Do You Know the Importance of Regularly Playing With Your Indoor Cat?

Indoor cats need to play to stay healthy. Safe cat playtime is also essential for the well being of your home and your own sanity. A bored cat is a recipe for trouble, they need a good outlet for their energy. Cats tire out easily, so you only need a couple of minutes here and there to play and bond. TV commercial time is an excellent time to get into the habit of playing, training and grooming your cat.

Cat safe toys are important for their good health and the good health of your pocketbook. Vet bills are expensive and if you use good common sense in choosing the toys, you should avoid having to go, except for the yearly visits.

Sometimes the things that cats are most attracted to are the most dangerous for them. Things like strings, yarn and ribbons can be played with, but hide them away when not in use. Your cat can chew and ingest them. Rubber bands, plastic milk jug rings, paper clips, pins and needles, dental floss, etc. should never be left out for them to find. Cat proofing your home is similar to child proofing it for a small child.

Alternate toys so that they keep a fresh interest. Play with them, when you introduce a new toy. Some people think that cats are too independent and stand offish. This generally happens when you do not show your cat that you are interested in playing, training, grooming and loving it. Think about how you would react to someone who just fed you and ignored you the rest of the time. You would soon give up on trying to interact with them.

Choose soft toys wisely. They should be machine washable with no dangerous fillings like nut shells or poly styrene beads. No plastic eyes or other parts that can be chewed off and ingested. Toys that are rated for 3 years and under are usually OK, but check them out carefully. Please remember that catnip is a drug.

Holiday time is a time to be extra careful. Christmas tree tinsel is lovely, but deadly to cats, dogs and other household pets. It is bright, shiny and ever so enticing.

We put up our tree and let it sit for a day for the cats to get use to it. Then we put on the lights another night and let them get use to that. Then we decorate it. We reserve the bottom 1 - 2 feet for soft ornaments that are OK for them to take off and play with. We put them back on again and again. They will pick out the ones they like the best.

This idea works out very well for the work schedule, because you are getting sometime done each night and not pushing to do it all at once.

Be careful about your holiday plants. Holly berries can be cute for your cat to swat around, but they will make them sick. Mistletoe berries, poinsettia and amaryllis bulbs will also ruin the holidays for your cat and for you.

Ease your own stress level by playing with your cat each and every night before bedtime. Studies have shown that cat owners are less likely to die from heart related issues. It creates a good loving bond and most important it tires the cat out. A tired cat at bedtime will want a good nights sleep, which counters its natural instinct to be nocturnal.

Shower rings linked together and hung to entice your cat will lead to hours of fun. A paper bag, a clothes pin attached to the lower part of a curtain are also quick and easy treats. Very soft balls that children play with, balls with bells inside and ping pong balls are all great.

Try putting a ball in the bottom of the bathtub or shower. Cardboard boxes with a toy in the bottom and tubes from paper towels, start to unwind the tubes first, are fun time. Do not forget to put a favorite toy in the cat carrier when it is needed.

Make playtime a period of mutual enjoyment for you and your cat and you will be richly rewarded with love and many delightful laughs.

Author: Judy Jantzen My husband and I have owned cats for the past 25 years. Currently has a orange tabby and a black short hair. All the cats we have owned have been strays.

For more information about cats check out our web site at Cat Goodies Finder.com

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Should You Get a Second Cat?

Most people believe that cats are independent, aloof and solitary creatures. Nothing could be further from the truth. While many cats do live that way, it's not because they choose it. It's because it was forced on them. And once habituated to that lifestyle, they are less likely to accept a companion, thus "proving" to everyone that they are independent, aloof and solitary.

In reality, cats are very social and crave companionship. It's why they are wonderful pets. People who need someone to love them unconditionally will find it in a cat. Dogs fulfill this need also, but in different ways. Dogs will openly adore a person, in ways that are more obvious, while cats appear to be more reserved. Cats also adore their people, but the signs are often missed because many people don't really pay enough attention to their cats to understand their more subtle signs.

