Places to Find Cats

Adding a new cat to your family can be a fun and thrilling time.  It is so exciting to get to know the new personality and learn about the unique quirks a new cat has.  Whether you are looking for an exotic purebred or a down-home country barn cat, there are many places you can find the perfect cat for you.

Craigslist
Craigslist is a great source for cats of all types.  If you look in the Pets section, under Community, you will likely find many listings for kittens and cats, from beautiful Siamese to mixed breeds of all colors and ages.  This is the first place I look when I am looking for a new pet.

Your Local Feed Store
During the warmer months, our local feed store has kittens available for free almost every single day.  They allow anyone to bring in their kittens and leave them during the day to help them find new homes.  I found my favorite cat of all time at the feed store, but I have also brought home fleas and ringworm from there too, so you need to use caution when getting your animals from a place like that.

Pet Shops
Personally, I won’t ever buy an animal from a pet store.  I have yet to see a pet store that held their animals in a way I was comfortable with, and I don’t want to encourage that type of business.  That being said, if you really want a new cat and can’t find one elsewhere, your local pet store may be an option.

You can also check your local paper, the vet’s office, and even the Walmart parking lot on a weekend to find cats for adoption.

Help! My Cat is Spraying Everything!

One of the least appealing aspects of cat ownership is urine spraying.  Both males and females can be guilty of this atrocious offense on our olfactory senses, and the cause can range from being territorial to being upset about your lengthy absence due to a vacation or work schedule.  Once spraying is allowed to take root in a cat, it can be very difficult to correct, so catching and treating the problem right away is critical.

If your cat is not spayed or neutered, doing so can be an effective way to eliminate spraying.  A vast majority of cats, both male and female, will stop spraying within a couple weeks of being sterilized.  If spaying or neutering is not an option, first figure out why your cat is spraying and try to remove the cause.

For example, if your cat gets upset by the presence of another cat in his territory, try to make it so the cat cannot gain entrance to the disputed area.  If the reaction started when you introduced a new family member, such as another cat, you may want to consider finding a different home for the new cat, or try encouraging better behavior in the offending cat by offering treats as a reward for getting along.

When removing the source of the problem or trying positive reinforcement does not help, you may need to use medication to calm your cat, which can prevent him from feeling the need to spray.  Talk with your veterinarian to discuss the best options.

If caught early enough, spraying can often be eliminated by removing the source of your cat’s stress or through positive reinforcement.
 

The Cat and the Toilet Paper: An Epic Tale

Does your cat like to eat the paper in your house as well?

The other night, I went inside of my master bedroom bathroom to, umm, do my business. Upon my arrival to the throne, I noticed that the toilet paper holder was completely empty. I swore that I had just refilled it a few hours before. Was I mistaken?

My eyes then glanced downward, where I quickly solved the case of the missing roll. It appeared that a fluffy furball ventured into the bathroom at some point and had a battle with the toilet paper. Not a single square of paper survived the ordeal. It all strewn about in a chaotic mess on the floor of the bathroom.

This was not the first time that I have discoverd a pile of shredded paper products on the floor. A few weeks prior to this incident, the same curious cat found a roll of paper towels that he could not resist in the kitchen. I woke up to the remains in the morning. A month before that, he decided that my magazine would be his victim for the day. He must have really not liked one of the articles.

While cleaning up destroyed products is not a difficult job, it can be time consuming and pricey. My cat is able to rip up paper so well that is becomes useless to us humans. Why is he rebelling against me?

That is when it hit me...

He was bored.

There are quite a few cat toys tossed on the floor in the house, but he was ready for something new. At my most recent trip to the pet supply store, I decided to buy a few more cat goodies. Knowing that he goes crazy for cat nip, I purchased a new mouse that you fill up with the stuff. He loves it. I also stocked up on balls with bells and things on strings.

He is now a content kitty. Whenever the urge hits him, he tears up a toy instead of my toilet paper. Of course, I try to keep those other tempting items out of his reach now.

Does your cat like to eat the paper in your house as well?

Causes for Vomiting in Cats

Vomiting is nature’s way of taking care of problems in the stomach.  In cats, vomiting is not uncommon and is often caused by hair, grass or other irritants that cannot be digested.  Most of the time, vomiting of things like grass and hair is not cause for concern, but if you cat is frequently vomiting, there may be an underlying problem to consider.

If your cat is vomiting hair, try giving it hairball medicine or changing its diet to a hairball remedy food.  This can help the hair break up and pass through the digestive system without upsetting the stomach.  Often, this is all it takes to stop frequent vomiting.

If your cat is vomiting but does not appear to have hair or other items that cannot be digested in its vomit, it may be a sign of a health problem or disease such as kidney or liver disease, feline panleukopenia, nervous system disorder, inflammatory bowel disease or other condition.

