo below, every cat likes to have a fun kicking session and it’s great that the kicking doesn’t end up on our arms, hands or feet!!

So, to the 4cats company I give 5 out of stars! Great product, especially coming up to xmas. Get buying folks!!!

To purchase some of the toys check out my specially curated list of toys on the Katzenworld Shop:

Selected Cat Products by Anita Kelsey

For more information visit their website on: 4cats.de or their blog

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops. Click here for an Etsy author signed copy with your message.

 

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Doc and Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder Review – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

22
Jan

Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder review

by Anita Kelsey London’s leading cat behaviourist

At an awards ceremony in July 2017 International Cat Care awarded Doc & Phoebe with the prestigious Cat Friendly Award after recognising their new product, the indoor hunting feeder, as a great way forward for our cat’s eating habits.

I was intrigued and even more so when asked to review the product and give my feedback.

Initially I was a little hesitant to review the product because I strongly advocate a cat’s natural diet to be meat, being obligate carnivores and I also come from the school of thought, after continued research into dry biscuits and dental care, that a dry food diet does not clean teeth to prevent the build up of plaque in a way that would prevent dental issues (only a regular professional clean by a vet or home cleaning (good luck with that one!!!) keeps cat’s teeth in tip top condition).

However, our cats still love treats and some cats do like kibble, alongside their meat, and so I looked forward to receiving my batch of mice feeders to try on Kiki and Zaza below.

Above: Kiki and Zaza

The idea behind Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder is to encourage our cats to hunt and forage for their food rather than the predictable large bowl of dry food left out all day for them to graze on. A feral cat would naturally eat small amounts of prey through-out the day and so 5 small meals/sessions a day is ideal for the domestic cat. For indoor cats this feeder is an excellent idea and perfect for healthy treats such as the frieze dried variety  or small amounts of high quality kibble. It keeps indoor cats from getting bored, stimulates them to play and hunt and helps with keeping them on the move thus can aid with weight loss.

The actual bowl inside the material, designed to look like a mouse with ears and a tail, is easy to clean and has two main holes for the food to fall through, with a bit of batting from our cat’s paws! Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder comes with a kibble scoop to easily enable the human guardian to place the kibble inside. Frieze dried treats can just be popped in.

Cat’s pick up things very easily when it involves food and so Kiki and Zaza had no trouble working out that to get the treat inside they had to bat and roll the ‘mouse’. Here’s a video of them on their first try out.

Extra feeding skins can be bought in funky colours to make it fun for humans and cats and all easily machine or hand washable too.

Any product that is designed to tap into a cat’s natural behaviours gets my vote and I love the simple yet effective design which can be hidden around the home for your cats to hunt out without getting in anyone’s else’s way.

The Doc and Pheobe website is packed full of information regarding the idea behind the no bowl cat feeder and also lists a handy Frequently Asked Questions page.

All in all the Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder is a win win 5 star product.

I look forward to the wet meat version!

WEBSITE of Doc and Pheobe – EMAIL Doc and Pheobe – FACEBOOK Doc and Pheobe

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops.

 

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Top 5 Why is my cat… Google Searches of 2017 – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

23
Dec

By Anita Kelsey – London cat behaviourist

Our fur companions are driving us nuts and making us run to our computers with twitchy fingers to ask why is my cat doing this and why the hell are they doing that? In the meantime our cats are relaxing in their pods from a distance wondering what all the fuss is about. So… what were the top 5 why is my cat google searches of 2017?

 * Vet notes by D ElDredge DVM, D Carlson, L Carlson DVM, J Giffin DVM from Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook

Why is my cat meowing?

Photo: The Spruce

Mmmm. Let me see. I’ve no idea!!! But if it’s not a health issue (check with your vet if the crying is out of the ordinary) I would hazard a guess your little minx wants something from you and whatever that something is, it leads to the most important thing ATTENTION! Cats mainly meow at humans and have learnt that cute meows lead to getting whatever their hearts desire. it is VERY annoying 😉

Why is my cat sneezing?

