How To Stop Your Cat From Peeing On The Floor

Even though cats are very independent, they still require instruction and guidance from their owner. Cats have  natural instincts that cause them to act and behave the way they do, but there is a big difference between instinctual behavior and bad behavior. Learn how to train your cat the right way, and you just might avoid having to deal with unpleasant behavior problems. There are things you can do to stop your cat from peeing on the floor or carpet and this behavior needs to be addressed right away.



Cats are very intelligent animals and believe it or not, they do respond to training. It does require patience and determination on the owner's part, but the end results are worth the effort. The most important thing to remember is that the sooner you start to correct unwanted behavior, the sooner your cat will respond. Bad cat behavior that is allowed to persist for a length of time will ultimately take longer to correct. This is especially true if the problem you are having is with a cat who is peeing on the floor. If the odor of urine is not eliminated from the floor or carpet, the cat will likely do it again just because the odor is there. If this behavior persists for an extended period of time, the scent will be almost impossible to remove from the floor and the behavior problem will continue.

The first thing you need to do if your cat is peeing on the floor is to find out why. This is especially true if you have had your cat for a while and this behavior is a new development. Kittens may have "accidents" while learning to use a litterbox but if a cat who normally uses a litterbox suddenly starts peeing on the floor, this needs to be investigated. It could be that you changed brands of cat litter and your cat does not like it. Some cats will not like a different litter as it may smell different or be of different texture and this is their way of telling you. This can be avoided by sticking with the same cat litter all the time. If your cat has been declawed, their feet can be quite sensitive and the litter you are using could be uncomfortable on your cat's feet. However, your cat could also be sick and this should be looked into first and foremost. Cats can develop urinary tract infections which can make the cat very ill if not corrected promptly so always give a call to your vet if your cat starts peeing on the floor or acts in anyway that is not normal for your cat. Your vet will probably want to examine the cat to determine if it is sick. Urinary tract infections can usually be treated and cured with the proper medicine and once the infection is gone, the cat should resume using the litter box and stop peeing on your floor.

Once any illness is ruled out by a vet, then it is a process of elimination (no pun intended) to determine what else would be causing this behavior. Did you recently change cat litter brands? Did you move the litterbox to a different location? Did you buy a new litterbox and perhaps your cat prefers the old one? Take a look around, and if anything is new or different, it may be the cause. Try keep the cat's environment constant, they sometimes disagree with changes you might have made and peeing on the floor could be their way of telling you so. Another possible cause could be a dirty litterbox. Cats will not use a litterbox if it is not cleaned on a regular basis. I clean out my cat's box on a daily basis. This keeps my cats happy and also prevents unwanted odors in the home. Another important factor to consider if your cat is peeing on the floor is the location of the litter box. Cats like privacy, and a quiet environment. If the litter box is in a noisy or high traffic area of your home, the cat may not feel comfortable using it where you have put it. Find an easily accessible area that is quiet, private and out of high traffic areas as this is most suitable for your cat's preferences and always make sure you have one litter box for each cat in your home plus one additional.

If your cat has been peeing on the floor, it is crutial that you eliminate the odor on the floor completely. Otherwise, the cat will continue to urinate there. You need to remove the cat urine odor immediately. Please refer to my other article for a recipe on how to remove cat urine smells, it is effective, and I also have other links on my blog for items you can purchase to remove the odor.

Remember, don't just assume your cat is just behaving badly for one reason or another. First consider that it is likely that your cat could have a urinary tract infection, and this should be addressed with your vet first. If you have your cat checked by the vet and there is no illness, consider the other possibilities listed in this article to help eliminate the possible cause and stop your cat from peeing on the floor

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How To Stop Your Cat From Scratching The Furniture

Cats are wonderful pets. They are more independent than dogs yet also very affectionate and loyal. Cats are very smart animals but despite their intelligence they can still demonstrate unwanted cat behavior. Cats have a natural instinct to scratch and claw anything they find that suits their needs. Unfortunately, you cannot stop your cat from scratching because it is a natural behavior for them. Cats scratch for a variety of reasons including marking their territory, hygiene purposes, and it provides good exercise for them. Instead of just accepting the fact that your cat will scratch your furniture, you should take the time to learn how to stop your cat from scratching the furniture to effectively redirect this unwanted and destructive behavior.


Unlike popular myth, cats can be trained to do almost anything that they are able to do and this includes stopping your cat from scratching the furniture. One important factor that is a must for success is a patient owner. Cats are not as dependent as dogs are and therefore they are more content by themselves. But don't let their independence fool you. They still require love, affection, and quality time with you, they just tend to dictate to you when the attention is wanted and when it is not. When your cat is in the mood for affection from you, it is the perfect time to train them. If your cat behavior problem is scratching the furniture or other valuables, then you must work on how to stop that behavior. A great way I have learned to prevent this behavior is to provide your cat with its own furniture. Cats are territorial and will quickly bond with a scratching post or cat tree. Catnip is often used to attract the cat to the cat tree, and before you know it, the cat will begin scratching its own furniture. I find it useful to provide my cats with several cat trees throughout my home and providing them a window seat will soon become a favorite place to sit, scratch and play. It is also helpful to place a cat tree or scratching post near where ever is currently scratching. This can help deter your cat away from the furniture and attract it to its own furniture.Your cat needs to be taught that scratching up your furniture is not acceptable so when it occurs make sure you redirect the behavior with a firm "NO!" and then bring them to their furniture. Always praise your cat when it scratches its own possessions to positively reinforce the good behavior. Offer a reward to your cat to further reinforce the positive behavior. Cat treats are a great way to reward your cat while in training. Before too long it is possible to stop the cat from scratching your furniture.

Remember to always be consistent when training a cat. Even if it is inconvenient for you to stop whatever you are doing to redirect the behavior problem, you must stay consistent and make the extra effort to bring the cat back to its cat tree or scratching post and praise the cat for scratching the appropriate things. Your cat will soon learn what is acceptable to scratch and what is not and most of the time you will achieve success in a relatively short time. There are some cats that are more persistent with bad behavior and the trick is to know exactly how to stop the unwanted behavior, and the earlier the better. There are several great cat training books listed on this site that provide a huge amount of information and other techniques you can use to stop your cat from scratching the furniture and train your cat to be the perfect pet.

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How To Build A Cat Tree

Cats are wonderful pets. They are independent, affectionate and make loving companions. However, they do have habits that humans may not appreciate too much such as scratching the furniture, and clawing personal possessions. Learn how to build a cat tree or cat furniture and not only save money, but also the family sofa.


Cats simply have a natural instinct to scratch and claw things. It is a behavior that you will not be able to change as it is just what cats do. Cats scratch their claws for a variety of reasons including to exercise, keep their nails clean and trimmed, and to mark their territory. If you provide your cat with ample scratching posts and furniture, they will be less likely to destroy the house.  Cat trees are my personal favorite. They are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles and cats just love them. Your cat will quickly take to the tree for climbing and conditioning claws. Place the cat furniture next to a window for the ultimate happy kitty. They love to sit looking outside at the birds. Having more than one cat tree is highly recommended as it will further prevent unwanted scratching by offering the cat a choice of heights, styles and shapes. The only downside is that cat furniture can be very expensive. No sense in spending a lot of money on something your cat will ultimately destroy. Learn how to build a cat tree and save a fortune while providing your cat with a professional quality tree they are sure to love.

If you provide your cat with their own furniture, you will see how easy it is to direct the unwanted behavior of scratching your good furntiure. Cats are very intelligent creatures and will recognize the appropriate places to scratch and claw with a little reinforcement from you.  You want your cat to be healthy and happy and providing your cat with its own possessions is a must. You will be surprised to see how easy it is to make your own cat tree. Basic tools you already have in your home, wood, and sisal rope is what you'll need to get started. Next, you need some professional quality step by step construction plans and you'll soon have quality cat furniture in every room. There is an e-book available for immediate download that shows you step by step exactly how to build your own high quality professional cat trees, and not just one tree but several different trees in a variety of styles

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How To Train A Cat

Cats are very intelligent, loving animals and they make great companions. They are much more independent and less needy than dogs, making them a perfect pet for someone who has a busy lifestyle. Owning a cat is very rewarding, and provides you with a wonderful creature to love, with an added convenience of not demanding as much of your time. Even though they are more independent, you will still need to know how to train a cat the right way to make sure your cat exhibits the best cat behavior.



