On any given day, watching the news, it's easy to see how quickly things can happen. House fires, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. Most people, particularly those who live in areas at high risk for disaster such as near a river, in a tornado hotspot, or in fire-prone zones, prepare carefully for such possibilities. What many people don't consider is what to do about their pets in an emergency.
So what will happen to your pets in case of emergency? We can't plan for every contingency, but there are certain things you can do to ensure your pet's well-being in the event of a crisis.
- Make sure to obtain a pet rescue sticker for your windows or door. Pet rescue stickers alert rescue teams to the presence of your pets in the event of an emergency. These stickers, usually bright red for visibility, allow you to check off what type of pet you have, from birds to cats and dogs, and the number of pets in your residence. Put the sticker in a prominent location where any rescue personnel will be sure to see if should the occasion arise.
- Let neighbors know you have pets. If you aren't home in a time of emergency, someone should know that there are pets that may need assistance.
- For those living in apartments or other rental properties, let the management office know about your pets. Many rental companies require emergency contact information from renters. Often this includes number and type of pets at your residence. Fill it out and make sure to notify the management office if there are any changes.
- Keep pet carriers or a collar and leash handy, preferably someplace where you'll be able to find them in the dark or in heavy smoke.
- Make plans in advance. In case of evacuation, know where you pets will go. Are there friends or relatives who can take your pets in the event of a hotel stay? Many hotels and motels now allow pets. Know which ones in your region do.
- Keep emergency information for your pets in a handy place. This includes the numbers for their veterinarian, animal emergency, plus lists of medications and pertinent health information.
- If you keep an emergency kit for yourself, expand it to factor in your pets. Keep crucial medications and emergency numbers with the emergency kit.
- Make sure your pets wear name tags with your phone number so that if they're lost, they can be returned safely home.
When we adopt pets, we take on responsibility for their lives--their health, their well-being, their safety. This should include disaster preparedness. So don't forget to take their safety and well-being into consideration when planning for emergencies.
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Lisa A. Koosis
PetLovers.com
included photo source
Ensure Your Pet's Well-Being in an Emergency Situation
What To Do When Your Cat Won't Use The Cat Litter Tray
The development of the cat litter tray has truly become a milestone for pet ownership. The modern use of cat litter in boxes or trays has allowed the cat owner to easily take care of their cats waste as well as provide a great place for indoor cats to do their business.
But some cats tend not to do their elimination activities at designated places like the cat litter tray. It is important that you observe your pet closely and find out whether the litter tray is being used by the cat.
There are several possible factors that could prevent the cat from opting to use the cat litter tray. For one, cats need ample space to squat, turn around and dig when they do their thing. Thus, if the cat litter tray is too small, the cat may not have enough space to move around. Even you would not be comfortable doing such in a very tightly spaced bathroom, right?
Another factor would be the litter used in the tray. For years, manufacturers have used clay and silica as litter substrates. But lately, experts advise them to refrain from using such materials since cats are not comfortable digging through them.
There are two types of litter trays being sold in the market currently. One is the open-spaced type, and the other is the closed litter box. Based on observations and pet owners' experiences, cats usually prefer the open-type one because it provides ample room for movement. However, most pet owners prefer the closed-type because it hides the waste and keeps the smell from permeating throughout the house.
When buying cat litter trays for the first time, it is recommended that you purchase both types. That way, you can determine which type is preferred by the cat. Remember, it is the cat that would use the litter tray, not you, so respect the animal's preference.
When Your Cat Won't Use The Litter Tray
You could help make the tray be a comfortable place for your cat. For one, strategically place the tray where the cat could easily spot it and have access to it.
Do not place the cat litter tray at hidden areas like under some furniture, at the garage, under the air conditioner, or somewhere else where people could not easily spot the box. Chances are, the cat would also find it hard to find the litter tray, and it could no longer hold its urge before it finds the tray.
Manufacturers also advise that as much as possible, put litter trays in all floors of the house so the cat could easily have access to them once they feel the urge.
Do not put deodorizer or air fresheners on top or beneath the cat litter tray. The cat may not like the smell of the chemicals coming from such fresheners. If you want to make sure no smell would originate from the tray, you could put some baking soda underneath the tray. Baking soda would not be detected by the cat because it does not secrete harsh smell that may annoy the cat's sharp olfactory senses.
