Many pet owners go by the brand when it comes to purchasing food for their pets. Whether you feed your cat wet or dry food, it is always a good idea to read the labels before buying.

Companies change their ingredients for their products sometimes due to acquisition or merger. If the owner of the company has been changed, it is possible that the management may affect the quality of their products. A good brand in the past may lose consumers’ confidence if they have changed the way of manufacturing.

Also some brands such as Fancy Feast’s Flaked Fish & Shrimp Feast, contain no by-products nor any wheat or corn gluten, but their other flavors may not match the same quality. Knowing how to read food labels will give you a head start on finding healthy food choices for your cat

Food labels can be very confusing. Here are some of the terms you may want to think twice when reading the food labels:

Meal:

Meal is a dry concentrated powder that is rich in protein with litter water and fat. According to FDA, “Meat meal is not meat per se, since most of the fat and water have been removed by rendering.” Many large brand cat products contain meal. It is difficult to know what type of ingredients a company uses in creating the meal, so it is totally up to consumers whether they want to buy it.

By-products:

We all know that by-products have been carrying a stigma of being one of the undesirable ingredients on the “no-no” list, but what are they exactly? By-products are, according to AAFCO, “parts of slaughtered animals, not including meat (please note: no muscle meat included). Included are lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, blood, bone, partially defatted low-temperature fatty tissue, and stomach and intestines freed of their contents.” However, AAFCO fail to mention in the definition that it is perfectly legal for manufacturers to add by-products made out of dead, dying, diseased or down animals, road kill and euthanized animals, into their products.

If the by-products come from a good source such as a named by-product (chicken by-product meal), it should be ok only if it is not listed as the primary ingredient on the label. There is no way of knowing the percentage or weight of the by-products used in the cat food, though it is possible to find out how much protein (which includes meat, by-products, certain grains, etc) the food contains.

Gluten:

Gluten is a protein from grains such as wheat. It is used as starch to create the “gravy” texture for your canned cat food. Some cats may be allergic to grains, but there has not been proof that grains cause those allergic reactions. According to the massive cat food recall back in 2007, gluten was contaminated with melamine for boosting its protein content in cat food.

Carbohydrate Fillers:

Most of the “cheaper brands” contain a large amount of carbohydrate fillers in dry cat kibbles. The most common source of fillers comes from corn which puts strain on cats’ digestive system and might cause allergies as a result. However, it does not mean that premium brands are free from carbohydrate fillers. Unfortunately many premium brand companies manufacture their products via the “process of extrusion” which requires using carbohydrate fillers to keep the kibbles in shape. Companies that do not use carbohydrate fillers, use fermentation instead.

Flavor:

Flavor does not mean that it is extracted straight from meat. Even though on the label, it says “chicken flavor”, it could be derived from chicken meal or by-products. The chicken flavor can also be produced by animal tissue (such as flesh, bone, organs, etc) treated with chemicals or enzymes.

Artificial Preservatives:

The most commonly used artificial preservatives are BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin. Companies that make natural or organic cat food use vitamin E and C as an alternative to those preservatives.

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Most household cleaning products only mask the odors of urine, vomit or feces temporarily. The smell gathers inside your carpet or hardwood floor. In order to effectively remove odors and stains, we need to first understand the chemical makeup of urine, vomit and feces. [Note: many household products are not suitable for pets because they may contain chemicals that maybe harmful to pets]

All these odor and stain messes are made up with organic amines, sulfur, ammonia, and mercaptans. Bacteria is highly attracted to these carbon and nitrogen rich compounds. Some household cleaning products actually makes the odor more prominent due to the by-products created when the cleaner interacts with the bacteria. If the household cleaners contain ammonia, they can worsen the smell.

Ammonia is a by-product created by urine. Using ammonia formulated cleaners can attract cats to go back to the same spot where they soiled or urinated. It does not completely remove the odor but emphasizes it for your cats.

On the other hand, vinegar is a natural disinfectant that only works temporarily in containing the odor produced by the bacteria. The odor will come back once the vinegar wears off.

Another misconception is that in order to thoroughly clean the carpet that has been soiled, steam cleaners would be a good choice. Steam cleaners are great for removing regular non-organic stains or dirt. The heat comes from the steam cleaners can permanently press the organic stain into the carpet fibers, making it a much harder to get rid of.

