Cat Alarm Clock

This is absolutely funny!

Playful Cats

It's fascinating to watch cats at play. Their speed and agility never cease to amaze me. There is a reason why cats love to play. When cats play, they are actually practicing the necessary skills they will carry out when hunting. If you closely observe, you will notice that a cat will sneak up, pounce, try different attacks and defenses, seize prey, follow it,or flee as if it were followed. It is crucial that you encourage your cat to play on a daily basis. Single cats that are kept in a house or apartment often suffer from severe boredom and you as a cat owner must make an effort to do something about it.

Therefore it is very important to play with your cat but only if your cat is up to it. Cats often become more lively in the late evening and will make it obvious that they are ready to play with you. My tabby,just loves when I play hide and seek with him. He also loves to have various toys that he uses to hone his hunting skills. Playing with your cat not only sharpens his hunting skills but it's also essential for weight control,bonding and helping your cat to develop stamina, agility and muscle tone. For more great information CLICK HERE

Fat Cat Criminal

After four months of quickly diminishing cat food, a woman found a fat cat breaking in for the free food after he got stuck on the owners pet door. The pudgy puss was taken into the Humane Society where he weighed in at 20 pounds. Enjoy the video:)

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH CATS AND CATNIP?

Have you ever seen a cat when it encounters catnip? It will sniff it, rub against it, lick it and it will finally eat it. Then thats where the fun begins. The cats starts to go on a natural high. The following article explains what is catnip and why is it that cats go crazy for it. Enjoy :)


Why Cats Flip For Catnip
By Andrew Markison

If you’ve ever watched as a cat "flipped" over fresh catnip perhaps you’ve been struck with the question; "what causes Catnip to affect cats that way?" Catnip is indeed an unusual phenomenon among cats, it has the ability to alter your cat’s behavior like nothing else can. So what exactly is the reason for what scientists have coined as "the Catnip effect"?

Unfortunately for such inquisitive minds the exact reason of why Catnip affects cats in such a manner remains mostly a mystery. There is however much that we do know about Catnip and cats even if we don’t have the ultimate answer of exactly "why?" yet answered.

The Science Stuff

Catnip is scientifically classified as Nepeta cataria and is a perennial herb from the mint family and is in fact also referred to as "Catmint". It is a plant indigenous to Europe but has been exported and is now found all over including the United States and Canada.

The active ingredient in Catnip is an oil; Nepetalactone, which is found in the leaves of the plant. This is the reason you are able to find Catnip in a bottle or spray form in some pet stores.

Other Uses For Catnip

Catnip is not only good to stimulate activity in cats, it can also be used by humans as an herb for a medicinal tea which may soothe toothaches, help against coughs, and may also perform as a sleep aid. Furthermore, Catnip can be used as an herb on salads or other foods as has been the case for centuries in France. Lately Catnip has also been garnering favor as a natural insect repellant rivaling the effectiveness of many store bought varieties of repellant.

Catnip and Kitty

Catnip affects approximately half of all cats. What determines whether or not a cat will react to Catnip is a genome that is inherited (or not inherited as the case may be) at birth. Kittens, regardless of whether or not they carry this genome, do not react to Catnip until reaching about 3 or 4 months of age and becoming sexually mature. Older cats are also more likely to have a diminished or non-existing reaction to Catnip, which leads scientists to believe that the Catnip effect is based at least partially on sexuality and that the reaction may be something like an aphrodisiac. Further adding to this belief is the similarity of a sexual pheromone found in the urine of the male cat to nepetalactone (the active product in Catnip).

Cats that can be traced to regions where Catnip is not indigenous appear to be unaffected by Catnip. The domesticated housecat is not the only cat that may be affected by Catnip. Larger cats can also be affected by the Catnip effect, felines such as the bobcat, lynx, tiger and even lion are known to react much the same way the common housecat would. It is interesting to note that while Catnip can act as a stimulant when a cat sniffs it, it can conversely act as a relaxant if ingested. Therefore, you may see a different, nearly opposite result depending on whether your cat chooses to eat the Catnip you provide for him/her or merely sniffs it (the latter being the more typical behavior).

How to Use Catnip With Your Cat

Catnip can prove to be a very useful tool for a few common problems with your cat. If you are lucky enough to have a cat that does react favorably to Catnip then here are a couple of ideas for you and your furry little friend.

