Dog Pet Products For Cats? Only If They Are Best Friends

By Glenn Ormond

One of life's more amazing sites is coexistence of the species, particularly ones thought of as natural enemies. So it is with great amazement that people look at my dog and cat living in perfect harmony - almost. I qualify perfect harmony, because I witnessed a dog and cat living in truly perfect harmony and my pets are not quite there. Yes I buy a lot of the same pet supply products for them to share, and yes the often play with the same pet toys, but, they don't go walking together.

Not long ago I was leaving the mall and I saw lady walking her dog --and her cat. Yes, at the same time she had both her dog and cat on pet leashes and they walked side-by-side, stride for stride. As a pet owner, pet lover and owner of a dog and cat that are friendly to each other, I was floored. And I wasn't alone. As I turned and stared, everyone else that was leaving the busy mall, turned and stared. These two certainly seemed to be oblivious to the history that they were making, or they were all to aware, and reveling in the show.

After staring for two or three minutes I jogged behind the trio and asked the pet owner, how in the world she not only got the dog and the cat to becomes such good mates, but how she got the cat on a leash and got him to walk with such discipline. Her secret was to start them young. Her dog was weeks old when she got her kitten, and they have been sharing the same pet products since each was just weeks old.

The cat eats dog food out of the dog's food dish, and the dog eats cat food out of the cat's food dish. Both pets share one water dish. She initially put a dog collar only on the dog and started walking only the dog. This wasn't acceptable to the cat who would never stay behind and always found a way to walk behind them. After a few weeks of trying to seduce the cat back into the yard, she bought a fashionable cat collar and a cat leash. She said she was amazed at how receptive the cat was to the collar and leash. From day one, the cat walked with the collar and leash like he was an old pro. The owner feels that it was this initial feeling of envy and then the feeling of inclusion that is responsible for her cat's discipline on the leash and love of walking.

Well, not to be outdone, I bought a new dog collar for my dog, bought him a new leash, and made sure my cat got out to walk behind us. The next week I bought my cat a shiny new collar and his first cat leash. And now the moment of truth. I put the collar on, and he loved it. Next I put the leash on. Wouldn't you know it. Dante looked at me as if I were completely insane. I seduced him with food and gentle tugs. I demonstrated without him. I did everything that I could think of to get Dante to walk with me and Homer.

I'm glad I kept the receipt. After about 7 attempts over 4 days, the most I got was Dante walking about 2 steps and making me drag him about 3 more. I guess its all about the cat and starting them young. Like the old saying goes, you can't teach an old "cat" new tricks.

Glenn Ormond is an author, editor, and consumer products expert. He also writes for and operates the pet products auction site http://beyondthedoghouse.org dedicated to his pets. By buying at auction, dog products, cat products and pet supplies are affordable and puts the joy pet ownership within everyone's reach.

Easy (and Cheap) Ways to Exercise Your Cat

By Dr. R.J. Peters

It's probably one of those old wives' tales that cats sleep 20 hours a day (mine sure don't), but what else has a housecat to do anyway? Sometimes we force them to live up, or down, to our expectations. The truth is, cats need a fair amount of exercise to maintain their health, too.

The easiest way to make sure your cat gets enough exercise is to simply play with her!

Take advantage of what your cat likes to do. If she likes chasing something, as most cats do, make your own "fishing pole" cat toy, using found objects around the house. Start by finding a "stick."

It could be an old spring tension curtain rod you no longer use, about 18-24 inches long, or an actual stick or branch from your yard. Plastic works best, as it's sturdy, light weight, won't wear out as quickly, and is pretty hard to break. To one end of this "stick" attach a strong piece of string or very light rope, about 24-36 inches long. Then tie something to the loose end that will serve as an interesting toy for the cat... perhaps a crocheted ball with a bell inside it, or a tuft of feathers, or the cut-off toe of an old sock, into which a little catnip has been sewn.

Now you can exercise your cat while you sit down. Just swish the toy around and watch kitty chase it! Or, if you could use a little exercise yourself, get up outta that chair and move around so you're giving kitty more territory to run through.

If you don't have the materials or ability to make this toy, they are available at most pet stores. And if you can't get to the store, simply walk through your home and let kitty follow you!

Generally, they like to be where you are and will follow your movements through the house. They just won't be very athletic about it, so this might be the best way to offer "low impact" exercise to an older cat so they don't spend all day just sleeping out of boredom.

If you have two cats, tie a very light leash to one's collar and let the other one chase her as she drags it behind her. Then switch, so they can take turns. This gives them plenty of exercise while you can sit in a chair and work on your belly muscles from laughing!

Cats are very curious, as everyone knows, so you can use that interest as the motivation for another low impact exercise: hide-n-seek. Simply hide something inside something and let kitty figure out how to find and then extract it.

You can make your own "hidey toy" with found materials, too, such as a shoe box that you've taped shut. Put a toy inside that makes some noise, such as a crochet ball with a bell inside it. Or, you can put cat treats into the box. Cut holes, about 2 inches wide, in the top and maybe one or two sides of the box, and let kitty work it out.

This toy is a good way to help kitty be active while you're absent, perhaps at work all day. It provides some physical activity and some mental stimulation.

Other easy toys include wadded up balls of paper, paper towel rolls cut into 2-4 inch lengths, and again, the good old crocheted yarn balls. Hang one by a very strong string from a doorknob for self-motivated playtime.

And never leave string, yarn, or string style toys around the house when you're not there. If kitty were to choke on one while you're gone, you might not get back in time to prevent a tragedy.

Another "home alone" style play activity is a homemade jungle gym, made of boxes. Just stack them about 3-4 high and kitty will have them all toppled within minutes. Then she'll be darting in and around them for hours, if she gets excited about it. Beware, however... some cats really love chewing up cardboard, so don't be surprised to find a room full of cardboard shreddies when you get back.

You can either smile and vacuum up the mess, knowing your kitty had a great time, or you can take this game off your list. Hey, at least it's not the couch, right?

Dr. RJ Peters helps cat owners find answers to questions and problems at The Problem Cat.

Cat Gifts - 6 Inexpensive and Fun Ideas

By Claudia Escobar

Finding a gift for a cat lover seems easy enough. You know for sure that cat lovers love cat-related stuff. But, of course, things are not always that simple. On the one hand you have to know the individual taste of the gift recipient. And on the other hand, you have to consider your budget. So here's the dilemma: how to get a unique, yet budget-friendly, cat gift.

If you already know your cat-loving friends' personal preferences, then finding the right gift will be much easier. But what if you're not sure about what to give? Fortunately, there is a wide array of cat-themed gifts to choose from. You will certainly find something that is fun and affordable for that special cat lover in your life.

So if you're looking for a unique, low-priced cat gift and don't know where to start, take heart. Here are six inexpensive gift ideas for cat lovers. You can find most of these gifts for $25.00 or less.

1. Cat Calendars

You can give a whimsical cat calendar by itself or you can include it in a cat-themed basket. There are several options to choose from: wall calendars, pocket calendars, planners, and desk calendars, just to name a few. You can also give customized calendars.

2. Cat T-Shirts

These make fun gifts for adults and children alike. And they're so easy to find online. Several online stores even allow you to personalize your pieces. For example, you can choose a design from a selection of available logos and images, or you can upload your own graphics. Cat T-shirts come in different styles and prices and most are very affordable.

3. Cat Posters

Does you friend love cats and art? Then cat posters are the perfect choice. And even if your friend is not an art enthusiast, he will surely appreciate this gift. Luckily, there is a wide selection to choose from: from humorous artwork to traditional pictures; and from inspirational works to whimsical pieces. For an extra fee, you can have your poster framed. And if you can afford it, give a fine art print. You can even find reproductions of famous works of art, including Renoir's Woman with a Cat.

4. Cat Magnets

Feline-inspired magnets make fun, and affordable, cat gifts. You can give just one or a whole set. Better yet, you can help your friend start a collection of cat-themed magnets. You can also include a cat magnet in a cat lover gift basket.

5. Cat Books

This idea is one of my personal favorites. You can find cat books on subjects as varied as humor, art, photography, history, inspiration, mystery, trivia, health, cat care, and much more. Undoubtedly, this is the perfect gift for cat lovers who also enjoy a good read. Do you need some ideas? A popular series of cat-inspired books is The Cat Who... series of mystery novels, by Lillian Jackson Braun. A personal favorite is Angel Cats: Divine Messengers of Comfort by Allen Anderson and Linda Anderson. Another popular book is Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul: Stories of Feline Affection, Mystery and Charm by Jack L. Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Carol Kline, Amy D. Shojai, and Marty Becker.

6. Cat Candles

Does your friend love decorating? Does she love candles? If this is the case, your friend will love the gift of feline-inspired candles. You can give one or an entire set, or include it in a gift basket. Candles with cat motifs and cat-shaped candles can be easily found online. And you can find both scented and unscented candles.

