Presenting your precious cat with a new toy is every bit as fun and rewarding as presenting a child with a new toy. And why not, our pets are our babies after all! Not only are cat toys fun for cats to play with – giving them entertainment and enjoyment, cat toys are also vital to a cat’s health. They provide a little exercise for your cat (or a lot, depending upon your cat’s energy level!).
Cat toys also keep an inside cat, who doesn’t have other cats or dogs to play with, from getting bored. They keep her mind active and provide a level of the unexpected that she craves nearly as much as she craves tuna. Nearly.
I recently bought Alexa a new toy and she has delighted herself with it for hours since.
Her favorite toys are balls and she’s absolutely on top of the kitty world when we’re in the floor playing baseball. I roll it to her and she swats it with her paw back toward me. She can’t be bothered with running the bases, of course, because she’s conserving her energy and has been since she was a day old.
She also doesn’t go for any “loose” balls if I happen to roll it too far to the left or too far to the right. It’s up to me to retrieve all of these, as well as the ones she swats pass me.
I get quite a workout crawling around like a 12 month old.
Alexa has a toy box (actually a basket) that she loves to grab toys from – but, of course (like all kids) she never puts them back. That’s also left to me.
Cats just love toys like the ETHICAL/SPOT SPRING DING CAT TOYS ASSORTED
above. Alexa has this adorable cat toy pegged as the next addition to her toy collection.
Since she is one pampered little girl, it’s jut a matter of time. I look forward to chasing this cute little cat toy around… and then putting it back where it goes.
One of us has to.
*** Cat Toy Safety: Be sure to examine your cat’s toys for pieces that have come loose – small parts that could choke your cat. Also, never allow anything near your cat that she could get wrapped around her neck.
Alexa once had, somehow, found a long paper ribbon left over from Christmas. She managed to get part of it down her throat and was as struggling to pull it out. Thanks be to God, I happened to be walking through the room at the time and pulled it out.
Animals, yes even cats, know to eat just until they are full. I’ve watched my cats over the years and have found that – at a certain point – they know they’ve eaten enough. Then they find a comfortable place to give themselves a bath and digest. It doesn’t matter if they’re inside cats, outside cats, people-friendly cats, cats who are part of the family, or feral cats – they naturally know when they’ve had enough.
So, you’d think there’d be no way a cat or dog could possibly get overweight, right? After all, they know when to stop eating, so there’s no chance they’ll overeat, right?
Wrong-o. That’s where we come in.
If there’s a bowl of constantly available dry food lying around for her to graze at whenever she feels a little bored or under stimulated – Alexa… I mean she’ll do just that. We generally don’t have a full plate of our food sitting on the table all day for us to graze on each time we pass. I wonder why we ever get in the habit of leaving food out for our pets to eat at leisure.
Naturally, we think we’re doing them a great service – Here, baby, eat whenever you want to! The problem is, it leads to obesity and a host of health problems.
That being said, some cats do fine with free-feeding. Our outside cats have dry food available at all times and not one of them is overweight. Prissy always had dry food available and kept a nice, trim little figure for over 20 years! It all depends on the individual cat. If you leave dry food out for your babies and they take advantage of its availability a little too often, maybe you should try putting it up for the most part of the day.
So how often should you feed your cat?
According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, it depends upon the cat’s age and health.
Kittens require more food per pound of body weight to support their growth than do adult cats, and therefore should be fed more often throughout the day. “Growing kittens up to six months of age may require three meals a day,” says Francis Kallfelz, DVM, PHD, board certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and James Law professor of nutrition at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “From age six months to maturity, most cats will do well when fed two times a day.”
Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats, age seven and above, should maintain the same feeding regimen. “Once cats reach adulthood, once a day feeding is fine as long as they are healthy and have no disease problems suggesting a reason to feed differently,” says Dr. Kallfelz.
The Health of Your Cat Matters
If your cat suffers from a health problem such as diabetes, you may need to feed him based on whenever he is administered insulin, depending on the type. “Talk to your veterinarian,” says Dr. Kallfelz.
If your cat has hyperthyroidism, he may want to eat all the time. “Treat the disease,” says Dr. Kallfelz. “If it is a treatable problem, treat it and then feed your cat normally.”
When a cat ages, his teeth may go bad, or he may develop gum disease that may make it difficult to chew dry food. “If they get to that point, then offer them canned food or dry in a finer nugget size,” says Dr. Kallfelz. You can also mash up the dry and mix it with water to make it easier to chew. – Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Should You Feed Your Cat Wet or Dry Cat Food?
