Pet Grooming Orange County

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.

Most Common Cat Grooming Questions

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Pet parents often have questions about grooming their cats. While cats don’t need as much grooming as dogs, they do require some basic care. This is especially true for long-haired breeds. Cats require regular brushing, nail trims, ear care, and occasional baths. In addition to keeping your pet happy and healthy, regular grooming helps expose skin issues, which can be uncomfortable for your pet.

As Orange County’s premier cat grooming salon, we meet a lot of new pet owners. The following details the most common cat grooming questions we hear.

When should I start grooming my cat?

It’s important to get your cat accustomed to grooming as early as possible. Hold your cat in your lap and brush them with a soft bristled brush. It’s normal for cats to think you’re trying to play. Continue brushing them, they will understand soon enough that this isn’t playtime.

Make sure you touch your cat’s feet, ears, and tail regularly so they get used to being handled. This will go a long way towards improving their grooming experience.

What do I do if I find mats in my cat’s coat?

Tangles can easily become mats if you do not regularly groom your cat. Mats are painful and can hide skin conditions. It’s important to remove all mats from your cat’s coat.

NEVER attempt to remove mats on your own. Cat skin is extremely thin. Bring your cat to an experienced groomer to have all mats removed.

Do cats really need baths?

Cats groom themselves a lot. This is why most people believe their cat does not need a bath. However, this isn’t always the case. Older and overweight cats might have more difficulty getting themselves clean. If your cat isn’t cleaning itself, oils can gather on the coat, contributing to body odor.

Can I use my shampoo to bathe my cat?

Human shampoos, even baby shampoo, are too harsh for your cat. It’s important to NEVER use human shampoo when bathing your cat. Use a shampoo that’s specially designed for use on cats.

What can I do if my cat struggles during its bath?

Most cats do not enjoy getting wet. It’s important to make bath time as stress-free and enjoyable as possible for your pet. Start slow and offer treats. Use basins filled with water as opposed to running water over your cat.

Contact your local grooming salon if you need help bathing your cat. Claws N Paws Day Spa has years of experience giving cats baths and haircuts. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule a grooming appointment.

 

Should You Let Your Cat Outside?

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There’s a lot of debate over whether or not it’s a good idea to let your cat go outside. While many people believe it’s cruel to keep your cat inside, the statistics and facts prove otherwise. Allowing your cat to go outside exposes them to numerous dangers, reducing their lifespan and putting other animals at risk.

While most pet parents have good intentions when they let their cat outdoors, there are numerous reasons why you shouldn’t. Below, we detail the top reasons why it’s better to keep your cat indoors.

Reduced Lifespan

Allowing your cat outdoors reduces their lifespan by as much as three to five years. Every single time a cat is put outside, their life is at risk. Common dangers include vehicles, other animals, diseases, and ill-intentioned people. While not every cat that goes outside will get killed, their chance of being injured is extremely high.

Reduction in Bird Populations

Cats are natural hunters. Unfortunately, even the best fed housecat will hunt and kill other animals for sport. While you might think that this is a small problem, it’s actually quite large. Cats kill an approximate 1 to 4 billion birds each year in the United States. This not only affects bird populations, it increases the amount of insects we have to deal with, as birds often feed on these common pests.

Overpopulation

Cats reproduce extremely fast. Many people don’t realize that cats can become pregnant at just four months old. Once they give birth, they can reproduce almost instantly, producing a large amount of offspring in just a short amount of time.

It’s important to have your cat spayed or neutered, even if they never go outdoors. Cats are excellent escape artists and will find a way out if they have the opportunity to reproduce. Spaying and neutering reduces the desire to go outdoors and eliminates the chance of reproduction.

Cats Can Easily Become Trapped or Lost

Cats like to squeeze into tight spaces. They will often follow small critters into unfamiliar territory. Once a cat becomes trapped or lost, they often don’t make it home.

Final Thoughts

Many people believe that cats become bored when left indoors. This is true for both outdoor and indoor cats. Cats need regular interaction. Keep your cat happy by playing with them daily. Claws N Paws Day Spa offers a variety of toys for your cat. Please visit our grooming salon to see our selection.

 

 

 

Household Dangers to Cats You Might Have Not Considered

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Household Dangers to Cats You Might Have Not Considered

We all know about the obvious hazards such as rat poison and electrical cords. However, there are many other things that pose a risk to our felines. Many of these things you probably didn’t even realize could cause a problem. Let’s take a look at the top six household dangers for cats.

Human Medications

Every year, the ASPCA manages around 40,000 calls from people whose cats have ingested or come in contact with over the counter and prescription medications. These drugs are listed as the number one hazard for pets. It is crucial that all medications are kept out of reach of cats at all times.

Veterinary Medications

Although these medications are prescribed for the treatment of pets, it’s not uncommon for medications to be improperly applied or dispensed. It’s important to make sure that you understand your veterinarian’s recommendations before giving your pet any type of medication.

