Pussy Cat Love & Tips

When to start weaning

2005-01-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

You will probably never see a mother cat who refuses to wean her kittens starting when they are 4 to 5 weeks old. Mother Nature always tells them when to start weaning... however, you might have experience with other odd quirks in First Time Mothers, so the timing can vary between cats.

And as always, when in doubt, ask your vet. They can offer other ideas and helpful hints on this.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Cat Talk - Tail tip twitching

2005-01-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

Cat is becoming irritated. Last warning before the tail thump.

Cat Talk - Wide open eyes, staring

2005-01-15T22:53:00.000-08:00

Processing information. It hears something and is trying to figure it out.

Kids and Kitty feeding & bedtime

2005-01-15T01:27:00.000-08:00

An easy way of teaching your children discipline and responsibilty is to work with them at bedtime to check your cat or kittens food and water bowls, and sand box. By establishing a routine each and every night, the children unwind for bed, while your pets get the routine that they naturally crave.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Cat Talk - Yeowling

2005-01-13T23:53:00.000-08:00

Lonely or restless. The Golden Hour is about to begin.

When Kitty meows meows meows

2005-01-13T01:40:00.000-08:00

More about cat vocalizations - Some cats vocalize more than others (e.g. Siamese), but all do it to get your attention. It can be cute, but it also can turn into a problem, especially if it occurs at night or early in the morning when everyone is trying to sleep.

The meowing may be a sign that the cat is in discomfort or has a medical problem. Cats meow as a form of communication, as well. However, most cats meow simply because they are bored and want some human interaction. The solution is to provide the cat with an entertaining environment with more cat toys and possibly another cat to play with.

One Last Tip: It is not wise to pay attention to the constant crying, as this will only encourage the cat to continue and will create an ongoing cat behavior problem. After all, all she wants is your attention.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Good and Bad Table Scraps

2005-01-12T04:14:00.000-08:00

Here�s a good cat food nutrition tip - Table scraps should be used as treats, not the main course in your kitty�s diet. I recommend no more than a Tablespoon of scraps at a time.

Suggested scraps are: Meats without bones, cooked vegetables, cooked grains, and brown rice.

TABLE SCRAPS YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE YOUR KITTY: Corn is very difficult for our pets to digest. Chocolate has chemicals that are toxic to almost all pets.

Sweets are not good for our kitties, since their systems are not desgined to process the sugars as easily as human bodies.

Bones, cooked or raw, are a definite NO-NO.

There is a movement to feed pets raw uncooked meat-bones included, but my vet tech lost a puppy from a perferated colon when he couldn�t properly chew and digest a bone. My parents lost a Siamese when she choked on a pork chop bone.

It is safer to not let your cat or kitten have bones, unless they are ground to a fine mush or powder.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Cat Talk - Upright tail-arched back

2005-01-11T01:27:00.000-08:00

Cat is afraid or senses something is not right. Cat is exploring the situation.

When Kitty meows meows meows

2005-01-11T01:14:00.000-08:00

Cat Insurance

2005-01-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

There are many Companies who offer pet insurance and it is certainly worth thinking about as it could save your Mum & Dad many hundreds of pounds in vet bills and third party risks etc. Ask them to investigate this as it is definitely to be recommended.

As you can see from the above, owning a kitten involves responsibilities as well as pleasures but if you follow this advice you will have a friendly, contented kitten who is a joy to own and who will repay the time and effort you have made many times over.

Cat Talk - Upright tail-arched back

2005-01-10T10:28:00.000-08:00

Cat is afraid or senses something is not right. Cat is exploring the situation.

Plastic bowl problems

2005-01-09T10:52:00.000-08:00

About Cat Food Dishes - You probably know that cats want you to clean their food bowls after each meal, and that you should not use dishwashing liquid, because they dislike the smell. What you might not know is that plastic bowls always retain some �old food smell�. A cat or kitten will notice, even if you don�t. She�ll refuse to eat out of this bowl for no apparent reason. Therefore, invest in some porcelain bowls and make sure they are dishwasher safe.

When washing bowls in the dishwasher, rinse again once the washing cycle is finished for best results.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

De-Clawing you Kitty?

