When introducing your cat to having its teeth brushed, patience is key. Ensuring that the experience is pleasant for you and your cat will require time, trust, and rewards for your feline friend. Before you begin, you’ll want to make sure you have all your supplies ready.
Your local experts at Feeds’ n Needs will help you find everything you need to start brushing your cat’s teeth!
What You’ll Need
- Cat toothbrush or finger brush
- Pet safe toothpaste
- Q-tip or cotton bud
- Your cat’s favourite treats
- Towel or blanket (optional)
Cats respond well to routine, and they may benefit from having their teeth brushed at the same time every day. Choosing a time of day when your cat is typically calm or hungry can make them easier to work with, as they will likely be more eager to accept treats and gentle pats as a reward for their cooperation.
How to Brush Their Teeth
Step 1:
- Choose a quiet time and place, such as a small room where the door can be closed to prevent your cat from escaping. You can place your cat on a countertop or table covered by a towel or sit with them in your lap. With the cats back toward you, ensure you can keep a gentle but firm hold on them. If your cat is particularly nervous, you may wrap them in a towel or blanket and have someone hold them to make sure they’re secure while you brush their teeth.
Step 2:
- Introduce your cat to the feeling of having their mouth touched by gently moving their lips and running your finger along their teeth and gumline. If your cat tolerates this well, reward them with treats and some gentle scratches if they enjoy it.
Step 3:
- Once your cat is familiar with your fingers touching their mouth, introduce the pet-safe toothpaste by placing a small amount on your finger and letting them lick it off. If the cat refuses to lick it from your finger, you can try putting a bit on the tip of their nose; they should instinctively lick it off.
Step 4:
- Using a Q-tip with a small amount of toothpaste on one end, gently rub the applicator tip along the outer surface of the cat’s teeth. Starting with the back teeth and working forward, rub the toothpaste into the teeth using circular motions. Your cat will likely only tolerate a few seconds of this at first, so focus on only a few teeth during your sessions until your cat grows more comfortable. Reward your cat’s cooperation with lots of treats.
Step 5:
- Introduce the toothbrush to your cat by allowing them to lick a bit of toothpaste from the bristles. To ensure you have a secure grip on your cat while brushing their teeth, spread your hand wide and place your palm over the top of your cat’s head towards the back of their skull. Your thumb and second finger will grip around the cheekbones just under the eyes, allowing the cat’s mouth to fall open gently. Ensure your index finger is lifted to avoid covering the cat’s eyes. Now that you are holding your cat securely, use the same circular motions working from the back towards the front, and begin to gently brush the outer side of the cat’s teeth. As your cat gets more comfortable with each session, you can increase the time spent brushing each side until you can brush for 30-45 seconds per side.
Tooth brushing is unnatural for cats and can be stressful for them to adapt to, so be patient and do not rush the process. Taking as many days as necessary to get your cat comfortable at each step, reassuring them in a soothing voice and rewarding them with treats throughout is essential to helping them form a routine and making each experience a positive one.
Stop in at your local Feeds’ n Needs to pick up some well-deserved treats and toys for your cat, and be sure to ask our experts any questions you may have about your cat’s dental health!
For more information and resources about pet dental health, check out some of our other blogs:
Valentine’s Pet Safety Tips
Valentine’s Day is almost here, a day you can also celebrate with your pets. Give them a special toy or treat, take them for a long walk, or cuddle them on the couch. However you choose to celebrate, be aware of the possible Valentine’s Day hazards. Check out our tips to help keep your pets safe this love day!
Xylitol: This sugarless sweetener is in many candies and gums and is toxic to pets. It can cause hypoglycemia.
Chocolate: Do NOT feed your pets anything with chocolate. It can be very toxic to them!
Flowers: Certain flowers are deadly to pets. All Lilies are fatal to cats. Roses can cause punctures to the mouth and paws and possible bawl obstruction if swallowed. Keep them away from your furry friends!
Decorations: Tape, ribbons, bows, balloons, and wrapping paper can become a choking hazard. Dispose of them before your pet finds them!
