The Online Cat's Haven

Saving Water by A Cat

2008-01-21T12:49:00.001+08:00

Lazy Cat

2008-01-03T11:48:00.000+08:00

Good Catch!

2007-11-16T15:06:00.001+08:00

Cat's Standard Obstacle Course

2007-11-16T14:55:00.002+08:00

Smackdown Cats

2007-11-16T14:55:00.001+08:00

Talking Cats

2007-11-16T14:53:00.000+08:00

Cat Playing Piano

2007-11-16T14:51:00.000+08:00

Cat Tips - Litter Training

2007-10-19T14:20:00.000+08:00

Rest assured, litter box training should be easy for you and your kitten. Most kittens naturally feel the urge to dig in litter as early as 4 weeks. If you interfere with your kitten while he's in the litter box, he may develop an aversion to using it. Be patient. Instinct will guide your kitten or cat to developing good litter box habits.

Most kittens will act instinctively in the litter box; however there are some things you can do to encourage good litter box habits:

- Place the litter box in quiet location that your cat can access at all times
- Always keep the litter box clean, scoop daily
- Change the litter often at least once a week
- Avoid cleaning the litter box with strong cleaners since the odors may repel him
- Place your kitten in the litter box upon wakening and after meals.
- Praise him lavishly to reinforce the fact that he's been good
- Avoid using scented litters cat's don't like strong smells and may me repelled by
the smell
- Don't move his litter box unless absolutely necessary
- Give each cat his own litter box

Videos - What is She Doing?

2007-10-19T14:13:00.000+08:00

Videos - Cute Kitten

2007-10-19T14:09:00.000+08:00

Videos - Kitten In A Box

2007-08-05T11:25:00.000+08:00

Videos - Very Funny Cats

2007-07-06T12:49:00.000+08:00

Videos - Funny Cats

2007-07-06T12:46:00.000+08:00

Cat Pics 5

2007-05-18T20:57:00.001+08:00

Cat Pics 4

2007-05-15T20:35:00.000+08:00

Cat Tips - Teach your Cat a Trick

2007-05-13T16:55:00.000+08:00

Despite popular belief, you can train your cat to perform tricks. You will get the best results when you offer food rewards such as a morsel of moist cat food or a treat. Work with one command at a time. Be consistent and be patient.

Shaking Hands

With your cat sitting in front of you, touch its paw and say “shake.” As soon as your cat reacts and lifts his paw, shake it. Reward your cat with verbal approval along with a treat. Remember to repeat the command exactly the same way each time.

Wave

Hold a treat in from of your cat’s nose but just out of reach, and move it back and forth with your hands in a waving motion while saying “wave.” As your cat reaches for the food, it will appear as if she is waving. When you are satisfied with the behavior, praise your cat and give her a reward.

Sit Up

Place your cat on a footstool or other raised area in a sitting position. Hold a treat over your cat’s head and tell him to “sit up.” Do not reward your cat for standing or grabbing. When your cat succeeds, reward with a treat right away and repeat the command several times.

Come

Say your cat’s name followed by the command “come.” If necessary, tap on her food bowl to gain attention. When your cat comes, praise her lavishly and reward her. This is a good trick to try around mealtime, as your cat will eventually associate food with the “come” command.

Cat Pics 3

2007-05-13T16:35:00.000+08:00

Cat Tips - Scratching Furniture/Declawing

2007-05-10T22:00:00.000+08:00

First, please note that declawing your cat so he won't scratch your furniture is cruel and inhumane. It is the equivalent of cutting off your finger up to the first knuckle. There can be serious physical and psychological effects.

Instead, you should train your cat to use a scratching post. Other alternatives include a quick, painless trimming of his claws (which you can do at home using special clippers) or covering the claws with soft sheaths (which you can purchase relatively inexpensively).

Scratching is one of your cat's most ingrained instincts. Keep a scratching post near where the cat usually sleeps or, if he has already picked out a corner of your sofa, keep it next to that chosen spot. You may need to train your cat to use his scratching post. Do not pick him up and put his paws on the scratching post (that will only make him want to avoid it). Make the scratching post appealing to him: rub catnip on it or mist it with catnip spray; drape a heavy string (a long leather shoelace works great) over it and wiggle it to catch his interest; put treats on the very top.

Important: Invest in a scratching post that is 24" or 30" tall, with a sturdy base - your cat may be using the arm of the sofa because he can stretch higher than his scratching post will allow. Most of the ones you will find at the store are only 18" high so you may need to visit a pet supply store.

I recently found THE best scratching post for our cats! It's made out of rough sisal (NOT the rope, a weave!). It's tall (29 inches), doesn't fall over, doesn't wobble, and doesn't slide across the floor. And, of course, the best part: all the cats love it. It's called the TopCat Sisal Scratching Post.

