Cat Articles

Articles about cats and caring for cats from various authors.

Factors To Consider When Traveling With Your Cat

by
Joshua Simms asked:

Some cats enjoy traveling where others do not; it really depends on your cat’s personality. Traveling can either be and easy or difficult task when you have your cat in tow. There are different ways that you can travel and there are also different things that you need to consider with each mode of transportation.

Articleing your Air Travel

Traveling by plane can be quite tricky if your cat hates flying. You might have the option of having them on the plane with your or having to send them below into an air conditioned cargo area especially designed for pet travel. Some airlines allow you to take your cat along in a carrier that can fit below the seat in front of you. You need to specifically ask the airline if this is an option or not, plus you need to consider if your cat will fit into such a carrier.

If this practice is not allowed you will have to have your cat in a carrier and check them into the cargo area. If you plan on traveling with your cat you need to make your reservation far in advance and inform the airline that you will be traveling with a cat. You also have to make sure that your carrier fits the criteria of the airline. You might even be able to have your cat sedated for the flight time frame by your veterinarian to make travel a little easier.

Packing up the Car for a Trip

If you cat likes to go on car trips with you, then traveling a long distance by car is going to be a piece of cake. On the other hand if they detest it, it might not be the most enjoyable trip. Either way, you need to make sure that your cat is ready to travel with you. First, you definitely need a cat carrier when you are driving to help keep your cat safe and so you won’t become distracted while driving.

You also need to make sure you cat has their collar on with their identification tag on it. If you cat doesn’t like the car, you might want to try getting him used to it in advance by taking your cat out for short trips around the block or down the street. Before you leave on your trip, you need to make sure to pack your cat’s bag as well as your own.

You need to make sure that you have their bowls, food, medication, litter box, litter, cat bed, cat toys, and some sort of scratching post so he doesn’t tear up the room of wherever you are going. If you cat absolutely freaks out when you put him in the car, you might need to come up with another plan for your cat while you are away.

Not Brining Fluffy on the Trip

If you have the cat that freaks out whenever you try to travel by plane or by car, you will probably have to come up with a different plan. You can choose to leave your cat with friends, at home, or in a boarding place. Whatever you choose will probably depend largely on your cat and their attitudes and ability to adapt. A boarding place will allow you to leave your cat in a place where they will be taken care of.

Unfortunately not all pet boarding facilities are a great place to leave your pet, so you will have to do a lot of careful research before just dropping off your cat. A friend of family member might take in your cat so they can take care of all your cat’s needs while you are gone. You can also choose to leave your cat at home if you will only be gone a short time, or have a cat sitter stay at your home with your cat.

Don’t ask just anyone, make sure they can be trusted, and make sure to leave them with a list of things such as what food you feed, when you feed, when to clean the litter box, and any emergency numbers as well. For some, this might end up being the best option for their cat.

Cute Persian Kitten

Top Cat Breeds And Tips On Responsible Cat Breeding

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Ken Charnly asked:

Cat breeding is not as easy as just letting cats mate. Breeding is not just about choosing cats to produce adorable kittens to earn money. To breed cats is not the same as to produce them. Breeding encompasses that stage.

Breeding cats involves scientific and systematic concepts. Producing cats involves only common sense. Breeding cats has an emotional aspect to it. Fulfillment does not come from mere moneymaking. Sacrifices have to be made to achieve the breeder’s goal: to safeguard the welfare of the cats.

A lot of things must be taken into consideration before breeding cats. Here is a guide to help us better understand the dynamic process of cat breeding.

– A cat breeder’s concern is the preservation or improvement of cat pedigree.

This is a serious matter. Selection of the parent cats is done on the basis of health, quality traits and reproducing capability. A breeder will never pair cats carelessly.

– A cat breeder is dedicated to learn more about cats.

A lot of things must be learned regarding cat breeding. Latest researches must be employed to properly select the cats to be bred. The welfare of the cats depends on how much the breeder knows.

– A cat breeder makes plans.

Breeding does not involve hasty actions.

– A cat breeder has to follow rules set by the government.

Breeders are obliged to register their cats to their respective breeds. Certain taxes are imposed to hobbyists and to businessmen alike.

