How to Introduce Cats to One Another: Some Tips To Make It Easier

I just have one cat but we love him so much, we’d like to open our home up to another cat as well.  I wasn’t sure if it would be a good idea so I did a bit of research to get some tips on how to introduce cats.  Thought I would share this with you too in case you are considering a second cat in your home.

When you decide to add a new cat to your family, it’s normally more exiting for you than it is for the cat you already own.  Although most cats are solitary by nature, many will also come to accept or eventually tolerate any additions.  Cats can be very territorial, so you need to remember this and always be careful when you introduce a new cat to your current cat.

If you are introducing cats to one another, the entire introduction process can last as little as 10 – 15 days.  Introducing cats to each other all depends on their temperament and their personality.  When you introduce a new cat to your current cat, you should always make sure that you give your current cat plenty of love and attention so they do not feel abandoned.  This way, your current cat will feel secure and know that he isn’t in competition with your new cat for affection, which is very important.

When you bring your new cat home, you should let him stay in a safe room until you have finished introducing the cats.  Your safe room can be any small room in your home, such as a bathroom or spare bedroom, so they have a place to go.   The key here is to use a room that your current cat doesn’t go in at all.  In the room, you should leave your new cat a scratching post, bed, water dish, litter box, and food dish (and anything else they like).

At first, your current cat may howl and hiss when he stands at the door, trying to tell the other cat that he doesn’t belong, but do not be alarmed because this is normal for cats.  When this happens you should ignore it, as punishing your cat for his behavior will only lead to more problems.  After a while, the first cat will start to act calm when he is near the new cat’s door.  As he starts to act calm, you should pet him and give him praise in order to train him well.

When your first cat starts to go by your new cat’s door and doesn’t howl or hiss; you can start introducing them to each other because this indicates they are ready to interact.  The best way to do this is to get them used to each others scent.  You can start letting them eat out of the same food dish, although you’ll want to feed them at different intervals at first.  This way, the scent of each cat will be present at the food dish, and each cat will get the scent when he eats his food.

Once both cats have got used to the scent, you can begin to feed them closer together.  To do this, you should keep your new cat in the safe room with the door closed, and your first cat on the other side of the door with his food dish.  This time, feed both cats at the same time.  After doing this a few times, they should start eating without any hissing or growling at each other.  At this point, they are ready to be introduced to one another.

When you introduce them to each other in the same room, a bit of growling and hissing is to be expected so do not worry.  Although they may be used to each others scent; your first cat will still feel a bit awkward with your new cat being in his territory.  You should play with them both at first, so they can smell one another and greet in their own way without aggression. If they start to fight you should break them up, and give them some time apart until they are ready to try agai.

Be patient because it may take some time to get them fully used to one another in the house, although once they do – they will become playmates for life, which is good news.  Cats love to be social, although it may be a bit rough at first, especially for your first cat, they will get along with time and patience.  Cats can be very territorial, especially if you have a kitten around.  If you get both of them used to each other early on – it will be a lot easier to add future cats to your home.

Cat Clicker Training

Clicker training has long been used to train dogs, but did you know that you can clicker train cats too?
Clicker training is a reinforcement or reward for a cat when training them. Clickers are use most often for support when training a cat for a reward. Cats associate the clicker with a good behavior they will use for a long time. Clicker training is associated with classical condition (they associate the sound with food like Pavlov’s dogs) and operant conditioning (cat performs movement to receive food).

Why use a clicker and not tell a cat or make a sound to get your cat to do a trick? A clicker has a sound a cat can hear and associate good behavior so it is easy to clicker train them in most cases. With words, our tones in our voice can change from time to time, which a cat can become confused with the training. When you are verbally saying the commands, a cat could mistake what you are actually asking them to do. With using a clicker, it is more of a training tool to get the behavior started with the cat. Then you can put the clicker away for that behavior or trick once a cat has learned the behavior well.

