Cats are From Venus

Cat Clothing

2011-03-01T08:42:00.000-08:00

Not all cats are fond of wearing extra clothing, collars or harnesses. Some downright refuse to move if you put a leash on them, and do all types of acrobatic tricks to remove the offending article! However, there are some felines who seem to enjoy being dressed up and shown off. (I can't personally attest to that as all of our cats were of the opinion that extra accessories were unnecessary!)

I have seen many pictures of cats with Halloween costumes, but there are a ton of other, more practical outfits that are worn by cats all over the country. Some owners like to give their pets some "bling" by buying them fancy, sequined or be-jeweled collars, while others prefer to give their kitties warm, stylish outerwear to keep them warm and dry.

Whatever your taste, I welcome your pictures and stories for other readers to enjoy! So if you have some pictures of your cat dressed for an occasion, please feel free to contact me. For those of you who have a cat who loves to dress up, I have included a selection that will hopefully pique your interest!

Cat Trees

2011-02-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing synonymous with cats, it's a tree. Unfortunately, unless you have a huge house with the space for a real, live tree in your living room, your cat will have to go out of doors to get his or her tree "fix".

So, some bright soul had an idea to give our kitties the opportunity to climb and scratch on something besides our furniture or a scratching post, and the cat tree was born. These wonderful creations allow our feline friends to climb and play indoors, without having to call the fire department if they get stuck!

A cat tree is a great investment. It helps to save your furniture, gives your cat exercise and a great place to sleep or keep watch over the neighbourhood! The ones I have listed below are not quite the same as the one I have, but there are so many different and interesting varieties, it was hard to choose.

A Rather Sad Update

2011-02-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

I know these things happen, and have gone through this many times with my cats, however, it is always heart breaking when it does.

My rescue kitty, Oly, has been missing now for a week. We scoured the fields and neighbourhoods in vain calling and looking for our bright-eyed, fearless wanderer. Unfortunately, we live in a rather rural community, with lots of open fields and farmland surrounding our suburban oasis. Wherever there are open fields and farmlands, you are sure to find coyotes.

We like to think that our fearless feline was scooped by a passing motorist or child from an adjacent neighbourhood, but our hearts tell us that isn't what happened.

Our "pod" is smaller now, and I don't think we have the heart to replace Oly, but he is sorely missed by one and all. He was quite the mischief maker in the household - terrorizing the other kitties relentlessly, lying in wait and pouncing just to get a good game of tag going with his "brothers and sisters".

He was the type of cat like you see in the cat treat commercials. You shake the bag and voila - there he is! He would steal the bags from the cupboard and play with them until he finally ripped them open to eat the treats. He was always the first one on the counter in the morning and when we got home from work - waiting for his treats.

He always announced his arrival - starting from the door, and continuing until he finally stopped at your feet.

It's much quieter around the house now, but we still listen for him, and call him when we walk the dogs - he and the other two rescue kitties always accompanied us on the walks - but there has been no sign of our mischievous boy. He is sadly missed.

All Things 'Cat'

2010-06-10T21:07:00.000-07:00

These next articles are a compilation of helpful tips for all you cat lovers! I think I have hit the Cat Nip Mother lode! Please read on for some really great information...

My Mother Rescued Angie the Cat
My Mother rescued Angie the cat and she was unnamed and obviously unwanted at first. Here is how this true story began in Houston, Texas.

How To Help Indoor Cats Lose Weight
Fat cats may be cute. We all love Garfied the fat cat.
However, if a cat is too overweight, it may result in health problems such as diabetes. Oftentimes a cat may be so fat that it won't participate in the usual fun activities for cats.

Cat Eye Problems - Signs to be Aware of
Cat Eye Problems should be extremely important to the cat owner. Cat's eyes have special characteristics that set them apart from other animals. Most dogs use a combination of sight, hearing and smell to become familiar with their surroundings, whereas cats depend mostly on their eyesight for hunting and stalking their prey.

