Blog Archive




Tuesday, August 26, 2008

What Removes Cat Urine?

By Luke Blaise

Today there are many great products on the market that will remove cat urine. If you don't want to spend the money on one of these cleaners, then many at home products will work just as well, if not better.

First of all if you if you can't find out where the cat urine odor is coming from you can use a black light to help locate where the cat urinated. Black lights can be bought fairly cheaply, if you feel like you can't find out where the odor is coming from.

There are many household combinations of cleaners that will remove cat urine. A warning though before you try any combinations that you find: do a test spot on your carpet first.

There are many different types of carpet out there, and these cat urine remover products might not work for all carpets, so do a test spot behind your couch first to be sure it doesn't stain the area.

What removes cat urine?

1. White vinegar is a tried and true method and also removes the odor.
2. Dilute hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will also work.
3. Most carpet cleaners will also do a pretty good job of urine removal.
4. If it is bad, you might even need to do a carpet shampoo.

After you have removed the stain it is important to ask yourself why your cat is not using the litter box. Cat behavior problems are very common, and there are many easy and quick solutions to help train your cat to use the litter box.

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Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

Cat Spraying

By Luke Blaise

Why is your cat spraying and what can you do about it? There is nothing more irritating than having just cleaned up after your cat and then seeing them spraying again or smelling that odor. Luckily there are several things you can try to do to stop this behavior.

Cat spraying is a natural thing for cats to do. Cats spray for a number of different reasons. They spray to mark their territory, they are stressed, or they are looking for a mate.

One way to decrease spraying, although not always a guarantee that it will stop, is to neuter your cat. This is one of the most effective methods to decrease and stop the amount of spraying in your house.

Another way to decrease spraying is to find out where your cat is spraying. Normally cats will usually spray the same area. Once you find out where your cat is spraying you can either block that area, or put an over powering odor on it before they get to it.

You could block the area with a box or other object, or close the door if the room has a closing door. If this is not possible you could try putting perfume on the area or other smelly products to try and make your cat think twice about going there again.

There are many ways to prevent or stop your cat from spraying, but you should find out why your cat is spraying in the first place. Cat spraying and other cat behavior problems are fairly common. Luckily there are many great books available today to solve your cat problems.

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Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

Cat Problems?

By Luke Blaise

Cat problems come in many different forms, but most of them can be categorized as behavioral problems. Cat behavior problems are one of the most common reasons why cats are given up to shelters each year, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Cat problems usually are broken down into two categories, either aggression or litter box related problems. Almost all problems with cats fit into these two categories.

Aggression problems include, biting the owner, nipping at your toes, scratching, and hissing. Feline aggression problems are usually solved with play therapy. It is usually a simple matter of just retraining your cat to bite toys and not you.

Litter box problems involve everything form urine on carpets, to spraying, to not covering their feces. This is a broad category and there are specific solutions to each individual problem.

For spraying and marking problems, usually neutering or scent masking will work. For litter box problems the solution could simply be getting a larger litter box and avoiding automated cat litter boxes. Self-cleaning cat litter boxes are usually too small for large cats. Also the noise associated with these machines scares many cats away.

Cat problems are very common. Whenever dealing with these issues, it is important to find out why your cat is doing this rather than just trying to cover up the mistakes.

By educating yourself about cat behavior problems you can easily solve most behavior problems by yourself at home. In rare cases it would be good to seek veterinary help.

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Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

Cat Behavior - How to Stop Your Cat From Scratching the Furniture

By Luke Blaise

Is your cat scratching your furniture? There is nothing more frustrating than buying a beautiful and expensive piece of furniture, only to have your cat scratch the wood or leather with its nails. Fortunately there are many things you can do to prevent this from happening again.

There are a number of ways to get your cat to stop scratching the furniture. Soft claws, declawing, clipping, furniture guards, and scat mats can all be used either alone or in combination to stop your cat.

Soft claws is a product that covers your cat's nails. It kind of goes over each nail like a tiny glove, and it stays on with glue. It can be hard to put on by yourself, which is why many people have their vets put them on.

Declawing is another option, but should only be done as a last resort. The advantage of declawing is that it is a quick procedure, but has some long-term complications if done improperly. You should consult your vet for this option.

Another option is to always make sure your cats claws are clipped short. This requires constant vigilance on the owner's part, but it can be done.

Furniture guards and scratching posts are very good alternatives to these other methods. Place these near where, or over where the cat is scratching and the problem should stop.

There are also electronic devices today, called scat mats, that emit a loud noise of an animal comes close to it. This works well if you want to keep your cat off your new couch.

There are many more ways to alter your cat's behavior. By learning to train your cat you will build a better bond with them, and both of you will be much happier. Find some good books on cat training, and go from there.