When taking the cat out for a walk or on a trip, the clicker is a good item to carry along with you. Cats can get distracted with other people, or animals in the area. With using the clicker, it will reinforce the behavior that you have taught them. In addition, a clicker can help you to train your cat walk with you instead of wondering around.

With the clicker, a cat can be trained using three easy steps: Get a behavior, mark a behavior, and reinforce the behavior. Get a behavior is the first step. A good example would be for the cat to jump a hoop. The cat will have to know that when you click that they get a treat. Start with very small treats in your pocket. Clicks, Treat, Click Treat do this for a few times until you see the cat coming for the treat on the click. Next marking the behavior: You will have to show the cat the hoop. Once the cat touches the hoop, click, treat. Then show the cat to go though the hoop once it does click, treat. Continue to do this until the cat goes though the hoop on its own or your command. Reinforce the behavior Remember to have snacks handy so when you do see your cat go though the hoop a snack is available.

Training a cat with a clicker can be fun for both you and the cat. Taking steps in training will be rewarding to you and the cat. Try not to rush a cat in training, as they can become confused especially if they did not get the step before down. The training will take time and steps to achieve this behavior. Patience, love, and rewards will be the key factor in training your cat with a clicker or in any other way as well.

The clicker is a good exercises tool for your cat.  You should get your cat to do exercises for ten to fifteen minutes each day. For exercising, you can have the cat use a hoop, play with a toy, and climb on the scratching post or something that focus on the cat getting exercise. Exercises will help the cat to stay healthy and help to keep it out of mischief around your house.

Clickers can come with books to help you train, treats, and a clicker. Clickers come in many different size shapes, and color. You will want to research the clickers out. Check out a pet store website to get more information on training and using a clicker. Check out companies that make the clicker by using a Google search to see what kind they offer and any additional information that you might need to get the process of training done. Check out articles about the clicker. Talk to someone that has used one. Talk to your area veterinary about training with a Clicker

Once you have used a clicker, the cat will get good exercise and be a healthy cat. The cat will be happier and you will be happier with the new behaviors that you have taught your cat.

Don’t forget to have patience and love while training your cat!

Top Toys That Your Cat Will Have A Ball With

Cats need to play, no mater how young or how old they are and they need to have some toys in order to stay entertained. Cats love all kinds of different toys and just like people each cat with have his or her own special preferences for what they like best. Some of the best cat toys are affordable, some are even things that you have around the house already. Just remember to make sure that all of your cat’s toys are safe, that they have no sharp edges for your kitty to cut itself on.

Here are the top cat toys:

Balls
There is not a cat on the planet that will not go crazy for a little ball, especially one that makes noise while it is rolling around the room. Cats love to play with balls, ones that the cats can pick up and carry around are definite favorites. And check out the hollow ones that treats fit into, these are always fun for a kitty.

Lasers
Laser toys are great because you can interact with your kitty without worrying about getting mauled to death. It is always fun to find toys that you and your cat can play with together. These have a long range and you can really get your cat exercising and having fun with these.  This is one of my cat, Chandler’s favorites and it gets him a lot of exercise!

Toys that you already own
There are all kinds of things that you already own that make for perfect cat toys, you just don’t know it yet. You probably drink milk, if you get the big jugs you are familiar with the little pull tabs that come off before you can take the cap off. These are a favorite cat toys, my cats play with these for hours on end. Also Q-Tips and String are some of Chandler’s favorites!

Another favorite toy that you can get for practically nothing is a pipe cleaner. These cost pennies and they will last forever. They do not break so they can literally last for months on end.

They key to keeping your cat happy with cat toys is to change them from time to time. This does not mean that you have to buy all new toys every couple of weeks, just rotate the toys that you have out and about. Each week change the toys in order to keep tings fun and fresh for your cats.  If you don’t do this, most cats will find “toys” of their own around your house to play with!

Why Does My Cat Bite My Hand When I Stroke Him?