Candles: Candles can become a fire hazard around pets. They can also burn themselves accidentally. Never leave candles or a fire unattended with pets.
Cocktails: A small amount of alcohol can cause illness, coma or death. Keep cocktails away from pets and wipe up any spills ASAP!
A safe home is a happy home during festivities! Keeping these tips in mind can help avoid emergency trips to the vet.
Have a safe and happy Valentine’s Day from Feeds’n Needs!
Keep Your Pets Safe this Holiday Season
We love including our pets in holiday celebrations, but there are some holiday hazards to look out for to make this season safe and fun for everyone!
Here are some holiday pet safety tips to keep in mind:
- Secure your Christmas Tree – Always observe dogs and cats around the tree. If possible, set it up in a room your can easily close off when you’re not home to avoid them trying to jump onto or into the tree.
- Don’t let your pets drink the tree water – Pet parents with a real tree at home should ensure the water inside the tree stand is NOT easily accessible to dogs and cats as it can sometimes release toxic sap into the water.
- Keep Christmas light away from your pet s- Christmas lights and cords can cause electrocution, internal injuries, or intestinal blockage if your curious pet decides to chew on them. Fasten your lights to your tree and place cords out of reach.
- Make sure ornaments are out of reach – Chewing on ornaments can cause cuts in you rpet’s mouth, throat and digestive tract. When eaten, decorations such as garland and tinsel can also result in gastrointestinal blockages.
- Pick pet safe Christmas plants – popular decorative plants like holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias can be poisonous for pets if ingested.
- Keep gifts and candy/chocolate out of reach – Gift wrapping, candy and chocolate can threaten your pet’s health if ingested.
A safe home is a happy and festive home this holiday season. Keeping these tips in mind can help avoid emergency trips to the vet, which means the whole family can celebrate a joyful holiday season.
Have a safe and happy holiday from Feeds’n Needs!
How to Grow Your Own Indoor Herb Garden
Not ready to give up gardening for the season? Start your own indoor herb garden! A herb garden will ensure you always have fresh herbs on hand. It’s as simple as understanding the plant’s requirements and making sure to give them what they need. Check out our step-by-step guide to learn how to grow your own indoor herb garden successfully!
Pick the Right Plants
Most herbs can be grown indoors, but ones that tend to thrive the most inside include basil, chives, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme. First-time herb growers should select three to five herbs to keep the garden manageable. You can start herbs from seeds or cutting, but you may find it much easier and faster to start with seedlings. The best herbs for you will depend on the ones you plan to use while cooking.
Select a Container with Drainage
You can plant herbs in just about any container as long as it has some drainage. You should also have something underneath your pot, like a saucer or round plastic protector.
Choose a Sunny Spot
Most herbs prefer a lot of sunlight. You’ll want to give your indoor herb garden at least six hours of sun daily to thrive. It is best to place your herbs as close to your brightest windows as possible. Growth in the winter season can be slower as there isn’t as much natural light. You can invest in a grow light or LED light to help ensure your plants get enough light.
Herbs grown in strong, bright light will have the best flavour! A bright, sunny window or sunroom is the ideal location for growing herbs indoors.
Water – But Not Too Much
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to ensure your plants grow successfully. A small watering can, or a drizzle under the sink will do the job. If you notice the leaves of your plants turning yellow or wilting, scale back the water amount. Pour out any excess water that collects in the tray or saucer they’re sitting in.
Harvest a Little at a Time
Pinch off a few leaves with your fingers. Regular cutbacks encourage new growth. Be careful not to remove more than a quarter of the plant at a time, as this can cause distress to your herbs.
Transplant When Ready
If you see roots coming out of the drainage holes, growth seems to have stalled, or the plant starts to flop over, it’s time to transplant to give your plants more space to grow.
Visit your local Feeds’n Needs to stock up on your herb seeds and gardening necessities and get to planting! You’ll have fresh and delicious herbs at your fingertips in no time!
