Cat Q&A

Archive for June, 2009

Surviving the credit crunch is difficult enough, but when you have animals which depend on you for nourishment, shelter and medical attention, anything that can be done, helps.

It’s a shame that many pets are given up or abandoned every week, as pet owners struggle to cope with today’s financial climate.

This is very problematic for pet charities who have look after cats when money is scarce, surviving on contributions to keep their cats in good health. 

Here are a few points which could help make looking after a pet on a budget a little easier:

1. Consider every pet expenditure? Is it a key part of pet care? Do you need that branded animal food or product? It is always a good idea to raise cats up with variety, equally dry and wet, as well as different brands and flavours. Keep an eye on promotions. You can stock up. Investigate vouchers, search on the net for some good deals. Buy based on price per pound / Kg, as sometimes, particularly with promotions, the smaller pack can be more economical.

2.      Wherever possible, cat owners can often club together to buy feed and bedding in bulk, reducing the overall price and passing on savings to all.

3.      Veterinary bills are unknown but must be considered. If cash is a little tight, you may find a lot of Vets will allow you to spread the cost, and reimburse monthly. If you can, afford it – have or keep cat insurance.

4.      Can you modify the way you live? It’s not all about finding ways to keep your animal more economically, what about yourself!

5. Can you earn some cash?  There is also the possibility of cat sitting, though good businesses such as London Cat Sitting will require you also to do dog walking. Perhaps find a dog walking  job Become a Dog Walker. Good companies such as London Dog Walking will require you do it regularly.

 6. What about your other cats, you may have put cats in kennels, what about using a cat sitter? The animal may prefer it and the cat sitters often do other things.

7.  Are you thinking of choosing an animal, certainly think about rescuing a pet from a charity, they are suffering during this crisis.

Enjoy your pet, they are worth the cost.

If you love cats, cat dander could make you really miserable. If you’re one of the unlucky pet owners who have a reaction to cat dander, then good news, you may not have to give away your feline friend.

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

1) Don’t let your pet into the bedroom or onto your bed. I know this is tough especially for those who share the bed with the cat, but the close distance 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 out of bounds and you should see some improvement.

Also clean your blankets, pillow cases and bedsheets with hot water as much as possible.

2) Do you have carpets in your house? You may want to give them away as cat dander cling on to them and bacteria breeds easily there. If that isn’t possible, vacuum your carpets whenever possible.

3) Do you have fabric sofas too? The cloth of the sofa act as a breeding ground for cat dander. Replace them with leather sofa sets or clean the fabric as often as possible.

4) Next you need to check your curtains. If you own the heavy fabric ones, cat dander might stick to them easily. You might want to consider curtains of another material or alternatives like blinds.

5) As cat dander spread by the air due to their small size, you have to consider cleaning the air too. It would be a great idea to purchase a good air purifier.

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

Cat dandruff is a problem that I’ve read about too many times. It’s a nuisance that affects nearly all cat lovers, and if you have a cat, it’s a matter of time before you have to look into it.

But worry not, there may be a cat dandruff cure that you can try without burning a hole in your wallet, just by looking at the symptoms and environment and taking action based on these symptoms.

This is what I got from the excellent website on cat dandruff treatment…

Many cat dandruff problems have in common 3 factors:

1. The cat dandruff appears on the rump or tail and your pet is aged or overweight.

If you have a feline friend that is over-weight or has sudden weight gain 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 an issue for ageing cats that lack the mobility to groom themselves.

Simply brush you cat and it might be a good idea to groom her every couple of months. If you decide to bathe your cat, I suggest avoid using human shampoos as that might dry her skin further and worsen the condition. Always use a cat shampoo and don’t forget to wash thoroughly as excess shampoo stuck on her undercoat may only make the situation worse.

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. Worse of all, a lot of cats like to lay about in the warm comforts of the fireplace, which rapidly dries her skin causing it to flake.

A good idea would be to take her away from the fireplace every once in a while and observe if the problem persists. Purchasing a humidifier would be not a bad idea, both for your kitty and also yourself (humans get dry skin too…)

3. My cat is neither overweight nor ageing, and it’s not winter now

If your pet still has cat dandruff problems, it could be a change in furniture A new curtain perhaps? Take a look if there are any changes to her surroundings that she might be affected by and try to make the required adjustments.

If all 3 tips still don’t work, there’s still more, take a look at this comprehensive step by step cure for cat dandruff.

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. These cats will eat until the cat feeders run empty, they get sick, or both. At the same time, you will 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 solutions an automatic cat feeders.

Automatic cat feeders tend to fall into two main categories. Automatic usually will refer to a gravity type of system, while electronic is used to equal 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 real 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 your pet tends to overeat, the electronic feeder can be what is the best for your needs.

There is another benefit of automatic cat feeders for the people involved in the cat's life. Its 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 will notice as the cat understands the cat feeder does this job by itself, and will also realize he doesn't need you to get up in order to receive a meal. It will take a little bit of a 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.

In this article we will take a look at some skin disorders which could affect your cat, the symptoms of these conditions and 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.

Most cats are covered with a thick, protective fur.  This makes it extremely difficult to tell if a cat has a skin problem before it becomes extreme.It is vital to take some time on a consistent basis to study your cat’s skin carefully 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 do this often enough and understand your cat’s body, you should be able to spot any irregularity easily. You will learn to spot what is regular and what is not.

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 referred to as “walking dandruff”. This particluar condition is usually not deadly and can be easily treated with the correct medication as soon as the condition has been diagnosed and confirm.

