Take the time to train your feline

Posted December 26, 2017 10:00 pm

By Mary Hayashi The Buddy Beat

Bambi is an adorable and playful petite tabby with beautiful, striking green eyes. She is from 5 to 12 years old. She's a little reserved at first and needs the reassurance that she can trust you, but then you'll see the personality laying underneath. Bambi is a very active and agile girl who will chase the laser pointer light all the way up. Bambi is best friends with Baby, so consider adopting them together. Courtesy of the Buddy Foundation

Buddy wishes all of you a bright, healthy and shiny New Year, both for you and your animals.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus have already returned to the North Pole after donating a hectic three Saturdays at 65 W. Seegers. We thank them for their untiring good spirit and patience. We also thank all of you who tried to help us make Christmas a little brighter for the animals at the shelter.

Your participation in Santa ornaments, Santa photos and donations was tremendous. Keep us and the animals in your heart and in your wallet year-round. We have many animals that need a home for the New Year.

In fact, on the feline side of the shelter, adult animals are at a record high. The reality is, adults live with us 3 to 4 times longer than a kitten or juvenile cat. If you have been delaying adding to your feline family because of the holidays, consider checking out our never ending number of feline adults.

The sad reality is that animals end up in shelters because they are not neutered or develop destructive habits in a household. As caretakers, you need to take responsibility for both problems.

Cats love to please you and, yes, they are trainable, contrary to some beliefs. I train with toys, organic catnip and treats. When I advocate treats, I don't mean junking out your cat's diet. Make sure the number one ingredient is protein-based and not highly caloric.

Sometimes even a high quality, freeze-dried food can be used for a treat to alter behavior. A product that sends my felines into a begging frenzy is a freeze-dried food by Stella and Chewy's. Just the aroma of the bag opening causes them to relocate into the room I want to train them in.

Another product my cats like is Lickety-Stik. The product comes in different flavors and it looks like a huge tube of ChapStick. You simply take the cap off and they will lick it. Dishing up this treat looks a little ridiculous, but the cats find it fast fun.

Tuna-flavored hairball preventive products also can be substituted for treats. The trick to this treat is to teach them to crave the product at an early age. They think you are providing a treat, but you know you are giving them a health benefit when they lick the Laxatone product right out of the tube.

You can use treats to alter behavior more often than you think as long as you provide healthy, low calorie treats. Always read your labels. Let's keep our cats healthy and in good health this new year and remember preventive maintenance.

Don't forget that February is dental month for our pets and many veterinarians offer a discount on teeth cleaning. It is time to start calling ahead to make your appointments.

A healthy mouth is the steppingstone to continued good health for our felines. An unhealthy, neglected set of teeth can cause serious health and organ problems in the long run, so let's start the new year with intentions we will keep for our felines.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.

Buddy is a large male domestic shorthair that is 5 to 12 years old. He can usually be found on one of the couches or at the base of one of the cat trees in the shelter's cat room. When he first arrived he wasn't all that happy with some of the other cats, but he has settled down and is quite people-friendly. Courtesy of the Buddy Foundation

Baby is a gorgeous, black and white tuxedo cat between 5 and 12 years old. She is shy at first, but warms up and will be very sweet once she gets to know you. Baby is best friends with Bambi, so consider adopting them together. Courtesy of the Buddy Foundation

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