How the Experts Choose Their Cat's Scratching Posts

By Paul Kramer

All cats and kittens are compelled to scratch as part of their natural behavior. Scratching is beneficial because it allows them to shed the sheaths of their claws and to stretch. You must provide at least one good quality scratching post. If your cat does not have a scratching post to use, he may resort to scratching your furniture or cabinets. In a multiple cat household, each cat should have his own scratching post.

If you are a cat lover with a big heart, you may want to adopt every homeless cat in the animal shelter, but be realistic. You cannot take in every stray that comes along. So how many cats are too many? It depends on the size of your home and your budget. Each cat you adopt will need plenty of space in your house, his own litter box, food dishes, and annual veterinary care. Owning 3 cats is realistic, but owning 10 or 15 could quickly become unmanageable. Some cat owners like to start out with a pair of kittens. They can play together and grow up together, while others are content with one cat who becomes a devoted companion. However many cats you adopt, make sure that each one is given lots of love and the best care possible.

Your local pet supply store will have a variety of scratching posts from which to choose. Most are made from wood covered with carpeting. Some are made of sisal string, cardboard, or natural wood. When choosing one, make sure that it has a sturdy, side base so that your cat cannot knock it over when scratching. The post should be tall enough so that he can stand on his back feet, anchor in his front feet and claw away.

Place the post near the area in which your cat normally sleeps. They like to stretch and scratch after they wake up from a nap. If you have a large home, you may want to buy a few scratching posts and place them all over the house so that your feline companion always has one nearby.

This section will discuss a bit on kitty condos. A trip to the pet store will give you many ideas about the types, sizes, and styles of cat condos or perches available. Some condos are designed like playgrounds, with perches, ledges, hideaways, and toys to keep your cat entertained. Depending on your budget, you can buy carpeted condos that double as hideaways and scratching posts or towers with several levels that allow your cat to sit up high and survey his domain.

Instead of relying on metal ID tags, some owners use microchips to identify their pets. A veterinarian can inject a microchip directly into your cat or kitten. The chip does not harm him, and it can be inserted at about eight weeks of age. It is a permanent form of identification, and it cannot become lost or removed by the cat because it is placed under the muscle near the shoulder. If your pet gets lost and is turned into an animal rescue organization or shelter, the workers will scan him and use the special code on the chip to contact you. Whether you opt for micro chipping or the more traditional metal ID tags, remember to update your contact information if you move.

Keep an eye on the condition of the scratching post. If it becomes worn out or frayed, replace it with a new one.

To learn more about the different types of scratching posts 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.

Cat Toys - Five Great Toys You Can Make in Minutes for Free

By Liz Allan

Cat toys play an important part in the world of kitty entertainment. If cats don't get enough stimulation through playing, they'll often resort to other means of "amusement" such as destroying the sofa and performing trapeze acts on the curtains.

Buying cat toys is a case of trial and error. If you're fed up with your Kitty turning his nose up at most of of the toys you buy him, here are five ideas for cat toys you can make at home in a few minutes - for free. He should love these, but even if he doesn't, you'll have wasted very little time and no money!

1. Box of treats. Get a small, empty cardboard box (about 3 or 4 inches long, 2 inches wide and 2 inches deep). Make sure it's sealed, then cut a circular hole in one end that's a bit bigger than Kitty's paw. Put some of his favorite dry treats and also maybe some catnip into the box. Kitty will have lots of fun fishing the goodies out with his paws!

2. Baking foil football. Get a square of aluminum baking foil (about 6 inches square), put some catnip onto it and then scrunch it up into a ball. Throw it for Kitty a few times to get him interested. I'm amazed at the number of cats that prefer this to expensive cat toys.

3. Super scratching log. Bring in a dry piece of log from outside with the bark still on it. If your kitty is an indoor cat, he'll especially like this, because it's something new that he doesn't normally get to scratch. You can make it even more appealing by sprinkling catnip around it.

4. Fishing rod fun. Tie a piece of elastic to the end of a 12 inch or so piece of bamboo. Tie one of Kitty's favorite toys to the other end of the elastic. You can dangle this in front of him as you're watching TV. He'll love it, and you'll be entertaining him with minimal effort.

