Entertain your cat while you’re at work

October 23, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

Some cat owners worry that while they are away at work that their cat will sleep all day and become sedentary. There are a few tricks that you can do to entertain your cat during the day or when you are away.

Adopting another cat if you only have one, may be the solution. This works very well if the cat is still a kitten or younger. Two young cats will play and entertain themselves quite nicely. As they get older, they will provide company for each other. If you have an older cat, be sure to introduce the cats by keeping the new cat in a room alone. You will know when it is time to let the two cats get together when the resident cat sits by the door where the new cat is being kept. Do not force the cats to interact, let them do it on their own.

Cats love to explore boxes and paper bags. You can design a maze of boxes by cutting holes in the sides and attaching them together. You can also leave open paper bags (shopping size) around the house.

Making a window available for a cat, either with a chair, wide window sill or a cat perch designed for a window is also a way for a cat to enjoy being alone. If you hang a bird feeder outside the window the cat will enjoy watching the birds for hours. Make sure that the available window is by a sunny side of the room because cats love to sit in the sun.

If there are no dogs in the house, you can hide cat treats for the cat to find. Do not let the cat see you hide the treats the cat may get wise to the treat hiding game. If your cat gets wise to the game, lock the cat in one room while you hide the treats. Your cat will have a lot of fun hunting for the treats.

Be sure to include lots of toys for your cat to play with. Adding new and different toys will keep the cat interested. You can remove a few toys each week and add different ones, rotating the toys will make the old ones seem new to the cat.

Some cats enjoy soothing music, such as classical music or easy listening music. If your cat likes music play it while you are gone.

With a little thought and planning you can keep your cat happy and entertained while you are away. Your cat will appreciate it and help prevent separation anxiety.

Understanding cats

October 3, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

Just like any other animal, cats have a wide range of personalities from very shy and demure to the warrior cat who likes to attack and chase everything in sight. It is very difficult to evaluate a cat or kitten’s true personality before selecting one to take home. This is especially true for cats and kittens that are being adopted from a rescue or shelter because they will not have the opportunity to exhibit their true personality in that environment.

What can a cat owner do if their cat is the warrior cat who likes to get into and chase everything, even your feet when you walk? The first thing to do if it has not already been done is to spay or neuter your cat which will help calm the cat.

Next, be sure that your cat is on a high quality diet. It is has been my experience that nothing you buy at the super market is a high quality brand of food. I personally recommend Wysong or Annamaet.

What many people fail to understand is that a cat needs quality time with you playing with toys. Do not allow the cat to play with any part of your body or on your body. If your cat does try to do this, gently put them off of your body and say no. If your cat bites or claws you say “ouch” in a high pitched voice and remove the cat. Make sure that you ignore the cat for a few minutes after that. Only interact with your cat if the cat plays gently, which reinforces gently play.

If your cat does something you do not like, distract the cat from doing it by offering a favorite toy. When the cat focuses his attention on the toy instead of the bad behavior, praise the cat in a soothing voice.

Some cats like to have play sessions in the middle of the night and will wake their owners to join in the fun. If you do not want this to become a daily habit, do not get up. It is best to pretend to be asleep and ignore the cat. It may take a few nights but the cat will eventually give up trying to engage you in play.

What can help is to have a tiring (for the cat) play session before you go to bed, but pick a time that is convenient for you because it may become a daily habit and cats do not like changes in their routine.

A very busy cat might enjoy having another cat (or dog) as a companion. I always felt that adopting two kittens or cats at the same time works out the best rather than try to introduce a new adult cat later. Often cats are kept together in the rescue or shelter and have already bonded enough to live successfully together. Having a familiar companion can help the adopted cats’ make the transition to a new home easier. If you do adopt two cats, be sure to have at least two litter boxes for them. However, it is important that the litter boxes not be kept in the same location, or the cat will view the two boxes as one.

With a little planning, you can help your cat be everything you want him to be. Contrary to popular myth, cats can be trained and are happier when they understand the house rules. Consider purchasing one of the books available about clicker training cats. It is a very successful method to train cats.

