Showing posts with label cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cat. Show all posts

Factors To Consider When Traveling With Your Cat

Some cats enjoy traveling where others do not; it really depends on your cat's personality. Traveling can either be and easy or difficult task when you have your cat in tow. There are different ways that you can travel and there are also different things that you need to consider with each mode of transportation.

Articleing your Air Travel

Traveling by plane can be quite tricky if your cat hates flying. You might have the option of having them on the plane with your or having to send them below into an air conditioned cargo area especially designed for pet travel. Some airlines allow you to take your cat along in a carrier that can fit below the seat in front of you. You need to specifically ask the airline if this is an option or not, plus you need to consider if your cat will fit into such a carrier.

If this practice is not allowed you will have to have your cat in a carrier and check them into the cargo area. If you plan on traveling with your cat you need to make your reservation far in advance and inform the airline that you will be traveling with a cat. You also have to make sure that your carrier fits the criteria of the airline. You might even be able to have your cat sedated for the flight time frame by your veterinarian to make travel a little easier.

Packing up the Car for a Trip

If you cat likes to go on car trips with you, then traveling a long distance by car is going to be a piece of cake. On the other hand if they detest it, it might not be the most enjoyable trip. Either way, you need to make sure that your cat is ready to travel with you. First, you definitely need a cat carrier when you are driving to help keep your cat safe and so you won't become distracted while driving.

You also need to make sure you cat has their collar on with their identification tag on it. If you cat doesn't like the car, you might want to try getting him used to it in advance by taking your cat out for short trips around the block or down the street. Before you leave on your trip, you need to make sure to pack your cat's bag as well as your own.

You need to make sure that you have their bowls, food, medication, litter box, litter, cat bed, cat toys, and some sort of scratching post so he doesn't tear up the room of wherever you are going. If you cat absolutely freaks out when you put him in the car, you might need to come up with another plan for your cat while you are away.

Not Brining Fluffy on the Trip

If you have the cat that freaks out whenever you try to travel by plane or by car, you will probably have to come up with a different plan. You can choose to leave your cat with friends, at home, or in a boarding place. Whatever you choose will probably depend largely on your cat and their attitudes and ability to adapt. A boarding place will allow you to leave your cat in a place where they will be taken care of.

Unfortunately not all pet boarding facilities are a great place to leave your pet, so you will have to do a lot of careful research before just dropping off your cat. A friend of family member might take in your cat so they can take care of all your cat's needs while you are gone. You can also choose to leave your cat at home if you will only be gone a short time, or have a cat sitter stay at your home with your cat.

Don't ask just anyone, make sure they can be trusted, and make sure to leave them with a list of things such as what food you feed, when you feed, when to clean the litter box, and any emergency numbers as well. For some, this might end up being the best option for their cat.


To read about cat lifespan and ear mites in cats, visit the About Animals site.

What Cat Care Can Mean To You

Although the phrase cat care may bring to mind thoughts of drudgery or obligation, with the right attitude and a little bit of information, cat care can become an enjoyable part of your day. If you do it right, cat care can be something that you actually look forward to. Helping your cat stay happy and healthy is only as much fun as you let it be, but by learning how to provide the optimum cat care for your beloved pet, you can make cat care routines a treat for both of you.

One important part of making cat care fun is taking enough time to enjoy it. If you whip through your cat care routine with one eye on the clock at all times, you won't be able to fully appreciate the experience of being with your pet. Try thinking of cat care as a chance to relax and escape the hassles of daily life. Put on your favorite album and relax as your complete cat care tasks like grooming your pet and playing with him or her to help you both gain trimness and agility. The process of caring for a pet is an inherently satisfying and enjoyable one so long as you allow yourself to have fun while doing it instead of trying to rush through and minimize the time you take for cat care. After all, the time you spend on cat care is quality time indeed.

Another crucial part of making cat care a pleasurable activity is education. Teaching yourself a bit more about cat care technique can help you be certain that you are offering your cat the most excellent possible care. The more you know about cat care, the better equipped you will be to keep your cat healthy and happy, and there are few things as satisfying as seeing your cat's health improve because of your attention. If you want cat care to be a treat for yourself as well as for your pet, it is important to make sure that you are doing a good job of it. The better you are at cat care, the more fun you will have when caring for your cat.

There are few experiences more rewarding than reveling in the knowledge that you have done a job well, and cat care is no exception. When you improve your cat care skills or brush up on your cat care basics, you are taking steps to transform your cat care from a run of the mill experience to something that you can be proud of. When you provide your cat with the optimum cat care for his or her personality, age, and type of cat, you will be able to feel a sense of accomplishment in your abilities that is invaluable, and very enjoyable. In fact, it may feel almost like a treat. When you improve your cat care skills, you can look forward to a happier cat, and to a happier you as well.

Find out more about how to care for your cat. Click here now!

Top Five Cat Breeds

Choosing a cat breed can be a bit daunting, especially if you don’t know very much about cats! When considering a cat, you must be sure to choose a breed that will best suit your lifestyle. Some breeds require more physical activity than others, and some require much more grooming. Look below to find the top five most popular cat breeds. You will also find a brief description about each breed’s grooming requirements and personality type.

The Oriental is one of the most popular cat breeds around. This breed is a very intelligent, loyal companion and tends to bond deeply with its family. It has large, pointed ears, and although its body is very sleek, it is still quite a muscular breed.

