Ever since I made a video on how to pick up cats comfortably, people have been asking me why their particular cat does not like being picked up. Here is my answer.
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In Vancouver, BC? You can meet Dr. Uri and his team at:
Arbutus West Animal Clinic - www.awac.ca
Vancouver East Veterinary Clinic - www.vancouvereast.vet
Acadia Veterinary Clinic - www.acadiavetclinic.ca/
"They are vicious, wild predators" he says, patting Mr. Pirate's bum...
It happens at 0:53, for those searching
Wild vicious predators but not stupid. When you want a butt scratch you use the humans to your advantage.
@@dhiegov thanks for the time stamp
I would die for that bum on that shoulder.
This is completely true though, lol. I had a cat whom I loved, and cared for his entire life. But it was less lile having a cuddly pet, and more like I had an agoraphobic wild animal trapped in my house.
The Bob Ross of cats
Perfect description xD
You finally verbalized the vibe I was trying to put into words!
"I raised him from when he was a week old, I bottle fed him" Finally we've unlocked Mr Pirate's backstory !!
Not the whole story! I’ll be making that video shortly :-).
@@HelpfulVancouverVet Can't wait to hear it and Clawdia's too!
I want to know the story! :)
@@HelpfulVancouverVet Nice ! can't wait to learn more about this beautiful boy !
Helpful Vancouver Vet Any chance of doing a video on how to care for newborn cats? Or is there a video out there already? I Love your videos!
Mr. Pirate rubbing on the mic is the greatest unplanned audio "issue"
we get to hear the flUFFY TUM TUMS
The only problem I wanna have
My poor old kitty - gone over 20 years now - had arthritis in her hips and thyroid cancer. She WANTED to be picked up and comforted. Unfortunately, the poor thing was in such poor shape that I couldn't pick her up without hurting her. It was heartbreaking. Instead, when she'd come looking for me, I'd sit on the floor for her and let her crawl into my lap, so she'd still have the contact and I wouldn't have to worry about hurting my sweet girl. I still love her and miss her to this day.
Bottle feeding a cat- now that's a quality I'm looking for in a man
Right?
I have bottle fed three of my cats. Latest one is a big, sweet boy who loves to lay on my chest and bite my knuckles. And steal things.
I bottle fed one of my cats when she was a kitten and now she is my shadow, she follows me everywhere and demands my attention whenever she is not cat napping. We've been best friends for 10 years. Her brother did not need to be bottle fed as a kitten. He loves me in his own way, often from a safe distance.
Love how he does almost an entire video with a cat chillin on his shoulder
The funniest thing being how he puts the cat down and it insists on going back onto the shoulder :D
I know! Mr. Pirate is adorable!
Pirate: *looks over shoulder* "That's right, I'm a vicious predator." *goes back to hanging out* Can we get some Mr. Pirate fan club merch? Because I'm ready to be the president of that club.
A tee shirt with his back legs and tail outlined would be great. Also 'squish that cat' done Warhol style
Or where there the image of mr pirate (cartoon) draped over the shoulder
“I raised him, I'm basically his mother” 😂
I think Mr. Pirate wants to be a parrot
Maybe he was a parrot in his past life.
I rarely comment on videos but I have a story to share that might benefit people: I started feeding my older boy outside my house when he was around 5 years old. He was a feral tomcat, a very strong boy terribly afraid of humans and his eye was painful because of entropion. It took me MONTHS, literally months to finally get to touch him while he was eating. For many more months he would just jump when I touched him but he kept coming back for the food and started tolerating me more and more. One day he completely dissappeared for a week and returned home a walking shadow, just skin and bones, barely able to walk. I took him to the vet and I had to force feed him for a while to get him back to normal, which caused quite a few deep and painful injuries. Slowly and surely his trust grew, he knew I was his friend and three years later, today, he is the most cuddly and trusting cat I could ever ask for. I can lift him, squeeze him, kiss him and he never takes his claws out or attacks. It may take time but even older feral cats can put their trust in you, so if a cat you took off the street isn't immediately tame, don't give up on them.