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Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

Cat Behavior - Cleaning Cat Urine

By Luke Blaise

Cleaning cat urine can be a frustrating experience. From the smell to the stain, it can be hard to remove from your carpet. Fortunately there are lots of products on the market, and even products you have at home that can help you clean up cat urine right now.

When you find an area of carpet that has cat urine on it, start by soaking up as much as you can. The hardest part is removing the urine from the carpet pad underneath the carpet. This pad holds onto the urine and is the source for most of the lingering smell.

To get the urine out of the pad lay a cloth down over the stain and place a heavy plant or some books on top of it. Using this weight helps us to get water down to the urine to try and dilute it. It is almost impossible to remove all this urine from the carpet pad but at least you can try and dilute it as much as possible. By diluting it you remove much of the odor source.

After you have done the soaking of the carpet pad with water, it is time to try and remove the stain, if there is one. If you don't have a commercial cleaner ready, try using white vinegar or dilute hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.

Whenever you try a new carpet cleaner, be sure to test a small area of your carpet, like behind the couch, just in case it damages your carpet.

Cleaning cat urine can be a frustrating job, but by going after the urine in the carpet pad, you can remove much of the odor. Now that the carpet is clean you have to find out why your cat is not using the litter box. This is where a good book on cat behavior is useful.

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Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

Cat Behavior - Cat Toilet Training

By Luke Blaise

Cat toilet training may seem impossible but it can be an easy thing to do. Many people have trained their cats to use a human toilet already. Cats are very intelligent animals and can learn and be trained quickly.

Before we start there is one important teaching guide you need to know. Whenever you are training your cat, always make slow and changes over many days. This is the best way and also the easiest way to train your cat to use the toilet.

To start your cat with toilet training, start by slowly moving the litter box from where it is, to right next to the toilet. The cat has to be used to being in the bathroom and be comfortable eliminating in there.

Now once your cat is comfortable with using the litter box when it is right next to the toilet, place the litter box on top of the toilet. It may take your cat a week to get used to this idea, because cats like to feel protected when they eliminate. It is a new feeling for them to be so high when they eliminate.

Once they get used to this, buy or fashion a litter box that will sit down into the bowl and that hangs onto the surrounding rim. Again this phase of training may take a week or so, but be patient.

Now once your cat learns to eliminate into the litter box while standing on the toilet seat, then you can try and remove the litter box entirely. Obviously this is the hardest and most difficult step to teach. But, with lots of patience you can toilet train your cat.

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Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

Training Your Cat to Use a Litter Tray

By Liz Canham

Do you dread trying to get your cat to use a litter tray? Don't despair - it's really quite simple to train a cat.

Any cat owner will tell you, cats are wonderful pets to have around. They are tame, cuddly and are indeed beautiful. Most cat owners want them to be indoors, to keep them safe and clean always. However, that same owner can also tell you that one of the downsides is needing to deal with their pet's waste.

But that should not be a drawn out problem if you take the time and proper care in training your cat to use the litter tray.

Cats should be trained early on, starting when a kitten is around 8 weeks old. Generally, a kitten that is raised together with a mother that uses the litter tray will learn to use the tray itself.

Cats generally are not difficult to toilet train. For one, they have the instinct already to bury their wastes. Thus all that is needed is to provide a litter tray.

Before any training commences, make sure you have the right litter box. Choose one that is made of durable plastic for easy washing. It should also be deep enough to contain just a little less than 2 inches of soil, sand, sawdust or commercial cat litter.

Do not think that by putting more litter in the box will mean fewer times you would have to change it. Your cat will very likely refuse a soiled box even if there's a lot of litter in it.

Cat litter comes in different varieties of grades and scents. However, the benefits of scented litter only affects the pet owners. In fact, cats dislike scented litter because it seems unnatural to them. They will very likely reject eliminating in the box and go somewhere else.

The kind of litter grade your pet will prefer varies with each one, but it is observed that cats are particularly fond of smaller grades. Perhaps this is because smaller grains make the litter softer.

Make sure that the litter tray is placed in a quiet and secluded place as cats do not like to be watched when they do their toilet.

Now that you have a good litter tray set up, it's time to teach your pet to use it.

For kittens or cats that still have to be trained, it is best to acquaint them with the litter tray. The cat should be introduced to the tray after being fed, after play or when it wakes up.

Lead your cat to the box. Move the litter around with your hand to intrigue the cat with the texture of the litter, inviting it to step into it.

Encourage your pet once it steps inside, speaking to it in gentle tones. Make the cat feel that the box is a nice and comfortable place. Whether your cat soils in the box or not, be consistent with that tone. Eventually, your pet will like the litter box and do its business there.

When the cat uses the litter tray, make sure that you praise it for its good behavior. If it soils elsewhere, just pick it up straight away and put it in the litter tray. Under no circumstances should you punish the cat for not using the litter tray.

Finally, be consistent and patient. Results may not come right away, but the training will pay off in time.

Owning a litter tray trained cat can be very rewarding. Attention and consistent effort will be greatly needed at the training stage.

