The Litter Box

If your litter box isn’t already in your bathroom, move it to the bathroom. Do this gradually, a little each day until the litter box is in the bathroom. It will take some time to train your cat, but the first step is to get the cat into the bathroom. Raise the box off the floor gradually, you can stack books or other solid objects under it. Continue raising the box until it is level with the toilet. As you are raising the box, put less and less! litter in it. The box needs to be well anchored so your cat can’t knock it over.

After the litter box has been raised even with the height of the toilet, move it closer to the toilet by increments, a little at a time. You are trying to get the cat to understand that the toilet is a litter box. Moving the litter box as close to the toilet as possible will help. Keep using smaller and smaller amounts of litter each day so the cat becomes accustomed to not having much litter. When you reach a point where there is less than an inch of litter in the box, you can stop redu! cing the amount.

Making the Switch

The final step in training your cat to use the toilet is to put a litter pan over the toilet , but under the seat. You can use any pan the will fit, or you can buy a special training pan at your local or online pet store. Put less than an inch of flushable litter in the pan. Make sure the pan is secure and won’t slide around and scare the cat. If you can’t find a training aid pan, or don’t want to spend the money on one, use duct tape to secure the pan in place.

You can train a cat to use the toilet if you slowly morph the above device. For example, cut a hole into the center of the pan. Start with a small hole and then work up until it is larger and larger. Keep reducing the litter. Soon, the cat will become used to going to the bathroom using this device and without water. You can train a cat to use the toilet, but it is bound to take weeks or even months to accomplish. The slower you move between steps, the better able your cat will be to learn this new skill. In time, when people ask if you can train a cat to use the toilet, you will be able to show them!

Cat Scratching Furniture

Cats are very good pets as they don’t require as much attention as other options such as a dog.

You don’t have to walk the cat and you don’t have to deal with it barking at everything that happens to walk by your home.

The only thing you may have to spend on is cat furniture, which is essential for a healthy and happy cat.

With so much modern cat furniture available you should enjoy shopping for it.

Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to. However, most cats are content to play with toys or to be independent.

This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring.

Your cat won’t come running when you are home at the end of day and knock you over.

They also don’t lick or bite so you won’t have to worry about how they will interact with others when you have company. Cats always seem to be able to tell when you need some comfort.

Taking care of a pet can help a child to become more responsible but some pets just come with too much time required.

A cat makes a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy.

Indoor cats will have to be trained to use a litter box but most of them learn very quickly so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home.

However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.

There is an abundance of cat litter furniture to be found on the internet, and you will definitely find something to suit your taste in design, and budget.

Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day.

In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems.

They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. They don’t require as many vet visits for routine shots either like dogs do which can become quite expensive.

For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them.

This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home. Many cat owners claim they haven’t come across a mouse in their home for years with this line of defense.

Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have a gentle hum to them that can be relaxing for humans.

They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them.

There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.

Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them.

Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them.

They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.

To prevent them scratching on your furniture you can buy them their own cat scratching furniture.

For your entire cat furniture needs please visit www.catbedandtoy.com.

It’s a shame that many pets are given up or abandoned every day, as pet owners struggle to cope with the current economic climate.

This is exceedingly problematic for pet charities who have look after animals when money is limited, surviving on contributions to keep their cats in good wellbeing. 

Here are a few points which should help make looking after a animal on a tight budget a little easier:

1. Consider every cat cost? Is it a key part of pet care? Do you need that specific cat food or product? Easier said than done, bring cats up with variety, both dry and wet, as well as different brands and flavours. Keep an eye on promotions. You can stock up. Think of vouchers, search on the net for some promotions. Buy based on price per pound / Kg, as sometimes, principally with promotions, the smaller pack can be cheaper.

2.      Is it possible that you can club together to buy feed and bedding in bulk, reducing the total price and passing on savings to all.

3.      Veterinary bills are an unknown factor but still have to be considered. If money’s a little difficult, you may find a lot of Vets will consider spreading the costs, and pay in instalments. If you can, afford it – have or keep cat insurance.

4.      Many people can make lifestyle changes! It’s not all about finding ways to keep your animal more economically, see if you can do it for yourself!

5. Can you earn some money? What about the idea of becoming a cat sitter, though professional businesses such as London Cat Sitting will require you also to do dog walking. Perhaps find a dog walking  job Dog Walking as a profession Good companies such as London Dog Walking will require you do it regularly.

 6. Do not forget your other animals, you may have put cats in kennels, what about using a cat sitter? The cat may prefer it and the cat sitters often do other things.