Since the cat is also a territorial animal, make sure each cat, if you have several at home, has its own designated cat litter tray. They would not want to share territories.
Buy trays that are using very fine materials, as fine as sand, as litter substrate. As mentioned earlier, silica and clay are not preferred by cats anymore.
If all else fails, your cat must have some sort of behavioral problems. Thus, seek the help of your veterinarian at once.
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Lee Dobbins
Cat litter tray
photo source
How To Solve Cat House Training Problems
One of the reasons why it can be difficult to solve any type of cat behavior problem relating to house training/house soiling or litter box avoidance, is because you have to identify the cause.
The most difficult part of solving litter box avoidance problems is figuring out what caused the problem in the first place. Unfortunately, cats are very sensitive to change - and if your cat had been using the litterbox faithfully and then suddenly stopped, something has changed whether you are aware of it or not.
So your goal is to find out what has changed.
Here are a few questions to keep in mind:
The most important thing to consider when you need to figure out what has caused a house soiling problem is: Approximately when did the house soiling begin?
2nd most important: Are you certain it's not a health issue such as an Urinary Tract Infection? (The #1 symptom of an UTI is litter box avoidance)
Here are a few other questions to consider that will help you pinpoint the cause:
Did anything at all change near the time when the behavior started? (Try to think of everything, no matter how unimportant it seems)
Have you recently moved to a new house?
Have you introduced a new cat/dog/ferret/roommate into your house?
Have any of the litter boxes been moved? (Maybe he or she has a favorite box to use and that particular one was moved)
Have you rearranged any of your furniture or added new furniture?
Are you completely positive you know which one of your cats is soiling on the carpet?
If you have multiple cats, are they getting along?
Inter-cat tension is actually a lot harder to spot than most owners realize. Your cats may not be physically fighting with each other, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are getting along. One of your cat's may actually be "silently" intimidating one of the others, but you don't know how to read the signs so you aren't aware of it.
If you know exactly which cat isn't using the litter box, and you know which litter box that cat usually uses, watch to see if any of the other cats tend to spend extra time "hanging out" near that box.
If you have any covered litter boxes, pay close attention to any cats that tend to sit on top of the litter box.
One surefire method of retraining a strong-willed cat is to put the cat in a nearly empty room for a few days, with only a few toys, a scratching post, water, a comfortable bed and a litter box.
When using this technique to house train your cat, make sure you don't allow access to the rest of the house until the cat has been completely retrained and there's no risk of further accidents.
Some people are stunned when they realize just how many things can cause a litter box avoidance problem. What they don't realize is that a cat's bathroom habits are actually a very complicated and delicate piece of a cat's life, and it can be easily disturbed
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Liz Barton
Cat House Training
photo source
Cat eating pepper?
This cat eats virtually anything...things like watermelon, tomatos, kiwifruit, uncooked peppers...
By Jolie2005
My Cat Won't Eat! - What is Wrong?
Occasionally you may find that your cat seems fussier about its food, only choosing to sample its food before walking away. Perhaps your cat could show signs of refusing to eat whenever you try to set your feline down. Perhaps your pet is not eating at all and seems disinterested in anything.
Being familiar with your cat's habits will help you recognize any behavioral changes and you can work out why it may be unwilling or unable to eat as it did before. Cats are very sensitive to changes in routine and atmosphere and it may be something as simple as your having introduced a new cat to your household and this arouses feelings of insecurity. A change in the arrangement of furniture could also unsettle your cat.
Have you been on holiday recently and left him with a cat kennel, or perhaps hired someone to come in to feed and look after him daily? A disinterest in food might be due to a simple case of depression that will only be relieved once you've coaxed it back into being his old self with some TLC and a few healthy nibbles.
Such minor issues will not present much of a headache for you as they can be dealt with easily. Offering a little healthy treat to tempt your cat or putting a little bit of meat jelly onto its gums just might persuade it to have a little something. You could try offering a taste of something your cat really does like, to see whether it's turning its nose up at what's on the menu or if there are other reasons for its reluctance to eat.
