Cat Potty Training

Don’t Go There! The Ins And Outs Of Cat Potty Training

Ahh, cats. Those sweet and delicate creatures that bless us with their furry cuteness and affection. Yeah, right. Cats are one of the most beloved pets in society today, but it certainly is not for their overt sense of affection. Rather, it is because, for the most part, cats are very self-sufficient. And it is this ability to look after themselves that makes them so desirable. Typically, their self-reliance training also includes the basics of cat potty training.

As a general rule, the majority of cat potty training is taken care of by the mother cat before the kittens are even weaned. However, once in a while we find ourselves faced with a sweet little creature that hasn’t got a clue where to go. Literally. In these cases, it is necessary to teach cat potty training by oneself. This isn’t a difficult process, and can generally be accomplished in just a few days.

Step One – The Box

If you have to start cat potty training on your own, the first thing you will have to do is to choose the right box. For kittens, a box with a low lip is preferred. This is so that the kittens have an easier time getting in and out. Buy a box with too high a lip, and you may find that your new friend goes on the floor just out of sheer frustration.

Older cat potty training will not require you to get such a low-lipped box. In fact, many older cats prefer a higher-lipped box, so that they can get a sense of privacy. Older cats may also prefer litter boxes that are enclosed. These enclosed boxes are relatively easy to find, and their covers snap on and off for easy cleaning.

Step Two – The Sand

The type of sand you purchase for cat potty training is entirely up to you. There are only two types to choose from – clumping and original. Both work fine, but the clumping style of litter is much easier to clean.

Once you have filled your cat’s litter box about a third of the way full with sand, you will need to show him or her what to do. Not literally, of course, but by placing your kitten or older cat into the litter box immediately after they have finished eating. This is typically when kittens will need to eliminate, and so is the best time to place them in the box.

Cat potty training is a relatively simple process. Once you have shown your new friend a time or two where he or she is supposed to toilet, you will generally find they are quite willing to continue without any additional instruction. If your older cat continues to eliminate elsewhere, you may want to take them to see a vet, as it could be a sign of something more serious.

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Bengal Cat Breed

Profile Of The Bengal Cat Breed

The Bengal cat breed is a newcomer to the cat world. The breed was derived from the Asian Leopard Cat and from a domestic cat but other hybrid cats were also included in perfecting the breed along with the American shorthair and the Egyptian Mau. The breed was initially started in the early 1960’s but the project was abandoned soon after. Interest in producing a Bengal cat breed was revived during the early eighties.

Characteristics Of The Bengal Cat Breed

The Bengal cat breed is physically characterized by very recognizable horizontal striping on its face. The body of the Bengal is covered by rosettes or spots, pretty similar to those of a Jaguar, on the sides and the back. On the other parts of its body, the Bengal sports distinct stripes. Another variation of the Bengal cat breed is a marbled appearance of its coat but the most desirable markings are two toned rosettes.

Males are relatively larger and heavier than females. They weigh a maximum of around 15 lbs while females weigh about 8 – 10 lbs. The Bengal cat breed comes in three filial generations. This means that the F1 generation is a pure breed where one of the parents of the offspring is an Asian Leopard Cat. When the F1 Bengal mates with an ordinary domestic cat, the offspring is an F2. The F2 will produce F3 if it mates with a domestic cat. The further dilution of the Bengal cat breed will produce cats which will be considered as ordinary domestic cats.

Only cats up to F3 generation should be bred with each other in order to preserve the lineage of the Bengal cat breed. Any other additional mating with domestic cats will dilute the strain too much and the distinctive marking will not be retained or the offspring will retain characteristics from the domestic parent.

Temperament Of The Bengal Cat Breed

Bengal cats are not afraid of water and are often seen showing an avid interest in running or still water. The Bengal cat breed has lots of energy and is very lively. They are naturally curious about everyday activities and are often seen following their humans around the home as they perform daily tasks. These intelligent cats appreciate a good game of fetch or any other game that involves energy. They are quite friendly with people but are not your typical couch potatoes of lap cats.

The Bengal cat breed is a cat that needs lots of things to do or else it will turn destructive from boredom. They love to go outside and play with people but they are not noted to be quite good with other animals other than cats of the same breed.

