Cat Training Class, Is It Right for You

When people say they are taking their pet to obedience training classes, others will assume that they mean their dog. More and more people are taking their cats to these classes as well. Cats are great pets.  They are less time consuming than a dog, more affectionate than a bowl of goldfish, and definitely less creepy than a spider, but they can also be a huge mental challenge. Cats are experts at doing things when there are no witnesses, and that makes training them just a little trickier. The first thing that a feline owner must understand is that reprimands do not work with a cat at all. Cat training classes are more about training the human owners than about training the cats themselves, because it takes some real patience and understanding to deal with the behavior of even the best kitty, and let's face it, those are not the cats that are getting dragged to behavior classes, are they?  Behavior classes are usually filled with harried owners at the last step before dropping their psycho pet off at the local shelter. Some cats are just nuts, and that is putting it mildly, so what is the kitty owner to do? First, you have to make the decision of what behaviors will and will not be tolerated in your home. The first thing to accomplish should be the litter box, and then other skills can be introduced and perfected afterward. Do not allow your cat to get away with a bad behavior even once or he will be bound to repeat it, and remember although your cat will do several things that are similar to dogs, they are not the same and must be handled differently. The cat training class will show you the proper methods of disciplining your cat, as well as the best reward system to use. Some cats are pure gluttons and will turn themselves into pure idiots for the treats, while others would rather starve to death rather than comply with such frivolity as rules. You have to know your own cats mindset that can help you figure out how best to approach him. Regardless of the method, make sure that the rules are adhered to consistently by all family members or you might find manipulative monsieur le chat playing his hairless wards like a game of chess. Remember, you are the boss, this is your house! Let the cat get the upper, er, paw and all might very well be lost!  Cat Training Class 

Find out specifically what cat training strategies are suitable for everyone and your own cat

One of the best cat training suggestion which i can provide everybody shall be to click train the cat. In a similar manner that dogs, ocean mammals, as well as other animals are usually educated with a clicker, so can your own kitten. Consider that your own kitty responds best to constructive encouragement for better behavior rather than strict penalties for unfavorable actions. Click training is a cat training suggestion that will make the cat shortly catch on to what is a convenience to a person not to mention precisely what won't.
Cats tend to be independent and can accomplish what's essential for their grooming along with eliminating in a very neat fashion. However , sometimes, the cat was roughed up and this may cause them to act out. Another great cat training suggestion would be to under no circumstances shout as well as strike your own kitten. This will be counter productive should you be seeking to educate your kitten. Professionals state that this kind of cat training suggestion is necessary to help you have a happy and healthy bond together with your kitty.
When you choose to follow this specific cat training tip and click train the cat, keep the clicker in close proximity anytime you're close to your feline. While you might really need to leave them in your house whilst you go to work, a few minutes of clicker training day after day ought to be sufficient to get the kitty educated in just a couple of of weeks. When you use this specific cat training tip, show patience. The cat is not going to obey the clicker immediately. Nonetheless eventually you might have the ability to demonstrate all your family members and close friends exactly how very well behaved the kitten is!
The clicker cat training suggestion will work by just sounding the clicker while your kitten is in the act of performing activities that you approve of, such as making use of the cat litter box, sleeping in the allocated room, and so on. Never click the clicker right after your kitty is done utilizing the kitty litter box. To get this cat training tip to work, you ought to accomplish this whilst the kitty is actually in the course of using the kitty litter box (as well as other things you agree to).
As soon as your kitten has finished the behavior, prize him or her along with a treat plus sound the actual clicker for a second time. The actual purpose for this cat training tip is to have the cat relate the sound of a clicker with positive conduct. If you continually carry out this cat training tip, the cat is going to be click trained in no time at all.
It's also really important for you to disregard undesirable behavior whenever utilizing the clicker cat training strategy. You don't desire to mess up your labour by confusing the cat. Throughout this training stage, she should mostly hear the sound of your clicker with your comforting words. After this simple cat training tip makes life along with your cat quite easy.

Cat Training - Easy Cat Training Home Study Course

Many people when they attempt to train their cats find the process very difficult. Indeed they try to train cats based on their instincts or how they learned a dog should be trained. But you probably already know that cats and dogs aren't the same, in fact they are very different. Trying to train a cat based purely on your instincts without the proper knowledge can even have negative side-effects, not to mention the frustration you will go through. So most owners quit training their cat saying it's impossible to do it. If you have a cat or planning to get one I suggest you start training him or her right away without delay. But be smart and do this with the right information. Cats are wonderful pets if they are properly trained, but living with an untrained cat is like sharing your home with an untamed wild beast. So I do recommend you get the right information before you start training your kitty. Anthony Nerman's Easy Cat Training Home Study Course is, I believe, one of the best cat training courses out there. It offers everything you need to know about training your cat, from start to finish, the RIGHT information; because I know there is a lot of misleading information about cat training out there. Do You Want to Discover The Ingenious Training Methods and Highly-Specialized Behavior-Reforming Tactics to Easily Train Your Stubborn and Unruly Into Impeccably Well-Behaved and Loving Cat? Click Here To Instantly Download Anthony Nerman's Easy Cat Training Home Study Course. 

Complete Cat Training How to Train Your Cat to Behave the Way You Want It To

When most people think about animal obedience work, cats arent usually the first candidates to spring to mind. We tend to associate cats with words like aloof, independent, and laid back €“ they seem to focus on doing what they want, pretty much as and when they feel like it. You might be excused for thinking that this isnt really ideal training material! However €“ theres an ever-increasing number of people who are deriving a great deal of pleasure from training their cats in basic and advanced obedience work and tricks (from sit, stay, come to jumping through hoops, twirling, and high-fiving) - and whats more, theyre convinced that their cats enjoy it, too!The benefits of training your catJust because cats typically lead solitary, individual lives doesnt mean that they necessarily want to do so. In fact, many cats are incredibl affectionate and loving by nature €“ they just need you to demonstrate your leadership and initiate the rapport-building process.Cats are often underestimated when it comes to the training process, simply because the average owner has very little need to attempt any sort of training at all. Unlike with dogs (whose ability to learn is very well documented) theres no need to train cats in the basics of pet protocol like house training and bathing. Consequently, relatively few people are aware of their cats abilities in this area. Training your cat is a fantastic way to enrich your cats life:- It builds a strong rapport between you and your cat- Because training underlines your authority (your cat has to do what you want to get what he wants), and it helps to curb dominant behavior- It keeps your cats mind active and stimulated, which in turn improves your cat's health- Its great interactive play, and teaches good social skills- Anxious and highly-strung cats are reassured and soothed by the repetition and routine of training So how do I train my cat?There are two popular methods of training a cat: target training and clicker training. A brief rundown of each:- Target training is where you attract your cats attention and then obtain desired behaviors through the use of a designated tool. For example, during the beg command, a particular target training tool called a training wand is used to attract the cats attention upwards, and to encourage the cat to rise up on his haunches and beg.      
      
               
         
         
         
         
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- Clicker training is a form of operant conditioning (which is where the animal is taught to form a conscious association between a specific behavior and a result.) A small mechanical noise-maker (the clicker) is used by the trainer to create a short, distinct noise. The clicker is clicked at the precise moment that the cat performs a desired behavior €“ for example, during sit, the clicker is clicked at the very instant that the cats bottom touches the ground. Directly after the click, the cat is fed a small and tasty treat. With repetition, the cat grows to associate the click with the food, and recognizes his own ability to earn treats by performing the desired action on command. The clicker is a particularly valued training tool because it allows the trainer to pinpoint the exact behavior thats being rewarded: without the clicker, its too easy for the cat to form associations between the treat and a completely unrelated behavior (since its impossible to feed the cat a treat at the precise moment that hes performing a trick.)Practical tips for training your cat - Remember to be patient. Your cat is an individual, with his own abilities and preferences. He will pick up some tricks quickly, but may struggle with others. Make allowances for his personality, and dont lose your temper if it doesnt go exactly according to schedule.- If youre free-feeding your cat (leaving food out at all times for him to eat as and when he feels like it), stop doing this. Enforcing a feeding schedule has two main benefits: it increases the reward-value of food treats as training devices, and also introduces a semblance of routine into your cats life (which, believe it or not, most cats actually prefer.)- Train smart. If youre using food treats (which is highly recommended to achieve the desired results) then schedule training sessions for just before mealtimes: your cats natural desire for food at his regular mealtime will sharpen his focus and increase his desire to obey you (so he can get a treat.)- Take baby steps. When training your cat, its best to build up a solid foundation of the basics before attempting to expand his repertoire.- Cats have pretty short attention spans, and low boredom thresholds. Keep lessons short and interesting €“ and always try to end on a positive note. An example of successful cat training in action Training your cat to sit on commandSit is a great basic command for your cat to know, because it serves as the foundation for a number of other, more advanced tricks and commands (for example, stay, beg, and high five.) - Make your training wand extra-effective by smearing the tip in a little tuna oil, and use it to attract your cats attention (wave it around, trail it past his face, etc.)- Once hes come over to you, place the wand just over his head, so that its slightly behind the crown of his head.- He will tilt his head back to keep his eyes on it. When he does this, he will naturally sit down (since otherwise, his neck cant bend back far enough to allow him to keep watching the training wand.)- As he sits down, say the word Sit, which will be the verbal cue for this command (your cat will grow to associate the command with the act of sitting, and eventually will learn to sit down whenever you ask him to.)- As soon as his bottom touches the ground, click the clicker. Its important that you time this precisely.- Directly after clicking, give him a small food treat. Make sure its cut up very small €“ if it takes him more than two seconds to eat it, hell forget why you gave it to him.- Repeat this process a few more times, and over the next few weeks, keep doing so until hes comfortable with whats expected of him. When hes able to sit down on command, you can phase the clicker out €“ but still give treats sporadically (interestingly, if you treat every single time that he performs a command, hes actually less likely to reliably obey that command. Keeping him on his toes seems to increase the likelihood of obedience!)Further  Cat Training Tips For step-by-step advice on how to train your cat in a huge variety of other obedience commands and tricks (from stay to play dead to fetch), check out the Complete Cat Training book.  It's quite good as its full of training how-tos, as well as a huge amount of detailed information on solving problem behaviors, cat psychology, and how to develop a more rewarding relationship with your cat. To visit the Complete Cat Training website, click the link below: http://www.mybuyortry.com/101-training-tips-for-pet-training-your-cat/ 

