Cat Care

A: This is one of the most common complaints we hear from cat owners. Cats have a very good internal clock like humans do. But as we humans get more reliant on alarm clocks to tell time, our internal clocks get all rusted. Unlike some humans, cats are quite punctual. Cats are also nocturnal animals. They sleep in the morning and hunt at night. House cats are a little different, however. They do not need to hunt to feed themselves because the humans have it all taken care of. Being nocturnal might give the fact that do they want food when the sky is still dark like 5am in the morning. Fortunately, this unwanted behavior can be adjusted with some simple training. As house cats are very habitual, if you maintain a good habit of feeding them at specific hours of the day, cats should be able to build this habit over time and adjust better to your sleeping schedules.

Solutions:

1.)Do not give in to your cat’s unwanted desire even if he/she is jumping on you, licking your face, or like my cat Bailey, he literally sit on my face. If you give your cat food 5am in the morning after he/she has been jumping all over you, congratulations, you’ve just behaviorally conditioned your cat. Now your cat understands that if he /she jumps all over the you and lick on your face, the ultimate reward is food! So whatever you do, do not give your cat any food if he/ she exhibits these traits and/ or if you want to stop your cat waking you up 5am in the morning for food. Do not reinforce these unwanted behaviors!

2.)Feed your cat as late as possible, right before you go to bed. If you go to bed at midnight, feed your cat at midnight and give him/her a full stomach before bed. We find this very helpful in delaying the time that your cat will wake you up in the morning.

3.)Exercise. Like humans, running around in the house and jumping up and down is tiring. Try to give your cat a 5 minute play session right before bed. Bring out his/her favorite toy and give your cat a good workout! The point is to make you cat very tired so he/she would need to have a longer length of sleep before waking up.

4.)DO NOT GIVE IN TO YOUR CAT. It might take some time to retrain your cat not to wake you up 5am in the morning but the main point is to outlast your cat’s determination. Say for a week you did not give in to your cat’s request but just for 1 day you’ve given in thinking that is just 1 day, you’ve just ruined all the effort you’ve put in for the week. It might take you twice the amount of time to retrain your cat again!

I am sure some of you would be more than happy to feed your cat 5am in the morning. I am not saying this is a bad thing. It is great if this is what you enjoy doing. But some of us who needs to work in the morning would love to get that extra bit of sleep in before waking up.
Hope this helps! GOOD LUCK!

A: This is the most common complaint from new cat owners. Many cat owners have accepted the fact that cats would scratch their furniture so they just let them keep doing it. This does not have to be the case. It is true that cat owners must accept the fact that cats need to scratch but it does not necessary have to be on your home furniture. First of all, we must understand the reason behind the need for cats to scratch. There are two main reasons: 1) The commonly known reason is to sharpen their claws/nails. Wild cats do not have humans to help them clip their nails so one of the ways to maintain their nails is by scratching on trees. If you have a cat tree at home which your cat uses frequently, you might find piece of nail fragments on the bottom of the post. 2) Many animal behaviorists and scientists believe that cats scratch to communicate with other cats or animals in the area. It is a way to announce to other animals in the area of their existence. Also, cats have special scent glands on their paws. The glands secrete a unique scent on all surfaces the paws get in contact with, just like how humans leave fingerprints on objects touched. Cats recognize their own scent and would repeatedly return to the same surface to scratch on. Nonetheless, cat love to scratch because they want to get a good stretch!

Solutions:

1.)Give your cat a couple of alternatives other than the sofa to scratch on. Most importantly, you have to get your cat an appropriate cat scratching post. Many scratching posts on the market are actually not tall enough for your cat to get a good scratch. If you get a short scratching post, your cat might not choose to use it because it is not a good enough alternative. Your cat might still decide to scratch your sofa because it is much more comfortable for him/her. Also, it is best to get a scratching post that is sturdy and does not move around when your cat is using it.

2.)The placement of your cat scratching post is extremely important. If your cat loves to scratch your sofa in the living room but you’ve put your scratching post in your bedroom, of course your cat would continue to scratch your sofa because he has already habituated himself/herself to scratching the sofa in the living room. We suggest you to put the scratching post as close to the sofa as possible. This would give your cat a good alternative to scratching the sofa. Also, it is a good idea to put another scratching post in the bedroom or where your cat sleeps as well since many cats like to give himself/herself a good stretch after waking up from a nap. Moreover, cats leave scent marks on surfaces they scratch on and would repeatedly return to the same place. There are products in the market that cover these smell and helps to correct unwanted scratching on sofas.

