Natural and Green Kitty Care Ideas

Caring for our pets has become big business. There are entire rows of products you can purchase for your cat at the discount store. Foods, treats, shampoos, toys, and litter care are just a few of the types of products on the market for your special kitty. But many of those expensive items can be replicated at a much lower cost and can even be more natural for your favorite feline friend.

Fresh as a baby litter boxes

To keep that kitty litter fresh try this simple procedure. It will save you tons on litter and it keeps it actually smelling pretty fresh! It works for either scoopable litter or the cheap kind you change each week.

Pour litter into the litter pan to about 3 inches depth. Sprinkle 1/3 cup of baby powder over the litter and stir to blend. As you scoop your litter box each day sprinkle a dash of baby powder after you add litter. That's it, but it works great.

Sweet flea flicker powder for your feline friend

Commercial flea powders are full of not so nice chemicals. If your cat is an outdoor cat that comes indoors also, keeping an eye out for fleas is a necessity. This natural method works well as a preventive measure.

Combine 6 drops of lavender essential oil and 1 T. mineral oil in a small bottle. I use old spice bottles for this. Shake to combine and when ready to use, warm the bottle in between your hands or run under warm water from the faucet.

Massage the warm oil in the neck area of your kitty and near the back of the tail, two likely places that fleas like to linger. Then massage the rest all over the kitty's fur, making sure you don't get it into his eyes, nose, mouth or ears. He'll smell pretty fresh. Repeat about twice a month or when you notice the scent is gone.

Removing a tick from your kitty

Always check your outdoor pet for ticks on a regular basis. If a tick is found, coat it with petroleum jelly. I use a cotton swab to do this. The tick will not be able to breath, and you can gently pull it out, making sure the head it still intact. After you have removed the tick, swab the area with hydrogen perioxide to clean. Seal the tick in a plastic bag and if you suspect that it is a lethal specimen like a deer tick, take it and your cat to the veterinarian. This site has great information on ticks that will help keep you informed of the dangers of ticks.

Dry shampoo to keep your kitty's fur fresh

Cats do groom themselves constantly and they hate taking a bath! Cats that spend any time outdoors do need some additional grooming assistance. You can make this simple natural dry cat shampoo to help clean them up.

Mix together 1/3 c. bran, 1/3 cornmeal and 1/3 rolled oats in a microwave safe container. Warm in microwave for 10 seconds. Then rub the grains into the fur, massaging all through the animal. They'll love it! Then using a fine pet brush, brush out the meal and along comes dirt, oil and cat dander. This does work well and I use it once a month on my two old kitties who like to come and go between house and barn.

Yummy cat treats

Baked Tuna Treats
When I open a can of tuna, my two cats coming running! They love the stuff. These homemade treats will have them delirious happy and the fish oils are good for them.

In large bowl, mix 1 can of oil packed tuna, 1/4 c. cornmeal, 1/4 c. bran cereal and 1 and 1/2 c. whole wheat flour. Press the tuna dough out on a floured board and cut into small treat bites. I make them pretty tiny about 1/2 inch square.
Place the cookie treats on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 min. till lightly brown. Cool and store in covered container in frig for up to a week or break into smaller containers and freeze for up to a month. (whichis what I do!)

Cat Grass

Cats are well known for nibbling on houseplants, which is why we have to be really careful about the toxicity level of our plants. These grass buffet is just for them! I buy these grains at my health food store.

Put 1 c. whole oat berries, 1/2 c. wheat berries, 1/2 c. barley seeds, and 1/4 c. rye grass in a sealed plastic container, mix.

Fill shallow old cake pan with potting soil and moisten. I use a 8 inch square one I found at Goodwill. Sprinkle the grains thickly over the soil. Set the pan in a sunny window and water to keep soil moist. Cover with a piece of saran wrap until seeds sprout. When the grasses get about one inch tall, put them on the floor and let the kitty eat, it they haven't discovered them before then!

I make about one pot a month in the cool months when they're not outside nibbling on the yard!

Natural and herbal products that you can buy to provide good kitty care

There are some products that are worth the purchase price to maintain your cat's health and cleanliness.

The Whole Dog has some wonderful herbal products and health supplements.

http://www.thewholedog.org/catproducts.html

Good Breath As your pet ages, she can develop some breath odor problems. Usually it's due to aging digestive tract and this product is a good one for helping in that area. http://www.goodpet.com/library/pharmacyFiles/good.asp