Brilliant! As someone who works from home – sitting busily at her computer desk each day, coffee to the left and cat (Alexa) to the right – I can honestly say that this is one of the most ingenious cat beds or perches I’ve ever seen. Before Alexa came along and became my adorable secretary, the position was held for many, many, many years by Prissy. She, too, was an adorable secretary. In fact, Prissy was actually even more fond of lying on the desk – between me and the computer – than Alexa is. Prissy was on the job Monday through Friday!
This beautiful and clever is available online from Amazon for a TOTALLY reasonable price – seriously, I thought it’d be twice as much.
Product Features
Clamps securely to desktop; felt pads resist scratching
Supports 20lbs including cats and small dogs
Comfortable foam cushion with machine washable cover
Can you imagine a day spent doing absolutely nothing? No television, no internet, no trips to the store, no reading… zip, nada. What if a couple of these days were strung together? Not only would we be bored out of our minds, our minds would, literally, begin to degenerate; followed closely by our bodies. We’d probably ask ourselves, “Is life really even worth living?!”
When you think about it in these jolting terms, you realize JUST how important it is to provide your cat(s) with plenty of entertainment, amusement, and activity (mental and physical).
Outside Cats
Outside cats get a pretty regular stream of different activities. They don’t always peruse them, of course, but they ARE there! My Hannah is a little bit older, and extremely laid back, so she watches the activities go on around her. Jelly Bean and Queen Fatima (when you’ve had as many cats as we’ve had over the years, you get pretty creative with the names!) explore most noises and activities, unless it’s a really lazy day – then they memo the activity to go ahead without them.
However, make no mistake about it, outside cats still enjoy playtime with their “parents.” Hannah LOVES playing something we call “Sliding Stick” – okay, I call it that, she just calls it “Mew.” I slide it horizontally back and forth in front of her, while she picks the perfect time to pounce. When playing with cats, they love it when you vary the speed of a game like this – fast at times, slow at times. You’ll be able to tell by your cat’s reaction which he/she prefers. When Prissy was younger, she loved for toys to move as fast as they possibly could (the way Alexa prefers them now), but when she got older (like Hannah), I had to make sure the toys knew we were dealing with a “special” baby.
I still buy cat toys for my outside cats, as I do for my inside cat (Alexa) and as I did for my inside girl, Prissy. However, I’ve found that their tastes in toys differ from inside cats. They prefer the natural-looking toys. A favorite (in addition to sticks!) is anything with feathers on it, for obvious reasons, I guess. They appreciate toys that squeak and chirp, but bells seem to leave them puzzled. I guess they never heard an animal that chimed!
Scratching posts don’t really fascinate my outside cats either, but they do LOVE the inexpensive cardboard scratching pads that are treated with catnip. Like Alexa, they think it’s party time when I bring home a new one. Their reaction reminds me of myself when I have something chocolate…. anything chocolate.
If you have outside cats, be sure to spend plenty of time in playtime with them. Yes, the world is their playground, but they’d rather enjoy it with you than by themselves.
Inside Cats
While outside cats need the extra stimulation and entertainment, I have to admit, when I think of how critical playtime is for cats, I tend to think primarily of the inside cat. Especially for cats that spend a lot of time alone during the day – without the ever entertaining human to watch. I work from home full time and my daughters (and one of their boyfriends) are normally home, offering Miss Alexa endless amusement. However, if I know we’re all going to be out of the house for a while, I often leave the television on for her. I put it on a channel that’s frequently on (like the Food Network, ESPN, or The Cooking Channel), so she can watch her favorite shows!
A few days ago, she was in the kitchen when my youngest daughter and I stepped out, leaving Alexa home alone for a few hours. This wouldn’t be a huge deal for most cats, but like I said, Alexa’s used to at least one or two people being here pretty much 24/7. So I turned on the tv in the home office for her, since it’s the room she’s in the most often anyway (workaholic cat). I put it on the Food Network and when I came home later, she was on the love seat in front of the television watching Rachael Ray, a personal favorite.
Apparently a favorite of Alexa’s as well.
Inside cats love a wide variety of toys – you pretty much just have to test some out to find your cat’s favorite type of toy. Never overlook what’s right in front of you, though. A paper sack and the plastic lid to a milk jug provide hours and hours of enjoyment!
