Why Do Cats Roll Over Into Their Backs But Not Let You Touch Their Bellies?
It’s common knowledge dogs love to have their tummies rubbed when they freely lay down before you and roll onto their backs. But, if you’re also familiar with cats, you know that when they roll onto their backs with their bellies exposed, rubbing the belly will most likely result in bleeding. So why do they do this? advertisement An expression of trust Cat behaviorists will likely answer that it’s a sign of trust when cats roll over and expose their bellies. That is true, indeed. But is it also a request to rub their bellies? The fact that your cat
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5 Charitable Ways to Give Back to Our Kitty Friends
“If only I could adopt all the cats in the world” is probably a thought that has crossed the minds of all cat lovers at least once in their journey as fur parents. While it is physically impossible to care for the millions of stray cats across the globe on your own, there are ways you can still extend your help to them. advertisement 1. Foster cats. By giving rescues a temporary home, you are socializing them and teaching them how to co-exist with other pets which raises their chances of getting adopted. You are also helping the shelter make space for more cats to be taken in and saved. 2. Sign up for charity events. Fun runs and pet contests are the usual fundraising activities for animal shelters. You can contribute to the cause while bonding with your pet at the same time by choosing to participate in charitable events like those. 3. Start a fundraiser for cat rescues. If you have a network of cat lovers like yourself, you can encourage them to give back as well by collecting their donations to be donated together to your local animal shelter or chosen charitable institution for cats. advertisement 4. Share the links for cat charities on your social media. The more people that know about a cause, the higher its chances of getting donations and reaching its goal. By simply clicking the share button on Facebook or Twitter, you can help charities get to their fundraiser goal faster. 5. Donate to charities for cats. If you just don’t have the space to foster cats or the time to participate in charitable events yourself, the least you can do is wire your donation to the charity. Any amount matters and will go a long way in saving the lives of many cats. Our favorite is Alley Cat Allies. ACA is a very reputable charity that is responsible for many Trap-Neuter-Returns (TNR) which saves the lives of feral cats and helps reduce the stray/feral cat population. If you want to learn more about stray cats and what to do if you come across one, check out this article! Giving back the love and joy you found in your pet doesn’t only feel nice on the inside, but it is also literally making a difference in the world. Even through the simple charitable ways we suggested above, you can be the hero a lonely cat out there has been hoping for.
What to Do if You Find a Stray Cat
Cats are adventurous creatures. Even when they have a cozy home with unlimited food and water supply, they still can’t help but go on a bit of quest by themselves. So coming across a cat on one of your travels is not unusual. But if you can’t stop worrying about the cat, then there are some steps you can take to help her. advertisement Is the Cat Feral, Stray, or Owned? To know what the best next step to take is, first, identify whether the cat is a stray, feral, or if he could have an owner nearby. A cat is most likely someone’s pet if he has a collar, appears to be well-groomed, and healthy. Stray cats look disoriented and lost, but they can still be friendly when encouraged. Feral cats are not socialized to humans or the domestic environment, so they act more like wild animals and will not come close no matter your effort. What to Do with a Found Cat? Now that you know the cat’s status, you can move forward with helping her. 1. If the cat is feral, don’t attempt to touch her. Feral cats may result in violence when threatened by human presence. Leave her alone or report her to your local cat protection agency. Organizations like Alley Cat Allies can help with “Trap-Neuter-Return” programs, which reduce the feral cat population and thus reduce the number of cats ending up in shelters. If you notice the cat is ear-tipped, meaning a portion of their ear is missing, you can leave her alone. Ear-tipping is the universal sign she is vaccinated, spayed, and doesn’t need the help of a “Trap-Neuter-Return” program. 2. If the cat is friendly, check for identification tags. Tamed cats may let you pet them, so use the chance to look for tags with the owner’s contact number and inform them of their cat’s whereabouts. Some cats may have an identification chip embedded in their skin. Even if the cat doesn’t have a collar, she may still have a home. You can take her to your local vet or animal shelter, where they can check for a microchip. advertisement 3. Don’t feed the cat unless it seems weak and underweight. Even if the cat has an owner, it might keep returning to you once you feed it. Unless the cat seems to need nutrition, fight back the urge to give her a treat. If you begin putting out food and water for a stray or feral cat, then expect that cat to eventually come back on a regular schedule expecting to be fed. Unless you want to commit this daily chore, this is not recommended — it is hard to stop once you start. Also, if you start, other cats may begin to come around, and soon you will be on the hook for many neighborhood cats. 4. Contact your local animal shelter. If the cat looks abandoned or if you can’t find the owner’s contact number, call your local animal
Meet the Sparkle Cats: Polar Bear
Meet Polar Bear, the loyalist cat you’d ever meet. He’s 19 pounds of pure ferocious feline animal muscle. He may look like he can take on any big dog that comes along, but you would be surprised to learn his nature is calm, cool, and collected. Of course, he can be a scaredy-cat when the lawn crew comes through. This guy likes to keep on to a schedule. Breakfast at 6 am and dinner at 5 pm. Any deviation, and he will be sure to let you know by waking you up if you are sleeping or interrupting whatever it is you are doing. What he really wants, though, is to carried around the house like the king he is. advertisement His dad adopted Polar Bear through the same place he volunteers in Chandler, Arizona! With so many feline friends going without homes, please consider adoption before taking out your wallet for a designer breed. If you’re around Chandler, pop in on the weekends to say hi to Polar Bear’s dad at Saving One Life Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.