Once you have decided to adopt, make sure to take the time to learn how to train a cat. Despite their independence, your cat will still require a bit of your time to teach it proper household behavior. Start teaching your cat when it is still a kitten for the most success, as animals learn bad behaviors over time and the sooner you start training, the better. Decide what you want to teach your cat, then prioritize. Always stick to training one thing at a time. Your cat will stay more focused if you teach one task at a time. If you notice any bad behavior issues such as scratching furniture, biting, or chewing on objects, they should be addressed first. If you notice your cat is chewing on things, make sure it does not have access to any electrical cords in your home. Start training with whatever behavior problem poses a risk to your cat and proceed from there.

 If you are looking to train your cat to stop scratching your furniture, you need to consider purchasing some furniture or cat trees that will belong to your cat. Cats are territorial and scratching at things is one way that they mark their belongings. It is also how they groom and condition their claws and exercise. This behavior is a natural instinct for cats so teaching them not to scratch is not an option. However, you can train a cat to know which items belong to them, and praise your cat when it does scratch the appropriate things. It is also helpful to put the scratching post near the items or furniture that the cat has been scratching and redirect the cat to its new post whenever you see it scratching on something you do not want the cat to scratch. This will help the cat learn that this is where you want him to scratch. Having the post near the couch or place where you dont want your cat scratching will help the cat understand that the post is the appropriate place for scratching. You can also use catnip as a great way to attract them to the items you prefer they scratch on. Catnip comes in a dried leafy form but also available in a spray form. The spray form is just as effective as the herb form and is much less messy and when used, you will find your cat cannot resist the items that have been treated with catnip.

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How To Take Care Of A Cat

If you thinking about adopting a pet, and considering your new family member to be a cat, you need to know the basics of how to take care of a cat. People who have busy lifestyles might prefer a cat rather than a dog because they require less attention than dogs do. However, all animals need a certain amount of proper care to be healthy and happy and before you bring your new kitten home, you must learn what the cat will need and how to take care of a cat.


First and foremost, once you have adopted a cat, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with your vet. And if you have other cats in your household, you will need to keep your new cat separate from the other cats until your vet can examine your new cat. This is very important as cats can aquire a variety of illnesses that can be transmitted to your other cats via biting or scratching. Your vet will be able to perform some simple, relatively inexpensive tests to make sure your new cat is healthy and free from disease. Your new cat will also require its intial vaccines to help prevent illness. Once your new kitten has been checked and is found to be healthy and disease free, then you can allow contact with your other cats. Until then, you must keep your new cat away from the others to avoid any personal contact with your other cats. Your cat will also require a poop specimen to determine if it has any worms, and if so medicine will be given to you to eliminate the worms. Worms are contagious to other cats so testing for worms and eliminating them before letting your new cat share a litter box with your other cats is necessary to avoid exposing your other cats.

Cats do require some of their own personal belongings. They will need a litter box, and you should purchase one that will be big enough for your kitten to use once it is full grown. I prefer enclosed litter boxes, ones that have a lid, for several reasons. First of all, it helps reduce any mess of litter being scratched out onto the floor. Second, an enclosed litter box helps reduce any unwanted odors. And third, cats prefer privacy when they go to the bathroom and a box with a lid will provide your cat with a private place to go. You should clean out your litterbox on a daily basis. This will keep it odor free, and also keep your cat happy and prevent it from urinating and pooping outside the litter box. Cats do not like to use dirty litter boxes and if you do not clean it out on a regular basis, you will more than likely find unwanted messes on your floor. If you own more than one cat, please keep in mind that it is recommended that you provide one litter box per cat plus one additional box. Each cat will prefer its own litter box and this also helps prevent the litter box from becoming dirty too fast. You will find learning how to take care of a cat is not very difficult.

When learning how to take care of a cat, another important need for your cat is their own sleeping areas. You should provide your cat with their own cat bed to sleep on. I offer my cats several cat beds in different areas of the house. This gives the cat a choice and your cat will likely pick his favorite place to cat nap relatively quickly. Offering different places for your cat to lay and be comfortable is important as sometimes your cat will prefer to be in the same room with you, and other times the cat may prefer a quiet, private room to rest in. Cats do like their own space and appreciate some time to be by themselves so offer your cat a variety of locations to choose from.

Another important aspect of how to take care of a cat is that cats also need toys for stimulation and cat trees or cat furniture that they can play and climb on and use to scratch on. If you do not provide your cat with cat furniture and scratching posts, you may find them scratching on your furniture instead. You cannot prevent a cat from scratching, but you can provide them with appropriate places to scratch which will lessen the chance of the cat ruining your furniture. Cat toys are very important for play and exercise. Choose toys carefully and make sure each toy does not have any small parts, yarn or string that can become detatched. This poses a choking risk to your cat. If you find any parts of a toy have small parts, yarn,  string or rope, remove them yourself and prevent a possible danger to your animal.  Never give your cat any type of string, yarn, or rope as cats do swallow things like this and it poses a true medical emergency. Toys with catnip in them are great because most likely, your cat will absolutely love it. Catnip is a natural herb that cats go crazy for, and they are very entertaining when "high" on this herb. Catnip does affect each cat differently. It helps to mellow out some cats, while other cats become very playful and amusing. Some cats do not like catnip at all. It won't take long to find out how your cat will respond to catnip and if they enjoy it, continue to give it to them. Cats do build a tolerance to catnip over time, so if you find your cat not responding to catnip, but once did, just remove the catnip toys for a while and then reintroduce them in a few days. Taking the time to learn how to take care of a cat will help ensure you are providing all that your cat wants and needs.
Another important aspect of taking care of a cat is choosing a proper and healthy diet for your cat.  I recommend talking to your vet about cat food choices and find out what he recommends. Some cats prefer dry cat food, while others prefer wet food. You will have to determine by trial and error what your cat will prefer. I provide both for my cats. It gives them a choice and prevents the cat from becoming bored with the food. Wet canned food is generally better for your cat. It provides much more water content than dry food does. Cats do not always drink a lot of water so the added water in the wet food is a great way to get more water into your cat. If a cat is eating only dry food, and not drinking enough water, this can lead to constipation or difficulty going to the bathroom. Cats also require taurine in their diet, which all cat food is fortified with, so if you do feed table scraps to your cat, you should limit table food to meats and fish and make sure they still get enough cat food for essential nutrients they need. Never give your cat any kind of onions, onion powder, or any onion product. Onions destroy red blood cells in cats resulting in anemia. And never give chocolate of any kind to your cat, as it is also poisonous to cats. Always provide fresh clean water to your cat and change the water daily. Some cats prefer a watering system that runs the water constantly. They are attracted to running water and may be more inclined to drink more from running water. That type of system is not necessary though, just make sure you clean the water bowl and provide fresh water every day. Once you learn the basics of how to take care of a cat, you will find that owning a cat a provide proper care is not very demanding or difficult.

Frequent brushing is also a must when learning how to take care of a cat. While cats do a great job with grooming and keep themselves very clean, a good brushing is important to help remove excess fur. Cats ingest a lot of fur when they groom themselves and the more fur that you can remove with regular brushing, the less the cat will swallow. Cat hairballs are always a potential issue, especially with medium to long haired cats. Brushing your cat on a regular basis, even daily, will greatly reduce the risk of hairballs. Most cats love to be brushed and you will find that your cat will become very affectionate with you during brushing. This is an excellent way to strengthen the bond between you and your cat while helping to prevent hairballs at the same time.
Always keep in contact with your vet for any other questions you have, especially if your cat starts behaving differently, starts going to the bathroom outside the litter box, or you notice a change in appetite or energy levels. If your cat has behavior changes, discuss it with your vet as soon as possible to eliminate any illnesses as a possible cause. Cats will often exhibit a change in behavior when they are ill so if you notice a change in your cat, even a subtle change, you should contact your vet. Cats also require an annual wellness exam at the vets office and also require yearly vaccinations to keep them happy and healthy. Try to keep these annual appointments at the same time every year. Depending on whether or not your cat goes outside, or is strictly an indoor cat, you may need to consider flea and tick medication. Generally, indoor cats do not need this type of medication. If they do not go outside, they likely do not come in contact with ticks and fleas. But, if you own a dog or other pets that live inside and out, you may need to talk with your vet about whether or not to treat your cat for fleas and ticks as the dog can bring them into the house.