Photo: Leo’s pet care

If your fur muffin is sneezing a lot it could be a sign of infection, especially if the eyes or nose are runny so best get your cat down to the vet for a check up and to give you peace of mind. Your vet will be able to advise what the next steps are including whether antibiotics are needed. Or, it could be that your cat has been sniffing in a corner of the room never dusted after seeing a spider go there! Hope it’s the latter which is easily solved. Dust more!

Vet notes: Sneezing is a sign of nasal irritation. If a cat sneezes on and off over a few hours but shows no other signs of illness it’s most likely a minor irritation or allergy. Sneezing that persists all day could be a sign of the start of a disease like feline viral respiratory disease. The human cold virus does not affect cats!

Why is my cat throwing up?

Photo: Food Fur Life

A cat could be vomiting for a number of reasons and the key to whether a vet should be called is how long it goes on for IE: over a few days? or whether the vomiting is violent or whether there is any blood in the vomit? Sometimes cats are sick when they eat their food too fast (most cats think they are going to starve minute by minute unless they are being fed), or if they have eaten some grass (induces vomiting to clean the gut).  Hairballs are another natural reason a cat would vomit. You should know your cat well so if you feel the vomiting is out of character and has been going on for longer than a day I would ask your vet for an appointment. Other things to look out for when your cat is vomiting are whether all other activities appear normal such as playing, going outside, being social and affectionate etc. An ill cat will show different sides to its normal personality and daily activities, which should set alarm bells ringing, or not, for a vet call.Vet notes: Seek veterinary attention straight away if your cat is vomiting blood, bringing up smelly dark matter like feces, or is forceful projectile vomiting. A vet check should be sought if the vomiting is on and off over a period of days.

Why is my cat drooling?

Photo; Catnip Times

A drooling cat would normally need to be seen by a vet if it’s away from normal dribbling when being stroked IE: a cat enjoying the social contact and dribbling/drooling in excitement. Away from this, it could be something to do with the teeth, gums or something stuck in the throat. Best to stop asking everyone and their aunt on social media and google search engines and ring your trusted vet instead.

Vet notes: Drooling (hypersalivation) is not normal for healthy cats unless they are known to drool when relaxed or given a tasty treat. Drooling could be a sign of rabies in some countries, heat stroke, poison, a viral infection or a foreign body in the mouth. Seek immediate advice.

Why is my cat crying?

Photo: Google search

I am assuming crying meaning meowing and not tears like above!!? It is hard to guess what your cat could be crying about? Was dinner 5 minutes late or it’s heated pad not at the right temperature? Getting serious though. If a cat is howling or crying out, seemingly in a distressed way, then it is probably feeling pain and your vet should be called straight away. A cat, un-neutered, will also cry out seeking females and warning males.

So, there you have it. The Top 5 Why is my cat… Google searches of 2017.

Our cats are driving us mad and they love it!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops. Click here for an Etsy author signed copy with your message.

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Product Review Kalven Cat Scratching Posts – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

20
Nov

By Anita Kelsey cat behaviourist

I love finding great cat products so when I came across the cat scratchers and climbers  of Kalvens™ I got very excited indeed!

Many clients of mine either buy small scratchers for their cats (when they were kittens) but forget about replacing them when their cheeky tinkers become adults or they buy inappropriate sized scratchers from the start which their cheeky cat then ignores.

Zaza
Kiki

At the recent Supreme GCCF cat show at NEC, Birmingham I met Steve setting up the Kalvens stand and was really impressed by the lovely array of large platformed climbers and tall sturdy cat scratching posts. I was given one of The Tower posts to try out with my two huge fussy Norwegian Forest Cats Kiki and Zaza.

Before I had the chance to put together the tower, with its base, my cats were fighting over it.

And for good reason!!!

The Tower Cat Scratching Post is Chunky, heavy and built to last. Perfect for any cat but especially the larger breeds such as the Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest and Siberian Forest. Its lovely design is classy and simple and fits in with any decor. Apparently this cat tree was inspired by tales of people ‘acquiring’ traffic cones to make cat scratchers.

The tower is made from furniture grade chipboard with the base, tower, and top platform covered in durable ribbed carpet or in luxury wool blend tufted carpet. There is a good variety of base colours to choose from as well as platforms to please all kinds of catty personalities.

