By: Jon A
Purchasing a new pet cat can be a wonderful experience, yet, it can also be a little overwhelming and worrying, too, especially if you have other animals! So just how do you go about introducing your new pet to the rest of the household and do you really know the true needs of your cat in order to look after them properly?
Introducing Your New Pet into Your Home
There are a number of factors that you will need to take into account before you introduce your pet into your home. These include:
* When to introduce The Cat
While it may be extremely tempting to just bring the cat home and put it down onto the floor to roam around freely, if you have other pets it is an extremely bad idea! You simply cannot realistically expect your other animals to get on with this new arrival instantly. It takes time and if you do not introduce the cat into the home with plenty of time, you could face daily conflicts for a long period of time!
So just how is it possible to bring a new cat home and not introduce it to the rest of your pets? Well, the simplest way to do it is to put the cat into a separate room and give it a litter tray, food, water, a bed and plenty of toys to play with. Ensure that no other animal can get into the room but allow them to be able to sniff under the door. It is extremely likely that you will hear a lot of hissing and scratching as the animals sniff each other under the door, but that will fade in time.
* How to Introduce the Cat
As well as keeping the new cat in a separate room, it is a good idea to let the animals sniff each other indirectly. This basically means wiping the new cat with a towel and letting the other animals sniff it and vice versa. All the animals should, over time, get used to the new scent and they will accept it as normal.
Another way is to switch the cat’s rooms every now and again. Let the new cat into the main house and put the other animals into the cat’s safety room in order to let them sniff around. Once you have done this a few times, you can then step it up by allowing the animals to sniff and see each other through a safety gate. Monitor their behavior and obviously remove the animals from each other if they get too nasty with each other. Over a period of time of doing this, you will notice an improvement and eventually you will be able to introduce them into the main house altogether without many problems.
Bringing a new cat home is exciting and it can be very rewarding also. However, you really do need to take certain precautions if you already have other pets. If you follow the instructions above, you should be able to introduce your new pet into your home without much hassle. It just takes time and patience but you will get there if you persevere!
Article Source: http://articles411.com
Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about having a cat as a pet at his web site at www.cat-pet-info.com/
Make It Easier For Yourself - Train Your Cat To Use The Toilet
By : Sara Williams
Cleaning out a smelly litter box is not exactly the most appealing activity one can imagine. And the messy litter that sticks everywhere on the carpet, the room smelling like ... But have you ever thought of training your cat to use the toilet? Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you could just flush it down?
There are some questions which you should take into consideration before you decide to toilet train your cat. Cats are not able to flush the toilet simply because they are not heavy enough to manipulate the flushing mechanism. So, you will have to do it yourself. This means that the eliminations may sit in your toilet for a while. However, the smell of cat's poop is much less evident when submerged in water. If you have two separate bathrooms in your house, you could assign the less frequently used toilet to your cat so you don't feel embarrassed when you get visitors.
You can find many books and articles on cat toilet training but what works and what doesn't depends on your cat's personality and individual preferences. Young kittens cannot balance very well so you will need to wait until they are 5 to 6 months old at which age their musculoskeletal system and locomotion are more developed. On the other hand, a cat is never too old to be toilet-trained unless it suffers with a condition preventing it from jumping and balancing, such as arthritis.
Before you start training your cat to use the toilet, it should be trained to use the litter box and the family members should get used to keeping the bathroom open and toilet lid up!
Measure the widest diameter of your toilet and buy a metal bowl which will sit in it securely. You may need to make some adjustments. Do not buy anything from plastic; it is just not strong enough to support cat's weight and could bend and break. You will also need to buy some flushable litter at this stage so your cat has time to get accustomed to it.
Gradually move the litter box closer to the bathroom. Allow a few days for cat to get used to each new position. Once the box sits next to the toilet and your cat is used to it, you can start to raise it higher until it is leveled with the toilet. Make sure the box is stable and cannot flip over. At this point, you should place the metal bowl in the toilet. Wait a few days until the cat is comfortable using the litter box at this level.
