Everything you Need to Know About Your Cat Urinating Inappropriately

Written by

Everything you Need to Know About Your Cat Urinating Inappropriately

Generally cats are pretty good with their toilet habits, and it is in fact quite easy to train them to use a litter box! However, cats can simply decide when they’re bored of doing this and move to other options. These are some of the reasons your cat may be exhibiting these behaviors:

  1. Dirty litter box

Us humans can agree that a clean toilet is preferable over a dirty one right? Cats think the same about their litter boxes! This is a very easy fix and requires regular cleaning of the litter box and a regular change in litter. Veterinary professionals suggest scooping out your cats litter box once per day, and once a week changing the old litter out for new. As well as a once a week deep clean of the box itself in warm water, with unscented soap. For time poor cat owners, you can also find self-cleaning litter boxes online and at your local pet shop.

  1. Territory marking

If you have multiple cats it is important that you have a separate litter box for each one, as cats have a habit of marking their territory and won’t want to use a litter box that has already been marked by its housemate.

  1. Litter

Sometimes it can all come down to the type of litter you are using! A simple fix, however it may require testing out a few different types before you find the right one. To make this process a little bit easier, we suggest having two litter boxes; each with a different type of litter, and see which one your cat chooses!

  1. Medical problems

Cats are creatures of habit, so when they break their normal routine it could be due to a medical problem. A urinary tract infection, diabetes and arthritis are common problems associated with this behavior so if the above steps don’t work seek veterinary attention.

  1. Litter box location

Location, location, location! I can’t imagine many humans being happy to use the toilet in a room full of people, cats are the same! Try placing your cats litter box in a quiet and private part of your house, preferably one that doesn’t attract too much foot traffic. The laundry or a less used room is a great place to start!

Hopefully these 5 tips have helped you identify where your cats urinating problems have stemmed from. Remember that the longer you leave this matter unattended, the harder it will be to correct!

 

Everything you need to know about your cat’s paws

Written by

Growing up in Africa a big part of my childhood was spent in and around the bush, and many were the times that we pretended to be tracking animals and many, many times we would come across the paw prints of both dogs and cats, and we became rather expert at telling the difference. The main differences being that dog paw prints usually show evidence of claws, as they cannot retract their claws, we didn’t think of it in those terms as kids but just that dog prints usually showed claws, also the paw pads themselves are slightly different in both species.

Have you ever stopped, had a look and taken in your cats paws? If you spent a few minutes examining them you would find that they are interestingly versatile and functional. Not only are they used for hunting, grooming and environmental sensors they can also play a part in regulating body temperature! Keep reading to learn more interesting facts about your cat’s paws.

  1. Extra toes

If you look closely at your cats paws you will see that they have an extra toe on their front paws. The extra toes are called ‘declaws’ and there purpose is similar to a humans thumb.

  1. Tiptoes

Cats are classed as ‘Digitigrade’ which means that they walk around on their tiptoes. This has multiple benefits including boosting speed and lengthening their stride whilst hunting as well as making their movements quieter.

  1. Flexibility

Who would have thought that a cat’s paw could be so flexible! Having flexible paws can assist your cat in hunting and climbing as they are designed to turn inward when climbing so that they can sink their claws into branches.

  1. Sweat glands

Did you know that your cat does majority of its sweating through its paws?  These are designed to help keep their body temperature regulated but it is also important to note that when a cat is stressed or anxious they will sweat through their paws (keep this in mind next time you see those little wet paw prints!) Cat’s paws also have glands between their toes that release a unique scent which they use as a way to mark their territory.

  1. Colour coordination

Generally the colours of your cat’s paw pads match the rest of your cat’s colour scheme, whether it’s their fur colour or sometimes even their nose! This is because the pigments that make up the fur are the same that colours their skin.

 

What’s the deal with cats licking?

Written by

Generally you’ll have either a cat that licks everything or one that doesn’t lick at all. So if your cat falls into the first category this might be the article for you! There is a fine line between determining whether the extent your cat licks is normal behaviour or if it is bordering on excessive. Keep reading to find out!

I remember as a kid I really liked the raspy feeling of my cat licking me,Unbeknown to me at the time, my cat was one that favoured licking, I have since had cats that don’t, their tongues are really rough and it used to tickle so I really enjoyed that, and I always was amazed at how cats groom themselves, from domestic cats in the household to the big wild cats, the behaviours are similar when it comes to grooming.

Grooming is an important part of a cat’s life but it’s not only grooming, that leads to licking, there are a number of other reasons why our feline friends chose to lick

Understanding why cats lick is the most important first step, and there are a multitude of reasons! Most cats are very fastidious and it is believed that the average cat will spend at least 15% of their time grooming themselves.  When it comes to licking themselves there are a variety of reasons, besides cleaning/bathing themselves, some cats lick themselves as a way to relive anxiety as grooming can give them comfort by lowering their arousal levels. This behaviour however is one to watch as it can quickly become a compulsive coping measure that can lead to a series of other problems.

Another reason cats lick themselves is for heat regulation, as licking the coat can help your cat maintain its body temperature. It works both ways though, as during the winter time they may lick their coat to smooth it down thus trapping the air and essentially creating insulation for their body heat. In summer it’s pretty self-explanatory, they lick their fur and it keeps them cool!

