Cat Blog

By Sarah Ince

Hallee Berry loves cats

Teaching a cat (like Hallee Berry’s lucky cat) or kitten how to use the toilet like a human being may seem strange, however many cats all over the world have already mastered this trick, making their owners job of cleaning up after them much easier. Toilet training your cat is very beneficial for many reasons. Cat litter tends to hold odor and if your cat is toilet trained guests will enjoy spending time in your home because they won’t smell a litter box. Your home will naturally be cleaner and more sanitary.

Another benefit is the money you will save on cat litter. When your cat no longer needs cat litter to do his business the savings add up very quickly. For instance, even cheap cat litter is about $5.00 per box. If you have one cat and you like your home to smell nice, you are probably replacing that box about every week.

The monthly cost of cat litter is about $20 or more depending on which brand you buy. After one year you will end up spending over $240 on cat litter. That may not seem like much, but it adds up over the years and that number increases if you have more than one cat.

Before you begin to train your cat how to use the toilet the cat needs to already be litter trained. Toilet training works best for cats over 6 months of age.

You will need:

Litter Pan
Cat Litter
Bowl to sit inside the toilet
Duct Tape

The first step is to put the litter plan right in front of the toilet and leave it there for a few days. The goal is to help your cat become accustomed to using the litter pan by the toilet first. After 5 days you will need to raise the little pan higher up off the floor. You can do this by using a few phone books or a box.

You will want to raise the litter box a few inches each day until the litter box is the same level as the toilet. Secure the litter box with some duct tape to be sure the box is sturdy. The next step is to put the litter box on the toilet and secure it with some tape. Leave the litter box there for one week so your cat will adapt to using the box on top of the toilet.

Once you know that your cat is comfortable take the litter pan off the toilet completely. Place a large bowl or colander inside the toilet bowl. Fasten the bowl with some duct tape to the toilet bowl. Pour cat litter in the bowl. Remove the cat litter box from the home and watch your cat carefully to be sure he or she is using the little bowl inside the toilet. (If your cat has an accident you may need to back up a few steps and start over.) Just watch your cat carefully and bring the littler pan back if your cat is not ready for it to completely gone yet.

Over time you should put less and less litter in the bowl over time until your cat is ready to use the bowl with no litter in the bowl. Your cat will continue to use the toilet with the empty bowl inside. Finally, remove the bowl completely and watch your cat carefully to be sure he is using the toilet.

By Kate Rieger

Even President Clinton loves cats

As President Clinton might know, there are many things that can go wrong with your cat’s kidneys, especially as they grow older. Recognizing the signs of a feline kidney problem could save your pet’s life. If you know your cat’s regular behavior, you will be able to recognize the warning signs of a problem early.

One sign of a feline kidney problem is an increase in drinking and urination. Especially if your cat is older, this could be the warning signs of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF). The increase in drinking and urination occurs because of the kidney’s inability to concentrate the urine. If you see these problems in your cat they should be quickly brought to the vet for a blood test, because these symptoms will only show up after 75% of the kidney tissue is damaged.
CRF is progressive and untreatable, there is no known way to reverse its affects as it changes healthy kidney tissue to scar tissue. This can be a scary diagnosis, but if caught early there are treatments that can slow it down and give your cat a longer life. Signs of feline kidney failure include weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, weakness and other similar signs. The progression of feline kidney problems can vary from cat to cat, some can live happy and healthy for months to years, while other fall prey to the disease fairly quickly.

The other common type of feline kidney problem is Acute Renal Failure (ARF) unlike chronic renal failure; acute renal failure is reversible but not treatable. The symptoms can be the same but because of the way it progresses the symptom could be no urination as well. With chronic renal failure the symptoms gradually progress over time but with acute renal failure they will come on suddenly. The reason for the difference is that acute renal failure is often caused by outside toxins, such as pesticides, herbicides, venoms and heavy metals. Even a medication prescribed for your pet can cause ARF, so it is important to weight the risks of using medications against the benefits that they provide. Always ask your vet if a natural remedy exists before using a prescription medication to treat your pet.

