By Idham Effendi
When cat proofing your home and garden you need to get a cat's prospective on things. It is up to you, the responsible cat owner, to make sure that your cat's curiosity doesn't land her in life-threatening situations. Cats have an insatiable curiosity. Everything must be investigated, hunted, and played with; this can sometimes have dire consequences. Here are some simple tips to help you make your home safer for your resident feline(s).
Cats Love to Climb.
Cats love to jump up on things and climb. Make sure none of your breakable prized possessions are in areas your cat is liable to jump up on, it is very simple for them to be knocked off and broken unintentionally.
Elecric Cables
Any exposed cables are potential hazard for a playful kitten. Make sure they are not frayed, because if a kitten begins to play with an unsafe lead it can easily be electrocuted.
Recliner chairs.
Many cats will go underneath these chairs as a hiding or resting place. Cats that are caught in the mechanism when the chair is opened or closed can be seriously injured or killed.
Commercial Cat Toys
These come in a variety of shapes and sizes and using them to play with your cat can provide valuable bonding time for you and your feline friend. They are generally designed with felinesafety in mind, although it is still wise to "cat-proof" them by removing any bits and pieces that would be chewed or ingested.
Kitten Safety
Keeping your toilet bowl closed after use is a must for small kittens, and especially a breed of cat like the Bengal, who seems naturally attracted to water. Move glass or breakable treasures inside a locked cabinet, or use special anchoring clay to keep them secured from being knocked over by an inquisitive paw. Always keep your washing machine and dryer doors closed, and check carefully before and after each use to make sure your kitty hasn't somehow gotten inside. For some reason, all kittens seem to love exploring underneath the refrigerator - make sure that they cannot get all the way under or behind the refrigerator by filling up those spaces or putting boards or other material there to keep the kitties out.
Window
Keep your windows screened at all times. Never assume that your kitty will be able to keep her balance on the window sill. Even the most agile of cats is bound to take a dangerous fall given enough trips to an unsecured window sill.
more: http://cat-world.50webs.com
Idham Effendi Email: chip_arm@yahoo.com Website: http://cat-world.50webs.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Facts About Cats: Do You Know This And That?
By : Ann Hughes
Cats are very interesting members of the animal kingdom. Some of them stay wild in the thick forests while some of them stay tamed in our homes. Wherever they are, cats are very interesting and they possess really exquisite characteristics. How much do you know about cats? Well, we hope top add more information to you:
- Did you know that cats could see 6 times better than human beings? Yes, according to studies, it is during night time when cats could really see more than we could.
- Anywhere in the world, cats are existent from steaming Africa to icy cool Greenland; you could surely find them in different corners of the world. They may have varied looks or characteristics by counting in the different factors.
- Just like dogs, cats could swim it just so happened that they are not into it that much.
- An eighteen-hour sleep is achievable by cats in hot countries. These areas include desert-like areas and in some angles, the tropics.
- There are different cats and most of them have rare characters.
- One of them inspired ancient Egyptians. This is the Sphynx. Actually, it does not have any hair at all.
- There are cats called Manx which originate from the Isle of Man and that they do not have tails. They just have this so-called stub.
- Who do not know the fastest animal? The Cheetah is of course another member of the cat family.
- There are also fishing cats which really show great skills in catching fish.
These tidbits are just some of those cool yet factual things about cats. When your aim is to explore more about these animals, you could always use the power of the internet in order to familiarize yourself with the world around you.
When you wish to have your own cat, you could also consider those factors that may make or break your choice. There are actually different choices of cats for pets. In general, cats are very good pets for they are very affectionate.
According to research owning cats as pets is most beneficial for ill or old patients. It has been found out that animals like cats could reduce their depression and other negative feelings brought by solitude and sickness.
Article Source: http://www.fetcharticles.com
Ann Hughes writes for www.anypetstore.com - A comprehensive searchable directory of local pet shops, pet supplies and veterinarians all across the United States.
Cats are very interesting members of the animal kingdom. Some of them stay wild in the thick forests while some of them stay tamed in our homes. Wherever they are, cats are very interesting and they possess really exquisite characteristics. How much do you know about cats? Well, we hope top add more information to you:
- Did you know that cats could see 6 times better than human beings? Yes, according to studies, it is during night time when cats could really see more than we could.
- Anywhere in the world, cats are existent from steaming Africa to icy cool Greenland; you could surely find them in different corners of the world. They may have varied looks or characteristics by counting in the different factors.
- Just like dogs, cats could swim it just so happened that they are not into it that much.
- An eighteen-hour sleep is achievable by cats in hot countries. These areas include desert-like areas and in some angles, the tropics.
- There are different cats and most of them have rare characters.
- One of them inspired ancient Egyptians. This is the Sphynx. Actually, it does not have any hair at all.
- There are cats called Manx which originate from the Isle of Man and that they do not have tails. They just have this so-called stub.
- Who do not know the fastest animal? The Cheetah is of course another member of the cat family.
- There are also fishing cats which really show great skills in catching fish.
These tidbits are just some of those cool yet factual things about cats. When your aim is to explore more about these animals, you could always use the power of the internet in order to familiarize yourself with the world around you.
When you wish to have your own cat, you could also consider those factors that may make or break your choice. There are actually different choices of cats for pets. In general, cats are very good pets for they are very affectionate.
According to research owning cats as pets is most beneficial for ill or old patients. It has been found out that animals like cats could reduce their depression and other negative feelings brought by solitude and sickness.
Article Source: http://www.fetcharticles.com
Ann Hughes writes for www.anypetstore.com - A comprehensive searchable directory of local pet shops, pet supplies and veterinarians all across the United States.
The Remarkable Purr of a Cat
From Franny Syufy
Why and How do Cats Purr?
My mailbox often brings interesting challenges, as in this morning's short question from Gideon: "Do cats purr when they are alone?" What a great question! As I replied to Gideon, it is on the order of, "If a tree falls in the woods, and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?" Or - "Does the light burn inside a closed refrigerator?" Yet, by far, I think the question about cats purring is the much more fascinating of the three. Truthfully, I don't know if cats purr when they are alone. It seems likely that they do, if one understands a little about why cats purr.
Most experienced "cat wranglers" now know that cats don't purr only when they are content and happy. They also purr during tense or traumatic moments. When suddenly and violently injured, even at moments near death, a cat will often purr.
I've often likened this to saying, "Please don't hurt me any more. I'll be good," but recent studies have put a more scientific spin on this seeming anomaly.
It seems that the measurable Hertz of a cat's purr lies between 25 and 150. Coincidentally (or not) it has been found that sound frequency in this range can stimilate bone growth and healing. ¹
That cats have remarkable endurance, and are quite stoic to trauma is well known to veterinary professionals; it is not unlikely that this instinct to purr under duress is directly related.
Purring under stress has more colorfully been described as the cat's mantra, e.g., a self-soothing, self-healing, relaxing, vibrating sound (sort of like the Ommmm one might hum while in the lotus position. Notice the vibration in your lips, nose and throat? I bet most of us, if we had our "druthers," would much rather be able to purr!
The Physiology of Purring
There seems to be two schools of thought here.
The most popular one is quoted here:
One study determined that purring involves activation of nerves within the voice box. These nerve signals cause vibration of the vocal cords while the diaphragm serves as a piston pump, pushing air in and out of the vibrating cords, thus creating a musical hum. Veterinarian Neils C. Pederson, author of Feline Husbandry, believes that purring is initiated from within the central nervous system and is a voluntary act. In other words, cats purr only when they want to.²
The other theory is that the sound comes more from vibrating blood vessels than in the voicebox itself. ³
The Happy Purr of a Cat
All domestic cats are born with the purring ability. A queen will purr while giving birth. It is unknown whether this is because of happy anticipation, or whether it is a relaxing "mantra." Kittens instinctively purr when nursing, and the momcat purrs right back at them. Your adult cat will purr at the drop of a hat whenever you're near, and especially when you are holding or petting him.
Cat purrs will range from a deep rumble to a raspy, broken sound, to a high-pitched trill, depending on the physiology and/or the mood of a cat. A cat will often "wind-down" when going to sleep, with a long purring sigh that drops melodically from a high to a low pitch. Does your cat's purr sometimes sound like an idling diesel engine? That's because at the lower range of 26 Hertz, the velocities are nearly the same.
The Healing Power of the Purr
Cats are often used as "therapy animals" in convalescent hospitals, or in retirement residences. It is an accepted fact that cat owners have lower blood pressure, especially in older people. The human-feline bond is never quite so close as when a person is holding and petting a purring, vibrating bundle of fur on her lap, and all is well with the world. You may even find yourself purring in response
Why and How do Cats Purr?
My mailbox often brings interesting challenges, as in this morning's short question from Gideon: "Do cats purr when they are alone?" What a great question! As I replied to Gideon, it is on the order of, "If a tree falls in the woods, and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?" Or - "Does the light burn inside a closed refrigerator?" Yet, by far, I think the question about cats purring is the much more fascinating of the three. Truthfully, I don't know if cats purr when they are alone. It seems likely that they do, if one understands a little about why cats purr.
Most experienced "cat wranglers" now know that cats don't purr only when they are content and happy. They also purr during tense or traumatic moments. When suddenly and violently injured, even at moments near death, a cat will often purr.
I've often likened this to saying, "Please don't hurt me any more. I'll be good," but recent studies have put a more scientific spin on this seeming anomaly.
It seems that the measurable Hertz of a cat's purr lies between 25 and 150. Coincidentally (or not) it has been found that sound frequency in this range can stimilate bone growth and healing. ¹
That cats have remarkable endurance, and are quite stoic to trauma is well known to veterinary professionals; it is not unlikely that this instinct to purr under duress is directly related.
Purring under stress has more colorfully been described as the cat's mantra, e.g., a self-soothing, self-healing, relaxing, vibrating sound (sort of like the Ommmm one might hum while in the lotus position. Notice the vibration in your lips, nose and throat? I bet most of us, if we had our "druthers," would much rather be able to purr!
The Physiology of Purring
There seems to be two schools of thought here.
The most popular one is quoted here:
One study determined that purring involves activation of nerves within the voice box. These nerve signals cause vibration of the vocal cords while the diaphragm serves as a piston pump, pushing air in and out of the vibrating cords, thus creating a musical hum. Veterinarian Neils C. Pederson, author of Feline Husbandry, believes that purring is initiated from within the central nervous system and is a voluntary act. In other words, cats purr only when they want to.²
The other theory is that the sound comes more from vibrating blood vessels than in the voicebox itself. ³
The Happy Purr of a Cat
All domestic cats are born with the purring ability. A queen will purr while giving birth. It is unknown whether this is because of happy anticipation, or whether it is a relaxing "mantra." Kittens instinctively purr when nursing, and the momcat purrs right back at them. Your adult cat will purr at the drop of a hat whenever you're near, and especially when you are holding or petting him.
Cat purrs will range from a deep rumble to a raspy, broken sound, to a high-pitched trill, depending on the physiology and/or the mood of a cat. A cat will often "wind-down" when going to sleep, with a long purring sigh that drops melodically from a high to a low pitch. Does your cat's purr sometimes sound like an idling diesel engine? That's because at the lower range of 26 Hertz, the velocities are nearly the same.
The Healing Power of the Purr
Cats are often used as "therapy animals" in convalescent hospitals, or in retirement residences. It is an accepted fact that cat owners have lower blood pressure, especially in older people. The human-feline bond is never quite so close as when a person is holding and petting a purring, vibrating bundle of fur on her lap, and all is well with the world. You may even find yourself purring in response
The Imprint of Cat Lovers - a Test2
Take the Test
When I think of cat lovers, my husband, Asa, immediately comes to mind. It is no secret in our family that Bubba has won the heart and soul of this man. It has long been a family joke that if the house were on fire, Mom had better fend for herself, 'cause Dad will be rescuing Bubba. The other day I was talking to my daughter, Suzanne, by email. I mentioned to her how her father had always had a soft spot for her. "You might say that you are the human equivalent of Bubba, in his heart." She replied that she always thought she and Bubba had something in common.
If you still have doubts about the distinction between "ownership" and "lovership", here's a short quiz:
Do you save up your cute kitty stories to share with your co-workers?
Do you notice your friends' eyes glazing over when you're in the middle of recounting a fascinating (to you) description of your cat's latest antic?
Do you dip into your plastic to entertain your boss at a fancy restaurant, because he's allergic to cats and you're not about to bring him home?
Do you mortgage your home to entertain your boss at a fancy restaurant because kitty has clawed your silk Queen Anne settee to smithereens and threw up on the antique Persian rug and you can't remove the stains, and you're not about to bring him home?
Have you slipped into the habit of saying, "I'm owned by a cat", rather than the other way around?
When you come home from work, does your cat greet you at the door, and do you cuddle him and carry him around the house, communing and whisperins sweet nothings, before you greet your spouse?
When you only have a scant 1/4 cup of milk left for your breakfast cereal, do you give it to puss and settle for toasted 3-day old bread and an ancient orange in the bottom of your refrigerator?
Have you ever stayed home from work because a beloved feline friend has died, and you know your job performance would be worthless?
Given the choice, would you rather attend a cat show than the invitational premiere of the latest blockbuster movie?
Does you cat sleep between you and your spouse, and do you prefer it that way?
When your kitty brings home a dead mouse or tiny garden snake and drops it at your feet lovingly, do you praise her and say, "Good Kitty!", and make a really big deal about it, then wait until she's asleep to flush the miserable thing down the toilet?
Do you devote a full web site to your feline companion?
If you answered "yes" to all these questions, you have already lost your heart and soul to a four-legged, furry, infuriating but infatuating member of the feline species.
You are truly imprinted as a cat lover and Heaven help you, my friend.
If you answered "yes" to 5-12 questions, you're on your way and there isn't much hope for you.
If you answered "yes to fewer than five, you might want to consider a python or a gerbil for a pet, but not both, PLEASE!
Copyright ©1997 - 2004 Franny Syufy
Licensed to About.com
When I think of cat lovers, my husband, Asa, immediately comes to mind. It is no secret in our family that Bubba has won the heart and soul of this man. It has long been a family joke that if the house were on fire, Mom had better fend for herself, 'cause Dad will be rescuing Bubba. The other day I was talking to my daughter, Suzanne, by email. I mentioned to her how her father had always had a soft spot for her. "You might say that you are the human equivalent of Bubba, in his heart." She replied that she always thought she and Bubba had something in common.
If you still have doubts about the distinction between "ownership" and "lovership", here's a short quiz:
Do you save up your cute kitty stories to share with your co-workers?
Do you notice your friends' eyes glazing over when you're in the middle of recounting a fascinating (to you) description of your cat's latest antic?
Do you dip into your plastic to entertain your boss at a fancy restaurant, because he's allergic to cats and you're not about to bring him home?
Do you mortgage your home to entertain your boss at a fancy restaurant because kitty has clawed your silk Queen Anne settee to smithereens and threw up on the antique Persian rug and you can't remove the stains, and you're not about to bring him home?
Have you slipped into the habit of saying, "I'm owned by a cat", rather than the other way around?
When you come home from work, does your cat greet you at the door, and do you cuddle him and carry him around the house, communing and whisperins sweet nothings, before you greet your spouse?
When you only have a scant 1/4 cup of milk left for your breakfast cereal, do you give it to puss and settle for toasted 3-day old bread and an ancient orange in the bottom of your refrigerator?
Have you ever stayed home from work because a beloved feline friend has died, and you know your job performance would be worthless?
Given the choice, would you rather attend a cat show than the invitational premiere of the latest blockbuster movie?
Does you cat sleep between you and your spouse, and do you prefer it that way?
When your kitty brings home a dead mouse or tiny garden snake and drops it at your feet lovingly, do you praise her and say, "Good Kitty!", and make a really big deal about it, then wait until she's asleep to flush the miserable thing down the toilet?
Do you devote a full web site to your feline companion?
If you answered "yes" to all these questions, you have already lost your heart and soul to a four-legged, furry, infuriating but infatuating member of the feline species.
You are truly imprinted as a cat lover and Heaven help you, my friend.
If you answered "yes" to 5-12 questions, you're on your way and there isn't much hope for you.
If you answered "yes to fewer than five, you might want to consider a python or a gerbil for a pet, but not both, PLEASE!
Copyright ©1997 - 2004 Franny Syufy
Licensed to About.com
The Imprint of Cat Lovers - a Test1
From Franny SyufyDo you have what it takes to call yourself a "Cat Lover?"
Most visitors to this site consider themselves cat lovers, so I thought it would be interesting to define the term. There are cat owners, and then there are cat lovers. (Incidentally, the fancy name for this term is "ailurophile.") A cat owner may have a cat as a pet for the sake of a child. They may be haphazard about shots, neutering, and other medical care. "Cat owner" comes to mind when I see kids in front of the local grocery with a box full of kittens and a sign, "Free Kittens".
The transition from cat owner to cat lover does not take place overnight. For several years, when our children were younger, we had a never-ending stream of cats in our home, mostly new births from females we had neglected to spay, until too late. We were on the verge of being "cat lovers", because we always saw that our new kittens had their shots, and we found homes for all we could; the rest we kept (which eventually led to almost 20 cats in our home at one time).
Case in point: Tinker was the result of a mating between Figuero(a) and Tiger, two cats we adopted from a shelter in the early years of our marriage. The shelter had a rule way back then, that all female cats must be spayed before adoption. However, they (and we) thought that we were getting two little male kittens. Tiger and Figuero(a) discovered differently, much quicker than we did. The resultant litter had five kittens: three grays, a tortoise, and a little yellow shorthair. At the appropriate time, we advertised, "free kittens to good homes". All but two found homes quickly, but when a nice young couple came to take the little marmelade guy, who was the homeliest of the bunch, he sprung from our arms, raced into our bedroom and hid under the bed. We tried for half an hour to coax him out, but the couple eventually decided to take the little tabby kitten instead.
Tinker enriched our lives for seventeen years; when he developed an inoperable tumor, it was I who had to take him to the veterinarian and hold him in his final minutes. Asa, who had paid his dues years before with his 14-year old Buffer, couldn't handle it this time. That was a lifetime ago, and I still get misty-eyed when I look at photos of my original "Golden Boy".
Most visitors to this site consider themselves cat lovers, so I thought it would be interesting to define the term. There are cat owners, and then there are cat lovers. (Incidentally, the fancy name for this term is "ailurophile.") A cat owner may have a cat as a pet for the sake of a child. They may be haphazard about shots, neutering, and other medical care. "Cat owner" comes to mind when I see kids in front of the local grocery with a box full of kittens and a sign, "Free Kittens".
