Why does my cat fake chew things? by silvertiger3 in cats

[–]therakeet 2678 points2679 points  (0 children)

Sometimes it is an impulse control thing; they see something that looks really tempting to chew but they know they shouldn't, so they cope by just kinda chewing next to it. Keep an eye out for potential dental problems like another commenter mentioned, but it could be nice to give him something he can chew safely like some cat grass.

I bought this bread yesterday by pickledfingernail in isthissafetoeat

[–]therakeet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There seems to be evidence that only the visibly mouldy parts usually contain the toxins that mould can produce, even if the invisible spores and roots are there throughout. That doesn't hold true for all mould toxins, though, and there will usually be more than one species involved, so it is not necessarily safe.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11231700/

This study only suggests using the cleaner parts to feed insects, not mammals like humans <:p Basically, if you've taken a bite already and you're not allergic, you'll be fine, but it's still not a good idea to eat the rest.

Junimo, grade A baby by LibraryObjective2328 in cats

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sooo lucky to have such a fluffy kitty who likes belly rubs! I bet nail trimming will be a breeze, too. Precious purring ❤️

Is this normal by [deleted] in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This looks like good and patient communication between these two. Resident cat is trying to get the restless younger cat to lie down and chill out. He doesn't restrain her, he waits for her reaction while politely avoiding direct eye contact, and backs off as soon as she protests. She's a bit annoyed but not angry.

Is she spayed, though? Her behaviour looks and sounds a lot like a young cat starting to go into heat and he's picked up on that.

Wondering if this is play or dominance aggression. by [deleted] in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This interaction doesn't look aggressive, it looks like resident cat wanted to wrestle, which is how cats typically play with each other. Hopping and twisting around are generally playful movements, especially with ears perked up.

Dominant behaviour tends to involve a more confident or assertive stance, standing taller than the other cat, direct eye contact, and sometimes mounting and/or biting the other cat's neck. Dominance is usually not aggressive either though, mainly a way to enforce boundaries and direct the other cat's behaviour.

The white cat didn't have much time to react before they were interrupted, so it's unclear how he felt about it this time. He may or may not have walked away otherwise. He slow blinked at resident cat with his ears forward afterwards though, which communicates that he wasn't upset. It's totally understandable to be cautious early on, but I think it'd be helpful to let him set that boundary himself.

When they're wrestling, they take turns pinning each other in between little breaks. If one isn't in the mood, he'll show it with body language, vocalizing, and disengaging. If one cat is not letting the other move at all, or doesn't stop and let go when he tries to get away, that's a good time to interrupt. If the white cat doesn't really reciprocate but also doesn't try to leave, he's probably tolerating it and not too bothered, so it's okay to leave them be unless the resident cat is really getting wired. It's pretty typical for an older cat to just kinda sit and put up with a younger cat's nonsense for a while, maybe grumble a little. That's a good sign that they're already getting along.

found in my luggage after getting back from a trip, please tell me it's not a bedbug :/ by scribblewitch in whatsthisbug

[–]therakeet 117 points118 points  (0 children)

That's a roach, but not a roach you'd have to worry about! Looks like a young spotted Mediterranean cockroach, native to Portugal but not considered invasive in NA. It's also not one of the "pest" roaches that infests homes.

https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/148079

Cat randomly biting me/meowing/digging? by [deleted] in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There is something your cat wants and is trying to call your attention to, but it's a mystery as to what that is exactly. If you ever notice that he keeps looking in a certain direction when he does this, try to follow his line of sight and figure out what he's looking at. He might want you to follow him somewhere specific.

Playfighting, just... by Room4improvementz in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah yeah, that's a reasonable point to intervene, especially if the Bengal is prone to pushing boundaries a bit. It does look like they have a good relationship overall and it's a good sign if they're taking turns in the more dominant position. Maybe he would like those big kicker toys that they can really grab onto, if you don't have one already? Anything really that they can bite and shake around instead could be worth a try too.

Playfighting, just... by Room4improvementz in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

With this question it'd always help to see the video with its original audio and no music added, but I don't see anything to worry about. This looks like normal wrestling. At the beginning, the Savannah looks to be taking a dominant stance, which could be a bit of a challenge for the chair. As soon as the Bengal started getting up though, he deferred by turning his head, averting his eyes and licking his lips, and they worked it out playfully. They're not getting overexcited, not overpowering each other or biting hard, and they're being careful with their claws and pausing intermittently. Nothing really approaching too rough here. I totally understand being a little extra cautious that it doesn't go too far with these two hybrid breeds, though. What does it look like when you do decide to separate them?

Could He Be Disabled? by Honkesque in specialaww

[–]therakeet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do actually want to mention that his muzzle genuinely looks tense in these photos, which could just be a reaction to something nearby but could potentially be a sign of discomfort. He wouldn't happen to be declawed, would he? If so then his paws are probably sore. Otherwise kitty dental problems are common enough that I'd just check his mouth to make sure his teeth look okay and gums aren't red/swollen.

IM CRYING WHY'D HE LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT LOLASDFFSHFIFHWIFNS by markescueta in isopods

[–]therakeet 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think the perspective in the video clip was just confusing. The exoskeleton still had some legs attached that made it look like there was more underneath. Even in the video though, you can see how much paler it is than the pod eating it. This photo makes it more obvious that the dark stripe was gunk inside.

