Cat Products: Automatic Litter Boxes

Litter boxes are important to cats and are considered to be the next in importance to their food. Like people who love their toilets clean, cats don’t really love messy and smelly litter boxes. They want some place where they can move around and do their stuff. Litter boxes are available on the market and come in different size and shapes.

Be sure to buy something your cat won’t outgrow easily. Most cats, especially those below 5-6 months old can easily outgrow their litter boxes. Make sure to buy something that your cat will not out-grow or you’ll end up buying more litter boxes in a short time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some cats don’t want to poop in the same box they pee in.  Peeing is an animal’s way of marking her territory and she may not want to poop because it will erase her scent. So if your cat is like this, just buy another litter box and put it some place far away from the first one so she will not look at it as another box to pee in.

Automatic litter boxes are for people who don’t cherish the chore of cleaning litter boxes each day. These boxes are not cheap but a great idea when time is of importance.

These self-cleaning boxes use robotic trays where your cat’s waste is automatically raked into a sealable container shortly after your cat uses the litter box. These will not operate until your cat leaves the box since it uses motion detectors and a safety bar to stop the cleaning rake from harming your cat.

The best thing about these automatic litter boxes is that you’ll find that the odor is greatly reduced. Once the cat’s waste is in the container, it will automatically seal itself and cause the odor to be trapped inside. However, you must remember to empty this container once it is full or close to being full or its odor will become unbearable. Simply empty the storage container and reinsert it or purchase a replacement container.

One thing about automatic litter boxes is that they generally need electricity to run so you should place it close to a power outlet. There are some automatic litter boxes that can be operated with batteries so it is advisable to keep extra batteries on hand.

Another thing to remember is that the automatic litter box should be one-half to three-fourths full of litter. Use premium litter with it because some litter clumps will break up and cause the box not to be properly cleaned.

Most of the cat owners who have tried automatic litter boxes are happy with them and would prefer them to scooping up a mess.. Other cat owners though have a hard time adjusting to it. Automatic litter boxes, especially when the rake is in motion are not that quiet and the noise is something that needs to take time to get used to.

One good reason for using automatic litter boxes is health considerations. There are certain flu-like diseases that are caused by cat’s waste and can cause a person to have swollen glands, muscle pain, fever and headache. In some cases it can also cause brain damage and damage to your eyes and internal organs. For newly born children, this could cause mental retardation and/or hearing and sight loss. This is often caused by coming in contact with a cat’s waste and accidentally swallowing the virus in it. This can happen by touching your face after cleaning your cat’s litter box so wash your hands thoroughly after contact.

Cats will have certain problems when using non-automatic litter boxes also.  Cats can have UTI (urinary tract infection) after using a dirty litter box. After using litter boxes, cats usually clean themselves up by licking their paws causing them to ingest the virus and cause them to get sick. Although not really fatal, this will cause discomfort for your pet and can only be cured by consulting a veterinarian.

Cats 101: Using the Scratch Post

Cats really, really, really love to scratch and that is no exaggeration either. If you’re a first-time owner of a cat, you’ll find that out as soon as you see your new furniture full of claw marks and your sofa and the pillows are shredded and torn to pieces. Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. The obvious reason is for marking their territory. Cat’s paws leave their scent and every time they scratch something their scent stays there. Scratching is also an exercise for them; you’ll usually see their love for scratching every time they wake up from a nap.

The first response to this is confining your cat to some place where she can’t damage new furniture or scratch anything valuable. This can be seen as a temporary solution only and can’t be permanent as cats love to wander around too. The best solution is a scratch post.

A scratch post is something you can buy or create yourself. There are several scratch posts on the market and you are sure to find something suitable for your cat. Remember, though, that a cat’s idea of something good to scratch at is different from your idea.   Never ever make the mistake of buying something expensive just because you think it looks good or looks exactly like your sofa.

An excellent post is something where your cat can fully stretch her body and should be stable. Once your cat starts scratching on it and it topples over, you can be sure that she won’t return to it.

After buying one, the next step for you is to train your cat to scratch it. Never make the mistake of forcing her claws to scratch the post. Your cat is just like a child and showing her something she knows how to do is something that can make your cat behave aloof to you for a couple of days.

