When Cats Scratch Everything – Tips For Prevention

Your home has cat towers and even a cat tree with sisal rope scratchers & a cat playhouse. It seems as though you have tried almost everything you could find on how to stop your cat from destructive scratching, but nothing works. Don’t ever give up! There are some tricks you can use to help your beloved feline family member stay a happy permanent part of your home & stop the inappropriate cat scratching.

Cat Scratch Prevention Tips

1. Are your cat’s nails clipped on a regular basis? Keeping your kitty’s nails short may help to avoid destroying your chairs and sofa. Almost any groomer or vet can demonstrate to you how to clip its nails. You may schedule trips to a groomer about every 2 weeks or so. Initially your cat might not enjoy it but as time goes by it will become a routine. 2. Some people swear by a product called Feliway, which may be purchased online or at a pet store. This is a pheromone which occurs naturally and calms most cat. It is available in a wide variety of form including plug in, spray or even small spritz bottles for a cat condo or lounger.

3. How about Bach’s Rescue Remedy? This product features essential oils which are used for calming humans as well as animals. A specific blend is available for animals which contains no alcohol. 4. There is also a product called Soft Claws which works similar to a sheath. It is used with super glue by placing the claw sheath right over the cat’s claw & grows out naturally in around 2 to 3 weeks. Many colors are available! A last resort is to call a Cat Behaviorist for help. These people are highly trained in cat psychology and will know the different methods to try. They interview you and observe your cat to devise a plan for your success.

 

Whatever your choice may be, please don’t ever declaw your feline. Declawing is a soft, misleading word for the inhumane amputation of your cat’s first paw joint. It is extremely painful and may result in many other bad cat behaviors which you definitely will not want to experience. You love your cat as a member of your family & should try everything humane you can to be successful & stop your cat from destructive scratching.

Adopting A New Kitten

Before you get a kitten, it is best to have all the things that you will need. This includes cat food, a litter box, cat litter, a cat tower or scratching post & cat toys. This way you will be completely prepared for your new feline’s arrival. Have everything all ready for the kitten to use right away in its designated place to help it get settled in more easily.

Make sure to pick a high quality food made especially for kittens. They need additional nutrients as compared to adult cats, so please don’t try feeding it adult food.

Pick a healthy kitten that has a shiny coat & clear eyes. Also you can choose one which is outgoing, friendly & doesn’t mind being held and played with.

It is best for the kitten to ride home in a cat carrier. This helps it get used to the carrier & keeps it more calm by giving it feeling of security. I remember when I picked up my kitten Tojo, he was in a cardboard box. He kept meowing sadly and I felt sorry for him so I let him out of the box. He proceeded to climb & claw my neck and the back of my head. I almost wrecked my car, so back in the box he went.

Also schedule an appointment with your vet as soon as possible for your kitten. It will need all the standard shots & worming as well as a thorough check for any additional problems.

Feed your new kitten a minimum of 3 times each day up til 6 months of age. If you go to work in the daytime, you may feed before you leave for work, as soon as you get home & before bedtime. And please never give people food to a kitten, they may not be able to tolerate the artificial additives.

Kittens don’t have the same quantity or strength of teeth like adult cats do so feed them moistened dry or canned food. Canned food will be easier for the kitten to digest.

You may begin training your new kitten to scratch on its post several times each day. It can be made more attractive with catnip. If your cat scratches your furniture, let it know that it is off limits (please don’t spank or yell at) take it to and gently place the paws on its cat tower or scratching post. It should eventually get the idea.

Even though cats will sleep pretty much anywhere, you can provide the kitten with a nice, soft place for sleeping. An old blanket or towel inside a box should be sufficient.

Calmly & gently set your boundaries for the kitten. They are similar to kids as they try their luck to get away with as much as they can. Common mischievious kitten behaviors include biting, scratching, jumping onto kitchen counters and tables, scratching furniture & shredding curtains. When your kitten becomes naughty, stop it and ‘no’ (again, do not yell) & move it to a different area. It is usually easier training kittens than adult cats, so when you set boundaries while the cat is young saves you from frustration in the years to come.

