Cat Chats

28/09/2023

Even though your cats may be sharing things such as the litter box or the food bowl doesn't mean it isn't creating tension. If your cats aren't getting along or even if you see subtle signs of tension, it might be time to make some improvements to resource availability.

18/09/2023

15/08/2023

Environmental enrichment is a phrase that may not be familiar to you but it’s beneficial that you become familiar with it and what it means to your cat. A boring environment can contribute to problems such as destructive behavior, intercat aggression, depression, and anxiety. Under-stimulated cats...

21/06/2023

Cats don't misbehave out of spite. In fact, they don't misbehave at all. Behaviors always serve a purpose, even if we don't like or understand the reason. That's where proper training comes in. Uncover the cause of the behavior so you can work on resolving it.

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16/06/2023

The cat’s relationship with the litter box is more complex than many cat parents realize. We typically assume the litter box to be a place where a cat simply eliminates. It’s the place we want kitty’s p*e and poo to be exclusively deposited and as long as kitty follows the plan, everyone is ha...

26/05/2023

Listen to the audio version of this article Introducing a second cat to your resident cat is one of the most frightening and frustrating aspects of living with felines. It’s often a nail-biting experience but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to do a gradual introduction and give the cats a reas...

28/03/2023

18/03/2023

Pay attention to each cat's preference when it comes to being with you and try to provide individual special time. Make sure everyone gets some quality time. This includes play and affection (in the way they prefer). Individual playtime is especially important because it allows a cat to completely focus on the game and not have to worry about being intimidated by a stronger cat who takes over the toy.

06/02/2023

Contact us for help with inter-cat aggression

03/01/2023

When you punish a cat for exhibiting a behavior you don’t like, it doesn’t stop the behavior. First, it’s important to understand that regardless of how unwanted the behavior is, it serves a purpose for the cat. Your cat isn’t scratching on the sofa or jumping on the counter just to make you mad. Animals engage in behaviors that serve a function (i.e. a pay-off). Additionally, many of the behaviors cat parents view as unwanted, such as furniture scratching, are normal, natural behaviors. When you sq**rt the cat with water for scratching the furniture you may momentarily stop the behavior but the cat has a normal and natural need to scratch. If he gets punished every time he attempts to engage in a normal behavior, he will probably become afraid of you and he’ll also continue the behavior in secret. That’s a very stressful combination.

23/12/2022

If you want to give your pet scraps off the table, think again. Many festive foods and ingredients can be harmful to your pet.

27/10/2022

Sharing this snippet from 's new cat friendly clinic guidelines. What an absolutely fantastic diagram of the fantastic feline senses! Wow. Makes me feel inferior, how about you!? We have thumbs, but feels like we cannot hold a candle to these guys.

05/10/2022

Provide different choices to help your cat not feel the need to go off and hide in a closet or under the bed.
The ability to hide is a good stress coping mechanism. It allows the cat to feel "invisible" while evaluating the current environment.

04/10/2022

Have a look at our tips on cat behaviour in the latest Kuier 'Wenke wat werk' magazine 🐱

KuierCombo Wenke is nou te koop! Dis perfek vir enigeen wat hou van handige wenke wat werk. Ons dek ’n wye spektrum – alles van regpak en skoonmaak tot appliances en gesondheid. Ons deel raad oor hoe om die regte motor vir jou begroting te kies, en hoor by kenners hoe om na jou troeteldiere se behoeftes om te sien. Loer ook gerus of jy jou naam by die leserswenke sien! Moet dit nie misloop nie!

Foto's: Gallo Images/Getty Images

23/08/2022

19/08/2022

In the last month we have seen a number of animals with tick bite fever. Contrary to popular belief the climate in the Western Cape during winter does not hinder the reproduction of ticks. The temperature needs to be between -18 and -10°C for several days in order to make an impact on the tick population. Please continue to take preventative measures even during winter. For more information follow this link: https://www.cottagevet.co.za/tick-bite-fever-an-ever-present-danger/

08/08/2022

Happy Cat Day to all our feline friends 🐱

21/07/2022

🐈 As cats age their behaviour can change because of the physiological changes taking place in their body. Osteoarthritis is a common condition causing their joints to become painful and stiff. The ageing cat adapts gradually to these changes and so it might be hard to spot the signs. 🔎

Modifying the cat’s environment as they age can improve their quality of life and ensure they still have access to all their favourite places and resources.

🐾 If a cat is finding stairs difficult to negotiate you may notice them spending more time on one level, choosing either up or downstairs. Meet the cats' needs on one level so they access to food, water, scratching posts, litter trays, beds and hiding places without having to navigate stairs.

🐾 Many cats love raised locations to rest, hide or survey their environment - like beds, sofas, tables, windowsills or wardrobes. Being off the ground enhances feelings of safety and security. Using a series of shallow steps, platforms, ramps or strategically placed furniture can help the aging cat to reach these places in easy stages.

🐾 To provide them with extra relief from uncomfortable joints, place warm, thick and washable blankets in their favourite resting and hiding areas for them to snuggle into. Older cats can become unbalanced and stiff and be more likely to fall. Encourage the use of wide surfaces for resting and place non-slip padded objects underfoot where the platform is narrow.

🐾 Resting places on floor-level provide the ageing cat with easy access and no climbing. Provide open and covered beds in different warm, quiet locations that have low-level access to enter. The cat’s carrier also provides the perfect option for resting and hiding. If we make it a pleasant place, the cat can build positive associations with it, which means less stress when travelling. Place the carrier in a quiet, warm location, with familiar bedding inside that is comfortable. Leave the door open and encourage the cat to spend time in there by providing treats and food inside.

We would love to see a photo of your senior cat in the comments! 📸 🐈

11/07/2022

Cats need an environment that allows them to engage in natural behaviors,provides security, and strengthens the cat/human bond. You can do this by creating..

23/06/2022

The recent fire in our neighbourhood caused a lot of fear and uncertainty in pet owners, especially those that had to evacuate with their pets. Being unprepared when disaster strikes can be a very unpleasant experience and we would like to assist pet parents to never have to feel that way again. To find a full pet evacuation plan please CLICK HERE: https://www.ebervet.com/emergency-pet-evacuation-plan/

22/06/2022

This is the secret to successful, happy relationship building between resident cats and a newcomer. Take it slow and introduce them sense by sense. Contact me for tips on how to form longlasting bonds between all your cats 🐈🐈🐈

The biggest mistake I see in consultations is that cat parents rush the process. Remember, this pairing was your choice and not theirs.