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

Enjoy your animal, they are worth every cent.

If you got this as a kitten, it will easily be able to adapt itself to the environment because it will allow itself to be ruled by other pets. This means there will be fewer incidents of fighting between themselves.

Lucky for you, kittens that often sold to owners are already litter trained. The other thing you will need to do is teach it the place to go to use the toilet.

Your kitten will follow you around wherever you go and at times jump or climb up to the kitchen top or table. This isn’t good if you have food there so discourage this habit by having a bottle full of water around so you can squirt it into their face.

It will also be a great idea to install a scratching post as this is their way of sharpening their nails. If they do this elsewhere, spray them again in the face.

Apart from working on the scratch pad, you should trim their nails before it gets too sharp that it could hurt someone or damage the furniture in the house. You do this by pressing down on each toe which makes the claws extend. This should be inspected regularly so they also get used to it as they grow older.

Kittens do not shed that much hair compared to bigger cats. But you should comb them anyway so they get used to it regardless if your pet is a short or long haired cat.

Do not just allow your cat to eat anything. They should be of great quality that can be found in the pet store. If you are not sure about which brand has the highest vitamins and minerals, go ask your vet for some recommendations. There must be a clean bowl of water as well so they don’t get dehydrated.

Along with feeding the kitten, they should be taken to the vets for shots. They usually get a few while they are young but get a regular one annually as they get bigger. Be sure to keep a record of the shots so this can be shown to the doctor.

If you have a big cat, give them room to adapt to the new environment on their own. If your pets quarrel, don’t worry or get in between them because this is normal. But if things are really bad, then you have to separate them by confining both in different rooms.

An older cat also needs to be disciplined so they know what they can and cannot do. This is why you need to keep the squirt bottle handy as this is the best way to tell them it is wrong without physically hurting them.

House cats should always be kept indoors. Studies have shown that this extends their life for over ten years since going outside puts them at risk of being hit by a car or contaminated with a virus from stray animals.Just so you know strays cats that live outdoors rarely survive longer than a few years.

It doesn’t take much to know how to take care of a cat. Do your research and practice so both of you will love each other’ company. Find out more about fur cats, cats teeth and other information here.

But worry not, there is a home remedy for cat dandruff that you can use without burning a hole in your wallet, just by looking at the symptoms and environment and taking action based on these symptoms.

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

The majority of cat dandruff issues are invariably linked to 3 factors:

1. The cat dandruff appears on the rump or tail and your cat is aged or over-weight.

If you have a feline friend that is over-weight or has gained weight suddenly and dandruff on her rump and tail, it’s highly likely she’s not able to reach these areas to clean herself. This is also a problem for aged cats that no longer have the mobility to groom themselves.

Just carry on and brush your cat and you might want to consider grooming her every couple of months. If you decide to give your cat a bath, I suggest do not use human shampoos as that might dry her skin further and exacerbate the condition. Always use a cat shampoo and do not forget to wash thoroughly as excess shampoo stuck on her undercoat may only make the problem worse.

2. The weather is cold and dry

If your cat only has dandruff issues in winter, then it could be the result of the cold and dry weather. Worse of all, a lot of cats like to laze about in the warm comforts of the fireplace, which rapidly dries her skin causing it to flake.

Just move her away from the fireplace regularly and observe if the problem persists. Purchasing a humidifier would be not a bad idea, both for your feline friend and also yourself (humans get dry skin too…)

3. The cat dandruff still persists after trying out everything

If none of the above apply, just think, have you changed any new furniture lately? A new rug perhaps? Take a look if there has been any changes to her environment that she might be sensitive to and try to make the required adjustments.

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

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

1) Don’t let your pet into the bedroom or onto the bed. I know this is difficult especially for those who share the bed with the cat, but the close proximity of your body to the bedsheet and pillow means that you’ll be inhaling cat dander whenever you lie on the bed. Try to train your feline friend to know that your bedroom is out of bounds and you should see some improvement.

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

2) Does your home have carpets? You might want to throw them out as cat dander cling on to them and bacteria breeds easily there. If that isn’t an option, vacuum your carpets whenever possible.

3) Do you have fabric sofas too? The cloth of the sofa is really conducive for cat dander. Change them with leather sofa sets or wash the fabric as often as possible.

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

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

These five simple tips are a good start though by no way are they the only solutions. More cat dander advice can be found at CatDandruffAway.com

This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. However your cat won’t come running when you come home at the end of day and knock you over. Why you have visitors you don’t have to worry about them biting people like a dog. Cats seem to know when you need some comfort and will jump up on your lap and give you a fuss.