We took our girl when she's been about 1-2 years old. She lived in the street and she liked being petted a bit, especially if people gave her food, but she never liked to be picked up or carried, or sit in one's lap. She'd jump off immediately. Now, 1,5 years of living with my mom (and sometimes I, when I visit mom for a couple of weeks) later, she loves being petted. And she can even stay in my mom's lap for a couple of minutes, albeit she still runs away pretty quickly. I guess, that's just her personal preference
That's a great story & you're a wonderful person for the care & patience that you showed your cat. Now you're being rewarded with the most pure & unconditional love. I took in a stray who was not feral, she was friendly right off the bat & roughly 7 or 8 years old. I've had her over 5 years & she has become even sweeter, cuddlier, & more tolerant than she was in the first place. I think when we show them love & affection, most cats tend to reciprocate.
I love it when that happens. We had a little cat come around for awhile that wouldn't come close. She was so skinny it looked like she had parallel lumps down her spine. She was limping and just a mess in general. Finally, one day, she sat outside and called to us and let us go out and pick her up. This after a couple weeks of disappearing at the sight of us. The vet said that if she had waited one more day she would have lost her foot. She was so timid and scared of us during her recovery I had no idea if she would stay when she was well, but she did. She became so feisty and assertive that I ended up naming her Dagny because she always knew how to get what she wanted.
I can tell the same story of my stray Tom, who is now a great cuddleboy since he is neutered, I had to wait for him 6 month, he was feral but comes to eat... he is coming a long way, but I love him so much... and all my scratches are healed. 😻❤Tina from Germany (so please be patient for my bad grammar)
@@krisniznik3953 this is a nice story... I'm sure she loves you... 😻
Well it's obvious that Dr. Uri reads his comment section. Everyone asked that he let Mr. Pirate hang out on his shoulder and he did.
"I'm here with Mr Pirate..." You mean Mr Pirate Butt.
I hope this video definitely helps someone. My cat was a cuddlebug to the point of driving me crazy. He slowly got more angry and didn't want to be picked up or moved. Finally after taking him to the vet he had pillow paw disease, which I had never heard of. After antibiotics and a steroid, he was back to climbing all over me and purring in my ears every time I sat still. Pain is no joke for anyone, human or pet.
My cat has been raised to be around humans ever since he was born, and he was such a sweetheart while he was with his siblings and brothers, but once I brought him home he slowly started to become less "cuddly". He still purred and liked to be petted but never rubbed on me or wanted me to hold him, I suspect one of the reasons is that my little dog is just jelaous because he's younger than him and always starts jumping on him and being annoying every time he sees him near me.
@@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge Something to note, purring can actually be a sign of a cat in chronic pain. It can be a sign of happiness but it is also used my cats to sooth and help with healing. If you notice your cat purring a lot when not receiving attention, it could be a very content kitty or one that is "quietly" suffering.
Thanks for sharing....this is educational...
@@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge You are right. I have two small dogs in the house and I decided to make my small office her "safe room". No dogs allowed and she has favorite toys and two snuggly beds. I also have cat music playing on youtube for her. What a difference this has made.
My cat only wants petted when she wants. She won't sit on my lap ...ever. Is there any way to earn her affection
I love how he just climbs onto your shoulder.
Isn't that what birds do? 😁
TheLeadhound, my ex H used to drink his morning coffee with MY cat over his shoulder, patting her butt as if he was burping a baby. By the time she was 4 yo I couldn't hold her in my arms, up & over the shoulder. ..hands free on my part.
Mr pirate might be the most adorable cat I’ve ever seen.
Yes, he & Bailey are 2 of my favorite KZhead cats.
While I loved my mom's cat that would come when it was called and my brother's cat that would give great hugs my current cat is special too because he is the first cat I know of that will sleep inches from my face. He used to sleep with his paws on my face but he woke me up too many times so now I don't let him do that.
