Benefits of Cat Grooming
-Reduces painful knots
-Prevents shedding throughout the house
-Prevents flea outbreaks
-Cats ingest fewer hairballs
-Pet and owner relax and bond
-Produces a beautiful, shining coat

Eyes, Ears, and Coat Maintenance
The most important things to maintain during grooming are the eyes, ears, and coat. First, the eyes should be checked regularly for signs of irritation or infection. Consult a veterinarian if your cat’s eyes have any unusual discharge, redness, film, cloudiness, or change in colour, or if your cat is scratching at the eye area or seems irritated there.

Next, the ears should be inspected regularly. Carefully fold back the ear. A healthy inner ear should be pink without discharge. If there is excessive fluid, swelling, odour, or if it appears unusual in any way, consult a veterinarian. Do not try to clean the ear canal, as this could cause infection or trauma.

Lastly, the coat should be maintained regularly. Cats with short, fine hair need only be combed once or twice per week. Those with long, thick hair and manes are prone to knotting and matting, and should be combed and brushed on a daily basis. Combs with wide-apart teeth should be used for cats with thick or long hair, as in Persian cat grooming, while fine-tooth combs are appropriate for short-haired breeds. Follow with a cat grooming brush to distribute oils and add lustre throughout the coat.

Cat Grooming Tools
There are a wide variety of cat grooming supplies on the market today. The tools used will depend largely on the density, length, and thickness of a cat’s coat. Below are some commonly used cat grooming tools:

-Flea comb (metal, fine-toothed comb)
-Slicker brush (flat, metal, with fine wires to remove excess hair)
-Undercoat rake (a mini-rake, prevents undercoat matting)
-Grooming glove (no brush needed)
-Palm-held brush (brush is hidden under the palm)
-Seam ripper (a sewing tool, can be used to carefully remove knots)
-Cat shampoos, conditioners, de-greasers

Bathing Your Cat
Although cats generally keep themselves clean, they may benefit from a bath if their coat becomes dirty or greasy, or if they have come into contact with a foul-smelling or unsanitary substance. Long or thick haired cats may need to be washed more often than fine or short haired cats. Additionally, a bath can be a great benefit because many shampoos and cat grooming products are designed to combat fleas.

First, comb the cat’s hair well to remove dead hair, skin, and matting. Next, fill a tub or sink with a few inches of lukewarm water. It is best to use a non-slippery surface, such as a rubber mat.

When bathing the cat, wet and rinse the fur gently with a hand-held spray nozzle or a plastic cup. Throughout the process, avoid wetting the ears, eyes, and nose. Carefully and gently work the shampoo into the cat’s coat, starting at the head and ending at the tail. Rinse carefully and thoroughly. If additional conditioners or de-greasers are needed, apply them after the initial shampoo.

Rinse thoroughly and dry your cat with a large towel. Comb the hair to prevent tangles, especially in long-haired breeds. If desired, and if its possible!, dry the fur with a hair-dryer, blowing against the hair’s lay. Start with the upper body and end with the stomach.

Cat Grooming Tips
-For best results, groom your cat at a time when he/she is relaxed (after dinner normally).
-Speak soothingly to your cat while grooming.
-A cat’s stomach is a sensitive area—be especially gentle when brushing or washing there.
-Brush and comb in the direction of the cat’s hair growth.
-Groom with confidence!

The Automatic Litter Box
Keeping the cat litter box clean is important to keeping your cat healthy and using it properly. Cats don’t typically care what kind of litter you are providing them with, as long as it’s clean. By investing in an automatic cat litter box, the litter box will actually clean itself. You will have to occasionally clean out the box’s holding area, but the litter for your cat will be kept clean and ready to use. Some of these litter boxes even have a pad attached for the cat to walk across, cleaning their paws as they leave. You will be able to choose between hooded and unhooded boxes. You can also find some models that are quieter than others, or are designed especially for use by multiple cats. These are all important things to keep in mind when you begin shopping.

