**GUEST POST SEGMENT** The Complete Cat Adoption Checklist From WWW.ALLABOUTCATS.COM

Welcome to our

Guest Post Segment

Today we have a fab guest post to share with mew, which we're sure prospective, and newbie cat pawrents will love. 

If mew're looking to adopt and are feeling a little overwhelmed as where to begin, what to get, what to do, what not to do, what to tidy away, how to make your home safe for your new arrival, etc...

DON'T PANIC!

Take a breath, and keep reading. And as we like to say at BBHQ, we've got your six!

Plus, don't furget that we have dedicated posts on our Top Tips for Cat Pawrents page, where we share a wealth of information to make your life as a pawrent easier.

The Complete Cat Adoption Checklist

Excited to bring a new pet into your family?

Adopting a new cat is a beautiful time full of firsts, but there’s more to think about than what it will be like to play with your pet. You also need to make sure that you are prepared for their arrival using the complete cat adoption checklist.

This checklist gives you an introduction to everything that you should take time to consider before you bring your newly adopted cat home. By working through each category, you can feel comfortable knowing you have done everything you can to make sure your pet will start its new life safe, happy, and well-loved.

Photo by The Lucky Neko on Unsplash

Your Complete Cat Adoption Checklist

• Question Yourself

• Education Matters!

• Preparing Your Home

• Shopping List

• Healthcare

Question Yourself

Before you start preparing to adopt a cat, it’s essential to take some time to ask yourself if you are in a

good situation to adopt. As much as adopting is a joyful affair, bringing a cat into an unprepared home

is not the kind choice.

Ask yourself some critical questions as you prepare yourself to adopt:

• If you own other pets, are they friendly towards cats?

• Are you prepared to go through an introductory phase with your pets?

• Do you have enough time to take care of a cat?

• Have you thought about how your cat will be taken care of when travelling out of town?

• Do you or other members of your household have any allergies to dander, dust, hair,

or dirt that may be affected by owning a cat?

Education Matters!

Whether or not you have owned a cat before, it’s a great idea to take some time to familiarize yourself

with what it takes to properly care for a cat before you adopt. Statistics say76% of cat owners consider their cats to be members of the family, and knowing how to take care of

them is essential.

There are lots of different ways to do this!

Try the following:

• Watch videos that showcase “A Day In The Life” of cat owners to see what their tasks entail

• Visit a friend that owns a cat and walk through the steps of ownership with them

• Talk to your local rescue or adoption centre about cat ownership

• Read books and pamphlets on the topic

There are many ways to get educated about becoming a cat parent.Part of your job will be to learn what to do, and doing this before you bring a cat home is ideal.

Preparing Your Home

If you do not currently own any cats or pets at all, chances are high that your home needs to be

cat-proofed! Many potential hazards exist in our homesand many of them are things that we don’t even think about from day to day.

Take time to go through the following list to ensure your home will be safe and cat-friendly from day one:

• Tuck away wires and cables

• Ensure breakables cannot be knocked over

• Check if heavy items could be a danger to your cats

• Put away small items they may try to chew or eat

• Get down on the floor and explore from their level to find additional hazards

• Lock windows and make sure screens are secure

• Look up any houseplants to ensure they are non-toxic to cats

Photo by Nick Karvounis on Unsplash

Beyond preparing your home by removing cat hazards, it’s also crucial that you give cats some cats

only space. A separate room for when they first arrive and a cave-like bedcan be great ways to help your new cat feel safe and secure in their new environment.

Shopping List

There are several important cat care supplies and accessories that you should be sure to have before

you bring your new cat home. Some of these items, such as cat food, should be adjusted to fit the

specific dietary needs of the cat you are adopting.

• Food bowl

• Water bowl

• Cat food

• Cat treats

• Litter box

• Litter

• Litter scooper

• Collar with ID tag

• Travel carrier for vet trips

• Nail clippers

• Comb and/or brush depending on coat type

• Non-toxic cleaner for litter box and spot cleaning

• Odor neutralizer for litter box and spots

• Cat toys

• Cat first aid items

• Chews and/or brushes for dental care

• Cat bed

• Cat furniture (tree, scratching post, etc.)

