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My Cats Fur Looks Separated (Now What?)

If you have noticed separated fur on your cat, you may be looking for a solution to get rid of it (Click here for my best cat grooming combs to help this) and to understand why it’s happening.

How do I get rid of my cat’s separated fur? The best way to get rid of separated fur is to help your cat by grooming their fur. This is typically done by using a cat comb and it is also a good idea to consider shampooing their fur on occasion.

Later on, in this article, I will give you some advice on how you can groom their fur, such as de-matting it and other useful techniques.

What does healthy cat fur actually look like?

So by now, you understood how to help to get rid of your cat’s separated fur. But, how do you actually know when you’ve done a good job, and your cat is looking in good shape?

Ideally, your cat’s fur should be shiny and smooth looking. It should have a coarse texture without being brittle, are you with me? It is quite hard to describe this, but once you see it you’ll know what I mean.

As for the skin…

Their skin should be smooth without looking flaky. if you see flaky skin it could be an indication that it could be dandruff or it’s getting dried out. Also, their skin should not be too greasy and without bumps on it. If you can see greasy skin this could be an issue, but more on this later.

How do you get rid of mats in your cat’s fur?

If you notice that your cat’s hair is matted then this is a big problem, if you do not get on top of it. This is typically seen in long-haired cats who have fur which is typically hard to manage.

Using a simple de-matting comb (Click here for my best choice) and some effort you can help to de-matt your cat’s fur. This is so that it doesn’t have big unsightly mats of fur that it can’t deal with.

Make sure you use gloves

But, before you even think of de-matting their fur, you need to make sure that you put on some heavy-duty gloves.

Why?

This is because your cat is likely to put up some serious resistance when you start combing those difficult and painful mats out of her fur.

Think of it this way, if you had really long hair with knots in it, and someone attempted to aggressively comb them out, wouldn’t you be apprehensive? Let’s be honest, it would be quite painful. And, chances are, you would put up resistance yourself, right? So, be mindful of this.

Adult Cats, without experience, can be hard work…

This resistance is even harsher if it is an adult cat, that has never been de-matted or combed before, as you can imagine.

Therefore, if you find this to be overly difficult, and you find that your cat is getting quite vicious. You need to stop, give it a break and then maybe try again at a later date, are you with me?

If all fails, get a professional groomer

If you find that even after you’ve given it a break and attempted to do it again, your cat is still not enjoying it, or shall I say not co-operating, because in hindsight they never really will enjoy it.

Then you need to think about getting a professional groomer involved. This is because they have the experience and knowledge of how to do this without injuring your cat or aggravating you in the process.

Why is my cat under-grooming?

If you notice that your cat is not grooming properly, it is a very good chance that it is connected to some health-related problems. The challenge is finding out which particular problem it has.

To give you an indication of what is possible, I’m going to list a few of these potential problems and then provide detail about them.

• Arthritis
• Old age
• Injured
• Dental issues
• Obesity

Arthritis and old age.

Arthritis and old age typically go hand in hand. As your cat gets older they will find it harder to do basic tasks such as grooming themselves.

As you may know, arthritis causes serious joint problems in your cat. And, can make grooming a painful exercise. Therefore, you could find that she is not grooming properly because she is in pain.

Injured

If your cat has been injured in some way she may not groom herself properly, which could cause problems. This is simply because basic grooming techniques are going to cause problems and aggravate the injury.

Therefore, it is a good idea to consult your vet to understand exactly what the injury is. Especially if it’s not obvious.

Dental problems

As you probably know, cats use their mouth (and tongue) to groom themself. And, therefore any dental related problems is likely to cause them to stop grooming.

Sometimes these issues are quite obvious. However, there are occasions where it’s quite hard to see or your cat is keeping it to itself.

The best thing to do is to consult your vet to understand exactly what the issue is. Because in some cases it could be a simple fix. And, in some cases, it could be fixed and get them back to grooming again.

Obesity

If your cat has gradually become overweight, to the point of obesity. This could be causing her to stop grooming. Believe it or not, if she doesn’t look after her weight it can affect her doing basic things like grooming.

What about if your cat is over-grooming?

Overgrooming, as you can imagine, is the opposite of under grooming. It is when your cat is grooming himself to the point of injury. This will be quite obvious because you’ll see skin irritation, patches or other obvious signs.

Usually, this is to do with some kind of parasites or irritation that has occurred in their skin. And, they are overcompensating by continuously biting, nibbling or excessively licking the infected area.

The best way to deal with this is to consult your vet to understand exactly what the issue is. This will help to see what can be done to get rid of the root cause of the problem. Rather than just dealing with the symptoms, are you with me?

If it is a flea problem they may give you a good flea shampoo (Click here to see my best fleas shampoo) which can help to get rid of it. But, either way, your vet will have some good advice on this.

Greasy or Clumpy fur

If you notice that your cat seems to have greasy or clumpy fur. This again could be due to some physical problems. The best thing to do is to consult your vet to understand what the issue is.

But, in the meantime, you can intervene by lending a hand with grooming by using a wide-toothed comb to clear up some of the greasy or clumpy areas of the fur.

Related Questions:

In this section, I am going to answer some questions related to cats and fur. If you have some other related questions that you need answering, please feel free to drop a comment below.

Q: How often should I bathe my cat?

As you know bathing your cat is sometimes required (Click here for the full article). Not all cat owners do this because cats are quite good at grooming themselves. And, in some cases, you can get away without doing it.

However, there are situations where this is necessary and some cat owners do this on a regular basis regardless.

To cut a long story short, you shouldn’t bathe them too regularly and anything less than every 4 to 6-weeks I would suggest is not a good idea.

Q: How does their diet impact their skin and fur?

Like us humans, cats rely on their food intake to regulate how the body functions.

Therefore, the right level of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals is needed to maintain a healthy-looking coat and skin.

The challenge with this is these things are not instantly noticeable. And therefore, a lack of one particular macronutrient is not instantly noticeable, but, can cause deficiencies at a later date. Therefore, it is important to monitor this.

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Why Does My Cat Sit at the Front Door? (Escaping?)

If you have noticed your cat is hovering at the door, you may be wondering why it’s happening (Click here to see my best cat flaps to deal with this) and how you can deal with it.

Why does my cat sit at the front door? It is because she is either eagerly waiting for you to get in, wants to get out or a potential door darter. How you deal with this varies (more on this later). Either way, there is a good chance it’s one of these.

Now that you know why she is doing this, it is likely that you may be thinking of ways to get around this. Keep reading and I will reveal how you can deal with these issues and keep your cat happy at the same time.

 

How do you stop your cat from sitting at the front door?

So, now you know why your cat is sitting up the front door. This is all well and good but how do you actually deal with these problems? Well, in this section I will explain how to address these issues and potentially stop your cat moaning at the front door.

Wants to get out

Firstly let’s look at the problem of your cat jus wanting to get out. If you are inside your house and you constantly see your cat waiting at the door. This is obviously an indication that she wants to get out.

There are two ways you can deal with this:

• Training your cat.
• Or get a cat flap.

Training your cat

Training your cat may seem like a good logical thing to do. In all honesty, there is no right or wrong way to deal with it. It just comes down to your patience and how your cat will react to the training.

The training can be a simple as opening the door at a select time of day and only allowing your cat to leave when that time window is available.

It may take a few weeks for him to work out when this window is available. but when you start this it is important not to go back. Why? It will just confuse her.

