Caring For Your Cat

Always use caution when transporting your cat to other places such as the vet.  You want you and your cat to remain safe when you are transporting them in a vehicle.  Serious accidents can occur when the cat gets caught under your feet, especially if they get underneath the brake pedal.  Cats can also suddenly jump on you and that could cause a severe accident or great distraction.  It is always safe to use a cat carrier.

There are hundreds of different kinds of cat carriers to choose from.  You will want to find one that will be safe and comfortable for your cat while traveling.  You also want to keep in mind that you will want to store the carrier somewhere when it is not being used.  When picking out the right cat carrier for your cat, look for one that will allow your cat to move around when inside.  They do not want to be cramped up and it is not really safe for them.  Air holes are also needed to allow air to circulate and it allows your cat to look out and see what is going on.  If you are transporting more than one cat, you will want to have a carrier for each one.

Once you have picked out a carrier that you like and will be safe and comfortable for your cat, you will want to place a blanket inside to add more comfort.  You will also need to be prepared for your cat’s complaints if it does not want to be in the carrier.  Not all cats like to ride in them and are very happy to get out, so try to make it as comfortable as possible.

The task of getting your cat into the carrier could be a test of your patience of the cat refuses to get in.  Start with some creative coaxing to see if you can get them to walk into the carrier.  There will be times when you will have to put them inside the carrier, but be careful not to hurt them or yourself.  I have found this to be the most challenging part of any trip that I need to take with the cats.  Some of them are easy to get in and others just fight you all the way, just be patient and you will eventually get them inside.

For those who plan on taking their cat on an airplane, you will want to look for cat carriers that have been approved for airline travel.  Just remember to keep the safety of your cat first and then look for items to make them comfortable in their carrier.

Cats spend a lot of their time sleeping so a comfortable bed is very important.  When cats are sleeping they like to be very comfortable and sometimes sleep in the most unusual places.  Cat beds can put your cat into a nice deep sleep or keep them warm and cozy.

Another great cat bed is one that will sit on your window.  Cats love to watch the birds and other little creatures outside.  Mine often sit for hours on their window sill bed watching the chipmunks and birds.  I also find them sleeping and dreaming of wonderful things.  They are so adorable when they are sleeping.

There are all sorts of cat beds to choose from, whether it is a fancy cat bed or a large cat bed to hold more then one cat.  It is a good idea to try different ones to see which one that your cat will like to rest their little head on.  I have bought several different types of beds, and while my cats may use all of them, they certainly do have their favorite sleeping spot.

When choosing a cat bed you will also want to consider getting one that can be cleaned.  You will want to remove cat dander and hair to keep your cat’s sleeping area and your house clean.

Also, having several beds for your cat to sleep in is a good idea, especially when you have to clean one, the other will still be there for your cat to sleep on.

Finding the right cat bed can be very rewarding for your cat and yourself.  Especially knowing that your cat will have a very restful sleep every time they decide to have their cat nap.

We all know that cats are very meticulous about keeping themselves
cleaned.  I find my cats lying in all areas of the house licking and
cleaning themselves.  They really do pride themselves with their
cleaning.  However, we do on occasion need to help them stay clean
and healthy.

I have found some very rewarding benefits while grooming by cats.

We have a special bonding moment while I am brushing them
It allows them to lay back and relax, unless they have some tangles
It keeps their fur nice and silky smooth, I love to snuggle in their soft fur
It keeps them clean and happy
I am able to notice any changes in their skin

One of the easier ways of grooming is brushing your cat.  You do want
to be careful when brushing; some cats do not like it.  I have a couple
that will tolerate it, but prefer not to be brushed and I have one that
just loves it when I brush her.

The type of brush you use will depend on your cat’s hair, whether it is
long or short.  You will want to use a good sturdy brush that it easily
held and managed.

If your cat has short hair you will want to use a brush with soft bristles
so that you do not scratch your cat’s skin and make them uncomfortable.
Cats that have long hair use a comb that is designed for cats.

Be sure to be gentle while brushing using soft, gentle strokes.  You will
know if your cat is enjoying it, they will be purring up a storm.

Cats with longer hair will require longer grooming time and more care,
especially if they have tangles or knots in their fur.  Be gentle and the
grooming will be a pleasant experience for both.

Your cat’s coats should remain shiny and healthy with regular brushing
and grooming.

