Are you bringing a new cat into your home?  You will need to make sure that you have the appropriate cat training supplies available at the outset so that your kitty gets started off on the right foot. Find out what cat training supplies you will need.

Litter Box
A litter box is highly important.  Make sure to select one that your pet can easily manuever in.  Typically, cats favor large, open litter boxes even though owners may like the covered ones better for aesthetic reasons.  Be sure that the box is reasonably deep so litter doesn’t fly out when the cat scratches.  If you think that you may want an automatic litter box at some point, it would be best to introduce this type of box right away so that the cat can get used to it from the beginning.

Scratching Post
Since scratching is an instinctive cat behavior, you will need a scratching post unless the cat is declawed or wears nail caps.  Many variants exist, so you might have to try out several types before finding one that your cat likes. The post will need to be sturdy because if the cat knocks it over, he may be too afraid to use it again.   Make certain to place the post in an accessible spot so that it will be used.

Cat Bed
Unless you enjoy sleeping with felines or don’t mind them on your furniture, you will require a cat bed.  Felines love warmth and softness, so find a bed that will be comfy for your pet.  Remember that cats like to curl up when they sleep, and do not purchase a bed that is too large.

Cat Toys
Since felines love to play, you will need to provide some toys or household objects that are reserved especially for your cat.  Yarn, balls, and spools are a few examples of items that you may already have around your home that can provide hours of kitty fun.  Many commercial cat toys are available.  Cats seem to especially appreciate feathers or other items that dangle from a stick and toys that can be chased..

Cat Deterrents
Since your kitty will in all probability go places that you do not want, consider a cat deterrent.  This could be as simple as a sprayer full of water that you spray the animal with when you see it climbing your curtain or putting a piece of foil on the couch.  Commercial deterrents use sound, odor or other methods to discourage the cat.

Enzyme Cleaner
In case kitty has an accident outside of the litter box, you will need to have enzyme cleaner available to clean up the mess as soon as it occurs.  Otherwise, your pet will smell the urine odor and continue to urinate in the area.  You definitely do not want this to become a habit.

Before you bring your new feline home, be sure that you have all of these cat training supplies.  Then, you can begin teaching your kitty acceptable behavior right away.

In a multi-cat household, skirmishes tend to erupt. One cat establishes himself as the Alpha cat. The Alpha cat is the cat that automatically seeks the highest spot in the house, demands to be fed first and will at times spray his mark (urine) on the home.

As the other cats grow and mature, their own alpha tendencies come into play. Gradually they challenge the alpha attempting to take over. The Alpha cat will engage any other cat that challenges even kittens. Kittens learn early from mom cat and littermates how to wrestle and roll together, rabbit -kicking each other as instinct kicks into gear and the survival mode engages.

You should never step in between two cats that are fighting. They are not focused on you. Their stress pheromones are at maximum level. You stand a good chance of getting scratched or bit. Even after the cats separate, you should leave them alone for a few hours. Never pick up a cat that has been fighting!

Use a broom to guide one cat into a room, and shut the door. Go in later; ignoring the cat leaving food, water and litter pan. Then leave, because your cat is still in the moment of the battle fully aroused and angry. You will know it is safe to approach your cat once he begins to start grooming or eating.

Here are some tips to stop cat fights:

• Spay and neuter! Spaying and neutering goes a long way to stopping aggression.
• Keep claws trimmed.
• Don’t have to many cats. Cats need their individual space. If you have multiple cats, be sure you have places where these cats can get away from the others.
• Startle them out of their behavior by taking a heavy blanket and tossing it over them.
• Use a wooden kitchen chair and gently set it between the two cats without hurting the cats. This takes patience and a gentle touch. But it will startle the two cats and they will back away. Use a broom to guide one cat into another room for a break. Remember to close the door, isolating the cat temporarily.
• Turn on the vacuum cleaner.
• Spray bottles do not work to stop fighting cats. The cats are so engrossed in their battle, that a tiny stream of water will not even bother them.
• Yelling and screaming to break up a cat fight is not recommended. Cats react to our stress level. If you are upset and anxious, making a lot of noise, look for the cat fight to accelerate not diminish. Staying calm tends to work the best.
• That can of compressed air by your computer? Spray it near the fighting cats, but NOT at them.

Most battles between cats are mock battles. You can tell the mock battles from the real conflicts by learning about the body language of cats. Your key points to watch are the tail, the ears and the eyes and where the body is in relation to the ground. Understanding the true body language of cats goes a long way toward knowing when cats are playing and when they are fighting.

We tend to think of our cats as furry little people who walk on all fours and speak in some exotic foreign language, but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Cats are, first and foremost, felines. They have natural instincts that serve as their guide – hunting and stalking prey are among the strongest. In other words, they ACT like cats.

Cats tend to be very active, curious and athletic creatures so be prepared to stimulate your kitty with plenty of interactive toys and safe places to explore and climb. Keeping kitty indoors at all times is a must, unless you can make an outside area where the risk of escape or danger is non-existent. Windows and doors to the outside should be secured with a heavy screen that latches safely to the frame. Loose or worn out screens should be replaced completely.