– A cat breeder’s primary motive is to take care of cats. Monetary motives come after this.

A cat’s life is more important than money. And it is more rewarding to see the kittens grow. The money earned is just an additional reward.

– A cat breeder’s responsibility to the cats does not end.

His care for his cats does not end when the kittens were sold.

– A cat breeder holds the future of the cat’s offspring.

Whatever a cat breeder does affects the life of the kittens, thus extra care must be given by cat breeders when making decisions.

– A cat breeder knows when to stop breeding.

Breeding is not just about having many cats. It is about taking care of all of them.

After learning about these things, it can be concluded that breeding is an arduous task indeed. However, for those who are cat breeders at heart, all these hardships are worth the kittens they bred (not produced)!

Cats are best bought from responsible cat breeders. Hobbyists choose to own purebred cats because their temperaments are more predictable than cats with unknown pedigrees.

If you are getting a cat from a cat breeder, ask him about the number of cat breeds that he has so you can choose from them. Also, ask him how many years he has been breeding cats and whether he can give you a health guarantee and complete papers for the cat.

Top cat breeds:

If you want to show off your cat then it is best to choose from among the top five cat breeds throughout the world.

1. Persian-Persian cats are called Persian for their country of origin. Persians have a long coat, sweet personality and have the ability to blend into the household. These are the qualities that made Persians one of the top choices of cat lovers. However, its long coat requires daily combing to avoid tangles.

2. Maine Coon-These are long-haired cats with good mouse hunting skills. These cats are good companions for children.

3. Exotic-This breed can offer you the better of two worlds. The Exotic cat has the look of a Persian cat, but it has short hair, making it easy to groom. They look like teddy bears with their thick and short coats. These cats are sweet and good companions like the Persians.

4. Siamese-Siamese cats originally came from Siam or Thailand. This cat possesses an aristocratic head, looks almost like a deer because of it’s stiff ears, and has a short coat. Siamese cats have long bodies, long legs and long necks.

5. Abyssinian-These cats are very elegant-looking, much like the cats portrayed in Egyptian sculptures. Abyssinia is the former name of Ethiopia. However, Abyssinian cats did not originate in Ethiopia. They got the name because the first cats of Abyssinian breed, which were exhibited in England, were from Abyssinia.

No matter what your choice of a cat breed is, make sure that your cat is healthy and that it has already been weaned. The ideal age to get a kitten is about 14 weeks, when their immune systems are already developed.

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Why does my cat get so jealous of other cats?

by
Miranda asked:

I have two cats. My girl hates the boy and hisses at him constantly. And she is always fighting with the cat upstairs. I have heard of cats who are friendly and cuddle with each other but I have never had a cat like that. Is my cat just a b*tch? She is very friendly with me.

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Can female cats get in sync with each others going into heat?

by
B asked:

I have two cats. One seven month old, and one six month old.
Last month the older cat started going into heat. This month the younger one had her first heat.
Now the older one is going through heat again. Did the younger one’s heat trigger the older one into heat again?
I have never had unspayed female cats, so I have no idea how often they go into heat.
Is this normal? Is it like when two women get their periods in sync with each other??
Thanks for the help!

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How do i stop cats from ********** in my flowerbeds?

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Stina Marie asked:

The neighborhood that i live in has several ferrel cats and a few outside cats that are pets. I don’t want to harm the animals i just don’t want to find cat fecies in my flowerbeds or walk into my back yard and smell cat urine. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Can tuxedo cats give birth to kittens of different colors?

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Kait asked:

This question sounds pretty silly, I know. But I’m curious! My cat is pregnant and both she and the father are “tuxedo” cats (black and white). Have any of you had a tuxedo cat that gave birth to other colors? Do cats pass along genetic traits the way humans do?
In response to an answer I recieved- I had adopted both of these cats into my home as adults and upon taking the female to get spayed, I learned that she was pregnant. So your “lecture” was not needed. Thanks.

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How can I get my cat to like other cats?

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WinkleDoodle asked:

My cat, Rocket, is the happiest and sweetest cat that I’ve ever met. She purrs all the time and loves being cuddled and held, but there’s one problem: while she’s so loving and happy with people, she hates other cats. She will turn nearly feral towards them. Is there any way to get her used to other cats, so she can at least be in the same room as them?