Now is the time to make the transition from litter box to the bowl. Fill the bowl with the (flushable) litter the cat is used to and take the litter box away. Wait a week or two to give the cat time to feel comfortable with using the bowl.
Then gradually reduce the amount of litter in the bowl until there is no litter at all. Wait again until the cat is used to eliminate in the empty bowl. If the cat's feet are still resting in the bowl at this stage, you can fill it with water as cats don't like to get their feet wet. This should help the cat to learn balance on the seat. Wait again. Then cut off the bottom of the bowl so that all eliminations fall straight into the toilet water. Wait a few days and then take the bowl away. Voila, your cat is toilet trained.
Most cats can be successfully toilet trained. Some of them learn fast and can be trained in as little as 2-3 weeks, others may take 2 months or longer, but it is worth to be patient if your reward is saying good buy to smelly litter box forever.
Article Source: http://articles411.com
Sarah is a vet with special interest in cats. She owns Cat Behavior Traininig where people can find practical tips & advice on cat training
Cleaning out a smelly litter box is not exactly the most appealing activity one can imagine. And the messy litter that sticks everywhere on the carpet, the room smelling like ... But have you ever thought of training your cat to use the toilet? Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you could just flush it down?
There are some questions which you should take into consideration before you decide to toilet train your cat. Cats are not able to flush the toilet simply because they are not heavy enough to manipulate the flushing mechanism. So, you will have to do it yourself. This means that the eliminations may sit in your toilet for a while. However, the smell of cat's poop is much less evident when submerged in water. If you have two separate bathrooms in your house, you could assign the less frequently used toilet to your cat so you don't feel embarrassed when you get visitors.
You can find many books and articles on cat toilet training but what works and what doesn't depends on your cat's personality and individual preferences. Young kittens cannot balance very well so you will need to wait until they are 5 to 6 months old at which age their musculoskeletal system and locomotion are more developed. On the other hand, a cat is never too old to be toilet-trained unless it suffers with a condition preventing it from jumping and balancing, such as arthritis.
Before you start training your cat to use the toilet, it should be trained to use the litter box and the family members should get used to keeping the bathroom open and toilet lid up!
Measure the widest diameter of your toilet and buy a metal bowl which will sit in it securely. You may need to make some adjustments. Do not buy anything from plastic; it is just not strong enough to support cat's weight and could bend and break. You will also need to buy some flushable litter at this stage so your cat has time to get accustomed to it.
Gradually move the litter box closer to the bathroom. Allow a few days for cat to get used to each new position. Once the box sits next to the toilet and your cat is used to it, you can start to raise it higher until it is leveled with the toilet. Make sure the box is stable and cannot flip over. At this point, you should place the metal bowl in the toilet. Wait a few days until the cat is comfortable using the litter box at this level.
Now is the time to make the transition from litter box to the bowl. Fill the bowl with the (flushable) litter the cat is used to and take the litter box away. Wait a week or two to give the cat time to feel comfortable with using the bowl.
Then gradually reduce the amount of litter in the bowl until there is no litter at all. Wait again until the cat is used to eliminate in the empty bowl. If the cat's feet are still resting in the bowl at this stage, you can fill it with water as cats don't like to get their feet wet. This should help the cat to learn balance on the seat. Wait again. Then cut off the bottom of the bowl so that all eliminations fall straight into the toilet water. Wait a few days and then take the bowl away. Voila, your cat is toilet trained.
Most cats can be successfully toilet trained. Some of them learn fast and can be trained in as little as 2-3 weeks, others may take 2 months or longer, but it is worth to be patient if your reward is saying good buy to smelly litter box forever.
Article Source: http://articles411.com
Sarah is a vet with special interest in cats. She owns Cat Behavior Traininig where people can find practical tips & advice on cat training
Cat Flea Control - Are fleas bugging your cat?
By : David Lee
When a cat starts scratching, it is cause for concern, constant scratching can mean fleas. Fleas are more than a mere discomfort for you pet, they are a serious issue that needs to be dealt with before they cause health issues for your cat as well as issues for you and your family.
