Showing posts with label Cat Health Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cat Health Care. Show all posts

Cholesterol Information - Medication, Lifestyle And Food

In a seemingly endless barrage you are probably bombarded with facts about cholesterol - foods, lifestyles and medications. For the most, these facts are associated with products you can buy, in other words, commercials - tv, radio and print. On the other hand, what cholesterol information is actually pertinent to avoid heart disease and live a healthy life and where can you find this kind of cholesterol information?

Pertinent cholesterol information can be divided into two parts: information about you and information about everything else. Your doctor will ask you about your important cholesterol information. Understand your numbers get a cholesterol test and find out how much good and bad cholesterol you have. Your doctor can also tell you whether your numbers are too high or too low. Like so many health problems, smoking has a tendency to make high cholesterol even higher.

Your family's medical history is an important cholesterol information factor. If your blood pressure is high, you may already be feeling the effects of high cholesterol. Some medical conditions, like diabetes, can also raise cholesterol levels.

While you may not know the cholesterol numbers of your relatives, their medical conditions can give your doctor a good starting point and a good idea of your potential health issues. Information about your lifestyle is also important. If your diet is good, your weight is under control and you exercise regularly, you may be doing everything you can. If this is your situation your doctor may recommend medication.

To control cholesterol, you need to know what it is. Many are surprised to find out that cholesterol manufactured in the liver and that it's essential for the body to function at optimal levels. You may be surprised to know that you make it yourself and so your body clearly needs cholesterol in order to function so you don't need to add any to your diet. Good cholesterol information includes where to find cholesterol in your food. Because cholesterol comes from your liver, a good rule of thumb is if your food had a liver at some point in time, it contains cholesterol.

That goes for dairy products, too. Cholesterol is found in the fat part of the food. Whole milk contains more cholesterol than non-fat milk. In eggs, the cholesterol is in the yolks. If your food has a nutrition label, look for saturated fat - some if ok but zero grams in best.

Besides meat and dairy, palm and cocoanut oils contain saturated fats. A good rule of thumb regarding cholesterol information is that polyunsaturated fats are not bad for you unless they are hydrogenated. This is done to keep them stable in manufactured foods.

Tip - For more information on cholesterol, check out the links below.


About the Author:

Visit low cholesterol diet or level cholesterol or cholesterol medication for more information on cholesterol.



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Improving Cat Food Taste - How to Make Your Cat Like Her Healthy Food


In order to own a healthier cat, you have decided to change your cat's food diet after much pondering and discussion with your veterinary. But knowing that you own a finicky and choosy cat, you wonder if there is anything you can do to help your cat likes its new diet.


First, you should introduce the food slowly and steadily, sudden and abrupt changes can force even the most easy to please cat reject her food for a day or two even when she is hungry. This is the last thing you want because experts feel that a starved cat is at a higher risk of developing fatty liver disease, and the fatter the cat, the higher the risk.


Apart some a gradual change of food, here are a list of things you can do to improve the taste of your cat's new food:


1. Add a dash of salt.


2. Food with a strong odor is enticing. Mix a little odiferous cat food or some meat baby food (no onions!).


3. Add some moistened cat treats.


4. Change the texture slightly, if it is ground, add some meat chunks, raw meat, or fish (mackerel, salmon, tuna).


5. Mix a teaspoon of old food, or change out old food, food left out loses preferred odor and texture.

6. Add warm water, homemade beef or chicken broth and warm the dish in the microwave or by steaming.


8. Try adding a different flavor or formula or add a little canned food with beef tallow in it. Mix different consistencies - wet and dry, canned pumpkin, minced sardines, tuna or clam juice.


9. Dab a little on his paw to get him accustomed to the taste as he cleans it off.


10. Top dress with cottage cheese.


Food aside, you can try changing the feeding dishes. Some cats prefer eating from a flat dish (don't ask me why!), some don't like plastic or metal material and prefer ceramic, others might just like heavier dishes that stay put on the floor as they eat.


If your cat is usually not a picky eater, there could be some other reasons why she is not eating as much or showing little interest. She could just be sick - down with a mouth disorder problem which makes eating painful and difficult or maybe a troubled digestive system.


The above cat food taste improvement tips should work fine if your healthy cat is refusing her food. Visit your veterinarian if she refuses to eat the new diet for a day, try not to go beyond 48 hours. The worse possible situation is to go back to her old diet food and change her diet from there gradually.

About the Author


Moses Wright is the founder of FelineDiet.net. More helpful information on Feline Cat Diet, Natural Cat Food and Homemade Cat Food can be found on his website. Webmasters are welcome to reprint this article if the content and live link are keep intact

How to Clean Cat Urine & Remove Cat Urine Odor

By: Stef Rigby
There are some nasty smells in the world and topping the list would have to be cat urine odor. Really I don't think there's much worse than visiting a friend and not being able to enter their house for the foul smell of cat urine, the odor meets you at the door and hits you hard. The stench is in the carpet, the furniture, it’s in the curtains, and it’s up your nose. Someone should really tell this person how to remove cat urine odor.

Cats are creatures of habit. When they find a place to urinate they will return to that same place and continue to urinate there – the fact that it may be your carpet, furniture or curtains really has no relevance to your cat at all. Once your cat finds a place to urinate it is drawn by the smell of its own urine back to that same spot time and again. Cats like the smell of their own urine, they have marked their territory and they’re happy with that.

To stop your cat urinating in the same place you need to remove the smell of cat urine completely, not mask or hide the smell, as it will just come back and so will your cat. It really is simple once you know how and which products to use and more importantly which products not to use. You may think you need a professional remedy for cat urine – but you don’t! You don’t need a cupboard full of cat urine cleaners either. You just need a tried and tested cat urine cleaner

So let’s learn how to get rid of the smell of cat urine.

First We Should Understand the Problem…

• Cats are not big drinkers so the urine is concentrated and very potent and gives the strong cat urine odor.

• Cat urine is made up of several different bacteria strains.

• Urea and Urochrome cause the stains, which can sometimes be invisible.

• Uric acid salts cause the odor by bonding to surfaces.

• Cat urine dries on the carpet and the uric acid forms crystals in the underlay padding. The Crystals are the source of that strong ammonia smelling odor and are also the reason puss returns to that “special place”.

• Cat urine crystals are the hardest part to remove.

• Most household cat urine removers contain ammonia so they are going to make the problem worse not better, your cat will be even more attracted to that same spot to urinate as puss thinks it smells wonderful.

• We need to use a cleaner that will break down the crystals so we can get rid of the cat urine odor.

• Water only spreads the stain and will reactivate the uric acid crystals, reviving old stains and smells.

• Normal cleaners, if they don’t soak the area with ammonia, will mask the odor of cat urine for a short time, but it always returns and so will your cat!

• We need to remove both the stain AND the odor.

How to Clean Cat Urine…

• Soak up the excess cat urine from the area as soon as possible.

• Use a dry cloth or paper towel (I like to use old towels as they are absorbent by nature) – do not wet the area or the urine will spread.

• Blot the area - don’t scrub the carpet – it’s kind of like when you get an ink stain on your clothes, and you scrub it. Does the ink come out or does it spread? Cat urine works the same way in your carpet as the ink. (By the way to get ink out, don’t wet the area or it will set the ink – instead soak it in a bowl of milk – yes I said MILK - and then scrub from the outside of the stain in towards the center, a nail brush is good for this! I just thought I would throw in that tip for you – it comes in very handy when you have kids.)

• Hold the cloth or paper towel over the spot for a while – I find standing on an old towel will absorb a good amount of the cat’s urine quite well.

