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Pet Adoption

Wee Paws Corporate Sponsors

Wee Paws wouldn’t exist without the support of pet food and pet product companies.  We try to feed the highest-quality food available.  While high-quality food may seem more expensive, you’re actually saving money because you’re not paying for pointless fillers and empty calories.  Not only can you often feed smaller portions, your cat will be healthier, and your vet bills will be lower.  The following companies have supported us with at least one or more donations of quality cat or dog food. 

Free Feline Behavioral Consultations

I find it terribly sad that so many cats are surrendered to shelters and forced to face an uncertain future because they have “behavioral problems”.  The number one behavioral problem is “inappropriate elimination”, which is a fancy name for “not using the litterbox properly”.  Other common behavioral issues that result in cats losing their homes include aggression (for example, biting), and destructive behaviors like clawing at furniture.  I guarantee that 99% of these problems can be avoided through careful planning, and I also guarantee that 99% of them can be corrected even if they’ve already developed.  In this section of the website I’ll try to give you some ideas on how to set up your home (and your cat’s personal environment) to help ensure your cat doesn’t develop any bad habits.  If it’s too late to avoid the negative behaviors (or if you adopted an older cat who comes with some “baggage”), I’ll give you a variety of tips on how to correct the situation.  I’m doing this because I want your cat to remain a beloved part of your family for a lifetime… I don’t want you to surrender it to a rescue group or city shelter because you feel a behavioral problem has become unmanageable and unforgivable.  Please remember this: if you’re trying to correct an established, negative behavior, it will take time and patience!  The problem didn’t establish itself overnight, so it won’t be remedied overnight.

If your cat is exhibiting a new behavioral problem, your first stop must be your veterinarian.  A cat in pain may develop aggression issues.  A cat with a urinary tract infection may start to avoid the litter box and to urinate in other places around the house.  I once took in a cat who would randomly sink his teeth into my calf and draw blood, but it turned out he was suffering from two painful, ingrown nails.  I think he’d been hit by a car and dragged, shearing off the nails so they couldn’t grow back properly.  His toes were in such bad shape that they had to be amputated, but once he’d healed, he never tried to bite me again.  The cat had never acted as if his toes hurt (he’d never limped, licked his paws, etc.), and his injury was only discovered during a routine nail trimming.  However, he attempted to express his discomfort through biting me (and it was an effective way to get my attention!).  Never assume a cat is just a “bad cat” or is acting “spiteful”.

I’ve taken numerous feline behavior classes with veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and I’m a member of the IAABC.  I’m not a replacement for a veterinarian, especially a behavioral specialist, but I’ve worked with many challenging cats of varying ages and backgrounds and they’ve taught me a great deal.  Over time I’ll add to this section of the website, but until that happens, feel free to drop me an email about your cat’s behavioral issue.  I’ll answer the questions as time permits, and post some of them to the website, too.

Looking for a Veterinary Behaviorist?  Check out the website of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior to find a specialist in your area.