You may have heard your cat sneeze and if you’ve heard stories about how deadly flu is to cats you’ll be extremely worried but just like humans cats sneeze for various reasons and doesn’t necessary mean that they are ill.  How many times have you sneezed without it turning into a full blown cold or flu?

Your Cat many Sneeze for the following reasons

• Respiratory infection
• Foreign object blocking your cats nasal passage
• Had contact with a bacteria called Boratella, this also makes humans sneeze as well as cats.
• Chemicals or dust in the environment
• Seasonal changes, such as pollen - yes cats can have allergies too

Sneezing accompanied by other symptoms could indicate a health problem for your cat, such as swollen eyes or glands and we suggest that you check these symptoms out with your local vets. If your cat is sneezing blood, contact your vet immediately for further advice.

Like humans if cats sneeze because they have cold, you should also notice other symptoms such as a lack of appetite, slowness of moment, if you concerned speak to your vet and remember to prevent your cat contracting more serious illnesses make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations.

Not only will you enjoy cat training, believe it not so will your cat. There are a number of reasons why cat training equals happy cat so I’ll just list them below.

• Cat training helps keep your moggies mind active, just like humans our minds needs to be challenged.
• By training you cat it ensures they get plenty of exercise so fantastic if your cat is a little overweight.
• It reminds your cat who’s boss and will help diminish any dominant behaviour.
• Anxious cats find training relaxing as it soothed by the repetition of tasks.
• It teaches your cat good social skills and promotes interaction.

Methods of Cat Training

Target Training

This is when you get your cats attention when calling a command. For example if you wanted your cats to stand on it’s back legs while you issue the command to stand hold a stick above your cats head and they will naturally go to grab it. Once they stand on their back legs, reward them with affection or a small treat.

Clicker Training

Clicker Training uses the idea of operant condoning, this is where the cat consciously associates a particular behaviour with a outcome.  This type of cat training gets it’s name due the small device that emits a click when the correct action is being performed by  the cat.  For example if you were training your cat to sit on command, the section your cats bum hit the floor you would press the clicker and immediately reward your cat with a small treat.  After enough repetition you can will realise they their own behaviours can acquire them treats.  So when they hear the click, they will sit because they know that if they do there’s a treat heading their way.

This type of cat training has the huge advantage of allowing the trainer to know the exact behaviour that being reinforced, with Target Training the reward may not come immediately after the behaviour so the cat might associate another behaviour with the treat.

Tips for Cat Training

If you leave your cats food out all day so they choose to eat, restrict them to scheduled meal times just like humans, other wise they will have no incentive - We’re not saying starve them, just ensure they’re hungry like we are just before a mealtime!

Try cat training just before meal times this will increase your cats responsiveness and heighten their senses.

Take it one step at a time when cat training and be patient, remember if neither of you are enjoy it stop and throw a ball for them instead.

Cats have a short attention span so lessons need to be very short, interesting and fun, otherwise you might just get a look of disdain.

What’s worse than a cat who just urinated out of his litter box and onto the living room floor? It’s probably the cat urinating on the living room carpet. Given just how hard it is to remove cat urine and it’s smell from pretty much anywhere else, the lovely absorbency of carpet makes the situation quite hopeless.

The first thing you should immediately do when your cat urinates where they’re not supposed to is to clean it up. The keyword here is “immediately.” The success rate of you removing the cat urine smell out completely is related to other factors, such as a) the length of time the urine has been left to soak on your furniture, carpet, or floor and b) the attachment that your cat has developed for that particular spot. The second factor is due to the cat’s tendency to relieve themselves wherever they have urinated before.

After you’ve identified the spot in question, you should understand that soap and water is not enough to get remove the cat urine smell. There are some home remedies that are easily made and very effective in doing the job. Vinegar is one of the most common cleansing agents because it can handle stain removal and deodorizes just as well. After removing the cat urine with paper towels, the spot can be sprayed with a mixture of one part vinegar and two parts water. Use paper towels to rub off the solution.

For carpets, the most effective way is to buy a cat urine cleaner, which should be available in most pet stores. These cleaners specialize in removing cat urine smell and stains. They contain bacteria and enzymes, which break down the components of the urine. After using the cat urine cleaner, use a carpet cleaner for safe measure. These can also be used for upholstery and bed mattresses, which can be troublesome to clean.

Cat owners should know that there’s already a problem if their cats prefer not to use their litter boxes. It’s possible that your cat may be suffering from an illness, such as urinary tract infection which makes peeing painful. You cat associates the pain with his litter box and therefore avoids using it. Cats also like their litter boxes clean. Proper maintenance includes scooping out fecal matter at least once a day. Empty it out once a week and replace its contents with fresh kitty litter. If we do our part in keeping a cat healthy and happy, then removing cat urine and it’s smell shouldn’t be too much of a problem in the future.

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

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.

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.

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.