Baby or pet gates can be a useful asset to protecting kittens from dogs or other pets. You may place your gate inside a doorway giving the kitten enough room to fit underneath while the dogs stay behind. Don’t forget to leave some toys for your kitten to play with while you’re not there.

Handle your new feline family member a lot. When kittens are handled frequently when they are young, it helps them to enjoy and expect it. They will be more likely to be affectionate adult cats that love cuddling and stroking. Always handle your new kitten very gently. If there are young children in your household, it will be best to supervise them initially to be certain that accidental injuries do not occur.

You may want to get the kitten used to everyday grooming, bathing and cleaning the ears & eyes. If it is comfortable with this as a kitten, then you will probably have fewer problems when it becomes an adult.

Safely begin introductions to everyday places & things that will be a part of its world ASAP. This can include other pet, kids, people, car travel, etc. This method will turn the kitten into a happy, confident and adaptable adult feline.

Some kittens may try and get everything they want with constant meowing. If you give in to this behavior, your kitten might transform into a vocal adult that drives you nuckin’ futs with the constant annoying demands.

Keep your new kitten safe from being frightened. Tormenting by kids or a loud barking dog can have extremely negative effects on him. Unpleasant kitten experiences may increase the chance for the kitten become nervous and mistrusting as an adult.

Remember that kittens are babies with tons of energy. There will be some amount of destruction and mayhem even with discipline, but in the end a loving feline companion is worth the effort.

Aggression Between Cats

Many cat owners bring in a 2nd cat and expect the existing cat to be happy. This may be a dangerous decision that can impact both felines as well as your entire household. Just remember to be careful around fighting felines; they can attack anything they come close to including people.

Are you thinking about adding another cat to your household? Or maybe you already have. In either case, there are some very important cat aggression facts to consider and what might be the cause of them.

When a cat feels that their territory has been invaded they may exhibit what is called territorial aggression. The cat may express this toward another cat or even another pet, while they will be perfectly fine with others. Problems often surface when the new cat is introduced into the household, young kittens reach adulthood or if the cat encounters or sees other cats outside. Some typical behaviors include ambushing, chasing, stalking, hissing, swatting, loud meowing & preventing entry to places like litter boxes or bedrooms. Female cats may also exhibit territorial behavior just like male cats.

Another type of aggressive behavior is called inter male aggression. This happens when adult male felines threaten & sometimes fight other males, and occurs more frequently among cats that have not been neutered. They might fight over females, to gain authority in a pecking order or for territorial defense.

In a feline confrontation, if one of the cats backs down & leaves this will usually be the end of it. If not the cats may actually start fighting. I’ve seen a lot of cat fights and I remember these 2 cats were fighting in the middle of the street I was driving down and I had to go around them. They can get pretty fierce and loud. If you see a fight or think that a fight is about to happen, you can distract them by whistling, clapping, throwing objects near them or spraying water. Just remember never to try to physically grab any fighting cat, as you will probably get torn a new one!

A third type known as defensive aggression may occur when cats try to protect themselves from other animals or a human threat they believe they won’t escape. Some of the causes may be punishment for certain behaviors (including the threat of a punishment), being attacked or feeling threatened by another cat, or any other incident which makes it feel afraid or unsafe.

You can read a cat’s defensive body language by recognizing some of the postures they show such as crouching with the legs & tail pulled in underneath its body, flattened ears down against the side / back of the head, or rolling to the side slightly. If you approach a cat while it is exhibiting these types of posture you may possibly cause an avoidable attack.

