AGGRESSIVE

• If the cat has designs on your bird, suspend the bird cage from the ceiling
• Place cage on pedestal
• I put a towel on top of the cage, while it was setting on a dresser.  The cat figured she couldn't get in so started taking naps on top of the cage.  Her tail would sometimes drift into the cage while she was sleeping.  And sometimes the bid would carve a nitch in it.  After awhile (nobody said she was highly intelligent) she not only quit laying on the cage but quit looking at the bird all together.  I guess she didn't like the birds sneak attack.
• Spray the cat with those little bottles that has a sprayer, this also works for training no no's.
• Smack the floor or wall next to the cat with a rolled up newspaper, works great for dogs also. 
• You've been bitten by a cat - other than speeding to the hospital - wash the wound with soap and water, rinse under water for at least 9 minutes and then bandage immediately.  Do not move the affected area till your doc sees you. 

ALLERGIES

• Brush your cat outdoors
• Wipe cat down daily with a damp cloth.  Warm in winter and cool in summer
• Bedding should be cleaned daily.
• If you are the worker wear a dust mask and wash your hands when done
• Air filter connected to your furnace
• Portable air filter for near your cats bed
• No cats in the bedroom

ANNOYING

• Wants to be fed before you are ready to get up.  Feed before you go to bed at night. 
• Close your bedroom door, put on ear muffs and pretend he's sleeping in on the other side of the door.
• Squirt with water pistol when they climb on screens of any kind.
• Cat fighting - Make a loud noise
• Douse with water, hose if outside, cup or spray inside (careful around electronic items
• Keep your garbage cans sealed tightly to keep odors in and kitty out
• Kittens brought home before their 8th week of life cry a lot, they miss mom and may never have been properly weaned.  Wrap a ticking clock (self winder) in a towel & put in their bed
• Wrap a hot - water bottle in a thin towel for the kitten to cuddle with
• Keep small kittens from playing with anything they feel like by putting a small soda box (like the 12 pack) on the floor in their area and putting a cat nip toy in it.  They love jumping in and out and playing with th toy.

BATHING

• In you kitty gets tar on them, immediately saturate the area with vegetable oil.  Wait 21 minutes then apply cat shampoo and rinse immediately then give a regular bath
• Put a steel wool pad in the drain of your sink or tub, which ever use to collect hairs (also works great for human hair)
• My cats are always amazed that I actually enjoy water and sometimes will join me on the edge of the tub.  With a bath towel in my lap, I can pull them in and give them a short bath.  The towel allows them something to sink their claws into besides me
• To keep soap out of their eyes, gently apply a tiny layer of petroleum jelly over their eyebrows and around their eyes (great for dogs also)
• To cut down on soap film add vinegar or lemon juice to the rinse water.  Rinse throughly.  I use a pitcher to pour the rinse water over them.
• Wash the head last
• Towel dry immediately, try never to bathe unless the home is warm
• If your cat will allow it and you still have the towel in your lap use a blow dryer to dry them.  Warm not hot - no less than 8" away. 
• After they are dry, brush them.  Place on a old sheet or towel to collect the hairs and not have them all over the house floating around in the air
• To remove burrs, crush with plyers and pull out with brush or comb
• You can also soak the tangled mess in vegetable oil and then comb out
• Clean your car brush by running a comb or a toothpick through the rows - depending on your degree of patience to get the job done.

BEDDING

• Cut the foam rubber padding from a old non-used car seat to the right size for a basket for your cat.  Sprinkle with cat nip and cover.  Place in basket. 
• Large or small - to fit cat - cardboard box with some rags on bottom
• Large or small - to fit cat - cardboard box with a pillow on the bottom
• Large or small - to fit cat - cardboard box with a blanket
• Large or small - to fit cat - cardboard box with a towel
• Picking up a new kitten?  Rub a piece of soft club across Mom, if possible and any siblings then place in the bottom of your carrying box and later in their bedding. 

BIRTHING

• When mom is giving birth to the gang seperate the newborns from the rest of the trauma by putting in a seperate towel lined box till they are all born
• Sometimes it is necessary to give mom a hand, she may be putting them out faster than she can cut the cord.  I use to always boil a pair of scissors than dip in rubbing alchol and let dry and put on a sterilized cloth in a zip lock bag while I waited for the blessed event. If she has her paws full you will need to do the snipping, leave 1" from the kitten.  If mom thinks it is to much she will take care of it later.
• Sometimes you will need to do the cleaning of taking the baby out of the snack and putting them up for their first drink.  I used a warm thin wash cloth, being careful at the eyes, mouth and nose.  If there is a little left mom will take care of it later.
• Sometimes a kitten breaches - turns sideways - you will need to reach in with your fingers and turn the critter around.  If you are squimish a Vet can help but by the time you get one there the kitten could be dead and mom could be having severe complications.