The sooner you have the messes cleaned up the less damaging they can do to your carpet or hardwood floor. Below are a few tips that may help you effectively remove odors and stains without having to replace your carpet or hardwood floor.

Soak it up

Timing is key. If you spot urine on the carpet, immediately blot it up with paper towels, toilet paper, newspaper, rags or anything that can quickly soak up the urine. Do not rub it because rubbing forces the urine to go deeper into the carpet. Instead, keep pressing on the materials until the yellow moisture is gone from the carpet.

Apply an enzymatic cleaner

Use any pet-stain enzymatic cleaner to help neutralize the odor. Follow the instructions and let the solution set for a while then soak it up with paper towels or a rag. Nature’s Miracle and Zero Odor are two excellent enzymatic cleaners.

Use Baking Soda

If your clothing or bed sheets get stained with urine, apply baking soda along with your detergent when you wash them in a washer. The way baking soda works is to absorb odors and prohibit bacteria from growing. Since heat can solidify organic stain in fabric, it is wise to avoid using hot water.

How to find old stains?

Sometimes you may defect a slight stench in your house but unable to spot any stain. In this case, you can use a black light bulb to survey your floor. The black light will give the old stains a greenish-yellow fluorescent glow. Once you have spotted the stains, mark them with chalk and clean them with a highly effective enzymatic cleaner. Once all the old stains are gone, your house will smell refreshed and new.

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Cats do not need baths or showers very often since they groom themselves daily, but sometimes accidents happen that require more than just regular grooming. Bathing cats can be a chore if your kitten is not particularly fond of water. Unlike Turkish Van who has an affinity to water, chances of you getting a few scratches and wet are pretty high. There are ways to bathe your kittens without causing a tumultuous bathroom experience.

Prepare your supplies:

You will need to have one or two buckets (or 2 sinks). The buckets should be big enough to contain a good amount of water. Take a large cup or a big ladle to scoop the water with.

You should use cat shampoo that can be found at the pet stores. I do not recommend human shampoo because animals like cats have different skin condition from humans’. Using human shampoo can cause their skin to dry up and create more dander. Also, human shampoo may contain chemicals that are not suitable for cats. Even if your shampoo is formulated with natural ingredients, it does not mean it has the right compounds for your cat’s skin. Your safest bet is to get a shampoo product designed for cats.

If your cat is infested with fleas, flea shampoo will help remove a portion of it, but may not completely get rid of all the fleas because of how tenacious those little critters are. For flea infestation, you should look for medication such as Frontline or Advantage. Talk to your vet about those medications.

Prepare one or two towels for drying.

If your cat is a difficult one and completely fearful of water, you might want to get another person to help you. Otherwise, with the steps below, you can pretty much bathe your cat on your own.

Fill the Bucket with Warm Water:

Fill the bucket with warm water. I would only use the water from the bucket to rinse rather than turning on the shower spray so I would not startle my cat and cause him to panic and flee. Also, I would have the water ready beforehand to avoid adding extra stress to the cat during the bathing process. The less noise I make, the easier the whole experience will go.

I use my bath tub to bathe my cats because they feel more comfortable in there. You can add some water to the tub but that will depend on if your cat is comfortable with standing or sitting in water.

Introduce Your Cat to the Tub:

Whether you are going to bathe your cat in a tub or else where, it is important to have them familiarize with the environment. Give them sometime to explore around and encourage them to sniff on the supplies.

Start with a Little Water:

The most important thing about bathing or showering a water-phobic cat is to assure him that water is not going to do him any harm. In order to achieve that, you can first stroke the cat’s back with your wet hand. Keep petting your cat with your hand, slowly applying more water. Keep the water adding pace slow. In the meantime, praise your cat for being calm by talking to him in a soft voice.

If your cat is particularly fearful of water, you can have another person hold him gently, but usually the introduction step will ease off their worries if done correctly.

Shampoo Your Cat:

Once your cat’s coat is damp enough, you can add some shampoo and work it into foam. Start massaging the coat gently with both of your hands. Continue to talk softly with your cat. Your voice will soothe him and let him know that you are there for him.

