Protecting Your Cat From Heartworms

Did you know that there was an American Heartworm Society? Neither did I, until I saw a press release about April being National Heartworm Awareness Month. Their map, above, shows where cases of heartworms are most reported throughout the United States. Obviously, they're a bigger problem in the southeast, but can strike cats and dogs almost anywhere. So let's take a closer look at heartworms and how you can protect your cat from them.

In dogs, heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) were discovered over 100 years ago. They were first mentioned as affecting cats in the 1920s. The only way they can be spread between animals is by mosquitoes. When biting an infected animal, the mosquito takes in larvae that have been released into the bloodstream by an adult female heartworm. It takes a couple of weeks for these larvae to mature within the mosquito. Once they reach the infective stage, they enter another animal through the mosquito's bite wound.

When the larvae enter your cat's bloodstream, it could take them several months to reach maturity. During this time, your cat may appear to be completely healthy, or exhibit some respiratory symptoms.  The symptoms mimic many other diseases in cats. Early stages, while the worms are first infesting the pulmonary blood vessels, may cause symptoms similar to feline asthma or bronchitis, with coughing and difficult or rapid breathing. This is a newly defined syndrome known as HARD - Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease. During this time, less than 20% of cats will show HARD symptoms and blood tests for the heartworm larvae may not be consistently positive, so diagnosis is difficult.

Amazingly, some of our kitties can spontaneously rid themselves of heartworms! Only 61% to 90% of cats bitten by an infected mosquito actually develop the worms, versus 100% of dogs. While cats who live outdoors are more often bitten by mosquitoes, even indoor-only cats can be bitten if a mosquito gets inside your house, so all cats are at risk.

Within 7-8 months from the original mosquito bite, your cat could have from one to three adult worms living in the heart and pulmonary blood vessels. While dogs with heartworms can be treated, once the worms have infested your cat's heart, there is no treatment on the market to get rid of them. As the worms grow in size, your cat will start vomiting and gagging, become lethargic, and lose weight. The heartworms live for 2-3 years, and they may be fatal to your cat. Any mosquitoes that bite kitty during this time will then carry the larvae of those worms on to infect other cats, and the cycle continues.

Fortunately, none of this is necessary, as heartworms are preventable! Daily or monthly tablets or a monthly topical solution are available from your veterinarian to protect your cat from heartworm infestation. Four options are currently approved for use in the U.S. They work by interrupting the larvae's development so that they can't grow into mature worms.

We're having an early spring this year, so mosquito season will likely begin early. Make sure your cat is protected from heartworms by making a visit to your vet and getting your cat on a preventative medication. If you'd like to read more about heartworms, visit the American Heartworm Society's website.

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50 Ways to Keep Kitty Safe from Poisons

In honor of the 50th anniversary of National Poison Prevention Week March 18-24, here are 50 ways to keep your cats safe from poisons around your home:

1. Keep them indoors. Cats who roam freely can come into contact with any number of toxic chemicals, from lawn pesticides, weed killers, & fertilizers to antifreeze, rodent poisons, pool chemicals and cleaning solutions. While some cats are quite insistent about going outdoors, you can make sure that when they do they're either on a leash & harness or in a safe enclosure.
2. Keep your garbage contained. This means keeping a lid on your outdoor garbage cans that locks down, and keeping your indoor garbage cans where cats can't get into them. We once had a cat who loved to jump into the yard trash can. We'd go look at him and he'd be sitting down in there, looking up at us with an expression of great satisfaction on his face. We'd no more sooner lift him out than he'd have jumped right back in. A lid on that can would've stopped that; at least it didn't contain any toxic material.
3. Contain your kittens. If you have kittens in the house, keep them in a pen where they can't escape and get into mischief. At first, it doesn't need to have a top on it, but by the time they get to the teething stage, they'll want to chew everything in sight, some of which could be toxic, and they'll be pretty good climbers. It doesn't take but a moment for one to get into trouble, so a good-sized crate that gives them room to play, sleep, and potty without being in danger is a worthwhile investment.
4. Keep your medications put away. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the most common reason people call their poison prevention hotline is that their pets have ingested some "people medicine." Never give your cat any medication intended for people unless it's under the direction of your veterinarian. And even then, the dosage usually involves splitting the lowest-dose human size pills into quarters. Never give your cat any prescription drugs intended for humans or dogs. Ingestion of antidepressants by pets seems to be especially common. Inhalers are also dangerous, so keep those out of kitty's reach.
5. Store your cat's medications separately from your own. This will help you keep from accidentally giving your pet the wrong medicine. 
6. Take a few seconds to read medication labels carefully. This will help you avoid overdosing your cat or giving him the wrong medicine. Their little systems are a lot more sensitive than ours and the impact of a mistake is greatly amplified in them.
7. Store supplements and OTC medications safely. Just because something doesn't require a prescription, that doesn't mean it's safe for cats to eat. OTC medicines like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxin (Aleve), acetaminophen (Tylenol), cold medicines, diet pills, and antihistamines can be severely toxic to your cats. Even human-dose vitamins can be dangerous if kitty eats them. And "natural" remedies don't always mean they're safe. For example, tea tree oil (melaleuca alternifolia), which is commonly used in natural topical treatments, can be a neurotoxin to cats.
8. Dispose of empty medication containers carefully. A playful cat sees a round medicine bottle as a toy, and may get some of the medication on his paw, where he can lick it off and ingest enough of the medicine to cause problems. Don't leave empty pill bottles around for this to happen. 
9. Safely dispose of expired or unused medications. Follow the same guidelines for disposing of medications as you would around small children: Fill the bottle with vinegar and seal it. For liquids, fill the bottle with clumping cat litter and seal it. Put either one in a trash can with a locking lid so cats can't dig them out of the trash. 
10. Don't feed cats people food. Even though our cats often want to taste a little of whatever mom's eating, it's not always good for them. Foods we can consume that harm our kitties include onions, avocado, garlic, rhubarb, mushrooms. chocolate, alcohol, macadamia nuts, unbaked bread dough, and grapes (including raisins). If consumed in sufficient quantities, these can cause kidney, heart, or other major organ failure resulting in death within hours. And heavily spiced or fatty foods may lead to stomach upset in your cat and keep her from eating her own nutritious food, in addition to causing an inflamed pancreas.
11. The same goes for coffee and tea. Caffeine is too much stimulation for a cat's heart. Not only is the brewed coffee or tea dangerous, but the coffee grounds or tea leaves. Make sure you dispose of them securely if your cat is drawn to them.
12. Use cat-safe cleaning products. I once worked with a lady who was heartbroken after one of her older cats died from walking through her bathtub after she'd cleaned it with Comet, then licked it off his paws. Chlorine bleach can cause not only chemical burns, but respiratory damage if the fumes are inhaled by cats. Phenols are also quite harmful to cats. These days, there are fortunately plenty of options available that are much safer for your cats. Read labels carefully and only buy products that are safe for use around your cats. The new steam cleaners are great because they kill germs without any chemicals at all, just plain water.
13. Store glues safely. I have a friend whose dog ate Gorilla Glue once and had to have it surgically removed from her digestive tract. It expands greatly once ingested and can be fatal. You never know what a cat is going to be attracted to. Their playful nature makes them view everything as a toy. Make sure that the toys they choose are actually toys and not something that will hurt them.
14. Choose your houseplants carefully. Many cats will chew on plants. Avoid philodendron, dieffenbachia, corn plant, schefflera, and lilies of any kind. Peace lilies are particularly common funeral gifts, so if you get any, make sure they're out of the cats' reach...you don't want to be having a second funeral. Plant some cat grass or catnip instead in a floor-level container where your cats can enjoy it. Aloe vera is another plant cats can safely chew on, and many like the bitter juice from it, which can actually have a therapeutic effect.
15. Choose your landscape plants carefully. They may be beautiful, but lily of the valley, oleander, yew, foxglove, and kalanchoe can cause heart problems if your cats eat them. Intestinal upset, weakness, depression, heart problems, coma and death can result from cats eating azaleas, rhododendrons, or the bulbs of tulips or narcissus. Severe intestinal distress can result from cats eating castor bean, cyclamen, amaryllis, chrysanthemums, pothos, English ivy, hibiscus, or hydrangea. Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, autumn crocus, and glory lily may also cause a toxic reaction. Most cats are usually aware of this and avoid these plants. You can likely keep them in your yard without your cats ever bothering any of them...just be aware of the risk.
