Questions tagged [psychology]
Regarding a pet's mental status, or motivation for behaviors or attitudes.
308
questions
0
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2answers
69 views
Advice on my abused rescue cat
I am getting a rescue cat from a local charity, she is 3 to 4 years old and seems very affectionate in the videos. She has had a hard life so far, though, stolen and repeatedly bred, then booted out ...
1
vote
2answers
52 views
My cat is skittish and scared of my brother all of a sudden
Baggins is a two-year-old domestic short hair. I found him in the forestry near my house when he was only weeks old. He was starved and very nervous. It took a long time to build trust between us as ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
My dog will not stop going potty in the house and will not rest at night
For background, I have a 2 year old Siberian Husky and she is the love of my life, we hike a lot and have another dog she plays with throughout the day PLUS daily walks and play time in our backyard.
...
3
votes
1answer
75 views
Will getting another cat change my cat's behavior?
I have a ~1.5 year old male tabby cat. I have had him since he was just 2 weeks old, when he was still basically blind and didn't yet know how to walk. I have raised him extremely lovingly and as a ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Why does my dog act normal when he is alone with me, but acts afraid when my wife is around?
He is a rescue dog that belongs to my wife, so I know he was abused and I know I am the the rule maker and my wife didn’t really have rules for him before, but he only acts scared of me when she is ...
4
votes
2answers
120 views
My Cat Meows at Me Every Morning
I wake up at 6:30 every morning and when I get out of bed, I hear an insane amount of meows. When I get into the shower, she sits right next to the tub and cries at me. I open the door so she can go ...
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0answers
25 views
How do I get my cat, who doesn't let me hold her, to the Vet? [duplicate]
My rescue will probably never let me hold her - no clue why - but how am I going to get her into her carrier and take her to the Vet? I'm a senior and live alone and she's 15lbs (7 kg). She is ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
Why does my dog become so anxious to come to my lap?
So here's what happens, I have a small dog, that loves to sleep on my lap while I'm working. She'll often even ask me to pull her onto my lap.
The thing is while she's down on the floor, I'll extend ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Why doesn’t my dog come out with me?
I’m in an interesting and weird situation.
I have a boxer.
She doesn’t want to come out the house with me; for instance, I can’t take her outside to pee or poop; I can’t take her out at all.
But when ...
2
votes
0answers
82 views
How many different cats can a cat keep track of?
I have four cats, adopted as kittens over a period of time, with some gap between adoptions.
Cat #1 (the first one) dislikes cats #2, #3, and #4 (hisses at them, and generally avoids them).
Cat #2 ...
0
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0answers
72 views
My nephew traumatized my cat. HELP! [duplicate]
I have a one year old cat and he's very fearful. Unfortunately, he is scared of a lot of things, but he was normally playful as can be. However, one day my Nephew was chasing him around the house with ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Dog hyper focused on shadows, lights and reflections
This is a strange one so bear with me.
In short, our dog (Aussie) is hyper focused on lights and reflections. She spends 90% of the day staring at the ceiling or walls, either barking or growling... ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Is it a good idea to take another cat when my current cat is a real princess?
I have a five-years old female cat, that is the cuddliest cat that my husband and I ever encountered. She cannot be put on the floor, she needs to be on us (shoulder, arms, back) all the day. She ...
0
votes
1answer
76 views
Why does my dog bark for permission to eat? [duplicate]
Pepe is an 8 year old Chihuahua /Papillon rescue. We've had him for 5 years. Recently he's decided that he won't eat unless we tell him it's ok. He'll just stand there, barking. Even if he's just ...
3
votes
2answers
108 views
Is there a way to stop my kitten from digging his claws into my arm for no reason?
So I recently adopted two new kittens, both of which are remarkably well behaved for their ages and breeds. The only real problem I have is with the male, a black cat that's a mix of Maine Coon and ...
16
votes
9answers
9k views
Why does my cat lay down with me whenever I need to or I’m about to get up? Is this a common thing?
