Being allergic doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have a pet or that you must give up the one you already have. You can solve this problem by learning more about minimizing pet-related allergies and making some minor adjustments to your environment. Controlling allergies takes some work, but if you really want to…YOU CAN DO IT!

Allergic reactions are caused by allergens–substances usually invisible to the human eye, such as pollen, dust, mold spores and food additives. People who have an allergy are rarely allergic to just one thing. The allergens your pet carries are associated with its skin

• If your pet makes you sneeze, you’re probably also allergic to dust, grasses, pollen, smoke, feathers, air pollutants, perfume or even some foods. The following suggestions will help you reduce the allergens in your environment.
• Wash your hands after handling any animal. Do not touch your face, especially your eyes and nose, until your hands are clean.
• Brush your cat daily to remove loose hair before it has a chance to circulate throughout the house. Finish the grooming session by wiping the cat with a damp towel. (If possible, a non-allergic person should do the grooming.)
• Rinse the cat at least once a week with distilled water or you may want to try any of the cleansing wipes.  There are also pet sprays on the market that are designed to reduce dander and shedding.

Planning to add a cat to your household?  The introduction process is extremely important. First impressions can be lasting impressions for felines.  Doing this step correctly in proper order will benefit you and your cat greatly.

In the wild cats take great care to prevent chance encounters with other cats through scent-marking behaviors. By them “reading” the marked areas, cats can tell who was there last and at what time the spot was last visited. The territory can then be used by different cats at different times of the day–the feline version of time-sharing. In order to get your cat used to the idea of sharing the home turf with another feline, a gradual introduction is a must.

Time and patience are the keys to successfully introducing a new cat into the household.

So you’ve picked out your kitten (preferably two), now what? … Let the training and fun begin!

• Before your kitten arrives in your home, take them to the veterinarian for an exam, feeding recommendations, and the necessary vaccinations. Use a cat carrier for transporting them, both for their safety and for their sense of security. The carrier should become “standard procedure” during any trips away from home.  Cover with a soft blanket for added security.
• Set up a nursery for the baby (or babies if you have adopted two). This should ideally be a small room with an easily cleaned floor. Provide a bed, a litter box, food and water (not near the litter box), items to scratch on, and safe toys.

It’s spring again—green grass, flowers and lots of kittens!

In spite of our valiant efforts to control the cat population with spay/neuter programs we always seem to have a bounty of fluffy babies in the spring. Maybe this is our reward for enduring a long, boring winter. Kittens are never dull or boring. They are enthusiastic and energetic—the embodiment of spring.   Now if you are in the market for a new feline companion, we have some guidelines that can make this experience unique and wonderful. It will take a little work at first, but the reward for your efforts will be a benefit to you and your cats for many years.

Most people do not think about socializing cats or kittens. The whole behavior thinking process of a cat is different from a dog since they are mostly solitary. As household pets living with a family and exposed to all kinds of situations it is beneficial to give your cat the best and most interesting life you can. It will help if you expose your cat to many different things.

Instead of socializing, you could call the work you do with a cat “desensitization.” This means they are calm or cooperative in many new or different situations. As a cat parent you are probably saying it can’t be done.  Yes cat training is possible and can start at a young age. In fact, most people have never bothered to work with their cats and believe all the old myths floating around about our finicky feline friends.

Kittens are curious creatures capable of jumping onto high surfaces or squeezing into the smallest of spaces. To protect your kitten in his new environment, and to safeguard your belongings, kitten-proof your house.

• Kitchens/Bathrooms:

Use childproof latches to keep little paws from prying open cabinets • Keep medications, cleaners, chemicals, and laundry supplies in a safe place • Keep trash cans covered or inside a latched cabinet • Check for and block any small spaces, nooks, or holes inside cabinetry or behind washer/dryer units • Make sure they haven’t jumped into the washer/dryer before you turn it on

It is generally accepted that the first three years of a child’s life are the most important in determining the personality of the adult. It is also true that the handling and experiences a kitten receives during its first three months of life has a large impact on the temperament and behavior of the adult cat.

This socialization period can mean the difference between a happy cat that likes to be petted and held, is calm when traveling and is friendly to strangers or an unhappy cat that avoids human contact and is nervous and defensive.

While it may be impossible to fully compensate for a lack of socialization