Liz Canham is the proud owner (or maybe servant) of three cats and is webmistress of The Cat Lover

Training Aids For Cats

By Liz Canham

I don't know if obedience classes for cats exist, but it seems unlikely. The idea of independent cats being paraded around on leads is somewhat hard to deal with but despite what dog owners would have you believe, cats can be trained using a few simple aids.

Feeding Time

Be consistent in the times that you feed your cat. Although they obviously can't tell the time as such, cats appear to know when it's their feeding time if you keep to the same time daily. A well-fed cat is unlikely to beg at your dinner table, particularly if it has already eaten when you sit down to your meal. If the cat does beg at table, remove it at once to its own food bowl.

Scratching Post

Cats need to claw at something. In the wild they use tree trunks but if you have no trees or have an indoor cat, a scratching post is a must in order to save your furniture and carpets. Whenever the cat shows signs of clawing where it shouldn't, pick it up and take it to the scratching post. Soon enough it will learn what it can claw at and what it can't.

Repellent

A liquid repellent can also be applied to furniture to stop cats from scratching, as the taste is dreadful to a cat. However, apply a very small amount to fabrics in a hard to see place to start with, just to make sure that there is no adverse reaction with the material.

Toys

A bored cat often becomes a badly behaved cat and kittens love to play but even older cats need exercise. Ping pong balls are great for a game of football - many cats are very dextrous and watching them is as entertaining for the owner. Something on the end of a piece of string which they can bat about and attack as you dangle it in the air or drag it along the ground is also fun for owner and cat. Wear your cat out with some strenuous exercise and it will be too tired to be naughty.

Treats

As with dogs, treats are a useful training aid for cats as they can be used as a reward for a task achieved or just for good behaviour. Some cat treats have other benefits such as removing plaque from the cat's teeth and preventing fur balls.

Water Spray

A water spray is useful to train a cat that fighting with other cats or using your best plant pots as a toilet is not acceptable behaviour.

Cat Grass

Cats instinctively eat plant matter or grass to induce vomiting when they have a fur ball. If you don't want your best plants eaten, provide a pot or two of specially grown grass for cats. It will be a lot better for them too.

Observation Post

Cats like to have a good view of the world. If you don't want them sitting on the backs of your chairs or on your window sills, provide a specially built high up place for the cat to sit. As with the scratching post, if they make for your sofa back or bookcase, pick them up and put them on their observation post.

No matter what training aids you use, training your cat will still require patience but it will pay off in the end.

Liz Canham is the proud owner (or maybe servant) of three cats and is webmistress of The Cat Lover

Cats - How to Keep Them Off Your Garden Safely

By Liz Canham

You may be the biggest cat lover in the world, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you want them digging in your flower beds. Here are some tips to keep them off your garden safely.

It is unfortunate that not only will stray cats come and use your garden for their toilet and raid your rubbish bin for extra snacks, but those of your neighbours will too. In fact, if you're a cat owner, you will probably have noticed that your own cat rarely soils in YOUR garden - after all, why would they want to mess up their own territory?

However, cat lover or not, if you want to keep cats off your garden, please don't put down poison or any other substance that will actually harm the cat. After all, the point is to keep them away, not kill them off.

There are a variety of products available which will repel cats without hurting them at all.

Powder

You can just sprinkle powder where you don't want cats to go. Some of these powders are referred to as "cat pepper" which will actually make the cat sneeze and others contain a scent which imitates that of another animal. Either way, they'll stay away in future.

The powder is not harmful to plants.

High Frequency Sound Producer

Because of the difference between what cats can hear and what humans can hear, the sound that this machine makes will deter cats from coming into your garden while you won't be able to hear a thing.

Liquid Repellent

This is not of much use for flower beds, etc. but if you want to keep cats away from garden furniture, it can be effective because the cat will pick it up on its paws and when the cat grooms itself, it will taste awful.

Scent Neutraliser

The scent neutraliser will do what it says on the tin, which is to neutralise the scent of other cats. The odour that cats leave behind them often attract other cats, so the scent neutraliser should be applied to the normal route that feline visitors take in your garden.

Water and Air Sprayers

These work in much the same way in that they each have a sensor which detects movement. The air sprayer is a stand-alone alone device which emits a blast of air when it senses movement. Cats find this frightening and will hastily remove themselves. The water sprayer needs to be attached to a hose pipe but the end result is the same.

Electrically Charged Mats

These mats are powered by batteries and deliver a small electric shock which a cat will find most uncomfortable. However, this should be reserved for the most persistent of offenders as it doesn't entirely fit the term "harmless".

All these simple devices should ensure that your garden is free of unwanted cats without harming them at all.

Liz Canham is the proud owner (or maybe servant) of three cats and is webmistress of The Cat Lover

Is Your Cat Scratching the Furniture?