The transition from cat owner to cat lover does not take place overnight. For several years, when our children were younger, we had a never-ending stream of cats in our home, mostly new births from females we had neglected to spay, until too late. We were on the verge of being "cat lovers", because we always saw that our new kittens had their shots, and we found homes for all we could; the rest we kept (which eventually led to almost 20 cats in our home at one time).
Case in point: Tinker was the result of a mating between Figuero(a) and Tiger, two cats we adopted from a shelter in the early years of our marriage. The shelter had a rule way back then, that all female cats must be spayed before adoption. However, they (and we) thought that we were getting two little male kittens. Tiger and Figuero(a) discovered differently, much quicker than we did. The resultant litter had five kittens: three grays, a tortoise, and a little yellow shorthair. At the appropriate time, we advertised, "free kittens to good homes". All but two found homes quickly, but when a nice young couple came to take the little marmelade guy, who was the homeliest of the bunch, he sprung from our arms, raced into our bedroom and hid under the bed. We tried for half an hour to coax him out, but the couple eventually decided to take the little tabby kitten instead.
Tinker enriched our lives for seventeen years; when he developed an inoperable tumor, it was I who had to take him to the veterinarian and hold him in his final minutes. Asa, who had paid his dues years before with his 14-year old Buffer, couldn't handle it this time. That was a lifetime ago, and I still get misty-eyed when I look at photos of my original "Golden Boy".
Cats We Have Loved and Lost
A Tribute to Tinker
Tinker entered our lives sometime in June of 1965. We had felt cat-challenged for quite awhile after the loss of the two elderly cats who had helped "raise" my husband. We went to the local animal shelter where we selected two "male" kittens, Tiger, a yellow-striped male and Figuero, a beautiful Torti. We signed a paper agreeing to get them altered when the time was right. Time, as is its habit, flew, and one day I told Asa, "Tiger must be really confused. He was trying to mate Figuero today. Doesn't he know that he's a guy cat?" Well, time flew by some more, and it became evident that Figuero(a) was not only a female, but a very pregnant one. We decided, as was common back then (remember, this was the 60s) to let her have this litter and then to have her spayed.
We were awakened in the early morning hours by plaintive mewling sounds next to our bed. Figuero was giving birth. We hastily found a box and some towels and awakened our two children, who were 5 and 7 at that time, thinking that witnessing this miracle of birth would prepare the way for the inevitable discussion of the birds and bees. (That line of thinking is considered stupid and irresponsible nowadays by most advocates, your Guide included.)
By the time we were ready to take the kids to babysitter and school, and leave for work, Figuero had produced five beautiful kittens, of various shades of gray tabby and calico. We left food, water and a litterbox in her nursery and closed the bedroom door. Asa decided to go home at lunch time to check on the welfare of our little extended family. Lo and behold, there were now six babies. A little yellow tiger-striped kitten had joined his siblings, the spitting image of Tiger.
When the kittens were of an appropriate age, we went about finding homes for them. Soon, all were gone but a grey one and the yellow tiger. A teenage boy and girl came to get a kitten for their mother and chose the yellow one. As soon as I handed him to the girl he sprung from her arms and ran lickety-split into our bedroom and under our bed. No amount of cajoling could retrieve him. The teenagers took the grey kitten with them. After awhile, we decided that the yellow one was so homely no one else would want him, so we kept him and named him Tinker.
Tinker thrived and grew up to be our "Top Cat" for 17 years. Our youngest son, born in November of the same year as Tinker, was raised by a cat, as was his father before him. Tinker was my Golden Boy and enriched my life beyond measure, with his non-stop devotion. Wherever I was in the house, when I settled in a chair for a moment, he was right there next to me, burrowing between me and the chair. When I read the paper at the kitchen table, he was sitting there, sharing it. I learned to use him as an anchor on one side of the paper and scratch his ears while reading, then hoist him to the other side to continue. Even at the age of 17, he sometimes turned kittenish, chasing leaves and shadows as they skittered across the gravel path in our garden.
But his time came too soon, and when it was inevitable, it befell to me to deliver him to the vet for his final trip, which is the saddest and final responsibility of a cat owner. I held him to my heart one last time and kissed him as he purred and rumbled his last goodbye and quietly went "to sleep". That was 15 years ago, and I still miss him as if he left yesterday.
To Tinker - Sunshine Boy
You were always there, it seems,
And now you decorate my dreams,
With topaz eyes and fur aglow,
You always were a one-cat show.
I've seen friends come and go, it's true,
None ever gave more love than you.
Then, on a golden day in June,
You left my side, too soon--too soon.
When in my arms at last you slept,
I said 'goodbye' and then I wept.
You brought me many years of joy,
I miss you so, my Sunshine Boy.
Tinker entered our lives sometime in June of 1965. We had felt cat-challenged for quite awhile after the loss of the two elderly cats who had helped "raise" my husband. We went to the local animal shelter where we selected two "male" kittens, Tiger, a yellow-striped male and Figuero, a beautiful Torti. We signed a paper agreeing to get them altered when the time was right. Time, as is its habit, flew, and one day I told Asa, "Tiger must be really confused. He was trying to mate Figuero today. Doesn't he know that he's a guy cat?" Well, time flew by some more, and it became evident that Figuero(a) was not only a female, but a very pregnant one. We decided, as was common back then (remember, this was the 60s) to let her have this litter and then to have her spayed.
We were awakened in the early morning hours by plaintive mewling sounds next to our bed. Figuero was giving birth. We hastily found a box and some towels and awakened our two children, who were 5 and 7 at that time, thinking that witnessing this miracle of birth would prepare the way for the inevitable discussion of the birds and bees. (That line of thinking is considered stupid and irresponsible nowadays by most advocates, your Guide included.)
By the time we were ready to take the kids to babysitter and school, and leave for work, Figuero had produced five beautiful kittens, of various shades of gray tabby and calico. We left food, water and a litterbox in her nursery and closed the bedroom door. Asa decided to go home at lunch time to check on the welfare of our little extended family. Lo and behold, there were now six babies. A little yellow tiger-striped kitten had joined his siblings, the spitting image of Tiger.
When the kittens were of an appropriate age, we went about finding homes for them. Soon, all were gone but a grey one and the yellow tiger. A teenage boy and girl came to get a kitten for their mother and chose the yellow one. As soon as I handed him to the girl he sprung from her arms and ran lickety-split into our bedroom and under our bed. No amount of cajoling could retrieve him. The teenagers took the grey kitten with them. After awhile, we decided that the yellow one was so homely no one else would want him, so we kept him and named him Tinker.
Tinker thrived and grew up to be our "Top Cat" for 17 years. Our youngest son, born in November of the same year as Tinker, was raised by a cat, as was his father before him. Tinker was my Golden Boy and enriched my life beyond measure, with his non-stop devotion. Wherever I was in the house, when I settled in a chair for a moment, he was right there next to me, burrowing between me and the chair. When I read the paper at the kitchen table, he was sitting there, sharing it. I learned to use him as an anchor on one side of the paper and scratch his ears while reading, then hoist him to the other side to continue. Even at the age of 17, he sometimes turned kittenish, chasing leaves and shadows as they skittered across the gravel path in our garden.
But his time came too soon, and when it was inevitable, it befell to me to deliver him to the vet for his final trip, which is the saddest and final responsibility of a cat owner. I held him to my heart one last time and kissed him as he purred and rumbled his last goodbye and quietly went "to sleep". That was 15 years ago, and I still miss him as if he left yesterday.
To Tinker - Sunshine Boy
You were always there, it seems,
And now you decorate my dreams,
With topaz eyes and fur aglow,
You always were a one-cat show.
I've seen friends come and go, it's true,
None ever gave more love than you.
Then, on a golden day in June,
You left my side, too soon--too soon.
When in my arms at last you slept,
I said 'goodbye' and then I wept.
You brought me many years of joy,
I miss you so, my Sunshine Boy.
Tips that help you choose the best Cat Urine Remover
By : Clint Jhonson
Almost everyone likes animals and a lot of people have one or more animals as pets. Cats are preferred by a lot of people because it is thought that they are cleaner animals that use the litter box to urinate. But the real problem of cat pet owners is the period before the cats start using the litter box. This is the time when someone can reach the point where they want to give up their cats because of their nasty habits of urinating around the house and stinking up the place. The remedy for this is finding the right Cat Urine Remover. But that is not really the easiest task. You can spend days or weeks until you find the right solution for Cleaning Cat Urine. In your search you will find that you have spent a lot of money on products that are non-refundable, thus wasting that money. Here are a few tips that can help you make the best choice for a Cat Urine Remover out of the first try. These tips can be used to determine instantly if a Cat Urine Remover is or isn’t worth buying and to rank different products.
The Cat Urine Remover should not have a fragrance for disguising or hiding the cat urine smell. This is not very effective because the problem is only solved temporarily. You will wait for two or three hours and thhttp://ezineprime.hubprime.com/submitarticles.php
EzinePrime | Your Prime Source Of EXCELLENT ARTICLESe awful smell will be back. The lack of fragrance can help you smell the urine stain and determine whether it was completely removed or not. If the smell still persists then the removal wasn’t totally effective, even though there isn’t any stain left.
When picking the solution for Cleaning Cat Urine, you should look for a product that requires an easy one-step process for its use. By doing this you can save the time necessary for applying two or three treatments for removing the smell completely. That is the last thing you need. The companies that develop products for Cleaning Cat Urine are not really considering the time it takes for completely removing the stains and the smells, since it is not their problem to deal with.
Other products that you shouldn’t pick for Cleaning Cat Urine are the ones that claim to absorb or sponge the stain. They require a first step of applying them and after a few hours a second step of removing them, which means vacuuming or cleaning it up. This doubles the work and it has to be cleaned thoroughly in order to remove all the remnants of the cleaning agent.
The nastiest component in the urine is the uric salt crystals, which give the urine its smell. They also bear the marking scents of your pet. It is just like dogs use urine to mark their territory. Finding a solution for completely removing the uric salt crystals will prevent your cat from urinating in the same spots every time.
Toxic chemicals are everyone’s concern when it comes to safety, especially for parents. They usually place their products that contain these toxic chemicals out of the reach of children. But even if you are not a parent, you should consider the chemicals you use in you house for the safety of yourself, your pets and your guests.
Another thing you should look for in urine cleaning product is its history. The longer the history the safer you are, because the companies that have been in business for a long time usually sell good products. Scams don’t have a long life; therefore a product that has a long history behind it is a product that you can trust to get the job done.
The value of the product is also something important when looking for this type of products. Besides the actual product, you should also look for bonuses included in the offer. This can help you solve your problems and get something extra from that deal.
Now you have all the criteria at hand in order to pick a Cat Urine Remover. The only thing that remains for you to do is the actual purchase and if you keep in mind these tips, the only purchase you can make is the best purchase. This will make Cleaning Cat Urine a very easy job.
Almost everyone likes animals and a lot of people have one or more animals as pets. Cats are preferred by a lot of people because it is thought that they are cleaner animals that use the litter box to urinate. But the real problem of cat pet owners is the period before the cats start using the litter box. This is the time when someone can reach the point where they want to give up their cats because of their nasty habits of urinating around the house and stinking up the place. The remedy for this is finding the right Cat Urine Remover. But that is not really the easiest task. You can spend days or weeks until you find the right solution for Cleaning Cat Urine. In your search you will find that you have spent a lot of money on products that are non-refundable, thus wasting that money. Here are a few tips that can help you make the best choice for a Cat Urine Remover out of the first try. These tips can be used to determine instantly if a Cat Urine Remover is or isn’t worth buying and to rank different products.
The Cat Urine Remover should not have a fragrance for disguising or hiding the cat urine smell. This is not very effective because the problem is only solved temporarily. You will wait for two or three hours and thhttp://ezineprime.hubprime.com/submitarticles.php
EzinePrime | Your Prime Source Of EXCELLENT ARTICLESe awful smell will be back. The lack of fragrance can help you smell the urine stain and determine whether it was completely removed or not. If the smell still persists then the removal wasn’t totally effective, even though there isn’t any stain left.
When picking the solution for Cleaning Cat Urine, you should look for a product that requires an easy one-step process for its use. By doing this you can save the time necessary for applying two or three treatments for removing the smell completely. That is the last thing you need. The companies that develop products for Cleaning Cat Urine are not really considering the time it takes for completely removing the stains and the smells, since it is not their problem to deal with.
Other products that you shouldn’t pick for Cleaning Cat Urine are the ones that claim to absorb or sponge the stain. They require a first step of applying them and after a few hours a second step of removing them, which means vacuuming or cleaning it up. This doubles the work and it has to be cleaned thoroughly in order to remove all the remnants of the cleaning agent.
The nastiest component in the urine is the uric salt crystals, which give the urine its smell. They also bear the marking scents of your pet. It is just like dogs use urine to mark their territory. Finding a solution for completely removing the uric salt crystals will prevent your cat from urinating in the same spots every time.
Toxic chemicals are everyone’s concern when it comes to safety, especially for parents. They usually place their products that contain these toxic chemicals out of the reach of children. But even if you are not a parent, you should consider the chemicals you use in you house for the safety of yourself, your pets and your guests.
Another thing you should look for in urine cleaning product is its history. The longer the history the safer you are, because the companies that have been in business for a long time usually sell good products. Scams don’t have a long life; therefore a product that has a long history behind it is a product that you can trust to get the job done.
The value of the product is also something important when looking for this type of products. Besides the actual product, you should also look for bonuses included in the offer. This can help you solve your problems and get something extra from that deal.
Now you have all the criteria at hand in order to pick a Cat Urine Remover. The only thing that remains for you to do is the actual purchase and if you keep in mind these tips, the only purchase you can make is the best purchase. This will make Cleaning Cat Urine a very easy job.
Cat Litter Box Problem: Four Physical Causes
By : Kurt Schmitt
There are two main causes for a cat litter box problem. One is behavioral, and the other is physical. Before assuming it's a behavioral problem, you should always bring your cat to the vet so that you can rule out any physical causes.
Cats are creatures of habit and will normally use the box once trained. If, however, your cat learns to associate a bad experience with the box, she may stop using it. The problem, contrary to popular belief, may be a physical one that she just can't control.
Here are four physical reasons why your cat can't or won't use the box properly.
1. Pain While Urinating - if your cat experiences pain while urinating, she will create a bad association with the box. Your cat can't hold it in forever, so she ends up urinating on the dining room rug. Be aware that until you remove the odor completely from that spot, your cat may return there again and again.
2. Pain During Bowel Movements - if, for example, your cat is painfully constipated she will associate pain with the litter box. When she is finally able to go, it may be on the kitchen floor, instead of in the box.
3. Painful Joints and Muscles - if your cat can't get in and out of the litter box without experiencing pain, she won't want to use it. If there is anything causing her pain while squatting, or getting in and out of the box, it could mean trouble. Injuries, arthritis, or some other painful joint condition could create a cat litter box problem.
4. Problems With Motion - perhaps your cat has difficulty climbing up into the litter box. Older cats, or cats who are diseased or have been injured often have limited movement, and aren't able to use the box.
It's not true that your cat just doesn't want to use the box to annoy you, there is some reason, and it could be physical. Your vet will help you determine if a physical cause is your cat's problem.
For painful urination, bowel movements, or joint or muscle pain, proper treatment will have to be sought out in consultation with your vet. Once the pain is gone, some retraining will probably be required and a large amount of patience on your part to help your cat through it.
If a mobility problem is at fault, there may be some things you can do to help. Make it easy on your cat by getting a low litter box so your cat doesn't have to step too high into it. Also, a large box that is easy to move around in would be better. Depending upon your situation, your vet may have a treatment to help your cat's mobility problem.
Remember, a cat litter box problem that has a physical cause is usually fixable, once the cause is identified by your vet. Anything that causes your cat to associate an unpleasant experience with the box needs to be addressed right away. If you catch these problems early on, they are much easier to handle.
Article Source: EZINEPRIME - FREE WEB CONTENT and ARTICLES
About the author: Kurt Schmitt helps you solve cat litter box problems and other cat care issues at Cat Lovers Only
Visit our cat litter box problem article directory for a completely unique version of this article.
There are two main causes for a cat litter box problem. One is behavioral, and the other is physical. Before assuming it's a behavioral problem, you should always bring your cat to the vet so that you can rule out any physical causes.
Cats are creatures of habit and will normally use the box once trained. If, however, your cat learns to associate a bad experience with the box, she may stop using it. The problem, contrary to popular belief, may be a physical one that she just can't control.
Here are four physical reasons why your cat can't or won't use the box properly.
1. Pain While Urinating - if your cat experiences pain while urinating, she will create a bad association with the box. Your cat can't hold it in forever, so she ends up urinating on the dining room rug. Be aware that until you remove the odor completely from that spot, your cat may return there again and again.
2. Pain During Bowel Movements - if, for example, your cat is painfully constipated she will associate pain with the litter box. When she is finally able to go, it may be on the kitchen floor, instead of in the box.
3. Painful Joints and Muscles - if your cat can't get in and out of the litter box without experiencing pain, she won't want to use it. If there is anything causing her pain while squatting, or getting in and out of the box, it could mean trouble. Injuries, arthritis, or some other painful joint condition could create a cat litter box problem.
4. Problems With Motion - perhaps your cat has difficulty climbing up into the litter box. Older cats, or cats who are diseased or have been injured often have limited movement, and aren't able to use the box.
It's not true that your cat just doesn't want to use the box to annoy you, there is some reason, and it could be physical. Your vet will help you determine if a physical cause is your cat's problem.
For painful urination, bowel movements, or joint or muscle pain, proper treatment will have to be sought out in consultation with your vet. Once the pain is gone, some retraining will probably be required and a large amount of patience on your part to help your cat through it.
If a mobility problem is at fault, there may be some things you can do to help. Make it easy on your cat by getting a low litter box so your cat doesn't have to step too high into it. Also, a large box that is easy to move around in would be better. Depending upon your situation, your vet may have a treatment to help your cat's mobility problem.
Remember, a cat litter box problem that has a physical cause is usually fixable, once the cause is identified by your vet. Anything that causes your cat to associate an unpleasant experience with the box needs to be addressed right away. If you catch these problems early on, they are much easier to handle.
Article Source: EZINEPRIME - FREE WEB CONTENT and ARTICLES
About the author: Kurt Schmitt helps you solve cat litter box problems and other cat care issues at Cat Lovers Only
Visit our cat litter box problem article directory for a completely unique version of this article.
Do You Know How Vulnerable A Cat's Life Is?
By : Charley Huang
Cats are often in danger, especially the ones that have privileges to access whatever’s outside the confinement of a house. Vehicles poses the greatest threat to pets, especially cats, as most injuries caused by vehicles at a high speed can cause death, sometimes instantly, or sometimes, after a period of time where the cat would’ve somehow dragged itself home. In other cases, injuries will be too serious to be saved, or will leave it crippled or damaged in other forms.
