CAT LOVER

Cat Carriers - Choose the Best One for your Cat

2008-10-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a cat carrier and don't know where to start? Without a doubt, cat carriers are necessary items for most cat lovers. You need one to transport your cat from place to place easily and securely. You need a carrier to take your cat to vet, to the groomer, and to the boarding facility. And a cat carrier is a must for plane trips. Fortunately, you can easily find a wide selection of cat carriers online as well as at the traditional pet store in your neighborhood.

So where do you start? How do you choose the right carrier for your cat? Price is definitely going to be an important factor to take into account during the selection process. But there are other elements to consider as well. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you choose the right carrier for your cat:

1.) Consider the size of the carrier. Make sure your cat can move and stretch comfortably inside the carrier. Most cats don't like being confined, so select a carrier that provides your cat with enough space and ventilation.

2.) Think long-term. Choose a carrier that is made of long-lasting and easy-to-clean materials. In the long run, buying a good quality carrier will save you money as you don't have to replace it as often.

3.) Air travel. If you plan on traveling by plane make sure the carrier you buy meets airline requirements. Most airlines have specific requirements for pet carriers.

4.) Which material is best? There are soft carriers and hard carriers, and they both have their pros and cons. You need to consider your cat's needs, safety and comfort. Soft carriers are perfect for small to mid-size cats while hard carriers are better for larger and heavier cats. Regardless of the type you prefer, make sure the carrier is secure and comfortable for your cat.

5.) For the pampered cat. If you want a more sophisticated carrier, then consider pet strollers, carrier backpacks and carriers on wheels. Many of these pieces are easy to handle and store away.

In addition to these factors, make sure that the latch of the carrier's door locks firmly and securely. You don't want your kitty jumping out of the carrier at the worst possible moment and place.

And, if your carrier doesn't come with a soft mat, place a soft blanket or a piece of soft fabric so that your cat can lie down comfortably.

by Claudia Escobar

Five Cat Food Factors That Discourage Feline UTD

2008-08-23T03:52:00.000-07:00

One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is what your cat eats. A feline diet that is too high in carbohydrates and magnesium, and low in protein can lead to FLUTD. When their cat is initially diagnosed with FLUTD, feline owners will usually first try to get their kitty to eat the prescription food recommended by their vet.

But what if the cat rejects their offering? As an alternative, there are specific, non-prescription cat foods available to maintain your cat's urine pH balance at 6.6. A high urine pH value indicates struvite crystal formation in your cat's urinary tract. The challenge is to find the right cat food that appeals to kitty, contains the proper amount of protein and magnesium, and has few or no by-products.

If you turn out to be one of those owners who has to find an alternative cat food, then here's five things to evaluate when selecting cat food to prevent future FLUTD occurences in your kitty:

1. What's the Most Common Ingredient?

The first and most common ingredient that should be listed is protein - meat or fish. Read the label carefully - here's some variations you could see:

Canned cat food:

Beef
Chicken Liver
Deboned Chicken
Beef Broth

Dry cat food:

Chicken
Organic Chicken
Herring Meal
Chicken Meal

Some other good ingredients that will help your kitty maintain good urinary tract health are blueberries and cranberries. Vegetables such as carrots are good, and rice is a good grain for your kitty to consume.

2. Are There Any By-Products?

Are by-products listed as one of the ingredients? If so, put that food back on the shelf and keep looking. By-products are filler material, and have limited nutritional value for your kitty. By-products are typically carbohydrates, and since cats are carnivores, they need protein, not carbs, for proper nutrition.

Here are some examples of by-products:

Canned cat food:

Corn gluten meal
Ground yellow corn
Soybean meal
Beef By-Products
Meat By-Products

Dry cat food:

Ground Yellow Corn
Chicken By-Product Meal
Corn Gluten Meal
Wheat flour
Corn Meal
Soy flour

3. How Much Moisture Is In the Cat Food?

What's the percentage of moisture in the cat food you're evaluating? The higher the number, the better for your kitty. More moisture means your cat will urinate more. Increased urination will flush out any crystals that may be trying to form in your cat's urinary tract. Canned cat food has a higher moisture content than dry.

4. How Much Magnesium Does the Cat Food Contain?

An excess of magnesium will contribute to struvite crystal formation (FLUTD). Some magnesium is necessary, but generally look for cat food that has a maximum of 0.025% magnesium to prevent struvite crystals.

5. Does the Cat Food Contain DL-Methionine?

DL-Methionine is an amino acid with sulfur, which helps regulate ammonia formation in urine. This amino acid helps maintain your cat's urine pH balance around 6.6, which is normal and does not encourage crystal formation.

And... since cats are cats (which means they are in charge!), be aware that what you select for them may not be what they want to eat, if they don't like the taste. If this happens, you'll need to start over again until you find a wholesome, nutritious cat food that merits two paws up from your feline!

Keep these five factors in mind when shopping for cat food to maintain your kitty's urinary tract and prevent FLUTD.

And remember, when you're considering changing your cat's diet, consult with your vet. She or he will give you expert guidance and information to make the transition easier for you and your kitty.

By: Nancy Wigal

Introducing a Second Cat to a Household

2008-08-13T04:28:00.001-07:00

As cats are inherently territorial, introducing a second cat to the household can be an awe-inspiring task. Here are are some tips and tricks to make life a little easier. A cats home really is his castle. One of the first things your cat will do when introduced to a new environment is mark his territory. She does this by leaving smells at the point of each object. When a new cat comes along the smell of another cat will send the message "Back off! You're trespassing!"

The approach of another cat onto her territory will immediately cause heckles to rise, however sweet and harmless the cat newcomer maybe. So how can you introduce a cat to the household when there is already a dominant cat?

The accepted method is to do it by degrees. This is the method we used when we were introducing three month old Ellie, our blue Burmese girl to Louie, our red Somali boy. Lou was 7 months old and had been in the house for one month.

Both cats need to get used to the sight, smells and presence of the other. A safe way to do this is to create a small territory for the newcomer. This could be a spare room perhaps that you can stop the resident cat going into. Spray it with household smells and allow the newcomer to mark his territory. This gives him a place to retreat to if things get a little rough - a safe harbour.

The next step is to put the newcomer back into the cat box and take him down to another room where the resident cat is. Place the cat box down and leave the two cats in the room together. They will not be a threat to each other because they clearly can not get to each other. But it will allow them to get used to the sight, smells and presence of each other in a safe environment.

The next step is to place the box in different places in the room and then the house. After this stage swap where the two cats are. In other words place the resident cat into the box and let the newcomer roam free in the room. The more this is done and interchanged over a long time as possible, the more they will get used to each other without feeling the other is a threat. The last step is to open the box in a room where you can supervise what is happening and allow the newcomer to retreat to his own room if necessary. Often by this time , the cats will have accepted each other and tolerance may even turn to friendship! A good sign is when the cats are eating together. As all cat lovers know there will always be "spats", but they can usually work things out themselves without any harm.

There is always a possibility that the resident cat is far too dominant and territorial to allow the newcomer in. This indeed may lead to quite aggressive behaviour. In which case the owner should seek professional help or consider not introducing a second cat at all.

by Nick Cassells

The Hidden Benefits of Playing With Your Cat

2008-08-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Playing with your cat probably is not something you think about very often. We all enjoy playing with kittens. But once those little bundles of energy grow up, cat owners tend to stop playing with them. Maybe that's because they think cats are independent and prefer being left alone. And to a certain extent that is true about a cat.

But playing with your cat is actually an important part of responsible cat care. Besides being fun, playing with your cat is an excellent way to give your pampered pet some exercise. And the cat will not even realize it!

Playing with your cat helps keep your cat from becoming bored, too. That is really important because a bored cat is more likely to develop behavioral problems. Chewing or scratching furniture, aggressiveness, and a tendency to shy away from others are just a few of the problems bored cats develop. A well-established cat care routine can keep this from happening.

Believe it or not, playing with your cat benefits you, too. It is a great way to relieve stress. Throwing a small ball or fuzzy mouse around or dangling some string to see how high your cat will jump is all it takes to start relaxing. Give it a try tonight and you'll see.

Don't be surprised if one result of playing with your cat is a closer bond between the two of you. Cats might be independent, but they need love and attention.

How much time should you spend playing with your cat? A few minutes a day, a couple times each day is sufficient. Even if you are busy, it should not be hard to work that amount of time into your daily cat care routine. And don't worry. When your cat is ready to stop, it will let you know by simply walking away.

by Rob Metras

What My Cat Taught Me About Niche Marketing

2008-08-02T23:49:00.000-07:00

Some people are "dog people," others are "cat people." I'm a cat person. Regardless of which pet you prefer, we can all agree that pets enrich our lives in many ways. They provide unconditional affection, they don't care what we look like, and sometimes even they teach us a life lesson.

But I never expected my cat to teach me a marketing lesson! A niche marketing lesson, to be more precise.

At this point, the dog lovers reading this are saying that this cat person is crazy. But I'm not. Here's how it happened.

Like millions of other pet lovers, I bought plenty of pet toys. We all want to be able to interact with our pets, yet still have them not be bored when we're away.

My cat went through the usual toy assortment: feathers, balls with bells in them, foam balls, catnip, string, and an assortment of stuffed rodents. Because we all want the best for our furry friends, I bought the biggest stuffed rat I could find. It received an occasional sniff but was mostly ignored.

The medium-sized stuffed mice received more attention, but only if I moved the mouse or threw it for the cat. He wouldn't play with it on his own.

Then my cat was given a pair of tiny stuffed mice. I thought they were too small and would be ignored just as the giant rat was.

Boy was I wrong!

Like a lion on a gazelle, my cat pounced on the tiny mouse and gave it a beating it would never forget. He played mouse hockey through the house, scoring goals under the refrigerator and under the stove. He played baseball, tossing the mouse high into the air and catching it again, or hitting a home run on the way down. He played jungle lion, proudly carrying his prey back to his waiting pride (me!).

So what does all this warm fuzzy cat stuff have to do with online sales?

It's a metaphor for niche marketing. The cat is the consumer. The cat toys are your products. The ultimate goal is to match the former with the latter.

Your first product, the giant rat, was of vague interest to the consumer (the cat). The consumer sniffed at your ad or sales page, but did not like what he smelled, and moved on. No sales.

Your second product, the medium-sized mice, were more interesting to the potential buyer. He would take action, but only after intensive prompting on your part. You would probably have to spend a lot on pay per click ads or gave away lots of bonuses to get his business. A few sales might be made, but it would be expensive to get those sales.

But your third product, the mini-mouse, was pure magic! Your cat consumer took one look, something in his brain clicked, and a sale was made. It was as if your product was a key that unlocked the part of the customer's brain that triggered the buying impulse. Jackpot!

That's what my cat taught me about niche marketing. You must find a product that somebody desperately wants (preferably a large group of somebodies). That product must be exactly what they were looking for, even if they didn't know they wanted it! It must be so tantalizing that your customer is more concerned about playing with his new toy than he or she is about paying for it.

You see, I made a classic info-product mistake with my cat. I gave him what I thought he would like. I wasted money promoting large stuffed rodents and heaps of other toys to him. What I didn't do is ask him what he needed and give him that!

Don't make the same mistake! Figure out what your customers want FIRST, and give them that. Then watch them pounce on it so fast that the payment process is almost an afterthought for them.

I have since learned that the mini-mice are about the same size as real mice. No wonder the cat was sold on them immediately! He had never seen a real mouse, but there was a mini-mouse sized niche in his brain that was instantly gratified by the smallest mouse toy.

Don't give your customers what you think they need. Ask them what they want, and give them that. Then you will have truly created a better mousetrap, and they will beat a path to your door (and your bank account)!

Learn more about making more money from niche marketing with the resources below.

By: Doug Smith

The Sokoke Cat

2008-07-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

A shorthair cat, Sokoke is believed to have originated many centuries ago in Sokoke-Arabuko rainforest in eastern Kenya. There it was called Khadzonzo by native tribesmen, the word meaning 'tree bark like in appearance' in local language. Despite its independent existence in nature for many years, there is not much evidence of wild cat genetics in this beautiful cat and it is believed by many to be a feral domestic cat. The modern history of Sokoke was initiated when in early nineteen eighties they were brought from Africa to Denmark, Europe, owing to their striking appeal and fear of extinction in shrinking natural habitat. Though the shorthair cats had some trouble early on, adjusting to the cold climate of Denmark, they survived and gained recognition in coming years. Today breeding populations occur all across Europe and North America, even as Sokokes are still relatively rare as purebreds.

