By: Charley Hwang
Looking at a pen full of kittens, it is hard to make a choice which one to take home. It is an exciting process to choose the kitten you want, and looking at each and every kitten in the litter is a fun experience. Observe the litter, and watch their reaction as they see you. Take note of their behavior, whether if they’re playful, energetic and confident, or slow, unenthusiastic and lazy.
While you mingle with them, single out the kittens that appear to be more active than others and pay a lot of attention to you. Choose the kitten that seems to enjoy hanging around you if you want a pet that has energy and is attentive or pick a shy one if you would just prefer some quiet company.
Most pet owners love attention from their pets and these furballs will make very good company for cat lovers, even after they have grown up. Get to know to the kitten group as a whole after you have observed the entire litter. Then, watch out for the one whose personality matches your needs. This should be considered slowly. Take as much time as you need, have fun playing with the kittens and interact with each of them, while at the same time make note of what you notice.
If there are no kittens in the litter that caught your attention or strike you as energetic, talk to the breeder about the reason behind the sluggish behavior. Perhaps they have eaten something before you came which would cause drowsiness, or are tired from a previous feeding. It would be better to come back at a time where they would be more active to make a better choice. If you do not have the opportunity to assess a whole litter in a sitting, it is alright. Some kittens might be the ones that remained after other kittens in the litter were sold, or in another case, kittens in animal shelters are not usually related.
But one can still enjoy a kitten’s personality by interacting or playing with it and from there, you can still decide if you find the kitten good enough to bring home and join your family.
For more information on Siamese Cats or visit http://www.siamesecatsinfo.com/, 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
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Top Five Tips for a Healthy Cat 2
By: Craig Elliott
3. Litter box duty
Easily the least enjoyable aspect of proper cat care, litter box duty is nonetheless an essential part of it, and is simply one of those got-to-dos if you want to own a cat and keep him clean and healthy-as well as your home! Keep your cat's litter box area away from the kitchen and bedrooms but make it accessible for your cat. If you can, try to clean out your cat's waste every day or every other day. On a weekly or biweekly basis, clean the actual litter box itself (empty and toss its contents, and then wash it). To simplify things for you, consider buying litter box liners as well as litter that "clumps"-making it easier to identify waste and scoop it out.
4. Proper grooming
One great thing about cats is that while some pet owners claim cats are very high-maintenance, they are really quite clean animals and are fairly adept at grooming themselves on a regular basis. This is one reason why many cats make great indoor pet choices. However, cats can't do everything on their own, and it is very important for their owners to step up and do the rest of the grooming for them.
First, while cats don't require daily, weekly, or even monthly baths, they will require a bath at least every once in awhile. Use warm water and a mild cat or baby shampoo so as not to irritate his eyes or coat. It's more important, though, to brush your cat's fur on a regular basis. Depending on your cat's coat, he might require this every day, every other day, or once a week. Brushing your cat will keep his coat clean and also prevent hairballs-a big problem for many cats.
5. Veterinarian checkups and shots
In order to keep your cat healthy, you will need to find a good veterinarian for him. Your cat will require regular checkups, shots, vaccinations, and to be either neutered or spayed. Although this can get quite pricey (unless you have pet insurance, which may be worthwhile pursuing or at the very least investigating), it's all a part of the owning-a-cat complete package
Craig Elliott is a writer for VetRx Direct. VetRx Direct is a leading supplier of Pet Medicine
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
3. Litter box duty
Easily the least enjoyable aspect of proper cat care, litter box duty is nonetheless an essential part of it, and is simply one of those got-to-dos if you want to own a cat and keep him clean and healthy-as well as your home! Keep your cat's litter box area away from the kitchen and bedrooms but make it accessible for your cat. If you can, try to clean out your cat's waste every day or every other day. On a weekly or biweekly basis, clean the actual litter box itself (empty and toss its contents, and then wash it). To simplify things for you, consider buying litter box liners as well as litter that "clumps"-making it easier to identify waste and scoop it out.
4. Proper grooming
One great thing about cats is that while some pet owners claim cats are very high-maintenance, they are really quite clean animals and are fairly adept at grooming themselves on a regular basis. This is one reason why many cats make great indoor pet choices. However, cats can't do everything on their own, and it is very important for their owners to step up and do the rest of the grooming for them.
First, while cats don't require daily, weekly, or even monthly baths, they will require a bath at least every once in awhile. Use warm water and a mild cat or baby shampoo so as not to irritate his eyes or coat. It's more important, though, to brush your cat's fur on a regular basis. Depending on your cat's coat, he might require this every day, every other day, or once a week. Brushing your cat will keep his coat clean and also prevent hairballs-a big problem for many cats.
5. Veterinarian checkups and shots
In order to keep your cat healthy, you will need to find a good veterinarian for him. Your cat will require regular checkups, shots, vaccinations, and to be either neutered or spayed. Although this can get quite pricey (unless you have pet insurance, which may be worthwhile pursuing or at the very least investigating), it's all a part of the owning-a-cat complete package
Craig Elliott is a writer for VetRx Direct. VetRx Direct is a leading supplier of Pet Medicine
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Top Five Tips for a Healthy Cat 1
By: Craig Elliott
While you've certainly come across many a stray cat who seem to be making it on their own, the truth is that cats are meant to be pets, cared for by humans. In fact, if you think about it, you'll realize that the majority of those stray cats you've encountered have likely appeared thin, weak, hungry, dirty, unkempt, and ill-looking.
If you have just acquired your first cat or are thinking about buying or adopting one-or even if you've been a cat owner for awhile now-you'll need to become aware of proper cat-care techniques and tips and acquire a general understanding of how to best look after your kitty in order for him to live a happier, healthier, and longer life. Each individual cat does not come with its own instruction manual; however, there are a few basics of proper cat care that are generally inclusive of all cats, regardless of sex, age, breed, and temperament.
Here are the top five tips for properly and thoroughly caring for your cat on a regular and everyday basis in order to maintain his health and keep him happy in your home:
1. Cat essentials
After you've decided to give your new feline friend a permanent home in your abode, you'll quickly discover that cats can become quite expensive, particularly, at first, with the sheer amount of "stuff" they require. While you don't have to buy your kitty everything, and while you certainly don't need to buy the most expensive products around, you will want to make sure your cat has the essentials. These include a food dish, water dish, cat food, water (which you don't need to pay for), a litter box, litter, a litter scoop, a cat bed, a few basic toys (need not be expensive and you won't need a lot of them), a scratching post if your cat has his nails and you want to protect your upholstery, and perhaps an ID collar and a cat carrier.
2. Feeding and watering
Feeding your cat is a major component of proper and complete cat care. Don't look for the cheapest option-look for good-quality cat food that offers the nutritional and health benefits your cat needs, and purchase the appropriate cat food based on your cat's age and weight. For example, buy kitten food for kittens, adult cat food for adults, hairball control food for a cat prone to hairballs, picky-eater cat food for finicky cats, weight-control cat food for indoor, overweight cats, and so on. Ask your cat's veterinarian if you're not sure, as well as for information on how much and how often to feed your cat. Generally speaking, adult cats of normal size and activity level require two small feedings or one large feeding per day.
It's also better to stick with dry cat food rather than wet (canned food). Dry food offers dental benefits not found in canned food, is cheaper, and lasts longer.
Don't forget to provide plenty of fresh water to your cat on a daily basis. It's not enough to simply wait until his water dish is empty to refill it; you'll want to empty it and refill it daily so he has continual access to fresh water.
Craig Elliott is a writer for VetRx Direct. VetRx Direct is a leading supplier of Pet Medicine
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
While you've certainly come across many a stray cat who seem to be making it on their own, the truth is that cats are meant to be pets, cared for by humans. In fact, if you think about it, you'll realize that the majority of those stray cats you've encountered have likely appeared thin, weak, hungry, dirty, unkempt, and ill-looking.
If you have just acquired your first cat or are thinking about buying or adopting one-or even if you've been a cat owner for awhile now-you'll need to become aware of proper cat-care techniques and tips and acquire a general understanding of how to best look after your kitty in order for him to live a happier, healthier, and longer life. Each individual cat does not come with its own instruction manual; however, there are a few basics of proper cat care that are generally inclusive of all cats, regardless of sex, age, breed, and temperament.
Here are the top five tips for properly and thoroughly caring for your cat on a regular and everyday basis in order to maintain his health and keep him happy in your home:
1. Cat essentials
After you've decided to give your new feline friend a permanent home in your abode, you'll quickly discover that cats can become quite expensive, particularly, at first, with the sheer amount of "stuff" they require. While you don't have to buy your kitty everything, and while you certainly don't need to buy the most expensive products around, you will want to make sure your cat has the essentials. These include a food dish, water dish, cat food, water (which you don't need to pay for), a litter box, litter, a litter scoop, a cat bed, a few basic toys (need not be expensive and you won't need a lot of them), a scratching post if your cat has his nails and you want to protect your upholstery, and perhaps an ID collar and a cat carrier.
2. Feeding and watering
Feeding your cat is a major component of proper and complete cat care. Don't look for the cheapest option-look for good-quality cat food that offers the nutritional and health benefits your cat needs, and purchase the appropriate cat food based on your cat's age and weight. For example, buy kitten food for kittens, adult cat food for adults, hairball control food for a cat prone to hairballs, picky-eater cat food for finicky cats, weight-control cat food for indoor, overweight cats, and so on. Ask your cat's veterinarian if you're not sure, as well as for information on how much and how often to feed your cat. Generally speaking, adult cats of normal size and activity level require two small feedings or one large feeding per day.
It's also better to stick with dry cat food rather than wet (canned food). Dry food offers dental benefits not found in canned food, is cheaper, and lasts longer.
Don't forget to provide plenty of fresh water to your cat on a daily basis. It's not enough to simply wait until his water dish is empty to refill it; you'll want to empty it and refill it daily so he has continual access to fresh water.
Craig Elliott is a writer for VetRx Direct. VetRx Direct is a leading supplier of Pet Medicine
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Dealing With Furniture Scratching
By Maria Markella
Does your cat scratches your favorite beautiful furniture? Well, scratch is part of your cats life. Your Cat's instict commands the pet to scratch in order to be comfortable and feel good. Is there any house cat training method to prevent or reduce scratching?
First lets see why cats need to scratch on furniture or objects. It's because they need to replace the outer sheath of their claws with a newer claw. And a brand new claw is one of the most importand things for your cat.
So how to you train your house cat to prevent scratching?
1. One method suggests that the cat's claws should be tipped with small plastic caps which are glued to the claws. Of course the cat will never stop scratching but using caps is a good house cat training method to prevent damage when your cat scratches something.
2. Another good practise would be to make use of scratching posts. You can buy a scratching post from any pet store. Put the post near the place where the cat usually takes a nap. All cats love to scratch after a good sleep.
3. Do not yell at your cat or punish it in any way. Never hit your cat! As I said earlier the cat scratches by instict and cannot associate your punishment or hitting with the fact of scratching. There are people who perform de-clawing for aesthetic or shelfish reasons. Of course I would never recommend such a violent method. This has nothing to do with house cat training.
4. Another not so nice house cat training method to prevent scratching is to use repellants. You can buy them in any pet store. Spray the repellant strategically on places that are likely to be scratched by your cat.
5. A similar method is the use of double sided sticky tapes. Stick pieces of the tape on the furniture and your cat will stop scratching. But would you like your furniture covered with sticky tapes?
6. It's a fact that cats don't like the smell of citrus. In fact they hate it. So a good house cat training practise would be to spray some lemon juice on certain targeted areas where your cat is about to scratch.
These are some of the house cat training methods to prevent your cat from scratching your favorite furniture or objects. I hope you found the information worth reading.
About the author:
Is your cat still scratching your beautiful furniture? Would you like to turn your cat into an obedient, independent and lovely pussycat? Then have a look at this Cat Training and Cat Aggression Guide and take your cat and your house back! You can also enlist to their Free Cat Training E-Course.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Does your cat scratches your favorite beautiful furniture? Well, scratch is part of your cats life. Your Cat's instict commands the pet to scratch in order to be comfortable and feel good. Is there any house cat training method to prevent or reduce scratching?
First lets see why cats need to scratch on furniture or objects. It's because they need to replace the outer sheath of their claws with a newer claw. And a brand new claw is one of the most importand things for your cat.
So how to you train your house cat to prevent scratching?
1. One method suggests that the cat's claws should be tipped with small plastic caps which are glued to the claws. Of course the cat will never stop scratching but using caps is a good house cat training method to prevent damage when your cat scratches something.
2. Another good practise would be to make use of scratching posts. You can buy a scratching post from any pet store. Put the post near the place where the cat usually takes a nap. All cats love to scratch after a good sleep.
3. Do not yell at your cat or punish it in any way. Never hit your cat! As I said earlier the cat scratches by instict and cannot associate your punishment or hitting with the fact of scratching. There are people who perform de-clawing for aesthetic or shelfish reasons. Of course I would never recommend such a violent method. This has nothing to do with house cat training.
4. Another not so nice house cat training method to prevent scratching is to use repellants. You can buy them in any pet store. Spray the repellant strategically on places that are likely to be scratched by your cat.
5. A similar method is the use of double sided sticky tapes. Stick pieces of the tape on the furniture and your cat will stop scratching. But would you like your furniture covered with sticky tapes?
6. It's a fact that cats don't like the smell of citrus. In fact they hate it. So a good house cat training practise would be to spray some lemon juice on certain targeted areas where your cat is about to scratch.
These are some of the house cat training methods to prevent your cat from scratching your favorite furniture or objects. I hope you found the information worth reading.
About the author:
Is your cat still scratching your beautiful furniture? Would you like to turn your cat into an obedient, independent and lovely pussycat? Then have a look at this Cat Training and Cat Aggression Guide and take your cat and your house back! You can also enlist to their Free Cat Training E-Course.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Truth About Cat Chat - Talking With Your Kitty
by: WinstonHill
Don't know what your cat's cat chat is telling you? This could very well be the case if you haven't been around many cat chats. One of the tricks is to pay attention to the animal's meow. To figure out what they are trying to talk you need to determine what type of meow it is. The Siamese cat is very vocal with their cat chat discussion.
Its In The Purr
Using their "voices" is something you can expect all cats to do. Communicating what they are thinking is done by this animal's Cat Chat. Pay attention to their "talk" to find clues about your pet's feelings. The difference in pitch, intensity,frequency and pace are part of the clues.
A frightened or anxious kitty will have quicker then normal meows. A relaxed and confident kitty will tend to have slower then normal meows. Of course this is only one way they "talk" to you.
One specific way that is unique to the cat family is the purr. When they are content they tend to purr. It is also been supported by studies that cats purr when they are ready to be sociable.
Keep Close Watch
Don't oversimplify the purr talk. It could also signal a kitty that is in great pain, nervous or feeling uneasy about something. It all needs to be taken into the current context.
It's all in how they hold the tail as very accurate indicator of their true mood. Pay attention to how they move their tail as well. If you keep in mind that cats are not dogs then you will easily see that a cat wagging his tail is not the same as a dog doing the same thing. When a cat does this it signals confusion or maybe even annoyance of some type.
Conclusion
After reading this article it should be fairly easy to see why us cat owners feel cats are smart and emotional creatures. It has been stated they have the intelligence of a two year old by some animal behaviorist. Your job is to pay attention and be patient. If you are able to do this then you and your cat's cat chat will be satisfying and most enjoyable.
About the Author
Winston Hill sells a Cat Chat e-book. If the Cat Chat info was helpful, Don't wait. PURCHASE the cat chat info you NEED right NOW. Goto Cat Chat.
Don't know what your cat's cat chat is telling you? This could very well be the case if you haven't been around many cat chats. One of the tricks is to pay attention to the animal's meow. To figure out what they are trying to talk you need to determine what type of meow it is. The Siamese cat is very vocal with their cat chat discussion.
Its In The Purr
Using their "voices" is something you can expect all cats to do. Communicating what they are thinking is done by this animal's Cat Chat. Pay attention to their "talk" to find clues about your pet's feelings. The difference in pitch, intensity,frequency and pace are part of the clues.
A frightened or anxious kitty will have quicker then normal meows. A relaxed and confident kitty will tend to have slower then normal meows. Of course this is only one way they "talk" to you.
One specific way that is unique to the cat family is the purr. When they are content they tend to purr. It is also been supported by studies that cats purr when they are ready to be sociable.
Keep Close Watch
Don't oversimplify the purr talk. It could also signal a kitty that is in great pain, nervous or feeling uneasy about something. It all needs to be taken into the current context.
It's all in how they hold the tail as very accurate indicator of their true mood. Pay attention to how they move their tail as well. If you keep in mind that cats are not dogs then you will easily see that a cat wagging his tail is not the same as a dog doing the same thing. When a cat does this it signals confusion or maybe even annoyance of some type.
Conclusion
After reading this article it should be fairly easy to see why us cat owners feel cats are smart and emotional creatures. It has been stated they have the intelligence of a two year old by some animal behaviorist. Your job is to pay attention and be patient. If you are able to do this then you and your cat's cat chat will be satisfying and most enjoyable.
About the Author
Winston Hill sells a Cat Chat e-book. If the Cat Chat info was helpful, Don't wait. PURCHASE the cat chat info you NEED right NOW. Goto Cat Chat.
Owning a Cat - Is One Better Than Two?
by: JaneTompsett
There's no doubt that owning a cat will bring love, joy and pleasure into your home.
But there is one burning question that must be answered when searching for a new pet:-
'One cat or two?'
Single pet ownership certainly has its benefits. Your new cat or kitten will lap up all the attention available and will benefit from being the centre of attraction. Your family will love the pleasure of playing with it on a one-to-one basis.
Additionally, the overall expense of caring for a single cat will be kept low. Your cat's food, medical, bedding and litter costs will be much easier to work into your family budget than if you owned two pets. The fact that there will not be a second cat sharing your home will also avoid the potential for any feline conflict.
But will your cat be happy on its own? Wouldn't the companionship of another cat be if greater benefit to your cat's emotional well-being?
Briefly, the benefits of owning two cats are:
Companionship for each other - especially if left on their own for long periods.
Feral cats will live in social groups and that sociability is carried over into domesticity. Cats enjoy eachother's company.
The best way to ensure compatibility is to give a home to kittens from the same litter.
Double the pleasure for you!
Naturally, you must consider the other side of the coin. The possible disadvantages of owning more than one cat are:
Greater costs relating to food, medical bills, boarding fees.
