Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box? You and your cat are good buddies with a special relationship. You know what to expect from each other. At least you used to know! All of a sudden your cat has been peeing outside the litter box. What’s up with that? In this article, we’re going to examine litter box behavior. After answering your question — “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” — we’ll provide you with some solutions.

First of all, don’t get mad at your cat! It could be a result of a medical problem, so contact your veterinarian right away. Behavioral issues can also show up as peeing outside the litter box, so let’s examine both root causes. Dr. Cathy Lund of City Kitty in Rhode Island says that “Anything that changes a cat’s feeling of wellbeing can create a change in behavior, and in cats, that means litter box habit changes.”

Medical Causes For Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box

First you ask your cat’s vet, “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” He or she will ask you about details of the problem: how long it’s been going on, how often it happens, if there are changes in eating or drinking habits, and anything else significant. Medical causes could include any of the following conditions:

• Bladder or kidney stones
• Bladder or kidney infection (often called “UTI” for “urinary tract infection”)
• Other kidney disorders
• Diabetes and other metabolic disorders
• Pain

How To Collect A Cat’s Urine

Provide ample fresh water and make sure no other pets, including you, are around. Here are a few tips if you don’t have a cat urine collection kit:

• Have a clean medicine dropper and small leak-proof container handy.
• Wash the litter box thoroughly, shake it dry, and return it empty to its usual place. Hopefully, the cat will pee in it without litter.
• Same as above, but add a few shreds of clean paper to make the box more inviting.
• Instead of paper, sprinkle a small amount of non-absorbent litter (yes, there is such a thing!) into the box.
• Double-bag the urine sample in a bag or another container and put it in the refrigerator immediately. Deliver it to the vet’s office within 24 hours or less.

If your efforts are unsuccessful, the veterinary staff is experienced at specimen collection. You may need to leave your cat overnight.

Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box: Behavioral Reasons

If your cat’s health checks out, then you’re still left asking, “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” No worries: there are other causes to explore. According to the Only Natural Pet team, “studies have shown litterbox aversion counts for 50% of all cat behavioral issues and is the number one reason for surrender of cats to shelters.”

The Scent of Old Urine

Cats have a very acute sense of smell, so it’s no surprise that they’ve evolved to take advantage of scent as a means of communication. If humans can detect cat urine scent, we often respond with, “Eeewwww!” To your cat, though, sniffing a pee spot is like spending time on social media and it’s natural to want to post back!

Be aware that human attempts to mask the smell don’t remove it. When introducing a new cat to your home, ALWAYS start with a new box and clean litter. As a matter of fact, if you have multiple cats, it’s a good idea to periodically replace the old litter box with a new one. Imagine how you feel sharing the same toilet all the time with other people, especially if it isn’t clean!

Stress Due to Change

Some cat whisperers believe that anxious cats might find the scent of their own urine comforting to be around because it’s familiar. It reinforces their sense of security that they’re on their own turf without invaders and challengers. Consider how it feels to be a cat: you feel safe in familiar surroundings because you know what to expect.

If you’re suddenly transported to a different setting, you don’t know whose turf you’re on, you no longer know what threats await you, and you don’t know where it’s safe to hide. If you’re able to put yourself in your cat’s shoes, you can better understand the reasons for certain behaviors.

WONDER WHAT THE IMPORTANCE OF DIET IS ON HEALTH

Cat Communication With Humans

Among each other, cats use scent and body language as communication. The more you interact with your pet, the better you’ll be able to “converse.” The other thing to remember is that they are predators; their world focuses on prey, territory, and the safety of their young. You and your cat aren’t fluent in each other’s languages, so it’s natural for both of you to attempt to find creative ways to send messages to each other.

Cat urine is an alphabet! The smell, the location, the concentration, and the frequency all provide information. By now you realize the answer to your repeated question “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” Your cat is trying to tell you something very specific!

Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box But Pooping Inside

Instead of asking “Why is my cat peeing outside the litterbox?” maybe you’re fine-tuning your question. Urine marking is often communication in response to territorial triggers such as a household move or the presence of a new animal. Since urine has a much more powerful scent, pooping is usually just for elimination. Most cats bury their feces, which greatly decreases the scent. Burying it also minimizes the chance of spreading intestinal parasites to other cats and kittens in the colony.

Why Is My Cat Peeing Everywhere All Of A Sudden?

If it’s not due to a new medical problem such as a UTI, sudden new peeing everywhere might be caused by a new cat in the household or the neighborhood. A new pet of any kind might trigger territorial behavior to announce the true owner of the turf. Another cause might be the tension of separation anxiety.

Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box At Night?

Again, consider the situation from your cat’s point of view. What is different at night? Try cleaning the litter box right before bed. Pay attention to what kinds of sights and sounds are present at night but not during the day. And vice-versa. Maybe another pet is bullying your cat at night when you’re not awake to stop it. Maybe your cat needs a night light. Provide a new litterbox in a different location and watch what happens.

What Is My Cat’s Opinion Of The Perfect Litter Box

Cleanliness: Cats prefer a large, uncovered box in a sheltered spot with room to turn around as well as to bury their leavings. Large or exceptionally fluffy cats don’t appreciate being cramped any more than you do in a tiny bathroom, especially if more than one cat uses the litterbox. You’ve heard the saying about someone acting as though their poop doesn’t stink; with such sensitive noses, cats definitely have opinions about what stinks! Scoop daily or more often – compare it to flushing your toilet.

If you use a mat around the litter box, sweep it often and wipe it down as needed. Do a monthly scrubbing of the litter box with a gentle cleanser. Strong chemicals are unpleasant to cats, often even toxic. Bleach, for example, when combined with the ammonia in urine, releases poisonous gas!

Location, Location, Location

Location, location, location: Find a quiet spot, away from food and water, that provides a privacy screen of some kind. Your cat looks to you for safety, though, so don’t isolate the box in a place where they might feel cut off from you or trapped. There should be no disturbing or sudden noises nearby. The litter box should be easy to find, especially for a cat who has arthritis or impaired vision. A box on each level of the home is ideal.

