Catster DIY: How to Make Steps for Your Senior Cat - Catster

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We all have to face the sad reality that one day our kitty will get old. Cats have much shorter life spans than humans, and many of us find this difficult to cope with emotionally because they are, in a way, always going to be our little babies.

My boys Lugosi and his twin bro Spider will be 15 years old in July. Lugosi’s last geriatric checkup at the vet revealed that he has arthrosis in his upper spine, and for that reason he just can’t jump as high as he could. However, Spider is slightly smaller than his chunky big brother, has always been very light on his feet, and is a good jumper. He still has no problem getting up on any surfaces he could previously reach. But Lugosi has in the last few months fallen so many times whilst trying to reach the sink area where the cats’ water bowl is situated — they wouldn’t drink their water anywhere else, so for many years this has been its permanent place. They seem to just love the bowl being next to the sink, where they also get the chance to drink from the tap when mummy is near.

To aid Lugosi with his failing health, I first put down a simple box for him to ease himself up to the sink area. However, I thought “Wouldn’t it be nicer to have a proper set of Senior Kitty Steps for my old boy?” So I built him just that.

These cat stairs were very simple and cheap to make, and if you are anything like me, you will have enough bits of leftover wood and other things (such as pieces of carpet) lying around that you’ll save some money and a trip to the DIY store.

If you have a kitty who is having the same struggles as Lugosi, use the instructions below as a guide to build a custom set of cat steps to make their life easier.

Cat steps

Cost of materials: Approx. 15 euros (US$20)
Time to finish: 1-2 hours

Tools and Materials

MDF Board approx. 100 x 50 cm, 1.5cm thickness for the two sides. (Here’s a metric conversion calculator, for those of you without metric measuring devices.)

MDF Board approx. 50 x 50 cm, 1 cm thickness for the steps.

Saw: Hand saw if you have lots of strength and energy. Otherwise use a jigsaw or circular saw. The latter is the best type of saw for this, but I only have a jigsaw, so I used that.

Hammer

Nails

Sandpaper

Leftover bits of carpet: I used a cheap floor mat from IKEA that I had lying around.

Cutter

Wood or general-purpose glue

Pencil, ruler, and tape measure

Roll of self-adhesive vinyl covering

Protective felt pads

The work

Saw/cut two step shapes (see photos and diagram), one for each side, out of the 1.5 cm thick MDF board. You will see my own measurements in the diagram below as a guide, but it depends on what height you would like the steps to be, and also, whether you might want to have three (or more) steps instead of two. After cutting, sand down all the edges until smooth, so that there are no splinters sticking out.

Next up are the steps or stairs themselves. From the 1 cm thick MDF board, cut four square-ish pieces 21 cm wide. This width is a perfect size for cats, but you could, of course, make them wider if it fits in better with the look of your living space (or you have a particularly hefty cat). The length measurements I used for each of these four pieces are as follows:

Top step: 22 cm
Front of top step: 20.25 cm
Bottom step: 21 cm
Front of bottom step: 20.25 cm (Please note that in the picture below I improvised and used a smaller piece for the front bottom because I didn’t have enough wood.)

Use the hammer and nails to connect all the steps with the two sides, by the end of which you should have your basic framework nice and finished.

Now slice your carpet or mat to size using the cutter in order to cover the steps with something non-slip and scratch resistant for your kitty to jump up on. Use the glue to stick the pieces of carpet onto the wood (see photo).

If, unlike myself, you have enough carpeting to play with, you could also use this to cover the sides of the steps, but I had to make do with a roll of self-adhesive vinyl covering that I had left over from a previous DIY project. Alternately, you could paint the sides in your favorite color and/or adorn them with stenciled shapes. Use your imagination!

Finally, if you have tiled or wooden floors, to avoid noise and scratches, apply a protective felt pad at each corner underneath.