Cat Training and Care Guide

While conducting your cat training you should always keep in mind that the punishment is not meant to harm your cat so you should take care not to be too aggressive.  When he's able to sit down on command, you can phase the clicker out - but still give treats sporadically (interestingly, if you treat every single time that he performs a command, he's actually less likely to reliably obey that command.  Consequently, relatively few people are aware of their cat's abilities in this area.  Cats are extremely popular pets for a very good reason, because they are smart, loving, and satisfied living indoors.  Physical punishment may make him fear you, but it is unlikely to establish the behavior you want.  This technique will reinforce the cats training and she will like the attention and the treats she gets.  Cats value and look forward to attention and affection that can be gained from training.  Remain consistent with the cats training and soon you will find your cat using the litter box on her own.  The reason being is that the effect of immediate punishment would be greater than if the punishment is conducted at a later time.  For the trainer, there are varieties of modes to punish a cat which can be in the form of words, actions or it can be physical punishment as well.  One cat training technique that doesn't work is brute force.  This will allow the cat training to ideally strengthen the bond between pet and owner during training sessions from the outset of ownership.  So, blink your eyes frequently when you look at your cat.  Pain can make any one aggressive, so it's important to consult a vet and rule out any kind of medical issue.Don't react to your cat in an aggressive or even defensive way.   The benefits of training your cat Just because cats typically lead solitary, individual lives doesn't mean that they necessarily want to do so.  An example of successful cat training in action: Training your cat to 'sit' on command 'Sit' is a great basic command for your cat to know, because it serves as the foundation for a number of other, more advanced tricks and commands (for example, 'stay', 'beg', and 'high five'.)Make your training wand extra-effective by smearing the tip in a little tuna oil, and use it to attract your cat's attention (wave it around, trail it past his face, etc.)Once he's come over to you, place the wand just over his head, so that it's slightly behind the crown of his head.He will tilt his head back to keep his eyes on it.  In fact, many cats are incredibly affectionate and loving by nature - they just need you to demonstrate your leadership and initiate the rapport-building process.  Call to your cat, then when it comes to you give some good praise and affection, using a proper praising tone of voice.  Make sure that you and the other members of the family always use your cat's name.  Directly after the click, the cat is fed a small and tasty treat.  Basically there are different types of cats training like obedience training; litter training and even aggression training and all of them have different approaches.  This makes many people wonder about cats aggression training and how to go about it.  Why, because many feline behavior problems, especially in cats kept indoors, are caused by boredom.  When he does this, he will naturally sit down (since otherwise, his neck can't bend back far enough to allow him to keep watching the training wand.)As he sits down, say the word 'Sit', which will be the verbal cue for this command (your cat will grow to associate the command with the act of sitting, and eventually will learn to sit down whenever you ask him to.)As soon as his bottom touches the ground, click the clicker.  Cat aggression training It has often been seen that cats take more time to adjust to a new home as compared to dogs.  Get Cat Training and Care Guide

Almost all Cat Training Complications Tend to be Brought on by the Cat Possessor

Are you presently generating cat training problems along with rendering circumstances trickier for yourself?
A number of techniques an actual cat possesor is able to do, whilst not perhaps comprehending it, which would have an affect on his or her pet's behaviour and furthermore training in a harmful way. This particular one regularly occurring mistake prevents you towards creating a trusting, amazing friendship with your kitty.
If you happen to believe that training a cat is not difficult & straightforward, you are most likely in for a couple of critical surprises. A lot of cat training troubles may emerge at the time of your own tries towards education a cat. The fantastic news is the fact that these complications can easily be attended to when the cat owner is actually inclined to put in all of the work as well as time to do so. A diligent cat possessor will definitely like to correct these issues for the good of the pet's well-being and happiness also.
Let us examine just what some of those widespread kitty training difficulties are combined with exactly how to cope with these quickly as well as , effectively, and in addition a bunch of issues to prevent. It might appear strange, however , the majority of cat training complications happen to be definitely because the possesor being unsure of the way the feline thinks. They are also tremendously distinct to the other creatures, even though a large amount of cat owners hope to teach them much the same way you should train a canine. This may basically lead to disappointment along with annoyance on the part of the owner together with the cat.
Such as, countless cat training problems happen the moment an owner tends to make an effort to penalize a cat pertaining to something he or she made hrs in the past, and even moments ago.
Felines simply cannot link previous activities with most recent penalties the way a dog might. You would want to catch the kitty during the particular act or possibly search for an excellent other technique to deal with your situation.
Very important cat training advice: If you are training the kitty make use of the kitty litter box, compensate as well as praise him or her lavishly when he or she does. If you wish to teach the kitty to stay right off of the counters, get him back down from there, hang around a couple of minutes, then show him / her attention each time he will be on to the ground. It could be difficult on most people on the grounds that many of us usually instantly incline towards penalties every time a pet will do things bad, but cats and kittens are a completely unique sort of creature that require to get accepted and addressed in the best suited way.
They are rather more likely to react towards compensations you offer and not penalties. Such as, if the cat gnaws on the home plants, add a little bit of chili powder across the basis of the branches and they're going to shortly enough keep away from them. In case they are frequently bumping things over from shelving, add a small amount of tooth paste across the basis of these items to keep them stuck on the shelves.
With respect to other cat training complications, make sure that you also took the feline to the vet for a physical checkup. Concerns while using the cat litter box and even dismissing you out of the blue could possibly be the actual outcome of a number of physical issues.
Ensure you stay clear of making cat training issues

Cat Training - Easy Cat Training Home Study Course

Many people when they attempt to train their cats find the process very difficult. Indeed they try to train cats based on their instincts or how they learned a dog should be trained. But you probably already know that cats and dogs aren't the same, in fact they are very different. Trying to train a cat based purely on your instincts without the proper knowledge can even have negative side-effects, not to mention the frustration you will go through. So most owners quit training their cat saying it's impossible to do it. If you have a cat or planning to get one I suggest you start training him or her right away without delay. But be smart and do this with the right information. Cats are wonderful pets if they are properly trained, but living with an untrained cat is like sharing your home with an untamed wild beast. So I do recommend you get the right information before you start training your kitty. Anthony Nerman's Easy Cat Training Home Study Course is, I believe, one of the best cat training courses out there. It offers everything you need to know about training your cat, from start to finish, the RIGHT information; because I know there is a lot of misleading information about cat training out there. Do You Want to Discover The Ingenious Training Methods and Highly-Specialized Behavior-Reforming Tactics to Easily Train Your Stubborn and Unruly Into Impeccably Well-Behaved and Loving Cat? Click Here To Instantly Download Anthony Nerman's Easy Cat Training Home Study Course. 

Addressing Some Common Cat Training Problems

If you think that training a cat is easy business, you're probably in for some major surprises.  There's no end to the number of cat training problems you can experience, from a rebellious cat that purposely does the opposite of what you want to show off his independence to the ones that have too much energy to train.  Of course, many cat training problems aren't the fault of the cat himself but are the fault of the owner who may not even realize their own mistakes.  The good news is that these problems can be addressed if the cat owner is willing to put in the time and effort to do so.  A responsible cat owner will want to address these problems for the good of the cat's health and happiness as well.  Let's see what some of those common cat training problems are and how to address them quickly and efficiently, as well as some mistakes to avoid. Raising a cat can bring you joy and pleasure, especially if your cat has been properly trained and is now a well-behaved feline pet. But along the way, you will probably encounter a lot of surprises and not all of them will be pleasant. Cat training problems will crop up as quickly as weeds in a garden. It could be a rebellious creature bent on showing his independence to a cat with boundless energy which gets in the way of training. But most cat training problems do not develop because of the cat; the cat owner is usually the culprit although he may not realize it. Fortunately, these are issues that can be resolved if the cat owner is motivated enough to spend the time and effort in doing so. The cat™s health and happiness depends largely on its owner™s sense of responsibility. And a responsible cat owner will find ways to work out these cat training problems as quickly and efficiently as possible. It might seem strange, but many cat training problems are really the fault of the owner not understanding how a cat thinks.  They are very different from other animals, and yet many try to train them the same way you would train a dog.  This can only lead to frustration and irritation on the part of the owner and the cat!  For example, many cat training problems arise when an owner tries to scold a cat for something he did hours ago, and even minutes ago.  Cats cannot connect past events with current scolding the way a dog might.  You need to catch the cat in the act or find another way to address the issue. A better approach when dealing with cat training problems than scolding is rewarding.  If you're training your cat to use the litter box, reward and praise him lavishly when he does.  If you want to train your cat to stay off the counters, take him down from there, wait a few minutes, and then give him attention when he's on the floor.  By establishing a reward system, you avoid many cat training problems.  It might be difficult on you because we often automatically tend to scold when a pet does something wrong, but cats are a unique type of creature that need to be understood and addressed accordingly.  They're much more likely to respond to rewards you give than to scolding. Other typical cat training problems usually have a simple solution.  For instance, if your cat chews on the houseplants, put some chili powder on the bottom of the leaves and they'll soon enough avoid them.  If they're always knocking things over from shelves, put some denture paste on the bottom of those things to keep them adhered to the shelves.  For other cat training problems, be sure you also have taken your cat to the vet for a physical checkup.  Problems using the litter box or ignoring you all of a sudden might be the result of some physical difficulties.

