Cats Just Wanna Have Fun
Loaded with funny pictures, videos and stories of cats doing nutty things as well as valuable information on caring for your cat, including how to bathe a cat, behavior modification, ear mites, mange, , dealing with cat alergies, grooming, poisonous plants, and much more. There will also be links to cat rescue organizations, humane societies, and other important cat resources.
House cats, felines or domestic cats, wherever you choose to call them, have 3 things on their minds: eating, sleeping and playing. Not necessarily in that order. But fun is a major part of their waking day. They'll play with anything, your toes, paper bags, paper wads, foil balls, feathers, lights. Heck they'll even chase their tails if they don't have anthing else to do.
Come back often because I'll be adding more information, pictures & videos, cartoons, jokes, important links, and facts on an ongoing basis.
Go to my website Cat Care Articles for dozens of articles covering the whole spectrum of cat ownership and ways to keep your cat healthy, happy and purring for a long, long time.
What Are Your Hot Topics About Cats?
What Would You Like More Information On?
Click on all the topics you'd like to know more about. Add to the list anything else you're interested in. I'll keep these results in mind as I add new information to the lens. Thank you!
#1
Litter box smell
17 points
#2
Flea Control
11 points
#3
Toilet Training my cat (human toilet)
11 points
#4
How to get cat urine out of my rug
6 points
#5
How to build a cat tree
See www.squidoo.com/cattrees for a list of places to buy or build your own cat tree6 points
#6
How to stop my cat from spraying (BTW, both males and females spray)
4 points
#7
Best & cheapest litter?
3 points
#8
What are the common poisons and what to do if my cat is poisoned?
2 points
#9
Wormers and Heartworm medication.
0 points
#10
Emergency Pet Care Kit
This is about using essential oils for your pets, especially when emergencies occur. (www.squidoo.com/petcarekit)0 points
Beautiful Cats On Flickr
Vote For Your Favorites
Please vote for your favorite pictures. It's okay to vote for more than 1. And, you can add a picture from Flickr or take a copy of this list. Enjoy!
House Cat Getting Down!
Different Sounds For Different Cats
The House Cat
Are You An Ailurophile?
Are You An Ailurophile?
If you love cats, then you are an ailurophile. Ailurophile is a Greek word: ailouros means "cat", philos "lover of."
10 Most Common Plants That Can Poison Your Cat
Plus Poison Help Line
The 10 most common toxic plants taken from the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center website.FYI, the beautiful cat on the right is my 13-yr old Kira guarding her cat grass.
Aspca Animal Poison Control Center Hotline
For any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, call (888) 426-4435. A $55 consultation fee may be charged.
Marijuana - Results in depression of the central nervous system and in coordination, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased heart rate, even seizures and coma.
Sago Palm - All parts are poisonous. The ingestion of just one or two seeds can result in vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.Lilies - Highly toxic to cats. Even ingestions of very small amounts of the plant, severe kidney damage could result.
Tulip/Narcissus bulbs - The bulb portions can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea/Rhododendron - Can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals; could ultimately lead to coma and death.
Oleander - All parts of Nerium oleander are considered to be toxic, and can cause serious effects-including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.
Castor Bean - The poisonous ricin can produce severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Cyclamen - Lacycmine's highest concentration is typically in the root and can produce significant gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting. Fatalities have also been reported in some cases.
Kalanchoe - Can produce gastrointestinal irritation and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew - Taxine causes central nervous system effects such as trembling, incoordination, and difficulty breathing. It can also cause significant gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac failure, which can result in death.
Get a complete list at
Animal Poison Control Center Website
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline
(888) 426-4435
For any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, call. A $55 consultation fee may be charged.
Curiosity CAN Kill A Cat - Dangers To Watch Out For
What Poisons And How To Recognize The Signs Of Poisoning
Curiosity makes cats vulnerable to poisons because they have to play with or chew on everything. They can get very sick, very quickly and even die from poisoning if not treated quickly enough.
