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7 Things To Be Aware Of As Your Cat Gets Older

If your cat is approaching the golden years, there are signs to let you know once they’re reaching the homestretch of those nine lives. Although we love our cats dearly, sadly they are like humans who don’t live forever. Here are a few things to be aware of if your cat is getting older:

1. Getting up isn’t always so easy

As your precious kitty reaches their twilight years, it may prove difficult for them to get up as quickly as they once did. Allow them extra time to move about or help out by giving them a loving lift.

2. Gradual loss of appetite

This sign may be easier to spot if you have a kitty that always leaves their food bowl dry. The older your cat gets the lesser amount of food they will need to take in, so be on the lookout for a drop in weight as well.

 

3. Here, kitty kitty?

If your cat is truly getting older, that selective deafness they may have been practicing at times could take a turn to impaired hearing. As your cat ages so will all of their senses. This completely normal transition into a new stage of life may be a telltale sign for you as an owner.

4. Your social butterfly may start to retreat

Your cat may once have been the life of the party, but if they retreat to a safe place to hide every time visitors are present definitely take this as a sign. Cats that are older prefer peace and quiet as opposed to the lively lifestyle they may have once enjoyed.

5. Catching extra catnaps

Older cats require more sleep than younger cats do. As your cat approaches their senior years you may find them sleeping even more than normal.

6. They need you more than they used to

Cats are loyal to their loving owners, that’s for sure. As your cat gets up there in age you may find them becoming a bit clingy with a desire to be close to you almost whenever you’re around.

7. Not so high, please

With a slow decline in the senses also comes a steady decline in cat-like reflexes. The same cat that you may have once repeatedly told to “get down” may now have a hard time getting up. If kitty sleeps with you on your high bed at night, try investing in a cat ramp/step ladder to make getting on/off the bed easier for your aging feline companion.

 

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Ask A Vet Why Does My Cat Follow Me To The Bathroom?

We all snicker at the images and videos of cats prying the bathroom door open or perching inside pants gathered around the ankles of the wearer when they are on the “john”.

Cats are curious and playful and we know that our cats like to be with us, but seriously…do they have to attend our potty breaks? Your cat does not like for you to stare at her in her litter box, but she clearly feels welcome whenever you attempt to take some “alone time”.

The answer to this question may lie in who cats really are instinctively. Your cat is a predator driven by the instincts of a hunter. But because of her size, she knows that she could also be prey. As her guardian or parent substitute, she may feel vulnerable in your absence.

Cats are “micro-managers”. Everyone knows that curiosity killed the cat and when you slip into a room and always close the door, you are doing something mysterious. Your home is your cat’s territory and the bathroom is within the boundary of his sphere of influence. How dare you shut him away from his own territory? You might be hoarding resources or making friends with other cats. He can only know if he checks.

Animals must place value on resources in order to prioritize their actions. High value resources are ones that are immediately desired and strong enough to motivate an action. Animal behaviorists utilize this trait to motivate animals for training purposes, using reward systems. When there is competition for a resource, its value increases. That is what you do every time you close the bathroom door. You elevate the value of the space by choosing it for yourself and denying her access.

Vulnerability, curiosity and resource value can all be explanations, but really, everyone with a cat knows the real answer. Cats are contrarians. It is in their DNA to want what they cannot have. Let a cat in and he wants out. Fill his bowl and he is quickly bored, but let it become even partly empty and get ready to hear about it. It is a “cat thing” and we love them for their silly and fun antics. The next time you go to the “reading room”, you can ponder which of these reasons is why your cat is knocking at the door!

 

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11 Signs You Should Take Your Pup To The Vet

Being a dog owner is an amazing and rewarding experience — but like many wonderful things, it comes with great responsibility.

You probably already know that a young pup should have an annual vet visit and dogs older than 8 to 10 years should have two visits each year. But an occasional extra visit might be worthwhile in certain cases.

If you identify the following symptoms in dog’s behavior, don’t panic — although a vet visit is a wise precaution, many of these ailments are entirely, and often easily, treatable.

I spoke with Dr. Ann Hohenhaus of the Animal Medical Center of NY about what dog owners should keep their eyes open for when they’re considering calling the vet.

Weight Loss or Gain

Both weight loss and weight gain could signify a problem. However, pet owners tend to not be the most astute observers of fluctuations in their pet’s weight. Hohenhaus encourages walking by the vet’s office and asking to use the scale every so often, a request she says they will happily oblige.

“Weight loss is more commonly a sign of disease in dogs than weight gain,” Hohenhaus says. “Weight gain is a little more unusual.” It can stem from retaining fluid, an under-active thyroid, a distended abdomen, or an adrenal gland disease.

Drop in Activity

A decrease in your dog’s activity could mean the dog is anemic, has joint pain, heart problems, arthritis, or just feels weak and low-energy. “Almost any disease has decreased activity associated with it — it’s a general finding, but an important one,” Hohenhaus says.

