Extra Grooming Tips in Caring for your Long-Haired Cat

Keeping your long haired cat’s hair off your furniture and carpet can often be a challenge. It may happen no matter how many times a week you brush your cat. It may even happen if your cat has its hair trimmed or thinned out by a professional groomer.

A few extra grooming tips can save you some frustration.

The most useful to you would be a tool that helps your cat grooms him or herself. This means that your cat actually does all the work with the use of this particular grooming item. This item is an arched shaped brush that the cat walks through, which the cat can be lured though with the use of catnip. When the arch is full of hair it can easily be cleaned with the use of a vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, this unit can be removed from its base and stored flat.

Other grooming tools to use to help catch loose hair from long-haired cats are various types of brushes. Another type of brush that is useful in removing loose hair from a cat is a brush that has fine ball-tipped nylon bristles which are gentler to the cat’s skin. Along with this, you may want to consider using a small three prong de-matting comb for chunks of hair that are stuck together (like a dread of hair on a human).

There are many reasons why you should groom your cat, and some more details regarding grooming that you should follow on a regular basis. The most important reason you would groom your cat is so it remains healthy and happy. This includes stimulating your cat’s blood circulation, removing loose hair, and preventing matting. Furthermore, proper grooming can help you quickly detect and remove fleas and ticks that could be problematic to your pet and household.

Usually, you easily detect problems that your cat may have while you are grooming your long haired feline pet. Pay special attention to tangled hair and hair mats, irritated skin, hair loss (bald spots), and unusual lumps or tenderness of the cat’s skin. When you groom your cat you are really doing a checkup on him or her at the same time. Regular grooming by yourself or a professional can actually save a cat’s life at times. (Also, if a cat is constantly scratching between grooming sessions that is a good time to check the cat for problems).

How often a cat needs to be groomed depends on the time of the year, weather conditions, and type and length of coat. Long-haired cats, for best results, should usually be groomed daily, as opposed to short-haired cats of who only need to be groomed twice a week.

Grooming a long-haired cat also involve giving it a bath. Most cats are too small for a bathtub, so it is best to put your cat into a baby bath pan, or into a sink. A dish pan could also serve the same purpose.

When giving your feline pet a bath, make sure you have at least two towels around. One towel is usually used for drying your pet, and another towel is used for wrapping your pet. You may also use a blanket in which to wrap your cat as well.

Another item that is useful for bathing your cat is cotton balls, which help prevent water from entering a cat’s ears. If water gets into a cat's ears, an ear infection could occur, therefore remember to plug the cat’s ears while giving it a bath.

Before putting your cat into the bathwater, be sure to test the temperature of the water with the back of your hand or your wrist. This will help prevent scalding your feline pet’s skin when you insert him or her into the water.

After you are done giving your long-haired cat a bath, you will need to comb his or her hair as soon as possible. This will prevent from any further tangles or matted hair from developing. Detangler can help you comb your cat’s hair without hurting him or her, and will make your cat’s hair after a bath less difficult to manage. Upon coming your cat’s hair, be sure to use the proper hair grooming tools as described above.

If you need to cut your cat’s hair, especially to remove matted hair, make sure that you do it in a way that will not cut your cat’s skin. Also, make sure that you use the proper cat grooming scissors for best results.

If you want to learn more about cat grooming techniques to help you, make sure you read other articles on cat grooming that are appropriate for your particular breed of cat. A world of information is out there, right at your fingertips. Take advantage of it.

Pamper your Princess Kitty with a Plump Pillow

Want to really pamper your princess kitty? For the truly pampered cat, pick out a plush new pillow for her to doze and nap on. Hip new pet boutiques are quickly coming into fashion across the United States, and one of the top selling items at pet boutiques, besides clothing accessories, are stylish beds, pillows and other sleeping accessories that your pet can use to nap during the day. With most cats sleeping for about 16 hours each day, buying a comfortable pillow or bed for your kitty can actually be quite a practical investment in your cat's health and well-being.