When a cat lashes out towards other animals or people who aren’t responsible for the initiating the behavior it is called redirected aggression. For instance, your cat may be sitting in front of the screen door and a cat walks across your driveway. Your feline may become very agitated at the other cat invading its territory. If you try to pet it you may get bitten or scratched as the cat is so wound up that it attacks anything that comes too close.

Oftentimes cats won’t show health problems or illness unless it becomes seriously bad. Your aggressive feline may not be feeling well & take out its frustration out you or other animals. The only way to really be sure if this is the issue is to have an examination by your veterinarian. If your kitty checks out healthy you may consult an animal behaviorist for help, then they can give you advice on what you can do.

To prevent your cats from fighting while you address the issues you can try keeping your cats separated or prevent contact between cats if a risky, fight triggering situation presents itself. Neuter and spay all of your cats because it only takes one to cause problems with the others.

Don’t wait for your cats to make things work because if more fighting occurs problem is more than likely to get worse.

Don’t touch fighting cats or you could get seriously bitten and scratched. Get medical attention for injuries, especially deep bites as they can become easily infected.

Don’t dish out punishment to the cats because this may cause increased aggression and fear which aggravates the problem.

Don’t add additional cats to your household. Some cats will share their territory with other cats, but as more cats share territory, the risk increases that the cats won’t tolerate each other.

Well socialized cats such as ones that have had good experiences around other cats while they were kittens will usually be less aggressive than ones who have not been exposed to other cats. It may be a good idea to get your multiple cat family when they are still very young to reduce the chances of aggressive cat behavior.

Keeping Your Cat Safe From Predators

Wildlife is continuously being displaced from their natural habitat by human encroachment. Predators such as coyotes, mountain lions, and even bears are venturing into urban areas to look for food. Housing development & destruction to their natural habitat such as flooding and wildfires are forcing these animals to seek out new territories.

Coyotes seem to be the most common threat to cats because of their staggering numbers and the fact that they can be found virtually anywhere in the US, Canada & Mexico. Even if you haven’t seen one in your area, it would be naive to assume that your kitty is totally safe from becoming a midnight snack. Coyotes can have a territorial range radius of approximately 12 miles. While they are mostly nocturnal in nature, they can go hunting at any time of the day. They are also extremely opportunistic and take advantage of our behaviors which provide easy sources of food & water for them.

There are things every pet owner can do to keep their cat, dog and even human family members safer from predators while maintaining more peaceful coexistence with them. It is the least we can do for wild animals that we have invaded and disturbed in their natural habitat.

Preventative maintenance goes a long way in deterring a hungry predator and should be a conscious, daily decision making process which involves understanding the acute sensory perception these animals possess.

The smell of cat or dog food on outside on your patio or in your yard would be an enticing easy meal for almost any wild animal, and it can be detected for long distances, especially if the animal is downwind from you. Even if you take the food dish inside at night, food tends to be scattered while your pet is eating and the owners occasionally spill some so it may be advisable to have feeding indoors.

Any food source close to your home can attract predators such as fruit on the ground, kitchen trash left outside overnight, a compost pile and let’s not forget our pet rabbits in the backyard cage. Here’s a perfect scenario: A vegetable garden with a variety of tasty treats right next to a bird bath or fish pond! There would probably be ground hogs, rabbits and other predator staple foods running around in the area as well, so this would be a virtual smorgasbord for a coyote (drinks included!). Believe it or not, they are even attracted to bird feeders so hang them up high.

The best way to protect your pet is to keep it inside, but any cat I have ever owned would drive me crazy if it couldn’t go outside. Even while inside your fenced in yard pets are not totally safe so give yourself the highest advantage for predator detection by taking some simple steps.

Keep pets on a leash even in the yard as the smaller morsels can provide an easy snack for the traveling hunter. Nearby trees are a good escape for a cat, but lower vegetation such as shrubs and bushes can provide excellent small animal habitat, so it may be a good idea to thin out or remove. These also give a hiding place for predators.

