Category: Cat Training

Pets, too, victims of the oil spill

BP announced today that the oil spill stopped leaking into the Gulf of Mexico at approx. 2:30 pm.

I said a prayer when I heard – but my thoughts immediately were consumed with all the people and animals the spill has affected.

One of the most intriguing programs that I found to help the pets in need was the “Pet Retention Program” started by the Animal Rescue of New Orleans.

ARNO has had this program in place since late 2006.  At this time it needs bolstering big time with your donations. This program allows individuals or families who are of low income or currently out of work to retain their pets with ARNO footing the bill for the pet. We provide whatever the pet needs, i.e. food, medical care (maintenance and extraordinary), transportation to and from the vet, dog houses, and even a carrier to make sure they have provisions to evacuate with the pet. We try to give them food with finest natural ingredients found at: https://bluebuffalo.com/for-cats/lifestage/kitten-food/. The caseworker assigned to the family stays assigned to that family to assure that care is consistent and to know of social services they might need for the human members of the family. We even have a tri-lingual caseworker, so those who speak only Spanish or French fluently can communicate easily with us. The only thing we request is that if the animal is intact, we insist spay/neuter at our cost.

Send donations to:
1219 Coliseum Street,
New Orleans, LA 70130

If you are interested in shipping Dry Cat Food or Dry Dog Food as a donation (or other items) – you may use coupon code: oilspill on any order.  Even if you send a donation separate from our store, we will still trust you and you may use this coupon code.

(All orders >$60 – take $10 off)

Automated Cat Repellents Stop Bad Kitty Behavior

If your cat likes to scratch furniture or other items around your house, you know that getting your cat to stop can be a challenge.  When training your cat to stop a destructive behavior, it is a good idea to use a deterrent to help reinforce good behavior.  An automated cat repellent can be very helpful when trying to get your cat to doing bad behavior, even when you are not around and without having to take the time to train your cat.

An automated cat repellent like SSSCAT Automated Cat Repellent by Multipet is ideal for helping to deter your cat from doing a bad behavior.  This automatic cat repellent is so easy to use and may be set up any where in your home.  As soon as it senses movement, it releases a brisk spray that startles your cat and encourages your cat to move away.  This spray is safe for use around your cat and will not stain your carpet or leave a bad scent in the room.  With the use of this automated cat repellent, your cat will learn quickly without training.

Another great automated cat repellent is the PetSafe Pawz Away Spray Deterrent.  This automated cat repellent is also designed to give your cat a quick spray that makes your cat want to run away quickly and can sense movement up to three feet away.  Place this automated cat repellent in a place that your cat likes to cause damage and your cat will learn quickly to stop that behavior without you having to get mad or having to train your cat.  The spray is non scented and safe for use around your cat.

If your cat has a bad behavior that you want to stop, an automated cat repellent is ideal for deterring your cat without the hassle of training your cat.

Keep Your Cat from Destroying Your Houseplants

Cats love to nibble on houseplants and this can be unhealthy for your cat and your houseplants.  Not only do cats love to nibble on houseplants, but they also like to use the soil as an alternative to the litter box.  Without having to get rid of your houseplants, there are several things that you can do so that your cat and houseplants can co-exist without having problems.

  • Give your cat a plant of his own.  A great plant to grow for your cat is catnip grass.  The Cosmic Catnip Gardenby Cosmic Pet Products makes growing your own catnip easy and covenient for any cat owner.  This product consists of two pre-planted containers of catnip that allows you to just water and sunlight.  Your cat will love the fresh taste of catnip.  In addition, you can also find out cat-friendly plants that are safe for your cat to nibble on and that will help to keep their interest away from your other plants.
  • Keep your plants off of the ground.  Use a hanging planter inside your home to keep your cats away from your plants.  The Audubon 14 inch Wall Bracket is easy to install anywhere in your home and extends 14 inches away from the wall to securely hold your houseplant.
  • Use a cat repellent on your large houseplants.  The Grannicks Bitter Apple for Cats Pet Dabber is a non-toxic cat repellent and has a bitter taste that cats don’t like.  Use the dabber on the leaves of your large houseplants to help deter the cats from nibbling on your plants.
  • Cover the soil with rocks.  By adding rocks to the soil, it will be harder for your cat to have access to the soil for eliminating body fluids into.  Use rocks that are large enough to make it harder for your cat to move, but small enough to fit your planter.
  • Make sure your litter box is cleaned on a regular basis.  Cats love to have clean litter boxes, so it is important to keep it clean for your cat.  This will help to encourage your cat to use the litter box instead of your plant.

Roaming Cats – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Pros and cons of keeping your cat indoors

There are a many arguments for keeping cats inside. They will live longer due to the chances of being hit by a car, hurt by other people or animals, or infected with contagious diseases from feral cats will be minimized (not to mention ticks and fleas). Cats will also prey on birds and small mammals – which may bring unwanted germs into your home upon return.

  These are but a few of the issues that arise from roaming cats. On the other hand, cats derive much pleasure from exploring around outside. If cats are allowed outside they need to be sterilized to prevent unwanted pregnancies and stray issues.

Compromises – Limiting Activity and Movement

Often, a satisfactory compromise is to allow the cat out under supervision. One method used is to let them out into a fenced yard. However, if you leave them out there, they will probably eventually climb the fence. When everything is said and done, a fenced yard is really not containment for a cat.

Using a harness and leash is a method that may work. Accustom your cat to the harness first, in the same way as a collar. Then accustom them to the leash by leaving it on for short periods of time. Then take them outside, and follow them where they go (do not try to take them “on a walk”). You can proof your backyard against escape with an “invisible fence” arrangement (these are usually for dogs, but many of our models can be adapted for larger cats). These give the cat a correction stimulus when approaching the property boundary.

Receive a printable mail-in manufacturer’s rebate for
up to $50 off the PetSafe Wireless Instant Fence. 

Make it Easy on Yourself! – Pet Doors

Pet doors are a good solution for people tired of letting cats in and out. There are many kinds of doors, including those that fit into patio doors without requiring a hole cut through the wall or door. You may have trouble with other animals coming in the door, or want to let your dog but not your cat use the pet door. The solution is an electronic pet door. The door has a lock that is deactivated by a special collar designed to work with the door. Therefore only the pet with the color will be allowed access.

Electronic pet doors are installed much like a regular pet door, but you plug them in or they run off batteries. The electronic doors need a firmer push to open than most. A great feature is the 4-way lock. The lock can be set so the cat can 1) go both in and out 2) go in only – great if you want to catch them 3) out only 4) totally locked.

It’s no surprise that cats are a bit harder to contain than cats if you allow them access to the outdoors, but with a little ingenuity, you can keep them safe.