Purrfect Pets

Many cats engage in kneading, where it looks as if they are marching with their front paws. Why do cats do this, you may wonder.

Kittens knead their mothers when they nurse because it helps them get milk.

As adults, cats seem to knead when they are happy and content. Their kneading is often accompanied by purring, which can also be a sign of contentment.

Some cats knead softly while others knead strongly. Some cats don’t use their claws while others do.

Your cat will only knead on soft surfaces. He or she may knead a towel, his or her bed, or a blanket. Your kitty may also knead you while he or she sits on your lap. If your cat uses his or her claws while he or she kneads you, it can be painful. Putting a towel or blanket on your lap might help reduce the pain of the claws as your cat kneads you.

I really enjoy reading stories about cats saving their owners from dangerous or potentially dangerous situations.

Tommy, an orange tabby, recently alerted his owner, Avrell Naunez, to the fact that a nylon jacket had fallen on the room heater. Naunez said that Tommy probably knocked the jacket onto the heater, but he redeemed himself by alerting her to what he had done.

Earlier that day, Naunez had done some cleaning and had put a nylon jacket and some papers onto a box. In the middle of the night, Tommy climbed into bed with Naunez and began swatting her head and face. Naunez told Tommy to stop several times and turned over to get him to stop swatting her, but he was persistent and continued swatting her until she finally gave up and got out of bed.

It was then that she saw what Tommy was trying to tell her. She found the nylon jacket melting on the heater. While the jacket was severely damaged and had to be thrown away, nothing else was ruined.

Naunez said, “Anything could have happened if he hadn’t woken me up.”

About Tommy

Tommy is approximately one year old Naunez estimates. He was a stray before he found a home with his current owner. Naunez and other seniors living in the senior center were feeding Tommy and several other stray cats when their landlord told them to stop feeding them.

Naunez asked if she could adopt Tommy, and the landlord agreed - with the condition that Tommy get vaccinated. Tommy now has a good home with Naunez. She says, “He found me. He’s a loving cat, very friendly.”

The residents of the senior center where Naunez lives helped her name Tommy.

Source:

Morning Sun: Cat Saves Woman After Jacket Falls Onto Heater

Do cats grieve when a loved one dies? Yes, they do. When our cat, Emma, had to be put down, Carmine and Milita grieved for several months afterward. Emma had to be put down because she was suffering from kidney failure and her quality of life became very ppor. It was tremendously sad.

After Emma’s death, Carmine became lethargic. He slept more often and played less. He walked around and stood in random parts of the house and meowed like crazy (which isn’t typical behavior for Carmine). Likewise, Milita seemed to be grieving as well; she was more lethargic and slept more than usual.

Your cats may grieve in different ways if they ever lose a companion - human or animal. Your cat might vocalize more, sleep more, eat less, be more lethargic, play less, or become very clingy. Your cat may also lose interest in his or her favorite activities. Because some of these behavioral changes ca also mean your kitty is sick, be sure to have him or her examined by a veterinarian before you seek help from a behavioral vet.

There are some things you can do to help your kitty through the grieving process, which may last from a couple of weeks to up to six months in duration. The most important thing you can do for your cat is to love him or her - show your kitty more affection, attention, and love while he or she grieves the loss of a companion.

You can also try engaging your kitty in more play activities with his or her favorite toys. Try hiding toys and treats in your cat’s favorite spots for him or her to discover while you are gone during the day.

Cats grieve in their own way. By giving them love, affection, and attention, you can help your kitty grieve the loss of a companion.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below.

Source:

Pet Place: Do Cats Mourn the Loss of Another Cat?

Pica is a condition in which cats eat non-edible objects. Common objects cats may eat include string, yarn, plastic, electrical cords, paper clips, clothes, thumbtacks, household plants, and rubber bands. Pica can actually be very dangerous for your cat as it can lead to poisoning, intestinal obstruction, and/or electrocution or electrical burns.