By Kathy Davison

SCRATCHING FURNITURE

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats but unfortunately it can ruin your furniture. The first thing to do is give the cat a scratching post of its own.Scratching posts are essential for a cat's well being: A good stretch and scratch tones up the muscles and keeps the claws in trim by stripping off the outer layers and sharpening them up. The blissful look on your cats face as it claws stretch and pull show you how deeply ingrained and how necessary the scratching behavior is.Out of doors a cat will usually find its own scratching place but inside a scratching post is essential. Some of the posts in shops are too small. They should be at least 30 in high so that the cat can reach its full height.Some manufacturers make posts that stretch from floor to ceiling.

You can also make your own scratching post by gluing a piece of high quality carpet to a piece of wood. This can then be fixed to the wall.A concealed corner is a good spot. You could even wrap sisal rope closely round a table leg. If you are using a scratching post position the post in front of the favorite area for scratching and rub some dried catnip into it as an extra incentive. As the cat gets used to the post start moving it towards its permanent position. If the cat then uses the post and your favorite chair you will have to employ deterrent methods. The simplest is to wrap a piece of plastic around the corner as cats dislike the feel of plastic under their paws. If the fabric will take it an alternative is a couple of strips of double sided sticky tape which are guaranteed to discourage your cat.

A more elaborate method is the balloon method. Buy a packet of balloons and sit on the floor blowing them up. The cat will soon come over to see what you are doing. Once it begins to sniff at the balloon burst one in front of it. Repeat this couple of times until the cat realizes they are bad news then attaches a couple of them to the scratched area of furniture. The cat will walk around them warily and you can remove them after a week or two when the habit has been broken. Any of the deterrent methods may have to be reinforced from time to time if the cat goes back to his old ways.

Kathy is a full-time lecturer in Human and Animal Health in a college in N.Ireland. She also has an online business dedicated to cats and dogs. http://www.kathydavison.com/catproblems.html

Bonding With Your Cat

By Joseph M Sabol

Who says bonding with your cat is not possible? This is the common assumption cat owners have; they figure that you can only bond with a pet dog, and not a pet cat. However, such bonding is still very much possible. And when you do establish such a relationship with your feline, nothing really beats that rewarding feeling. So, how do you forge this relationship with your cat?

One very important thing you have to remember is that looking into your cat's eyes directly would mean aggression to your cat. Thus, you should not do this at all. What you should do, rather, is to stare into your cat's eyes and then look away while blinking your eyes slowly. This is very effective since cats actually do this when they show their affection to their companions. If you do this often, you will find this very helpful in the end.

Another thing that you can do is to pet your cat often. Of course, you need to determine first if your cat is fond of this because there are some cats who do not like to be stroked at all. how do you determine this then? Easy! All you have to do is stroke your cat, and if it purrs louder and louder, then this is a strong indication that it enjoys being petted. Try petting your car under the chin, the bridge of the nose, and the forehead.

Cats like to groom themselves. In fact, your vet would most likely tell you how you cat likes to spend a large portion of the day just grooming itself. You can foster bonding by grooming your cat as well. Remember to be as gentle as possible when grooming your cat because its fur might become tangled in the brush or comb you are using.

And when it comes to feeding, make sure you stick to a particular feeding time. Cats like routine when it comes to feeding so if you practice this, your cat would appreciate you more for it. However, refrain from picking up your car especially after a meal. This will disrupt the digestion process and will only cause discomfort for your cat.

Do not ever punish your cat. Cats cannot really relate punishment to bad behavior, unlike their canine counterparts. Should you physically punish your cat, it would just end up becoming scared of you. this would defeat the purpose of bonding with your cat so you should avoid doing this.

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information

Remove Cat Urine Smell - Action Plan

By Jennifer Laurie

Anybody who has ever had a cat will know what a genuinely unpleasant odor cat urine smell is and how challenging it is to eliminate. It can be an intense smell and the cleaning techniques typically utilized for other cleaning situations are not efficient. You will need to take further action to totally eradicate the smell of cat urine.

Obviously getting rid of cat urine odor from carpeting is going to be a lot harder than getting rid of it from hardwood, tiled or linoleum covered floors. The actions outlined in this article will allow you to effectively clean cat urine from your furniture, carpets and any other surface that has been urinated on. You won't need to use harsh chemicals to remove cat urine and it won't matter whether you need to treat new stains or stains that are old and have dried out.

Start by detecting the areas where the stains are obvious or where smells are apparent. If you can't see the marks but you are able to smell where they are employ a stain detecting achromatic light fo find them. You might want to crouch down and smell your carpets and floors to detect the precise areas. Check anything additional that's at your cats spraying level, like walls and curtains.

You will then need to vacuum the affected area so it would be advisable to install a new bag in your vacuum cleaner if it uses them. Liberally apply a brew of a third of a cup of white vinegar, two thirds of a cup warm water, one quarter of a cup of mouthwash (needs to contain alcohol) and a quarter of a cup of dishwashing liquid. Leave it alone for approximately forty five minutes.

