Fostering And Adopting Kittens
Veterinary Behaviorist, Dr. Lisa Radosta is back to talk about fostering, adopting and raising healthy happy cats. So, tune in for great information… we’re not kitten!
Listen to Episode #123 Now:
BIO:
Dr. Radosta graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. After completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Coral Springs Animal Hospital, she worked as a primary care veterinarian for 2 1/2 years. She completed a 3-year residency in Behavioral Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and passed the board examination later that year. During her residency, she was awarded the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists Resident research award two years in a row.
In 2005, she went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to volunteer in the efforts to help animals stranded by Hurricane Katrina. She has owned Florida Veterinary Behavior Service since 2007.
Dr. Radosta lectures nationally and internationally for veterinarians, their staff and lay people. She has written book chapters for textbooks including Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat; Blackwell’s Five Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline and Small Animal Pediatrics.
She has published scientific research articles in Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science and The Veterinary Journal and written review articles for Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Compendium, NAVC Clinician’s Brief and AAHA Newstat. She is the section editor for Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. She serves on the Fear Free Advisory Board and the AAHA Behavior Management Task Force.
Interviews with Dr. Radosta have been published in: Cat Fancy, Dog Fancy, Palm Beach Post, NAVC Clinician’s Brief, Sun Sentinel, Washington Post, Real Simple, WebMD and AAHA News Stat. She has appeared on Lifetime television, Laurie Live, News Channel 25 (West Palm Beach, WPBF), Mitch Wilder's Amazing Pet Discoveries, Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet, News Channel 10 (Miami, ABC), and Steve Dale's Pet Talk. She podcasts for VetGirl on the Run.
Dr. Radosta has participated in tracking, obedience, herding and therapy dog work with personal dogs--always Rottweilers. Currently, she shares her life with a wonderful husband, Scott and her daughter, Isabella as well as Maverick, her Labrador Retriever and Chewie her cat.
Transcript:
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<Announcer> This is Pet Life Radio.
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<Announcer> Let's talk pets.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Thanks for watching!
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Welcome to Nine Lives with Dr.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Kat.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I'm your host, Dr.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Kathryn Primm, and I'm a small animal veterinarian and crazy cat lover.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Today, I have a special guest that we love to talk to, Dr.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Lisa Radosta.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> She is a veterinary behaviorist, which means she is not only a veterinarian like me, but she has taken the extra step to really understand animal behavior.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And I wanted to talk with her today about raising cats, fostering, adopting, and raising healthy, happy cats.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So we'll be right back with Dr.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Lisa Radosta after this quick break.
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<Announcer> Take a bite out of your competition.
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<Announcer> Let's Talk Pets on PetLifeRadio.com.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Welcome back to Nine Lives with Dr.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Kat on Cat Life Radio.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I have with me Dr.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Lisa Radosta.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Hi, Lisa.
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<Lisa Radosta> How are you?
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Excellent, I'm so happy that you are here.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> In case any of my listeners have not heard you before, can you give us a quick rundown of who you are and how you got where you are?
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<Lisa Radosta> Well, I'm the mom of a 16-year-old.
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<Lisa Radosta> That's my primary job, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> Always.
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<Lisa Radosta> I'm a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
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<Lisa Radosta> That's a veterinary psychiatrist.
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<Lisa Radosta> And I have a specialty practice in Southeast Florida, where I also teach residents.
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<Lisa Radosta> So they're prepared to take the board exam and will create more veterinary behaviors, we hope.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Excellent.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And you're also someone that I just admire and use as a resource.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So I'm excited that you're here today.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And I think that we need to talk about raising cats.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And there are lots of, I don't know, subsets of raising cats.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I mean, there are things like how to pick out a cat when you're adopting, how to choose cat, if you have choices and so on.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So maybe we should start there choosing cats and what you need to look for or no.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Can we start there?
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<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, absolutely.
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<Lisa Radosta> So don't choose a cat based on how it looks.
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<Lisa Radosta> Yet, I only adopt adult black cats.
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<Lisa Radosta> So here I am, like not following my own rule.
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<Lisa Radosta> So what I will say is, you know, we have to be, I think, attracted to our pets.
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<Lisa Radosta> We have to think they're cute, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> But what I don't want is for clients to say, well, I had a Russian blue, and that was the perfect cat, and so I'm going to get another Russian blue.
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<Lisa Radosta> And have the expectation be that that will be a perfect cat too, because that causes a lot of friction, because that cat's going to be, you know, their own person.
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<Lisa Radosta> So first, yes, you have in your mind what you want your pet to look like.
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<Lisa Radosta> Of course you do, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> But also have in your mind criteria for the kind of pet you want to marry basically, because this is a marriage.
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<Lisa Radosta> And I always say to people, you know, you will have your cat longer than most Americans will be married.
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<Lisa Radosta> 20 years, 22 years.
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<Lisa Radosta> That's a long time if you're adopting a kitten.
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<Lisa Radosta> And so we want you to think about what kind of cat you want to live with.
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<Lisa Radosta> Do you want the cat that sits on your lap?
