Lindsey Browlingdon – Feline Follower

Lindsey Browlingdon

Author Archives: Lindsey Browlingdon

How to Protect Your Couch from Cat Scratching (Guide)

How do you protect your couch from cat scratching? This is the best solution (Click here for the price on Amazon). Read on for more info.

Quick comparison of solutions to protect your couch

Why do cats scratch your furniture?

Cats have a habit of scratching around your home because they are territorial. This is a natural instinctive behavior to fend off other cats that may invade their territory.

This behavior is deep-rooted in their DNA and quite hard to change.

What Can you do to prevent it?

Ultimately there are few ways to handle this:

Remove the affected furniture (not ideal)
Use pheromones to attempt to affect her mood.
Protect the furniture to prevent it from getting scratched.

Remove the affected furniture (not ideal)

As the title suggests, removing the furniture is not ideal. Because, the chances are she will just do the same thing to another piece of furniture, or even worse, the new furniture, are you with me?

Use pheromones to attempt to affect her mood

One technique some cat owners have is using pheromones (Click here to see why I rate this one). These are ideal for cats with aggressive behavior but may help in this situation also.

Protect the furniture to prevent it from getting scratched

The final technique is using scratching protection products (see below) to save your couch and furniture. I like this option the best because you can keep your furniture in place and stop your cat messing it up.

Also, some of them are transparent, so they blend into the existing decor well.

My best 3 solutions to prevent cats scratching

In this section, I will share with you 3 different solutions for preventing your cat from scratching your couch to shreds. I will explain what I like and do not like for each option to help you understand what works best for your needs.

01. Panther Armor Couch Protector (Best Option)

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

Protects your couch from cat scratches
Large sheets (that can be cut to size)
Simple to use & customize
The vinyl material is non-toxic
Can be used on wood or leather furniture
Money-back guarantee

Cons:

Requires twist pins to secure it
Needs some padding to fit securely
The twist pins supplied are a bit flimsy

What I like about this couch scratcher

I understand why they call this product panther armor because it could handle the scratches of a crazed panther, and this is what I like about this.

It comes with some nice big sheets that can cover all parts of your couch. With the option to cut it to size, to meet your specific requirements.

The fact that it can be used on wood or leather is also great because it means it will serve most people’s requirements. Also, I like the fact that it is non-toxic, which is reassuring.

In summary, this is a great couch protector that can help to guard your couch against unwanted scratches, whilst having the flexibility to fit most couches.

What I do not like about this couch scratcher

Its worth understanding that to make this fit securely, you will need some twist pins. They are supplied, but they will need to be pushed into your furniture, which some people may not like.

To make them fit securely you will really need a part of the sofa that has some good padding if that makes sense. Basically, if it’s hollow their, it won’t fit right.

Also, no sure if it’s just me, but the twist pins are a bit flimsy, to be honest. Not a deal-breaker, but a bit frustrating.

02. In Hand Couch Protector

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

Protects your couch from unwanted damage
Non-toxic material
Eco-friendly
Can easily be taken down & re-used
It can be used for couches, chairs, carpets, etc.
One year warranty

Cons:

Not ideal for hollow couches
Comes in several small sheets (rather than one big sheet)
Tricky to keep them flat & in place

What I like about this couch scratcher

This is another cat scratcher that will protect your couch from unwanted scratches. It comes with non-toxic, eco-friendly material.

I also love the fact that it can easily be taken down when required and re-used. This will help with unwanted waste. Apart from couches, it can be used on chairs or even carpets, etc.

Another sign of quality is when a product comes with a warranty like this one does (one year). This gives you the reassurance that the manufacturer has some faith in their product, rather than selling items and running for the hills, are you with me.

In summary, this is a great couch scratcher to protect your couch from unwanted damage an with the reassurance of an eco-friendly product with re-useability.

What I do not like about this couch scratcher

If you have a couch that has hollow areas, meaning no wood behind the material, you may struggle to get this to grip. Ideally, it needs this to grip onto for a secure fit.

Also, understand that this comes in several small pieces, rather than one big piece, are you with me? Meaning, you will need to group them together if you require a large area covered if that makes sense?

Not sure if it’s just me, but I found it hard to keep it flat in some areas. But, hopefully,`z this won’t affect you.

03. Stelucca Amazing Shields Protector

Click here for the price on Amazon

Pros:

Avoid your couch getting ripped to shreds
Big large protective sheets
Simple to cut to shape
Can be bent around curved surfaces
100% money-back guarantee

Cons:

It’s quite tricky to stick it in place
The adhesive may stick to some materials (after removal)

What I appreciate about this couch scratcher

Firstly, this scratcher does its job, it stops your couch from getting damaged and ripped to shreds, which is our first priority here, right?

It comes with large protective sheets that are simple to cut up to fit your specific needs. The great thing I like about this is the fact that it can bend around curved edges.

One of the key things I like about this is the 100% money-back guarantee. This gives me the vibe that they are confident with their product.

In summary, if you are after a simple cat scratcher, that does the job and comes with a guarantee of quality, then look no further.

What I do not appreciate about this couch scratcher

One of the annoyances with this couch protector is setting it up. It is a bit tricky, in my opinion. In addition to this, the adhesive that you use seems like it may leave sticky residue on your couch after removal, but only time will tell on this.

My 7 Month Old Kitten is Aggressive (What now?)

If you have a young kitten of 7 months (or near to that), you may be shocked to see some aggression. No doubt you are wondering

Why is my 7-month-old cat so aggressive?

Your 7-month-old cat is likely to be aggressive because she is either scared or curious. Sometimes this behavior is linked to her missing her mother and lashing out due to her lack of trust in humans because of this experience.

In older cats, this can be linked to quite a few different issues (more on this later).

Now that you know why your cat is acting aggressive, let me go on to explain other reasons for this behavior, if she will grow out of it, why your cat may be acting hyperactive and so much more. Keep reading…

Other Reasons for cat aggression?

other reasons for cat aggression

Earlier I mentioned the main triggers for your cat’s aggression. But, there are quite a few more triggers that I need to discuss with you.

Feeling Pain

If your cat is injured or has a sensitive/tender area on their body that they do not want to be touched, they may lash out at you if you overstep the line.

When I say overstep the line, I mean come in contact with this vulnerable area, are you with me? If you fail to keep your distance then she may hiss, scratch or even bite you.

Feeling Fearful

Fear is one of the biggest triggers of aggression. Earlier I mentioned that some cats that have been separated from their mothers too early may have aggressive tendencies, right?

Well, this is the root cause of this reaction. Effectively they have no trust in you, along with other humans, and for that reason, they are likely to lash out.

Hormones Going Crazy

If you have a male cat, especially one that has not been neutered, you may notice aggression. The reason I say a male cat is due to their hormonal makeup.

They are programmed to be hostile to other male cats in a pursuit to win her for mating. This hostile behavior can also affect you as the owner as well.

Feeling stressed out

Like us humans, if cats feel stressed or uncomfortable (especially male cats), they may get aggressive or unsociable. This can range from small things, such as new people in your house, a new environment or even the arrival of a new pet.

In more extreme circumstances your cat may feel under attack from a rival cat, which will stress her out. Which, in turn, will lead to aggressive behavior.

Do kittens grow out of aggression?

If you are experiencing this unsociable behavior from your cat, you may be wondering how long it will take for her to grow out of it. Or, will she ever grow out of it.

The answer is yes, you should expect her to grow out of it within approximately 18 months or so (give or take a few months). To be truthful, this is only a guide. Why? Because every cat is different.

Also, as discussed earlier, there are many reasons why your cat may even stop, but then start getting aggressive again. For example, she develops an uncontrollable pain, are you with me?

Why does my kitten bite me when I pet him?

If you have ever stroked or petted your cat and she gave you a random nip, you may be baffled. It is not always obvious why this has happened, right?

Well, there is a known reason for this. In most cases its because your cat has become overstimulated. This may sound weird, how can they get overstimulated?

For example, you may excessively stroke her, do it for too long or even stroke her in the wrong direction, are you with me?

This typically results is a reactional bite or even a hiss (Click here to see why your cat may hiss at your dad). Usually, there is a warning for this, but not always.

Why is my kitten so hyper?

If you have noticed that your cat is acting “weird”. In particular hyperactive. You may be scratching your head thinking, what could have caused this?

In most cases, this could be something quite small/subtle, such as a new person in your home, unknown houseguest (Click here to see what to do if your cat attacks your houseguest) or even a new baby.

