Submitted by Lee
Declawing your cat is a major surgery and you must think long and carefully about this before subjecting your cat to it.
You love your new cat, but he’s clawing and scratching all your furniture! The immediate resolution that comes to mind is to have him declawed, but before you rush into this you should think long and hard for declawing a cat is not a simple procedure - it is a major surgery involving surgical amputation of the first joint of a cat’s toe.
Declawing is a painful surgery for your cat. While your cat will get pain medication for his after surgery recovery, the tips of the nerves need time to heal and he can be in pain for weeks or even months until this has happened. This can cause your cuddly little kitty to become highly irritable and aggressive.
Not only that, but the claws are a cats chief chief weapon of defense. Sure, you take every precaution to make sure your cat doesn’t get outside, but what if something happens and he finds himself alone in the elements facing other animals?
There will always be occasions when a cat may be confronted by other cats or dogs. Then, it will find it impossible to strike back, because it has no claws. To use its teeth, it needs to get close to its attacker, which may not happen. A declawed cat therefore become a helpless victim in front any aggressor.
Declawing can also lead to problems in the litter box. Declawed cats sometimes avoid the litter box and choose the softer carpet instead since it is painful for them to dig into the litter. Declawing can also lead to biting problems. Since this is their second line of defense, some cats may resort to deep biting to make up for their lack of claws. Even during play, your cat can no longer scratch as a warning and may be prone to biting now instead.
Claws and toes also provide exercise to your cat. When a cat stretches horizontally on a carpet or vertically with a tail scratching post, it pulls and stretches its muscles by grabbing the carpet or post with its claws. As a matter of fact, the cat’s claws play a large and positive role in its extraordinary muscle tone and agility.
Finally, declawing can cause joint problems later on in your cats life. Cats walk on their toes so the absence of claws can affect all the joints of the leg resulting in arthritis of the hip and other joints later.
But you don’t have to sacrifice your furniture in order to save your cat the pain of declawing. With time and patience you can train your cat to scratch in a more desirable area. Make sure you invest in a scratching post or accessory that your cat likes. Mine loves the simple corrugated cardboard slabs that you can buy in any pet store.
Watch your cat carefully and you will see a pattern of when and where he likes to scratch the most. Put the scratching post in the room where he likes to scratch and wait for him to scratch in his usual place. When you see him starting to scratch distract him and lead him over to the scratching post. Praise him when he uses the post and say “Bad Kitty” when he uses the furniture. Eventually he will start to favor the post - you just have to make him think it was his idea!
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author Lee Dobbins is a cat owner and animal lover. Visit Cats at the Family Webzone for more tips and info on cats.
How To Choose A Cat Breeder
Submitted by Ken
As we all know, this subject is something that we cat lovers could all use a little education on no matter who you are. It is your youngest son's birthday and you want to give him a pet that will be sociable and one that will fit in with your household. You decided that a cat would be a good idea.
As we all know, this subject is something that we cat lovers could all use a little education on no matter who you are. It is your youngest son's birthday and you want to give him a pet that will be sociable and one that will fit in with your household. You decided that a cat would be a good idea. But how does one go about choosing a pet cat? Well, responsible cat breeders produce better cats!
First you have to do some research on the breed of cat that interests you, or that would fit your son or your family's personality. Most people will give a cat one look and they have already decided. Of course, a nice-looking cat would be a welcome treat but the choice of cat should not only be based on its looks but also on its temperament.
Consider if there are children in the household and research what breed of cats are friendly and are easy to groom and to take care of? And then decide whether you would like to get a kitten or an older cat.
Once you have decided on the breed of cat, then look for legitimate cat breeders who can supply you with the cat you require. Try to attend cat shows and ask for a recommendation. It also helps to read the newspapers or surf the internet since most breeders have their own sites.