If you're just starting to look for the perfect plump pillow for your favored feline, here are a few tips for finding just the right pillow.

1. Measure your cat before you go shopping. More specifically, measure the length of your cat when she is sleeping. Cats curl themselves tightly to sleep, so your large size cat may actually only need a medium sized pillow. No matter how well you think you know your kitty, you would be surprised just how puzzling the act of shopping for the right-sized pillow can be. Should you go for the medium-sized pillow, or the larger one? Do you think she'll fit OK on the small one? These are just some of the questions you might find yourself debating if you don't measure your kitty before hand.

Cat pillows come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 18 inches to more than 50 inches! Be certain you know what size range you are shopping for.

2. Once you've measured the length of your cat when she's curled up and dozing, add about one foot to this measurement to find the proper size of the pillow.

3. Before buying a pillow, make a note of the fabric. It can be easy to get carried away when you think you find the right pillow. These days, there is quite an assortment of pet pillows and beds to choose from. But just because a certain pet pillow seems to match the décor of your apartment, it may not be the right pillow for your cat. Fleece is an all-around popular and good choice for a pet pillow: it is warm, soft, easy to clean, and durable.

You should also make careful note of the pillow's fitting. While cotton and foam may be suitable for a pillow that will remain inside at all times, it may not hold up well if you plan to travel with the pillow. If you suspect the pillow will eventually be exposed to the elements, or if you live in a damp, humid environment, consider purchasing a pillow that contains cedar filling. Cedar repels moisture, dampness, moths, and other insects.

4. Consider your cat's special needs. If you have an aging or arthritic pet, make sure you buy a pillow that is designed to meet their needs. If you want your cat to be very comfortable, consider purchasing a pillow that has poly fill lining. These pillows are designed to mold themselves to your pet's specific shape, and may provide an extra degree of comfort for your aging pet.

5. Resist the cute designs and trendy motifs. Many pet boutiques carry pet pillows and beds which are beautiful to look at, but which may not be practical for your pet's needs. Remember, the decorative designs may wear out quickly. It's more important that you find a pillow or bed you think your cat will love to sleep in for years to come.

6. Be prepared to face a wide range of prices. What can you expect to pay for a good quality pet pillow or bed? The price range for these types of pet accessories can range from $20 to more than $200! With so many different price ranges to choose from, it's important that you prioritize the features you are interested in.

7. Go round. If your cat sleeps curled into a ball, then you should opt for a round pillow. As you shop for your pet pillow, you will find many rounds, squares, and oddly shaped pillows. A round pillow is a good choice for the majority of cats. If, however, your cat likes to sleep sprawled out, you may consider buying a square or rectangular-shaped pillow.

Spa Time for Cats �" Little Tips to Pamper Them in Style

What cat doesn’t love to be pampered? The market for cat pampering is amazing and unbelievable. Pet owners really treasure their feline friends and yearn to make their kitty’s life as comfortable as possible. Some cats are treated like royalty. Here are some tips for basic kitty pampering.

For the average cat and cat owner, pampering doesn’t have to go to excess. Put only filtered or bottled water in your cat’s water bowl and change the water frequently. Experiment with music to see what your cat is attuned to. Leaving on soft music when you have to leave home will have a calming effect on your cat. Throw a slightly damp towel into the dryer for 10 to 15 minutes and then drape it across your cat’s shoulders. This will help your cat fall asleep faster on chilly nights. The moist heat will alleviate aches and help with flexibility. Make sure your feline first-aid kit is equipped with the proper medical necessities. These include: cold packs, gauze dressings, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, antibiotic treatments, cotton balls, q-tips, insect bite ointment, and your veterinarian’s phone number. Visit your local library for books on feline massage so you can better help your cat’s circulation and mood with kneading, gliding, and circular rubdowns. Learn about feline instincts so you can modify your cat’s behavior with positive reinforcement. Sprinkle some catnip across the floor and then marinate your cat’s toys in it. Watch your cats go crazy!

