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Feline Adventures: Tips To Make Traveling With Your Cat A Real Treat

No one likes to leave their fur babies at home. This applies whether they go away on vacation, for the holidays or even for a quick get-away weekend. Even if you have pet-sitter extraordinaire caring for kitty, you know she gets lonely for you and only you. So what’s a good pet parent to do? Take her with you, of course! Travel with your cat!

According to the Roanoke Times, 78 percent of Americans travel with their pets each year. That’s a lot of people and animals taking to the road and airways!

Travel Tips

Traveling with any animal can be challenging. Fortunately, MyThreeCats.com offers easy solutions. We want to make your trips relaxing, safe, and even loads of fun for both your human and your furry feline friend.

Keeping your beloved pet safe is always your priority so a sturdy, durable cat carrier is a must for short day trips to the veterinarian or long rides to your family cabin or favorite beach. Your cat will love the new Expandable Cat Carrier with its foldaway canopy and poly lounge pad that makes it paw-sible for her to stretch out and get comfortable for the ride! You will love the lightweight, stylish carrier that folds flat for storage and travel, making it both attractive and functional. Take a close look at this innovative new Carrier.

So, you’ve reached your destination! Now, how do you keep your cat both safe and happy? She’s meowing up a storm to get out of the carrier and explore her new surroundings, but you can’t just let her have the run of the beach. Problem solved! She can be safe both indoors and outdoors playing in her durable Portable Cat Playpen that’s a breeze to set up and folds flat to fit back into its convenient travel bag. Durable polyester and mesh vents allow your pet to enjoy fresh air. Plus she has a purr-fect view of all the tempting creatures outside as she does at home in the front yard. It’s available in two sizes so dogs can also enjoy it and the rousing attention from onlookers walking their envious pets nearby.

You’ve been traveling all day and like you, your feline companion is ready for a nice long cat nap! Her portable cat playpen is now folded and safely stored in the car. You’ve reached your destination, so she is now meowing loudly, reminding you that it’s time for her favorite hideaway, the Lucy Cat Cave (mythreecats.com).

The lightweight home is shaped like a cone with a comfortable, washable cushion. Easily rolled up for travel, the cave serves like a familiar “mobile home” wherever your travels take her. As with all furniture featured at MyThreeCats.com, the Lucy Cat Cave is designed to blend with any home décor. See more luxurious and charming cat cave designs at Luxury Cat Beds for Sale | Quality Cat Hideaway Beds (mythreecats.com)

So, plan your next trip and pack your car! Kitty is excited about his next excursion, and with help from mythreecats.com, you can be, too! Don’t be surprised if she creates her own travel blog!

Do You Have A Harmonious Multiple-Cat Household?

ForbesAdvisor.com reports that of 86.9 million U.S. cat-owning households, more than 46.5 million own more than one cat. These multiple-cat households must have learned that to achieve feline harmony in their homes, they must make sure that there are enough resources and space for their cats. If your cats know they have options on where they can eat, sleep, play, and use the litter box, all the better. If the cats have only one option, expect territorial disputes and added stress among them.

Here are a few pointers on how to create and keep harmony in your multiple-cat household:

The first introduction of cats to each other should be gradual and free from stress. If possible, keep the new cat in a separate living area of your home, with their food, litter box, and toys. Your “incumbent cat(s)” will know about the new cat, but not have the stress of direct contact. After a few days, gradually allow your “incumbent” cat(s) to approach the new cat, keeping their contacts short and sweet. After a few more days, you will have achieved a successful introduction.
Our strongest recommendation: invest in vertical play spaces. Cat trees, shelves and window perches are ideal ways to give your cats privacy in an off-the-ground location. Cats like height, so vertical options are a purr-fect solution.
Your cats need outlets for exercising and scratching. Leave plenty of scratching devices around your home. Whether they are horizontal, vertical or slanted pads, they will protect your furniture as well as your sanity!
Give each of your cats a separate food bowl! If you have common water bowls, have several in different areas. A water fountain designed for multiple cats is a great way of managing this. Just make sure to keep the fountain and the water it holds both clean and fresh.
Keep as many litter boxes in your home as the number of cats then add one! One of the worst problems can arise when cats have to use the same box. Territorial issues may arise, causing them to “spray” the litter box, which signals to the other cats to stay away. No one needs to have cats using undesignated areas of the house. Once that “out-of-box” behavior starts, it’s hard to stop.
Finally, watch your cats’ interactions. Observe body language and catch an early warning signal so that you can diffuse any tension and avoid an out-and-out battle. One great technique for diffusing attention is to introduce a stimulating wand toy to immediately redirect their attention away from one another and onto the moving object at the end of the wand.