A word of caution when using playthings with your cat, always make sure its safe. Think through any and all possible outcomes before giving your cat a particular object or toy. Most commercial cat toys have been tested and tested some more, so they’re usually safe. However, always make sure there’s nothing that could come off and choke your cat. Also, beware of these potential hazards:
Ribbons on gifts, shoestrings, and yarn: If they’re very long, they could become wrapped around your cat’s neck (just as dangerous as cords on mini blinds). Also, some cats have gotten choked on ribbons they’ve gotten into their throats. Never leave them lying around where your cat could “play” with one without your supervision.
Gift bags with handles: Again, the handles can be a choking hazard. Cats can get their heads/necks stuck and panic. Alexa loves the feel of gift bags, so we get FULL use out of using gift bags. Long after the gift has been given, she loves to sit on and “rough up” the bag. However, I always remove the handles. As accident-prone as she is, she’d find a way to hurt herself.
Be very, very cautious of ironing boards or anything else that isn’t perfectly steady. Make sure cat towers, scratching posts, etc are steady and won’t tip over on your cat. Alexa broke her little leg in two separate places when she ran, jumped on an ironing board, and pulled it down on top of her. It broke my heart so completely, I’m not sure it’ll ever heal completely! Her leg did, but my heart’s another matter. I learned then that you can never be too careful – you can’t predict what a cat’s going to do, so never take any chances.
The video at the top of this article is a good example of cat parents entertaining their adorable cat WITHOUT FRUSTRATING her/him. I despise cat videos where it appears that the cat is being scared or frustrated. When the video is just pure clean fun, and the cat is obviously having the time of his/her life, it’s a beautiful and wonderful thing. This video’s a perfect example of cat lovers taking delight in their beautiful cat and sharing it with other cat lovers. THAT’S what funny cat videos are supposed to be. It’s also a perfect example of amusing and entertaining a curious cat.
That’s the beauty of cats, they’re so curious and inquisitive, it doesn’t take much to fascinate them. JUST LIKE CHILDREN.
Just be sure you never frustrate, aggravate, or annoy your cat. If they’re agitated, they may look cute but they aren’t enjoying it any more than a human would if someone pinched their ear or tapped their nose. Be sure to always amuse, not annoy.
A few personal tips for playing with your cat:
Pick your moments. Be sure that playtime is a time when your cat will enjoy it most. Never wake her up to play and don’t think for a moment that she’ll be interested in play if eating is on her mind. Also, don’t play right after she eats… can you say upset stomach?
When playing with your cat, give her your full attention. Don’t “go through the motions” while distracted by a ballgame, book, or television show. Cats are extremely perceptive and they’ll get more enjoyment from it if their human is having at least as much fun.
Mix things up. Your cat… and you!… will understandably have a favorite game you return to often (like Hannah’s “Sliding Stick”) but try to mix things up to keep it interesting. Think of it as “nurturing” different aspects of your cat’s skills. One game may keep her sharp and fast, while another feeds her instinct to “stalk.” A favorite game of Alexa’s is to chase my hand as it moves underneath covers. She’ll slink around the bed, keeping low, until she thinks she has the perfect angle – then she’ll pounce on my poor hand! Even underneath comforters and quilts, the “prey” sometimes feels it.
Never confuse your cat. Add this one to the MUSTN’T ANNOY THE CAT OR FRUSTRATE THE CAT rule. If you’re playing with your cat and he/she gets all worked up to the point of hissing or you accidentally get scratched, realize that YOU took it too far. Don’t get onto or yell at the cat. She’ll only be confused and certain that you’re a poor sport.
Keep it Fresh! Every now and then I share information that gives away JUST how pampered my cats are, and this is one of those times. I keep a little “toy box” of toys for Alexa and pull out different ones weekly. This keeps them fresh for her and it sometimes seems like she thinks she just got a whole new batch of toys. Saturday is her designated day for the switcheroo. However, she does have one favorite toy that stays out all the time. It’s a little bird that makes a bird sound when tapped. Sometimes she pounces on it and other times I’ll watch as she just walks by and pops it with a paw to make it tweet.
Get a little exercise while you’re at it! If you “go all out,” you can actually get some exercise while playing with your cats! When I get on the floor for yoga, Alexa automatically thinks it’s playtime, so we usually combine the two. Sometimes she just likes to watch, probably wondering if I’ve completely lost my mind. I catch her expression sometimes and it’s like she’s thinking, “Why, mom, why?”
The 3 Foot Cat House, shown above, is a cat house to end all cat houses!
Literally 3 feet in height, it offers limitless fun and adventure for your feline kids.
