Genetics, environment and early socialization all play a role in how your kitten responds to people

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

You have a new kitten, and you want her to grow up to be a friendly cat. You can take some steps to help that occur, but early environment and socialization experiences play a major role in how kittens respond to humans. Personality is also baked into their genes.

The primary kitten socialization period takes place between the ages of 2 weeks and 9 weeks. Those aren’t finite boundaries, says behavior specialist Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, one of the editors of the book “Decoding Your Cat,” but the more positive experiences kittens have with humans and their environment during those seven weeks can make a difference in how they interact with people as adults.

Genetics is another factor. Some kittens are just naturally more easygoing or more people-oriented, even if they didn’t have an ideal socialization experience.

“That’s why when you have feral kittens and you find them at 3 or 4 months, some of them are genetically easygoing and will learn to be with some people, and some of them are not,” Dr. Horwitz says. “They will never be cuddle kitties. They may live around the house and eat (indoors) and use the litter box, but they’re not particularly friendly.”

Horwitz herself has two Devon rex cats from the same litter. She brought home one at 8 weeks and one at 11 weeks. They are both friendly, but because they had different environments and experiences between the ages of 8 and 11 weeks, they respond differently to certain things. Both are relaxed about being picked up or held by Horwitz’s seven grandchildren, but one is more likely than the other to run away from strange things. And while Nikki, the first kitten, doesn’t mind being petted or picked up, she doesn’t seek it out the way Isabella does.

“Isabella’s philosophy is, ‘Any human body is a warm place to nap, and I’m getting on it,’” Horwitz says. It’s like people, she adds. “Some people like to be hugged, and some people don’t.”

Depending on a kitten’s birth environment, bringing one home at an earlier age can be beneficial as far as acclimating little cats to human handling and normal household sights and sounds, especially if they haven’t encountered those things from the first. That can be true for the kitten from the frazzled next-door neighbor who is raising a litter in the garage, or one from a shelter without a foster-care program (bit.ly/3pq0XCb) that gives kittens an early in-home experience with plenty of handling.

“You’ll get individual variation, but the older they are when you take them into the house, on average, the more difficult it will be to get them used to people,” Horwitz says.

But breeders may prefer to keep kittens longer -- until they are 12 to 16 weeks old, or even a little older. That can have health-related advantages. Norwegian forest cat breeder Lorraine Shelton says her queens (mother cats) often nurse their kittens up to and beyond 16 weeks of age.

“I understand how much their new families want to experience those adorable baby antics, but making sure my kittens have completed the most critical period of their immunological development -- the point at which maternally derived antibodies decline and their own immune systems start to function -- is important before I send them off into the world.”

No matter at what age you bring your kitten home, continuing to provide positive experiences, even after they’re 9 weeks old, can only increase your chances of having a cat who is friendly and relaxed in many different situations, including car travel and veterinary visits. Look for a veterinarian or practice certified as Cat Friendly or Fear Free or that uses low-stress handling techniques. Some practices offer “kitten parties” (bit.ly/3cfUWUZ), which can be a fun way to help kittens gain confidence and learn new things.

Q&A

Dogs lag for

many reasons

Q: My dog doesn’t enjoy going for walks. What can I do to get him up and at ‘em?

A: One of the classic reasons for getting a dog is to have a walking buddy, so it can be worrisome or frustrating when yours doesn’t want to participate. Let’s look at some of the reasons your dog might be reluctant to shake a leg when you want to go around the block.

If he’s young, or simply out of shape, your walk might be too much for him. Depending on the breed, young dogs don’t complete their musculoskeletal growth until they’re 14 to 24 months old. Too much running, jumping or walking on hard surfaces can leave them feeling tired or sore. Adult dogs who aren’t conditioned might feel the same way if they aren’t used to the distance, speed or amount of time you’re walking. Maybe you’re working on a New Year’s resolution to walk every day or faster or longer. Both you and your dog need to build up to that.

Overweight dogs might also have trouble with walks. The surplus pounds they’re carrying put painful pressure on their joints.

If your dog is limping, check him over to make sure there’s not a sticker or grass awn in his paw. He might have a broken nail or an injury from jumping on or off the sofa. If he’s still limping after a day of rest, your veterinarian should see him to check for orthopedic conditions or injuries. Certain tick-borne diseases can cause limping as well.

Finally, dogs who are reluctant to walk for no apparent reason, especially if they stop frequently or insistently, may have a condition such as congestive heart failure or bone cancer.

