CAT TIPS
To help deter the scratching of your favorite piece of furniture, consider using sticky tape. Place double-sided sticky tape to all areas of the furniture that your cat is scratching. Your cat will find the tape displeasing to her paws and refrain from scratching this area. Be sure to provide a scratching post or board for your cat.

Mother cats who are litter-trained frequently train their kittens. Keep a litter pan in a secluded area, like the bathroom or basement. Make sure it is an area that is always accessible to the cat. Place the kitten in the litter after meals, after periods of energetic play, after long naps, first thing in the morning, and last thing at night. Be consistent in taking the kitten to the litter pan during the training period. If you catch the kitten making a mistake, firmly, but gently, place her in the litter pan. Kittens do not respond well to punishment. Do not scold the kitten after a mistake has been made. The kitten will not associate the scolding with the act. Wash and deodorize the soiled area so the kitten will not return to it.

Citrus odor in lemon furniture polish is usually offensive to cats. This polish, applied to wood on furniture, frequently discourages the cat from climbing or sleeping on the furniture that is "off limits."

Thinking about getting another cat so your pet won't be lonely? It's possible that your good intentions won't work out like you planned. The arrival of a new cat can turn a one-cat household upside-down. One reason for this is that cats fall into two distinct personality groups: the outgoing cat and the defensive cat. The defensive cat is usually OK with the owner, heads under the bed when company comes. If the new cat is an outgoing cat, there's a possibility the owner finds himself preferring the newcomer to the defensive cat. An outgoing cat can also terrorize a defensive cat. Since cats are solitary by nature, most don't actually need feline company. In addition, many cats who are house pets match their awake and active periods to times the owner is home. But if you're still seeking a playmate for your solitary cat, make sure your new arrival is compatible.

Is your cat constantly jumping up on your kitchen counter tops? Try temporarily applying double-sided tape to the edges of the counter. Cats dislike the sticky feeling on their paws. An alternative is to purchase a mat made for keeping cats off counters. It is plastic mat that emits a small static shock when touched.

In a multiple cat household you should have one more litter box than the number of cats. For example, if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 boxes. This will help deal with territorial issues and may aid in preventing inappropriate elimination.

Have you ever noticed how interested your cat is in everything that goes on outside? A basket that hooks to the window sill or a perch will allow your cat the perfect perspective to follow what goes on outside. An ideal location would be in full view of a bird feeder. This provides hours of stimulating entertainment for your cat.

Do you have territorial disputes in your multiple cat household? Does the weakest one of the group have difficulty accessing the food, water and litter box without being antagonized? Consider installing a cat door to one of the rooms of the home. Controlled by magnetic collars, these doors are normally installed in an exterior door of the home to allow the pet to go in and out at will, while keeping wild life out. They can work great in the home to help deal with territorial issues and protect the weakest cat.

It is important that you scoop your cat's litter box on a daily basis. Cats are finicky about their personal hygiene and may refuse to use a box that is very soiled. On a weekly basis wash the box and completely replace the litter. also Beware of a sudden change in the type of cat litter you provide for your cat. Many cats have a distinct preference for the first type of litter they were exposed to as kittens. Abrupt changes may confuse your cat and could create a litter box aversion.

Is your cat wreaking havoc on your living room, leaping from the top of the book shelf and swinging from the drapes? You may be able to curb this behavior by providing an alternative. You can purchase or build cat perches of varying heights, ideally carpeted with built-in rope scratching posts. Most cats will preferentially climb these structures.

Is your cat waking up earlier and earlier every day to be fed? If you oblige your cat, you are reinforcing this behavior. Consider keeping the bedroom off-limits for your feline friend. After a few mornings of noise outside your door, your cat will learn that she can no longer set the feeding schedule.

Cats like to eat grass from time to time. Some believe that it is because they have an upset stomach and are trying to induce vomiting. This is not likely the case. Many cats seem to enjoy the taste of grass, but grass tends to get hung up in the back of the throat and esophagus, triggering a gag reflex.