Scratching, Licking, or Chewing

Any of these three symptoms means your pet is itchy for some reason — and it’s by no means uncommon. According to Hohenhaus, allergies are the number one reason for vet visits, as reported by pet insurance companies. There is allergy medicine for dogs, and they also are sometimes prescribed allergy medicines made for humans. There are even allergy shots available.

Bad Smell

Any unusual odor your otherwise clean dog is emitting is something to examine further. If you notice a smell, Hohenhaus recommends immediately taking a look at the dog’s ears, skin, anal glands, mouth, and teeth. Still, it’s worth having a professional take a look to pinpoint where it is coming from and if it might be an infection.

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4 Proven Ways To Keep Your Cat Off The Counter

Cats are naturally inclined to climb and jump, and sometimes they jump on the countertops. Given that this is the place where we often prepare food and eat meals, it’s not only inconvenient, it’s unsanitary. Keep reading to learn some of the methods you can use to keep your cat off of the counter.

Here are some methods to keep your furry friend away from the countertops.

1. Provide More Interesting Alternatives

Cats seek countertops because of their natural instincts to climb and jump. They generally enjoy high places because they’re warm and comfortable. These instincts are natural, even healthy for your cat, so it’s best not to discourage them completely. However, not only is it unsanitary to have your cat on the counter, it’s potentially dangerous. Your cat could eat food that’s unhealthy for him or burn his paws on the stove.

Instead of discouraging your cat completely from jumping, find him a better place to jump and climb on. Some great options might be a cat tree like Armarkat Cat Tree or a cat condo like Go Pet Club Condo House. Look for something that has material your cat might like, such as carpet or bark, and more comfortable, warm places for your cat to sleep.

2. Don’t Leave Food On The Counter

Some cats like to peruse kitchen counters and tables for food and leftover scraps. To remove this temptation, it’s a good idea to keep any food out of your cats reach. Keep counters nice and clean so your cat can quickly realize that he’s not even going to find a crumb there.

Dishes should be kept clean and free of food. Wash them immediately, or keep them in the dishwasher where your cat can’t access them. Be sure to feed your cat on a regular feeding schedule so he’ll have no reason to scour the counters for food.

3. Remove Other Attractions Off The Counter

In addition to keeping the countertop food free, it’s a good idea to try your best to keep anything off the counter that might interest your cat. This could include:

  • Running water from the tap.
  • Loose items your cat can play with.
  • Plants.
  • Food items and clutter.
  • Hanging items, such as pots or pans.

Observe your cat and if she seems particularly attracted to something on your counter, try to remove it or make it less appealing.

4. Discourage Your Cat From Jumping On The Counter

If the countertop alone is enough to attract your cat, you may have to find ways to deter your cat from jumping on it. Cats are sensitive animals, so you’ll have to take care during the training process. Avoid negative reactions to your cat in training him; he could develop negative associations to you or begin to fear you. Instead, it’s best to find environmental solutions.

Many cats learn quickly not to get on countertops if you place some sticky tape on the surface of the counter until the cat is trained. I like Sticky Paws.  It is intended for furniture but I find it works well on countertops as well.

You can also try scents. Cats dislike citrus scents. A strong citrus smell might be just enough to keep your cat away from the counters. Try buying a citrus air freshener like this natural citrus air freshener, or making a homemade citrus spray.

A good spray can be made by combining about 2 cups of water and 1 cup of citrus peels (lemons, limes, or oranges work best) in a sauce pan. Let the mixture simmer over the stove for about 15 minutes. Once it’s done, filter the liquid into a spray bottle to create a potent citrus spray. You can add lemon juice or citrus soap to the mixture for an even stronger scent. Spray the mixture onto the countertop after cleaning each day to fill your kitchen with a nice citrus scent and to discourage your cat from jumping on the counter.

Another thing you can try is placing aluminum foil over the surface of the counters. Most cats dislike the way foil feels on their paws, so they’ll likely turn around and jump off.

Caution: Avoid Training Methods That Could Hurt Your Cat

Many people use squirt bottles to keep their cats off the countertops. While this shouldn’t hurt your cat, he could become fearful of you. He may also only associate the method with you being around, doing nothing to prevent him from jumping on the counters when you’re gone. Though it may do the trick, it’s probably not the most effective method available.

When your cat does jump on the counters, remember never to hit or yell at him. Don’t push him off the counter, he could slip and get hurt. Lift him off instead.  If you’re using environmental methods to keep your cat away from the counter, avoid using devices that could cause physical harm to your cat.

With these 4 proven methods, your cat will be off of the counter and jumping in more appropriate places. Remember to always reward your cat for good behavior. Then, you and your cat can be happy together.

 

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7 UNMISTAKABLE SIGNS YOUR CAT LOVES YOU

Ever wonder if your cat loves you?

Like, really loves you and doesn’t just think of you as a good source of food?

While your kitty may not be able to say the words, there are signs that prove cats really do get emotionally attached to their owners.

