Celebrating a Cat Birthday

Your cat is a very important member of your family. Whether you picked out a special kitten from a breeder, rescued an adult cat from the animal shelter, or took in a stray, why not choose a special day to celebrate your cat?

Choose a date. If you know your cat's actual birthday, you can use that date, or you can use the anniversary of the date you adopted your feline friend. If you can't remember, though, don't worry, your cat will forgive you. Just pick a date you like and go with that.

Shop for presents. These need not be anything too elaborate, and you need not make a special trip to a pet store as most grocery stores and drug stores carry at least a small selection of cat da bird replacement bee toys and treats. Do try to take your cat's personal preferences into account, though--does he actually enjoy playing with catnip da bird mice or those feather-on-a-stick things, or small cat clothes, or would he prefer presents of the edible variety?

Wrap the presents up in some sort of paper--leftover Christmas wrap is fine, or you can use newspaper if you're into recycling. The important part from your cat's perspective is that there be plenty of paper to shred or to chase after some kind human has crumpled it into a ball.

Make up your guest list. Most cats aren't sociable enough to welcome the addition of strange felines into the household, even on a temporary basis, but you may feel free to invite any human friends of which your cat approves, or you could limit the guest list to family members only.

Bake your cat a special kitty cake if you're feeling creative-you can find recipes for homemade cat treats on the internet. If you're not feeling that creative, you can just open a can of cat food and put a little birthday candle on the top. (Don't light it, though, or if you do be sure to blow it out before you get it anywhere near your cat, as you don't want to scare her.)

Be sure to have some treats for your other party guests, too. Perhaps a kitty-themed "people cake" or cookies, and any of your other favorite party snacks. (Your cat would probably vote for cocktail shrimp or some type of chicken, in hopes that some of it might find its way to the floor.)

Entertainment for House Cats

Indoor cats do not have the same opportunities for fun as outdoor cats. They can not climb trees, run for miles, chase birds and stalk squirrels. Just because they don't have access to this stimulation, does not mean they don't crave it. An indoor cat can be treated to similar opportunities if the right adjustments are made to his environment.

Grow cat grass for your cats to eat. Cats need cat grass to help their digestive systems. Keep some in the house growing in a small planter. Do not leave the grass outside where it can be exposed to stray cats and fleas.

Hide cat my little lion cat treats around your house. Cats enjoy hunting and have a tremendous sense of smell. Hiding dry cat treats around the house allows them to hunt and problem solve. Only hide them in safe places, and not near any household chemicals.

Buy gocat da bird pull apart toys for your cats and play with them. Some cats enjoy mice on strings or remote control operated mice to chase. Others like balls and cat wand feathers. Buy a variety of toys and see which toys your cats respond to. Play with them at least twice a day for 10 minutes.

Buy a kitty condo. Kitty condos are free-standing constructions that are about 6-feet tall. They are covered in carpet and can provide the same exercise and stimulation as a tree. They offer places to hide, places to sleep, and some have balls to play with attached.

Give the cats shelves to climb and walk on. These shelves will provide great exercise for your cats. Affix the shelves to the wall using the manufacturer's instructions. Shelves should be about 6-inches deep and 12-inches wide. Stagger the shelves so they can get from one to another. Do not put anything breakable or that could hurt the cats on the shelves. If possible, leave the shelves free of objects.

Provide sunny places to sleep. Install shelves underneath at least 2 windows in your home. The shelves should be large enough for your cats to comfortably sleep on.

A Cat Play Area you can Build

Outdoor cats are more likely than indoor cats to face health risks and danger , even in rural areas. Predators, other territorial animals, cars and humans can create stressful situations for domestic felines who are out. Many people prefer to keep their cats indoors. If your cat is inside most or all of every day, he will have a greater chance of staying healthy and safe. Creating an indoor play area can help keep him fit and entertained. Some cats respond better than others to play areas.

Find a suitable area in your home where you can set up a play yard for the cat. Cats love to look outside, so if the area has a window she can see out of, she may be more inclined to spend time in her cat playground.

Purchase one or two multilevel scratching posts to anchor the cat's play area. Then consider changing the playthings that you provide each week so that the cat remains curious and amused. You can often find reasonably priced scratching posts in the classified section of the newspaper or on sites such as Craigslist.

