By: stuart goodson
The trainability of cats has always been put to question, mostly because of the constant comparison between them and their canine counterparts. In actuality, cats are quite intelligent and can develop better behavior or even be trained to operate simple mechanisms. The reason for this is that cats are self-sufficient whether they are trained or not. It's part of their instinct.
Another reason for the belief that cats cannot be trained is the case of aggressive cats. There are several categories that aggressive cats may fall into depending on how they exhibit their aggression. These categories are play aggression, defensive aggression, misdirected aggression and territorial status aggression. The way to handle a situation with an aggressive cat is to determine what aggression the cat is exhibiting.
A cat that is play aggressive would not make any sound while a truly hostile cat will growl as it advances. No negative stimulus needs to be put into play when a cat is in play aggression. Usually, aggressive cats in play aggression are over stimulated by the play their owner bestows on them and treats the owner just like another cat thus causing scratches or bits. But if a cat begins scratching or biting with no previous indication of violent behavior, the cat needs to be brought to a veterinarian because the cat may be exhibiting aggression due to pain from a medical problem.
Over stimulation is a big No No with cats. Once they are over stimulated, they can lash out with their teeth and claws. It is important for owners to know the tolerance level of their pets to know what activities to stay away from. Cats can also be in defensive aggression if they feel cornered or encounter something that disturbs them. In the case of disturbance, it does not usually mean something traumatizing but just something that they have not adjusted to yet.
Misdirected aggression is when a cat is disturbed by something that is different from the target of its supposed attack. The best way to get rid of this type of aggression is to take away the cause of the cat's hostility.
Very few cats exhibit territorial aggression toward people. Usually, cats vie for position amongst each other with the general idea that the provider of the food is not someone to be messed with or attacked. Breeds like the Siamese or Burmese are two that exhibit this aggression. Territorial aggression is often dealt with by professionals who can assess the behavior, identify the triggers and work at modifying them.
Owners should not hit cats to stop aggression because the cat does not understand this correction thus making it fearful or more defensive than before. For a successful try at getting rid of aggression, taking the cat to a professional is always a good idea.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
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The Big Cat Breeds Needs Rescue Shelters
By : MIKE SELVON
Thousands of cats find homes in cat rescue operations. These cats aren't always the small pets people usually have in their homes. Sometimes, the cats in question are big cats, such as mountain lions or tigers. Purchased through the black market and bought because they are unique creatures, big cat breeds start small and cuddly, but soon grow to large proportions that most owners aren't prepared to deal with.
Big cats rescue steps in when the owners find they can't handle their exotic pets any longer. Either the owner abandons the big cats, thinking that because the cat was "wild" to begin with, it can easily fend for itself, or they start to neglect the animal.
Worse, the animal attacks someone. The authorities rush in and do their best to remedy the situation, sometimes having to put the animal down on the spot. If the big cats are lucky, the authorities see fit to send the cat rescue center.
A zoo is not an option. Many times, this is where the trade started. Unscrupulous zoos breed big cats in captivity to increase attendance at the zoo because the public enjoys seeing new babies. When the felines are grown, the public loses interest, and the zoo can't support the larger cat.
The animal is sold off to private brokers who then turn around and sell the animals to the public. Anyone might end up with the feline. Even worse, that owner might try to breed the cat to have another cub or to sell cubs to his friends. When this happens, the cycle begins all over again.
Supply and demand are the two biggest contributing factors to big cat breeds ending up in a cat rescue. The breeders will keep breeding the cats, and the public will continue to buy them. People have a fascination with getting close to an exotic feline. What the public fails to realize is that there is a massive responsibility that goes along with caring for big cats.
The cats were never meant to be pets to begin with. You can't keep them indoors, and keeping a big cat outdoors isn't much better. These cat breeds play rough. They are hunters, and thousands of years of instinct tells them they are the top of the food chain.
That baby tiger will not "bond" with your toddler. This is not a Walt Disney movie. You can bet that when the tiger reaches maturity, your child, your domestic house pet, and you may be labeled as lunch.