Although cats are sociable animals, not every cat lives comfortably with a companion. Some prefer a solitary life.
Behavioural problems are more likely in a multi-cat household.
Your pets may be more content to spend time with each other than with you.
Once you have considered the pros and cons of single or double cat ownership and made your choice, make sure that you look at a number of cats or kittens needing a home. By doing this - and not just falling in love with the first fluffy animal you see - you will begin to develop a good idea of the different character types available.
With this knowledge, you will be in a good position to successfully select just the right animal for your needs - either one that will be happy living alone or two cats that will live companiably together.
Whatever you choice - enjoy the love and affection of your new family members!
About the Author
Is your family about to adopt a new cat or kitten? Join fellow cat lovers for news, tips, reviews and more with your free subscription to Jane Tompsett's Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following this link.
There's no doubt that owning a cat will bring love, joy and pleasure into your home.
But there is one burning question that must be answered when searching for a new pet:-
'One cat or two?'
Single pet ownership certainly has its benefits. Your new cat or kitten will lap up all the attention available and will benefit from being the centre of attraction. Your family will love the pleasure of playing with it on a one-to-one basis.
Additionally, the overall expense of caring for a single cat will be kept low. Your cat's food, medical, bedding and litter costs will be much easier to work into your family budget than if you owned two pets. The fact that there will not be a second cat sharing your home will also avoid the potential for any feline conflict.
But will your cat be happy on its own? Wouldn't the companionship of another cat be if greater benefit to your cat's emotional well-being?
Briefly, the benefits of owning two cats are:
Companionship for each other - especially if left on their own for long periods.
Feral cats will live in social groups and that sociability is carried over into domesticity. Cats enjoy eachother's company.
The best way to ensure compatibility is to give a home to kittens from the same litter.
Double the pleasure for you!
Naturally, you must consider the other side of the coin. The possible disadvantages of owning more than one cat are:
Greater costs relating to food, medical bills, boarding fees.
Although cats are sociable animals, not every cat lives comfortably with a companion. Some prefer a solitary life.
Behavioural problems are more likely in a multi-cat household.
Your pets may be more content to spend time with each other than with you.
Once you have considered the pros and cons of single or double cat ownership and made your choice, make sure that you look at a number of cats or kittens needing a home. By doing this - and not just falling in love with the first fluffy animal you see - you will begin to develop a good idea of the different character types available.
With this knowledge, you will be in a good position to successfully select just the right animal for your needs - either one that will be happy living alone or two cats that will live companiably together.
Whatever you choice - enjoy the love and affection of your new family members!
About the Author
Is your family about to adopt a new cat or kitten? Join fellow cat lovers for news, tips, reviews and more with your free subscription to Jane Tompsett's Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following this link.
Some Reviews on Feline Diabetes and Ring Worms in Cat Breeds
by: LethoMaseko
Over the last thousands of years, cats have pretty much handled their breeding themselves. In the beginning, they were used for one purpose - hunting and killing rodents. As the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking. Now days, there are several different breeds of cats - which you can tell if you look closely.
The look of the cat is the easiest way to tell what breed he or she may be. Some people choose to go by color, although color isn't as easy to identify. Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as the Siamese and Persian cats. Siamese cats are almost always black, and easy to identify by their color and their eyes. Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their body type and their hair.
Feline diabetes
Cats are one of the most popular pets in North America. They are loving pets, capable of providing you years of companionship. Like other pets, cats can sometimes get sick. There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes. Feline diabetes is a serious disease, although it can be treated by a veterinarian.
Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has some food first. If he hasn't eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock. This can also occur from too much insulin as well. A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. If your cat gets a hypoglycemic shock and you aren't around, he may end up dying.
Cats and ring worms
With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way.
The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to touch it, as it will hurt your cat.
About the Author
Your Online Information Guide offers more on pet reviews and tips. Please Feel free to download your information jam packed report.
Over the last thousands of years, cats have pretty much handled their breeding themselves. In the beginning, they were used for one purpose - hunting and killing rodents. As the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking. Now days, there are several different breeds of cats - which you can tell if you look closely.
The look of the cat is the easiest way to tell what breed he or she may be. Some people choose to go by color, although color isn't as easy to identify. Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as the Siamese and Persian cats. Siamese cats are almost always black, and easy to identify by their color and their eyes. Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their body type and their hair.
Feline diabetes
Cats are one of the most popular pets in North America. They are loving pets, capable of providing you years of companionship. Like other pets, cats can sometimes get sick. There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes. Feline diabetes is a serious disease, although it can be treated by a veterinarian.
Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has some food first. If he hasn't eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock. This can also occur from too much insulin as well. A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. If your cat gets a hypoglycemic shock and you aren't around, he may end up dying.
Cats and ring worms
With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way.
The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to touch it, as it will hurt your cat.
About the Author
Your Online Information Guide offers more on pet reviews and tips. Please Feel free to download your information jam packed report.
Cat Chat - Kitty Communication
by: WinstonHill
Are you reading this article because you have no clue what your cat's cat chat is saying? If you haven't been around many cat chats this could very well be the case. Paying attention to the animal's meow is one of the tricks. Determining what type of meow is one way to determine what they are trying to talk to you about. A very vocal with their cat chat is the Siamese.
Its In The Purr
Regardless of the breed you can expect all cats to use their "voices". "Cat chat" is just this animal's way of communicating what is on their minds by using their "voices". To pick up the clues about your pet's feelings you need to pay attention to their "talk". This would include the cadence of the cat's voice, pace and differences in frequency, intensity and pitch.
The message of being more frightened or anxious is usually associated with meows that are quicker then normal. Also the more relaxed and confident your kitty is the slower the pace of the meows. There are other behaviors that cats exhibit with chats to communicate with besides the meow.
One specific way that is unique to the cat family is the purr. When they are content they tend to purr. It is also been supported by studies that cats purr when they are ready to be sociable.
Pay Attention
Don't oversimplify the purr talk. It could also signal a kitty that is in great pain, nervous or feeling uneasy about something. It all needs to be taken into the current context.
Their true mood can also be ascertained by how they hold their tails. The way their tail is moving has meaning as well. Of course your kitty isn't a dog so remember that a dog wagging his tail means one thing and a cat doing the same will mean something different. In fact when your kitty is doing this it signals annoyance or maybe confusion.
In Closing
Smart but emotional animals would be a great way to describe your cat wouldn't it? After reading this article you can easily see that your main job is to pay attention and be patient. This will enhance your cat chat with your cat so that it is mutually satisfying and enjoyable.
About the Author
Winston Hill markets a Cat Chat e-book. If you liked the Cat Chat info, why not purchase the powerful info that will HELP you NOW? Goto Cat Chat.
Are you reading this article because you have no clue what your cat's cat chat is saying? If you haven't been around many cat chats this could very well be the case. Paying attention to the animal's meow is one of the tricks. Determining what type of meow is one way to determine what they are trying to talk to you about. A very vocal with their cat chat is the Siamese.
Its In The Purr
Regardless of the breed you can expect all cats to use their "voices". "Cat chat" is just this animal's way of communicating what is on their minds by using their "voices". To pick up the clues about your pet's feelings you need to pay attention to their "talk". This would include the cadence of the cat's voice, pace and differences in frequency, intensity and pitch.
The message of being more frightened or anxious is usually associated with meows that are quicker then normal. Also the more relaxed and confident your kitty is the slower the pace of the meows. There are other behaviors that cats exhibit with chats to communicate with besides the meow.
One specific way that is unique to the cat family is the purr. When they are content they tend to purr. It is also been supported by studies that cats purr when they are ready to be sociable.
Pay Attention
Don't oversimplify the purr talk. It could also signal a kitty that is in great pain, nervous or feeling uneasy about something. It all needs to be taken into the current context.
Their true mood can also be ascertained by how they hold their tails. The way their tail is moving has meaning as well. Of course your kitty isn't a dog so remember that a dog wagging his tail means one thing and a cat doing the same will mean something different. In fact when your kitty is doing this it signals annoyance or maybe confusion.
In Closing
Smart but emotional animals would be a great way to describe your cat wouldn't it? After reading this article you can easily see that your main job is to pay attention and be patient. This will enhance your cat chat with your cat so that it is mutually satisfying and enjoyable.
About the Author
Winston Hill markets a Cat Chat e-book. If you liked the Cat Chat info, why not purchase the powerful info that will HELP you NOW? Goto Cat Chat.
While The Cat's Away, Install A Scratching Post
By Branden Schroeder
Sometimes it seems like we don't notice all our home's flaws until it comes time to sell. Because we live in our home every day, we become accustomed to dealing with minor annoyances, and tend to overlook the gradual accumulation of natural wear and tear. For those of us with pets, this wear and tear can be greatly accelerated.
I recently met a couple who were preparing to sell their home, and who realized that quite a few of the repairs they wanted to make were to damage their pets had caused. It sparked the idea that, in their next home, they would take preventative measures to avoid so much damage from occurring.
While the couple's furniture and drapes weren't for sale with their house, they still felt that their cat-scratched furniture looked shabby and detracted from the home. While they hadn't minded living with the scratched furniture before, the idea of strangers seeing it and judging their home hygiene on it didn't appeal to them. Real estate professionals are learning that home staging is an important factor in timely and profitable sales, and this couple actually decided to purchase a new couch and chair so that their living room would match the quality of their home. They said from now on they will be more strict about discouraging the cat from scratching on the furniture, and will be buying a scratching post. To save their new upholstery, they bought some fabric in a complimentary pattern and the wife, quite handy with a sewing machine, made slip-covers for the arms of the couch and chair.
Some other problem areas were the wall beside their patio door. The cat regularly scratched on the wall in order to get attention and be let outside. A way to prevent this may be to attach a piece of carpet to the area, so that it gets damaged and not the wall underneath it. While it can be difficult, if not impossible, to train a cat to scratch its claws where you want it to, one tactic may be to keep a close eye on where they tend to scratch naturally, and then install another surface in those areas, before any serious damage is done.
Yards can be another area really take a beating, especially if you have dogs. Not only will many dogs dig little, or big, holes in a yard, just their running around can create muddy pathways where grass used to be. Getting your dog out for at least one daily walk helps reduce the strain on your yard. Another option is to have part of the yard fenced for the dog, with the rest declared dog-free, or let the dog out only while you are there with them. That way the muddy section is delegated to a specific area, and grass and gardens can grow lush everywhere else. Perhaps your home will appeal to another dog owner when you are ready to sell, or you can plant some grass seed as you leave, reassuring the buyers that the area will be green again soon.
A neighbor has a dog who loves to eat grass. This never bothered her until she invested a few dollars in some ornamental Japanese blood grass. She planted this grass in pots, along with some other plants, and was quite upset to discover her dog thought this special potted grass was a delicacy planted just for her. The lush red bunches that had just begun thriving looked more like a bad haircut by the time I saw them. The neighbor decided to move the pots to a part of the yard her dog couldn't access, and ended up putting together some nice hanging baskets to decorate the porch she had originally been trying to beautify.
Dealing with pets is a live and learn situation. But with some careful consideration, there are preventative measures we can take to assure they don't cost us our house when it comes time to sell.
About the author:
Branden Schroeder is Maryland's first "EcoBroker" designated real estate agent. To search real estate in Severna Park or for more information on Maryland waterfront homes and Maryland properties, visit Branden online at MarylandHomesAndProperty.com.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Sometimes it seems like we don't notice all our home's flaws until it comes time to sell. Because we live in our home every day, we become accustomed to dealing with minor annoyances, and tend to overlook the gradual accumulation of natural wear and tear. For those of us with pets, this wear and tear can be greatly accelerated.
I recently met a couple who were preparing to sell their home, and who realized that quite a few of the repairs they wanted to make were to damage their pets had caused. It sparked the idea that, in their next home, they would take preventative measures to avoid so much damage from occurring.
While the couple's furniture and drapes weren't for sale with their house, they still felt that their cat-scratched furniture looked shabby and detracted from the home. While they hadn't minded living with the scratched furniture before, the idea of strangers seeing it and judging their home hygiene on it didn't appeal to them. Real estate professionals are learning that home staging is an important factor in timely and profitable sales, and this couple actually decided to purchase a new couch and chair so that their living room would match the quality of their home. They said from now on they will be more strict about discouraging the cat from scratching on the furniture, and will be buying a scratching post. To save their new upholstery, they bought some fabric in a complimentary pattern and the wife, quite handy with a sewing machine, made slip-covers for the arms of the couch and chair.
Some other problem areas were the wall beside their patio door. The cat regularly scratched on the wall in order to get attention and be let outside. A way to prevent this may be to attach a piece of carpet to the area, so that it gets damaged and not the wall underneath it. While it can be difficult, if not impossible, to train a cat to scratch its claws where you want it to, one tactic may be to keep a close eye on where they tend to scratch naturally, and then install another surface in those areas, before any serious damage is done.
Yards can be another area really take a beating, especially if you have dogs. Not only will many dogs dig little, or big, holes in a yard, just their running around can create muddy pathways where grass used to be. Getting your dog out for at least one daily walk helps reduce the strain on your yard. Another option is to have part of the yard fenced for the dog, with the rest declared dog-free, or let the dog out only while you are there with them. That way the muddy section is delegated to a specific area, and grass and gardens can grow lush everywhere else. Perhaps your home will appeal to another dog owner when you are ready to sell, or you can plant some grass seed as you leave, reassuring the buyers that the area will be green again soon.
A neighbor has a dog who loves to eat grass. This never bothered her until she invested a few dollars in some ornamental Japanese blood grass. She planted this grass in pots, along with some other plants, and was quite upset to discover her dog thought this special potted grass was a delicacy planted just for her. The lush red bunches that had just begun thriving looked more like a bad haircut by the time I saw them. The neighbor decided to move the pots to a part of the yard her dog couldn't access, and ended up putting together some nice hanging baskets to decorate the porch she had originally been trying to beautify.
Dealing with pets is a live and learn situation. But with some careful consideration, there are preventative measures we can take to assure they don't cost us our house when it comes time to sell.
About the author:
Branden Schroeder is Maryland's first "EcoBroker" designated real estate agent. To search real estate in Severna Park or for more information on Maryland waterfront homes and Maryland properties, visit Branden online at MarylandHomesAndProperty.com.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Is Your Cat Bored? Tearing Everything Up? Could Outside be Safe
by: LindaCain
Cats have been our human companions for many years -- more than 6,000. Cats may disagree, but they can be happily kept inside all the time, and an indoor cat is much healthier and safer than an unprotected outdoor cat. But cats must at least be able to see what's going on outside.
Most cats will want to go out side no matter what, but cats are not a natural part of our ecosystem. The domestic cat is a descendant of the wild cat of Africa and southwestern Asia. Cats were introduced to North America by the Europeans who brought in large numbers in the nineteenth century in an attempt to control the rodent population. Cats who are allowed to roam freely outside are at risk for getting injured or killed by a car, and cats left roaming in rural areas have a fairly high incidence of FIV.
Bottom line is that outdoor cats have become a problem in the United States. They pose a threat to birds and other small animals, including endangered birds. They kill over 4 million birds in the United States each year, and they compete with some native predators. Many people assume that a cat can provide a benefit by killing certain animals such as mice, but these native mammals are important to maintaining a biological diverse ecosystem.
Cats are also prolific breeders and female cats can have up to three litters of four to six kittens per litter per year. That's up to 18 kittens every year for a single un-spayed cat. Cats want to climb trees, pounce on insects and do what cats are meant to do, but they need to be controlled. Cats make wonderful companions, but owners must prevent their cat from being a nuisance to their neighbors.
If you want your cat to be able to play outdoors, consider an outdoor cat enclosure. Outdoor cat enclosures provide your cat with a way to roam in the outdoors safely and securely. Outdoor cat enclosures give your cats safe access to outdoor sights, sounds, and smells, without the dangers. Today's outdoor cat enclosures are much more than just cat houses or cages. They can be the "talk of the town" -- colorful pathways and condos for kitty fun. Outdoor Cat Enclosures provide you with a way to allow your cat to roam in the outdoors safely and securely.
You'll want to pick the right outdoor cat enclosure. Make sure that the material that it is made out of has a small mesh grade, and that it is entirely enclosed. It should be large enough to provide the cat with enough space to walk around and climb freely. One big difference between an outdoor cat enclosure and an outdoor dog run is that you must ensure the top is securely enclosed for cats and there are no escape routes between the ground and the enclosure.
The award winning classic Kittywalk outdoor cat enclosures stake quickly and easily into your lawn and allows your cat to relax in the fresh air, watch the birds, exercise and enjoy the sunshine without the risks of escape or injury. Kittywalk makes their high quality outdoor cat enclosures out of sturdy industrial strength fishnet, weaved to a steel hoop shaped wicket that easily stakes firmly into the ground. The basic Kittywalk unit can be attached to a cat door or left free-standing, and it is portable.
Kittywalk Outdoor Pet Enclosures will endure rain or shine -- from summer to winter. The material they use is weather resistant and will not rust, rot or mildew. Kittywalk Systems are sturdy and help protect your pet friend from injury and attack from other animals. Kittywalk has received numerous industry awards for innovative design as well as being featured on radio, television, newspapers and magazines all across the US. Their outdoor cat enclosures are designed to be connected together to form different configurations so your indoor cat can have plenty of room to roam outside and many different things to do. Kittywalk Curves consists of two or four 45 degree arcs that connect to Kittywalk Systems enclosures allowing you to navigate your cat enclosure design around common backyard obstacles. Kittywalk outdoor cat enclosures are fun outdoor containment systems that let your indoor cat safely enjoy the great outdoors.
About the Author
Linda Can has been a very happy cat owner for over 20 years. She runs an online Pet Supply Store that specializes in high quality and safe products for our pets. Check out our Kittywalk Outdoor Cat Enclosures at PetAbbey.com
Cats have been our human companions for many years -- more than 6,000. Cats may disagree, but they can be happily kept inside all the time, and an indoor cat is much healthier and safer than an unprotected outdoor cat. But cats must at least be able to see what's going on outside.
Most cats will want to go out side no matter what, but cats are not a natural part of our ecosystem. The domestic cat is a descendant of the wild cat of Africa and southwestern Asia. Cats were introduced to North America by the Europeans who brought in large numbers in the nineteenth century in an attempt to control the rodent population. Cats who are allowed to roam freely outside are at risk for getting injured or killed by a car, and cats left roaming in rural areas have a fairly high incidence of FIV.
