If you have a cat, no doubt you’re a responsible owner and want to keep your cat healthy?  Ear mites can cause your cat discomfort making them unhappy so lets take a look at what cat ear mites are, how they affect your cat and how they can be treated.

What exactly are Ear Mites in Cats and what do they do?

The ear mites that affect cats are tiny spider or crab like parasites. They consume the blood, skin and ear wax of your cat. There correct name is Otodectes Cynotis and they borrow deep into the ears of your cat. The saliva from the ear mites can cause an allergic reaction in some cats, causing your cat to scratch, often breaking the skin. This scratching can tear the sensitive skin of your cats ears and allow an infection to occur. Also continual scratching can cause the skin to thicken leading to disfigurement. The ear mites also increase the wax production in your cats ear, giving the mites more food to feed off and creating a great deal of discomfort for your cat.

How do I know if my cat has ear mites?

If you notice your cat shaking their head from side to side and constantly scratching their ears, there is a chance they may have ear mites but you will need a closer look. Get your cat to sit on your lap and when they are relaxed take a look in their ears. You will need to do this fairly quickly as your cat isn’t likely to stay sat on your lap for long once you start fiddling with their ears. If you can see dark flecks inside your cats ears there is a high probability that they will be ear mites and it would be best to have this confirmed with the vet.

How should you treat ear mites in cats?

Cat Ear mites are extremely easy to deal with, however you do need to be aware that the mites can live in material and hard surfaces for a while so you need to clean these too to stop the cycle. There are many solutions on the market for treating cats ear mites however we recommend Johnsons Ear Drops which are suitable for cats over 12 weeks old.

You can by Johnsons Ear Drops at a discount price here:

Cheap Johnsons Ear Drops for Cats

Moving cats to a new house is very stressful for them, I know moving house is very stressful for you too, but at least you know its going to happen. Your cat just sees the boxes piling up and rooms becoming bare as you prepare to move house. Since cats are creatures of habit and like familiar surroundings, any major changes, like a moving house can lead to cat behavior problems. Here are some tips to make this moving your cat to a new home easier on your cat and on yourself.

When first moving your cat into a new house, try to confine them to just one room. Cats that are given the run of the whole house will just run and hide and feel very stressed out, that is when problems start.

Cats confined to just one room will adjust much faster, because they feel more secure in a smaller space. In this room keep everything your cat needs, like the litter box, toys, food, and water.

After two days, then let your cat explore another room. This should only be done with you there to offer support. If you have to leave the house to go shopping or to work, then move your cat back in its safe room.

Some cat behavior problems might happen at this time of the move. Not using the litter box, aggression, spraying, or scratching are some of these. You can prevent these from happening by only giving your cat access to one room at a time and by offering your cat lots of assurance.

Moving a cat to a new home does not have to a stressful event for them or you. Remember to plan ahead and prepare a great room for your cat to stay in.

If your cat is anything like mine, they decide that they want to go outside minutes before you want to go to bed.  How many times have you stood there late a night shouting for your cat to come home so you can lock the house up and take your weary body off to bed?  You stand there waiting for your much loved cat to come home because you don’t want to leave them out all night in the cold and rain.  I know from personal experience it’s hard to fall asleep when you’re aware that your cat is outside in the rain and cold while your snuggled up in bed, especially in the winter.  How many time do you get up and go to the back door to call them in?  Eventually you’ll reluctantly give up and hope your cat is ok and has found somewhere warm and safe for the night.

Some cat owners fit a cat flap into a outside building such as a shed or garage but many people down have one so this isn’t an option.  So some have gone for the option of a outdoor cat house which is a bit like a kennel.  This is fine for those who don’t mind something ugly in their garden and don’t mind treating the wood every year, but for some cat owners this isn’t acceptable.  If your a cat owner who has spent a long time and a lot of money making your garden a paradise the last thing that you will want to do is add a outdoor cat house that looks awkward against the clean lines and carefully selected colours of your garden.

Until now there has been a very limited selection of outdoor cat houses and if you had done a google search chances are you would have been given larger type outdoor cat house more suitable to catteries.  But now there is something new on the market - KatKabin.

These outdoor cat houses come in a variety of colours and are sleek in design so they will add style to your garden not cramp it.  They are great for your cat too.

