More and more people are traveling with their pets. Below you will find a few tips for making your trip with kitty as painless as possible below.

First, make sure that the place you intend to stay is pet-friendly. If you are booking a hotel, be sure to tell them about your pet at the time of booking and find out if there are any restrictions. You might want to find another hotel that accepts pets for a backup in case something fails with your first reservation. Are you staying with friends? Make sure they are comfortable with having another animal in their home before your arrival.

Be sure your pet has proper identification. The cat carrier should be marked with your name, phone number, and address. Have your kitty wear a collar with an ID tag or better yet, get him or her microchipped. It is also wise to carry a copy of the immunization records with you in case you are asked to produce them and veterinary contact information in case of emergency.

Is your pet on medications? Be sure to bring along more than you think you will need for the trip. If kitty gets carsick, you may want to bring along something for motion sickness, too.

Be sure that your pet has access to fresh water. Some carriers allow you to attach a water dish. If not, a collapsible water dish would be a good investment.

To help make the trip less stressful, bring along some favorite toys and luxury cat beds or blankets. Also, you will need bags to dispose of your pet's waste along with paper towels in case any messes are made.

By packing the items mentioned above, you can relax and enjoy the trip with your kitty.

Cats and OCD behaviors

 

Did you know that pets can have obsessive compulsive behaviors?  Cats can overgroom where they lick areas excessively that can become bald patches or even get infected.  Or, they can exhibit other repetitive, compulsive behaviors.  Read an article about cats and dogs with OCD behaviors

 

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Cat Food Salmonella Alert

Some popular pet foods may contain salmonella which can cause serious illness.  Affected brands include Special Kitty and Paws and Claws.  Visit pet foods for more details.

 

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Make Your Cat a Chaise Lounge

Does your cat love to hang out in cardboard boxes?  Here is a great idea for turning a cardboard box into a cat chaise lounge.  You could even take the idea a step further and personalize the chaise with your cat's name or other cat-friendly pictures.  Visit How to Make a Cat Chaise Lounge Out of a Cardboard Box for detailed instructions.

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Kitten Care

Did you just get a new kitten?  If you have never had cats before or have only had adult cats, you need to learn basic kitten care such as preparing for the first vet visit, feeding your cat and playtime.  Read  Kitten Care for more info on caring for your new kitty's needs.

 

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Cats Can Smell That Pill

If you need to give your cat a pill, you may be tempted to disguise the medication with food. You can even purchase special pill pockets in yummy flavors. Why won't your cat take the pill?

With approximately 19 million nerve endings in their noses, cats have a much keener sense of smell than do their human counterparts that have 5 million. You may think that tuna scent hides the pill, but your cat will probably figure out your ploy.

Cats developed their sense of smell so that they could distinguish between edible and inedible substances in the wild. In fact, rotting food gives off nitrogen which a cat can detect.

Unfortunately, that pill does not smell like food, so your cat is not likely to take it willingly. Your cat will be able to smell that pill inside any food, too.

Cats are also geniuses at acting like they ate a pill and then spitting it out where you can't see them. So, you really need to see the pill actually go down the cat's throat to be assured that the medication was taken.

The best method to give a cat a pill is to either use a pill dispenser or your hand to place the pill at the back of the cat's throat and then encourage swallowing.

 

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