Pet Grooming Orange County

Can Placing a Litterbox Outside Convince a Lost Cat to Come Home?

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When your cat is lost, you’ll likely do whatever you can to get them back. Lately, a graphic has been traveling around social media explaining that placing their litter box outside will encourage your lost cat to come home. The image claims that cats can smell their litter box up to one mile away. If this seems too good to be true, you’re probably right. While cats can smell their litter box from quite some distance, it’s more likely that this method will do more harm than good. Read on to learn why.

Attracting Wild Animals

A litter box placed outside is more likely to attract wild animals and neighborhood strays than your lost cat. Animals like coyotes and mountain lions are drawn to the smell of urine. These animals can scare your cat away if it’s hiding somewhere in your yard. They can also cause serious harm to your cat.

You’ll want to keep your cat safe until it comes home. This includes not bringing wild animals into your yard.

Most Cats Stay Close to Home

Research shows that most indoor cats are found close to home. This means that your cat has likely found a hiding space in your either front or back yard. The best way to get your cat back is by using a live animal trap (available at your local shelter or feed store), or waiting until your cat comes home on its own.

When you put out your cat’s litterbox, you run the risk of bringing wild animals into your yard as mentioned above. This puts your cat at risk and increases the chance that they will run from the area. The further away your cat travels, the less likely they are to make it back home.

Final Thoughts

Everyone likes an easy solution and it can be tempting to try everything when looking for a lost cat. However, you need to think about how your actions might affect the situation. It’s never a good idea to place the litter box outside. Consider getting a live trap instead. Your veterinarian, local rescue group, and/or groomer can provide you with more information about locating your lost cat.  

 

Keeping Your Pet Warm

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Temperatures in Southern California are reaching record lows. If you’ve been up before 7:00 am, it’s likely you’ve had to deal with ice on your windshield or frost on your grass. Just this morning, the thermometer at my house was reading just 36 degrees. I haven’t seen temperatures dip this low in quite some time. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them dip this low in my entire time living in Orange County.

If you are feeling the cold, your pet probably is too. Just like humans, our pets become accustomed to the warm Southern California weather. The cold can make them anxious and miserable. This is especially true for pets left outdoors. The following tips can help you make sure your pet stays warm this winter.

Bring Them Indoors

If you normally let your cat explore outdoors all night or your dog spends most of their time outdoors, chances are pretty good they are getting too cold. While temperatures might not reach as low as other areas of the country, it’s still too cold to stay outdoors, especially throughout the night and early in the morning.

Older pets and larger breeds commonly suffer from arthritis, joint conditions, and back problems. These conditions are aggravated by cold weather. If possible, bring your pet inside where it’s safe and warm.

Try a Sweater

Although not all pets will tolerate clothing, putting a dog sweater or baby t-shirt on your pet can help keep them warm.

Keep an Eye on Their Skin

The cold weather combined with the dry heat inside our homes can lead to a number of skin conditions. Make sure you keep a close eye on your pet for excessive scratching or licking, missing fur, and hot spots. These issues can escalate quickly, so it’s best to have them dealt with the moment you notice a problem. Your veterinarian can advise you on the best course of action.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming and cat boarding in Fountain Valley, CA. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

Keeping Your Indoor Cat Happy

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Despite what many people believe, it’s not a good idea to let your cat outdoors. Outdoor cats have a significantly shorter life expectancy than indoor cats.

Outdoor cats face numerous dangers including traffic, coyotes and other wild animals, poisons, and more. Even cats that are only allowed outside every once in a while are more likely to die from unnatural causes. This is why it’s so important to keep your cat indoors.

Start Young

Kittens that grow up inside are generally happier to stay indoors later in life. Unneutered males are the exception to this rule. These cats have a very strong instinct to find a mating partner. This is one of the most common reasons male cats go missing.

Have your cat spayed or neutered as soon as possible to prevent them from attempting to find a mate. Neutering can also solve other problems such as spraying, yowling, and aggressive behavior.

Play With Your Cat

Both outdoor and indoor cats require exercise and stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. Regular exercise reduces stress, increases the human/feline bond, and may prevent certain diseases.

Set aside a little time each day to play with your cat. Popular toys include feather wands and laser pointers. Some cats even like to play fetch. You might want to experiment with several different types of toys until you figure out which type your cat prefers.

Keep The Litter Box Clean

Cats are tidy creatures. They do not appreciate mess. Keeping their litter box accessible and clean can go a long way towards improving the health and happiness of your cat.

Just In Case – Be Prepared

Sometimes even the happiest indoor cat will sneak out to explore. If this happens you’ll want to make sure they make it home to you. ID tags are a great place to start. You can create ID tags for your cat at most pet stores. The tag should include your name and recent phone number. If you move or change your phone number, you need to update the tag.

Microchipping your cat is one of the easiest and fastest ways to ensure it makes it home. The microchip is placed under the skin at your vet and contains all of your contact information.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers grooming and boarding for cats. Please call 714-962-1005 for information about our services.

 

 

 

 

Most Common Feline Health Problems

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Cats are very good at hiding problems. Some feline health issues present themselves in strange ways. It’s always a good idea to have your cat seen by a qualified vet if they develop new habits or display unusual behavior. This is often the first sign of a problem.

