Learn The Fun and Easy Way To Care For Your Cat

The poet T.S. Eliot once said that households depend on cats, and there may be some truth to this. A cat is often a valuable member of the family, especially if it is healthy and happy. Unfortunately, cats aren't always the easiest creatures to live with. You should keep reading to learn how you can become a better pet owner.
Cats really enjoy squeezing into any and all small spaces. Cats that wear collars are at risk should they become stuck somewhere cramped. A breakaway collar has the ability to release its hold if the cat pulls tightly on it. A collar like this could save your cat's life.
Make sure your cat has a collar if it goes outside. Understand that cats may travel a long distance; therefore, if it gets lost, this tag will assist you and others in finding it. The tag should contain your name and number for contact purposes.
You can keep your cat away from electrical cords by spraying them with some bitter apple. If that doesn't work, cover those cords up however you can. You can hide away any cords inside the rolls that come inside paper towels. Electronic items with thin, tempting cords should always be put away when not in use.
Some cats like to scratch up floors and furniture. Buy your cat a scratching posts to focus its attention off your furniture. They can scratch this instead. It may take some time and some corrections, but it can usually eliminate the problem.
Cats frequently groom themselves. If the cat has longer hair, it can be the cause of hair balls. Buy special food in order to help that problem. The are specially formulated cat foods that help reduce the instances of hair balls, which is not only good for your cat, but also good for you and your feet in the middle of the night.
When your cat accompanies you on a trip, remember to consider the health of their ears. You and your cat probably have different ideas about the ideal volume for the car stereo, for instance: Remember that your cat's hearing is more sensitive than yours. This means that you should keep your music turned down or off so the cat can relax.
When you purchase a kitten for your child, set rules and boundaries beforehand. Let your kids know which rooms your cat is allowed in. Be sure that your children understand that an indoor cat must never be allowed outdoors. This will ensure nothing bad happens.
Be careful if you leave a kitten with a young child. Never leave a pet alone with a child who is any younger than five. Most of them simply aren't mature enough to grasp the concept of danger to themselves or the animal. When your children age, you will realize when they're able to deal with a pet.
It's very rewarding to own a cat, though it's not always easy. The tips you've read can help you build a better bond with your cat. Soon, the purrs will become more frequent than the meows.

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Automatic Cat Litter Box - New Litter Robot Odor Control Features

Automatic and self cleaning cat litter boxes are becoming increasingly popular. The Litter Maid is a well known brand that has mixed reviews. There is also the Cat Genie that washes the litter. The Litter-Robot II has a unique design that reliably sifts litter via a rotating globe. After a thorough evaluation of features and trade-offs, we became convinced the Litter-Robot II is the best auto cat litter box available.
We purchased our first Litter-Robot II in June of 2007. Recently, we upgraded to the new version that has the odor control feature. This article compares the features of three top automatic cat litter box brands and discusses our experience with the new Litter Robot II odor control feature.
The Litter Maid uses a rake to comb through the litter. The rake separates clumps from litter and deposits them into a special receptacle. Receptacle refills must be purchased separately. They are not very large and cost a lot. They are sold 12 in a box for about $19.99. For just one cat, they need to be changed every 5 days. That adds up to $120.00 per year. Over a typical 15 year cat life span, the cost is $1800. Many users have reported problems with the Litter Maid rake getting clogged. It needs to be cleaned often. The Litter Maid reduces the effort of scooping, but requires maintenance of the rake and costs $1800 over the life of one cat for special receptacles.
The Cat Genie is an interesting concept. It uses special cat litter that is washable. The unit connects to plumbing in your home. After the cat completes his business, water enters the litter area, the litter is washed and solid waste is pushed through a grinder before exiting the unit to the sewer. The cat gets his own toilet, literally. Now for the down side. Just like a toilet, the Cat Genie's grinding mechanism can clog. This is very disgusting to clean out. Another down side is the special litter and sani solution for washing the litter.
The Litter-Robot II has an ingenious design. A removable globe sits atop a base having a very large removable drawer. Inside the globe is a sturdy, heavy duty filter that sifts litter from waste as the globe rotates. A trap door rotates around until it reaches the bottom. The waste reliably falls through the trap door to the waste drawer below, that is lined with any type of plastic bag. A cat sensor detects the presence of the cat. There is a timer that does not start the globe rotating until 7 minutes after the cat is gone. This also allows the clumps to solidify, enabling extremely reliable performance. The cat sensor also detects if the cat comes back while the globe is rotating. The globe stops for 15 seconds.
There are only a few negative things that can be said about the Litter-Robot. One is that the Litter-Robot II is not recommended for tiny kittens or cats less than five pounds. Tiny kittens and very small cats may not set off the cat sensor and could get hurt by the trap door. Second, it is not recommended for diabetic cats since urine clumps may be too large. Third, it is not recommended for cats larger than 15 lbs, although users having cats up to 20 lbs have reported successful Litter-Robot II adoption.
Other Litter-Robot benefits: The first is the globe itself. The shape of the globe is ideal for minimizing the amount of litter the cat can kick out. The opening is just large enough for the cat to enter. The globe is lined with a thick rubber material and the screen is coated with the same material. The rubber material prevents and reduces odor absorption by the globe.
The second benefit is easy cleaning. The globe easily lifts off the base. We have found it rarely needs to be cleaned. The screen has never clogged. Once every few months we have found it necessary to empty the remaining litter and clean the globe. Since the globe has no electronics, this is easily done with a hose or in the bathtub. You could take it to a self car wash if you live in an apartment. Similarly, the drawer is easily cleaned by a hose or in a laundry tub.
The third benefit is the Litter-Robot's sturdy construction. It is very solidly built and intended to last a long time. At $329, it may seem like it costs a lot, but if you consider that you are buying an appliance rather than a throw-away consumer product, the price is very reasonable. It's about the same cost as a dishwasher or washing machine and meant to last as long. The warranty is 18 months, 50% longer than standard 1 year appliance warranties.
The odor control features are two-fold. First there is a soft breathable ring that fills the space between the globe and the base. This traps odor inside without allowing odor to build up. Then there is a replaceable carbon filter at the front of the drawer. The drawer step has odor breathing holes to prevent odor build-up. Now the odor must travel through the carbon filter to exit the holes. The odors are effectively neutralized before exiting. The manufacturer recommends replacing carbon filters every 6-8 weeks, or when necessary. We have not changed ours in five months and still do not feel it needs to be changed.
The first Litter-Robot II we owned did not have odor control; odor was not too bad. However, we noticed a significant difference once we upgraded our Litter-Robot. Now we find the odor is not noticeable unless the cat had just used the box, even when standing next to it.
We give the Litter-Robot II a five star ***** review. In our opinion, it is the best self-cleaning cat litter box available.

