Litter Box Problems?

November 9th, 2009

 Almost every cat owner faces cat litter problems especially if you have more than one cat. You can learn more on how to avoid trouble with your cat’s behavior with the litter box.

What are some ways to avoid litter box problems with your cat?  Select correct litter box – you need to know the right size of bitter box for kitten. If the litter box is too high, then the cat may be too afraid to use it because of vast size.  It may be hard to climb in the box—so get a box that is easier for the kitten to enter.

Click here to find out how you can get the first litter box you can leave alone up to 30 days!

Make sure that you clean the litter box frequently. Kittens tend to use the litter box more as they eat more because they are constantly growing.  Do you like an overflowing toilet?  Of course not!  Cats are naturally fastidious and clean pets:  they hate dirty, overflowing litter boxes.  If a litter box is not clean, some cats may eliminate outside of the litter box if it is full of “stuff.”  You will have to clean more often if you have kittens—about twice a day for grown cats.

Never place the box in any busy area or near the food bowl area. Do not keep changing place of the litter box frequently because it is confusing for your cat. Make sure that if you own two cats, then both have at least two litter boxes placed in a different corner of your home.

Another main reason can be that bad quality litter might be hurting your cat lungs, as it can be dusty.  At the same time, make sure that you are not using scented litter, because your cat could dislike the dust from the litter.
 

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How to Introduce Cats

November 2nd, 2009

 No single plan of introducing cats to one another works in same way for every cat. This is due to different nature of cats backed up with characteristics such as breed, early experience, and personality.

Kittens develop their personalities along with their special preferences from the length of time they began living with you–although most kittens have their own personality traits before you even adopt them!

The introduction of a new cat to a household with at least one other cat is not an easy job. Find out more on how to deal and train our complex feline friends.

Find a room that may be used by cats as home base for many days. The room needs to have a door that is a private area. Place the cat litter box in to some corner or opposite to door. Place some fresh water and food for the cat that must be placed away from the area near the litter box.

Make a separate corner for your cat to sleep. Allow the kitten to be passive and discover strong points of the room such as windows, couch, or bed, table for jumping. This is necessary for the cat’s entertainment and “getting acquainted” time for its new home.

Keep other pets and companions away from the cat’s room. Introduction of these pets should be controlled gradually. Once the kitten becomes familiar to each family member, and then you get to know the preferences of your cat for playing, sleeping, and eating. Gradually introduce your cat or kitten to the other cat(s) daily, starting at a few minutes a day.  Let your other cats get used to the new cat’s scent. Take your time with the introduction.  Your cats will gradually integrate with the new cat and accept it.  Don’t do it all at once!

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Cat Litter Box Tips

October 12th, 2009

Do you pay much attention to your cat’s litter box?  If not, start by organizing a regular routine by cleaning your cat’s litter box daily.  Think of a smelly, overflowing toilet for humans.  Well, that’s what a cat will think of a dirty litterbox that is not scooped and cleaned too often.

The younger a cat is and the more cats that you have that are sharing a litter box, the more often you will have to clean (especially if you have kittens).   Litter box cleaning could be up to three times a day in the beginning.   As cats get older, the box can be cleaned once or twice a day.  If you have two or more cats, it may be two or three times a day.  You can throw the discarded litter in a grocery bag, so you can throw it out immediately.

Discover more about cat litter box tips, Click Here.

Don’t hesitate to add a small amount of fresh litter to make it last longer.  Plastic litter liners can be used—and if you cat habit of scratching the plastic litter liner while in the box you may have to use two litter liners at the same.  The reason is that the first litter liner may have holes in it, and when you throw it out litter will leak all over.  A second liner will help protect the area around the litter box. 

Add a litter mat when you cat walks into the box.  Again, it will protect the entrance of the little box.   And clean the box once a week with  ‘green’ non-toxic cleaner, like Go Green.  It smells strong, but does not harm pets.  Whatever you do, do not use strong toxic cleaners. It is not good for your pet or for your health.  And stay away from perfumed litter, which is designed for people’s noses–unscented litter is better and more natural.

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Cat Not Using Litter Box

October 5th, 2009

Cat not using the litter box?  Well, imagine this scene:  your usually fastidious and fussy feline just started to make a mess near the litter box (or a few feet away  it).   It’s a shock to you because you make sure your litterbox is clean and filled with fresh litter.  So you know that it is probably you have been sloppy in cleaning up after your cat.