How Much Should I Feed My Cat

Every new cat owner wonders "How much should I feed my cat?" Since all cats are unique, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. But here are some good basic guidelines.How much food a cat needs each day depends on a variety of factors like age, size, and activity level, but a good rule of thumb is that a normal, healthy adult cat probably requires about one ounce of food per pound of body weight per day. The total calorie requirements for an adult cat are in the area of 20 to 30 calories per pound. An eight-pound cat would require about eight ounces of food, or a total calorie consumption of 160 to 240 calories.Most vets agree that a cat diet should include both dry and canned food. The canned food is high is water content, which cats need, and the dry food will help reduce the buildup of tartar on the teeth. When figuring out how much to feed your cat, include both canned and dry food in the total - for instance, you could meet an eight-ounce food requirement with four ounces of canned food and four of dry food.All major cat food brands include feeding instructions and it's important to follow them, because they're written for the specific nutrients that particular food contains. It's also important to consider the cat's stage of life. Kittens actually require more food than adult cats, and pregnant cats need additional food as well.Don't forget to provide clean water for your cat at all times, especially if dry food makes up a significant portion of the diet. If your cats don't seem to want water from a designated water bowl, try leaving some filled glasses of water in cat-accessible spaces (like on the sink in the bathroom). Just remember not to reach for it yourself on a sleepy morning.Most cats like milk, but it should be reserved as a treat, rather than considered the cat's primary drink. Milk isn't a requirement for health in the diet of an adult cat and many don't digest it well. If your cat develops diarrhea after drinking milk, try substituting a small amount of cream. Most cats love it, and the butterfat in the cream is actually good for cats (in small amounts).Feeding twice a day is a good regimen, and for people who are away from home all day it makes a lot of sense - feed before you go off to work, and feed again when you come home. It can be helpful to keep a dish of dry catfood available to the cat at all time. Like us, cats tend to enjoy snacks.Cats can be pretty finicky about cleanliness, and if their food dish smells like yesterday's meal they may refuse to eat. Ceramic bowls are good for cat food because they don't absorb odors, as plastic dishes tend to do. Room temperature is best. Food that is very warm or very cold may lead to digestion problems in some cats.

The Horrors of Commercial Pet Food What Every Dog and Cat Owner Should Know

Some of the ingredients that end up in commercial pet foods are truly shocking. What's more, many of these will not appear on the label and others are hidden under umbrella terms such as ‘meat meal' and ‘meat by-products'. How can this happen? The pet food industry is highly unregulated. As Ann Martin, author of Foods Pets Die For, writes in her article The Pet Food Industry and its Questionable Practices, ‘Governments in the USA and Canada regulate the labeling of the food, the name and address of the company, the weight of the product, and whether it is made for a dog or cat - nothing more.'

The meats used in pet food can be extremely low grade and unfit for human consumption. Summarized as the ‘4 D's' (dead, diseased, disabled and dying), these can include roadkill, zoo animals and infected and cancerous meats.

At the rendering plants ingredients are highly heated and processed, destroying nutrients and enzymes, with strong preservatives added which do not appear on the labels. These include fat stabilizers such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytolulene), both of which are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and Ethoxyquin, a suspected cancer-causing agent. Semi-moist dog foods may also contain propylene glycol, a relation to ethylene glycol (anti-freeze), which can destroy red blood cells.

Pets in your pet food

Though reportedly not the case today, it is well recorded that dogs and cats have ended up in dog and cat food. In his 1990 article How Dogs and Cats Get Recycled Into Pet Food, John Eckhouse, an investigative reporter, wrote: ‘Each year, millions of dead American dogs and cats are processed along with billions of pounds of other animal materials by companies known as renderers. The finished products -- tallow and meat meals -- serve as raw materials for thousands of items that include cosmetics and pet food.'

Doctor of weterianry medicine Wendell Belfield in Foods Not Fit For a Pet (Earth Island Journal, 1996), reports that ‘federal and state agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and medical groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association, confirm that pets, on a routine basis, are rendered after they die in animal shelters or are disposed of by health authorities, and the end product frequently finds its way into pet food.'

Toxic Grains

The very use of grains in pet food is questionable as grains are ill-suited to the digestive physiology of carnivores. This is especially so for cats who are obligatory carnivores and meet their glucose requirements through amino acids in their diet. Further, the grains used in dog and cat foods may contain mycotoxins, fungi that can cause chronic conditions and even death in both humans and animals. As the grains used in pet food are low grade, they are dealt with last in the handling process and because of this are often left in storage where insects, mites and mycotoxic molds can grow.

The consumption of dead mites can cause skin allergies. If your pet has skin allergies, change their diet first before turning to steroids which can be seriously detrimental to your pets health.

Alfatoxin poisoning, a common mycotoxin that grows on corn as well as other foods, has been reported for over 50 years. Vomotoxin is another mycotoxin found in wheat products. Where large doses of mycotoxins can cause cancer and even rapid death, small continuous amounts may suppress the immune system and damage organs over time, leading to long-term chronic health conditions.

Just recently at the end of 2005, over 100 dogs were killed in the United States because of alfatoxin found in pet food, with some 19 brands of Diamond dog food being recalled. It is likely there were many more deaths than those reported, and as alfatoxin attacks the liver it is likely surviving dogs may develop chronic liver disease or liver cancer in the future.

Toxic Chemicals

The toxin sodium pentobarbital, a chemical is used to euthanize animals and pets, has been found in commercial pet foods. The US Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine performed two studies (1998 and 2000) to test for pentobarbital.  Of the 74 samples analysed, over half were found to contain pentobarbital. What's more, none of the 43 brands and product lines that tested positive warned of its presence on their labels.

The FDA researchers also tested the food for the presence of dogs or cats but reported none present. It was believed the pentobarbital residues were entering pet foods from euthanized, rendered cattle or even horses.

The FDA say the small amounts of the drug found in these foods were harmless, but not all veterinarians agree. Long-term continual doses, even at small levels may be increase the onset of chronic and degenerative diseases.

Aside from the toxins and base ingredients of commercial pet foods, these harshly processed and high-carbohydrate products in no way match the natural diets dogs and cats would have eaten in the wild. They are species-inappropriate and ill-suited to canine and feline physiology. I recommend healthy, homemade, raw diets or optimum natural, holistic alternatives for the health and well-being of your dog and cat. Before embarking on a raw food diet (otherwise known as BARF - ‘biologically adequate raw food'), thoroughly research the area first as nutritional balance is essential.   

Taking Care of Cats

 Cats are proving to be one of the most popular pets you can own.  They are a domesticated animal that date back around 8,000 years and beyond.  There are several different breeds of this animal with the most popular being Siamese and Persian.  Like any other pet, including dogs, cats can cost money to take care of properly.



You need to think about the costs associated with keeping a cat.  Obviously you will need food and

you will need to consider the costs of a veterinarian.  You will also need litter for the litter box, which can get quite expensive as the years go by.  Your cat will need a food dish and a water dish.  You should also get your cat some toys as well, such as a scratching post, cat toys, pet carrier and a bed.  An ID collar is a good idea also, just in case your cat gets lost.



The age of your cat will influence the feeding of your pet.  Older cats require two small meals or one large meal for the day.  Kittens, on the other hand, require several feedings a day until they get around the age of 12 weeks old.  At three to six months of age, cats need to be fed three times a day.  Canned food is good for cats, although any food that has been left out longer than 30 minutes needs to be thrown out.  Canned food gets expensive very fast and you should always keep in mind that some may need to be thrown away when you buy it.  Cats love canned food, although it doesn't have any benefits to their dental health like dry food does.



An alternative to canned food is dry food.  You can leave a supply out for your pet.  When you give your cat dry food, you should always make sure that he has enough water.  Dry food costs less than canned food, and it can also help to prevent the buildup of tartar on the cat's teeth.  When you buy dry food, you should always look in terms of health and benefits and stay away from generic food.  Even though generic food may be cheaper, it may not offer the nutrients your cat needs.



If you have a kitten, you should only give him food designed for kittens.  you will also need to clean and refill his water dish every day.  You should avoid giving kittens and cats cows milk, even though they really like it.  It can cause diarrhea.  Treats are fine on occasions, but too many of them can cause your cat to get fat.  Feeding your kitten human food is good on occasion, although you may have to mix it with cat food.