With cats accustomed to receiving titbits and carbohydrate rich food, a switch to a more health conscious diet could be the reason for its disinterest in food. A refusal of food may be a cat's attempt to show its displeasure in being denied its desires. Your cat may be under the mistaken impression that if it waits long enough you may relent and give in.
However, you should also note that putting an overweight cat on a crash diet of low carbohydrate food can result in your cat refusing to eat for more than two days. In such circumstances, a prolonged period of rejecting nourishment is likely to result in liver problems as your cat draws on his fat reserves and doesn't take in the protein which he needs.
In other circumstances, should your cat persist in not eating for more than a day or two, it could hint at an underlying health problem. In such situations, a consultation with your veterinarian is advised.
Your cat might have a problem with its teeth or jaw which makes eating painful or difficult, as would any problems associated with its digestive system. It could be suffering from inflamed gums or a broken tooth, a cut in its mouth, or an abscess in its jaw arising from a deep scratch. Your feline might be experiencing discomfort in its stomach or have an intestinal condition which will reduce its appetite. Your veterinarian will advise on the best course of treatment in these scenarios.
However, by keeping an eye on your cat and its behavior will help you deal with any problems before they get worse or chronic, and both you and your vet can make sure it has a full and happy life.
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Moses Wright
CatCustomer.com
photo source
The Advantages Of A Disposable Cat Litter Box
There are many different types of litter boxes, but perhaps the most practical type is the disposable cat litter box. The adaptability of a disposable box is proven by enabling even you to easily construct one at home. Various storage boxes that can be procured from nearby hardware stores can be easily transformed into disposable cat boxes. The bigger the box, the better and more desirable it is to be transformed into a cat box. A storage box with a minimum of twenty-four inches in length and width is ideal.
The basic structure of a cat litter box is a hard bottom section and elevated side and end walls. You can reinforce the lower portion of the box by placing its lid under the bottom of the box. Make sure that the walls are low enough to give your pet easy entry to the cat box. You can also provide for flaps on the upper section; these flaps will cover the litter box, fending off the odor of cat excrement.
Indeed, a disposable cat litter box is a great convenience for you and your cat. But having a cat box by itself is not enough to clear up your cat litter problems. The following are the main issues you should consider in utilizing the many-fold features of a disposable cat box.
Litter And Food Do Not Go Together
It is difficult to imagine having a six-course candlelit dinner inside your toilet. Same for cats, they definitely abhor having their meals in the same place they discharge waste. Therefore, it is important that you set the box as far from your cats food bowl as possible.
The Litter Box Is Place Of Sanctity
How do you feel when somebody barges into your toilet while you are using the comfort station? Like you, cats like quiet time while using their toilet. So put the cat box away from often used doors and noisy places. Privacy is a key consideration so that cats will use the disposable litter box.
Other Tips
If you live in a home with more than one level, it is desirable to set up a box in every level or floor of your home in which your cat can have entry. This is a great comfort for cats, especially the ones with arthritic problems as they do not have to go down or up the stairs just to do their elimination.
Finally, cats love familiarity so once you have found the best area on which to place your disposable litter box do not transfer it. If you must move the box to another place in your home, do not do the transfer drastically. Instead move the box on a piecemeal fashion, often going on just inches per day.
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Lee Dobbins
catlitter.topicgiant.com
photo source
Bug watch [photo]
Dandelion and Daffodil are cousins, and they are Ragdoll cats. This picture shows their innate hunting skills. They saw a *spider* on the floor and were riveted!
Our other cats Patch and Sparky are rescued strays. They must have been otherwise occupied, because that spider wouldn't have lasted 10 seconds if either of them had been around! :)
by janoid
Got a cat? Got to know this!
Got A Cat As A Pet? Here's How To Keep Them Healthy...
Our pet cats are often as close to us as members of our family. In fact, they virtually are members of our family! That's why cat owners should know as much as they can about cat health. Here are the major things to know about caring for your pet cat in a loving way:
GROOMING
Long-haired cats should be groomed regularly for optimum cat health. Use a pet brush and groom no less frequently than once a week.
DIET
Cat health is strongly affected by what your cat eats. Obesity is a major factor in heart disease particularly as your cat gets older. Choose a pet food for your cat that is right for it's age but feed it regularly. Consistency is the key to a well-fed cat.
