Tips on getting your cat to scratch in the right places

How to keep your cat from scratching up your furniture, drapes, etc.

You love your feline friend. You even love the many quirky things she does. However, you don’t love the way she scratches your furniture. Yet, you are against having her declawed for many reasons. What do you do?

First, you must understand why cats want to scratch the furniture and everywhere else. No, it isn’t just to sharpen their paws or to help them shed that outer nail layer that they have. They want to scratch to leave their mark and to tell other cats that this is their territory.  

Scratching is also an exercise for your cat. It stretches out their shoulder muscles, the tendon of her paws, and the muscles in their forelegs. This is all beneficial to your cat and a reason why she should scratch. However, she needs to learn where to scratch and it is our duty as cat owners to teach her where this place is.

The best way to teach a cat to not scratch our furniture, drapery, etc, is to first begin disciplining her each time we see her scratching these areas. We can do this with a stern no. If she continues to do this after that stern no has been said a time or two we need to take a bit of action. 

This can be done by scaring her a little by hitting a newspaper in your hand, while you say no or making a crinkling sound with the newspaper. However, never hit or slap your cat. This is never a necessary action. If the newspaper doesn’t work, you can try spraying her with a tiny bit of water from a spray bottle. While you are working at correcting her bad behavior, you can reinforce some good behavior by giving her an alternative place to scratch.

The alternative place could be a scratching post or pad you purchase at any pet store or the pet section of your local department store. You can even purchase these that are scented with catnip. You could even make your own scratching post. It may take some time to teach your cat not to scratch your furniture, drapery, etc. However, it will be well worth the time and patience that it takes to teach her that this is a not a habit you want her to continue pursuing.

Cleaning cat urine

Find it with a UV light, then hit it with Nature's Miracle

It's a problem that plagues so many cat owners: cat urine in the wrong place. Anywhere but the litter box, and you have a major problem. 

The first thing to do is address the cause of the inappropriate urination, of course. If you have a cat who is suddenly peeing in the wrong spot, the first thing you should do is take your cat to a vet. This is a classic sign of a urinary tract infection, which can be both painful and damaging. Male cats may also suffer from urinary tract crystals which can be excruciating and potentially fatal.
 
Male cats should always be neutered, and not only to prevent territorial marking (a.k.a. "spraying"). The same goes for female cats, who may otherwise urinate inappropriately as part of their hormonal cycle.
 
The first step to cleaning up cat urine is to find it. You may be surprised where the urine is, and how much of it there is. Cat urine will fluoresce under black light, and if you have a cat urine issue, I strongly recommend getting (or borrowing, or renting) a black light device for detecting cat urine.

Next, get rid of the urine itself. Just wiping it away with a paper towel will only get the superficial stuff. Cat urine has a near-magical ability to soak into whatever it touches, even hard surfaces like bathroom sinks and kitchen counters.
 
If kitty has peed on something soft, launder it immediately. The faster you get it washed, the more likely that you will be able to take care of the smell. Add a cup of white vinegar to the load of laundry, to help disinfect and remove the smell.
 
What you really need is an enzymatic cleaner. Nature's Miracle is the undisputed champ of cat urine clean-up. They even have a formula specially tailored to the purpose. This enzymatic cleaner will go deep into the stain and destroy the urine smell.
 
Be sure to follow the instructions exactly. Give it time to air dry (it can take 24-48 hours to fully work), and don't dilute the formula with water. 
 
Nature's Miracle will work on soft things, too. Once you wash a soft item, give it a hit of Nature's Miracle to make sure you have cleaned it up.
 
In a pinch, if you are out of Nature's Miracle and you can't get to the store, I have found that a spray bottle filled with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water helps kill the smell. It's not a permanent fix, though - the smell tends to return, especially in humid weather. And your cat will still be able to smell it, and thus will be more likely to re-mark that spot.

Feline acne: causes and treatment

If your cat has a "dirty chin," read on.

Feline acne is a sadly common problem with young and old cats alike. Most cats will have at least one bout of feline acne during their lifetimes. Feline acne is unsightful, uncomfortable for the cat, and can lead to much more serious problems if it continues to worsen.

Identifying Feline Acne
Feline acne takes the form of blackheads. You might mistake it for coffee grounds, dirt, or flea droppings (a.k.a. "flea dirt") at first. It typically forms along the edges of the lips and chin. If you scratch at it gently, it does not come off. Feline acne is much more visible on cats who have a light colored chin, versus cats with darker coats.
 
If it persists or gets worse, feline acne can turn into pustules and a chronic facial infection. Thus, it is important to address this problem as soon as you notice it.