• Let your cleaning solution soak into the area, again use a dry towel, put it over the urine stain and put some weight on the towel. Put something heavy over the towel and leave it overnight.

• The main objective here is to be eliminating cat urine stains permanently so your cat won’t be tempted back to this spot again.

• You really need to keep your cat away from this area until all trace of the urine odor has gone.

• If your cat keeps going back place some foil over the patch until the smell of the urine has gone.

• You may need to repeat this process until all trace of the urine odor and stains have gone.

What not to use. These are not effective Cat Urine Cleaners…

• Ammonia Might - remove the stains, but it smells too much like cat urine so puss will just keep coming back to the same spot to urinate again and again.

• Water -If used by itself can spread the urine and makes the problem area so much bigger

• Citrus based products - Only masks the smell – doesn’t get rid of it permanently

• Liquid soap - Just doesn’t work – at all

• Bleach - Which smells worse – bleach or cat urine – I think it’s a draw! Plus bleach tends to fade carpet, furniture and curtains

• Carpet shampooing - Only cleans the surface, wont soak down into the underlay padding where the urine crystals are

• Hydrogen peroxide - Only removes the urine odor temporarily – the smell soon returns

• Oxygenated products - Only works on the surface, doesn’t remove the smell from deep down and can cause fading or discoloration in your carpet, furniture and curtains

What to use. How to Choose a Cat Urine Remover…

There are many cat urine cleaners on the market. You’ve probably tried some of them while trying to find how to clean cat urine, and possibly found they don’t work. Why?

The bacterium in cat urine can be very hard to kill, and until you kill the bacterium you won’t be removing an odor. You need an enzymes to remove cat urine. Get rid of the bacteria and you’re one step closer to getting rid of cat urine smell.

There is no big secret on how to select a cat urine remover. You need natural cat urine cleaners. Using a combination of products found in your home. Once you use an all natural cat urine remover, you’ll wonder why didn’t try it sooner. 

Making Your New Cat Feel At Home

By: Tristan Andrews
So the big moment is finally here! You've just adopted a new cat or kitten from your local shelter or rescue, rampaged through the pet store to stock up on supplies, toys and goodies, and visited the vet for a health-check, shots, and neutering. Now its time to introduce kitty to her new home and the rest of the family. With just a little planning and patience, you can ensure that your cats adjustment period will be as rapid and stress-free as possible.

Home Is Where the Catnip Is: Cats are, by nature, highly territorial, which means that having a place to call their own is extremely important to their emotional well-being. Your new cat is already in a state of stress from having been in a shelter or being given up for adoption, and being brought to a strange new home only increases that stress. Your goal is to help make your new cat feel comfortable as quickly as possible. When you bring your new cat home, confine it to a single room for at least the first few days (with food and litter, of course!). Although this may seem cruel by human standards, it is actually a great kindness to allow your cat to claim ownership of a small new territory at its own pace and without competition.

Some shy cats may hide under the bed for as long as a week; others will be ready to come out into the house and go exploring after just a day. The important thing is to let the cat emerge whenever it feels ready. You should spend as much time as possible in the room with the cat, but you should never try to force it out of hiding. The cat will let you know when its ready to begin exploring more of the house. Be sure to leave fresh food and water out at all times, and check that it is being consumed. Even stressed cats like to eat, so no food for 24 hours or more is possibly a sign of illness and warrants a trip to the vet.

Meeting the Family: Naturally, everyone in the family, especially the kids, will be excited about the new arrival. Children should be invited to visit the new kitty in her room, one at a time. Try to keep your children quiet and seated on these visits, so they do not frighten the cat if he's not used to kids. If the cat is friendly and approaches, have them offer an outstretched hand to sniff.

If the cat accepts this, they can gently pet the cat. As the cat becomes familiar with the child, they may play with a cat toy on a string or stick. NEVER let your children encourage a kitten to pounce on their fingers (or yours, for that matter). It may seem cute at first, but a full grown cat jumping on and biting a hand in play can be very painful or cause bleeding. Teach your children how to properly hold a cat: with one hand under the rump and one hand on the back, held up against their bodies. And don't leave small children unsupervised with your cat.

Reassuring Jealous Cats: Cats are like children in many ways, so its not surprising that your older pet may be jealous of a new arrival. He may be fearful of losing territory or worried that he is about to be replaced. Extra love, attention and patience during this transition will help to reassure your pet that it is still the center of your universe! Be prepared for it to take from a week to a month before the new cat is accepted by the resident cat. Before bringing home your new cat, make sure that both old and new cats are healthy and current on their vaccinations, including Feline Leukemia. Let your cat continue to have run of the house while the new cat is confined, so that he understands he is not being pushed out of his territory. Allow him to sniff or paw under the door with your new cat, and exchange items to familiarize each animal with the others smell.

When the time comes for the two cats to meet face to face, try to give them short periods of contact, slowly increasing the time as they adapt to one another. Be sure to supervise their visits until you're sure they are okay alone, and be prepared for some hissing and growling, which is quite normal for cats that are getting to know one another. Do not yell at or discipline either cat for hissing or growling, and in the unlikely event of a fight breaking out, break it up with a spray from a water bottle or a thrown towel, not your hands. Prevent the new cat from sleeping in any of your old cats favorite places (for example your bed) and provide each with separate food and water bowls and litter pans. They'll probably use each others, but will appreciate having their own. Try to keep your older cats routine intact, and take every opportunity you can to pet and praise your older cat. Above all, be patient, and one day you will find your new cats grooming each other when they think you're not looking!

Friendly Like Cats and Dogs: Most of the same advice applies to introducing cats and dogs. Again, let the dog have run of the house, and sniff at the cat under the door and exchange scented items during the first few days. You may wish to put up a baby gate in the doorway of the cats room or bring the cat into the house in a carrier so the animals can see each other before they actually meet.

Make sure the first visits in the house are supervised, with the dog on a leash if you are unsure about how friendly he will be. Encourage you dog with gentle praise if he is friendly. If the cat runs from your dog, do not allow the dog to chase it, and don't force a cat that seems uncomfortable to be in the same room with the dog. Keep the first visits brief, then extend them as the animals become familiar with each other. Be patient, give them time, and they'll soon learn to get along.


Tristan Andrews
Tristan Andrews writes useful articles about cats and kittens. Discover and explore the feline world. Find out how to better care for, train and live with your cat at http://www.i-love-cats.com

Cat Flap to Stop Bullying

By: James Winsoar 

Are you a cat lover? If so how many cats do you have? Is your cat good at home? Well, Of course, it is really very easy answering such questions, when raised by someone or the other. And what would be the answer if the question falls the other way round, such as, is your cat really secure? Does your cat return home safely at nights, without any rashes or bruises that are indeed created by other cats? Are you sure, that your loveable cat alone eats the quality cat food that you have bought to her with at most care and affection?

Most of the cat lovers would be finding it difficult to answer these questions. Indeed these are the daily problems faced by the cat lovers. These questions make the cat lovers feel worried about their dearest pets, creating a mourning atmosphere in their minds.

Sometimes it's really hard to experience situations when the pet leaves the home and stays lost for two to three days. Is there a remedy for all these hard moments? If at all there is a solution, will it guarantee on the safety and security of the pet? Or are there any permanent solutions for all these problems to come to an end? Will the pet be safe from being bullied by other stray cats? Will the pet be safe in indoor without escaping, if the weather outside is very terrible and violent? The answer for all these questions is so easy, and it is as simple as looking for sweet in a sugar factory. Of course, the answer for this is a big "Yes".

The antidote for all these physical and environmental threats that are literally experienced by the owner and the pet has now come to light. The product is a nascent technology launched in our markets, which can be readily put to working status. It is what we call as PETPORTE CAT FLAP.

