Best Toys for Cats

How To Care For Cats

You may have trained several dogs in the past, but nothing can prepare you for raising your new feline friend. Cats are nothing like dogs. They require more attention during their growing years and more personal time playing with their owner. This article will highlight some of the main differences between the two.

When feeding your cat, purchase canned cat food instead of the alternative. This food has more fat and protein, and it tends to have a lot more water as well. Finally, even picky cats will generally eat canned foods while they may turn their noses up at the dry stuff.

Do not give your cat pet treats just because they are begging for them. These should be given as reinforcements for doing good behavior. If you give your cats treats every time that they want them, there will be nothing to motivate them to behavior better than they have been.

If your cat is picky about drinking water, invest in a cat fountain. These battery operated or plug in fountains keep water circulating and aerated. Many cats prefer this. A cat fountain will help keep your cat out of the kitchen sink and the toilet. It will also help prevent your cat from pawing water onto the floor in search of fresh water.

Realize that cats do not normally pant. Dogs pant to keep cool. If a cat pants, it's a sign of trouble. Your cat could be very anxious or in pain. Likewise, rapid breathing is a sign of pain or anxiety. Be sure to contact your vet right away if your cat starts panting.

Although depicted in countless movies and cartoons, milk is not the best source of nutrition for your cat. Once cats have grown, they do not need milk as a regular part of their diet. Milk can cause stomach distress and bloating. Instead of giving your cat milk, always have fresh, clean water available to them instead.

Your cat might not come running when you call, but most cats enjoy cuddling on their terms and time. Cats love to have their heads and backs pet. Not all cats like their tummies rubbed so be careful. Spending quality time with your cat will make lasting memories to look back on someday.

Don't be pushy when you are getting to know your new cat. Cats prefer to be in control and take things at their own pace. Make sure your new cat is comfortable and safe. Let your cat take its time exploring its new environment. When your cat feels at home, it will be more likely to try to make friends with you.

To keep your cat healthy and strengthen its bond with you, always set aside lots of play time. Kittens especially need lots of attention, which you can easily give to them through play. Pull a piece of string around for a fun and gentle way to keep a cat entertained for hours!

Clip your cats nails regularly. Cats do have to scratch. However, when cats scratch, their nail sheaths come off and their sharp, pointy claws are exposed. Clipping your cat's claws every two to three weeks keeps them blunt and helps keep harm to furniture, humans, and other pets to a minimum.

Give your new cat some space. Moving to a new home can be stressful on a cat, especially one who is no longer a kitten. To help them adjust, give them a quiet place that they can call their own, such as a spare bathroom or laundry room. This gives them a safe space they can retreat to until they have become comfortable with exploring the whole house. Depending on the cat, this process may take a few days up to a month or more.

As your cat gets older, changes in behavior may signal pain. If your cat doesn't like to jump or climb any more, it may be in pain. If your cat stops taking care of grooming or stops using its litter box, pain may be the cause. Be sure to have your older cat checked out by your vet if you notice behavior changes.

For a healthier, happier cat choose plain litter over scented litter. Cats like nice, clean, clumping cat litter. Scoop your cats litter box daily and change it completely every three days or so. When you change the box, wash it out with water and dish soap. Don't waste your money on liners as cats tend to destroy them.

While both animals are great to have and can peacefully exist with one another under one roof, don't take adopting a new kitten too lightly. Plan ahead and have enough resources in reserve like cat food and such. If you are going to train your cat indoors, don't forget to buy extra litter for the first few months because they can get messy.

How to Bathe Your Cat Without Bloodshed | Catster

Washing your cat in your home is quite a job. But it doesn't have to involve an angry, clawing kitty.

Marci Kladnik  |  Jan 10th 2013  | 

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My rescue cat, Dodo, had a brush with some tanglefoot while chasing a bird in a tree. If you’ve ever gotten this product on yourself, you’ll know what I mean when I say he was sticky. (Tanglefoot is used to stop ants from marching up tree trunks and hummingbird feeder posts.) 

I discovered the tanglefoot too late, while I was snatching the cat from the branches. Now two of us needed sticky removal. 

 

Cat gets bath by Shutterstock

 

Faced with the dilemma of how to remove the offending product from Dodo before he tried to do it himself against the furniture, I searched my brain for remedies. What did my mother use when my sister put gum in my hair so long ago? Peanut butter? Oil? I grabbed the not-so-expensive olive oil from the shelf and backed out of the pantry still clinging to a desperately squirming cat. 

Dodo calmed down as I knelt on the kitchen floor, backing him up between my knees. (This manner of holding a cat is also great when trying to administer meds.) I applied some olive oil to a paper towel and rubbed. Nothing happened. I tried again. Still nothing, except that now I had a sticky and oily cat on my hands. Dodo’s interest in the matter of being cleaned was rapidly dissipating, as it clearly did not involve food.

 

This cat is a lot more enthusiastic about bathing than Dodo was. Cat and rubber ducks by Shutterstock

 

Clinging ever tighter to Dodo, I ran to the bathroom and tossed him into the shower stall, slamming the door behind him. Okay, now what?

I grabbed an armload of old towels, brought them into the room, and placed them on the floor near the shower. I was stalling. 

