Mouthwash Keeps Cats from Urinating on FurnitureI'm not going to tell you what the smell was like. All of you who have this problem know the odour too well!
Cat Window PerchTo make a cat window sill perch, cut a board as long as your window sill, and as wide as you want the perch to be. Take a piece of carpet, cover it, and staple excess under the board.
Use Storage Boxes Instead of Litter BoxesI have a multi-cat household. After years of using covered litter boxes, which help keep litter in, but are time consuming to clean, I realized maybe a long and deep storage box would work.
Better Litter Versus Cheaper LitterUnless cheaper cat litter is a lot cheaper, which sometimes it is, it's worth paying more for a name brand. I have found over the years, after using all different brands, that the cheapest, usually the sandy kind, too, gets gummy, and has almost no odor control.
Cats Like To Scratch Different SurfacesAfter reading many a book about cats, and observing many cats as a foster parent for the local humane society, I learned that different cats like different surfaces to scratch on. We observed our cats inside and out, and could tell that most of them liked scratching on the trees.
Cooked Chicken Instead Of Wet Cat FoodThe other day, the Kroger I was in had whole chickens on clearance, for 59 cents a pound. I will cook one, discard the bones and skin, dice it up and feed it to my cats, twice a day, instead of their can food.
Training a Cat Not to Sleep on Your HeadMy cat tried this as a kitten, as well as, waking us to play at all hours of the night. What I did was get a large dog cage and put a small litter box on one end, a padded stool for him to sleep on on the other end, with water and a bit of dry food under that.
Reward Cat After PillBe sure cat's nails are trimmed. Put on a light jacket (not your best one). Set the cat on a stool or something higher. Love and pet the cat; talk gently.
Use Hard Clumping Cat LitterHard clumping litter makes it easier to notice when you need to fork out the clumps. Plus having an automatic battery operated air spray freshener nearby helps.
Try Scoop Away Clumping LitterI have found that Scoop Away is by far the best clumping litter. Sometimes my cats get lazy and don't cover their "product," and Scoop Away leeches the odor very well; likewise, for the urine.
Use the Litter Box Liners with HolesWith this system you use clumping litter and every other day lift out the layer on top and it sifts the good litter down for the next day. Then just throw away the layer with the soiled litter.
Cat Paw MassageWhen you get a kitten or a cat, and they are all mellow near you, reach out and start massaging their feet while talking to them calmly. Get them used to having their paws played with.
Use Sand Instead Of Cat LitterBetter than cheap cat litter, free! Indoor cats were using sandboxes long before the current craze for pricey cat litter.
Making Newspaper Cat LitterShred some newspaper and soak it in a Tbsp. of dish soap and water. Allow it to soak until the water gets dirty. Drain it off in a colander and re-soak it in plain water. Drain it again and mix in some baking soda.
Auto Sun Shield for Cat BedMy sun shield for the car had fallen off the table and landed upside down. It was the silver kind that looks like aluminum foil. I found my kittens, Tommy and Peanut, had made themselves a nice comfortable nap mat out of it.
Tips for Maintaining a Cat Litter BoxLitter boxes can get smelly and dirty very quickly, especially if you have multiple cats. Here are a few tips to keep your litter box clean and smelling fresh:
Caring For Newborn KittensIf you find yourself in the position of playing "mama" to newborn kittens, here are a couple of things we learned over the years. They need to be fed about every 2-3 hours to begin with.
Bathing Cat In The ShowerWhen I give my house-cats their bath, I love each one up really good first. Then I pick her up and get into the shower with her. I have the two separate large plastic cups from a Quickstop with diluted shampoo and conditioner ready on the floor.
Removing Mats From a Cat or DogTake a comb and put it teeth down between the mat and the animal's skin, then cut the mat away. Then brush the remaining hair out. This keeps you from clipping the skin on your pet.
Wheat Grass for CatsI picked up a couple of containers of wheat grass sprouts in the produce section for my indoor cats, for less than two dollars each. I placed one container in a bigger bowl when I got home and put some gravel/stones in it to keep it stable.
Weigh Down Water BowlCornelius has a habit of moving his water dish. And, even though it's wider at the base, he can tip it. So, I thought of something I could put inside that would not only weigh it down, but alert me that he is low.
Door Knob Cat ToyFor a door knob cat toy, take a heavy string and tie a number of odd items from around the house. I have a small section of plastic chain, a piece of ribbon tied to the string with a knot, and something shiny.
Keeping Cats from Clawing Carpet and FurnitureWe had a new leather rocking chair that our cats loved to scratch. We tried the water, the scolding, and even aluminum foil around the base of it. All to no avail. To "cure" our cats of the leather chair fetish, we put several coins in the bottom of an empty can.
