Every Cat

Archive for June, 2009

Cats are cute creatures that can take care of themselves. But if you were to have one as a pet, you should know various factors about how to take care of your cat. It is different when you got this as a kitten to a full grown feline. You can read more at birman cats.

If you got this as a kitten, it will easily be able to adapt itself to the environment because it will allow itself to be ruled by other pets. This means there will be fewer incidents of fighting among themselves.

Lucky for you, kittens that often sold to owners are already litter trained. The other thing you will need to do is teach it the place to go to use the toilet.

Your kitten will follow you around wherever you go and at times jump or climb up to the kitchen top or table. This isn’t good if you have food there so discourage this habit by having a bottle full of water around so you can squirt it into their face.

It will also be a good idea to install a scratching post since this is their way of sharpening their nails. If they do this elsewhere, spray them again in the face.

Apart from working on the scratch pad, you should trim their nails before it gets too sharp that it could hurt someone or damage the furniture in the house. You do this by holding down on the toes which leads to the claws extending. This should be inspected regularly so they also get used to it as they grow older.

Kittens do not shed that much hair compared to bigger cats. But you should comb them anyway so they get used to it regardless if your pet is a short or long haired cat.

Do not just allow your cat to eat anything. They should be of great quality that can be found in the pet store. If you are not sure about which brand has the highest vitamins and minerals, go ask your vet for some recommendations. There must be a clean bowl of water as well so they don’t get dehydrated.

Apart from feeding the kitten, they should be taken to the vets for shots. They usually get a few while they are young but get a regular one annually as they get bigger. Be sure to keep a record of the shots so this can be shown to the doctor.

If your cat is large, allow them room to get used to their home area by themselves. If your pets quarrel, don’t worry or get in between them because this is normal. But if things are really bad, then you have to separate them by moving themto opposing rooms.

An older cat also needs to be disciplined so they know what they can and cannot do. This is why you need to keep the squirt bottle handy as this is the top method to let them know it is wrong without physically harming them.

House cats should really be kept indoors. Studies have shown that this lengthens their life for longer than ten years since going outside puts them in danger of being hit by a car or contaminated with a virus from stray animals.Just so you know strays cats that live outdoors rarely survive longer than a few years.

It doesn’t take much to know how to take care of a cat. Do some research and practice so both of you will enjoy each other’s company. Find out more about cat skin care, cats teeth and other information here.

As a frequent visitor to kitty forums, a topic that appears way too regularly is that of cat dandruff. It’s a nuisance that affects most of us cat lovers, and if you own a cat, you’ll have to deal with it sooner or later.

But fear not, there may be a cat dandruff cure that you can use without spending an expensive journey to the vet, just by observing the symptoms and environment and taking action based on these symptoms.

This is what I got from the excellent website Cat Dandruff Away…

Most cat dandruff issues are invariably linked to three factors:

1. An aged or over-weight pet with dandruff on her rump or tail

If your pet is overweight or has gained weight suddenly and dandruff on her rump and tail, it’s a clear sign that she’s unable to reach these areas to clean herself. This is also a problem for ageing cats that lack the mobility to groom themselves.

A good brushing would help in this case and it might be a good idea to groom her every two months. If you decide to give your cat a bath, I suggest do not use human shampoos as that might dry her skin further and exacerbate the condition. Always use a cat shampoo and don’t forget to wash thoroughly as excess shampoo stuck on her undercoat may start the problem all over again.

2. It’s winter

If your cat only has dandruff issues in winter, then it could be the result of the cold and dry environment. To make matters worse, most cats like to lie about in the warm comforts of the fireplace, which quickly dries her skin causing it to flake.

Just take her away from the fireplace regularly and see if the situation persists. Buying a humidifier would be a good idea, both for your cat and also yourself (we get dry skin too…)

3. The cat dandruff still persists after trying out everything

If your pet still has cat dandruff problems, just think, have you got any new furniture lately? A new carpet maybe? Take a look if there has been any changes to her environment that she might be sensitive to and try to make the necessary adjustments.

If all three solutions still don’t work, there’s still more, check out this cat dandruff guide.

