Keeping Cats out of Things

Cats are full of mischief, especially if you get yours when he is a kitten and still learning.  Just like kids, they can test your patience and make you want to strangle them.  But then they look at your with those big, cute eyes and faces, and you melt.

Thankfully, just like kids, there are some things you can do around your house to help cat proof it.

Cabinets – There are different tools you can get to make the cabinets harder to get into for your cats.  These would be the same tools you use for your children, which sometimes are also adult proof.  I use a bungee cord at my house to tie my one cabinet to my oven so that the cat cannot open it.

Close Doors Completely – My cat has figured out that if he puts his paw under a door and pulls at it, he can eventually open it.  But it only works if the door is not closed completely and latched.  As long as I close the door fully, he cannot do this.  It definitely aggravates him, which is fun for me.

Put things Away – Another thing my cat likes to do is play with, and destroy, various things that he can get his paws on.  As a result, I have started putting items away in places that he cannot get to them to destroy.  The recycling is in a cupboard, my work bag hangs from a doorknob, and my jackets get hung up when I get home.

All about Ragdoll Cats

Ragdoll cats are beautiful, friendly, and make ideal pets for many different types of people.  Their name comes from the fact that many of them will simply relax and go limp when picked up, just like a ragdoll feels.

Though there is much debate about how the breed came to be, the common consensus is that a breeder in Riverside, California is responsible for creating the breed we now know as ragdolls, back in the 1960s.

Ragdolls can become very large; in fact, the Guinness world record for largest cat belongs to a ragdoll.  While they may take years to achieve their adult size, males range from 12-20 pounds and females from 10-15 pounds as adults.

Ragdolls are distinct in personality from other cats.  While most cats are known for being aloof, independent and not overly social, a ragdoll will follow its owners and looks forward to spending time socializing with them.

Ragdolls have thick, heavy coats and may require more maintenance than other longhaired cats, such as daily brushing in the winter and attention paid to hairball issues.  Except for possibly needing more grooming, ragdoll cats require no other special care and do not seem to have any breed specific health problems.

If you are looking for a friendly, mellow and beautiful companion for your family, ragdolls may very well be the perfect choice.  Laid back and social, they are happy to spend time bonding and snuggling with their owners, and their beautiful colors make them even more appealing.
 

Tips for Minimizing Scratching

"There is no reason you need to declaw, as long as you are willing to take a little time to nudge your cat in the right direction!"

One of the most common problems people have with their cats is that they tend to scratch things we don't want them to: furniture, curtains, rugs, wood trim in the house, etc.  Some people immediately turn to declawing, but I think that's a pretty cruel practice, and advocate training and other alternatives.  Here are a few ways you can minimize scratching as much as possible.
  1. Find a dedicated scratcher your cat likes.  I often hear people say, "But my cat won't use the scratching post!"  Maybe you need to try a different kind.  Some cats like the typical carpeted scratching posts and houses, while others prefer those wound with rope.  There are also bare wood and cardboard scratchers.  Cat nip can also be rubbed into a scratcher to make it more appealing to your cat.
  2. Use double-sided tape to teach your cat where NOT to scratch.  If your cat still wants to scratch places where you don't want him to, you can buy special clear double-sided tape that (usually) won't damage your furniture when it's time to take it off.  Put this tape where you don't want your cat scratching -- he won't like the sticky sensation, and it will help to train him to look for another place to scratch.  But be sure you provide a place where he is allowed to scratch!
  3. Trim claws back.  If all else fails, trimming your cats claws can really help.  I take a nail clipper and clip off the point of each claw.  Just be careful not to clip too much, because you don't want to hurt them!  If they are still trying to scratch, you can buy soft clear plastic caps to put over the claws once you've clipped off the tips.  The caps will have to be replaced every couple of weeks, though, as the claw sheds its outer layer.

I don't have much experience with sprays that are supposed to keep cats from scratching certain areas, but I've found that all of the above methods work pretty well.  There is no reason you need to declaw, as long as you are willing to take a little time to nudge your cat in the right direction!

How to Treat Those Pesky Hairballs

If you have a longhaired cat, hairballs are almost certainly a fact of life.  While for some cats it is just a minor inconvenience, other cats may have a lot of digestive trouble and stomach upset when they get hairballs.  We had a cat that required hairball medicine for years because she would throw up constantly without it.  If you are faced with the dilemma of treating your cat for hairballs, the following solutions will help.

Daily Brushing
Hairballs are caused by loose fur being ingested when your cat cleans itself.  The first line of defense is to brush your cat’s fur every day to remove that loose hair before it goes down the chute.  You can buy special brushes for longhaired cats.  Some have blades within the teeth to help cut away mats, which can be a huge relief to your kitty.

