Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Where bathroom issues are concerned, cats are often somewhat easy pets -- litter box use seems almost natural to many of them. Although litter pan use may not be as innate and automatic in ferrets, with a little time, effort and patience, it usually can be a success story.
The Ernest Hemingway house in Key West, Fla., is still home to the descendants of his beloved collection of feline friends. While he was a lover of all animals, cats seemed to steal his heart and affections over other species, and he graciously shared his home with dozens of felines. Today, many of the cats there are polydactyl, meaning they have more toes than normal.
Cats have a reputation for doing as they please. Though it is true that they don't have the instinctive desire to please an owner that a dog has, it isn't true that cats cannot be encouraged to change their behavior. It's usually fairly easy to handle common cat disobedience.
Good news. Like people, cats are living longer lives -- and as cats age, they run into the same kinds of health issues older people do, including arthritis. Stiff and achy joints can make it difficult for older cats to use their litter pans, but don't despair. There are things you can do to make it easier for your mature cat to comfortably use its box.
Selecting cat litter might seem to be a simple decision, but the various types and marketing terms can be a bit confusing. Whether you are getting your first kitty, have a multiple-cat household or need to change litter due to allergies, understand the terminology and the myriad choices so you can choose the best product for you and your feline.
Litter boxes and children don't mix, so putting one in a kid's bedroom is not a good idea. It jeopardizes the child's health and may prompt your kitty to take care of business outside the box. After all, she prefers some privacy when using the bathroom, just like you do.
Cats have a natural urge to dig in the dirt or litter and do their business. Most felines go potty in the litter pan all on their own, although sometimes you need to show them the ropes in the beginning. If your cat stops using the litter box, it might be a sign he doesn’t like his potty and you need to make some changes.
Garfield sees that toy mouse from across the room and stalks it from afar. As he’s getting ready to pounce, he’ll wiggle his rear end, dart over and pounce on it. Strangely enough, he doesn’t actually play with it right away, he just sits on it and thumps it with his back feet. While you might find this behavior peculiar, he’s just fine-tuning his hunting skills for when the real thing comes along.
Your local pet store has beaucoup cat toys to keep your favorite feline entertained, but you can save a buck or two by making simple toys with what you have around your house. A simple pill bottle with a lid will work. Fill it with ballast that makes the bottle make a bit of noise. Free, fast, fun.
Watching your kitty recover from a medical ailment is gut-wrenching all on its own. But then as soon as you bring her home, she has to wear a massive cone on her head, known as the Elizabethan collar, or E-collar for short. The collar limits your furry chum’s ability to reach the rest of her body. Your vet will recommend an E-collar after surgeries, if Muffin has hot spots or if she has another type of wound she shouldn’t be picking at. Muffin can eat while wearing her special collar, it just takes a little work.
Clumping cat litter can cause constipation and intestinal blockage when ingested. According to the ASPCA, dangers arise only when the litter becomes a meal; Trace amounts ingested via self-grooming have not proved dangerous in scientific studies. Alternative litters prevent potential health issues altogether.
If you’re looking for a way to utilize your daily paper, look to Princess’ litter box. Shredded newspaper can work just fine for cat litter, plus it’s eco-friendly so you won’t have to worry about adding to the landfill. While you can certainly use yesterday’s paper to fill the litter pan, it does come with a handful of concerns.
Giving your cat a clean, comfortable place to relieve himself is one of the most important things you can do as an owner, and choosing the right cat litter makes a big difference. Clumping cat litter has a wealth of benefits for both you and your kitty, but like most things, it isn't perfect. While its advantages are distinct, it isn't necessarily right for every cat.
If your puppy can't seem to help sticking his head in the cat litter box for a fresh snack, don't be alarmed -- it's normal behavior, especially for young dogs. Formally known as coprophagia, the habit of eating cat feces is one that many puppies develop, and for several possible reasons. While most puppies don't pick up the habit for life, in other cases, a little owner intervention is required to keep them away from unsavory treat-snatching.