One suggestion is to put the post where your cat used to scratch. For example, if she loves scratching your wooden chair, then put it close to your chair. Other places include a place close to where your cat is sleeping so she’ll have some thing to scratch after her nap. This won’t work at all times, though, so you have to do something clever to entice her to scratch the post.

One of the best solutions is to rub catnip into it. This will have her happily digging at the post in no time. If this doesn’t really appeal to your cat, don’t lose hope because there are other ways. Some cats just don’t love catnip and won’t be fooled easily by this treat.

Another way is to associate the post with something fun. Put some food treats around it or dangle some toys that will entice her to reach out for the toy and inadvertently scratch the post. You must remember to praise your cat every time she scratches your post so she will remember that scratching the post is both fun and agreeable to you.

Another way to “fool” your cat into scratching the post is to play games with her running around the scratch post. Once she finds that scratching the post is better than playing your game, don’t feel bad as you have done your job of “fooling” your cat into using the scratch post.

Of course you can try to train them directly to scratch the post. You can give the order to “scratch” and point to the post while you give the order and every time your cat scratches the post give her a treat and praise her loudly so she can be proud of pleasing you.

Once your cat starts using the scratch post, the next step is to prevent her from scratching your furniture. You could do this by covering your furniture with aluminum foil or double-sided tape. These are surfaces that your cat will find not so good to scratch and she will soon realize not to scratch things other than her scratch post.

The only thing to remember is that to prevent your cat from scratching your furniture is to provide her with something better to scratch.

Tips for Your Cat and Dog to Coexist

The phrase “fighting like cats and dogs” didn’t come up as someone’s idea of a joke just for cartoons (Tom and Jerry comes into mind). Dogs are often territorial and will fight not just new cats but other new dogs as well. They tend to mark their territory and will fight anyone who invades their space. Cats have the same tendencies and even if they are smaller than to dogs, they will scratch and fight for their territory.

Most pet lovers who have both a cat and dog have a hard time making their pets coexist with each other. The usual response to this is separating the two pets and making sure they won’t meet. This is not really a practical solution to this problem as both pets tend to wander around the house and there will come a time when they will meet. This will also cause a lot of wasted time if you have to allot twice the time for playing with your pets. Another response would be to cage both pets but this method is frowned upon by most pet lovers. The best thing to do is to train both cat and dog to coexist peacefully. In this article is a series of steps to finding harmony between cats and dogs.

Perhaps the hardest thing for pet lovers to do is the introduction. Introducing a new pet requires both time and patience as both cats and dogs requires time to adjust to something new. Both cats and dogs take up to 30 days to adjust. It is even longer if you have older pet, but with proper retraining you can teach your old dogs and cat’s new tricks.

The first step is obedience. This is necessary especially for the dog which is usually the aggressor in this kind of situation. You have to train your dog to obey when you say “no”. This can be done by showing him some treat and every time he looks at it you say “no” you stop him from eating it. Do this every day and reward him every time he obeys.

While doing this with your dog, make sure the cat and dog  are isolated from each other, allowing your cat to wander around the house. Cats love to roam and this will make her scent scattered in your home. After doing this, lock your cat in one room and let your dog wander around the house sniffing for the cat’s scent. This will make your dog acquainted to your cats smell and train the dog that the cat is part of the household.

Once you’ve done this for about a week, it’s time for them to see each other physically. This part requires that you have someone to help you. Have someone who can hold your cat safely and that knows how to react quickly and get your cat to safety if the dog is showing aggressiveness. Your part is to be able to restrain your dog and making sure that if he starts lunging for your cat, you’ll be there to stop him.

Dogs usually start barking whenever they see some other animals in their territory, hoping to scare them away. They won’t really lunge at something immediately. Once he starts barking, this is where the obedience part starts to come in. Say “no” and make him realize that the cat is also a pet.

If your dog starts to calm down when in the presence of the cat, then it’s the time to let him sniff the cat. Once your dog starts to decide not to bark at your cat you know that you’ve done the introduction part successfully.