16. Watch your cut flowers, too. Especially avoid lilies in your cut flowers, as eating just a couple of petals can be fatal to your cat via severe kidney failure. With Easter just around the corner, this is a good time to be aware of the danger of lilies around cats.
17. Keep home fragrances out of reach. Potpourri and liquid air fresheners contain substances that can cause chemical burns to your cat's digestive tract if eaten or drunk, or irritation to the nose and eyes if spilled on them. Cats suffering from feline asthma or allergies may also have a reaction to any type of air freshener.
18. Keep your toilet lids down. Many cats will drink from the toilet, just like dogs, if given the chance. But toilet cleaning products are often toxic to cats. This is especially true if you use any continuously cleaning products (such as those that are stored in the toilet tank, or that turn the toilet water blue). Keeping the lids down removes this possibility.
19. Nix the nicotine. Put all tobacco products away. You really shouldn't be smoking around your cats anyway, but if you do, or if you use any smokeless tobacco, keep it where your cats can't get to it and eat it. Nicotine will give them a quick heart attack if they eat even a relatively small amount. Keep ashtrays emptied, as well. Watch out for nicotine in other products, too. If you're trying to quit and using products such as nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches, keep these where your cats can't get to them, too. It's more of a risk with dogs, but you never know which cats may also be tempted.
20. Real sugar only, please! Artificial sweeteners such as xylitol can quickly poison your cats. Keep any sugar-free gum or other treats out of their reach and don't be tempted to share with them. Sweets in general aren't good for cats, but if you must feed them something sweet, make sure it's sweetened with real sugar.
21. Choose appropriate toys. While a kitten playing with a ball of yarn is a cute image, in reality cats playing with yarn can swallow its fibers from chewing on it, leading to an intestinal blockage that can be fatal or require surgical removal. Glow sticks or necklaces like the kids use at Halloween contain chemicals that aren't healthy for cats to ingest. Try to buy cat-safe toys for your kitties to play with.
22. Watch out for inserts in products. The silica gel packets that come in shoe boxes or bottles of vitamins are toxic, so keep them away from your kitties. They're easy to drop on the floor, so pay attention to what kitty's playing with. Safety pins and those little plastic things that attach the price tags to clothing can also get easily swallowed and cause intestinal blockage or damage.
23. Put your jewelry away. Cats will be drawn to things that contain your scent, and this includes your jewelry. It's fun for them to play with, but they can easily swallow it and necessitate a trip to the vet to have it surgically removed.
24. Choose your holiday decorations wisely. When I was a little girl, we had a Dachshund who would eat the tinsel off the Christmas tree...which at that time contained lead! We could always tell because his vomit was all sparkly. Ribbon used on packages is an item that can cause problems for kitty. It's so dangly and tempting, but can shred and cause the same kinds of intestinal blockages as yarn. Some ornaments may also be tempting for cats: fun to bat off the tree, but not when they shatter on the floor and cut a paw! And you don't want them drinking the Christmas tree water, to which you've probably added chemicals to help preserve the tree. Watch the holiday plants, as well. Holly and mistletoe are both toxic to cats. Poinsettias can cause stomach upset if eaten.
25. Keep electrical cords out of temptation's way. We all remember the scene from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, but cats chewing on electrical cords is a year-round risk. If yours is prone to this, find a way to keep those cords out of kitty's reach.
26. Lock up the cats during parties. Not only will this keep one from scooting out the door when guests are arriving or leaving, but it'll keep them from getting into the fancy treats you've put out for your guests...and remove the temptation for those guests to feed them little snacks that could be bad for them.
27. Keep kitty out of the garbage. Rotting and molding food found in there can cause stomach upset or food poisoning in your cat if he eats it. And there may also be toxic chemicals such as cleaning products, antifreeze, or home fragrances in the trash...to say nothing of broken glass or other products with jagged edges that can cause cuts.
28. Watch those bug sprays and rodenticides. The rat poison sort of goes without saying; if your cat's going to eat mice, you don't want them to be full of a poison that will cause your cat to bleed to death internally. But did you know that many bug sprays can also be toxic to cats? A lot of cats love to catch and eat bugs. And you should never spray them around your cat's food and water bowls. Remove those to treat that area, then replace them afterwards.
29. Use care with bug bombs. If you use a fogger type product to kill fleas, make sure your cats are out of the home while it's going off. Completely remove their food and water bowls. Before bringing them back in, make sure all traces of the bomb are dried, surfaces are wiped down, and you've opened the windows to air out the place a bit first.
30. Place ant, roach and rat bait traps carefully. To a cat, these look like toys! And if they reach in to grab a bug they see inside, a paw can get stuck in even the "safe" glue traps. So place them all in locations where your cats can't get to them. And keep the cats away when you're pouring out ant bait. We once had a cat who thought Amdro was a tasty snack we were pouring out just for him!
31. Use care with snail and grub baits. These also contain chemicals that are toxic to your cats. Try using natural alternatives instead.
32. Don't use dog flea/tick killers on cats. While we're on the subject of insecticides, be aware that even the dog flea products intended for use on smaller dogs are too strong for use on cats and can cause seizures or death.
