Author: Dorothy Brown
Who can resist a sweet little kitten? You want a cat, but do you know the best way to get one? When it comes to buying a cat, several options are available. You can buy a cat from a pet store, a breeder, from someone you know, or from a shelter or rescue organization. You can even find a cat from an ad in the classified section of your local newspaper.
However, no matter where you get your cat, you should keep a few points in mind. These are:
1. Only buy a cat from some you know you can trust. This is very important. You should buy a cat from a person who you know treats pets well, and who will not lie to you. Often, people sell cats that are less than 6-8 weeks old, knowing full well that cats should not be separated from their mothers at such a young age.
2. The cat you buy should be a healthy, affable, and well-treated creature. You will end up paying hefty bills to your vet if you buy a sick cat. Whenever you visit a seller, check out where the cats are kept. Don't buy cats from a place which keeps cats in an unhealthy or unhygienic environment.
3. Ask for pedigrees, registration certificates, and records of vaccinations and de-worming. Check to see if the cat or kitten is alert and well fed, and find out if its parents are at the same place. Seeing your potential pet's parents will give you a clue as to its personality and pedigree.
4. Keep your eyes open for signs of an unhealthy cat. Cats who are sneezing, have a cold, or are suffering from diarrhea are not a good choice -- even if the condition is only temporary. Do not take chances, request permission to take the cat to a vet before taking it home. This will give you a better idea of the cat's real health.
5. Be alert for fidgety or suspicious answers. Sellers who are honest will not have any hesitation in answering your questions. On the other hand, sellers who have something to hide will be very reluctant to share information.
When buying a cat from a rescue organization or animal shelter, check their policies. It is possible that you may need to return the pet after a few days for some unforeseen reason. Shelters or organizations that won't take a cat back should be avoided. No matter where you choose to get your new pet, make sure to base your decision on sound reasoning, and not just the emotional appeal of a furry face.
About The Author
Dorothy Brown writes for several web sites, including http://foraw.com and http://mowek.com.
The Pros and Cons of Owning a Persian Cat
Author: Bridgitte Williams
Persian cats have always been a favorite breed with cat owners.
They make wonderful pets and have their good points and bad points.
On the Pro list, they are very beautiful to look at and generally have a sweet disposition, a quiet manner and regal character. They usually tolerate everything and walk off if bothered.
They are very gentle, by nature. Another Pro is the variety of colors they come in.
You have silver, white, black, red, multicolored and golden shades, just to name a few.
They are an ornament to your life and home. They make attractive pets to look at.
They have lovely fur and are not usually prone to be destructive in any way.
Persian cats usually adjust quite well to new surroundings quickly although some can be shy around loud noises.
There are some other things you need to know. This will help you adjust to possible problems of owning that may occur.
The Cons of owning a Persian cat are the shedding of hair, the possibility of runny eyes, as Persians seem prone to this and they may also have some grooming problems.
Usually only older Persian cats have a tendency not to groom themselves.
Some owners have their Persian cat shaved by the vet occasionally if grooming becomes a problem.
It is always best to be aware of all these facts before owning a Persian cat.
Persian cats make delightful pets and will bring you much joy.
They tend to live long lives and get very attached to their owners.
In summary, this breed will make a wonderful addition to your family and a great pet as long as you are prepared for all of these things.
About The Author
Bridgitte is retired and a persian cat owner. Her webpage can be found at http://All4Webs.com/i/3/bridgitte/home.htm
Persian cats have always been a favorite breed with cat owners.
They make wonderful pets and have their good points and bad points.
On the Pro list, they are very beautiful to look at and generally have a sweet disposition, a quiet manner and regal character. They usually tolerate everything and walk off if bothered.
They are very gentle, by nature. Another Pro is the variety of colors they come in.
You have silver, white, black, red, multicolored and golden shades, just to name a few.
They are an ornament to your life and home. They make attractive pets to look at.
They have lovely fur and are not usually prone to be destructive in any way.
Persian cats usually adjust quite well to new surroundings quickly although some can be shy around loud noises.
There are some other things you need to know. This will help you adjust to possible problems of owning that may occur.
The Cons of owning a Persian cat are the shedding of hair, the possibility of runny eyes, as Persians seem prone to this and they may also have some grooming problems.
Usually only older Persian cats have a tendency not to groom themselves.
Some owners have their Persian cat shaved by the vet occasionally if grooming becomes a problem.
It is always best to be aware of all these facts before owning a Persian cat.
Persian cats make delightful pets and will bring you much joy.
They tend to live long lives and get very attached to their owners.
In summary, this breed will make a wonderful addition to your family and a great pet as long as you are prepared for all of these things.
About The Author
Bridgitte is retired and a persian cat owner. Her webpage can be found at http://All4Webs.com/i/3/bridgitte/home.htm
Save Your Furniture, Sanity and Your Cat Claws!
Author: Mary Amos
New cats and kittens are a fantastic addition to any family. But after you’ve bought the litter tray it’s time to worry about the furniture. You see cat’s love to scratch. They actually need to scratch and if you’re not careful they can quickly ruin your prized furniture. But before you give up hope there are things you can do to protect your furniture without having your cat de-clawed.
You need to encourage your cat to scratch a scratching post rather than your furniture. An understanding of why cats scratch will help us here!!
Cats scratch for many reasons. They scratch as a way to exercise and to tone their muscles. They also scratch as a way to stretch. They have scent glands in their paws so cats scratch to scent and mark their territory. They love to dig their claws into the post, (or your furniture!), not because they want to ruin it but as a way to clean and sharpen their claws. Oh we almost forgot they scratch and claw because it feels sooooooo good!!
