Why I Can't Touch This Cat? - Part 1

[@hithere2you1125]

The Bob Ross of cats

[@lu.ciel8770]

Perfect description xD

[@Redwallfan_1]

You finally verbalized the vibe I was trying to put into words!

[@k.virginiakegel5959]

"They are vicious, wild predators" he says, patting Mr. Pirate's bum...

[@dhiegov]

It happens at 0:53, for those searching

[@Ozzy_2014]

Wild vicious predators but not stupid. When you want a butt scratch you use the humans to your advantage.

[@leonestello]

@@dhiegov thanks for the time stamp

[@Gwyllion12]

I would die for that bum on that shoulder.

[@melissasaint3283]

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.

[@TheTurulhawk]

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.

[@Rubiecat]

"I raised him from when he was a week old, I bottle fed him" Finally we've unlocked Mr Pirate's backstory !!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Not the whole story! I’ll be making that video shortly :-).

[@magjosp2340]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Can't wait to hear it and Clawdia's too!

[@shofunny]

I want to know the story! :)

[@Rubiecat]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Nice ! can't wait to learn more about this beautiful boy !

[@cabst-hyacinth]

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!

[@anna.m8]

Love how he does almost an entire video with a cat chillin on his shoulder

[@bilbotbaggins1536]

The funniest thing being how he puts the cat down and it insists on going back onto the shoulder :D

[@RL-os9xl]

I know! Mr. Pirate is adorable!

[@purplatypus7405]

Mr. Pirate rubbing on the mic is the greatest unplanned audio "issue"

[@Asdayasman]

we get to hear the flUFFY TUM TUMS

[@ravynme8975]

The only problem I wanna have

[@gnotifyinga]

Bottle feeding a cat- now that's a quality I'm looking for in a man

[@DarkMoonDroid]

Right?

[@samfixitguy1661]

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.

[@mrs_d3n1mx28]

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.

[@sometimessnarky1642]

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.

[@emuevalrandomised9129]

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.

[@atriyakoller136]

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

[@KatarinaS.]

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.

[@krisniznik3953]

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.

[@tomandme5574]

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)

[@tomandme5574]

@@krisniznik3953 this is a nice story... I'm sure she loves you... 😻

[@veryberry39]

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.

[@KazakhToon]

A tee shirt with his back legs and tail outlined would be great. Also 'squish that cat' done Warhol style

[@gondametzger6146]

Or where there the image of mr pirate (cartoon) draped over the shoulder

[@Akai111]

“I raised him, I'm basically his mother” 😂

[@KatarinaS.]

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?

[@LL-zb3dl]

Yes!!

[@Jizzlewobbwtfcus]

Nope. I just watched the cat and pretend to understand everything. ignorance is bliss :D

[@sudiprath727]

True

[@V0Y463R]

I watch it more than once to experience the cuteness over and over again

[@PsychoCodina]

This channel is just such a beautiful part of youtube

[@P4brotagonist]

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.

[@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge]

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.

[@placeb0fication]

@@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.

[@TheSahand68]

Thanks for sharing....this is educational...

[@mbolis8438]

@@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.

[@tararice7985]

My cat only wants petted when she wants. She won't sit on my lap ...ever. Is there any way to earn her affection

[@manko6739]

is it bad if my cat squish me? my cat suddenly like to climb the sofa and squish my abdomen with her cuddly paws.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

I suspect you'll live. If not, make sure you leave a provision in your will for your cat :-).

[@AM-em5gc]

"I'm here with Mr Pirate..." You mean Mr Pirate Butt.

[@Jason-wg3zh]

I always watch this with my cat.

[@TheLeadhound]

I love how he just climbs onto your shoulder.

[@francieodendahl9351]

Isn't that what birds do? 😁

[@brrjohnson8131]

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.

[@nihluxler8823]

Mr pirate might be the most adorable cat I’ve ever seen.

[@KatarinaS.]

Yes, he & Bailey are 2 of my favorite KZbin cats.

[@RogerWittekind]

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.

[@chronicclub]

I think Mr. Pirate wants to be a parrot

[@alicepetyablackburn1498]

Maybe he was a parrot in his past life.

[@hem138]

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 😍😍

[@alyssam8550]

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.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

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.

[@MissGilAllen]

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.)

[@alyssam8550]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Thank you. I feel bad, it's hard to deny a cat what they want, but we'll get it figured out.

[@TheNadinucca]

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.

[@Finkeldinken]

@@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.

[@Snooznoo]

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!