This piece of quality furniture is perfect for your cats (and even small dogs, with the cat’s permission) to play in, on and around. Load with a sisal rope post, cat house and top cat perch. It’s sturdy, built to last, and even features a dangling toy to entertain any cat.
I can picture Alexa sleeping inside the house section, as well as using the scratching post part. Prissy would have chosen the very top level because she LOVED to get up high (in her younger days, that is!). She’d get a special kick out of getting on top of the refrigerator and surprising me when I walked into the kitchen. Alexa, on the other paw, isn’t that fascinated with heights but she does love to get inside boxes, cat houses, and other small places.
I’ve noticed that she’s especially fond of these spots right before a big storm. It’s as though she’s wired to instinctively seek shelter… even though she’s an inside cat!
To take a closer look at this gorgeous 3 Foot Cat House, just click the link. While on the website, look around at all of the other wonderful cat toys, cat furniture, scratching posts, and so on.
It’s never too early to do a little Christmas shopping. Your cat told me to point that out.
Did you know that having your cat declawed is painful for him/her? Don’t be fooled by what some may tell you, it’s simply not a painless, simple procedure. Not for the cat, anyway.
From The Complete Cat’s Meow: Everything You Need to Know about Caring for Your Cat by Darlene Arden, a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant: The declawing procedure is painful for your cat. Even if a veterinarian uses a laser and the cat can walk sooner, your cat can’t really be comfortable with part of its toes missing, especially since cats walk on their toes first. This means that your cat is in pain and has to walk differently, rather than in its normal manner.
Most cat parents have their cats declawed for the same reason: Cats scratch furniture (and very often anything else they can handle!). There are far better solutions to this problem – solutions that won’t hurt the cat or affect the way she enjoys the rest of her life.
When our precious Prissy was alive (all 20+ years!), buying new furniture was completely out of the question. That girl never met a couch or chair she didn’t like. She was convinced each and every piece of furniture was an elaborate scratching post for her! My daughter Stephany would help the situation by keeping Prissy’s nails clipped – a procedure that the ever laid-back cat actually enjoyed. Prissy never scratched walls or woodwork, but furniture was in constant danger.
I did, finally, find a way to throw salt in her game: I placed throws over the sides of the sofa – her favorite spots. I also started buying her scratching posts and placed them near her favorite spots.
With Alexa, it’s a little different. She seems to understand that furniture is for sitting on. She enjoys few things more than curling up on the sofa with her mom and dad as we all enjoy a game of baseball (or whatever it is we’re watching at the time). Alexa’s weakness is door frames. I’m having trouble convincing her that these weren’t placed in the house solely for her enjoyment.
She’s not buying it.
I’ve found a way to outsmart the little smarty pants, though, and it’s AGAIN with scratching posts. I’ve placed one near her favorite place to scratch and, now, when she’s in the vicinity, she uses the scratching post instead.
If you’re trying to lure your cat away from scratching furniture or wood, use a good, sturdy scratching post – preferably one treated with catnip. If the scratching post doesn’t come with its own catnip, buy a package and make the scratching post more enticing for your cat yourself.
Also, it probably goes without saying but Alexa, Hannah, Jelly Bean, and Queen Fatima want me to say it anyway: Cats cannot be treated as dogs or children when it comes to discipline. Remember their ancestors are lions, tigers, cheetahs, etc… how responsive do you think this DNA is to “NO!” or, worse yet, swats to the backside?!?! They’ll simply think you’re mean and will perceive you as a threat. Cats don’t even like yelling. They simply aren’t wired to be disciplined in this manner.
However, many cat parents have had success with spritzing a tiny bit of water (something cats detest) on their cats when they’re involving themselves in unsuitable behavior. I’ve never done it, myself, but many say that their cat comes to associate scratching on furniture with the unpleasantness of spritzed water.
Personally? I’d be afraid that, yet again, my cat would come to perceive me as a threat or as a meanie! Maybe if you were somehow able to do it without them seeing you? I’m not really sure. I do know this, though: Cats are very, very bright and it wouldn’t take them long to realize when scratching was safe and when it wasn’t. After all, what they’re doing is as natural to them as scratching an itch is to us. I’m convinced that the best solution for all is simply to give the cat an alternative: A sturdy, safe, scratching post.
Of our four cats (Alexa, Hannah, Queen Fatima, and Jelly Bean), two are from a feral cat I named Ming Li. Although these two are extremely friendly and not only allow me to pet them (but enjoy it profusely), they have certain characteristics that definitely separate them from Hannah and Alexa. For example, cat parents can always pick up their babies and even walk around the house or yard with them – I can certainly do so with my non-feral cats.