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Learn How To Feed Your Cat

by
Joshua Simms asked:

You need to make sure that you read the label on the food that you are getting for your cat. Although it may seem strange because you can is a pet, their nutrition is still just as important as yours is which is why you should read the ingredients so that you are aware of what is in the food you are giving your cat. You also need to pay attention to what formula of cat food that you are purchasing. They have food for adult cats, kittens, aging cats, cats on diets, and everything in between. You don’t want to be feeding your kitten adult food and vice versa.

After picking up the right food for your cat, there is matter of where to feed your cat, when to feed your cat, and how much to feed them. If you have never owned a cat before this can be quite a tricky process to figure out all on your own. First and foremost, you need to find a place that is ideal for your cat to eat at.

Think about it from your cat’s perspective, you really wouldn’t want to eat while adults and kids are running all around you and being loud. This is why you need to find a place that is quiet and accessible for your cat to have their food and water bowl. Once you decide on a particular place, don’t keep changing it around because cats don’t always deal well with that type of change.

Keep in mind that your cat might make a bit of a mess when they are drinking and eating so it may not be wise to put the food and water in an area that is going to be ruined by the mess. You also need to make sure that you are keeping the bowls clean and changing the water out on a regular basis in order to avoid your cat getting sick.

As far as when you should feed your cat, it is good to get your cat into the habit of eating at a particular time each day. Just as humans eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at certain times, so should your cat. Of course this might not be quite so easy if you are away from the hose during the day, but there is a solution. If the cat is eating dry cat food you can simply put the entire days ration into the food bowl and your cat can eat from it throughout the day.

If you aren’t sure you want to put it all in, you can choose to be half of it in the bowl. It’s really up to you and your schedule as to what a regular and convenient feeding schedule will be, but it is wise to get a regular pattern started. Listed below will give you some ideas as to how to coordinate your feeding schedule.

• At 4-6 weeks

o 1/2 to 1 oz

? 3 to 4 times per day

• 7 weeks to 6 months

o 1 to 3 oz

? 3 to 4 times per day

• 7 months to 1 year

o 3 oz

? 2 times per day or you can leave 6 oz in their bowl all day

You can also look on the package of cat food that you buy for what they suggest you feed your cat.

Just as there are certain things that you need to keep in mind when feeding your cat, there are also certain thing that you shouldn’t do when feeding your cat.

• You shouldn’t give your cat bones; this is a good rule for any pet whether they are a cat or a dog. Chicken bones, pork bones, and fish bones are a big no because they can cause quite a bit of damage to your cats tummy and throat that could lead to a trip to the veterinarian or worse.

• Again a good tip for any animal, don’t give your cat leftovers from the table. Although you think that you are doing them a favor by giving them a treat, you could be making a bigger problem when your cat begins to avoid their cat food.

• Cats can’t eat two foods in particular, the first being chocolate and the second being onions. Both of these foods are considered a toxic food to your cat.

• Despite what you may have seen on television or in the movies, cats do not need to drink milk. What more, if you give milk to your cat you might find yourself cleaning up after an icky mess since it can cause diarrhea.

• The last tip is not to feed your cat any other animal’s food. They need the nutrients that are in their cat food and dog food won’t quite give them what they need.

Cat Suicide

When cats do not get along with another inside cat, and they are threaten, they pee on my bed. What meds work?

by
PATRICIA B asked:

What to do when I have a few cats (a multiple cat household) and one cat  is scared of another and then pees on my bed?
Both cats are healthy, no problems. Litter boxes, (3) are kept clean, and are in private places. This only happens when the inside/outside cat is inside . She is very dominate and bossy. Should I medicate the bossy cat or the scared cat?


MamaMia Says:
We don’t recommend medicating cats as a solution. Drugs should only

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Why do some cats lay down and others fall over?

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thlslsborlng asked:

I’ve been around cats all my life and have two of my own at the moment. I’ve noticed some cats when they go to lay down will just fall over sideways while others will lay down gently. In my findings most of the fall over cats are always the extremly friendly ones. Has anyone else ever noticed this and how does your cat lay down?

