Cattz Stuff

You may have had your cat for many years, or perhaps your thinking about bringing your first one home. As you’re picking out your food and water bowls, and going through the many types of toys available for your furry friend, you might also want to consider some cat beds and accessories to go along with the rest of your kitties collection of stuff meant just for him.

Just about anyone who has a cat that is allowed outside, knows the trouble it can be trying to get kitty out of a tree. Trees are apparently very fun for cats to climb, but getting down is usually not as easy for them as it was to get up. If you have a tree-like structure inside your home, you may not have to deal with kitty running away to get himself lost in the top of a tree outside.

Many cat trees offer single beds on one of the levels, or a bed on each level. There are also ones available with tunnels and perches on the very top. They are covered with varying shades of carpet. You are sure to find one that fits beautifully into the style of your home.

Having made the decision to get a cat for your home that you’ll spend a great deal of time preparing for that new kitten. It’s a lot of responsibility and with this particular animal there are specific things to be remembered that will help the cat to settle in properly. This will make the easing in process much quicker which will impact upon you and all of the household can become used to developing a relationship with your pet.

By choosing to do this you will have a way of ensuring you don’t have worries about furniture damage which helps the transition become more smooth. You’ll need to buy a few things that can be found in a local pet superstore and they don’t cost a lot and will assist with the move that will help your cat feel welcome and comfortable.

Ensure that when it comes to boundaries that these are well established. This can mean that everyone knows the rooms your kitten is allowed to be in. If there are places you don’t wish them to go such as food preparation areas like your kitchen then this must be established before their arrival. This clarifies there’s no mystery surrounding where they are supposed to be.

Just like you, cats need to drink plenty of water to stay healthy. This can be a challenge to cat owners, since cats usually do not drink enough water. But they are always present when you have milk, coffee, tea or soda. As much as they may want these liquids they may make your cat sick. Coffee and tea can be deadly.

It is so important for cat owners to encourage their felines to drink. Cats can easily become dehydrated. While this may not seem like that big of a deal it can actually cause urinary tract infections, kidney, bladder issues and left uncorrected, death.

Never fear there are fun ways to encourage your stubborn feline to drink more without even realizing it. Invest in a pet fountain. Cats enjoy the noise, watching the water move and they just cannot help trying it out themselves. The best fountains are made from ceramic, but a rid, (food approved), plastic is perfectly acceptable. At the very least get rid of all plastic bowls. Plastic bowls have two disadvantages: they cause feline acne and they can have a strange taste. Use ceramic, glass or metal bowls. Try all three and see which one kitty prefers.

Cat owner’s are a great group of people with wonderful intentions. However, they are notorious for not paying attention to their cat’s dental health. Unlike humans, cats can not care for their own teeth. As a responsible cat owner you need to know what is in your cat’s mouth, what is normal for your cat and how to take care of dental issues. Dental care in cats is similar to dental care in humans and is just as important. Over 70% of cats show some form of dental disease by age 3.

Just like us, cats have two sets of teeth in their lives. They start with 26 baby teeth that begin to come out between 11-30 weeks of age. We call them their milk teeth and they usually swallow them. Up to 6 months of age, kittens can have times of soreness in their teeth. They love to have their gums rubbed and start to chew on things to relieve their soreness.

It can be made out of a variety of materials. Something that can be scratched over and over without completely eroding it is best. Quality cat furniture can come in almost any shape or size, depending on the kitty and his or her owner’s desires.

Cats love to sleep, so it should also be big enough and soft enough to accommodate a lounging position. And because cats especially love to sleep in the sun, the best furniture would include some type of fabric that’s less likely to fade from the sun rays beaming onto it from a nearby window. Something made from fuzzy blanket-like material would probably be heavenly. Or even just a simple cotton fabric, which would be easier to keep free of hair, would do.

I’ve never seen a feline who doesn’t swat at any and every dangly thing before it. His or her own structure ideally will include something hanging and swattable, but affixed firmly enough that it can’t be torn off easily.

Ah, the nail salon. Time to relax, rejuvenate and come out with hot pink nails! I look forward to visiting every two weeks. Declawing- it sounds so easy and painless. But it is nothing like my bi-weekly mani/pedi.

The word declawing sounds so casual. The cat gets to sleep through the process and wakes up not knowing anything is different.

Before you make that assumption you should hear about the reality. Declawing is nothing like a trip to the nail salon. Cat’s have claws, not toenails. Their claws are actually attached to the bone in their feet. So in order to remove the claw, the bone needs to be removed as well. Declawing = amputation. Think of the challenges that your life would hold if your knuckle below your nails was removed on every hand and foot. Life surely would change quite a bit.

Declawing is a very painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. During the week or more that your cat it recuperating from the surgery he would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Crutches, bedpans and wheelchairs are for people, not cats.