Cat trees provide a safe area for your cat to play and rest away from other pets or children. A cat tree also promotes exercise and play time for indoor cats while providing an appropriate scratching area for cats that still have their front claws. This design creates a simple cat tree with two sisal scratching posts and two circle landings. The landings are big enough for a standard-sized cat to sleep on, but the design can be easily modified to fit any cat.
Cats often love the outdoors, but letting your cat roam free outside can be very dangerous. Outside, cats can be exposed to a variety of hazards including cars and other animals. If you want to provide your cat with a safe outdoor experience, consider building him a cat veranda. A cat veranda is a small enclosure that can be attached to one of the windows on your home. To enjoy his veranda, your cat can simply jump up into the window and curl up inside the veranda to observe the great outdoors.
Cats are like heat-seeking missiles -- they go straight to the warmest spot in the house. If you don't want your kitty sleeping on top of the television, in the clothes dryer or in the middle of your bed, provide him with a gently warmed bed of his own to snooze on. A cozy bed 10 to 15 degrees warmer than room temperature attracts your cat and can provide health benefits for an elderly or arthritic feline senior citizen or comfort for a newly weaned kitten missing Mama's warm side. This quick and easy flat cat mat can be spread…
Scratching is a natural behavior for kittens. They scratch to mark their territory, stretch their paws, release energy and maintain healthy nails. Even though you can't stop a kitten from scratching, you can teach it what and where to scratch. You may have to go through some trials and tribulations, however. To keep your kitten from damaging your furniture and carpets, teach it early on to use a scratching post.
The amount of food that you give your house cat should be based on the overall weight of the animal. Feed your house cat based on weight with help from an expert in animal behavior in this free video clip.
You don't have to spend an arm and a leg down at the store to use a perfect cat litter deodorizer. Learn about homemade cat litter deodorizer with help from an expert in animal behavior in this free video clip.
Cats like to look out windows and love high places. According to research conducted by animal behavioral scientist Jill Villarreal, cats spend more time looking out windows than any other activity. This makes the cat perch a common place for the cat to spend time. Not all windowsills are large enough to fit a cat and you might want the windowsill to be more comfortable. The cat window perch is a product that provides a comfortable place for the cat to sit while looking out the window. The perch does not require tools to attach and comes with a detachable,…
Building a spiral staircase around a tree brings a fantastic Swiss Family Robinson aura to any outdoor area. This can easily be accomplished with large enough trees, using long bolts and t-nuts in the steps. While these steps can be installed quite easily in the tree, they cannot hold very large loads, but are appropriate for lighter use or for low heights. These steps must be made of treated wood and galvanized t-nuts in order to resist the weather of the outdoors.
Many cats enjoy spending time outside, whether in a yard or simply on a balcony. They also can have a hard time deciding if they want to be in or out, requiring their owners to open a door again and again for them. You can save yourself that aggravation by building a cat door that fits in a window. The setup allows you to remove the cat door when it's not in use so you can keep unwanted pests out of your home.
If you are coding in C++ or C#, you may occasionally need to build a binary tree recursively. This generates the leaf nodes from the bottom up, something most other coding platforms do not allow. If you need to build the tree recursively from user input of some sort, you can do this as well, but it requires an extra section of code. You just need to integrate the user input code into the binary commands directly, so that the user is prompted for their contribution when you run the function.
Building an asterisk tree with a C++ program is a great way to get experience working with nested loops. An asterisk tree has a diamond shape, consisting of a number of spaces and asterisk (*) characters, centered on each line. The number of asterisks increases by one for each new line until the middle, after which the number of asterisks decreases by one for each new line until it reaches the end.
When the temperatures drop, feral and other outdoor cats need shelter from the cold. Make low cost cat igloos with polystyrene foam containers. The insulating properties of polystyrene foam make cat igloos refuges from the cold for cats that may have no other place to go and provide a warm, dry nest for sleeping or hiding. Ask local restaurants if they have any polystyrene foam containers from meat or fish deliveries or use polystyrene foam coolers.
Making a cat door is a good way to let your cat lead a life of independence. Instead of spending money on a ready-made door, you can create one yourself. Cutting out the opening on interior walls is an easy task. The key is examining whether you can do the same outdoors. As long as your exterior walls are made of wood or vinyl, cutting out the opening is within the scope of a do-it-yourself project. However, if your home is made of brick, you should consider having a professional mason remove the brick.