How to Properly Train Your Cat Without Screaming or Hitting
There’s no doubt that you love your feline friend, but you can’t deny that his unruly behavior is getting on your nerves. Out of frustration from trying to train your cat in every way you know but to no avail, it might be tempting to lash out at him. But doing so worsens things as they already are. advertisement Why Yelling or Striking Your Cat Won’t Work? Raising your voice to make a point may work in other scenarios to gain attention, but your cat speaks a whole different language from you. Screaming will scare your cat and break the bond between you that you worked so hard to build. Attempting to train your cat through physical punishment won’t work either, so don’t even think about it. Felines are very intolerant of physical dominance from humans and are not very good at associating punishment with bad behavior. So hitting them won’t benefit you in any way and might cause your pet to withdraw from you. The Right Way to Train Your Cat Muster as much patience as you can before attempting to train your cat because our feline friends aren’t known to be the most obedient species. 1. Praise your cat for good behavior. While cats can’t process punishment well, they are good at recognizing positive reinforcement. So give them treats for every good behavior they do. advertisement 2. Redirect your cat’s attention when manifesting bad behavior. You don’t have to jump into action immediately as soon as your cat exhibits bad behavior. Instead, take the passive approach by slowly redirecting his attention with toys or other activities. 3. Consider your cat’s health in the equation. If you can’t get your cat to use the litter box or you notice that he has been more irritable than usual, schedule a visit to your vet. There could be an underlying issue that’s been causing his misbehavior. If you receive a clean bill of health, check out this post for a more in-depth guide to solving litterbox woes. Like humans, cats are unique in their way. Take time to know your cat’s personality and preferences to train him more effectively. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from your family or pet trainers if things get out of hand.
Do Cats Like Music?
Music soothes the human soul. It brings a feeling of contentment, relaxation, and an overall good time that cat parents just want to share that with their fur babies too. But doesn’t it seem like cats show little to no interest in music? Do they really not care for music at all? advertisement What Researchers Say A study in the Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal takes a deeper look into whether cats like music and if they do, what kind of music they like. According to the research, cats display no interest in music that most humans listen to. But that doesn’t mean cats don’t care for all kinds of music either. In fact, the researchers of the study say cats love music. They just have a different taste from us, humans, because their language and way of interacting is on a different level. The Right Music for Cats Further research led to the discovery that music is, in fact, species-specific. Humans relate to music when it uses tempos that fall to the beat of the human heart as well as acoustic and vocal ranges that we can process. It makes sense why human music doesn’t appeal to cats—they have a different biological makeup and have different senses than humans. advertisement The composer David Teie has scientifically created music just for cats. The “Music for Cats” caters to the cats’ senses such as their ability to sense vibrations in the air through their whiskers. It uses classical music as its core with layers of purring and suckling sounds which cats find pleasing because these are familiar and comforting for them. If you want your cat to love music, play sounds that are calming and light such as classical music. Avoid heavy metal music as it can raise feline stress levels. Now that you know cats do love music, you can bond better by listening to music that is right for both you and your feline friend.