Bonus Idea

A cat-themed picture frame is another fun and inexpensive gift idea. If you can, include a picture of the gift recipient's cat. If you plan on giving a cat lover gift basket, also include a cat-inspired picture frame. It will add a nice touch to your basket.

ฉ Claudia Escobar is a cat lover who loves anything cat-related. For more gift ideas for cat lovers visit her site at http://www.cat-lovers-gifts-guide.com If you would like to reproduce this article please feel free to do so, provided that you publish the article in its entirety and include this resource box.

Cats Love Their Own Furniture, Something Just For Them

By Bonnie Decoste

Our cat, my cat and the next door neighbor's cat love to have a space just for them. Most felines big or small, find it appealing to have a corner of their domain which gives them a territory that they can feel save and secure in, not unlike their owners. Cat furniture comes in condos, modular shapes, or in the form of scratching post with steps to climb and view the world from.

Cat furniture can be found at pet stores, malls and online. Furniture can range from economical prices to very high prices. Blueprints for cat furniture can be found to convert ordinary furniture to a cat litter box that hides very discreetly in any room. Only your cat will know for sure where this much needed lavatory facility is residing.

Cat furniture can be so interesting it can look like modern art. Some reach towards the ceiling letting your cat reside from high above the other inhabitants in the home. If you do not have the room for traditional cat furniture shelves can be mounted on the wall like stepping stones for your little prowler to scale. This will keep your kitten healthy and happy. This type of furniture for your kitty uses very little room and is very inexpensive.

Some of the cat furniture is designed for more than one cat. Sometimes little hiding spots are setup for your kitten's naps. If you have aggressive cats they will spend hours a day playing king of the hill. This may seem that your cats have a major problem but in the feline world dominates is a part of their culture. It comes naturally to a cat to claim a spot just for them. After a time kittens will sort out what spots is theirs and what spot is the other members of the feline family.

Cat furniture can be purchased in many places but some people have that need to be creative. Cat owners who like to research their pet's personality may tackle building something that reflex their kitten's favorite trait. This seems like a lot of work but for people that are cat lovers feel there is nothing to good for their companions. Cats will show you just how much they appreciate your endeavors by settling right in to what has been presented to them. After all, that pesky dog is still on the floor.

For more great info on cats and cat furniture, be sure to check out Bonnie's website http://www.unique-cat-furniture.com

Cat Health and Fleas - What Harm Can Fleas Do to Your Cat?

By Ann Wong

With the responsibility of keeping a cat, comes the added task of ensuring that they are flea free. Fleas is a problem that all cat owners would have to deal with at one time or another. Ask any cat owners and I'm sure you would get a same answer from all of them and that is, getting rid of fleas on cats is not an easy task. It requires an enormous amount of effort and time to eradicate these pesky little creatures once they come into contact with your cat. What's worse is that not only are fleas a nuisance, they are also the cause of many health problems that we see in cats.

The most common cat fleas health hazards that we see is flea allergic dermatitis or what's commonly known as FAD. This is a skin disorder caused by an allergic reaction to an allergen found in the saliva of fleas. When fleas bite on the cat for a blood meal, it secrets saliva. The allergen in the fleas' saliva will result in pruritus (intense itch) causing the cat to scratch and lick itself excessively. This in turn lead to hair loss and raw and inflamed skin due to the constant non-stop scratching and licking. Affected cat will feel miserable and their appetite will tend to be affected leading to weight loss.

Tapeworms infestation is another health concern brought about by fleas. Cats groom themselves by licking their hair coat. While doing so, they may ingest a flea carrying tapeworms larva and the cat get infected as a result. You can easily tell if your cat is having tapeworms by checking its anus. Chances are that you would be able to detect the presence of what look like rice grain segments of the tapeworms. Though tapeworms would not cause any major health issue in cats, their presence in the guts of cats may hinder the proper absorption of nutrients resulting in malnutrition and weight loss. This is especially so when a cat is heavily infested with tapeworms.

Fleas may also cause anemia in cats. They feed on the blood of cats. Though one flea will only feed on a minute quantity each time, the combined quantity by hundreds of fleas living off the poor cat can be considerable especially in young and immature kittens.

Feline Anemia Infection or FIA is another parasitic infection caused by fleas. Fleas are carriers of the blood parasite call Haemobartonella felis that can cause rupturing of red blood cells in cats. This again may cause anemia in cats resulting in death if severe and not treated.
The only way you can protect your cats from these dreadful diseases is to have a proper flea control for cats. How To Treat Cat Fleas will show you how you can eradicate these pesky creatures before any harm caused. Get to know the right products to use and how to use them to keep your cat flea free.

To prevent flea re-infestation, it's not sufficient to just treat your cat, the surrounding environment need to be treated as well. House Flea Control is where you will get step-by-step instructions on how you can effectively get rid of fleas in your house both indoor and outdoor.

What is Basic House Cat Care?

By W. P. Allen

Whether you are bringing a cat home for the first time, or you have not hosted a cat in your home for a while, you may need a refresher course in basic house cat care. A house cat, like any other pet, has certain needs, and the more you know, the better equipped you will be to make sure that you cat is healthy and happy. Take the time to familiarize yourself with some of the basic tips to keep your cat in tip-top shape.

The first thing that you should do is consider cat-proofing your home. Before you bring your new cat home, try to see what the cat will be seeing. Wander throughout the rooms that you will be using to house your cat, and make sure that there are no dangerous places that he or she could get to. To save yourself some headaches, remember that you will also want to move any valuable pieces of furniture away to a room that is off limits for your cat.

Remember that house cat care will require that you use a litter box for your cat. Remember that this litter box should be scooped at least once a day, preferable more often, and that it should be placed away from the busy areas of your house and out of the reach of other animals or small children. You'll find that cats are generally easy to house train; all you usually have to do is to put them in the litter box a few times and let them know where they can scratch at loose gravel.

If your cat has longer hair, you will also want to remember that your cat needs to get used to being brushed. By keeping your cat brushed, you'll be able to avoid having your cat swallow its own hair and develop hairballs, which can be a more severe health problem down the line. House cat care does entail getting your cat used to being brushed and handled, so start this off when the cat is young, if at all possible.

In general, the best way to make sure that your house cat care is the best that it can be, remember to watch your cat. See if he or she is doing anything out of the ordinary and figure if their behavior changes and why. Good observation can keep a little problem from turning into a big one, and you'll find that it is a great way to get to know the newest addition to your family!

Commercial cat food is loaded with TOXINS that are slowly poisoning your cat! Want proof? CLICK HERE!

Cat Diets - What Do I Need to Know?

By W. P. Allen

When you go to adopt a cat, you want to think ahead of time about what you want to feed him and what cat diets you can use. Feeding a pet correctly is one of the most important factors when it comes to making sure that your cat will flourish and be happy, so make sure that you give this some thought.

Far too many people simply go to the pet store and pick up the first bag of food, never looking at the ingredients. The truth of the matter is that not all cat food and not all cat diets are created equal, so take the time to make sure that your cat is getting the best of what you have to offer.

When you are considering what cat diets are available, keep in mind that your cat is a carnivore. Unlike a dog, which is an omnivore, a cat requires meat in their diet and will have trouble eating food that has more than a very small amount of things like wheat.

When you are considering your cat's food, look at the label. Even if a meat is listed first in the ingredients list, you might see several different wheat products, like flaked wheat, wheat bran or wheat flour, and at the end of the day, this can lead to a larger percentage of wheat that what you might originally be aware of.

Cat diets are meant to be very high in protein, and you'll find that they the do the best when their diet is made entirely of meat or at least predominantly of meat. Always remember that the first ingredient in your cat food should be meat, and real meat, rather than meal. Remember that artificial colors and flavors are a hint that you should give the food a pass, and that filler ingredients will not help and can actually harm your pet.

To mix up one great cat treat, heat up a teaspoon of corn oil in a skillet and fry up one small mackerel until it flakes apart easily. Once it has cooled, remove it from the pan and pour half a cup of hot water into the pan, scraping the brown bits up into it. After you have removed the bones, put the mackerel back into the pan, grind it up with the juices and serve to a very thankful cat!

Remember that considering cat diets are an important part of being a responsible cat owner, so take the time to make sure that your cat stays healthy and happy with the right food in his stomach.

Commercial cat food is loaded with TOXINS that are slowly poisoning your cat! Want proof? CLICK HERE!

Best Cat Food

By W. P. Allen

The best cat food for your feline friend is a natural cat food. The canned variety that is purchased in stores and pet shops are not healthy for your cat. You can read the ingredients and think you know what they contain, but that is not necessarily true.

What do you look at when you read the labels on cat food? The part of the label that is most commonly read is the analysis report of what percentage of crude proteins, fats, and fibers this particular cat food contains. However, these percentages can be misleading. Since they do not contain the exact amounts, you may think your cat is getting something that he actually is not.

You can look at the ingredient list, which will tell you the major items used in the food. This will also tell you if the ingredients are derived from plants or animals. The first ingredient that is listed is the main ingredient from which this cat food is made. If an animal product is listed first it is safe to assume this is the major ingredient in this food. However, it is not listed as to what type of animal product they used.