Taking care of a cat is really not hard to do. Understanding cats and cat behavior is helpful when trying to determine exactly what your cat wants and needs. But, for the most part, you only need to start with the basics, food, water, shelter, annual vet visits, a litter box, a scratching post and some toys. Then, you can start buying your cat other accessories such as their own furniture, cat trees, etc. Once you know how to take care of a cat, you can feel comfortable making the right choices when it comes to the safety and well-being of your cat

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Learn How To Build A Cat Tree And Save Money!

Owning a cat is a very rewarding experience. Cats make terrific pets for a number of reasons. Not only are they affectionate and make great companions, but cats are also more independent and less needy than dogs. If you are a busy person with a demanding lifestyle but still want to own a pet, a cat is the perfect choice for you. Once you have decided to adopt a cat, there are a number of items you will want to provide for your cat to ensure it will be very happy. Cats love to climb things so you will want to provide a cat tree or some kind of cat furniture. If you learn how to build a cat tree yourself you can save lots of money as I recommend having more than one in your home so you can provide different styles and heights with various locations in your home to entertain your feline friend.


Cat trees are quite expensive to buy, and if you decide to purchase a large cat tree or more than one, it can cost you several hundred dollars. You may think it is not worth the money to buy something that your cat will scratch and shred to pieces, but if you do not give your cats access to scratching posts and cat trees, they will resort to using your valuables to scratch on. Cats have a natural instinct to scratch and if you do not provide them with their own furniture, you will find them scratching your good furniture. You can save lots of money if you simply build your own cat trees. Prevent your cat from scratching your good furniture fairly easily by providing your cat with its own scratching posts and cat trees. If you learn how to build a cat tree from scratch, you can provide your cat with furniture it will love and save yourself tons of money.

Preventing your cat from scratching things is simply a losing battle. Cats scratch instinctively to condition and groom their nails, to mark their territory, and to exercise. They also tend to scratch when they feel playful or excited. If you do not provide your cats with their own cat trees and scratching posts, they will surely find some place else to scratch, which is usually damaging. It is most beneficial to provide your cat with several scratching posts, and cat trees in various places throughout your home. You want to put them in rooms where your cat spends a lot of time or nearby where you have noticed your cat has been scratching. To help attract them to their cat tree, spray with tree with some liquid catnip or sprinkle some catnip onto the cat tree. You will find that it won't take long for your cat to be attracted to it. Once your cat has taken to the cat tree, and you see the cat scratching various areas of the tree, you want to reward this behavior with a favorite treat as positive reinforcement. This helps the cat understand that you like what he is doing. Cat trees can be made of different types of material with the most common being carpet and sisal rope. I find that cat trees that offer both carpet and sisal rope are the best as different cats have different preferences as to what kinds of surfaces they like to scratch the most. If you provide a variety of surfaces, you are more likely to offer your cat what they prefer.

Learning how to build a cat tree just makes practical sense.  Cat trees are often very pricey and can cost well over one hundred dollars each. When you consider that you are buying the cat tree for your cat to scratch and play on, you must realize that the cat tree probably will not stay in good condition for a long time. When you buy cat trees in the store, you are spending lots of money on items that your cat is going to claw and scratch to pieces. Cat trees do need to be replaced every so often, and depending on how aggressively your cat scratches or how often your cat scratches on the cat tree, it could be less than a year before you find the cat tree falling apart. You will be surprised just how easy it is to build cat furniture on your own, and it is very rewarding to build a cat tree yourself. Once you see how much your cat will love it, you will be motivated to build more. I have a cat tree available in every room of my home. I place many of them in front of the window so my cat can sit and watch the world go by. Cats are very content just sitting at the window looking outside. Giving your cat a window seat provides them with hours of entertainment and stimulation as they watch the wild animals and birds outside. They are fascinated with looking outside, and this also helps to prevent boredom which can lead to behavior problems.

Not only do cat trees help prevent your cat from scratching your furniture, there are several other advantages of learning how to build a cat tree.  I am sure you have noticed that when you purchase a cat tree in the store, the selection is somewhat limited in regards to color, fabric, and size. Not only can you save yourself lots of money by building your own cat trees, you can purchase the exact color of fabric to match your room's decor, or choose any style and texture of  fabric that you prefer. You can also customize to your cat's preference by accessorizing with favorite cat toys that you know your cat loves. You can build to suit any height that you want. Your guests will be impressed with the quality that you can build and with the ability to choose styles and colors, you can match each room perfectly. Your cat tree will look like it is tailor made to your home and your cat will love you for it.

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Buy Pet Meds Online And Save Money

Anyone who owns a pet knows that providing the proper care for your pet requires spending some money. Whether you own a cat or a dog, or any other type of animal, most pets require some kind of medications to prevent illness and keep them healthy. Most vet offices have many medications readily available for you to purchase, but did you know that if you buy pet meds online you can save yourself some money? The very same brands that are available at the vet are also available online, and usually for less money.



If you own a dog, then you probably already know that providing preventitive heartworm medication is an absolute must. Dogs are vulnerable to heartworm disease if you do not treat them with routine preventative medicine, and heartworm will make your dog very ill, possibly fatal to your pet. Because you have to treat your dog on a regular basis, usually monthly, this expense can add up over time. As a general rule, you will save more money if you purchase in bulk, and if you know you are going to need it, then why not buy pet meds in bulk and save.

The same is true for medications your animal needs to prevent fleas, ticks and worms. Most medications require a monthly dosage that you squirt on the back of your pets neck. There are many different brands available and always follow your vet's recommendations as to which ones to purchase. These easy to apply meds are a great solution to your flea and tick problems and many of them also protect against worms as well. (Make sure to read the product to make sure it provides the type of protection your animal requires, as many products offer protection against fleas and ticks but not all of them offer protection against worms as well).

You may not need to treat for worms on a monthly basis, but if you own a dog or cat that frequently tests positive for worms and goes outside, you may want to consider talking to your vet about providing monthly protection against worms. Indoor cats who have had their poop tested and are free from worms usually do not have a problem with worms unless they come in contact with an infected animal, but outdoor cats can frequently come in contact with it and become reinfected. This can be expensive as the animal will need to have a fecal specimen and if found positive, will need medicine to get rid of the worms. I usually bring a fecal specimen with me to my cats annual check ups just to make sure they do not have worms. If your dog or cat does test positive for worms then you will need to administer medication that your vet will provide. It is very important that you follow the vets instructions on how and when to give the medicine to make sure it is effective. I usually bring another specimen into my vet several weeks after treatment to make sure the worms have been eliminated. I went through this ordeal several times before finding out you can give preventitive medicine for worms and it is conveniently provided with the flea and tick medicine that I already give my cats. You must check though because not all brands have the worm treatment included. And most importantly, always ask your vet which product to use for your animal. Do not treat your animal with any medicines without first getting your vets approval. Now that I give my cats medicine on a routine basis, I have found that to buy pet meds online adds up to a pretty good savings.

Make sure you bring your animal to the vet for annual checkups. Some pets may require additional visits, and your vet will let you know when you need to bring your animal back in for an examination. If your animal seems ill or has had a change in urination, bowel habits,eating habits or seems overly tired, not playful, vomiting, or any behavior that is not normal for your pet, you should notify your vet so he can determine if your pet needs to be examined. Never let your pet go on for several days with strange or sick behavior because the sooner you report to your vet, the sooner the problem can be identified and treatment can be started. Providing your pet with good, quality care will ensure your animal lives a healthy and happy life

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How To Train A Cat To Use The Toilet

Did you ever wonder if it is really possible to train your cat to use the toilet instead of a litterbox? Did you ever think how wonderful it would be to never have to clean a dirty, smelly litterbox ever again? Well, it certainly is possible to do and if you learn how to train a cat to use the toilet, you will never have to clean that litterbox again!


There are many different ways to train your cat to use the toilet and oddly enough which method you use will depend on what breed of cat you own. Each breed responds differently to training techniques and there are so many options to try when you are really serious about eliminating the litterbox. I can remember all the times I changed my cats stinky litterbox, thinking to myself, there has got to be a better way. Not to mention that kitty litter costs a small fortune. I hated every time I had to spend money on it, and I thought to myself, I can't believe I have to spend so much money on something that my cat is going to go to the bathroom on.