The right litter: Just as chefs and wine connoisseurs discuss mouthfeel as part of the tasting experience, cats would discuss “pawfeel” with you if they could. Kittens start learning about pawfeel from their mothers when they’re about three weeks old. Clay litters, ground corncobs, and shredded newspaper all feel very different to sensitive cat paws. Some cats can be induced to switch after gradually mixing a new kind of litter with the familiar, but others will simply seek a new toileting spot.

ONE LITTER BOX PER CAT!!!

Vet recommendations: One box per cat; more is better because some cats include litter boxes in their territorial claims. Leave clay and crystals in the past and choose natural litter. A few cats like to use one box for pee and another for poo. Remember to scoop, scoop, scoop!

A happy life outside the box: Cats need playtime, stimulating toys, hideyholes, places to climb, and windows for watching the goings-on. And they definitely need your love and attention.

Ways To Reinforce Training

All of us need reminders and brush-up training, and cats are no exception. If you have kittens or feral cats around, you’ll find it beneficial to reinforce litter box training. NEVER punish a cat for peeing or pooping outside the litterbox. Yelling, spanking, or rubbing their nose in their waste will break the bond of trust you share. Providing frequent gentle reminders of the location of the clean litter box will be much more effective. You can also leave a bit of fresh poo and a urine-soaked piece of paper towel on top of fresh litter to create a scent message.

How Do I Clean Invisible Pee?

On a garment with a fresh stain, rinse well with cool water. Add a cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar before machine washing. Repeat with an enzyme cleaner if you can still detect the smell. Dry without heat to prevent the scent from setting permanently. Don’t forget to wash your laundry basket.

If the stain is on cloth furniture or carpet, use a similar method. Some experienced cat people use a 1:1 solution of water with white or apple cider vinegar (half water, half vinegar) after blotting first with cold water. Repeat as needed. The acid in the vinegar will help offset the odor. You can also sprinkle on baking soda, leaving it for at least an hour before vacuuming. The trick is to neutralize, not deodorize. Here’s another trick: a black light will illuminate invisible urine stains on floors and carpets.

After cleaning and neutralizing, cover urine-marked areas to prevent further use. Place food and water bowls to indicate that the area is for dining rather than toileting. You can also try placing cotton balls soaked in a citrus-scented liquid such as lemon juice or lemon oil as a deterrent. Your vet might suggest other scents that smell good to humans but deter cats from marking.

The Best Litter For Cats Who Pee Outside The Litter Box

Before we go on, here’s a trivia question for you: Who invented cat litter? Answer: Edward Lowe, back in the 1940s, came up with a way to help a neighbor whose cat was tracking ashes all over the house. Until he came along, people put ashes, sand, or dirt in their cat’s boxes.

Consider litter from the feline viewpoint. With their incredible sense of smell, they prefer a clean, natural, unperfumed material for toileting. Baking soda and charcoal additives absorb the scent for humans but not for cats; the best scent control is frequent scooping. Cats also like something comfortable that doesn’t kick up dust when they paw through it.

Rule out clay and crystals. Clay is cheap but it turns gluey when wet. In addition to being dusty, clay often contains silicates which are bad for the respiratory system. The dust clings to fur where it later is licked off and swallowed, later leading to digestive problems. Crystal litter contains sodium silicate, the same chemicals labeled “DO NOT EAT” in little packets meant to absorb moisture. The crystals are also hard and sharp on tender paws.

Here are some natural, biodegradable litter ingredients you’ll want to look for because they’re better for your cat as well as the environment:

Biodegradable Litter Ingredients

• Recycled corn cobs, kernels, or husks: Usually flushable, dust-free, clumping, absorbent, providing good odor control
• Wheat and other grains: Usually flushable, dust-free, clumping, absorbent, providing good odor control; some pets might find it tasty, though!
• Pine, cedar, and other softwood shavings and pellets: Low dust, absorbent, deodorizing, may be flushable in small amounts; turns to sawdust when wet – often used with a special filter so the sawdust falls below the screen for easy emptying
• Grass seed: Clumps fast and hard, flushable, dust-free, providing good odor control
• Recycled paper: Dust-free, doesn’t stick to incisions or wounds

Remember that the best litter in the world won’t make your cat happy unless you scoop daily. Scoop three times daily! Scoop the litter every time YOU go to the bathroom and your cat will love you!

A Note About Cat Poop

Because cat feces can transmit the bacterial disease toxoplasmosis to water and soil, never flush it. Dispose of it as regular trash. For the same reason, to prevent any risk of contamination, never use any cat litter as compost for edible crops.

Final Thoughts: Now Here’s Your Chance To Play Detective

To quote Sherlock Holmes, “the game’s afoot!” If you don’t know what that means, the famous English detective said those words when he was about to jump to the challenge of solving a mystery! After being informed through this post about cat psychology and behavior, try tuning into your cat by becoming aware of the subtleties. Amazingly, this will help you in every other area of life as life; hence, the conception “Animals are our teachers ~ if we are so willing”.

Why Do Cats Lick Each Other? Cats can be funny, curious, sweet, and entertaining pets. Those who own cats and love cats love most of the things that cats do. However, cats still have some unique behaviors that not every cat owner understands. One of those behaviors includes licking each other or licking their owners. There are several reasons why cats lick each other (and you!).

It’s a Grooming Thing

All cats, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, and other wild cats, spend countless hours grooming themselves and other members of their respective groups. Since domesticated cats are descendants of wild cats, it shouldn’t surprise you that this grooming behavior also called allogrooming is innate. It cannot be trained out of your feline friends. Cats are among some of the animal kingdom’s most fastidious beasts. They prefer to be as clean as possible rather than the least bit dirty.

As for licking humans, it’s still a grooming thing. At least, part of licking a human is grooming, since a cat considers you a close personal member of its feline family. It’s said that you can adopt dogs, but it’s cats that adopt you. That is proven in whether or not your cats want to lick you as part of their grooming behavior. There are other reasons why a cat might lick a human, and many of those reasons are the same for licking another cat.