And that’s it! As with so many things such as beds or toys, whether your cat will use it depends on the cat, of course. For encouragement, a sprinkling of catnip might help. I, for one, am glad to report that Lugosi uses his Senior Kitty Steps all the time now to get up to his water bowl, and it makes me immensely happy that I have created something around the house that eases his pain and saves him the very un-catlike indignity of ending up “splat” on the floor so many times.

Have you created a similar DIY project for your kitties? Leave your comments and photos below.

Learn more about your cat with Catster:

• Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You
• 10 Sounds That Cats Make — and What They Mean
• 8 Things to Try When Your Cat Won’t Eat

About the Author: Barbarella Buchner — Ailurophile. Geeky Goth Girl. Ex-Musician Singer/Songwriter. Photographer. Web Designer. Fibromyalgia + RA Sufferer. And totally mad! She originally hails from Hannover (Germany), then moved to London, and since 2004 has lived on the tropical island of Lanzarote, together with her tabby twins Lugosi & Spider, and ginger queen Ruby Akasha. Apart from being an avid hobby — and sometimes even paid! — photographer, she works as a freelance web and graphic designer and occasional Catster contributor. She designed and maintains her local cat charity 9 Lives Lanzarote‘s website.

Link Source : https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/catster-diy-how-to-make-senior-cats-cat-steps-stairs

The Orange Tabby Cat — 8 Fun Facts - Catster

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Morris and Garfield are just a few of the iconic orange tabby cats that are part of our culture’s collective cat consciousness. It’s not hard to know why. Their big, bold and brightly colored coats is one reason. But, as anyone who’s lived with an orange tabby cat can attest, it’s really their personalities that make them stars. They’re infinitely fascinating felines, so here are eight fun facts about the awesome orange tabby cat!

1. First, the truth about tabbies: It’s actually a coat pattern, not a breed.

An orange tabby cat with an “M” marking on his forehead. Photography ©elenaleonova | iStock / Getty Images.

Specifically, the presence of stripes denotes a “tabby” cat. And there are five different tabby configurations: classic tabby, mackerel tabby, spotted tabby, ticked tabby and patched tabby.

2. All orange cats are tabbies.

Go ahead, Google “orange cats” – they’re all tabbies. Even if their stripes are faint, they’re there. So, while all orange cats are tabbies, not every tabby is orange.

3. Is every orange tabby cat male?

While it’s true that a higher percentage of orange tabbies are male, the ratio is actually about 80 percent male to 20 percent female. And it’s not some sort of magic — it’s genetics. The X chromosome is responsible for the orange coloring. Females possess two Xs and males possess XY. Hence, a female orange tabby cat requires the sire and the dam to pass on the orange genes. But males only need the orange gene from their mothers.

4. What does that orange tabby cat “M” stand for?

One of the most distinctive markings on the orange tabby cat is the “M” above his eyes. This is seen in all types of tabbies, so it’s not just the orange kitties that boast these cool peeper accoutrements! Tabby stripes are probably predominant because of their camouflage properties, so it’s most likely that the markings helped them hide in the wild. Depending on the orange tabby’s parental décor choices, this may or may not be the case for the modern tabby.

5. Orange tabbies tend to talk a lot!

National Geographic reports that personality is tied to a cat’s coat color. Guess who won anecdotally “most gregarious?” Of course, every cat’s personality is different, but Amy Wester has lived with many different cats over the years, and “MoMo” short for — you know it! — MotorMouth, is a testament to the findings. “He’s the most affectionate and happiest cat,” says Amy. “When we rescued him 11 years ago, his constant loud purring could be heard throughout the house.” His name is fitting, and even more so today: “MoMo hasn’t stopped purring since we got him!”

6. Orange tabbies are known for being Velcro cats.

Tiger is an orange tabby cat who loves to be loved. Photography courtesy Karen Stephenson.

Every cat is an individual, but orange cats have a reputation for being snuggly attention lovers. In addition to being a real purr machine, MoMo the orange tabby cat seeks affection every waking hour from Amy, and then some. His frequent less-than-stealthy move is to climb up onto her pillow and start climbing around her head for attention. It makes no difference whether she’s awake or not!