After a couple years of spending my money on cat litter, I decided to search for some ideas on how to train a cat to use the toilet. The internet is the perfect place to find information on just about any subject so I did some research, visited many websites, and found lots of information from other people on what they think is the best way to approach this. I tried several suggestions that I found along the way, but to my disappointment, nothing worked. My cats did not want to hear it, and I was beginning to think I was doomed to a life of cleaning dirty litterboxes.

There are many different methods to try when teaching your cat to use the toilet but again, it does matter what breed of cat you have. One of them is to slowly start moving the litter box closer and closer to the toilet until it is right next to it. Then, once your cat gets used to the new location you can make a container that will fit inside the rim of the toilet and put cat litter in it and introduce it to your cat, dont forget to remove the litter box at this point, but I do recommend you have a litter box in another area of your home so if your cat does not take to the new bathroom situation, it will not go on the floor. The cat should recognize the cat litter as the place to go to the bathroom. It may not happen overnight but with persistence and patience, your cat should learn to use it. Once you have established that your cat is using the toilet, then you can try removing the cat litter all together. If your cat stops using the toilet, you may have to put the litter back for a while longer but eventually you should be able to remove it.

I continued my search, and one day I stumbled upon a website and bought an ebook on how to train a cat to use the human toilet. I figured the price is very reasonable with a money back guarantee, and all the free information got me no results at all. I took a chance and to my surprise, this book is filled with tons of helpful and effective training methods. I learned that it really depends on what breed of cat it is as to what method works the best. I would have never known that otherwise. I am still in the process of teaching my cats the techniques in this book, as with anything else, it does take time and persistence. But, I have achieved some success, and was thrilled the first time my cat actually used the toilet! I still keep the litterbox around though because I don't want any "accidents" on my floor while my cats are in training. Be patient and keep trying because success is well worth the effort

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How To Tell If A Cat Is Sick

Cats can be difficult to determine whether or not they are sick. Since they cannot talk, they communicate their needs differently than humans. You need to be in tune to your cats communication skills and recognize behaviors that could warrant a call to the vet. Take the time to learn how to tell if a cat is sick so you don't delay getting the appropriate treatment from your vet. If you notice your cat is acting strangely, or different from its usual behavior, you will need to pay close attention to its behavior. Some behaviors such as vomiting, not eating, lethargy, difficulty going to the bathroom, etc... are easy to identify, and always warrant a call to your vet to obtain professional advice to determine if your cat is sick, and for further instructions. Sometimes cats will exhibit signs of illness in a not so easily identifiable way.

If for any reason you are wondering whether or not a cat is sick, then that always warrants a call to the vet for some professional advice. Sometimes, though, cats can exhibit strange behaviors when they are sick, that are not always what a person would consider a symptom of being ill. For instance, cats are prone to urinary tract infections and often, one of the first signs that the cat is sick is that the cat will stop using its litter box. Urinary tract infections can be painful, and because the cat does not know why it hurts, they often will start to associate the litter box with pain, and the result is the cat stops using it. If you are experiencing this problem with your cat, your cat may be sick and you should contact your vet.

Sometimes cats can become more aggressive and cranky. Now, of course, cats can do this naturally, and it doesn't mean they are sick. However, any change in your cats personality or behavior could be an indication of an illness and should be reported to the vet. It is as simple as picking up the phone and talking to the vet. Once the vet has the information, he can determine if your cat should be examined. Cats are very good about hiding their illnesses, and often exhibit a change in behavior, a change in bowel or bladder habits,  a decreased appetite, an increase in sleeping or less playtime when they are ill. Because many people just don't understand how to tell if a cat is sick, the cat will often get worse until a vet visit is an absolute emergency.

I always recommend to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to the well being of an animal. Cats will try in their own way to let you know something is wrong. You need to pay attention to your cat and notice these kinds of changes so you can be the best pet owner you can be. If you are experiencing a change in your cats behavior, personality, decreased food or water consumption, a change in bladder or bowel habits or decreased energy, you should consider the fact that your cat may be sick. Even a simple phone call to the vet to let the vet know what kind of symptoms your cat is having can be very beneficial and the vet will be able to tell you whether or not the cat should be examined. And remember, a phone call is free. Only a vet will be able to give you the most accurate and best advice on what you should or should not do. Many times cat illnesses can be easily treated with medicine provided by the vet and your cat will thank you for it

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Choose The Right Pet: Dog Vs Cat

If you have decided it is time for you to adopt a pet there are many factors to consider when making this decision. Do not consider an animal to be just a pet, consider that they will be a new member of your family and they have needs just like you do. Before you rush into an important decision like this, realize that the type of pet you choose will have an ongoing impact on you and your family's lives and will require a certain amount of care, love and attention from you on a daily basis. Know how to choose the right pet before you bring an animal home and you will be off to the right start.

The first things you must consider are your lifestyle and living situation. Do you live in a house or an apartment? Do you have a lot of free time or are you away from home often? If you live in an apartment, you will need to find out if pets are allowed. If you are away from home a lot, you will need to consider that as well. Dogs are certainly man's best friend and do make wonderful pets but require lots of care and attention. You need to consider if you have time to spend with a dog, playing, walking daily and training. Without the proper attention, training and love, you can create a pet that has bad manners and behavior problems.

If you decide a dog is the right animal for you then you must decide if you want a large or small breed. Consider your living situation when making this decision. If you live in a small apartment, you may not want a large dog. Large dogs have a great deal of energy and in a small living space they cannot expel it. A smaller breed may be a more suitable choice. If you live in a home with a yard, you can choose any size dog that you prefer provided you have more space available for the animal and a yard to play in.

If you are away from home often, you need to consider this regardless of what animal you would like to own. All pets require attention and care daily and also some social interaction. If you have a busy lifestyle, perhaps a cat would be a better choice for you. Cats are more self sufficient and independent that dogs in many ways. Dogs need to be taken outside on a regular basis, where cats can use a litter box to go to the bathroom. Cats do not seem to mind if you are not home all the time, but dogs require more attention and affection from you. If you do not meet the animal's needs, you may come home to find your sofa chewed to pieces, accidents on the floor, or other disruptive behavior issues. Cats do not require daily walks like dogs do and may just be the right pet for a person who does not have much free time.

Another important factor to consider when deciding how to choose the right pet is whether or not you or a family member have any allergies to animals. One way to find this out is to spend time with dogs and cats and see if there is any reaction. Usually if a person is allergic to animal fur or dander, time spent with the animal will tell all. Do not assume, however, that if you are not allergic to dogs that you will not be allergic to cats, and visa versa. Each animal species has different fur and dander and you will need to spend time with whatever animal breed you think you want to adopt. The last thing you want is to adopt an animal, bring it home, and then find out you have an allergy.

Another important thing to keep in mind is your finances. Can you afford a pet? Make sure you take into consideration that every pet will come with expenses. Food, beds, vet bills, toys, etc... all need to be considered. Animals do require some of their own personal belongings to be happy. Pet food alone adds up in a monthly budget expense so make sure you know you can afford the expenses that come along with being a pet owner.

Every animal deserves a good and loving home. If you decide to adopt an animal and you've done your research on how to choose the right pet first, you will help prevent some of the unwanted problems from things you could have avoided in the first place. Once you have figured out which animal will make your family complete, I recommend getting your new family member from a shelter in your area. There are lots of homeless animals in shelters that would love to for you to bring them home

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Kitten Safety: How to Kitten-Proof Your Home

If you have recently adopted a kitten or cat, or you are considering adopting one, kitten safety is very important. You need to learn how to "kitten-proof" your home to keep your new family member safe. The best way to approach this is to consider your new pet as a toddler or a child who will get into anything they can. Kittens and cats are very curious animals and will seek out new and interesting things and places in your home and if your not careful, this could pose a health hazard to your pet.


One of the first things to do to ensure kitten safety is to make sure all cleaning products, chemicals, or any other harmful substances are locked away in a place that the kitten cannot get to. Do not assume that a small space is well hidden because kittens love to investigate and love small spaces. They will climb into whatever they can fit into which includes small or tight spaces. The best thing to do is to get child proof latches that you install on your cabinet doors that prevent the kitten from opening the cabinet. Then, keep all hazardous materials in the child proof cabinets where they cannot be accessed by the kitten. Do not assume the cat cannot open the cabinet door, they are very resourceful and determined animals and they will figure out a way to open the door. These latches are very easy to install and inexpensive and will help keep your kitten out of harms way.