Its important to note that when you actually see the fleas on your cat, their life is almost over. They spend most of their lives in your carpet or furniture as eggs and larvae before they every land on your pet. When they are in these stages of life, they are next to impossible to kill, and can stay in a state of suspended animation for up to two months making the controlling of them even harder for you.
If your cat has allergic dermatitis caused by flea bites, you will notice that the scratching is elevated and may be accompanied by chewing of the bites as well. This type of severe reaction can lead to loose of fur and may need additional medical treatment in addition to the elimination of the fleas themselves.
Flea control is important even if your cat is not allergic to them. Fleas can cause health issues for cats too including anemia from the loss of blood, tapeworms (fleas eat the eggs and transmit them to other animals) and skin infections from the bites caused by fleas. Any one of these flea related health issues can have dire consequences for your pet.
Now that we have established how important flea control is for both you and your cat, it is time to address the many options that are available to you. If your cat has not yet acquired fleas, then the use of powders and dips can be a step in preventing them.
Flea collars can be very effective at maintaining flea control and are quite useful used in conjunction with powders, dips or sprays. The most effective means of flea control are spot on liquids that are applied to the back of the cat's neck and rid the animal of not only fleas, but, quite often, ticks and tapeworms as well in one easy treatment that takes only seconds.
When it comes to the environment, there are also several options for flea control. Flea bombs can kill fleas in carpets and bedding, though careful washing and vacuuming will help greatly in this endeavor also. For outside use, yard sprays can be quite effective.
Because flea treatments are in fact medications, it is important to apply them exactly as the manufacture suggests. If the directions are not followed, it could lead to an overdose of medications and a sick cat or the fleas not being irradiated and the problem being ongoing for you pet.
Stop those fleas from bugging your pet. Get moving and do your part to ensure a healthy and happy member of your family.
Article Source: http://articles411.com
David Lee is the owner and designer of several web sites that encourage responsible pet ownership. For more information on subjects like the article above see www.AceCatFurniture.com www.AceCatHealth.com or www.GermanShepherd-1.com
When a cat starts scratching, it is cause for concern, constant scratching can mean fleas. Fleas are more than a mere discomfort for you pet, they are a serious issue that needs to be dealt with before they cause health issues for your cat as well as issues for you and your family.
Its important to note that when you actually see the fleas on your cat, their life is almost over. They spend most of their lives in your carpet or furniture as eggs and larvae before they every land on your pet. When they are in these stages of life, they are next to impossible to kill, and can stay in a state of suspended animation for up to two months making the controlling of them even harder for you.
If your cat has allergic dermatitis caused by flea bites, you will notice that the scratching is elevated and may be accompanied by chewing of the bites as well. This type of severe reaction can lead to loose of fur and may need additional medical treatment in addition to the elimination of the fleas themselves.
Flea control is important even if your cat is not allergic to them. Fleas can cause health issues for cats too including anemia from the loss of blood, tapeworms (fleas eat the eggs and transmit them to other animals) and skin infections from the bites caused by fleas. Any one of these flea related health issues can have dire consequences for your pet.
Now that we have established how important flea control is for both you and your cat, it is time to address the many options that are available to you. If your cat has not yet acquired fleas, then the use of powders and dips can be a step in preventing them.
Flea collars can be very effective at maintaining flea control and are quite useful used in conjunction with powders, dips or sprays. The most effective means of flea control are spot on liquids that are applied to the back of the cat's neck and rid the animal of not only fleas, but, quite often, ticks and tapeworms as well in one easy treatment that takes only seconds.
When it comes to the environment, there are also several options for flea control. Flea bombs can kill fleas in carpets and bedding, though careful washing and vacuuming will help greatly in this endeavor also. For outside use, yard sprays can be quite effective.
Because flea treatments are in fact medications, it is important to apply them exactly as the manufacture suggests. If the directions are not followed, it could lead to an overdose of medications and a sick cat or the fleas not being irradiated and the problem being ongoing for you pet.