So you can see that scratching is a cat’s natural behavior and should be supported and encouraged to keep your cat fit and healthy. If your cat is scratching the furniture you’ll find that physical punishment does not work and will alienate your cat. Sometimes a stern word or a loud clap will stop kitty while you’re there, but what happens when you’re gone?
For a happy cat and a harmonious household with intact furniture the following tips may be of use:
The most important thing you can do is to buy a scratching post BEFORE you get the cat. This way the post will be an integral part of the cat’s environment when it arrives. Once a cat has established a behavior it’s very hard to break.
Ideally buy more than one post and place them in the areas that you think the cat will use most often. At a minimum place one near where the cat will sleep. Cats love to stretch when they wake up – who doesn’t.
Buy a stable post, one that doesn’t wobble and feels very sturdy. Cats really dislike instability and if the post falls over its very unlikely the cat will ever use that post again. Look for a good solid base and the post should feel well made – not flimsy.
Place a post in your main family area. Your cat wants to be part of the family spend time with you. There’s nothing nicer than a cap napping in your lap on a winters day. After a hard hour or so sleeping in your lap its time to stretch. I hope there’s a post nearby or there goes the furniture!
At the outset you will need to encourage the cat to scratch the post. You don’t need to show your cat how to scratch – it already knows!! Try rubbing some cat nip on the post, or tie toys and string on the post. Play with the cat around the post so that it gets used to clawing the post. Trailing wool or string up the spot will encourage clawing and is my favorite method!
Make sure the post is big enough. Your cat should be able to fully stretch on the post, so look at a minimum height of 3 feet. Cats love to dig in their front claws and arch their back to stretch their front legs. This is difficult to do if the post is too short. Beware, if the post is too short then your cat will find out that human furniture is an ideal height!
Play with your cat. Keep it happy and entertained, especially around the posts and it will be less likely to take it out on your furniture!
Finally get a post that is course and can be destroyed. Cat’s love rough surfaces. They will happily pull and tear at their post and enjoy watching it deteriorate. Nylon backed carpet makes an excellent post covering, as is sisal rope. A cat can really get its claws into both these materials. If you currently have a cat which is scratching and clawing the furniture then look for a post made from similar material. If you can’t find the ideal post try making your own.
About The Author
Mary Amos is a cat lover and long time cat owner. Find more articles and resources on cat furniture at http://www.catfurnitureweb.com.
New cats and kittens are a fantastic addition to any family. But after you’ve bought the litter tray it’s time to worry about the furniture. You see cat’s love to scratch. They actually need to scratch and if you’re not careful they can quickly ruin your prized furniture. But before you give up hope there are things you can do to protect your furniture without having your cat de-clawed.
You need to encourage your cat to scratch a scratching post rather than your furniture. An understanding of why cats scratch will help us here!!
Cats scratch for many reasons. They scratch as a way to exercise and to tone their muscles. They also scratch as a way to stretch. They have scent glands in their paws so cats scratch to scent and mark their territory. They love to dig their claws into the post, (or your furniture!), not because they want to ruin it but as a way to clean and sharpen their claws. Oh we almost forgot they scratch and claw because it feels sooooooo good!!
So you can see that scratching is a cat’s natural behavior and should be supported and encouraged to keep your cat fit and healthy. If your cat is scratching the furniture you’ll find that physical punishment does not work and will alienate your cat. Sometimes a stern word or a loud clap will stop kitty while you’re there, but what happens when you’re gone?
For a happy cat and a harmonious household with intact furniture the following tips may be of use:
The most important thing you can do is to buy a scratching post BEFORE you get the cat. This way the post will be an integral part of the cat’s environment when it arrives. Once a cat has established a behavior it’s very hard to break.
Ideally buy more than one post and place them in the areas that you think the cat will use most often. At a minimum place one near where the cat will sleep. Cats love to stretch when they wake up – who doesn’t.
Buy a stable post, one that doesn’t wobble and feels very sturdy. Cats really dislike instability and if the post falls over its very unlikely the cat will ever use that post again. Look for a good solid base and the post should feel well made – not flimsy.
Place a post in your main family area. Your cat wants to be part of the family spend time with you. There’s nothing nicer than a cap napping in your lap on a winters day. After a hard hour or so sleeping in your lap its time to stretch. I hope there’s a post nearby or there goes the furniture!
At the outset you will need to encourage the cat to scratch the post. You don’t need to show your cat how to scratch – it already knows!! Try rubbing some cat nip on the post, or tie toys and string on the post. Play with the cat around the post so that it gets used to clawing the post. Trailing wool or string up the spot will encourage clawing and is my favorite method!
Make sure the post is big enough. Your cat should be able to fully stretch on the post, so look at a minimum height of 3 feet. Cats love to dig in their front claws and arch their back to stretch their front legs. This is difficult to do if the post is too short. Beware, if the post is too short then your cat will find out that human furniture is an ideal height!
Play with your cat. Keep it happy and entertained, especially around the posts and it will be less likely to take it out on your furniture!
Finally get a post that is course and can be destroyed. Cat’s love rough surfaces. They will happily pull and tear at their post and enjoy watching it deteriorate. Nylon backed carpet makes an excellent post covering, as is sisal rope. A cat can really get its claws into both these materials. If you currently have a cat which is scratching and clawing the furniture then look for a post made from similar material. If you can’t find the ideal post try making your own.
About The Author
Mary Amos is a cat lover and long time cat owner. Find more articles and resources on cat furniture at http://www.catfurnitureweb.com.