Esther And Ariel’s Anniversary

On October 22, 2016 Ariel was found in the bush behind the house. On October 26, 2016 Esher was found in the pasture under a log. Being under a month old these kittens would have not lasted the winter. Now they are a year old and part of the family. The house would be empty without them. Their integration to the rest of the cats was easy as was their litter box training. Ariel loves to snuggle with my wife and Esther comes to bed and kisses us and then purrs to sleep.

If you would like your kitty featured on this website please e-mail me a picture at catinthecradles@gmail.com along with a short bio including a name and anything interesting and I will post them.

Please visit Meet The Kittys and leave a message.

Trevor

Esther Is In Heat

Hello, everyone today’s post is that Esther is growing up. She went into heat and now it is time to go to the vet for a spaying procedure. Someone is going to ask why I waited so long and it’s because it is such an invasive procedure I was scared to take her in sooner. My Roxanne developed an infection and well I just put off the event. Esther just turned a year old and this is a natural part of being a female cat. Her symptoms were yowling, marking her territory and making herself available to the boys, especially Tenzin. When you get right down to the actual operation its a common procedure and it is done daily. You have to trust your vet. After this procedure is complete you save your female cat from the recurring cycles that are natural to the cat. Your cat will not be as prone to some diseases as she gets older. It’s just better for everybody involved.

This is our story for today. Hug your kitty and do something green for the environment. Please leave a comment or ask a question at the bottom of the page.

Trevor

https://catinthecradles.com/why-spay-and-neuter-your-pets-what-to-watch-for

 

Cat Care – UTI

Alexis had to go to the vet for a checkup. She was starting to pee wherever she sat. It was discovered that Lexi had a UTI or the long version, a urinary tract infection. Lexi now has to take a pill form medicine twice a day for ten days. It was also discovered that she had gingivitis. All the water bowls now get the vet recommended application of StrixNB. The doctor asked if she struggled when she urinated, so it’s a good idea to watch your cats at the litter box occasionally. Lexi was stressed from the car ride and vet visit so she got out of the carrier and hid for a bit, but didn’t miss supper. She is going to be OK.

I read that Friday the 13th is Black Cat day. Let’s remind people that all the superstitions surrounding black cats are all false. So today hug a kitty and do something green for the environment.

Trevor

Soxs Anniversary

On October 12th of 2013, I found Soxs in the woodpile. He was crying, but he did not want to be caught. We live trapped him and from the first moment he was held he became domesticated. This was also my first experience with kitten worms. Now Soxs is happy to have a family and demands outside time and solo time with me in the office.

Cat Care – What To Do When Your Baby Gets Skunked

 


The above picture is a product that works very well when your fur baby gets sprayed by a skunk. I highly recommend it. Just follow the directions. The hard part will be if your kitten does not like baths. My Border Collie got sprayed last night. The yellow spot on her forehead plus the ugly odor confirmed the spraying.  The dog got to sleep in the house last night. This product should be kept on hand in case of a skunky surprise. It’s well worth the price. Here is a link.

Natures  Miracle , Skunk Odor Remover.

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What Does My Cat Want – A Clean Litter Box.


Your cat wants a clean place to do the necessary business of a great supper. The litter box should be big enough to allow your cat to fit in without hanging over the edge. I use big boxes and now that the cats are one year old and older  I use boxes with tall sides to prevent spreading of the cat litter.  We have been using the Purina Tidy Cats product as pictured above with good results. It is relatively dust free and easy to scoop. I used wood chips for a while but the chips all over the house turned into a cleaning problem. Wood chips are a nice healthy choice for your cat and it prevents odor well, however the cleanup was extensive. People don’t like the dust of some cat litters so chose wisely. Its just not good to breathe in clay dust from some products. Once a week we empty the boxes and wash them out with hot water and then spread baking soda in the bottom. We reuse the sifted litter and add product so the cats have lots to cover with. I have thought about a self cleaning box however that is going to need cleaning to so I think an open box and a scoop is just as easy. We scoop out the litter boxes two to three times a day or when ever we see something.

What is Going On In The Litter Box ?

When you scoop your litter box out it is a great time to check on the health of your cat. Diarrhea happens to every one, so an isolated incident is not an issue but if there is a continuing problem it might be time to go to the vet. Other things to watch for is blood in the stool or watching if there is some discomfort in the bowl movement. Yes I mean you should watch your cat use the box occasionally. Crying while peeing may mean a urinary infection. Blood on the stool might mean a change of cat food might be necessary. Any of these things should discussed with your vet. Since I have upgraded our dry cat food we are currently throwing out two less litres a day of cat litter from seven cats.

In Closing

What goes on in the litter box is important. Have a look and question anything that looks unusual. If kitty is not using the box maybe its not clean enough. A clean litter box is a comfort to everyone involved.

Have a great day and hug a kitty.

Trevor

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Cat Care – How To Look After A Stray Kitten

This wonderful little kitten was just rescued from a cold winter. How do we look after a new feral kitten? Its easy. This little kitty is being fed kitten formula. Purina makes a prepackaged item. Never give cows milk. This will give the cat diarrhea. The night I picked up Roxanne she was given cows milk and that night she sprayed the litter box. This kitty is old enough to eat solid food. A good quality soft food is good. When the kitten is strong enough a visit to the vet is required. Needles and deworming is necessary and must be done. Ask your vet for a time to spay or neuter, usually around six months of age. If by chance the kitten appears to be not healthy don’t be afraid to go to the vet immediately.

Next it is necessary to prepare your house. A litter box is mandatory. Litter box training is as easy as just putting the baby in the box once and that should be it. Its worked for all my kittens. A cat tree and some toys would be nice. The tree will give the kitten a place to scratch and some balls or soft mice and you should be set. Don’t forget a nice cat bed. A box with a blanket in it works.

If you have older cats or dogs in the house it might be necessary to isolate the kitten when no one is around to prevent an accident. The only thing left is to enjoy.

All the best.

Trevor