Cats and boxes.
Click here and get the scoop! http://www.wired.com/2015/02/whats-up-with-cats-and-boxes/
Remember your cat’s sense of smell is 14 times better than ours. Think how a cat is effected by the smell of her litter!!
Our cats need to have a good experience at the litter box so they will continue to use them. When we scoop everyday, have one litter box per cat and have litter our cats like we should create conditions that our cat will use the box all the time.
When your cat gets out of the box, the first thing you should consider is a medical condition. Go to your Veterinarian to be sure your cat is not sick. Or have there been changes in the cat’s environment, did you move? Any of these can lead to your cat not using your litter box.
World’s Best is a clumping litter made of corn. It is a waste product and I can flush the used litter. World’s Best Cat litter is my litter, but I will not be getting any of the scents. I don’t want to mess with my old cats’ habits. If you ever do want to change litters put a little of the new litter on top and gradually add in the new litter.
We need to set our cats up to succeed so we all have a better quality of life.
If you’d like to learn more about litter, here you go!
http://www.boxiecat.com/Scented-or-unscented-litter_b_33.html
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/preventing_litter_box_problems.html
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-litter
http://www.moderncat.net/2011/03/06/reminder-why-clay-cat-litter-is-evil/
As I type I can see a Steller’s jay building a nest in the front yard, I keep seeing them with sticks. I tried for a picture, but they decided to fly straight to the nest in the tree in front of our house of course! I have seen deer a few times too and I have cattle in the field across the street.
I really like living at the edge of rural and urban here. Of course when we lived in Forks I saw elk and in Ilwaco I saw all kinds of wild birds on the Columbia River. We enhance can enhance our environment based on the where we live. And the best thing about the Pacific Northwest, we can visit so many different types of habitat, just a short drive away.
I just found a window bird feeder for the cats. So they can f have a Kitty TV too.
And if you want to work on your back yard:
Audubon Society of Portland has a backyard Habitat Certification program. http://audubonportland.org/issues/backyardhabitat it would be great for all critters not just the birds.
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Ginger goes outside once a day, anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours in our fenced yard. Since we have had this collar cover on our cat she hasn’t killed one bird. http://www.birdsbesafe.com/
Our first winter here I began feeding the birds, I mean there was a birdbath already here so I needed to, right? Once winter was over Ginger wanted to go outside again. I let her out the first day and she came back with a bird! Eek, I was horrified. I should have thought that through. I had a friend who had Birds Be Safe collar covers on all of her outside cats. I ordered one. I bought a break away collar for her to get use to wearing, but kept her inside until the collar cover arrived. It’s worked, no dead birds! Ginger did leave us a shrew the other day, but this collar just lets birds know cats are after them, not rodents. Cats are just doing what comes natural, now I can have a bird feeder AND let the my cat outside. |
A flicking tail: Many anxious, nervous or stressed cats will hold their tail in a low position and flick it quickly back and forth. This is often referred to as angry tail, and a pet owner or veterinarian should be on guard for any possible aggressive or defensive activity. If a cat is moving their tail slowly, and not exhibiting the flicking motion, then this cat is at a much calmer state.
Vertical position: Most of the time when a cat is holding their tail in a straight, vertical position this is indicating curiosity and a playful mood. A cat chasing after a laser pointer or playing toys will often have their tails in a vertical position showing their enjoyment. This position also helps with balanced movements. In contrast, if the tail is in the vertical position and the cat’s back is arched with pinned back ears then this could demonstrate a feeling of being threatened and thus result in defensive or aggressive behaviors.
The Tucked Tail: Similar to a dog, a tucked tail often indicates submission or fear. Your cat is conveying upset feelings and should most likely be left alone. This tucked tail appearance can also make a cat look smaller and less threatening to an aggressive cat.
The Tail Twine: Cats will often hook their tail around another cat’s tail, owner’s legs or other objects to show a friendly and affectionate nature. They are also trying to indicate whether they want to receive affection from their owners, be fed or have playtime.
The next time you are home with your feline companion take note on how they express themselves through their tail movements, their ears, body posture and vocalization. You can start to better understand their needs and wants, in addition to what makes them uncomfortable or happy. Cats will surprise you with their array of emotions and varied expressions they can express. http://bit.ly/1yaOSou
A better plan is to contact me now for your free meet and greet. I come over, we sign my contract, your cat can smell me as an introduction. We are not rushed for you to get me trained exactly how you’d like me to care for your cats and home.
When you make your plans to leave town you call ahead to be sure I am available to care for your cat. I come care for you cats and your home while you are gone. I can always come over for a re-introduction with your cats before you leave.
When you are getting ready to leave on a trip things can get hectic. It’s easier if we take care of the paper work and my introduction well in advance. One client signed me up and called me a year later. When she moved, she wanted me to go with her :-)
Make your reservations for Professional Cat Sitting as soon as you know your plans. I do house sitting out of town. I operate on a first come first served basis.
For the entire article http://bit.ly/1OVwPrm
I share our experience just in case you can learn from it. I love to learn more about our fur families, I go to the Vet. with my friends and clients just so I can learn more. Doing rescue in Forks I learned a lot too.
As I write this Otis is helping!
He peed on the pad I have out for our new dog. Pink, his urine was pink. The pink is from blood in his urine, he has a bladder infection. We get to the Veterinarian and learn he also has hyperthyroidism and of course since he is about 16 years old, he is arthritic and she thinks he is beginning renal failure. We have gone from no medications to four. In the long term it will be three.
Life for Otis has changed. Now he is getting two wet food servings a day, his antibiotic is best with food. The antibiotic is Clavamox, so it’s a liquid to squirt in his mouth. He is a lover, but not happy about this, he tries to squirm away from me. I have to pop his thyroid pill (Felimazole) in first. I might try to grind it up with his other pills, but I have a feeling he might quit eating his food.
Renal failure can be a part of aging. So he has Feline Renal Support from Standard Process twice a day. This is a grind up pill with his food.
Then he is getting Cosequin once a day, poured over his wet food and stirred in. This should help his bladder and long term his arthritis. Life was easier for Otis, but he wasn’t feeling well. Like so many cats he acted fine, then he showed me he wasn’t. I’m giving this to Ginger too.
Cat are predators, but they are also prey. They tend to hide their ailments so they don’t appear vulnerable. This is why every day cat sits are important, since they hide their medical problems they can seem to get very sick very fast.
Otis is our big purr and I want him to feel as well as he can as he nears the end of his life, which I hope is years down the road. We just want him to enjoy living.
Meanwhile he is busy sleeping the few hours a day cats do! Yes, you are right, they sleep 15 hours a day and can sleep up to 20. Since our little boy is not feeling well, I’m betting on 20 hours.