Pet Grooming Orange County

Introducing a Cat Into a Home With Children

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Spending time with animals is invaluable to your child’s development. They can learn emotional skills ranging from empathy and compassion to responsibility and care. However, the transition to having animals can be a bit tricky. Many parents are nervous to introduce new animals into their homes for this reason. Follow these tips to help ensure a safe and comfortable transition for you, your children, and your new feline friend.

Why Cats?

Cats are quite like toddlers themselves; they love to play, eat, and sleep. Dogs require more involved care that takes them away from the home, such as walks and potty breaks. Cats, on the other hand, stay in the home, making it easier for young children to take on some responsibility for them.

However, it is important to note that (also like children) cats can be temperamental. This can teach children lessons about discipline and gentleness, but parental guidance is always necessary.

Kittens vs. Adult Cats

Kittens will learn and grow with your children, and they can be in your family for up to about twenty years. New pet owners usually choose to adopt kittens for this reason. However, kittens are much more likely to be temperamental than adult cats. They are growing into their personalities and may experience hormonal phases such as biting and overt playfulness. Children may find themselves afraid of a kitten’s unpredictability. Furthermore, kittens are smaller and thus more fragile. You as a parent will need to take extra care with a kitten, perhaps limiting their access to young children.

Adult cats, on the other hand, have already done their growing. They are the much safer option, as they are larger and less likely to act unpredictably. As a result, adult cats require less attention and can usually spend long periods of time with children. However, some parents are hesitant to adopt a cat they know they will have less time with. The cat has already been socialized a certain way, and so acclamation may be somewhat more difficult.

The best cat for one home may not be the best cat for yours. Always meet an animal before you decide to adopt.

Your Role as Parent and Pet Owner

As mentioned before, parental guidance is of the utmost importance in ensuring a positive transition. Speak to your children before bringing home any animals. They should demonstrate relatively calm demeanor and compassion. When selecting a cat, involve your children in the process. Bring them along to meet any potential adoptees. This will make them feel important and start early kinship between cat and child.

Kids can learn valuable skills such as feeding and cleaning up after a new pet. If you are giving your child any responsibilities, understand that you are ultimately in charge of the animal. Children can learn discipline from taking care of an animal, but your cat should not suffer as a result.

Consider adopting your new cat or kitten at Claws N Paws Day Spa. For more information about adoptions or our other services, visit our location in Fountain Valley, California or contact us at 714-962-1005. You can also follow us on Facebook for photographs of currently available cats.

Is It a Stray?

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People often find cats roaming around their yard. These cats might pass through or they might stay for quite some time. Occasionally, they decide to stay forever, never leaving the confines of your backyard. Most of the time, the cats that visit are neighborhood pets. This is typically the case even when cats appear to be quite scared. However, sometimes these cats are strays in need of human assistance. It’s important to know the difference before you intervene.

What to Do If You Find a Cat

If a cat has made your backyard their permanent home and you’re absolutely sure it doesn’t leave, you’ll need to do some investigating. Put up signs around your neighborhood with a description of the cat. Make sure you also post a description on social media websites. This is often the first place people go when looking for their cat.

Facebook has several excellent groups for posting information about lost and found pets. Seek out these groups and ask if you can post a picture. It might also be helpful to post a picture at local grooming shops and vets.

Just make sure you verify the owner before handing over the cat. Require a picture of them with the cat before releasing it.

If you don’t hear anything for at least two weeks, you’ll need to contact the shelter. Contact your local animal shelter to report a stray cat. Aside from social media websites, pet parents will visit the shelter searching for their lost pet.

It’s important to note that it is illegal to keep a cat that you have found. You must allow the shelter to attempt to find its owner first. You can put a hold on the pet for adoption if the owner doesn’t come. This prevents the cat from being euthanized in the sad instance that the owner isn’t found.

Special Considerations

Feeding stray cats is not recommended. Leaving food outside encourages other cats and wild animals to enter your yard. This puts your family as well as all neighborhood cats at risk.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat and dog grooming and cat adoptions from our full service grooming salon in Fountain Valley. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment today.

