Keeping your cat happy indoors

While many cats enjoy being outside where they can hunt, prey and explore their surroundings, it’s a myth that going outside is a requirement for feline happiness. Playing regularly with a cat easily satisfies her stalking instinct, keeps her stimulated, and provides the exercise she needs to stay healthy and happy. In fact, the indoor cat who gets lots of attention and playtime is likely happier than the indoor-outdoor cat who is generally ignored by her human companions. Here are some tips for safely confining your cat and making the great indoors an interesting, feline-friendly environment that meets all of your cat’s needs.

• Start young. Kittens who are kept indoors usually show no desire to venture outside when they grow up.


• Provide a screened porch or other safe way for your cat to experience the outdoors. Consider building or purchasing a “cat fence” or similar enclosure. Such an enclosure can allow your cat to experience all the pleasures of the great outdoors without risks. However, a fence may not prevent animals from entering your yard, so you should always be present when you allow your cat outside. And be sure to catproof the yard by checking that the fence has no escape routes and by making toxic plants, garden chemicals, and other dangerous objects inaccessible.


• If you live in a peaceful neighbourhood in which you can walk without encountering loose dogs, consider buying a harness and training your cat to walk on a leash. This training takes time and patience, for both you and your cat, and it’s easiest when your cat is young. Some cats can even be trained to sit on your lap while you are on the deck or patio, or harnessed and tied to a stationary object to enjoy the outdoors while you are gardening nearby (but be sure to never leave your cat alone while she is tied to a stationary object).


• Install a perch near a sunny window; padded perches can be purchased from many pet supply stores or through catalogue retailers. Another option is an enclosure that sits in a window frame (much like an air conditioning unit) and provides a secure space in which your kitty can “hang out.” Larger options are available that attach to the side of a house or ground-floor apartment patio. It’s best to allow your cat access to these when someone is at home to supervise.


• Buy a ready-made cat tree (often called a “kitty condo”), or make your own. A cat tree may stretch from floor-to-ceiling or be shorter. It provides great climbing opportunities and, in multi-cat households, creates more play and rest areas by taking advantage of vertical space.


• Play with your cat each day. Try different types of toys that recreate “fishing,” “chasing,” and “flying” prey. And leave “toys” such as paper bags and cardboard boxes out when you are not at home.


• Give your cat a feline friend—they can provide one another with companionship and entertainment.


• Plant cat grass (available from pet supply stores) in indoor pots so that your feline can graze.


• Clean the litter box regularly.

Even cats who are protected from roaming free should still be outfitted with a collar and visible identification. The occasional open window (make sure your windows have secure screens) or door offers a tempting opportunity for your cat to explore the outdoors. And your cat may become frightened and make her way outside, if strangers come to work on your house or if there is a fire or similar disaster. The collar and visible ID could help someone get your pet back to you. For extra insurance, consider your cat microchipped. If you do lose your cat, contact your local animal shelter immediately to file a report. Shelter workers can give you tips on getting your pet back home safely.

(Reprinted with permission from The Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org)

Introducing two cats

Introducing a new cat to another is not a child’s play. Here are a few things to be kept in mind before they meet.

If aggression, be it smooth…

Sometimes introducing one cat to another goes very smoothly, without any fur flying or scratching and biting. Regrettably, this is not always the case and steps need to be put in place to do this slowly. Make absolutely sure that both cats have had their nails trimmed and smoothed with an emery board to avoid serious scratching. Indoor cats should always have their nails trimmed and smoothed down on a regular basis.

Tidy kitty, germ free…

Never bring a new cat into your home without isolating him for 2-3 days to make sure that there is no chance to pass on any virus or infection.

Cordial climate, better understanding…

The social adjustment of two cats can usually bring about a fair bit of sniffing, crying and jealousy. The cat who has lived in the house for sometime will try to dominate the new arrival just to let her know who is boss and this is his territory. Usually they will settle down after a few days and peace will reign. When you are watching them, they will generally act as if they are not getting along but when you leave them alone, very often they will settle down together and be good friends.

Means for being intimate…

I have found that by rubbing butter on to the new cat’s coat attracts the resident cat and once he has washed the coat of the new cat, they become friends. As with many animals, washing is a sign that they are bonding. It is important to make sure that the new cat has the ability to get away on her own if she is frightened or upset.

