Category: Cat Feeders and Waterers

Boredom Busters: How to Create a Pet Playroom

A bored dog or cat is generally also an unhappy or destructive pet, if this is happening to you, is because they are no good, if they are barking at night. This is a sign that you need to something different, that’s why we brought you this manual of how to stop my dogs from barking at night. Play is an integral part of pet’s lives. Through play, dogs release energy and establish boundaries, while cats get exercise and keep mentally alert.

Depending on their age, size and breed, most dogs require 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. Cats, though they may sleep up to 16 hours a day, need physical activity as well, to provide stimulation and reduce anxiety. This activity requirement may be difficult for pet owners who work long hours, or live in an apartment. Designing a playroom with your pet’s needs in mind is a great way to keep them from turning to your furnishings for entertainment.

Basic Playroom Requirements
• An easy-to-clean floor, such as vinyl    
• A secure door or gate
• A play area
• A feeding and watering station (away from the play area)
• Sleeping quarters
• A litter box or piddle-pad corner

For dogs, you can simply lay a sheet of vinyl over your existing floor and add vinyl pads to prevent slipping (take care, some dogs will chew on them). For cats, provide disposable carpeting remnants or doormats for traction and scratching that can easily be replaced if soiled (many carpeting stores sell carpeting remnants; one place to check out is https://nwrugs.com/collections/jaipur).

Whether you have a feline or canine companion, it is important to provide a comfortable interior temperature while you are away. Setting the proper automatic thermostat temperature is key to climate control, while an overhead fan can circulate air. While windows provide ambient lighting, consider installing wooden or woven shades over windows that receive full sun. Make sure the shades are adjusted to keep out of your pet’s reach.

Dogs

Dogs should be provided with a variety of toys.  Use toys like a   treat-filled toy  that will keep them engaged, rather than rawhides.  For long-term chewing fun, Nylabones and hard rubber toys are an option. Some dogs will be content with a favorite tennis ball. If they have a bed or crate, it can be placed in a corner.

Cats

Cats generally like to have a high vantage point to look out into a yard or survey their immediate environment. One of the easiest ways to provide a warm, sunny place, as well as darker, sheltered space is by using a cat furniture.

Provide your cat with plenty of batting balls and catnip toys, and a scratching post with dangling toys. For an inexpensive cat cubby, an old cardboard box with a comfy bed inside will be welcomed. If you have multiple cats, make sure to provide enough hiding spaces so your cats can get away when they want personal time.

Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety or noise phobias? CBD has been extensively studied for its effect on stress and anxiety. If your pet is suffering from anxiety, cbd oil for dogs and cats would be a great way to keep him relaxed when he’s uncomfortable.

Safety

Before allowing your pet into the room, remove any potential hazards such as:

  • Electric cords
  • Electronics
  • Chemicals
  • Small or sharp items
  • Anything that could hurt your pet if chewed
  • Any furniture or items that could be tipped over

Elevated Dog Feeders can be a Healthy Choice

Elevated Dog Feeders

Many people use elevated dog feeders and cat feeders for the physical benefits to their pet. They can also be
ornate and attractive in the design making the feeding area look more pleasing to us humans.

A number of physical benefits are associated with elevated feeders:

  • Comfort for dogs and cats with neck or back arthritic conditions. This is especially true with older pets. We do not our pets to associate eating and drinking with discomfort.
  • The elevated feeder keeps the head and neck in a more upright condition preventing the need for stooping thus keeping the proper posture.
  • There is also less stress through the front legs.
  • Easier swallowing due to the head being in a more upright position. This is advantage to all pets but can be more important with pets that have eating disorders such as megaesophagus. This is a condition of the weakening of the esophagus that causes food to collect in the esophagus (not making it to the stomach). This can cause vomiting. By keeping the head in a more upright position the elevated feeder uses gravity to help the food make it into the stomach more easily.

Another advantage is a cleaner feeding area.

Some pets (especially dogs) can be a bit messy when they eat or drink. By placing the bowls closer to their natural position of the mouth there is less head movement away from the bowls and therefore less food and water outside of the bowl. Most importantly, less clean-up for us pet owners!

How do I size an elevated feeder?

The feeder should be about four to six inches below a dogs mouth. Four inches is more appropriate for smaller dogs while six inches can be used for larger dogs. Cats would obviously use a four inch or smaller guideline.

If the above information applies to yourself or your pet consider using an elevated feeder. There are many styles available from basic to ornate.