Rinse off Shampoo:

Use the cup to transfer water over and pour it gently on his body. Keep the noise at minimum if you can. Cats are very sensitive to sounds. Any loud noises during shower can put them in a state of shock.

Dry Your Cat:

I would not use a blow dryer because it makes too much noise. After the shower, I would rub down the cat with a very obsurbant towel. If you have a long-haired cat, use a comb to untangle the hair for him. He will appreciate it.

Tips: 

Your calmness and patience will sail you through the entire process. If you are frustrated or stressed, your cat will be too. 

Keep talking to your cat in a soft voice. It will alleviate your cat’s stress. 

Introduction to the bathroom is crucial. If your cat does not trust the tub, he will more likely run away when the bathing process starts. 

Cut your cat’s nails beforehand to reduce chances of getting scratched. 

Treat your cat with his favorite treats afterwards.

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Stress is cats’ biggest enemy. It may be hard for you to imagine since cats are often found lounging comfortably on the couch, playing with their favorite toys or enjoying food you specially selected for them. However, cats are subject to various potential stress factors. They form their own habits and create their own territory. When their territory is violated or their habits have been interrupted, they face the risk of increasing their stress.

Being a creature of habit, cats get confused when the environment is changed or a new member has entered into the same habitat. Below are the most common stressors that can potentially put a cat under tremendous stress: 

New member in the family such as a cat, adult or baby 

Loss of a loved one such as a cat owner or another cat 

Change in owner’s schedule 

A unfamiliar outdoor cat 

Quick change in diet 

Abrupt change in litter 

Unsanitary litter box 

Relocating or renovating the home 

Lack of space, overcrowding 

Illness 

Boarding or hospitalization 

Confinement 

Abuse 

Lack of human socialization or loneliness 

Punishment 

Boredom 

Tension or anger between human family members 

Staying with someone who is not fond of cats 

Natural disaster, severe weather, fire or other emergencies 

Though cats are masters of hiding pain and discomfort, there are signs that show a cat that may be under stress: 

Spraying or inappropriate elimination such as urinating outside the litter box 

Isolation, hiding from everyone 

or becoming more demanding for attention 

Excessive scratching behavior 

Excessive vocalization 

Decrease in appetite 

Aggression towards a person or another cat in the same household 

Aviodance of certain locations of the house 

Insufficient grooming or excessive grooming 

Restlessness 

Diarrhea, constipation or other digestive tract problem 

The rule of thumb is that if you see change of behavior in your cat, it is likely that your cat is going through some sort of stress issue and needs your help to relieve their frustration that they have couped up inside. However, many medical illnesses also display similar symptoms so you should consult a veterinarian to rule out any medical cause.

Your keen observation will help detect behavioral problems in your cats and provide the right solution they need to resolve the underlining issues.

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Did you know that more than 40% of cats in the US are considered obese? That’s a staggering number. According tothePetCenter.com, “only 5 to 10 percent of all cats can be classified as only slightly overweight.”

Obese cats are at much higher risk than cats of normal weight to have diabetes, arthritis and Hepatic Lipidosis, a very serious disorder. The cause of obesity is very similar to that in humans. The rule of the thumb is that if an animal consumes more calories than it burns, the body will store the excess energy (in a form of fat). The more excess calories it accumulates, the bigger the body will expand. A cat’s diet as well as its active level are the main reasons why some cats are exceptionally larger than others. [Is My Cat in Good Shape?]

Any cat that is overweight should have a physical exam performed, exact weight measured and blood and urine tests run. – Obesity in Cats… and What to Do About an Overweight Cat

Many cat owners doubt that their cat’s obesity has anything to do with their food intake because they think their cat “hardly eats a thing.” They blame it on lack of exercise or sitting on the couch too much. The truth is that “THE main reason for feline obesity (as well as obesity in other mammals) is the consumption of too much food.” – Obesity in Cats… and What to Do About an Overweight Cat

I was watching a TV show the other day. A cat owner was puzzled by her cat’s heavy, wobbly shape. She followed the feeding directions religiously and only fed her cat twice a day. Not only did her cat show no sign of improvement, to make matter worse, he managed to add a few more pounds. She took the cat to the veterinarians several times to have his thyroid checked out. Everything turned out negative. She even went for a second opinion to see if there was anything else that had not been discovered. All the efforts were to  no avail. Finally, her regular veterinarian suggested to cut down the food consumption by 1/3 and come back in a few weeks. To her and her vet’s surprise, the cat’s weight finally came down.

