Taking Your Cat For A Walk

Our homes have been the homes of our pet cats. This does not mean however that you just have to keep them inside your house. You have to let them feel what is in the world outside. More than the basic needs of our cats, there are things like walking your cat outside that would surely help boost the total development of your cat.

When you take your pet for a walk, this would really be great for your cat pet. There are really great benefits from doing this activity. To do so would let your pet and you take a relieving break. Strolling around would entertain your pet and as well as stimulate it.

Another good thing about walking with your cat outdoors is that it would be able to overcome the boredom of being constrained inside your home. Just like us, cats also need to take some time and go outdoors. Being constrained may just make your pet depressed. It is really best to pamper your pet in the right way; to pamper your pet is not to keep him secluded from the outdoors.

Cats are not that expressive but studies show that behaviors of cats like scratching the furniture and others. This common behavior is one of the signs that may tell us that cats get bored too.

One thing more is that it could be the best form of exercise for your cat pet as well. There are cats which stay at home all the time that become overweight and to worse, become obese. We all know that this is not good and it could post a threat to the life of our pet.

Walking with your cats outdoors for it does not entail too much hassle, all you have to do is not only for your pet but it would surely entertain you as well. It would let you also spend some time outdoors, free from your busy schedule or the pressures of your tasks.

There are really good benefits when you walk your pet outdoors. You have to take time and feel the fun outside the walls of your home. It would definitely be a time to cherish, a time to savor.

Ear Mites

Ear mites are a common occurrence in pets and animals. Due to their ease and speed of spread, they can be transmitted extremely quickly between animals.

Cats and ferrets are the most likely pets to contract ear mites, however they can also occur in dogs and rabbits. There have been some known cases of human ear mite contraction as well, although this is quite rare.

One of the first signs of an ear mite infected animal is that he will be scratching and shaking his head around quite a bit. This is due to having thousands of tiny ear mites in the ear canal - the ear canal is extremely sensitive and any movement in there will cause extreme irritation and itchiness.

The next sign to look for is a brown crusty matter that will be noticeable when you look into the ear. This is caused by the serum from the ear lining which builds up. If not treated, this can turn into a fungal or bacterial infection, therefore it is mandatory that your pet is taken to a vet as soon as you suspect he may have contracted ear mites.

Sometimes you may be able to see very small white mites in the crusty debris. This is because these ear mites do not actually burrow into the ear, they simply live in the ear canal. Obviously if you can see white spots, your pet has ear mites and must be treated as soon as possible.

Your vet will advise on what action to take, however usually an injection or medication is given. Ivermectin is either injected or taken orally. There are special ear mite treatment products for cats as an alternative. These are used on the skin are effective for a month or so.

Ear mites need to be taken seriously and if you notice your pet displaying any sort of strange behavior relating to its ears, please see a vet as soon as possible.

How Old Are Kittens When They Open Their Eyes

When do Kittens Open Their Eyes
On of the greatest things to witness it the miracle of birth. Being an owner of cat that is expecting, with kittens is a wondrous thing. When kittens are born there and delicate ball of softness and fur which seem too dainty touch. Their survival depends solely on their mother. The mother supplies the nourishment to them as well as teaches them to relieve themselves and how to defend themselves and live amongst other creatures.

When a kitten is born, their ears are back and their eyes are closed, which means they are literally both blind and deaf. For humans, to look at the little newborn kittens, they find that they have a natural instinct to want to keep them warm and safe.

The best thing you can do is make sure that they are safe with their mother and their surroundings are safe so they will not hurt themselves or get into trouble once they start moving around.

Kittens are very weak when they first come into the world. The best they can do is crawl around their mothers side. This is all part of nature. This allows a mother to be able to keep up with each of the kittens in her litter. As they get older or their strength will improve and they will begin to walk.

Cats generally have very sensitive ears when they are born and that is only to help protect them. During their first few weeks of life their ears will continue to develop, keeping them closed and back, helps protect the very sensitive parts of the years as loud noises can hurt their ears. They're hearing will fully develop around 16 weeks of age.