Does anyone else have to watch the videos twice? First because you didn't pay attention to anything but the cuteness of Pirate, second time to actually get the info that Dr Uri is conveying?
Yes!!
Nope. I just watched the cat and pretend to understand everything. ignorance is bliss :D
True
I watch it more than once to experience the cuteness over and over again
I have the opposite problem... I hand raised my kitty and he's obsessed with me. Not just occasional snuggles. Actual genuinely obsessed. If I'm in the room he MUST be held, sitting on my lap, rubbing up against me, etc. It's sweet, but it is becoming too much. He is too close when I'm eating or doing other things, and his brother likes to snuggle with me as well, but is crowded out. Sweet loving kitty is taking over my life with his clinginess.
That is known to happen with hand raised cats. It is important to set boundaries, and if you are more consistent in creating space than your cat is persistent in invading it, eventually you’ll find a happy medium.
I have the same thing with one of my girls! On one hand, coming home and hearing her meow and rush up to me is one of the best things ever. On the other, when I leave and hear her upset howling, my heart breaks. (She's also blind, so sometimes she THINKS she's alone and howls, and then I just call her and she remembers we never left.)
@@HelpfulVancouverVet Thank you. I feel bad, it's hard to deny a cat what they want, but we'll get it figured out.
That's what my elderly Siamese Mixa is like, too. She's the clingiest and gets upset if you try to move when she's napping on you. She wasn't hand-raised but she still turned out very, very needy.
@@alyssam8550I hope you don't mind me butting in, but I've been in your shoes, so maybe this helps you: When it feels bad, remember that you are doing what a mama cat would be doing in natural circumstances. You are helping your cat grow up. It doesn't feel good, but it is an important part of any young animal's or humans development. Good luck.
03:18 "Hey sweetheart, you wanna be on shoulder? Hang out on the table a little longer ok? " The way Mr. Pirate responded, it was like he understood 😍😍😍 He was like, "yeah ok dad. As you wish" so wholesome. You're amazing Dr. Burstyn!! So is Mr. Pirate 😍😍
I always watch this with my cat.
is it bad if my cat squish me? my cat suddenly like to climb the sofa and squish my abdomen with her cuddly paws.
I suspect you'll live. If not, make sure you leave a provision in your will for your cat :-).
While I absolutely understand people being sad that they can't touch a cat or they have a cat who just doesn't like people a lot, I absolutely can't stand people who call those kinds of cats jerks. Nobody's a jerk for wanting to be left alone, and since cats can't say "please leave me alone", they have to show it by ignoring you, walking away, and yes maybe hiss or swipe at you if you refuse to take other hints and still try to touch them. That's justified, I'd get angry at someone if they tried to touch me after I've told them to leave me alone.
My approach to a cat who doesn't want to be held is ..... don't try to hold the cat! Respect their wishes. I just hold my hand near their face so they can sniff it and if they want to be petted, they will bump up against the hand. Often cats who don't like being held or in laps will nevertheless stick close to me in bed, usually on the bed but sometimes right next to it. Their choice. They also may just hang out close by while I'm working. So they like being with me, they just are too sensitive to touch and need to be in control. With cats who are older when they arrive, it really seems that some idiot human hurt them at one point. One cat when I was a kid would get terrified in the car and lose bladder control. We think he was tossed out of a car when he was about a year old and wandered up to our house. He was cuddly though, especially with my mother. He was so tough that when the neighborhood German Shepherd was ambling along the sidewalk, he would carefully detour into the street when he came to our house and come back onto the sidewalk only when he was past it. Our cat wasn't very big, and it seemed as though he just psyched out the dogs and cats. Hardly ever had a scratch on him.
Spot on mate. We adopted a Russian Blue three years ago because he was dumped for being aggressive and dangerous around children. Took him to the vet to get his teeth sorted out and now he is a very happy and friendly indoor cat living happily with three other rescue cats.