There are a lot of questions about how accurate feeding directions are. The feeding directions are merely provided as a recommended guide. Every cat is different in some way. They may need more or less of the amount suggested depending on the cat’s physical shape and health condition. There are many products out there claim to provide weight control. They are usually tagged with the word “light” which indicates a light, low calorie diet. However, be careful with it because if light means lower protein and other nutrients, it can make your kitty more hungry and crave for more food. Cats’ digestive system is designed for dense, energy packed foods. They require a meat based diet that does not have to come in a large quantity. In fact, if you feed them a high quality cat food, they do not seem to eat much at all.

There are many wet canned food choices out there that cost quiet a lot per can, but each serving is small, so in fact you are spending about the same, but your cat is getting adequate nutrients without overeating. Dry food can be a good snack, but it is one of the biggest contributors to feline obesity today. The reason that cats may overeat if fed only dry food is because dry food contains less high quality protein than most wet food. Cats desire many vital nutrients they need and may continue eating until they have obtained those nutrients. Often that results in overeating. With high quality wet food, this type of problem can largely be avoided.

No matter how well a brand of dry food is made, it has to be processed, dried and mixed with some type of carbohydrates or low grade protein. Those are not the primary nutritional needs for cats. It is not uncommon to see cats keep nibbling on their dry food and not able to stop eating. [Does Your Cat Food Contain Corn as a Primary Ingredient?]

We all know how cats crave mice and birds as a food source.  A natural source of nutrition for carnivores, mice and birds are a perfect diet for a cat.  Did you know that a mouse or a bird is composed of only 3 to 8 percent carbohydrate?  And most of that is actually from what the prey was eating and is in the prey’s digestive tract.  The rest is water, a few minerals, and mostly protein and fat. - Obesity in Cats… and What to Do About an Overweight Cat

Carbohydrate is harder for cats to digest because they do not have the enzyme which helps break down the carbs in the mouth, unlike humans and dogs, we have saliva to help digest carbohydrates. A meat based diet with high quality protein and fatty acids is important for cats to maintain healthy weight.

Most of overweight cats have the tendency to lie around all day without getting any physical activity. Like humans, if we do not exercise, we lose our muscle mass. With extra calories we put into our body, we begin to gain weight. Over a period of time, our metabolism goes down and the body fat percentage shoots up. Obesity is also one of the main causes of depression in humans. That can happen in cats too.

Getting an obese cat to lose weight needs to be done gradually… no crash diets allowed!  Cats have a unique metabolic response to fasting and whenever a feline’s food intake is rapidly and markedly depressed, a serious and potentially fatal disorder can occur called Hepatic Lipidosis. – Obesity in Cats… and What to Do About an Overweight Cat

Exercise is especially necessary for kittens. It helps build up their immune system and develop a strong, healthy body. Your interaction with your cats in a physical activity is an excellent way to bond with your cats while getting them in shape. In order to improve your cats’ physical level, you can purchase toys that allow you to play together. If you have a tight schedule which keeps you away from your cats, you could “consider adopting a friendly and playful cat from the local shelter so the solitary cat has ‘someone’ to interact and play with.”

I feed my cat a combination of dry and wet food with 80% wet and 20% dry. My kitties’ daily activities are fetch, feather wands and various jumping and running playing sessions.

Obesity in Cats… and What to Do About an Overweight Cat has a lot of great tips about what we should feed our cats and what we can do to help a big furry to lose weight in a healthy and effective way.

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In a multi-cat household, a cat that has not been neutered or spayed may spray around the house for numerous reasons. Neutering and spaying can significantly reduce chances of spraying.

Why do cats spray?

There are two types of cats spray according to Pam Johnson-Bennett, a feline behaviorist:

The first type of cats spray comes from cats that are confident and tend to present themselves as the dominant figure in a multi-cat household. The other type of cats spray stems from cats that are slightly intimidated, less confident and even somewhat timid. Marking territory is a common goal for spraying in both types of felines. However, sometimes these two types of felines spray for very different reasons. 