Keep Your Dog Out of Your Cat’s Food


Most dog and cat owners have to keep an eye out for their dog when feeding their cat to prevent their dog from eating the cat’s food first.  Not only does this make it difficult for your cat to enjoy eating their daily meals, but it is unhealthy for your dog and he or she may become overweight.  Here are some tips to follow to make your cat’s meal time easier and more relaxing for both you and your cat:

  • Pick a set time each day to feed your cat. If you pick a particular time everyday to feed your cat, you can make sure to keep your dog away when your cat is eating.  In addition, your cat will be more motivated to eat the food right away if he or she is only eating at a certain time of day, instead of having the food sit out all day. Moist cat food, such as Earthborn Holistic,is easy to feed in this way and is more likely to be eaten by your cat right away.
  • Choose a location that is not accessible to your dog. Place your cat’s food container in a higher location or in a place where your dog is not able to get to. This works out well if your cat likes to nibble on dry cat food all day long. If you have the space, you may want to use a feeder like Automatic Pet Feeder by Van Ness in a secluded or high up location.
  • Use a pet gate to close off your cat’s eating area. A pet gate, like the Metal Walk Thru Dog Gate, is a great way to keep your dog out of your cat’s food. This type of gate is easy for you to pass through, while it keeps your dog out of the cat’s food and reduces the amount of hassle caused by trying to separate the two types of animals.

An Important Reason to Always Have Fresh Water Available for your Cat

Feline Lower urinary Tract Disease (previously referred to as Feline Urological Syndrome or FUS) Diseases of the lower urinary tract occur frequently in cats, affecting the bladder and/or the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body). Most cats with lower urinary tract disease show remarkably similar signs, but to varying degrees.

Cats will strain and make frequent and prolonged attempts to urinate, but usually the amount of urine passed during each attempt is quite small. Affected cats tend to lick their genital area excessively, and sometimes they will urinate outside the litter box, often preferring cool, smooth surfaces like a tile floor or a bathtub. Occasionally, there will be blood present in the urine.

There are many causes of urethral obstruction in cats, but the two most common are uroliths and urethral plugs. Urethral plugs consist of a soft, compressible material that contains variable quantities of minerals, cells and cellular debris, and mucus-like protein. Many factors interact to produce uroliths and urethral plugs; viruses, bacteria, diet, decreased water consumption, physical inactivity, urine retention, stress, and urine Ph may all contribute. 

One of the easiest ways to achieve an acidic diet it to feed a highly digestible meat based diet, as an acidic urine will naturally be achieved.

Featured to the right are Feed N Toss pet bowls – great for travel or spending time at Grandma’s over the holidays.

Mineral Deposits also have a greater tendency to form in urine that is highly concentrated or that is retained in the bladder for long periods of time. To encourage adequate water consumption, and thus the formation of urine that is more dilute, fresh water should be available to cats at all times.

Benefits of Heated Pet Bowls for Pets that Stay Outside

Heated Pet Bowls are a “Must Have” if your pet stays outdoors when it is cold out.

NOTE: Feel free to comment on this post – but remember, I am not the humane society. Whenever I write about leaving dogs outside in the cold, I get a flood of very good people that comment on how inhumane that is. My dog stays inside. Some owners have real reasons to have dogs stay outside. Unfortunately, I cannot respond to debates on whether dogs should be outdoors for any length of time in the winter.

Heated Dog Bowls are excellent for winter. Dogs that spend time outdoors in cold weather need heated pet bowls so their water doesn’t freeze. Hydration is especially important in cold weather (and of course in very warm weather). You can learn more about canine nutrition and how to create a balanced meal at completecaninecompanion.com.

A heated pet dish works using coils and electricity. Plug the dish in and the coils warm the bottom and sides of the dish which keeps the water at a temperature that prevents freezing.

A heated pet water dish normally comes with a thermostat and an electric cord. The thermostat will let you know how much heat the container is generating to keep its contents warm. The dish only works when it is plugged into an electric outlet, unless it comes with an automatic shut-off switch.  Many models have the shut-off switch, now.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Plastic Heated Water Bowl for Pets — Keeps water ice free! This low wattage heated pet bowl has a capacity of …

Heated Pet Bowl with Hutch Mount –This stainless steel Bowl will keep drinking water ice-free even in sub-zero weather .

Heated Pet Bowl 6 Qt. – Blue — This 6-quart heated water bowl allows you to supply your pet with fresh …

Heated Pet Bowl 3 Qt. – Blue — This 3-quart heated water bowl allows you to supply your pet with fresh …

Heated Plastic Pet Bowl 6 qt. — This 6-quart heated water bowl allows you to supply your pet with fresh …

One of our recent customer questions:

I just purchased a heated water bowl for a dog. It says not to use an extension cord with it, but the nearest oulet requires one. Will it really hurt to use an extension cord with this product?

ANSWER: The manufacturers and retailers must say that for liability reasons.. HOWEVER. I would recommend that if you MUST use an extension cord, use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord designed to carry the electrical load used by the water bowl.

ALSO make sure that the cord is not laying in water or wet areas. you can also buy different tapes to cover the plug into the extension cord. Make sure you are using a quality extension cord designed to be used outside.