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A few years ago, Michael Pollan wrote a book you may have heard of called, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and its…

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“My cat is awake all night, full of energy and is stopping me from getting any sleep. It’s driving me nuts!

Most cats spend a good part of their daylight hours sleeping, they like nothing better than finding a warm spot and enjoying a little snooze.

The trouble is that some cats are wide-awake when night falls and are full of vim and vigor, if your cat is one that could mean broken sleep or even entirely sleepless nights for you. And that’s no joke, you need your sleep so you can be bright eyed and bushy tailed for work in the morning. You are embarrassed about being constantly bleary eyed and yawning at your desk!

So, are you sharing your home with an evil feline, a cat that has a secret agenda to torment you with sleep deprivation? No, it’s not really your cat’s fault. In their natural state cats are nocturnal hunters, they stalk their prey at night. Centuries ago cats ventured into human settlements because where there was humans there were rodents. This arrangement was good for both parties, good hunting for the cats and the humans had the rodent problem solved for them.

Years later the rodent problem was not so acute for humans but many found that they enjoyed the company of cats. Cats began to be kept as pets and the humans fed their feline pets so there was no need for them to hunt for their food. But the hunting instinct remains with the cats to this day . . . and so does the nocturnal instinct.

“OK, cats are naturally active at night but I really need my sleep. What can I do?”

This problem most usually affects “indoor only” cats because cats that have access to the outdoors via a pet door can slip out at night and satisfy their hunting instincts. But you may have many reasons why you prefer to keep your cat indoors.

Do you play with your cat? You should, playing is fun both for you and your cat and helps increase the bond between the two of you.

If your cat’s night energy is causing you to lose sleep try a play session with your cat shortly before you go to bed, this may just tire out your cat so she or he is not so active.

Involve interactive cat toys, the fishing pole type and the toy mouse on a string variety, roll a ball for your cat to chase. Don’t overdo it the object is not to exhaust your kitty but get rid of excess energy. At first your cat may only be interested in playing for a few minutes, that’s okay try playing a little longer the next night.

The energy that your cat spends playing represents the energy a cat would spend hunting, and at the end of a hunt, a successful one anyway, is a meal. So feed your cat a small meal after the play session. In this way you are recreating your cat’s natural nocturnal habits and it just may mean she or he will be a little less active at night.

Don’t expect this to work instantly, you will need to patiently keep trying, good luck.

Keeping your cat indoors is the safest option.  It helps to:

Protect from trauma Attacks from other animals Infectious diseases

Even though indoors in the best place for your cat, indoor life can also contribute to boredom and stress that might result in medical and behavior problems.  There are steps cat owners can take to provide an interesting indoor life for feline companions.

Try to think of your cat as a guest in your home.  Realize just a few preparations will make the cat feel welcome and happier.  First of all, try to understand your cat’s physical, mental and emotional needs.  For further information, please follow the link in the resource box to my Persian cat site.  On this site you will find helpful articles about every aspect of caring for and living with cats.  Bookmark the site as I will be adding information continuously.  On this site, I will also be exploring other members of the cat family such as tigers and lions that will help you to understand the natural instincts of the cat.

Cats are not herd or pack animals.  They evolved as solitary hunters of small prey and spent much of their day in pursuit of food.  Other portion of their time was spent establishing, marking and defending a territory.  Free-living cats lead very busy lives.  Our domesticated cats lead fully indoor lives, which removes the need to find food and patrol territory, but does not eliminate their daily need for stimulation and activity that involved finding food and patrolling territories.  So you can imagine how much “extra” time our domesticated cats have on their hands each day living indoors with us.

Most of us realize the cat’s basic indoor needs of food, water and a litter box.  What we might not realize is certain mental and emotional needs.  These include:

A place to scratch A place to rest A place to perch above the ground Some interaction with toys to mimic the hunting of prey

The mental and emotional needs of a cat call for an informed and understanding owner.  For example, scratching is a natural feline activity that helps cats exercise their muscles, shed the old outer layers of their claws and mark their territory using both scent-based and visual sings.  Scratching is a cat’s instinctive behavior.  This urge to scratch will vary from cat to cat as does preferences of location and other materials.  You will need to experiment with different scratching devices to see which your cat or cats prefer.  Some prefer horizontal surfaces, others prefer vertical.  Observe your cat to see what his or her preferences are and then accommodate them with the appropriate scratching devices.  I notice my Diamond and Fairy like vertical scratching areas, and my male, Taz, seems to do very little scratching.  As you observe your particular cat, you will learn how to communicate with them and what they are saying to you.