Cats licking eath other ~ It’s an Affection Thing

Cats only lick other cats that they like. You won’t see two cats that clearly don’t get along participating in the licking behavior. Just as humans exchange hugs and kisses, cats demonstrate their most heartfelt affection for other cats and humans by licking. If your cat regularly gives you “kitty kisses” with his or her tuna breath, consider it an honor and a sign of devoted affection.

If you have any doubt that this is an affection behavior, just watch two cats that are bonded and inseparable. They will spend hours cuddled together on their favorite piece of furniture, frequently waking from naps to lick each other and then go back to sleep. They will also wake from naps to bathe each other at length, a sign of their affection for each other. Cats that are mating may lick each other too, but that depends on the temperament of the mating cats.

It’s a Mating Thing

Cats that are well-suited to each other’s temperament will attempt to mate. As part of the mating ritual, one cat will attempt to lick another cat to see if the second cat is receptive to the sexual advances of the first. If the licking behavior of the advancing cat is not met with swats of paws, hissing, biting, and/or a catfight with claws, the advancing cat will attempt to assume the mating position.

For females, the mating position is the presentation of the derriere with an uplifted tail in a submissive position. For males, it is attempting to climb on top from behind while either nipping or licking while trying to get into position. After mating, some cats may cuddle up together and continue grooming (i.e., licking behavior). Others will not. It just depends on the cats.

It’s a Tasting Thing

If cats smell something tasty on another cat or on a human’s hands, they will lick. They are trying to taste whatever they smell, even if there’s no remaining residue of the seemingly delicious smell available. Sometimes a sweaty hand with salty sweat on it is enough to encourage a cat to lick because it smells warm and salty. (Salt is something that cats and most living creatures enjoy the taste of, which is why a sweaty palm is a delicious thing to a cat!)

At other times, a cat isn’t trying to taste something good. It’s trying to ingest the scent molecules of something that’s no longer there. Ingesting the scent molecules allows the cat to figure out what he/she is smelling when the scent is too faint to decipher. Being curious and trying to figure out what a scent is involves a deeper investigation using the cat’s own tongue.

It’s an Identification Thing

Likewise, with trying to identify a faint smell, a cat will lick another cat or a human to identify them. Every human and every other cat has its own “taste”, and a cat can identify who’s who by licking them. This is how cats tell identical humans and identical (or nearly identical) cats apart. The proof is in the licking; one set of human twins may look exactly alike to your cat, but one twin will “taste” different from the other, signaling to the cat which twin is the one he/she likes better.

Pheromones also exist in certain areas of the body in cats. For cats, the pheromones are located in the face, near the ears, and around the head. A licking in these areas helps one cat identify another and either be glad for the company or rebuff the company.

It’s a Marking Thing

Cats have dozens of little sandpapery “pockets” on their tongues. These “pockets help cats lap up water and food. The “pockets” also help store scent markers. When cats lick other cats, they are leaving their personal mark behind.

It’s like saying, “Hey, this other cat is my friend. Nobody better touch him/her!” Cats may even use this to mark friendly cats that they want to visit with later. You will notice that when a cat leaves its licking mark on another that it will return to smell that other cat later to see if the lick marks/scent is still there. It’s a territorial feature used by big cats in the wild to recognize and identify familiar cats with whom they are friends or family.

It’s a Nurturing Thing

Kittens are born wet, covered in a mucous-y slime, blind, and unable to get dry or cleaned up. Mother cats (a.k.a., queens), will clean the newborn kittens and dry them off so that the kittens aren’t cold or shivering. The mother cat licking the kittens also stimulates the kittens’ circulatory and respiratory systems. Both of these systems are vital to the kittens’ post-birth survival.

Kittens also do not know how to use their urinary or excretory organs to relieve themselves. Mother cats have to constantly lick genitals and anuses to encourage kittens to go to the bathroom. It’s gross, but true. If you ever have to raise kittens without a mother cat, you will have to frequently wipe these areas with a warm, moist cloth. This encourages the kittens to release urine and feces.

It’s a Helping Thing

You can’t wash all of your back without a tool to help reach certain areas, right? Even monkeys and apes spend time helping each other groom parts of the body they can’t reach on their own. It’s no less true of cats. They need help grooming areas they can’t reach, which is why cats spend time helping each other with the grooming process.

Sure, all that “kitty yoga” looks like it does the trick as cats can clean areas of their body like no other animal can. However, no matter how well a cat can twist itself into crazy positions, it still can’t reach a few areas. For that, cats will engage each other to finish grooming anything they themselves can’t reach.

Why do cats lick eath other? It’s a Healing Thing

You may not have known this, but cat saliva is antimicrobial. That means it helps wash away anything that could cause infection in a wound. If you see one cat constantly licking another cat in a focused area, it might be a good idea to take the licked cat to the vet. There may be a wound or some other unseen medical issue that the first cat is trying to cure for the second cat.

In short, the cat that is doing the licking is playing doctor. It’s telling the sick or injured feline friend that it is going to heal him/her. So it continues to lick areas that the second cat has a medical/health problem with.

Find Out About Nutrition for Emotional and Psychological Well-Being

It’s an Emotional and Psychological Well-Being Thing

Licking and being licked reminds cats of their loving mothers. They get a sense of warmth, safety, and security in that licking. An anxious cat immediately becomes calm, and cats are naturally happier when they are licking each other. While it’s unlikely that you are going to spend any time licking your cat, there is a holistic and simple way to reproduce this calming effect in and grooming behavior for the well-being of your cat.

Choose a soft-bristled brush with thick bristles. When you run it over your hand, it should feel like a softer version of a cat’s tongue. This is what you are looking for, and you should be brushing your kitty a couple of times a day to reproduce this relaxing sensation. It’s a far better option than feeding kitty anti-anxiety medications that have nasty side effects.

It’s a Dominance Thing

You wouldn’t think that cat licking other cats is a dominance thing, but it is. If you have more than one cat in the house, the cat that has been in the house the longest is typically your dominant cat. He or she doesn’t like other cats in his/her territory but will tolerate other cats if the other cats allow licking behavior and accept the dominant cat’s assertion.