OLDER CATS
Some diseases occur simply because your cat is getting older. These can be labeled elderly cat health problems. As cats age their kidneys and eyesight fail and they may need special diets.
LITTER
The litter box can be dangerous to both cat health and human health if it isn't cleaned regularly. Change your pet's litter no less than once every four days and keep a small dish of baking soda near the litter area.
SCRATCHING
Scratching is a major cat health concern because if a cat scratches regularly it is often a sign of other problems. If your cat is scratching a particular area often try a delousing product and then take your pet to the vet.
DECLAWING
Declawing your cat can be a major factor in Cat health. If you choose to declaw your pet it is important to remember to keep them inside at all times.
BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Many cat health problems relate to difficult or uncommon behavior. Listlessness can be a symptom of depression. Strange aggression is sometimes caused by hormone imbalances.
STRESS
Your cat can easily get stressed out. Stressful situations like moving, travelling, natural disasters or even changes in the family can affect cat health. To minimize the effects of stress on your pet, buy a tranquilizer for distance travelling and have a place in your home where your cat can escape if there are busy changes in the house.
POISON
Make sure dangerous poisons like antifreeze cannot be reached by your pet. Some plants are fatal to cats so make sure to raise your plants and lock your toxins.
PARASITES
Parasites such as ringworms, heart worms and rabies can greatly affect cat health. Blood in a cat's stool or uncommon appetite are common signs of parasites.
MOUTH
Cats often have mouth diseases and this can influence cat health. Cats are just as prone to gingivitis as humans. For problems like rodents ulcer or bad breath, brush your cat's teeth with a small child's toothbrush.
INDOORS/OUTDOORS
One of the greatest factors in determining cat health is whether your pet goes outdoors. Cars, children, other animals and toxins are all dangerous and should be avoided by keeping your cat indoors.
Taking care of your cat is critical to your cats health. Hopefully this article has provided you with information that will make your pet's life much safer, healthier, happier and longer.
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Michael Erder
elitePetProducts.com
photo source
Can Herbs Improve Your Pet's Behavior?
The use of herbs and other alternative remedies for the treatment of a wide range of human illnesses has rapidly gained popularity over the past two decades. Herbal remedies are especially popular among patients with chronic diseases such as cancer, arthritis, and gastrointestinal ailments. Also, some herbal treatments appear to be beneficial for treatment of psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety and insomnia. It is logical to think that if an herb or botanical preparation can help a human with a psychiatric disorder, then it might also help a pet with a behavioral problem.
Before going into specifics on what is known about improving animal behavior problems with natural herbal remedies, a word of caution is in order. Clearly, the increasing popularity of alternative remedies is partially due to the fact that some of these products work well. Unfortunately, much of the increased use of alternative therapies is due to hype and propaganda from companies that manufacture and sell such treatments. To separate fact from fiction, it is important to rely on information from objective, reliable sources like the scientific and medical literature rather than from dietary supplement websites and promotional pamphlets.
There seems to be an increasing number of false claims for products labeled "homoeopathic," which really just means that the "active ingredient" is so dilute as to be almost undetectable. There is little or no scientific evidence that these dilute formulations work. Therefore, the comments that follow are limited to herbs known to have beneficial effects when used in doses that are meaningful.
As always, it is a good idea to consult your veterinarian before beginning a new course of treatment for your pet. Following are some indications for use of herbal remedies:
- Barking. Perhaps the best-known herbal remedy for dogs is the use of a lemon or citronella scented aerosol in a collar to control nuisance barking. Although commercial collars of this design are expensive, there is substantial evidence that this can be an effective behavior-modification tool for many dogs.
- Anxiety. Valerian has been tested in humans with some success in the treatment of anxiety and sleeplessness. This herb is available in most health-food stores and in many groceries and pharmacies. Valerian can be useful to control a variety of anxiety-related or fear-induced problems such as restless during car travel, fear of thunder, and anxiety while left alone.
- Forgetfulness & Senility. Another example of an herb that might have a useful role in pet health is Ginkgo. This herb is being tested for the improvement of memory and concentration in people with Alzheimer's disease. Ginkgo may be helpful in dogs with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or in older cats with random and excessive vocalization.