Confident cats:

Besides marking territory in a new place, an unfixed cat can use it to display its sexuality especially during mating season. Also, if the dominant cat comes across an equally confident cat, he may use spraying to emphasize its status in the house in order to pressure the other cat into subservience.

A confident cat enjoys patrolling around his territory and subsequently leaving his mark along the perimeter to signal other cats that this is his domain. However, sometimes they spray simply because they won a fight against another cat in the same colony, thus spraying is a way for them to display victory.

Finally, spraying can also be interpreted as a sign of offensive aggression especially when they are facing a threat or something they identify as dangerous.

Less Confident Cats:

Besides marking territory, spraying to these less confident cats is a way to show passive or defensive aggression. They are probably intimidated by a new cat in the house, applying spraying as their last resort in hopes of getting themselves out of a threat or avoid direct confrontation with a new cat. Also, spraying can help these timid cats to gather information they need within their proximity. A less confident cat may use spraying as a medium to exchange information with another cat in the same territory, so he can avoid direct encounter with the new cat.

How to Stop Spraying

1. When cats do not have enough room in the house, they become territorial. If space is limited in your home, you can add perches or ramps in the house to create extra areas for them to rest and roam around. It can effectively reduce territorial conflicts in the house.

2. If cats sense a foreign scent from another cat, they will become territorial. In helping those cats to decrease their stress level, cat owners can rub down the new cat with a towel and bring it over to the aggressive cat to sniff and play with. By the time the old cat gets used to the new scent, his aggression will subside.

3. Cat owners can also consider using a cat gate to separate the cats at the beginning. Allow them to sniff and study each other through the gate. Cats use their facial pheromone to mark places they have been to. It is a safety indicator for them. By sniffing and smelling another cat face to face, they are swapping personal scent with each other, getting to know one another in a much deeper level.

4. Cat owners can consider using Feliway Comfort Zone, a great product to help prevent spraying in a multi-cat household. It sprays a scent that is similar to the smell of a cat’s facial pheromone which calms the cats and prevent many undesirable behaviors.

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Thunderstorms can be very stressful for cats. Cats are connected to their surroundings through smell and sounds. They can sense a thunderstorm coming before we can even realize it. They are able to smell and hear something far better than what humans are capable of. Many cats are well aware of the danger of thunderstorms, thus become frightened when they know a thunderstorm is immenent.

Cats can become fearful when it is raining without the thunder. Some of them are afraid of the splashing sounds and instinctively take refuge for their safety. There are a few things you can do to reassure your furry friends that everything will be just fine.

[video: These 2 cats took refuge during a thunderstorm]

Good preparation

One thing we can do to reduce fear for our cats is to take note of the weather forecast and provide things for your cats to create a pleasant experience when a thunderstorm hits. Sometimes a severe thunderstorm can knock out the power of a region. Having all the necessary supplies such as water, food, toys and treats can help keep your cats’ daily routine intact.

If your cats are particularly afraid of thunderstorms or fireworks, it would be a fantastic idea to use toys or their favorite treats as a distraction to keep them excited and stimulated, so their attention can be redirected to something pleasant. In doing so, you are creating a positive association between the loud sounds and pleasant memories rather than the fear and terror of thunder.

Stay Calm

Your mood can be very influential to your cats well-being. Your cats can get stressed out if there is tension in the family. Your calming manner can help sooth them and give them peace of mind. When your cats become antsy about an upcoming thunderstorm or ongoing fireworks, speak with them in a soft, soothing, uplifting tone. It will ensure them that you are there to keep them safe and protected. Do not yell at your cats if they become aggressive or behave abnormally. Yelling can only intensify the negative behavior and creates more fear in your cats.

Provide a spot for refuge

Many cats will take refuge under a bed, a table or anywhere that can help muffle the sound and make them feel protected. If your cats have not picked a place, you can go ahead and provide one for them. You can use treats to encourage them to hide in a safe place.

Remember that cats are scared of loud sounds or fireworks out of instinct. You can help them by staying calm, tantalizing them with toys and treats, so they can be distracted from the noise. It may take a few tries for your cats to fully understand they will be fine during a thunderstorm or fireworks. Your patience, encouragement and positivity will make everything much easier for your furry friends.

