My intention here is to share hints and tips for fellow cat sitters based on what has worked for me in my decade (over 40,000 hours) of cat sitting. We all have slightly different approaches, techniques and styes, but I hope that there might be something here that you can use, critique, or disagree with as you carve out your own approach to providing the best cat care possible for those precious companion kitties that their guardians have entrusted into our care. Thank you! Richard.
Adjusting your play-hunting for the cat's style preference and special needs.
Sometimes you get to cat-sit a declawed cat. (Please spread the word that declawing is never, ever necessary as it is a cruel, barbaric and totally unnecessary procedure. Cats need their claws. Anyway, on with my hints and tips on play hunting with a front-paw declawed cat).
There are exceptions to every rule in cat sitting, but I have noticed a tendency for front-paw declawed cats to:
• not get so excited about flying, visual prey (that they can't get their claws into)
• prefer rustling, hidden prey
• have the opportunity to use paw weight and body weight for 'capturing' their prey
These are just tendencies I have noticed while cat sitting over the years; I am sure there are numerous exceptions. If there is a point, I suppose it is that there is no 'one size fits all' when play hunting with cats and it takes time, patience and observation to discover your cat's play hunting style preferences.
Walking with cats underfoot.
Some cats get underfoot while you are cat sitting. They weave in and out of your feet, tread on your toes and always seem to be a moment away from tripping you up and creating a terrible injury for you and/or the cat. This video is not about distraction techniques, wand toys, electronic toys or throwing ping pong balls to get them away from your feet (all of which are great things to do). Nor is it about why they are under your feet to begin with - that's a separate issue and video. This video is about modifying how you walk and being deliberate, slow and steady in how you go about your cat care.
• Look down.
• Reduce chance. Be deliberate in your intentions.
• Don't rush.
• Don't "pick your feet up". Do the opposite. Scuff and slide.
• Don't get distracted by anything irrelevant (eg phone notifications, sounds outside, furnishings in the home)