Stop those fleas from bugging your pet. Get moving and do your part to ensure a healthy and happy member of your family.
Article Source: http://articles411.com
David Lee is the owner and designer of several web sites that encourage responsible pet ownership. For more information on subjects like the article above see www.AceCatFurniture.com www.AceCatHealth.com or www.GermanShepherd-1.com
Cat's bad peeing behavior
By : Guido Nussbaum
If your cat made a mess, don't be mad about it. There might be a reason why your cat urinates on the floor instead of using the litter box. Actually there will be a reason for sure because cats might "spray" at your furniture to mark their territory but they will certainly not do this on your carpet or floor. Cats spray vertically, similar to dogs...
In order to find out what might be the reason for this behavior of your cat, you need to observe your cat and find out what could be wrong. Here are some ideas of what to look for:
- Make sure the litter box is clean. Your cat does not like a dirty or stinky litter box.
- Is the litter box in the right environment? Where did you place the litter box? Hopefully at a silent place like the basement of your house.
- Is the litter box big enough? Your cat need some space to perform his ritual. The cat needs to be able to turn around without touching the litter box walls.
- If you 2 or more cats, then you might need more than one litter box. Some cats don't like to share their own place with other cats.
- Your cat might be stressed. Most cats react very sensible when confronted with to much stress. Make sure your cat has a silent place to "hide".
- Is your cat sick? Sometimes these accidents can be a signal for a disease. Take your cat to the doctor if necessary.
However, make sure your cat likes his home and his "bath-room". If there is still an unnatural behavior, go to the doctor with your cat. Make sure it gets professional treatment, an expert is always better than a friend who knows a lot about cats...
Here are some tips on how you can make your and your cat's life easier: http://www.caturine-cleaner.com
There are certain things that you can take care of in order to provide your cat a clean place to go.
Use these advises and your cat will thank you for the good care by loving you.
- You should put at least 3 sheets of newspaper at the bottom of the litter box. then fill the litter box with enough litter, at least 3 inches.
- Change the litter at least every 3 days
- Clean the whole litter box at least every 2 weeks
- Use a mild soap and a lot of water to clean the litter box, don't use ammonia or chemical cleaners. They might hurt your cat's nose because the smell very strong.
- Don't put the litter box on a carpet, it might feel for your cat as if it was litter...
- get the "big" mess out the litter box every day.
- If you use clumping litter, scoop it at least once a day.
If your cat has made the mess, you need to clean it up. To get rid of the odor and stains completely get a professional cat urine cleaner. Home made cleaning products or average urine eliminator products won't work. Here is some more information about that: http://www.caturine-cleaner.com
Article Source: http://articles411.com
Guido Nussbaum, a 28 year old cat-friend from Germany. I run the website cat urine cleaner
If your cat made a mess, don't be mad about it. There might be a reason why your cat urinates on the floor instead of using the litter box. Actually there will be a reason for sure because cats might "spray" at your furniture to mark their territory but they will certainly not do this on your carpet or floor. Cats spray vertically, similar to dogs...
In order to find out what might be the reason for this behavior of your cat, you need to observe your cat and find out what could be wrong. Here are some ideas of what to look for:
- Make sure the litter box is clean. Your cat does not like a dirty or stinky litter box.
- Is the litter box in the right environment? Where did you place the litter box? Hopefully at a silent place like the basement of your house.
- Is the litter box big enough? Your cat need some space to perform his ritual. The cat needs to be able to turn around without touching the litter box walls.
- If you 2 or more cats, then you might need more than one litter box. Some cats don't like to share their own place with other cats.
- Your cat might be stressed. Most cats react very sensible when confronted with to much stress. Make sure your cat has a silent place to "hide".
- Is your cat sick? Sometimes these accidents can be a signal for a disease. Take your cat to the doctor if necessary.
However, make sure your cat likes his home and his "bath-room". If there is still an unnatural behavior, go to the doctor with your cat. Make sure it gets professional treatment, an expert is always better than a friend who knows a lot about cats...