If your cat suddenly died out of the blue, with no signs of external injuries, it means that the cause of death is an internal injury, which is fatal. You may assume that it was poisoned, of course, intentional or unintentional, for the anti-freeze that leaks from parked cars or other vehicles is not uncommon to cause such an incident.
In another scenario, believe it or not, kids may be the cause of a cat’s injury. Hard to imagine as it may seem, kids that pick on animals to bully upon might somewhat cause more damage than they think. Toy guns or air rifles are usually used for sadistic people who enjoy seeing others in pain. Otherwise, adults who dislike having other people’s cats on their property may take action on these poor felines as well, causing great harm. Be sure to always keep an eye on your cat when you let it out of the house.
This may not seem serious, but uncastrated male cats are in grave danger of being outdoors compared to other cats. They tend to wander off far from their homes and also would get into fights with other cats or dogs, and even wild animals like snakes. These injuries they suffer can prove to be serious, sometimes even fatal, especially if it has been in a struggle with a larger, more ferocious animal.
Cats also like to walk on walls, or roofs of houses, and they could also fall from these high places. Trees and balconies are also a threat to a cat’s favorite hobby. Although, as we all know, they have the ability of landing on all four of their feet after they fall, they are still prone to injuries to their legs, as the shock of landing may be great, and can cause damage to their internal organs as well.
Indoor cats basically face fewer injuries by being in the house where there are less threats and dangers, as opposed to a cat roaming the outdoors. This is the main reason why a responsible should always keep his cat in doors, or if you must let your cat out, do supervise it or keep an eye out on it and do not let it wander far from home. Ensure that the surroundings is free from larger animals that might do your cat harm.
Article Source: EZINEPRIME - FREE WEB CONTENT and ARTICLES
For more information on Cat Diseases or visit www.siamesecatsinfo.com/is-your-cats-life-in-danger/, a popular website that offers information on Cats, Cats Breeding, and Cats Behavior. Please leave the links intact if you wish to reprint this article. Thanks
Cats are often in danger, especially the ones that have privileges to access whatever’s outside the confinement of a house. Vehicles poses the greatest threat to pets, especially cats, as most injuries caused by vehicles at a high speed can cause death, sometimes instantly, or sometimes, after a period of time where the cat would’ve somehow dragged itself home. In other cases, injuries will be too serious to be saved, or will leave it crippled or damaged in other forms.
If your cat suddenly died out of the blue, with no signs of external injuries, it means that the cause of death is an internal injury, which is fatal. You may assume that it was poisoned, of course, intentional or unintentional, for the anti-freeze that leaks from parked cars or other vehicles is not uncommon to cause such an incident.
In another scenario, believe it or not, kids may be the cause of a cat’s injury. Hard to imagine as it may seem, kids that pick on animals to bully upon might somewhat cause more damage than they think. Toy guns or air rifles are usually used for sadistic people who enjoy seeing others in pain. Otherwise, adults who dislike having other people’s cats on their property may take action on these poor felines as well, causing great harm. Be sure to always keep an eye on your cat when you let it out of the house.
This may not seem serious, but uncastrated male cats are in grave danger of being outdoors compared to other cats. They tend to wander off far from their homes and also would get into fights with other cats or dogs, and even wild animals like snakes. These injuries they suffer can prove to be serious, sometimes even fatal, especially if it has been in a struggle with a larger, more ferocious animal.
Cats also like to walk on walls, or roofs of houses, and they could also fall from these high places. Trees and balconies are also a threat to a cat’s favorite hobby. Although, as we all know, they have the ability of landing on all four of their feet after they fall, they are still prone to injuries to their legs, as the shock of landing may be great, and can cause damage to their internal organs as well.
Indoor cats basically face fewer injuries by being in the house where there are less threats and dangers, as opposed to a cat roaming the outdoors. This is the main reason why a responsible should always keep his cat in doors, or if you must let your cat out, do supervise it or keep an eye out on it and do not let it wander far from home. Ensure that the surroundings is free from larger animals that might do your cat harm.
Article Source: EZINEPRIME - FREE WEB CONTENT and ARTICLES
For more information on Cat Diseases or visit www.siamesecatsinfo.com/is-your-cats-life-in-danger/, a popular website that offers information on Cats, Cats Breeding, and Cats Behavior. Please leave the links intact if you wish to reprint this article. Thanks
4 Things to Think About Before Declawing your Cat
Declawing is a major surgery known as onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, that removes the tip of each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the cat's forepaws. There is a slight chance of death in the surgery, and a declawed cat may have an increased risk of infection and life-long discomfort in its paws. This surgery is not recommended for an adult animal and is considered an act of animal cruelty in some countries (see below).
People generally have cats declawed to prevent them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Rarely, vicious cats are declawed. In the United States, some landlords require that tenants' cats be declawed.
Veterinarians are generally critical of the procedure and some refuse to perform it because the absence of claws in a cat:
1. Deprives it of its main defense abilities, including escaping from predators by climbing trees;
2. Impairs its stretching and exercise habits, leading to muscle atrophy;
3. Compromises its ability to balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falls;
4. Can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.
This operation is rare outside of North America. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing is forbidden by the laws against cruelty to animals. In many other European countries, it is forbidden under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless "a veterinarian considers [such] non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of (the) animal". In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported cats that have been declawed and subsequently most are euthanized.
An alternative to declawing is the application of blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the cat will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws
About the Author:
Hagar lagarto is a long time Pet lover with many articles and websites on the subject.You can get much more info at http://pet.freehostia.com
People generally have cats declawed to prevent them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Rarely, vicious cats are declawed. In the United States, some landlords require that tenants' cats be declawed.
Veterinarians are generally critical of the procedure and some refuse to perform it because the absence of claws in a cat:
1. Deprives it of its main defense abilities, including escaping from predators by climbing trees;
2. Impairs its stretching and exercise habits, leading to muscle atrophy;
3. Compromises its ability to balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falls;
4. Can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.
This operation is rare outside of North America. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing is forbidden by the laws against cruelty to animals. In many other European countries, it is forbidden under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless "a veterinarian considers [such] non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of (the) animal". In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported cats that have been declawed and subsequently most are euthanized.
An alternative to declawing is the application of blunt, vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the cat will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws
About the Author:
Hagar lagarto is a long time Pet lover with many articles and websites on the subject.You can get much more info at http://pet.freehostia.com
A natural solution to Get Rid of Cat Urine
By : Clint Jhonson
You can spend a lot of time looking for a solution to Get Rid of Cat Urine smell. A lot of products are available on the market, but how do you know which one is the best? One of the choices you should make is an all natural solution that does not involve too many steps in applying. This can help you Get Rid of Cat Urine smell with little trouble or work.
The cat urine contains uric salt crystals that make it smell so awful. Even if you know what areas are the ones most soaked in cat urine and you scrub them till there is nothing left, you still can’t kill the smell. You can try all kinds of combinations of cleaners, but you will end up wasting a lot of your time and get more frustrated. You can find a lot of products available on the market that promise you great results, but always be on the look out for stated guarantees and full refund in case you are not happy.
Cats have been around for ages and people loved to take them in as pets. Therefore the problem to Remove Cat Urine Smell has been also around since that time. In your search for the best solution to Get Rid of Cat Urine smell, you should be looking at old mixes instead of new age cleaners full of toxic chemicals dangerous for you and your pets. If you are to search online for the solution to Remove Cat Urine Smell, be sure to visit remove-cat-urine-odor.com. Here, we provide the perfect solution for you to Get Rid of Cat Urine smell through an old recipe with ingredients that can be made from common household ingredients at very affordable prices. To increase your trust in the product we offer, there are a few bonuses you can enjoy.
Another aspect that should be taken under consideration if you try to Remove Cat Urine Smell is reaching the problem at the source. You should try to teach your cat not to urinate around the house. The behavior of the cat is in some way influenced by your behavior. Thus, the cat will pee inside the house over and over again. The first step is to remove the uric salt crystals from your house, because they use their own scent to urinate in the same places over and over again. The whole journey that you must undertake in order to retrain your cat to stop urinating around the house can be found in one of the bonuses offered.
Keeping your cat happy is another goal that you want to achieve. This can be done by preparing some great recipes for your beloved pet. If you make a habit from cooking for your guests, why shouldn’t you cook for one of your most loving companions? Another bonus offered in the package consists of a book with 100 recipes of healthy kitty goodies which you can prepare in your own home using the highest quality ingredients that you want to choose for you cat.
Apart from these bonuses, you can still benefit from software that can help you keep track of the vaccinations and worming, which, if neglected, can be potentially disastrous for your cat. With it you will never have to worry about missing another important treatment or vaccination again. A pro guide for cleaning your carpets is also included in the offer as an additional bonus to help you keep your house clean and remove your cat’s hair properly to keep it from bothering people with allergies.
All these bonuses are offered to you along with the guide that helps you Remove Cat Urine Smell. To show their dependability, the team from remove-cat-urine-odor.com offers you a full refund in case you are not pleased with the results. But apart from the full refund you can keep all the bonuses that were offered to you for free. Therefore there is no risk in purchasing this unbelievable product.
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
The choices you make to help you Get Rid of Cat Urine smell should be the most comforting. Therefore, the guide that contains the recipe to Remove Cat Urine Smell along with the bonuses offered as leverage in case you are not pleased with the results guarantees that this is the best solution for you.
You can spend a lot of time looking for a solution to Get Rid of Cat Urine smell. A lot of products are available on the market, but how do you know which one is the best? One of the choices you should make is an all natural solution that does not involve too many steps in applying. This can help you Get Rid of Cat Urine smell with little trouble or work.
The cat urine contains uric salt crystals that make it smell so awful. Even if you know what areas are the ones most soaked in cat urine and you scrub them till there is nothing left, you still can’t kill the smell. You can try all kinds of combinations of cleaners, but you will end up wasting a lot of your time and get more frustrated. You can find a lot of products available on the market that promise you great results, but always be on the look out for stated guarantees and full refund in case you are not happy.
Cats have been around for ages and people loved to take them in as pets. Therefore the problem to Remove Cat Urine Smell has been also around since that time. In your search for the best solution to Get Rid of Cat Urine smell, you should be looking at old mixes instead of new age cleaners full of toxic chemicals dangerous for you and your pets. If you are to search online for the solution to Remove Cat Urine Smell, be sure to visit remove-cat-urine-odor.com. Here, we provide the perfect solution for you to Get Rid of Cat Urine smell through an old recipe with ingredients that can be made from common household ingredients at very affordable prices. To increase your trust in the product we offer, there are a few bonuses you can enjoy.
Another aspect that should be taken under consideration if you try to Remove Cat Urine Smell is reaching the problem at the source. You should try to teach your cat not to urinate around the house. The behavior of the cat is in some way influenced by your behavior. Thus, the cat will pee inside the house over and over again. The first step is to remove the uric salt crystals from your house, because they use their own scent to urinate in the same places over and over again. The whole journey that you must undertake in order to retrain your cat to stop urinating around the house can be found in one of the bonuses offered.
Keeping your cat happy is another goal that you want to achieve. This can be done by preparing some great recipes for your beloved pet. If you make a habit from cooking for your guests, why shouldn’t you cook for one of your most loving companions? Another bonus offered in the package consists of a book with 100 recipes of healthy kitty goodies which you can prepare in your own home using the highest quality ingredients that you want to choose for you cat.
Apart from these bonuses, you can still benefit from software that can help you keep track of the vaccinations and worming, which, if neglected, can be potentially disastrous for your cat. With it you will never have to worry about missing another important treatment or vaccination again. A pro guide for cleaning your carpets is also included in the offer as an additional bonus to help you keep your house clean and remove your cat’s hair properly to keep it from bothering people with allergies.
All these bonuses are offered to you along with the guide that helps you Remove Cat Urine Smell. To show their dependability, the team from remove-cat-urine-odor.com offers you a full refund in case you are not pleased with the results. But apart from the full refund you can keep all the bonuses that were offered to you for free. Therefore there is no risk in purchasing this unbelievable product.
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
The choices you make to help you Get Rid of Cat Urine smell should be the most comforting. Therefore, the guide that contains the recipe to Remove Cat Urine Smell along with the bonuses offered as leverage in case you are not pleased with the results guarantees that this is the best solution for you.
Cats Make Adorable Pets
By : Jack Moundon
Cats, as most of us know, make a wonderful and loving pet. For that reason, more and more households in the United States have cats. We can virtually see them sleeping on windows or cuddling with their owners. These feline pets have been around for a long time now. Studies show that the earliest known domestication of the cat was in Egypt, which was more or less 5,000 years ago.
During the ancient times, cats were considered as loyal and endearing companions. Also, cats have proven themselves to be excellent hunters, this is because cats have several notable characteristics than those of dogs (such as shorter sleeping periods, easier to wake up, better vision at night and better auditory system).
Unlike the ancient times wherein cats were used as hunting companions, cats these days only used as pets and for show. While some of today’s cat seldom hunt mice and rodent because of the reliance of man.
There are numerous cat breeds these days, from the regular cat found mostly on alleys to the popular Siamese breed. Each and every breed is unique and offer great companionship if properly cared.
If you are planning of adopting one, it is advisable that you must first carefully consider the source. If you plan to adopt from a cat breeder, it is recommended that you first check if the cat breeder has a good reputation in breeding cats. It is important that the cattery (or the place where the cats are bred) is clean and is operated properly. Most of the reputable breeders won’t allow the kittens to be adopted unit the kittens are 12 weeks old, while some breeders prefer 16 weeks, this is to ensure the proper development of the kitten’s health and immune system.
And once you have adopted one, it is important that you must place your cat in a litter box. The litter box must always be kept tidy and must have constant source of food and water. If you opt for a kitten, it is highly recommended that they must be allowed to roam and run around freely. It is unwise to keep kittens on cages. Also, it is important that you have constant physical interaction with the kitten, the kitten must get used to being touched and stroked so that it will interact more to you. A kitten that is handled properly will eventually have better temperament when it grows up.
Cats make very good pets or companion if properly taken care of. You can adopt a cat or kitten through the local animal adoption agency near you. Or you can either find one through your local paper and on the internet.
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
Jack Moundon is the owner of www.the-cat-central.com, Helpul information about cats health problems and meanings about their common behavior. Great gift for cat lovers and helping you cat stay healthy.
Cats, as most of us know, make a wonderful and loving pet. For that reason, more and more households in the United States have cats. We can virtually see them sleeping on windows or cuddling with their owners. These feline pets have been around for a long time now. Studies show that the earliest known domestication of the cat was in Egypt, which was more or less 5,000 years ago.
During the ancient times, cats were considered as loyal and endearing companions. Also, cats have proven themselves to be excellent hunters, this is because cats have several notable characteristics than those of dogs (such as shorter sleeping periods, easier to wake up, better vision at night and better auditory system).
Unlike the ancient times wherein cats were used as hunting companions, cats these days only used as pets and for show. While some of today’s cat seldom hunt mice and rodent because of the reliance of man.
There are numerous cat breeds these days, from the regular cat found mostly on alleys to the popular Siamese breed. Each and every breed is unique and offer great companionship if properly cared.
If you are planning of adopting one, it is advisable that you must first carefully consider the source. If you plan to adopt from a cat breeder, it is recommended that you first check if the cat breeder has a good reputation in breeding cats. It is important that the cattery (or the place where the cats are bred) is clean and is operated properly. Most of the reputable breeders won’t allow the kittens to be adopted unit the kittens are 12 weeks old, while some breeders prefer 16 weeks, this is to ensure the proper development of the kitten’s health and immune system.
And once you have adopted one, it is important that you must place your cat in a litter box. The litter box must always be kept tidy and must have constant source of food and water. If you opt for a kitten, it is highly recommended that they must be allowed to roam and run around freely. It is unwise to keep kittens on cages. Also, it is important that you have constant physical interaction with the kitten, the kitten must get used to being touched and stroked so that it will interact more to you. A kitten that is handled properly will eventually have better temperament when it grows up.
Cats make very good pets or companion if properly taken care of. You can adopt a cat or kitten through the local animal adoption agency near you. Or you can either find one through your local paper and on the internet.
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
Jack Moundon is the owner of www.the-cat-central.com, Helpul information about cats health problems and meanings about their common behavior. Great gift for cat lovers and helping you cat stay healthy.
Cat Behavior Problems
By : Bob Evanston
Can cats be trained? Many people think they are so independent that the very idea is an oxymoron. For this reason, some people prefer dogs, while others love cats all the more for their independent nature. Whatever your preferences, it is not true that cats are untrainable. If your cat behaves in ways that are troublesome, in all likelihood you can cure this.
People sometimes think that where cats are concerned they either have to simply put up with a problem --whether it be aggression, destructive behavior or not using the litter box-- or get rid of the cat. This is, in most cases, simply not true. The vast majority of cats can be trained out of troublesome behavior.
One unpleasant, not to mention unsanitary, cat behavior problem involves the litter box. Since cats are very clean animals, they are easily trained to use the litter box. If a litter trained cat suddenly stops using the box, something is definitely wrong. This is sometimes a medical issue, so the first step is to bring the cat to the veterinarian for a check-up.
If the cat has been medically cleared, make sure that the litter box is kept clean. Also, the litter box should be kept in a quiet area, and not right next to the cat's food and water. In this respect, cats are like people; they like a separate "bathroom" that has a certain amount of privacy. The box should also be the right size; big enough to accommodate the cat comfortably, but not too big.
What about the problem of a cat who is aggressive and bites and scratches you? This is hardly desirable behavior in a pet, and fortunately is can usually be cured without too much fanfare. Again, if the cat's behavior has changed recently, have it checked by a veterinarian. If the cat has always been this way, it may be a feral, or not well socialized cat. In this case, you will have to be patient and take some extra effort at taming the cat.
When it comes to aggression, you should learn to recognize signs such as body language. This will prevent you from reaching out to the cat at the wrong time. Cats also need a certain amount of exercise and play. You should preferably play with your cat every day, but not in a way that encourages aggression. Play both provides exercise and is a way to bond with your cat. Having your cat spayed (if you haven't already done so) will also reduce aggression and make for a tamer pet.
These are some rather basic tips regarding some common behavior problems. If you have a difficult problem, you will probably have to further educate yourself and invest some time into training your cat. What you should keep in mind is that almost all cats, with the right attention, can be made into great pets!
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
If you want to improve your relationship with your cat, you might want to explore these resources: cat behavior problems ,covering all aspects of cat ownership and cat solutions
You can get a unique content version of this article
Can cats be trained? Many people think they are so independent that the very idea is an oxymoron. For this reason, some people prefer dogs, while others love cats all the more for their independent nature. Whatever your preferences, it is not true that cats are untrainable. If your cat behaves in ways that are troublesome, in all likelihood you can cure this.
