It’s normal for cats to eat grass. It won’t make them sick unless you use fertilizers and pesticides on your lawn. These can harm and even kill a cat. Cats eat grass for a number of reasons. Here are just a few:

• Cats eat grass to help them vomit up hairballs
• Cats eat grass to help relieve a stomach ache.
• Cats eat grass to add roughage to their diet
• Cats eat grass to relieve an inflamed throat
• Cats eat grass to enable them to pass hairballs
• Cats eat grass for folic acid, a necessary nutrient

Outdoor cats have ready access to grass when needed, but an indoor cat will probably nibble on your houseplants. Many houseplants are harmful, and even fatal to cats. One way to avoid this is to provide your cat with a ready supply of fresh cat grass.

Kittys Garden comes with  four grasses most cats love. Organic oats, barley, wheat, and rye in a sturdy planter. Just plant and add water.

Kitty’s Garden comes with a nice inexpensive Refill Kit. Just place in the planter, add water, and in a few days your cat will have more grass to munch on. Keep your cat healthy the safe fun way.

Another way to keep your cat happy and healthy is to provide fresh catnip indoors. Cat Nip Plus comes with it’s own container. Just plant, and add water. In a few days your cat will be having the time of it’s life.

If you have a garden you can plant Organic Catnip Herb Seeds. Your outdoor cat, and all the neighborhood cats, will love you for it.

If you’re into herbal tea this treat can be for you too. Cat Nip makes a nice lemon-mint tasting, relaxing herbal tea.

Share a treat with your cat and ensure it stays happy and healthy for a long time to come.

Best,

Declawing cats is common in the United States. It’s a matter of convenience; what’s easiest for the human involved. It’s considered inhumane and unnecessary mutilation  in England. It’s illegal in most European countries as well as Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and Brazil.

I believe that people would make the right decision about declawing if they knew what’s really involved. It isn’t just pulling out the claws. When a cat is declawed the claw and bone are removed to the joint. Basically, you’re cutting the end of the toe off.

Once done the skin is sutured or glued and the cat will spend a day or two in the hospital. Then it’s sent home to suffer for the rest of it’s life. A cat uses it’s claws for many things. Jumping, scratching, climbing, holding objects, even simple balance require the claws. Imagine the tips of your toes were cut off. Not so easy now, is it.

The main reason that cats are declawed is so they won’t scratch people or furniture. A cat’s scratch has never killed anyone and only causes momentary pain. Declawing a cat causes life long suffering and even death. Furniture can be replaced, but your cat is unique.

Often when a cat is declawed it’s personality changes completely. Your cat may become timid and hide, or aggressive and bite. You’ve made your cat defenseless. Biting becomes the only option for protection. Leaving the house is a death sentence for a declawed cat.

There are alternatives to declawing your cat. My first choice would be to train your cat to use a sisal rope Scratching Post. Make sure the post isn’t made of carpet.

Put the scratching post somewhere that your cat travels frequently. Cats are smart and learn quickly. A sharp (not loud) NO and a carry to the post is usually all it takes. Add some catnip for incentive.

The cat scratching post above is on sale ($19.01 off) and comes with free Super Saver Shipping. Give it a look.

Next up is the Cat Claw Clipper. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Be very careful when you use these. You can easily hit the quick and cause pain and bleeding.

Clipping your cats claws is a much more humane way to control scratching than declawing is. Just be sure you only clip the curved tip of the claw.

Now we’ve come to Soft Claws Cat Nail Caps. These come in Small, Medium, and Large sizes. They also come in different colors.

To use these you clip your cat’s claws, apply adhesive, and then the cap. They last about for weeks on average.

As you can see there are alternatives to maiming your cat for life. I prefer the scratching post, but any is better than declawing.

There’s also another surgery in which the tendon that controls the claws is severed. In my opinion, this is worse than declawing. This surgery often leads to complications and should be avoided.

Now you know the truth about declawing. I hope you see that true cat lovers don’t declaw there cats. They just love them regardless.

Best,

For many city dwellers there’s no option to take their indoor cat outdoors, or is there? There are several options for taking an indoor cat outdoors. Some are quite expensive. Others, not so much. Let’s talk about a few.

Cat Fence

There are two types of cat fencing I’m familiar with. The first kind uses a buried wire and a shock collar. When your cat gets too close to the buried wire it is tortured, er, I mean disciplined. Guess you know where I stand on these systems. Seriously, would you put one of these on your toddler? Don’t put one on your cat either. ‘Nuff said.

The other type of cat fence reminds me of prison fencing. It has the turned inward thing on top. These fences are expensive and not necessarily safe. They may keep your cat in your yard, but they don’t always keep other things out. I don’t recommend either option.

Cat Enclosures

These come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some let your cat lay in the grass and some have a cloth bottom. Others have a hammock your cat can climb into. Prices range from under $100 to several hundred dollars.  Outdoor cat enclosures should always be monitored for the safety of your cat. Lets look at a couple of these.

The first is called the Fun Run. Fun Run is made of a strong nylon mesh shell and a sprung-steel frame. It comes with sand pockets and pegs to secure it. It also comes with a tote bag for trips.

Fun Run is five feet long so you should get at least two so your cat can run without feeling trapped. They easily zip together and can be extended as long as you want. Two cost less than $100.

Next let’s look at the Outdoor Feline Funhouse – Cat Enclosure Tent.  This is perfect for people with a deck or small patio. The Funhouse also comes with weight bags and stakes for placing on your lawn. You can even use the Funhouse inside for separating a sick cat, or to introduce a new cat to the family.

Cat Harness

If you just want to take your cat for a walk a Cat Harness is the best way to go. A cat harness will hold your cat securely without choking it as a collar might.

When using a harness be sure to put it on correctly. If it’s too loose your cat might jump out of it if scared. If it’s too tight it will be uncomfortable and may cause chafing.

Our feline friends deserve sun and fresh air. They also deserve to be comfortable and safe. The methods we’ve talked about provide both.

Best,

P.S. Now’s a great time to get the options mentioned above. They’re on sale and will provide your cats with a lot of fun. Be good to your cats. Click the links.

Are you thinking about getting a kitten, or cat? Are you wondering which would be better for your situation? Maybe you’re thinking that “free” is better than using a Shelter.

Free isn’t really free if you do right by your cat. You should have your cat  spayed/neutered and given a rabies shot at the very least. Even if your cat stays indoors you should still get the rabies shot. I do.

One thing you should NOT do is have your cat declawed. This is a despicable practice. Please, if you aren’t going to have your free cat spayed/neutered, and vaccinated, don’t get a cat. If you plan on having your cat declawed, please leave it where it is. The cat deserves better.

If you have small children a full grown cat would be best in most cases. Young children can harm, and even kill a kitten. They don’t mean to harm the kitten, but they often do. An older cat will just split.

Kittens are fine for older children. They’re fine if you have no children. If you have other cats, or a dog , there may be trouble. Be careful how you introduce your new cat to the family. Make sure the cat has a safe place to go if there are problems.

Remember, Shelter cats are often killed because nobody wants them. Your local Shelter should be the first place you look for a new cat. Even if you aren’t looking for a cat right now, stop by and donate a few bucks. Tell them it’s for the cats. They’ll appreciate it and so will I. Peace.

Best,