My little old cat had next to no teeth when we got her. She would be petted and cuddled fine, she was always a nice cat, but she had a tendency to become irritable. Then when one of her remaining teeth went, she became the sweetest little thing. As soon as the issue of chronic pain came up in this video, I knew teeth would get a mention!
Pirate's furry butt steals the show
This channel is just such a beautiful part of youtube
Two years ago I've been working on Danish island of Bornholm. One of my jobs was to paint roof on a building on very old, and really nice farm. Owner was already retired and only animals there were chickens and cats. At the moment three adult ones and two 3 months old kittens. Siblings from one mother. Both almost completely white :-) Same mother, same food, same enviroment. One was just in love with humans, always trying to climb on my shoulder whenever I was standing still for longer than 30 seconds. Other one - just impossible to catch. They where always together, but this second one was waiting only for my lunch ;-)
Just like human kids. Some are very sweet & others are more ornery than heck, even siblings raised in the same family. Sometimes nature wins out over nurture.
Every home needs a cat like mr pirate. No stress left at all.
I had one and can confirm it was the best
I love when mr pirate is on his shoulder, and the two little white feet are just hanging there 😂
When I was little and saw a cat on the street I'd get upset if they ran away from me. As a child I couldn't help but take it personally. But now as an adult, I think it's in those cat's best interest to be afraid of humans. There are a lot of mean people out there that hate cats, and that see them as pests or vermin.
I love it when I am out for a walk and I see a cat... I blink slowly at them and if they blink back I feel like I hit the lottery! No need to pet every kitty. But cat diplomacy is quite fun to try!
So cute how he sits up on your shoulder.
That little paw trying to touch his other shoulder!😍😍😍
"They are vicious wild predators who choose to live with us" and we are lucky they do :) They are adorable little killers. Mr. Pirate especially. I love how he decided to spend most of the video on your shoulder - he is such a sweetheart.
"Right now he's communicating he wants to be up on my shoulder"
Kinda want to see how Mr. Pirate looks like from his front when he's on the shoulder
The way Mr. Pirate looks at you with such love and adoration is precious. Thank you. ❤️😻
Omg Mr Pirate’s little leg hanging off your chest!
Mr. Pirate is one handsome dude! Look at that face!
It is nearly perfectly bilaterally symmetrical.
"I command you to hold me, hooman!" -Mr. Pirate
I’m constantly on this channel not only for the great and useful videos but also for the comments section, I love reading about cats all over the world. I’m currently working in another country and had to leave my cat behind with my mom, I miss her every single day and watching your videos for some reason relax me and make me less lonely :’)
Honestly, I love the comments too. One of my favourite things about having a KZhead channel is all the people sharing their love of animals.
I care for a feral colony and I have all kinds of kitties. Some aren’t particularly feral (at least with me), some have never been a fan of being touched and some took years to build that trust. I think one of my guys took probably five years and then one day he just started letting me pet him. ❤️
I don’t know why but I love Mr. Pirate’s face and his facial expressions; he always just looks slightly bewildered 😂
I have had my cat Solo since he was a feral kitten. He wasn't afraid of humans, but he was definitely uncomfortable with being touched. I'd put him on my lap and his facial expression was like "Um. This is awkward" and would immediately jump off. If I pet him he nipped and glared at me. One of my greatest joys has been learning his personality over the past ten years. Now he's my little soulmate. He's really good at boundaries and I've learned so much from him! After a few years he started initiating lap sessions. They started at about thirty seconds, worked up to thirty minutes, and now he will sit on me for an hour or two. He seems to get too warm or just need space. He enjoys scritches but I have to be mindful when I'm petting him or he will get irritated. So he sits on my lap, asks for scritches, and then nips me when he's had enough and I stop. He didn't used to like to be held, but I would pick him up periodically and put him down when he asked. He let me hold him for longer and longer, and now he does this thing where he meows up at me (usually he wants a treat but sometimes he wants me to pick him up) and I hold him and he rubs his face on my face and leans into me really hard. It's the sweetest thing. Earning his love has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I will be devastated when he goes. Many of my friends just wrote him off immediately as mean, so I've made it my mission to help them understand him and cats like him. He in particular, doesn't want guests to leave him alone. He wants to have his own human chair and watch the conversation. He wants to be praised for his beauty and he wants respect, and he feels disrespected if he's touched by someone he doesn't know very well. He also thinks he's the sheriff and swaggers around making sure everything is in order. He gets tired when I throw parties because he feels like he has to stay alert and know what's going on at all times. Occasionally I'll catch his eye and he'll give me this "what the hell is going on here?!" expression and I die laughing. He is the best cat I've ever had.