[@anastasiabeaverhaus9]

Pirate's furry butt steals the show

[@Anno_Al]

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.

[@jwoolman5]

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.

[@imnotiwanthomas6718]

My favourite KZbinr!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Thank you -Mr. P

[@shofunny]

And mine! :)

[@monstertrucks4all909]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Your sense of humor is as great as your personality!

[@Gitaki]

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.

[@Margar02]

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!

[@marcinzpomorza]

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 ;-)

[@KatarinaS.]

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.

[@dilekk7758]

Every home needs a cat like mr pirate. No stress left at all.

[@stephlrideout]

I had one and can confirm it was the best

[@lucywright6018]

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

[@kkriSSStaa]

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.

[@stephlrideout]

How old? That's a big factor.

[@jaidev777]

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?

[@veryberry39]

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!

[@sirBrouwer]

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.

[@sylviakovessy]

The way Mr. Pirate looks at you with such love and adoration is precious. Thank you. ❤️😻

[@DarthRupi]

Omg Mr Pirate’s little leg hanging off your chest!

[@mariasevilla7070]

Mr. Pirate is one handsome dude! Look at that face!

[@garzascreek]

It is nearly perfectly bilaterally symmetrical.

[@vainessa5178]

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 :’)

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Honestly, I love the comments too. One of my favourite things about having a KZbin channel is all the people sharing their love of animals.

[@msnadiaeid]

Yo mr pirate is so funny. He’s just lying on his shoulder 😂 ❤️

[@CallmeMsirie]

Thank u very much! And much love from me and am happy cat from Russia😺

[@Mitsy1111]

I love when mr pirate is on his shoulder, and the two little white feet are just hanging there 😂

[@jasminevanregenmortel4881]

Not to be dramatic or anything, but I would sell my soul to Mister Pirate.

[@amberl.7559]

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 ❤️

[@hellothisislilac]

I WANT A MR. PIRATE KITTY IN MY LIFEEEEEEE 😭😭😭😭😭

[@hellothisislilac]

@Paddy Orourke yes if I ever get a cat I will definitely adopt. Unfortunately I'm not in a place in life where I can support a cat☹️ Hopefully sometime soon.

[@nenemew6076]

That little paw trying to touch his other shoulder!😍😍😍

[@fitzyholden1036]

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.

[@tdelphia1]

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!

[@HewaKiku]

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.

[@tokeeptrackofrandomsubs5899]

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.

[@sirBrouwer]

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.

[@pistachioicecream8800]

Kinda want to see how Mr. Pirate looks like from his front when he's on the shoulder

[@crestflames492]

I don’t know why but I love Mr. Pirate’s face and his facial expressions; he always just looks slightly bewildered 😂

[@RedZeshinX]

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.

[@milliebw6012]

I love this channel! 💓 Can you possibly do a video on why some cats meow and other cats "trill" or "chirp" please?

[@dreamchasingcat]

Millie G cats’ “trill” or “chirp” is just their way to contact the mothership🛸

[@OliverJazzz]

Chirping an instinctive hunting tactic, they are imitating the sounds their prey make.

[@chogiwhy8466]

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!

[@johnopalko5223]

Mr. Pirate, the archetypal shoulder cat.

[@scottrogue946]

Mr.Pirate is not only a solid, but liquid on your shoulder

[@Freya407]

2:30 One does not simply pet a cat without kissing it on the head :D

[@KumikaKumiko]

I see Mr Pirate is happy to be on your shoulder 😂

[@justme0910]

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.

[@HewaKiku]

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.

[@monstertrucks4all909]

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

[@IlGattonero13]

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.

[@jakual339]

@@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.

[@KatarinaS.]

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.

[@Joshmsu45]

"I command you to hold me, hooman!" -Mr. Pirate

[@Beregar79]

Aww. It's the cute lil' shoulder cat! I miss cats but, you know, allergy...

[@sirBrouwer]

Could a hairless cat work for you?

[@MrFuggleGuggle]

Professional Cat Squisher.

[@possum9403]

Mr. Pirate is very pear shaped.

[@emptyness7]

"Right now he's communicating he wants to be up on my shoulder"

[@vanadiumlight]

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.

[@missyanderson285]

My cat edith is a brown tabby with white feet kinda like mr. Pirate. She has a black spot on the bottom of her foot we call her lucky spot. What I mean to say is look! Mr. Pirate has a lucky spot!! ❤

[@jordynn9266]

When did you reach 100 THOUSAND?? I remember like a few hundred!! Congratulations!!

[@oceanmoons4606]

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!

