Recently in Cat Care Tips Category
Celebrate Independence Day with parades, fireworks and good food, but keep your cat safe and happy while you celebrate the Fourth of July.
You may be tempted to let your cat out to enjoy the day's events or to prowl around as usual, but in reality, your cat won't enjoy the day as much as you will. You'll both be happier in the long run if you keep your cat inside. Your cat won't get hurt or lost and you'll know that your cat is safe and waiting for you when you get home.
Cats are easily agitated by loud noises of fireworks or sirens, unusual activity of parades and strangers in their neighborhood. What may seem like fun for you, will cause stress in your cat and may cause him to display aggressive behavior which will get him into trouble with neighborhood animals and people. Or worse, your cat might get so spooked that he gets into a fatal situation like in front of a moving car or trapped in an alley where nasty people are waiting for a frightened cat to torture. And the food... there is always something that smells good to your cat that he'll eat but it could make him sick.
Make this a happy holiday for your cat. Keep him indoors with plenty of food and water and a few toys to get him through the day. It will be hot so make sure your cat has shade and fresh or cool air - never leave him in a vehicle or in direct sunlight - cats can dehydrate and suffer a horrible death if they get too hot.
Keep human foods away from your cat, especially sweet things like ice cream and chocolate - chocolate is toxic to cats.
If your cat show signs of aggressive behavior, it's often a reaction to high stress situations. Get him to a safe, quiet area where he can calm down.
If you think your cat might get out, follow our 5 tips for preventing your cat from becoming lost or stray. And also check out Stray Cats: 5 easy ways to protect your cat. Happy Independence Day!
35% percent of pet cats will get lost in their lifetime. And fewer than 10% of those stray cats make it home again. To prevent your cat from becoming a sad statistic like this, there are a number of steps you can take.
1) Have your pet wear a collar with your name address and current phone number on it. Get the metal ones, they don’t smudge and it’s harder to scratch them. There are many pet tag companies out there.
2) Check your home and yard for possible break points. A determined cat can squeeze through a very small space. If you can fit your hand through, your cat can get their whole body through. And doors, cats have learned how to open doors, so make sure they latch securely.
3) Introduce your cat to your neighbors. If your cat gets out, chances are that someone who lives close to you will see him. If they know it’s your cat, they’ll either let you know your cat is out or catch him for you.
4) Put a sign on your door to alert rescuers that there is a cat in your house in case of an emergency. If there is a fire in your building while you are out, a sign on the door increases the chances that your cats will be removed from danger. Let rescue workers know how many pets you have in the house and your vet’s name and phone number.
5) Get insurance for your pet – some policies cover loss or theft and some companies will help you find your pet.
For more information, read 5 tips to prevent your cat from getting lost.
Here are 5 actions to take right now that will help to bring your cat home safely.
No matter how careful you are to prevent your cat from straying, 1 in 3 cats will be lost this year and over 90% of them won’t get back home to you. There are things you can do right now to get your cat home where he belongs.
1) Have copies of recent photos of your cat to distribute, email or fax to any and all of your contacts and local animal shelters. A picture can get you reunited faster and prove that the cat is yours.
2) If you haven’t already done it, get your cat a microchip and registered with a good company.
3) Have a copy of your cat’s medical records and your vet's contact information at home or on your PDA. If your cat is found, you might have to prove that he’s been vaccinated or she’s been spayed. And if the cat has any allergies or illnesses or special dietary needs, it's all there in one place for anyone who cares for your cat.
4) Make a list of emergency phone numbers. The company your cat’s microchip is registered with, your veterinarian and emergency animal hospital closest to you, local humane society or animal shelter, people who you can call on to help find your cat or who can help you treat your found cat that's been injured.
5) Have an Emergency Supply Kit ready with a carrier, food and water, blankets and a First Aid for Cats manual. If you cat is injured you might need to transport him to an emergency clinic right away.
This is the time of year when hundreds of cats get lost or stray too far from home. These steps will help you locate your cat in the event that your cat strays or more accurately, is chased or scared away from you.
Other posts I think you might be into:
12 cats that will be extinct by 2020
Six diseases caused by dry cat food
This is a guest post from our friend Anthony H..
Cat urine emits a real foul odor and can make your house stink. It can be a real nuisance if the cat urinates on your carpet because it will just seep through the fibers in the carpet and cause mold. So you are now faced with two foul smelling problems instead of on. But your problems worsen if the cat urinates on a wooden floor, because it will sink right through and cause a stench that will just not go away even after you have rubbed the surface off.
While it is best to clean the wet urine, sometimes you may not notice the 'accident' until the smell hits you. In such an event, you might like to try some of these tried and tested methods that will help you to quickly and easily get rid of the cat urine odor and the ungainly stains.