Sokoke has a sleek athletic body that is chiseled like that of the Cheetah. Its slender, hard muscled trunk, long legs and short head give it the appearance of a skilled predator. Coat is single layered and dense. It has a blotched tabby pattern with ticked hair and occurs in shades of brown. Head is flat at the top with alert, rounded ears and almond shaped slightly slanted green eyes.

A relatively recent development in Sokoke lines is the 'Snow Sokoke'. This cat has a basic color in the range of cream to gray with similar marbled tabby markings on body. Legs and tail are striped and eyes are of a blue color. Snow Sokokes are very pretty. However, they are not widely accepted in breed standards at the moment.

Sokokes are very intelligent cats that are sensitive and react well to alternating moods and behavior patterns of humans. They are social and accept other pets easily into the household. Active and vocal animals, these cats readily communicate with their humans.

by Omer Ashraf

Curbing Your Cat’s Natural Nasty Enthusiasms

2008-07-30T03:51:00.000-07:00

If your cat’s bad behavior is driving you crazy, here are the best solutions to the most common problems you may be facing.

1. Eliminating Outside the litter box.

Is it your fault or the cat’s fault? Many cats won’t use the litter box if it is too dirty. They just don’t like it. If you think this may be the problem, change the litter box twice as often as you currently do. When your cat goes outside the box, make like a speed demon to clean all the places the cat goes. Spray the areas down with Lysol or something similar with a nice strong smell that will obliterate the blessed odor of you know what.

What is your cat’s favorite place? Put the litter box there. Maybe if you simply put the litter box in the bathroom, the situation will change. If it’s not in too obnoxious a place, you can put the litter box on top of the place your cat has chosen to go to, just to make the point. As a last resort, put down bleach, safely, in those spots, and cover the area with aluminum foil.

2. Spraying

Male animals of many different species do this to mark their territory, and cats are no exception. You may find your cat does this when it feels threatened, especially by dogs and small children, or maybe perhaps when other male cats are around. There is little to be done for this beyond neutering your male cat. Don’t punish your cat for this behavior though. They won’t understand at all.

3. Clawing people

This is another example of something cats tend to do when they feel afraid or threatened. But again, is it the cat’s fault, or the people around him? If you have a cat that is generally afraid of children, you should do something about it. Try exposing the cat to young children in small doses until he gets used to it. Don’t just let children loose around the cat. Have the child sit in your lap or next to you and feed your pet kitty treats.

Some cats are afraid, but let’s face it, some are just mean to certain people. As soon as the cat starts clawing or growling, quickly pick her up and remove her from the situation. If the object of derision is a family member, try spraying lemon juice to keep the cat away. Again, try exposing the cat to the person in small pockets of time, until your pet gets used to being around that individual. If the derided person is your mother in law, there may be nothing you can do.

4. Caterwauling

What is that sound? Who hasn’t wondered or thought that some disaster has occurred after hearing their cat making ululating noises in the middle of the night. Siamese cats actually do this by nature, so you may not be able to get them to stop, but other cats do it because they are tired, hungry, or sick. There aren’t many things you can do about this unfortunately. If you think it’s a hunger thing, feed your pet more promptly, and refuse to feed her when she caterwauls. She won’t understand what you are doing, but she’ll almost certainly quit after she figures out it does her no good. If she caterwauls because she is in heat, you should get her fixed. For other caterwauling problems, try to ignore her, and keep her as far away from yourself as possible. However there are times when your cat caterwauls to let you know she has done something good. If you approve of the behavior, by all means praise your pet to let her know.

5. Running Outside

Curiousity killed the cat. The cliché exists because it’s so true. Indoor cats get very curious about the outside, what’s BEYOND THE DOOR. The first thing you should do is not open the door when the cat runs out. Try to get the cat accustomed to the outdoors by getting a cat leash and walking her on it or by carrying her in your arms when you go outside. Once the mystery of what’s out there is gone, she’s less likely to want to get to it, particularly if you expose her to snow or other extreme conditions.

Your cat can be by turns lovable and frustrating. Like children, pets often behave in ways that perplex us. By being aware of what makes your cat do the things that it does, you can learn how to curb its’ enthusiasm for undesirable habits, as well as to accept those you cannot change.

By: Romi Matsushita

Cat Toys Can Make Your Cat Happy

2008-07-29T06:24:00.000-07:00

Cats are naturally great hunters this is why they love to pounce or play with many different things. They love to search for things that are crawling or moving. When they see a moving object, they fix their eyes on it and it is going to pounce on it if it gets his attention. This is why many cat owners buy cat toys because they make their pets happy and prevent boredom.

You might notice that a cat naturally turns its eyes on a moving object or a thing that makes sound. And when the object is small, they will really try to pounce on it and play with it endlessly. But when you are buying cat toys, make sure that it is harmless and that it would not cause any injury to the pet.

Some cats may swallow the toy accidentally that is why you should make sure that it would not ruin or injure its digestive system in any way. And it should have sharp edges or harmful substances that may damage your catâ€™s stomach. Some pets even die of severe choking so these are some of the things you should avoid.

If you think that cat toys are expensive, well... think again. Besides, you do not need to buy the costly ones just to keep your cat entertained. You can buy a number of inexpensive toys to keep your cat interested and just rotate the sets from time to time so that your cat would not be bored. Another thing about cat toys is that it will prevent your cat from leaving the house so often.

If you provide them with things to play with, then they would not bother straying away. However, you should also talk them for a walk outside or let them play in the yard once in a while because they also need the sunshine and the fresh air. This will surely make your cats healthy and strong. Moreover, if they get plenty of exercise and if they never get bored, it certainly would not feel anxiety or stress.

There are many kinds of cat toys. Some of these are the lightweight balls, moving mouse figures, rubber balls and even stuffed animals. These are just some of the pet products you can purchase in pet shops and supermarkets. You can search the internet for a wide variety of toys, pet products, and many more. You can also explore or visit the nearest pet shop near you.

by trinity smith

Cat Fleas And Ticks - How To Control Them

2008-07-27T04:03:00.000-07:00

Cat fleas and ticks must be controlled if life isn't to be a misery both for you and your pet and in this case, prevention is definitely better than cure!

It is an unfortunate fact that most cats (and dogs) will pick up fleas and/or ticks at some time if they are allowed outside or if a wandering cat is allowed into the house. Yes, even if your cat never sets foot outside your door, a stray may leave its fleas or their eggs behind in your carpet or on your sofa.

Even more unfortunate is that, despite protestations to the contrary, cat fleas will bite humans - believe me, I know from bitter experience. Worse, if left untreated on cats, their bites can become infected and the cat could suffer from sores leading to blood poisoning.

Don't imagine that cat fleas are only attracted to dirty cats, because that just isn't true. Like the myth that nits are only attracted to dirty human hair, it is just that - a myth. Any cat will pick up fleas if there is a flea about because they can lie dormant in a carpet or floorboard for months then in walks a cat and bingo, the flea will jump onto it. If anything, the eggs are worse because they are nearly impossible to see and when they all hatch out, you have a full scale infestation.

You will know if your cat has fleas because you will see very small, perhaps one millimetre length, brown creatures which can jump alarmingly fast and far, on your cats fur. Of course this isn't so easy if you have a dark coloured cat, but you may also see the fleas on your carpets and chair covers. If you have reached this stage of infestation, you really have a problem and you will need to spray not only the cat, but all your soft furnishings. It's best to get your vet's recommendation as to what you can use which won't cause further harm to the cat.

Ticks are less liable to spread and are more easily identifiable on cats, but are no less harmful to the cat, so don't ignore them. The most likely area to find ticks is around the cat's neck, so have a good look at the fur here from time to time and if you feel any small lumps, investigate further. There is a school of thought that says you should burn ticks or cover them in salt to make their claws retract, thus leaving nothing in the cat's skin. However, if you have ever tried to hold a cat for long enough to carry out this operation, you will know that it isn't practical and just pulling the tick off with your finger nails or a pair of tweezers is a lot easier. On cats, unless they've gone unprotected for a long time, ticks are usually quite small and easy to remove.

Notwithstanding all the above, by far the best course of action is to prevent your cat from catching fleas or ticks at all and there are plenty of methods for doing this. The best is a spot on liquid such as Frontline, which comes in measured doses and which you apply to the back of the cat's neck at monthly intervals. This is definitely the least traumatic for the cat of the sprays, powders, etc. which are available and also the most effective. You can, of course, use a flea collar, but many vets don't recommend these as the elastic in the collar can get caught in a branch then snap back and break the cat's jaw. There are hide collars which are supposed to break or at least stay open if snagged in a tree, but these are fraught with danger too.

It is definitely false economy to wait and see if your cat gets fleas, rather that treating it with a preventative, because you will not only need to buy expensive sprays to curb your infestation, but may well have to have your carpets professionally cleaned to get rid of any residual eggs, untouched by the spray.

By: Liz Canham

Cat Allergies

2008-07-23T03:01:00.000-07:00

Cat Allergies and Your Friendly Feline

A favorite pastime worldwide is owning and caring for pets. Many grow close to their pets and consider them a family member. Choosing a pet depends on many factors. Where are you going to live, how much space do you have available, what kind of climate do you have, and finally, what are your personal likes and personal preference.

Pets range from many different animals. While some may choose a snake, rabbit, bird or lizard, many prefer the more common pets: dogs and cats. Many, who would otherwise choose a cat, will not due to allergies. Cat Allergies can vary from mild to severe. So it is most important to take care when you are around cats.

Coping with Cat Allergies

Forty percent of people who suffer from asthma also have cat Allergies and are much more sensitive to these creatures than to dogs.

A protein found in the cat's skin and saliva is the major problem for this allergy. When the cat licks his fun to clean himself, he deposits this protein onto his fur. Therefore this causes the reaction in sensitive people.

An allergen can promote a reaction--dust mites, pollen, and animal dander. The cat hair itself is not the cause of the reaction, but it is the protein in the dander and the saliva. When the allergens are airborne, the symptoms begin.

No cats are known to be hypoallergenic, however; male cats do cause more allergic reactions because of the testosterone increasing in the cat's glands. This in turn increases the protein. The cat allergens are found mainly in homes where the cats live, but are also found in offices and places where animals are not allowed.

This protein is sticky and can be carried on the clothing of people from place to place. The particles causing the cat allergies can remain in air for long periods of time, and those who are sensitive are more likely to have a quick reaction when going into a room where there is a cat or multiple cats.

Wheezing, the most common symptom of cat allergy, begins upon entrance to a room with cats. There are also more subtle, delayed reactions that can linger to up to a week or more. Chronic asthma can be an ongoing malady for those who are exposed often. Hives and eczema may also occur. Be safe, if allergic to cats, don't be in their presence. It is better to maintain good health and be aware of the symptoms of your allergy. By yourself a dog!

by Rex Magnum

House Cat Care

2008-07-21T03:30:00.000-07:00

The best house cat care is extremely important to a kitten so that they can grow up to be healthy throughout the rest of their life. The best house cat care is one of the most important subjects for responsible and loving cat owners to be aware of. It involves prevention, understanding, and sometimes treatment of a possible life-threatening disease. The best house cat care is also affected by lack of exercise and poor diet. You can love your house cat into a state of being unhealthy without enough exercise and proper nutrition.

Talk to cat owners who may have an older cat. Ask them about cat health care for their older cat or consult your vet. What are the problems and what are the right foods and nutritional needs? That will fall under the term older cat care. If your cat does not receive the proper food and nutrition, they may have problems with their health. Talking about best house cat care health in advance will make it easier for everyone when the time comes.

Natural cat food is always a welcome one for all pet owners. There are brands of cat food that contains no chemicals and has lots of white meat and vegetables. The prices of these products will vary, but cat health is most important. A balanced diet of the correct protein and vitamins will be priced higher than the "store brand".

Heat and humidity degrade nutritional value, so do your best to buy fresh food. Once opened, for good cat health, his dry cat food should be stored in a sealed pet feeder container to preserve freshness.

Bad breath is an unhealthy sign of possible gum disease. Your cat should have strong white teeth without odor. The most popular opinion seems to lean toward dry cat food for best cat health care. It will give your cat strong gums, good healthy teeth, and that will give them clean breath.

As for soreness in your cat, heat is a good soother. Heated cat beds or a heated throw will give much relief to this painful complaint. Massage is often beneficial but should be administered with care. Your vet will give you complete direction as to how long to do it.

