Fur, Jaws, and Claws

posted by fmoore on Dec 2

What happens at holiday time when you need to go out of town and leave your cat all alone? I would like to offer four recommendations from most effective to least effective.If your holiday involves traveling by road, your best solution is to take your cat with you provided it doesn’t mind traveling in a vehicle. To make sure this is the best option for you and your cat, take your cat on a smaller road trip first to determine whether it will feel ill, stressed, or encounter any other problems before taking it on a longer road trip.

Your next best solution, if you find that your cat cannot travel, is to find someone that you trust who will house sit and mind your cat at home. A familiar face will help it feel most comfortable in the familiar surroundings of your home.

If you cannot find someone to actually house sit while you are gone for the holidays, your third best solution is to find someone you trust who will come in on a regular basis and feed your cat and sit with it for a short while just to keep it company.

In either situation where someone may be entering your home on a permanent or temporary basis to take care of your cat, make sure they confine it to a designated area at night so that it is not roaming around the neighborhood where it could be endangering itself. Provided there is sufficient water and a litter box, this should not add undue stress on your cat.

The least effective solution is a boarding kennel. The majority of cats do not like to be left at boarding kennels or a home in which they are unfamiliar with their surroundings. However, your kitten may be one that is completely happy with either situation provided they are getting some form of company and sufficient food throughout the day.

If you intend on leaving your cat at a boarding kennel, be sure to do your research well in advance to check on the facilities. If possible, talk to other people who have left their cats there to find out whether they would recommend them to other people. Finally, make sure that it has had sufficient vaccinations to eliminate any possibility of picking up any illness or disease.

Do not leave your pet care to the last minute when planning for the holidays. This will save you time and money but most importantly, it will save your cat unnecessary stress.

Have you had trouble looking for a boarding kennel? Have you been looking for top notch toys and accessories for your cat? We have created the Fur, Jaws and Claws Guide for our readers. Everything your cat will ever need physically, mentally and nutritionally will be found in this guide. Make sure you pick it up TODAY!

posted by fmoore on Nov 30

Whether your cat is a short hair or long hair breed, grooming your cat on a regular basis will remove any loose fur that could end up in your cat’s digestive system, causing constipation, fur balls, and discomfort that can also result in your cat vomiting on a regular basis.As a cat grooms itself by licking its fur, quite a large amount of that fur ends up being swallowed. This combined with the food in its stomach causes fur balls to develop that need to be eliminated one way or another.

In addition to removing the loose fur, grooming eliminates any fleas that might be on your cat. If your cat is living near farmland, it may venture out into the fields and pick up ticks in vast numbers in a very short amount of time. While there are good flea and tick formulations on the market, the simple act of grooming is an inexpensive and natural way to eliminate pests without harming your cat.

The added benefit of regular grooming allows you to do a thorough check of your cat’s body for any other potential problems. This can be particularly true with tomcats, as they get into fights with other cats that can lead to sores that can become infected.

Longer haired cats tend to have a bigger problem than those with short hair. As a result, they will need our help during grooming to remove loose hair. Grooming with a good natural or organic cat comb regularly will prevent the fur from knotting.

If left unattended for too long, particularly with cats that have long hair, this knotting can get so matted that they need to have the fur cut to remove it. Knotted fur can form into hard lumps that can cause serious distress for the cat.

Regular grooming coupled with good nutrition will ensure that your cat has a nice shiny coat, reduced incidents of constipation via fur balls, and less chance of contracting common skin related problems found in cats.

posted by fmoore on Nov 29

Cats love it when you pat and stroke them, more than you could ever imagine. There are particular areas on your cat that are very sensitive to touch and your cat gains great pleasure from you stroking these areas.

Have you ever noticed that your cat will lift its chin to encourage you to pat it under there or allow you stroke the side of their face or scratch the base of their tail?

The reason for this is that these areas have sebaceous glands which produce body odors.
So every time you pat or scratch your cat in this area you are effectively letting it mark you with its scent.

The skin of your cat is also very sensitive, including the hairless pads on their feet. These areas of skin and pads are particularly sensitive in that they help the cat to investigate and be aware of things that are happening around it in the wild and at home.

While most cats don’t mind their body being patted, quite a few of them don’t like their paws to be touched. Ironically, a light massage between the paws is one thing that many cats enjoy even if they don’t normally like their paws touched.

If you have been patting your cat for some time and its tail begins to start flicking rather rapidly then this is a sign that it is starting to get somewhat agitated and it might be wise to stop patting it for a while.

Cats can get a little carried away when you pat them and particularly if you’re patting them on their underside and they are lying on their back. One moment they can be purring with pleasure and the next minute they can be biting and scratching your hand.

