happy cats – Page 21

Dirk and his 4Cats Cuddly Dolphin

* Originally written by me for katzenworld.co.uk

4Cats has got yet another great cuddly toy filled with catnip. They really know what cats love!
This one is in the shape of a dolphin, so not only is it soft and cuddly it looks cute too 🙂

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You’d think the effect of catnip wears off after repeated exposure or as your cat ages, but that is certainly not the case!
Every time I give Dirk a new catnip toy he’s super excited. This one was no exception. Dirk likes biting or pouncing it or rubbing his head all over the toy. He doesn’t kick it as much as some other toys, but I suspect that’s because this one is so soft it triggers a different type of behaviour.

The sweetest thing is that Dirk likes to toss the toy in my direction as if he wants us to play with it together 🙂
I say ‘as if’ because I’m under no illusion that he really only wants me to give it to him or make him chase it… He’s trained me quite well!!

So head over to the Katzenworld shop and get your cat a cute dolphin to sink their claws or teeth into!

Head over to the Katzenworld shop to get one of these for your cat!

Life as a Cat Sitter

From the Life of a Cat Sitter

Besides being a cat behaviourist I work as a cat sitter as well.

People ask me whether I just feed and clean litter trays all day. Well, yes and no. I mean I do feed cats and clean litter trays, but there’s much more to it.
In this series of posts I share some anecdotes from my life as a cat sitter. I promise these stories are all true, though the cat’s names have sometimes been changed to protect their identity 😉

Sophie

First of a series of visits to Sophie today. I’ve known her for a while and she is very relaxed, sweet and so soft! I open the door and she walks up to say hello. Now normally she runs straight to the kitchen after that but not today. Actually, she really doesn’t seem hungry at all. This surprises me because she is truly food obsessed. When I walk into the kitchen it all becomes clear: Sophie has managed to open the cupboard and there’s dry food all over the floor. It makes me laugh out loud. What to text the client: that Sophie has been a bit naughty or very self-reliant?

Sophster

Cat fun

Are we having coffee?

Those of you who read my review of the catnip tea bag toy know that Dirk and I enjoy drinking a cup of coffee together. In fact, Dirk recognises my “coffee time” and comes over to the sofa to sit with me. The clever boy obviously knows that I’ll be sitting down for a bit and therefore will have time to cuddle him.

I’m not entirely sure about the coffee drinking part of it…

Admittedly, Dirk is sometimes a bit more considerate and will actually let me have coffee. Best time of the day 🙂

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Health & Welfare

Can I sit on the balcony too?

In April we already experienced some very lovely weather and I love sitting on the balcony to enjoy the sunshine. Obviously Dirk was eager to join me…

I was not feeling comfortable with it. I let him on the balcony once and he stuck his head through the railing a bit too far for comfort. Dirk is very much a companion cat and loves spending time with me and my husband. Whenever we were out on the balcony he’d sit behind either one of the doors looking longingly.

Time for action! We ordered mesh from ProtectaPet and attached it to the railing. Now our balcony is safe for Dirk to enjoy as well although he’s not allowed there on his own.

The risk of Dirk actually falling off my balcony were probably slim to begin with. However, each year cats fall out of windows or from balconies. In fact, there’s a name for it: high-rise syndrome. For your pet’s safety and your peace of mind, keep them safe!

Life as a Cat Sitter

What life is like when you’re a cat sitter…

Besides being a cat behaviourist I work as a cat sitter as well.

People ask me whether I just feed and clean litter trays all day. Well, yes and no. I mean I do feed cats and clean litter trays, but there’s much more to it.

If you’ve always wondered what being a cat sitter is like, then this is for you.
If you generally like reading about cats and their silly antics I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too 🙂

Thom and Benny

Thom is a new cat. He’s a gorgeous 13 year old boy with a history of liver problems. I’ve been visiting him for a few days now and he always comes inside as soon as he hears me. Either that or he is already home and asleep on the sofa.
When I come I notice something strange lying on the kitchen floor. ‘What on earth has the cat dragged in?’ is going through my mind. I walk closer and somehow it looks like raw chicken?? Did he go through any of the neighbours’ bins? Well… no…. Thom has found a way to open the freezer and made a hole in the bag with chicken thighs. He’s eaten the skin and left the rest. He’s sitting in the kitchen grooming himself and looking rather pleased with himself…

Billy

Benny
After visiting Thom I’m off to see a kitten named Benny 🙂
He is so adorable! I’m already in love with him, but just look
at that face: who wouldn’t be?!

He likes having cuddles but has a lot of energy too so I make him chase some toys as well.
Worst part is leaving him at the end of my visits. He gives me the sweetest little meow. I think it means ‘Don’t leave me‘ but then it could also just be ‘See you later!‘

I’ll share more anecdotes in a recurring blog series entitled ‘From the Life of a Cat Sitter’. I promise the stories are all true, though the cats’ names may be changed to protect their identity 😉