Softly scour the total area in a circular movement with a soft clean brush and absorb the left over wetness with clean white paper toweling. Liberally soak with warm water and leave it for around fifteen minutes then sop it up with more clean white paper toweling. Once again completely vacuum the total area and liberally dust with baking soda. Allow it to settle for at least a couple of hours. Vacuum substantially once more.

Congratulations, you should now have a house free of cat urine smell once again. And by following these actions you have achieved it without the utilization of abrasive chemical cleaning products.

Jennifer Laurie has been involved with Cats all her life and has a wealth of information to share with you. To read more helpful advice and solutions to this problem please go to How To Remove Cat Urine Smell Information

Remove Cat Urine

By Jennifer Laurie

One of the most frustrating things about owning a cat is the unacceptable behaviour of inappropriate urination. I know this as I have experienced this problem first hand. It can drive you nuts especially if your cat has previously been meticulous about using the litter box.

What inappropriate urination means is that your cat decides to urinate in places other than his litter box. He might decide that your carpet or furniture is a suitable place to eliminate. However if you are able to understand the reasons behind this behaviour then you will be able to employ restraining techniques or perhaps medical therapy, which will in most cases result in the behaviour being resolved.

To understand this behaviour then you need to know that there are two types of inappropriate urination. The first one is house soiling where the cat will use your carpet/floor as he would his litter box, by scratching and squatting and then releasing a puddle of urine. He may even try to cover the puddle after he is finished.

The second type is spraying where your cat will back up to a surface and let loose a small amount of urine. This is usually done as a display of territorial or sexual behaviour and doesn't have anything to do with whether he has a need for urination.

If your cat starts displaying this behaviour you should get him examined by your vet so as to rule out any underlying medical problem that may be the cause of the problem. If there is a medical problem then this needs to be addressed first before any behaviour modification takes place. If your cat has a problem that is causing him pain on urination he will avoid the litter box as he will think that this is what is causing him pain. The likely cause of painful urination is cystitis which is inflammation of the bladder.

If your cat is older then he may be suffering from arthritis. If this is the case getting in and out of the litter box is probably painful for him and he will find other places to urinate that don't require him to lift his legs. Other disorders such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism can cause your cat to drink more therefore produce more urine. The need to go will increase and your cat may not be able to make it to the litter box in time.

Other reasons for your cat to develop an inappropriate urination problem:

It could be that the litter box is dirty. Cats don't like to use a dirty litter box so you should change the litter daily making sure to wash the litter box in hot soapy water at least every couple of day.

Your cat may not like the brand of litter you use. Or he may not like the location of the litter box.

Stress is another cause of this problem. Cats are creatures of habit, they don't like disruptions to there daily routine. If you have multiple cats this can cause stress. Some cats don't like sharing the litter box with other cats and will look for other places to urinate. You may find pooping is also a problem in a household with several cats. Urination problems are hardest to solve in a household with multiple cats. Not impossible, but harder.

If you have had your cat de-clawed then it may be too painful for him to scratch in the litter. De-clawing is a very painful procedure and it is not recommended that you do it. De-clawing is essentially an amputation of not just the claws, but the whole phalanx, that is up to the joint, including bones, ligaments and tendons. If you catch your cat in the act of urinating in an inappropriate place don't yell at him or chastise him as this will only add to the stress he is feeling and will make the situation worse. Instead pick him up and take to the litter box a place him in it so that he knows what you want him to do.

In the majority of cases, the problem may be resolved if the primary cause can be treated. To read more about this distressing problem please go to the address in the resource box below. There I will discuss the types of urination behaviours in more depth and I will offer some solutions to the problem.

Jennifer Laurie has been involved with Cats all her life and has a wealth of information to share with you. To read more helpful advice and solutions to this problem please go to How To Remove Cat Urine Smell Information.

Will a Neutered Cat Spray?

By Gary Pearson

This is a burning question for many tom cat owners who are getting a little tired of their pet marking his territory in a rather sociably unacceptable way. If he is just a kitten and not started spraying, then the chances are that he never will. Intact older cats will spray to mark their territory to let others know that they should accept him as the boss and often it can be a sign of insecurity. Much of this is hormone related and once the tom has been neutered the problem will end. No more spraying!

That is the theory. The reality, however, is not always the same. Some cat owners that have had a problem with their tom spraying have had their cat neutered only to find that the problem has continued. So, how long will a neutered cat spray for?

The usual answer would be for around two weeks following their operation. This will allow time for the testosterone to leave their body. It is an idea to eradicate all signs of their previous spraying whilst they are quietly recovering from their operation. This way, when they are back on the feet the area will be fresh and they should have no desire to start spraying again. It is quite a traumatic time for your cat and you should try to give them extra affection so that they feel comforted and secure. This should help them to be a spray free cat! If after this time you find that you cat is still the same as before and nothing has changed with regard to his spraying habits, it may be that you have one of the exceptions to the rule. It may be that testosterone was not his only reason for spraying. So, why will a neutered cat spray?