Toxic plants (see 10 Most Common Plants That CanPoison Your Cat) Can cause vomiting, dehydratation and diarrhea; foaming at the mouth or excessive drooling and drinking. His mouth can become red and irritated. In extreme cases, a cat can fall into a coma and die.
Chemicals: Here are a few of the common chemicals that are poisonous for cats:
1. Antifreeze. Cats like the taste and will lick it off of the garage floor. It can cause seizures and if enough is ingested, can kill a cat.
2. Rat poisons and insect sprays and treatments. If you treat your home with insecticides it's very important to keep your cat away from the treated area for several hours. If you spray inside of your home, thoroughly wash the cat's food and water bowls to clean off any insecticide residue.
3. Bleach, alcohol, gasoline, turpentine, lead, acid, garbage waste and paint.
4. Toads and salamanders.It will be evident by excessive foaming at the mouth and drooling.
5. If your cat eats a bird, insect or rat that has been infected by a poison, it is likely that your cat will become ill, as well.
Treatments:
Ingested Toxins: There are different treatments for different poisons. Most vets will try to induce vomiting in order to eliminate the toxin from the body.
Skin Exposure: Toxin residue on the fur or skin needs to be thoroughly remove by washing the cat's fur. Both mineral oil and vegetable oil are effective for removing poisons such as gasoline or turpentine.
For any animal poison-related emergency, contact Aspca Animal Poison Control Center Hotline24 hours a day, 365 days a year, call (888) 426-4435.
If your cat is experiencing nervous system disorders (convulsions, unconsciousness and difficulty breathing) get them medical care immediately!
Toxic plants (see 10 Most Common Plants That CanPoison Your Cat) Can cause vomiting, dehydratation and diarrhea; foaming at the mouth or excessive drooling and drinking. His mouth can become red and irritated. In extreme cases, a cat can fall into a coma and die.
Chemicals: Here are a few of the common chemicals that are poisonous for cats:
1. Antifreeze. Cats like the taste and will lick it off of the garage floor. It can cause seizures and if enough is ingested, can kill a cat.
2. Rat poisons and insect sprays and treatments. If you treat your home with insecticides it's very important to keep your cat away from the treated area for several hours. If you spray inside of your home, thoroughly wash the cat's food and water bowls to clean off any insecticide residue.
3. Bleach, alcohol, gasoline, turpentine, lead, acid, garbage waste and paint.
4. Toads and salamanders.It will be evident by excessive foaming at the mouth and drooling.
5. If your cat eats a bird, insect or rat that has been infected by a poison, it is likely that your cat will become ill, as well.
Treatments:
Ingested Toxins: There are different treatments for different poisons. Most vets will try to induce vomiting in order to eliminate the toxin from the body.
Skin Exposure: Toxin residue on the fur or skin needs to be thoroughly remove by washing the cat's fur. Both mineral oil and vegetable oil are effective for removing poisons such as gasoline or turpentine.
For any animal poison-related emergency, contact Aspca Animal Poison Control Center Hotline24 hours a day, 365 days a year, call (888) 426-4435.
If your cat is experiencing nervous system disorders (convulsions, unconsciousness and difficulty breathing) get them medical care immediately!
Is Your Cat Treating Your House Like A Baby Treats It's Diaper?
Here Is A Book That Will Help Calm Kitty Down
The Book Solutions To Cat Behavior will tell you exactly how to solve your litter box, house-soiling, and feline aggression problems.With the insights found in this manual you will be able to stop your cat from using your house as a toilet, turn your aggressive tiger into a pussy cat and many more techniques to make it more enjoyable for both you and your cat. You'll be purring after putting these solutions in place.
For more information on how to change your cat's behavior, click on Solutions To Cat Behavior
New Puff Kitty Getting Down
Hopping Isn't Just For Rabbits
The Hip Hop Cat OR Puff Kitty
Funny Books About Cats
There are many funny cat books with great stories and pictures. Here are a few choice ones.