The best thing to do is to give her some space at first. If you have been patient and she is still acting up you can try pheromones (Click here for me best pheromones for aggressive cats), catnip or even some soft music in the background.

What does it mean when a cat bites you hard?

Earlier I explained the reason why your cat may give you a quick nip. Now, in some cases, this may escalate to a hard bite. if this happens there is usually a reason for this and some telltale clues as well.

Firstly, don’t freak out, it may not have been a serious attempt to hurt you. Believe it or not, your cat may be playing with you.

The tell-tale signs of a loving bite

If your cat bites you, then runs off and looks back at you in a playful manner, this is a good sign that she wants to play games. I understand that it may hurt, but maybe she doesn’t know her own strength. This behavior is similar to pet dogs’ actions.

A Warning Sign

If this is not the case, then this is likely to be a warning to just back up and leave her alone, are you with me? Basically, you overstepped the mark, overstimulated her, and she needs space, get it? So, do what she wants, move back and give her some space.

Ways to avoid her biting or being overly aggressive

Now that you understand why cats behave reacting to aggression, and what triggers them. I want to give you some ideas on how to prevent/avoid it happening in the future.

01. Avoid using your feet/hands as toys

Avoid using your feet hands as toys

As much as you are tempted to play with your cat using your hands or feet, don’t do it. It may not result in anything at first, but, you are opening the invitation for her to bite you. Basically, you are asking for trouble doing this.

Instead of this use a soft toy, such as a toy mouse. But, in fact, any toy that you use should be kept well away from your fingers, hands and feet, are you with me?

02. Play with your cat to entertain & wear them out

As well as being cautious with how and what you use to play with them. Just make sure that you do actually play with them on a regular basis.

It may seem like a small thing, but, your cat will build a bond with you during these times. Which will lead to her trusting you. The end product is fewer chances of aggression.

03. Put a bell collar on her

Click image above for availability on Amazon

Some cats have weird habits of launching themselves at you from random locations around the house. If this is the case, you need a way to warn you that she is about to jump you.

The easiest way to achieve this is with a bell collar (Click here for availability o Amazon). This simple device will warn you if has the urge to jump on you when you least expect it.

Things to avoid with an aggressive cat

So far I have spoken to you about what you can do to help matters. However, you may be wondering if there is anything that you need to avoid to keep her relaxed, right?

Avoid punishing her

As frustrated as you may get, avoid the temptation to punish or chastise here, well not physically anyway. It may seem like a good quick fix, but long term it won’t be productive.

I say this because, acting like this is more likely to make her stop trusting you, become more fearful and you will start a vicious cycle of aggression, are you with me?

What you can do instead

Instead of punishing her, you can try and use positive reinforcement. This is a method of treating her for good behavior. This will entice her to do what you want because she wants treats. This can simply be done by using her favorite treat (Click here for my best subscription cat treat boxes) whenever she obeys you.

My Roommate Wants to Get a Cat (Should I Allow it?)

If your roommate wants to get a cat you may be wondering what you should say. I am assuming its not an easy decision, or you wouldn’t be reading this, right?

Should I allow my roommate to get a cat if they want it?

Yes, you should let your roommate get a cat if it is allowed in your accommodation and you have no allergies or anxiety around cats. It will keep them happy and increase the chances of your roommate staying with you.

Now that you know it may be a good idea to let your roommate get a cat, let me go on to explain some pros and cons of having the cat in your accommodation to help you decide if you should agree to it.

Does your accommodation allow cats?

does your accommodation allow cats

Earlier I mentioned that one of the conditions around your decision is if it’s allowed in your accommodation. This is quite important before going any further.

Rented Accommodation

If you are currently renting a house with a friend/partner, and they want a cat. The key thing is checking with your landlord first. Sometimes it may be clearly stated in your rental agreement, other times it may be vague.

If it is not clear, contact your landlord or agent to confirm where you stand first, before agreeing to get a cat with your roommate.

Student Accommodation

Student accommodation is often the same as rented accommodation. But, in some cases, you need to speak to the college/university directly, rather than a landlord.

Depending on their rules, it may even be common knowledge that pets are not allowed. Often, in designated student accommodation, for example, student dormitories, they have a no pet policy, but you will have to check for yourself.

Government-funded Accommodation

If you have government assistance, you may be living in a house owned by the government. If that is the case you need to check their policy on pets. The problem is, every local area has lightly different rules. So, there is no one size fits all policy, are you with me?

Owned Accommodation

If it is your own accommodation, then you have no real restrictions. It comes down to you if you can cope. If you have any allergies or any major reason like that, then it is a no-brainer to refuse.

But, if that is not the case, you may consider going ahead with the new cat. This is for two reasons:

Keep your flatmate happy
Make them more likely to stay longer.

Is there more than two people to consider?

So far I have discussed your accommodation and the reasons why you may consider going ahead with the new cat. But, if you have more than two people to decide, this can get more complicated.

Settle it with a vote

The best way to deal with this, in my opinion, is to have a vote. This is the fairest way. This is because unstructured “discussions” can usually lead to who shouts the loudest, or worse case, you all fall out, are you with me?

What are the advantages of having a cat?

Before you even consider saying yes, or no. You need to understand the advantages of owning or sharing your personal space with a cat. Let me help by listing some advantages of owning a cat…

01. Help you through hard times

One of the benefits of owning a cat is their company and unjudgmental presence. What do I mean by this? Well, if you are going through hard times, such as losing a friend or a family member, it can be beneficial to have a cat.

They are unjudgmental because they can’t talk back with an opinion that could make you feel uneasy. In fact, many cat owners love having them for this exact reason. They will listen without a response. Some owners argue that this lack of response is very therapeutic.

There have been studies carried out that concluded that cats help secrete oxytocin, which is a hormone responsible for love and helps us trust people. Others have also stated that cats can help to calm some autistic children.

02. Find a Partner

In recent studies, it has been confirmed that having a cat can increase your chances of attracting a partner. This is based on a survey done on female members of popular dating websites.

The response was that females were more likely to respond to a male profile that had a cat because it made them feel that the male was more sensitive.

03. Emotional Support

You may have wondered why there is a stereotype of lonely single librarians having a kitten, as a replacement for a partner. Well, maybe there is a reason for this.

Because a study conducted back in the early 2000s concluded that cats provide emotional support. It found that the level of emotional support was similar to having a significant other. This may be helped by cats’ reciprocating affection sent their way.

04. Reduce day-to-day stress & anxiety

Many cat owners have explained that part of their love for cats has been because of their ability to help them get through anxious times in their life.

Simply playing with their cat and open displays of affection, such as cuddling and holding them have made a big difference in their stress levels and anxiety.

05. Get rid of mice & Rats

cats get rid of mice cats

One of the more obvious advantages of having a cat is pest control. When I say “pests”, I mean mice and rats. Most people are aware of cats hate for mice, in fact, it has been played up quite a lot on TV. In particular cartoons such as “Tom & Jerry”, remember them? Or am I just showing my age, ha!

06. Keep you active

I understand that cats are not as needy as dogs. But, they still need physical exercise (Click here for my 3 best cat playpens to help your cat to get more activity and exercise) and stimulation. And, a small portion of this is required their owner’s assistance. This is where you can benefit from this.

These small activities will help to keep you active and that mental boost at the same time. Similar to the boost you get from going to the gym, are you with me?

07. Backup alarm clock

We all know there are times we smash the alarm clock snooze button so many times it can become unproductive. Are you with me? On these occasions, your kitty can be a lifesaver. As she snuggles up to you on your seventh snooze alarm, it might be the thing that actually gets you up that day.

08. Low maintenance

Let’s face it, cats are relatively low maintenance. Once they have enough food, plenty of water (Click here to see why I suggest this water fountain) and good litter tray (Click here to see why this Japenese version is best), then you are pretty much set.

09. Boosts Your bodies natural Immunity

You may or may not know that cats have a tendency to drop dander and fur around your house. While this may seem like a negative, it can also be positive.

But how? Well, this extra exposure to these things can help your body build up natural immunity. Your body is clever, it will try to defend itself with these natural defenses if it feels under attack.

10. Enjoyment & Entertainment

Depending on your sense of humor, you may find your cat is a natural source of entertainment. Why do you think these cat videos are so popular? Huh? Well, people just love watching cats antics, right?

11. Increase Responsibility (Especially for kids)

If you are a parent or could do with a boost of responsibility, then a cat will be your best bet. Why? Well, they require your assistance to be fed, cleaned up after, etc.

