Cat Toys

General

Product Reviews

By Craig / June 15, 2017

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Product: Petlinks Mystery Motion Automatic Toy

Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Petlinks Mystery Motion Automatic Cat Toy Product Overview

Ever have the need to play with your cats but don’t have the time or the patience to do it yourself? While I highly recommend you normally play with your cats personally, I know sometimes you just have other stuff to do and you need to offload some of the responsibility to a machine! We humans do this with almost everything these days, so why not cat play time? If you aren’t quite sure why it is important to play with your cat then check this page out at VetStreet.

In the realm of automatic cat toys this has been one of my favorites so far. It has proven to engage my cats time and time again and so long as I don’t try to use it every single day I have great luck getting them to play with it for a pretty good chunk of time. They’ll pounce on it, flip it over, drag it around, and even roll all over it from time to time. Who knows what those little furballs are thinking?!  Here’s a quick high level rundown of the major categories of interest though:

• Pricing: At the price of a couple of beers at a Chicago bar I think it is a great investment if you can entertain your cats with it for just an hour.
• Noise Level: This definitely isn’t a toy you’d want to leave on if you’re trying to have a conversation, it is quite loud.
• Ease of Use for Cats: Cats take to it really quickly, at least both my cats and all of my foster cats have enjoyed it at one time or another.
• Ease of Use for Humans: Doesn’t get much easier, one single button and some batteries.
• Quality: I’ve actually been quite impressed with the durability. Since my cats will even pick it up and drag it around I’ve been pleasantly surprised that the motor hasn’t given out or failed yet.

How Was the Setup & Use?

The setup was a breeze. The instructions are incredibly straight forward and also completely unnecessary to be honest. They only have a few simple steps. You can watch my YouTube video of the setup below, but it only took about 30 seconds once I had all of the parts out of the box.

As you can see both Lexi and Beast get a kick out of the toy. I do find that from day to day their moods vary. Sometimes they love it and they’ll play with it for 15-20 minutes and other times they’ll walk past it like it doesn’t exist. The latter tends to happen if you try to use it too often and aren’t actually engaging with your cats and playing with them yourself.  Toys can only do so much to take the place of actually interacting with your furry friend!

My General Take:

I give it a solid 4 stars, so far it has been a great product and has helped get my cats some exercise when I am in the middle of something and don’t have time to play with them.  There are of course some things that would make it better, but given that it comes in at a pretty darn affordable price point and it has held up for a good long time I am very happy with my investment so far!

One additional item to call out is that since it isn’t just a piece of string on the end it is much less likely that your cat can quickly chew it off which can result in a useless toy or a medical problem. I’ve had this trouble with the toys that automatically throw strings on a random cadence and this is an additional perk compared to those.

The Pros:

• The multiple settings do help throw cats for a loop and keep them engaged.
• My cats still can’t seem to figure out that it is moving under the cover, they keep pouncing and looking!
• It simulates an actual hunt much better than a laser pointer, the cat actually gets to claw/chew on something.
• It is quite durable, mine has taken a constant beating for almost a year now and is working fine.
• Super easy to put together.
• It lasts a long time with daily use on the 3 AA batteries. Mine has lasted months without issue.

Room for Improvement:

• Adding in a self shut off timer would be a great addition so you could start it as you leave the house to keep the cats engaged.
• It would be nice if it was a bit quieter, but this certainly isn’t a deal breaker.

Click here for the latest price on Amazon.

What’s In the Box?

• 1 Motor Box w/ Rotating Arm
• 1 Feather Attachment
• 1 Mystery Cover

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are the batteries included?
  • No, they aren’t.
• What type and how many batteries does it take?
  • It takes 3 AA batteries.
• Is it quiet or loud?
  • I would say it is pretty loud for an automatic cat toy. This could scare off skittish cats.
• How long do the batteries last?
  • Mine have lasted for several months with on and off use in about 15 minute increments.
• Will it break easily if the cats pounce on it or drag the feather in the wrong direction?
  • While my cats are admittedly not super rough with toughs in general, they have definitely picked this toy up by the feather and it is still operating without any problem in regular operation.
• What will I need to put it together?
  • The only tool you’d need is a phillips head screw driver.

If you have any other thoughts on the Petlinks Mystery Motion automatic toy please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update 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.

Adopting

General

By Craig / June 13, 2017

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Update as of July 11th, 2017

Buzz has been adopted and is living the dream in his new home! Thank you to everyone who shared his information and my post across social media! I really appreciate it and so does Buzz!! 🙂

Original Article Posted on June 13th, 2017

While I of course do my best to help you take care of your own cats I also volunteer to foster cats on a rather consistent basis in Chicago.  Right now I’m fostering a wonderful domestic short hair named Buzz.  Buzz is a gorgeous cow cat with a bit of a salt and pepper look going on. Buzz has been in and out of the shelter multiple times to foster homes. Buzz absolutely loves foster homes. But our foster program is dedicated to getting the cats ready for a stint in the shelter, very few cats are adopted straight out of homes.  Buzz runs into problems because whenever he heads back to the shelter he reverts into a very scared guy that hides in his room or in the corner of his condo. This means that he doesn’t ‘show well’ and not showing well means it is incredibly hard to get Buzz, or as I am affectionately referring to him. Mr. Buzz, adopted.

Given this I’m writing up this short, but detailed article to help Buzz find a home. I don’t want to send this guy back to the shelter again. Buzz is by far the chilliest and coolest cat I have ever fostered. This is not to say I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed fostering other cats, it is simply to say that Buzz is a wonderful feline.  My wife and I long ago decided that two cats was the cap for permanent residency, there’s only so much room on the bed. That being said, I do have Buzz here for about another 2 weeks.  After these two weeks are up my wife and I go out of town on an extended trip and Buzz will unfortunately go back to the shelter.  Given this I’m doing my best to find this gorgeous boy a home before he heads back to the shelter.

All About Buzz!

So let me tell you about Buzz. Buzz is about 3 years old and he’s about 13 pounds, he’s not a small cat. That being said, he certainly doesn’t get in the way as much as my tiny little 8 pound cat. Buzz in general loves to get nearby and then chill out, he doesn’t tend to walk on top of your laptop or your keyboard to get attention. He’s a happy dude so long as he’s nearby a human.

• The Awesome Stuff About Buzz:
  • Buzz loves to follow his humans around. So long as people are around he would love to walking near you or sleeping near you.
  • Buzz drinks water in the coolest way I’ve ever seen a cat drink water. Buzz refuses to lower himself to the level of a commoner and drink right from the bowl. Buzz instead drinks water out of his bowl by dipping his paw into it then licking the water off his paw. This is far more refined for Mr. Buzz. It shows true class.
  • Buzz is super relaxed around our resident cats, he’s gotten along swimmingly with our two cats in less than a week. He’s never even hissed at either of them even though he’s much much bigger. He mostly just recognizes they are there and moves on.
  • Buzz LOVES tummy rubs. He does the ‘I’m gonna walk up to you and purposely collapse onto my side.’ move as if he’s been doing it his whole life.
  • Buzz can take pets and scratches for hours at a time. He sits between my wife and I while we sit on the couch and watch TV or a movie.
  • Buzz has never once pulled out his claws or attempted to bite us, even with lots of tummy scratches and a few loud noises startling him.
  • Buzz hasn’t had a single litter box issue in all his time with us.
  • Buzz has zero issue chilling all day on his own inside his hidey holes or mini forts he crates. He loves to sleep!
  • Once Buzz scratched our scratching post for the first time he hasn’t scratched anything else in the house since.
• The Other Stuff:
  • Buzz gets scared easily by loud noises and runs and hides in his ‘safe room’. Again, he’s never once bitten or scratched, even when he got scared while I was holding him.
  • Buzz only tolerates being held, he’s not a huge fan.
  • Buzz has an overly active affection for string/strings. He will bite them in half and he will eat the string. You’ll need to keep an eye on this to ensure he can’t eat them.
  • In the past Buzz has taken some time to adjust to new people and places. It took him only about 24 hours to be fully ready to explore our house and hang out right next to my wife and I! He’s growing more human loving with each foster! 🙂
  • Buzz likes to climb to high places just like all cats. Double sided tape is starting to have an impact, but he still loves to go counter surfing as of right now.

Let’s Get a Look At Him!

I’ve posted a number of pictures of Buzz as well as this short video showing Buzz in action getting tummy rubs and drinking some water in his own unique way:

A Collage of Buzz Pictures!

Sharing The Love & Adopting Buzz

So this is a humble request, from one cat person to another, to please go ahead and share this post with your friends in the Chicago area. If you have friends who like cats or who might be interested in adopting a cat they should definitely consider Mr. Buzz. He’s a champion of a cat, he’s super low maintenance, and he’s the chilliest feline I’ve encountered in a long long time!