The final step is making sure that both pets have the time to coexist. This part is usually the cat’s fault. Cats have the tendency to be aloof and stay away from the dog and other people. It’s not because they are afraid of the dog but more because it’s their nature to be alone. Be sure that your dog sees your cat as often as possible. You can allot some time nightly where you can do some activities with both your cat and dog. This will allow them to play with each other and you’ll have the confidence that they won’t start fighting when they’re unsupervised.

To claw or declaw, that is the question

Cats are born with claws, the same way that humans are born with fingernails and toe nails.  Cats need claws in order to mark or scratch a specific place or territory that they have been in.  Humans need finger nails to, scratch themselves or others, or for opening a letter envelope.  Cats basically stretch their agile bodies in order to prepare their muscles when they dig their claws deeply into wood perhaps or a tree, and then they pull back from their hold.  Scratching is a basic physiological need of cats. 

So do cats need to be declawed?  If cat owners truly care for the welfare of their cats, they would have to think twice on declawing their cats. 

Declawing, what is it?

Declawing is done by taking away all the front claws of a cat.  In a way this procedure is equal to the amputation of all the finger tips of a human being.  For cats this surgery is painful and, for someone who is walking on all fours, terribly unnecessary.

Though the recovery of declawed cats may only take a few weeks or so, its physical and/or psychological effects could last a cat’s lifetime.

The following are the possible results once a cat has been declawed. 

Ouch, ouch and ouch

Immediately after surgery, declawed cats suffer severe pain, though it is quite impossible to gauge how much pain they are experiencing.   Declawed cats could be considered as amputees.  Cats usually try to go on with their cat lives even with pain unless the pain eventually becomes unbearable.  Although they may look and act normal does not mean they are free from aches.

Complications after the surgery

After the surgery, declawed cats usually experience one of the following post-surgery effects:  presence of abscess, feelings of lameness, claw re-growth.   Based on studies performed on declawed cats, it has been found that twenty five percent of them develop various complications.  The same result has been found on cats who went under tenectomy. This is also a form of surgery that is currently being offered as an alternative to declawing.  It is called this because only the tendons extended on the toes are the ones amputated.

Stiffness of the joints

Cats that are declawed experience stiffness of the joints since the tendons that manipulate the toes retract because of the surgery.  As time goes by, these same joints freeze and ultimately they will no longer be able to extend their toes.

It has been thought though that cats really do not miss their claws since they also “scratch” continually even if they no longer have anything to scratch with.  However, this act is really the cats' way to stretch those frozen joints.

Catarthritis

Believe it or not, research shows that declawed cats immediately shift the weight of their bodies to the back and onto the larger pad in the front of their feet, away from their toes. The result is still evident despite giving these cats strong anti-pain relievers.  If such an effect continues after declawing, the cat will ultimately stress its own joints in the leg, its spine and eventually suffer from arthritis. 

Cats who cannot claw, bite

Since the natural instinct of cats is to claw especially when threatened or scared, in the absence of claws cats are forced to resort to another form of defense – their teeth.  Declawed cats that are aggressive naturally are more prone to biting.

Declawed cats have no “nine lives”.

There is a serious risk of death for cats that are declawed. Death could be brought on by the anesthesia they received, or any complications in surgery or hemorrhage. 

Declawed cats that resort to biting run the risk of being abandoned by their owners.  These cats could then be put in a shelter, and since they turn to biting, the probability of being adopted becomes slim.  Usually un-adoptable cats are put to sleep or they are used to train dogs to fight usually as bait. 

In summary, cats are extremely and highly trainable to be taught to use a post for scratching instead of common household furniture, rugs or curtains.  Though declawing   cats is one of the options a cat owner can take, it is basically an unkind and a very animal-unfriendly thing to do.  It all depends on the cat owner whether Kitty is more (or less than) valuable than that expensive Italian rug. The choice is theirs.

Choosing the better cat litter

Cat litters used in the olden days, meaning prior to the commercial cat litters now found in neighborhood grocery stores, are literally litters.  Usually these were dirt gathered from gardens. 