Kittens are also born with a great sense of smell as their only contact with the world when they are firstborn is by smelling it. They cannot see it or hear it and have to rely solely on their sense of smell. Kittens get use to how certain things smell such as the mother and the humans around them.

They will hit us at things as they are not familiar just from their sense of smell. As to alert their mother that there is danger in the area. Many people wonder how long it will take to the kittens eyes actually open. It actually depends on the length of their fur. The cats with long hair will open their eyes much later than a short haired cat.

Some of the shorthaired kittens will actually get to see the world for the first time after just five to eight days from their date of birth. It may take up to 10 to 14 days for a long-haired kitten to open their eyes.

Litters that are mixed all have different rates of development where opening the eyes are concerned. Even when the eyes are completely open it can still take several weeks for them to grow into the special eyesight cats have. Cats truly are amazing creatures from them and that they're born until they become an adult cat.

Bring Home A Cat And You Just Might Live Longer

Having a pet could surely help you live a better life. In even the simplest effect, it could not be denied that pets bring this different aura to lives of people and it brightens a home.

Any pet may be that secret stepping stone in achieving a certain amusement or comforter but there is something that sets up all these benefits higher, and that is if you choose cats as pets.
What is with cats? What makes them so special?

Cats would really be great companions and friends.

Research shows that having cats as pets could really lighten up a person’s physiological, emotional and psychological side. This is very true. These benefits would really heal the wounds of solitude, age, stress and depression. In addition, cats are affectionate but less demanding, low maintenance and it would surely be very suitable for those who have a modern lifestyle.
Cats are confidence boosters.

It is believed that people who take care of pets are more likely to be caring than those who are not. When old or sick people have pet cats, it would surely give rise to their esteem they will not feel useless or unworthy. When a person feels being needed, it radiates a very optimistic mind. Kids or young people, when being entrusted to do the care for pets, they would feel confident and responsible as well. Another thing is that by taking care of cats and other animals, people learn how to take care of others too.

Cats as pets do also relieve you from stress

According to Medical studies, sitting on a chair, placing a cat on your lap and stroking its hair would let you feel comfortable and at peace. This would make you feel relaxed and would make you feel relieved from stress caused by whatever endeavor.

Cats as health angels

According to the Society for Companion Animal Studies, patients recover or live longer through animals. It has been discovered that having pets would definitely ease the cases of physiological or psychological impairment in people.

Cats as social catalysts

Cats as pets could let you drop your hesitations and shyness. It would tech you what the essence of being with others and exploring the world is. When you go with you cat, people would be interested and as a cat-lover, you would not hesitate to show your pet off.

Choosing a Cat or Kitten

One of the first things you will need to decide upon once it is sure that you will be adding a feline to your home is that of should I get Kitten or think about a rescue of a full grown Cat from the local shelter.

Kittens are often the best cats to start out with.

With a kitten you are starting with a clean slate and you will have a friend that will quickly bond with you. Kittens are excellent because they don’t have any bad habits yet and you can begin training them your rules right away.

Older cats are often best if you are a low energy person and you don’t have time to constantly be looking after a kitten to ensure they are not getting in any mischief.

Older cats have usually been spayed or neutered, may be declawed and their maintenance is much easier in terms of feeding and vaccinations. Ultimately, it will be up to you to determine if your lifestyle fits a kitten or an older cat.

The How to's of Keeping your Cat Worm Free

Let’s first start with how the indoor cat can get worms. Well, the most common way an indoor cat can get worms is by fleas jumping into your house from the outside. Fleas carry tape worm eggs in their lovely, little black bodies. Your cat grooms itself all day long, and will eat a flea or two here and there.

The cat obviously doesn’t go looking to flea graze off its own body, but ingests the fleas when trying to pick them of itself in the course of grooming. Or a cat will accidentally lap up a flea while licking its coat. The most classic sign of tape worm infestation is the appearance of small white tape worm segments around your cat’s back side or in its litter. As soon as you notice this you should contact your vet to receive strong tape worm medication that will eradicate the worm.

If you think that tape worm medication is poison, which I don’t know if it is or not as of this typing, you can also try herbal remedies. Garlic, black walnut hull and wormwood, are mentioned in many Internet sites as cleansing cat bodies of tape worms.