33. Don't use any flea killers on cats in weakened conditions. This includes very young kittens and pregnant, severely ill, recuperating, or elderly cats. Cats' systems are so sensitive anyway that when they're already compromised by illness, age, or pregnancy, the effects of toxins are greatly multiplied. While a healthy cat can handle exposure to flea products, a weakened cat can't.
34. Only kitty toothpaste, please! It's certainly a good idea to brush your cat's teeth for optimal dental health, but you should never use human toothpaste to do so. Fluoride and several other substances in toothpaste are toxic to cats. Always use a toothpaste specifically designed (and flavored) for cats.
35. Avoid using mothballs. Not only do they stink, the naphthalene in them irritates a cat's digestive tract and damages the liver, kidneys, blood cells, brain and lungs. Obviously, ingestion of them can be fatal. Instead, seal your moth-prone clothing in a vacuum bag in warmer months, or use some natural alternatives like cedar or lavender to repel moths.
36. Put your change away. Pennies minted after 1982 are mostly zinc, which is toxic to cats. Put them where kitty can't play with them or swallow any.
37. Keep batteries and battery-containing items out of reach. Yes, some cat toys contain batteries, but these are made so that they aren't easily removed by the cats playing with them. The same doesn't necessarily hold true for remote controls, cell phones, or your wireless computer mouse. These all contain strong concentrations of your scent, so are very attractive to your cats.
38. Store automotive chemicals safely. If your cats have access to the garage, make sure that the antifreeze, gasoline, windshield cleaner, ice-melting products, and other automotive products are stored where they can't leak out and tempt your cats to lick at them. Antifreeze is especially dangerous, as it tastes sweet to cats and dogs. But licking up just a small amount can cause severe kidney failure and death within hours.
39. Choose propylene glycol-based antifreeze. While it's still not completely safe for cats to drink, this is less toxic than the ethylene glycol-based products. If you spill any antifreeze, wipe it up immediately, and make sure your cars aren't leaking any for your cats to find.
40. Store yard chemicals safely. Just as with automotive chemicals, products like weed killers, fertilizers, and insecticides can be toxic to cats. Yes, you should keep kitty off your grass after using them, but you should also make sure they're stored where your cats won't get to them in your garage. Follow the manufacturers' instructions on how long you need to keep the cat away from them after spraying or spreading them on your lawn. Use care with natural gardening products, too. Just because they're natural doesn't mean they're safe for your cats to eat. For example, cocoa mulch contains a lot of the same toxins as chocolate. And natural products like bone and blood meals may smell delicious to them. So keep them where your cats can't get to them.
41. Be careful with pool chemicals. Chlorine and other pool water balancing chemicals can cause irritation at best, and could be fatal to your cats if they get onto their coats, where they'll be ingested during grooming.
42. Watch out for that compost pile! While dogs are more likely to root through a fragrant pile of compost, a cat may also be drawn to it. Make sure it's not easily accessible and don't put meat waste into your compost pile.
43. Store paints and solvents safely. Yet another type of products typically stored in garages, and another that can be toxic to your cats. If you don't have cabinets for all these that can't be accessed by your cats, you need to get some.
44. Keep cats out of construction areas. If you live in an older home and are remodeling, be aware that the paint on your walls likely contains lead. The dust from paint removal can land on your cat's coat, where she'll groom it off and ingest the lead, resulting in heavy metal toxicity. This can result in neurological damage. If you suspect that your cat has been exposed to heavy metals, have your vet run a screen...you may also need to be treated!
45. Store hardware safely. Dropped nails and screws are fun for cats to bat around, but can easily get swallowed in the heat of play and spear something in the digestive tract on their way through. Keep them in appropriate containers so cats can't get to them, and pick up any dropped ones quickly.
46. Artists, be careful how you store your brushes and paints. Latex house paints can upset a cat's stomach, but typically aren't fatal. However, the paints used by artists contain different chemicals that can be harmful. And if you've used them on your brushes, enough of the paints or the solvents used to remove them may be left in the bristles to be harmful to kitty. So keep them put away where they're not accessible.
47. Button, button, who's got the button? Make sure it's not your cat. A button can easily be swallowed and cause an intestinal blockage.
48. Use care with cardboard. While many perfectly safe cat scratchers are made from corrugated cardboard, regular cardboard boxes may contain dyes or have held products that have left behind a residue of something that could be toxic to your cat. Playing inside them may not cause a problem, but if you have a cat who likes to chew on cardboard, make sure the source is a safe scratcher specifically made for cats.
49. If your cats can open cabinets, invest in some child locks. I once had a cat who'd just reach up with his paw, open a cabinet, and walk right on in. Somebody who he lived with must've kept the cat food or treats in a bottom cabinet, or maybe he was just doing his catly duty and patrolling for vermin. Yes, child locks are a pain to have to open, but if they'll keep your cats safe, it's worth it. And you don't need them on all the cabinets, just those storing products that could be harmful to kitty.
50. Keep your vet's emergency number on hand for any accidental poisonings. You know those cats; there's no telling what they'll get into next. If you suspect that your cat has gotten into something toxic, the more quickly treatment begins the less likely that exposure will be fatal. The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center charges a fairly hefty $65 consultation fee, but if you don't mind paying it, the number is 888-426-4435. A new Pet Poison Helpline iPhone app is now available; it's free to download, but you'll still incur the $65-per-call consultation fee.