Inside cats are usually safe and secure, but outside cats need protection from the elements as well as other cats or predators. You can build your cat a safe bed outside using an old wooden end table covered in wire mesh to keep out unwanted visitors. When you make a bed like this, cats feel secure and are more likely to use the bed. The materials are easy to find at any thrift store and you can assemble this wood and metal mesh cat bed in less than one hour.
You may not realize that your hamster will use a litter box if available. Hamsters are burrowing animals, but don't like nesting in their own waste. Providing your pet with a place to eliminate keeps its enclosure cleaner and allows you to clean up quickly and efficiently. Hamster litter boxes are available at many pet supply stores, but making your own is an economical way to train your pet without breaking your budget. You may even have all the supplies on hand, further keeping the cost of hamster care down.
Keeping a litter box filled with cat litter provides a place for your cat to perform its elimination functions; however, the litter can get messy. Since cats like to scratch the litter over their mess, the litter can get on the floor; your cat then tracks litter to other parts of the house. Cats are particular about the condition of the litter box provided for their use, and owners who take special care in choosing and preparing the box will have both a happy cat and a tidy house.
Well-made lawn furniture adds function and class to any outdoor area. Lawn furniture varies considerably from the elaborate to the simple. If you are in the market for an easy project that will not drain your time or monetary resources, consider a table and stool set made from planters and plywood. Although this project is quick and inexpensive, the result is a modern-looking lawn furniture set that your guests will marvel at. Make several of these sets for around a pool, on a patio, or just scattered throughout your yard.
When a pregnant cat is ready to give birth, it will naturally seek out a birthing nest where it can safely give birth to its kittens. You can make the process easier for your cat by providing a birthing bed where it can safely deliver its kittens in a warm, clean environment. If your cat has its own bed, it may prefer to use it as a birthing bed if it is located in a private area. Otherwise, create a bed for your cat in a warm, dry area away from children and other pets.
Cats are often regarded for their cleanliness. Despite this reputation, felines can still create smelly messes in their litter boxes. Many owners believe that isolating the box in a remote area is effective. This is not necessarily so; should your cat not like the litter box's placement, she may choose to poop elsewhere. Place the box in a quiet yet convenient spot, and handle odors with common household products, not to mention some elbow grease.
Elizabethan collars are used to prevent your cat from licking and biting at a wound or surgery site, providing opportunity for the wound to heal. Elizabethan collars, or E-collars, are typically made from hard, thin plastic and are worn around your cat's neck. Cats often dislike these collars, becoming experts at escaping them. Securing to your cat's normal collar will aid in keeping the E-collar in place if proper fitting doesn't work.
Ammonia is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that occurs naturally. Ammonia in high enough concentrations can cause potentially serious health problems for your family and pets; so if you notice an ammonia smell outside your home, it is important to identify its source and address the problem without delay.
Cats need a place to call their own to play, hunt and even sleep. They need security and a place that makes them feel comfortable. Indoor cats sleep about 50 to 75 percent of the day, so having a place that is just for them will allow them to rest easy. Placing fun toys and scratching posts in the house will welcome them into their own little abode and will make it a sanctuary that also entertains.
Berms provide architectural interest and dimension to your home landscape. They also can help direct the flow of water and can provide a well-drained planting space for plants sensitive to excess moisture. Berming is the practice of mounding soil to create a hill for various purposes. Creating a berm around existing trees means making a moat for the conduction of water into the drip zone. It is a project that can help protect and hydrate surface feeder roots in areas that receive little water. Build berms around existing trees that are made of organic mulch to enhance water penetration.
House cats love somewhere to hide, where they can still peek out and see what's going on in the house. Make a small cat-sized teepee for your cat to give it a good hiding and sleeping place. You can make it very plain and simple, or decorate it to make it look more like a real teepee. Use dowels from the lumberyard or go outside and find some fairly straight tree branches to use, for a more natural look.