Therefore, if your child is given some basic tasks, such as feeding your cat once a day, it helps to keep them responsible. And, it quantifies their responsibility, so you can assess their progress, make sense?

Disadvantages of owning a Cat

Like any good thing, there are always negatives. Owning a cat is no exception. So, before you agree to take on this cat with your flatmate evaluate these disadvantages as well.

01. Cats Shed

Earlier I mentioned the benefits of cats shedding dander and fur, right? Well, it also has a bad side too. It will leave fur around your house, for you to clean up. So, bare this one in mind.

02. Smelly Cat Litter

Although cats are relatively low maintenance, especially when compared to dogs, they still need work. And the smell of their poop (Click here to understand why cats poop when you get home) is sometimes overwhelming, to be honest.

So, just understand this, if your roommate is out one day, you may need to clean up the mess, are you with me?

03. May turn off your guests

Let’s be honest, not everyone is a cat lover. And, the reality is there are some friends that may just hate cats. The problem is, there may be a small minority of your friends that may not get along with your cat (Click here to see why your cat might attack your houseguest), and it may make them less likely to pass by for some tea or coffee.

04. Vet Bills

Whilst cats are not too expensive to look after, in my opinion. they do have costs. And, in particular, is the vet’s costs. If you are unlucky and your cat (or your roommates) is sick, the costs could rack up.

Why does my cat hiss at my dad?

If your cat is going crazy when your Dad is at your house, you may be left wondering what her problem is, right?

Why does my cat hiss at my dad?

Your cat is hissing at your Dad because she is either scared, reacting to violation of her personal space (without your dad knowing) or she has suffered from a man before and associates your dad with this pain.

Now that you know some reasons why she has reacted in this way, let me explain how so of these issues may have occurred, but more importantly, what you can do about it.

What has triggered this response to my dad?

As discussed briefly, it is one of these issues:

Fear
Violation of personal space
Historical poor treatment from adult males

Fear

The number one reason for this hissing response is fear. The tricky thing is, it can be for many different reasons. So, the challenge to you is to find out what the underlying issue is.

If she only hisses at your dad, then read the next section, I have a few suggestions for this. However, if she is hissing at all men, again, I have got you, keep reading.

Violation of personal space

This one needs a bit of digging first. Did your cat start hissing the moment your Dad entered the door? If yes, skip this and move onto the next section.

If not, then there is a good chance that your dad violated her personal space. An example of this is getting to close to her while she was napping on the sofa. Or maybe he brushed past her and hurt her, without even noticing.

If its the latter, your dad may have not noticed. And, the problem is, cats take a while before they can forgive you for this (more on this later).

Historical poor treatment from adult males

Poor treatment to your kitty may be hard to detect, especially if this happened before you owned her, are you with me? If this is the case, your cat may be fearful of all men, based on this experience.

Heard the term “once bitten, twice shy?”, same thing here. To make matters worse, your cat can detect testosterone and may trigger her hissing reaction, not just to your Dad, but other males.

Should I hiss back at my cat?

should I hiss back at my cat

No, you should not hiss back at your cat, if she hisses at you. I know, it could be tempting. But why? The reality is, its dangerous. But, let me explain.

When your cat hisses, it is her way of saying: “Oi, I am warning you, back up, or else”, are you with me? It’s your final warning.

Before what, though?

Well, if you are not sure, let me spell it out. The next step could mean her biting or scratching you. Either of these is unwanted.

Other Reasons Cats May Hiss

In reality, there are various other reasons why your cat may hiss. For that reason, in this section, I will explain a few of them, to help you understand what may be happening with your kitty.

Medical Issues

Firstly there are quite a few medical issues that can cause your cat to hiss at you, out of sheer frustration. Such as the following:

Dental issues
Joint pain (Arthritis)
Urinary Infection
etc.

A clear indication of this is if she hisses suddenly, which seems out of character. She may be suffering a lot of pain, and this may have resulted in this reaction. If this is the case, you need to take her to the vets as soon as possible (Click here to see why I like these lightweight carriers for short journeys to the vets, etc), to find out exactly what the issue is.

Tried to Handle Her?

If you’ve been trying to handle your cat, which is a usual thing that you would do, and she has reacted with a real sharp hiss. Then this could be another telltale sign that she is feeling some pain and needs some assistance.

Changes in your home?

Another thing that can unsettle your cat and make them do unexpected behavior, such as hissing at you, is if there have been changes in their environment.

This may be the addition of a new family member, maybe you have changed home or someone has left the family home, are you with me?

The reality is, cats are creatures of habit and small things can unsettle them. These small things can make them act unreasonably in our minds, but deep down, there is a root cause problem for this.

How do you stop your cat from hissing at you?

One of the biggest mistakes cat owners make is to try and comfort their cat, while she is hissing at them. This is a desperate attempt to try and stop it from happening.

I understand this makes logical sense because in your mind this might be how you would like to be treated. However, for her, the best thing to do is to give her some space.

When I say space, I don’t mean wait a few minutes and then try and handle her again, no!

I mean at least a few hours before she may be willing to come back to her senses and willing to play with you again, are you with me?

If you’ve been patient and waited a few hours. Try and coax her back into your arms using a nice friendly treat. Or, maybe some catnip (Click here to see the crazy effects catnip has on cats), if that’s her thing.

My experience with this…

I remember when I was a child and was playing with my favorite cat. I remember walking out of a door and accidentally stepping on her tail.

I was only small at the time and it really shocked me. The hissing sound that she made quite frightened me because it was out of character for her.

I remember trying to make the same mistake most make, by trying to comfort her immediately after because I felt so guilty about it.

It didn’t go down very well. And, it taught me an important lesson, that you should take time and give your cat space in these situations.

What should you do if your two cats are hissing at each other?

If you have two cats and noticed that they are fighting or hissing at each other it is a good idea to stop it from happening. Obviously, you need to be careful that you do not put yourself in danger.

It is not a good idea to leave them to fight it out. Like in the previous section, I explained that you need to give them some time apart to recover, the same applies here.

Catnip & Treats

Other tactics that you can use to stop this happening is calming therapy, such as catnip or pheromones (Click here to see why I rated these 3 pheromone collars for aggressive cats) to try and see if it will stop them from reacting in this manner.

Will cats hold grudges?.

Yes. cat hold grudges, but it won’t last long. If your cat is hissing at you and you know you have done something to upset her, you may be wondering if she will hold a grudge.

The reality is a cat’s long-term memory is really not that great. Therefore, she will hold a grudge, but, for a very short period of time. After a few hours, it is likely that she will forgive or forget.

However, they do have memory by association. So obviously, if you start to abuse the cat, then that is a whole different matter because she won’t forget that.

So, there is no need to worry about your cat not wanting to be around you or hissing long term if you made a mistake.

Why doesn’t my cat hiss?

If you have a cat that doesn’t seem to hiss at all then this is not necessarily a problem. Maybe you have come across other cats that do this and you may be scratching your head thinking why she doesn’t do the same, right?

The reality is each cat has different ways of dealing with things. Some cats may react aggressively (Click here to see why a 7-Month-Old Kitten may act aggressively), but not necessarily hiss, are you with me?

Therefore, you need to look at the big picture. Focus on her general demeanor and behavior instead.

However, If your cat did hiss once upon a time, but now, all of a sudden, it is not hissing. Then, this is different. Because it shows a change of behavior and could be a reason to be concerned.

If this is the case then it is advisable to consult your vet to see if there is anything to be concerned about.

How does a cat hiss?

If you have ever seen a cat hiss you may be wondering how this is even possible. Your cat will use its tongue and the arch in its upper portion of its mouth. This creates a vessel which she pushes air through at a rapid rate.

While it is doing this she typically pushes her ears down. At the same time creating an aggressive and threatening body posture by arching her back.

If you have ever been brave enough to get close to a cat while it is hissing, which I do not recommend you do at all, by the way, you would have noticed the big blast of air that comes from its mouth when she is doing this.

Can Cats Eat Graham Crackers?

If you are a happy cat owner, and like me, you want to check everything that your cat eats. You may have wondered about graham crackers, are they a good idea?

Can cats eat graham crackers?

Yes, cats can eat graham crackers. But, it’s not recommended. This is because they are not made for cats and contain too much sugar, salt, and fat. They offer no nutritional benefit for a cat, so no reason to offer it.

Now that you know that they can eat them, but not ideal, let me go on to explain their nutritional content, the risks of feeding your cat too many crackers (in general). As well as if cats can even taste sweet foods and much more. Keep reading…

What are graham crackers?

