Cats

Taking care of teeth isn’t just something that applies to humans. If our cats don’t get the right care, they can also suffer from dental problems. Fortunately, it’s not too hard to give your cat proper dental care. All you need is a few minutes every once in a while. Here’s how to provide the right cat dental care.

Many dental problems in cats are caused by the same thing that humans suffer from - plaque. It forms on teeth between brushing, and is made up of saliva, bacteria, and food particles. It starts out soft, but quickly hardens, becoming tartar. This brown substance is pretty unsightly, but it’s not just unattractive. When more forms, it can push up under your cat’s gums. That causes infections and lost teeth.

Prevention, as always, is the best medicine. If you avoid the formation of tartar, your cat’s teeth will be in a much better shape. Many cats will even put up with regular brushing. Start when your cat is young, and don’t bring out the toothbrush to start. Stroke the outside of your cat’s cheeks with a finger, until he or she gets used to the feeling. Once this stops being a problem, you can put a dab of cat toothpaste on your finger and allow the cat to taste it. Popular flavors include meat and poultry.

After the toothpaste and the stroking motion have been accepted, you can put a little toothpaste onto a toothbrush intended for cats. Slowly and carefully, brush one or two teeth, to get your cat used to brushing. Over the next few days, you can increase the number of teeth you brush at a time, waiting till your cat becomes willing to allow you to do so before proceeding to the rear teeth. These are the most important to brush, but stop brushing before your cat starts fussing. It’s important for your pet not to dislike tooth brushing. Eventually, you’ll be able to brush for about thirty seconds on each side of the mouth. You don’t have to worry about the inside surfaces of the teeth, which are harder to get.

In addition to brushing (if your cat will tolerate it), you should feed a diet that requires a great deal of chewing. Too much moist food can accelerate plaque and tartar buildup. Dental chews will also help clean your pet’s teeth. You can feed one or two a day to help with your cat’s dental care. Basic cat care is essential for a happy and healthy cat.

Cats are extremely popular pets for a very good reason, because they are smart, loving, and satisfied living indoors. This makes them a great pet for city dwellers. But, how difficult is it to train them? Cat training is very complex and interesting, because in theory training should be quick and easy due to their high intelligence level.

But just ask any cat owner, and they will tell you that cats are also strongly independent, and not nearly as eager to please as dogs are. This can make training them more difficult, as they may not be as receptive to some of the methods commonly used in training dogs.

The successfulness of cat training will depend on several variables. First is when you start your training with your new cat. Younger cats are more receptive to new behaviors, so you should consider beginning kitten training as soon as you get your new pet. The second thing to consider is what does “cat training” mean to you. If you want to train your cat to come when summoned and to be housebroken and use a litterbox, then these tasks are easily taught.

When it comes to simple tasks such as these you should use praise to get your cat to obey. Call to your cat, then when it comes to you give some good praise and affection, using a proper praising tone of voice. Pretty soon your cat will come when you call to them, as they will associate it with love and praise. Whatever you do, though, remain consistent, your cat will become confused if you change your behavior in the middle of training.

Be prepared for your cat’s litterbox training to take some time, though this may not be what you were hoping for, since no one likes the smell of cat urine lingering around their house. In the case of litterbox training, though, patience is a virtue. There are several methods for training that you can use, and you should study the different methods to determine the right one for you, but whatever you choose you must be consistent. Once you have selected a particular method for training, you must stay to it, this helps your cat know what to expect.

A different form of cat training is the elimination of bad habits that your cat picks up in daily life. Occasionally a cat will start a habit of not using the litter box as it has been trained to. This will result in urination under beds, in corners and other spots. Often this is just a bad habit to be broken but sometimes it can be medical related. Before you begin any changes, be sure to take your cat to the vet. If nothing is medically wrong, then a good strategy to break this habit is to put cayenne pepper in the areas where the cat frequents. Cats do not like the pepper therefore it will dishearten the cats want to urinate where the pepper is.

Cat training is certainly possible, it just requires you as an owner to be sensible and consistent. It can help you build a better bond with your beloved pet, by eliminating any unwanted behaviors, and it can be very satisfying to succeed in teaching your cat something new.

Everyone loves a cat and that’s why they make great pets. Spotting some of the cat health symptoms is not that difficult. They don’t need as much attention like a dog, simple to look after, gentle and very loving.