Vacationing and Cat Parenting: What You Should Know When Traveling with or Leaving Your Cat
Everyone needs a break—yes, even busy fur parents! Some pet owners can’t bear to go on an adventure without their feline friend, while others have no other choice but to leave their kitty at home as they go on a trip. With the tips we offer for both scenarios, you’re sure to worry less about your pet and enjoy your long-awaited vacation more! advertisement Traveling with Your Cat If you plan on bringing your cat with you on your trip, here are the tips you need to keep in mind. Prepare a pet travel kit. Ensure you have everything in the bag—your pet’s food, water, beddings, litter box, medication, and toys. Ensure that your pet is microchipped. Get your cat an updated microchip or identification tag with your address and contact number. Feed your cat at least 3 hours before the trip. Never feed pets in a moving vehicle as they might get dizzy or have an upset stomach and make a mess in your car. Keep your kitty in the backseat. Your cat is safest in the backseat as he can be seriously injured when in the front seat if an airbag deploys. For a more in-depth guide to traveling with your cat, check out this article, and if it’s a cross-country road trip, this article could come in handy. advertisement Leaving Your Cat at Home Meanwhile, if you will go on a vacation without your furry friend, here’s what you need to know. Never leave your pet alone for too long. Cats get lonely, and they can be in real danger if you leave them on their own for too long. If you’re planning on being away for more than three days, it’s a good idea to get a pet sitter. Prepare enough food and water. Make sure your pet has 24/7 access to clean food and water while you’re gone. An automatic feeder can help with that. Make your home cat-friendly. Your cat should not be able to access dangerous things at home while you’re gone. Play music or turn on a channel your cat may find interesting. Videos like Cat TV can give your cat something to be interested in from time to time while the house is empty. Many fur parents are hesitant to go on vacation because leaving their pets behind is upsetting, and bringing them along can be overwhelming too. But it doesn’t have to be that way as long as you stick to our tips on being a responsible cat parent on vacation.
Litter Box Woes: What To Do if Your Cat Poops or Pees Everywhere but the Litter Box
It can feel very frustrating when your cat will just refuse to use the litter box! What is happening here? Are you doing something wrong, or is your cat just stubborn? We’ll help you find a fix to it in no time so just read on! advertisement Why is your cat peeing and pooping outside the litter box? Before blaming your cat for refusing to use the litter box, you should know the reasons that could be causing him to soil your house instead. There are only two ways to explain why your cat doesn’t use the litter box: Your cat is having medical problems. If your pet pees or poops inappropriately, then it’s best to talk about it to your vet. Your cat could have a urinary medical issue that causes him not to control his bladder well. Your cat has a behavioral issue. If your cat is clear from any medical issues, then the culprit for his litter box-refusing behavior could be stress, a dirty litter box, or old urine smells that are still present in some parts of your home, which he prefers to pee on. How to set your cat up for success Make sure the litter box is clean. If your litter box still has dirt and debris, your cat may be refusing to use it because he doesn’t find it sanitary. Use unscented cat litter. The scent of the kitty litter you are using might be too much for your cat. Opt for unscented ones instead. Place the litter box in a quiet area. Cats love their privacy when doing their business. So designate a quiet yet accessible space in your home for them. Get one litter box per cat. Most vets recommend getting multiple litter boxes to prevent competition among cats if you have many cats and for them to separate urine from poop. advertisement What if even that doesn’t work? If your cat received a full bill of health and you’re doing all you can by keeping the litter boxes clean and accessible, it can be very frustrating if your cat is still pooping or peeing outside the litter box. Your cat is an animal of habit with a very keen sense of smell, and some – especially un-neutered male cats – can be extremely territorial. Even if you only have one cat, your cat may feel the urge to mark his territory if stray cats come slinking around the outside of your house. If that’s the case, we have a solution for you. Identify all the places your cat might be spraying Using a Blacklight Pet Urine Detector can help you spot all the areas you’ll need to address. It’s essential to be thorough and check behind furniture and all the corners in your home. If your cat can reach it, you need to check it. Thoroughly cleanse all the problem areas Cat urine can be very stubborn and very potent. Regular soap and water are not enough to clean the enzymes
What Really is Catnip and Why Does My Cat Love it so Much?
If you’ve ever seen a cat on catnip, then you’ve probably witnessed some hilarious cat antics. Catnip makes cats go crazy, and cat owners know no feline can resist catnip when they see one. But, have you ever wondered what makes catnip so addicting to our feline friends? You’re about to find out. advertisement What Is Catnip? Catnip or “catmint” or “catswort” is scientifically called “Nepeta Cataria.” The mint family has a very fragrant smell and is native to Africa, Asia, Europe, and even North America. There are over 250 catnip species across the globe, and they can grow up to two to three feet in height with heart-shaped leaves and blue, white, pink, or purple flower buds sprouting from them. The plant can affect cats whether they are given fresh or dried up and ground to pieces. advertisement What Does it Do to Cats? A catnip plant’s leaves and stems contain “nepetalactone,” an oil that stimulates cats’ special chemical-sensing receptors when they smell it. The effect that this oil has on cats is the same as that of hallucinogenic drugs on humans. Nepetalactone creates a chemical reaction in the cat’s body that gives them an overwhelming sense of euphoria or happiness. Cats often paw at catnip, rub it, lick it, and chew it. Some cats even growl and drool when smelling catnip. However, the effect of catnip wears off after a few minutes, and you can expect your feline friend to be back to his old self after that. Catnip affects cats differently. Some may go a little crazier than others when smelling or eating catnip, while kittens and older cats are less likely to be affected by it. The plant is safe for cats; no evidence shows otherwise. Be careful not to give your kitty too much, though, as they can get an upset tummy from eating a lot of it.