Reuse Plastic Easter Eggs As Cat ToysPlease recycle your plastic Easter eggs. Place a pebble or piece of dog food inside the plastic egg and close. This makes a great cat toy for the shelter cats.
Keeping Litter From Sticking to the Cat BoxAn application of non-toxic paste wax to a new litter box will keep clumping litter from sticking to the sides and it will be much easier to clean.
Saving Money on Cat ExpensesI took an old board, nailed leftover carpeting onto it for an 8 foot long climber and scratching post.
Dishpan as Litter BoxWhile shopping in a department store, I noticed that basic litter boxes for cats cost more than a dishpan. The litter boxes were priced at over $6.00 each. The dishpans were priced at $1.29 each.
Safe Homemade Toys for PetsMany people like to make homemade toys for their children and pets. There are some very serious pros and cons to this idea.
Combine Kitty Litter For Best ResultsI have been experimenting over the past year with different cat litters to try and find one that absorbs really well, clumps tight, and also controls the odors well. I tried just about every brand available in my area and never could find one that did it all.
Frugal Kitten ToysHere are some ideas for quick and easy cat toys that I've discovered over the years. Cat toys don't need to be expensive.
Kitty Litter SubstitutesFor a cheap or free cat litter substitute, get wood shavings or sawdust from a woodworker or lumber company. It is absorbent, all-natural, and can be emptied in the compost or garden.
Getting Cat in CarrierHere's a slick trick for putting a willful cat in its carrier. First, try to put it in hind feet first to get it thinking that it had to struggle against it. Then, suddenly flip it around and quickly put it in head first.
Giving Pills to CatsCan't get your pet to take their vitamins? This morning, I had a flash of genius. Take a small handful of a favorite treat and add the vitamin pill. It probably helps if you wipe the treat on the pill, but I didn't do it and it still worked.
Make Your Cat's Scratching PostWhen I got a new kitten, I went to the pet supply store to get a scratching post, but was astounded by the price! So, I made one myself. I got a large cardboard bolster/tube from an upholstery store and bought some sisal rope for $6.00.
Cat Cave Using Mini-blind SlatsI have one of those cat beds that is just the bottom with short sides around. I've been trying to come up with a way of making a cover for it because my cat likes the "cave" feel.
Talking to Cats QuietlyI have very good hearing and so do cats (depending). You can talk with your young cat in a bit above a whisper when you are together. It's mellow and they hear you. You can relate a lot better by understanding their hearing for one thing.
Vaseline Hairball RemedyTo prevent troublesome hairballs, apply a dollop of Vaseline petroleum jelly to your cat's nose. The cat will lick off the jelly, lubricating any hair in its stomach so it can pass easily through the digestive system.
Cat Toy Using Jingle BellsThis is the time of year to stock up on jingle bells to make cat toys for the animal shelters. Attach a bell on each end of a pipe cleaner then wrap it around a pencil to make a spring.
Cat PuddingCats need dessert too! Mix milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, and syrup together well. Bring 1 cup water to boil and mix in Knox gelatin. Set aside.
Use Chicken Feed as Kitty LitterFor an outstanding scoopable, clumping, odor controlling cat litter, try using chicken feed or chick starter crumbles. This is available at feed stores and farm and home stores. It costs about $10.00 for a forty pound bag.
Lid as Cat ToyHere's another free cat toy. Save the cap from your dish washing liquid, thoroughly wash away soap, and give it a little kick across the carpet or tile. My cat Jack loves to chase these and thinks they're extra fun when it bounces against something!
Make a Cat BalconyOutside one of my windows, I made a cat balcony. I attached brackets to the wall, put up a shelf, surrounded it with lattice, and put down foam cushions covered with pillowcases and sweaters.
Use Pillowcase When Transporting CatUse a pillow case to transport your cat. Make sure the pillow case is in new or very good condition and has absolutely no holes whatsoever. Tightly tie a cotton shoelace or something of that nature to tie up the pillow case.
Sow Birdseed For "Cat Grass"If your cat nibbles the leaves off your house plants, sow birdseed in a shallow pot and give him his own private supply of greens.
Feed Cats Soft Food to Increase HydrationI saw that it is better to feed a cat homemade or canned food than to give it dry food, since a cat will not drink enough water for it's own health. Probably a better idea might be to mix soft food with dry food or do all soft food.
