Cats spray to mark their territory with pheromones as a way of communicating with other cats. The smell is so unmistakable, pet owners are rarely unaware of this particularly malodorous form of feline expression. Often, neutering or spaying or playing with cat wands, the cat will stop unwanted spraying. You can do this with a da bird kopter or cat clothing accessories. However, the problem of removing the smell remains. Homemade options range from the use of vinegar and baking soda to commercial products containing enzymes. Removing all traces of the cat spray smell is crucial in discouraging your cat from marking again.
A Natural Recipe Soak up as much urine as possible with paper towels or an old towel. If the urine is on carpet or rugs, try not to rub it into the fibers.
Mix one part vinegar with one part water in a container. Pour this mixture onto the soiled area until saturated. Allow to dry.
Combine one cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with 1 teaspoon of a mild liquid soap in a small spray bottle.
Sprinkle baking soda over the spot then spray with the hydrogen peroxide mixture. Test this mix on a small area of the carpet or fabric to be sure it will not stain the fibers.
Use a small scrub brush to gently work the mixture into the fibers of the carpet or rug then let dry. Vacuum the mixture and repeat if necessary.
Other Methods Saturate the area with a commercial product such as Nature's Miracle or Odor Neutralizer. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for application on various surfaces. Rather than mask the smell as deodorizers do, these products contain enzymes that will break down the molecules that cause cat spray smell. These products are available at many pet stores and department stores.
For soiled clothes, towels or other washables, pour 1/2 cup of vinegar, either white or apple cider, into the wash along with the detergent and launder as usual. Vinegar is a powerful odor neutralizer.
Spray outside bushes or sidewalks with a half and half mixture of vinegar and water until the area is free of cat spray urine.
Hire a professional. Most professional cleaners use the hot-water extraction method. This is a very effective form of steam cleaning used for deep cleaning of carpets and rugs.
As cat owners, it is such a delight to see and touch our cat's shiny furry coat. There can be as many as 130,000 hairs per square inch in a cat’s coat. And these hairs do many things: they give a cat sensory data, protect it from heat and cold, wind and rain and even help a cat manufacture vital nutrients like vitamin D. Although cats can be so meticulous in cleaning their furry treasure, once in a while they can lose this amazing shine.
There are a lot of reasons why a feline's coat can be dull or its skin dry and flaky. Some causes include:
Poor nutrition. A cat needs a diet that consists a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fat to achieve healthy and shiny hair, skin and body. So if your feed your kitty poor quality of food then he'll end up lacking on those vital minerals and nutrients.
Weight problems. When cats become fat or obese, it becomes difficult for them to reach their whole bodies to clean. Therefore, keeping the hair dull and ungroomed.
Age. As cats get older, they become less flexible or arthritic. As a result, they can't twist and turn as they used to. So, age or pain could leave your cat's coat dull.
Frequent bathing. Bathing kitty too often could bedraggle your cat's coat.
Cats, or even most pets, can acquire intestinal parasites as well as some of what we call "worms". Infestations of intestinal worms can cause a variety of symptoms. In some cases cats show only few of these symptoms. Sometimes they don't even show up, thus, the infestation can develop without detection despite being a potentially serious health problem. Some feline parasitic worms are hazards for humane health as well. We must be aware of these parasite as well as how to manage if we are in such situation.
My cat is so happy with her awesome cat feather toy! Grab yours now!
So what are the most common types of worms in cats? Here is a list of them:
Roundworms - the most common internal parasites in cats. They resemble spaghetti and can grow up to 3 to 4 inches long. Cats can be affected by this in several ways. Nursing kittens can get
roundworms from an infected mother’s milk, while adult cats can acquire
them by ingesting an infected rodent or the feces of an infected cat.
Hookworms - smaller than roundworms-less than an inch
long-and reside primarily in the small intestine. These worms can cause life-threatening anemia
especially in kittens since they feed on blood. Hookworm eggs are passed in the stool and hatch
into larvae. A cat can become infected through ingestion or
skin contact. However it is worth noting that hookworms are more common on dogs than cats.
Tapeworms - segmented parasites that can range from 4 to 28 inches in length. These worms are usually long and flat. An infestation can cause vomiting or weight loss.
