Pet Grooming Orange County

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.

 

 

 

Spraying and Urination in Cats

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There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with a cat that’s doesn’t use its litter box. In fact, inappropriate elimination is one of the most common reasons given when adult cats are abandoned at the shelter.

While most people automatically assume that cats are spraying to mark their territory, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes improper elimination is caused by a medical problem. Whatever the case, elimination outside of the litter box should never be ignored. 

Cats use scent to communicate with each other. Your cat may mark its territory by chin rubbing, scratching, or spraying urine. Spraying is more common in unneutered males and unspayed females but sometimes continues after alteration.

Spraying in spayed females and neutered males is rarely due to behavioral issues. Most of the time, it’s caused by stress or medical problems. If your neutered or spayed cat is spraying, the first thing you need to do is take them to your veterinarian.

UTI

The most common cause of urination outside of the litter box is a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI causes your cat to experience pain when urinating. This can cause them to avoid using their litter box.

UTIs are easily diagnosed and easily treated with antibiotics. Cats typically begin using their litter box immediately after treatment.

Stress

Stress is another common cause of inappropriate elimination. A stressed cat will likely show other symptoms such as excessive licking, aggressiveness, and/or irritation. Stress can be caused by numerous factors. The most common include changes in the home environment, the addition of new family members or new pets.

Spending more time with your pet or reducing exposure to stressful experiences can help them overcome these issues.

Cleanliness

Cats like things tidy. Proper litter box maintenance is extremely important. Your cat might avoid using its litter box if it’s unclean, or if you’ve switched to a scented litter.

If you have multiple cats, you will need multiple litter boxes. A good rule of thumb is one litter box per cat. Make sure these are placed in different locations so that each of your cats feels like they have their own space to eliminate.

Make sure that you fully clean any areas where your cat has eliminated. Even the faintest odor can cause them to return.

Final Thoughts

With a little patience, improper elimination can be resolved. The first step is to visit your veterinarian. If your cat is not spayed or neutered, now is the time. It’s much harder to stop an unaltered cat from marking its territory.

 

 

 

 

Preparing for the Holidays

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Twinkling lights and decorations will soon fill the walls of every store. This is the time of year when many of us begin shifting our attention to the holidays. This is a favorite time of year for people everywhere. While you might be ready to begin decorating for the holidays, it’s important to consider your pet. Many decorations are dangerous to pets and should always be kept out of reach.

String Lights

Electric lights look beautiful on a tree or decorating your home. However, these lights can pose a serious risk to pets. Pets can chew on cords, leading to electric shock. They can also become tangled, unable to break free. Cats are generally more susceptible to injury from cords, but dogs might be injured as well. It’s important to keep cords well out of reach of pets.

Glass Ornaments

Glass ornaments look a lot like your dog’s favorite ball.  Unfortunately, when chewed, glass ornaments shatter into sharp pieces. If ingested, these pieces can pose a choking hazard and can cause serious injury to the digestive tract. Broken ornaments also pose a risk to other pets and family members who might unknowingly step on pieces of glass. If you must use glass ornaments, make sure that they are kept out of reach of your pet.

Holiday Plants

Poinsettias might look pretty in your home, but these plants are poisonous to pets. When ingested, poinsettias cause serious gastrointestinal distress. Other poisonous plants include holly and mistletoe. It’s important to ensure that pets are not able to access these plants.

Imitation Snow/Tree Flocking

Imitation snow produces a snow-like appearance on Christmas trees. The substance used to create this appearance is dangerous to pets. Dogs often chew on Christmas tree branches. If flocking is used, it will be ingested.

Edible Ornaments

Ornaments and decorations made from food might look cute on your tree or around your home, but they pose a serious risk to pets. The sugar content in candy canes is unhealthy and the glue and other elements used to preserve and hang edible ornaments can be toxic.

Claws N Paws Day Spa hopes that you and your furry friends have a safe and happy holiday season.

Choosing a Groomer

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All pets require grooming every now and then. This is true for even shorthaired breeds. Without regular baths, dogs can develop skin conditions and become incredibly dirty (and smelly).

Dogs should be bathed every four to six weeks. Longhaired breeds should be groomed more frequently to prevent mats and tangles from forming. Shorthaired cats do not require grooming as often. In fact, some might not need to be groomed at all unless they get into something sticky. Longhaired cats can become matted just like longhaired dogs and should be groomed regularly.