- Others. Although most reports of the use of herbs are related to human conditions, there are increasing numbers of practitioners interested in their veterinary applications. For example, small studies are looking at the use of Chamomile to treat irritability in dogs and cats, and Cantharis and Staphisagria to reduce cat spraying.
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Rob Lester
trainyourdogsncats.com
photo source
Practical Reasons To Train Your Cat
A good number of people prefer a feline pet than a canine one. They each have their own reasons: that cats are tamer, that a cat's purr is not as loud as a dog's bark, that it is more economical to keep a cat than a dog. Whatever your reasons are for keeping a cat as your pet, training Puss ‘N Boots is not exactly the same as training Pluto. In fact, it requires less repetition and more affection.
A more harmonious relationship between pet and master is the objective of training your cat above anything else. Teaching your cat nifty tricks comes only secondary to relevant training; in fact, it is more enjoyable to see your pet seemingly getting what you are trying to say.
Training your cat begins with displaying affection towards it. Cats are naturally affectionate pets, and they will seemingly demand from its master to constantly brush its fur. You can augment this method of affection by talking to your cat. It may sound silly, but cats found an audio sensation soothing, especially if it comes from the master. If a cat starts to behave negatively – it starts hissing, scratching furniture, or even biting – you do the opposite of reinforcement by withdrawing the brushing of its fur and talking to it. Cats do somehow realize the consequences of its behavior.
Another useful training is how to train your cat not to beg for food especially at the dinner table. The key here is to not give food from the dinner table in the first place; doing so will only reinforce the behavior. You bet the begging for food will happen again in the next meal. If you have started feeding the cat from the dinner table and would want it to stop, do not pay attention to your pet while meal is being served. Another way of preventing your cat from disturbing your own meal is to feed it on its dish before dinner is served. This way, the cat will be full when it is your turn to eat; cats do like to take a siesta after feeding.
You might also want to do train your cat not to attack other animals. While it may be fun to watch cats chase mice and birds in cartoons, it quite messy and violent in reality. You cannot take this instinct away from your pet, as it is inherent in a cat to hunt. It is like watching lions attack gazelles, only at a smaller scale. If you want to be spared the mess and violence of your cat's natural instinct, there is a remedy to this. There are specialized devices around designed to keep the innate ferocity of your cat in check, while at the same time ensuring that it does not cause a bloody hunting exercise. It will also not hurt if you keep smaller animals away from your cat. It is also advised that you do not keep other pets that are above or below your cat in the food chain. Birds, guinea pigs, goldfish are best left in the pet shop if you are keeping a cat at home. It is also advised that you invest in pest control to keep mice and other small animals from infesting your house, and thus stimulating the hunting instinct of your cat.
Cats also have the unavoidable tendency to call for a mate, the reason why they make a lot of nice in the wee hours. In order to avoid this, it is up to the master to increase display of affection by brushing its fur or patting its head; this will lessen the impact of loneliness and thus the call for mating.
Finally, it is always useful to include discipline in defecating and urinating when training your cat. A litter box is always helpful in helping the cat relieve itself at a designated spot in your house. Initially you may want to observe your cat before it urinates or defecates. You will sense when it is ready to relieve itself, when it becomes restless. You as master can place the litter box to the spot where it chooses to relieve itself. Eventually it will associate the spot it has selected to the litter box, and will look for the litter box instead of the spot – thus saving you from the bother of cleaning up your cat's mess.
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Lee Dobbins
Cat Training
photo source
Keep Kitty from Scratching on the Furniture
If you are like the majority of cat owners in the world, I'm sure you would love to find an alternative scratching source for your beloved pet. Preferably something besides the sofa or your favorite easy chair! Cat owners everywhere have had to deal with the age-old habit of "scratching".
"Scratching" is not only your cats way of sharpening its claws, it also exercises the muscles and keeps your cat in shape. "Scratching" also tends to ease your kitties stress. It is a very necessary trait or habit, and also an unbreakable one, and one that will remain in his daily routine.
Providing your kitty with an alternative scratching source is the first step! The simplest and most widely used is an actual "scratching post". They are reasonably priced, take up very little space, and come in a varity of styles and colors.
This is where most cat owners make a big mistake! Purchasing the right kind of "scratch post" is vital to the process of keeping your cat from ruining your furniture! Some "scratch posts" are covered with a cloth material. These types are very similiar to your furniture in your cats mind, and will do little to stop his furniture scratching.