This may mean it is a by-product that could have been rejected by human food producers. It may not be something that should be used for providing the best cat food for your cat. That is why most cat owners are constantly searching for food that contains the right vitamins and necessary nutrients to keep their cat healthy and more apt to live a longer life.

When deciding on what type of food to feed your cat you should take into consideration what the necessary nutrients are. Your cat need a balanced food that contains meats, poultry or fish, grains from cereal, and vegetable protein. If you cannot find a food that contains all of these products, your cat is not getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients that he needs to be healthy.

If you are a cat owner, you know that some cats can be finicky eaters. If you find one brand that they will eat, you may not be able to get them to eat anything else. For this reason, the best cat food may be the type that you make yourself.

Since it is hard to tell exactly what is put into the canned cat food that you purchase, you would not know if the chemical additives might have an adverse effect on your cat. Making your own food will ensure that your cat gets the right amount of necessary vitamins and nutrients that he needs on a daily basis. The general consensus is that the best cat food you can give your cat is the homemade variety.

Commercial cat food is loaded with TOXINS that are slowly poisoning your cat! Want proof? CLICK HERE!

How to Get Rid of Cats From Your Property

By Lee Barratt

Getting rid of cats from your property can be very simple, you don't have to harm the cat, a one time effective treatment and the cat will never return again. Their are many products available to stop cats from entering your property, these include motion activated water sprinkler, if a cat hates anything more than a dog, it's water.

A dog is another obvious choice, unless you don't like dogs, then this may not an option. Dogs are the arch enemy to the cat, everyone in the world knows that once a cats being chased by a dog, it will never return to that area again.

Plants may not be an obvious choice as a cat repellent, but some plants like the Coleus Canina actually work as an effective barrier against cats. The Coleus Canina emits a foul smell thats cats don't like. This can work great, but unless you plant a lot of these over a large area, this choice of repellent can be inafective.

Lion Poo, is also supposed to work as an effective treatment. I know it sounds crazy, but this can actually work. Lots of Zoos will let you take this away for free, with some charging a very small amount of money. I suggest that this might be a last resort, it sounds very extreme, but in some cases where people have tried everything and nothing has worked, this might be their only chance of getting cats out of their property.

Their are many chemical products that can be purchased from many online retailers and local pet shops, this also maybe a last resort. If the cat is your neighbors, this might cause some friction between you and them, so please take caution when using any non natural products.

If you like this, find other ways of getting rid of things at - http://getting-rid-of.blogspot.com/

The Secret to Stopping Your Cat From Scratching Your Expensive Furniture

By Katherin Towers

Rip! Rip! Riiiip! Oh no, your cat is scratching the sofa again! Do you have this problem - kitty scratching and shredding your sofa, the legs of your expensive dining table, or your wall-to-wall carpet? Many people face this problem, and it frustrates them no end. Too many cat owners resort to scolding and punishment, and are frustrated and puzzled when it fails to do any good. Some owners confine kitty to a part of the house with less expensive furniture, or redecorate their home to remove cat scratching surfaces. A few buy scratching posts, and wonder why kitty still prefers that tattered sofa to the brand new expensive scratching posts. In the end, many people give up their cats, either throwing them out on the street to join the stray cat population, or surrender them to the animal shelter, where they will ultimately be put down.

The key problem is ignorance, not kitty. Too many cat owners are ignorant, and willfully remain ignorant of why their cats scratch the furniture. They don't know, don't care and can't be bothered to find out. Now, there are 5 reasons why cats scratch furniture:

• Claw maintenance - kitty is scratching to remove the dead outer layers of its claws
• Mark their territory - clawing and scratching your furniture leaves both a visual mark and a scent from the glands in their paws.
• Exercise - the motions involved in scratching stretch and tone their muscles.
• Too much energy
• To get your attention

As you can see from the list above, this is the reason that the usual deterrence measures do not work very well. For this reason, in many parts of the world, cat owners get their precious kitties declawed. Such a simple little word, yet it has such profound implications. Declawing your cat actually means that the vet is going to amputate the last joint of all kitty's toes. Consider that the Japanese mafia's infamous punishment for failure is chopping off the last joint of the little finger, and here you are chopping off the last joint of all of kitty's toes. How horrible is that! Clearly, declawing is very traumatic and disfiguring to your cat. While it does resolve the scratching problem, it will actually cause potentially worse problems - spraying, urination, aggressive biting, etc.

As a cat lover, you need to learn how to use the scratching post correctly. Once again, we turn to animal behavioral science for help. You need to find out what kind of material your cat likes to scratch. The scratching post you buy needs to be of this material. You need to place the scratching post where kitty likes to scratch. And you need to patiently, lovingly and firmly redirect kitty's scratching to the post. For this, you can use the usual reinforcement techniques. When your cat uses the scratching post, you reward it - praise kitty and give it a kitty treat.

Slowly, you will find this bad behavior of kitty fading away. You will no longer have to replace your sofa every few months. You can have tables with wooden legs again. Isn't life so much better this way?

If you want to learn more about how to train your cat and stop its bad behavior in 13 days, click here: cat training.

Cat Furniture - Without It, Your New Kitty Will Destroy Your Home

By Jennifer Akre

You just bought a new kitty and have found out that she likes to run crazy around your house. She jumps on and off furniture, tries to rip apart your pillows any chance that she can get, and she scratches anything and everything. Now, if you want to keep your home from getting destroyed, it's probably a good idea that you invest in some cat furniture for your furry companion.

With cat furniture, you actually get a lot of options that are perfect for making your new kitty feel right at home. First off, you'll want to get her a cat house or kitty condo so she has her own personal space to sleep at night. This furnishing will generally be cylindrical in shape while standing vertical off the ground and it has openings where your cat can go into and sleep at night. It will typically be crafted out of wood and then covered in some type of plush fabric, usually carpeting will be used. If your cat likes to be by the window, a nice spot where she could sleep would be a padded cat perch.

Once you have a spot for your kitty to sleep, then it's on to getting her some place where she can play. A good choice are cat trees, they are designed just like a real tree since they have a center pole with limbs sticking out of it. Again like with the cat house, it will be crafted out of some type of wood with a fabric covering. This selection is great because it gives your furry friend and great place to jump and get rid of her energy.

In addition to cat trees, there are also a number of other cat furniture options that give your kitty a great place to play. Another choice are kitty gyms that are just a deluxe version of a cat tree since it also has perches, more juxtaposing limbs, and even hanging toys and hammocks built right into them. And, if you don't have a lot of space, but need a place for your cat to scratch, then a scratching post would be the way to go. One that is covered in sisal rope is probably the best option as it will nicely stand up to your cat's scratching.

For a great way to check out all the cat furniture options that you could get for your kitty, the thing to do is to avoid the pet store all together and instead jump on your computer for some online shopping. In no time at all will you be able to browse all the stores and what they have to offer, making it easy for you to make an informed decision on what you buy. Not to mention how you can find something at the best prices around and you purchase will even be shipped to you, now that is convenient.

So, if you have a new kitty, cat furniture is something that you just need to buy in order to save your house from being destroyed by your kitty's playful ways.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops such as http://www.simplycatsupplies.com/blog that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous area for your kitty by using stylish cat furniture purrfect for your finicky feline.

Recipes Baking Cat Treats

By W. P. Allen

Cats love treats just as much as humans do, and this is a good enough reason to find recipes baking cat treats for your feline friend. Cat treats are fun and simple to make, and they are also cheaper than purchasing them from the store.

Even if you don't possess a cat yourself, you can simply make them for a friend or relative who possesses a cat. I am almost certain that the owner and especially the cat will appreciate this unique and very special gift.

If you possess a cat and love to give Christmas or birthday gifts for his other feline friends, then you can even personalize your cat treat gifts. All you need to do is place some food coloring on a sponge and place your cats paw on the sponge and then onto a card. The food coloring will not harm your cat in any way, and it will wear off very quickly.

You could even add recipe cards to the treats, and stamp the cats paw print on the corner of each card in exactly the same way.

Listed below are some very tasty recipes for cat treats that are extremely nutritious that your cat will thoroughly enjoy. Even though the recipes are extremely simple to make, there is one word of warning: Once your cat has tasted these recipes baking cat treats he or she will not want to go back to eating store-bought cat treats.

• Fish Biscuits

For approximately two dozen fish balls you will need:

7 oz sardines in oil
ผ cup powdered milk
ฝ cup wheat germ

Method:

Begin by mashing the sardines and the oil together in a bowl. Then mix in the powdered milk and wheat germ. You then need to roll the fish dough into small balls, and place them onto a cookie sheet which has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Using a fork, flatten the fish balls and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees until they are brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool before placing them into an airtight container.

