My cat CeCe is very vocal. She’s mostly vocal in the morning, although she’s been vocal late at night which can throw off my sleep! My other cat, Benny, is quiet; except when he’s purring on my lap.

Cats have a wide range of sound other than the usual meow. They hiss, growl, scream, chirp, and chatter. The most famous vocalization is the purr — it’s very soothing to the ear. Of course, some cats are on the quiet side. You hardly hear a “peep” out of them!

Cats hiss, growl (CeCe), and scream when they are frightened or aggravated. CeCe will growl at Benny when he tries to get her attention because he wants to play. CeCe usually swats Benny in the face, but Benny doesn’t get the message; it takes a few swats to the face for him to realize that CeCe wants to be left alone.

If your indoor cat makes a chirping or chattering sound followed by clicking of their teeth, they probably spotted a bird outside. A cat will chirp and or chatter when he looks at potential prey without being able to get to it. He may jump up and lunge towards the glass — watch out for this action!

When you cat is happy and content, she’ll let you know it by purring. It’s very soothing to listen to a cat purr as she sits in your lap. How a cat is able to purr is still a mystery. But, most cat experts believe purring is occurs when the muscles of the larynx contract in rapid succession.

Did you know that the Cheetah is the only large cat with a true purr?

Occasional vocalization is normal. However, if your cat is too vocal, you may want to take her to your veterinarian. There could be something wrong with her. Cats communicate through their vocals and some are more vocals than others. Take this into consideration when you adopt and rescue a cat. Make sure you find a cat that matches your personality. You’ll have a friend for life!

Rebecca

How vocal is your cat? Share your experiences.

Using a pet sitter is a great way to ensure that your cats will be taken care of while you’re on vacation. I used TLC House and Pet Sitting Service, LLC located in the East Valley of Arizona (Phoenix area). They were very professional. This is not a “fly by night” pet sitting service. I’d recommend TLC House and Pet Sitting Services the next time you go on vacation because they care about what they do and the service they provide.

Leaving your cats with a pet sitter can be traumatizing for you and your cats. It’s best to review as many pet sitting services as possible before you settle on one. This is what I did. I compared and contrasted information such as pricing, availability, references/testimonials, and location.

Tips and Tricks

• Ask pet sitters about organizations such as National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International. Find out if the pet sitter is associated with these organizations.
• Speak with family and friends. Find out if they’ve used a pet sitter and ask for a referral.
• Use your “gut instinct” when you speak with a potential sitter. Never leave your cats with someone you do not trust.
• Do you homework and research companies and people. You want to hire a pet sitter who is reliable and actually likes pets!

I found TLC House and Pet Sitting Services, LLC to be one of the best. First, they contacted me. Business owners often complain that business is down. Well, if you don’t call people back when they inquire about your services, your business will suffer. The owner of TLC House and Pet Sitting Services immediately contacted me and we discussed my needs and what services were offered by her company. When I spoke with Kara, I felt very at ease and knew my cats would be in good hands.

TLC House and Pet Sitting Services, LLC employs many pet sitters. Brittany was my pet sitter. She was very professional, and I felt comfortable with her watching my cats. I was concerned about my cat CeCe because she’s very attached to me. I left a message and Brittany immediately returned my phone call. I received an update on Benny and CeCe. Both of them were doing fine, although Benny was the one who wanted a lot of attention, go figure!

I would recommend TLC House and Pet Sitting Services, LLC. They are caring, courteous, and professional at all times. For more information, visit TLC House and Pet Sitting Service, LLC and find out how they can be of service to you and your cats.

Rebecca

What has been your experience with a pet sitter?

This is a quick post because I will be leaving in a few to fly back to Arizona from Ohio. I left my cats, Benny and CeCe with a pet sitter from the TLC Pet Sitting located in the East Valley of Arizona. I must admit that I was very nervous leaving them with a complete stranger, but it worked out. I will be writing a review of TLC Pet Sitting and my thoughts on using a pet sitter versus boarding your cats. Toodles!