One of the advantages of having an automatic cat feeder is that using one will relieve you from having to ask someone to come feed the cat when you were out of town. A great advantage is that you will be able to provide regularity for your pet. While some cats can be left overflowing cat feeders and only eat what he needs, there are other cats that are lacking in feline self-control. The cats will eat and eat until the cat feeders run empty, they get sick, or both. At the same time, you don't want your cat to eat what you have put in their bowl
right after you leave and have nothing left for the rest of the time you are gone. The solution is the automatic cat feeders.

Automatic cat feeders tend to fall into two main categories. Automatic refers to a gravity type of system, while electronic is the type of feeder that offers portion and frequency control. Whether you want to chose either an automatic feeder or an electronic feeder, all you need is periodically refill them and clean them. Either choices makes life simple for you and provides consistency to your pet's life which will help to reduce stress.

The electronic cat feeders are a great solution for dispensing moist or dry food, treats, or medications on a regular or timed basis. An automatic cat feeder is a perfect choice for dispensing only dry food but keep in mind, the food is always available, not regulated. If the pet tends to overeat, the electronic cat feeder may be what it best for your needs.

There is another benefit of automatic feeders for the people involved in the cat's life. If your morning ritual is comprised of the cat jumping on your bed and meowing until you're ready to get up and give him a meal,who own the cat.
You may see as the cat understands the cat feeder does this job by itself, he will also realize he doesn't need you to get up to receive a meal. It will take a little bit of training time, but eventually your cat may even
let you sleep in, on a day off, as long as the automatic cat feeders set up to deliver the meal they are waiting for.

If you love cats, cat dander could make your life really miserable. If you’re one of the unlucky cat owners who are sensitive to cat dander, then good news, you may not have to give up your pet.

Cat dander are very tiny pieces of cat skin shed by your pet and passed around all over your home. If you are allergic to them, here are some ways to minimise your problem:

1) Don’t let your cat into the bedroom or onto your bed. I know this is difficult especially for those who share the bed with the cat, but the close proximity of your body to the bedsheet and pillow means that you’ll be inhaling cat dander whenever you sleep. Try to train your pet to recognise your bedroom as a no go zone and you should see immediate improvement.

Also clean your pillow cases, bedsheets and blankets with hot water as often as you can.

2) Do you have carpets in your home? You might want to remove them as cat dander stick on to them and bacteria breeds easily there. If that isn’t an option, vacuum your carpets whenever possible.

3) Do you have fabric sofas too? The cloth of the sofa is really conducive for cat dander. Change them with leather sofa sets or wash the fabric as often as possible.

4) Now you need to take a look at your curtains. If you have the heavy fabric ones, cat dander might stick to them easily. You might want to change them to another material or alternatives like blinds.

5) As cat dander spread by the air due to their small size, you have to look into cleaning the air too. It would be a good idea to invest in a good air purifier.

These 5 simple tips are a good start though by no way are they the only solutions. More information on cat dander can be found at CatDandruffAway.com

In this article we will take a look at some skin disorders which could affect your cat, the symptoms of these conditions and just what you can do about them. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of your cat suffering then you should speak with your vet.

The majority of cats have a thick, protective layer of fur.This makes it very hard to spot if a cat has a skin issues prior to it becoming a lot more serious.  It is important to take time on a regular basis to examine your cat’s skin closely for anything that may be wrong.

Move your hand steadily over his body and explore the skin for any strange patches. If you find any, move the fur by brushing it gently, so that you can see below the fur and have a better look at the skin. If you carry this out regularly and understand your cat’s body, you should notice any problems very quickly. You will learn to know what looks normal and what doesn’t.

Cheyletiellosis is a skin disorder in cats is caused by skin mites and is very contagious between cats as well as humans. In cats, the symptoms are itching and it usually results in heavy scaling and flaking of the skin, which is why Cheyletiellosis in cats is often known as “walking dandruff”. You cats life should not be at risk with such a condition and when it has been confirmed there is medication available to simply treat the problem.

