Posted by Jeanne on April 6, 2009
It is simply not safe for your curious little cat to be jumping up on counters and tables while in the kitchen. Not to mention that it is entirely unsanitary as well for them to go from doing their duty in their litter box
and then walking around on the counters that you prepare your food on. In all, it is not a good idea for you or your cat. You really don’t want your cat to become accustomed to jumping up in the kitchen because eventually they are going to jump up onto a hot stove and seriously injure themselves.
There are different ways you can go about training your cat that the kitchen is an off-limits area for jumping and exploring. The first method is to simply pick them up whenever they jump onto a kitchen counter top or table and tell them “No!” in a firm voice and then put them back onto the floor. Another idea is to stack items that will make a loud noise near the edge of the counter so they will fall down and frighten your cat when he jumps up.
If neither of these ideas work, you can always resort to using the spray bottle of water. Try these ideas first before you resort to more drastic means. Just remember that you are looking out for both the safety and health of your cat as well as yourself.
Posted by Jeanne on December 23, 2008
Before you decide to take on any kind of pet, you need to understand that different breeds of cat are susceptible to different health issues. Even if it seems like you have a healthy cat in the beginning, it is possible that he will be diagnosed with some sort of disease or health-related issue as he gets older.
There are precautions that you can take as a cat owner to protect your cat’s health and well being:
- Make sure that all harmful plants are removed from the area where your cat lives. Some plants can be poisonous when a cat chews on them.
- Cats can suffer from diabetes. Some people might find it strange that humans and cats can share the same illnesses, but it is quite common for a cat to be diagnosed with diabetes. If you suspect this from your cat, you should definitely call your veterinarian for further measures.
- You might not be aware that certain medications can be hazardous to your cat if not taken correctly or with the right medication.
- If there is anything that sparks your concern, such as if your cat acts listless, has yucky stuff coming from his eyes or nose, or if he looks like he isn’t eating (even though you know he is), you should trust your instincts and contact your veterinarian with your concerns.
- If you notice that there starts to be a buildup in your cat’s ears, he might have ear mites. If this is the case, your veterinarian will be able to instruct you on the best way to treat this and prescribe medication.
- Do not let your cat play with yarn or string. All can be fun and games until your cat swallows it, and then it becomes a serious matter. If such an instance occurs, you need to contact your veterinarian. It might help to know that white petroleum jelly helps to coat the stomach so that the string or yarn can get out of your cat’s tummy with little harm.