Available from http://www.MicrochipCatFlaps.co.uk/ the microchip Petporte catflap is a great remedy for cat lovers and to keep other cats out. It exists to provide advanced animal access systems to make both cats and their owners lives better. This is a Collarless technology, which indeed keeps the pet away from hard and rough collars which leaves a mark on the neck of the pet, Petporte Catflap was invented and patented by one of the Guernsey's leading vets, David Chamberlain, which is just a series of inventions that will be coming onto the market intended to make your life, and your cat's life, more enjoyable.

Petporte is the first Catflap in the world to prevent other cats from entering your home and recognizing your cat without the need for cat electronic, magnetic cat collar attachments, heavy collar tags, restrictive collars and infra red. The owner of the pet need not worry because there are no harmful radiations emitted from the device that makes the pet sick and disordered, this product is highly reliable and secure and there is no danger involved in it at all. Pet Porte, indeed will be friendly equipment for the safety of the pet.

The Pet Porte product is not at all complicated, and it's really very simple and ready for use, most probably the user of this Pet Porte product will not have the need of using a Catalog or working manual, because the whole technology has come to life by the click of two buttons alone, one in red and the other in green. Only the cats which have been previously programmed by the microchip gains access through the highly tensile magic door. In the PetPorte Catflap there are two distinct modes.

The modes of operation that are likely to be used here are the VET MODE and the NIGHT MODE, The vet mode is most commonly used in order to keep the pet indoor due to some specific reasons, And night mode uses a little more advanced technology, in which the magic door gets automated according to the light intensity of the outside atmosphere, thus it remains locked at nights, and of course the pet will always have access through the Catflap when it is outside the house. Thus these multimodal operations make Petporte Catfap unique from all the other Catflaps.

Now, while talking about the initial steps of installation procedures, makes one feel that Petporte Catflap, is designed with at most simplicity and a product that shows a great deal of flexibility.

Programming the Petporte is again a very short and simple process, as there are no complex steps involved, indeed the whole installation is only a single step process. The owner has to just press and hold the green button (beep sound is heard) and then the pet is made to pass through the magic door under the range of the sensor porch (beep sound is heard again).That is all the owner has to do, in order to finish with the programming process, in this same method an average of 32 different cats (approx) can be programmed. There may be a question arising among the users that what actually happens when the pet is made to pass through the Petporte. This is nothing but, when the pet is passed through the Petporte the intelligent sensors present in the body of the Catflap recognizes the existing microchip ID implants, so this method is highly secure and reliable and its clearly evident from this fact that stray cats will never find an entry into the house .

This highly adorable product uses an adapter that is fixed directly to the power supply, rather than using batteries which may die out frequently .The power supply that enters this Catflap is very safe, and its not at all harmful for the pet in any means, here there are no chances of short circuits or earth line problems, even if the pet chews or pounces on the lead insulated cables, as the voltage is very less and it's only around twelve volts. Thus the information in Petporte's memory is left as it is even if there happens to be a sudden power failure.

The major characteristics of the magic door that is used in the Petporte is that its highly tensile and strong as it has the capacity to withstand the pouncing/attacks ,even if it is created by the toughest cat around on the streets. As the door is connected to the main line power, the magic door opens/closes at the blink of an eye, i.e. in just few microseconds, so that you're lovable cat can enjoy its play with the Petporte, even if she/he loves to dash in and out frequently.

The Petporte is friendly device to your pet, and it is designed in such a way that, there will not be any possibilities in which the tail or the paws of the pet getting stuck. Eventually there are no possibilities for other stray cats to enter, thus making your cat feel free and relaxed at all times.

The Petporte Catflap has many salient features which makes it unique and reliable when compared to all the other Catflaps. In fact the other Catflaps such as traditional, magnetic and infrared flaps have their own disadvantages at different situations. Firstly, while discussing about the features of the traditional cat flaps, when used and kept under observation for few days causes many drastic moments. The result is that within one night the owner can see his house ruined i.e. his carpets torn and scrambled, urine all over the wall, the cat food missing from its tray, the pet left with the marks of being bullied-all these are the nonsense created by the non others, but the stray cats. Thus these are the adverse effects caused when traditional type flaps are used.

Secondly, comes the magnetic Catflaps kind of flaps, all the pets which exist with magnetic collars can gain access through the door, this is a major drawback. And the other issue is that, magnetic collars are heavily and tight, that makes the pet feel uncomfortable.

Thirdly comes the infrared Catflaps, these Flaps have sensors both at the transmitting and receiving ends and the door opens only if the sensor in the collar points directly to the sensor on the door. These Infrared Catflaps are expensive too, indeed the amount of complexity involved in these methods are more.

Finally all these demerits or disadvantages experienced when using other Catflaps are in turn changed into an advantage, merit or a positive point when Petporte Microchip Catflap is used.

ADVANTAGES INVOLVED IN USING PETPORTE

The Microchip Petporte Catflap was invented with lots of advantages in it like,

• The irritation caused by the collar on a cat can be averted by the use of the cats existing microchip.

• With the help of locking mechanism, stray cat can be kept away from dearest cats.

• To understand a cat need better, this has been purely invented by VET, therefore the cat needs can be catered much efficiently by use of Microchip Petporte Catflap.

• The pains of bringing a cat at nights it's not an issue of a path, by the use of Microchip Petporte Catflap the light level will be detected automatically and thereby your cats can sub sequentially brought into house at nights.

• With the presence of Microchip Petporte Catflap, you will be able to know, if your cat inside the house or elsewhere, the beeping system of pet Port will intimate you of the presence of cat inside the house.

• The presence of magnetic latch in the Microchip Petporte Catflap, keeps the flap intact when the wind blows thus protecting the cats from getting hurt.

• The simple two button operation mechanism Microchip Petporte Catflap, gives a full control over cats world.

• Microchip Petporte Catflap allows you to program up to 32 cats of your choice and only the cats which are programmed can be under the scrutiny.

• The programmable microchip within Microchip Petporte Catflap prevents the loss of information about cat during a short circuit or power failure.

• All of this comes under low voltage intake with no batteries to replace so your cat can always come back inside.

•This product is cat friendly where the doors are specially designed and makes it virtually impossible for your cat to get its paws stuck in the door.

Hence the Petporte Microchip Catflap is a divine product that has been launched in the markets in order to quench the thirst of worried cat lovers, and this is a great time for those cat lovers to make full use of this great product. The product has satisfied the customers whomsoever using Petporte , thus making the users feel comfortable and relaxed at nights rather than worrying about their pets , since there is a friend there at the door step giving at most security to the loveable pets.

The PetPorte microchip cat flap is available from http://www.microchipcatflaps.co.uk/

Show Your Love for Your Cat by Feeding Him/her Nutritional Cat Foods and Avoiding Bad Cat Foods

By: Ike Lowe

When you visit a supermarket to purchase food for your family and you see a new product that you think might be a healthy choice, your first decision is to read the label to identify the ingredients and decide if the ingredients are healthy for your family.

Don’t you think it would be prudent to read cat food labels and determine whether it’s a bad cat food or a nutritional cat food? A cat food with any of their first five ingredients listed as a carbohydrate is bad cat food and it is harming your cat.

However, most cat owners fail to read cat food labels and as a result, you feed your cats many bad cat foods with harmful ingredients that are causing premature cat deaths.

Since most cat caregivers consider their feline friends as family members, don’t you think you should show them the same consideration? Feeding your cat bad cat food that leads to premature cat deaths is not showing love for your cat.