People sometimes think that where cats are concerned they either have to simply put up with a problem --whether it be aggression, destructive behavior or not using the litter box-- or get rid of the cat. This is, in most cases, simply not true. The vast majority of cats can be trained out of troublesome behavior.
One unpleasant, not to mention unsanitary, cat behavior problem involves the litter box. Since cats are very clean animals, they are easily trained to use the litter box. If a litter trained cat suddenly stops using the box, something is definitely wrong. This is sometimes a medical issue, so the first step is to bring the cat to the veterinarian for a check-up.
If the cat has been medically cleared, make sure that the litter box is kept clean. Also, the litter box should be kept in a quiet area, and not right next to the cat's food and water. In this respect, cats are like people; they like a separate "bathroom" that has a certain amount of privacy. The box should also be the right size; big enough to accommodate the cat comfortably, but not too big.
What about the problem of a cat who is aggressive and bites and scratches you? This is hardly desirable behavior in a pet, and fortunately is can usually be cured without too much fanfare. Again, if the cat's behavior has changed recently, have it checked by a veterinarian. If the cat has always been this way, it may be a feral, or not well socialized cat. In this case, you will have to be patient and take some extra effort at taming the cat.
When it comes to aggression, you should learn to recognize signs such as body language. This will prevent you from reaching out to the cat at the wrong time. Cats also need a certain amount of exercise and play. You should preferably play with your cat every day, but not in a way that encourages aggression. Play both provides exercise and is a way to bond with your cat. Having your cat spayed (if you haven't already done so) will also reduce aggression and make for a tamer pet.
These are some rather basic tips regarding some common behavior problems. If you have a difficult problem, you will probably have to further educate yourself and invest some time into training your cat. What you should keep in mind is that almost all cats, with the right attention, can be made into great pets!
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
If you want to improve your relationship with your cat, you might want to explore these resources: cat behavior problems ,covering all aspects of cat ownership and cat solutions
You can get a unique content version of this article
The Most Common Cat Diseases
By : Subasree
Cats get ill even if they are taken care of very well. The cat diseases range from kitty cold to fatal diseases. Some of the most common cat diseases are discussed under:
Upper respiratory infection is very common among the cats and is also known as kitty cold by their owners. The symptoms are very similar to the cold of the humans, accompanied by sneezing and running nose. Even though it seems to be alike, the infections caused in the cats are very different as one species get infected by the other species. But, it can be contagious among the cats. The upper respiratory tract infection can lead to loss of appetite and can affect them from days to weeks. The cats must be made to eat, which can be encouraged by warming their foods and applying a warm, moist cloth to keep the cat’s nose and eyes free from any kind of discharge. If the loss of appetite persists and if the discharge becomes yellowish green in color and thicker, they have to be taken to the veterinarian immediately as it will be a serious problem.
Feline Chlamydia is a kind of bacteria which affects the cats, usually infesting the eye, causing conjunctivitis. The symptoms of feline Chlamydia are anorexia, cough, breathing problem, pneumonia, fever, sneezing, running nose, watery eyes etc. It is best treated with the help of antibiotics. This is also one of the common cat diseases.
Panleukopenia is a cat disease that makes the cat’s white blood cell count to drop drastically. As white blood cells are very important for the cat’s immunity, this condition makes the cats susceptible to many deadly infections. This virus is transmitted through body secretions, mainly via feces and can be carried by water or shoes.
Feline leukemia virus can cause many cat diseases. One among them is leukemia otherwise known as the cancer of the white blood cells. There is no known treatment for this disease and might lead to death after months or years after the incidence of this disease. It is usually transmitted during cat fights. Other reasons for transmission may be through foods shared among them, through water bowls, from mother to the kittens in the womb etc.
Parasites are organisms which feed on other living being for their own survival. Cats are affected by parasites, which feed on their blood. External parasites such as ear mites, fleas etc can be seen on the skin or fur of the cats and in their ears. Internal parasites detection may be bit difficult, but can be known through sighting small rice like debris lingering to the cat’s anus or in the cat’s bedding. Some of the internal parasites are ring worms, hook worms, tape worms etc.
Coccidia is a microscopic parasite which lives in the lining cells of the intestines. The symptom associated with this parasite is diarrhea which if left untreated, can lead to dehydration and even death. Ear mites usually take up residence in the cat’s ear canals causing severe itching.
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
Subasree contributes several informative articles regularly to www.petsmixonline.com and www.petsmanners.info"> www.petsmanners.info which have exhaustive resources for pets health, training and their manners
Cats get ill even if they are taken care of very well. The cat diseases range from kitty cold to fatal diseases. Some of the most common cat diseases are discussed under:
Upper respiratory infection is very common among the cats and is also known as kitty cold by their owners. The symptoms are very similar to the cold of the humans, accompanied by sneezing and running nose. Even though it seems to be alike, the infections caused in the cats are very different as one species get infected by the other species. But, it can be contagious among the cats. The upper respiratory tract infection can lead to loss of appetite and can affect them from days to weeks. The cats must be made to eat, which can be encouraged by warming their foods and applying a warm, moist cloth to keep the cat’s nose and eyes free from any kind of discharge. If the loss of appetite persists and if the discharge becomes yellowish green in color and thicker, they have to be taken to the veterinarian immediately as it will be a serious problem.
Feline Chlamydia is a kind of bacteria which affects the cats, usually infesting the eye, causing conjunctivitis. The symptoms of feline Chlamydia are anorexia, cough, breathing problem, pneumonia, fever, sneezing, running nose, watery eyes etc. It is best treated with the help of antibiotics. This is also one of the common cat diseases.
Panleukopenia is a cat disease that makes the cat’s white blood cell count to drop drastically. As white blood cells are very important for the cat’s immunity, this condition makes the cats susceptible to many deadly infections. This virus is transmitted through body secretions, mainly via feces and can be carried by water or shoes.
Feline leukemia virus can cause many cat diseases. One among them is leukemia otherwise known as the cancer of the white blood cells. There is no known treatment for this disease and might lead to death after months or years after the incidence of this disease. It is usually transmitted during cat fights. Other reasons for transmission may be through foods shared among them, through water bowls, from mother to the kittens in the womb etc.
Parasites are organisms which feed on other living being for their own survival. Cats are affected by parasites, which feed on their blood. External parasites such as ear mites, fleas etc can be seen on the skin or fur of the cats and in their ears. Internal parasites detection may be bit difficult, but can be known through sighting small rice like debris lingering to the cat’s anus or in the cat’s bedding. Some of the internal parasites are ring worms, hook worms, tape worms etc.
Coccidia is a microscopic parasite which lives in the lining cells of the intestines. The symptom associated with this parasite is diarrhea which if left untreated, can lead to dehydration and even death. Ear mites usually take up residence in the cat’s ear canals causing severe itching.
Article Source:- Directory Submission & Sexy Deepika Padukone
Subasree contributes several informative articles regularly to www.petsmixonline.com and www.petsmanners.info"> www.petsmanners.info which have exhaustive resources for pets health, training and their manners
Why-cats-make-such-good-pets
By: Lory Sargu
Cats are very good pets as they don’t require as much attention as other options such as a dog. You don’t have to walk the cat and you don’t have to deal with it barking at everything that happens to walk by your home. Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to. However, most cats are content to play with toys or to be independent.
This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. Your cat won’t come running when you are home at the end of day and knock you over. They also don’t lick or bite so you won’t have to worry about how they will interact with others when you have company. Cats always seem to be able to tell when you need some comfort.
Taking care of a pet can help a child to become more responsible but some pets just come with too much time required. A cat makes a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy. Indoor cats will have to be trained to use a litter box but most of them learn very quickly so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.
Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day. In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. They don’t require as many vet visits for routine shots either like dogs do which can become quite expensive.
For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home. Many cat owners claim they haven’t come across a mouse in their home for years with this line of defense.
Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have a gentle hum to them that can be relaxing for humans. They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.
Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.
Article Source: http://www.acmearticles.com
Pat Andarton is a professional writer specializing in cat questions and dog questions To learn more about Vet Questions visit DrLarryPetVet.com
Cats are very good pets as they don’t require as much attention as other options such as a dog. You don’t have to walk the cat and you don’t have to deal with it barking at everything that happens to walk by your home. Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to. However, most cats are content to play with toys or to be independent.
This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. Your cat won’t come running when you are home at the end of day and knock you over. They also don’t lick or bite so you won’t have to worry about how they will interact with others when you have company. Cats always seem to be able to tell when you need some comfort.
Taking care of a pet can help a child to become more responsible but some pets just come with too much time required. A cat makes a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy. Indoor cats will have to be trained to use a litter box but most of them learn very quickly so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.
Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day. In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. They don’t require as many vet visits for routine shots either like dogs do which can become quite expensive.
For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home. Many cat owners claim they haven’t come across a mouse in their home for years with this line of defense.
Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have a gentle hum to them that can be relaxing for humans. They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.
Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.
Article Source: http://www.acmearticles.com
Pat Andarton is a professional writer specializing in cat questions and dog questions To learn more about Vet Questions visit DrLarryPetVet.com
Cat Behaviors: A Cat Can Be And Indoor Or Outdoor Pet
Author: Thomas Proctor
Cats have long been regarded as the world's most enigmatic creatures- they move and act like predators, yet are caring and sensitive to their human owners. Some people love cats while others cannot stand them. Every attempt to systematically analyze cat behaviors has ended in frustration and mystery.
Cat watching is exciting and beautiful - their movement, the way they play, and their natural attention to detail. Exploring their behavior can be an engrossing experience. Cats are very territorial, but learn to tolerate and live with other cats reasonably well. Cats are very aware that survival is most important but they adapt to different situations and surroundings.
Cats are cautious, a cat whisperer might say, but also quick to judge a person's trustowrthiness. Cats tend to be very careful about whom they trust, and thus, whom they let near them. Cats can also be quite daring, exploring unfamiliar surroundings as if fearless.
House cats love to travel from yard to yard, exploring the grasses and earth of different territories. They can roam for miles and still find their way back home. Cats have a keen sense of smell and know as soon as you place the can opener on the can of tuna that a treat is coming!
Cats make wonderful pets and are ideal for people who don't have time to walk or groom a dog. Cats are very self-sufficient - they clean and comb themselves with their rough tongues. They never need to be walked, for they get exercise enough on their own.
Indoor cats may become accustomed to scratching certain materials. This is one of the many cat behaviors that should be considered when purchasing or adopting a cat. In order to protect your furniture from getting torn up, you should buy a scratching post for your cat. Scratching posts cats will favor this tower, also known as a "cat condo, and return to it to scratch and play.
Cats as pets can be indoor, outdoor or both. Most cats enjoy going outdoors at least some of the time. They love to watch birds and other small animals scurry about, and may even try to pounce upon them. Although cats are said to have nine lives, there are dangers that threaten cats' lives.
Cats can be hunters, smooth/fast or self-sufficient/self-sufficient/affectionate/sensitive animals. They are carefree pets but cat behaviors remain a mystery. Watching cats' move/play is an excitement. They coexist well with other cats but have survival instinct. According to a cat whisperer cats are careful/quick/cautious and identify trustworthy persons.
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
Cats have long been regarded as the world's most enigmatic creatures- they move and act like predators, yet are caring and sensitive to their human owners. Some people love cats while others cannot stand them. Every attempt to systematically analyze cat behaviors has ended in frustration and mystery.
Cat watching is exciting and beautiful - their movement, the way they play, and their natural attention to detail. Exploring their behavior can be an engrossing experience. Cats are very territorial, but learn to tolerate and live with other cats reasonably well. Cats are very aware that survival is most important but they adapt to different situations and surroundings.
Cats are cautious, a cat whisperer might say, but also quick to judge a person's trustowrthiness. Cats tend to be very careful about whom they trust, and thus, whom they let near them. Cats can also be quite daring, exploring unfamiliar surroundings as if fearless.
House cats love to travel from yard to yard, exploring the grasses and earth of different territories. They can roam for miles and still find their way back home. Cats have a keen sense of smell and know as soon as you place the can opener on the can of tuna that a treat is coming!
Cats make wonderful pets and are ideal for people who don't have time to walk or groom a dog. Cats are very self-sufficient - they clean and comb themselves with their rough tongues. They never need to be walked, for they get exercise enough on their own.
Indoor cats may become accustomed to scratching certain materials. This is one of the many cat behaviors that should be considered when purchasing or adopting a cat. In order to protect your furniture from getting torn up, you should buy a scratching post for your cat. Scratching posts cats will favor this tower, also known as a "cat condo, and return to it to scratch and play.
Cats as pets can be indoor, outdoor or both. Most cats enjoy going outdoors at least some of the time. They love to watch birds and other small animals scurry about, and may even try to pounce upon them. Although cats are said to have nine lives, there are dangers that threaten cats' lives.
Cats can be hunters, smooth/fast or self-sufficient/self-sufficient/affectionate/sensitive animals. They are carefree pets but cat behaviors remain a mystery. Watching cats' move/play is an excitement. They coexist well with other cats but have survival instinct. According to a cat whisperer cats are careful/quick/cautious and identify trustworthy persons.
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
Cat behavior - Cat's sixth sense
Author: Abdul Hafiz
For many years stories of cats with strange abilities to foretell natural disaster or weather changes have abounded. Most reports concern cats showing strange behaviors before storms, volcano eruptions, earthquake or even before less natural phenomena such as air raids. (Many households with a cat in World War II soon realized they could regard puss as a reliable early-warning system as it became agitated before sirens went off). Often stories involve a mother cat moving her kittens from an area or house which later is devastated by flood, landslide or lava to a safer refuge; or a cat trapped within four walls desperately to get out. Reports of such instances of forewarning, as displayed by many cats before the 1979 California earthquake, are now taken so seriously in America that scientists in seismology there are studying the behavior of over 200 species of animals with the help of 10,000 volunteer observers. If these observers notice anything peculiar in the animal’s behavior, they have to dial a hotline to y\the earthquake scientists. This is also done in China and in 1975, acting on the behavior of cats and other animals, Haicheng was evacuated twenty-four hours before a huge earthquake devastated the area. No doubt the cats had already taken to the hills. And, let’s face it, if you live in a region likely to suffer from quakes, all forewarnings are greatly received.
There are several theories as to how cats seem to be able to predict these happenings. During rainstorms, enormous amounts of electricity are discharged into the clouds and create electromagnetic waves that spread through the atmosphere for hundreds of miles. The air becomes charged with positive ions which thought to influence the concentration of certain chemicals in the brain. As a result some people suffer headache before thunder. The cats may be many times sensitive to these ions, and the changes within its brain cause its mood and behavior to alter dramatically. They may also have the ability to use the Jacobson’s organ to sample molecules in very dilute concentrations in the air and get a forewarning of more violent changes to come - such as when a volcano has begun to smoke, and so releases the gases within it, but has given no great outward sign of eruption. Some cats are said to rub their ears before heavy rain, responding, perhaps, to pressure changes that agitate the sensitive inner ear.
The sensitivity of the cat’s feet and whiskers to vibration may mean that it can sense the tiny tremors which precede an earthquake. If we take into account this awareness of vibrations, the ability of the cat to hear ultrasonic sounds to detect magnetic changes, then a storm or earthquake may be as obvious to a cat as an air-raid siren is to us, and might well be detected hours before we humans become aware of it in its much less subtle form.
While prediction of earthquakes or other physical phenomena can perhaps be explained by modern science, there remain several vexed questions concerning a ‘sixth sense’ in cats. There are many reports of cats that anticipate the return of their owners after a long absence and without obvious warnings. There are also many, many stories, some corroborated by evidence rather than just anecdotal accounts, of cats traveling hundreds of miles after being left behind on holiday on holiday or returning to their old home after a move. Cats do appear to have remarkable navigational powers, perhaps thanks to an in-built magnetic sensitivity which gives them the same homing ability as is found in pigeons. They also have an amazingly accurate ‘internal clock’ and will welcome the kids home from school at the same time each day or wait by the wait by the food bowl at the right hour every evening.
Stranger still are tales of cats which have left home to find their owners at great distances away, in places that they have never been to before. One such story is of a cat whose owners were due to more to a new house 200 miles away. On the day of the move the cat somehow got left behind, but it turned up later at the new house! How these cats can even begin to figure out the right direction to take, let alone pinpoint the location of a house so very far away is a complete mystery. But this is by no means a unique story. There are sufficient reports of similar strange happenings to make us want to find out more about just how these cats are able to do it.
For more interesting cat stories and articles, please visit my blog at:- http://cuteycats2u.blogspot.com
Cuteycats2u.blogspot.com is a highly entertaining and informative blog containing useful cat care and training advises, funny cat videos, cute cat pictures and cat stories. Have fun!!
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
For many years stories of cats with strange abilities to foretell natural disaster or weather changes have abounded. Most reports concern cats showing strange behaviors before storms, volcano eruptions, earthquake or even before less natural phenomena such as air raids. (Many households with a cat in World War II soon realized they could regard puss as a reliable early-warning system as it became agitated before sirens went off). Often stories involve a mother cat moving her kittens from an area or house which later is devastated by flood, landslide or lava to a safer refuge; or a cat trapped within four walls desperately to get out. Reports of such instances of forewarning, as displayed by many cats before the 1979 California earthquake, are now taken so seriously in America that scientists in seismology there are studying the behavior of over 200 species of animals with the help of 10,000 volunteer observers. If these observers notice anything peculiar in the animal’s behavior, they have to dial a hotline to y\the earthquake scientists. This is also done in China and in 1975, acting on the behavior of cats and other animals, Haicheng was evacuated twenty-four hours before a huge earthquake devastated the area. No doubt the cats had already taken to the hills. And, let’s face it, if you live in a region likely to suffer from quakes, all forewarnings are greatly received.
There are several theories as to how cats seem to be able to predict these happenings. During rainstorms, enormous amounts of electricity are discharged into the clouds and create electromagnetic waves that spread through the atmosphere for hundreds of miles. The air becomes charged with positive ions which thought to influence the concentration of certain chemicals in the brain. As a result some people suffer headache before thunder. The cats may be many times sensitive to these ions, and the changes within its brain cause its mood and behavior to alter dramatically. They may also have the ability to use the Jacobson’s organ to sample molecules in very dilute concentrations in the air and get a forewarning of more violent changes to come - such as when a volcano has begun to smoke, and so releases the gases within it, but has given no great outward sign of eruption. Some cats are said to rub their ears before heavy rain, responding, perhaps, to pressure changes that agitate the sensitive inner ear.
