Column
ADVICE ON PETS
Save cats from boredom
DEAR BOOTSIE: Here it is summertime and there’s so much going on outside. Yet here I sit, a frisky young feline, with not a thing to do but stare out the window at all the fascinating things happening on the other side. I’m bored, bored, booorrrrred. Can you talk to my “mom” about giving me something fun to do?
Signed, Yawwwning!
DEAR YAWNING: You do sound a bit fed up with the same old routine. As you know, the safest place for a loved cat is inside. An indoor cat can be kept entertained and engaged; it just takes a little imagination. Drop this paper in your mom’s lap and meow ’til she reads my tips for keeping her indoor kitty happy.
Perches and walkways. We felines do have the heart of the tiger, so give us a little bit of the jungle — or at least a jungle gym. A high perch from which to survey the realm makes a little housecat feel like a Lion King. If you have no place to put a tall kitty tree, look around for existing perches — a bookshelf or the top of a refrigerator or cabinet. Put a soft towel there and show your tiger to his new treetop. Do-it-yourselfers can go to feline-furniture.tripod.com to find detailed plans for building a four-perch cat tree complete with sisal scratching posts.
Lion’s den. Not interested in having cats leaping about your house? We felines also enjoy surveying the land from hidey holes at ground level. Paper grocery bags with the edges rolled back or cardboard boxes with cat-sized holes cut in the sides make fabulous lion dens. Add a soft blanket and a couple of hanging strings for interest. Every few days, leave some cat treats inside to keep your kitty coming back.
Treasure hunts. Speaking of treats, save a little dry kibble from mealtime. Leave tidbits around the house in your pet’s most visited spots. He’ll hunt them down during his daily prowls. Place some kibble inside a toy designed to hold treats. Leave it for him to find while you’re out.
Front row seats. Cats do enjoy watching Mother Nature from a comfy window perch. But staring at the same old garden plot, day after day, can become pretty ho-hum. Installing a birdbath, a bird feeder or a squirrel roost filled with peanuts is like giving your cat his very own wide-screen TV. Opening the window and placing an adjustable, removable window screen up against the existing screen provides extra protection against escapes or falls. Your cat then can enjoy the sounds and scents as well as the sights of the outdoor world. Alternately, purchase a DVD featuring woodland scenes, wildlife and bird sounds. Place a cushioned chair in front of the TV, pop in the DVD and watch your cat become mesmerized for an hour or two.
Toys. Walk down the cat aisles of any pet store and you’ll find a multitude of toys, from fuzzy, catnip-filled critters, flying feathers on strings, jingly balls and motorized toys that roll around, light up and even talk to your pet. Your cat already may have a basket full of these toys, so why doesn’t he play with them? The secret is to alternate his playthings. Every few days, take out a different toy or two and let him play with them until he loses interest. Then put them away and offer him something different. Variety really is the spice of life.
Harness and leash training. Cats can become accustomed to walking on a leash. If you’d like to take your kitty for a stroll in the open air, get him fitted to a comfortable, secure harness. Fit him with a collar and an identification tag as well. Most cats, when first “asked” to wear a harness, will roll around or drag themselves pathetically along the floor, hoping to get the thing off. Nevertheless, leave it on for 15 minutes at a time, offering treats (tuna bits work well) to distract him, until he gets used to the idea. Once he’s okay with his new fashion accessory, add the leash and lead him around the house with some treats. Then take him for a walk in the yard. The more comfortable he becomes, the further you can go with him. Always watch for dogs, other animals and traffic. Never tie a cat unsupervised in the yard. He easily can become entangled, strangled or attacked by a stray or wild animal.
For more suggestions for keeping your indoor cat happy and healthy, check out The Indoor Cat Initiative at www.vet.ohio-state.edu. You also will find solutions to problems such as inappropriate scratching, litter box habits, nutrition and much more.
Love, Bootsie
P.S. Our first Yappy Hour will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Hotel Viking is sponsoring an evening of complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres and desserts at their Top of NEWPORT Club to benefit the Potter League. Entertainment will be provided by the Bob Black Band. Bring a 4x6 photo of your “Most Loveable Pet” for our photo contest. Prizes will be awarded. Tickets cost $20. RSVP to Susan at 846-0592, Ext. 125, or SusanR@PotterLeague.org or purchase a ticket at the door. This is a fun, people-only summertime event.
Mail questions to Bootsie Potter, P.O. Box 412, Newport, RI 02840, or send e-mail to bootsiep@potterleague.org. The Potter League for Animals is located at 87 Oliphant Lane in Middletown. For more information, log on to www.PotterLeague.org.