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Happy St. Gertrude's Day!

St. Patrick may steal the limelight on this day, but it's also the feast day of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, patron saint of cats!

Saint Gertrude lived from 626-659, and was the abbess of the Benedictine monastery of Nivelles, in modern Belgium. She was a true "old maid cat lady"... or at least the old maid part!

The daughter of Pepin I of Landen and Saint Itta, Gertrude's older sister was Saint Begga and her older brother would become Grimoald I. These names have special significance to me, as they showed up in one of the lines of my own geneaology.

When St. Gertrude was only 10 years old, her father asked her to marry the Duke of Austrasia, as was often done to ally kingdoms in those days. The little girl indignantly replied that she would marry neither him nor any man, as Jesus Christ alone would be her bridegroom.

Several years later, after her father died, Saint Begga erected a double monastery at Nivelles and appointed Gertrude as its first abbess. The doting mother remained at the abbey as a nun to advise her teenaged daughter. By the year 646, Begga determined that her daughter, now 20, was sufficiently mature to lead the abbey without her guidance. Said to be gifted with visions, Gertrude was known for her hospitality to pilgrims and aid given to Irish monks. The monastery at Fosses exists because of her gift of the land for it. She also had a great devotion to souls in Purgatory, which are represented by mice in symbolism, so she is often depicted with mice.

Gertrude lost her mother when she was 26. She studied the Holy Scripture extensively and knew it almost by heart. On the extensive property left her by her mother, she built more churches, monasteries and hospices, working so tirelessly that she often neglected to eat or drink. Appointing her niece as successor, she resigned from her office leading the abbey at age 30. Remaining in study and prayer, she died at age 33 during Holy Mass on March 17, as had been prophesied the day before. Immediately thereafter, she was venerated as a saint and a church was erected in her honor.

In addition to cats and those who love them, St. Gertrude is the patron saint of the towns of Beverst (Belgium), Geertruidenberg and Bergen-op-Zoom, of travelers in search of lodging, gardeners, and herbalists. Her name is invoked to stave off fever, insanity and mental illness, rats, mice, and the fear of rats and mice. She is also invoked to protect those who have recently died, so that on their three-day journey to the afterlife they will spend their first night under her care and their second with the Archangel Michael.

