Informative
Getting Rid of Cat Smell in Your Home
Thinks his pee smells like flowers. It doesn’t.
This post is sponsored by petMD and ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about The petMD Cat Care Center, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™ and petMD are not responsible for the content of this article.
Guest post by the Staff.
The last thing you want someone to notice when they walk in your home is the smell of a litter box. Heck, the last thing I want to notice when I walk into my own home is litter box smell! Fortunately with a bit of diligence and a few tricks, you can keep that odor at bay!
While a little air freshener or pretty candles might help short term, they aren’t going to solve your problem. You need to get to the source.
There are a couple of key places to focus on when ensuring the litter box smell stays in check.
The Litter Box
According to petMD the most important aspect is to keep the cat litter box fastidiously clean. Seriously. It’s not that hard to scoop a few times a day. Plus, the more frequently you check the box the less work it becomes each time.
And, by the way, your cat will appreciate it. Nothing will send your cat peeing or pooping elsewhere than an overflowing dirty litter box. Can you blame him?
Scoop the litter boxes at least once a day and I recommend more. And, of course, get the waste out of your house!
Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the litter box. Many people swear by this method to help minimize odors.
Change the kitty litter frequently. Experts’ recommendations vary but I think it’s optimal to change it completely a couple of times a month to really keep odors under control. Also, each time you change the litter, wash out the box with mild soap and water.
Choose an odor fighting litter like lightweight ARM & HAMMER™ Clump & Seal™. There’s a unique technology that forms a tight seal around odor and destroys it with powerful odor eliminators and ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda. Get a $2 off coupon here.
Also, replace boxes completely once a year, or more frequently. No matter how well you wash them, over time, plastic boxes can trap bacteria and begin to smell.
Check out these DIY litter box area fresheners from petMD.
Outside the Litter Box
You may not realize your cat is choosing somewhere other than the litter box to do his business until you stumble upon a favorite pee spot behind the couch, for example.
Don’t make him get creative with his potty spots.
There are a few reasons a cat might poop or pee outside his box. First, take him to the vet. There are a number of medical issues that could be the cause.
A dirty litter box might be the cause. Or, your cat might not like the litter, the depth of litter. The box might be too small. Check out petMD’s resource center for additional reasons your cat might be avoiding the litter box.
Do a check of your carpets, walls and furniture to make sure your cat has not been marking them or using them as his personal potty. Then, use an enzymatic cleaner to clean. If he keeps going there after you’ve cleaned, you may have no choice but to pitch the items. Cats can smell their own scent better than we can so even if you don’t smell it, your cat might still think, “here’s where I go pee!” Focus your attention on the cat litter box, stay on top of it and make it a daily habit and you and your cat will be much happier!
Cat Video: Dear Kitten – Beginnings
http://www.catfaeries.com/videos/2016/03/21/cat-video-dear-kitten-beginnings/
We don’t endorse Friskies cat food, but boy do they do a great series called Dear Kitten. It’s so clever!
Almost two million views!
Wylla’s Cataloons
http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2016/03/wyllas-cataloons.html
The other day, when I posted a video of Wylla on a walk, someone requested to see a little more of Wylla’s adorable kitten pants, AKA, pantaloons, AKA Cataloons.
I tried this weekend to capture the pants, but it’s not easy shot to get. It requires getting down on the floor with the camera just as the subject is exiting the room, or catching them while they’re standing, and cats rarely just stand there, they prefer sitting.
After a weekend of failures, I decided to comb the photo archive and found only one shot of Wylla’s
cataloons.
Here it is.
I’ll keep trying to get more, and hopefully will a little cooperation on her “end” we will get one.
: )
‘How can I reduce dander?’ and other veterinary FAQs
http://meowblog.cats.org.uk/2016/03/how-can-i-reduce-dander-veterinary-faqs.html
Do you have a burning question for a vet about your cat? Have a read through the advice below from Cats Protection vet Vanessa Howie, all covered in her recent live Q&A on Facebook.
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| Photo by Brendon Connelly via flickr / Creative Commons |
Question: What’s the best way to try and reduce my cat’s dander or dandruff? Constant (assisted) grooming with a brush? Is there something in their food that can help? Or other coat products?
Answer: If your cat is suffering from excessive dander/dandruff then I would recommend that you get your cat examined by your vet. Supplements which contain omega 3 and 6 may help to condition the coat and reduce dandruff formation. You may find our skin disorders leaflet helpful too.
