Posts Tagged: "cat litter box"

Big Challenge

Animal Care Qualifies for $100K Challenge! A BIG THANK YOU to all of our supporters who voted for Broward County Animal Care during the qualifying round of the ASPCA $100K Challenge. We finished in fifth place with 19,479 votes! In the Southeast Division we came in first place! We have now officially qualified to be one of the 50 contestants vying for $100,000 in grant money. Our next goal is to save at least 300 more cats and dogs during the months of August, September and October 2012 than we did during the same period last year. The shelter that achieves the greatest increase in lives saved during the three-month period will receive the grand prize of $100,000. So stay tuned for more details as we gear up to help even more pets in need!

Bottle Feeders Still Urgently Needed! Kitten season, from May to September, is almost here and it is during this time of year that we see a big increase in the number of young kittens that come into our Adoption Centers. Many of these kittens are orphaned and, therefore, must be bottle fed by a loving and caring Foster Parent in order to survive. Very young kittens must be bottle fed within hours of arriving at our shelter, so a strong team of bottle feeders is essential for their survival and growth. Foster Parent applicants should be able to have the time to bottle feed every few hours day and night. To register to provide foster care, please contact our Foster Coordinator, at 954-359-1313 ext. 9272.

Community Events:

• Free Wellness Clinic for Dogs, Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to noon, at David Park, 108 N. 33 Court, Hollywood. Pets will receive a rabies vaccination, parvo/distemper vaccine, Broward County Pet Registration Tag and topical flea/tick treatment. The Clinic is only open to residents in the 33020, 33021, 33023 and 33024 neighborhoods. All dogs must be on leashes and proof of residency (driver’s license or utility bill) is required.
• Dog Smarts 101 Class, Tuesday, May 8, from 6 p.m. to 7 pm., at Tree Tops Park, 3900 S.W. 100 Avenue, Davie. The pet education class will teach dog owners (or anyone thinking about getting a pet), important information about dog behavior and why dogs do the things they do. This is the perfect class for anyone experiencing behavioral problems with their dog. The class is FREE to all residents. Since this is not a dog training session, no pets will be permitted to the program.

Curious Cat Wants to Meet You! Curious is a beautiful 1-year-old gentleman. He’s got a pretty white coat and is a gentle fellow. He has been with us since early March, so he is quite “curious” as to why he has not found a home yet! Please don’t let this guy down, he is willing to snuggle and cuddle, so don’t miss out! Please stop by to see Curious at our Fort Lauderdale Adoption Center, 1870 S.W. 39 St. We are open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Broward County Animal Care and Adoption
1870 SW 39th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Broward County Animal Care Web Site

Are Cats Litter Box Trained?

Cats are so cool! They come litter box trained. However the owner does need to show kitty where the litter box is and keep it clean. Puppies must be trained and some are never fully trained as adults. 

How did cats come to acquire being litter box trained?  It’s an inborn matter of self-preservation.  In the wild, cats bury their feces to hide their presence from predators or territorial rivals.  Our domestic house cats continue the habit, which is one of the things that make them such clean companions.  The urge to hide their presence is so strong that even if a cat eliminates outside her box, she will still go through the motions of diffing and covering.

Although the litter box habit is deeply ingrained, there are several instances in which a cat may stop using her box.  This can lead to a mess situation, but by doing a little detective work, you can soon set your bat back on the proper path.

Make sure you kitty is not ill.  Take kitty to the veterinarian for a complete check up to rule out any physical problems.  If kitty get a clean bill of health. Make sure the litter box is clean, maybe change litters? Are there any other changes in the house?  If you have one cat, maybe try having two litter boxes. Is your kitty stressed out about something in your home?

Here are two excellent stores for cat food & cat litter:   The Doggy Store & Animal House Ft. Lauderdale.