#6
Easy Alergy Relief For Animal Lovers
2 Simple Things You Can Do At Home
About 20 years ago, my allergist told me that 90% of pet owners are allergic to their pets to some degree. She explained that the body builds up a type of immunity from exposure and that people who had pets as children don't have near as many problems as adults who did not get the exposure to animals as they were growing up.Well, I'm allergic to cats and dogs (among lots of other thing) and since I love both, I was not going to live without them in my life, so I take claritin once a day. That's it. I have 9 in-door cats and I never have allergic reactions to them and Kira, my alpha cat, sleeps on my pillow. I also do not have attacks from most other animals either. Since 2000, I have fostered bottle feeders, litters who have lost their mom and moms and their kittens -- the largest litter was a mom with 9 kittens -- without a single allergic reaction.
I just began walking dogs and socializing cats on Sundays at the Mendocino County Animal Care & Control Shelter. It's great fun and the cats and dogs love the much needed attention. However, I found that by the end of 1st hour, my face itches and my eyes are beet red and they itch so much that I can't stop rubbing them. I'm sure it's the overwhelm of so many dogs and cats in the shelter which causes the problem for me.
Here's what I found works for me:
(1) Wash face and hands with a mild soap and warm water, rinsing well. (Pat the skin, don't rub.)
(2) Take Top Care Cold Relief (or another brand of effervescent reliever) as directed.
(3) Place 1 or 2 drops of Visine:A in each eye. It has an antihistamine & redness reliever.
I get relief within 10 minutes and the symptoms are totally gone in 30 minutes. Try it. I hope it works as well for you.
Name The Hairless Cat -- Photo Caption Contest
Enter Your Best Caption For This Great Photo
Add Your Caption Below And Vote
Enter your best caption for this terrific photo of Momma Sphynx bathing her baby. Vote for one you like or add your own and vote for it. Come back again and again to vote for the best caption.
If you love these sphynx cats or want to know more about them then check out Sphynx Cats: What's Hair Got To Do With It?
#1
Out, Out, Damn Spot!
10 points
#2
Licked the hair clean off!!!
7 points
#3
Oh Mom stop! My friends are watching!
6 points
#4
GOD ONLY MADE A FEW PUUURRRFFFICT CATS, THE REST HE COVERED WITH HAIR !!!
Shane Doss5 points
#5
You never know when someone's gonna check behind your ears.
4 points
#6
Grow Fur! Grow!
Maybe with the help of a daily tongue massage, fur will grow!4 points
#7
How'd you get food behinds your ears?
4 points
#8
Hairballs are NOT a problem for us!
Mind you..it does get a tad chilly3 points
#9
I THINK...this licking is becoming an O.C.D!!!
1 point
#10
With no fur, we've got to bathe more to keep clean!
1 point
The Stevie Wonder Cat
Isn't She Lovely?
The Stevie Wonder Cat
Cat Trampoline
What Can You Do When Your Belly Is Used Like That?
Hairballs -- What To Do About Them
Helping Your Cat With Hairballs
Most of the hair swallowed by your cat will be processed through their digestive system and find its way out in their stools. However, from time to time too much hair will accumulate in the stomach and instead of being eliminated through their stools, a cat will vomit the hairball.If a cat cannot get rid of these hair-balls he could suffer from a blockage in the intestine or stomach. If left untreated for too long, it can become life-threatening and without surgery, the blockage might even be deadly.
There are several things you can do to stop the build up of hair-balls in your cat's body.
1. Brush his fur regularly.
A regular brushing will get remove much of the loose hair thus keeping it from being swallowed.
2. Improve your cat's diet.
You can mix about 1 teaspoon of mineral oil with his soft or hard food daily for about a week. Then add it every 3 or 4 days. This will coat his tummy and digestive system for easier passage through the body.
3. Give him petroleum jelly.
You can give him 1/2 teaspoon of petroleum jelly every day until the symptoms disappear, then once a week.