You could be forgiven for thinking they are ‘designed’ for indoors. They love to be inside. Even in smaller houses, cats adapt well and can be toilet trained in the smallest of spaces.

Although cats are easy to look after there are still a few diseases’ which can strike very easily so it is best to know what to look out for.

A common skin disease in cats is ringworm. Your pet may contract ringworm from its bedding or other contaminated objects such as clippers or contact with other infected cats. Luckily, ringworm can easily be overcome with two tablespoons of colloidal silver for a week or a trip to the vet for medication.

And just like humans, some cats can become diabetic. The thought of your cat having diabetes may not seem pleasant but with a little research and understanding, you’ll easily discover to look out for. But one thing to take note on is that this condition is not the same as human diabetes so it can not be treated the same. With a little education on the owners part, cats can enjoy a normal life when the right procedures are in place.

One of the more common diseases to watch for is obesity. Initial estimates suggest that over 1 out of every 10 cats is considered to be overweight or obese. The way to tackle this is to regulate the food intake of your pet cat. Don’t leave a whole load of food in the feeding dish so that they can have a nibble as and when it pleases them. Try to go for one feed in the morning and one at night.

Another common and sometimes more troublesome problem is fleas. Once these are on the body of your cat, they multiply fast and they won’t leave on their own. Fleas can cause your cat to scratch itself excessively which can lead to hair loss and infections. At your first suspicion that your cat may have fleas, treat it with one of the many treatments available to get rid of them quick. Ask your vet for his recommendation.

Urinary tract infections must also be looked for. If your cat decides to stop using the litter tray then this is probably because of a urinary tract. A visit to the vet will be required.

The basic advice is the best. Take your time to keep your pet cat away from any dangers. Don’t have any plants which may contain poison in your house or other area your cat may be able to get at it. Small objects like rubber bands or string can be harmful if swallowed so don’t leave these lying around. A nice and healthy food plan which is high in protein with plenty of water. Brush your cat every day to prevent hairballs. Your cat will thank you for this one.

You can be great friends with your cat and they will be a wonderful companion to you. By looking out for some these cat health symptoms, time spent with your cat will be enjoyable.

Cats are one of the best pets to own. They are independent, smart and inexpensive. However, occasionally a cat will exhibit aggressive cat behavior. In this case, the owner must confer with his or her veterinarian to resolve the issue. If a cat is aggressive and in need of cat control, a professional can offer suggestions on how to find an appropriate solution.

Cat doctors, as well as trainers, can assist in tempering aggressive cat behavior. In addition, pet psychologists may help to root out the problem, locating it at its source. It wasn’t always considered appropriate or logical to use cat psychology. However, nowadays, pet owners realize that this may help to discover core reasons for aggressive cat behavior.

As with humans, animals learn about trust and how that trust can be broken. Abuse or abandonment by previous owners often leaves cats frightened of human contact and ready to lash out when they feel threatened. This is a primary source of aggressive cat behavior.

In order to gain cat control, a loving and accepting environment must be created. If you show a cat that you can be trusted, the cat will in turn show you kindness and affection. One of the best things you can give a cat is space. Unlike dogs, cats thrive on independent lifestyles. They do not appreciate being coddled and overly adored.

Cats have killer instincts which tell them to hunt and teach them to be cautious of strangers. If a cat seems jumpy, it is not necessarily displaying aggressive cat behavior, but rather doing what its nature tells it to do.

True aggressive cat traits and characteristics include things such as clawing humans, violently hissing as a threat to another cat or person, scratching or swatting, and pouncing upon other pets or people. These are all clues that your cat suffers from trust issues. In other words, a cat who shows these behaviors is merely trying to overcompensate for protection. With patience, knowledge, a tender heart, space and lots of love, you can show your cat a different way to live. However it is very important to learn to speak and understand CAT Language in order to react appropriately as these behaviors arise.

A while ago I wrote an article discussing the similarities between a cat’s brain and a human brain (A Study of Cats and Humans,) this article is going to try and go inside of your cat’s head and see why it does what it does.

According to a report by Rolan Tripp, DMV, (www.AnimalBehavior.Net) that I found in the Catnip Newsletter (July 07, Vol. 15, page 10.) Dr. Tripp stated a cat’s behavior is based on five factors: genetics, gestation, early socialization, intentional training and experience.

