Litter Box Training Tips

Adopting a new cat is so much fun; there are toys and treats to buy, adorable pictures to take, and a kitten to play with! However, one of the most important aspects of kitten ownership is training your kitten to use a litter box. The sooner you’re able to do this, the happier you’ll both be!

When I had kittens, litter box training was a cinch.  I took each cat to the litter box, put him or her in it, and scratched around in the litter with its paws.  From that moment on both of my kittens had no trouble using the litter box.

It’s not always this simple, and even cats who are great at using a litter box can sometimes have a set back.  Moving to a new place, for instance, can cause cats to revert to bad behavior when it comes to avoiding their litter box.  So, here are a few tips that may help you overcome any difficulties in getting YOUR kitten or cat to use a litter box.

1. Make sure the litter box is clean.  You have to clean it at least once a day (clean out any clumps) and rinse it with warm water at least once a week. Each day when you clean it, add an inch or so of new litter too. Cats like a clean place to go, so if the litter box is dirty they’re going to avoid it.
2. Be mindful of where the box is located.  It needs to be in a quiet and easily accessible place.  It does not need to be near where your cat sleeps.  Make sure it’s a place easy for the cat to get to – not a place where a door might accidentally close and leave the cat without litter box access.
3. If  you’re training a new kitten, take it to the litter box and scratch around in the litter.  This will show the kitten that this is a nice, clean place to use the bathroom.
   1. Make sure the litter box is one your kitten can easily get in and out of.
   2. It needs to be large enough for the kitten to turn around and kick a bit of litter around in order to bury any waste.
   3. At first, try to put your cat in the litter box after it eats, wakes up from a nap, or finishes with a play session. These are the most likely times for it to use the bathroom and if you begin taking it to the box early on, you’ll help the cat form a routine.
   4. Finally, the number of litter boxes in your house should ideally be equal to the number of cats you have plus 1.  So if you have 1 cat, you need 2 boxes.  2 cats? 3 boxes. This will ensure that the cats always have a clean box to go to and are also able to have their own privacy.

Fluval Flex Aquariums

These great new small aquariums from Fluval are in stock here at J&M Aquatics and Pet Center.  We’ve included a video from Fluval, below, but here are 5 great facts about these aquariums:

1. The elegant vertical bow front
2. The easy feed port on the front
3. The LED lighting remote
4. The honeycomb wrap to conceal the water line and integrated filter system
5. Oh, right, the integrated filter system!
6. BONUS: the 7500K white LED lighting system that is INCLUDED! It will support live aquatic plants requiring mid to low light and, by using the remote, you can create over 80 different color variations!

Watch this video from Fluval to learn more about the Fluval Flex aquarium, in stock now at J&M Aquatics and Pet Center in Grand Junction, Colorado:

Cats and the Vet

We love this video from Simon’s Cat about a cat’s trip to the vet.  We know it can be difficult to get your cat into a carrying crate, especially without the use of any relaxing drugs.  But what if there were an alternative?

Here in Grand Junction we have a mobile veterinary service, Aspentree Veterinary Care. They will come to your house and provide basic shots, minor surgeries and wellness check ups for your cat or dog.  This way you don’t have to get frustrated, like Simon, or get your cat agitated.  You can contact Aspentree Veterinary Care at 241-3700.

Canidae’s Top 10 Pet Articles of 2016

We love Canidae Pet Foods, not only because they create great food products for cats and dogs, but because they also provide a blog with lots of useful information.

Read their top 10 pet blog posts of 2016 to find up-to-date articles like:

• 7 Commands Dogs Need to Know in Public
• What is Whisker Fatigue?
• The benefits of having two dogs
• Is it safe for dogs to eat insects?

Watch for information soon from J&M Aquatics as their blog moves to a newly designed and updated website!

10 Holiday Pet Dangers

When the holidays roll around, it’s especially important to make sure your pets stay safe.  Here’s our list of top 10 dangers for pets during the holidays:

1. Fireworks at New Year’s (dogs especially can get spooked and run away)
2. Leftovers / Bones
3. Chocolate
4. Holiday plants like mistletoe and holly
5. Tinsel / Ribbons
6. Electrical cords
7. Stress from visiting people
8. Alcohol.
9. Liquid potpourri (cats will drink it)
10. Tree ornaments / trees

Watch out for your pet this holiday season and do what you can to keep them safe!

Last Minute Gifts for Pet Lovers

If you’re looking for a last minute gift for the pet lover in your life, here’s a brief list from J&M Aquatics and Pet Center in Grand Junction:

1. Books about pets or pet training.  Consider W. Bruce Cameron’s A Dog’s Purpose (A Book for Humans) or the hilarous, I Could Pee on this: And Other Cat Poems.
2. Live aquatic plants or aquarium decorations like this Java Fern we have available now:  
3. Desktop aquarium sets like these by Fluval.
4. Items to add to a reptile or amphibian tank, like new rocks or plants.
5. Dog and cat toys for their pets, like this great selection we have right now!