Gail Jones is a staff writer and expert in home automation products. She works for Paradise Robotics, a Chicago Area company that specializes in products that make life better.

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Cat Urine Trivia - 5 Facts About The Odor And 3 Solutions For It

There are over 80 million household cats in the United States alone, so it comes as no surprise that cat urine odor is high on the list of most searched-for terms. If you are struggling with this issue, here are 5 facts that may help understand and ultimately triumph over the odor.
1. It contains ammonia. And breathing these fumes can cause acute flare-ups for those who suffer with allergies and asthma.
2. It has a higher acid content than that of many other animals. This was designed to ward off predators, and for cats that are still allowed outdoors to find food, this is a huge aid in self-defense.
3. It glows under a black light. This happy fact makes it easier to find the offending spot and neutralize it.
4. It contains 95% water.
5. Urine contains the protein Fel D1 like dander and can also cause a skin reaction for those who are sensitive to it.
So now that you know all of these interesting facts, you're probably still wondering how something that is mostly water can literally cause such a stink, and how you can deal with the odor effectively. Here are 3 steps to take to literally clear your air.
Find and Neutralize The Spot---Finding the spot is sometimes the hardest part. What you can't see can hurt you and as you are probably now aware from personal experience, it can smell really bad. Sometimes the stain is evident, and sometimes you feel the wet spot under your feet--Yuk.
If you are having trouble finding it, use your nose particularly if you think it's on the furniture or the bed. You can also use number 3 above and shine the black light.
Neutralizing the spot will mean that your cat will be less likely to come back and repeat the inappropriate behavior, at least in the same place. There are all kinds of products on the market that are designed to remove the odor. One of the most natural is a solution of white vinegar as immediately after the accident has occurred as is possible.
Keep The Litter Box Clean---As discriminating as we might think our noses are cats have an even keener sense of smell. So keeping the litter box absolutely pristine will encourage your feline friend to go where it's supposed to go when it feels the urge.
Filter the Air---Even the best odor remover can sometimes not prevent a faint smell from continuing to occur especially if there is moisture introduced to the air. As cat lovers it is easy for our noses to turn a deaf ear to the smell because we are around it so much. Relatives and friends are less likely to ignore the smell so continually filtering the air is an effective and low maintenance way to keep the air smelling fresh.
An effective cleaner will not only need a carbon filter, but the carbon will need an additive that is specifically designed to remove the ammonia. A motor that allows 24 hours cleaning, as well as various sized filter for the wide range of particles cats can produce is a good idea as well.