Sources:
10 Important Tips to Create your own Indoor Herb Garden (howtoculinaryherbgarden.com)
How to Plant an Indoor Herb Garden (eatingwell.com)
Fall Garden Checklist
It is never too early to think about your spring garden – that is why it needs some attention in the fall. When the weather cools down, it’s time to finish the gardening season by preparing your gardens for winter. Use this fall garden checklist that can make all the difference next spring!
Leave the Leaves
Leave plenty of healthy plant material in your garden to help feed garden wildlife over the winter months. Some insects will hibernate in the leaves or leave behind eggs to hatch in spring, giving birds something to munch on upon their return.
Plants naturally drop their leaves to feed the roots as they decompose. Leave some of the leaves on the soil until spring so the plants can get their nutrient boost!
Mulch
Mulching in the fall creates a warm blanket on the top of the soil that slowly breaks down into humus that will feed the soil.
If you have deciduous trees on your property, mulching is easy! Let the leaves fall on the garden and leave them there as mulch. In the spring, the mulched leaves can be left in place when you add a layer of compost or topsoil. They will continue to feed the soil as they break down.
Remove Diseased Material
Removing any diseased plant material or fallen fruit is good practice to stop the spread of pests and diseases the following year. It is important to remove anything that will cause you problems in the spring.
Plant Spring Bulbs
Many of your favourite spring flowers, such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, allium, and crocus, must be planted in the fall to get that cold bust.
Grow Fall & Winter Vegetables
Vegetable gardening doesn’t have to end in the fall. There are some super seedy and frost-hardy vegetables out there that can grow before the winter chill sets in.
Harvest
The most exciting garden task in the fall is harvesting. Celebrate your success, and then get to harvesting and preserving herbs, vegetables, and flowers.
Save the Seeds
As your plants go to seed, it’s time to collect them! Look at your favourite seasonal flowers and vegetables and see what you want to include in next year’s garden. Collect only seeds from the strongest plants, so next year’s garden is even better than this one.
Plant Your Shrubs
Fall means it is time to plant shrubs and evergreens. The best time of year for planting, the warm soil and cold air help to develop a strong enough root system to get through the winter.
Amend Soil
Give your garden some nutrition back by amending garden soil in the fall.
Make compost at home using a compost bin to turn leaves, food scraps, and more into a soil amendment. Spread the compost around the garden. From there, it will do the hard work for you.
Divide Perennials
Dividing perennials increases your plant stock and helps them fill in, improve blooming, and avoid overcrowding. For the healthiest perennials, dividing them in the fall is essential. Many perennials thrive by being divided, especially if they are crowded.
Clean Your Garden Tools
Fall is a great time to give your garden tools a good scrubbing. Wash hand tools like trowels and rakes with soapy water and a scouring sponge. Use a power washer to get large tools clean. You will also want to wrap up your garden hose and fully drain it of any water before curling it up.
New Pet Essentials
Are you a new pet parent?! Congratulations on your new best friend! Be sure to start off on the right paw by stopping into your local Feeds’n Needs with your new pet. Our Experts are here to help you. Whether it is training tips, toy recommendations, or choosing the perfect food to suit your pet’s needs, you can count on our team at Feeds’n Needs to happily help you every step of the way for your new pet essentials!
During your next visit to Feeds’n Needs, ask us about our Free Pet Food Loyalty Program – Yes, FREE! Your pet deserves the best, which is why we have a large variety of quality brands to suit every need throughout your pet’s life. For most of our brands in-store, every 12 bags of pet food purchased, you will receive the 13th FREE. Ask our Experts how to sign up and start saving today because it’s not just your pet who deserves to be treated!
Be prepared. Have essential supplies on hand before your new pet arrives if you can. The first few days with a new pet is the best time for bonding and forming good habits. Here are some of the essentials we recommend having for your new pet:
- Food
- Treats
- Bowls
- Pet Tag
- Collar
- Leash
- Crate
- Pet Bed
- Brush
- Tick Spray
Let your new pet take the time to explore their new surrounding without any other pets or people around to help them adjust when you first arrive home. It’s important to introduce pets in a safe and controlled way. Let pets get used to each other through a baby gate or with the new pet crated. Keep their initial interactions short and supervised until they get used to one another.