No one is certain what exactly causes pica in cats, but there are several theories about what can lead to pica:

*Boredom
*Dietary insufficiencies - these cats may need more vitamins, minerals, and/or fiber in their diets
*Stress and anxiety

There are fortunately several things you can do to prevent your cat from eating things they shouldn’t. First, make sure all of the small objects are picked up around your house. Don’t leave rubber bands, paper clips, pieces of plastic, plastic bags, or staples in places your cat can easily access. Additionally, put your household plants and clothes where your cat is not able to access them.

Second, invest in some electrical cord covers or Bitter Apple to keep your cat from chewing on electrical cords. You can purchase Bitter Apple at pet stores and electrical cord covers at office supply stores.

If you think your cat has pica, you should take him or her to the vet in order to ensure that your kitty does not have a medical problem. Your vet may want to do some blood tests to ensure your kitty has enough iron in his or her blood as well as other tests to make sure your kitty’s organs are functioning properly.

Keep your cat’s stress level as low as possible. Keep your kitty’s routine as similar as possible everyday to avoid stress. Additionally, try to make any changes to food or litter or introducing a new cat to the home slowly.

Continue Reading »

The holidays often mean Christmas or other holiday decorations, family gatherings, and gifts. When planning your Christmas activities and decorating your home, please keep your kitty in mind. Here are some useful holiday tips for caring for your cat.

Holiday Decorations: When decorating for the holidays, remember to keep glass figurines and other breakable decorations where your kitty cannot knock them down. Not only will your glass decorations break if your cat knocks them down, your kitty can get seriously injured if he or she steps on broken glass.

Candles: A lot of people like to use candles for holiday decorations. You can place your candles almost anywhere - if they are not lit. However, once you light your candle, ensure it is somewhere kitty will not knock it over. Cats are curious and can be intrigued by flames. Not only is there a chance that your kitty will knock over the candle, but your kitty might also try to reach up and touch or lick the flame, which can obviously result in disaster and injury for your cat.

Holiday Food: A lot of foods meant for humans are poisonous to cats. Some examples include chocolate, grapes, tomatoes, almonds, cherries, and peach pits.

To learn more about which foods are toxic to cats, please visit this post.

Holiday Plants: Mistletoe, poinsettias, and holly are common holiday plants, but they are poisonous to cats, so it is advisable to refrain from decorating your home with these plants.

You can read more about these and other poisonous plants for cats here.

I hope you and your cat/s enjoy your holiday season. I also hope these tips are helpful to you in caring for your cat during this time of year.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below.

Like this? Please share my blog with your favorite social networking site.

Source:

Cats Site: Cats and Christmas Decorations

I got a betta fish over the weekend, and one of my cats has figured out that it might make a good snack! Thankfully, a friend of mine gave me a great idea for keeping my cats out of the fish tank, and keeping my fish alive and in tact.

If you have fish, I suggest you keep your tank in a place your cats cannot access it, if at all possible. If this is not possible, try putting a book on top of the fish tank while you are gone and when you are asleep sot hat your cats cannot open the fish tank while they are unattended. Cats tend to be very clever about opening things when they want to.

I put a little book on top of my fish tank when I’m gone or asleep, and so far it has worked very nicely. My cats have not knocked the book down nor have they opened the fish tank.

I hope this is a helpful tip if you have both fish and cats.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Like this? Please share my blog with your favorite social networking site.

When Carmine was a kitten, he loved chewing on electrical cords. This scared me a lot because I know how dangerous chewing on electrical cords can be for cats. If you cat chews on electrical cords, he or she can receive severe electrical burns in and/or around his or her mouth. Additionally, your cat can get electricuted if he or she chews on electrical cords. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to protect your cats against electrical cords.

1. Spray your cords with Bitter Apple. Cats hate the taste of Bitter Apple, so spraying your cords with it will discourage your cat not to eat them anymore. This is ultimately how I got Carmine to stop chewing on cords. He figured out that cords taste bad, so he stopped chewing on them.

You can buy Bitter Apple at pet stores, such as PetSmart and PetCo.

2. Protect your cords with cord covers. You can buy cord covers from office supply stores that will allow you to run several cords through it. Cord covers are little plastic tubes that prevent your kitty from chewing on them.

3. Cover your cords with double-sided tape. Kitties generally do not like the feel of tape, so covering the cords with tape should discourage your kitty from chewing on the cords.