Do not use these unless you have done your own research first and have determined that it would be safe to administer to your cat. Scientific evidence of the effectiveness of these natural remedies may of course be hard to find, because it is very difficult to profit of off a naturally occurring substance.

The outdoor cat is exposed to a whole range of worms. They can get tape worms by coming in contact with the fecal matter of another cat. And this is extremely easy to do, a cat simply has to accidentally step in some, and then lick its paws to ingest some of the eggs of the tape worm. It is very easy for this to happen. That is why you should keep your cat away from areas inhabited by feral cats, because they will most likely have fleas which carry tapeworm eggs, and they will have tape worm larvae in their fecal matter.

Another way in which cats come in contact with worms is by eating other animals, like mice, shrews, squirrels, birds, and chipmunks. The roundworm for instance can be consumed by a cat when they eat the flesh of one of the aforementioned creatures.

Roundworms can be transmitted to humans from cats. So if you have children be sure to keep them away from any cat you suspect of being infected. And always keep your kids away from cat litter boxes. The roundworm is a very, very resilient creature infecting both flesh and intestines. They are not killed easily, thorough research needs to be done for the effective treatment of a cat when it is known to have a ringworm infestation.

If you trust your vet, then take their advice, and put your pet on a course of de-worming medication.

Cats in general can also get two other types of worms, hook worms and whip worms. These two types of worms are a bit rarer and more difficult to find with the naked eye. That is why you should always have a fecal sample from your cat examined.

The whip worm is a freak of nature, its eggs can survive freezing temperatures and remain in soil for many years. That is why you need to manage worms in your cats pro-actively. Worms have life cycles like no other creature, they infect flesh and intestines and can actually go dormant for long periods of time within the cat.

Some worms even awakening during pregnancy just to infect kittens. These are sophisticated parasites and should be taken seriously. Dispose of your cat waste properly so we can all keep worms away from our cats.

To read about how to properly protect your cat from serious illnesses visit this cat health insurance site to read about the most reliable cat insurance available.

Cats bring a New Outlook on Life

Having a pet could surely help you live a better life. In even the simplest effect, it could not be denied that pets bring this different aura to lives of people and it brightens a home. Any pet may be that secret stepping stone in achieving a certain amusement or comforter but there is something that sets up all these benefits higher, and that is if you choose cats as pets.

What is with cats? What makes them so special?

Cats would really be great companions and friends.

Research shows that having cats as pets could really lighten up a person’s physiological, emotional and psychological side. This is very true. These benefits would really heal the wounds of solitude, age, stress and depression. In addition, cats are affectionate but less demanding, low maintenance and it would surely be very suitable for those who have a modern lifestyle.

Cats are confidence boosters.

It is believed that people who take care of pets are more likely to be caring than those who are not. When old or sick people have pet cats, it would surely give rise to their esteem they will not feel useless or unworthy. When a person feels being needed, it radiates a very optimistic mind. Kids or young people, when being entrusted to do the care for pets, they would feel confident and responsible as well. Another thing is that by taking care of cats and other animals, people learn how to take care of others too.

Cats as pets do also relieve you from stress

According to Medical studies, sitting on a chair, placing a cat on your lap and stroking its hair would let you feel comfortable and at peace. This would make you feel relaxed and would make you feel relieved from stress caused by whatever endeavor.

Cats as health angels

According to the Society for Companion Animal Studies, patients recover or live longer through animals. It has been discovered that having pets would definitely ease the cases of physiological or psychological impairment in people.

Cats as social catalysts

Cats as pets could let you drop your hesitations and shyness. It would tech you what the essence of being with others and exploring the world is. When you go with you cat, people would be interested and as a cat-lover, you would not hesitate to show your pet off.

Cat and Kitten Diet Tips

Kittens will need a kitten food to ensure that they are receiving all of the nutrients they need to grow. When it comes to feeding your cat there are many options. There’s dry and there’s canned. There’s kitten and cat.

In general cats need only four main nutrients. They require a meat based protein, taurine, water and various vitamins and minerals. Kitten food includes all of these just more to give the kitty the necessary energy to grow and be healthy and this is the main difference between cat and kitten food.