Note that if you’re interested in adopting Buzz or if you have any questions about him please contact me @ Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

Please keep in mind Buzz is not my cat. He will need to be adopted through Chicago PAWS. Here is his profile on the PAWS Website. I can easily tell you how to go about this though if you’re interested!

General

Health Care

By Craig / June 10, 2017

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We humans do really enjoy feeding our pets bits and pieces of our own food don’t we?  We often consider it a treat for them because it is something we particularly enjoy or it is something new in their diet.

That being said, just because we like it doesn’t necessarily mean it is something they will enjoy.  Worse yet, many foods we humans consume can be incredibly toxic to your feline friends.

So let’s take a quick look at what foods are poisonous for cats s so you know what to avoid feeding her. Note that I’ve got a little bit of overlap between this article and my article on house plants.

But since many house plants are not really edible for humans that article isn’t comprehensive. If you’re curious about what plants can make your cat ill please check out my article dedicated to the 31 most common plants poisonous to your cat.

So Which Foods Should I Look Out for?

If you’d prefer to scan pictures and read through the names I’ve outlined a pretty comprehensive list below.  These are 15 of the most common foods that can be dangerous to your cat if eaten.

Note the list is in alphabetical order, not in order of severity or danger. Any of the below foods can cause issues for your cat if they eat enough of it.

The quantity that determines “enough” varies by each specific food. Do your best to keep an eye on your kitty and make sure they have healthy food to eat so they aren’t as tempted to go after these items if they just so happen to be lying around the house.

I’ve also included a link from each individual item over to the Poison Pet Helpline website so you can read up on the food in more detail if you’d like.

Note a few of these don’t have specific details at the PPH so I’ve included additional source links at the bottom of the article if you want to dig into it further.

1. Alcohol

Alcohol is pretty darn toxic to cats. Let’s be honest, it isn’t really all that good for humans either. But in cats alcohol can cause a heck of a lot of problems, most commonly vomiting, diarrhea and trouble with coordination.

More serious amounts of alcohol can cause issues with central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma and even death. Under no circumstances should your pet be given any alcohol.

If you suspect that your pet has ingested alcohol, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately.

2. Avocado

Avocado isn’t super toxic to cats, the impact is normally pretty mild.  While it doesn’t have much of a chance of causing any serious problems for your feline friend, it can cause rather annoying problems (for both you and the cat) like diarrhea and vomiting.  

It would probably be best to avoid avocados, especially if your pet has eaten them before and had a tough time afterward.

3. Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine

These products are all derived from cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee. Cacao seeds contain methylxanthines and when ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination.

While 1-2 laps of any of the above don’t contain enough to cause poisoning in most pets (especially larger pets), the ingestion of moderate amounts could lead to serious issues.

Note that darker chocolate is even more dangerous because it has even more cacao. White chocolate has the lowest level of cacao while baking chocolate contains the highest.

4. Citrus

The stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds of citrus plants contain varying amounts of citric acid, essential oils that can cause irritation and even central nervous system depression if ingested in significant enough amounts.

Small doses, such as eating the fruit, are not likely to present problems beyond some indigestion, but large amounts can be pretty problematic.

An additional note, citrus peels can work as a solid deterrent to keep your cat away from houseplants, primarily because they don’t tend to like the strong smell. That being said obviously you have to make sure they aren’t eating them.

5. Fat Trimmings or Extremely Fatty Meals like Gravy

Extremely fatty foods are incredibly ‘rich.’ Similar to when we humans eat foods like that it can cause vomiting & diarrhea. Even more severe is a painful condition called pancreatitis which can result from excessive fat in the diet.  

Fat trimmings are also very dangerous if they are raw because they carry the risk of Salmonella or E. coli associated with any other raw food or meat.

6. Liver

You can absolutely feed your cat small amounts of liver, but eating too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity. Vitamin A toxicity can be pretty darn serious and can affect your cat’s bones through deformed bones, bone growths on the elbows and spine, and even osteoporosis.

Vitamin A toxicity in its most severe cases can even result in death.

7. Milk and Dairy

Because cats do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset. Despite the classic picture of a cat lapping milk up from a saucer, this can in fact cause your cat quite a bit of discomfort.

8. Nutmeg

Nutmeg contains a toxin called myristicin that can cause issues within cats.  Note that it would take a significantly large amount of nutmeg to cause anything beyond a mild stomach upset.

Dr. Charlotte Flint, DVM indicates that if a very large amount of nutmeg is ingested then “symptoms including hallucinations, disorientation, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, dry mouth, abdominal pain, and possibly seizures could occur.  Symptoms can last up to 48 hours.”

9. Onions, Garlic, Chives

These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Most of these were also called out in my house plants or garden article.

I’ve repeated them here because if a large enough amount is consumed it can be really dangerous for a cat. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies.

10. Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones

Raw meat and raw eggs can contain Salmonella,  E. coli and a wide variety of other bacteria that can be very dangerous to cats. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems.

Feeding your pet bones, especially chicken bones, may seem like a natural and healthy option. It’s even something they might experience in the wild. This is pretty dangerous for your cat at home though.

Your cat could choke on bones, but the most likely thing to happen is that your cat gets a nasty injury if the bone splinters and become lodged in or punctures your pet’s digestive tract.

11. Salt and Salty Snack Foods

Large amounts of salt aren’t terribly good for any species, cats included. Over ingestion of salt can make your cat overly dehydrated, and since cats don’t have a high thirst drive they don’t tend to drink a lot of water to help balance this out.

This can lead to sodium poisoning in in your cat. Signs that your cat may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting & diarrhea in their most basic form. 

12. Seeds & Stems from Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches & Plums

Keep in mind this is pretty specific to the stems and the seeds and is even more dangerous if the fruit is wilting or beginning to rot. The general problem is that the stems and the seeds contain cyanide.

Cyanide is really not too good for pretty much any living creature. Obvious signs of ingestion are dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting & shock.

13. Tomato Leaves and Stems

There’s actually some debate on whether or not tomatoes are dangerous for your cat. The ingredient that is indicated as toxic for you cat is called Solanine.

Research shows that solanine is quite dangerous to cats, but the science that proves solanine is in fact commonly found in tomatoes is not definitive.

While the jury is still out for a final decision, it might pay to avoid tomatoes parts for the time being.

14. Tuna & Raw Fish in General

Your cat shouldn’t be eating tuna regularly due to a couple of concerns. This applies to both tuna cat food and also includes human-grade canned tuna.

Why human grade tuna? First, tuna prepared for humans doesn’t really focus on the feline diet meaning that if you feed it to your cat over a long period of time they could suffer from a nutrient deficiency.

If you’re going with raw tuna instead you should be careful because raw tuna, like all raw fish, contains enzymes that destroy thiamine. Thiamine is important because it helps maintain proper neurological health for your cat.

On top of this, fish in general, tuna in particular, are becoming more and more mercury-contaminated. It is probably a good idea to pass on Tuna unless you know of a very high quality source.

15. Xylitol

Xylitol is a sweetener that’s used in a wide variety or products, particularly sweets like gum and candy. Xylitol can cause insulin release in cats, which can lead to liver failure.

The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to seizures.

Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

If You’re More of a Video Person

If on the other hand you prefer a video to show you the ropes you can check out this very informative video from Dr. Andrew Jones. Dr. Jones goes through a list of about 15 different foods we humans commonly eat and might offer to our pets and explains the potential issues they might cause your cat.

I think it is important to note up front that feeding your cat these things one time or on and off doesn’t necessarily cause an immediate response or an immediate problem. Many of these foods build up in the system over time and eventually cause damage.

You’ll also note there’s a little bit of a difference between the list here and the list in the video, this is done intentionally as I listed the most important ones I’ve found from all sources above, but wasn’t able to identify a single video that called all of them out.

Wrapping things up:

Hopefully the list and the video have been helpful to you in showing you what foods are poisonous for cats.  I hope it will help your cat stays safe and sound in and around your home!

While the list above calls out the most common foods poisonous to cats there are literally hundreds of things that can make your cat sick. I’m not saying this in any way to scare you or try to convince you to keep your cat locked up and all your cupboards padlocked!

I just want you to be able to keep a close eye on the diet of your kitty and do your best not to feed him or her human foods that are dangerous!

For more comprehensive lists please visit the following links:

• Pet Poison Help Line – Here you can search for any type of food and see if it is poisonous to cats (as well as dogs, horses and bunch of other animals).
• The ASPCA Poison Database – Here you can look for any type of food or really anything and see if it is poisonous to cats. There isn’t much of a search capability built in, but you can click into the major categories and do a CTRL-F to find items on the page.