Hairball Medicine
Oily, slimy stuff, hairball medicine coats the hairball to make it pass more easily.  This is the remedy we used for our cat, and as long as she had her daily dose she would be fine.  If they won’t lick it from your hand, wipe it on their paw and they will be forced to clean themselves.

Hairball Food
Food formulated to reduce hairballs and improve digestion can help with your cat’s hairball problem.  I don’t have personal experience with this and expect other methods may work better, but it’s a good option if your cat constantly fights hairball medicine.

Whichever method you choose, you and your cat will appreciate not dealing with rejected hairballs around the house.

Why I Fed My Cats Chicken

As much as I love my cats, I had a hard time loving my one cat when she was having stomach issues and leaving me presents all over the place.  Due to this, I ended up taking her in to see the vet.  But as there are many things that can go wrong with your cat and they are not able to talk and tell you about it, diet is one of the first things that they recommend you do.  I had her on a few different foods at that point to no available, so it was suggested to put her on just plain boiled chicken for a bit and see how that worked for her. 

Thankfully, this was a relatively easy treatment – I just needed to cook a chicken.  As I had chicken breasts in the house, I just boiled a few of those up, tore them apart and gave them to her.  But due to this being something different and unsure about, she wasn’t too sure about it and wanted nothing to do with it.   I ended up leaving the food out for her and not giving her anything else, with the thought that eventually she would get hungry enough to eat and sure enough, that is exactly what happened.

For the week or two I left her on a chicken only diet, she did great and had no issues.  I ended up having to do this once more as I had switched food again and it cleared the issue up.  I would recommend you try this with your cat if he/she has food issues, but of course, you should check with your vet first.

Changes in Behavior: What Causes Them?

If your cat is acting differently, it could be either physical or environmental changes causing the new behavior.

The other day, someone posted in a forum I read regularly about some changes in their cat's behavior.  They have had the cat for several years, and she is getting to be middle-aged now.  Suddenly she has started acting grouchy toward the other cats in the house, and (they suspect) peeing outside the litter box.

When it comes to unwanted behaviors in cats, peeing outside the litter box is the most common complaint.  What people don't understand is that 1) cats are finicky creatures and their bathroom habits are easily upset by physical problems and environmental changes, and 2) peeing outside the litter box is often your first (and sometimes your only) clue that there is something wrong.

Changes in your cat's behavior could be attributed to a physical illness or injury that is making her feel badly, but it could also be a change in her routine or life that is making her unhappy, uncomfortable, or scared.  For instance, when my husband and his dog first moved in with me and my two cats, one of my cats actually stopped eating because she felt too exposed at her food dish.  The result was that she developed feline hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, and I spent a month force-feeding her before she could eat on her own again.

If you know there has been a recent change in your cat's life -- you've moved to a new home, gotten a new pet, or started working different or additional hours, for example -- that could be the cause of the changes in her behavior.  But don't overlook the possibility of a physical problem, especially if you can't think of any changes in your cat's life that would cause her to act out!  Cancer can cause a cat to stop eating or act crabby, while a urinary tract infection can cause her to pee outside of the litter box, usually in a different place every time (trying to find a place to go where it doesn't hurt, presumably).  And negative behaviors aren't the only indicators that something is wrong: If your cat suddenly starts sleeping much more than usual, or loses or gains weight, pay attention because she could be trying to tell you something!

If you do suspect that your cat may have a physical problem, take her to the vet as soon as you can.  Your vet can do many affordable tests, such as checking urine for a UTI and doing lab work on a blood sample, that can help to identify the problem.

Cat Trees are Fun

When clipping toenails doesn’t seem to help keep those rascally cats from clawing up your furniture, consider investing in a cat tree.  Not only will your cats have a place that is okay to claw to their heart’s content, but they will also have a blast climbing up and down and sleeping in cubbyholes.

What is a Cat Tree?
Cat trees are usually made of a very thick cardboard or inexpensive wood and then covered in a durable layer of carpet.  The carpet will not shred when cats claw it, so they can climb up and down without ruining their toy.  Smaller cat trees will stand alone in the room, which makes them much more portable.  Larger trees will often need to be attached to the wall or some other support to make sure they do not fall over.

Simple or Elaborate
At its most basic, a cat tree will measure around two or three feet and have a single platform or cubbyhole.  In my experience, these smaller ones really don’t appeal to most cats and will probably not get used often.  From the smallest ones, the size and features continue to increase.  Some very dedicated cat owners have even created tunnels and trees that interconnect around an entire room!  The size we had the best experience with was a single tall tree that attached to the ceiling with brackets.  It had a hollow center for the cats to climb up inside, and multiple platforms for them to play and rest on.