You also need to search your home for any inanimate objects that the kitten could choke on. This includes rubber bands, hair ties, bag ties, marbles, or anything small enough to fit into the cats mouth. Keep these kinds of objects safely put away in a drawer and do not leave them on counters or anywhere the kitten can find it. Make sure your kitten does not have access to any electrical cords. Kittens having growing teeth and will go through teething just like a child will. They will chew on anything they can get at so make sure you either unplug electrical cords or arrange the cords in a way that the kitten cannot get at them. Provide the kitten with its own toys and praise the cat for playing with them. Positive reinforcement goes a long way when training a cat. Kitten safety and learning how to kitten proof your home may seem tedious, but your cute furry friend is well worth the effort to keep them safe.

Check all the toys you have bought for the kitten, and closely examine all toys before you buy them to make sure they do not parts that can be removed. If you can pull off a little bell that is attached to the toy, your kitten will be able to as well and once it is pulled off, it represents a choking danger. I will either not buy the toy, or pull the small object off myself before I give it to my cat. Remember that you probably will not be available all the time to supervise your cat with its belongings so make sure they are safe before you give them to your kitten. Never give your kitten or cat any kind of string, rope, or yarn as cats do tend to swallow things and something of this nature is not only a choking risk but can also cause an obstruction which is a true medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention.

Take a close look at your counters, tables, and anything that the kitten or cat can jump to get onto. Remember that cats have remarkable jumping ability and can get almost anywhere. Make sure there are no harmful object on your counters or tables that your cat can get into. As a rule of thumb, if you question if something is safe, just assume it is not and move or remove it. This includes houseplants. Cats have a tendency to chew on plants and most houseplants are poisonous to cats. You will either need to keep your plants in a location of your home that your cats do not have access to or move them where your cats cannot get at them. Your cats health is certainly more important than a houseplant, so be responsible and remove any that your kitten or cat has access to.

If you have any kind of bug or rodent problems, you will need to keep kitten and cat safety in mind when planning to treat the areas. Most bug killer and rodent killer products are harmful to animals so make sure you read the label on the product and take the necessary precautions to keep your animals safe. If you have a rodent problem, stay away from poison that the rodent ingests to kill it because if your pet finds the rodent before you do, it can ingest poison from the rodent. You are better off to use other methods of eliminating the problem. And if you need to "flea bomb" or use any kind of sprays in your home, consult your vet prior to use to ask if it is safe for use with your kitten. Remember, flea bombs and other types of sprays will settle on the floors surfaces, and your kitten will lick their feet and could possibly ingest poisonous material.

Try and keep your kitten or cat out of areas where harmful things can be found, such as a basement or a garage. People often provide child proofing for the living areas of their home but do not address places in the garage or basement, which the cat often can get access to. You either need to make sure the animal has no access to the area, or you need to child proof these areas as well, and it is better to assume the cat could get to these areas and kitten proof these areas as a precautionary measure. Anti-freeze is fatal to animals and is often found in the garage. Even if you put the container somewhere safe, you must make sure your vehicle does not leak it onto the garage floor where your cat could find it. Even a small amount can kill a pet.

Kitten safety is vital to the well being of your new pet. They rely on you to keep their environment safe and free from hazards. Take the time and "kitten-proof" your home. It will help keep your kitten happy and healthy and keep your home safe and "kitten-proof" even when your kitten grows into an adult cat. Cats are just as curious as kittens and will remain that way throughout their lives. Learning about kitten safety and how to kitten-proof your home will keep your pets safe and healthy and help avoid illness, injury or death from something that could have been prevented

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The Reasons Why You Should Not Declaw A Cat

A cat's claws are a vital part of their physical and psychological well-being. Many people do not realize that declawing a cat is inhumane, and a very unnecessary major surgical procedure which often leaves the declawed cat with physical and psychological problems that will last their lifetime.


Cats use their claws for many reasons such as to exercise, groom themselves, mark their territory, and as a first line of defense against predators. Cats scratch as part of a normal instinct, and taking that away can lead to even worse behavior problems. Many people believe that declawing a cat just consists of removal of the cat's nails but this is not the case. It is actually an amputation of all the cat's digits at the first knuckle of bone. It is a major surgery, which is very painful to the cat, and recovery and healing from this surgery can be painful and difficult for the cat. Complications such as infection can occur, as well as the general risk of anethesia during the procedure.


The declawed cat often develops litter box issues, such as not using the litter box, because the litter hurts their feet, so they begin avoiding the box and start peeing and pooping in various places around the home. This leads to further frustration on the part of the cat owner who is now faced with the cat damaging the floors and leaving behind unpleasant odors throughout the house. Cat urine odor is very difficult to remove, and a cat's sense of smell is more sensitive than humans. Once the cat begins urinating on the floor, they will often continue to do so because, despite the owners attempts to clean the area and remove the odor, it still exists to the cat's sensitive sense of smell, and this unwanted behavior persists.

The cat owner then becomes even more frustrated as this behavior continues. They often don't understand why their cat who used to faithfully use the litter box now refuses to do so, and often will blame the cat for another bad behavior problem, when it is not the cat's fault at all. If the owner cannot get the cat to start using the litter box again, they will often start considering letting the cat go outside. This poses a huge safety risk to the cat because once the cat has been declawed, they have no way to defend themselves to the many dangers that exist outside. Declawed cats cannot be let outside because they can no longer effectively defend themselves and cannot climb trees to get out of harms way. Once a cat has been declawed, there is not an option of safely converting the indoor cat to be an outdoor cat.

Another common problem with cats who have been declawed is biting. Because they do not have their nails anymore, the cat can become very frustrated. The scratching instinct that the cat has can no longer be satisfied and can lead to the cat starting to bite. Even the best behaved cat can become mean and unsociable and because they no longer have their claws, they resort to biting as a way of letting you know they are unhappy. I am aware of many cases where cat declawing has had a negative impact on the cat and its social behavior. This, however, does not happen in all cases. Some cats who have been declawed seem to do just fine and adjust to their situation without difficulty or resulting behavior problems. But, many cats do not adjust well, and the owners often end up feeing guilty that they did this to their pet.

The best thing a cat owner who is considering having their cat declawed can do is plenty of research. Find out all there is to know about the procedure, the risks, and the outcome. Talk to others who have had their cats declawed and get their opinions. Do not just take a vet's approval on this issue. Some vets will say it is no big deal because they stand to profit from the surgery, and they do not have to live with the cat afterwards. Other vets will discourage this procedure because they know it is not the right thing to do. Make sure the decision you make is an informed one. You do not want to end up with regret, as this surgery is permanent.

There are many options the cat owner has as an alternative to getting their cat declawed. One option is to purchase nail caps which are caps that are glued to the cats nails to prevent the damage from scratching. Another choice is to learn how to safely trim your cat's nails to keep them short and dull which will reduce the damaging effects of scratching. Provide several different styles of scratching posts and cat trees in your home to encourage your kitty to scratch the appropriate things. Scratching posts made of sisal rope work really well and cats seem to enjoy using them to scratch on. Try using double-sided sticky tape on the areas where you dont want your cat scratching. It provides a surface that cats do not enjoy and will deter them from scratching there. Buy some scented deterent sprays that are made to keep cats away and spray it on areas where the unwanted scratching is occuring. It may take a little more effort on your part, but the outcome can be very successful without having to put your cat through a declawing surgery.

Cat declawing has been banned in many countries, unfortunately as of yet, the United States has not adopted this law, and hopefully this will change. Anyone who is considering putting their cat through this should consider and try all the other options. There is just not a good enough reason to put your cat through such an awful surgery. And not just the surgery and recovery, but the lifelong effects it will have on your cat.

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How To Train A Cat To Use The Litter Box

Cats are very smart and instinctual animals and usually take to the litter box without much effort. They are also very clean creatures and prefer their litter box that way as well. There are instances when a cat will stray from its litter box and it is important to recognize that this could be more than just an accident on the floor. Before you look to train your cat to use the litter box, first you should consider if your cat might be ill or have a urinary tract infection. Place a call to your vet and tell them what is going on. The vet may want a urine sample to rule out any infections. Once your cat has a clean bill of health, you will need to work on how to train your cat to use the litter box again.