Bottom line is that outdoor cats have become a problem in the United States. They pose a threat to birds and other small animals, including endangered birds. They kill over 4 million birds in the United States each year, and they compete with some native predators. Many people assume that a cat can provide a benefit by killing certain animals such as mice, but these native mammals are important to maintaining a biological diverse ecosystem.
Cats are also prolific breeders and female cats can have up to three litters of four to six kittens per litter per year. That's up to 18 kittens every year for a single un-spayed cat. Cats want to climb trees, pounce on insects and do what cats are meant to do, but they need to be controlled. Cats make wonderful companions, but owners must prevent their cat from being a nuisance to their neighbors.
If you want your cat to be able to play outdoors, consider an outdoor cat enclosure. Outdoor cat enclosures provide your cat with a way to roam in the outdoors safely and securely. Outdoor cat enclosures give your cats safe access to outdoor sights, sounds, and smells, without the dangers. Today's outdoor cat enclosures are much more than just cat houses or cages. They can be the "talk of the town" -- colorful pathways and condos for kitty fun. Outdoor Cat Enclosures provide you with a way to allow your cat to roam in the outdoors safely and securely.
You'll want to pick the right outdoor cat enclosure. Make sure that the material that it is made out of has a small mesh grade, and that it is entirely enclosed. It should be large enough to provide the cat with enough space to walk around and climb freely. One big difference between an outdoor cat enclosure and an outdoor dog run is that you must ensure the top is securely enclosed for cats and there are no escape routes between the ground and the enclosure.
The award winning classic Kittywalk outdoor cat enclosures stake quickly and easily into your lawn and allows your cat to relax in the fresh air, watch the birds, exercise and enjoy the sunshine without the risks of escape or injury. Kittywalk makes their high quality outdoor cat enclosures out of sturdy industrial strength fishnet, weaved to a steel hoop shaped wicket that easily stakes firmly into the ground. The basic Kittywalk unit can be attached to a cat door or left free-standing, and it is portable.
Kittywalk Outdoor Pet Enclosures will endure rain or shine -- from summer to winter. The material they use is weather resistant and will not rust, rot or mildew. Kittywalk Systems are sturdy and help protect your pet friend from injury and attack from other animals. Kittywalk has received numerous industry awards for innovative design as well as being featured on radio, television, newspapers and magazines all across the US. Their outdoor cat enclosures are designed to be connected together to form different configurations so your indoor cat can have plenty of room to roam outside and many different things to do. Kittywalk Curves consists of two or four 45 degree arcs that connect to Kittywalk Systems enclosures allowing you to navigate your cat enclosure design around common backyard obstacles. Kittywalk outdoor cat enclosures are fun outdoor containment systems that let your indoor cat safely enjoy the great outdoors.
About the Author
Linda Can has been a very happy cat owner for over 20 years. She runs an online Pet Supply Store that specializes in high quality and safe products for our pets. Check out our Kittywalk Outdoor Cat Enclosures at PetAbbey.com
How Long are Cats Pregnant For?
by: JaneTompsett
This has to be the number one question owners ask. After all, you need to know how long it's going to be before you need to start panicking!
Have you any idea at all? Has your cat been pregnant before and previously given birth to kittens?
One thing is definite though, knowing the length of a cat's pregnancy from beginning to end will be of no use at all unless you are certain of the date of conception.
As a rule, your cat keeps that information a secret!
Just when you think that your life is running smoothly, your pet cat comes home with more than she went out with.....
So you thought that all that loving behavior and cute rolling around she's been doing lately was just for your benefit? She's been coming into season and was practising her seduction technique for every Tom, Dick or fur-covered Harry that will pass her way.
And now, quite suddenly, you have this niggling feeling that you are going to be a grandparent to a litter of kittens and have no idea just how soon they might be arriving.
So, just how long will it be before you can gaze on your tiny new kittens?
The avarage length of feline pregnancy is 63-65 days - around nine weeks - but kittens may be born as early as 58 days or as late as 70 days gestation.
But as you will be your cat's midwife-in-chief, you will only be able to make an educated guess at the most likely delivery date unless you witnessed your promiscuous puss-cat in action with the local tom cats.
It's more likely that you won't have any idea that your lovely, pregnant cat is 'with kittens' until she is 5 or 6 weeks into her pregnancy and starts to show certain signs.
By the time you begin to recognise the physical changes in your cat she will already be over halfway through her pregnancy.
You may just notice - if you are very observant - that your cat's nipples are beginning to look significantly pinker. Her milk glands begin to prepare for full-scale milk delivery around week 3 of pregnancy.
About this time, you may also notice that your cat loses interest in her food. Could it be feline morning sickness perhaps?
However, just about every cat gets picky about their lovingly prepared food from time to time, so pregnancy is likely to be the last things that enters your mind as you dispose of yet another uneaten meal.
It is very unlikely that you will understand the significance of these subtle changes in your cat unless you have had previous experience of feline pregnancy.
It will not be until there are only 21-28 days to go before the birth that you will become sure that your lovely cat is pregnant.
Of course, as a loving and responsible cat owner, you will feel that it is your duty to make sure that you are fully prepared to help your cat give birth safely and calmly. It is up to you to arm yourself with the knowledge you will need to care for your newborn kittens and their mother to the best of your ability by finding a comprehensive ebook that will easily guide you through all the stages of pregnancy, labor, birth and nursing.
But most of all, take the time to savor the anticipation of the arrival of a litter of cute, fluffy newborn kittens!
About the Author
Are you ready for the birth of your new kittens? Learn everything you need to know about how to deliver kittens and subscribe to Jane Tompsett's free Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following these links.
This has to be the number one question owners ask. After all, you need to know how long it's going to be before you need to start panicking!
Have you any idea at all? Has your cat been pregnant before and previously given birth to kittens?
One thing is definite though, knowing the length of a cat's pregnancy from beginning to end will be of no use at all unless you are certain of the date of conception.
As a rule, your cat keeps that information a secret!
Just when you think that your life is running smoothly, your pet cat comes home with more than she went out with.....
So you thought that all that loving behavior and cute rolling around she's been doing lately was just for your benefit? She's been coming into season and was practising her seduction technique for every Tom, Dick or fur-covered Harry that will pass her way.
And now, quite suddenly, you have this niggling feeling that you are going to be a grandparent to a litter of kittens and have no idea just how soon they might be arriving.
So, just how long will it be before you can gaze on your tiny new kittens?
The avarage length of feline pregnancy is 63-65 days - around nine weeks - but kittens may be born as early as 58 days or as late as 70 days gestation.
But as you will be your cat's midwife-in-chief, you will only be able to make an educated guess at the most likely delivery date unless you witnessed your promiscuous puss-cat in action with the local tom cats.
It's more likely that you won't have any idea that your lovely, pregnant cat is 'with kittens' until she is 5 or 6 weeks into her pregnancy and starts to show certain signs.
By the time you begin to recognise the physical changes in your cat she will already be over halfway through her pregnancy.
You may just notice - if you are very observant - that your cat's nipples are beginning to look significantly pinker. Her milk glands begin to prepare for full-scale milk delivery around week 3 of pregnancy.
About this time, you may also notice that your cat loses interest in her food. Could it be feline morning sickness perhaps?
However, just about every cat gets picky about their lovingly prepared food from time to time, so pregnancy is likely to be the last things that enters your mind as you dispose of yet another uneaten meal.
It is very unlikely that you will understand the significance of these subtle changes in your cat unless you have had previous experience of feline pregnancy.
It will not be until there are only 21-28 days to go before the birth that you will become sure that your lovely cat is pregnant.
Of course, as a loving and responsible cat owner, you will feel that it is your duty to make sure that you are fully prepared to help your cat give birth safely and calmly. It is up to you to arm yourself with the knowledge you will need to care for your newborn kittens and their mother to the best of your ability by finding a comprehensive ebook that will easily guide you through all the stages of pregnancy, labor, birth and nursing.
But most of all, take the time to savor the anticipation of the arrival of a litter of cute, fluffy newborn kittens!
About the Author
Are you ready for the birth of your new kittens? Learn everything you need to know about how to deliver kittens and subscribe to Jane Tompsett's free Cat Owners Confidential newsletter by following these links.
Common Illnesses in Cats - Get To Know What Ails Your Pet
by: MarjorieGreer
Although all forms of felines are generally known to live long and healthy lives, the domesticated cats suffer from minor health disorders from time to time that can be easily overcome with preventive and timely treatment. Keep an eye open for any changes in your cat's usual behavioral patterns which may be an indication of some common cat ailment it is afflicted with.
Unlike other species of animals, hair balls embody the most common disorder found in cats. It does not matter if you possess a short or a long haired feline, the hair ball still finds its way into your pet. Although more prominent in the medium to long hairs species of cat, the hairball dilemma can be diminished by combing and brushing your cat regularly. Not only does this practice generate an attractive cat but it eliminates loose hair which would otherwise end up in your "kitty's" stomach.
Another popular remedy to combat hair balls is to place a single teaspoon of medically safe fish oil mixed with your cat's food on a weekly basis. This will permit any loose hair which your cat has ingested to effectively pass through its digestive tract. In addition, you may wish to undertake feeding your feline a teaspoon of canned pumpkin or bran each day. Feral cats tend to chew upon the grass in your yard or other such plants in order to manage this common cat ailment.
Another problem that causes a lot of hassle for your cat is the presence of fleas. They are carriers of several diseases and most importantly, they are very itchy. Because of this problem some develop an allergic reaction to fleas and some are even traumatized causing mental and emotional distress. Regular grooming can detect this problem and keep it contained. You can also use flea collars to treat this condition. You can try some fur rubs that are environmentally friendly which work to prevent flea infestation as well make your cat smell good. Flea inoculations can also be done especially if the intolerance of fleas is quite high.
A cat scratching badly inside its ears is a positive indication of a large scale presence of ear mites or a heavy buildup of wax inside the ears, both of which can cause much pain and agony to your cat. A veterinarian may easily spot these in his examination of the cat and prescribe medicines that could be easily administered to greatly relieve the cat of its agony and pain. Early detection and prompt treatment for mites and wax is very important to prevent long term damage to its health including the impairment of its hearing.
Cats are also affected with mental and emotional distress, usually created by trauma from a change such as moving or relocating. It may be hard for your adult cat to adapt to the new surroundings. There are even cases of cats traveling back to their original homes by foot regardless of its distance. One thing you have to understand about cats is that they take their territory seriously and will fully protect their property. Humans do not recognize the fences that they build to protect their territory. It is only cats who can tell from their markings of urine and fecal matter.
Like humans, some of their major ailments too start with minor symptoms and could be easily averted through alertness and prompt treatment at the early stages itself. Therefore a visit to your veterinarian would be well worth your trouble at the slightest visible signs of departure from your cat's normal behavioral patterns such as for instance brooding, vomiting, loss of appetite or changed patters in eating habits and eating times, so as to save your cat from much pain, agony and sometimes death itself.
About the Author
About the author: Marjorie Greer can help you with any cat related problems. For Cat Care Advice get her exciting new FREE e-course on cat care, cat food and cat health
Although all forms of felines are generally known to live long and healthy lives, the domesticated cats suffer from minor health disorders from time to time that can be easily overcome with preventive and timely treatment. Keep an eye open for any changes in your cat's usual behavioral patterns which may be an indication of some common cat ailment it is afflicted with.
Unlike other species of animals, hair balls embody the most common disorder found in cats. It does not matter if you possess a short or a long haired feline, the hair ball still finds its way into your pet. Although more prominent in the medium to long hairs species of cat, the hairball dilemma can be diminished by combing and brushing your cat regularly. Not only does this practice generate an attractive cat but it eliminates loose hair which would otherwise end up in your "kitty's" stomach.
Another popular remedy to combat hair balls is to place a single teaspoon of medically safe fish oil mixed with your cat's food on a weekly basis. This will permit any loose hair which your cat has ingested to effectively pass through its digestive tract. In addition, you may wish to undertake feeding your feline a teaspoon of canned pumpkin or bran each day. Feral cats tend to chew upon the grass in your yard or other such plants in order to manage this common cat ailment.
Another problem that causes a lot of hassle for your cat is the presence of fleas. They are carriers of several diseases and most importantly, they are very itchy. Because of this problem some develop an allergic reaction to fleas and some are even traumatized causing mental and emotional distress. Regular grooming can detect this problem and keep it contained. You can also use flea collars to treat this condition. You can try some fur rubs that are environmentally friendly which work to prevent flea infestation as well make your cat smell good. Flea inoculations can also be done especially if the intolerance of fleas is quite high.
A cat scratching badly inside its ears is a positive indication of a large scale presence of ear mites or a heavy buildup of wax inside the ears, both of which can cause much pain and agony to your cat. A veterinarian may easily spot these in his examination of the cat and prescribe medicines that could be easily administered to greatly relieve the cat of its agony and pain. Early detection and prompt treatment for mites and wax is very important to prevent long term damage to its health including the impairment of its hearing.
Cats are also affected with mental and emotional distress, usually created by trauma from a change such as moving or relocating. It may be hard for your adult cat to adapt to the new surroundings. There are even cases of cats traveling back to their original homes by foot regardless of its distance. One thing you have to understand about cats is that they take their territory seriously and will fully protect their property. Humans do not recognize the fences that they build to protect their territory. It is only cats who can tell from their markings of urine and fecal matter.
Like humans, some of their major ailments too start with minor symptoms and could be easily averted through alertness and prompt treatment at the early stages itself. Therefore a visit to your veterinarian would be well worth your trouble at the slightest visible signs of departure from your cat's normal behavioral patterns such as for instance brooding, vomiting, loss of appetite or changed patters in eating habits and eating times, so as to save your cat from much pain, agony and sometimes death itself.
About the Author
About the author: Marjorie Greer can help you with any cat related problems. For Cat Care Advice get her exciting new FREE e-course on cat care, cat food and cat health
Buying Pet Health Insurance For Cat Or Dog Peace Of Mind
Submitted by Craig
Animals need their health protecting too, treatment can be expensive. Delve into the mysterious world of pet insurance.
Cats are a very individual minded animal. In other words, cats do for cats and are not mentally hardwired to follow a leader in the same manner that a dog will. That is why a cat will probably want to forgo the need to acquire proper cat insurance. Now, while cats are notoriously single-minded, human beings should know better. Human owners who love their cats should go the extra length and acquire the proper pet health insurance for cat so as to provide a financial blanket to cover a major procedure in case a pet cat requires such help.
Some may not see the need for cat insurance if the cat is an indoors cat. After all, all the major problems that a pet cat could face derive from an unfortunate incident that might occur outside the safety of the cat's (well, your) home. Unfortunately, common things such as aging can result in medical and dental problems that can prove virtually catastrophic. And remember, such events can occur without any trauma presented to the animal or in conjunction with any out or normal circumstance.
It is not uncommon for a cat to develop bad breath. Sometimes, the halitosis will be so severe that the cat's owner decides to take the pet to the vet to have a little dental cleaning performed. It shouldn't be that big of a problem, should it? After all, a little dental cleaning certainly won't cost that much. Well, if all that is required is a little dental cleaning, then there will not be much of a cost.
But what happens if the cat has developed a severe cavity that needs to be pulled? What it there are two or three cavities? What if there is the presence of gum disease that may lead to a life threatening infection? What if a blood test is required in order to gauge the severity of the potential infection? All of a sudden, a $50 visit to the vet has expanded into a major procedure that can cost upwards of $500. Pet health insurance for cat is the answer.
If that cautionary tale did not provide proper impetus for motivation to purchasing proper cat insurance, nothing will. Well, actually, there can be a whole host of cautionary tales provided that would hopefully motivate people into purchasing cat insurance. The common thread behind of these cautionary tales is the moral of the story: accidents and problems can occur at any time.
Therefore, it is always wise to have the precaution of a proper cat insurance policy in place so as to financially cover any catastrophe that might occur. Pet health insurance for cat can be acquired from a quality insurance issuer and is usually quite affordable. Furthermore, the coverage can be quite extensive and all encompassing.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on dog insurance and cat insurance at http://www.petinsurancegroup.com
Animals need their health protecting too, treatment can be expensive. Delve into the mysterious world of pet insurance.
Cats are a very individual minded animal. In other words, cats do for cats and are not mentally hardwired to follow a leader in the same manner that a dog will. That is why a cat will probably want to forgo the need to acquire proper cat insurance. Now, while cats are notoriously single-minded, human beings should know better. Human owners who love their cats should go the extra length and acquire the proper pet health insurance for cat so as to provide a financial blanket to cover a major procedure in case a pet cat requires such help.
Some may not see the need for cat insurance if the cat is an indoors cat. After all, all the major problems that a pet cat could face derive from an unfortunate incident that might occur outside the safety of the cat's (well, your) home. Unfortunately, common things such as aging can result in medical and dental problems that can prove virtually catastrophic. And remember, such events can occur without any trauma presented to the animal or in conjunction with any out or normal circumstance.
It is not uncommon for a cat to develop bad breath. Sometimes, the halitosis will be so severe that the cat's owner decides to take the pet to the vet to have a little dental cleaning performed. It shouldn't be that big of a problem, should it? After all, a little dental cleaning certainly won't cost that much. Well, if all that is required is a little dental cleaning, then there will not be much of a cost.
But what happens if the cat has developed a severe cavity that needs to be pulled? What it there are two or three cavities? What if there is the presence of gum disease that may lead to a life threatening infection? What if a blood test is required in order to gauge the severity of the potential infection? All of a sudden, a $50 visit to the vet has expanded into a major procedure that can cost upwards of $500. Pet health insurance for cat is the answer.
If that cautionary tale did not provide proper impetus for motivation to purchasing proper cat insurance, nothing will. Well, actually, there can be a whole host of cautionary tales provided that would hopefully motivate people into purchasing cat insurance. The common thread behind of these cautionary tales is the moral of the story: accidents and problems can occur at any time.
Therefore, it is always wise to have the precaution of a proper cat insurance policy in place so as to financially cover any catastrophe that might occur. Pet health insurance for cat can be acquired from a quality insurance issuer and is usually quite affordable. Furthermore, the coverage can be quite extensive and all encompassing.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on dog insurance and cat insurance at http://www.petinsurancegroup.com
Portrait Picture of Cats Make a Perfect Gift
Submitted by John
Make the perfect gift for a special occasion with your cats. This article will confirm the fact that you can have any kind of portrait of animals or pets painted through Portrait Kingdom without missing any detail of your bond with your cats.
To respect a cat is the beginning of the aesthetic sense!
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder the artistic sense does not have any boundaries. This rule of thumb applies to Pictures of Cats. too.