Cats stay fairly clean by themselves.  You will need to give them a brushing at least once a day.  You don't need to bathe them very often.  Brushing reduces the risk of hairballs and keeps your cat's coat nice and clean.  If you keep your cat indoors, you will need to have a litter box in the area that is easy for the cat to access.  You should scoop it on a daily basis and clean it out once a week.  Cats do not like to use dirty litter and will scratch it out onto your floor.  They want it nice and clean.



Cats do require some work, but they are great pets that will provide you years and years of

companionship.  As long as you take car of your pet, take them to the vet for checkups and generally love them, they should remain healthy and happy pets.  A healthy and happy pet makes for a healthy and happy owner.   They will get sick from time to time and knowing how to care for them will make a lot of difference.

Cat Food Allergy Symptoms - What Symptoms To Watch Out For

Most of the time, people may think that they are the only ones who have problems when it comes to allergies. The truth is even pets have their own problems with these reactions and show cat food allergy symptoms.
Just like humans, there are some foods that are not meant to be eaten by your pet cat or that doesn't meet their nutritional needs. Hence, they would give out these allergic reactions as a way to show that they have this problem. The good thing about this problem is you can solve this problem given that you know the symptoms to watch out for. Here are several of the symptoms you have to notice and treat your pet immediately.
Excessive scratching can be related to possible allergic reactions among cats. Humans also experience itchiness in eating foods that have allergens for them so cats may also be the same when they eat foods that are not suitable for them. Too much scratching will now result to the next symptom.
The second among the cat food allergy symptoms is absence of hair on certain skin areas. With continuous scratching, their skin will also fall out excessively and leave these spots. Therefore, even if you don't see your cat scratching that much, hairless spots can be enough to tell you that they've been scratching that much within the body. Depending on the extremity of their symptoms, these hairless spots may also have wounds since they've been scratching it for some time.
Third, you may also notice that your pet has an odour on these hairless spots. Wounds are open lesions on the skin and they can also be infected especially if they have them for some time. This odour would indicate that the wound is already infected or also known as active infection for them.
Once you've seen that these symptoms are present on your pet then it's time for you to get it treated to avoid more serious problems for them. Make sure to bring them to your physician to get them treated especially at instances of active infections. At this point, be sure to remember the foods that your cat ate and tell them to the veterinarian. They may advise you to do elimination among the foods they eat to know what they're allergic to.In conclusion, cats also experience cat food allergy symptoms but as long as you know them, you can get them treated immediately and keep them from these symptoms that prevent them from being active pets.

Dry Cat Food

Dry cat food is an important part of any pet cats diet. As you know, feeding your cat correctly can affect their mood in a positive or negative way. If you fail to accommodate the needs of your cats diet you will make the cat cranky and probably find yourself in a bad mood as well.Dry food comes in a bag and can be purchased at most any store. Though dry food in and of itself is not enough, it is an important component of the diet. Do not overlook the nutritional value that dry cat food plays when you are purchasing it. Simply reaching for the cheapest bag may put your cats overall health in danger. Take the time to read the nutritional facts on each different brand of food. Purchase the food that makes the most sense for your cat considering age and current health. Some brands of dry food are specifically formulated for older cats while some brands are formulated for younger cats. Whatever the case may be, the best food for your cat can be found by doing a bit of consumer research.Remember to try a few different kinds of food that have good nutritional value. Odds are your cat is going to like one more than another. Just like humans, each cat has different likes and dislikes. If you find a healthy dry food that your cat likes stick with it until they get tired of it. Over the course of a lifetime your cats taste will probably change a few times. Understand when it does and try a few new dry foods until you find one that fits.

Cat Food Analysis

Since the pet food recalls several years ago, cat owners are more interested in high quality cat food. High quality ingredients especially proteins and few preservatives and artificial ingredients are most desirable.A cat is a carnivore and meat should be its primary source of protein. If the food label says beef, 95% of its ingredients should be beef. If labeled chicken or lamb, only 25% is recommended. If labeled chicken or beef flavored, it may not contain any meat. Food containing meat byproducts, grains and glutens are a less healthy diet.A cat needs more protein than carbohydrates in its diet. Besides meat, protein is added to the food using meat byproducts, animal digest, meat meal and bone meal. With chicken, necks, feet and intestines are used. Although these provide some protein, they are not as healthy as meat. Carbohydrate fillers require a cat to eat more food to get the necessary protein. This can lead to obesity and health problems.Artificial preservatives may have a long term effect on a cat's health. The more common chemicals use are BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate. Vitamin C or E is a much better alternative as a preservative.Dry cat food stores easier, is more cost effective and makes litter box cleaning easier. Canned food is more like raw food, usually has less filler and carbohydrates and contains water which aids in hydration. Experts recommend that wet food be the primary diet.Another alternative is a raw food diet reflecting what a cat eats in the wild. This can be messy, expensive and time consuming to prepare. It is believed that the food has better nutrients leading to better health and more energy. The right amount of food and supplements is required to insure the cat is getting a balance diet.Some owners use a vegetarian diet for their cats. This can be effective if the diet contains enough protein. There is some concern that a cat's lifespan must be impacted by this diet.There are many types of dry and wet food on the market. From the commercial grade to the premium or natural, the impact on a cat's health will vary. The premium or natural foods cost more but a cat usually eats less making it as cost effective as the commercial grades. The label describes what is in the food and a veterinarian can recommend the best diet.

Cat Nutrition - The Top 3 Reasons Why Canned Food is Better For Your Cat Than Dry

There has been an ongoing discussion among cat owners about whether dry or canned food is better. Do you feed your cat canned food? Should you? The answer is a big YES, and here are the top 3 reasons why.1. Water Content.In canned cat food, the main ingredient is water. This means that canned food is closer to what your cat would eat in his natural habitat. When a cat kills and eats prey, the animal flesh contains the water required to meet the cat's nutritional needs. This is not the case with dry food.Because cats have evolved to get most of their water from the prey they hunt and eat, they are not well accustomed to drinking water from a bowl. Many cats do not get enough water if they are on a dry food diet, and easily become dehydrated. This can contribute to common feline diseases such as Urinary Tract Crystals, which often lead to kidney and liver problems.2.    Animal ProteinMost canned cat foods contain significant amounts of animal protein, and this is generally the second ingredient, after water, and before any carbohydrate content. Canned cat foods do not generally contain much carbohydrate, while dry foods usually contain a great deal.Is this important? Very much so! Too much carbohydrate for a cat can cause all sorts of problems, including a higher chance of developing Diabetes, more likelihood of becoming obese, and greater risk of Pancreatitis. A better understanding of cat nutrition tells us that lower carbohydrate and higher animal protein is a much healthier diet.3. DigestionCanned food is already partially broken down when the cat eats it. This makes it much easier to digest in the cat's stomach and intestines. What this can mean for your cat is reduced incidents of vomiting and intestinal gas, and less risk of Bloat.I know it can seem inconvenient to deal with canned food, when with dry all you need to do is pour a little into a bowl each day. Maybe you dislike the smell of canned food. The tins and bowls are messy and they need to be cleaned or recycled. But once you know what your cat really needs for optimum health, you understand that it's worth it. And think how much more inconvenient it would be if your cat develops diabetes or kidney problems, and you need to give him insulin injections or subcutaneous fluids each day! Not to mention how this would affect your cat's happiness and sense of well being.So keep your cat's health in mind, and consider making the switch if you have not already!

Feeding Your Cat - What You Should Know

You would think that feeding your cat would be the one part of act pet care that would be easy, but there are so many choices of food out there, that it can be downright confusing. You want to feed your cat the best food, the food that can provide the most vitamins and nutrients so that you can stays healthy and happy for a long time to come. So, how do you know what type of food to feed your cat? How much food should you allow your cat to eat at one time? How many times a day do you need to feed your cat? If you make the wrong choice, you could severely impact your cat's health, so as you can see, feeding your cat may not be as simple a task as you first thought it would be.The majority of the cat food that you can purchase today has been specially formulated specifically for your cat's health. It has the correct amount of vitamins and nutrients, with just the right number of calories, to ensure that your cat stays healthy, and doesn't become overweight. Your veterinarian should be able to suggest the best brand of cat food for your cat, as well as help answer any cat feeding questions that you may have. If your cat has health problems, or is overweight, he may require special food.When purchasing cat food, you shouldn't grab the cheapest bag that you can find and think that it is okay for your cat. When it comes to cat food, you really do get what you pay for. If you can't afford the most expensive brands, that is okay, but you should try to mix it up, maybe buy a more expensive, higher-quality brand one week, and then go for a cheaper brand the next week.Your veterinarian will also be able to tell you how much your cat should weigh, and make suggestions to help you get your cat to that weight. Obesity is a major problem for cats just as it is for people, and significantly raises their risk for developing serious health problems as they grow older.Try not to feed your cat the same type or brand of food all the time. Just as you would get bored and tired of eating the same thing everyday, so does your cat. Feed your cat a mixture of dry and canned cat food, and change flavors often. Most veterinarian's will suggest that you give your cat canned food as much as possible, as it has higher nutrient content than the dry food, and is easier for your cat to digest.You should never, ever give your cat or allow anyone else to give your cat table food or scraps. The food that you eat could cause serious problems with your cat's delicate digestive system, damaging her health, and costing you major money in veterinary bills.You should, however give your cat fresh water each time you feed it. Water is crucial in keeping your cat hydrated, and in helping her digest her food. If your cat doesn't get enough water, it could develop bladder and kidney problems, again detrimental to your cat's health and your wallet.Feeding your cat the right foods isn't really all that difficult, just do your homework and follow your veterinarian's advice.