Familiar smelling…

I always believe that when picking up a new cat/kitten, it is a good idea to place a blanket that the existing cat has slept on for 2-3 days so that the smell can be transferred to the new cat. This really is a good idea because smell is very important to cats and it helps to lessen the smells of the new animal’s original surroundings. You can also rub the blanket over the new cat before letting him out of the carry box.

Change without realising…

One of the most important things to remember is that you MUST always keep making a fuss of the resident cat to avoid him feeling ignored. Cats are very sensitive to any changes in the way their parents treat them and if ignored for the newcomer they can become very despondent, jealous and often very naughty.

Just keep these things in mind and we hope that your resident feline welcomes the new one with open arms (or paws, I should say!).

Blindness in cats

If your cat is clumsy, bumps into objects or sleeps excessively, she may be blind. Here’s more on cat blindness.

Blindness is loss of vision in both eyes. Some cats become blind in one eye and some in both eyes. Your cat could be born blind or become blind due to age or illness. Blindness could also be a sudden or gradual. Gradual blindness is due to conditions like glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy or cataract. Sudden onslaught of blindness occurs owing to injury, hypertension, stress and diabetes.

Watch out for…

It is difficult to notice that a cat is actually blind especially if blindness happens gradually. You may never know that your cat is blind. A cat’s sense of scent and memory compensate for the loss of her sight. Also whiskers become more important to blind cats to judge her proximity to an object. Sudden blindness in cats is more evident as the cat seems confused to things, time or place. She can bump into things and looks hesitant in walking.

Symptoms of blindness include clumsiness, bumping into objects, excessive sleeping, inability to find common objects, easily scared or startled and changes in usual behaviour. Take your cat immediately to a vet if you find your cat showing any of these symptoms.

Minimise blindness impact with love…

You can bring a lot of happiness to your lovely and intelligent blind cat by keeping her safe with love and care. Blind cat can lead a perfectly normal life as a sighted one as she memorises the position of furniture and objects in a room and can move about with perfect ease. But your carefulness as a perfect pet parent is needed. So, take care with these tips in mind:

• Avoid rearranging furniture often as this might confuse your blind cat.


• Keep her indoors and never let her go outside except under strict supervision.


• Place her litter box, food dish, bed, etc, at fixed spot. 


• Guide her with your footsteps, speaking or clapping.


• Interestingly, sighted cats are tolerant of bumpings by blind cats.

(Sudhersena, an avid animal lover, is a volunteer at Blue Cross since 1998; she has 9 cats and 3 dogs. She is associated with a number of animal welfare campaigns and programmes. For further info, contact: Blue Cross of India, 72 Velachary Road, Chennai–32, or e-mail: bci@bluecross.org.in)

Sphynx : touching softly on every purrfect heart

Love, companionship and caress… here comes Sphynx, the embodiment of love, to delight all kitty lovers.



Love to be with you…always

The Sphynx are extremely outgoing cats. They are very people oriented and require a lot of attention. Being an active breed, they love to play. They are very inquisitive and really enjoy to participate in anything their parents are doing. They are highly intelligent and can often learn commands. They can even learn to play fetch very easily. They get along great with children, as well as other animals including dogs.

Hairless…yet beautiful

The main characteristic of the Sphynx is her hairlessness and it varies from cat to cat. The Sphynx have a wedge shaped head with large lemon shaped eyes and large ears as well as a long whippy tail. They have a nice sized body with a round belly. They come in various colours. The colour can be solid, spotted and even pointed with blue eyes. All coat and eye colours are accepted in the show ring.

Kitty Care…

Taking care of newborn Sphynx kittens can be challenging. They are very fragile at birth and remain so for the first few weeks of their life. Keeping them warm is a must. Sphynx cats tend to have a lot of energy so they need to be fed a high quality diet. Due to their lack of hair, they are indoor only breed. Sphynx cats and kittens like to be in an environment that is not less than 70 degrees F.

Grooming…I like it!

Just because they are hairless does not meant that they are maintenance free. They are not hard to take care of, but do require weekly grooming. A cat approved shampoo is recommended, as well as weekly ear cleaning.