For the first five weeks, the kitten will be nursing from its mother. At week five the kittens can start to be weaned. They may continue to nurse until they are eight to ten weeks old. Pet owners should feed the mother a kitten food to ensure that she is receiving all the necessary nutrients that she needs for herself and her kittens.

All animals have a higher nutrient requirement when they are pregnant. At week five, the kitten can begin to eat canned kitten food with its mother. The first ingredient on the package should be either chicken, beef or lamb.

Kittens will need kitten food for their first year. At six weeks of age, the kittens should be receiving four small meals per day. At twelve weeks, they can have more food divided into three meals. At one, the kittens may be switched to adult food and fed twice daily. Cats are capable of knowing when they are full, so you can leave a bowl out of dry food throughout the day.

The biggest debate amongst cat owners is whether or not they should use wet, canned or dry food. The answer is both. Kittens and cats need wet food because it contains water. They may not drink enough on a regular basis and the wet food ensures they stay hydrated. The dry food ensures they have something to eat whenever they are hungry. It also helps to scrape the teeth and keep them clean, which prevents dental diseases.

The kitten’s diet should consist mostly of canned food, as it is more nutritious. Keep track of whether the kitten is on track by weighing the cat on a regular basis. You also do not want to allow them to get into the habit of overeating or eating table scraps. Table scraps are high in fat and it also throws off their balanced diet that they receive through their regular food.
Do not feed your cat these foods:

Milk
Green tomatoes
Raw potatoes
Onions
Garlic
Root vegetables
Grapes
Raisins
Chocolate

These foods can be toxic and harmful to your cat.

Cats and Hairballs

All pets have health issues that are innate to them and the cat is no different. They have a variety of special diseases and problems that can develop in addition to the traditional fleas, ticks and, of course, hairballs.

Hacking Up Hairballs
Cats are precocious and they love to leave you little presents, such as dead mice and birds. One present you don’t like to find, however, is the hairball. Hairballs, or trichobezoars, are really balls of hair. Hair is not digestible and since your cat spends a good amount of time licking and grooming itself, it also spends a lot of time hacking up hairballs. The hair does not pass through the digestive system, so the cat has to hack it up.

The cat has a serrated tongue that easily captures their hair as they groom. Cats with long hair are more likely to develop hairballs. Cats with shorthair will too, but not nearly as badly. If your cat is unable to get up a hairball, it can cause digestive blockage and will need to be treated by a veterinarian. Usually a cat will require surgery to remove those hairballs. There are several preventative steps that you can take to do your best to keep the hairball problem down to a minimum.

Prevention Tip #1
Regularly brush your cat. The more you groom the cat, the less hair it will swallow on its own. Brushing helps to get rid of the dead hair before the cats licks and grooms itself. You can also wipe your cat down with a moist towel to capture stray dead hairs.

Prevention Tip #2
At your local pet shop you should be able to find special hairball treats. These are edible treats that help to breakdown hairballs. Many of these also contain mineral oil. Some cat food has also been developed to aid hairball prone cats.

Prevention Tip #3
If hairballs are a constant problem you can use a special lubricant that is designed to help your cat pass hairballs. Products that contain petroleum are best. These are also available in several flavors so that your cat will readily consume them.

There is no cure for the hairball problem, but these are just a few preventative steps that should make your cat’s life a little easier.

Litter Box Tips for Cats and Kittens

The Litter Box

One of the biggest drawbacks for some cat owners is the litter box. Not only do you have to clean it, but you also have to teach your kitten to use it.

It is usually fairly easy to teach your kitten to use a litter box. The most important thing is that you put it in the place you want it and leave it there. You also need to keep it clean so that they won’t decide to use the carpet instead. A litter box should also not be kept near food bowls or water, as cats like to keep these areas clean.

Once you find the right place for the litter box, you will need to teach the cat what the litter box is for. Begin by placing the cat in the box and raking your fingers through the litter. Your cat may quickly decide that they need to use it right away. If they hop out, play with them a few minutes and then place them back in the box. Repeat the process several times, but try not to overdo it.

