I’m just a kitten and I can’t even begin to be as wise as Sparkle was, but I think I can come up with ways to help humans be better servants to kitties! Today I’ve compiled a list of handy tips, most of which humans can use starting right now!
- The best way to serve a kitty her meals is on a plate. That gives her whiskers room to comfortably spread out, and ceramic or porcelain plates are less likely to cause acne than plastic bowls, or deep bowls.
- Does your cat keep losing his toys under the sofa? Get a fishnet from the aquarium section of the pet store — it will help you “fish” them out! (I got this one from my friend Sasha.)
- If you have a cabinet with cleaning supplies and other items that are potentially dangerous to cats, use a childproof lock to keep out your kitties. We are smart and can undo twist-ties, and we can also chew through twine and rubber bands (in fact, rubber bands can be dangerous if we swallow them, so never use them, period). But only use the child proof locks for that. Cats should be allowed in all the other cabinets.
- The best way to put a cat into a carrier is to place her in backwards. If you try to put her in face-first, she can reach out and grab at the opening and make it really difficult for the both of you. Also, your cat will feed off of your energy, so if you are nervous, she will respond in kind. If you can be calm and matter-of-fact, it makes it less stressful for everyone.
- If you have a non-plastic carrier, make accidents easier to clean up like this: cut up an old shower curtain to a size that’s a couple inches or so larger than the bottom of the carrier. Place it on the bottom of the carrier so that the extra material goes up the sides, and then put a plush towel over it. That way if the cat is sick in the carrier or goes to the bathroom, it keeps the mess from sinking into the carrier itself.
- If one cat is mad at another cat who came home from the vet, put some baby powder on a towel and rub it on both their rear ends. That way they will smell alike and it should help end the hissing. (I found this one on Facebook from a smart human that my human knows.)
- Let your cat tell you when he wants to be petted. Reach out with your arm and hand relaxed, fingers lightly extended. Let him sniff your fingers, and if he rubs against them, it is okay to proceed. This is a good way to approach cats you don’t know well too. If you are unsure of the cat, it’s best to lay your hand on a flat surface, palm up, to make your approach as passive and unthreatening as possible. If a cat is really shy, you can hold a pen for them to sniff, or the part of your glasses that go over your ears (like Jackson Galaxy does in My Cat From Hell). Remember: cats always prefer to be the ones in control when it comes to physical contact.
- Don’t bother meowing to us kitties. You can just talk in your regular human language. Meowing isn’t actually a language with words. We do understand a few human words, like “food,” “treats,” and our name, but mostly we pay attention to your tone of voice and body language, and that’s what you should pay attention to if you want to better communicate with your cat.
- If you play really active games with your cat and then feed him right before bedtime, there’s a better chance he will sleep through the night and not have the nighttime crazies.
- Marinate cat toys in a tub of catnip so they always stay fresh. I hear many of you are already familiar with this one… but how many of you are actually doing it?
Thanks for the wonderful tips Summer!! They were very helpful!
Your TX Furiend,
Samantha
PS: Thanks for coming to my Birthday/Gotcha Day Party!
Hmmm, Meowmy says she never thought about ‘marinating’ kitty toys! She’ll have to get at it, MOL!
We know all about those post vet hissy fits…sigh. We usually get a towel rubbed on the other kitty placed on the opposite kitty and so on. it seems to help shorten the hissing. Or take em both! MOL!
The funniest was when dog-guy came back all groggy, and both of us were purr-turbed at him…we *knew* where he had been…
Thanks for all the good advice, Summer!
Mum has a PTU with a top door. For Ducky she picks him up and then puts him in upside down!
Yes great tips
Great tips, Summer! You’re showing a preponderance of knowledge for such a young kitty. 🙂
My mom was glad to see #7! She has been doing that since she was a kid and peoples always thought she was crazy!
Yous is one smart kitten!!!
Kisses
Nellie
Great tips Summer! Mom says there are quite a few she hasn’t heard before, especially the baby powder one. Mom is good about “refreshing” our toys in catnip thank cod! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Marty
You’re wise beyond your year—or 6 months. TW does 9 and I do sleep through the night. Isn’t that cool? Is baby powder good for a cat if they lick it? If it’s talc, it isn’t even good for a human. All the other tips are spot on!
Great tips Summer. You are a kitten prodigy with all that knowledge.
Summer, you are a smart kitty and a great writer! Good tips!
Mommy keeps our toys well-marinated, Summer! And we like how you recommend peeps to leave all the cupboards open ‘cept the dangerous ones…we love exploring in ours! Mommy hears bumping and thumping and it never fails to stump her. MOL!
Excellent tips Summer!