However, picking up a feral cat is generally not something they enjoy and I would only attempt it if it were to remove them (or a smaller animal) from harm.
The most unfortunate, and even heart-breaking thing, about caring for and loving feral cats is you never know when they’ll leave you. It’s been my experience that they aren’t often the healthiest little things (I recently lost one, “Bullet”). Plus, by nature, they love to roam and scout out new territories.
Fortunately, the two we have now were born on our property and have known us since they can remember – so I’m pretty certain they aren’t going anywhere. I also get the feeling that each was the healthiest from their prospective litters. Jelly seldom ever leaves the carport or front yard and Queen Fatima’s never gone on one of her infamous “hunts” for very long. While they “seem” like the other cats 98 percent of the time, occasionally there’ll be a reminder that there are definite differences.
For example, just this morning, as I was feeding the three outside cats, I leaned down and kissed Hannah on the head. It was met with a hard, fast purr and she continued eating. I then did the same to Jelly Bean and you’d have thought he’d been attacked by a giant, cat-eating owl! The smooch sound, alone, jolted Fatima even before it was her turn for a kiss. Each went back to eating as I petted their backs and heads, but they each kept one eye out for the ridiculous noise I’d previously made.
All along, I’ve tried to take things very slowly with them, on their terms. When you’re fortunate enough to have feral cats in your life, you have to remember that it’s all about them, not you. You can’ t let a selfish desire to touch or hug one get in the way of what really matters: You’re providing food, water, love, and care. You’re building a bond of trust and establishing a relationship, but know that they’re always in charge of how close you can get and how fast the bond is built.
There have been some feral cats that I’ve never been able to touch at all. It took months (LONG months because I was dying to pet her precious little head!) before Ming Li allowed me the honor of rubbing her. When she first threw her tiny body against my arms and purred, tears rolled down my cheeks because I was so happy – and completely honored by her trust. She honored me another way, too. Twice. I call one Queen Fatima and the other Jelly Bean.
I will always believe that Ming Li knew she wasn’t well. She had her babies near me so I could take care of them, and again, if I thought about it long enough the tears would flow once more.
The t-shirts in this post pay homage to feral cats and the patient individuals who care for them. These are really super cute – almost as cute as wild, unpredictable feral cats, themselves!
Click each for a closer look and spread the word about Feral cats and Feral cat care. The best thing about t-shirts such as this is that people will very often ask you, “What’s a feral cat?” Then you have a golden opportunity to educate them about feral cats and maybe even convert a feral cat car provider in the process. When you click through, you’ll find other t-shirts as well as other colors and sizes.
I’ve been reading about and researching PetFlow, a pet food delivery company. What I’ve come up with is this – how come no one thought of this before?!?!
This is absolutely brilliant and could be a really valuable service for a lot of people.
Older cat and/or dog owners who really don’t like getting out often. Quite frankly, they don’t even have to be that old! Some people simply don’t like running errands and are getting pretty creative about having their errands come to them
Pet lovers who live in very rural areas. We once lived so far out in the “boondocks” that it took 30 minutes to get to a grocery store. If we wanted to go to the nearest Wal-Mart, it was an extra 5 minutes.
People (like myself) who work full-time from home HATE having to get up, leave their work, go to the store, and come back to the work. I can say, without a doubt, that this kills any and all momentum you’ve built up. If you’re a writer, graphic artist, web publisher, or web designer – good luck jumping back ON the train of creativity you had going. It’s nearly impossible. But saving errands for the end of the day isn’t much better – that’s when the stores are the busiest… plus that’s when you need to be cooking supper, eating supper, reading the paper, and spending quality time with family (which naturally includes the ones who wear permanent fur coats)!
PetFlow is the solution to a time-crunch problem many pet lovers have and it’s just about as simple as it could possibly be. You search for the product/brands you want, set up a delivery schedule and check out. In a few days your cat or dog’s food arrives at your door. Think how excited your pet will be to get his or her own package. As we all know, they’re just like kids… and little kids at that.
Visit PetFlow to browse the brands they have and read more about their service.
Meet Fuddles! He’s a much-loved – and no doubt very pampered – beautiful cat who’s becoming a star. Hopefully he won’t let it go to his head. He’s Frans Vischer’s baby. Mr. Vischer, in addition to being a proud father to 3 without fur and one with, is a Disney animator. How unbelievably cool is that?