Pet Toys

September 26, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

Note: This article is my opinion, based on my experiences with many dogs, cats and birds.

Pet owners spend a considerable amount of money on toys for their pets. Toys are important for pets; they give pets something to do and, in some cases, build the bond between the pet and owner. While I will refer mostly to dogs, this article applies to all pets.

It is important to realize that there is no regulatory body for pet toys. What that means is that manufacturers can use whatever material they choose to make pet toys. Unfortunately, many of the products that are available are not safe, either because of a chewing or a toxic substance risk.

When picking a toy for your pet, you should consider the type of animal it is and what it likes to do. Dogs like to fetch, toss and chew and shred toys. This satisfies their natural hunting instinct. Cats like to chase, pounce, carry and sometimes tear up toys.

Birds generally like to tear apart, peck and toss toys. Although many birds play with toys in various ways. I had a budgie who liked to “herd” plastic balls into a tight group.

When considering a toy for a pet, keep in mind that if there is a risk associated with the toy, the risk increases if the pet is small. This is because it takes less material to block their intestines and less toxins to make them sick or kill them. This is why a pet owner should carefully evaluate what toy they give their pet.

I feel that toys for dogs pose the most risks because dogs tend to chew and eat pieces of their toys more than other pets. Know how your dog likes to play with a toy before you pick one out for him. Some dogs will totally destroy a stuffed toy or a plastic one. Other dogs like to carry a toy around and will not destroy it. Many dogs are obsessed with getting the squeaker out of a toy that has one. My terrier is a squeaker killer. He will work on a toy almost endlessly until he gets the squeaker out. Then for the most part, he loses interest in the toy.

Puppies almost always chew a toy until it is destroyed and they are more likely to eat the pieces of the toy. For this reason, plastic toys are a higher risk for puppies. Regardless if your dog is a puppy or an adult, plastic toys in general are the highest risk.

Because dogs like to chew and destroy toys, they are less likely to play with the chew-proof variety of toy. Some of the hard nylon toys are coated with a scent and when the coating wears off, the dog loses interest in the toy. Stuffed toys pose a problem because the stuffing, which can be ingested and not digested. The stuffing in most dog and cat toys are fiber fill which is a form of plastic and can block intestines.

If a dog owner is going to give their dog one of the many products on the market designed to clean the dog’s teeth while they chew the toy, be sure to check the ingredients. Most dental chews for dogs are only 96% digestible. What is the other 4%? Some of these products have plastic in them to make them last longer.

Those chew products that are designed to be eaten, should break down in five to ten minutes when placed in water, if not, it is a high risk for your dog. These types of products can block a dog’s intestines. Because of a dog’s short digestive tract, these products do not have enough time to break down if they can break down at all.

This is also true of any rawhide product. I personally do not approve of any animal product such as cow hooves, pig’s ears and rawhide. These products are often treated with formaldehyde as a preservative and cured in arsenic. Many people think that rawhide comes from a butcher, but in reality, rawhide comes from a tannery. Also, keep in mind that any wild domestic canine does not eat bones, skin or hooves.

This is evident when you see a dead deer along the roadside. After everything, animal, bird and insect are finished feeding on the carcass, the things left are hide, hooves and bones. The main risks for letting a dog eat rawhide are contamination, choking hazard, and intestinal blockage. A number of pet related organization discourage giving dogs rawhide.

(https://m.facebook.com/PlanetPawsMedia/photos/a.114414471966777/883417478399802/?type=3&p=30)

Rope toys are acceptable if your dog does not chew them and swallow the threads. The safest rope toy is one made of cotton instead of nylon. Cotton has a better chance of breaking down if it is ingested whereas the nylon will not.

It is never a good idea to give a dog old shoes or slippers because of the chemicals used to make them. It is especially difficult for a puppy to understand that old shoes and slippers are OK to play with, but new shoes and slippers are not. If you insist on giving your dog rawhide remember that rawhide comes from a tannery and dogs have a very sophisticated sense of smell. Therefore, a dog of any age can smell the similarity between rawhide and other leather products, which include furniture, gloves, jackets and briefcases.

