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

How to Protect Our Pets from Household Poisons

It is commonly known that we need to be careful about certain plants, human foods and household items because they can poison our pets. However, it is good to review this from time to time and check our surroundings to be sure none of these items has become accessible to our pets.
Pictured to the right is Activated Charcoal which can be used for cats, dogs and livestock.
Remember that just because we would not find something interesting or appealing does not mean our pets would not. They are inquisitive and are attracted to eat things we can not fathom.
Please note that certain specious of pets may have specific issues not listed below. This guide is meant to be generic and not focused on only one species.
So, were are the areas we should look when evaluating our pets safety?
  • Places that allow access to human food: Outside of weight control and nutritional issues, many human foods are poisonous to pets.
  • Places that allow access to human medications. An everyday human medication can be poison. An example is acetaminophen which is found in most households.
  • Garbage: In addition to human foods found in garbage, rotting food can produce bacteria that cause illness in pets. Also, it is not uncommon for non-food items to be thrown out that our pets should not have access to.
  • Compost piles can attract animals and are not safe. The decaying organic material can create dangerous toxin and mold.
  • Some surface algae on ponds (Blue Green Algae for example) can be poisonous.
  • Areas used to store household cleaner and chemicals
  • Areas used to store outdoor cleaners and chemical (garage/sheds etc.)
  • Areas used to store garden/lawn insecticides, fertilizers and general chemicals
  • Areas were pest poisons have been applied (rat & mice for example)
  • Plants – both inside the house and in outside gardens. Many plant specious are both attractive and poisonous for pets. Certain outdoor mulch products may be an issue as well such a cocoa mulch .
  • Mushrooms growing in the yard can be poisonous
  • Note that seasonal holidays can bring new items into our homes that are poisonous. Candy at Halloween and holly/mistletoe/lilies and Christmas & Easter are examples.
How do make these areas safe for our friends?
  • A lot is just recognizing the risks above and applying common sense. A few things to consider are:
  • Don’t assume doors will be shut or access denied to areas of concern. Assume your pet, at some point, will be able to enter an area of concern. If something is accessible to your pet once he is in the area it needs to be in a sealed container. Try to locate items up high and out of access if possible.
  • Indoor plants should not be accessible. Be mindful that leaves can fall off a plant to the floor. Therefore the plant itself may be safe in it’s location but once the leaves fall off your pet may be able to ingest them.
  • Evaluate whether you really need an item. If it’s not likely to be used again than properly dispose of it. This simply eliminate the risk entirely.
  • Make sure garbage cans have locking lids or use cords to lock the top on the can to prevent access.
  • Prevent access to areas in your yard that are a concern –  plants, compost piles, ponds, etc. This may require fencing. You’ll need to evaluate your pets behavior and how dangerous an area is to assess the risk level. One pet may sample everything in site (especially young dogs) while other other pets are not that inquisitive.
  • If you have a pond try to prevent algae build up. Clean areas free of mushrooms.
What are a list plants and food items to be concerned with?
The following is a list of plants and foods of concern. It is not meant to be a full list (as it is difficult for us to think of all possibilities) but a good starting point. The sources for these items are the AAHA (www.healthyPets.com), ASPCA (www.aspca.org)
  • Alcohol (all beverages, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl)
  • Amaryllis bulb
  • Amanita mushrooms
  • Anthurium
  • Apple seeds
  • Apricot seeds
  • Avocado (leaves, seeds, stem, fruit, skin) in birds and pocket pets
  • Azalea (entire rhododendron family)
  • Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
  • Begonia
  • Bird of Paradise
  • Bittersweet Boxwood
  • Buckeye Bulbs (most kinds)
  • Buttercup (Ranunculus)
  • Bleeding heart
  • Caladium
  • Castor bean
  • Cherry pits
  • Chocolate
  • Chrysanthemum (a natural source of pyrethrins)
  • Choke cherry, unripe berries
  • Chrysanthemum (natural source of pyrethrins)
  • Clematis Crocus bulb
  • Coffee
  • Croton (Codiaeum species)
  • Cyclamen bulb Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)
  • Chinese sacred or heavenly bamboo
  • Crocus bulb Delphinium, larkspur, monkshood
  • Eggplant
  • Elephant’s ear
  • English ivy (All Hedera species of ivy)
  • Foxglove (Digitalis)
  • Garlic
  • Grapes
  • Hyacinth bulbs
  • Hydrangea
  • Holly berries
  • Hops
  • Iris corms
  • Jack-in-the-pulpit
  • Japanese pieris
  • Jimson weed
  • Kalanchoe
  • Lantana
  • Lily-of-the-valley
  • Lily-Asiatic
  • Lily-Calla
  • Lily-Day
  • Lily-Easter
  • Lily-Star Gazer
  • Lily (bulbs of most species)
  • Lupine species
  • Marijuana (Cannabis)
  • Milkweed
  • Mistletoe berries
  • Mountain laurel Oleander
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Morning glory
  • Moldy foods
  • Mustard Seeds
  • Narcissus, daffodil (Narcissus)
  • Oak
  • Onions
  • Peach pits
  • Pencil cactus(leaves and stem)
  • Potato (leaves and stem)
  • Rosary Pea
  • Raisons
  • Rhubarb Leaves
  • Lantana
  • Scheffelera
  • Shamrock
  • Spurge (Euphorbia species)
  • Tea (caffiene)
  • Tomatoes (leaves and stem)
  • Tobacco Products Yew
  • Walnuts
  • Xylitol
  • Yeast dough