Frans says that observing Fuddles funny behavior inspired him to make his first picture book, Fuddles, which will be published by Simon & Schuster on May 3rd.
He also animated the book-trailer above. To read more about Fuddles and Frans, you’ll want to visit www.fuddles.net. I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this book. Alexa has worked up something of a crush on Fuddles.
She loves a cat who appreciates good food the way she does and, by all appearances, Mr. Fuddles knows his way around the food dish.
I’ve pre-ordered lots of books (and even dvds) on Amazon before and it works like a charm. As soon as the product is available – they send it right to you. I love it because it’s in your hands before anyone else really even knows about it. What can I say, that sort of thing sends me.
I’ll also put a link on the side of the website, so you can remember to order the book anytime you decide to. As a fanatical cat lover, I personally collect cat items (art prints, figurines, books, etc.) and can’t wait to add this to my collection. No doubt you feel the same way. Ahhh, cat people. We’re amongst the most passionate people on the face of the earth. But then again, given the objects of our affections, how could we not be?
The thing about us cat lovers is we want the world to know it. We love our kitties because they ARE family… they aren’t just LIKE family. Like the pets we cherish so much, we’re kind of a special breed! It always makes me smile when I see or read about other cat “mommies” or “daddies” who feel about their babies similar to the way I do my own.
There’s a lot to be said for kinship!
I was looking at cat toys on Etsy (love, love, love that website) this morning. My youngest daughter and I were talking not long ago about making a line of safe, fun, colorful catnip toys and I was scoping the competition. I got sidetracked by something that I had to post about: Wedding Cake Toppers for cat lovers!
Click through the picture above – or any of the links- to take a closer look. These are outrageously gorgeous and incredibly creative. Best of all? They embrace and celebrate the greatest animal in the world!
I’m astounded (and, truth be told, saddened) by the number of people who go to Google and enter the words “How to Be Happy.” It can be hard to phantom being so down that you have to LITERALLY search for ways to be happy. Then again, I suppose some people who are “happy enough” search for ways to be even happier.
Who can blame them?
We all want to be as happy as we possibly can be but have you ever stopped to consider that the same can be said of our beloved cats? They want to experience as much happiness and contentment as possible. Naturally all cats are different. Some enjoy sleeping more than playing, some enjoy playing more than sleeping… and some enjoy few things in life quite as much as they do a good meal.
However, regardless of which activities are their favorites, all cats have pretty much the same requirements for happiness:
Food
Fresh water
Clean, quite, private Litter Box or a safe yard
Several comfortable, special places to sleep – free from disturbances and drafts
Scratching posts
Plenty of playtime!
Most loving cat parents provide the best food possible, plenty of fresh water, a clean litter box, scratching opportunities, and great beds – and many even buy their cats plenty of great toys. However what many of us fail to realize is just how important playtime is. Not only does a cat love to play with their toys, they love for their humans to get involved.
Different cats prefer different types of toys. Some cats love toys with crinkly cellophane inside of them, some love toys with bells, while others prefer that their toys look and feel like real prey. Alexa has absolutely zero interest in the crinkly cellophane or bells. She loves nothing more than playing ball, though. Her favorite game involves someone rolling one of her toy balls to her as she bats it back. She seems to especially love it when she bats it past one of us and we have to get it.
Sometimes it feels like she’s “playing fetch” with us… and we’re her pets!
She also loves toys that mimic prey – Cat Toys with feathers, fur, or toys that look like bugs. Like most cats, she loves any sort of playtime that involves her stalking or chasing something.
Sometimes a cat will even create their own “game.” For example, at least once a day, when I go into the back of the house (to put something in the master bathroom or in our closet), Alexa will slink in and hide on the opposite side of our bed. She crouches down and expects me to get on my hands and knees and sneak up on her.
When I get to the edge, she loves for me to put my arm and hand underneath the covers and move it along, making a scratching noise on the mattress. She’ll stand up (ears pinned back in full attack mode), and wait for just the right time to pounce on my poor hand. I learned pretty fast that she pounces with her SHARP claws out as far as they’ll possibly go, so I have to be fast.
That, or reach for the band-aids.
This routine goes on everyday, for about 10 minutes each time. She has a ball, I have a ball, and she looks so stinking cute when she’s stalking my hand I can never keep from laughing (which, I’m sure draws the claws out even further).