[Another video: Cats and thunderstorms]

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Flickr: Chris Gin

Though some cats are very cooperative when it comes to nail clipping, others maybe very resistant. I have three cats, they give three different responses to nail trimming. Shadow lets you clip his nails with ease. Flip may flinch once in a while, but he is mostly calm and does not move around too much if the person who cuts his nails is gentle and someone he can trust. Jackie, our fluffy kitty does not like nail clipping with a passion. He would resist so hard that we almost never get to do it while he is awake.

So that got us thinking maybe we shouldn’t do it when he is awake. He just would not let us touch his paws. Then a light bulb went on in our head. Here is how it went when we attempted to trim his nails when he was asleep 

Play the video below:

When cats are in a state of stress, the best way to calm them down is distraction. Besides trimming their nails while they are asleep, you can also try to feed them treats such as mayonnaise (slather some on their nose), they’d be too busy licking off the treats to worry about having their nails trimmed. However, if your cat is as resistant as my kitty Jackie, the nail trimming while asleep technique should work the best.Here is a clip of a stray kitten who is still in the process of learning to trust people, getting his nails trimmed:

“Orion is a stray kitten that I found five days ago. He’s about twelve weeks old and does not like to be held for an extended period of time. Since he plays very aggressively, I’ve been meaning to clip his claws. Advice from the Internet about how to hold your cat while trimming its nails doesn’t apply to him; he squirms and claws anytime I try to touch his paw. But today I discovered a wonderful trick – do it while your cat’s asleep!” –mztwo

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Flickr: Lisa Brewster

Why do Cats Love Kitchen Counters:

Cats love surfing on kitchen counters because of their innate preferences of higher grounds and surveying from a safe and elevated place. What makes kitchen counters very attractive, besides the height, is the smell left from cooking. Even though you have cleaned and scrubbed the areas, it does not get the smell out completely. Cats are sensory creatures that have a remarkable sense of smell. A clean counter to humans may still smell like grilled chicken, tuna casserole or seared salmon to cats. Cats are very good at finding little bits of leftover food. If they realize that kitchen counters are places where they can rummage for food, they will learn to go back in hopes of getting more food.

Why are Kitchen Counters an Undesirable Place for Cats:

The biggest reason why kitchen counters are not the most desirable place for cats to hang out is because they can jump on a hot stove or accidentally land on a sharp knife. There are also other kitchen tools that could be dangerous to your cats.

What You can do to Deter this Behavior:

The trick is to make kitchen counters look and feel undesirable to your cats. You will need to do a little redecorating to your kitchen counters temporarily until your cats learn to stay off them. At the same time, redirect them to a fun place to fulfill their desire of surveying and perching on a higher place.

Flickr: Jacob Davies

Double-sided tape

Use double-sided tape to cover the edges of the kitchen counters. Cats dislike sticky tape because it adheres to their paws and makes it difficult to walk. You can try to use placemats or anything similar to put the double-sided tape on and distribute them all over your kitchen counters.

Use a little water

If your cats are trying to bypass the double-sided tape, you can prepare a few cookie sheets and fill them with water. Position them next to the tape, so if your cats walk pass the tape, they will land on the water. Since you are placing the tape and the cookie sheets on the counters above ground level, it is hard for your cats to foresee what may happen should they leap on the counters. The surprise element will get them to learn that kitchen counters are not the most desirable place to be on.

Citrus scented natural cleaners

If you have a citrus scented cleaner that is completely harmless to cats, you can use it on the kitchen counters. Cats detest anything that contains citric aroma.

Purchase a cat deterrent

There are motion detectors on the market that can help you dissuade your cats from jumping on the kitchen counters. A cat deterrent works as an alarm which sets off when the cat is in the vicinity of the product. The product also squirts out air at the cat along with the loud sounds. This will startle the cat from leaping on the counters.

What You can do to Rechannel Your Cats to Safer Places in Your Home:

It is very important to provide an alternative area that is enticing to your cats. Find a place where they can jump on, perch in and survey around. Find a comfortable spot where your cats can check out everyone and all the activities in the household. You can try to place a sturdy cat tree in a high-traffic area of your house or right next to the windows where your cats can enjoy the view from the outdoors.