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10 Minutes to Train Your Cat

by
Jim Moore asked:

If you have a cat – or more than one cat – then you’re in the market for some quick and easy training tips. The following tips . . . tricks . . . and techniques cover a variety of situations that most cat owners encounter.

The key to effective training is consistency. Whatever you choose, be sure to do it on regularly, otherwise, you’ll be sending your cat mixed signals. And that will only make it that much harder to train her. Forget about cat training in 10 minutes!

Below are ten “must have” tips that will get you through your initial phase cat ownership.

1. Cats really don’t care that you punish them. It’s true. If you’ve owned a dog, you know that punishing him will help change his behavior. It doesn’t with cats. Bottom line. Don’t waste your time. They’ll sit there purring at you and just perform that same behavior again.

2. Corporal punishment is out of the question. Because a cat’s body is so delicate, you can’t “spank” a cat the way you do a dog to get its attention. That means when you’re training your cat, you have to match wits with it. Don’t worry. I’m confident you’ll win. There are things out there like cat clicker training, but I don’t recommend it.

3. Use a form of positive reinforcement. As you become a seasoned cat owner, you’ll discover that it’s difficult to catch your cat in the actual “crime”. It’s far easier, then, to reward your cat when you see her performing a right behavior. Keep some cat “treats” on hand. Feed one to your cat whenever she is doing something positive – like using the litter box or using her scratching post.

4. Keep plenty of toys – either store bought or make shift – around the house. Much of the “bad” behavior of cats is simply because they’re board. The feline is by nature a predatory animal. Remember the scene in the Disney movie, The Lion King, where little Simba gets “pouncing lessons.” When you think your cat is literally bouncing off the walls and tearing down the curtains, he’s only practicing his predatory skills. Provide him with alternatives and he’ll tame down – at least some.

5. When you’re away, keep him busy. If your cat is used to company, he may get bored and inadvertently destruction while you’re at work or are gone for any length of time. Here’s a quick hint. Buy a timer for your television set, make sure the TV is tuned to an animal-friendly channel (an outdoor channel or Animal Planet for instance) and then have the television automatically turn on at different times of the day. Cats can see images on the screen. He’ll come to investigate the noise and stay to watch the picture – at least for a while.

6. The value of a spray bottle of water. In some instances, spraying a cat with a harmless water bottle is enough to get their attention and stop the bad behavior. You only need a simple spray bottle that you use for misting plants. Squirt the cat if it misbehaves. Soon, he’ll know that he can’t do that.

7. Blow a harmless puff of air in your cat’s face. Yes, this sounds crazy, but it really works. If your cat is literally in your face and you need to teach him to keep a certain distance and give you some space, try it. Blow a puff of air into his face. It’ll startle and puzzle him. Soon, he’ll associate the two and you won’t be bothered by the unpleasant attention he gives you.

8. Make sure you cat has “a room with a view”. You know what they say, “curiosity killed the cat.” More appropriately, an irate owner went berserk over something a bored cat got into. Much of the bad behavior of your cat is simply due to his innate curiosity. Make sure he has a ledge or window sill that he can sit in comfortably to check out the birds and squirrels in your yard. If your window sill isn’t large enough for him to sit for extended periods, you can by an extension at the pet store. Or, if someone you know is handy, you can make your own.

9. Spend quality time with your cat. As a training technique, this may sound a bit unorthodox. But, it’s really a savvy move on your part. The more time you spend with your kitty, the better you’ll be able to communicate with her. Cats definitely have a form of communication skills that involves more than just “talking.” The better you know your cat – and just as importantly, the better your cat knows you – you’ll be able “to read her mind”. You’ll just “know” when she’s considering an improper move. And she’ll know when you disapprove just by reading your body language and the look on your face.

10. Confine the aggressive cat. Reward the victim. Got more than one cat? Then you probably have that occasional “cat fight.” Felines are territorial animals. They will get into a fight now and then over their “catdom.” If you view the fight, your first step is to disengage the action. Using a water sprayer is the best method. Squirt the aggressor. Try to avoid squirting the victim. After that, confine the “bully” in a less attractive space. In the meantime, reward the cat who didn’t attack – even when she was being attacked. Give her a treat and let her free roam the house. When you do put this pair of felines together again, try to keep them as supervised as possible.

