We Love Fall..

                                                   The Six Aspects of Cat Comfort

Cats are born pleasure seekers and your cat will find lots of comfortable places around your home to hang out.  You can expand your pet's comfort zone by selecting the right supplies and equipment.  Here are six ways to make your cat more comfortable.

1.  Food

Mealtimes are a highlight of your cat's day and providing them with nutritional food that they like will keep them active.  Healthy, organic and more natural cat food will make them more healthy.

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning that they not only crave but thrive the best on meats as the protein base of their diet.  Therefore the canned, frozen or freeze dried foods would be preferable.  A high meat content dry food would be another alternative.  Stop on by and check out our large assortment..

Consider feeding your cat multiple times daily.  This is also a healthier way to feed as more smaller portions generally increase nutrient absorption.  It is also something they will look forward to.

2. Bowls

Your cat may be influenced by his or her dish as well as their dinner.  Bowls should be big enough for them to eat without squashing their whiskers.

Try to avoid plastic dishes, since plastic tends to hold and replicate bacteria.

Use separate dishes or double dinners that have a separate dish from on another. Not only do cats often prefer to drink water away from their food, but his also keeps the merging of the food with the water.

For freshness and to attract your cat to drink more refresh their water at least daily.

3. Litter

Cats are fastidious creatures and the litter that helps you keep the box clean also keeps the box attractive to our cat.  Selecting the right litter ensures that  your cat will continue to use their litter box.

A note, be sure the box is big enough for your cat to turn themselves around in or out of .

4. Bedding

Cats spend an average of 16 hours a day sleeping.  So finding an appropriate place to sleep is important for their comfort level. Since cats are very territorial animals, it is good to provide a specific place that is theirs for them to sleep.

5. Toys and Posts

Providing a variety of toys will satisfy your cat's natural need to play and keep them from boredom.  Fishing pole style toys give them a great  overall workout by promoting jumping and leaping.  Windup mechanical toys provide mental and physical stimulation and balls encourage running and chasing.

The indoor cat will benefit from a scratching post or even better a multi level cat tree.

A scratcher will provide exercise.  a multi-level tree provides both exercise and a place to hang out.

6. A Daily Routine

If your schedule allows a routine, your cat will look forward to your comings ( not your goings).  Since they are creatures of habit having a schedule regarding coming home, playtime and feeding increases their contentment quotient.  Your cat will come to know the pulse beats of your day. and anticipate your arrival home and look forward to the positive interactions the two of you share. 

Summertime Cat Teats

Add a couple of ice cubes to your cat's water bowl daily.

Some cats love the taste of yogurt.  It is good for them!!  

Adding this creamy treat to your cat's diet is cool, tasty and healthy.

Always feed high quality plain yogurt, not flavored yogurt that has little or no lactose  or added sugar.   

Cat Grass....

Even though cats are carnivores, they seem to like  bit of greenery in their daily diet.
We think that cats simply like the taste and texture of crispy crunchy green leaves and stems.

Grass eating is more often found in outdoor cats.  If you have outdoor cats, it is important to be
careful when using fertilizer, weed and pest control products on your lawn area.  This can be
very toxic to your cat.  Many indoor cats will snack on any available greenery as well.
With many common household plants that are toxic.  it is important to screen the plants
in your home.  Avoid keeping plants that are a potential risk and make you offer your cat
an alternative.

The best way to satisfy

your cat's taste for greens is to provide a pot of fresh organic cat grass.
If you want to provide a little variety for your kitty.  There are several types of grass for feeding your cats, oats, wheat, Japanese barnyard millet, bluegrass and rye.

It is so simple to provide your cat(s) with their own mini salad bar.
Cat grass is easy to grow.

We carry a wide range of different cat grass, in pots,  baskets and more. Along with refills.
Stop on by and check it out

Help Your cat Beat The Heat Part 2....

Sunburn:


White cats or cats with white ears and faces, are particularly susceptible to sunburn.  Over a period or repeated exposure to the sun can cause squamous cell carcinoma, , a cancer found most often on the tips of the ears and nose.  Early signs area sore that does not heal, or that bleeds.