If you have landed here wondering what Graham crackers are, then don’t panic because I will fill you in. I understand because I never grew up with these crackers, in fact, coming from the UK, I have never actually eaten one in my life.

According to Wikipedia, These crackers are a sweet type of cracker that is made with Graham flour. They often come in the form of honey or cinnamon variations.

They are quite popular in the United States and are often used in various recipes or served with other sweet snacks. They originated way back in the 1880s, so, they have stood the test of time.

Nutritional Content of Graham Crackers

The following nutritional breakdown, according to Wikipedia, is based on a 14 g measure of Graham crackers:

Calories – 59
Fat – 1.4 g
Cholesterol – 0 mg
Sodium – 67 mg
Potassium – 19 mg
Carbohydrates – 11 g
Protein – 1 g

Risks of serving your cat too many crackers

So far I have explained what graham crackers contain and the fact that they are not ideal for your cat. However, you may be keen to understand what risks these crackers really pose, right?

No nutritional benefits for cats

Think of graham crackers as a treat. It is not really needed by us humans as well as cats. For cats, there are many other nutritional offerings that are more beneficial.

How many times have you had chocolate, sweet biscuit or packet of crisps last month? Exactly, probably more than you should, right? My point is, its ok in moderation, but we know these foods are not ideal for us. Same with cats and Graham crackers.

Controlling your cat’s weight

One of the biggest concerns is controlling your cat’s weight. Like us, cats can only eat so much per day, before they exceed their calory limit. Beyond this, it starts to make them gain weight.

If this spirals out of control it can lead to obesity (more on this later). So, I am not saying your cat will get fat from one cracker, no, that would be ridiculous. My point is, it starts bad habits, that could spiral out of control if it is not monitored.

Are Graham Crackers the same as digestives?

No, Graham crackers are not the same as digestive biscuits. However, they are quite similar. In some countries, Graham crackers are either quite rare or almost impossible to get (more on this later).

Therefore, some people wonder if they can substitute them with digestive biscuits. Because, in some countries, such as the UK, digestives are very common.

In general, digestives are sweeter than graham crackers. Also, they are not the same texture. Digestives are not as crisp as Graham crackers.

Can you get Graham Crackers in the UK?

Yes, you can get Graham crackers in the UK. However, they are quite hard to find. If you are searching for them in the UK you can find them. But, in comparison to common biscuits like digestives, they are hard to find.

This is why many cooks, who need graham crackers for a specific recipe, tend to substitute them for digestives. Within a recipe, it offers quite a good alternative, in my opinion.

Is sugar harmful to cats?

No, it’s not harmful. However, if it is overused it is likely to lead to obesity, diabetes or dental decay. Sugar really has no positive benefits for a cat, and arguably the same for us humans. Therefore, choose another option.

Although this may seem a bit overhyped, the reality is, I need to be harsh to be kind. There is no real reason to be finding your kitty with sugar. Us humans are still feeling the effects, in general, from years of overeating processed sugary food to this day. So, try and leave your cat out of the loop, are you with me?

Can cats eat goldfish crackers?

Yes, cats can eat goldfish crackers. However, they are not recommended. The simple reason is, they offer very little to no nutritional value to your cat. If your cat gets hold of one and devours it, it’s not the end of the world.

However, just because it’s not the end of the world, it doesn’t mean you have the green flag of recommendation, it needs to be avoided.

Do cats hate bitter-tasting food?

Yes, cats hate bitter-tasting food. In fact, so much so that there are products that have been created that use sour tastes to deter cats such as “bitter apple”. However, this aversion to sour tastes is important for their survival. It helps them detect poisonous food, etc.

These bitter products are useful if you want to find a way to protect furniture items or even as a clever way t train your cat what she needs to avoid touching, are you with me?

Can cats eat saltine crackers?

No, cats should not be fed saltine crackers. This is because the salt contained in them is way too much for your cat. Again, if your cat gets a taste of one, it won’t be a serious issue. But it is not recommended as regular food for their diet.

To be honest, its pretty much the same practice for Grahams crackers, which I explained earlier in this article. In moderation, yes. A weekly part of their diet? No way! Are you with me?

What are the dangers of Cat obesity?

So far I have mentioned cat obesity a few times. But, it may not be very clear why this is a real issue. Forgive me if this is obvious.

The thing about obesity, it is more than just the obesity itself, its the knock-on effects, are you with me?

Stress on their joints, etc

So, if your cat is obese, she stands a good chance of having joint or cartilage issues. This is because of the additional stress that is put on her body. In particular, her musculoskeletal system.

In addition to this, there are other risks such as arthritis and hip problems. And, we haven’t even discussed the biggest issues, such as diabetes and heart disease.

So, in general, it is worth taking note and avoiding these issues as much as possible. The fact is avoiding treats such as Grahams crackers, biscuits, etc. Is a great way to help to avoid these problems.

What Does It Mean When Your Cat Pees on You?

If your cat has peed on you you may be left scratching your head wondering why this has happened. Especially if you have had this cat for a while and it is completely out of character.

What does it mean if a cat pees on you? If your cat pees on you, its either because he is marking his territory, feeling scared, anxious or worried that you may be being claimed by another cat. Each of these requires different approaches.

Now that you know why this may be happening, let me give you more detail on each of these possibilities. Also, why scent is so important to your cat, different ways she may mark her territory in your house and much more. Keep reading…

Reasons why he has peed

The reality is there are a number of reasons that could make your cat do this. It’s difficult and frustrating, but, it’s up to you to work out which one is more relevant to your particular situation.

01. Marking its territory

If your cat is marking his territory he is more likely to rub his head against you to leave his scent on you (more on this later). However, there is a small chance that he may urinate on you for this same reason.

02. Feeling scared.

In some cases, if cats are feeling anxious or scared, they may do unexpected behaviour, such as urinating on you. This is why some cat owners prefer cat grooming bags to make them feel less anxious while travelling around (Click here to see why I rated this).

You need to understand what may have caused your cat to get alarmed so you can help to solve the problem.

Fear of another cat claiming (or animal) you.

Along the same lines as marking its territory. Your cat may have been spooked by another cat, animal or person who they feel is trying to claim you as their owner.

In this instance, they may do irrational things such as peeing on you.

Did your cat do this to be rude?

After discovering the wet urine on your body, you may be wondering, regardless of the reasons why, if he has done this is as a vengeful attack, or even being spiteful.

The reality is if a cat pees on you, although it seems like an unacceptable show of disrespect, do not take it personally. Cats behave very differently to humans. And, in their mind, their behaviours are interpreted very differently.

Obviously, if a human being done this to us, it would be regarded as the ultimate disrespect. And, some would even fight over this.

However, for a cat it does not see urinating on an insult in this way at all. It sees it in a very practical way, simply to mark his territory and identify familiar friends (more on this later).

Why scent is so important to cats

why is scent important to your cat

With all this talk about urinating and marking territory, you may be wondering why their scent is so important to your cat.

Cats are very different from us, as I explained earlier. One of the main reason I say this is the fact that they use scent to identify their territory. It is also a way to identify people in their own family. Such as their own siblings or even their own kittens.

You may notice, for example, if you take your cat out for the day to the vet (Click here to see why I like the idea of using these cat carriers when heading to the vets). Then you return home. If you’re in a multi-cat household, the other cats initially mainly to smell the cat and sniff around her just to identify that it is actually her.

Obviously to us humans, this is weird because with one glance we can identify who the person is by using our vision, right?

But for cats, it’s different, they heavily rely on their scent, rather than their vision.

What ways do cats mark their territory?

Cats have a few different ways that they mark their territory. Such as urinating, rubbing against objects, or even scratching.

Rubbing

Rubbing against you is probably one of the most common things that you may notice. Why? because they routinely do this to most of us humans, right?

This is a clever way for him to use his scent glands, in his cheeks to rub against you and mark you. So that he knows who you are when you meet again.

Urinating or spraying.

Urinating (and spraying), as we mentioned before, is another way of marking his territory. But this time using urine, which has a very distinct smell.

Obviously, as we know, this is a big problem for us humans, right? Because the smell is very strong and it’s very hard to get rid of (more on this later).

Scratching and Clawing

If you are the unlucky homeowner who has a cat scratching his furniture or door frames (Click here for my best solution to stop her scratching this). And, you can fully relate to this. Cats use this technique to sharpen their claws as well as mark their territory.

What kind of urine marking is there?

