How to Calm your Cat with a Little TLC and Pampering

Does your kitty seem moody, or seem to raise a fuss at the most unexpected times? A stressed-out cat can be indicative of several things. Your cat may be suffering from an undiagnosed medical condition, may be reacting to a new environment or new pet, or may simply be craving attention. The majority of kitty stress can be alleviated greatly by treating your cat to a little TLC and pampering. Here are a few tips for keeping your cat healthy, happy, and stress-free.

1. Play with your cat regularly. Although it may sound simple enough, many times what your cat is really craving is just a bit of attention, fresh air, and exercise. If your cat is leash-trained, take her for a walk. Especially if your cat is kept indoor at all times, you should make the effort to play with her outside on a regular basis. Playing with your cat regularly is not only good for her health; you will likely notice a marked improvement in her emotional health, as well.

2. Make your cat a fun new toy. Pampering your cat effectively doesn't necessarily require you to spend a lot of money on cat toys and accessories. Simply spending ample time playing with her and caring for her properly is enough. We've all probably had the experience of buying our pet a shiny new toy, only to have him or her promptly ignore it, in favor of an old sock or cardboard box.

One popular and easy to make cat toy is a tissue paper box toy. Simply find an empty tissue box and drop a few rubber, ping-pong, or tennis balls inside. Your cat will delight in pawing at the box, and making the balls click and clack against each other.

3. Give your cat the spa treatment. What cat doesn't like to be pampered luxuriously? You can take your cat to one of the many pet spa centers that seem to be popping up. Or better yet, you can give your cat the spa treatment of home. Not only does this save you money, this will allow you to spend precious time with your cat. This bonding time is essential for building a loving relationship between you and your cat, and helping reduce stress in your cat.

To give your cat a simple massage, use your hand to slowly glide down the length of your cat's body. As you move your hand down your cat's body, very gently give your cat's soft tissues a slow rub down. When your cat seems relaxed, use your thumb and forefinger to slowly and gently massage the length of your cat's spine.

You can also give your cat a sauna experience as part of her spa treatment. Find a thick, clean towel and spray it with cool water. Once the towel is moist, place it in the dryer for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. When the towel is nice and warm, wrap it around your cat gently. The warm, damp towel will help aid blood circulation, increase her joint flexibility, and help reduce stress and aid relaxation.

4. Put on a little mood music. Some animal behaviorists believe that the right kind of music has the ability to aid relaxation in cats. If you have a cat that bolts from the room whenever loud music is playing, or when the TV is blaring on high, you have probably witnessed the effects of sound on cats. With their keen ability to capture sound, it seems logical that playing relaxing music for your cat will help them relax. There is several music compilations aimed to help cats relax. Use your best judgment when choosing music for your cat—anything that sounds too raucous to you will probably have the same effect on your cat.

5. If playing with your cat doesn't seem to lift them out of their mood, let your cat bask in solitude for a while. Sometimes, even the friendliest cat can benefit from being left alone to bask in their solitude. Cats are notoriously solitary creatures that love to explore on their own and take luxurious naps. If your cat seems mildly stressed, and playing with her doesn't seem to lift her out of her mood, leave her alone for a while. Like humans, cats need alone time to recharge. Chances are your cat will feel better after an afternoon alone napping and resting on its own.

The Products You Should Never Be Without

If you are contemplating adopting or bringing home a new kitten, there are an assortment of items you should consider purchasing before the long-awaited arrival of your cat into your home.

Cat Carrier - You will need a carrier for your kitten(s) to collect them with and throughout their lives, they will have to travel to the vets for boosters and possibly treatment.  While it is possible to obtain carriers made of cardboard or wicker, these are not sturdy and are difficult to clean. Ideally, a top opening plastic or wire carrier is recommended.  In the event of a visit to the vets the top opening carrier will make access to your cat much easier and less stressful.

Food and water bowls - You can use either ceramic or stainless steel bowls for food and water. Â It is worth having several sets so that you put out fresh dishes at each mealtime even if you have no time to stop and wash up.

Place Mats - These are not a necessity, however you might find them a bit of a godsend!

Food -   You will be provided with a diet sheet when you collect your kitten(s). Try to stick to the same diet for at least two to three weeks whilst your kitten settles into its new home.  If you want to change its food then do so gradually, mixing a teaspoon of the new food in with what it’s used to and gradually increase the amount, if there are no upset tummy’s the following day!