Choosing a groomer can be difficult. Orange County residents have many options when it comes to grooming salons. While most people assume that big box stores such as PetsMart and Petco are the best choice, this isn’t always the case. Inexperienced groomers often run the grooming salons in big box stores. While training is offered, it’s brief and does not cover several important issues about safety and proper grooming technique. In fact, these shops often end up in the news when inexperienced groomers mishandle or unintentionally harm the pets left in their care.

Full Service Grooming Salon in Orange County CA

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been offering high quality grooming services in Orange County, California for over sixteen years. Our groomers have several years of experience and are well prepared to provide your pet with the attention it deserves.

We offer dog grooming and cat grooming for shorthaired and longhaired breeds. Our experienced groomers provide a wide range of services and always put our customer’s first. This includes our furry friends as well as their human companions.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers grooming for elderly and special needs pets. We have a lower tub that enables these pets to easily step in and out of the tub. We also offer grooming on the floor for pets that cannot stand well or are not able to step into the tub.

Our team of professional groomers understands how important your pet is to your family. This is why we treat every pet like one of our own.

Please call 714-962-1005 to setup a grooming appointment today.

Halloween With Pets

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Many people love Halloween. However, their pets often do not feel the same way. In fact, Halloween can be extremely scary for pets that aren’t accustomed to the sights and smells of this fun night. It’s important to think of your pet long before the holiday.

Trick Or Treat

On Halloween night, you will likely have kids coming to your door over and over again. While you might enjoy seeing their costumes, your pet will probably be very upset by the constant ringing doorbell and opening of your door. It’s a good idea to keep your pet in a quiet room throughout the night. Try putting on a radio or television to distract them from the commotion at your front door.

If you decide to take your pet out with you to trick or treat, remember to keep them close. Your pet will not understand why people are dressed up. This can be scary and they might even become aggressive in an attempt to protect their family. Try visiting a few homes before deciding if your pet is able to continue.

Halloween Candy

One of the most common reasons that pets are brought to the hospital this time of year is because they’ve ingested something dangerous. Always keep candy away from your pet, regardless of how good you think they are.

It only takes a second for your pet to consume something that could cause a problem. Even if they don’t have access to chocolate, a candy wrapper can pose a serious choking hazard for your pet.

Keep Them Inside

There are numerous things on Halloween that can scare our pets. Startled pets might run from their family. Unfortunately, they can get lost easily. If at all possible, keep your pet indoors on Halloween night. Do not let them have access to your front door or allow them to play outside.

Many people have their pets boarded during this exciting holiday. This might be the best option if your pet becomes nervous easily or if you are unsure how they will react.

Claws N Paws Day Spa wishes you and your loved ones a safe and happy Halloween. Please call 714-962-1005 to schedule your next grooming appointment.

Back to School Time

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It’s that time of year again. The kids are going back to school and most of us will be returning to our normal daily activities. As the long days of summer start to vanish, it’s important to remember that your pet needs your attention during this time.

Pets often find it difficult to accept the fact that their family is spending less time at home. This is especially true for newer pets that have never experienced this time of year before.

An Active Pet is a Happy Pet

If your pet is experiencing separation anxiety as you spend more time away from home, you can ease your pet’s discomfort by taking advantage of options such as daycare or a day out at the doggie spa. Keeping your pet occupied can help take their attention away from the fact that there are less people at home.

No matter how busy it gets, make sure that you continue walking your dog or playing with your cats. They rely on this time to get their exercise, while spending time with their favorite people. If at all possible, visit your pets in the middle of the day for a walk or playtime.

Basic Care is Important

Back to school can be expensive. Many pet parents attempt to avoid additional expense during this time. However, it’s extremely important that you don’t avoid taking care of your pet’s basic needs. Pets should be groomed regularly and see their veterinarian for their overall health and well-being.

Without proper care, pets can become ill, or matted, which can be expensive problems to solve. The extra expense to take care of your pet now will end up costing you less in the long run.

Remember that your pet will be missing your children as well. Keep doors and gates locked so they do not attempt to follow them to school. This can be dangerous and the risk of getting lost or injured is extremely high.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers pet grooming and cat boarding in Orange County, California. Our team is well prepared to care for your pet as they adjust to this time of year. Please call 714-962-1005 for more information.