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<Lisa Radosta> You know, not everybody does.
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<Lisa Radosta> I don't.
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<Lisa Radosta> That's not the kind of kitty I like.
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<Lisa Radosta> I like an independent kitty.
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<Lisa Radosta> Do you like the kind of kitty who meows a lot?
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<Lisa Radosta> What kind of kitty do you want to live with?
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<Lisa Radosta> And then take that and what you think is cute, what you visually appealing to you, because that will create a strong bond to take that to the shelter when you go to get your kitty.
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<Lisa Radosta> And I did that with my own cat, Ted, who was the perfect black cat who started it all.
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<Lisa Radosta> Started the black cat craziness that we have.
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<Lisa Radosta> I went down to animal care and control in Gainesville when I was in vet school and I didn't have any idea of what I wanted the cat to look like.
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<Lisa Radosta> I knew that I had a hole in my heart and that a cat was going to fill that hole.
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<Lisa Radosta> Like that, I was sure of.
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<Lisa Radosta> And so I petted the cat and I took each kitty out and they were kept in cages then.
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<Lisa Radosta> They weren't communal like they are in many shelters now.
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<Lisa Radosta> And so this particular cat, who would be Ted, walked past a spot where he had just seen another cat that I had out spread.
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<Lisa Radosta> And Ted sniffed it and he was like, whatever, I don't really care.
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<Lisa Radosta> And I'm like, that's the one, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> Like, that's the one, that's the cat who is so easy going that he can live with my Rottweilers.
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<Lisa Radosta> He can grow with me as I get through vet school, have a child, move all over the country to do residency.
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<Lisa Radosta> That's the cat.
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<Lisa Radosta> And he was that cat.
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<Lisa Radosta> He was the Labrador retriever of cats.
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<Lisa Radosta> So we want people to love pets, but I also need you to be objective because this is going to be a long relationship.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So my heart cat was a black cat, too.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And I got him when I was in vet school and I wrote about him in my book.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So I find that fun that we share that.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> But okay, so obviously all of my listeners can't go to a shelter where another cat sprays and set up a test for their cat to see if it's like Ted.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> But are there things that my listeners could do or look for when they're in a setting like that?
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<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, there are things you can look for.
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<Lisa Radosta> Keep in mind that shelters are stressful.
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<Lisa Radosta> And when cats are stressed, they often assume that meatloaf position.
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<Lisa Radosta> They're in the back of the cage just because a cat is stressed in the shelter.
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<Lisa Radosta> That is not a reflection of how your cat will be at home.
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<Lisa Radosta> And so that makes it really hard.
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<Lisa Radosta> One of the things about Ted is he was outgoing, didn't get stressed very easily.
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<Lisa Radosta> So I was able to see the real him.
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<Lisa Radosta> So if you can spend time with the kitty at the shelter in a separate room, like time, I mean, like 30 or 40 minutes, like spend time letting that kitty maybe come out of its shell a bit with just you.
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<Lisa Radosta> You'll start to see the personality.
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<Lisa Radosta> If that kitty comes over, wants to get on your lap as you're sitting on the floor, and that's the kind of kitty you want, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> That might be a perfect relationship.
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<Lisa Radosta> So think of that.
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<Lisa Radosta> Think about how easily the kitty startles.
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<Lisa Radosta> I'm not saying don't deliberately scare kitties, but let's say that as you move from the chair to the floor, the chair moves a little and the cat really startles and shrinks off to the corner.
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<Lisa Radosta> That may be a cat who's noise sensitive.
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<Lisa Radosta> If you have a quiet house, great.
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<Lisa Radosta> If you have three kids under the age of four, it might not be right.
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<Lisa Radosta> Or if you have to make a smoothie in a smoothie machine that sounds like a jet engine, which mine does, every day, that might scare the living daylights out of that cat.
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<Lisa Radosta> So I want you to really be objective about fears.
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<Lisa Radosta> Give the cat time to come to you.
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<Lisa Radosta> If you're the kind of person who is going to trim your own cat's nails, try to handle the feet.
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<Lisa Radosta> See how the kitty feels about that.
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<Lisa Radosta> And take any shelter situation with a giant grain of salt because those kitties are really, really stressed.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> OK, here's a harder question.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> How much of what you might see, like noise sensitivity or some personality trait that you might see, is something that is not changeable or affectable with, you know, behavior modification or how much of this and who the cat is is just who the cat is.
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<Lisa Radosta> Yes, these are two different kind of buckets.
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<Lisa Radosta> One bucket is how changeable is behavior.
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<Lisa Radosta> And that's a pretty easy answer in that behavior really has three primary broad inputs, genetics, which you cannot change.
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<Lisa Radosta> Now, you can change how genes turn off and on epigenetics, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> We can change how those genes express themselves, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> But we don't know enough about the genetics of the calico cat you just adopted at the shelter to be able to even tell you, you know, what to do, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> So there's genetics, epigenetics, there's learning.
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<Lisa Radosta> Being at the shelter is traumatic.
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<Lisa Radosta> Cats are not loners or they would never love us, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> They're social.