For your cat you may consider putting in cat posts which are 7+ feet tall usually with a cat perch on top. It should be made easy for the feline to climb by wrapping it with carpet or rope if there is no natural wood bark covering it. This way your cat can escape and wait out the danger.

If you actually see or are approached by a coyote there are some important things to NEVER do:

If it is 60 feet or closer you must never run away – and never turn your back away; you will be prey in the predator’s eyes & they may chase you. They can run at over 40+ miles per hour and jump 6 feet in the air with no problem.
NEVER throw food to them. If you feed a coyote it loses its fear of humans, and this becomes extremely dangerous. It may not affect you, but a child or other pet owner might end up being a victim.

As a last resort you can try walking backwards slowly without turning your back towards a safer place such as your house, car, a busy road or where there are more people.

To have a safer existence with nature takes some work, thought and concern for animals in general. If we don’t make a conscious effort toward this goal, an increased risk presents itself for harm to bestow itself upon all humans and animals involved.

Declawing Cats

Declawing cats is a controversial topic which can arouse strong emotions among cat owners. Many people think that it is unnecessary and cruel, and there are others who believe that it is acceptable in some circumstances.

Often people mistakenly believe that declawing cats will be an easy fix for nuisance scratching behavior. They might not realize the fact that cat declawing may cause a lack of litter box usage or biting to occur more frequently.

People that are concerned about scratches, especially if they have bleeding disorders or immune deficiencies, may mistakenly conclude that they will be safer with declawing. Specialists in infectious disease do not recommend declawing. Any health risk due to scratches is lower than those caused by cat litter, bites or fleas from their cats.

When cats begin to scratch they are usually around 8 weeks of age. It’s the perfect time for training kittens to scratch a post & to tolerate nail trimming. Veterinarians should not use declawing as a routine prevention measure for problem scratching.The declawing procedure may lead to a whole new set of cat behavior issues which may result in more difficult problems than shredding your furniture.

Most people don’t understand the full scope of the declawing surgery procedure. It involves much more than simply removing the cat’s nails and it is much more complicated and painful than trimming your own fingernails.

The traditional declawing procedure typically involves amputating the last bone on each of the cat’s toe. If it was performed on you, the equivalent would be removing each of your fingers after your last knuckle.

The details are particularly brutal with the amputation being performed using a guillotine clipper or scalpel. The cat’s wounds are secured with surgical glue or stitches while feet are wrapped in bandages.

Laser surgery may also be used and involves a small, intense light beam which slices through the delicate tissue by heat and vaporization. The main concern still remains as the toe bone amputation & presents a long term risk including behavioral problems and lameness, the same as using clippers or scalpels.

There is another declawing procedure called a tendonectomy, where the specific tendon which controls each claw for every toe is cut. This will allow the cat to keeps its claws, but won’t be able to control them and extend them for scratching. A procedure of this kind is connected to high incidences of thick, abnormal claw growth. Your cat will need challenging and frequent nail trimming to prevent their claws from getting caught on furniture, carpet, drapes and people or to prevent them from growing into your kitty’s paw pad.

Due to complications a tendonectomy could also result in declawing. Although amputation is not involved in a tendonectomy, incidences of infection, lameness, and bleeding was similar to declawing.

Declawing can present many medical complications including tissue necrosis, infection, pain, back pain and lameness. Claw removal changes how your cat’s foot engages the ground & may cause pain which is comparable to wearing uncomfortable shoes. There may also be a regrowth of claws removed improperly, bone spurs and nerve damage.

After the surgery, shredded newspapers are typically placed in the cat’s litter box so the declawed feet won’t be irritated. Your cat may not like the unfamiliar substitute which is accompanied with pain while trying to dig. The cat might quit using its litter box altogether. Some may also become a biter due to the absence of claws to defend themselves.