5. Kitchen roll roulette. Get the cardboard inner tube from a used kitchen roll and seal it at one end. Put a selection of small cat toys, dry treats and catnip into the tube. Put your hand over the open end and shake the tube from side to side so that the goodies are fairly evenly spaced along it. Place the tube on its side on the floor. Kitty will get the treats near the open end first, but will then have to use his imagination to get the ones further away!

Liz Allan is a cat behavior expert with 25 years experience of caring for cats. She lived and worked in a cat rescue centre for 3 years, and has fostered hundreds of cats at home. For more ideas on ways to entertain your cat and advice on dealing with furniture scratching, visit http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com/cat-behavior-explained.html To find out how to deal with common, frustrating cat behavior problems, visit her website: http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com/index.html

Part 2 - Discover the Russian Blue Cats and Other Different Cat Breeds

By Jan Roos

As you will recall from Part 1 of this article the first question asked was; "Are Russian Blue Cats smarter than the other different cat breeds? The truth is many of their breeders and owners believe they are. However, their belief comes from the respect and love they have for their own personal pet . The following information will give you more information, so you can determine if the Russian Blue feline is smarter or not.

Most of the breeders and owners have no scientific data to back up their opinion. They tend to base this opinion on the fact of how loyal the animal is to them. Also it's amazing ability to attune itself to their adopted families moods at a moments notice. Thus leading them to think the animal can read their minds.

In addition the Russian Blue Cats have been known to learn how to open things such as windows and doors. They have also been known to play hide and seek, fetch and other parlor tricks. Again this is a learned behavior on the part of the Archangel Blue. Many of the owners and breeders feel that only this breed is capable of such behavior. Not so!

Frankly, that is a false assumption on their part. A great percentage of the other different cat breeds are intelligent enough to be trained to do the same thing. It all comes down to the patience of the trainer and the willingness of the feline to learn the tricks.

But there is one thing which should be noted about the Russian Blue; it is extremely loyal to its owner and will go to great lengths to please them. As you know cats can be very independent and act just the opposite from what the Archangel Blue does. However, one of the breeds which are very similar to the Russian Blue Cats is the Javanese.

This particular breed is considered to be extremely intelligent and extremely loyal to its master. The Javanese will respond to the mood of their master, by even attempting to communicate with different sounds. Many of the owners and breeders say this form of "talking" is distinctive to what is taking place at the time.

They seem to have the capability to communicate:

• Pain

• Contentment

• Pleasure

• Anger

• Fear

• To get attention

• and others

As far as intelligence they also are quick learners and have been known to fetch, hide and seek, find hidden objects and other learned behavior.

Now let's compare the Russian Blue with more different cat breeds. How about the American Bobtail for instance?

If you were walking along side a country road and you spied an American Bobtail, your first thought would be; you're looking at a real bobcat. Their most distinguishing characteristic is of course the all natural bob tail. The bob tail, along with the muscular body and haunting eyes of a wild creature, has fooled more than one person.

However, you will find this beautiful creature ready to open its heart to you and your family. This feline loves to ride on your shoulders or catch a cat nap in your lap. One of the things which will blow your mind about the American Bobtail is a wonderful personality and it's adaptability to change.

Even though they look like a cat from the wilds they interact extremely well with children and believe it or not dogs. You will spend many hours watching this little clown like creature entertain you with his antics. Often times this playful little cut up will instigate a game and will continue to pester you until you play along. Because of its high degree of intelligence they are very easy to leash train and teach other tricks.

As you can see the Russian Blue Cats and other different cat breeds have much in common. Each cats owner and breeder say they are the best and the most intelligent. Actually you will find out that the cats have conspired together to keep their loved ones on their toes. Until next time!

~The Cats

Jan Roos If you're looking for a great ebook on how to get rid of your cat's behavioral problems visit this blog. http://catschool.blogspot.com/

4 Tips About Cat's Ringworm and Your Children

By Jan Roos

Did you know that your cat's ringworm is not a real honest to goodness worm? That's right cat lovers. Your cat isn't infected with a worm, but a fungus. If you're into big names the medical term is dermatophytosis. Let's keep it simple and use ringworm throughout this article. This article will give you 4 tips about your feline's ringworm.