A funny story about my Taz is with the addition of a new girl, Diamond, she has been teaching the others it seems more games to play.  Taz would sit in my lap and roll around and try to grasp hold of my hand or arm with his paws, then very lightly and almost in question start to bite.  At first, I was a little alarmed and of course I told him this was absolutely out of the question.   He could not bite “mommy.”  After a few rounds of this, Taz suddenly jumped down from my lap, ran across the room, jumped upon one of the climbing trees, slapped at the little bird hanging there, then grasp hold of it with his paws and starting biting it.  Then he ran back over to me, jumped up in my lap and looked straight into my eyes.  I felt like he was saying:  “I only want to wrestle and play with you.”  “I am not trying to hurt you.”  And I do believe this is what he was communicating with his actions and body language.  I notice Diamond has been wrestling with Taz and Fairy, so I concluded Diamond taught Taz this new game.

Disclaimer:  The information in this article is not meant to diagnose or treat any kind of health problem in your cat.  You should always consult with a trusted veterinarian for all health problems.

Source:  The Winn Feline Foundation Online

The number of house cats is increasing. More and more cat owners are deciding that it’s no longer safe for their cat to go outside unsupervised; cars, other animals, poisons and malicious people are just some of the reasons.

Indoor cats can lead very happy lives, but they do need to be entertained more than outdoor cats. If house cats aren’t stimulated enough, they’ll get bored and may become stressed or exhibit cat behavior problems such as scratching the furniture and ignoring their litter box.

Here are 8 tips for keeping your house cat happy and entertained:

1. Make sure he has plenty of cat toys. He should have toys in every room. To add interest, split his toys into two or three batches and rotate them every few days.

2. Get him some good cat furniture. A scratching post is a must. Two or three in different areas of the house is even better. If you can afford it, cat trees and cat condos are great for entertaining house cats. If you’re on a tight budget, you can make a cat condo using boxes, carpet, logs etc.

3. Use catnip. If your cat likes catnip, sprinkle it around his scratching post, bed and other favorite areas.

4. Provide seats for your cat near windows. Cats love to watch what’s going on outside, and to sit in the sun. Window views at garden or street level are likely to provide more entertainment than those at higher levels in the house.

5. Grow some cat grass in a pot. This is a good substitute for eating grass outside.

6. Get a DVD specifically made for cats. Yes they do exist! Some cats love them and some aren’t interested, but they’re relatively cheap so it’s worth a try.

7. Use a computer screensaver with swimming tropical fish. Some cats love this – it’s like ultimate cat TV.

8. Teach your cat to walk on a leash. This does take some time and patience, but if you can do it you can then take your house cats outdoors in total safety.

The number of house cats is increasing. More and more cat owners are deciding that it’s no longer safe for their cat to go outside unsupervised; cars, other animals, poisons and malicious people are just some of the reasons.

Indoor cats can lead very happy lives, but they do need to be entertained more than outdoor cats. If house cats aren’t stimulated enough, they’ll get bored and may become stressed or exhibit cat behavior problems such as scratching the furniture and ignoring their litter box.

Here are 8 tips for keeping your house cat happy and entertained:

1. Make sure he has plenty of cat toys. He should have toys in every room. To add interest, split his toys into two or three batches and rotate them every few days.

2. Get him some good cat furniture. A scratching post is a must. Two or three in different areas of the house is even better. If you can afford it, cat trees and cat condos are great for entertaining house cats. If you’re on a tight budget, you can make a cat condo using boxes, carpet, logs etc.

3. Use catnip. If your cat likes catnip, sprinkle it around his scratching post, bed and other favorite areas.

4. Provide seats for your cat near windows. Cats love to watch what’s going on outside, and to sit in the sun. Window views at garden or street level are likely to provide more entertainment than those at higher levels in the house.

5. Grow some cat grass in a pot. This is a good substitute for eating grass outside.

6. Get a DVD specifically made for cats. Yes they do exist! Some cats love them and some aren’t interested, but they’re relatively cheap so it’s worth a try.