How to Get Ready for a New Cat/Kitten
I just got my kitty Koloa from the animal shelter! There she is, looking cute, just like her owner. :)
Which reminds me...
There are a few things to make sure you have before you pick up your new cat or kitten:

What to do if Your Cat is Dehydrated
If your cat is outdoors he may not be drinking enough! Signs to watch for dehydration.
Cat's may have nine lives but when a cat becomes dehydrated the outlook doesn't look too good. Prompt treatment is vital to keep the cat hydrated as much as possible and prevent him/her from deteriorating.

Common Causes of Blindness in Cats
A cat's eyes are mysterious, intriguing and simply astonishing. Built to be able to see much better than humans in the night, a cat's eyes are large compared to the size of the head, typically like other nocturnal creatures.

Do Cats Have Good Memory
While Snowball may not remember what dress your were wearing yesterday or the last American Idol winner, cats surely can prove to have a good recollection of events when it comes to memory. There are many testimonies to this if owners of cats watch their feline friends closely.

Simon's Cat Video

2010-03-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

This cartoon short is a classic! My boyfriend had a cat who definitely reminded him it was feeding time! Enjoy!

This next one sure reminds me of my Siamese!

Great Cat Videos

2010-03-26T17:19:00.000-07:00

I thought this video would be fun to share. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

This one is definitely a case of not enough kitty conversation!

Our Three Thousand Dollar Kitty

2010-03-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful, generally sweet tempered Main Coon had a slight accident a couple of years ago. She made the mistake of standing up to a rather large dog and lost. This, of course, resulted in an immediate trip to the vet for X-rays (it was obvious from the dangling paw that her leg was almost severed...) and emergency surgery. The result of the first surgery and subsequent stay at the Hotel Veterinarian was approximately $2400.00, including anesthetics and X-rays.

The poor thing had to stay in a cage at the vet's for almost a month to keep her off the leg, which had been plated and pinned due to both bones being broken. When she was finally allowed to come home, she had to be quarantined to keep her from trying to jump.

She had to be kept sedated because she would literally jump out of her skin at any noise, and then scare herself half to death with the leg cast and leap all over the place trying to get away from it. After we discovered that, it was back to the cage...

Finally, after the vet gave the okay, the cast was removed and she was allowed to roam throughout the house. Unfortunately, I made a costly decision to let her venture outside after she had been out of the cast for about a week, and she re broke her leg...back to the vet's office!

I think he took pity on me and only charged me an additional $600.00. He also allowed me to make payments which helped out as I was still paying for the cat loan I had to take out in order to pay for the first surgery!

This time, the poor kitty had to be caged for almost six months (at home) and then quarantined to my daughter's bedroom until the leg was strong enough to endure venturing out of the room.

We had two other cats and we didn't want them chasing her around the house. I didn't think I was strong enough to go through a third surgery!

All in all, I think the poor thing was under house arrest of some form or other for a year, but she is healthy and happy now. Her fur has grown back and she has acquired a taste for being groomed.

(As she couldn't groom herself when she was in the cast, we took over the responsibility and it remains that way today!)

As for me, I am still paying for the initial surgery, and most likely will be paying for a while yet, but it was all worth it!

Caring for Your Persian

2010-03-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

These days, Persian cats are among the most popular breeds of cat. Well known for their gentle and sweet personalities and their long hair, Persian cats are highly prized. They are great companions for virtually anyone, and not very demanding. Unlike other breeds, such as the Siamese, Persians need very little attention.

Although white is the color normally associated with Persian cats, they actually come in a variety of other colors as well. During competitions, they are divided into seven color divisions – solid, silver and gold, tabby, shaded and smoke, particolor, bicolor, and Himalayan. No matter what color of Persian cat it may be, they are best noticed during competitions by their long and flowing coats.

