Pets: A Look At Cat Breeds

By Nicholas Tan
A Look At Cat Breeds

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.

These days there are over 70 distinct cat breeds, which are recognized through cat registries. There are several registries that will recognize around 40 breeds or so, as they exclude the more domestic breeds such as tigers. There are also many variations as well, including wild cats that have longer hair.

There are some cat breeds who have roots going back quite a bit in history. Some Japanese breeds, such as the Japanese Bobtail, can be traced back more than 1,000 years in history. These cats were very common and well known throughout Medieval Japan. Now days though, they are all but a myth throughout Japan and the entire world.

The more common cat breeds that are found in North America include the alley cat, long haired cat, and Persian cat. Siamese cats are also common, although they are well known to be destructive and to have a foul temper. Persian cats are very popular, proving to be loving companions. Persian cats can be very expense, depending on where you get it and what type of Persian cat it is.

Alley cats are the most common in North America. There are actually several different breeds, although most of us just refer to them as alley cats. They make good pets, although there are literally thousands of them in existence. Cats are known to breed more than any other pet, and they will continue to breed until they are stopped. Alley cats are among the most bred, as there are hundreds of thousands of cats that are homeless - and have nothing to do but breed.

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.

Over the years, there has been quite a few breeds come along. Cats were one of the first pets, and easily one of the most popular. Millions of people around the world own cats, with many people preferring a cat over any other pet - including dogs. No matter breed of cat you get - you’re sure to get a pet who make for a great companion for years and years to come.

We provide grooming for dogs and cats, and free pet grooming consultation services! Our pet products include fashionable carriers, embroidered shirts, reversible raincoats, pet shoes, cotton dresses, pet food, pet carrier, dog ribbons, and other related pet products.

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Pets: Cats And Feline Diabetes

By Nicholas Tan
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.

Diabetes is more common with humans than with cats or other animals. The cause of diabetes is actually quite simple. Sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood. The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces. When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, diabetes is to blame.

The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary. The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst. Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat. An increase in thirst is easy to detect, as you can easily notice the water dish empty throughout the day.

If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma. On the other hand, if you get the diabetes treated in time, the cat will more than likely lead a normal and healthy life. Keep in mind that treatment doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication.

Cats that have feline diabetes will need to be given food at the same time every day. They should be prevented from going outside as well. If your cat has diabetes, you’ll need to give him insulin shots once or twice or a day. Once your veterinarian checks your cat, he will tell you how many shots and how much insulin you need to give your cat.

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.

If you have to give insulin shots to your cat due to feline diabetes, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after you have administered the shot. After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your vet may reduce the amount of insulin. Even though he may have to stay on insulin the rest of his life, he will lead an otherwise healthy life.

We provide grooming for dogs and cats, and free pet grooming consultation services & free grooming tips by breeds! Our pet products include fashionable carriers, embroidered shirts, reversible raincoats, pet shoes, cotton dresses, pet food, pet carrier, dog ribbons, and other related pet products.

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They Call It Puppy Love

By Ryan And Sabrina Konecky
A pug puppy learns to lick others soon after birth. The act not only keeps litter-mates clean, it also helps the puppies form a social bond. It's a way of communicating a show of respect and a want to bond with you. Dogs will also lick the face of a more dominant dog as a show of submission. If your dog tries to lick as you are disciplining him or her, they are just trying to tell you that they recognize that you're "the boss."

Not only does your pug show you affection by licking you, they communicate their feelings by favoring a particular side while wagging their tail. A study published in the March 20th, 2007 issue of Current Biology seems to indicate that dogs tend to wag their tails more to the right side of their bodies when they are experiencing positive emotions like love and excitement. Tail-wagging occurs mostly on the left side when they are experiencing negative emotions such as fear.

The dogs used in the study were exposed to their owner, a stranger, a cat, and a dominant dog at different times. Researchers used a special camera that tracked the dogs' tails. The dog's tail-wagging was more prominent on the right side when they were shown their owner. The tail wagged to the right when they were shown the stranger and the cat, but not as much as when they were exposed to their owner. The dominant dog, however, caused the dogs' tails to wag towards the left.

For those of us that have dogs to come home to, it's easy to tell that they love you. But if you're at all curious, check to see which side of their body the tail wags on most -- just keep in mind that when you're facing them, their right is your left!

Ryan and Sabrina are the very proud and passionate owners of a pug named Sierra. Sierra is an integral part of Ryan and Sabrina's family. Ryan and Sabrina operate http://www.SierraThePug.com . A site dedicated to providing health tips, information, and product reviews centered around pugs and dogs in general.

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Pets: An In Depth Look At Siamese Cats

By Nicholas Tan
The exotic and somewhat mysterious Siamese cat hails from the country of Thailand. They had always been a popular breed of cats, some even residing in royal palaces. Siamese cats, in the past, were trusted to protect royal palaces and monasteries from evil spirits. These cats were also thought of as bringing good fortune to their owners as well.