In fact, a recent comment on a blog revealed a disturbing notion. The writer had submitted a question about her "annoying" cat, who wouldn't leave her alone, was always following her around and trying to rub on her. (So much for a cat's "subtle" signs.) Good grief... what do these owners want? A quiet furball that sits quietly, snoozing, until they demand some play time or cuddle time? What should the cat do between demands? Well, here's what they do: they learn to hide or settle down in a corner or a closet, and eventually, never interact with their owner. Soon, these owners get the idea that cats don't enjoy being with people.

If someone has a cat that wants to play more often than they are willing to participate, then perhaps they should consider getting the cat a pal. At least the two cats can keep each other company and play together, relieving the owner of any obligation to be part of their lives.

If you do get a second cat to keep the first one company, it can be a challenge to help them become friends. Cats don't typically accept new members into their family right away, so a period of adjustment is needed. As owners, we can help them learn to get along and eventually, learn to become close friends. For tips on how to do that, it helps to understand how to introduce a new cat into your home. Dr. RJ Peters established a rescue shelter in 2002 and has found new homes for more than 1,000 animals, mostly cats.

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Your Cat Talks With You - Believe Me!

Cats are very good communicators. But the problem with humans is they are used to relying much on words. So we humans most of the time, completely ignore our cats who are trying to talk with us using their language and behaviors. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that your cat talk with you every single second, trying to get closer to you. You just have to do a little observation. Pay more attention to your cat and soon you will learn the way he communicates.

Your cat communicates differently with you than with other animals. He uses great number of noises, sounds plus body language to communicate. Let's take a cats' most common sound "meow" for and instant. Have you ever noticed how tone of "meow" changes when they express different states like hunger, anger, curiosity and happiness. Do you remember how they welcome you home? They will use a long lasting "meow" of high pitch to express anger and soft voiced "meow" to express happiness. Whenever one of my kittens asks for foods saying "meow" and rubbing his self on me, if my other kitten is in a distance to hear it, she will come running to me as she knows that other kitten is asking for food and she needs the same thing.

The amount of noise a cat makes depends on cats' personality. And some cats barely make a noise. Purring is also a much important ritual of cat communication. Most of the time a cat purrs to say he is happy and he likes your companionship. But sometimes cats purr when they are gone though a horrible incident, in such a situation it is used as a self calming mechanism. Also a cat in a serious illness may purr.

The easiest way to recognize your cats' mood is to watch his tale. When a cat keeps his tale high he is happy. The cat is happier, higher the tale. When they are extremely happy they point their tale directly up. A cat twitches his tale to say he is angry or annoyed and the ears may also flatten when he is much annoyed.

When a cat get scared it puff up its hair, eyes becomes larger and there may also be hissing and groaning. When your cat wants to play it lies on its sides with it paws and feet outstretched.

These are only few signs your cat uses to communicate, you will find thousands more. So, next time when you see your cat, look at him properly and try to figure out what he's saying. He might be telling you that "HE LOVES YOU".

Dilani is really interested in cats and their behavior. She writes with the inspiration she got from her two cats' behavior and the books she read. You can read more at Understanding your cat.

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Helpful Tips to House Cat Training That Work!

House cat training is very important for any cat owner, and luckily simple to learn. Confused new kittens and full grown cats that have just decided to stop using there litter box can learn how to use their litter box every time.

With all new kittens, it is a good idea to take them over to the litter box when mama kitty goes. Then you can put the kitty in the litter box so they can smell and check everything out. You can wait for the kitty to go but if they don't after a while, just try later.

Litter training a cat all over again could just be about something you have changed. Now think...Have you changed the litter, style of litter box, location of litter box, kitty food is too close to the box? Little changes like this can make your kitty not want to go in the right spot. They can be very very picky.

When litter training a cat make sure it is cleaned often. It is not easy to go when the box is not clean. Make sure that the box is easy to enter and exit. Felines like their privacy too, and my cats personally like the hood over the liter box. Also have the box located in a spot where there is not alot of commotion. Try the bathroom or the laundry room, those are two are good places. Oh, and if you have more then one cat, make sure you have 1 box to each cat.