[@lurchie]

How do I sign up for the Mr Pirate fanclub? I know I'll have to start as a scallywag and work my way up to Scurvydog. . .er, cat.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

By buying a T-shirt and/or joining my Patreon. 100% of Mr. Pirates food and toys come from the internet now.

[@sipos0]

"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.

[@slashdotism]

Mr Pirate's fat ass on your shoulder is too funny 😂

[@derpicorn7945]

I would like to ask your opinion: it has been a few years since the last time my cats have had teeth cleanings. They both have some tartar so I asked my vet to do cleanings. He doesn't want to clean until they have lesions. I would rather clean now to prevent lesions and lost teeth. What do you think? I have a long and good relationship with my vet but I think he is wrong here. ETA one of my cats has genetically poor teeth and historically, cleaning every year has prevented lesions and tooth loss. However, she is 15 now so I know anaesthesia is risky.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Your vet may have other concerns so I do not wish to disagree with them. In general terms, I favour a proactive, prevention centred approach to health care. It is never wrong to seek a second opinion. I do offer a file review service over my Patreon if you are interested. You can also see another vet in your area, or ask if your vet can reffer you to a board certified veterinary dentist.

[@LeadsTheFallen]

My cat is affectionate when she wants feeding lol

[@SM-xd9ef]

Ditto!

[@apiaries]

i wish someone would look at me the way mr. pirate looks at dr. uri’s shoulder 😂

[@janegarner9169]

Some cats remain feral to some degree even after they learn to trust a person to feed & care for them, of course, but also some cats remain or become wary of humans because they’ve been abused. This seems especially true of cats who live on their own...many have been treated cruelly by humans who simply dislike cats. For several years I’ve been feeding a colony of five cats who live behind my building. It’s clear that most of them were brought up in homes with humans, but having lived on the street for years they’ve learned to be wary. It takes a long time to earn their trust, but this isn’t surprising considering what they’ve been though. Also, most of these cats who were brought up in human homes ended up on the street because their person left them there. Either their person moved & simply left the cat behind or they dumped the cat because of some problems they had with them. Either way, it’s cruel to dump a cat to fend for itself after having never learned to do so. Cats can learn to survive on their own but it’s not automatic...they have to learn ways of survival. And many don’t make it, or not for long. We shouldn’t be surprised if a cat doesn’t want to be held or even touched. We too often expect them to allow such closeness without giving them s choice of whether they want to be held or not. After all, when you hold a cat you have real power over that cat, and not everyone is kind to cats. I highly respect how cats are about this, how they remain more independent than most domesticated animals. If a cat really likes you & is friendly & cuddly, it’s a sign you’ve behaved properly toward the cat. You earn s cat’s trust.

[@SaintJezehell]

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. ❤️

[@river8760]

So cute how he sits up on your shoulder.

[@SpookyLulu29]

Cute cat, hot doctor, & I click! You're welcome!

[@cammierountree5172]

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. 😉

[@naz5981]

so how do we know they are in any dental pain?!

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Great question! It is really hard. Honestly, you should just rely on your vet to identify it for you. Cats will keep eating even with toothaches, so eating less is not a reliable sign, but sore teeth are really common in cats. Usually these are caused by resorptive lesions or carries, and identifying them isn't something you'll learn on KZbin I'm afraid.

[@juliadandy6019]

When he kisses Mr. Pirate’s forehead! ❤️

[@aaagtk]

I trust this man with my life

[@rochelletalania3364]

I love cats! I'm a nurse but I wanna work in a vet clinic/ hospital 😸 New subscriber here 😊

[@shailynx9626]

You making everything sound so complex... You just need to SQUISH THAT CAT

[@JaksIRL]

I have a one year old little guy who likes getting pet but m is not big on being picked up or held. He doesn't get aggressive ever but will start squirming almost right away. He likes hanging out within close proximity of me a lot so I am pretty sure he likes me, but he just isn't into cuddle time. When he was a kitten, he loved being held. I think it is just how he is wired, but do you think I should have him checked?

[@Margar02]

I think he's probably fine. I would only be worried if he snaps, hisses, or swats when you pet him. Cats are so independent, they just have no reason in the wild to be held by anyone or anything.

[@umm_rm]

It could just be energy? Cats still have a lot of energy at one year so he might not just be mellowing out just yet. I think it’s worth it to check to be safe though

[@axcvilla]

"They are vicious, wild predators that choose to live with us." (SHOOK my existence. I am living with a predator who stalks me daily).

[@myforever13]

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.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

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.