• Fluffy's Favorite Fish Balls

Ingredients:

8 oz can of tuna in oil, drained
2 oz cooked skinless boneless fish
3 miniature carrots, cooked and mashed
1 large beaten egg
2 tbsp shredded cheese
2 tbsp rolled oats
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp active dry yeast
1/ tsp dried catnip

Method:

Mix all of the ingredients together and roll the mixture into small balls. Place the balls approximately one inch apart on a greased cookie sheet and place in a preheated oven of 350 degrees. Bake the fish balls for approximately 15 minutes or until they are firm and lightly brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool before placing them in an airtight container.

Your cat will really love you when you take the time to prepare some recipes baking cat treats.

Commercial cat food is loaded with TOXINS that are slowly poisoning your cat! Want proof? CLICK HERE!

Homemade Cat Food Recipe - Safe and Delicious

By W. P. Allen

Have you ever thought about making your very own homemade cat food recipe? There are, of course, those people that would ask "why would I want to make homemade cat food?"

Being a cat owner, you may have seen dead squirrels, chipmunks, and birds in your garden. No matter how much you shout at your cat not to do it, they will simply not listen. It is not just instinct that causes a domesticated cat to hunt; it is their bodies craving the essential nutrients that are lacking in their diets.

An extremely necessary enzyme, called amylase, is missing from a cat's diet when eating commercial cat food. This enzyme is necessary for a cat to be able to digest carbohydrates, which is the primary component of dry cat food. Not only this, but commercial cat food also lacks water content which contributes to an array of problems aside from malnutrition.

Even though canned cat food typically contains more protein and up to 70% water, it still does not provide a nutritionally complete diet.

Following a homemade cat food recipe will certainly stimulate a cat's natural diet and provide complete nutrition to your feline friend. It is agreed by most that homemade cat food consists of the following ingredients:

• Raw ground meat and fat.

• Finely diced vegetables.

• Bone meal or finely ground eggshells - our feline friends require nutritional bone meal, not gardening bone meal. It is imperative that bone meal is purchased at a health food store. When using eggshells, ensure that they are ground into a fine powder.

• Nutritional supplementation - this can be provided by adding the correct dosage of enzymes that are formulated especially for cats.

• Digestive and other enzymes - this can be provided in the same way as above.

• Pure water - anything is better than tap water.

• Cooked or soaked whole grains - these are optional, as it is believed by many that grains were never part of a cat's natural diet, and that there is no additional benefit to including them. However, some believe that they are part of a healthy diet.

Cats also enjoy fish, and using the correct fish such as sardines, herrings, and anchovies, will provide your cat with Omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids.

One great homemade cat food recipe that your cat will love is:

• Fish Delight

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 tbsp bone meal
1 tbsp fresh raw veggies
1 to 2 cups milk
1 cam tuna or mackerel
4 slices brown bread
2 tbsp supplemental powder
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2,500 IU vitamin A
100 - 200 IU vitamin E
200 mg Taurine (cat vitamin tablet)

Method:

Blend the eggs, milk, and supplements together and then add the fish and bread and thoroughly mix. This can then be served raw, or after being baked for 20 minutes at 350F.

Therefore, in conclusion, give your friend a healthy cat diet and get started with a homemade cat food recipe.

Commercial cat food is loaded with TOXINS that are slowly poisoning your cat! Want proof? CLICK HERE!

Homemade Cat Diet - Safe, Healthy, and Delicious

By W. P. Allen

Placing your cat on a homemade cat diet really is the best source of nutrition for him. A cat's daily diet should consist of four parts protein to one - two parts carbohydrates.

A homemade cat diet can be given to your feline friend either raw or cooked, depending on your cat and situation. Whichever way you choose to give your cat a homemade cat diet, it is essential to remember never to feed him any cooked bones. Raw vegetables should always be finely chopped or blended in order to break down the cell walls and make them digestible for your cat.

Listed below are the definitions between one part protein and one part carbohydrates.

One part protein is equal to:

• 2 oz of fish or meat.

• 1 egg of a medium size.

• ฝ a cup of yogurt; however, it is important to note that ฝ of yogurt counts as 1 unit of carbohydrate also.

• 1/3 of a cup of cottage cheese; again this counts as 1 unit of carbohydrate.

• 2 oz of organ meat. One unit of organ meat can be given several times a week if you wish.

It is also important to remember that 1 to 2 units of carbohydrate need to be given every day.

One part carbohydrate is equal to:

• 1 cup of vegetables such as brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, peas, spinach, and squashes.

• ฝ a cup of fruits such as apples, bananas, berries, melons, and tomatoes.

• ผ of a cup of cooked beans, chick peas, and lentils.

• 1/3 of a cup of grains such as oatmeal or barley. These grains are the best type of carbohydrates for a cat. However, it is important to note that grains are the most unfavorable types of carbohydrates. Other options that are not greatly preferred include whole wheat pasta and brown rice.

Supplements should also be given to your cat, which include:

• ฝ tsp bone meal.

• Multivitamins for cats. It is important to supplement your cat with 50 to 100 mg of taurine on a daily basis, depending on the size of your cat. Taurine should be especially given if the homemade cat diet is of the cooked variety, as meat loses most of its taurine content when cooked.

• 500 to 1000 mg fish oil.

• Antioxidant as directed for cats.

It is important to remember that the homemade cat diet is not always suitable for all cats. It is always advised to seek advice from your veterinarian before you begin to give your feline friend this new homemade cat diet.

Commercial cat food is loaded with TOXINS that are slowly poisoning your cat! Want proof? CLICK HERE!

Cat Health Advice - Keeping Your Cat Safe and Healthy

By W. P. Allen

For those people that own a cat it is important to seek the sufficient cat health advice. It is vital that you know how to observe your cat's behavior in order to know if you have a healthy cat or a not so healthy cat.

One of the most important factors when it comes to a cat's health is its weight. Undertake frequent examinations of your cat in order to find any tell tale signs that he may be too heavy or too thin. If your cat's ribs are apparent then he may be too thin. It may be possible to feel the ribs under his thick fur.

An overweight cat will have ribs that are not easily obvious as they may be covered by excess fat.

In order to help your overweight cat, it will be necessary to place him on a correct feeding regime. It is important that you, as a pet owner, are fully aware of the correct portion sizes. Your cat will also require different nutritional needs at different stages of its life, which results in him requiring a varied feeding program.

Cats generally eat at various times throughout the day, basically when they feel like it. Therefore, if your cat does not eat his complete portion of food in one serving, do not be alarmed, he will return to it when he is ready.

Cat health advice is something that you can obtain from your veterinarian, in books and magazines, or by undertaking a search on the Internet. There is an abundance of information, including question and answer websites.

Your cat's ears, eyes, and claws should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that they are free of infections.

Obtaining cat insurance is always recommended for the purposes of not only protecting you from costly vet bills, but also for the protection of your cat.

It can be a tricky task when selecting the right cat insurance, as there are numerous companies all offering pet insurance policies.

When deciding on a policy, it is important not to select the cheapest cover. There will always be a reason behind them being the cheapest, and it is not always a good reason. You may find that the policy does not cover many situations, when the time comes to making a claim.

Things to take into consideration when selecting insurance cover for your cat are:

Do you require an insurance policy to cover for vet bills, or for theft and death also?

Do you require a policy that would pay for advertisements and a possible reward if your cat was lost?

Do you require cover for complimentary therapy?

Would you require cattery fees if you had to suddenly go into hospital?

All of these questions need to be taken into consideration before selecting your insurance policy.

There are many other factors to cat health advice, which you, as a pet owner, will learn as you go along.

Commercial cat food is loaded with TOXINS that are slowly poisoning your cat! Want proof? CLICK HERE!

How the Experts Choose Food and Water Dishes For Their Cats?

By Paul Kramer

When choosing a set of food and water dishes for your cat, buy something that is sturdy, dishwasher safe and made of glass or ceramic. If you buy a fancy painted bowl, make sure that it is marked "safe for food". Many decorative bowls contain lead in the paint or glaze, which is poisonous when consumes. As a basic rule, if the food and water dishes are safe for people to use, then they are safe for your cat.

Although plastic bowls are commonly sold in pet supply stores and are easy to clean, they are not recommended. They tend to get scratched easily and could house bacteria that will make your cat or kitten sick. Some cats like to play with lightweight plastic bowls by flipping them over and swatting them around the floor for fun. Stainless steel bowls are not a good choice either. Even though they are dishwasher safe and sturdy, they may give food and water a metallic taste. And if the food does not smell and taste good, your cat won't eat it. Whatever type of dishes you purchase, make sure they are washed out and refilled every day.

Some owners like to purchase automatic watering devices such as drinking fountains or self filling water bowls for their cats. These are hard to tip over, and they ensure that the cat will have access to plenty of water. Remember, though, as with the regular water dish, the self waterer must be emptied out, cleaned, and then refilled with fresh water daily.

Kitten owners should purchase kitten sized food and water bowls. These dishes are smaller and shallower than bowls made for adults. This is important because a small kitten might not be able to reach into the bottom of a large bowl to eat or drink. Kitten sized dishes can be found in grocery stores and pet supply stores either offline or online.