4. Give him a petroleum-based remedy (treat).
Petromalt is a hairball remedy, however, several of my cats consider it a treat. It comes in a tube. You give it to your cat in 1/2 to 1 inch ribbons depending on the age of your cat daily until symptoms disappear, then once a week.
How To Get Your Cats To Take It
Some cats will not eat any of these of their own accord, so try: (1) Scraping it behind their top teeth. (2) Applying it on their paws or snout and they will lick it off. I prefer #1 because several times I've had the stuff flung across the room when the cat shakes his paw vigorously.
Signs Of Hair-Ball Distress
Symptoms of a hair-ball blockage will consist of the following: coughing and hacking for more than a day, lack of appetite and lack of body eliminations. If any of these occur, take your cat to the vet right away.
Animal Rescue Organizations
These Non-Profits Save Rescue Animals In Need
- The Humane Society of the United States
- Includes descriptions of public-awareness campaigns, programs, legislation, activist alerts, and educational publications.
- First Time Visitor? Alley Cat Allies Introduction
- Alley Cat Allies has a solution that not only reduces feral cat populations, but also improves and extends the lives of colony members: Trap-Neuter-Return ...
- HALO Animal Rescue
- HALO believes in the unique individuality of every dog/cat we rescue. Their gentle hearts, good health and "forever" happiness are our top concern. ...
- Paws With A Cause - Home Page
- Trains hearing dogs and service dogs for people with disabilities, provides lifetime support, and promotes awareness through education.
- Performing Animal Welfare Society: Welcome!
- To receive more information on PAWS and PAWS Partnership, or to make comments or suggestions, e-mail us at info@pawsweb.org -- or contact us at: ...
- Small Paws® Rescue
- Small Paws Rescue offers ways to help their effort or adopt a dog, and a free dog related graphics section.
- ASPCA: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Founded in 1866: the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Formed to alleviate the injustices animals faced then, and we continue to battle cruelty today...
- Pet Finders
- PetFinder is a great site to find an adoptable pet and also to find a nearby shelter where you can volunteer or become a foster animal guardian.
- Best Friends Animal Society Home Page
- Best Friends Animal Society runs the nation's largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals. Best Friends operates a low-cost spay/neuter program, ...
- Alley Cat Allies
- Works to set policy and laws promoting Trap Neuter Release (TNR). ACA targets an estimated 40,000 publicly funded shelters and animal organizations on behalf of wild felines. Feral cats saved rather than killed.
- Cat Angel Network
- Cat Angel Network (CAN) is an no-kill cat rescue organization located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. CAN was formed to alleviate suffering of stray cats through rescue, spay/neuter, shelter in a no-kill facility in Chester County, PA, and adoption to approved homes. We strive to educate the public
A Cat And A Crow, FRIENDS???
An Incredible Friendship
Between A Cat And A Crow
Tips For Getting Your Cat To The Vet
Get Him Ready For The Trip To The Vet
We used to have a major problem whenever one of our cats had to go to the Vet. We'd get a cat crate out and all of the cats would run and hide.We have found a method that seems to work most of the time -- I can't promise it'll work on your cat, but it's worth a try.
Keep Crate Out
We keep one of the larger crates out -- all of the time. We put a nice soft towel in it. and every once in a while, we toss in a favorite toy and/or sprinkle a little catnip on the towel.
We find that most of the cats take turns going in and staying in the crate -- usually sleeping, sometimes playing with a toy. We've even had 2 cats sleep in at the same time.
Every once in a while, we'll add food to the crate when we don't have to go to the vet's office. Since the cats don't have to go to the vet's but about once a year each, they get used to the crate as a piece of furniture.
Vet Day
When we do have to take one to the vet, we attract the cat we want to the area of the crate and put some food in it. Then we wait. Sometimes we are rewarded and sometimes not.
