Cat Info Center

Why Cats Scratch

Even cats that roam freely outside look for something when indoors that they can scratch.

There are several reasons why a cat needs to scratch;

They will scratch to sharpen their claws.
They will show their superiority over weaker cats.
They will be exercising the extension and retraction of their claws.
They will be marking their territory.
They might even be getting rid of anger or frustration.

You can see there are many reasons why cats we need to scratch, but you certainly don’t want them to use your furniture as the scratching pad therefore it is a good idea to supply the cat with a good scratching pad and let them know that that is what it is intended to be used for.

Put the scratching post in a place that is easily accessible to the cat particularly when it is finished eating or grooming itself and is likely to feel like having a scratch.

Anytime the cat looks like it is going to scratch your furniture or anything else that you don’t want it to scratch, quickly pick it up and put it near the scratching post so it learns that the scratching post is where it should be scratching.

If the cat tends to scratch a particular piece of furniture or other item in the house on a regular basis, then remove that item and replace it with a scratching post. The cat will begin to learn that it is the scratching post that it should be scratching and nothing else.

The more time you spend with your cat when it is young, training it where it can scratch, the less trouble you will have as it grows older.

Sometimes a cat will scratch as a form of devotion, or leave its scent over your own scent. By rubbing your hands or clothing over the scratching post you will be leaving your scent and often this is all that is needed to encourage your cat to scratch the post.

Good Nutrition for Your Cat

What should you be feeding your cat?

You need to consider what cats will need in the wild to determine the best food sources for them.

In the wild, cats will eat mice and birds, and drink water.

Obviously this is a diet high in protein and it is essential that your cat gets sufficient protein to maintain a good healthy diet.

What many people don’t realize is that cats can get diabetes from having a diet that is too high in carbohydrates.

By constantly feeding your cat carbohydrates it can become insulin resistant and unable to keep its blood glucose levels at a suitable level.

Some signs that your cat is becoming diabetic include drinking a lot of water and eating considerably more than they usually do.

You might also notice a sign of weakness in the back legs as they tend to wobble a bit when walking.

The only way to be sure whether your cat is developing diabetes is to give it a blood test.

This is the best way to determine whether the cat has diabetes or not, although you can do a urine analysis to check blood glucose levels, but this is not as accurate.

Unlike humans and other animals it is possible for cats that have diabetes to go into remission provided their diet has been changed with an elimination of high carbohydrate foods.

More protein will help to stabilize the blood glucose levels.

Dry biscuits are particularly bad for cats as they are generally very high in carbohydrates and even though your cat might love eating them, because of the additives that have been put into these dry foods, it certainly won’t do their health a lot of good.

The reason why these dry biscuits are so popular is because of the convenience and the fact that cats are very fussy eaters, and most cats like dry biscuits except possibly those that have been found straying in the wild.

Cats Bonding With Their Owners

There are a lot of experts out there who say that cats are strictly independent animals.  These very same experts state that cats have chosen to associate with humans due to their strategy of survival.  Although many argue with this statement, there are many who agree as well – although those that agree are normally those in the percentile who don’t agree with cats.

Anyone who has owned a cat will tell you that cats are great at bonding with people, although they are very particular.  Normally, a cat will choose someone in the home that he bonds with.  You’ll know when a cat wants to bond with you, as he will hop on your lap seeking attention or snuggle up to you at night when you are sleeping.  Purring is a strong sign of affections, especially with cats that are looking to bond.

Although many experts have tried to figure it out, no one really knows why cats choose a particular person whom they will bond with.  It could be the individual’s manners, voice, or simply how that person treats the cat.  Perhaps it may be the individual is really gentle, or maybe a little more forceful – bringing the best out in the cat.

There are a lot of ways that researchers have tried to take this subject, one of which being psychic.  Some say that cats bond with someone due to a “psychic aura” that is compatible with both the person and the cat.  If a cat feels that someone is giving them a bad vibe, they will simply ignore that person.  Although this can be true to a sense for some, a majority of those who own cats will tell you that this couldn’t be any further from the truth.

Even though there are a lot of theories and speculation out there, no one really knows why cats bond with humans.  There’s little to no proof available as well, other than cats and their natural instinct for physical survival.  Those who own cats know that cats crave attention, simply to make them feel needed.  They love to be pampered by their owners, and will shower you with attention and affection if you just give them the chance.