A few cats don't like scratching on a vertical post, but will scratch willingly on a flat scratching pad. If your cat prefers a flat surface, you can either buy one of the cardboard scratching boxes (typically available from mail order or pet stores), or buy a scrap of plywood and a carpet remnant, large enough to fold around onto the back of the plywood. Cut the corners on an angle, fold the carpet remnant over the wood, and tack the carpet on using carpet tacks or heavy-duty staples.

Sometimes changing to a scratching post that is covered with sisal rope or a different texture will kindle his interest in the post, as well.

An additional idea, one that worked well when there were more vacant rooms in the house, is to follow the instructions above for a flat-surface scratching pad, then mount it on the wall at a convenient height for the cat, in a hallway or in the laundry room.

Other solutions: If he's scratching wood furniture, rub strong-smelling furniture polish into it. For sofa and chair sides, cover the edges of the sofa with heavy plastic (available at your local fabric store - typically used to cover footstools or protect tablecloths - you can buy twist-pins while you're there to hold the place neatly in place) or aluminum foil (use velcro or double-stick tape to hold in place). Or spray a cloth thoroughly with one of the sprays formulated for keeping a cat off the furniture, and pin it to the sofa, chair, or your speakers (don't spray directly onto the furniture). Or, put strips of self-adhesive velcro (loop side out) on the favored scratching spots. If all else fails, everytime you see him actively clawing the furniture, spray him lightly from a bottle of water (do this only when he is actually scratching, not when he is approaching or leaving the furniture).

Related pages: What About Declawing?, Choosing the Scratching Post

Safety tip: If you have a "cat tree" (typically covered with carpeting for easily climbing up and jumping off of) for your cat, please anchor it securely to the wall or floor so there will be no chance of it falling on your kitty and injuring him.

Cat Tip - The Carpet

2007-05-10T21:58:00.002+08:00

A few owners have a problem with their cat shredding the carpet, even with a convenient scratching post. First, look at the scratching post from a cat's viewpoint: it's covered with carpet .... this stuff on the floor has the same feel. Hmmm.... Since it's less costly to replace the scratching post than the carpeting, try getting a post that is covered with sisal rope, corrugated cardboard, or carpet turned wrong-way out. Then train your cat to use it. If the cat is always scratching at a particular spot in the carpeting, the reason might be due to a strong smell in that one spot - go to the vet and get an enzymatic cleaner and clean it thoroughly.

Cat Tip - Dirty Chins

2007-05-10T21:58:00.001+08:00

You may notice that your cat has a dirty chin - little black spots that look like acne. It IS acne. And it can be quite painful, so you should take steps to get it cured as soon as possible. Though you might want to check with your vet, who can provide you with some medicine, you might want to try this first: Clean the area with hydrogen peroxide (pour some on a clean white washcloth, and sponge off the chin). You'll probably need to do this twice a day for a week or so.

Next, take a look at the food dishes: how often do you clean them? Are they plastic? Are they very deep? Cat food dishes should be cleaned on a daily basis, particularly if you are feeding canned food. Plastic dishes may aggravate the acne, and deep food bowls definitely will. (Ours eat out of glass custard dishes.)

Cat Tip - Unrolling the Toilet Paper or Shredding Kleenex

2007-05-10T21:56:00.001+08:00

Personally, I am always amused when a cat goes in and rolls all the paper off the toilet roll. However, most people are not as tolerant (or easily amused) as I am - the solution I've suggested to others is to simply install the toilet roll so the edge of the paper doesn't roll over the top toward the front. When your cat discovers he can no longer unroll the paper, he'll probably stop trying and you can install subsequent rolls so it rolls off to the front.

If your kitty persists in pulling out pawfuls of tissues, turn the box upside down.

Cat Tips - Getting Your Cat to Come to You

2007-05-10T21:54:00.000+08:00

Unlike dogs and children, cats are unlikely to come to you just because you want them to obey. However, a cat who knows he will be warmly petted, brushed, will receive a treat, or an extended period of lap-napping, is more likely to get up, stretch, look casually around, and then wander over to you (displaying, for all intents and purposes, the attitude that it was his idea in the first place). No animal will come to you willingly if you are raising your voice or if they think they are going to be punished.

Cats, by the way, respond best to names that end in an "ee" sound. You will most likely get a better response if you shorten Prince Zadrach of Dominquez' name to Zaddy, for example. Too, they seem to respond better to a higher-pitched tone of voice.

Cat Pics 2

2007-05-10T21:43:00.000+08:00

Cat Pics 1

2007-04-30T06:38:00.000+08:00

Cat Tips - Cat Proofing Your Home

2007-04-28T21:38:00.000+08:00

Your cat's inquisitive nature can be dangerous. Follow these recommendations:

- Keep all medicines and household cleaning agents locked up.

- Shut the bathroom door when you run water in a bathtub.

- Keep stringy material away from your kitten, except under your supervision. Items like string, wool, fishing line and thread attached to a needle can be lethal if swallowed.

- Close toilet lids, and make sure the fireplace is tightly screened.

- Secure unscreened windows. Cats may jump out of open windows. Contrary to popular belief, cats don't always land on their feet when they fall and can be seriously injured.

