Break

My grandmother passed away this week so I'm taking a hiatus from blog writing. I will return soonly.

Cat Litters

Biodegradable litters are made from various plant resources, including pine wood pellets, recycled newspaper, clumping sawdust, brazilian cassava, barley, okara and dried orange peel.

Each year, over 2 million tons of cat litter, or approximately 100,000 truckloads, ends up in landfills in the U.S. alone. Primarily this is not biodegradable or renewable and adds unnecessarily to the waste burden. Some pet owners prefer biodegradable litters due to its friendliness to the environment. Biodegradable cat litter can also be eliminated completely by safely composting the used litter at home. Other cat owners can be attracted to the biodegradable litters because of their flushability or deodorizing properties. The natural litters are non-carcinogenic. Asthmatic cats may sometimes benefit from the reduced dust in some forms of biodegradable litter.

Biodegradable litter packaged specifically for cats tends to be more expensive than traditional clay litters, so cost is often not a positive factor in their selection. But most biodegradable litters last longer than the equivalent size of clay or clumping clay litters. Grain-based animal or poultry feed also provides an economical alternative to products marketed specifically as cat litter. Also, most of these forms of litter are recycled from human usage and are thus reusing a waste product as opposed to drawing clay from mines.

Tuesday Trivia

Last weeks answer: yes cats can be left or right pawed! They will favor one or the other for swatting or playing.

True or False: 4,000 years ago in Egypt the penalty for killing a cat was death.

Check back next week for the answer!

Weekday Purr Pic

There is nothing like family. ( Stormy and Neko)

A Brief History, Part 3

Several ancient religions believed that cats are exalted souls, companions or guides for humans, that they are all-knowing but are mute so they cannot influence decisions made by humans. In Japan, the maneki neko is a cat that is a symbol of good fortune. Although there are no sacred species in Islam, some writers have stated that Muhammad had a favorite cat, Muezza. He is reported to have loved cats so much that "he would do without his cloak rather than disturb one that was sleeping on it"

Weekday Purr Pic

Stormy knows what door knobs are for!

Cat Health Tips: Get Kitty into Shape!

Is your cat a little Garfield'esque?Does his/her belly swing back and forth when walking?Between the ribs and the hips there should be a tuck into the waist.Kitty might need to lose a little weight.But how?Activity!!Create an indoor jungle gym for your cat. Perches, shelves, window sills! Anything to encouragejumping.Play with them! Tinfoil ball, the bird toy, or laser pointer! Your cat wants to play with you, even if they are lazy. Find the right toy they cant resist.Make your cat work for supper!Have your cat catch "prey" (a toy) before eating.(Obviously don't feed over the recommended amount on the can/bag)Try cat agility for intensive play!Tunnels, weaving through things, jumping over obstacles.Getting kitty into shape, just like us, requires movement. Ease your cat in,start slow and gradually add more time and more intensity to play.Your cat will get healthier and your bond will grow!

Scratching Post and Bed

Does your can destroy your furniture with constant scratching and kneading? That may be caused by the lack of "good" places to scratch. Scratching and kneading is a natural behavior for cats and you'll never be able to stop it. Instead of sacrificing your nice sofa arms to rips, holes, and unsightly tears, get them one of these!

The posts are wrapped with sisal rope which the cats can sink their claws into and take care of their natural need to scratch and knead. This diverts them from your furniture and gives them an acceptable place to scratch. Enjoy!

Weekday Purr Pic!

Dreary morning made better by Ip

Tuesday Trivia

Last weeks answer was A. Man

Can cats be right or left pawed?

Weekday Purr Pic!

Ugh Mondays! (Stormy,Neko)

Sunday Sunbath

“There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.”

A Brief History, Part 2

In ancient Egypt cats were sacred animals, with the goddess Bastet often depicted in cat form, sometimes taking on the warlike aspect of a lioness. The Romans are often credited with introducing the domestic cat from Egypt to Europe; in Roman Aquitaine, a 1st or 2nd century epitaph of a young girl holding a cat is one of two earliest depictions of the Roman domesticated cat. However, it is possible that cats were already kept in Europe prior to the Roman Empire, as they may have already been present in Britain in the late Iron Age. Domestic cats were spread throughout much of the rest of the world during the Age of Discovery, as they were carried on sailing ships to control shipboard rodents and as good-luck charms.

Cat Health Tips: When to Go to the Vet

Sometimes it's obvious when you need to take kitty to the vet and other times .... It can be hazy. So here are a few tips on when to take your furry friend to a veterinarian:
- sudden excessive talking. If your cat doesn't normal vocalize or is vocalizing more than normal he/she might be in pain. If the food and water dishes are full an the litter is clean and you've tried extra attention you should seek a vets advice.
-cold symptoms. A kitty cold lasts 7-10 days. Your cat should be up to date on shots. If the kitty has runny nose and eyes try to keep them clean ( I use a warm wet washcloth). If symptoms persist or worsen its Ike to see a vet.
-not eating or sleeping more than normal. Not eating for more than two days can be fatal for a cat. Choosing sleep over any activity (like eating or drinking ) is cause for alarm and time to see a vet.
-bad litter box habits. If the litter box is clean and the cat is going outside it consistently it may be a symptom of several medical problems and vet treatment is recommended.
- fur loss. Some fur loss is normal but if kitty's fur is coming out in patches or excess they should see a vet.


You know your cats normal behavior and if something changes it is time to take note!