The sensitivity of the cat’s feet and whiskers to vibration may mean that it can sense the tiny tremors which precede an earthquake. If we take into account this awareness of vibrations, the ability of the cat to hear ultrasonic sounds to detect magnetic changes, then a storm or earthquake may be as obvious to a cat as an air-raid siren is to us, and might well be detected hours before we humans become aware of it in its much less subtle form.
While prediction of earthquakes or other physical phenomena can perhaps be explained by modern science, there remain several vexed questions concerning a ‘sixth sense’ in cats. There are many reports of cats that anticipate the return of their owners after a long absence and without obvious warnings. There are also many, many stories, some corroborated by evidence rather than just anecdotal accounts, of cats traveling hundreds of miles after being left behind on holiday on holiday or returning to their old home after a move. Cats do appear to have remarkable navigational powers, perhaps thanks to an in-built magnetic sensitivity which gives them the same homing ability as is found in pigeons. They also have an amazingly accurate ‘internal clock’ and will welcome the kids home from school at the same time each day or wait by the wait by the food bowl at the right hour every evening.
Stranger still are tales of cats which have left home to find their owners at great distances away, in places that they have never been to before. One such story is of a cat whose owners were due to more to a new house 200 miles away. On the day of the move the cat somehow got left behind, but it turned up later at the new house! How these cats can even begin to figure out the right direction to take, let alone pinpoint the location of a house so very far away is a complete mystery. But this is by no means a unique story. There are sufficient reports of similar strange happenings to make us want to find out more about just how these cats are able to do it.
For more interesting cat stories and articles, please visit my blog at:- http://cuteycats2u.blogspot.com
Cuteycats2u.blogspot.com is a highly entertaining and informative blog containing useful cat care and training advises, funny cat videos, cute cat pictures and cat stories. Have fun!!
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
Does Your Cat Have Earmites?
Author: Jessica M
Earmites are tiny little parasites that can get into your cat's ear. While it sounds like something simple to take care of, you should know that if they're left untreated, ear mites can cause one nasty yeast infection.
Your cat will scratch and scratch, causing tiny blood vessels in their ears to burst. This can result in disfiguration and swelling, and it could cause permanent damage. It gets worse: Earmites that are left untreated for too long can cause seizures, rupture of the ear drum... even death.
If you notice your cat scratching, shaking its head this way and that, and digging at its ears, it's possible that he or she has earmites. But it's important to remember that a cat who is infested with ear mites may not show any outward signs. A lot of the time, a reaction really depends on how sensitive the cat is to the mites' saliva.
Cats can have allergic reactions to the saliva and even with just a few mites, they will scratch and be miserable. Look for the signs. If you see any fluid in or around your cat's ears, or if she is acting strangely and scratches a lot, she may have cat ear mites. If there is enough reason to suspect this, you should get your cat treated immediately.
If you have other pets, you should also know that they could easily become infested with the mites as well. So if you end up treating one of your cats, you should definitely inspect your other cats for signs of ear mites, or take them to the vet as well. Your poor cat will feel absolutely miserable with this condition.
Want to discover and get rid of ear mites quickly and easily? Visit Earmites.net and make sure you and your pets enjoy being ear mites free.
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
Earmites are tiny little parasites that can get into your cat's ear. While it sounds like something simple to take care of, you should know that if they're left untreated, ear mites can cause one nasty yeast infection.
Your cat will scratch and scratch, causing tiny blood vessels in their ears to burst. This can result in disfiguration and swelling, and it could cause permanent damage. It gets worse: Earmites that are left untreated for too long can cause seizures, rupture of the ear drum... even death.
If you notice your cat scratching, shaking its head this way and that, and digging at its ears, it's possible that he or she has earmites. But it's important to remember that a cat who is infested with ear mites may not show any outward signs. A lot of the time, a reaction really depends on how sensitive the cat is to the mites' saliva.
Cats can have allergic reactions to the saliva and even with just a few mites, they will scratch and be miserable. Look for the signs. If you see any fluid in or around your cat's ears, or if she is acting strangely and scratches a lot, she may have cat ear mites. If there is enough reason to suspect this, you should get your cat treated immediately.
If you have other pets, you should also know that they could easily become infested with the mites as well. So if you end up treating one of your cats, you should definitely inspect your other cats for signs of ear mites, or take them to the vet as well. Your poor cat will feel absolutely miserable with this condition.
Want to discover and get rid of ear mites quickly and easily? Visit Earmites.net and make sure you and your pets enjoy being ear mites free.
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
Complete Cat Training - Is It Just Another Bad Cat Guide?
By : Abdul Hafiz
It’s funny how many dog-training guides there are available. All the information you could ever want on how to teach your dog tricks; how to communicate with your dog; how to understand what your dog’s thinking; how to prevent behavioral problems.
Why aren’t there more books on how to do all this for cats? After all, cats are just as popular as dogs (if not more so); and, arguably, they’re just as intelligent and just as capable of being trained.
I never even thought about training my cat to do tricks and obedience work. He’s spent his life thus far as a happy free-loader, accepting food and cuddles from me in exchange for …. well, not that much, actually.
Until, that is, I dropped round to visit a new acquaintance recently, where I watched, stunned (and, I’ll admit, more than a little envious) as she got her cat perform what seemed to me to be an entire circus’ worth of acrobatics: rolling over, playing dead, shaking hands, even playing fetch.
“Right,” I thought to myself, “That’s it! If her cat can do it, then mine can, too!” … and thus my search for the Holy Grail of cat-training handbooks began in earnest.
I hunted here, I hunted there – I just about turned the library inside out. I looked through newspapers for advertised cat trainers, I asked my friends, I made phone calls to vet clinics and even dog-training organizations (just in case!)
The two things I didn’t do – but should have – were place a phone-call to that new acquaintance (I’m afraid my pride got in my way: I fostered fond dreams of casually unveiling my cat’s mastery of a stunning array of tricks and obedience work the next time she dropped around); and I didn’t even think of looking online until my husband (who, as chance would have it, works in internet marketing) castigated me gently for not “Googling” the subject straight away.
So I hopped onto the computer, and within five minutes I’d found what I was looking for in the Complete Cat Training Guide; and it was clear to me within just a few pages that the author, Paula Robb, is a woman who really knows what she’s talking about …
So What’s Included?
Let me get one thing straight: although this is a book that will teach you (among other commands) how to get your cat to beg, jump, twirl, stay, sit, come, open cupboards, kiss, play dead, and retrieve, that’s by no means all that you’ll learn.
Something I found incredibly useful was the book’s total-coverage philosophy: pretty much all aspects of cat ownership have been covered, in real detail. Example: as well as cat training, you also get information on how to fix virtually any cat problem (this is no baseless claim - over twenty-five cat behavioral problems are covered, from urine-marking to nocturnal disturbances to aggression); you get a real-life case study for each problem (which is a real help when it comes to putting the information into context); you learn about your cat’s body language and vocals, and how to use that knowledge to understand what he’s thinking and how to communicate with him; plus chapters and chapters of general knowledge on things like choosing the right cat for you; understanding feline behaviors both “good” and “bad”; how to help your cat adapt to your lifestyle and home; how to toilet-train your cat; and two whole sections on cat health and nutrition, all of which goes a long way towards deepening and strengthing your relationship with your cat.
Other Benefits
I sometimes find it hard to understand written instructions. It can be kind of confusing, especially when you’re also trying to control a wriggling, energetic cat. That’s why the clear step-by-step photographs and illustrations came in so handy with the training strategies: I actually understood exactly how to position myself and make the most of my body language during the training. It made the whole process a lot easier - and a whole lot faster!
Something else I liked: the book was instantly downloadable. This is a pretty big deal to me; I don’t like paying for something, then waiting days (usually weeks) for it to be shipped overseas, processed through the post, and then – likely as not – delivered to the wrong address. What I do like is instant gratification, which is exactly what I got with Complete Cat Training: seconds after paying my money, the book was downloaded onto my computer and I was gleefully reading through it.
The Best Bits
I don’t really understand how this woman can be making any money off her product, because she seems to be giving away a lot of stuff for free (but hey, I’m not complaining!)
Here are just a few of the handy little freebies that I got with my book:
- Two free bonus books: “The Essential Cat Recipe Book”, which shows you how to prepare tasty, healthy meals and treats for your beloved kitty; and “The Ultimate Guide to Pampering Your Cat”, which shows you how to develop a real bond of affection with your cat through improving his quality of life.
- A free, private email consultation (worth $120) with a team of real live cat trainers. Any problems that you have, any queries whatsoever, and all you have to do is send an email – you’ll get a detailed, personal reply from a team of seasoned cat trainers, to make sure any problems are truly resolved to your satisfaction. Not bad.
In a Nutshell
Two words: highly recommended. You really can’t go wrong here; not only is the whole thing jam-packed with practical advice and hands-on tips, but the price is extremely reasonable: just $37 for the book, the consultation, and the bonus books … oh yeah, and there’s a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee for 60 whole days after making the purchase.
All in all, I have no qualms whatsoever about recommending this book to anyone who’s got, or is thinking about getting, a cat: whether it’s training, behavioral problems, trouble-shooting, or improving your relationship with your beloved kitty, I guarantee you’ll learn something useful.
Complete Cat training E-Book is the most complete guide in training your cat. Put an End to the Stress and Annoyance of your Cat Behavior Problems AND Slash Your Cat Obedience Training Time in HALF!! Click the link below to Read the Complete Cat training E-Book:- http://doiop.com/CompleteCatTraining
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
It’s funny how many dog-training guides there are available. All the information you could ever want on how to teach your dog tricks; how to communicate with your dog; how to understand what your dog’s thinking; how to prevent behavioral problems.
Why aren’t there more books on how to do all this for cats? After all, cats are just as popular as dogs (if not more so); and, arguably, they’re just as intelligent and just as capable of being trained.
I never even thought about training my cat to do tricks and obedience work. He’s spent his life thus far as a happy free-loader, accepting food and cuddles from me in exchange for …. well, not that much, actually.
Until, that is, I dropped round to visit a new acquaintance recently, where I watched, stunned (and, I’ll admit, more than a little envious) as she got her cat perform what seemed to me to be an entire circus’ worth of acrobatics: rolling over, playing dead, shaking hands, even playing fetch.
“Right,” I thought to myself, “That’s it! If her cat can do it, then mine can, too!” … and thus my search for the Holy Grail of cat-training handbooks began in earnest.
I hunted here, I hunted there – I just about turned the library inside out. I looked through newspapers for advertised cat trainers, I asked my friends, I made phone calls to vet clinics and even dog-training organizations (just in case!)
The two things I didn’t do – but should have – were place a phone-call to that new acquaintance (I’m afraid my pride got in my way: I fostered fond dreams of casually unveiling my cat’s mastery of a stunning array of tricks and obedience work the next time she dropped around); and I didn’t even think of looking online until my husband (who, as chance would have it, works in internet marketing) castigated me gently for not “Googling” the subject straight away.
So I hopped onto the computer, and within five minutes I’d found what I was looking for in the Complete Cat Training Guide; and it was clear to me within just a few pages that the author, Paula Robb, is a woman who really knows what she’s talking about …
So What’s Included?
Let me get one thing straight: although this is a book that will teach you (among other commands) how to get your cat to beg, jump, twirl, stay, sit, come, open cupboards, kiss, play dead, and retrieve, that’s by no means all that you’ll learn.
Something I found incredibly useful was the book’s total-coverage philosophy: pretty much all aspects of cat ownership have been covered, in real detail. Example: as well as cat training, you also get information on how to fix virtually any cat problem (this is no baseless claim - over twenty-five cat behavioral problems are covered, from urine-marking to nocturnal disturbances to aggression); you get a real-life case study for each problem (which is a real help when it comes to putting the information into context); you learn about your cat’s body language and vocals, and how to use that knowledge to understand what he’s thinking and how to communicate with him; plus chapters and chapters of general knowledge on things like choosing the right cat for you; understanding feline behaviors both “good” and “bad”; how to help your cat adapt to your lifestyle and home; how to toilet-train your cat; and two whole sections on cat health and nutrition, all of which goes a long way towards deepening and strengthing your relationship with your cat.
Other Benefits
I sometimes find it hard to understand written instructions. It can be kind of confusing, especially when you’re also trying to control a wriggling, energetic cat. That’s why the clear step-by-step photographs and illustrations came in so handy with the training strategies: I actually understood exactly how to position myself and make the most of my body language during the training. It made the whole process a lot easier - and a whole lot faster!
Something else I liked: the book was instantly downloadable. This is a pretty big deal to me; I don’t like paying for something, then waiting days (usually weeks) for it to be shipped overseas, processed through the post, and then – likely as not – delivered to the wrong address. What I do like is instant gratification, which is exactly what I got with Complete Cat Training: seconds after paying my money, the book was downloaded onto my computer and I was gleefully reading through it.
The Best Bits
I don’t really understand how this woman can be making any money off her product, because she seems to be giving away a lot of stuff for free (but hey, I’m not complaining!)
Here are just a few of the handy little freebies that I got with my book:
- Two free bonus books: “The Essential Cat Recipe Book”, which shows you how to prepare tasty, healthy meals and treats for your beloved kitty; and “The Ultimate Guide to Pampering Your Cat”, which shows you how to develop a real bond of affection with your cat through improving his quality of life.
- A free, private email consultation (worth $120) with a team of real live cat trainers. Any problems that you have, any queries whatsoever, and all you have to do is send an email – you’ll get a detailed, personal reply from a team of seasoned cat trainers, to make sure any problems are truly resolved to your satisfaction. Not bad.
In a Nutshell
Two words: highly recommended. You really can’t go wrong here; not only is the whole thing jam-packed with practical advice and hands-on tips, but the price is extremely reasonable: just $37 for the book, the consultation, and the bonus books … oh yeah, and there’s a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee for 60 whole days after making the purchase.
All in all, I have no qualms whatsoever about recommending this book to anyone who’s got, or is thinking about getting, a cat: whether it’s training, behavioral problems, trouble-shooting, or improving your relationship with your beloved kitty, I guarantee you’ll learn something useful.
Complete Cat training E-Book is the most complete guide in training your cat. Put an End to the Stress and Annoyance of your Cat Behavior Problems AND Slash Your Cat Obedience Training Time in HALF!! Click the link below to Read the Complete Cat training E-Book:- http://doiop.com/CompleteCatTraining
Article Source: Free Articles from http://www.ArticleSphere.com
Iriomote Cat
The beautiful Iriomote Cat resides only on the Iriomote island of Japan, situated nearly two hundred kilometers off the coast of Taiwan. It has lived for millennia on this small island (less than three hundred square kilometers) and has evolved to suit the habitat and environment of this particular place. Owing to similarities in appearance, for some time the Iriomote Cat was considered a subspecie of the Leopard Cat. Recent evidence however indicated that the Iriomote Cat separated from the Leopard Cat in evolution couple of million years ago. A small wild cat, the Iriomote Cat weighs around twelve pounds and is around one a half to two feet long (excluding tail). Males are slightly larger.
Fur is brownish with a number of dark brown spots that coalesce to form stripes which run along the body length. Legs are short in comparison to body size and tail is bushy. Toes are slightly webbed and claws lack a complete sheath, helping the cat in its aquatic pursuits of prey. Ears are short and rounded indicating that the Iriomote Cat primarily uses sight in its movement and hunting.
A variety of prey is taken by the Iriomote Cat. Its small body size enables it to move quickly through the underbrush and successfully hunt small mammals, birds, insects and fish. It is a solitary and territorial feline that frequently marks its territory (larger in case of males) and is primarily nocturnal, particularly in summer. Mating season is twice an year and pregnancy lasts two months after which a litter of one to four kittens is born.
Prionailurus Iriomotensis, the Iriomote Cat is critically endangered. Less than one hundred remain in the wild. Plus they appear to be breeding with feral cats, leading to dilution of their gene pool. Despite preservation of their territory on the island, the cats frequently stray out of the reserve area and are often hunted by humans.
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on iriomote cat.
by Ailurophile
Fur is brownish with a number of dark brown spots that coalesce to form stripes which run along the body length. Legs are short in comparison to body size and tail is bushy. Toes are slightly webbed and claws lack a complete sheath, helping the cat in its aquatic pursuits of prey. Ears are short and rounded indicating that the Iriomote Cat primarily uses sight in its movement and hunting.
A variety of prey is taken by the Iriomote Cat. Its small body size enables it to move quickly through the underbrush and successfully hunt small mammals, birds, insects and fish. It is a solitary and territorial feline that frequently marks its territory (larger in case of males) and is primarily nocturnal, particularly in summer. Mating season is twice an year and pregnancy lasts two months after which a litter of one to four kittens is born.
Prionailurus Iriomotensis, the Iriomote Cat is critically endangered. Less than one hundred remain in the wild. Plus they appear to be breeding with feral cats, leading to dilution of their gene pool. Despite preservation of their territory on the island, the cats frequently stray out of the reserve area and are often hunted by humans.
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on iriomote cat.
by Ailurophile
Sand Cat
Sand cat is a beautiful desert cat ranging from Sahara in North Africa to the arid regions of Iran and Pakistan in West and South Asia. A little cat, it weighs nearly six pounds and is around one and a half to two feet long, excluding its one foot long tail.
Living in some of the hottest places of the planet, Felix Margarita, the Sand Cat is adapted to its lifestyle. Its thick fur protects it from cold desert nights whereas the mesh of hair on the under-surface of paws shield it from the scorching sand in day time. Color is sandy yellow with irregular black bars on torso, legs and tail. Face is broad and ears are long and pointed - enabling it to hear over long distances in the vast expanses of deserts. Reddish markings run along the side of eyes and back of ears. Chin and throat are white. Claws are usually blunt owing to dearth of places in the desert for their sharpening.
A solitary feline, the Sand Cat is primarily a nocturnal hunter. It spends the day hiding in burrows, beneath rocks and bush. At night it uses its sensitive ears and great digging skills to take down a variety of prey from above and beneath the ground - including gerbil, jerboas, insects, birds and even venomous desert snakes. It frequently hides the prey beneath sand to return and feed later.
Sand Cat is divided into a number of subspecies according to its geographical distribution as shown by the map:
Felix Margarita Margarita (North Africa)
Felix Margarita Harrisoni (Arabia)
Felix Margarita Thinobia (Iran)
Felix Margarita Scheffeli (Pakistan)
An elusive animal, the sand cat is difficult to track in the wild. It does not necessarily visit water holes since it fulfills all water requirements from the consumption of prey. It leaves no tracks in sand and remains hidden for most of the day. Males and females only come together in mating season. The cat produces a somewhat loud barking sound that enables communication over long distances in the desert. Usually two litter are born every year after a pregnancy lasting nearly two months, with four to five kittens being the average on each occasion. The young mature fast, being weaned off at a month and a half and gaining independence at around four months.