Allergies to fleas are another potential house cat problem. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores known as hot spots. Fleas carry many diseases and can transmit these to your cat. Fleas carry the tapeworm cyst inside them and your cat's health could be in danger because during routine grooming he could swallow them. One way to help eliminate this problem and provide good house cat care, is to keep your cat indoors at all times. Not only with it help with a flea problem, but will prevent ticks as well.

by Doris Canova

The Snowshoe Cat

2008-07-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

Snowshoe is beautiful feline breed with striking white colored paws and pointed appearance. The cat is an artificial breed that was created through crossing of domestic shorthair cats with Siamese in nineteen sixty in United States. The resulting babies with white mittens instantly appealed to the owner who began development of the Snowshoe in earnest. With time acceptance came for the felid in a number of cat fancies though it still lacks universal recognition. It is hard to predict the precise appearance of Snowshoes in a litter since apart from some characteristic features of the breed since they all differ in their individual colors and patterns.

Snowshoes are elegant like the Siamese and yet are sturdy like the domestic shorthairs. They have a longish muscular body that is said to contain surprising strength for their size. Head is wedge shaped with oval blue eyes and medium sized ears with slightly rounded tips. Coat varies in individual pattern in nearly all Snowshoes but generally has white patches on chest, face and stomach. There is an inverted white colored 'V' on face as well. Points occur on face, ears, tail and sometimes legs in blue, chocolate, fawn, lilac, lynx and seal colors.

Hallmark of Snowshoes are their pretty white toes that often contrast with darker markings on legs and give the cat its unique appearance. Paw pads are frequently light colored too but darken with age. The cats appearing in shows at times have quite remarkable markings, though they are very difficult to produce.

Snowshoes have a very boisterous personality and they are always looking to play and have fun. Extroverts by nature, they quickly attach themselves to all family members though they stay closest to one particular person. They go along very well with other cats and children and are always looking to interact with others.

by Omer Ashraf

Cat Hyperthyroidism-A Brief Introduction

2008-07-09T03:26:00.000-07:00

As cat owners, there's nothing more distressing than finding out that your feline friend is sick. In the case of a disorder such as feline hyperthyroidism, the consequences can be severe and have the potential to rob your pet of its health, comfort, and even its life. However, when armed with some basic knowledge, you'll be better able to help your cat through its illness and to hopefully catch the problem early on so you can ease your pet's suffering and improve its health with early treatment and intervention.

The Feline Thyroid Gland

The thyroid is a double-lobed gland located in the cat's neck, wrapped around its trachea. Consisting of spherical follicles, this gland is responsible for secreting the two thyroid hormones -- thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These two iodine-containing hormones play a significant role in a number of physiological functions and have an effect on every cell in the feline body. In particular, T4 helps to regulate the cat's metabolic rate, or the rate at which the cat's cells burn energy.

Feline Hyperthyroidism

When a cat's thyroid does not function properly and produces too much of the T4 hormone, the cat develops the endocrine disorder known as hyperthyroidism. This disorder is most common in middle-aged and elderly cats and affects male and female cats equally. Since thyroid hormones have an effect on every part of the feline physiological system, hyperthyroidism can also affect every organ. As a result, this endocrine disorder can have numerous negative effects on a feline patient and can quickly become extremely dangerous if left untreated.

Consequences of Hyperthyroidism

Since the thyroxine hormone controls the metabolic rate of a cat's body, elevated levels of this hormone result in a higher rate of metabolic function. This causes an increase in blood pressure as well as an increased heart rate. This excessive stress upon the feline heart can eventually cause it to expand in size. Known as myocardial hypertrophy, this heart condition causes the organ to wear out more quickly than a normal heart and will eventually lead to heart failure if the myocardial hypertrophy and hyperthyroidism continue to go untreated.

Symptoms and Warning Signs

The fact that cat hyperthyroidism affects every cell in a feline's body and increases the animal's metabolic rate explains the nature and high number of different symptoms that this disorder can give rise to. While not all feline patients will experience the exact same set of symptoms, some of the most common warning signs of hyperthyroidism include a significantly increased appetite accompanied by weight loss, both of which directly result from the elevated metabolic rate. Hyperactivity, irritability, rapid breathing, and a rapid heart rate are also frequently displayed by cats suffering from this thyroid condition.

Causes

While there are likely many different factors that can contribute to the development of hyperthyroidism in a particular cat, this thyroid condition is caused by the presence of a tumour on the thyroid gland. Even though these tumours are often benign, they still trigger the overproduction of thyroid hormones. When it comes to possible contributing factors for cat hyperthyroidism, there is still much that is not understood. However, it's believed that factors such as age, environment, and diet could be related to the development of thyroid tumours which lead to feline hyperthyroidism.

Diagnosis

When hyperthyroidism is suspected in a feline patient, a thorough physical examination will be conducted so that the veterinarian can check for clinical signs such as enlarged glands, high blood pressure, and an elevated heart rate. Numerous blood tests can also provide important information on the condition of different organs and physiological systems. Thyroid tests will also likely be conducted in order to measure the levels of thyroid hormones in the cat's body. In certain cases, imaging tools such as ultrasound will also be used to examine the physical structure of the thyroid gland and to check for any physical abnormalities such as tumours.

Treatment

Once a diagnosis of cat hyperthyroidism has been made, there are a variety of different treatment methods available. Traditional forms of treatment include surgery, radiation, and medication. A holistic health care approach will also be beneficial in some cases, involving the use of natural supplements and homoeopathic remedies to balance hormones and to regulate thyroid activity. Natural supplements are also beneficial in the sense that they can reduce uncomfortable symptoms and boost a cat's overall health. Whether your particular cat will benefit the most from a holistic health care approach or traditional treatment methods is something that will depend upon your individual pet's circumstances and will need to be determined by a veterinarian. For some feline patients, the best approach will involve a combination of both traditional and holistic treatments. In any event, it's always important to ensure that your feline friend receives treatment as soon as possible so that severe and potentially fatal consequences of this endocrine disorder can be avoided.

By: Catharine Wells

Siamese Cat Origins And Siamese Cats Behaviors

2008-07-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

Siamese cat origins

Despite various other theories about its origin, Siamese cats did really originate in Siam (now Thailand) many hundred years ago. Cats with similar pointed markings feature in the Cat Book Poems, a manuscript saved from Ayuda, the old capital of Siam, which was burned down in 1767. It is the best known of a number of manuscripts that provide a record of the native cats, dogs and birds of the region at that time.

The Siamese pattern was later recorded in Russia by the naturalist Simon Pallas, in 1793. However, the cats he encountered were of much darker colouring. This could be explained by the fact that the Siamese points darken in colder climates. It is not known whether the Russian cats were descended from original Siamese imports, or whether the Siamese gene mutation (now commonly known as the Himalayan gene) had occupied naturally in Russia, Siamese cats were already in Britain before 1871, for in that year they featured at the first National Cat Show in London. There were many stories about their origin and at one time they were labeled as ‘an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat.

Nevertheless, their popularity grew and specimens were taken to America around 1890. The body shape of the Siamese has altered considerably over the years as breeders and judges select ever more extreme ‘Oriental’ type. Breeders have developed a wide variety of coast colours and patterns. The Himalayan gene carried by the Siamese (and other pointed cats) causes dilution of any particular colour. Hence there is no black Siamese because the colour is diluted to a very dark brown, called Seal. Siamese have also given rise to the Oriental varieties which are, in effect, ‘non-pointed’ Siamese

Siamese cat appearance

This is a short-haired cat of Oriental type with a long svelte body and an alert, intelligent expression. The head is long and wedge-shaped, neither rounded nor pointed, with a firm chin in line with the upper jaw. The ears are large, well pricked and wide at the base. The eye shape is oriental, slanting towards the nose and its deep blue in colour. The body is medium in size, long and svelte, with proportionately slim legs. The hind legs are slightly higher that the forelegs, the feet small and oval. The tail is long and tapering. The coat is very short and fine in texture, glossy and close-lying. The mask is completely connected to the ears by tracings. In all colours kittens may not show full masking, nor the adult colour on legs and tail

Siamese cat behavior

Siamese are extremely affectionate, devoted and loyal. They are highly intelligent, inquisitive, active and very vocal. They are also very demanding which make them unsuitable for some elderly people. They "meow" a lot in a loud low pitched voice. Some say that their voice sounds like the crying of a human baby. They also tend to get along well with other cats but they are usually dominant in their relationships with cats of other breeds.

By: Abdul Hafiz

The Right Recipe For Teaching Tricks To Your Cat

2008-07-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

Cats are very lovable animals. They make excellent pets. In fact, three out of ten households in the United States are known to have at least one cat as a pet. And because they love their cats so much, it was reported that the owners are willing to spend $104 on the average just for some expenses incurred with the veterinarian.

The question is: Are cats worth the trouble?

Some non-cat lovers probe the extravagance that cat lovers spend for their pets. They believe that expenses are not worth it if cats cannot learn tricks.

Indeed, cats may seem to project that impression of independence and sophistication, apparently having a mind of their own. They think that unlike dogs, cats seem so conceited that it they may not take commands easily. These assumptions were even made worse by people who said that they had attempted to train cats and everything was just a mess.

What these people do not know is that cats can be trained just like dogs. The only problem is that people tend to execute the process the wrong way. In turn, cats get confused, having the tricks all mixed up.

The truth is, it whether or not people want to train a cat, a dog, or any kind of animal. What matters most is that people should know what they want their pets to learn so that their pets will not be baffled.

The Right Recipe

In order to train cats, it is extremely important to learn patience and to give more time to the process. This is because cats, like dogs, are not humans who have the full intellect to grasp things easily and comprehensively.

Many experts contend that cats can respond well with ìpositive reinforcements.î However, most pet trainers assert that cats will respond more if there are foods used as rewards. The key is to have the treats ready when the cat is able to perform the required command.

Also, it would be better if cat owners would let their cats learn the tricks one at a time. And just like any training method, it is important for the trainer to be constant with his training methods so that the cat will not be confused.

In addition, it is best to let the cats learn the tricks at their own pace. Trainers or cat owners should never be pushy and want results in an instant. Patience is the number one attribute of a good trainer.

So, when teaching tricks to your cat, it is best that you have these three important characteristics: patience, time, and treats! No more, no less.

By: Anita Hampton

Cat Care Tips.

2008-06-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

Groom your Cat often.

Whether long haired or shorthaired cats should be brushed often to remove lose hairs. This will help with hairballs as they constantly groom themselves. Here are a few tips.

The very first time you brush your cat use a soft bristle brush. Start brushing at the tip of the fur and gently work deeper into the coat to prevent the brush getting stuck in tangles.

Always brush in the direction of the coat. Otherwise the brush can irritate the skin and make your cat run the other direction whenever it sees the brush. When bathing your cat never use human shampoos, they can irritate the skin of a cat.

Play with your Cat daily.

Set aside time everyday to play with your cat. Choose activities that will stimulate them mentally and physically. Keep in mind that a cat plays by chasing, swatting and pouncing.

You do not have to buy expensive toys. Some of your cats favorite toys are probably already in your home. Here are some ideas;

Take a piece of paper and crumple it up in a ball. Toss the paper ball around and watch your cat swat at it and chase it. Some may even pick it up in their mouth or with their claws and bring it back for you to throw again.

One of my Turkish Angoras favorite toys was a small jack ball. She would bat it all around the house and loved to try and pounce on it every time it bounced.

Most cats also love empty paper grocery sacks. Open it up on the floor and scratch the outside and your cat will run inside to check it out. Then just continue to rub or scratch the outside of the bag and your cat will try to paw your hand from inside the bag. You can also dangle and string over the front opening and watch your cat try to grab the string and take it inside the bag.

Your cat could potentially be your companion for 10 years or more so do not miss a minute of the fun and love they can provide.

Fun Cat Trivia and Myths.

The richest cat is Blackie whose owner left him 15 million pounds.

The average cat sleeps 12-14 hours a day.

White cats with blue eyes are often born deaf.

Cats with more than 5 toes on a paw are called Polydactyl cats.

Cats sense of smell is 14 times stronger than a human.

Cats have 230 bones.

The print on a cats nose is like a finger print, each is unique.

Cats have a top speed of 30 miles per hour.

Do cats always land on their feet? No, they fall feet first but may break bones in the process.

Should cats drink milk? No. They don’t need it and it can make some sick.

Cats sense of balance is in their whiskers? No. Their whiskers are used as feelers, not to maintain their balance.