Often they are just playing and don’t realize that they can be causing minor harm to your hands or wrists. It is not uncommon for cats to give you a little nip when showing their affection towards you too. This is certainly not something that they should be reprimanded for. This is just how they show their love for us.

posted by fmoore on Nov 25

Even cats that roam freely outside look for something when indoors that they can scratch. Here are 5 reasons why your cat may need to scratch:

They will scratch to sharpen their claws.
They will show their superiority over weaker cats.
They will be exercising the extension and retraction of their claws.
They will be marking their territory.
They might even be getting rid of anger or frustration.

You can see there are many reasons why your cat need to scratch, but you certainly don’t want them to use your furniture as the scratching pad therefore it is a good idea to supply the cat with a good scratching pad and let them know that that is what it is intended to be used for.

Put the scratching post in a place that is easily accessible to your cat particularly when it is finished eating or grooming itself and is likely to feel like having a scratch. Anytime your cat looks like it is going to scratch your furniture or anything else that you don’t want it to scratch, quickly pick it up and put it near the scratching post. This way it learns that the only place it should be scratching is the scratching post.

If your cat tends to scratch a particular piece of furniture or other item in the house on a regular basis, remove that item and replace it with a scratching post. Your cat will begin to learn that it is the scratching post that it should be scratching and nothing else. The more time you spend with your cat training it where it can scratch, when it is young, the less trouble you will have as it grows older.

At times your cat will scratch as a form of devotion or leave its scent over your own scent. If you rub your hands or a piece of your clothing over the scratching post, you will be leaving your scent. Oftentimes, this familiarity is all that is needed to encourage your cat to scratch at its post. This way you, your cat and your furniture will all be happy.

So, if you are looking to build the best relationship with your cat, be sure to download Fur, Jaws, and Claws. You will be glad you did.

posted by fmoore on Nov 12

I am sure you can agree with me in that there is certainly not a shortage of cats in the world. In fact, it will be necessary for you to get your cat neutered at some stage in its life, preferrably sooner than later.

Male and female cats that have been neutered have been proven to be better pets, with a calmer nature, and less likely to roam the neighborhood and end up getting lost or injured.

Cats that have been neutered are less inclined to cause trouble with marking and leaving their scent around your property, and that of your neighbors. Territorial dominance, which promotes roaming, becomes an afterthought once this procedure is performed.

It is certainly a high priority with the female cat as having the burden of trying to find a home for a litter of kittens is not pleasant if you can’t find anyone suitable to take them. She should be spayed at approximately 16 weeks of age. This is normally the period before they are likely to come into season.

Depending on your breed of cat, it may take a little longer before it comes into season. So, if you follow this general rule of thumb, 16 weeks is usually a safe bet in the majority of instances.

It is certainly wise to get male cats neutered before they start roaming, fighting and developing their male characteristics, as it can make for an unpleasant pet. Although they can be left for a longer period of time without any problems, 16 weeks is still the rule of thumb, just as it is for females, to get them castrated. There are mixed feelings on when male cats should be castrated due to the fact that if castration is performed to early, the kitten may suffer from feline urological syndrome. Therefore, many owners consider leaving them an additional couple of months to help reduce this painful blockage that can become painful for the cat.

However, there is an exception to every rule. There are breeds of cats, usually pure bred, that must be spayed earlier. In these instances, it is necessary that the breeder give you the necessary information before you are allowed to take your kitten home. An example of the exception to this rule is always playful and always mischevious Siamese.

I truly hope you enjoyed today’s post. If you are looking for a trusted veterinarian in your area to perform this procedure, or if you would like a natural way to help comfort your kitten if a castration or spaying has been done be sure to check out our Holistic Veterinarians Directory and our Holistic Products Directory so that your cat can live the best life possible.

posted by fmoore on Nov 2

UPDATE: I know you were ready for today’s blog post on the controversial issue of neutering but in lieu of your cat’s safety on tomorrow, I had to interrupt the normal flow of information with this bulletin. PLUS, I saved, instead of published this post. So, it IS 2 days late but needed information nonetheless.

It is the cat superstition that precedes all cat superstitions: BLACK CATS ARE BAD LUCK! No more is this superstition taken to heart than during the Halloween Holiday.

Black may be an unlucky color all right…for a cat. Black cats have been associated with the forces of evil for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Humane societies warn that this myth has unfortunately cost many of them their lives.

Black cats are often the targets of those who want to practice Satanic-like rituals that include the torture and killing of animals. Such horrors are especially rampant around Halloween, human groups say, adding that the perpetrators aren’t especially picky. If a black cat isn’t available, any cat may serve their purposes in a pinch. So even if your cat usually chooses whether he’s in or out, keep him inside until this particular holiday has passed.

