In some areas of the world, pet cats are allowed and even encouraged to go outside.  I know, your cat may want and like to be outside but it is not worth the risk!  Here are the main reasons why cats don't belong outside.  

Cat Fights & Illnesses

There are lots of stray cats around, even if you don't see them.  If your animal obsessed like me, you will be feeding the strays (I feel so bad for them!).  Your cat will almost certainly fight with these cats and there is a high chance of your cat getting hurt.  Whether it is an injured eye or an infected scratch, it's not worth the risk.  

Another risk for your cat is illnesses and diseases.  This could come from something as small as a tick to rodents and other ill cats.  A high risk for your cat are diseases that come from rats and mice.  Your cat will most likely hunt, kill and eat rodents.  The problem is that these rodents have plenty of terrible illnesses that can spread to your kitty.  

Human Dangers

Whether by accident or on purpose, humans cause lots of problems for outdoor cats.  A huge number of cats are killed by cars every year (in Scotland you don't even need to tell the owner if you hit their cat, so horrible!).  This isn't just on busy roads, even if you live in the country your cat is still in danger.  If there is one reason that you shouldn't let your cat outside it's because of the danger that cars cause.  

There are other man-made dangers such as your cat getting poisoned.  Things like anti-freeze, rat poison and types of paint can be deadly for cats.  If your cat does get poisoned while outside, you may not have time to help OR you won't be able to find the cat.  

Predators

Another huge problem for outdoor cats is their predators.  Wildlife like foxes and badgers (here in Scotland) kill many cats every year.  Unfortunately, people often feed these predators close to pet homes (even if unintentionally) which causes major danger to cats.  Also, if you live close to other houses who have dogs then this is also risky.  I personally witnessed a cat being attacked by a dog after the cat jumped into the dog's garden.  Long story short, both the cat AND dog were put to sleep.  Clearly, this was a terrible situation that I never want anyone else (or any pets) to go through.  Don't risk it.  You never know how a dog will react.  




*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

Do you think your cat hates you?  Sometimes we unintentionally annoy our cats to the point that the can become aggressive towards us.   

Fortunately, you can fix this.  With just a few weeks of switching how you act towards our cats, you could see a huge difference.  

1.  You Annoy him

Have you ever watched a kid pick up, pet or annoy a cat?  Maybe we don't take it to this level BUT some cats really don't want to be touched unless it is on their terms.  You may just be trying to get your cat some attention but this is a big no-no if he is already showing signs of not liking you.  It is also possible that if your cat won't sit in your knee for a nap, you are moving around or touching him while he tries to sleep.  

Instead, try using a toy to allow him to play right beside you without any touch.  This is a great way to gain trust and get your cat to eventually like you.  

2.  You Scare him

This is something that my cat has gone through.  He wasn't handled properly as a kitten so he was naturally timid.  A year later as he is still scared of some people in the house if they move too quickly or make a loud noise.  It may be that you have not gained his trust or you have done something to break that trust (I hope by accident).    

If your cat is scared of you there are a few things to do.  First of all, you need to start being very thoughtful while around your cat.  Be careful to stay quiet and avoid moving to fast.  Next, again you should start to play with your cat with his favourite toy.  This is great for creating trust.  If you have another cat then encourage that one to play too.  

3.  No Bond

Cats who aren't bonded to their owner really don't have a great life.  They have no trust for their owner and they don't have the security of an owner who protects them.  They have no desire to be around you or play with you.  This means they will have a boring life and will not like you being around.  

4.  You Play Too Much

Yes, this is possible with cats.  sometimes, your cat may not actually hate you, he is just in the habit of playing rough with you.  I would always recommend NOT playing with your cat with your own hand.  This makes your cat learn that it is okay to bite or scratch you.  Obviously, this isn't what we want and it can turn into a habit quickly.  

Take a break from playing for a few weeks and then you can introduce a *new toy with a long handle* to play with.  

5.  He is Missing Out On Something

Cats get the same frustrations as any other animal.  This could be because the cat is not spayed/neutered and is also not mating (NOT recommended, please spayed/neuter your cat).  If this is the case, you will see a big improvement when he has been done.  

Another big issue that causes aggression in cats is stress.  Depending on what is making your cat stressed, it is easy to treat.  Start by getting *cat shelves* and *wall hides* that hang on the wall.  This will give your cat somewhere high up to hide.  Then you will start to remove the things that are making that cat scared.  



*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

Cat's are never trained in the way that dogs are BUT they are just as smart.  The problem with cats is that they don't care about pleasing you so they seem harder to train.  

1. Sit 

This is super easy to train your cat and is the first thing I taught my kittens Salvester and Marmalade.  I use dreamies as my cat's treats which made it easy to train them.  