Another way to groom your cat is by bathing.  Not always the easiest
but sometimes necessary.  Cats are usually very good about keeping
themselves cleaned and may only on occasion need a bath.

You will want to use a gentle shampoo made just for cats and be sure to
rinse thoroughly.  If giving your cat a bath is out of the question, you
could use bath wipes.
Bath wipes are also good to use when you just
need to quickly clean a small area.

Another good grooming practice is keeping their paws clean and their
nails trimmed.  Keeping their nails trimmed not only benefits them,
but you also and your furniture.

You will need a nail trimmer made just for cats.  Also, if you provide
them with scratching posts they will keep their nails trimmed naturally.

You can ask your veterinarian the correct way to trim your cat’s nails
so that you do not hurt them.

Keeping your cat groomed will not only make them happy but you as
well.  They will reward you with their rumbling purr on your lap and
their fur will be so silky soft.

When you decide to bring another cat home, do not forget about how
your cat or cats will feel about a new cat.  You may be a little more
excited about getting a new cat than they will be letting another one
in their territory.  Even if your cat likes to be alone it could eventually
accept or at least tolerate the new cat.  You will also want to remember
that cats can be very territorial, which is why you should always be
careful when you introduce a new cat to the ones that you already have.

The length of time that it will take to get your cats to get along will depend
on each cat’s temperament and personality.  Each one will be different and
should be treated accordingly.  Do not forget about the cat or cats that you
already have, they do not want to feel left out, so shower them with lots of
love.  Give each cat some quality time with you so they know that they are
still appreciated and do not have to compete for your attention.  Mine often
will take turns with who gets to sit on mommy’s lap, but it took a while to
get to that stage.

When bringing the new cat home, you will want to keep them in a separate
room from the other cats for awhile.  It will be so much easier in the long
run that just having all of the cats together.  It could prevent some fights
between the cats.  When you keep your new cat in a separate room, make
sure they have plenty of food, water, toys, and a litter box.

Once you have the room set up for the new cat and they are comfortable,
you will want to start bringing in things that have the scent of the other cat,
and of course take something with their scent for the first cat.  You can even
try sharing one food dish for each cat, let one eat out of it and then take it
for the other one.

Once both cats have gotten used to the scent, you can begin to feed them
closer together.  You can feed them close to the door where the new cat is
staying and keep the door closed.  Try feeding them at the same time this
way.  After a few times of feeding them this way should lessen or eliminate
any hissing or growling.  When they can eat and not hiss or growl at each
other you can then introduce them to each other.

When they do finally meet face to face, there could still be some hissing
and growling, but hopefully not too much.  Your first cat still thinks that
the house is their territory.  Eventually they will get along; it could be a
few days to over a year.  It depends on the cats themselves.  It took mine
almost a year to finally at least tolerate each other.

There is one thing that brings all of my cats together no matter what their
mood is or how much they do not want to be around the other cats.  It is
Playtime.  All I have to do is get out the string and they all come running
and grabbing and jumping for the feather or mouse on the end of the string.
It is the most precious thing to see, all of them getting along and playing
together.

So when you do decide to bring a new cat home, just be patient with all of
them.  They will eventually get along, or at least tolerate each other.  Try
getting them to play with each other; it may be what will bring them together.

The cat lives more than half of its life in the senior years. As cat owners
we want to keep that in mind and be sensitive to their needs as they grow
older, including what they should be eating.  You want your cat to live a
long enjoyable life.

As cats age, you will want to watch for is an increase or decrease in weight.
To help your cat maintain a healthy weight, choose a diet that meets their
nutritional needs.  Shop for foods that address the different life stages of
cats, whether you have a kitten or a senior cat.  You want to pick the right
formula to ensure your cat gets the nutrients it needs.  There are several
brands and varieties to choose from, if you find it difficult to decide you
may want to discuss with your veterinarian what is recommended for your
cat at its current stage.

As a cat enters into its senior years, there could be a gradual decline in its
ability to maintain regular body functions and adapt to its surroundings
when it becomes stressed.  This is when weight changes could occur and
some diseases.  They also could begin to lose their sense of smell and taste,
which will affect their eating.

As your cat gets older and enters into their senior years you can help them
by providing a proper diet, watching their activity levels, and any habits
that they have adopted.  When you notice any changes in your cat report
them to your veterinarian.