My kitty Jacoby refused to use the litter box. We thought he was acting out because we moved. Until one day I found him in the bathroom and his eyes were like saucers and I just knew he was in pain. We rushed him to the vet and he had a urinary blockage. This reoccurred two more times before the vet would do surgery to widen the urethra.... Even then he still got blocked which resulted in chronic renal failure and he nearly died. It's been seven years since and he has not problems except excess water weight from his CRF. Always listen to your gut and what your animals tell you. Don't ever take the chance when there might be something wrong. (Pictured is Jacoby)

Stopping Ticks and Fleas

If you run into a flea and/or tick problem in the house, use one of these on your cat. It's rated for 8 months but I'd only keep it on them until the problem goes away. Call your exterminator to do a full house spray, this will kill everything that's in your carpets and floors immediately, and the collar will kill anything on your cat including eggs (EW!).
Keep it on your cat for about 10 days or so. Even though it's good for 8 months, I personally don't like keeping chemicals on my pet's neck for that long.

Weekday Purr Pic

Get up with the sun (Ip)

Tuesday Trivia

Last weeks answer: a clowder

Is a cats brain more similar to:
A. Man
B. dogs
C. Fish
D. None of the above

Check back next week for the answer!

Weekday Purr Pic

It's Monday? But I want to play! (Neko)

Sunday Sunbath

What could be warmer than the sun? An act of love. My warm sunny ray for you to bathe your heart in this Sunday is: "Way down deep, we're all motivated by the same urges. Cats have the courage to live by them." - Jim Davis

A Brief History, Part 1

Traditionally, historians tended to think that ancient Egypt was the site of cat domestication, owing to the clear depictions of house cats in Egyptian paintings about 3,600 years old. However, in 2004, a Neolithic grave was excavated in Shillourokambos, Cyprus, that contained the skeletons, laid close to one another, of both a human and a cat. The grave is estimated to be 9,500 years old, pushing back the earliest known feline–human association significantly. The cat specimen is large and closely resembles the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), rather than present-day domestic cats. This discovery, combined with genetic studies, suggest that cats were probably domesticated in the Middle East, in the Fertile Crescent around the time of the development of agriculture and then they were brought to Cyprus and Egypt.

Weekday Purr Pic!

It's Friday! We made it through the week, lets relax! (Neko)

Cat Health Tips

Health for both humans and feline alike can be as simple as nutrition.
The choices for cat food can be overwhelming and they are certainly not all equal.
There have been numerous recalls in recent years in some cases even causing death. You can research of the brand you are feeding has been recalled and how many times. Obviously you want to stay away from brands with poor quality control.
Meat should be the first ingredient. Cats are carnivores at heart and need high protein diets.
Make sure you check the expiration date as well.
There are directions for cat food, follow them for the weight of your cat. Only kittens should be free fed unless recommended by a vet for an older cat. An overweight cat can develop medical issues just like people.
Cats shouldn't be eating table food, it could be poisonous or cause other ill effects. Even milk causes GI upset in felines.
When switching to a new food mix the prior food with the new to avoid upset stomach. Food should not be switched abruptly always try to do a transition (of course if its possible).
Obviously you should always consult with a Vet if you have concerns. These are just my observations and should not replace a Vet consultation.
Happy feeding!

Weekday Purr Pic!

Happy Valentines Day! Enjoy the ones you love and know that you are loved today!

Hagen Catit Design Senses Play Circuit

If there's anything cats or kittens love to do is play.  You never know what your cat may or may not enjoy, but Neko (13 weeks old) and Storm (3 years old) spend a lot of time playing with their Catit Design Senses Speed Circuit.  It's simply an enclosed track with a ball that rolls around the curves.  There are holes the cats can swipe at the ball trying to catch it, but the ball can't get out.


Cat play and toys incorporates predatory games of "play aggression". Cats' behaviors when playing are those similar to hunting behavior. These activities allow kittens and younger cats to grow and acquire cognitive and motor skills, and to socialize with other cats. Cat play behavior can be either solitary (with toys or other objects) or social (with animals and people).

Weekday Purr Pic!

Be silly everyday! (Jacoby)

Tuesday Trivia!

What is a group of cats called?

Answer and new questions every Tuesday!

Weekday Purr Pic!

On Monday you can only look to the distance and hope for Furday!
(Storm and Ip)
Want to see more pictures of cats?
Follow me on Instagram @Madame_Feline

Sunday Sunbath

 

My name is Neko. I'm the newest resident kitty in Madame's home. I'm three months old and I was adopted through foster care at the Philadelphia ACCT. A Good Samaritan found me and my sister in the freezing cold and called the kind peoples of Animal Control. My sibling and I were sent to foster care so we didn't have to live in a cage. So I knows purrsonally the love of strangers and random acts of kindness exist in the coldness.

What could be warmer than the sun? An act of love.

My warm sunny ray for you to bathe your heart in this Sunday is: 

“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.” -Mohandas Gandhi

The Internet and Its Lover: Cats

Chances are if you've been on the Internet you've notice an abundance of fur. Cute, contorted, long, ceiling, basement, and even surly.
What's the big deal with felines? Why have they taken over the tubes of the interwebs? Are they the master race? Will we be chasing the big red dot soon?
In this blog I'm going to attempt to cover everything I know and don't know and really want to know about cats.
Four cats varying from 11 years old to 3 months reside with myself, my husband and their minion dog Eerie. I was born and yes raised by cats. I've always had at least one cat, along with a plethora of other pets through out the years. From tuxedo to Russian Blue, I've loved them all.
So join me on my weekly journey through the history, care taking, and love of the cat.

Madame Feline

Instagram: Madame_Feline
Ideas for a blog spot? Tweet me: @madame_feline or email razedbycats@gmail.com