Do all cats hate water? No. Some cats, like the Turkish Van like it.

By: Deby

Cat Biting Off Toes?

2008-06-28T01:50:00.000-07:00

Does your cat bite at you, or nip at your heels when you are relaxing in the morning eating your breakfast? For many cat owners this is a daily occurrence but with a few changes you can change how your cat behaves.

Cat biting is one of the most common cat behavior problems right next to cat urine issues. A cat biting at you is seen as an annoyance by many cat owners, but for many it can be a very scary if you have a particularly aggressive cat.

One of things you can do to stop this behavior before it occurs is to start observing your cat's behavior more closely. Many people state that their cats are acting friendly and then just suddenly bite them. Well the truth is your cat is probably giving you subtle clues that it is about to bite you.

For instance, does your cat become more active all of a sudden before biting you? Another thing to look out for is does your cat directly approach your foot? I have found that cats that are in the biting mood move more in a straight line and with their heads down.

If you start observing your cat you can pick up clues about when your cat will bite you. When you are able to do this you need to break your cat's state of mind. You can do this with a spray bottle, a can with some coins in it to make some noise, or just by moving away from your cat.

By studying your cat closer you can tell when they might bite, and if you break the habit enough eventually your cat should stop doing this behavior because it is never rewarded for it.

By Luke Blaise

Cat Furniture - Which Type Is Best?

2008-06-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

You’ve heard the hype about how, historically, cats have been revered, even worshiped by some cultures. Some people walk through pet stores and think that this is still happening today. After all, look at all of the elaborate cat trees and cat furniture that is available. People who do not have cats often scoff at all of the cat tree furniture and other type of cat furniture they see available in pet and department stores. They seem to think that cat owners who buy these things for their pets are spoiling them. What they don’t understand is that cat trees and furniture for cats are not always purchased as presents. Sometimes a cat’s owner will purchase these things as a survival tactic. After all, if the cat has its own trees and furniture to scratch and play on, maybe it will leave the human furniture intact.

There are several basic types of cat trees and cat furniture available. The first, and most basic, of all cat accessories is the scratching post. A scratching post is a “must have” for any cat owner. Cats have an intrinsic need to work their claws. They work their claws a lot. The way they work their claws and keep them sharp is by scratching on things. They are not picky about what they scratch as long as it provides a tiny bit of resistance to their claws and can give their paws a good workout, so providing your cat with a scratching post will be one of the best things you can do if you want to save your furniture. A scratching post is basically a piece of wood that is attached to a base and then covered in cheap carpet.

The most basic form of cat furniture is the “cat condo” which is a round and hollow tower that usually has between one and three “rooms” that have their own entrances. The whole thing is usually covered with the same carpet that covers scratching posts and provides your cat with its own “private space.” These are not as essential to buy as a scratching post, but they can be helpful in keeping your cat off of the furniture. This, again, speaks to the cat’s territorial nature. Apparently cats never learned to share when they were being revered as gods. Once they are given their own spaces for hiding, sleeping and playing they are likely to lose all interest in the rest of your belongings.

Interesting fact: Some cats work their claws as a way of dealing with stress. Keep an eye on your cat—when they get freaked out about something, do they head straight for their scratching post (or the side of your couch)? Chances are they are calming themselves down!The best part about cat trees and cat furniture is that all of it is covered in the same carpet that covers scratching posts. This gives your cat even more surfaces to attack safely. The more places they have to play, the safer your furniture will be.

By: David P Lee

Your Cat and Wild Birds

2008-06-22T01:17:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of good reasons for *not* letting your new
cat become an outside cat and I mention most of them in my new
ebook "Your New Cat's First 24 Hours".

But one very important reason that I left out was the fact that
cats are death on birds.

Yes, this is a fact that cat owners don't like to face, but
a cat is a predator that doesn't distinguish between mice and
birds when it comes to her prey.

It's estimated that there are about 40 million cats in the
United States free to roam outside, and 20 to 30 percent of
the kills they make are birds.

When you figure that a single outdoor cat will kill up to 200
birds and mammals every year, this can add up to over a billion
birds killed by outdoor cats!

Many cat owners think that if they keep their cat well fed she
won't feel the need to kill, but they are not taking into
account that a cat does not kill out of hunger, but because
she is an instinctual predator. A well fed cat *will* kill birds.

So, do Mother Nature and her wonderful birds a
favor.

By John Young

Cat Health

2008-06-21T03:02:00.000-07:00

It is no wonder, then, that cats are divided into two categories: the indoor cat and the outdoor cat. Depending on the owner and his or her trust of their cat’s intuition and their living environment, the independent cats are afforded the opportunity to roam free. This gives the cat the independence it desires, and in so doing, making him or her happier than if it were confined to indoor quarters. An outdoor cat does carry with it risk, though; the likelihood of the cat dying earlier, due to environmental factors, than it would as an indoor cat is considerably higher.

The indoor cat doesn’t have the same independence, creating a sort of cabin fever effect that can negatively impact a cat’s personality and inborn independent nature. But, the likelihood of a cat living a long life is greatly increased because, of course, environmental dangers don’t factor into its life like it does with the outdoor cat.

But because cats are so fickle and so hard to determine, how do you know the true nature of your cat? Furthermore, what can you do to guarantee the health a cat needs to survive in the quiet confines of your home or out on the range?

With the electronic manual, you’ll find out this and a whole lot more. Things like how to know what your cat’s real needs are, the best diet for your cat, what the perfect environment is for your cat, things you should never do with your cat, the exercise plan that fits your cat, the proper weight for your cat, ways in which to get your cat to form good habits and much, much more.

By Kent Sayre

Stop: Don't Declaw That Cat!

2008-06-15T02:53:00.000-07:00

This article is not a debate about the pros and cons of the removal of a cat's claws (declawing). This article concludes that there are no pros to this issue and comes out firmly against the procedure.

Declawing a cat is illegal in many countries and officially deemed to be inhumane in others. Why then do some people still consider getting their cat declawed?

A major reason could be misunderstanding exactly what declawing is. The procedure does not just mean removing your cat's nails, it involves cutting off each of the animal's front toes at the front joint, that is the bone, ligaments and tendons. This is amputation.

There is often misunderstanding too about the after affects of the surgery.

Cats feel pain and they can be in postoperative pain for a week or longer after declawing. Complications can arise from the procedure including re-growth of the claw, hemorrhaging, infection, abscesses, arthritis and joint stiffness.

A cat cannot 'rest up' after having its claws removed. It will still have to move about, to use the litter tray etc. The animal will be placing its weight upon paws that have had substantial surgery performed on them; this cannot be anything but painful.

A cat's toes help the paws connect with the ground at the correct angle. Declawing will modify the symmetry of the paw and can result in the pad touching the ground at a wrong angle causing the animal pain, and not just for the postoperative period.

Some owners that have made the decision to declaw their cat claim they see no change in their pet's behavior. Many others report changes to their cat's personality. Friendly cats may become nervous, timid or withdrawn. Others may become very defensively aggressive, through feeling vulnerable without their claws, and this feeling of vulnerability can bring on stress related conditions such as skin disorders and bowel problems.

Sometimes cats refuse to use their litter tray after being declawed. This is because of the pain they get from scratching in the litter. Even after the wounds have healed the cat may shun the litter box because now it's a place associated with agony.

Some people make the decision to declaw because they are fed up with kitty scratching the furniture, but often these cat owners have not properly tried other humane ways to solve the problem.

Scratching is natural behavior for a cat. They do not do it just to ruin your home or for reasons of devilment. Scratching helps stretch a cat's muscles and removes the worn out sheaths of nail from their claws. Scratching is also one of the ways cats mark their territory and if they are deprived of this means of marking by being declawed, they can use another means, usually urine spraying.

If scratching is natural for a cat and declawing is cruel, are you supposed to put up with your cat ruining your furniture? No, there are many ways to prevent scratching without resorting to inhumane surgery.

Cats, although famed and loved for their independent streak, can be trained. And they can be trained not to scratch. Rome was not built in a day and altering the behavior of an errant feline will take plenty of your patience, just remember that millions of owners enjoy the company of cats, that are not declawed, and do not scratch up the sofa.

This article is not the place to go too deeply into training your cat not to scratch. Plenty of information can be found online and in good cat care books.

Scratching posts are a boon. Most cats can be trained to use them and not the furniture. Put the scratching post where kitty loves to scratch. You may need more than one but fortunately good posts are not too expensive and well-constructed homemade versions can do just as well.

Nail covers, a.k.a. nail caps, are another option. Most owners that have tried them say these vinyl caps work very well indeed. The caps are glued over the cat's nails, using harmless glue, they will come off after a time but are no problem to replace. If you are uncertain about how to apply the caps yourself the first time, your vet may be willing to show you.

It is praise and not punishment that works with cats. Reward kitty with praise and the occasional healthy treat when she uses the scratch post and not your drapes. Keep at it, your cat will learn, you won't regret your decision not to declaw - and neither will your cat.

By: Larry Chamberlain

Rabbits: The Cat Alternative

2008-06-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Thinking about getting a pet? There’s one furry companion you probably haven’t considered, but should. It’s smart, uses a litter box, can learn to come and walk on a leash, is at home anywhere from a big house with yard to a college dorm room, and it probably won’t make you sneeze. What’s this terrific alternative to a dog, cat and hamster? A rabbit.

Rabbits are funny and charming – and they need you as much as you need them. Like dogs and cats, rabbits are abandoned every day. The United States Humane Society reports that 3 million to 4 million -- yes, million -- rabbits are euthanized in shelters each year. By adopting a bunny, you not only get a terrific companion, you save a life.

What’s so special about bunnies?

Rabbits are quiet, smart and will play with toys.

They’re cute. Watching them eat a carrot or just wash their big ears will put a smile on anyone's face.

Far fewer people have allergies to rabbits than other furry pets, and you can find some breeds that barely shed.

They’re clean, as animals go. Once they’ve learned to use a litter box, they can roam around your house like any other pet. Plus, their droppings are virtually odor-free and are considered cold compost, meaning you can toss them directly into the garden with great results.

They are social animals. They’re happiest and healthiest when they have another rabbit to play with. They also like to snuggle with people, so you can plan to spend time holding, petting and playing with them each day.

There are more than 40 different types of rabbits to choose from. (For more information on them, go to http://www.arba.net/photo.htm).

Who should get a rabbit?

Bunnies are especially good pets for people who live in apartments because they’re quiet, don’t need to be walked and can be litter trained. Most apartments and dormitories allow rabbits because they are considered "caged" pets.

Rabbits -- especially if they have another bunny for company -- are ideal for people who work long hours or take weekend trips. They do fine for a day if you leave plenty of timothy hay, rabbit feed, veggies and water.

They are great starter pets for school-age children (the recommended starting age is 8, but it depends on your child). Just be sure the bunnies aren’t too big for your kids to handle properly. And since rabbits live about 10 years, be sure you’re prepared to care for them, like you would dogs or cats, if your children don’t. The organization where you get your rabbits can help you find the best match.

If you are unsure about a rabbit as a pet, seek out a local rescue organization and become a foster. Most rescues will pay for all supplies and food -- and all pay for veterinary care -- until a permanent home is found. This is a wonderful way to save some bunnies’ lives, decide if you’re a rabbit person and find the perfect one for you.

How do you choose?

Rabbits’ personalities change greatly when they go into adolescence. Some love toys, others like to romp in the tall grass. Getting a rabbit that’s at least 6 months old will help guarantee that the bunny you adopt will act the same way a year from now. If you adopt from a rescue organization, the foster parent can give you information on the bunny's likes, fears and quirks.

If you’ve got a dog, consider up front how it will respond to a new pet in your home. Many dogs learn to get along with rabbits; some befriend them; some see them as prey. If a rabbit will be safe in your home, choose one that’s the right size to interact with your other pets.

Rabbits have a variety of personalities. Like cats, some rabbits will play hard to get; some will sit on your lap and let you pet them as long as you like. Find a bunny that suits your style.

Reputable rabbit rescue organizations will insist that your rabbits be spayed or neutered, for their health and your happiness. Most rescues factor that into the adoption fee.

How do you care for bunnies?

Rabbits need attention, fresh water and food (timothy hay, rabbit chow and vegetables) every day.

Their litter boxes must be changed at least weekly.

Rabbits need a cozy space to call home, but they don’t require much stuff. An extra-large wire dog crate, water bottle, heavy food bowl, litter box with recycled paper litter, a box with shredded paper to dig in, and a few hard infant or cat toys will keep them happy.