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Breeds of House Cats

How to Choose from the Many Breeds of House Cats

Is it time for a new pet for your family? If the answer is yes, and if a cat is on your mind, there are plenty of breeds of house cats that you can choose from. And while you can go for a pet that will come with a pedigree, there are plenty of breeds of house cats that may not come with registration papers, but will make a wonderful family pet all the same. These types of cats generally go by different classifications than the pedigreed cats do, but rest assured that there are many distinctive and identifiable breeds of house cats that you can choose from.

Veterinarian Classifications

When a cat cannot be identifies into a specific breed of house cat, veterinarians have their own way of classifying these creatures. A “DSH” stands for a domestic short-haired cat, “DLH” refers to a domestic long-haired cat and the “DMH” is (you guessed it!) a domestic cat with medium-length hair. Your cat may also be referred to as a mixed breed if there are specific features that can be identified with a specific breed. Another interesting classification for breeds of house cats is the “polydactyl” cats, or the Hemingway cats. This name refers to cats that have extra toes, and many of these creatures were owned by the author, Ernest Hemingway. Because they indiscriminately bred, you can still find descendents of these cats today.

Color Patterns

Another way that breeds of house cats are classified is through their color patterns or markings. Tabbies are one of the oldest and most popular breeds of house cats around today. These cats can be identified through their stripes and spots, although some may have additional markings like bibs or boots. These cats are also sometimes known as tiger kitties for obvious reasons. Tabbies can come in a number of hues, including orange, grey and tan. Calico cats are always orange, black and white, although some will have faded versions of these shades and are known as “diluted” calicos. These cats can have quite beautiful coats with blocks of color throughout.

Another popular breed of house cat is the tortoiseshell, which takes the same three shades and weaves it throughout the coat, creating a tapestry effect. Usually tortoiseshell cats do not have much white on them, although a few will have some small white markings. It is interesting to note that most tri-color cats like the calicos and tortoiseshells are usually female. There are other breeds of house cats that are bi-colored, and these will generally come under patterns like the tuxedo cat and the bi-colored cat. Some cats will also only have points, like ears or paws, which are marked in a contrasting color. With the large variety of breeds of house cats available today, you are sure to find a family pet that is unique and beautiful.

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Cat Toilet Training

Cat Toilet Training Basics

If you are looking for cat toilet training tips, then you have definitely come to the right place. There has long been speculation over whether or not it is even possible to toilet train a cat. But as cat owners grow more and more weary of cleaning litter boxes, more and more devices and methods for cat toilet training have been put into practice.

There are many different books available that discuss detailed techniques for cat toilet training. But here, we have attempted to give you a basic overview of how the actual process is accomplished. It is important to remember that individual results will vary according to how much time you are willing to spend on cat toilet training, as well as on each individual cat.

The Method

There are a few essential items you will have to have on hand before cat toilet training can begin: your cat’s current litter box, a stool roughly the same height as your toilet, and a bowl that will fit inside your toilet bowl. The first step in cat toilet training is always to first place your cat’s current litter box beside the toilet. Give him or her a few days to adjust to the new location.

Once your cat has gotten used to his or her box being in the bathroom, cat toilet training can really begin. The second step in this process is to get your cat accustomed to jumping up to the height of the toilet seat. This is accomplished by placing the cat’s litter box on a stool next to the toilet. Be sure that for the first day or two the lid of the toilet is left down. After a day or so of your cat jumping up to get in the litter box, you can lift the lid (but leave the seat down), so that your cat can get used to navigating his or her way around the seat.

The third step in the cat toilet training process is to move the cat’s litter box to the top of the toilet for a day or so. This accustoms your cat to actually being on the toilet, as opposed to beside it. After a day or so of this, remove the litter box completely, and replace it with a bowl filled with litter, on the inside of the toilet bowl. Be sure to watch your cat to make certain that he or she is placing their feet on the seat of the toilet, as opposed to inside the bowl.

Once your cat is placing all four of his or her feet on the seat of the toilet, instead of inside the bowl, you can complete the very last step in cat toilet training – removing the bowl. Once you have done this, as long as there are no litter boxes elsewhere in your home, you should have completely finished the cat toilet training process.

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