Bones are not a good choice for dogs either. Again, it is not natural for dogs to eat bones. Many of the “natural” bones have bacteria on them that can harm both dogs and people who handle them. Some of the stuffed bones that are treated can be safer for a dog who likes bones. The danger associated with bones are splinters from the bone and bacteria.

The bottom line is to know your dog. If a toy becomes small enough to swallow it should be taken away from the dog. By knowing your dog’s play habits you will be able to decide what toy is safe for them to play with. The best toy is one that allows you to interact with your dog, playing fetch games, chase games or whatever your dog likes. If you understand your dog’s breed, it will guide you to selecting the right toy for your dog. All dogs and cats can benefit from puzzle toys and treat dispensing toys. The main thing is to keep your pet safe and happy.

Noise related seizures in older cats

July 18, 2025July 18, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

Many people do not realize that older cats can suffer from noise related seizures. Typically cats between the ages 10 -19 years old, seem to suffer from seizures induced by high pitched noise. The most common culprits are, in order: crinkling tin foil; a metal spoon hitting a ceramic bowl; tapping a glass; crinkling paper or plastic bags; tapping computer keys or a mouse; clinking coins or keys; hammering a nail; and clicking of the owners tongue. Less common causes the sound of breaking tin foil from packaging; mobile phone texting and ringing; digital alarms; Velcro, stove igniting ticks; running water; firewood splitting; the sound of a computer printer; walking across a floor with bare feet; tags on a collar jangling; and squeaky shoes.

This phenomenon was discovered by the veterinarian neurologists at Davies Veterinary Specialists in the United Kingdom when they were approached by a charity, the International Cat Care, for help with older cats that were experiencing seizures. It has been labeled “feline audiogenic reflex seizures or FARS.

The Veterinarians found that the loudness of the sounds also played a part in triggering the seizures and interestingly, that it affects all cats, both pedigreed and non-pedigreed, but that the Birman cat seemed more likely to suffer from noise induced seizures.

Another study is being conducted to determine the best way to treat noise induced seizures. Currently, it has been found that the medication levetiracetam also known as Keppra, helps the cats.

As a cat ages, it is always a good idea to have a geriatric profile done yearly (ages 7 – 10) to determine the overall health of your cat. This test can show if there are organ/health issues that can be treated before they become life threatening.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150427163638.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fplants_animals%2Fanimals+%28Animals+News+–+ScienceDaily%29

http://www.diamondbackdrugs.com/levetiracetam-for-seizures-in-pets/

Do you really want a dog?

July 16, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

There are many reasons why people decide to get a dog (or any other pet). It is important to think it through before making a decision. Although this article focuses on dogs, it applies to any type of pet.

Consider the following:

Do I have the time to care for a dog? Training, housebreaking, exercise, grooming and daily interaction.

Can I afford the cost of the dog throughout its lifetime? Costs include purchasing or adopting the dog, food, veterinary bills, grooming, spay/neuter, boarding, possibly fencing and space for the dog.

Do I have time for the extra housework a dog will cause? Some breeds shed a great deal, muddy paws, accidents.

Is it OK to have a dog where I live and will live in the future? Does my job require frequent moves, if I rent, am I allowed to have a dog, do I travel a lot, what about vacations?

Are any family members willing to help care for the dog? Are there family members who would be hindered by a dog running around the house?

Am I willing to make the commitment to care for the dog for its lifetime? Nothing is worse than abandoning a family pet, isolating the dog or neglecting its needs. Dogs are social animals and suffer mentally the same as a person would if they are neglected.

Be sure you understand the type or breed of dog that you want. Not all dogs will fit into your lifestyle or home. Know what training requirements, grooming, exercise, and medical issues that are involved with that type of dog.

If you decide to add a dog to your home, it is important to be educated about where to get the dog.

