I have had a friend of mine setup us up a forum as I’m just inundated with people asking for help with there cats so hopefully people can start to use this forum and that way they can help each other and people looking for answers can do a quick search.

Its free to join up and easy to use so join up now and introduce your self.

see you there

Link to our forum is

www.catsproblems.co.uk/forum

Technorati Tags: Cats Problem Forum

Cats problems And how to solve them, now I must admit I am a quiet cat lover and there are plenty of people out there that are more outward about their love for cats and that fine, but what I hope to do is help people how have cats solve any problems there are facing.

Now to do this I have a blog site up and I’m inviting anybody facing a cat’s problem then drop me a line and I will go out and find the best way to solve it and post both the question and answer on the blog. Now not all problems will actually be with the cat, this is due to a very basic concept being that a cat is not a dog.

Yeah dogs are cool but cats are better because dogs are more easily trained and fall into the keepers expectations and methods, cats are already set up to fail, they can be taught to do most of the same things that dogs do but the training methods are very different.

So when you try and control your cat you are going to be disappointed. Now that may seem obvious but it always amazing to see so many people trying to train a cat like a dog, and when they fail, who do they blame ? Themselves not likely, they blame the cat and this means more cats without homes in shelters or worse on the street, and this must stop.

So this is part of my campaign to help and educate with humour and support, everyone knows how funny cats can be so I’m going to use that to help people with cats problems.

Technorati Tags: Cats Problems

If the answer is ‘yes’, then remember that fresh tap water is normally heavily treated with chemicals and often chlorinated. The bowl itself may smell of the detergent with which it was cleaned - and therefore is an unattractive prospect.

As cats are many times more sensitive to detergent contamination than humans, much more rinsing than usual is required.

You should also get into the habit of changing the water frequently to prevent bacterial build-up.

Glass or plastic bowls?

Glass or ceramic bowls are preferable to plastic as they are non-porous and are easier to keep clean, they also keep the water cooler.

On hot days, it’s worth slipping an ice cube into your cat’s bowl.

Genetically cats are programmed to seek out clean water as stale, stagnant water is more likely to harbor disease, so cats learn to avoid such sources of hydration.

It’s also a good thing to remember that cats do not like to bend their whiskers while eating or drinking, so ensure that your bowls are large enough.

You may not recognize him because he might belong to someone who has just moved into the area, or he might be newly acquired and just finding his way about. He might have been attracted by your own pets and their food, but remember there is probably someone who is desperately missing that cat!

Take him to your local vet and ask to have him scanned for a microchip which will immediately identify who his owners are.

Put up ‘found’ notices with his photo and a description and also put notes through neighbours’ letterboxes.

Remember some poor desperate pet owner or child may be terribly missing or grieving for that missing pet, so do as much as you can to help get him home.

Research has shown that 61 per cent of missing cats are found within a mile of their own home.

They often turn up in the oddest of places: one cat owner was surprised when her cat was found the other side of town in a cathedral organ pipe, another missing cat had been lost in a large field of maize, and one had been mistakenly locked in a shed with a litter of puppies.

Technorati Tags: Found A Cat

Search around the home — in cupboards, under beds, behind furniture, in a washing machine or tumble drier, laundry basket, the cellar, loft space etc. Outside in your shed and garage, greenhouse, compost bin, even your car, including in the wheel arches and engine compartment. Cats like to seek out warm, dark places to hide sometimes, so look in even the most unlikely places.

Next visit your immediate neighbours and ask them to look in their homes and garages, sheds and outbuildings.

While you are searching your local area, stop regularly and listen — give your cat a chance to answer your call. Stay in one area long enough for your pet to reach you if he is close by.

Make up notices to go in local shop windows/noticeboards, ideally with a photograph of your cat and a description. Place these also on lampposts and consider photocopying leaflets to drop through letterboxes in the neighbourhood. Many cats ‘go missing’ simply because they are befriended by a neighbour.

If your cat is microchipped or already registered with a pet-finding service, alert them that your cat is missing (Don’t forget to contact them and let them know when you have found him).

Contact veterinary surgeries in your area as if injured, your cat may have been taken there (they may also take your ‘Missing’ notice for their noticeboard). Call or visit local animal rescue charities too in case your cat has been mistaken for a stray and been handed in.

Search around hedgerows, open ground, woodland, farmland, and ask for permission to check in agricultural buildings. Often cats get carried away on their adventures then become disorientated and unable to find their way home.

Check with your local council’s refuse department in case your cat was knocked down on the road and has been collected.

Register your cat with local and national lost and found agencies. Many operate on the internet.

Take out an advert in a local paper and approach your local radio station to see if they will put out an appeal.