Many cats will appreciate a new litter box. You may bleach and sanitize old-faithful but it may be time to cut the strings and get your kitty a new pad. To make the litter box experience complete, get an odorless litter box cover to give your pet peace and less odors in a visually pleasing environment. Cat condos, climbing castles, trees, gyms, sisal rope poles, coliseums and palaces are also available in varying decors and designs. Put your cat in the lap of luxury with a padded cat window perch. Improve your cat’s diet by only purchasing high quality protein foods such as chicken, lamb, or beef. Schedule regular check-ups for your cat and have their teeth cleaned as well as their blood tested for diabetes and kidney malfunctions.

Home spas are available for purchase that includes accu-pressure pads for paws, a ripple massager, a gum stimulator to promote healthy chewing, and some catnip. Gourmet treats and toys are simple ways to pamper your pet as well.

For the sophisticated, above-average income cat and owner, the options for pampering are endless. Pawfumes are on the market for sophisticats. Some pet spas offer moisturizing body baths, massages and ‘peticures'. Pet dentistry and acupuncture are also coveted by furry felines. Purchase some leave-in conditioner for your cat’s flaky, scaly skin along with some ear cream, deodorant, treatment for chin acne, and tea tree shampoo for those pesky fleas and ticks. Before taking your cat out in public, she may need some designer pet wear and pet jewelry. Your precious kitty may need some sunscreen for her nose and tummy areas, or some paw balm to protect her pads from the hot L.A. sidewalks. And what cat doesn’t need eye protection. The most coveted luxuries by the most royal cats are a Thai massage and herbal steam spray. Essential oils are being included in products to give your pet a feeling of general well-being. Specialty cat litter is all the rage these days. Herbal cat litter is aromatherapeutic, has a lavender fragrance, and is flushable. Any type of odor control cat litter will be appreciated by your cat. A special cat carrier is also highly respected. Go above and beyond when you install a pet door in your home so your cat is able to step outside for a midnight mouse hunt. Pet strollers are also highly prized. SUV strollers allow you to take your cat “off-road” and on hiking trails. Cats love to nibble on grass between tuna snacks so grow your own container garden for kitty. Interactive toys keep your cat physically and mentally stimulated. Some systems dispense a ball with a food snack inside, at regular intervals, and sound their arrival with the ring of a dinner bell.

Curious Cats - Five Ways to Keep Them Entertained and Pampered

There are five ways cat owners have learned to keep their cats entertained.

1-Catnip-Catnip is an all-natural herb. You can buy it at any pet store, herbal store, or even a plant store. It belongs to the mint plant family. Cats react to this herb through their olfactory glands. When a cat smells catnip, they go absolutely nuts!! They start sniffing things, trying to chew the plant or stuffed toy, jumping around, sliding across the floor, and just start acting like a fool. They love the feeling that comes with the catnip and you will get a kick out of watching them make a fool of themselves. It will truly be an entertaining experience. Now comes some scientific bad news. Catnip does not work on all cats. It has to do with cat genetics. Some cats are genetically immune to the effects of catnip. Some cats are genetically not immune. On average about seventy to eighty percent of cats will entertain themselves and you when they are exposed to catnip. Also cats younger than 3 months or older than 8 years usually do not react to catnip. Kittens' olfactory glands have not yet de veloped enough to be affected, and senior cats' olfactory glands have ceased to function after a certain point. They can still smell, but the chemical reaction that causes them to get "high" no longer affects them.

2-Laser pointers-Laser pointers are an inexpensive way to keep you and your cat entertained for hours. You can buy a laser pointer at just about any toy store or electronics store. Just bring it home and let the fun begin. She will chase that laser across the floor, into other rooms, up the wall, outside, into the dryer, around the corner, under the bed, and just about anywhere you point it. Try not to point it at other people (unless you really don't like that person), on furniture, or anything you don't want your feline companion to accidentally scratch or knock over. This can keep you and your cat entertained for hours, not to mention it is good exercise for your cat and good laughs for you.

