Monday, December 28, 2009

The key ingredient

Many factors play roles when training a cat but probably none is more important than plain, old patience. You have to look for small behavior changes and build on them.

It's counterproductive to expect expect rapid improvement, especially with a rambunctious, high-energy animal. A much better approach with an energetic cat is to engage in tiring games before beginning training.

Most cats respond enthusiastically to food rewards just as many are attracted by catnip. Both are great aids when you are trying to instill appropriate behavior.

Natural Scratch comes with a booklet that teaches a 12-step training method that has worked well for many people. Please have a look at http://www.naturalscratch.com/nstraining.html

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Winder Wonderland


Although forecasters predicted Wisconsin would have a milder-than-usual winter, so far it hasn't come to pass.

Today is typical with several inches of snow on the ground already.

At the base of the bird feeder is one of the many squirrels that visit our home and take advantage of the careless eating habits of cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, and other feathered friends that land in the feeder.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Cats And Perfection

Perfection is always a goal and often a matter of opinion. One person's idea of what the perfect cat would be like might not square with another's.

Even a cat that is perfect in the eyes of its owner will now and then do things that will try the patience of the most doting companion. Expulsions related to hair balls or eating something gastronomically unfriendly, for example, especially those that fall on something precious or difficult to clean

Other things will happen, too, that might be contary to anyone's view of what constitutes the perfect cat. It's always wise to remember that just as we are only human cats are only cats and accidents happen.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Cats of Many Colors

Selling Natural Scratch over the years has put me in touch with an amazing number of cat people and an even more amazing variety of cats. The stories I've heard or read are pretty amazing. Cat's that will eat just about anything to those that hardly eat anything.

Extremely fussy and solitary cats to those that are nearly as happy-go-lucky as a typical dog.

Just as cats come in many colors so do their personalities. Some run terrified from running water, others enjoy lapping it directly from a lavatory faucet. Humans have told me about cats that *guard* Natural Scratch so their companions can't get at it. But then there are those with multiple cats who enjoy clawing the post at the same time.

The takeaway from this is as someone who is trying to live with a cat, it's important to realize that you have to learn the cat's personality and what motivates it in order to understand how to train it.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

The Amazing Web

Once in a while I need to stop and praise the amazing Web. This occasion was prompted by something that happened yesterday.

My wife was cleaning one of our cats' water dishes using vinegar to remove the mineral deposits and noticed a slimy-looking substance in the vinegar. Neither of us had seen anything like it before.

Later I typed something about this into Google and immediately discovered that the slime is common and even has a name, "Mother of vinegar." It's a combination of "cellulose and acetic acid bacteria" according to a Wikipedia entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_of_vinegar

Before the Internet, discovering a well-known fact like this might have required a trip to the library. Now after a few pokes, the answer is yours. It's a whole new world.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Introducing Natural Scratch Scratching Pads

Cats who like to claw while on their stomachs will like the new horizontal cat scratching pads from Natural Scratch. These result from inquires from customers who have cats who are not inclined to claw a vertical post.

There are four new products in all, one made of cork and three made from white cedar.

They include features that have helped Natural Scratch posts solve clawing problems for people across the US and in a number of other nations. These include a bungee cord toy, cavities for catnip and kitty treats, and the training booklet.

Please have a look at the bottom of www.naturalscratch.com.