3.) Do not try to physically teach your cat how to scratch the post by forcing your cat or hit your cat because it is not the cat’s fault to scratch. Also, if you hit your cat, your cat might create a negative association with you. You could try to clap your hands loudly, or put a few coins in a used coke bottle and throw the bottle near your cat. The idea is to scare the cat off so he or she would stop scratching the sofa. You could also try to stick double sided tape on the area where you do not want your cat to scratch. Cats do not like the feel and touch of sticky tape on their paws and this would create a negative association with the area after a period of time.

4.)Encourage your cat to use the scratching post and not the sofa. Try to physically scratch the scratching post yourself. Your cat would usually follow you and start to scratch the post as well. Also, you could dangle some toys or play with some toys around the post. It would trigger the cat to scratch the post as well. This is also to allow the cat to leave its scent on the post so he/she would return to it often. It is important to create a good scratching habit at a young age.

Good Luck!

A: There are many reasons why your cat would stop using his or her litter box. I will generally list a number of areas to look for that might help you resolve the issue.

1.) Litter Box Cleanliness.
Imagine what you will feel like if your toilet is clogged and extremely dirty, would you want to use it? It is the same for cats. Ensure that your cat’s litter box is cleaned at least once per day. I usually throw out all my old litter in the box once per month and change them to new ones. I also clean the whole box with soap and water at least once per month.

2.) Sharing litter boxes.
How many cats do you have? If you have 2 cats, ensure both of them gets their own litter boxes. It will also ensure the litter box will not get full if you only clean it once per day. Some cats do not like to share their box with another cat.

3.) Litter Type.
Have you recently changed to another brand of litter? Some cats are quite peculiar about what type of litter they like. They are also habitual which means they get used to using this particular type of litter and if you do change to another they might reject it. If you do need to change to another type of litter, change it progressively – in a time span of a week, mix the new type and the old type of litter and increasing the percentage of the new type over the week until it is completely changed to the new one by the end of the week. This would gradualy introduce the new type of litter to your cat.

4.) Location.
Some cats just do not like to use the litter box in a particular location. For example, some cats do not like to use the litter box if the box is near their eating bowls. If your cat is always doing their business in one location, try to block off that location and see if that solve the problem.

5.) Little Box type.
Some cats do not like to use enclosed litter boxes. Also ensure you have a large enough litter box for your cat.

6.) Health Issues.
If you see other signs of sickness together with a sudden stop of usage of the litter box, it might be signs of a serious illness with your cat. Please bring your cat to your veternarian as soon as possible!

It is a trial and error process to determine how to get your cat back to using the litter box. But with some love and patience this is a problem that could be solved. If your cat urinated or did their business somewhere else, remember to clean the area thoroughly to remove the smell. There are products in the market that are used specifically to clean cat’s urine and stains. Your cat might go back to that spot again to do their business if that spot still smell like their toilet!

Good Luck.

A: Having an indoor cat does not mean your cat has to be lazy and obese. However, it could be a little bit more difficult in Hong Kong where most of us live in a small and often limited space. The most important step of having a happy cat at home is ensuring the cat’s living space is safe. It is important to cat proof your house adequately.

1.) Windows.
Many cats in Hong Kong die because of accidently jumping out the window and falling from the 20th floor. It might sound weird to us but I have heard too many of such horrible and sad stories. I am sure you know how excited cats are when they see a bird fly by your balcony window. If you do decide to open your windows, it is important to install nets/screens so that the window could still be opened to ensure adequate air flow into the house.

2.) Plants/Flowers.
Many plants and flowers are toxic to cats so you must beware what kind of plants you leave in your home. I am sure you know how much cats like to munch on leaves. There are particular plants that are safe for cats. A list of those could be found here -> ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List

3.) Household Products.
Many household products like cleaning agents are toxic for cats as well. Many cats have the ability to open cabinet doors so it must be important that these toxic agents be stored away in a safe place out of reach of your cats. Curiosity kills the cat!

4.) Small stuff lying around.
Cats could accidently ingest small items; such as earrings etc. so the cat owner must take extra care when leaving things on the table or anywhere in the house. Many cats love to chew on cables such as power cords and computer cables. There are cable wrappers that wraps around the cable to make sure the cat cannot chew through the cable.

Once you are a cat owner, you must have hold the responsibility to make sure their living environment is safe for them to live in. Also, use your common sense. Every cat is different. No one else understand your cat’s behavior more than you do. It is especially important when you ask Cat Sitter Hong Kong to cat sit for you to keep your home safe for them while you are away from home.