Animal shelters or rescue groups

These are often the first place a person will look for a dog. Keep in mind that neither of these agencies may know the history of the dog(s) that they have for adoption. A dog that is housed in a shelter or rescue group will not behave the same as when it is adopted. It takes about six months for a dog to adjust to a new home. The first six months is the “honeymoon” period and the dog’s behavior may change after six months. Also keep in mind that some people do not tell the truth about why they have given the dog up for adoption. They believe that someone else will be able to fix the dog’s behavior issues. That being said, it is possible to get an excellent pet from these agencies.

Friends, neighbors, newspaper ads, pet shops or the internet

These are the riskiest places to get a dog. A good, quality breeder will not allow their puppies to be sold through these venues. Most breeders have waiting lists for puppies. The above-mentioned sources are often backyard breeders or commercial breeders who have little or no knowledge about breeding quality dogs. Pet shops and newspaper/internet ads often get their dogs from puppy mills where the dogs are bred at every heat, forced to live in horrible conditions, receive no socialization or handling by people, are not tested for genetic diseases, are malnourished, are not true to the breed and are often not purebred.

That means the dog may not behave or look like it is supposed to. The latest trend are designer dogs which are cross-bred dogs. These do not adhere to any standard and there is no proof other than a DNA test to ensure that they are the mix advertised.

Some of these sources will provide AKC or other types of “papers” with the dog but papers are often forged or misrepresent the dog they are issued with. No registry organization guarantees that the dog is a quality dog or even that it is pure. Often pet shops purchase their puppies from a broker who is a middleman. The price is inflated and the poor-quality puppy may cost more than a well-bred dog from a reputable breeder. The other disadvantage of getting a dog from these sources is that the seller is in the business of making a profit, therefore they will sell a puppy to anyone without discussing the characteristics of the breed or try to match the buyer with the right type of dog.

What about papers?

Many people think that if the dog is registered that the papers ensure that the dog is top quality. The reality is that few dogs bred by quality breeders are show quality. Some breeders only produce working lines but even then, there is no guarantee that the dog will perform as expected. Some people can falsely report the number of puppies in a litter and then give an unrelated puppy registration papers. Unfortunately, there are registries that specialize in registering puppy mill dogs and dogs that did not have papers to begin with.

These registries help breeders that cannot meet the national registry requirements or have been banned from registering dogs because they are puppy mills. Papers on a dog are only as good as the information reported to the registering body, the registering body does not check the breeder or dogs.

Puppy Mills

Some people do not understand that puppy mills exist throughout the world. All puppy mills operate under the same basic conditions.

Dogs are bred indiscriminately without regard to health, breed characteristics, temperament, and physical type for the breed. Often the puppies are not pure. Many of these dogs are inbred for many generations causing severe health issues.

After a lifetime be being bred every six months in horrible conditions, such as overcrowding, poor shelter, living in their own waste, lack of good food, water and veterinary care, these dogs are killed when they cannot produce puppies.

Many of the puppies are shipped through a broker and suffer the stress of a long trip, often in the back of a hot or freezing truck/van, and suffer physical and mental health issues as a result. They are taken from their mother too young.

Getting a purebred puppy

Be sure to research the breed or type of dog that you want. Understand the physical aspects of the breed, (for example some breeds drool a lot), the health issues, exercise requirements, training requirements, and grooming needs.

Once you have narrowed down the type of dog you want, find a good quality reputable breeder. Nationally recognized registries are a good place to start. Some breeds such as the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie have their own internationally recognized registries. Each country has its nationally recognized registry such as the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, and so on. Some states have a Federation of Dog Clubs which is another excellent source of information. (If anyone wants a free brochure that I have written about how to select the right dog and breeder please feel free to contact me for a copy).

It would be to your advantage to hire a certified canine behavior consultant (iaabc.org) to help you evaluate a potential litter/puppy. It is true that puppies go through developmental stages, but a good behavior consultant can often pick out potential problems if any exist.

Be wary if a breeder has multiple litters at the same time or the dogs live in a kennel and do not receive much attention. These breeders may keep their dogs in better conditions than a puppy mill, but the dogs are still neglected in a number of ways. Also avoid situations where the dogs are bred by people who put out a handmade sign advertising puppies for sale. There are cultural/religious groups who run puppy mills as a source of income.