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Bad Breath in Cats - Controlling Cat Bad Breath

Sometimes it is a bit difficult to tell if your cat has bad breath or not. When you think about it, your cat's breath is going to smell when she has just eaten her food, so how noticeable does bad breath in cats need to be before you have to take action?
As I say, you would expect your cat's breath to smell of the food she has just eaten, but that won't be a foul, obnoxious smell. If you can smell something worse than this coming from your cat, over a period of time, then you need to do some investigating into the cause.
Just like us, cats can suffer from bad breath due to gum disease or tooth decay. A visit to the vet will clear the problem up for you. The vet will check your cat's teeth to see if there is any sign of plaque or build up of tartar. If it has been a year since the cat last had its teeth cleaned then it is time for them to be cleaned again.
This is done under anaesthetic at the vets surgery. Decaying teeth can be removed and the rest of the teeth will be scaled and polished.
You can have a quick look at your cats teeth any time, by giving them a quick visual check. If they look yellowish, and you can see tartar, the teeth need cleaning.
Of course there is always the possibility of other causes of the cats bad breath, but if you take her to the vet, he or she will be able to tell you the cause of the smell. Feeding your cat wet cat food can make its breath smell bad. Try changing to a dry food and see if this makes a difference.
Diet and dental hygiene are the two key areas in controlling cat bad breath.

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Cats Coat Maintenance That Aids in Achieving a Clean and Healthy Pet

Some pet lovers adore cat more than dogs. It is simply because they are cuddly and lovable, so much so that these pets provide happiness and joy to the one rearing them. More so, cats are an excellent companion at home and do not need special attention unlike other pets. However, it is but natural for a pet lover to be affectionate towards their pets, so providing protection and proper grooming comes readily without heft. Surprisingly, these pets even have trendy dresses to wear and are provided with their own veterinarians when sick. Cats also have its coat maintenance tools that aids in achieving clean hairs.
Cats are independent but they still need to have proper care and attention particularly with their health by a person. Cats cannot do bathing, grooming, or any personal hygiene on their own. Remember to check on them daily for any symptoms of illness as part of its grooming routine. Check their body for lumps, wounds or hair tangles. Nevertheless, it is necessary to see a veterinarian for vaccinations to prevent any diseases to develop.
Fostering a cat also means giving them a comfortable way of life. Allow them to roam around the garden or patio every now and then. It will help them exercise and get a chance to associate with other animals. Give them opportunity to play by providing them some playing accessories. The lesser chances of playing may bore your cat and possibly weaken their health, or worse, succumbed to illness.
Another thing to consider is the food they need to eat and water to drink. You can find healthy foods in pet stores or in veterinarian clinics. There are certain dishes that cats may be allergic to, so it is best to know about these particulars to avoid problems from arising. For instance, onions, garlic and even chocolates may cause problem in their stomach. Keep in mind that cat's meals may depend on their age. Do not allow them to eat leftovers or food that needs to be disposed. It is important to provide healthy food and not the spoiled ones, better yet, ask your veterinarian for some do's and do not's in feeding your pets to avoid any complications.
It is also necessary to provide them a proper place for resting and sleeping as well as a place for taking its meals, and the appropriate place for waste disposal. Keeping them clean as well as their surrounding area will protect them from sickness. So much so that providing your cat, coat maintenance aids are excellent in achieving a clean and healthy pet.

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Cat Health - Preventing Cat Illness