Pay attention to how often your cat vomits, and if it appears to be related to eating or other activities.  This will help your vet pinpoint the cause of the vomiting.  If your cat continues to vomit, you will need to take him to the vet.  If he is vomiting blood, the situation is urgent and he should be seen immediately.

Unless you are sure about the cause of vomiting and it is not serious, you should take your cat to the vet so proper treatment can begin and your cat can find relief.  If the cause is infection, treatment can make a difference almost immediately, so the sooner you get him to the vet, the sooner he can feel better.
 

Dental Health is Vital for Cats

A few days ago, I noticed that one of my cats had really BAD breath - not the normal stinky, fishy, cat food breath, but breath so terrible that I had to turn my head away whenever he wanted to cuddle. I knew that something was wrong. The next day, he would not let me rub the side of his face without cringing. Of course, I wasted no time in getting him an appointment at the vet.

During his exam, the vet noticed that he had a few broken teeth. The put him under anesthesia and performed a dental cleaning. While he was out, they decided that three of his fractured teeth were unsalvageable. They were pulled.

Humans tend to get their teeth cleaned by a dentist once or twice a year. We brush them everyday, and we even use mouthwashes and floss to keep our mouths healthy. Pets, on the other hand, do not have the luxury to care for their own teeth. They rely on us to do the right thing. Your cat may have a mouth full of pain, but they will just learn to live with it. Is that fair?

If left untreated, dental problems in cats can lead to other health issues. Many cats actually pass away from heart infections that derived from bacteria in their mouths. We can prevent this by having their teeth examined and cleaned. I would suggest to ask your vet about your cat's teeth at their next appointment.

The day after the cleaning and extractions, my kitty seemed much happier. He has been purring ever since, and he is eating food like normal. And his breath? It no longer stinks. In fact, I do not smell it at all. Now it is time to have my other cat's teeth cleaned as well.

Unique Cat Names

When it comes to naming a new cat, most people want to avoid the totally overdone Spots, Boots, Socks and Figaros.  Finding a unique cat name can be very difficult, though.  I really have trouble naming anything until I have had a chance to get to know its personality, and even then, it can be hard to avoid the cliché names.  They’re cliché names for a reason!

There are several websites dedicated to helping you find the best name for your new pet cat.  You can search names, browse through lists of names, and even sort them by popularity and ratings.  If you do a Google search for “unique cat names”, you will find more than two million results and more names than you can shake a catnip-coated stick at.

You don’t have to choose a name that is a name, you know.  You can also go by personality traits, such as Brat, color, such as Ebony, or something totally random like one I found on catnamesmeow.com, Frank Toffee Pops.   Personally, I prefer British butler names.  Take Seymour, for example.  He was my favorite cat and has been difficult to replace.  Later, I had Dapper Dan, who was just so smooth and polished, and then there was Rufus and his brother Wifey, so named because he liked to nag.

When you are looking for unique cat names, choose something that has some meaning to you.  What if you found your cat in a woodpile?  He could be Woodpile Henry.  The most unique names will be ones that have a meaning for you and most closely match who your cat really is.
 

Protect Your Furniture From Kitty's Claws

No, my couch is not your scratching post!

Like many other cat lovers out there, I live with scratched up furniture. No matter how many expensive, fancy and cat-nip infused scratching posts I scatter throughout the house, my cats prefer to sharpen their claws on my sofa instead. It is very expensive to fix and maintain all of the upholstered goods. Declawing is out of the question. Can cat owners have nice things?

Surely there is a better way.

After searching high and low for a solution to this problem, I finally found a product that really works - Soft Paws.

What are Soft Paws?

Soft Paws are these fun kitty claw covers that fit over top of the natural claw, almost like artificial nails for cats. They come in a ton of fun colors. Each of my cats now has their own color combo, so I know who is missing a cover whenever I find one around the house.

These claw caps were designed by a veterinarian. They are a safe and humane alternative to declawing. Instead of putting your cat through a painful surgery, these covers are simply glued overtop of the actual claw. They are made out of a soft, rubber-like material, that is non-toxic. When Fluffy is wearing these caps, she is still able to use her claws like normal. She will still scratch your furniture, but they will not leave any damage behind.

Do they work?

Of course, I was quite skeptical about Soft Paws when I first discovered them, but I was ready to learn more. I ordered a couple of sets for two of my cats - one in hot pink, and another in blue.

Before applying the claw covers, the claws must be trimmed. I let my husband do this task. Then, you simply fill a cap with a small amount of glue, which is included in the kit. Slide the cap over top of the nail, and hold it there a few seconds until it dries. Continue doing this until each claw is covered.

Once I got the covers on both of my kitties, I noticed that they were licking them quite a bit. I have worn fake nails, so I knew that it would take a few minutes before the glue felt normal. Sure enough, in a short amount of time, they were back to playing and purring.