I’ve noticed whenever I need to get up or I’m about to get up, my cat always gets so cozy with me. There’s no way it’s routine, because this happens at random times. It just is confusing me, and it ...
1
vote
1answer
77 views
Dog won't drop ball while playing fetch, but he will drop other toys he fetches?
I have a 2-year old Golden Retriever who seems to love chuck-it balls above all else. He plays fetch just fine when it's with other toys, as long as they're not balls, and he drops them on cue or even ...
3
votes
2answers
403 views
My cat does not play with me after giving birth
My cat had 3 kittens 2 months ago.
Before she was pregnant, she used to play with me all the time, but now she doesn't. Why do you think she no longer plays with me?
3
votes
2answers
93 views
Why does my cat have these random freak-out session?
Sometimes, out of nowhere, my cat will freak out. Not just like you're probably thinking - it would just jump and hiss maybe at something that startled it. No. At completely RANDOM times (often early ...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
Why do cats sometimes sleep in plant pots?
My grandparent’s cats slept in their plant pot when it had nothing in, they only did it often in summer. I wonder why they would want their pelts to be dirty with grit and dirt and weeds.
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Queen lost litter of kittens and started nursing her only surviving 8 month old, should I intervene or just let them be?
My Queen "Phobos" has had difficulty having babies; she's had three litters totaling 12 kittens and only one made it ("Mazakeen," 8 months old) past a few days. Her 8 month old ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Betta fish has white growth on his back. What is it and how can I treat it?
My Betta fish has had a white growth on his back for over a week. Pictures linked below. I'm keeping him in a 5 gallon tank and am replacing 1/3 of the water bi-weekly. No filter because the one ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
How to help my dog to be not so afraid of fireworks?
My dog is terrified of fireworks. With 1 or 2 bangs, I can calm her down easily by playing or offering treats. But if there are more bangs and they happen quite often, it's impossible to get her to ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
How often (and what type) should I reward during grooming?
My SO and I have a 1.5 y/o Standard Poodle with a great temperament. We keep her coat moderately long (not show length), so gets brushed lightly several times a day, a more serious brushing session (...
1
vote
1answer
127 views
Resident cat still attacking new cat after 4 months. Help?
In August, I adopted a one year old female cat. My first cat is a three year old female, who I’ve had for over a year. I’ve been going slow with their introduction, but we keep getting stuck at the ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Cat biting Mom - hard enough to draw blood, always in same spot on wrist
My mom has an 8-month-old ginger kitten that is generally very sweet, though very energetic. For some reason, every afternoon he will run into her bedroom while she's sitting on the bed, jump up, and ...
3
votes
1answer
81 views
My cat attacked me for first time in 10 months! Why is that?
My cat attacked me for first time in 10 months! Why is that? She is a very calm cat, 10 months old. She never pawed at me before tonight, even when I cut her nails or hug her tight (though she always ...
13
votes
3answers
5k views
Girlfriend's cat hisses and swipes at me - can I get it to like me despite that?
Having trouble with my girlfriend's cat constantly hissing at me and swiping at my legs. Wondering if there is a way I can get this cat to like me, or at least to get it to stop this behavior.
The cat ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Dog acts afraid of me when we’re around other people? [closed]
I have an adopted 3 year old husky/lab mix.
He was very well trained when I adopted him, apparently he’d been a stray, but had two previous adopters who gave him up.
The reason being was they had ...
1
vote
1answer
374 views
Dog won't walk unless the whole house walks with him
My dog is almost five and a rescue.
I work from home so he spends all day with me; he's always been funny about going on walks without me if I am in the house. If I'm sick and want to stay in bed, he'...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Why does my cat “catch and run”?
I have one of those feather toys on a long stick. If you move it around fast enough, it sounds like feathers flapping. All the girls go nuts for it, as they run and jump around trying to get this fast ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
New Kitten is scared/wary of me when approaching her directly
About two weeks ago, I've bought a new, 3 months old kitten. I had her in a small room at first, to get her used to the smells, my other cat, etc. She plays a lot with my other cat and I think they're ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views
Is my cat morally evil?