Question: My 18-year-old cat was recently diagnosed with dementia. She is yowling most nights from about 4-6am and just sitting staring at a bookcase. She’s also quite vocal before and after going to the toilet. Can you help please?
Answer: Sorry to hear that your cat has been diagnosed with dementia. There is medication and a number of supplements that may help improve brain function, I would recommend that you talk to your vet about these. I would also recommend maybe keeping a light on overnight (particularly if your cat’s vision is deteriorating with age) and keeping routines and the house layout the same to avoid confusion. You may find our elderly cats leaflet helpful.
Question: One of my cats, Rory, seems to wash himself more than needed to the point where he has created small bald patches. There are no scabs or dry skin though. Why is he doing this?
Answer: I would recommend that you get your cat examined by your vet in the first instance. There are a number of reasons a cat may begin overgrooming, including having a skin allergy, being in pain or stress. Ruling out skin parasites such as fleas is the first thing to do and your vet can advise on the best products to use both on your cat and in the environment – they can also check for fleas and flea dirt on your cat. Have a read of our skin disorder leaflet (linked to earlier) for more information.
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| If your cat is overgrooming you need to find out the underlying cause. Photo by Douglas O’Brien via flickr / Creative Commons |
Question: My young cat seems to drink a lot of water. He does also eat a lot of dry food though, is this a problem?
Answer: Cats that eat mainly dry food will drink more than a cat that eats either only wet food or a mixture of wet and dry food. Wet canned food tends to contain around 75 per cent water so a cat will obtain a large proportion of their daily water requirement from the food. However if you feel your cat is drinking in excess I would recommend that you get him checked over by your vet. Measuring how much water he is drinking in a 24-hour period will be useful for the vet to know.
Veterinary note: Please note that we are unable to give specific advice on your cat’s health or any change in behaviour observed. For medical problems, consult your vet who will have access to your cat’s medical history and will be able to examine them.
Would you like to ask one of Cats Protection’s feline experts a question about your cat? Don’t miss the next live Facebook Q&A sessions: Nicky Trevorrow will be answering behaviourial queries on 14 April; Vet Vanessa Howie will be back on 28 April; and Jane Clements will be taking neutering questions on 12 May. All Q&As are held on Cats Protection’s national Facebook page from 2-3pm. See you there!
Things to Consider Before Bringing a Kitten Home
http://blog.cfa.org/things-to-consider-before-bringing-a-kitten-home/
Sunday, March 20 was the first official day of Spring 2016 and a perfect time to bring a new kitten home. Here are five things to consider when you are considering a kitten for your forever home.
- Make sure that your kitten is at least three months of age. By then, mom has socialized and weaned the kitten so that it can survive.
- A healthy kitten has a muscular body, firm to the touch, clear eyes and will move with confidence and strength.
- Whether buying from a breeder or whether you get your cat from your local rescue, be sure to find out all you can about the kitten. For a pedigreed cat, talk with your breeder so that you can understand the temperament and pedigree behind the kitten. For a rescue kitten, be sure to get as much information about the conditions which the kitten was found.
- Choose your vet in advance and talk to her about how to keep your kitten happy and healthy. Your vet is the best expert to guide you about proper nutrition and care.
- Have fun bonding with your new kitten that will build over time and so that you can become pals for years to come.
Farewell, Romeo.
Romeo the Cat left us Saturday.
Ten years and 5 days after he curled up in our hearts Romeo left for a better place, taking a piece of us with him.
He’s been struggling lately. A couple of years ago he was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a hereditary disease that causes cysts to grow in a cat’s kidneys and liver and eventually leads to kidney disease and failure. We’ve been on borrowed time and every day, week, month and year has been a gift.
But he’s been slowing down. He spent most of the past week by the refrigerator, which puts off a bit of heat from underneath it. Once we figured out why he liked it there, we got him a little space heater and a pillow and put it in the corner of the kitchen so he could stay in the middle of the action, where he always wanted to be.
When we realized he was declining fast and there was nothing more we could do for him, our kind vet came to our house and we freed our beloved boy from his pain. While he loved snuggling up next to us, he wasn’t big on being held. But that day he let me hold him against my chest as we cried.