You have settled into your favorite chair, perhaps reading the final chapters of a gripping book. Suddenly you are aware of the imploring stare of your cat sitting at your feet. You invite her onto your lap. Gently you begin to stroke her and your cat signals her appreciation with an audible purr.

One hand holding your book the other hand continuing to pet your mouser, you again get lost in your bookl. All is well in the world with you and with your cat.

Suddenly, out of nowhere your cat bites your hand!

Why did kitty do that? Why did he bite the hand that strokes him?  This always surprised me!

The experts don’t agree on exactly why it is that some cats enjoy being petted, but end up biting. One thing that they do agree on is that when kitty bites at you, it’s a sure sign that she has decided that she’s had enough stroking.

Cats differ in the amount of petting they will accept, and not all cats respond by biting when they have had enough.  (But my cat, Chandler, certainly does!)  Some cats simply jump from your lap and saunter off to investigate interests anew. But many cats will nip you when they are done being pet.

Could you have known that a bite was on its way? Yes, there are often signs that cats give before biting. And, if you had not been so wrapped up in reading your book, or even a TV show, you may have paid heed to your little pets warning.

If kitty’s tail begins to twitch, in a rolling flick, watch out! He’s getting ready to chomp at your hand.

If your cats ears start turning towards the back of his head, or flatten against his head, that’s a warning a bite is coming.

If your cat suddenly becomes restless, or stiffens and stares at your hand, he could be about to nip you.

If you noticed any of these signals, simply stop stroking your cat before you get bit. Your pet will either stay on your lap or jump down and walk off, whichever happens you don’t get bitten.

What you should not do is punish your cat for biting your hand. That simply does not work. Cats are more likely to identify the punishment with you rather than with their bad cat behavior. If you miss a warning sign and kitty manages to get his jaws around your hand, try to resist the temptation to pull your hand away or push your cat away. Simply freeze. Chances are that your cat will not sink her teeth in, he has got her message across, and you have stopped petting him. This is a much better option than getting upset with your cat.

If you try and push your cat away it is likely that he will fight with your hand resulting in a painful skin punctures for you. (An animal bite can become infected quite easily, if your cat does draw blood clean up the wound scrupulously and seek the advice of your doctor.)

Why do some cats behave in this aggressive way? The degree of tolerance to petting may be genetic, or it may be learned behavior. If when your cat was a kitten you allowed him to chew on your hand in play, he learned that biting human hands was an OK thing to do. So, when he feels that she has had enough stroking (he’s the boss, remember,) he will bite at your hand to let you know – if you ignore her warning signals.

Some experts recommend the use of healthy tidbits, as a reward, in order to increase the time your cat will tolerate stroking. At the first warning signal offer kitty a treat, continue to stroke your cat gently for a time and offer him another reward. It is said that your cat will learn to connect petting with the tidbits and may, with patience, allow you to pet him for longer periods.

I hope this helps you to better understand your cat and his/her indications of what they want before they bite you!

Some Cat Litter May Aggravate Cat Respiratory Problems

Allergies are prevalent during some times of the year for more than just people. Even for your family cat that rarely goes outdoors, common household irritants can cause allergies, as well as aggravate severe respiratory problems such as feline asthma.

One common allergen could actually be hiding in your cat’s litter box. Dust in traditional clumping litters can irritate a cat’s respiratory tract, causing it to sneeze, wheeze and cough after using the litter box. For cats that have already been diagnosed with feline asthma, it’s crucial to remove this potential irritant so as not to irritate them further.

Feline asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, “Cats get the same airway spasms or smooth muscle contractions that lead to acute constriction of breathing as people do. The aerosolized dust [of traditional cat litter] when breathed in can initiate symptoms in an already asthmatic cat.”

As a result, an increasing number of consumers are turning to clay-free alternative litters, such as Swheat Scoop Natural Wheat Litter.

Swheat Scoop, for example, is a unique clumping litter that’s made from 100 percent naturally processed wheat. Because it does not contain clay, chemicals or fragrances and doesn’t raise a cloud of dust when poured, it’s good for cats that have sensitive respiratory systems. And you don’t have to breathe in the litter dust when changing and cleaning litter either!