1, Your Cats Ringworm And Your Children.

Ringworm is extremely contagious. Your cat can pass it on to your children, you and other animals. You or the kids can infect someone else or another pet. Not only can it be passed on to others, it can be spread to other parts of your body or the bodies of your child or pet.

It is imperative that you have your animal treated as soon as possible. In addition, if your child or you, are infected you should consult with your family physician. In most cases if the fungus is treated properly you will start to see improvement within the first few days.

Within 7 to 10 days there should be a complete recovery from the fungus. However, the doctor or your vet may recommend continued treatment for up to 2 or 3 weeks to make sure there is no reoccurrence of the infection.

2. How Can I Tell If My Cat Has Ringworm?

You should understand that in some cases there will be no outer signs of the fungus infection on some cats. However, your cat can still be a carrier and infect you, your children and your other pets. If you suspect your animal is a carrier call your vet.

If this is the case how can your cat or you be a carrier? Actually that is pretty simple to explain. The fungus can be anywhere. It can be in the grass, on the sidewalk, flowerbeds and can even be in the air ducts of your home.

During the incubation period of the fungus it develops spores, which can be picked up by your pet or you. When your animal or you move about the spores will drop off into the carpet, furniture, clothing, and bedding. Therefore the spores then can be picked up by your heating and air conditioning unit to be circulated through out your home.

3. How You Can Identify The Cats Ringworm.

First let's talk about how ringworm can be spotted on your favorite feline. In most cases you will spot the fungus on the head, around the ears or eyes or on the paws and nails of your cat.

Generally this is demonstrated by the circles of hair loss or flaky red skin in a circular form. You may notice your kitty scratching and licking the wounded area. Furthermore you may well see an increase in broken hairs and patches of flakey skin on the pets bedding, the carpeting, your clothing or your furniture.

One area you need to think about checking closely is the cat's paws. There is a variety of the fungus, which seems to concentrate in the pads of the paws or under the nail beds of your pet.

Second let's talk about how to spot it on your child's body or on your self. Very likely you will have an itchy sensation, in the area, where the fungus has penetrated the skin. As it continues to fester you will see a red circular pattern on the infected area. You may also observe dead looking skin flakes. Again you should contact your doctor in the event you see an outbreak on you or your child.

4. What Are The Treatments For Your Cats Ringworm?

At last there is some good news. Ringworm is easily treated by your vet and you. In the majority of the cases the vet may prescribe an antifungal cream and shampoo. It's usually a matter of shampooing your favorite pet every other day and applying the cream as directed by the vet.

Surprisingly enough your personal physician will recommend a very similar treatment for you or your child. It's possible they may prescribe and antifungal soap and cream. However, the doctor may just tell you to pick up the soap and cream across the counter at your local discount store or drugstore.

In conclusion you, your children and your wonderful pet can be infected by cats ringworm. But it is easily treated and cured with the proper medication.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended for any type of medical advice for you or your pet. It is intended for information purposes only. Always consult your personal doctor and your pet's vet in case of a medical problem.

Jan Roos Visit my blog all about cats. http://catschool.blogspot.com/

Motherly Instinct in Male Cats

By Libeth Maldo

My good kisser cat (the subject of my article, "How to Teach A Cat to Kiss") is a castrated five year old male mongrel.

When another kitten took refuge in my house, I was apprehensive because I wasn't sure how my first cat will react. Would he be happy to have a playmate? Or would he be antagonistic and jealous if he would see another cat sharing with him my love and attention? Upon introduction, he gave the kitten a passive look then rolled his eyes and shifted his attention to the vacuum cleaner. He would softly snarl whenever the kitten came near him. I had to think of a probable solution to a problem that might possibly arise when time comes that the two cats could not get along well together. It was farthest from my mind to get rid of the little kitten for he already charmed my heart. I decided to keep the kitten at the basement and let the older cat stay inside the house.