To dominate, the main cat will intentionally lick and groom all others. He or she is stating that this house is his/her territory. But that submissive cats are welcome as long as they submit to him/her. An occasional nip on the head or ears while the licking is occurring ensures that the submissive cats understand who’s dominant.

So, Why Do Cats Lick Each Other?

There’s almost no answer left to why do cats lick each other except to say that it’s just a cat thing. Dogs might do it, but you don’t see it often. Cats will lick each other and their people all the time. When you want to know why do cats lick each other, it helps to take into account the cat’s personality, habits, rank in the household, and what is typical for each cat.

Before we talk about the 5 Reasons Why We Feed Raw Food Diets to Our Pets, I want to share with you some of our personal experiences around raw food. The first thing that led me to investigate different diets for both our dogs and cats was constant and varying health issues.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks.

We’ve been feeding raw to our pets for about 8 years now and before that time I made home-cooked pet food primarily consisting of stews. I changed up the veggies and greens regularly so as to give them the best variety of nutrients. I also added the necessary ingredients to supplement vitamins and minerals to avoid nutritional deficiencies. With the homecooked food, we noticed dramatic changes.

Faithful Home Cooked Stew

And for those clients that came to me at that time for holistic treatment for their dogs or cats, I suggested homecooked stews of chicken, beef, and wild game, of course with lots of veggies and maybe a sweet potato. We saw numerous accounts of dogs getting their vitality and energy back. Their coats transformed from dullish shades to shiny resulting in vital fur. Tummy troubles, digestion issues, and a whole host of other improvements were underway.

Many a dog owner, that have been clients in the past or are currently, faithfully still cook homemade stews for their dog. Once they saw the difference in how dramatically the proper diet transformed their dog or cat, they were eternally committed! Or let’s say, ARE eternally committed. Even to the point when I try to tell them how a raw meat diet outranks the previous game changer, they don’t budge. But that’s ok because any home-cooked diet still has many advantages over commercial pet food, dry kibble, or processed food. More on the dry dog food and commercial dog food in a moment.

Why Not Quality Dry Kibble?

Again what I share with you in my blog posts is based on my personal experience. But what makes me an authority on the subject of raw feeding goes beyond my personal experience and opinion. Its based on the testimony of many of my clients that made the leap.

Ok for starters, we all know that at a minimum a diet based on fresh fruits, vegetables, and quality sourced protein is good for us as people. Many of us know when we eat a certain way, say over-processed food, too many carbs, the wrong carbs, fried or boxed food, sugar, etc . . . We feel . . . well basically like c r a p.

Yes, I said a word. But it’s true, wouldn’t you agree. There is a tremendous variation to all the diverse ways of eating healthy on an individual basis. But one thing is for sure and that is when we eat appropriately for ourselves . . . we know it. We feel better, we sleep better, we think better, we function better. We live better. We Love better. We are better people to be around. PERIOD.

It’s the same for the animal kingdom. Nature designed animals to eat a certain way. And its a God given natural blueprint. When a dog or cat is permitted to follow their species-specific diet they will thrive from a foundational level. Their blueprint is a raw food diet. A wild dog eats raw meat, raw bone, muscle meat, organ meat, and meaty bone. A wild cat inherently eats the same but will choose to eat different parts of its prey to get the correct ratio of nutrients for its raw diet.

What About An ORGANIC Commercial Pet Food Kibble?

The keyword here is Organic. In my early years of trying to feed the best cat food and dog food I could find out there, I went for the Organic label for sure. And I believe anything truly organic is going to be better than not organic. Having said that just because something is labeled organic doesn’t necessarily make it so. But that’s a topic for another blog post. My go-to was Wysong dry food for both my pet’s diet. I free-fed the cat food for my felines and did twice a day meal feeding for the dogs.

The point is that this was still NOT A species specific diet for my best friends. Dogs and cats are carnivores. Cats are obligate carnivores. Dogs eat a variety of other plants, herbs and veggies but the largest percentage of their diet is raw meat.

I fed organic dry kibble for years and yet my animals still experienced health issues. My kitty, back then, Camanche had thyroid issues that no veterinary visit seemed to remedy. When we did address his out of whack thyroid numbers, the medication made him horribly ill; vomiting repeatedly, stumbling, disoriented. This hurt my heart terribly watching him endure such suffering. He was and still is from the ethers, a primary teacher for me.

Digging Deeper

Camanche taught me to dig deeper, research, and experiment. It was through his illnesses that prompted me to find better alternatives for him, our other animals, and all the other people that sought treatment from us to help their beloved pets feel better. Or at least improve the quality of their life to the very best possible.

Moving On To Why We Feed Raw

A natural dog’s diet doesn’t include packaged carbohydrates. This is even more true for cats being 90% carnivorous. Animals in the wild do not eat out of a processed package. Dry kibble is exactly that. . . . . dry . . . . and the carbohydrates at this high a level are disastrous for an animals metabolism. The natural food chain is a real thing.

There is plenty of research out there, but the best research is experimenting with your own cat or dog. For cats, dry kibble is a primary factor in kidney disease which runs rampant. The dry food literally dehydrates them and has an adverse effect on the kidneys. When the kidneys don’t function well or lose their ability to filter waste, the waste backs up in their system and they become toxic. Constant what I call, ‘hanging over the water bowl’ is not a good sign. Think kidney issues.* Usually when the signs of this are seen it’s too late. Waste matter builds up over time and they can’t process it. Many feline’s lives are ended prematurely due to this toxicity.

*Cat’s typically are supposed to obtain their moisture from their food (hence raw food). There is a lot of moisture in meat. Freshwater should always be available to your pet, whether dog or cat, but cats will only on occasion drink water if they eating a correct diet.

Prevention

Another popular name for this is Renal Failure. I will also say right here that raw feeding is not a magic bullet, but pretty close to. There are many environmental chemicals, heavy metals, toxins, and pathogens that we and our animals are exposed to that are beyond our control.