If, after two weeks, your cat is still spraying, it may be due to a behavioural problem linked to insecurity. Do everything that you can to make your cat feel secure, especially if there are other cats in the immediate neighbourhood. Also try to keep a regular routine for him. Cats get comfort and security from routine, so always feed him at the same time for example. Also, make sure that his litter tray is kept clean and fresh and try to clean it at approximately the same time each day. Hopefully he will spray less and less. Keep the areas where he does spray very clean and odour free as this tends to discourage them from using it as a territory marking spot. It is difficult to answer "why will a neutered cat spray?", but more often than not it is just psychological and can be helped by behaviour therapy if necessary.

As you have discovered, there is no easy answer to the question "will a neutered cat spray?" The only answer really is probably, and hopefully not, but perhaps!

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about neutering cats visit Spay and Neuter Clinics Online for current articles and discussions.

When to Release Spayed Feral Cats

By Gary Pearson

With so many feral cats roaming our streets and countryside it is becoming important to spay or neuter as many as possible. They can then be returned to their habitat to carry on the work they do in keeping the rodent population down. Although we have a problem with the overpopulation of cats, we would have a huge problem with the overpopulation of rodents without our colonies of feral cats! Therefore the trap/spay/release programme is now being widely used. There are some points that you should know about prior to getting a humane trap for your local feral cats and taking them to the vets. Once they have had their operation you will need to know when to release spayed feral cats back into their environment.

A feral cat is probably not very good when it comes to social skills. They are not used to human contact and you would be foolish to think that they will be cuddly like a fully domesticated cat. If you undertake the responsibility of trapping a feral cat and having her spayed, you will have to consider what you are going to do until she is fit to be returned to her life out on the streets. Not only do you need to think about when to release spayed feral cats but also her care whilst she is with you.

Once you have your feral cat in a humane trap, make sure that the veterinarian and everyone working with her, is aware that this is a feral cat. She will need to be treated very differently from domestic cats. Firstly she will be very scared as she may have had little, or no, human contact let alone visits to the surgery. Secondly, if the staff are not aware that she is wild then they may receive quite nasty injuries from trying to be friendly with her. The treatment that she receives during the course of her operation and aftercare may well affect her recovery time. Considering when to release spayed feral cats must take into account how quickly they have recovered from the shock of their visit to the veterinarian and their operation. The more they are stressed the longer it will take. When you have her back with you, keep a cover over the cage to keep her calm until you can release her.

She should be kept in the cage for 24 to 36 hours following the operation, assuming that all has gone well. If you think that there may be a problem, take her back to the veterinarian for immediate attention as you need to have her well and back in her community as soon as is possible. This is only a guideline for when to release spayed feral cats. Obviously if she is unwell and at risk of infection this time limit must be extended. You must not release her if you fear she could be at all unwell.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about feral cats visit Spay and Neuter Site for current articles and discussions.

When Can a Cat Get Pregnant?

By Gary Pearson

It is not easy to answer the question "When can a cat get pregnant?" if you are referring to the minimum age. The majority of cats will be sexually mature at around six months and so will be able to conceive from this point. Some, however, do not have their first cycle until they are a year old. You will find that the timing will vary from breed to breed. If you have a pure bred cat you will be able to get information from the relevant society so that you will be forewarned. For example, Persian cats have their first heat cycle much later than some other breeds.

The best advice is to assume that your cat will be an early starter and, unless you are an experienced breeder, have her spayed whilst she is still young. Your kitten will need to have started her first heat cycle to become pregnant and the signs that this is happening are usually quite clear. You will probably find that she will start rubbing against your legs more than usual and some have a habit of rolling around from side to side. They can become quite noisy in some cases, with lots of meows and sometimes an unusual yowl. Even if your cat is usually quite noisy, you will still notice an increase. It is from this point on when a cat can get pregnant.

Most cats will have a breeding season. This is dependent upon where you live as it is regulated by the amount of daylight hours. Cats in the northern hemisphere will have a breeding season that will approximately cover February through to September. This, however, is only a rough guide. Some cats will continue in a breeding season all year round, particularly those that live inside. If they are not out in the open very much they will not be so controlled by natural light and a false continuous cycle may be triggered. If you are needing to know "When can a cat get pregnant?" regarding specific times of the year, then unfortunately there is no certain way of telling and you must assume that your cat is able to conceive throughout all seasons.