7. Use a computer screensaver with swimming tropical fish. Some cats love this – it’s like ultimate cat TV.

8. Teach your cat to walk on a leash. This does take some time and patience, but if you can do it you can then take your house cats outdoors in total safety.

There are several things you can do to help you cat stay healthy from day to day; give him good shelter, high quality food, and plenty of fresh water.  These are the basics.  Like other living things however, cats can get sick from time to time regardless of how good your care is. 

As a cat owner, you’ll want to ensure that you feed your cat only the best food you can afford.  Premium cat foods are ideal for cats, as the food is designed to give your cat all the nutrition it needs without chemicals or preservatives.  You should also be aware of your cats day to day behavior, so that you’ll know when something isn’t right.  This can get you a jump on any bug your kitty may catch.  Most of the more common ailments and sicknesses are minor (such as urinary tract infections and respiratory infections), although there are some cases where a vet can be the determining factor between life and death for your cat.

How your cat behaves will often be your best tip for assessing their day to day health. If you notice your cat acting sluggish, and not eating you should really get him (or her) to the vet ASAP.  The condition of you cats coat is also something you can watch to get a feel for your cats health.  If you notice his coat getting dull and patchy or notice him shedding more than, you should contact your vet as it may be a sign of a nutrient imbalance that left untreated could seriously affect your feline.

Diarrhea and vomiting are common in cats, even if the bug they catch is minor. Knowing your cats normal behavior will tell you if this is normal or not.  If it persists for more than a day though, you should really consider a trip to the vet.  Coughing is common as well, simply because coughing is how your cat will dislodge hairballs.  If your cat seems to be coughing excessively, you should have him checked out as it may be an upper respiratory infection..

To help safeguard you cat against many common diseases, you should always make sure that he stays up do date with his vaccinations. There are several diseases that require vaccinations, including rabies and feline distemper.  Feline distemper is one of most devastating diseases a cat can get, but is very easy to prevent with proper medical care.  The disease strikes cats very fast, and leaves you very little time to seek treatment.

Feline leukemia is another disease that is very deadly but can be prevented very simply with the proper vaccinations.  Although it isn’t possible for the disease to spread to humans, it spreads quickly among cats.  There is a vaccination that can prevent this disease, although you’ll still want to be careful and not expose other cats around a cat you know has feline leukemia.

Another problem, which is most common with cats that stay outdoors, is worms.  Cats with worms will often have a dull coat and very little appetite.   There are several types of worms that commonly infect cats, including ringworms and hookworms.  Most commonly, you cat will get Worms from eating an infected flea, but they can also come from lice, or even the organs of dead rodents that cats consume.  Normally, the cat will digest the eggs which will later mature and attach themselves to the walls of the intestines. You will commonly see evidence of the worms when cleaning out the litter box or stuck to your cats fur.  They look like small grains of rice.  They are easy to treat, you vet can simply give you a pill of liquid that can be administered to the cat for approximately 3 days.

If you take care of your cat, chances are you’ll keep him healthy for years to come.  You should always strive to make sure that you are feeding the highest quality food you can afford as this will cut down on more problems that anything else.  Two of the best holistic brands are Wellness and Merrick. Yearly checkups at the vet are very important too. If he gets the proper vaccinations when he is required to get them, he should be safe against numerous pests and diseases.  Taking the proper steps with your cat now will prevent anything from happening in the future.

The simplest things can easily amuse cats. While people may go to the pet store to purchase expensive toys for their pet cats, it is more probable that cats will take favor to a piece of paper laying on the living room floor! Before you go and buy toys for your pet cat, think creatively and see if any old thing in your house could provide hours of amusement to your furry friend. In the end, you will find that you have saved money and provided your cat with the toy it really wants.

Idle cats can be mischievous cats, so cat owners should provide entertainment for their feisty felines to keep them occupied. If your cat is an indoor cat, he doesn’t have the ample opportunity to get the exercise an outdoor cat will, as it chases, climbs and runs about. Toys and playtime will satisfy your cat’s natural desire to chase prey. And if you join them in their playtime, the interaction will establish a bond between the two of you – something which will be important to you both.