Getting a cat flap

A cat flap (Click here for my best cat Flaps for your cat) is a good simple alternative. Effectively, your cat will have free reign to go and come whenever she wants to.

However, there are some really good cat flaps nowadays that will restrict access to only your cat. So, only your cat can enter the property. This is great because you do not have to worry about stray cats entering while you are at work, are you with me?

Potential Door darter

A door darter is a cat that has the potential to run out the door as soon as you open it. There could be a few reasons for this. It could be an indoor cat that is curious about going outdoors.

Or it could even be a cat that usually has access to go outside but is limited to a schedule. And, he is being a bit naughty and trying to escape on the off chance the door is open.

Either way, there is a simple way that you can deal with this. The best way to deal with this is to remove the emphasis of the front door.

What?

I mean, for example, you come home from work and the first thing you do is greet your cat at door and spend some time hugging or kissing her, right?

Well, don’t do that!

Instead, and I understand this might sound a bit harsh, completely ignore her.  And, no, I don’t mean in ignore her completely for the rest of your life, lol!

I mean, ignore her at the door for that short moment. This is to remove the emphasis and curiosity of what’s beyond the door, are you with me? It sounds a bit controversial, but with time and persistence, it can work like a dream.

Waiting for you to get in

The last reason why your cat is sitting at the door could just be because she is eagerly awaiting for you to get home from work.

Cats have a very special knack to work out your schedule and second guess when you are likely to come through the door.

Who knows how they do this without the use of watches or clocks. But, for whatever reason, it seems to work for them.

But, my point is, is this really an issue? No, in my opinion.

In fact, I think this is pretty cute. Don’t you? The only thing I would say if you have a cat that is likely to bolt through the door when you open it, then yes you have an issue.

As discussed earlier, is this is the case, it’s really a different issue, you have a “door darter” on your hands. And, if that is the case, you will need to use that same strategy I explained earlier for this.

Why is there a cat meowing at my door?

Cats often meow at doors because they are indicating to their owner, or any other human, that they need something.

Cats like attention and they know that using their meow will grab your attention, are you with me? The chances are your cat is either hungry, tired or just cold. You may even have instances where you own cats and another stray cat is randomly meowing at your door.

Why? This could just be out of sheer curiosity. Or, this cat could be anticipating that you may have food inside (smart cat, right?).

It’s your own judgment call if you want to entertain this new guest. Or maybe you prefer to be cautious because you do not want to put your other cats at risk.

What does it mean if you have cats hanging around your house?

There is an old superstition that leads to a lot of curiosity in people. It is regarding why cats are hanging around your house.

I am not talking about your own cats that you own. Instead, I am referring to random cats that you do not know about.

The rumor…

The rumor has it that this is a good indication that you have good energy and your house has positive vibes.

Therefore, you should take this as a compliment. That is if you believe in some of these superstitions or rumors that have been spread.

What about if a black cat hangs around your house?

For those of you that are into superstition. There is an additional rumor that black cats hanging around your house brings good luck.

In all honesty, this is a little bit confusing to me. Why?…

Because there is another rumor (or superstition) that if a cat crosses your path it is deemed as bad luck. So it depends on your beliefs if you want to take this on board or not.

Related Questions:

In this section, I am going to answer some questions that are related to cats, doors, etc. If you have any other related questions you need answering, feel free to drop me a comment below.

Q: Why do cats meow?

Cats tend to meow as their communication with humans. Feral cats are less likely to meow. Why?  Because they do not have much contact with humans at all.

A lot of this meowing stems from kittens meowing around their mother. This behavior transfers to you as the owner because they see you as their caregiver and someone that a contrast. Its almost as if you are there substitute mother, are you with me?

Q: Why do cats hate closed doors?

You may notice that anytime you close the door in your house you have an upset cat (or kitten) on the other side constantly scratching and meowing, right?

This is usually because the cat is very curious and knows that you are on the other side. And as discussed in the previous section, because you are seen, in their eyes, as their substitute mother. Basically, they want your attention.

Another reason for this is they see what’s beyond that door as part of their territory. Meaning that they want to make sure that they have access to their territory and can walk around it at their leisure.

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Can you put two cats in one carrier?

If you have two cats there are quite a few considerations. Such as food, entertainment, grooming, etc. But what about transportation, can you carry both cats together?

Can you put two cats in one carrier? Yes, you can put two cats in a carrier (Click here to see my best cat carrier for two cats on Amazon). However, you need to make sure that you get the correct sized carrier for this to be possible. Not just the size, but it needs to have the correct ventilation and durability.

Now that you know that you can carry two cats in a carrier, let me share with you 3 of my best cat carriers that can support two cats, features that you should be looking out for in these carriers and much more.

Quick Comparison of carriers

Name	Image	My Rating
01. Petmate Cat Carrier (Best option) Click here for the Price on Amazon
02. Aspen Cat Carrier Click here for the Price on Amazon
03. Necoichi Cat carrier Click here for the Price on Amazon

Features you should be looking for

In this section I am going to list some features that you should be looking for before you consider buying a carrier for your cats:

• Size (Needs to be big)
• Good ventilation
• Easy-open latches
• Easy to assemble
• Good handle grips
• Secure

Size (Needs to be big)

Firstly, when you are thinking about multiple cats, you need a good size. I guess this goes without saying, but it’s important to look out for this.

Good ventilation

If your kitties are in there, it needs excellent ventilation. Therefore, you need to look out for the carrier that clearly specifies this to make sure.

Easy-open latches

Simplicity is the key. That is why a simple easy-open latch is highly desirable. These latches just give you peace of mind that you can release them easily, without the hassle and more importantly, without them getting anxious while they wait to get out, are you with me?

Easy to assemble

I am not sure about you. But, personally, I need an easy assembly. If it gets too complicated I am off. Therefore, look out for a carrier that makes life easier.

Good handles and Secure

A good secure carrier is a must. It needs to carry two cats and also keep them safely inside. So, this is a feature that cannot be skipped, I hope you will agree. As well as this, carrying it should not be a pain in the rear either. Therefore if it has well designed handles to absorb the weight of the carrier that will be seriously advantageous.

Best 3 Carriers for two cats

In this section, I am going to share with you a few carriers that can be used for two cats. This will help you decide which is the best for you.

01. Petmate Cat Carrier (Best option)

Click here to see the price on Amazon

Pros

• Secure (4-way vault door)
• Ideal for two cats (Big)
• Strong
• Great ventilation (wire vents & ventilation is 360 degrees)
• Portable (Clip-on food & water bowls)

Cons

• The latch is not easy to open
• Plastic bolts (appear flimsy)

What I like about the Petmate Cat Carrier

This carrier is beefy, if you are worried about transporting two cats, don’t worry. This bad boy will carry them like a champ! It’s secure with its 4-way door vault system and looks strong as an ox. Another thing I like is the ventilation it provides. It has numerous wire vents allowing your cats to breathe easy.

What I do not like about this Petmate Cat Carrier

Firstly I have to comment on the latch. Yes the carrier “looks” beefy, but as they say, you are only as strong as your weakest link, right? Well, the latch is a bit too easy to open as far as I’m concerned.

Also, the bolts supplied are a bit flimsy, in my opinion. Why? Well, for some reason the manufacturer opted for plastic bolts. Not sure if this was a cost-saving tactic, or maybe to cut back on the overall weight, who knows? All I am saying is, would it be better if they were metal, are you with me?