Those who are new to owning cats may find bonding to be very different.  Cats are different from other animals, including dogs, in the sense that they bond different.  Different breeds of cats will bond different with their owners, although most prefer affection and attention.  The more time you spend around your cat, the more he will bond with you.  Over the years, you’ll find that the bond you create with your pet has grown very strong – and simply cannot be broken.

Common Health Problems Of Cats

If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing. No matter what breed of cat you own, health problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.

Worms
No matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very common and recurring problem. Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairball
Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. All cats groom themselves on a daily basis, normally swallowing the loose hair that comes from their coats. On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cat’s stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball. Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems.

In rare cases, a hairball can pass through to a cat’s intestine, creating a blockage. Blockages are very serious problems, and can be life threatening if they aren’t treated. If your cat becomes constipated, isn’t eating properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a blockage. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take him to the vet immediately. You can prevent hairballs and blockages by brushing your cat 2 – 3 times a week to remove loose hair. You can also feed him food that is designed to control hairballs as well.

Urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infection is also a common health problem with cats. Urinary tract infection is more common with male cats that haven’t been neutered, although females can suffer from this problem as well. When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter box, this problem is normally the cause. Another symptom is when the cat’s urine starts to smell really strong. If you suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, you should take him to the vet. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

Feline leukemia
In the past, feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats. These days however, there are vaccines available that can treat the disease. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesn’t happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don’t have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can’t be avoided, most of them can. You can also keep your cat indoors as well, which will protect him from a majority of health problems. If your cat is an outdoor cat, regular visits to the vet will keep him healthy. As long as you take your cat to the vet and keep him healthy – he will be your companion for years to come.

Can You Train A Cat?

The best way to train a cat is by letting it imitate you as though you were its mother.

This is easier done when it is a kitten as older cats become a lot more difficult to teach. We all know how cats have a mind of their own and are very independent animals. This only becomes more so as they age.

You need to get your cat to trust you and shouting and growling at it is not the right approach to do this. Speak softly and encourage and reward it when it does the right thing as this is the fastest way to get your cat to do what you want.

Cats love praise, and teaching them that they will get more from doing something that you want them to do, will ensure that they will be more inclined to obey you for the reward.

If you do have to reprimand your cat don’t use its name when doing so as you don’t want it to associate its name with something that might upset it.

When you are training a cat you have to remain consistent at all times and be very diligent until you get the desired results. Expect it to take considerably longer than if you were teaching a dog but don’t believe that you can’t teach a cat to do many things very well.
If there are other members in your family, they can help by always ensuring that the same commands that you give to the cat are also given by them.

With the help of other people doing this you will have a better chance of training your cat a lot faster.

Cats can be a lot of trouble, and that’s part of the reason why we will love them so much, but there will be times when you will need to reprimand your cat and stop bad habits. This can be done by flicking a bit of water at it or by giving it a small fright by making a bit of noise when it does something wrong.

A trained cat is a lot more fun and as we have them for many years it is well worth the time and effort.

It is important that you keep your environment safe for your cat, as they are very inquisitive animals and will get into all sorts of trouble given half the chance.

Living near a road is a major concern for any cat owner, as cats love to wander around the neighborhood in search of other cats or company from other people.

It is not uncommon for cats to wander a long distance particularly at night, and the best bet is probably to keep it confined inside at night so you know where it is.

This might require that you keep it locked inside the house or have an external area that is fenced, in such a manner that the cat can’t climb out remembering that cats are extremely good at climbing and escaping from any enclosure.

They also need to be protected from other animals, and in particular dogs that can become quite vicious in the pursuit of a cat.

You really need to use your common sense and look about the environment that your cat is living in to determine any areas that could be a danger to it.

Having a cat door that will provide your cat with unrestricted access to the house is essential for any cat that prefers to spend some of its time outside during the day or night.

Cats can pick up infections from other animals, or from the feces that has been left about by other animals, so you need to know where your cat is wandering and whether those places could be endangering its health in any way.

By having your cat neutered there is less chance that it will wander about the neighborhood looking for other cats.

If your cat isn’t kept within a confined area then you will need some form of identification on it should it ever get lost.

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