Scratching is totally normal behavior for cats and isn’t because they want to destroy your favorite furniture or get even with you. Cats need to scratch so they can remove dead claw husks, mark their territory & stretch muscles. The US Humane Society is opposed to declawing except in rare cases where it is crucial for medical reasons such as removing a cancer laden nail bed tumor.

There are some solutions you may implement as alternatives to declawing.

• Get a cat scratching post or cat tower. There are different materials covering these items such as wood, sisal and carpet that your cat will enjoy scratching. Catnip and toys cab also be used to entice your feline to use them • Keep your cat’s claws neatly trimmed to avoid damage to furniture and other items in your home • Special tape used on furniture can deter cats from scratching an item or area that is off limits • Consult a veterinarian about using soft caps made out of plastic which are glued directly to your cat’s nails. You will need to replace them about every 5 – 6 weeks

A tendonectomy or declawing should only be utilized for rare cases where the cat has medical problems that justify surgery like removing a cancer laden nail bed tumor.

Declawing is unnecessary and provides the cat with no medical benefits. Educated pet owners can train their pets easily to only use claws in an appropriate way which allows everybody in your home to live happily together.

Aggressive Cat Behavior

Aggressive behavior seen in cats is most often defensive & rooted in the cat feeling the need for self protection. It is not considered offensive aggression, though many cats may attack with an offensive nature, but it is not very common. If a cat is cornered and frightened, it will almost always exhibit aggressive behavior.

Any wild animal can display aggression in order to guard families, their territory or for self protection when attacked. Aggressive behavior may reference a large variety of complicated behaviors which happen for many reasons under different situations. Pet aggression issues for cats can range from hissing & avoiding to aggressive attacks.

Understanding what your cat communicates through body language is critical for cat owners. It allows you to better read & understand your cat’s feelings and motivation for their actions. It can also help you respond to them effectively for behavioral aggression issues. Body language includes body posture, facial expression & body part positioning for the tail, ears and whiskers. A cat’s body language tends to be more subtle than a dog’s & may be more difficult to interpret. Understanding basic posture meanings will help you deal with your cat’s aggression problems better & enjoy their presence more because you will both know a common language.

Offensively aggressive cats try to appear larger & intimidating, but a defensively aggressive feline will take a self protection posture and try to look smaller. It is usually best not to touch or attempt to punish or approach cats with these postures.

Defensive
• Crouching
• Head tucked down or in
• Curved tail around body & tucked in
• Wide dilated eyes
• Ears flattened backward or sideways
• Retracted whiskers
• Whiskers extended forward more than normal
• Sideways stance to target
• Hissing with an open mouth
• Front paw strikes with extended claws

Offensive
• Straight legged, stiff and upright
• Stiff hind legs – back end raised with its back sloping down toward head
• Stiff tail – lowered or positioned straight down
• Direct staring
• Upright ears – back of ears rotated forward slightly
• Raised tail fur
• Constricted pupils
• Direct facing – movement toward target
• Growling or mean, deep meowing

While a kitten is learning socialization, they learn to trust and relate to people. Trust must be adequate enough so it overcomes the natural fear & avoidance behavior present in cats that have only lived in the wild. Felines who do not have a primary socialization experience during its 3 – 9 week age range might never adjust well & always have some amount of anxiety in a confrontation with someone they don’t know.

Many instances of unexplained aggression may be triggered by environmental stress which leads to an increase in fear. A cat in distress might suddenly attack other cats or nearby people, even if they had nothing to do with the situation. Cats that have just had a fight might be ok with one particular person, but attack others that approach too closely (displaced aggression).

Many cats that are rubbed on their bellies, or along their backs toward the tail suddenly turn and attack. Most cats love petting while others don’t. Some cats like to be petted just for a short while, and they will exhibit body language when they have had enough (walking away, moving the head out of the way, ears flattening). Aggressive behavior is usually preceded with signals such as a lashing tail, twitching skin (usually on the back), ears back, tail twitching, whiskers protruding forward, or maybe vocalization which signals you that it is time to stop before your cat lashes out.

