Cat of The Week

General

By Snow / December 11, 2017

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Here’s the story of a cat named after a city! London’s older human siblings were driving around right near high school graduation and they saw a sign for free kittens on the road! They figured to themselves what better gift than that of feline companionship? I like they way they think!

They decided to adopt two of the kittens right there on the spot. Enter London, a close friend of the family. One of the kittens was adopted for London and voila, moments later little London had her name. And you thought she was named after a city (just like me) didn’t you?!?! Long story short both of the siblings, Charlie and London, ended up at mom’s house and became her responsibility to look after.

In the spring of 2013 London became anorexic and developed Hepatic Lipidosis, fatty liver disease. London’s family didn’t realize she hadn’t been eating until she started acting differently. As soon as they noticed the change they took her to the family vet she stayed there for a couple of days, but unfortunately they didn’t see any improvements so they moved her to the local pet hospital.

She stayed there for a week but still refused to eat. The only option to keep her going was to have a feeding tube put in so they could bring her home. All together London racked up some major vet bills for her family, they were around $5,000.00.  London’s mom was out of town when she was finally able to come home so her son would feed her every 4 hours. Every feeding took at least 30 minutes. Not only was the family incredibly proud of their son for keeping little London going, but she was incredibly thankful as well! For anyone considering adopting a pet you might want to consider pet insurance in case something like this happens. But be sure you know the facts before you get it!

Tube feedings continued for quite while trying to get her to eat solids again. It took over a month until little London finally began to eat solids again. She is now a healthy little fat cat! She’s still got a bit of a diva attitude (don’t they all?) but she is absolutely adored by her family.  London has quite the family of friends to enjoy her life with too.  She lives with her cat friends Charlie, Gracie, Reme and Pumpkin. She also lives with her dog friends Thelma And Louise.

To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 4 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

General

How to Guides

By Craig / December 6, 2017

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It may seem like common sense, especially to anyone that has a dog that goes outside on a consistent basis, but placing identification on our pets is a pretty basic expectation for a pet owner.  Unfortunately a lot of family cats become lost without a collar (or any form of identification) on them and thus have a very difficult time finding their way home.

It would be a shame to lose your cat over something so simple! And the sad truth of it is that a lot of cats do manage to get outside, even cats that are 100% indoor cats.

They get out all the time. Someone leaves the door open on accident, a friend visits and doesn’t know you have a cat, you’re picking up a package from Amazon. There are a laundry list of ways your cat can get out, and most cats are adventurous enough that they will likely get outside at some point.

There are a couple of major options out there from an identification standpoint:

• Internal microchip identifiers
• Collars with identification tags
• Tattoos on the ear or inner thigh

The simple fact of the matter is a collar with an identification tag is by far the most obvious and easiest type of ID for people to see.  They are very visible and they let people know immediately that this cat is not a stray/feral.  On top of this, many people might not even be aware that internal microchips or tattoos are potential options and thus not think to check for them.

So if you’re asking yourself should cats wear collars, the answer is a resounding yes! But a lot of people are absolutely sure their cat simply won’t wear a collar. Let’s dig into this myth and then talk about your cat wearing a collar!

My Cats Won’t Wear A Collar – I’m Sure Of It!

The most common reason we humans push back on the idea of putting a collar on our pet is because we are certain that our cat simply won’t have it. The interesting thing is, in a study of over 500 cats over a 6 month period of time, about 73% of cats still had their collar on.

The study also found that the biggest predictive factor in whether or not a cat would keep the collar on was the owner’s initial expectation on whether or not it would stay on.  What’s that mean? It means if you don’t think your cat will like collars you’re a heck of a lot more likely to give up and simply go without the collar. Self fulfilling prophecy anyone?

The last major conclusion from the study was “Because even house cats can become lost, veterinarians should recommend that all cats wear identification collars since they are the most obvious means of identifying an owned pet.” Pretty pointed.

I’ve Tried a Collar – My Cat Hated It!

If you’ve had your cat for any extended period of time you’re probably familiar with the fact that cats don’t particularly love new things. While this is normally associated with people, additional pets & places, it also applies to collars. You need to take a gradual approach with your cat when it comes to a new collar.

