Cat

Cat Accessories & Beds Accessories are designed to promote cat health care and well being. Browse our large selection of cat accessories, including cargo carriers/cages, grooming, automatic feeders, furniture - cat trees, cat beds, cat scratching posts and outdoor safety enclosures. Litter Box and Accessories - litter boxes, mats, liners, scoops and litter box furniture. But don’t stop there! There are so many various and unique products to make your cat a happy and healthy pet! You can trust all of our products because they are cat-tested for effectiveness, safety and durability.

Cat Bowls If you're looking for a cat bowl or feeder for your kitty, you're in luck. Cat food and water bowls are available in a variety of colors, materials, sizes, and styles to fit almost every taste and decorating style. Cat food feeders are also available in a variety of sizes, shapes and functionalities. Finding the cat bowl or feeder that's right for your cat should be easy if you stop to consider a few factors before you shop: Easy to clean, Dishwasher safe, Tip or spill proof, Durable, Safe, Size, shape and texture pleasing to pet, Sealed feeders (preserves freshness), Cooling function (for timed feeders feeding canned food). Depending on how you feed your cat or cats, you may consider a few bowls. One for water, one for dry food and a “dish” for canned food treats. Heavy ceramic or pottery bowls with gently tapered sides are ideal for dry food. Stainless steel bowls or a matching ceramic/pottery bowls are great for water. These bowls should have some weight and a potentially rubber bottom to avoid tipping or sliding movements. The ideal bowl should also be easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Some cats may have a preference of depth, shape, and materials of bowls. Some cats prefer to eat from a rather wide shallow dish and others don't mind a slightly deeper dish. Watch what your cat may prefer and choose the product that meets their preference. Cat Food Feeders are available to either offer free choice dry food or time feedings of canned meal treats. The ideal dry food feeder is tip resistant, dishwasher safe and easy to clean and seals in the freshness of the food. The heavy plastic varieties work well. The size is up to you but generally sizes that hold 2 or 3 days of food are good. The bigger ones hold more food but don't keep it as fresh as the bag does and some cats won't eat as well if it is old. Feeders should not be substitute for carefully monitoring your cats appetite. The ideal canned food feeder should have a cooling component to ensure food does not spoil. You can select models that can offer from 1 to several timed feedings per day. Again, you should not substitute being there for a timed feeder. Cats should never be left alone for more than 24 hours. The canned feeders are great for cats that nibble through the day and you want to offer them a special treat when you are out.

Cat Collars We have a small selection of cat collars - one which will grow in time. We have bought in great brands such as Hi-Craft and Canac for nylon collars, Flexi for extending leads, and Ancol for a great range of pet accessories. Cat collars can help identify outdoor cats, should they get lost, and with new cat collar styles in leather and nylon, they're lots of fun too. Maybe a flowered cat collar or leather cat collar with rhinestones for your kitty? Cat harnesses provide a great alternative to cat collars, allowing you to even walk safely with your cat outdoors without carrying him or her. Cat harnesses fit around your cat's legs for a snug yet comfortable fit and often include a matching cat leash.

Cat Food (Dry) Dry food (8-10% moisture) is generally made by extrusion cooking under high heat and pressure. Fat may then be sprayed on the food to increase palatability, and other minor ingredients, such as heat-sensitive vitamins, which would be destroyed in the extrusion process, may be added. Major brand-name dry cat food manufacturers often use primarily grain-based ingredients with animal protein by-products or animal digest to cut cost. Higher end foods offered as 'premium', 'natural' or 'holistic' formulas contain less or no grain, and a higher percentage of animal protein. However, grain-free dry diets still contain carbohydrates, from sources such as potato or tapioca. The starch in those ingredients allows the kibble to hold its shape. Cats have no metabolic need for carbohydrates as the feline system prefers to create glucose from protein. Dry cat food has an advantage over wet in convenience and price – besides usually being significantly cheaper, dry cat food can also be left out for the cat to eat at will over the course of several days, whereas canned or raw cat food spoils or becomes unappetizing after several hours. It should be noted, however, that even dry food, since it is sprayed with fats as noted above, becomes rancid and stale as it oxidizes. Using a free feeding practice can also contribute to overeating, and ultimately obesity. Dry food is recommended by some based on the idea that cats break apart dry foods with their teeth, which causes the food to scrape off dental calculus. The degree of benefit this provides has been disputed in recent years.