Facts About Cats' Eating Behavior

Knowing what to feed your cat can make the difference between a healthy and happy cat, and one that is malnourished and hard to control. There are several misconceptions when it comes to feeding cats, what they like, and what they should eat. Here are some of the most basic facts about cats' eating behavior.·    Cats don't eat fruits and vegetables. There are many individuals who believe that cats eat the same things as human beings. This is not true; in fact feeding a cat fruits and vegetables can make a cat ill. Many people believe that wild cats roam the outdoors eating fruits and vegetable types of foods. This is a misconception as most wild cats eat meat, which is what your cat should mostly eat.·    Most cats need at least 140g of mouse per day. This measures out to be at least 5 mice a day that cats need in order to meet their caloric intake requirement.·    Cats are carnivores. Cats live and thrive mainly off of an exclusive animal diet and don't need the same kind of nutrients that we do.·    Many researchers believe that cats can distinguish between the four different tastes; sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Cats do not have a great attraction to sweet tastes.·    For the most part, cats enjoy eating things like fish, meats, and other proteins. Sometimes they can exhibit strange eating behaviors such as eating plants or green leafy vegetables they find lying around. Eating plants and greens makes cats vomit which can help get rid of hair balls in their throat. They will naturally eat grass in the wild to help with digestion so don't be too surprised when they start munching on house plants. They're just trying to find a substitute for grass.·    The key to good cat food is its nutritional content which should mimic nutritional composition of a "natural" diet for cats. The term natural refers to anything that they can catch and feed themselves. While supplemental food is sometimes needed, the natural foods are best for the health and diet of your cat. Cat food can sometimes be considered natural and contain no artificial ingredients, but it's not really a "natural" food in the same sense of what cats eat in the wild.·    A wild cat will instinctively know what they want and like to eat, while a domesticated cat does not. They are so used to being around people and "people" food that they don't really act like cats are supposed to act. As the owner of a cat it is your job to show them what kinds of foods they should be eating by providing for them. When owners don't provide the appropriate foods for their cats, it can lead to malnutrition and unhealthy eating habits.·    Cats can lose their appetite just as easily as an adult can lose theirs, and for various reasons. Loss of appetite can be a symptom of illness or something else. It's important to know your own cat's eating behaviors so you can properly assess the situation. Some cats will eat their meals quickly and others will eat slowly and are more reluctant eaters.These are just some general eating behaviors that can be seen in most cat breeds, however in order to really assess the eating habits of your cat you need to pay close attention to them every time they eat. Watch to see if they eat slow, or fast, or what kinds of foods they prefer. Do they eat mice or just hunt them? Are they chewing on plants around the house? Every little thing can make a difference when it comes to eating patterns so watch carefully.

Feeding Your Cat

Feeding your cat is a simple endeavor. With loving attention and care you will discover which foods your cat likes best. Buying name brand and upmarket cat food will ensure the best nutrition, health and longevity for your furry friend.Cats can be fed in two ways. You can either leave out a bowl of dry food for your cat to eat at its leisure or feed it wet/canned food once or twice a day and dispose of the uneaten remainder after 30 minutes. Kittens need to eat more than adult cats. When your kitten is 6-12 weeks old, feeding it four times a day is optimal. A kitten that is three to six months old needs to be fed three times per day.Adult cats need to be fed smaller meals, two or three times each day. Kittens sometimes refuse to eat or don't eat enough. To help them out, you can heat up the cat food or feed your kitten human baby food (turkey and chicken for babies six months and older), eventually phasing out the baby food as you mix with cat food over a short period of time.Cats need to drink plenty of clean, fresh water. Make sure their water bowls are washed on a daily basis and refilled at all times.Feeding your cat a saucer of milk is detrimental to them as the digestive system of cats and kittens are not suited for cow's milk, sometimes causing diarrhea.Most cats love treats and it is acceptable to offer a special snack to them every now and then. Treats can also cause weight gain in cats, which is unhealthy, and should be given to them sparingly. Some cats go crazy for fruits and vegetables such as peas or carrots. You will have to experiment to see which people food treats your cat enjoys.Some cats will eat like pigs! If this is your case, terminate the "free-feeding" method (when you leave out dry food all day for your cat to eat when it's hungry) and start your cat on a more precise feeding schedule. To avoid an upset and hungry cat, gradually trim down its meals slowly. If your cat eats too fast and vomits after eating, you can put out a few pieces of dry food and monitor the speed of its intake or place a few clean rock mix in with the food. Make sure the rocks are big enough that it won't eat them accidentally but not too big that it will ignore them. The cat will eat slower as it has to figure out which is the actual food in the bowl, making feeding time a slower operation.If you have more than one cat or have a house full of cats and one of them requires a specific diet (ask your vet), it is a good idea to put them on a morning/night feeding schedule and supervise the eating process. Some cats are more aggressive and hungrier than others and they may finish off their own bowl and move on to another cat's dish. If this happens, organize different feeding rooms for the greedy ones so every cat gets its proper share of food.

Facts About Cat Food & Ferret Food

Until the late 1990s, cat food was one of the choices added to a ferret's diet as it contains a good amount of protein and fat. Essential for the dietary needs of a ferret, and up to now, some people still use it as the main food given to their ferrets.What comprises a good food for ferrets? In order to meet their diet standards, the food given to them must contain at least 35% of protein and 20% of fat. If these two ingredients are contained in their meal, you could be rest assured that your ferret will be healthy and full of energy.The amount and type of food would be dependent on the kind of ferret that you have. If you have a kit (a young ferret) or an adult ferret, then certain factors are to be taken into consideration.Let's start with the case where you got your kit from a breeder. Ask all the information that you need to know about your new ferret, such as brand of cat food or ferret food, vaccination schedules, was your ferret already de-scented and neutered?If you decided to continue using the brand and type of food that the breeder is using, then there's not problem with that. Go ahead and purchase the food from the market or pet shop.In case that you decided to change the brand of food, with reasons such as availability in your area, cost, and/or quality. Then you need to follow a simple rule as you can't just suddenly change your ferret's current diet. Your new ferret will be in a surprise and most probably will not accept the sudden change in their regular meal.What you need to do is to gradually increase the amount of new food added to the old brand that you are going to replace. This means that you need to buy the old food from your area or from the breeder (this is much easier than looking for the brand yourself), and mix it with the new food that you have chosen.In choosing the right kind of food, in regards to cat food, I hope that you choose the highest quality available in the market. You wouldn't want your pet to receive a daily amount of nutrients lesser than the standard amount that we have set in. And this should only be given to adult ferrets.Ferret food is still the best food as it is especially made for ferrets and the amount of nutrients it contains fits the standard or recommended amount. Next thing to make sure is that the food should not be frozen meat, ferrets hate this kind of food and one more thing is that it has lesser nutrients. Always give the best for your ferrets.

Dry Food Versus Canned - Your Cat's Health Is In The Balance

If you feed your kitty dry food, you may be setting him up for feline diabetes and urinary tract problems.  Your furry friend is an "obligate carnivore," which means that he needs to be getting his protein requirements from a meat-based diet, not a grain-based one.  His body is not built to digest plant proteins like corn, wheat, and rice efficiently.Guess what most commercial dry foods are made of?  You've got it--corn, wheat, and rice.  And this includes dry foods formulated especially for diabetic cats.  Feeding a kitty with this disease a diet high in carbohydrates has been compared to pouring gasoline on a fire and wondering why you can't put it out.A kitty in the wild eats birds, mice, rabbits, and squirrels, not grains.  This meat-based diet contains only three to five percent carbohydrates.  Commercial dry foods, on the other hand, contain between 35 to 50% carbohydrates.  These excess carbs are stored in your kitty's body as fat.  And it's a known fact that fat cells secrete a substance that causes insulin resistance, a factor in type 2 diabetes.Water is another important nutrient.  Most kitties don't drink a lot of water.  Why is this?  Wild cats, large and small, get most of their water from the animals they eat, so felines don't have a strong thirst drive.  This can lead to problems when we feed dry food, which only contains about 10 percent water.  If your furball eats mostly dry food, he's probably in a constant state of low-level dehydration.High-quality canned foods not only contain about 78 percent water, but their carbohydrate level is around three to five percent.  This is much closer to what a cat would eat in the wild, and provides the water he needs.A kitty who eats dry food exclusively may drink more water than one who eats canned food.  But when you consider how much water he's getting from both his food and what he drinks, the kitty on dry food is taking in only half the amount of water the kitty on canned food is getting.  This is probably one reason why urinary tract infections are so common in kitties.Kidney disease is one of the leading causes of feline death.  A kitty who is chronically dehydrated is more than likely headed for kidney problems.  Any feline with kidney trouble needs to be fed a high-quality canned food, not dry food.It's important to read pet food labels.  This isn't as easy as you would think, since these labels don't really have a lot of information on them.  You can get an idea of what's in the food, but not how much of each ingredient.  For example, if "rice" is mentioned, you can't tell if the food contains a lot of rice or a small amount.  You may need to contact the pet food company and ask for a breakdown of the number of calories that come from protein, from fat, and from carbohydrates.  If more than ten percent of the calories come from carbohydrates, avoid that food.Look for a muscle meat as the first ingredient, not an organ meat like liver.  Words like "chicken" or "turkey" are preferable to "by-products" or "broth" or "meal."  "Meal" is a meat that has been cooked for a long time at high temperatures, which lowers its quality.  "By-products" includes yummy stuff like feet, intestines, feathers, and egg shells.There shouldn't be any grain listed, but since grains are inexpensive, most pet food companies include them as fillers.  Corn, wheat, and soy should not be among the first three ingredients, as they cause blood sugar to go up quickly.  These ingredients are also common allergens, along with yeast.Most of the "prescription" diets contain corn, wheat, soy, and meat by-products, and they're also very high in carbohydrates.  Be aware that words like "natural," "premium," or "veterinarian recommended" don't mean a lot.It's unfortunate, but many vets don't know a lot about nutrition.  Do your own research to prevent health problems for your kitty.Note:  If your kitty has diabetes and is being treated with insulin, be sure to check with your vet BEFORE making any changes to his diet.  Dietary changes can change the amount of insulin your furry friend needs, and too much or too little insulin will cause serious problems or death.