Rebecca

I recently watched a video of a kitten squishing himself into a couch. It made me think about my cat Benny. He loves boxes — his favorite is the microwave box that is in the closet. Whenever I open the closet door, he climbs into the microwave box. Sometimes I don’t even know he’s in the closet because he’s very quiet. This is why it’s important to know where your cats are at all times. You could toss out the cat in the box!

Cats love to crawl into corners, couches, and boxes. When you can’t find your cat, he’s probably hiding in a box or in a corner somewhere in your home. They sure do love a good game of hide and seek!

Before you bring a kitten home, “kitten proof” the house because they will find small spaces to crawl into and getting them out can be tricky. You could buy a baby gate to keep them out of the kitchen and from entering the basement.

If you can’t find your cat or kitten, look inside the couch. You never know what you will find besides loose change. Before guests arrive, make sure your cat is not in the furniture. You don’t want your cat or guests letting out a holler.

The Cat in The Hat is a famous story by Dr. Seuss, but today cats replace the hat with boxes, corners, tight spaces, and furniture. When you can’t find your cat, check your empty boxes!

Rebecca

Where does your cat or kitten like to hide? Share your stories.

For many years, pet owners did not have many options when it came to their cats. They could board them at their veterinarian’s office or turn to family, friends, neighbors, or a professional boarder. These solutions are seldom ideal. Pet sitting is a business that has taken off in the past few years. Find a pet sitter who will take care of your cats as you do.

When you look for a pet sitter, there are few key points to look for. First, make sure the pet sitter is licensed, bonded, and insured. Look for the NAPPS logo. This stands for the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

Another logo to look for is Pet Sitters International. They are “dedicated to educating professional pet sitters and promoting, supporting and recognizing excellence in pet sitting.” PSI offers members’ access tools that will help them maintain quality standards through first class education. Pet sitters are given the latest information on dog and cat sitting, exotic bird care, pet care safety, and other pet related essentials. PSI is highly focused on pet care and professional excellence.

Make sure you investigate pet sitters as you would daycare for your children. You want to leave your cats in the best hands. Ask as many questions as possible. Here are some examples: How much are the rates? What services are included? When was the business started? What references can you provide? What are the rates for holidays? How reliable is the pet sitter? How can I check on my pets to make sure they are doing well? You may have other questions, these are some examples

Deciding to leave your cats with a pet sitter can be a gut wrenching decision because your cats are apart of the family; it’s as if you are leaving your children. Do you homework and more importantly, go with your gut instinct. If you get an uneasy feeling about a pet sitting organization, find another pet sitter. Ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations.

Hiring a pet sitter will put your mind at ease while you are on vacation. Your cats can relax at home versus being carried in a cat carrier and stuffed underneath a seat on an airplane. You can have peace of mind knowing your cats are safe and sound in their own environment; you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation!

Rebecca

What pet sitting service can you recommend?

When the holiday season begins in November, many people are busy cooking and cleaning. Relatives will be visiting from out-of-town which means “Mr. Snuffles” may find himself shaking and hissing in the corner, trying to avoid your nieces and nephews. Gotta love family!

Keep your cats safe for the holidays. Family, friends, and their children may stay at your home; politely tell them that Mr. Snuffles does not like to be handled by small children. This will keep the children and Mr. Snuffles safe.

When you put up the Christmas tree, make sure it is secure. Cats love to climb trees, and they’ll think that you bought the tree just for them! Make sure you place a tree skirt around the tree and keep an eye on the water level. Cats may think that the tree water is another water dish for them. Yuck!

Tips and Tricks

• Keep holiday decorations away from cats. They could digest the garland from the Christmas tree and have to go to the veterinarian;
• Put food away in refrigerator so you cats do not feast on your meal; they could get sick;
• Make sure you tell family and friends that your cats do not like to be held;
• Give your cats plenty of toys to keep them occupied while you have guests visiting your home. They’ll probably run and hide anyway!