♥♥♥
When we met him, it was love at first sight. We’d decided to adopt a cat and my husband Chris happened to find Romeo’s photo on the site of a Persian rescue, Persian Purebred and Purrbaby, near his work. “Romeo is a red and white bi-colored persian who loves to eat” the description read.
On his lunch hour, Chris went to meet Romeo. Romeo’s interview was a complete disaster. He slunk around the room, not wanting to be picked up or petted. Plus, his permanently cranky expression wasn’t exactly inviting.
“He’s perfect. We want him,” Chris told the rescue. He knew there was something special about this boy.
And he was so, so right.
Romeo had been pulled by the rescue from a shelter in Kentucky. Apparently he had been returned there twice. The second time he was covered in fleas and a skin condition. Plus he was deaf in both ears. The rescue cleaned him up and nursed him through 8 surgeries on his ears to correct his hearing issues, leaving one of his ears permanently folded down. Along with his grumpy expression, he looked like a total “bad ass” as one of our friends commented.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Once he was settled in, we discovered how appropriate the name “Romeo” really was. He was the sweetest, most loving cat one could ever meet. I only heard him hiss one time – when Pugsley came to live with us. Just one hiss to assert his ownership over his domain and then the two boys were best friends for life – Romeo & Pugsley.
Pugsley misses Romeo too. We couldn’t find him for a long time that day and discovered him curled up in a closet where he’d never gone before.
After a couple of years we gave Romeo his first shave down and were surprised to discover a heart shaped marking on Romeo’s side. We’ll never know if that was the true source of his name but it was so appropriate. He was marked with love from the start.
Romeo was with us through so much change over the last 10 years, steadfastly sitting next to us on the couch, patiently observing transition after transition. My husband and I were engaged, married, moved five times in three different cities, and, a couple of years apart, brought home two baby girls.
When the girls were infants and I would get up in the middle of the night to feed them, I would rock them back to sleep and Romeo would climb up on the back of the chair and rock along with us, purring.
As the girls grew, Romeo and Pugsley grew to trust and love them. I always knew where I could find Romeo – snuggled up next to a little girl who was watching TV or playing on her iPad.
Having Romeo and Pugsley has been so amazing for our daughters, teaching them how to be gentle and empathetic at a young age. Now, Romeo has helped teach them about love and loss.
He slept partly on my head most nights, eventually squeezing me off the pillow, but I didn’t mind. Then, when he was ready for breakfast he would start his wake up process, trying different tactics each morning – standing on our chests, meowing, pawing our noses, snuffling in our ears – until my husband or I would heave ourselves out of bed and go downstairs to get the food out, Romeo trotting eagerly behind us.
Because he was such a character, he inspired this blog after my co-workers teased me about putting Romeo on Twitter. I did, and a social media cat was born. From the start, we dedicated this site to raising money for shelters and rescues and since then, this little blog has raised $95,000 for homeless pets. Thank you for supporting our efforts. We’ll continue to honor Romeo’s memory by giving to pets in need.
Romeo has been such a 
huge part of our lives for over a decade and already our home is emptier without his silent meows, the feel of his soft fur and the sound of his purrs. I keep expecting to turn the corner from the kitchen and see him sleeping on his favorite chair.
We will miss you every day, Romeo.
Until we meet again, sweet boy….
Dear Friends, so many of you have emailed me directly or left Facebook comments, thank you! I am sorry but something was wrong with the ability to comment here for a couple of days but I finally had a moment to get it fixed. Love you all so much and thank you for loving our boy, too. xoxo
WOOZY the multifunctional hammock/bed for Cats
https://kittybloger.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/woozy-the-multifunctional-hammockbed-for-cats/
WOOZY The hammock/bed for Cats, which you can hang on the radiator or place on the ground everywhere you would like. Support this project! Share it!
The Woozy is an elegant, strong and multifunctional cat hammock/bed made for every interior and suits every cat. No matter if your home has a different model radiator or no radiator. The woozy fits in every interior. It’s easy to adjust to every radiator.
The quality, looks and opportunity’s of the bed were the most important aspects in the design. The Woozy is easy to install. In less than 5 minutes your Woozy is ready for use.
It has high quality beech for the frame, coated steel for the hooks and strong recycled polyester for the fabric. The fabric is easy to replace and washable.
Woozy is in six different colors.
Support project!
The Woozy team need your help for the first line production. They already have a couple of prototypes and they are ready for production. The next step is the money to bring the Woozy to cats worldwide.
Your cat will love it!