3-Pet grass-This is one of the most overlooked options that pet owners completely miss. Pet grass is just a patch of specially designed grass for your pet to play in. Most people don't realize that grass is a natural part of most animals' diets. It aids in digestion, constipation, nausea, and other digestive problems. You cat (or dog) instinctively knows this and eats it when necessary. Aside from being a good health supplement, it can also be a fun thing for your cat. Cats can tend to have an over active imagination. Their little patch of pet grass can be anything they want. To them, it can be a jungle or a green toy that moves when she runs her paws through it. Occasionally your pet grass will get a bug or two in it. This is perfectly ok. It's grass. Grass gets bugs. Bugs can be hours of entertainment. You cat loves chasing and tormenting them, and you enjoy watching them chase and torment the poor bugs.

4-Homeade toys-You can go to the store and buy your cat a fifty-dollar pet toy. You can fork out the money and buy the top of the line pet toys. Your cat will then ironically have a cruel since of humor. She may annoy you by ignoring the expensive gift because she is more interested in the packaging it came in. It makes crinkling noises and slides on the floor. She will entertain herself for a good while with, not the toys, but the package it came in. After doing this a few times, you will probably stop buying the expensive toys and get creative at home making stuff. Two things that cats go nuts over will give you a solid example: throw a balled up piece of aluminum foil at your cat. She will chase it all over. Fill a sock up with a few pieces of catnip and tie it off. Throw it to your cat and watch her go nuts!

5-Give into their demands-If all else fails, give into the purring and meowing and pet your cat. Sounds simple, but she can be content for hours just sitting in your lap. When she has had enough of you, she will politely excuse herself.

Six Top Cat Comforts to Pamper your Family Feline

The family cat likes to be just as comfortable as you are. Consider one of the six most common comforts for your growing family feline pet.

The six top cat comforts for your cat are as follows:

Padded Perch: If your cat cannot be outside, he or she would at least like to look out the window once in awhile, and have a cozy place to lie while doing so. This perch usually is filled on the inside with at least one inch thick layer of foam, and a carpeted or faux lamb’s wool coating on the outside. This unit comes most often in two different sizes that adjust to most window ledges without use of tools. Besides the cat wanting to rest here while looking out the window, the cat may also want to take a short nap here (thus the pun “catnap”).

Another variation of the padded perch is the kind that is mounted to the wall by the use of a VelcroTM stick on. This type of padded perch is usually made in a similar way as the padded perch, and hold up to 40 pounds of feline weight. This is another place for your family feline to take a rest, or catnap (pun intended, really).

Plush Pet Bed: Just like you and your children, your cat would like a warm, comfortable place to sleep at night or to take a nap. This is different from the padded perch, because it is a place for your cat to sleep for longer periods of time. Usually these beds are made with soft, squishy sides and padded bottoms to provide the ultimate resting place for your feline pet. Other variations of the plush bed include a kind with a decorative wooden border, with a soft mattress to lie upon. These beds sometimes resemble miniature day beds, or small corner beds that will fit in small spaces.

If you choose to pamper your feline pet by buying that animal a bed, there are some things you should remember. For instance, you should make sure that the size of the bed is not too big or too small. If the bed ends up being too big, it would be very difficult for your cat to stay warm. If it is too small, the cat could fall out of it, or not be able to stretch out fully. Make sure that you pay particular attention to the size of the bed when purchasing it, to ensure proper fit and comfort for your animal.

Another thing to remember is to take thought to where in the house the bed will go. You would want to make sure that the space that you have for your pet’s bed will be the right size. This will be easier for cats than for other animals, such as dogs, because in most cases cats do not grow to be very large. Therefore, space consideration is necessary, but is not a huge problem. The biggest concern is to find a bed shaped in a way that will help your cat be comfortable.