Karen Stephenson echoes these sentiments. Her house has been filled with all sorts of companion animals for two decades and yet there’s one snuggle monster who is the most in-your-face when seeking some loving. “Since the first day my husband brought home Tiger, he’s been the most loving animal,” says Karen. Even 18 years later, Tiger’s nightly habit of sleeping on her head is only broken when she’s traveling. He also likes to sit and stare at Karen’s husband, Brett. “I don’t know why he does it but it’s part of what makes him so adorable!”

7. Winston Churchill famously owned an orange tabby cat.

Maybe it’s a little too fitting that the man who said, “Never, never, never give up,” owned an orange tabby cat. That’s right, Winston Churchill shared his life with an orange tabby cat called Tango. He was probably just trying to get some sleep in his own bed when he came up with the famous line.

8. Orange tabbies are the color of appetite.

What? The psychology of colors arguably started with Goethe. His writing asserts that red-yellow is associated with “warmth and gladness.” He also claimed that yellow-red possesses the highest energy (apparently causing folks in days of yore to freak out if they saw an orangey cloak on a dreary day).

Contemporary findings include that orange is the color of adventure, social communication and, yes, stimulating the appetite (Howard Johnson was onto something!). While it may be a broad brush to paint all orange tabbies in — we can see that there’s definitely an anecdotal correlation between their coat colors and their personalities. Now we know exactly why Garfield couldn’t resist that lasagna!

So, whether they’re trying to hog the pillow so you’ll wake up and pet them or purring up a storm so you’ll pick them up and pet them — there’s one thing we know for sure: orange tabby cats are as bright, beautiful and varied as their coats!

Tell us: Do you have an orange tabby cat? Did you know these facts about your orange tabby cat? Is your orange tabby cat a snuggler who loves to talk a lot? Do you have an orange tabby girl?

Thumbnail: Photography ©Ryhor Bruyeu | iStock / Getty Images Plus.

This post was originally published in 2018.

About the author

Denise LeBeau is a writer, editor and photographer with almost 20 years of experience of creating content for animal-related issues, endeavors and events. She worked at Best Friends Animal Society for 12 years where she had two columns in the Best Friends Magazine, and held multiple content creation roles including web managing editor and outreach campaign editor. Denise has been an ongoing contributor to Catster since 2014, writing for the magazine and website. The self-professed poet laureate of the pet set is currently the manager of development for an animal welfare agency, where she works with a team to create content across media platforms. She lives in Hampton Bays with her two rescue Siamese mixes – Flipper and Slayer, and her LBD (little brown dog), Zephyrella.

Read more about cat coat colors on Catster.com:

• The Fascinating Facts Behind Cat Colors
• Siamese Cats Are Temperature-Sensitive Albinos, a.k.a. Walking Heat Maps
• 5 Intriguing Points About Seal Point Cats

Link Source : https://www.catster.com/cats-101/orange-tabby-cat-facts

6 Cat-Themed Jack-o-Lantern Ideas for You and Your Kids - Catster

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I’ve always loved the Halloween season — well, autumn in general is my favorite time of the year. The crisp air, the blaze of the trees growing deeper in color with every passing day, and the apples and pumpkins. For nearly 15 years, our family has visited the same apple orchard in the fall. It’s a fabulous place with oodles of charm. We always grab a cup of coffee and a fresh turnover before venturing out onto the property to visit the farm animals and walk the trails.

Before we leave the orchard, we stock up on apples (Honeycrisp are our favorite) and choose a few of pumpkins to carve and place on our spooky porch in preparation for Halloween night. Our neighborhood is serious, too — we usually get about 200 or so trick-or-treaters knocking at our door, bags held open for handfuls of Kit Kats and Dubble Bubble gum. It’s a good time.