Household Cleaners

Many people know that household cleaners can be toxic to people, especially children. However, there are several cleaners that can be dangerous to cats as well. Cats that lick their paws after walking on recently cleaned surfaces can suffer from poisoning. Certain products can cause respiratory problems and gastrointestinal distress if inhaled. Care should be taken when using household cleaners around your pet.

Mini Blinds

Cats can easily become tangled in mini blind cords. These cords can be extremely tempting to play with, especially for kittens. Use a squirt gun or pennies in a can to discourage climbing on blinds or playing with cords.

Plants

Several plants are toxic to pets. If ingested, these plants can lead to life-threatening kidney failure. Your veterinarian can provide you with a list of pet safe plants for your home.

Plastic Bags

Plastic grocery bags can seem like a fun toy for cats. They love to roll on them and listen to the crinkling sounds they make. However, allowing your cat to play with these bags can lead to suffocation and choking. Always keep them out of reach of pets.

There are several things that can cause harm to your cat. It’s a good idea to evaluate your home for dangers if you wish to avoid problems in the future.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers full service cat grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up an appointment today.

Essential Oils and Pets

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Essential Oils and Pets

Many people turn to natural options when caring for their homes and families. These options can provide an effective alternative to harsh chemicals and synthetic products. However, natural solutions might not be the safest option. In fact, many are extremely dangerous to pets. One example is essential oils.

Dangers of Essential Oils

Because essential oils come from natural sources, many people believe that they are safe. This simply is not true. Essential oils can be toxic and even deadly to pets.

These oils are highly concentrated. While the plants they are made from are often safe for pets, the large doses found in essential oils can cause serious problems. This is true for children as well. You might not realize that peppermint essential oil can slow a child’s heart rate to dangerous levels.

Since essential oils are not considered medicine, they are not required to list side effects and warnings on the bottle. It is up to the consumer to do their research to determine the risks of using these products.

Essential oils can cause harm when ingested, applied topically or inhaled. Using essential oils in the home for aromatherapy or other uses can harm your pets over time. Cats are particularly vulnerable.

Dangers of Diffusing Essential Oils

Diffusing essential oils is the most common cause of problems. Candles do not pose the same risk, as their temperature does cause the oils to reach a volatile state. Cats are not able to metabolize essential oils due to the lack of an enzyme known as glucuronyl transferase.

The effects of diffusing essential oils can occur slowly, over time. Cats can go several years without showing signs of a problem then suddenly become extremely ill without warning. Affected cats often die.

Essential Oils to Avoid

The following essential oils should never be diffused around cats:

  • Bergamot
  • Camphor
  • Clementine
  • Clove
  • Eucalyptus
  • Frankincense
  • Grapefruit
  • Juniper
  • Lavender
  • Lavendin
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Orange
  • Peppermint
  • Mandarin
  • Pine
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Spearmint
  • Tangerine
  • Tea Tree
  • Thyme
  • Yarrow

This should not be considered a complete list as other oils can cause problems as well.

We understand how tempting it can be to turn to natural remedies and alternatives. However, it’s extremely important that you fully research the possible effects of all substances before using them around your pets.

Fall Safety for Cats

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Fall Safety for Cats

Our pets rely on us to keep them happy, healthy and safe. There are several things that can be dangerous to your feline companion during the fall. The following tips can help keep your cat safe.

Outdoor Hazards

Most of us already know the potential dangers of letting cats outdoors. Cats that spend time outdoors are susceptible to injury or worse from vehicles, wildlife and more. Outdoor cats face additional challenges during the fall.

Toxic mold often develops in fallen leaves this time of year. This is also when snakes begin looking for a safe place for winter. Poisonous snakes are becoming more and more common in Orange County, especially in areas of new development. If your cat spends time outdoors, make sure that you clean up fallen leaves around your home. Keep a close eye on your cat and regularly inspect areas around your home for snakes.

Indoor Hazards

Outdoor cats aren’t the only ones at risk this fall. Indoor cats face several potential dangers as well. Cleaning products can be toxic to pets. Scented products such as potpourri and scented candles can irritate your pet’s senses and cause them distress. If your cat is sneezing, it’s important to remove all scented products from your home.

During the fall, rodents might move inside to keep warm for the winter. Take care when treating for rodents in your home. Mouse and rat poison can be deadly to pets and traps can cause serious injury. Live traps are the safest option.

Holiday Hazards

Holiday decorations may be tempting to cats. Unfortunately, these decorations can be extremely dangerous. Holiday lights can cause electrocution if chewed. Candles can be knocked over by curious pets. Tinsel and other ornaments can lead to a life-threatening blockage if ingested. Be careful when decorating for the holidays. Watch your cat closely and try to keep decorations out of reach.

It’s also important to keep your cat away from holiday food. Uncooked meat, onions, garlic, sweets and greasy foods can cause serious problems for your pet.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers dog and cat grooming and mobile grooming in Orange County, California. Please call 714-962-1005 to set up a grooming appointment. Holiday appointments are booking up fast.