A Foothill Felines Bengal Kitten
Feel free to browse through this entire page; or, click on any of the following topics:
Location, Location, Location; Drinking Water; What Types of Dishes Are Best; Helping Pets Stop Overeating (Gorging) ; Pets Who Drink Too Fast & Make a Mess; Reduce Separation Anxiety With Talking Food Bowl
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
It's hard to believe that there can be so much to learn about caring for your cat - and even more difficult to believe that even something as simple as providing your kitty with food and water can involve so much to consider! You may have heard that it is important not to put your kitty's food and water dishes next to their litter box. This is because if you do put especially the food near the litter box, the cat may feel confused and unclear about what to do. If your kitty's eating area is too close to her litter box, she may decide not to use her litter box at all - which is not going to work well for you or for her!! The natural instinct for cats is to eliminate far away from their nest, to keep predators away from their babies and from themselves when they are vulnerable.
You will also want to think about selecting a location in your home for her food and water that is going to allow her to enjoy her meals in a calm atmosphere, which will also encourage her to drink plenty of water. If you put her food and water in a busy area of your home (such as your kitchen) that always has a lot of activity, noise and traffic, she may not feel comfortable or safe, and therefore might not take in enough nutrition and fluids. Her mealtime should be a time of peace and quiet, so that she can enjoy eating. With a little creativity and thought, you'll be able to come up with an ideal feeding spot, and when you do, it is important not to switch locations. Cats definitely are creatures of habit, and prefer their environment to be very consistent. Remember too, that as your kitty gets older, or if she becomes injured in some way, you will need to be sure that her eating area is easily accessible to her and doesn't require special physical agility or going up stairs, etc.
If you have dogs and cats in the same house, or even have cats with separate dietary requirements, you will want to feed them separately, and take the time to be sure that each animal is eating and drinking. There are some dogs that actually find cat food appealing, and some cats that will eat dog food if given the chance, and this is NOT healthy for your pets!! Dogs and cats have very different nutritional needs, and their food needs to be kept separate.
NUVET PLUS FELINE SUPPLEMENT Used and recommended by Foothill Felines!! This unique nutritional supplement for felines can be given to all ages, weights and sizes, and breeds of cats. It was developed by scientists, veterinarians and formulators to enhance the health and lives of cats and contains many important minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins and minerals INCLUDING taurine, calcium, blue green algae, brewer's yeast, and much more. Click on the photo below for more information about this product. By clicking on the photo, you will also be eligible to place an order using our Foothill Felines customer code for maximum discount!!
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We recommend using filtered or bottled water for drinking water - for humans and for pets. Water that comes from wells and even some municipal water can contain traces of parasites such as Giardia, which can make both people and animals quite sick. Using fresh filtered or bottled water will eliminate this possibility. Cats are usually very fussy about their water, and will drink much more if the water is fresh. Water that has been sitting out for several days begins to lose its freshness and actually loses oxygen, which gives it a stale flavor that cats do not like. It is also important to keep the water bowl very clean. We recommend putting the bowl through the dishwasher or using dish washing soap by hand for cleaning. It is very important to be sure that all traces of soap or cleanser is completely rinsed off, as their residues can cause skin irritations inside your kitty's mouth and on her tongue.
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We also recommend stainless steel dishes or bowls for both kitty's food and water (with the exception of the very high quality specialty bowls mentioned below). While plastic dishes may appear to be less expensive, there are several problems with them. First of all, they are very lightweight, and often these dishes will end up getting moved around or sliding across the floor when your kitty tries to eat or drink from them. This is not going to give your kitty the feeling of peace and security she needs at mealtime, plus in some multi-cat households, this change in distance between food and water bowls can create some tension and hostility between cats. Secondly (and even more important), plastic is a material that some people and animals have allergic reactions to -- reactions which can range from slight to serious, or even life-threatening. A common form of allergic reaction in cats to plastic food and water dishes is a condition called "feline chin acne". This is when the cat develops skin ulcers, or acne, on her chin, and sometimes this will also include hair loss around the lesions. While treatable, feline chin acne can become painful to the cat, and will recur continuously unless the owner switches to stainless steel dishes. Plastic dishes are also easily scratched, and the scratches can be very painful to the cat's sensitive tongue as well as harbor all kinds of unhealthy bacteria, even after being put through the dishwasher.
Ceramic dishes are not much better than plastic - they are heavier in weight, but they are also breakable. The nature of the ceramic finish is to have some roughness to the texture which again can be irritating to the cat's tongue and mouth. Ceramic dishes also are great collectors of bacteria, and some ceramic glazes still contain lead, which is a very dangerous material.
Stainless steel dishes are best for kitty. They are non-breakable, and much more easily and thoroughly able to be cleaned and disinfected. Some stainless steel dishes have rubber non-skid rims under them, too.
If you have a long-haired cat, you will want to choose a food bowl or dish that is not too deep, to avoid having the fur around her face becoming soiled. Deep bowls or dishes are also not recommended for cats with short noses, such as Himalayans and Persians - for this type of kitty, shallower, wider dishes are easier for them to use. And likewise, if you have a young kitten, be sure to start him off with a small enough dish!! Otherwise, you may find him walking through his water and food bowls, which of course will also lead to bacteria and contamination.
For households with more than one cat, you may want to have separate food and water dishes for each kitty, especially if you have one or more cats who is extremely dominant. You will need to pay attention to your cats and observe their behaviors carefully to ensure that you have provided enough space between the feeding stations to allow for their comfort. Usually, several feet is sufficient.
Double bowls (bowls that hold food on one side and water on the other) are more easily contaminated than using separate dishes. Often, pieces of the food will end up in the water, making it less fresh and appealing to a finicky cat. Plus, some cats simply prefer that there be some distance between their food and their water. You may need to experiment a bit to determine what types of bowls and locations meets your needs and those of your kitty best. Be sure you wash and rinse the food bowl just as carefully as you do the water bowl, and it's also a good idea to completely change the food in the bowl (we're referring to dry food here, left out for free-feeding) every few days.
There are products that encourage cats and dogs to drink at a slower, healthier rate, and make less mess while they're at it. Besides making a wet mess, pets that drink too fast can experience digestive problems such as indigestion and vomiting, and light-haired dogs may experience staining of the muzzle (from chlorinated water).
Does your pet miss you when you're gone from the house? Now he can hear your voice any time he wants with certain automatic food bowls that record your voice, and plays it back when your pet approaches. Just record your message (up to 10 seconds) and your voice will play whenever your pet comes to eat or drink. Ideal for free feeding or as a water dish, these types of products help keep your best friend company, even when you can't be there with him.
The secret of these designs is a clever little electronic device — the TalkBox — integrated into the durable and attractive pet bowl. Just record your message (up to 10 seconds) and your voice will play whenever your pet comes to drink or eat, greatly reducing his anxiety due to your absence.
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