After your cat eats, you will want to wait for about 10 to 15 minutes and then place them in the litter box. If they use it, then you will want to praise them. If your cat is taking a nap, watch the cat and place him in the litter box when he wakes up.

If your cat has an accident, you don’t want to scold them. They will only become frustrated or angry. Instead place the litter box in the area the cat tends to have accidents and encourage the cat to use it. Once they get in the habit, they should start to use it regularly. If the cat stops, try cleaning it. If it is not dirty, have the vet check him out for a bladder infection or other health problem.

There are several litter box designs that make it easier to keep the litter box clean. The hooded type is best for cats that want their privacy. It is also good for those who kick and make a lot of dust. There are also removable lines that help you in cleaning the litter box. Simply lift out the whole liner and discard it. Another popular litter box is the design that is self-cleaning. These are best for multiple family cats. The litter box automatically cleans itself after each use. You then empty the container the soiled litter is discarded in.

Hot Weather and Your Cat

Cat Safety in Warm Weather

If you live in a climate that has sticky, hot, summer days, you may find yourself longing for cooler days. Your cat will definitely agree! In warm weather, it is necessary for you to care for your cat’s healthy so that he or she does not become overheated.

Remember, a pet is like a newborn baby—your cat cannot tell you that he or she is hot or uncomfortable. You have to notice warning signs and provide a good living environment so that your cat does not get too hot.

When you take your pet places during the summer, never ever let your cat inside of a parked car, even for a short time. Cars quickly become ovens in the summertime, even when you park in the shade, or even if you have the windows cracked. Your pet will not be able to alert people in order to get out of your car safely.

In as little as ten to fifteen minutes, your pet could die from the heat in a parked car, and parking in the shade does little good to prevent this, since the sun continuously moves and the heat of the air alone will be bad for your pet. If your pet will be going with you, make sure that cats are allowed wherever you will be.

When the heat index is high, keep your cats inside. Cats that are not outdoors most of the time won’t know where the cooler places to hide are, or they may find these cooler places and not return home. Hot asphalt can also wreak havoc on a cat’s health, as it can burn his or her sensitive paw pads.

If your cat does not use a litter box and instead goes outside, make sure that he or she is let back inside after only a few minutes on the hottest days of the summer. Basically, if it is recommended that seniors and children stay inside, it is good for pets to stay indoors as well.

Keep your cat well groomed during the summer as well. Brushing you cat often will help get rid of the excess hair that has been shed and is weighing down the animal. If your cat has very long hair or is overweight, provide him or her with an air-conditioned room if possible. Preventing overheating is key.

As always, make sure your cat has access to clean, fresh water. This can be tap water, but should be cool and changed multiple times a day when it is hot outside. Your furry feline is very important in your life, so make sure that he or she gets proper care when the summer days make your sweat.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) devices used to track pets cause of cancer?

A recent Associated Press article in The Washington Post stunned cat and other pet owners who have animals with tracking implants. A series of highly accredited research studies, done over the last decade, have now been brought to light and show the same microchips or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) devices used to track pets are the cause of fast-growing, malignant cancers in 1% to 10% of lab animals tested. Now animal owners are faced with what to do.

Why Are the Microchips Causing Cancer?

As Dr. Katherine Albrecht, a consumer educator and privacy advocate who helped investigate and break this story, explains what the scientists believe is happening is similar to a common splinter. When you get a splinter in your finger, your body does everything it can to get rid of it. The site gets red, it swells up and attempts to dislodge the foreign object.

However, when a microchip is embedded deep in the fatty tissue of your pet, its body can't push the chip out like a splinter. Instead an inflammation forms around the microchip. Scientists believe these inflamed cells can turn malignant and then metastasize and move around in the body. What's worse is these tumors can be fast-growing and malignant.

What the Research Shows:

Between 1996-2006 eight published veterinary and toxicology journals reported that lab mice and rats injected with microchips sometimes had a tendency to develop subcutaneous "sarcomas" or malignant tumors surrounding the implants. Below are a brief summary of the some of the major conclusions.