The Hidden Litter Box
While the self-cleaning box offers convenience, it is still visible to visitors in your home. However, for those who really don’t want their guests to ever see it, you can choose a hidden cat litter box and completely hide it from view. These boxes are cleverly disguised as planters. A square opening is cut into the side of the planter for your cat to get into his wonderfully private bathroom. The top of the planter lifts off for changing the litter and there are even interchangeable plants available so you can truly personalize your cat’s box. The opening can be turned towards the wall so that your guests will never know it’s there. Another great feature of these boxes is that they also do a great job of containing both odour and litter mess. These are a great option for anyone living in a small home where there really is no good spot for the cat tray.

The Covered Litter Box
These clever boxes allow you to hide your cat’s litter while also keeping the overall expense low. They will not disguise the litter box, but they are very effective at containing the smell of the litter, the dust that can be kicked up, and any aiming accidents. A covered cat litter box will keep the area around it clean, and your cat will also appreciate the privacy.

Cat Litter Box Furniture
These litter boxes are true to their names. They are pieces of furniture that cleverly disguise and contain litter boxes. The cats hop up through an opening in the furniture and down to their private bathroom. Most of the furniture resembles basic cabinets, although there are also options available that resemble filing cabinets and bookshelves. You can even choose a clever bench for hiding your cat box.

Any litter box that allows your cat privacy is the best cat litter box to choose. Your cat does like his privacy, and he will be more likely to use a box that offers him that privacy.

There are more options for cat litter boxes than there have ever been. Years ago all cat pans were basic, open pans that offered no privacy, no hope of containing odour and no way of disguising them. However, with all the choices available today you can find a perfectly disguised box for any room in the house. Or you can choose the convenience of an automatic self cleaning box.

Nearly 70% of all cat litter on the market is clumping cat litter, for many people this is the best cat litter of choice.  This kind of litter, when it gets wet, comes together to make a solid mass, which in turn makes it very easy to separate from the unused litter left in the cat litter tray.  The clumping cat litter helps reduce waste, as you do not have to change the entire contents of the cat litter box every time a cat goes to the bathroom.  Due the fact this kind of kitty litter clumps together when wet, it is advised to not flush it down the toilet as it could clog it up.

Another kind of cat litter is a biodegradable kind and this is made from a variety of resources including wood pellets, dried orange peels, barley, sawdust, and recycled paper.  This type of litter is good for the environment, which a good thing since every year, more than 2 million tons of litter ends up in UK landfills.  Some people prefer biodegradable litter because it is eco friendly.  Others might like it because biodegradable litter can be flushed down a toilet and has deodorizing mechanisms.  If your cat has asthma, this type of kitty litter may also help its breathing because of the reduced dust in the litter.

The third type of cat litter is a silicon gel, usually called crystal cat litter, and is the most absorbent of any kitty litter.  It is also excellent for controlling odors and moisture.  Some cat owners like this kind of litter because it has the ability to absorb odors and liquid for around 30 days.  It needs to be stirred when the solid waste is scooped out, but the cat urine can stay in the box.  It will start to smell in 30 days, meaning it’s time to change it.  Others don’t like it because they say it give too little of a warning for when it needs to be changed.

If you are feeling ambitious and want to change your life and that of your cats, consider investing some money (and a good amount of patience) in toilet training the little tyke. The Litter Kwitter is an amazing invention and the support and information that backs it up is really great.

Get them a cat scratcher post, a cat scratcher tree or something similar that your kitty can dig its claws into rather than your valuable belongings.

So you finally get tired of having your cat scratch and claw its way through your personal stuff, and you decide to go buy it a cat scratcher that hopefully it will use instead.  You head to the nearest pet shop and see tons of different cat scratchers there.  Surely there can’t be that big of a difference between all of them, can there?  Actually, there is a big difference.  In addition to all the various sizes and shapes, the main thing that sets all the cat scratchers apart is the material.

You will want to buy a sisal cat scratcher, as sisal textile material is ideal for cat’s claws.  They like to shred things into pieces and that is exactly what a sisal cat scratcher allows them to do.  Sisal textile material, not the rope kind, has a texture and grain to it that is perfect for your cat to shred to pieces, which is what their instincts tell them to do.  Cats like to claim their territory by making marks that go up and down, and sisal material has the best surface to do this on.  After your cat has used it some, do not throw the shredded material away, as they will see that as being broken in and ideal for their scratching habits.