This litter’s natural wheat enzymes work continuously to eliminate, rather than mask, litter box odors and its wheat starches form firm clumps that can be easily flushed down the toilet without harming sewer or septic systems. All of these features make Swheat Scoop the natural choice for cat owners with concerns about their cat’s respiratory health.

Swheat Scoop is available at Petco, PETsMART, Target, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and other fine grocery, neighborhood pet and natural food stores. While it does cost a bit more than traditional clay litter, it will definitely be worth it for your cat’s health, especially during allergy season.

Groom Your Cat To Avoid Hairballs

As loving cat owners we hate to think that our beloved pets are feeling unwell. That can be the first impression when your cat starts making hacking noises. Usually this is the first signs of the cat trying to get rid of a hairball.  Believe me, I freaked out the first time it happened to my cat, as a first-time cat owner!

If you see a blob of disgusting stuff on your floor (or in your bed or in your shoe!), it is likely to be a hairball.  Cats need to do this in order to remove hair from within their stomachs to keep them from getting sick.

What is it?  It’s a mass of hair and probably some food from the inside of a cat’s body.  When a cat grooms himself, he removes loose hair from throughout his body and it ends up in his stomach.  Sometimes, the hair comes together and forms a ball in there.  If he can not pass it, it is likely it won’t break down but will come up instead.  Okay more than you maybe wanted to know, but its nice to understand what is actually going on!

Most cats have trouble with removing hairballs.  If the cat can not get them up, it can get into the intestines and cause a blockage.  This is life threatening to the pet.  If your cat seems to be constipated it may be a sign of a blockage.  If the cat is lethargic and his coat is dull and unhealthy looking, this too may be a sign.  Watch that he eats as he normally does.  If not, you should call and take him to see the vet who will then find out if it is a hairball and then he’ll remove it.

You can prevent this type of problem yourself though.  One of the best ways to do this is to groom the pet.  The long haired cat need to be combed and brushed each day to remove excess hair.  If you start to groom him when he is still young, he will learn to tolerate it.  He may even look forward to being groomed.  Some cats will bring their combs to their owners even.  If he doesn’t like to be groomed, use a grooming glove instead….my cat especially loves the gloves!

If the cat still seems to have trouble with hairballs, you can add dietary aids to his diet.  One of these is a dry cat food that can help to prevent hairballs.  Don’t just buy the first bag of the formula that you find.  Make sure it is still a good quality food for your pet, one that is high in protein and other nutrients.  If your cat has a hairball, you can shop for the gel that can be added to the food which will help the hairball to pass.  Make sure to talk to your vet before using one of these hairball remedies for long periods of time though, if you want to use it more than a few days.

You can try some of the more natural remedies as well but you should insure they are okay with your vet first of course.  Some will actually cause your pet discomfort or will remove important nutrients from his body, which you obviously don’t want to happen.  These include such things as pumpkin, mineral oils and even butter.  If your cat continues to have trouble with hairballs, talk to your vet about what you should do to improve this.

Why Cats Make Such Great Pets!

Cats are great pets since they don’t require as much attention as other house pets such as a dog. You don’t have to walk your cat and you don’t have to deal with it barking at everything that happens to walk by outside the window. Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to. However, most cats are content to play with toys or to be independent for a large majority of the day.

This doesn’t mean that cats are not excellent companions though, just because they like their independence. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring loudly. Your cat won’t come running when you are home at the end of day and knock you over. (However, my cat DOES come running to the door EVERY time we come home, even when he is in a deep sleep just prior!)  They also don’t lick or bite hard so you won’t have to worry about how they will interact with others when you have company. (Again, my cat does bite as some do, but definitely not as hard as a dog typically could!) Cats always seem to be able to tell when you need some comfort and will join you on your lap.