These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg when you’re training your cat. As you and your pet begin to know each better, you’ll discover a language of your own. It may be through speech – you talk and she meows. But more than likely, the two of you will eventually be able to read each other’s body language. You’ll soon learn the subtle nuances of this very effective form of communication . . . and teaching your cat what she needs to know will be easier than you can ever imagine.

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How do i get my cats to get along?

by
Janelle D asked:

Okay, so I got a new cat about 1 year old like 4 weeks ago, and i already have 2 cats both about 2. And My cats hate the new one, if they see her they’ll hide and not come out. We’ve been keeping her in my room. My one cat Precious, if my new cat gets near her will grow and hiss like crazy. Nothing seems to be working.

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Diet Tips For A Healthy Cat

by
Nick Bulka asked:

Most of us know that feeding our cat is not really a chore at all. Dump the food in a big bowl or dish, and the cat will eat when it’s ready. Unlike a dog, cats tend to not overeat and therefore are more easily manageable than most other house pets. However, we need to be careful when assuming that the food that we are feeding our cat, and the manner by which we feed our cat, are the best choices for our cat. Here are some tips on how to maintain a healthy diet for your kitty.

Feed your cat based on their activity.

Is your cat an active cat or does it to lay around the house all day waiting for its next meal? If your cat is overweight and not very active at all, leaving a bowl full of food is probably not the best idea. It is at this point that you should begin to manage how much you feed your cat, what you feed your cat, and how often. By taking charge of your cat’s feeding habits, you will be able to increase the life and longevity of your cat by making this simple and easy choice. A simple “Here kitty kitty kitty” will make your overweight and hungry feline run for the bowl to eat your rationed healthy amount of cat food.

Watch the weather!

Simply put, the environment in which your animal lives directly affects and influences their energy needs. Extreme hot or cold weather can increases a pet’s energy needs and drinking habits. Make sure that on hot days water is readily available and that you feed your cat more canned food then dry. The water content within the canned food will help the cat retain water if it is not able to get to the water dish on a regular basis. If the weather is cold, make sure that you are feeding your cat very nutritional cat food that is not full of filler so that your cat will have more of the necessary nutrients to digest to ensure that it stays healthy.

Cat feeding times

Although discussed previously, there is much more to say about having a specific feeding time for your cat. Not only does this allow you to feed your cat nutritional canned food, you will also know that it will not be left in the open. Preservatives are nice, but let’s not take any chances with the food left out.

Also, by having specific feeding times, this allows you to monitor your cat’s diet by providing the food at regular times. It is a kind of portion-control feeding, however, most cats will simply eat until they have what they need.

Bottom line: keep a bowl full of a regular dry cat food and monitor the intake of canned food to ensure that your cat does not get overweight and is as healthy as it can be.

Buy the best

Though this sounds economically wrong, the truth of the matter is this: cheap cat food usually is cheap because of the added fillers that are put into the food.

As a general rule, cats need a daily regimen of protein found in meat, fish, or poultry. They also need an essential amino acid called Taurine and various other vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.

If you have looked at a label for cat food, you will notice that wheat, rice, and even corn is used as filler for both canned and dry cat foods. Make sure that the cat food that you choose has the proper amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals and not as much filler. The price of the cat food usually justifies its quality. And, as an added benefit, cats usually only eat as much as their bodies need. Therefore, your cat will probably eat less of the expensive of cat food because it contains more of the nutrients that it needs and not as much filler.

Avoid food addictions

Cats are said to be finicky animals. Whether this is true or not, cats have been known to develop a certain affinity toward particular brands and types of food. This could become a problem, especially if your cat develops a food allergy to certain ingredients and preservatives that may be contained within that cat food.

In order to avoid this, it is recommended that early in a cat’s life that it gets used to having different varieties of cat food and different flavors. This way, the cat is less likely to develop an affinity for a particular brand which may inevitably lead to the cat developing a food allergy because of the lack of variety in its daily diet.

Overall, by avoiding cat food products that have chemical preservatives like BHA, cornmeal, and other carbohydrate fillers, you should be able to maintain your cat’s health at an optimal level.

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