Time to Think Outside the Box!

One of the most common problems caregivers encounter with their cats is inappropriate peeing. While normally quite fastidious, cats can start urinating outside the box for any number of reasons including feeling threatened by a new member of the household, wanting to mark territory, not feeling well, or just feeling neglected and wanting your attention. A veterinary visit is in order to first rule out any physical problems. When you know your kitty is physically okay, it's time to get to work figuring out what she's trying to tell you.

 

There are so many possible scenarios, from not liking the cat litter you use, to feeling that her routine has been disrupted due to the furniture being rearranged. Some of the basic remedies you can try are as follows: adding an extra litter box or two, scooping and cleaning the litter box more frequently, adding a cat attractant to the litter, giving her and any new house mates some additional space while they get to know each other, and just giving her more attention. You can even ask your veterinarian for suggestions, or consult with a cat behaviorist. Rest assured, you are not the first person to have this issue with your cat, and it may take some time and patience, but you can find the solution.

Being a responsible pet owner means learning all you can about proper care, keeping current on health trends, and staying attuned to your pet’s behavior and other wellness indicators. I’ll admit it, that when I was a first time cat mom, I did not know very much about properly caring for a cat. 

 

When I was growing up, my own family always let the cat roam outdoors, fed her lots of dry food, and never scooped the litter box, but instead changed it weekly. Boy did I have a lot to learn! Thank goodness we have the library, and now the convenience of the internet, with virtually no topic off limits if you want to educate yourself.  If you are a new pet owner, I highly recommend learning all you can sooner rather than later. Being a highly informed pet owner will help you give your cat, dog, bird or reptile the best chance at a long, happy life, and it will also guide you in finding the best veterinary care.

 

I will say that probably my biggest regret so far in all my years of caring for kitties is that I fed dry food for so long, and even with the “blessing” of my veterinarian.  After being lectured by a friend, and doing my own research on the topic, I changed my cats’ diets completely to wet food, as it is sooooo much healthier for a cat's kidney function. In addition, I am now much more discerning when it comes to my babies’ veterinary care! 

Taking Kitty to the Veterinary Clinic

Cats get nervous very easily and going to the veterinary clinic makes most cats quite upset. They don’t like to be taken out of their known environment; they don’t like car rides; and they certainly don’t like all the strange sights, sounds and smells of the clinic. I had a cat that got so nervous in the car, she pee’d in the carrier every single time we went to the vet. If you have the resources, there are some veterinarians who make house calls, and this is especially useful for kitties. But even then you will likely have to take a trip to a clinic at some point. You can take steps to make the ordeal a little easier on Kitty. First, bring the carrier into your cat’s living space a day or so prior to the trip, so she can see it, smell it, and even go inside if she wants to, under relaxed circumstances. Make the carrier comfortable with a soft towel or blanket to snuggle into. Cats feel more comfortable if they feel hidden. So cover the carrier with another towel or blanket for the duration of the excursion. This will also serve as back-up bedding in case she soils inside the carrier. Talk to her in a soothing voice during the trip and at the clinic. Kitty may never get used to going to the clinic but you will probably notice that she is a bit more calm if you take these extra steps. Please share any additional tips you have below! =^..^=

Pet Loss and Grief

As caregivers, we share each other’s joys and sorrows in loving these beautiful creatures. Sometimes, only a fellow pet owner can understand the grief of losing a furry (or feathery, or scaly or otherwise) family member. We need time to deal with a death, whether human or feline. I think only by allowing ourselves to feel the loss and taking the time to mourn can we properly move on. We all experience grief in a different way and for different lengths of time; it may even feel different for each pet. So don’t be hard on yourself for what you’re feeling. Seek out others who have lost furry friends, or who at least understand the depth of your love. Don’t push yourself to move on unless it begins to interfere with your work or family relationships. I will take this opportunity to advocate for multiple-pet homes. We can’t always be there for our cats, and having more than one cat means they not only play and keep each other company when we're not at home, but they will be there for you when one of them crosses to the Rainbow Bridge. I don’t think I could bear to come home with an empty carrier to an empty home. So if you don’t already have more than one cat, I hope you will consider adopting another one when the time is right.

Drink lots of water in the summer!

The summer heat can be difficult not just for you, but for your cats, too. Where I previously lived, there was no air conditioning and it occasionally got blazing hot in the summer. I could tell when the indoor temperature crossed the threshold from uncomfortably warm to "this is NOT FUN" when the cats were all sprawled across the tile floor all day long. No cushy bed or bedding of any kind needed or wanted when it’s this warm!  

But even without air conditioning, if you’re doing okay, then your indoor cat is likely doing fine as well. Just remember that she can’t remove her fur coat, so ALWAYS have plenty of fresh, cool water available for your cats and any other pets. Many pet owners have fresh water available in a number of different places. You can even drop an ice cube in the water for fun and to keep things cool. And some cats train their caregivers to provide running water on demand :-D If you prefer not to watch precious water go down the drain while Kitty takes her time with a long, cool drink, there are many automatic fountains on the market such as this one.

Senior Cats

Today, our cats are living longer than ever before just like people are living longer than they did in the past. We can definitely thank for advanced veterinary medicine, pet nutrition, and preventive health care for extending their lifespan. The percentage of cats over 6 years of age has nearly doubled in over a decade. The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 15 years.

It’s estimated that FCD (feline cognitive dysfunction) affects more than 55% of felines aged 11 to 15 years and more than 80% of felines aged 16 to 20 years. The cognitive dysfunction means that memory, ability to learn, awareness, and sight and hearing perception can all deteriorate.

On top of FCD, senior cats may be plagued by more than one of diseases at the same time making diagnosis and management of these cats more challenging. Common disease in senior cats are listed below.

• Kidney Failure (RenAvast is highly recommended)
• Heart disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Arthritis
• Hyperthyroidism
• Dental disease
• Cancer
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Liver Disease
• Bladder stones

Cat Café

It was originated from Taiwan in 1998 and became popular in Japan around 2004. Now you can find cat cafes in Middle East, other Asian countries, Europe,  and North America. That goes to show you that adding cats to coffee and cookies became a hugely successful global trend. The newest cat cafe opened was the first pop-up Cat Café in North America run by the pet food company Purina starting with Manhattan, New York. People waited in a line for a couple of hours to experience this fancy and furry cafe.

The cat cafe concept seems brilliant because although apartments are getting more pet-friendly lately, it is nice to have a place you can go to interact with feline friends on your spare time. Also having your own pet is a huge responsibility and long commitment. If you are too busy or not ready to commit, this is definitely a way for you to enjoy their company temporary.