Cat Hints and Tips

Hints and tips of getting the best out of your cat or kitten can be a godsend, I know I have used many of these lol

To make it less stressful for a cat to use a travelling basket get them to associate it with a pleasant experience by occasionally placing a dish of food inside. This way it should not be so traumatic for the cat when it needs to be used.

Grass is important for a cat's digestive system. If you don't have a garden this can be grown in a pot for the cat to munch on.

If you move house keep your cat indoors for at least a fortnight to get it used to the new surroundings. Then when you do let it out make sure it's hungry - it will always come back for it's food.

To stop a cat wriggling when giving medication, place it on your chest and remove hands so it has to hold on with its claws.

If your cat has the sniffles, take it into the room with you when you shower. The steam will help its breathing.

Always ensure a cat's collar is elasticated so if it gets caught he can escape without injury.

Scratch poles are essential to protect furniture. A log mounted on a piece of wood is ideal and lasts for years.

A sample of carpet fixed to your wall can prevent cats ruining your wallpaper.

Pinning citrus fruit such as orange peel in an open bag to the sofa helps deter cats.

Aluminium foil sheets, double sided sticky tape, trim nails regularly and being prepared with a water spray also works great.

To get cats used to harnesses, let them wear it in the housed for a few days until comfortable.

Rub a bar of lemon scented soap on upholstery to keep cats off.

Put orange/lemon peel, eucalyptus oil or chilli pepper powder around plants to protect them from cats.

A cheap and easy toy for cats is a cardboard box with holes cut in the sides.

There are many boxes and baskets available for transporting cats. It is best not to get the solid sided version as these are not too pleasant for the animals to enter. A wire basket with top opening for ease of access may not look so attractive but has better vision all around and is easy to use.

When handling a cat if you yawn at them it tells them you mean them no harm. Whereby, if you stare at them this is a hostile sign.

Staring at a cat is a sign of aggression, squinting is more effective. Wearing sunglasses can also help as they cannot see your eyes.

An inexpensive homemade scratching pad requires only three materials: a piece of plywood or pressed wood board, a stapler and canvas used to make latch-hook rugs. Staple several layers of rug canvas to the board and get out of the way!

Cats are naturally fastidious. If your cat or kitten doesn't show interest in grooming itself, have it examined by a veterinarian. A fecal test will determine if parasites are the cause.

Fleas will make any cat miserable. But a cat that is allergic to flea bites will be doubly uncomfortable. Ask your veterinarian for a fast-acting adulticide that impairs the insect's nervous system. The flea is killed before biting.

Outward indications of stress in a cat include pinned ears, swishing tail, excess salivation and staring into space. A cat under stress will also pant and keep its mouth open.

Cats don't like to dig in damp substances. Keep your garden beds moist with mulch if you want to discourage your cat from digging.

Why does your cat gravitate to the one person in the room who is not a cat lover? Animal behaviorists believe cats have less reason to be threatened by someone who ignores them--a difficult attitude for a cat lover to maintain!

Make your cat's first night in a new home more comfortable by providing a favorite blanket, unwashed, to sleep on. Its familiar smell will help your cat feel at home.

After bathing, dry your cat's fur with a soft towel, not a hair dryer. The hair dryer will make your cat's coat dull.

Have realistic expectations about your cat; Nobody is perfect. Make a commitment to work through any behavior or health problems that may arise. Your cat is a friend for life.

The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak back. You will learn a lot from your cat's wide vocabulary of chirps and meows.

The more mental and physical stimulation kittens experience while young, the more well-rounded they'll be as adults. It helps to have kittens meet children, other cats, and dogs.

Cats who stalk their owners are often bored or frustrated- that's when feet and ankles look most interesting. Cats need mental and physical stimulation, so be sure to play often.

Cats don't wear their emotions on their sleeves. They're subtle. Chirping, purring, face rubbing, body rubbing, tail wrapping, or curling up in a warm lap are signs of deep trust and affection.

When a cat is completely relaxed, she will fall into a sleep deep enough for dreaming. When this happens, whiskers can twitch, claws and paws extend and contract, and teeth chatter.

If your cat's back raises to meet your hand when you pet her, the cat is enjoying this contact with you.

If your cat races down the stairs in front of you, only to collapse in a heap at the bottom of the stairs, this is usually a sign that she wants to play.

Contrary to popular belief, cats can and should be trained. This isn't the same kind of obedience training that dogs get, but cats do need to learn how to behave as a member of the family.

Some cats can be trained by rewarding them with food. Once a trick or new behavior has been learned, praise and attention is enough.

Older cats may be more difficult to teach than kittens, depending on how peaceful their former lives were. Still, patience and kindness, with a firm tone of voice, should help maintain most ground rules. Hitting your pet is unnecessary and accomplishes nothing.

A spray bottle filled with water can be a good discipline tool. Catch the cat in the act of scratching the sofa or jumping on the sink and spritz the culprit with a gentle spray of water. Your cat will associate the behavior with the unpleasant experience of water, not with you.

If your cat crouches low to the ground, he may be feeling uneasy. Raised hair on the back and a puffed-out tail are universal signs of hostility or defensiveness.

To kill fleas without chemicals, try this: Plug in a night light and put a wide glass pan partly filled with water underneath. Since fleas are attracted to the light, they'll jump toward the light and drown in the water!

To prevent your cat from tearing a litterbox liner with its claws, place a few sheets of newspaper or a flattened brown paper bag at the bottom of the box, between the liner and the litter.

To minimize litter scatter, place a large towel or sheet of newspaper under the litter box, or set the box in the bathtub or shower stall.

To keep cats away from previously soiled carpet or from other forbidden zones, cover the area with clear plastic runner, placed upside down with the bumpy grippers exposed.

Claw clipping is best attempted when your cat is sleepy. Clip only the sharp white nail tips, avoiding the pink "quick".

Cat families usually play best in even numbers. Cats and kittens should be aquired in pairs whenever possible.

When tackling a litter-box behaviour problem, remember that basics are best. Start with unscented, plain clay litter and a large uncovered litter box. Set the box in a quiet area.

If a normally fastidious cat stops using the litter box, call the vet as soon as possible.