Feline Acne Causes
There is no single cause of feline acne. Some common causes include:
  • Feeding out of plastic bowls, rather than ceramic or metal.
  • Feeding out of dirty dishes.
  • Poor quality food, or food with an ingredient that your cat is sensitive to.
  • Hormonal issues (many teenage cats get acne, just like teenage humans).
  • Immune system problems (a common cause of feline acne in senior cats).
 
Preventing Feline Acne
The first step is to address the cause. If you use plastic dishes for your cat's food or water, switch to ceramic or metal bowls. Surprisingly, this alone will clear up many cases of feline acne within just a few days. Some cats are apparently sensitive to the chemicals in plastic, or it may be that plastic dishes are more likely to harbor the bacteria that cause feline acne.
 
Swap out your cat's dishes with clean ones once a day. Clean the dishes well, to kill the bacteria that can cause feline acne.
 
Next, upgrade your cat's food to a better brand. If you are feeding Purina, upgrade to Iams. If you are feeding Iams, upgrade to a premium brand like Natural Balance or Nutro MAX. Try a hypoallergenic food, like Natural Balance Duck & Pea or Nutro Natural Choice.
 
Treating Feline Acne
If you have done all of the above and your cat's acne has not improved or has gotten worse, see a vet. Depending on the severity, your vet may prescribe an antibiotic, and may recommend daily cleanings to keep the area clear and promote healing.

KittyCam proves: Your kitty really is a killer

Study illustrates why outdoor cats lead shorter lives

Cats are always trying to convince us that they are ninjas, cold-hearted killers who deserve our respect and awe. Don't tell your cat - their ego doesn't need the boost - but a new study shows that it is probably true.

Dubbed "KittyCam," this project is a collaboration between National Geographic and the University of Georgia. Researchers chose 60 free-roaming outdoor house cats in the town of Athens, Georgia, and fitted them with cameras. They sent the cats out to live their lives, then studied the results.
 
Bird lovers and ecologists have long known that cats are a major threat to wildlife. Still, many owners are shocked to learn that 44 percent of free roaming cats hunt and kill on a daily basis. On average, these hunters will kill a surprising number of animals - approximately two animals per week. Most of the kills were birds, but the cats also killed a fair number of lizards - facts their owners would never suspect, because the cats invariably left the dead lizards at the kill site, rather than bringing them home.

Owners were also surprised to see the variety of risky behaviors their cats engaged in when not covered by a watchful eye. The cats scrapped with each other, fought with possums, explored the storm drains, dashed across busy streets, drank sewer water, and ate a variety of unpleasant items including road kill, worms, stick insects and some random Chex mix left on a stump (for reasons unknown).
 
This no doubt helps explain the statistic that outdoor ranging cats have an average lifespan of only 3-5 years, while indoor-only cats live an average of 12-15 years.
 
The KittyCam producers were shocked at the number of birds that were killed on camera. Cats kill an estimated 500 million birds every year in North America (wind turbines, which are often rejected on the basis of the number of birds they kill, only kill an average of 440,000 per year). 
 
Many of these deaths previously went unrecorded. The researchers found that the cats only brought home about a quarter of the animals they killed. The cats ate 30 percent of the animals on the spot, and left 49 percent of their kills where they fell. In other words, take the number of dead animals Fluffy brings home and multiply it by 4 to get the true picture of the numbers involved.
 
If you have an outdoor cat and want to help prevent it from slaughtering the local bird and reptile population, the researchers recommend this Cat Bib as a preventative measure. Unlike bells (which the cat quickly learns to silence), the bib acts as a physical protection, preventing your cat from grabbing its prey, while leaving the cat free to pursue all its other cat-ly activities.
 

Cat only pops right outside of box

My Seymore is 3 yrs old. He's always been a handful but we love him. Last year we adopted another cat, soon after he peed on our couch several times. That has since been resolved. I have 2litter boxes& clean them daily. Samuel is great. Seymore now pees in the box( I am grateful) bu, poops outside of it. He's not hanging over it too far I've caught him. That seems to be his preference! Is this something I have to live with? Also I have new couches coming soon & I'm petrified he might test them out!!

"My Cat From Hell" returns!

Summer is saved!

In the midst of a long drought of summer re-runs, one bright spot is the return of a new season of Animal Planet's breakout hit, "My Cat From Hell." This show stars Jackson Galaxy, the tattooed, pierced, oddly-bearded, biker-looking dude who is - contrary to appearances - and isn't that a lesson for you - a kind, sensitive, and empathetic cat behavioral specialist. 