Most cats won’t take kindly to simply having a collar strapped on with no introduction.

Start without tinkling tags or jingling bells. Place the properly fitted collar on your pet for 10 minutes or, if the pet does not appear to object, for a few supervised hours. Reward the pet with a treat and playtime and remove the collar. Replace and remove the collar multiple times over a few days, until your pet is comfortable and associates wearing the collar with great things — fun time with you!

Repeat the process after adding identification and rabies-vaccination tags. A pet who has never worn a collar should not be left unsupervised until you are certain he or she has accepted it. A positive introduction to a collar will make your pet far more comfortable wearing one permanently.

What About the Noise? Won’t It Drive Me Nuts?

If your cat is an outdoor cat you’re going to need a lot of different information on the collar, particularly things like a rabies tag, a name tag and of course a license tag if you so happen to live in the good old state of Rhode Island. While your cat may make some noise based on all of these tags, you’re likely to find that over time your cat will actually figure out how to move without making too much noise even with all these tags and a bell.

On top of this there are a variety of methods that you can use to avoid the noise that comes with tags on a cat’s collar.  Here are a few of the most prominent methods:

• Tag Silencers: A tag silencer does exactly what it says, it is basically a simple sheath to put the tag inside that is made of a softer pliable material that won’t make noise as it bounces against other tags or even the D ring fitted to most collars.
• Riveted Tags: As opposed to the standard application of a tag hanging on the D ring, a riveted tag will actually be attached directly to the fabric of the collar. You’ll commonly see this on nylon style collars.

• Slip On Tags: A few new companies are out there with their own method of a sliding tag built right into the collar itself. If you order directly from them you can have the tag engraved before it ever arrives.
• Direct Application: Many collars can be written on or you can even have some collars embroidered with the name and contact information of your cat.  These are wonderful options if you want to avoid tags all together, but if you use any form of ink be sure to renew it as over time it will certainly fade.

Are There Any Other Benefits To Collars?

One other huge benefit a collar brings is that it can be used to store medical information about your cat.  If you have any friends that have severe allergies to specific medications then you might notice them wearing a medical bracelet that lets doctors know not to administer certain types of medication.

If you have a special needs cat then you can dual use their collar and tags for the same purpose we humans have them.  This is most common for cats that might be diabetic or have a severe allergy.

What If I’ve Tried A Collar And It Failed?

If your cat is one of those that can’t stand the collar after an extended period of trying it out then you do have alternatives. The best and most effective alternative on the market is by far the Microchip. There are a wide variety of companies that create microchips for cats, but some of the most common & their details are:

• Avid makes Friendchip, an encrypted 125 kHz microchip
• HomeAgain makes a Schering-Plough distributed, unencrypted 125 kHz microchip
• HomeAgain also makes a 134.2 kHz microchip distributed by Schering-Plough
• 24PetWatch is an unencrypted 125 kHz microchip made by Allflex (a newcomer?)
• AKC-CAR is a 128 kHz microchip made by Trovan
• ResQ is a 134.2 kHz microchip made by Bayer

One thing many owners ask about microchips is what information is stored on the chip itself.  It is important to note that the only information on a microchip is a unique identifier. Even if an individual finds your pet the only information they can get from the microchip itself is a unique identifier which is used to contact the company that issued it so they can get in contact with the pet owner.

Are Any Other Options Out There?

Last but not least you can consider a tattoo as well. While tattoos these days are most widely used on pets to indicate that a female has been spayed (neutering is a bit more obvious), “identification tattoos” are also registered markings that can also help your cat find her way home.

The key drawback of tattoos though is that similar to ink on a collar, over time they will fade and become difficult to read. On top of this tattoos are a heck of a lot less obvious than a collar with tags on it and an unwitting good Samaritan could not even think to look for a tattoo.

Are All Collars Safe?

It is worth noting that there are a laundry list of collar types and formats on the market. Not all collars are going to be safe for your cat. The most important thing to look for is what is called a Safety Collar or a Breakaway Collar.

The general idea behind these is that if your cat’s collar happens to get caught on something (a tree branch, a fence post, etc.) then the collar will purposely release so your caught doesn’t end up choking while hanging from the collar. Pretty slick design! And most of them pop off at about 4-5 lbs of pressure which is plenty for any adult cat.

