by: Brock Lorber
Your cat has a love-hate relationship with your furniture. She loves to scratch the furniture, but it looks like hate to you. You can end this cycle of abuse with just a little bit of understanding.
Scratching comes naturally to your cat as a way to exercise, mark territory, and sharpen her claws. She only picks the couch because it’s perfect for her; it’s tall enough to give her a good stretch, sturdy enough to get a vigorous workout, and covered in claw-catching fabric.
In other words, the couch takes the abuse that should be given to furniture that the cat owns.
Plunking a scratching post in the middle of the room isn’t enough to take the heat off the couch, however. The cat needs to know that she owns the scratching post and that she pleases you when she uses it. It also needs to be acceptable to her as a scratching surface.
As far as your cat is concerned, any scratching post should let her stretch to reach the top and take her most vigorous abuse without moving. She likes them tall and sturdy!
Covering and placement of the scratching post are important, too. Carpet is OK, but sisal rope is better and she’s a sociable animal so put it in a place where the whole family congregates and she can maneuver all around it.
Cats are very adept at learning through imitation. The easiest way to teach your cat to use her scratching post is to use it yourself. Whenever you catch her investigating her post, scratch it a few times with your own claws. She’ll get the idea very quickly.
If your cat doesn’t pay any attention to the scratching post, you can always attract her with a little catnip. Get a cardboard scratching post and set it up next to the permanent post. Cardboard posts are infused with catnip, so it will draw her attention. Also rub some catnip on the sisal rope. It’ll drive her nuts!
As aloof as they may sometimes seem, the greatest joy in your cat’s life is pleasing you. Praise her when she uses the scratching post. Give her a simple, sharp “No!” when she scratches the furniture. As she craves attention and praise, she will use her scratching post just to show off!
The very instant your cat shows any interest in using her scratching post, block her access to the old scratching areas. Acrylic shields work perfectly, but anything your cat can’t scratch will do. With her access blocked, she’ll go looking for another favorite spot and her own scratching post will be the logical choice. Within a few days, she’ll forget about her old scratching spots altogether.
Your cat only wants to abuse nice furniture. The key is, make sure it’s her nice furniture and not yours.
About The Author
Brock Lorber provides cat and dog health advice. You can find more advice and great pet products at:
http://www.myotherkids.com
http://www.squidoo.com/cat_health_advice/
http://www.squidoo.com/dog_health_advice/
Cats Claw Medicinal Herb
by: Patricia McDougall
Cats claw is a large woody vine with small thorns at the base of the leaves. These thorns resemble the claws of a cat – a fact that has given rise to its name. The thorns help the vine to attach itself to neighboring trees and climb up to heights of 100 feet. Cats claw is grown mainly in the Amazon rain forests, tropical and jungle areas of South and Central America, and in parts of Asia. Countries where the Cats claw vine is found include Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad, Venezuela, Suriname, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama. Peru has recognized cats claw as a valuable medicinal resource and given it protected status.
Cats claw has a long history of use that extends to over 2000 years in central Peru and other South American countries. Recent research has confirmed many traditional beliefs and uses. Traditionally Cats claw herb has been in use to treat a variety of diseases including asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, bone pain, urinary tract inflammation, gastric ulcers, hemorrhages, irregular menstrual cycles, cirrhosis, abscesses, diabetes, tumors and cancer. Cats claw herb has also been used to heal deep wounds, and to help in recovering from childbirth. Some tribes have also been known to use the Cats claw herb as a contraceptive, though this seems to require a very large dosage.
The use of Cats claw since the 1990s as an adjunctive treatment for cancer and AIDS shows its acceptance by modern systems of medicine as a serious contender in strengthening the immune system. In combination with AZT, Cats claw has been used in clinical studies of possible treatments for AIDS. Apart from cancer and AIDS, the herb's immune stimulating effects have made it useful in preventing strokes and heart attacks, reducing blood clots, and for treating irritable bowel syndrome.
