Frequently Asked Questions
\nfor Cat Owners<\/h2>\n<\/div>![](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27161%27%20height%3D%2726%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20161%2026%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27161%27%20height%3D%2726%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" "\\"line_separator\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>A cat in your urban home can be the most rewarding and comforting addition to your busy life.\u00a0 And, unlike dogs, cats don\u2019t require as much attention. \u00a0Rest assured you will never<\/em>\u00a0have to experience taking your fussy feline to school to learn how to behave, constantly demanding to be walked whatever the weather, or throwing endless balls when all you want to do is look at the scenery.<\/span><\/p>\nHowever, as smart, adaptable, and independent as cats are, they are NOT low maintenance.\u00a0 They have physical and emotional needs that sometimes manifest in the most inappropriate ways.<\/span><\/p>\nTake care of those needs and the benefits include a happy cat that isn’t scratchy or tetchy, does not urinate in the wrong places and lives harmoniously in the household bringing joy to all the family.<\/span><\/p>\nHere, we answer some of the most common questions we get asked on all the above, plus more. The solutions to these everyday problems can be surprisingly simple.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Make My Home A Happy One?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\nAs obvious as it may seem, a comfortable home is as important to your cat as it is to you. \u00a0She needs somewhere to sleep, climb, play and go to the toilet. \u00a0Cats will sleep anywhere they feel safe and are certainly willing to amuse themselves given the right environment. \u00a0As for their toilet habits, they are fastidiously clean.<\/span><\/p>\n\nIf your cat is an outdoor cat it will happily accommodate its own needs, but indoor cats are also quite happy using a litter tray. If cost and the environment are important, you can also experiment with a natural cat litter tray<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nAs if to prove their adaptability, if an outdoor cat suddenly finds a litter tray in the home, give it a couple of days and you may well find him sitting there one day reading the paper!<\/span><\/p>\nCats love beds but watch out for fleas<\/span><\/h3>\nWe all worry about busy roads and other outdoor hazards, but a cat being indoors doesn\u2019t mean the risks are removed. \u00a0Flowers, plants, cleaning products and even human foodstuffs can all be harmful when ingested in even small quantities. \u00a0You may not realise that, although it’s not a part of the feline diet, they have something of a sweet tooth but things like chocolate can prove fatal to both cats and dogs, so don\u2019t be tempted to give them a \u201ctreat\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\nIf in doubt, don\u2019t feed your best mate anything that wasn\u2019t intended for the bowl on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\nYou know how cats just love a window sill?<\/span><\/h3>\nWell, what else you put there should only be after careful consideration. \u00a0Many common plants and flowers are extremely hazardous to cats, including several which are common in store-bought arrangements such as tulips, chrysanthemums and lilies. \u00a0Flower heads are an inviting toy to a cat, so make sure your only problem is picking up the odd stray petal when you come home.<\/span><\/p>\nThese days, many cats live totally happy and fulfilled lives without ever stepping out of the door, so the fact you are in an apartment need be no barrier to having a happy cat.\u00a0 But you may need to check the air quality in your home, especially if you have air conditioning.\u00a0 Cats can develop allergies to toxins in the atmosphere just as humans can.<\/span><\/p>\nThese simple tips will help to make your home a happy place for any cat.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Get My Cat To Eat?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s widely believed that cats are really fussy eaters, but anybody who actually has a cat will tell you that it\u2019s really nothing more than a rumour put about by dogs to make cats look bad.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen you\u2019ve seen a cat ignoring a bowl full of the finest kitty chow to merrily crunch through the bones of a freshly killed mouse, you know they\u2019re not really all that fussy after all. \u00a0They certainly know what’s good for them though!<\/span><\/p>\nIndeed, the only thing you really need to think about is “how much”? \u00a0This is where cats differ from dogs. Whereas a dog will eat every scrap of food you put in front of it, a cat will simply eat what it needs and then wander off. \u00a0It\u2019s simply a case of making sure your cat is eating a healthy amount of both wet and dry food.<\/span><\/p>\nAll serious cat ailments have weight loss as a symptom, so knowing the eating habits and being able to judge whether your cat is maintaining a healthy weight is good practice all round.<\/span><\/p>\nIn summary, this one is easy pet cat care. \u00a0Unless you can provide Fluffy with an endless supply of natural cat food (i.e. mice) all you have to do is buy cat food where you buy human food. \u00a0Feed as directed on the pack and make sure you also provide plenty of water. \u00a0And that\u2019s it!<\/span><\/p>\nJust about the only other consideration is not to have the food next to the litter tray. \u00a0After all, you don\u2019t eat your dinner sitting on the toilet, and nor should your cat.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Keep My Cat Stress-Free?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n\nDespite their obvious independence, cats are actually quite prone to stress and aren\u2019t particularly strong, emotionally. \u00a0They won\u2019t like shouting whether it\u2019s directed at them or not, and taking out your problems on the only creature guaranteed to still love you in the morning, will solve nothing.<\/span><\/p>\nHaving said that, she will easily understand the meaning of a firm but gentle \u201cNo\u201d. \u00a0Of course, whether they choose to acknowledge it is another matter altogether!<\/span><\/p>\nCats will sleep anywhere and hide somewhere. \u00a0If something happens which startles her, or that they don\u2019t understand, they will retreat to a place in the home where they feel safe. \u00a0This may be somewhere as simple as the arm of a chair where they can see what\u2019s going on or, it might be on top of the curtain rail where they know they can\u2019t be reached.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can really help maintain a calm cat even if there are human disruptions by\u00a0creating a few places where she can hide when she does feel threatened. \u00a0It may be minor for you (someone’s bad temper or an over enthusiastic child) but having somewhere to flee until it is safe to come out will at least have one calm creature in the house!<\/span><\/p>\nCats don\u2019t operate a \u201cfight or flight\u201d policy, they operate their own \u201cwait and see\u201d policy. \u00a0It is important that you allow her these spaces because not being able to reach what they see as a safe haven will only serve to add to their fear.<\/span><\/p>\nAlso, providing somewhere up high where the cat can retreat to will also honor her basic wild instinct to flee up a tree.\u00a0 A high shelf or even the top of the fridge will often do.<\/span><\/p>\nIn such situations, instinct will trump common sense. \u00a0It\u2019s part of what makes your feline friend so interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>How Will I Know If My Cat Is Unhappy?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\nWhen a cat is sick or upset, it may not always be immediately obvious. \u00a0However, if she suddenly starts peeing in the house, it\u2019s a sure sign that something is wrong. \u00a0If a stray cat wanders in and starts spraying, it\u2019s part of the natural marking of territory, but if a cat does it in familiar surroundings, you need to investigate why. \u00a0The effect of both territory marking and stress-related peeing are the same \u2013 to get attention, but the triggers are very different. \u00a0You can read more about this often missed problem in my home pet cat care book:\u00a0What Is Your Pet Cat Trying To Tell You?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nWhatever the reason, the smell of cat pee is both unmistakable and very unpleasant. The fact that the pee goes through a chemical change over several hours also means that the cat urine odor will get a whole lot worse before it gets better<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nThere\u2019s no easy way to get rid of cat pee and all the unpleasantness that goes with it. \u00a0I cover how to remove cat urine extensively<\/a> but even the most effective commercial urine removal products take time to do their thing. \u00a0The way the cleaning products work is by breaking down the volatile components of the urine by introducing bacteria or enzymes that work to neutralise the smell. \u00a0Despite what some products claim, however, one treatment is often not enough and almost all will require some degree of elbow grease on your part!<\/span><\/p>\nGiven the often commonly available ingredients of the commercial cleaners, and assuming we\u2019re not talking about a large affected area, it\u2019s almost as simple to make your own urine remover<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Introduce A Second Cat To My Home?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n\nYour cat may love you, but that\u2019s only because you\u2019ve proved to be a willing and enthusiastic pupil. \u00a0This doesn\u2019t mean, though, that your cat will welcome other additions \u2013 be it human or otherwise \u2013 into the home.<\/span><\/p>\nIt will take time for them to adjust to the introduction of another cat or even a new baby.<\/span><\/p>\nTake things gently and don\u2019t force your cat to be involved if it doesn\u2019t want to be. \u00a0Over time, the relationship will develop to the point where there is at least an understanding if not a full-on friendship. Cats can take up to 2 years to adapt to having another cat introduced into what has always been their exclusive domain. They will work it out between them, and rarely will posturing lead to actual physical aggression although it will be difficult for you to watch, at times.<\/span><\/p>\nAnd make sure you read up on how to make this a peaceful\u00a0 and non-threatening introduction in my e-book;\u00a0\u00a0Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Living Happily With A Cat<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![](\"http:\/\/www.felinefriendlycare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/line_separator.png\" "\\"line_separator\\"")