Some cat owners prefer the "real wood" scratch post, because it is most likely what they would be scratching if they were outside all the time. The downside of that option is the continuous clean-up of the wood that is deposited by the scratching.
The most popular style is the "sisal rope scratch post". A "sisal rope scratch post" consists of a base (with a variety of base colors), and a post that has been wrapped with the "sisal rope". Sisal is a very durable material that will hold up to a whole lot of scratching by more than one cat. If it does happen to need replaced, some new rope and a little glue will do the trick.
Once you have purchased your choice of a "scratch post", rub it down with a little catnip to get your cats attention, and place it where it is easily accessable. You can also attach some kind of toy to the post to attract his attention. As he gets used to it, gradually move it where it is convenient.
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Ernie Carroll
Cat Furniture Store
photo source
Radioactive Cat Litter
Cat box fillers made from absorbent clay account for approximately 95% of all cat litter. Although inexpensive, clay litter can be dusty and may encourage digging in the litter box releasing even more dust. What is so interesting or scary about these cat litter facts?
Read on for a surprising eye opening. Sodium bentonite expands when wet - it can absorb several times its dry weight in water. It is mostly used in drilling mud in the oil and gas well drilling industries. But bentonite, clay that's usually yellow or greenish-gray, is not just used by the energy industry. Traditional clay-based cat litter contains sodium bentonite as the clumping agent. Since clay typically contains elevated levels of naturally occurring radionuclides, large amounts of cat litter can be measurably radioactive. Most cat litters contain clay or sodium bentonite, as it is highly absorbent. The clay in cat litter gives off enough gamma rays (gamma -rays) to trigger a detector. Yes, the clay in cat litter does give off radiation in very small quantities.
That's not all to keep you up late at night worrying. Bentonite toxicosis can occur in cats from the ingestion of clay cat litter. "Suspected Bentonite Toxicosis in a Cat from Ingestion of Clay Cat Litter" was originally published in the Journal of Veterinary and Human Toxicology Vol. 38, No. 6, October 1996 (Fred Oehme, DVM, editor). Products traditionally thought to be nontoxic can produce toxicosis. Bentonite toxicosis causes hypokalemia and macrocytic hypochromic anemia consistent with iron--deficiency anemia. The cat in this study became ill from the chronic ingestion of a bentonite--containing cat litter. The signs of that cat were remarkably similar to those reported in humans from the chronic ingestion of bentonite clays. If you scoop out your cat litter box at least once a day, breathing in the dust produced over several years, is that enough to cause bentonite toxicosis in you?
We should think twice about bringing any clay cat litter into our homes and exposing our cats and families to these health hazards. Natural cat litter is sanitized litter box filler which controls odor naturally. No clay, no radioactive materials or health hazards used in these litters. There are many natural cat litters on the market today made from a variety of materials such as pine, corn, newspaper and wheat. There is no need to worry or potentially suffer devastating health problems from clay cat litter. Switch to natural cat litter and protect the lives of all your family members, not just your cats.
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Christine Breen
LitterBoxesSite.com
source photo
How to stop a cat from using garden as litterbox?
Cat Repellent or How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden
Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from using garden as litterbox? Tell me how to keep cats out of my garden. These are common questions of concern to all gardeners but is there a real answer?
The first line of defence is to ensure that your yard boundaries are secure. Any gaps in your fence should be blocked to deny low level access. But cats can jump so fix a taut wire or string some six inches above the top of your fence to deter this approach.
Once inside your garden many people say that the best cat repellent is a dog who will soon see off any feline invader. If you are not a dog lover then you will have to resort to more passive methods. Since cats like to lie on freshly dug soil you should lay mulch on your borders so that no bare soil is left exposed. Seed beds should be covered with wire netting or twigs arranged as a barrier.
Young trees should have plastic guards fitted around their trunks to protect them against use as a scratching pole. Your garden pond should be covered with netting to keep your fish safe.
Cats are generally known to dislike water so a well aimed bucketful or a squirt with the hose will certainly make an intruder run. After one or two dousings it may learn the lesson and stay away.