Experts seem to agree that the type of cat food isn’t that important. However, keep in mind that you should feed your cat CAT FOOD -not dog food and not human food. There are certain things cats need that they can get only from cat food.
Read the labels on your dry cat food and wet cat food. Make sure you select the brands that are the most balanced and offer the most nutrients. If you feed your cats dry cat food, be sure they always have plenty of fresh, clean water to drink. (Then again, all cats should have fresh water at all times!)
“If a cat can maintain his weight, free choice feeding is okay,” says Dr. Kallfelz. Even dry food left out for your cat to free feed needs to be fresh, so be sure to provide new food each day. If free feeding doesn’t work, you need to control how much they eat. “Several small meals may make them feel less hungry,” says Dr. Kallfelz. “But one is okay nutritionally.” – Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
When it comes to a feeding schedule, cats are like babies (but we already knew that, right?) – they need to keep a schedule as much as possible. Most cats do best when fed in the morning – then later in the evening.
If you cat seems to genuinely be hungry, however, during the middle of the day – give him or her a little to eat. After all, we’d want someone to do the same for us!
Credit: The picture at the top of the post is from one of my favorite online destinations (hours, I tell you, hours I spend on this site): I Can Has Cheezburger
One of the things I cherish the most in my e-mail inbox is the daily Cat Age Tip of the Week newsletter. (Click the link to find out how to sign up!)
In today’s tip, we’re reminded how important it is to keep out cats toys and playthings safe.
Here’s the daily tip:
Whether your cat prefers expensive store-bought toys or items found around the house, take care to keep your cavorting cat safe.
To prevent choking, avoid toys with parts that can become detached during play. Bring out the pounce in your pet with safe choices such as a ping-pong ball or a catnip mouse. Playtime with string or yarn should be carefully supervised to prevent your cat from accidentally swallowing it. Finally, secure free-standing kitty condos and cat towers to the floor or wall to keep them from toppling over.
Great advice! I’d also add the following:
- Decorative ribbon that’s used for gifts is very enticing to pets. It’s fun to play a great game of tug and catch with them using the bright ribbon. However, this kind shreds pretty easily and could be a real choking hazard to an animal. Last year, Alexa found a strand beneath the Christmas tree and took off for the back of the house. It was as though she knew she had something I didn’t want her to have! I followed to get the ribbon to throw away and, in that little span of time, she had one end down her throat. This year I didn’t even buy this type of rolled ribbon for our presents. I subscribe to the theory of “better unbelievably safe than unbelievably sorry.”
- Inspect toys just as you would inspect them for a child. Think of each conceivable possibility – will this small piece come off…. can that get wrapped around her/his neck… that sort of thing.
- I love the tip above about securing their towers and condos to the wall. Just because you don’t think it could possibly topple over doesn’t mean it won’t. I never in a gazillion years believed Alexa would be able to turn an ironing board over on herself, but she sure managed. (Yes, as a matter of fact, she does have to be watched like a toddler!) In fact, we have bamboo shelves in the kitchen that she occasionally likes to climb, I need my husband to anchor them to the wall. Our little girl is more of a busy body than Prissy ever was. Prissy rarely climbed anything beyond the couch or the nearest bed. Alexa’s convinced she’s part mountain lion.
- Watch out for newspaper left lying around. If your cat is as inquisitive or playful as Alexa (Heaven help you), they probably like to attack the paper and see how fast they can shred it. Little pieces of newspaper can get stuck on the back of the cat’s tongue and become a choking hazard quickly.
- While we’re talking about chocking hazards, watch out for the green grass that’s popular in Easter baskets. Like the ribbon and paper, it can become dangerous very fast. Be sure it’s out of your little one’s way.
I guess that’s all of the tips I can think of for now… at least until Alexa gets into something else! If you have any to add, please do so in the comments.
Click the following link for a wonderful article: 10 Ways to Make Your Cat Younger. Oy. I’m almost certain Alexa has no waist definition. I mean, I know she has a waist… somewhere…. She’s all over the other 9 though. She just needs to eat a little less… Maybe cut back to just 1 lunch instead of 3…
We pet lovers all know that chocolate is a big NO NO for cats and dogs. It can be a deadly treat. (The chemical methylxantine is toxic and in high doses can cause abnormal heartbeats, seizures and death.) I’ve heard the same thing about onions, although I don’t know if it’s been proven. I’d rather be too safe than forever sorry, though, so I’ve never allowed any of my cats and dogs to have onions.
I just read an article this morning that detailed the dangers of sugar free gum and many sugar free snacks for dogs. Needless to say, I’d keep them away from cats and other pets as well.
