The Importance of Play and Your Cat

Cats are predators who in the wild (or on the streets) hunt and kill smaller animals for food. They practice their hunting skills even as tiny kittens by stalking their littermates and pouncing on them and attacking toys or fingers. If your cat goes outside I’m sure there have been times when they have either brought a dead animal to you, or brought a live animal into the house with them to continue playing with. Even though our domesticated house cats get fed well (sometimes too well) they never lose the urge to hunt.

This urge to hunt or practice their hunting skills is why I feel it is so important to keep toys on hard to keep your cat stimulated. A bored cat – much like a bored dog – will find something to do to fill their hunting needs, usually something destructive. They will knock things off counters or shelves; they will drag clothes or other things else around the house. Keeping toys on hand for your cat when no one is home is very important for your cat’s well being. Walk into a pet store and there is a huge variety of cat toys. I can’t tell you how many toys I’ve bought over the years. What appeals to one cat doesn’t to another.

I feel it’s very important to play with your cat as well. Teasers are great, so are laser pointers. Some cats will actually fetch a ball or toy. When I was in college, I had a cat, Cleo, who would steal my roommate’s ponytail holders. She loved it when I would shoot it across the room. She’d chase after it, pick it up then drop it by my feet to do again. Playing with your cat strengths the bond between you. I think they enjoy showing off their acrobatic skills and hearing your praise. Plus, your cat’s antics can be hilarious. Many times when I play with one cat, one of my other cats will sit back and watch with great interest or jump in and join the fun.

When raising your cat, they might try to bite or scratch your hand or arm, not understanding this hurts you and is unwanted behavior. Keep a plush cat toy on hand so when your cat “attacks” you, you can put the toy in the way so they can redirect their aggression. Praise them when they do.

I have a basket in my dining room I keep the cat toys in. It’s full of balls, plush, catnip toys, fake mice, and “teasers” with feathers and other things on the end of a wand. When I vacuum, I collect the toys from throughout the house and put them back in the basket. Over time, toys will slowly migrate into other rooms. Our black cat, Gonzo, loves to grab one of the wands with feathers from the basket, drag it into the living room when my husband and I are watching TV, and triumphantly drop it in the middle of the room. We verbally praise her mighty hunting skills and prowess. She seems so pleased with herself!

What really reconfirmed my belief in the importance of play was watching a videos of large cats in captivity playing with pumpkins and lounging in cardboard boxes. These lions, tigers and panthers look just like the common house cat playing.

• This article “Interactive Play Therapy” talks about the benefits of play and gives great tips for how best to play with your cat. 
• Another good article  "How to Play With Your Cat. Maximize your bond while improving his health and well-being" also talks about what should not but used as a toy.
• "Use Cat Toys When Playing For A Happy Cat" explains when to play with your cat and the difference between "ground hunters" and "sky hunters"

What are some of your cat's favorite toys or games?

Service updates

Free dog walking

We now offer buy 9 get one free dogs walks. Pre-pay for 9 walks and the 10th walk is free!

Lock-out service

Also, don't forget our lock-out service. If you are a client and lock yourself out, give us a call and we'll let you in for $15. One of our clients who had the misfortune to use this service said "if not a life-saver, definitely a face-saver. Thank you so much!"

Cat box cleaning

For $10 we will clean the litter box! We'll scrub it out and make it smell good again. $5 each additional box. Can be added on to a pet sit; not a stand-alone service.

Nail trimming

For $10 I will safely trim your pet's claws/nails. Can be added on to a pet sit; not a stand-alone service.

Tooting our own horn

We just got this wonderful recommendation from Paisan's mom. Thank you!

Paisan awaiting his dinner.

"I hired Petit Pet Care to cat sit while I was on an extended work and vacation trip in the summer of 2012. I was so happy with the service and care that Christy provided. I had not been on a trip like this for a long time, and knowing that she was there watching my cat Paisan made it possible for me to first concentrate on my work, and then actually enjoy the vacation part of my trip. She took such good care of him. She took photos of him the first few days to ease my mind, and she gave me updates. She was very professional. And I know that she was loving and attentive to Paisan, because even though when I got home, I know he missed me, I could tell he was pretty happy and content! It was invaluable to have someone as great as Christy taking care of my pet. The peace of mind was a great thing."

This weekend: Freret St Festival & Dog Day Afternoon

It's that time of the year in New Orleans, festival time! For the next two months the weekends will be crammed full of fun things to do before summer gets here.