Any time your dog doesn’t want to walk, there’s a reason. Work with your veterinarian to find it. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Border collies

set world record

-- Two border collies named Wish and Halo, trained by owner Emily Larlham of El Cajon, California, performed 28 tricks in a minute to earn a Guinness World Records title. Wish, Halo and Larlham, who uses positive reinforcement techniques, completed the feat on Dec. 22 and submitted it to Guinness for the win. Tricks included look left and look right, twirl, crawl (during which Wish broke the record for fastest five-meter crawl by a dog), sit, wave, sit pretty, side step, catch, heel, circle left, circle right and high five, to name just a few. Cats, don’t feel left out. A cat named Alexis, trained by owner Anika Moritz of Austria, performed 26 tricks in a minute last June to earn the world record for cats.

-- A smart collar for dogs was one of the more intriguing gadgets at the all-digital 2021 Consumer Electronics Show last month. The colorful Petpuls collar has a device that uses artificial intelligence and voice recognition technology to detect, track and analyze five emotional states in dogs: happiness, anxiety, anger, sadness and relaxation. An accelerometer measures activity throughout the day as well as sleep time. The device pairs to an iOS or Android app through Wi-Fi, providing a readout of how your dog feels. An algorithm uses accumulated voice data from your dog to learn his mood and become more accurate in predicting emotions. Can you ever really know how accurate it is? Not yet, but it’s fun to compare the data to what you already know of your dog’s behavior and body language and come to your own conclusions.

-- Young puppies and kittens can have “innocent” heart murmurs that don’t indicate structural malformations of the heart. Most innocent murmurs disappear by the time the animal is 6 months old, although some persist into adulthood. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Sleep, behavior and pain are often entwined. Here are some ways to recognize how sleep can affect dogs and signal underlying problems

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

William Shakespeare wrote of “sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care.” While our pets might not have cares such as paying the mortgage or staying safe during a pandemic, sleep is as important to their mental and physical well-being as it is to us. Amount and quality of sleep affect memory, learning and activity level.

Dog trainer Denise Nord in Rogers, Minnesota, sees it in her puppy classes, including an increase in behavior problems in the past year. With people spending more time at home, puppies aren’t getting enough sleep.

“People are home, so puppies are awake,” she says. “Or they just crash wherever and aren’t getting quality sleep. When I convince people to get their puppy quality sleep for 16 to 18 hours out of every 24, so many behavior issues ‘magically’ disappear.”

Like toddlers, puppies need a lot of sleep to fuel their growth. Nord says teaching puppies to be quiet and comfortable in crates and exercise pens is a skill they will benefit from throughout their lives. “Without exception, everyone who has taken the suggestion of more sleep for their puppy has had great improvement in behavior issues and are much happier with their puppies,” she says.

Our dogs seem to recognize a need for sleep as well -- or at least for a regular sleep schedule. Most dogs have a regular bedtime and ritual that they either come to on their own or adopt depending on their owner’s schedule.

Sharon Hawkins’ cavalier King Charles spaniel Daisy has set times that she sleeps and plays, and she uses different dog beds at different times of the day. Adam Conn’s Bernese mountain dog, Digit, who gets a biscuit at bedtime, usually starts to remind Conn about the treat an hour or so before his normal bedtime. “He really wants that cookie!” Conn says.

Besides napping beneath my desk throughout the day, my dog Harper has set 10 p.m. as her desired bedtime. Her predecessor, Bella, put herself to bed even earlier. But Harper nags me for her bedtime treat first.

Sleep is also a balm to pets in pain.

“In acute pain, there are many studies showing that rest can improve rates of healing,” says Michael Petty, DVM, an expert in pet pain management and owner of Arbor Pointe Veterinary Hospital and Animal Pain Center in Canton, Michigan.

When pets don’t seem to be sleeping well, veterinarians and owners should ask themselves whether pain may be at the root of disruptions in sleep patterns, he says. Other issues can cause sleep disruptions, but pain should always be ruled out as a potential cause.

Pain and sleep are related in other ways. For instance, pain may be more noticeable upon waking. Many of us have experienced how the body stiffens during the night after lying in one position for several hours. It’s another way that pain can affect a pet’s sleep pattern. They have to get up and move to find a more comfortable position.

Circling before lying down and going to sleep is a common and normal behavior in dogs and cats, but it looks different in pets who are in pain. For instance, you may see the circling behavior with several false starts before the pet lies down. And arthritic dogs often just fall into a down position because it hurts too much to ease themselves down, Dr. Petty says.

Finally, you may notice the mental effects of chronic pain on sleep behavior. Pain can affect cognition and make pets in pain seem befuddled.