And many times we need to detoxify our animals through holistic treatments, supplements, pure water, and lifestyle changes (i.e. stop using chemicals in, on, and around the house). Pets absorb enormous amounts of chemicals and chemical lawn fertilizers through the pads of their feet, such as one of the most toxic chemicals known to man, that being glyphosate. Guess what, that is in your well-intentioned weed killer, Roundup.

Raw pet food will not eliminate their exposure to such chemicals and often there is more to do to restore health to our furred four-leggeds. So starting them on a raw dog food diet or cat food diet is a great beginning. Whether you’ve just adopted a new puppy or kitten or your long-term relationship with your best buddy, is challenged by health issues, feeding raw IS the place to start. Start Now!

Why We Feed Raw, The First Step To Health

If your pet is young and just getting started you can start now to build a strong foundation for health and immunity. Get them started on the right paw. If your pet is struggling with health issues starting on a raw feeding schedule can help them tremendously. Or if your dog has been diagnosed with a serious health condition, why not assure them the best quality of life from here on out. The raw food can relax the nervous system, allow them to sleep better, and begin to support the immune system to the best of its ability. This is a great place to build upon even if they need further holistic treatment.

Strengthened Immunity

When we started our kitty, Camanche on raw food he had still yet a lot to resolve. But what we did notice after his first raw meal was that he became so SO calm from anxiety and he stretched out on the floor for a nap and was incredibly ~ what I call . . . . s t r e t c h y . . . . he was elongated with his abdomen relaxed.

It was such a relief to see him comfortable instead of in a “hunchy position” with his tummy and underside all bunched up. That is a sign of discomfort when your cat can’t stretch out. This is usually discomfort and/or pain in the abdomen. The raw food diet certainly helped him be more comfortable but he had already had some years of struggle. So there were more support measures we needed to put in place, which we continued to implore.

In the final analysis, I determined it was a chronic low grade infection that was the culprit which affected many different systems of body and psyche. And now today we have holistic remedies for that as well. I could say, ‘If I knew then what I know now’ . . . he may still be with us. Camanche is a pioneer for us and through his journey, we discovered much that has changed the lives of many animals since his transition in 2017.

Starting Out On The Right Paw

Our current kitties, Isaiah and Elijah both came to us at 3 months of age within one day of each other. They were rescue kitties fostered by a friend of ours. When they came home to live with us, Isaiah was lethargic, had no appetite, had discharge oozing out of his right eye, wouldn’t hold his tail up, and didn’t meow.

Elijah was the other end of the spectrum. He was so wound up he couldn’t stop moving, this was not to mistake it for a high energy cat. His metabolism was clearly undesirably sped up. He reacted and startled at the slightest of noises, his tummy was upset constantly trying to find a comfortable position, his eyes dilated (fear and pain), he had a hard time settling down. He was hanging over the water bowl constantly. That is not a good sign for a cat. It can mean the kidneys are in distress. He was ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD!!!

I couldn’t believe it. These guys were discontent and uncomfortable. We started them immediately on raw food. No slow transition from kibble to raw for these guys. They needed true nutrition, available enzymes, raw bone, muscle, and meat from the gate. We also gave them bioavailable minerals, colostrum, bone broth protein, flower essences, CBD for anxiousness, chlorella, and various homeopathic remedies.

Positive Change Ahead

Within 3 months Isaiah was meowing for more and more food. He is the ‘foodie’ of the household and will often be found in contemplation in front of the refrigerator. His eye discharge has cleared up. His coordination and sensory perception are now of a different caliber. Elijah is now calm most of the time, his tummy issues are thing of the past. The skin condition on his hind legs is 100% clear. We are now two years later and our furred buddies are doing great. If I didn’t mention, their coats are absolutely beautiful. Their coats are absolutely beautiful!

Their raw kitty food diet has been and is imperative to foundational health. As mentioned this was not all we needed to do but without the correct nutrition, our efforts would not have yielded the results. They are flourishing and doing beautifully. Here they are on a walkabout from this summer. Notice how bright their eyes are and the health of their coats:

The 5 Reasons Why We Feed Raw Food Diets

1) Our Pets are worth it!

2) Strengthened Immunity & Prevention

3) Improved Recovery

4) Favorable Well Being

5) Increased Stamina, Vitality and Life Force

In other words, here are some of the physical, mental and emotional benefits:

• Improved Digestion
• Increased energy
• Less Flatulence
• Better ability to absorb nutrients
• Playfulness and Creativity
• Shinier, lustrous coats
• Sparkly eyes
• More mobile joints
• Minimized pain
• Increased Vigor
• Better behavior
• Improved learning and listening capacity
• Healthier gums and teeth (fewer tooth extractions!)

A Few Last Tips

A raw food diet will cost more than a commercial pet food diet. But when you think about the cost of frequent veterinarian visits, the price of medications, surgeries, and follow-up visits you will see that it pays off to spend a little more on their food and boost their immunity. They’ll be less susceptible to commonplace conditions, their constitution will be stronger, and less prone to injuries. But most importantly, your best buddy will be happier and healthier. And finally, I’ll bet you’ll save more money in the long run . . . . we have.

The last thing I want to leave you with is don’t take my word for it or the word of many clients who have first hand reaped the benefits, but try it for yourself. My absolute favorite raw pet food company suggests a 90-day challenge, to see if you don’t see positive changes within 90 days. If you love your pets as much as I do mine . . . why not? Here is a link to my favorite raw pet food company.

You’ll also find a ton of education in their blog and the most excellent customer service I’ve seen in a long time. If you read through their blog which I highly recommend, you find a few posts from me too! They truly care . . . So do I. I’m also available for consultations whether your local or far away.

We can be reached through our website at HappyTails.tips or through the category tab Work With Me on the top menu of the website.

You might be wondering what is the best way to restrain a cat to trim its nails so that you don’t get scratched or your cat hurt. It’s basically listening to your cat, dog, or any other pet that needs its claws cut on a regular basis. The First key is really reading social cues just like you would if you were having a conversation with a person.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks.

