Cats and the Dreaded Bath

   "Bath" is a word many cats and cat owners alike begin to fear. Bathing a cat, while usually not necessary, is a task that must be undertaken with a great deal of caution. It is a very stressful experience for a cat and usually for the owner, because the owner must take great care to make sure that the cat doesn't injure herself or escape to spread suds and water all over your home.

   When should you bathe your cat? A bath is necessary when a cat has gotten into some sort of liquid or debris that the cat is not capable of removing themselves. Other people bathe their cats when they have an unpleasant smell or to cut down on dander which can irritate people who have allergies. Cats also can benefit from a bath if they have fleas, because it can drown the population of fleas currently living on your cat. If you should decide that it is time to "take the great plunge" make sure you take the proper precautions when bathing your dirty feline.

  First, you need to acquire a cat shampoo. Shampoos designed for cats help care for their skin and coat, and can kill pests such as fleas, depending on the type of shampoo you choose to purchase. Cat shampoos are often tearless too, meaning that it won't hurt kitty's eyes if she accidentally gets some in her eyes. Human shampoos are not designed for cats and can irritate your cat's skin. Once you select a shampoo, fill up the tub with lukewarm water to a level high enough so it just brushes your cat's belly.  You don't want the water to be too high or your cat may react as if she were drowning once you get her into the tub, which will only increase her distaste for the experience. It is also advisable that you trim your kitty's claws before you bathe her so that she will be less likely to injure you if she scratches. Wearing latex gloves can protect your hands and arms from claws and teeth when you are bathing your cat, so you may do this if you wish.

   I usually have a cup or water pitcher by the tub to help assist in rinsing my cat, so make sure you either have something that can hold water to rinse her, or you can use a shower head as long as it is on a very low setting. You should have some towels laid out on the side of the tub for when you remove her from the water and so you can reach them easily. Cats can chill very easily, so make sure you wrap her up as soon as she gets out. Sometimes I even warm the towels slightly in the dryer so that it can help gently warm the cat up so she is not cold.

  Now it's time to calmly pick up your feline as if nothing were amiss, and bring her into the bathroom. I recommend that you close any doors that will allow her to escape. Take your cat and lower her into the water, taking care to keep her from panicking or injuring herself. Shampoo your kitty thoroughly, use a soft cloth to wipe her face, and then proceed to rinsing her off with clean, warm water. After you are finished rinsing, remove her from the tub and wrap her in a towel. Gently pat her dry and make sure you get most of the water off of her coat before you set her free. Be warned, your kitty will probably be none too pleased at this point and will try to desperately escape. Try to keep things as stress free and gentle as possible. For your viewing pleasure, I have attached a video as an example of how not to bathe a cat, just for reference. Good luck bathing your kitties!

Leash Training a Cat

   One of the most enjoyable experiences we have had with our cat Sushi has been taking her for walks. Many people react with disbelief when we tell them that we take her for walks outside on a leash. People generally assume that cats are untrainable, aloof creatures that won't listen to their owners. This is simply not true. Success in training your cat to walk on a leash lies with motivation, as cats are not naturally inclined to complete tasks just to please their owners in the same way that dogs are. However, if you show your cat that there is a reward to be gained from cooperating with leash training, you will have an enthusiastic walking partner.

   Why leash train your cat? There a few reasons, mainly that when you take your cat to the vet or travel with your cat, you can often take them out of the carrier or transport them more easily and safely if they are leash trained. Another reason is that most cats spend their days indoors, and can become bored if not enough stimulation is provided. If you take your cat on a walk, it allows him to exercise his instincts in watching and chasing birds or bugs outside. It also allows them some activity which is good for their health and beneficial if your cat is overweight.

   Before you decide to leash train your cat, make sure that this is an activity that he will enjoy. In order for leash walking to be successful, your cat needs to be the kind of cat that is curious and isn't too frightened of the outside world. If you have an extremely nervous cat that is not social, it is not recommended for you to attempt leash training with him. Some fear of the outside world is expected, especially if your cat has never been outside or was a rescued cat with a history of negative experiences outdoors. Our cat Sushi was found outside and was initially fearful, but with some gentle guidance and help from her curious nature,  she decided that outside can be fun as long as she is on a leash with someone she trusts.

   The first time we introduce Sushi to a leash, we used a "Come With Me Kitty" harness and leash which can be purchased at most pet stores or even places like Target or Wal-Mart. It is a stretchy leash and harness that doesn't pull on kitty when she is walking. They come in multiple sizes, so make sure you locate the size appropriate to your cat. The day we brought it home, we put the harness on Sushi and gave her time to adjust to the feeling of it around her body. She was initially none too pleased about it, but accepted it and eventually grew to wearing it around the apartment as if there was nothing there. After this stage, you can then attach the leash and motivate your cat to walk on it by using a few treats as a lure. Get him used to the feeling of walking beside you until he is comfortable.

   Next, I recommend taking him outside, to a quiet park or place where there aren't many cars or loud noises to frighten your cat. Once again, use treats to motivate your cat to walk around and find a spot to sit where you cat can observe birds or animals so that he will begin to realize that being outside is fun. You ultimately want your cat to realize that the leash means that he will get to go outside. Once your cat realizes that outside is a fun place where he is safe on his leash, your cat will be meowing for a walk every time you pick up the leash.