When my cat is napping and I go to pet her, she is fine with it. But if she is sleeping because she is tired and I wake up her, she makes noises to make me understand that she doesn't like what is ...
0
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0answers
38 views
I need help with training “Drop it” command
I have Labrador and he is such a foodie. I want to teach him "drop it", but everytime he smells or senses treat nearby, he just never holds, catches or fetches anything except to eat the ...
3
votes
1answer
120 views
Is my cat lonely?
We adopted an adult cat from an animal shelter (about 1 year old), he was very skinny and slept a lot, and soon we discovered he is FIV positive.
So far he underwent treatment, gained some weight, and ...
2
votes
0answers
63 views
My cat is afraid of me after bringing him to the vet
I tamed a rescue cat, took a long time. He became really loving and friendly after a few months and we became the best of friends.
Yesterday I had to bring him to the vet because he had a cold for a ...
1
vote
2answers
265 views
Why our dog seems to protect me but not my significant other?
My wife and I got a dog about two months ago. It was 8 months old when we got him and now he is 10 months old. We have noticed a funny behavior of his, which is that it seems that he defends me ...
2
votes
1answer
114 views
My kittens are terrified of my dog after we got the dog groomed
I have 2 one-year-old kittens and an old dog who we get groomed (shaved) in summer. The kittens were cuddly with the dog before. We have recently got the dog shaved and the kittens are terrified of ...
4
votes
0answers
87 views
Both cats “yowling” in a specific location of the home
I am trying to understand an oddly consistent behavior. I have two cats in my home that will "yowl" at a very specific point of the home, a small hallway leading back to a bathroom and ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
Attachment Issues in Adopted Dog
I'm a dog trainer, and I have been working with a family that adopted a 2-year-old dog from a shelter not too long ago. The dog is very well-behaved and is responding well to training, but the family ...
2
votes
1answer
257 views
How to soothe dog when startled by noise?
When walking the dog around 22:30 before going to bed, there are some kids playing with fireworks around October, November, December and January. This can be kilometers away, but you still can hear a ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Husky howling repeatedly - what can be done for it?
I am wondering what can be done for a husky who howls whenever the owner is leaving and then absent from his or her home.
1
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0answers
33 views
Dogs and cane toads
Our dog is five months old, and we often take him for walks at night. We live in Australia, so often at night, especially after rain, there are lots of cane toads out. I know that cane toads give off ...
3
votes
1answer
311 views
Lost/Abandoned cat wants to enter house; advice needed
Few days ago, we noticed a cat hanging out around our house and it kept meowing pitifully, so we fed it and offered water and a little card board box in case it wanted a place to rest. The first night ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
How to stop dog chasing any ball she sees
My little Jack Russell X French bulldog has an obsession with footballs, tennis balls, rubber balls, ANY balls. To the extent where she will go over and steal it from the owners. She's very excitable ...
8
votes
1answer
3k views
How can I get my cat to stop pooping on my kid's bed?
Our cat is 5 years old male British shorthair. We had a baby 9 months ago and our cat started to poop on our son's bed. It happened 3 times in last month. Before the baby, he never did such a thing. ...
22
votes
6answers
7k views
What can I do now that my cat is terrified of me after I broke up a fight involving her and two other pets?
I really need some help and advice. I have two cats and a dog. This morning, my dog was with me in the kitchen and one of my cats ran up to him and started attacking him. It just turned into an all ...
1
vote
2answers
903 views
Why is my dog playful and lively outside, but docile and inactive inside?
The difference between my dog's indoor and outdoor behavior is day and night. Inside, she refuses to play with any toys (while I'm awake), only eats during the day if I put something on top of her ...
15
votes
3answers
7k views
My old cat died and I don't know how to deal with it
I feel like I can trust you, don't delete please. I need help by making the rest of my cats understand that she's gone and not coming back.
My old cat, Bee, died - and we have two more and I don't ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Update and some questions about my cats
Hello I'm back with very good news and some questions following up on my cats. Last post I made was this right here: I need help rebuilding my cats trust after abusing them multiple times. Where I ...