The base is quite large to make the tower sturdy but a wall bracket could also be used should you wish to slot the tower into a smaller space like I have without using the platform.

I would say these are the best cat scratchers I have come across so far and my cats have not wanted to get off of my sample since it arrived.

I will certainly be recommending this product to all of my clients.

Looking around their website is a joy. Lots of fantastic well made catty goodies such as sleeping pods and climbers, Activity trees, and outdoors climbers.

For more information why not drop an email to the Kalven crew via their contact form.

They are based in the North of England but deliver all over the UK. Many breeders, as well as cat rescue centres, catteries and private owners use the products of Kalven. I will certainly be adding my name to the list too!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops.

 

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top five cat books by Anita Kelsey

by Anita Kelsey

16
Oct

By Anita Kelsey – Author of Claws. Confessions Of A Cat Groomer

I admit it. I am crazy about cats and when I get any downtime I like nothing more than to relax with a good book about.. you guessed it – cats!!!

Here’s my top five cats books to keep you all happy and cosy with your own fur bods.

LOST CAT by Caroline Paul and Wendy McNaughton.

Caroline Paul was recovering from a bad accident (she had been flying a plane when it happened) and thought things couldn’t get worse. But then her beloved cat Tibia disappeared. She and her partner, illustrator Wendy MacNaughton, anxiously waited for his return, before resigning themselves to their loss.

But weeks later, Tibia waltzed back into their lives. His owners were overjoyed. They might also have been a bit jealous. All right, they were very jealous! Where had their sweet anxious cat disappeared to? Had he become a swashbuckling cat adventurer? Did he love someone else more? His owners were determined to find out.

Using methods as diverse as GPS technology, cat cameras, psychics, the web and animal communicators, they embarked on a quest to discover what their cat did when they weren’t around. Writer Caroline Paul tells the warm and poignant story of their discoveries, alongside Wendy MacNaughton’s elegant and hilarious full-colour watercolours.

Lost Cat was a wonderful read and had me crying with laughter in places and crying with sadness in others. The illustrations were really outstanding.

Click here to read an interview I did with Caroline Paul.

DEWEY – THE SMALL TOWN LIBRARY CAT by Vicki Myron

I couldn’t put this book down once I had started reading it. On the coldest morning of the year, Vicki Myron found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the night drop box of the library where she worked, and her life — and the town of Spencer, Iowa — would never be the same.
Vicki was a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm and an alcoholic, abusive husband. But her biggest challenge as the new head librarian in Spencer was to raise the spirits of a small, out-of-the-way town mired deep in the farm crisis of the 1980s.

Dewey, as the townspeople named the kitten, quickly grew into a strutting, adorable library cat whose antics kept patrons in stitches, and whose sixth sense about those in need created hundreds of deep and loving friendships.
As his fame grew, people drove hundreds of miles to meet Dewey, and people all over the world fell in love with him.

Through it all, Dewey remained a loyal companion, a beacon of hope not just for Vicki, but for the entire town of Spencer as it slowly, steadily pulled itself up from the worst financial crisis in its long history. Dewey won hearts and proved to everyone he encountered that unconditional love comes in many forms. Such a sweet story.

A STREET CAT NAMES BOB by James Bowen

It goes without saying that I would add this book. And yes, I was one of the people queuing for a book signing at Covent Garden to meet James and the adorable Bob.

When James Bowen found an injured, ginger street cat curled up in the hallway of his sheltered accommodation, he had no idea just how much his life was about to change. James was living hand to mouth on the streets of London and the last thing he needed was a pet.

Yet James couldn’t resist helping the strikingly intelligent tom cat, whom he quickly christened Bob. He slowly nursed Bob back to health and then sent the cat on his way, imagining he would never see him again. But Bob had other ideas.

Soon the two were inseparable and their diverse, comic and occasionally dangerous adventures would transform both their lives, slowly healing the scars of each other’s troubled pasts.

A Street Cat Named Bob is an extremely moving and uplifting story that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it. It did mine.