Today, we’re going to explore seven signs that your kitty is trying to say “hey, I really do love you!”

Let’s check them out!

ARE CATS REALLY AS ALOOF AS WE THINK?

Cats are often considered to be aloof and independent.

In fact, many people who say they don’t like cats cite this as the reason why.

In my own experience, cats – like people – run the whole gamut of personalities.

We have a formerly feral cat who loves to lay in my arms as I work on my writing (makes it challenging, but I adapt), an old, long-haired calico who hates everyone but me, and a massive tuxedo who likes to sleep wrapped around my head at night.

We also have a smaller, older tuxie who loves kisses on the head and would be carried everywhere if you let him, and a tortie who must be in contact in some way whenever possible.

Five for five – not one of my cats is what I would call aloof.

Some of the cats I grew up with were a little more independent – not lap cats, at the very least – but none of them expressed any interest in striking out on their own or avoiding us for any extended period of time.

SIGNS YOUR CAT LOVES YOU

There is some evidence that, unlike dogs, we did not domesticate cats – they decided that they would benefit from our company, and moved into our homes and barns of their own accord.

This makes sense, and does contribute a little to their reputation as independent – and maybe a little bit selfish, but I believe they have grown to love and appreciate us, and they show it.

1.  THEY WANT TO BE NEAR (OR ON) YOU

Your cat wouldn’t want to be near you if they didn’t care about you!

Cats aren’t worried about being polite and pretending to be interested in you, they either are, or they aren’t.

If your cat follows you around the house, curls up next to you on the couch, falls asleep in your lap, or fights you for your spot in bed, they are showing their affection for you quite clearly.

2.  THEY CARRY ON CONVERSATIONS – OR ARGUE – WITH YOU

Feral cats don’t meow at all as a rule, and domestic cats don’t meow at each other.

From a survival perspective, staying quiet makes sense.

Feral cats – unlike wild cats – still need to be cautious of predators, and drawing attention to themselves by making a lot of noise tends to be a bad idea.

Cats don’t need to communicate verbally with each other – pheromones and body language are more than enough for their needs as a colony.

Meowing is a language cats have essentially developed strictly for speaking with humans.

I always imagine them rolling their eyes when they meow, and sighing inwardly at the fact that we humans are still so dense that they have to spell everything out for us.

3.  THEY BRING YOU GIFTS

Sometimes it’s hard to be appreciative of the gifts our cats bring us.

Dead animals (or, almost worse, not dead ones) are common gifts, although I know at least a few cats that have brought toys instead.

Much more pleasant to receive, as they don’t involve chasing an injured animal around the house for hours on end, followed by disinfecting every surface they may have touched… but I digress.

Gifts are your cat’s way of taking care of you, as they would their young or a weaker member of their colony (take that as you will).

Yes, it’s their way of saying “I don’t think you can provide for yourself, so I’ll help you out,” but would they do that if they didn’t care?

4. THEY BITE YOU

This one may not sound much like love, but cats have different types of bites.

Sometimes, a cat will nip at your chin or nose while snuggling with you to show its affection.

These are referred to as “love bites”, and while some cats bite a little harder than they should, they won’t usually bite hard enough to break the skin.

Sometimes a cat will start out by licking you and get carried away, others go straight for the bite.

You can discourage this if you wish by firmly telling your cat “no” and pulling away from them.

They will usually get the gist of it pretty quickly – or you will learn to modify your own behavior to prevent it – cats are quite good at training us.

5. THEY MARK YOU

Cats are very territorial creatures.

They have a number of scent glands on their bodies, and will rub these on you at every opportunity.

They will twist around your legs, pressing against you as they do, or rub their chin and cheeks on you when you get close enough.

As sweet as this gesture may seem, what your cat is doing is actually marking you, and claiming you as their own.

Any other cat will smell this, and know you belong to someone.

Even knowing the origin of this, it’s still nice to know that your cat loves you enough to want to make sure everyone you’re theirs.

6. THEY TRUST YOU

Cats are always aware of their surroundings.  While some are friendlier with strangers than others, they usually don’t fully trust anyone they don’t know or care about.

If your cat rolls onto their back for a belly rub, or lifts their chin so that you can scratch under it, they are demonstrating affection and a great deal of trust, as those are two of their most vulnerable spots.

​7. THEY TELL YOU

I’ve already covered “verbal” communication from cats, but they have another clear way to show they love you.

If you have ever noticed them slowly blinking at you, that’s as close to saying those three words as your furry feline family member can get.

It’s a sign of trust (see above) as their eyes are closed for that moment, and it is one way you can tell them you love them too.

Slow blink at your cat, and watch what happens – there’s a good chance they will respond.

Cats may be more independent than dogs (then again, maybe not), but they are as capable of love and companionship as any pet, and they will happily show you if given the chance.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OTHER SIGNS THAT YOUR CAT LOVES YOU? SHARE BELOW!