Use Net Produce Bags to Protect Plants From CatsI use fruit and veggie net bags to protect my floor plants from my bad kitties that like to dig and leave "unmentionables" in them. I cut a bag into a circle to fit the diameter of the pot, then cut down the middle.
Warming Lamp for CatsHere in the Pacific Northwest, we have a lot of days with no sunshine. My cat loves to find a sunny spot and sleep. He looked so bored the other day that I put a kitty bed on my desk and swung the free arm desk lamp, which has a 75 watt bulb in it over the kitty bed.
Reuse Pet Food Bag Under Litter BoxI always keep newspaper under the litter boxes in case of "accidents". I found by cutting off the bottoms of the food bags, washing them and laying them flat; that they work well under the newspaper to keep any moisture away for the flooring.
Storage Container for Inexpensive Cat ShelterHaving several cats that needed a place to sleep that was their own, I adapted a Sterilite storage container into a little shelter for them.
Change Entrance to Cat BoxI have a cat who was going inside the litter box but accidentally urinating outside the entrance. I remedied this problem by placing two strips of duct tape across the inside and outside base of the dome cover opening, elevating the access approximately 2 inches.
Make a Cat House from Cardboard BoxesOur cat was bored being cooped up in the house when it was twenty below zero for a week or so. We built him a play house out of cardboard boxes in which he can tunnel through from one box to another.
Cleaning Multiple Litter BoxesI have 5 cats of my own plus a foster cat, so I have a lot of litter pans to clean. I keep an old Oxiclean bucket with the litter scoop inside a small wicker trash can next to each batch of litter boxes, on every floor of the house.
Cat Toy from Ponytail HoldersHere's a way to make a free toy for your cats. When you or your kids or family's kids have ponytail holders that have stretched out, loop several together to make a toy for your cats, the longer the better.
Use Puppy Pads Around Cat Litter BoxI have a couple of Persians who have issues with using the litter box, so I supplement their potty areas with puppy pee pee pads. When they soil the pad, (which is great, much better than the rug).
Dry Pine Needles for Bottom of Cat BoxI'm currently living abroad where cat litter is twice the US price. My house is located in a small pine tree grove. As dried pine needles on the ground are available I decided to try them as a substitute for commercial cat litter.
Saving on Cat Litter DeodorizerIf you love the famous brand of cat litter deodorizer, but it is priced too high, try this:Buy a box of the famous yellow carton brand, mix it with 2 boxes of generic baking soda, and a 1 1/2 cup of Epsom salts, and put in a closed pitcher or container.
Product Review: Beech Herbal Remedy for Stress in CatsI have a female cat, Mossie, She is very adorable, like gum on your shoe, most of the time. I don't even notice she is on me. She also has a problem at times regarding peeing or spraying. They both are annoying.
Carpet Samples Under the Litter BoxI use rug samples under my cat litter box. I buy the samples at carpet stores. They are bound, various colors, and cheap. I usually can get them for $1 and in the color I want for my room.
Toilet Train Your CatFor you cat owners out there, please consider toilet training your cat, as opposed to litter training. There's no big mystic around it. It's fairly simple and straight forward.
Garbage Bag for Cat Litter PanInsert a clean empty litter box into a large plastic trash bag. It should fit in the bag loosely. Dump the kitty litter into the the box. Using the bread tie twisters or other type plastic twisters, close the bag.
Homemade Kitten FormulaHere is a kitten formula that is better than any you can buy! I found a new recipe for kitten formula for newborn and very young kittens that don't have a mother. It is from Best Friends magazine the May/June 2009 edition.
Homemade Cat CarrierMy kitten, Zephy, jumped in this empty soda box the other day. I need to take her to the vet to get shots soon and thought, "Wow, an instant PET TAXI! Now I won't have to go buy one!
Homemade Recycled Cat ToysI saw my foster kittens were entranced by an empty Juicy Juice box that had a hole cut in the box and both ends taped shut and covered with paper, to where it made a box that looked just like a tissue box.
Citrus Peels to Keep Cats Out of PlantsMy sweet kitty just loves when I dig up the dirt to plant my flowerbeds and thinks that she's discovered a new litter box! After trying other methods: sprinkling in hot pepper (nope), cayenne pepper (nope), even adding clam shells into the soil (nope), I tried this.
Firewood for Cat Scratching PostsLogs for firewood make a great scratching area for cats and kittens, also you can roll a ribbon rug from the dollar store around one and tie it with a sash making sure there are no loose ends. Lay this around to scratch on.
Use Shredded Paper For Cat LitterI have nine cats, the result of some volunteer work with a trap, neuter/spay/vaccinate, and release program. (I had trouble with the release part!) With the price of cat litter soaring, I decided to try to use my daily Chicago newspaper, which is large, in litter boxes.