First I hold the treat above the cats head so he has to look up at it.  Then I slowly move the treat backwards towards the cat's tail.  When the cat sits give him the treat.  

If the cat jumps up to grab the treat while you are trying to treat sit, pull the treat away, wait for the cat to land then try again.  

2.  Lie Down

This was a little harder for my cats to understand but they got it eventually.  I first get my cat to sit (which needs to be already trained) then I start to pull the treat across the ground away from the cat.  I make it low so the cat has to at least bend down and I pull it just far enough away that he can reach it if he lies down.  

I start by rewarding when the cat just slightly lies down and slowly build up to the full lie down.  

3.  Paw

First, get your cat to sit down and reward.  Then say 'paw', pick your cat's paw up, pause and then reward.  You will then do this a few times.  You can then build up to touching the leg (which will hopefully make the cat life his leg) to just putting your out and saying 'paw'.  

*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

1.  Coat Type

Picking the coat type for your new cat is pretty simple.  Are you short on time or maybe just lazy?  The short-haired cat is for you!  They need much less grooming (although they will still need groomed every now and then).  If you don't mind the daily grooming and occasional trimming then go for the beautiful long-haired cat.

2.  Size

If you are looking at getting the normal, domestic house cat then size isn't really a choice.  If you live in a small house or apartment then it's best to stick to a normal sized cat rather than a bigger breed (like the HUGE Maine coon).

3.  Temperament

When you go looking for your new cat, have a few ready to go to see.  Once you have seen all of the cats, choose the cat with the best personality for your life.  If you have a quiet house with not many animals and people then a quiet, timid cat will work perfectly and bond well with you.  If you have a crazy, active house then choose a confident, friendly cat.


*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

Sleeping Area

With a scared cat, changing their environment is essential.  First of all, provide a high area that the cat can go up to and see the whole room.  In the high area, create 'caves' or hidden areas that the cat can go into to sleep.



Litter Tray

With cats using litter trays, you need to experiment to see what they like.  An anxious cat may prefer a covered litter tray or one that is in a more hidden place.  With an extremely scared cat, you may have to find a way to lift the litter tray up high.



Routine

Depending on what your cat is scared of, you will have to set up a routine to suit him.  Clean out the litter tray at the same times every day and feed at the same time.  For example, if your cat is scared of people or doesn't come out during the day, feed him before you go to sleep.



Products

I love Feliway Classic!  There are different types of defusers for different problems with your cat like fighting or scratching.  It releases the same 'messages' that cats use to interact with other cats.  The defuser with release happy, friendly or territory messages for different solutions.  Just plug it into the wall in your cat's favourite area and you will notice the difference in your cat's behaviour.


*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

What They Do For You

Feral cats are great to adopt if you want rodent control but don't have time to take care of a pet cat.  They simply live in an outbuilding and seriously cut down the number of rats.

What They Need From You

The only things that a feral cat needs from you is a safe place to sleep (like a garage, farm building or a large garden shed), food and water.  As long as you provide these things and follow the directions below, they will do the rest for you.

How to Care For Them

For the first two weeks or so you must keep the cat contained either in a cage or in a building that will be where he sleeps and gets food in the long run.  This gets the cat used to his new surroundings so he will make this his home and not run away.  It also ensures that he knows he will get food here.  After around 4-6weeks you can let him out.  You will probably not see him much but keep replacing the food and water when needed.

Where You Can Adopt One

I personally just adopted a big black and white, long-haired feral cat called Percy (I wish I had a picture of him but I never see him during the day).  I simply contacted a local cat protection organisation and they put me on a waiting list for what they call 'farm cats' (feral cats that usually get adopted by farm owners).  Then, when they had one available they contacted me and dropped him off at my house.

The cat will usually be vet checked, neutered or spayed and given vaccines for you.  All you need to do is pay a small adoption fee and an optional donation.


*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets

2.  De-shedding tool

This type of brush is great for long haired cats or just in the shedding times.  It helps to get lots of hair out quickly and cleanly without the hair sticking to the brush.

3.  Nail Clippers

You should try to keep your cat's nails short especially for indoor cats.  Long nails can become dangerous and may get ripped out or broken so check your cat's nails every week and trim every month or so.

4.  Cat Shampoo

I think this a newer product as cat shampoo has never really been a thing before recently.  When I got my two new kittens and adopted a farm cat I decided to look for some shampoo to use on them.  I bought this and really love the peach smell.

5.  Flea Comb

Another essential for outdoor cats or if your cat comes into contact with other animals often (like the vet, the groomer or animals coming to your house).  I usually run this through my cat's coat every few weeks to make sure they haven't got any fleas.

*Disclaimer*  

I am not any type of animal expert but instead only an animal lover who wants to share her tips.  Please consult relevant animal specialists and do not only take my advice.

 The Rider's Pets