Bird bathing: mist, spray, or dunk?

I am always amazed when I ask bird owners whether their birds bathe, and they tell me that they are afraid to mist their birds, especially during winter, because they might get too cold.

Birds live outside and frequently bathe in the early morning. Even if they are outside in warm climates, it is unlikely that the inside of an owner’s home is colder than a wild bird’s environment in the early morning. So, fear of chilling a bird with a bath is generally unfounded

Birds vary greatly in the ways they choose to bathe. And while they do not generally like those fancy lavender-scented bird “shampoos” we silly humans think they should (and with good reason, because nothing should be sprayed on a bird, other than water), some birds love the feeling of the mist from a shower or a bottle sprayer, while others like to dunk themselves in a water bowl. The best way to figure out how your feathered friend prefers to bathe is to experiment with different methods, and see how he reacts. Here are some approaches you might try:

Showering: Since birds are naturally social creatures, living in flocks of hundreds to thousands in the wild, they often enjoy a taking a shower with their owners – their flock mates. Various special shower perches that suction cup to tile are available to allow birds to take part in their owner’s daily ritual. When introducing your bird to the shower, be patient, at first. Allow your bird to watch you in the shower before trying to convince him to join you. Place the shower perch outside of the shower, and then slowly move the perch into the back of the tub as your bird becomes more accustomed to the sounds and sensations of bathing. Remember to go slowly; your bird should decide on his or her own that the shower is a friendly place that poses no threat to his or her safety.
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How To Train a Cat to Sleep on Bed

Cats are notoriously independent-minded and solitary; traits that make it difficult to train them to sleep on a bed. You will need a lot of patience to accustom them to a specific spot.

Here are the steps to training a cat to sleep on a bed.

    * Tire a cat out. Play with it, take it for walks, let it catch a toy or make it jump repeatedly. These activities will quickly tire a cat and make him conducive to sleeping.
    * Bring the cat to a bed. Once the cat tries to lie down and rest, lift it onto the bed. Close the door to prevent it from getting away. Place the cat away from the headboard; once it’s comfortable, it will eventually move towards your head on its own.
    * Stroke the cat until it sleeps. Cats usually enjoy a good rub and relax to receive more of it. Rub its fur all over its body and observe how its eyes start closing in satisfaction. Continue rubbing and offer soothing words until the cat is lightly napping. You can also play soft melodies such as lullabies and classical music to lull it to sleep.
    * Improve bed conditions to its preference. Perhaps the bedroom is too hot or too cold for it to sleep, compelling it to jump off. Place an electric fan towards it to cool it off, or lie in bed yourself so it can warm itself against you. You must also remove any distractions around it, which prevents it from falling asleep, such as noisy devices or moving toys or decor. Observe the cat for signs of restlessness or inability to fall asleep then determine the cause. Finally, avoid waking the cat up by nuzzling it, mumbling to it or fidgeting in bed: a cat would rather leave than tolerate all the disturbances in the room.

    * Be ready to open the door to let the cat out. A cat may need to relieve itself several times in the middle of the night and will signal it intent to find its litter box by scratching your door. Keep alert for such scratching and promptly open the door for it. You can keep the door open and wait for it to return back to bed after it is done.
    * Consider the early history of the cat. A cat with a history of being abused or neglected may suffer a lasting trauma around people and will never be comfortable sleeping around them. If the cat simply refuses to sleep and displays nervousness or stress around you, respect its wishes to sleep in solitude.
    * Avoid forcing the cat against the bed or holding it tight as you lie down. This will only further aggravate the creature and withdraw more strongly from sleeping with you. A cat may also take revenge on you as you sleep, and you may wake up with scratches on your body or face, or worse.


By letting it sleep on the bed, you can be sure the cat isn't going about and messing furniture or being chased by animals outside. Repeat these steps until the cat becomes used to the sleeping arrangement, and make sure to maintain the routine so as not to confuse the cat as to your expectations from it with regards to bedtime.
For more info- http://www.howtodothings.com/how-to-train-a-cat-to-sleep-on-bed