If you have a new pet, visit your local Feeds’n Needs and ask us about our New Pet Parent brochure and savings! We are here to help get you and your furry friend off to a great start!
Seeds for Fall Planting Season
It is a great time to stock up on seeds for the fall planting season – it is never too early to start thinking about spring. Many seeds enjoy the cold spell to nestle in the ground for winter and get a head start next spring.
For fall planting in Atlantic Canada, you want to wait until after a killing frost, meaning nothing is left growing from the summer season. If you plant your seeds too early, they may sprout. You want your seeds to hibernate for the winter and emerge in spring. If a fall seedling does sprout, mulch over them to prevent them from freezing.
To plant your seeds:
1. Prepare the bed as you normally would any time of the year
2. Clear all debris and add a layer of organic compost
3. Follow the seed packet for light and soil requirements
Seeds to Plant in the Fall:
This list covers both annuals and perennials to plant in the fall. These seeds require cold stratification to bloom the following spring, or they don’t mind the cold.
- Bells of Ireland Moluccella laevis
- Cornflower Centaurea cyanus
- Blanket Flower Gaillardia
- Poppy Papaveraceae
- Coneflower Echinacea
- Columbine Aquilegea
- Sweet Peas Lathyrus odoratus
- False Queen Anne’s Lace Ammi majus
- Foxglove Digitalis
- Sea Holly Eryngium
- Tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria
- Snapdragon Antirrhinum
- Hollyhock Alcea
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia
- Forget-Me-Not Myosotis
- Penstemon Penestemon
- Sweet William Dianthus
- Ashy Sunflower Helianthus mollis
- Pansy Viola
- Love-In-A-Mist Nigella damascene
- Delphinium
- Basket of Gold Alyssum Aurinia saxatilis
- Chinese Forget-Me-Not Cynoglossum amabile
- Common Woolly Sunflower Eriophyllum lanatum
- Lunaria Lunaria annua
- Biglead Lupin Lupinus polyphyllus
- Veronica Veronica spicata
- Purple Chinese Houses Collinsia heterophylla
- Globe Gilia Gilia capitata
- Baby’s Breath Gypsophila elegans
- Baby Blue Eyes Nemophila menziesii
Vegetables to Plant in the Fall:
Here is a list of some vegetables you can plant in the fall and enjoy next spring and summer!
- Onion, garlic, and shallots:
-
- These are best planted in the fall due to their long growing season. They need a cold period to grow well and are best planted early to mid-fall.
- Turnips, carrots, radishes, and beets
-
- These root vegetables don’t mind the cold, you may even see minimal growth. You will most likely notice a sweeter taste when planted in the fall.
- Lettuce and leafy greens
-
- You can have fresh greens year-round by using a cold frame or mini-greenhouse outside throughout the winter.
Here is a complete list of when to plant vegetables in Atlantic Canada!
New Brunswick: 2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Nova Scotia: 2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Prince Edward Island: 2023 Planting Calendar: When to Start Vegetable Seeds | The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Visit us today at any one of our 13 Feeds’n Needs locations. Stock up on your seeds before they’re gone! Now is the perfect time to plant for next year’s harvest. Happy planting!
Source: Seeds to Plant in the Fall for Next Season’s Blooms – Garden Therapy
How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn
Are you looking to have the best yard in your neighbourhood this season?! Now is the time to start! While maintaining an attractive lawn, it is important to concentrate on the basic needs and conditions of the lawn and soil to fix any issues. Preventing lawn problems is usually easier than treating them with chemical pesticides after the issues start. Here are some simple tips on how to maintain a healthy lawn.
Rake Thatch
Rake any thatch – any dead grass from the previous year. Too much thatch reduces water and nutrients moving down to the roots and can shelter damaging insects and fungi.