There are two distinct types of urine marking that cats use:

Horizontal
Vertical

Vertical

Vertical urination marking is typically on a wall (or another vertical object). One leg is put in the air, with their tail erect. He then sprays urine onto the object.

Horizontal

Horizontal is what we commonly see when, for example, a big wet wee mess on a floor.

What can you do if your cat pees on your bed?

If you are unlucky and find that your cat is weeing (Click here to see 9 Reasons why your cat’s peeing in the house all of a sudden) on you while you are in your bed. You may have a big mess to clean up. The problem is, if it’s not handled properly, it can linger for months.

Cover it up (Short term tactical fix)

In the first instance, the best thing that you can do is cover your bed with plastic sheeting. This is just to keep it from getting it more wet and smelly.

This is not the solution but something to keep it under control while you work out what the root cause of the problem is, are you with me?

One tactic that you can use is to grab some of your cat’s favourite toys and place them in the area which is typically affected by the urine.

The trick here is to deter your cat from urinating in this area because it is unlikely to want to spoil its toys.

If it’s an Anxiety-related issue

If you dig into the root cause and find out it is an anxious reaction. One of the things that you can do, which is quite easy, is to give your cat a bit more attention. Make him feel calmer before you go to bed especially. This is one of the reasons some cat owners choose a cat bed for anxious cats (Click here to see why I rated this one).

What smells can deter your cat from peeing?

If you have an ongoing problem with your cat urinating or peeing in your house or even on you. You can use this to deter him. It relies on using strong smelling fragrances.

Cats have a very strong sense of smell. And, fragrances which have a very strong smell, even if they may smell delicious to you or me, can actually deter cats. This is because it’s doesn’t appeal to them.

Example of these smells

Example of these smells is natural essential oils, such as:

Lavender
Lemon
or even peppermint.

These types of essential oils have very strong smells. They will deter your cat from peeing on areas such as your carpet or piece of furniture.

To implement this, all you need to do is take approximately 15 to 20 drops of these essential oils mixed with water.

Then mix it up into a spray bottle. Then spray the protected areas daily. Then monitor your cat to see if it deters him from urinating in that spot, are you with me?

Cleaning up the mess after your cat pees in a corner.

Another issue, which a lot of cat owners have, is their cat urinating in a particular corner of the room. This can become an ongoing problem.

This is because of your cat detecting its scent in this spot, and then feeling the urge to re-soil the same area over and over again.

Therefore, one of the best things that you should do is clean up the mess initially. But do it well. This is because it will remove the scent and make them less likely to return to that spot, are you with me?

I understand it is not as easy as you might think. Why? Because cat urine has quite a strong lingering smell. However, one of the best things to use is an enzymatic cleaner, some vinegar or even better a wet vacuum for cat urine (Click here to the best one, in my opinion). This can help to remove the smell for good.

Why Did My Neutered Cat Pee On Me? (5 reasons)

If your cat has peed on you, you may be left confused and wondering how this is happening, especially when you have neutered him.

Why did my neutered cat pee on me? Your neutered cat peed on you because she is feeling stressed, has a medical issue or marking her territory. However, the territory is less likely, this is usually done by rubbing against us.

Now that you know why your cat has peed on you, let me go on to explain some misconceptions you may have, how these issues affect your cat, what you can do about is, and much more…

The misconception of having a Neutered cat

The fact that she peed on you and not on a piece of furniture suggests it could be a medical issue. But, this is not guaranteed because there are a number of factors.

Most cat owners assume that their cat will not urinate when they are neutered. The reality is, this is not the case. Just because they’re neutered does not mean that they will not urinate around the house.

Cats have other motivations for urinating (or spraying) other than reproduction.

What causes a cat to spray or urinate indoors?

Earlier, I briefly discussed that just because your cat is neutered it does not mean that you will get rid of any chance of her urinating or spraying in your house. I’m going to explain some of the reasons why this might be happening…

01. Another cat causing stress.

another cat causing stress

Stress is a big factor for cats urinating inside of a house. This can be triggered by just the mere presence of another cat. The other cat doesn’t even need to be a physical threat, are you with me?

The reality is, cats are ruled by territories and, this is a big focus of their day-to-day. Therefore, the presence of another cat even close to their territory will make them feel anxious, stressed and infiltrated.

02. New family friend or baby

Similar to a cat feeling anxious or stressed by another cat. They can also have this same feeling by a new family member or friend entering the house (Click here to see why some cats attack houseguests).

They can feel that their territory has been violated, their owner may be taken away from them or even jealous.

In reality, there’s not much you can do apart from giving them time to adjust. Especially if this is a new baby.

03. Simple redecoration of the house.

Believe it or not, just giving your house a simple lick of paint by redecorating, can also unsettle your cat and cause it to start urinating inside.

This may sound bizarre and somewhat unbelievable, but this is a reality. The reason why this happens is your cat’s scent, such as scratches or your cat rubbing against your furniture are subtle little ways of it marking its territory.

When you redecorate a room, even if you do not directly cover the area which is scratched or rubbed against, disrupts her scent.

The powerful smell of the paint that you used to decorate can cause her to get confused and get struggle to identify her scent.

The best way to get around this problem is to remove access to that room immediately after you have decorated it. Let the paint settle down first. And, give the scent of your cat a chance to naturally re-enter the room.

Advanced techniques, such as trying to unnaturally get the cats sent back into the room are talked about, but to be honest, it’s probably more difficult doing it that way round. Keep it simple.

04. Medical issues.

Another common reason why cats urinate in their house is that they lose control due to medical issues. Common issues, such as urinary tract infections (also known as UTI), can cause pain and discomfort to your cat.

There are many other medically related issues that cause similar problems. But, to be honest, whatever the medical issue is, the best thing to do is take your cat to the vet.

This should be done immediately, for inspection. Rather than waiting and speculating what it could be, are you with me?

05. Old age

Old age creeps up on the best of us. Your cat is no different. You may get a shock one day when you notice her urinating on your sofa.

The reasons for this could be:

Arthritis (causing joint pain)
Dementia
Inability to get through the cat flap

Issues like Arthritis can mean your cat is struggling to leave the house to relieve herself. Or she may even have other related health problems due to old age. These issues could prevent her from leaving the house or using the cat flap that you’ve provided.

The best option for this is to get a cat litter tray for indoor use. This is because the cat flap may become difficult for them to use in their old age.

06. Overly clean litter tray

Keeping a clean litter tray is very important. So it may sound a little bit weird saying that it could also cause your cat to urinate in your house. However, this is can happen.

The reason this happens is, sometimes as cat owners we go over the top. The reason I say over-the-top is, excessive disinfecting of the cat litter tray causes strong smells. Your cat doesn’t like this.

Also, sometimes we buy scented litter to try and get rid of the awful smell the litter tray causes, right?

It sounds like a good idea in theory, but your cat may find the smell overpowering and turn her off using it completely.

The best way to get around this is to using feline-friendly disinfectants. And, make sure you thoroughly rinse the litter tray with water rather, than using strong disinfectant.

Do cats urinate in a house out of Spite?

No, cats do not urinate out of spite. You may be wondering if your cat has urinated on you, or in your house, just out of sheer spite. I understand the thought process, for humans, this could make sense. However, this is not the case for cats.

Nine times out of ten, its something that is causing them stress, pain or anxiety (Click here to see why this cat bed helps to reduce cat anxiety). The challenge is finding out what this is. As a cat owner, you have taken on the responsibility of looking after the livelihood of your cat.

Therefore, it is your duty to work out what the root cause of the issue is and help to resolve it rather than telling the cat off.

Do cats mark their humans?

As I mentioned earlier, cats typically do not urinate on their owners. It is possible but rare.

Their usual method of marking humans is by rubbing their forehead against them. This is to mark their scent on us humans. However, you may notice that your cat urinates on other objects in your house as well as scratching.

Why do cats leave their scent on you?

You may be wondering why cats need to leave their scent on us, is it even necessary? Cats like to feel comfortable in their own territory. However, they do not associate their territory visually the same way we do.

Instead, they rely on their powerful sense of smell. So in their mind, this is the best way to identify their territory, are you with me?

They will Mark and rub against you, and other objects, to group them together, to form their visceral territory.

Is spraying and urinating different?

Yes, cat spraying and urinating are slightly different. Spraying is a way for your cat to mark their territory. However, urinating in general typically means your cat is simply trying to empty her bladder.

Making your cat feel secure.

You may be wondering if there are ways that you can make your cat feel more secure and help to stop them from marking and spraying your house.

Although there is no guaranteed way of doing it. You can help to reduce the chances of it. This is done by limiting them to roaming around a couple of rooms in your house.