[@crazytiger17]

Can you make a video on alternatives if you're unable to brush your cat's teeth? My cat is not as agreeable as Claudia was in your video! Are teeth gels or drops useful or should we go to the vet for an annual cleaning?

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Even if you brush regularly, an occasional cleaning under anesthetic is needed. Annually is rare, but at some frequency. There are a lot of other products, but the evidence supporting their usefulness is pretty weak.

[@fluente]

Clawdia* 😄 jk

[@nsavar5864]

@@@HelpfulVancouverVet May I ask about annual dental checkups? I've learned from you that resorptive lesions (sp?) are probably viral in origin. Once a cat has one, she will probably have more is my experience. And also my very limited experience shows that once one cat has lesions, others in my household get them. My comment/question is this -- if a household has a kitty with resorptive lesions, is that the situation when annual dentals should be followed? Thanks for your thoughts. --nina.

[@TheNadinucca]

@@HelpfulVancouverVet Thank you for the advice. We have a 14-year-old Siamese, Mixa, with dental decay. She has lost about half of her teeth and we take her every now and then to get her mouth checked by our vet. They had to pull out two teeth a few years ago because they had rotted. Instead of becoming aggressive or standoffish, she became extra clingy when in pain. She's usually clingy, so the pain exacerbated it, poor baby. One thing, though: her breath smells SO incredibly bad these days!!! I think I should take her to the vet again to get a cleaning and check if any other teeth need to go. Oh, and Mixa stopped eating dry food about a year ago, so it's all wet food now.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

I would say that there is no difference between "annual health exam" and "annual dental check-up" since one always assesses the mouth during a health exam, and there is no point looking in the mouth if you don't look at the rest of the patient. So yes, every cat and dog should have their mouth and oral health evaluated at least once a year. This doesn't mean they will need a dental cleaning every year, but that is up to luck and nauture. N Savar, to answer your question: any time you find resorption lesion in a cat, that tooth should be taken out, and we usually clean the rest of the teeth at the same time. Definitely important to look in the mouth at least once a year. I usually use gum health as a guide for when to recommend a dental cleaning, but I think I should just make a video on this topic :-).

[@darkangelcl4]

Love how the vicious predator is chilling his fat bum on his human's shoulder with his pink paws dangling.. XD Of course they can still be vicious killers and that should be scary not cute!

[@gardendormouse6479]

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.

[@UnitSe7en]

They absolutely are vicious, wild predators. I think most people forget or don't really realise or don't _want_ to realise that. I call my 3 _fluffy little murderers_ and people laugh. The real question is: Mr. Pirate or Wilfred Warrior?

[@pascaleg.3929]

I'm worried about Dr. Yuri... all that weight on one shoulder must not be all that good for his back XD

[@stephanielewis-cooper4094]

I love how you kissed him like that, I have a cat who loves being kissed, he puts his head to one side next to me for kisses and he can't just have one, I have to keep kissing him. He also loves to snuggle next to me in bed but I've never known him to sit on my lap. And that's one of the many amazing things about cats, that they choose to do things with us, they don't feel obligated. Life would not be the same without them at all.

[@nitrand]

The cat is in love with this man.

[@TheCaptainConway]

My kitty hates everyone, apart from me and my partner. She only lets me pick her up and cuddle her, and she will only go to my partner for food and cuddles if I'm not around. She is willing to stay in the room with a select few people, including my house mates, and just runs away from most guests. What's up with that? Also, she's an invader cat, meaning she just sort of moved in with us one day. She had a reputation as the local chicken thief.

[@morganalabeille5004]

I have two cats. One of them you can pick up and put on your lap and unless he really wants to be doing something else he'll just go "well alright then" and cuddle up to you. With the other one he'll sometimes cuddle or sit in laps but it has to be on his terms. He won't cooperate if you put him on your lap yourself, you have to wait for him to come to you.

[@Jon-id7ki]

My cat is super cuddly then after a few minutes, she'll start biting at my wrist for no apparent reason.

[@camillephillips1637]

She is playing with you

[@RoadRunnerLaser]

Jonathan White - Is it a gentle bite? More like holding your wrist in her mouth than an attacking bite? One of ours does something very similar if she's being stroked and is enjoying it. It seems to be a sign of affection.

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Good call RoadRunner! Cats will often do little nibbles when they are grooming themselves, and sometimes these love bites are granted to humans as well. Not all humans appreciate the honour though.