Alopecia is a skin disorder in cats that will result in hair loss due to endocrine disturbances, localized infections, or generalized illnesses. The condition can also be a result of stress. The cats symptoms included bald patches on the skin and can be accompanied by reddened or inflamed skin. Not a deadly skin disease, and with proper treatment, the fur would most likely grow back. 

While most skin conditions are cause by allergies to food and pesticides bite, and can be easily managed and treated, early detection is still important.A short amount of time daily could stop any period of discomfort later on.

Please see cats fleas and cat illnesses for related articles.

Cats can make excellent pets as they don’t require as much attention as dogs or other pets. Cats don’t need to be taken for a walk, and they don’t bark all day like a dog.Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to, and they are very independent. Most cats are content to play with toys by themselves.

This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. However your cat won’t come running when you come home at the end of day and knock you over. You don’t have to worry about them biting people when you have visitors. Why you’re feeling down and lonely, a cat will sense this and jump up on your lap and give you a fuss.

A cat is a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy. Indoor cats learn quickly to use a litter box so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.

In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. Another bonus is they don’t require as many vet visits for routine vacinations like dogs do and these are quite expensive. Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day.

For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home.

Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.

Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.

Before you even think about bringing home a cat, you really need to think about what it’s going to take to care for this pet and make it feel comfortable.

Most times when you bring one of these pets home it isn’t yet a litter box trained so you need to make sure that you get one so that you are able to train the cat yourself.  Doing this will save the person time and effort cleaning up the waste the creature has left in various places of one’s home.

To make this happen, choosing the right litter box for the cat is important.  This is all going to depend on how big your cat is and how spacious the cat box is in comparison. Since this is the toilet for your cat, your going to need to make it easily accessible both going in and out of the box.

One can buy a litter box that can easily be cleaned from time to time. This can be found in the internet or at the local pet store that will cost twenty-five dollars and above.  The price depends on the kind of material that is used in making the box- whether it is plastic or another kind of non-absorbent material.

If cleaning the cat litter box isn’t up your alley, then you can fork out a couple hundred bucks and get something extra special that will clean itself.  If you don’t like the idea of either of these, you can pick up a disposable type i.e. a soda box, which is also going to have to be changed regularly.

You are going to have to get cat litter for the box so that you will be easy to clean.  This is essential for the prevention of odors staying in the box which can produce harmful bacteria that will make your cat sick.

If your cat is the type of cat that likes to have some privacy, then it is important to choose a cat litter box that has a cover.  When it is time for your cat to use the box, this can help to feel more comfortable in doing so.

There are a lot of different types of litter boxes to choose from, like small ones for kittens and really large ones for adult cats.  With all of the different types of cat litters on the market, you’re going to have to choose one that your pet is not sensitive to.

If you are having a hard time picking out the right cat litter box, you can always ask a sales associate at a pet store or a friend who might have a cat as a pet.

Find your next automatic litter box at litter boxes for cats

Cat Scratching posts

Cat Scratching posts

She looks so forlorn in the shelter’s cage, so you decide to take her home. You couldn’t be happier!

Apart from being litter trained, she is sweet and affectionate! But by week’s end, you can’t help feeling tempted to take her back!

The front corner of your once beautiful chintz love seat has been reduced to shreds, all thanks to your precious kitty.

Wait! Taking her back is not the answer! A solution is at hand. What you need to buy, right away, is a good cat scratch post. Searching for and finding a strong and stable to scratch comes naturally to a cat when she is placed in a new surrounding. Your loveseat is the best available option!

Cats have a territorial instinct that prompts them to place their mark and establish their territory.

They inform other cats that they are coming into marked territory, by leaving a distinctive scent on the surface they scratch from the sweat glands in their paws.

Even if you don’t have any other cats, your kitty doesn’t know when one might show up! Cats also scratch simply because it feels good!

By purchasing a cat scratching post, you solve two problems:

Number one:
Your kitty doesn’t scratch your furniture anymore, and

Number two:
She can satisfy her urge to scratch and keep herself in shape at the same time. By stretching, pulling and working the muscles of her front quarters, she’ll get the workout that she needs each time she attacks the scratching post!