What About Flea Collars

There are some flea collars out there that have built in safety mechanisms like other break away collars, but they are not the norm. If you can’t find a break away flea collar then I wouldn’t recommend one.

If you’re looking for flea protection for your outdoor cat then consider a spray or a wash. Check out this quick guide for some of the best Flea Sprays out there.

Wrapping it Up on Should Cats Wear Collars

There are a lot of options out there to keep your cat safe and sound and ensure they get back home to you. Microchips are often touted as the best method since they cannot be lost and there is no battery associated.  The unfortunate part of microchips is that they are invisible to the naked eye and 99% of people don’t have a microchip scanner meaning your cat needs to get to a shelter or city animal control center.

A collar and ID tag is by far the most obvious method and everyone can see it plain as day. Pretty much anyone can read the name and phone number off of a collar and give you a call if they happen across your lost pet.  This is the reason that I recommend keeping a collar on your kitties even if they are already chipped.

At the end of the day there’s no such thing as too much ID, especially for a lost pet and a distraught family. Check Out the Top 10 Seasonal Cat Collars from StuffCatsWant.com.

Please leave a comment below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com if you have any thoughts to add to this article.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Sources: Evaluation of Collars and Microchips, Search and Identification Methods, Animal Laws, PetMD MicroChip Information

Cat of The Week

General

By Snow / December 4, 2017

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Everyone meet Peanut! Peanut is our featured cat this week and was submitted by Reddit user annpann.

Peanut was found in a neighbor’s tool shed along with a sibling who sadly did not make it. It originally looked like Peanut was gone too but then she moved her paws a bit and there was never a question in Anna’s mind that this kitten would get a shot at life.

After spending a few hours in an incubator at the vets to get her body temp up, she came home, much to the dismay of the an allergic significant other and a behaviorally challenged rescue dog that was already the resident king of the house!

Peanut has done amazingly well. Day one she only weighed 65 grams (normal birth weight is 90-115 grams) but she ate well and soon started gaining weight and is now a happy and healthy 7 week old kitten. She is (of course) very attached to her rescuer given the age she was found at. She‘ll snuggle up against her human’s neck and reach up to lick both her jaw and cheek to give the most adorable kitten kisses!

She’s very adventurous indoors, she’s even gone on an adventure where she ended up swinging from the living room curtains. While it might not have been on purpose and she was totally fine, per usual a resident kitty made her family almost die with laughter!

Peanut though is most at home as a snuggler. At first the resident canine was really irritated that Anna was carrying this squeaky toy around and would not let him play with it. He’s starting to warm up to Peanut now though! He won‘t let her sleep anywhere near him but is totally ok with her napping in his crate if he‘s not in there. He‘ll even try to bring her his huge dog toys and does not understand why this tiny thing won‘t play tug with him!

While Peanut is currently in foster given her age, she’s got her forever home already lined up with a friend so the rescue team will get to see her every now and then! Anna’s foster mom says that “Being Peanut‘s foster ‘mom’ has been an amazing and rewarding experience, to me she‘s just the perfect cat. Both looks and personality. This little ball of floof now has a place in my heart forever <3.”

To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 4 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

General

Product Reviews

Water Fountains

By Craig / November 29, 2017

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Product Name: Pioneer Pet Raindrop Ceramic Pet Drinking Fountain

Where to Buy It: Find the Best Deal

StuffCatsWant Rating: 4 Stars

Pioneer Pet Raindrop Ceramic Pet Drinking Fountain Product Overview:

The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Ceramic Pet Drinking Fountain is a high quality fountain designed with a couple of specific features in mind, beyond the basic one of ensuring your cat drinks more water.

This particular model is made of ceramic instead of plastic or even stainless steel like the other Pioneer Pet Product of an almost identical name. This is a huge benefit to folks who are against using plastic in anything related to their pets or themselves.

Ceramic is far safer material in that it is 100% dishwasher safe and also isn’t porous as many forms of plastic are which ensures it doesn’t stain as easy or harbor bacteria.