Be sure to get a cat scratcher post or cat scratcher tree that is high enough for your cat to stretch out completely and it also needs to be stable.  You don’t want a cat scratcher that is wobbly and might fall over on your kitty.  That may frighten them and make them not want to use it anymore due to fear of it falling over on them.  And if they are too afraid to use one of the cat scratchers you got for them, where do you think they are going to return to for their claw sharpening urges?

Adopting a cat isn’t just a matter of choosing the one you like the looks of. You want to make sure that your cat is going to be a good match for you and your family as well. Many of these cats for adoption don’t have much of a known history, but in some cat adoptions, you’ll be able to learn all about the animal’s past. This can help you decide if you should adopt a cat. For example, if a feline has been abused by children, she might not be a good choice for a house full of kids. You should look at the temperament of each cat to help make your decision.

Many animal organizations have a cat adoption team that can help you find the right cat for your situation.

Why Adopt a Cat?
Cat adoption is something that many people don’t really think about. They might “adopt” a cat from a friend’s litter, but for the most part they avoid the idea of older cats who need homes. Often these cats are still fairly young, but they’ve simply outgrown their owners. In some cases, they may have been dumped as soon as they lost the kitten cuteness, which happens often when kittens are given as gifts to children.

By adopting a cat, you are filling two needs. First of all, you are giving a cat a home. It can be very difficult to place older cats, particularly those who might not be as pretty as a new kitten. These felines have lived for a while and they may have had a rough life. Secondly, you’re gaining companionship. Unlike dogs, cats offer a special kind of companionship. They’re friendly and independent at the same time and can be much easier to look after.

If you’re looking for a cat to snuggle up with on long winter evenings and enjoy playing with, then why not look into cat adoption? Cats for adoption may be older, but they are also wiser. A cat adoption team can help you find the right feline for your cat adoption and ensure that the process goes smoothly. Integrating a new member into your family might take a little time, but it will be very worth it when you are rewarded with happy paws and purring!

In ancient Egypt, cats were revered as gods, and they certainly seemed to have carried that aristocracy down through the generations. No ordinary cat bedding will do, of course, for a royal pet like your feline. There’s really nothing wrong with spoiling your cat; beds are a necessity after all, and if you want him to actually stay in it for the night, then you need to look at an awesome one, like a heated cat bed. Heated cat beds are pure kitty-decadence, as is the radiator cat bed, one that your feline will love to snuggle into to enjoy the warmth. We already know that cats tend to head for heating vents, the washing machine and anywhere else that is warm, particularly in the cooler months. So, why not look at an alternative to the regular wicker cat bed and get one with a built in heater?

Cats might not care about colors, such as that garish pink cat bed you just bought!, but textures and comfort are extremely important. We tend to do just about anything to make sure our pets are happy. There’s really nothing like that contented purr as they knead their paws in a happy relaxation ritual, and most cat owners are capable of doing some pretty crazy things to get that purr fix! A nice bed is a lot easier than crawling around on your belly, batting at cat toys. A heated cat bed will get the same happy response, though, so it’s a great way to go.

Making the Choice 
Of course, there are a number of options when it comes to beds for your feline. Make sure you choose one that is the right size. If you have a kitten, don’t forget that he’s going to grow, so pick accordingly. Look for cat bedding that mimics a favorite texture of your cat. If he likes to curl up on your chenille throw, for example, look for something similar in a bed. If your jeans are his favorite spot to nap, then a denim-covered bed might be just the thing to entice your pet off your pillow and onto one of his own.

For shy felines, a snuggle cat bed might be a good choice, since it allows them to “hide” from the excitement of their surroundings. You’ll know if this is a good choice for a cat bed if your pet tends to hide under the couch or bed or likes to sleep in cupboards and other hidden spaces.

Whether you go the expensive route with luxury cat beds, or just a good old slumber ball, your cat deserves the best. Spoil him rotten with a comfy place to sleep and you’ll be rewarded with more purrs. And hopefully fewer disdainful looks!