1. Use absorbent cloths to soak up the urine wet area.
2. If you are trying to clean a wooden floor, wipe away the residue with a slightly damp cloth, and then dab dry.
3. Next, use either a household cleaner to remove the stain. Alternately, you can use:
a. A solution of hydrogen peroxide that is diluted to about 3%. Simply spray this over the stained area. Wait for around 5 minutes and blot dry.
b. A mix of baking soda and hand soap to work out the stains and the smell of cat urine.
c. White vinegar that has been diluted to around 25-30%. Just spray it on the affected area and blot after a few minutes.
d. Baking soda to remove cat urine odors from carpets and upholstery. But it doesn't work on cat urine that has seeped through wooden floors.
e. NOTE: Before even attempting to do this on a large area, it would be best to first test it out on a smaller area to be safe just in case it goes horribly wrong.
If you are not looking for home remedies, you may want to try out cat urine cleaners that available in pet stores. Most such products contain ingredients that destroy the bacteria in the urine, and this helps to get rid of the annoying stains or odors.
Other posts I think you might be into:
12 cats that will be extinct by 2020
The European Cave Lion was the largest cat that ever lived...
Be prepared to take your cat with you if you have to evacuate your home. If the area is unsafe for humans, it's unsafe for cats too. It is a myth that animals can take care of themselves in a disaster. I know you hear stories about families being reunited with their pets after a disaster but those stories are rare. No one hears about all the cats that perish in floods, fires and other disasters that you might have to evacuate your home for. Your family will be calmer and happier during this time of crisis if they have their beloved cat with them.
So what do you do if you have to evacuate?...
With the steady decline in the economy, more and more people are abandoning their cats. Shelters are overflowing with cats that people can no longer care for. That's why June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month at the ASPCA. I can't imagine having to give up Neo for any reason, but the truth of the matter is that many families are having to give up their pets at a time when they need them the most.
It is in hard times that we turn to others for support, including our furry children. They offer ease from the stresses of life - a purr and a cuddle go a long way to make one feel better - but what if you couldn't afford to pay for your dear little furry friend's food, litter, and vet care? What if you had to take food off of your own plate or the plates of your biological children to feed your cat? What would you do?
Unfortunately, in these difficult economic times, people are faced with those questions and many of them are leaving their cats behind when the bank forecloses on their house, or abandoning them when they have to move into apartments that don't allow pets. Many of these cats starve to death, or forage for food in unfriendly neighborhoods and become wild.
But there is an alternative, many food pantries and food banks are stocked with pet food. There are even pet food banks, ask your local animal shelter about pet food programs in your area. You can still get enough food to feed your cat and continue to enjoy his company a little while longer, maybe even until this crisis is over.
But if you are faced with the horrible decision to have to leave your pet behind, take your cat to your local ASPCA or cat shelter. June is adopt a cat month, so your kitty will surely find a nice home to go to if you are no longer able to care for him. You can rest assured that your cat will not starve to death, nor will it have to scrounge for food, and become a nuisance to the neighbors.
If you are not faced with this dilemma, you have the power to help others who are not as fortunate, who need your help to keep their cats. You can donate money, supplies or your time to shelters in your area. Just go to Shelter Source and see what their wish-lists are and donate what you can.
Other posts I think you might be into:
12 cats that will be extinct by 2020
Six diseases caused by dry cat food
It's that time of year when people start thinking about summer vacations. But what to do about Kitty? Cats are very social, even if your cat keeps to himself, he will still miss you when you are gone. Human contact is essential while you are away. Your cat doesn't know why you are gone, just that he is by himself right now and the days are long and quiet.
Some vets offer a boarding service and there are advantages to leaving your pet with a vet. Obviously, if anything goes wrong, your cat will have immediate medical care. If your cat is older or has a medical condition, a vet boarding kennel might be perfect. However, some drawbacks of a vet is that your cat could be exposed to illnesses and it could be very stressful for your cat to be away from home in a cage with other animals around.
So if you don't have a friend or relative who can come over to spend time with kitty and feed him, you might consider getting a petsitter. To find a good petsitter, check out Pet Sitters International, or National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. There are also several private cat sitters that may not belong to either of these organizations but are equally responsible and will take good care of your cat. If you want to hire a pet sitter, here are some tips for selecting the right pet sitter for you and your cat...
These tips will keep you and your cat living safely together.
8. Put the lid down on your toilet. YOur cat will want to drink and may fall in or be poisoned by your toilet cleaning supplies. Don't be lazy, put out fresh water in a bowl beside your cat's food.
7. Keep the doors to appliances closed. If your cat jumps into the dryer and falls asleep, then you come along and turn the dryer on, you'll give new meaning to the extra fluffy cycle. Not to mention you could seriously injure your cat.