The second major feature to keep in mind is that this fountain is designed with more of a slide than what you might have seen with other fountains. The water does not drop over a fall or shoot out like a human drinking fountain which is another key difference from many fountains in the market place.  This means if you’ve got a cat that likes a gentle flow instead of splashing or falling water this is the fountain for you.

One last perk, this particular model comes in both black and white ceramic which is a nice perk for those of you looking to match decor.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind though, the fountain has a pretty low water capacity. While it won’t run out of water quickly it will end up making a lot more noise as the amount of water in the fountain gets lower and lower.

It is also worth noting that the design doesn’t do the best job of keeping hair and other things floating through the air out of the pump. If you clean the fountain consistently though this shouldn’t be a huge problem. I’ve linked a video on cleaning the pump.

Note there is a stainless steel version of this fountain if you like the look of Stainless more than black or white ceramic. If you’re interested in the stainless version you can also read my full review of it here.

The Pros:

• Ceramic is 100% dishwasher safe & considered far more sanitary than plastic, a big perk compared to most pumps
• It provides a nice gentle flow of water as opposed to falling water like many other pumps
• It is a great looking water fountain given that it isn’t traditional plastic, it has a sheen on it
• There are two available drinking areas for your cats so they’ve got multiple options, cats love options
• If the pump happens to go (they all do eventually) you can buy a replacement without replacing the whole fountain
• Uses a charcoal filter to keep the water clean for your cat(s) to ensure they stay healthy and happy

The Cons:

• The fountain is relatively low capacity (60oz) so it requires constant refills meaning you can’t leave it for extended periods
• If the water gets low it vibrates and makes a lot of noise (this is true for most pumps) which can be frustrating in a smaller home
• There isn’t an adjustable flow control built into the pump so what you get is what you get

Tips for Best Usage:

• • Be sure to top off the fountain with water on a daily basis or every other day at the least or it will start to vibrate
  • Giving the fountain a deep clean every two weeks or so is highly recommended, I’d recommend a dish washer if you have one
  • You’ll want to place a tray or mat under it to catch splashes from your furballs so your floor doesn’t get soaked
  • The pump itself will need to be deconstructed and cleaned out every other week to keep it working well

Frequently Asked Questions:

• How often do you have to refill it?
  • This is hard to guess and depends on your environment & the number of cats you have. If possible I would suggest topping it off daily.
  • This is not a product you’d want to buy if you’re assuming you can leave your cats at home for several days alone.
• Is it noisy?
  • The product is not noisy if it is kept full, but it does have a low capacity and will start to vibrate as the water runs low.
• Is it dish washer safe?
  • Yes, the product is made of Ceramicsl which is 100% dishwasher safe, a nice perk compared to plastic pumps.
• How often do you have to clean it?
  • I’d recommend pouring all the water out and replacing it once a week.
  • I’d recommend a deep clean every two weeks at the least.
  • This will help maintain the integrity of the pump and also decrease the chances of anything nasty getting in the fountain.
• How often do I have to replace the filters?
  • You’ll need to replace the filters about ever 3-4 weeks. You can find the replacements here.
• Is the pump replaceable?
  • Yes, you can find pump replacements here at an affordable price.

Wrapping it Up

The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Ceramic Pet Drinking Fountain is one fountain among a huge playing field fountains. The key differentiator for this product is that it is made of ceramic as opposed to plastic like most of the fountains out there on the market today.

Not only does ceramic look nicer than traditional plastic, but it also does so while minimizing issues that come from plastic fountains like allergies & BPAs. If you’re specifically against plastics being used for pets this is a wonderful choice to consider.

Do you have a water fountain for your cats? If so, do you prefer ceramic, stainless steel, or maybe plastic?

Please leave a comment below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com if you have any thoughts to add to this article.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

References: Pioneer Pet Website

General

Product Reviews

Water Fountains

By Craig / November 29, 2017

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Product Name: Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Drinking Fountain

Where to Buy It: Find the Best Deal

StuffCatsWant Rating: 4 Stars

Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Drinking Fountain Product Overview:

The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Drinking Fountain is a high quality fountain designed with a couple of specific features in mind, beyond the basic one of ensuring your cat drinks more water.

First and foremost the product is made of stainless steel instead of plastic like many of the fountains out there these days. This is a huge benefit to folks who are against using plastic in anything related to their pets or themselves.