Now, there are a variety of cat litters to choose from.  These cat litters, for the most part, are great for the cat as well as good for the environment. 
The following are tips and advice to make better a cat owner’s selection of the best litter possible for their cats.

Choose wisely

The choice of cat litters should primarily be based on how much this litter will affect the environment just as how much such litter is preferred by cats.  Although cats really do not care much about how the litter may soon end up in a landfill, cats really prefer if their litter has no bad scent.  They also care if the litter feels good.      

Cats have a very keen sense of smell, so it is important that litters have little or no scents that are made artificially.  It is also best if the litter contains no dust.  It will do cats no good if their noses are irritated since they will try to avoid going thru the litter if it displeases them in any way.

Ask wisely

Cats love the feel of sand with pellets or any surface that has shreds and bits of chunks.  It is best that a cat owner know which kind his or her cat prefers.

But to further help a confused cat owner decide, questions such as the following should be best asked:

Is the cat litter easily flushed in the toilet?  Is it free from odors?  Does the litter contain any form of perfumes or chemicals?  Is the litter safe for the cat, the owner, the environment?  Does the cat like the feel of the litter?  How much does it cost and is it easily accessible? 

Be aware

There are environment-friendly litters that are made from newspapers that are recycled.  These types of litters can be easily flushed, can easily be burned and are almost a hundred percent free from dust. 

There are also litters that came from plants.  These litters usually come from corn – its husks, the cob and the corn itself.  Byproducts of wheat such as wheat grass are also a source of cat litter.

But the best among all of these are the corn cobs because they are odorless as well as it control odor.  It is absorbent as well.  They also do not produce a lot of dust and are easily flushed.

Litter from pine and sawdust

These types of litter are also biodegradable.  They are made by drying and compressing them into pellet-forms.  They absorb moisture a number of times more than their weight until they break down again into natural sawdust. Due to their easily absorbent nature, any odor is naturally eliminated.

Be wary though, pine has natural resins and chemicals that aid in the elimination of insects and odor-causing bacteria because of its insecticide-like properties.  This same feature could also cause respiratory damage as well as asthma and allergies.  Humans as well as cats may easily be susceptible to such allergens. 

Do not be afraid of odor

Odor is one way by which nature tells the un-aware cat owner that it is time to replace the litter.  Cat litter should be regularly changed so that bacteria or micro-organisms will not collect in it.  If odor persists check the diet your cat is consuming as that may also be the cause.

Cats and Clay

Clay is the most common type of litter being used today.  A specific kind of clay made of sodium bentonite has a special feature that when it is urinated on by cats a clump is formed making it more convenient to remove the clumps from the litter.  However, such 
clay is carcinogenic and is easily absorbed by the lungs of cats.

All in all, the choice depends on the cat owner’s preference, budget and favorites.  After all, cats are everyone’s best fuzzy, soft, cuddly and gentle meowing friends.

Toys for girl cats and boys

When the mouse is away, cats play.  And cats have the tendency to both play hard and play soft.  Toys are to cats the same as toys are to dogs.  It helps fight the boredom experienced by these pets as well as gives our feline friends the opportunity to practice and use their natural inclination to chase and hunt for prey. It also gives the cat owner that great chance to play with their pets, an experience that will aid in bonding their relationship.

But what toys are best for cats?  The following are tips and helpful advice to get that perfect toy for the cat owners perfect pets.

Play safe

The good thing about cats is that they can play ball inside the house and the owners will never know it.  Still, there may be things inside the house that cats could find attractive yet might actually endanger their health and safety.  Houses must be cat-friendly.  As much as possible, take away any string, yarn, needles, rubber bands or other objects that could easily be swallowed by cats.  These things could be lethal to cats.  Do not let them play with these articles no matter how cute they may appear to be.

Play soft

Choose soft toys that can easily be machine-washed.  It is best that the toys chosen to be played with by cats are also the toys marked as safe to be played with by children below three years old.  Toys such as these usually contain fillings that are not hazardous.  Also, avoid giving cats toys that are hard and rigid, these types do not appeal to them that much. 