In reality, this can be quite difficult to implement. But, if you do get it working, they may feel less compelled to spray those rooms because they have limited space to move around.

Maine Coon Cat Matted Fur: How to get rid of it

If you have a Maine Coon cat and noticed some matted fur, you may be looking for some simple solutions to get rid of it…

Can I get rid of my Maine coons matted fur? Yes, you can get rid of your Maine Coon’s matted fur. However, there are some simple techniques you can use to avoid making life hard for yourself.

Now that you understand that it is possible to get rid of the matted fur, let me share with you some actionable tips to get rid of them, explain what actually causes them, how to prevent them coming back and much more…

What causes my Maine coon’s matted fur?

The matted fur (sometimes looks separated) is typically located around areas on your cat’s body that cause a lot of movement. Therefore, you may find it underneath her tail, under her chest or even around her legs, because these areas create a lot of movement.

Shedding

Shedding is another known cause of matted fur. This typically happens when the loose fur falls onto your cat and stays there, over time, if this is left unattended, it becomes thicker and harder to get rid of, which then escalate into matted fur.

Unable to groom himself.

If your cat is feeling sick, overweight or feeling pain when grooming, you may find that she will stop grooming. In time her fur will become neglected and matted.

The matted fur will eventually get worse. With time and further neglect, it can become unmanageable.

Typical reasons for this include:

Obesity
Arthritis
Dental problems

Why you mustn’t get her fur wet (When it’s matted).

must not get your cats matted fur-wet

Some cat owners decide what they want to take matters into their own hands by trying to wet their cat’s fur, in an attempt to get rid of the matting.

I can tell you from now, this is not a good idea. The reason I say this is because the water can actually tighten up the tangled fur. This will make it even harder to get rid of the problem.

Therefore, your efforts to get rid of a problem becomes harder. Often, cat groomers will suggest using detanglers or anti-static spray, to get rid of the mess.

One of the mistakes cat owners make, to cut corners, is reuse cosmetic products made for humans, such as detanglers, to save money. It may sound like a good idea, from a financial perspective, but, It’s not a good idea for your cat, are you with me?

Why? Because cat-specific products have been specially formulated for cats for a reason. They have different requirements to use, for example, different ph levels.

Why is matted fur so bad?

You may be wondering to yourself what’s so bad about the matted fur in your cat and can you not just leave it as it is.

Apart from the obvious reasons that it looks bad and I’ll give me an I saw there are some genuine reasons why you want to take action with the matted fur before it becomes uncontrollable.

Skin irritation

When your cat has matted fur, it blocks oxygen and moisture to her skin. Over time her skin will become irritated and dried out. Then she will start to over-compensate by trying to groom these areas more than usual.

This typically ends up with her ingesting excess fur, this can then lead to health-related problems.

Trapped urine and faeces.

On some of these heavily matted areas, such as on the back of your cat’s legs, you may find it starts to trap urine and faeces. Not only does this smell bad, but it can also lead to other health-related problems.

Parasites

Leaving tangled or matted hair for a long duration will increase the chances of attracting parasites. This obviously causes immense irritation and pain for your cat. And, can also lead to further health problems.

Therefore, as you can see, keeping on top of your cats grooming and avoiding matting is the best way forward.

How to remove your Maine coon’s Matted fur

So far you have learnt exactly what causes matted fur and the dangers of ignoring it. In this section, I will reveal some solutions on how you can get rid of it…

01. Using your fingers.

In the first instance, if you are lucky, you may find that you’ve caught the matted fur in its early stages. Rather than investing in any other solutions, or over-complicating matters, you may get away with simply brushing your fingers through her matted fur, to get rid of it easy.

02. Wide-tooth comb.

If you’ve tried running your fingers through your Maine coon’s fur and it has not made any difference, then you can try using a wide-toothed comb (Click here to see if this great comb is still available, on Amazon).

The best way to use this is to make sure that you grasp the end of the fur closest to the skin. This is to avoid tugging her fur. As you can imagine, tugging at her fur hurts.

Gently get the wide-tooth comb and place it near your fingers and then comb away from your hands to the end of her fur. This will avoid causing any unnecessary pain to your cat.

If you notice that your cat has a particularly thick undercoat, you can actually use an undercoat comb (click here to check availability of this one on Amazon) to deal with this. It is well suited for this particular issue and can save you some time and stress.

03. Using a de-matting comb

These de-matting combs (Click here to see why I selected this) are specifically made for the matting. Therefore, they are ideal, if you have failed with the other two methods.

The unique thing about these combs is, they are designed to cut through the fur as you brush, to get rid of really persistent matting. In fact, they’re often called razor combs for this reason.

Again, while using these combs, hold that base fur, close to her skin, are you with me? This is for the same reasons as discussed earlier.

04. The clippers method

If all else fails, and she still has this unsightly matted fur, it’s time to get the groomers involved. Typically, groomers will end up using some clippers to get rid of the matted fur.

So, it is advised to let the professionals take over. You don’t want to make any unnecessary mistakes with these clippers, trust me.

How can you prevent your Maine coons fur getting matted?

As you may have heard before, prevention better than cure, right? Therefore I’m going to share some techniques to avoid this happening…

01. Running your fingers through her fur

On occasion, you should routinely rub your hands through your cat’s fur. This can easily be done while you are petting her. If you notice any small matted fur, it’s your chance to get in early and sort it. Better to act now before it gets out of hand.

02. Bathing

Another tactic to use in bathing your cat (click here to see if it is really a good idea to bath your cat). It doesn’t necessarily have to be done on a regular basis. But, it’s a good idea on occasion, especially if she gets really messy.

03. Trimming & Brushing your cat’s fur.

On occasion, trimming your cat’s fur will help to keep it maintainable. You should also help your cat by brushing and grooming her fur. Especially with Maine coons because they have such long fur. Its easier for their fur to get out of control.

I understand that cats naturally groom their own fur. But sometimes they need help, this will reduce the chances of matted fur developing.

What if the matting is out of control?

If you have used all of these solutions and you are still finding it hard to deal with your kitties matted fur, then you need to get a professional groomer involved.

It’s not worth taking any risks with your cat and, generally speaking, professional groomers know exactly what to do in these difficult situations.

What is the best brush for a Maine coons hair?

Because Maine coons have long hair, it is important to get a comb which will help them. In particular, ones that are made for shedding.

Reason being, they are typically good for getting rid of really matted or stubborn fur. These brushes tend to have wire bristles.

Why Does My Cat Pee in the Sink? (Can I stop it?)

If your cat is acting up and peeing in your sink, you may be desperately looking for reasons why and solutions to stop it.

Why does my cat pee in the sink? Your cat is likely peeing in the sink for one of the following reasons: unclean litter tray, urinary tract infection, behavioral problems, old age, litter box avoidance or just generally loves your sink.

Now that you understand why your cat could be doing this, I will go on to explain more detail about each of these issues, how you can stop your cat peeing in the sink and much more. Keep reading…

What triggers your cat to pee in the sink?

litter box avoidance

The triggers, that pushes your cat to pee in the sink can be for a number of different reasons such as:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Behavioral Problems
Unclean litter box
Elderly
Loves the sink
Thirsty

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection is when your cat picks up an infection in its urinary tract, also known as UTI. The symptoms of this are uncontrollable bladder control, burning sensation when urinating, etc. This may be one of the reasons why your cat is urinating in your sink.

Behavioral problems.

Sometimes these issues could be down to behavioral problems. However, this can be for a number of reasons.

For example, she could be feeling stressed, anxious, caused by numerous reasons, such as another neighboring cat bothering her. Or, maybe you have recently moved house and she is feeling uncomfortable about it, are you with me?

Unclean litter box.

Cats absolutely hate dirty litter boxes. You may think that you’re saving time by only doing it every other day. But, what this perceived saving is short-sighted because you will spend more time cleaning up an unacceptable mess outside of the litter tray when your cat refuses to use it.

Elderly cats.

As cats get older they tend to get slower and their chances of getting dementia increase. If they do get dementia they may have unexpected behavioral problems. This is not because they have been naughty, it’s because they are simply having problems doing simple day-to-day activities.

Just loving your sink.

Sometimes your cat is not really being bad in any particular way it may just genuinely love your sink.

But, why?

Your sink and the bath are very similar to a litter tray in your cat’s opinion. And, sometimes your cat may even prefer it over the litter tray you have provided. Unfortunately for you, this ends up with her using your sink instead of her litter box.