Cats claw contains many groups of plant chemicals that account for its curative properties. These include oxidole alkaloids that are responsible for its antileukemic and immune stimulant properties. Other groups of chemicals and compounds are responsible for its anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. A third group of compounds known as carboxyl alkyl esters contribute to its anti-cancerous and cell-repairing properties.
Medical researchers worldwide are very interested in studying Cats claw. The interest in Cats claw herb, which contains several groups of chemicals and compounds that bestow it with many curative properties, was natural, and has resulted in the preparation and marketing of several Cats claw extracts in many European countries. Patent applications in the US are pending for extraction methods of immunity strengthening drugs from Cats claw. With more researchers joining in from Spain, France, Japan, Germany, and Peru, the curative properties of this herb appear to have gained overwhelming acceptance by modern medical practitioners.
The inner bark and roots of Cats claw are used for the preparation of medicines. Cats claw is available to the consumer in the form of capsules and tincture. The tincture is prepared from pure Cats claw extracted in distilled water and 40% alcohol, and can be taken under the tongue or in water or juice. It is recommended to use 60 ml of tincture twice per day, or as required.
About The Author
Patricia McDougall B.Sc., Chartered Herbalist. Originally from Peru, where she studied traditional Amazon herbs, Patricia is the Director of Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC a leading manufacturer of medicinal herbs from Peru. http://www.amazon-botanicals.com/Cats_claw_herb_s/86.htm
Cats claw is a large woody vine with small thorns at the base of the leaves. These thorns resemble the claws of a cat – a fact that has given rise to its name. The thorns help the vine to attach itself to neighboring trees and climb up to heights of 100 feet. Cats claw is grown mainly in the Amazon rain forests, tropical and jungle areas of South and Central America, and in parts of Asia. Countries where the Cats claw vine is found include Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad, Venezuela, Suriname, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama. Peru has recognized cats claw as a valuable medicinal resource and given it protected status.
Cats claw has a long history of use that extends to over 2000 years in central Peru and other South American countries. Recent research has confirmed many traditional beliefs and uses. Traditionally Cats claw herb has been in use to treat a variety of diseases including asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, bone pain, urinary tract inflammation, gastric ulcers, hemorrhages, irregular menstrual cycles, cirrhosis, abscesses, diabetes, tumors and cancer. Cats claw herb has also been used to heal deep wounds, and to help in recovering from childbirth. Some tribes have also been known to use the Cats claw herb as a contraceptive, though this seems to require a very large dosage.
The use of Cats claw since the 1990s as an adjunctive treatment for cancer and AIDS shows its acceptance by modern systems of medicine as a serious contender in strengthening the immune system. In combination with AZT, Cats claw has been used in clinical studies of possible treatments for AIDS. Apart from cancer and AIDS, the herb's immune stimulating effects have made it useful in preventing strokes and heart attacks, reducing blood clots, and for treating irritable bowel syndrome.
Cats claw contains many groups of plant chemicals that account for its curative properties. These include oxidole alkaloids that are responsible for its antileukemic and immune stimulant properties. Other groups of chemicals and compounds are responsible for its anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. A third group of compounds known as carboxyl alkyl esters contribute to its anti-cancerous and cell-repairing properties.
Medical researchers worldwide are very interested in studying Cats claw. The interest in Cats claw herb, which contains several groups of chemicals and compounds that bestow it with many curative properties, was natural, and has resulted in the preparation and marketing of several Cats claw extracts in many European countries. Patent applications in the US are pending for extraction methods of immunity strengthening drugs from Cats claw. With more researchers joining in from Spain, France, Japan, Germany, and Peru, the curative properties of this herb appear to have gained overwhelming acceptance by modern medical practitioners.
The inner bark and roots of Cats claw are used for the preparation of medicines. Cats claw is available to the consumer in the form of capsules and tincture. The tincture is prepared from pure Cats claw extracted in distilled water and 40% alcohol, and can be taken under the tongue or in water or juice. It is recommended to use 60 ml of tincture twice per day, or as required.