From Paw Nation:
The culprit is a sweetener called xylitol. While you may never have heard of it, there’s a good chance you have it in your house. Xylitol is common in sugarless gum and in sugar-free snacks, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Cases of xylitol poisoning in dogs have increased in recent years as the sweetener has been added to lots of new foods, Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, vice president of the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center, told Paw Nation. “There definitely has been an increase in the exposures of dogs to xylitol over the last several years, simply because there’s more xylitol out there.”
Read the rest HERE.
Very clever. Ingenious, even.
If you’ve ever had the “pleasure” of trying to convince a cat that taking a pill is a great idea, you’re going to love these Pill Pockets for Cats. They’ll save you time, effort, energy, and keep your cat from having a couple of nervous breakdowns in the process.
The website promises to take the hassle out of giving your cat her pills. We can assume that, by taking the hassle out of the situation, the scratches, hisses, and or dirty looks will disappear as well. Thanks be to God that my beloved Carly never had to have any medications. I doubt I’d be here today if that need had ever come up. I’d have gone down trying to help my girl, but her temper would have finished me off.
The Pill Pockets are available in two flavors: Chicken or Salmon. They’re made from all human-grade meats plus other high quality, healthy ingredients. These would be perfect to have on hand.
If you’re anything like me, you love having candles and potpourri around. Needless to say, however, you have to be very, very careful when you have furry little babies in the house. Curiosity can cause them to investigate and, thereby, land themselves in danger. Be sure candles are never left unattended. Also watch out for tablecloths or anything that a curious cat can pull down on herself in an attempt to check out the “fascinating” candle.
Also be sure liquid potpourri far from your pets’ reach. The essential oils in these fragrant mixes can be harmful to pets who spill it on themselves or get it on their fur. The Cationic detergents in hot scented oils can cause significant burns to a cat’s esophagus, mouth and tongue.
Try putting liquid potpourri far from your pets’ reach or using an air freshener instead.
If you’re anything like me, you’re an animal lover extraordinaire who also happens to love plants and flowers. With furry babies all around the house, inside and out, I’m extremely careful about the plants that I grow. After all, cats are likely to nibble on anything that doesn’t nibble on them first, and many plants can make them sick. Some could even kill them.
I’ve always known that the beautiful Spider Plant is safe because my mom always had about 5 or 6 of them while I was growing up – and we always had cats and dogs. One of our cats, a cross-eyed gorgeous Siamese named Solo, loved nothing more than stalking and chewing on Spider Plants. Since he lived to be as old as Methuselah, I figured this was a non-toxic plant.
There were a few plants that I wasn’t so sure about, so I researched them this morning using my favorite source: ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants for Cats, Dogs, and Horses – I love how thorough they are! It’s easiest if you know the name of the plant that you’re wondering about – then all you have to do is search for the results. They’ll let you know if this plant is toxic (dangerous) or non-toxic (safe). There is an option where you can see only plants that are toxic or non-toxic for cats, dogs, or horses – or you can opt to include all 3.
If you’re wondering about any plants, check out their databse – it’s incredible.
In a time when we’re all trying to creatively save money and cut corners, animal experts are warning pet lovers to keep feeding your pet the food that’s designed for her.
Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements. For example, cats require far more meat protein than dogs. Dog food contains a lot of grain and other ingredients. So, if a pet owner tries to “cut corners” by sharing the dog food with the cat, or the cat food with the dog, they’ll be short changing and potentially harming their pets. They simply have different needs and should be given the food that’s intended for them.
Cats especially need taurine, an amino acid that prevents blindness and heart and lung problems; arachidonic acid, a fatty acid; and nutrients not necessarily included in commercial dog food, like preformed vitamin A, which can be found only in animal tissue. Cat foods are made with the things your baby needs, so be certain he or she gets them.
Innova EVO Cat and Kitten Dry Cat Food (6.6-lb bag)
EVO Cat & Kitten food was created to supply the key nutritional benefits of a raw food diet in a safe and convenient manner. EVO can be fed exclusively as a total diet for your pet or in combination with a raw diet to provide a solid nutritional base of the important vitamins and minerals your feline might otherwise be missing.
All cat and dog lovers want to keep their babies safe and healthy, but like with children – there’s only so much we can do. We try to remove things they might choke on, trip over, knock down, or bring tumbling down upon themselves (Like Alexa and the ironing board – I haven’t left mine set up since then and I never will again.) Of course, even when we think we’ve covered every possible base, accidents do sometimes still manage to happen.