The treatment for ARF is to pump the cat full of fluids in order to ease the dehydration and try to remove the toxins from the body. Veterinary treatment is necessary as they will hook your cat up to an i.v. and monitor in order to make sure the toxins do not have any other negative side effects upon the cat. The good thing is that it is possible to make a full recovery in a few days, if a recovery does not occur then it is likely that the problem is chronic renal failure and not acute renal failure.

By Kurt Schmitt

Paris Hilton and her cat

Paris Hilton can tell you that choosing the best cat food for your kitty is one of the most important cat owner decisions you can make. Here are some key points to help you decide which cuisine is the right one. Making sure your cat gets adequate nutrition is the primary concern, so feeding foods that meet AAFCO guidelines is generally recommended.

1. Pick a food type.

Are you going to feed dry food and allow free choice for your kitties? Or, are you going to feed canned, wet food at specific feeding times. Some people do a mix of the two.

2. Choose “healthy.”

Generally, pricier foods will have better quality ingredients. So, the best cat food is probably more expensive than your house brand at the grocery store or super store.

More expensive isn’t a guarantee of quality by itself, though, on a case-by-case basis. Check ingredients and try to choose a healthy food. Healthier cat foods are made with wholesome ingredients, and tend to avoid the use of artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT, or ethoxyquin.

3. Choose “organic.”

Unlike some other terms, when a cat food is labeled USDA certified organic it has a specific meaning, and requires that certain inspections be carried out. Try to choose organic if you can, since that should give you a high quality food.

4. Choose “natural.”

If you can’t find an organic food that your cat likes, you can go with some of the cat food offerings on the market that avoid artificial ingredients, and include real meat from free range cows and chickens.

These are often marketed as “natural” products. Although the term “natural” doesn’t have the meaning attached to it that “organic” does, these pet food companies will sometimes state that the ingredients come from human-grade sources. Keep in mind that once incorporated into pet food, the product is not technically human-grade, it’s just that the source of the meat, for example, might be cows that are slaughtered for human consumption as well.

5. Choose specifics and learn to read labels.

When selecting a cat food, specifics on the label are better than something more general. So, the term “meat” is not desirable, but “beef” is. Learn the terms used on the labels. For example, how much chicken must be in a “Cat Food with Real Chicken” product? You might be surprised to learn, not much.

6. Choose a manufacturer.

When possible, it may be better to choose a product line from a company that makes its own food. Natura Pet Products, for example, shows you a tour of their dry food manufacturing plant right on their website. This should allow them to keep tight quality control.

7. Listen to your cat.

Pick a food type and a feeding schedule, and then choose the healthiest food you can find. Learn to read labels, and look for a product that lists specific ingredients rather than more general ones. If possible, choose a company that makes and packs its own food, or has control over the manufacturing.

Then, listen to your cat and follow veterinarian recommended food switching procedures. If your kitty doesn’t seem to like the food you select, choose the one next on your list and try again. After switching foods, watch your cat’s weight, eating habits, and behavior. If everything appears normal, you’ve found a winner!

By John K Vincent

Kate Beckinsale and her beautiful cat

As your cat gets older, you may find your vet recommending more medicines for ailments such as arthritis and allergies. Naturally your vet is going to want you to purchase these items from him and this is understandable. Most vets get a percentage back from all of the medicines they sell to their patients. The problem is, most vets don’t take into consideration the extra expense they are creating for you.

If you are not sure that your cat really needs the medicines your vet is recommending, you can always go to another vet for a second opinion but in most cases, your vet shouldn’t recommend things your cat does not need. You can purchase these meds from your vet but if you are like most people and are looking to save a little money, you do have another option.

A great way to get the medicines your cat needs without spending a fortune at the vet each month is to find an online retailer. Many online retailers offer Pet Meds for up to 50% less than you would pay at the vet’s office. You will get the same quality meds at a fraction of the cost.

If you are worried about the safety of getting your cat’s medicines online, you needn’t be. These online retailers are able to offer these products at discounted prices because they buy in larger quantities and get better prices from the manufacturers.

Most vet offices do not carry a large supply of medicines because they run the risk of losing money. Online retailers sell to thousands of people every day and know they can sell the products on hand. This simply results in money saved for you and a happier cat.