Before you bring home your cat or kitten, find out what kind of food he was eating and buy a bag or box of the same kind. Your new pet may be hungry when he arrives and the smell and taste of familiar food will comfort him.

Cats are creatures of habit and often do not like changes or surprises. A stable routine in their lives gives them a sense of comfort and security, a sign that all is well with their world. In fact, once a cat has established a daily routine or pattern, he may become upset, stressed, or confused if the pattern is suddenly altered or disrupted.

When you bring your new cat home, set up a daily schedule and stick to it. Develop a routine for exercise, playtime, grooming, feeding, sleeping, and cleaning out the litter box. Follow this pattern at the same time every day. This will build trust and let your cat know what to expect and when

If you have more than one cat or kitten in your home, make sure that each one has his own set of dishes. This prevents fighting over food and lets you monitor how much each cat consumes.

To learn more about how to choose food and water dishes for cats and the different types of discount pet meds for your dogs, cats, horse, etc., and how to get discount and cheap pet medications, make sure to visit http://www.callpetmeds.com where you will find everything on getting quality yet affordable pet medications as well as tips on how to take care of your pets like the experts.

Why Do Cats Like Catnip?

By Laura Marsh

Most cats love catnip, each cat has it's own little way of reacting to it, some cats will rub themselves all over it, and others with spend all day trying to eat it. My cat insists on licking the area of catnip until there is nothing left.

Nobody particularly knows why cats go so mad over catnip, it could be the scent of the plant, there may be a plant hormone similar to cat hormones, or it could act like a drug to your cat, no one cat be totally sure, as each cat will act in its own way.

Catnip has a common name of "cat mint", and it comes from the mint family. It is actually edible by humans, you can put the pretty purple flowers into your salad in the spring (if you've got any left and the neighbourhood cats haven't got there before you). The Latin name for catnip is Nepeta cataria, and originally was grown as a weed in Europe, but now the plant grows all over the world, since it's commercial value in cat related products has been realised.

In some stores you'll be able to find catnip in bottle form as well as in a packet, this is because the bit that drives your cat crazy comes from the oil in the leaves. This is called Nepetalactone, which can be extracted in the same way your favourite essential oils are, normally by steam extraction.

There are plenty of other uses of Cat Mint, you can use it as normal mint, and infuse on leaves in hot water as a tea, this will help you sleep and aid digestion. If you grow it near your door it will also keep those nasty bugs out of your house.

Catnip doesn't affect all cats, some are not bothered by it at all. It will affect about half of the cats in the world. This is because there is a gene that is inherited that will determine whether or not your cat will go mad for cat nip. You will not be able to tell whether your cat likes catnip until it is about 4 months old, as they do not show any affect before this. Also when your cat gets older (an elderly cat), it will show less and less interest in catnip. You can almost guarantee if your cat's relatives were from a region that was originally native to catnip, then they will be effected, where as those from other parts of the world probably will not be.

Catnip is great for training your cat. If you have a sofa scratching cat, you can encourage you cat to use a scratching post, by placing it near the area it is scratching and spraying some catnip on it, you cat will then become far more interested in the post rather than the sofa.

If you have a cat that simply loves catnip, why not grow your own. Visit your local garden centre and simply look for the Cat Mint plant or seeds. It's very easy to grow and can take over your whole garden (it's very invasive) if it's not contained. So try to grow it in a container, buying a small plant is better than growing from seed, as your cat may be far too interested in the seedlings to let them grow to maturity. These won't set you back much and due to the spreading nature of the plant you'll probably only ever have to buy one. This will save you loads of money, as in the shops catnip can be very overpriced. Simply cut off a few leaves at a time when you need it. Or you can cut off whole stems at the end of the summer and hang them to dry in a warm and dry place (like and airing cupboard), and then crush them up and keep them in a jar, as long as there is a lid on the jar they will keep indefinitely.

Don't go mad with catnip, as your cat will loose it's sensitivity to it. So give is as a treat, and your cat will be far more appreciative.

Written by Laura Marsh. Did you find this information on cat care useful? For more great information about caring for your cat visit http://www.caringforyourcat.info

The Worlds Best Cat Toy Is? A Card Board Box

By Laura Marsh

The day you bring a new cat in to you house is very exciting for all. Especially for the cat, as it will spend hours investigating its new surroundings. However, before the cat arrived at your house, you probably brought all the equipment you thought you would need, a cat bed, scratching post, bowls, food, litter tray and toys.

In general most cat toys you can purchase are simply not worth the money. You may spend quite a bit trying to keep your new cat entertained; normally however, the interest of the toy will fade with in a few weeks. If your cat does enjoy playing with toys, avoid buying ones that are noisy, these often scare cats, and the last thing you want to be doing is hunting for your new cat when its gone in to hiding because it was scared by a cat toy. Cats do like toys on strings, if you are making your own, a conker on a shoe lace offers as much enjoyment for your cat as it does for most children.

Have you ever seen how much joy a young child gets out of a cardboard box? Cats are just the same. All cats have a very inquisitive nature, they like to explore and play. If you have an empty cardboard box in the middle of your room, watch and see what your cat does. You will find the cat will approach it from a distance, and walk around it a few times, then give it a sniff, just to make sure it isn't alive or going to hurt it. Some cats may ignore the box when you are there and then when you return you will find them happily exploring the insider. However, most cats will jump in with no second thoughts find it quite fascinating.

After a while the box can get a little boring for your cat, what can do to make the box an interesting toy that will keep your cat entertained for months, is to seal the box up completely, then cut two large holes (big enough for the cat to fit through), put them at different ends of the box and at different heights, and then poke some small holes with a pencil, so the cat can see out and make some slightly larger holes that are just about cat paw sized. All you have to do is watch at your cats fascination with the new and improved box.

If you want to interact with your cat, an ideal thing to do is simply lightly tap the sides of the box, your cat will not be able to see where the noise is coming from, but it will attempt to attack your hand by putting its paws through the holes you made.

This is such a simple toy for a cat, it needn't cost you any money, and it will keep even the most reluctant adult cat amused for hours.

Written by Laura Marsh. Did you find this information on cat care useful? For more great information about caring for your cat visit http://www.caringforyourcat.info

No More Litter! Cat Toilet Training

By Laura Marsh

Most cat owners believe it's imperative to have a litter tray for their cat to stop them from messing in the house. This is not true. Litter trays are often cumbersome things, that live in a corner somewhere, and unless they have a lid on your cat will inevitably kick litter out, leave little presents in it when you've got guests around and no matter how many times you clean it they still smell.

There is a simple way around this - simply get rid! If your cat uses a litter tray, it will have been using it since it was a kitten, usually learning how to use if from their mother. And because they've been so used to using a litter tray for so long, you'll have to take little steps, bit by bit, to get your cat used to the idea.

First of all, if you wish to toilet train your cat in this way, do it during the summer. Cats will generally spend a lot more time outside when the weather is warm, and it will be encouraging to your cat.

The first steps you will need to take is to move your cat's litter tray from it's original position, to a position need a good exit. Use which ever exit in your house you care comfortable with, don't use the front door if it's next to a main road, or put it next to a door with a cat flap in it. Make sure you show your cat where the litter tray is so as to avoid any mistakes. You'll need to leave it there for a few days so your cat gets used to it.

The next step is a very small one, simply put the litter tray on the other side of the door. When you've done this, again show your cat where it is, if you have a glass door, you'll be able to shut your door as your cat will see the litter tray and will meow when it needs to go out. However if you have a normal door when you cat cannot see through it, it's advisable to leave your door open, again this is another good reason to try this during the summer.

Once your cat is used to the idea that the litter tray is outside, you need to start thinking about the litter. The likely hood is that, you've always used the same types of litter, whether it be paper, wood or silicone based. To get your cat used to using earth as the toilet, then you'll need change the texture of the litter in its tray. An easy way to do this is by gradually adding earth to it's litter until you cat is completely using litter. Do this over a few weeks, you'll probably find your cat will like the earthy smell, you can use compost if you have no earth or are worried about what it might contain.

Once your cat is completely using the earth instead of litter, you'll need to think about moving the litter tray again. Gradually start moving it away from the door, if you have a garden, start moving it to wards a wall or fence.

Then that's all you really have to do, soon you'll notice that the litter tray is clean and is no longer being used. That's the time to remove the litter tray completely as your cat will have lost interest.

Without the litter tray in your house any more, you'll need to be in a position to hear your cat or get a cat flap fitted. As you can guarantee that your cat will want to go out to use the toilet during the night, but if your cat has been out during the day, this probably won't happen until your about to get up anyway.

So train your cat to use nature as its toilet and you'll cut down on nasty smells, horrible cleaning jobs and best of all, your cut your shopping bill!!

Written by Laura Marsh. Did you find this information on cat care useful? For more great information about caring for your cat visit http://www.caringforyourcat.info

How to Treat Cat Fleas

By Laura Marsh

Unless you have a house cat i.e. a cat that simply does not leave the house, then getting fleas at some point in its lifetime is an inevitability that you have to live with.