Tell as many people locally as you can, including: your postman/woman; milkman; neighbourhood children; elderly neighbours; dog walkers— all likely to be out and about and noticing cats at different times.

Don’t despair! Many cats turn up after many months, even years, after being missing!

According to the Missing Pet Bureau, 3,200 cats go missing every week.

How to keep your cat safe
Get him microchipped. It’s a permanent means of identifying your pet by means of a tiny chip, the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted painlessly between your cat’s shoulder blades. When scanned it shows up a unique id which can be linked to you. Vets and many charities hold scanners for pet identification. It costs approximately £20-£25. Ask your vet for details.

Buy him a safe collar with a buckle which will snap open if it gets caught and releases him rather than traps or injures him, and an identity tag.

Keep him in at night
Keep him in when there are likely to be fireworks let off — November, December (around Christmas and New Year), for example, plus other festivals etc.

Consider enclosing your garden — keeping your cat safe, while allowing him plenty of space and lots to keep him interested.

If you haven’t done already, get your cat neutered. Entire toms roam great distances in a bid to find females, and a calling female will wander off in a distracted state.

Coping with the loss
Losing your cat and never knowing what has happened to him or her can be as traumatic to the owner as a death. The Pet Bereavement Helpline has been set up to help pet owners cope with their feelings of loss.
The Pet Bereavement Support Service is a confidential telephone helpline that offers support through a national network of trained volunteer Telephone Befrienders. The Helpline is run by two charities, The Blue Cross and The Society for Companion Animal Studies. The Helpline is open daily 8.30am to 8.30pm with an answerphone outside these hours. To make contact call the freephone number: 0800 096 6606 or email pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk A co-ordinator will give you details of the nearest Telephone Befriender.

 
IUseful numbers
RSPCA Helpline 0300 1234 999
Battersea’s Lost Dogs and Cats Line Tel. 0901 477 8477.
The line operates within the M25 area and lines are open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. (Calls cost 60p per minute).
Petsearch nationwide charity with 306 local registers of local lost and found cats. Tel. 0121 743 4133
Cats Protection
Tel. 08702 099099 Email helpline@cats.org.uk

The Blue Cross
Tel. 01993 822651 Email info@bluecross.org.uk

PetLog (Microchipping)
www.petlog.org.uk
Animal Search UK. Tel. 01432 761 406

Technorati Tags: Lost Cat

Cat proofing both your house and garden is essential to keep your new arrival safe and also minimise any damage that an inquisitive kitten may cause to your home and property.

Create an area where the kitten will be able to roam freely without interference from people or animals, especially during its first few months with you. Make sure it’s as warm and cosy as possible. 

Locate as many ‘escape routes’ as possible. It might be worth taking a fresh look at your house from your cat’s perspective. Get down to their eye level and explore, see what spaces under furniture and appliances look like appealing hiding spots.

Remove or adequately cover exposed cabling, especially mains electricity leads as these will be very appealing as a both a swing and a chewable treat.

Make sure that items that are breakable or heavy are not able to be knocked over, especially where they could fall and cause injury.  Protect exposed furniture/wooden floors/fabrics that are at risk of being scratched easily.

Move hazardous and toxic household products, such as bleach, to a secured storage area.

You may want to consider an outdoor enclosure or modifications to your garden fencing that will keep your cat in and other neighbourhood cats out. This is especially useful if your cat is timid as it will help them feel secure in the garden. 

Be aware that there are a wide number of plants, flowers and household products that can be dangerous to your cat. If you suspect that your cat has ingested something that it shouldn’t have, take them to the vet immediately. It’s also a good idea to take any evidence of what may have been consumed to speed up the diagnosis. Signs to look out for include vomiting and irritated skin.

Technorati Tags: cat proof home

Vet practices say the number of overweight and obese animals is on the increase and a large number have set up dedicated ‘fat clinics’.

The RSPCA say the problem is due to overfeeding, the wrong diet and a lack of exercise and is warning pet owners to do something before it is too late.

An Internet survey also found that although aware their cat was overweight, 25 per cent of owners had done nothing about it.

RSPCA vet David Grant says: “People who let their pets starve are labelled cruel and callous, but what people don’t realize is that overfeeding can cause just as much suffering. A fat cat may look cute and cuddly but in reality you are killing it with kindness.

“Pet obesity is a serious welfare problem and as a nation of so-called animal lovers we have a duty to tackle it now. An animal only needs to be slightly over its ideal body weight for health problems to begin. If you think your pet is overweight consult your vet today and show your animal that you really do care about them.”

Good diet
Just like humans, each pet is unique and when choosing a suitable diet it is important that owners take into account age, sex, breed and level of activity. A spokesperson for the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association says: “‘Life-stage’ pet foods have been designed to meet the very specific nutritional needs of pets at certain stages of their lives — from early life through adulthood to old age. Responsible pet owners should
assess the needs of the pet and feed accordingly.”

