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Staff Tips for Getting your Cat into a Carrier

  • Close the cat in a small room,  such as a powder room, before bringing the cat carrier in. 
  • Stand the carrier up on its end (door up) and lower cat feet first into carrier.  Quickly close door.
  • Leave the carrier out in cat's favorite room all the time (with door open) so Kitty can get used to it.  Try putting in some catnip and/or toys.  
  • Try backing Kitty into the carrier when loading rather than head first.
  • Spray the inside of the carrier with Feliway spray five to ten minutes prior to putting the cat in to reduce anxiety.
  • Slip Kitty into pillowcase first, close the end, then put the cat in the carrier.  Remove pillowcase.
  • Condition Kitty into thinking the carrier is a positive thing. Load Kitty in periodically for very short periods (5 minutes) and then reward him with treats and praise upon release.

SAVING MONEY ON PET CARE

Due to the current economic climate, it is important to look for savings wherever you can.  Below are some ideas to save a couple of dollars, without compromising the care of your pets.

$  Coupons/Online Coupons: Various retailers such as Petsmart and Petco offer online coupons, as well as specific manufacturers (Whiskas, Hills, Purina, etc..)  Googling "cat coupons" or "dog coupons" will bring up sites such as coupon cat.net.  As with anything on the web, be sure that the sites you visit are reputable.

$   Pet Insurance: VPI and ASPCA offer pet insurance policies that may only cost $20 per month (per cat).  Like human insurance, these policies are often tiered and you can purchase as little or as much coverage as you want. Like human poicies, they will check for pre-existing conditions.

$   Care Credit: Some clinics offer this short term credit to clients, especially if a large, unexpected health cost has occurred.  Beware of significant interest rates if the balance is not paid in the requisite amount of time.

$   Annual/Semi Annual Exam:  Catching health problems before they have a chance to develop into something more serious saves money in the long run.  Younger cats should be seen on a yearly basis for wellness exam and vaccinations.  Senior cats should be seen every 6 months.

$   ER Fund:  Start saving now for future veterinary health care.  Put aside a ittle each payday, just like the Christmas Clubs in the past.

$   Discuss Cost Upfront with Your VET:  Ask for an estimate.  Discuss what procedures are imperative and what may be able to wait.

$   RX Programs:  Target, Walmart and Walgreens offer prescription programs.  Fallston Pharmacy has a $5 off new prescriptions coupon on their website.  Ask your veterinarian if generics are available/appropriate.

$   Keep Your Cat Indoors:  Average life expectancy for an outdoor cat is 3-5 years and for an indoor cat, 12+.

$   Pet Proof Your Home:  Be sure that any plants brought into the home are non-poisonous.  Keep small items put away (i.e. rubberbands, hairties, ribbons...)  Be careful with table food, especially bones.

$   If you find yourself in real financial difficulty, many shelters have recently opened "Pet Food Banks".

HEARTWORM PREVENTION

With such mild winters in Maryland, it is a good idea to protect your cat from heartworms year round.  Heartworm infection occurs whan a mosquito carrying microscopic heartworm larvae bites your cat and transmits the larvae.  While heartworms do affect the heart in dogs, in cats they mainly affect the lungs.  Serious respiratory symptoms can occur, including, but not limited to, vomiting, trouble breathing and even sudden death.  Since mosquitoes frequently get into your home, indoor-only cats are also at risk of contracting heartworms.  Prevention is key as there is no cure for heartworm infection in cats.  This prevention is as simple as a once-monthly chewable (Heartgard) or a once-monthly topical (Revolution) application.  Please see a Cat Sense staff member about starting your cat on a preventative today.

RABIES: A VERY REAL CONCERN

Harford County is not immune to the threat of rabies.  A dead fox found at Eden Mill was found to be positive for the rabies virus.  This fox had attacked a dog the previous day.  Please take proper precautions to protect your pet(s) from this 100% deadly disease.  All pets should be vaccinated against rabies.  This is Maryland State Law.  Even cats that are indoor-only need to have current vaccinations.  Bats are able to squeeze into your home through the tiniest opening and other animals, under the influence of the disease, may become aggressive and try to gain entrance to your home.  If your pet is attacked by an infected animal, you can potentially become infected by coming in contact with the saliva that may be on your pet's fur.

