Dear Keeper-of-the-Food:

It’s me, your adorable feline, and today I want to talk to you about something important—boredom, specifically, my boredom. My life may seem wonderfully relaxing to you, but I can only cat nap for so long. And just when I’m ready to play, you’re going to sleep!

You don’t play with me as much as you used to, so I’ve had to come up with my own amusements. Pouncing on you while you’re sleeping and other naughty things are all very amusing. There’s nothing else to do really, so why am I being scolded?

I think it’s time we discuss an upgrade in entertainment options, don’t you? Here are my demands requests:

A variety of toys – I’ve been playing with the same sad toys for quite a while now. Here are some fun options that will keep me busy:

• Wand toys with danglers – I love to pounce on dangling toys, as you know.
• Treat-dispensing toys – Food! In a toy! This is genius!
• Catnip toys– Need I say more?
• Interactive toys – Puzzles or toys with moving parts I can chase. There’s a food maze, for example, that sounds delightful.

Curious things – That cardboard box you had the other day was such fun! You know I’m a curious cat. Why not leave those boxes, paper bags and other interesting things around a little longer? They just might keep me away from the drapes.

A window seat – There’s nothing I enjoy more than watching my prey outdoors, so I’d appreciate a window ledge or perch. I can dream of my attack as I watch birds and small animals. Better yet, hang a bird feeder outside and I’ll be in heaven.

Fun furniture and high perches – I need to watch over my domain and explore. If you give me a high post or some interesting cat furniture (or a jungle gym!), I’ll consider staying off the refrigerator.

Just a few things can make life more exciting for me and perhaps less destructive for you. (I give no guarantees.) Some play time and a quick trip to Pet Supermarket would be appreciated. This way, when the Persian next door brags about her massage center, I’ll have something to work with!

Sincerely,
Your highly intelligent feline.

This month, we offer a list of top feeding mistakes to avoid with your cat.

Milk
The sight of a cat lapping up milk is an iconic image, but many cats actually become lactose intolerant once they reach adulthood. For them, drinking milk on a regular basis can lead to an upset stomach and diarrhea. It’s fine as an occasional treat, but milk shouldn’t be given regularly and never as a replacement for water as this could lead to dehydration.

Tuna diet
Your cat may find tuna’s strong smell and taste addicting, but a tuna diet is one lacking in nutrition. It doesn’t have enough vitamin E and can lead to increased levels of mercury. Keep it on the list of rare treats and provide a proper diet with quality cat food instead.

Neglecting life-stage feeding
It’s important to feed your cat the proper food for her stage of life. Kitten food, for example, has more protein and fat, while senior cat food will often have less calories. Certain cat foods also address different health issues. To maintain your cat’s health, feed her a premium food that is appropriate for her needs at that stage of life.

Dog food
Believe it or not, some cats are eating dog food — usually cats in multi-pet homes with various food bowls. If Kitty is dipping into Fido’s bowl at your home, discourage her. Dog food doesn’t provide the levels of protein or taurine cats need for good health.

Table scraps
Feeding table scraps can lead to weight issues and health problems for your cat. Keep in mind also that with table scraps, you’re teaching your cat to be more finicky! It’s better to avoid feeding kitty any leftovers.

Use these tips to ensure proper nutrition and a healthy cat. For premium cat food and healthy treats, visit Pet Supermarket.

Adding a cat to your pet family can be very rewarding. But pets, like humans, need time to get to know each other before becoming friends. Follow these tips when introducing a cat into a dog home:

• Prepare your dog: A training refresher may be in order to help control your dog if he gets too excited. Focus on commands such as “come” and “down” or “heel.” You may also want to let him run off some energy first.
• Give your cat her own room: Begin by keeping her in a separate room with her food, water and litter box. Let her explore that room first and keep the door closed or blocked with a dog gate.
• A leashed introduction: Leash your dog and walk him by the gated doorway a few times each day for a few days. Make it a positive experience for both by praising your dog for his calmness and giving your cat a treat. If your dog can’t stay calm, try to distract him with a command and a treat, but don’t reprimand him. You want him to associate the cat with a positive experience.
• Let your cat take the lead: Don’t try to force an introduction by holding your cat near the dog or putting her in a crate. Let her set the pace. If she hides when the dog approaches, it may take longer for her to accept him. But if she approaches him, she may be more accepting. You can then try introducing them in the same room, with your dog on a leash.
• Keep them separate: Over a few days and at times when you’re away, rotate which animal is free to roam and which one is confined to a room. This will let each pet investigate and get used to the other’s scent.
• Continue with leashed introductions: Allow them to meet while your dog is leashed and continue until both pets seem calm and relaxed with each other. Don’t let them spend unsupervised time together unless you’re sure one animal won’t harm the other.
• Protect your cat’s food and litter box: To avoid stress for your cat, there are certain areas that should be off limits to your dog. Don’t let him have access to the litter box and keep him away from her food bowl, which can be kept in a high area.

What to expect

• It may take weeks, months or even years for your cat and dog to accept each other.
• There are no guarantees they will become best buddies. Some cats and dogs will always have a wary relationship.
• Temperament and age are factors. Cats and dogs who are friendly or who are introduced when they’re young are more likely to become friends.