To keep your bunnies healthy in a wire-bottom cage, put old carpet scraps on the bottom. Without that protection, they’ll develop painful and debilitating arthritis in their toes. While you’re at it, add a 12- by 12-inch ceramic tile for him to lie on to cool off. You can often get these for free from a local flooring store.

Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits take a few weeks to warm up to new people and surroundings. At first they will hop a few feet out of and then back into their cage, then they’ll gradually start to explore. They’ll relax once they become comfortable with their environment. Although they love to hop around the house, rabbits need a safe place -- a covered box or small covered doggie bed – where they can go when they need time alone.

Bunnies don’t see in color, so they often mistake wires for weeds and chew on them. You can easily bunny-proof your home by tacking wires up out of their reach.

House rabbits have difficulty cooling off above 85 degrees and staying warm below 40 degrees, so you’ll need to use caution when you take them outside in the summer or winter.

My bunny’s home. Now what?

Enjoy! You won’t be able to resist:

-- Watching carrot juice drip from your baby bunny’s chin after an especially good carrot.

-- The first time bunny grooms you (to show you are his).

-- The times when she jumps with glee and spins around in mid-air.

-- Watching bun sleep peacefully on his back, legs straight up in the air

To learn more about rabbit habits, adoptions or fostering opportunities, visit:

House Rabbit Society: http://www.rabbit.org/

PetFinder: http://www.petfinder.com

Rabbit Haven's list of state rescue organizations: http://www.rabbithaven.org/BunnyLinks/Shelters_Rescues/StateListings.htm

The Humane Society of the United States: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/rabbit_horse_and_other_pet_care/how_to_care_for_rabbits.html

Gainesville Rabbit Rescue http://www.gainesvillerabbitrescue.org

By: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

At Last! Cat Litter Boxes Don't Have To Be Evil

2008-06-07T06:02:00.000-07:00

There is nothing worse for cat or cat owner than a smelly litter box.

For many people, the litter box is the worst of part of owning a cat. Not only is it something people dread to clean but it is also dusty and dirty. And, those who have to clean it can find themselves more susceptible to cat diseases that are present there. Sure, it’s a bad job but it doesn’t have to be too hard either.

There are many new litter boxes being designed to make the job, well, easier. One of them is the hooded litter box. These give the privacy to cats who are more sensitive and they also keep dust down considerably. They are idea of a single cat owner as long as they are cleaned regularly. Those who do not want to handle the litter can use removable liners for these boxes. They can lift out the whole liner and throw it out. All you need to do is put in a new liner and add the fresh litter to it.

Self Cleaning Boxes

Another option is the self cleaning box. These are idea for families that have many cats. Or they can be a good choice for anyone who doesn’t want to have to deal with it. A rake removes the soiled litter into a removable receptacle which leaves the box clean. All you need to do is to discard the contents of the receptacle right into the trash.

To teach your kitten to use the litter box, all you need to do is to position it in the right place and keep it very clean. The litter box should never be located next to wear the cat sleeps or near where his food is.

Once in the right place, you’ll need to tell him what the box is used for. To do this, place the cat in the box and rake your fingers through the litter. The cat may decide to start using the box right away. When he does, praise him greatly. If he just wants out, play with him a few minutes and then put him back in. Repeat this several times but don’t push it. You don’t want to make him frustrated.

When to use the Box?

About ten to fifteen minutes after your cat eats, put him back into the litter box. When he uses it, praise him for doing so. When he is napping, watch him so that you can take him to the litter box as he wakes up.

Remember that cats respond better to praise than to scolding. If he becomes angry or frustrated, you will not accomplish anything. Place the box in the spot where he most frequently has accidents and encourage him to use it.

A cat may stop using his litter box if you don’t keep it clean. Most cats will continue to use the litter box once he has done so several times, but you need to keep it clean. Also, a dirty litter box can lead to cat health problems so make sure to keep it clean.

These are some quick and easy tips to keeping your cat's litter box clean. If you use them your cat will be your best friend.

By: Niall Kennedy

Cat Beds

2008-06-04T06:53:00.000-07:00

Cats and dogs spend a lot of their time sleeping so a comfortable bed is very important. Cats like to be very comfortable when they are sleeping so getting them a cat bed that will keep them warm is a good idea. Heated cat beds can be found right here, with a click of your mouse.

If you are looking for a more traditional cat bed then why not consider a wicker cat bed. Wicker cat beds are great for cats, they offer needed support, as well as comfort for size. A window cat bed is also great, and then your cat can lie lazily in the sun in its cat bed looking out the window. Windowsill cat beds take into consideration the cat’s curiosity.

If your cat is definitely a prince or princess then by all means a fancy cat bed or a designer cat bed is definitely what your cat needs. If you have multiple cats then look at getting a cat bunk bed for them to share, or a cat bed tree. Cats like to be close and share with other cats this will give them the opportunity.

If your cat stay outside most of the time then look at getting your cat an outdoor cat bed or a cheep cat bed that you can replace every few months. Discount cat beds are also great for this reason. Don’t forget to consider pet bedding for your cat bed.

It is important to remember that because cats do shed, a washable cat bed is very important to help keep the cat dander and cat hair to a minimum in your house. Another good ideas it to have two cat beds (even if you only have one cat) this will ensure that you wash your cat bed regularly because you know that there is always a clean one waiting to take its place.

What ever your style as well as your cats needs get the bed that is right.

By Pam Caouette

Help! My Cat Is Keeping Me Awake

2008-06-02T05:51:00.000-07:00

"My cat is awake all night, full of energy and is stopping me from getting any sleep. It's driving me nuts!

Most cats spend a good part of their daylight hours sleeping, they like nothing better than finding a warm spot and enjoying a little snooze.

The trouble is that some cats are wide-awake when night falls and are full of vim and vigor, if your cat is one that could mean broken sleep or even entirely sleepless nights for you. And that's no joke, you need your sleep so you can be bright eyed and bushy tailed for work in the morning. You are embarrassed about being constantly bleary eyed and yawning at your desk!

So, are you sharing your home with an evil feline, a cat that has a secret agenda to torment you with sleep deprivation? No, it's not really your cat's fault. In their natural state cats are nocturnal hunters, they stalk their prey at night. Centuries ago cats ventured into human settlements because where there was humans there were rodents. This arrangement was good for both parties, good hunting for the cats and the humans had the rodent problem solved for them.

Years later the rodent problem was not so acute for humans but many found that they enjoyed the company of cats. Cats began to be kept as pets and the humans fed their feline pets so there was no need for them to hunt for their food. But the hunting instinct remains with the cats to this day . . . and so does the nocturnal instinct.

"OK, cats are naturally active at night but I really need my sleep. What can I do?"

This problem most usually affects "indoor only" cats because cats that have access to the outdoors via a pet door can slip out at night and satisfy their hunting instincts. But you may have many reasons why you prefer to keep your cat indoors.

Do you play with your cat? You should, playing is fun both for you and your cat and helps increase the bond between the two of you.

If your cat's night energy is causing you to lose sleep try a play session with your cat shortly before you go to bed, this may just tire out your cat so she or he is not so active.

Involve interactive cat toys, the fishing pole type and the toy mouse on a string variety, roll a ball for your cat to chase. Don't overdo it the object is not to exhaust your kitty but get rid of excess energy. At first your cat may only be interested in playing for a few minutes, that's okay try playing a little longer the next night.

The energy that your cat spends playing represents the energy a cat would spend hunting, and at the end of a hunt, a successful one anyway, is a meal. So feed your cat a small meal after the play session. In this way you are recreating your cat's natural nocturnal habits and it just may mean she or he will be a little less active at night.

Don't expect this to work instantly, you will need to patiently keep trying, good luck.

By: Larry Chamberlain

Cats - The Purrfect Companion?

2008-05-29T05:49:00.000-07:00

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats." - Colonial proverb

Fancy having a cat at home? It will depend on you throughout its life – around 15 years with proper care – so properly budget for visits to the vets and other costs before making a decision to get a cat.
You have to budget for cat food, cat litter and scoops and other accessories to make the cat’s life comfortable at your home.

Kitten or adult? A difficult choice since the kitten of today is going to be a member of your household for a long time. Perhaps it is better to get an adult cat since it has already developed a personality and you will know what you are getting. Adult cats easily adapt to a new home and get attached to the new owner as easily as a kitten. It does not matter whether you get a male or female because their behaviour is not dependent on their gender. Neutered and spayed cats make pleasant companions. For more information visit www.felinefunk.info

Any good animal shelter will have healthy cats available. Remember a cat you picked up from the shelter is actually saved from death by you.

To convey a proper image, choose a name for the cat from Abby, Achilles to Zummo. There are lots and lots of fancy names to choose from.

OK, you got your cat – so now what? Open up your purse so that your cat can feel pampered.
You can get elegant and lavishly designed dining bowls with a price range of £8 to £80
To promote their health and well being encourage your cat to drink more water. Drinking fountains for cats which re-circulate water and provide fresh tasting filtered water are a great idea. Like humans, pets require water as a vital element for survival. Water constitutes approximately 70% of a cat's or dog's body.

Apart from feeding the cat we have to provide mental and physical stimulation and keep them active and happy. A ball dispensing cat nip or any other small treat once in 2 to 4 hours (preset – depending upon the need of your cat) is one of the accessories which are fun to watch when the cat plays and eat.

Colorful place mats for the cat with some hilarious or funny drawing make a great gift and liven up the cat pen.

To make your cat enjoy the outdoors along with you buy a pet stroller which costs from £40 to £ 150 or a cat harness.
Vaccinations, also known as kitten shots will help protect the cat from various diseases.
Remember to keep your cat healthy by changing the litter box frequently.

By Lucy Bartlett

The Temperament Of Cats

2008-05-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

First of all, a domestic cat is a highly intelligent and fiercely independent creature. It can never be placed on a leash the way dogs are. Cats do things they want to do and when they want to do it. They will demand the things they want, such as food and play. And they will also make it clear when they want to be left alone. Thus, the owner of a cat cannot expect his pet to do “work” for him.

Different breeds of cats have different personalities. Some cats are quiet while others like to meow all the time. Can you tolerate a cat who meows almost every hour? Some cats are fussy and choosy about the food you give them while others will eat just about anything. Can you afford the kind of food that your cat prefers? Some cats don’t mind being surrounded and petted by strange people while others will wield their claws if they face a person they haven’t met before. Does your house accept many strangers or are you alone most of the time? And some cats love to climb and curl on the lap of their masters. But others prefer to be left alone, watching the TV or listening to the radio. Are you a cat owner who likes to cuddle all the time?

You will know when your cat is trying to get your attention. It will endlessly meow at you or it will follow you around or it will rub its body against your leg. You will also know if your cat is comfortable or scared by lifting up your cat. If the body is loose, then your cat is relaxed. If the body is tight, then something is scaring the daylights out of it.

Cats like to sleep. And the specific personality and breed of the cat will determine where the cat chooses to sleep. Some like to be in secluded places where no one can disturb them. They like to lie in high cupboards and similar places. Other breeds of cats like to sleep in places where everyone is converging. These cats like to be noticed. So they sleep at the center of the foyer, in the middle of the stairs and even on the couch, especially when there are guests.

Cats like to sharpen their claws. It is their nature, similar to wild cats such as lions, tigers, panthers, and cheetahs. This may irritate the owner, especially if the cat chooses to sharpen its claws on the couch. The owner may consider giving the cat a scratching post. The cat can be taught to scratch its claws on this post.

By Grace Palce

How Cats Laugh

2008-05-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has lived with cats can testify that their sense of humor tends toward practical joking. They don't have the kind of facial features that allow for smiling--purring serves that purpose. Cats also don't laugh out loud, but when a cat executes a prank successfully, it always seems pretty pleased about it.

Some cat jokes are part of their play and mock hunting activities. Popular with kittens is the secret stalking and Sudden Ambush of another kitten, older cat, human, well basically anything. Adult cats also will sometimes play this game with each other or with humans. If the cat about to be ambushed, the Stalkee, hears or catches sight of the Stalker, the cat being stalked may sit up and make eye contact with the Stalker as if to say, "Oh, no you don't!" That round is chalked up to the Stalkee cat who would have been ambushed if it hadn't been alert.

Some ever-popular jokes that cats play include-

Sudden Pouncing From Nowhere.

Batting at the other cat's rear end when its back is turned.

And slow-motion invasion of territory.

