Cat And Kitten BootCamp

Are You Risking Your Cat’s Life?

How do you protect your cat from getting hurt or even killed around the house? I realize that that question may seem odd in that your house in which you and your cats live in could be so dangerous that it may risk your pet’s life, but the fact of the matter is that hazards exist everywhere you look and it is your duty to prevent your pets from getting into danger.

Let’s take a simple piece of yarn or string for example. Cats absolutely love to play with this stuff, especially kittens. They look at these squirmy little strings as prey and enjoy pouncing on them, throwing them in the air, and stalking them. It may sound fun, and it is, however, sometimes your cat will choose to eat this stuff. This is where good clean fun can turn into a dangerous situation for your cat’s intestines. Yarn, strain, rope, Christmas tinsel, etc. can all be swallowed and then create serious problems that may lead to surgery.

For instance, I bought a “twirl a whirl” from a major department store once for my two new kittens. It was a small plastic stand with about six handles flared around from the center of the stand. Connected to these plastic handles were strings with some cat toys connected to the tips. It twirled around and bounced about when the kittens would swat it or tackle it. OK, one night I was heading to bed and saw the whirly toy was no where in sight. That was odd to me, yet i thought nothing of it. So I as I was about to head upstairs I wanted to take my kittens with me.. I was looking around the chair and saw the toy wrapped underneath. As I got a little closer I saw my kitten underneath with the string completely wrapped around his neck!

I freaked out and gave him a little nudge, no response. I grabbed him without a thought and broke the string free from his neck, he wobbled away from me, then started to meow at me. I was totally relieved to him moving about like nothing had happened. Just think if I didn’t go back for them to begin with and take that second look. He would have died.

Be sure to do your best and keep all string, yarn, and any other similar type supplies out of reach of your cat. If you have a sewing hobby or love to knit then be sure to keep your supplies locked away securely where your feline friends cannot get to it. Do not forget about package wrapping or even shoestrings in order to be on the safe side. Another hazard which is not stringy but just as dangerous are those small foam balls that come with boxes that are shipped to your house. You do not want your cat to choke, especially if you’re not at home to help.

Another hazard that you might not have considered are items that are thrown in the trash from packaging, as well strained related material from meat products like turkeys and chickens. Even though you have thrown away these items, the attractive smell from the trash can can lure even though most behaved of any cats into the danger zone. So as you can probably already guess what I’m going to tell you, it is common sense to simply keep your trash cans sealed and perhaps even locked to prevent the trash from spilling if your cat decides to pounce.

Cat And Kitten BootCamp

Training : Keep your house and apartment “baby” proof.

3 Non - Violent Ways to Discipline Your Cat

You should never hit or smack your cat! And never give your cat the idea that discipline is coming directly from you. That may sound like a strange request but it is quite fitting, especially since your goal is to create a strong bond with your little feline friend.

If your cat relates discipline, anger, and pain with you, then all you will do is create fear in your cat’s mind anytime you approach him. In other words, disciplining your cat should be done in a way so that he directly relates the action with whatever is he was doing “wrong” - not you.

This is indeed the best way to train cats. This system of making them believe that whatever it is that they are doing wrong will trigger an automatic response that they do not like, but has nothing to do with you, is the only way to teach your cat right from wrong, while at the same time developing a loving and strong relationship with your pet.

For example, if your cat has enjoyed clawing and scratching at your expensive sofa, and you start to yell, discipline, and express anger towards him – this will do nothing more than show that your cat that you are to be avoided, but your sofa is still his scratching post. That situation sounds frustrating, doesn’t it?

Now imagine that instead of using all of your anger toward your cat and letting him know it, you use some sort of “booby-trap” that the cat experiences whenever he approaches the couch. This experience should be agitating, but not painful. Many cat owners use a specific type of sticky coating that will produce static electricity when rubbed by cat’s paw. This creates a small shock and the cat is on his way away from the couch. And as you may understand by now, he will start to directly relate the couch to an experience that he does not want to feel again. And the good news is that it has nothing to do with you!