A few days before Halloween, we carve our pumpkins into fun jack-o-lanterns. The kids each design their own, and I typically choose some sort of cat-o-lantern (surprise!). When the kids were young, we kept the designs simple, and as they grew older, we started to see some more detailed pieces of gourd art. Over the years, especially when the kids were very young, it was easier to paint pumpkins of all sizes — the tiny ones were especially cute. We’ve gone between carving and painting, loving each finished product.

If you’re looking for some new ideas for cat-themed designs this season, I’ve rounded up six for you — with selections appropriate for most any age level. Click on the name of the pumpkin for additional information, and in some cases, instructions.

1. Simple Kitty

Here’s a basic kitty-cat jack-o-lantern. The shapes are simple, and there aren’t too many details for young hands using carving tools for the first time. This is also a great one for adults like me who just want to create something easy and adorable. Another cool benefit of this design: The site offers a pattern!

2. Hissing kitty

A few fine details make this one a fun choice for older kids who are more comfortable with a carving tool. It could also be a team-carving situation with younger children taking the larger pieces and adults or older kids managing the smaller details. Again, this one offers a pattern. Score!

3. Grumpy Cat

A painted Grumpy Cat pumpkin? She’d hate the idea, but we’d love creating it! This blog’s step-by-step instructions make this miserable project fun for the whole family. Trick-or-treat! No.

4. Stack ‘o lantern

This stacked jack-o-lantern reminds me a little of Felix the Cat. The large cut-outs would make this a fairly easy carving experience, plus the bottom pumpkin makes kitty look plump. I guess he’s like a combination of Felix and Garfield.

5. Painted black cats

I especially love these cats, and have never seen this type of painted kitty-cat pumpkin. You’d need various sizes of gourds, and plenty of black paint. The orange eyes happen when you carve the shapes and pull away the black outer layer. Pretty cool, huh? And again with the stacked pumpkins — I’m so in love with this idea.

6. Cat with ears

This one is probably my favorite cut-out option — look how sassy this cat is! The details seem suitable for intermediately skilled carvers, and it looks as if the ears come from the eye pieces. It’s just full of personality. I’m thinking I’ll try the ears on my jack-o-lantern this year.

Have you ever carved or painted a cat-themed pumpkin? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

Read more about cats and kids:

• 5 Tips for Teaching Your Kids How to Properly Handle a Cat
• Should You Let Your Kids Name Your Cat?
• 4 Ways to Keep Your First Cat Happy When You Adopt a Kitten
• 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Cat for Your Family to Adopt
• It Gets Better With Age: 5 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Cat
• How to Socialize Your Cat
• 10 Reasons My Cat Won’t Look at My Baby
• Further Observations on My Cat’s Relationship With My New Baby

Read More by Angie Bailey:

• 5 Tips for Helping Your Kids Start a Pet-Sitting Business
• I’m Raising My Son to Love Cats, No Matter What Society Thinks
• 6 Tips for Planning the Perfect Cat-themed Party for Kids
• 5 Ways Cats Are Great Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Kids
• 5 DIY Projects You and Your Kids Can Make for Your Cats

About the Author: Angie Bailey is an eternal optimist with an adoration of all things silly. Loves pre-adolescent boy humor, puns, making up parody songs, thinking about cats doing people things and The Smiths. Writes Catladyland, a cat humor blog, Texts from Mittens (originated right here on Catster) and authored whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, a silly book about cats wheeling and dealing online. Partner in a production company and writes and acts in a comedy web series that features sketches and mockumentaries. Mother to two humans and three cats, all of which want her to make them food.

Link Source : https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/halloween-cat-jack-o-lantern-ideas-cats-and-kids-diy

10 of Our Favorite Cat Treat Jars - Catster

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This post was sponsored by TEMPTATIONS┬« Treats for Cats — Cats Can’t Resist ┬«.

Giving treats to your kitty is a fun way to bond and reward good behavior, so why not store them in a lovely container that’s as special as the relationship you share with your cat? We’ve rounded-up 10 of our favorites, although most cats would agree that the best place to hide treats is in their belly!