THE LIFE OF LITTLE JACK – By Davina Hanes

The Life of Little Jack. This true and moving story provides an insight into how Little Jack was found as a desperate kitten on the streets of Manchester, requiring emergency surgery to his eye. Alone and abandoned, his fate suddenly changed once he was accepted by a small Rescue Charity. However, concern for Little Jack s vision was growing. Would he regain full sight or would he be destined to a life of darkness? What unfolds is Little Jack s journey to recovery following the loss of his eye and his integration into his new home with twelve other furry friends. Cats are notoriously territorial; would they accept or reject Little Jack being in their midst? Little Jack has already stolen the hearts of hundreds in his tiny life. Read on to discover what exactly is so special about this amazing little kitten.

All proceeds of the book go to Oldham Cats Rescue so a very worthy cause.

Last but not least …..

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FURRED KIND – By Tom Cox

Tom Cox is infuriating. Not only is he a fantastic and engaging writer but he managed to nab every book title when I was trying to think of a good title for my debut book!!! Tom explains his book perfectly:

Have you ever moved house, over a distance of 350 miles, with four cats? If you haven’t, and are thinking about it, I’ll give you some advice: don’t.

If you really must move, try to get the cats to arrange their own transport. Focus on yourself instead. You’ll have plenty to think about as it is, and the cats will only get in the way with their sarcasm and hairballs. I moved from Norfolk to Devon with four cats and it felt like such an impossible ordeal, part of me believes that I actually died somewhere along the way and am now living in some kind of afterlife: very much like real life, but a little slower moving, and with slightly clearer air. “That’s just the West Country,” I’ve been told, but I can’t be 100% certain.

A great exploration into the world of cat and human! I enjoy all of Tom’s books and you will too.

So, there you have it. 5 great books for the cat loving reader.

Enjoy!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza.

Her debut booked, pictured left, is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Available from Amazon and all good book shops.

 

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We get by with a little help from our friends 2 – Katzenworld

by Anita Kelsey

18
Sep

By Anita Kelsey

My second feel good story does not involve any dogs (nothing wrong with dogs mind you!!) but a feral cat whom we shall call Bella and her cat guardian whom we shall call Celia.

Celia, an elderly guardian angel of the feral cat world, was the feeder/carer of 6 rescue cats. Two of them were domestic cats that settled straight away, but the other 4 cats, a Mum with 4 kittens, were really wild. Celia saw them running around in her area, a small agriculture village,  with no one caring for them so took it upon herself to be their guardian angel.

Over 5 years Celia had been working with Mama and her kittenswith 2 of them tame to the point where she could stroke and handle them for longer than a few seconds. For anyone that knows feral cats this is a huge step forward and took lots of patience and TLC.Unfortunately for Celia mama cat Bella is a very long haired cat and, still nervous of humans, had resisted being groomed to the point where she had become terrible matted. Also difficult to touch and handle! In the past Bella and her kittens had to be caught in a cage to be seen by a vet. This enabled the vet to health check them all and spay Bella. This was no easy task with the local vet 10 miles away. Celia witnessed Bella going ballistic, throwing herself against the cage until she bled. After that episode it took two years for Bella to return and put a little trust back Celia’s way again.

Now no longer driving, after a stroke and extremely worried regarding the state of Bella’s coat, Celia emailed me desperate for help and seeking advice.

Mama cat
Close up of the matting

It was clear this was going to be extremely difficult. Celia lived in a small village with no animal rescue support nearby and with a vet 10 miles away whose solution to the problem was to put her to sleep. Celia, thankfully, ignored this advice, horrified to hear the solution being given rather than real help.

I knew Celia had no other choice but to take Bella to a professional organisation to de-matt her under sedation but how would we catch her and how could I convince Celia that maybe some kind folk out there would be willing to assist with the financial costs, also that the de-matting might not be as expensive as she was presuming?

Emails went back and forth whereby we worked closely together on trying to build on Bella’s trust using jackpot food and plenty of patience. Advice was also given regarding a good sized carrier to get Bella used to resting in it. As time went on Bella would allow Celia to get closer, especially seeing as her kittens, now adults, were looking pretty relaxed on her terrace.