Below is a list of some discipline tools that you can use to divert your cat’s attention:

1. Use loud noises. Cats cannot stand the sound of loud banging noises. In fact, they hate it and will run for cover as if being sprayed by bullets. A very simple solution would be having a tin cans full of rocks or pennies that you can shake every time you see your cat doing something.

2. Use spray water bottles: This is my personal favorite technique. However, do not get too trigger-happy. Your only goal is to give a light squirt to your cat whenever you see him doing something wrong. Although you are the one shooting the water, he doesn’t realize that. All your cat knows is that whenever he approaches the couch he feels shocking spurts of water hit the side of his head or body.

3. Try placing some sort of liquid that cats dislike on the surface areas that he is destroying: A good example of this would be some Tabasco sauce or vinegar. Cats despise the bitterness of the substances and it tastes terrible to them.

Female cats are spayed by removing their reproductive organs. The operation is performed while the cat is under anesthesia. Depending on age, size, and health, she will stay at your vets office for a few hours or days. Depending upon the procedure a cat may need stiches removed after a few days.

Aside from the very real feline overpopulation problem, there are some valid health reasons for spaying female cats.

• Decreased Risk of Mammary Cancer
  Ideally, to give a female cat protection against mammary cancer, she should be spayed prior to her first heat. Each subsequent heat brings a greater chance of mammary cancer at a later time.
• Eliminates Risk of Ovarian or Uterine Cancer
  Spaying a cat involves the removal of the uterus and ovaries. No organs: no cancer; simple as that.
• Eliminates Chances of Pyometritis
  Pyometra is a virulent bacteria that attacks the uterus of cats, usually a week or so after estrus, and is a potentially fatal infection.

The old adage that “if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem” is particularly applicable to unwanted pregnancy in cats.

Sometimes there’s just too much of a good thing… then there’s a problem.

Cat And Kitten Bootcamp

Training : Spay and neuter your pets.

I must say it’s very hard not to give and give to my cats when it comes to food. When the bowl is empty, they come runnin’ and buggin’! They will not stop until I put food in their bowl.. Thank goodness that they don’t yell at me, they just pounce all over the place. I know of some cats that meow until they get what they want, where they want to go or get into a certain place. Like a closed bedroom door! If they want in, then you will never hear the end of it until you open that door!
These days, humans aren’t the only ones fighting the battle of the bulge. “I see more and more overweight cats and dogs at my practice today than ever before,” says Tanya Ellenbogen, D.V.M., a veterinarian in Boston and the owner of two cats — “one of whom is fatter than he should be.” And the health risks for obese pets are the same as for humans: excess weight strains the joints, as well as the heart and other organs. Consult your vet to figure out the best serving size, the ideal weight for your pet, and how long it should take to get there. Then follow these steps:

Keep your cat healthy and active by providing the right nutrition at each stage of life.What’s on the Menu?

The best food for your cat is a
matter of preference –
hers and yours!

To grow and thrive, your cat needs the right amounts of protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, and water. Commercial cat foods are formulated to provide these nutrients in the correct balance.

You’ll find cat food at the supermarket or pet-food store in three forms — dry, semi-moist, and wet (canned). Each offering has certain advantages and disadvantages. Any one of these — or some combination of them — might be the best mealtime choice for your cat. Even if you stick to one type of cat food, you might choose to offer your cat two or three different flavors to add some variety to her diet. Discuss the options with your veterinarian. He or she can also tell you how much and how often to feed your cat, depending on weight.

Canned and dry foods are also available in formulations to fit the special nutritional needs of cats at different life stages. There are foods geared to kittens, older cats, and overweight or less-active cats. Pregnant and nursing cats also have special needs. Consult your veterinarian to find out which formula is best for your cat at each stage.

