We Heart Cats

My grandmother recently got two kitties from PetSmart’s animal rescue program. If you have a PetSmart near you, you’ve no doubt seen the cats that are available. What isn’t commonly known is that in many stores, the cats are first fostered by people. The ones that are not purchased directly through them end up at the store. My grandmother got her two before they had actually gotten to the store.

Everything seemed to be going along fine, until she noticed an increase in the scratching the two were doing. Yes, they had definitely gotten fleas. The problem is, no one could exactly figure out how, since they’re indoor cats and always have been. Three months and two doses of flea medicine later, the fleas have left for the most part. However, here are some tips I’ve learned from helping my grandmother through the experience:

1. When you see the flea, don’t freak out that they’ll infest you. Fleas don’t like humans, they like animals. Sure, they might jump on you for a second, but once they notice you don’t have fur they’ll jump off.

2. The average flea lays something like 20,000 eggs in a lifetime. So, you should definitely keep an eye out for the eggs. Part the fur of your kitty (they usually congegate on the stomach or neck area) and if you see things that look like little specks of dirt, that’s the eggs. TO be sure, wet to edge of your finger and rub the speck. If it dissolves into blood (which is the blood of your kitty that the flea lives on) that’s a definite indicator.

3. Don’t use a flea collar and the flea drop medication together. Use just one or the other. It is too powerful for your cat, especially if it is still a kitten.

4. The fleas will spread around your home, so it is very important that you sprinkle flea powder on your carpets. Leave it on for a little while, and then vaccum it up.

5. There are various natural remedies to get rid of fleas too. I found an interesting website called Earth Clinic that lists some interesting things you might want to try. Check it out HERE.

Kitty parents know that cats with claws love to sharpen them. You can get as many scratching posts as you want, but a kitty will still find ways to sometimes sharpen his or her claws on something else! So, if you’re finding that your furniture looks a bit ragged because of a claw-sharpening excursion, check out this article about ways to protect your furniture and keep your kitty happy at the same time.

I personally don’t think so, but many cat owners do like to take their cats out on the occasional stroll on a leash. I actually have never seen a person walk a cat in my area, so I don’t really have a point of reference as to how popular it might be. I could definitely see someone walking a Savannah, since that particular breed of domesticated cat is as large as a medium-sized dog! If you’re interested in more information regarding the topic of leashing cats, there’s an article here that provides the story of how one kitty parent started using one.

I admit it: I’ve never given my cats a bath. While daily brushing is an absolute necessity, the amount of grooming they do keeps them very clean. However, all three of my cats are short-haired. Had they been long-haired, I would probably give them a monthy bath. If you’re a kitty parent with cats that you give a bath too, here’s an article that will help you to do so without getting scratched.

Some relatives of mine recently got new kittens with double paws. One kitten has paws that are even bigger than the other double-pawed cat, in fact, because of his paws he’s named Mittens! I was curious as to how double-pawed cats (also referred to as Polydactyl cats) become that way in the first place. I ended up finding a very interesting article about the subject HERE.

I was at the veterinarian’s office the other day, and while waiting I was looking at their bulletin board of announcements. There were, as there have always been, a multitude of posts in regard to cats needing a new home because their parent or parents have either been placed in a nursing home, or have passed away. It’s really quite sad that these kitties have to deal with the loss of their parents, and also deal with being placed in a completely new place.

However, there is something to be said for the companionship that cats provide elderly people who have long since raised their children. Many elderly become lonely, and a cat is a perfect companion to sit on a lap and bring a smile.

Check out an article written in 2000 about this topic HERE.

So, you’ve just gotten a new kitten, and you delight in the little fur ball’s antics. However, kittens have claws, and claws are used for climbing fun things, like drapes. So, how do you as a new kitty parent make sure that your kitten is safe? Well, first of all, tie back the drapes that you have, if you have them. Next, make sure that potentially hazardous materials, like paper clips, etc., are far away from kitty’s reach. Don’t leave any food out uncovered, because chances are you’ll find little nibble marks! Also, when it comes to areas like the bathroom, unless the litterbox is in there then shut the door, because some cats have been known to jump into the toilet and get themselves in trouble.

Really, kitty proofing your home is much like child-proofing your home, so make sure you check everything - you’ll feel so much better knowing your kitty is safe!

As cat lovers, we all would like to do our best to make sure that cats have the best of treatment. That means volunteering at a local shelter, or giving a donation to a feline charity. A list of cat charities can be found HERE.

Continuing on with Part 2 of the discussion, I’ve had firsthand experience as to how stray cats can be welcomed into a home. When I was in the 3rd grade, I often used to go over to visit my grandparents. They lived near a field, and said field often yielded a large variety of stray cats. However, while many of them ended up being quite friendly, the majority of them would end up hit by cars while crossing the busy street that bordered the field.

One day, my grandmother took a liking to one of the kittens that were orphaned thanks to that busy street. The kitten, a small grey tabby/Maine coon mix, was nearly starving to death. She nursed the kitten back to health, and called her Hobo.

Hobo remains in my thoughts as one of the smartest cats I’ve encountered. She knew to bring specific items, and she was very affectionate. However, whenever someone went to touch her head, she would squeal and hiss. This we initially attributed to aggressiveness, which is something that happens in all cats (although especially feral ones) that haven’t been properly socialized.

