7 Tips to Take the Stress Out of Your Cat's Trip to the Veterinarian

If you're like most cat owners, taking your cat to the vet is one of the most stressful events that you dread just as much as your cat does but what if I told you that there were seven things you could do to make the whole ordeal (yes, I said "ordeal") less painful? 

As a cat owner myself I was especially appreciative of the tips of (A) holding the cat carrier close to the body to cause less motion and (B) placing pheromone infused bedding or your own bedding in the carrier to make your cat more comfortable! 

What was your favorite tip? What else have you tried to make the trip to the vet an easy one? 

I'd love to hear about your paw-sitive experiences so please share! Thank you!

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4 Reasons Why Your Cats Won't Use Their Litter Box

It’s always heartbreaking to learn that a cat was surrendered to the shelter because he or she wouldn’t use the litter box because there are medical reasons or perhaps a competition with another pet in the house that causes a cat to not want to use the litter box. It is only in rare cases that a cat would choose to not use a litter box for no good reason. Here are some different factors to consider if your cat begins to stray away from the litter box and what you can do to help:

Medical
If a cat suddenly stops using a litter box, get them checked out by their vet ASAP. This could be a sign of a medical condition such as a UTI, cystitis, diabetes or thyroid issues to name a few so ruling out any medical issues is the first step. 
  
Behavioral
If medical reasons have been ruled out, it’s time to start looking at factors in your own home. Changes in a cat’s environment, even if they seem minor to humans, can completely alter a cat’s use of the litter box. Things such as a new baby in the home, changing the location of the litter box or even a new type of litter can all be reasons for a cat to reject their routine. 

Adding additional litter boxes in different locations, cleaning the accidents thoroughly with a neutralizing enzyme such as Nature's Miracle, adding Cat Attract litter to the litter box, and using Feliway diffusers (a synthetic pheromone) are excellent and cost effective remedies. Another important tip to remember is most cats prefer their box very clean before they use it so cleaning it frequently will encourage your cat to go back to that space. 

Location
Location of the litter box can also play into a cat’s comfort in using that specific box. If their box is placed next to a noisy appliance or in a location they have trouble accessing that could deter them from using it and finding a place more convenient and comfortable instead (like your new rug or favorite pair of shoes). 

Multiple Cats
In a multi-cat home having multiple litter boxes is a must. Some cats prefer to not share a box or may prefer a very clean box so having multiple litter boxes helps avoid potential issues. This may mean using different litter for each cat or using covered and uncovered boxes depending on the preference of each cat. Another critical issue can be not only other cats but dogs as well. Making sure your cat has a litter box away from where a dog could chase or frighten them allows your cat to feel comfortable in that location. 

If these suggestions fail to work and feel that surrendering your cat is the best option please reach out to your local veterinarian, pet sitter, or shelter staff for further advice.

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6 Purrfect Hairball Remedies to Make Your Cat (and You!) Happy

Do you feel like you've tried every remedy known to man to prevent your cat from having to go through uncomfortable hairball symptoms like coughing, gagging, hacking, and vomiting?  In my home and in many of my client's homes over the years I've had to clean up many hairballs and, believe me, it has never been pretty so I did some research to find simple remedies to combat this issue head on! Here's what I've found and I certainly hope they make you and your cat happy!

Canned Pumpkin

This orange vegetable can help hairballs pass all the way through your cat’s system. Mix in one to two tablespoons plain canned pumpkin to your cat’s food each day or a couple times a week. You can add it as is, but for cats with a sensitive stomach, warm up the pumpkin. The natural fiber in pumpkin keeps your cat regular and assists pushing swallowed hair out with bowl movements.

Olive Oil 

A teaspoon of olive oil every week or so should do the trick. Oil throughout the digestive system will help your cat eliminate hair in its stools and aid in digestion. This should cut down on stomach aches associated with hairballs. Other oils, such as mineral oil, corn oil or saffron oil can also help.

Butter

A teaspoon of butter will work like the oil. Melt it in the microwave and drizzle over your cat’s food once a week.

Cat Food 

As a precautionary measure or if hairballs are a persistent problem in your cat’s lives, feed a hairball formula food. Hairball formula food helps hairballs to pass out the other end while improving hair and skin health and reducing shedding.

Grooming 

Brush your cat daily to decrease the amount of hair that is ingested. To remove as much loose hair as possible, wipe her down with a damp cloth in the direction of hair growth after brushing. Assisting with grooming is especially important for long haired cats and older cats. 

Petroleum Jelly 

You can trick your cat into relieving his or her own problems by applying a bit of petroleum jelly to a paw. Your cat is sure to lick the jelly away, lubricating the digestive track. This will help make feces elimination more comfortable, thus removing hair in the cat’s digestive tract. Do this once a week or so.

Which of these remedies have you tried and what were the results? Are there any other remedies that I forgot to mention here that you'd like to add? Please leave a comment below!  Thank you!

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