Stainless steel is considered a far more ‘safe’ material in that it is 100% dishwasher safe and also isn’t porous as many forms of plastic are which ensures it doesn’t stain as easy or harbor bacteria. If you’re a worry wort when it comes to germs this is a model for you!

The second major feature to keep in mind is that this fountain is designed with more of a slide than what you might have seen with other fountains. The water does not drop over a fall or shoot out like a human drinking fountain which is another key difference from many fountains in the market place.  This means if you’ve got a cat that likes a gentle flow instead of splashing or falling water this is the fountain for you.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind though, the fountain has a pretty low water capacity. While it won’t necessarily run out of water quickly it will end up making a lot more noise as the amount of water in the fountain gets lower and lower. This can be frustrating in smaller homes or apartments where you don’t feel like having to refill a fountain constantly.

It is also worth noting that the design doesn’t do the best job of keeping hair and other things floating through the air out of the pump. If you clean the fountain consistently though this shouldn’t be a huge problem.

Note there is a ceramic version of this product if you want something that looks nicer than plastic, but you don’t like stainless steel. If you’re interested in the ceramic version you can also read my full review of it here

The Pros:

• Stainless steel is 100% dishwasher safe & considered far more sanitary than plastic for anyone that prefers it
• It provides a nice gentle flow of water as opposed to falling water like many other pumps
• It is a great looking water fountain, I personally love the look of clean stainless and prefer it over any plastic from an aesthetic standpoint
• Another benefit of a stainless steel fountain is there are no concerns about BPAs in the plastic
• There are two available drinking areas for your cats to ensure they have options available to them
• If the pump happens to go (they all do eventually) you can buy a replacement without replacing the whole fountain
• Uses a charcoal filter to keep the water clean for your cat(s)

The Cons:

• The fountain is relatively low capacity (60oz) so it requires constant refills and you can’t leave it for long periods of time
• If the water gets low it vibrates and makes a lot of noise (this is true for most pumps)
• There isn’t an adjustable flow control built into the pump so what you get is what you get, if your cats don’t like it too bad

Tips for Best Usage:

• Be sure to top off the fountain with water on a daily basis or every other day at the least otherwise it will start to vibrate
• Giving the fountain a deep clean every two weeks or so is highly recommended, I’d recommend a dish washer if you have one
• You’ll want to place a tray or mat under it to catch splashes from your furballs so your floor doesn’t get soaked
• The pump itself will need to be deconstructed and cleaned out every other week or so to keep it working well

Frequently Asked Questions:

• How often do you have to refill it?
  • This is hard to guess and depends on your environment & the number of cats you have. If possible I would suggest topping it off daily.
  • This is not a product you’d want to buy if you’re assuming you can leave your cats at home for several days alone.
• Is it noisy?
  • The product is not noisy if it is kept full, but it does have a low capacity and will start to vibrate as the water runs low.
• Is it dish washer safe?
  • Yes, the product is made of Stainless Steel which is 100% dishwasher safe.
• How often do you have to clean it?
  • I’d recommend pouring all the water out and replacing it once a week.
  • I’d recommend a deep clean every two weeks at the least.
  • This will help maintain the integrity of the pump and also decrease the chances of anything nasty getting in the fountain.
• How often do I have to replace the filters?
  • You’ll need to replace the filters about ever 3-4 weeks. You can find the replacements here.
• Is the pump replaceable?
  • Yes, you can find pump replacements here.

Wrapping it Up

The Pioneer Pet Raindrop Stainless Steel Pet Drinking Fountain is one fountain among a huge playing field fountains. The key differentiator for this product is that it is made of stainless steel as opposed to plastic like most of the fountains out there on the market today. Not only does stainless look really nice, but it also does so while minimizing issues that come from plastic fountains like allergies & BPAs etc.

Do you have a water fountain for your cats? If so, do you prefer stainless steel to plastic?

Please leave a comment below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com if you have any thoughts to add to this article.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

References: Pioneer Pet Website

General

Product Reviews

Water Fountains

By Snow / November 27, 2017

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Product Name: Cat Mate Water Fountain

Where to Buy It: Find The Best Deal

StuffCatsWant Rating: 4 Stars

Cat Mate Water Fountain Product Overview:

The Cat Mate Water Fountain is a great choice among the plastic fountains on the market.  It has a couple of key features that are really worth highlighting.