Holding your cat incorrectly or forcing her to stay in your arms is a quick way to earn a few cat scratches.
For a purr-worthy experience instead, learn how to pick up and hold your cat with these tips.

The proper way to pick up and hold your cat:

• Do place one hand under your cat’s chest, behind her front legs. The other hand should support her back paws and hind quarters. Lift the cat and hold her with her side leaning against your body.
• Do hold her close against your chest or front to help her feel more comfortable and secure.
• Do always support her hind legs. Your cat may get upset otherwise and will have her back paws free to scratch you.
• Do have kids sit down when holding a cat, so the cat doesn’t feel in danger of falling. If the cat struggles, children should let go and not squeeze her.
• Do let her go if your cat shows signs of aggression (growling, dilated pupils, a swishing tail) before or after she’s picked up.
• Don’t hold her against her wishes. Spend more time getting her used to sitting in your lap before you try picking her up again.
• Don’t drop your cat when releasing her. Place her down gently instead.
• Don’t pick her up by the scruff of the neck unless it’s an emergency.

Picking up a cat incorrectly can cause your pet stress, discomfort or even serious harm. We hope these tips will help you handle your cat safely and comfortably.

While dogs are most often known for destructive chewing, cats can also pick up this bad habit. Reasons range from curiosity (in kittens) and boredom to a nutritional deficiency. This behavior poses a danger to your cat and could lead to intestinal problems if it isn’t treated. Use these tips to help discourage it:

Start young
Kittens often explore with their mouths and tend to chew when they’re teething. If you discourage or manage her chewing behavior when she’s this age (three to six months), you’re less likely to have issues with it later.

Offensive measures: tools and toys at the ready
Whether you have a kitten or an adult cat, your best tactic is to go on the offense. This includes giving your cat chewable toys, play toys, catnip, cat furniture with crawl spaces and other items to engage her attention. Play time and food-dispensing toys will also keep her diverted and less likely to chew out of boredom.

Defensive measures
Electrical cords, wires and toxic plants are hazards for your chewing cat and should be covered, treated or removed altogether. A few defensive measures include:

• Hollow tubing or covers for electrical cords – Store-bought tubing is one of the most effective ways to keep cords and wires out of reach.
• Sticky Paws tape – For cords or items that are hard to cover up, try surrounding it with Sticky Paws instead. Cats dislike walking across it and learn to avoid it.
• Repellents – Taste repellents like Bitter Apple or Bitter Yuck are also good deterrents. These sprays add a bad taste your cat will want to avoid. Other repellent sprays like Keep Off! use scent to keep cats away instead.

A special case: chewing on fabric and leather
Cats who chew mostly fabric or leather may have a condition similar to OCD in humans. Cats like Burmese and Siamese are predisposed to this behavior and can destroy clothing, bedding and other items. Most importantly, they can swallow materials that block their intestines. If your cat prefers fabrics, offer chewing toys, divert her attention and use a taste repellent. For further help, see your vet.

Careful attention and a few preventive measures can curb your cat’s chewing tendencies. For repellants and fun cat toys, stop by your Pet Supermarket store or shop online at PetSupermarket.com.

You might know your cat and her favorite things, but how much do you really know about cats in general? Here are a few fun feline facts that might surprise you:

• Cats do not have sweat glands, except in their tongues and the pads of their feet.
• A cat can jump as much as seven times its height.
• Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four toes on each back paw.
• Cats have more than one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten.
• A pack of kittens is called a kindle, while a pack of adult cats is called a clowder.
• An adult cat can run about 12 miles per hour and can sprint at nearly 30 miles per hour.
• A cat’s tongue is scratchy because it’s lined with papillae-tiny elevated backwards hooks that help to hold prey in place.
• The nose pad of each cat has ridges in a unique pattern, not unlike a person’s fingerprints.
• Cats have better hearing than dogs – up to 60,000 hertz.
• Cats’ bodies are extremely flexible; the cat skeleton contains more than 230 bones (a human has about 206), and the pelvis and shoulders loosely attach to the spine. This adds to their flexibility and allows them to fit through very small spaces.
• Cats have better memories than dogs. Tests conducted by the University of Michigan showed that while a dog’s memory lasts no more than 5 minutes, a cat’s can last as long as 16 hours-exceeding even that of monkeys and orangutans.

Your cat is a remarkable animal with sharp senses and fine muscle control. Keep her healthy and happy with cat food and supplies from Pet Supermarket.

It’s time again for holiday meals, festive décor and visits with family and friends. While you’re enjoying the season, make sure your pets are thankful as well with these holiday safety tips.

About the bird
Turkey and all the trimmings make for an enjoyable meal, but spicy or fatty items should be kept from pets. If you give your cat a small bite of turkey, make sure it’s well cooked and boneless. Above all, keep her away from any bones, which can be sharp and brittle.

A kitty-friendly feast
It’s OK to offer a few bites of turkey or a bite of sweet potato, but don’t indulge your cat too much or she’ll have a stomach upset or diarrhea. To make the occasion special, give your kitty her own feline-friendly treat instead.