You can capture the fond memories of your beloved cats in a photograph so that you can keep it with yourself and cherish for the years to come. Obviously with the pictures of cats you will be able to remember them and never forget their beautiful looks.
You will never miss your cats!
Whenever you think that you are missing your cats you can look onto the pictures of cats and feel as though they are nearby.
Do you have charming cats at your home and are you the person who loves to paint? Do not ever leave your cats without attempting to paint pictures. You will feel more satisfied when you paint the pictures of cats by yourself.
It is not so easy to paint the pictures of cats for animals are animals, unless and otherwise you offer them with several treats, they would not obey you.
Showering love and affection towards your cat is not an ordinary one. The cats tend to live only for short span of time, so you can enjoy with them only for a short period. If you become so close to your cats you can not be alone without them. But there are circumstances and bad times when you will be compelled to leave your lovely cats. At such times it is only the Pictures of Cats that where taken at happy times, comfort you.
Do You Know That Pictures of Cats Make A Perfect Gift?
Do you want to gift some one with the personal touch? It does not matter what the occasion is, the Pictures of Cats make a perfect gift provided that the receiver is a lover of cats. It will be an unusual gift for the cat lover if you try considering to give him or her of their favorite Pictures of Cats as a gift.
To be brief Pictures of Cats make an ideal gift for your family members or friends.
What is more? Presenting Pictures of cats is also a pretty good way to remember the cat that is no more with you.
If you feel like painting the pictures of cats and you are a new one to paint, you do not need to worry! There are artists to whom, when placed an order will draw exquisite pictures of cats. The only thing is you should give them the photo of your cat that is in good condition.
How are Pictures of Cats drawn from Photos?
Every artist has his own way of painting Pictures of Cats from photos. The skilled artist always comes up with the exact actions of the cat in the photo. Generally the artist creates different touches and shades in their paintings to bring out the accurate similarity between the cat in the photograph and the one that is painted. The Pictures of Cats are drawn on a high quality weighty paper so that the paintings will remain without any damage for many years.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Capture your favorite moment with your cute kitty and convert it into a lasting pet portrait. We have top notch portrait artists who can create a masterpiece.
Make the perfect gift for a special occasion with your cats. This article will confirm the fact that you can have any kind of portrait of animals or pets painted through Portrait Kingdom without missing any detail of your bond with your cats.
To respect a cat is the beginning of the aesthetic sense!
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder the artistic sense does not have any boundaries. This rule of thumb applies to Pictures of Cats. too.
You can capture the fond memories of your beloved cats in a photograph so that you can keep it with yourself and cherish for the years to come. Obviously with the pictures of cats you will be able to remember them and never forget their beautiful looks.
You will never miss your cats!
Whenever you think that you are missing your cats you can look onto the pictures of cats and feel as though they are nearby.
Do you have charming cats at your home and are you the person who loves to paint? Do not ever leave your cats without attempting to paint pictures. You will feel more satisfied when you paint the pictures of cats by yourself.
It is not so easy to paint the pictures of cats for animals are animals, unless and otherwise you offer them with several treats, they would not obey you.
Showering love and affection towards your cat is not an ordinary one. The cats tend to live only for short span of time, so you can enjoy with them only for a short period. If you become so close to your cats you can not be alone without them. But there are circumstances and bad times when you will be compelled to leave your lovely cats. At such times it is only the Pictures of Cats that where taken at happy times, comfort you.
Do You Know That Pictures of Cats Make A Perfect Gift?
Do you want to gift some one with the personal touch? It does not matter what the occasion is, the Pictures of Cats make a perfect gift provided that the receiver is a lover of cats. It will be an unusual gift for the cat lover if you try considering to give him or her of their favorite Pictures of Cats as a gift.
To be brief Pictures of Cats make an ideal gift for your family members or friends.
What is more? Presenting Pictures of cats is also a pretty good way to remember the cat that is no more with you.
If you feel like painting the pictures of cats and you are a new one to paint, you do not need to worry! There are artists to whom, when placed an order will draw exquisite pictures of cats. The only thing is you should give them the photo of your cat that is in good condition.
How are Pictures of Cats drawn from Photos?
Every artist has his own way of painting Pictures of Cats from photos. The skilled artist always comes up with the exact actions of the cat in the photo. Generally the artist creates different touches and shades in their paintings to bring out the accurate similarity between the cat in the photograph and the one that is painted. The Pictures of Cats are drawn on a high quality weighty paper so that the paintings will remain without any damage for many years.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Capture your favorite moment with your cute kitty and convert it into a lasting pet portrait. We have top notch portrait artists who can create a masterpiece.
Does Your Cat Have A Healthy Diet?
Submitted by Matthew
With an obesity epidemic sweeping through our nations pets, an online pet Q&A service have launched a campaign to educate owners about their cats lifestyle. Here we look at what a cats diet should be to keep it healthy and minimise those vet visits.
They say we are what we eat. This applies to your pet as much as it applies to yourself. A good diet means less health problems, less trips to the vet and lower veterinary bills. But how much thought have you given to what your cat should be eating to maintain optimum health? Ask yourself the following questions.
1) How many times a day do you feed your cat?
Since cats cannot be exercised like dogs can, the only way you can influence your cats weight is by controlling the amount and type of food he or she eats. If the cat is being fed individual meals several times daily, there is often a tendency by the owner to offer the daily supply of food on several occasions rather than divide up the daily feed into several meals. This can also occur with cats fed dry food ad lib. Cats usually regulate their food intake, but continual exposure to large quantities of food may lead to over-eating and subsequent obesity if too many calories are consumed. In short, both several individual meals a day and ad lib feeding are fine, it is the total amount offered per 24 hour period which is the important figure.
Kittens should be fed small meals at regular intervals due to their tiny stomachs. Four or five meals are recommended at eight weeks of age, decreasing to two at six months of age.
2) Is your cats diet manufactured specifically for cats or do you give human food?
Some cat owners like to spoil their cat by feeding them human food as the bulk of their diet. Others have tried feeding their cat regular catfood, but find their fussy cat will not touch it, and prefers to wait for the inevitable human food offering, which soon becomes the staple diet.
Is it really unhealthy to feed cats human food though? Of course it depends what food. Remember that cats are carnivores, and require a high proportion of meat in their diet. They simply cannot adapt to a low protein diet, and will lose bodyweight if deprived of it. In fact, as a species they are relatively unique... a deficiency of the amino acid, arginine, in a single meal can lead to symptoms of lethargy, hypersalivation and vocalisation. Arginine is required by the cat to produce urea, a waste product resulting from the breakdown of protein.
Another essential nutrient for the cat is the amino acid, taurine, which the cat cannot manufacture sufficiently by itself to meet its needs. The cat's diet must therefore contain taurine in sufficient quantities. If a deficiency develops there is a high risk of serious and irreversible damage to major organs such as the heart and the eye. Taurine is found almost entirely in meat, confirming the fact that the cat is a compulsory carnivore.
Another disease of nutritional origin is that caused by cats eating raw liver regularly, who can suffer from a condition called hypervitaminosis A. Cats suffering from this can present with signs of lethargy, unthriftiness, a stiff neck and other skeletal problems. To play it safe, do not feed your cat liver more than once a week.
Reputable cat foods are formulated after extensive trials by pet food companies to provide the mixture of protein, carbohydrate and fat that suits feline physiology best. It is easier, cheaper and possibly more healthy for your cat to be fed a reputable cat food diet, with occasional treats if desired (tuna, liver etc).
3) Which is better out of dry cat food or wet cat food?
Most vets recommend complete dry biscuit based cat food. This is because studies have shown that cats on dry food diets are less likely to suffer from dental disease than those on wet food from a tin or pouch. The physical motion of biting these biscuits helps prevent tartar from adhering to the surface of the tooth. However, even cats with no teeth can eat biscuit based food without a problem, as they just scoop up the biscuits with their tongue and swallow them whole. Another advantage of dry food is that it does not spoil as quickly which is useful for cats that are fed ad lib.
There are occasionally reasons why a wet food is preferable, as a method to increase the water consumption in a cat with a urinary problem such as cystitis.
4) Which is the best cat food to choose?
There are so many different brands of cat food on the market, the best one is basically a matter of opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there is no point in purchasing a particular food if your cat cannot stand it, although this is occasionally a necessity in cats requiring prescription diets. Rather than recommending you a specific brand, we suggest that you choose one which adheres to the criteria below.
Cat foods labeled as complete and balanced must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for cats - one for growth (kittens) and one for maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time because of the concern that overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods. If you are prepared to get technical, you should choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO recommendations.
In summary, consider the following points:
Choose a food that suits your cats age. Most big pet food companies will have different foods for kittens vs adults. Cats with medical conditions may be recommended special prescription diets.
Choose a food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations.
The ingredients contains the truth about a particular food. Everything else is there only for marketing purposes.
There are no legal and scientific definitions for the terms "premium," "super premium," "quality," or "natural."
Use dry matter numbers to evaluate and compare foods.
The source of ingredients (e.g. animal vs vegetable) does not matter, except in the case of food allergies.
Avoid supplementation. All commercial cat foods have more than enough protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding your cat a good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems.
5) My cat is overweight, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get him to lose weight. What can I do?
Your cat is almost certainly being fed too much. Below some common mistakes are listed. Have a good look at these and make sure none of them could apply to your cat.
Not following the guidelines on the packet when measuring a portion. Most cat foods will have a table on the packaging suggesting daily portions for cats of different weights. The weight of food suggested is per 24 hrs, not per portion! Use your kitchen weighing scales to measure out the portion until you are sure of the correct amount.
Using a complete dry diet as a replacement for regular biscuits, and mixing it with wet cat food. If it says complete, you should not mix it with anything or you will overfeed.
Offering inappropriate food that is high in fat, or cream/full fat milk to drink.
Several members of the household feeding the cat at different times, whenever the cat is meows for food.
Giving the cat regular treats in addition to its main meal.
The cat is getting fed by neighbors, who think they are being kind by feeding it and enjoy the attention it gives them.
The cat is scavenging food from outside sources, such as other peoples bins.
The cat is part of a multi-cat household and is stealing food from the other cat(s), or even the dog.
Keep an open mind. If there is a possibility that any of the above scenarios might be the case with your cat, investigate it. If you are still at a loss, consider starting a prescription diet (see below).
6) I have heard you can get special light diets, or prescription diets for fat cats. Do they really work?
Yes they do, if used properly. These types of cat food are available in complete wet (tinned or pouches) form or dry (biscuit) form, and are growing in popularity amongst conscientious pet owners. They are low in calories and high in fibre, and often contain high levels of L-carnitine. L-carnitine has been used to help with fat metabolism in other species and recent scientific work indicates that it helps reduce weight in overweight dogs and cats. The real benefit of these low calorie diets though is that because of its low calories, cats can still eat reasonable sized portions and therefore feel full. This means they are more content and less likely to beg and look for extra food.
These diets are perfectly healthy for normal sized cats to eat too, so if you have a multi cat household and it is unfeasible to separate the cats during feeding time, you can safely feed all of the cats the prescription diet together.
7) Where can I buy this low calorie food from?
Many of the big pet food companies are waking up to the problem of pet obesity, and adding light versions to their range. However, they are unlikely to be as effective as the traditional prescription diets that are on the market.
They are known as prescription diets, because they are a specialist food normally prescribed by a veterinarian. However, you do not need a prescription to buy the food as it is a general sales list product. These foods are rarely available in supermarkets as many supermarkets are keen to sell their own brand, or have deals with the big pet food manufacturers. Many owners but their prescription diet from their veterinary clinic for convenience, whilst others prefer to shop around to get the best price. Many online pharmacies and pet stores are now offering these prescription foods, but whilst they may appear cheaper online, watch out for delivery charges added on top.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.
With an obesity epidemic sweeping through our nations pets, an online pet Q&A service have launched a campaign to educate owners about their cats lifestyle. Here we look at what a cats diet should be to keep it healthy and minimise those vet visits.
They say we are what we eat. This applies to your pet as much as it applies to yourself. A good diet means less health problems, less trips to the vet and lower veterinary bills. But how much thought have you given to what your cat should be eating to maintain optimum health? Ask yourself the following questions.
1) How many times a day do you feed your cat?
Since cats cannot be exercised like dogs can, the only way you can influence your cats weight is by controlling the amount and type of food he or she eats. If the cat is being fed individual meals several times daily, there is often a tendency by the owner to offer the daily supply of food on several occasions rather than divide up the daily feed into several meals. This can also occur with cats fed dry food ad lib. Cats usually regulate their food intake, but continual exposure to large quantities of food may lead to over-eating and subsequent obesity if too many calories are consumed. In short, both several individual meals a day and ad lib feeding are fine, it is the total amount offered per 24 hour period which is the important figure.
Kittens should be fed small meals at regular intervals due to their tiny stomachs. Four or five meals are recommended at eight weeks of age, decreasing to two at six months of age.
2) Is your cats diet manufactured specifically for cats or do you give human food?
Some cat owners like to spoil their cat by feeding them human food as the bulk of their diet. Others have tried feeding their cat regular catfood, but find their fussy cat will not touch it, and prefers to wait for the inevitable human food offering, which soon becomes the staple diet.
Is it really unhealthy to feed cats human food though? Of course it depends what food. Remember that cats are carnivores, and require a high proportion of meat in their diet. They simply cannot adapt to a low protein diet, and will lose bodyweight if deprived of it. In fact, as a species they are relatively unique... a deficiency of the amino acid, arginine, in a single meal can lead to symptoms of lethargy, hypersalivation and vocalisation. Arginine is required by the cat to produce urea, a waste product resulting from the breakdown of protein.
Another essential nutrient for the cat is the amino acid, taurine, which the cat cannot manufacture sufficiently by itself to meet its needs. The cat's diet must therefore contain taurine in sufficient quantities. If a deficiency develops there is a high risk of serious and irreversible damage to major organs such as the heart and the eye. Taurine is found almost entirely in meat, confirming the fact that the cat is a compulsory carnivore.
Another disease of nutritional origin is that caused by cats eating raw liver regularly, who can suffer from a condition called hypervitaminosis A. Cats suffering from this can present with signs of lethargy, unthriftiness, a stiff neck and other skeletal problems. To play it safe, do not feed your cat liver more than once a week.
Reputable cat foods are formulated after extensive trials by pet food companies to provide the mixture of protein, carbohydrate and fat that suits feline physiology best. It is easier, cheaper and possibly more healthy for your cat to be fed a reputable cat food diet, with occasional treats if desired (tuna, liver etc).
3) Which is better out of dry cat food or wet cat food?
Most vets recommend complete dry biscuit based cat food. This is because studies have shown that cats on dry food diets are less likely to suffer from dental disease than those on wet food from a tin or pouch. The physical motion of biting these biscuits helps prevent tartar from adhering to the surface of the tooth. However, even cats with no teeth can eat biscuit based food without a problem, as they just scoop up the biscuits with their tongue and swallow them whole. Another advantage of dry food is that it does not spoil as quickly which is useful for cats that are fed ad lib.
There are occasionally reasons why a wet food is preferable, as a method to increase the water consumption in a cat with a urinary problem such as cystitis.
4) Which is the best cat food to choose?
There are so many different brands of cat food on the market, the best one is basically a matter of opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there is no point in purchasing a particular food if your cat cannot stand it, although this is occasionally a necessity in cats requiring prescription diets. Rather than recommending you a specific brand, we suggest that you choose one which adheres to the criteria below.
Cat foods labeled as complete and balanced must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for cats - one for growth (kittens) and one for maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time because of the concern that overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods. If you are prepared to get technical, you should choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO recommendations.
In summary, consider the following points:
Choose a food that suits your cats age. Most big pet food companies will have different foods for kittens vs adults. Cats with medical conditions may be recommended special prescription diets.
Choose a food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations.
The ingredients contains the truth about a particular food. Everything else is there only for marketing purposes.
There are no legal and scientific definitions for the terms "premium," "super premium," "quality," or "natural."
Use dry matter numbers to evaluate and compare foods.
The source of ingredients (e.g. animal vs vegetable) does not matter, except in the case of food allergies.
Avoid supplementation. All commercial cat foods have more than enough protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding your cat a good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems.
5) My cat is overweight, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get him to lose weight. What can I do?
Your cat is almost certainly being fed too much. Below some common mistakes are listed. Have a good look at these and make sure none of them could apply to your cat.
Not following the guidelines on the packet when measuring a portion. Most cat foods will have a table on the packaging suggesting daily portions for cats of different weights. The weight of food suggested is per 24 hrs, not per portion! Use your kitchen weighing scales to measure out the portion until you are sure of the correct amount.
Using a complete dry diet as a replacement for regular biscuits, and mixing it with wet cat food. If it says complete, you should not mix it with anything or you will overfeed.
Offering inappropriate food that is high in fat, or cream/full fat milk to drink.
Several members of the household feeding the cat at different times, whenever the cat is meows for food.
Giving the cat regular treats in addition to its main meal.
The cat is getting fed by neighbors, who think they are being kind by feeding it and enjoy the attention it gives them.
The cat is scavenging food from outside sources, such as other peoples bins.
The cat is part of a multi-cat household and is stealing food from the other cat(s), or even the dog.
Keep an open mind. If there is a possibility that any of the above scenarios might be the case with your cat, investigate it. If you are still at a loss, consider starting a prescription diet (see below).
6) I have heard you can get special light diets, or prescription diets for fat cats. Do they really work?
Yes they do, if used properly. These types of cat food are available in complete wet (tinned or pouches) form or dry (biscuit) form, and are growing in popularity amongst conscientious pet owners. They are low in calories and high in fibre, and often contain high levels of L-carnitine. L-carnitine has been used to help with fat metabolism in other species and recent scientific work indicates that it helps reduce weight in overweight dogs and cats. The real benefit of these low calorie diets though is that because of its low calories, cats can still eat reasonable sized portions and therefore feel full. This means they are more content and less likely to beg and look for extra food.
These diets are perfectly healthy for normal sized cats to eat too, so if you have a multi cat household and it is unfeasible to separate the cats during feeding time, you can safely feed all of the cats the prescription diet together.
7) Where can I buy this low calorie food from?
Many of the big pet food companies are waking up to the problem of pet obesity, and adding light versions to their range. However, they are unlikely to be as effective as the traditional prescription diets that are on the market.