White cats should be kept out of direct sun as much as possible and  if they must be in the sun, you can help them prevent sunburn by using a sunscreen on their ears and noise.  our veterinarian can recommend one which will not be harmful if ingested.


The sun is a powerful giver of life.
Still worshipped by people  all over the world.
It is not always your cat's best friend.    

Help Your Cat Beat The Heat..Part 1

You know the drill, the sun is blinding relentlessly beating down . If you do not have air condition  you seek out shady spots and sigh in relief from the slightest breeze, otherwise you  huddle inside.
Your thirsty body craves fluids, and the beverage of choice.

Consider this before you ever reach that point, your cat may also be showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Cats can also be affected by heat stroke. Cant's cannot always tell you that they are not feeling up to par, but they can show you .  Early symptoms of heat stroke and the accompanying  dehydration are:

Painting
Anxiety, possibly demonstrated by pacing
Increased heartbeat
Respiratory distress of hyperventilation (Breeds with flat noses may exhibit this earlier
because of compromised airways.)
Dark red bums
Lethargy
Increased Internal  body temperature.
Your cat's internal temperature should be between 100.5 ' and 101.5' F. 
Or more is a definite warning sign.

You can help your cat survive extremely hot weather by keeping him or her in a cool interior room.  Rubbing them down with a damp cloth will help, so will immersing their feet in a tub of cool water.
Wrapping a plastic bag of frozen peas in a towel and placing it in his or her bed for a cool spot to lie.  The peas will rearrange themselves to fit the contour and they will have a custom spa for cooling off.

The optimum water bowl for your cat is an automatic water dispenser. 
There are a  of them which we offer at our store location.  Drinkwell Pet fountains and stone are the best on the market.
Stop by and check some of them out.

If you cannot afford the automatic water dish.  Make sure your cat  has several bowls of cool water available.  It does not hurt to drop an ice cube in once in awhile not only to cool the water but to pique kitty's interest in drinking.

Strangely enough, cats affected by external heat may refuse to drink water.  Exacerbating the problem of dehydration, so you may want to force water by using an eyedropper or syringe,  Be careful not to shoot the water down their throat as it can enter their lings an cause choking.  Just dribble a drop or two at a time in the corner of their mouth, which will help hydrate them and draw their interest           to drinking on their own.

Summertime Cat Care

It is up to you to make sure your cat stays cool as the temperature soars during the long, hot summer.  Here are a few tips that will keep your kitty comfortable and healthy.

Keep your cat's bowl full of clean, cold water.  There is nothing more refreshing than a chilled drink of water on a hot day.  Your cat feels the same way. On a really hot or humid days toss a couple of ice cubes in the bowl to keep the water cool. Do not forget to change the water daily to prevent the growth of bacteria and algae.

Some cats love a game of ice hockey. On a smooth floor, bat an ice cube toward your cat. Swat it back to him if he or she returns your serve.  Continuing the volley until your kitty loses interest is a great way to have fun and to keep cool at the same time.

High humidity combined with heat can put your cat at risk of heat stroke.  On a humid day, keep your home cool with fans or air conditioning.  Outside, an inexpensive water miser can give your cat a little relief.

Give a little more TLC to special needs cats.  Senior cats, very young kittens and sick or debilitated animals are more sensitive to hot weather.  Keep these cats cool at all times and watch them closely for signs of heat-related illness.  

Never leave your cat alone in a car.  Quick trips to the store always take longer than you expect. Leaving the windows cracked will not keep your kitty cool at all. On a summer's day of only 85 degrees the inside car temperature will shoot up to 120 degrees (F) in a matter of minutes even with the windows slightly open.

Check your screens for tears and secure fit.  Cats like to stay cool on the window sill, especially during warm weather.  a cat leaning against a loose or improperly fastened screen, however , may fall.  use safety screens on all open windows and make sure they are installed properly.

Monitor your cat for symptoms of heatstroke.  Heatstroke is a real medial emergency.  If you suspect your pet has heatstroke you must act quickly.   Move your cat to a cool place and immediately contact your veterinarian.  Symptoms of heatstroke include:

Panting

Drooling

Red tongue and lips

Dullness

Weakness and collapsing

Convulsions

Vomiting

Remember summer is a fun season for one and all .  With just a few precautions, you can be sure you and your feline friend will beat the heat.