2005-01-08T05:39:00.000-08:00

De-clawing is a very painful experience. The claws are not the only thing removed. The bone attached to the claws as well as the tendons are also removed. Deciding whether to De-claw or not is no easy choice. Many people frown on the practice and feel it is inhumane. It has to be your decision. There are ways to keep a cat from ruining furniture and drapes while keeping their claws. One is to teach your cat at an early age to use a scratching post. Another is to use the plastic claw covers that are available. But... not all cats will "learn" not to destroy furniture. In these rare situations, I must say that de-clawing the front paws would be a better alternative than putting the cat to sleep. Consider this only if other methods do not work. Some would disagree. Many people claim the cat is so traumatized they change their behavior. I have never seen this to be true, although I am sure one could find a case other wise. I have had both, and never really noticed any difference between either. If you decide to de-claw, only do the front claws. The back claws are needed for running. NEVER- NEVER- NEVER remove claws from a cat that goes outdoors, even just a few times. Do NOT de-claw a cat if other cats in the home still have their claws. This would be VERY inhumane. Personally, I am against de-clawing unless all other methods have failed. Some say "just give the cat up for adoption if you are worried about your furniture". I say... sometimes removing a cat from its loving family can be the worse alternative.

Thanks to this great cat info site.

Dry versus Wet Cat Foods

2005-01-07T05:26:00.000-08:00

About Cat Food Nutrition - Feeding is critical in the long term care of any animal. What types of cat foods should you feed your cats? Dry cat foods are best for cats, because it will help clean their teeth and prevent the teeth from decaying in their later years. And you can leave dry cat food out without fear of it spoiling.

However, there are cats and kittens who will not touch dry cat food. For those fussy eaters, feed them small amounts of wet cat food once a day at the same time every day. Keep dry food out for them also, and eventually they will get hungry and try the dry food.

Canned cat food is more expensive, and once you open it, it lasts about a half hour before your cat decides it is no longer fresh enough! Canned cat food can be great for nursing ill or older cats.

My recommendation would be a basic diet of dry cat food, with small amounts of canned cat food for variety and interest.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Allow kitty to make the first move.

2005-01-06T06:26:00.000-08:00

Cats do things ONLY when they are ready. This is the nature of cats. When cats come to you, they are accepting you. Cats do nothing they do not feel like doing. When petting your cat, be gentle. Kitty is not a 85 pound dog. When kitty wants on your lap, if you allow it, let kitty jump up and find its comfort spot. Your cat has now accepted you, and now OWNS you.

Thanks to this great cat info site.

Qualtiy vs. Price - Premium Cat Food

2005-01-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

How much can you afford to spend on food for your kitty is your decision. In all my years with cats, I have seen what quality food can do for them. Large, established pet food companies have a large investment in maintaining the quality of their products, so you can trust them to give your cat or kitten the vitamins and minerals they need.

The best brands, that more vets and breeders prefer are: Iams, Eukanuba, & Science Diet. If these are out of your price range, then Kal Kan and Purina are good alternatives. However, if you feed your cat healthy cat food, the fewer visits to the vet you�ll have to make because of cat health problems.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Cat Talk - Wide open eyes, staring

2005-01-05T00:53:00.000-08:00

Processing information. It hears something and is trying to figure it out.

Communication

2005-01-04T01:13:00.000-08:00

The way to tell how a cat is feeling is to look at its body language.

An alert cat has an open, direct gaze, and points its ears and whiskers foward. If it is nervous too, the nostrils may twitch in trying to identify the scent. If the cat recognizes the scent as a friend, his tail will go straight in the air and aproach the person or animal in greeting.

If the cat does not recognise the scent and finds it threatening it will act very differently. It will first freeze and stare at the intruder with a direct wide stare and the tail with flick back and forth. The ears and whiskers will be foward to try to continue identification. If the intruder approaches, the cat will draw its chin in close, to protect the neck area, flatten his ears and gradually turn its body sideways whilst begin to erect the hairs on its body to appear larger. If the intruder persist the cat will begin to snarl fiercely, lips drawn back to bare teeth and narrow the eyes. The muscles will be tense and ready for an attack.

Tail movement is also a way to distinguish the feeling of a cat. A tail sticking straight in the air means contentment and usually can be noticed when someone the cat recognised enters the room. An erect tail with the tip slightly waving back and forth is a contented cat, but also one who will be annoyed easily. A tail violently lashing indicates an angry cat who may be ready to attack. This cat should probably not be touched because it may attack. It should be talked down until it resumes normal composure.

Purring is another way to distinguish the cats feelings. Purring signals great contentment. A cat may purr when they are close to those they love, in response to petting, while eating, a friendly voice, or even just a look of aknowledgement from their owners. Kittens purr as they nurse their mothers. Some cats even purr when they are in pain, such as labor or durring a terminal illness.