Congratulations on your growing feline family! May you and your cats enjoy many harmonious and joyous moments together throughout their nine lives!

Unleash Your Indoor Cat’s “inner kitten” With These Easy Tips

Cats are intelligent, active creatures that need daily stimulation just as we do. Helping your cats tackle boredom can keep unwelcome behaviors to a minimum.

Constant, compelling meows, scratching furniture, and urinating outside the litter box may be symptoms of medical issues that should be treated by a veterinarian. In healthy cats, those behaviors can be avoided by keeping your feline companions entertained throughout the day.

Try these solutions:

Here’s a simple way to entertain your cats for hours at a time. Place a sturdy, multiple-tiered cat tree with a good scratching surface such as sisal next to a window with an exciting view! They’ll ogle at birds, passing cars, and anyone walking by.
Before you leave your cat home alone, turn on calming music or nature sounds to soothe and comfort him. Go a step further to delight your furbaby by finding a compelling video for him to watch on “Cat TV”, a television channel created specifically for cats.
If you have empty wall space, quench your cat’s need to climb by installing perch wall units which create safe pathways for him to launch to tops of bookshelves and other high places.
Indulge the natural hunting instincts in your cat by hiding treats or dry kibble in your home. Use a kitty food puzzle that will provide your cats with a stimulating activity. The challenging activity appeals to the natural love of hunting and will stimulate them both mentally and physically. Change the locations frequently to keep things interesting and encourage your kitty to embrace his inner stalker!
Shake things up by surprising your cat with new toys to sniff, play with, and explore. Catnip toys, puzzle toys, teaser toys and tunnels all make wise investments that will go a long way toward keeping your cat healthy and happy.
Introduce your indoor cats to one of many attractive models of secure cat enclosures for the yard. They allow your kitties to enjoy some of the perks of being outdoors without any of the risks! Enclosures that can be folded up for easy travel are a bonus!
Treat your cats to quality one-on-one playtime and cuddle time as often as possible. It is as good for you as it is for them!

Since your cats have a distinct personality just like you do, experiment with several of these entertainment options, then pick and stick to the ones they like best! You’re sure to find just the right options for your cat at MyThreeCats.com.

“Happy Cats are Healthy Cats”

Lynn Baer, DVM, Cat Specialist, shares her top tips for cat owners to ensure well adjusted, happy cats. Lynn says, “happy cats are healthy cats and happy cats make owners happier and healthier, too”.

Tip #1) Recognize the fact that indoor only cats have no choices of their own in life.

They are completely reliant on what we offer them. We choose their litter box size, shape, location and litter substrate. We choose where they are fed, what they are fed out of, and what foods they are offered. We choose their toys, their beds, their bowls, and everything within their lives. Cats have few choices of their own. They would be happier given more choices of their own and once owners understand that and begin to expand their options, cats would remain healthier and happier.

Tip #2) Bring the outdoors in

Cats are held captive within four walls for their entire lives. Open the blinds, open the windows, grow grass, bring leaves and branches in for them to smell. Again for owners to be more aware of the fact that their cats have never walked on grass or soil, experienced changes in temperature, smelled different smells, or had the ability to walk around the block to explore new surroundings. Owners should evaluate every opportunity to enhance their indoors cat’s lives by bringing new things into the home. Build catios, window units or other alternative opportunities for cats to experience the outdoors. At a minimum place window seats around the house (off the ground), build vertical spaces for them to climb, train them to walk on leashes, erect cat proof fences, etc.

Tip #3) Play, play, play and more play

Indoor cats are bored, depressed and inactive. Owners don’t generally play with their cats daily. Cats need exercise, mental stimulation and fun. Having a basket of toys for cats is not enough. Owners should actively engage with their pets by using wand toys, laser lights, throwing blankets over furniture to create tents, rotating toys daily. Adding silvervine, catnip, and valerian to their arsenal of toys will give cats new experiences. Using foraging toys for food rewards, making cats hunt for some of their food all help to stimulate their body and mind.