Bella’s kittens looking relaxed on the terrace

Celia was so scared of trapping Bella. She knew she might get bitten or scratched and so patience was also required talking through what Celia finally had to do. Get Bella in a suitable carrier again and ask for help from kind neighbours of friends.

I felt so sorry for Celia. This burden was really weighing heavy on her mind. A lot to ask for a 70 year old pensioner who was dealing with recovering from a stroke.

But Celia persevered. I convinced her to try and find an animal hospital rather than a vet. She was still terrified it was going to cost a fortune but I felt sure that anyone she spoke to would have sympathy and would help out. The main thing was to catch Bella, no matter how tough, and get her shaved whilst asleep.

I gave advice as much as I could. I won’t reveal Celia’s country but it’s right to assume she was an international client. If in the UK I could have been so much more of a help.

Then weeks went past without me hearing anything until an email popped in my inbox.

Back from her sedation de-matting

The email read:

Thanks to your HELP and replies, I decided to catch my 50/50 tame feral cat and get her to the Hospital Clinic where they sedated her under excellent care. I did manage to catch Mama Cat after all. I am so very pleased I took the step!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I am sure she is very happy as well.  The strange result is that she suddenly has become a much more tame cat and now lets me stroke over her whole body for the first time. She was never like that and would have bitten or shows her claws. What a change, I can hardly believe how she has changed in behaviour.  Now I would say in a few days she is 75% tame but I still work on all the feral cats to tame them, a gentle stroke at the time.

I am sure you will be very happy to know how you played a big part is helping this poor thing get rid of her mats. I am sure if she could you would tell you so.

Me and Mama Cat will be for ever grateful for your advice and patience answering a lady far away….who needed desperate help with one of her cats…. You have given the courage and confidence and professional advice that I needed and had looked for for so long.

A big, big thank you

Celia, Mama cat and friends

This made my day. It did indeed take so much courage for Celia to catch Bella.

So what happened. How did she manage it and who did the shave? I was so excited to hear more.

Here’s Celia’s reply.. (It was a long reply that needed a little help with english and sentences to write down here. Below are her words organised in the correct way to be readable)Knowing that she no longer let me touch her, I decided in the beginning of the summer already that when she came to eat; I would concentrate on her neck only never to touch her body as she would show her claws. I have done this for months now and the best time for this was when I gave my 6 cats their last night feed (midnight).

The cats are never far from my sliding door where they have their two small rabbit kennels (cat kennels were to big for winter) and high roofs. When they hear the door opening they all come running. I always sit down and try in one way or another to touch them.

 

Feral cats at their feeding station by sliding doors

After 5 years, they let them touch them on occasions, so I concentrated on stroking Mama Cat around her neck. As time went on she would allow me to stroke her neck but only for few seconds before jumping away. At least she no longer wanted to bite or scratch meThe best time I found was late at night when they were sleepy in their kennels. It has been a 5 year daily process which I still work at.I fell in coma last December and only able to care for myself fully again since a few weeks ago, but most days I was able to see my cats daily being fed in the presence of my neighbour. It felt like I could still be with them. I feed them at least 3 times a day or on demand. They take up a big part of my life as I am an older lady of 70I started to do the daily stroke exercises so as to prepare to do something about Bella’s fur as with my ill health, I had lost my strong grip. I practiced on my other cats first to get the feeling back. Not long after, I felt confident enough to prepare to take her as nobody else could do it and she would never go near a catching cage…that I know. They are to clever all having being caught that way 5 years ago.I phoned my local Vet who only would come to put her to sleep once caught so I knew I needed to organise her de-matting myself.I live in a small agriculture village with no such facility here, on top of that I needed to sell my car as I wasn’t in any condition to drive any more. Sadly I am fully dependent on other people. On top of that I had no idea when I would be able to capture her either, so I could not tell the vet nor any hospital far away when I would be able to bring her in. This was just not to solution for me.