Alopecia is a skin disorder in cats that will cause 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 helpful.  A few minutes each day could very well prevent days of discomfort later.

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. Cats seem to know when you need some comfort and will 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. Providing they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy and contented. 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. Unlike dogs, cats don’t require as many vet visits for routine shots which can become 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 bringing home a cat for a pet, one should do some research on what items are needed to make this feline friend of yours feel comfortable indoors.

Since most of the time these pets aren’t toilet trained yet, it is going to be a vital necessity for you to pick up a litter box so that you can train it where to go when nature calls.  Doing this will save the person time and effort cleaning up the waste the creature has left in various places of one’s home.

In order to get your cat trained properly it is important to pick out the right cat litter box.  This is all going to depend on how big your cat is and how spacious the cat box is in comparison. Since the litter box is the toilet for the pet, this should be easily accessible both for going in and out of the box.

It is easy to find a litter box the you can clean on a regular basis. These manually cleaning chatterboxes can be found in most stores like Wal-Mart or Fred Meyer, or any such store that carries pet supplies.  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 the person is too lazy to clean it, there is an electronic version that will cost more than a hundred dollars.  Should the person decide not to buy either of the two and would prefer to use a disposable kind, one can use a soda box which should also be changed.

The litter box must have fillers making it easy for the person 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.

In order for the cat to have some privacy, it is best to choose a litter box that can have a cover on top.  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! You cannot help the feeling of wanting to take her back at the week’s end!

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

Wait! Don’t take her back! A solution is at hand. What you need to buy, right away, is a good cat scratch post. After all, she’s doing what comes naturally to her, looking for a strong and stable surface to scratch. Your loveseat is the best available option!

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

Since their paws have scent glands that leave a distinctive scent, cats scratch surfaces in your home to let other cats know that they’re wandering into marked territory.

Not knowing when another cat would turn up, your kitty would do it even if you don’t have any other cats! 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. Every time she attacks the scratching post, she gets the workout she needs, with the stretching, pulling and working of the muscles of her front quarters!

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! She’ll show no interest in them whatsoever.

Cats have a need to shred and sisal material (not sisal rope) is perfect for them. It’s actually irresistible! Your kitty needs to get a healthy stretch while she scratches, so make sure that the cat scratch post is at least 28″ high.

The post should not move during one of her heavy duty scratching sessions, so it is imperative that it is sturdy! If the post topples on her, she will be frightened of it, and not come near it ever again!

Do not hesitate another minute, now that you know the reason why kitty scratches! You need your love seat, and you need your kitty, so the both of you need a cat scratch post!

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

If it’s been a while since you had a cat in your home, or if you’re bringing your first cat home as a pet, you will need to review some basic advice in house cat care. Like any pet, a cat has very specific needs and the more information you have, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to guarantee your cat’s health and happiness. Just take a few minutes to look over the advice given here to ensure your cat’s well-being and long healthy life.

The first step is cat-proofing your home. You should try to see through the cat’s eyes before you bring the cat home. Go through the rooms of the house that your cat will be in and watch for any risky places that could endanger the cat. To spare yourself any hassles in the future, just move the furniture that you really don’t want damaged to another area where the cat won’t be around it.

Keep in mind that house cat care includes providing a litter box for the cat, of course. You will need to scoop the waste from the litter box daily, sometimes more frequently, and it can’t be in an area of the house with heavy traffic, or around other animals or young children. Cats naturally know how to use the litter box, but when you introduce it to them, you may have to put them in it and just show them how to scratch at the loose gravel.

If your cat has longer hair, you will also want to remember that your cat needs to get used to being brushed. By keeping your cat brushed, you’ll be able to avoid having your cat swallow its own hair and develop hairballs.

This can lead to more serious health issues later in life. Remember that house cat care means your cat needs to be picked up and brushed. The best time to begin this is when the cat is young, if you can.

In general, the best way to care for a cat is to use common sense and, remember to watch your cat. See if he or she is doing anything out of the ordinary and figure if their behavior changes and why. Good observation can keep a little problem from turning into a big one, and you’ll find that it is a great way to get to know the newest addition to your family!

In today’s market a large number of unique cat litter boxes are available which can be used as a piece of decorative furniture. They’re kitty litter boxes but the manner of presentation is modern and people will consider it as useable objects of ornamental furniture.  These designer litter box covers are not affecting the décor of the home, they are actually enhancing it.  

Automatic litter boxes are also available and they do not need the usual manual cleaning procedures. They are self cleaning and the once the cats emerge from the box, the remainder of the cleansing function is conducted by the box itself. They are electric operated litter boxes which have a cat  sensor that will sift the waste once it enters. An auto functioning flushing system is also available and this litter box actually flushes away the waste matter as soon as it is perceived by the sensing element. A kitty litter box motion sensor is the newest technology which has been integrated into cat litter box systems.  

The smart scoop litter box is an upscale cat litter box because it features self cleaning technology. This technology assistants in self cleaning the litter box and everyone who wants to avoid scooping would appreciate it. Liter cartridges are available with models like Scoop Free LT1 ad such cartridges absorb most of the moisture content and odor.

Automatic litter boxes such as the Automatic Liter Robot make matters more comfortable for cat guardians. The cat owners who do not want to personally clean the litter boxes would love this unique litter box. This litter box is environmentally friendly as well. This is a uniquely designed upscale litter box and it has a lot of features.Even handicapped people can keep cats and take care of them because today’s litter boxes are able to attend to the needs of the cats. Manual labor no longer necessary to keep litter boxes clean.