An example of the slow motion invasion, is the cat lying on a pillow with the human and gradually "cuddling" closer to take more and more of the pillow until the human is nearly forced off of it. From the cat's point of view this joke is also a matter of expanding its territory, at least in the short run. If the human tries to take back the pillow, the cat may protest vocally, as if to say, "Hey that's my space now!"

Much of cats' play has to do with their finely tuned sense of pouncing range. I once knew an elderly female cat who lived in a household with a very aggressive macaw. Those birds have powerful beaks, and the macaw was bigger than the cat. The cat could easily have been injured or killed if the bird ever got close enough to bite her. It never did.

When the bird was out of its cage, the cat stayed prudently out of reach. But the cat observed that the bird could only lunge so far through the bars once it was in the cage, so she stationed herself about an inch out of beak range. It drove the bird crazy, and it never gave up trying to get at the cat. But the cat was serene. If that cat was laughing, it was very quietly to herself.

By Lynne Powell

How to Train Your Cat Not to Kill Things

2008-05-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

For most cat owners, expecting to find dead animals on their front step is all part of cat ownership. However, for many this can be extremely upsetting and they could find that their cat is bringing back dead animals more frequently than is acceptable. Now while you do unfortunately have to expect this behavior, it is sometimes possible to limit the amount of animals that your cat does actually bring home.

Understanding Your Cats Instinct

Before you can successfully stop your cat from acting a certain way, you need to first understand why they act in that way in the first place. Now with killing things, it is in a cat’s instinct to hunt, chase and kill smaller animals. They cannot control it and it is not a behavior that can be controlled. So in that sense, it is impossible for you to teach a cat not to hunt.

However, a cat will spend more time hunting if they have nothing better to do and so getting rid of their excess energy may help to control their hunting a little.

Getting Rid of Your Cats Excess Energy

In order to get rid of any extra energy that your cat may have, you will have to spend more time with them than you usually do. Playing games with them and allowing them to chase things in a controlled environment can really help to cut the chances of them bringing home a dead animal.

You can purchase a number of different toys from all pet stores that will allow you to exercise your cats hunting abilities. There are balls that you can roll away from you that your cat can chase. There are even small soft toy mice on the end of a string that allow you to pull the mouse along the floor and again your cat can chase them. Spending at least half an hour playing with your cat in this manner will really help them to get rid of any excess energy.

Overall you will unfortunately have to understand that hunting and killing is part of your cat’s personality. However, to limit the amount of dead animals found on your doorstep, you can try and get rid of your cat’s excess energy.

By Dennis McAdams

How to Make Your Cat Love Her New Cat Bed

2008-05-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

So you have bought a new cat bed but your cat doesn't seem to like it? While the majority of cats adore their new beds straight away, some cats don't seem to take to them straight away. This isn't a problem.

Sometimes a new bed straight from the store may have that "new" smell, or a "different" smell your cat just doesn't like. Try airing the new bed for a couple of days where the cat can't get to it, and then try reintroducing her to it.

If you have bought a second hand cat bed you will need to clean it thoroughly to get rid of any remaining smell from the previous cat. If it has a removable cover, take it off and hand wash it with mild soap. (Never use harsh detergents or cleansers as this may cause your cat to have a skin reaction). If the bed has a frame, wash thoroughly with a mild cleanser (baking soda and water is perfect). Air the bed for a couple of days and make sure it is completely dry before your cat sleeps in it.

If your cat normally sleeps in a place that's warm, make sure the new bed is also in a nice, warm, inviting place. If your cat likes to sleep high, put the new bed high also. In other words, study your cat's favourite sleeping places and then use that information to decide the best place to put the bed. Remeber, your cat will only sleep where it is comfortable!

If your cat loves your smell, you can put a piece of your worn but unwashed (so it still has your scent) clothing on or around the cat's bed. An old jumper is perfect. Leave it there until your cat gets used to sleeping in it's own bed.

If your cat goes onto her new bed of her own accord, make sure you give her plenty of attention and praise! Cats react most favourably to love and affection. Whatever you do, don't try and force your cat or hold your cat onto it's bed - this is most counter-productive. Just be patient and keep moving it somewhere else every few days.

If you leave the bed, and remove the temptation of other good sleeping spots(such as closing doors of rooms they like to sleep in, or putting a pile of books on their favourite sleeping shelf, or disturbing them while they are trying to sleep on the lounge) you will find they will move to their new cat bed by default.

By Thomas Sodor

Cat Waking You Up in the Morning?

2008-05-18T04:29:00.000-07:00

Does your cat wake you up too early in the morning? Do you just for once want to sleep in on the weekend without him or her waking you up? Well by doing some simple things you can help take back your morning routine.

Perhaps you just got a new cat, or perhaps the cat you have had for years has suddenly started to wake you up early in the morning. Many people don’t realize how easy it is to change your cat’s routine so it more closely matches your own.

Cats are notorious for sleeping throughout the day. Cats will spend almost three fourths of the day sleeping and taking naps, and just lounging around. With all this rest it is easy for cats to wake up early in the morning. But the problem is you don’t have that much rest and you stayed up late last night watching TV.

Many people complain to me that their cats wake them up too early; well the simple solution is to make your cat more active during the evening. In the evening while you are doing laundry or doing dishes your cat is sleeping. During this period you need to make your cat more active to tire him or her out, so they need to sleep longer in the morning.

By playing with your cat in the evening before bed you are doing yourself the favor of a peaceful morning. Many people report that this simple change in activity for their cat has solved a big problem for them.

Don’t just give your cat a bunch of toys, but play with your cat and make them run around and get active. Not only will this tire them out, but it will help keep them in top shape.

So what are you waiting for, stop watching your TV and play with your cat!

By Chris Suckow

IS YOUR CAT SICK?

2008-05-18T04:21:00.000-07:00

We love the mystery of cats. Every cat keeps a part of his nature a secret, and for us cat lovers, the mystery is part of the charm.

But it's also part of the problem when trying to figure out if a cat is sick. Too often, the signs of illness in cats are so easy to miss that we don't notice our pets are ill until they're very ill indeed.

To catch illness early, a cat lover must become a keen observer not only of the physical cat, but also the emotional one.

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Make observing your cat a part of your everyday routine. You don't have to make a big production out of it. Just be aware of any changes in your cat's condition in a session that begins with petting and ends with your cat's ...

By Dr. Marty Becker

and Gina Spadafori

Indoor Cats vs Outdoor Cats

2008-05-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Of course as a responsible and loving pet owner, you want to ensure that your cat is both happy and safe. In aiming for those goals, one of the most important decisions that you must make is whether your cat should be an outdoor cat or not.

Many people feel that the only truly happy cat is an outdoor cat. While it's certainly true that cats have been domesticated for many millennia, it's also true that they still many retain attributes and behaviors of their wild ancestors. When we see a cat chasing a squirrel or stalking prey, we see the cat performing its natural behaviors, and we assume that as a result it is a happy cat. On the other hand, an indoor cat seems to be deprived of many, if not all, such opportunities.

The other side of the coin is that, from a safety point of view, provided you ensure that your home is cat-safe, indoor would be the only way to go. Outdoor cats face risks that indoor cats do not:

- Outdoor cats can be killed or injured by road traffic.

- There are unfortunately some malicious people out there, who may injure, harm or steal your cat.

- Outdoor cats may get involved in fights with other cats, wild animals such as foxes (including urban foxes), and dogs.

Of course, all of these risks (except perhaps for wild animals) tend to be much higher in urban and densely populated areas.

All of these issues are something that you will need to consider when deciding whether your cat should be an indoor or outdoor cat. The indoor/outdoor choice is not a simple one: you must carefully weight up all the advantages and disadvantages of both lifestyles for your cat.

By Sunil Tanna

Cat Food Allergies - Signs and Symptoms That Your Cat Is Allergic To The Food You Are Giving It

2008-05-15T07:20:00.000-07:00

You cannot exactly tell you that you are giving him or her wrong type of food. In fact, your cant may not realize how the food that he or she is eating is making him or her uncomfortable. According to studies, cat food allergies in very common among cats in the country. There are many types of cat food being sold in the market today that does not really sit well the stomach of some cats. Most of these foot that cause cat food allergies are meat based products such as those that are made out of beef. In some cases, cat food containing fish and dairy products could also make your cat sick.

Since your can will not be able to tell you that the food you are giving him or her is making him or her sick, you better be alert to the signs and symptoms of food allergies. You quick attention to the condition of your cat may well save his or her life.

Signs and Symptoms Of Cat Food Allergies

Cat food allergies may be manifested in the dryness and flaking of your cat's skin. If you notice that your cat has flakes and that it constantly scratching itself in some parts of its body, it would be wise for you to investigate the cause of this behavior. Experts believe that there are certain ingredients in cat food that can cause cat food allergies that may lead to balding of your cat. If you don't want your cat to lose its beautiful coat, you better switch to another type of food and see what happens. In most cases, cat allergies symptoms disappear once you discontinue giving your cat something that caused the allergies.

Another sign of cat food allergies is the loss of appetite on your cat. In some cases, you cat may experience irritable bowel syndrome where your cat will have loose stools or constipation. If you notice that your cat is less active that he or she used to be, observe your cat for a day and note the way he or she defecates. If your cat does not eat much, strains when passing stool or pass loose stool, you should take your cat to the vet at once. Cat food allergies can have some serious on some cats so make sure that your cat is okay by taking it to the vet immediately.

By Roger Mitchell

Cat Claw Survival Solutions To The Rescue!

2008-05-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

Cats can be ill tempered and mean on their worst days, but even the most annoying problems have a remedy somewhere. If your cat is clawing your furniture, your carpet, and your legs with the same ferocity, understanding the how and why behind the behavior can help you redirect your feline friend’s clawing instinct to be expressed in less destructive ways.

So why IS your cat clawing everything in sight?

Here’s the jawdropper: a cat’s claws never stop growing. Let me repeat that: They NEVER stop growing. When I found that out, a big light went off in my head. Just like a pet hamster that constantly needs to knaw on wood to keep their teeth from growing too long, what cats are actually doing when they sharpen their claws is removing the outermost layer of their claws. O.K. Kitty Cat, we finally get it!

So what to do? What to do?

The first thought bubble that forms is to scoop kitty up for a little declawing action at the nearest vet’s office. But before you take such a drastic step, keep in mind that once those claws are gone, they’re GONE. Take away those claws, and you’re taking away your pet’s primary form of defense. Even if you have an indoor cat like I do, chances are, sooner or later, a window of opportunity is going to open up just long enough for your cat to slip outside and be vulnerable to attacks from other animals and people.

O.K. So now you know why your cat is actually using you as a scratching post. Let’s move away from the word “using”. In a way, it’s kind of flattering. That doesn’t make it hurt any less. Let’s get your cat to branch out. It’s time to get a REAL scratching post, so that your pet can get into the habit of using it instead of YOU, whenever those claw sharpening impulses may strike.

So how do we get kitty to break her bad habits and start to use the proper place where she can scratch to her heart’s content?

The answer lies in you.

That is of course, IF you are your cat’s favorite person in the family.

If so, then try hanging an article of clothing that belongs to you on your virgin scratching post. The idea is to make the area smell familiar. A day or two should be enough for your cat to become accustomed to its’new scratching outlet.

Don’t want to part with something from your wardrobe? Time to get a little sneakier then. Catnip can be your secret weapon. Sprinkle catnip over the scratching post and watch what happens. This one may be even worth breaking out the video camera for.

This next option sounds a little weird, but believe me, it WORKS!

Try sprinkling the post area with powdered chicken bouillon. The idea is to get the cat to feel friendly enough toward the scratching post to attack it.

While your cat is making the transition to a designated area for scratching, there are several ways to make your cat’s favorite scratching areas a lot less attractive. This will help ease the transition from the old spots to the new.

Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over them. Cover or wrap the areas in aluminum foil. Remember what it felt like when your fingernails went down the chalkboard? Ever try it again? Cats will experience the same thing and be deterred from using the areas. Finally, clean the areas well to eradicate any cat odor. This will go a long way toward removing the aura of familiarity that creates the habit of using the space. Also, just keep the doors closed to make those places inaccessible to the cat.

Now that you know more about the how and why of your cat’s clawing instinct and behavior, take these simple steps and you’ll soon see a resolution to the cat clawing issues in your household. With a little time and patience, your cat’s claw sharpening activities should be limited to its’favorite spot: the scratching post!