1. Jonathan Adler Kitty Krack Canister

Designer Jonathan Adler, whose quirky home collection includes chic feline salt and pepper shakers and fierce stoneware figurines, has given his humorous and always stylish take on treat storage with the Kitty Krack canister.

At $128, it’s anything but a cheap fix, but this dizzying piece of pottery will definitely help up your cat’s street cred.

2. Handmade Ceramic Cat Treat Jar by Clay Lick Creek Pottery

Cool blues and greens make up this eclectic handmade jar which doubles as a work of art. As a bonus, this pretty kitty has already had a treat of his own — a little black mouse that’s painted inside!

3. Creature Comforts Meow Treat Jar

This simple white design will blend into any decor, while still maintaining just the right amount of feline appeal. The “Meow” text at the bottom adds interest, while the fish-shaped handle is a cute and functional touch.

4. Ceramic Cat Treat Jar by Symmetrical Pottery

Reward your favorite feline with a jar that proudly proclaims its true purpose. The handmade treat container is made to order, and the message can be customized to say whatever you like.

5. Arthur Court Cat Treat Jar

For the sophisticat with elegant taste, only a textured glass jar with a polished aluminum lid will do. The fancy container features a curious kitty eyeing a dangling fish charm, and will leave your regal feline feeling like royalty.

6. Feline Treat Jar by Riverware Pottery

This rustic feline treat jar in beautiful shades of blue is a unique way to show your cats you care. The stoneware piece was handmade in Ohio, and is adorned with happy fish who seem blissfully unaware of their fate as cat snacks.

7. ORE Woodland Pet Treat Jar

Is your cat a nature lover? A quirky jar that imitates the look of a tree trunk will make your outdoorsy feline feel right at home while adding a cool conversation piece to your kitchen.

8. Alessi Mio Cat Treat Jar

This sleek canister by Italian kitchenware company Alessi is a minimalist way to stash treats. Cats will come running with one shake of the clear glass jar that’s topped with an adorable yowling kitty figurine of its own.

9. Snoozer Dinner Is Served Cat Treat Jar by Tracy Flickinger

Your cats already see you as their personal servant, so why not get a furry butler to assist during snacktime? This delightful ceramic jar is on duty 24/7, ready to dole out treats on demand.

10. Yep Yup Treat Jar

Yep Yup offers a beautiful range of treat jars that come in various colors, with unique decal prints. They’re especially useful if you’re trying to keep treat storage undercover, as there’s not a kitty, fish, or mouse in sight.

Catster readers: Do you have a favorite treat jar?

Link Source : https://www.catster.com/cat-food/treat-jars-10-catster-picks

13 Tips on How to Find a Lost Cat - Catster

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Have you ever had your cat go missing from your house? If so, you know how terrified and helpless this can make you feel and you want to find your lost cat right away. You don’t know if they’re simply hiding outside in the yard, gone exploring, or if they’ve encountered a predator.

Often, the first reaction is to go searching for your cat with no real plan of action. We walk around the neighborhood (or drive) continually calling out our furry friend’s name. We find ourselves spending many hours searching areas and using methods that may not reunite them with us. For some, we simply choose to wait a couple of days to see if our cat returns home. This is perhaps the worst thing we can do. The longer a cat is gone, the further it could stray and the more danger the cat can encounter.

I work with clients regularly on missing cats. While I’ve had a great deal of success in reuniting many missing cats with their families, it’s unfortunately impossible to always guarantee a positive outcome.

Based on my experience, I’ve listed several suggestions that have worked extremely well over the years. If followed promptly, and implemented exactly as listed, you will have a greater opportunity to become reunited with your missing cat.

1. Make a ‘Lost Cat’ Sign

Create a laminated “lost cat” sign that contains the word “REWARD” at the top, a recent color photo of the animal in the center of the sign, and the phone number to contact if the animal is seen or found by someone. It’s very important not to list any other details. Use a large enough sign that it can be seen by drivers in their cars. Laminating the sign will protect it from adverse weather conditions.

