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Hooman, your cat meows to communicate with you. Here are some reasons why?

• To greet you
• To Get your attention
• I want food hooman!
• Let me out... no I changed my mind let me back in!

What if my Cat Meows excessively?

Take your cat to the vet! Maybe its trying to commincate a health problem, such UTI or ear infection.

I checked with the vet, Cat is A-OK! But my cat MEOOOOWs too much what to do?

• Ignore your cat... if you can resist thier cuteness!
• Punish your cat... and get it to distrust you and take revenge on you later...
• Give in to your cat. After all Its your easy way out

Grooming your pet regularly is not just about keeping them looking good, it's also essential for their overall health and wellbeing. Here are some of the top benefits of regular pet grooming:

1. Improves Skin and Coat Health: Regular grooming helps to distribute natural oils throughout your pet's skin and coat, which can help to keep it healthy and shiny. It also helps to remove dirt, debris, and dead skin cells, which can help prevent skin irritation and infection.

2. Helps with Shedding: By brushing your pet's coat regularly, you can help to remove loose fur and prevent it from ending up all over your house. This is especially important for pets with longer hair, as mats and tangles can easily form and lead to excessive shedding. Find grooming tools here

3. Reduces the Risk of Infections: Grooming helps to keep your pet's ears, eyes, and teeth clean, reducing the risk of infections and dental problems. This is particularly important for breeds that are prone to ear and eye infections, such as poodles and cocker spaniels. You can find a wide selection of eye and ear solutions here

4. Promotes Better Health: Regular grooming allows you to spot any lumps, bumps, or skin irritations that may indicate an underlying health problem. Catching these issues early can help to prevent them from becoming more serious and costly to treat. Ask for a vet to home visit

5. Strengthens Your Bond: Grooming is a great way to bond with your pet and strengthen your relationship. It can be a calming and relaxing experience for both you and your pet, and helps to build trust and affection.

In conclusion, regular pet grooming is an essential part of your pet's overall health and wellbeing. It can help to keep their skin and coat healthy, prevent infections, and promote better health overall. Plus, it's a great way to bond with your furry friend! So make sure to schedule regular grooming sessions for your pet, or consider taking them to a professional groomer for an extra pampering session. You can use our grooming service here

1. Moisturize skin: Cold winter air and indoor heating can lead to dry skin, so using a pet-safe moisturizer can help prevent dryness and itching.

2. Keep fur trimmed: Keeping your pet's fur trimmed, especially around the paw pads, can help prevent snow and ice buildup, and reduce the risk of paw pad injuries.

3. Protect paw pads: Apply a paw protectant balm or wax to protect your pet's paw pads from the cold and salt on winter roads.

4. Provide warm shelter: Make sure your pet has a warm and dry place to sleep and rest.

5. Watch for signs of hypothermia: Be aware of the signs of hypothermia, such as shivering, lethargy, and shallow breathing, and seek veterinary care if you suspect your pet is suffering from hypothermia.

6. Keep your pet active: Regular exercise can help keep your pet warm and healthy, but be careful to limit outdoor time in extreme cold.

7. Avoid antifreeze: Antifreeze can be toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach.

Remember, every pet is different, and it's best to consult with your veterinarian to determine the best winter care plan for your individual pet.

1. Play fetch or tug-of-war with toys:
2. Teach them new tricks or obedience training get treats here:
3. Have a spa day with grooming and pampering:
4. Set up an obstacle course for them to navigate: pillows?
5. Bake homemade dog treats together, or get them ready from doggy bites:
6. Have a movie marathon with your furry friend by your side. try Togo... it's a good one!

If there's something we missed, do share suggestions with us in the comments...

Have a terrific winter day! <3 

Ever wonder why your cat is so drawn to the Christmas tree each year? 

It’s the perfect scenario, in your cat's mind. The Christmas tree is something high to climb on that provides plenty of hiding spots and has all sorts of fun, shiny, moving things to bat at and play with. 

However, this isn’t the safest spot for your cat, nor is it your preferred spot for them to hang out. 

There are dangerous things that can be chewed on and potentially ingested by your cat, like the tinsel, branches and pine needles, ornaments, and Christmas lights. Swallowing any of these could be a choking hazard and potentially cause an intestinal blockage. 

How to Cat-Proof Your Christmas Tree

Is it possible to have both cats and a Christmas tree during the holidays with no incidents? Yes—it just might take a little planning and rearranging. Here are some ideas for how to keep your cat out of your Christmas tree this holiday season. 

Try Cat-Deterrent Sprays

Keep your cat away from the Christmas tree with a cat-deterrent spray.

Cats absolutely hate the taste of bitter things. This is an evolutionary trait that has probably kept them safe from eating things like rancid meat in the wild. Thankfully, it can also keep them from destroying things in the house or chewing on toxic plants. If you use a bitter-tasting spray on the tree, it can help keep your cat from chewing on the branches.

DIY Cat-Deterrent Spray

You can make your own homemade cat-deterrent spray by following the instructions below.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of water

• ½ cup of fresh rosemary

• ¾ cup distilled white vinegar

• ¼ cup lemon juice

Steps:

1. Boil water.

2. Add fresh rosemary to boiling water. Turn off heat, cover with a lid, and let it steep overnight. 

3. The next day, strain the rosemary pieces out of the liquid with a cheesecloth or a sieve. Pour the liquid into a spray bottle. 