Keep in mind, when a cat does not use a litter box properly, it is not because it is angry with you and wants to “get even.”  It’s because something’s wrong, and this is the only way a cat can express itself.

What else can be the cause of the cat not using a litter box?   A couple  the reasons could be that your feline may have developed an aversion to a covered litter box or the depth of the litter in the box itself.  Or it could be a family member “scared” your cat out of the litter box when your cat was ready to do it’s business.

But one of the suspect causes could be a medical problem like a urinary tract infection, which is often painful.  The cat will want to avoid using the box as its use means elimination or  urination that is painful.  

Take your cat to the Vet to determine the cause of the problem if you are frustrated.  A discussion with your Vet about your cat’s behavior, the location and cleanliness of the box, and perhaps a medical test may determine the problem so you can try out some solution!

To find out more about cat care, Click Here.

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Cat Sneezing and Won't Stop? What To Do

September 24th, 2009

If you have a sneezing cat that won’t stop,  take it to a Vet if you can afford it.  If the idea of  Veterinarian fees panics you, please get in touch with your local Human Society or Angels4Animals. You can call a number of Veterinarians in your area  who may be acquainted with organizations that could help you with the fees for your cat’s care. Most  veterinarians are acquainted with programs that help low income people with pets and they can also apply a sliding scale and lower their fees for you and your cat. Keep calling and don’t give up.

It is normal for a cat to sneeze, but a sneezing cat who can’t stop probably has a medical problem.   Don’t wait too long, as days in “human time” equal weeks or months in the health of a cat.  The sneezing cat can also be contagious so if you have another cat, your other cat may “catch” the sneezing.

And don’t forget cats don’t live as long as people, so if you wait too long to get the health problem take care of you risk the health and well being of your pet cat.

For more information on dealing with other preventative cat health issues, you can Click Here.

Sneezing can occur for a variety of reasons.  An upper respiratory infection could be the cause as it is fairly common and it can take a few days to clear up if left untreated.  Cats just adopted from a crowded animal shelter can bring sneezing into their new household.

Depending on the cause, Vets can successfully give you a treatment plan so your cat will be on the road to health.  Keep in mind if your cat has any observable change in eating, sleeping, and hygiene habits it’s time to take your feline friend to be seen by the Vet.  You want to stop the symptom or problem before it gets worse.

 

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Shedding Cat: Why does a cat shed?

September 14th, 2009

Every cat owner is aware that a cat sheds year ‘round, especially during hot weather or summer time.  It’s a natural occurrence with long hair cats because of the sheer quantity of fur that grows during the year.  Indoor cats tend to shed evenly throughout the year if the room temperature stays the same. Shedding is a normal part of cat life and cat behavior.

Another reason why cat shedding might become a problem is when the shedding gets too excessive.  Observe and note if your feline is undergoing stressful situations—because cats will start shedding if there are changes going on in your household, especially if your felines are indoor cats. Cats hate baths, so if you bathe your cat too often it may trigger a shedding episode or two.  And buy healthy, nutritious cat food from a good pet store.

To cut down on the excessive shedding of fur, you might want to purchase a grooming brush.  Try to groom your cat by brushing its fur every day.  Some cats won’t mind it but others may need some time to get used to it.  It will loosen up extra fur and control the amount of cat shedding. Stay away from cheap cat food and substitute with healthy food.

Click here on how to train the Purrfectly Trained Cat.

 

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Cat Behavior Meaning: Can You Understand Your Feline?

September 7th, 2009

What is cat behavior meaning?  That is, what makes your cat ‘tick?’  Only your friendly feline knows for sure, but maybe you can learn cat behavior meaning.  Learn to observe your cat in the morning for example.  It’s true that cats are creatures of habit and have their usual routines.  Once in a while, they like some variety and may not nap when you usually expect them to.

As you watch your cats you can begin to look at why cats act the way they do.  Your feline companion comes from a long line of domestic and wild cats, and even though he or she is domesticated, you will see that much of his or her behavior is still a little on the “wild” side. Think of them as mini-domestic version of their larger, wild cousins like the lion and tigers. 

The role of the supreme hunter  means that your cat will still exhibit the same behaviors as its wild cousins.  Understanding the meaning of your cat’s behavior will help you in enjoying your interactions with your cat even more. You can use your cat’s urge to hunt by playing with some cat toys where they can interact and jump around.  An added benefit is the exercise they can get from the experience and burn off some of those calories!

Learn more about your cat. Click here.

 

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Urinary Problems In Cats – Would You Recognize the Symptoms?