There are some surprising facts regarding when a cat can get pregnant. Do not think that because your cat is nursing she will be safe from pregnancy. Kittens take just two months to become fully weaned. After this time Mum may carry on nursing them but this is not necessary. A cat that has just had kittens can become pregnant before she has finished weaning her previous litter. She can become pregnant almost immediately. If you going to have your cat spayed after her first litter, you must wait until she has weaned the kittens but make sure that you keep her away from male un-neutered cats during this time to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Sexually mature cats are nearly always fertile and able to become pregnant. Even an older cat can still conceive. They do become less fertile with age, but pregnancy in an older cat cannot be dismissed.

So, in answer to the question "When can a cat get pregnant?" ... pretty much anytime!

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about breeding cats visit Spay and Neuter Now for current articles and discussions.

Tips on Providing the Best House Cat Care

By Doris Canova

Tips On Providing Cat Care

The best cat care is extremely important to a kitten so that they can grow up to be healthy throughout the rest of their life. The best house cat care is one of the most important subjects for responsible and loving cat owners to be aware of. It involves prevention, understanding, and sometimes treatment of a possible life-threatening disease. The best house cat care is also affected by lack of exercise and poor diet. You can love your house cat into a state of being unhealthy without enough exercise and proper nutrition.

Talk to cat owners who may have an older cat. Ask them about cat health care for their older cat or consult your vet. What are the problems and what are the right foods and nutritional needs? That will fall under the term older cat care. If your cat does not receive the proper food and nutrition, they may have problems with their health. Talking about best house cat care health in advance will make it easier for everyone when the time comes.

Natural cat food is always a welcome one for all pet owners. There are brands of cat food that contains no chemicals and has lots of white meat and vegetables. The prices of these products will vary, but cat health is most important. A balanced diet of the correct protein and vitamins will be priced higher than the "store brand".

Heat and humidity degrade nutritional value, so do your best to buy fresh food. Once opened, for good cat health, his dry cat food should be stored in a sealed pet feeder container to preserve freshness.

Bad breath is an unhealthy sign of possible gum disease. Your cat should have strong white teeth without odor. The most popular opinion seems to lean toward dry cat food for best cat health care. It will give your cat strong gums, good healthy teeth, and that will give them clean breath.

As for soreness in your cat, heat is a good soother. Heated cat beds or a heated throw will give much relief to this painful complaint. Massage is often beneficial but should be administered with care. Your vet will give you complete direction as to how long to do it.

Allergies to fleas are another potential house cat problem. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores known as hot spots. Fleas carry many diseases and can transmit these to your cat. Fleas carry the tapeworm cyst inside them and your cat's health could be in danger because during routine grooming he could swallow them. One way to help eliminate this problem and provide good house cat care, is to keep your cat indoors at all times. Not only with it help with a flea problem, but will prevent ticks as well.

We plan to post articles that are informative and helpful to other cat lovers. Having been "owned" by cat for years, we know they can be demanding, but also be very entertaining and fun. Please visit our site today for a wide array of products that will make "His Majesty" very happy - http://www.besthousecatcare.com or our blog for more information - http://www.besthousecatcare.blogspot.com

Cat Breed - Burmese

By David Braybrooke

The Burmese, (meaning 'fortunate, beautiful and splendid appearance') cat was imported from Siam, now Thailand in the 1930's, the first one coming to San Francisco. It has been recognized as an official cat breed since the 1950's - '60's.

This type of cat was divided into two distinct breeds, the American Burmese and the British or European Burmese. They were mated to a Siamese and developed many favorable traits.

The Burmese is a slim, athletic cat with a short, soft, silky, glossy coat that has a satin-like finish. Their coats were originally exclusively brown or 'sable'. These days, they come in a wide variety of colors and hues, including brown, blue, lilac, chocolate, cream, red, champagne, platinum, lilac-cream (lilac torti), blue torti, chocolate torti and brown torti. Colors of limited recognition include cinnamon, fawn, caramel and even apricot!

Their eye-color is gold or yellow and may even be blue or green in hue owing to the interbreeding with the Siamese cat. They are very sociable, friendly with humans and intelligent. Being extremely vocal, they often 'call' to their owners. Burmese cats are affectionate and charming, active and playful but not as demanding as the Siamese variety!

The Burmese kitten has a very inquisitive nature; they are outgoing and accept strangers well. Sometimes, they are even known as 'naughty tortis' as they can be very bold and rambunctious!

This type of cat is lactose intolerant, so milk should be avoided in the diet! They are best fed on canned foods, cheese, some mince and dried biscuits; it is not advised they are fed on solely dry food as this may cause kidney problems!

Burmese cats usually have large litters, up to six to eight kittens; the young are born with coffee-colored coats which develop into their adult colors at a later stage

They are remarkably heavy for their size and are known climbers and longer lived than most pedigree cats, living up to 16-18 years. Minimal grooming is needed as they are very tidy and efficient self-cleaners.

Burmese cats like to exercise and don't put on weight easily. They aren't usually cheap to buy, often fetching prices from $300 upwards but make good pets, although don't tolerate teasing of any kind!