When it comes to licking things other than themselves, there is a list of different reasons too. When a mother cat has kittens she will partake in a particular type of grooming called ‘allogroom’ which essentially means they lick and groom cats that are close to them. This can sometimes be passed onto humans that they care about. If you’ve ever felt your cats sandpaper like tongue lick you then it’s a sure fire sign she cares about you!

How to make your trip to the vet run smoothly

Written by

How to make your trip to the vet run smoothly

Getting your cat to the vet is never an easy feat, from the dreaded carrier to the car trip there isn’t ever much joy associated with it. And to top it all off let’s not forget how incredibly stressful this process can be for your feline friend! There are many stories floating around about the escapades of cat owners, cats, and cat carriers.  I have compiled a list of tips below that will hopefully make the journey just that little bit easier!

  1. The Carrier

The dreaded carrier, the first realisation that your cat will be leaving its comfy surroundings is sure to be a frightening one. Unfortunately most cats won’t willingly be confined, so in order to make its experience in the carrier better there are a few tips you can follow.

  • Turn your carrier into a ‘comfy bed’ that is available at all times, place a pillow or a soft blanket in it and it will soon become your kitties new favourite hidey hole!
  • Use treats and toys as rewards to make your cat’s journey in its carrier a little easier.
  • Close the doors softly and quietly so that no loud noises will startle your cat.

 

  1. The Car

Your cat probably only ever goes in the car when its heading to the vet, so of course it’s going to associate only ‘scary and negative’ things with it. Just like the carrier, if your cat has only had negative experiences associated with it then it is important that you create some level of positivity to connect with it as well. An idea is to place your cat in the carrier, and drive without going anywhere. Doing this every so often will encourage your cat to believe that the car is a safe place and isn’t always associated with scary outcomes!

  1. Preparation

In the hour or so leading up to your cats vet appointment, take some time to bond with your cat. This could mean playing with his favourite toys or simply petting and cuddling him. Giving him this attention will help to calm your cat and remind him that you care and love him and only want the best.

If you follow these 3 simple steps, over time your trips to the vet will become easier and easier. Just don’t forget that it takes patience, however the results you see in time will be very rewarding.

3 weird cat behaviours explained

Written by

3 weird cat behaviours explained

Has your cat ever done something notably odd that has led you to question what goes on inside that little head? I’m sure most cat owners will raise their hand to this. Cats are mysterious creatures, and while we may never find out the exact answer to these peculiar behaviours we have a pretty good idea what they may mean. Now we could wax lyrical about whether or not you really speak “cat” but what we have done is select what we think are three particularly interesting and somewhat entertaining little idiosyncrasies’, that our feline friends display. Keep reading to find out if your cats ‘weird’ traits are more common than you think!

  1. Staring at the wall

Have you ever watched your cat, perfectly still and staring at the wall?  You may think that perhaps she has seen a ghost, or is watching something the human eye can’t see. It is easy to assume your cat is tuning to its ‘sixth-sense’ however veterinary professionals assure us they are probably just zoning out or have their eye on a small bug. Usually in my experience it is the latter, as the inquisitive nature of the kitty is rather well known in saying such as “curiosity killed the cat”, but usually curiosity feeds the cat, at times the saying should be “if it moves prod it and taste it”.

  1. Head butting

This weird cat behaviour is a special one, as it is a sign that you have been accepted into your cats ‘tribe’. Not only is this a very high honour, it is also one of the ways your cat marks you with his scent, essentially declaring his ownership. In a way one could say that you have been knighted by his or her royal highness.

  1. ‘Zooming’

‘Zooming’ is a loose term used to describe those crazy room-to-room running sprees your cat goes on occasionally. You know the ones, where all of a sudden your cat has gone crazy and is flying around the house, in and out of rooms for no apparent reason? There are a couple of explanations for this behaviour, one of them is all the extra stored energy they need to expel from sleeping all day, however this is more common in younger cats. It could also be a reaction to an ‘intruder’ i.e. another animal in their territory.

Hopefully reading these 3 weird cat behaviours gives you a sense of ease knowing that most cats are the same!

What Makes Cats Happy

Written by

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to make your furry friend truly happy? Cats typically will alert you when there is something wrong, but how do we know when they are content with their lives? It’s as simple as learning to pay attention to the unique behaviours of these animals.

Cute kitten
1. Talking to your cat (seriously!)
I know this one may seem a little strange, but the general consensus around cat owners is that frequent ‘conversations’ with their cats seems to make them more responsive and loving thus creating a cat who is happier and feels like it fits in with its environment. So start practicing your best meow!
2. A safe home environment
This one is pretty relatable, as who would want to spend their whole life in an environment that they didn’t feel safe in? Since your cat probably spends majority of its time at home it’s crucial that it has access to clean water, food and a quiet and cosy place to sleep, as don’t forget cats average 15 hours of sleep a day! It is also important that any other animals in the house your cat doesn’t particularly get along with are separated allowing for a stress free and safe environment.
3. A stimulating environment
Do you have anything to keep your cat occupied while you’re out of the house? Boredom is an easy fix by adding a few things to your home that your cat may enjoy. Sometimes it can be as simple as keeping the curtain open so your cat can watch the cars go past, or leaving a few cat friendly toys lying around within easy reach. There are also specified cat boredom crushers out there if you really want to keep your cat occupied, try online or your local pet shop.
4. Praise your cat!
It makes us happy if we praise our cats so really it’s a win-win situation! If were happy, these good vibes will rub off on our cats so why not share the love! And what better way to have some bonding time with your kitty.