02. Aspen Cat Carrier

Click here to see the price on Amazon

Pros

• Large carrier (Ideal for two cats)
• Good for air travel
• Great visibility & ventilation
• Easy open latch
• Ergonomic Gripped handle

Cons

• Plastic is a bit thin
• Not ideal for aggressive cats

What I like about Aspen Cat Carrier

I want to start off by congratulating Aspen for the size of this carrier, it’s ideal for two kitties. The vendor also boasts that its ideal for air travel. In all honesty, I can’t say I have tested that side of it but it sounds like a great bonus.

It has a good amount of air ventilation to keep the kitties happy during a lengthy excursion. It has a handy easy-open latch to cut down on the complications when getting her out. It is also a cinch to carry with the help of the ergonomic gripped hande.

What I do not like about Aspen Cat Carrier

Before we get too excited, I need to highlight a couple of issues. Firstly the plastic. It is a bit thin, in my opinion. It just comes across as a bit flimsy at times, are you with me?

03. Necoichi Cat carrier

Click here to see the price on Amazon

Pros

• Big enough for two cats
• Easy assembly
• Flexible
• Great Ventilation
• Secure
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Needs better Instructions
• Complicated storage procedure

What I like about Necoichi Carrier

Firstly, this carrier is great for two cats, you won’t get any issues with size here. It is relatively easy to assemble (however, the instructions are another thing, but more on this later).

The thing I like about this carrier is the flexibility. but, what do I mean by this? It can be used in many different ways, e.g. a little private area for your kitty, traveling from A-to-B, a place for your kitty while you clean up, etc.

The fleece mat and storage bag are easy to be kept clean, which is ideal if you are keen on cleanliness like me. It also has great ventilation, which is achieved by the mesh panels that it has. These can also be rolled up for convenience.

Lastly, I’d like to comment on the security. When I say security, I do not mean fort-nocks by the way. I mean secure enough to keep kitty in place and prevent her from escaping, are you with me?

What I do not like about the Necoichi Carrier

As good as this carrier is it does have some flaws, as you would expect. Firstly I am surprised to see the instructions are in Japenese. For some people, this is not even an issue, but for simpletons like me, this is annoying. I really feel they could make life easier with English instructions, especially if they are selling to an English speaking market, are you with me?

The next gripe follows on a similar theme. This carrier has quite a complex storage, in my opinion. Basically it needs to be folded in a very specific way. And, because there are no English instructions, it makes life unnecessarily harder.

Related Questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions related to cats and carriers. If you have any specific questions that have not been answered, feel free to drop a comment below.

Q: Can I take these carriers on an airline?

Yes, some of them claim you can. However, I would say that you should really double-check with your airline to confirm before you travel. Why? Because every airline has its own guidelines and there can be various different requirements that may change from airline to airline, are you with me?

Q: Can two cats share a water bowl?

Yes, two cats can share a water bowl. But, to honest its not ideal. Really, you should be providing two separate bowls so they get an equal share and reduce the chance of them fighting over the bowl.

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Do Cats Need Night Lights? (See in the dark?)

If you have a new cat you be wondering how to deal with them at night (click here for my 3 best night lights for cats. In particular, if night lights are required or add any benefit.

Do cats need night lights? No, cats do not need night lights. However, it can be helpful for us and the cats in certain situations. Such as elderly or young kittens with known vulnerabilities (more on this later).

Now that you know that cats don’t need night lights, but understand that it can help. Let me now explain the befits of cats having a night light, confirm if cats really can see in complete darkness if they are really nocturnal and much more…

What are the benefits of cats having a night light?

Earlier I briefly explained that cats don’t need a night light. However, there are certain scenarios that a night light will benefit them…

• An old aged cat that gets distressed easily.
• A new kitten that is a bit nervous
• Avoiding tripping over your cat in dim/dark light.

An old aged cat that gets distressed easily

If you have an older cat, then you will know that sometimes they can get anxious or distressed easily. To avoid this happening, you can simply use a night light to give them peace of mind. This isn’t the solution to all of her problems, but it will help, are you with me?

A new kitten that is a bit nervous.

If you have a new kitten, that may be a bit nervous in its new surroundings. a night light may be able to help. This simple light might help her to feel a bit more secure at night and give you a better night’s sleep.

Avoiding tripping over your cat

Aside from your cat’s benefit, you may even benefit from a night light. Why? Well, you can avoid simple things like tripping over your cat during the night or any other object for that matter.

Can cats see in complete darkness?

You may have heard rumors that cats can see in complete darkness. And for that reason, it may seem obvious that they will never need a night light, right? But, can they really see in complete darkness?

According to this site, cats have superior night vision than us humans. But to quantify this, they say cats have the ability to capture up to fifty percent more light than us.

This is all well and good, but it does not mean that they can actually see in pitch-black darkness, are you with me?

Why can cats see so well in the dim light?

Now that you understand that cats have the ability to see better in muted light. It may make you wonder, why can they see so well?

This comes down to genetics. Cats are physically built better in this area, to deal with low/dim light. in particular the following:

• Large eyes (Disproportionate to their head size)
• Flexible Irises
• High Rod count (in comparison to us humans)

Large eyes (Disproportionate to their head size)

Firstly, they have large eyes. Have you ever really looked at a cat’s eyes closely? In particular, looking at the size of their eyes in comparison to the size of their head? Well, take it from me, they are disproportionate and big, which is a bonus for dim light.

Flexible Irises

Your cat is also gifted with great Irises. I call them flexible Irises because they open very wide, especially in comparison to us humans.

This helps a lot with dim light because they can take in as much light as possible, even when there is much light available.

High Rod Count

Their retinas, that make up the back of their eyes (same as ours), according to this site, have two major cell types for light sensitivity. These cells are known as:

• Rods
• Cones

The rods, in particular, are what we are interested in here. Why? Because they reflect light. This is a big factor in their night vision. We all have rods by the way, humans, and cats.

But, the big difference is the number of rods. Cats have roughly four times the amount that we have, which makes a big difference for vision in dim light.

Are cats really nocturnal?

Maybe you have the rumors that cats are nocturnal. If not, take it from me, many people believe that this is the case. But, id this correct?

The reality is they are not nocturnal, strictly speaking. In fact, they are crepuscular. But what does this really mean? It means that they are generally more active at dusk and dawn.

But, why are cats active at this time?

In the last section, I explained that cats are crepuscular, meaning they are active at dusk & dawn. But you may be wondering why this might be? Is there any reason why they are more active at these times?

Yes, there is a reason. It revolves around the activity of their prey. In particular mice and rats. They are also active around this time. Meaning, logically, they have adjusted to increase their chances of a successful hunt.

You may be thinking, well domestic cats do not need to hunt, right? Well, that’s correct, they don’t. But, it is ingrained in their instincts to be up at this time.

It could be advantageous to have food available for them during these times to increase the chances of them not roaming around looking for food.

Do Cats Get Lonely at night time?

You may be wondering if these cats can see well in low light, do they ever get lonely and yearn for human attention in the night? Yes, they do, but why does this happen?

This is because cats are naturally social animals, they thrive off attention and contact with their owners. If they are not feeling tired at night, they will get lonely. And, the likelihood is, they will start bugging you when you are trying to get some sleep.

The best way around this is to keep them super active in the daylight hours, so they feel tired in the night. This will keep them off your back during the night hours, are you with me?

