Cat Problems and Answers

Alley Cat Allies introduces Trapping Cats: How to Trap an Entire Colony. This video walks you through all the steps involved in planning, organizing, and implementing a full scale, entire colony trapping. It is important to trap all the cats in a colony at (or around) the same time to lower the amount of time and resources devoted to that particular colony. This video includes information on the equipment you will need, tricks of the trade for hard to trap cats, and advice to help keep the cats as calm as possible through the entire experience.

Duration : 0:8:22

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Figure out which type of bed works best for your cat and living situation in this free video.

Expert: Dr. Adrienne Mulligan
Bio: Dr. Adrienne Mulligan graduated from veterinary school at North Carolina State University in 1993, and now owns the Camp Verde Veterinary Clinic in Camp Verde, Arizona.
Filmmaker: Chuck Tyler

Duration : 0:1:14

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Question:

Hey! So I have three cats and I have bought several litter boxes for them to use and I even bought them a cat genie. Although they use those sometimes, for some reason they love to go toathe bathroom on the rugs in my dining room. I’ve bought several sprays and tried them but the haven’t been effective and spraying them with water doesn’t work either. Does anyone know of any homemade concoctions that might help? Thanks !

Answer:

Have you tried the enzymatic/enzyme destroying sprays. If you completely soak the stains in these sprays they will completely destroy the remnants of urine that other sprays only cover up for awhile. Also I just want to double check that it is all of the cats doing this, not just one which would indicate a health problem such as a uti or crystals in the urine that make it painful to urinate resulting in the cats avoiding their regular place of urination as they associate it with the pain. Doesn’t sound like that is the problem though. I don’t know of any home remedy’s (other than taping your carpet which I don’t think you want to do) but many pet store sell a cat pheromone spray that could come in handy here. Basically (once you have entirely rid the area of any remaining urine smell) you spray it on the area and it mimic the “happy” scent that cats leave behind with their scent glands to let other cats know the area is nice and safe. Then when the cats go to the carpet they will not want to urinate there. You may want to actually place a litter box directly on the carpet for awhile and slowly move it away over time. If all else fails and this is not a health problem they may just be stressed and asserting themselves as dominant over each other this way. The vet can give you some pills(kitty prozac) that will calm the cats down and stop the inappropriate urination if stress is the cause. Lastly, I’m assuming your cats are fixed and not just spraying, if not it is unlikely you will be able to stop this behavior as they will continue to mark their territory.

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Question:                                                                                                                                     I have a cat who is disturbed, he bites attacks, and growls, how do we make him an enjoyable pet?

Answer:
My cat does that when I make him mad. Anyway, try using spray bottles filled with water, and spray him when he is bad. If that doesn’t work, try scaring him (not too scared) and he will probably not want to do it (or get scared) Again! Note: with spray bottles, ONLY USE WATER! anything else could poison them.

We have a cat, almost 2, who is very loveable and social. She comes running when we get home, she is always in the same room as the family or following us around the house. She does not hide away and sleep. We are getting a new puppy this weekend and I am sure she is going to feel left out and not like this new family member for awhile. What can I do to help her? I am hoping since the cat is so sociable, in a few months she will love having another family pet around. I just dont know how to go about it other than to be sure to keep on giving Lucy(or cat) attention. Any advice? Not to worry there is no way we would EVER declaw our cat for ANY reason The new puppy is a Shih zu poodle mix
No matter what the personality of your cat, it WILL hate this new creature in its territory…in the beginning. Be it a cat or a dog, your cat does not want to share its domain with anybody but you guys. The good news is that they WILL cohabit in peace. They may become best friends, or simply learn to tolerate one another. Here are some tips for a successful introduction: 1) Have somebody else bring the puppy over to your home. Ask a neighbor, friend or relative to ring your door bell and bring the puppy and then leave it. This is far better than you bringing the puppy inside, which your cat will resent you personally for. 2) Do not force any kind of interaction between the 2 animals, but supervise closely any spontaneous interactions. Make sure that both your cat and the puppy are out of harm’s way. Allow your cat to verbalize her aggression to her heart’s content. Let her growl, let her hiss, let her be a cat. I cannot stress this enough. You only want to intervene if there is physical aggression. Let the two animals communicate in their natural ways. If the puppy gets rambunctious with your cat, your puppy very well may get a warning swat. So long as the puppy responds by leaving your cat alone, great. If not, it WILL learn the hard way. If physical aggression errupts, you need to be the dominant “animal” and make the aggressor submit to you (knock the animal on its side and gently, but firmly hold it down until it is calm.) This works in both cats and dogs. You need to let the aggressor know you do not approve and that the behavior is unacceptable. 3. Never let your dog corner your cat or vice versa. Both animals need an escape route. For a cat, this is usually a vertical escape! Where you might normally scold your kitty for jumping on the counters, you might let it get away with it under these circumstances. 4. Have patience! Little by little, their interactions will be less tense. Show equal love and affection to both animals. Reward them when they are good and don’t punish them just because they act out in fear. Every animal is different. It could take 2 weeks, it could take several months. The good news is that your gregarious cat is a great candidate for sharing its home with a new puppy. I predict they will be BFFs! Good luck!

Well, it was recomended that we get our 12 month old female american short hair a little 4 legged friend. i hear it makes them more comfortable and offers companionship. at one point i even heard it can extend their life time. so any advice? and she is a house cat w/o leaving. and what should i do in reguards to feeding and ltiterbox ect..
You may want a second litterbox if you get another cat, especially if they don’t get along at first. You don’t want one accidentally cornering the other in the box if they aren’t used to each other- there could be a fight. Also don’t feed them very close together at first, so they won’t get nervous at mealtime and fight. As they get to know each other you can move their dishes closer together. Make sure they always have enough to eat so there is no fighting over food. You may want to add another water dish (not right next to the one you have now). I’d recommend an older female cat if your cat isn’t used to being around other animals. You can ask at your local animal shelter, and they can try to find a cat who will be more likely to get along with the one you have now. Once you bring the new cat home, give them time to get used to each other. Don’t try to force them to get along, but do make sure both of them see you petting and playing with the other. That is what I’ve done when I’ve introduced new cats, and usually if one sees the other getting pet/ combed/ playtime, that one will move in a little closer to get in on the action, and once they’ve played together or have been groomed together they’ll be more likely to get along without problems.

I am getting my daughter a cat next week. I am not an animal person, so I need some good advice. What is the best cat litter to buy? What is the best cat (kitten) food to buy? How often do you have to bath your cat and what is the best shampoo to use for your cat? Which would be better, male or female cat? And what about toys and sleeping bed for the cat? This will be an inside only cat. Please feel free to add any additional information that may be helpful. Since I don’t like cats, but I am trying to be positive for my daughter, I want to start things out right.
In my opinion: The best cat litter is Special Kitty–it’s a crystal blend and it is scoop-able. Buy litter box liners, too. You won’t regret it! I feed my cats Iams indoor formula. It has all the right nutrients. I strongly advise against moist food because it can cause teeth and gum disease. Don’t bathe your cat! Most cats keep themselves clean; especially house cats. If you think they need a little cleaning, use wet wipes and clean them that way; it gets rid of excess hair, too. I have a female and male. If you get a male you’ll want to neuter it as soon as you can. Many times unneutered male cats will mark their territory–had a friend who’s male cat peed in her stove. Toys yes; there are many, many types. A bed? Maybe, but usually the cat will choose it’s own special place. If your cat will NEVER, EVER go outside, I recommend having it’s front claws removed. It will save your furniture … Cats are wonderful! They are independent, don’t need a lot of attention and very smart. Good luck!