Persian cats should always be kept inside of the house, to protect their coat. If they travel outside, they can easily damage their coat. They will also need to be brushed daily with a metal comb, or their fur can become tangled and matted, which will lead to hairballs. You’ll need to bathe your Persian cat on a regular basis as well, to help protect his coat. Begin bathing your Persian when the cat is young, so he becomes accustomed to it used it. Bathing should never be overlooked, as it will keep your cats coat looking clean and healthy. Although some breeds can maintain their coats on their own, Persians can’t. Their fur is long and dense and you’ll need to groom them daily to ensure their coat stays healthy.

The Persian breed is gentle and sweet, and gets along great with everyone – including kids. They have a pleasant voice and they can communicate very well with their owners. They are very playful, yet they don’t require a lot of attention, however, they do love being admired. Unlike other cats, they don’t climb and jump much at all and are rarely destructive. Most of the time, Persian cats love to bask in the sun and show others just how beautiful they truly are.

To ensure that your Persian pet stays healthy, you should always take him to the vet on an annual basis. If cared for properly, such as grooming, shots, and checkups, Persian cats can live as long as 20 years. One thing you’ll need to be aware of that’s common with Persians is their eyes. Their eyes are quite large, and can sometimes be difficult for the cat to clean. This is a common health problem with the breed, and their eyes should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that a problem doesn’t get out of control.

When you compare Persians to other breeds, you’ll notice that the Persians are among the easiest to keep. You don’t have to worry about things like jumping or climbing, as Persians don’t like to do either. All you’ll need to do is feed your cat and groom him on a daily basis. Even though grooming can be quite a bit of work in the long run – it’s well worth it when you have a healthy and obviously beautiful companion.

A Look at Siamese Cats

2010-03-19T18:08:00.001-07:00

The exotic and somewhat mysterious Siamese cat hails from the country of Thailand. They had always been a popular breed of cats, some even residing in royal palaces. Siamese cats, in the past, were trusted to protect royal palaces and monasteries from evil spirits. These cats were also thought of as bringing good fortune to their owners as well.

During the year of 1884, the very first Siamese cats began to make their way to England, when they were given as gifts to a British general. After that, they eventually made their way over to America. Now, Siamese cats are one of the most recognized of the breed. Siamese cats are without a doubt the most popular short haired cat and among the top 3 in the entire breed of cats.

Even though there are several different colors to this breed, some questions arise about what makes a cat a true Siamese cat. These cats have always been known for their bodies which are lighter in color, with darker areas around the feet, tail, legs, or face. They can weight anywhere between 6 - 16 lbs, with bright blue eyes that are normally slanted - which is another clue that the cat is a true Siamese.

Traditionally, Siamese cats are robust, with angular heads and a truly muscular build. They are well known throughout the world for their color points and unique personalities. Unlike other breeds, Siamese breeds have a talent for communicating with people. If you are looking for a cat that is nice and quiet, you wouldn’t want a Siamese cat. These cats love to play, love to make noise, and they also happen to be the most social breed of cats out there.

Siamese cats demand a lot of attention, because in their minds, they believe that the world revolves around them. For this very reason, they can tend be quite dependant on their owners. They love to play, and crave interaction. If you leave them alone for too long, they have a tendency to get into trouble! They like to get attention, love to play, and hate to be left by themselves.

Even though Siamese cats are emotionally high maintenance, they don’t need a lot of physical maintenance. They need a minimum amount of grooming, which involves bathing every once in a while, and brushing maybe once or twice a week. If you like cats with minimal maintenance, Siamese cats are perfect. Their hair is short to their skin, so a gentle brushing is all you need. They can get sick however, which is to be expected with any breed of cat.

Siamese cats have a life span that is similar to other breeds, which is normally around 15 - 20 years, sometimes even longer. As long as you feed him on a daily basis and take him to the vet for his regular checkups and shots, he will be around for years and years to come. Most people who have their Siamese cat for over 10 years, find the cat to be more like a child than a pet.

No matter how you look at it, a Siamese cat is a great pet. As long as you give your pet the attention he craves - he will be your life long friend for as long as you have him.

