Creature Comforts Pet Services, LLC

Compassionate care for your friend

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What can you do to increase your bond with your cat?

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Here are some quick tips for things you can do to help both yourself and your cat to be happier and more relaxed.  While some of these don’t seem to directly affect you and your cat bonding.  A cat that is relaxed in his environment will be far happier and easier to live with.  Enriching your cat’s life isn’t just about the latest toys.

Keep your food and water bowls separate.  While it does seem logical to us humans to put the water and food right next to each other.  Cats don’t like to eat their “prey” near their water source.  It presents the possibility of contamination. Cats also quite often prefer their water not to be stagnant.  A source of water that is moving, as in a cat water fountain, is preferred by some.  However, if you do go this route, it is important to also have a source of still water so your kitty has the opportunity if that appeals to them.

Use unscented litter.  Cat’s sense of smell is much more sensitive than humans.  Cats have around 200 million odor sensors in their noses, while humans have only about 5 million. This makes a cat’s sense of smell about 14 times better than a human’s!  Scented litters are quite often too much for a cat’s nose.  What is best for cats is an odorless, dust free litter that is also soft to step into.  Cleaning the box regularly with just soap and water will help to keep the box from smelling like an outhouse to your cat.

Have multiple litter boxes.  Even if you only have one cat, multiple litter boxes will help to keep elimination problems to a minimum.  Consider how it is for you to have to go a long way when you have to go.  Keep a box on each level of your home in and not so difficult places to get to.  Also, some cats prefer separate boxes for urine and feces.

Have regular grooming sessions.  Lots of cats love to be brushed and this can add to your bond with your feline friend.  It also has the added benefit of reducing hairballs and helping you to know your cat’s body well, allowing for early detection of injuries or changes you may want to check with your veterinarian about.

Turn your carrier into a cozy cat hideout.  Getting the cat into a carrier is a big issue for many cat owners, causing a whole lot of stress for  both you and your cat. You can use a cat’s desire to hide to your advantage.  Keep the carrier out in a well used area of the house, such as the living room. Use comfy blankets to create a cozy cave for her to hide in.  Add some toys and she will consider it a great place to be.  If she is reluctant to enter you can use treats or a wand toy to entice her.  You won’t need to chase her around the house every time you need to get to the vet, or worse, totally lose her to hiding and have to cancel your appointment altogether.  This can also reduce stress at vet visits because her safe and relaxing space goes right along with her.

Schedule regular play sessions.  Cats like to have a predictable world.  Most owners do have regular feeding times, but adding in regular playtimes is a great way to help his world be more predictable.  It also increases your chances of playing with him, strengthening your bond.  Remember that your cat does love to interact with you!

Create a warm and cozy spot.  We all know cats like to lounge in a sunny window!  Cats prefer warmer temperatures than we do and since you are not going to keep your house at 80 degrees, you can create a nice spot for your cat by placing blankets or a bed near a source of heat, such as a vent or fireplace.

Think vertical.  We tend to set up our living spaces with all the furniture on the floor.  Cats like to climb and can feel safer up high.  Cat trees or shelves or perches up on the walls will create a happy dimension for your friend, as well as provide them with a safe space from which to view the world.

Music!  Putting on some relaxing music, especially while you are out, will help your cat to be less anxious.  Studies show that relaxing music can reduce a cat’s heart rate.

Learn to speak cat.  Cats blink slowly and languidly while they are content and relaxed, if you return the slow blink you are communicating your love back to her in her own language.  Cats accept our slow blinking as a signal to be relaxed in our presence. And increasing your understanding of cat body language can help you to know what your cat needs.

Know how to help your cat if an injury occurs.  Be familiar with pet first aid and CPR so you can be a help to your friend if the worst should occur.  This can not only potentially save your cat’s life, but will increase your confidence and relaxation in an emergency situation.  Keep important phone numbers close by, such as your veterinarian and ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435).

Teach your cat to work with you. Cats are often thought of a being uncooperative or uninterested in working with you.  But this just isn’t true.  Use some yummy treats, petting, or play with a favorite toy to help your cat learn that cooperation can benefit him too.  They can be taught to scratch in appropriate places or to sit on the floor rather than the counter while you prepare food.  

    Winter weather considerations for our furry friends

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    Since we have just had our first,and possibly only, snowstorm of the year, thoughts for keeping your pets safe and healthy for the winter are on my mind.  Exposure to the dry, cold air and cold rain can cause chapped paws and dry itchy skin much like it is for us.  But these are not the only discomforts for your pets in winter weather.

    Keeping your home humidified and towel drying your pet, with special attention to the paws, can help with the dry chapped skin.  Reducing the amount of bathing will remove your pet’s natural oils that help protect from dry, flaky skin.  If you must bathe, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo or rinse.  When grooming, consider keeping your pet’s coat longer in the wintertime.  If your pet is long haired, trim to minimize clinging ice balls, salt, and de-icing chemicals.  Again, with special attention to the hair between the toes.  If your friend is short haired, consider getting a coat that covers from the neck to the base of the tail, including the belly.  Remember to consider your pet’s age, older animals will not tolerate the cold for as long.

    De-icing chemicals and salt can pose many skin problems too.  Fortunately, the streets in Port Townsend are only treated with gravel, but there are still other chemicals and salts on sidewalks and off of cars coming into town.  Carrying a small towel on hikes can help to reduce irritated paws.  After each walk, wash and dry your pets feet and belly to reduce exposure to ice, salt, and chemicals. It is also a good practice to check paw pads for cracks and redness.  Messaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectant into paw pads before going out can help protect feet. Booties provide even more coverage and can also keep sand or salt from getting lodged between toes to irritate.  There are pet friendly ice melts available if you need to de-ice surfaces. 

    But that is not the only danger from chemicals.  Antifreeze is lethal to pets in small doses.  During walks, don’t let your dog drink from puddles.   For our feline friends, it is a good idea to clean paws when they come in so they don’t lick chemicals off.  Clean up any spills from your vehicle thoroughly and consider pet safer (propylene glycol) based products rather than ethylene glycol.  Note that I said pet safer, it is a better alternative, but still not something good for pets to ingest.

    Pets burn extra energy in the winter, so if they go outdoors be sure to feed a little bit more, as well as giving them plenty of fresh water to prevent dehydration.  Be sure your companions have a warm place to sleep up off the floor and out of drafts.  A cozy dog or cat bed and warm blanket to snuggle in is perfect.

    Remember, if it is too cold for you, it is probably too cold for your pet.  If left outdoors, pets can freeze or suffer from other hypothermia effects such as disorientation and become lost.  Additionally, cars can hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze, soo don’t leave pets in your car alone during cold weather.

    And lastly, be sure to enjoy the winter weather together whether that is cozy book reading with your favorite feline or romping in the snow with your pup!

    Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

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    What is great fun for us is not always so fun for our pets. Halloween is second only to 4th of July on numbers of animals that end up in shelters, making it an excellent time to make sure your contact information is up to date on microchip registries and legible on ID tags. Both with greatly increase the chances of your pet making it back to you should they become lost. Costumes and loud animals can make the familiar world suddenly scary to many animals and many sweet treats can be potentially fatal to dogs and cats.

    It can be a good idea to walk dogs before it gets dark, so they can be back inside before all the ghosts, ghouls, and (gasp!)princesses come out to haunt the streets. Likewise it is wise for your pets to stay home if you plan to go out ringing doorbells. Many dogs get scared by costumes and loud noises and can become aggressive or suddenly dart into a busy street. If you stay at home, supervise your pets closely or give them their own space in a quieter room of the house when Trick or Treaters come knocking.

    October has become popular for dressing up our pets too, but unless your pet is truly comfortable in a costume, keep it clothing optional…for the pet! Something simple like a bandana could be appropriate to dress up your pet without causing them distress. Most pets don’t like masks that cover their eyes or loose fabric that is tricky to walk in. If you do feel your 4 legged friend would be willing to dress up, here are a few tips: Do some practice sessions with lots of rewards, starting with parts of the costume for short periods to acclimate your pet to his costume and make it a positive experience. Be sure to do the same with your costume giving your pet time to recognize that is you in there. Make sure their costume is not adorned with beads or strings which could be swallowed and be sure any elastic bands holding the costume in place are not to tight and restricting blood flow. Also make sure your pet can still answer nature’s call comfortably and nothing causes difficulty with vision. Finally, never leave them unsupervised in a costume.

    Lots of pets love treats too. There are lots of ways to make sure your pet has as yummy a Halloween as you! Here are some ways to avoid cat-astrophies and doggy dangers. Pups anxious for a sweet treat rarely take time to unwrap them. Paper, cellophane, and foil candy wrappers can clog the intestines making for a truly scary situation. Chocolate contains Theobromine which is both a cardiac stimulant and diuretic. This will speed up your pet’s heart rate and respiration and pull fluids from his body which can result in seizures and death. Beware of grapes or raisins masquerading as “eyeballs”. These can cause kidney failure in dogs. Make sure pets can’t get a hold of plastic toothpicks in both festive cupcakes and adult beverages.

    Cooked pumpkin can be a great treat, however once it becomes a Jack-o-lantern, it can cause more harm than good. Candles placed inside can burn precious snouts and paws, or if turned over start fires. Be sure to keep pumpkins, candles, and electric cords inaccessible or uninviting to chew. Fake spider webs and spray string can be toxic or cause choking.

    Talk to your veterinarian ahead of time if you have a particularly anxious pet who could benefit from calming aid or medication. A tired dog or cat is generally a happy dog or cat, so don’t forget lots of exercise and playtime before festivities start, but then let your fur babies retreat to a quiet place with pet safe treats and toys when the zombies come to call.