2. Post Your ‘Lost Cat’ Sign in These Places

Post the sign around the neighborhood, at local veterinarian’s offices, at the county animal control shelter, and at local animal rescue shelters.

3. Don’t Forget That Your Missing Cat Might Turn Up at a Restaurant

If you live in a major city with a lot of restaurants nearby, provide each restaurant with the “lost cat” sign or flier. After all, your cat will find food wherever it is convenient.

4. Contact Your Microchip Company

If your cat is microchipped, contact the company (e.g. Avid, Home Again) to ensure that they have your current information on file in case someone contacts them about finding your cat.

5. Visit Shelters to Search for Your Lost Cat

Visit the local county animal control shelter and local animal rescue shelters daily to see if your cat is there. The shelters have so many volunteers, employees, and staff on hand, on any given day, that unless you talk to each of them they may not know that you are looking for your missing cat. Also, if you search animal shelter websites for your missing cat, don’t narrow your search by a specific breed. Sometimes, if the person entering the information on the shelter’s website isn’t sure of the cat’s breed, they may list it incorrectly.

6. Target Newspapers and Websites

Place a “lost pet” ad in your local newspaper and on websites such as Petfinder and your local Craigslist. Include the same information that you have on the “lost cat” sign. Also, post it on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, if you have them. If not, perhaps a friend in the area does.

7. Check “Found Pet” Ads

Check “found pet” ads in the local newspaper, on local county rescue shelter web sites, Petfinder, and on your local Craigslist. Again (as stated in No. 5 above), don’t limit your search to a particular breed.

8. Hit the Streets in Search of Your Missing Cat

Canvass a three-block radius around your neighborhood from your home. It is important to knock on doors and talk to your neighbors so they are aware that your cat is missing. If they aren’t home, leave a flier (not in the mailbox because that’s illegal). Unless you see your cat during your search, please do not call for them while you are searching your neighborhood. The reason for this is if they do happen to hear you, you would be gone by the time they get to where you were when you called for them. Instead, either call for them from the front yard or backyard of your home or, if you do look for them by car, look silently. Be sure and look up in the trees. I have had several instances where the missing cat has been chased up into a tree and is fearful to come down.

9. Set a Humane Trap

Set a humane cat trap in a safe area near the exterior of your home (e.g. front porch, deck, back porch) and cover the back and sides with a towel or blanket that has your scent or your cat’s scent on it. Check on the trap frequently throughout the night, but do it discretely, so as not to scare your cat away. Put a bowl of fresh soft cat food, tuna, or sardines and water in the enclosure to lure the cat in. You may catch other animals as well, but you might also catch your own cat.

If you do happen to catch other animals, release them from the trap while you are standing at the back of the trap. They will generally run away very quickly and not look back. NOTE: It is important to put food only inside the trap. Don’t put food out anywhere else. If they can get food without going into the trap, they will.

10. Contact Homeowners’ Associations

If you live in a neighborhood that has a homeowner’s association, contact one of the board members and ask them to post your cat’s information on the neighborhood website and to send out an email to everyone in the neighborhood asking that you be called if someone sees your cat.

11. Don’t Give Up on Searching for Your Lost Cat

Actively keep searching for your lost cat no matter how much time has elapsed. Lost animals can turn up weeks, and sometimes months or years after they’ve been lost.

12. Don’t Forget to Ask Commuters and Delivery Drivers

Provide a “lost cat” flier to drivers with regular routes in the area and ask them to contact you if they see your missing cat. This includes mail carriers, trash collectors, school bus drivers, and delivery truck drivers (e.g. FedEx, UPS, etc.).

13. Stay Positive About Your Missing Cat

Maintain a positive attitude about the outcome of your search. Cats are very resourceful when it comes to finding food, water, and shelter. While it’s human nature to assume the worst has happened, don’t. Negative energy can block positive results.