Catnip and Lazy Cats:

Catnip can be used to get a lazy cat off his or her butt. Some cats are notoriously lazy, choosing to sleep much of their day away in a nice golden patch of sunlight on the living room carpet, only waking up to eat and gather some necessary attention from their indulgent owners. If this sounds like your cat, you may soon see (if you haven’t already) that your cat is becoming more and more round. This is generally not a good thing. Catnip may be able to help. Presenting catnip to your cat encourages activity (of course provided the cat sniffs rather than eats the herb).

Many adult cats will respond to Catnip in a manner that resembles their childlike kitten hyperactivity, jumping, playing and running around as if it was given an injection of kitty adrenaline, which in essence, is the case. The effect of Catnip on a cat can last somewhere between two and fifteen minutes. If the latter is the case, then this is a decent amount of exercise and will help keep your cat a little more svelte than without a Catnip treatment. Furthermore, if you leave the Catnip out for a few hours then your cat may return to the herb later (an hour or two after the effect has worn off) and again react in an energetic fashion. So in this sense you may consider Catnip sort of like a kitty energy drink.

Catnip and Cats That Scratch Furniture:

If you have a cat that seems bent on the destruction of your furniture then Catnip may again be able to come to the rescue. Cats can be frustratingly picky about just about anything under the sun including where they want to sharpen their furniture destroying claws. It is not uncommon for a cat to damage or destroy a piece of furniture just because the owners finally gave up on trying to redirect their cat to the unused cat scratching post that set them back anywhere up to a hundred dollars and more. A good way to attempt to change this frustrating and expensive behavior is to rub some Catnip or Catnip oil on a scratching post that you are attempting to get the cat to use. Introduce your cat to the newly "Catnipped" scratching post and see how he/she reacts. If all goes well, your cat will sniff and inspect the post and then begin clawing at it. After a few times (you may have to re-Catnip the post) hopefully kitty will be trained to use the post rather than the sofa.

Using Catnip with Multiple Cats

If you’ve never used Catnip before and you have more than one cat it is advisable to try it out individually on each cat before introducing it to all of your cats at the same time. The reason is because Catnip affects some cats in a negative manner causing the cat in question to become aggressive rather than merely playful. Introducing it to your cats individually enables you to control the situation and keep a cat that may react aggressively isolated from your other cats. This of course means avoiding a possible catfight that could result in broken furniture, hurt kitties (possibly requiring a vet visit), annoyed neighbors (and probably owners), or a combination of all of the above.

Growing and Keeping Catnip

Growing your own Catnip can be rewarding as it can save you money, give you the satisfaction of doing something yourself and ensuring that you always get fresh, high-quality Catnip for your cat. A word of caution however; the exact kitty reaction you want to grow your own Catnip is something to be wary of. If you plan on growing your Catnip out of doors and other cats can access your Catnip garden then be prepared for unwelcome feline visitors. This may not be a problem for you personally, but cats are by nature territorial and if you have a cat that lives alone without the company of other cats this could prove to be an area of stress for your cat. Even if you keep your cat inside at all times, your cat may get agitated if he/she looks out the window to see another cat frolicking in territory your cat considers his or her own. If you choose to grow your Catnip indoors, be careful to keep it out of reach of kitty. Otherwise you’ll likely have Fluffy jumping up on furniture even to the most out of the way place to get access to the tempting herb. Cats are great jumpers and not really known for respecting precious household knick-knacks. So if you do decide to grow it indoors for a cat that reacts to Catnip, be careful to grow it in a place that your cat won’t be able to access it. A room that you always keep closed to the cat is probably the best solution for indoor grown Catnip.

If you do find that your cat reacts positively to Catnip you should be sure to use it sparingly so as not to dull the effect which can be the result of overexposure. A good rule of thumb is to not treat your kitty more than once a week on average to Catnip.

Given all the positive effects that Catnip may have on your cat you owe it to yourself (and naturally your fluffy little ball of affection) to see how he/she reacts to this strange and well known herb. It will provide enjoyment and exercise for your cat and most likely an entertaining show for yourself as well. It’s a win win situation.

Andy Markison is an illustrator, graphic designer, animal lover and pet owner living in Germany. His website, ZapGraphix.com, sells fun and humorous pet related merchandise.