Note: Don’t attempt to substitute dog food for cat food. Dogs and cats have very different nutritional needs, and dog food fails to provide certain nutrients that are essential to a cat’s health.Dry Foods

Dry foods are six to nine percent water. Their other ingredients include cereals, grain by-products, bone meal, fish meal, milk products, and vitamin and mineral supplements. The bite-size pieces are covered with flavor enhancers, such as animal fat, to make them more appealing to a cat’s palate.

Advantages:

* Lower cost compared with other types of cat food.
* Can be left out all day, so your cat can eat whenever she is hungry.
* Smaller amounts are required to satisfy a cat’s appetite.

Disadvantages:

* Less tempting than other types of cat food to most cats.
* Less easily digestible than other types of cat food.

Semi-Moist Foods

Semi-moist foods are about 35 percent water. These foods are made of mostly meat and meat by-products, and even look somewhat like ground meat or tiny chunks of meat. They also contain soybean meal, cereals, grain by-products, and preservatives to prevent spoilage. Discard what’s left in an opened package of semi-moist food as soon as it begins to look and feel dried out.

Advantages:

* Less costly than canned food.
* Can be left out all day, so your cat can eat whenever she is hungry.
* More appealing to some cats than dry food.

Disadvantages:

* Taste declines and product spoils after package is opened.
* More expensive than dry food.

Canned Food

Canned foods are at least 75 percent water. They are offered in a wide variety of flavors, and their primary ingredient may be chicken, fish, or organ meats such as kidney and liver. They come in sizes ranging from three-to-six-ounce “gourmet” tins to 12-to-22-ounce “ration” cans that can feed more than one cat or provide multiple servings for a single pet. For safety’s sake, discard uneaten canned food after it has sat in your pet’s dish for two to four hours.

Advantages:

* Very appealing taste, even to finicky cats.
* Unopened cans have long shelf life.
* Good dietary source of water.

Disadvantages:

* Higher cost than other types of food.

Beyond the Food Bowl
Keep the Water Flowing

At every stage of life, adequate water intake is crucial for keeping your cat healthy. When your cat drinks enough water, it not only keeps her entire system functioning smoothly, can help prevent potentially serious urinary-tract problems. No matter what kind of food you serve, make sure your cat always has a big dish of fresh, clean water to drink.Ambiance Matters

A cat’s surroundings can affect its eating habits for better or for worse. Help your pet enjoy mealtime by creating a relaxed and comfortable eating atmosphere. Your cat’s food and water should be in a place that is:

* Quiet
* Clean
* Not heavily trafficked
* Free of other animals
* Not too close to the litter box

Go Easy on Treats

Treats — whether leftover scraps of cooked meat or packaged cat treats — are fine in small amounts, as an occasional change of pace. However, they’re not meant to be part of your cat’s daily diet. A nutritionally complete cat food will give your cat everything she needs; treats and supplements are not necessary, and can upset the balance of your pet’s diet if given in too-large amounts. Make sure that the total amount of treats you offer makes up no more than 10 percent of her food intake.

Feast or Famine

Cats are notoriously finicky eaters, but for all their selectiveness, they generally manage to eat the right amount. Sometimes, however, a cat will eat either too little or too much for her own good. Here’s what to do in those situations.
If Your Cat Isn’t Eating Enough

Any number of reasons could be to blame. Your cat’s appetite might have been affected by hot weather or traveling, or she simply might not be ready for her next meal. If the food has spoiled or gone stale from being left out too long, that’s reason enough for your cat to reject it. Or someone else in the household might have fed the cat recently, unbeknownst to you!

If none of these explanations applies, however, and your cat has refused food for more than 24 hours, consult your veterinarian. He or she will investigate whether illness or discomfort — including possible dental problems — could be causing the change in your cat’s eating habits.

If Your Cat Is Eating Too Much

A cat who overeats, or isn’t active enough to burn off the calories she consumes, might become a real “fat cat.” Obesity in cats is more than just unattractive; it increases their risk of developing such ailments as arthritis, constipation, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and respiratory problems.

Your veterinarian can recommend ways to help your overweight cat shed a few pounds. These might include switching to a food specially made for less active cats, which contains fewer calories per gram than normal cat food.