If none of these help you, then your screwed! Just kidding, Either your cat could be mad at you, I'm sorry but your kitty might be getting old and has a bladder problem, or like me, you need a cat training book. House cat training is possible. But it will take patience, and knowing what the heck you are doing.

To learn how I finally got my cats to stop tearing up my place with house cat training from my very own home or to get a FREE subscription to Cat Behavior Training Tips e-mail newsletter visit My Blog and finally get your house cat training under control :)

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Cat Health - Taking Good Care During Hot Days

In some countries, it can be summer all year round. In such climate where the sun can be burning hot, you may hope for it to rain to bring the temperature down or go somewhere where air conditioning is available. Like any other person, your cat cannot agree more to that. It is necessary for you to take extra precautious of your cat's health during hot season to prevent it from suffering from dehydration. Unless you are able to understand what your cat is telling you, you have to constantly observed your pet's behavior or at the very least, give it a cooler living condition in order to prevent it from overheated.

Keep your cat indoor when you notice that the temperature outside is high. Pet cats aren't as street smart as stray cats. Your cat may not know where to go to keep itself cool, and even when it can find one, it may not come home till the sun is set. During the hottest season, the cement floor outside can be very hot and it may hurt and cause injury to your cat's sensitive paw pads. If you have a cat which has been trained of answering to its nature calls outdoor, ensure it is back in the house shortly. The main point is to always keep your pet in the house when the weather is too hot.

If you are one cat owner who likes to take your cat in your car wherever you go, make sure that your cat is never be left in a parked car during hot summer. By leaving your cat in a parked car even for a short while may cause harm to it. Have you ever notice that the temperature in your car can increase rapidly during hot days. This can even happen when you are parking under a shade due to the reasons that the sun will not fixed at one position and that heat travel from hot regions to cold regions. Unlike dogs, cats may not be able to alert passers-by of its discomfort and they could pass out and die in as short as fifteen minutes. So, make it habit to take your cat with you after parking your car.

Grooming can keep your cat's fur short so as to keep cool. Comb its fur frequently to remove any shed fur that might still be covering it. If you have a cat which has natural long fur, like Persian cat and Siberian cat; you may just have to provide it with a cooler environment.

Always provide your cat with a bowl of clean water. This should be done even during cooler season to prevent dehydration. Change the water a few times daily during hot weather to prevent the water from getting too warm. The main key is to maintain its body temperature.

You furry feline, like human, is not adapted to very high temperature. Since it is your pet, it must be very important to you, and since it is important to you, you would want to give the best care to its health.

Any responsible cat owner will provide the best care for his or her feline. Sign up for a Free 10 Day ecourse on tips to properly care and train for your feline at http://www.jeffboo.com/recommend/catcare.html

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Cat Not Using Litter Box - Does Your Cat Not Using Litter Box?

A cat not using litter box is probably the main reason why cat owners give up. It's frustrating and annoying find your cat pee all around home. Fortunately many people have been in your shoes before, so there are lots of answers for this problem.

These are the four main reasons for a cat not using his box.

- Urinary Tract Infection.

Do you noticed any change in your cat behavior? If so, you may handle with an urinary tract infection and this is the reason why your cat not using litter box.

Immediately take your cat to the vet and make sure that's not a healthy issue. Vet are trained to treat urinary tract infection.

- The box is in a loud or high traffic area.

Is your cat toilet in a loud and high traffic area? If your answer is yes, this is the reason why your cat not using litter box. Moving the box form the loud and traffic room to a more quiet and silent room, you can easily solve the problem. Cats need privacy to do their business.

It can happen that your cat was scared by a loud washing-machine and she may associate the fear with the litterbox itself (and not with the room) and start avoiding it. Since cats leave a fear scent when they get scared, this scent can be the reason why your cat not using the litter box.

To solve this problem, thoroughly clean the bathroom box with mild soap and water. You can also use some ammonia type cleaners (you should have it in your home), so your cat will be more attract to use it. This way, you also avoid your cat not using the litter box.

- The box cause pain.