I learned two things:

1. It's not good to make the kitten and the older cat stranger to each other.
2. Cat owners must take initiative to create a friendly atmosphere for the two cats by allowing both to mingle with each other. But always be on guard to protect the kitten from being bitten or scratched by the older cat.

If you are in the same situation as mine, you can observe the behaviors of your cats as they go through the process of getting to know each other and become more than friends in the future.

At first, the older cat will go far whenever the kitten approaches. The act insinuates that the bigger cat avoids the kitten because he does not want to harm the kitten. It is also a gesture that he can possibly accept the kitten's presence. He then starts to play with the kitten by allowing it to play with his wagging tail. There may be an instance when the cat becomes overexcited that he can hurt the kitten unintentionally. You can always call his attention but don't scold the older cat. Instead, let him lick the kitten. Then encourage him to play again with the little one. As the older cat licks the kitten, there is a certain character trait that is being developed in him.

In the case of my good kisser cat, a motherly instinct was developed in him. He took care of the kitten and pampered it. Even now, that the kitten is already a matured cat, the older cat still pampers it.

Experts explained that the behavior of a female is developed among castrated male cats because the estrogen hormone is the only hormone present in the cats' body after the source of testosterone was removed. It creates a tendency for male cats to behave like females. Estrogen and testosterone are both present in humans and animals. In females (both human and animal), the estrogens are dominant over the testosterones and in males (both human and animal), the testosterones are dominant over the estrogens.

I've been relieved from my worries before-the thought of seeing my two cats quarrel. It's indeed a wonderful experience to see two matured cats loving each other like mother and son. And it is me now who is jealous because the kitten that I love so much prefers his "surrogate mother" than his loving mistress.

A cat lover. She has three grown up cats and one kitten. Most of her writes are dedicated to her pets. Each of her cats has distinct personality and she enjoys sharing wonderful stories about them and at the same time able to share some tips on how to take care of cats and how to teach them some tricks.

Potty Training Your Cat in Four Simple Steps

By Derek Carroll

A new kitten! That's great. Of course, for most people, the first thing on their mind, is "what a beautiful kitten". Very soon though, the practicalities of looking after any pet will set in and you will be trying your hand at potty training your new cat. No problem... as I am about to show you here, it's really easy. You may not know it, but, most mother cats will have already potty trained their kittens before they are weaned. If the mother has already done that then it's going to be a lot easier for you, trust me. Either way, it only takes a couple of days if you follow the steps that I give you here. It sure is a lot easier to clean a litter box than having to clean several messes off your floors.

Potty Training - The Basic instructions:

Firstly, you should invest in a good litter box. Look for one of the hard plastic ones - they're the best. One thing to watch out for when you have a small kitten is that the lip is low enough for the kitten to get inside. Sometimes it's hard to find the right type of box - with the lip low enough - depending on where you live. If that's the case for you, don't worry, just use an old phone book for the kitten to use as a stool.

The next most important thing for potty training your cat is your choice of litter. You will find two types at the market, the non-clumping and the clumping kind. Both of these will do the job really well and there is practically no difference between them. Many prefer the clumping kind as they say it will be easier to clean the litter box, but personally I've found no difference. It's your choice really which to use when potty training your new cat.

Step 3: When potty training your cat you will need to put about 2 inches (that's 50mm) of sand in the litter box. If the box you got is smaller then you can just fill it about one third of the way up with the cat litter of your choice. When you are buying your litter box be sure to pick up a good quality scoop for cleaning up the used litter and whatever else is left behind. You should be able to find the scoops beside the litter boxes in most shops.

Finally, when potty training your kitten you have to put the cat directly into the litter box after it has eaten. Do this immediately as the majority of cats will need to use it at this time, and obviously that's the best time for you to show them where to go. A good tip that can be helpful to bring out a cats natural instincts when potty training your cat is to gently scratch the surface of the sand when you place the kitten in the litter box. This works because cats naturally dig and cover their waste in the wild.

Remember, potty training your cat is just one part of any complete cat care program. There are many breeds of house cat and sometimes it can be hard to choose from among them.

