Decorating for The Cat Owner - How to Protect Your Possessions

The first thing a cat owner should know about home décor is to keep it simple. Cats are completely convinced that they are in charge, that the house and its possessions belong to them, and that they have every right to break rip or shred anything they like. Even a well trained cat (a possible oxymoron) will occasionally get overzealous, and with an inadvertent sweep of their tail will knock your favorite decoration from its place to a pile on the floor.

This disregard for your possessions, overt or otherwise, requires that you use some strategy when deciding on the placement of various decorative pieces. This is going to amount basically to common sense. Any surface that a cat can reach, they will walk on. Therefore low shelves or dressers should not contain any objects that are fragile. Items should be moved towards the middle of a surface, or back against the wall, to prevent them being knocked onto the floor. Items that have a broad or sturdy base should replace other more top heavy objects. Decorative accents that can shatter, such as ceramics or stone statues, may have to be replaced by steal or wood.

One way to display fragile items is to move them up. High shelves that are isolated from cat "stepping stones" will be out of dangers way. The same may be true of tall dressers, although unfortunately some cats will take a tall isolated dresser as a personal challenge, which they simply have to climb. Your décor will have to be matched to the personality of your cat.

Mirrors can also provide a problem, as some cats tend to attack their own reflection. If your cat has a problem with this, buying velvet or satin cloth and draping it over the mirror can be a decorative way to solve this.

Plants can be one of the biggest décor problems a cat owner will face. Your pet can chew on leaves, dig in the soil, or urinate in them. Luckily, there are ways both to decorate around these problems as well as to train your cat out of them. For biting and chewing of leaves, a natural spray repellent applied to the plant will cause most cats to avoid it. To stop a cat from rooting in or excreting in your plant you have to realize that the dirt in the pot is reminiscent of the cats litter box. In order to change this, use stones or gravel to fill over the top of the dirt. This will remove the cat's fascination with the soil, and can be a lovely decorative accent to your plant

Cat grass is a special kind of plant you can grow in your home that is specifically formulated to be safe for felines, and to provide them with certain vitamins they may be lacking. Purchasing this can give your cat an acceptable alternative to messing with your plants. When you see your cat eating the cat grass, reward them lavishly. When you see them going near other plants, pick them up and place them in front of the cat grass. If they eat the offered vegetation, then reward them. In this way you can use positive reinforcement to turn one behavior into another

Cats will scratch anything which is made of cloth, including couches, drapes, and pillows. Because of this, you may want to start by spraying natural cat repellent on your more attractive pieces. A plastic couch cover may have to be used for a short time while the cat learns to behave itself. Buying your pet a scratching post and praising it for scratching that instead of your couch is a good way to positively reinforce the negative behavior out of the cat. You will have to carefully monitor their progress, and only remove protective coverings from your furniture when you are sure they are safe.

While cats are a hazard to most décor, planning ahead can minimize these problems. Cats are so difficult to train that it is often easier to simply decorate around them. Using common sense, and paying attention, should allow you to develop a setting that compliments your pet owning experience.

Joey Lewitin is one of the authors that adds home decorating and design advice to the resource section of http://pebblez.com

---

Saving Ginger From Being Put To Sleep ? Part 2

The Story Continues... Following the first of many visits to... Read More

Online: The Fastest, Cheapest, Easiest Way to Buy and Sell a Horse

Selling a HorseThe best new tool for people selling horses... Read More

7 Good Reasons to Have Your Cat Spayed or Neutered

Every year, many cat owners decide to get their cat... Read More

The Noble Skye Terrier

With ancestors who were a breed of tenacious terriers, most... Read More

Dog Aggressive Training: Understand & Eliminate Your Dogs Aggressive Behavior

Aggression behavior in a dog is a normal form of... Read More

Garbage-Raiding Dogs: One Simple Solution to the Problem

Got a mischevious mutt on your hands? Then you may... Read More

Mabeke: Gorilla Teacher

Mabeke is a young gorilla who was born in captivity... Read More

No, No, No! Drop It, Drop It! Give It To Me Now!

Puppies can be so exasperating! They know what we want,... Read More

Decorating for The Cat Owner - How to Protect Your Possessions

The first thing a cat owner should know about home... Read More

The Benefits of Large Birdcages

We've all heard the phrase, "Free as a bird." In... Read More

So are you ready for a Boxer Dog?...

An easier and more pleasant journey with your chosen Boxer... Read More

How To Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy - Playtime for Kitty

While dogs tend to get lots of exercise, cats are... Read More

Chinchillas As Pets

You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible... Read More

New Puppies-The Cure For Insomnia-What You Can Do To Help You New Pupppy Adjust

Puppies have a natural instinct inside that causes them to... Read More

West Highland White Terriers ? Westies- A Wonderful Breed Apart

"Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs,... Read More

Goldfish Analysis

When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank,... Read More

Heartworm Treatment for Cats and Dogs

The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs.... Read More

Tips For Toys

Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More

Proper Diet For the Discus Fish

The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American... Read More

Dogs & Kids: Happy Together

Dogs and kids, it's a combination that at it's best... Read More

Are You Really Ready For a Boxer Dog?

The answer is "no" if you are the type who... Read More

Horse Care & Training Tips

Do you own a horse? If so, then you have... Read More

7 Simple Ways To Safe Guard Your Dog This Summer!

If you have a hard time in summer imagine how... Read More

Dog Health: About Worms and Their Side Effects

Your dog's health is a very important part of overall... Read More

You Must Train Your Dog From A Young Age

The best thing to do is to start training your... Read More

Two Tails Are Better Than One

Training one dog can be hard enough, but two, now... Read More

New Pet Tag Services Provide A Sense Of Security

The greatest benefits of ownership is knowing that your property... Read More

Cats And Litter Box Problems

If your cat has recently decided not to use the... Read More

The Wire Fox Terrier

Of the thirty-three terrier breeds (most of which were first... Read More

Acclimating New Birds

Now that my services have expanded into the "matchmaking" business,... Read More

Too Many Cats?

Cats are becoming increasingly popular as pets these days, and... Read More

Cat Scratching Solutions

For a cat, scratching is a natural, necessary act. Besides... Read More

Tips to Help Solve the Three Most Common Dog Barking Complaints

Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and even... Read More