Hang one or two practice golf balls or cat toys from a sturdy and safe location such as the bottom of a table.

Place an empty box in the play area, with a hole in the box large enough for your cat to climb in and out of. Alternate the empty box with empty paper bags. Cats love to explore and to climb in and out of things.

Mix and match catnip da bird attachment toys or cat collar lion mane toys. Alternate putting them in the play area along with small balls of unused yarn.

Toss a wicker basket or wicker wastebasket into the play area every now and then, and remove it a day or two later. The cat will enjoy climbing in and out of it as well as scratching the soft wicker.

Provide a comfy area for your pet to rest after play. Cats love enclosed areas to snuggle in, so think about using a cardboard box with a medium-size hole. Place a soft blanket, pet cat clothing or old sweatshirt inside for the cat to nestle in. Place the hole in the box facing a window if possible so he can see outside while resting.

Natural Branches for a Cat Tree

If you have a pet cat, you know that cat toy wand set are not enough. You most likely already know that they need a place to scratch. Otherwise, their claws will grow unchecked. By providing your cat with a designated place to scratch such as a cat tree, it's less likely that they'll scratch up your furniture. You can even make your own cat tree using natural tree branches to provide an earthy and visually interesting piece to your home while keeping your cat happy.

Gather tree branches around the house and in parks. The branches should have a minimum diameter of two inches. Place the branches in a large plastic tub and wash them in a natural, animal-safe insecticide. Consult your veterinarian for animal-safe products. Allow the branches to soak in the insecticide for a day.

Wash the branches off with warm water to remove the insecticide. Air dry the branches for a day or two in a dry lighted area.

Mix up enough concrete to fill a large coffee can half way. Place the largest of the branches in the center of the concrete mix, securing it in place. Allow the wet concrete to set up and dry for a few hours. Fill the coffee can up with more concrete and place the remaining branches in the mix, circling the center larger branch. Allow the concrete to dry and cure overnight.

Cut three sheets of plywood that measure 22 by 12 inches. Screw the plywood into the branches to secure them. Stagger their positions up the branches to make multiple level platforms.

Glue scraps of carpet or thick fabric on the surface and edges of the plywood to add a soft place for the cat and protect it from wood edges and screws. Hang bells, da bird guinea feather refill and da bird mouse toys from the branches and platforms.

A Cuddly Cat

Some cats are natural-born cuddlers, while others will make you work for their affections through treats and attention. Others will remain standoffish no matter how much attention you lavish on them. For best results, start training them young and don’t push a kitty who prefers a hands-off approach.

Build Trust
Bond with your cat by establishing trust. Feed her, provide her with a clean litter box and offer her toys and enriching, interactive activities. Don’t chase her or grab her for forced cuddling if she’s resistant. Instead, take your time and work up to a more physical relationship.

Use Positive Reinforcement
Get your cat to associate you with positive things. For example, talk to her while you feed her, and while she’s eating a special treat, stroke her gently so she associates your touch with good food. Similarly, sit on the couch with treats in your pocket and when she comes over to you on her own, offer a goodie. Your cat will soon figure out that when she’s in close proximity to you, good things happen.

Play Often
If your cat is a bit standoffish, interact with her through play. Use a cat toy wand feather dancer or a cat toys teaser wand toy to grab and keep her attention. When she seems worn out, slow the rate of play and put the toy beside you, or in your lap. When she comes to you, give her a treat to make the interaction a pleasant and rewarding activity.

Start Early, Go Slow
Kittens who are handled from a young age are more likely to be social and physically interactive than those who are not. If you adopt an older kitty or a rescue cat, it may take time and patience to establish trust and for your new pet to let her guard down. Don’t push your cat to cuddle. Some cats may need to work up to physical contact.

Accept Loners
While some cats will land in your lap from the first day you bring them home, others are destined to be loners forever. Older, re-homed cats, abused animals or semi-feral cats may always resist being touched or held. Try to consider this part of their personality and be content to love them from afar.