Related Questions:

In this section, I will be answering some related questions on cats, night lights and other closely related topics. If you have any additional questions feel free to drop a comment below.

Q: Do cats like sleeping with humans?

Yes. Cats do like sleeping with us humans (Click here to see if cats like to being under blankets?). You may even notice them trying to snuggle up right next to your head to feel your body head and avoid being nudged by your arms and legs during the night.

Q: How do I stop my cat waking me up at 4 AM?

The best way to stop your cat waking you up at 4 AM is to keep her active in the day. Effectively, you want to wear her out in the day so she is less likely to bug you.

Alternatively, a more direct, and arguably harsher method, is to shut her out of your bedroom. Yes, she will bug you initially. In the form of crying and scratching on the door. But, in time this will stop and you will get your quality sleep back.

In reality, she should have her own cat bed anyway (Click here for my best big cat beds).

Q: Is it ok to leave your cat alone for 3 days?

No, it is not ok to leave your cat alone for 3 days. In reality, you should not be leaving them alone for more than 24 hours unattended. And, even then they need a food and water supply to sustain them (Click here to see how to feed cats wet food while you are away).

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How to Wean a Stubborn Kitten

If you have a new litter of kittens, you may be wondering how you keep them happy and comfortable (Click here to see my best cat beds for kittens).  In particular, you may be keen to wean them off their mother’s milk and transition them. Let me explain how this is done for a stubborn cat.

What is weaning? its a way of transitioning your kitten from its mother’s milk to solid cat food. It is required to turn them into a mature cat and make them more independent. Cat breeders look forward to this ending so they can find new homes for kittens.

Now that you know what weening is I will go on to explain how you ween a stubborn kitten, how to wean a bottle-fed kitten (orphaned) and much more, keep reading…

Why is Weaning needed?

You may be wondering why this is even required. It’s a good question. However, there are scenarios where weaning is legitimately needed.

For example, the kitten may be orphaned and removed from its mother (more on this later) or the mother may have issues with her milk flow.

At what age do they start weaning?

The weaning process can start as early as 4 weeks old. However, if they are orphaned from their mother, this could even be earlier.

You may notice that a kitten will try to wean itself automatically by trying to eat her mother’s food. The usual response from their mother is to push the kids out of the way until they are ready for solid food.

How can you wean a stubborn kitten yourself?

From time to time you may encounter a kitten or a selection of kittens that are being very stubborn. And, for some reason, it will not wean no matter what you try.

For that reason, you may need to intervene. For that reason, I’m going to give you some examples of how you can do this.

01. Showing them the food.

The first part of the process is literally just presenting your kittens with the food.

The idea is to get some kitten food, which is typically a paste-like substance, and add some warm or hot water. The objective is to get a few eager ones to react and take you up on the offer.

However, it is likely that you will get some stubborn ones that still will not respond. But, don’t worry we have a plan for that later.

02. Guidance

You will probably find that there are still a few stubborn ones that do not want to take the bait. For that reason, you need to guide them towards the food, physically. I mean literally pick the kitten up and place them next to the bowl, are you with me?

In addition to this, you need to actually put a small amount of food on their paws. What!? I get it, you may be wondering why you would do such a thing. The reality is, you are hoping that when they start grooming and licking themselves,  it will get a taste and continue eating it, are you with me?

03. Get mommy involved

At this stage, if they still haven’t responded to the persuasion and they have this food on their paws. It is a good idea to get their mother involved. The reason for this is, this will help them to clean up and it will make them feel secure again.

You may think to yourself that giving the mother the opportunity to get involved is going back a step, right? Well, no, the reassurance of the mother will keep them from being traumatized and give you another chance at a later stage.

04. Repetition (& the cheeky finger method)

You have to understand that the chances are you will not get this correct first time or even the third. Repetition is the key. In addition to this, I will also explain why using the “cheeky finger” is a top tip.

The “cheeky finger” trick…

Basically, let’s step back a second, how will your kitten act in real life? Sucking on mummies teet, right? So, you need to try your best to imitate this, are you with me?

Therefore, you need to whip out your pinky and put some tempting food on it. The idea is to get the kitten to start lapping up the food off it and gradually move one step further to weening off the mil, are you with me?

05. Focus on the Winners!

The reality is, out of a litter you will not get all of them converted right away. This is just the way it is. But, to be honest, you do not need all of them at once.

Why?

Simple, once you have a few winners that grasp it right away, they will naturally entice their siblings to try it as well, in time. So, be patient, focus on weening the winners and, in time, the others will follow suit.

Why you should ween them slowly…

You may be wondering how long this process takes, and if there are any opportunities to speed it up. The reality is, you shouldn’t focus on speed with this.

Why?

Well, if you try and speed through the process and force nature to skip steps it can cause havoc with the mother cat. Basically, nature has a way of providing enough milk for her kittens at the right time (much like our mothers did for us, assuming you were breastfed that is).

If you suddenly speed up a kitten and ween them off their mother’s milk fast, this could cause issues with her milk production. But more importantly inflammation of her mammary glands.

This can be painful and avoidable if you take your time and let the kittens ween in their own time.

Weening bottle-fed kittens

If you have an orphaned cat, the weening process may be slightly different. Simply because you won’t have their mother there to support the process. So, I am going to provide some steps you can take to ween her off the bottle milk.

01. Gently Offering an alternative

The first step is simply offering her an alternative food source. This is a kitten milk replacement that can ease them into the process.

The trick here is to get it to feed in a similar way it would when it was being nursed by its mother.

02. Persist & keep a bottle ready

There is a chance that she might get frustrated with the offering. So you need to be prepared with a back-up bottle, just in case.

03. Mixing the Meal replacement

Once your kitten starts to take the meal replacement from the bowl, you can start gradually mixing it with everyday cat food, such as normal cat food. However, start slowly. The idea is, in time, to gradually increase the amount of real food. If all goes well, by the end your kitten should be fully weaned off the bottle milk.

How does a mother kitten (Queen) wean her kittens?

You may be wondering how this weaning process happens in real life, without the intervention of us humans, right?

Usually, the mother kitten will start weaning them when they are about four weeks old. This typically goes on for about one month. During this time there is a gradual process of moving them from nursing her milk to actually eating solid foods.

During this time the kitten starts to have liquid food and will gradually have more liquid food than their mother’s milk. Slowly but surely they will reduce the ratio of the mother’s milk to liquid food.

Examples of this watered-down food could be moistened kibble or water down cat food.  At the end of the process, the kitchen will have successfully weaned from their mother’s milk to solid cat food. This is a critical part of their development and one step closer to being an adult.

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Do Cats Smell Bad? (Odor/Foul/Breath/Fur/Skin/Dander)

If you are considering getting a cat or just curious you may be interested to know if cats smell. If they do, there are obvious solutions such as air purifiers (Click here for my best air purifiers for cats), but do they really smell?

Do cats smell bad? No, not usually, especially if they are domesticated. However, I agree that this is quite subjective. There are instances when a cat really does smell bad, for example, if you have a male unneutered cat that wants to mark territory or if your cat has health issues (more on this later).

Now that you know understand that they can smell sometimes, I will now move on to explain what causes these smells, how you can prevent these smells and much more.

Why do cats smell bad?

You may be wondering what actually causes a cat to smell bad, as you now know there are instances where it definitely does smell.