CONFINEMENT

• On a wooden fence place floppy chicken wire at the top.  Secure only at the bottom, when kitty jumps on it and grabs onto the top, it flops over into their yard dumping them back on the ground from whence they came

COMMANDS

• Cats can learn up to 449 words, so start teaching them now
• Mine have learned the word out - real well

DANGEROUS

• Outside cats like to snuggle in engines or out of drafts in your tire wells.  Look before you turn engine on and chase away
• Bang on the hood
• Honk the horn
• Cat bites are more dangerous than dog bites - there is more bacteria located in their mouth. 
• While cats can get rabies - I have been told - they can not spread it. 
• Not vaccinating your cat for anything, is like playing russian roulette with its life. 
• Plants like Amaryllis Bulbs (my mom's favorite), Angels-Trumpets, Bird of Paradise, Caladiums, Daffodil, Dieffenbachia's, Elephant Ears, English Ivy,  Hyacinth (my Grandmas favorite), Jerusalem Cherry, Lantanas, Mistletoe, Monsteras, Narcissus (one of my favorites I gave away), Oleanders and Philodendrons are poisonous to a cat when chewed on - and are also bad for toddlers. Call your nearest poison control center immediately

FLEAS

• Comb with a flea comb
• Place a pinch of yeast in their food every other day, once a day - also works good with dogs - but use more.  I sprinkle across their dry dog food, once a week.
• Bathe cat with cat flea shampoo
• Bathe cat in a mixture of orange oil and shampoo
• Bathe with a shampoo containing citrus extracts (limonene)
• Spray cats bedding with flea spray and other areas that they like to lay in
• Spray should be a nontoxic insect growth regulator (methoprene).  Good for up to 3 months
• Steam clean all rugs and cat bedding
• Wash cat bedding in washer on hot to kill eggs and larvae
• Vacuum furniture, rugs, bedding and baseboards

FOOD

• Daily balanced supplement is needed to fulfill your cats daily requirements for vitamins & trace minerals
• Here's a great recipe:  1 pound ground beef - cooked, 1/4 pound beef or pork liver, cooked and diced, 1 cup cooked rice (without salt), 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon calcium carbonate (crushed antacid tablets).  Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix throughly.  Makes 1 3/4 pounds.  Give to kitty or mix with their food 4 ozs daily
• Kitty needs a diet?  Here's another recipe:  2 1/2 pounds beef liver or chicken liver, cooked and ground, 2 cups cooked rice, 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons calcium carbonate (crushed antacid tablets).  Put all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and combine well.  Feed a 5 pound cat 1/4 pound daily.  Feed a 7 or 8 pound cat 1/3 pound daily.  Feed a 10 pound or more cat 1/2 pound daily.  This recipe will keep up to 5 days in a tightly closed jar or 4 days in a zip lock.  Both must be refrigerated immediately.  Will last in the freezer for up to 3 months at 0 degrees F.  Recipe makes 3 1/2 pounds
• Kitty treats - 1 3/4 cups of kitty food, 1 cup of unprocessed bran, 1 cup of quick oats oatmeal, 1/2 cup + 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.  Mash the kitty food in a medium sized bowl, till mixture is smooth.  Mix in bran and oatmeal.  Add slowly the oil, where you can mold it into tiny triangles and circles.  Bake for 3 1/2 hours.  Cool.  Store in a cookie jar or a covered can.  Will keep 2 months refrigerated or 2 weeks if in the cookie jar.  This makes bunches and my 4 cats can finish the can in 7 weeks. 
• Place a kitchen drainer under their food to catch scraps.  Dump scraps into the garbage later and clean and replace.

HEALTH

• HAIRBALLS - 1 teaspoon of bacon fat or vegetable oil to one meal daily this works well with cats & dogs to give them a shiny coat and stops itchy cats and dogs.
• FOOD - Daily balanced supplement is needed to fulfill your cats daily requirements for vitamins & trace minerals
• MEDICINE - of the liquid variety can be given by eyedropper.
• NOSE - Just because it's warm is not a reason to rush to the vet.  It could be warm because the house is - or at least to them
• PILLS - Coat with butter before giving to cat
• Open mouth, place pill in throat, close mouth and sooth throat by light petting until pill goes down
• TEETH - Tarter buildup can cause bad breath.  Once a month to vet, or as needed, for dental cleaning
• WOUNDS - Isolate area from cats cleaning and chewing by placing a large plastic or cardboard collar around its neck

HOUSEBREAKING CLEANUP

• If your cat goes on the carpet or furniture sprinkle the area with baking soda.  Let it set for several hours, about 5 hours, than brush off and vacuum.
• Cornmeal works great for deorderizing accident areas, letting it set is a must, about 1 hour, then brush off and vacuum.
• There are a lot of sprays on the market as well, some are under my sink.  I remember them at the store but I always grab the baking soda at home.
• Something with the ingredients of bacteria -enzyme solutions - usually available from the vet or a pet store, only good on water safe fabrics