Buying a cat from a responsible cat breeder will not ensure you have a purebred cat but will guarantee that you are getting a healthy cat. You can also ask about retired breeders as they can sell at lower prices. Cats purchased from retired breeders are often better than kittens as they are probably already nurtured, of high quality and they can easily adjust to their new home.
Responsible breeders will not sell very young kittens that are not yet weaned. Also choose a breeder who will provide a health guarantee for the kitten as well as complete papers and registration.
Tips on finding cat breeders:
1. To get good cat breeders, make sure to talk to people who may have purchased animals from the same breeders as they can give you insights as to how responsible the breeder is.
2. Ask the breeder for references and go check on these references.
3.Check a cat breeders cattery list because if the breeder has lots of available kittens, then it may mean that the breeder is having a hard time finding homes for these kittens and the reason may be significant to you.
4. Make sure the breeder can give you the cat registration, health records and pedigree records.
A cat's lifespan is normally 20 years or more, depending on the care it is given. Choosing a responsible breeder will make your cat not only healthier, but live longer. Find out more by reading our other articles on this topic and other subjects we have written related to it.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet's popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website visit ArticleTeller.com and ContentWOW.com
As we all know, this subject is something that we cat lovers could all use a little education on no matter who you are. It is your youngest son's birthday and you want to give him a pet that will be sociable and one that will fit in with your household. You decided that a cat would be a good idea.
As we all know, this subject is something that we cat lovers could all use a little education on no matter who you are. It is your youngest son's birthday and you want to give him a pet that will be sociable and one that will fit in with your household. You decided that a cat would be a good idea. But how does one go about choosing a pet cat? Well, responsible cat breeders produce better cats!
First you have to do some research on the breed of cat that interests you, or that would fit your son or your family's personality. Most people will give a cat one look and they have already decided. Of course, a nice-looking cat would be a welcome treat but the choice of cat should not only be based on its looks but also on its temperament.
Consider if there are children in the household and research what breed of cats are friendly and are easy to groom and to take care of? And then decide whether you would like to get a kitten or an older cat.
Once you have decided on the breed of cat, then look for legitimate cat breeders who can supply you with the cat you require. Try to attend cat shows and ask for a recommendation. It also helps to read the newspapers or surf the internet since most breeders have their own sites.
Buying a cat from a responsible cat breeder will not ensure you have a purebred cat but will guarantee that you are getting a healthy cat. You can also ask about retired breeders as they can sell at lower prices. Cats purchased from retired breeders are often better than kittens as they are probably already nurtured, of high quality and they can easily adjust to their new home.
Responsible breeders will not sell very young kittens that are not yet weaned. Also choose a breeder who will provide a health guarantee for the kitten as well as complete papers and registration.
Tips on finding cat breeders:
1. To get good cat breeders, make sure to talk to people who may have purchased animals from the same breeders as they can give you insights as to how responsible the breeder is.
2. Ask the breeder for references and go check on these references.
3.Check a cat breeders cattery list because if the breeder has lots of available kittens, then it may mean that the breeder is having a hard time finding homes for these kittens and the reason may be significant to you.
4. Make sure the breeder can give you the cat registration, health records and pedigree records.
A cat's lifespan is normally 20 years or more, depending on the care it is given. Choosing a responsible breeder will make your cat not only healthier, but live longer. Find out more by reading our other articles on this topic and other subjects we have written related to it.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet's popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website visit ArticleTeller.com and ContentWOW.com
Are There Benefits In Walking Your Cat?
Submitted by Ken
Think you already know what this subject is all about? Chances are that you don’t, but by the end of this article you will! Aside from dogs, cats are the next best pets for the home. In fact, 34.7 million households in the United States own at least one cat.
Think you already know what this subject is all about? Chances are that you don’t, but by the end of this article you will! Aside from dogs, cats are the next best pets for the home. In fact, 34.7 million households in the United States own at least one cat.
