Greetings, I inherited a beautiful healthy athletic cat from my mother who was a former shelter manager and knew animals intimately. 'Ashes' yelled continuously over 200 miles car trip to her new home in rural setting inhabited by myself and a very cool friendly smart dog. We are trying to make Ashes feel at home. Ashes is strong willed and spirited and seems immune to understanding minimal house rules. In early emails to family members I used phrases like 'strong-willed' which morphed into 'tough nut'. Last email phrased it 'posessed'. Ashes was formerly an inside cat but in less than minutes figured out how to negotiate the two flap doors necessary to walk outside. Outside, with declawed front paws, she is shy and weary, but seems to enjoy the freedom (good instincts, there are fox and eagles and all sorts of predators here). I joined this forum to ask for advice for this particular problem: how can she be detered from jumping up and walking the cooking food counters. Dogs are floor-level. Cats seem to access any level they want to. If we can somehow negotiate this unhealthy transgression I think the minor issues will be easy.
I see lots of wisdom and friendliness in this forum and hope I can join.
I see lots of wisdom and friendliness in this forum and hope I can join.