Aging is a normal part of a cat’s life and does bring about changes in their
diet and behavior.  You can help your cat to stay as healthy as possible by
providing the nutrients it needs and by scheduling regular visits to the
veterinarian.  Scheduling regular visits is good practice during the senior
years as many potentially serious conditions are treatable if caught early.

Are you tired of cleaning up around the litter box?  Or have you found
other areas in your house that your cat has made it a litter box?  The
steps that you can take to correct this from happening are just below.

Before I talk about the steps to take to get your cat to use the litter box,
lets talk about some of the reasons for your cat not using the litter box.
It could be any one of the following:

1. The cat was not litter box trained in the beginning.
2. There is something wrong with the litter box, it may not like it.
3. The cat could have been frightened while at the litter box.
4. A temporary change or stress in the house.
5. The cat is unable to get to the litter box due to illness or age.
6. A serious medical condition.

There are seven different steps that you can make to get your cat
using the litter box again.

1.  You will want to keep the litter box clean by scooping it out at least
once or twice a day.  Also, changing out the entire litter box is helpful
once every 3-4 days if you are using a non-clumping and once every
2-3 weeks for clumping.  When you change out the litter be sure to
clean out the box with hot water and a mild detergent.  You do not
want to use anything with strong odors as it could repel the cat from
the box.  If you have more than one cat, remember to have at least
one box per cat plus an extra box or two.  Also, if you recently changed
the type or brand of litter your cat may not like the new.  You will want
to gradually mix in the new with the old to get the cat used to the new litter.

2.  You also might want to add a litter box to another private spot of
the house.  It is possible that the litter box is not the source of the
problem, but the location due to a bad experience.

3.  Clean the area where your cat peed thoroughly to remove the urine.
The cat’s sense of smell is better than ours, and if they can still smell the
urine they will more than likely return to that spot again.  You will want
to use a solution that removes urine and its smell.

4.  Do not allow your cat into the area where it peed.  If they do not go
back to using the litter box and find another spot, use one of the other steps.

5. If you can’t keep the cat from entering the area, make it less attractive
for peeing instead. You can do this by either placing a scent, or, by placing
a bowl of dried cat food there. If using a scent, try citrus or eucalyptus. If
using dried food, which often works better, ensure that you fill up the food
bowl during the day.

6.  If there’s a change in toilet behavior with no obvious cause, it may be
caused by illnesses such as urinary tract infections, blocked anal glands,
worms and parasites, diabetes and tumors. These illnesses may have no
other obvious signs, apart from this urination problem. So you must
consider a visit to the vet. In other cases you may see symptoms such
as lethargy, blood in the urine, diarrhea, or constant licking in the anal
area. If you see this, then your first stop is the vet!

7. This step is a little trickier and must be done with care and attention.
You must catch the cat in the act.  When you catch them, make a loud
noise, or a firm No.  If done properly the cat will associate that spot
with an unpleasant feeling and will not return to pee at that spot.

It does take some effort to see what has caused the litter box problem
in the first place. Now you have the steps to take to correct the
problem as quickly as possible.

It has been a while since I posted information here on my blog.
I wanted to share a story today, well actually a dream that I had
last night where Cuddles appeared from out of nowhere.

Cuddles has been gone for almost two years now, and I still miss
her a lot, I still expect her to walk around any corner and jump
up into my lap to sleep. 

I was lying in my bed not wanting to get up and start my day, since
it was Saturday and I could enjoy a few extra minutes of rest.  I
looked over the edge of the bed to the floor and my heart jumped
as I saw Cuddles sitting there looking up at me.  I could not believe
it, I thought that she was gone. 

I called to her and she jumped up into my arms and I held her close. 
It wasn’t long before she wanted to get down and play with her sister
Tiggy.  My heart just filled with warmth as I watched her trying to
play with her. 

I also noticed how much smaller she seemed to be now.  I sat there
wondering how she got here, it seemed like she had been gone for
so long.  Cooper and Leena stayed away and kept their distance, which
confused me as Cooper is always so curious.

I was awed by how beautiful she looked.  I wanted to hold her again,
so I called for her.  She would not come back.

Then I woke up.  Wow!!! The emotions were flooding me this morning.
I immediately looked to see if Cuddles really was there and she was
not.  I do not know why I had this dream. 