You can help your cat by applying flea drops to its fur regularly. You vet will be able to recommend a suitable product, normally these are placed on the back of the cats neck (where it can't lick it off), and this normally last for about four weeks. Other methods include using a flea collar (the collar is saturated in a chemical that repels fleas), or an injection that is available at your vets, this repels both fleas and ticks.

Even taking steps to prevent your cat from getting fleas can sometimes not be enough. Regular grooming will help to get rid of any fleas that may have been hiding in your cats fur (although this won't help with an infestation). If you do find the odd one or two fleas in your cats fur, a good idea is to buy a nit comb (a small silver coloured comb, that is used for extracting head lice from children's hair). The nit comb is ideal due to its tightly packed prongs. Daily groom your cat using the comb and you'll be able to get rid of any adult fleas on a daily basis, without putting any more chemicals on your cats fur.

In many stores you can get a multipurpose flea powder. The idea of this is to apply it to your cats fur and to your carpets, killing all traces of fleas. However, you may find your cat objects to you applying powder, if this is the case you can still apply it to your carpets to kill any fleas that may be laying eggs in it.

There is also a spray you can purchase to treat fleas, however this is not very popular with many cat owners due to the noise of the spray scaring the cat, and therefore the cat associating the spray with something bad. However if you cat is not afraid of these sounds, then the spray is very effective.

Often it can be your own house that is the problem of the flea out break. Fleas can lye dormant for years in the carpets, until a suitable animal comes along, which causes them to hatch and start causing problems, this can be a serious problem, if you've moved into a new house where the previous owners had a cat or a dog. The best way to treat this is with cleanliness, vacuum your floors and carpets daily, you can apply a flea killing powder that is designed just for carpets, however you normally have to leave this for sometime before you can vacuum it up, so apply it when your going to work, making sure your cat is outside and the vacuum it up when you get home. Another more natural method, is applying Juniper oil to the filter on your vacuum, fleas don't like Juniper oil, and the scent will be spread through your carpet when you vacuum, this isn't an over night success, but will help in the long term battle with fleas.

There are a few more non-chemical methods of removing fleas from your house. A new favourite seems to be a lamp and sticky paper, these are a kit you can buy from most pet stores, there is a lamp that is placed in a room with sticky paper attached, and when the fleas sense the warmness of the lamp, they believe it is a passing cat and jump up to latch on, only to be surprised by the sticky paper, which they end up stuck to. This is a non-chemical method, which will attract adult fleas, however this will not kill the eggs or larvae that may still be living in the carpet, so you may also need to use this in conjunction with another treatment.

You can also try using a sonic system. These are normally devices that are plugged into your mains electricity. They normally have 2 settings, one can be used for vermin (rats and mice) although don't use that if you keep small mammals, like hamsters and gerbils. And the other setting is for insects, the sonic noise, that cannot be head by humans, is an excellent repellent for insects, it takes about 2 weeks before the results can really be seen, but generally speaking you'll rid your house of most crawling insects.

You can also try applying lemongrass essential oil to your cat's collar, fleas do not like this scent and will often leave your cat at the earliest opportunity. The only problem with this method, is that often cat's do not like the smell of lemongrass either, and as cat's have a very sensitive sense of smell, it may be worth only applying one or two drops to the very back of the collar, thus saving your cat from having an over powering scent following it everywhere it goes.

One method, which most owners would only use as a last resort, is bathing your cat. Most cat's will not thank you for giving them a bath, and it can be very distressing for them. If you have a cat the is quite content with water, then bathing your cat should not be too much of a problem. You can buy specialist pet shampoo from most pet stores, however if you are unsure, then use a non-fragranced shampoo with added tea tree essential oil. Tea tree essential oil is anti-bacterial, so as well as cleaning your cat, any wounds that may have been cause by fleas, such as over scratching, will be mildly disinfected by the oil.

If after try all the methods above you are still having troubles, the only plan you really have left is to visit your vet. You vet will be able to advise you on a course of treatment to get rid of the fleas, and in severe cases you vet may want to keep your cat in for treatment and observation.

Written by Laura Marsh. Did you find this information on cat care useful? For more great information about caring for your cat visit http://www.caringforyourcat.info

Don't Let Your Cat Be a Fussy Eater

By Laura Marsh

Anyone who's ever owned a cat, will know that we all like to spoil our cats when it comes to dinner time. A treat every now and then will do no harm, for example a bit of turkey at Christmas or a little bit of left over pork from the Sunday lunch. But in some cases this can go to extremes and then it's very hard to get your cat back into normal feeding habits, and often this is very bad for your cats health and could result in cat obesity.

When your first get your cat as a kitten you will need to set down rules. Your cat will have to understand this, although giving in occasionally is fine if your feeling a bit stressed and your cat won't leave you alone, just so you fill up its food bowl.

Kittens will normally have four meals a day, this should then be gradually spaced out so the are eating just two meals a day, but containing all the food they need in those 2 meals. For example if you feed your cat from ready meal pouches, which weigh 100g each, then you'll need two of these pouches for each of the two meals, totally to 400g of wet cat food. Your kitten will adjust to this readily and there won't be very many problems associated with this.

Problems may start to occur at your meals times, you've just fed your cat and straight away it's at the table while your eating begging for food and if your not careful it'll be on the table. Not only is this unhygienic, it's a nuisance. If your cat is a house cat and will not be allowed out side, then you need to stop this behaviour. The best way to do this is by shock tactics, although that may sound harsh, it's not. There are two good ways to do this, but you may come up with your own. When the cat starts to approach the table, make a loud noise, this could be banging two saucepan lids together or just shouting no, I can guarantee that the cat will run away. However some cats will persist and just shouting no may not be effective, if this is the case then get a plant spray. You can pick up a plant spray for a few dollars in hardware stores, they are the sort you use for misting in door plants, with the trigger handle and water reservoir. Simply have this with you when you are at the table and set the spray to squirt not mist, and when the cat comes near the table squirt it. Neither of these methods will harm your cat, they are simply just a deterrent. If you cat is a normal cat that is happy to go outside, then at meal times put it out. However harsh this may seem, especially if it's raining, you cat will soon get used to the idea that it goes out at meal times.

When it's time for your cat's meals make sure your feed it cat food, don't think your have to prepare a separate meal of chicken, rice and vegetables. All the nutrients your cat needs will be supplied in commercially available cat food. Your cat may have a favourite brand of food, or a way it is prepared, for example some cats prefer cat food in gravy while others prefer cat food in jelly, and some may not touch cat food as a pate as they prefer chunks, this is a personal thing to your cat, and you'll soon learn what it prefers, so you'll have to stick to roughly the same type of cat food. This is fine and completely normal, the trouble starts when you start feeding your cat rich foods, and left overs from your meals, if you give you cat these regularly, it will refuse to eat normal cat food, which will cause your cat to put on vast amounts of weight and will do severe damage to your bank account. So stick with proper cat food and be strict with treats.

However much you love your cat, and however much you think of it as part of the family, you must not treat it like a human. As soon as you do that, you cat will start to think it is in charge. This stems back to it's wild relatives, and the order of the wild cat prides. Once you start to allow your cat to do things, such as eating with you in any respect, and giving in to any demands, your cat will think it has risen up the pride to be the leader. This is something that is very hard to reverse and once this happens the bad habits will get worse.

So stick to your guns, treat your cat as a cat and not as an equal, and feed it on cat food not leftover dinners and you'll have no problems with fussy eating.

Written by Laura Marsh. Did you find this information on cat care useful? For more great information about caring for your cat visit http://www.caringforyourcat.info

Online Cat Training

By Jovan Johnson

If you're looking for online cat training then you are at the right place. Online cat training is much easier and less expensive then your traditional training. In most cases to have someone come out and treat your cat behavior problem can run into the hundreds of dollars. When you train your cat yourself you will learn more and you will save hundreds.

There are many different online cat training programs out there and the what you need to do is understand what problems your cat is having a find the best program that caters to those needs.There are a couple great cat training programs out there and before you fully dive in you need to understand the basic cat behavior. One of the problems faced by your cat is that of boredom.

Here is a list of some things a cat in the wild would do:

1. Observer everything around it
2. explore what ever area that they are in
3. will chase after prey

But these things are normal for cat but when they are put in a home and it is guaranteed that they will face more boredom then you and me at home. Boredom is one of the worst threats to a cat's health. It can lead to serious problems like weak muscles, lesser immunity and in more grave cases, chronic depression and kidney problems. In fact, the sudden changes in the cat's behavior that owners fail to comprehend often lead them to think that the cat is mentally unwell.

Here are some of the problems that boredom causes:

1. biting
2. scratching
3. spraying
4. become aggressive
5. damaging furniture
6. meowing
7. marking areas

Train Your Cat Yourself! Stop any bad cat behavior yourself, if you are serious about training your cat click here to learn how

Why Do Cats Bite?

By Catherine Conway

So there you are, petting your cat. She's happily draped in your lap, purring and looking at you with a dreamy-eyed stare. Suddenly, she cuffs your hand and bites you!