My favourite KZheadr!
Thank you -Mr. P
And mine! :)
@@HelpfulVancouverVet Your sense of humor is as great as your personality!
Mr. Pirate, the archetypal shoulder cat.
My cat isn't really the cuddliest cat, he's very shy around people and in general get startled very easily so he keeps his distance.(He always been that way, even as a kitten) But there are always the special moments where he hangs out with me and we have a great time, this always feels like I've won in life. He may not be the cuddle buddy I wanted but I love him with my whole heart and wouldn't want him to change. This video was amazing and I can imagine that many people can learn from this💖💖 I can't wait for part 2!
Is this just me that every time I go through depression I click one of your video and feel so warm and calm that make me cry instantly and feeling better after? Air hugs to Mr. Pirate and Dr. Uri ❤️
i wish someone would look at me the way mr. pirate looks at dr. uri’s shoulder 😂
Professional Cat Squisher.
Mr. Pirate looked so disappointed when he had to get down!
Yo mr pirate is so funny. He’s just lying on his shoulder 😂 ❤️
U can't touch this, cos kitty listens to MC Hammer!
2:30 One does not simply pet a cat without kissing it on the head :D
Great video! One thing I'd like to add though is that a lot of people just don't communicate very well with cats because (due to them not being domesticated) their body language and behaviour is very different from ours. So those people miss warning signs and unknowingly waltz right into a cat's personal space, causing it to either withdraw from the situation or react aggressively. If this happens continuously, the cat will eventually learn that behaviour and apply it whenever it is approached. I've come across a lot of cats like that (I volunteer at a shelter) and it's quite amazing how they start to open up when you make an effort to respect their boundaries and agency.
Yes! This! I don't consider myself to be an expert in cat communication by far but I'm always so surprised when the people around me, even the cat lovers, just seem to be unable to interpret some signs that are quite "obvious" if you've done a tiny bit of reading or even watched a couple videos on youtube.
That's an excellent point! Would you mind pointing me to some resources about personal space and mistakes to avoid? A kitten just came into my life and I want to educate myself as well as I possibly can
Inda Co: This is a really important point. Cats are communicating all the time, but we have to know how to read the signs. It's best to let cats initiate and control their contact with people. They definitely respond to respect and patience on our part.
@@monstertrucks4all909 A google search of "cat body language" will give you more details, but in general terms you want to be paying attention to the ears (forward = happy, back = unhappy), the tail (lots of different ways they communicate with that), and the eyes (half/fully-closed = feeling safe). When you're getting to know one another, let the cat set the ground rules (e.g. pet once, stop and wait to see what the cat does in response). Also: just because you can see the belly, doesn't mean you should touch the belly; it's a gesture of trust, not necessarily an invitation. Be patient and try to enjoy the process of getting to know the new kitten in your life as an individual, with their own needs and preferences.