“I see this as an additional problem as night approaches,” Dr. Petty says. “These patients often seem confused and want to wander the house. Pain can exacerbate this ‘sundown’ syndrome, and treating pain can help improve the severity of signs.”

As the Bard wrote, sleep is the “chief nourisher in life’s feast.” Make sure your pet gets enough.

Q&A

How to cue

dogs to turn

Q: Sometimes when walking my dog, I see things ahead that I want to avoid, like a chatty neighbor or a kid on a skateboard. It’s not always easy to get my dog on board with the change in direction, though. Do you have any tips?

A: One practical trick I like to teach dogs is to turn on cue, for just such situations. To teach your dog to turn, use a favorite treat or toy as a lure. Whether he’s walking on the left or right, hold it near your dog’s nose. (For small dogs, smear peanut butter or squeeze cheese on the end of a long wooden spoon or bird perch so you don’t have to crouch.)

Say “turn,” and as you do so, move the lure in the direction you want to go. At the same time, move into the turn yourself so the dog stays at your side.

At first, reward your dog for each small movement of the turn. As he starts to understand what you’re asking, increase the amount of time between rewards. Eventually, you’ll reward him only when he completes the turn.

Practice left, right and 180-degree turns separately, because they’re each different logistically. For instance, if you’re turning left with a dog who heels on the left, use the lure to guide your dog to pivot in place as you move around him to make the turn. If you’re turning right with a dog who heels left, reverse this process: As you pivot in place, use the lure to lead your dog through the turn.

Gradually fade the lure until your dog responds only to the word “turn.” Practice indoors first, then outdoors with distractions until he’s reliable. Reinforce with treats occasionally so that he’ll always be working for that reward. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

“Indoguration”

raises $200,000

-- More than 7,400 virtual attendees helped raise more than $200,000 for the Delaware Humane Association during the “Indoguration” celebration featuring first shelter dog Major Biden, who went from being housed at the Delaware Humane Association to being a resident of the White House, along with German shepherd sibling Champ. Entertainment included performance of an original dog-themed song by Grammy-, Tony- and Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, actor and dog lover Josh Groban. The funds will go to aid financially struggling pet parents as well as help more shelter animals find homes.

-- If you adopted a pet last year and are now struggling with behavior or training issues, don’t feel as if returning your pet to the shelter is the only option. Many shelters have trainers on staff or intervention programs that can help. You can also ask your veterinarian to recommend a reputable trainer or behaviorist who can provide guidance. And FearFreeHappyHomes.com has articles and videos as well as a search option for veterinarians, trainers and other pet professionals who are trained to manage pets who are fearful, anxious or stressed.

-- Birds use their beaks in myriad ways, including biting, yawning, and jousting -- playing with other birds by slapping or grabbing beaks. Among the sounds they make with their beaks are clicking, sneezing and grinding, the latter characterized by side-to-side sliding of one jaw over the other. Birds who make grinding noises are indicating satisfaction and security. You may hear it after your bird has had a delicious meal or when he’s in the cozy state of still being half-asleep. And then there’s beaking, the habit of young birds putting things in their mouths to test them out. If your baby bird gently does this with your finger, don’t pull away; he’s not biting, but getting to know you. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Finding the right breeder and puppy takes footwork. Here’s what to know

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

A few months ago, Rebecca Barocas drove from California to Idaho to pick up her new German shepherd puppy. She met the breeder through a friend on Facebook who also has German shepherds and got to know the breeder and her dogs personally a couple of years ago. She put down a deposit for a dog in 2018 and “met” the litter in 2020 through Facebook photos and videos of the pups from the time they were born. Through lots of phone conversations about the pups’ emerging temperaments and an extensive buyer questionnaire, she and the breeder were able to determine the right pet for her.

Buying a puppy is, at its core, an old-fashioned endeavor. Unlike books and dishwashers and socks, purchasing one is best done in person, not online. It’s important to be able to meet their mother, see pups interacting with siblings, and evaluate the environment in which they’re raised and the family or person raising them.

These days, Zoom meetings can take the place of some of those things, and likely will for the near future, but simply searching for a pup online and ordering the first cute one you see to be shipped to you is often a recipe for heartbreak. (Read our recent column about pet scams for more information -- uexpress.com/pet-connection/2020/12/28/pet-scams.) Here’s what to know about finding and buying a puppy.

But first, let’s debunk the notion that it’s wrong to buy a puppy from a breeder. “Adopt, don’t shop,” is a catchy slogan, but people have different needs and wants for dogs. The right dog is not always to be found in a shelter or through a rescue group, especially now, when many shelters across the country don’t have animals available because so many have been adopted in the past year. There’s nothing wrong with acquiring a puppy from a dedicated breeder who health-tests parents; provides great nutrition, socialization and veterinary care; and offers a one- to two-year guarantee against genetic health problems. Finding that great breeder is the crucial first step.

