March 11th 2011 thoughts

It was a scary time to be in Japan, although we were not affected as badly as other parts of Japan the effects of the Earthquake, and Tsunami impacted upon everyone. It was heart-breaking to see the Tsunami take so many lives and cause so much destruction. The Fukushima crisis was a continual confusion (and to this day I still don't feel safe to drink tap water). Nobody knew if they were really safe (even in Tokyo). We stopped drinking tap water, and took more notice of the city and country of origin of our food in the Supermarket.

In Fukushima many people were evacuated from the exclusion zones leaving behind their pets, and animals. There was no animal evacuation plan. This has resulted in many unnecessary animal deaths and immense suffering of both animals and their owners. There are thankfully some amazing volunteers who regularly go to feed the animals left behind, in hope they can make a difference. They have rescued many animals, and they continue to do so.

Evacuated people are still living in temporary homes, and shelters.

I hope and pray things will improve, and the lives of everyone directly affected by the Tsunami, and Fukushima crisis can soon regain some sense of normality.

The Furminator

It took me a while, and countless evenings trawling through reviews on the internet, before I finally succumbed to the lure of The Furminator.

There are many positive and negative reviews out there, but I decided to bite the bullet and buy one on the internet to see if it actually works.

The day it arrived I was eager to try it out, and Tora actually seemed to enjoy it for a while. Following on from advice given to me before my purchase, I recommend using it once a week for about 10-15mins depending on the length of your cats fur. 

Please check before purchasing if your cat has an undercoat. If they do not then it is probably best to find an alternative to the Furminator. (Siamese, Burmese and Tonkinese cats have no undercoat, so they tend to not shed so much). 

The furminator works by removing the fur which would usually be shed. This reduces the effects of shedding on your home, and helps reduce hairballs which can be a problem for many cats. It can take a while to see the results, but I have seen and heard great things, and I am already starting to see an improvement around my home.

If you have any experiences or thoughts on the Furminator please share them below in the comments section.

Welcome back...

It has been over a year since I updated this and a lot has happened since then.

Here is a quick update:

Tora is now 100% Human toilet trained all thanks to the amazing Litter Kwitter.
We moved to a new home with a better view, and stronger structure which will hopefully withstand a big earthquake if one should occur.

It is usually much quieter here than our last home, but as it is now Summer the Cicadas (semis) are very loud. We like the sounds of Summer though (just not at 1am).

where for art thou toilet?

I thought it's time for an update on the toilet training. It's been a week, and up until yesterday, Tora had been doing so well. He was regularly using the red litter kwitter after short outbursts of meowing what I could only translate as: 'Where is my litter tray? where should I poo?'. Yesterday he seemed completely confused, even after a week of knowing where he should go, and lots of encouragement and praise in the form of cat treats kindly sent by my family in England. I was getting ready to leave the apartment and I suddenly saw him scratching the blanket and pillows on the bed...looked like he was trying to hide something. I pulled back the covers and found a wet patch folded ever so carefully under the blanket. Bless his efforts for trying to hide it. He even looked embarassed by his mistake. Tora is not a devient cat and I did my best to avoid telling him off for his mistake. I'd like to say I acted completely calm during the situation, but being late for a meeting, I had a small hissy fit, and then kindly my bf took over the mess. He possibly has the patience of a saint.

Several hours later during watching The Black swan..which I want to say was a really dark and weird film that I switched off half way through...Tora once again used his litter kwitter tray :) yay. I was so happy I gave him 2 treats straight after...He must think I'm crazy.

This morning he managed once again to find his litter kwitter. I am keeping my fingers crossed he's on the right track. I won't give up trying.

I have once question if anybody is reading this who also has a cat...is your cat messy with litter? Tora always  throws it all over the place..and I'm just wondering if this is usual behaviour?

Anyway...lets hope we're in for a week of no toilet mistakes :)

Is it really possible to train a cat to use a human toilet?

I watched the film 'Meet the Fockers' several years ago, it was my first time to see a cat use a human toilet. I thought initially it was pretty amazing...now my opinion may be changing.