* A 1998 study in Ridgefield, Connecticut of 177 mice reported cancer incidence to be slightly higher than 10 percent. Researchers described the results as "surprising."

* A 2006 study in France detected tumors in 4.1 percent of the 1,260 microchipped mice. This was one of six studies in which the scientists did not set out find microchip-induced cancer but noticed the results incidentally.

* In 1997 a study in Germany found cancers in 1 percent of 4,279 chipped mice. The tumors "are clearly due to the implanted microchips" the authors wrote.

What the Researchers Are Saying:

When Associated Press asked scientists to weigh in on the available research, specialists at some pre-eminent cancer institutions said the findings raised red flags.

--"There's no way in the world, having read this information, that I would have one of those chips implanted in my skin, or in one of my family members," said Dr. Robert Benezra, head of the Cancer Biology Genetics Program at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

--Dr. George Demetri, director of the Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, agreed. Even though the tumor incidences were "reasonably small," in his view, the research underscored "certainly real risks" in RFID implants. In humans, sarcomas, which strike connective tissues, can range from the highly curable to "tumors that are incredibly aggressive and can kill people in three to six months," he said.

--At the Jackson Laboratory in Maine, a leader in mouse genetics research and the initiation of cancer, Dr. Oded Foreman, a forensic pathologist, also reviewed the studies at the AP's request. At first he was skeptical, suggesting that chemicals administered in some of the studies could have caused the cancers and skewed the results. But he took a different view after seeing that control mice, which received no chemicals, also developed the cancers. "That might be a little hint that something real is happening here," he said.

--"The transponders were the cause of the tumors," said Keith Johnson, a retired toxicologic pathologist, explaining in a phone interview the findings of a 1996 study he led at the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan.

What Can We Do?

1. Check your microchipped cat or other pet regularly for swelling or lumps, especially around the injection site. If owners or veterinarians find anything abnormal in that area or any other (as the chips may migrate), an x-ray or biopsy should be performed.

2. Dr. Albrecht also suggests pet owners help her volunteer to educate and contact animal advocacy and animal rights groups as well as veterinarian organizations by taking action at her AntiChips.com website. Many of these animal-loving groups endorsed microchipping pets without having access to the studies above. Dr. Albrecht hopes public pressure will also force Verichip Corporation, the manufacturer of the chip, to take responsibility or face a class action lawsuit.

3. Report any incidences of pets who have died of cancer or animals who have been cured of cancer to Dr. Albrecht at AntiChips.com, especially if is known or suspected that the tumor is or was linked to a microchip. This will help further document proof of the cancer and stop microchipping.

About the Author:Marika Ray, researcher and writer at Natural Cat Lovers (http://www.naturalcatlovers.com/index-html), makes it easy to learn nature's simple healing secrets from top veterinarians and cat experts. Get a free subscription to tips about natural cat health care. Okay to post, just use name and website.

30 Tips To Keep Cats Out Of Your Garden

Cats coming to the garden to do their business can be a Nasty and Smelly problem to have to deal with. Here are 30 tips you might find of some use, and not just for keeping the cats out of the garden. I'm sure you can think of some more, but as a slave to two cats we wanted to keep them Humane.

30 Tips To Keep Cats Out Of Your Garden

Are you bothered by cats coming into your garden and doing their business, scaring your birds away, or getting up to other mischief?

Here is a list of 30 deterrents you could try:

1. If a Tom starts to mark his new territory you could mark over it yourself although it may surprise the neighbours!

2. You can buy repellent pellets from garden centers that smell like citrus fruits, which apparently cats don't like.

3. Or you could use the real thing lemon or citrus peels work for a bit but you have to keep replacing them every three or four days. Not good for a big space unless you really really like lemonade.

4. You could try planting Coleus Canina which emits a foul odour when a cat rubs itself against it, but I'd imagine you'd have to cover quite a large area (depending on the size of your garden) for it to be effective.

5. Lion dung is said to keep them out but it may smell even worse than cats poo, but it's good for the roses. (And just where do you pick up a LOAD of Lion Dung?)