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<Lisa Radosta> And so that's traumatic.
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<Lisa Radosta> And so that trauma is there.
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<Lisa Radosta> So we're going to try to change that.
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<Lisa Radosta> And then there's learning, life experience.
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<Lisa Radosta> So you can change the trauma somewhat, and you can change the life experience, but the genetics are what they are.
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<Lisa Radosta> And cats are, they're fantastic.
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<Lisa Radosta> They have, there's this cool study that looked at the genetics of cats and fear.
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<Lisa Radosta> So you've probably read the study a million times.
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<Lisa Radosta> So basically what they did was they took a friendly tom, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> And then they took an anxious or fearful queen and an easygoing queen.
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<Lisa Radosta> And they mixed up all the kitties, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> To see like if they're raised by an easygoing queen versus one that is anxious, what happens, but the punchline is that the genetics of the father, paternity, have a major effect on the fearful nature of the kittens.
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<Lisa Radosta> We have no control over the toms roaming the neighborhood, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> So behavior can be changed.
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<Lisa Radosta> We can't change a cat's genetics.
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<Lisa Radosta> So that goes to rule number one of loving something, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> It's accepting it for who it is.
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<Lisa Radosta> So when you take that cat home, you got to be ready.
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<Lisa Radosta> That cat may not be your old black cat, may not be a perfect cat, but that's not why we get animals, because we expect them to be perfect.
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<Lisa Radosta> And then the other bucket is, can we measure behavior in the shelter?
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<Lisa Radosta> We don't know anything about that in cats, but in dogs, that you can imagine, because aggression is kind of a big deal when you adopt out dogs in the shelter.
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<Lisa Radosta> So in dogs, there have been loads and loads of studies looking at temperament.
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<Lisa Radosta> And we know that very few things are predictable on a temperament test in the shelter.
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<Lisa Radosta> Really, it's just food aggression and only under certain circumstances.
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<Lisa Radosta> And the reason I'm saying that is because going back to stressful situations, what can I see in this cat in the shelter that I can predict or change later on?
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<Lisa Radosta> It's a big, big question mark.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Yeah, cats are not small dogs.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Okay, so how important is socialization, especially if you are adopting maybe a young kitten or even maybe a too young kitten?
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<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, yes.
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<Lisa Radosta> So it depends on your goals.
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<Lisa Radosta> Our cat stays home.
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<Lisa Radosta> I don't put him on a harness and take him to the coffee shop with me.
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<Lisa Radosta> So I have a low bar for him.
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<Lisa Radosta> I just want him to be happy.
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<Lisa Radosta> That's it.
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<Lisa Radosta> So if I had gotten him as a kitten, I probably would not have done any socialization at all, because I'm happy for him just to be here, and I don't really care if he interacts with my friends.
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<Lisa Radosta> You know, we're pretty low key down here.
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<Lisa Radosta> But if, let's say, let's say I'm a 25-year-old and I don't have any kids, and I want to take this cat with me everywhere, then I need to socialize my cat.
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<Lisa Radosta> It needs to happen as soon as I get my cat, because the way that we understand socialization right now in kittens is that the socialization period ends somewhere around seven weeks.
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<Lisa Radosta> I suspect that's not true, but that's what we know from research.
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<Lisa Radosta> So that's what I'm going to tell you guys.
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<Lisa Radosta> No one's really questioned that with hard science.
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<Lisa Radosta> So that's what we know from the published studies.
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<Lisa Radosta> So that means as soon as we get our babies, we are already behind with socialization.
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<Lisa Radosta> If you have high expectations, you need to work hard with your baby from the moment that you get your kitten.
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<Lisa Radosta> Now, if we're throwing into the socialization bucket handling, everybody needs that, right?
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<Lisa Radosta> Every kitty needs to know how to get something put in in their ear, how to get a topical antiparasitic on their back and between their shoulder blades, how to get into a carrier, how to go to the vet.
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<Lisa Radosta> That's not really socialization.
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<Lisa Radosta> Those are functional life skills, and every cat needs those.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I agree.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Of course, I agree.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And support that, going to the vet safely in low stress is really, really important.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So, okay, well, let's take a quick break and come back and just talk about a little bit more of trying to ensure a scenario that will lead to happiness on the part of everyone.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So we'll be right back.
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<Announcer> Molly, here's your dinner.
00:12:57.997 --> 00:13:01.397
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Zeus, that's not your food.
00:13:02.497 --> 00:13:04.617
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00:13:04.797 --> 00:13:07.997
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00:13:08.277 --> 00:13:13.677
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00:13:14.097 --> 00:13:16.217
<Announcer> It's the perfect way to eat.
00:13:16.617 --> 00:13:24.037
<Announcer> It's a beautiful wrought iron tray that easily attaches to your cat tree and keeps dogs and other critters out of your cat's dish.
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00:13:47.897 --> 00:13:49.797
<Announcer> Let's talk pets on PetLife Radio.
00:14:01.296 --> 00:14:03.476
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Welcome back to Nine Lives with Dr.
00:14:03.496 --> 00:14:05.336
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Kat on Pet Life Radio.