Litter pans come in a variety of shapes, and most are made from standard nontoxic plastic. Ferrets prefer litter pans with a low front entrance and tall back and sides. Having extra litter pans throughout the house or in a multiple ferret home makes litter pan training easier and reduces odors. Homemade litter pans can be constructed using household items that are inexpensive, easy to obtain and easy to keep clean.
Cats are a part of the family. It is only natural that you want to give your feline friend a comfortable living environment, equipped with a comfortable bed. Store-bought pet beds are expensive. Instead of buying one, you can make a cat bed with scrap fabric and an old suitcase that you already have or one found at a yard sale or thrift store. This simple do-it-yourself project requires no sewing and is inexpensive. The finished product is comfy and travel-friendly, so you can take your beloved pet with you wherever you go.
Kitchen odors can come from several sources, including foods that produce a strong odor when cooked, foods that are spoiled, and burnt food. Bad smells and odors in the kitchen sometimes travel and permeate other foods as well as the kitchen air itself. Avoid unpleasant smells by eliminating the offenders and covering up the remaining smells and odors.
If you own an indoor cat, a litter box is a necessity. However, that does not mean you have to leave that litter box out where everyone can see it. With a few simple supplies and a bit of work, you can create a storage cabinet to house the litter box in style. Your cat can still enter and exit the box as needed, but everyone else will see only an attractive piece of furniture.
Almost any material lying around the house can be used to make a personalized hideout for your cat. The best hideouts are located in favorite sleeping spots and offer textures cats like to lounge on and rub against. To get the most from your cat hideout, use materials that are easily washable and weather resistant.
Chimney odor is a result of creosote deposits -- a yellowish grease with a smoky scent that clings to the inside of the chimney. The smell often gets worse in the summer, when heat and humidity intensify it. A professional cleaning and top-mounted damper should reduce airflow and help alleviate the odor. In between cleanings, try using clay cat litter to absorb some of the smell.
Cats love to sit on windowsills. However, windowsills, especially in older homes are not always wide enough to hold cats. If you have a windowsill that sits low to the ground and is easy enough for your cat to climb up on, consider creating a ledge that connects directly to your windowsill. If your windowsill sits a bit higher up, you'll need to build a freestanding ledge with multiple levels that can stand next to the window. Either way, your pet will have a special spot to enjoy the view.
Pet cats don't keep regular hours, but you don't have to be at the beck and call of yours -- if you install a cat flap. A specialized pet door for your feline to come and go at will means that they can let themselves in and out without you having to wake up at odd hours, or even when you are not at home. Weatherproofing the entrance and being sure it is the right size are important factors, as well as placement of the entry.
Where to put the cat box is a dilemma for every cat owner. It is safest to keep your cat indoors, but litter boxes are not pleasant to see or smell. Hiding the cat box under the sink keeps the box accessible for your cat, but out of sight of you and your family or guests. Cats like privacy, so giving Fluffy her own "bathroom" within your bathroom will keep all of you happy.
Espalier is the French term for a structure that allows plants to grow in a flattened fashion, either against a wall or in a freestanding configuration. Pronounced “es-pah-lee-ay,” this method of growing trees and other plants allows for closer planting, making it advantageous for smaller garden spaces. Fruit trees are often planted in espaliers — suitable fruits include most citrus, plums, nectarines, crab apples, apples and peaches. Different methods exist for building espaliers; the freestanding type is fairly simple to construct.
Making a wooden bed for a cat is an easily done home project that requires little time and only basic tools. After the lumber for the frames has been cut to the appropriate lengths, the boards need only be screwed together after pre-drilling with a countersink drill bit. The floor is then added screwing an appropriately sized sheet of plywood to the bottom of the frame, finishing or painting the wood, and placing a cushion in the bed. Your cat will derive hours of enjoyment from the comfort offered by a soft bed of its own.
Cats will sleep about 14 to 18 hours a day, depending on their individual health conditions and personalities. They are also highly independent animals. For these reasons, it is a great idea to provide your cat with its own cat bed. Your cat will appreciate having its own space and a comfortable place to rest. While beds are available in retail stores, you can make one of your own from everyday household materials.