Details of Some Essential Cat Food Ingredients

Most people are not aware of the effect of various ingredients on the health of their cat. If people have knowledge about the food they give their cats, they can avoid health problems that are caused due to low quality food. There are many infections and illnesses that can be avoided if you give them food that has nutrients they need.If you are planning to feed your animal friend with packaged food, it is important that you known the ingredients used and the impact of these ingredients on the health of your cat. You can find out the details of the ingredients used by the manufacturer by reading the label. However, your efforts will not yield results if you don't known the pros and cons of the ingredients used.The dietary requirements of cats are similar to that of humans. When the right ingredients are used, the immune power of your animal friend increases and they are less likely to fall. Here are some important ingredients that must be a part of your pet's diet.AntioxidantsVitamins are the most important cat food ingredient as they are an important source of antioxidants. Most vets recommend that you give your pet vitamins like Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin K as they are a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential to improve the immunity system of your pet and to keep them safe from various diseases and their symptoms.ProteinsCats need both vegetable and meat protein for their healthy growth and development. Some of the best sources of meat protein include ducks, pork, egg, pork and chicken. You can give your pet rice, rye, wheat, oatmeal, beet pulp and corn as they are a good source of vegetable protein.Fibers and FatsThe importance of food that contains fiber and moderate amounts of healthy fats cannot be denied. Foods that have high fiber content help in maintaining the health of the cat. Hulls of grains are considered to be the best source of fiber. Giving your cat moderate amounts of healthy animal fats will help in maintaining their skin and add flavor to their food. You can give your pet fish oil as it is an important source of animal fat.So the next time you buy food for your cat, make sure you check the ingredients used. Avoid buying cheap food for your pet as it may be made using low quality ingredients. It is a good idea to buy premium food for your animal friend even if it is a bit expensive.

Choosing an Important Cat Food - An Important Aspect of Cat Health Care

The most basic duty for a cat owner is insuring that your cat receives proper health care. This includes vaccination shots, bringing your feline to veterinarian check-ups, providing food, shelter, and flea removal medicine. Unfortunately, sometimes the most important elements of proper health care is overlooked. Many cat owners spend countless hours and funds yet neglect one of the most basic needs; cat food.Just like humans, cats need a proper diet. Choosing the correct cat food for your feline is extremely important. To insure you have a healthy and satisfied cat it is essential. Before you go searching for a new cat food, you need to understand why it is so important. You also need to learn what to look for. There is a general guideline for choosing a cat food, but every cat has slightly different nutritional needs.Avoid food laden with preservatives and chemical additives. Most of the research available on the web does not contrast particular brand names. You will need to compile a list of ingredients that are great for your cat, and ones that are to be avoided. You will need to pay attention to the fat, carbohydrate, and protein contents of the food as well.A high protein diet is vital. House cats inherit their protein needs from their carnivorous wild cat ancestors. Carbohydrate content is also an important portion of a cats diet. Even though it is something you must consider, most of their nutritional needs are met by protein. You must remember that, even though carbohydrate content is important, foods high in carbohydrates are not best for them.Premium brands of cat food generally offer exactly what most cats need. They may be more expensive in the short term, but they will save you loads of money in the long term. Your cat will lead a fuller and healthier life. You will also be helping prevent serious complications that can result in the use of a low quality food.Another thing to consider is that the high end cat food generally has a smaller serving size. This is because the high end food includes all of the ingredients needed to keep your feline healthy, unlike cheaper foods. For example, when comparing a leading premium brand of cat food to a lower cost brand the difference for the recommended serving size ends up only being five cents a day!Not all chicken is the same! Try to find food containing "chicken meal". Chicken meal is one of the best protein types you can feed your car. It can not be made from byproducts, it must be made from the flesh, skin, and bones only. Byproducts are lower quality and contain nearly any animal part you can imagine.Examine any food that says "flavor" such as "chicken flavor". These food may not even contain that food in the ingredients. Food labeled this way often does not even contain any animal meat, it only tastes like whatever it is flavored as. Chicken, in general, is better than beef.

Cat Food Review - What Is In A Bag of Cat Food

Cats have been known throughout the centuries as beautiful and magical creatures. There has been folklore, cat items in Egyptian tombs, and even Cat Woman in movies. These animals are so easy to care for. They can be playful, extremely smart, and so full of love. To keep these cats healthy, their food has to be made a certain way. They have sensitive tummies and are prone to terrible kitty diseases like the dreaded Leukemia. When is the last time the ingredients were checked in a bag of pet food? Read on to review cat food.The first five ingredients on the label should say: What is the protein source? What are the grains? Are there by-products? What are the fat sources? What are the healthy promoting ingredients if any?If two or more grains are found in the top five ingredients in a cat food review this means there is more vegetable protein than animal protein. These grains are harder to digest and so it is eliminated as waste. A cat is not a human who is on a Vegan diet. Cats are animals that must have real protein to have proper nutrition.There should never ever be by products in healthy cat food. By-products are ground up items that come off animals that should never be considered to put in pet food.With fats, it needs to be animal fat to make the skin and fur beautiful and shiny. Vegetable fats and oils do not do the job. The best source to use is chicken. A cat can metabolize animal fats much better.In a bag of cat food, healthy and holistic foods have antioxidants, Probiotics, beet fiber, and plenty of vitamins and minerals.Now, what is in the bag of cat food sitting on the shelf right now? In the cat food review, a person could have their mouth on the ground. Thinking it is a name brand company surely the cat's nutrition would be fine. Well, think again!Within five minutes of reading this article, a person has learned things a cat should be having. Beets help the cat with their sensitive tummy by helping their digestive track. A cat is always nibbling grass because they know from the wild it helps their stomach.A bag of cat food is not designed for all cats. There are different life stages, breeds, personality, living environment, and activity levels in each cat.A holistic pet food company knows cat nutrition inside and out. Everything is certified as holistic cat food. Even the plant and the packaging are designed for optimal health of the pets. Everything mentioned above in the first five ingredients that is supposed to be there in cat food, is. That is a great pet food company.

Cats Can Have Food Allergies Too

Food allergies can effect many creatures other than just humans. Cats are one of the creatures that you would never expect to get a food allergy. While it can be great to have a pet to keep you company when you are all alone in your house, it becomes your responsibility to make sure that animal stays in good healthy. Cats can show food allergies when they are only a few months old, but it generally takes upwards of 2 years for them to begin go exhibit symptoms. Cats with food allergies may also suffer from contact or inhalant allergies as well.Most people often confuse their cat's food allergies with a food intolerance. A food allergy will have a few different symptoms. These symptoms usually include skin problems and itching. If a cat has a food intolerance it will have diarrhea or vomit after eating. Both food intolerance and food allergies can be cured the same way however. Simply by taking away the cats food and switching it to a much more mild hypoallergenic diet you will completely remove the symptoms.Dairy products, beef, and fish are the most common food types that will likely give your cat allergies. These are also very common ingredients in cat foods. The proteins in these ingredients are what causes the allergic reaction.Itchy skin is the main symptom your cat will show if it is suffering from a cat allergic. This will often lead to excessive scratching and hair loss. Merely by looking at the physical symptoms your cat is showing you can quickly tell if the cat is suffering from a food allergy or another kind of allergy such as an Atopy allergy. A cat suffering from a food allergy will also show symptoms all year round, as opposed to in a certain season.