Something else I’ve learned over the years with my cats is this: They love the unexpected! If you cats, like ours, have a great number of cat toys and “play pretties,” rotate the collection often. Place different toys in different places – sometimes in places they won’t expect them to be. Alexa has 4 different places in our house where that she “hangs out in” the most: When I’m working online during the day, she sleeps nearby – until lunchtime, of course. Nothing interferes with that girl’s lunch.
During the evening, she has a certain area in the living room, one in the family room, and one in the master bedroom. I kind of rotate different toys amongst her favorite hangouts.
I’ve also found that cats, just like human kids, LOVE it when you come back from the store with something special for them. I’ll often (okay, very often) pick up a little bag of treats, or a special cat toy, that I know she’ll adore. Fortunately, we have a PetSmart in Owensboro, so I’ll never run out of great toys to bring home to her. (By the way, here’s a tip that I think is pretty special. If your cat has certain toys she or he isn’t interested in, bag them up, mark CAT TOYS and take them to Goodwill. How much would it mean for someone who might be a little down on their luck to also have the opportunity to take cat toys home to their precious cats?!)
Speaking of Pet Smart, within this post are a few new toys they have that Alexa speaks highly of. You can always trust Pet Smart to have quality cat food, cat toys, and other cat items (as well as everything you’d need for other pets as well). What’s more, they have the prices I’m always looking for. (Content continued after the cute cat video!)
Cat toys and playtime don’t just lead to happier cats, they lead to healthier cats as well – both physically and mentally. But that’s not all (though it’s certainly enough!), playing with your cat is a perfect way for YOU to relax and unwind. The benefits are amazing, and they definitely go both ways.
Need a toy box for you cat’s toys? Check out the Martha Stewart toy bin below (from PetSmart). Love it! Click the image for a closer look.
We do everything in our power to care for, nurture, and protect our cats. We buy the best cat food available, we provide our cats and kittens with engaging cat toys and can often be found on the ground playing with them – having at least as much fun as they are. We know that playtime for cats isn’t just fun, it’s healthy and provides physical activity and mental stimulation that are very, very good for them. In fact, when it comes to cat health, playtime is vital.
But, as mindful and lovingly careful as we are, there are still areas we need to improve in. There are plenty of hazards in our home and yard that pose potential harm (often fatal) to our cats.
So, to promote better cat safety and care, we’ve rounded up what we believe to be a comprehensive list of tips, advice, and information for keeping our cats safe from harm and illness. Like children with skin, there’s only so much we can do to protect children with fur! However, since they mean the world to us, we will do everything and anything within our power.
Personally, I firmly believe that a home with cats (or dogs, for that matter) should be treated the same as a home with small children. When children are small, we can’t count on them to reason what might or might not be harmful, so we remove all perceived harm and danger. Animals aren’t capable of always recognizing harm either. They’re very childlike in many ways and one of the most obvious ways is that they live in the moment. They see something that looks like a good time, and off they go!
They’re also like children in this way: Almost everything goes to the mouth!
Alexa reminded me of this truth a few nights ago. I was fixing an Asian-inspired meal and apparently, somehow, a crispy Asian noodle hit the floor. I hear a little crunching from a few feet behind me and I turn to see her with the noodle half-in, half-out of her mouth! She’s nothing if not accident-prone, so I distracted her with her favorite cat treats and threw what was left of the noodle away. Alexa, being Alexa, would have probably choked on the noodle (or stuck it in her ear, or broke a couple of teeth, or poked herself in the eye…).
As I was giving her a couple of treats, I told her that she was “Just like a 2 year old baby.” And it hit me that, yes, in fact, cats are very much like 2 year olds – which is why we need to do periodic “child-proofing” inspections around our home, garage, and yard.
Keep Your Cat Safe Tips
Ironing Boards. First of all, the iron is an obvious danger. Be certain that you never leave an iron plugged in if you aren’t right beside it. Also, when you unplug the iron and leave it to cool down, be certain that it’s completely out of your cat’s reach. Even the ironing board, itself can be a safety hazard. Although it’s actually the only time I’ve ever heard of the incident (again, it’s Alexa we’re talking about!), a few years ago, our beautiful little baby (shown above, looking for something to get into) broke one of her legs in two places when she ran to jump on an ironing board. She somehow managed to pull it down on herself. One of the metal legs fell on one of her tiny legs and broke it. Needless to say, she was in a great deal of pain.. which probably took a couple decades off of my life…. and had to have multiple veterinarian visits, surgery, a leg cast, and cage confinement for nearly two months. I will give my husband this, he found the biggest cage known to exist! It was agonizing and could have been completely prevented if the ironing board had not been left standing. Yes, it’s a one in a million type of scenario – but if you’d seen how much pain this beautiful little cat was in, you’d know that one in a million is well-worth preventing.