Taking care of a pet can help your child to become more responsible, but some pets just come with too much time required to make it a good decision. A cat typically makes a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves most often. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy and healthy. Indoor cats will have to be trained to use a litter box but most of them learn very quickly as a kitten (most often before they even separate from their mother and arrive in your house) so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box and you will not like the constant smell in the house if not properly cleaned.

Another benefit of being a cat pet owner is that cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day, so they are much easier to care for than most other house pets. In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. They don’t require as many vet visits for routine shots either like dogs do which can become quite expensive over the lifespan of your pet.

Don’t forget that if you have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home. Many cat owners claim they haven’t come across a mouse in their home for years with this line of defense and for that I am grateful!

Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have a gentle hum to their purring that can be relaxing for humans when they are sitting next to you. Cats have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats, if you want a particular kind, but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.

Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them since they love to people please often. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.

Cats make a great pet for all these reasons, if you are considering adding a family pet to your home.

How to Choose the Best Cat Urine Cleaner: 9 Tips

This is the best cat urine cleaner Guide for those who ask any of the following questions:
How to choose a cat urine remover?
How to select a cat urine remover?
How to find a cat urine remover?
How to choose the best cat urine cleaner?

With all the choices on the market there is an endless supply of products which creates a problem and that is “CHOICE”. How do you choose the right one for your cat urine problems? How do you select the best product for you and your pet? Well I am going to share with you this secret whether your question is how to choose a cat urine remover, how to find a cat urine remover or how to select a cat urine remover.

The truth is you can spend days even weeks looking at different products and comparing the features or value of each. But somewhere you have to draw the line because at some point you will have to make a choice on one over the other. That is the reason for this article post, to save you as a pet owner from wasting your time and money on something that you really are not sure on. I have already spent my time looking at different cat urine cleaners that remove serious pet urine and I’m giving you this information as an easy to understand rating system.

To understand the system completely you will first need to have the 9 MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA you ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY must know before purchasing any cat urine cleaners. These following 9 criteria will allow you to make a quick sound judgment on any product, so you know instantly if it is a yes or a no! Without it you could be very disappointed with the product bought because of its lack of performance and with no way of refunding it, you would be wasting money.

So for the pet owners who want to find the best cat urine cleaner to remove those serious pet urine stains just use the following 9 criteria.

1. No fragrance to hide or disguise the odor since this will only fix the problem temporarily.
Masking the odor may work for the time being, but wait 2-3 hours and that smell will be back. It is important to be able to smell the urine stain with out fragrances to tell if it was effectively removed. If the smell persists then total removal was definitely ineffective even if no stain can be seen.

2. EASY to use SAVING you time, effort and MONEY!
Make sure the product is an easy one step process for its use! The last thing you need is to spend more time then necessary applying two or three treatments for total removal. I don’t think the company really cares how long it takes you to clean up since they are not the ones cleaning up the mess. I want it to be as easy as possible! And so should YOU!

3. No claim to absorb or sponge the stain, since this will later require effort to clean any remaining remnants.
Any product that claims to absorb or sponge the stain usually (but not always) requires an applying step, then wait after X hours to do the second step, which is to vacuum or clean it up. To me this seems like double work and it would have to be cleaned thoroughly to remove all remnants of the cleaning agent.

4. Unmatched quality GUARANTEED by the manufacturer that will remove all components of the stain from color, texture, odor and the toughest component of ALL!………Uric salt crystals!
A clearly stated GUARANTEE is important to you as the purchaser. This is your insurance and leverage as a customer. And it would not be smart to shop online without any form of insurance. Businesses today usually accept this form of risk to them and I would be suspicious of any business that did not CLEARLY state a GUARANTEE.
The toughest component of urine is the “Uric Salt Crystals”. When looking for pet stain cleaner you should be looking to see what has it been tested on and what does it remove? Does it remove Uric Salt Crystals?