4. Add vinegar and lemon juice.

5. Shake well to mix up the liquids. 

Let an Air-Spray Can Do the Work

Try a motion- or heat-activated spray to warn your cat to stay away. These types of sprays are harmless to your cat but scare them away because of the startling burst of air.

The motion-activated sprays make a hissing sound as they release air. This will also startle your cat because it simulates the sound a cat makes when they feel threatened. This is how they tell possible aggressors to stay away. If your cat hears that same sound, they will learn to stay away. 

Using a motion- or heat-activated spray is recommended instead of spraying your cat with water. If you try deterring your cat by spraying them with a water bottle yourself, the cat will associate you with fear.  Plus, if you aren’t patrolling the tree 24/7, it just teaches them to get into the tree when you aren’t around.

Use Cat Training Mats 

Place a cat training mat in front of your Christmas tree. They are made to be safe to use and won’t hurt your cat. These products typically offer two settings—tonal and static—sometimes simultaneously. These settings are used to startle your cat, which will train them to stay away.

Set Up a Physical Barrier

Keep your cat away from the Christmas tree with a physical barrier like a pet fence or pet playpen. But for cats who are extra clever and determined, you may want to combine this with another method like the cat-deterrent spray.

Place Aluminum Foil around the Base 

Many cats absolutely hate the look, sound, and feel of aluminum foil. So, if you want a quick, easy fix to keep your cat away from the tree, create a sort of Christmas tree skirt with sheets of aluminum foil taped together around the base. 

Move Furniture Away from the Tree 

Cats are quite athletic, and they love to jump from one piece of furniture to the next. If you move as much furniture as you can away from the Christmas tree, your cat won’t have that extra launching point. 

Get Your Cat Their Own Cat Tree

You can try to lead your cat away from the Christmas tree by offering them something more desirable. If you get your cat a new cat tree with some special added features and catnip, it could be tempting enough to draw their attention away from the Christmas tree. Get cat tee here.

Downsize to a Tabletop Christmas Tree

If you’re tired of trying to keep your cat out of the tree, go for a smaller Christmas tree that can sit on top of a table. This way the tree isn’t big enough for your cat to jump onto or climb around in. 

Featured image: https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/

Featured article at: petmd.com

If your cat is itching and scratching and you notice reddish brown dirt on his skin, or you have forgotten to apply the last round of treatment, your kitty could have fleas. Cat and dog fleas are exceedingly common in the U.S., and they can cause annoying itching and spread bacteria that cause diseases like cat scratch disease and typhus. Therefore, if your four-pawed friend is showing any signs of a flea infestation, it is important to take steps to end the problem immediately, as much for your cat’s health and wellbeing as for your own.

Choosing a Species- Appropriate Treatment

If you have both cats and dogs at home, you might be tempted to use your dog’s flea treatment on your cat and vice-versa – this is a big mistake and can result in death. Poisoning (as a result of permethrin – an ingredient sometimes found in dog flea treatments) is very common in cats. It causes severe muscle tremors and seizure, resulting in euthanasia in 40% of affected cats. It is important to consult your veterinarian for the right anti-pest treatment for your kitty. Different solutions treat different things. For instance, one prescription-only treatment does more than just kill adult fleas and prevent their eggs from hatching. It additionally prevents heartworm disease (thanks to the active ingredient Selamectin) and treats and controls ear mites, roundworms, and hookworms in cats.

Giving Your Cat a Bath

Normally, you will need to wait two days after applying a flea treatment to bathe your cat but it is a good idea to do so if your cat is out frequently. Opt for a relatively gentle, natural flea shampoo. Make sure every area in your cat’s fur is sudsy and leave the shampoo on for a few minutes before washing off. Rub your fingers between your cat’s paws, since fleas can settle in this area.

Cleaning Your Home

It isn’t enough to rid your cat of fleas; your home should also be thoroughly cleaned. Adult fleas lay up to 50 eggs each per day. These eggs can fall off your cat onto carpets and into crevices on the floor, growing into pupa which can be very difficult to kill. Fleas have a three-week life cycle so your cat can easily become reinfected. Your vet will also be able to recommend a good home cleaner that is effective, but non-toxic to your pets. You should also consider investing in a good steam cleaner, which will kill fleas with the high temperature of the steam. If you are using a normal vacuum cleaner, make sure to stick the bag into the freezer overnight to kill all the fleas before emptying the bag.

When it comes to cat fleas, prevention is definitely better than cure. Choose a treatment suggested by your veterinarian and use a calendar or online reminder to ensure you don’t forget treatment date. If your cat does develop fleas, bathe and treat it and make sure to clean your home with the right product, steam cleaning as well for extra effectiveness.

By Jacqueline Holden  

My name is Jackie and I spent more than a decade as a vet’s nurse, working to help save the lives of sick and injured animals, from beloved family pets through to hard working farm animals.  

I now work as a freelance researcher and editor. This includes working with a host of different wildlife information and advice sites, which work to educate people on how best to look after creatures and critters, no matter whether they’re beloved pets or wild animals.  

My name is Jackie and I spent more than a decade as a vet’s nurse, working to help save the lives of sick and injured animals, from beloved family pets through to hard working farm animals.  

I now work as a freelance researcher and editor. This includes working with a host of different wildlife information and advice sites, which work to educate people on how best to look after creatures and critters, no matter whether they’re beloved pets or wild animals.