Fur and Feathers 4 Ever

My blog is primarily about cats, but I have to discuss a problem that I can't help but think must be common. I can't reach the clothes in the bottom of the washing machine. Do you have that issue too?  Deep Drum Washers and Struggling to Reach the Clothes After getting my new machine, I began by washing my cat's blankets and a few furniture coverings, and the first thing I noticed was the super deep drum! I'm about 5' 4" tall, and my arms are either short or manufacturers aren't considering height when designing these products.  A Reacher Grabber Tool is Safer than a Stool or Chair My first inclination was to stand on my little *Ad -  wooden stool , but I immediately envisioned falling into the drum and getting stuck with my legs up in the air. I have a good imagination, but I am more cautious these days. My mind went back to when I stood on the arm of the couch to reach a plant, and the padding shifted. After a two-second life review while falling to the ...

One of the worst odors a cat parent can face comes from urine, and it isn't always caused by territorial spraying. I found a puddle under my cat's pan; at first, I had no idea how or why it happened. The plastic wasn't cracked, and it was a fairly deep, newer box.  My second thought was which cat did it and why. The following possibilities crossed my mind: UTI Dirty litterbox Blocked access to the box Bad litter pan design  My Cat Pooped and Peed in the Bathtub!  The only other incident I had with inappropriate urination also involved feces. Years ago, I found cat poop and pee in my big garden bathtub. The only cat I had at the time was Patch, an older female calico, but she was impeccably clean and would never do that on purpose. No cat would since they're clean animals.  Upon further inspection, I discovered that after cleaning her pan, I had turned the opening toward the wall. She couldn't get in! It was smart to find the next best thing. The bathtub must have lo...

From the time my previously feral cat was tiny, her form of cat speak was atypical. Since ferals aren't around humans, they communicate differently than their domestic counterparts. They make a series of trills and other vocalizations, some without opening their mouths.  I call Mitsy 'my cat with a feral accent'. The sounds she makes are far different than any cat I've had in the past. She can meow, but she had to learn how by observing my senior cat Panda Bear. She had lots to learn! Mitsy's First Meow I hadn't really thought much about Mitsy not meowing, even though just about every sound she made came from her throat and through a closed mouth. One morning, she let out a big, loud meowww that surprised me and scared her! She wanted food, and she knew that she had to speak up.  Mitsy's eyes looked as big as saucers after her very first word. She learned by observing Panda Bear communicate with house-humans through meows. Since human beings are vocal creat...

Cat litter boxes have greatly evolved over the years. The first one I bought decades ago was a basic plastic pan. When the lidded type came out, I had to have one and would never go back to the open kind. Now you'll find motorized varieties that do the scooping.  I don't have a self-cleaning litterbox, but I'm happy to have one that doubles as decor. It's perfect for cat parents without a green thumb or those with limited space. I bought the original hidden litter box years ago.  I Love Hidden Litterboxes! Before buying my tropical plant litterbox, I considered one that doubled as a side table. Whoever thought of these was a genius!  Furniture cat litterboxes are the bomb because they look so much better than plastic ones.  If you can make it work, I highly recommend one that doubles as a side table or bench. If I had chosen this option, I would have topped it with a thick and comfy pet bed or cushion. It's the perfect height to place beneath a window.  I ended ...

My Aldi ficus tree was doing remarkably better - until my cat started chewing on it. Yes, I know that ficus is toxic to cats. I keep my bedroom door closed now. She didn't suffer any ill effects, and my title was dramatic, but I wouldn't risk it now that I'm aware of the dangers. Besides, the leaves are now riddled with puncture marks, and I'd like it to survive another 15 years.  That plant was about six inches tall and started as a bonsai when I bought it a decade and a half ago. It started out with a neatly braided trunk secured with gold twist ties. Unfortunately, one section didn't grow tall like the rest. I quit trying to keep it braided after it became obviously shorter.  Toxic Plants and Cats Back to the subject of my post, since I am covering the dilemma of my cat chewing on my ficus tree. Many houseplants are toxic, including common ones like poinsettia and lilies. You must keep the cat and plants separated or opt for other varieties. If you can't keep...

My female tabby, Mitsy, is seven months older than my orange male cat, Teddy. I initially thought that Mitsy was the dominant cat because she was older. Also, from the moment they accepted each other, Mitsy took on the role of mother. As I've said before, just as some people love children, some cats love kittens.  Why Would a Cat that Never Had Kittens Act Motherly? I thought it was adorable when Mitsy started licking Teddy's ears. My husband's late cat, Baby, would have never groomed my late cat, Panda Bear! They were older when first introduced. They were also still here when I brought Mitsy home.  Baby didn't exhibit motherly instincts toward Mitsy. It was like watching a cranky old lady scold a playful child. She tolerated other animals in the house, but they knew to keep their distance.   Mitsy still grooms Teddy's head, ears, and neck, and he often lies down in front of her as if to say, ' You can groom me now '. It's still as adorable as ever, but...