FUN FLEA FACTS
There are approximately 2000 species of fleas but the most common is the cat flea.

The average life span of a flea is anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 months, depending on conditions. 

Females lay 20-30 eggs a day. 

Fossilized fleas have been found dating to 100 million years old. 

Fleas cause a wide range of medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, and in extreme cases, anemia. 

If a flea were the size of a human, it could jump the length of one and a half football fields from a standing position. 

Check your cat for fleas by using a flea comb.  If you discover a live flea or peppery specks (flea dirt, i.e. digested blood), treat your cat using a veterinarian product.  Flea collars are not recommended as they are ineffective and highly toxic. 

 TOP TEN SIGNS YOUR CAT IS OVERWEIGHT

1.  Fifteen month gestation period and still no kittens!!

2.  No longer cleans itself unless coated in cheese whiz.

3.  Cat door so large it needs a garage door opener.

4.  Waits for third bowl of food to get finicky.

5.  Only catches mice that get caught in his gravitational pull.

6.  Enormous belly keeps your hardwood buffed.

7.  Has more chins than lives.

8.  Always lands on his spleen. 

9.  Fewer calls to the fire dept., but a sudden upsurge in broken branches. 

10.  Confused guests constantly mistake him for a beanbag chair.

PRODUCTS FOR SALE AT CAT SENSE

Ultimate Scratcher: For the ultimate in scratching luxury for your cat, stop in and check out our Ultimate Scratcher scratching posts.  At a height of 32 inches, they provide a super stretch for kitty and the sisal covering is an excellent texture for your cat to condition her claws and remove old nail sheaths.  Situated on a sturdy, non-tip base, your cat can really get into stretching and scratching without the fear of the post tipping over.

L-Lysine Soft Chews:  Is your cat currently on an L-Lysine supplement? That supplement is now available in a soft, moist treat from Vetri-Science Laboratories. The treats are chicken/liver flavored and each bag contains about 120 soft chews.

Hide, Perch & Go boxes: Developed for use in shelters, these boxes provide 2 stimulating envirnments for your cat.  The lower portion is a multi-entrance hiding spot and the top portion is a perch. The box easily assembles in minutes and also converts into a sturdy cardboard carrier. The box can then be reassembled and placed in the cage with your cat to give him comfort while here. Please ask to view an assembled Hide, Perch & Go during your next visit to Cat Sense.

Tiger Diner: Most food dishes allow your cat to overeat. The Tiger Diner from SmartCat stimulates your cat to "hunt" for its food so that it is less likely to overindulge at the plate. These plastic, dishwasher-safe feeding bowls are specially designed to help slow your cat's food intake. This can benefit cats who tend to gorge and vomit, or those who need weight loss help. Dry kibble is top loaded and disburses into a dish with raised nubs. Cats must reach in through the various side entries to extract their food, negotiating around the  nubs. As well as helping the body, this food dish also provides environmental enrichment, as kitty has to figure out the system and then 'hunt' for his food. Tiger Diners are $19.99 and are available in pearl white or blue.

Corner Litterboxes: We now carry the SmartCat corner litterboxes. The high sides on these litterboxes prevent litter kickout and urinary 'misses.' The lower doorstep eases entry for small kittens and geriatric cats. The triangular shape fits conveniently into any corner. Available in grey or pink, the litterboxes are $14.99.

Drinkwell Fountains: Cat Sense is now carrying several models of Drinkwell Fountains.  We have both the Plantinum Drinkwell and the Traditional Drinkwell in stock.  The traditional fountain holds 50 oz of water and comes with an additional reservoir that holds an extra 50 oz. (a larger reservoir that holds 70 ounces is also available).  The Plantinum Drinkwell holds 168 ounces of water and has a very quiet operation.  This model is dishwasher-safe.  Brand new is the Drinkwell 360.  This unit is especially nice for multi-cat households.  It provides 360 degrees access and has an adjustable spout that you can change from 1 to 5 streams.  The Drinkwell 360 holds 128 ounces.  Filters for all units are also available at Cat Sense.  Also available is the AquaGarden, a hydroponic kitty grass growing system that attaches to the edge of the fountain.



Cat Sense Feline Hospital and Boarding, Inc
332 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Phone: 410-420-0535
Fax: 410-420-0537