When choosing toys for your cat, keep safety in mind. You don’t want anything with string, ribbon, or yarn hanging from it. This could easily be ingested, and you will have to possibly make an avoidable trip to the veterinarian with a medical emergency. Also, remove any loose or small parts. Chances are, a cat will eat anything that falls off the toy. Again, you will have another emergency. Avoid toys that contain dangerous filling such as beads. Remember, your cat does not know any better.

Some common items cats love to play with are inexpensive, and you may even have them in your own home. Plastic balls are a great source of entertainment for cats. They love to push and chase them. Ping-pong balls are wonderful also, as the holes allow the cat to carry them around. Cats love to chase, jump, and pounce. They also like to play hide and seek, and will while away hours with a simple paper bag. Just make sure the bag doesn’t have handles, which could be dangerous. Empty cardboard tubes, from toilet or hand paper, or cardboard boxes will also provide activity for your pet.

Soft stuffed animals are also ideal for the cat to cuddle with, carry, or even wrestle. Just make sure it is not bigger than your cat. A catnip filled toy makes a good play item, as the cat is attracted to its scent. It also will leave a scent on your carpet that will be pleasing to your cat and make them happy.

With a little imagination, you can turn many items in your house into play toys for your cat. Add this to some store bought toys, and your cat will be in kitty heaven. Just keep in mind, cats can get easily bored, so rotate the toys every week or so. You can even hide some and let the cat find them. But more importantly, interact with your cat to make the most of his playtime. He will get the exercise he needs, the occupation he desires, and the love he will return.

There’s no question that our cats are really a family members! Their loyalty, their love, and their ability to comfort us are unparalleled. Sometimes, though, their hair or odors can leave an unwelcome foot prints in our homes. Just as we clean up the spills made by our kids it’s up to us to clean up after our cats. Luckily, there are any numbers of products that make pet care a breeze.

Cat Litter Boxes:
Cats are generally low maintenance pets, but their litter boxes do very little to contribute to our home decor, and can become a smelly nuisances well. Today’s litter boxes, though, can bring a touch of color to your interior design, while their functionality can put an end to messes and odors.

One line of litter boxes comes in an assortment of patterns and colors, from solid silver and solid black, to polka dot, and wood grain. The litter tray door pulls out, and the automatic litter pan the metal sifter rake pulls and lifts litter out of the tray for easy cleaning. Another ingenious design has a triangular shape so that you can easily place it otherwise used corner space.

If you want to make cat care even easier, self-cleaning litter boxes are the answer. One style has an internal grill that traps used litter. You simply roll the enclosed litter box on its side and remove the waste tray. Another type takes self-cleaning to the next level by having a slowly but rotating system that quietly but continuously scoops used cat litter into a receptacle. The ultimate litter box is one that automatically flushes cat waste down your toilet. Instead of cat litter, this box uses permanent granules that are washable. 

Kitty Litter:
When it comes to kitty litter, many cats have a preference for one brand over another. But if you start with the right litter or are persistent, you can find kitty litter that can help eliminate odors while keep your cat healthy. One particular brand of kitty litter on the market not only neutralizes litter box odors, but also changes color if your cat has a urinary tract infection. Given that urinary tract infections in cats can quickly become life threatening, early detection is very important to your cat’s health. It’s also helpful to have information about a potential infection to give to your veterinarian.

Shedding Tools
Many people who love cats are troubled by allergies, or by the cat hair that clings to furniture and clothes. Products that help with shedding take one of two approaches: either they work at the source of the problem your cat or they make it a snap to clean up hair off of furniture.

Cats typically shed their undercoat not just the top coat, so a product that helps you remove hair from your pet – means you’ll never see it on your couch. These products brush out the dead hair from the undercoat but won’t cut it, while bringing your cat’s natural oils to the surface. Because this type of product also helps stops over zealous self-cleaning, your cat may be less likely to be bothered by hairballs.

Cat care isn’t difficult, and the great litter boxes, kitty litter, and shedding tools make it even easier!

NOTE:  This article is for information only.   See your veterinarian for medical advice.

Our cats are full-fledged family members – there’s no doubt about it. Their loyalty, their love, and their ability to comfort us are unparalleled. Sometimes, though, their hair or odors can leave an unwelcome footprint in our homes. Just as we clean up the spills made by our kids (or our spouses!), it’s up to us to clean up after our cats. Luckily, there are any number of products that make pet care a breeze.