By Debra Garcia

Britney Spears has a cat

Cats are experts at giving themselves baths. In fact, they spend a significant amount of their waking hours bathing themselves. Most cats can live their entire lives without human help in the cat bath area. However, every now and then, your feline friend may need a little help.

Unfortunately, for the vast majority of felines, a human-assisted cat bath will be their least favorite cat-human interaction, and they’ll let you know it in no uncertain terms. If you’ve ever tried to bathe a cat, you know that this isn’t an easy task and you may have the scratches to show it!

If the occasion comes when you need to bathe your cat, you must be fully prepared ahead of time. This will help the process go faster and reduce the stress for you and your cat. If at all possible, recruit a second brave human to help you. One person can hold your cat gently and firmly while the other washes and rinses. So Britney Spears would need a friend to help.

Cat Bath Supplies

Have the following supplies ready before you start to bathe your cat:

1. Container in which to bathe your kitty (something like a plastic baby tub), or you can use a large sink;
2. Soft wash cloth;
3. Large clean dry towel;
4. Cat shampoo, or a safe flea shampoo if you’re bathing your cat to get rid of fleas; and a
5. Plastic jug or large cup to pour water over your cat.

Once you have all the supplies ready to go, you’re ready to grab your cat and get to work.

Nine Steps for the Perfect Cat Bath

When you are ready for the task, here are the steps you should take to give your cat a bath:

1. Fill the plastic tub with about four inches of warm water.
2. Test the water to make sure it’s warm, but not too warm.
3. Add and mix the cat shampoo into the water.
4. Holding your cat or kitten firmly, place him or her in the tub.
5. Using the plastic jug, pour some warm soapy water over your cat (avoid the face and eyes).
6. Massage the soapy water into your cat’s fur from the neck down to the tail.
7. Rinse your cat with clean warm water using the plastic jug or large cup.
8. Wrap your cat in a large clean towel and gently rub her dry as much as you can. Some cats may allow you to follow up with a hair dryer on a low setting.
9. Follow up with a healthy treat for your cat so your kitty may associate the bathing with something good.

While you’re giving your cat a bath, talk gently and soothingly. Remember to have a firm grip of your cat, but be careful not to hurt him or her.

“Sponge Baths” for Cats

If you feel your feline friend doesn’t need a full-on cat bath, you could use a kitty wipe or a warm washcloth to clean his or her fur. This will be a lot less traumatic for your kitty (and you!) than a full bathing and might be all the help he or she needs.

By James T Williams

Martha Stewart and her cats

Despite their notorious reputation for being fiercely independent and carefree, cats need care and attention like any other pet. Caring for a cat can be very rewarding because they are loving animals that are really quite like humans in the way they socialize. In groups of cats, or even in a room full of people, a cat will interact with her preferred associates and shun the others. When learning how to care for a cat, be aware that they are very different from their canine counterparts, but basics like health and nutrition are still at the top of the list.

Cats can live an average of 14 years with proper care. Such necessities as vaccinations, flea and worm prevention, yearly vet visits and overall nutrition are crucial in providing a long, healthy life for your cat. These key points are about the same with any pet to make sure they are in proper health. Compared to dogs, cats certainly require less maintenance. As you learn how to care for a cat, you will quickly discover that their independence is intriguing and very desirable by many cat lovers. Cats are eager to explore the world on their own, so providing an interactive place for them to play is important to keep them happy. Kitty condos, cat trees and other “jungle gyms” are highly enjoyed by felines. Claw trimmers, bathing soaps, if they go outside, and good food that encourages dental health are really the only maintenance supplies you need to worry about.

Similarly to dogs, cats require playtime. Cats are different from dogs and require less hands-on interaction. Providing small toys, cat grass or catnip in a play area is usually enough to satisfy them for a long period of time. Cats have natural hunting instincts, and it is this instinct that comes out when they play. Having other toys around that they can play with at their leisure is advised when learning how to care for a cat.

As you become more attuned to how to care for a cat, the more you will fall in love with idea of owning one. Some of the most satisfying pet-owner relationships can be formed between cats and humans. The intriguing balance of independence and love that a cat emanates is the most desirable feature of a cat. Equip yourself with the proper cat care materials and you will be ready to make a new feline friend! Learn more about cats and supplies you need to properly care for one at Cat Headquarters.