 

65 days and they are born! Is your cat pregnant?

The average gestation period for kittens is 65 days, and this is the most common time in the United States for cats to mate.

If your cat is having kittens, or you intend to adopt a kitten this spring there are a number of things that you must know.

First:  Adoption is for Life. If you do not believe these 4 words, then it’s not a good idea to adopt a kitten.  Make sure that you are sure you can handle a kitten and then a cat.

Second:  Don’t take a kitten from it’s mother too early. Breeders say six weeks is enough, but we think that a kitten should stay with the mother cat until (s)he’s eight weeks old. Much depends on the breed of the kitten and if a kitten is “ready” for a transition. Checkout a cat breeds list before transitioning a kitten to make sure it will be ready. However, generally eight weeks will give the kitten enough time to get used to solid food and using the litter box. Prepare a cat space backpack in advance to make the transportation enjoyable.

Third: Newborn kittens should be monitored – but not much interference if possible. Weigh the newborn kittens regularly. They should always gain weight. It is possible to hand-feed kittens with a feeding bottle or a dropper. However, you should only do this if the cat is rejected or if the mother is not willing or capable to feed her children.  Use a specially formulated milk like KMR Kitten Milk Replacer.

Spring and the birth of newborn kittens and other animals is a wondrous thing.  But with all things beautiful comes our responsibility to care for them. If you happen to have a cat at home, the vet recommends these 8 items to be kept at home when you leave out of town. Check out our great selection of chameleons for sale at low prices, if you entertain an idea of having a fascinating animal at home as well.

Keep that in mind as you contemplate bringing a kitten into this world and/or adopting a kitten.

 

 

Caring for Your Newborn Kittens


If your cat has recently had kittens, nothing is more fun then to hold and play with the kittens.  Caring for the kittens can be a very rewarding experience for any cat owner.  This experience is rare and it is important to make sure that the kittens are being properly cared for by the mother cat.  Because kittens grow so quickly, enjoy every moment and take pictures to record the experience.

During the first few weeks of life the kittens should be left alone to be cared for by the mother cat.  Make sure that the mother cat is allowing the kittens to feed regularly.  If you notice that the mother cat is not allowing the kittens to feed, you may need to step in and bottle feed the kittens milk.  Use a milk formulated especially for kittens like the KMR Kitten Milk Replacer and place it in a syringe or small bottle for the kittens to drink from.  It is only important to do this, if you notice that the kittens are not getting milk from the mother cat.

To help keep your kittens safe, place them in a box or a pen in a safe area in your home.  The mother cat will most likely move the kittens around if she feels that the kittens need to be in a safer place.  It is a good idea to use a simple cardboard box at first and then choose a small animal pen to keep them contained when they get a little older.  A small animal pen like the Clean Living Playpen is ideal for kittens and has a bottom that is sold separately and helps to keep the area cleaner.

After the kittens are three weeks old, place a small litter box in their living space and the mother cat will teach them how to use it.