Human Medications. Unfortunately, for several years now, human medications have been number one on the ASPCA’s list of common hazards. The ASPCA manages thousands upon thousands of calls each year involving prescription and over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers, cold medications, antidepressants and dietary supplements. Again, approach safety measures as you would if you had a small child in the home. They can and they will find a way to get into anything that peaks their curiosity. Be sure to lock up all medicine and never leave any pills, vitamins, herbs, or supplements lying around in the open.
Certain People Food. Grapes, raisins, avocado and products containing xylitol, like gum, can seriously harm cats and dogs. Thousands of pets die each year from the type of poisoning you’d never expect: food. What many cat and dog parents think of as “treats” are anything but. Onions are another food that should not be given to pets. One of the worst offenders – chocolate – is particularly dangerous. Chocolate contains large amounts of methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures. Not only should we all keep these foods out of reach of our pets, we should make certain that anyone who is around our pets also knows that people food is off limits. You don’t have to be nasty about it, of course. Simply approach the conversation matter-of-factly… “Did you know that many human foods can actually poison cats? That’s why we make sure (Fluffy, Scratch, Mayor Tom…) only eats cat food.”
Safety for Outdoor Cats in Extreme Weather. For those of us who have outside cats AND inside cats, we know that some simply can’t come in – our babies are destined to live just outside of the walls. When it’s extremely hot or extremely cold, we have to do everything in our power to keep them safe and as comfortable as possible. Please read Keeping Your Cat Safe in Hot Weather for tips on dealing with summer. As for winter safety, you might want to consider the KatKabin! It’s a beautiful and cozy cat house that stays warm and dry inside. Click the link to read my review. Bullet is actually cuddled up inside the KatKabin now. I have it up off the ground, on a sturdy wide shelf under the carport. He doesn’t seem to mind one little bit that it’s hot pink either! I went out earlier (it’s the dead of winter now and we have several inches of snow on the ground) and stuck my hand inside the KatKabin. It felt as warm as it does in our house! Always be sure to keep your cat’s water bowl filled and unfrozen. Jelly Bean drinks more than any cat I’ve ever seen, so (in addition to the fact that there are four of them out there) I actually have to refill their water bowl many times during the day. During winter I go out even more often, to replace the frozen water with fresh water. Jelly Bean’s always the first one in line!
House Plants. Azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe and schefflera can be harmful to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in small amounts. I don’t allow lilies in the house OR in the yard. Poinsettias are also known to be toxic. When it comes to house plants, I actually allow very few in. Not only do I not want to take any chances with little Miss If There’s A Way to Cause Drama, I’ll Do It – I know she’ll just make a spectacular mess! As for flowers I add to my flower beds and pots outdoors, I always research them online to make sure they’re safe.
Pet Medications and Tick and Flea Products. Many well-intending pet parents mismanage and misuse pet medications and products. Please ere on the side of extreme caution. In 2009, the ASPCA managed 7,680 cases involving animal-related preparations such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements. Also, if you have an elderly cat or dog – I honestly wouldn’t apply or use anything without my veterinarian’s advice. The last summer Prissy was alive, she and Alexa had a little bit of a flea problem. I got some “over the counter” flea medication to use. It was the type that you place a few drops between their shoulder blades. I used it on Alexa, without incident. However, given the fact that Prissy was 20 years old – and not in the greatest shape – I didn’t use it on her at all. Somehow, it just didn’t seem safe. I simply combed over her little body and removed fleas monkey-style. Not long ago, I read that applying medicine like this to older pets can be very dangerous and cause them to have seizures and suffer greatly. It was a clear case of allowing intuition to guide the way. Always, always, always treat older pets with extreme caution, love, and tenderness.
Garden Products, Chemical Hazards, and Automobile Products. Each of these can pose great harm, often fatal, to pets. Again, ere on the side of caution and keep all of these products UP off of the ground in your garage, home, or carport. Keep lids screwed on VERY tightly and immediately wash up any spills or leaks. My husband not only keeps all of these products up, off the ground, most of them are even in buckets or other containers.