The American Shorthair is extremely popular with families, as they tend to be very affectionate and friendly. The American shorthair originally was a working breed, mostly for mouse hunting, which explains the agile muscular structure and short hair. They do need a little exercise, but most are quite content being a lap cat.

The Birman breed is thought to have originated from Burma. It is perhaps best recognized by its blue eyes, white body, and smoky-brown face, ears, legs, and tail. Birmans possess a long, sturdy body structure with long, mat-resistant hair. They love to play and are quite gentle. They are affectionate without being too needy.

If you’re looking for a very affectionate, cuddly cat, then a Sphynx may be the breed for you. Although they look like they have no fur, they actually have a peach-like fuzz all over their body. As they don’t have much hair to protect their skin, they should strictly be kept indoors. This breed does require a bit of extra care, particularly with room temperature, as this breed can easily become too cold.

A very mild and gentle cat breed is the Ragdoll, appropriately named such as it can be quite floppy and relaxed when picked up. If you love a cat that accompanies you from room to room, this breed would likely be a wonderful match for you. They are very careful not to use teeth or claws when playing around, so they would also make an excellent cat for children.

Now that you have a better idea about the most popular, yet very different, breeds out there, hopefully you find choosing a cat to be a little less daunting than before. Be sure to remember that lifestyles are important factors to consider; so if you aren’t very active, you probably shouldn’t choose a cat that requires a lot of activity, and vice versa.

All About Feeding Your Cat

Cats are very similar to people in many ways. Just as it is important to watch what is going into you cats tummy, you also need to keep an eye on how much is going into your cat's tummy. When people eat too much food, over time they become overweight.

Cats are the same, if they become used to eating however much they want, when they want, it is a sure bet that you will have a pretty fat cat on your hands after a while. This is especially true as your cat gets older and less active. If you aren't sure if your cat is fat or not, there are a few telling signs that you can look for that are pretty similar as to when you can tell if a person is overweight.

• A double chin is always a telling sign of a weight problem. If you find that your cat has a bunch of fat underneath their chin, they might have a weight problem.

• A big stomach is another sign, if their stomach is hanging, they might have a weight problem

• Another is whether or not you can feel your cat's ribs. On a healthy cat you should be able to feel their rib cage, if you cannot feel your cat's rib cage then you cat is definitely overweight.

Just as people think that their weight might not be a big deal, many cat owners might not feel it too distressing that their cat is a little overweight. The reality is that being overweight can cause many health problems in your cat. The more weight your cat has on their body, the more weight and pressure they have to carry around on a daily basis. This is why it is so important to pay attention to what and how much your cat is eating. If you do find that your cat is overweight you should probably speak to your veterinarian about it and look into buying a specially formulated cat food for overweight cats.

Whether you have an overweight cat or not, it's important to make sure that your cat gets the exercise they need. If you can't isn't overweight then the exercise will help keep them active and avoid such a predicament, but if your cat is overweight then the exercise will help them to trim off a few pounds.

The great thing is that exercising with your cat doesn't have to be a tedious activity; it can be a lot of fun. Below are a few ideas that will help you get an exercise program started with your cat.

• Try to get your cat to run around some
• Take a walk with your cat
• Get your cat some new toys that will encourage him to exercise and jump around
• Strategically place toys and treats all around the house to encourage your cat to walk around
• Switch up the games that you play with your cat so he doesn't get bored
• Even if you are away for the day, leave approved toys out for your cat to play with.
• Also, it sometimes helps your cat's activity level if they have another feline companion to play with while you are away


Just because you like to switch your food around because something was cheaper at the store, or a new product looked better, doesn't mean that you cat should jump around from one cat food to another. Pets are funny this way, once they become used to a certain type of food, switching to another brand because it was on sale doesn't always agree with their stomachs.

If it happens that you want to switch your cat's food then you need to do it slowly. Do not just decide to replace cat food A with cat food B the next day, if so you might find you have a cat with a very upset stomach. In order to switch your cat's food without all of the digestion trouble you will need to put just a bit more into each meal, this process can take a few weeks before the switch is complete.

Trying to Feed Your Kitten

Dealing with a kitten is completely different that feed a grown cat. A kitten is essentially a baby in every way and needs the right amount of nutrition in order to go from being a kitten to a healthy grown cat. Kittens are just like babies in that they need to eat right in order to have strong bones, muscles, and nervous system. You can't feed a kitten the same things that a full grown cat eats; they need their own special food until they are old enough to move onto the next step.

It's always smart to consult with your doctor before you start a regular feeding routine for your kitten, but you do need to recognize that because they have such high energy, they need the proper food to fuel their bodies. You will find that your kitten will nibble throughout the day because they have smaller stomach than a full grown cat.

Just as with human babies, there are going to be times that your kitten doesn't seem particularly interested in food such as when they are teething or have lost a baby tooth. In the same instance your kitten may eat a little more during growth spurts and such. Even when you kitten begins to look and act like an adult cat, don't rush out and buy adult cat food, they need to stick with the kitten cat food until they are a year old because of their need for a lot of calories.

There might also come instances that you need to consult with your veterinarian about your cat's food needs such as if your female feline becomes pregnant or if you cat has health problems that are related to what they eat.


To learn about cat worms and cat vomiting, visit the About Animals website.