Thirsty

If you have neglected your cat’s water supply by not leaving enough water out. Or if the water you have left out is getting dirty, then you may experience your cat going into the sink and trying to drink from the tap. following on from this, you may even notice her start to urinate in the sink as well.

Litter box avoidance (What now?)

Little box avoidance is when your cat has suffered A traumatic or unpleasant experience in the little box and is, therefore, unwilling to use it anymore (avoiding it).

To be honest it doesn’t have to be a major traumatic experience in our eyes. But, it has to be enough in your cat’s eyes to make her not want to use it anymore.

Here are some examples of what can cause this…

Not enough litter boxes
Poor location
One-off (or continuous) pain when using the litter box
Type of litter box
Unclean

Not enough litter boxes

Sometimes you will notice that your cat is using your sink just because there is not enough little boxes in your house.

This is more apparent if you have more than one cat. But, even if you have one can you still need to provide more than one litter box, ideally.

To give you an indication of the expectation. You should be providing at least one more litter box then you have cats. So, for example, if you have one cat, then you should be providing a minimum of two litter boxes, are you with me?

The location of the litter box

If you put your litter box in a weird location, for example, if you have a 3 story house and put it on the top floor, your cat may not want to venture up there or even remember that it is there, are you with me?

She may end up searching for an alternative and your sink may be the obvious choice in her eyes.

Type of litter

You may be wondering if the type of litter could be a reason why your cat is not using the litter tray. In some cases, this could literally be the problem. For example, you may have switched to a scented litter. This may make sense to you because it will smell nicer, right?

However, your cat may not like scented litter. And, she may be rejecting it by refusing to use it, which results with her in your sink.

Pain when using the litter box.

Earlier I talked about UTI, what this infection is and how it can cause issues for you and your cat. The reality is, there can be any random health issues that happen to cause pain while they are using your litter box can make them associate this unpleasant experience with your litter box.

This can, in turn, cause a psychological problem. Meaning, they may not want to use your litter box again. If this is the case, you may see your cat urinating in your sink.

The type of litter box

Believe it or not, even the type of litter tray/box you are using can result in your cat refusing to use it. For example, there is a type of little box that has a closed top.

Whilst they do look nice, your cat may not necessarily love it. If you have recently purchased or switched litter box, and your cat is acting up, then this could be the obvious reason why.

How can you prevent your cat from urinating in your sink?

As we have discussed in the previous section there are numerous different reasons why your cat could be urinating (Click here to see what it means when your cat pees on you) in your sink.

Therefore in this section, I will break down some solutions to cater to your particular issue.

Unclean litter tray

If this is the case you simply need to clean your litter tray on a regular basis. Depending on the cat that you have got it needs to be done a minimum once a day.

However, some cats need more frequently than that. You have to use your common sense with this one. If you are cleaning it once a day and it’s still looking messy by the afternoon, then clean it out again.

Urinary Tract Infection (or other health-related problems)

If you have cleaned the litter tray and made sure it’s tidy, and you’re still seeing her hovering in the sink, then you need to contact your vet.

It’s important to get your vet involved as early as possible because your cat could be harboring a health problem. And, if that’s the case, the best person to diagnose this is your vet.

Suspected behavior problems

If you believe that this abuse of your sink could be related to a behavioral problem you need to analyze what could be causing this.

Have you recently moved home? Introduced a new family member? anything else changed? These are the questions you need to ask yourself.

If this is the case, then you may need to give it some time. This is to allow your cat to adjust a bit, basically, grin and bear it.

If it is not down to a new environment, other triggers could be the litter, have you changed her litter and now notice she is acting up? If yes, you can simply just change the cat litter again to see how she responds.

The name of the game is trial and error. Testing, adjusting, and over and over again until you hit that sweet spot.

Thirsty.

If your cat is thirsty, and can’t find adequate water, she may end up in your sink. And, you may even find her urinating in there as well.

To avoid this, you need to put out more, fresh & clean water. If you know you have a problem remembering to do this, then don’t let your cat suffer. It is better to invest in a pet water fountain (Click here to see why I rate this one). A pet water fountain is great because it encourages her to drink more, and avoid using your sink.

Location of the litter box.

The location of the litter box is a quick fix. You can literally just change its location. Instead of hiding it away on the third floor, why not move it closer to the sink to see if this will work for you.

The type of litter box.

If she isn’t happy with the litter box, replace the closed litter box for a conventional one and see how you get on with that one.

How to get rid of the cat urine smell in the sink?

So far we have looked into ways to prevent your cat urinating in the sink. But, what if you are staring at a big mess right now, that you need to clean up?

In this section, I’m going to give you some step-by-step instructions and how to clean up this horrible mess.

01. Mop up the mess first

The first thing that you need to understand. Do not feel tempted to turn the tap on and simply rinse it down the sink. Why? because this may just push the smell further down the plug. It won’t help you.

Instead, get some paper towels and mop up the urine. Then throw it away in the bin.

02. Baking soda

The next step is getting some baking soda. Sprinkle it around the sink. You may wonder why we are using baking soda? The reason for this is because it’s a natural deodorizer. It is ideal for situations like this. After this, scrape the sink with the baking soda using a scrubbing brush.

03. Vinegar Solution

Vinegar is another very good and natural deodorizer. It will help to get rid of the urine smell. You need one part vinegar, 8 parts water.

Mix it together and prepare it in a separate container. Put the vinegar mix into the sink and cover the sink with the vinegar mix. Let it sit for a few minutes so that works it’s magic in the sink.

Then scrub the area with the vinegar mix and then rinse it.

04. Enzymatic Spray

You need an enzymatic spray (Click here for the best one). This will help to break down any remaining traces of cat urine. Basically finish off the job nicely.

Sprayed the enzymatic spray into the sink, finish by cleaning it up and then rinse it out.

Can cats get a UTI from a dirty little box?

No, the litter itself does not cause the UTI. UTIs are actually caused by bacteria that infect the bladder which then leads to this infection.

However, it is possible that the feces in a dirty litter tray can lead to infection if it enters her system.

How to Make a Cat an Outdoor Cat (Transition Safely)

If you are looking for clever ways to transition your cat to an outdoor cat, you are in the right place. There is a right way and a wrong way to do this. Keep reading to see how…

Can you change your indoor cat to an outdoor cat? Yes, you can make an indoor cat and an outdoor cat. But, you need to do this gradually (more on this later). And make sure that you give them suitable access and an incentive to return every day.

Now that you know its possible, let me explain, step-by-step, also how you can feed your cat outdoors (Click here for my best outdoor feeders), how long until you should even start this transition, and much more…

How to make your cat an outdoor cat?

ways to make your cat an outdoor cat

Before you start (Pre-requisites)

Before you even open the door and put your cat outside its important that they are supervised before you even think about letting her go free.

This can be as simple as just going outside with her and making sure that they don’t make silly mistakes.

Checking with your Vet

It’s a good idea to consult your vet to let them know that you’re planning to convert your cat to an outdoor cat. The reason for this is he may have some very good advice on how to avoid common diseases and parasites. This can be really simple things that you can do that you could completely overlook.

Giving it time

If you have just recently adopted a cat or picked up a cat from a local friend, etc. It is a good idea not to immediately try to transition them to an outdoor cat. Regardless if they had experience of being outdoors or not before.

She needs to get used to her new environment first. Before you allow her to run free. If you do not do this, there is a good chance she will never get familiar with your house.

And, a chance she won’t come back, are you with me? She will be far more likely to want to return to her original house, rather than yours.

Other Recommendations (Before you start)

Start with short trips outdoors at first. I will give you some advice about how you can gradually do this. It’s a good idea to do things slowly and one step at a time.

Start off with really short trips outside to get your cat familiar, before taking the big step into allowing them to go out unsupervised but, more on this later.

Steps to taking her outside.

In this section, I will give you some step-by-step tips to transition your cat to an outdoor cat.

01. Go outside with her

The first thing to do is gently open the door. Then step outside, ideally in a back garden or enclosed space, rather than a busy public road, are you with me?

Then allow her to gradually come out at her own pace. And, when she is ready, she will meet you there. The door is deliberately left open because it gives her the option to go back inside if she feels uncomfortable, makes sense?

Once she is outside for a little while, making sure that she is not wondering too far, stroll around gently. You can call her back if she starts to stray a bit too much.

02. Building up the length of time (with treats)

Once she is familiar with going outside you need to gradually build up the length of time that she is allowed outside. One of the best tricks for this is to use treats that she really enjoys.