The product has a special pump design called the Isolated Pump System aimed at keeping the pump as quiet as possible so it won’t scare your cats or keep you awake at night.  The IPS is the highlight of the model, it is so quiet it can be kept in your bedroom at night and not be a bother.

The second major design feature is focused on giving your cats multiple options for drinking. There are the three pools and slides between each of the pools, all fully accessible. This ensures that even if your cats have varying preferences they’ll have options available.

There are a couple of items to note though.  While the fountain is well regarded it is definitely a little on the flimsy side.  This is true of most plastic fountains but worth noting if you have rambunctious cats or small children that could knock the fountain over.

Pump durability has also been called out as an area of concern by many other owners, but it is hard to see if they followed the recommended cleaning instructions.

The Pros:

• The pump is one of the quietest on the market being an IPS (Isolated Pump System) – perfect for small homes or apartments
• There are drinking areas for your cats at three different heights which means lots of options to get it right
• The plastic bowls in this model are 100% dishwasher safe so you can fully disinfect them whenever you desire
• The pump has an adjustable flow to slow things down or speed them up, perfect for picky cats
• Very affordable, and replacement filters are affordable too meaning it is cheap to ensure your cat drinks lots of H20
• It has an extra-long power cord compared to most models (10 ft) which can be a perk if you’ve got a specific spot you want to put it
• If the pump happens to go (they all do eventually) you can buy a replacement without replacing the whole fountain
• Uses a carbon filter to keep the water clean for your cat(s) and ensure they don’t get sick

This is a nice short video overview of the benefits of the Cat Mate Water Fountain as well:

The Cons:

• It seems to be a little flimsier than I would have expected, almost like it could fall over or collapse at any time
• The fountain is relatively low capacity (70 oz) so it requires constant refills and isn’t ideal for long trips away
• The filter doesn’t do a great job of blocking items from getting into the pump (perhaps the reason for pump durability issues)

Tips for Best Usage:

• Be sure to top off the fountain with water on a daily basis or every other day at the least given the small capacity
• Giving the fountain a deep clean every two weeks or so is highly recommended, I’d recommend a dish washer for the bowls
• The pump itself will need to be deconstructed and cleaned out every other week or so to ensure it doesn’t get moldy
• You’ll want to place a tray or mat under it to catch splashes from your furballs so your floor doesn’t get soaked

Frequently Asked Questions:

• How often do you have to refill it?
  • If possible I would suggest topping it off daily.
  • You wouldn’t want to buy this assuming you can leave your cats at home for several days.
• Is it noisy?
  • The product is not noisy at all, in fact this is one of the key differentiators of this specific model.
• Is it dish washer safe?
  • Yes, the bowls are made of dishwasher safe plastic.
• How often do you have to clean it?
  • I’d recommend pouring all the water out and replacing it once a week.
  • I’d recommend a deep clean every two weeks at the least including a deconstruction of the pump.
  • This will help maintain the integrity of the pump and also decrease the chances of anything nasty getting in the fountain.
• How often do I have to replace the filters?
  • You’ll need to replace the filters about ever 3-4 weeks. You can find the replacements here.
• Is the pump replaceable?
  • Yes, you can find pump replacements here.

Wrapping it Up

The Cat Mate Water Fountain is well regarded fountain that is ideal for households that are primarily looking for a very quiet water fountain.  If you have a studio apartment or you want to keep water in the bedroom at night for your cats this is the perfect fit for you.

The fountain also does have numerous drinking heights/locations and an adjustable flow to find the right speed for your cats.  The key thing to keep in mind is you’ll have to clean it often and that the construction seems a little bit flimsy.

Do you have a water fountain for your cats? If so, do you use the Cat Mate Pet Fountain? Do you have any tips to share on using it or reasons people should avoid it?

Please leave a comment below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com if you have any thoughts to add to this article.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

References: Pet-Mate Website

Cat of The Week

General

By Snow / November 27, 2017

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Everyone meet Tesla! Tesla is our featured cat this week and was submitted by Glenn and Emily from Pittsburgh, PA (thank you for your submission!).