If it does not work, my husband grabs the cat in the "momma cat" hold (pinching the skin behind the neck). I turn the crate with the door facing up while resting on the floor. He lowers the cat, feet first. When the cat is in, I quickly shut the door.
Like I said, it doesn't work all of the time, but it has made them less afraid of the crate so they are not quite as vocal on the car trip to the vet.
Pet Medications Cheap And Fast Online
Get your Pet Meds Here - Cheaper & Faster
If you find a better price, they'll match it!
Training Your Cat: Rewards and Reprimands
Cat Training: Rewards and Reprimands
Training your cat should start when she is a kitten. Praising and reprimanding play a big role in educating her. Praise can be expressed with loving words, a tender pat, a hug, or sometimes even with treats.
Many say that in contrast to dogs, cats can't be motivated with treats to do tricks or fetch things on request. However my husband trained Nikita to catch a ball and roll over. Her reward? A pat and sometimes a treat. Actually, maybe, Nikita was training my husband. LOL
Reprimands -- Tips
If you need to reprimand your cat for annoying or problematic behavior (such as scratching furniture or walking on the dinner table), you'll have to think like a cat to get results. Keep the following in mind:
1. Do it immediately -- not minutes or hours later. Otherwise, they won't know why they are being reprimanded.
2. Offer a gruff NO or hiss, and try to demonstrate the correct behavior.
3. Remove him from the location of the bad act. With problem scratching, move him to his scratching post and praise him indulgently when he uses the post instead of the sofa. This associates positive reinforcement with positive behavior.
4. Briefly isolating your cat from the rest of the household will get better results than yelling. You may also want to place her in a safe, closed room or her cat carrier for 5-10 minutes, away from toys and family members, to get your point across.
5. A spray bottle of water works for my cats. Say NO and spray at the same time. They get the message.
6. Never reprimand with swatting or hitting. Not only will your cat not understand this type of reprimand, it can quickly break the bond of trust and lead to even more problem behaviors.
Certain types of persistent bad behavior can also be signs of health problems. For instance, urinating away from the litter box may be an indication of a urinary tract infection. If you're not sure whether his behavior is just a bad habit that needs correcting, or something more serious, contact your vet immediately.
Big Cat Rescue
With Your Help, We Can Save These Big Guys!
Big Cat Rescue is one of the world's largest sanctuaries for wild cats. They provide a permanent retirement home for more than 100 lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, servals, caracals, sand cats, etc., representing 16 of the 35 species of exotic cat. Nowhere else can so many species of exotic cat be found in one place.
Click Big Cat Rescue to see how you can help.
Click Big Cat Rescue to see how you can help.
How To Figure Out Why Your Cat Is Aggressive
Things You Should Look For And Change
If your cat is aggressive, here are some things to consider when trying to locate the triggers to her aggression.If your cat is normally calm and suddenly becomes aggressive:
1. Look at any changes to her environment: Did you make any changes, such as adding a new cat to your family? Have you had to leave her alone for longer periods of time? Is she now exposed to dogs or kids?
2. Food aggression. Food aggression can happen in cats just as it does in dogs. If this appears to be the problem, feed him in another room from the other cats.
3. Consult a doctor: If you can't spot any changes in her environment that may have caused the change, you should take her for a complete check up. Aggressive can be a symptom of a health problem. Cats do not like to show weakness (i.e. illness) so they either hide or show more aggression as a defense.
If there doesn't seem to be an environmental problem that you can change or a health problem, consult an animal behaviorist for insight into your cat's problem.
Some changes that can reduce aggressive behavior include:
1. Regular exercise. Play with your cat a couple of times a day -- if they chase lights, there are light toys you can purchase. Or, do they like chasing string? Another easy fix. How about boxes or paper bags?
2. Distraction: Like with kids, you can distract your cat when she is aggressive by pulling out the light or string toy.
3. Feed your pet a balanced, high quality diet with plenty of raw and unprocessed food (preferably organic).
The last thing I'll mention is to spay or neuter your cat if they aren't already. An unaltered male cat is more aggressive and so is a female cat. The male is more territorial and will become quite aggressive around a female in heat. And, as for a female cat, there's not only the physical irritations, there's the male cats fighting over her. Both are stressful.