LITTER

• Use sand like the kind found at the beach
• Use wood shavings like those found in hamster cages
• Peat is good for short haired cats but sticks to coat of long hairs.
• Torn up newspapers, putting through the shedder is best, the smaller the pieces the better.
• Deodorize what ever type you are using, including store brands by mixing 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cups of litter
• Deodorize by covering the entire bottom of the pan with straight baking soda and let the cats do the mixing.
• Use cut up plastic lawn or kitchen (depending on size of litter box) trash bags as liners
• Place litter box inside of trash bag (depending on size of litter box) fill top of bag with litter.  To dispose pull out box and turn bag inside out - carefully.  Tie closed and throw away. 
• Do not leave a cat litter box in the bathroom - even though that may seem like the ideal area.  Hooded box in a closet or other area is a better idea. 
• Place 1/2 of a grass door rug in front of their cat litter box if you have a hooded one.  When kitty comes out and walks across it, it will remove the litter from between their toes.  Thus keeping the rest of your home clear.
• If your litter box is against a wall and is open, place it on a grass door rug and get the same results from above.

ODORS

• Ear Infections, gland infections and dermatitis can cause odors.
• Hormonal supposed to be for sexual attraction.  Once the cat has its sexual organs removed this order goes away
• Regular bathing with odor shampoo
• Teeth - Tarter buildup can cause bad breath.  Once a month to vet, or as needed, for dental cleaning

SPRAYING

• Other cats in your yard while the male is in the house & I have heard of some females doing the spraying also, may be the root of the spray issue.  You'd think after time they would know that the place is there's.  NOT SO.  Close the curtains, pull down the blinds when you are out roaming and your cat is stuck at home
• When you see an unwelcome guest in your yard, take kitty to another room or pull down the blinds
• Protect upholstery with a finishing spray in this way orders won't seep in
• If you have extra upholstery fabric, or can take it from the back of his favorite piece of furniture, spray it also and hang in another of his favorite spot(s).
• Can be a sign of a medical problem - call the vet
• May also need behavior training.  I've been having a problem with my 2 female dogs (fixed) doing this & nothing works.
• Keep all your kitty things in rooms like the back porch if it is inside your home, especially if it has hard floors or hard surface finishing.
• Cats returning home from the vet may spray after they have smelled all those other cats at your vets office. 
• Natural fragrance on kitty after his return from the vet, especially over nite stays seems to mellow them out.  Keep it on for 5 days. 

TANGLES

• Paint or gum need to harden as nasty as that sounds, its true.  Then you snip the hair that holds it.  You may have to do a trim so it doesn't l;ook funny.  But, at least it will grow back. 
• To remove burrs, crush with plyers and pull out with brush or comb
• You can also soak the tangled mess in vegetable oil and then comb out

TOYS

• Cover a pole, post, plywood square or? with old carpet.  You can put cat nip in between the carpet and the item.  If on a pole use double sided tape place on pole 3" a part, if possible.  Sprinkle with cat nip and cover.
• Pine log without the carpet makes a satisfying scratching post
• Balled up aluminum foil
• Small Halloween decorations.  For example one year I bought small plastic light weight pumpkin decorations at the Dollar store.  My cats have been playing with them year round for the last 4 years.  They even like them better than their cat nip toys.
• Ping pong balls
• Old knotted socks
• Paper Bags - large enough to hold the cat - laying on their side
• thread spools when the thread is gone
• plastic pill bottles - child proof kind - filled with 4 or 5 small pebbles
• plastic pill bottles - child proof kind - filled with a small amount of rice - so long as it makes noise when it is batted about
• String with a toy attached to a door knob

SHEDDING

• Run a damp cloth along their coat to pick up loose hair.  I use a warm one in the winter and a cool one in the summer. 
• I had one cat that I could brush with the vacuum brush and he absolutly loved it, while all of the other animals ran as soon as the vacuum was turned on!

SOOTHING

• Install a bird feeder outside your bedroom window and a padded cat ledge on the inside of the window.  The cat will enjoy their antics as much as you will enjoy your sleep. 
• Place the bird feeder and cat ledge in another part of the house if your cat wants to play with the birds and his antics keep waking you up.

WALKING

• Cats can be trained to walk on a leash.  I have 4 cats of which all like their walks.  We mostly walk in a fenced yard but I want them to get the fell of it so when we travel I don't have to load the litter box into the car
• I prefer the collar type that goes around the tummy area instead of the kind that jerks at the neck - how would you like it done to you?
• A thin rope can work as the leash to connect to your apparatus.  Tie a secure bowline around the dog's collar.  Make a loop for the handle and wrap in electrical tape to protect your hands.
• A length of clothesline as a leash to connect to your apparatus.  Tie a non slip knot around the dogs collar.  Make a loop for a handle and wrap in cotton than electrical tape to protect your hands
• A small belt
• Pantyhose - one leg under the collar then tie legs into a square knot