Glenn and Emily first saw Tesla’s picture on the local humane society’s website in 2013 and both gasped at how gorgeous she was. While they had never gone through the adoption process before, Emily had their older cat Darwin since college. After seeing the picture they went to the shelter the next day. As soon as they saw Tesla (originally named Tina by the humane society), they fell in love. They decided her friendly and outgoing personality was a good fit for the family and decided to adopt her. It’s now four years later, and they can’t imagine their lives without her.

Tesla is a special needs cat, meaning she is deaf, and she also has severe allergies that require shots twice a month. Her first year and a half was spent going to different veterinarians who were trying to diagnose why she kept licking her fur off, and then her skin until it was raw. She was on pills, creams, and in a cone throughout the course of eighteen months, all with limited to no effectiveness. Thankfully, we found a veterinary dermatologist in our city who correctly diagnosed her allergies, and was able to make a vaccine just for her! A tiny pinch at home every two weeks and she stays beautiful.

She loves hanging out with her dad, mom, older brother Darwin (11), and younger brother Edison (1). She sleeps by mom and dad on the body pillow they keep above their heads. There’s not a mean bone in Tesla’s body. If there is a bug in the house, she gently nudges it with her paw, and then meows at mom and dad as though she’s announcing that she made a new friend.

She always follows Glenn and Emily to whatever room they’re in and always stays within eyesight. Since she’s deaf, she won’t come when her name is called, but if you make eye contact and point at her she’ll come right to you! She knows where the love is! She’s quite a goofy girl because she’s always jumping at shadows and doing somersaults. It sounds like she certainly knows how to play! She’s very protective of her family and will attack any suspicious looking shadow that comes near.

Tesla spends time with her dad when he’s playing video games, and with mom while she’s sewing. She’s a tiny girl, only 7 ½ lbs, and gives unbelievably gentle love nips, followed by love licks and love headbutts. She’s always DTC (down to cuddle) and starts purring when they scoop her up in their arms and bring her to bed for a nap. Hours later she’ll still be there. Glenn and Emily are so thankful every day for Tesla and hope to have many more years filled with her goofiness and love. Please follow in their footsteps and adopt a pet instead of purchasing one.

To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 4 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

Costumes

General

How to Guides

By Snow / November 25, 2017

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This year it is expected that somewhere in the area of 16% of Americans will dress their pets up in costumes. For those of you not too familiar with the US population that’s somewhere in the area of 50 million households dressing a pet up. While the bulk of these pets will be dressed up around Halloween we are also starting to see plenty of folks purchase costumes to celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving as well.

While it looks like a heck of a lot of fun to put your cat in a costume for the holidays and snap a few pictures, it is important to understand that this can be a very stressful and potentially dangerous situation for your feline friend. Cats are incredibly sensitive creatures and wrapping them in clothes or sticking something on top of their head can be quite dramatic if you don’t go about it carefully.

Anyone considering a costume, especially for a cat, should make sure they fully understand that the bulk of cats will not enjoy this experience. To reduce the drama as much as possible and ensure your cat has a positive experience you should learn how to choose a costume for your cat using the tips below.

Tip #1: Understand Your Cat & Their Senses

We humans have a number of senses: eyes, ears, taste, smell, touch. Cats also have all of these senses and they use them to help find their way around and navigate life in general. When we humans put on a costume we consciously make a decision to limit some of our senses in exchange for the look. Putting costumes on a cat is basically depriving them of their senses without any understanding of why. This limits their awareness of their surroundings which basically makes them feel like they are in danger.

This is a core reason why most cats do not enjoy this process. Given this knowledge aim for costumes that will have the least overall impact to the senses of your cat & to their ability to move around. Don’t cover the ears up if possible, leave the whiskers alone, make sure it won’t restrict the senses from their paw pads, etc. Basically think about the best way to limit the amount of environmental change your cat experiences when stuck in the costume.

Tip #2: Aim for the Minimum Number of Pieces

Cat costumes seem to be getting more and more complex by the year. We’ve seen an evolution from the original one piece hat with a chinstrap to all sorts of costumes that are made of three and four pieces. While the multi piece costumes usually tout ‘easy on and off’ features, you’re still going to have a more difficult time getting a cat into a multi piece costume.