During the year of 1884, the very first Siamese cats began to make their way to England, when they were given as gifts to a British general. After that, they eventually made their way over to America. Now days, Siamese cats are one of the most recognized of the breed. Siamese cats are without a doubt the most popular short haired cat and among the top 3 in the entire breed of cats.

Even though there are several different colors to this breed, some questions what makes a cat a true Siamese cat. These cats have always been known for their bodies which are lighter in color, with darker areas throughout. The more darker areas found on their bodies are normally around the feet, tail, legs, or face. They can weight anywhere between 6 - 16 lbs, with bright eyes that are normally slanted - which is another clue that the cat is a true Siamese.

Traditionally, Siamese cats are robust, with round heads and a truly muscular build. They are well known throughout the world for their color points and unique personalities. Unlike other breeds, Siamese breeds have a talent for communicating with people. If you are looking for a cat that is nice and quiet, you wouldn’t want a Siamese cat. These cats love to play, love to make noise, and they also happen to be the most social breed of cats out there.

Siamese cats demand a lot of attention, because in their minds, they believe that the world revolves around them. For this very reason, they can tend be quite dependant on their owners. They love to play, and crave interaction. If you leave them alone for too long, they won’t like it. They like to get attention, love to play, and hate to be left by themselves.

Even though Siamese cats are emotionally high maintenance, they don’t need a lot of maintenance They need a minimum amount of grooming, which involves bathing every once in a while, and brushing maybe once or twice a month. If you like cats with minimal maintenance, Siamese cats are perfect. Their hair is short to their skin, so a gentle brushing is all you need. They can get sick however, which is to be expected with any breed of cat.

Siamese cats have a life span that is similar to other breeds, which is normally around 15 - 20 years, sometimes even longer. As long as you feed him on a daily basis and take him to the vet for his regular checkups and shots, he will be around for years and years to come. Most people who have their Siamese cat for over 10 years, find the cat to be more like a child than a pet.

No matter how you look at it, a Siamese cat is a great pet. Although the Siamese breed does require a lot of attention, they are excellent pets that you can spend a lot of time with. They are great for kids as well, simply because kids can spend a lot of time with them. As long as you give your pet the attention he craves - he will be your life long friend for as long as you have him.

We provide grooming for dogs and cats, and free pet grooming consultation services & free grooming tips by breeds! Our pet products include fashionable carriers, embroidered shirts, reversible raincoats, pet shoes, cotton dresses, pet food, pet carrier, dog ribbons, and other related pet products.

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Urinary Problems in Cats

By Alison Grimston
Introduction: Urinary problems are becoming more common in cats. Lower urinary tract (LURT) problems are related to diet, while kidney failure increases with maturity and so is commoner as cats live to a greater age.

Symptoms of urinary problems may include more frequent visits to the cat litter tray, weight loss, loss of appetite, and drinking excessively, and blood in the urine is common.

Stress and Cystitis: Emotion-induced cystitis in cats is related to chronic nerve stimulation, with excessive neurotransmitter release and re-use. Anti-depressants work by inhibiting the re-use of the neurotransmitter 5-HT. Additional methods of reducing stress, such as encouraging relaxation and uninterrupted sleep, and moving the cat litter tray to a calmer area, will also help.

Natural Defences: There are several ways in which the cat's physiology reduces the chances of LURT infections, making these rare, although commoner in females. There are natural, beneficial bacteria in the urethra, which by their very presence prevent colonisation by disease-causing bacteria. Mucus in the bladder helps stop any pathogens from becoming invasive, although mucus and urate crystals can cause painful urethral obstruction in male cats. Antibodies are released into the urine to help in the defence against pathogens, and urea and urine acidity reduce bacterial multiplication. Prostate secretions in males have antibacterial properties.

Most feline urine infections do not appear to be caused by bacteria, although it is possible that they are viral in nature.

Problems in the Urinary Tract: These include genetic abnormalities, injury, infection, poisoning, poor diet, age-related chronic renal failure, tumours, stress-induced cystitis, and mineral deposits - struvite and calcium oxalate

Conventional Treatments: There is now felt to be no need for a low protein diet in chronic kidney disease. Manage uraemia (excessive urea in the blood, a consequence of renal failure) instead by maintaining nitrogen balance, reducing dietary phosphorus, and feeding a medium-protein diet. Anti-oxidants are important for scavenging free radicals (which damage kidney cell membranes), reducing kidney damage for example from excessive lipid in the blood.

1-2% of the cat population suffers from lower urinary tract disease (LUTD), and these are more likely to be fed exclusively dry cat food. Aim to reduce urine specific gravity to

Dr Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor and animal healer specializing in connecting and informing animal therapists. Her natural animal therapy website informs the public about animal therapies while connecting animal therapists worldwide. http://www.TheNaturallyHealthyPet.com

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