While the biggest problem and most likely cause of your cat getting into this kind of food is from you or a family member directly feeding it to them, it is also possible you’ve got a cat that likes to cause a ruckus and get into shelves and packaging.

If this is the case then you’ll want to explore shelf locks and sealed containers. You can also take a look at this article from Pet-Happy that might help you keep your cat(s) away from places like the dinner table where they are most likely to get their claws into your human food.

If you’re worried your cat has eaten something poisonous then get your cat to a veterinarian as quickly as possible and note whatever they’ve eaten.  If it is after hours and you need help immediately then you can try one of the following:

• Contact the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at one of these numbers: 1-888-426-4435 (a $65 dollar charge might apply)
• Call the Pet Poison Help Line at 855-764-7661 (note there is a $59 dollar charge for their help)

Please share any experience you have in keeping your cat from eating human food. Feel free to leave a comment about it below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com. I’ll be happy to update the article to reflect any additional information!

Additional sources: ASPCA, Vets-New, WebMD, PetMD

Please note that StuffCatsWant is providing this information as a service to the public. I am not a veterinarian and nor do I claim to be. Your veterinarian should handle any diagnosis and treatment if your cat has eaten any of the plants above. StuffCatsWant disclaims all warranties and liability related to the veterinary advice and information provided on this site.

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.

General

Product Reviews

Water Fountains

By Craig / June 8, 2017

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Product: Catit Water Fountain

Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Catit Water Fountain Product Overview

For anyone asking “Why would a cat need a water fountain?” please check out my article on ensuring your cat stays hydrated and why it is important.  If you’ve already read it then you’re probably wondering what is the best cat water fountain, and I’ll be honest, you’ve found it right here!

The Catit Flower Fountain is a kind of like a unicorn minus the coloring of all the unicorn bread and lattes I’ve been seeing around lately. It is the best in class, but it is the best in class across a variety of different areas of interest:

• Pricing: It is very affordable compared to a ton of other cat water fountains
• Noise Level: It is quite quiet compared several other products on the market
• Ease of Use for Cats: It is at just the right height for your typical cat making it easy for them to drink
• Ease of Use for Humans: It is incredibly easy to clean and it is incredibly easy to fill
• Quality: The product, while light, is quite sturdy in general
• Great Vendor: Catit has been shown to be incredibly accommodating when a part breaks or something crazy happens like a cat tree falls on your water fountain. They’ve even been known to ship free parts to people in certain circumstances.

All in all it is a great product in a very nice affordable price range. While there are of course more expensive water fountains out there with different features, this is definitely a great way to go, especially if you’re just choosing your first fountain.

How Was the Setup & Maintenance?

The setup was a breeze. The instructions are incredibly straight forward and they only have a few simple steps. You can watch my YouTube video of the setup below, but it only took about 3-4 minutes once I had all of the parts out of the box.

Here’s a quick summary of the setup:

1. Unpack all the parts & clean the basin and other parts thoroughly
2. Insert the small black pump connector & stick the pump in the basin
3. Place the basin top on and lay the filter inside
4. Insert whichever water distributor pieces you would like to use (basic, bubbler or calm streams)
5. Then simply place the fountain wherever you’d like your cats to drink from it and plug it in

 Maintenance is also quite easy. I have two cats in my house and weekly cleaning seems to work quite well for me. Here’s a quick rundown of the maintenance steps as well:

1. Deconstruct the fountain & separate the filter & motor from the other parts
2. Wash the basin & distributors with a non abrasive cleaner (dish soap is fine)
3. If the filter contains too much gunk (cat hair and such) replace it, you can get new filters here
4. If the pump appears dirty then open the pump and remove the impeller cap and clean it all with a cotton swab
   1. Be extra careful with the motor because it is fragile, if you do happen to break it you can get a new one here
5. Reconstruct the fountain and fill it with water before turning it back on

My General Take:

I give it a solid 4.5 stars, mostly because there are a few tiny things that could make it even better!  That being said, I think this is honestly one of the best cat fountains on the market. There are only a few small things I would change with it and most of those I could see making the production of the product significantly more expensive. Accounting for everything I think this is an excellent product and you can’t go wrong with the purchase.

The Pros:

• It encouraged both of my cats to drink on a more consistent basis.
• It comes in at a great price.
• It is super quiet compared to most fountains I’ve experienced.
• It has a large tank that doesn’t need to be refilled often.
• It is very easy to take apart and clean on a weekly basis.
• Saves you from refilling bowls daily or from running a dripping faucet depending on the cat.

Room for Improvement

• It would be nice to be able to tell how much water is in it without picking it up or opening it.
• Unless it is filled with water all the way it is quite lightweight making it easy to tip or get knocked over.
• I personally don’t love plastic from a disinfecting standpoint, I’d prefer stainless, but it is dishwasher safe.

Click here for the latest price on Amazon.

What’s In the Box?

• 1 Water Fountain Basin (100 oz)
• 1 Water Fountain Top
• 1 Water Fountain Filter
• 1 Water Fountain Flower Gentle Water Flow Top
• 1 Water Fountain Flower Bubbling Top
• 1 Water Fountain Flower Calm Streams Top
• 1 Water Fountain Pump & Power cord
• 1 Water Fountain Pump Attachment

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it hard to get your cat to use it?
  • Both my cats are very easily startled and they took to it in less than 48 hours. Based on additional Amazon reviews this seems to be the consensus.
• Can you buy just one part if something breaks?
  • Most of the major components can be purchased separately, the pump for example is available on Amazon.
• How large is the fountain?
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.3 x 7.3 inches
• Does it have a battery backup?
  • No, there is no battery backup if the power goes out.
• Is it easily flipped over?
  • Larger cats or mischievous cats have been known to flip the fountain over with relative ease. This does make a huge mess and can destroy the pump if it ends up out of the water.
• How often should I clean the filter?
  • It is recommended you clean it weekly.
• Is the plastic the fountain is made of BPA free?
  • Yes.
• How long is the cord?
  • About 4-4.5 feet long.

If you have any other thoughts on the Catit Water Fountain please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update 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.

General

How to Guides

By Craig / June 4, 2017

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If you’re concerned about the amount of water your furry friend is drinking each day you certainly have a good reason to be! Cats in general don’t really have a high drive to drink water so dehydration can be a serious concern for them.

But before we get into how much water your cat should drink each day, let’s take a look at why water is so important to your cat and why they don’t tend to drink very much of it on their own.

Why Does My Cat Need a Water Supply?

Just like humans, cats are made up primarily of water, it is somewhere between 70-80% of their body. No surprise right? Most creatures on earth are heavily made up of water. Their bodies depend on water for almost all of their natural processes.

Historically though, cats came from very dry climates. They were desert hunters. Wild cats would spend their time hunting prey and and just like the cat, the prey they caught was made up largely of water. This meant that when the cat ate it also consumed moisture.

These days most house cats don’t get the chance to go out and hunt because people are keeping their pets inside. Those cats that do go out and hunt seem to be more likely to bring their trophy home and dump it in the middle of your living room floor as opposed to eat it.

Because cats are staying indoors they are also now eating dry food, often out of convenience for the owners.  It is important to note that dry food on average is only made up of about 10% moisture.

The prey a cat might have caught in the wild had a water content much higher than 10% so cats didn’t really need to go find a water supply and drink often.

Since we’ve migrated our cats to a different food supply and they haven’t yet had a chance to adapt this basically means your cat isn’t getting enough moisture if you’re only feeding your cat dry food.

If you are already feeding your cat wet food then your cat is likely in far better shape from a hydration standpoint. Canned food has somewhere in the area of 75-80% moisture depending on the brand and specific formula.

What Happens if My Cat Doesn’t Get Enough Water?

Dehydration. While it is much harder for a cat to get dehydrated than say a human, it is still certainly within the realm of possibility, especially on a dry food only diet.

The biggest concern is that a dehydrated cat doesn’t show a lot of obvious outward signs unless you are looking & checking. Some of the very obvious signs are things like panting, lack of appetite & a cat being less active than normal.

If you are concerned your cat might be dehydrated but you aren’t seeing any of the above then you can use a simple but effective test. Gently pinch your cat’s skin on the top of their neck and then pull upward an inch and then let the skin go.

If the skin you pulled on doesn’t return to its normal state quite quickly (1 second) then you might have a dehydrated cat. You can check out the video below for an example. Go to about the 1 minute mark for the cat check.