Some of these items, like nail clippers and dental chews, can be gradually added to your cat care items.

Still, it’s good to know in advance how much you will need to budget to care for and enrich your cat properly. 

A Happy New Life Together

Every aspect of cat adoption introduced today is a small part of your larger care plan.

This checklist can help you make sure that you’ve taken time to work through every area that needs

to be addressed but remember: it’s not an exhaustive list.

If there is anything in the complete cat adoption checklist that you are unsure about, take some

time to ask fellow cat owners, pet specialists, or your vet! It’s OK to be uncertain as long as you are

ready to learn. With the right attitude and supplies, your new cat will live the happiest life possible.

Guest Author Credit

All About Cats’ is a popular cat blog with expert-written, expert-reviewed guides bringing you the facts on cat products, behavior, health, and more.

www.allaboutcats.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2fX-cJNCODSByMC3SpuQSQ

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/wwwallaboutcats/

Do go check out their fabulous website, as it's full of fantastic articles.

Thanks very much for joining us today, and many thanks to our pawesome guest author for providing such a supurr starter list to assist newbie cat pawrents in navigating the preliminaries of cat adoption, and the all impawtant settling in period. We do hope mew found it valuable and welcome your feedback. 

Amber will be here tomorrow with another pawesome book review and she's got some fabulous news too, so do stop by the library if mew get chance.

Until next time...

Wing Commander Basil and The B Team

Don't furget to subscribe to our blog and never miss another post. 

**All Photos supplied by today's Guest Author and copyright credits are as stated

All links supplied by Guest Author are not affiliates**

BBHQ Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com

**GUEST POST SEGMENT** Nuisance Neighbours or Noisy Neighbours ~ What Can You Do About Noisy Neighbourhood Dogs?

Welcome to our

Guest Post Segment

Today, we have a really interesting post about what to do if mew have noisy neighbours.

Mew would think here in the rather sleepy village of Mewton-Clawson that things are purretty ideal. Well, we're going to shatter that illusion for mew right now.

There are some peeps who live along the Main Street that own lovely K9's of all sizes; now some of these peeps don't think about anyone else who lives here because they leave their K9's outside to bark all day. One family has four labradors who bark at anything that moves, whether it be a falling leaf off a tree or someone walking by, and it can begin at 6am right up to 11 or 12pm.

The P.A. is not a stranger to owning dogs and has had many as five at any one time, from tiny terriers to quite large alsatian cross labradors. And over the years there were multiple K9 rescues, and many of them needed rehabilitation from being mistreated by their previous owners, so we do understand the challenges for some K9 pawrents especially if their anipal furiend has been previously abused. 

And while we really do like our dog-buddies, we are a bit fed up with all the barking. So when we were approached about doing a guest post on noisy neighbours, we asked the question: 

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT NOISY NEIGHBOURHOOD DOGS?

A lot of the time it's NOT the K9's at fault; it's the owners who don't think about anyone else, they have no consideration, and many don't even train their K9 companions properly, which in our humble opinion, is really not cricket. If mew have a dog, mew have a duty to teach and train it, not leave it outside in all weathers every day to bark willy-nilly from dawn till whenever.

In fact, the P.A. remarked only last week that it sounded like Battersea Dogs Home as there were multiple howlers, yappers, yippers, woofers, deep gruffers and snarlers all going at it at the same time, it was horrendous.

Anyhoo, us cats are sick of it interrupting our naps and mew guys know what it's like when your sleep gets continually interrupted, it makes for a very grumpy kitty and Amber is getting supurr crotchety about it all!  

So let's see what advice an expert has to offer on a situation like this.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT NOISY NEIGHBOURHOOD DOGS?

By 

Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP)

Over lockdown, many of us have spent more time than ever before at home. Some of us have even been trying to work from home with children and cats to look after. And what of our neighbours? Perhaps you have only just realised how noisy their dogs are, or perhaps they’ve always been that way and you’re unsure whether there is anything you can do about it. 