The KatKabin DezRez is a luxurious outdoor cat house that gives your cat the freedom it needs to spend time exploring outdoors while you’re at work or while you’re asleep.  You don’t need to worry about your cat while you’re not available to cater to their every need as the KatKabin provides comfort, safety and shelter for your cat giving you peace of mind. This outdoor cat house stand above the ground and provides a warm, cosy and shaded insulated den so you cat can use it  for napping, stretching, relaxing and eating. Your cat is protected from the weather and is safe and relaxed until your able to let them back into the house.

The benefits of  Katkabin outdoor cat house for your cat are clear, they are safe, comfy and warm, so you can stop worrying about them when they decide that they would rather play out for the night, but the KatKabin also has the added benefit of being sleek in design and being available in a number of colours resulting in a a stylish addition to your garden.  With such style there’s no need to hide this outdoor cat house away in the corner of the garden, instead it can be incorporated into the gardens design and many of they house guests won’t even realise it’s there or what it is.

“We have adopted a part feral cat who quickly found his KatKabin most accomodating. The KatKabin is well worth the money. The only snag is the cat will not go inside with the door on so in driving rain the first couple of inches at the entrance get wet.“

The KatKabin outdoor cat house is available in chocolate brown, royal blue, Divine purple, spring green, scarlet red.

The  Kat Kabin  Outdoor  Cat house has the following benefits :

• A warm outside cabin to shield your cat from the cold weather.
• Ideal if you’re not allowed to install a cat flap at your home.
• The cat flap is fully detachable.
• The KatKabin is fully ventilated by holes in the rear of the cabin.
• Can be fixed to decking or paved surfaces (if you fancy a spot if DIY).
• An insulation cushion is included to keep your kitty warm while it lazes around inside the KatKabin.
• The oval shape of the Kat Kabin and the legs raising it above ground level ensure that the heat is evenly dispersed inside the cabin.

To view more details about KatKabin outdoor cat houses click on one of the images above.

At some point you’re going to need to try and get your cat to swallow at tablet and if you’ve tried this before you’ll know that it’s not as simple as it sounds.

Below is a good way of giving your cat a tablet, just follow the instructions and remember to stay calm.

Step One - Be Prepared to give your cat the tablet

Here’s the plan: You are going to wrap the cat up in a towel or blanket so that it can’t struggle or get away, give it the tablet, and make sure the tablet is swallowed. First, you need to gather your materials:

tablet
towel or small blanket

It may also help to have a little butter or margarine, a bit of canned food, and an eyedropper that you have filled with low-sodium chicken broth. Some medications cannot be given with food, while others are supposed to be given with food. Pay attention to the details of your prescription so you know whether or not you can offer treats or mix the tablet with food. If the tablet can be given with food, you may wish to coat the tablet with a bit of butter or margarine. This helps it to go down more easily. Giving the cat a bit of broth or liquid from canned food right after administering the tablet can help get the cat to swallow. Treats can also be used for afterwards, to reward your cat.

Once you have gathered your materials, you need to catch your cat. I recommend performing the pilling procedure in a small enclosed room such as a bathroom because a highly resistant cat may try to make a break for it or spit out the tablet, requiring you to start over again.
Step 2 - Do the Deed - Get your cat to swallow the tablet
You need to be decisive and confident about this part. Be gentle with your cat, but don’t take no for an answer.

1. I usually start out sitting cross-legged on the floor, with the medication in easy reach, but do this however you and the cat are comfortable.
2. Wrap the cat in the towel, sort of like bundling a baby, so only its head protrudes. Don’t allow feet (claws) to get out either the top or bottom of the towel.
3. Hold the cat in your non-dominant arm.
4. Use your dominant hand to pick up the tablet and gently prise open the cat’s mouth from the corners of its lips.
5. The goal here is to get the tablet to the v-shaped area at the back of the cat’s throat. Don’t flick the tablet, as that involves a risk of choking your cat. Insert your fingers and the tablet into the cat’s mouth from the front. Don’t go at it from the sides unless you want bitten.
6. Let the cat close its mouth. Use your hand to keep its mouth closed, while continuing to hold it close.
7. Stroke the cat’s throat and lightly blow on its nose to encourage swallowing.
8. At this point, you can try offering a dropper of broth, tuna liquid, or water. This is a good way to see if the tablet has truly been swallowed.
9. If you are pretty sure the tablet has been taken, offer a treat.

I have had a cat that would hide the tablet, unswallowed, to spit out as soon as he was set free. Be certain the pill has been taken before releasing your cat. If the tablet is unswallowed, start again. If the pill becomes too degraded, discard it and try another.