So what can happen to your cat if they get dehydrated? Dehydration can lead to many problems, but the most common two are kidney problems and urinary tract infections.

Other common issues you cat could encounter are inflammation of the bladder, a ruptured bladder and even bladder stones which can block the urinary tract and even have the possibility of leading to death in extreme cases.

How Much Water Should My Cat Drink Each Day?

I’ll freely admit it is hard to know the exact amount of water a cat should drink each day. There are numerous different sources citing different amounts of water.

But after reading through multiple sources, specifically from veterinarians**, it looks like between 8-10 oz of water a day is ideal for a 10 pound cat.

Keep in mind this does not account for any water your cat will consume by eating wet or dry food, both of which do contain moisture. So if your cat is on a strictly dry food diet you’ll want to encourage them to drink a lot more water than a cat that is on a strictly wet food diet.

This means a 10 lb cat eating strictly wet food might only need something like 1-2 oz of water a day to ensure they stay fully hydrated whereas a cat on a strictly dry food diet might need closer to 6-8 oz of water each day.

How Can I Encourage My Cat To Drink More Water?

There are various methods you can use to convince your furry pal to drink more water, but every cat is different and you will likely experience varying levels of success with each method for each cat.  Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most common methods:

• Availability: It may seem silly to mention this, but ensure your cat has access to water all the time. Make sure the water is available in places your cat frequents so they will constantly pass by it. If necessary place multiple bowls throughout the house.
• Cleanliness: Maybe another no brainer, but be sure the water is clean. Pour the water out each day and wash the bowl before refilling it. Making sure there isn’t any hair or any other objects floating in the water is a necessity, cats won’t drink dirty water.
• Placement: Be sure the water isn’t anywhere near a litter box or anything else dirty or smelly like the garbage.
• Using the Right Bowl: If you’re using a plastic bowl it may be a turn off for your cat. Just like for humans, plastic can leave a weird taste in your cat’s mouth. Switch to stainless steal bowls, they are more durable and always dishwasher safe as well. You can also check out this review for what is deemed The Best Cat Food Bowl in the world over on Asthma Cats. It has removable stainless, pretty slick.
• Switch The Diet: If your cat is currently on an all dry food diet then start to provide canned food as well or in place of the dry. Canned food doesn’t seem like it would provide a lot of water, but eating canned food each day will account for most of your cat’s water needs.
• Switch The Water: Some cats dislike the taste of extremely hard water or city water because it contains a metal taste or a hint of chemicals. It may sound insane to feed your cat bottled water, but try filtered or bottled water instead.
  
• Add Ice Cubes: Some cats are more likely to drink water when you add ice to the bowl, there’s no research that really shows why.
• A Dripping Faucet: In general cats tend to prefer moving water. Providing a dripping faucet, while not good from a conservation standpoint or for your water bill, can often entice a cat drink. This also of course assumes you’re ok with your cat on your counters.
• A Water Fountain: Never thought you’d buy a water fountain for a cat did you? Flowing water entices cats to drink more than still water. The theory goes that cats avoid stagnant water because it is more likely to contain bacteria/parasites. If you’re looking for a high quality water fountain at an affordable price check the Catit Water Fountain, it is one of the best on the market.

Wrapping it up

Visit your veterinarian if you even suspect that your cat might be dehydrated. As mentioned above, by the time your cat starts to develop visible signs of dehydration they can already be extremely sick and it might take quite some time for your cat to recover recover. In most cases of dehydration your cat will require an IV to provide additional fluids.

If you have any other thoughts on the what to feed your cat please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article or respond in kind.

**These sources were used in compiling the recommended water volumes in this article: VetWest.com, VetStreet.com, PetMD.com & Feline Behavior for Veterinarians” second edition, B. V. Beaver, 2003.

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.

Food and Treats

General

Product Reviews

By Craig / June 3, 2017

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Feeding your cat the right food can make a huge difference in the length of their life, but it improves their quality of life as well. High quality food drives overall health and helps ensure your cat not only has a long life, but a fulfilling life as well. This usually consists of climbing into the empty boxes of the toys you bought and playing with stuff that falls out of your pocket instead of the toys you bought them. They love how much we care about them don’t they?

If you’ve already read my article on wet vs dry cat food then you know my thoughts on how to go about selecting a high quality cat food in general.  If you haven’t read it yet then feel free to take a look, but I’ll also provide a brief recap here:

• Protein is the most important ingredient to look for, specifically, identifiable forms of protein. You’ll want to find foods that have their first 5 ingredients made up primarily of known meats.
• Minimize carb intake, keep it lower than protein intake.
• Amino Acids are used by your cat to build proteins. There are 11 of them your cat doesn’t produce naturally so helping your cat get them from their diet is essential.
• Avoid dyes, chemicals & thickeners, basically all the complicated words on the package that nobody has any idea what they are.
• Starches can spike your cats blood sugar levels leading to diabetes. Avoid things like potatoes in the top 3 ingredients.
• Dry food normally has a moisture content of 10% at most. This means a cats eating a diet of only dry food also needs to drink a lot more water than a cat on wet or a combination of wet/dry food.

The StuffCatsWant 5 Best Dry Cat Foods

*This food doesn’t appear to be available on Amazon at the moment, but you can buy it from Chewy.com at this link as well.

Now if you’re only interested in the big takeaways you can go ahead and choose from the table above, it covers all of the essentials.  If on the other hand you like getting your hands dirty and you really want to get into details of each food and why I included it in the list then go ahead and keep reading.

 The In Depth Reviews

For each of the foods listed above I’ve provided additional detail to help you make a decision.  The details include the following key items:

• A quick description of what I like about the food
• The cost per pound at the time of writing (May 2017)
• Key pros and cons of each food
• A breakdown of the Guaranteed Analysis in Dry Matter Basis (See how I calculated this here)
• A direct link to the manufacturer website
• A full list of ingredients

Each of these will help round out your understanding of the 5 foods I selected and give you a bit more background to ensure you can make a fully informed decision on which foods will treat your cat the best!

Fromm Game Bird Formula

We’ve tried a wide variety of Fromm formulas in the smaller 5lb bags.  The cats absolutely love every single formula we’ve put down in the past few years, but this one and the Salmon Tunachovy seem to be the biggest hits within our household.  Fromm particularly prides itself on the production quality of the food it makes. All bags are 100% trackable back to the source and come from one of their family owned facilities in Wisconsin. No surprise, they include cheese in a good chunk of their formulas as well.  If quality is your key interest then Fromm is for you.

Average Price Per Pound: $8.99

Pros

• Incredible quality control
• Full source tracking of all ingredients
• Grain Free
• Fresh fruits and vegetables

Cons

• By far the most expensive food on the list
• Small kibble encourages your cat to simply swallow it

Link to the Fromm Website

Full Ingredient List:

Duck, Duck Meal, Pea Protein,Turkey, Dried Whole Egg,Peas, Chicken Meal, Pea Flour, Dried Tomato Pomace,Potatoes, Chicken Broth,Turkey Liver, Quail, Sweet Potatoes, Salmon Oil, Chicken Fat, Chicken, Pea Fiber,Pheasant, Cheese, Flaxseed,Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower,Apples, Green Beans, Chicken Cartilage, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Cranberries,Blueberries, Salt, Chicory Root Extract, Alfalfa Sprouts, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Parsley,Sorbic Acid (Preservative),Vitamins, Minerals, Probiotics.

Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free

This is a go to healthy food I’ve seen in use in multiple places from the shelter (donated) to my friends’ homes to my own home.  It is at the right price point for every day use and it has an all around great set of ingredients that are all natural. On top of this it doesn’t contain any wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, or artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

Average Price Per Pound: $3.17

Pros

• The second highest protein content on the list
• Grain free
• Meat heavy in the top 5 ingredients
• Helps improve a cat’s skin and coat
• Contains probiotics

Cons

• Small kibble encourages your cat to simply swallow it
• Potatoes can lead to blood sugar spikes
• Chicken fat isn’t super healthy

Link to the Wellness CORE Website

Full Ingredient List:

Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Ground Potatoes, Tomato Pomace, Ground Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Oil, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Dried Kelp, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (added to preserve freshness), Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement,  Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract.

Acana Wild Atlantic

The first six ingredients of the cat formulation is all animal protein and it all comes from the ocean. If you’ve got a cat that has a craving for seafood then this is definitely the way to go.  This is by far one of Lexi’s favorites. Despite the fact that she vacuums most things up pretty quickly, when we put this down she makes extra attempts to sneak over and get into Beast’s food. This is one of the reasons we have to have the SureFeed Cat Feeder. It stops Lexi from stealing food from Beast.