Cats are carnivores and their physiology demands a meat-based diet as this will closely mimic their natural diet. It’s imperative that you remember and abide by guidelines that will benefit your cat and help him/her realize their longevity. Bad cat foods will not do this but nutritional cat foods will.

Such foods as carbohydrates will damage your cats’ digestive system and cause food related diseases that will severely shorten his life. These are not nutritional cat foods but rather bad cat foods and they are the main cause of premature cat deaths

For your educational benefit as well as your cats’ lives, let’s take a look at some cat foods and examine their ingredients.

Avoderm

Use of Carbohydrates which include;

Oat Bran and Rice Flour also included is

Avocado oil and Guar gum

Oat bran is the outer husk of the oat grain – it is a carbohydrate.

Rice flour is a form of flour made from finely milled rice – another carbohydrate.

Avocado oil is oil pressed from the fruit of avocados. The fruit, leaves, bark and seeds of avocados have been reported as being toxic to cats. The toxic component in avocado is “Persin” which is a fatty acid preservative. Oat bran, rice flour, avocado oil and guar gum are all bad cat food ingredients



Eukanuba

Use of Carbohydrates which include;

Brewers Rice and Corn Grits also

includes Beef-by-Product, Dried Egg

Product, Dried Beet Pulp and Menadione

Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite

Brewers rice and corn grits are starchy carbohydrates with no nutritional benefit to cats

Beef by-product is the parts of the cow other than muscle meat. It could be organs and skin. Its origin is Rendering Plants.

Dried Beet Pulp is free from crowns and leaves extracted from the process of manufacturing sugar. It’s mostly used as a filler in cat food.

Dried Egg Product – Cheap source of protein - waste product of the egg industry. It could include undeveloped eggs, shells and other tissue deemed unfit for humans. Brewers rice, corn grits, beef by-products, dried egg products, dried beet pulp and MDB are all bad cat food ingredients.

Fancy Feast

Use of a Carbohydrate; Wheat Gluten

also includes Meat by-Product and

Menadione Sodium Bisulfite

Wheat Gluten - The tough, viscid nitrogenous substance remaining when wheat is washed to remove the starch. Wheat gluten is a cheap by-product of human food processing, the starchy liquid left after washing wheat. It is used mostly to bind food together. Wheat gluten is included in a number of human food products, as well as pet foods. Contaminated wheat gluten from China has been found responsible for a large number of the reported sicknesses and death of pets from melamine toxicity.

Meat by-product – Is the product that’s derived from Rendering Plants; road-kill, and the four Ds (dead, dying, diseased, disabled) and decaying animals flesh.

I’ve already explained what menadione derivatives are.

Wheat gluten, meat by-products and MSB are all bad cat food ingredients.

Friskies

Use of Meat by-Products, Poultry

Giblets, Poultry and Bone Meal,

Vegetable Gums and Onion Salt,

I’ve already defined meat by-products earlier and we all know what poultry giblets are, correct? In case you don’t know, it’s the gizzards and hearts of chickens and turkeys provided that’s their origin but we don’t really know, they could come from buzzards as their source is not identified.

Bone Meal is another unidentified ingredient. It could come from the five Ds (dead, dying, diseased, disabled and decaying) animals that are products of Rendering Plants.

Vegetable Gum is another carbohydrate and its main purpose is a thickener or binder and it serves no nutritional purpose for cats and it could be toxic.

Onion Salt – No form of garlic or onion should be used in cat foods. Onions contain Thiosulphate which is toxic to cats.

Meat by-products, poultry giblets, poultry and bone meal, vegetable gums and onion salt are all bad cat food ingredients.

The above cat foods and their ingredients are a mere sample of what’s available as cat foods. Now that you have some information to improve you cats’ diet, use it and your cat will appreciate you taking their health into consideration.

Stop feeding your cat bad cat foods that are harming them. Stop buying bad food for your cats and lining the pockets of commercial cat food companies because they are laughing at how uninformed cat owners really are by actually purchasing the stuff they call food and feeding it to your pets.

It’s unbelievable that caring pet owners could actually create a market for bad cat food. If we don’t stop buying bad cat foods and start feeding our cats nutritional cat foods, our cats’ mortally rate will continue to skyrocket.

Since uninformed cat caregivers are the ones that created the market for bad cat food, what do you think would happen to the commercial cat food companies if suddenly cat caregivers became informed and stopped buying their bad cat foods?

They would stop making bad cat foods and begin making nutritional cat foods or go out of business.

Most cat caregivers are not that responsible. They have refused to stop buying bad cat foods and each year the commercial cat food company’s profits continue to increase. At this rate, the pet food industry will never act responsible enough to produce nutritional cat foods.

Because of convenience, cat caregivers buy bad cat foods that are loaded with toxins. A bag of dry cat food is killing your cat but do you care? Do you prefer your convenience over providing your cat with nutritional cat food?

The commercial cat food industry is banking on their research and it suggests that cat caregivers are uninformed relative to nutritional cat foods and they are more concerned with their convenience. Therefore, there is no incentive for the commercial cat food industry to produce nutritional cat foods so they will continue producing cheap and bad cat foods and you will continue buying it and they will continue laughing all the way to the banks and your cats will continue dying prematurely


Cat Care During Cold Weather

By Jeff Boo

In spite of the fact that a cat has an external covering of fur coat which is supposed to keep it warm, the fur coat may provides little protection during the cold winter. Have you ever experienced the coldness during very cold weather even with your winter coat on? If yes, you should be able to understand how freezing cold your cat could feel if you leave it unprotected for some time. This is not something that can be taken lightly as the coldness may leads to hypothermia, and when such medical condition get worst, it can be life threatening.

It is important for you to be aware where your feline is during very cold winter. If your cat has the habit of answering to the call of nature outdoor, make sure it is back in the house within minutes. Kittens, cats suffering from any illness or cats with thin covering of fur coat should be restricted from getting out of the house. Try using litter box in the house during cold days. Make sure your feline's fur coat stays dry during this period, and if for whatever reasons it get itself drenched, make sure you dry it immediately even it happened indoor.

It is the best option to keep your pet indoor during cold days. Make sure it cannot find its way out to the cold world because if it gets too far and the visibility is down to a few meters due to heavy snowing, your pet would stand a high chance of loosing its way home. And if it is out in such freezing environment for too long, the risk of capturing hypothermia will definitely be high.

So what exactly is hypothermia? Well it is a medical condition resulted from extreme coldness which could lead to malfunction of organs in the body. If your cat is exposed to extremely cold temperature, frostbite might occur as its body needs to warm up the important organs by shutting down less important body parts. Observe your cat carefully and if its movement starts to slow down, body begins to shiver and breathing becomes shallower, it most probably suffering from hypothermia. Do what it takes to gently warm your pet up or else, it would eventually pass out and die.

To make your cat warm will be good for it but it is best advice not to do it too quickly like putting directly into warm water. A quick sudden increase in temperature will only do more harm. Warm your feline's body slowly by covering its body with warm blanket and providing it with warmer environment. You may also use a hairdryer, but make sure you turn the setting to a lower mode and do not get too near to avoid burning its body. Ensure that your cat has really warm up and that you have covered its body with enough protection from cold before you take it out of the house to visit the vet.

You may have ensured that all doors and windows are closed, but cats being cats still stand a chance of getting out of the house. Remember to check out your pet cat frequently and observe its behavior to see if it is shivering from the coldness. If your feline is showing any symptom of being cold, warm its body slowly by using the tips as mentioned. This advice is crucial to the life of your pet.

Any responsible cat owner will provide the best care for his or her feline. Learn more about the caring of pet cats from the experts at http://www.catcare.expertreviewslist.com/


The Adventures of Songha - Wonderful Children's (and Cat Lovers) Book!