A Quick Look at Cats

2010-03-19T18:01:00.001-07:00

Over the last thousands of years, cats have pretty much handled their breeding themselves. In the beginning, they were used for one purpose - hunting and killing rodents. As the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking. Now-a-days, there are several different breeds of cats - some markedly different, others more, well...catlike.

These days there are over 70 distinct cat breeds, that are recognized through cat registries. There are several registries that will recognize around 40 breeds or so, as they exclude the more domestic breeds such as tigers. There are also many variations within the breeds as well, including wild cats that have longer hair.

There are some cat breeds who have roots going back quite a bit in history. Some Japanese breeds, such as the Japanese Bobtail, can be traced back more than 1,000 years in history. These cats were very common and well known throughout Medieval Japan. Today though, they are all but a myth throughout Japan and the entire world.

The more common cat breeds that are found in North America include the alley cat, long haired cat, Persian cat, and Siamese. Siamese cats were bred as 'watch cats' and prowled special ledges built around Chinese aristocray houses. Now, of course, there is no need for their talents, but you might notice that your Siamese likes to perch on top of the bookcase or refridgerator - a left over genetic trait perhaps. Persian cats are very popular, proving to be loving companions, and showcased prominently in television commercials extolling the virtues of refined, upperclass or decadent seeming items.

Alley cats are the most common in North America. There are actually several different breeds, although most of us just refer to them as alley cats. They make loving, loyal pets, and there are literally thousands of them in existence. Cats are known to breed more than any other pet other than rodents, and they will continue to breed unless spayed or neutered by their owners.

The look of the cat is the easiest way to tell what breed he or she may be. Some people choose to go by color, although color isn’t as easy to identify. Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as the Siamese and Persian cats. Siamese cats are almost always cream coloured with dark brown, black, lilac or blue ear tips, paws, and facial markings, with blue eyes. Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their long, often times, pure white long hair, and facial shape. Alley cats come in all shapes, sizes and colours, and for non-cat people, tend to look very similar.

Cats were one of the first pets, and easily one of the most popular. Millions of people around the world own cats, with many people preferring a cat over any other pet - including dogs. No matter what breed of cat you get - you’re sure to get a pet who will make a great companion for years and years to come.

Rescue Kitties - Meet Skitszie Kitty

2010-03-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

The third, and hopefully final addition to our family is this beautiful fluffy black and white Orca (generally called Tuxedo cats).

If you look closely at the picture, you will see this lovely lady has 6 toes on her front paws. This type of cat is called a Polydactyl cat. Wikepidia states "Normal cats have five toes on each front paw and four toes on each hind paw. Polydactyl cats may have as many as seven digits on front and/or hind paws, and various combinations of anywhere from four to seven are common, although each of the front and rear paws are typically the same. Polydactyly is most commonly found on the front paws only, with polydactyly of all four paws being less common. It is rare for a cat to have polydactyl hind paws only."

This little baby was only 6 months old when I found her crying pitifully outside my doorstep. The poor little thing was obviously lost and terrified. I coaxed her into the house and started a door-to-door campaign to find her owner. After that failed, I checked to see if she had any tattoos, which she did, so I called the local veterinarian to see if he could track it down. The tracking was successful, she had been spayed and tattooed in Merritt (which is approximately 150 miles away from where I live.)

Obviously, she didn't walk all that way to find my doorstep, as she was in very good condition when I found her. Her fur from her surgery was starting to grow back, but her incision was still visible, which approximately matched the surgery date the vet had given me. I left my phone number for them to contact me if they found the kitty's owner, but I never received a call. So, she moved in with me...

Now I had to figure out what to call her! Mittens seemed rather tame, and Thumbelina was too long. Since she was very skittish even after getting used to the house and her new roommate Picasso, I settled on Skitszie Kitty.

Don't let that sweet little face fool you - nothing is safe from this fuzzy pint sized tyrant! I recently 'integrated' her into my boyfriend's menagerie, and she regularly puts the run on her feline brothers, often standing nose to nose with my boyfriend's two dogs, who tower over her, without turning a whisker.