Cat Food (Gluten Free) Protein provides the basic building blocks for any diet that is meant to generate strong, lean muscle. But too many pet foods are loaded down with gluten, which adds heaviness and bulk that is harder on the digestive system but does not convert into naturally useful proteins. Rather than tax the digestion of a cat, many educated pet owners are instead switching from ordinary cat food to special gluten free cat food. It is easier for the cat to digest it is also better for the animal's overall health. Reputable brands of gluten free cat food provide all the necessary and essential amino acids, proteins, and other key ingredients that go into a balanced and nutritious diet - without the potential harmful and physically taxing levels of unwanted gluten found in inferior cat foods. These healthier foods might use, for example, healthy ingredients such as sunflower oil, fish, and fish meal that is rich in beneficial omega three fatty acids. Other main ingredients in better cat foods are chicken and lamb, which can be complimented by flaxseed, alfalfa meal, and various herbs such as rosemary. Gluten is the elastic part of the wheat or other type of grain that feels thick and starchy. Many animals are sensitive to it, and because it is rather gummy in its texture gluten can be much harder to break down and successfully digest within the body. Gluten is actually commonly used as a powerful binder and thickener by manufacturers of products like soups and artificial cheeses. So some people say that eating it is like eating a paste or adhesive, and that has obvious drawbacks for your cat. Some felines also suffer from diseases like celiac disease, and for those cats gluten in any form can be toxic, creating an adverse reaction within the digestive tract.

Cat Food (Kitten) A kitten (Old English diminutive of cat) is a juvenile domesticated cat (Felis catus) that is not yet fully-grown. The young of big cats are called cubs rather than kittens. Either term may be used for the young of smaller wild felids such as ocelots, caracals, and lynx, but "kitten" is usually more common for these species. Though the term primarily refers to young cats, it can also be used when talking about the young of beavers, hedgehogs, rabbits, rats, skunks and squirrels. A litter of kittens usually consists of two to five kittens. They are born after a gestation that lasts between 64–67 days, with an average length of 66 days. Kittens emerge in a sac called the amnion which is bitten off and eaten by the mother cat. For the first several weeks, kittens are unable to urinate or defecate without being stimulated by their mother. They are also unable to regulate their body temperature for the first three weeks, so kittens born in temperatures less than 27°C (80 °F) can die from exposure if they are not kept warm by their mother. The mother's milk is very important for the kittens' nutrition and proper growth. This milk transfers antibodies to the kittens, which helps protect them against infectious disease. Newborn kittens are also unable to produce concentrated urine, and so have a very high requirement for fluids. Kittens open their eyes about seven to ten days following birth. At first, the retina is poorly-developed and vision is poor. Kittens are not able to see as well as adult cats until about ten weeks after birth. Kittens are inquisitive and playful; Kittens develop very quickly from about two weeks of age until their seventh week. Their coordination and strength improve, they play-fight with their litter-mates, and begin to explore the world outside the nest. They learn to wash themselves and others as well as play hunting and stalking games, showing their inborn ability as predators. These innate skills are developed by the kittens' mother or other adult cats bringing live prey to the nest. Later, the adult cats also demonstrate hunting techniques for the kittens to emulate. As they reach three to four weeks old, the kittens are gradually weaned and begin to eat solid food, with weaning usually complete by six to eight weeks. Kittens live primarily on solid food after weaning, but usually continue to suckle from time to time until separated from their mothers. Some mother cats will scatter their kittens as early as three months of age, while others continue to look after them until they approach sexual maturity. Kittens are highly social animals and spend most of their waking hours interacting with available animals and playing. Play with other kittens peaks in the third or fourth month after birth, with more solitary hunting and stalking play peaking later, at about five months. Kittens are vulnerable to harm because they like to find dark places to hide; with sometimes fatal results if they are not watched carefully. Although domestic kittens are commonly sent to new homes at six to eight weeks of age, it has been suggested that being with its mother and litter mates from six to twelve weeks is important for a kitten's social and behavioural development. Usually, breeders will not sell a kitten that is younger than twelve weeks, and in many jurisdictions, it is illegal to give away kittens younger than eight weeks old.