Yes, I fully agree. Sometimes cats are being raised by jerks, not that the cats are jerks. Especially households with little kids who aren't supervised around the cats & they're terrorized by the kids or with overly rambunctious dogs who won't leave the cats alone.. That usually makes for a skittish cat. Some cats can be easily annoyed & spooked. I usually try to interact with my cat on her terms & watch for cues as to whether she wants to be petted, cuddled, or just left alone to sleep. Jackson Galaxy usually has pretty good info about cat behavior. Also, Googling to get info about cats can be very helpful. There are a few websites that I've used that are really informative.
Cats by nature are very guarded about showing any pain they might be experiencing because in the wild outwardly telegraphing injury or sickness makes them a prime target for other larger predators. People have to be conscientious of this possibility when dealing with a very sensitive and irritable cat, and not jump to the uncharitable conclusion that the cat is merely mean and angry by nature.
I see Mr Pirate is happy to be on your shoulder 😂
Mr Pirate is the cutest cat on the internet. And the way he was staring at his owner 😻 he had love in his eyes. So cute
Mr.Pirate is not only a solid, but liquid on your shoulder
would you ever do a video about cat obesity and weight loss? ive just adopted a beautiful black cat from a shelter, she is severly obese and has bad dry skin.. i think i know how to help her after doing some extensive reserche on cat nutrition but i think it would make a great video
Would be a great topic. I just recently got a pretty chuby cat and I would realy want to know how to help her loose the weight.
How old? That's a big factor.
Hey you mentioned obesity and dry skin, I wonder if they are related to one another since one of my cats has similar issues. She is pretty obese and has dry, flaky skin mainly on her back - I don't think I am overfeeding since the other cats are not obese. The slightest touch on her back or sides makes her skin ripple heavily and she immediately starts obsessively licking her paw or trying to lick her back. Now she is missing fur on her sides and base of her tail from the constant obsessive grooming on these areas likely due to the irritation. I tried to get a vet to look at her and she seems to not know what to say about it. She just says the cat is probably stressed out, which could explain the constant licking. But problem is she behaves like her skin is absolutely itchy if touched on her back. Vet also said we are over feeding her, but again I don't think we are since the other cats are normal weight and we feed them together - and the only one who eats a lot is the male, healthy weight. I tried to do some research but am not getting much of a definitive answer. A few resources suggest it's a neurological issue or something, but again she really behaves like her skin is itching badly, and along her back her skin is a little flaky. And again she's obese. Anyone else have had this issue with their cat? Especially both obesity and dry/irritated skin at the same time?
I'm sure you've already done lots of reading, but until we get a video, some tips I picked up were to hide small bits of food (like one meal's worth) in various places, so your cat has to go hunting for morsels rather than eating all at once at the food dish. Also, they make those treat balls where they get some activity as well as a bite here and there! Jackson Galaxy would say to make sure you're playing with your kitty every day, but in my case, my cat gets bored after like 2 minutes. He's lazy like me. :P I'm by no means an expert, and my cat has gotten a bit chubby since he's getting older and doesn't have as much space to run around. But at least they're some starting ideas!
First i would advise you to make a appointment with your local vet. He/she can asses if the cat is healthy besides the obesity and dry skin there is more behind it or not. I don't know if he/she is a indoor, indoor/outdoor or only a outdoor cat. But in general you want to give the cat minimal food. For a outdoor or indoor/outdoor cat you could give them even less (just enough that they don't starve to death) so that they might need to hunt for additional food. That is a great way to both be active and it uses the cat's natural instinct's. If you have a indoor only cat you will need to help the cat get his or here needed exercise. Playing with the cat helps and is also good for the bonding between you and the cat. If food motivates them make sure they have to work to get there food. Food puzzels of food toys are a good way to do so. (Don't give them food in a bowl. they might eat to fast.) For the dry skin if it is only dry you could give the cat fish oil or sheeps fat. add it to there food or water (most cats love it). It works very well for there skin and fur to become shiny. if that isn't enough you could ask the vet for a beter diet to combat both problems at once.
The cat is in love with this man.
Mr. Pirate is very pear shaped.