<\/span><\/div><\/div>A cat in your urban home can be the most rewarding and comforting addition to your busy life.\u00a0 And, unlike dogs, cats don\u2019t require as much attention. \u00a0Rest assured you will never<\/em>\u00a0have to experience taking your fussy feline to school to learn how to behave, constantly demanding to be walked whatever the weather, or throwing endless balls when all you want to do is look at the scenery.<\/span><\/p>\n However, as smart, adaptable, and independent as cats are, they are NOT low maintenance.\u00a0 They have physical and emotional needs that sometimes manifest in the most inappropriate ways.<\/span><\/p>\n Take care of those needs and the benefits include a happy cat that isn’t scratchy or tetchy, does not urinate in the wrong places and lives harmoniously in the household bringing joy to all the family.<\/span><\/p>\n Here, we answer some of the most common questions we get asked on all the above, plus more. The solutions to these everyday problems can be surprisingly simple.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> As obvious as it may seem, a comfortable home is as important to your cat as it is to you. \u00a0She needs somewhere to sleep, climb, play and go to the toilet. \u00a0Cats will sleep anywhere they feel safe and are certainly willing to amuse themselves given the right environment. \u00a0As for their toilet habits, they are fastidiously clean.<\/span><\/p>\n If your cat is an outdoor cat it will happily accommodate its own needs, but indoor cats are also quite happy using a litter tray. If cost and the environment are important, you can also experiment with a natural cat litter tray<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n As if to prove their adaptability, if an outdoor cat suddenly finds a litter tray in the home, give it a couple of days and you may well find him sitting there one day reading the paper!<\/span><\/p>\n We all worry about busy roads and other outdoor hazards, but a cat being indoors doesn\u2019t mean the risks are removed. \u00a0Flowers, plants, cleaning products and even human foodstuffs can all be harmful when ingested in even small quantities. \u00a0You may not realise that, although it’s not a part of the feline diet, they have something of a sweet tooth but things like chocolate can prove fatal to both cats and dogs, so don\u2019t be tempted to give them a \u201ctreat\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n If in doubt, don\u2019t feed your best mate anything that wasn\u2019t intended for the bowl on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n Well, what else you put there should only be after careful consideration. \u00a0Many common plants and flowers are extremely hazardous to cats, including several which are common in store-bought arrangements such as tulips, chrysanthemums and lilies. \u00a0Flower heads are an inviting toy to a cat, so make sure your only problem is picking up the odd stray petal when you come home.<\/span><\/p>\n These days, many cats live totally happy and fulfilled lives without ever stepping out of the door, so the fact you are in an apartment need be no barrier to having a happy cat.\u00a0 But you may need to check the air quality in your home, especially if you have air conditioning.\u00a0 Cats can develop allergies to toxins in the atmosphere just as humans can.<\/span><\/p>\n These simple tips will help to make your home a happy place for any cat.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> It\u2019s widely believed that cats are really fussy eaters, but anybody who actually has a cat will tell you that it\u2019s really nothing more than a rumour put about by dogs to make cats look bad.<\/span><\/p>\n When you\u2019ve seen a cat ignoring a bowl full of the finest kitty chow to merrily crunch through the bones of a freshly killed mouse, you know they\u2019re not really all that fussy after all. \u00a0They certainly know what’s good for them though!<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, the only thing you really need to think about is “how much”? \u00a0This is where cats differ from dogs. Whereas a dog will eat every scrap of food you put in front of it, a cat will simply eat what it needs and then wander off. \u00a0It\u2019s simply a case of making sure your cat is eating a healthy amount of both wet and dry food.<\/span><\/p>\n All serious cat ailments have weight loss as a symptom, so knowing the eating habits and being able to judge whether your cat is maintaining a healthy weight is good practice all round.<\/span><\/p>\n In summary, this one is easy pet cat care. \u00a0Unless you can provide Fluffy with an endless supply of natural cat food (i.e. mice) all you have to do is buy cat food where you buy human food. \u00a0Feed as directed on the pack and make sure you also provide plenty of water. \u00a0And that\u2019s it!<\/span><\/p>\n Just about the only other consideration is not to have the food next to the litter tray. \u00a0After all, you don\u2019t eat your dinner sitting on the toilet, and nor should your cat.