By: Romi Matsushita

What My Cat Taught Me About Niche Marketing

2008-05-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

Introducing Your New Cat With The Other Pets

2008-05-11T05:01:00.000-07:00

Before you bring a second (or even a third) cat into your home, you should make sure you are familiar with cat behaviour, both with regards to territorial behaviour and aggression, and the basic principles of cats will accept a newcomer, especially a kitten(which may perceived as less of a threat), but others will not.

You will help this integration by gradually introducing the newcomer to your cat(s), keeping it separated in one room until it has gained confidence (especially if it is a kitten) and your existing cats have got used to it. The newcomer is probably unsure and may be frightened, and it is moving into new and unfamiliar territory which is already occupied (and may be defended) by the current feline inhabitants. Feed them separately to reduce competition for food, and make a fuss of your existing cats so that they do not feel neglected because of the new incumbent.

If you already own a dog, the introductory process is similar to tat described above – gradual and non threatening. Once again, the dog may immediately accept the cat. Sometimes a female dog will accept a kitten and relate it to it rather like the way she would to one of her own pups, even to the extend of offering it some protection. Make sure that you give the incumbent dog as much fuss and attention as usual (or even more), and praise and reward it for good behaviour

Introducing a new cat to pet birds can pose a problem. If it is a kitten purchased from a breeder, it may never have experienced the sight or stimulation that a bird presents. Although its basic hunting or playing instinct may cause it to react, it may be w\quite easy to train your cat to ignore the bird or even to accept it as a companion. If, however, it is a kitten from a domestic cat that has had the opportunity introduce the kittens to bird prey, or is an adult cat that has already learned to catch birds, then you have a more difficult task on your hands. If you find that you do have such a problem, talk to your veterinarian.

Goldfish are yet another pet that can be threatened by an incoming cat. Those kept indoors in an aquarium tank with a glass lid and artificial lighting should be safe, but any that are exposed to an inquisitive cat may stimulate an unwanted reaction. Gold fish in an outdoor pond are also susceptible to a cat’s attentions, and you may need to train your cat to leave them alone. Protective measures including barriers such as netting, and the installation of plenty of water plants, such as lilies – the fish can hide under the leaves

By: Abdul Hafiz

How To Use Catnip If Your Cat Is Stressed

2008-05-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

Did you know that catnip can help you de-stress your cat? Two thirds of the feline population possess an inherited gene which is responsible for producing the classic feline reaction to catnip.

The 'catnip effect'is caused by a volatile oil in the stems and leaves containing the chemical Nepetalactone.This chemical appears to minimize a cat's inhibition. It creates a feeling of euphoria that can last for about fifteen minutes. However,catnip is very safe for cats,with no side effects, and is not addictive at all. Overuse of catnip,though,can cause a cat to eventually become immune to the effects.

The "catnip effect"

When a responsive cat comes into contact with catnip,she will sniff it,lick it,roll in it, bite it and rub her head and chin against it repeatedly, purring, growling or meowing, and even leaping about. Many of these movements imitate those seen when a cat is in heat, leading to one theory that catnip is a female feline aphrodisiac.However,the fact that male and female cats react in the same way to catnip casts doubt on this.

Using catnip to improve behavior problems

1. Catnip is very good at relieving stress and tension. This makes it a very useful tool in dealing with stressful situations you may have to place your cat in. Examples of this would be taking your cat in the car with you, moving house, or perhaps having company in the house that frightens your kitty ( like small children when your pet is unused to them) Catnip will help in any situation where your cat is uneasy.

2. Catnip can be used to help a very timid or frightened cat become more confident. You may be bringing home a new timid cat or perhaps have rescued a scared one from a cat rescue shelter, catnip will almost always help them to react in a more positive and friendly way. It will be easier to get them to play with you which is a great start to making them feel at home with you and less anxious.

3. If you are trying to encourage a cat to play more and be more active,(perhaps after an illness) try some toys containing catnip. Cat toys containing fresh catnip are more effective than ones which have been around for a while. The fresher the catnip, the more the reaction.

4. If you have more than one cat in your home be careful not to introduce catnip to them all at the same time. Some males may have a tendency to cross the line from friendly play to dominant aggression while they are under the influence of catnip.By keeping them separated, you can assess the effects of catnip on each one and avoid any possible confrontations. If they react in a friendly manner, then they can all play with catnip together.

To conclude, remember not to overuse catnip or the effects will eventually diminish as your kitty becomes immune. Catnip is easy to grow, so use fresh catnip in catnip toys as much as possible. Although,even after a catnip toy has lost the catnip odour, cats will still play with them, but more from habit. Catnip is a herb which is harmless and non-addictive to cats, both wild and domesticated.

By: Tricia Craggs

Information on Cat-Scratch Disease

2008-05-10T04:34:00.000-07:00

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Most people with CSD have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection at the point of injury. Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen. Additionally, a person with CSD may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite. Rare complications of B. henselae infection are bacillary angiomatosis and Parinaud's oculolandular syndrome.

CSD is a self-limiting disorder with an excellent prognosis, even in patients with profound manifestations. Among healthy individuals, the condition usually resolves spontaneously over 2-5 months with rare permanent sequelae. However, immunocompromised patients may experience a dramatic and potentially life-threatening course of disease.

Infected cats carry the bacteria in their blood. Research so far has failed to show the growth of Bartonella henselae in cat saliva. It is thought that cats spread the infection to humans by contaminating their own saliva or nails with blood. The infected blood then enters the human body through a cat scratch, bite, or even a lick if there open skin.

Sometimes, yes, cats can spread B. henselae to people. Most people get CSD from cat bites and scratches. Kittens are more likely to be infected and to pass the bacterium to people. About 40% of cats carry B. henselae at some time in their lives. Cats that carry B. henselae do not show any signs of illness; therefore, you cannot tell which cats can spread the disease to you. People with immunocompromised conditions, such as those undergoing immunosuppressive treatments for cancer, organ transplant patients, and people with HIV/AIDS, are more likely than others to have complications of CSD. Although B. henselae has been found in fleas, so far there is no evidence that a bite from an infected flea can give you CSD.

Cat scratch fever presents with tender regional lymphadenopathy, sterile suppurative papules at the site of inoculation, slight fever, headache, chills, backache, abdominal pain, malaise, alteration of mental status, and convulsions. It may take 7 to 14 days, or as long as two months, before symptoms appear. Most cases are benign and self-limiting, but lymphadenopathy may persist for several months after other symptoms disappear. The prognosis is generally favorable. In temperate climates, most cases occur in fall and winter. The disease usually resolves spontaneously, with or without treatment, in one month. In immunocompromised patients more severe complications sometimes occur. Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae. The disease is spread through contact with an infected cat (a bite or scratch), or contact with cat saliva on broken skin or the white of the eye. About 2 - 3 weeks after becoming infection, lymph nodes swelling (lymphadenopathy) occurs near the site of the scratch or bite. Occasionally, an infected lymph node may form a tunnel (fistula) through the skin and drain. Cat scratch disease is a common cause of chronic lymph node swelling in children. A blister or sore, with or without pus or fluid, often shows up on the skin at the place where the bacteria entered the body. Within 2 weeks, the lymph glands nearby usually become swollen and tender. In most children and adolescents, swollen glands are the main symptom. Adults often have other symptoms such as low fever, tiredness, headache, and loss of appetite. About 5% of persons with cat-scratch disease develop irreversible retinitis (inflammation of the retina of the eye) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Persons with weakened immune systems can become more seriously ill.

by Peter Hutch

Adopting A Cat

2008-05-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

Cats are sweet and cuddly! It's easy to get swept up in the emotion and buy a cat without thinking. But that's not how it should be.

Whether or not to adopt a cat is by no means an easy decision. It carries with it huge responsibility. You will have to take care of a cat until its death, which could be in 15 to 20 years. In addition, you should be ready to spend a large amount of your time feeding the cat, grooming it, and playing with it on a daily basis.

Keep the following points in mind before deciding to adopt a cat:

1. Prior to bringing a cat home, it is essential to know if any member of your household is allergic to cats. Having to get rid of your new pet would be cruel.

2. Cats are social animals and need regular attention and care. They must not be left alone for extended periods, nor be handled roughly, as this will make them aggressive and nervous.

3. Cat care can take a financial toll. You must ensure that you have sufficient funds to take care of your cat's food, toys, medication, and so on.

4. Decide whether you want to adopt a kitten or an adult cat. The only advantage of getting a kitten is that kittens are cute. On the other hand, an adult cat has a well defined personality. Moreover, adult cats are more likely to be litter-box trained and less likely to scratch every bit of furniture in your house.

5. Children and cats can prove to be a bad combination, especially if the child is very young. He or she may mistreat the cat (knowingly or unknowingly) and get a nasty bite in return.

6. A cat requires proper care and medical treatment. This includes annual check-ups, vaccines, and prescription medication for any health problems that could occur.

7. It does not really matter whether you get a female cat or male cat; both genders are equally affable. However, always have your cat spayed or neutered. This helps avoid the unhealthy effects of the mating season in female cats and curb aggression in males.

8. Cat adoption is the most humane way to get a cat, due to the large number of homeless felines. However, it helps to remember that sometimes cats from the animal shelter can be prone to stress. Moving a cat to a home environment allows it to relax and show its true personality. Cats are creatures of habit -- they don't like change. It may take them a month or more to adjust to your home.

Keeping these points in mind when choosing to adopt a cat can help you find the feline that is right for you. It's a big decision, don't leave it to chance!

By: Christopher Thomas

Cat Flea Control - Don't Let Fleas Bug Your Cat!

2008-05-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

When a cat starts scratching, it is cause for concern, constant scratching can mean fleas. Fleas are more than a mere discomfort for you pet, they are a serious issue that needs to be dealt with before they cause health issues for your cat as well as issues for you and your family.

Because fleas can cause a condition in cats known as “pruritus” or an allergic reaction, keeping them at bay is an important step to keeping your pet healthy. For most cats, fleas are a nuisance; for cats that suffer from flea allergies, they can be life threatening. Knowing a little about fleas will help you to control them and to protect your pet better.

If your cat happens to be one of the more unfortunate felines who develops a flea allergy, quick elimination of these parasites is essential. A flea allergy can cause the cat to loose fur and weight and if the fleas are left unchecked they can eventually kill the cat. Additional medical treatment may also be required even after the fleas are gone.

Flea control is important to cat disease prevention even if your cat is not allergic to them. Fleas can cause health issues for cats too including anemia from the loss of blood, tapeworms (fleas eat the eggs and transmit them to other animals) and skin infections from the bites caused by fleas. Any one of these flea related health issues can have dire consequences for your pet.

So then, cat flea control is very important. The question now is how to go about it. There are multiple methods open to a cat owner. Powders and dips can be effective, but their inconvenience often means that they are not used properly or often enough to adequately control fleas.

When choosing to use the dips, powders and sprays it is often a good idea to combine them with the use of a flea collar. Be aware however, that flea collars can also cause an allergic reaction for your cat, especially if they already have an allergic reaction to the fleas. Perhaps the best defense against fleas is a spot flea treatment. This type of preventative is placed on the cats neck and protects against fleas, ticks and tapeworms.

When it comes to the environment, there are also several options for flea control. Flea bombs can kill fleas in carpets and bedding, though careful washing and vacuuming will help greatly in this endeavor also. For outside use, yard sprays can be quite effective.

Whatever you use for flea control, be sure to be consistent and follow the directions. Flea control products only work if they are applied often enough. Misapplication can lead to fleas slipping through the cracks, and neither you nor kitty wants that.

By: David P Lee

What Is Cat 5 Cable?

2008-05-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Defining what is Cat 5 wiring is a difficult task for your average person. Although many people have heard about Cat 5 wiring, most of them have no idea exactly what it is. Cat 5 stands for Category 5 wiring, which is currently top of the line. It was created to surpass the Cat 3 wiring which could only handle 10 Mbps. The Cat 5 wiring also supports sound frequencies up to 100 MHz. Category 5 cables can handle up to 100 Mbps, almost 10 times that of regular Cat 3 cables. The cabling has 4 twisted sets of copper wires which connect to RJ45 connectors.

The reason that many people ask what is cat 5 wiring is because they've heard of the Cat 5 patch. The Cat 5 wiring patch is a method used to greatly increase the capabilities of the Cat 5 wiring. When you have patched a Cat 5 cable, making it effectively more twisted you can achieve almost 10 times the power, a whooping 1000Mbps. This allows for a much greater information transfer rate which is how technologies like high speed internet were formed.