The incredible pleasure of companionship given by your feline friends comes with certain responsibilities and obligations. Continuing your joy of keeping them company would greatly depend on how well you understand and provide for their needs. Learning about proper cat health care is important for all cat owners. Giving them love, proper care and attention will not only ensure great health for your cats. It also ensures a long and happy life.
General Needs
Your cat has several needs, which you need to pay close attention to. It needs to receive proper nourishment, proper grooming, the right medical attention in the event of a cat illness and the right pregnancy care for female cats later in its life. Not only does proper cat health care demand time and attention, it also demands a certain amount of budget to sufficiently and timely provide for all your cat's needs.
Feeding
The key to health is getting the right food. The same rule applies in ensuring optimum cat health. Putting it under a good diet and giving it the best cat food you can obtain will not only protect your cat from getting any common cat illness. It will also yield huge savings on veterinary bills. Hence, compromising the quality of cat food over value is poor economy. Investing on your cat's health means trusting the name of American Association of Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) approved cat food manufacturers. You can consult your veterinarian on this regard so you can give your pet the kind of food that is appropriate for its age, breed or health condition.
Grooming
A kitten is born with the innate ability to groom itself. You see mother cats licking her kittens soon after they were born to help them breathe. Grooming is something that comes natural among cats. For the most part, your cat can answer to its grooming needs. However, there are a number of reasons why you should use some grooming techniques for your cat. Long-haired cats need extra help to prevent getting matted fur. Occasionally combing your cat's fur prevents parasites such as fleas, lice and ticks from settling on the fur. Some cat owners even enjoy occasionally bathing and trimming the claws of their cats. Some would even go to the lengths of brushing the cat's teeth. Aside from giving them a pleasant experience with their best pets, it also prevents the onslaught of common cat parasites.
Common Cat Health Problems
From simple inconveniences, cat illness, to life threatening accidents, the concern about common cat health problems is an experience shared by all cat owners. These problems range from simple inconveniences to life-threatening illnesses. Noticing a cat illness coming is extremely helpful in limiting the risks involved. The following should guide you through your pet care experience.
Hair Balls
You cat is likely to experience a problem called hair ball. The condition is caused by the accumulation of fur inside the cat's body due to its grooming habits. The accumulated fur or hair ball usually becomes a source of irritation when the cat fails to eliminate it on the litter box or through coughing. Once the hair ball compacts with the undigested food in the intestines, it needs to be surgically removed to avoid serious health complications. Noticing symptoms such as dry and hacking cough, vomiting after meals, hair entwined with feces, constipation, diarrhea, poor appetite and weight loss means that your cat suffers from hair ball. A veterinarian's instructed use of mineral oil or petroleum lubricants and other petrochemical products may be used to relieve these symptoms.
Plant Poisoning
Cats love to chew on things, especially green things. Your cat's fondness for your indoor as well as outdoor plants can be very dangerous especially when you are using pesticides on these plants. As you cat chews on its leaves, it might ingest the chemicals you have applied on your plants. Also, there are some ornamental plants that are toxic in nature and can possibly harm your naughty cat.
Infections
Viral and other infections answer to majority of the causes of common cat health problems. Depending on the severity and nature of the infection, a particular infection can lead to complications that can compromise your cat's health. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) and Feline Leukemia Virus are the known plagues of a cat's health. Thankfully, there are vaccinations and treatments that are available for these serious infections.
Parasites
Common cat parasites include fleas, worms, ticks and lice. Fleas and lice not only cause chronic itching and infections but also deliver parasites such as worm larvae inside your cat's body. The worms thriving in the intestines can cause anemia, weakness and weight loss. Proper grooming and the use of powders, pest sprays, lotions and shampoo can help remove these parasites. Ask a veterinarian for the most suitable product that can help you eliminate common parasites.
Caution
Loss of appetite, dull coat, more frequent grooming, excessive itching or constant scratching, not grooming after eating, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling and display of unusual behavior are tell-tale signs of a sick cat. Familiarizing yourself with these symptoms of cat illness is important in ensuring the health of your feline friend. Upon noticing these symptoms, immediately contact your veterinarian.

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Is Dandruff Bad For Your Cat?

For those of you wondering if cat dandruff is bad for your cat, the answer is that it can be. Dandruff on a cat can be a serious condition. It can be a condition where the cat's sebaceous glands produce more sebum than it should. This can be noticeable on the flanks, face, and the back of the kitty.

Cats who have idiopathic seborrhea or cat dandruff will have dandruff that may not have an actual cause. It may be necessary to go to a vet to find out what is wrong with the cat. The pet owner should observe the cat for a couple of days before the vet appointment. some of the most common causes of cat dandruff are: environmental factors such as when the seasons change, hormonal imbalance, allergies such as laundry detergent and household cleaners, fungal infections such as ringworm, parasites such as ticks and fleas, obesity, and musculoskeletal disease.

The symptoms of dandruff may vary. There can be areas of the cat's fur where there are more sebaceous glands that will show signs of dandruff. The cat may also leave dandruff flakes in their sleeping spot. Another symptom is the smell of your cat. If the cat smells different it may be a sign of a secondary bacterial infection or yeast skin infection. Also if the cat swats at you when you are trying to touch a certain spot on the cat, it may tell you something is wrong. Upon examination, you may find inflamed or red skin with lesions.

Once you go to the vet and talk about the symptoms of the cat, he or she will conduct tests to determine the cause and type of the dandruff on the cat. The vet may perform blood tests, skin cytology and skin scrapings, skin culture, skin biopsy, and hormone tests.

As for treatment, it may vary. Some of the most common treatment methods are: antiseborrheic shampoos, retinoids, omega 3 fatty acid food supplements, oral cyclosporine, moisturizers, and antibiotics.

For prevention, there are a host of things that you can do to try to prevent cat dandruff from coming. You can give your cat a good bath, have your cat groomed, have your cat maintain a healthy weight, monitor your cat's environment, and give your cat omega 3 fatty acid supplements.

So as you can see, cat dandruff can be a serious condition and should be checked out by a vet.

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