Save Your Furniture - How To Combat Cat Scratching

By Paul Sutton

One of the eternal bugbears about owning a cat is scratching in the home. Many, many people have been driven to distraction by tattered armchairs, carpets, curtains and wallpaper, and at times it can appear that nothing is safe from kitty claws once they get into the zone! But why do they do it, why are some cats more scratch-intense than others, what cat scratching posts and cat scratching furniture is most effective, and what can you do to protect the ฃ1000 sofa you just invested in?

WHY DOES MY CAT SCRATCH?
Scratching and clawing is a behaviour that goes back to a time well before felis catus was a domesticated pet, and stems from the impulse to keep the claws sharp for hunting and climbing. It removes the old nail sheath to reveal a fresh, sharp point. So trying to rid the cat of scratching is a hopeless task. In some countries, the USA being a prime example, de-clawing is a fairly common practice, involving a veterinary surgeon removing the claws altogether. However, as scratching is an instinctive and natural behaviour this is seen by many as both cruel and unnecessary as it's painful and potentially complicated. Avoid it.

Scratching is normally an outdoor behaviour, but some cats will sharpen their claws indoors either because they grow to like the texture of carpet or the shape of your favourite armchair, or simply because they don't get out enough! Others claw out of contentment or upon waking as they stretch the muscles of their back, legs and front quarters - it's like cat yoga! And others use it as an attention-grabbing mechanism as it invariably provokes a response from their owner, or as a means to deposit scent from glands in their paws on strategic places around the house to mark their territory in the same way as rubbing up against things does.

HOW CAN I CORRECT MY CATS BEHAVIOUR?
The most important and most obvious solution is to provide a suitable place for your cat to carry out its natural behaviour. There are numerous designs of cat scratch furniture on the market, from simple cat scratching posts to cat trees that offer a cat somewhere to play and sleep at the same time. The point is simply that your cat doesn't know that your sofa cost ฃ1000, and wouldn't care if it did!

A combination of materials such as sisal and carpet gives your cat options, and a cat scratching post should be rugged enough to withstand some rough treatment. Going for the cheapest option available can be a false economy as, not only may it not last very long, but your cat simply won't use a scratching post that topples over every time she claws it.

A step up from this is a post that incorporates toys to encourage the cat to use it, but either of these designs used in conjunction with catnip in spray or leaf form should be an adequate scratching solution. If budget's not such an issue, then there are some fabulous cat trees and cat furniture around that look great in the home and provide a fantastic place for your cat to scratch with specially-devised pads for your cat to get her claws into, as well as furniture to sleep and play on.

HOW CAN I GET MY CAT TO USE HER SCRATCHING POST?
Whichever you choose though, there are a few tips to get your cat to use the scratcher rather than your sofa! Firstly, gently drag your cat's paws down the post when it's new so that it leaves scent and gets the idea that this is a great place to claw. If/when she claws elsewhere, take her to the post and do the same thing - eventually she'll get the message. And praise her when she does! Used in combination with catnip, this is usually very effective.

Be patient though - don't punish your cat for scratching elsewhere as this can cause insecurity and make the problem worse. When you do this you're effectively telling your cat that scratching is bad, which will make her nervous and more insecure...and likely to scratch more. Before you know it you'll not only have a carpet-shredding cat but a neurotic one!

Instead persist with gentle reminders, scenting the desired area with her own smell and with catnip and removing scent from the offending area using a mild solution of biological washing liquid. You can also try putting a few drops of orange essential oils around the area you want the cat to avoid, as cats don't like strong citrus smells, or sticking double-sided tape to the couch.

Hopefully, with a blend of observation and patience on your part together with a suitable piece of cat scratching furniture, you can minimise the damaging effects of scratching and save that sofa!

Paul is a director of online pet accessories supplier http://www.thepetextraordinarium.co.uk The Pet Extraordinarium is devoted to sourcing the best quality products for cats, dogs and rabbits, enhancing their and their owners' lifestyles, and to raising awareness of animal welfare and pet care issues. Before establishing http://www.thepetextraordinarium.co.uk Paul enjoyed a ten year career in PR and marketing.