Litter Tray -Â There are endless varieties of litter trays available and the choice can be confusing. Â Hooded trays can be good if you have a shy cat and will also stop the litter from going all over the floor and will help to omit smells! Â All our cats/kittens use hooded trays with a cat flap on the front, if you want to change, do so when your kitten has settled in and knows exactly where its toilet is.

 Litter - Like Litter trays, there are various types of litter on the market.  All our cats/kittens use Worlds Best Cat Litter or Sainsbury’s Ultra Clumping.  If you wish to change, wait until their litter habits are well established and introduce a little of the new litter into their existing, gradually changing over to all new.

Bed/Bedding - It is entirely up to you whether or not you buy one. Your kitten will find lots of places to sleep such as your bed, the sofa, the newly washed pile of laundry and if you do buy a bed, your kitten may never choose to use it!  Most kittens/cats though will use a bed.  Beds with heat reflective material are especially well received.  Make sure it is machine washable!

Scratching Posts and Toys - These are designed to give your cat a place to stretch (so don’t get a short one) and to keep his claws in good condition.  Try to look for one with a dense carpet and/or coiled ropes as these provide real resistance and help to keep your cats claws in good shape. The larger ones come as activity centers and usually incorporate a bed and tunnels to play in. Toys with bells are also popular. Like babies, cats love packaging more than the gift inside so use old paper grocery bags, bottle caps, or plastic bottle caps as comfort items for hours of enjoyment.

Flea Control – Shampoos, sprays and special collars are available to keep fleas at bay. Ultrasonic plug-ins will emit waves and repel fleas in your cat’s living area. If your cat is an indoor variety, this shouldn’t be a threat. Collars – Get a breakaway or elasticized collar. These types will keep your kitty from strangling herself.

Grooming supplies – No matter the length of your cat’s hair, a good grooming brush will always come in handy. Keep your pet neat and clean with daily grooming.

Catnip & Treats – Purchase catnip-marinated toys from your local pet store or start some from seed. Your pet will love you for it.

Great Interactive Toys to Pamper Your Kitty Out of Boredom

Kittens are not much different that small children-or even some teens and adults- when in comes to being bored. Boredom often causes a small cat to get into mischief, and it will scratch furniture, chase and kill birds, or even try to eat the household fish from its tank.

So a cat can have some fun, and stay out of trouble too, it is good for it to have interactive toys to play with, either as a game with its owner, or individually.

Some objects that can be used for kitten games are a wooden stick or plastic pole with a catnip bag, plastic mouse, or foil ball attached to it by a string, a ping pong ball, or a foil hockey puck. The wooden stick with the object attached by a string would be used to dangle the object on the end in front of the cat, which paws at it as if the object is a predator.

The foil hockey puck is to be used on a kitchen or other floor that will allow it to slide. The pet owner gives the puck a slight push, and watches the cat chase after it as it glides across the floor. The ping pong ball can be used either to bounce down a staircase or in a bathtub, and the kitten will chase and paw after it.

Often the above described simple interactive toys can be made right at home. In addition, other toys can be purchased online or in person that serve to interact with a feline pet. Some of them are round balls with a bell inside that makes noise, squeaky plastic toys, or toys filled with catnip. All these can be thrown or rolled and the kitten will chase after it. Usually a human has to initiate the interaction, but sometimes the kitten will play with the toy on his or her own as well.

Other new toys that have come out within the past few years are the Cat Cuddle Coil, Cat-A-Trail Play Tunnel, Kitty’s Little Garden, and Panic Mouse Interactive cat. Each of these has a special function to keep a cat busy for quite awhile. These are described further below.

The Cat Cuddle Coil, for instance, is a rainbow shaped coil that looks like a little tunnel in which the cat can crawl into and out of. This is also an ideal place for a cat to crawl into to sleep or rest. This object lies flat for storage, and should be used under supervision by pet owner.

Another object for cat crawling fun would be the Cat-A-Trail Play Tunnel. These tunnels can be set up two or more in a row for extra fun, and a catnip toy is included in each one. These have a drawstring for easy storage, and come in colors such as teal, blue, and red, and are made out of nylon material.

One more example of a new cat toy to purchase would be Kitty’s Little Garden. This is a little block garden that can sit on the floor in any room of the house. It often contains seed compartments of oats, wheat, rye and barley. Cats, especially wild ones, often eat these in between snacking on mice and other animals. Also, this can help detract a cat from heading for the garden. Furthermore, cats are thought to be attracted to the moisture content, as well as the high fiber associated with the blades of grass.

