Halloween can be an especially stressful time for our feline friends. Here’s how you can help keep them comfortable, safe and anxiety-free on the spookiest night of the year: Cat treats only Sweet treats can make your cat very sick so keep all candy and chocolate out of reach. If you suspect your cat has eaten something dangerous, call your vet or a Poison Control Center ASAP. Keep kitty inside Cats are often subjected to harsh abuse on Halloween, so it’s best to keep them inside—especially cats that are black or orange. Just in case, make sure that all [...]

It’s that special time of the year when we must pay extra attention to the hazards of the holidays when it comes to guaranteeing that our cats remain safe. Decorate your tree, the cat friendly way Christmas tree ornaments and tinsel should be hung at a safe distance away from cats, especially playful kittens. Most ornaments can be lethal to a cat when ingested, especially the little unsuspecting metal hooks that tend to scatter around the base of the tree from fallen and broken ornaments.  So when trimming your tree, make sure to secure ornaments to the branch. Also, in order [...]

Halloween can be an especially stressful time for cats. Here are some tips to keep them comfortable and safe: Don’t dress your cat in a Halloween costume, now matter how cute they might look in it. They will not enjoy the experience! Instead, opt for something less constrictive and stress-inducing, like a fun skull and crossbones collar. To prevent painful burns and possible house fires, use only battery powered flameless candles or keep your animals far away from any lighted candles. If you open your door to give out candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween, your cat might manage to slip [...]

Contrary to what you may think, millions of more cats are owned than dogs in the United States, making kitties the number one pet in America. However, statistics also show that cats visit veterinarians much less frequently than dogs, and of those that do visit the vet, on average it’s a quarter less of the time. Studies prove that older cats frequent the doctor even less often then the sprier members of their generation, resulting a trend of less vet care for cats over time. Why is this? Most feline owners worry about the stress associated with getting their beloved [...]

Every cat deserves a warm home, a family to love, a bed to sleep in, and toys to destroy. But as we well know, unfortunately, we live in a world where that’s not always possible. You can still help homeless kitties by building a shelter for those who go without. By building a cat colony refuge, you will help keep community cats safe from predators and outdoor elements. When the weather gets unbearably cold, rainy, or hot, your shelter will offer them much-needed reprieve, promote their health, and give them a secure place to go. You will also be able [...]

We never think it will happen to us. We actually don’t want to think about it at all. But emergency situations pop up in an instant, all the time. It’s important to be prepared, especially when it comes to your animals, due to the unpredictable and unsettling nature of these changes. During unforeseen and unfortunate times, whether it be a natural disaster or a family emergency, preparing ahead can make your life so much easier. Sadly, all too often history has shown that many pets are abandoned, lost, or harmed simply because no one planned for their continued care. Here [...]

At FixNation we train volunteers and loan hundreds of humane cat traps each year. For most of our kitty clients and their trappers, FixNation’s custom designed Tomahawk trap does the trick. These trigger plate traps are designed to safely capture single cats (or small kittens) who venture in to eat the food bait. However, dedicated trappers can attest – “There always seems to be that one cat.” You know the one, the cautious Tom or the observant momma cat who won’t step near a trap. For these trap-savvy felines, we recommend a drop trap. Drop traps are pretty basic in [...]

What is an abscess? Abscesses are infections — with an accumulation of neutrophils (pus) — under the skin. This is a common condition for all cats, but one we treat daily in community cats at FixNation. Abscesses usually start with bites or puncture wounds from fighting, but can be caused by other injuries as well where a foreign object penetrates the skin. The cats’ skin closes over the entry wound and everything looks fine. However, lurking under the kitties skin is trapped bacteria. As several days pass, neutrophil (pus) is sent to the attack the bacteria and an abscess is [...]

Caring for a healthy community cat colony is as much about cat care as it is pubic relations. Keeping neighbors happy and onboard with the program is critical to the success and livelihood of the cats. Addressing neighbor complaints quickly is imperative. One common complaint that we receive relates to flower beds and gardens. With Spring around the corner, and new plantings in the ground, you might begin to hear rumblings as well. Cats like to dig in loose soft dirt and hide in plants, so potters and gardens can be cat magnets. There are several approaches to help deter [...]