[@adammiller6299]

Could it also be overstimulation? I have a cat who loves to be pet and purrs her head off when you pet her, but she can only tolerate so much. After a few minutes, she lashes out at me, so I stop. I had a cat who would shower me with love bites. It's easy to tell the difference. Loves bites are gentle and don't hurt.

[@julieharrison4439]

I had a cat that was completely wild, vicious, scratching, snarling thing that hated humans. I used to foster and care for unwanted cats and kittens, so this was how he came to me. After several weeks of caring and loving this creature, he gradually came to trust me and at the end he was so loving, he would lay in my arms, like a baby, a very vulnerable position and stare into my eyes with complete trust and love. So from that experience I don't believe in hopeless càses, that à căt can't be socialised. I mean this cat was like the devil! Lol and with patients became a truly loving creature. Never give up on them, it's just that they've had a terrible start in live and don't trust us usually for very good reasons. There's no such thing as a bad cat.

[@hadleyjolley3375]

My strategy is (1) walk into a shelter and (2) adopt the kitten that demands to be picked up. Then (3) live with the consequences when he learns how to pull up the vent covers and crawl through the ventilation system to get to you in a cat-free room.

[@leonestello]

Your voice is so soothing. If you ever retire from the vet business might I suggest you get into leading meditation sessions. Ohhhmmm... Ohhhhmmmm... Oooohhhhhhmmmmm...

[@francoisehembert3243]

If you like to be in control, adopt a dog. If you don’t expect obedience, you’ll do fine with a feline friend 😄

[@dyyddson]

Hi sir what do you think about cutting cats nails as a source for pain? My friends cat's nails got clipped and she stopped acting clearly ill, as that obviously was the source of pain. Is it good to clip an old cat's nails (mines 20 yo) when they make a sound on the floor? Seems to be working for us. She doesnt like us doing it though :D

[@HelpfulVancouverVet]

Cutting nails should not be at all painful if done right (see my videos on the topic) but ingrown nails can be very painful and definitely are a common source of pain-related aggression, especially in older or arthritic kitties who can't groom and scratch as they would normally do. I would suggest trimming your cat's nails much more often.

[@dyyddson]

Thanks for the answer,@@HelpfulVancouverVet . We usually cut the nails every second week. She doesnt seem to really mind the cutting as if it would hurt, rather than that she just generally doesnt like the whole thing in general (haha who would have thought :D)

[@donnanoe6736]

I am very lucky. I have two cuddly, love bugs. I rescued both. My Maine Coon was adopted from a shelter. I was told that she was a street cat and had one litter. She is very sweet for the most part. However, she does swat and bite if she wants to be left alone. She lays right under my neck and has to be touching me when she sleeps. My Ragdoll, on the other hand, he only bites when he wants to play hard or sees toes. He has a toe issue. He will also place his teeth on my ankles when he wants attention. No bite, just like a face plant almost. I love those two kitties more than anything. Well, except for my son. It depends on the day.

[@gwenhyfarbeati]

mr pirate is so sweet. "up! up! up please!" i have two cats, and they're on two parts of the people-love spectrum. punkin is very lovey and will let literally anyone pet him. he doesn't prefer to be held, but doesn't hate it either, especially if he's over your shoulder. chello, on the other hand, is pretty skittish! she's very lovey to _me_, and now after ten years is more tolerant of my husband and our son, but she'd rather no one pet her but me. unless they have treats for her. then they can pet her 😂but with me she's so cuddly! like, crawl inside my clothes kind of cuddly. needs to always be in my lap or my arms cuddly. she doesn't like being picked up, though!

[@ninjagotguns]

I love that shoulder cat man. Why have i only encountered like 2 shoulders cats in my life?? Most just sit on my lap

[@murrr1808]

I have a friend who had a cat who was part of that 10-20% of cats that just didn't like human contact. My friend has had cats in the past and still continues to own cats, and it has only ever been this one who was standoff-ish. My friend took in this cat as a kitten and raised her the same as all her other cats, took her in to see the vet regularly, etc., so it's not like this cat was feral or being neglected. She hated being picked up, did not like being pet - if she was feeling "cuddly", you might manage two pats on the top of her head (no more, no less, and definitely nowhere else on her body, otherwise she'd try to bite your fingers). She also did not get along well with my friend's other cats. My friend listed her hobby as "Sitting in the corner and judging you" and her nickname was lovingly "Spawn of Satan." Unfortunately, the cat died a couple of years ago from an undiagnosed disease (they tried to treat her but she deteriorated so quickly that they chose to put her down). Rest in peace, Lucky! We miss you and your weird behaviours!