So while you're hoisting a flagon of green beer to honor St. Patrick today, have an additional one in honor of St. Gertrude!

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Cats Need to Climb!

You may have seen Saturday night's episode of "Must Love Cats" on Animal Planet, in which host John Fulton went to Japan to explore their culture's love of felines. One segment featured homes that had been designed specifically for the felines who lived with their cat parents there. If you have a cat, you know that they like to get up onto your sofa, your shelves, your kitchen countertop, even your refrigerator. If you don't want them there, you may think they're misbehaving just to spite you, but that's not actually the case.

Cat behaviorist and "My Cat From Hell" star Jackson Galaxy refers to some cats as "tree dwellers", meaning that they like to be up high. Leopards, jaguarundis and margays are among the cats who do this in the wild. Leopards will even drag their prey up into trees to keep it from other predators. Our domesticated feline companions are not all that different from their wild cousins in this regard.

Why is it that cats like to climb? Well, put yourself in their position: you're a relatively small animal compared to the two-legged creatures you've chosen to live your life with. You can only see what's on floor level, and there's so much going on higher up. You want to be able to not only see your immediate surroundings, but farther away, just in case a threat (whether it may be a burglar, a strange cat, the vacuum cleaner, or the slobbering family dog) is approaching. You need a lookout post!

If you, as a responsible cat parent, don't buy cat furniture for your kitties to climb, the only things left to them are your own furniture, tabletops, countertops, shelves, and appliances. So if you have a cat who's driving you crazy by jumping up where you don't want him, get him his own places to climb. But what if you live in a smaller space that doesn't have room for cat furniture, or you don't want a big, ugly cat tree hanging out in your living room?

Fortunately, there are solutions available for you. In smaller living spaces, or on all that unused vertical space on walls in rooms with cathedral ceilings, wall-mounted cat furniture may be the perfect fit. We've just recently added items from The Vertical Cat to OldMaidCatLady.com. In their line, you'll find all the components needed to turn any wall in your home into a climbing system for your cats, giving them the up-high space they need while saving your furniture and tchotchkes from destruction!

All of The Vertical Cat's products are hand made in the USA and constructed from sturdy wood in your choice of finishes, many with replaceable carpeted inserts the cats' claws can grab onto as they're climbing. Arrange the shelves, stairs, corner shelves, corner steps, and boxes into any configuration...they'll look like wall art, while providing your cats with places to survey their domain, sun themselves, look out a window, or just hang out away from all the hubbub below. I guess the addition of the cats would actually make these climbing systems "living art"! Combine the wall climbing system with a floor-standing cat tree and your cats will be up there before you know it. Couldn't your home use a little living art that also makes your cats happier and better behaved? Here are a few more photos of the systems to get your imagination going:

Shop all our cat perches & shelves here.

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Happy World Spay Day!

The Humane Society of the United States and the International Humane Society have deemed the last Tuesday in February to be World Spay Day. While the image above has been Photoshopped, there's no denying that kitten season will soon be upon us.

About every eight seconds, a cat or dog is euthanized in a U.S. shelter, for no reason other than that they have no home. Many are perfectly healthy, adoptable cats. Kittens may be adorable, but to help save lives, it's important for you to spay your female cats. This helps control the cat overpopulation that leads to euthanasia. Every cat deserves a loving home for life, not to die alone, stressed and frightened in a shelter. It's not their fault, but they're the ones who lose their lives.

And think of the poor people faced with that unpleasant task! They don't want to kill these animals, but must do so as a part of their jobs. They often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder from the experience. Thoughtless people who couldn't be bothered to spay or neuter their pets have put them in that position. It doesn't have to be that way.