Saturday it's the annual Freret Street Festival. There will be over 200 local vendors selling arts, crafts, flea market items and delicious food. There will also be four stages of live, local music. In the pet area, Petit Pet Care will be there sponsoring the Doggie Pit Stop with water and treats for your pooch along with the rescue organizations who will have dogs for adoption. There's no admissions fee so come spend a few hours and stop by and say hi!

Sunday is Dog Day Afternoon a fundraiser for the LASPCA. 11am-4pm at City Park. I'm volunteering 2-6pm at one of the drink booths so come find me and say hi!

Louisiana SPCA’s Dog Day Afternoon is Louisiana's first walk-a-thon and festival celebrating our furry friends! It provides the perfect festive setting to celebrate our canine companions and make them feel like royalty.

The day highlight is the Gatsby Strut, a dog-friendly walk-a-thon around New Orleans City Park's Big Lake. Enjoy live local music, services and treats from animal vendors and artists, dog obedience demos, dog contests and great prizes! Dog Day Afternoon is attended by over 2,000 family and canine members!

Happy New Year!

I want to thank all of my wonderful customers for a great year. I look forward to seeing you and your furry critters again soon.

I also want to thank my fellow pet sitters who gave me advice and sent me referrals. We have some wonderful and caring animal lovers here in NOLA.

New Services

I now offer 20 minute pet sits for $20 a visit.
This is best for 1-2 cats.

Litter box cleaning - This is an add-on to a scheduled cat sit.
For $10/box I will scrub it out clean and fill with new litter.

Nail trims - This is an add-on to a pet sit.
For $10 I will safely trim your pet's claws/nails.

Tell a friend

I'm looking for new clients so please tell you fellow pet owners about Petit Pet Care!

Holiday Pet Safety - Plants

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

The kennel at which I also work got a beautiful poinsettia arrangement delivered yesterday. I remember thinking while it was a very thoughtful gesture, didn't the sender know poinsettias are poinsonous to dogs and cats?!?! This promoted me to do some research and this is what I found.

The Pet Poison Hotline website states that poinsettas are mildly toxic to cats, dogs, horses, cows, and birds and may cause drooling, vomiting and possibly diarrhea but it doesn't sound like it would kill your pet. That's a relief, but I think I'll err on the side of caution anyway in my home.

Apparently there are other plants that are far worse for your pet. They include lilies, holly or mistletoe. I love lillies and never knew they were poisonous. Thankfully I've never had a cat eat them.

You might also want to deter your pet from drinking the water in the Christmas tree stand. It could have preservatives or bacteria that can upset your pet's digestive track.

Sources:
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2011/02/are-poinsettias-poisonous-to-cats-dogs/
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/poinsettia/
http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/christmas-tree-water.aspx

The Holidays at Home with Your Pet

Photo from Foster Cat, Inc.

We are now on the downward slope of the holiday season. Thanksgiving is Thursday followed by several holidays in December. Then there’s New Year’s Eve, college football bowl games and the Super Bowl. For us here in Southern Louisiana it doesn’t end there because we still have Mardi Gras to get through. Pshew! That’s a lot of celebrating taking place over the next few months. The holidays can be stressful for your pets. Some pet love meeting new people while others do not. Routines get out of whack and there are so many temptations for pets to indulge in. If you are hosting festivities at your home, please take the safety and comfort of your pet in mind.

Things to consider during the holidays:

• Strange people in your house who may not know how to interact properly with your pets. Your pet could get stressed out or frightened, or even escape and run away.
• People food can make your pet sick or can even poison them.
• Holiday decorations or open flames from candles could potentially harm your pet.

Precautions to take:

• Designate a “safe room” for your pet to escape the commotion.
• Make sure your pet is micro chipped and wearing identification in case they run away.
• Know what food is off limits for your pet. It’s tempting to share food from your holiday feast with your cat or dog but it can make them very ill.
• Know what plants are dangerous to your pet and keep them out of reach or out of the house all together.
• Know the signs of stress in your pet. Take time out when it’s quiet to give them some TLC.
• Try and stick to your pet's routine with regular feeding times, walking etc. That will help reduce their stress. Heck, taking Fido for a walk also gets you out of the house for a little while to relax.
• If your dog is particularly high-strung or energetic, you might consider boarding them at a kennel

These tips are general, but you can find detailed information on these websites:

About.com – a list of all their pets and holiday related articles.

PetEducation.com has a ton of great articles that go into great details. You can also download the articles as PDF to save.
Holiday Safety Tips for Cats
Holiday Safety Tips for Dogs
Holiday Safety Tips for Ferrets
Holiday Safety Tips for Your Bird
Holiday Safety Tips for Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, and Other Small Pets