To protect plants and borders both mothballs and citrus are said to be effective deterrents. Place the mothballs, orange peel or lemon rind in the borders. Alternatively spray cloths with orange scented air freshener and place the cloths around the plants you wish to protect. Other known cat repellents are cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and mustard oil.
Certain herbs are said to deter cats. In particular rue but not catmint which has the opposite effect. Coleus canina is another plant which is marketed by one merchant as a cat repellent.
The broadcaster Jerry Baker has suggested treating your yard with a tonic made from chewing tobacco, urine, birth control pills, mouthwash, molasses, detergent and beer. A smallholder has reported success using dried rabbit blood but you may feel that the ingredients listed in the previous paragraph should be tried first.
If you visit your local garden center or hardware store you will find several cat repellent products on sale. These range from electric water sprinklers and ultrasonic devices to sprays and granules.
Motion activated sprinklers act in the same way as a burglar alarm using an infra red detector. When the cat enters the area covered by the detector the sprinkler shoots out a jet of water to scare the animal away. It is claimed that, after one or two encounters with the jet, the cat will learn to avoid the area.
Ultrasonic devices emit a high frequency sound which is annoying to cats (and dogs) but is not audible to humans. There are various different models some of which operate continuously and others which have an infra red detector and only emit a pulse of sound when the cat triggers the device. To be successful you need to ensure that the model is powerful enough to cover the area you wish to protect. In addition make sure that the sound frequency is designed for larger animals since some models are intended to deter insects and so would be no use for cats.
There are also commercial scent cat repellents. Those that use chemicals should be kept away from any food crops but the essential oil based granule varieties act in the same way as orange and lemon peel mentioned above. Another way to keep a cat out if the garden is a repellent evaporator which consists of a container holding puffed rice which has been impregnated with essential oils. These are effective for three to four weeks and can then be refilled for a further period. Another natural product which many people claim really keeps a cat out of the garden is lion's dung. You may need to visit your local zoo to obtain this although some stores do stock zoo poo.
In Ontario, Canada the local township provides a cat trap service. Once the animal enters the cage it cannot escape but is completely unharmed. The owner has to pay to recover his pet and so should be encouraged not to let the cat stray in future. Apparently few owners bother to reclaim their cats but just obtain another kitten. However this sounds like a good way of dealing with a cat that cannot be deterred by any other method. If there is no such scheme in your area, just buy your own trap.
So, to recap, the first priority is to secure your boundary fences. Then you have the whole selection of suggested cat repellents ranging from homemade recipes to expensive commercial gadgets. I would suggest that you try the orange peel and prickly twigs for a start. If you are around when the intruder appears, try the bucket of water or hose. Even if you miss, the shock may be a sufficient deterrent. If these do not do the trick, then you may have to consider the commercial alternatives.
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Hugh Harris-Evans
The Garden Supplies Advisor
photo source
Cystitis Tips for the Female Cat
Cystitis in cats is an all too common occurrence, especially with inner city cats. All cats with cystitis should be seen by a veterinarian as typically this condition responds well and more quickly with medications.
Below are my recommendations for both aiding the treatment process and also in helping to prevent this problem.
Treatment aids
- Ensure that the litter trays in your house are thoroughly cleaned as they are used. Cats are very clean animals and in my experience are extremely reluctant to pee when all is not well with their toilet area! Cats with cystitis need to pee when they need to so that the inflammatory proteins and other irritating factors are removed from the bladder.
- Whilst your cat has cystitis, use a tinned food as this has a much higher water content than dry. By increasing water intake, this acts to flush the bladder through, again removing the irritation from the bladder more quickly
- What I also find particularly useful is asking the owner to add extra water to the food by turning the faucet/tap on quickly for a split second over the food. This adds an extra 10ml of water in each meal, therefore increasing the flushing of the bladder.
- Remove your cat from any causes of stress. Stress has been intrinsically linked with cystitis in cats and so by removing that cause we see a much quicker resolution. Keep your cat indoors if tom cats are making her upset, keep her in a quiet area of the house if building work is going on, Try to limit her exposure to a noisy baby and introduce her to friends and room mates slowly.
- Ensure you take your cat to the vet as soon as you see the characteristics signs of frequently trying to urinate, blood in the urine, repeated visits to the litter tray or an increased thirst.
