Pet Grooming Orange County

Why You Should Consider Adopting Two Adult Cats

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Why You Should Consider Adopting Two Adult Cats

In shelters and rescue facilities everywhere people gravitate towards kittens and puppies, ignoring all of the older animals.  While it’s wonderful that more people are choosing to adopt, there are many benefits to adding an adult pet to your family. Even better, when you add two adult cats you save two lives and bring twice as much unconditional love into your life. Let’s discuss the many benefits of adopting two adult cats.

Even though adult cats don’t seem to need as much attention as kittens, all pets thrive when they receive lots of attention and stimulation. Cats are far less likely to engage in destructive behaviors when they have another cat to play with.

Numerous studies have found that when a cat shares its home with another cat, both cats are happier and healthier. Cats that live with a friend are sick less often, have shorter hospital stays and live longer.

Since adult cats have already developed their personalities, you will know if the cat you are interested in prefers the company of other cats or not. When you adopt from a rescue you get the benefit of finding out which cats do best together. Many times, adult cats at the rescue will already be bonded with another cat.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. Additionally, we offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. Claws N Paws also has many wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption. Two doors down from our pet salon we have a consignment shop offering several unique and interesting items. 100% of the profits from all pet supply sales at This n That Consignment go directly into our rescue efforts! For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

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Homemade Cat Repellent

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Homemade Cat Repellent

It doesn’t matter how much you love cats, there are always going to be certain places that you don’t want them to be. Since cats have very little respect for boundaries, it can be hard to stop them from doing exactly what they want. Fortunately, it’s possible to use natural remedies to deter them from visiting certain areas while keeping them safe. The following homemade cat repellents can help.

Try sprinkling some dried mustard, cayenne pepper, rosemary or coffee grounds to keep cats out of flower beds and other outdoor places. Cats tend to dislike certain smells more than others so you might need to experiment a little, or use a combination of different things.

Using an eye dropper, apply cinnamon, citronella, lemon, lemon grass, lavender, orange and rosemary essential oils to cotton balls. Tuck the moistened cotton balls into the corners of closets or rooms that you wish to keep your cat out of. You might also want to place them at the base of your potted plants.

Steep fresh or dried herbs such as lavender, rosemary or cayenne pepper in boiling water for five minutes. Strain the mixture and put the liquid into a clean spray bottle. Spray this infused water on baseboards, floors, furniture, counter tops or in closets or bedrooms where you don’t want your cat to go. The scent shouldn’t be detectable to humans, but will be very strong to your cat. You will need to spray these areas every week or two for this method to be effective.

To keep cats out of your garden areas, border them with citronella, rue, lavender, rosemary and garlic chives. These are attractive plants that will act as an invisible keep out sign to neighborhood cats.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We can help you with your pet’s grooming needs this spring. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

 

Introducing Your Dog to a New Cat

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Introducing Your Dog to a New Cat

First impressions are so important, especially when it comes to dogs and cats. If you are thinking of adding a new feline friend to your household, you will want to keep the introduction as calm as possible for both animals. Although it might take some time, if your dog is properly trained the introduction to your new cat should go smoothly.

Before bringing home a new cat, train your dog to “sit”, “stay” and “leave it”. Sitting and staying will keep your dog calm and still during their initial meeting, and the leave it command can be used to stop your dog from chasing the cat. Just prior to their introduction, take your dog for a long walk. This will make your dog tired and less likely to chase the cat.

Put your new cat in a crate and give it plenty of treats to reinforce the experience as positive. Allow the cat to smell some of your dog’s things so that it can get used to your dog’s scent. If possible, try feeding your dog and cat on either side of a closed door. This will help them associate the scent and sound of each other with a pleasant experience.

To introduce your pets, crate your cat and place the crate on a table so that it’s out of your dog’s direct reach. Leash your dog and bring it into the room. Tell your dog to sit and stay. Once everyone is calm with no hissing, lip licking, growling, barking or lunging, offer both your dog and cat a treat. This will help each of them associate the experience as a positive one. Calmly praise each pet for calm, non-aggressive behavior. If both animals remain calm you can let your cat out of the crate. Continue to praise each animal for behaving calmly.

If your dog attempts to lunge at the cat during their initial meeting, use the leave it command. If the aggressive behavior continues, keep the cat in the crate and calmly take your dog out of the room on its leash. Try the introduction again on another day. Remember to only reward your dog and cat for non-aggressive behavior.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. Additionally, we offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. Claws N Paws also has many wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption. Two doors down from our pet salon we have a consignment shop offering several unique and interesting items. 100% of the profits from all pet supply sales at This n That Consignment go directly into our rescue efforts! For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.