5. Must prevent your pet from repeated soiling in the same area.
The reason I was emphasizing about the Uric Salt Crystals is because it is these crystals that hold the marking scents of your pet. Remember how dog marks his territory by urinating around their area. Well it is these crystals that hold their scent in which they can find that same spot over and over again. If you can remover these Uric Salt Crystals then you can prevent this habit.

6. Must be NON-TOXIC for YOU, children, pets and guests.
I have a one and a half year old son at the time of writing this article and for anyone who is a parent, toxic chemicals are a concern. We place all ours outside in the shed and up high so they are out of the reach of little hands. But if you are not a parent then you too should give a thought about the toxics used in your house. This is for you, your pets and for the people you invite to come around to your house.

7. Must have a long history (i.e. 30 YEARS) of customer satisfaction.
If the business or product has been around for a long period time then you can feel assured that the product may be good. The logic behind this statement is that with all the securities commissions around the world and the strong internet anti-fraud measures, a business will have to be legitimate to stay around for any long period of time. If they were not legitimate then they would only be around for a short time before getting shut down. Scams come and go but a good business or product is around for the long term, that you can TRUST!

8. Size.
How much are you getting in one bottle? You want the bottle to last a while before you have to order a new one. You should also consider how much of the bottle you’ll need to use. Is this a one time issue or do you need to clean the urine from a large area.

9. Unbeatable value, including FREE bonuses, with out any drop in quality.
What I am about to say may be common knowledge to some people, but the problem with ‘common knowledge’ is that it is not common. Once you have found your pet stain cleaner that seems to be a high quality product. You MUST ask “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME!” If you purchase this product, what else are you going to get? By doing this you will always get more value for your dollar.

There is a skill to this as well, since you need to look for the not so obvious. Most people look for the little free gimmicks like a free carpet cleaner included or a free black light to find stains (you will need the right UV frequency for it to work). But what I am talking about are extras that work for you. Are you receiving bonuses that you can sell? Might you get the opportunity to join the businesses affiliate program after the purchase and make money off the product you tested (used). Is that business going to work for you long term?, long after the purchase of their product.

So if you are thinking of purchasing a Cat Urine Cleaner to remove the most serious pet urine stains and smells keep these 9 criteria in mind as you will reach the best solution faster. They are valid points in which pet owners must consider and for anyone spending money it is important to ask if that money will return.

Cat Toilet Training

Cat toilet training in easy steps:

Toilet training your cat is possible and can actually be an easier task than you might think. Several techniques can be used for training your cat to use the toilet, and you can even buy products that will assist you in toilet training a cat. In this article, I’m going to share with your briefly about one technique for cat toilet training.  If you want more information on this process, be sure to check out my suggestion at the end of this post.

The advantages of cat toilet training:
Teaching your cat to use the toilet can have many advantages for most cat owners. The biggest advantage of having your cat use a toilet is that eliminates many of the disadvantages of cat litter. For starters, cat litter is expensive to continually buy and use. After toilet training your cat, you won’t ever need to buy cat litter again so you’ll be saving money. Cat litter boxes need to be cleaned regularly or they will become smelly and can carry disease. With cat toilet training, however, the water in the toilet will mask most of the offending smell and all you need to do is flush regularly which is of course much simpler and easier than constantly cleaning a litter box. When you are away on vacation, instead of asking someone to clean out the litter box, all they will need to do is flush your toilet once in a while (when they come around to water your plants and feed your cat), which makes this job much simpler and faster to do.

How to toilet train a cat (do it yourself):
Toilet training your cat really depends on your cat’s personality. Toilet training sociable cats that love being praised make the training task much easier for them. You might want to adapt the toilet training technique described below to fit your cat’s personality. Training your cat to use the toilet can take anything between 2 weeks up to 3 months, depending on the individual cat’s personality, so be sure to have patience and keep working at it.