Felines who develop thyroid problems may often be aggressive. Physical stress and hunger might cause irritable behaviors as will pain (cats that have hip dysplasia might lash out when their hip is petted). It is a good idea to have your vet perform a complete physical examination including blood work for aggressive cats, especially when there is a big change in its behavior.

Inadequately socialized cats should not be restrained from retreating a threatening situation & not forced into confrontation for situations which cause its anxiety. Cats that are great around one particular person make great companions but should be watched closely around strangers, especially kids.

Cat Spraying Behavior Problems

Cat spraying which also known as urine marking in very inappropriate places is probably the #1 most frustrating cat behavior problem. Unfortunately, it is also the most common feline behavioral issue which results in finding a new home or even euthanasia. In a large number of cases the cause is behavioral, but sometimes there are medical issues which are to blame.

In most instances, urine spraying may either be eliminated or prevented. Similar to other feline behavior problems, reasons are present which identify a cat begins to spray. Identifying what the cause is should the most important step to finding an adequate solution.Why do cats spray in the first place? Spraying urine is normal & natural cat behavior. This is how cats convey their sexual and territorial messages so other cats can read them. Tomcats will spray, but female cats will also spray when they are in heat to spread the news that she is ready to mate.

If you have a cat that urinates outside its litter box, you may take it to a veterinarian to be checked for underlying medical conditions before you determine that the spraying is caused behavior problems. In addition to completing a physical examination, you may request a blood count, blood chemistry panel & urinalysis. There are other tests like radiographs which use a special dye to reveal its urinary tract, which may also be helpful. If the underlying condition presents itself to be causing your cat’s inappropriate spraying, the problem should be medically treated & his response to that treatment should be monitored closely.

There are some common medical disorders which may be responsible for your cat to avoid its litter box. Bacterial bladder infections known as bacterial cystitis are common in many cats. (In other more rare occasions, infections may be caused by fungus as opposed to bacteria.) As the infection causes the bladder to become inflamed, infected cats feel a constant impulse to urinate. Their urge to urinate might be so intense that it urinates only small amounts very frequently, usually often before it reaches the litter box. With certain conditions, such as bladder stones or tumors there will be defects to the bladder’s shape. Diabetes may also make a bladder infection more likely to happen. A female cat is more probable to be affected as opposed to a male cat.

Cats which suffer from a bacterial cystitis infection may frequently squat to urinate but they only produce a small quantity. They may continue straining even when they are finished urinating & they may meow intensely while they strain. The urine might appear as a red color because of the blood content. They may also exhibit signs such as lack of appetite, hiding or lethargy.

A proper diagnosis is accomplished by a cat urine test for a red blood cell, white blood cell and bacterial presence. In many cases your veterinarian might have the sample lab tested to pinpoint specific bacteria responsible to prescribe the best therapy. Once the diagnosis is made for your cat, antibiotics may be administered for several weeks. If your cat’s infection returns, your vet may perform special testing such as radiographs & dye studies to search for additional causes for your kitty’s cystitis. Once the medical problem is treated you might still have to retrain the cat to re-establish its normal litter box usage patterns.

Neutered cats have some most common causes for spraying which are competition & disputes over territory between cats especially in multi-cat homes. The more cats in a household, the higher your probability is that 1 or more felines will start spraying at any given time. Insecurity and stress may also be a cause. For example, if you move into a new home, the birth of a baby, getting another pet or situations that make your cat feel insecure and unsafe may cause it to ‘reinforce its territory’ which results in spraying.

It is extremely important to never punish a cat hitting or kicking it, or by dragging it to its litter box or sticking the nose in excrements. This will only make matters much, much worse. Your cat won’t associate punishment with the spraying, and may even come to resent you. A spraying cat may be its way of asking for help, so please take care of your feline family members!