They are known as prescription diets, because they are a specialist food normally prescribed by a veterinarian. However, you do not need a prescription to buy the food as it is a general sales list product. These foods are rarely available in supermarkets as many supermarkets are keen to sell their own brand, or have deals with the big pet food manufacturers. Many owners but their prescription diet from their veterinary clinic for convenience, whilst others prefer to shop around to get the best price. Many online pharmacies and pet stores are now offering these prescription foods, but whilst they may appear cheaper online, watch out for delivery charges added on top.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.WhyDoesMyPet.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.
Cat Whisperers Do Exist
Submitted by Tristan
A cat whisper is somewhat similar to a dog or horse whisperer, although cat whisperers relate quite well with cats.
A cat whisper is somewhat similar to a dog or horse whisperer, although cat whisperers relate quite well with cats. These types of people are unusually lucky and very successfully with cats. In most cases, a cat will be abandoned or just show up at someone's door. In this event, the cat will adopt this individual as the cat whisperer.
Often times, alley cats and black cats will show up at someone's door and decide to move into their homes. This can be a result of abandonment, or the cat's family moving away and simply leaving the cat behind. Sometimes, the cat may decide that he likes someone else's home better and decide to move there instead of staying with his owner.
A lot of people will tell you that a cat whisperer can be thought of as a therapist for cats. Almost all cat whisperers haven't have any type of training, what they know just seems to come to them naturally. These types of people understand the way a cat thinks and knows how to work with the cat to achieve the results they want. Even though many think of a cat whisperer as a therapist, it actually couldn't be further from the truth.
Cats who have been abused or mistreated, often times won't respond to anyone but a cat whisperer. Although others may have tried to help the cat, it will only make matters worse by making the cat feel scared and afraid. In most cases, these cats will end up in a pound. This is very tragic, as the cats have already endured more than they ever should have. A majority of the cats who have been abused were once loved pets. Along the way, they were abandoned, mistreated, attacked by dogs, and in some cases tortured.
Cats who have been treated unfairly often times won't trust anyone. They are often times confused, in a lot of pain, and not sure what they should do. Like humans, cats feel pain. Those that have been physically abused are a sad sight indeed. Emotionally damaged cats may appear to be in perfect health on the outside, although their emotions are a wreck. Emotionally abused cats are much harder to get through to, especially if they were stray cats to begin with.
Cat whisperers on the other hand, can communicate with physically and emotionally abused cats. Cats know who they will choose to be their cat whisperer, which is normally an individual they sense trust with. Cat whisperers are common with cats, although most people have never heard of them before. Even though a cat whisperer may be able to communicate better with cats, it will still take time to heal a cat that has been abused.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Tristan Andrews writes useful articles about cats and kittens. Discover and explore the feline world. Find out how to better care for, train and live with your cat at http://www.i-love-cats.com
A cat whisper is somewhat similar to a dog or horse whisperer, although cat whisperers relate quite well with cats.
A cat whisper is somewhat similar to a dog or horse whisperer, although cat whisperers relate quite well with cats. These types of people are unusually lucky and very successfully with cats. In most cases, a cat will be abandoned or just show up at someone's door. In this event, the cat will adopt this individual as the cat whisperer.
Often times, alley cats and black cats will show up at someone's door and decide to move into their homes. This can be a result of abandonment, or the cat's family moving away and simply leaving the cat behind. Sometimes, the cat may decide that he likes someone else's home better and decide to move there instead of staying with his owner.
A lot of people will tell you that a cat whisperer can be thought of as a therapist for cats. Almost all cat whisperers haven't have any type of training, what they know just seems to come to them naturally. These types of people understand the way a cat thinks and knows how to work with the cat to achieve the results they want. Even though many think of a cat whisperer as a therapist, it actually couldn't be further from the truth.
Cats who have been abused or mistreated, often times won't respond to anyone but a cat whisperer. Although others may have tried to help the cat, it will only make matters worse by making the cat feel scared and afraid. In most cases, these cats will end up in a pound. This is very tragic, as the cats have already endured more than they ever should have. A majority of the cats who have been abused were once loved pets. Along the way, they were abandoned, mistreated, attacked by dogs, and in some cases tortured.
Cats who have been treated unfairly often times won't trust anyone. They are often times confused, in a lot of pain, and not sure what they should do. Like humans, cats feel pain. Those that have been physically abused are a sad sight indeed. Emotionally damaged cats may appear to be in perfect health on the outside, although their emotions are a wreck. Emotionally abused cats are much harder to get through to, especially if they were stray cats to begin with.
Cat whisperers on the other hand, can communicate with physically and emotionally abused cats. Cats know who they will choose to be their cat whisperer, which is normally an individual they sense trust with. Cat whisperers are common with cats, although most people have never heard of them before. Even though a cat whisperer may be able to communicate better with cats, it will still take time to heal a cat that has been abused.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Tristan Andrews writes useful articles about cats and kittens. Discover and explore the feline world. Find out how to better care for, train and live with your cat at http://www.i-love-cats.com
The Burmese Cat Will Rule Your Household
Submitted by Iro
Highly people oriented, Burmese cats love attention and affection and will gladly rule your household with a silky paw.
The Burmese cat is yet another manmade American breed, developed by Dr. Joseph Thompson and others back in the 1930s. However, speculation claims that this breed has been around longer than many people believe. Naturally, there are also fables about the Burmese. One such tale says that the Burmese were temple cats, and each cat had its own student monk, whose responsibility it was to cater to their cat's every whim. Other tales claim that long before the Siamese, the Burmese were the traditional pets of nobility and royalty.
Burmese cats are definitely royalty when it comes to who's who in the family make-up. Their golden yellow eyes, which are large, expressive, and deep pools of innocence, are only one of the endearing qualities the Burmese uses to quickly hypnotize their owners into being willing subjects of their rule. With coats that have a satiny texture and are basically short, they require little, but are sure to make you want to pet them constantly. They also are amazingly heavy for their size, often being described as "bricks wrapped in silk."
As kittens, Burmese cats seem rather clumsy whenever they attempt to do things that are beyond their capabilities, landing with solid little thumps on their rear ends. Playful well into adulthood, their intelligence emerges along with their very own personalities as they mature. Burmese cats, when encouraged, also will talk your head off with their soft, sweet voices. Excellent with children as well as your pet dog, they even love to travel as long as you get them used to it from an early age.
Burmese are yet another breed of cat that can be quite dog-like in their affection towards their owners. They will follow you all over the house; in, out, and throughout whatever you happen to be doing in order to grab some extra affection and a passing pat or two. They have even learned how to play fetch. If you are the type of person who loves a cat that will set in your lap and snooze, wants to be constantly petted, and will cuddle up with you under the covers in bed, then you definitely want to own a Burmese.
So remember, if you are looking for a beautiful four-legged companion to rule the roost at your house, the Burmese is just the ticket. They love to help manage the house and enjoy assisting with pleasurable pastimes as well. Any time you want to read a book or the newspaper, your Burmese will happily sit on it for you, and while this may hold it down for you rather nicely, you may have a little difficulty seeing all of the words. Females love taking center stage and will maintain an active role in all that you do, while the males are more passive, preferring to supervise from a nice, warm lap.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Highly people oriented, Burmese cats love attention and affection and will gladly rule your household with a silky paw.
The Burmese cat is yet another manmade American breed, developed by Dr. Joseph Thompson and others back in the 1930s. However, speculation claims that this breed has been around longer than many people believe. Naturally, there are also fables about the Burmese. One such tale says that the Burmese were temple cats, and each cat had its own student monk, whose responsibility it was to cater to their cat's every whim. Other tales claim that long before the Siamese, the Burmese were the traditional pets of nobility and royalty.
Burmese cats are definitely royalty when it comes to who's who in the family make-up. Their golden yellow eyes, which are large, expressive, and deep pools of innocence, are only one of the endearing qualities the Burmese uses to quickly hypnotize their owners into being willing subjects of their rule. With coats that have a satiny texture and are basically short, they require little, but are sure to make you want to pet them constantly. They also are amazingly heavy for their size, often being described as "bricks wrapped in silk."
As kittens, Burmese cats seem rather clumsy whenever they attempt to do things that are beyond their capabilities, landing with solid little thumps on their rear ends. Playful well into adulthood, their intelligence emerges along with their very own personalities as they mature. Burmese cats, when encouraged, also will talk your head off with their soft, sweet voices. Excellent with children as well as your pet dog, they even love to travel as long as you get them used to it from an early age.
Burmese are yet another breed of cat that can be quite dog-like in their affection towards their owners. They will follow you all over the house; in, out, and throughout whatever you happen to be doing in order to grab some extra affection and a passing pat or two. They have even learned how to play fetch. If you are the type of person who loves a cat that will set in your lap and snooze, wants to be constantly petted, and will cuddle up with you under the covers in bed, then you definitely want to own a Burmese.
So remember, if you are looking for a beautiful four-legged companion to rule the roost at your house, the Burmese is just the ticket. They love to help manage the house and enjoy assisting with pleasurable pastimes as well. Any time you want to read a book or the newspaper, your Burmese will happily sit on it for you, and while this may hold it down for you rather nicely, you may have a little difficulty seeing all of the words. Females love taking center stage and will maintain an active role in all that you do, while the males are more passive, preferring to supervise from a nice, warm lap.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
4 Top Tips For Cat Fishing The Best Way
Submitted by Pino
There are a few basic methods that are effective in catching catfish. This article explains all.
There are a few basic methods that are effective in catching catfish. Bear in mind that specific methods are applicable to specific kinds of waters. That is because techniques and baiting mixtures are formulated for specific targets.
The following methods are simple, yet proven successful when used:
1) Rigging method - Depending on the bait used, loop the bait holder or the treble hook from a line to a preferred distance to the end. Bait movement is not suggested; therefore, a weight must be used to allow the rig to be still. A good distance shall be about 18" to 24."
Same as the first method, using the Slipweight to make the bait stable is also effective. The weight does not matter as long as it can slide in the line. The fish will not feel any weight and it will be late until they realize that the bait is fake.
Multibait technique allows multiple catches at once. Simply place three-way swivel along the line. As it draws more strikes it makes a great choice for catching more catfish at the same time.
2) Bait - Experts opt for chicken livers or medium sized shrimp from groceries. The shrimp's tail and skin must be removed and body should be big enough to slide up in a number 6 hook. This is simpler than the chicken which necessitates the use of pantyhose.
A diameter of a quarter is wrapped in a piece of pantyhose leaving a tag end then attach it through the treble hook. Blood worms, minnows, catfish paste, night crawlers, snails, living or dead small fish, and dough baits are also good choices of baits. Remember that the best baits are always those that nature produced.
3) Chumming - Fishermen catch more catfish with this method. This is simply throwing balls of mixtures of natural recipes in the fishing area. This attracts more catfish; the trick is that the mixture should be right enough for the catfish to feed heavily. The hook that will be used to fish normally must have the same recipe for the bait. Adding a good smelling flavor into the pasty mixture attracts catfish more.
4) Tackling - Although the technique involved in this method is by far effective, it's still the bait that attracts and brings the catfish in. As simple as it is, the tackle should be about 6 feet long with a spinning real.
Choose heavier lines to allow more battle between the fisherman and the catfish. It doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. The experience you get from a cheaper tackle is no different from an expensive one.
Make sure the grip is secure hooks are removed by pliers after catching the fish. Avoid being stuck with the fins as some are poisonous. Just simply sliding the hand up to its belly from tail, placing the fingers behind one side and thumb behind the other can remove the catfish from the hook without any harm. Happy catfishing and good luck!
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Pino Tedesco is a leading web content provider, get free fishing articles from his article directory. Information includes fishing,fly fishing, fishing lure, fishing boat and ability to submit articles to his free article directory go to http://www.articlelog.com
There are a few basic methods that are effective in catching catfish. This article explains all.
There are a few basic methods that are effective in catching catfish. Bear in mind that specific methods are applicable to specific kinds of waters. That is because techniques and baiting mixtures are formulated for specific targets.
The following methods are simple, yet proven successful when used:
1) Rigging method - Depending on the bait used, loop the bait holder or the treble hook from a line to a preferred distance to the end. Bait movement is not suggested; therefore, a weight must be used to allow the rig to be still. A good distance shall be about 18" to 24."
Same as the first method, using the Slipweight to make the bait stable is also effective. The weight does not matter as long as it can slide in the line. The fish will not feel any weight and it will be late until they realize that the bait is fake.
Multibait technique allows multiple catches at once. Simply place three-way swivel along the line. As it draws more strikes it makes a great choice for catching more catfish at the same time.
2) Bait - Experts opt for chicken livers or medium sized shrimp from groceries. The shrimp's tail and skin must be removed and body should be big enough to slide up in a number 6 hook. This is simpler than the chicken which necessitates the use of pantyhose.
A diameter of a quarter is wrapped in a piece of pantyhose leaving a tag end then attach it through the treble hook. Blood worms, minnows, catfish paste, night crawlers, snails, living or dead small fish, and dough baits are also good choices of baits. Remember that the best baits are always those that nature produced.
3) Chumming - Fishermen catch more catfish with this method. This is simply throwing balls of mixtures of natural recipes in the fishing area. This attracts more catfish; the trick is that the mixture should be right enough for the catfish to feed heavily. The hook that will be used to fish normally must have the same recipe for the bait. Adding a good smelling flavor into the pasty mixture attracts catfish more.
4) Tackling - Although the technique involved in this method is by far effective, it's still the bait that attracts and brings the catfish in. As simple as it is, the tackle should be about 6 feet long with a spinning real.
Choose heavier lines to allow more battle between the fisherman and the catfish. It doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. The experience you get from a cheaper tackle is no different from an expensive one.
Make sure the grip is secure hooks are removed by pliers after catching the fish. Avoid being stuck with the fins as some are poisonous. Just simply sliding the hand up to its belly from tail, placing the fingers behind one side and thumb behind the other can remove the catfish from the hook without any harm. Happy catfishing and good luck!
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Pino Tedesco is a leading web content provider, get free fishing articles from his article directory. Information includes fishing,fly fishing, fishing lure, fishing boat and ability to submit articles to his free article directory go to http://www.articlelog.com
How to Give Your Cat Medicine
Submitted by Jude
Have you ever tried to medicate a cat? If you have, you probably have a few scratches to prove it!
Have you ever tried to medicate a cat? If you have, you probably have a few scratches to prove it! Cats only want to do something if it's their idea. And, it's never their idea to have a pill pushed down their throat. So, how do you manage getting that medicine into his body without coming out on the wrong side of his claws?
If the medicine is a pill, the easiest way to feed it to her is by putting it into her food. Of course, you'll have to crush it into powder form first. Using two spoons, put the pill into one and use the back of the other to break it down. Then, mix it into her canned cat food. If you only feed her dry food, she'll really think she's getting a treat with doctored up canned food!
If the medicine is a capsule and not a pill, you have it made. All you have to do is take the capsule apart and mix it into the canned cat food.
If you have a sick cat, he won't want to eat. In this case, you might want to purchase a pet piller. Your veterinarian will have these available for you. They are plastic rods that the pill fits into. You press the plunger to direct the pill into kitty's throat. Be careful that you don't push the rod too far or you could injure him.
Now, getting the pet piller into his mouth is another thing. He won't want it in his mouth at all! If he is still a kitten, you can wrap him in a towel so that it's easier to handle him. You can try using a towel with an older cat and it "might" work. Otherwise, you'll just have to hold on tight and not let him loose.
If you're afraid of hurting your cat or kitten with the rod and plunger system, you can try to give him the pill by hand. This is NOT easy! Tuck her under your arm to hold her still and open her mouth by pushing gently on each side of it. Put the pill as far back into her mouth as you can manage and hold her mouth closed for a minute or so. She should swallow it then, if she hasn't already.
If your cat has been sick for a while, it may be easier to give him his medicine. He won't feel like putting up much of a fight.
Treat your kitty gently while giving her the pill or other medications. She's never going to like the medication-taking process, but if you are gentle, you won't have her running from you every time you enter the room.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Jude Wright is the owner of two cats who she treats as her babies. Visit CatAndKittenCare.com for information on cat and kitten health, cat breeds and more.
Have you ever tried to medicate a cat? If you have, you probably have a few scratches to prove it!
Have you ever tried to medicate a cat? If you have, you probably have a few scratches to prove it! Cats only want to do something if it's their idea. And, it's never their idea to have a pill pushed down their throat. So, how do you manage getting that medicine into his body without coming out on the wrong side of his claws?
If the medicine is a pill, the easiest way to feed it to her is by putting it into her food. Of course, you'll have to crush it into powder form first. Using two spoons, put the pill into one and use the back of the other to break it down. Then, mix it into her canned cat food. If you only feed her dry food, she'll really think she's getting a treat with doctored up canned food!
If the medicine is a capsule and not a pill, you have it made. All you have to do is take the capsule apart and mix it into the canned cat food.
If you have a sick cat, he won't want to eat. In this case, you might want to purchase a pet piller. Your veterinarian will have these available for you. They are plastic rods that the pill fits into. You press the plunger to direct the pill into kitty's throat. Be careful that you don't push the rod too far or you could injure him.
Now, getting the pet piller into his mouth is another thing. He won't want it in his mouth at all! If he is still a kitten, you can wrap him in a towel so that it's easier to handle him. You can try using a towel with an older cat and it "might" work. Otherwise, you'll just have to hold on tight and not let him loose.
If you're afraid of hurting your cat or kitten with the rod and plunger system, you can try to give him the pill by hand. This is NOT easy! Tuck her under your arm to hold her still and open her mouth by pushing gently on each side of it. Put the pill as far back into her mouth as you can manage and hold her mouth closed for a minute or so. She should swallow it then, if she hasn't already.
If your cat has been sick for a while, it may be easier to give him his medicine. He won't feel like putting up much of a fight.
Treat your kitty gently while giving her the pill or other medications. She's never going to like the medication-taking process, but if you are gentle, you won't have her running from you every time you enter the room.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
Jude Wright is the owner of two cats who she treats as her babies. Visit CatAndKittenCare.com for information on cat and kitten health, cat breeds and more.
8 Must-Have Ingredients for Your Homemade Cat Food Recipe
Submitted by Rona
Thinking of Preparing Your Own Homemade Cat Food Recipe? Make Sure You Have These Important Ingredients Before You Start.
If you want to know exactly what your cat is being fed each day, then the best way is to prepare a homemade cat food recipe yourself. However, for your cat to remain healthy, it is important to ensure that your homemade cat food recipe includes sufficient animal protein, calcium, phosphorus, iodine and vitamins. This is usually obtained from red meat, liver, kidney, heart, chicken and sometimes milk.