The holidays are a time to bring out all of the decorations from the attic or closet. From shiny Christmas ornaments to a Menorah. Make sure your decorations are out of reach; otherwise you may find it on the ground in pieces.

Cats love to climb Christmas trees. You may consider purchasing an artificial tree. This way you’ll have it for more than one Christmas, that’s provided that your cats do not take it down!

Rebecca

What are you doing to keep your cats safe for the holidays?

Adopting and rescuing a cat from your local humane society is the best gift you can give. Some shelters have adoption rooms where you can spend time with a cat before you adopt it. This is a great idea because you get to interact with the cat and check out their personality. For those of you, who are on the quiet side, make sure you ask “how vocal is the cat?” A vocal cat may not be the best choice for you.

Cats are vocal like people. They will let you know when they are hungry or want to play. If you work at home, a cat’s vocalization may be a distraction for you. Think about this before you adopt a cat from the humane society. It would be ashame if you return the cat because she’s too vocal.

If you have trouble getting up, a vocal cat makes a great alarm clock! This can help you save money on electricity. Wouldn’t it be better to wake up to your cat’s voice instead of a blaring alarm clock buzzer? You cat may also jump on the bed and not leave until you get up. This will ensure that you get to work on time.

When you adopt and rescue a cat, you get a friend for life. You may not find out that your cat is vocal until a month or two. Give the relationship a chance. Your new friend is communicating the only way she knows how. Spend as much time as you can with your cat. Working from home can be tricky because your cat will not understand that you must work instead of play with her. Be gentle, compassionate, and patient. Your cat will understand your routine sooner or later. If not, allow her to sit on your lap while you work. She can be a great motivator!

Rebecca

How vocal is your cat?

Spaying and neutering your cat is a good thing. Many people do not agree with this. For some reason they think it’s a bad thing. Perhaps they feel the cat will be less than a cat if it is spayed or neutered. Getting a cat spayed or neutered is for his or her own good and yours.

Some people allow their cats to be outdoor cats. What happens when your male cat meets a female cat? They will add to the ever expanding kitten population! Before you know it, you may have a litter of kittens on your doorstep. Are you prepared for that responsibility? You’re probably not ready to take care of a basket full of kittens! You most likely will take them down to your Humane Shelter, give them away, or sell them. If you had your male cat neutered, you wouldn’t have a bunch of kittens in your home!

Having your cat spayed or neutered is a great way to keep the kitten population from expanding. Each year thousands of kittens are born. Some will survive, some won’t. The kittens could end up becoming the responsibility of others. It’s not fair to them or the kittens.

Some people use money as the reason they don’t get their cat spayed or neutered. This is inexcusable. If you can’t afford to the procedure, don’t have a cat. Furthermore, many shelters including the Humane Society, offer low-cost spaying and neutering.

Bonus: A cat from the Humane Society or your local shelter will already be spayed or neutered so you won’t have to pay for it.

The Human Society provides a “mobile” clinic that will stop at PetSmart or Petco. You can bring your cat to the “clinic on wheels” and have your cat spayed or neutered for a fraction of the cost of what you’d spend at your veterinarian. It’s a win-win situation!

Don’t be ashamed to get your cat spayed or neutered because there’s nothing shameful about it. You’ll be doing your cat a favor. You probably won’t breed your cat so you may as well get her spayed. Besides, in the years to come, it could become mandatory.

During kitten season, many shelters across the world see an influx of kittens. It becomes the shelter’s responsibility to find homes for these animals. It can become costly, but they do the best they can. Have your cat spayed or neutered today so tomorrow the kitten population won’t be as large and the shelters will not be overrun with kittens!

Rebecca

What is holding you back from spaying or neutering your cat?

Before you adopt and rescue a cat or kitten from your local Humane Society or shelter, make sure you’re a responsible cat parent. Cats and kittens are no different than children. The only difference is that they don’t talk back to you. Then again, cats will be vocal if you’re late feeding them!