00:14:05.636 --> 00:14:06.036
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Dr.
00:14:06.056 --> 00:14:10.216
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Lisa Radosta and I are talking about raising cats.
00:14:10.496 --> 00:14:18.316
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Whether you are rescuing or fostering, what can you do to help ensure happiness for everyone in your home?
00:14:18.656 --> 00:14:19.876
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So, Dr.
00:14:19.896 --> 00:14:34.096
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Radosta, I did want to get back to the idea of, I have a lot of clients that foster kittens, and they really want to prepare these kittens to go forth and be happy and a good addition to their new home.
00:14:34.116 --> 00:14:38.296
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Is there any tip you could provide to people that are fostering kittens?
00:14:38.616 --> 00:14:38.996
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah.
00:14:39.016 --> 00:14:47.516
<Lisa Radosta> So I think that our fosters, you know, I say our, the world's experienced fosters, usually send forth kittens who know how to be handled.
00:14:47.796 --> 00:14:49.076
<Lisa Radosta> You know, they're very good.
00:14:49.096 --> 00:14:57.256
<Lisa Radosta> I think most of the fosters that I meet that are experienced, they know how to handle kittens in the sense of like physically touching them, picking them up, getting them used to all of those things.
00:14:57.716 --> 00:15:02.076
<Lisa Radosta> What I want to encourage foster parents to do is to think forward.
00:15:02.476 --> 00:15:09.016
<Lisa Radosta> What are all the things that this kitten could be exposed to as a cat in someone else's home?
00:15:09.376 --> 00:15:14.356
<Lisa Radosta> So my home has a dog, a teenager, a loud smoothing machine, hockey games on TV.
00:15:14.376 --> 00:15:19.276
<Lisa Radosta> Like these are the things I have, but can I get exposure to little kids?
00:15:19.396 --> 00:15:20.236
<Lisa Radosta> Can I do that?
00:15:20.636 --> 00:15:23.156
<Lisa Radosta> Can I get exposure to a carrier?
00:15:23.396 --> 00:15:26.036
<Lisa Radosta> Can I bring the kittens in to the vet's office?
00:15:26.056 --> 00:15:31.396
<Lisa Radosta> A lot of foster parents or technicians and veterinarians and client service representatives.
00:15:31.556 --> 00:15:35.436
<Lisa Radosta> Can we bring them into the veterinarian's office where they'll be handled by other people?
00:15:35.816 --> 00:15:43.376
<Lisa Radosta> So I want you to think about all the different things and write them down if you need to so that you can expose the kittens to those things.
00:15:43.416 --> 00:15:47.636
<Lisa Radosta> Keep in mind, exposure needs to be at worst neutral.
00:15:47.776 --> 00:15:49.596
<Lisa Radosta> That's the worst case scenario.
00:15:50.036 --> 00:15:52.956
<Lisa Radosta> So that means you're always above neutral.
00:15:52.976 --> 00:15:54.836
<Lisa Radosta> That's where the good stuff is, right?
00:15:54.856 --> 00:15:58.996
<Lisa Radosta> So if you see that the kitten is worried, it's very easy because kittens are little.
00:15:59.356 --> 00:16:01.236
<Lisa Radosta> So it's very easy to think, I'll just force it.
00:16:01.556 --> 00:16:02.936
<Lisa Radosta> It's a little kitten.
00:16:02.976 --> 00:16:03.936
<Lisa Radosta> Like, I'll just force it.
00:16:03.956 --> 00:16:04.696
<Lisa Radosta> I'm bigger than the kitten.
00:16:04.936 --> 00:16:12.356
<Lisa Radosta> Don't do that because you are basically causing the kitten to have a distrust of people.
00:16:12.376 --> 00:16:16.416
<Lisa Radosta> And that is not the cat I want to send forth into the world.
00:16:16.716 --> 00:16:21.076
<Lisa Radosta> I want the cat to believe that we're listening, we're watching, we get you.
00:16:21.276 --> 00:16:23.336
<Lisa Radosta> We respect your personal space.
00:16:24.296 --> 00:16:34.736
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So you are encouraging, including the veterinary team in handling feet and handling ears and getting the cat to the veterinary office and that kind of thing.
00:16:34.756 --> 00:16:36.136
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Am I understanding that correctly?
00:16:36.556 --> 00:16:37.336
<Lisa Radosta> Absolutely.
00:16:37.356 --> 00:16:44.836
<Lisa Radosta> You know, you know these statistics better than I do because you are in the cat world, you know, in the trenches every day.
00:16:45.236 --> 00:16:52.836
<Lisa Radosta> But from what I read last, really, we're missing out on about 75% of the cats who should be seeing us on a regular basis.
00:16:53.236 --> 00:16:56.636
<Lisa Radosta> And I have to, right now, be full on honest.
00:16:56.996 --> 00:17:06.136
<Lisa Radosta> My cat hates going to the hospital with me, and I'm a test runner because I want to find cancer and kidney failure and all the things before the things happen.
00:17:06.396 --> 00:17:11.316
<Lisa Radosta> So I run a lot of tests on these pets that live in my family, and my husband can't help me pull blood.