The good news is, there is something that can be done!

Every local or district council has an environmental health department. These teams are known as ‘Noise or Nuisance Teams’.

A nuisance can relate not just to noise that stops you doing what you normally do, for example, sleeping or watching television or even having a conversation with someone in your own home, it also includes odours, fumes, dust, smoke and fireworks (with the exception of certain festivals when times for fireworks may be extended). In fact, a nuisance can be anything that may interfere with the enjoyment of your own home.

There are certain things that noise teams are unable to deal with such as noise relating to traffic, planes, trains and some domestic noises such as, footsteps, crying babies, kitchen appliances and doors opening or closing.

Everything else is actionable. For example, neighbours with dogs barking outside all day and/or night. Once this has been reported to the department, they instruct a team that then contacts you to enquire whether the noise is still going on. If it is, they come round and experience the noise from your home. If they believe that the noise is excessive, they can initially talk to the neighbours to ask them to refrain and give them a warning. Once the first visit has taken place, a letter gets sent to the neighbours confirming the Noise Team’s visit and explaining that, if the team is requested to visit again, a second warning will be given. On a third visit, the Team has the right to serve a notice threatening prosecution and/or seizure of equipment.

If you have a nuisance or noisy neighbouring dog start by trying to reason with the owners. Let them know that their actions are impacting your life and ask if they are able to stop their dog barking. Sometimes people are simply not aware of the impact of their actions.

However, if reasoning fails, and the neighbours refuse to change their behaviour, then don’t be tempted to threaten them or resort to retaliation tactics, call the ‘noise team’ of your local council. It will help a lot if you have been able to keep a diary of the dates, times and type of disruption. This will help the noise team.  The noise team need to hear the noise or witness the disruption for themselves, so if you can determine a pattern, this will help them visit at the appropriate time and can move the process forward much quicker.  Also keep a log of your conversations with your neighbour about the disruption, and their responses.

If you still have trouble, or the noise team haven’t provided the remedy you are seeking, you could always apply to the court for an injunction. This is an order from the court, that can have a power of arrest attached, which forces the neighbour to cease the noise. This is where a paralegal can help. A paralegal is trained and educated to assist consumers to make applications to courts and give advice. They are not solicitors, so their fees are lower and they are therefore very cost-effective.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Hamilton is Chief Executive of the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), a non-profit Membership Body and the only Paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England). Through its Centres, accredited recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for a career as a paralegal professional. 

See: http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk

 Twitter: @NALP_UK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalAssocationsofLicensedParalegals/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hamilton-llb-hons-840a6a16/

Well that was supurr informative, many thanks to Amanda for sharing all that invaluable info with us today and if mew've got nuisance or noisy neighbours, then at least mew have some idea of how to deal with rectifying it and restoring some calm to your life.

Amber will be here tomorrow with another fabulous book to share, so do stop by the library to say hi if mew get a chance as mew know how much she loves your visits.

Until next time

Wing Commander Basil and The B Team

Don't furget to subscribe to our blog and never miss another post. 

**External Links are not Affiliates**

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com

**GUEST POST SEGMENT** Lost Cat Prevention and Planning by Kim Freeman, The Cat Detective

Welcome to our

Guest Post Segment

Today, we have The Cat Detective, Kim Freeman joining us to share an ameowzing post all about:

Lost Cat Tips, Prevention, & Worst-case Scenario Preparation

Would you know what to do if someone left a door open and your cat escaped? Take these steps and know how to be ready in an emergency worst-case scenario.

HAVE THE IDEAL PHOTO READY

Take a side view photo of your cat in case you ever need it for a lost cat flyer and poster. The most useful image is your cat standing in a side view (including their tail) facing the camera.

I find that most of my lost cat clients have cute sleeping or silly photos, but rarely in a position a stranger would recognize it out in the real world, running or crouched.

Take one now, just in case you ever need it.

 

PREPARE A LOST CAT KIT

Store photos, microchip number and a mock-up lost cat flyer with your cat’s Emergency Kit or simply where it’s easy to access.