Scratching Posts: A cat who has a scratching post will feel as if he or she has gone to heaven. This is the best way to keep a cat’s claws busy, so it does not scratch up your furniture. Furthermore, you do not have to worry about whether or not the process of de-clawing an animal is humane or not, because in this case it would not be necessary. The cat would have a place to put his or her claws other than the two thousand dollar leather couch you own.

One thing to know about scratching posts is that numerous variations of them have been invented. One scratching post model is a simple pole, usually two to four feet in length attached to the base. This is a small design in which the cat can reach his or her front paws up as far as possible and scratch around it. The cat can scratch around the base of this post as well.

Another scratching post model is the two-story one with a place for the cat to take a nap on the second floor, and on the top of the unit. The outside of this unit is usually carpeted just like a regular scratching post would be, and the inside upper floor and top of unit is perfect for sleeping. This is a great climbing unit for cats as well, and is a perfect model to have if you own two or more cats.

Another scratching post model would be the kind that would represent a small jungle gym for a toddler. It has various places for the cat to scratch, climb, and lie around, and nap. Usually it contains tunnels for the cat to crawl through as well. This particular model comes in an extremely large number of sizes and models, so you are sure to find one that is right for you.

Another type of scratching post would be the homemade model. If you happen to be a crafty person, you can make your own scratching post into one of the models explained above, or even more. Materials needed would be various sized barrels (cardboard or wood would be best), different sized hollow tubes, wooden squares and rectangles (for the bases), nail or staples, and either a hammer or a nail (or staple) gun. Some further instruction can be found online, in a library, or from a friend or relative if needed.

Whether you buy an already made scratching post or construct your own, your cat will love every minute of it, and will probably be grateful you have not cut his or her claws off.

Grooming Supplies: Grooming supplies can mean a multitude of items, even nail clippers or shampoos. However, the kind of grooming supplies and treatments that a cat would most likely enjoy would be when you comb his or her hair. Cats like to be rubbed, especially behind the ears. Therefore, you can use this concept to your advantage when trying to a routine tick or flea check. If you find a brush with bristle ends that are soothing to the skin, your cat would really the sensual feeling of you coming the cat’s coat of hair. It would be like a human giving another human a massage or a cosmologist washing a customer’s hair before trimming it.

Other supplies used can comfort a cat, but it depends on whether that cat will mind being touched for a long period of time. That would include using shampoos that are as gentle as a baby’s shampoo to wash the cat’s hair. If your cat does not mind getting wet, the calming of hand washing the cat’s fur can be very relaxing to the cat.

One other grooming supply that can be used is a self-grooming arched brush. This arched brush stands upright on a base, and is big enough for the cat to crawl through, but small enough to remove all the loose hair from your cat. Your cat will enjoy this, because most cats love to rub against objects around the house anyway.

Remember these tips about grooming to pamper your cat, because your cat does no more want to be spoiled than a child.

Comfortable Pet Carriers: Most cats do not like being transported in a small pet carrier. However, some carriers can actually provide more comfort than others. Flexible carriers that are shaped like a duffle bag or purse are sometimes recommended over the plastic box shaped ones, and fit in a traveling vehicle a lot easier. These types are often well ventilated, and are usually equipped with a padded bottom for the cat to lie down upon. Some carriers designs come with a rain cover to protect the pet in the event of an outdoor storm while the pet owner takes the cat bike riding. If you are a cat owner, you would be very wise in considering this type of pet carrier over the traditional box type.

Decorative Safety Collars and Jewelry: Another way to pamper your family feline is to make your family cat look great. That way, your cat will feel better going out into the world, mostly because people will respond to how well your animal looks in appearance. Some safety collars have designs on them made from colored rhinestone, beads, or other decorative stones. You can keep your pet near you in style, and the pet will also be safe as well. Be sure for maximum comfort, to find a collar material that will not irritate your cat’s skin.