Have you ever lost a cat? What did you do to get your missing cat back? Let us know in the comments!

Link Source : https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/13-tips-what-to-do-cat-goes-missing

Safe Plants for Cats: What to Have in Your Garden - Catster

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If you’re like me, you’d love to have plants in your home, but you worry that they may not work and play well with your feline housemates. We all know that catnip and oat grass are obvious choices for your cat, but what if you want plants for you? Is basil safe for cats? Are petunias poisonous to cats? And what about cilantro? Here’s a list of safe plants for cats to have in your garden.

Herb Gardens

Herbs can be a wonderful accompaniment to meals, and often they add more than just flavor: Some of them even provide important antioxidants that can help keep us healthy. Here are a few of my favorite cat-safe herbs:

1. Basil is safe for cats

(Ocimum basilicum) is a member of the mint family, and like all mints, it is safe for cats to consume. I can’t even imagine a summer without salads made of fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella cheese.

2. German Chamomile is safe for cats

German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a member of the daisy family. If you’re a tea drinker, you’ll know this stuff well: It makes for a great fresh tea on a hot summer day. Please note that English Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is toxic to cats. Make sure you get the right kind!

3. Coriander is safe for cats

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), also known as cilantro, is a key herb in the cookery of almost the whole world. Coriander leaves are commonly used in Mexican, Chinese, and South Asian cuisine.

4. Dill is safe for cats

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a great way to spice up a cucumber salad, borscht, or your favorite fish dish. It’s especially yummy on salmon.

5. Parsley is safe for cats

Parsley (Petroselinum hortense) is another great cat-safe herb. Although it’s often used as a garnish or sprinkled on top of potato or rice dishes, it’s also a key ingredient in tabbouleh salad.

Flower Gardens

If you’re not big on cooking but you love to plant things that look and smell beautiful, fear not: There are plenty of cat-safe flowers for you to choose from.

1. Cornflower is safe for cats

Cornflower is safe for cats (Centaurea cyanus), also known as Bachelor’s Button, will add a beautiful blue to your flowerpots. As an extra bonus, the flower is edible and can be used to add color to salads.

2. Impatiens are safe for cats

Impatiens (any member of the species) comes in so many amazing colors and flower shapes that you can find something to fit any color palette or sun level.

3. Moon Orchids are safe for cats

If you’re a hardcore gardener and you live in the right climate zone, the Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis) can bring a gorgeous aroma and beautiful flowery goodness to your home.

4. Petunias are safe for cats

If you’re not such a hardcore gardener, Petunias (all 35 species of them) are easy to grow, come in lots of beautiful colors. and smell absolutely amazing!

5. Zinnias are safe for cats

Zinnias also come in a variety of colors and, as a bonus, are also known to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Do you have some safe plants for cats that look good on your indoor or balcony gardens? Please share them with us below! For more information on cat-safe plants, consult the ASPCA’s list of toxic and nontoxic plants.

Link Source : https://www.catster.com/the-scoop/10-cat-safe-plants

7 Ways to Adapt Your Home for Your Disabled Cat - Catster

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Two of my aunts taught students with moderate to severe disabilities, and from these wonderful women I learned a great deal about adaptive equipment, technology, and accommodating the disabled.

So it comes as no surprise that when Moki, my cat, became disabled, the first thing I thought about after providing medical care was how to adapt his environment to better suit his needs.

Here are some of the things I’ve done for Moki that may be useful for your disabled or elderly cat.

1. Use an elevated feeding station

Eating from a low dish can be challenging and painful. Animals with neurological conditions such as Moki’s may lose their balance and knock over their bowls.

Make sure that the feeding station sits high enough that your pet does not have to bend over to reach it. If your pet is wobbly like Moki, consider a feeding station that also serves as a food storage container. This will add weight and make it more difficult to knock over. You can also get wall-mounted feeding stations that provide even more stability. Finally, look for one with rounded edges so your cat won’t bump into anything sharp.