Plastic bags and other plastic products. Cats can suffocate in plastic bags, so be sure they’re always completely out of reach. Again, treat it as you would if there were children in your home. Also, keep dry cleaning bags out of the way. Throw them away as soon as you bring the garment in the house. (There are few things I hate more than dry cleaning bags!)
Ribbon, thread, and even dental floss. All of these look like nothing but a good time to a cat but they can easily get choked on them. The long, “curly” ribbon so popular at Christmastime is a potential nightmare to cats. Many cat parents use it as a toy, but a cat’s claws can shred it to tiny fibers that they can then ingest – either intentionally or unintentionally. They’re also a choking hazard.
Wobbly tables and plant stands. Double-check the tables and, in particular, plant stands in your home. Some tend to be wobbly, especially on carpet. It’s the ideal situation for a cat to either run past (and topple over) or take a running dive at and come crashing down with it. The latter was Alexa’s ironing board maneuver. So graceful.
Mini Blinds. If your cat is anything like Alexa (Heaven help you both), she’s fascinated with mini blinds. When they’re closed, she loves to shove her head between the rungs and look out. When they’re open, she loves to attack the cord. I have to keep a constant eye on this little girl! I’ve learned that I have to keep the cords folded up out of the way and, during the day, we raise the blinds at the windows she frequents. Cats can hang themselves in mini blinds, so take great precautions.
Household Cleaners. Treat all household cleaners as you do garden products: Keep them entirely out of the way of your pets. Also, keep the toilet lids down at all times, so the pet doesn’t try to help themselves to a cool drink – not only is this gross (really, really gross), if you use toilet bowl disinfectants or cleansers, it’s potentially poisonous.
Speaking of Toilet Bowls… Keep the lids down at all times. If a cat were to try to jump on top of the toilet, and the lid isn’t down – catastrophe.
Candles. Never leave candles burning in a room you aren’t in. Not only is it hazardous for your cat, it’s hazardous for you!
Hot Scented Oil Devices. Hate these! There are just far too many possibilities for harm. They can be spilled, knocked over, touched… Even if you have one set up high, in a place you’re sure your cat would never go – they could conceivably grab the cord and pour hot oil on top of them. Can you imagine the pain?!?!
Stove Safety. As with Children, keep all pot handles aimed toward the back of the stove. It’s too easy to knock against one and send a hot pot crashing to the floor.
Cat Toys. Always double-check your cat’s toys and inspect them for frays, cracks, and so forth. Many chocking incidents can be prevented if you make sure everything is in place when it comes to cat toys – make sure nothing’s spilling out and that there aren’t any splintered pieces that could pose a problem. Also, make sure standing scratching posts are secured in place – be sure they don’t topple over.
Heavy Metals. No, not music (although if played loud enough, I’m sure a cat wouldn’t appreciate it much!). According to ASPCA, heavy metals such as lead, zinc and mercury, accounted for 3,304 cases of pet poisonings in 2009, alone. Lead is especially dangerous, and pets are exposed to it through many sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.
Pet Food Recalls. Always stay on top of recent cat and dog food recalls. Sadly, this has become a regular part of pet parenting. Would these pet food manufacturers please get their acts together?!?! Make it a point to check cat websites such as this one regularly for pet food recalls. Also, here’s a little tip. Go to Google and set up a Google News Alert (click the link to go directly to the page you need). Enter the term, “Cat Food” (add another for dog food if your cat has a canine brother or sister!) in the field marked Search Terms, then choose the other specifics and enter your e-mail address. Whenever there is “news” involving cat food, you’ll get an alert about it in your e-mail.
Cat Collars. I, personally, would never put a cat collar on an outside cat. Not only would my own outside cats think I’d completely lost my mind, it’s simply far too dangerous. If a cat is, say, in a tree, the collar could easily catch on a branch. Many well-meaning bird-loving cat parents will even put bells on their cat’s collar to warn the birds. I love birds as much as anyone (we even have 4 bird feeding stations in our yard!), but if a cat is attempting to hide from or get away from a predator, the bell could toll for them in the worst way.
It bears mentioning again, so bear with me while I mention it again: Treat cats in the house or yard just as you would treat children in the house and yard. Treat them like babies because they are babies.
I know there are other tips and safety hazards out there. If you know of any first-hand, please share them with us in the comments. In the meantime, pass the link to this post around to all cat parents you know. What may seem like common advice to one person can cause another to say, “Wow! I never thought of that!” Every time that’s said… another precious cat can be spared a great deal of pain and suffering.
by Darlene Arden, a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant:
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