But spaying also provides many benefits beyond population control! It can help avoid problems like:

• Urine Spraying: Did you know that unspayed female cats will spray urine to mark their territory, just like unneutered male cats? It's true! They do it to attract a mate. And unneutered male cats can smell that scent from miles away, even through the walls of your house. Their response? To mark their own territory outside your house. So even if you keep her indoors, an unspayed female cat will not only stink up the inside of your house with urine, you'll have every Tom in the neighborhood stinking up the outside, as well! Yuck-o!
• Cancer: Unspayed female cats can get uterine cancer, just like humans. Spaying removes this possibility by removing the uterus. Cancer not only endangers your cat's life, the treatments for it are much more expensive than simple spaying surgery. 
• Yowling: Cats are not quiet lovers. When they come into season, female cats yowl to attract a mate. Male cats yowl to answer. They yowl more when they get together; it sounds like a cat fight. You've heard them outside at night. If you don't want your cat's voice added to the chorus, get her spayed.
• Aggression: Unspayed female cats are ruled by their hormones. They have much more "wildness" in them and can be moodier and more territorial. If you have a cat, you want to pet her and hold her without getting scratched and bitten. Spaying helps make this possible.

Think you can't afford to have your cat spayed? Think again! The Humane Society has a locator service for free or low-cost spay/neuter services. Just click on that link and enter your Zip code to find one near you.

No more excuses! Don't litter - spay your cat!

Help Mayport Cats, an organization local to me that's helping community cats in a waterside area, by voting for my cat, little Vixen, in the Humane Society's World Spay Day photo contest; just click on her photo below:

Source: photocontest.humanesociety.org via Lynn on Pinterest

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Do You Train Your Cat?

Silly question; cats can't be trained...can they?

Actually, yes! Cats are actually more intelligent than dogs, with almost twice as many information-processing neurons in their brains. Since dogs can be trained, it stands to reason that cats can handle it. A recent article in Pet Product News explained:

Cats can be taught not to spray, to learn to use a litterbox, to be less shy and more accepting of people, not to scratch the furniture, and to accept other cats—and even dogs—in their household. Cats can be trained to ride comfortably and with less stress in a cat carrier.


We've all experienced problems arising from what we deem to be "bad" cat behavior. And we've all tried to change it. Most people believe that cats don't have the same motivators as dogs. People believe that dogs are constantly wanting to please us, whereas cats are more concerned with pleasing themselves. Many would go so far as to say that the cats actually train us to serve them.


But in reality, all animals (even people) respond to training systems that reward them and avoid those that punish them. Cats aren't any different in this respect. The key is to uncover what they find rewarding. 


If you learned about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in school, you're familiar with the concept that people first seek to satisfy their basic needs for food, clothing and shelter, then seek higher stimulation up through self-actualization. Cats are similar. Once a cat's basic needs are provided (food, shelter, a clean bed, a potty, somewhere to scratch), he needs intellectual stimulation. Bored cats can mean trouble. You may have even been to shows featuring trained cats doing tricks, like the one shown above. Those cats are certainly no smarter than yours!


So, what types of rewards are pleasing to cats? What tools are useful in training them? The most effective cat training reinforces the bond between you and your cat. Positive methods of reinforcing good behavior are always preferable to punishment for bad behavior. Here are a few suggestions for kitty rewards:


Cats Love to Eat


Well, duh; who doesn't? That's a pretty basic desire. You know how the cats come running when you turn on a can opener, even if they've never in their lives eaten food that had to be opened with one. Where did they learn that behavior?


Slipping your kitty a treat when he does something you want him to is a great way to get him to replicate that good behavior. What's more, just as with dogs, you can transfer those positive feelings to a clicker and use it to reinforce the behavior in the future. Start doing that and you'll see quick results.


Cats Love Your Attention


When watching an episode of Jackson Galaxy's "My Cat From Hell" show on Animal Planet, I was struck by a video at the end of the show. It was the episode where Jackson gave a Cat Wheel to City Kitty so he could work off some of his energy instead of directing toward attacking the couple's other cat. In the video, City started playing with the wheel, but when nobody was around to watch him, he stopped and looked very disappointed.


Few of us realize that our cats are like kids on the diving board at the pool, always saying, "Watch me, Mommy!" They want us to pay attention to them: give them a little cuddle, play with them, talk to them, watch them play, interact with them in some way. Why else do they sprawl across our computer keyboards or the paperwork piled up on our desks? They know where we tend to focus our attention, and they want us to transfer it to them. If doing something bad gets our attention, they're getting "rewarded" with what they want, and we're actually reinforcing bad behavior! Try ignoring them instead and see if that doesn't work better as a behavior modifier.