What just happened here? Was your sweet kitty suddenly possessed by a demon? Is she psychotic? Did you do something wrong?

Cats bite for a variety of reasons. Once you understand your cat's inner nature and learn to watch for the subtle warning signs, the biting is no longer such a mystery or a surprise.

A cat will usually bite you for one of the following reasons:

1. She likes you.

2. She's tired of being petted.

3. She's bored and wants to play.

The first reason might strike you as a little odd, but cats will often give a gentle nip just to show affection. It's almost like the cat's way of giving you a kiss. However, you can tell the difference between a "love bite" and a sharp "I've had enough!" bite.

Your cat might also bite you because she's telling you that she's had enough. Although most cats enjoy being stroked and petted, they have their limits. When a cat has had her fill of attention, she'll let you know with a firm bite. However, there are almost always warning signs leading up to the bite. Many people either don't notice the subtle warning signs, or they choose to ignore them until their cat has really had enough.

Sometimes cats will bite because they just want to play. This is especially true for kittens and young cats. The worst scenario is when you have a cat that was taught to treat human hands as personal toys. This is why you should never encourage your kitten to play-fight with your hand! It's cute when she's a kitten, but it's not so cute when she's old enough to take your skin off.

If a cat is thinking about biting you, she may give your hand a long look. Her ears may fold back slightly, or she'll start twitching or swishing her tail. There might also be a tiny growl. The behavior leading up to a bite can vary, but the signs are usually there.

The best way to avoid being bitten is to learn how much attention your cat is willing to accept, and to watch for the warning signs. If you see that your cat is starting to lose interest in being petted, you should stop. If your cat is just trying to play, try to distract her with a toy instead.

Catherine L. Conway is a freelance writer and a lady who adores cats. She's had some experience with cats that seem to bite when you least expect it--although she's since learned that there are always warning signs. Want to end frustrating cat behaviors such as biting, scratching, and urinating? Visit http://www.changecatbehavior.com to learn how!

Cat Behavior - Does Your Cat Give Itself Jobs?

By Jeanette Barron

My oldest cat has a very definite sense of herself. She has rules of behavior - for herself and for me when dealing with her. She takes herself quite seriously.

When she was about 2 years old, just getting totally past the kitten stage, she started assigning herself duties.

At the time, I was working a midnight to 7 am shift. I got up at 10 pm. After a while I noticed that if I wasn't up within 10 minutes of my alarm going off, Luna would be there working at waking me up. She started nicely, licking my eyelids and if that didn't work she progressed up the pain ladder - a few slaps across the face - up to the one that always worked - a claw inserted into my nostril and pressed down.

When I left that job and started working 2 part-time day jobs - with different starting times, within a week she had my schedule down pat.

She knew what time I usually went to bed and if I didn't make any moves, she would start patting me on the leg, meowing and trying to lead me to the bedroom.

She knew what times I got up on different days, and once again I got 10 minutes leeway from the time the alarm went off to get up. After a while I didn't need an alarm, she knew the time and got me up. I was never late for work.

The only unfortunate part of this is that cats don't know about statutory holidays, and I was always woken up even when I could legitimately sleep in.

I never get sick - have never had the flu, can't remember the last time I had a cold, so this came as a surprise to me. One evening I ate something that was off - spent most of the night with my head in the toilet. During the whole sorry episode Luna was with me. When I was hanging over the toilet, she was there. When I staggered back to bed between episodes she stretched out on the bed beside me. And when I was running to the bathroom, she was running with me. She never slept or left my side the whole time. It was very sweet and totally unexpected.

My other cat is still too young to feel the need to do anything but eat and play, but I'm wondering if eventually he too will decide to give himself a job, or whether Luna is unique in this way.

Read more about my cats and tips on care of your cats in my blog: http://beautifulfelines.blogspot.com Teaching your cat to Walk on a Leash? Tips and Techniques on my Website Training Your Cat to Harness and Leash: http://www.catsread2.info

Cat House - Your New Cat Won't Feel at Home Without One

By Jennifer Akre

You and the family have decided that it's time to bring a pet into the home. And, the pet that you all want to go with is a cute little kitty cat. Now, before you bring him into your house, there are a few things that you are going to need to make him feel comfortable and that includes purchasing a cat house for him.

Why is getting a cat house such an important thing to do, well, it is because it will give your kitty his very own place to go when he wants to sleep, nap, or just feel safe. Without one, it's going to be hard for him to get comfortable and adjusted to his new surroundings. So, if you want to make his transition into your home easier, then it is definitely a must have.

Now that you know why you should purchase one, it is time to talk about what a cat house actually is. Generally, this piece of cat furniture will be cylindrical in shape and will sit about two to three feet off the ground with cut out holes where your cat can enter into. Sometimes there will be two holes and other times there will be three even four holes depending upon how tall of one you get. One with a lot of holes is a good idea if you have multiple cats, however, if you just have one, then the two hole option would be the way to go. The type of material that one will usually be crafted out of is some sort of durable wood that is covered in a fabric that is not easily damaged with carpeting being the most common fabric used.

In addition to purchasing a cat house for your pet, there are also a number of different cat furniture options that would also be a good investment with one of those being something that will give him a nice place to play. A cat tree, made similar to the house option with wood and carpeting, would be a great selection since it in the shape of a tree with a pole center with juxtaposing limbs that will allow him to run, jump, and play. If you want to go a little bit bigger then a kitty gym would be the way to go, it's like a cat tree, but on a more grander scale since it can also be filled with perches and hanging toys.

There are other cat furniture and cat house options to choose from as well along with the ones mentioned and a great way to see them all is by hitting the Internet for some online shopping. In a matter of minutes you can browse through all the choices and when you do purchase something, it will be shipped right to your home. Now that is convenient.

So, if you are bringing a new kitty into your home, make sure that you purchase a cat house for him. Without it, he might feel lost in his new space.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including http://www.simplycatsupplies.com/ that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful, even for your cat. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous indoor area for your cat by using sturdy cat furniture. Without it, your cat might feel lost.

Cat Owners Guide - Part 2

By Jovan Johnson

Here is part two of the cat owners guide. Follow these tips and you and your cat will be on to a joyful relationship!

Good Veterinarian

Just about every cat owner forgets this tip: don't join the party because you will pay for it, literally. Try finding a good vet before you bring your cat home and the reason why is that you will put it off until it is absolutely necessary to find a vet. If you don't have a regular vet, see what your friends recommend. They'll certainly be able to tell you which vets are good, and which they prefer to avoid. Don't pick the cheapest vet, although expense can be a concern. Remember that the life of your pet is more important than saving a few dollars here and there.

Cat Brush

Grooming your cat will help you not only bond with your cat, but also let you prevent cat hair around your house. Cat shed, and in order to keep this to a minimal you have to groom your cat. As an extra bonus, when your cat swallows less fur, she will be less likely to suffer from hairballs.

Patience

You have to be patient with you pet or you will become a very frustrated cat owner. If you have a new cat, understand that it will not become use to your home at first. Your home will be full of strange smells and objects, which he'll want to check out. Be patient, and let your new cat learn the rules. Don't try to discipline him like a dog - it's frustrating and it doesn't work. Try positive reinforcement instead of punishment, and attempt to out think your cat. If you don't let your cat get into tempting situations, he'll have fewer opportunities to misbehave.

Love

Love your cat and it will love you back its just that simple.

Here's a complete cat training guide You need a cat training guide whether you are a new cat owner or an existing cat owner, you need to have a cat training guide here is a complete cat training guide

How To Teach A Cat Not To Bite - Part 2

By Jovan Johnson

Tip 5

Now that your cat finally understands your rules it is time to reinforce good behavior. When ever you notice that your cat is passing up there normal biting opportunity moments give her a treat. But remember to not give your cat a treat after she has attempted to bite but recoiled, as this will result in you cat thinking that this is a bite for a treat game.

Tip 6

Test your cat and see if it is still tempted to bite you. Here how you do it: give your cat an opportunity to bite you and if she goes for it use your secret weapon and if she does not bite you give her a treat.

Tip 7

Your cat will show that she understands you by doing everything except biting you. Instead of biting you your cat will start to substitute her biting with licking or use of paws or just softly biting you. If you cat nibbles to long remove her but don't use your secret weapon

Tips 8

If your cat is being really aggressive you can grab her by the scruff of the neck and supporting her weight with your other hand to avoid hurting her, put her at arms length away from your body. Do this until your cat does not display any more aggressive behavior and ignore her until she starts meowing. Then call her over and give her some positive attention but not treats. So now that you know how to teach a cat not to bite your all set.

Need more detailed steps Stop your cat from biting now, if you don't want any more bruises on your body then click here to learn how to stop your cat from biting.

How To Teach A Cat Not To Bite - Part 1

By Jovan Johnson

Cats bite, that's the normal thing all animals do, but when they draw flesh then it's a real problem for you and your family. So you came here to learn how to teach a cat not to bite anymore. Well there's some good news and bad news: the good news is that you will learn how to finally stop cat biting, and the bad news is there will be some work needed. Don't worry its really easy.