This can happen very often when your cat needs to recover from a surgery. Your cat may associate the pain with the litter box - and avoid it in order to prevent further pain. This happens most often with cats that have been recently declawed because the recovery is so long and painful. Rarely, it may happen with a cat that has been spayed - but cats typically recover from being spayed/neutered very quickly.

Once your cat associate the pain with the litter box there is almost nothing to do. You should buy a new litterbox.

But, if you know ahead of time your cat is going to have a surgery, get a new box just for use during the recovery period. To save money you can also use a large Tupperware storage container.

- Litterbox smells.

Cats are very clean creatures and they don't want to use a dirty litter box that hasn't been cleaned for 3 weeks any more than you would want to use a toilet that hasn't been flushed in 3 weeks - especially since they have to stand in their litter box.

Make sure you scoop out clumps daily and do a complete dump once a week. (Or every 2 weeks for clumping litter). By doing this you'll stop your cat not using the litter box.

If the litterbox still smell, maybe you cleaned it with something that your spoiled kitty considers stinky.

Make sure you don't use any strong chemicals like bleach or comet to clean you cat box. Plain water, or water with diluted dish soap will work fine. Definitely avoid using anything with a citrus smell, because most cats despise the smell of citrus.

Another reason not to use harsh chemicals is because cats like to be able to smell their familiar scent in the box. The scent reminds them it's safe, comfortable place to do their business.

Are you tired to see your cat use your house as a huge litter box? If your cat not using litter box, you can learn how to train him with this newsletter series: http://solvemycatproblem.info - $29 Value - Yours FREE

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Tips For Handling Disabled Cats

After 6 years and 1,000 cats at my shelter, I have learned quite a lot by simply observing how they act, or react, toward events, conditions and people in their lives. Normal cats that have all their faculties use them as needed, just as we do.

But life changes when some of one's abilities to communicate, eat or move around are no longer present. For cats that have become blind, deaf, paralyzed or have lost limbs, managing day-to-day tasks takes on new challenges.

For an outdoor cat, especially a stray, any disability will almost certainly be a death sentence as other, stronger cats outwit, out-hunt, overpower, or simply attack them. Such cats would then die of starvation because they are not able to eat unless someone brings it to them.

Disabled cats are most likely to thrive in a protected environment, such as in a loving home, although someone occasionally spots a three-legged cat that manages to survive in their neighborhood. A blind or deaf cat, however, will not last very long.

Interestingly, though, animals more easily accept their limitations and work around them, without being obsessively sad or resentful. Today is today, and the skills we bring to every today is how we get through each one. Animals can be happy and contented with some of the most awful disabilities, and they serve as wonderful lessons to us as humans, so that we can accept things, too.

Our blind cat has learned to manage by her wits, her ability to detect smells, sounds and subtle movements around her, and has memorized the layout of the entire house. Our deaf cat lost her ability to hear gradually over her 15 year lifespan so far, so she has gradually learned to accept her silent surroundings. Of course, she's easy to sneak up on, so she will never be allowed outdoors. The tripod cat, who lost a front leg to a steel jaw trap, had more than her physical limitations to deal with... she was traumatized by the event and it took about 2 years for her to learn to trust humans again. The watchword with her was definitely "patience" and gentle respect. And our two kitties who survived distemper have neurological problems. They are unable to walk or run straight, as their hindquarters zig and zag along the way. Although they are unadoptable, since most of the pet-buying public seems to want perfect pets, these two cats are very happy and enrich our lives, too. They seem to be quite oblivious to their uncoordinated ways, and certainly don't dwell on their problems.

Learning to live with our blind cat has not been difficult... it just requires respect and consideration. Actually, that's all it takes with any disabled animal, or for that matter, any animal at all. In fact, those two skills are all that's needed to relate successfully with anyone... animal or person. Other disabilities that can affect our cats include neurological disorders, deafness, loss of a leg or other body part, or a disease process, such as diabetes. [Dr. RJ Peters established a rescue shelter in 2002 and has found new homes for more than 1,000 animals, mostly cats.]

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