Elevated places

Purchase some shelves for your cats to climb on. Ensure they are fitted correctly and hold the correct weight requirements for your cat. If their located opposite a window even better – they can look out at the birds. (John Bradshaw, Cat Sense)

Why?

Cats feel safer in elevated places. Have a look at www.catastrophicreations.com for some more inspiration.

Scratching posts

Purchasing a scratching post for your cat is highly recommended –one with vertical scratching surfaces, made of corrugated cardboard that is placed next to sleeping or resting areas – as cats like to scratch after waking. Cats love corrugated cardboard and it lasts a long time too. Daniel Mills et al, (BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine (BSAVA British Small Animal Veterinary Association).

Why?

Posts keep the claws in good condition and cats have scent glands in-between the pads of their paws which produce a smell unique to that cat so they scratch to mark their territory. Check out this scratching post by Pet Fusion.

Litter Trays

What and How many?

The rule is 2 litter boxes per 1 cat. The tray should be big enough for the cat to turn and move around in, dig in, and low enough for them to access it easily. A box that’s 1.5 the body length of the cat means they’re more likely to use it. Litter box styles that have lids on may trap odours if they’re not cleaned and scooped regularly and in places without good ventilation.

Where?

The tray should be placed on the floor, in a quiet, undisturbed location where other pets in the home won’t be able to disturb the cat while it’s using it, or access it and where it won’t be knocked over. The cat should be able to have access to it at all times. It should be away from windows so other cats can’t see it and potentially cause anxiety to your cat when they’re doing their business.

Scooping and litter

It should be scooped once a day at least – twice if possible. This helps you to keep an eye on your cat’s toilet habits and notice any problems such as constipation and diarrhoea. Studies suggest that clumping litter is preferred by cats – this will mean that any urine is clumped together so it can be removed easily without being mixed in with the clean spots of litter. There are a lot of cat litters on the market however, so if you can it’s worth trying a few to see what your cat prefers – if your cat gets in the litter, and scratches and digs at the litter – this suggests they like it.

Studies have shown that a 3cm depth of litter is preferred by cats, so rather than getting a ruler out each time, you can make a little mark on the tray to indicate how far to fill it up.

Why?

As well as exercise opportunities, playtime is fun, stress relieving, boredom busting and it’s a great way of bonding with your cat too. Plus it’s awesome to see their ears flatten, eyes widen and backside wiggle before they pounce! Indoor cats especially, need more mental and physical stimulation as they don’t go outside so won’t be chasing mice or attempting to catch fluttering butterflies. A sedentary lifestyle can mean the cat gains weight which can lead to health problems like diabetes. Cats possess an innate desire to hunt and if they don’t get the chance they may find their own forms of entertainment and become destructive.

How often?

The Cats Protection Welfare guide explains that even 10 minutes twice a day is shown to have a positive effect on a cat’s wellbeing. If this is done once in the morning and once in the evening before food that would be ideal as the hunting cycle of a cat consists of stalk, pounce, catch, kill, eat, groom sleep (adapted from Power of the Purr, Sally Chamberlain).

What to get

Da bird

Many of the cats we play with adore this toy! It has real bird feathers on a long piece of string, that mimics a bird flying so you’ll really see your cat’s predatory instinct come out. Cat’s can get super duper excited by this toy, jumping super high in the air, so be mindful that they have a soft surface beneath them and don’t let it get too high – especially if your cat is overweight to avoid their joints hurting. Once they get it they can be reluctant to let it go! Ensure you put it safely away so they don’t get caught up in the string or hurt themselves on the attachments.

There are different attachments available for this if your cat prefers fluff to feathers!

Ribbon, string, corks

Everyday house-hold items can be made into toys your cat will enjoy! Things like ribbon and string can be pulled across the floor and mimic a mouse’s tail. Cats also like chasing after cork screws – an even better excuse to pop some champagne!

Equipment

A Harness

A well fitting harness is important for dogs. Whatever harness you choose ideally it should have adjustable straps that go underneath the dog so you don’t have to lift up their legs to place the harness on – this can chafe underneath their legs and be very uncomfortable for them.

Why?

Dogs have very sensitive necks, physiologically they are virtually identical to human necks with the trachea, thyroid land and oesophagus in the same place. (Beverley Courtney, Change for your Growly Dog) Obviously, because of this pulling on the collar can be associated with a host of neck problems. If a dog lunges forward at another dog and you pull back their collar – this will hurt. They may then associate the pain with the sight of the dog – meaning seeing other dogs results in bad things – the opposite of what you wanted!

Games

Games are fun, they help engage your dog, so help with distractions in the environment (hello other dogs, birds, cars and people!), they also help with bonding with your dog. They are good for mental stimulation too, games such as find it which involves chucking treats or kibble on to the long grass for your dog to hunt out with their nose engage the brain.

Why?

Games are great as they can be used to improve recall, for example you can play back and forth with your dog moving in opposite directions chucking treats on the ground and pair it with the cue ‘this way’ to encourage your dog to move in different directions. (A Different Dog, Recall Masterclass)

Where can I find out more?

Hide and Find games! Puzzle and interactive feeders from Nina Ottoson. 

Many dogs also find flirt poles lots of fun.

Training

Cue’s such as drop it, leave it, and reliable recall are so important to keep your dog safe. Attend a puppy training class, so your dog can learn life skills and meet other dogs in a controlled environment. A good puppy class will let yoy attend beforehand to watch. Consistency is key so make sure all family members follow the training. Ensure that the trainer is qualified, has testimonials and only uses positive reinforcement training. If any one mentions using force and dominance to train your dog – steer clear!