6. Small sticks pushed into the ground so that approximately six to 12 inches are sticking out of the ground like spikes. They must be close enough together to prevent cats snuggling their bottoms down between them to poo.

7. Get a dog. (It would be best if it wasn't to cat crazy for the best effect)

8. Some say Jeyes disinfectant fluid around the edges of the garden works but the fluid is actually quite poisonous to cats and will kill them in fairly small amounts. (OK, not very Humane)

9. Spray water at them, not from a hose, from one of those spray bottles from a garden center or use or a super-soaking water gun for cats further away.

10. I have heard that they don't like garlic.

11. A friend suggested moth balls worked for her.

12. Sprinkle black pepper & chilli around the garden, harmless to animals but an effective deterrent apparently.

13. Getting a cat yourself often works. Its very unusual for a cat to poop in its own garden, and other cats won't really come near another cats area, unless it likes them, and then it wont poop 'cos it respects the area! (I'm not so sure about the respect thing)

14. Catch the cat and rub its nose in it (not so it smudges all over the cat, just near it) then put the cat in next doors garden, or wherever you wish it to poop from now on.

15. You can buy some pet repellent spray from the DIY stores. It is harmless to animals and children.

16. Solid toilet blocks (used in public loos usually) crumbled around.

17. Scatter citrus peel (oranges & lemons) around the garden.

18. Place pine cones around near garden borders.

19. Plant geraniums, marigolds and petunias, cats apparently dislike those plants.

20. Grow spiky plants near areas you want to keep cats away from.

21. Ask local cat owners to provide an inside litter tray for their cats to discourage outside toileting.

22. Or if the cat owner doesn't want/can't have inside trays...Ask them to dig a pit in their garden, several feet deep and 2 foot square and fill with peat. Then all that is needed is for this outside toilet to be dug over frequently.

23. If you have bare soil cover it with gravel or slate chippings etc, it will discourage digging.

24. Keep your lawn short. If you let your lawn get to 3" ish high, they will poo in it and not bury it.

25. Place a small length of hosepipe in amongst your plants, cats and birds don't like snakes!

26. Invest in a bag of coffee (grounds), and spread around the garden.

27. Plant some lavender. It works for some and smells divine and for some reason the cats hate it.

28. Olbas oil (the one you put on pillows for blocked noses) works pretty well.

29. Water 'Scarecrow' that squirts water at things it detects moving, including you!

30. If all the foregoing makes you despair then go the high-tech route and buy yourself an ultrasonic cat repeller.

They have a motion detector built-in, can be mains powered and emit a high decibel tone that only cats can here. Problem solved.I use one at my house and found it excellent. Didn't hear any noises from it and it didn't bother the dogs next door either. I'd recommend the mains powered one rather than using batteries, they never seem to last for very long, but battery power does give more flexibility.

It has a PIR which means that it is only emitting 'noise' while the cat is in range so the cat cannot 'learn' to tolerate it. This also saves batteries (if you use them). There is an alternative of purchasing a mains connector if the battery option doesn't work out well.

They only activate when a large enough object passes by, humans included , and only go for a short time so small mammals are OK. There has been no reduction in bat activity where we live and no signs of them being mis-directed either.

The cat repeller is fantastic. Not a single cat in the garden at the moment, and when they appear they skulk along the wall and don't stay. I really recommend this investment.


About the Author:

Are you bothered by cats coming into your garden and doing their business, or scaring your birds away? First read these 30 tips, the last one really works - go to http://petthings.googlepages.com/cats

Pet News Now Updates

Well it has been awhile since we last posted on here. Once we set Crash free (the baby cottontail rabbit we raised from the time he was days, maybe hours old) Wendy kind of lost interest in any of her "Pet" projects. Crash lived in our house, with free roam of where he wanted to go for 6 months. It was kind of the empty nest syndrome for awhile.

The other rabbit, the so called tame and domestic one who totally tore up the house when she was let out, decided to move on. She was outside playing with us right there with her, and then she wasn't.

Tommy, the monkey my in-laws had for 36 years passed on right at Christmas time in 2006. I still look for him in his house when I pass by it.

Well we have collected some great information for the cat and dog lovers, which we should be posting here in the near future.