Posts tagged “Water Fountain”

Have you ever tried making DIY cat toys? This homemade cat toy tutorial will show you how to make a soft, felt lime slice toy that’s pretty a-peel-ing to kitty paws. We’re going to let you in on the ultimate secret recipe for homemade cat toys. Not only is this toy stuffed with premium organic catnip, but we’ll also infuse the felt with catnip oil for your cat to swipe, swat and stalk during her prime hunting time. When you’re done, you’ll have a masterpiece among DIY cat toys that you can give to your main squeeze.

Image via iStock.com/byakkaya Reviewed for accuracy on October 22, 2018, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM By Nancy Dunham Is there a stray cat hanging out outside your home? Or slowly spending more and more time in your yard? You might very well have been adopted by a local street cat and are now probably asking yourself, “Can you turn a stray cat into a house cat?” Yes, that stray cat or alley cat can become your beloved house cat, but there are some caveats you should consider. First, understand the difference between a stray cat, an alley cat and a feral cat. It’s often impossible to tell at first glance. Both types of cats may seem skittish when you first approach them. So, what’s the difference? Feral cats are wild and not used to people or domesticated. Stray cats and some alley cats have often had socialization and may have even been neutered and received health care. These distinctions can be critical for the health of your other pets and family members. Domesticating Feral Cats Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, oncology) at The Animal Medical Center in New York, urges extreme caution when attempting to turn a street cat into a pet. “Feral cats are likely to have some health issues. Stray cats can too, of course,” she says. “But feral cats have lived outdoors and likely haven’t had any health care.” Street cats may have serious illnesses that can spread—ringworm, feline leukemia, rabies and other infectious diseases can infect other pets and humans. “If you adopt a feral cat, you are setting yourself up for heartbreak,” said Dr. Hohenhaus. “”I am not saying you shouldn’t ever take a feral cat [into your home] but think carefully about it first.” Pet behaviorist Pamela Uncles, Companion Animal Behavior, a practice in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, adds that behavioral challenges may abound. “I don’t think you shouldn’t take them. I think you should be informed,” she says. “You need to know the risks going in. That’s the bottom line with everything.” Taylor Truitt, CEO and founder of The Vet Set, Brooklyn, New York, says that feral cats might be best cared for outside as community cats. “If cats aren’t socialized by 16 weeks of age, it usually doesn’t go well,” she says. “I have owners who say they have feral cats as pets, but they feed the cats outside,” says Truitt. “The cat is never in the house….It’s tough to catch a feral cat, and when you do, they are more afraid than anything….I always say don’t do it.”