Average Price Per Pound: $5.48

Pros

• All 6 of the first products are meat
• Fresh and local fruits and vegetables
• Added Taurine to aid vision and heart function
• Omega oils for healthy skin and coat

Cons

• The price point is definitely into the premium area
• Fish typically contain higher mercury levels than other meats

Link to the Acana Website

Full Ingredient List:

Whole Mackerel, Whole Herring, Whole Redfish, Silver Hake, Mackerel Meal, Herring Meal, Whole Green Peas, Red Lentils, Pinto Beans, Cod Meal, Catfish Oil, Pollock Meal, Chickpeas, Green Lentils, Whole Yellow Peas, Herring Oil, Flounder, Natural Fish Flavor, Sunflower Oil, Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Dried Kelp, Freeze-Dried Cod Liver, Whole Pumpkin, Whole Butternut Squash, Kale, Spinach, Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Turnip Greens, Carrots, Apples, Pears, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Choline Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin K, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei

PETCUREAN Go! Fit+ Free Grain Free Chicken

This is the most protein heavy of all of the dry cat foods I managed to track down. The mix is made up of chicken, turkey and duck and is intended to minimize the amount of dry food your cat eats while filling them all the way up. Sound familiar to any of us that have ever dieted?  While it is still important for your cat to drink a constant supply of fresh water, this food is geared toward minimizing dehydration while maximizing protein intake.

Average Price Per Pound: $3.51

Pros

• Highest amount of protein of any food on the list
• Pre + Probiotics to aid with digestive health
• Added Taurine to aid vision and heart function
• DHA and EPA to help brain and eye development
• Omega oils for healthy skin and coat
• Antioxidants to support increased immunity
• Grain free & Gluten free
• Zero by-product meals, added growth hormones or artificial preservatives

Cons

• Potatoes can cause spikes in blood sugar levels

Link to the Petcurean Website

Full Ingredient List:

Chicken meal, de-boned chicken, de-boned turkey, duck meal, turkey meal, salmon meal, de-boned trout, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural fish flavour, peas, potatoes, whole dried egg, potato flour, tapioca, de-boned salmon, de-boned duck, salmon oil, pumpkin, apples, carrots, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, lentil beans, broccoli, spinach, cottage cheese, alfalfa, sweet potatoes, blackberries, papayas, pineapple, phosphoric acid, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, DL-methionine, taurine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, vitamins (vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, niacin, inositol, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (a source of vitamin C), thiamine mononitrate, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, beta-carotene, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc oxide, manganese proteinate, copper sulphate, calcium iodate, ferrous sulphate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite), yucca schidigera extract, yeast extract, dried rosemary.

Blackwood Chicken Meal & Field Pea* & Link to Chewy.com

If you’re looking for a company that makes excellent food that cats simply love to eat, look no further than Blackwood. Lexi and Beast both absolutely love the food from Blackwood, especially this particular formula.  Beast will chomp this all day if I don’t put some of her other food down first or at least mix it together. It has the added benefit of being the cheapest high quality food on this list and that is actually another reason it one of my favorites.

*This food doesn’t appear to be available on Amazon at the moment so I’ve included a link at Chewy above as well.

Average Price Per Pound: $2.87

Pros

• Excellent protein content
• Grain Free
• All 11 amino acids cats need
• History of high quality control
• The kibble is larger forcing both my cats to chew
• Comes at a great price point
• Includes Omega Fatty Acids for coat health
• No artificial flavors or colors

Cons

• The top 5 ingredients aren’t all protein

Link to the Blackwood Website

Full Ingredient List:

Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Field Pea, Lentils, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Chick Peas, Egg Product, Tapioca Starch, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Flavor, Menhaden Fish Oil, Carrots, Celery, Beets, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach, Canola Oil, Lecithin, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Calcium Carbonate, L-Lysine, Potassium Chloride, Blueberry, Cranberry, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Organic Dried Kelp, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Citric Acid, Folic Acid, Iron Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.

One thing worth keeping in mind is that all 5 of these foods worked well for my cats and my foster cats in some way shape or form. Some of them love all five and some of them are really focused on one in particular. The fact is that with any of the five above you really can’t go wrong, it’s just a matter of preference for you and for your cat. My little grey cat Beast definitely loves the Blackwood, I think in particular cause she gets to crunch on the bigger triangle shaped kibble, but who knows.

I’ve also had plenty of luck mixing them all together into a big bin and then serving them up together so if a cat doesn’t like one they have another to choose from.  I have the luxury of my two resident cats eating pretty much anything I put in front of them even if they do have specific likes. If you don’t have that luck you might need to pick and choose and try different recipes one at a time until you find something they like.

If you can’t make a decision with the information I’ve provided feel free to dig into things in more depth in the following articles:

• StuffCatsWant Wet vs Dry Food – Which is the Winner?
• The Dry Cat food Review from Reviews.com
• Dry Cat food Review from Heavy.com

If you have any other thoughts on selecting the right dry food then please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article or respond to you personally.

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.

General

By Craig / May 29, 2017

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So you fancy yourself a bit of a green thumb huh? You’ve got a few plants outside and perhaps even a few indoors to green up your place and provide some nice fresh oxygen right?  I do the same, but little did I know that a huge number of common plants around the house are incredibly dangerous to our feline friends.  Even things that are perfectly fine for humans to eat can be incredibly toxic for your cat if they happen to ingest it.

To ensure your cat is safe you’ll want to do a quick review of any plants you have against this list of plants poisonous for cats.  Many cats won’t bother your plants at all, especially if they’ve got lots of other things to keep them active and busy. That being said, there are plenty of cats that are quite entertained by beating up and chewing on any house plant they come across. Given the potential health issues that can come from your cat eating these plants you should definitely take a look at the list just to make sure you know the signs your cat will exhibit if she has made a meal out of your favorite plant.

So Which Plants Should I Look Out for?

If you’d prefer to scan pictures and read through the names I’ve outlined a pretty comprehensive list below.  These are 31 of the most common houseplants that can be dangerous to your cat if eaten. If you’re wondering why 31, mostly because I originally set out to provide a list of 30 but after the fact discovered that the green parts of a tomato plant can be dangerous. I figured that since tomato plants are so common I had better include it in the list, and thus 31.

Note the list is in alphabetical order, not in order of severity or danger. Any of the below plants can cause serious issues for your cat if they eat enough of it, the quantity that determines enough varies by each specific plant. Do your best to keep an eye on your kitty and make sure they have other good stuff to chew on like cat grass or catnip.

I’ve also included a link from each individual plant over to the ASPCA & Poison Pet Helpline website so you can read up on the plant in more detail if you’d like.

Photo	Plant Name	Level of Toxicity	Top Signs of Ingestion
	Amaryllis ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Vomiting Abdominal discomfort
	Autumn Crocus ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to severe	Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea (bloody)
	Azalea ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to severe	Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea
	Caladium ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Pawing at face Drooling / Difficulty swallowing Vomiting
	Chives ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling / Oral Irritation Nausea / Vomiting Diarrhea Lethargy Abdominal pain
	Chrysanthemum ASPCA / PPH	Generally Mild	Vomiting Diarrhea Lack of Appetite
	Cyclamen ASPCA / PPH	Generally Mild to Moderate	Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea Seizures
	Daffodils ASPCA / PPH	Generally Mild to Moderate	Drooling Nausea / Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal pain Abnormal breathing
	Dieffenbachia ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Oral pain Pawing at the mouth Vomiting Lack of Appetite
	Garlic ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling / Oral irritation Nausea / Vomiting Diarrhea Lethargy Abdominal pain
	Holly ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Lip smacking / Drooling Head shaking Vomiting Diarrhea Lack of Appetite
	Hyacinth ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Nausea / Vomiting Diarrhea
	Hydrangea ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Lethargy Vomiting Diarrhea
	Iris ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea
	Ivy ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Vomiting Abdominal pain Hypersalivation Diarrhea Pawing at the mouth
	Kalanchoe ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to severe	Drooling Nausea / Vomiting
	Lilies (Tiger, Day, Easter, Star Gazer, Japanese) ASPCA / PPH	Generally Moderate to severe	Lack of Appetite Lethargy Hiding Vomiting Diarrhea
	Lily of the Valley ASPCA / PPH	Generally Moderate to severe	Vomiting Diarrhea Slowed heart rate
	Marijuana ASPCA / PPH	Moderate to severe	Lethargy Coma Dilated pupils
	Mistletoe ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal pain
	Morning Glory ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Incoordination Diarrhea
	Oleander ASPCA / PPH	Generally moderate to severe	Drooling Nausea Vomiting
	Onion ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Nausea / Vomiting Oral irritation Diarrhea Lethargy
	Peony ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild	Vomiting Diarrhea
	Philodendron ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Oral pain / Pawing at the mouth Vomiting Lack of Appetite
	Poinsettia ASPCA / PPH	Mild	Drooling / Licking lips Skin irritation Vomiting Diarrhea
	Rhododendron ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to severe	Drooling Vomiting Diarrhea Lack of Appetite Abdominal pain
	Sago Palm ASPCA / PPH	Severe	Vomiting Diarrhea Lethargy Lack of Appetite
	Tomato Plant ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Vomiting Diarrhea Lethargy
	Tulips ASPCA / PPH	Generally mild to moderate	Drooling Nausea / Vomiting Diarrhea
	Yew ASPCA / PPH	Generally Moderate to Severe	Drooling Vomiting Weakness

I’m More of a Video Person

If on the other hand you prefer a video to show you the ropes you can check out this very informative, if a little odd, video from Dr. Steven Hansen at the ASPCA. Dr. Hansen goes through a list of about 17 different plants and the potential issues they might cause your cat. The presentation is a bit funny to watch given the delivery, but it is loaded with great information:

Even if a bit dated, it was a great watch right? I’m sure you learned something new from it, I know I did!