Black may be an unfortunate color for another reason: visibility. Thousands of cats are killed by cars every year and the difference between a hit, and a near miss, may be the driver’s ability to see the cat darting across the road before him. At night, patches of light-colored fur are a distinct advantage to a cat.
If a black cat crosses your path, are you likely to see this event as a sign of good or bad luck? Well, depends on where you live.

In the United States, a black cat is typically thought to bring bad luck, but in England, the exact opposite is true. Although Americans tend to think that a black cat is a bad omen, the Brits believe that seeing “the devil” in person is a sign they’ve been spared any bad luck. Either way, the superstitions that black cats have special powers for good or evil are nothing more than just that…superstitions.

So now that we have that all cleared up, Happy Halloween to you and YOUR cat.

posted by fmoore on Oct 25

As you care for your cat, you will find out that taking care of it is much like caring for a child. There are things that you must keep out of their reach for their safety and your sanity. More importantly, if your cat does get into something it cannot talk to you to tell you that it may be lethal. Let’s discuss some simple ways to keep this from ever becoming an issue in your home.

Many pet owners have yet to realize that even the cleaning products that they use on their floors can have quite an effect on their cat. As they pick them up on their paws and fur, they proceed to ingest the particles themselves when grooming. As all the grooming is done with its tongue, any foreign matter that comes in contact with its paws or fur can end up in its digestive system and create health problems.

There are many different products that can make your cat feel ill including insect sprays and air fresheners, even though the manufacturers claim that they are “pet friendly”. These types of irritations can cause runny eyes, a lack of energy, and a very unhappy cat. Always shop for household products that have “all natural” on the labels. The best rule of thumb is the fewer ingredients on the label, the better for the health of you and your cat.

Sneezing and coughing are other signs of irritation that can be brought on by household products that are not fit for pets. However, this can also be brought about if the cat has been lying in a draft, or where there have been rapid changes in the weather conditions, or the temperature within the house changes from hot to cold and vice versa. Always consider what the conditions might be down at floor level as these are the conditions that your cat will be experiencing for much of its life.

Cleanliness in the house will assist your cat’s health even though in its natural state, a cat will be lurking about in the dirt and the garden. Because all cats are inquisitive, it is important that you don’t leave any medication or supplements, or other types of medicine or products that can be swallowed. This mistake could prove fatal for your cat.

Generally cats are very careful in what they will eat but there is always the possibility that they will be unsure whether a particular product is dangerous or not and end up swallowing it. Usually a cat will vomit if it has eaten anything that isn’t agreeable, but if you are sure that it has eaten something that could cause health problems, get it to your vet immediately. Toxicity levels are much lower due to their size and problems can occur more rapidly in them than in humans.

One thing that many people are unaware of is the danger of engine coolant, better known as antifreeze. This could leak from the hoses or the radiator on your car. Antifreeze can kill a cat very rapidly. This can happen just from having your cat walk through a puddle of radiator fluid that has spilled onto the driveway and then it begins to groom itself. So be sure to take the simple precaution of having no leaks from your car that your cat can get near, as this may prove fatal.

If you want to find out what products are safe in and around your home for your cat, be sure to check out Fur, Jaw, and Claws: The Definitive Guide to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. This guide will tell you everything you will need to know when it comes to the safety and comfort of your cat without introducing it to harsh medication or harsh chemicals. Your cat will thank you for it.

posted by fmoore on Oct 23

I wanted to move on to a new subject today but I need to make sure that you, the cat owner, understand that you are the deciding factor on how well and how long your cat lives. We are living in a time right now where many things are uncertain and seem out of our control. One thing that I want you to be sure of is that you control how long and how well your cat’s lifespan will be. Be sure to take this post to heart.

The one thing many people don’t consider when getting a cat is the lifespan of the pet. You will need to plan to be responsible for the health and well-being of your cat for between 15 and 20 years. I would like to discuss 7 factors that need to be taken into consideration when becoming an adoptive parent of a cat.

First, you should map out the expenses of owning a cat. You are going to need to factor how much money you will spend each month for healthy diet so your cat can reduce its visits to the vet to just routine checkups. When the time comes in choosing a veterenerain of your choice, make a concerted effort that it is practicing holistic care. You will want to make sure you have a concrete idea of how often the visits will be and how much procedures will cost when necessary.

Secondly, as with people, cats are long on personality. You will either find the cat whose personality is matched to your own or that balances the personality that you have. There are many excellent books available at libraries, bookstores and on the internet that will give you a good description of the type of personality to be expected from the various breeds of cats.

Thirdly, you will need to find out early how much attention you will be able to offer your cat. There are breeds of cats that require more attention than others. This is true particularly for those cats that tend to live inside. Breeds of cats that are happy to run around outside and keep themselves occupied tend to need less attention than most of their indoor companions.

Fourthly, aside from personality, cats with longer fur will tend to shed more fur than cats with short coats. They will require more grooming and they will require more cleaning. This means that you will have to want to spend more time to give them the attention they need and deserve to be comfortable.