When you first introduce a cat tree to your cats, you can use catnip and treats to encourage them to find the tree. Reward your cats with their favorite treats when they finally get on the tree by themselves.

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Do your cats like to terrorize toilet paper or a box of tissues? Many cats such as the Bengal and the Abyssinian are highly active felines. They demand a lot of activities each day or they will attempt to find random things to do in the house in order to keep them entertained.

However, not everything they find interesting gets our approval. Cats love to play with toilet paper and tissues because they find excitement from unraveling a roll of toilet paper and shredding it into millions of confetti. With a box of tissues, they enjoy pulling them out and perhaps once they run out of tissues, they will proceed to fit their body into the box or anything imaginable.

Cats’ curiosity and playfulness may cause you to replace certain items in the house. Though sometimes it is fun to see them turning a roll of toilet paper into smithereens, if they continue doing so, it can become troublesome. What’s the explanation behind this kind of behavior?

(Video: Kittens Playing with Toilet Paper)

Cause:

Active cats such as Bengals and Abyssinians need plenty of exercise daily to keep up with their energy level. If they are bored, they will look for things to make their own fun with. Generally, cats that often find themselves tearing up household products are asking for more playtime and more stimulating games. You can redirect their energy to something else they can focus their attention to. Below are a few tips that may help you keep your toilet paper and tissues intact and away from their little paws:

Tissue boxes:

You can turn the tissue boxes upside down to block the entry from your cats, so they cannot sneak their little arm into the slot to snatch tissues.

Toilet Rolls:

In order to prevent your cats from unraveling a roll of toilet paper, one remedy is to install a toilet roll dispenser.

Use an aversive spray:

You can apply an aversive spray on a sheet of toilet paper or tissue, then cover it on top of a tissue box or a toilet paper roll. This will discourage your cat from going back. Bitter Apple is a great aversive spray that is completely harmless to cats. Cats hate the taste of it.

Use a cup of water:

You can even set up a trap by balancing a cup of water on a roll of toilet paper. When your cat comes to destroy your toilet paper, the cup of water will crash onto the floor, creating sounds that will startle your cat away. However, it is the splashing water that will ultimate discourage your cat from returning.

Lots of playtime and games:

The rule of thumb is cats need playtime and attention from their owners. A cat’s boredom can get him to behave differently. A cat can forget about toilet paper or tissues very quickly if he is given a good amount of playtime and a few highly fun and interesting games.

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Flickr: frostnova

Cat dandruff is a skin condition resulting in flaky, dry dead skin. It should not be confused with dander which is regular shedding from healthy  skin. Dander is comprised of both cats’ saliva and dead skin cells whereas dandruff is allergic dermatitis that causes cat’s skin to itch and appear scaly. Though dander may trigger nuisance to people that are allergic to cats, it is unlike cat dandruff which is an allergic reaction from cats.

Causes:

There are generally several culprits that cause dandruff in cats. Though some of them may require medical attention from a veterinarian, most of the conditions may resolve with home remedies:

Nutrition - many cats get dandruff simply because of poor nutrition. Food that lacks sufficient amount of O-mega 3 oil can cause the skin to dry and flake. A cat’s hair and skin condition can be a good indicator of a cat’s diet.

Moisture - though cats do not drink a lot of water, they need moisture to keep their body healthy and on track. A domestic cat usually gets water from a water fountain, food, or the environment (such as from a humidifier).

Health conditios – cat dandruff can also be a sign from a variety of medical conditions:

• Parasites – fleas, lice, mites
• infection – bacterial
• feline diabetes – mostly due to improper diet
• obesity – excessive amount of grease on the skin
• allergies – allergies to food or other environmental triggers
• sunburn – outdoor cats that are exposed to the sun for an extensive period of time can get sun burnt

How to Treat Cat Dandruff:

Add a Humidifier - By adding a humidifier in your home, it supplies moisture for your cats’ skin. Often we get shocks in winter when petting our cats. Improving the moisture level in the house can reduce that static electricity and lower the chance of getting zapped. Finally, a humidifier can help prevent colds in cats by clearing out their nose with moisture.