When behavior issues arise, your first call should always be to the vet to schedule a thorough exam – this is paramount to rule out any health issues which may be causing the abnormal or inappropriate behavior. Once health issues are ruled out, then take a good, honest look at the behavior … is your kitty experiencing inappropriate litter box behavior? Check the litter box! Make sure it is clean and that all solid waste is removed at least daily. Provide at least one litter box per cat in your home. Is your kitty scratching on your expensive couch? Provide a scratching post! You will want to observe your cat’s scratching behavior to determine whether she prefers an upright post or one that is flat on the floor. If Kitty stretches upward to scratch, then purchase a sturdy, tall, column-type post covered with either carpet or sisal. If your kitty prefers to stretch outwards, then purchase a scratching mat that lies flat on the floor.

Over time, I have heard a lot of people complain that their cat isn’t behaving normally so they have employed the use of a water bottle to spray their kitties into behaving. Unless your cat is in the process of committing homicide, there are other, less drastic ways to get her attention than a thorough drenching. Wash out an empty soda can and let it completely air-dry. Drop a few pennies or coins in the bottom and when kitty isn’t listening, shake the can vigorously. Many cats will immediately cease and desist whatever they were doing and most will take off running for parts unknown!

Sadly, many people still believe that yelling at a cat or even hitting it is the way to stop inappropriate behaviors. These methods are cruel, they do not work and in fact, only serve to allow the cat to distrust humans and possibly make the behavior problems worse. Just don’t do it.

Most behavior problems with cats are easily solved, but for the tough stuff, you’ll need the help of the experts.

Remember these :
Cats are not dogs, nor are they little people – they ACT like cats
Address behavior problems by first ruling out health related issues
Provide your cat with plenty of interactive toys, climbing stations and scratching posts
Never punish your cat by yelling at her or hitting her
When all else fails, there is still help from the experts

Step One: Know your enemy

Fleas are the most common external parasite found on dogs and cats. A single flea can bite your pet over 400 times a day, leading to itching and painful scratching, which can in turn lead to reddening, irritated skin and hair loss in the area, or cause more serious (and costly) skin conditions like dermatitis (rashes or tiny crusts) caused by an allergic reaction to the flea´s saliva.

They can also transmit the serious tapeworm parasite if your pet swallows an infested flea while self-grooming. In a single day, a flea can consume more than it´s body weight worth of blood, which can provoke serious anemia to your dog or cat. In some cases such as extreme infestations or in the case of young, ill or old pets, this can lead to death.

Step Two: Find the Flea

It is important to detect the presence of fleas on your pet before they can reach the harmful levels described above, where your pets suffering becomes evident. When the fleas first make their appearance on your pet, you might be deceived into thinking that their scratching, nibbling or licking their hair coat and skin is part of their normal grooming routine.

Therefore you must check your pet periodically, especially during warm seasons or indoor conditions (heater or fireplace in use inside the house). Carefully look for fleas around the head, neck and ears of your pet, and inspect the armpits and legpits. You might see small dark fleas moving around, but don´t be misled if you don´t see them as they are very good at hiding between skin folds and fur.

The best way to determine the flea´s presence in your pet is to search their coat for flea feces. To do this, rub or comb (you can use a special flea comb) your pet´s coat and dump the collected hair or litter into a damp white paper towel.

If your pet has fleas, black flecks will fall onto the paper and turn red or rust color when wet. The reddish color comes from the blood sucked by the flea and transferred to the feces. If the black flecks don’t become red then it´s just regular dirt. You can also test your pets resting place with this method.

Remember that the feces are food for the larvae, so it keeps the flea´s life cycle rolling on. (Nasty! I guess we all do it in a sense, but fleas literally grow/come from their parents crap! Remember to repeat this procedure periodically, especially if your pet has been enjoying the sunny outdoors.

If you do find fleas, you must act fast against them, as they can rapidly invade your home. Fortunately, fleas are getting easier to control as there is a wide range of safe and effective products available in the market to fight them.

Step three: Attack and Destroy the Flea

Most flea problems can be eliminated by treating the fleas directly on your pet. You can take your pet to a vet so he can determine if a prescription medication is necessary, or you can use over the counter products, such as flea collars, sprays, shampoo, liquid, topical products and powders that can be applied directly on your pet´s body. Some products kill only adult fleas, while others prevent the eggs from developing. Deciding which method is best for your case may require consultation with a veterinarian.

If your pet is seriously infested, you will need to treat their resting spot and possibly your home. Frequent vacuuming of the areas your pet frequents will usually get rid of fleas at their different life stages (eggs, larvae, or adult fleas). Authorized pest control services may also treat your pet´s outdoor environment in severe cases where this is required. It is also very important that you treat any other pets in your home, as fleas can jump from one to another.

Step 4: Prevention (This should be step one, but if you are reading this it’s probably because you already have fleas!)

Due to the flea´s rapid expansion rate, they can be hard to eliminate completely, therefore prevention is essential. So whether you find fleas on your pet or not, many veterinarians recommend treating pets monthly as part of their health care routine.

It is especially recommended to treat your pet at the beginning of the warm seasons, as fleas thrive in warm environments. Vacuuming your pet´s favorite spots frequently will also prevent the fleas from reproducing and invading your house. Taking these simple steps, you and your pet can enjoy a flea free environment year round.