Category Archives: Living with cats

Why do cats love small spaces ?

Thanks to Ann from Zoolatry for the badge

Thanks to Ann from Zoolatry for the badge

Every June 19th, it’s International Box Day : various boxes are celebrated. And us, cats, like very much boxes. You don’t imagine all that we can do inside :

  • hide
  • be under cover
  • see unnoticed
  • prepare an ambus
  • stay in the warmth
  • feel safe
  • sleep comfortably
  • play (with another cat, it’s still better !)

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In nature, all this behavior allows our wild cousins to hide from their predators and increase their chances of survival : a closed and small space allows to hide, retains better the heat, and allows to appear from nowhere to catch a prey. Our preference for small spaces is thus instinctive.

One more reason to celebrate this day !
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Our furriends Peaches and Paprika, and Luke from Wag’n Woof Pets are hosting a blog hop : join the fun !

4 tips to avoid a heat stroke to your cat

Last week, the temperatures were scorching here. We remained hidden the largest part of the day in the shade of bushes, lying on the cool ground.

Cats cannot perspire as a human to lower their physical temperature when it’s warm : they have only some sweat glands between the pads, that’s all. We risk a heatstroke in case of strong hot season ; the following signs (in order of growing gravity) indicate that we are too much hot, far too hot, and that we have to cool quickly :

  • Hanging out tongue
  • Panting
  • Fast pulse
  • Too high body temperature
  • Loss of balance
  • Respiratory distress syndrome
  • Apathy
  • Unconsciousness

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What’s to be done in the presence of these signals of distress ?

  • Place immediately the cat in a cool and well ventilated place
  • Place his paws in cool water (not cold !) during 10-15 minutes to lower his temperature

To avoid getting to this point, some simple precautionary measures can be taken :

  1. Provide some cool water in various places of the house (also outside)
  2. Renew often the water so that it remains cool
  3. Keep the house as cool as possible: draw the blinds or close the shutters, close the windows on the side of the sun but leave the others opened so that the air circulates, and suspend wet linen in front of the open windows
  4. If it’s possible, keep the cat inside in a cool room ; if the cat is used to go out, make sure that he has an easy access to a cool and shaded place

Getting cool, that can also be funny : go to see how do our friends Die Kleine Fellindianer here and here !
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How to handle a cat

Hug Your Cat Day 2015

Thanks to Ann from Zoolatry

Our humans love our contact ; however, there are some rules to be respected so that this moment is a shared pleasure : choose a moment when your cat is quiet and relaxed, and don’t hug him if he doesn’t obviously want it.

 

 

How to carry a cat ?

  • to lift the cat, place a hand under his breast before his front paws, and the other one under his backside to support his weight
  • put him against your body and let him put his front paws on your forearm or your shoulder. The cat has to feel free of his movements
  • don’t hold the cat by force in your arms ; put him slowly down on the ground when he shows that he’s fed up

How to pet a cat ?

  • our favourite places are the chin, the throat, and around ears
  • we also like be petted on the neck and on the back, but not in the wrong way !
  • a caress on the belly ? Caution ! This place is reserved only for some rare privileged persons : don’t try to caress us the belly on the first meeting, because you risk be bitten or scratched

Today, it’s Hug Your Cat Day, but in fact we snuggle every day !
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