Should you ever need them, this kit will save you precious time and tons of stress.

The ultimate preparation is to download the ebook, the Pet Finder’s Guide to How to Find a Lost Cat so you know the right steps for your situation and type of cat, as well as the common mistakes to avoid (like putting out food and kitty litter).

GPS TRACKERS?

Everyone seems to think GPS is the ideal solution for lost cats, but GPS is actually less than ideal. GPS is short for Global Positioning Satellites, which are in the sky. Cats hide tend to hide UNDER things. If your cat does go missing, their “heavy necklace” is useless once the 3-day battery has died.

An alternative system few people know about are the RF cat tracking devices, which are tiny and based on radio waves that can find cats under things like decks and porches - even down storm drains.

Even simpler, and totally independent of glitchy apps, SIM cards and texting plans is a simple breakaway LED lighted collar strip. The glow will show where your cat is hiding and stays lit for weeks, rather than a few days.  This is especially useful for cats who go out, but you need to see them in the dark get them in before bedtime.

SAFE TRANSPORT

This sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many pet owners put their cats at risk. A cat inside a car can escape when involved in a traffic accident. They can jump out when a door is opened (see the case of a cat lost at a gas station at night). Cat carriers have been known to break open during traffic accidents, in vet parking lots, and on conveyor belts at airports. No matter how crabby your cat becomes with confinement, make sure you transport them in a secure carrier. 

COLLAR & MICROCHIP

Even indoor-only cats should have a collar and chip because if they ever do get out, they’re at risk of one day ending up in an animal shelter months after you’ve stopped searching.

Micro-chipping is equivalent to a serial number your cat carries and it’s used for identification only.  Microchips are not GPS trackers and are only detectable with an expensive microchip scanner used by shelters, vets, and rescue groups. Get your cat chipped now while it’s still possible, then go home register the chip to YOU at your CURRENT address and phone number or it is just a number with no name.

TRAIN YOUR CAT to enter a baited humane trap. In indoor only, teach your kitty that humane traps = food and safety. You want them to enter quickly and gladly should you ever need to use one, such as after a carrier accident in a veterinarian’s parking lot.

Get a humane trap available on this tools and equipment page, and run a bungee cord to hold it open. Feed your cat inside the trap until he enters and leaves without fear. If your cat should ever escape outdoors, you will increase your chances of recovery because your cat associates traps with food and is not afraid to enter.

  

BIRD ALERTS

Should your cat ever escape and you have no idea which direction, listen to the birds. They will issue raucous alarm calls to let each other know there is a predator in the area. Blue jays and mockingbirds are especially vocal when they spot a cat. They make a specific alarm call you can learn to recognize. Examples of various bird alarms on cats are included in the ebook, How to Find a Lost Cat by the Lost Cat Finder.

 

Kim Freeman

“The Cat Detective”

www.LostCatFinder.com

Lost Cat reunion stories

https://www.facebook.com/LostCatFinder

Very many thanks to Kim for joining us today and for all her expert advice, we especially liked getting the Lost Cat Kit together just in case; forward planning saves critical time in this type of scenario and mew have lots of valuable tips should the wurst happen, and we highly recommend getting Kim's e-book guide or bookmark this page for future reference, as mew never know when mew might need it. We really hope mew never do, but just in case - be purrpared.

Also, mew can hire Kim and her cat Henry for an In-Person Search + on-site search and rescue should mew need to; she has over 8 years experience in finding and reuniting lost pets with their owners, although do check this service is available as with the covid-19 situation it might not be possible in the current climate. But do visit her website anyway as Henry, a gorgeous tuxedo is also a bonafide Sniffer Cat who helps Kim to find lost cats, what an epic dude, he can join The B Team any time for an adventure!   

Amber will be here tomorrow with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, so do stop by if mew get chance and don't furget it's her 18th birthday pawty on Caturday, and mew're all invited.

Until next time...

Wing Commander Basil and The B Team

Don't furget to subscribe to our blog and never miss another post. 

**All Photo's Supplied by Kim Freeman Copyright and Links are not Affiliates**

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com