By Kelly Braid

David Bowie

Did you ever question why cats knead? There is possibly more than one answer to this.

You have perhaps noticed this cat behavior hundreds of times. Maybe you have been the receiver of it. Cats pick out a prone spot and start working those paws. At times it is simply a soft pawing, other times the claws spring into action. When she is really into it, she is completely focused on the task at hand. Or should we say paw?

Cats seem to have an unfathomable need to knead, and they are rarely concerned with whether they are kneading comfortable couch cushions, their cat bed or your lap.

The question why cats knead is not about how they enjoy such activity, but what motivates them to do such thing. Examine the following two main reasons for kneading cats:

Emotional Security

One great reason why cats knead stems from their early years. Kittens knead their mother in order for them to acquire their life-supporting milk. Kneading on either side of the mom’s teat motivates the milk to freely flow. The actions are natural and because they receive a reward, kitty naturally transmits the behavior to other locations in the anticipation of good things to come.

Another theory as to why cats knead is that they may have been separated from their mother at too early of an age. This is commonly thought not to be the case as almost every cat, even those who remain with their mother into adulthood will show this behavior at some point.

For cats, kneading appears to be much of an encouraging behavior as it basically happens during times of contentment and happiness. It is rarely if ever seen when a cat is feeling angry or bullied.

Marking Their Territory

Cats normally knead to ensure that their chosen location is as comfortable as possible however there is another more important reason for this action.

Cats possess scent glands situated in their feet’s pads near the bottom of their claws. Every feline creates its own special scent. Humans do not normally detect this scent, but cats and other animals can. Therefore, by kneading your cat leaves a marker to demonstrate where she has been and that you are her property.

When cats want to define the boundaries of their territories, she will paw and also run her claws across the object, leaving those physical markings and a little personal eau de feline in the deal.

Now, you know why cats knead. So, next time you see your cat start to work those pads on your lap, appreciate how important you are to her. She has chosen you and is telling the entire animal kingdom that she considers you her property. Now perhaps you can just smile and bear your cat’s unusual behavior.

By Jackie Mackay

Anne Hathaway with her cat

“I’m sure he understands every word” is a thought that has crossed many of our minds as we look at our pets looking at us.

I believe we can set up discourse with animals more than we currently ‘believe’ We know about horse whisperers, now dog whisperers in the US. There is a lot of emerging evidence that animals understand more than we think they do. It’s easy to see references to talking (communicating) to animals on sites and blogs everywhere.

Here’s were it began in the public consciousness - an excerpt from a very old book, famous worldwide - Doctor Doolittle.

At tea-time, when the dog, Jip, came in, the parrot said to the Doctor, “See, HE’S talking to you.”

“Looks to me as though he were scratching his ear,” said the Doctor.

“But animals don’t always speak with their mouths,” said the parrot in a high voice, raising her eyebrows. “They talk with their ears, with their feet, with their tails-with everything. Sometimes they don’t WANT to make a noise. Do you see now the way he’s twitching up one side of his nose?”

“What’s that mean?” asked the Doctor. “That means, `Can’t you see that it has stopped raining?’” Polynesia answered. “He is asking you a question. Dogs nearly always use their noses for asking questions.

My Talks With Kittens I have always found that talking to kittens helps to bond with them at least and sometimes they turn into remarkably understanding companions. When I was a child I talked to my kitten all the time and we had an understanding I took for granted at the time. Lately I had care for a few weeks of a litter of kittens waiting for homes.

They were a lot of joy and took up no end of time. Buffy liked to ride on my shoulders during the chores. He liked the ups and downs when I was picking things up, though he was a most considerate kit from the off and kept his pins to himself.

So I chatted away and explained what I was doing which had become a natural habit with my own babies who thought I was their horse. Buffy liked being talked to. How could I tell? Well I just could. I’m sure he knew the difference between no and yes within the first day. Anyway, if he didn’t like it he’d be off.

Training or Talking? There were rules. No stepping on the keyboard - ever. Wires were out of bounds. Getting on the table came much later - I loved playing with them on the table so re-training was inevitable. I found people were amazed to see such young kittens stepping carefully around the keyboard.Yet I never thought of it as training - just talking to them.