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Despite their obvious independence, cats are actually quite prone to stress and aren\u2019t particularly strong, emotionally. \u00a0They won\u2019t like shouting whether it\u2019s directed at them or not, and taking out your problems on the only creature guaranteed to still love you in the morning, will solve nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n Having said that, she will easily understand the meaning of a firm but gentle \u201cNo\u201d. \u00a0Of course, whether they choose to acknowledge it is another matter altogether!<\/span><\/p>\n Cats will sleep anywhere and hide somewhere. \u00a0If something happens which startles her, or that they don\u2019t understand, they will retreat to a place in the home where they feel safe. \u00a0This may be somewhere as simple as the arm of a chair where they can see what\u2019s going on or, it might be on top of the curtain rail where they know they can\u2019t be reached.<\/span><\/p>\n You can really help maintain a calm cat even if there are human disruptions by\u00a0creating a few places where she can hide when she does feel threatened. \u00a0It may be minor for you (someone’s bad temper or an over enthusiastic child) but having somewhere to flee until it is safe to come out will at least have one calm creature in the house!<\/span><\/p>\n Cats don\u2019t operate a \u201cfight or flight\u201d policy, they operate their own \u201cwait and see\u201d policy. \u00a0It is important that you allow her these spaces because not being able to reach what they see as a safe haven will only serve to add to their fear.<\/span><\/p>\n Also, providing somewhere up high where the cat can retreat to will also honor her basic wild instinct to flee up a tree.\u00a0 A high shelf or even the top of the fridge will often do.<\/span><\/p>\n In such situations, instinct will trump common sense. \u00a0It\u2019s part of what makes your feline friend so interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> When a cat is sick or upset, it may not always be immediately obvious. \u00a0However, if she suddenly starts peeing in the house, it\u2019s a sure sign that something is wrong. \u00a0If a stray cat wanders in and starts spraying, it\u2019s part of the natural marking of territory, but if a cat does it in familiar surroundings, you need to investigate why. \u00a0The effect of both territory marking and stress-related peeing are the same \u2013 to get attention, but the triggers are very different. \u00a0You can read more about this often missed problem in my home pet cat care book:\u00a0What Is Your Pet Cat Trying To Tell You?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Whatever the reason, the smell of cat pee is both unmistakable and very unpleasant. The fact that the pee goes through a chemical change over several hours also means that the cat urine odor will get a whole lot worse before it gets better<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s no easy way to get rid of cat pee and all the unpleasantness that goes with it. \u00a0I cover how to remove cat urine extensively<\/a> but even the most effective commercial urine removal products take time to do their thing. \u00a0The way the cleaning products work is by breaking down the volatile components of the urine by introducing bacteria or enzymes that work to neutralise the smell. \u00a0Despite what some products claim, however, one treatment is often not enough and almost all will require some degree of elbow grease on your part!<\/span><\/p>\n Given the often commonly available ingredients of the commercial cleaners, and assuming we\u2019re not talking about a large affected area, it\u2019s almost as simple to make your own urine remover<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Your cat may love you, but that\u2019s only because you\u2019ve proved to be a willing and enthusiastic pupil. \u00a0This doesn\u2019t mean, though, that your cat will welcome other additions \u2013 be it human or otherwise \u2013 into the home.<\/span><\/p>\n It will take time for them to adjust to the introduction of another cat or even a new baby.<\/span><\/p>\n Take things gently and don\u2019t force your cat to be involved if it doesn\u2019t want to be. \u00a0Over time, the relationship will develop to the point where there is at least an understanding if not a full-on friendship. Cats can take up to 2 years to adapt to having another cat introduced into what has always been their exclusive domain. They will work it out between them, and rarely will posturing lead to actual physical aggression although it will be difficult for you to watch, at times.<\/span><\/p>\n And make sure you read up on how to make this a peaceful\u00a0 and non-threatening introduction in my e-book;\u00a0\u00a0Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Living Happily With A Cat<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Make My Home A Happy One?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
Cats love beds but watch out for fleas<\/span><\/h3>\n
You know how cats just love a window sill?<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Get My Cat To Eat?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Keep My Cat Stress-Free?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How Will I Know If My Cat Is Unhappy?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>How Do I Introduce A Second Cat To My Home?<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>