Save cats from boredom
DEAR BOOTSIE: Here it is summertime and there’s so much going on outside. Yet here I sit, a frisky young feline, with not a thing to do but stare out the window at all the fascinating things happening on the other side. I’m bored, bored, booorrrrred. Can you talk to my “mom” about giving me something fun to do?
Signed, Yawwwning!
DEAR YAWNING: You do sound a bit fed up with the same old routine. As you know, the safest place for a loved cat is inside. An indoor cat can be kept entertained and engaged; it just takes a little imagination. Drop this paper in your mom’s lap and meow ’til she reads my tips for keeping her indoor kitty happy.
Perches and walkways. We felines do have the heart of the tiger, so give us a little bit of the jungle — or at least a jungle gym. A high perch from which to survey the realm makes a little housecat feel like a Lion King. If you have no place to put a tall kitty tree, look around for existing perches — a bookshelf or the top of a refrigerator or cabinet. Put a soft towel there and show your tiger to his new treetop. Do-it-yourselfers can go to feline-furniture.tripod.com to find detailed plans for building a four-perch cat tree complete with sisal scratching posts.
Lion’s den. Not interested in having cats leaping about your house? We felines also enjoy surveying the land from hidey holes at ground level. Paper grocery bags with the edges rolled back or cardboard boxes with cat-sized holes cut in the sides make fabulous lion dens. Add a soft blanket and a couple of hanging strings for interest. Every few days, leave some cat treats inside to keep your kitty coming back.
Treasure hunts. Speaking of treats, save a little dry kibble from mealtime. Leave tidbits around the house in your pet’s most visited spots. He’ll hunt them down during his daily prowls. Place some kibble inside a toy designed to hold treats. Leave it for him to find while you’re out.
Front row seats. Cats do enjoy watching Mother Nature from a comfy window perch. But staring at the same old garden plot, day after day, can become pretty ho-hum. Installing a birdbath, a bird feeder or a squirrel roost filled with peanuts is like giving your cat his very own wide-screen TV. Opening the window and placing an adjustable, removable window screen up against the existing screen provides extra protection against escapes or falls. Your cat then can enjoy the sounds and scents as well as the sights of the outdoor world. Alternately, purchase a DVD featuring woodland scenes, wildlife and bird sounds. Place a cushioned chair in front of the TV, pop in the DVD and watch your cat become mesmerized for an hour or two.
Toys. Walk down the cat aisles of any pet store and you’ll find a multitude of toys, from fuzzy, catnip-filled critters, flying feathers on strings, jingly balls and motorized toys that roll around, light up and even talk to your pet. Your cat already may have a basket full of these toys, so why doesn’t he play with them? The secret is to alternate his playthings. Every few days, take out a different toy or two and let him play with them until he loses interest. Then put them away and offer him something different. Variety really is the spice of life.
Harness and leash training. Cats can become accustomed to walking on a leash. If you’d like to take your kitty for a stroll in the open air, get him fitted to a comfortable, secure harness. Fit him with a collar and an identification tag as well. Most cats, when first “asked” to wear a harness, will roll around or drag themselves pathetically along the floor, hoping to get the thing off. Nevertheless, leave it on for 15 minutes at a time, offering treats (tuna bits work well) to distract him, until he gets used to the idea. Once he’s okay with his new fashion accessory, add the leash and lead him around the house with some treats. Then take him for a walk in the yard. The more comfortable he becomes, the further you can go with him. Always watch for dogs, other animals and traffic. Never tie a cat unsupervised in the yard. He easily can become entangled, strangled or attacked by a stray or wild animal.
For more suggestions for keeping your indoor cat happy and healthy, check out The Indoor Cat Initiative at www.vet.ohio-state.edu. You also will find solutions to problems such as inappropriate scratching, litter box habits, nutrition and much more.
Love, Bootsie
P.S. Our first Yappy Hour will be Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. Hotel Viking is sponsoring an evening of complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres and desserts at their Top of NEWPORT Club to benefit the Potter League. Entertainment will be provided by the Bob Black Band. Bring a 4x6 photo of your “Most Loveable Pet” for our photo contest. Prizes will be awarded. Tickets cost $20. RSVP to Susan at 846-0592, Ext. 125, or SusanR@PotterLeague.org or purchase a ticket at the door. This is a fun, people-only summertime event.
Mail questions to Bootsie Potter, P.O. Box 412, Newport, RI 02840, or send e-mail to bootsiep@potterleague.org. The Potter League for Animals is located at 87 Oliphant Lane in Middletown. For more information, log on to www.PotterLeague.org.