April 01, 2009
What's in This Issue:
Updates to the site
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Articles
Cat Agility Training
Behavior
Grooming Tip
April Offers
Don't forget the interactive pages...
Bragging Rights For Readers
Bad Cat Behaviors From Readers
Submit Your Story or Tribute
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Use the Cat Whisperer Contact form if you or a friend has a problem that is involved or delicate.
Cat Agility Training
Training your cat for Cat Agility Tournaments is fun! Your cat needs to be thoroughly trained to the toy used in the course. Yep, there's an official course to run. You can build one at home to test and train, too...
An overview of the course run
I'll be having more on this in future issues, as I'm training Bugsy to the course. A Da-Bird toy is used, with the string shortened to about 6 inches.
You can also use a Clicker.
Fun Cat Behavior
As many of you know, I have 5 cats. I've noticed that twice a day, they play a game I call "Chase Me-Chase You" around the house. Not everyone plays the game, but often 2 or 3 of them play. The game continues until there is a blood-curling maiow from one of the cats. This sound, unlike all other sounds they make, is loud, has a rumble and a tremolo, and observation of the cat while making the sound, the head is thrown back and muzzle points to the air. It's almost like the cat is throwing his or her head side to side in the air. When this sound comes, the game is over. Everyone is calm and settles into wherever they are for a little siesta.The game proceeds like this... One of the cats gives a sidewise look at another one or two cats. This is with arched back and tail down, ears back. This is the challenge. The others chase the cat from one end of the house to the other. Then, it's reversed, the chased cat is now the chaser, to the other end of the house. This back and forth will go on up to 4 times (2 full circuits of the house) and then the maiow will sound, signalling the end of the game.
After about 2 minutes, the cats relax, go to the litter boxes and food bowls or just curl up and go to sleep. Some will move to other areas, like a windowsill, and watch the birds. The end of the game is a signal for a 2-minute calming before life resumes as usual.
These play sessions can be observed in single-cat families, with the cat chasing invisible mice. All over the furniture, at least two tours of the house at high speed, claws out, ears back, and tail staight out.
These play sessions seem to be necessary for cats.
Grooming Tip
When you groom your cat, does she run away? Try this...
Put some peppermint on a cotton ball and palm it. Put your palm under the bone that sticks out on their chest between the front legs. Scratch a little bit - the chin will come up and the cat will get a dreamy look - that's from the scratch, not the peppermint. The peppermint, however, will calm the cat and you only need to touch that area to release more of the scent. This will calm your cat and keep it steady while you brush.
Has anyone tried the Pedi-Paw units? I'm hearing mixed reviews. If you have tried one, will you please send me a note here and tell me of your experience with it? Did it work, how well, how did your cat respond to it? Did you try it on another pet (tell me what kind)? How did it work, and how did the animal react to it?
April Offers
Diatomaceous Earth preparation to keep outdoor fleas Out! Can be used without regard for the environment, because it's totally environmentally friendly!
Siphotrol Indoor Premise Spray works to kill fleas within 24 hours, and keeps fighting fleas for 30 days. For heavy infestations, you can use more often.
Vent Mate Register Air & Dust Filters
Vacuums will remove hair and flea eggs. If you don't have one, check these out. Even if you buy at the store, the education you get on their site is worth the time...
Raw Instinct raw diets prevent dietary dis-ease. Help your cat (or dog) feel more vibrant and alive by feeding a more natural, and raw, diet.
Prowl will assist you in feeding a more raw diet. The additives make up for what the food may be lacking. Taurine cannot be made in the body, but is essential to cats. Prowl provides a quality source of Taurine. It aids in the transition to raw diets.
Innova EVO is an excellent bridge food to provide more nutrition while you don't actually change to a raw diet. My cats love this stuff! Beats pants off the national brands, and is still convenient, in dry and crunchy nuggets.
A Kitten Emergency Kit is great to keep on hand if you have any strays in the neighborhood. Any lost Queens (through trapping or death) will leave behind a family in need of immediate help. This kit will save some lives.
Pure Essentials for the mature cat will assist the elder-statesman (over 6 years) in assimilating nutrients found in food. It will also supply more of the nutrients an elder cat needs.
Lubri-Ease will assist your elder cat in movement. It lubricates the joints while adding flexibility and relieving pain.
DMSO is an older remedy for joints and other pain. It leaves a metallic-garlicky taste in the mouth, but is applied to the affected area over unbroken skin. Approved for veterinary use only.
Only Natural Pet Supply has revised it's shipping program. Details are here... Only Natural Pet Supply New Shipping Offer
PetNutritionProducts.com is excited to offer $5 Off Orders Over $20 with the Coupon Code: INSTANT5! This offer expires 01/21/2010. PetNutritionProducts.com
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