Mind the sage
You might use sage and other herbs on turkey or in stuffing, but beware of the stomach upset it causes cats. The essential oils in certain herbs can affect your cat’s stomach and central nervous system.

No eating while baking
Homemade cake and bread may be part of the holiday meal, but should be fully cooked before eating. Like humans, pets shouldn’t eat raw cake batter or raw bread dough. Cake batter with raw eggs could contain salmonella bacteria and raw dough can expand in a pet’s stomach, causing pain and vomiting.

Keep the fires unlit
If holiday candles are part of your décor, keep kitty in mind. Fires are caused every year by candles that have been knocked over by pets. Holiday candles should be kept out of kitty’s reach or displayed unlit.

Say no to holiday stress
An enjoyable family celebration should also be stress free for cats. Give kitty a quiet space-a room or area where she can retreat, get food or water and stay away from the added guests and noise.

We hope you enjoy the holidays with your human and pet families!

A kitten’s life is driven by play and exploration. But don’t let her curiosity get her into trouble at home. Follow these tips to kitty proof your home for her safety.

Before kitten arrives
When kitten proofing your home, focus on hazardous or poisonous items first. For example, keep chemical cleaners safely stored. Also, take a closer look at your house plants. You’d be surprised how many might be toxic or irritating. See the ASPCA’s list of toxic plants.

Unplug and play keep away
As your kitten explores her new home, she may try to investigate cabinets, book shelves and breakable items. Keep fragile items out of reach and cover or unplug electrical cords in case she chews on them.

Hanging items are tempting
Do you have hanging drapery cords within her reach? They will be too tempting to your kitty and can pose a choking hazard if she gets caught in them. Believe it or not, the tablecloth may be a tempting hazard too. A cloth-climbing kitty could lead to broken china and a vet visit.

Close the lid
The clothes dryer door and toilet bowl lid should be kept closed as they’re too dangerous if your kitten climbs in. Keep dresser drawers closed as well.

Food safety
If you have kids, remind them not to leave food out as certain items may harm your kitten. Here’s a list of food you should keep away from her.

And remember, kitten’s needs lots of play time to grow healthy. A good scratching post and a few toys for entertainment will help your kitten grow into a healthy, loving cat.

Once you bring your cute, new kitten or cat home, you might think you have plenty of time to have them spayed or neutered. But here are a few things you might not know:

• Your female kitten can get pregnant as soon as she’s 6 months old.
• Female cats can have up to 3 litters a year.
• One cat can have 100 kittens in her lifetime.
• Male cats can sire hundreds of kittens in their lifetimes.

These numbers make a compelling case for spaying or neutering. We list a few more reasons below.

Spaying or neutering your cat will:

Help prevent pet overpopulation
You can help save lives by preventing unwanted litters. Millions of cats and dogs are left at shelters every year and an uncounted number live as stray animals with shorter lifespans.

Keep your cat healthier
Spaying your cat will reduce the risk of certain cancers and infections, especially if it’s done before puberty or before a feline’s first litter. It’s a common myth that a pet should have her first litter or heat before being spayed. But in fact, there are greater benefits to having it done before she reaches puberty. It’s an easier medical procedure at that time as well.

Prevent territorial spraying
Neutering or spaying early is the best way to prevent spraying. This hormonal urge starts once a cat reaches puberty, but if fixed, a cat might never learn to spray.

Decrease aggressiveness or howling
Your cat’s behavior can improve with sterilization as well. Female cats won’t howl all night from being in heat, for example, and male cats are generally less aggressive and territorial.

There are many low-cost spay/neuter programs available. Programs around the country now offer low-cost options. Contact your local Humane Society for referrals.

If you haven’t spayed or neutered your cat, consider doing so now. It will help her live a longer, healthier life and will lead to a better experience for you and your pet overall.

Your cat’s tongue plays an important role in many facets of her life, and what you didn’t know may surprise you:

• A kitty’s tongue is coated with little spines or hooks, called papillae, which are angled towards the back of her throat.
• Papillae help her grab and strip food and push it to the back of her throat for swallowing.
• It’s nearly impossible for your cat to spit out things like string or yarn because of the papillae on her tongue.
• Feline tongues are also effective at grooming, stripping dirt and loose hair from her coat.
• Your cat can “taste” the air by using her tongue to sweep scent molecules into an organ in the roof of her mouth.
• Her tongue is also sensitive to the texture and temperature of food, which is why cats often prefer certain types of food and at room temperature.
• Your cat drinks by dipping the tip of her tongue, then pulling up a stream of water and snapping it before it falls back in the bowl. See a recent study on cats at MIT.
• Her drinking happens at high speed… four laps per second, which is too fast for the human eye to see closely.
• Her tongue helps her grab and hold her prey

Although your cat’s tongue does a great job of grooming, that doesn’t mean you should skip grooming her as well! Your brushing will keep her fur and skin healthy and help her avoid matting. Visit Pet Supermarket for a broad selection of cat grooming products.