In the same way that "The Dog Whisperer" IS Cesar Milan, "My Cat From Hell" IS Jackson Galaxy. He literally makes the show. Galaxy's humor, intuition, and ability to assess a situation from a cat's point of view is as unique as it is fascinating. I recently found his blog, jacksongalaxy.com, via his Twitter feed. (Animal Planet promotes the "My Cat From Hell" section of its website, which is somewhat paltry. If you are interested in the show, check out Jackson's own site!) His seven minute video "The Politics of Litter" will teach you more about cat psychology than an entire shelf full of useless conventional cat books.

Cats have, in large measure, been under-served by the animal behaviorist movement. Horses have the Horse Whisperer, dogs have celebrity trainers from Cesar Milan to Victoria Stillwell. But cats remain largely a mystery to most owners, their behavior as strange and unexpected as it often is vexing.

You may not have a true "cat from Hell," but if you own a cat, you have questions about it. Whether you realize it or not. Watching Jackson illuminate the inner life of the cat for his clients is as educational for viewers as it is for the (often pitiful) people on his show. 
 
And if there is one thing "My Cat From Hell" has taught me, it's that people really really love their cats. I thought I loved my cats, but do I love them enough to endure some of the things Galaxy's clients endure, all in the name of love? I'm not sure that I do. I spent fifteen years with an incorrigible sprayer (and yes, he had been neutered before he hit puberty). But even that commitment pales in comparison to some of the cats on this show. It's downright heartwarming to see cat owners sheepishly admit that they put up with their cats' violent and destructive tendencies because they can't bear the thought of having them put to sleep at an animal shelter.
 
The final lesson of "My Cat From Hell," in other words, is that cat people are AWESOME!

Super Old Cats

How long can a cat live? You might be surprised at the answer!

Although the average lifespan for an indoor-only, male cat is 12-14 years, some cats manage to live considerably longer. Cats of 17, 18, even 20 years old are not too uncommon. But then on the very far end of the bell curve, you have the world's oldest cats!
 
Currently the world's record is held by Creme Puff, who was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as being 38 years old and 3 days at the time of her death. Creme Puff lived with Jake Perry, an Austin, Texas cat lover who is the subject of this ten minute mini documentary. 

 
The documentary "South Paws" also details Perry's earlier cat Granpa Rex Allen, a Sphinx cat who died at the age of 34 years and 2 months. Granpa was born in Paris in 1964 and died in 1998, but not before starring as the centerfold of Cat Fancy magazine, as well as being posthumously awarded "Cat of the Year" by Cats & Kittens Magazine. Granpa insisted on a varied diet which included broccoli, bacon, asparagus and eggs.
 
Creme Puff's record was nearly broken by Baby, a black cat in Duluth, Minnesota who was certified the second oldest living cat. Baby died at 36, and looks remarkably spry in this news story. Baby's owners rescued him as a kitten, when they came across a group of children who had tossed him into a trash can, and were throwing in lit fireworks. They attribute his longevity to lots of exercise, and the occasional Cheez Doodle.
 
What can you do to ensure your own cat's longevity? Just as with humans, clean living is the best start! Even - perhaps especially - elderly cats should be encouraged to get plenty of exercise. Exercise can be as simple as batting at a feather wand toy, or as demanding as chasing a laser pointer dot around the room. Check out pet stores and online retailers for some of the new, unique cat toys for sale!
 
Older cats also need better nutrition. Most premium brands offer a "senior blend" which will include more roughage (to help with stomach issues) and reduced calories (to prevent obesity). 
 
And if your older cat seems lethargic or "off," don't just write it off as old age - see a vet. If these videos prove one thing, it's that even the oldest cats, when healthy, are just as vibrant and alive as a younger cat!
 

Four Products For Older Cats

Make your cat's golden years truly golden!

Although the typical life expectancy for a male indoor cat is 12-14 years, cats can live up to 18, 19, even 20 years or more. (The world's record is held by Creme Puff, who died at the age of 38.) As they age, just like people, certain things will make a cat's life much easier and more comfortable. 
 
1. Good Nutrition
A high-quality food is even more important for an older cat than a younger one. Older cats have a more difficult time metabolizing their food, so it needs to be as nutritious as possible in order for them to get the same benefit as they did when they were younger. In addition, a high-quality food will have less filler and ash, both of which are substances that can cause health issues in older cats (like kidney and bladder problems). 

 
Older cats can also be picky eaters. You may need to try several brands before you find one that your cat likes. A good pet store will be able to offer you free samples, and will have a return policy if you buy a bag of food that your cat won't like. They can also recommend foods that old cats may prefer!
 
2. Warmth
Because of their reduced activity and slower metabolism, older cats often get chilled. There are a variety of solutions to this problem, both electric and non-electric. I recently bought a "thermal pad," which is a non-electric but super-insulated pad that reflects more of your cat's body heat. You can also buy heated pads specially designed for pets.
 