For more great cat articles, please visit: http://fatherspirit-catablog.blogspot.com/

How to Shop For Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes

By Bob Schmitt

Self-cleaning litter boxes are a great help to any cat owner. Scooping out the waste from the litter box can get to be a tedious and unpleasant chore if you are doing it by hand. When you are shopping for one of these interesting inventions, look for all the best features.

First of all, the self-cleaning litter box must rake the kitty's waste frequently. If it does not, there is no point in having it. A good unit will have a sensor to alert it when it has been used. It should rake the waste immediately afterwards.

Nighttime raking can keep you awake, especially if the litter box is near your bedroom. Some self-cleaning litter boxes offer a solution to this. They halt their raking for a set number of hours while you sleep and then resume again when that time is up.

To keep things fresh, the litter box should have some type of odor elimination mechanism. A nice touch is a self-cleaning litter box with an ionic air cleaner. This keeps the litter box fresh-smelling constantly.

Another problem that cat owners have is that their cats and kittens drag kitty litter from the litter box into the house. You can get self-cleaning litter boxes that take care of this situation. They have paw cleaning ramps that keep the litter from spreading beyond the box area. Be sure to get one with a ramp that will hold the weight of your cat.

The next question is where the waste will go after the self-cleaning litter box has raked it. Some brands simply rake the waste into a pile at the front of the box. The best choice is a unit that will rake it into a container that is sealed by the unit. Then it can be disposed of easily without handling the litter.

You need to know how the self-cleaning litter box will be powered. You can get ones that run on household current or others that run on batteries. The most convenient choices offer you both options. Then you can use your household current to save you from buying a lot of batteries. Yet, if the electricity goes off you can still keep the box going.

Finally, look for self-cleaning litter boxes with warranties. A one-year warranty is reasonable. In that amount of time you should know whether the box will work as it is supposed to work. When you have found the kind of litter box that meets all your requirements, you can order it anticipating relief from this chore.

For purchasing information visit Bargains Delivered Litter Boxes or PetsDelivered.com

How to Maintain Order in a Multiple Cat Household

By Abby Reid

Some people really love their cats. Why? Cats are the ideal pet. They're friendly, loyal, warm, nurturing and independent. Cats don't require as much maintenance and attention as most types of dogs and are usually clean. Cats can keep you company and are reliable sources of comfort and love. However, owning more than one cat can sometimes be a problem for your other feline pets. When your home contains more than one cat, your animals can develop a pecking order and revert back to natural animal instincts that may place them in competition with one another. To avoid fights or conflict, a pet owner should provide each cat with his own area to scratch, eat and play.

If you think that you are ready to own more than one cat, there are many different steps that you must take to ensure all of your cats' health, happiness and well-being. First, take an honest look at the cat that you already own. Does he seem lonely? Would he benefit from having a playmate? Does he usually get along with other cats? Is he friendly toward humans and other domestic animals? Does he enjoy receiving attention and being held? If so, your cat may thoroughly enjoy having other cats around.

However, some cats strongly prefer being alone and living in solitude. They may be somewhat territorial and resentful of other cats sharing their space.

If you decide to add another cat to your home, you must decide on the approximate age of the new cat. Kittens, although cute and playful, can be a handful and may need a lot of attention and training. Older cats are usually already trained and are less active. They have developed a personality that will probably not change.

If you decide that your home or apartment is ready for more than one cat, there are several precautions that cat owners should take.

  • Give your cats room to grow. Provide your cats with furniture, scratching posts, perches and cat trees. Place them in multiple rooms so that your cats can enjoy some time away from one another. Once they become comfortable in their own areas, they will learn to successfully socialize with one another. This is a natural process that you should allow to happen on its own. Don't force your cats to play together. Let them bond on their own terms and at their own pace.
  • Frequently fill your cats' water bowls. Make sure that your pets' water and food bowls are always full. This ensures that they do not have to compete for food or nourishment. Provide each cat with his own bowl and feed him at specific times each day.
  • Eliminate spraying. Urine marking is often more common when many cats reside in the same home. Applying a feline pheromone spray on risky areas or objects will help reduce or eliminate spraying. Remove stains with an equal parts mixture of water and vinegar.
  • Maintain a fresh litter box. If you own more than one cat, you may need to purchase more than one litter box. Each cat should have his own litter box, with at least one placed on every floor of your home or apartment. Ensure that each of your litter boxes is cleaned daily.

By employing a few smart strategies, you can successfully teach two or several cats to happily co-exist. My Three Cats and Co. offers a variety of these necessary items, including both open and closed litter boxes, litter scoops, litter mats and other accessories. My Three Cats and Co. recommends products for furniture protection and to redirect undesirable behavior into a less destructive outlet. No matter how many cats you have, My Three Cats has the latest cat health supplies for all your feline needs.

 

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