Big cats have been kept in cages that are far too small for them. The minimum size required by law of an animal's cage is one that is large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around in.
We all cry out in anger when we hear of Vietnam Veterans who had been tortured in "tiger cages". Why should we subject large felines to the same type of torture?
A big cat rescue shelter can offer a better quality of life for the abandoned animal. Many big cats that do reach the rescue stage are suffering from malnutrition.
Others who might have been in show business are nervous wrecks from over-stimulation or are nearly blind from a life of flashing light bulbs and the bright lights of photo shoots. The people who run the shelters have the means and experience to raise the animal properly and meet the cat's nutritional requirements.
Only eight states have passed bans on owning big cat breeds as pets since 2005. The number of deaths related to owning a big cat continues to grow, as all that's required for an individual to own a big cat for a commercial venture in the United States is very low and a permit from the USDA.
Breaking the cycle for responsible preservation of big cats for future generations is an important factor in their survival.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our cats portal for more great tips on the big cat breeds, and leave a comment at our cats blog.
Thousands of cats find homes in cat rescue operations. These cats aren't always the small pets people usually have in their homes. Sometimes, the cats in question are big cats, such as mountain lions or tigers. Purchased through the black market and bought because they are unique creatures, big cat breeds start small and cuddly, but soon grow to large proportions that most owners aren't prepared to deal with.
Big cats rescue steps in when the owners find they can't handle their exotic pets any longer. Either the owner abandons the big cats, thinking that because the cat was "wild" to begin with, it can easily fend for itself, or they start to neglect the animal.
Worse, the animal attacks someone. The authorities rush in and do their best to remedy the situation, sometimes having to put the animal down on the spot. If the big cats are lucky, the authorities see fit to send the cat rescue center.
A zoo is not an option. Many times, this is where the trade started. Unscrupulous zoos breed big cats in captivity to increase attendance at the zoo because the public enjoys seeing new babies. When the felines are grown, the public loses interest, and the zoo can't support the larger cat.
The animal is sold off to private brokers who then turn around and sell the animals to the public. Anyone might end up with the feline. Even worse, that owner might try to breed the cat to have another cub or to sell cubs to his friends. When this happens, the cycle begins all over again.
Supply and demand are the two biggest contributing factors to big cat breeds ending up in a cat rescue. The breeders will keep breeding the cats, and the public will continue to buy them. People have a fascination with getting close to an exotic feline. What the public fails to realize is that there is a massive responsibility that goes along with caring for big cats.
The cats were never meant to be pets to begin with. You can't keep them indoors, and keeping a big cat outdoors isn't much better. These cat breeds play rough. They are hunters, and thousands of years of instinct tells them they are the top of the food chain.
That baby tiger will not "bond" with your toddler. This is not a Walt Disney movie. You can bet that when the tiger reaches maturity, your child, your domestic house pet, and you may be labeled as lunch.
Big cats have been kept in cages that are far too small for them. The minimum size required by law of an animal's cage is one that is large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around in.
We all cry out in anger when we hear of Vietnam Veterans who had been tortured in "tiger cages". Why should we subject large felines to the same type of torture?
A big cat rescue shelter can offer a better quality of life for the abandoned animal. Many big cats that do reach the rescue stage are suffering from malnutrition.
Others who might have been in show business are nervous wrecks from over-stimulation or are nearly blind from a life of flashing light bulbs and the bright lights of photo shoots. The people who run the shelters have the means and experience to raise the animal properly and meet the cat's nutritional requirements.
Only eight states have passed bans on owning big cat breeds as pets since 2005. The number of deaths related to owning a big cat continues to grow, as all that's required for an individual to own a big cat for a commercial venture in the United States is very low and a permit from the USDA.
Breaking the cycle for responsible preservation of big cats for future generations is an important factor in their survival.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our cats portal for more great tips on the big cat breeds, and leave a comment at our cats blog.