4 Tips about Cats Clawing Furniture

2005-01-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

Frustrated about the cat clawing your furniture or carpets? Here are a few facts and �how to� hints that may help:

1) Clawing has a dual purpose for the cat: It�s just cat instinct to work their claws and mark their territory. Once a cat claws something their scent is left on that object so they will come back and claw it again.

2) If you buy a carpet or sisal covered scratching post or cat tree, rub it down with catnip and Kitty may find this is better than your carpet or furniture.

3) You can trim a cats nails which will lessen the damage they can cause without having to declaw them. Special cat trimmers are available at your local pet supply store, but when trimming don�t trim too close to the pink part of their claws, you could seriously hurt the cat.

4) Everytime you catch the cat clawing something they shouldn�t, spray them with a special water bottle (tap water) you should already have handy. This method used consistently should minimize the number of times they claw and helpfully eliminate the unwanted cat behavior problem.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Cat Talk - Soft tiny meow

2005-01-02T05:13:00.000-08:00

your cat really wants attention and is a plea for sympathy, like maybe a spot on your lap.

Humor - How to Give a Cat a Bath

2005-01-01T20:39:00.000-08:00

1. Know that although the kitty cat has the advantage of quickness and lack of concern for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom. If your bathroom is more than four feet square, we recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were about to take a shower. (A simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions.)

2. Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. We recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face-mask, and a long-sleeved flak jacket.

3. Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish. (Cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule.)

4. Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have now begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life.

5. Cats have no handles. Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more than two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off. (The national record for cats is three latherings, so don't expect too much.)

6. Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying is simple compared with what you have just been through. That's because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg.

You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait. (Occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg.) After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.

In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become psychoceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.

You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath. But at least now he smells a lot better.

Deciding on a MALE or FEMALE cat.

2005-01-01T15:26:00.000-08:00

Both are great pets, but different personalities. Males tend to be more affectionate and kind, and more willing to share their new home with others, particularly other females. They have the tendency to be less moody than females, but have the ability to spray the house thus marking their territory with a very foul smell and become aggressive in fights. Females can be more moody, attract males if not spayed and more independent, although there are plenty of females that display a lot of affection. Again both make excellent pets. I have a female and she has

really been a treat, although she truly believes she is my wife!

Thanks to this great cat info site.

Humor - How to Give a Cat a Bath..Again

2005-01-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

1. First .... dress for the occasion. A 4-ply rubber wet suit is suggested, along with a helmet, face mask and welders gloves.

2. A Bathtub with a glass enclosure is preferred to the one with a shower curtain. A frenzied cat can shred one of these in about 2.5 seconds.

3. Have the Kitty Bubbles and towel in the enclosed bathtub area before hand. No ... blow drying the cat after the bath is not suggested.

4. Draw the water, making it a little warmer than needed as you still need to find the cat. Position everything strategically in the shower, so you can reach it even if you are face down or prone in the tub.

5. Find your cat. Use the element of surprise. Pick the cat up, nonchalantly as if you were simply carrying him/her to the supper dish. No need to worry about the cat noticing your strange attire... the cat barely notices you anyway.

6. Once you and the cat are inside the bathroom ... speed is essential. In one single liquid motion shut the door to the bathroom, step into the shower, close the sliding doors, and drop the cat into the water. While the cat is still in a state of shock, locate the Kitty Bubbles and squirt whatever part of him is above the water line. You have just begun the wildest 45 seconds of your life. Remember that cats have no handles and add the fact that he now has soapy fur. His state of shock has worn off and he's madder than a wet hornet.

7. As best, you can, wearing welder's gloves, try to field his body as he catapults through the air toward the ceiling. If possible, give another squirt of Kitty Bubbles with his body now fully exposed.

8. During the 5 seconds you are able to hold onto him, rub vigorously. No need to worry about rinsing. As he slide down the glass enclosure into the tub, he will fall back into the water, rinsing himself in the process.

9. Only attempt the lather and rinse process about 3 times. The cat will realize the lack of traction on the glass by then and will use the next attempt on the first available part of you.

10. Next, the cat must be dried. No...this is NOT the easiest part. By this stage, you are worn out and the cat has just become semi-permanently affixed to your right leg. We suggest here that you drain the tub and in full view of your cat reach for the bottle of Kitty Bubbles.

11. If you have done step 10 correctly, the cat will be off your leg and hanging precariously from your helmet. Although this view of the cat is most disgusting, he will be in a much better position for wrapping the towel around him.