The crux of all goodness…

The Sphynx has been compared to a few other animals for good reason. They are monkey-like because they love to climb and jump. If they get their mind set on doing something, they figure out a way to do it. They also like to sit and ride around your shoulders… They are also very much like man’s best friend, they love to greet their parents at the door when they arrive home. They love to sit on your lap while you are watching television or surfing internet. When bedtime comes, they prefer to sleep with you –usually under the blanket.

Healthy…with a delicate heart

The Sphynx are generally a healthy breed with a life expectancy just as long as any other cat. In recent year, the Sphynx breed has developed some heart issues such as Cardiomyopathy. Many breeders screen their Sphynx for heart issues prior to breeding. Typically an ultrasound of the heart is done to check for abnormalities. Then yearly rechecks are advised.

(Kim Copeland has been breeding and showing Sphynx for over 7 years. For more info about this breed, visit: www.bare-cats.com)

Caring for your Meow’s Ears

Ear infections can cause a lot of pain to your cat. So, here’s more about ear infections.

Cat ear infections can be divided in Pinna and ear canal disease. Infections of the external ear canal, also called the outer ear, are common in dogs, but not very common in cats. This is called otitis externa. The Persian breed appears more prone to ear infections than other breeds of cats. Cats living in wild can have cuts and tears due to thorns and dog bite wounds, which later on get infected.

Watch out for?:

• Odour.


• Scratching or rubbing of ears and head.


• Yellow discharge, which is from bacterial or candid infection.


• Black discharge in the ears due to mites.


• Redness or swelling of the ear canal.


• Shaking of the head or tilting it to one side.


• Pain around the ears.


• Changes in behaviour such as depression or irritability.

Ear mites:

Many cats living together are more prone to ear mite infections. Ear mites can cause several of these symptoms, including a black discharge, scratching, and head shaking. Ear mite infections generally occur most commonly in kittens. Ear mites in adult cats occur most frequently after a kitten carrying mites is introduced into the household. Sometimes, ear mites create an environment within the ear canal, which leads to secondary infection with bacteria and yeast (fungus). After the mites go, secondary bacterial infection grows amongst the dead tissue, debris and inflammatory cells. 

Since cats are very sensitive to drugs and medicines, consult your vet immediately. First, the ear canal is examined with an otoscope, an instrument that provides magnification and light. This permits a good view of the ear canal. This examination allows to determine whether the eardrum is intact and if there is any foreign material in the canal. When a cat is in extreme pain and refuses to allow the examination, it must sometimes be completed under sedation or anesthesia.

Choice of the anesthesia is another issue and should be entrusted with experienced vets who know about “cats.” A cell cytology can be done by taking a smear on the slide and seen under the microscope. Live mites can be demonstrated. In chronic infections, culture and sensitivity test is a good idea. The ear discharge should be collected in a sterile container and sent to the lab.

Elegant ‘n’ lovable: Oriental Shorthairs

I’m pretty…

Oriental Shorthair is a medium-sized cat, with a long, tubular and tapering body, with fine bones and firm muscles. Her legs are long and slim, with small and oval paws, while her tail is long and tapering. The head, set on a long and slender neck, is a tapering wedge with a “banana-profile” and a strong chin. The large ears are wide at the base, and continue the line of the wedge. Their slanted, almond-shaped eyes are a vivid green colour. The fine-textured coat is very short, glossy, silky, close to the body, with no undercoat, which confers it smoothness and a glass-like sheen.

Orientals come in over 300 colours and patterns: solids (white, black, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cream, cinnamon, fawn), tabbies (blotched, mackerel, spotted, ticked), silvers, bicolours... thus, out of such diversity of colours, you will certainly find a cat who suits your taste.

I’m social ‘n’ playful…

The Oriental cats have a strong personality - they are extrovert, hyper-social and playful, and remain so all through their lifetime. They are talkative and display a wide range of sounds, from the softest ones to those that remind you of an opera diva’s shrill note. Naughty, untiring and sometimes turbulent, they are always ready to frolic. Their lively curiosity combined with their keen intelligence make them natural mischief-makers, especially when there is nobody around to entertain them. The only thing they crave for is affection. They become extremely attached to their owners and when they get the required amount of attention, they return it with interest: companionship, amusing “conversation” and undying loyalty.