Generally, raw food contains more nutrients as cooking destroys some vitamins, especially vitamin B. If you are squeamish about feeding raw food to your cat and intend to feed your cat cooked food instead, then you may need to provide pet food supplements in your cat's diet. Your vet will be able to advise you on appropriate pet food supplements, based on your homemade cat food diet.
Here are some important ingredients which you should incorporate into your homemade cat food diet:
INGREDIENT #1 - Meat and Meat By-Products
Both red and white meat contains protein, B-group vitamins, fat and energy. Highest sources of protein are beef, chicken (meat) and liver, followed by heart, chicken skin, lamb, kidney and chicken necks.
All types of meat are deficient in vitamin A therefore, it is good to feed liver to your cat as it is rich in vitamin A. However, liver should not be more than 10% of your cat food diet as too much vitamin A can lead to skeletal problems and other abnormal bone growth. If you are worried about an overdose of vitamin A, feed cooked liver to your cat instead of raw liver. Or as a rough guide, feed raw liver not more than once a week.
INGREDIENT #2 - Fish
It is good to have a mix of the 2 main types of fish: white fish and fatty/oily fish (such as tuna). White fish is leaner but is weak in vitamins A, D, E and K.
Fatty and oily fish on the other hand, contain high levels of vitamins A and D but your cat may suffer a case of steatites (a painful inflammation of fat deposits under the skin) if it is fed too much fatty fish.
In the case of fish, it is advisable to cook the fish first. Raw fish contains thiaminase, an enzyme which destroys thiamine, an important vitamin B. Cooking destroys thiaminase and helps to retain more vitamins in the food.
Whole fish (including the bones) is very nutritional cat food as fish bones contain calcium and phosphorus. However, to prevent fish bones from getting caught in your cat's teeth or throat, it is good to soften the bones first. You can do this by pressure cooking, boiling or stewing.
INGREDIENT #3 - Eggs
Eggs are high in animal protein, iron, vitamins, fats and carbohydrates and are ideal to include in your homemade cat food. However, too much may be harmful as the egg whites contain avidin which destroys a B vitamin that is essential for good hair and skin health and proper muscle function.
As a general guide, feed raw egg not more than once a week. If you feed the egg yolk only, then you may increase this to no more than 3 times a week.
INGREDIENT #4 - Milk, Cheese and Yoghurt
Dairy products are high in protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and the B vitamins.
Kittens generally like warmed milk and cream. But as they mature, they become lactose-intolerant and may develop diarrhea. You can get low-lactose cat milk which is available in supermarkets. Cream is fattening and too much may result in an obese cat.
Cheese may be a better dairy alternative as it does not contain lactose. However, some cats do not appreciate the taste and will not eat it.
INGREDIENT #5 - Fats and Oils
Fats are essential in your homemade cat food to ensure your cat's skin doesn't become itchy, dry and scurfy.
Good sources are safflower or corn oil and fish fats. Safflower is the preferred choice.
INGREDIENT #6 - Vegetables
Vegetables provide vitamin C and some are rich in B vitamins. It also provides fibre which should form about 5% of your homemade cat food diet. Mix vegetables with meat or fish and cook it as a stew. Most cats will eat the vegetables if cooked this way.
INGREDIENT #7 - Grains
Grains provide carbohydrate, proteins, minerals and vitamins. Good sources are:
Wheatgerm - thiamine, vitamin E
Yeast - B vitamins, minerals, recommended for older cats
Rice - most cats will eat this and it is a good base for mixing with meat and fish
Wheat, oats, barley - higher protein content and less fattening than rice
INGREDIENT #8 - Water
Lastly, and probably more important than any of the above, a fresh clean supply of water must always be available. Generally, your cat will need about 40ml of water per kg of body weight. However, environmental temperature, your cat's consumption of dry food and ailments may require you to adjust accordingly.
Your cat is an individual and will have its own likes and dislikes. Different pedigrees may also have different requirements. It is always advisable to check with your vet and seek professional advice before preparing your homemade cat food.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
For more information on giving the best cat care for your cat, visit http://www.My-Pet-Cat.com
Thinking of Preparing Your Own Homemade Cat Food Recipe? Make Sure You Have These Important Ingredients Before You Start.
If you want to know exactly what your cat is being fed each day, then the best way is to prepare a homemade cat food recipe yourself. However, for your cat to remain healthy, it is important to ensure that your homemade cat food recipe includes sufficient animal protein, calcium, phosphorus, iodine and vitamins. This is usually obtained from red meat, liver, kidney, heart, chicken and sometimes milk.
Generally, raw food contains more nutrients as cooking destroys some vitamins, especially vitamin B. If you are squeamish about feeding raw food to your cat and intend to feed your cat cooked food instead, then you may need to provide pet food supplements in your cat's diet. Your vet will be able to advise you on appropriate pet food supplements, based on your homemade cat food diet.
Here are some important ingredients which you should incorporate into your homemade cat food diet:
INGREDIENT #1 - Meat and Meat By-Products
Both red and white meat contains protein, B-group vitamins, fat and energy. Highest sources of protein are beef, chicken (meat) and liver, followed by heart, chicken skin, lamb, kidney and chicken necks.
All types of meat are deficient in vitamin A therefore, it is good to feed liver to your cat as it is rich in vitamin A. However, liver should not be more than 10% of your cat food diet as too much vitamin A can lead to skeletal problems and other abnormal bone growth. If you are worried about an overdose of vitamin A, feed cooked liver to your cat instead of raw liver. Or as a rough guide, feed raw liver not more than once a week.
INGREDIENT #2 - Fish
It is good to have a mix of the 2 main types of fish: white fish and fatty/oily fish (such as tuna). White fish is leaner but is weak in vitamins A, D, E and K.
Fatty and oily fish on the other hand, contain high levels of vitamins A and D but your cat may suffer a case of steatites (a painful inflammation of fat deposits under the skin) if it is fed too much fatty fish.
In the case of fish, it is advisable to cook the fish first. Raw fish contains thiaminase, an enzyme which destroys thiamine, an important vitamin B. Cooking destroys thiaminase and helps to retain more vitamins in the food.
Whole fish (including the bones) is very nutritional cat food as fish bones contain calcium and phosphorus. However, to prevent fish bones from getting caught in your cat's teeth or throat, it is good to soften the bones first. You can do this by pressure cooking, boiling or stewing.
INGREDIENT #3 - Eggs
Eggs are high in animal protein, iron, vitamins, fats and carbohydrates and are ideal to include in your homemade cat food. However, too much may be harmful as the egg whites contain avidin which destroys a B vitamin that is essential for good hair and skin health and proper muscle function.
As a general guide, feed raw egg not more than once a week. If you feed the egg yolk only, then you may increase this to no more than 3 times a week.
INGREDIENT #4 - Milk, Cheese and Yoghurt
Dairy products are high in protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and the B vitamins.
Kittens generally like warmed milk and cream. But as they mature, they become lactose-intolerant and may develop diarrhea. You can get low-lactose cat milk which is available in supermarkets. Cream is fattening and too much may result in an obese cat.
Cheese may be a better dairy alternative as it does not contain lactose. However, some cats do not appreciate the taste and will not eat it.
INGREDIENT #5 - Fats and Oils
Fats are essential in your homemade cat food to ensure your cat's skin doesn't become itchy, dry and scurfy.
Good sources are safflower or corn oil and fish fats. Safflower is the preferred choice.
INGREDIENT #6 - Vegetables
Vegetables provide vitamin C and some are rich in B vitamins. It also provides fibre which should form about 5% of your homemade cat food diet. Mix vegetables with meat or fish and cook it as a stew. Most cats will eat the vegetables if cooked this way.
INGREDIENT #7 - Grains
Grains provide carbohydrate, proteins, minerals and vitamins. Good sources are:
Wheatgerm - thiamine, vitamin E
Yeast - B vitamins, minerals, recommended for older cats
Rice - most cats will eat this and it is a good base for mixing with meat and fish
Wheat, oats, barley - higher protein content and less fattening than rice
INGREDIENT #8 - Water
Lastly, and probably more important than any of the above, a fresh clean supply of water must always be available. Generally, your cat will need about 40ml of water per kg of body weight. However, environmental temperature, your cat's consumption of dry food and ailments may require you to adjust accordingly.
Your cat is an individual and will have its own likes and dislikes. Different pedigrees may also have different requirements. It is always advisable to check with your vet and seek professional advice before preparing your homemade cat food.
ArticleSource: ArticlesAlley.com
For more information on giving the best cat care for your cat, visit http://www.My-Pet-Cat.com
The Task Of Toilet Training A Cat Is Not Different From That Of A Toddler
By Muna wa Wanjiru
Training a toddler to use the toilet is hard enough think about toilet training your cat! There are many books that have been written on this particular subject. Earlier times when people actually lived in houses that had gardens you would find that cats go into the garden and do their potty right in the garden soil and then cover it up with more soil. However, times have changed now and more people are living in apartments where there are no gardens for the cats to use and it is very difficult toilet training a cat.
Now that you have a cat in your apartment and would like to toilet train it. Just imagine how you would go about it. You could buy books where they teach you how to toilet train your cat. But most of the advice that is given in those books simply do not work on all cats.
Each cat has its own unique personality and what works for one cat need not work for another. Normally in homes we have what is called the litter box where the cat goes and eases it self. But the litter box can get smelly too and the whole smell can pervade the house causing an unpleasant experience especially to guests.
But to toilet train your cat you must first make your cat use the litter box. Slowly as time goes by you can get your cat toilet trained easily with a little bit of patience. Begin by keeping the litter box all over the room and slowly move the litter box to the toilet area.
Once the cat is aware that it has to use the litter box it will begin to look for the litter box to ease itself, so in a matter of time it will also come to the toilet. This is a good way of toilet training a cat.
As you move the litter box close to the toilet seat make sure that you also trim the sides of the litter box. Next place the litter box on the toilet seat and allow the cat to go up to the litter box. Allow the cat to be comfortable with the box on the toilet seat.
Next make a small hole in the centre of the litter box and allow the cat to get used to this also. Slowly the cat will get used to the hole in the litter box. The last step is to cut out the brims of the litter box fully, leave only the flat cardboard on the toilet seat, and watch your cat.
Once the cat has learnt to balance it self nicely on the toilet seat you will find that he has learnt to use the toilet all by itself and you can pride yourself that you have been successful in toilet training a cat.
You can read books written by many people on toilet training a cat and also look up the internet for articles written by many people who have toilet trained their cats successfully.
About the author:
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Toilet Training for Years. For More Information on toilet training a cat, Visit His Site at TOILET TRAINING A CATI Will Also Highly Appreciate Your Views On toilet training a cat At My Blog here Toilet Training A Cat
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Training a toddler to use the toilet is hard enough think about toilet training your cat! There are many books that have been written on this particular subject. Earlier times when people actually lived in houses that had gardens you would find that cats go into the garden and do their potty right in the garden soil and then cover it up with more soil. However, times have changed now and more people are living in apartments where there are no gardens for the cats to use and it is very difficult toilet training a cat.
Now that you have a cat in your apartment and would like to toilet train it. Just imagine how you would go about it. You could buy books where they teach you how to toilet train your cat. But most of the advice that is given in those books simply do not work on all cats.
Each cat has its own unique personality and what works for one cat need not work for another. Normally in homes we have what is called the litter box where the cat goes and eases it self. But the litter box can get smelly too and the whole smell can pervade the house causing an unpleasant experience especially to guests.
But to toilet train your cat you must first make your cat use the litter box. Slowly as time goes by you can get your cat toilet trained easily with a little bit of patience. Begin by keeping the litter box all over the room and slowly move the litter box to the toilet area.
Once the cat is aware that it has to use the litter box it will begin to look for the litter box to ease itself, so in a matter of time it will also come to the toilet. This is a good way of toilet training a cat.
As you move the litter box close to the toilet seat make sure that you also trim the sides of the litter box. Next place the litter box on the toilet seat and allow the cat to go up to the litter box. Allow the cat to be comfortable with the box on the toilet seat.
Next make a small hole in the centre of the litter box and allow the cat to get used to this also. Slowly the cat will get used to the hole in the litter box. The last step is to cut out the brims of the litter box fully, leave only the flat cardboard on the toilet seat, and watch your cat.
Once the cat has learnt to balance it self nicely on the toilet seat you will find that he has learnt to use the toilet all by itself and you can pride yourself that you have been successful in toilet training a cat.
You can read books written by many people on toilet training a cat and also look up the internet for articles written by many people who have toilet trained their cats successfully.
About the author:
Muna wa Wanjiru Has Been Researching and Reporting on Toilet Training for Years. For More Information on toilet training a cat, Visit His Site at TOILET TRAINING A CATI Will Also Highly Appreciate Your Views On toilet training a cat At My Blog here Toilet Training A Cat
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Litter Boxes For Cats
By : Charley Huang
As the market for pets is expanding, there are more and more choices available for pet owners now, and instead of plain cardboard litter boxes, there are various selections one can choose from for his cat. Litter boxes now range from old dishpans to used cardboards, or some store-stocked expensive products that you may find interesting.
Here are some choices of litter box you may consider:
a) Cardboard boxes. These are easy to obtain, and they’re disposable, which is inexpensive and ideal, although not a very reliable long-term solution. Cardboard litter boxes are popular with pet stores, animal shelters and breeders, but perhaps choosing something more lasting and sturdy would be a better idea.
b) Plastic pans. There are a large variety of plastic pans in ranges of shapes and sizes available that will be a better litter box for your cat. These pans are affordable and are easily obtained, as they can be bought in most household supply stores. There are shallow ones or deep ones, depending on your cat’s needs. Be certain to choose a pan that scrubs off easily, as plastic pans are not supposed to be disposable. However, if you do not prefer to clean the pans, you may find cardboard boxes a better idea.
c) Covered Litter Box Pans. Although not the smartest option, this choice is also worth consideration. Covered pans manufacturers claim that having a lid on the litter box will prevent children and smaller pets from accessing the litter box as well as keep the house from stinking. Although it carries some truth, some pet owners are liable to forget to clean the box as often, as they cannot smell the cat’s poop due to the lid of the pan. As a result, the cat will be forced to use a dirty and smelly litter box. Therefore, if a covered pan is your preferred choice of litter box for your cat, do remember to clean it more frequently than you would a non-covered litter box.
d) Self-cleaning litter box pans. Let’s face it, the worse part about being a pet owner is to clean up after the pet after it answered nature’s call. However, technology has allowed the invention of a “self-cleaning” litter box. Pet product manufacturers have found an almost hands-free solution. Some self-cleaning boxes come with inserts which you have to dispose of and replace with another. Others may have a rollover collector that captures the cat poop while the clean granules remain on the pan. The collector is then removed and disposed of while more granules are added if necessary.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
For more information on Cat Litter Boxes or visit www.siamesecatsinfo.com/4-types-of-cat-litter-boxes-you-can-choose-from/, 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
As the market for pets is expanding, there are more and more choices available for pet owners now, and instead of plain cardboard litter boxes, there are various selections one can choose from for his cat. Litter boxes now range from old dishpans to used cardboards, or some store-stocked expensive products that you may find interesting.
Here are some choices of litter box you may consider:
a) Cardboard boxes. These are easy to obtain, and they’re disposable, which is inexpensive and ideal, although not a very reliable long-term solution. Cardboard litter boxes are popular with pet stores, animal shelters and breeders, but perhaps choosing something more lasting and sturdy would be a better idea.
b) Plastic pans. There are a large variety of plastic pans in ranges of shapes and sizes available that will be a better litter box for your cat. These pans are affordable and are easily obtained, as they can be bought in most household supply stores. There are shallow ones or deep ones, depending on your cat’s needs. Be certain to choose a pan that scrubs off easily, as plastic pans are not supposed to be disposable. However, if you do not prefer to clean the pans, you may find cardboard boxes a better idea.
c) Covered Litter Box Pans. Although not the smartest option, this choice is also worth consideration. Covered pans manufacturers claim that having a lid on the litter box will prevent children and smaller pets from accessing the litter box as well as keep the house from stinking. Although it carries some truth, some pet owners are liable to forget to clean the box as often, as they cannot smell the cat’s poop due to the lid of the pan. As a result, the cat will be forced to use a dirty and smelly litter box. Therefore, if a covered pan is your preferred choice of litter box for your cat, do remember to clean it more frequently than you would a non-covered litter box.
d) Self-cleaning litter box pans. Let’s face it, the worse part about being a pet owner is to clean up after the pet after it answered nature’s call. However, technology has allowed the invention of a “self-cleaning” litter box. Pet product manufacturers have found an almost hands-free solution. Some self-cleaning boxes come with inserts which you have to dispose of and replace with another. Others may have a rollover collector that captures the cat poop while the clean granules remain on the pan. The collector is then removed and disposed of while more granules are added if necessary.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
For more information on Cat Litter Boxes or visit www.siamesecatsinfo.com/4-types-of-cat-litter-boxes-you-can-choose-from/, 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
Four Reasons Why You Have A Cat Litter Box Problem
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.
If your cat learns to link a bad experience with the litter box, she may start to resent the box. If this happens often enough, she may stop using the box altogether. You should be aware that the problem may have a physical cause at the root.
Here are four physical reasons why your cat can't or won't use the box properly.
1. Urination Pain - if your cat has a physical problem causing her pain when she urinates, she'll learn to hate the box. When she absolutely can't hold it anymore, she'll go on your bedroom carpet. Remember that cats often return to the same spot again and again until you remove the odor!
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. Joint or Muscle Pain - in order to use the litter box, cats have to be agile enough to get in and out of the box. They also have to be able to squat comfortably. Arthritis, an injury, or any problem with your cat's joints or muscles may cause your cat too much pain. The litter box becomes associated with pain, and your cat doesn't use it.
4. Limited Range of Motion - it's possible that your cat may not be able to climb up into the litter box. If you have an older cat, or injury or disease has limited her movement, she won't be able to use the box.
Many readers believe that litter box problems are always behavioral. I hope this article has shed some light on other possibilities. If your cat is having a physical problem that you are unaware of, your vet can help sort that out.
Once you determine the source of the problem is pain, then your vet can come up with a treatment plan. The treatments will vary for depending upon the underlying cause. Some retraining for your cat will probably be required. Just make sure to exercise a lot of patience while your cat readjusts.
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: http://www.articlerampage.com}
About the author: Kurt Schmitt publishes Cat Lovers Only as an aid to pet owners. See the site for the behavioral causes of a cat litter box problem and a longer 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.
