October 2011

Keeping Your Black Cat Indoors for Halloween?

You Might Not Need to Worry

Black cats have been the subject of fear and superstition for ages, but especially around Halloween.  Speculations abound about the torment black cats caught unaware on or around Halloween will endure, and many owners fearfully keep their inky feline friends locked away for the duration.  Is all that fear really warranted?

A headline in the Daily Toreador sums it all up, "Humane Society refuses black cat adoption during Halloween season."  With groups such as the Humane Society fueling these fears, it is no wonder cat owners are afraid for their feline companions and feel the need to resort to locking them up at Halloween.  It's a sad testament to our society that such a headline even bears writing.

When Cats became Pets

Every cat lady should know a little about the impressive history of their tabby.

Whether you think of your cat as your pet or as your cat as your owner, it is important to know just how long cats have been loved and adored by our society. Cat depictions and drawings have been found in the Fertile Crescent which are over 9,500 years old. No one can be sure when cats and humans began being buddies, but one thing for sure is it has been a long term relationship between species.

As far back as 4,000 years ago, cats were being domesticated to keep stores and homes free of nasty rodents. Today’s barn cats must be direct descendants of these kitties who were so vital to commerce in the times of Ancient Egypt.

As most people know, cats were very revered by the Ancient Egyptians. There was even a law against killing cats, imagine the growth of the cat population! Cats would even be mummified before burial, a luxury that not all humans even got to enjoy. Eventually domestic cats were introduced to Western Europe, such as Italy, and before long kitties became a household favorite.

Spaying and Neutering Cats

Spaying and neutering isn’t a fun topic for kitties, but it is generally accepted as one of the best things a cat owner can do for the cat population.

Spaying and neutering your cat can be unpleasant at best, or appear down right cruel, at worse. However, most all animal professionals say it is one of the best things a person can do for their pet and the world of animals. Most cat ladies are animal lovers at heart and neutering and spaying is the most effective step towards controlling the cat population and putting an end to kittens with no home.

The process isn’t as bad as it sounds. You should only take your cat to a licensed veterinarian for such a procedure to ensure your pets safety. The first step is the vet will put your cat under general anesthesia which will minimize pain during surgery. The surgery is different for male and female cats but your veterinarian will be able to explain the process to you. Alternatively, if it seems a little gruesome, just enjoy ignorance as bliss and leave the process up to the professionals.

It usually only takes cats about two days to recover from the procedure. The cat will seem tired and cranky, but with lots of love they will be chasing strings in no time. After being spayed or neutered, cats are often reported to behave better. This is because sexual urges are gone so they aren’t spending time flirting and getting into fights. On the downside, this docile behavior may lead to weight gain, so it is important to keep your cat on a good and balanced diet.

Neutering is generally recommended when your cat is six months old. If you take in a cat who is a grown adult they are still perfectly fine for the operation as well. Spaying and neutering can cut back significantly on the amount of cats born into this world who end up strays or worse, euthanized. Kitties certainly want what is best for their species, so don’t feel bad signing them up to be spayed or neutered.

When the Human is away the Cat will Play

Cats are a great pet because they don’t mind being left alone, but it doesn’t mean they don’t need things to keep them entertained.

Cats have no problem being left at home while their human family is at work or school. As long as kitty has a clean litter box, a full bowl of water and maybe some food for snacking, then it will be good to go. But this doesn’t mean cats aren’t looking for some midday entertainment in between naps. In fact, some toys, games and more will keep you kitty more fit, healthier and all around happier. This means they will be less 

likely to trip you while begging for cuddles when you get home and want to go to the bathroom or eat some dinner. Here are some ideas of toys and entertainment your cat can enjoy while you are out of town:

Movies: It might sound silly, but your cat would probably go for some morning cartoons. There are cat specific DVDs which feature birds, bunnies and more in nature. Lots of cats love to watch the little animals dart around and sometimes start smacking the television to get in on the action. Be sure your television is secure, pop in the DVD and your cat is entertained for hours.

Cat Nip: Get your furry friend a catnip ball or cigar and they will literally be rolling in it for days. Cats go nuts for stuff and won’t even notice you are gone.

Toy Box: Fill a little box with tiny toys and your kitties predator instinct will kick in. Don’t be surprised if you come home to a tired cat and little toys all strewn out across the floor, clearly a win for the cat.

Don’t let your cat stew in boredom. There are plenty of products on the market to keep all cats happy. 

10 Reasons to Keep a Cat

Cat people and dog people have been arguing about who has better pets (and tastes) for years, and though I can appreciate both animals and have kept dozens of pets, I’d have to say that I definitely side with the cat people overall. Maybe it’s just because dogs are harder; I always had them as a child and my parents trained them, and the one dog I’ve tried to train as an adult was a bit of a disaster. We ended up having to re-home him, but we also simply didn’t have the room for a big breed like that, either.

Aside from their smaller size (when compared to some dog breeds), however, there are plenty of reasons to keep cats as companions, such as…

Take the Scratch out of the Cat

Nothing beats petting a cat, but the fear of the claw can be a problem. Learn the best way to trim your cat’s nails.

Historically cats never needed their nails trimmed. Playing outside, climbing trees and fences and other strenuous activities kept the cats’ nails just the right sharpness to avoid predators. However, today’s indoors cats simply don’t have the need to avoid predators so much as avoiding the vacuum cleaner. Long sharp claws make affection a little more difficult. This is particular tricky with children who do not yet know how to hold animals and the last thing need is for their first animal experience to involve the claws of death. The best thing to do is keep your cat’s claws nice and trimmed.