Cat toilet training basically consists of a simple procedure: gradually moving your cat’s litter box closer and closer to the toilet, finally placing a bowl with cat litter inside the toilet, and removing it altogether when your cat is comfortable and used to it. Toilet training a cat is a gradual, step-by-step process, consisting of making small changes to the location of the litter box and only continuing to the next step when your cat is entirely comfortable with its current step you are working on. You might have to wait anything between 2 days or 3 weeks before moving on a next step in cat toilet training. You might even have to go back a step once or twice when it turns out that your cat wasn’t ready to move on to the next toilet training step. Remember – cat toilet training takes a lot of patience! (But you’ll find out it is well worth the effort!

Basic cat toilet training steps:

1. Start gradually moving your cat’s litter box nearer to the toilet until finally it should be just next to the toilet. Ensure that your cat is always comfortable and knows where it’s litter box is.
2. Now start elevating the cat’s litter box. Put something non-slippery like newspapers or cardboard underneath the litter box. A normal rate to increase the height of the litter box would be about 5cm a day, but be very attentive to signs that your cat is not comfortable with the current height, and adjust the pace of raising the litter box accordingly. The cat litter box should be raised until it is at a level as high as your toilet bowl. Throughout this process it is very important that you remember to keep the toilet lid open and the seat down, because your cat will get used to it and might even start climbing on the toilet seat in order to reach its litter box.

3. Move the litter box to rest on the open toilet seat. Keep it there until your cat seems comfortable with this arrangement and can use it easily.

4. Buy a metal bowl or tray that will fit tightly and easily inside the toilet bowl. Also, it is best for this bowl to have small draining holes, if possible. Fill the bowl with cat litter (preferably the flushable type so you don’t back up your septic system). Now you can remove your cat’s litter box entirely from the toilet and any other location in your house. If you have reached this step successfully you are very close to having a toilet trained cat!

5. While your cat is using the metal bowl inside the toilet, be attentive to where its paws are. The goal is teaching him to squat with all four paws on the toilet seat rim. You can move the cat while it is using the toilet and praise it (or reward it) when it is sitting in the correct position. Normally the cat will first sit entirely inside the metal bowl, then with front paws on the toilet seat, and finally it should sit with all four paws on the toilet.

6. Start using less and less cat litter. This can get smelly, so be sure to clean the bowl after every time your cat uses it. Cats scratch in sand or cat litter to cover up the smell (this is out of instinct), so if the bowl becomes too smelly your cat won’t be comfortable using it (and you probably wouldn’t be comfortable with using your toilet either). Using flushable cat litter makes cleaning the bowl very easy – just throw out the contents in the toilet and flush down, rinse out the bowl, refill with correct amount of cat litter and replace. A handy tip is to place newspaper on your bathroom floor around the toilet to help keep the room clean should your cat scratch in the cat litter. Decrease the amount of cat litter at a pace that your cat feels comfortable with.

7. When you are no longer using any cat litter inside the bowl, begin to gradually fill the bowl with water. The water will also help mask the smell so your cat will be more comfortable using the toilet. Be attentive to your cat’s behavior through this whole process – if your cat stops using the bowl inside the toilet, you may be moving on too fast and might need to go back a couple of steps in this process so your cat doesn’t find other places in the house to go to the bathroom!

8. When the water level in the bowl has reached about 4cm and your cat has no problem using it, it is time to remove the bowl entirely and allow your cat to go in the toilet. Your cat should now be toilet trained. Remember to always leave the toilet seat up and flush regularly!

Products to assist you in toilet training your cat:
There are several cat toilet training kits available on the market, if you need additional assistance. They basically consist of a tray that fits inside the toilet, and with a hole in the middle that you can gradually make bigger. When choosing a cat toilet training kit, ensure that you buy quality. The cat training kit should not be flimsy and should be able to support your cat’s weight even when the hole becomes larger so the cat does not fall through. Be aware of cheap, flimsy imitation products you buy at toy stores or pet stores, because if your cat falls in, it might loose interest in toilet training completely and you will need to stop training.