A good breeder should:

-- Give you the straight dope about what the dogs are like to live with, what health problems affect the breed and what he does to avoid those problems. He should ask about your home and personality to see if you’ll be a good fit.

-- Be more interested in making sure you’re the right home than in getting pups off her hands and your dollars into her pocket.

-- Provide a sales contract that spells out specific health guarantees and any special financial terms related to congenital defects, pet insurance or spaying/neutering; an arbitration clause; spay/neuter recommendations or requirements; return and refund policy; specified monetary damages if either party violates contract terms; and a requirement that the dog be returned to the breeder at any time during the dog’s life if you can’t keep him. In other words, you can’t sell or give the dog to anyone else without the breeder’s permission.

Your part:

-- Do your homework so you know what questions to ask and understand the responses you get. Books and breed club websites can get you started.

-- Use the internet to verify information you get from the breeder, including how long she has been at her current address, whether she’s really a member of the national breed club and whether she has any complaints lodged against her. Don’t just ask for references to her veterinarian and previous buyers; call and get their input.

-- Email some info about yourself and thoughtful preliminary questions (not just “How much are your puppies?”). If the breeder responds promptly and forthrightly, ask for a phone interview. Ask the breeder to send photos or videos of puppies, parents and other adult dogs on the premises.

Today, Barocas’ new pup, Deckard, is 20 weeks old, and she’s in love.

“I’m 110% satisfied,” she says. “He’s amazing.”

Q&A

Does my cat

like me?

Q: I have a cat for the first time, and I’m not sure if she likes me or just the bowls of food I set down. How do people know if their cat really likes them?

A: Cats are subtle. If you’re not familiar with them -- or if you’re more used to a dog’s “let it all hang out” love -- they may seem aloof or uncaring, but when you learn to read their signals, you may be surprised to find that your cat is fond of you indeed. Here are five ways to tell.

1. Your cat rubs her face on your legs head-butts you. Glands on the head secrete oils that cats rub onto objects and humans to claim them as their own.

2. Even if your cat doesn’t settle into a lap, choosing to sit or lie near you -- maybe next to your keyboard -- is a sign that she thinks you’re A-OK.

3. Humans connect by making and holding eye contact, but for a cat, that’s bold behavior. They don’t do it with other cats unless they’re ready to start a fight. With humans they know and trust, though, they will hold eye contact and give a slow blink. Try making eye contact with your cat and giving her a slow blink. She might give you one back -- the feline equivalent of a kiss.

4. One signal of feline love you might not appreciate so much is delivery of a gift, such as a dead mouse or the body of a grasshopper left on your pillow. They might not seem appealing to you, but they show that your cat cares about your well-being!

5. Finally, cats purr for many reasons, but when you hear a deep, full-bodied rumble, you’ll know for sure your cat is saying “I love you.” -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Virtual “paw-ty”

for first dogs

-- An “indoguration” party celebrated Major Biden’s move to the White House. The event for the former shelter pup, now living the high life as one of two first German shepherds, helped to raise funds for other shelter animals looking for homes. Held last week by Pumpkin Pet Insurance and Delaware Humane Association, which sheltered Major until he found his new home with the president and first lady, the virtual party celebrated the canine achievement of the American dream by Major and Champ, the Bidens’ other German shepherd. Host for the Zoom event was Jill Martin of the “Today” show, with special guest Sir Darius Brown, a 14-year-old entrepreneur, philanthropist and animal advocate. He founded Beaux & Paws to create handmade bowties for shelter dogs to help them stand out to potential adopters.

-- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conditionally approved Laverdia-CA1 to treat lymphoma, one of the most common types of cancers seen in dogs. It attacks the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. Conditional approval allows veterinarians to access needed treatments while the drug company collects additional effectiveness data, such as thorough trials with client-owned dogs. The company then has up to five years to complete effectiveness studies to support a full approval. “Lymphoma is a devastating cancer in dogs, with few FDA-approved treatments available. This conditional approval provides a much-needed option to treat dogs with lymphoma,” said Steven M. Solomon, D.V.M., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “We are encouraged to see drug companies bring forward applications for products to treat serious diseases, even if they affect relatively small populations.”

-- Leopard geckos are popular reptile pets. Their name comes from their spotted skin, which is seen in a wide range of colors and patterns. Cool fact: Their thick tails can regenerate when lost. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.