Don't just use a heating pad meant for humans, though. These can accidentally scorch your cat, and create a fire hazard because they are not meant to run for hours unattended.
 
3. A Boost
If your old cat has trouble getting up and down onto the couch or the bed, you can buy small stairs or ramps designed just for this purpose. Old cats need their couch time more than those young whippersnappers!
 
4. Digestive Help
Many older cats develop constipation, due to their lower activity levels, and the muscular degeneration that comes with age. There are many products available to help your cat "keep it moving," from pastes like Laxatone to dietary supplements like Miralax (1/8th teaspoon per day, mixed into your cat's food). 
 
As your cat ages, you should pay more attention to your cat's movements, both pee and poop, so that you can detect any health issues before they become too serious.
 

Feline Hepatic Lipidosis

Fatty Liver Disease in cats

Back in late 2005, when my husband (then my boyfriend) moved in with me, my cat, Cleo, almost died.  Hubby brought a dog with him, and Cleo didn't take to the new addition very well -- she was so scared and upset that she stopped eating, and in an overweight cat (as I discovered) that can have disastrous effects.

When I realized Cleo not only wasn't eating, but also was dry heaving when we tried to encourage her to eat, I took her into the vet.  It turned out she had feline hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, an awful disease where the cat's liver gets overloaded with fat and shuts down, usually because the cat has stopped eating for whatever reason.  This could be because of situational reasons -- like in my experience, because of the addition of a new pet -- or because the cat is ill with something else, and not feeling well has caused him or her to stop eating.  Whatever the reason, it usually only turns into this disease in overweight cats -- when their bodies try to process their fat stores as energy, their livers get bogged down with the fat and stop working.

The good news is that, for many cats, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  It usually requires force-feeding for weeks or months -- whether by syringe or by a surgically implanted tube -- but the liver can be caused to start working properly again as the excess fat clears out.  I force-fed Cleo for four weeks until she started eating on her own again.

I started thinking about this again because I am writing an article on the disease, and therefore had to interview a couple of vets about it.  (I knew a lot about the disease already, but my editor wanted to have a few expert sources to give the article more weight.)  I have helped a lot of cat owners over the years with my website about my experiences with Cleo's fatty liver disease, and I am hoping that this article will help even more.  It's a difficult disease to get through, but it does not have to be fatal if you know how to treat it!

 

Constipation in Cats

It's more common than you might think

 

Constipation is a frequent concern in cats, particularly in older cats. Most cats will have a bowel movement once or twice a day, but a constipated cat may go 2, 3, or even 4 days between bowel movements. At which point, the experience is incredibly painful, and the cat is in a considerable amount of discomfort and pain.
 
How do you know a cat is constipated?
Being aware of your cat's usual elimination schedule is your best bet. You can also look for signs of distress, crying, discomfort, a belly which seems fuller or harder than usual, and a cat who visits the litter box often without anything happening. 

 
In some cases, only liquid may be able to get around the obstructed bowel. This may cause a small amount of what may look like diarrhea.
 
What causes constipation in cats?
Old age, which brings with it reduced muscle tone and less activity, is often a cause. Hairballs, particularly in long-haired cats or heavy shedders, can be a problem. Other cats may intensely dislike their litter box - either its position, its shape, the type of litter, or the fact that you don't (in the cat's estimation) clean it often enough.
 
It's important to get to the root cause, in order to prevent future attacks of constipation before they start.
 
Some vets blame a diet high in carbs (see picture above) for constipation problems. Ask your vet if there is a low-carb brand that they recommend for your situation.
 
What can you do for a constipated cat?
A cat who becomes too constipated may experience a bowel impaction. If this is the case, it will need to go to the vet. Your vet can decide whether your cat needs surgery, manual intervention, an enema, or medication. 
 
If your cat is constipated, keep a close eye on it. Constipation can be extremely dangerous if it goes too far. 
 
How to prevent constipation in cats?
Your vet can assess your cat's diet and provide advice. You can add canned pumpkin or unflavored psyllium husks to your cat's diet (about 1 tsp per day, sprinkled on kitty's food), change from a dry diet to a diet of canned food, switch to a "senior cat" or "hairball care" formula which will include more roughage, and give your cat a hairball formula like Petromalt. 
 
Regular exercise is great for your cat, and it can also help with constipation. Grab one of those "feather on a string" toys and get your cat jumping!
 
It's also important to ensure that your cat is drinking enough water. You might want to get one of those fancy cat watering fountains which offers moving water, which many cats find more appealing than a bowl of still water.
 
In extreme or chronic cases, your vet may prescribe medicine for your cat to take on a regular basis.
 

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