2. Modify your litter box

Many cats with disabilities have a hard time getting in and out of conventional high-sided litter boxes. Try recycling an old plastic cat carrier. Simply disassemble it and fill the bottom half of the carrier with litter. Because of the low-cut lip at the front, disabled cats find it easier to get in and out — and they can brace themselves against the walls if they need to.

For animals who cannot stand while using the bathroom, like Moki, consider using disposable puppy training pads and a holding tray.

Moki knows where his litter box is, but he can’t use it without help. He’ll let me know when he has to go, so I lift him into the box and steady him while he does his business. When I’m not home, however, Moki will walk to his puppy training pad, lay on his side, and do his business on the pad.

If you have other nondisabled cats, place the pads and tray next to the litter box. Your disabled pet will see your other cats using the box and associate the training pad and holder with being a proper potty area. Bonus tip: If your cat uses her claws for traction while walking, consider reusable cloth pads, because the disposable pads are easy to tear.

3. Consider the shape and size of your cat’s bed

Getting in and out of a traditional cat bed can pose a lot of problems. Look for a bed shaped more like a sofa, with a high back and sides and a low front entrance. The dog section of the pet store has a wide selection of beds that fit this description. The high back and sides will help cushion any blows should your cat tip over, while the low front will make getting in and out of the bed a breeze.

4. Choose the right toys

Moki’s neurologist told me that laser toy or wand toys are great to help improve a cat’s paw-eye coordination. For blind cats, consider toys which make noise, such as a ball with a bell in it.

Whenever I play with Moki, I like to find an uncluttered spot on the living room floor to give him room to move. The feather wand toys are his favorite. Moki likes it when I let the string glide slowly across the floor so that he can catch it.

5. Think about flooring

Many disabled pets struggle with walking on slick surfaces such as tile or hardwood floors, so help provide them with a little more traction by using throw rugs. You can also help your pet get a grip with traction boots.

6. Build or invest in stairs and ramps

Older or neurologically damaged cats may still want to jump on and off things, so consider purchasing a set of stairs to provide them with easier access to their favorite places, such as your couch, bed, or window sills. If your cat is in a wheelchair and your home has stairs leading up to the front or out the back door — and your pet is allowed outdoors — then consider a ramp.

Moki is currently unable to use a ramp or set of stairs on his own, so I have to pick him up and place him on the couch or bed. His sister, Little Kitty, who is almost 16, was born with twisted bones in her right front leg, leaving her unable to use that paw. She has gotten around just fine until recently, and is beginning to have some trouble getting on and off the sofa. I put a tiered scratching post next to the sofa, which serves as steps for her.

7. Help eliminate pressure sores with a drag bag

When it comes to paralyzed pets, most of us instantly think of pet wheelchairs. While they are a great option, you can’t keep your cat in one all day. Once out of the chair, they will often drag themselves around and develop pressure sores.

Over the years I have l helped to care for many disabled pets, including Bella, a cat who briefly stayed with me. She was incontinent and paralyzed in her back legs, and had developed pressure sores as a result of consistently dragging her legs. She didn’t take well to a wheelchair, partly because of her legs were deformed, which is how we discovered drag bags.

Other cats like Scooter, recently voted the ASPCA’s Cat of The Year, adjust quite nicely to wheelchairs. Play around with your options until you see what your cat prefers.

8. Inspect and arrange your furniture accordingly

Owning a disabled pet is a lot like living with a toddler. Most of the furniture in my house was purchased with Moki in mind, so I haven’t had to make too many changes. If your pet is prone to falling over or bumping into things, consider padding sharp corners on low tables. If your pet uses a wheelchair, make sure you clear paths through the house.

Moki likes to chew on power cords, so I’ve had to block off areas of the house and tape the cords to the walls out of Moki’s reach.

Do you own a disabled pet and have other tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Link Source : https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/disabled-cat-home-accessible