Getting an adult dog

Some people do not have the patience or desire to go through the first year of raising and training a puppy. The advantage of getting an older dog is that what you see is what you get for the most part. Many adult dogs are in need of a good home because of their owner’s situation, not because the dog has a major problem. Often breeders retire dogs after their show career and when they are too old to breed any longer. A good breeder may retire a bitch after two or three litters. That means that the dog is still young. A potential show dog that did not make it may also be available for adoption.

In many cases if a dog’s owner cannot keep their dog, they will return the dog to the breeder to be placed. And again, a shelter or rescue group may also have wonderful dogs for adoption. It is a great kindness to adopt a senior dog who may have been given up because the owner had to retire to a facility where they could not have the dog. This will ease the pain of separation for both the owner and the dog if the dog finds a loving home.

Contracts

It is not unusual for a breeder or an organization to require that you sign a contract to purchase or adopt a dog. Make sure that you read the contract carefully and better yet, take it to a lawyer for review. Some commercial breeders will give you a bitch at no cost if you promise to let them breed the dog a number of times. Often the dog’s owner must pay for all of the expenses and then they cannot have a puppy from the breeding to sell to recoup the cost of birthing and raising the litter. What happens is that after the dog’s owner has met the required number of litters, they will breed the bitch themselves to make some money. At no time is the bitch evaluated to be worthy of breeding or are the puppies judged to be a good quality. It is simply a way to mass produce puppies and claim that they are “home raised.”

Another clause in a contract may say that the breeder will withhold registration papers until the dog is either neutered or spayed. This is to ensure that non-show quality puppies are not bred. This is actually a good thing to promote the breeding of quality dogs only.

Be careful when reading a contract and look for empty guarantees. They will look something like this: “We guarantee that this puppy (fill in the blank).” There is no statement as to what the breeder will do if the puppy does not turn out as it was guaranteed. While it sounds nice on paper, it is an empty guarantee. Or the guarantee will require that you return the dog to the breeder for another puppy. The breeder knows that most people will be too attached to their dog to give them up, therefore they get out of their guarantee. If the dog develops a severe problem, would you want another puppy from that breeder? I would hope not. The bottom line is that no breeder can honestly guarantee anything about a puppy since genetics is not that exact and the breeder has no control about how the owner has treated or taken care of the puppy/dog. The breeder can guarantee that at the time you receive the puppy it is healthy. Make sure to take the puppy to a veterinarian within days after bringing the puppy home.

Almost all shelters and rescue groups will require an adoptive owner to sign a contract that guarantees that the puppy/dog will be neutered or spayed and often, if you cannot keep the dog, that it will be returned to the agency that adopted it to you. This is a good thing.

Training the dog

Regardless of how old your dog or puppy is when you bring him home, you should take it for training. If you have adopted an older dog, the training may not be necessary for the dog, but it will help you and your dog bond and learn to understand each other. Everyone handles a dog differently so your dog needs to learn about you as much as you need to learn about the dog. Puppies of course, need training. The best time to start a puppy is about two weeks after you bring him home. You can start teaching a puppy basic rules until he is old enough to go to a puppy kindergarten class. Do not wait until your puppy is six months old to start training. Even if you do not formally train your dog right away, your puppy/dog will be learning anyway and often he will make up the rules to suit his own needs and desires. With careful thought and consideration, getting a dog can be one of the most enjoyable things in your life. It would be wise to review this article each time you want to add a pet to your household. Feel free to ask me any questions

Do it yourself anti-cancer diet for pets

July 3, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

While this article is old, it does have important information for pet owners to consider. According to the article adding the Budwig diet to your pets daily diet can go a long way to prevent cancer in dogs and cats.