Animals are communicating with us in every interaction we have with them. When you are speaking with a person, ideally there is an appropriate exchange of sharing thoughts, ideas, and responses. Typically we sit or stand at an acceptable distance from one another to communicate. Then there is some form of acknowledgment that we have actually heard what the other person has said and we comment or respond. It’s the same way with animals.

Just because an animal’s language is different than people’s, it is by no means any less important. The Second key is patience. I’m going to repeat . . . . yes, the word . . . .

P a t i e n c e

Handle Paws Frequently

This is where most pet’s people fall short. Probably the single greatest factor in acquiring any animal’s co-operation is patience. If we just wait for them to process what it is we are asking of them, such as trimming nails we’ll make great progress. The end result is we won’t have to restrain them at all! Just listen to them and dance with them, do not try to ‘DO’ anything to them, but work together as team.

The Third key is to start handling their paws as frequently as possible when you are NOT trying to clip nails. If your cat is the cuddly type, use the opportunity when you are stroking them be sure to run your hands all the way down their legs gently touching those front paws and the pads underneath and holding them for a brief second.

Basics: Clipping Cat Nails Effectively

Most importantly, begin to handle your cat or kittens paws as frequently as possible. You can do this while picking them up and holding them or when they are enjoying cuddle time and being stroked. Learn to pet not only their backs but down all their legs (front & back) landing at the paws and holding briefly. Many times they will resist, but after a while, if you persist in your gentleness and consistency they will realize there is nothing to fear and will eventually come to enjoy it.

I personally give my cats little massages between their toes and have since we adopted them completely feral at 3 months of age. Cat nail trims were not an option from day one but within a few months we did one whole paw at a time and now two years later they will allow me to trim all their nails practically while they are napping.

Use Just Enough Pressure and Nothing More

The Fourth key is to use just enough pressure to do the job and nothing more. Cats that are adopted, that have had any abuse, or have been feral for any length of time, take time to develop trust. Although from the positive intentions of rescues, animal clinics, and fostering, cats and kittens have often been captured and handled roughly. In light of spaying, neutering, vaccinations and loud metal cages these little four-leggeds develop apprehension about being handled at all. So handling them as gently as possible with leadership is a great recipe for success.

First of all, pick a time when they are relaxed or in a good mood. Maybe after eating a meal or playtime. Hold them gently and their paw as gently as possible without any extra pressure, only enough to let them know what you want. For example, with a significantly stressed cat, ask to do only ONE nail at a time and then reward them with verbal praise, petting, and a treat.

If while trying to trim a nail they start hissing, pin their ears, try to scratch you or try to flee abruptly from your arms . . . . finish the one claw and let them know they are Okay. The timing of the reward is imperative. Don’t give them the release until they are calm. It may be a moment or two. Then reward. Divert them with Play. Make it fun. You might just stop there for the day and build on the trust you developed. Wait a week or so and proceed again.

Reward Good Behavior Not Bad

This is a tricky one. The Fifth key is that you want to reward good behavior and this teaches your pet directly what you want and what you are asking of them. On the other hand, you don’t want to reward bad behavior by petting, them, letting them go too soon, or giving a treat right after they try to bite you, scratch you, or flee from your arms. If you give them a treat right after they bite you, essentially you are telling them, “I’ll praise you for biting me”!!

When you get even the smallest amount of submission or co-operation, that is the time to give them the release; that is physically setting them down, telling them ‘good boy or good girl’ and sometimes giving a treat to let them know in their language this is good, this is what I want. Animals inherently want to please their people and thoroughly enjoy being in a relationship with us.

Avoid Clipping the Quick of the Nail

When kitties have translucent nails it’s much easier to visibly see the quick compared to kitties with black nails. Even with my cats who both have translucent nails, I error on the side of caution and usually as a rule of thumb clip only about a total of a quarter of the nail. I do need to trim their nails more often. But since ‘trust’ has been established and it took a little bit to get here, I’d rather have happy, trusting kitties that get their nails trimmed more frequently. For felines with black nails adhering to clipping only the quarter of the nail should prove safe for preventing clipping the quick. Quick Blood Stopper Antiseptic Styptic Powder

Important Considerations

One side note, try to avoid using big bulky gloves on your hands to do nail trimming on your cat’s nail. This can really freak out your kitten or any cat. It gives them one more thing to be afraid of and really is unnecessary if you take the time to build trust.

Rear Paw

As a cat owner, both my cats are indoor cats and I only trim the front nails. I leave the rear paw alone. Not because I don’t think they wouldn’t let me clip them but because for an indoor cat, really only the front paws need to be clipped. Whether you have an indoor cat or an outdoor cat, grooming just the front should be adequate. In particular though, if you have an outdoor cat it is definitely best to leave the back claws intact. This can protect them and help them climb if necessary away from a predator.

The Dew Claw

Also, don’t forget to clip what is called the dewclaw. It’s actually higher up on the leg from the rest of the pet’s nails. The dewclaw can grow long and become an ingrown nail. This is mostly in an older cat. But the younger ones, especially an indoor cat can get hung up easily on the dewclaw.

The Five Keys on How to Clip Cat Nails

Additional Tips for Successful Nail Clipping

The KItty Burrito Method ~ You wrap your kitty snuggly but comfortably in a towel or blanket and only pull out the paw you are going clip keeping the body wrapped as to avoid getting scratched.

Flower Essence ~ Rescue Remedy Given a 1/2 hour before the clipping session can help calm down your Kitty, reducing anxiety and apprehension.

CBD Oil ~ Can have a tremendous calming effect for most cats. This would be my number one go-to if your cat responds well to a quality CBD Oil. A few drops of this oil in some food or even on the pads of the feet can make a world of difference. Use about 1 hour before trimming.

Homeopathic Remedies ~ There are numerous homeopathic remedies that can be helpful for anxiety as well. Such as Gelesium and Arsenicum Album. This takes a little experimenting to find the right remedy. And some research to find the best description of the remedy that describes your pet. But once you do the right remedy can work wonders.