The reality is there are a number of different reasons why your cat could be smelling. For that reason, I’m going to break down a number of different issues that can cause this to happen.

Mouth smells.

If you notice that your cat has really bad breath this is usually linked to an issue with dental hygiene. Similar to human beings, if there is inflammation in their gums this can cause the gum to not sit against the tooth correctly.

You may wonder what this has got to do with the bad-smelling mouth, but give me a second to explain. This inflammation causes crevices in the gum which allows excess food to gather there.

The food will then decay and cause a really bad smell. This is usually the smell that you can identify as a bad mouth odour.

Male un-neutered cats

As discussed earlier, un-neutered male cats are likely to spray in your house. But why is this happening? Because a male unneutered cat will typically want to spray and mark its territory.

This is so other intruders know not to mess. Weirdly, this smell is not disgusting to cats. However, for humans, it is a really bad smell which is hard to get rid of.

Skin odor

Another issue that causes cats to smell is their actual skin. This is not always that easy to diagnose because their skin is covered by layers of fur.

However, simple parasites, diseases or other ailments can contribute to odors. The smell will elevate beyond the skin and make you believe that the fur is smelling.

Weird Smell in their Ear.

Another common issue is the smell in your cat’s ear. Granted this is not as common as mouth or skin odors but it is a factor that we need to discuss. Let’s be frank, any smell that you notice needs to be discussed and understood, right?

These are orders are usually to do with mites that can collect in the cat ear. These mites look like little raisins that collect around their ear and unleash a really powerful odour.

Smells from behind

When I say “behind”, I mean around their rectal area. These smells can be attributed to a number of different problems.

However, a common issue that is noticed, particularly if you have a long-haired cat, is diarrhea. As you may know, diarrhoea makes their bowel movements almost impossible to control.

Therefore, this can end with faeces being caught on your cat’s fur. This can then get dried into the fur and leave a really bad smell about the house.

Other related issues can include urinary tract infections which could also lead to bad odour in this area.

How to stop your cat smelling out the house

So, right now we have discussed some of the reasons why your cat may be smelling. However, we haven’t discussed how you can proactively stop these things happening.

Therefore, in this section, I will go through a number of different ways that you can use to prevent this smell in your house.

The litter box area.

Smells around the litter box area are quite common. This can be caused by a badly managed box. The litter box may not have been cleaned out frequently enough or in some cases, it is just a genuine accident, such as the cat stepping in the mess as it leaves the litter box, are you with me?

One technique that can be used, which a lot of cat keepers swear by, is mixing baking soda with the litter to reduce the smell.

However, nothing beats keeping it clean in the first instance to eliminate the chances of the smells. Therefore, you should be cleaning the cat litter box out daily and a follow up with a deeper clean at least two or three times a week.

You need to use some common sense as well. Even though I say a daily clean is enough, if it is unexpectedly full up it is a good idea to clean it anyway, know what I mean? Basically, on an ad-hoc basis as and when it is needed.

If you find that you are not keeping on top of it there are other considerations that may help you This could be as simple as investing in a device that does some of the cleaning for you automatically.

Mess outside of the litter box

In some cases, you may discover that there is some mess outside of the litter box. Sometimes this is down to general mistakes by your cat maybe they are stepped in it and walked it outside of the litter box.

However, there are some instances where this is clearly not an accident and could actually be the result of a medical issue.

If this is the case you need to consult your vet to get your cat checked out because using or pooping outside of the litter box is not standard practice for cats and cause for alarm.

If we assume it was a genuine accident there are ways to clean this up and to make it smell better. One of them is to use an enzymatic cleaner to clean up some of the mess. Or, if it’s an item that is not of high value you could even consider just throwing the item away.

Cleaning up regularly around the house.

Apart from using direct methods, such as cleaning up the litter box, it is recommended to have a general tidy-up of the house on a regular basis.

In particular you should vacuum as much as possible. Why? because this will clean up some unseen flecks of dander from your cat and, other small particles of mess which can, in time, contribute to bad smells. You can even consider using baking soda to sprinkle around the carpets and other areas in the house.

Cat grooming.

Another technique that you can use to reduce bad smells is to keep your cat regularly groomed.

Yes, they do naturally groom themselves by licking themselves. However, there are certain instances where they may not be able to clear all of the mess which will need your help.

Grooming their fur and using tools such as de-matting combs (Click here to see my best Dematting Combs) will help to keep them clean and reduce the smell.

Cat air purifiers.

Cat air purifiers (click here to see my best Air Purifiers for cats)  are a very good technique to help to reduce the odor in the air. Apart from purifying the air, they also help to reduce allergens in the air as well as this.

Furnace filters.

Furnace filters are used in many houses and are a magnet for collecting cat fur, dander and other related matter which will contribute to bad odor.

Therefore, regularly maintaining and changing these filters will help to reduce the odor in your house.

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Why is my new kitten crying at night? (Lonely/Meowing)

If you have received a new kitten, there is a good chance she is keeping you up at night with her constant meowing, right? Apart from using a night light (Click here for my best 3 night lights for cats) you need to understand all your options. Keep reading…

Why is your new kitten crying at night? your new kitten is crying due to one of the following: lonely, missing her mother, hungry, thirsty or feeling anxious (could be related to other cats). In some cases, it could be more than one of these issues.

Now that you know the type of issues that can be causing this constant meowing, let me move on to explain more detail about these issues, as well as proposing some solutions to stop it happening.

Common reasons for new kittens crying

Earlier I gave you a brief idea as to why your cat is crying. I’m going to give you some more detail on those reasons to help you understand, as well as more common suggestions. Here are the common reasons:

• New environment
• Boredom
• Hunger
• Missing her mother

New environment.

If you have recently moved to a new house, this can make a big difference in your cat’s life. By nature cats really do not like changes and it takes them a while to adjust to the new environment. Believe it or not, this simple move could be causing them to be constantly meowing at night.

Boredom.

Boredom is another known issue which can cause this. You may be wondering why right? Your cat is quite an affectionate creature and needs love, activity and kept active.

It’s important to keep him entertained so that he doesn’t get bored and keep you up at night.

Hunger.

Hunger is one of the main issues which can cause meowing at night. You may feel that you have fed your cat enough during the day but even so, she may get a little bit peckish during the night.

And this may be why she is calling and crying out to you at night. The best way is to make sure he is fully satisfied before you hit the pillow.

Missing its mother.

New kittens are unfortunately big business for breeders. So, they are often sold way before they are psychologically (and physically) ready. This means that they are often left lonely and whining for their mother at night.

Other Cats

Another potential issue is other cats in your area. These cats may be traumatizing your little kitty. Making them feel upset and meowing at all hours of the night.

What should you do with your kitten at night-time?

When you have a new kitten sometimes it is hard to adjust and work out how to keep her happy. Especially at night. But what do you do when it’s night time to keep her happy? Good question, in this section I’m going to address this.

Her own Cat bed

It is tempting to get them comfortable next to you or in your bedroom during the night but it is a bad habit and something that could come back and buy you in the near future. The problem is, like a new baby, if they get comfortable they will expect it every night.

Therefore, it is better to get them used to sleep in their own cat bed (Click here for my 5 best cat beds for Kittens) as soon as possible.

You can opt for a large cat bed and pad it out with additional pillows and sheets so that it is more comfortable. Alternatively, you can get a smaller sized bed,  then simply upgrade it as she gets bigger.

