Abyssinian-The Facts Every Owner Of This Cat Breed Should Know

A wild looking cat, the Abyssinian is thought to be one of the oldest breeds in the world. Though paintings of them have been found in ancient Egyptian art, their exact origins are unclear. Some believe they came from Ethiopia (formerly called Abyssinia) and others believe they originated from areas near the coast of India. Whatever the origins, Abyssinians were imported to England where they were refined by breeders.Abyssinians are average sized cats of a medium build, weighing about eight to ten pounds and living anywhere from thirteen to twenty years. Described as resembling a Puma or a Cougar, Abyssinians have medium length coats that are dense and have markings similar to a tabby cat. The coats can come in several colors, ruddy (burnt sienna), red, sorrel (burnt orange), blue (soft blue and apricot), and fawn (pinkish beige and oatmeal) with even ticking.Abyssinians are described as very independent and intelligent. They are not considered lap cats and hate being confined, but Abyssinians are sociable creatures that will get along well with humans and other pets.Though they purr when content, Abyssinians are not 'talkative cats' and have a soft purr. Abyssinians are high-energy cats and enjoy running and jumping to high places. They also enjoy playing with water and will entertain themselves with nothing more than a running faucet. This breed does tolerate human handling, but is probably not the best choice for children, due to their independent nature. Children may enjoy the activity level of the Abyssinian but will be disappointed when it does not want to play with them.Abyssinians are generally healthy; however, they do have some genetic health concerns. They can develop patellar luxation, renal amyloidosis (a kidney disorder), and retinal atrophy. Some Abyssinian may also have sensitive stomachs making them more likely to vomit but this can be controlled through diet. They are also prone to gingivitis, but brushing their teeth can help prevent this.There is a website that has great information on Abyssinians and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:http://www.dogandcatfacts.comBy Robert W. BenjaminCopyright © 2007You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Canned Food For Feline UTI

The benefits of a raw food diet for your feline pets have already been discussed. In brief, raw meat diets for felines, which are entirely carnivorous in the wild, help to prevent the incidence of Feline UTI. Unfortunately, cats themselves may not be able to accept this sort of diet especially if it is new to them. In such cases, canned cat food can be substituted for raw meat.Canned food for pets contains more moisture, and in this sense it is similar to raw food. You may have noticed that your pet cat does not need half as much water as your dog does every day. This is because cats do not normally lap up water, as do dogs.Canned food, therefore, helps by upping the liquid content of the cat's diet, which in turn helps in speeding up digestion, aids in the flushing out of toxins and smaller crystals before they can cause problems, and improves immunity to UTI.Vets may recommend that cats that have suffered feline urinary tract infections be fed exclusively on canned food. This will help in preventing a recurrence of the infection.If you have never purchased canned cat food before, it is worthwhile pausing to look at the large number of alternatives that are available and choosing one that suits your cat's needs, as well one that will be effective in helping prevent UTIs.Here's a look at some of the choices:Meat - Always assess this when first looking at the list of ingredients on a can. All felines are pure carnivores and meat is the food that their bodies can process and use the best.. Thus, chicken meal, meat by-products, and similar products are not the best kind of food for your cat. Instead, examine the pet food section in your store for canned foods that contain a higher proportion of pure protein such as beef, lamb, chicken, duck, rabbit, and turkey. Fish can be suspect as experts feel that seafood can contribute to the problem of Feline UTI. So it is perhaps to go for these only occasionally, or avoid them altogether.Cereals - Wheat and rice can be present in the canned food that you choose providing they are in the unrefined brown form, and do not form the highest proportion out of all other ingredients.Amino Acids and Minerals: Of all the additives that may be present in canned food, DL-Methionine is one that works to preserve the health of the kidneys. This is an amino acid that works to keep the pH balance of urine between 6.0 and 6.8. If this is not one of the ingredients, buy it in powdered form and add it separately to the food. Magnesium should be present only in very small amounts; 0.025-1.0 per cent is acceptable.Berries and vegetables: These promote urinary tract health, especially cranberries, blueberries, corn and carrots. They can also present in small proportions as they provide add fibre to the diet.Remember to ask your vet for advice if you need it. cats will not tolerate a radical changeover, so alter diets carefully and gradually.

Buying Bulk Cat Food

Your cats deserve the best, but the best can be very expensive. Most cats thrive on most good foods that you can buy in any store, and some with health problems may need the varieties that you can buy online or through your veterinarian. Whatever the case, depending on how many cats you have or how often you shop, buying cat food can often become expensive when purchasing some brands. If you love your pets and want the best, but also want to save money, see if you can find bulk cat food in the brand that you prefer for your cats.You can simply buy bulk cat food in a regular store by getting a big bag if you only have one or two cats. This should last them a month or more. Most cats only need one cup of food a day, though you should go by any quantity recommendations from your veterinarian. One half a cup twice a day is what most cats need that are healthy and of adult age. If you buy this size of a bag for just one or two cats, that is all you need to do to buy bulk. For many with more cats, this is just not enough when they want to limit trips to the store for cat food.You can go about buying bulk cat food in any warehouse store like Sam's, Costco, or any other that may be in your area. You can also find sources for this online if you want to have it delivered to your home at some savings. Think about how much your pets eat and then buy what you think might last them for six months. Any more than that is going to go bad and may also go to waste. You can save money buying bulk, but only if you use it and your cats enjoy eating it.When buying bulk cat food, you have to make a few more purchases, but don't worry, they should only be one time purchases. You should find mid-sized plastic containers with airtight seals. These are where you should store your cat food (or your dog food) that you have bought in bulk. If you leave it in a bag that is open to the air in any way, the food is going to go stale before you can use it. If that happens, your pets won't eat it and you have lost money rather than saved money. Put your food into these containers to keep the as fresh as possible. cat food does not go stale fast, but it does happen.You may not think of pet food as a good gift, but it can be. If you have a friend or relative that has cats, you can understand how much it can cost to feed them. You can split your bulk cat food stash with them if you fear you won't use it all and you can share the savings. You can also give some as a gift. Just make sure they understand how to properly store it so that it won't go stale. It is a more practical gift than others, but it is certainly a great idea for the cat lover in your life.