Quick Blood Stopper – antiseptic styptic powder ~ Good to have on hand just in case you accidentally hit the quick.

Nail Clippers ~ quality cat nail clippers. Get that nail the first time . . . you can also use human nail clippers. They are very quiet and don’t make any sound which is a huge bonus. The only disadvantage is that it’s harder to see how much of the nail you actually have compared to the cat nail clippers. I have used these many times as well on our kitties. I just have to make sure I have really good light and maybe even have my reading glasses on!

Your Cat’s Diet is Foundational

You might be wondering, how IS diet related to giving your cat the perfect nail trim? When pets are given the proper nutrition for their species it makes all the difference in the world in their health, temperament, disposition, and mood. Since this post is specifically about our feline friends let’s talk about the feline diet. Cats are 90% carnivorous. That means they are obligate meat-eaters.

I have found from my experience with my own cats and those that I have worked with within my holistic animal practice, that cats literally THRIVE on a quality raw food diet. Many health conditions can be healed simply from a raw cat food diet. This is my favorite raw pet food company and what we use right in our own house. I used to grind up whole chickens and add some nutrients to make my own raw cat food.

That is until I found this wonderful raw pet food company. Elijah and Isaiah, our two beloved kitties agree . . . . . they LOVE their food. And yes we pay for quality food for them but it is so worth it to have happy healthy cats. And lastly, it saves me Sooooo much time.

One last note on the diet, they make incredible raw food treats as well, Elijah and Isaiah’s favorite being Lamb Lungs. I noticed the very first time I gave them treats they were so calm. I truly thought it was by coincidence but it happens every time. They are getting the nutrients as if they were eating in the wild. That is what makes a species-specific diet.

Meet Isaiah and Elijah

Elijah and Isaiah adopted us as their caregivers two years ago almost to date. Both came from different counties, and were living in dumps, and were feral. And they both were approximately 3 months of age. Isaiah had only been handled twice by people when he came home to live with us. They are the most loving of brothers even though not by blood. These cats taught me how to ‘dance‘ with them to clip their nails.

ReCap ~ Summary

• Gently start handling your cat’s paws frequently at cuddle time or playtime
• Approach from kindness and gentleness not “doing a procedure”
• Stop! If hissing or aggression (but do not let them go)
• Clip one nail at a time and build on that
• Reward after accomplishing the goal even if after just one claw
• Diversion – make it a great experience and something to look forward to
• Build Relationship and hold your cat rather than “restraining”
• Use Calming products
• And most of all have P A T I E N C E

If you have ever walked into an animal shelter before, you have probably seen quite a number of striped cats. These cats are often described as “tabby cats,” but “tabby” is not a breed. It is actually a generalized description of a coat pattern common to almost all breeds of felines.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks.

What is even more interesting about any tabby cat is that their coat patterns are as individual to each cat as fingerprints are to humans. You cannot and will not ever find two cats with exactly the same striping pattern, even if the two cats come from exactly the same litter.

The style of patterning depends on several things, and there are actually five patterns that fall under the tabby pattern heading. Let’s take a closer look at these little wild tigers that have taken over domestic homes for several centuries now.

Tabbies and Cat Breed

Tabbies are not a breed. Like many other animals exhibiting special fur or coat markings and colors, tabbies’ coats are a result of genetic mutations on alleles in their genes. Alleles are parts of genes, and genes are parts of chromosomes, and chromosomes are part of your DNA. In cats, these genetic mutations on specific alleles are responsible for the individual striping patterns in tabby coat markings.

Almost any breed can produce a tabby cat. In fact, there are only a handful of purebred cats that do not have tabby marking as part of their standard coat coloring and patterning options. Of those breeds, you can only get a tabby-marked cat IF you breed the purebred non-tabby with another breed where tabby marking is common, producing a mixed breed cat that results in the striped coat. Even Persian cats and hairless Spinxes can have the striped markings of a tabby cat.

Tabby Gene

When a cat owner starts talking about the “tabby gene,” he or she is referring to the fact that these cats have mutations in their genes that cause the striping pattern. This “gene” exists in almost all cats, regardless if it is prominent in the cat or cats you currently have. It can be recessive, muted or even dominant, depending on how many of the striped cats are in your cat’s family tree.

Recessive tabby cat pattern genes may not be apparent in your cat, but if your cat has offspring with another cat that is either dominant- or recessive-gened for the tabby cat coat, one or more of the kittens in the litter may end up being a tabby kitten. Only when neither the father or mother cat has a recessive, muted, or dominant gene will the kittens be solid, calico, or tuxedo (i.e., half white, half another solid color).

A muted gene means that the striping pattern is visible but almost non-existent. This color pattern is the result of numerous pairings of ancestral cats that do not have the tabby coat gene. It is commonly seen in calicos that have the striping around the face or part of the tail but nowhere else, or in “tabicos” which are cats that are part or half calico, part or half tabby-cat.

The Four Coat Patterns

Most striking of all coat patterns is some of the more unusual markings in these cats. Everyone is familiar with the “M” stripes on the forehead and stripes wrapping around the cheeks and eyes and the stripes reaching from the back downward. This is the most common color pattern but there are four all told.

Spotted Tabby Pattern

This tabby pattern makes the cat look like a miniature version of a lynx. It frequently has lots of broken stripes that look more like spots all over the cat, and the end of the tail is solid black. The ears may also be solid black, and sometimes white or cream fur is on the face, chest and/or belly too. The spotted tabby is loved for its almost wildcat look.

Mackerel Tabby

The mackerel pattern is the most common. It is easily identified by its obvious “M” stripe on the forehead and the criss-crossing of black stripes over the whole body of the cat. The mackerel tabby pattern is often referred to as “classic tabby”, but the “classic” cat is another coat marking altogether.

A brown tabby cat or an orange cat with black stripes are two of the most common colors you will see. Garfield, the cartoon cat, is an example of a famous orange tabby cat with mackerel markings. However, an orange tabby cat with black stripes is very rare. It is more likely for an orange tabby to have darker orange or brown stripes or cream stripes instead.