It turns out that while still a stray she had gotten into a fight, and that fight left her head vulnerable. She exacerbated it by getting into trouble again when she frequently escaped from the house (she was small, so whenever someone would leave she darted out the door). The head injury was such that it was internal and only inflamed later, so it wasn’t one of those situations where it was immediately apparent that she needed serious medical attention.

Unfortunately, despite everyone’s best efforts, Hobo died when she was just 4 years old from her head injury, which had resulted in a stroke. To this day, my grandmother gets misty-eyed thinking about it. Thus, the next time you see a friendly stray, keep in mind potential health problems, and also be aware that past history sometimes dictates the overall lifespan. In the end, all you can do is share your patience and love.

I live near a farm, that’s situated on acres of forested land. So, it only makes sense that there would be stray cats in the area. Indeed, I’ve noticed that wherever there’s an abundance of brush and forest, there’s stray cats taking refuge. A few years ago a stray gave birth to kittens behind my shed. They were all very skiddish, so I decided to just keep an eye on them so they could be weaned from their mother. One of the kittens from that litter, now an adult, was taken in by a neighbor. However, because of the need to be outside, stray cats simply cannot be content with the indoor life of a domesticated cat. Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2!

So, my oldest cat has hyperthyroidism, which is prevalent in cats his age (17). I’m supposed to get him to gain weight, so the topic of cat obesity has never really crossed my mind. However, I did find a site that offered some really helpful information on the topic of cat obesity. The site also provides information on the heaviest/largest domesticated cats ever. Check out the site HERE

Well, we’re in the middle of a heat wave here, and my cats are all understandably sweltering. Imagine how you’d feel in 90 degree weather with a fur coat on! I certainly wouldn’t want to imagine it! So, what can we as kitty parents do to keep our kitties relatively cool in the summer? It’s simple: make sure they’re in air conditioning.

If you don’t have air conditioning, make sure you set a fan up in an area of your home in which the cats normally sit. They will certainly appreciate the extra breeze! Also, you might notice that your kitties “disappear” during epecially hot weather. This is because they want to find a safe hiding spot where it’s both darker and cooler. Cats will thus tend to go underneath something, because their instinct tells them that heat rises.

Of course, keep lots of water out, and give your kitties space, since cats in hot weather generally become cranky!

Believe it or not, in some cases the answer is yes! I’ve observed firsthand that it can happen. I’ve had two of my three cats since I was nine years old (I’m in my twenties now). During that time I’ve had four hamsters and, as of last Friday, a guinea pig. My oldest cat Buster adopts every little guy who comes into this house - it’s really quite unique and sweet. Why it happens remains a mystery to both myself and the veterinarian, but I think it’s because of his docile nature. As for Ruby, well, she’s a female cat, and by nature they’re more dominant in the cat world. I keep any and all critters out of her way. Mozart, because he’s still a young cat and was raised alongside a Teddy Bear hamster, looks at them more as playmates than prey.

Specifically, I had a wonderful little hamster who liked to burrow in Buster’s fur. Buster would rub up against him, and protect him. Well, last Friday my hamster passed away from old age, and Buster noticeably grieved along with the rest of us.

I now have a baby guinea pig, which was welcomed by two of the three cats, as well as my little Yorkie, who lapped the guinea pig’s head. However, the guinea pig isn’t really thrilled with his big brothers and sister, and thus avoids them. However, whenever I have the guinea pig out on my lap, Mozart has to come and sit next to me. This is much the reaction of what a child will have when a new sibling is brought into the home.

So, the important thing is to give everyone equal attention. A cute e-book I found called The Secret Art of Spoiling Your Cat Rotten gives some good advice on ways you can give your cats some extra attention.

To be honest, I haven’t really given it much thought. Each cat I’ve brought into my home was already litter box trained, and that would have been the main thing I’d want to teach them. I’ve found that, try as I might to dissuade my youngest cat Mozart from jumping in the kitchen sink, he does it anyway. I read somewhere that spraying water lightly on a cat will do the trick, but Mozart LOVES water!

However, because cat are as intelligent as they are, they can, I assume, be trained. For all you kitty parents out there who have questions about the cat training process, check out Complete Cat Training for more interesting information.

Cat urine is something that all kitty parents will have to deal with. Of course, the ideal situation is as it is being neatly scooped up from the litter box. However, some cats are a bit more free with their peeing habits. So, after noting this firsthand, here are some reasons I’ve found out why:

A female un-spayed female might urniate outside of the litter box when in heat. A male will do the same thing.

Males who are not neutered will mark their territory by urinating in the corner of rooms, regardless of whether or not it’s mating season.

Cats who think their litter box is too full will urinate somewhere else until the litter box is cleaned.

Stressed cats (this could be from health problems, or a change of residence) will urinate out of nervousness.

If a cat is accidentally shut in a room and has to urinate, it will find a hidden spot and urinate there.

Urination outside of the litter box also happens often in homes with a dog or multiple cats.

Websites that can help:

18 Ways To Stop Cat Urine Odor

Train Your Cat to Use a Human Toilet!

How To Get Rid Of Cat Urine & Odor From Your Home

PeeAway Pet Urine Neutralizer

How To Make Your Own Cat Urine & Odor Remover