Here are some tips on how you can make your and your cat's life easier: http://www.caturine-cleaner.com
There are certain things that you can take care of in order to provide your cat a clean place to go.
Use these advises and your cat will thank you for the good care by loving you.
- You should put at least 3 sheets of newspaper at the bottom of the litter box. then fill the litter box with enough litter, at least 3 inches.
- Change the litter at least every 3 days
- Clean the whole litter box at least every 2 weeks
- Use a mild soap and a lot of water to clean the litter box, don't use ammonia or chemical cleaners. They might hurt your cat's nose because the smell very strong.
- Don't put the litter box on a carpet, it might feel for your cat as if it was litter...
- get the "big" mess out the litter box every day.
- If you use clumping litter, scoop it at least once a day.
If your cat has made the mess, you need to clean it up. To get rid of the odor and stains completely get a professional cat urine cleaner. Home made cleaning products or average urine eliminator products won't work. Here is some more information about that: http://www.caturine-cleaner.com
Article Source: http://articles411.com
Guido Nussbaum, a 28 year old cat-friend from Germany. I run the website cat urine cleaner
Cheap Cat Playthings You can Find Around Your Home
It’s fun to play with your cat! And how much more fun if it doesn’t cost you a thing?
By Jasper Page
Buying toys from your local pet shop can be expensive, and after the money you spend on it, your cat either tears the toy to pieces in a couple of hours or turns its nose up completely!
Why not save your money and entertain your cat with the following things you can find around your own home?
String!
I guarantee all cats love string. As it wiggles along the ground, moving fast and slow, it triggers your cat’s hunting mechanism and makes a great plaything.
A great idea is to tie a long piece of string to a stick, so you can drag it along the ground and tease your pet while sitting comfortable in a chair.
Paper!
Other than the sound of pet food, nothing perks my cats ears up like the sound of paper being rolled into a ball. A ball of paper about the size of a ping-pong ball is ideal for your cat to chase around the house. They absolute love it.
Similar thing to use for ball pet toys are rolled up sweet wrappers and small balls of foil.
Rope!
One of the most versatile products you can use to make different cat toys and activities.
It’s great to wrap around a post to make your very own cat scratch post and can be pined to pieces of board to make scratch boards that can be mounted on a wall inside or out.
These are just some of the things you can find inside your home to entertain your pet, without having to spend a lot of money in pet shops on toys and pet accessories.
Jasper Page is an Animal lover at heart and helps run www.DevonPets.co.uk, a pet site for all the pet owners in Devon and the South-West of England, and the whole world. Vist www.DevonPets.co.uk for a chat.
By Jasper Page
Buying toys from your local pet shop can be expensive, and after the money you spend on it, your cat either tears the toy to pieces in a couple of hours or turns its nose up completely!
Why not save your money and entertain your cat with the following things you can find around your own home?
String!
I guarantee all cats love string. As it wiggles along the ground, moving fast and slow, it triggers your cat’s hunting mechanism and makes a great plaything.
A great idea is to tie a long piece of string to a stick, so you can drag it along the ground and tease your pet while sitting comfortable in a chair.
Paper!
Other than the sound of pet food, nothing perks my cats ears up like the sound of paper being rolled into a ball. A ball of paper about the size of a ping-pong ball is ideal for your cat to chase around the house. They absolute love it.
Similar thing to use for ball pet toys are rolled up sweet wrappers and small balls of foil.
Rope!
One of the most versatile products you can use to make different cat toys and activities.
It’s great to wrap around a post to make your very own cat scratch post and can be pined to pieces of board to make scratch boards that can be mounted on a wall inside or out.
These are just some of the things you can find inside your home to entertain your pet, without having to spend a lot of money in pet shops on toys and pet accessories.
Jasper Page is an Animal lover at heart and helps run www.DevonPets.co.uk, a pet site for all the pet owners in Devon and the South-West of England, and the whole world. Vist www.DevonPets.co.uk for a chat.