Kitten Adoptions

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Claws N Paws Day Spa has been caring for pets in Orange County, California for sixteen years. While many people already know about our pet grooming services, not everyone knows that we also have several rescued cats and kittens available for adoption. These sweet felines are eagerly waiting for someone to give them a chance at a happy life.

We Take Donations!

Many of the kittens we have available for adoption were found as newborns. These kittens have to be bottle-fed and socialized before they are able to find a new home. This takes a lot of time and effort. It also costs a lot of money.

Kitten formula is expensive. So is the veterinary care and medicine these babies often need. This is the reason we ask for donations whenever possible. The money we collect for our rescue does not go back into our grooming shop. Every cash donation goes directly towards caring for our foster cats and kittens.

If at all possible, please consider donating to our rescue. In addition to money, we also accept towels, blankets, formula, cat and kitten food, and litter donations.

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Kittens in pet stores usually come from puppy mills, or commercial breeders. These breeders see the animals in their care as profit makers. They generally do not provide the attention or medical care required to raise happy, healthy pets. As a result, pets from pet stores are often sick or badly behaved. Purchasing animals from a pet shop allows this type of breeding situation to continue. If you are looking for a cat or kitten, please consider adoption.

All of the cats and kittens we have available for adoption are healthy, up-to-date with their vaccinations, spayed or neutered (when old enough), and socialized with people and other pets. Our bottle-fed babies are some of the sweetest kittens you’ll ever meet.

Stop by our grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California to meet our available cats and kittens. Each has its own unique personality. Our groomers will be happy to help you find the perfect fit for your family. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our cat and kitten rescue.

 

 

 

 

Looking For A New Pet? – Why Adoption Is The Better Choice

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Looking For A New Pet? – Why Adoption Is The Better Choice

Most people have fond memories of the pets they lived with as a child. Sometimes, the pet you acquire as an adult is your first experience living with a furry friend. Whatever the case, adding a new pet to the family is exciting.

You have many choices when looking for a pet. There are pet shops, shelters, rescue groups, and breeders. There are also several people looking for homes for their pets on websites like Penny Saver and Craigslist. Although you might have an idea of what type of pet you’re looking for, there are some things you need to consider before choosing where to get one.

The type of place you get your pet from can help determine its health, behavior, and the future of millions of other pets. Please read below for more information.

Pet Shops

Unless they offer rescued pets for adoption, pet shops are one of the worst places to get a pet. Pet shops get their pets from places known as “puppy mills”. Puppy mills force pets (dogs, cats, and other species) to breed over and over. They do not provide adequate nutrition, space, or exercise for the animals they keep.

Animals from puppy mills can have severe problems such as diseases, muscular, and skeletal deformities. These pets are frequently sick when they arrive at the pet shop. They are also more likely to suffer from behavior problems.

In addition to the health and behavior risks associated with buying a pet from a pet shop, supporting puppy mills puts millions of pets in danger every year. This is why pet shops that sell animals are being banned around the state.

Breeders

Although there are some very respectable breeders, most are in it just to make money. Inexperienced breeders often do not know how to properly care for the pets they are in charge of. Much like a puppy mill, pets from breeders are prone to physical deformities, diseases, and behavioral problems.

Classifieds

You’ll likely see lots of pets offered on websites like Penny Saver or Craigslist. While there are definitely perks to helping a pet in need, you never really know what you’re going to get. It’s not uncommon for well-meaning people to take a pet only to find it has aggression or other issues they hadn’t anticipated.

Shelters

Adopting from the shelter is an excellent way to give a pet a second chance at a good life. The only issue is that you won’t know what kind of behavior your pet has until you bring it home.

Most of the time, pets are dropped off at the shelter because of behavior problems. Keep this in mind when adopting.