00:17:11.476 --> 00:17:14.316
<Lisa Radosta> Okay, so I got a cat who hates the vet.
00:17:14.456 --> 00:17:21.036
<Lisa Radosta> I've fought with the medication issue and the carrier issue to find the right mix.
00:17:21.056 --> 00:17:26.916
<Lisa Radosta> But people are not bringing their cats to us, and cats, frankly, are suffering because of it.
00:17:26.916 --> 00:17:36.436
<Lisa Radosta> We're getting them when they are so severely affected with kidney failure that the prognosis is worse than if we just had caught it in the very beginning.
00:17:36.456 --> 00:17:40.516
<Lisa Radosta> And so it's super important for fosters to be thinking about the life of the cat.
00:17:40.596 --> 00:17:41.736
<Lisa Radosta> Can you get in the carrier?
00:17:42.056 --> 00:17:43.216
<Lisa Radosta> Can you go to the vet?
00:17:43.676 --> 00:17:48.216
<Lisa Radosta> Maybe even the veterinarian would be willing to have the kittens there for the day.
00:17:48.756 --> 00:18:01.656
<Lisa Radosta> You know, technicians need to offload stress, and carrying a kitten around the pocket of your jacket, at least for me, is an immediate, like, stress reliever, having that little kitty right next to you or in your shirt.
00:18:01.676 --> 00:18:03.196
<Lisa Radosta> I don't know if you ever do that, Dr.
00:18:03.216 --> 00:18:04.656
<Lisa Radosta> Pram, but we put them in our shirts.
00:18:04.876 --> 00:18:06.076
<Lisa Radosta> No little head stick out.
00:18:06.216 --> 00:18:07.176
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, yeah.
00:18:07.556 --> 00:18:10.736
<Lisa Radosta> So maybe your vet will do that if you're a foster and you don't work at a vet.
00:18:11.336 --> 00:18:15.816
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Well, I was at work yesterday, and there were no babies there.
00:18:16.836 --> 00:18:20.036
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> We have a lot of babies on and off, and I just had a down moment.
00:18:20.056 --> 00:18:22.436
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And I'm like, nobody brought me a baby.
00:18:22.456 --> 00:18:26.136
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Like my team will bring their kittens in or their little puppies.
00:18:26.156 --> 00:18:29.316
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And I had a babyless day, and it was very sad.
00:18:29.336 --> 00:18:30.896
<Lisa Radosta> It is sad.
00:18:30.916 --> 00:18:32.336
<Lisa Radosta> It is sad.
00:18:32.376 --> 00:18:37.736
<Lisa Radosta> One of the things I love doing is carrying a little baby, whether it's in my shirt, in my pocket or something.
00:18:37.796 --> 00:18:38.436
<Lisa Radosta> I love it.
00:18:38.456 --> 00:18:38.656
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah.
00:18:39.516 --> 00:18:45.356
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So your advice then would be to, if you're fostering, to expose the cats to things.
00:18:45.376 --> 00:19:01.096
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> But also, if that is your kitten, even though you say it's not important to you that your cat be well socialized, it's probably a good idea, though, for all of my listeners that are raising cats or adopting cats and kittens to at least do those minimum things, right?
00:19:01.376 --> 00:19:01.736
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah.
00:19:01.756 --> 00:19:03.856
<Lisa Radosta> So minimum things four.
00:19:03.876 --> 00:19:13.376
<Lisa Radosta> And I think, too, I know that when I got Chewy, my current black cat, that, and we do set the bar low at our house because we really just want our pets to be happy.
00:19:13.396 --> 00:19:17.256
<Lisa Radosta> We have almost no expectations of them except happy, joyful.
00:19:17.756 --> 00:19:22.096
<Lisa Radosta> And so I knew that regardless of what he came to me with, I'd have the right medication.
00:19:22.256 --> 00:19:23.616
<Lisa Radosta> I could teach him, right?
00:19:24.056 --> 00:19:31.416
<Lisa Radosta> And so if I had gotten him as a kitten, I most certainly would have prepared him for anything I thought could come in my life.
00:19:31.436 --> 00:19:41.896
<Lisa Radosta> One of the big mistakes that I see young people making when they bring their young cats to me is thinking that they won't ever have children or this cat won't ever see a child.
00:19:42.756 --> 00:19:47.836
<Lisa Radosta> That is a big mistake because we all have kids in our lives even if they come to visit.
00:19:47.856 --> 00:19:55.396
<Lisa Radosta> So yes, exposure to the things that the cat might be exposed to are really important for all of our kitties.
00:19:55.856 --> 00:20:13.396
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So you mentioned that the shelter is kind of a stressful environment and that it may not really show you who the cat is, but how many of those traits that you mentioned like snuggly or vocal or how many of those traits will show themselves in a shelter environment?
00:20:13.636 --> 00:20:16.156
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, I wish I knew the answer to that question.
00:20:16.176 --> 00:20:23.376
<Lisa Radosta> We don't have any studies, good studies that look at like, this is the cat's behavior in the shelter that's directly translatable to home.