The disadvantages in toilet training your cat:
Not everyone agrees that cat toilet training is such a great idea. They argue that it is unnatural for a cat to use a toilet, as it goes against their natural instincts to cover up their smell. Toilet seats can also be slippery and there might be the risk of your cat injuring itself. Even if your cat doesn’t fall in at all, he may become anxious whenever he uses the toilet and going to the toilet can become an unpleasant task.

A litter box also has the health benefit in that it’s easier to monitor your cat’s urine for signs of infections or sickness, which is harder to do with toilet trained cats.

Moving locations will also be harder for the cat, because a litter box can be moved easily but the cat will first need to get used to using the new toilet. With some cats this is no problem and they can become comfortable with the new toilet very fast, while other cats might be less adaptable so go with the speed of your cat.

Things to remember when toilet training a cat:
The most important thing to remember is that the toilet training should be done gradually and you must have patience.  Never rush to the next step in the cat toilet training process until you are sure that you cat is completely comfortable with the current setup.
Make using the toilet as easy as you can for the cat and you’ll find it much easier to train them to use it. Always remember to keep the toilet seat up and the bathroom door open. When you have guests, ensure that they also know about considering your cat. Also, remember to flush the toilet regularly as cats do not like using smelly toilets and you want them to be able to go to the bathroom when they need to.  Toilet training a cat is much easier when you have multiple bathrooms in the house and can use one specific toilet for the cat.

For more information about toilet training your cat – all of the tips, tricks, and secret tactics that work best when toilet training your cat!

Know Your Cat – How to Read Your Cat’s Body Language

Meow! That is the sound you hear when you meet your cat walking down the hallway. It will move with his head and tail held high, looking directly at your eyes and emitting a faint sound summoning you to follow wherever it goes. That is your cat? Right? The fluffy little animal, whose behavior seems quite odd at times, and leaves you baffling with a variety of questions.

Have you ever thought that your cat is an aloof creature to you? I have!  But I soon found out that it is was only because I did not understand my cat! Your cat is always trying to communicate to you through its gestures and body language, so to know your cat more, you need to know more about the cat’s body language. The sweeping of the tail or rubbing of the cheeks, pricking of the ears or purring under breath – each has a significance of its own. Your cat will often rub its cheeks against you or against the cheeks of another cat. Through this action, your cat actually tries to pick up or leave scent markers so that it can again create a future physical contact.  Pretty cool, huh?

Importance of tail movement

The tail is the most important part of your cat’s body; it will indicate a variety of actions and reactions. The tail often denotes its mood and intention. If your cat is sweeping its tail in broad gestures, then it symbolizes annoyance or impatience at your excessive petting. If you continue to cuddle the cat might result in growling softly or giving you a “bat” with its paws. A rapid sweeping of tail back and forth, right from the center shows an extreme agitation in your cat.

If you find your cat turning its body fully sideways and extending its bristled tail upwards, then be sure that your cat is heralding a conflict with the fellow cats. When your cat is busy trapping a prey, you will find it to be more cautious, involved in subtle movements and inflating its tummy while all the time intently aiming at the prey. Often you will find your cat lowering its tail to tuck it between her legs, which show her complete obedience. A raised tail also indicates that your cat wants to be friendly, and a twitching of the tail will confirm its anticipation to be with you after the whole day of outing.

Movement of other body parts

Along with the tail, the cat’s full body gestures speak volumes about his/her mood and behavior. Bent legs denote defending of self, while outstretched legs will denote self-confidence and self-assurance. If your cat’s ears are back and the body low, it will impart its shame or remorse; pricked ears will denote interest in the happenings around it. If you find your cat with the head completely lowered then it will show boredom and sneaking subtly with its head lowered on the ground should make you aware of full-fledged assault on the victim ahead.  I’m sure you have seen your cat do many of these actions before!

Knowledge about these kitty-cat behaviors will definitely strengthen the bond between you and your cat.

My cat, Chandler!  Want to see more of his crazy cat antics?  Check out http://www.squidoo.com/Our-Cat