Over time, the claws will fall off on their own. All you have to do is reapply a nail when this happens. Easy enough. I think that my kitties look adorable wearing these caps, and my furniture is really thanking me. Try them out for yourself.

Hypoallergenic Cats

Cats make some of the best companions.  Solid, steady and low maintenance, they can be your best friend and really help melt daily stresses away.  For anyone with allergies, however, owning (or being owned by) a cat can be a real nightmare.  Fortunately, some cats produce far fewer allergens than others, and while no cat is truly hypoallergenic, these breeds will often be suitable for those with allergies.

Balinese is similar to a Siamese, but without the notorious noise.  They are mellow and produce less of the Fel D1 protein that causes allergic reactions.

Oriental Shorthair require lots of attention and can be very vocal if they do not get it.

Javanese do not need brushed as often as other cats, but do require plenty of time with their owners each day.

Devon Rex are extremely intelligent and can become easily bored.  They have short hair and require little brushing.

Cornish Rex are long, lanky cats who love activity and attention.  They shed less than others and have short hair, but can still cause a reaction in some.

Sphynx are a hairless breed, but can still cause reactions in some.  They require frequent grooming to remove the oils from their bodies, and are very susceptible to weather conditions.

Siberian cats have long hair and require daily brushing during the winter, but for some reason, people allergic to cats are often able to tolerate these agile, beautiful cats.

Before you commit to bringing home one of these breeds of cats, spend some time with one to be sure it will not trigger a reaction.  These cats can allow cat lovers to enjoy having cats again, even if they or someone in the family are allergic.

Ode to Mama Kitty

Growing up, we had a Persian/Siamese mix cat named, originally enough, Mama Kitty.  Mama Kitty came to us when I was four, and had the most distinct personality of any cat I can ever remember knowing.  Her face was something of a mix between the flat Persian and the pointed Siamese, but my mom always joked that she looked like she ran into a brick wall.  She had the most luxurious, silky black hair that she fastidiously cleaned constantly.

When she wasn’t cleaning her fur, she was hurking it back up - one of my least favorite traits of Persians.  That beautiful hair was worth it though.  She was so satisfying to pet because it was so silky and soft.  I loved to snuggle up in her hair.  So did salamanders, as it happens.  On several occasions, we had to rescue salamanders that got stuck in her loose hair that collected in the corners of the room.  We swept that floor often, I swear, but somehow it managed to build up in the corners. I’m not really sure what the odds are on multiple salamanders getting caught in loose cat hair, but we surely had our fair share of the weird little critters.

Mama Kitty lived to the ripe old age of 19, when she suffered an injury and had to be put to sleep.  I wonder how long she would have survived.  By that time, she was completely deaf but still kept her sixth sense about when a bag of Ruffles was being opened.  She loved Ruffles so much that before she was deaf, she would come running from anywhere in the house to the sound of a chip bag.

I haven’t met a cat like Mama Kitty since then, and I doubt I ever will, but she was definitely a loved and integral part of our family.  I’m sure I will miss her forever.  Here’s to Mama Kitty and her counterparts everywhere!

Cats and Christmas Trees: A Disastrous Combination

Keeping Kitty Out of the Tree

Last year, my husband and I spent hours putting up a Christmas tree in our front living area. It was beautiful. The lights sparkled, and the ornaments were all hung with love. I dreamt of sipping hot apple cider next to the tree, while watching snowflakes fall from the sky through the window.

My cat, however, had a different plan. He was excited that Mommy and Daddy put up a giant cat climbing obstacle course in the room. In less than an hour, he had ventured to the highest point of the tree, only to have it tumble down. I found my carefully erected tree on the ground, with ornaments scattered about.

Not knowing what to do, my husband and I decided to move the tree to the guest bedroom. Not an ideal place for opening presents, but at least we would have the tree somewhere in our house. Our kitty was upset that we moved his toy away.

This year, I want to try again. I am determined to have a tree where all my guests can see it. I have been searching high and low for ideas on how to keep my feline out of the branches. Maybe I will have better luck.

One site suggests that I leave orange peels around the base of the Christmas tree. It appears that kitties do not like citrus aromas, so it might just deter them from making it a climbing post. I like to eat oranges, so I am willing to give this a try.

It is also advised to keep all ornaments away from the lower branches of the tree. If your cat sees these toys dangling, he will be more apt to play with them. Instead of using glass ornaments, go with ones that are soft or plastic to keep kitty from being injured if they do fall down.

Flashing lights create more visual interest for cats. Do not use twinkling tree lights. Instead, go with solid lights, and unplug them when you are not around. Cats are known to chew on electric cords, and we do not want anyone to electrocute themselves.

If all else fails, put the tree out of kitty's reach. This may not be your first choice, but a smaller tree on a higher ground will be more likely to stay put all season. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my cat will not climb up the branches this year.

 

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