Guide to Take My Cat on Walks
Cats love the outdoors as much as dogs do but you can only wish for them to be just as easy to take out on walks. Cats can be really stubborn, and it can be quite the challenge to put them on a leash and take them for a nice energizing walk. No worries! We got you some tips on how to make walks with your cat better: advertisement 1. Use a cat harness and leash, not a collar. Cats, slick as they are, can easily wriggle out of a collar and escape when something frightens them during your walk. Invest in a good harness that fits them snuggly yet comfortably. 2. Give your kitty enough time with the leash. If it’s your pet’s first time to be leashed, allow him to get comfortable with it first by letting him lounge in his favorite spot at home. If they seem agitated, don’t force them, and remove the leash. 3. Be sure to bring lots and lots of treats. Positive reinforcement is key to making your cat love walks. Reward him with a treat for every milestone such as putting up with the leash, having the leash removed without a fuss, and walking outdoors for the first time. advertisement 4. Let your feline friend lead the way. Let your cat go where he wants to on his first walk. Allow the leash to drag behind him for a while before picking it up and guiding him when you see that he is already comfortable with the set-up. 5. Make sure it’s a good day for exploring. Check the weather and the streets, it should be a sunny peaceful day with not a lot going on such as loud music or other pet owners walking their dogs. Anything that can scare your cat might prompt him to back out instead. Finally, the best tip on walking your cat is to make sure he is ready for it. Don’t force your cat as that will only cause him stress. Trust that, in time, your kitty will love to go on walks with you and we hope that the five tips we offered will make that time come sooner. If you’re looking for more ways to teach your cat to walk on a leash, check out our friend Mia’s YouTube and get some harness lessons, Bengal style!
Adventure Cats! Best Instagram Accounts with the Most Adventurous Kitties to Follow
Eat, sleep, play, repeat—these aren’t the only things these felines do daily. While some cats are content with lounging around all day and getting snuggles from their humans, these kitties prefer to live life on the edge. Check out these Instagram-famous felines and follow their exciting adventures: advertisement Mia the Adventure Bengal Cat (@outdoorbengal) Mia is a Bengal as her title suggests — like many Bengals, she loves the outdoors and adventure. Along with her cat dad Albert, Mia loves to venture snow and surf alike, be sure to give them a follow! Bodhi the Adventure Cat (@bodhi_theadventurecat) Bodhi is a Maine Coon who can do anything from kayaking, swimming, and paddleboarding. Bodhi’s fur parents love to take pictures of his adventures and he loves posing for the gram too. Gary the Cat (@greatgramsofgary) Watch as Gary the Cat and his four other furry siblings go on adventures together on mountains, lakes, and many more. Gary adorably poses for the camera on his adventures and his human just loves snapping photos of him. Reinhardt the Siberian Cat (@siberian_reinhardt) This adorable little Siberian kitty is a part-time cat and part-time adventurer based in Vancouver, CA. He loves to explore the snowy peaks, lush forests, and clear lakes along with his human and two cat siblings. advertisement Teddy the Grumpy Cat Explorer (@theoretically.teddy) Teddy is ready for an adventure any time! Just don’t expect him to always be in the best mood though, “terrible three” is real even for cats. Follow Teddy as he goes camping and hiking through diverse trails. Gibson the Cat Explorer (@thegibsonchronicles) Gibson loves to sleep all day in his warm cozy home—he’s still a cat after all! But when adventure calls, he just can’t refuse but go and explore the outdoors with his fur parents and human sibling. Hamish Van Schneider: Adventure Cat (@hamishadventurecat.aus_) There’s nothing Hamish loves more than exploring the outdoors and posing for his 11,000 followers on Instagram. But Hamish would never say no to snuggles! He loves them just as much as he loves adventure. Go give these precious yet daring kitties a follow on Instagram and they’ll take you with them on their next big adventure!