You will use these as ways to get her back inside when you feel that she has had enough time. So, if she starts to wander too far, you can simply call or coax her with these treats.

03. Training her to come when she called.

Another important step is getting her to start coming to you on demand. It is important that you master this skill. Why? Because it’s your only way to feel comfortable with letting her out unaccompanied.

The way to do this is to use treats again. But, you need to be careful about how you call her. The trick is to vary what you are calling her for, let me explain.

Instead of calling her and then taking her inside every time, instead, you need to vary it. So, sometimes you call her and simply give her a treat, just for responding. Then, other times you will call her in. Are you with me?

04. Unaccompanied time.

Once you feel confident about her going outside and have gradually increased the duration. Then you are at the stage when you need to consider letting her out unaccompanied.

If you have any concerns about her not coming back or not responding to you forget it, give it more time. Don’t feel pressured.

If this is the case, continue taking your time and following the above steps until you feel comfortable.

The importance of reliable access.

Once you get to the point where your cat is ready to roam free outside unaccompanied. It is important to prepare your house for this.

The best way to go about this is to have a cat flap (Click here to see why I feel this is the best cat flap). This will allow her free access to come and go. Also, it will free up your time. Because you will not have to be there to let her in all the time.

You can get some clever cat flaps nowadays that will allow access to your cat only. It does this by making use of the microchip embedded in her skin. Also, having internal cat doors (Click here for the best ones) help her freedom as well.

How long before you can let a cat go outside?

If you have a new cat, as mentioned earlier, it is important not to allow her outside for at least 6-months.

When she is young, she is more susceptible to other diseases. Or, even being attacked by rival cats in your area.

How far will a cat roam from home?

Once your cat starts to become comfortable and go outside you may start to get anxious and wonder how far she may travel away from home. In reality, there is no real perfect way to know this, because every case is different.

For example, Some cats are timid than others. Meaning, they may only run within a very small distance of their house, like within the bounds of your garden.

Then you will have the complete opposite end of the spectrum where you will have a cat that’s very confident and will actually go as far as it can until it gets hungry.

It is expected that cats can travel any distance up to 85 m (on average). But, this is quite a rough guide. Every cat will be slightly different. This is why some cat owners use GPS trackers to keep an eye on her when she is out of the house (Click here to see why this one is popular).

Will your cat return if it runs away?

One of the biggest concerns for cat owners, when they consider taking their cat outside, is wondering if it will run away. And, if it does run away, will it ever come back?

In most cases, when a cat hasn’t returned home, it is more likely that it’s gone on an extended walk. In these instances, the likelihood is she will return. She may just need some time to wander back home.

Been away for a few hours?

If you have noticed that your cat has been missing for only a few hours then it’s probably too early to panic. Not a good idea to get over-excited and assume she has run away.

However, if this extends to 18 to 24-hours, then this is a bigger concern. Especially if it is out of character for your cat.

Remember, at that length of time you have not fed her for hours. Therefore she is either stuck somewhere and can’t find her way back or maybe something worse because food is often a big reason for cats to return home.

How long do outdoor cats live?

Could there be an effect on a cat’s life expectancy if she lives outside? This section will explore this in more detail.

The reality is, there is an impact on your cat’s life expectancy if she becomes an outdoor cat. This is because she will experience a lot more hazards outside of the house.

To put this into perspective, an outdoor cat is expected to live anywhere from two to five years, according to this site, whereas an indoor cat can be expected to live up to 17 years.

These are only averages, obviously, there will be different durations for every cat.

Is there any way to control your cat while it is outside?

If you are worried about your cat being outside, you may wonder if there’s any way that you can help to control her when she is outside.

In reality, the only way to do this is to use a cat harness (Click here to see why I am weirdly impressed with this cat harness). This device is excellent for training cats.

Another cool use for these cat harnesses is in the early stages when you are training her to go outside. Or if you have an older cat, who is currently a dedicated indoor cat, that you wish to allow outside for some fresh air, but do not want to fully transition her to an outdoor cat, are you with me?

What is the best time to let your cat outside?

Earlier I mentioned that food is quite a good incentive for your cat to come home, right? And I also mentioned its a good way to control her while she is out of sight.

One tactic that you can adopt is to train her to have a scheduled mealtime. Ideally, this is done before allowing her out unaccompanied.

This is good way to keep her safe and avoid dangerous times of the day. The best time to allow her outside is in the mornings rather than late at night.

Why?

Late at night, or in poor poorly lit conditions, increases the chances of road accidents due to reduced light. Therefore, you can adjust her feeding times around this.

Basically, you can adjust her feeding times, so that she is likely to return before the dangerous times in the day, are you with me? Also, if these feeding times are not ideal, you can consider using an automatic cat feeder that is not easy to tamper with (Click here to see why I feel this is best).

What are the risks of letting your cat outside?

To be honest, there is a long list of risks, but before I list a few, don’t let this deter you from letting your cat out forever, you just need to understand these risks:

Road accidents
Poisoning (Such as unintended rat poising)
Injury
Other aggressive cats
etc.

The best way to increase the chances of you getting your cat back if she disappears is having a collar with your address or microchipped.

What are the advantages of letting your cat outside?

One of the best things about letting your cat outside, putting all the risks aside, is the following:

More sociable
Exercise
Use her natural hunting instincts
Better behavior
Reduce the chances of her spraying
etc.

Sociability, Exercise & Hunting

Your cat will have better social interaction with other cats. It will allow her to use her natural instinctual hunting skills. Such as hunting for rodents or other small animals.

Behaviour & Spraying reduction

There is also a good chance that it will reduce the chances of her urinating in your house (Click here to see why your cat’s peeing in your house all of a sudden). And improve her behaviour (such as clawing up your furniture).

This is because, while she is outside, she will get an opportunity to use some of her territory marking outside of your house, rather than bringing the problem indoors.

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Description	Image	My Rating
01. Panther Armor Protector (Best Option) Click here for the price on Amazon
02. In Hand Couch Protector Click here for the price on Amazon
03. Stelucca Amazing Shields Protector Click here for the price on Amazon

Quick comparison of solutions to protect your couch

Why do cats scratch your furniture?

What Can you do to prevent it?

Remove the affected furniture (not ideal)

Use pheromones to attempt to affect her mood

Protect the furniture to prevent it from getting scratched

My best 3 solutions to prevent cats scratching

01. Panther Armor Couch Protector (Best Option)

Pros:

Cons:

What I like about this couch scratcher

What I do not like about this couch scratcher

02. In Hand Couch Protector

Pros:

Cons:

What I like about this couch scratcher

What I do not like about this couch scratcher

03. Stelucca Amazing Shields Protector

Pros:

Cons:

What I appreciate about this couch scratcher

What I do not appreciate about this couch scratcher

Related Questions:

Do cats scratch other areas of the house?

Is cat scratching always done to mark territory?

Why do cats scratch?

Why do cats like scratching sisal fabric or rope?

Does a scratching post dull cat’s nails?

Why is my 7-month-old cat so aggressive?

Other Reasons for cat aggression?

Feeling Pain

Feeling Fearful

Hormones Going Crazy

Feeling stressed out

Do kittens grow out of aggression?

Why does my kitten bite me when I pet him?

Why is my kitten so hyper?

What does it mean when a cat bites you hard?

The tell-tale signs of a loving bite

A Warning Sign

Ways to avoid her biting or being overly aggressive

01. Avoid using your feet/hands as toys

02. Play with your cat to entertain & wear them out

03. Put a bell collar on her

Things to avoid with an aggressive cat

Avoid punishing her

What you can do instead

Related Questions:

How do cats show affection?

Where should my kitten sleep at night?

Should I allow my roommate to get a cat if they want it?

Does your accommodation allow cats?

Rented Accommodation

Student Accommodation

Government-funded Accommodation

Owned Accommodation

Is there more than two people to consider?

Settle it with a vote

What are the advantages of having a cat?

01. Help you through hard times

02. Find a Partner

03. Emotional Support

04. Reduce day-to-day stress & anxiety

05. Get rid of mice & Rats

06. Keep you active

07. Backup alarm clock

08. Low maintenance

09. Boosts Your bodies natural Immunity

10. Enjoyment & Entertainment

11. Increase Responsibility (Especially for kids)

Disadvantages of owning a Cat

01. Cats Shed

02. Smelly Cat Litter

03. May turn off your guests

04. Vet Bills

Why does my cat hiss at my dad?

What has triggered this response to my dad?

Fear

Violation of personal space

Historical poor treatment from adult males