Cats would especially love this feline toy that provides hours of fun. It is called the Panic Mouse Interactive cat toy. Each package usually would include a Panic Mouse, plastic wand, and replacement mouse. This toy is battery operated, and has a motor that signals random mouse-like movements, which the cat reacts. Furthermore, the artificial fur pouch attached to this battery operated toy even looks and feels like a real toy, and operates at several speeds, some slow enough for kittens.

The Panic Mouse Interactive Toy is perfect for people gone for long hours on a job, or even for people on an overnight vacation. The cat would hardly ever get bored with this battery operated object to keep it busy for hours.

Another version of the Panic Mouse Toy is the model that spins 360 degrees. This one is even more challenging, and brings even more fun into the cat’s life. The timer on this toy can be set for up to two hours, and includes fun accessories to make this toy even more fun to use for the kitten and owner. Again, it has an adjustable speed to accommodate for both kittens and adult sized cats, which provides challenge for the feline pet at any age.

Your kitten is sure to be cured from boredom if he or she gets involved in playing with one of the above interactive toys, either as an individual activity or as a game with the cat’s owner. If your kitten is having good clean fun with you, it will decrease the tendency for him or her into trouble, and instead enjoy innocent pastimes.

Feel free to visit this site and others as often as you need to in order to continue to challenge your growing kitten. If you do, you will be doing your entire household a favor.

Little Known Facts about the Polydactyl Cats

Polydactyl cats have multiple toes. Polydact is a non sex-related single dominant genetic trait. These cats are referred to Hemingway cats (since Ernest Hemingway wrote about them), Thumb Cats, Mitten Feet Cats, and/or Mitten Cats. Theodore Roosevelt also had a Polydactyl cat named Slippers. These cats can have up to seven toes on one foot. Usually there are six or more toes on the front feet and an extra toe on the rear. One of the extra toes appears to be a thumb. Some say the toes can be malformed, fuse, and are more prone to ingrown toenails. There are more polydactyl cats (cats with extra toes on their front paws) on the East Coast than in any other region of the United States. That's because sailors believed polydactyls were better mousers, because they could better grip their prey. They looked for polydactyl cats to take on board the ships that crossed from Europe to the Americas, and these cats then reproduced in seaports and other coastal areas.

Polydactyl cats are quite hardy and able to withstand almost any environment. They are outgoing, affectionate, patient, and good with kids. Polydactyls have medium-to-large bodies and are strong and muscular. Their ears are wide set and have pointy tips. Polydactyls have medium sized broad heads, noses, and muzzles. Their chins are squared and their rounded eyes are set at an angle. Polydactyl kittens may have trouble learning to walk and climb but eventually overcome and are able to open latches on cabinets, doors, and windows.

Polydactyl cats are bred for their extra toes as well as their mild temperament, good health, color and size. The Maine Coon Cat is America’s only natural longhaired cat. By definition these cats were the blue collar-working cats from the farms, harbors and aboard the ships of colonial America. It is estimated that 40% of the original Maine Coon Cats had extra toes or were polydactyl. These extra toes made the cat’s foot act like a hand with an opposable thumb. The farmers, dock workers and pirates treasured these polydactyl cats for their hunting ability. Sailors valued polydactyl cats for their awesome climbing and hunting skills and for their ability to control the rat population. These cats were considered good luck charms for sailors at sea.

Because of their larger feet, American Polydactyl Cats have an easier time walking on snow than do other cats. In the show ring American Polydactyl Cats will be penalized for deafness associated with blue-colored eyes in white-colored cats. Muzzles short enough to resemble a Persian cat are penalized, as is a long body type resembling a Siamese Cat. American Polydactyl Cats will also lose points if their feet are such that they appear deformed or hinder the cats walking, and especially if they cause the cat discomfort in walking.

Polydactyl Cats are actually quite common and can be found at most animal shelters. Because of the overpopulation problem in cats, many people disapprove of breeding American Polydactyl Cats. Many people do breed them and are quite enthusiastic about them because of their great temperaments and unusual appearance! American Polydactyl Cats have extra toes because of a dominant gene. This means that kittens of a Polydactyl mother will have extra toes even if the father does not. Breeding two Polydactyl Cats increases the incidence of Polydactyl kittens. Because the gene has incomplete expression, however, it is not certain how many toes the kittens will have or what conformation their feet will show. American Polydactyl Cats can be registered with the breed society even if only one parent is Polydactyl. If both parents are Polydactyls and the kitten is not, it will be registered as an American Polydactyl without extra toes as long as it has a shortened tail.

Polydactyl cats are rare in Europe as they were almost wiped out during medieval times due to superstitions about witchcraft. One theory of the Maine Coon cat holds that they came to the New World on Viking ships.