One might assume, as previously mentioned, that the classic markings of these cats is part of the mackerel patterning. Even cat owners are surprised to learn that there is a specific pattern in the coats of these cats referred to as the classic pattern. This pattern is fewer bars and stripes and much more whorls and swirls, often with a sort of bull’s eye on the cat’s body somewhere. It is a very desirable coat pattern because there are no wild cats left in the world with these unique markings.

Ticked Tabby

The ticked tabby pattern doesn’t look like a cat coat of this type at all. The individual hairs have several bands of color that refract and split coloring throughout the coat. The reason for this development in some cats was one of necessity. Their ancestors roamed sandy areas and areas where low grasses did not provide a lot of cover against natural predators. To blend in, the cats developed this coat camouflage to blend in with sands and short grasses. These cats with this ticked pattern may still have some striping on the faces, legs and very ends of their tails.

The Tabby Cat Personality

To talk of the tabby cat personality is neither here nor there. Since almost every breed of cat and every “moggie” of a cat has its own personality, you never know quite what you will get until you spend some time with a domesticated cat with stripes or spots. (Side note: A “moggie” is a British word referring to any cat that is not of a specific breed, a sort of “mutt” of the cat world.) You could just as easily get a ticked, shy, tabby-marked cat of Abyssinian descent that runs away and hides when people come over as you might get a muted tabico who constantly begs for attention from everyone.

So, before you adopt a stray with stripes or spots or volunteer to take home a cat that catches your eye, spend some time playing with it. You can get a really good idea of the cat’s personality by interacting with it. Is it aloof? Is it playful? Is it whiny and needy? Does it cry a lot or beg for your attention even though you are right there? All of these personality quirks are revealed in the first twenty minutes of interacting with any cat.

Odd Facts About These Cats

The original word attabiya comes from Arabic, and refers to a city where striped taffeta and silk material was made. Over time, the word transformed into the word applied to striped cats. A female cat has long been referred to as tabby-cats because the shortened word is a nickname for a very common female name during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (i.e., Tabitha).

Male cats do not seem to have a historical or similar distinction. They were simply referred to as striped cats or fishing cats for the mackerel coat design. Males do tend to be slightly larger than females, but that rarely has much to do with the genetic mutations of coat color and markings. Maine Coon males have the striping and enormous size that hearkens back to their wild ancestors.

Taking Care of Your Cat

Brushing is always a good idea, regardless of coat length. Most cats love to be brushed or they at least will tolerate it well. With long hair tabby-cats, it is a very good idea to brush daily to remove the fur that will shed everywhere and cling to everything and to keep the fur from matting.

Nail clipping is another must and many cats do not tolerate this at all. They may even fight and scratch to get away. If you start with a kitten instead of an adult and trim nails often, they are more inclined to allow you to clip their nails as they get older. Be sure to read our post How to Restrain a Cat to Clip Nails, which is really not about mastering restraining a cat but developing a relationship in order to easily clip nails.

Bathing

Baths are not usually necessary for cats. Cats are pretty good at keeping themselves clean and groomed. However, long-haired cats may get their fur dirty and any cat that is allowed outside will need to be bathed more often.

If your cat is dirty, particularly smelly, or just doesn’t seem to take care of itself, you may need to bathe it once a week or more often. It probably will not like this at all, as many cats do not like to be wet. It will be necessary to keep fur and skin free of health issues.

Feeding and Watering of a Carnivore

Cats are meat eaters and obligate carnivores. The best diet to offer a cat is a raw meat diet that includes muscle meat, organs, glands, and meaty bone. Your cat gets exactly what a natural carnivore wants and needs and nothing it can’t properly digest. In order to have a healthy and thriving cat, a foundational diet is imperative.

Fresh water, either bottled Spring water or water filtered through a high-quality filter is best. Avoiding tap water full of impurities and toxins will keep your tabby-cat healthy. Keep the water dish clean and full of water. Our cats have 2 bowls available at all times; one is filled with Crystal Geyser Springwater and the other has the spring water with an added ounce of bioavailable minerals. We refresh the bowls starting over every 4 days or so. Cats by nature should get 90% percent of their moisture from their food. This is also one more benefit of feeding a raw food diet is that felines acquire the proper amount of moisture is the most absorbable way, a fresh meat diet. Clean water can’t be emphasized more here, most municipal water is FULL of toxins, chemicals, and pathogens. In fact, these days most people don’t drink tap water . . . . . why would you give your cat something you wouldn’t drink???

FAQ and QUICK REFERENCE

Are tabby cats usually fat? No, unless they are overfed or fed the wrong diet. Like all cats, they should have proper nutrition, toys to play with that keep exercised, and a happy home.

Is a tabby cat female? A tabby can be male or female equally.

Are grey tabby cats nice? Tabbies, in general, are very good-natured including the grey tabby.

What breed is a tabby cat? Tabby cats are not breed specific. They can be any number of breeds. What creates a tabby cat is the “tabby gene”; mutations in their genes that cause the striping pattern.

What exactly is a mackerel tabby? The mackeral tabby is denoted by the “M” shape on the forehead and the crisscrossing of black stripes throughout the body.

Do you know what a tabby cat really is? Without testing it would hard to know exactly what breed the appearing tabby has come from. But one of the best ways to get to know a particular tabby cat personality is to spend some time with him or her. If you are adopting from a shelter or otherwise, you could ask for a trial to get to know the tabby and see how it acclimates to your household especially if you have other pets or children.

How much is a tabby cat? This definitely varies, as a randomly bred tabby could sell for as little as $100 or if you adopt from a shelter it could run the same. Purebred tabbies where you know the breed could run $1,500.

What type of tabby do you have? Typically there are four types of coat patterns; mackerel, ticked, spotted, and the classic tabby. (See above for specific descriptions of each)

From where does the tabby cat get its stripes? The African Wild cat is where the tabby striped gene is passed down from.

Do tabby cats like to cuddle? It will depend on the actual breed of the tabby since tabbies are not a specific breed. Spending some time with them is really the only way to know if the specific one you have taken a liking to will be a cuddler or not!