Cat Blog 11c
What bedding, loos and toys do I provide to my cat?
We’ve looked at what food we need to feed out cats and how to keep them safe in and around the home. This week we’re taking a closer look at what bedding, loos and toys we should provide to them inside the house.
Bedding
As you know, cats enjoy sleeping just about anywhere and will choose their own favourite spots. In fact, they sometimes sleep in the oddest places and positions that we think can’t possibly be comfy! And of course we could provide the most attractive (and expensive) cat cave or cat bed, and they will prefer the cardboard box we haven’t thrown out yet!
All we can do, is to place soft bedding materials in baskets or cat caves in secluded, cosy corners and cross our fingers that your pets will use them. What does help immensely, is sprinkling some Happy Cat (https://iamcat.blog/how-do-i-move-house-with-my-pet-cats/ around in any new bed or igloo to lure our cats into them.
This is an example of the ideal cat bed: It’s made from soft, warm fabric, it’s big enough for at least 2 cats, it has a padded base – and it will pique your pets’ curiosity. And it’s attractive to boot!
You’ll find there are thousands of cat beds and cat caves to choose from, in shops and online.
Of course cats love sleeping off the ground, and there are numerous ways in which you can satisfy your pets’ need for height. Check out Google Images for some wonderful examples of hanging or wall-mounted cat beds. And many of them you’ll be able to make yourself quite inexpensively.
If you like the look of macrame beds, you may want to contact Kades Lubbe from CatPals in Pretoria. She makes some beautiful ones. You can reach her at 063 582 0298 or at kadeslubbe7@gmail.com – and you’ll be benefiting more cats at the same time!
Loos
Cats are clean and neat by nature, so it’s important that we make sure our pets always have a clean litter box − at least one per cat and one extra. For a kitten you would need one in every room, as your fur baby may not be able to hold out if there is no litter box nearby. Even once your pet has started using the great outdoors, it’s a good idea to keep at least one litter box indoors for rainy days.
There are different kinds of litter, from wood shavings to ‘clumping’ litter and litter made from clay or other materials. Choose what you feel most comfortable with, but avoid very fine litter for kittens, as they tend to want to eat it. Fill the litter box to a depth of about 7 cm, and keep it clean by removing solids twice a day and either removing moist or clumped litter or mixing it in with dry litter.
Toys
You and I know all too well that cats love toys.
You can buy all kinds of weird and wonderful toys from shops or your vet. Cats love soft balls or ‘mice’ filled with catnip. I’ve always found though that cats enjoy the home-made balls made from crumpled paper or foil best! Make sure the toys are too large to swallow. Balls of wool or string aren’t a good idea. They can become lodged in your pet’s throat or tangled around his or her neck. And of course you should check that furry toys are not covered in real fur.
I hope this has given you some helpful pointers regarding what bedding, loos and toys you can provide to your beloved pets. In Part 4 we’ll check out scratching posts, jungle gyms and wall shelving for your pets.
Cat quote of the week
A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.
Ernest Hemingway
Cat fact of the week
Your domestic cat shares 95% of his or her DNA with a tiger.
Cat story 18: Cats of South Africa
Cats of South Africa was formed in 2020 as a grouping of NPOs, NGOs groups and individuals who care for cats that are not their own. The idea originated with Niki Moore, who heads up Cats of Durban. So I felt honoured when she asked me to join her as second spokesperson for the group.
Today there are hundreds of members across South Africa. We communicate via a Google group in order to share pleas for help, information, anecdotes and so forth.
As our slogan states, we speak for cats, first and foremost. We also act for them. And we are a force to be reckoned with in all matters relating to cats.
If you would like to join us, we would love to have you! All you need to do, is to mail Niki at catsofsouthafrica@gmail.com, and she will add you. As simple as that!