Wrapping things up:

Hopefully the list and the video have been helpful to you and will ensure your cat stays safe and sound in and around your home! While the list above calls out some of the most common household plants that are poisonous to cats there are literally hundreds of other plants that can make your cat sick. Note I’m not trying to fear monger and keep you from growing plants, I have numerous plants in the house with no issues at all. I’m simply encouraging you to check your plants against the list of plants poisonous to cats to keep your furry feline friend safe!

For more comprehensive lists please visit the following links:

• • The ASPCA Poison Database – Here you can search for any plant and see if it is poisonous to cats. The search is kind of clunky and you have to manually scroll through many pages sometimes, but the information is very useful.
  • Pet Poison Help Line – Here you can search for any plant and see if it is poisonous to cats (as well as dogs, horses and bunch of other animals).
  • The Cat Fancier’s Association’s Comprehensive List – Everything is on one page so it is very quick to do a CTRL-F and find your plant of interest, but there’s not much beyond the plant names.

If you’re having problems with your cat eating your house plants inside then check out my article on helping you avoid this potentially hazardous activity. The article is full of proven methods to keep your cats away from plants, and if you can’t keep them away there are some alternatives as well like growing your own cat grass.

If you’re worried your cat has eaten a poisonous plant then get your cat to a veterinarian as quickly as possible and bring the plant along with you for ease of identification.  If it is after hours and you need help immediately then you can try one of the following:

• Contact the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at one of these numbers: 1-888-426-4435 (a $65 dollar charge might apply)
• Call the Pet Poison Help Line at 855-764-7661 (note there is a $59 dollar charge for their help)

Please share any experience you have in keeping your cat from eating plants, poisonous or not. Feel free to leave a comment about it below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com. I’ll be happy to update the article to reflect any additional information!

Please note that StuffCatsWant is providing this information as a service to the public. I am not a veterinarian and nor do I claim to be. Your veterinarian should handle any diagnosis and treatment if your cat has eaten any of the plants above. StuffCatsWant disclaims all warranties and liability related to the veterinary advice and information provided on this site.

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.

General

How to Guides

By Craig / May 28, 2017

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We’ve all heard the good old phrase “curiosity killed the cat” right? Cats are pretty darn curious little fur balls and they’ll often decide to see which of your house plants might taste the best. This could include anything from batting at the leaves to digging up the dirt around the plant to all out chowing down on the plant right in front of you.

While each of these behaviors is rather annoying as a cat owner, the most dangerous thing your cat can do is to ingest parts of poisonous plants. If you haven’t already read my article on which plants are poisonous to cats, you’ll definitely want to head over and check that out.   If you’ve already read it and your plants are ‘cat safe’ and you just want them to quit eating then please continue reading. First we’ll look at why cats eat and harass your plants then we’ll answer the age old question of “How to Keep Cats From Eating House Plants!”

Why Does My Cat Eat  House Plants?

Cats can eat or destroy your house plants for a number of reasons, but the most common reasons have root causes that can be addressed by you as a cat owner. So let’s take a look at those reasons:

• Sheer Boredom:  When cats get bored they tend to get mischievous.  This can result in all sorts of poor behavior, anything from tearing up an entire roll of toilet paper to of course tearing up your house plants.  Be sure your cat is getting plenty of exercise and structured play each day.
• Enjoyment: We humans love the taste and smell of plenty of plants. Your cat may have found something they really enjoy and thus just wants to keep eating it. I know when I find something tasty I can hardly resist eating it, especially sweets!
• Dietary Deficiency: Cats instinctively search for nutrients they aren’t getting in their daily diet.  While cats don’t depend specifically on plant matter to live, there are certain nutrients like folic acid that they can acquire through eating plants.
• Hairballs / Indigestion:  More often than us humans, cats get the need to regurgitate. While this is most often caused by a hairball, it can be caused by something else in their diet too.  Eating plants material can will cause a lot of cats to vomit up whatever undesirable item is in their digestive track.

So How Do I Address It?

There are a wide number of things you can do to keep your cat from eating your plants. The first thing I will mention though is that you should not be yelling at your cat when they eat your plants. While that is the first instinct most people have, yelling at your cat typically just makes your cat afraid of you. They don’t make the connection. Instead you should focus on other methods that get your cat to leave your plants alone of their own accord.  I’ve listed a set of ideas you can try, in what I consider escalating order of complexity or cost. If the easy stuff doesn’t work, try moving on up the chain.

The Basics:

• Ensure your cat gets plenty of attention & exercise: Making sure your cat gets a chance to stretch out and play each day is of vital importance for their general health, but it can also ensure that they don’t act out in boredom. Be sure you take time out of your day, every day if possible, to play with your cat. If you’re gone during the day consider getting toys that you can start remotely or that have a timer to auto shut off shortly after you leave.
• Make the nearby area unappealing: Placing double sided tape or aluminum foil on the ground near your plant is a good way to help prevent your cat from coming near it. You’ll have to crinkle the foil up a bit to make it an uneven surface. Most cats don’t like the feeling of these surfaces and might just stay away from that alone.
• Make the Plant Taste/Smell Bad For Your Cat: Your cat’s nose is far more sensitive than your own, so putting something on or near the plant that is unpleasant can make them steer clear. There are a couple of good options available:
  • A combination of 25% vinegar and 75% water (don’t use this too often because vinegar is acidic and can damage leaves).
  • Sprinkle something with a very strong scent like cayenne pepper around the base of the plant and on some of the leaves.
  • Cats dislike the scent of citrus, some orange peels and lemon peels around the base of the plant is another viable option.

Stepping It Up a Notch:

• Provide Edible Alternatives: There are plenty of plants out there your cat can eat, in particular cat grass, cat nip and cat mint. Cat grass in particular is easy enough to grow at home in just a few days. You can use these alternatives to encourage your cat to focus on them instead of your other plants. Note you don’t want to place the edibles right next to your other houseplants, keep them in areas where they won’t register pleasure with eating your other plants.
• Cat Deterrent Systems: You may have heard of the SSSCat System, it is a pretty cool gadget. Essentially it works by detecting your cat nearby with a motion sensor and spraying a jet of compressed air at them. This will typically scare your cat off. I’ll be posting a full review of the SSSCat system shortly, but to say the least it works quite well with my two wimpy cats :).
• Cat Deterrent Sprays: There are a bunch of different sprays out there, but the two biggest are Bitter Lemon and Anti-Chew. Both promise to keep your cat from chewing on things they aren’t supposed to chew on. Be sure you spray them in a small area first before going to town, otherwise you could really damage your plants if they react poorly to the spray.
• Grow Buffer Plants: Adding some buffer plants that cats don’t like can help deter them. By buffer plants I mean place plants like lavender and rosemary nearby the plants your cat is eating. These plants have very strong scents that don’t appeal to cats and can help deter them.

Taking It to the Extreme

• Moth Balls: Moth balls have a very strong scent that cats don’t seem to like, but they are also toxic to cats if ingested. If you can put them inside a safe box with holes popped in it so the scent comes out this is a viable option as well. There’s the unfortunate side effect that most people hate the smell of moth balls too.
• Lion Dung: Yes folks, lion dung. You can buy lion dung now. It is part of a product called Silent Roar. The idea is if you mix this into the dirt your houseplant is in that cats will realize a far larger and more fierce animal has marked this territory and your cat will now leave it alone. I have not tried this product, but some reviews of it are positive.
• Cage Your Plants: You could use a pre-bought cage or rig something up yourself, but a plant cage could keep the plant safe at the expense of looking pretty tacky and becoming a huge hassle for you to work around.
• Create a Safe Room: If you’re fortunate to have enough space, as a last resort you can move your plants into that room and keep it cat free. This will let your plants grow and keep them safe from your cat.