When you adopt and rescue a cat or kitten from a shelter be aware that they may require more responsibility and need just a bit more TLC than your cat or kitten. Animals in a shelter are stressed and susceptible to illnesses such as upper respiratory infection. Make sure you’re prepared to nurse a sick cat or kitten for about two weeks.

Tip: Make sure you feed your cat the proper nutrition. Like people, cats are becoming obese. It’s not uncommon to read about a 20 lb. cat. Yikes! Provide your cat with kitty condos he can climb and give him toys like a stuffed mouse he can chase. Consult your veterinarian on how you can keep you cat in tip-top shape.

Remember when you adopt and rescue a cat or kitten, it’s a long-term commitment. Make sure you find one that fits your personality. It’s not fair to the cat or kitten if he or she is too vocal. Write down the type of cat you’re looking for. What color will the cat be? What gender would you like, male or female? What about the cat’s personality, friendly or highly independent? What is your personality like? Knowing before you go to a shelter will help you help the adoption volunteers choose a cat that is purrfect for you!

When you adopt and rescue a cat he’ll become part of the family. If you’re personality is one that sees cats as just that and not a family member, you may want to forgo adopting a cat and get a fish instead. They’re low maintenance and just swim in a bowl or small aquarium.

Children need to be taught to respect and honor pets. Before you adopt and rescue a cat into your home, educate your children. Make sure they know the cat IS NOT a toy! Bring them to shelters and let them get acquainted with a cat or kitten. Tell the volunteers and employees that you’d like to adopt, but want to introduce your children before you bring a cat or kitten home. Perhaps the shelter has some kind of program where they educate children on pets. The more they know and can apply what is taught the better for the animal community.

Adopting and rescuing a cat from your local shelter is the best gift you can give. These animals are stressed out because one minute they’re with a loving family and the next they’re in a tiny cage. Their freedom is taken away and they don’t know why. Plus, they’re hearing new and strange noises they haven’t heard before in their life. Be understanding and patient with a shelter cat or kitten.

Cats and kittens are living creatures like you. They are alive and deserve to be treated with respect just as humans do. Make sure you’re ready for the commitment of being a cat owner. It takes more than time and money; it takes love and compassion as well!

Rebecca

How are you a responsible cat parent?

Read your lease before you drive to your local Humane Society’s shelter because you may not be able to adopt a cat or kitten. Many leasing companies have pet restrictions which include the number of pets and types of breeds. It’s better to know before you go!

Avoid heartache by reading your lease agreement before you adopt and rescue from your local Humane Society’s shelter. When I adopted CeCe from the AZ Humane Society, they called the leasing office to verify that I could have a cat. Lo and behold, I later found out that the HOA (apt. complex that also has condos) changed the criteria for pets.

It’s a good idea to review your lease agreement each quarter. Check with your leasing office and inquire if anything has changed. Make sure you get a copy of any rules and regulations that changed since you signed your lease.

Adopting and rescuing a cat or kitten from the local shelter is the best thing you can do. These animals need love and affection. They’re confused and stressed because they don’t know what’s happening to them. One day they’re running around in the house and the next day they’re in a cage surrounded by other animals. Just think how you’d feel if this happened to you!

Most apartment complexes will allow you two pets but some are changing the rules and limiting you to one pet. Make sure you find the right cat or kitten for you. Spend time in an adoption area and give the cat a chance when you bring him home. Expect a period of adjustment because your new friend will have to adjust to the new surroundings and you. Remember, shelter cats and kittens are susceptible to upper respiratory infections. When they develop this you’ll give them medicine for about 10 days and they’ll be as good as new. It could take a good month or two before your cat becomes comfortable, especially if there’s another cat in the house.

Before you go out the door and visit your local Humane Society’s shelter, call your leasing office to make sure you’re allowed to have a cat or kitten. Inquire about the breeds and the number of pets you can have. Once you do this you’ll be on your way to adopting a wonderful cat or kitten who will love you every day in every way!

Rebecca

What does your lease agreement say about pets?