 

Common Dog Skin Issues

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Common Dog Skin Issues

Dog skin issues are extremely common.  Dry skin, itching and hot spots can have multiple causes. It’s important to identify and treat skin problems early, before they become a much bigger problem.  Let’s take a look at the more common dog skin issues:

Dry skin

Dry skin is extremely common for dogs of all breeds. Most cases of dry skin are caused by temperature changes. Just like humans, dogs get dry skin when it is cold. Using a humidifier indoors during colder months might help. In addition to temperature changes, using human shampoo, or low quality dog shampoo when bathing your pet can strip the natural oils from your dog’s skin and coat. This can lead to skin irritation as well as dry skin.

Allergies

Dog skin allergies can be caused by foods, environmental factors and inhaled irritants. Common reactions to allergens include rashes, hives, itching, baldness and irritability. The most common dog skin allergen is a reaction to the saliva of fleas. This is different than a skin reaction to a flea infestation, as it only takes one flea to create an allergic reaction. Speak to your groomer about how to treat and prevent fleas.

Hot spots

Hot spots are wounds that are moist and hot to the touch. They have a tendency to spread like wildfire. Hot spots might be caused by fleas, an allergic reaction, poor pet grooming, an irritant or an infection. Hot spots start as small wounds that are then licked and scratched by the dog until they become infected. Because of the wide range of possible causes, hot spots require a trip to your veterinarian.

Skin diseases and infections

There are so many different dog skin diseases and infections that it can be difficult to know where to start. Common dog skin diseases range from impetigo in puppies to breed specific diseases of the skin. If you suspect that your dog has a skin disease or infection it’s important to take them to the vet for advice and medication. Grooming should not be attempted until after diagnosis because many infections can be spread through the grooming process.

We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. We can help you with your pet’s grooming needs this spring. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

 

Should You Tip Your Groomer?

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Should You Tip Your Groomer?

Rules for tipping vary significantly from industry to industry. For example, tips offered to your hair stylist are probably different than those you give the person who makes your coffee. When it comes to pet grooming, traditionally tips are given, however exceptions do exist. It all depends on your groomer, the business and your happiness with the work.

It’s much easier to figure out the tipping percentage for food service than it is for services such as pet grooming. Groomers that do not work for themselves generally will not make the full price of the grooming back in compensation, so a tip of a few dollars is a nice way to show your appreciation for their work. For example, a $5 tip on a $50 grooming is not considered a bad tip.

Since they receive all of the profits generated by the grooming shop, it can be easy to dismiss the issue of tipping if the person that performed the grooming is the owner of the grooming shop. However, tipping is a way to show your satisfaction of the work performed and owners should not be separated from other groomers in this respect. If you like the work that was done, then tipping the owner of the grooming shop is perfectly acceptable.

In certain circumstances it might be reasonable to skip the tip. For example, if the groomers are not supposed to accept tips, then you should abide by the grooming shop’s rule. Also, if you are trading services with the groomer or owner then it is probably acceptable to withhold the tip. Remember that tips are for traditional purchase of a service at a location that allows employees to accept tips.

Claws N Paws Day Spa offers quality dog and cat grooming in Orange County, California. For more information, or to schedule a grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005.

Receive a free teeth brushing for your pet when you mention our blog!

 

Helping your Local Animal Rescue

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Helping your Local Animal Rescue

Every year, local animal rescues help hundreds to thousands of animals and people, usually with very limited resources and publicity. Helping your local animal rescue isn’t difficult. Try any (or all) of the following:

  1. Tell your friends and family about your local animal rescue. Most rescues rely solely on word of mouth. Consider sharing the organization’s information on social media websites.
  2. Get to know your local rescue groups. Stop in to visit the people that are responsible for caring for the animals.
  3. Before adopting from your local rescue, research what to expect. You’ll be far less likely to become frustrated if you fully understand the challenges and rewards of adopting a pet.
  4. Take a moment to thank the people who work at your local animal rescue. If you’ve adopted a pet from them, show them how well your pet is doing by sharing an updated picture with them in person or on their Facebook page.
  5. Consider making toys for the animals at the rescue using fabric, yarn and recyclables.
  6. Follow your local animal rescue on Facebook and other social media websites.
  7. Donate supplies to your local animal rescue. Rescue groups always need towels, blankets, toys, cat litter and other supplies. Visit or call the rescue to find out exactly what they need. Cash donations are typically welcome as well.
  8. Consider volunteering at your local animal rescue.
  9. Perhaps the best thing that you can do to help your local animal rescue is to make sure that your pets are spayed and neutered and have proper ID at all times. Cats should always be kept indoors and dogs should be kept on a leash while away from home.

Claws N Paws Day Spa has been taking care of Orange County’s dogs and cats since 2001. We offer full service pet grooming at our state of the art pet salon in Fountain Valley, California. Additionally, we offer mobile pet grooming to all areas of Orange County. Claws N Paws also has many wonderful cats and kittens available for adoption. Two doors down from our pet salon we have a consignment shop offering several unique and interesting items. 100% of the profits from all pet supply sales at This n That Consignment go directly into our rescue efforts! For more information, or to schedule your next grooming appointment, please call 714-962-1005 today.