Drinking Water – Make sure fresh drinking water is always available for your cats. This will help keep their skin moist.

Diet Supplement - Omega 3 fatty acids or fish oil is an important part of a cat’s nutritional diet. It maintains healthy skin and hair. Certain dry food does not contain adequate amount of Omega 3 fatty acids, so by adding some fish oil in their daily diet, it can improve the cat’s skin condition and reduce the amount of dandruff.

New Cat food – If dandruff is caused by nutritional deficiency, it would be the best to switch to a vet recommended cat food especially one that offers Omega 3 fatty acids. You can also slowly introduce wet canned food into their diet. A good quality wet food contains mostly protein, good fat, little or no carbohydrates and many other vital vitamins that a cat needs.

Regular Grooming – You can start grooming your cat regularly with a brush or comb. Grooming stimulates the cats’ skin and hair to grow healthily. When you are brushing your cat, the bristles are massaging the skin, triggering blood circulating underneath. This in return revitalizes the health of the skin and hair.

Flea, lice, mite treatment - If your cat is infested with fleas, lice or mites, it is important to treat your cat right away. Though you could try to bathe the cat, fleas are very persistent and over the counter shampoo does not usually fix it. Also, it can be spread to other cats in the same household. If one cat is infested with fleas, it is highly recommended to have the rest of the cats treated as well. A veterinarian can offer proper medication for flea/lice/mite/tick treatment.

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This poor kitty got stung by a bee. His right paw was almost twice the size of his left paw. Yes, cats can get allergic reactions when they get stung by bees, wasps, yellow jackets or hornets.

If a cat gets stung by a bee, he might show signs of swelling, pain in the muscles around the affected area, vomiting, fatigue, fever and shock (respiratory distress). When a cat is experiencing respiratory distress, his tongue turns blue, Welts appear throughout the body, face starts swelling, or heart rate and breathing become rapid. If you see one of the above symptoms, you should take your cat to the vet asap.

Don’t panic when your cat is stung by an insect, You can follow the steps below to treat your cat:

Swollen paw, poor kitty

1. Approach your cat gently and quietly so you will not startle the cat if he is already anxious and nervous. Calmly and softly talk to the cat, so he knows your presence.

2. If the stinger is still embedded in the skin, do not squeeze or rub it or try to remove it with your hands because you may break the stinger and release more venom into the skin. Use a credit card or dull side of a butter knife to scrape it out.

Swollen Mouth, poor kitty

Swollen paw

3. If the stung area starts swelling, after the stinger is removed, you can ice down the area to alleviate the swelling.

4. If the cat is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, take your cat to the vet and your vet will administer a cat specific antihistamine shot to possibly reduce the allergic reaction.

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Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulationof body fat. At least 25 percent of all cats areconsidered obese or are likely to become obese.It is the most common nutrition-related healthcondition in cats in our society. 

The primary causes of obesity are overeating andlack of exercise. When regular caloric intakeexceeds the energy burned, the excess is storedas fat. As little as an extra 1 percent caloricintake can result in 25 percent increase over ideal body weight bymiddle age.

Most owners don't recognize that their cats are overweight until they

take them to the veterinarian for another reason. Most pets begin slowly gaining weight and only a historical review ofbody weight reveals the insidious nature of this condition. 

Cats that are overweight may experience difficulty breathing or walking or they may be unable to tolerate heat orexercise. 

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests to determine overall health and to provide recommendations for weight loss.

Diagnostic tests may include:

A thorough veterinary examination, including an accurate measure of body weight and an assessment of body condition score. A historical review of changes in your cat's body weight is often helpful in establishing a pattern of weight gain and may help identify a particular event or change in environment that relates to the increase in body weight.

Routine blood work including a complete blood cell count, serum profile and urinalysis are necessary to determine if there is an underlying disease. If the results of these tests indicate a problem, additional tests are warranted to specifically identify the condition before starting a weight loss program. 

Assessment of your cat's current daily intake of all food, treats, snacks, table foods and exercise schedule is important in the development of a successful weight loss program. Clearly if the calculated caloric intake exceeds the calculated daily energy requirement of the cat at an ideal body weight, then excessive caloric intake is the cause of the obesity.

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