Cat Food (Wet) Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of cats. Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal and plant material, supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. An important nutrient is the amino acid derivative taurine, as cats cannot synthesize the compound. Cats fed a taurine-deficient dog food may develop retinal degeneration and go blind, for example. Wet food (75-78% moisture) generally comes in common can sizes of 3 oz (85 g), 5.5 oz (156 g), and 13 oz (369 g). It is also sold in foil pouch form by some manufacturers. Owners and veterinarians who recommend a diet consisting largely or entirely of canned, homemade or raw cat food point to higher water content of such food and the increased total water consumption in comparison to a dry food diet as an important health benefit. Wet food also generally contains significantly less grain and other carbohydrate material. Many foods are made with fish however and excessive consumption of fish (which contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids) can cause yellow fat disease. In comparison to dry food, canned food is thought to either help treat or noticeably reduce the likelihood of numerous health issues including urinary tract disorders, diabetes, chronic renal failure, constipation (sometimes leading to megacolon), and obesity.

Cat Health/Grooming All cats need to be groomed regularly. This keeps fur and skin in good condition, enables you to check for any signs of ill health, and helps build the relationship between you. Long-haired cats need to be groomed thoroughly every day to remove all tangles, otherwise they will quickly become matted. If your cat is not used to being groomed, this activity needs to be introduced gradually. Keep the sessions short until the cat begins to accept it. Start with areas of the body where the cat enjoys being stroked and give food rewards for good behaviour. Roundworms and tapeworms are the most common types of worms found in cats. Routine treatment against these worms is essential to keep your cat healthy. Fleas Prevention is better than cure where fleas are concerned, many owners find products to dab on are easier and less stressful to administer than sprays. Shampoos to tackle fleas are not particularly effective and should be avoided unless prescribed by your vet. If your cat has fleas, you will also need to treat your home to remove flea eggs and prevent new fleas hatching. The cat’s bedding should be thoroughly washed or replaced and the floors and carpets of the house should be treated too. A spray is available for use around the house. There is no reason to routinely bathe your cat as this will cause distress and also may damage the coat. Occasionally your vet may recommend a shampoo to treat specific skin problems – if you need to use a prescription shampoo, follow the vet’s advice carefully and use it only as frequently as recommended.

Cat Litter Cat litter (often called kitty litter) is one of any of a number of materials used in litter boxes to absorb moisture from cat feces and urine, which reduces foul odors such as ammonia and renders them more tolerable within the home. Several kinds of cat litter are commercially available, enabling consumers to decide which factors are most important. Some cat owners are concerned about litter being tracked throughout the house, while others may look for litters that are biodegradable. Absorbency, odor control, texture, safety and cost are other considerations. Non-clumping conventional litter: One of the first commercially available cat litters was Kitty Litter, available in 1948 and marketed by Ed Lowe. This was the first large scale use of clay in litter boxes; previously sand was used. Clay litter is much more absorbent than sand, and its larger grain makes it less likely to be tracked from the litter box. The brand name Kitty Litter has become a genericized trademark, used by many to denote any type of cat litter. Conventional clay litter is indistinguishable from clay-based oil absorbent (used to clean oil spills); as the latter is far less expensive, it is often used as a substitute. Non-clumping cat litter is often made of zeolite, diatomite and sepiolite. Clumping litter: Litter clumps were first developed in the UK in the 1950s by the Fuller's Earth Union, later to become a part of Laporte Industries Ltd. The type of clumping litter developed by the FEU was calcium bentonite, a less swelling and less sticky type than American bentonite. Subsequently in America, clumping bentonite was developed in 1984 by biochemist Thomas Nelson. Most are made from granulated bentonite clay which clumps together when wet and forms a solid mass separate from the other litter in the box. This solid clumped material can be scooped out and disposed of without changing the entire contents of the litter box. Approximately 69% of the cat litter market consists of clumping litter. Clumping litter usually also contains quartz or diatomaceous earth (sometimes called diatomaceous silica, which causes it to be mistakenly confused with silica gel litter). Because of the clumping effect, it is not recommended to flush clumping litters down the toilet. Biodegradable litter: Biodegradable litters are made from various plant resources, including pine wood pellets, recycled newspaper, clumping sawdust, barley, and dried orange peel. The top two natural litters in the United States according to sales data are Feline Pine and World's Best. Some pet owners prefer biodegradable litters due to its friendliness to the environment. Biodegradable cat litter can also be eliminated completely by safely composting the used litter at home. Other cat owners are attracted to the biodegradable litters because of their flushability or superior deodorizing properties. The natural litters are non-carcinogenic. Asthmatic cats may sometimes benefit from the reduced dust in some forms of biodegradable litter. Biodegradable litter packaged specifically for cats tends to be more expensive than traditional clay litters, so cost is often not a positive factor in their selection. But most biodegradable litters last longer than the equivalent size of clay or clumping clay litters. Grain-based animal or poultry feed also provides an economical alternative to products marketed specifically as cat litter. Also, most of these forms of litter are recycled from human usage and are thus re-using a waste product as opposed to drawing clay from mines. Silica gel litter: A cat using a silica filled litter box. Silica gel litter, a porous granular form of sodium silicate, has the highest absorbency of any litter, and has excellent moisture and odor control. Cat lovers' opinions about crystal cat litter are divided. Some praise its absorbency because 4–5 lb (2 kg) can absorb liquid and odor for up to 30 days for one healthy normal weight cat. Stir it daily when scooping the solid waste, otherwise urine can pool in the box. When crystal litter is saturated, at the end of 30 days or so, it begins to smell and is visibly saturated. In comparison, over the same time period it may take 20–30 lb (9–14 kg) or more of clay or clumping litter, because you have to replenish the litter that is removed when the clumped urine is scooped out. Others dislike that crystal litter gives them no warning when it is saturated; the next cat to use the litter box will leave a urine puddle at the bottom of the pan. Crystal litter is extremely lightweight, especially when compared to heavier clay and clumping litter. Silica gel litter comes in two shapes: irregular lumps and small beads. Sizes range from 0.5 mm to 4 mm.