How to teach a cat not to bite

Step 1

You must first understand you cats biting triggers and concentrate on how to correct them. Most casts bite to show that they do not like something that's going on. You can be petting it wrong or your cat just wants to show dominance. Step one is to learn why and how your cats bite.

Step 2

Now that you know when your cat is getting ready to attack you it is time to pull out your secret weapon. Use a water spray bottle and yes a water spray bottle. What this does is surprise your cat and lets her know that her behavior will not be tolerated

Step 3

Now that you have your secret weapon you must spray the cat right after or right before your cat attacks. If your cat retreats then you weapon is successful and your just steps away from learning how to teach your cat not to bite. If your cat tries to attack again spray until cat retreats and if it doesn't try another deterrent.

Tip 4

Once you find something that works, your cat will began to understand that you have rules now. Do not stop using your secret weapon after a while because your cat will just start doing the same thing again. Add a phrase like "NO" or what ever you want to use and use a firm tone.

Tip 5

Now that your cat finally understands your rules it is time to reinforce good behavior. When ever you notice that your cat is passing up there normal biting opportunity moments give her a treat. But remember to not give your cat a treat after she has attempted to bite but recoiled, as this will result in you cat thinking that this is a bite for a treat game.

Tip 6

Test your cat and see if it is still tempted to bite you. Here how you do it: give your cat an opportunity to bite you and if she goes for it use your secret weapon and if she does not bite you give her a treat.

Need more detailed steps Stop your cat from biting now, if you don't want any more bruises on your body then click here to learn how to stop your cat from biting.

Alternatives to De-clawing - 4 Useful Tips

By Tina L. Tuttle

* De-clawing a cat's front claws is and has always been a controversial subject. Some people consider it as a form of torture and mutilation. While more than 25 % of cat owners believe de-clawing is OK, because their cat will be an indoor cat and they don't really need their front claws. If you visit your veterinarian, chances are they will discuss some of the alternatives to this elective surgery. In some cases, veterinarians will refuse to perform this surgery, unless it is medically necessary. Personally, I DO NOT believe in this inhumane practice of de-clawing, but you can make up your own mind after reading the facts.

* Why Do Cats Scratch?<>

* For cats, scratching is one of their most natural behaviors and it is their way of fulfilling the animalistic need to mark their territory. Not only does the scratching leave visible marks, their paws have secretion glands which will leave a distinct smell for other cats. Also, the scratching motion helps the cat to stretch and exercise their front paws and legs. Cats also like to keep their claws sharp and scratching a vertical object aids in this process.

* Why Do Cat Owners De-claw ?

* Some of the reasons cat owners have this procedure done is to prevent their cat from scratching furniture, pulling down draperies, and scratching/fighting with other pets. If there are infants or young children in the house, cat owners feel it is necessary to de-claw their cat just in case the cat playfully scratches their child.

* What is De-clawing ?

* De-clawing is actually an amputation of the germinal (epithelium) cells, which is responsible for the growth of the claw. It also includes removing all or part of the third phalanx (terminal bone) of the toe. In comparison to the human hand, it is similar to removing the finger tips all the way up to the first knuckle. Your veterinarian will likely use a tourniquet around the toes to reduce blood loss. If the tourniquet is too tight it can damage the radial nerve and may result in temporary and sometimes permanent leg paralysis. If the procedure is not done correctly, the claws may grow back with minor or severe deformity. On occasion, the veterinarian may remove too much of the toe or some/all of the toe pad may inadvertently. Mild or severe infection is another factor to consider. Because the wounds are left open to heal, chances of infection is high. Removing the cats back claws is NEVER recommended. These claws are their only defense if the front claws have been already removed.

* The Alternatives:

* 1. Introduce a scratching post to your kitten/cat at a very early age. The scratch post should be tall enough so your kitten/cat can stretch completely out. Make it a fun place for them to play by placing interactive toys around the area. You can also rub catnip all over the post to entice them to use it.

* 2. Discourage unwanted scratching by spraying your kitten/cat with a water spray bottle. You can also distract them with a loud sound such as clapping, a whistle or an air horn.

* 3. Clip your kitten/cat's nails regularly. (weekly or bi-weekly)

* 4. Purchase a set of Soft Pawsฎ nail caps. These are lightweight vinyl caps that you apply over your cat's own claws. They have rounded edges, so your cat's scratching doesn't damage your home and furnishings.

* Deciding whether to de-claw your kitten/cat's front claws is an important decision and it should NEVER be taking lightly. Further more you should NEVER have it done for your own convenience.

* Think about your companion animal first! Above all... Don't De-claw Your Cat's Paw!

* You can read other useful pet articles as well as purchase a number of unusual interactive cat toys at: Two Tuttles Four Paws

Tina Tuttle is a writer, animal advocate and along with her husband Wayne, co-owner of Two Tuttle's Four Paws. Having a passion for pets is Tina's motivating factor for sharing her knowledge and expertise with other pet parents. Tina firmly believes her life would not be complete without pets. Watching her husband Wayne travel with his Guide Dog Cosmo has further enhanced her believe that animals can impact people in many ways. You can read other useful pet articles as well as purchase a number of unusual interactive cat toys at: Two Tuttle's Four Paws

Your First Cat Boarding Experience

By Stan Hjerleid

What must you do to prepare for your first cat boarding experience? This is the question most often asked. People are somewhat apprehensive if they have never boarded their cat before.

First of all, cats are flexible and adaptable. The younger the cats are, the more easily they adapt. Older cats usually take longer to warm up to cat boarding. But it all depends on the cat (isn't that always the case!). Some older cats just seem to say ho-hum and take it in stride. Others may take a couple of days. Their usual protest is not to eat. But when they get hungry, they will eat.

With the right cat boarding facility, there is usually no problem getting cats to adapt. Personally, I like the challenge of the skeptical cat. It gets extra attention from me. I consider it a personal challenge to win them over. I think any cat boarding facility will have the same approach.

Now what can you do to help ease the transition? First round up some of their favorite toys to take to the cat boarding. Also, if they have a favorite cat bed or blanket with their smells on them, take it along also. Do they have favorite treats? Take those too.

If you are planning an extended trip, you might consider taking your cat in for cat boarding for several 1 or 2 day stays. This lets your kitty get the idea that when it is left for cat boarding, that you will come back for it.

Now you must be forewarned when you come back for your cat. A lot of them just look at you and don't seem very excited. In fact some of them act like they don't want to leave. My suspicion is that it's that old cat logic at work again.....I'll show you....Some of the owners say that their cats pout for a couple of days when they get home. One thing is for sure, cats get the last word in.

The cat boarding experience is usually harder on the cat owner than the cat. With almost everyone having a cell phone today, we encourage owners to call and check in every once in a while. That way we can give an update on how the cat is doing and hopefully relieve the owners anxiety.

Try cat boarding, you may find that cat boarding fills a very important need in your life and gives you the peace of mind when you have to leave your kitty for a few days.

Stan Hjerleid and his wife Mary are co-owners of Happy Cat Retreat for the last 8 years. Stan also raises parrots and Mary is a budding romance writer, in her spare time. They also frequently blog about kitties.

Things to Consider When Boarding Your Cat

By Stan Hjerleid

Ok, you have decided to take your kitty to a cat boarding facility. But first, you want to check them out. What do you look for?

First and I think most important, do they require proof that your cats have current vaccinations. You don't want to take your cat someplace where it could get a disease.

Do a little due diligence. Call around. Check with some local veterinarians and see if they are familiar with the facility you are considering.

Call the facility and ask if you can visit. See if you can visit without making an appointment. What you would like to do is visit unannounced and see how the cats being boarded are being cared for. As you tour, look at the cleanliness, are litter boxes clean, and fresh water.

Ask how many times a day the cats are fed. Do they get play time outside the cage each day? How many times? How long?

Check out the size of the cage the cat will be kept in. It should be spacious, have several levels for climbing, and preferably a window.

Do they have a boarding agreement? They should have. Read it carefully. They should require current vaccinations, your Vets name and phone number, and what to do and where to take your kitty in an emergency.

You may have special requirements for your kitty. For instance you may have special litter, special food, and treats for your kitty. Will they accommodate you?

Today most people have cell phones, be sure to leave your cell phone number. Ask if you can call and check on your kitty while you are gone.

If your kitty requires medications, make sure they can administer your medications. Today, a lot of cats require insulin shots. Make sure they understand the dosage, and it is well documented.

Finally, does the boarding facility belong to American Boarding Kennel Association (ABKA)? You might also ask to see the current copy of the state inspection, if required in the state where you live.

With advance planning, you may find that boarding your cat gives you peace of mind while you are away. And your kitty may enjoy the experience too!

Stan Hjerleid is a co-owner of Happy Cat Retreat for the last 8 years. Stan is also a computer forensic examiner and raises parrots in his spare time.