Tips For Eliminating Cat Box Odors
Below are tips For eliminating cat box odors that I use -- and I now have 10 indoor cats and a home-office with employees -- so I do know whereof I speak. LOL Anyway, vote on the ones that work best for you or add new ones if your tips are missing.
#1
Have at least 1 litter box per 2 cats.
1 point
#2
Put enough litter to allow cat to dig--at least 4 inches.
If you use the clumping litter and you don't have enough, the urine will make the litter stick to the bottom.1 point
#3
Get a largest box you can.
Cats like to have room and the larger the box the more room for multiple uses.1 point
#4
Place litter box in well ventilated area.
If it's near a window, that's even better -- have the window cracked at least a little when weather permits.1 point
#5
Clean the box often.
Cat like a clean box. If you keep it cleaned out, they usually will use it and not go somewhere you don't want them to.1 point
#6
Put multiple boxes in at least 2 different locations.
I have 3 boxes at one end of the house and 3 at the other. Whenever I walk by and find one used, I check all of them.1 point
18 Ways to Stop Cat Urine Odor Problems
How To Get Rid Of The Urine Smells Once And For All
I don't know about you but over the years, I've spent hundreds of dollars trying to get rid of theurine smells in my home and garage. Well I finally found the solutions to my problems in the book 18 Ways to Stop Cat Urine Odor Problems.For more information click Stop Cat Urine Odor
The Stoner Cat
Rock My World
The Stoner Cat
Save Feral Cats From Death
Help Stop The Killing Of Feral Cats
In the U.S., more cats are intentionally killed than die of any other cause.Virtually every feral cat that enters a shelter or animal control facility is killed. The very system that is supposed to care about the welfare of animals is, in fact, subjecting them to a ruthless policy of extermination.
To learn more about feral cats and how to save them click Oppose the Killing of Cats
Must Read Articles On Taking Care Of Your Cat
Find Answers To All Of Your Cat Questions
You'll find dozens of articles on Cat Care on my website All Things Related To Cats. Below are a few of them. Click the headline to see the individual article.
- Medicating Your Cat -- Easy Tricks
- When it comes to medicating your cat I don't think there is a pet owner alive who hasn't experienced the frustration of trying to force a pill down the throat of an unwilling participant. What should you do when you hear those dreaded words...
- 9 Lives Or Not, Protect Your Cat With Vaccinations
- If you want to enjoy the companionship of a healthy and happy cat, 1 of the most important things you can do is to safeguard its health. Vaccinations can protect your cat from many common cat diseases...
- Adding A Second Cat To A Household
- Many cat enthusiasts feel that having a single cat is the ideal situation. For other cat lovers though, the more cats, the better. Making the choice to add another cat to your household involves a number of considerations...
- Pregnant Cat Care: 10 Essential Tips
- 10 essential tips to help you take the best possible care of your pregnant cat:
1. Keep Your Pregnant Cat Indoors
There is more than one reason to keep your expectant kitty indoors... - What To Do When Your Cat Is Overweight
- Did you know that obesity is probably the most common malnutrition problem with cats?...
- A Hairy Situation -- Why The Cat Hacks Up Hairballs
- We love our precious little felines and they love us so much that they sometimes enjoy leaving little presents like dead lizards -- or even a mouse still twitching in its death throes -- they have hunted and killed on our doorsteps. And of course most cat owners have experienced the wonderful treat of watching and/or listening to their cat's hacking and retching, resulting in a hairball...
Dharma The Cat - Philosophy With Fur
A Great Read!
I just discovered a wonderful cartoon ebook about a Buddhist cat named Dharma. Along with a novice monk and a cheese-crazy mouse, the three have some great adventures (or I should say misadventures) together.