12. Be sure cat is firmly wrapped in towel before opening tub enclosure. Open bathroom door ... put towel wrapped cat on floor and step back quickly. Into tub, if possible, and do not open enclosure until all you can see is the shredded towel.

13. In about 2 hours .... it will be safe to exit the bathroom. Your cat will be sitting out there somewhere looking like a small hedgehog while plotting revenge.

Cat Talk - Slow, sneaky low to the ground crawl

2005-01-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Cat is going after something, stalking its "victim", beware cat will start a full speed assault.

Cat Talk - Looking up at a piece of furniture

2005-01-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

Cat is about to claim it.

Cat Talk - Ears back-rock steady posture

2005-01-01T14:39:00.000-08:00

Kitty is unsure of what to do, what move to make. It is processing the information..

Next kitty will find its litter box.

2005-01-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

Make a point of making sure kitty sees where you put it. Cats will remember this very well. Next kitty will find its spot for feeding. Cats like to be fed in the same area. They feel that area belongs to them. Food should be in a clean dish. The same is true with water, fresh and full. Cats drink a lot of water throughout the day and night and it is very important to keep their water fresh and clean or kitty may get a urinary infection and

that is expensive to treat and very painful to have.

Thanks to this great cat info site.

Arrival of your kitten

2005-01-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

The day has come to collect your chosen kitten!

No matter how you are bringing him home, please remember that kittens can wriggle about a lot and so it is good idea to put him in a cardboard box, lined with newspapers with a blanket on the top.

When you get him home, open up the box and let him come out in his own time. Remember the journey will have been quite strange for him. Once he comes out, show him his litter tray and feeding area. Keep these in the chosen areas until he gets used to their whereabouts. To start with he will probably crawl under the furniture, but once he realises he has nothing to be afraid of, he will come out into the open. Make sure all doors and windows are kept closed because, if he does manage to get out, it is unlikely he will find his way back at this early stage. Very soon he will feel comfortable and relaxed and will be running about as if he owns the place!

Vaccinations

2005-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

If you have got a pedigree kitten they have to be vaccinated before you can get them home. If, however he is a non-pedigree, you should have him vaccinated, at least, against cat flu and feline enteritis. Ask Mum & Dad to speak to your vet about these vaccines. These are even more important if you are letting him outside. Boosters need to be given every year thereafter.

Kitty Toy Box or Cat Entertainment

2005-01-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

Children have a box to keep their toys in, your cat or kitten should have a place for their cat toys too. It helps you keep track of their cat toys & to check for safety hazards, and provides another fun game for your pet.

Periodically, once a day may drive you nuts, you should collect Kitty�s toys into one place. This helps the tidy appearance of your home, but it also give Kitty something to do: drag another cat toy out of the box.

By gathering the cat toys up, you can inspect them for safety hazards such as loose strings Kitty could accidently swallow.

Any type of container will do for a �toy box.� When choosing a �toy box� for kittens, consider making it shallow, so it is easier for your kitten to pull things out. For an adult cat, the size of the box is not as important, and don�t be surprised if your cat plays inside the toy box as much as the toys in the box, just like children. You can think of the toy box as "cat entertainment".

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Grooming

2005-01-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

Cats spend at least five hours a day grooming and cleaning themselves but they do need some human help as well!

Get your kitten used to being combed and brushed at an early age and he will soon enjoy this part of the day. Long-haired cats obviously need more care and attention than the shorter-haired ones to make sure their coats do not become matted. Your breeder will recommend the best way to do this.

How Well Do Cats See?

2005-01-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

Cats can see almost as well as humans can, and at times better. Cat vision is designed for detecting motion, useful for hunting. Like humans, cats have binocular vision, although not as well tuned as in humans. This means a cat most likely sees in 3-D, as do humans, which is very useful for judging distance. Cats appear to be slightly nearsighted, which would suggest their vision is tailored more for closer objects, such as prey, that can capture within running distance. Objects farther than several hundred yards rarely interest a cat. Cats have the ability to jump from as much as 6 feet onto a narrow window ledge without touching the window. This feat would require not only excellent balance, but also precise distance judgment. Cats have both rods and cones in the retina. Rods are the receptors that the eye uses for night time viewing and sudden movement. Cones are used during the daytime, and process color information. Cats have more rods than cones, as compared with humans, making cat night and motion vision superior to humans.

