IMG00126-20100129-1640.jpg

This is Cairo. He is one of the most exotic looking kittens I have seen. At first glance he is black, but at a closer look you can see stripes. He is a sweet and playful kitty too. He is up for adoption and ready to go home.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Clay versus Scoopable

If you are like me, at one point or another you have found yourself standing in the the litter aisle contemplating what litter to buy. Well, you are in luck! We will be featuring several articles designed specifically to help ease your litter woes so that you can make the most informed decision. In fact, we are in the process of setting up a litter testing project at Kitten Krazy. With all our little kitties, we have the perfect testing grounds. We will be testing different brands of scoobale, clay and alternative litter. More on that to come!

To kick off our sniff test, we are going to discuss clay versus scoopable litter, the two most common types of litter. There are several advantages to each type. At Kitten Krazy, we use both types of litter. So let's discuss the benefits of each:

Clay:

• inexpensive
• does not turn to mud at the bottom of the box
• does not track across floor as much as scoopable

Scoopable:

• masks odors better than clay
• long lasting
• easier to remove liquids and solids

With each litter having impressive benefits, which one is best? The answer comes down to preference and lifestyle . At Kitten Krazy, we use clay litter with the kittens. As the little ones are learning how to use the litter box they are often messy, in eating, bathing and using the box! So, it is not uncommon for the little ones to have wet paws.

Wet paws + scoopable litter = disaster!

To avoid caked paws, we use clay litter with the kittens . Once over two months old, using scoopable should be fine. In addition, if you bathe your cat, or if your cat has wet paws, it would be wise to limit exposure to scoopable litter until their paws dry.

Clay litter is also a good way to cut the cat budget because it is less expensive than scoopable, and who isn't looking for a way to cut costs? There are several downfalls to clay, largely the fact that clay doesn't mask the smell nearly as well as scoopable. Also, clay is more labor intensive in keeping clean.

So the take away, if you are tight on cash or have babies, clay is the way to go. Or, if you value simplicity and smell over cost, then scoopable is the way to go.

Look for more on specific types of litter to come!

Do you have a question about cats? Visit our Facebook page and ask away!

Great news! Majestic has been adopted. She is such a sweet girl. She deserves a great home. Erma will be going with her.

You Feed It, It's Yours! Taking Care of a Stray in the Winter

You know when you walk into a store full of valuables how you are often reminded of the saying, "you break it, you buy it?" Well, on some level, this concept can be extended to cats. In the winter, Kitten Krazy is questioned often about caring for stray cats. People want to know what they should do about the furry critter that has aimlessly wandered onto their property. Naturally, they begin to feed the stray all the while maintaining, “It’s not my cat.” Unfortunately, they forgot to convince Fluffy that she was not their responsibility. The cat continues coming back to the food source without questioning the intent of those feeding her. Since Fluffy is now settled into her new home, we feel she is now your full responsibility.

So, here are some tips for caring for your outdoor cats – especially in the winter:

• Be sure your cat has access to an insulated, dry shelter. This can be a more formal pet house or a makeshift shelter as long as the area remains dry and protected from the wind. It would be best if elevated off the ground. If you are not able to provided a pet-safe electronic heating element in the shelter, then hay or a thick layer of newspaper make good insulation alternatives.
• Be sure your cat has access to food. You will want to provide a fresh bowl of dry food daily as it will freeze in the cold.
• Be sure your cat has access to water. Through the winter months, it is important to make sure your cat has access to water that is not frozen. You can either place the water in a location where it will not freeze or invest in a heated water dish.
• Finally, take your cat to the vet. As you now know, the stray that has adopted you considers you her owner and vet care is one aspect of responsible pet ownership. At a minimum, please have your cat spayed/neutered and vaccinated against rabies.

Do you have a question about cats? Visit our Facebook page and join the discussion.

Oh yeah. I forgot that Rosalie also went home.

Adoptions

The last week and a half have been great for adoptions. The kitties are finding homes like krazy.
Thanks to Larry, Donna and Dawn for helping me. We have adopted out Latifah, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Kat, Brie, Oak, AJ, Chance, Josh, Helene, Hillary, Ozzie, Lotus and Zena. Hopefully we can send some more adults home.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry