Cat And Kitten BootCamp

2 Common Misconceptions About Cats

Even though cats are probably one of the most popular pets in the typical household, there are many people that still hold misconceptions about these wonderful animals. There is no doubt that some people who dislike cats (based on false information) would probably enjoy having them as pets if they would just open up their minds.

Most of these misconceptions that people have about cats stem from constantly comparing them to dogs and let's face it, that's probably not the best way to look at it. Not everybody loves the way dogs act yet may appreciate the independent character of the cat. It's the same as a cat lover who might not be attracted to an animal that constantly needs love and attention like a dog does.

 Let us dispel a few of these common misconceptions about cats. Below are two that you may be familiar with:

 Cats have no personality and are very cold towards people

It is no secret that cats are very independent animals and are not the most affectionate of pets. This is probably the most common reason why some people may assume that a cat would not make a great pet for them. Yes, cats certainly do choose their moments when it comes to affection and may not always be willing to be overly friendly, but they are in fact very loving animals.

 And when cats do try to nestle up to your leg or try to get a pat on the back, cat critics again claim that they are just in it for the food or a treat. But this is not true. Cats love and appreciate the warmth and affection from their owners, just not as much as dogs do. Cats love to hang out on your lap, lay around your table areas, or smuggle in most places next to you when they are ready to rest.

 Cats take care of themselves and do not need human contact

 This is another misconception that is not entirely true. Sure there may be more wild cats walking around the neighborhood than dogs, but that doesn't mean that a house cat that has been raised as your pet will want to escape from your home and wonder all into the streets.

 Of course it is true that cats are very easy to maintain and pretty much to take care of themselves. However, a healthy cat who has been raised with lots of love will always show affection and want to be in contact with its owners. But that is what many people appreciate about cats that they are extremely low maintenance compared to other pets.

4 Types Of Cat Litter Boxes You Can Choose From

The pet industry is enormous and because of that there are more litter box choices on the market than ever before. Stocked in stores are some very cheap solutions that you can buy, ranging from using old dishpans to cutting up some used cardboard, as well is some very expensive products that may interest you as well.

Below are a few litter box solutions that you can choose from:

1. Throw-away or “disposable” cardboard boxes: Although using disposable pans or boxes may seem ideal and inexpensive, it is probably not a sound long-term solution. Using cardboard boxes and similar such items for your cats disposable wastes is very popular with pet stores, animal shelters, and even some breeders, but you may want to choose something a little more sturdy that will last.

2. Plastic pans: You can find a huge variety of plastic pans that come in all shapes and sizes which will be perfect as a litter box for your cat. They are relatively inexpensive and can be found in most household supply stores. Some are shallow and some are deep which will cater to your needs. However, be sure that you choose one which will scrub easily. If you find that you are throwing away plastic pans often because of the cat’s wastes, then cardboard boxes may be a more suitable solution

3. Covered Litter Box Pans: This can be another option for you but may not be the best of choices. Advertisers of covered pans will claim that having a cover keeps the pet odors down and will also prevent children and other small pets from getting into the litter box. While this may be true, many pet owners tend to forget to clean the box often enough because they cannot smell it - due to the cover ironically. Ignorance may be bliss to us, but for a cat, having to use the bathroom in a dirty smelly litter box is quite the opposite. So if you choose to purchase and use a cover pan from a pet manufacturer, be sure to keep it clean more often than you would a non-covered litter box.

4. Self-cleaning litter box pans: Cleaning a litter box is not the most enjoyable of activities for animal lovers, however there is a such thing as a “self-cleaning” litter box. In recent years many pet product manufacturers have come up with a solution that is almost hands-free. Some of these self-cleaning boxes have inserts in which you remove and dump in the trash so that you can replace it with another insert. Some have a rollover collector that catches the cat poop and leaves the clean granules. You just remove the collector when you’re finished, dump it in the trash, and add more granules when needed.

We all know that we can’t have nothing nice when there is a cat or two in the house. I learned that the hard way when I would wanted to put a vase out with roses or flowers in it. I would go off to work expecting to come home to a nice fragrance, except I see that the vase disappeared and the rose pedals were all over the place. Lesson learned.

Next, I tried to hang up some nice plants that I thought they could not reach. I looked at every angle, meaning not to put it near the counter tops, basically hang the plant away from anything they could climb on. Ha! It was like they had Michael Jordan in their genes. Somehow, someway they got a hold of it and brought it down, tearing and shredding the basket and plant all up. Lesson learned.

Next, having a glass full of your beverage of choice, don’t leave the cup or glass unattended. Cats will be very curious on how they can get their drink or have their fun. My advice for this, invest in some type of covered cup where they can topple over and nothing will spill out.

No matter all my lessons learned, I still do things like normal and my cats still sneak their way around to knock or mess something up.

Cat And Kitten BootCamp

Training : Learning to let your cats walk all over you.

Now when ever we see cute cats anywhere we go, what do we do?

We get all googley and go aww, look at the cute kitty kitty… We tend to mock everything they are saying and doing to a point that they have us talking a new language. Their body language is interpreted into human actions as we see it, in a very cute way. For example, when a cat licks you it’s considered kissing you. Right?

It’s all very cute, until you realize someone is watching you do these things and starts to poke fun! When they meow at us we meow right back thinking we know what they are saying to us. I can be in my computer room typing away and bubbles, will start his yelling at me to come over to where he is just so he can get a good scratch on the head and a firm pat on the bottom. He knows that I will awknowledge him every time he does this no matter what. Not to mention it is very hard to resist.

Cat And Kitten BootCamp

Training : Act when spoken to.

I know what it’s like to have a couch as a scratching post. I bought a new couch, very expensive, and thought to myself I know my two cats will get their feel for it. I had to do the whole, “NO!” deal, then go out and buy a scratching post to put next to it. It worked for me but it doesn’t always work out that way for everyone. I even tried that repellent type spray to keep pets off the furniture but that doesn’t work and it smells funny. The cats just ignore it totally, saying yeah right!

Avoiding Snags

Scratching Post Options

Cats need to scratch! It’s an urge that’s programmed into them and doesn’t change, no matter how many years they live in a cozy home far from the wild. Providing your pet with a scratching post will let her express this natural urge while sparing your furniture from damage. It will also give your pet some extra exercise, especially for the upper body, and promote the natural shedding of the outer sheath of the claws.

Scratching posts come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and may be made of or covered in several different materials, including:

• Attract your cat’s attention by holding a favorite toy and running it over the post. If the cat comes over and bats at the toy, her claws may end up grazing the post’s surface — and with any luck, she’ll like the feeling and want more. If it’s a standing post with a ball finial on top, you can tie the toy to it, using a sturdy piece of sewing elastic.

Declawing

Declawing is a highly controversial procedure, and understandably so. It entails not only removing the claws themselves, but also cutting off the terminal bone of the toe. This is an extreme measure and should not be done lightly. A cat’s claws provide her main means of defending herself, and should be preserved if at all possible. If scratching is a problem, you should explore every other available solution before deciding on declawing. In most cases, simply keeping the cat’s claw tips trimmed will go a long way toward limiting the amount of damage she can do to the furniture.

Cat And Kitten BootCamp

Training : Learn how to clip cats claws while they are sleeping.