Thank you as always for the hepful info! its really sad to think that one might be miscategorizing a cat as a jerk when in reality the poor fluffy ball is only in pain ): gotta be careful!
When he kisses Mr. Pirate’s forehead! ❤️
Thank u very much! And much love from me and am happy cat from Russia😺
Mr. Pirate causing static by covering the mic with his tummy is the sweetest fuckin thing ever
That kitty wanting to be on your shoulder was so precious to watch. Mr. Pirate is clearly very fond of you!
Mr Pirate's fat ass on your shoulder is too funny 😂
2:30 i love how mr.pirate basically leaned the top of his head towards him cuz he know and he's waiting for the kiss at the top of his head anxjacnjchcascja so precious
Not to be dramatic or anything, but I would sell my soul to Mister Pirate.
I highly recommend buying the Squish the Cat merchandise that is made by this channel! It is a great way to support the channel, the shirts are fairly priced, high quality, and the graphic design on it is well done and adorable. I got a Squish the Cat shirt for my husband for Christmas and he loves it.
Thank you for the plug!
@@HelpfulVancouverVet No problem! I love supporting good content. Your videos made it easier to learn how to hold and love on my own cats.
Mr. Pirate is absolutely too cute! I love that he cuddles on your shoulder.
He understands what you say to him!
I remember this british documentary had a bit with a guy who had barn cats - they trusted him with kittens, but were mostly wild - when he had enough barn cats and needed to adopt out some kittens, he'd start handling them from birth to get them used to/friendly with people. They talked to one couple that got one of those kittens and he'd grown up into a lazy, loving lapcat. Neat how much early interaction can help.
i couldn’t help but pressed the like button when he called his cat “sweetheart”, and asked him to be patient :D true cat lover :D
Lovely chubby Mr. Pirate!! 😂❤️
I love your (cat) videos! The 10-20% statistic was very interesting. I've rescued and kept several ferals that were in the 5-6 month age range when I trapped them. Watching them release their fears and accept me and other humans over time took years in some cases (and the one I have now may not ever allow ANOTHER human to willingly touch him). But the most puzzling cat I've had is my Willow who is now 5. I got her at 7 months from a shelter and I know that she is socialized to humans, but from the beginning she never wanted to be picked up or cuddled - but she would sit or sleep near me most of the time. Her behavior (after a lifetime with cats) has been the most difficult for me to understand and I just have done my best to accept her on HER terms - she is clearly in that 10-20%. She is now 5 and just in the last year has started to "relax" more and sometimes climb in my lap but almost always with body language that says she is not 100% sure it is ok to do that - I've often wondered what her beginnings were like - it doesn't seem like she was feral, but maybe she had a mother who was. Anyway, we're on a journey together (as I am with Leo - my feline leprosy survivor and former feral who is still spooked by other humans but is otherwise my kitty love slave - pretty sure I'm his surrogate mom because I fed him when he was starving). Keep the great videos coming!
Aw your kitties seem really sweet! My cat was like Willow. She really enjoyed being in the same room as me but didn't really want to be picked up or cuddled very much, except for the occasional scritches (and brushing which she loved). In her 10th year I got to spend a couple of weeks completely alone in the house with her and after that she would stay on my legs and purr until I fell asleep for a while. Unfortunately she got sick soon after that and, as mentioned in the video, that made her stay further away from humans.
My cat initially couldn't stand being picked up (got her a bit over 2 years ago from a shelter, estimated age then 1.5-2 years), but after about a year it was gradually somewhat tolerated... when in the right mood (as long as I supported both front and rear legs at the same time). If i got a growl or she'd walk away I'd better not try again or risk getting bitten, but once that was allowed I started picking her up and carrying her to the wet food closet during evenings. Doing that for a few months made picking her up and carrying her around during the day tolerated/wanted (as long as neck scratches are available that is). To this day she's still pretty stubborn, she likes attention, being on laps, carried around... but not always. If picking her up/placing her on a lap gets refused I'd better not try again soon after or risk more than a warning sign.