What should you do during the day?

During the day or at night correction in the evening you will be happy or shall I say your new kitten will be happy to relax near you whether this be chilling on the sofa or just lounging in the sitting room with you.

In time you may even notice that your kitten is taking short naps during the day in the same sofa bed that you have laid out for the night-time.

How can you make the meowing stop?

You may be wondering how you can actually make them stop meowing? There are a number of ways to achieve this and in all honesty, you need to try some of these techniques I’m going to share with you and see how your cat responds, are you with me?

Keep her active during the day.

One of the biggest factors is the fact that your cat is full of energy at night-time and lounges around in the day. This causes you problems because when you need to get your sleep your cat is feeling active and meowing for your attention.

Therefore, you can get around this by keeping them active during the day. Effectively, you need to tire them out so they rest at night.

Pushing the mealtime back.

Another technique that you can use this to purposely push their meal time towards the end of the day. The idea here is to keep them hungry up until a later slot in the evening.

This way, they will be content and full before you go to bed. This will reduce the chances of them waking up and meowing during the night when you’re trying to sleep.

I will be honest, you may encounter some challenges with this method if you are free-feeding your cat (Click here to see how to feed your cat wet food while you are away) (link to article). Free feeding cats will find it hard to shift to a schedule based diet but this is something that you can consider doing if you are constantly being handed with meowing at night.

Providing enough water.

During the night time, it is essential that they have got a good supply of water. This is so that they don’t become thirsty and dehydrated. To be honest this is best practice at most times but essential at night-time.

Therefore, provide a nice supply of water. Ideally, you’ll have a pet cat water fountain (click here to see my 3 Best cat water fountains) alternatively provide a bowl.

Keep a tidy litter tray.

One problem that could be causing the issue which is a dirty litter tray, there is a simple way you can improve things. Cats are instinctively clean animals and will not tolerate a dirty cat litter tray.

In fact, they are likely to just stop using it if it’s dirty, or end up using your house as a litter tray, if you know I mean?

Therefore, you should clean it out before going to bed to make sure that this is not going to be a problem that’s going to keep you up at night.

Give them more attention.

We talked earlier about kittens being removed from their mothers too early, right? It is important that these young cats get a lot of love and attention. And, if they feel they are not getting this they could start complaining.

And complaining, for a cat, is in the form of meowing. And unfortunately, this is typically at night-time when you least want it.

Therefore, to get around this, it is a good idea to give them enough love and attention during the waking hours so that they feel happy and content in their environment.

Providing a night light.

Night lights are a good way to keep a kitten happy during the night (Click here to see my 3 best night lights for kittens). It is not essential but you may find it will help them to feel more comfortable, especially if they’re in a new environment.

Can I put my kitten in a separate room at night?

Yes, you can put your kitten inside a separate room at night, however, it is important that you prepare the room correctly.

The room needs to feel comfortable for your kitten which will entice them to stay in the room so that you can focus on getting some sleep.

How should a cat room look?

In the previous section, I talked about using a separate room for your kitten (or cat room if you like). But, how should this room look? This is what I would like to discuss now.

The cat room is a room like any other, but it’s important that you choose the right room for this. For example, the kitchen is not a good idea for a cat room. Why? because there are so many objects which could harm your kitten. Such as knives, plates, and things that could cause problems.

The bathroom may be a good contender as long as you prepare the room in such a way that there aren’t any dangerous items that are looking for your kitten to use.

When you want to start using the room it’s important that you make sure the room has:

• litter tray
• supply of food
• water
• entertainment

This entertainment, by the way, could be a cat tree (click here for my 3 best cat trees) or it could be some kind of soft cat toy that they can use to keep them entertained.

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How to Feed Cats Wet Food While Away (Work/Vacation)

If you are heading off on a vacation, trip or just at work, you may be wondering how you can still keep your beloved cat fed with wet food. Let me explain how this is possible…

How can you feed your cat wet food while you are away? You can feed your cat while you’re away 3 ways: Using an automatic feeder, hiring a professional cat sitter or mixing wet & dry food. Your choice depends on your trip duration and budget.

Now that you know the three best options, let me explain more detail on getting a professional sitter, what mixing wet & dry really is, and which automatic feeder I think is best (my best option).

My top way to feed them wet food while you are away:

Description	Image	My Rating
01. SureFeed (Best Overall) Auto Cat Feeder Click here for price on Amazon
02. Cat Mate Auto Cat Feeder Click here for price on Amazon
03. Cat Mate 2 Bowl Feeder Click here for price on Amazon

3 Top Ways to feed your cat while you are away

In this section, I am going to explain a few ways that you can feed your cat while you are away. The duration of your trip will be a big factor in your final selection. Let me explain…

01. Automatic Cat Feeders

Automatic feeders are excellent when you have a short trip planned. It drip-feeds your cat with the required amount of food (that you configure) while you are away.

It can be programmed to feed your cat multiple times per day, depending on your kitties’ needs. It is also possible to keep the food chilled so it will not spoil, while you are away.

What features should you be looking for in an Automatic Feeder?

Before you consider an automatic feeder its important to understand the key features to look out for. For that reason, in this section, I will break-down some of these features for you.

• Easy to clean
• Warranty
• Secure the food
• Ice packs

Easy to clean

This feature goes without saying really. But it’s important to overlook this. All of these feeders can be cleaned. But, some are way easier than others. And, if you are like me, simplicity and easy maintenance is important.

Warranty

Personally I don’t like any device without a decent warranty. However, I understand that “decent” is subjective. Ideally, you want to find one that has at least two, ideally three years warranty. This will give you that peace of mind.

Secure the food

Securing the food is a great bonus, especially if you have multiple cats. Basically it will only allow your cat to open the device for feeding. Typically this is done using the unique chip in your cat. This ideal if you have multiple cats and they tend to try and steal food off each other.

Ice Packs

This is great for wet food. These ice packs will keep your food fresh longer. It’s like having an in-built fridge for your wet food.

My top 3 Automatic Feeders for cats

 01. SureFeed Auto Cat Feeder (Best Overall)

Click for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Unique ID required to unlock
• Food stealing prevented
• Helps prescription food from getting consumed
• 3-year warranty
• Keeps wet food.

Cons:

• The food bowl is quite low
• Cleaning could be easier

What I like about the SureFeed Auto feeder

One of the things I love about this feature is its secure ID feature. Considering a lot of domestic cats have already been chipped these days, it’s a smart way to make use of this. Essentially the food will be unlocked to your cat only.

This is ideal when you have multiple cats or some random other pet that keeps trying to steal your cat’s food. Another benefit is if you have important prescription food that needs to be consumed, and you don’t want another cat to get it.

On top of this, it keeps wet food cool and fresh and comes with a 3-year warranty for that extra peace of mind.

What I do not like about the SureFeed Auto feeder

Like most things, nothing is perfect. And this SureFeed device is no exception. Firstly, the feeding bowl is quite low. It’s not a big deal, to be honest, but I need to mention it. In fact, this may only affect certain sized cats.

Finally, the device is not the easiest to clean. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it could definitely be improved.

02. Cat Mate Auto Cat Feeder

Click for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• Easy to wipe clean
• 5 x Food compartments
• 2 x Ice packs – Keeps wet food fresh
• 3-year warranty

Cons:

• Ice pack doesn’t stay cold too long
• The screen display is a bit dim

What I like about the Cat Mate feeder

The feeder is a doddle to keep clean, which I love. It also has multiple food compartments for your convenience. I love the fact that it comes with 2 ice packs that are mandatory for wet cat food lovers. Finally, there is the extra comfort with the 3-year warranty.