4. Give your kitty another toy to play with. Make sure you have appropriate toys around the house for your cat to play with instead of chewing on the cords.

Electrical cords can be dangerous for cats, but taking these steps should help you break your kitty of the habit of chewing on cords.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Like this? Please share my blog with your favorite social networking site.

Cats are notorious for climbing up inside Christmas trees and knocking ornaments off of them. If you decide to get a Christmas tree this season, here are a few tips that might help you keep your cat - and your tree - safe.

1. Use plastic ornaments. Is you use plastic ornaments, not only will they be less likely to break if your cat bats them off the tree or knocks the tree over, you won’t have to worry about your kitty hurting him or herself on broken glass if an ornament shatters.

2. Anchor your tree to the wall if you can to help ensure it doesn’t fall over onto your cats.

3. Don’t let your kitty climb up or inside the Christmas tree. If you see your kitty attempting to climb the tree, scold him or her and spray him or her with water. Your cat will get the idea pretty quickly.

4. Keep your tree in a room you can keep the cats out of when you are gone if it is possible. If you keep the tree in a room that you can close the door on when you are gone, you won’t have to worry about your cat climbing the tree while you are not at home.

5. If you get a real Christmas tree, anchor it well, and make sure your cat cannot drink the water the tree sits in. I’ve heard some cats like to drink the water a real Christmas tree sits in.

6. Finally, you might want to get a small/short Christmas tree, so that your cats will not have an opportunity to climb it.

If you get a Christmas tree this holiday season, please try to ensure your cat’s safety while you have it.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

A purring cat can make everything seem okay. It can take away your troubles and relax you. It’s a reassuring sound that seems to remind us that our cats are there to love us. But why do cats really purr?

1. Pleasure: Cats purr when they are happy or are experiencing pleasure. They may purr when nursing, when being scratched behind the ears, or when being pet by their owners.

2. Pain and Illness: Cats also seem to purr when they are in pain or are very ill. Scientists think that purring may have healing effects for cats.

3. Reducing Stress: Cats also seem to purr when they are trying to reduce their own stress or comfort themselves. A cat may purr, therefore, when it goes to the vet, when it is lost, when it meets new people, or when it must spend time in his or her carrier. Mother cats may also purr to calm her kittens in stressful situations.

Cats’ purrs serve different functions in different situations, and as cat owners, it is good to know why our cats are purring in specific circumstances.

Source:

Who What When Were Why?: Why Do Cats Purr?

Cats can be good at hiding illness. That’s why we, as cat owners, need to be vigilant to signs that suggest our cats might be sick. Here are some warning signs that your cat might be sick:

Changes in Appetite When your cat starts eating less or stops eating altogether, it is a good sign that he or she isn’t feeling well. Likewise, if your cat begins to eat excessively, your cat might have a condition, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism.

Water Intake: Likewise, if your cat stops drinking water or begins drinking more water than usual, it is another sign that your cat might be sick.

Skin Changes: If your cat’s hair begins to fall out or its skin starts flaking, your cat may be ill. Other changes in the cat’s coat are also cause for alarm.

Litterbox Behavior: Be sure to keep an eye on your cat’s litterbox behavior as well as changes in this behavior can also mean your cat may be sick. Particular litterbox issues to be concerned about include, but are not limited to: excessive urination, diarrhea, changes in feces consistency, and trying to urinate without success.

Changes in Behavior: Changes in behavior is usually one of the most noticeable signs that your cat may be sick. For instance, if you have a cat who loves to be around you, but who begins to spend most of his or her time hiding somewhere, may be ill.

A cat who becomes suddenly lethargic is also a sign to be concerned about. Likewise, a cat who becomes suddenly hyperactive may be experiencing a medical problem.

Discharge: If you see discharge coming from your cat’s eyes or ears or excessive salivation, chances are your cat is sick.

Knowing when your cat is sick isn’t always easy, but knowing what signs to look for may help you better identify when your cat needs to visit the vet.

Please tell me what you think in the comments section below!

Source:

Cat Channel: Is My Cat Sick?