If your cat learns to link a bad experience with the litter box, she may start to resent the box. If this happens often enough, she may stop using the box altogether. You should be aware that the problem may have a physical cause at the root.
Here are four physical reasons why your cat can't or won't use the box properly.
1. Urination Pain - if your cat has a physical problem causing her pain when she urinates, she'll learn to hate the box. When she absolutely can't hold it anymore, she'll go on your bedroom carpet. Remember that cats often return to the same spot again and again until you remove the odor!
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. Joint or Muscle Pain - in order to use the litter box, cats have to be agile enough to get in and out of the box. They also have to be able to squat comfortably. Arthritis, an injury, or any problem with your cat's joints or muscles may cause your cat too much pain. The litter box becomes associated with pain, and your cat doesn't use it.
4. Limited Range of Motion - it's possible that your cat may not be able to climb up into the litter box. If you have an older cat, or injury or disease has limited her movement, she won't be able to use the box.
Many readers believe that litter box problems are always behavioral. I hope this article has shed some light on other possibilities. If your cat is having a physical problem that you are unaware of, your vet can help sort that out.
Once you determine the source of the problem is pain, then your vet can come up with a treatment plan. The treatments will vary for depending upon the underlying cause. Some retraining for your cat will probably be required. Just make sure to exercise a lot of patience while your cat readjusts.
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: http://www.articlerampage.com}
About the author: Kurt Schmitt publishes Cat Lovers Only as an aid to pet owners. See the site for the behavioral causes of a cat litter box problem and a longer version of this article.
Caring for Cats – the easy way
By : lizzieb
You will need a great deal of commitment in order to own a cat as they do require some care (although not as much as dogs!) and can live as old as 15 years (or even longer in some cases).
Cats require feeding (daily), care and ‘play time’ on a regular basis. You will also have to take into consideration, before getting your cat, that you will have vets’ bills to pay for annual vaccines, worming and if treatment is required for any illnesses. These bills can sometimes be very costly, but you can purchase insurance for pets – it may be a good idea to ‘shop around’ to get the best deal.
Before getting your cat, you should purchase bowls for food and water, a collar (if you want the cat to wear one), a bed (or pet quilt), a few suitable toys, and some food.
A kitten should be fed throughout the day 4 times with a small amount of food each meal, reducing to 3 times a day at 3 months old, then at 6-8 months 2 meals per day. Older cats (over 12 months) should only be fed twice in the day (usually morning and early evening).
Cats groom themselves, but using a soft brush on the cat, especially the long haired variety, will help to cut down the number of hairballs in the cat’s stomach, which are caused by them licking / grooming themselves.
If you decide to have a cat-flap fitted to your door in order that the cat can come and go as it pleases, you will have to train it to use the flap. You can use tit-bits to entice the cat to go through the flap, when it is fully open. Start by opening the flap fully, just showing the tit-bit, then next time close the flap a little bit and keep on doing so until the cat realises that the flap will open with a small push of the head.
Cats like to sharpen their claws on most household furniture! Suites, corners of walls (thick paper), carpets. Invest in a scratch post – there are many to choose from. When the cat starts to scratch, lift the cat and place him/her next to the scratch post, they will soon get the message and use the post instead of the furniture.
If you are concerned about your cat going missing, or it being involved in an accident, you can have a micro-chip (approximately the size of a grain of rice) inserted into the back of the cat’s neck. The chip contains information, which can help to identify the cat as belonging to you.
It is often said that ‘a cat looks after itself’. This is obviously not really true, but they do have a more independent nature than some other domesticated pets. That said, they still make ideal companions when they ‘allow’ you to be their friend.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
Written by Liz for Rentaccomspain.com. Rent or buy your perfect Spanish retreat direct from the owner.
Find other articles on Spain articles2use.com
Find properties to buy in Spain Pixelvillas.com
You will need a great deal of commitment in order to own a cat as they do require some care (although not as much as dogs!) and can live as old as 15 years (or even longer in some cases).
Cats require feeding (daily), care and ‘play time’ on a regular basis. You will also have to take into consideration, before getting your cat, that you will have vets’ bills to pay for annual vaccines, worming and if treatment is required for any illnesses. These bills can sometimes be very costly, but you can purchase insurance for pets – it may be a good idea to ‘shop around’ to get the best deal.
Before getting your cat, you should purchase bowls for food and water, a collar (if you want the cat to wear one), a bed (or pet quilt), a few suitable toys, and some food.
A kitten should be fed throughout the day 4 times with a small amount of food each meal, reducing to 3 times a day at 3 months old, then at 6-8 months 2 meals per day. Older cats (over 12 months) should only be fed twice in the day (usually morning and early evening).
Cats groom themselves, but using a soft brush on the cat, especially the long haired variety, will help to cut down the number of hairballs in the cat’s stomach, which are caused by them licking / grooming themselves.
If you decide to have a cat-flap fitted to your door in order that the cat can come and go as it pleases, you will have to train it to use the flap. You can use tit-bits to entice the cat to go through the flap, when it is fully open. Start by opening the flap fully, just showing the tit-bit, then next time close the flap a little bit and keep on doing so until the cat realises that the flap will open with a small push of the head.
Cats like to sharpen their claws on most household furniture! Suites, corners of walls (thick paper), carpets. Invest in a scratch post – there are many to choose from. When the cat starts to scratch, lift the cat and place him/her next to the scratch post, they will soon get the message and use the post instead of the furniture.
If you are concerned about your cat going missing, or it being involved in an accident, you can have a micro-chip (approximately the size of a grain of rice) inserted into the back of the cat’s neck. The chip contains information, which can help to identify the cat as belonging to you.
It is often said that ‘a cat looks after itself’. This is obviously not really true, but they do have a more independent nature than some other domesticated pets. That said, they still make ideal companions when they ‘allow’ you to be their friend.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
Written by Liz for Rentaccomspain.com. Rent or buy your perfect Spanish retreat direct from the owner.
Find other articles on Spain articles2use.com
Find properties to buy in Spain Pixelvillas.com
4 Common Cat Symptoms That Need Your Attention
Of the most common illness symptoms your cat can exhibit, these 4 probably have the most potential to signal a possible emergency. If any of these systems appear as I describe below, an immediate consultation with your vet is recommended. While it is possible that your cat may exhibit some of these symptoms and not have a serious problem, caution is in order.
The fact is, cats are fairly self-sufficient, and they may recover from a mild illness even before you know they're sick. It's easy then, to overlook something that we are sure our cat will recover from. It's also possible that one or more of the following cat symptoms could indicate that your cat may have a serious illness or underlying condition as the cause. Pay very close attention to your cat's behavior, and if you notice any of the following possible symptoms, take action right away.
Vomiting - Vomiting is a very common activity for a cat. Hairballs are probably the most frequent cause of vomiting, and are usually of little concern. Well, except for the clean up. But cats get into all manner of things, so it's not too surprising they have a habit of giving some of those things back. They may also have allergic reactions to plants and other items that can cause digestive distrubance. It might just be a hairball, but be alert to the possibility of a more serious problem if your cat is persistently vomiting. Poisons, intestinal disturbances, or serious illness could be the reason.
Diarrhea - Diarrhea, like vomiting could be a sign of a more serious problem than simply indigestion. It also causes dehydration, so do not let this go on for long without contacting your vet.
Refusing to eat or drink - Refusal to eat or drink for extended periods, or outside of your cat's normal routine is a red flag. Make sure you know your cat's eating and drinking habits well, and be alert to any changes. Sick animals often stop eating, so pay attention to what your cat is trying to tell you.
Lethargy - Cats sleep a lot, it's true. Lethargy, however, is one cat symptom that should not be ignored. It is an indication of a problem and a sign to watch out for. Since cats sleep so much, it may be hard to detect if they are sluggish. If your cat is normally bubbly and active, but suddenly begins sleeping in a corner for an entire day, something is probably wrong. I failed to catch this behavior change with one of my cats once for about a day since she was out in the open and seemed fine. By day two, however, she was too weak to jump, and she ended up needing IV fluids and an antibiotic.
For the most part, cats are pretty sturdy creatures, and will recover from mild problems. There will be those times, however, when cat symptoms indicate a more serious condition that must be treated. Be on the alert for those occasions.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
Kurt Schmitt publishes www.cat-lovers-only.com where you can learn more about cat illness symptoms and all things cat.
The fact is, cats are fairly self-sufficient, and they may recover from a mild illness even before you know they're sick. It's easy then, to overlook something that we are sure our cat will recover from. It's also possible that one or more of the following cat symptoms could indicate that your cat may have a serious illness or underlying condition as the cause. Pay very close attention to your cat's behavior, and if you notice any of the following possible symptoms, take action right away.
Vomiting - Vomiting is a very common activity for a cat. Hairballs are probably the most frequent cause of vomiting, and are usually of little concern. Well, except for the clean up. But cats get into all manner of things, so it's not too surprising they have a habit of giving some of those things back. They may also have allergic reactions to plants and other items that can cause digestive distrubance. It might just be a hairball, but be alert to the possibility of a more serious problem if your cat is persistently vomiting. Poisons, intestinal disturbances, or serious illness could be the reason.
Diarrhea - Diarrhea, like vomiting could be a sign of a more serious problem than simply indigestion. It also causes dehydration, so do not let this go on for long without contacting your vet.
Refusing to eat or drink - Refusal to eat or drink for extended periods, or outside of your cat's normal routine is a red flag. Make sure you know your cat's eating and drinking habits well, and be alert to any changes. Sick animals often stop eating, so pay attention to what your cat is trying to tell you.
Lethargy - Cats sleep a lot, it's true. Lethargy, however, is one cat symptom that should not be ignored. It is an indication of a problem and a sign to watch out for. Since cats sleep so much, it may be hard to detect if they are sluggish. If your cat is normally bubbly and active, but suddenly begins sleeping in a corner for an entire day, something is probably wrong. I failed to catch this behavior change with one of my cats once for about a day since she was out in the open and seemed fine. By day two, however, she was too weak to jump, and she ended up needing IV fluids and an antibiotic.
For the most part, cats are pretty sturdy creatures, and will recover from mild problems. There will be those times, however, when cat symptoms indicate a more serious condition that must be treated. Be on the alert for those occasions.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
Kurt Schmitt publishes www.cat-lovers-only.com where you can learn more about cat illness symptoms and all things cat.
Can Cats Be Trained?
By : Bob Evanston
Many people think that a trained cat is an oxymoron. Cats are known for their independence, which endears them to some people and makes others prefer dogs. While cats are, in many ways, more independent and self-sufficient than dogs, this does not mean that they cannot be trained. This is especially important in regard to areas of problem behavior.
When cats cause owners a problem, such as regarding the litter box, destroying property or aggression, people too often think they have to either give up the cat or just tolerate the uncomfortable situation. For the vast majority of cats, this is happily not true. With a little effort, you should be able to train your cat into being a much better pet.
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.
One physical problems are ruled out, you should consider the condition and positioning of the litter box itself. It has to be frequently cleaned out or the cat will not want to use it. It should also be in a quiet space. Cats, like people, like to have their own "bathroom" not in the middle of things. It should also not be very close to the cat's food and water. The size should be just right as well -large enough, but also small enough to feel like a distinct space.
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.
If your cat is aggressive, try to become sensitive to its moods and body language. That way you won't try to touch him/her at the wrong time. Also, make sure your cat gets enough exercise. Take some time every day to play with him/her, but not too roughly (especially if aggression is the problem!). Playing has the dual purpose of giving your cat exercise and socializing him/her. Make sure your cat is spayed; this will, in general, make for a better pet and will curb aggression.
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: http://www.articlerampage.com}
If you want to improve your relationship with your cat, you might want to explore these resources: training cats ,covering all aspects of cat ownership and problem cats
Click here to get your own unique version of this article.
Many people think that a trained cat is an oxymoron. Cats are known for their independence, which endears them to some people and makes others prefer dogs. While cats are, in many ways, more independent and self-sufficient than dogs, this does not mean that they cannot be trained. This is especially important in regard to areas of problem behavior.
When cats cause owners a problem, such as regarding the litter box, destroying property or aggression, people too often think they have to either give up the cat or just tolerate the uncomfortable situation. For the vast majority of cats, this is happily not true. With a little effort, you should be able to train your cat into being a much better pet.
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.
One physical problems are ruled out, you should consider the condition and positioning of the litter box itself. It has to be frequently cleaned out or the cat will not want to use it. It should also be in a quiet space. Cats, like people, like to have their own "bathroom" not in the middle of things. It should also not be very close to the cat's food and water. The size should be just right as well -large enough, but also small enough to feel like a distinct space.
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.
If your cat is aggressive, try to become sensitive to its moods and body language. That way you won't try to touch him/her at the wrong time. Also, make sure your cat gets enough exercise. Take some time every day to play with him/her, but not too roughly (especially if aggression is the problem!). Playing has the dual purpose of giving your cat exercise and socializing him/her. Make sure your cat is spayed; this will, in general, make for a better pet and will curb aggression.
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: http://www.articlerampage.com}
If you want to improve your relationship with your cat, you might want to explore these resources: training cats ,covering all aspects of cat ownership and problem cats
Click here to get your own unique version of this article.
Cat Spraying - How to Stop Your Cat from Ruining Your Home
By : Annie Clark
Is your cat spraying in your home? If the answer is yes, then you are familiar with the terrible odor and the frustrations of trying to get the cat to stop spraying. Before you can solve the problem, you need to find out why your cat is spraying.
Territorial marking is the number one reason why cats spray. Felines are compelled to let others of their kind know that they are around. They may also spray when they are looking for a mate. If you have another cat in your home that fights with the culprit kitty, the spraying may be done to show aggression. Cats hanging around outside of your house can also cause your cat to spray. A move to a new home, the arrival of a new child, or other upsets to the cat's daily routines can cause the behavior. A cat that is under any kind of stress such as living in a noisy household can also resort to spraying.
Generally, male cats are sprayers. Females may also spray when they are stressed or in heat. The spray smell is different from regular urine because spray contains chemicals from the anal glands along with urine.
The quickest way to stop spraying is often to spay or neuter your cat if this has not already been done. The majority will not spray after being altered, but some still will. This option is most successful if performed before the kitty reaches maturity.
You may consider punishing your cat for spraying. Felines do not realize the connection between a punishment and the precipitating behavior. Actually, punishment may lead to even more spraying since the cat could become more stressed. Do not punish your cat!
Regular cleaning and scooping of the litter box is important as some cats will spray as a form of protest against poor litter box maintenance. Keep routines consistent including bed time, play time, and feeding. When your cat sprays, be sure to clean the area with enzyme cleaner so that no odor remains. Otherwise, the cat may return to the same spot to spray again.
After trying measures to curb spraying, take your cat to a veterinarian. Bladder infections and other health issues can lead to the behavior. Drugs for anxiety such as Prozac can also be prescribed, since your cat could be anxious even if you are not aware of it.
Try confining warring cats to different areas of your home. The best solution to this problem may turn out to be separating the cats permanently to different homes since a stressful home life is not good for either cat or your family. The cat may even stop spraying if removed from other cat and placed in a new home.
As cats can be territorial, another tactic could be to confine your cat to a small portion of your home. Since the feline won't have as large of a territory to defend, the spraying may stop. And, you will be reducing the number of accidents that you will have to clean.
Cat behaviorists will work you and your cat to solve behavior problems. They may be able to retrain your cat to behave appropriately after analyzing what factors are leading your feline to spray.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
Read Part II of this article for more solutions to stop cat spraying. Annie Clark is the owner of two former stray cats. More articles and cat products are available at Feline Info
Is your cat spraying in your home? If the answer is yes, then you are familiar with the terrible odor and the frustrations of trying to get the cat to stop spraying. Before you can solve the problem, you need to find out why your cat is spraying.
Territorial marking is the number one reason why cats spray. Felines are compelled to let others of their kind know that they are around. They may also spray when they are looking for a mate. If you have another cat in your home that fights with the culprit kitty, the spraying may be done to show aggression. Cats hanging around outside of your house can also cause your cat to spray. A move to a new home, the arrival of a new child, or other upsets to the cat's daily routines can cause the behavior. A cat that is under any kind of stress such as living in a noisy household can also resort to spraying.
Generally, male cats are sprayers. Females may also spray when they are stressed or in heat. The spray smell is different from regular urine because spray contains chemicals from the anal glands along with urine.
The quickest way to stop spraying is often to spay or neuter your cat if this has not already been done. The majority will not spray after being altered, but some still will. This option is most successful if performed before the kitty reaches maturity.
You may consider punishing your cat for spraying. Felines do not realize the connection between a punishment and the precipitating behavior. Actually, punishment may lead to even more spraying since the cat could become more stressed. Do not punish your cat!
Regular cleaning and scooping of the litter box is important as some cats will spray as a form of protest against poor litter box maintenance. Keep routines consistent including bed time, play time, and feeding. When your cat sprays, be sure to clean the area with enzyme cleaner so that no odor remains. Otherwise, the cat may return to the same spot to spray again.
After trying measures to curb spraying, take your cat to a veterinarian. Bladder infections and other health issues can lead to the behavior. Drugs for anxiety such as Prozac can also be prescribed, since your cat could be anxious even if you are not aware of it.
Try confining warring cats to different areas of your home. The best solution to this problem may turn out to be separating the cats permanently to different homes since a stressful home life is not good for either cat or your family. The cat may even stop spraying if removed from other cat and placed in a new home.
As cats can be territorial, another tactic could be to confine your cat to a small portion of your home. Since the feline won't have as large of a territory to defend, the spraying may stop. And, you will be reducing the number of accidents that you will have to clean.
Cat behaviorists will work you and your cat to solve behavior problems. They may be able to retrain your cat to behave appropriately after analyzing what factors are leading your feline to spray.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
Read Part II of this article for more solutions to stop cat spraying. Annie Clark is the owner of two former stray cats. More articles and cat products are available at Feline Info
Cat Facts
by
Denice Moffat
Cats prefer foods at body temperature—the temperature of freshly killed prey. They also prefer their food cut into ¼ inch chunks (especially when they are sick and need to be tempted.) And did you know that 60% of all cats like cold tomato juice? I’ve tried V-8 and it doesn’t seem to be at all tempting. We use this trick to entice kidney-failure cats to drink more liquids.
Cats are either right or left handed, showing a distinct preference for one paw over the other.
A healthy domestic cat can reach speeds up to 31 miles/hour, but can’t maintain that sprinting speed for more than a minute.