By Glenda Bixler

Cat-Lover Alert! Check out The Adventures of Songha by Linda R. Caterine and bow to the beauty of "The African Queen!"

With a beautiful cover featuring Songha by Robert Knight and fascinating sketches by William Dye throughout the book, Linda Caterine has created both an informative and exciting children's book. If you are a cat lover, like I am-you'll love it, no matter what age!

Songha is a Savannah cat, who comes from Kalahari, an African desert. Her father, Rafu Dubwana, who, now lives in America, is an African Serval Leopard. Once breeded, his daughter, Songha became "one of a kind." This is her story!

If this story is not totally true, it is this reviewer's guess that it is "almost" true and based upon the antics of Songha. You see, there is one important thing that differentiates Songha. She is half-wild and even though her mother was domesticated, her "wild side" just has to come out some time!

So, although she is greatly loved by her human family and by her companion, Simba, who also has a leopard ancestry, Songha has one great desire-to run free and learn about her kingdom! And, indeed, on every occasion possible, she has managed to escape her home!

First, she had to meet George, a long-haired gray Persian, who wanted nothing to do with Songha-not that Songha cared much, except she had seen that the Persian was able to go in and out of the house through a small door! Songha planned on going through that door as well! In fact, she had been quite perturbed to know that George was able to go out, while, she the Queen, was not!

At last Songha made it through the door! But then she was caught by a shape-shifter! The next time, she met Jacques Cousteau and with his guidance, she met everybody in the neighborhood, who later became her friends...and subjects of her kingdom...

Why? Because they saw or heard about her amazing skills-she could do things that none of them could do! And, because she had saved them from "El Diablo!"

Caterine entertains us with poetry and prose as she shares the adventures of Songha:

...No one has seen him to this day
And no one knows his fate,
And now my little Kingdom's safe
There are no more complaints
El Diablo is a "Legend"
And my friends think I'm a "Saint..."

This rare exotic cat will win your heart! She may retain some of that wildness, but who among us does not admire and rejoice in seeing the great cat beasts of the world. This one of a kind cat, now "somewhat" domesticated has much to give to human families.

Come, learn of the Savannah cat-in The Adventures of Songha by Linda Caterine. This would be a wonderful holiday gift for your children...and plan on reading it for your own enjoyment! I know I did!

The Adventures of Songha:

The Amazing Savannah Cat
By Linda R. Caterine
AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-4343-8361-7
66 Pages

G. A. Bixler is co-owner of an online review site of Independent Professional Book Reviewers. She has over 40 years experience in educational administration and publishing. New or well-known, self-published, or small press authors are all welcomed! Compare our prices to other professional book review sites!

http://www.Bookreviewers.org


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Tips to Healthy Firm Cat and Dog Stool

By Rebecca Shelly

Runny stools or diarrhea are one of the most common problems seen in our pets. Digestive disorders can be a result of a change in diet, food allergies, virus, overeating, toxic substances like garbage or rotten food, unknown objects, diseases like cancer, and parasites.

One of the most important things you can do for your pet to maintain firm cat and dog stools are to provide a healthy diet. Never feed your pet chocolates, spicy food, people food or milk. Make sure they have ample water and plenty of exercise to help keep his bowel movements regular and relieve stress.

If your dog or cat has diarrhea that is persistent or lasts more than a couple of days seek medical advice. Your pet can become dehydrated, or there could be a blockage which can be life threatening. Other signs to look for which would require immediate veterinarian services would be fever, pain, vomiting, blood in the diarrhea, lethargy, depression, weight Loss, dehydration and loss of appetite.

Treatment

If no cause has been found that requires medical treatment for your pet's runny stools or diarrhea you may want to introduce a raw diet. Cooked over processed food and pasteurized milk all can be detrimental to the health of our animals. Treating your pet for loose stools could be as simple as giving our pets the diet that they were designed to eat. Gradually introduce raw, unprocessed food in small amounts while reducing canned foods.

To help your pet maintain healthy firm cat and dog stools a homeopathic veterinarian might prescribe plantago major, alchemilla vulgaris or a combination of these and other herbs and botanical extracts. All of these are well known tonics for treating and preventing digestive disorders.

Prevention & Maintenance

Runny stools or diarrhea is not a disease but a symptom of something else going on with the stomach or intestinal tract and there are many home remedies to help correct an irregular digestive problem, if no medical problem exists.

If you are now using a regular veterinarian, consider switching to a holistic vet. They are usually more aware of the stress that a vet visit causes an animal. They avoid over-immunizations and help you learn to support your pets' digestive system.

Rebecca Shelly has been researching alternative health conditions for pets for many years. She is a regular contributor to Natural Pet Health a site discussing some of the most promising natural treatments for pet health on the market today. If you're looking for an alternative to harsh medications for your pet, visit the site to learn more.

Visit us now to learn more about Digestive Health and why we choose this natural remedy above all others after extensive product research.


Holistic Cat Care For Feline Urinary Tract Infections - Ten Benefits For Your Furry Friend

By Darlene L. Norris

Let me ask you a simple question: do you know what holistic cat care is? And do you know why natural remedies for pets are the best way to treat feline bladder infections? Read on to discover the answers to these questions.

What Is Holistic Cat Care?

Holistic medicine is a different way of looking at illness. Conventional medicine treats the symptoms of cat urinary problems, but doesn't address why your pet is showing these symptoms.

Holistic practitioners, on the other hand, look at the animal as a whole, not just as a urinary tract. Holistic pet care follows the principle that your cat's body is able to maintain a balance that protects her from disease and helps her to heal herself. If this balance is disturbed, your cat gets sick. The holistic approach is to restore this balance.

Our pets are exposed to many toxins in their food, from the environment, and even in the grooming products you use on them. Choosing to use only natural food and pet supplies will go a long way toward keeping your kitty healthy and protecting her from a feline bladder infection.

Ten Benefits Of Natural Cat Care

  1. Feeding your cat a natural diet reduces her exposure to artificial coloring agents and preservatives which can upset her system. Better nutrition will help her to resist feline urinary tract infections.
  2. A high-quality natural diet will prevent health problems like allergies, digestive problems, and cat urinary problems.
  3. Less stress in your cat's life will help her to stay healthy. Try to identify stressful situations she may be facing. Is she having territory issues with another cat? Is she lonely? Exercise can also help to lower her stress levels, too, as well as keeping her in shape.
  4. With excellent natural pet care, your kitty will live a long happy life.
  5. If your pet doesn't feel well, her quality of life won't be as good. Natural cat care will improve your feline friend's quality of life by helping her to stay healthy.
  6. If your kitty should suffer an injury or illness, she'll heal faster. Ingredients in natural remedies for pets are absorbed better, which aids in the healing process.
  7. By using natural products for pets, you'll reduce your own exposure to toxins. You and your family are exposed to the ingredients in the products you use on your cat.
  8. Natural products are more earth-friendly than conventional remedies. They break down quickly, and don't leave harmful residues in the environment,
  9. You'll save time by not having to take your kitty to the vet as often. With natural cat care, you'll be treating the source of feline bladder infection, not just the symptoms, which will help prevent new feline urinary tract infections from developing.
  10. And, finally, you'll be saving money in the long run by avoiding expensive products that can lead to more health problems for your cat.

The Best Natural Remedies For Pets

It can be overwhelming to try to choose the best natural remedy for your pet from the many on the market. Look for a product that's specially formulated for pets, not people. Deal only with a company that has a great reputation for producing the highest-quality pet remedies. Read testimonials from other pet owners who have used the product, too.