Cats acquire tapeworms by ingesting an intermediate host, like an
infected flea or rodent. When cats are infected, tapeworm segments.
Lungworms - resides at the lungs unlike intestinal parasites. Cats develop coughs as a symptom of acquiring this worm. However, some will show no signs at all. They can acquire this worm after eating a bird or rodent who has ingested an intermediate host, such as, slugs or snails.
Usual transmissions of these worms to your cat may be through the digestion of the feces of an infected cat. Mother cats can also pass on worms to their kittens. Also, the symptoms depend on the type of worm infecting your cats. Nonetheless, the most common clinical signs include:
Diarrhea
Worms visible in stool or segments of worm seen near anus
Bloody stool
Bloating or round, potbellied appearance to abdomen
Are certain cats prone to these worms? Outdoor cats that hunt and eat rodents, and those who are routinely
exposed to soil where other animals defecate are prone to worms. Cats
that have fleas
are also likely to get tapeworms. Kittens and cats that do not receive
regular preventative health care are most at risk for developing
complications associated with internal parasites. So if your think your cat has displayed a number of these symptoms, bring them to your veterinarian immediately. Avoid self-diagnosis, since worms are not always visible or identifiable.
A cat is treated specifically by what type of worm it has. For instance, a dewormer that eradicates tapeworms will not kill
roundworms. And some over-the-counter deworming medications can be damaging. After your vet has accurately diagnosed the type of parasite
your pet has, he or she will then prescribe the best course of treatment.
Prevent your cat from having these worms by keeping your cat indoors to avoid exposure from infected cats, rodents, fleas and feces. Also, make sure your home or yard is free from fleas. In addition, be sure to practice frequently disposing litter box waste and don't forget to wear gloves while doing this. You can also talk to your vet on parasite prevention programs available for your cat.
Having worms that can be bad for your cat should always be prevented. If your love your cat, be cautious always. 'Til next time!
When my aunt told me they'll give me a kitten, I secretly wished it was a girl - being a female myself and we all know girls run the world. Just kidding. At first I had no idea if female or male cats have different personalities. I'm a girl so naturally I'd like a girl pet. So when my aunt gave me my new feline and told me it was a boy. I was like, "Okay. That's disappointing.". Nonetheless, I took my new friend and named it Scott. So I decided to find out if there is a personality difference between female cats and male cats.
According to KnowYourCat, in some ways male and female cats follow the same stereotype as male and
female humans. Both types of cat pay a lot of attention to status, but
they go about it differently. A female cat is more likely to be
passive-aggressive. A male cat might get physical - with
you, if he feels he can get away with it, but more probably with other
pets if he feels dominant over them. Both males and females will usually
get aggressive if a strange cat invades their territory.
Most cats spend their time on their home range. Most female cats are satisfied with a smaller home range and will usually remain about 100 meters from her food bowl. This means that a female cat can stay put in a average suburban home. Male cats on the other hand are more adventurous. They may range up to one kilometer from their food bowl. This could be a problem if you are living in an area with heavy vehicle traffic or predatory wildlife.
Thus, an indoor female cat can be satisfied with just a room flat. If there are cat toys to play with, things to climb up to or sneak under, she's good to go. If you put a male cat in these quarters, he might be restless but will be happy with it, nonetheless. Most especially when he has not known anything else.
Finally, high quality cat feather toys our pets will be addicted to!
A poll from a few years ago on the subject reported that 55 percent of
respondents thought that male cats made for better, more affectionate
pets. Twenty-five percent came out in favor of female cats; 19 percent
believed that the cat’s sex was irrelevant. But there is general agreement that unless one is breeding a cat, a
neutered/spayed cat makes a far better pet than a ‘complete’ male or
female.
An un-neutered male cat might be quite difficult to manage. With its levels of testosterone, it is more likely that it will get into fights with anything, other cats, you, your mom, or the postman. Also un-neutered cats are more likely to strop their claws on delicate fabrics, expensive wood and urinate on the rest. Not to mention that this urine is very pungent. As mentioned above, male care are adventurous so un-neatured tom cats might vanish for days and bring up additional problems for you.