It could be because I read a very touching post on Dr. Joe Vitale’s blog 
about the loss of his cat Tiger.  I could feel the love and admiration that
he felt about his cat, just the same as I do about all of mine.  You can
read his article about Tiger at http://blog.mrfire.com/animals/super-tiger/.

I hope to have many more dreams like the one I had with Cuddles last
night.  I can keep the memory of her alive in my dreams and look
forward to each day.

I have added a new page titled Games/Puzzles.  I will be adding
games and or puzzles that have a cat theme periodically to this
page.

 You can check it out by clicking on the Games/Puzzles page or
by clicking this link Click Here.

I have added the first puzzle that will be fun and challenging to
complete.  The link to the puzzle can be found on the Games/Puzzles
page.

Have fun and enjoy!!!!  Let me know what you thought of the
puzzle.

Have you ever walked into the toy section for pets and wondered
which toy to buy?  I have on several occasions meandered over to
the pet toy section when I am out shopping only to get totally
confused by the vast array of choices.  There are so many toys of
all different sizes, shapes, and colors to choose from for your cat.
As I stand there looking, which sometimes could be almost an hour,
for a toy for my cats I am just not sure which one I should get.  I do
tend to buy the toys that have more than one in a package as they
often get lost behind or under appliances or furniture. 

I do not buy a lot of the toys from the store, as I have discovered
that my cats do not always like the toys I bring home from the store
and will find their own amusement in something that you would least
expect and that you already have around the house.  My cats are often
attacking shoes that are lying around on the floor and dragging them
from one room to the other by the shoe strings.  Most cats just love to
play with string and my cats all love to play with string. I can get all of
them to sit around in a circle while I bounce the string around from one
to the other.  It is so much fun to watch them trying to get the little piece
of string.  It is also about the only time that I can get all of mine to be in
close proximity to each other without any hissing or growling.  It is amazing
how they interact when they are concentrating on something so intently. 
I also do not let them play with the string when I am not around, it can be
dangerous for them if they were to swallow it. 

I have also found that a cardboard box or paper bag are great tools of
amusement for a cat.  I will often find one of my cats curled up in a box
sleeping.  Cooper also just loves to play in the box, jumping in and out and
scratching inside of it as if he is digging for gold.  He also loves to play in a
paper bag; it will keep him occupied for hours.  It is so much fun to watch
him jump in the sack and peek his head out.  Another homemade toy that
Cooper loves to play with is the empty toilet paper roll.  At first I didn’t
know how the empty rolls were getting all over the house, until we caught
him taking it out of the basket and batting and chasing it all over the floor. 
It was so funny to see him play with that empty roll.  Then he started to
play with the toilet paper that was still full, I am not sure if he wanted to
get to the empty roll or if he just wanted to have toilet paper all over, it
was something else that amused him, although; that did not amuse me as
I had to pick up all that he had unrolled onto the floor. 

The few toys that I have purchased for my cats that they have loved to play
with are the little plastic balls with bells inside.  They love to bat them around
the floor, but they do tend to get under furniture and I have to drag them out
from time to time.  Cuddles really enjoyed playing with a little cloth ball that
was soft enough that she could grab it in her mouth and run around with it, now
that was a cute sight to see.  There are two toys that Cooper gets the most
enjoyment out of that I bought from the store. One is a little stuffed animal that
he will pick up in his mouth and toss it in the air and chase after it.  It is the most
comical thing to see him do.  He also loves playing with a plastic tube with a ball
that rolls inside.  He will lay by it for hours pushing the ball around inside, but
I have to keep that toy up at night as he tends to get a little noisy when he gets
really excited and pushes it across the floor. 

I have also purchased the toys with feathers on the end, but they do not last
very long.  The feathers get all mangled and wet from being chewed on a lot. 
I have even bought some toys that you can hang from a doorknob for your cat
to play with, but they do not pay too much attention to it.  I find that they have
more fun when I take the same toy and just play with them instead of hanging
it on the doorknob for them to play themselves. 

The next time you are standing in the toy section and wondering what to get
your cat, pick out something that you can both play with or something that you
will enjoy watching them being silly.  Some of the best toys are already in your
house waiting for your cat to discover them, and for the adventure to begin. 

Cooper is playing in a paper bag in the video clip below.