Vomiting

Vomiting is an extremely common problem with cats. Often times, vomiting is caused by eating too quickly or ingesting too much hair (hairballs). Other, more serious problems such as urinary tract infections, diabetes, and poisoning can cause vomiting as well. It’s a good idea to have your cat seen by a vet if vomiting comes on suddenly and occurs on a regular basis.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD) are extremely common. In fact, it’s estimated that as many as 3% of all cats seen by vets are diagnosed with this condition. FLUTD has multiple causes and is more common in overweight cats fed a strictly dry food diet. Symptoms of FLUTD include:

  • Blood in urine
  • Straining to urinate
  • Inappropriate elimination (not using the litter box)
  • Depression
  • Lack of appetite
  • Vomiting

Sometimes, cats cannot urinate at all. This is an emergency situation! It’s crucial you take you cat to the vet immediately.

Fleas

Signs of fleas include excessive scratching or licking, red skin, and skin infections. A visual inspection of your cat can help you determine if fleas are present. Part the hair and look close to the skin. You might see moving fleas or flea dirt, which looks like coffee grounds that turn red when wet. Fleas are common in both dogs and cats.

Although you might be tempted to give your cat a flea bath or use an over the counter treatment for fleas, this can be dangerous for your cat. Ask your veterinarian or groomer for advice about treating fleas.

Most cat health problems are easily treated when caught early. This is why it’s so important to pay close attention to your cat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers cat grooming and cat adoptions in Fountain Valley, CA. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our grooming services, cat boarding facility, or adoptable pets.

Most Common Canine Health Problems

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While well-cared for pets are less likely to become sick, there are still some common conditions that can affect your dog regardless of the type of care you provide. It’s important to learn all you can about these conditions so that you can spot them early. This gives you the best chance at successful treatment. 

The following are the most common health problems seen in dogs:

Skin Issues

Dogs can experience multiple skin issues ranging from parasites to fungal infections. These conditions may be extremely uncomfortable for your pet. It’s important to seek help at the first sign of a problem.

Check your dog regularly for fleas and ticks. Keep an eye out for missing fur, redness, dry patches, or other abnormalities. If you notice your dog scratching or licking more than usual, you might want to visit the vet. Skin conditions get worse over time. It’s crucial you have them dealt with quickly.

Ear Infections

Ear infections are extremely common, especially in dogs with floppy ears. If left untreated, ear infections can cause pain, discomfort, and permanent damage to the ear.

Dogs with ear infections might scratch at their ears. Excessive discharge might be present as well as a persistent odor. Ear infections are easy to treat but do require a trip to your veterinarian.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are one of the leading causes of inappropriate urination. If your dog suddenly begins eliminating in the house, is more tired than usual, or seems to be thirsty all the time, it’s time for a trip to the vet. Treatment typically involves antibiotics.

Dental Disease

Over time, plaque and tartar build up in your dog’s mouth, increasing the risk of periodontal disease. Dental disease in pets can lead to multiple problems. In addition to making it difficult for your dog to eat, bacteria buildup in the mouth can spread to the bloodstream affecting the heart and kidneys.

Preventing periodontal disease is easier than treatment. Make sure you have your dog’s teeth brushed every time they visit the grooming salon. Visit your vet for more detailed cleaning.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog grooming for pets living in and around Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information about our services.

Dangers of Tea Tree Oil for Pets

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Recently, tea tree oil has gained popularity for treating skin conditions in humans. This has led to the creation of several veterinary skin care products containing small concentrations of the oil. Unfortunately, numerous pet owners believe that this potent oil is totally safe for use on pets. This simply isn’t true. Using over-the-counter tea tree oil, which contains 60-100% oil, is extremely dangerous to pets. Products used on pets should never contain more than 1% tea tree oil.

Tea tree oil contains chemicals known as terpenes. These chemicals make the oil effective against bacteria and fungi. Unfortunately, terpenes are toxic when ingested or absorbed through the skin. Since pets are more likely to groom themselves and swallow the oil, topical application is twice as likely to cause a problem for pets.

Symptoms of Tea Tree Oil Toxicity

Symptoms of tea tree oil toxicity in pets will vary depending on how much oil is ingested and/or absorbed by the skin. These symptoms generally appear two to twelve hours following exposure. Drooling and vomiting are common with the ingestion of small amounts of oil. Animals that ingest a moderate amount of tea tree oil may appear weak, have difficulty walking, or appear partially paralyzed. Severely ill pets might have life-threatening symptoms such as tremors, seizures, or coma.

There is no cure for terpene ingestion. Treatment depends on the type and level of exposure and might include skin decontamination followed by support therapy using intravenous fluids. Medication is sometimes given for severe symptoms.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure!

It’s far easier to prevent tea tree oil exposure than it is to successfully treat a pet that is experiencing symptoms from exposure. Although tea tree oil is effective at treating certain skin conditions, it is not superior to other, safer medications. Never use anything with more than 1% tea tree oil. This includes any and all products designed for use on humans.

If your pet is experiencing itchy skin caused by the cold weather, we can help! Claws N Paws Day Spa offers soothing baths using our special mineral shampoo with green tea to moisturize the skin and prevent a number of winter-time skin conditions. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment today!