When it comes to genetics, the kitten’s father plays an important part in determining the cat’s personality, while mom plays an important part in teaching social skills, hunting and eating.

The brain during the gestation period (pregnancy) develops quite quickly and anything that happens to the mother cat while carrying the kittens will have an effect on the litter. This includes stress, trauma and happy things. This knowledge helped me to understand why feral kittens behave as they do. Since feral cat mothers are usually fighting for survival and food while carrying a litter.

Between the ages of two weeks and seven weeks mom is teaching the kittens social skills. If the mother cat lives in a house with a family, she is teaching the kittens how not only get along with each other, but with the members of the family, which may include the dog. She is teaching them to use the litter box along with playing and hunting. (Though most domestic cats are not real hunters anymore.) This is a period of great importance to a kitten, as happy and good experiences will create a friendly and outgoing cat, and not so good experiences with have a negative effect on the kitten.

My cat Boots is a good great example of poor socialization and the effect it has on a cat’s personality. Boots is 11 years old and we have had him since he was 9 weeks old and today he is still fearful, timid, afraid of people and does not like to socialize with our other cats.

Boots is an offspring of a feral mother cat my brother felt sorry for, he took the mother cat in when she was about due to have her kittens. He had two house cats of his own and had to keep the mother cat separated from his cats and though the kittens were handled sporadically, due to the fact my brother worked long hours, this lack of socialization has had a dramatic effect on our Boots.

Intentional training is training that the mother cat teaches the kittens and the training a kitten gets from being part of a human family. This education learned at an early age will have an important impact on a kitten’s personality in the future.

The last behavioral effect is life experiences. Kittens like people learn from experience. Good experiences lead to happier kittens and people, while the negative ones can lead to distrust and fear in both kittens and humans.

These are the five basics that help to make your cat what it is today. But, it does not end there, as with humans, life experiences keep going on.

Dr. Tripp goes on to offer some insights and possible solutions for a few common cat misbehavior problems, which I will share with you along with my own life experiences, having had cats for over 55 years.

The solutions to litter box problems are not new. Once medical conditions are eliminated, many litter box problems can be directed to a few things.

Is the litter box clean (empty it at least once a day and do not use an ammonia based cleaner?)

Do you have more than one cat using the box? Each cat should have its own, and ideally there should be one to spare.

Most cats prefer unscented litter. Have you changed the litter product recently and has that created a problem?

Location, location, location is important in finding a house and is equally important placing a litter box. Cats need to feel safe when using their box. Feeling safe means the cat has the opportunity to run if it feels scared. Also placing the litter box near a noisy machine is not wise. A washer, dryer or a furnace that turns off and on can create a situation that makes a cat feel insecure and it will not use the box.

Aggression toward other cats or toward their humans is to me a mystery. We have three cats (2 males and 1 female) that barely get along. The boys will tolerate each other, but the female hates both of them and the youngest male does not like the female either. Boots the oldest is very passive and therefore gets chased at times by both cats. They do not fight, but do not want him in their space. Smokey the youngest totally dislikes the female and will chase her on a moment’s notice. Again there is no fighting, just a “get out of my space” attitude. I have followed all the rules as far as introducing them to each other, and have decided that like people there are some cats that just do not like each other. We have lived like this for the last 7 years without a major war and I guess we will continue to do so.

Cat aggression toward humans needs a different outlook. If the cat is not hurting and you know it is medically well. It is necessary to look and see what is the trigger that brings on this behavior.

Our cat, Miss Tiger will bite if she is held too long. She was a feral kitten and still has those instincts. We know when we hold her if her tail starts to thump quickly that means let her go at once. Her bite is a message that she has had enough loving and wants to be free.

Dr. Tripp suggests that once you understand the trigger of an aggressive behavior, avoid the behavior until you find and appropriate behavior modification program. I am not certain how you find an appropriate modification program that a cat understands. My feeling is once you understand what the trigger is, avoid it and leave well enough alone.