What I do not like about the x feeder

Firstly, I have to comment on the freezer packs. In particular, how long these packs keep the wet food refrigerated. To be honest, time is quite short. This could definitely be improved.
Finally, I have to comment on the display screen. I understand this may come across as a minor observation, and maybe it is to be truthful. But, it is a bit dim never the less.

03. Cat Mate 2 Bowl Auto Cat Feeder

Click for the price on Amazon

Pros:

• 2 x Large cat bowls
• Simple to clean
• Ice back included in the pack – keep wet food fresh
• 3-year warranty

Cons:

• The feeder is quite light – Easy to push around
• The timer doesn’t always seem precise

What I like about the x feeder

The feeder comes with two large bowls, which is great for big or multiple cats. But more importantly it’s easy to keep the thing clean, are you with me?
It comes with an ice pack, which is perfect for keeping your wet food nice, cool and fresh. Finally, there is the warranty. It comes with a lovely 3-year warranty for your peace of mind.

What I do not like about the x feeder

A couple of observations that I need to bring to your attention. Firstly, the timer is not always 100% precise. Maybe it’s just me. The last thing I would say is the build of this feeder.

It’s quite light, which one could argue is a plus. But, my point is, it’s easy for your cat to throw this thing around like a tennis ball. It’s not a deal-breaker, but something to be mindful of if you have an aggressive or hyper cat.

02. Getting a Professional Sitter

The next option is getting a professional cat sitter. You may be thinking that getting a professional sitter is a bit over the top. But there are certain circumstances that will warrant this. But what exactly? Trips longer than 24 hours.

If you are leaving for longer than 24 hours, at a stretch 48, you really need to get a sitter. Why? Because you will have the following issues:

• Run out of food
• Neglect
• Damage to your house

Run out of food

Using an automatic feeder is great if you are out at work for the day, or even overnight at a friend’s house, but beyond that, you will struggle to keep enough food fresh. Especially if you are keen on wet food. Therefore, you will need a sitter to cover for you in your absence.

Neglect

Neglecting your cat can have long term psychologic issues that you need to avoid. It can make your cat become anxious. In extreme circumstances, they can start to lose trust in you.

Damage to your house

One of the big issues is damage to your house. If you leave your house for over 2 hours, without a sitter, your cat can start to use your entire house as a litter tray, are you with me?

Also, there could be various other items damaged that can be avoided with the presence of a sitter.
Getting the sitter Ideally you should get a professional sitter.

They are a bit more expensive, but they will take the best care of your cat. It is possible to leave your cat with a trusted friend or neighbor if you feel is adequate. Ideally, they have had some experience of looking after cats before.

03. Mixing Wet & Dry Food.

This final method is quite simple, but mainly for keepers that envisage a short trip. More suited for people out at work for the day and plan to be back by the evening.

The technique is to provide wet & dry food. This can be left out for your cat to consume. However, it is more suited to cats that prefer wet food.

Why?

Simple, because the idea is they will eat wet food first, which goes off quicker. Then they are left with dry food. And, as I am sure you are aware, this dry food will last a lot longer.
This will give you more than enough time to get back home and take over.

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Can you add water to dry cat food?

If you are a fan of dry cat food, you may be concerned if they are getting enough water (Click here to see my 3 Best Cat water Fountains to help increase their intake) or if the dry food diet is even ideal. But what about mixing the two together?…

Can you add water to dry cat food? Yes, however, it’s advisable to consult your vet to confirm for your cat. If he/she agrees, you will find that water will not only enhance the flavor but also help to increase your cat’s water intake.

Now that you know it is possible to add the water, I will go on to explain the following: The benefits of adding water, if mixing wet & dry food is a good idea if cats can live on dry food alone and much more. Keep reading…

What are the benefits of adding water?

Understanding if you can or cannot add water is one thing, but fully understanding the benefits is a whole other ball game. Therefore in this section, I will explain some of the benefits.

Boosting their water intake

Earlier I mentioned that adding water to their dry food can increase their overall daily water intake. In fact, this is one of the main benefits that I want to revisit. You will find that this is one of the easiest ways to increase their intake.

The dangers of dehydration

The reason I say this is the main benefit is because of the list of knock-on issues triggered by dehydration. Such as:

• Impact blood circulation
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Electrolyte imbalances

This is just a small sample of potential issues that are linked to dehydration.

Improve Digestion

One of the issues with dry cat food, such as kibble, is the texture. It is not easily digested. In reality, not every piece that is put into your cat’s mouth is properly chewed and digested. Inevitably, there will be pieces that get swallowed whole and may cause digestion issues.

Therefore, adding some water can help to improve their digestion. So, these random pieces that may get swallowed will be reduced.

Slow down fast eaters

One issue with dry cat food, such as kibble, is the speed that it can be consumed by your pet. Let’s be honest, she can literally suck it up fast, like a tornado lapping up local debris, are you with me?

Therefore, adding a small amount of water will affect the texture and as an added benefit, will reduce their ability to hoover up the food, are you with me?

Can you mix dry & wet cat food?

As well as adding water to dry food, you may have considered adding wet food to it. This makes logical sense, but is this really the right thing to do? Let me explain…

Yes, you can mix the food. And, to be honest, many cat owners do this.

Adding Moisture to their Meal

The benefits vary, but one of the known benefits is adding more moisture to their meal. Wet food is obviously not as beneficial as adding water, from a hydration point of view, but a close second.

Adding Flavour

Another reason why cat owners do this is to add some flavor to their bland and dry kibble. Wet food typically has a gravy that cats typically love.

Flexibility

Also, mixing these foods allows many cat owners the chance to have more buying options. Obviously it depends on how your cat responds to it because some are naturally picky.

But, if you are one of the lucky ones, you may be able to mix and match all day long. Which will allow you to find a combination that will keep them happy and hopefully keep your cost down.

To be safe

One thing I would advise though is to consult your vet for the best advice on the ratio of wet to dry food and their views on it with regards to your specific cat.

Can cats live on dry food only?

Yes, cats can live on dry food alone. But, there are some considerations that you need to understand before adopting this kind of diet. Let me explain…

Like us humans, cats need a certain level of daily water intake. Much like any living and breathing creature, right?

The danger of dry food…

The danger of a dry food only diet is that it does not contain the required hydration for your cat. In the wild cats get a lot of water directly through the food they consume.

Fortunately, the makers have loaded it with enough nutrients, so that side of things is not so much of a concern.

How to keep them hydrated while living off dry food

To get around this hydration issue, you need to make sure that you keep them well hydrated. This can be by simply giving them lots of water in a bowl.

However, a water fountain is even better (Click here for my best 3 cat water fountains). This will stimulate their natural instincts to thrive on running water.

Why you shouldn’t leave wet kibble out too long

Earlier I have explained the benefits of adding water to dry food. But there are some nuances with this that you need to look out for. I will discuss this with you now.

Firstly, leaving kibble that has been covered in the water out unattended is a big no-no! Why? Because of potential bacterial or fungal contamination.

To avoid this happening, it is important to reduce the exposure time to a maximum of 30 minutes. And, in hot environments, in particular, hot sunny days, this needs to be reduced even further, to more like 10-15 minutes.