The thing is I talked to Buffy a lot. I never thought about it much at the time because this was not his home - his new grown up mum would set her own rules. They were all litter trained from their natural mother so they knew that there were things to learn.

Buffy never left me alone when I had a bath and even ventured in and walked over my part submerged tummy. He got got a bit prickly with his pins at first so I told him it was not on with a mild reaction. He learned that claws out meant sinking up to his knees. He soon caught on because I was fully focused on him supporting him every inch in his tiny life adventure.

When I have time for a kitten companion I shall get one and also a puppy and set up an experiment about training them to communicate with me as well as each other. In the first instance I believe that the art comes from acute observation of the kitten - undivided attention and care with the tone and emphasis.

That’s what I notice about people who are good with animals.

Love helps - a lot. Kittens feel it, as we do too - and come to expect it.

By Larry Chamberlain

Barbara Mandrell and her Bengal

Cat urine cleaning is a task that befalls every cat owner at some point. Most cats are pretty good about using their litter trays, but sometimes when a cat is unwell, or feeling upset they can have their little accidents.

It’s not the soaking up the pool of urine that’s the problem, use enough paper towels or absorbent cloth and it soaks up easy enough. It is best to get to it before the cat pee soaks in though!

The tricky part of cat urine cleaning is the stains and the dreadful lingering odor.

Most household cleaning products will not do a very good job of cleaning up cat urine, preventing stains and neutralizing the smell. The problem with these cleaners is that they are ammonia based.

As you may know, when a cat urinates in a spot, even accidentally, she is likely to use that spot again. Leave any hint of your cat’s urine smell and she’ll think it is okay for a repeat performance. What does ammonia smell like? Yes, it smells very much like pee. Use an ammonia cleaner and again, your cat will think that spot must be the place for her toilet. Cleaning products that are scented are not much use, they may cover up the smell for you, but they won’t for your cat.

There are many cat urine cleaning products available which are enzyme based. These specialized cleaners are more costly than ordinary cleaners of course, but they stand a far greater chance of getting the result that you want. These enzyme cleaners do not mask the urine odor they neutralize it. How well they work depends on the surface your cat peed on, how deep the urine has soaked in and how well you use the cleaner.

When cleaning your cat’s little accident from a carpet remember it does not take long at all for the urine to soak through. If it has then you will also need to clean the under padding and possibly the floor beneath. If it is a fitted carpet that may mean pulling it up. However, there is a very good cat urine cleaning product that comes with an injector so you can tackle the underside without having to roll up your carpeting. As with all the urine cleaners, it may take more than one application.

If your wood floor is well sealed then cleaning up your cat’s urine should not be too difficult, but you still need to use an enzyme product to do it properly. If there are cracks in your wood floor your cat’s pee is sure to seep through them, so you have to get the cleaner down there too.

Cat’s do not just have accident’s on the floor, oh no. They will urinate on your upholstered furniture, your bed, your clothing, just about anywhere. Unfortunately, sometimes you just can’t eliminate that awful whiff, and all you can do is dispose of the soiled item. But, tackling the job the with the right cleaner, in the right way, often means that you can save whatever it is your cat decided to bless.

By Frank Will

George Clooney and his cat

B Vitamins for cats have numerous benefits and are critical to your pet living a healthy and a long life. All B class vitamins are part of the water soluble class of vitamin and there is absolutely no danger of toxicity ever to your pet. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins that are stored in your cat’s liver and can build up in the body over time, water soluble vitamins must be replaced daily in your cat.

Water soluble vitamins can very easily dissolve in the watery fluids of your pet’s body. Any excesses amounts will be excreted through their urine which totally eliminates any risk of toxicity; however, it puts your cat more at risk for a deficiency.

B vitamins for cats can be found in their food, but only in very small amounts. The heat process that is involved with manufacturing commercial foods can destroy these vital vitamins in this process. Combine this with the small amounts found in foods, if you are not supplementing them, your cat could face a vitamin deficiency very easily.