Cat Parasites And Treatment Options

Intestinal parasites known as worms can cause serious health problems in any cat or kitten. These types of parasites are among most highly common in outdoor cats, but can also be present with indoor cats especially if they venture outside.

There are actually many different kinds of worm parasites which infect felines. The most prominent intestinal parasite in felines for the US are tapeworms, roundworms & hookworms. These parasites may infect kittens by feeding from an infected mother cat so it is extremely important for kittens to be treated with medication for de-worming while they are kittens.

Cats may also be infected with worms by ingesting larvae or eggs from soil, the environment & by ingesting infected animals they prey on like squirrels and mice. Tapeworms may infect cats by ingesting tapeworm segments which contain eggs through tissues & intestines in animals they eat.They can also ingest infected fleas. Every cat that has tapeworms needs to be carefully examined to see if they have fleas, especially in humid, lush environments.

Cats that are infected may exhibit the following symptoms – lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, respiratory problems, anemia, weight loss & enlarged bellies. A feline may never actually show any symptoms, while others will be obviously sick. You might see worms in vomit, feces or protruding from the backend (I know it sounds disgusting but if you care about your cat you need to pay close attention). They may even drag their butts over carpets, rugs or other rough surfaces.

There are several medications readily available to effectively treat worm type parasites. The treatment will usually include one treatment that is followed up with several others to eradicate immature worms which remain. There are various medications to treat different types of worms, so if you think they are infected please call your veterinarian immediately as over the counter medicines don’t usually work.

The most effective method for your cat to avoid worms is to keep them inside. Outdoor cats also need to have de-worming treatments on a regular basis to kill the parasites & should also undergo flea preventative treatments which you can purchase from your local vet. These parasites may also infect humans, so it becomes even more imperative to prevent infection especially in families that have young kids & family members with immune deficiencies.

Worms can be present in various different development stages in your kitty, so typically you may require multiple treatments to completely clear the infestation. Keep in mind that many parasites will be reside permanently in certain environments and will continue to infect your feline repeatedly. Continuous parasite monitoring is strongly recommended with regular fecal checks. Hunting cats are extremely prone to tapeworms on a continuing basis as cats that have fleas are also prone to flea tapeworms continually.

In conclusion, if you really care about your feline family member you will notice these types detrimental changes and take action to provide them with a healthy, happy life.

The Best Foods Cats Should Eat

Felines are carnivores who need meat which is a high source of protein. If you are unsure about the most optimum diet for your cat, speak with your veterinarian about the type of food you feed your cat and read the label for important nutritional facts. This can help you provide your cat with a balanced diet and keep them healthy. Keep treats to minimum so they stay on track.

There are many types of food that can be unhealthy and downright dangerous to feed your cat such as different types of vegetables. Garlic and onions can be particularly dangerous for them especially for their digestive system. They may cause a cat to become anemic due to red blood cell damage, so avoid poisoning your kitty with volatile veggies.In reality, fruits and vegetables were never a significant part of your feline’s natural ancestral diet to begin with, so why would you want to cause possible complications with their overall health?

I know this may sound cruel and ridiculous, but some people actually give their felines alcohol. Alcohol can cause irreversible damage to your cat’s organs in very short time, unlike humans. Around 3 tsp. Of 80 proof alcohol can kill an average cat, or put them in a coma (most people are not aware of this fact). As long as we are talking about organ damage, grapes (and even raisins) are another real threat. They may cause illness, nausea, kidney failure and / or damage so store them safely away. You may be able to put them next to the widely known lethal cat poison known as chocolate.

Do you let your cat lick the tuna can after you take the tuna out? I used to until I read about high mercury levels present in tuna and swordfish. Mercury can accumulate quickly in your cat’s body causing it to be poisoned, so keep tuna to a bare minimum.

Unless you have a kitten avoid milk, ice cream and other high lactose dairy products because the majority of adult cats are not able to tolerate them (might give them diarrhea).