About The Author
Patricia McDougall B.Sc., Chartered Herbalist. Originally from Peru, where she studied traditional Amazon herbs, Patricia is the Director of Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC a leading manufacturer of medicinal herbs from Peru. http://www.amazon-botanicals.com/Cats_claw_herb_s/86.htm
Significance Of Cat Pet Insurance
by: David Faulkner
Cats or felines as they are referred to in the scientific nomenclature are one of the popular species to have won the love of the humans as their pets. Cats being small and indoor type pet who loves to be around its owner than be in the outer expanse where they might fall prey to more strong animals around. The owners seem reluctant to buy an insurance cover for these beloved pet of theirs but they sometimes fail to understand that the sickness or any ailment might strike the feline even in the secured environment of the house.
The Risks to Cats and From Cats
The cats are prone to various diseases and their treatment thus could burn a hole in your pocket. It is thus advisable that you opt for an insurance cover. The cats are generally seen to suffer from mouth related diseases which might call for a extensive treatment. The consultation fee of the vet is high enough and above that the treatment cost and medication can become a real worrisome equation. To stop these issues from eating into your savings you should opt for a cat pet insurance cover.
Cats come into contact with various other felines as well and hence are prone to carry germs from other infected cats. Its co-habitation with the pet owner on the same premises may make pet owner prone to the diseases. The vets thus advise proper vaccinations to the home reared cats for your own safety. The cat becomes a part of the family for the pet owner making more emotional bonding to the pet, thus any untoward incident where in the cat attacks others could lead to severe lawsuits and thousands of dollars in damages. These issues can be acknowledged to a limit by buying an appropriate insurance cover for the pet cat.
Emotional Value is Greater than Financial value....Get your Cat Insured
The insurance policies or the insurance covers these days are affordable. The pet insurance is rated as per their utility and thus can be researched according to your needs. The cat pet insurance needs to satisfy main concerns of the pet owner about the inclusions or covered provisions, the exclusions from the policy, those things or medical ailments whose treatment is not covered and finally the costing. Though competition in the insurance segment have encouraged the insurance companies to pitch their products at a very competitive prices, the customized plans for the pet insurance are also on offer. You can hand pick the policy provisions and risks that you feel are real in the present living standards of your cat and the immediate habitat of it. Others could be ticked out thus bringing down the costs to an affordable value.
Pet insurance will also help if some people are not satisfied with the health of the puppy and want to seek veterinary care. You can consult your vet for his advice on which insurance cover to buy. Lastly you can search internet for more detailed information. Selecting the right insurance cover by comparing the ratings of the different policies is a dependable method.
About The Author
David Faulkner
You can also find more info on http://www.knowpetinsurance.com/Pet_Sitter_Insurance on Pet Sitter Insurance and http://www.knowpetinsurance.com/Travel_Pet_Insurance on Travel Pet Insurance. http://knowpetinsurance.com is a comprehensive resource to know about pet insurance.
Cats or felines as they are referred to in the scientific nomenclature are one of the popular species to have won the love of the humans as their pets. Cats being small and indoor type pet who loves to be around its owner than be in the outer expanse where they might fall prey to more strong animals around. The owners seem reluctant to buy an insurance cover for these beloved pet of theirs but they sometimes fail to understand that the sickness or any ailment might strike the feline even in the secured environment of the house.
The Risks to Cats and From Cats
The cats are prone to various diseases and their treatment thus could burn a hole in your pocket. It is thus advisable that you opt for an insurance cover. The cats are generally seen to suffer from mouth related diseases which might call for a extensive treatment. The consultation fee of the vet is high enough and above that the treatment cost and medication can become a real worrisome equation. To stop these issues from eating into your savings you should opt for a cat pet insurance cover.