Believe me, once you've started to use holistic cat care, you'll see an amazing improvement in your cat's health, as well as preventing feline urinary tract infections.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health. Learn how to avoid feline urinary tract infections, and find the best place to buy herbal pet remedies at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com


8 Ways to Tell If Your Cat Has a Urinary Tract Infection

By John Paduchak
Boy, did I learn a valuable lesson. My cat was acting lethargic and strange so I got worried and took her to the veterinarian. Turns out she had a urinary tract infection that had traveled up to her kidneys! My veterinarian told me that if I had waited any longer, my poor cat would have died. That was a wake-up call for me and made me realize that in order to keep my cat safe, I needed to learn what the signs and symptoms of cat urinary infection were so I could spot it quickly. Here are 8 ways to tell if your cat has a urinary infection before it's too late.

1. If your cat is cringing in pain while urinating, this is a definite sign of cat urinary problems. It's important to know how your cat normally behaves in order to detect any unusual behavior.

2. Excessive grooming of the genitals can possibly be a sign of cat urinary infection, especially if your cat is crying while grooming.

3. Is your cat urinating more or less frequently than usual? Take note of any changes in urination patterns.

4. Dehydration can be one of the first signs of cat urinary problems so if you notice your cat drinking more water than usual, your cat could possibly be suffering from a urinary tract infection.

5. Let your cat urinate on a light-colored surface. If you see traces of blood in your cat's urine, it is most likely a sign of cat urinary infection. Take your cat to a veterinarian for immediate diagnosis.

6. If your cat is urinating outside of its litter box, it is a sign of cat urinary problems. This happens because your cat associates the pain of urinating with the litter box and therefore tries to avoid it all costs.

7. If your cat has a fever, and tender abdomen when you pick it up this is also a uti symptom you should be concerned about. Lethargy is a sign of the later stages of uti.

8. If your cat stops urinating altogether, it is a serious red flag and you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately. If your cat goes even 3 to 4 days without urinating, it can be fatal.

In conclusion, if you want to treat your cat's urinary tract infection before it's too late, it's important to keep abreast of these signs and symptoms. Cat urinary infection can be fatal if not treated in time. The best way to treat these symptoms however is at home with a homeopathic remedy before they spiral out of control. Your first step should be to go to a veterinarian and get a correct diagnosis. Then you can administer a homeopathic remedy and make some important lifestyle changes. By doing so, you can kill two birds with one stone and treat the infection while preventing recurrence.

John Paduchak is a pet enthusiast and webmaster of http://pet-bladder-health.com and http://mariespetshop.com Throughout his life, John grew up on a 140 acre farm in upstate NY and had pet friends of many varieties. Now he currently has 3 cats, freshwater tropical fish, & 4 hermit crabs that he shares with his daughter, Marie. A strong supporter of naturopathy for pets he publishes articles on their care and training.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Paduchak

Natural Cat Diet For Your Pet

Instead of giving commercial products to your cat you can stick to an all natural cat diet. Make sure that your cat has a proper feline diet and consider giving your pet all the nutrition they need. There are few different options available to you if you stick in an all natural cat diet.

In fact, you will be doing much better for your cat by providing them with a natural cat diet, because the best diets for cats are natural ones, coming as close to possible as the diet that they would eat in the world.


The reason that obesity rates are up among pets, especially in the United States, is because just as we are with ourselves, we are overfeeding our pets and as a result they are becoming overweight.

When you are planning your natural cat diet, know that cats are naturally carnivorous and have high protein requirements. The classic natural cat diet should be composed of about 60% protein, which should consist of organic ground beef, raw or cooked organic chicken, eggs once a week if desired as well as some cooked fish or other meats such as turkey, rabbit, or organ meats.

The grain content of the diet should be about 20%, and approximately 20% of the cat’s diet should be composed of vegetables which can be anything from lightly steamed broccoli, carrots, zucchini, cauliflower, corn, or any other vegetables that you find your cat enjoys.

Instead of feeding them highly processed and artificial foods, composed of unnatural ingredients, such as soy meal, artificial colorings and flavorings and harmful preservatives, by giving them a natural cat diet you will be doing them a world of good and will quickly see just how much of an improvement is being made in terms of their health.

There is much more that you should be doing if you want to make sure that your cat is in optimal health, and more than anything this refers to exercise. Of course you generally can’t just tie a leash to your cat and take them outside for a walk as you would with a dog for instance, but there are other things you can do to make sure that your cat is getting a decent amount of exercise.

Cats are like children, they love to play. Buy toys for them or a cat treadmill, so that they can play around house.

By: Immotna Marketing

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Andy Immotna has been maintaining a number of premium membership websites that constantly provides members with highly valuable information - from internet marketing to niche topics. Also visit inf-O-asis.com for more resources.

Causes Of Aggressive Cat Behavior Between Cats

Aggression towards other cats and aggression towards people are the two primary kinds of aggressive cat behavior. Aggression towards other cats is primarily within a family grouping, having more than one cat in your family is prone to aggressive cat behavior. Aggressive cat behavior such as biting and scratching can be handled easily if you know the reason behind it, aggressive behavior between cats have several causes.

Territorial Aggression is very common among cats, because cats are very territorial (even more than dogs, surprisingly) and don’t like intruders into places they feel is theirs, trespassing is prohibited. This is very common in a household where an older cat is expected to welcome the intrusion of a new cat or kitten. It also happens outside, when a neighbor cat dares to trespass into your cat’s yard. This aggressive cat behavior will be noticed by chasing and ambushing the other cat, and a lot of hissing and swatting if there is contact between the two.


Inter-male Aggression happens because of the hierarchy that is natural among animals. It can be part of a sexual challenge for a female or to raise one’s status in the cat hierarchy. While neutered males are less apt to fight this way, they, too, can have inter-male aggression, particularly if neutered later in life. The behavior seen with this type of aggressive cat behavior is body posturing, staring, howling, yowling, and stalking each other. They two can fight, trying to bite each other’s neck or scratch their underbelly. It can all of a sudden stop – the two will separate and move away a bit – and then happen again right away – or they will just walk away.

Defensive Aggression is typical of a situation where the cat is trying to protect itself, like they are saying “don’t hurt me or even look like you will or I’ll hurt you”. For example, if you’ve ever tried to catch a feral cat, once it feels trapped it will attack in self-defense. The behavior seen with defensive aggressive cat behavior prior to an attack has the cat crouching with the legs under the body, tail tucked in, and ears pulled back. If the threat does not go away, the cat will usually attack with nails and teeth.

Redirected Aggression is like the cat is saying “I’m mad at him, so ill hit you”. This is an aggressive cat behavior that is directed to a different breed of cat, for example, if your cat will see another cat out of the front window, he will usually attack the other family cat who was just sitting there.

By: Immotna Marketing

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Andy Immotna has been maintaining a number of premium membership websites that constantly provides members with highly valuable information - from internet marketing to niche topics. Also visit inf-O-asis.com for more resources.

What Can Cause Cat Urinating Problems and What You Can Do About It

By Ann Matthews
Is your cat acting strange? Is he urinating outside of his litter box or urinating more or less frequently than usual? A cat urination problem can usually be resolved quickly and if left untreated it can become life-threatening so immediate action is necessary.

Cat urinating problems can be health-related or behavioral in nature. Take your cat to the vet if you haven't already to determine what the cause is. If your cat doesn't have an infection or any other health condition, he may have a behavioral problem.

Behavioral problems such as marking can happen if your cat is in heat or if he is under stress. Alleviate stress in your cat's life by avoiding leaving him at home alone and spend quality time with him each day. If your cat is not neutered or spayed, make sure you get that done as well.