It's quite funny watching the feeding process in the mornings. Each counter has a cat on it, with 3 black and white cats twining around our legs and the dogs taking up their stations in the kitchen door. After the meal, everyone heads outside for their morning run, all 3 black and white Rescue Kitties following one after the other through the grass.

Rescue Kitties - Meet Mooch

2010-03-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hello, my name is Mooch, and I'm a Rescue Kitty. I didn't always look this handsome and well fed. I used to live outside, with no people of my own, and it was a very hard, lonely life.

Then, one day, I found a house with an open window in a basement suite, where a family had cats, and sneaked in to have some food. I was pretty hungry, so I ate almost the whole bowl before I sneaked back out again.

I came back a few more times to share my new found neighbour's bounty, but ran away whenever I saw their people. The next time I returned, there was a bowl of food sitting on the steps in front of the window. Each time I showed up, it was full and waiting for me. I couldn't believe my good luck.

Then one day, the food bowl was gone from the steps. Someone had moved it inside the house, on the window ledge above the big metal water bowl with taps. The people were inside, but the bowl was right in front of the open window, so I took a chance.
The people didn't come close to me while I was eating, but they did peek at me a couple of times.

After that, the food dish moved further inside, each time I came back, but the people were nice and didn't bother me. Soon, the people moved the dish to the floor and let me come into the house to eat.

It was comfortable and warm in the house, and after a while, I started taking naps in front of the door. The people always let me out in the morning, after giving me some wonderful treats, and they left the window open for me to come and go as I pleased.

One day, the lady put me in a cage and took me to a place that smelled just awful and left me there. There were other animals in cages crying to be let out. A soft spoken lady took me out of the cage and cleaned me, put drops in my ears and pricked me with a sharp pointy thing. After that I don't remember anything.

When I woke up I was pretty woozy and sore. The lady who left me there came back and took me home with her. She gave me treats, and fresh water and let me curl up on the rug. She let me go outside again a few days later, after I was feeling better and left the window open for me.

I was starting to get very comfortable at this house. The people were good to me, even if the lady did drop me off at that horrible place. They kept putting their hands on me, and I was actually beginning to like it. I kept making these funny, squeaky noises that I had never heard before, but I couldn't help it!

One afternoon, I came in through the window, and saw lots of boxes all over the floor and counters. A whole bunch of people were carrying them out the door and loading them into a van, so I hi-tailed it out of there real quick. When I finally came back, everything was quiet and the house was empty except for my food dish. I felt all alone, but I wasn't scared - I had been alone for a long time before finding this house. Then a car pulled up to the house, and the lady got out. She called me and called me until I showed up. Then she put me in that box again, and we left.

We drove for a long time, and when she finally let me out of the box, I saw I was in a different house, with other cats and a couple of big, loud dogs. They pretty much ignored me, and the other cats seemed fairly friendly, only one of them was a bit touchy and hissed at me. The man who lived there was pretty nice too, and he didn't kick me off the bed when the lady put me on it. It was a pretty comfy bed, I gotta say!

The next morning, the man called us all into the kitchen and gave us treats and milk and filled the food dish. He opened the door and let everybody out, but he left the door open so we could come back in if we wanted. It didn't take long before I started thinking of this place as home. The people who brought me here always stayed over a few nights a week, so I didn't feel lonely, and the man was very friendly and loving. I like him a lot!

Now I'm fat and sassy, and love my new home. I'm so glad my people let me come in that long ago day for food, and I thank them every night when I curl up beside them on the bed and make my squeaky sounds! (They really like that!)

Rescue Kitties - Meet Oly

2010-02-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

This bright-eyed, mischievous looking fellow is Oly.

The 'first' of our rescue kitties, showed up on a friend's doorstep. After being coerced by kitty treats to make a return visit, he tentatively took up residence on the back porch.