An unspayed female might be quite a handful too especially when it is in heat. A female cat can be in heat for about 4 days to a week and she doesn't keep quiet about this. Female cats indicate their readiness to mate by calling for male company with a special type
of yowl. If the cat is kept indoors at this point, she will yowl even louder at all hours of the day or night. She will also
make determined efforts to escape from the house. After mating, an unspayed female is likely to become pregnant and produce litters of kittens, time after time.
So generally, spayed cats are more peaceful and more easy to manage. Cats can get spayed/neutered at any time after they become sexually
mature. This solves many behavioral problems and causes no harm - in
fact it is demonstrably healthier for females.
In the end, it will depend on you weather you will prefer a male or female cat. Cats may not be human, but they often have very strong personalities. You may choose a gentleman tom or a devious she-cat. The only trick here is to examine each gender's personality and find out which is compatible with your preference and your lifestyle.
Cats and humans have different diets. Not all human food or even food that we think our feline friend can benefit must be served to them. Some include onion, garlic, raw eggs, alcohol, caffiene, etc. The list is long, let me tell you. And as cat owners we must know these things because most of these items can cause digestive upset and or affect the nervous system.
However, it is so hard not to treat your cat with some food from the table. I give my cat, Scott, some tables scraps and he's perfectly fine. I learned that some of the items on these DO NOT EAT lists are safe for your cat but must be maintained in very small doses. They say it is better to keep in mind that human food should only make up 15% or less of a cat's diet. But the question is: what human food can we serve for our cats? Today I will share to you five human food I feed my Scott. Oh, and a word of caution, some items of these lists are perfectly safe IF given in same amounts so be careful and read thoroughly.
House cats have a crushing and boring life. They don't have real prey to chase nor real grass to crawl and play on. What they only have is hard wood floors and food.
In the bright side, they remain safe. They are away from danger, harmful diseases and other bad things outdoor life offers. According to WebMD, house cats can live up to 12 to 18 years while a free-roaming cat can live for as little as 3 years.
However, that doesn't mean your cat has to live up the boring life just to live longer. Their hunting, scratching and stalking instincts remain and when they don't do these things comfortably like they should, they have the tendency to be depressed, bored or even sick!
Take our feline friend, Scott, for example. He was once an outdoor cat when I took him in. So he was used to roaming around freely, hunting and chasing. But when he was left indoors, he got really bored. He isn't as jolly as he was before. He keeps on sleeping and his aura is very different, very sad.
It is still important that your cat stays active, even indoors. You should enrich your cat's environment indoor to keep them fit and active. It is said that a little creativity can go a long way for your cat. With this, you can keep your cat stimulated and interest even with just a small space and limited budget. In addition, new enrichment researches state that toys that are removed and then returned after several weeks regain much of their novelty. Therefore, you can extend your budget by rotating your cat's toys regularly.
Various cat toys for cats. From: Pinterest.com
Toys spark a great interest in cats. It's one of the easiest ways to amuse your cat. Plus, they can come in various shapes, sizes, uses and different types of fun! Offer lots of great toys for your kitty. This can keep your cat's interest going. Also, as stated, rotate your toy stash regularly and don't be afraid to remove toys and introduced new ones every week or two.
Scott has two favorite toys as of the moment, the cat wand toy he gets crazy about when I play with him and the treat-dispensing toy he just loves. I found out that playing bird calls or bird songs on the background while playing with the cat feather toy gives much more excitement and amusement for him. I also had this big box for him since he likes stuffing himself in it. I had plans on buying a cat tunnel though because cat tunnels are without a doubt more spacious. Also, I learned that wind-up mice is a cute and effective toy too. Scott is really happy now. He's more active and more playful. He just can't resist his favorite cat toy wand.
Furthermore, always play with your cat. According to WebMD, playing with your cat twice a day helps keep kitty fit by maintaining
muscle tone and circulation. Plus, it relieves stress and boredom (yours
and his) and strengthens the bond between you.
So if your cat is bored don't wait for him to reach out to you and tell you he's bored, because he won't. He'll just sit there and be depressed all day and we don't want that to happen. Engage with your cat with toys immediately. It's easy and effective. Make toys or buy toys for him. It's totally in your hands in making your housecat's life not only long but also happy. It ain't easy but when you see your cat happy, safe and contented, it's worth the time and effort.