Fertilize
Regularly fertilizing your lawn gives it the necessary nutrients to keep it strong and healthy. It will help out-compete any possible weed infestations and will make it tolerate a certain degree of insect infestation. Choose a fertilizer high in nitrogen with some iron for your first fertilizer application. Move to a fertilizer that has a longer-lasting effect for your second application. This type of fertilizer will release over the season rather than quickly. Fertilize in April/May or September when the lawn is actively growing.
Lime
Maritime soil is often very acidic. Sweeten the soil by adding lime. It is recommended to apply twice a year. Test your soil to determine whether your pH level suits your lawn. It should have a pH of 5.8-6.5.
Overseed
Overseeding is an easy and effective way to strengthen your lawn and protect against weed problems, especially in sparse areas after the winter cold or summer heat.
How to overseed:
1. Rake the bare or thin areas vigorously to loosen the soil.
2. For thickening-up purposes, apply at half the recommended rate.
3. For patching-up purposes, apply at the full recommended rate.
4. Apply a thin layer of topsoil on patched-up areas.
Aerate
Aerating the soil increases air and water circulation by opening up air spaces. Compacted soil is bad for grass development and often results in weed infestations such as plantain and clover.
Mowing Habits
Good mowing habits will help the overall health of your lawn. It is healthier to mow more frequently and keep the grass longer than removing too much at once. Maintaining your grass at a high of about 2-3 inches makes it more tolerant of drought and better to compete against weeds.
Grass Seed
Grow a lawn with more than one type of grass. Lawns with mixed grass are more tolerant of different growing conditions and insect- and disease-resistant.
Watering
Lawns usually receive enough water from rainfall, but in the driest summer periods, ensuring your lawn gets enough water is vital. Water just enough so that about 1 inch covers the entire surface of your yard. Watering in the morning or evening will reduce evaporation.
Weed Control
Weeds are prone to grow in lawns that are in poor condition. Weed seeds quickly germinate and grow in damaged areas where the soil is compacted or grass that is heavily damaged by insects and diseases. Re-seed any bare or damaged patches quickly. Walk in different places to avoid compacting the soil or waring bare spots in the grass.
Pest Control
Some lawn problems don’t seem to go away and might need a pesticide. Figure out what’s causing the problem, and visit your local Feeds’n Needs for advice on the best product to resolve your lawn issues. You can ask our Experts in-store any questions about your lawn care process. Great lawns start with Feeds’n Needs!
Early lawn care process:
April to May – Set a plan, rake, lime, create air movement, sunlight, and start with a clean slate.
May to June – Overseed and fertilize OR take care of weeds
July to August – Water (deep); mow (about 3″); fertilize, and weed
September to October – Lime, overseed and fertilize
Early November – Rake, dormant fertilize, dormant seed, put to bed
Sources:
Halifax Seed Company – Lawn Care: How to Maintain a Lush, Green & Healthy Lawn
Healthy.Lawns.pdf (novascotia.ca)
Tips on Attracting Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are fascinating little visitors, and when we start seeing them in our backyard, we know the warmer weather is approaching as they migrate north. Native flowers are the best source of nectar, but a nectar powder or concentrate can give them a needed energy boost to help them along their journey.
The most common hummingbirds seen in Atlantic Canada are the Ruby-throated and Rufous. Here are some tips on attracting hummingbirds to your backyard.
- Choose a Feeder: Make sure your feeder is easy to open and clean. Red feeders attract hummingbirds as the flowers pollinated by hummingbirds are often red. The port size is important when choosing a hummingbird feeder because if your ports are too small, they will not allow the nectar out and will be difficult for hummingbirds to use. Ports that are too large may leak and allow insects to get in. Consider adding bee guards, which snap over ports.
- Choose a Nectar: Hummingbirds love sweet formulas and will eat nectar and sugar water all season. At Feeds’n Needs, we have many different ready-to-use nectar options available, ranging from powder concentrates, liquid concentrates and instant concentrates. Never use honey in your feeders. Honey fosters bacterial and fungal growth and ferments faster than sugar water.