A cat is a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. Providing they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy and contented. Indoor cats learn quickly to use a litter box so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.

In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. Another bonus is they don’t require as many vet visits for routine vacinations like dogs do and these are quite expensive. Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day.

For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home.

Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.

Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.

Most cats are covered with a thick, protective fur.This makes it very hard to spot if a cat has a skin issues prior to it becoming a lot more serious.It is vital to take some time on a consistent basis to study your cat’s skin carefully for anything that may be wrong.

Run your hand gently over his body and explore the skin for any unusual patches. If you find any, move the fur by brushing it gently, so that you can see below the fur and have a better look at the skin. If you carry this out regularly and understand your cat’s body, you should notice any problems very quickly. You will learn to spot what is regular and what is not.

Cheyletiellosis is a skin disorder in cats is caused by skin mites and is very contagious between cats as well as humans. In cats, the symptoms are itching and it usually results in heavy scaling and flaking of the skin, which is why Cheyletiellosis in cats is often known as “walking dandruff”. This skin condition is usually not deadly and can be easily treated with the right medication once the condition has been diagnosed and confirm.

Alopecia is a skin disorder in cats that will result in hair loss due to endocrine disturbances, localized infections, or generalized illnesses. The condition can also be a result of stress. The cats symptoms included bald patches on the skin and can be accompanied by reddened or inflamed skin. Not a deadly skin disease, and with quick and correct treatment, the fur would in most occasions grow back. 

While most skin conditions are cause by allergies to food and pesticides bite, and can be easily managed and treated, early detection is still helpful.  A few minutes each day could very well prevent days of discomfort later.

Please see cats fleas and cat illnesses for related articles.

Since most of the time these pets aren’t toilet trained yet, it is going to be a vital necessity for you to pick up a litter box so that you can train it where to go when nature calls.  If you are consistent in doing this, it will save you a lot of time and effort in cleaning up messes on your floor.

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

It is easy to find a litter box the you can clean on a regular basis. This can be found in the internet or at the local pet store that will cost twenty-five dollars and above.  The price is going to depend on what kind of material that the cat litter box is made out of, whether it be just simply plastic or some type of non-absorbent material.

If you don’t like to clean your cat litter box, then you can spend some extra money and get one that is electronic.  If you don’t want to have a permanent type a litter box for your cat, you do have the option of disposable types, or you could use a soda box which would have to be changed regularly as well.

The litter box must have fillers making it easy for the person to clean.  This is essential for the prevention of odors staying in the box which can produce harmful bacteria that will make your cat sick.

In order for you to give your cat a little bit of privacy, it is a good idea to choose a box that has a cover on it.  This can help to make your cat feel comfortable when it is using the box.

It is amazing how many different types of litter boxes are on the market from really small ones for kittens to great big fancy ones for adult cats.  With the many different types of cat litters to choose from, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one that your pet is comfortable with.

Should the person have a hard time choosing the right litter box, one can ask the sales person in the pet store or ask people who have cats for advice.

Find your next automatic litter box at litter boxes for cats

Cat Scratching posts

Cat Scratching posts

She looks so forlorn in the shelter’s cage, so you decide to take her home. You couldn’t be happier!

She’s affectionate, sweet and best of all, she’s litter-trained! But by week’s end, you can’t help feeling tempted to take her back!

Thanks to your precious little kitty, the front corner of your once beautiful chintz love seat is now reduced to shreds.

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

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

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

Even if you don’t have any other cats, your kitty doesn’t know when one might show up! Cats also scratch simply because it feels good!

By purchasing a cat scratching post, you solve two problems:

Number one:
Your kitty doesn’t scratch your furniture anymore, and

Number two:
She keeps herself in shape, and at the same time satisfies the urge to scratch. By stretching, pulling and working the muscles of her front quarters, she’ll get the workout that she needs each time she attacks the scratching post!

Purchase a cat scratch post with a rough surface, like sisal material or something similar and she would actually prefer that scratch post to your love seat. The soft pretty looking posts, just forget about them! She’ll show no interest in them whatsoever.

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

It is imperative that the post is sturdy and won’t move during a heavy duty scratching session! If the post topples on her, she will be frightened of it, and not come near it ever again!

Do not hesitate another minute, now that you know the reason why kitty scratches! You both need a cat scratch post, not to mention your beautiful chintz love seat!

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