Have you ever heard of a product called Litter Kwitter? heres the promotional video if you wish to know what I'm ranting on about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3K6whhsTjA

The litter kwitter claims that you can train your cat in just 8 weeks (or less)...to use your toilet. It comprises of 3 stages.

Currently my cat is on the first stage. The red stage. Since starting 2 days ago he has pooed once on the litter kwitter just because I was there to move him onto the litter, and once he has peed on my pillow. I am slightly concerned by this behaviour, and having read many blogs on the subject, have only managed  to become more concerned. My question is has anyone really used this and it worked for them? it seems a very stressful experience and me and my cat are only just into the 2nd day. It seems that the Litter Kwitter so far is only encouraging bad behaviour in my cat, and resulting in bad toilet manners.

I will keep trying in hope that Tora gets used to using the contraption...and keep updating on here how it's going.

Potentially toxic to cats ?

I had no idea when I first got my cat of the multitude of potential poisons there are in my home. There are some surprising toxic plants and food products.

For example Lilies (especially Easter Lilies), and Citrus oil. It seems a number of fragrances are toxic to cats. From my research I discovered many sources claiming Tea Tree Oil to also be Toxic. This is in many household products and toiletries. There seems many different opinions on the topic but i feel the need to be cautious.

I recently gave my cat a small amount of Avocado, and suddenly remembered I had seen somewhere on the internet that it is potentially poisonous to cats. From further research I was terrified to learn a cat had died from eating too much Avocado. I kept searching and realised it is very important to not believe everything you read on the internet. I found many cases of people feeding Avocado to their cats. There were suggestions that a little is okay, but also many warnings to avoid giving it to your cat. I generally avoid human food for my cat as most of the time he is content with Cat food and his regular treats.

Another toxic food item for cats is Chocolate. please avoid any forms of chocolate. I find my cat trying to taste chocolate icecream at any opportunity it's in my home.

Here is a recommended website with a comprehensive list of some more potential toxic items to cats which may be of use to you.

Information on products Toxic to Cats

 

Please keep your cat safe from harmful substances!!!

What do I need to keep a cat?

Keeping a cat often finds me asking a million and one questions to the people around me who also keep a cat.

There's always something that needs to be understood more, and always something beyond our knowledge. So let's start at the very beginning...

 

What do I need to keep a cat?

It's good to start with the basics: Cat Litter Tray and Litter (I prefer the flushable kind), Food and water bowls. Food (dry or wet). Some pet owners prefer to feed their cat just dry food. If this is the case for you please ensure you provide enough water for your cat. If they eat dry food they need more water typically than a cat who eats only wet food. Grooming instruments. There are a variety of these on the market ranging from a brush, comb, massaging  brush, to a grooming glove. I own 3 different kinds of these and my cat likes all. Scratching post. Cats need somewhere to scratch and believe me  will prevent your furniture becoming a scratching post. There are many different kinds and I think it depends on the cat. My cat loves the cardboard kind and this is relatively cheap and easy to replace once its been scratched to pieces. Toys. cats love to play and especially if you spend time away from home they need something to occupy their mind. If you don't provide toys don't be surprised if your cat turns your possessions into his own play things. Wet wipes for pets. These are invaluable items and come in handy in many situations. Claw clippers. It's important to keep your cats claws trimmed. While scratching posts can help to keep their claws in shape, it is still important to check them regularly to prevent any problems for your cat. Cat beds. cats need  somewhere to sleep. I provided one of these for mine but he quickly decided he prefers my bed. If you are someone who doesn't like to share your bed with a pet please provide a comfortable bed for him or her. Love and time. Cats need your love and your time. They are relatively independent animals but need care and playtime from their owner. 

A friend to play with. Two cats are better than one. If you have the space and can afford to keep two cats, please consider a companion for your cat. He will have a constant playmate, and someone to snuggle up to when you are away from home. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO REGISTER YOUR CAT WITH A VET AND ENSURE HE HAS ALL THE NECESSARY VACCINATIONS. 

NEUTER or SPAY YOUR CAT. This will prevent adding to the high population of stray cats already in the world.

Finally enjoy your Cat. They can be loving and playful if you spend the time and love to care for them well.