Rescue Groups

Rescue groups take the time and effort necessary to get to know each and every pet. They understand what type of behavior problems they have and they’ve taken the time needed to resolve them. They have each pet checked by a licensed veterinarian to ensure they are healthy and free from disease. Since they’ve taken the time to get to know each pet, they will be able to tell you which one will be the right fit for your family.

Claws N Paws offers cat and kitten adoptions. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information.

Save a Life: Adopt an Older Cat

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Save a Life: Adopt an Older Cat

When people think of adopting a new pet, they often picture an adorable puppy or kitten. Unfortunately, they rarely consider older cats. Adult cats watch while younger kittens come and go. Most of the time, potential adopters never even give them a second glance.

Older cats make wonderful pets. They’ve already passed the kitten phase, which can be tiring and troublesome. Older cats are less likely to attack your feet while you sleep or accidentally miss their litter box. They are typically very affectionate and extremely grateful to have a home. Let’s take a look at the top reasons you should consider adopting an adult cat.

You’ll Know Exactly What You’re Getting Yourself Into

When you adopt a kitten, you have no idea what they’ll be like when they grow up. Adult cats have already developed their personalities. What you see is what you get. You’ll know exactly how big they are, what they look like and what they like and don’t like.

Older Cats Fold Into the Household Better

Kittens can be too active for older pets in the home. They can even be a handful for children. Older cats are passed the point where they climb, chew and jump on objects and other living things in your household.

Older Cats Require Less Supervision

Kittens are constantly underfoot. When left alone, they can do a lot of damage. Older cats are more mellow and don’t tend to get into trouble. They’re also better at using the litter box. An older cat is the perfect choice for working families. They stay out of trouble throughout the day and are ready to cuddle when you get home.

You Might Be Their Last Chance At A Home

Older cats often sit for years in shelters and rescue facilities. Adopting an older cat gives them a chance at a good life. Adopters are their only opportunity at a life outside of a cage.

Claws N Paws has many wonderful cats looking for their forever home. Please consider adopting an adult cat. Call 714-962-1005 for more information.

 

Bringing Home a New Cat or Kitten

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Bringing Home a New Cat or Kitten

It’s always exciting to bring home a new pet. Many of us can’t wait to introduce them to our friends and family. However, how you introduce your new cat to your household will have a big impact on how well they adjust.

Cats prefer things to be predictable. When you adopt a cat or kitten, you remove them from the life they are used to. It can be difficult for them to adjust to new people, a new environment and possibly even other pets. This can be especially hard on a new cat or kitten after experiencing the stress and noise of the car ride home.

Before Bringing Them Home

Before bringing your new cat home, set everything up for them in a quiet room. In order to reduce the amount of changes your new pet is exposed to, make sure that you get the same brand of food and litter that they are used to.

You will need to take things slowly when introducing your pet to their new home. If at all possible, bring something home that smells like your pet’s old surroundings. This could be a favorite toy or a blanket or towel that they’ve slept on.

Introducing Them to Your Home

Keep your new pet in one room while they adjust to their surroundings. Allow them ample time to get used to you. Sit on the floor and let them come to you. Never attempt to pull them out from a hiding spot. This will only make the transition harder.

Once they are comfortable with you, you can begin introducing them to other family members. Take things slowly and watch your new pet for signs of distress.

Introducing Them to Your Other Cat

If you have another cat, let them sniff each other under the door. Some hissing and growling is normal. Feed them on opposite sides of the door and use a towel to rub their scent on each other. After a few days, you can shut your older cat in the new cat’s room and allow your new cat to explore the rest of the house. Monitoring your cats, begin opening the door a crack when you feed them. Slowly move their dishes closer together, watching for a reaction. Once they seem comfortable with each other you can open the door and let them meet.

Cats and Kittens for Adoption in Orange County, CA

If you are considering adding a new cat or kitten to your family, please consider adopting from us. We have many wonderful cats and kittens for adoption. All of our available felines have been socialized with other cats and people. Many of our kittens have been bottle-fed. Please stop by to see them or call 714-962-1005 for more information.