Cat Toys There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy. Many of those factors, however, are completely dependent upon your cat’s size, activity level and personal preference. Another factor to be considered is the environment in which your cat spends her time. Although we can’t guarantee your cat’s enthusiasm or her safety with any specific toy, we can offer the following guidelines. Be Cautious - the things that are usually the most attractive to cats are often the very things that are the most dangerous. Cat-proof your home by checking for: string, ribbon, yarn, rubber bands, plastic milk jug rings, paper clips, pins, needles, and anything else that could be ingested. All of these items are dangerous, no matter how cute your cat may look when she’s playing with them. Avoid or alter any toys that aren’t “cat-proof” by removing ribbons, feathers, strings, eyes, or other small parts that could be chewed and/or ingested. Soft toys should be machine washable. Check labels for child safety, as a stuffed toy that’s labeled as safe for children under three years old, doesn’t contain dangerous fillings. Problem fillings include things like nutshells and polystyrene beads. Also, rigid toys are not as attractive to cats. Toys We Recommend - Active Toys: • Round plastic shower curtain rings are fun either as a single ring to bat around, hide or carry, or when linked together and hung in an enticing spot. • Plastic rolling balls, with or without bells inside. • Ping-Pong balls and plastic practice golf balls with holes, to help cats carry them. Try putting one in a dry bathtub, as the captive ball is much more fun than one that escapes under the sofa. You’ll probably want to remove the balls from the bathtub before bedtime, unless you can’t hear the action from your bedroom. Two o’clock in the morning seems to be a prime time for this game. • Paper bags with any handles removed. Paper bags are good for pouncing, hiding and interactive play. They’re also a great distraction if you need your cat to pay less attention to what you’re trying to accomplish. Plastic bags are not a good idea, as many cats like to chew and ingest the plastic. • Sisal-wrapped toys are very attractive to cats that tend to ignore soft toys. • Empty cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels are ideal cat toys, especially if you “unwind” a little cardboard to get them started.

Cat Treats There are a large number of high-quality treats available for your cat. The first thing to remember when using treats is the 10% rule. Never let treats comprise more than 10% of your cat's diet. Most commercial pet foods contain enough nutrients that feeding up to 10% treats won't upset an otherwise balanced diet. Secondly, just like changing diets too fast can upset a pet digestive system, so can a large amount of treats all at once. Lastly, remember that treats contain calories so make sure to cut back on your pet's regular food if you feed treats every day. Generally speaking, treats can be divided into two categories, dry and semi-moist. Semi-moist treats contain 20-30% water, usually contain some real meat or chicken and are highly palatable, making them valuable training treats. Dry treats are usually not as palatable as semi-moist treats, but are less expensive and often can be used to help clean teeth.