Cat scratching is a natural behavior for cats, no matter how it might impact the fabric on your $5,000 new sofa. You cat isn’t scratching to defy you – but he is sending you a message. That message is, “give me something to scratch!” When his urge to scratch hits, he isn’t too picky about what to scratch. In the wild, everything is fair game. Your cat isn’t trying to damage your belongings. He’s trying to sharpen his claws. In the wild, a cat might use a tree trunk or fence post for scratching. But since your living room probably lacks those things, the next best thing is something wooden, like the legs on your expensive new coffee table. Declawing your cat isn’t the only way to protect your furniture. Instead of going to this extreme, set up a few standing scratch posts around your house for your cat to [...] Read more »
Five Things Your Kitten Doesn’t Want You to Know
They look like handfuls of cuddly, adorable helplessness. But be warned. Those irresistible, seemingly innocent eyes are hiding some diabolical secrets. 1. Kittens are stubborn. Their bodies are all cuddly and fragile, but mentally and emotionally, they are made of steel. Nudging a kitten that does not want to move is an exercise in futility. However, contrary to popular belief, kittens should not be lifted by the scruff of their neck. Lifting a kitten in this way can cause serious injury. To move a stubborn kitten away, blow a quick, short puff of air in its face. To move a kitten toward a particular spot, toss some kitten treats or a crumpled piece of paper to the desired spot. 2. Kittens are destructive. When you are preparing to bring a kitten into your home, make a list of your three most treasured possessions. Then destroy them. It just saves time. [...] Read more »
How We Can Repay Our Cats
It can be hard to resist the overwhelming cuteness of cats. Sure, sometimes they need an attitude adjustment, but when a cat chooses to bestow its love on you, you melt right through the floor. Cats nurture our spirits: they lift us up when we’re feeling low and give us something to look forward to when we come home every day. Cats make us laugh. Their simple minds are entertained by simple things: a cat will play for hours on end with a string or piece of fluff from the dryer as if it was a gift directly from cat toy heaven. Cats also relax us; there is something soothing about watching your cat drift all day from one nap spot to another without a care in the world. It is if he is saying, “Why worry? There are always more nap spots. If you don’t like the one where [...] Read more »
Bringing Your New Kitten Home: Tips to Avoid Most Adjustment Problems and Heartaches
Bringing a new kitten home may be a very exciting time for you, but it can also be a very traumatic time for the new arrival. Taking a few preparatory steps beforehand and following a slow-and-easy approach after arrival will help smooth transition and ruffled furs for everyone involved. Pre-Arrival Checklist Before you bring your new kitten home, make sure you have supplies and toys available. If possible, use the same cat litter the little one has been using. If desired, you can gradually change to a preferred brand, but allow the kitten that familiarity. Feed the cat the same food for about a week as well. After that, if you prefer a different brand, slowly integrate the new food, displacing the old, until after a week or so, when the kitten will be fully acclimated to the new food. Have a kitty-safe area reserved. A spare room with food, [...] Read more »
Cat Safety Collar – The Best Choice in Safety for Your Cat
Choosing the best cat safety collars for your cat does not have to be difficult. If you think about safety it will be easy to choose a safety cat collar. The small investment will reap large benefits by keeping your pet safe and giving you peace of mind. Plus, with all of the things going on in your life a collar that is safe for your cat will give you one less thing to worry about. A safe cat collar is one that is either elastic or has a breakaway clasp, or both. A collar with the breakaway clasp is ideal because it will allow your curious kitty to romp and play at its leisure without getting the collar caught or snagged on something risking the chance for choking. Choking is the major concern when picking a collar for your cat. If you don’t choose a safety collar you have [...] Read more »