However, the benefits of owning a cat are not constrained to having them as mere pets because cats, like dogs, can be trained to do tricks as well. Even if they are known as “house cats,” it is important for them to be given the taste of the outdoor environment. This can be done through walking.
Yes, it is important to engage a cat in outdoor activities such as walking, just like the dog. This is because cats need further stimulation by having a taste of the activities gained by being outside. Walking them outdoors makes them feel entertained and stimulated.
Studies show that cats that are constrained inside the house show a significant sign of boredom and depression. These are not likely to be noticed since cats cannot verbally or even physically tell their owners that they are bored and depressed.
However, there were signs that were noted in a study that projects the negative effects of not having occasional walks outside the house. Scratching the furniture was noted to have a direct association with depression that the cat is experiencing.
The problem with most cat owners is that they tend to pamper their cats and they forget to give them the benefits of enjoying the environment. Hence, a growing health problem arises because most cats are found to be obese.
What people do not know is that even if they are known to be domestic animals and have been in “close contact” with people for more than 3,500 years, cats are known to be born hunters. In fact, most zoologists contend that cats are the “most graceful hunters” in this world.
For this reason, walking a cat is extremely important. Proper use of materials should be observed when walking your cat.
Walking your cat does not necessarily mean it is okay to leave your cats outside. They can encounter danger such as getting a disease or being hurt by neighbors or vehicles.
Try to train your cat to walk with a leash and a harness on. It is best to use a jacket as well so that your cat will be comfortable while walking.
Walking your cat is not a hard work. You just have to use the right tools and the proper training of your cat and you can be assured of a happy and stress-free feline at home. Find out more by reading our other articles on this topic and other subjects we have written related to it.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet's popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website please visit ArticleTeller.com and ContentWOW.com
Think you already know what this subject is all about? Chances are that you don’t, but by the end of this article you will! Aside from dogs, cats are the next best pets for the home. In fact, 34.7 million households in the United States own at least one cat.
Think you already know what this subject is all about? Chances are that you don’t, but by the end of this article you will! Aside from dogs, cats are the next best pets for the home. In fact, 34.7 million households in the United States own at least one cat.
However, the benefits of owning a cat are not constrained to having them as mere pets because cats, like dogs, can be trained to do tricks as well. Even if they are known as “house cats,” it is important for them to be given the taste of the outdoor environment. This can be done through walking.
Yes, it is important to engage a cat in outdoor activities such as walking, just like the dog. This is because cats need further stimulation by having a taste of the activities gained by being outside. Walking them outdoors makes them feel entertained and stimulated.
Studies show that cats that are constrained inside the house show a significant sign of boredom and depression. These are not likely to be noticed since cats cannot verbally or even physically tell their owners that they are bored and depressed.
However, there were signs that were noted in a study that projects the negative effects of not having occasional walks outside the house. Scratching the furniture was noted to have a direct association with depression that the cat is experiencing.
The problem with most cat owners is that they tend to pamper their cats and they forget to give them the benefits of enjoying the environment. Hence, a growing health problem arises because most cats are found to be obese.
What people do not know is that even if they are known to be domestic animals and have been in “close contact” with people for more than 3,500 years, cats are known to be born hunters. In fact, most zoologists contend that cats are the “most graceful hunters” in this world.
For this reason, walking a cat is extremely important. Proper use of materials should be observed when walking your cat.
Walking your cat does not necessarily mean it is okay to leave your cats outside. They can encounter danger such as getting a disease or being hurt by neighbors or vehicles.
Try to train your cat to walk with a leash and a harness on. It is best to use a jacket as well so that your cat will be comfortable while walking.
Walking your cat is not a hard work. You just have to use the right tools and the proper training of your cat and you can be assured of a happy and stress-free feline at home. Find out more by reading our other articles on this topic and other subjects we have written related to it.
Article Source: http://www.article-outlet.com/About the Author Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet's popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website please visit ArticleTeller.com and ContentWOW.com