How to Pamper your Cat when She is in a Catty� Mood

You come home and you know that something is amiss. Your apartment looks like a whirlwind tore through it: papers are strewn all over the ground, pillows have been overturned, your potted plant is now sagging sadly on the floor, and long scratch marks grace your previously pristine doors. Your cat is eyeing you from her perch high on top of the refrigerator and you see her tail twitching back and forth vigorously. While you are hanging up your clothes you notice a rather pungent smell and realize that your little kitty has been using your pile of unfolded laundry as her litter box. You are exasperated. You love your cat. With a heavy sigh you wonder if there is anything you can do to soothe that ferocious little feline that has just made clear to you that an unhappy feline can indeed be a rather destructive feline.

As any cat lover can tell you, taking the cat and rubbing her nose in the soiled pile of laundry will not only be counterproductive, but quite possibly be met with hissing, spitting, scratching and an evil eye that only a cat can deliver with conviction. Similarly, telling your cat how naughty she has been will most likely only earn you the equivalent of a cat sneer. Fortunately cats are not usually vindictive, and destruction and sudden undesirable changes in feline behavior are most often the result of changes the cat deems to be undesirable. Rather than deriding the cat for her failure to comply with your rules and regulations, consider if there have been any changes in your cat’s environment that may have upset her. For example, did you recently change her food, litter or bedding? Have you been spending a lot of time at work and neglected her usual playtime? Have you been on vacation? Have you added a new member to the family, or worse – a new cat? The latter alone is enough to cause a lot of friction and unhappiness. At this point your best bet is to find out what has set off your usually docile little feline and then undo the problem. If it is something as simple as a new kind of food or litter, you will be able to simply remedy this situation with a quick trip to the local mega mart to once again purchase the brand your cat has come to know and love. If it is something as big as a new family member, however, you will not be able to fix the situation that easily, and some pampering of your feline companion is in order.

If you find your unhappy feline perched on top of the refrigerator, it is probably best to greet her and let her know very briefly that her behavior is unacceptable. Then it is best to simply ignore her. Once she decides that your attention is better than her pouting on top of the fridge, accept her overtures as she leaves her high hiding place and cautiously comes to interact with you. You may consider stroking her to soothe her and speaking softly to her to reassure her. If you have a small treat you could give her, such as a bit of tuna fish or shrimp, you may wish to present it to her at this time. Obviously, you don’t want to give table scraps to your cat, but unless she has specific dietary needs, a little special treat should not harm her. Once a truce has been established, you may wish to test the waters with a cat toy or two. Perhaps she will be in the mood to chase a little ball or maybe play with the string toy. Whatever you decide to do, if your cat is unhappy, it is important that you do take the time to see to her needs and reaffirm the bond that has been created between you and your feline companion. Sometimes it may be hard to do so, especially if you come home to an apartment that looks like a before screen shot for various home decorating and remodeling shows, but letting out frustration out on your cat will neither change her behavior nor improve the mood in your household.

Tabbies - A Basic Overview on this Popular Cat

Cats are quite possibly the most lovable creatures on earth, second only to dogs. Just like there are different breeds of dogs, there are also a large number of different cat breeds. Pure bred cats, those whose ancestry can be traced back to a recorded breed through four generations or more, are quite popular these days and may fetch a large sum or money at the local breeder. Cross bred cats, too, are quite popular, and since they are not as expensive to purchase at a pet shop, they are quite often the pet of choice. Additionally for those conscious of the plight of shelter animals, a non pedigreed cat is quite often the only choice, since pure bred animals very rarely if ever end up at an animal shelter. Quite possibly the most popular cat of the latter variety is the tabby cat.

Tabbies come in large varieties of colors and sizes. One of the most common types of tabbies is the mackerel tabby. This cat shows a pattern of stripes all over its body. The tail and legs have rings, and the remainder of the body has either solid stripes or broken bits and pieces of stripes. Because the usually even stripes on the cat’s flanks resemble the skeleton of a fish, this type of tabby has been nicknamed the mackerel. The cats are gorgeous and many a loving pet owner loves these little grey or orange tabbies. Another beloved type of tabby is the blotched tabby. This little cat’s coat also has stripes, but they are fewer and bigger than the mackerel’s. Some of the stripes are so thick that they appear to be blotches rather than stripes. Of course, there are also other tabbies, such as the Agouti, Ocicat or the American Bobtail.