Some of the breeds that are more susceptible to cancer are:

Bengals (cats)
Boxers
Great Danes
Labradors and many of the Retriever breeds
Persians (cats)
Rottweilers
Saint Bernards
Scottish Terriers
Siamese (cats)

According to the article the following are some of the contributors to cancer:

Over-vaccination
Overuse of topical chemicals and flea and tick medications
Lawn treatment
Fluoridated water
Obesity
Certain pet food ingredients

Some of these pet food ingredients include:

Ethoxyquin
By-products
Dyes
Molds/fungi
Simple carbohydrates like corn, wheat, and soy

The diet was discovered by Dr. Johanna Budwig a German Biochemist. Dr. Budwig found that two ingredients helped prevent cancer.

Budwig Recipe:

2 tablespoons flaxseed oil, fresh, refrigerated

1/4 cup cottage cheese, organic

Mix together so that the cottage cheese is no longer oily. If it is still oily, add more cottage cheese.

Feed this mixture to your pet two or three times a day every day on an empty stomach. Wait one hour to feed a regular meal.

Every day. Feed 1-2 teaspoons for cats, up to ½ cup twice a day for large breed dogs.

Make fresh at each meal. Flax seeds can be used but should be ground fresh then mixed into cottage cheese.

A DIY anti-cancer recipe for your pet – Truth about Pet Food

A DIY anti-cancer recipe for your pet

Getting a cat used to riding in a vehicle

June 19, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

Many cats do not like to travel in a vehicle of any kind. If their only trip in a car is to the veterinarian once or twice a year, they will learn to dislike the car even more. With a little bit of training, cats can learn to at least, tolerate a car ride.

The best way to train a cat to like riding in a car is to start when they are young around ten weeks old. The kitten should be bonded to you and feel safe with you.

Start by finding a special treat that your cat likes. Have an open carrier in your house that the cat can freely go in and out of. Put the treat in the carrier. When the cat accepts the carrier, close it and let the cat sit in it for a few minutes. When the cat is OK with this step, gently pick the carrier up, hold it and then put it down and let the cat out.

Once the cat is comfortable being moved in the carrier, put the cat in the carrier and close it, then walk a short distance in your home. Return to the place where the carrier stays and then let the cat out giving the cat a treat.

When you get to the point where you can walk around your home with the cat in the carrier and the cat is comfortable, walk outside of your home with the cat. Stand briefly and then go back into your home letting the cat out of the carrier when you place the carried in its usual place.

Following the same routine, work your way to your car. When you put the carrier in the car, sit with your cat, giving the cat its treat right away. After about three minutes, bring the cat back into the house. Do this as many times a day as you can. As you increase the time in the car, you can play with the cat briefly so that they associate nice things with the car.

Once the cat is comfortable with this step, increase the time you sit in the car with the cat. You do not want your cat to think that they only have to be in the car for a short period of time. Fifteen minutes seems to be the magic number. So when your cat is comfortable for fifteen minutes you can go on to the next step, which is to start the car but do not move or drive the car.

When your cat is comfortable sitting in the car in its carrier with the car running, you can drive the car slowly for a few feet. Then park the car in its original space and then bring the cat back into the house following the same routine that you have established.

When the cat is comfortable feeling the car move, you can take short, one mile or less, drives, gradually increasing the distance as the cat adjusts to riding in a moving car. If your cat is especially nervous avoid high traffic areas, lots of stop and go and car honking if you can.

The last step, which will help your cat, is to drive to your veterinarian office and with approval of your veterinarian, walk into the office with your cat in the carrier, say “Hi” to the receptionist and give your cat a treat and leave. This way the cat will associate going to the veterinarian’s with treats and no stress.

Once you have accustomed your cat to driving, you must maintain the training by taking the cat for a ride. Cats are different and you will have to judge based on your cat if your cat needs a refresher course once a week or once a month. If you get your cat used to the car and then do nothing, the cat will have to go through the training all over again to get used to the car.

Keeping your cat comfortable riding in a car is pleasant for both you and the cat. No one likes to drive to the veterinarian with their cat crying in a carrier. It adds to the stress the cat feels and makes the veterinarian visit hard on you, the cat and the veterinarian.