My boyfriend is partial to black and white cats, or 'Orcas' as we like to call them, so there was no question where this little fellow was going to live! After a quick trip to the Vet's office for a health assessment, shots and the inevitable neutering, Oly was given the go ahead to move in. After approximately a week of hiding in the basement, he finally began adjusting to life with not just one friend, but three. Two of whom are of the canine variety.

I must admit, it takes quite a bit to temper the curiosity of a black and white, but that first week was the quietest it has been since Oly moved in! After that, he took to terrorizing his feline friend, Doug, and stealing kitty treats from cupboards.

Oly is a very faithful kitty - he rarely goes far from home, content to explore the backyard and adjacent field, and is always within earshot of a shaken bag of treats. He enjoys chasing the ball when we play ball hockey with the dogs, and like most cats, finds all manner of small things to lose under the fridge.

I'm thrilled that we had the chance to give this wonderful fuzzy guy a great home, and he has repaid us with lost keys, glasses, spoons, chewed up toilet paper and lots of love and affection!

Questions Cat Owners Need to Ask Themselves Before Purchasing Cat Health Insurance for Their Pet

2009-05-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

Before cat owners purchase health insurance for their family cat there are a few questions they should ask themselves. Asking themselves these questions will give the cat owner a reasonable idea of what type of policy will best suit them.

The first thing they should consider is whether or not they would like a discount insurance plan or a comprehensive insurance plan. The next question cat owners need to ask themselves is how attached are they to their local veterinarian. Some veterinarians will not accept pet health insurance from various pet health insurance companies for a variety of reason. If the cat owner does not feel comfortable taking their family pet to a different veterinarian they should look for an insurance company their veterinary clinic accepts. Cat owners should also be aware that in certain instances the local veterinarian or animal hospital cannot help their pets and might refer them to the State University veterinary clinics. When purchasing a health-insurance plan for their owner should double check and make sure that any expenses charged to the university veterinary clinic will be covered by the insurance plan.

Before cat owners purchase a health-insurance plan for their family cat they should decide if they would like to neuter or spay their cat. Some pet insurance companies offer health insurance plans for pets that will cover the cost to neutering or spaying. If the policy you are thinking about purchasing does not include neutering or spaying you might want to purchase an additional rider to help with the expense. Remember that if you have adopted your cat from a local animal shelter you will be required to neuter or spay your cat if the shelter hasn’t already done that. This is also a good time to get the first round of your cat's annual shots out of the way.

How much can you actually afford to pay in addition to the monthly or yearly cost of your pets health-insurance plan? If you have to bring your cat to the veterinarian will you be able to pay a deductible? A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay the veterinarian out of your pocket each and every time you visit them. The higher the deductible you carry the lower your monthly premiums are on your pet’s health-insurance plan.

If your cat gets injured in a freak accident or suddenly becomes sick will you be able to pay for any medication that the veterinarian might prescribe. Prescription drugs are expensive whether they are for humans or for pets. If you are concerned about the potential cost of prescription drugs you may want to purchase a rider that will help cover the cost. Purchasing a co-pay option a prescription drugs get help lower your annual fee.

Before purchasing a health-care plan for your cat find out if the plan just coverers your cat's immediate health care issues or if it will also cover the cost of the veterinarian's office visit. Cat owner should remember that the time to research the various types of pet health-care insurance is normally before they purchase their pet. Most injuries and illnesses occur during the pets early years of life.

Meet My Clients

2009-05-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

I was informed by my clients, that since I am writing about them, I should make proper introductions.

First on the roster is the 'boss lady' named Nala, a sultry chocolate point Siamese, with a typical aloof outlook towards staff. She adores high places, or cupboards, and can be found lounging atop of the fridge or the window sill on a sunny afternoon.

She also enjoys lying on the heating vent when the furnace kicks in, or snuggling amongst the freshly warm, dry, clothes in the dryer.