In next month’s tip, we will see what toys you could use to engage your cat at home. Even as an indoor cat, your cat needs to get the right amount of exercise to ensure a healthy mental and physical life.

In Part 1 of this 2 part series, we have discussed how to adequately cat proof your house to ensure a safe living environment for your beloved feline. In this month’s Part 2 tips, we will look at how to engage and exercise your indoor cat. Humans domesticated its first feline more than 9,000 years ago. However, innately they are still hunters and they still have their hunter instinct inside them. There are many toys that could actively engage your cat to bring out the wild side in your cat.

Wand and fishing pole type toys are the most commonly found in many pet shops but some are better built than others. Cats also like feathers that mimic birds and cats would find most feather wand toys irresistible. Some breed of cats love to dribble with balls and especially ping pong balls where they could play alone endlessly. It is also important to note that some toys such as fishing pole toys must be put away out of reach of your cat because it is not safe for cats to play with them alone. Some cats love to chew on strings and they could choke and suffocate.

I think it is important to get a tall cat tree at home so the cat could stretch/scratch and jump around even when they are home alone. If space allows, the cat tree should be placed beside a window so the cat could look out the window and enjoy the sunshine. Cats love to sunbath and they love looking at birds flying by. Remember to install window screens/nets so your cat cannot accidentally fall out the window trying to catch a flying bird.

It is important to spend time playing with your cat so they do not feel so bored and start to play with things they should not play with at home. Also, it would be a good opportunity for you and your cat to bond and have a fun time together.

Below is a list of toys and products that my cat, Bailey, loves to play with: (Please send us an email if you want to know where to get these toys in Hong Kong)
• Da Bird Fishing Pole Toy (Remember to store it away in a cabinet or safe place after playing with your cat or it will be in pieces the next day)
• PURRfect Crinkle Bouncer Feather Wand Toy (The most robust feather wand toy. It is very difficult to be destroyed by your cat)
• Ping Pong Ball
• Laser Pointer
• Fancy Laser Pointer for cats (If you are lazy)
Some toys could be homemade easily. Simple things such as a piece of crinkle paper or a piece of string could be used as a toy and many cats love to play with them. However, remember that some of these toys such as stings must only be played under your supervision.

A happy indoor cat is one that lives in a safe environment and exercises daily.

Learning to read cat’s body language can be quite a challenge for new cat owners or long time dog owners. For dogs, we know that the more vigorously they wiggle their tails, the happier they are. However, this is actually the complete opposite for cats. Cats’ tail paints a thousand words. By studying a cat’s tail and its position, we could know pretty much how the cat is feeling at that particular moment. Another area of focus is the position of the ears. We can tell if the cat is frighten or not by looking at its ears. Of course, like humans, we sometimes have to look at the whole body to tell you exactly what they are feeling or planning to do. Then there are the personalities of each cat. All cats could communicate with their eyes and facial expression as well. Take time and study your cat’s body language and expression. In time, you will understand your own cat’s special way in telling you how they are feeling and what they want and need.

For more detailed information try these websites:

CatStuff: Tail Talk
Your Cat Body Language

Can you tell what Bailey wants in this photo?

Why is water so important to cats? Without enough water in their diet, cats could become dehydrated and in severe cases could lead to death. Not having enough water in their system could lead diseases and illnesses such as urinary tract problems, bladder and/or kidney problems. Therefore, cats must have enough water in their diet or they must drink enough water on their own.

How do I know if my cat is dehydrated? A simple test is to pinch the skin together on the back of your cat’s neck so that it tents up and hold the skin together for a few seconds and release. If the cat’s body is not dehydrated, the skin should snap back quickly to its normal position. If it returns slowly to its normal position then it is a sign that your cat is dehydrated. If you think your cat is dehydrated, visit the veterinarian office as soon as possible and hand feed your cat water using a syringe.

Cats are not driven to drink by thirst as much as dogs are. That is why cat’s sometimes do not drink enough on their own which makes water content in our cat’s daily diet more important. Normally, cat’s prey in the wild contains approximately 70% – 75% water. Dry foods only contain 7% to 10% water and canned foods contain approximately 78% water. In terms of water content, canned food provides more resemblance to cat’s natural prey in the wild.

Choosing between dry or canned food or a mixture of both is a decision that you as a cat owner needs to make. If your cat is not drinking enough water on their own and is on a dry food diet only, it is highly recommended that you switch to a canned food diet or a mixture of both.