Groom me little…

The short coat requires little grooming. Brushing it carefully, once a week, is sufficient to remove loose, dead hair. After that, wiping the coat with a piece of either silk or natural chamois will give it a gorgeous high-gloss glow. It is also advisable to trim the claws and clean the ears once a fortnight.

I love to be around you…

The Orientals are a shining example of an interactive cat. When you come back home, they will eagerly meet you at the door either to show you how happy they feel or to scold you for being so late. They want to be with you every minute of every day. They will invariably follow you all over the house because they want to see everything, experiment everything, and share… everything! “Privacy” is a word that does not exist in the “Oriental cats’ dictionary.” They will be devoted and sensitive friends and they will fill your life with unconditional love.

I’m healthy…

This breed is generally healthy. Some bloodlines, however, can be prone to certain diseases such as gingivitis, cardio-myopathy, and liver and kidney amyloidosis.

So, if you are looking for a companion cat, both loyal and affectionate, the Oriental is the perfect breed for you.

Noicy Cats

While we humans may not yet be adept at holding conversations in cat-speak, cats use their language to communicate with us and other animals. Some cats “talk” more than others, but most cats do make noise some of the time, and they expect us to know what they’re saying. We’re all familiar with the meaning of hissing and growling, but there are many other sounds your cat is capable of making, and a variety of reasons for vocalizing.

Medical reasons: If your cat’s behaviour changes suddenly, the first thing you should do is to take her to your veterinarian for a thorough health examination. Cats often hide symptoms of illness until they’re seriously ill; any change in behaviour may be an early indication of a medical problem. A new vocalizing behaviour, in particular, may indicate physical discomfort stemming from an urgent need for medical attention. A normally vocal cat who stops talking is also in need of a medical checkup.

Breed tendency: Oriental breeds, such as the Siamese, are known to be very vocal. If your cat has a pointed face and a long, lean body, chances are she has some oriental heritage, so “talking” may be a part of her character. If your cat’s chatter bothers you, then avoid giving her any attention when she is vocal because this will only encourage the vocal behaviour. Instead, give her attention when she is quiet.

Attention-seeking behaviour: Some cats “talk” because they know they’ll get a reaction. People may talk back, put out some food, pick up and soothe the cat, or even pick the animal up and temporarily “lock” her in another room. All of these responses will encourage an attention-seeking cat. To discourage this behaviour, simply ignore your cat when she does this, and when she is quiet, pour on the love, feed her, or give her some treats. This will teach your cat, which behaviours you would like her to continue.

Your cat wants to go outside: If your cat was previously an outdoor cat and you plan to keep her safely inside, then good for you! Following are some suggestions to help make the transition easier on both of you:

• Spaying or neutering will rid your cat of those hormonal urges to go out and seek a mate. This will result in a calmer, friendlier cat.


• Schedule play times during the times your cat would normally be outside. This will distract her from her normal routine and establish another, safer routine.


• Be sure your cat has a view of the outdoors and a sunny place to lie. Cats like to watch birds, so putting a bird feeder outside a window is likely to make the window a favourite spot for your cat.


• Run a scavenger hunt. Give your cat a game to play by hiding bits of dry food around the house. Hide the food in paper bags, boxes, and behind open doors. This will give her exercise and keep her busy so she doesn’t think of going outside. This is especially good to do right before the family leaves the house for the day.


• Try to give your cat extra love and attention during this difficult transition.


• Try aversives. If your cat still won’t give up meowing by the door, try an “aversive.” For example, leave a strong citrus scent by the door to help make the area undesirable to your cat. Totally ignore her vocalizations. Whenever she is quiet, give her a food treat and encourage her to play or cuddle.

Grief: After the death or departure of a person or animal in your cat’s life, she may vocalize to express her grief. This can be a normal part of the grieving process. The best thing you can do for her is keep her schedule the same (or as close to it as possible) and spend some extra time cuddling and playing with her. With time, this problem should take care of itself. If your cat does not return to her normal self, consult your veterinarian.

Transition: If your cat is new to your home or has just gone through a change—such as a person or other animal moving into or out of the home—and she has just started her talkative behaviour, be patient. It may be happening due to the transition and will stop on its own if the behaviour is not encouraged. Remember, even scolding can be perceived by your cat as attention, and thus encourage the behaviour.

(Reprinted with permission from The Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org)