Introducing a New Cat into your Family

  After our recent experience, I figured I would make a post about the best way to introduce a new cat into your family. The first step in this process, before the introduction itself, is evaluating whether the personality or personalities of the cats in your family are compatible with adding another feline to your household. Cats are animals with a wide range of quirks and personalities, lending some to be social and some to prefer being an "only child". Ask yourself these questions: will another cat add positively or negatively to the atmosphere of your home? Can you handle the cost and responsibility of another animal? Do you have the space for another cat? I have seen a whole range of reactions, from the new cat becoming good friends with the others, to one of the cats in the household turning into a nervous wreck. Now is the time to thoroughly consider your decision because you don't want to have a chaotic household, or have to find a new home for one of your feline friends.

  Once you select the cat and bring her home, make sure to keep the atmosphere as soothing as possible. The cat should have an area where she can be away from the other cats and humans to let her adjust to the smells and sounds of your home. If the cat is fearful or nervous of humans, let the cat spend time in her room and allow her to approach you at her own level of comfort. Some people let the cat have her own room for a day or two, some do it for weeks, it is truly up to the individual cat's personality so use your best judgment. Naturally, your other cat/s will be curious so don't be surprised if you find them acting differently and spending a lot of time near the area where the new cat is located.

  Next, I recommend bringing in some items that have the new cat's scent into the area where your current cat/s are living. Let them get the scent of the other cat and make sure to give plenty of positive attention or even a few treats to your cat so that he will associate the other cat's scent with positive emotion. Do the same thing for the new cat, and bring an item of your current cats' into the room with her, repeating the same process. If the cats are separated by a door, it is even advisable to feed them next to the door so you continue the positive association.

  Another step I like to take is putting a see-through baby gate up at the door separating the cats. This way they can see each other and you can determine how they will react to each other. If this goes well, remove the gate and supervise your cats. Once they are together, make sure that they don't fight or harass one another. Some protest and stress is expected, but if they start fighting or become visibly distressed, you should separate them and give them some time to recover from the experience. Do not under any circumstances let them be together unsupervised until you know that they will get along. Usually it is best to continue the supervised visits for a few days, even if they get along like best friends. You do not want to come home to injured cats or a house that is torn apart.

  Keep in mind that some cats may take time to become friends and others may never become friends. It is alright if your cats aren't best friends, but it is crucial that they learn to at least live together in peace. If this method is completed properly, most times the cats will learn to get along.

  There are the rare situations where cats are not compatible with having another cat added to their home. Give the process a few months and if it still does not succeed, then it may be time to find your cat a new home. If you find yourself in this situation, please responsibly place your cat into a good home, where the new owners are aware of his limitations.While it is a delicate process to bring a new cat into your family, it can be an extremely rewarding experience for both you and your cats.

Tex's Story

   Introducing a new cat can sometimes be a difficult experience for any balanced human/feline family. We recently came home with a five year old male Bengal cat who we've had for about a month. He was adopted from a cattery because he is now a retired breeding cat. His name is Tex, and he is 16 pounds of cuddle machine.

   He came to us as a somewhat nervous guy, and in the beginning, we gave him a room to himself so he could acclimate to his new surroundings. His former owner had owned him since he was 12 weeks of age and I can only imagine what a scary experience it was for him coming to a new home. The first day all he did was hide under my bed and wouldn't eat until the second day. It was then that he surprised me and came out for some attention. He is very affectionate but doesn't like to be approached by strangers. In fact, I have noticed that if you approach him standing up he will nine times out of ten, run and hide.

   After some time, we introduced him to our other cat Sushi. She had come to us extremely young, perhaps four to five weeks of age because she is a rescued cat and is the progeny of a local Egyptian Mau who has not been fixed. We actually found her on top of a running gas tank after who knows how long, and had to nurse her back to health. We were worried about her because she hasn't had the normal socialization that kittens get growing up and living around other cats, however she had spent time with some of our family who have cats when one or both of us were out of town. Sushi's initial reaction towards new cats and new people is to hiss, or sneak up behind them until they look at you, and then run away. She's not exactly a social butterfly. Yet, over time she did warm up to our family's cats and become good friends.

   When Sushi first saw Tex, she hissed every time he tried to step closer. Tex is a very cat friendly guy and was attempting to check out his new roommate. After a few days of the "hiss and retreat" behavior, she began following him everywhere. In a few more days, they were playing, and if you were very sneaky, you catch them sleeping together when they didn't think we were looking. Now, they are the best of friends, and you can often find them playing chase or grooming each other on the couch. 

  Our decision to get a new cat started when Sushi would come to us wanting to play at all hours of the day and night. When we'd come home in the evening, we'd find her watching for us at the window and then at the door. She would wake us up at all hours of the night, wanting attention or play. The poor cat was miserably lonely being by herself much of the day and she was making it very clear that our attentions simply weren't enough.

  One day we were coming home and noticed two large, beautiful orange spotted cats in the window underneath our apartment curiously watching us. The months of conversations about getting another cat began to center around Bengal cats, a breed we had heard of but knew very little about. We spent time researching the different options, and decided that maybe an adult cat was our best choice. One night I was on the couch browsing the internet and found a picture of Tex. He was our type of cat, large, wild looking, with beautiful rosettes. We reserved him that night, and the rest is history.

First Post

Welcome to Florida Felines, a blog about everything related to cats. We will be posting a collection of things, from product reviews, to advice on caring for cats and interesting articles. Check back periodically for updates, but for now, here is a picture of our 9 month old Egyptian Mau kitten Sushi. She is a very precocious and playful cat, who has no problem helping herself to the cat food cupboard when we aren't looking. Sushi's favorite activities are chasing the laser pointer, sleeping, and believe it or not, camping! We have a large three room tent that we camp with and Sushi comes along. You can usually find her in the tent chittering at birds and with us on walks because she is leash trained.