Cat Care Means Having Pet Insurance
Cat care and dog health can be expensive matters. After all, accidents and diseases happen, and veterinarian costs are quite high. We fall in love with our pets easily, though. When something goes wrong, many people are hard-pressed to make the decision to put a feline down or have a dog put to sleep.
Many people don't realize that pet insurance should be part of dog and cat care considerations. Having coverage can help offset expenses should a pet need serious veterinary care.
The average domestic dog and cat can live up to twenty years, which means you're looking at a reasonable sum in premiums over the course of your pet's life. One site advises that instead of paying insurance premiums, simply put the money aside in a separate fund for emergencies.
That's not a bad idea, if you can do it. Having an emergency fund means that, if everything goes well, when all is said and done, you'll still have the money there.
Some dog and cat lovers still opt for the security that insurance offers rather than risk going into debt. Over the last few years, there have been major technical advances in the field of veterinarian medicine. It is the addition of these discoveries that have increased the cost of dog and cat care.
We are all familiar with how expensive the hospital can be for a human, whether it's a visit to the emergency room or for a long-term illness. Many of the same treatments used on humans are now used on animals. Dog and cat care can include organ transplants, radiation therapy, and a multitude of other treatments reserved for terminal illness.
Veterinarians rely on MRIs and other high-end pieces of equipment to help reach a diagnosis. In the past five years alone, vet costs have risen 73% and add up to a staggering $19 billion dollars.
While pet insurance might help to defray some of the costs of dog and cat care, a policy won't solve all of your financial problems. As with any other medical coverage, policies may also include a large deductible and a limit on how much you can spend in a year.
Pre-existing problems are usually not covered. In addition, premiums increase the older felines or canines get. Some pet insurance companies won't cover a pet over a certain age, while others will tack on a hefty surcharge for senior animals.
Deciding whether dog and cat care should include pet insurance isn't an easy choice. This decision becomes more difficult when you need to choose when enough is enough, as pet insurance may make it easier for you to choose long-term dog and cat care for terminal illnesses when the animal might be more comfortable being put down. Only you can make the choice of whether pet insurance is a good one for your needs.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our cats portal for more great tips on cat care - pet insurance, and leave a comment at our cats blog.
Many people don't realize that pet insurance should be part of dog and cat care considerations. Having coverage can help offset expenses should a pet need serious veterinary care.
The average domestic dog and cat can live up to twenty years, which means you're looking at a reasonable sum in premiums over the course of your pet's life. One site advises that instead of paying insurance premiums, simply put the money aside in a separate fund for emergencies.
That's not a bad idea, if you can do it. Having an emergency fund means that, if everything goes well, when all is said and done, you'll still have the money there.
Some dog and cat lovers still opt for the security that insurance offers rather than risk going into debt. Over the last few years, there have been major technical advances in the field of veterinarian medicine. It is the addition of these discoveries that have increased the cost of dog and cat care.
We are all familiar with how expensive the hospital can be for a human, whether it's a visit to the emergency room or for a long-term illness. Many of the same treatments used on humans are now used on animals. Dog and cat care can include organ transplants, radiation therapy, and a multitude of other treatments reserved for terminal illness.
Veterinarians rely on MRIs and other high-end pieces of equipment to help reach a diagnosis. In the past five years alone, vet costs have risen 73% and add up to a staggering $19 billion dollars.
While pet insurance might help to defray some of the costs of dog and cat care, a policy won't solve all of your financial problems. As with any other medical coverage, policies may also include a large deductible and a limit on how much you can spend in a year.
Pre-existing problems are usually not covered. In addition, premiums increase the older felines or canines get. Some pet insurance companies won't cover a pet over a certain age, while others will tack on a hefty surcharge for senior animals.
Deciding whether dog and cat care should include pet insurance isn't an easy choice. This decision becomes more difficult when you need to choose when enough is enough, as pet insurance may make it easier for you to choose long-term dog and cat care for terminal illnesses when the animal might be more comfortable being put down. Only you can make the choice of whether pet insurance is a good one for your needs.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our cats portal for more great tips on cat care - pet insurance, and leave a comment at our cats blog.