ADOPT SMOKEY, THE BODACIOUS KITTY!
“Smokey” came to the Prince George’s County Shelter from a family who had lost their home . Thinking of little Smokey’s welfare, they brought him to the shelter where he at least would have a roof over his head for a short time until he can find his new forever home.
NAME: “Smokey”
COUNTY ID#: A397238
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AGE: 7 Years
GENDER: Male
Find out what's happening in Bowiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
BREED: Domestic Shorthair
WEIGHT: 22 Fun Loving Pounds
COLOR: A beautiful shade of grey with a special and unique touch of white
HOBBIES: When Smokey isn’t sleeping, he loves to irritate you while you are trying to sweep the floor. Loves to try to catch the broom and mess with the dirt.
PERSONALITY: Smokey may be…...well…...a big boy, but with that comes a big heart. He loves attention and doesn’t mind being picked up for short periods, overall a GREAT cat.
If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting the wonderful pet featured this week, please call the Prince George's Animals Management Facility in Upper Marlboro at 301-780-7201 to check on the availability. You may also visit www.pgamd.petfinder.com or www.petharbor.com to see many more precious pets that are available for adoption.
ASK FOR “SMOKEY” A397238
TIP OF THE WEEK
CLAWING FURNITURE
A good scratching post should help eliminate this problem. The scratching post should be high enough for him to stretch (at least 30 inches tall), have a sturdy base, and should consist of the right material. Soft carpet-like materials are not usually the best choice. Better materials include sisal rope and pine . I have had great success with the sisal rope post, my cats love it. You may need to experiment to see which material your cat likes best.
There are certain steps you can take to train your cat to use the scratching post. When you see your cat start to scratch something that is off limits, pick him up and take him to the scratching post. Play with him there with his favorite toy, encouraging him to climb and scratch. Stimulate his urge to stretch by petting him with firm strokes down the neck and back. Always reward him with gentle petting and praise when he uses the post properly. If you have a large house, you may want to have two posts, one near his bed and one near the couch or chair that he likes to scratch the most. You can also rub catnip on the scratching post to make it more enticing to him.
If your cat prefers using both the post and your furniture there are other methods for discouraging him or her. You can cover the item he is scratching with unpleasant material such as plastic, double-sided tape, or aluminum foil.
If your can stays indoors, keeping his claws in good condition with regular trimmings will also help to reduce clawing furniture.
A few cats may prefer scratching on a flat horizontal surface. Cardboard scratching boxes available at most pet stores are a good choice for these cats.
It is also important to keep you cat both physically and mentally stimulated. Many of a cat’s aggressive behaviors stems from the fact that he is bored or frustrated. Make sure your cat has a variety of toys of different shapes, sizes, textures, and movement to keep him/her occupied.