By then, I needed a shower myself, so on impulse I quickly stripped and slipped into the stall with the cat. I knew this was risky, as there was now nothing between my tender skin and his sharp claws, should he attempt to climb his way out by using me as a tree. Dodo appeared nonplussed, so I ignored him and turned the water on. 

I was amazed to see Dodo calmly sitting there! Before he changed his mind, I grabbed the dog shampoo (it was an emergency) and lathered him up. Still, he remained calm. The moment of truth came when I took the handheld shower head and held it over him. 

 

This is OJ, another kitten I had to give a bath to.

 

Wow! Easy! That’s when it dawned on me: Bathing a cat from above is the way to go. Lowering a cat into a tub of water, he’ll think you’re trying to drown him and fight like crazy. 

Since then I’ve given countless flea baths to foster kittens and have rarely been scratched, so I know this method works. Note: I do not take them into a shower with me. I just hold them by the scruff under the faucet in the kitchen sink. 

I never had occasion to bathe Dodo again. I also confine all my (four) cats inside the house or catio these days, rather than let them have free rein outside. 

In retrospect, I was very lucky to have had a mellow cat and that I came out of that shower unscathed. If I ever needed to bathe an adult cat again, I would do it much differently. 

 

It's unlikely your cat will enjoy the experience. Wet cat by Shutterstock

 

Here are some simple steps to bathing your cat at home: 

1. Be prepared

• Invest in a cat harness if you suspect your cat will be a struggler.
• Choose a warm room that has a door you can close to prevent escape.
• Put several large bath towels next to the tub along with a hairdryer and pet carrier lined with a towel, door open and ready to receive a wet cat.
• Select a shampoo specifically formulated for felines. Be careful to avoid any that contain tea tree oil, which is toxic. If you are bathing for fleas, some shampoos are applied to a dry coat and must stay in for several minutes before rinsing.

2. Wash

• Wash the animal in a large tub with access to warm running water. A handheld showerhead type sprayer is best as it emits a gentle “rain” and will be less threatening. It's also very convenient for rinsing undersides and other hard-to-reach places.
• Place the cat in the tub and hold her in place by the scruff or harness. Talk soothingly and pet her before turning on the water. 
• Using lukewarm water and shampoo, carefully wash the cat in a matter-of-fact manner. Cats can pick up on stress, so if you are worried they will be as well and be more apt to put up a fight. 

 

Foster kitten OJ got a good rubdown to avoid getting chilled afterward.

 

3. Dry

• When washing is over, towel-dry the animal as best you can. Then proceed to more thorough drying to avoid the animal becoming chilled (which is life-threatening for kittens).
• Many cats are afraid of hairdryers. If your pet is one of these, confine the wet cat to the carrier and carefully aim the warm air flow across the door rather than directly at the animal. You can also just put her into a warm bathroom until the coat dries completely.

Have you bathed your cat at home? Did you survive? Tell us about it in the comments!

Posted in CATSTER TIPS, GOOD ADVICE, HEALTH & CARE

Grooming Your Cat's Coat - TheCatSite.com Community

The cat's coat is often one of the most striking features of its appearance. The basis for a good-looking coat is quality nutrition and a loving low-stress environment.

Basically, cats grow two different kinds of hairs in their coat:

• Guard hair - the longer type of hair, which constitutes the topcoat.
• Secondary hair - the dense layer of hairs that make up the undercoat. Secondary hair can be woolly or awn type, and often is a combination of both.

The variety of coat texture, found in cat breeds, comes from different combinations of hair types or from mutations in a specific hair type. With today's multitude of breeds, new and different types of coats are becoming less rare. Some need a different method of grooming than others. It is important to understand the build of the coat, and to groom it properly.

Most domestic shorthairs need relatively little grooming. Regular brushing, at least once a week helps to keep the coat looking good, by removing dead hair. Getting rid of dead hair also prevents it from scattering around your home. It is advised to often brush cats that shed a lot. Usually it is not necessary to bathe a shorthair cat, unless it gets its coat very dirty. You should also bathe the cat if it is covered with a substance that you don't want him to lick off.

Many domestic Longhairs need to be brushed daily, or at least three times a week, depending on fur length and density. This is necessary to prevent tangles and matting of the fur. Bathing regularly is also recommended, because the cat may have difficulties keeping its long coat clean.

You should also comb your cat for ticks, fleas and flea eggs if you live in an area where infestations of these pests are particularly hard to control. This is especially necessary for cats living in rural areas, where they are allowed to be outside a great deal.

If you own a purebred cat, it is best to consult with the breeder about the special care its coat needs. Books devoted to the care of specific breeds are also available. Note that preparing a cat for showing involves a complex grooming procedure, starting weeks before the show. This procedure is not covered in this article and it is best to ask an experienced breeder for advice and even a demonstration.

Here are a few common cat breeds with different coat types and recommended guidelines for grooming them:

	Persian	Bathe every few weeks and brush daily.
	British shorthair	Brush once a week to remove dead hair. Bathe as necessary.
	Ragdoll	Brush regularly at least once a week. Bathe as necessary.
	Siamese	Brush once a week. Bathe as necessary.
	Sphynx	Sponge-bathe regularly to remove excess body oils.