In low light, like night, color and hue are not perceived, only black, white and shades of gray.

Cats have an elliptical pupil which opens and closes much faster than round types and allows for a much larger pupil size. This allows more light to enter the eye. Cats also have a mirror like membrane on the back of their eyes called a Tapetum. It reflects the light passing through

the rods... back through the rods a second time, this time in the opposite direction.

The result is a double exposure of the light, which permit cats to see well in near darkness.

Although a cat cannot see in total darkness, a partly cloudy night sky with some stars will provide enough light for cats to hunt and see movement, even in the cover of most brush. At nigh, a cat relies on it's extremely sensitive hearing and directional ear movement to locate the general position of prey, then targets and captures the prey using it's keen eyesight.

The yellowish glow you see when you shine a light into cat eyes at night,

is really your light reflecting off the Tapetum membrane.

Thanks to: VidoesForCats.com

Marking, UI, and Urinating

2005-01-01T12:52:00.000-08:00

The difference between a cat spraying or marking and eliminating fluid waste is based on the position of the body.

To spray or mark their territory, cats back up to the object, and remain standing to release the urine. They are also known to wiggle their tale while doing this.

Cats will squat very low to urinate, and they will then scratch and cover it up.

Cats with Urinary Infection will try to squat to urinate, but then will rise up as the urine leaves the body, since it is causing physical pain and discomfort.

Cats do not stand up to urinate, even with UI. If a cat is standing up while releasing urine, that is a marking behavior.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Cat Talk - lying on your newspaper or book

2004-12-31T22:00:00.000-08:00

Cat feels comfortable. It feels it is complete control.

Kitty Bites Me While Petting Her

2004-12-30T22:00:00.000-08:00

Some cat owners are familiar with this cat behavior problem: you�re petting Kitty, she seems to like it because she is purring and suddenly, CHOMP! Her teeth are lodged in the flesh of your hand.

The general consensus on this problem is that the cat becomes over stimulated during petting, and can�t quite figure out how to tell you to stop. The best thing to do is DON�T PANIC. Slowly withdraw your hand, then move away from the cat. If the cat is in your lap, pull your hands away and allow it to retreat, or stand up and let the cat jump to the floor.

Learn how to recognize the signals that precede biting: wildly flicking tail, ears laid back, their pupils dilating, or their body tensing. When any of these are noticed, stop touching the animal and allow it to move away on its own.

When training a new pet, start with short time periods of petting then slowly increase the length of time. Always back away slowly when the cat shows signs of frustration.

Then there are some cats that prefer other methods of human interaction besides petting; for those animals try playing with them more and petting them less.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Cat Talk - Rubbing against your leg and purring.

2004-12-30T01:00:00.000-08:00

This means kitty has accepted you as a friend, or you have been forgiven for abandoning it.

Cat Talk - lying on your newspaper or book

2004-12-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

Cat feels comfortable. It feels it is complete control.

Canned Cat Foods to Use and Avoid

2004-12-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

You can try �fish� flavored canned cat foods, since the fish flavors have a very distinctive smell that cats will recognize. Don�t feed your cat or kitten straight tuna that is meant for humans, since a steady diet of this will deplete their bodies of vitamin E. You can feed your cat the tuna flavored cat foods occasionally because they are supplemented with additional vitamin E to prevent this, but it might be best to avoid tuna altogether.

In addition to being a good source of nutrition on its own, canned cat food can be used as a supplement to dry cat foods, increasing it palatability and water content. Many owners simply feed their cats both.

All credits for this tip go to: Cat Tips Site

Our Cats - Pics

2004-12-29T04:33:00.000-08:00

You can see the pics of our cats that I just posted - aren't they cute??

:-)

I am very serious! Take care about your kitties!

2004-12-29T03:17:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! I am happy to be with you. My name is Angie, and I live with my dear hubby Chris, in a city called Tampa on Florida. We have a beautiful house with a lot of pets, among which I am mostly addicted to my pussycats, to be precise, 7 of them :-) We are a huge family and I take care about them as a real mother. Their names are (my princesses) Missy, Pumpkin, Sassy, Peaches with two boys called Oscar and Gonzo and Sly. They all can't live without us and I spent a huge deal of time taking care about these beauties and also gathering useful tips about kitties. To be honest, Chris tought me into having a kitty related blog, and since I decided that I can do it propperly, I'll try to post all the best tips I found on this blog. We'll see how it goes. Please leave comments about the tips and also send some additional ones if you have them. Let's make live better for our beauties.