Cat Dandruff - 4 Steps to Get Rid of Cat Dandruff For Good

If your cat has a lot of loose dead skin cell flakes caught in his fur, you may be dealing with cat dandruff. Its not unusual for dogs and cats to experience a bit of dry skin during their lifetime, but its important to identify the underlying cause of the problem. Common causes include allergies, diabetes, poor diet, fur mites, and even sun burn. Here's some tips on identifying the root cause of cat dandruff and how to deal with the problem for good.Dandruff is loose dead skin cells from the outer layer of your cat's skin usually visible in his fur. He may even scratch himself bloody resulting in missing patches of fur. The most common causes of cat dandruff are:
Feline diabetes;

Fungal infection;
 Environmental allergy;
 Food allergy;
Poor diet;
 Parasites including fleas, mites and especially the Cheyletiella mite;
 Low humidity environments;
 Sunburn Four steps to get rid of cat dandruff for good:Step 1: Take a trip to the vet to rule out a serious medical conditions. You are going to need your vet to help you diagnose feline diabetes, a skin fungus or to pinpoint a food or airborne allergy.Step 2: Get your cat on a proper high meat protein diet. You may think your cat is eating high quality cat food, however, commercial pet food companies are good at advertising poor quality cat food as a high-end product. Commercial cat food is packed with vegetable proteins, not meat proteins. Vegetable proteins don't help you cat one bit. Read the ingredients. If corn or soy grains are listed first on the list of ingredients you are feeding you cat vegetable proteins. You want a cat food product, preferably canned, that contains a meat protein as the first ingredient.Step 3: Remove complications caused by a dry climate and sunburns. In a dry climate, your cat's skin (your skin too) benefits by adding a humidifier to your home space. If you have a fair skinned cat, typically white fur feline, give her plenty of places to get in the shade when she is outside.Step 4: Now for the parasites. If you ever hear someone talking about 'walking dandruff' they are talking about the Chyletiella mite. These cat parasites are large enough to see with the naked eye. They are often the cause of skin problems and cat dandruff.You can treat skin parasites fairly easily, but you are going to have to treat all the animals in your household, the carpeting, the bedding and maybe even your family members. Use hot water and Oxyfresh or your favorite detergent to wash cat bedding, sheets, blankets and anything that you cat likes to lie on. Get out the vacuum and go over the carpet 2 or 3 times a week.Finally, get rid of the Cheyletiella mite once and for all using a flea and mite prevention program like Revolution, Frontline or Advantage. You will need a vet's prescription for these products but they are highly effective at controlling fleas and mites.You can help your cat's skin heal naturally using a homeopathic remedy such as Equisetum arvense and Taraxacum officinalis. The herbs are known for their ability to soothe your cat's skin sores and keep his skin hydrated. Fucus vesiculosis is a sea vegetable used in natural remedies to support the thyroid. The thyroid is key to producing hormones that are necessary for maintaining skin and coat.  You can even add a tablespoon of olive oil to your cat's food once or twice a week to stimulate natural oil production.So there you have it, how to get rid of cat dandruff for good by ruling out serious medical conditions like feline diabetes, making sure your cat is eating a high meat protein diet, adding moisture to your home environment with a humidifier and eliminating fleas, mites and especially the Cheyletiella mite. Your vet will need to help you to diagnose physical problems and to provide a prescription for flea products like Revolution. However, you can include natural cat skin care products to help your cat heal and provide long term relief from cat dandruff and other feline skin problems - no prescription required.

Cat Care - 9 Treats To Avoid Feeding Your Cat

Our feline friends are carnivores and as such their digestive systems are designed for high protein diets and not suited to treats fit for human consumption.Digestion is a process designed to break down food that supplies your cat with the necessary nutrients and subsequent energy to live a healthy, energy-filled life. As a cat's digestive system is developed for a high protein diet it has powerful gastric juices that assist in breaking down bones and meat. Their digestive systems do not have the necessary enzymes for a diet rich in plant matter or carbohydrates.As a responsible cat owner, it is important to understand what makes for good cat nutrition and what cat treats should be avoided. The following 'foods' and 'treats' are not recommended for cats:

Dog Food - Dog food does not contain sufficient proteins and taurine, which is an essential amino acid that cats produce in insufficient amounts. Dog food is not nutritionally balanced for cats. Similarly, dogs should not be fed cat food.
Canned Human Tuna - Canned tuna is not harmful provided it is an occasional treat and does not constitute your cat's main diet. Tuna is high in mercury and may result in mercury poisoning. Canned tuna also has a high sodium (salt) content and it not nutritionally balanced.
Garlic and Onion - Whilst a single feeding of food containing onions and garlic is not likely to make your cat ill, longterm, the sulfoxides and disulfides contained in these bulbs damages red blood cells which contain hemoglobin that is the oxygen carrying component of red blood cells. Reduced oxygen supply to the cat's organs can cause severe health problems and in severe cases - death
Tomatoes - Unripe or green tomatoes contain solanine, a toxin harmful to cats. Ingestion of tomatoes can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Grapes and raisins - Whilst the experts have not established what component contained in grapes and raisins causes renal (kidney) damage, cat's that have ingested them have reportedly suffered renal failure.
Chocolate - This sweet treat is a no-no for cats and dogs. Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that cats cannot metabolize. Apart from nausea and vomiting, chocolate stimulates the central nervous system, increases the heart rate and may cause seizures and death. The more pure the chocolate the more dangerous it is.
Dairy Products - Whilst there is much debate on the subject of cow's milk for cats, the fact is that cats do not have the right enzymes to breakdown dairy products made from cow's milk (ice cream, cheese). They may suffer from gastrointestinal problems as a result of a lactose intolerance. The question of growth hormone in cow's milk is also a matter of separate debate.
Caffeine - tea and coffee contains caffeine and caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and not recommended for cats.
Alcohol - save the Budweiser and Johnnie Walker for human consumption. Finally, it's advisable to feed your cat a veterinary approved commercial cat food. If you are trained in the field of animal nutrition, organic cat foods or even homemade foods are perfect alternatives, provided they are nutritionally balanced. Give your cat occasional treats - but cat treats designed for cats.

Cat Behaviors - Eating Out Of and Tearing Up the Bag of Cat Food

We have had a guest cat living with us for awhile and he brought with him some strange cat behavior. One of the things he does is bite and claw at the cat food in the bag, even if the bowl is full. I think its a game to him but it make a real mess. He doesn't stop until he gets it open and spreads it all over the floor.Now he isn't our cat but I figure he needs to live by our rules. We could put the food up but we have two cats now and our cat Sid eats out of the bowl and we can leave the bag of cat food on the floor next to where we feed the cats. It's convenient for us and that's how we like it, were the humans.When training our Sid since he was a kitten we had certain rules in mind and those were the Cat behaviors we worked on teaching him.These are cat behaviors we believe any cat in our house should obey(and Sid Does) 

  Eat the cat food out of a bowl and not the bag of food
 
 
  Know it's name and come when called(at least most of the time)
 
 
  Stay off of the sink
 
 
  Use the cat box at all times
 
  Don't bite the hand that feeds youWhen it came to the new cat Tabby, he needed some discipline so we started working with him after a period of time at least until we knew he felt comfortable in our home. We used the same tactics that we used with Sid, since they worked pretty well with him. There are many trains of thought for training a cat but this is what we did,


  We use repetition when teaching him his name, call him a lot, and everyone be consistent. Don't use similar sounding words when calling your cat. Keep on until you get a response
 

 
  Teach them the word NO. Again be consistent and get a response. Everyone should use the same word, not stop or don't do that, stick with the same word.
 

 
  For biting use OUCH or NO and loudly. Make sure your not petting your cat to the point they have had enough. They will bite to tell you to stop. Sometimes they just want to sit on your lap.
 

 
  We use a water bottle for really stubborn behavior. A quick spray and a loud NO will work very well. All we have to do now is pick up the water bottle if Sid is misbehaving.
 
 With using all of the above we have taught Tabby to leave the bag of cat food alone and eat out of the bowl. He has also learned to recognize his name much better and will come to me sometimes, all are huge strides since Tabby has been an outside cat and his inside manners needed some improvement.

Cat Food Allergies - Signs and Symptoms That Your Cat is Allergic to the Food You Are Giving It

You cannot exactly tell you that you are giving him or her the wrong type of food. In fact, your cat may not realize how the food that he or she is eating is making him or her uncomfortable. According to studies, cat food allergies is very common among cats in the country. There are many types of cat food being sold in the market today that does not really sit well the stomach of some cats. Most of these foot that cause allergies are meat based products such as those that are made out of beef. In some cases, it containing fish and dairy products could also make your cat sick.Since your cat will not be able to tell you that the food you are giving him or her is making him or her sick, you better be alert to the signs and symptoms of food allergies. You quick attention to the condition of your cat may well save his or her life.Signs and SymptomsAllergies may be manifested in the dryness and flaking of your cat's skin. If you notice that your cat has flakes and that it constantly scratching itself in some parts of its body, it would be wise for you to investigate the cause of this behavior. Experts believe that there are certain ingredients that can cause allergies that may lead to balding of your cat. If you don't want your cat to lose its beautiful coat, you better switch to another type of food and see what happens. In most cases, cat allergies symptoms disappear once you discontinue giving your cat something that caused the allergies.Another sign of cat food allergies is the loss of appetite on your cat. In some cases, you cat may experience irritable bowel syndrome where your cat will have loose stools or constipation. If you notice that your cat is less active that he or she used to be, observe your cat for a day and note the way he or she defecates. If your cat does not eat much, strains when passing stool or pass loose stool, you should take your cat to the vet at once. Cat food allergies can have some serious on some cats so make sure that your cat is okay by taking it to the vet immediately.