The Florida Furkids
Paws up for the great tips! We only get certain toys marinated in catnip. Speaking of, we haven’t gotten a fresh one in a while. It must be time for a new round of catnip toys!
Summer, for a little cat you sure are smart. The mom has been marinating some of our toys in nip, but she hasn’t given them to us. What is she waiting for?
Summer, you are just so adorable to look at we had to really concentrate to take in all your clever tips! They were all very good. We think you will be a “quick study” and that you will be as wise as an owl in no time at all! 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
We’ve not heard of using baby powder. I’d be inclined to use something without chemicals and sprinkle on base of the tail and not the anal area. It’s easier just to scent swap with a clean sock.
Great tips Summer, you are wise beyond your years!
You’ve learned a lot very quickly, Summer!! There was some stuff there that might human needed to hear!!
You are a smart and observant little kitten Summer! We need our toys marinated!
Pawsome tips ! #6 can be very useful here after my spay on Wednesday ! Purrs
Those are great tips Summer.
#6 really does work. Several years ago when Eric had to go to the vet I was horrible to him for 2 weeks. The Meezers mom told my mum about it so she did that every time after and it stopped me being nasty to Eric.
#10 My mum marinates my favourite toys in nip for a week then gives them to me at weekends and puts different ones marinating for the following weekend.
Great advice, Summer!! We get fed three meals a day, our last meal being right before Mom and Dad go to bed – they say that’s because we will wake them up in the middle of the night for food. They are right!!! Though we do that sometimes anyway… 😉
Mmmm, marinated nip toys *drools* Oh yes, Summer, you are very wise! Purrs…
There is a lot of cat wisdom in that tiny little body
Summer you are one very wise little kitten!
Those are wonderful tips, Summer — who knew about the baby powder? I’m definitely going to try that next time to avoid a hissyfit!
great tips. mom is especially fascinated by the last tip; we have toys that Buster left in the box (yes he picks up after himself) and are there collecting dust. we’ll try soaking it in nip and see if the kitties would play with them again.
Summer, you are not only a cute kitten, you are pretty smart too. Thanks for all those tips. You did good!!!
Those ARE some great ideas…I’m going to have Mum study that list.
those are some great tips Summer,xx Speedy
We love those tips Summer and you really are a wise little one!
Great ideas for our humans!
My human doesn’t marinate my catnip toys. She’s such a slacker…
Summer, these are all excellent pieces of advice, and several that our mom hadn’t heard before. Thank you so much for this list! XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
those are great tips (mom likes the one about the protection for the carrier)…
Summer you are wise beyond your years, I mean months. Those are great tips, I never thought of room for whiskers when eating and the baby powder is a good idea too.
Summer, you are becoming wise quite fast!! The only thing I would add, is on #4….if you have TOP and FRONT loading carrier, it is better to put the kitty in from the top….feet first…………we have a great carrier that isn’t round or a strange shape, it is traditional, but it opens from the top and the front. Putting Cody in feet first is a breeze! Have a great day!
Wonderful tips, Summer! You are so smart already!!!
excellent information. you are sure learning fast…
Oh, Summer, for such a young one, you are so knowledgeable! Great tips for the humans!
Those are terrific tips, Summer. Our human says she’ll remember #6, though it’s rare that one of us gets hissy after the other comes back from the vet. It did happen once, though, after Nicki’s second dental. Derry was uncharacteristically hissy for a good day and a half.
Wonder if this would do well, too, when bringing in a new adoptee.
Thanks for the great ideas Summer. Some of them I did not know.
I’ve been trying to teach my husband about body language for years – he’s finally getting it and experiencing a lot fewer scratches and bites!
That is such a cute picture of you Summer. And those are some mighty good tips. We do respond to body language and tone of voice. Happy Monday to all of you.
BRAVO BRAVO SUMMER 10 GREAT TIPS. MOM KEEPS A ZIP LOCK BAG FULL OF CATNIP…SHE ROTATES MY NIP TOYS IN AND OUT OF IT.
HUGS MADI YOUR BFFF
What great tips to keep Mum on her toes – thank you Summer.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Great ideas Summer…and kittens can still have lots of good ideas to share..after all cats are very smart …no matter what age 🙂 hugs and loves Fozziemum xx
Great tips Summer! Cinco and Manna really like the one about keeping the toys in catnip. I do dunk all of their toys in catnip frequently, but I don’t really keep them in a bin of it. Thanks for the idea!
Those are great tips, Summer! Thank you!
All great tips. Plus, that is such a sweet pic of you, lil Summer.
Those are all wonderful tips Summer 🙂
Mom is pretty lazy about marinating out toys.
Guess we need to remind her.
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