An added benefit to training a cat to ride comfortably is that in situations where people have to move to a new home, the trip is less stressful for the cat.

Cats need exercise

April 3, 2025 / susanbulanda / 1 Comment

Everyone knows that dogs need to be exercised, but often people don’t realize that cats need exercise too. When they are young, cats will play and amuse themselves, but as they get older, they tend to play less. It is beneficial for older cat to exercise, and playing with your cat is one way to do this. Cats often prefer toys that move or fly such as toys on a sting. Many cats love to pounce on a plain string that is pulled along the ground. Fortunately there are several toys designed to both play with and exercise your cat. By playing with your cat you also foster a positive bond.

You may have to experiment with simple toys to see what your cat likes. I have owned cats that loved to play with a wadded tissue tied with a string. A wadded tissue is easy for the cat to pick up and carry and cost next to nothing. Some cats love the craft puff balls, or ones that make a crackling sound.

Cats that are deaf or blind can also play with toys. If the cat is blind a toy that works best is one that makes some sound, even if it is the sound of it going across the floor.

Cats can benefit from having the ability to go outside for exercise, venting energy and soaking up some sun. This is especially beneficial for the multi-cat household, since letting cats exercise can help them get along. However, the main problem in letting cats go outdoors is keeping them safe and at home. Purr…fect Fence offers a solution to this problem by offering an easy to install poly mesh system. They also offer a converter kit to make existing 5 – 6-foot fences cat proof.

Many people are surprised that you can train a cat to do tricks and obey basic commands. The best way to train a cat is to use the clicker training method. Cats enjoy interaction with their owners. Clicker training also helps cats that have been adopted and may have been feral for a period of time. Many zoo animals have been easier to handle after they are clicker trained.

Cats are very social and enjoy the company people and other animals. However, some cats are more social than others, they have as many different personalities as dogs.

Cat fence information: www.purrfectfence.com, email info@purrfectfence.com or call 888-280-4066

Getting Started: Clicker Training for Cats by Karen Pryor

Cats love boxes, bags and warm laundry

March 27, 2025 / susanbulanda / 2 Comments

Cats enjoy boxes and other “secret” hiding places. But why? While no one knows for sure, some studies have shown when cats have boxes to hide in, they have lower stress levels, especially cats in rescues or shelters.

Cats generally enjoy going behind, into, under and on top of things. It provides a way to explore, satisfy their curiosity, provide exercise and practice hunting skills. Anyone who has watched cats play have seen them hide behind something and then pounce on anything, (dog, cat or you) that goes by. This can be great fun for the cat. It is especially funny to see kittens do this and after they pounce on their victim, bounce away on their toes, as kittens do. Cats enjoy paper bags, especially if you make scratching noises with your finger nails on the outside of the bag and slowly move your finger along the bag.

Cats may enjoy going in small places such as boxes, to keep warm or bury themselves in something soft such as blankets or clothes in an open hamper. Some cats learn to head for the clothes that have just come out of the dryer and if they can, settle down for a long, warm nap.

A careful cat owner will keep their cat’s safety in mind as they play. This is especially true around holidays, birthdays and other events where there can be empty boxes, wrapping paper, plastic wrap around the house. Children may not see a cat hiding and step on them, especially a young kitten.

Cats can also chew boxes, wrappings, paper, ribbons, strings and other tempting non-cat toys which can result in a trip to the veterinarian. While it is fun to watch a cat or kitten play with these things, they should never have access to anything that can harm them. Even if the owner is there to supervise the cat/kitten, things can happen so fast that you cannot prevent them.

So instead of spending a lot of money on cat toys, once in awhile give your cat a box to play in or a paper or reusable shopping bag to hide in. Your cats will love you for it.

http://phys.org/news/2015-02-cat-stress-access.html

Cats love secret hiding places

March 7, 2025 / susanbulanda / Leave a comment

Cats enjoy boxes and other “secret” hiding places. But why? While no one knows for sure, some studies have shown when cats have boxes to hide in they have lower stress levels, especially cats in rescues or shelters.