Cat Snack Recipe1 cup tuna in oil, dash of parsley, some wheat germ, and corn flake crumbs. I just "eyeball" the amount so the tuna sticks together in small meatballs.
Super Soaker for Cat FightsI have a cat who protects his territory! Like most cats he will chase other cats out of his yard and this can lead to fights. I was looking for a safe way to break up cat-fights without getting hurt in the process when my mother told me of her "secret weapon".
Waterfall Cat WatererMy friend's cat jumped at the chance to drink the water while it was running from a faucet. In fact, she refused to drink it any other way. The friend bought one of those cute little plug-in decorative waterfalls and set it on her hearth.
Homemade Cat FoodMake your own cat food by boiling 2 pounds pasta, 2 pound lentils, and 1 pound offal. Cool the mixture and blend to liquidize. Put in portion sized containers in the freezer. When it has thawed, it will have a meat-loaf consistency.
Use Plastic Boxes as Litter BoxesCovered cat litter boxes are ridiculously expensive, however they certainly do help contain cat odors. Since we are a multi-cat family I found the best way to cut the cost and still reap the benefit was to use plastic storage containers.
Prescription For Behavioral Issues In CatsOver the past two years, I have had problems with two of my cats peeing on things after we moved to a new house. I took them to the doctor to make sure they didn't have bladder infections. This had happened before with my parent's cat, and that was the trouble.
Reduce Cat Allergies With Monthly BathingIf someone in your family is allergic to cats, you can still have a cat! Stop the allergies by bathing the cat once a month. My daughter is allergic to cats so we got a kitten and started bathing her once a week for several months.
Digestive Problems for Manx CatsThis is a solution to Manx diarrhea and their digestive problems. This is very common with the breed. Many vets do not see a Manx in their practice and when they do they are not certain how to deal with it.
Make Cat Toys Out of Recycled MaterialsReduce, reuse and recycle! That seems to be my mantra now. Hmm, need more cat toys? Take an empty toilet roll tube and cut into 1 inch rings and toss one on the floor, lightweight, easily batted about, cheap (lol) and an endless supply!
Newspaper Kitty Litter AlternativeWe have 3 indoor cats. Unfortunately we have to really pinch our pennies or go without until payday. But when I realized that someone forgot to buy litter, after I had already dumped the cat box, I had an idea. I put our old newspapers to use.
Smells From Other Cats Can Upset Your CatIf you see a tomcat in your area, be very careful when you are outside, because you can bring the tomcat (or any other cat's scent) into your home on your shoes.
Making a Big Litterbox from a Storage ContainerWe made this litterbox out of a $4.00 tub. We used a dremel to cut the hole, It is bigger than the normal box and easier to open and clean.
Make Catnip Toys From SocksOur cats shred the store bought toys we have given them. So we decided to try out making a thriftier version. I use the old mismatched socks we end up with on the folding table. I put approximately 1/4 cup of dried catnip into an old sock and then knot the top.
Tips For Feeding Cats Soft FoodFor those of us who have cats, you know how cat food sticks to their feeding dish and is hard to scrub away. My tip is to cut the top off an empty laundry jug but leave the jug handle.
Make A Hidden Litter BoxI have found a great idea for a hidden kitty litter box! Go to the nearest thrift store find a decent sized two drawer night stand. Take top drawer out and cut the face of the drawer off.
Creative Cat Litter Box TipsI have 10 cat litter boxes for our "always full" cat shelter. Over the years we have learned several things to keep the litter costs down, keep things clean, and we make our own litter boxes for some of our big cats.
Quick and Easy Temporary KennelDo you wish there was a safe, easy, and thrifty way for your pets to enjoy the fine weather? How about an easy up and easy down small kennel?
Keep Cats Off Kitchen CountersMy cat used to get up on my kitchen countertops (always looking for food) until my mother told me to point a spray bottle with water in it at him. At first I had to actually spray him several times.
Make Your Own Cat Box Odor NeutralizerAfter reading the backs of several brands of cat box odor neutralizer, I've found they have basically the same 2 active ingredients BORAX and BAKING SODA. Here's an easy recipe that works to decrease cat box odor: Mix equal amounts of (20 mule team) BORAX and BAKING SODA together.
Get a Safe Collar for Your CatIf you have a cat that goes outside, please don't use a collar with any elastic because if they get hung up on something they might turn around while trying to get away. This would tighten the elastic and they could very easily strangle themselves.