Next up is a large, very staff oriented Maine-Coon mix, named Fox. Her favorite pastime is following staff members into the bathroom and annoying them until they finally give in and brush her. Due to an unfortunate accident, she was unable to satisfactorily groom herself, so we (the staff) took over that responsibility for her, resulting in her grooming fixation.

Last but not least, the spokes-cat for the group, a diminutive, 4 lb. tri-colour Manx, called Picasso. Don't let her size fool you, when she is in full cry, you can hear her half way down the block! She likes being in the same room as her staff, but is reluctant to stoop to their level and be petted, preferring instead to head butt and rub when in need of affection...usually at two in the morning!

When this staff member goes to bed, I am accompanied by all three, Nala at my feet, Picasso glued to my leg, and Fox on the pillow by my head.

It gets a little cramped at times, and of course, once disturbed, Nala will disappear to parts unknown for the remainder of the night, only to resurface at breakfast. Fox will generally stay the night, unless one of her roommates heads for the food dish for a midnight snack. Picasso, on the other hand, will stick like glue to me the entire night. If she is disturbed too often, she will decide it's affection time, and proceed to pat my face and purr.

Unfortunately, ignoring her will not make her go away, as experience has taught me, so I take the time to appease her craving, and once settled, I drift back to sleep.

I'm sure, if they could read, they would be appalled by my indiscriminate sharing of such private details, however, for the moment at least, I'm safe from their recriminations.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting my companions, I know they are thrilled to be immortalized in print, and suitably worshiped.

Nail Care 101

2009-05-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

Keeping Your Little "Paddy Paws" Pretty

Being a dedicated staff member for many many years, I am familiar with the monthly or in some cases, bi-monthly ritual that most companions avoid like the plague. Often times, this ritual goes overlooked until a playful swipe at a straggling shoelace, or another dangling object results in a painful scratch from too long, sharpened, claws. Nothing surpasses this as motivation to clip your cat's claws.

I was schooled in the art of kitty-toenail trimming long before they had 'Pedi-cure' for pets. Now-a-days, we can lessen the trauma for some of our charges, with a revolutionary product that actually files their nails, instead of clipping. I haven't as yet tried this product, and am quite curious to see if my companions can be groomed as quietly and quickly as the commercials show.

For now, I will continue to use the tried and true method I learned when our first 'charge' was introduced to our hospitality all those years ago.

For the uninitiated, it isn't difficult (at least in theory) to clip your cat's claws. You need to insure you have a decent pair of cat nail clippers, which you can find in your neighbourhood grocery stores, and pet shops. There are several different styles, all of which do a decent job. Just pick the ones that feel best to you.

When trimming your cat's nails, be advised not to cut them too short. As you can see from the pictures above, their nails, although shaped differently, are similar to our own in one respect. I'm sure that you have clipped your own nails a tad close, by accident, and discovered just how uncomfortable, and sometimes painful that can be. Your cat's claws are no different. If you trim them too short, it can be very hurtful for the animal. Not something you would like to experience yourself, and I'm sure neither does your cat.

If you study the diagram on the left, you will see the two parts of your cat's claws, the quick, or nail bed, and the actual nail itself. This is the part that is continuously growing and being sharpened. In the illustration to the right, you will notice the correct way to unsheathe the claw. In this manner, you can clearly observe where to safely trim the nail.

Not all companions are enthusiastic about having a pedicure however. My Maine-coon is very placid when it comes to most beauty treatments, including her nails, however, both the Manx and Siamese have other ideas.

Normally, I can manage to hold the Manx steady and clip her claws, even though I am constantly, and very loudly reminded that she doesn't care for the procedure. The Siamese, on the other hand, is a two person job, with one person holding and the other clipping. At times I have resorted to wrapping her in a towel to maintain control and also keep from being used as a scratching post.

Not all cats show such a violent dislike to having their claws trimmed, or any other beauty/health treatment, so don't be alarmed by my experiences. If you begin familiarizing your kitten to the procedure early, you shouldn't have a problem.