00:20:23.396 --> 00:20:32.496
<Lisa Radosta> And I think we can all empathize with that because I've certainly been ill behaved or at least been different when I'm stressed versus when I'm not stressed.
00:20:32.516 --> 00:20:33.576
<Lisa Radosta> And kitties are the same.
00:20:33.596 --> 00:20:45.056
<Lisa Radosta> And that's why I kind of think when you go to the shelter or foster or anywhere, even a breeder where you're adopting an adult cat, you have to understand you're in it forever.
00:20:45.276 --> 00:20:49.436
<Lisa Radosta> In other words, that cat may not be what you expect.
00:20:49.436 --> 00:21:01.096
<Lisa Radosta> And that's where, you know, going to your primary care veterinarian, as soon as you see that there's a mismatch in expectation, and if your primary care can't help you or thinks you'll be better served with a specialist, going to see a specialist.
00:21:01.356 --> 00:21:08.176
<Lisa Radosta> Because we all want to predict, but anybody who's had a human child understands that is not possible.
00:21:08.516 --> 00:21:12.136
<Lisa Radosta> Okay, so you're in it to win it when you adopt that animal.
00:21:12.336 --> 00:21:21.276
<Lisa Radosta> So if you need, if you see anything that's weird, you go straight to your primary care and let them figure out if it's weird, normal, if you need a referral, et cetera.
00:21:21.656 --> 00:21:25.276
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So I've read some things and I bet my listeners are interested as well.
00:21:25.956 --> 00:21:40.736
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> What correlation is there really in a coat color or like the reputation that calico cats are spicy or that yellow cats, you know, one thing or another?
00:21:40.756 --> 00:21:42.456
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Do you see anything like that?
00:21:42.756 --> 00:21:45.256
<Lisa Radosta> Well, so there was a survey study that was published.
00:21:46.216 --> 00:21:47.436
<Lisa Radosta> Was it Liz Stelow?
00:21:47.456 --> 00:21:50.076
<Lisa Radosta> It was from the UC Davis group survey study.
00:21:50.096 --> 00:21:52.076
<Lisa Radosta> I'm going to say three to five years ago.
00:21:52.096 --> 00:21:56.636
<Lisa Radosta> And at least human beings believe that calicoes are more spicy.
00:21:57.276 --> 00:22:02.536
<Lisa Radosta> Like if you survey people who have cats, overwhelmingly, yes, calicoes are spicy.
00:22:02.736 --> 00:22:05.396
<Lisa Radosta> However, that's still our assessment.
00:22:05.716 --> 00:22:13.776
<Lisa Radosta> The black coat gene in cats has been linked to calmer, more easygoing behavior.
00:22:13.796 --> 00:22:17.276
<Lisa Radosta> And that would be reflective in Ted, the perfect black cat.
00:22:17.536 --> 00:22:22.496
<Lisa Radosta> But Chewie, my current black cat, is anything but easygoing.
00:22:22.516 --> 00:22:23.876
<Lisa Radosta> He has frustration-induced aggression.
00:22:25.116 --> 00:22:28.236
<Lisa Radosta> He has to take calming care probiotic every day.
00:22:28.536 --> 00:22:29.876
<Lisa Radosta> We have to manage him.
00:22:30.336 --> 00:22:33.316
<Lisa Radosta> So that is not an absolute predictor.
00:22:33.336 --> 00:22:39.836
<Lisa Radosta> And there's also been some linkage between ginger cats and more aggressive behavior.
00:22:40.216 --> 00:22:44.296
<Lisa Radosta> But at the end of the day, co-color is not enough to predict a cat's behavior.
00:22:44.316 --> 00:22:46.476
<Lisa Radosta> It's one of many, many factors.
00:22:47.016 --> 00:22:52.896
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And it's like when you're dating and you have to think your potential significant other is cute.
00:22:53.076 --> 00:22:54.696
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> You got to think they're cute, right?
00:22:54.716 --> 00:22:58.756
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I mean, I love the way my cat and dog look.
00:22:59.016 --> 00:23:01.536
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And so their cute little faces just make me smile.
00:23:01.556 --> 00:23:03.576
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And so I think that's part of it, too.
00:23:03.876 --> 00:23:05.136
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, that's part of it.
00:23:05.336 --> 00:23:09.736
<Lisa Radosta> And, you know, it's our shtick to get black cats, and we think they're really cute.
00:23:09.756 --> 00:23:18.756
<Lisa Radosta> And so that helps us to have a strong bond, even when Chewie didn't turn out to be exactly what we thought he would be.
00:23:19.416 --> 00:23:21.196
<Lisa Radosta> We have a very strong bond with him.
00:23:21.216 --> 00:23:23.016
<Lisa Radosta> And it's not only because he's cute.
00:23:23.556 --> 00:23:26.436
<Lisa Radosta> It's lots of things, but that doesn't hurt, right?
00:23:26.456 --> 00:23:31.256
<Lisa Radosta> That we love the way that he looks, and his fur is so soft, and all the things you just love about cats.
00:23:31.676 --> 00:23:32.336
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I agree.
00:23:32.356 --> 00:23:33.976
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I support that completely.
00:23:34.476 --> 00:23:36.776
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Well, it has been really fun to talk with you.
00:23:36.796 --> 00:23:51.236
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I know there aren't any cut-and-dried rules to say how to choose the perfect cat, but I think that you're saying for the humans to manage their expectations and know that they're going to be in this for a really long time.
00:23:51.256 --> 00:23:56.156
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So I want to point that out for sure, because we're looking at a 20-year commitment, right?
00:23:56.376 --> 00:23:57.436
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, if we're lucky.
00:23:57.456 --> 00:23:59.356
<Lisa Radosta> I mean, I'm hoping for 22.
00:23:59.676 --> 00:24:07.056
<Lisa Radosta> I'm hoping for more than 20, but you and I have both seen cats come walking into our practices past 20.
00:24:07.396 --> 00:24:18.416
<Lisa Radosta> I mean, so it's a super long commitment, and I think I really just want people to hear, have an expectation that's realistic.
00:24:18.856 --> 00:24:20.436
<Lisa Radosta> I have a hole in my heart.
00:24:20.516 --> 00:24:21.716
<Lisa Radosta> I need to fill it with a cat.
00:24:22.316 --> 00:24:24.156
<Lisa Radosta> I want love from my cat.
00:24:24.536 --> 00:24:25.616
<Lisa Radosta> I want to love a cat.
00:24:26.376 --> 00:24:35.496
<Lisa Radosta> And that's a pretty easy expectation to fulfill, expecting the cat to be what some other cat was or super friendly with your friends.
00:24:35.736 --> 00:24:37.456
<Lisa Radosta> You know, this is 90-day fiance.
00:24:37.476 --> 00:24:38.316
<Lisa Radosta> You watch that show.
00:24:38.336 --> 00:24:40.276
<Lisa Radosta> My mother watches that show.
00:24:40.296 --> 00:24:41.016
<Lisa Radosta> That's what this is.
00:24:41.136 --> 00:24:46.956
<Lisa Radosta> We don't know what we're getting, and we're either going to fall in love and make this work or not.
00:24:46.976 --> 00:24:52.836
<Lisa Radosta> And so I want cat pet parents to have that open mind and be ready to fully accept who their cat is.
00:24:52.916 --> 00:24:58.956
<Lisa Radosta> And then if something is dangerous to the cat or to you, if there's something to work on, we got solutions for that, for sure.
00:24:58.976 --> 00:25:02.136
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Okay, so one other more specific thing, I think.
00:25:02.496 --> 00:25:19.436
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Every now and then, I will have a client come in with a cat that is obviously a poor match for like, for example, I had an elderly woman come in with a bingle cat, and it was some kind of, I'm not even sure it was really a bingle.
00:25:19.456 --> 00:25:23.636
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> It was some kind of wild F1 cross or something like that.
00:25:24.076 --> 00:25:31.536
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And the cat was hanging from her curtains and just a very poor match for this elderly woman.
00:25:31.556 --> 00:25:41.336
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And so do you have any advice about specific breeds of cats or specific types of cats or things that people could expect when they choose a certain cat?
00:25:41.736 --> 00:25:43.276
<Lisa Radosta> Yeah, you know, this is not just cats.
00:25:43.296 --> 00:25:45.516
<Lisa Radosta> I mean, dog people do this as well.
00:25:45.556 --> 00:25:46.316
<Lisa Radosta> People do this.
00:25:46.756 --> 00:25:47.816
<Lisa Radosta> So here's the thing.
00:25:48.176 --> 00:25:53.596
<Lisa Radosta> The thing is that if you read about a breed, sometimes you have to read between the lines.
00:25:53.616 --> 00:25:57.776
<Lisa Radosta> So before you go and get a bangle or F1 cross, call the veterinarian's office.
00:25:58.116 --> 00:26:04.496
<Lisa Radosta> Speak to maybe a nurse or the veterinarian themselves and ask about that breed.
00:26:04.516 --> 00:26:09.736
<Lisa Radosta> So there are certain breeds that I see a lot for certain things that I won't bring up, whether it be dog or cat.
00:26:10.216 --> 00:26:13.236
<Lisa Radosta> And a client called me recently and said, I want to get this breed.
00:26:13.256 --> 00:26:17.416
<Lisa Radosta> And I said, I got to tell you, I see that breed all the time for aggression.
00:26:17.436 --> 00:26:18.676
<Lisa Radosta> You just need to know that.
00:26:18.696 --> 00:26:20.296
<Lisa Radosta> You need to walk into this with open eyes.
00:26:20.316 --> 00:26:22.756
<Lisa Radosta> So use your veterinarian, okay?
00:26:22.936 --> 00:26:24.556
<Lisa Radosta> Number two, read between the lines.
00:26:24.976 --> 00:26:29.416
<Lisa Radosta> This is a one, this breed is a one person cat.
00:26:29.856 --> 00:26:39.096
<Lisa Radosta> What that means is that this is a scared breed that bonds with one person and most likely rejects other people, maybe with aggression.