August 30th, 2009

You may be surprised when your vet tells you that the cat urine problems your cat is exhibiting are really related to a common cat illness.  Urinary problems in cats is a paingful condition often misread as a behavior problem.  Now don’t you feel a bit small that you’ve been scolding your cat when she’s been sick and hurting?  Here’s some tips to help you recognize feline urinary tract infections and to get it under control fast – before its and emergency.

It is essential that you treat any urinary problems your cat experiences. Left untreated, urinary problems in cats lead to weight loss and severe pain in your cat.  Needless to say, you are dealing with cat piddle it all kinds of weird places too.  

So that’s your first clue.  Your cat is urinating outside of the litter box, underneath the litter box, on the bathroom tile or even in the tub.  

You may also notice she is going to the litter box very frequently, but only a few drops of urine is produced.  In fact she may squat for a l-o-n-g time or reposition herself, even stand on the edges of the box.  She isn’t trying to be a contortionist, she is demonstrating litter box behavior related to urinary problems in cats.  

Finally,  she may vomit or you may notice she has a really full and expanded bladder.  Do not sit around and wait for things to get better.  When her bladder is blocked, her kidneys are starting to fail and the toxic waste material is backing up in her blood.  That’s why she is now vomiting.  That’s why its time to get her to the vet pronto!

One of the simplest and most effective home remedies for urinary problems in cats is a natural remedy that targets urinary tract infections in animals. These remedies contain herbal extracts like Cantharis and Uva Ursi that restore the proper pH to your cat’s  bladder so it can heal.

You should also consider your cat’s water source. Filtered or distilled water is best and make sure its changed every day.  You’ll be surprised how much more water she will drink when its fresh. Drinking plenty of water helps her flush out her system and prevents buildup of minerals.  That can lead to cat bladder stones.

If you are ready to help your cat improve her urinary health and prevent or even better – eliminate urinary problems in cats, here is more for urinary problems in cats.  Here’s an article with more details on symptoms of cat urinary infections.  Watch the free video about recognizing Kidney Disease in Cats too.

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Are Cats Naturally Mischievous? Well, Yes and No….

August 28th, 2009

Yes, I think that most cats have that naturally curious streak where they just have to explore the area above your DVR player, jump on the kitchen counter, or they may just want to examine the contents of your refrigerator—especially if you have last night’s chicken dinner ready to be into leftovers.  They have those natural eccentricities!

They don’t think they are naughty or misbehaving at all, because they are just being cats!  That means they are natural explorers that always want to be entertained (when they’re not sleeping, of course).  You might think that they are trying irritate you when you are at your computer or watching television—but actually they want to be a part of your activity.  You, the owner (or parent) are very interesting to your cat and whatever you do is fascinating to them.  When I am in the kitchen, for example, preparing a meal for myself my cats jump on the kitchen counter and watch me prepare my food.  What’s so funny is that they are probably hoping that they will get a snack or two from my meal!

You might think that you have a lot of cat problems with your felines, but actually they are just exploring and learning about their environment.  Kittens especially have a lot of frenetic energy that needs to be released into racing around, jumping on counters, and scratching on your furniture. Keep in mind that’s the way they are at this time, and as they get older things will get better especially you allow some playtime with them with their cat toys!

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Cat Behavior: Kneading! Why Do They Do That?

August 24th, 2009

You must have had a cat that has jumped on you while you are relaxing on the couch—when suddenly, your feline friend starts kneading (I call it marching up and down on my stomach).  They could be kneading their cat bed, but most likely it is you!  I like it because I think it is wonderful communication from a cat that you love. But why do cats knead? A part of cat behavior is kneading. Does your pet cat want to connect with you?   The answer is yes, they do.

But what is cat behavior kneading? It’s been said that kneading come from a kitten’s getting milk from its mother and it is a positive behavior that shows that your cat is content and quite happy. This action reminds a cat of the long ago days when its mother was nursing.  When you cat does it to you, you are reminded that you are special and are your friendly feline’s property. The scent glands located at the bottom of the paws may be setting up markers on you, letting other animals know that you belong to your cat!

You can eventually learn to understand your cat even learn to communicate with them.  To keep a good relationship with your cat, don’t ignore it all the time.  People have the stereotyped idea that cats are “independent.”  Well, I have not seen that with my cats!  They love attention and will give it to you if you let them and if you give attention to them. You might even be “kneaded” by your cat!

Click here to Learn more about how cats think and how you can make their lives happier.

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