Destructive behavior, the first lesson here is to learn that cats are not vindictive and do not do anything for spite. However, I have had an experience that I feel proves that statement incorrect. I once had a cat named Cinders (a male) that loved to eat boiled ham and cheese. It was his food of choice and would demand it on occasion quite loudly. Being a person of strong will myself, there were times when I did not feel like living up to his demands and for that I suffered. He retaliated by urinating on me. The first time I thought it was funny, but after a time or two I realized he meant business. Was it possible to change the behavior, possibly, but I never tried; I just got him his ham and cheese on demand. Which goes to prove that “dog’s have masters and cat’s have staff.”

Seriously though, if your cat is clawing your couch or stereo speakers, maybe you do not have proper scratching posts. A good post is sturdy and about 3 feet in height or long. Why such length? Cats need to stretch, stretching is good for their muscles and gives them room scratch and shed their claws. Cats also scratch in order to leave their scent on things. The scent is not noticeable to humans, but other cats will be aware that they are in another cat’s territory.

Cats are farsighted, and are able to learn to do more things that require their sense of smell or dexterity, rather than their sight. They are also more active at dawn and at dusk. Nature planned it that way, so they can catch their breakfast and dinner and that is why they wake you up at the crack of dawn looking for breakfast.

Hearing also plays an important part in what a cat learns. Familiar sounds such as your car, the can opener or the sound of a person’s footsteps all have taught your cat a thing or two.

Some cats learn faster than others, some cats learn by experience, and some by observation. But, all cats learn to do only what they want to do, when they want to do it and there is not much we can do about it.

At first sight the title of this article seems a reasonable question for any cat owner. As with most individual members of the human race, we tend to orient our personal world into our own system of logic, predictability and orderliness. We establish our routines and habits to fit a life style that gives us a comfort level free from the fears that always seems to surround us. We are continually reminded of those fears whether it’s broadcast yellow journalism espoused by the news media, or from neighborhood gossip by people who seem to need such excitement because they are either just bored, or think that you’re in need of some kind of realistic jolt into seeing things the way they do. As narrow as that may seem, there’s no doubt that each person organizes their home into some kind of system, that is a life style, that encompasses the concepts of order and predictability with logical results that ensures peace, comfort and tranquility.

It’s about that time many will decide they would like a pet to complete the picture. Some may want the company of a pet because they live alone; others might want surrogate children, either because they don’t have any yet, or maybe their children have grown and flown the nest. Of course, there are those who just appreciate the easy love and fidelity pets seem so easily capable of. Many will opt to get a cat. It’s here that the peace and tranquility you have established and come to know and expect is sure to be interrupted, if not challenged.

The introduction of any new pet, and cats in particular, will require a new way of thinking. With this new way of thinking, to be a successful cat owner will depend on how well one can incorporate balance and perspective, as an evaluation of oneself, into their new relationship. In other words, one needs to balance their own personal needs and the needs of their cat with a perspective that allows them to see the relationship in the long term as well as on a daily basis.

There’s a lot hidden in that last paragraph.

• Balance and perspective as an evaluation of oneself requires complete honesty when analyzing ones emotions and reactions to a given situation. Any biased rationalization of an event or circumstance just won’t do when one is seeking the ‘truth’ of a situation.
• A person’s needs can be either emotional (a harmonious, peaceful and happy home environment), spiritual or physical (food, warmth & shelter). The same goes for your cat. She has emotional and physical needs not dissimilar to your own. As for the spiritual needs of either people or cats, we’ll leave that for other discussions.
• Perspective is necessary to perceive a relationship with your cat as a long term affair, what you might call the forest, in light of the activities of day to day living, or the trees that make up a forest. Moreover, reactions to a given situation can change from one day to the next, some of which can have an altering effect on the long term view. You can see that moving from the long view to the short view and back again requires a good measure of mental agility.

So, what’s all that got to do with cat behavior?The instincts of cats have been ingrained over eons of evolution. The qualities that distinguish a cat from all other animals (people included) can be listed as follows:

• Cats are nocturnal: Cats learned a long time ago that they could find prey and avoid predators by doing their hunting at night. Physiologically, they evolved senses that allowed them to be quite successful at night time activities. Senses such as eyes that could detect motion in very little light. Hearing that allows them to accurately pinpoint a prey’s movements in the dark. Their hearing range far exceeds that of humans so that they can not only hear noises people can’t, but they can communicate in those ranges, too. They’ve the ability to lay a scent trail that doesn’t require light to follow which is useful when escape from predators can be the difference between life and death in total darkness.
• Cats are territorial: A cat will mark off an area with her scents and claim it for herself. Usually her territory would be just large enough to support her, and any of her kittens, with a food source in the form of prey. Her scent marking also warns other cats that this is her land and it would be best if they just move on.
• Cats are solitary: Except when mating, cats are used to living alone. This is closely related to the territorial aspect of the cat’s personality. In order to keep from spending all their time marking a territory, the claimed land is usually small enough for only one cat. Besides, to many scents can be confusing especially if she is trying to escape a predator in the dark of night.
• Cats are predatory: They have learned to be quite proficient at hunting, especially for small nocturnal prey. The cat’s hunting technique can be divided into four phases:
  • Stalking
  • Catching
  • Killing
  • Eating

  Most cat owners are familiar with the staking phase. All cats will stalk from kitten-hood. But, the success of any cat’s ability to stalk, catch, kill and eat prey is solely dependant on what their mother teaches them when they were a kitten. If they didn’t get good training in these predation techniques, they may be less than stellar at being a predator. Still, the instinct to act out all four phases is inherent in every cat’s nature.

• Cats are maternal: Because a cat is solitary and her territory will only provide prey for her and her brood, it’s necessary for the kittens to learn a lot before mom kicks them out of the house. Otherwise, there would be too many mouths competing for a limited supply of food. Not to mention all the different scents cluttering up the territory. The maternal instinct has to be strong to teach so much in a short period of time. Unlike pack animals that will share in child rearing, a cat has only herself to rely upon to successfully raise her brood and perpetuate the cat species.

So, when someone decides to own a cat as a pet, they should realize that the cat comes with some pretty deeply ingrained characteristics. Most see only a package that doesn’t require a lot of attention (unlike dogs), is basically clean and doesn’t have to be house trained. But, then when a person’s logical sense of order and predictability comes into conflict with the basic natural instincts of a cat… the fur begins to fly!!When a cat’s feeling at home, she will rub her cheeks against prominent pieces of furniture, your pillows, or your leg. Most people find that an endearing quality. She’s really marking her territory which she shares with you. If she becomes stressed (due to a change in or invasion of her environment such as a move to a new home, or the introduction of a new pet or family member), or due to certain illnesses, she may feel the need to mark her territory a little more strongly, say with urine. In both cases she is marking her territory, but only one marking is acceptable to you. The other can cause you fits and wonder why you brought her home in the first place. Your reaction will have a lot to say about you and how you evaluate circumstances. It will say less about your cat since she will only be doing what comes naturally to her.

It’s sometimes hard to believe, but cats really aren’t diabolical.

I know that there are many who’ll disagree with me. But, I’ve found that cats are just as loving, faithful, playful and needful of attention as any dog. They just manifest those qualities in a different manner which is unique to cats in general. Mostly, I’ve found that with an understanding of the instinctual feline characteristics, many of the problematic behavioral confrontations people have with their cats can either be corrected, albeit with some compromise on the person’s part, or avoided altogether. Yes, you’ll have to be smarter than the cat. And, being smarter than anything requires a lot of work. In the end, cats aren’t diabolical, or out to make your life miserable; they don’t try to get even, even when you think they should. They just do what comes naturally. Whether what they do is normal or not… that depends a lot on their childhood experiences. Something even people have a hard time being. Normal, that is. Kitten-hood experiences and how they relate to adult cat behavior will be discussed in the next newsletter. For now give yourself a little test. Without looking at your cat, ask the following questions:

• What color are your cat’s eyes and coat?
• Describe the quality of your cat’s coat, skin, teeth and gums.
• What sex is your cat? Is your cat neutered or intact?
• How much does she/he weigh?
• How much does she/he eat and drink every day?
• When, how much and how often does she/he urinate and defecate?

If you can answer these questions, then you are on your way to really knowing your cat and a big step towards a peaceful coexistence which you both want, for sure. Learning her instinctual drives will complete the picture. Then your life together will be remembered as a life of harmony. Not of strife or détente. Or worse with her staring at euthanasia or becoming feral.Work in Progress: Coming to Cat Lovers Gift World will be a section entitled Cat Behavior which will discuss the concept of the cat’s natural instincts and how they affect the cat in her relations with people.