Why it’s important to calculate a cat’s food intake

So far I have focussed on the best ways to deal with dry food and the benefits of adding water. But what we have neglected is the impact of this food on your cat’s health. In particular, the amount of food they consume.

It’s important to regulate, and calculate your kitty’s food intake because you need to avoid obesity. Unfortunately, many cats suffer from obesity, much like us humans. Unfortunately, this is caused by bad habits that have been adopted by their owners.

This site reports that up to 60% of domestic cats in the US suffer from obesity. That is an alarming statistic. Hence the reason why I say it’s important to watch how much food they eat, regardless of it being dry or wet food.

One of the biggest culprits is indoor cats. They tend to have less exercise than other cats. This, along with a high-calorie diet is a recipe for obesity. To help this simple thing like toys, cat trees (Click here to see my Best 3 Cat Trees) can be used to keep them mentally stimulated and active.

Is there a naturally softer food available?

Yes, you can get “moist food”. I know you may be thinking: Isn’t this the same as canned wet food? The answer is no. But, let me explain.

This moist food is typically sold in a pouch and usually has approx. 65% moisture. To quantify the difference, normal wet canned food is typically 85% moisture. And, to add a further comparison, dry food (kibble), usually has about 10% moisture.

However, be careful. Some of these moist foods have a high number of artificial colors, e-numbers, and sweeteners, so you need to check them carefully.

How much water should you be adding to dry kibble?

If you are serious about adding water to your cat’s dry food you may be wondering how do you actually do this, how much water do you even add? Good question, let me discuss…

Before you go ahead and add water it is important to get the ratio of water to kibble correct. According to this site, they recommend a ratio of one-part water for every three parts of dry kibble.

However, it’s worth checking to see how your cat responds to this. And, if there is any doubt you can check with your vet.

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Is it Safe to Put Ice Cubes in My Cats Water?

You may be wondering how to keep your cat hydrated on hot days (Click here to see my Best 3 Cat water Fountains to keep your cat hydrated). You may have been tempted to cool them down with an ice cube. But, is that even safe to do?

Is it safe to put ice cubes in my cat’s water? No, it’s not recommended. The reason is there is a chance that it can cause issues in their mouth. In particular biting on the ice cube which could chip or break their teeth. Also, there is a chance of it choking them.

Now that you know the deal with ice cubes let me also explain why other cat owners argue that ice cubes are fine and low risk, in their opinion. Also, other ways to cool your cat down. The effect of the ice on their teeth and much more. Keep reading…

Why do some cat owners say Ice cubes are safe?

Other cat owners argue that Ice cubes are totally safe. And claim they have done it many ties before without any issues. Their argument is that cats do not gulp down water, so the chances of them swallowing the ice cube is very low.

They say cats leisurely lap the water up rather than gulping it down which reduces the risks of the ice cube being swallowed. In my opinion, it’s best to be safe than sorry and avoid doing this.

Other ways to keep your cat cool.

One of the biggest reasons why cat owners consider giving their cat ice cubes is keeping them cool in hot weather. In particular, in the scorching summer heat, depending on where you live it can get very hot.

To get around this temptation to use ice cubes I’m going to suggest some other methods you can use to keep your cat cool during these hot summer days.

Ice Cubes in Water with Ice Chippings

Instead of doing this it is advised to place the ice cube into some water so that it doesn’t cause any issues within their mouth. But first, chip up the ice cube into smaller pieces. Which will reduce the chances of them hurting their mouth.

Using a fan

In this section, I’m going to explain how you can use a fan but not in a conventional way. Firstly you need to turn the fan on but direct it towards the floor rather than at face level.

Once this is done you need to make sure that you have a wet towel on the floor. The fan should hit the wet towel and caused a nice cold breeze for your cat to feel cool in the summer period.

Ice balls

Another trick that you can use is to create some big ice balls. They are great because they keep your cat cool, interested (if not fascinated) and also reduce the risk of them choking on it due to the sheer size of the item.

These ice balls are easily made and very economical. All you need is a standard balloon which is inflated. You then need to fill the balloon with water and freeze it.

The only issue is the amount of freezer space it needs. If you have a deep freezer that is ideal for this. Once it has set, remove the balloon from the freezer and along with the elastic balloon material to expose the ice ball.

You will then be left with an oval-shaped piece of ice which you can place into a container and offer to your cats to keep them cool in the sun.

Catscicles.

Catscicles (Click here for my article on Catsicles) are is basically a play on the word “popscicle”. You can get creative with these and cats really do love them. Its a fun thing for your cat and you can have many different flavours and styles. The only restriction is your own imagination.

Will ice cubes affect your cat’s teeth?

Earlier we talked about the potential dangers of using ice cubes and why it’s better to look at alternatives to keep them cool in the summer.

However, I would like to focus on your cat’s teeth for a moment. So you understand what dangers these ice cubes offer your cat.

One of the biggest reasons I say to avoid ice cubes is because of reports from vets that some cats have injured themselves by chewing on ice cubes rather than licking it.

Whilst this is a low percentage of cats because in most cases they rather lick it then bite it, it does happen.

The problem is, these chipped or broken teeth can cause other knock-on issues. Such as causing choking, digestive issues, etc.

This can also lead to them having a high level of discomfort. Which can stop them eating for a period of time which can cause numerous different related issues. This is the reason why I said it’s not a good idea to do this.

Is cold water bad for cats?

You may be thinking to yourself, we understand now that ice cubes are not such a good idea, but what about cold water? In this section I’m going to discuss this.

Coldwater, in general, is not bad for cats. However, I have to say this with caution. Because the term “cold water” is quite subjective. What you deem as cold may not be cold to your cat and vice versa, are you with me?

Avoid Ice cold water

My point is, it’s not a good idea to load up your cat’s water with loads and loads of ice cubes. Avoid preparing a drink which is ice cold.

Ice cold water is not a good idea for cats. Why is this? because their metabolism rate has a high temperature. If you provide extreme cold water that they consume this can cause issues with their digestion and may even slow down your metabolism. Which, can cause a lot of other related health issues.

So for that reason, if you do want to provide cold water do it in moderation. Like most things moderation is the key.

Turning ice cubes into a game for cats.

As much as we have focused on the dangers of ice cubes, cold water issues, etc. How about some fun with ice cubes? Is this possible and is it a good idea? Let Me Explain…

Yes, there is a cool ice cube game I will share with you.  It is a great idea and a very economical game that you can prepare in a short space of time.

Simply get a few ice cubes. Place them into a bowl or even on the plate. That’s it, simple as that.

You’ll be surprised how intrigued your cat will be as they attack the ice cubes and watch it slide across the floor.

My only concern with this is to make sure that you clean up after they’ve had a good play because it could leave slippery wet floors after they finished playing with the cubes.

Related questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions related to cats, ice cubes and water. If you have more questions that you need answered feel free to drop me a reply below.

Q: Do cats love moving water?

Yes, cats love moving water. But why is this? The reason is that it’s more like their natural habitat. They are used to water that is dripping from a river, lake or some other natural flow.

Therefore to emulate this and also to entice them to drink more you should provide either a running faucet of water or better still an actual water fountain (Click here for my best 3 cat Fountains (Ceramic vs Stainless Steel). These fountains will provide a continuous and economical flow of water which will keep them happily entertained and push them towards drinking more water and keeping themselves healthy.