Top tips
● You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs. Stand above your cat and check his waist he should have a visible indentation behind his ribs.
● Place both hands lightly on your cat’s ribs. They shouldn’t be sticking out. If you can’t feel them, your pet is probably overweight. Also look for pouches of fat between the hind legs.
● Talk to your vet. An underlying medical problem or medication may have influenced the weight gain.
● Gradually reduce weight through a combination of exercise and fewer calories.
● Weigh your pet regularly and watch for changes. Your vet will tell you what your cat’s ideal weight is.
● Keep a food diary. Record how much you feed your pet — you’ll be surprised by how it mounts up.
● Feeding small amounts daily can help. At your mealtimes keep your pet away from the kitchen so he won’t beg.
● Follow the recommended feeding guidelines on food packaging, while bearing in mind his individual needs.
● Decide on a daily ration of food and if your pet is used to treats, calculate them as part of this amount.
● Avoid feeding human foods, as titbits have a tendency to be high in sugar, fat and salt.
● Don’t give him cow’s milk; it has hidden calories.
● If you think that you will be tempted to feed too much, use a smaller bowl.
● Playing with cat helps increase activity and so helps maintain health and fitness.
● For advice on nutrition, talk to your vet. Pet food manufacturers offer advice via consumer care lines; the contact details can be found on the packaging. Information can be found on the PFMA website www.petfoodmakers.com/nutrition

An advice leaflet on overweight pets is available from the RSPCA. Visit: www.rspca.org.uk or tel: 0870 3335 999. 

Technorati Tags: overweight cat

Be it a visit to the vets, bonfire night, travelling or a new home, the panic and upset they experience can be distressing for both pet and owner.

That’s where Bach Original Flower Remedies come in, says Flower Essence Practitioner Jane Page of Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Discovered by Dr Edward Bach in the 1930s, flower essences capture the healing energies of plants by using flowers, buds and sometimes twigs. Jane explains: “Dr Bach discovered that if flowers were floated in pure water in sunlight, the life force could be transferred into the water. Mixing it with alcohol could then preserve it.”

“The Bach remedies consist of 38 different essences, but there are many essence makers throughout the world, the second oldest being Spirit-in-Nature Essences (formerly Master’s Flower Essences) from California, USA, which caters especially for pets and their owners.”

Anne says: “A Flower Essence Practitioner is taught to observe both animal and owner. Sometimes an owner can unwittingly be the cause of a pet’s problem. For example, if an owner is terrified of storms it is much more likely that their pet will be afraid as well. In this sort of case, if the owner is treated for fear as well as the pet, there is a much higher success rate. “A practitioner will also be able to suggest an essence through the knowledge gained from his or her training, rather than just guessing which essence is required. If a wrong essence is given, however, no harm can be done — although a vet should always be consulted before any course of treatment.”

Sandy Griffith, registered vet nurse andd Bach foundation Registered Practitioner, says: “The purpose of the Bach Original Flower Remedies is to help restore emotional well-being and fulfil potential. They really make a difference to help our pets cope with various situations.” Here we take a closer look at how they can help:

Technorati Tags: destress my cat

Technorati Tags: links

Results from the research were recently reported in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

“This is the first time anyone has done scientific research on pets living in the same home,” says Prof. Joseph Terkel, from the Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University.

After interviewing almost 200 pet owners who own both a cat and a dog in the US, then videotaping and analysing the animals’ behavior, TAU researchers concluded that cats and dogs can cohabit happily if certain conditions are met. Prof. Terkel and his graduate student Neta-li Feuerstein found that two-thirds of the homes they surveyed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing. There was a reported indifference between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes.

One reason for the fighting might have been crossed inter-species signals. Cats and dogs may not have been able to read each other’s body cues. For instance, cats tend to lash their tails about when mad, while dogs growl and arch their backs. A cat purrs when happy, while a dog wags its tail. A cat’s averted head signals aggression, while in a dog the same head position signals submission.

Prof. Terkel observed a surprising behaviour. “We found that cats and dogs are learning how to talk each other’s language. It was a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘Dog’ and vice versa.”

What’s especially interesting, Prof. Terkel remarks, is that both cats and dogs have appeared to evolve beyond their instincts. They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two species may have more in common than was previously suspected.

Once familiar with each others’ presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose-to-nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the couch. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom each other. The far-reaching implications of this Tel Aviv University research on cats and dogs may extend beyond pets — to people who don’t get along, including neighbours, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers.

“If cats and dogs can learn to get along,” concludes Prof. Terkel, “surely people have a good chance.”

Technorati Tags: cats and dogs