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Aging is a part of life, and cats are no different. Unfortunately, studies show that people put more effort into taking care of their aging dogs,  man’s best friend, than they do their cats. With a little bit of care and attention, even our older cats can live a longer and healthier life being the precocious animals they are.

What would be assumed to be the most obvious yet generally overlooked tip is to make sure you are visiting the vet at least twice a year. This could be an appointment for blood and urine samples for example, informing you of what is considered normal for your cat and what to recommend for it’s health accordingly.

While it’s easy  to let your older cat lounge around, justifying its age as the reason, it’s actually important they stay active. Cats, by nature, are prone to chase, hide, climb and explore. You don’t have to invest in pricey or even a multitude of toys, but just a few basic ones that can keep you cat busy. The idea is to keep them active, not to tire them out completely.

Just as activity is important, so is their rest; or more aptly, their means to rest. Move his bed to a more accessible area, (the same also goes for his food and water bowl) and make sure there are plenty of easy to reach spaces so your cat is able to climb without problems.

Because of declining activity, it is important to adjust your cats food intake accordingly. A food specifically designed for older cats is the best way to go. A dry food diet is good for cats, supplemented through canned food. This also allows you to observe their appetite, as cats tend to love canned food. Remember: obesity shortens your cat’s life span and hinders them from partaking in their daily activities, whatever they might be.

Show your cat the consideration and love needed in its later years. By doing so, you will receive the same love and affection back.

Puppies learn through trial-and-error. They are constantly testing out new things to see what pays off for them--- “Will banging on my food dish get me fed?” “Will jumping on you get me your attention?” Puppies learn by carefully noting your reactions to their behavior, continuing to do what works out to their benefit. The learning period of a puppy is in their first 16 weeks, so using this time to take control and teach him how to behave on YOUR terms is essential. Here are a few guidelines to help lead your pup in the right direction during this period.

• Supervision is key when bringing home a puppy. One of the most common mistakes people make is letting a puppy roam around, exploring the house when coming home for the first time, and then punishing him when a mess is made. The puppy isn’t aware of what is right or wrong yet, so supervising and taking out your pup when you notice circle-and-sniff behavior is important. Even if you’re not home to watch over him, set up an area in a bathroom or laundry room to avoid any mishaps.
• Going around yelling “No, no, no!” is an ineffective way of training your puppy. Instead, reward him for doing good things. Reinforce your puppy’s good behavior with a treat or kind words, letting him know that he did was good and acceptable.
• Teach your puppy rules that you want him to carry on as he gets older. Sure, it may be cute for your little buddy to try and jump on you and sleep on your bed at night now, but when he grows up to be a 100-something pound Great Dane, it gets a little inconvenient. Make life easier for you and your pooch, teach him good behavior when he’s young instead of trying to fix unwanted problems when he’s older.
• Hitting your puppy is NEVER okay. You want him to know you are in control, but you also want him to trust you. Hand-feed your puppy and pet him while he eats--- let him know your hands are powerful, but never a threat.
• Teach your puppy not to bite.  When playing, use words like “gently,” cueing him off to mouth more gently. When he does this, praise him for playing nicely.
• Taking field trips with your puppy is a great way to promote good behavior and courage around people. Introduce him to as many people, animals, and places as possible, and then reward him for being so brave.

It may take some work to get your puppy ready for his new home and life with you, but in the end it is definitely worth it! By taking these steps, not only are you encouraging good manners, you are also setting up a strong relationship between you and your puppy.

If you are anything like me, then you have found yourself staring at someone’s iPad wondering why in the world he or she spent $499 - $799 on an oversized iPhone-that can’t even make phone calls. Just so happens that yesterday I discovered a use for this otherwise silly device. There is now an App for your cat to play on the iPad… What, you think that’s silly? Yes, a game has been created specifically for your feline friend to pass the hours. However, there is more to it than just that. 

Scientific Kittens

The truly intriguing part is the science behind the development of this App. It was created by Friskies and based on research related to the cats’ senses along with their reactions to other stimuli. Like I said, serious science went into this, not just some random fish thrown on a screen attempting to taunt a cat. 

I’ll admit it, trying to get my cat to play with anything for longer than a day is a challenge.  Catnip is about the only thing she’ll devout an extended amount of time to throughout the day.  However, I have the feeling this App might do the trick. This isn’t the only one available either. Check out these Apps your feisty feline can explore and start catching fish or multiplying treats.

How do you entertain your cat?  

You come home from a long day at work to your adorable kitten curled up in a little ball taking a nap. In an attempt to not wake her, you gently tickle underneath the fluffy chin. She begins to purr uncontrollably letting you know she is relaxed and happy. Suddenly, the phone rings and you begin to inch away from your precious kitty as she stretches and lets out a huge yawn in the cutest way. This undoubtedly completes your long day on a high note.

Many people believe that communicating with a cat is an impossible feat, but they are very wrong. Below are some ways your cat expresses his or her mood and feelings.

•   Chatter – This is excitement, frustration, likely to occur when prey is out of reach or escapes. Chatter involves rapid teeth-chattering jaw movements. 
•   Chirrup – This friendly greeting sound, is a cross between a meow and a purr! It is a friendly greeting sound with rising inflection; familiar to most cat owners.
• Cough-bark – This alarm signal is rare in pet cats; however, like us, cats can cough both voluntarily and involuntarily.
•  Growl – Signifies a threat, challenge, and warns others to go away.
•  Hiss (with or without spit) – Signifies threatened feeling, fear, and warns others to back off.  
•   Meow – Common and general-purpose attention seeking sound used by adult cats to communicate with owners or with kittens.
•   Mew (of kittens) – Shows distress, hunger, cold, used to attract mother's attention.
•  Purr – Feelings of contentment, relaxation, also to comfort itself if in pain. Often times, cats in extremis may purr; a loud purr invites close contact or attention.
•   Scream – Occurs when feelings of fear, pain, anger, distress are experienced.
•   Squawk – Sounds of surprise, shock, can be a somewhat strangled sound.
•  Yowl – The sound of a threat, offensive or defensive, but also used in a modified form by some cats seeking attention when owner is out of sight.
•  Idiosyncratic sounds – A sound that a particular cat uses in a particular context.

Even though all cats are different, it can be easy to discover the unique meanings and reasoning behind the actions or noises your cat makes.  

How do you communicate with your kitten?