I had the exact opposite several times. when i visite other peoples here homes. they them selves had cat's they them selves (the owners) and nobody could touch at all. but I came around walked to the cat and could just instantly pet it and cuddle with it. and i have had that with a few cat's and also other animals like guinea pig ,bunny's and wat not. don't ask me why i just do somehow.
Cats are mysterious, magnificent creatures. 😊 💖 We have 13 now ( all rescues ). I've learned so much during my life by simply letting many kitties own me. 😉
Thanks for all that important info. I'd also add that behavior wise, external sources in the environment of the cat are often at play. Not enough space, introducing cats to each other too abruptly, having dogs and/or kids play with them without respecting their 'cattiness', etc. I once observed a friend's cat that kept marking, being angry and swiping at everyone and suggested she found him a one-person home instead of her 3 kid 1 dog family. That cat became so sweet she reported and no more markings.
My cat is affectionate when she wants feeding lol
Ditto!
I trust this man with my life
What a beautiful cat you have there.
I almost started to purr myself, watching...☺️
I love Mr. Pirate just chilling on his shoulder ❤️❤️
I dont know who is more adorable you or the cat
When did you reach 100 THOUSAND?? I remember like a few hundred!! Congratulations!!
4:01 After regaining the pinnacle of the shoulder, Pirate glances up to see if it might be possible to get onto the ceiling...
My cat Mr. Kitty who was with me since I was 7 years old, had some ouchie teeth. so we saved up some money and took him to the vet for dental surgery, a few days after surgery he started having a tumor growing where the teeth used to be, and it grew very quickly until after 3 weeks he couldn't eat anymore, we had to go back to the vet for more pain medication within that time and we were giving him a lot, and it was a huge struggle to get him to swallow it. It was horrible. I regret getting his teeth pulled so much , we would have had at least 5 more years with Mr. Kitty, if we hadn't tried to fix his teeth. I get so upset every time I remember it, Mr kitty was like a brother to me, and I miss him all the time. This video reminded me of that terrible time.
Thank you for sharing, I know it must be tough. If it helps though; pulling the tooth didn’t cause your cats cancer. The cancer was already there and that is why the tooth looked diseased and as removed. It is not uncommon for this to happen since an infected tooth and a tooth with early cancer around it look the same.
A tomcat invaded my house back in 2013. He wasn't neutered, and he would spend most of his time roaming, trying to mate, and fighting. When he was home, he'd flop on my sofa, and sleep. I named him Roscoe. Sometimes I'd try to pet him, and he'd flinch and growl. I think he was sore from the beatings he took from other cats. Once he was neutered, he loved to be petted and fussed over.
You making everything sound so complex... You just need to SQUISH THAT CAT
I can attest to what you say about not giving up on ferals. I've rehabilitated two and they have been very loving, seeking my company and even chatty.
You’re such a great vet! Love your videos.
Yay! Another stellar video, very informative. Thank you so much! ♥
You come across as such a considerate and caring person, not just towards animals, but in your general sense of being. I adore watching your videos and seeing your smile light up your face when handling your patients. I wish veternarians here in Sweden were more this way.
We fostered a rescue cat and we had real problems getting close to her as she was very aggressive. Once we got he to the vet and managed to get her sedated, we found a partially embedded collar under her long hair. Once the collar was removed and she was cleaned up she was like a completely different cat.
Great advice, and seeing a cat given so much affection is amazing to watch 💓🐈
Cat daddy is back! 😻 Hope you and your cats never stop uploading to this channel!
I'm always so happy when I see a notification about your new video! Thank you so much for this channel. Your kitty has similar fur pattern to my Argo. :) Love from Wales UK.
Lovely video as always. Your channel is wonderful. Thank you for uploading!
Best part is watching Mr Pirate wanting to be on the shoulder
Love your gentle voice, and how you handle Mr Pirate😍