Will Love Them Till My Last Breath ...
Problem: Your Cat Tosses Food on the Kitchen Floor
Why it happens: Kitty might be implying she doesn’t like her bowl. “If it’s made of plastic, she’s right,” says Julia Szabo, author of Animal House Style. “Plastic harbors bacteria and imparts an off-putting taste to food and water.” Or she may just be playing with her food―it’s a game.What to do: “Upgrade to a stainless-steel or china bowl,” says Szabo. If that doesn’t work, try different food or a deeper bowl. Or have a play session before mealtime.
Problem: Your Cat Scratches Everything
Once he has adapted to the post, move it to a place that’s less intrusive to your design scheme.Why it happens: “Cats scratch to mark territory and to shed the outer layer of their claws,” says Stephanie Shain, pet-adoption director for the Humane Society of the United States, in Washington, D.C.
What to do: Temporarily limit his access to furniture and find him the scratching post of his dreams, suggests Shain. “Some cats like sisal or carpeted posts―even cheap cardboard posts work for many,” she says. “Also, different cats scratch differently. Some want something flat on the ground. Others like to stretch up.” The key is to put the post right next to the piece of furniture he’s ruining until he learns what is OK to scratch and what isn’t.
What to do: Temporarily limit his access to furniture and find him the scratching post of his dreams, suggests Shain. “Some cats like sisal or carpeted posts―even cheap cardboard posts work for many,” she says. “Also, different cats scratch differently. Some want something flat on the ground. Others like to stretch up.” The key is to put the post right next to the piece of furniture he’s ruining until he learns what is OK to scratch and what isn’t.
Problem: Your Cat Meows at Night
Why it happens: “If this is an older cat, a vet should check the thyroid. Nighttime vocalization is one sign of hyperthyroidism,” says Patti Iampietro, a veterinarian with Best Friends Animal Society, in Kanab, Utah. An aging pet may lose certain cognitive abilities, says Edward Moser, a veterinarian in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. “Older animals become less restful at night,” he says. Other causes could be something provoking the cat, a change in her routine or environment, or boredom. And if your cat hasn’t been spayed or neutered, these night howls could be mating calls. Even another cat hanging around outside at night can evoke vocalization, says Iampietro.
What to do: If mating is the motive, promptly “fix” your pet. If not, test the cat for hyperthyroidism with a simple blood test. Treatment options are surgery, daily medication, or radioactive-iodine therapy. A change in diet may also help. “Antioxidants and vitamins E and C may reverse brain-aging changes,” says Moser. Once you rule out medical issues and outside disturbances, you’re probably dealing with a cat who wants attention at 3 a.m. Shain suggests giving the cat some nighttime-only toys before you hit the sack. “It’s a test of will, so steel your nerves and ignore her,” she says.
What to do: If mating is the motive, promptly “fix” your pet. If not, test the cat for hyperthyroidism with a simple blood test. Treatment options are surgery, daily medication, or radioactive-iodine therapy. A change in diet may also help. “Antioxidants and vitamins E and C may reverse brain-aging changes,” says Moser. Once you rule out medical issues and outside disturbances, you’re probably dealing with a cat who wants attention at 3 a.m. Shain suggests giving the cat some nighttime-only toys before you hit the sack. “It’s a test of will, so steel your nerves and ignore her,” she says.
Problem: Your Pet Sheds
Why it happens: Excessive shedding may be due to dry skin, a poor diet, or stress.
What to do: The first line of defense is to groom your pet for five minutes a day. To reduce shedding, try moisturizing your pet’s skin and hair through his diet. “Dry skin sheds more hair. Dry hairs drop off animals like the needles off a Christmas tree,” says Szabo. She recommends adding a few drops of olive or flaxseed oil to your cat’s or dog’s kibble. Your veterinarian might suggest a dietary supplement such as Derm Caps, which include fish and safflower oils and vitamin E, to improve coat condition. When it comes to cleanup, Szabo swears by the Dyson DC17 Animal, a vacuum designed for a hairy home, and StickySheets, which provide the fuzz-lifting action of a lint roller for a larger surface area.
What to do: The first line of defense is to groom your pet for five minutes a day. To reduce shedding, try moisturizing your pet’s skin and hair through his diet. “Dry skin sheds more hair. Dry hairs drop off animals like the needles off a Christmas tree,” says Szabo. She recommends adding a few drops of olive or flaxseed oil to your cat’s or dog’s kibble. Your veterinarian might suggest a dietary supplement such as Derm Caps, which include fish and safflower oils and vitamin E, to improve coat condition. When it comes to cleanup, Szabo swears by the Dyson DC17 Animal, a vacuum designed for a hairy home, and StickySheets, which provide the fuzz-lifting action of a lint roller for a larger surface area.
Problem: Your Cat Claws at a Caretaker
Why it happens: “Most cats will not attack unless provoked,” says Iampietro. So your cat, cranky because you had the audacity to leave, is probably swatting at its overly solicitous caretaker.
What to do: “Slowly introduce the pet to the visitor so the cat will feel more comfortable with her at vacation time,” says Kathy Kwieran, founder of Kathy's Kitties, a cat-rescue and fostering facility in Kempner, Texas. “The caretaker shouldn’t pet or pick up the cat but should let the cat approach her.
What to do: “Slowly introduce the pet to the visitor so the cat will feel more comfortable with her at vacation time,” says Kathy Kwieran, founder of Kathy's Kitties, a cat-rescue and fostering facility in Kempner, Texas. “The caretaker shouldn’t pet or pick up the cat but should let the cat approach her.
Problem: Your Pet's Poop Adheres to Her Backside
Why it happens: Your pet’s stool may be too soft. This can be a problem for long-haired animals.
What to do: “Try a more digestible diet to result in a small amount of firm, dark-colored stool that won’t stick to fur,” says Moser. “Look for a cat food that is 32 to 33 percent protein, 12 to 14 percent fat, and relatively low-fiber. For a dog, you want the protein level at 22 to 24 percent, fat around 12 to 14 percent, and low-fiber, low-residue.” If you still have a sticky situation, carefully crop the fur around the rear end with a beard trimmer or nose-hair scissors, or have a groomer do it.
What to do: “Try a more digestible diet to result in a small amount of firm, dark-colored stool that won’t stick to fur,” says Moser. “Look for a cat food that is 32 to 33 percent protein, 12 to 14 percent fat, and relatively low-fiber. For a dog, you want the protein level at 22 to 24 percent, fat around 12 to 14 percent, and low-fiber, low-residue.” If you still have a sticky situation, carefully crop the fur around the rear end with a beard trimmer or nose-hair scissors, or have a groomer do it.
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