There are techniques you can use when faced with how to train a cat to use its litter box. One thing you will want to avoid is scolding the cat for having gone to the bathroom on your floor or rug. The cat will not understand why you are scolding it and may look at you as just being mean. You will need to eliminate all possible causes of litter box avoidance. One of the biggest reasons a cat will stop using its litter box is because the box is not clean enough. Cats are very clean animals and if the litter box is not cleaned on a regualr basis, you will find they will stop using it and start using your floor ( I recommend scooping out the waste on a daily basis for best results). That alone will usually do the trick. You also want to make sure you empty all the litter out on a weekly basis and thoroughly clean the box with soap and water. This will help remove any additional unwanted odors. Your cat will thank you for keeping its litter box clean and appealing.

Other reasons a cat will stop using the litter box includes a change in the kind of kitty litter you use. Many people will buy a product simply because they may have a coupon or the item is on sale and they want to save money. However, your cat may not appreciate the different texture or scent of the litter. If you recently change litter brands, this may be the reason for the avoidance of the litter box. I recommend removing the new litter all together and replace with the cats preferred brand. Cats also appreciate a little privacy when using the bathroom and may avoid the box if it is in a high traffic or noisy environment. Place the box somewhere that the cat can feel secure that is quiet and private. Make sure the size of the litter box is large enough to accomodate your cat. If the box is too small, the cat wont have enough room to conduct its business and may resort to the floor because it is a larger space. I use an extra large litter box so the cats have plenty of room to move around and they seem to appreciate it. You may find that you do not need to learn how to train your cat to use the litter box, it might not be the cat's problem at all, but rather something new or different you have done.

If you have a multiple cat household it is very important to make sure you have adequate amounts of litter boxes in different areas of your home. One box per cat plus one additional box is recommended. Place them in different areas of your home and you will soon see which ones are preferred locations and which ones may not get used as often. Each cat should have a sense of ownership with their litter box and if you dont provide that for them, you may end up with waste on the floor. You will see that each cat will develop a preferred box and will be more cooperative about using it.

If you have tried all the above suggestions and yet your cat still will not use the litter box then you need to "show" them that is where they are suppose to go to the bathroom. If the cat pees on the floor, sop up the urine with a paper towel and place it inside the litter box. Do the same thing with feces as well. It wont take long for the cat to get the message. If all else fails, contact your vet and discuss the problem with a licensed professional. Your vet can provide you with additional suggestions.

Once you train your cat to use the litterbox, make sure you completely remove any scent of urine or feces from your floor. If the cat smells the odor, the bad behavior may continue. There are several good products out there for removing odors and well worth the money to prevent your pet from ruining your home.

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How To Remove Cat Urine Smell From Carpets

Cats certainly make great companions and are a wonderful addition to the family. However, there are situations where your cat may have urinated outside the litterbox and the one of the worst places for a cat to urinate is on the carpet. If this does happen to you, it is very important to remove the cat urine immediately while the area is fresh because the longer the urine remains on the carpet, the more difficult it will be to remove the urine smell from the carpet.



If you witness your cat urinating on the carpet, immediately pick the cat up and bring it to the litterbox. This will help reinforce the proper place for elimination. Do not yell at or scold the cat for urinating outside the litterbox, as this almost never works and will only increase your cat's anxiety. Cats generally do not understand why they are being scolded, and the result can make your cat afraid of you. Immediately blot the area with paper towels removing as much of the urine as you possibly can. Do not rub the carpet, make sure you blot, as rubbing will only make the area bigger. Place the paper towels on the floor and step on them, as the more pressure you can apply, the more of the urine you will be able to remove from the carpet fibers. The next thing you should do if your cat suddenly starts urinating on the carpet and not in its litterbox, is contact your vet. Cats often develop urinary tract infections, and this type of behavior change is often your cats way of trying to tell you something is wrong. If your cat does have an infection, a trip to the vet will solve the problem with appropriate medication to treat the infection. The next step is to effectively locate and remove the cat urine smell from the carpet.

To locate all the areas where your cat has urinated on the carpet, a black light is the most effective method. Use the black light in the dark, and the cat urine stains will illuminate so you can easily identify the spots. Once all the areas have been identified, you can begin treating the urine stains to remove the smell.

There are lots of commercial enzyme based products available that you can purchase in most pet stores, but they can be expensive and not always very effective in completely removing the urine odor. If you do not remove the smell completely, the cat will most likely continue to urinate in that spot over and over again for the simple fact that the area smells like their urine. If you are purchasing products to remove the urine smell and they are not effective, you may end up spending more money than you care to, only to be left with the same problem. There are homemade recipes available to remove cat urine smell from carpets that are often effective using products you probably already have in your home.

One effective method requires hot water, white vinegar, baking soda, 3% hydrogen peroxide and regular dish detergent. (do not use the kind you put in your dishwasher) Start by mixing one half white vinegar with one half hot water. You can either put this into a spray bottle, or just pour the mixture directly onto the cat urine stain and saturate the area. Allow this to sit for at least a few minutes or you can allow the area to dry.(using a blowdryer can speed up the drying process) If you choose not to let the area dry, make sure you blot area with paper towels until dry. The vinegar will neutralize the strong ammonia smell of the urine. The next step is to generously sprinkle the area with baking soda, making sure you use a good amount. The next step can be done with or without hydrogen peroxide but is more effective in killing bacteria that produce odor if you do use it.****Just make sure that you test an inconspicuous small area of your carpet with the hydrogen peroxide and let this area set overnight before applying to urine stains to make sure it will not bleach the color out of your carpet!**** If any distortion of the color of your carpet occurs with testing, do not use the hydrogen peroxide! Mix 1/3 cup of hydrogen peroxide with one teaspoon regular dish detergent and apply in a small amount on top of the baking soda, adding more of the mixture to form a paste with the baking soda. Then, use an old toothbrush to scrub the area thoroughly.(You can use your fingers to do this but if you do make sure you wear gloves) Allow the area to dry completely and then vaccum it up. For more persistent stains, you may need to repeat this process more than once to completely remove the cat urine smell from the carpet. Do not use any ammonia based products to clean the stained areas as urine also smells like ammonia and this will not deter your cat from continuing to go there. I recommend following up with an enzyme based commercial product to further treat the area and deter the cat from that area. **Keep in mind that it might not be possible to completely remove the urine smell from the carpet if the carpet has been severely urinated on or repeatedly urinated on. The longer the urine sits on the carpet, the further it will penetrate to the underlying surfaces such as the carpet backing, mat, and the wood floor below. If the carpet has been repeatedly used as a litterbox, you may need to remove the affected areas completely or even replace the carpet. Depending on the surface underneath the carpet, it too, may need to be replaced if the urine has penetrated it.**

Once you remove the cat urine smell from your carpet, you want to make sure you take the necessary steps to prevent your cat from doing this again. Once you have had your cat checked at the vet and any possible medical cause has been ruled out, you need to be attentive to your cat and make sure you clean out its litterbox on a daily basis. This is very important as cats are very clean animals and do not like a dirty litter box. If the box is offensive to them, they will find another place to go to the bathroom and your troubles will start all over again. If you know you keep a nice, clean litterbox, then try using a different type of cat litter. Perhaps the fragrance of your current brand is too strong or undesirable to your cat. Cat litters also come in a variety of textures and your cat may not like the texture of the cat litter you are using. If it is bothersome or irritating to the cats feet, they may not want to walk on it. This is especially true if your cat has been declawed as their feet are more sensitive. You can also try moving the litterbox to a more quiet and private area of your home. Cats like privacy too. You may also want to consider the litterbox you are using. If your cat is older or has arthritis, you want the box to not have high sides because it may be difficult or uncomfortable for a senior cat to step in and out of the box. All of these issues can be possible reasons why your cat has stopped using the litterbox. If you continue to have an issue with you cat urinating outside the litterbox, consult with your vet

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How To Help Your Cats Get Along With Each Other

Most new cat owners start by adopting one kitten into their family. This is especially helpful if you have never owned a cat before. Taking the time to learn about your new feline friend before deciding to adopt another one can be beneficial to allow you time to get to know more about cats. But, it can also be more difficult to introduce a new cat into the home once your first cat has claimed the house as theirs. If you own one cat, and decide to adopt another one, you must first learn how to help your cats get along with each other.