- Talk to your vet about supplementing the diet with bladder protectants
- Try to collect some of the urine so that your vet can check to see if there are any crystals present. Often these types of cystitis can be managed by diet alone.
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Dr David Brooks
WhyDoesMyPet.com
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Moving House with Your Cat-The Settling in Period
Q: I just moved to a house that was vacant for over a year and a few neighborhood cats think it's their territory. One of them is much bigger than my cat and has attacked my cat three times now even though my cat ran under the house to get away. Is there anything I can do to signal to these cats that this is not okay territory for them to be in anymore? When I am here I yell and spray the hose but most of the time I'm not here. I've had to keep my cat indoors whenever I leave and this is not a good permanent solution. My cat is female and she is neutered. I believe that the other cats are non neutered males
A: It's a difficult question I am afraid and one that is asked a lot. Whenever a new cat enters an area there is disruption and usually plenty of fights until everyone found their place. Your situation seems more difficult if these other cats consider your house to belong to them.
The first thing to say is that given time things should improve, and one option is no action at all, wait until everything settles down naturally. It will help if you are making it clear to these cats that you don't want them there. Water spraying and noise is a good plan to deter them. There are also a whole selection of other deterrents available, none of which I have had any experience of I am afraid, but maybe worth a try, a lot of them seem to be electrical, upsetting intruders in various ways -if you can find one with a short range that you can use around your house (without affecting your cat, or the ones next door) then that could help move them on, or at least put them off trying to occupy your land.
Do you have a cat flap? They can work well to provide your cat with access to the safe haven of home and magnetic collars can give them their own key so noone else can come in. It doesn't solve your problem but it will make sure that whilst things are settling down your cat will have an escape route.
Do you think the cats are feral? If this is the case then you may be able to get a local animal charity or animal warden to remove them (depending on where you are). There are a lot of programs of stray animal capture, health checking and neutering which you may be able to point in the direction of your neighbourhood.
I should point out the health risks to your cat, bites can result in abscesses, and so any wounds should be treated by your vet. It is also essential to make sure she is fully vaccinated so that she is not put at greater risk from viral infections (especially if they are stray). Feliway, is a pheromone mimicker which will help to relax your cat during this stressful time, do not under-estimate stress, we know that in cats it can be responsible for many health issues.
I suppose another option is to resign yourself to having a house cat, they can be just as happy, don't feel guilty in the short term, she is probably really glad that you have closed the door safely behind her.
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Dr David Brooks
WhyDoesMyPet.com
Photo source
How To Stop Your Cat Spraying
The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail and releases a fine spray of urine. Yes, your cat is spraying. You have a problem. But one you can solve.
Figures from the British Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors say that aggression in dogs and marking behavior in cats are the biggest behavior problems in the UK pet population.
Spraying is marking behavior, not a litter box problem. Sprayed cat urine contains pheromones, a substance that animals use to communicate. Combinations of pheromones work like fingerprints: they identify the cat.
A spraying cat marks his or her territory with cat urine. It simply says: ‘This is mine’. You may not like it, but getting angry doesn’t help. It may even have an opposite effect: more spraying.
Cats in heat are attracted by the odor of cat urine. For them, spraying is something like an invitation to love. The results may be there in 65 days: a nest of cute little kittens.
Cats do not only spray during sexual encounters. Some also do it during conflicts with other felines, or when they are stressed.
For people the scent is far from pleasant. Thankfully most cats spray outside. But what if you have a cat spraying inside? Do something about it! And yes, that is possible.
The most radical and effective thing you can do is neutering or spaying your cat. Most castrated toms stopped spraying from the day they were operated.
But maybe you have a reason not to neuter your cat. In that case try to find out why your cat sprays.
Maybe it sprays only when it sees another cat. Solution: block the view. Or it sprays because of a conflict with another pet. Keep them separated and problems might be over.
If you don’t know why your cat sprays, discuss it with your veterinarian. Chances are he will advice you to spay or neuter. But your vet can also check if there is a medical problem.
Anyway, do not leave this problem unsolved. Cat urine odor and stains can make your home a very uncomfortable place, and your cat will still remain a cat even when it doesn’t spray anymore.
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Marc de Jong
cat-pregnancy-report.com
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