Cats come into contact with various other felines as well and hence are prone to carry germs from other infected cats. Its co-habitation with the pet owner on the same premises may make pet owner prone to the diseases. The vets thus advise proper vaccinations to the home reared cats for your own safety. The cat becomes a part of the family for the pet owner making more emotional bonding to the pet, thus any untoward incident where in the cat attacks others could lead to severe lawsuits and thousands of dollars in damages. These issues can be acknowledged to a limit by buying an appropriate insurance cover for the pet cat.
Emotional Value is Greater than Financial value....Get your Cat Insured
The insurance policies or the insurance covers these days are affordable. The pet insurance is rated as per their utility and thus can be researched according to your needs. The cat pet insurance needs to satisfy main concerns of the pet owner about the inclusions or covered provisions, the exclusions from the policy, those things or medical ailments whose treatment is not covered and finally the costing. Though competition in the insurance segment have encouraged the insurance companies to pitch their products at a very competitive prices, the customized plans for the pet insurance are also on offer. You can hand pick the policy provisions and risks that you feel are real in the present living standards of your cat and the immediate habitat of it. Others could be ticked out thus bringing down the costs to an affordable value.
Pet insurance will also help if some people are not satisfied with the health of the puppy and want to seek veterinary care. You can consult your vet for his advice on which insurance cover to buy. Lastly you can search internet for more detailed information. Selecting the right insurance cover by comparing the ratings of the different policies is a dependable method.
About The Author
David Faulkner
You can also find more info on http://www.knowpetinsurance.com/Pet_Sitter_Insurance on Pet Sitter Insurance and http://www.knowpetinsurance.com/Travel_Pet_Insurance on Travel Pet Insurance. http://knowpetinsurance.com is a comprehensive resource to know about pet insurance.
Cats Dogs And Human Food - How Can Our Food Harm Our Pets?
by: Paul Counts
We’re all guilty of it – giving in to those big begging eyes pleading at us for a scrap from the table during dinner. Fido knows just how to get you to concede, and most of us justify that a little won’t hurt, or we don’t even think of the potential danger at all. But the truth is that human food can be harmful to your pet, and in some cases, can be fatal. It’s important to know how certain foods can be unsafe so that you can avoid them for the sake of your animal.
Here is how a few of some of the most common “human foods” become harmful for pets:
Chocolate and other foods containing caffeine
Caffeine is one of the greatest culprits because it contains an alkaloid called theobromine. Theobromine acts as a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic, which in turn can cause a heart attack or other heart and nervous system problems in animals.
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are potentially harmful due to the fact that both contain thiosulphate, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in cats and dogs. Of the two, onions are the most toxic, as consumption of simply one serving by your pet could result in anemia.
Milk
Milk can harm your pet due to the fact that many dogs and cats tend to be lactose intolerant. The consumption of milk and milk products by a lactose intolerant pet creates a breeding ground for bacteria, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Bones
Bones, although commonly known as a great treat for your dog, are potentially very dangerous for pets. Once eaten, bones can splinter and get stuck in the intestines, causing damage or fatality. In most splinter cases, the bones must be removed surgically.
Other Foods
Other human foods to avoid when feeding your pet are: macadamia nuts, potato peelings and green-looking potatoes, rhubarb leaves, moldy/spoiled foods, alcohol, yeast dough, tomato leaves and stems, broccoli, and raisins or grapes.
Some human foods potentially cause only mild digestive upsets, while others can be fatal. Regardless of the level of danger, the best choice for your pet is to keep him from any potentially harmful foods in order to ensure his health and safety.
During the holiday season, veterinary clinics have noticed a rising in the number of pets that they treat for food-related illnesses. The increase in pet illness is due to the fact that animals are partaking in human foods during mealtime. Although not well known by the public, the consumption of human food to pets is potentially harmful to animals, and in some instances, can be fatal.
The rise in food-related illnesses by pets is a clear indication that the dangers of human food consumption by animals are not understood by the masses.