Playful Cats

Here is a delightful video of cats having fun. I hope you enjoy watching the video:)

Choosing A Toy For Your Cat

Most cats love to play and, in fact, play time is important for cats. Cats need play for exercise, socialization, to stimulate intellectual growth, to develop coordination and balance and to learn how to properly interact with humans and other cats. The following article provides great information on choosing the correct type of toys for your feline buddy. Enjoy:)




Toys For Your Cat By Daniel Moore

Is your cat getting fat, lazy, and bored?
Cat toys are a great way to keep your cats occupied and entertained. They arouse the cat's curiosity and the cat spends considerable time chasing, mangling, twisting, and playing with the toys. The toys that excite them most are usually those that make sounds, swing on strings, or are easy to catch. Cats have a limited attention span, however. It therefore makes sense to rotate out the toys on a weekly to monthly basis. Otherwise your cat will lose interest.
Toys need not be bought from the pet stores alone. You can create an endless number of cat toys at home. There are a number of household objects that may appeal to your cat's fancy; these include toilet paper rolls, plastic milk bottle rings, plastic drinking straws, aluminum foil balls, Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, cardboard boxes and even walnuts!
You should, however, carefully examine each item, and reject the ones that have sharp edges. You should also avoid small objects that could be swallowed, objects that tear easily, or those which could stain. These can sometimes cause injuries to your cat.
Pet shops, of course, have a variety of toys, and these are generally safer. These include line-based toys (which have an object dangling from a rod or a string for your cat to chase), and wire-based toys (based on the principle that cats love to chase birds). These flying toys make for good fun. Also popular are 'bat and swat' toys, which come in an array of shapes, colors, sizes, and patterns. You can choose from a fluffy pom-pom to a simple Ping-Pong ball. A major advantage with the bat and swat toys is that your cat can use it on its own; you don't have to be around to entertain it.
Catnip toys can also be highly entertaining to cats. However, these toys should never be given to a kittens less than four weeks of age, as catnip can have a hallucinatory effect. Always ensure that the catnip you buy is fresh, otherwise it could lead to serious health complications for your cat. Fresh organic catnip toys can frequently be found at arts-and-craft shows and cat shows.
Some of the most popular toys among cats are those shaped like rats, insects, birds, or other small creatures; these add a hint of realism to the sport and can stimulate even the laziest cat into action.
About the author

Daniel Moore writes for several web sites, on home and family and family improvement topics.

Finding The Best Collar For Your Cat

Finding The Ideal Cat Collar By: Mary Amos

If your cat goes outside its a really good idea to use a collar. It lets other people know that the cat has a home, and if your cat should stray or get lost then the contact details on the collar will have you re-united with your cat in no time.

Deciding what cat collar to buy can be a more difficult choice than you think. Do you go with a flea control collar, a reflective collar, an elasticated collar, a buckle on collar, or no collar at all.

Do flea collars really work? My experience has been that they, but they dont hurt either so we can look at form and fit. Fit is the most important consideration when buying a cat collar. If the collar is too tight it can cut off the cats air and blood supply. Choking your cat is not a good thing! If its too loose the collar can get caught up on branches and fences while your cat is out playing. Cats have an uncanny knack of getting out of any collar thats too loose. For kittens and still growing cats youll want an adjustable collar to allow for some growth, but make sure you check the fit on a regular basis.

Most collars have 2 methods of fastening around the cats neck. You have the traditional buckle style which is easy to put on and take off but the buckle can break. Then there is the slide through adjustable kind. This is a more secure way of fastening but its also more difficult to adjust, especially if you have a cat that doesnt like having a collar on.

Most cat collars come with an elasticated or a breakaway section. This is a safety feature that allows your cat to escape the collar if it becomes stuck on bushes or fences. It helps avoid strangulation as well as being trapped. Even though a smart cat can figure out how to escape its collar, this is an important safety feature that you should seriously consider. Along these lines buy a collar made of a material that can be easily cut through in emergencies.

Another feature you may consider is a reflective strip in the cat collar. This can be helpful at night especially in areas that have a lot of traffic. The number one killer of cats is traffic so give the driver every chance to see your cat, especially if its a dark colored cat.

Many collars come with bells or some other noise making device. This is designed to warn potential prey animals that your cat is out hunting. The idea behind these is to avoid your cat bringing home gifts and presents, especially ones that are still alive! In the main these devices are ineffective and its usually best to remove them so theres less to get caught up in bushes and fences.

If you have an indoor cat that you would like to introduce to the great outdoors, try buying a cat harness and attach a leash. You should first practice with this indoors until the cat becomes accustomed to it. The next step, take the cat for walks, to the park, to the beach, or to Aunty Janes house! You can train your cat to use the leash but it will take some time, practice and a lot of patience.


About the author

Mary Amos is a cat love and long time cat owner. Find more articles and resources at
catsuppliesweb.com