It is probably the easiest if your adopt two kittens at the same time. This way they both are introduced to their new home at the same time and at a young age. This way, one cat does not "claim" everything in the home as their own and then later have to learn how to share with a new cat. You must make sure you provide each cat with their own space, their own litter box, and their own toys and feeding areas. It is recommended that you also provide one additional litter box. Kittens that are around the same age, that are raised together, will have the best chance of getting along well with each other in the least amount of time. Always provide supervision to your new cats to make sure they will not fight with each other, and if they do fight, you will need to separate them and re-introduce them to each other slowly, and always with your supervision.

Many times, however, people will adopt only one kitten or cat and then later decide they would like to get another cat as a companion for their cat. This can be more difficult and will require patience and time. The way you handle bringing a new cat into your home will determine how well your cats get along with each other in the beginning. It can be helpful to confine your new cat to one room behind closed doors and let the cats find each other through scent with the protection of a door inbetween them. This way they can smell each other before they ever have eye contact. Once they have found each other through scent, you can attempt to introduce your new cat to the first cat. You must understand that your first cat will probably be intimidated by the new cat, and see it as a possible threat to its territory. Therefore it is important to supervise all contact until you feel the cats can be around each other without fighting. This may take a while and you may need to keep the new cat in its own room for a while they adjust to each other. If you have made several attempts to bring your cats together, and they continue to be hostile to each other, you may find it useful to contact your vet for additional suggestions. And remember, always have your new cat checked by the vet BEFORE exposing it to your first cat. Cats can have a variety of illnesses that they can pass to other cats through biting and scratching, and your new cat must get a clean bill of health from the vet before it gets together with your first cat. Otherwise you could be exposing your cat to illnesses that you wont even know the new cat may have.

Since cats are very independent, they generally dont like to share their personal possessions. It is important that each cat have their own space. If each cat has their own space, that will help them to get along with each other. They need their own toys, scratching posts, litter boxes, feeding areas etc...Anything you buy for one cat you must buy for the other as well. This way they wont feel that they need to fight over one area or favorite possession. You will find that most multiple cat household will have a cat that is considered dominant and the others more passive and the cats will decide this on their own. It may be easier to adopt one female and one male, as they may get along easier than same sex cats will. However, it is not impossible for same sex cats to get along, but it does require some patience and supervision on your part. Both of my cats are spayed females and it took them quite a while to get used to each other but eventually they have accepted each other and peacefully co-exist together. Two male cats may pose another frustrating problem which is urine spraying known as marking which is how they claim their property. Sometimes having them neutured will help with this problem but is not always a solution.

Make sure you do your homework before you decide to bring a new cat home. Knowledge is power and will help you make the right choices for you and your cats. It may not be a good idea to bring a new young kitten into a home where you have an older or elderly cat. It may be too stressful for your older cat, especially if the cat is not used to being around other cats. If you have an older cat, it may be better to adopt another older cat. Kittens are full of energy and your older cat may not adjust well to a young cat or kitten. Consider the age and temperment of your cat when you are thinking of adopting another one.

Take time with your decision and read up on what other people suggest. Find out about other people's experiences with multiple cat households and talk to your vet. Your vet will be most familiar with your first cat and can be a valuable source of recommendations for you. If you take the time to learn and obtain other's advice it will help you choose what type of cat would be best suited for your first cat. This knowledge will help you and your cats get along with each other and make for a happy mulitple cat household

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How To Stop Cats From Fighting With Each Other

Once you have decided you want to adopt a cat, you should consider a few important factors. Do you already own a cat and want to add another cat to your family or is this the first cat you will add to your family? If you already own a cat, you need to consider how this cat would react to a new member of the household. If the cat you own is an older cat, it may not like the idea of a new cat around, or if you are adopting a kitten, your older cat may not want a young and full of energy kitten bothering him. You must take into consideration how you think your first cat will respond to the new cat. Is your cat young enough to tolerate a new kitten? Does your cat have a good amount of energy to play with a new kitten? Or does your cat prefer to be left alone? Nobody can really know for sure how two or more cats will get along with each other, but if you look closely at your cats personality, you may be able to determine how your cat would respond to a new cat. If you dont consider this, you might find yourself researching how to stop cats from fighting with each other.


The best way to stop cats from fighting with each other is to avoid getting into this situation in the first place. If you already own a cat and are looking to adopt another one, consider adopting a cat that is closer to the other cats age. This way you are pairing up two cats of similar age and energy levels. This is important because if you have an older cat, it might not have the desire or energy level to be playing with a kitten all the time, and the kitten would more than likely aggrevate the older cat and this could be a cause for your cats to fight with each other. If your first cat has been the only cat in the house for an extended period of time, it may feel threatened by a new cat and could become a reason for the cats to fight with each other. If you are going to introduce a new cat into your home, there are some steps you can take to help stop cats from fighting with each other before it even starts.

The first thing you should do before introducing a new cat to an already existing cat is to have the cat checked out by your vet before exposing it to your cat. Cats can carry diseases and you will want the new cat to have a clean bill of health before it is introduced to your cat. Otherwise you run the risk of exposing your first cat to potentially harmful or deadly diseases that can be transmitted when cats fight, bite or scratch each other. Your vet is also a valuable source of information, helpful hints and suggestions that can help you introduce the cats to stop the cats from fighting with each other before it even happens. Once you have a clean bill of health for your new cat, you can work on slowly introducing the new cat. One way to do this is to keep the new cat in a separate room behind closed doors with its own food, water, litterbox etc. Your first cat will smell the new cat under the door and this can help them get used to each others scent and let your first cat know another cat is present without them actually coming into direct contact right away.

After the cats have identified each other through scent, and this may take a while, you will want them to slowly become introduced to each other in short, supervised sessions. If the cats hit it off right away, you can be more liberal about the amount of time they spend together. But more often than not, there will be some tension between the cats until they get used to each other. Supervising the cats together at first is important so you can immediately stop the cats from fighting with each other if it occurs. I found it useful to have a spray bottle of water readily available during all cat interactions so that if a cat fight occurs, spraying them with water is often a good way to break up the fight without risking you getting bit and scratched trying to separate them. Do not attempt to stop a cat fight by getting directly involved with it. Use the spray bottle of water to separate the cats. You must be patient while your cats are getting used to each other and you may need to keep them separated for a while. Feeding the cats on opposite sides of a closed door is also helpful in bringing them together without the risk of a fight and this can help them associate food with each others scent.

Another good way to stop cats from fighting with each other is to make sure each cat has their own personal possessions. Each cat should have its own food bowls, water bowls, litterbox, toys, beds etc...If you attempt to make them share, you are just encouraging a fight to occur. Cats are independent and generally do not like to share and by providing each cat with its own belongings you are reducing the risk of a cat fight over an object. Make sure they each have their own separate eating and sleeping areas, and their own scratching posts and toys. You should always have a litterbox for each cat plus one additional box available.

There are also pheromone sprays available to help stop cats from fighting with each other. You can purchase these type sprays in pet stores and online and it works by reducing cat stress, and helps to soothe a stressed out cat. Just make sure you read the instructions on the bottle and follow recommended usage by the manufacturer. Keep in mind that this does not always work, but can be worth a try. I recommend discussing the use of pheromones with your vet before you use it as he can provide more detailed information and helpful hints to make sure you use the product correctly.

You also must understand that your cats are going to have to work out the problems between them. In multiple cat households there is usually always one cat who is dominant, and the other submissive and this is usually determined by the cats themselves. There will likely be confrontations between the cats, and this is not always avoidable. Little disagreements will occur as the cats adjust to each other and set boundaries and limitations, but you do want to avoid full blown cat fights to reduce the risk of them injuring each other. Be attentive to your cats behavior, and you will soon recognize when a cat is looking to play or looking to fight, etc...and you will be able to redirect unwanted behavior before it starts. Always reward your cat's good behavior with treats or something they enjoy as positive reinforcement for them being together and not fighting.

These types of approaches can help stop cats from fighting with each other. But, remember that you will need to be patient. A happy mulitple cat household usually does not happen over night and will require effort on your part. It may take some time before your cats peacefully exist together, but it can happen with a little help from you. If you have tried everything, and nothing seems to stop your cats from fighting with each other, I recommend you contact your vet for further assistance

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How To Properly Clean Your Cat Litter Box

Owning a cat is truly a rewarding experience. Cats bring so much love and companionship into any family and are less demanding of your time compared to other pets. However, one very important aspect of owning a cat, and one that is not quite as attractive, is cleaning its litter box. Keeping your cats litter box clean is very important for many different reasons, and if you learn how to properly clean your cat litter box, you can avoid your cat developing behavior problems associated with a dirty litter box.