Other than water content, many cat owners would argue that even premium dry food contain many ingredients that are not suitable for a cat’s diet. A brief consultation with your veterinarian would give you a better understanding of the importance of water in a cat’s diet and the choice between canned food and dry food.

It does not matter if you are feeding your cat dry food or canned food, it is still important that your cat drinks enough water on its own. Many cats like to drink from a facet or from a cup. From your observation, you must decide how to entice your cat to drink more water. Many cats like flowing water and there are many drinking water fountain in the market that many cats like to drink from. My cat, Bailey, likes to drink really cold water so I will add a couple of ice in its water bowl. The floating of ice cubes on a bowl of water also attracts some cats to drink from the bowl.

Another common question that was asked is about the use of tap water or bottled/boiled water. This website could shed some light into the quality of tap water in Hong Kong. The issue is usually not the water but the piping in your building. Hong Kong Water Supplies Department – Water Quality

A list of different kinds of water fountains:
1.)Drinkwell
2.)Hagen

Good Luck!

This is not an easy answer to solve because cats are territorial animals. Even feral cats would usually not travel out of their territory. When you take a house cat outside of their home, you are essentially taking them out of their comfort zone. They do not know what to expect. They do not know if they will be safe outside their home.

The best way to minimize their distress is to take them out regularly at a young age. Take them out for a car ride even when you are not going to the vet. Let the cat get accustomed to going out. In Hong Kong, most likely the only time a cat would go out of the house would be going to the vet. This is not that easy for some cats because they are not only scared to venture out of their comfort zone but they could associate going out with seeing the vet. Although, the vet would do nothing to harm your cat, not every cat would enjoy a vet clinic visit. This is the same for humans! Some of us do not really like to see the doctor or get a shot! It is important at an early age to break the negative association of going out of the house.

There are products in the market that target this problem. One of these is the Sleepypod which acts both as a cat bed and a cat carrier. The idea behind this product is to make the cat used to the cat carrier on a daily basis. If the cat uses the Sleepypod to sleep in daily, he will not have any negative association with the carrier. When you take your cat outside the house, the Sleeplypod acts as a cat carrier. The idea is to minimize the stress that the cat will take if he is traveling in his bed. However, the cat will still be stressed in the new environment. The product hopefully will reduce this stress a little bit.

Another way it to put blankets and other object/toys that your cat uses daily in your cat carrier. These will most likely be covered with your cat’s scent which will decrease your cat’s stress level. Products like Feliway could also be used to help cats in these stressful situation.Of course, when you are going on vacation or on a business trip, the best way is to keep your cats in their comfort zone and territory so finding a good Cat Sitter is always a good idea.

First of all, I do not recommend feeding table food to our cats. Cat food contains specific nutrition needs for cats that regular food cannot provide (e.g. Taurine). It is also a bad habit to get into because it might deter your cat from eating their own food. It is different if you feed your cat a specific diet of cooked food or even raw food but supplements might needed to be added to these diets. However, this article is not about feeding your cat raw food. For more information visit: Feeding Raw Diet.

List of food that you definitely should not feed to your cat or leave them out on the kitchen counter or anywhere your cat might have access to:

• Milk: In many cartoons, we always see cats enjoy drinking from a bowl of milk. In reality, many cats are lactose-intolerant. The lactose in the milk will produce stomach upset and cramps for your cat.
• Chocolate: Chocolate should never be feed to cats and dogs. Chocolate is made of cacao tree which contains theobromine which is toxic to cats and dogs. Caffeine in the chocolate is also toxic. It acts as a Central Nervous System stimulant, cardiovascular stimulant and will increase blood pressure and induce nausea and vomiting.
• Green Tomatoes and Green Raw Potatoes: These family of plants contain a bitter, poisonous alkaloid called Glycoalkaloid Solanine which can cause severe lower gastrointestinal symptoms. The leaves and stems are very toxic.
• Onion/Garlic: Onion contain a substance which destroys red blood cells in cat. Garlic have a lessor amount.
• Grapes and Raisins: Grapes and Raisins are found to be toxic to dogs and might be for cats as well.

This is just a reminder that many things in the kitchen that you might leave out are toxic to your cats. Cats could easily jump on top on your kitchen counter; therefore, remember to place these food inside your cabinet or a sealed container preventing access from your cats.

It is our responsibility to maintain a safe environment for our cats to live in!