Cat Litter Boxes

Cats are generally low maintenance pets, but their litter boxes often contribute little to you home decor, and can become a smelly nuisance. Today’s litter boxes, though, can bring a touch of whimsy to your interior design, while their functionality can put an end to messes and odors.

One line of litter boxes comes in an assortment of patterns and colors, from solid silver and solid black, to polka dot, leopard print and wood grain. The litter tray door pulls out, and a metal sifter rake pulls and lifts litter out of the tray for easy cleaning. Another ingenious design has a triangular shape so that you can easily place it otherwise used corner space.

If you want to make cat care even easier, self-cleaning litter boxes are the answer. One style has an internal grill that traps used litter. You simply roll the enclosed litter box on its side and remove the waste tray. Another type takes self-cleaning to the next level by having a slowly but rotating system that quietly but continuously scoops used cat litter into a receptacle. The ultimate litter box is one that automatically flushes cat waste down your toilet. Instead of cat litter, this box uses permanent granules that are washable. After your cat uses the box, the granules are automatically washed, disinfected, and dried. Liquid and any solid waste are flushed down the toilet with fresh water.

Kitty Litter

When it comes to kitty litter, many cats have a preference for one brand over another. But if you start with the right litter or are persistent, you can find kitty litter that can help eliminate odors while keep your cat healthy. One brand of kitty litter on the market not only neutralizes litter box odors, but also changes color if your cat has a urinary tract infection. Given that urinary tract infections can quickly become life threatening, early detection is key. It’s also helpful to have information about a potential infection to give to your veterinarian.

Shedding Tools

Many people who love cats are troubled by allergies, or by the cat hair that clings to furniture and clothes. Products that help with shedding take one of two approaches: either they work at the source of the problem (your furry feline) or they make it a snap to clean up hair off of furniture.

Cats typically shed their undercoat (rather than the hair you see), so a product that helps you remove hair from your pet – a “furminator” of sorts – means you’ll never see it on your couch. These products brush out the dead hair from the undercoat (but don’t cut it), while bringing your cat’s natural oils to the surface. Because this type of product also helps stops over zealous self-cleaning, your cat may be less likely to be bothered by hairballs.

Cat care isn’t difficult, and the great litter boxes, kitty litter, and shedding tools make it even easier!

Keeping your feline friend happy with cat toys is really an easy task for anyone.

The most important thing to remember with cats and their toys is to offer them a variety.

Of course the cat is bound to have a favourite toy, they all do, however you can keep them very happy by replacing those toys that are worn and old with new ones.

Many of the new toys are associated with catnip in some way. Over time the catnip will get old and essentially be less attractive to your cat, as far as actually playing with it goes.

Another toy they will simply love is scratching posts. There is a web site “superstore” for those individuals that reside in the UK that offers several different toys for keeping your cat happy. Simply do a search for superstores and pets in the UK and the results will include the web site.

These toys should also stay clean, although they are known to clean their toys themselves. They can quickly get frazzled and have strings hanging off them that shouldn’t be there. These should actually be removed, or as stated above, if the cat toy is too worn or old just replace it with a new one. They love to play with toys that have bells on them or certain sounds. It makes them extremely curious and therefore playful.

Keeping your cat happy with various toys is also the key to a healthy pet. You will find they play often and stay fairly active using these toys which is a very good form of exercise for them.

You will find kittens are always getting into something like bags and other items such as boxes. Now there are toys that are made that are somewhat like large columns with holes in them. These types of toys are better for your cat, as bags and boxes can be become a danger to them. Safety is another way of keeping them happy with their toys.

For the most part many of the toys, scratching posts and columns as well as the vast variety of others, are reasonably priced. Many of these can be replaced on a regular basis without getting too expensive. However, your cat will love you because of the new catnip smell they will obviously be aware of.

Keeping them happy with toys will also keep them out of trouble. For instance, some cats get bored and start to claw furniture if they don’t have scratching posts, or they will climb up on curtains; this is where the toy columns would be a good idea.

The toys should also be the type that a cat can paw at and sometimes even bite. Believe it or not, some like to carry their toys around with them. So if the toy is entirely too big, don’t be surprised if they don’t play with it very often. The key to keeping them happy is to ensure there are plenty of toys available.

Remember you can never have too many toys!!