A cat urination problem could even be caused by the simple fact that your cat's litter box is dirty. Some cats even avoid litter boxes that have been used just once. Your cat may also be particular about the type of litter used.

De-clawing a cat makes him more likely to have cat urinating problems since claws are their only defense mechanism. They in turn become more territorial and defensive when their claws are removed.

Common health problems that can cause a cat urination problem include urinary tract infection and bladder stones. These problems can be easily alleviated if you take your cat to the vet.

Urinary tract infections and stones are chronic problems so you need to make sure you use preventive treatment. Stones will have to be dissolved with special treatment by the vet but you can prevent their recurrence by giving your cat a homeopathic remedy.

Homeopathic remedies aim at curing your cat's urinary problems rather than just treating them. Your cat's bladder will be healthier and his urine will flow freely if you give him a homeopathic remedy twice a day that contains urinary tonics such as uva ursi and cantharis.

Unlike herbal remedies, homeopathic remedies are side effect free. They contain only minute traces of natural ingredients that aid your cat's natural healing abilities.

Homeopathy operates on the "like treats like" principle, which means a small amount of an ingredient that would cause the symptoms of UTI in a healthy cat are used to actually get rid of UTI in an infected cat.

To get rid of a cat urination problem, you first have to determine if the cause is medical or behavioral. After doing so, you can help your cat achieve optimal health by treating the problem and making prevention a part of his daily routine with homeopathy.

If you want to make sure you are giving your pets the best health care available, please take time to read more about the many natural alternatives at my site: http://www.natural-pet-treatment.com

BIO: Ann Matthews is a long time pet health enthusiast with Pet Alive who has a real passion for the well-being of all pets

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Matthews

How Safe Are Dog and Cat Vitamin Supplements?

By Dr. R.J. Peters
If your pet needs to take vitamins, or other dietary supplements, how can you be sure they are safe and effective?

It's the same question asked of human supplements, and just because they are approved by government agencies doesn't necessarily mean they are safe for a particular individual.

The same is true for pet products, but there are certain major differences when considering safety factors.

1. Probably the greatest concern arises from the fact that pet supplements have not been tested adequately. Very little data can be found in this area.

2. Only three nutrients are mentioned in the scientific papers at this time, namely, lutein, garlic and evening primrose oil, and then only in regard to dogs, cats and horses.

3. Studies to date have shown that certain supplements that are safe for humans are not always safe for animals. For example, garlic has not been proven safe for all animals.

4. So far, it has been difficult to study these products, because there are no systems in place to evaluate them. There needs to be a way to quantify dosages, active ingredients, and what's known as "adverse events," or, side effects.

5. There is little to no regulation in the animal dietary supplement manufacturing industry.

6. It's much more difficult to evaluate the more subjective aspects of a particular product. In other words, we can't ask a dog if he feels more energetic than he used to, or if he thinks he's sleeping better now.

7. There have been no studies of sufficiently large numbers of animals to identify any patterns of change or improvement in any area, except perhaps for obvious changes, such as coat condition (shinier, smoother, less shedding) or observable behaviors, such as irritability. Still, such changes cannot be claimed as significant without larger, controlled study groups to evaluate.

While there have been few, and inadequate, studies of pet supplementation by government agencies, such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), there have been many studies conducted by independent researchers. However, these have been criticized as biased or unscientific by the scientific community, and many of the same concerns as listed above apply.

What can you do to ensure your pet receives supplements that are safe and effective? At this time, the burden falls to the pet owner to do the homework. Consult with pet nutritionists, many of whom are veterinarians who have focused on these concerns and have their own clinical studies on which to base opinions.
To learn about one such independent study and the products that were developed from it, please visit http://www.everypetmatters.com/recommends/dogsupplements.html

Dr. RJ Peters also recommends exploring books and other materials on the subject. To get you started, visit http://www.theproblemcat.com/books.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._R.J._Peters

Learn About Cat Beds And What Cat Bed Is Best

By: Martin Marks

Ecology is the science of relationships between organisms and their environments. When looking for cats, people have to consider a variety of aspects, such as the natural habitat or the environment. To make sure the environment at home is the safest for cats, owners have to make available certain things such as first aid kit for cats and play items for their recreational purpose.

Several people assume that since domestic and wild cats get enough water and food, cats may survive in cold climate because of their thick coats. Although, studies say that in harsh climate, shelter is preferred the most over any other needs. Without shelter, wild and domestic cats develop risk of possible dangers such as frozen paws and ears. Severe climate may harm their respiratory system too. Particularly, in the rains, fur of cats get wet and may cost them their lives.

Types of Shelter:

Styrofoam Cooler Shelter:

A general Styrofoam cooler may provide shelter to cats. This type of shelter is available at grocery stores and in departmental stores as well. It is also available at restaurants that obtain shipments of meat and fish filled in Styrofoam containers.

Plastic Bin Shelter:

Such type of shelter needs two plastic bins of Rubber made type, and they need to have lids of which one has to be big enough so that the lid and smaller bin fit inside it properly. Other than this, some straw for bedding along with a Styrofoam insulation of 4 by 8 foot is required.

Temporary shelter:

An abandoned or homeless cat may survive in a shelter made of commonly available items. A strong container or a heavyweight-shipping crate built with plastic and having resistance to bad climate is the ideal one.

Insulation and Bedding:

There are other ways for providing shelter to domestic cats. An insulating stuff inside the shelter house of cats gives their body the required heat and warmth. It is better to use straw for this purpose. Owners may avoid using towels, blankets or newspapers that suck the body heat of cats. In addition, owners need to change the insulating material for keeping it dry.

In cold climate, cat owners may use a Mylar blanket to line the floor or the interior walls of the shelter. Mylar imitates the body heat of cats. Mylar blankets are available at cheap prices. One more type of blanket that is available in pet stores is the Flexi-Mat Purr Pad.

Other Options to Buy Shelters:

Cat owners who have no time, skill or liking to build shelter for their cats, there is an alternative. Recently, pet stores offer cat shelters insulated with wood of superior quality. Cat owners willing to buy it may go through the web site of the store, for checking the price list or visit the nearest store.

Cats - Adaptability

Cats accommodate themselves in many places. May be an apartment, a mansion, camper or a houseboat, they get used to the environment easily. However, basic shelter requirements of cats include a litter box and provision of warmth. Owners can make available all the necessary items for cats, indoors.

About the Author
Go to Cat and Kitten Zone to get your free ebook about Cats and Kittens at Cats. Cat and Kitten Zone also has information on Kittens, Cat Supplies and a Cat and Kitten Forum where you can connect with others who love cats and kittens. You can Find Cat and Kitten Zone at www.catandkittenzone.com.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=258113&ca=Pets


Keeping Your Cat Fit With a Cat Exercise Wheel

By Trevor Kassulke

Obesity is a problem with many cats these days. This is especially a problem for cats who stay indoors all the time and don't have a chance to exercise that often. If a cat has the opportunity to eat as much as it wants whenever it wants to this also can add to the problem. The best way to deal with obesity is to prevent it in the first place. One way to do this is to get your cat to exercise more often through the use of cat toys. One cat toy that is particularly useful for this is the cat exercise wheel.

This Wheel is just what it sounds like. It looks like an extra large version of the exercise wheels used by hamsters and other small animals. They are usually made of metal and measure between 36 and 48 inches in diameter. The one side of the wheel is open so the cat can get into the Cat Exercise Wheel and the other side is either solid or spokes depending on the manufacturer. The wheels with spokes also have a clear plastic piece you can put on that side if you are worried the cat would get hurt by the spokes.