A cat licks their fur to keep cool in hot weather. Like dogs, they sweat only through the pads of their feet.
The cat’s whiskers are specially adapted to act as antennae. They are used to navigate, to detect movement and to judge the width of an opening. Whiskers are also an indicator of mood—when the whiskers are back, the cat is angry, so watch out. Some people think finding a whisker is good luck. I know one woman who is a millionaire that has a cat whisker collection!
Each cat ear is controlled by 32 muscles and can turn 180 degrees. Humans have only 6 muscles, so it’s harder to make our ears wiggle. Cat ears that are facing back or folded down are really ticked off, so watch out.
A cat’s fur has 60,000 hairs per square inch on the back and 120,000 hairs per square inch on the underside—No wonder cat owner’s have to empty their vacuum bags every time! Shedding is controlled by hormones and ambient temperature as well as light—even artificial light. Nervous cats shed more—especially when they get stuffed into a carrier and hauled off to the vet’s office.
Cats are highly territorial. A domesticated cat’s territory encompasses 150 acres. Apparently their acres intermingle as we see about eight cats in our backyard every day as they make their rounds. Only one is ours—there’s lots of neat cat entertainment stuff in our yard.
Jumpability: The human equivalent of the cat’s ability to leap would be jumping the width of a swimming pool.
Sense of smell: Humans have 5 million odor-sensitive cells in their noses—cats have 200 million. Of course this means they can smell when you don’t clean the litter box every day and will “inappropriately urinate” because of this.
Sleep habits: A healthy mature cat spends about 15% of its life in deep sleep, 50% in light sleep, and 30% in awake time. I’ve noticed that part of this wake time coincides with the human’s sleep time. This annoys the cat. This could be why my cat, Dagney, wakes me up about 2 a.m. every morning by sticking her paw in my mouth. Bleck! Cats attain full alertness faster than any other creature.
Milk Drinking: Most adult cats lack the enzymes necessary to digest milk, so if you must give your cat milk, be sure to give them only a couple teaspoons at a time. Yep—too much milk definitely gives the cat gas and sometimes diarrhea. It’s good to coordinate the milk-giving ceremony with your partner so that the cat does not double-dip.
Dieting: Neutered and spayed cats require fewer calories than intact cats do. A good rule of thumb is ½-3/4 cups per cat per day for lower quality foods and 1/3 cup per cat per day for the higher quality foods such as IAM’s, Max Cat, and Nutranuggets. Putting fat cats on starvation diets can kill them because the liver fat breaks down too fast causing a condition called ketosis.
Skin Disease: I’ve noticed in my naturopathic practice that cat’s with skin disease like fish flavors. Cats with liver and kidney disease like Chicken and Giblet or foods with liver and kidney in them. Cat’s with heart disease like heart-based foods. When the condition is repaired, they stop eating that particular flavor of food.
Hearing: Human beings can hear sounds up to 20,000 Hertz (cycles per second), dogs can hear up to 40,000 Hertz, and cats can hear up to 100,000 Hertz. Cats can even hear electrical currents in cords. Pretty amazing, huh?
Psychic: In China, cats have been used successfully as earthquake predictors for years.
Cats are color blind, but only need 1/6th of the light that humans require to see.
Cat digits: Cats have five toes on their front paws and four on their back. A polydactyl cat has more than the normal number of toes. Poly means many and dactyl means fingers (your Latin lesson for the day.) Polydactyl cats are known by various names - "mitten cats," "thumb cats," "six-finger cats" and "Hemingway cats." Hemingway cats were named after Ernest Hemingway who shared his home island with nearly 50 cats, including a 6-toed polydactyl given to him by a ship captain; the cats bred and the polydactyl trait became common. Hemingway's colony of cats was free-breeding with the local cat population and the ratio of polydactyl cats to normal-toes cats was about 50/50. There is a high rate of polydactyl cats in Boston, MA and in Portland, OR. I love polydactyl cats as they seem to be very friendly and tolerant of humans of all ages.
Why spay your cat? A single pair of cats and their offspring can produce as many as 420,000 cats in just seven years.
Cats like to hear whispering.
The cat has 26 facial expressions. The same parts of the human and feline brain correspond to emotion.
Cats show the following signs when stressed: Over-grooming, lack of grooming, self-mutilation, vocalization, aggression, listlessness, loss of appetite, depression. The product Feliway is an excellent product to alleviate stress for cats in new situations or in multi-cat environments where they don’t have enough space to make them feel comfortable.
Feliway is a synthetic feline pheromone use to control inappropriate urine marking behavior and to reassure cats in strange surroundings.
Cat Communication: Cats interpret a smile that shows teeth as aggression. This may be one reason why a cat will always go to the person who hates cats (they don’t smile at the cat or make direct eye contact!)
Please feel free to use any or all of the above tips as long as the reference box is noted.
Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1995. She has a content-rich website at http://www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free monthly newsletter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denice_Moffat
Article Source: http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/275256/cat-facts.html
Denice Moffat
Cats prefer foods at body temperature—the temperature of freshly killed prey. They also prefer their food cut into ¼ inch chunks (especially when they are sick and need to be tempted.) And did you know that 60% of all cats like cold tomato juice? I’ve tried V-8 and it doesn’t seem to be at all tempting. We use this trick to entice kidney-failure cats to drink more liquids.
Cats are either right or left handed, showing a distinct preference for one paw over the other.
A healthy domestic cat can reach speeds up to 31 miles/hour, but can’t maintain that sprinting speed for more than a minute.
A cat licks their fur to keep cool in hot weather. Like dogs, they sweat only through the pads of their feet.
The cat’s whiskers are specially adapted to act as antennae. They are used to navigate, to detect movement and to judge the width of an opening. Whiskers are also an indicator of mood—when the whiskers are back, the cat is angry, so watch out. Some people think finding a whisker is good luck. I know one woman who is a millionaire that has a cat whisker collection!
Each cat ear is controlled by 32 muscles and can turn 180 degrees. Humans have only 6 muscles, so it’s harder to make our ears wiggle. Cat ears that are facing back or folded down are really ticked off, so watch out.
A cat’s fur has 60,000 hairs per square inch on the back and 120,000 hairs per square inch on the underside—No wonder cat owner’s have to empty their vacuum bags every time! Shedding is controlled by hormones and ambient temperature as well as light—even artificial light. Nervous cats shed more—especially when they get stuffed into a carrier and hauled off to the vet’s office.
Cats are highly territorial. A domesticated cat’s territory encompasses 150 acres. Apparently their acres intermingle as we see about eight cats in our backyard every day as they make their rounds. Only one is ours—there’s lots of neat cat entertainment stuff in our yard.
Jumpability: The human equivalent of the cat’s ability to leap would be jumping the width of a swimming pool.
Sense of smell: Humans have 5 million odor-sensitive cells in their noses—cats have 200 million. Of course this means they can smell when you don’t clean the litter box every day and will “inappropriately urinate” because of this.
Sleep habits: A healthy mature cat spends about 15% of its life in deep sleep, 50% in light sleep, and 30% in awake time. I’ve noticed that part of this wake time coincides with the human’s sleep time. This annoys the cat. This could be why my cat, Dagney, wakes me up about 2 a.m. every morning by sticking her paw in my mouth. Bleck! Cats attain full alertness faster than any other creature.
Milk Drinking: Most adult cats lack the enzymes necessary to digest milk, so if you must give your cat milk, be sure to give them only a couple teaspoons at a time. Yep—too much milk definitely gives the cat gas and sometimes diarrhea. It’s good to coordinate the milk-giving ceremony with your partner so that the cat does not double-dip.
Dieting: Neutered and spayed cats require fewer calories than intact cats do. A good rule of thumb is ½-3/4 cups per cat per day for lower quality foods and 1/3 cup per cat per day for the higher quality foods such as IAM’s, Max Cat, and Nutranuggets. Putting fat cats on starvation diets can kill them because the liver fat breaks down too fast causing a condition called ketosis.
Skin Disease: I’ve noticed in my naturopathic practice that cat’s with skin disease like fish flavors. Cats with liver and kidney disease like Chicken and Giblet or foods with liver and kidney in them. Cat’s with heart disease like heart-based foods. When the condition is repaired, they stop eating that particular flavor of food.
Hearing: Human beings can hear sounds up to 20,000 Hertz (cycles per second), dogs can hear up to 40,000 Hertz, and cats can hear up to 100,000 Hertz. Cats can even hear electrical currents in cords. Pretty amazing, huh?
Psychic: In China, cats have been used successfully as earthquake predictors for years.
Cats are color blind, but only need 1/6th of the light that humans require to see.
Cat digits: Cats have five toes on their front paws and four on their back. A polydactyl cat has more than the normal number of toes. Poly means many and dactyl means fingers (your Latin lesson for the day.) Polydactyl cats are known by various names - "mitten cats," "thumb cats," "six-finger cats" and "Hemingway cats." Hemingway cats were named after Ernest Hemingway who shared his home island with nearly 50 cats, including a 6-toed polydactyl given to him by a ship captain; the cats bred and the polydactyl trait became common. Hemingway's colony of cats was free-breeding with the local cat population and the ratio of polydactyl cats to normal-toes cats was about 50/50. There is a high rate of polydactyl cats in Boston, MA and in Portland, OR. I love polydactyl cats as they seem to be very friendly and tolerant of humans of all ages.
Why spay your cat? A single pair of cats and their offspring can produce as many as 420,000 cats in just seven years.
Cats like to hear whispering.
The cat has 26 facial expressions. The same parts of the human and feline brain correspond to emotion.
Cats show the following signs when stressed: Over-grooming, lack of grooming, self-mutilation, vocalization, aggression, listlessness, loss of appetite, depression. The product Feliway is an excellent product to alleviate stress for cats in new situations or in multi-cat environments where they don’t have enough space to make them feel comfortable.
Feliway is a synthetic feline pheromone use to control inappropriate urine marking behavior and to reassure cats in strange surroundings.
Cat Communication: Cats interpret a smile that shows teeth as aggression. This may be one reason why a cat will always go to the person who hates cats (they don’t smile at the cat or make direct eye contact!)
Please feel free to use any or all of the above tips as long as the reference box is noted.
Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1995. She has a content-rich website at http://www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free monthly newsletter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denice_Moffat
Article Source: http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/275256/cat-facts.html
What To Do When Your Indoor Cat is Lost
by
Diana Rivers
OUR CAT GOT OUT
One night our “indoor only” cat, Julian, got out through an open second-story window and wandered off. We quickly learned the next morning how little we really knew about what he would do and how to get him back. Julian is the sweetest, most adorable cat, but he’s dumb as a box of rocks, and we knew he would have no idea how to get home. We hadn’t thought he needed a collar, being an indoor cat, nor did he have a microchip implant with our information should he be found and taken to the local humane association or vet’s office.
For two days my husband and I walked our neighborhood for five blocks in each direction, asking everyone on the street if they had seen him. We put up fliers with his picture and enlisted the eager help of young neighbor children. We called his name over and over as we walked with a bag of food that we would shake. One of our friends brought a dog to sniff him out. Julian never answered and was nowhere to be found. It was like he has simply vanished.
Finally we found him about fifty feet from his point of escape, hiding in a neighbor’s garage. The garage door had been open most of the time he was missing and we had walked right by him numerous times, calling his name. In spite of that he didn’t meow and he didn’t come home. We figured it was because the home had two large dogs and he was frozen with fear. Don’t overlook a home or yard just because it has dogs that live there! Our cat was right under the nose of two so-called retrievers who never noticed him. We went back around the neighborhood and told everyone that we had found him. By that point they cared too!
DON’T FREEZE UP
Don’t fall into the trap of GRIEF AVOIDANCE where you tell yourself the cat is already gone for good; you won’t be able to avoid the pain of loss by saying it’s just a cat. Your cat is probably within a five block radius and can most likely be found!
We learned from the shelters and vets that any cat can become “displaced” when moved, chased or otherwise dislocated from its territory, like jumping out a window. For indoor cats, the inside of its home is its territory, so it will quickly feel displaced once outside.
WHAT DO CATS DO?
Disoriented and afraid, most “indoor only” cats will NOT come to you even if they know your voice, recognize you or your scent, or hear the sound of food being shaken. Their instinct is to hunker down in a concealed place, USUALLY NEAR THE POINT OF ESCAPE. They will NOT MEOW because that would tell predators where they are. This is not because the cat does not love you; rather, silence is a scared cat’s survival instinct.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Your best technique for finding the cat is to GO HOUSE TO HOUSE in your neighborhood, checking every area in which a cat could conceal itself, such as under porches, in bushes, under decks, up trees, anywhere small enough for a cat to fit. Ask your neighbors if you can search their property. All of ours said yes and most got out and helped. Call a few friends to help you. More people can cover a wider area and the moral support will help you. If it is nighttime, use flashlights as they will reflect the cat’s eyes. Remember: cats do not run away; they are waiting to be found.
You can also rent a HUMANE TRAP from most humane associations for about ten dollars. These are also sold at home stores like Fleet Farm or Home Depot. The traps look like long cages. Set one up near your home by a door and put kitty’s food inside. Once the cat gets inside to chow down, the back of the trap drops and he’s safely inside.
You should also contact the police and let them know your cat is missing. They are the ones who pick up injured and dead animals from roadways and can let you know if a cat matching yours has been found. Also contact the local humane association and give them a description of your cat so they can identify him if someone brings him in. Call them daily and make friends with the people who answer the phone. Write their numbers down in one place so if you need to call the next day you won’t have to look it up each time.
Of course, putting up fliers and placing an ad in the newspaper might help as well, but these methods are far less immediate than GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A FIND TOOTH COMB, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE POINT OF ESCAPE, AS SOON AS YOU FIND THE CAT IS MISSING.
Finally, don’t lose heart! While it’s hard to stay focused when you are emotionally distraught, remember that most cats get lost during their lives and most are found and return home. Unfortunately, lost cats need YOU to find THEM, not the reverse. You have to be persistent and determined. A methodical strategy is your best chance of getting him back. Our vet heard of a cat that was missing for 54 days, and due to the owner's persistence returned home safely. Don't give up!
Diana Rivers lives in Appleton, Wisconsin with her husband Michael and three cats: Marcus, Julian, and Ella. As soon as GPS locators get small enough, each family member will have one.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diana_Rivers
Article Source: http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/279725/what-to-do-when-your-indoor-cat-is-lost.html
Diana Rivers
OUR CAT GOT OUT
One night our “indoor only” cat, Julian, got out through an open second-story window and wandered off. We quickly learned the next morning how little we really knew about what he would do and how to get him back. Julian is the sweetest, most adorable cat, but he’s dumb as a box of rocks, and we knew he would have no idea how to get home. We hadn’t thought he needed a collar, being an indoor cat, nor did he have a microchip implant with our information should he be found and taken to the local humane association or vet’s office.
For two days my husband and I walked our neighborhood for five blocks in each direction, asking everyone on the street if they had seen him. We put up fliers with his picture and enlisted the eager help of young neighbor children. We called his name over and over as we walked with a bag of food that we would shake. One of our friends brought a dog to sniff him out. Julian never answered and was nowhere to be found. It was like he has simply vanished.
Finally we found him about fifty feet from his point of escape, hiding in a neighbor’s garage. The garage door had been open most of the time he was missing and we had walked right by him numerous times, calling his name. In spite of that he didn’t meow and he didn’t come home. We figured it was because the home had two large dogs and he was frozen with fear. Don’t overlook a home or yard just because it has dogs that live there! Our cat was right under the nose of two so-called retrievers who never noticed him. We went back around the neighborhood and told everyone that we had found him. By that point they cared too!
DON’T FREEZE UP
Don’t fall into the trap of GRIEF AVOIDANCE where you tell yourself the cat is already gone for good; you won’t be able to avoid the pain of loss by saying it’s just a cat. Your cat is probably within a five block radius and can most likely be found!
We learned from the shelters and vets that any cat can become “displaced” when moved, chased or otherwise dislocated from its territory, like jumping out a window. For indoor cats, the inside of its home is its territory, so it will quickly feel displaced once outside.
WHAT DO CATS DO?
Disoriented and afraid, most “indoor only” cats will NOT come to you even if they know your voice, recognize you or your scent, or hear the sound of food being shaken. Their instinct is to hunker down in a concealed place, USUALLY NEAR THE POINT OF ESCAPE. They will NOT MEOW because that would tell predators where they are. This is not because the cat does not love you; rather, silence is a scared cat’s survival instinct.
SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Your best technique for finding the cat is to GO HOUSE TO HOUSE in your neighborhood, checking every area in which a cat could conceal itself, such as under porches, in bushes, under decks, up trees, anywhere small enough for a cat to fit. Ask your neighbors if you can search their property. All of ours said yes and most got out and helped. Call a few friends to help you. More people can cover a wider area and the moral support will help you. If it is nighttime, use flashlights as they will reflect the cat’s eyes. Remember: cats do not run away; they are waiting to be found.
You can also rent a HUMANE TRAP from most humane associations for about ten dollars. These are also sold at home stores like Fleet Farm or Home Depot. The traps look like long cages. Set one up near your home by a door and put kitty’s food inside. Once the cat gets inside to chow down, the back of the trap drops and he’s safely inside.
You should also contact the police and let them know your cat is missing. They are the ones who pick up injured and dead animals from roadways and can let you know if a cat matching yours has been found. Also contact the local humane association and give them a description of your cat so they can identify him if someone brings him in. Call them daily and make friends with the people who answer the phone. Write their numbers down in one place so if you need to call the next day you won’t have to look it up each time.
Of course, putting up fliers and placing an ad in the newspaper might help as well, but these methods are far less immediate than GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A FIND TOOTH COMB, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE POINT OF ESCAPE, AS SOON AS YOU FIND THE CAT IS MISSING.
Finally, don’t lose heart! While it’s hard to stay focused when you are emotionally distraught, remember that most cats get lost during their lives and most are found and return home. Unfortunately, lost cats need YOU to find THEM, not the reverse. You have to be persistent and determined. A methodical strategy is your best chance of getting him back. Our vet heard of a cat that was missing for 54 days, and due to the owner's persistence returned home safely. Don't give up!
Diana Rivers lives in Appleton, Wisconsin with her husband Michael and three cats: Marcus, Julian, and Ella. As soon as GPS locators get small enough, each family member will have one.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diana_Rivers
Article Source: http://www.articleonlinedirectory.com/279725/what-to-do-when-your-indoor-cat-is-lost.html