If all else fails you can always try growing different plants inside to see which ones your cat ignores.  Generally cats don’t like plants with very strong scents so this can help you locate a few plants that might work. Whatever you do, be sure the plant is not poisonous to your cat before you decide to grow it nearby.

Wrapping It All Up

Let’s quickly recap everything:

• Your cat could be eating your plants for any reason from boredom to a dietary deficiency
• First and foremost be sure the plant your cat is chewing on isn’t poisonous (if it is get to the vet immediately or get in touch with the ASPCA or PPH)
• Be sure your cat is getting plenty of play time & exercise each day
• Deploy deterrents in escalating levels depending on effectiveness
• Do not yell at your cat as they will instead become afraid of you instead of afraid eating the plant

If you have any experience keeping your cat from eating a particular plant please share it below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com. I’ll be happy to update the article to reflect any additional information!

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.

General

By Craig / May 27, 2017

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Feeding your cat the right food can make a huge difference in their quality of life, particularly from a health perspective. A good diet is a key lynchpin in good overall health and helps lead to a long and fulfilling life full of walking on humans while they sleep and helping them type on the laptop. That being said, finding the best food can be extremely difficult, especially when there’s so much debate raging over what is considered good food versus not.

I spent hours and hours digging through site after site and looking at food labels to pull together a summary of what you need to know about choosing the right food for your cat. But before we get into the dry vs wet cat food debate, let’s take a look at what key things you should understand to make a decision on what to feed your feline friend in general.

Where’s the Protein?

Cats are obligate carnivores. This basically means they can’t live without meat in their diet because specific nutrients they need simply aren’t available in plants. While the form of meat can range from beef to poultry to fish and everything in between, cats do require a source of meat to maintain a healthy diet. This doesn’t mean a cat cannot eat things like peas, or potatoes or rice, it just means that they can’t survive solely on a plant based diet.

To build protein, cats need to get an adequate supply of 11 different amino acids that their body can’t naturally produce. Without getting into the technicalities of it, there are some 23 amino acids that are used to build all protein and cats can only naturally produce 12 of them. This means they have to get the other 11 from their diet otherwise health issues ensue.

The health issues can be very serious and even result in the death of your cat, so do pay close attention to the amino acid contents. If you’d like to read more on the necessary amino acids and why they are so important checkout this article from PetMD that describes it in detail.

Cats Aren’t So Good at Drinking Water

Probably the largest source of debate on the wet vs dry food topic comes from the amount of water a cat should be drinking. Cats in general don’t naturally drink a lot of water, especially still water. Cats have all sorts of quirks when it comes to water. Some only drink from tall glasses, some from short, some from a dripping tap etc.  What’s important to note is most cats don’t drink enough water to maintain proper hydration.

This is one of the key arguments driving people to lean toward only feeding cats wet food. Wet food comes with a heck of a lot more moisture than dry food. No surprise given the name.  This basically helps make up the balance of the water your cat isn’t drinking on her own and mimics how a cat would get moisture in the wild when she hunts.

Hydration is very important for your cat, hence the surge in cat water fountains all over the market today. The key thing to note though is that most cats will continue to eat dry food even if you pour a tablespoon or two of water over the food to saturate it and help balance out the difference wet food would normally contain.

Why the Strain to Avoid the Grain?

Just like in human food, there’s a lot of debate these days on whether or not your cat should be eating grain. A lot of pet food includes grain, which is basically a boat load of carbohydrates. While many people argue that carbohydrates are bad for your cat, there are an equal number indicating carbs are fine for your cat.

This is one of the biggest sources of controversy when it comes to dry food for cats today though. Dry food generally has more carbohydrates than wet food. Many people believe that cats should be fed a diet that maximizes proteins and removes as many carbs as possible because in the wild cats would consume a minimal amount of carbs.

If you do decide that you don’t want your cat eating carbs then be sure to check your food labels closely because the Grain Free label doesn’t mean carbohydrate free.  Carbs come from a ton of sources, but one of the most common you’ll find in cat food is potatoes.  Potatoes are one of those foods you probably want to avoid because they tend to cause a huge spike in blood sugar levels and spiking blood sugar levels can eventually lead to diabetes.

What’s In a Name?

Every tin or bag of cat food comes with a label, and that label contains a name. So what does that name mean to you as a consumer? You might be surprised to find this out, but there are guidelines that dictate how these labels are made up. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) established guidelines that regulate what must be included on pet food labels. This includes what those companies can include and what they can’t include on the labels. Let’s take a look at the key takeaways:

• If the food is advertised to contain a single ingredient or a combination of ingredients, it must contain at least 95% of that ingredient or combination of ingredients, not including added water. If the label says it is made of duck, then duck must make up 95%. If the claim is venison and bison, then the food must be made up of 95% venison and bison.
• Labels with names like duck dinner, duck platter, duck entrée must contain at least 25% of the named ingredient.
• Labels that indicate a food comes “with” an ingredient like “with cheese” must contain at least 3% of the named ingredient.
• The AAFCO also allows pet food producers to include a statement of ‘Nutritional Adequacy’ on their food if it includes the 11 amino acids I referred to above, this is definitely worth looking out for! See this screenshot to know what to look out for: 

What About the Ingredients List?

Food ingredients are listed in decreasing order according to weight, so you’re looking for something that is mostly meat.  This means you want something that has meat listed as the first ingredient if not the first few ingredients depending on the combination in the formula. This is especially true in dry food. You probably want to avoid some more generic terms like ‘meat-meal’ or ‘ocean fish’ because it isn’t really clear what is in them, but something like chicken-meal or beef-meal is acceptable and worth considering because it isn’t a mystery meat.

What Are Key Formulas to Avoid?

• Dry foods without meat in the top 5 ingredients (wet foods often have water or broth as one of the top ingredients)
• Foods without any specific meat on the label (for example ‘meat-meal’ or ‘ocean-fish’)
• Foods that include preservatives & artificial ingredients, in particular: BHA, BHT, Caramel Color, Ethoxyquin, Sodium Nitrite, Vitamin K3
• Foods that include unidentified meat by-products, meat-meal, ocean fish, sugar, carrageenan, garlic, rendered fat, soybeans, sugar and xanthan

Nutrient Analysis

Who is ready for some math?!? Probably scared you a bit there, but don’t worry, it is simple stuff. Most cat food will now carry a guaranteed analysis on the label. This will basically tell you what % of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber etc. are in the food. Note that the bare minimums recommended by the AAFCO for your typical adult cat is 26% protein.

If your cat is a growing (a kitten) or happens to be pregnant then you’ll want to aim for a minimum of 30% protein.  This is just one more piece of the puzzle that can help you make the call on whether or not a specific can or bag of food is right for your cat.

Do I Try Wet or Dry?

Now for the real debate. Do I feed my cat only wet food, only dry food, or both? The battle lines have already been drawn on this subject and most people have an opinion they will vehemently defend even though they likely have little scientific proof to back their point of view up. Most websites are driven by anecdotal proof from ‘My cat got sick, my cat got healthy’ type stories which they than extrapolate into meaning it should apply to every cat.

Some experts believe that canned food is healthier than dry food and some believe the exact opposite. Others argue that cats do well on both types of food and a pet owner should be able to choose what is most convenient.  And in some cases you just have to use whatever your cat will eat.  Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest arguments though:

• Plaque buildup is commonly mentioned as a key drawback of dry food. This is further confused by the mostly debunked argument that dry food helps remove plaque as the teeth puncture the food. Most people, vets included, will tell you that cats simply swallow dry food without chewing it.  The simple fact is though, both wet and dry food will cause plaque to build up on your cat’s teeth. If this is something you’re seriously concerned about you should be brushing your cat’s teeth on a consistent basis and ensuring they get a dental checkup yearly.
• Wet food is often quoted as having more protein than dry food and thus better for your cat. When the math is done though and both are compared on an even scale there are high protein dry and wet foods, it is just a matter of choosing the right one. Check out this calculator created by the Feline Nutrition Awareness Effort (FNAE) that will help you convert both wet food and dry food into a comparable form.
• While canned food does by default contain more moisture and mimics a cat eating in the wild more accurately than dry food, the moisture argument can typically be resolved by providing cats a ready source of water or mixing a bit into their dry food.
• Dry food diets have been shown to increase the risk of urinary tract infections and issues within felines because with dry food only diets cats simply don’t tend to drink enough water which can make it harder for the kidneys to function, or so the theory goes.
• Wet food on the other hand has been shown to be linked to more thyroid problems in cats than dry food diets have. So while wet food may help balance out the kidneys it can have other negative impacts.