- Close all garage and appliance doors. A warm tumble dryer or a car engine may entice cats in search of a warm place to nap.

- Immediately place opened tin or aluminium cans behind closed doors or in containers with secure lids. The edges of these cans are extremely sharp and can cut or sever your cat's tongue.

- If possible, replace the antifreeze in your car with a non-toxic brand. Antifreeze tastes sweet to pets and is the most common feline poison. Ingesting just a teaspoon of antifreeze can cause kidney failure. Keep all other chemicals in the garage out of reach.

- Set rodent traps out of a cat's reach.

- Keep easily swallowed small items such as balls, bits of fabric and baby- bottle nipples away from your kitten.

Cat Tips - Successful Pet Introductions

2007-04-28T21:36:00.000+08:00

Tips for successful pet introductions

- If one cat shows hostility toward another during the initial introductions, don't punish him; that action could backfire. Instead, start the whole process over again after separating the animals for a day or two.

- Respect each pet's territorial rights. If your older cat has claimed the living-room sofa as her favourite spot, allow her to keep that space as her own domain. Help your new kitten find a different spot she can call her own.

- Establish separate but equal relationships with each pet to prevent jealousy.

- If you have a dog, keep him on a leash at first, and monitor him closely.. In the beginning, don't let him chase or bother your new kitten, and don't make your kitten remain in the same room with the dog if she's uncomfortable or scared.

- Buy separate food and water bowls.

- Give each cat a separate litter box; this will help them resist the temptation to find a private privy in an inappropriate place.

Cat Tips - Easing The Transition

2007-04-28T21:34:00.000+08:00

Easing The Transition
Introduce your cat to your home gradually by following these helpful hints:

- For the first day or two, keep your kitten confined to one room with a litter box, food and water. Let her become comfortable in this room before introducing her to the rest of the house.

- After your new kitten is relaxed and acclimated, allow her to explore and roam the rest of the house.

Children in the household
Show your children how to properly pick up a kitten and how to play with their new pet. Teach them that cats don't like to be teased or have their ears or tail pulled. Always supervise your children's interaction with your new kitten, especially when they have friends over to play..

Other pets
Before you introduce a new kitten to the household, be sure she (as well as your resident pets) is disease-free and has been recently checked by your veterinarian. Older, settled-in pets may resist sharing their domain, and it may take a month or more before your new kitten is an accepted member of the family. Follow these steps for smooth introductions:

Step 1: Put your new kitten in a separate room away from other pets for the first day or two, and leave her travel crate open in the room. The familiarity of the crate may make it a safe haven. (Resident pets will become aware of her presence from her scent.) If you have another cat, he may prowl around the doorway and show signs of aggression.

During this period, spend extra time with your resident pet to relieve any anxiety and minimise tension. Confine him to his favourite part of the house while the new kitten is allowed brief journeys out to explore your home. When your new kitten seems comfortable, allow the animals to start viewing each other.

Step 2: Allow your pets to meet. Stay in the room while they get acquainted. Let them sniff out each other's space and one another. Make sure each pet has an easy escape route in case one or the other wants to leave. Some hissing or growling is to be expected.

Cat Tips - Homesickness

2007-04-28T21:33:00.001+08:00

Homesickness

When you bring your new kitten home, at first she may miss her family. She may wake up and meow during the night. Pick her up and comfort her by speaking soothingly and stroking her gently. If this doesn't calm her, try these two tips:

-Put a ticking clock by her bed to remind her of her mother's heartbeat.
-Put a hot-water bottle (37 - 39 degrees Celsius) wrapped in a towel near her. This will remind her of her siblings.

Cat Tips - Having A Cat In The Family

2007-04-28T21:23:00.000+08:00

Basic Supplies

Here's a list of items that will help you and your new kitten get off to a great start:

-Bed or sleeping area
-Water and food bowls
-Toys
-Litter tray and litter
-Cat carrier
-Brushes and combs
-Scratching post
-Kitten Food
-A collar (and I.D. tags)
-BedsProvide a comfortable sleeping area to discourage your kitten from using the furniture.

Check pet stores or make a bed:

Step 1: Find a cardboard box with the sides intact. (A small box is good for a kitten; a larger cat should be able to stretch out while lying down.)

Step 2: Cut out a door opening on one side of the box..

Step 3: Line the box with an old blanket, a small pillow or a cushion covered in a washable fabric..

Step 4: Place box in a warm, quiet spot

Feeding bowls
Each pet in your house should have his or her own food and water bowl.
Choose bowls designed especially for cats - shallow, broad-based metal or ceramic bowls.

Safe Toys
Cat toys, like toys for small children, are wonderful amusements and should be chosen carefully.

Use these tips:
Avoid toys that have sharp edges or parts that your kitten might swallow.
Choose soft toys that bounce erratically (the more bounce, the better).
Beware of balls of wool and toys with strings. Wool or string is dangerous if ingested. Supervise all play with these toys