Cats are very clean animals and they want their belongings to be clean as well. This is especially true when it comes to your cats litter box. If you do not take the time to properly clean your cat litter box, you may find that your cat will prefer to go to the bathroom in other places of your home. There is nothing worse than cat urine smell, and if your cat decides to urinate on your flooring or carpet, it can do irreversible damage. One of the most preventable reasons your cat may decide to stop using its litter box is the box is not clean and appealing to the cat. Keep in mind, however, that if your cat suddenly stops using its litter box, there may be a medical reason behind it. The first step any cat owner should take if the cat suddenly stops using its litter box is to bring the cat to the vet for an exam. Cats often get urinary tract infections which are painful, and the cat will associate that discomfort with its litter box and stop using it. Strange behavioral problems in cats often are a sign of some kind of medical issue. Consider it your cats way of trying to tell you something is wrong. Once you have eliminated any illness as a possible cause, then you should consider whether or not you properly clean the cat litter box.

Any cat litter box should be cleaned out on a daily basis with a litter scoop, making sure you remove all urine and feces from the box, and doing this every single day is an absolute must. Make sure you are using enough cat litter for the cat to feel comfortable, which is usually two or three inches deep worth of cat litter. Then, as you clean the box, you will need to replace with clean cat litter to keep the level of litter appropriate. In addition to scooping the box out daily, you should completely empty the litter box on a weekly basis, or at the very least, every two weeks, and clean the box itself with soap and hot water, rinse and dry thoroughly and refill with new cat litter. This will help prevent any unwanted odors from occuring. You shouldn't need to use anything stronger than soap and hot water as this will effectively clean the litter box. These steps ensure you are properly cleaning your cat litter box, and while it may seem like a lot of work, it is well worth it to help prevent your cat from urinating or pooping outside the litter box.

If you properly clean your cat litter box, and you still smell unwanted odors coming from the box, consider the kind of cat litter you are using. All cat litter is not the same, and often, you get what you pay for. Try switching to a different brand of litter, the kind that clumps is often the most effective, as it clumps together the urine making it much easier to remove all the soiled litter. You can also try using a cat litter box deodorizer that contains baking soda, as it is also effective at reducing odor from the litter. It is simple to use, just sprinkle onto the cat litter and mix it up a bit. Make sure you follow the manufacturers directions to make sure you are using it safely and correctly.

If you properly clean your cat litter box, you can reduce the chances of your cat finding the litter box unappealing which may lead to urinating or pooping outside the litterbox. Prevention is key because removing cat urine smell from hardwood floors or carpet can be difficult and once the urine smell is there, the cat will likely continue to go in the same spot simply because it smells like urine. Help to avoid this altogether by properly cleaning your cat litter box. Your home will smell fresh and your cat will thank you for it as well

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Adopting a cat is definitely a worthwhile experience

Adopting a cat is definitely a worthwhile experience. Cats are a unique species, with their own behavior, quirks, temperaments and lifestyles. Many cats are very affectionate and loving and don't require much effort to develop a strong, lifetime bond. However, not all cats have the same temperament and some cats are more friendly than others. If you have adopted a cat who is not as loving as you would like, you need to learn how to bond with a cat to strengthen your relationship with your cat.


If you are wondering how to bond with a cat, you are not alone. There are many cats that will require more effort to help develop the loving relationship that you want. Cats are naturally independent creatures, and are not as needy as dogs are. But, they can certainly be just as affectionate as dogs, but with some cats, it will require your effort. If you live with a cat who you feel just can't be bothered with you, don't worry, there are things you can do to change this. The first thing you want to do to help strengthen your bond with your cat is to spend lots of time with the animal. Try sitting on the floor with your cat as being at the same level with your cat helps the cat feel equal to you. When you stand, you tower over your cat, which can be intimidating. Sitting on the floor with your cat helps to make them feel like you are at their level, which in turn helps make you more approachable. Find out what types of treats your cat really enjoys and then have them available to you, in your pocket or hand, and reward your cat when it demonstrates the behavior you are looking for. This type of positive reinforcement is quite effective and encourages the cat to continue with this behavior.

Another good way to bond with a cat is to groom your cat on a daily basis. Most cats love to be brushed, and this is important for several reasons. Most cats find being brushed as relaxing and affectionate behavior from you will help encourage the same behavior with your cat. It is important to begin brushing your cat when it is just a kitten, or as soon as you can after adopting so the cat learns that brushing is a desired activity. Some cats who have never been brushed, end up not liking it, and once this happens it is difficult to reverse this thought process. Sit on the floor with your cat while you are brushing it, and again, give treats for desired behavior. Not only does brushing your cat daily strongly help with developing a bond with a cat, but it also proves to be a great way to prevent hairballs in your feline friend. Brushing is a great way to significantly reduce the amount of hair your cat ingests, and in turn, reduces the number of hairballs your cat will experience.  This is especially important if your cat is medium or long haired. Brushing your cat not only helps you develop a bond with a cat, but it also helps keep your cats coat healthy and shiny, reduces hairballs, and provides a relaxing experience for your cat. And don't forget, cats with  long fur are going to get older, and often when a cat gets older, it becomes more difficult for them to groom effectively and often hair mats are the result. If you get your cat into a brushing routine, you can also prevent hair mats from forming.

Playing with your cat is another great way to bond with a cat. You want to offer your cat lots of different types of toys to play with, including toys that involve you playing with your cat. Fishing pole type toys are fun because it provides good exercise and stimulation for your cat while you are actively involved in the play session. They have toys that are attached to a plastic pole that you dangle off the ground for your cat to jump and swat at. These types of toys are great for people because they do not require your hands being involved in the play, which reduces the chances of you getting scratched. Just remember that no matter what type of toy your cat plays with, it should be supervised to make sure your cat has a safe experience. Cats tend to swallow things like string, yarn, etc...which can cause obstructions which are a true medical emergency. Never give your cats toys that have small removable parts, string or yarn or other objects that can be easily swallowed. Please refer to my other article on choosing safe cat toys for more information. If you have been wondering how to bond with a cat, play is a great way to strengthen your loving relationship.

You will also need to understand about cat behavior, and why cats do what they do. You can't force a cat to be affectionate. Some cats just don't like to be held, it makes them feel anxious and vulnerable. You can try to get them more used to being held by picking them up on a daily basis, and it also helps to give them a treat while you are holding them, as a reward. But, if the cat is struggling to get away from you, don't try to continue to hold them as you will likely get scratched or even worse, bit. Let the cat go and then try again at a later time. It is also easier to hold your cat while you are sitting on the floor with them. You are less intimidating when you are at the cats level, and this will help reduce any anxiety the cat may be feeling. It is always easier to bond with a cat if you start when they are a kitten. This way they get used to certain activities, and they learn that these activities are a part of their normal routine. Start holding your cat, brushing, grooming and have your cat sit on your lap beginning at a young age and your cat will be more likely to enjoy these activities with you.

If you have a cat that always prefers to be in another room that you, trying going and getting your cat, pick them up and carry them into the room where you want them to be. Some cats just need a little encouragement from you. This helps to make the cat feel like they matter to you, and often you will find that the cat will then stay with you in the room you are in. Sometimes they will run back to where you got them from, but I have found that being persistent and going and getting the cat again and bring them back into the room you want them to be in does work. And again, provide positive reinforcement such as treats or a favorite toy to reward the desired behavior. But, remember, cats do like to be alone sometimes. You may find this technique works sometimes but not others. If your cat just wants to be alone sometimes, that is ok and you should allow the space your cat wants.

It may take some effort from you but if you learn techniques on how to bond with a cat, and practice them on a daily basis, it shouldn't take too long for your cat to respond favorably to you. If your cat continues to isolate itself from you, or just doesn't want to be bothered, call your vet and talk to them. You may need to bring your cat in for a vet exam to eliminate any medical issue as a cause. But, when a medical issue has been eliminated as a possible cause, it will just take your time, patience, and effort to strengthen the bond with your cat. You will find your efforts rewarding when you see the response from your cat that you are looking for, and the bond between you and your cat will just continue to grow

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