So What’s the Verdict?

The most common answer I’ve heard is that both wet and dry food are fine so long as you’re choosing a high quality food and ensuring your cat is getting sufficient water. This means if your cat doesn’t drink enough water on her own that you’ll need to work to supplement their diet with sufficient water.

Many vets aren’t interested in providing a hard line answer on wet food versus dry food. This is mostly because there isn’t sufficient scientific evidence to back up either side yet. They instead encourage you to focus on what works with your cat and adjust their diet as necessary to ensure they thrive. Check out this article from Dr. Eric Barchas for more information.

I’ve had discussions with Beast and Lexi’s vet and he has agreed that a combination of wet and dry is fine. I’ve also spoken with numerous other cat owners that have had their vets second this point of view. We’ve all witnessed cats on both wet and dry or combination diets live long and wonderful lives.  I feed my cats a combination of wet and dry food every day, I’ll freely admit they tend to eat more of the wet food than the dry food. But, they also do enjoy the dry food. I can see them eat it and while most dry food is too small to force a cat to chew, mine seem to really enjoy chewing and crunching their larger bits of dry food.

No matter which food you decide on you can use this quick process to help you determine if you’re choosing healthy food for your cat. Click for a full size image.

I’ll soon be posting my top 5 recommended dry and wet foods, so check back shortly for more information on some great options for either preference!

Is there Anything Else I Should Consider?

Each brand is going to get their ingredients from a different source and they are going to conduct quality control in different ways. The AAFCO does not provide any requirements for pet food producers in this regard so you might want to dig into it yourself.  Some websites will provide the information, for example ACANA and Fromm both provide details on where their food is produced and whether or not it can be traced back to its source ingredients.  You can always call or email an individual company for more information if you feel you need it more in depth information.

Even with a high quality well prepared diet your cat might still find itself chewing on other things in the house, like houseplants. If you see this happening you might want to provide your cat some cat grass as a treat. Check out my post here on how to grow your own cat grass.

What if I Still Can’t Decide?

If you’re still stuck, speak with your veterinarian about the best choices for your individual cat. Be sure to come armed with your information and with a good set of questions, don’t just ask the generic ‘Which is better?’ question. Every cat is different and every cat has different needs. Coming with a good background and specific questions will help your vet help you take into account your cats specific situation.

If you’re looking for even more information be sure to visit the following resources:

• Reviews.com – Great review of good dry food.
• PetMD – Great information on calculating nutrient content.
• CatInfo.org – A site dedicated to wet food only diets.
• CatNutrition.org – A site dedicated to raw cat food.

One thing I will call out is that I have not found a single website or article that indicates you should feed your cat only dry food. Given this it probably makes sense to use a combination of wet and dry at the least. But again, I’m not a veterinarian and you should always discuss with your vet before you make any specific decisions regarding your pet’s diet.

If you have any other thoughts on the what to feed your cat please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update this article or respond in kind.

Beds

General

Product Reviews

By Craig / May 24, 2017

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Product: Sunny Seat Large Cat Window Perch / Sunny Seat Window Mount Cat Bed

Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon

My Rating: 4 out of 5

Sunny Seat Cat Window Perch Product Overview

The Sunny Seat Cat Window Bed is a product that is designed to serve as a large cat window perch. It will make your cat love you far more than they currently do, especially if you live in a place where your windows provide a good view in the sun. I live in what is called a garden unit in Chicago, this essentially means that more than half of my home is underground. It is great for keeping the place cool in the summer and reducing the heating bill, but it certainly leaves a lot to want for if you’re a cat on a window sill.

This window bed enabled me to very easily get my cats a vantage point a lot higher than the window sill so they can actually see things passing by at street level, something they relish in.  It also gave them a place to lay right in the sun and fall asleep while still being up high and off the ground, something cats are driven to prefer based on their instincts.  One additional thing they love is the fact that I stuck a see through bird feeder right on the other side of the window so when they are in the bed they can see all of the birds come back and forth to eat. It keeps them engaged and awake for long periods of time.

I never take the bed down through any of the four seasons, so it has gone through numerous temperature fluctuations on the window as well. It only fell down once or twice in the two year period I had it up.  After two years though the suction cups finally gave out permanently and I had to purchase a new one. All in all I’m very happy with the life of the product given the cost.

This is also one of the Best 10 Cat Window Beds that I found in 2017.

How Was the Setup

Setting up the bed was a breeze. It comes with a single page set of instructions that are straight forward.  It essentially asks you to:

1. Gather all the parts
2. Construct the 4 piece frame
3. Slide the bed covering over the frame
4. Attach the suction cups to the frame
5. Clean the window well with something like Windex to prepare it
6. Hang the bed:
   • Firmly push the bottom suction cups into place
   • Hold the frame in place with one hand
   • Use your other hand to stretch the cords out on the top suction cups and firmly push them into place

The Setup in Action:

I’ve created the following video if you want to watch the construction and hanging in action:

I’ve also just included some simple directions with step by step pictures. Either way you should have no trouble:

You can then manually test the bed using your hand by pressing down on it firmly to make sure it doesn’t immediately pop off of the window. This will ensure your cat doesn’t get freaked out by the bed because it falls down the first time they hop themselves up into it.

One additional word to the wise. Do not set the bed up where your cat has to jump into it unless you have no other choice. What I mean is don’t make them hop up 2-3 feet into the bed. While the bed should hold and mine did for a while when setup this way, it will make the suction cups give way a lot easier and could result in an injured & scared cat.

How Do You Get Your Cat To Use It?

It was quite easy to get both of my cats to use the window bed. Since cats are innately curious and love to get themselves into high places they were already exploring right around it as soon as it was installed on the window. The clincher for Beast was simply putting a few of her cat treats in the area and then up on the bed itself. Just like the trail of bread Hansel and Gretel left, Beast found her way up there by looking for each treat and then chomping it down.

Lexi on the other hand was more interested in going wherever Beast went. She started climbing up there once Beast started sleeping up there. It didn’t take long for her to get curious enough and jump up there herself and laze about in the sun for a while, sometimes right on top of Beast.

My General Take:

I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. I’m very happy with the purchase, especially at the very affordable price point you can pick this bed up at.  There are numerous other versions out there, but this one worked incredibly well for me right out of the box.

The Pros:

• Most importantly, my cats both LOVE IT and it gets used daily.
• It is incredibly easy to setup & hang.
• It easily holds either my 8 lb or my 12 lb cat.
• It has also easily holds both cats at the same time which is over 20 lbs.
• If you put a lambswool cover in it it is super easy to pop it off and wash it.

Room for Improvement

• The suction cups will eventually deteriorate and stop working. This is just normal for any sort of rubber or plastic that is perpetually exposed to sunlight. Mine took over two years to do this and the bed simply would not stay in the window anymore. I had to order a whole new bed instead of just suction cups because the manufacturer doesn’t sell them as spare parts and they are custom fitted to the PVC ends.
• I would caution you to be careful with is if you have a window that looks anything like mine. Windows that have crossbars running through them for decorative or stability purposes might prove difficult to hang the window bed in, simply because the base is not adjustable from a size perspective.

What’s In the Box?

• The Sunny Seat Cat Window Perch Frame w/ two attached cords
• The Sunny Seat Cat Window Perch Frame Cover
• 4 Suction Cups (3.3 inch diameter each)
• 1 Instruction Guide
• Product Dimensions: 22″ x 12″ x 1.5″ ( L x W x H )
• Cord Length: 23″
• Weight: 1 pound

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much weight can it hold?
  • The product details indicate 30 lbs, though unless you have a very large cat or pair of cats that plan to use it at once I doubt you’d ever need that much weight support. You would also want to be careful of your window itself supporting large amounts of weight like that.
• How long will the suction cups last?
  • While every person will have a different experience depending on the amount and severity of the sunlight, my suction cups lasted a little over two years of constant use.
• What if I can’t get the suction cups to stick?
  • Be sure your window is 100% clean and dampen the suction cups and the window very lightly before attempting to stick them on.
  • You can also use an oil like coconut oil to help get the suction cups to adhere if the above doesn’t work for you.
• Can you buy replacement suction cups?
  • As of right now the manufacturer does not offer suction cups as a separate item.
• What are the cords made of?
  • The cords are made of steel wire to ensure your cat won’t be able to chew through them.

If you have any other thoughts on the Sunny Seat Large Cat Window Perch please leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com so I can update 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.