One area that we have total control over, however, is an accident that can be deadly. We can take action to prevent our cat or dog from ever being poisoned by antifreeze. As Cat Age points out, antifreeze can be lethal to pets and children.
Apparently, antifreeze has a sweet, tempting flavor that’s impossible for a pet to resist. However, even a tiny amount can be deadly, so we need to take every precaution we can to make sure that never happens. Cat Age gives the following great tips.
* Keep kitty inside when flushing your radiator, and never drain it into gutters or onto the ground.
* Fix all radiator leaks, even if no antifreeze is dripping onto the ground. Cats can (and often will) crawl up into car engines to lick drops of antifreeze from leaky radiator caps.
* Store new and used antifreeze in a leakproof container.
* Promptly clean all spills.
* Don’t let your cat freely roam in your garage or outdoors. One stroll through a puddle of antifreeze, followed by paw licking, can result in death.
* Buy antifreeze with the bitter-tasting and less toxic propylene glycol instead of the sweet-tasting ethylene glycol. (All brands of antifreeze should be handled with the same precautions listed above.)
* If you suspect your cat has ingested antifreeze, get to the vet immediately. Irreversible kidney damage can occur within hours of ingestion. Lethargy, depression, and staggering are a few of the symptoms of ingestion, but some cats show no symptoms at all.
Check out Cat Age for a lot more articles and advice for caring for cats.
I’m writing these words on paper as I lie on our remarkably cold and unforgiving marble kitchen floor next to Alexa’s extra large training kennel. No, she hasn’t been a “bad girl,” she’s a hurt girl.
She’s in this cage to heal and protect herself from hurting herself any further and I’ll go to the computer to type this in as soon as my baby goes back to sleep.
Our little girl broke one of her back legs in two places Sunday when she tried to jump up on an ironing board. It gave way, toppled over on top of her and fell on one of her little legs.
Thankfully I found a veterinarian who said she’d meet us at the animal clinic. Why DO these things always happen on Sunday’s?
Alexa had to stay overnight at the animal hospital which, of course, meant that between the time I left her and 4:00 the next day when we were able to pick her up, I cried several rivers of tears. Geez, mothers. Everything was so different without her in the house. She’s always my constant companion and I found myself missing her terribly. When I made coffee, she wasn’t under my feet wanting to play, when I took my bath, she wasn’t on her nearby rug, when my husband checked his e-mail, she wasn’t on the table beside his computer demanding his attention (which she always gets!), when I checked mine, she wasn’t on the desk in front of me.. Basically, she wasn’t anywhere she was supposed to be.
And it was so quiet – I missed (and miss) her little meow. She’s a talker, which is why I love the picture of her above so much. It captures the true Alexa… talking!
She has a splint on her little hurt leg and it’s wrapped in special bright blue medical bandages all the way up her hip – creating a blue peg leg for a cat who isn’t a very happy little girl right now.
One of the workers at this animal clinic told Alexa she was “a gorgeous kitty.” I thought, “Yeah…that’s not going to help. She already knows that.” She’s very vain about her looks. Very.
It’s killing me, overtime, to see her so uncomfortable and miserable. I want to cry every time she meows in pain or frustration. Fortunately, she’s on pain medication so these meows have almost gone away – except when the little hard headed diva tries to move around in her cage in awkward directions.
I want to cry every time I see her so uncomfortable, but like most moms, I do a good job of staying brave when my baby’s watching. It’s when I’m away from her that the tears come.
I slept most of the night on the floor by her cage. I woke up several times and she was looking at me – making sure I was still there. I fell asleep with one of my hands inside her cage and woke up with her little face lying on it.
Comfortable? No Way. 35 minutes of No Way comfortable! – But I wasn’t about to disturb my baby.
Almost 20 minutes ago (around 8:00 am), Prissy and I were trying to do some laundry (my little 20 year old girl has always loved laundry time – even now that she’s lost her sight, she knows what the sounds of the dryer and washer mean and she comes running fast walking slowly). When Alexa woke up and saw that I wasn’t beside her cage, she “called” me to see if I wouldn’t mind dropping everything to lie beside her while she went back to sleep.
Like I said at the first of this post, I’m writing this as I’m lying next to Alexa’s cage…
She’s sleeping now – and hopefully healing godspeed.
If your pet is, at this moment, healthy and unbroken – say a prayer of thanks. And while you have God on the line, I’d really appreciate a prayer for our Alexa’s healing. The fastest, most pain free healing God can send. Filled with plenty of sleep. So far, it’s the only time she’s comfortable.
Thanks and, oh yeah, hug your pets!
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