- Change Your Nectar Regularly: Scrub feeders with hot water and a clean bottle brush and refill every three days. If it is hot out, you should clean and refill your feeders more often. Discard the nectar and clean your feeder immediately if there are any signs of cloudy water or mould. Always rinse feeders in hot or boiling water before adding fresh nectar. A consistently clean feeder will ensure regular feedings.
- Attract Hummingbirds to Your Backyard: Plant native plants near your hummingbird feeder. Colourful plants, predominantly red, will attract hummingbirds as they have good colour vision.
- Feeder Placement: Hummingbirds prefer feeders near trees and shrubs to rest and observe their surroundings. Set feeders in areas protected from the wind. Make sure your feeder is safe from cats and other predators.
- When to Put Up and Take Down Feeders: Set up and fill your hummingbird feeder before the first spring hummingbirds arrive. Male hummingbirds arrive a few days before females and young birds.
Hummingbird season is here, and our stores have a large selection of feeders and supplies. Check out this interactive hummingbird migration map to track them this Spring! https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2023-map.htm
Sources:
Fun Facts About Hummingbirds (kaytee.com)
Feeding and attracting hummingbirds – Birds Canada | Oiseaux Canada
Gardening Tips for Beginners
Do you want to learn something new this spring and summer? Gardening is a fun and rewarding hobby! If you’re unsure where to start, no problem! Whether you’re trying to grow fruits and veggies or add some colour and curb appeal to your home, these seven simple gardening tips for beginners can help:
- Site it right – Gardening is all about location. When deciding where to put your garden plot, it’s essential to know if the area is “full sun,” “full shade,” or a combination of both. This information can help you determine which plants to place in which areas.
- Plan your garden – Sitting down and planning your garden is a great starting point. It is important to choose the right plants for your space and avoid overcrowding. Many plants, including fruits and vegetables, need six hours of sun daily to thrive, while others are better suited to areas with little light. If you are thinking of putting your garden in a spot that will get lots of sunlight, consider planting perennial plants (plants that return every year) like dahlias, roses, peonies, and lavender. Fruit trees and vegetables also thrive in sunny spots. If your garden will sit in a shaded area, consider plants like ferns, hydrangeas, sweet woodruff, hostas, and azaleas. Be sure to know how high your plants will grow. Shorter ones should be planted toward the front of your garden bed, with taller plants in the back to prevent blocking smaller ones.
- Test Your Soil – To thoroughly read your soil’s pH and nutrient levels, purchase an at-home testing kit available at your local Feeds’n Needs. The results will tell you how acidic or alkaline your soil is, which affects how plants absorb nutrients. Since different plants thrive in different pH levels, this test will help you decide what to plant or indicate how you should treat the soil.
- Invest in the Proper Gardening Tools – Visit your local Feeds’n Needs to pick up the essential gardening tools needed to start your garden.
- Learn Your Frost Dates – Planting too early (or late) in the season can set you up for disaster. Starting a garden before the season’s last frost is a mistake many new gardeners make. You need to know your area’s last average spring frost date so you don’t accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely, especially if you’re growing frost-sensitive plants. It’s also good to know your first average fall frost date to get your plants harvested or moved indoors before late-season cold damages them.
- Add Some Mulch – Consider adding 2-3 inches deep of mulch around the base of each plant. This will help reduce weeds and moisture loss through evaporation, so you have to weed and water less often. You can also put down straw, shredded leaves, pine straw, or other locally available material.
- Feed Plants Regularly – Watering and fertilizing your garden should become a regular part of your routine during the spring and summer. Knowing when and how to water plants seems easy, but it is often done incorrectly. Generally, water the root rather than the leaves, as the roots absorb the water. Depending on how much rain your area receives, you should head out to your garden at least once a week to water your plants. Once every two weeks, fertilize your garden, we recommend Seaboost to help grow healthy, vibrant plants. When diluted, this concentrated liquid can be applied by watering can or spray equipment.
These are just a few tips for starting your gardening journey. If you want more specific advice or plant recommendations, visit your local Feeds’n Needs and ask one of our Experts. Happy gardening!
Sources:
