Hastings Cat Chat
BY ANITA KELSEY
Hello cat lovers! My name is Anita Kelsey and I am excited to introduce myself as the author of the new “Hastings Cat Chat” column in The Hastings Independent. As a professional feline behaviourist, cat groomer and author of two cat books, Claws and Let’s Talk About Cats, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with readers in our community.
I have spent over 20 years dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour problems in cats, helping cat owners to understand their pets and improve their relationship. I also work holistically with cats on the grooming front, particularly with cats that have a fear or deep dislike of this process.
In this column, I will be answering your questions about everything cat-related, from common behavioral and grooming issues to fun ‘why do they do that?’ questions, and look forward to sharing tips and tricks for keeping your cat happy and healthy. I will also be doing occasional photo competitions as well as featuring a Hastings Mog of the Month photo.
So whether you’re a first-time cat owner or have been a cat lover for years, I invite you to join me in exploring all things feline. I look forward to hearing from you and answering your cat-related questions as well as receiving good quality photos of your cat if you would like them to be considered for a feature. The email address is [email protected].
Your Letters
Hi Anita,
Our cat, Luna, loves to scratch the screen our TV when we are trying to watch something so we are forced to either keep her out of the room or watch with headphones (it’s the noise that seems to distract her). Any suggestions on how we can get her to sit down and enjoy The Last of Us or White Lotus with us would be most appreciated.
Bobby Dee
Hi Bobby,
This question did make me laugh as we have all experienced cats that see something on the TV as they rush to explore with claws hitting our screens. Cats are hard wired predators and what they see flash up on our TVs is a flickering or sudden movement of ‘something’ that triggers their curiosity/predator instinct. Give your cat something to play with that would take their focus away from the TV. I would suggest a hunting toy like the Catch Me Undercover Mouse battery-operated toy. This toy is specifically designed to fool your cat into thinking a real mouse is hiding under the material cover – with just their tail sticking out – and the movement of this going round at different speeds drives most cats wild.
Anita
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
This is extremely helpful information.