Owing to its reclusive lifestyle and certain religious beliefs that make the sand cat revered in many areas of its habitat, it is not extensively persecuted - allowing it to remain in healthy numbers in the wild - though it is still collected for pet trade and hunted for sport!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on sand cat.
by Ailurophile
Living in some of the hottest places of the planet, Felix Margarita, the Sand Cat is adapted to its lifestyle. Its thick fur protects it from cold desert nights whereas the mesh of hair on the under-surface of paws shield it from the scorching sand in day time. Color is sandy yellow with irregular black bars on torso, legs and tail. Face is broad and ears are long and pointed - enabling it to hear over long distances in the vast expanses of deserts. Reddish markings run along the side of eyes and back of ears. Chin and throat are white. Claws are usually blunt owing to dearth of places in the desert for their sharpening.
A solitary feline, the Sand Cat is primarily a nocturnal hunter. It spends the day hiding in burrows, beneath rocks and bush. At night it uses its sensitive ears and great digging skills to take down a variety of prey from above and beneath the ground - including gerbil, jerboas, insects, birds and even venomous desert snakes. It frequently hides the prey beneath sand to return and feed later.
Sand Cat is divided into a number of subspecies according to its geographical distribution as shown by the map:
Felix Margarita Margarita (North Africa)
Felix Margarita Harrisoni (Arabia)
Felix Margarita Thinobia (Iran)
Felix Margarita Scheffeli (Pakistan)
An elusive animal, the sand cat is difficult to track in the wild. It does not necessarily visit water holes since it fulfills all water requirements from the consumption of prey. It leaves no tracks in sand and remains hidden for most of the day. Males and females only come together in mating season. The cat produces a somewhat loud barking sound that enables communication over long distances in the desert. Usually two litter are born every year after a pregnancy lasting nearly two months, with four to five kittens being the average on each occasion. The young mature fast, being weaned off at a month and a half and gaining independence at around four months.
Owing to its reclusive lifestyle and certain religious beliefs that make the sand cat revered in many areas of its habitat, it is not extensively persecuted - allowing it to remain in healthy numbers in the wild - though it is still collected for pet trade and hunted for sport!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on sand cat.
by Ailurophile
The Wild Cat Jaguarundi
Jaguarundi is an interesting feline. It is unlike any other cat in its appearance, resembling an otter, with its small head, short rounded ear, elongated body and tail supported by small legs. Rightly, it has often been called 'Otter cat'. It may weigh from six to twenty pounds and is around forty inches long - excluding a twenty inch tail.
Unlike most other felines, the Jaguarundi, Puma Yaguarondi, has a completely uniformly colored coat. Cubs are spotted at birth like those of lions, but with time the spots disappear to give a coloration ranging from grayish brown to red. Previously the color variations were attributed to unique species of this cat - but now it is understood that they are a normal trait of the Jaguarundi - with different colored cubs found in the same litter. Genetically the Jaguarundi resembles the Jaguar and the Cougar, with a similar chromosomal number.
Though highly adaptable, the natural habitat of this wild cat is dense forest and shrub area. It is an adept fish hunter and is usually found near water courses. Birds are frequently preyed upon, as are rodents, small reptiles, frog and domestic poultry - something that often brings conflict with farmers. It's a good tree climber and a diurnal hunter. The predatory profile varies according to habitat as does its color - with paler variations found more in dry open areas and darker color seen in cats living in thickly forested parts.
Predominantly found in Mexico and South America, Jaguarundi has been seen in Texas, New Mexico and Florida. Various subspecies are recognized - based upon geographical distribution.
Puma Yaguarondi Armeghinoi - Chile and Argentina
Puma Yaguarondi Cacomitli - Mexico and Texas
Puma Yaguarondi Eyra - Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay
Puma Yaguarondi Fossata - Honduras and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Melantho - Brazil and Peru
Puma Yaguarondi Panamensis - Ecuador and Nicaragua
Puma Yaguarondi Tolteca - Arizona and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Yaguarondi - Guyana and the Amazon
Predominantly a solitary predator, Jaguarundi may be seen to travel in pairs or come together in bringing up of the young. The average litter size is one to four, born after a pregnancy lasting for nearly two and a half months. The young are introduced to regular food at six weeks and gain maturity at around two years. In captivity Jaguarundi has been known to live for up to fifteen years. In the wild the Jaguarundi is seldom sought for its fur - something that's fortunately not in high demand amongst traders. The primary danger to this unique wild cat is through deforestation and habitat destruction - largely due to human intervention in nature!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on jaguarundi.
by Ailurophile
Unlike most other felines, the Jaguarundi, Puma Yaguarondi, has a completely uniformly colored coat. Cubs are spotted at birth like those of lions, but with time the spots disappear to give a coloration ranging from grayish brown to red. Previously the color variations were attributed to unique species of this cat - but now it is understood that they are a normal trait of the Jaguarundi - with different colored cubs found in the same litter. Genetically the Jaguarundi resembles the Jaguar and the Cougar, with a similar chromosomal number.
Though highly adaptable, the natural habitat of this wild cat is dense forest and shrub area. It is an adept fish hunter and is usually found near water courses. Birds are frequently preyed upon, as are rodents, small reptiles, frog and domestic poultry - something that often brings conflict with farmers. It's a good tree climber and a diurnal hunter. The predatory profile varies according to habitat as does its color - with paler variations found more in dry open areas and darker color seen in cats living in thickly forested parts.
Predominantly found in Mexico and South America, Jaguarundi has been seen in Texas, New Mexico and Florida. Various subspecies are recognized - based upon geographical distribution.
Puma Yaguarondi Armeghinoi - Chile and Argentina
Puma Yaguarondi Cacomitli - Mexico and Texas
Puma Yaguarondi Eyra - Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay
Puma Yaguarondi Fossata - Honduras and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Melantho - Brazil and Peru
Puma Yaguarondi Panamensis - Ecuador and Nicaragua
Puma Yaguarondi Tolteca - Arizona and Mexico
Puma Yaguarondi Yaguarondi - Guyana and the Amazon
Predominantly a solitary predator, Jaguarundi may be seen to travel in pairs or come together in bringing up of the young. The average litter size is one to four, born after a pregnancy lasting for nearly two and a half months. The young are introduced to regular food at six weeks and gain maturity at around two years. In captivity Jaguarundi has been known to live for up to fifteen years. In the wild the Jaguarundi is seldom sought for its fur - something that's fortunately not in high demand amongst traders. The primary danger to this unique wild cat is through deforestation and habitat destruction - largely due to human intervention in nature!
The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on jaguarundi.
by Ailurophile
Is Cat Declawing Right
Cat declawing in medical term is called onychectomy. This surgical procedure is very painful and complicated. This operation is performed on cats under anesthesia to remove the last bone of their fingers. It is the same as a man's fingers at the first knuckle. Cat declawing is an irreversible procedure and must be performed by a qualified veterinary doctor.
Cat declawing can at times create behavioral problems after the surgery. Some cats find it hard to grasp or stand firmly on their amputated feet. They feel a strong sense of loss in balance. There are cats are found to have changed personalities after the traumatic cat declawing operation. These cats feel that they have lost their means of protecting themselves and become paranoid. If the operation has gone wrong the cat could end up infected or injured beyond repair and could even die.
Very often cats that have been declawed stop using the litter box and urinate where and when they could. They do their markings not with claws but with urine. A declawed cat is a deformed feline and if the bones were not removed properly pain could linger on for a long time after the procedure and could lead to arthritis in the legs. Their feets hurt when they walk and it is cruel to give your pets so much pain in return for their love and loyalties.
On the other hand, there is the belief that most declawed cats continue to scratch without their claws. Many pet owners consider cat declawing a safe and affordable option to the destructive behavior of their cats indoors. There is some of the opinion that declawing seems to have no bad psychological effect on their cats. Their cats continue to show normal scratching behavior and their pets stayed active and healthy psychologically.
Since scratching is a natural instinct in cats, you will notice that your cat will continue to scratch even after being declawed. Many experts advise that instead of declawing your cat, purchase a scratching post and see if it does the trick. You should use declawing as the final draw. It can have such devastating effects that is should only be considered as the last choice.
To help your cat from damaging your furniture provide your pet scratching surfaces to modify and correct its scratching behavior to an appropriate location. You could get a chunky piece of log for your pet to scratch on. Another alternative is to trim the claws and nails of your pet regularly and then there is no need to resort to cat declawing.
One of the alternatives to cat declawing is - the vinyl nail caps. These caps are glued on to your cat's claws to make the nails blunt and harmless. They are introduced by a veterinarian and could last four to five times longer then a nail trim. There are other options such as applying odors, citrus oil, deodorant soap, or booby traps to areas the cats likely to scratch.
Declawing your cat is a form of torture. It may even cause your cat to distrust you and the vet who does the procedure. It is inhumane, and if you can find a different method of training your cat, you should use it. You would not chop your child's finger off if he or she took a cookie, you should not declaw your cat for the same reason. Your cat is part of your family, and you should look upon him or her as another child. He or she depends on you for everything, and it is up to you to protect them as much as you would your own children.
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has information on the pros and cons of Cat Declawing. See more about Cat Declawing at Cat Declawing
by Paulina Jenkins
Cat declawing can at times create behavioral problems after the surgery. Some cats find it hard to grasp or stand firmly on their amputated feet. They feel a strong sense of loss in balance. There are cats are found to have changed personalities after the traumatic cat declawing operation. These cats feel that they have lost their means of protecting themselves and become paranoid. If the operation has gone wrong the cat could end up infected or injured beyond repair and could even die.
Very often cats that have been declawed stop using the litter box and urinate where and when they could. They do their markings not with claws but with urine. A declawed cat is a deformed feline and if the bones were not removed properly pain could linger on for a long time after the procedure and could lead to arthritis in the legs. Their feets hurt when they walk and it is cruel to give your pets so much pain in return for their love and loyalties.
On the other hand, there is the belief that most declawed cats continue to scratch without their claws. Many pet owners consider cat declawing a safe and affordable option to the destructive behavior of their cats indoors. There is some of the opinion that declawing seems to have no bad psychological effect on their cats. Their cats continue to show normal scratching behavior and their pets stayed active and healthy psychologically.
Since scratching is a natural instinct in cats, you will notice that your cat will continue to scratch even after being declawed. Many experts advise that instead of declawing your cat, purchase a scratching post and see if it does the trick. You should use declawing as the final draw. It can have such devastating effects that is should only be considered as the last choice.
To help your cat from damaging your furniture provide your pet scratching surfaces to modify and correct its scratching behavior to an appropriate location. You could get a chunky piece of log for your pet to scratch on. Another alternative is to trim the claws and nails of your pet regularly and then there is no need to resort to cat declawing.
One of the alternatives to cat declawing is - the vinyl nail caps. These caps are glued on to your cat's claws to make the nails blunt and harmless. They are introduced by a veterinarian and could last four to five times longer then a nail trim. There are other options such as applying odors, citrus oil, deodorant soap, or booby traps to areas the cats likely to scratch.
Declawing your cat is a form of torture. It may even cause your cat to distrust you and the vet who does the procedure. It is inhumane, and if you can find a different method of training your cat, you should use it. You would not chop your child's finger off if he or she took a cookie, you should not declaw your cat for the same reason. Your cat is part of your family, and you should look upon him or her as another child. He or she depends on you for everything, and it is up to you to protect them as much as you would your own children.
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has information on the pros and cons of Cat Declawing. See more about Cat Declawing at Cat Declawing
by Paulina Jenkins
What You Should Know About Poisonous Foods for Cats
Cats can be just like our buddies. It may be all right to share some couch space or even your bed with your cat. You are not being a good friend however if you start sharing your food with her. It is definitely tempting to let your cat share your table food both to show your affection and to save a bit on expensive cat food. Some food items however may poison and cause death to your cat.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine that are fatal to your cat. It is obvious that chemical stimulants affect the nervous system and cause increased heart rates and cardiac problems that may lead to coma or death. Keep your kitty away not just from chocolate bars but also from cups, spoons and utensils that you may have used to for a chocolate drink.
Onions and Garlic
More toxic than garlics are onions. Both however contain N-propyl disulphide in different amounts. This substance can ruin your cat's red blood cells which will lead to a form of cat anemia. Other than obvious dishes that may contain bits and pieces of onion and garlic, make sure that you also keep your cat away from sauces like gravy and spaghetti sauce which may contain powdered onion and garlic.
Tomatoes
Humans can definitely find health benefits in tomatoes. To cats however, the bitter alkaloid Glycoalkaloid solanine in tomatoes can be dangerous. Your cat could suffer form gastrointestinal problems if they ingest tomatoes.
Milk
Milk is not toxic to cats. What you should be warned against though is that milk cause gastrointestinal discomfort since a lot of adult cats cannot tolerate lactose. You may wonder at this especially since we often stereotypically imagine cats enjoying saucers filled with milk. Milk may eventually cause gas build up and stomach cramps and upsets in your cat. The key is to keep your milk loving pet at bay with very occasional treats of cream. You can also opt to buy lactose free milk products in the market that have been especially formulated for cats.
Dog Food
Your cat is not your dog. This means that they also have different nutritional requirements. Feeding your cat dog food can lead to malnutrition, heart ailments and other serious diseases.
Raw Fish
It's not surprising to find your cat ravishing his share of fish. Raw fish however is not good for cats if this is the only thing they eat and they eat this regularly. Cats can suffer from thiamine deficiency by eating raw fish. This could lead to seizures and loss of appetite.
Spoiled Food
Spoiled human food is dangerous for humans and it is equally so for cats. Cats however may not just get poisoned by chewing on a suspicious meatloaf but also by foraging through an open and accessible trash bin. It is best to keep your garbage cans covered with tight lids and stored under the kitchen sink.
Are you raising a healthy cat? Understand more concerning poisonous foods for cats and make sure you are providing your pet the best nutrition.
by Angie Allen
Chocolate
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine that are fatal to your cat. It is obvious that chemical stimulants affect the nervous system and cause increased heart rates and cardiac problems that may lead to coma or death. Keep your kitty away not just from chocolate bars but also from cups, spoons and utensils that you may have used to for a chocolate drink.
Onions and Garlic
More toxic than garlics are onions. Both however contain N-propyl disulphide in different amounts. This substance can ruin your cat's red blood cells which will lead to a form of cat anemia. Other than obvious dishes that may contain bits and pieces of onion and garlic, make sure that you also keep your cat away from sauces like gravy and spaghetti sauce which may contain powdered onion and garlic.
Tomatoes
Humans can definitely find health benefits in tomatoes. To cats however, the bitter alkaloid Glycoalkaloid solanine in tomatoes can be dangerous. Your cat could suffer form gastrointestinal problems if they ingest tomatoes.
Milk
Milk is not toxic to cats. What you should be warned against though is that milk cause gastrointestinal discomfort since a lot of adult cats cannot tolerate lactose. You may wonder at this especially since we often stereotypically imagine cats enjoying saucers filled with milk. Milk may eventually cause gas build up and stomach cramps and upsets in your cat. The key is to keep your milk loving pet at bay with very occasional treats of cream. You can also opt to buy lactose free milk products in the market that have been especially formulated for cats.
Dog Food
Your cat is not your dog. This means that they also have different nutritional requirements. Feeding your cat dog food can lead to malnutrition, heart ailments and other serious diseases.
Raw Fish
It's not surprising to find your cat ravishing his share of fish. Raw fish however is not good for cats if this is the only thing they eat and they eat this regularly. Cats can suffer from thiamine deficiency by eating raw fish. This could lead to seizures and loss of appetite.
Spoiled Food
Spoiled human food is dangerous for humans and it is equally so for cats. Cats however may not just get poisoned by chewing on a suspicious meatloaf but also by foraging through an open and accessible trash bin. It is best to keep your garbage cans covered with tight lids and stored under the kitchen sink.
Are you raising a healthy cat? Understand more concerning poisonous foods for cats and make sure you are providing your pet the best nutrition.
by Angie Allen
Keeping Your Cat Healthy
By : Mario Carini
Cats, by their nature, are independent and require little attention beside cleaning out the litter box, feeding and the stroking they get on their owner's lap. You can be sure that your cat will always come back to your home once he has had his fill of chasing mice and exploring the territory around your home.
But just because they are independent creatures does not mean that you can ignore their health needs. Like your own health, if you want Fuzzy around for a long time, you should be aware of certain health requirements your cat needs beyond insuring they get their distemper and rabies shots.
Stress is not just exclusive to humans. A move, the loss of human companionship or a change in family routine can lead Fuzzy to stop eating or claw up the furniture in frustration.
As a cat ages, free radical damage occurs and the best way to keep the cat healthy is by supplying them with herbs and anti-oxidants like quercitin and rutin to maintain their vitality.
We don't always think in terms of our pet's health assuming that all that's necessary is to feed it. Cat food alone doesn't provide the kind of nutrition that leads to a shiny coat of fur and good digestion. Just like you and me, your can also needs some herbal help as can be found in echinacea and reishi mushrooms. Prevention from sickness is just as important as it is for you.
One of the best ways to keep your cat healthy is by feeding it the kind of food that a cat really needs. A quality canned food meat diet is preferable over dry kibbles. The type of protein found in dry kibbles are often too high in plant-based protein. Cats are carnivores and require meat rather than grain in their diets. It's what they normally eat in the wild. Water is an essential element of the diet and you don't find much in a bag of Purina Cat Chow. Cats need to consume water with their food as the drive for thirst is not very strong in cats. Without water, the cat will experience kidney and bladder problems down the road.
And if you think your veterinarian knows what's best for your cat, think again. Even the prescription diets sold by veterinarians are not formulated for your cat's optimal health. They often contain corn, wheat and other ingredients that put a high carbohydrate load on your cat. Before you consider a vet for your cat, find out if they have a good knowledge of pet nutrition, especially for cats.
While millions of people suffer from the effects of diabetes, your cat can get it too! Because those dry kibbles are plant-based, they can affect the blood sugar levels in your cat. Dry kibbles is the junk food for a cat. The manufacturers coat the kibble with an enticing animal digest spray. This makes it difficult to wean a cat to meat-based canned food like chicken or beef just as it is to get your children to eat what's best for them.
Joint health is an important factor, even in a young animal. You should allow your cat to roam around in the outdoors. That provides them the exercise they need to stay flexible. An indoor cat becomes bored and lazy as well as fat. As a pet owner myself, I've observed my cat getting fat during the coldest months of winter and slims down during the summer when it feels more willing to romp in the grass rather than the cold and wet snow of winter.