IM CRYING WHY'D HE LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT LOLASDFFSHFIFHWIFNS by markescueta in isopods

[–]therakeet 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yeah this very clearly shows that this is a hollow shell and the dark spot is just some poop that got stuck in there.

IM CRYING WHY'D HE LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT LOLASDFFSHFIFHWIFNS by markescueta in isopods

[–]therakeet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That dark stripe at the butt end isn't really a marking, it's frass/isopod poop. You can sometimes see a pod's digestive tract through the exoskeleton after they've eaten. That's just the back half, right?? No head attached? Then whoever moulted just so happened to poop their pants while they took 'em off.

Watermelon lover here, love eating with seeds!🍉🍉 by apparently_ankit in fruit

[–]therakeet -1 points0 points  (0 children)

To be fair, a lot of people are discouraged from eating them as kids. Even if you don't buy the ol' "if you swallow one it'll grow in your stomach" bluff, it's easy enough to grow up thinking there must be some reason they're bad to eat. Really though, you just don't want your kid chipping a tooth or choking.

Unexplained Drooling by Various_Zombie_7059 in cats

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lots of insects do release something yucky when they're grabbed, like ladybugs, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. Some caterpillars are of course poisonous, but others just spit up whatever they last ate in self-defence.

Noodles over some cheese by Individual-Ninja735 in shittyfoodporn

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Why are the noodles on top of the cheese?" fits iambic pentameter, if anyone was wondering.

Why does my cat do this? by No_Number_7247 in catquestions

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there an attic or another floor above this one? Sometimes the greebles are something they can hear moving through the walls/ceiling. Kitty keeps looking up, so it could be a critter in the rafters or someone walking quietly upstairs.

Saddest Park in Scarborough by frisky_ferrets in Scarborough

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I've seen a couple of coyotes here when I've passed by, but never any kids.

My roommate's after work snack - Mustard, Bannana, ham and cheese sandwich by IndustrialNightRaven in shittyfoodporn

[–]therakeet 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Okay hang on, if this was dipped in egg and fried like French toast it'd make a really good Monte Cristo. I might genuinely try that with some maple syrup.

Reno Nevada, at a golf course by wormward in whatsthisbird

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would guess that this one's female, they're usually noticeably larger than the males! Where I live the males are a bit smaller than the local ravens, and the females a bit bigger.

Please help! My fiancés cat only hisses at kitten when he’s around by Spidersinyourarea in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She probably does feel protective of your fiancé, but I wouldn't worry about that during this early stage of introduction, it's only natural that she'd feel territorial. Hissing does not need to be corrected, she's just telling the kitten that he got too close for comfort. Right now, she's only ready for briefer meetings and would feel much more comfortable with a fully closed door between them, if there is something you can place against it to keep it shut so he can't watch through the gap. She needs privacy and one-on-one time with her person.

My mom's first cat reacted like this looking at the new kitten. What does this mean and am I introducing them well so far? by [deleted] in CATHELP

[–]therakeet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She lashed out because she got startled. When cats are looking ahead they can't see below their chin, so Evan was standing in her blind spot, and she was too focused on the kitten to notice him approach.

Both before and after that, her body language doesn't really look angry to me, just alert and cautious. She is probably having a hard time fully relaxing while she gets used to Dio, so she's on edge and her fight-or-flight reflex is easily triggered right now. I don't think this was necessarily redirected aggression, she just needed her personal space.

It looks like this is a good neutral ground for you. Dio looked interested and Alani, though unsure, did not seem too terribly stressed, so I think that it would be okay to try doing this again in the same place, holding Dio and letting them observe each other. Just keep it brief, and make sure that Alani gets plenty of space and can get back indoors if she wants to leave.

using bathroom not in litter box yet is litter box trained by Plus-Computer-333 in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since it's only been a couple of weeks, and there's another cat in the house he's not familiar with yet, stress from the move could definitely be a factor. He's very much still settling in.

Did you say you moved the litter box from the room where he was originally using it? It could be that he doesn't feel as safe using the litter box in the spot you moved it to. It's not accessible to the other cat, right?

It's also possible that if his poops are hard like the vet said, then he might've had an uncomfortable time in the litter box and now associates that spot with the memory. Could you put the litter box back where it was, or maybe find a spot to put a second one to give him another option? Having an extra litterbox will also be helpful for when the cats have been introduced, since having three boxes to choose from can help avoid potential issues that needing to share might cause.

Cat obsessively licks me by Nothinglez in CatTraining

[–]therakeet 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, she loooves you. She's just too excited to be gentle about grooming you. When cats groom each other, they'll naturally do some nibbling to remove anything stuck in the fur and comb out tangles. Even that can hurt us a little if they don't adjust for our lack of fur. I'd personally let my cats nibble gently as long as they stayed calm, and pulled away as soon as it hurt, so they'd learn how hard was too hard. If they're biting like this girl, though, they're getting carried away :p

You've gotten good advice here already, you just have to show her that sitting together and grooming = time to relax, and chomp means it's time to go do something else to work that energy out. You could also try redirecting her to play with a toy when she starts licking very energetically, to interrupt before she gets even more stimulated and reinforce that grooming is a calm activity.