B vitamin Functions:

Thiamin:

Thiamin is also known as Vitamin B1 and it was the first water soluble vitamin that was identified. It functions in your cat by assisting the muscles and nerves by converting glucose into energy. Glucose is also referred to as starch sugar and it is the principal circulating sugar in the blood of your cat as well as the major energy source. It is also critical in cellular respiration.

Thiamin is not stored in your pet’s body and the only way they can get it is either from their diet or by supplements. Thiamin deficiency will happen very rapidly in cats that are fed a very high diet of raw fish, as they contain an enzyme called thiaminase. This enzyme destroys what little thiamin your cat does get, causing a deficiency.

The symptoms of thiamin deficiency will start with a loss of appetite, followed by a weight loss. The next set of symptoms will be the loss of your cat’s reflexes, followed by a loss of their nervous system. If it is left untreated, it will take your pets life very quickly.

Niacin:

Niacin plays a very important role in assisting your cat’s enzymes to function properly. It helps open their blood vessels wider and as a result it is has very strong detoxification properties. It is also one of the five vitamins that are associated with pandemic deficiency diseases and in humans the disease is pellagra.

In cats the disease is called black tongue or sore mouth disease, but is the same as pellagra. This critical vitamin is found abundantly in meat as well as meat bi-products, but it is virtually non existent in vegetables and grains. Cats are carnivores and they must get their meat. This deficiency is almost always caused by an owner that formulates their own cat food and does not include meat.

Riboflavin:

Also known as Vitamin B2, this vitamin is essential in promoting normal growth, muscle development, and building your cat’s hair coat. However, it does much more as it helps to convert carbohydrates into glucose which is the fuel that your pet’s body runs on. This vitamin also metabolizes fats and proteins. It’s most important function, however, is its role as an antioxidant in scavenging damaged particles in your cat known as free radicals.

But it has one other major role, and that is converting Vitamin B6 and folate into active forms in your cat. A deficiency of riboflavin will stunt your cat’s growth, cause eye abnormalities, and can also cause weakness in the rear legs of your pet. As the deficiency intensifies, it can also produce fainting spells and may eventually lead to heart failure.

Pantothenic acid:

Also known as Vitamin B5, it plays an important role in your cat in the secretion of hormones that help with the functions of the adrenal gland. It also helps these hormones in metabolism as well as fighting allergies. Other important roles it plays include the maintenance of healthy skin, muscles, and nerves.

The process of making cat food hits this vitamin especially hard and almost entirely depletes it. Deficiency symptoms will include hair loss, diarrhea, and gastric problems. However, the most prevalent deficiency is muscle weakness and cramps in your cats, which can make it difficult for your pet to walk.

Pyridoxine:

This nutrient is also known as Vitamin B6 and it is abundant in several food groups. However, this vitamin is almost totally destroyed in the manufacturing process. Its major role in your cat is as a cofactor in many reactions with amino acid metabolism. Deficiencies of this vitamin can quickly lead to anemia, poor growth, and kidney stones.

Other symptoms will include a sharp increase in problems with the teeth, especially cavities, as well as skin lesions. If it is severe enough, it will take your cats life.

Folic Acid and Vitamin B12:

These two vitamins are very closely linked and they are almost also discussed in unison. These vitamins help to regulate the formation of red blood cells and to keep iron functioning properly in your cat’s body. They are critical in the bone marrow production of red blood cells, and a deficiency will lead very quickly to advanced anemia.

With this type of anemia in your cat the white blood cells are reduced as the red blood cells are much larger than they would normally be.

Biotin:

Biotin plays an absolutely critical role in maintaining healthy skin and hair in your cat. It is perhaps the most discussed vitamin as it is necessary for proper growth, digestion, and muscle formation and function. It is also critical for litter development as it assists in reproduction distribution.

Biotin can be destroyed by oxidation in the presence of rancid fats which are often found in cheap cat food. It can also be destroyed by feeding your cat raw eggs or egg whites. Biotin deficiency will cause dermatitis, loss of hair, loss of muscle coordination, and in severe cases it can paralyze your cat.

Summary:

B vitamins for cats play an important role in everyday functions as well as functions that are crucial for maintaining a normal and healthy lifestyle. These water soluble vitamins need to be replaced daily, and supplementing them may be the only way to insure that your cat is not threatened with a deficiency.