Bouncing Cat Toy from Sewing ScrapsWhen I sew with stretch-knits, I save the fabric scraps and longer selvage strips for making cat toys. I bundle the smaller pieces together, then tie the end of the longest piece around the bundle of scraps. You end up with stretchy scraps on a stretchy string.
Reuse Bags For Thrifty Litter Box Clean-UpI have this "thing" where I like to reuse anything that's headed for the trash in another way at least one more time (yes, I probably border on obsessive-compulsive). However, in the long run, this practice does save money.
Using Paper Bags for Cat LitterYou can recycle even when cleaning up after your kitties! I was scooping the cat litter into plastic bags each day, thinking I was recycling the bags, but duh! They still sit in the landfill, not breaking down.
Getting Your Cat to Drink More WaterWe have a cat that won't drink much water. This worries us because we know how many cats die from kidney problems. We started adding extra water to his wet (or dry) food. This makes a sort of "gravy" which he'll lap up like there's no tomorrow!
Use Expensive Cat Food as TreatsI received a sample of some cat food in the mail, Purina Naturals Plus Vitamins and Minerals. Our cat goes crazy for them! Instead of changing her diet, we decided to use this kind as her treats.
Homemade Deep Litter BoxI always had a hard time finding a litter box that was deep enough for my cats. They kicked loads of litter out the side with traditional boxes. Then I tried a covered box and it just made them stinky when they came out. So I made my own litter box.
Animal Crackers as a Cat ToyI have found a cheap toy for our cat. Half of an animal cracker was on the floor, and our cat chases it all the time. This is a cat who won't play with any storebought toy.
Easy Yarn Cat ToyI have "Forced Air Heat" with registers on the floor. These registers only get a bit warm, not hot. So I tied a 8 - 10 inch piece of "Eyelash Yarn" onto a register in my kitchen that sits totally horizontal on the floor and my cat is having the time of his life!
Plastic Bottle Caps as Cat ToysMy four cats were constantly losing their store bought toys under the appliances and furniture, and down the basement stairs. One day I realized they got the exact same amount of joy chasing a plastic bottle cap around.
Use A Sealed Container For Used Clumping LitterHaving had cats, and litter boxes, all my life I've tried every combination of things to make cleaning out the litter box quick, clean and easy.
Toy Octopus for a KittenThis is a craft to make for a kitten or a playful older cat. I took the plastic strips off of frozen juice cans, put them together so that all the round loops faced the same way and wrapped an elastic band around the base of the loops.
Makeup Brushes Are A Good Cat ToyI have found that cats love to play with make-up brushes. From big to small brushes, cats can bat them, carry them in their mouth, hide them, and even play fetch.
Clap To Get Cat's AttentionWhen I catch my cat, "Smokey" scratching where he shouldn't or doing something he shouldn't, I used to yell his name, but that didn't work.
Cat FishingCat fishing is a very enjoyable sport! All you need to enjoy this sport is an old fly fishing rod or a stick and a piece of string. Tie a small fake mouse to one end of the string and attach the other end to your fly rod. Now you are ready to go cat fishing.
Is Your Cat Tree Too Small?Cat tree too small? Our cats love to climb so we bought a floor to ceiling cat tree, but found the shelves were to small for our cats to enjoy. So we took the seats of some dining chairs that we no longer were using and placed them by the tree to make the shelves a nice landing spot for naps...
Grooming Your CatIn case you haven't noticed, your cat is a grooming professional. Cats spend much of their time cleaning themselves! However, if you have a longhaired cat or an older cat, they may need a little help with grooming.
Warning About Elastic Cat ToysWant to hear a strange cat story? Here's the story of the cat that ate the 5 foot elastic string. The elastic string came from a cat toy that you hang over a door and there's a furry mouse on the end.
Kitty Toy BoxI have kitties that love to romp and play after breakfast in the morning. I just couldn't keep them from getting into my trinkets around the house...
Walking Your Cat With a LeashWhen putting a cat, or kitten outside it's best to get a leash. Many cats and kittens have been stolen, hurt, hit by cars or they run away. My cat Molly has always been walked with a leash and she loves it.
Give Each Cat a TowelThe best pet tip I've found with cats is to get a couple of small towels - one for each cat. Rub the cats with their own towel, then give it to the other cat to sleep with and get used to each other's scents.
Newspaper Toy for KittensRip up the Sunday paper and put the strips in a shallow cardboard box. I have kittens and this is their favorite toy. At night the kittens sleep in my daughter's room and we can't always find them.
Kitty Litter TipTo keep clumping kitty litter from sticking to the bottom of the pan, spray it with non-stick cooking spray before adding the litter. It works like a charm!!
