Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 30, 2019

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Mountain View News Saturday, November 30, 2019 

CAT OF THE WEEK


MURPHY & MILO

Are you looking for sweet 
and sweeter? Then meet 
MURPHY & MILO, two 
very sweet and social boys, 
age 6 mos., who are hoping 
Santa will find them a 
home for Christmas and 
forever. Both have elegant 
and sleek black fur, while Milo has a tinge of white under his neck. 
They will come fully vetted, chipped, and neutered. Call 626-676-9505. See more pictures, adoption 
information and application at www.lifelineforpets.org. 

Good news: Piper & Pippin have an adoption pending.


Pet of the Week

 It’s no secret that we’ve been getting really into the 
holidays probably way too early this year. But have 
you thought about New Year’s yet? Thomas is ready! 
This chill guy isn’t the loud party type, but he’ll still 
get all dressed up to watch the ball drop on TV with 
you. When he’s not in his formalwear, Thomas enjoys 
playing with wand toys, and although he doesn’t go 
into hardcore zoomie mode like a kitten, your heart 
will melt seeing him bat at the ribbon on a stick! He’s a curious boy, and if you visit him in 
our communal cat room, he’ll probably come right out to the middle of the room to say hi 
and get some head pets. Come meet this sweet guy today and celebrate the holidays with 
him!

 The adoption fee for cats is $90. All cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and 
vaccinated before being adopted. 

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

 View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 
p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone 
calls or email.

LOOKING FOR A 
BEST FRIEND?


Ruby is a sweet American Staffordshire 
terrier mix with a beautiful light brown 
coat and some of the kindest eyes you’ll 
find. She is about 2-years-old and weighs 
65 pounds. Not much is known about 
Ruby’s past. However, once she has gotten 
to know people she’s shown how loving 
and affectionate she can be. Ruby enjoys 
going out for walks as she wants to let her 
nose guide her and take in all that the 
world has to offer. She is good on the lead as she makes sure to occasionally stop and look 
up to make sure everything is good. Ruby is a special girl who will fill your home with love. 
If you are looking for a caring companion, then please stop by and meet Ruby. Her adoption 
fee is $145, which includes spay surgery, microchip, first vaccinations and a free wellness 
check-up at a participating veterinarian.


WHERE YOU AT, 
SCAREDY CAT?

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Few and far between are the felines 
I’ve care for that did not respond with 
some semblance of fear the first time I 
entered their home. It’s a classic story 
told by many cat owners, wherein a 
person with whom the cat is unfamiliar 
walks through the front door, only to see the kitty’s bouncing behind disappear down the hallway, 
as he high-tails it into another room to seek refuge.

Although there is usually no apparent good reason for a typically-friendly feline’s fearful response 
to a stranger, it is pretty common. And even though the individual who just arrived and entered 
the home is most likely a cat lover too, they are still a person whom the cat has yet to get to know, 
so - perhaps assuming there may be danger - he or she runs to take cover.

One reason why a cat might run and hide upon the arrival of a stranger, is that the cat has had 
limited exposure to humans other than their owner as a youngster. If a kitten is not introduced to a 
variety of people during the socialization stage (3-9 weeks), they will likely be more apprehensive 
of interacting with strangers as an adult. Another reason is that a visit from a human friend is 
often accompanied by increased noises and movement and from a cat’s perspective that may be 
interpreted as chaos to be avoided at all costs.

There are a few simple techniques that have proven to be helpful in preventing a cat from becoming 
afraid of people they’ve never met, and as it is with most exercises, the more consistently you are 
willing to practice these techniques with your kitty, the better your chances for success. Remember 
that each cat is an individual so there are no absolute guarantees with any training technique, but 
this particular trick is most certainly worth a try.

First, provide your cat with a “safety-zone” in an out-of-the-way location, such as a back room 
where the sound of a doorbell or knocking will be muffled. Be sure to include a comfortable 
resting spot, a fresh bowl of water and a litter box. Give the cat a special treat along with a favorite 
interactive toy when you take him to the safe area about 10 minutes before your guest arrives. 
In the beginning you will want to let your cat remain in the safe place for the duration of guests’ 
visits, so he/she can hear what is going on without having to be in the middle of it.

Next, try to follow this series of behavioral modification steps consistently, to help your cat 
become comfortable with having visitors in the home: Ask a friend or relative who does not live 
with you to act as a stranger coming to visit. As usual, put your cat in the safe place moments 
before their arrival. Then when your friend arrives, open the door to the safe area and allow the 
cat to come out at their own will and in their own time.

Once your cat has decided it is safe enough to emerge from the back room, have the invited 
“stranger” stand at a distance from where the cat decides is comfortable, and give the cat a treat or 
a soothing praise each time he/she is willing to allow the visitor to make a slow, slight approach. 
The goal is to gradually decrease the space between the two, by rewarding the cat each time he 
remains calm and allows the newcomer to come closer.

Take note that the “approaching process” should begin from a distance at which your cat shows 
no signs of anxiety or arousal. He should be completely calm to start with, and remain calm and 
confident as your friend moves into the cat’s space, eventually coming close enough to reach out 
and pet the cat. Keep your voice calm and offer comments of praise along the way.

In a perfect world the cat will stay put and cooperate with the process during each session, until 
he/she acclimates fully to having guests. However, we all know we don’t live in a perfect world, 
so when your cat decides it’s time to up-and-leave in the middle of the exercise, let the cat do just 
that. There will be opportunities in the future to try again.

Avoid excessive movement about the room while you are working these techniques until the cat 
becomes more comfortable over time. Repeat these simple steps as frequently as you possibly can. 
It may take a while for your cat to show progress, but be patient and be aware that your efforts are 
helping to improve your cat’s quality of life and enhance the bond between the two of you.

This process of coaching a cat into becoming more familiar with other humans may seem silly to 
some folks who are not friends of the feline, but I know there are many devoted cat lovers who do 
“get it“, and may benefit from these simple training tips. I wish you all great success as you work 
toward socializing your best feline friend. Love and let live!


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com