51
votes
Did I Traumatize My Puppy?
That was probably a little too much in one go for a puppy. Puppies learn natural dog behavior from their mothers and rudimentary human behavior from their mother's owners (that's called socializing). ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
11
votes
Is the cat trying to communicate by leaving toys in significant places?
Cats often leave their "prey" or toys as gifts to show their sign of affection and their craft as master hunters. Leaving them in places where the cat knows you will be is their way of trying to get ...
- 657
11
votes
Cat spooked of a balloon, he is traumatized and I’m at a loss
First of all, if your cat is still not drinking, eating, or going to the litterbox, take it back to the vet. Not doing these things for so long is very serious.
Unless your cat is normally very ...
- 16.2k
11
votes
Accepted
Why does my dog lick her lips while being petted?
There are different types of lip licking and there are different reasons for them.
She might like your petting so much and becomes so relaxed that she actually starts drooling. Once you stop petting ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
10
votes
Did I Traumatize My Puppy?
It sounds like the experience was just as traumatic for you as it was for your pup. You will both "get over it" in time. Don't coddle the pup and act like you have to compensate for the way you ...
- 1,307
8
votes
Accepted
Food anxiety in former stray cat?
Time is the key really, if she spent long enough on the streets struggling for food that her weight had dropped substantially below "normal" for her then it's going to take some time for her to relax ...
- 5,470
8
votes
Is it ok to lock my cat for half an hour to clean my room? If not how should I do it?
You have to clean your house, even if your cat gets a bit scared. Cats in general get over this in a short time.
Putting your cat in the bathroom while you clean your room is not a problem, but you ...
- 19.5k
7
votes
Cat littermates afraid to be alone for even a moment
Separation anxiety aside, cats just don't like closed doors!
To deal with the feeding issue, perhaps you can arrange something where they are not really separated, but the female can protect her food ...
- 7,552
7
votes
Accepted
My cat will get mad at me for hours after getting medicine. How do I keep our relationship happy?
After a month, I'm happy to say that my cat and I have a much better time with giving her medicine! She still isn't excited to get medicine, but she doesn't fight me with it anymore. And after being ...
- 488
7
votes
How to help my cat with severe anxiety that I may have caused?
First let me address your former behavior. Yes, that is considered abuse. It's very good that you yourself identify it as abuse, as well. That shows a level of self-reflection and understanding that ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Dog has issues to stay home alone after move
I have dealt with separation anxiety with a lot of dogs I rescued and here is what my experience tells me:
First, a change of environment for a dog is a major thing, regardless of age breed or ...
- 978
6
votes
Did I Traumatize My Puppy?
I give my dogs a shower instead of a bath. They're much calmer standing "in the rain" than in a pool of water.
- 59
6
votes
Accepted
How much hissing should I tolerate from old cat getting used to new cat?
Most people consider hissing a sign of aggression, but honestly it's "just" a form of communication. Hissing alone is no aggressive act, it's more like a warning "come no closer!". ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
6
votes
How can I help my cat lose weight and be healthy?
Consult your vet.
It sounds like you honestly aren't sure how much exactly your cat should be eating. This is something you should definitely consult with your vet about. Your vet may also have ...
- 16.2k
5
votes
My male cat is attacking my female cat; female so scared she urinates herself
I am very sorry to hear about your kitty problems. Given the description you've given, it seems like a very complex problem. You've done the right things, trying the reintroduction process and having ...
- 2,864
5
votes
My cat is terrified of me
Patience.
Gifts / treats.
Try to free some time so spend with the cat. Just sit / lay somewhere, with the cat around. It is important that she understands you do not have intentions to hurt her. ...
- 2,619
4
votes
My dog scratches at the floor during fireworks. What can I do to make him feel safe?
This sounds like an anxiety reaction that your dog is having to the loud noises.
My dog has several anxiety reactions that he trots out and my response to them is all the same: distractions and ...
- 161
4
votes
My cat is terrified ALL THE TIME. How do I fix this?
I've seen "cat shelves" change shy cats behavior in unimaginable ways. You simply install narrow shelves with a rough texture in positions where the cat can access them (jump on them, walk on them). ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
4
votes
Problems with cat hiding and stressing from overnight guests
I'm going to guess that part of the reason why your cat was so bad when your friend visited is because it had no place that it felt truly safe from your visitor. I'm guessing, based on the fact that ...
- 16.2k
4
votes
How do I make my cat accept the new vacuum robot?
You shouldn't force the situation, they may or may not get used to it some time, but that's all you could do. Time is the key. Don't play with them exactly in the same room as the vacuum just let it ...
- 2,105
4
votes
Dogs adjusting to move strangely
There are probably real reasons for them to seek a different place to sleep. Some that came to my mind are:
Their bed gets wet at night from fog or dew and they found themselves a dry bed.
Their beds ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
4
votes
Anxious dog howls and screams when we take our other dog out
It sounds like your dog is indeed very anxious.
The answer of user14052 has the potential to solve the problem, but depending on how you interact with your dog, it could make it so much worse.
Let me ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
4
votes
My dog after 7 years is now walking behind me; she now hates her harness
As long as the harness doesn't cause her pain, she has no reason to hate it. What she actually hates is going for a walk because she is anxious, had bad experiences and doesn't get the same ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
4
votes
Why does my dog lick her lips while being petted?
This is an easy question that I speak from experience. It means you've hit a "sweet spot" and your dog likes it. For example, my dog's "sweet spot" is near the base of her tail. It'...
- 590
4
votes
Is a cat likely to be traumatized if it is physically forced to take medicine?
Short answer: yes, you should force him. Any ear infection is uncomfortable, itches or even hurts. If you don't treat the infection, there's a risk that it becomes chronic and the discomfort never ...
Elmy♦
- 32.3k
4
votes
How much hissing should I tolerate from old cat getting used to new cat?
Hissing isn't necessarily an aggressive behavior. It's more the way a cat communicates, "stay away," which could be motivated by fear or aggression. I'm also guessing in this case is more ...
- 16.2k
3
votes
My dog scratches at the floor during fireworks. What can I do to make him feel safe?
Have you tried a thundershirt? They are relatively inexpensive and provide a sort of "hug" for your dog in moments when it is anxious. I have a very reactive dog to people coming over to the house, ...
- 290
3
votes
Scared of my dog's behavior - is it anxiety or some superstition stuff?
Since your dog is not fixed, I think it is likely that there is a female dog on heat close by. There isn't really a specific season for dogs as it is based on their age.
If you feel up to it maybe ...
- 748
3
votes
Is the cat trying to communicate by leaving toys in significant places?
As given in the sites Why does my cat carry her toys around? and Cat care and cat psychology:
Today's domestic cats are descendants of wild cats who started taking the advantage of the abundance of ...
- 4,233
3
votes
Dog anxious inside, calm outside
Separation anxiety is common but what you describe is interesting in that there does not seem to be a specific trigger other than being inside the house. Obviously it's not separation anxiety if it is ...
- 6,079
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