Cat Toy # 1 - Cat Scratching Posts

Cats like to scratch, it helps them maintain health claws.  Cats just like humans are irritated by dirt and jagged edges to their claws like we are with our nails.  I’ve listed the cat scratching post as out number 1 cat toy as not only does it provide your cat with hours of entertainment, especially deluxe versions, but they have the beneficial addition of maintaining your cats claws and hopefully preventing them from scratching your furniture too.

Cat Toy # 2 - Balls

No I’m not talking about footballs, but small balls slightly bigger than your cats paws.  Cats are happy to bat a ball around for a few hours, well until they are lost underneath the sofa.  There are a wide range of cat balls available, some flash, others make noises, they have different textures and weights.  This type of cat toy helps to develop your cats speed, response times to stimuli and their precision.  Cat balls are also fantastic for those cats who are overweight and need some exercise.

Cat Toy # 3 - Mechanical Mouse

What more fun for a cat than chasing a mouse? Hunting is a natural instinct in a cat and it’s probably better to satisfy that urge with a toy mouse.  Hopefully it might stop them bring home real mice for breakfast.

Cat Toy # 4 - A Cardboard Box

Yes you read the heading right, cat toys don’t need to be expensive, they don’t even need to be bought.  Find a big box and fill it with shredded newspaper.  Your cat will be entertained by diving in and out of the box.  If you cut holes in the sides, this will give your cat peep holes to look out of.   You might find that your cat scatters bits of newspaper around the house though.

Cat Toy # 5 - Da Bird and other Rod Cat Toys

These types of cat toys are perfect if you want to join in the fun too.  There are many different types of cat rod toys, usually a piece of elastic is attached to the end of the rod and a ball, mouse, spider or feathers is fastened to the other end of the elastic.  With a flick of your wrist you can make the object move in a variety of exciting ways for your cat to enjoy.

Above is a short selection of toys for your cat that are available.  Playing with your cat will help create a  loving bond between you and as will all relationships the more effort you put in, the more enjoyment you’ll get out of it.

View all our cat toys by clicking the link below

Cat Toys

New Born Kittens

Kitten like most newborns are completely dependant on their mothers, they are born blind, at this stage they learn how to feed. After kitten’s eyes have opened they will be keen to explore, by 4 weeks old they will be play fighting with the other kittens in the litter.  Four weeks is a suitable age to teach the kitten how to use a litter box, if you’re lucky you may find that the mother does this for you. It is at this age that the mother would supplement her kittens diet with small wild animals so begin weaning the kittens on to kitten food.

A Six Week Old Kitten

Your kitten will be egar to explore by this age, if your kitten had been reared in the wild then their mother would still bring back small animals, but these would no longer be dead.  This allows the kitten to develop important skills.  You may find it beneficial to give your kitten toys that would mimic their natural environment such as wind up mice. At 8 weeks old the kitten should be fully weaned onto kitten food and litter trained, see our article on training cats to use a human toilet. It is at this age that kittens are ready to go to a new home, any earlier than this can cause serious health problems.

The Next Months in your Cats Life

Over the next few months, you’ll notice that your cat goes through a huge growth spurt just like babies do.  They will need their vaccinations which prevent them from some of the most deadliest threats to your cats life.  You will need to teach them what is acceptable behaviour and that plucking on the sofa is not allowed.  You may want to teach them how to use a cat scratching post if you haven’t already done so. If you have a long haired cat then you should get your cat used to grooming, if you make it a regular and positive experience both you and your cat will enjoy it.

This stage is the adolescent stage for cats, they tend to get moody just like your average teenager.  This teenage like cat behaviors usually starts around 5 months and lasts until your cat is a year old.  You’ll discover that they are more aggressive when they play.   Your cat should be neutered at 6 months to prevent any further kittens, this will also help with their stroppy tendencies.   At six months, your cat will look like a perfect miniature of a fully grown adult cat.

Adulthood Stage in Cats

Your adult care will continue to go through various stage, just like adults but you will find these stages quite subtle and may go unnoticed.  Ensure your cat is getting all their nutritional requirements by purchasing cat food which meets their needs such as cat food for nursing queens or senior cats.

Then I started to think of the benefits of not having to clean out a litter tray, no smelly surprises to clean up, no cat litter flicked across the floor, no big bag of cat litter taking up space in a kitchen cupboard.  So if I could train my cats to use the toilet like the rest of the family would it be worth it?  I reckon it would. So where to begin with toilet training my cats.

So I did a bit more research and found the following video which explains how to use Litter Quitter to make toilet training cats easy, apparently in only 3 simple steps.

Litter Quitter Toilet Training

Before watching the video on how to train your cat to use the toilet with Litter Kwitter, I was worrying about how small kittens would cope with toilet training, maybe they would lose their balance and fall into the toilet.  But I think even smallish cats could use this system with ease.

You can buy the Litter Kwitter Toilet training system with instructions from our cat supplies shop by clicking the link below.

Buy Kwitter Litter Cat Toilet Training System