Caring For Older Cats - Nutritional Cat Food

Older or senior cats need and deserve special dietary consideration. They are like us in that things don't always work as well as they did when we were younger.As our cat ages, food moves more slowly through the digestive tracts. The older cat also has a slower metabolism than when she was younger. Quite often the stomach and intestines don't do quite as good a job of digestion and absorption which can lead to malnutrition.Unfortunately our older cats taste buds will start to fail so food doesn't taste as good as it used to. If your cat as lost interest in eating I suggest talking to your vet about some taste enhancers. These can entice our senior feline friends into eating again.Older cats need less protein in their foods otherwise it could cause strain on the kidneys and liver which may already have deteriorated due to age. Protein for older cats should make up around 30% of the meal instead of the 40% you would feed a younger cat. However, do make the proteins of good quality food such as very lean red or white meat, fresh white fish plus some well cooked green vegetables. I would avoid carbohydrates or starchy foods as these can be harder for your older cat to digest. Too much of these can also cause diarrhea and other problems. Make sure your older cat has a diet which includes increased fat levels to provide for sufficient energy for your cat to move around easily.Quite often the older cat's teeth are worn and they can develop gum disease. For these reasons it is kinder to feed them on soft moist foods. You can try adding a spoonful of tinned to some dry food to make easier to eat and it could also cut costs. Alternatively you can soak some dry food in warm water or a broth to make a change in diet. Remember that wet food has more smell and taste which can entice the older cat to eat.I am lucky as we have rain water for drinking but I would suggest having a soft water for your older cat. He doesn't need and can't digest all the chemicals that usually come from a tap. Why not buy your cat some bottled water. It will last at least a day or so and to me is well worth the small cost involved. Keep an eye out for constipation if your cat is not drinking enough.As your cat ages start feeding it smaller meals more frequently. This will put far less stress on the aging digestive system. I would also suggest adding a vitamin-mineral supplement to senior cat's diet daily. I recommend discussing this with your vet.Old age is seldom kind. It doesn't matter if you are human or feline; things start to go wrong when we get older. The best thing you can do for your aging cat is to make sure that his diet provides enough nutrition for his needs, that he has somewhere comfortable to sleep and enough cuddles to make him feel wanted and loved.

Common Male Cat Trouble

In the field of Emergency Veterinary Medicine, one of the most common problems I saw was the male cat unable to urinate. It is more commonly known as being 'Blocked' or Feline Lower Urinary Disease. There is no absolute specific criteria as far as age, gender, or breed. The main common thread between almost all cases I have seen has been diet. More specifically, its effect on the urine PH. There are other reasons for inability to urinate, like trauma or even genetic deformity. What I want to talk about is being unable to urinate due to crystal formation.It may sound a little different from what I said before. PH versus crystal formation, but they both go hand in hand. If the PH is too alkalotic or too acidic, it can encourage crystal formation. As the crystals form they do not necessarily stay in the bladder but travel down the Urethra to the penis. At any point along the line, a build up of crystalline debris can cause an obstruction. This blockage in turn leads to an accumulation of metabolite waste and can cause renal failure.If this happen, some of the things you the pet owner may notice would be, frequent trips to the litter box, but with little to no results. You may see blood in the urine or small drops around or in the litter box. You may hear him cry out as he is pushing to urinate. This is usually a very painful time as he has a painfully distended bladder. Think about it, have you ever been somewhere without a bathroom and you really had to go. Feeling like your bladder will burst at any minute. Now multiply that feeling times a thousand and that is what he may be feeling.The difference of course is he is not purposely holding urine in. In very unfortunate cases, if not treated or treated to late, the bladder can rupture.But a far more frequent result before a rupture, is cause by the fact that he is not eliminating the waste from the body that is normally passed when he urinates. A build up of these waste materials, as I previously mentioned can cause renal failure. It can also result in an extremely fast heart beat. This is known as bradycardia. The causes of this hyperkalemia and pain. Lets go back for a minute to the fact that he is not eliminating his metabolic waste. One waste product is potassium. Hyperkalemia is in fact an excessive amount of potassium in the blood. you may be asking why the blood and not the bladder. Well if too much is in the bladder it can cause, essentially a backlog in the body to a point of excess in the blood.If the feline was at this point, which many emergency technicians have seen, they may be presented to the clinic in lateral recumbency or laying on their side. With an extremely high heart rate the risk of cardiac failure is increased. He would be considered a critical case. The prognosis at that point is very guarded. This is indeed a very extreme case, where perhaps he has been blocked for possibly six or seven hours. Now that is not to say that he could not get to this point in a matter of one to two hours, but it can usually be more than two.The main thing once the DVM has evaluated him is to get treatment started as soon as possible. The main thing that will need to be done is the actual unblocking. Because this is painful it will be done under anesthesia. That is assuming he is not one of the critical cases. If he is very critical, he may not be a very good candidate for anesthesia. This is something the doctor for your case will take into consideration when they formulates a treatment plan. Another thing they will consider is his medical history. If he has any issues or history of anesthetic difficulties, any medications he may be on, any other medical problems he may have and age. These are only a few of the things you will be asked and are necessary information for the doctor.If all is fairly straight forward, the doctor will formulate a plan and implement it. It will most likely include IV fluids for Diuresis, Pain management, urinary catheterization and collection set, Blood Work and urinalysis, possible antibiotics, and hospitalization for maybe three to five days. At many emergency facilities before any treatment is started, (unless he is very critical) the doctor and in some cases the technician will go over the plans and cost associated with the treatment.The owner needs to always be aware of the treatment costs. With that said, I don't want you to think that every clinic is all about the money. The staff at emergency clinics first priority is the pet. They have chosen this field because of the passion for helping, and empathy and compassion towards all creatures. But all pet owners should be aware that emergencies happen, and it is your responsibility to be prepared. It is true that most day clinics, while having a client relationship with owners will set up payment plans, But at two in the morning when they are not available, it is important to have a backup plan.The last thing I want to discuss is after treatment is done, and he is now urinating on his own. The urinary catheter has been removed and his blood work is looking more normal. When he is discharged from the clinic. The doctor will write up and discuss with you instruction to help prevent this from happening again. There is no guarantee that this will not happen again, but with a diet change and monitoring it will be less likely. It is important that you, the owner, follow the instructions given to you. As I previously mentioned the doctor will want to adjust the urine PH, and make the bladder a little less inviting to crystal formation. Mainly this is achieved through diet change. They may put him on a commercially available diet or a prescription diet that you can only get through a veterinarian. In any case it is important to stick with it and not change it. In most cases your male cat will be on the new diet for the remainder of his life, which hopefully will be many more years.I hope this article has helped. I have only touched on a few informative highlights. If you have any questions, you can call your local veterinarian or the next time you take your pet in for a check up bring it up. I'm sure they will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Cat Clothes When Shelter and Food Is Not Enough

When you have pets, you would like to provide them with the best care you can possibly give. When you've crossed out shelter and food off your list, you might be thinking about getting clothing for your pet. Even if your cat already has fur, you can still get him or her a good batch of cat clothes. Maybe you're going out in the cold and you think their fur won't be enough or maybe you just want your cat to be stylish and fashionable. There are many options when you're thinking about getting clothing for your cat.If you want to get cat clothes, you have to be ready to put a little effort into the shopping. Compared to dog clothes, cat outfits can be pretty scarce and even the most stocked up pet stores might not be selling them. Do your search online if you want something less time consuming but extensive. Online, you can find a great many choices as well as clothes in a wide range of price brackets. It's going to be easy to start a collection when you see all the possible choices in the market.You might like to get your cat some cat clothes in the form of cat dresses. Of course, that would mean, your cat is a girl. In this case, there are many styles, colors, and patterns to choose from. You only have to choose one depending on what you like and also what matches your cat well. If you want a cat dress with satin bows, they're readily available online. There might be a very special party coming up and you want your cat to be dress up to the nines as you. When it comes to pet clothes, cat dresses are the perfect choice.If you and your cat like to spend a lot of time outdoors, the cat clothes you might want to stock up on are cat coats. Again, their fur might not be enough for the coldness of the day and also the day you want to go out with your cat might be a bit wet. With a good cat coat, you can ensure that your cat is warm and dry in any kind of weather. If you get coats in a waterproof material, you have the ability to go out with your cat even if the day is raining cats and dogs.

Cat Adoption How to Choose a Shelter Cat

        I've adopted two cats from shelters. The first one was actually for my mother who needed a new animal companion after her dog died, but was getting too old to look after another dog. I wanted to get her a very friendly cat that would enjoy her company and sitting on her lap. I was looking for a cat at least a year old so that my mother would have it for a while.The second adoption was for my own family. We had a 6-month-old Burmese who had just lost his sister. He really needed the company of another cat, so we went looking for a playful cat of similar age that liked being with other cats.In both cases, knowing what characteristics I wanted was crucial. In the first instance, the shelter did not provide much information about each cat's temperament, so I entered the large room housing the adoptable cats and first looked for the ones that responded to me with interest and friendliness. I observed which cats enjoyed being petted. One very quickly rubbed against my hand and followed me around the room as I checked out the others. She was the one! And a great success she was too. She and my mother adored each other and lived together for many years.The second adoption occurred with more technological assistance! My family found her on the shelter's website where her photo and biography were posted. We put her on a list with the other cats of the right age that liked cat company. Although our Burmese was initially defensive about the new arrival, after a couple of days we knew we had made the right choice as they started to play with each other the way the two siblings had done. She loves her humans as well.How can you be sure you'll have similar success choosing a shelter cat? When you get there, look at all the cats and interact with them as much as you can. Read the information available on each cat - the staff and volunteers will have described their temperaments and any special needs. Notice which cats are good with other animals and children if these are requirements. Do you want a quiet or outgoing cat?Ask to hold and play with particular cats. If there are toys to play with, try to engage with the cats that interest you. If you want a mouser, you'll want a playful cat.Often shelter cats choose you! That certainly seemed to happen with my mother's cat. You'll most likely have stronger feelings towards one or two cats. If you can't decide, try asking the shelter staff for help. Tell them what you're looking for, where you live, whether you intend the cat to be indoors or outdoors, how many hours a day the cat will spend alone and so on.If you can't decide, just sit or stand quietly and see which cat comes to you. If worst comes to worst, you can always get two!