If your social media feed can stand it, aim for a one piece costume. Bow ties and collars are simple and a lot of them are designed with simple break away technology like collars to ensure the safety of your cat.

Tip #3: Consider How It Is Put On and Taken Off

Given the sensitivity of cats and the likelihood that they won’t particularly like their costume you should focus on costumes that are extremely easy to both put on and take off. This means you should focus your search to costumes that are put on using only simple Velcro attachments that can be pulled on and off in a matter of seconds.

Not only will this be a heck of a lot less traumatic to put onto your cat, but if your cat doesn’t like it the chances of getting it off your cat without an incident (bites/scratches) increase significantly.  Be sure to review this in the details of any product you’re considering.

Tip #4: Buy the Right Sized Costume

While there are some cats out there that don’t mind costumes one bit, there are a heck of a lot more that are going to have a hard time wearing one, especially a costume that is overly constrictive and feels tight on them. Be sure to measure your cat in all of the relevant places before you order your costume and be sure to choose the respective size. If you’re not sure how take a look at this video:

If they don’t have the right size don’t order something too small and try to jam your cat into it. Costumes are also known, just like human clothes, to run both small and large compared to the manufacturers notes. If the costume is too small definitely don’t try to squeeze your cat into it anyway.

Tip #5: Avoid Costumes With Small Parts

A lot of costumes out there are intelligently designed and they don’t have small pieces. On the other hand there are plenty of costumes out there that have frills, hairs, small buckles etc.  Anything that can easily pop off the costume can easily be eaten by your cat.

It might even happen by accident while they are trying to pull the costume off with their teeth.  If your cat happens to eat something she isn’t supposed to it could cause a ton of pain (it could even be fatal) and it also could cost you a small fortune to get it removed. Hopefully you’ve got cat insurance.

How Do I Get My Cat Into the Costume?

Getting cat clothes for cats onto said cats can be quite an effort, believe me, I know.  If you’ve ever tried to put a harness on a cat you’ll have some good experience already, but putting on a full one piece or a multi piece costume can take some time, patience and some assistance. I recommend getting assistance if you can. Key things that will help:

• As noted above, be sure you measure your cat first and buy a size appropriate costume
• The simpler the costume the easier it is going to be (big reason the simple hat/beard is my #1 pick)
• Avoid anything with a mask on it, I know I didn’t pick any in my top 10 (link below), but I’d skip it in general
• Buy your costume early and introduce your cat to it over several days: let her sniff it, feed her treats while it is nearby, drape it over her and feed her treats
• Put on the easiest pieces first to see how your cat reacts, take it slow and don’t force it
• Be patient, it may take a few attempts to get the costume on to your cat
• If your main purpose is to take pictures, plan ahead and have everything ready to go the second you get the costume on
• Unless your cat seems 100% comfortable with it I’d recommend removing it after all your pictures are done

Wrapping It Up

So should you put your cat through the drama of a costume given the above? My personal opinion on this topic is that if your cat has been in costumes and outfits her whole life then go for it. Or if you test it out one time on her and she doesn’t mind one bit then have at it.

Still always consider the tips above though. If on the other hand your cat clearly freaks out whenever you put even the harness on her then you’re probably not going to have very good luck with a costume of any sort and you might want to dress up yourself instead.

See The Top 10 Christmas Cat Costumes of 2020

If reading through this has made you feel a costume is simply too much work then check out some festive cat collars instead!

See The Top 10 Christmas Cat Collars of 2020

As a final tip, never leave your cat alone in a costume, no ifs and or buts.  If you are not going to be home and can’t keep an eye on your cat then you should absolutely remove the costume before leaving the house. Even with easy to put on and take off costumes there’s no sense tempting fate and potentially letting your cat get stuck due to the costume getting caught on something.

Have you dressed your cat up before? If so, how’d it go? Would you recommend that other people put their cat in a costume?

If you have any additional thoughts on dressing your cat up in general or for the holidays then please leave a message or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com. I’ll be sure to update the article to reflect your thoughts.

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