Scraps from your family’s meals in general are not a very good idea especially if it is meat with a lot of fat or bones. The last thing you want is your cat to choke on a bone or have it become lodged in its throat or intestinal tract resulting in pain and even high vet bills. Raw fish and meat may contain bacteria which causes food poisoning. Additionally, enzymes in uncooked fish will destroy thiamine – an essentially important B vitamin your cat really needs. Thiamine malnutrition may cause many dangerous neurological problems & can lead to coma and convulsions.

Please don’t give your cat dog food; it’s made for dogs, not cats. Dogs do not require as high of protein content as cats and have a different mix of nutrients.

Please use common sense when feeding anything to your cat. Avoid human medication, caffeine, candy, weird foods such as liver or caviar as rich foods can result in vitamin poisoning. Stick to normal cat food (which is made for cats in the first place). Anything in addition to a high protein diet may make your cat overly obese and lethargic. Also, all cats (like humans) should be getting exercise whether it be hunting outside or climbing one of the many styles of cat towers available online or at your local pet store.

Indoor Cats Need Exercise Too

Has your indoor cat gained noticeable excess weight? And could you possibly get yours to exercise, put on a leash and run around the block? Probably not, most cats hate leashes and it would probably be a bad experience for the both of you. So what do you do?

Felines do have an overall high metabolism which serves them well, but with indoor cats there may not be a whole lot of opportunity to chase birds, insects, climb trees or tease the next door neighbor’s dog. There are many creative ways to engage with your pet so they will enjoy a healthier life and avoid becoming a statistic of household pet obesity. Physical activity can benefit any pet by helping to maintain an acceptable body weight, keep their muscles strong and minds alert. You don’t have spend a lot of money, just be creative and remember that bonding with your pet makes it all that much easier to get them to exercise.

You may want to designate a special area for your cat where you can place a cat bed, cat condo or cat tower. Cats love to perch up high where they can see everything and the climbing is extremely good exercise benefitting muscles, bones and claws.

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You and your cat should spend at least 20 minutes several times a day playing, chasing or in some other physical activity. One cat I used to own named Pickle would chase caps to plastic containers as I flinged them through the air, he would jump over 4 feet high and actually catch them! Kittens and younger cats won’t be much of a problem being active, so after your feline turns 5 years old it may be a good idea to pay attention to their weight.

Another item that cats seem to love are boxes, containers or paper bags they can use to hide out in. Curiosity will usually get the better of them, and when the cat enters (only 1 or 2 openings available); you can drag a string in front of the opening or make up a game.My cat Tojo used to love paper bags and I made up a game we played for years. I would place an open paper shopping bag on the floor and Tojo would eventually jump inside. After a few seconds I would hit the top of the bag with a long stick with a string tied to a ball at the end, and he would go insane! Even when Tojo was 8 years old (I changed the game and laid the paper bag on its side so he wouldn’t have to jump to get inside) we still enjoyed it!

The real challenge lies with older cats or ones that are obese, as they are probably used to lounging, sleeping and avoiding any commotion. You may have use drastic measures such as putting some tuna at the top a tall cat tree. When my cat Pickle was around 10 years old he wouldn’t respond to much of anything, but when he smelled tuna he came around the corner like a bat out of hell!

How about a laser pointer, some new treats that they haven’t tried or a new toy that has an unfamiliar noise? Try to get them to go where they have to exert some energy to investigate, you may be surprised how much energy your older cat really has. Place the food and water off the floor so the cat has to at least jump or climb a little to get a snack or drink of water. Be careful with older kitties, you don’t want them to be injured. You may try to set up a ramp they can climb safely to burn calories.

Please be careful in your exploration creating activities for your cat. String, plastic bags and other materials may cause injuries, so if there is any doubt in your mind put these things away after playtime is over or do not use them at all. Find something your cat enjoys, but that you also enjoy so it won’t seem like work, only fun!