So, the next time your pet looks up at you with those pleading eyes, show him you care by doing what is truly best for him and feeding him only products meant for pet consumption. In the end, both you and your pet will be glad that you did.
About The Author
Paul Counts and Tyler Clinton are the owners of http://Petronic.com and the editors of http://www.leadingedgepetcare.com. They are both passionate pet owners and entrepreneurs, and they provide a variety of high end pet supplies at http://www.petronic.com.
We’re all guilty of it – giving in to those big begging eyes pleading at us for a scrap from the table during dinner. Fido knows just how to get you to concede, and most of us justify that a little won’t hurt, or we don’t even think of the potential danger at all. But the truth is that human food can be harmful to your pet, and in some cases, can be fatal. It’s important to know how certain foods can be unsafe so that you can avoid them for the sake of your animal.
Here is how a few of some of the most common “human foods” become harmful for pets:
Chocolate and other foods containing caffeine
Caffeine is one of the greatest culprits because it contains an alkaloid called theobromine. Theobromine acts as a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic, which in turn can cause a heart attack or other heart and nervous system problems in animals.
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are potentially harmful due to the fact that both contain thiosulphate, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in cats and dogs. Of the two, onions are the most toxic, as consumption of simply one serving by your pet could result in anemia.
Milk
Milk can harm your pet due to the fact that many dogs and cats tend to be lactose intolerant. The consumption of milk and milk products by a lactose intolerant pet creates a breeding ground for bacteria, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Bones
Bones, although commonly known as a great treat for your dog, are potentially very dangerous for pets. Once eaten, bones can splinter and get stuck in the intestines, causing damage or fatality. In most splinter cases, the bones must be removed surgically.
Other Foods
Other human foods to avoid when feeding your pet are: macadamia nuts, potato peelings and green-looking potatoes, rhubarb leaves, moldy/spoiled foods, alcohol, yeast dough, tomato leaves and stems, broccoli, and raisins or grapes.
Some human foods potentially cause only mild digestive upsets, while others can be fatal. Regardless of the level of danger, the best choice for your pet is to keep him from any potentially harmful foods in order to ensure his health and safety.
During the holiday season, veterinary clinics have noticed a rising in the number of pets that they treat for food-related illnesses. The increase in pet illness is due to the fact that animals are partaking in human foods during mealtime. Although not well known by the public, the consumption of human food to pets is potentially harmful to animals, and in some instances, can be fatal.
The rise in food-related illnesses by pets is a clear indication that the dangers of human food consumption by animals are not understood by the masses.
So, the next time your pet looks up at you with those pleading eyes, show him you care by doing what is truly best for him and feeding him only products meant for pet consumption. In the end, both you and your pet will be glad that you did.
About The Author
Paul Counts and Tyler Clinton are the owners of http://Petronic.com and the editors of http://www.leadingedgepetcare.com. They are both passionate pet owners and entrepreneurs, and they provide a variety of high end pet supplies at http://www.petronic.com.
A Cat's Amazing Whiskers
by: Sharon Cowherd
Have you ever experienced the tickle from one of your cat’s whiskers as they brush against your face or neck? I have been tickled on many occasions from each of my cat’s as they rub up against me for attention or curling up on my shoulder to go to sleep. I never really thought about what they use their whiskers for, all I really knew is that they tickled me a lot.
Besides giving each cat their own unique distinction, whiskers are a functional part of a cat. Whiskers are a sensory system for cats made up of nerve endings that allow them to feel the lightest touch, even an air current.
Cats are known to be farsighted and they will use their whiskers to move around in those areas that they are not able to see clearly. Even cats that are blind or their vision is deteriorating will rely more on their whiskers to move about. Cats that are born with their vision impaired will often have longer whiskers to help them move around. If a cat were to lose their whiskers, they would more than likely bump into things.