Cat trees are a great way for your indoor cats to exercise, and they give all cats a place of their own to play in and claw up.  Our cats ignored our leather furniture after we bought them a cat tree.
 

Uncovering Litter Box Problems

The Importance of Asking "Why?"

Cats may love cardboard boxes, but a lot of them have a love-hate relationship with their litter boxes.  If you have or have had a cat that uses the cat box religiously, and never goes anywhere else no matter how dirty it gets or how sick they are, consider yourself lucky -- a large percentage of cats have litter box issues.

If your cat isn't using the litter box, though, it's important to ask yourself why.  Usually the cat has a reason for its behavior, and it's up to you to figure it out.

One of the biggest reasons why cats stop using the litter box properly is because of urinary tract infections.  If your cat is peeing in various places around the house, and every time it's a different place, chances are she has a UTI.  Not every cat behaves this way, though, so testing for a UTI should always be one of the first things you do if your cat develops a problem with using her cat box -- especially if this is uncharacteristic for her.

Another major cause for cat box problems is simple lack of cleanliness.  Cats are finicky creatures, so if you let the cat boxes get too dirty on a regular basis, they will take their business elsewhere, so to speak.  Cats have an instinct to go in a clean place every time, so it's a tribute to their willingness to please that they do their business in cat boxes at all, really.  Females are especially finicking, by the way, and are more likely to pee outside the box once it gets dirty.

And finally, don't underestimate a cat's willingness to pee outside the box just to piss you off (please excuse the pun).  I've had two cats who, at different times, very definitely peed on something to let me know they were unhappy with me.  One had just gotten in trouble for something wholly unrelated, and the other was acting out because I was away from home too often.

Unfortunately, once a cat starts going outside the box, it can be hard to resolve the problem.  Keeping the litter boxes extra clean, thoroughly cleaning the site of any accidents, and trying to identify what's bothering the cat (dog not letting her get to the litter box easily enough, for example?) are of paramount importance, and of course don't forget to check for a UTI too!

Are Two Cats Better Than One?

When I adopted my cat, I originally got one.  I had no intentions of getting a second one as I live alone and really, why do I need two cats?  But when I was at the shelter, they asked me if I was interested in two kittens instead, to which I said no as there was a particular one that had caught my eye.  Yet, a month later, I was back there adopting a second cat.

Why did I choose a second cat?  I felt that my first cat was lonely when I was at work (maybe it was just me being selfish and thinking that she missed me?) and I thought that a second cat would help keep her company.  I also thought a second cat would be great as the two of them would be able to play together and just do those types of things that cats do.

But due to my first cat being a Siamese, I did not think it would be a good idea to adopt just any cat, but I would need a special cat.  So I talked to the shelter and they recommended a male kitten would be good with my cat.  And it turned out to be a good decision and the two get on wonderfully.

Just like any other siblings, the two of them fight and for the most part, it is just for fun and they are tuning their talents.  But once in a while, it gets a bit more violent and I make them stop.  But on the other end of the spectrum, I will catch them grooming each other or cuddling with each other.

I would highly recommend having two cats.  If you plan to get two at once, it can be a good idea to get siblings as they know each other already.  This is especially easy if you adopting kittens.

Our Favorite Movies with Cats

Since the days of the early Egyptians, cats have held a special place in our hearts.  We love to care for them, enjoy their playful antics and spend lots of time – and money – to keep our feline friends happy.  That they naturally expect those things just adds to the fun.  Many of us have been influenced by famous movie star cats, even choosing to name our beloved pets after them.  I wonder how many orange tabbies named Milo have wandered this earth after the movie Milo & Otis.  Here are some of the most popular movies featuring cats.

Milo & Otis
My kids love this movie.  I can’t count how many times we had to watch it, until the DVD stopped working.  I can’t say I was disappointed.  It’s a fantastic movie, but only for the first 100 or so times you watch it. 

The Aristocats
Though technically not real cats, The Aristocats is a classic cat flick featuring the voice talents of Eva Gabor and Phil Harris.  The main cat stars Thomas O’Malley and Duchess, have their own love story as they try to return Duchess and her kittens to the mansion she was taken from.  I am sure this movie spawned hundreds of little Duchesses throughout the country.

Harry Potter
Let us not forget Crookshanks, the trusty sidekick for Hermione Granger throughout the Harry Potter films.  Though a little cliché, Hermione and Crookshanks make a great witch-cat pair.

What are some other favorite cat films that have positively influenced your view of cats?

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