The Feral cats sunbathing

After a few sleepiness nights I decided to make use of the 24 hour Animal Clinic in a bigger town some 15 miles away. Luckily for me they were happy to sedate and shave her, understanding I was in a difficult situation, I could bring her in any time during the day.I knew she would be well cared for and in much better hands and I would be able to have her back the same day/evening when she was awake enough to go home and after a good check up. I received a call 4 hours later. The people who took her could not help with her return and so they organised some other friends to take me there.I cried when I saw her. She was so beautiful and looked so much better. It was a very emotional reunion as I have been busy with her since last summer not knowing how to solve this problem. She was still a bit drugged up.From a friend around here I had received a big cage (those small carriers for house cats were not right for her – by experience I know). Their medium dog kennel with two wide doors was perfect. I had placed it on the side with the door on top and with a blanket on the bottom. My idea was to scruff her by her neck and quickly place her in the cage which stood inside just near the sliding door – so not too far to go.With all in place, I decided this was the day and all was ready, cage, neighbors and me!It went exactly as planned. One lunch time when she came alone asking for food she let me stroke a bit longer. It was now or never. I knew if I I did not succeed now it may take months again to get her confidence and trust in me. Always the biggest issue. She is clever!!!Before she could even take her favourite wet food, I carried her inside and dropped her gentle in the cage, screaming her head off of course but without her to much trying to turn on me. I closed the cage and covered it with a big towel to make it dark so that she did not panic panic.I called on my neighbours to come quickly and they were ready to bring her in. It was 2 pm. We phoned the Hospital first and they told me it was fine to bring her in that moment as she had priority being a wild feral cat where things cannot be predicted. They understood to wellWOW…..I was near to the perfect solutionAll went well driving to the hospital and she was attended to straight away. She did cry a lot though and also managed to get hold of my finger through the towels with her sharp claws. It took a week to heal but I am fine now. If this was all that I had left over from the experience then I’ll gladly pay that price.They also gave her a complete health check as I had asked them to do.They were very pleased with the condition she was in except for the fur….of course! But they understood that I did what I could in the circumstances.

Arriving home, I put her in her cage in the bathroom with cat sand and some water only and it took a while before she was fully awake, crying to get out and jumping all over the place. This was proof enough that she could be let outside again. She was so very happy to be with her babies again which are now grown up of course.

 

Mama and crew

On one of my before pictures, you may have seen an open wound that was small, but by not looking after it herself and with it difficult to reach, it got bigger and bigger. This was really when I realised I needed help, searched the Internet again (Didn’t have luck before with much help regarding feral cats and grooming) and came to a lovely lady, you. You was at least prepared to spend time with me and help me, demanding nothing, just to help this poor animal, and an old lady looking for a solution….You are an Angel, heaven sent.The wound got 5 or 6 stitches and is healing and closed.Now she grooms herself several times daily, not like before. She never did any grooming before.There you are. The end of a good story warming both our hearts, I am sureIn the name of my Kitties, thanks for caring. 

My eyes filled with tears reading this and the photo’s were amazing.

I take my hat off to Celia. With circumstances stacked against her she never gave up and eventually made all the difference to a cat calling out for desperate help.

I wanted to share this story on social media and asked her permission. In true Celia fashion she asked that I didn’t reveal her name or country of origin which I have respected.

What a true cat guardian. God bless you Celia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anita Kelsey holds a first class honours degree in Feline Behaviour and Psychology (work based BA Hons) and runs a vet referral service dedicated strictly to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats. She is also a qualified cat groomer and specialises in grooming aggressive or phobic cats. Anita writes for Your Cat Magazine and is on their experts panel answering readers questions on cat grooming. She also advises on feline behaviour for the CFBA (Canine and Feline Behaviour) magazine as well as being a full member. Anita, a strong advocate of a vegan lifestyle, is based in Notting Hill, London but consults all over the UK as well as international requests. She lives with her husband, a music producer, and two Norwegian Forest cats, Kiki and Zaza. Her debut booked is published by John Blake and is called Claws, Confessions Of A Cat Groomer.

Please contact info@catbehaviourist.com should you wish to book a home cat behaviour consultation.

To subscribe to Anita’s new monthly newsletter on cat news and mog tips please visit:  http://www.catbehaviourist.com/subscribe/

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