Know your cat, know their toy

It is best that one also familiarize themselves with your cat.  Doing so helps in ones selection of the kind of plaything that best serves the size of ones cat - the kind of activity the cat likes and its unique preferences.  Know the environment in which the cat likes to spend its time the most. 

Choose active toys

Toys that are great to play with for cats are usually the round plastic ones (such as rings from shower curtains, plastic balls, golf balls, balls used in ping-pong) as these give cats the opportunity to chase and paw around.  They could also carry these in their mouths, make sure though that these are big enough they cannot be swallowed but not so large that they cannot carry them in their mouths. 

Choose active play

Balls can be placed inside bath tubs filled with water.  Watch as cats frolic and play on and around the toy.  It is just as enjoyable to the cat as it is fun for the cat owner.  Another added feature that could be placed on balls are bells.  One not only sees how cats play, one could also listen and take pleasure in the playful sound
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Another simple yet effective plaything for cats is a paper bag.   Use paper bags that do not have handles.  These bags are good for pouncing around.  Cats hide in them too.  As much as possible, avoid the plastic ones as cats have the tendency to chew these and  they may eat the plastic.  This is not good. 

Toys with tails

Cats like playing with soft toy animals - specially the ones that have tails.  They either  bite them, paw them or chase these little stuffed toys around.   It is best if these toys are as big or as small as the cats playing them. 

Toys with catnip

Catnip is sometimes used as stuffing for toys that are soft.  Putting catnip in such playthings make the toys more enjoyable to carry, kick and throw around.  More importantly, it is safe for cats to chew on, roll around in, or eat.
It is okay for owners to place catnip on carpeted floors, or (to make clean-up easy) on towels.  There are now catnip oils that can be placed on carpets, and they usually stay there.  Cats detect these too.  Although small cats, specifically kittens who are younger than six months have shown a certain kind of immunity to catnip.

All in all, it is best that cat owners define what kind of toy should be played by their cats.  It is advisable that different kinds of toys be given on certain days, and that displaying all toys simultaneously may not be a good idea.  Cats can easily tire of seeing the same fluffy toy animal again and again.  Variety always works best.  However if cats show a certain liking to a specific toy, let them play with it, or sleep with it - whichever they like.

How to choose the cat breed that works for you

If dog is man's best friend, then cats are a man's caprice. 

Aside from being expensive, purebred cats are difficult to care for as they require their owner's love and attention.  Cats are like babies, because they need to be fed, sometimes bathed, combed, played with and cared for.

Cats are best bought from responsible cat breeders.  Hobbyists choose to own purebred cats because their temperaments are more predictable than cats with unknown pedigrees.

If you are getting a cat from a cat breeder, ask him about the number of cat breeds that he has so you can choose from them.  Also, ask him how many years he has been breeding cats and whether he can give you a health guarantee and complete papers for the cat.

Top cat breeds

If you want to show off your cat then it is best to choose from among the top five cat breeds throughout the world.

1. Persian-Persian cats are called Persian for their country of origin.  Persians have a long coat, sweet personality and have the ability to blend into the household.  These are the qualities that made Persians one of the top choices of cat lovers.  However, its long coat requires daily combing to avoid tangles.

2. Maine Coon-These are long-haired cats with good mouse hunting skills.  These cats are good companions for children.

3. Exotic-This breed can offer you the better of two worlds.  The Exotic cat has the look of a Persian cat, but it has short hair, making it easy to groom.  They look like teddy bears with their thick and short coats.  These cats are sweet and good companions like the Persians.

4. Siamese-Siamese cats originally came from Siam or Thailand.  This cat possesses an aristocratic head, looks almost like a deer because of it’s  stiff ears, and  has a short coat.   Siamese cats have long bodies, long legs and long necks.

5. Abyssinian-These cats are very elegant-looking, much like the cats portrayed in Egyptian sculptures.  Abyssinia is the former name of Ethiopia.  However, Abyssinian cats did not originate in Ethiopia.  They got the name because the first cats of Abyssinian breed, which were exhibited in England, were from Abyssinia.

No matter what your choice of a cat breed is, make sure that your cat is healthy and that it has already been weaned.  The ideal age to get a kitten is about 14 weeks, when their immune systems are already developed.