Tip #4) Lots of scratch posts – both vertical and horizontal for cats to scratch on.

I am completely opposed to declawing (having never performed one in my entire career). Scratching is a form of communication and also gives cats the ability to stretch their muscles. It is important they have great areas and substrates to scratch on. It makes them happy.

Tip #5) Seek out cat only veterinarians

Don’t allow a veterinarian who declaws to treat your cat. Take your cat to a vet at least once a year for a good physical exam and blood work. Cats are notorious for hiding pain and illness and if an owner thinks their cat is sick, they are likely very sick. Pay attention to any changes (no matter how small) and seek veterinary care immediately. Age is not a disease and many owners ignore signs of illness as due to advanced aging. That is not in a cat’s best interest. Owners need to advocate on behalf of their pets and insure good medical care. Seek second opinions. Good veterinarians encourage owners to do so and are never offended by it.

Tip #6) Cats need wet food more than dry

Wet food is lower in calories and higher in protein and moisture. It is extremely important to feed cats at least 5-6 times daily. Don’t feed one brand or diet only. Variety is the spice of life and cats are used to eating birds, squirrels, rats, mice, chipmunks, bugs, etc. One diet or one brand is not normal. Either is feeding once or twice a day.

Source: The Purrington Post

Editors Note: Find many of the toys, scratchers, outdoor enclosures and cat furniture mentioned in this article right here.

What Makes Your Cat Happy?

In these gray, cold, winter months, we’re always looking for ways to lighten up our spirits. We should also keep our cats’ well being in mind. Cats are intelligent, athletic creatures, always looking for physically and mentally stimulating activities. When cats don’t have these, their attention turns to activities of their own choosing that we tend to think of as “bad behaviors”.

Case in point: Have you ever caught your cat chewing or scratching something like your favorite upholstered chair? Bad behavior = BOREDOM!

Here’s how you can make sure your cat has plenty of great things to do.

Provide a variety of ways for your cat to explore. Cats love discovering new places and objects. They love smaller, stimulating toys. There are smaller toys you can lay around the house, such as catnip-infused toys, with feathers, strings, corrugated cardboard, suede and other safe, chewable and kickable parts.

Then there are the interactive toys, automated toys designed to be activated by your cats, using their own curiosity and intellect. Some of these toys can be suspended on doors, such as the Fling-ama-String, Play N Squeak Batting Practice, or the Tiger Mobile toy. Others lie flat on the floor, with balls and other moving parts, such as our Cat Hurricane, Peek N Prize, Cats Meow Undercover toy and Kitty Go Round toy.

Provide your cats access to levels other than just the floor. Cats love climbing to high places and feeling like they are “in charge” of their environment. Having a higher vantage point for your cats to watch the great outdoors (safely) or observe indoor goings-on provides hours of entertainment. Cat trees and cat window perches are great solutions. Place cat trees by windows for your cats’ optimal viewing pleasure. SIDE BENEFIT: Cat trees are made with scratch-able materials such as sisal. They really do use these vertical scratching surfaces, and it helps to keep them from scratching that favorite upholstered chair.

Provide hideaways for your cat. Cats love discovering places to hide. Think of times when you’ve had to search for your cat, only to find him under the bed, behind the furnace, or in other unfortunate places. Invest in a cat condo that is designed especially to meet the privacy needs of your cats. You’ll be able to find them as well!

Play with your cat. In your cat’s mind, it’s their favorite
kind of play. During daily play sessions with you, your cat can enjoy a greater degree of intellectual stimulation and aerobic activity. In particular, consider activities that allow your cat to exercise her hunting instincts. Toys that resemble prey, such as mice and birds, are ideal. Wand toys offer a perfect way for you to lure your cat into “the thrill of the chase”.

We’ve also taught our cats some fun tricks, such as fetching toy balls. The toy ball should be light weight and small, such as a Loopies toy or a tinsel mouse. Reward your cats with their favorite treats to encourage repetition.

Now, go make your cat happy!