6. Lit candles are exciting to cats, but the flame can burn their fur or whiskers or the cat could knock them down and start a fire. Keep them out of reach or don't leave your candles unattended, even for a minute.
5. If you have kids your house should be baby-proofed, if you don't, you need to baby/cat-proof your house. That means no medicine, cleaning supplies, chemicals or toxins out where your cat can find them.
4. Cats love shopping bags, plastic, paper, with a handle, without... but they are all dangerous. Cats can suffocate or get wrapped up in loose cords and choke to death. Not so fun after that.
3. Make sure open windows have proper screens to protect your cat from a nasty fall. I know cats are supposed to fall on their feet, but don't test that theory by leaving a window uncovered by a screen.
2. Cats will chew cords for T.V.'s, computers, hair dryers, ... any electrical cord is dangerous, one little bite could cost your cat his life.
1. Strings and yarn may seem like a great toy for a cat, but because of their barbed tongues, cats can't spit the cord out, it can only go in and so they chew and swallow and lick and it goes further and further down their throats, if you are lucky the cat eventually throws up, but if not, your cat could suffocate or choke or suffer intestinal damage.
If your cat is urinating or defecating outside the litter box, you have to ask, What is your cat trying to tell you?
It seems that cats are forever blamed for their smelly urine. But the truth of the matter is, if cats are spraying or going outside their litter boxes it is not their fault, it is just a way for them to communicate that there is an issue that needs resolving.
Cats don’t spray to be irritating nor do they go outside the litter box just to make a mess, cats spray because they have a need to mark their territory or sometimes even because the litter box doesn’t get cleaned out often enough. And in the case of my cat Neo, he just has poor aim.
Be gentle with your cat
It does not help to put the cat’s nose into it, or yell or hit or scold the cat. That usually makes the situation worse. The best thing to do is find the root cause of the problem. Maybe your cat needs to see the vet? Tell the vet about the problem, they might find a medical condition that is causing it.
Cat psychology is a very complicated thing too. It could be that the litter box is not in an ideal location, too much traffic or no privacy, or too close to other cats, or an open window where they can see other cats.
Reasons your cat might spray outside the litter box:
• An infection or some other physical problem – ask your vet.
• The litter box needs cleaning – scoop daily. Cats are very clean animals and will look for a clean place to go if their litter box is not cleaned out often enough.
• The litter box needs a good washing - use a mild detergent or warm soapy water to wash it out at least once a month.
• Location is not ideal – move the litter box away from windows, family traffic and other situations that might make your cat nervous. Noise, light and vibrations are a no-no.
• New additions to your family – cats need even more loving when there is a new family member or new pet added to the household. And they need one new litter box for every cat in the house. I'm serious, if you have three cats, you should have three litter boxes.
• Change the type of litter you use – cats are very sensitive and cat react to smells and irritants by peeing in inappropriate places. Especially with the different litters on the market that mask odors, are dusty or change color, all of them contain many toxic irritants that can be a problem for your cat.
Cats are clean animals so if they are spraying or peeing outside their litter box, there is an issue you need to find.
Most people don’t realize how easy it is to get rid of cat urine odors by using cat urine cleaning products you can find around your home.
There are several cat urine cleaning products on the market today. But before you invest in cat urine cleaning products, try this home remedy.
A lesson in Acids and Bases
Think back to grade school science. Most stains, dirt and grime is a base and the only way to clean a base is to use a base. So most cleaners are bases. But urine is an acid, so the cleaner you use needs to be an acid too. Plain White Vinegar goes a long way to getting rid of urine stains and odors.
A three-step solution to cat urine odor:
• Dilute it and Mop it up. The best thing to do for fresh or wet urine is to dilute it with water and mop up as much as you can. I use disposable, compostable paper towels that you can throw into your compost or green bin. The benefit is you don’t get your mop smelling like urine, which can transfer to other floors.
• Vinegar and Water. For older urine spots or after you wipe it up with water, you should use plain white vinegar diluted with water. Spray or pour it onto the area and wipe it away or soak it up. Do this a few times and cover an area wider than the stain itself. You should notice a significant reduction in the smell of urine.
• Check the spot with a black light. If the spot is still there it will show up under the black light. If it still shows up you’ll have to use a heavy duty cleaner. Why? Because if you can still see it with the black light, then your cats can still smell it. The funny thing about cats is if they can still smell it, then they think it is okay to keep peeing there. So you have to get rid of the spot completely.
Other posts I think you might be into:
12 cats that will be extinct by 2020
My name is Melanie Walters and I love cats. I've started this blog to... You can read more about me and this blog in my "About Me" section.