00:26:39.236 --> 00:26:42.896
<Lisa Radosta> That is not the cat you want unless you plan to never have anyone at your house.
00:26:43.296 --> 00:26:48.996
<Lisa Radosta> And then also think about, yes, Bengal cats, like to just bring that up, are amazing.
00:26:48.996 --> 00:26:51.416
<Lisa Radosta> Like, wow, they're amazing.
00:26:51.956 --> 00:26:53.336
<Lisa Radosta> And what makes them amazing?
00:26:53.356 --> 00:26:54.976
<Lisa Radosta> The energy, the intelligence.
00:26:55.476 --> 00:26:57.536
<Lisa Radosta> Okay, look, I'm 53.
00:26:57.616 --> 00:27:00.776
<Lisa Radosta> I don't need any more energy or intelligence in my house.
00:27:00.816 --> 00:27:02.516
<Lisa Radosta> I like slow and dim-witted.
00:27:02.676 --> 00:27:03.656
<Lisa Radosta> That's my kind of pet.
00:27:03.956 --> 00:27:18.996
<Lisa Radosta> So even though that's really sexy to get the cool Bengal with all the energy, do you really have the wherewithal to train that cat and enrich your house to the level it takes for that cat to have a joyful life, which is our bar, right?
00:27:19.636 --> 00:27:20.396
<Lisa Radosta> You may not.
00:27:20.476 --> 00:27:21.496
<Lisa Radosta> I certainly don't.
00:27:22.016 --> 00:27:32.376
<Lisa Radosta> So really try to be realistic and try to look away from what is cool and look toward, look inward at what you need and what you can do for a pet.
00:27:33.076 --> 00:27:49.496
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> OK, first of all, you're not old, but I will say, you know, being 52, I had some stuff that I've sort of collected in my life that is sort of precious to me, and I don't want it to be torn up.
00:27:49.516 --> 00:27:53.176
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So, I mean, you know, as you get older, I have stuff.
00:27:53.516 --> 00:28:02.756
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So, the cat hanging from my draperies might not work super well, and it didn't work for her, and my biggest concern was her safety.
00:28:03.096 --> 00:28:04.756
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So, that didn't work out.
00:28:04.796 --> 00:28:09.796
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So, I'm glad that you were encouraging people to ask their veterinarian, do a little research.
00:28:09.816 --> 00:28:18.436
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I mean, even if you're adopting a dog, which, oh my gosh, this is a cat show, but even if you're adopting a dog, ask around, communicate, do a little research.
00:28:18.996 --> 00:28:23.436
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> You can find out information to help you have a happily forever after.
00:28:24.596 --> 00:28:25.236
<Lisa Radosta> Absolutely.
00:28:25.496 --> 00:28:27.536
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Well, it has been really, really good.
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<Dr. Kathryn Primm> We're just about out of time, but I think we covered some important stuff today.
00:28:31.556 --> 00:28:32.516
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Thank you so much.
00:28:33.136 --> 00:28:34.416
<Lisa Radosta> Thank you for having me.
00:28:34.436 --> 00:28:36.796
<Lisa Radosta> Thank you for always highlighting behavior.
00:28:36.816 --> 00:28:40.016
<Lisa Radosta> You know, your pet's not well if they're not emotionally well.
00:28:40.576 --> 00:28:41.436
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Absolutely.
00:28:41.616 --> 00:28:42.316
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Absolutely.
00:28:42.456 --> 00:28:47.496
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And bring your cats to the vet, even if the cat is acting completely healthy.
00:28:48.256 --> 00:28:48.396
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Dr.
00:28:48.416 --> 00:28:52.136
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Radosta and I are here to say it is so important.
00:28:52.156 --> 00:28:53.116
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I'm a tester too.
00:28:53.136 --> 00:28:56.756
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I like to test things because I don't want to be blindsided by something.
00:28:57.096 --> 00:29:07.876
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> So even if your cat is acting completely normal, have a relationship with your vet, have that kind of relationship where you could call up and say, hey, I'm looking at adopting a certain type of cat.
00:29:07.896 --> 00:29:08.736
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> And what do you think?
00:29:09.096 --> 00:29:11.776
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Because relationships are really why I do this.
00:29:11.796 --> 00:29:12.476
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> I'm sure Dr.
00:29:12.496 --> 00:29:17.596
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Radosta would agree that making the relationships with the pets and the people is super fun.
00:29:17.696 --> 00:29:19.516
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> It's what makes our job the best.
00:29:19.856 --> 00:29:21.276
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Well, thank you so much.
00:29:21.476 --> 00:29:22.756
<Lisa Radosta> Thank you again for having me.
00:29:23.296 --> 00:29:30.036
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Also, thank you to the amazing producer, Mark Winter, and to my also amazing audience.
00:29:30.236 --> 00:29:32.856
<Dr. Kathryn Primm> Go out and have a perfect day.
00:29:34.816 --> 00:29:36.276
<Announcer> Every week on demand.
00:29:36.816 --> 00:29:39.376
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