While your cat may seem quite frisky and agile, joint health starts at an early age which becomes evident as the animal ages. Any abnormal development shows up in limping and restricted movement the older the cat gets. Hip dysplasia occurs in both cats and dogs, even in animals as young as 5 months old. It only gets worse as the animal ages. Osteoarthritis isn't limited to us humans..
If your pet limps and has limited mobility, consider giving it natural minerals such as glucosamine sulfate, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), devil's claw or boswellia serrata. Don't assume that your cat's limp is due to old age. Feed your cat the herbs and minerals it needs to stay agile longer. You can't do much if your cat has hip dysplasia, but it will see more mobility with less pain.
So if you want to have a healthy cat, consider these points. Feed it "muscle" meat, such as chicken or turkey rather than organ meats. Leave out the dry kibbles. By all means give it the shots it needs, but don't reply completely on your vet. Most vets have a poor education when it comes to nutrition.
By following the basic rules, your cats will live long and pain-free lives.
For more information on cats, go to www.cat-purrfect.com
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
What would you do with an extra $200 saved on your next shopping trip? www.entrepreneurcircle.com/myworldplus.cfm?vn=6873
Cats, by their nature, are independent and require little attention beside cleaning out the litter box, feeding and the stroking they get on their owner's lap. You can be sure that your cat will always come back to your home once he has had his fill of chasing mice and exploring the territory around your home.
But just because they are independent creatures does not mean that you can ignore their health needs. Like your own health, if you want Fuzzy around for a long time, you should be aware of certain health requirements your cat needs beyond insuring they get their distemper and rabies shots.
Stress is not just exclusive to humans. A move, the loss of human companionship or a change in family routine can lead Fuzzy to stop eating or claw up the furniture in frustration.
As a cat ages, free radical damage occurs and the best way to keep the cat healthy is by supplying them with herbs and anti-oxidants like quercitin and rutin to maintain their vitality.
We don't always think in terms of our pet's health assuming that all that's necessary is to feed it. Cat food alone doesn't provide the kind of nutrition that leads to a shiny coat of fur and good digestion. Just like you and me, your can also needs some herbal help as can be found in echinacea and reishi mushrooms. Prevention from sickness is just as important as it is for you.
One of the best ways to keep your cat healthy is by feeding it the kind of food that a cat really needs. A quality canned food meat diet is preferable over dry kibbles. The type of protein found in dry kibbles are often too high in plant-based protein. Cats are carnivores and require meat rather than grain in their diets. It's what they normally eat in the wild. Water is an essential element of the diet and you don't find much in a bag of Purina Cat Chow. Cats need to consume water with their food as the drive for thirst is not very strong in cats. Without water, the cat will experience kidney and bladder problems down the road.
And if you think your veterinarian knows what's best for your cat, think again. Even the prescription diets sold by veterinarians are not formulated for your cat's optimal health. They often contain corn, wheat and other ingredients that put a high carbohydrate load on your cat. Before you consider a vet for your cat, find out if they have a good knowledge of pet nutrition, especially for cats.
While millions of people suffer from the effects of diabetes, your cat can get it too! Because those dry kibbles are plant-based, they can affect the blood sugar levels in your cat. Dry kibbles is the junk food for a cat. The manufacturers coat the kibble with an enticing animal digest spray. This makes it difficult to wean a cat to meat-based canned food like chicken or beef just as it is to get your children to eat what's best for them.
Joint health is an important factor, even in a young animal. You should allow your cat to roam around in the outdoors. That provides them the exercise they need to stay flexible. An indoor cat becomes bored and lazy as well as fat. As a pet owner myself, I've observed my cat getting fat during the coldest months of winter and slims down during the summer when it feels more willing to romp in the grass rather than the cold and wet snow of winter.
While your cat may seem quite frisky and agile, joint health starts at an early age which becomes evident as the animal ages. Any abnormal development shows up in limping and restricted movement the older the cat gets. Hip dysplasia occurs in both cats and dogs, even in animals as young as 5 months old. It only gets worse as the animal ages. Osteoarthritis isn't limited to us humans..
If your pet limps and has limited mobility, consider giving it natural minerals such as glucosamine sulfate, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), devil's claw or boswellia serrata. Don't assume that your cat's limp is due to old age. Feed your cat the herbs and minerals it needs to stay agile longer. You can't do much if your cat has hip dysplasia, but it will see more mobility with less pain.
So if you want to have a healthy cat, consider these points. Feed it "muscle" meat, such as chicken or turkey rather than organ meats. Leave out the dry kibbles. By all means give it the shots it needs, but don't reply completely on your vet. Most vets have a poor education when it comes to nutrition.
By following the basic rules, your cats will live long and pain-free lives.
For more information on cats, go to www.cat-purrfect.com
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
What would you do with an extra $200 saved on your next shopping trip? www.entrepreneurcircle.com/myworldplus.cfm?vn=6873
How To Give Your Cat A Long, Healthy Life
By : Matthew Paolini
When it comes to growing old gracefully, your favorite cat's life span is dictated by a number of factors, including breed, environment and genetics. While a cat's lifespan will vary depending on these contributing factors, a good rule of thumb is that a healthy house cat will live to at least fifteen years of age. That being said, it's not uncommon for a cat to live longer and some cats are known to have reached the ripe old age of thirty.
Just like humans, cats live the longest on a good nutritious diet. As cats grow older, their nutritional needs change and it's important to feed them an appropriately balanced diet. Despite the recent scare about contaminated cat food made with ingredients imported from China, most national cat food brands are now considered safe. These are available in different formulas matched to particular stages in a cat's life and are usually well liked by cats. If you're concerned about food safety, you can always make you own cat food at home. Whether your choose a national brand or make your own food, it's important not to overfeed your cat so it can maintain a healthy weight.
Cats are like humans in another way, too. Both respond well to an active life with regular exercise. Allowing your pet to go outside everyday is a great way to keep your cat healthy and fit. A scratching post and a judicious selection of toys can also keep your cat active indoors. Set aside some time everyday to play with your cat. Not only will you and your cat become better friends, the exercise will also contribute to a long, healthy life for your cat and even improve your own quality of life!
Another way to help a cat live longer originally came as a surprise to me. Just before signing off, Bob Barker, the former host of the Price is Right, the popular TV game show, used to remind his audience to spay or neuter their cats. Although Barker's motivation was probably to reduce the number of stray cats and dogs roaming the streets of L.A., it turns out that spaying or neutering your cat can actually boost its life expectancy. Although the statistics on this don't lie, it's not exactly clear why the idea works. Some think a fixed cat will stay closer to home, reducing its exposure to disease and other dangers.
As cats grow older, so does their susceptibility to disease. There are many things you can do to help prevent disease in your cat. Cats love to be groomed and regular brushing will promote the health of your cat's fur and help prevent skin diseases. Brushing your cat's teeth on a regular basis can also ward off any number of common oral health problems, ranging from bad breath and gingivitis to more serious issues like resorption lesions. Watch your cat for any changes in eating or sleeping habits, including an abnormal occurrence of hairballs, as these may be symptoms of more serious conditions that require the care of a veterinarian.
Finally, a good relationship with a qualified veterinarian is important in the event your cat ever requires the care of a veterinarian. Regular visits to the vet, even when there's no emergency, can extend the life of your cat by many happy years. So, make the effort to find a vet in your area. Friends or relatives can often provide a recommendation, but if you're new to the neighborhood or don't know another cat owner you can ask, check your online yellow pages for a list of qualified vets in your neighborhood.
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
Matt Paolini is a cat lover and Managing Editor of CityBook, the Internet's leading family-safe yellow pages directory. Locate a veterinarian in your neighborhood using CityBook's online yellow pages.
When it comes to growing old gracefully, your favorite cat's life span is dictated by a number of factors, including breed, environment and genetics. While a cat's lifespan will vary depending on these contributing factors, a good rule of thumb is that a healthy house cat will live to at least fifteen years of age. That being said, it's not uncommon for a cat to live longer and some cats are known to have reached the ripe old age of thirty.
Just like humans, cats live the longest on a good nutritious diet. As cats grow older, their nutritional needs change and it's important to feed them an appropriately balanced diet. Despite the recent scare about contaminated cat food made with ingredients imported from China, most national cat food brands are now considered safe. These are available in different formulas matched to particular stages in a cat's life and are usually well liked by cats. If you're concerned about food safety, you can always make you own cat food at home. Whether your choose a national brand or make your own food, it's important not to overfeed your cat so it can maintain a healthy weight.
Cats are like humans in another way, too. Both respond well to an active life with regular exercise. Allowing your pet to go outside everyday is a great way to keep your cat healthy and fit. A scratching post and a judicious selection of toys can also keep your cat active indoors. Set aside some time everyday to play with your cat. Not only will you and your cat become better friends, the exercise will also contribute to a long, healthy life for your cat and even improve your own quality of life!
Another way to help a cat live longer originally came as a surprise to me. Just before signing off, Bob Barker, the former host of the Price is Right, the popular TV game show, used to remind his audience to spay or neuter their cats. Although Barker's motivation was probably to reduce the number of stray cats and dogs roaming the streets of L.A., it turns out that spaying or neutering your cat can actually boost its life expectancy. Although the statistics on this don't lie, it's not exactly clear why the idea works. Some think a fixed cat will stay closer to home, reducing its exposure to disease and other dangers.
As cats grow older, so does their susceptibility to disease. There are many things you can do to help prevent disease in your cat. Cats love to be groomed and regular brushing will promote the health of your cat's fur and help prevent skin diseases. Brushing your cat's teeth on a regular basis can also ward off any number of common oral health problems, ranging from bad breath and gingivitis to more serious issues like resorption lesions. Watch your cat for any changes in eating or sleeping habits, including an abnormal occurrence of hairballs, as these may be symptoms of more serious conditions that require the care of a veterinarian.
Finally, a good relationship with a qualified veterinarian is important in the event your cat ever requires the care of a veterinarian. Regular visits to the vet, even when there's no emergency, can extend the life of your cat by many happy years. So, make the effort to find a vet in your area. Friends or relatives can often provide a recommendation, but if you're new to the neighborhood or don't know another cat owner you can ask, check your online yellow pages for a list of qualified vets in your neighborhood.
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
Matt Paolini is a cat lover and Managing Editor of CityBook, the Internet's leading family-safe yellow pages directory. Locate a veterinarian in your neighborhood using CityBook's online yellow pages.
What Are The Symptoms of Cat Earmites?
By : Jessica M
There could be little tiny parasites taking up residence in your cat's eat. They are known as earmites. As simple as it may sound, you should know that if this problem isn't treated, it can develop into something serious such as a yeast infection.
Cats can cause tiny blood vessels in their ears to burst when they scratch too much at their ears. The swelling and disfiguration that results could be permanent. Ear mites that are left untreated for long enough can cause a rupture of the ear drum, seizures, and even death.
If you notice your cat scratching, shaking its head this way and that, and digging at its ears, it's possible that he or she has earmites. However, you should know that a cat can be infested with ear mites and show no signs or symptoms. How severe the reaction is can really depend on your cat's sensitivity to the mites' saliva.
If there's an allergic reaction to the saliva, which can occur even with just a few mites, your cat will scratch and never find relief. If you see any signs at all of fluid in or around your cats ear, or if she is scratching and acting strangely, it is possible that she has ear mites. If there is enough reason to suspect this, you should get your cat treated immediately.
If you have other pets, you should also know that they could easily become infested with the mites as well. So if you end up treating one of your cats, you should definitely inspect your other cats for signs of ear mites, or take them to the vet as well. This can truly make your cat miserable, and the sooner she gets treated, the better she will feel and so will you.
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
Want to discover and get rid of ear mites quickly and easily? Visit Earmites.net and make sure you and your pets enjoy being ear mite free.
There could be little tiny parasites taking up residence in your cat's eat. They are known as earmites. As simple as it may sound, you should know that if this problem isn't treated, it can develop into something serious such as a yeast infection.
Cats can cause tiny blood vessels in their ears to burst when they scratch too much at their ears. The swelling and disfiguration that results could be permanent. Ear mites that are left untreated for long enough can cause a rupture of the ear drum, seizures, and even death.
If you notice your cat scratching, shaking its head this way and that, and digging at its ears, it's possible that he or she has earmites. However, you should know that a cat can be infested with ear mites and show no signs or symptoms. How severe the reaction is can really depend on your cat's sensitivity to the mites' saliva.
If there's an allergic reaction to the saliva, which can occur even with just a few mites, your cat will scratch and never find relief. If you see any signs at all of fluid in or around your cats ear, or if she is scratching and acting strangely, it is possible that she has ear mites. If there is enough reason to suspect this, you should get your cat treated immediately.
If you have other pets, you should also know that they could easily become infested with the mites as well. So if you end up treating one of your cats, you should definitely inspect your other cats for signs of ear mites, or take them to the vet as well. This can truly make your cat miserable, and the sooner she gets treated, the better she will feel and so will you.
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
Want to discover and get rid of ear mites quickly and easily? Visit Earmites.net and make sure you and your pets enjoy being ear mite free.
Your Cat's Diabetes
By : Alison Grimston
Introduction- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine illness in which there are high levels of glucose in the blood. It is seen in dogs and cats as well as humans, and in each species is commoner in the overweight and obese. There is no cure, but treatment, which in cats may or may not include insulin injections, can maintain a healthy and active life.
Pathology - Diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, the Islets of Langerhans, stop producing sufficient insulin to cope with the body's glucose load (Type 1 diabetes), or when the peripheral tissues in the body that react to insulin become resistant to its effect (Type 2 diabetes).
Symptoms:
* Weight loss (more likely in type 1 diabetes)
* Thirst, excessive drinking (polydipsia)
* Increased urination (polyuria)
* Increased appetite
* Increased blood glucose (hyperglycaemia)
* Blindness
* Weakness
* Depression
Causes:
* Obesity
* Chronic Pancreatitis
* Stress (cortisol, one of the stress hormones, makes fat cells less sensitive to insulin)
* Genetic predisposition - it affects cats of all ages, sexes and breeds, but is commoner in older, castrated male cats, especially Burmese cats Diagnosis
Diagnosis depends on a urine test followed by a confirmatory blood test for glucose levels.
Effects of Diabetes - There is an increased incidence of:
* Cataracts
* Premature death
* Problems in pregnancy
* Infections, especially bladder
* Pancreatitis
Current Western Treatments
* Insulin
* Diet
* Exercise
* Neutering of diabetic female cats
Insulin - The discovery of insulin in 1921 ( see www.discoveryofinsulin.com) was pivotal in changing diabetes mellitus from disease that was fatal within weeks to a chronic and not necessarily life-threatening condition.
Insulin is the most important treatment in many cats, although some cats, once stabilised, can be managed with diet alone. Diet
Diet needs to be specific and timed correctly. Glucose control is easier to obtain if you feed a fixed formula feed, low in fat and high in slowly digested complex carbohydrates. However, if your cat's routine is to eat several times per day, your vet is unlikely to change this.
If your cat is overweight, weight reduction to the normal for his or her size is essential over the first 3-4 months after diagnosis.
Exercise - Your cat should be allowed to take exercise as normal. Other considerations
A diabetic cat will take up a lot of your time and finances over the years, but will reward you with years of companionship.
Complementary Therapies - Stress Reduction by whatever means will help with glucose control, and can be helped by:
* Spiritual Healing
* Reiki
* Crystal Healing with crystals such as amethyst
* Massage
* T-touch technique
Herbal remedies
* Stinging nettles - for fatigue, poor appetite
* Garlic - for digestive problems
* Fenugreek - for fatigue and weight loss
* olive leaves - for blood pressure and glucose control
Bach Flower Remedies tend to be favoured over aromatics by cats. Your choice of remedy will depend on your cat's personality and current circumstances.
Conclusion - With Diabetes mellitus it is very important that you work closely with your vet in order to get optimum glucose control. The triad of insulin (where needed), diet and exercise is pivotal. Other measures can be used to help support your cat's management.
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
I am a holistic doctor and animal healer specializing in connecting and informing animal therapists. My natural animal therapy website informs the public about animal therapies while connecting animal therapists worldwide. www.TheNaturallyHealthyPet.com
Introduction- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine illness in which there are high levels of glucose in the blood. It is seen in dogs and cats as well as humans, and in each species is commoner in the overweight and obese. There is no cure, but treatment, which in cats may or may not include insulin injections, can maintain a healthy and active life.
Pathology - Diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, the Islets of Langerhans, stop producing sufficient insulin to cope with the body's glucose load (Type 1 diabetes), or when the peripheral tissues in the body that react to insulin become resistant to its effect (Type 2 diabetes).
Symptoms:
* Weight loss (more likely in type 1 diabetes)
* Thirst, excessive drinking (polydipsia)
* Increased urination (polyuria)
* Increased appetite
* Increased blood glucose (hyperglycaemia)
* Blindness
* Weakness
* Depression
Causes:
* Obesity
* Chronic Pancreatitis
* Stress (cortisol, one of the stress hormones, makes fat cells less sensitive to insulin)
* Genetic predisposition - it affects cats of all ages, sexes and breeds, but is commoner in older, castrated male cats, especially Burmese cats Diagnosis
Diagnosis depends on a urine test followed by a confirmatory blood test for glucose levels.
Effects of Diabetes - There is an increased incidence of:
* Cataracts
* Premature death
* Problems in pregnancy
* Infections, especially bladder
* Pancreatitis
Current Western Treatments
* Insulin
* Diet
* Exercise
* Neutering of diabetic female cats
Insulin - The discovery of insulin in 1921 ( see www.discoveryofinsulin.com) was pivotal in changing diabetes mellitus from disease that was fatal within weeks to a chronic and not necessarily life-threatening condition.
Insulin is the most important treatment in many cats, although some cats, once stabilised, can be managed with diet alone. Diet
Diet needs to be specific and timed correctly. Glucose control is easier to obtain if you feed a fixed formula feed, low in fat and high in slowly digested complex carbohydrates. However, if your cat's routine is to eat several times per day, your vet is unlikely to change this.
If your cat is overweight, weight reduction to the normal for his or her size is essential over the first 3-4 months after diagnosis.
Exercise - Your cat should be allowed to take exercise as normal. Other considerations
A diabetic cat will take up a lot of your time and finances over the years, but will reward you with years of companionship.
Complementary Therapies - Stress Reduction by whatever means will help with glucose control, and can be helped by:
* Spiritual Healing
* Reiki
* Crystal Healing with crystals such as amethyst
* Massage
* T-touch technique
Herbal remedies
* Stinging nettles - for fatigue, poor appetite
* Garlic - for digestive problems
* Fenugreek - for fatigue and weight loss
* olive leaves - for blood pressure and glucose control
Bach Flower Remedies tend to be favoured over aromatics by cats. Your choice of remedy will depend on your cat's personality and current circumstances.