Actually, she’ll prefer her cat scratch post to your loveseat, as long as you purchase one made of rough sisal material or something similar. The soft pretty looking posts, just forget about them! They will not gain her interest al all.

Cats have a need to shred and sisal material (not sisal rope) is perfect for them. Cats cannot resist the urge to shred things! Make sure that your cat scratch post is at least 28” high so that your kitty can get a healthful stretch.

It is imperative that the post is sturdy and won’t move during a heavy duty scratching session! If the post topples on her, she will be frightened of it, and not come near it ever again!

Now that you know the reasons why kitty scratches, don’t hesitate another minute! You both need a cat scratch post, not to mention your beautiful chintz love seat!

For quality cat furniture visit www.catbedandtoy.com and www.pussycatfurniture.com

You are a responsible cat owner. You know how to treat your cat well, but you are also a busy person. You spend till late night hours working and even get to work on some loose ends in the weekend, or worse you’re sent to a far-flung place on a business trip. You always have the nagging fear about who is going to feed the cat while I am away? Be glad then that there are automatic cat feeders. You can now leave home anytime you want, being sure that your cat’s not going to be hungry at all!

Automatic fish feeder will make sure that your cat is fed at the right intervals not just for a day but for several days. These automatic feeders have been designed to fit the needs of your pet cats from one to four meals in a day. There are those that would reach up to eight meals. It may contain a lot of compartments with a maximum of 8. It can contain as much as 96 ounces of pet food. There are some models that are battery operated and still others run on electricity. With automatic cat feeders, you can schedule your cat’s meals with same time or different intervals, depending on how often your pet cat eats. This tool comes encumbered with a feeding dish that is great for wet pet foods. Ice packs can be put underneath it to preserve the food from spoiling.

There are other stuffs that can be placed in an automatic cat feeder. This great tool may also be a great dispenser of medicine. You can regulate the time he needs to take his medicine on its digital control panel and your cat can take his medicine in the appropriate time. Everything you programmed you can find on an LCD screen where you can easily change the information on time intervals and dates.

This would be useful to a cat owner who is always out. You have peace of mind when you on a trip, knowing that your pet is being fed. The great thing about this cat feeder is that you can bring it along in your travels. You are sure that your pet is well fed in the trip’s duration without worrying about the supplies. You can relax and enjoy the scenic view of the countryside at your own time.

You can be happily feeding your cat with an automatic cat feeder. You have peace of mind every time you leave your place, knowing that you can feed your cat with an automatic cat feeder.

It’s not difficult to learn how to toilet train your cat if you have the patience to go through every single step. Actually, it’s rather simple. It may take only a couple of weeks or at most a few months. The more slowly you go through each of the requisite steps, the better the chances are that your kitty will master this new accomplishment.

Cat toilet training is certainly something you ought to at least attempt. Teaching your cat to use the toilet will not only save money on cat litter, your house will smell better without a litter box, and you’ll be helping the environment. If you’re interested in giving it a try, here are some guidelines to help you.

The first thing you must do is to shift the litter box gradually so that the cat learns to do its business in a new room. Thus, you want to shift the litter box in increments. This may take you a fair bit of time, but it’s essential for your cat to figure out that the bathroom is where it now has to go to relieve itself. Try moving the box an inch or so at a time to start. You can increase or reduce the rate of movement depending on your cat’s reaction.

After the litter box is located right beside the toilet, the next step is to elevate it. Increase the height of the base over time until the litter box is at the same level as the toilet. Make certain when you do this that you also securely fasten the box to the base because your kitty will now have to jump in order to do its business, and you don’t want to have to clean up any accidents. Heavy blocks or phonebooks work well for this purpose. Once the base is level with the toilet and your kitty is used to the new arrangement, it’s time to start sliding it over nearer to the toilet, and eventually resting right on it. The entire time, you should be reducing the quantity of litter progressively so that there’s only about an inch of it remaining.

You’re now ready to move to the last step of this operation. Remove the litter box and replace it with an aluminum tray that is securely attached to the toilet. Eventually, you’ll get rid of the litter entirely and cut a small hole in the bottom of the tray. Slowly start to enlarge the hole, until eventually your cat is only using the toilet!