Build your Cat a Jungle Gym

Cats have an ancestral need to climb and jump. Indoor cats especially can benefit from the exercise opportunity a cat jungle gym affords. Pet retailers offer cat jungle gyms that can be assembled easily, but these can be behemoth and can put a real dent in the cat paraphernalia budget. With a little ingenuity, some wood, a few tools and an assortment of my little lion cat treats and cat-approved the super da bird toys, you can build your own cat jungle gym.

Map out your cat jungle gym on the wall of your choice, using your stud finder to determine where you'll be placing your shelf brackets. You'll need to screw your brackets into studs so the shelves of your jungle gym will support your cat's weight. Mark the stud locations with your pencil. You are the master of this design, so consider attaching some shelves at an angle to allow your cats to climb, and leave a distance between others, to encourage your kitty to jump.

Using your measuring tape, measure the distance between your studs. This will guide you on how long your shelves will be. You'll want the length of your shelves to overhang your brackets by a couple of inches on each end of the shelf.

Measure your shelves on your 1-by-6-by-8, using the measurements you took in step 2. If you want a large number of shelves, you may need a second untreated board.

Cut your board or boards using the circular saw. Sand your shelves to remove any rough edges.

Using the wood glue, attach your brackets to your shelves, making sure they're placed properly to mount them according to your design and the location of your studs. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly.

Secure your brackets further by attaching them to the shelves using the wood screws and power screwdriver. Place a screw every couple of inches for maximum stability.

Measure the shelves. Using the utility knife cut the carpet scraps according to the measurements you took in step 9. Staple the carpet pieces to your shelves. Make sure the staples go all the way into the carpet's pile to avoid injury to your cats. If the carpet is very low pile, consider using a carpet adhesive.

Mount your shelves according to your design, angling some shelves, and attaching more than one at a single stud point at varying heights.

Hang cat da bird grasshopper toys from your shelves using the twine. Staple the twine to the underside of your shelf, making sure your staples are flush with the underside of your shelf.

Is Tug of War with Toys Safe?

If Pebbles pounces on your shoelaces every time you walk by her, she clearly wants to play. Engaging in a gentle game of tug-of-war helps her get out some of her pent-up energy and keeps you completely entertained. While tug-of-war is probably an OK game to play with the cat, it can be dangerous if the game gets out of hand or if you use the wrong types of long cat wand toys.


How to Play
Pick up a piece of yarn, Pebbles’ favorite wand or a long feather cat wand toy. Just avoid anything that stretches -- after all, you don’t want to let go and have the toy smack her between the eyes. Wiggle the toy in front of the cat until she takes a nibble and gentle tug at it. If she’s in the mood for tug-of-war, she’ll chomp down on the toy and pull back, trying to get it away from you. After several seconds, slowly let go. Likely, she'll drop the toy. Do it over again. Intrigue her by playing several short games of tug-of-war with a variety of toys rather than pulling at the same toy for an extended period of time.

When to Stop
Pebbles shouldn’t be growling, hissing, nipping or swatting at your hand during your game of tug-of-war. These signs of aggression let you know she is over-stimulated. She needs a few moments to cool down. Stop immediately and let her relax for a few minutes. When she settles down, pick up the toy and go back to playing. If she continues to exhibit aggressive behavior, tug-of-war may not be an ideal game to play with her.

Dangers
If Pebbles starts playing too rough, stop your tug-of-war session immediately. Felines have fragile teeth; if yours tugs at her cat toy wand elastic toy too hard, she could break or even pull out a tooth. Watch for blood, drooling or pawing at her face after your play session. These are signs something in her mouth is awry. In addition, if you’re playing with a string, put it away in a safe spot once you’re done playing. String can be a choking hazard if Pebbles decides to chomp on it on her own.

Other Games
As soon as Pebbles starts getting bored with tug-of-war -- or if it makes her act a little mean -- play fetch with her instead, just like you would with Fido. Toss Pebbles’ mouse toy across the room, giving her the opportunity to pounce on it and then encourage her to bring it back to you. Not all cats understand the game of fetch or care to play. Cats love to hunt, though, so you may pique your cat's interest by wiggling her feathery wand toy on the floor right next to the sofa. When she makes her move, quickly shake it in a new spot. Her natural hunting instincts will kick in, making her want to catch this prey.