Barehill Boarding Cattery

When you walk into the living room and catch your cat in the act of de-upholstering your brand new designer couch or your great-grandmother’s antique loveseat – or just your favourite comfy lounge chair – please do not smack the cat or fling the feline out the window. The cat is only doing what comes naturally, not attacking your furniture out of malice aforethought.

Cats need to scratch; that’s a fact. A cat’s claws are its main defense in danger, whether to fight or flee. Scratching lets them clean and sharpen those claws, and it serves to stretch and tone the muscles in paws and legs. From all appearances, it’s also a relaxing and therapeutic experience – for the cat.

Punishing your cat for scratching the furniture is counter-productive. You will only succeed in making the cat fear and dislike you, and quite possibly cause other unacceptable behavior. You can discourage him/her from scratching the couch, but only if you provide a good substitute.

There are all sorts of ready-made offerings on the market, available at any pet store and many other retail establishments or online. Get a good sturdy scratching post, or you can easily make your own to order. Just be sure there are no nails, staples etc. sticking out to catch on paws or other body parts.

Again, make sure it’s sturdy, and if you have toddlers, make one high enough so a cat can easily climb out of reach, with a platform or two where he can relax and have a snooze. You’ll need a surface that is climbable as well as scratch-able; sisal or old blue jeans are two easily available options.

Cats spraying urine around your home can be a significant issue but it is one that you can solve if you take some careful steps. A recent study has shown that among dogs, the biggest problem is aggression, but among cats the biggest issue is them marking their territory by spraying urine in the home.

Many people mistakenly think that when a cat starts spraying, that they are having a problem with the use of their litter box. This is actually not the case and a cat sprays in order to mark its territory.

One of the biggest problems is that owners of cats punish the cat when they do this and this can make them even more territorial and increase the amount they are spraying. When cats are in heat, they are attracted by the urine of other cats and they will spray in order to attract potential mates.

It is not just sexual behaviour however and it is also something that cats do when they are fighting with other felines, or if they are under some stress. The scent is very unpleasant and for the most part it is something that they do outside, but unfortunately it is a problem for many owners that they are spraying indoors.

One of the most effective ways to stop your cat spraying is to have them neutered. It is generally the case that the operation immediately stops tomcats from spraying and the problem is solved. However, if you do not want to neuter your cat there are alternative options.

Cats spray when they are conflicting with another cat, or are sexually attracted to them. You can solve the problem if you do not allow these cats to come in contact with each other. If the cat continues to spray you should talk to your vet about alternative solutions.

Dogs age at a much faster rate than humans and the veterinary Association of the United States says that dogs are generally in their old age by the time they are six or seven years old. This is not something that everyone agrees with and many people say that this condemns many dogs to death if they are taken in by rescue homes.

Six or seven years old for a dog is the equivalent of someone being in their 50s and this is definitely not an age when most people would consider themselves old. It is particularly remarkable that the age boundary is set so young when the record for the oldest cat is 34 years old, while for the oldest dog its 29.

In the past, dogs tended to live for a shorter time because there were less foods available targeted towards their needs. Also vaccinations were less prevalent and people did not neuter their animals as much. Medical technology for animals has also significantly improved and diseases in animals that were previously thought to be fatal are no longer so. For example, cats with diabetes would previously be euthanised, but today diabetes is an easily treatable disease in animals.

As a pet gets older it can be more work and money to take care of. Diseases can be expensive to treat and can also affect your animals quality-of-life. At around six or seven years old, dogs and cats tend to start suffering from conditions such as arthritis. This can make it difficult for them to climb up stairs and as the disease progresses, this can become impossible.

There are some cases where people go to extreme lengths to treat their pets in order to extend their lives. Surgery and medication are becoming more and more common, and some treatments, such as stem cell therapy, are also becoming possible treatments for animals

Whether you’ve got a cat or a dog, fleas can be a real problem.

There are products out there to treat fleas in pets, but what else can you do around your home to try to prevent fleas from becoming a problem?

• Flea prevention products

Some products that are used to treat fleas in animals can also be used to help prevent them. Frontline Spot On Cat and Frontline Spot On Dog are two of the most widely used in the UK.

These products are widely available, and you can often find them in your local pharmacy and even online, so you don’t have to make a special trip to a pet shop or your vet.

• Wash bedding and rugs regularly

When you’ve got a busy lifestyle it can be difficult to remember to wash your cat or dog’s bedding on a regular basis. The same applies to any rugs they use to sleep or sit on, whether these are in your home or your car.

Fleas can make a home for themselves in blankets and bedding without being visible to the naked eye, so regular washing is advised to keep the risk of fleas affecting your pet to a minimum.

• Regular vacuuming

Another tip for keeping on top of fleas is to vacuum often, for the same reasons as above. If your dog regularly travels in your car, it’s a good idea to vacuum that out too in order to reduce the risk of fleas being brought into your home.

If you have taken your pet anywhere you think there’s a high risk of flea infection, you should have some Frontline Spot On Cat or Dog in your home ready, so you can treat them with it as soon as you return.

• Combing

Combing your pet with a flea comb every day can also help prevent fleas and catch any that may have set up home in your cat or dog’s fur.

Combing alone isn’t often enough to completely prevent fleas or kill off any existing ones. This is due to the other areas, mentioned in this article, where your pet may pick up fleas.

• Treating outside areas

Using Frontline Spot On Cat or Frontline Spot On Dog will work well for flea treatment and prevention, but you should consider treating areas outside your home too.

Using sprays or planting Lavender are two of the ways you can stop fleas from becoming a problem in your own back yard.

Author Bio: You can buy Frontline flea treatments online for your cat or dog as well as a range of other pet health products by visiting http://www.co-operativepharmacy.co.uk/