No matter what kind of tabby has wormed itself into your heart, a ringed tail and legs are common to all tabby cats. Another common feature is a marking in the shape of the letter “M” on the cat’s forehead. While this is a simply a common marking, it does have a lovely piece of folklore attached to it. According to this beautiful legend, when Jesus Christ was born and laid inside the manger, He was quite restless since the straw was poking Him, and the stable animals were making a bit of a ruckus as well. Add to this the constant arrival of shepherd, and it is no wonder that the baby was fussing. A little cat is said to have come into the stable, jumped into the manger, and allowed the baby Jesus to lay His head on the cat’s fur, causing the baby to calm down almost immediately. In gratitude, Mary touched the cat’s forehead and promised that his act of service would never be forgotten. According to the legend, this is the reason that these lovely cats wear the letter “M” on their foreheads.

Another wonderful legend attributes the “M” on a tabby’s head to the Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam. According to legend he did not care for dogs, but loved cats so much that one time he cut off the sleeve of his robe so as not to disturb the cat that was resting in his arm when he was moving. The letter “M” was a marking his favorite cat received. Because of their wonderful dispositions, tabby cats have long since been the companions of choice for many famous people. Take for example Sir Winston Churchill whose tabby named Jock would attend cabinet meetings, or famous author and artist Edward Lear who so loved his little Foss that upon moving commissioned an architect to recreate his home at the new location to lower the cat’s stress during the move!

No matter what kind of cat you love, the tabby is a hands down favorite. Its intelligence is the stuff of legends, and it is said that only the monkey surpasses the tabby in intelligence. Tabbies are notoriously sociable, sweet, and inquisitive, and bond wonderfully with the people who will take care of them. Yet just like their feline cousins, be they purebred or cross bred, they do have a lot of mischief on their minds as well!

Meowingly Good Massages for Cats

A relaxing massage is such an orgasmic indulgence. Each muscle worked over, rubbed down, and kneaded. Every ache seems to just go away, rubbed out of existence by your talented massage therapist. Massages are not only relaxing, but also very healthy. Relaxation is important to your over all health. They also will reduce stress, strengthen the immune system, promotes circulation, and emotional well being. Not to mention, it just feels wonderful, and you feel just as great once it is over. If you think you feel good after a massage, imagine how your cat will feel. After all, cats love the good rubbings and loved to be stroked. Not to mention, it has just as many health benefits for them as it does for us.

Massaging your cat is good therapy for both of you. You and your cat will find it soothing and relaxing. Massaging your cat also makes you both closer together, and allows you to easily bond with your cat. In multiple cat households this can give personalized attention to each cat separately. Petting, touching, stroking, and massaging helps bring down your cats blood pressure and increases their blood circulation. This is great for your cat's immune system and over all health. This also keeps you current with your cat’s skin and hair. If there are any skin issues or lumps they will be easily detected and treated early. And, by the time you are through massaging, stroking, rubbing, petting, and pampering, you can make any cat a friend for life!

Start by scratching behind her ear and you will have her undivided attention. She will stop whatever she is doing, and command that you continue. Indulge her demands and continue on with the massage. Rub her entire ear including inside of the tip. Scratch the top of her head between his ears. By now she should be purring purrs of utter delight. This is a very good sign. Now move on to her other ear. Just like before, rub her entire ear including inside of the tip. Scratch and caress the side of her face, below the whiskers. Her whiskers are sensitive, so be careful around them. Now scratch under her chin. Most cats absolutely love to have this part of their bodies scratched and loved on. She will be happy to stay around as long as you keep touching her right.

Scratch the other side of her face. Scratch her ears again, just a little. Scratch the top of her head. In a continuous and fluid motion, stroke from the top of his head down his entire back. Scratch down her back several times with your hand wide open to spread across her entire backside. Scratch down her entire back and down the top end of her tail several times. Stroke her entire tail with your hand all the way around it several times. She is in heaven by this point she is like putty in your hands! Lay her down, if she has not already done it for you so that she is offering herself to you completely. Take one leg at a time and stroke it from her shoulder to her paw. Stroke each leg several times. Stroke anywhere else she will allow except her tummy, as this is usually seen as an invitation to play, which would defeat the entire purpose of the massage.

You cat should be very relaxed, happy, and purring like crazy now. Make this exercise take as long as you want. Cats can be patient when it suits their needs, so I doubt she will want to be going anywhere at this point. She is in kitty heaven and she loves it. You can take as long as you want and she is going to sit there and take it. She is getting all the attention she can stand, and her kitty body is feeling all nice and massaged. You have made a friend for life. She is in heaven and she has a new found respect for you. She now has a masseuse on staff! She loves being the queen. Be prepared for the fact that she will now demand this attention on a regular basis. Good luck!