Fifthly, the one major difference, besides diet, is that cats are much more independent than dogs and are usually more difficult to train. This is something that you need to realize and accept before you make your decision in becoming an adoptive parent of a cat.

Sixthly, if you enjoy travel or you are away from your home much of the time, you will need to arrange for a person or a service, that you trust, that can mind your cat and ensure that it gets fed regularly in your absence. It is always worth considering where you’re living and if the environment is suitable for owning a cat.

Lastly, the one thing that many people surprisingly don’t consider before adopting a cat is whether any person in the family, including themselves, is allergic to cats. There are quite a large number of people who are allergic to cats. Make sure that you, or your immediate family members, are not one of these people. If you are, make sure that your love for cats is greater than the remedies you may need to live with them.

P.S. If you want to make sure that your cat has access to the best choices for alternative healthcare, holistic veterinarians, the best cat food money can buy and non-toxic cat accessories, be sure to pick up a copy of Fur, Jaws, and Claws: A Complete Introduction to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat, on your way out. Trust me, this one purchase you will make for your cat that you won’t regret.

posted by fmoore on Oct 22

I normally don’t make assumptions. However, there is an exception to every rule. If you have a cat, companionship is probably very important to you. You value the companionship that your cat(s) bring to your life. So today, I would like to speak on the expected lifespan of a cat. I feel this is an appropriate opening topic so you can plan on how long and how full the relationship with your cat can be. Let’s begin.

Lifespan can vary quite considerably, depending on the breed of your cat. If your cat is overweight, as is true of humans, there is a high probability that it will have a shortened lifespan. This has become a MAJOR problem in the cat community. 65% of ALL cats suffer from obesity. This means that there is a high probability that your very cat(s) may be involved in this very epidemic.

Obesity has been consistently connected to health problems including diabetes, respiratory problems related to breathing, and extra weight that places additional stress and strain on cat’s limbs and internal organs. If your cat is well cared for, preferrably fed a natural diet throughout its life, and given adequate attention, it will usually live comfortably into its late teens.

Astonishingly, 85% of all cats over the age of four have gum disease. This can cause infections that can do damage to internal organs. As your cat ages, regular dental checkups will ensure that it will live longer by avoiding problems related to gum disease. Feeding your cat a nutritious diet is only more important.

Cats are quite durable animals. When offered the opportunity, they do try to look after themselves where possible by eating the right food that is natural to them.       

Their keen sense of smell helps them to avoid eating food that can cause illness. Since the common cause of early death in domestic cats is due to their owners feeding them the wrong food, this is by far the sense you, as an owner, can appreciate the most when you unknowingly offer them something that may not be good for them. In reading this blog, this should never pose a problem.

Feeding your cat a variety of foods in its diet will ensure that it is getting all the necessary nutrients to maintain good health. Do not assume that your cat can survive by just feeding it the same dried food every day and not keeping a fresh supply of water constantly available.

Cats will go out hunting, and they will eat what they catch, even if you have been feeding them a nutritionally balanced diet. If their diet is deficient they will be more inclined to hunt and find food that can maintain their health.

Giving your cat a warm, safe, stress-free environment, will extend their lifespan, and help them to be healthy enough to enjoy the geriatric years. Regular exercise will help maintain good health for a domestic cat that will commonly sleep most of the day.

And don’t be surprised to learn that there are many cats that have lived well into the early 20s. In fact, the Guiness World Book of Records list a certain feline living until the ripe old age of 36. Aim high and you will definitely have YOUR cat for years and years to come.

If you truly want to learn how to offer your cat the best life possible, be sure to pick up Fur, Jaws, and Claws: The Definitive Introduction to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

posted by fmoore on Oct 21

Good Morning, Good Evening, and Good Afternoon

Welcome to newest blog on the web dedicated to creating a holistic lifestyle for your cat. If you are:

tired of pet food corporations not being truthful about the ingredients in their pet products

tired of conventional vetereinarians not being honest about your cat’s true health needs

looking for alternative, complementary, organic or holistic ways to improve the quality of life of your cat

THIS blog is for YOU!

Fur, Jaws, and Claws is going to offer unconventional, yet effective advice, on how to provide your cat with a longer and livelier quality of life. We will be able to tell you where conventional care ends and alternative care begins for your cat. From nutrition, to mental health to physical vitality, it will be covered here in Fur, Jaws, and Claws.

If you have family members, friends, or co-workers that want to know the truth about how to care for your cat in the most natural and healthiest way possible, this blog is for them. In fact, if you are dealing with an issue that has been a concern for your cat, be sure to check out our guide: Fur, Jaws, and Claws: The Definitive Guide to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. Trust me, you WILL NOT be disappointed.

To your cat’s health,

Fen