Kitty Korner

Location of Litter Box

2008-09-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

Location, location, location. Just like in real estate where you place your cat's litter box can be of utmost importance. Put the litter box in the wrong spot and your cat may not use it.

Cats like privacy when doing their business so place the litter box in a quiet out of the way spot, somewhere where small children or other pets won't distrub them.

If cats get scared when using the litter box they may not go back there and find another spot to do their business.

If you place the litter box in the basement don't put it next to the furnace. If the furnace should kick on when your cat is using it, the noise could frighten her and she won't use it again.

If your cat stops using her litter box try changing the location of the litter box. If that doesn't work try changing the type or brand of cat litter.

Be sure to clean the litter box daily as cat's don't like to use dirty litter boxes.

Alternatives to Declawing Your Cat

2008-09-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

Your cat is ruining your furniture by sharpening her claws on it. What can you do to protect your furniture?

Declawing your cat is one solution, but this is a painful surgerical procedure.

One alternative to declawing are nail caps. These are caps that fit right over your cat's claws.

A special glue (comes with the nail caps) is applied to the claw, then simply put the nail cap on the claw. I have never used these caps so I don't know how long they last, but it sounds like an interesting idea.

Declawing Your Cat

2008-09-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

You are tired of your cat sharpening her claws on your furniture and decide to have her declawed to save your furnishing. But wait! Think twice before having your cat declawed.

Most people are under the impression that's it a simple process. That the vet merely yanks out the claw and that is that. There is way more to it than that.

The process of declawing (onychectomy) involves removing part of the toe and will result in sore and swollen paws for up to two weeks.

Also to limit the risk of infection, you will have to replace the regular kitty litter in her litter box with shredded newspaper so her paws don't get infected.

In some cases the cat will stop using her litter box totally after declawing. Experts think this is because cats associate digging in the litter box with the pain in their paws.

Cats can be taught to use a scratching post instead of your furniture to sharpen their claws. Take a little time to teach her because taking the drastic step of amputating her toes.

A Trip to the Vet's

2008-09-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

I took Eckles into my home on a Sat and on the following Monday I called the vet to make an appointment for a checkup to make sure she was healthy. They had an opening that afternoon or I could wait until the following week for an appointment. I decided to take her in that day.

I didn't have a cat carrier. I debated whether or not to take her in the box I brought her home in. I decided to go out and buy a carrier as I would probably need it down the road.

Of course she didn't want to go in the carrier and when we got in the exam room at the vet's she didn't want to come out.

The vet declared her in good health. He didn't think she had been spayed, but he couldn't be 100% certain. After poking and proding her he said he couldn't feel any kittens, so she wasn't pregnant. I hadn't even thought of that possibility!

After Eckles got her distemper shot we were set to go home. I guess Eckles wanted to get out of there as she walked back into her carrier all by herself.

Eckles was scrawny when I got her and with regular feedings she quickly gained weight. My first thought was that she was pregnant. I'm thinking she got pregnant just before I brought her home and that early in the pregnancy the vet couldn't feel the kittens.

I would study her stomach to see if I could see any kittens kicking and counted off the weeks on my fingers. After eight weeks, and with no kittens showing up, I breathed a sign of relief.

I have had Eckles for about a year and a half now. She is such a nice cat, I'm glad I took her in. She likes to sit on my lap and sometimes will sleep on my bed at night.

Crazy Cat Lady

2008-08-28T10:35:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my blog.

As I am just starting this blog, let me introduce myself. My name is Barb, I live in upstate New York, single, own my own home, and feed three cats. So I guess that makes me the crazy cat lady of the neighborhood.

My main cat, Eckles, is strickly an indoor cat. Jake is mostly an outdoor cat. And Hannibal is a feral cat who shows up at dawn and dusk for food.

I'll be posting more about these cats and how they came into my life as well as photos of Eckles and Jake. I'll also be posting information and tidbits about cat care so check back often.