Conclusion - With Diabetes mellitus it is very important that you work closely with your vet in order to get optimum glucose control. The triad of insulin (where needed), diet and exercise is pivotal. Other measures can be used to help support your cat's management.
Article Source: http://www.articles4free.com
I am a holistic doctor and animal healer specializing in connecting and informing animal therapists. My natural animal therapy website informs the public about animal therapies while connecting animal therapists worldwide. www.TheNaturallyHealthyPet.com
Common Health Problems Affecting Felines
Author: Moses Wright
Cats, like any other animals will suffer from common diseases and illnesses. Many of them are not life threatening and can be cure easily by your local veterinarian. On the other hand, there are also diseases that are terminal and most often fatal.
On the top of the list of common afflictions a cat can get is hairballs. Hairballs occur as the result of cats performing their everyday grooming routine. Loose hair and debris collect in quantity on the cats tongue and are then swallowed into the stomach. When there, these elements become lodged and eventually form a round ball of mucus.
Typically, a cat can dislodge the hairball by coughing, but on occasion one may become lodged in the intestines creating a serious and sometimes life threatening situation. Regular grooming, specialty cat food and cat treats along with visits to the veterinarian are all great ways to both prevent and treat this common ailment.
Just like humans, cats are prone to urinary tract infections as well. The cause for this ailment can be infection and poor quality food. The good news is this ailment is treatable with medication prescribed by a veterinarian. It is also preventable by providing specially formulated cat food created to prevent this infection from occurring.
If a urinary tract infection is present, common symptoms are that your cat may show signs of infrequent urination, fowl smelling urine, and urinating in places other than the litter box. Males cats that have not been spayed are usually the ones that are most easily affected; however, female cats can be affected as well.
Common Cat Viruses - The three common viruses that felines are prone to suffer from; Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Feline Immune Deficiency Virus. FIP or Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a very dangerous illness as it is related to the Corona Virus. Testing for FIP is also a problem as the results are not completely reliable. A positive test result has the possibility for being false as the same results appear for the Corona Virus. There is a vaccination available for FIP; however, many vets believe that such results are still debatable. With no known cure, it is extremely beneficial that this disease is not as easily contracted as some other diseases may be.
The feline version of the AIDS Virus known as FIV has not yet proved to be fatal. However, many owners are left in doubts and fear that they are susceptible to catch the diseases as well. This belief is false and truly unwarranted.
Feline Leukemia Virus is another disease that is preventable. A vaccine is available from a veterinarian's office and must be acquired before exposure to other infected cats has occurred. If you own a cat with FLV it is highly recommended that you do not expose him to other cats. Cats with FLV have a short life expectancy.
Common Cat Worms Problem - In addition to hairballs being one of the most common afflictions in cats, worms are another. Tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms are all cause for immediate concern. Although heartworms are not commonly found in cats, they can be a source of problems.
Medications are available from the veterinarian that will assist in preventing these nasty parasites from making a home in your cat. Signs of worm infestation cam come with flea infestation or as tiny white specs appearing in the stool, almost resembling a grain of rice. Weight loss or having difficulty gaining weight is a sign of worm infestation as well. This illness is fortunately one that comes with a treatment and it is usually an affordable one. However, if this infestation goes without treatment, the results are most commonly fatal.
Fleas and ticks are another form of common diseases, cats that spend time outdoors are known for contracting. The tick however brings another illness to the table, Lyme disease. If a tick has been found on your cat's body, symptoms of possible Lyme disease include lethargy, sluggish movement and acting as if in constant pain. This disease is also able to be transmitted to humans by ticks as well. If you have an inkling that your cat has contracted this disease or should you find a tick on his body, a check with the vet will help in the removal of the tick and medication will help in treatment.
Last, but certainly not least is feline obesity. This disease affects other parts of a cat's body and is a serious, potentially fatal ailment. It is also the number one cause for feline Diabetes. As usual, prevention is the best cure in preventing such illnesses. Providing a proper diet in combination with exercise is essential in the fight to keep your cat healthy. Luckily, cats with diabetes do live, but need to be put on a special dietary supplement as well as medication.
The most important thing you can do to defend your cat against common illnesses and disease is to remember that prevention is the key.
------
Moses Wright is a pet lover and loves to help new pet owners deal with their pet problems at home. You can also find cat problems and solutions on his site.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_215397_54.html
Cats, like any other animals will suffer from common diseases and illnesses. Many of them are not life threatening and can be cure easily by your local veterinarian. On the other hand, there are also diseases that are terminal and most often fatal.
On the top of the list of common afflictions a cat can get is hairballs. Hairballs occur as the result of cats performing their everyday grooming routine. Loose hair and debris collect in quantity on the cats tongue and are then swallowed into the stomach. When there, these elements become lodged and eventually form a round ball of mucus.
Typically, a cat can dislodge the hairball by coughing, but on occasion one may become lodged in the intestines creating a serious and sometimes life threatening situation. Regular grooming, specialty cat food and cat treats along with visits to the veterinarian are all great ways to both prevent and treat this common ailment.
Just like humans, cats are prone to urinary tract infections as well. The cause for this ailment can be infection and poor quality food. The good news is this ailment is treatable with medication prescribed by a veterinarian. It is also preventable by providing specially formulated cat food created to prevent this infection from occurring.
If a urinary tract infection is present, common symptoms are that your cat may show signs of infrequent urination, fowl smelling urine, and urinating in places other than the litter box. Males cats that have not been spayed are usually the ones that are most easily affected; however, female cats can be affected as well.
Common Cat Viruses - The three common viruses that felines are prone to suffer from; Feline Leukemia, Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Feline Immune Deficiency Virus. FIP or Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a very dangerous illness as it is related to the Corona Virus. Testing for FIP is also a problem as the results are not completely reliable. A positive test result has the possibility for being false as the same results appear for the Corona Virus. There is a vaccination available for FIP; however, many vets believe that such results are still debatable. With no known cure, it is extremely beneficial that this disease is not as easily contracted as some other diseases may be.
The feline version of the AIDS Virus known as FIV has not yet proved to be fatal. However, many owners are left in doubts and fear that they are susceptible to catch the diseases as well. This belief is false and truly unwarranted.
Feline Leukemia Virus is another disease that is preventable. A vaccine is available from a veterinarian's office and must be acquired before exposure to other infected cats has occurred. If you own a cat with FLV it is highly recommended that you do not expose him to other cats. Cats with FLV have a short life expectancy.
Common Cat Worms Problem - In addition to hairballs being one of the most common afflictions in cats, worms are another. Tapeworms, hookworms and roundworms are all cause for immediate concern. Although heartworms are not commonly found in cats, they can be a source of problems.
Medications are available from the veterinarian that will assist in preventing these nasty parasites from making a home in your cat. Signs of worm infestation cam come with flea infestation or as tiny white specs appearing in the stool, almost resembling a grain of rice. Weight loss or having difficulty gaining weight is a sign of worm infestation as well. This illness is fortunately one that comes with a treatment and it is usually an affordable one. However, if this infestation goes without treatment, the results are most commonly fatal.
Fleas and ticks are another form of common diseases, cats that spend time outdoors are known for contracting. The tick however brings another illness to the table, Lyme disease. If a tick has been found on your cat's body, symptoms of possible Lyme disease include lethargy, sluggish movement and acting as if in constant pain. This disease is also able to be transmitted to humans by ticks as well. If you have an inkling that your cat has contracted this disease or should you find a tick on his body, a check with the vet will help in the removal of the tick and medication will help in treatment.
Last, but certainly not least is feline obesity. This disease affects other parts of a cat's body and is a serious, potentially fatal ailment. It is also the number one cause for feline Diabetes. As usual, prevention is the best cure in preventing such illnesses. Providing a proper diet in combination with exercise is essential in the fight to keep your cat healthy. Luckily, cats with diabetes do live, but need to be put on a special dietary supplement as well as medication.
The most important thing you can do to defend your cat against common illnesses and disease is to remember that prevention is the key.
------
Moses Wright is a pet lover and loves to help new pet owners deal with their pet problems at home. You can also find cat problems and solutions on his site.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_215397_54.html
Cat health - A good cat nutrition
Author: hafizsteen
NUTRITION
A BALANCED DIET
Like all animals, the domestic cat needs a diet that is properly balanced and contains all the essential nutrients in the correct quantities. These nutrients are water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins.
The wild members of the cat family, such as the lion, tiger, cheetah and European wild cats, are carnivores. Between them they hunt and kill a wide variety of other animals, ranging in size from small lizards and birds to large antelopes. They don’t just eat the meat or muscle, but consume all, or almost all, of their prey, including the skin, hair or feathers, and the internal organs such as liver kidneys and intestines. Their diet therefore contains a substantial amount of animal protein, and supplies them with all the other essential nutrients that they require.
To remain healthy, domestic cats also require a diet containing animal protein. This is because they need a particular amino acid (one of the blocks of protein) called taurine, which helps to prevent heart and eye diseases. Taurine is plentiful in animal protein, but only present in small amounts in plant protein.
While dogs are able to manufacture the amino acid taurine within their body, cats can only manufacture a little, and it is not enough to meet their needs, and plant protein cannot supply them with enough to make up the shortfall. Therefore, although a pet dog could remain healthy if fed properly balanced vegetarian diet, a cat could not. For this reason cats are known as obligatory carnivores; they must eat some animal protein on a daily basis in order to survive
WATER
Water is the most important element in a cat’s diet. Whereas most animals can survive after losing up to half of their protein and stored fat, in a cat, even a 10 per cent loss of total body water will cause serious illness, and a 15 percent loss will result in death. Animals can ingest water in 3 ways. They drink it, eat food that contains it, and their body manufactures some water as a by product during the chemical processes involved when converting proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy.
The daily amount of water required by a cat is roughly the same amount (in mililitres) as its energy requirement (in kilocalories). A sedentary cat needs a daily intake of about 65-70ml (roughly four tablespoons) water for each kilogram of body weight, while an active cat needs about 85ml (roughly six tablespoons).
PROTEIN
Protein occurs in animals (animal protein) and in plants (plant protein). There are many different types of protein, each of which contains a particular combination of amino acids, the substances that provide the materials needed for the growth and repair of all body tissues.
Proteins vary in their digestibility. The most digestible are those contained in foods derived from animal sources, such as meat, eggs and cheese. The least digestible are those contained in foods derived from plants, such as grains and vegetables. Most domestic cats consume a diet containing a significant amount of animal protein. They do eat some plant material, either in the stomach and intestines of prey that they catch, or by voluntarily eating specific plants such as grass, but plant protein is a comparatively unimportant part of the domestic cat’s diet.
When a cat eats grass it is probably doing so to consume fibre and as an aid to digestion. Quite often a cat will vomit soon afterwards, bringing up a bolus of grass mixed with mucus, so eating grass may be a useful method of getting rid of excess mucus from the cat’s stomach.
FATS
Fats and oils contain substances called fatty acids, some of which play an important role in helping to maintain internal body functions and a healthy skin. They also act as carriers for the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).
Fats are concentrated form of energy (for a given weight, fat provides more than twice as many kilocalories (kilojoules) as carbohydrates or protein).
If the diet that a cat consumes contains more energy than the cat needs, the excess is converted into fat that is stored in various parts of the body, such as under the skin and around the intestines. This stored fat acts as a fuel store that can be drawn upon in times of need.
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates occur in plants and include sugars, starch and cellulose. There are various types of sugars, among which are sucrose and glucose. These are two of the simplest sugars and therefore more easily digested. Cow’s milk contain the milk’s sugar lactose, but many adult cats are unable to digest lactose properly – for this reason specially formulated lactose reduced or lactose-free milk is available for cats from pet food stores and supermarkets. For cats, one of the most useful sources of dietary carbohydrate is rice.
MINERALS
Like other animals, the cat needs to consume many different minerals to ensure that its body process function normally. Some are required in comparatively large amounts, while others, known as trace elements, are only required in very small quantities. Two of the most important minerals for felines are calcium and phosphorous, which are involves in the formation and growth of bones and teeth. Minerals also play an important role in the growth and repair, skin and hair. They are also required in the formation of red and white blood cells, and in various digestive processes.
VITAMINS
Certain vitamins are essential for the proper working of body processes. Four of them, vitamins A, D, E and K, are soluble in fat, so fats and oils provide a good dietary source. Vitamin E plays an important role in normal muscle function, vision and reproductive processes. Vitamins of the B-group, and vitamins C, are soluble in water. The B-group vitamins have a variety of functions associated with the metabolism of amino acids, fats or carbohydrates. Vitamin C I involved in wound healing, preventing haemorrhages from small blood vessels (capillaries) and maintaining healthy skin. As in humans, vitamin C is important in the prevention of scurvy. Cats, like dogs, have the ability to manufacture this vitamin within their bodies and, unlike humans, they don’t need a source of vitamin C in their diet.
FIBRE
Derived from plant materials (often ingested along with prey), fibre does not provide a cat with any nutrients but it does play a very important role in digestion. It acts as a bulking agent, absorbs any toxic by products of the digestive processes, and increases the rate of passage of food through the gut
For more interesting cat care and health tips, please visit my blog at:-
http://cuteycats2u.blogspot.com/
Cuteycats2u.blogspot.com is a highly entertaining and informative blog containing useful cat care and training advises, funny cat videos, cute cat pictures and cat stories. Have fun!!
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_226317_54.html
NUTRITION
A BALANCED DIET
Like all animals, the domestic cat needs a diet that is properly balanced and contains all the essential nutrients in the correct quantities. These nutrients are water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins.
The wild members of the cat family, such as the lion, tiger, cheetah and European wild cats, are carnivores. Between them they hunt and kill a wide variety of other animals, ranging in size from small lizards and birds to large antelopes. They don’t just eat the meat or muscle, but consume all, or almost all, of their prey, including the skin, hair or feathers, and the internal organs such as liver kidneys and intestines. Their diet therefore contains a substantial amount of animal protein, and supplies them with all the other essential nutrients that they require.
To remain healthy, domestic cats also require a diet containing animal protein. This is because they need a particular amino acid (one of the blocks of protein) called taurine, which helps to prevent heart and eye diseases. Taurine is plentiful in animal protein, but only present in small amounts in plant protein.
While dogs are able to manufacture the amino acid taurine within their body, cats can only manufacture a little, and it is not enough to meet their needs, and plant protein cannot supply them with enough to make up the shortfall. Therefore, although a pet dog could remain healthy if fed properly balanced vegetarian diet, a cat could not. For this reason cats are known as obligatory carnivores; they must eat some animal protein on a daily basis in order to survive
WATER
Water is the most important element in a cat’s diet. Whereas most animals can survive after losing up to half of their protein and stored fat, in a cat, even a 10 per cent loss of total body water will cause serious illness, and a 15 percent loss will result in death. Animals can ingest water in 3 ways. They drink it, eat food that contains it, and their body manufactures some water as a by product during the chemical processes involved when converting proteins, fats and carbohydrates into energy.
The daily amount of water required by a cat is roughly the same amount (in mililitres) as its energy requirement (in kilocalories). A sedentary cat needs a daily intake of about 65-70ml (roughly four tablespoons) water for each kilogram of body weight, while an active cat needs about 85ml (roughly six tablespoons).
PROTEIN
Protein occurs in animals (animal protein) and in plants (plant protein). There are many different types of protein, each of which contains a particular combination of amino acids, the substances that provide the materials needed for the growth and repair of all body tissues.
Proteins vary in their digestibility. The most digestible are those contained in foods derived from animal sources, such as meat, eggs and cheese. The least digestible are those contained in foods derived from plants, such as grains and vegetables. Most domestic cats consume a diet containing a significant amount of animal protein. They do eat some plant material, either in the stomach and intestines of prey that they catch, or by voluntarily eating specific plants such as grass, but plant protein is a comparatively unimportant part of the domestic cat’s diet.
When a cat eats grass it is probably doing so to consume fibre and as an aid to digestion. Quite often a cat will vomit soon afterwards, bringing up a bolus of grass mixed with mucus, so eating grass may be a useful method of getting rid of excess mucus from the cat’s stomach.
FATS
Fats and oils contain substances called fatty acids, some of which play an important role in helping to maintain internal body functions and a healthy skin. They also act as carriers for the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).
Fats are concentrated form of energy (for a given weight, fat provides more than twice as many kilocalories (kilojoules) as carbohydrates or protein).
If the diet that a cat consumes contains more energy than the cat needs, the excess is converted into fat that is stored in various parts of the body, such as under the skin and around the intestines. This stored fat acts as a fuel store that can be drawn upon in times of need.
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates occur in plants and include sugars, starch and cellulose. There are various types of sugars, among which are sucrose and glucose. These are two of the simplest sugars and therefore more easily digested. Cow’s milk contain the milk’s sugar lactose, but many adult cats are unable to digest lactose properly – for this reason specially formulated lactose reduced or lactose-free milk is available for cats from pet food stores and supermarkets. For cats, one of the most useful sources of dietary carbohydrate is rice.
MINERALS
Like other animals, the cat needs to consume many different minerals to ensure that its body process function normally. Some are required in comparatively large amounts, while others, known as trace elements, are only required in very small quantities. Two of the most important minerals for felines are calcium and phosphorous, which are involves in the formation and growth of bones and teeth. Minerals also play an important role in the growth and repair, skin and hair. They are also required in the formation of red and white blood cells, and in various digestive processes.
VITAMINS
Certain vitamins are essential for the proper working of body processes. Four of them, vitamins A, D, E and K, are soluble in fat, so fats and oils provide a good dietary source. Vitamin E plays an important role in normal muscle function, vision and reproductive processes. Vitamins of the B-group, and vitamins C, are soluble in water. The B-group vitamins have a variety of functions associated with the metabolism of amino acids, fats or carbohydrates. Vitamin C I involved in wound healing, preventing haemorrhages from small blood vessels (capillaries) and maintaining healthy skin. As in humans, vitamin C is important in the prevention of scurvy. Cats, like dogs, have the ability to manufacture this vitamin within their bodies and, unlike humans, they don’t need a source of vitamin C in their diet.
FIBRE
Derived from plant materials (often ingested along with prey), fibre does not provide a cat with any nutrients but it does play a very important role in digestion. It acts as a bulking agent, absorbs any toxic by products of the digestive processes, and increases the rate of passage of food through the gut
For more interesting cat care and health tips, please visit my blog at:-
http://cuteycats2u.blogspot.com/
Cuteycats2u.blogspot.com is a highly entertaining and informative blog containing useful cat care and training advises, funny cat videos, cute cat pictures and cat stories. Have fun!!
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_226317_54.html