The Wheel was created originally for use by Bengal cats, but any cat can use this type of exercise wheel. Most cats seem to like running on the wheel, but some are a bit unsure of it at first and might need to be coached on how to use it. There are a variety of videos on the internet of cats using a Cat Exercise Wheel if you are interested in seeing how these work and whether or not the cats appear to enjoy them.

If your cat is already obese, it could still benefit from the use of a Cat Exercise Wheel. Usually it is recommended that an owner try to help an obese cat slowly lose about 20 percent of it's weight through diet and exercise changes. A Cat Exercise Wheel is a great way to get your cat to exercise without having to constantly have to coax them with a cat toy. Just be careful not to try to force the cat to lose too much weight too quickly, as this can put the cat at risk for liver disease and other health problems. Slow weight loss is also the most likely to last, as is the case with people.



How Do I Know If My Cat Has a Feline Urinary Tract Infection?

By Janet Markowitz
Does this describe your cat's behavior: frequent urination, no urine at all, urine with a foul odor, or blood in the urine? These are common, even life threatening, symptoms and signs of cat urinary tract infection. Immediately take your kitty to the vet if you have noticed any of these signs. The difference between life and death for your pet depends on your ability to recognize the symptoms early and get treatment.

It is important to know your cat's normal urinating patterns. If your cat is using the litter box more or less often than usual, this is a sign that there could be an infection. There is a test you can do at home to check for a feline UTI. You can do a simple pH test before the cat feels the pain. You'll save time, money, and be helping to determine if your kitty needs veterinarian care. Kitty won't have to experience the sometimes traumatic visit to the vet.

Begin checking your cat's pH by placing either a little aquarium gravel or some non-absorbent kitty litter into a clean litter box. Only enough for kitty to scratch around is necessary and will keep kitty content.

Next, confine your pet with this litter box in a quiet room, so kitty feels secure. You should do this close to your cat's elimination schedule. For more accurate results, check the sample as soon as the cat urinates.

As soon as kitty has used the litter box, dip a urine pH strip into the specimen. Gently shake off excess, then read and compare the test strip to the chart that accompanied the strips. A level of 6.6 to 6.8 means you pet is healthy. If the results are higher or lower, consult your veterinarian immediately.

BEWARE: This type of test if greatly affected by when your cat last ate. For this reason, retesting might be necessary. For best results, check you cat's pH soon after it has eaten. A later test may read high. If the test strip reads normal, then you have no worries. If there is a difference, take kitty to the vet quickly.

This is a simple, cost effective, and kitty sensitive way to check for feline urinary tract infection. Though this process is simple, the possibility of infection is a serious matter to handle quickly for the safety of your feline companion.

Janet Markowitz has been a German Shepherd Breeder for over 20 years. She has always been interested in using natural and holistic remedies for her Shepherds whenever possible. She has found that by using natural Remedies in conjunction with conventional medicine, she has achieved great success in the health and longevity in her dogs.
Janet Markowitz has been a German Shepherd Breeder for over 20 years. She has always been interested in using natural and holistic remedies for her Shepherds whenever possible. She has found that by using natural Remedies in conjunction with conventional medicine, she has achieved great success in the health and longevity in her dogs.

http://www.PetsNaturalRemedies.net

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Arctic Cat Parts - Keep Popular Cat Snowmobiles in Top Shape

By Donald Brooks
Artic Cat parts are available at brick and mortar dealers and online warehouses. The Artic Cat snowmobile has long been a popular snow sled that has millions of devoted fans throughout the world. With its catchy feline model names such as, Black Panther, Thundercat, FireCat, SaberCat and Jaguar, Artic Cat snowmobiles have captured the imagination of snow sled enthusiasts for almost fifty years. With such treasured investments, snowmobilers will be well advised to purchase genuine Artic Cat parts.

New, OEM Artic Cat parts will produce the best performance and increased horsepower for your premium snowmobiles. These high performance snow sleds offer exciting and fun filled ways to discover, and appreciate the great outdoors. Many snowmobilers have traversed through frozen lakes, snow packed trails and deep powder, combining thrills with a newfound discovery of wintery landscapes. Keeping these sleds operational with authentic Artic Cat parts is vital to a safe and enjoyable ride.

Artic Cat parts and snowmobiles remain on the cutting edge of snowmobile technology, featuring unique laydown engines, twin-spar chassis and the environmentally friendly 4-stroke parallel twin engine. When on the trail, it is a good idea to pack extra Artic Cat parts in case of breakdowns that can be remedied with a quick part replacement. Snowmobile experts recommend a repair kit stocked with the necessary tools, extra spark plugs, belts and assorted bolts and screws.

New Artic Cat parts and snowmobiles for the upcoming year are expected to be turbocharged offering an extra kick of horsepower approaching levels past 177. These super premium machines are expected to lead the way in the next generation of snowmobile design. With its environmental concerns and advances in racing technology, Artic cat parts, snowmobiles and ATVs are sure to continue to dominate the winter sports market.
To start looking for the right arctic cat parts for your sled stop by Snowmobile Home. You can still find great deals on used arctic cat parts before the winter season!

Donald Brooks lives in Minnesota and is a winter sports enthusiast. He writes articles about Snowmobiling and other winter sports for various internet publications.

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Tips on Giving Your Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health

By Ann Matthews
It's unbelievable what you'll find in commercial cat food these days. In fact, I think it's ridiculous to call it food at all. Commercial cat food consists mostly of synthetic fillers and grains because they are cheap. As a result of eating such low-quality food, your cat can develop urinary problems because the pH level of his urine is altered and the mineral content in his urine increases. If you want to give your cat food for urinary tract health, steer clear of commercial cat food.

Of all commercial cat food, dry food is the worst. It is grainy and can alter the pH of your cat's urine, making it easier for bacteria to flourish in the urinary tract. It can also cause the formation of bladder stones because of its high magnesium content. If you want to keep your cat healthy, give him urinary tract health cat food.

You might be wondering what cat food for urinary tract health is. If you want to help your cat have a healthy urinary tract, give him raw, unprocessed food and homemade food. These foods contain no preservatives or artificial ingredients such as flavoring and coloring. You will also want to make sure he gets enough water to drink in order to flush out all of the harmful bacteria and keep his urine from thickening.

What else can you give your cat besides urinary tract health cat food? Cranberry juice and Vitamin C are very helpful in preventing and treating urinary tract problems. Cranberry juice prevents bacteria from adhering to the lining of the bladder and it acidifies the urine. Vitamin C is a natural anti-inflammatory and it strengthens bladder lining.

You may also want to sprinkle a homeopathic remedy into cat food for urinary tract health. Homeopathic remedies are very effective in treating and preventing urinary problems in cats. They are 100% safe and natural and help your cat maintain a healthy bladder, urinary tract, and urine flow.

When it comes to urinary tract health cat food that is free of artificial ingredients should be given to your cat on a regular basis. Don't just wait until your cat starts to show symptoms of a problem to help him lead a healthier lifestyle. Make all natural, unprocessed food the centerpiece of his regular diet if you want to prevent problems in the future. The same goes for homeopathic remedies, which are effective as treatment but most effective as a preventive step.

Your goal? Take this information and use it to help you plan a healthy diet and lifestyle for your kitty. The hands down best way to treat and prevent urinary problems in cats is by giving them cat food for urinary tract health along with a homeopathic remedy. Make these steps a regular part of your cat's routine to help him achieve optimal urinary tract health.
If you want to make sure you are giving your pets the best health care available, please take time to read more about the many natural alternatives at my site: http://www.natural-pet-treatment.com

BIO: Ann Matthews is a long time pet health enthusiast with Pet Alive who has a real passion for the well-being of all pets

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