Tag Archives: cat scratching

Cat Care, General Care

And Meow, A Word About Cat Towers

Does your kitty have a cat tower? If so, that’s great! This may very well be Fluffy’s favorite piece of ‘purrniture.’ A Georgetown, IN vet discusses cat towers in this article.

Benefits of Cat Towers

Although kitties aren’t officially classed as arboreal, or tree dwelling, they certainly do enjoy trees. Fluffy uses them to sharpen her nails, escape danger, hunt birds, and get a good vantage point of her kingdom. She also sometimes just likes to hang out on them. You probably don’t have a tree in the middle of your living room, so a cat tower is the next best thing.

Refreshing An Old Cat Tower

Sometimes cats lose interest in their towers. There are some things you can do to pique your furball’s interest again. First, try cleaning it. Vacuuming might work, but if it’s really stained or worn, you may want to use a shampooer with an attachment. If the covering is beyond cleaning, redo it in carpet. You don’ t need the expensive stuff! Another thing you can try is moving it to a different spot. Sprinkling catnip around it and/or putting toys near it may also help.

Choosing Cat Towers

Kitty towers are not one-size-fits-all. You’ll want to keep your furry pal’s age, health, and purrsonality in mind when you go shopping. Kittens will appreciate towers that incorporate fun toys and offer them lots of things to climb and hang from. Adult cats may be more interested in napping, and like towers with comfy beds and lounging spots. Senior felines can’t climb as well as their younger counterparts, and will need towers with the lowest levels close to the floor. Do you have a scaredy-cat on your hands? Get something that offers your timid furball lots of enclosed hiding spots. If you have more than one cat, choose pieces that will fit all of your kitties at once.

DIY

Is a cat tower a bit too much for your budget right now? Go the DIY route. You can upcycle an old stepladder, bookshelf, or storage shelf by adding wooden planks to the steps to widen them out. Cover the whole thing in carpet or sisal rope, and tell Fluffy to stay off. She’ll immediately hop on!

Please call us, your local Georgetown, IN vet clinic, for all of your cat’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!

Behavior, Cat Care, General Care

Common Behavioral Issues in Cats

Cats are extremely popular pets, and with good reason. Fluffy is not only super cute, she’s also clean, easy to care for, and full of adorable quirks. Our feline friends aren’t purrfect, however. Read on as a Georgetown, IN vet discusses some common behavioral issues in cats.

Scratching

Fluffy’s manicure habits are not very popular with her human friends. Your cat isn’t tearing up your things on purpose: kitties are instinctively driven to care for their nails. Offer your furry little diva a tall, sturdy scratching post, and bribe her with treats and praise for using it.

Rough Play

Cats are hunters by nature, and often really enjoy pouncing and attacking their ‘prey.’ Your housecat may never have to hunt anything other than a comfy napping spot, but Fluffy will still be driven to pounce, scratch, and bite. Nip this bad behavior in the bud! Offer your frisky furball lots of fun toys, play with her daily, and ignore her when she attacks you.

Aggression

Does your cat bite or scratch people? If so, you’ll want to determine whether Fluffy is truly acting aggressive, or is just playing rough. (Tip: if your cat’s ears are back and she is growling, hissing, and/or lashing her tail, she’s truly angry.) Aggression can often be corrected, but before you can address the issue, you’ll need to figure out what is causing Fluffy’s aggression. Does your cat lash out when she feels cornered? Or does she hate being picked up? Watch your furball closely, and ask your vet for advice.

Spraying

Having Fluffy spayed or neutered is the first and most important step to take in curbing this unwanted behavior. It’s also important to keep your furball’s litterbox clean: cats hate dirty bathrooms! Kitties can also spay because of medical problems, so be sure to consult your vet if your pet is having issues.

Bullying

Does your kitty terrorize your dog? Does Fluffy beat up on your other cats? Kitties can be both jealous and territorial, and aren’t always happy about having a furry roommate. Give all your pets their own beds and toys, and pay equal attention to them. Play sessions can also help, as they will burn off your furry friends’ excess energy. Ask your vet for more advice.

Do you have questions about your cat’s health or care? Contact us, your Georgetown, IN animal clinic, anytime.

Cat Care, General Care

Cat Care Hacks

Do you have a kitty? Our feline friends make wonderful pets. Cats aren’t difficult to care for: providing Fluffy with good food, regular veterinary care, and a clean litterbox will cover the basics. Caring for Fluffy does entail some work, however. Below, a Floyds Knob, IN vet offers some great cat care hacks to make your life a bit easier.

Cooling Fluffy Off

On really hot days, drop an ice cube onto the floor for Fluffy to play with. Since cats use their paw pads to regulate their temperature, batting an ice cube around is a great way for kitties to cool off.

Summer Napping Spot

Another way to keep your pet cool is to make her a kitty hammock. You’ll need an end table with four legs, and a piece of material. Cut the material so that it’s a bit smaller than the tabletop, then attach the corners of the fabric to the legs.

Food Spills

Put a dinner tray beneath Fluffy’s food bowls. If your kitty is a sloppy eater, this will contain her messes. It’s also easy to clean!

Fur Busting

Use a squeegee to get pet fur off your couch and carpet. You can also try a damp sponge, or a rubber dish glove. When you do laundry, add white vinegar to the wash. This will help loosen the fur.

Tape Tricks

If Fluffy is jumping on counters, put clear two-sided tape along the edge of the counter. Your frisky feline will hate the sticky feeling! After a few experiences, she’ll probably stop trying, and you can remove the tape.

Scratching

To keep Fluffy from scratching a sofa or chair, put two-sided tape in her favorite scratching spot. Another thing you can do is to attach a piece of carpet to a board. Nail the board to a wall, just high enough so your kitty will have to sit up to use it.

Carrier

Does Fluffy flee the moment she sees her carrier? Make the carrier seem like a comfy den by leaving it out. Add bedding and fun toys, and give her treats and toys near it.

Hunting Halt

Put a dent in Kitty’s hunting habit by tying a bell to her collar. Use a breakaway collar, so your feline friend can’t get caught on things.

Do you have questions about cat care? Contact us, your Floyds Knob, IN animal clinic, today!