Stop in before Christmas and we can help you find a great gift for your pet or pet lover!

Fluval Tips on Decorating your Aquarium

We really enjoy the videos that Fluval puts out with various aquarium tips.  This one is all about aquarium decorations!

National Cat Day & Cat-Sitting

This past Saturday was National Cat Day.  I was in charge of feeding the four cats of a friend who said to me, “Tell them I love them!” Well, that was mostly impossible because 2 of the 4 rarely came out of hiding while I was there. Pet sitting can be stressful for both those taking care of the pets and for the pets themselves. They’re already concerned because Mom and Dad aren’t home and then a stranger comes in!   Feeding and caring for someone else’s cats means trying your best to care for pets exactly as their parents would.

Clockwise from left: Meet Macy (Gray), Ember and Bogey, and finally, Jasper who is as much of a scaredy cat as he looks in this picture. My friends feed their cats a mix of wet and dry food, which is smart. Wet food is necessary for many cats because they don’t drink enough water and can be prone to bladder issues.

In this household Bogey, the tabby, is the most social and vocal of the group. He met me at the door each time, led me to the kitchen and proceeded to “Meow-splain” to me how to do everything.  Then, when I went to check the litter boxes (always a good idea to have multiple litter boxes for multiple cats) he would try to eat everyone else’s food!

Almost no one would come out to visit while I was there.  If they WERE out, then as soon as I showed up they ran to hide. In any case, they all survived until Mom and Dad got home, and so did I.  Cats are such funny creatures and they all definitely have their own personalities. Before pet sitting or deciding to adopt a shelter cat, know what you’re getting into and what type of pet you’re after!

 

Basic Dog Training Commands

When it comes to training your new puppy, we know it can be an uphill battle! Here are a few tips and commands to use when first teaching that new pup to sit and stay.

1. With the dog’s attention focused on you hold one finger up so that your dog’s eyes and head naturally follow it up into the air. When this happens, his bum will drop to the ground. Do this while saying “sit.” Reward your dog with belly rubs and treats and repeat.  Eventually try giving the command to “sit” without using the hand motion.
2. For stay, once the dog is sitting, use a flat palm and extend it in front of his muzzle while saying “stay.” Stand in front of your dog for a few seconds and then back away. If the dog remains sitting, reward him and use a phrase you like such as “good stay.” Repeat this and each time you’re successful move slightly further away.  When you call your dog and he comes, reward with plenty of love, praise and treats.
3. When other dogs want to play, first have your dog sit and stay and then, when you’re ready for him to play, give a command such as “go get it” or “check it out” and allow the dog to go.  This will teach him that you are in command.

1 cat + 1 cat = chaos?

Introducing a new cat to your current cat(s) can be a tricky situation. Cats by nature are territorial and don’t like to share. Therefore, introducing a new cat into your home could lead to aggression, the marking of territory (maybe by constantly peeing all over your favorite beanbag chair…) and worse, harming you or your new cat.  Below are 8 ways to introduce a new cat to your household without causing massive chaos.

1. Take it slow.  No matter which of the tips below you follow, start with this one.  Don’t expect to just walk into the house with a new cat and have your current cat walk over and shake its hand. That’s just not going to happen.  These cats need to get to know one another over a few weeks’ period of time.
2. If you can, try to choose a new cat that has the same personality as your current at or about the same activity level. If your current cat enjoys sleeping more than anything else, it probably won’t take kindly to a small kitten that wants to play. However, if you have a young cat and you bring in a new frisky cat for it to play with, the two might get along quite well.
3. Anytime you bring a cat home, even if it’s your first cat, you need to allow it to slowly learn about its new surroundings.  Cats adjust best when, at first, they are given one small room to explore. They will feel safe in this room with their own litter box, food and toys.
4. When introducing the pets, start by feeding them on either side of the new cat’s door.  So, place your new cat’s food and water somewhat close to the door and close it. Place your current cat’s food and water on the other side of the door. The cats will sense that the other is there, but they’re enjoying their food, so these cats begin to associate each other with something positive.  Once the cats seem ok with this situation, you might try using a baby gate instead so that they can see each other, but still don’t have to interact.
5. Once the cats are again ok with this scenario, you can try introducing a toy that they can play with together – one on one side of the gate and one on the other.
6. Try letting the new cat out to roam around the house while confining your current cat to the new cat’s room. This continues to reinforce their scents to one another without forcing them to share space.
7. Eventually, let your new cat roam the house, supervised, for a bit while your current cat is there too. Watch for signs of aggression like growling or hair standing on end.
8. Keep the peace by having one litter box per cat and by making sure there are various places to which each cat can escape when he or she needs some space.  For cat furniture ideas, stop by J&M Aquatics and Pet Center in Grand Junction, Colorado.