You also can tell the mood of your cat from their whiskers. When your cat is calm you will see that their whiskers will be pushed forward. And if your cat is stressed out or is being defensive their whiskers will be pulled closer to their face.
If you have more than one cat, have you noticed that the whiskers of each of them are not the same? The length of a cat’s whiskers even varies between breeds. I currently have three cats and have noticed that each one has whiskers that are different in length to the others. I have also noticed that Tiggy my oldest cat has a few whiskers that are not all white, but have some black in them. While the other two, Leena and Cooper, have whiskers that are all white.
Most of us see the cat’s whiskers above their eyes and around their mouth, also called muzzle. But did you know that they also have whiskers on the back of their front legs or what would be considered their wrists. I never knew that, but after I read about it, I looked on mine and they have them. They are not as long as the whiskers on their face, but they have them.
Whiskers do get very long and some people are tempted to trim them thinking that they should be to help the cat. But whiskers are never to be trimmed, cut, or any other method of removing them. The cats do have nerve endings in the whiskers and they will feel the trimming and it will not be pleasant for them. Have you ever touched one of the whiskers on your cat’s face? Did you notice them blink or twitch? It is because their whiskers are very sensitive and should be treated with care.
Whiskers can be ticklish when applied to us in the right fashion, and they are a very distinctive characteristic on a cat. We should always leave a cat’s whiskers alone, as they are their guide to moving around.
About The Author
Sharon Cowherd maintains Caring for Your Cat, a blog about her experiences and knowledge of caring for her cats. You can read more about Sharon and her cats at http://www.caringforyourcat.com
Have you ever experienced the tickle from one of your cat’s whiskers as they brush against your face or neck? I have been tickled on many occasions from each of my cat’s as they rub up against me for attention or curling up on my shoulder to go to sleep. I never really thought about what they use their whiskers for, all I really knew is that they tickled me a lot.
Besides giving each cat their own unique distinction, whiskers are a functional part of a cat. Whiskers are a sensory system for cats made up of nerve endings that allow them to feel the lightest touch, even an air current.
Cats are known to be farsighted and they will use their whiskers to move around in those areas that they are not able to see clearly. Even cats that are blind or their vision is deteriorating will rely more on their whiskers to move about. Cats that are born with their vision impaired will often have longer whiskers to help them move around. If a cat were to lose their whiskers, they would more than likely bump into things.
You also can tell the mood of your cat from their whiskers. When your cat is calm you will see that their whiskers will be pushed forward. And if your cat is stressed out or is being defensive their whiskers will be pulled closer to their face.
If you have more than one cat, have you noticed that the whiskers of each of them are not the same? The length of a cat’s whiskers even varies between breeds. I currently have three cats and have noticed that each one has whiskers that are different in length to the others. I have also noticed that Tiggy my oldest cat has a few whiskers that are not all white, but have some black in them. While the other two, Leena and Cooper, have whiskers that are all white.
Most of us see the cat’s whiskers above their eyes and around their mouth, also called muzzle. But did you know that they also have whiskers on the back of their front legs or what would be considered their wrists. I never knew that, but after I read about it, I looked on mine and they have them. They are not as long as the whiskers on their face, but they have them.
Whiskers do get very long and some people are tempted to trim them thinking that they should be to help the cat. But whiskers are never to be trimmed, cut, or any other method of removing them. The cats do have nerve endings in the whiskers and they will feel the trimming and it will not be pleasant for them. Have you ever touched one of the whiskers on your cat’s face? Did you notice them blink or twitch? It is because their whiskers are very sensitive and should be treated with care.
Whiskers can be ticklish when applied to us in the right fashion, and they are a very distinctive characteristic on a cat. We should always leave a cat’s whiskers alone, as they are their guide to moving around.
About The Author
Sharon Cowherd maintains Caring for Your Cat, a blog about her experiences and knowledge of caring for her cats. You can read more about Sharon and her cats at http://www.caringforyourcat.com