While some cats are "lap cats" who love to be cuddled, others aren't as physically affectionate. Your cat may like for you to watch him, or want to sit next to you, but not be held or petted. Some cats, especially older ones, get a touch of vertigo when lifted off the floor, and very few cats like to be moved somewhere if they're not in control of the motion. Some cats like prey toys that fly, while others prefer the kind they can bat around themselves. So experiment to find the best way to interact with your cat and spend that quality time together every day as his little reward. It's a great motivator!


Cats Respond to Scent


Both cats and dogs have a stronger sense of smell than ours. And they communicate with each other through the pheromones excreted by their bodies. Pleasant scent-based products like Feliway, honeysuckle, or any kind of catnip can be a motivator for cats. 


Just as with people preferring various perfumes, different cats like different scents. So experiment to find the ones that your kitty prefers. Watch how he responds to a variety of fragrances. Then use them in areas where you want to encourage the cat to hang out or play, or as a calming influence in sleeping areas, or even as a repellent if he doesn't like them. When you start speaking a cat's scent language, he can't help but respond!


Cats Have Natural Curiosity


You've seen how your cat gets fascinated with something he can't figure out. Highly intelligent creatures, cats enjoy learning new things and solving puzzles. It's why they're so playful, and why they love surprises. This also makes them curious about their environment, so that they will enjoy walking on a leash and harness once they get used to the feel of it. 


If you live in a neighborhood without free-roaming dogs, you should be able to safely take your cat for a walk around. Cats would naturally patrol their territory every day in the wild, so walking around the neighborhood is a very natural outlet for this instinct. It's not the same as walking with a dog; most cats like to stop and sniff everything. It's how they find out what's going on in their feline world. Just have some patience, maybe take along a book to read if you have to, and let kitty explore. Satisfying that curiosity is a wonderful reward that your cat will look forward to every day.


Cats can be trained to do tricks, as well. Most people don't realize this because the assumption that cats can't be trained causes them never to even try. In the meantime, their cats are lying around, bored and getting diabetes from obesity, or becoming aggressive or destructive to their home. What a shame! Just invest a little time and effort, discover what motivates your cats, and you'll find much reward. Happier, more well-adjusted cats mean a more harmonious home...and less cats dumped at shelters for "bad" behavior.


For guidelines on training cats in specific areas, Cat Training is a website developed by a veterinarian that provides a breakdown of various things you might want your cat to do. And check out the Cat Training Aids section of OldMaidCatLady.com to find tools to help you. Patience and consistency are important; it won't happen overnight. But don't just write off your cat as incorrigible, thinking he can't be trained! He can, and it's up to you to try.

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Do You Dress Up Your Cats?

C'mon; you're among friends here and can admit it! Why should dogs get to wear all the cute little outfits, while cats run around buck naked?

When I first lived with cats, over 20 years ago (thanks to better antihistamines that allowed me to finally have cats of my own), I wanted little outfits for them, or at least fancy collars. The local pet stores had nothing of the kind. My frustration at what was available led me to start a company of my own on the side of my "real" job, Haute Cature Designs. I designed fancy cat collars and flea collar covers, made with cats' preferences in mind. 

They were softer than other collars on the market and sold in sizes so they didn't need those heavy buckles on them. Cats found them more comfortable and tolerable than regular collars. Had the e-commerce been around back in those days, I might have made a million. As it was, I shut Haute Cature Designs down after a year or so. There simply wasn't time to call on individual pet stores and convince them to carry my collars on consignment.

Now that I'm running OldMaidCatLady.com, I'm still always looking for great catwear. That's why I was so pleased to find the Meow Wear line of catwear! It includes not only cute sweaters like you see here, but shirts, jackets & vests, pajamas, a bathrobe, and even formalwear! It's exactly the type of catwear I had in mind all those years ago, had I known more about pet clothing design. Meow Wear is specially designed for cats, which means it's got the leg holes in the right places and is proportioned to fit a cat's body. Some dogwear just doesn't fit cats properly.

And dressing up a cat isn't all about fashion, although that's what makes it fun! Some of the hairless and short-coated breeds like Sphynx and Rex cats actually need to wear clothing in colder months to keep them warm. So there is a purpose for Meow Wear and other cat clothing.

We'll hopefully be bringing you much more catwear in the future, as I find it and get it added to the site. But for now, rejoice that the entire Meow Wear line can be found in our Catwear section. Shop and enjoy!

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