Written by David Lourie, the book is very clever with wonderful humor and wit. It is also thought-provoking -- a great blending of philosophy and spirituality with humor. It would make a nice Christmas or birthday gift.
To get a free download of 13 pages of this wonderful ebook and/or to learn more about Dharma and her pals, click Fun With Dharma.
Written by David Lourie, the book is very clever with wonderful humor and wit. It is also thought-provoking -- a great blending of philosophy and spirituality with humor. It would make a nice Christmas or birthday gift.
To get a free download of 13 pages of this wonderful ebook and/or to learn more about Dharma and her pals, click Fun With Dharma.
The Techno Cat
Geeks Love Music Too!
The Techno Cat
8 Things You Must Do While Bathing A Cat
These Will Keep You And Your Cat Safe
Most cats do not have to be bathed often, if at all. But when they do, make sure to keep these things in mind:1. Be kind, calm, patient and gentle, even if your cat is going ballistic.
2. Talk to him gently the entire time you are bathing him.
3. Also be organized in advance.
4. Keep things moving.
5. Use warm water -- not too hot and not too cold
6. Towel him off rubbing and massage him (this helps to calm him down).
7. When you think he is dry, wrap a clean, dry towel around him and hug him (if he'll let you), talking gently to him.
8. Give him his favorite treat as a reward (or apology).
See the next section to for The Trauma Free Way To Bathe Your Cat, my step-by-step method of cat bathing.
The Trauma Free Way To Bathe Your Cat
Step-by-Step Instructions That Really Work
Deciding to bathe a cat is a fairly extreme measure, generally undertaken only when necessary because of a major case of fleas or some other unsavory misadventure. And, unless you have a highly unusual cat, bathing him will not be easy. Most cats hate water and being wet and will be frightened by the ordeal and will act out accordingly.Here's the method I use to bathe cats with much success - remember to talk to him softly throughout the bath:
1. Get Organized
Put out cat shampoo, wash cloths, 3 absorbent towels, your cat's favorite treat, and put a non-skid mat in the sink.
2. Get A Helper
My husband holds the cat using the "momma-hold" (gripping the skin behind the cat's head like a momma carries her baby), which when applied correctly, makes the cat stop struggling - He supports the cat's body as he lowers him onto the non-skid mat in the sink.
3. Head First
With a wet washcloth, I gently clean his face. I do not use shampoo on his face unless absolutely necessary, thus avoiding soap in his eyes, nose or mouth.
4. The Body
I lift his chin and using a large cup, I pour clean, warm water down the back of his head and over his body. I rub a little shampoo between my hands and rub it into the cat's body, legs and paws.
I rinse with clean, warm water and use my hands to squeeze the water off his body and legs, repeating as necessary.
5. Drying
I take a clean towel, wrap it around his body, then pat and rub the water off. I repeat with a 2nd towel.
5. Cuddle Him
I wrap him in another towel and cuddle him, walking away from the sink while talking softly. I walk away so he knows the ordeal is over while I am warming him up with my body. Hold them for as long as he will let you. This is important because it ensures he is dry and warm and leaves him with a better feeling about the ordeal.
6. Give Him A Treat
Finally I take him to his favorite treat and unwrap and set him in front of it. I continue to stroke him and I tell him how proud I am of him and how grand he smells and how beautiful he's going to look, now that he's clean. And I promise I won't do it again unless I really have to.
He may eat the treat immediately, or he may scamper away to do his own cleaning, but he's done, he'll come back to get his treat.
What A Cat Thinks After A Bath
What Just Happened?
Pictures Of Cats and Their Sleeping Buddies
Who Said Cats And Dogs Can't Get Along?
Cats will sleep anytime and anywhere and for up to 18 hours a day! And, they aren't real choosey about who they'll sleep with. Here I'll be showcasing pictures of cats and all their sleeping buddies -- and yes, they do indeed include dogs! Please vote on your favorites and add to the list if you have one that you think should be here. Purrs & bear hugs, Frankie