It's no wonder that Cat 5 wiring is such a hot topic considering the many uses for it. Cat 5 wiring is used in Ethernet internet, cables, telephones, and even some outlets. There are literally hundreds of uses for the wiring. Category 5 wiring and the technologies that are springing up from it are the wave and the future and it's clear that this is the reason why so many of us are asking what is Cat 5 wiring.

By: Dave Moore

Black Cat Superstition - Good Luck Or Bad Luck?

2008-05-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

Depending in where you come from in the world having a black cat cross your path can either be bad luck or good luck.

Traditionally black cats are associated with Witches and evil, which often gives them the stigma of being bad luck.

However, luck is what you make it. If a black cat crosses your path, and you are so busy looking at the cat you do no do see the curb stone at the edge of the road, and you fall over it injuring your arm, then you are most likely to consider a black cat bad luck. On the other hand, if you have a black cat cross your path, and next to it is a ten dollar bill that some one has dropped and you pick it up, then you will consider the back cat to be good luck.

What ever your first experience was with a black cat, which will make the decision as to whether the black cat is good or bad luck for you.

Pure black cats are actually quite a rare thing. Often they will have little specks of other colors in their coats or on their paws. And very often if there a pure back cat has been bred with a tabby cat at some time in the cats ancestor the cat will appear to be black, however when the light is right you will be able to see the tabby markings very faintly on the coat.

The true black cat is the Bombay cat, which is an Asian cat and is completely black. This cat originates from Burmese cats and has a pure black coat, paws and nose with copper and green eyes. The Bombay black cat of Asian origin should not be confused with the American cat of the same name, which is a newer breed of cat originating in 1958.

So are black cats good or bad luck? They could be either. Next time you see a black cat, make sure you are alert so nothing bad will happen and perhaps something good will instead!

By Laura Marsh

Cat Anxiety And Cat Litter Box Problems

2008-05-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

Frazzled felines will sometimes relieve their anxiety by urinating, or marking (spraying) outside the cat litter box. Here are a few of the causes and the solutions to calm your kitty down.

Like humans, cats like their routines and daily habits. When something changes in their home, one way their anxiety may manifest itself is by urinating outside the cat litter box. With a little bit of work and patience, your kitty can be calmed down and get back to her good litter box habits.

Here are just a few situations that can make cats anxious:

- A new person or pet comes to live in your household
- You change jobs and your daily schedule
- A trip to the vet

There are many more situations, but these can be fairly common stressors for felines.

A new person or pet comes to live in your household:

If you're introducing a roommate of the human kind, be sure this individual understands that cats are different from dogs. They don't play the same, and cats may be viewed as being cold or aloof. Tell your new roommate about your cat's personality, likes, and dislikes. Then introduce them to one another. It may take a couple weeks for everybody to get adjusted to one another.

One thing you may want to do during this transition period is to either confine your cat to her favorite room with her food, water, clean cat litter box, and toys, or keep the roommate's bedroom shut to prevent your cat from marking the new housemate's clothes, furniture, and possessions. Supervisor your cat's forays into this person's space. Your new roommate may opt to keep the door shut permanently. This won't be a problem unless your kitty is constantly curious about what's behind the closed door.

You change jobs and your daily schedule:

Cats like to know when their big cat mom and/or dad are coming and going, so they can adjust their schedules accordingly. If you or your partner takes a new job that drastically changes your household routine and lifestyle, your cat may get upset. She might react by refusing to use the cat litter box.

Observe your cat carefully. If you find cat urine puddles outside the litter box once the new routine has been established, you'll need to confine your cat to limit the damage to one area of your home and retrain her to back to good litter box habits. For the first week or so, spend more time with your cat and reassure her that everything is OK, and her life is going to be just fine.

On the other hand, she may adjust with no reaction whatsoever, because she realizes you're still coming home at night, and she's getting love and delicious cat food from you.

A trip to the vet:

This ranks high on any kitty's list of terrors! The loud noises, the strange smells, and unknown people handling her can be very stressful. Once you get kitty home from the awful place where she's stuck with things in unmentionable places, you may want to confine her to a quiet location in your home for a few hours. Give her food, water, a clean cat litter box, and her toys. She'll generally be just fine in less than half a day.

What are the solutions for these situational anxiety problems?

Many feline owners have discovered natural flowering essences and synthetic feline pheronomes are very effective in alleviating cat anxiety. Some of the more popular ones are Bach's Rescue Remedy, Nerve Ease, Calm Supplement, and the Feliway Comfort Zone Plug in modules.

Bach's, Nerve Ease, and Calm are liquid compounds that can be administered directly into your cat's food or water. A few drops twice a day make a big difference for most anxious cats.

The Feliway Comfort Zone Plug in modules are synthetic feline pheronomes that calm cats down. The Feliway module plugs directly in your electrical wall socket. The pheronomes are then diffused, or transmitted throughout the room. Many cat owners buy several of these of these plug in modules, and install them in kitty's favorite rooms throughout their house. Each bottle lasts approximately 30 days.

All of these solutions are effective within several hours of administration. You can use them singly, or combine them. My cat Scout, improved noticeably within 24 hours of getting the natural flowering essences in her food, and the installation of the Feliway modules.

For any feline anxiety based on situations, try either the natural flowering essences or the Feliway Plug in modules. One or the other work very well for most cats.

By: Nancy Wiga

Keeping Your Cats Happy And Loving

2008-05-02T05:17:00.000-07:00

Cats can be very loving animals if treated correctly. They can also get angry, pout, play and generally get along with everyone. But if you aren't paying attention, they can also get lonely. Here are some tips to keep your cat happy:

1. Toys: Replace old toys every so often with new ones. I keep a box of cat toys in the corner, and when my cats want to play they will pull one out and play with it. After awhile, I will notice the box is not touched and that is my sign to go out and get new ones. I try to get a wide variety for them, from mice and fuzzy toys, to toys that move on their own. This keeps them active and playing.

2. Catnip: Some cats go crazy over catnip and will roll around in it for hours. Buy a toy or mat that has catnip in it, or sprinkle some on a scratching pad. They will love you for it as they are covered in catnip and happily meowing.

3. Canned Food: If your cats can handle it, give them a treat every so often of canned food. It doesn't have to be the whole can, you can do 1/4 of a can, just a little to give them a nice change. If they aren't able to stomach canned food, try giving them a little edible cat treat that you can find at a pet food or grocery store. Just one will do the trick and they will be happy.

4. Talk to them: Cats love to be talked to. Try doing some baby talk and see the kind of reaction you get from them. They will most likely roll around on their backs or meow at you.

5. Play with them: Pull out one of those new cat toys you bought and toss it to them for a little while. You might find that you enjoy playing with them as well, while strengthening your bond with your kitty.

6. Get them a companion: If you live in a one-cat household and find that you can't be home as often as you'd like, try getting them a buddy. Don't be surprised if they don't get along well at first; they will soon get used to each other and be inseparable.

7. Lastly, pet them and show them love. Cats can be affectionate and most of them love the attention of being petted. Spend a night hanging out with your cat and they will most likely open up to you and lay with you.

There's nothing like hearing the contented purr of your cat as they are lazily lounging around. Keep them happy by giving them lots of love and attention. Your cats will thank you for it.

By: Nicholas Hunt

Cat Vaccinations – An Important Preventive Procedure To A Healthy Cat

2008-04-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

Cats seem independent and self-sufficient, but cats need just as much care and attention as other pets. Cats are prone to a number of serious diseases and it is extremely important to ensure that your cat is vaccinated from an early age. Further prevention from diseases is necessary to maintain your cat’s health with annual booster injections.

Anyone who has seen a cat in pain and distress because of a condition that could have been easily prevented by adequate care will understand why vets are so keen to promote preventive vaccination for all cats. This not only helps to prevent the development of the disease to a terminal stage but also limit the spread of these infectious diseases to the surrounding feline population.

Vaccinations are important as almost all catteries will only permit cats that have past records of vaccinations. This measure serves to protect your cat as well as to ensure other cats in the cattery are not infected should your cat be ill. Even cats that have been vaccinated can sometimes contract a variant of the disease and the less risk there is to the cattery as a whole the better.

Travel restrictions for pets can be stringent for most European countries. If you are considering traveling with your pet you will need to carry all available documentation concerning your pet's health and vaccination record, and you may need to show evidence of feline veterinarian treatment including deworming schedules. Without these documents, your cat may have to be quarantined for up to six months, thus it would be import, so do check with your travel agency to make sure you have all the documentation you may need.

Kittens should be vaccinated from the age of nine weeks. They are then vaccinated again at 12 weeks, and then go on to a program that would include annual booster injections.

Your vet would also advise you on the necessity of giving your cat a rabies shot, particularly if your cat has contact with other feral cats in the neighborhood and gets into scrapes. A point to note is that the rabies shot is a requirement if you are traveling to any country within Europe.

The four main vaccinations a cat can have from the age of nine weeks are the following:

Feline infectious enterovirus (FIE, also known as the feline panleukopaenia virus.

Feline herpesvirus (otherwise known as feline calcivirus, or cat flu)

Feline leukaemia. A vet will test a cat's blood to see if there is already an immunity built up from previous contact, and if the test shows negative i.e. there has been no contact and therefore no immunity built up the cat should be vaccinated.

Feline Chlamydophila, which causes conjunctivitis. Again your cat may already have built up an immunity so your vet can check for antibodies in the bloodstream and vaccinate if the test comes back negative to previous contact.

Vaccination may save your cat’s life should it get into any contact with any horrifying diseases. Although vaccines do hold risk for a small minority of cats who received them, proper vaccination is still the best solution and protection your cat can have against infectious disease.

By: Moses Wright

Choosing The Right Cat Litter Box

2008-03-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

Cats are primarily clean animals, but the cat litter box they use is usually a different story altogether. Pet owners have a wide variety of cat litter boxes to choose from. Scoop litters are a big help for those who want to keep a clean household. If owners can remember to scoop a few times every day, they wouldn’t have to worry about odors in their homes. Some people may find scoop litters impractical though, and a brand that prevents unpleasant odors can help people who can’t scoop their box as often as they want.

Fortunately, they can buy a cat litter box that can do the scooping for them. This is perfect for busy persons who often forget to scoop the box. These litter boxes come with mechanical attachments that will push the clump of litter into a tray after the cat is done with it. The owners would only need to empty the tray every few days. If their house has multiple stories, it would be good if they can have a box on every floor. They should also keep a box for every cat they have.

Size is an important factor to consider when purchasing a cat litter box. Some cats can be large and may feel cramped in a small, enclosed litter box. They may find it difficult to keep themselves clean if they have to squeeze in. This may discourage them from using the box and cause some problems for their owners. The location of the cat litter box is also an important factor. If the box is located in a noisy area, the cats may not be inclined to use the it. Pet owners should place the boxes in quiet and secluded areas in their homes.

Some people may feel uncomfortable at the sight of the cat litter box, but there are models that will hide the box entirely. These resemble furniture, and most people will not notice the cat litter box unless the owners inform them. These are also effective for keeping stray litter in the box rather than on hardwood floors and carpets. Cats are trainable and will not cause major problems as long as their owners provide a big box located in an easy to reach yet quiet spot.

By Morgan Hamilton

Nasal Discharge In Cats

2008-03-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

In cats, chronic viral nasal disease develops from one of two viruses involved in upper-respiratory tract diseases. Both the feline rhinotracheitis virus (FVR) and feline calici virus (FCV) are extremely contagious. Clinically, the difference between these two viruses is unnecessary for diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms and Causes

The typical signs associated with chronic viral disease include sneezing, bilateral nasal discharge, nasal bleeding, increased breathing sounds, and discharge from the eyes. Any bleeding associated with viral disease is usually very minimal; however, if nasal bleeding becomes extreme, it may be suggestive of a tumor.

Nasal discharge from one side of the nose is more typical of a foreign body, tumor, or tooth-root abscess. Moderate to severe bleeding or deformity of the facial bones suggests an erosive process, such as cancer fungal or a foreign body.

To differentiate chronic viral nasal disease from other causes of feline upper-respiratory disease, you must know the past health of the cat. Any previous signs of acute infection would be expected with viral disease. An old injury or prior trauma might have healed externally but resulted in deep bone damage or changes in the nasal anatomy which can lead a patient to be predisposed to nasal disease.

Diagnosis

A cat with chronic viral nasal disease is generally in good condition. Chronic viral nasal disease can be diagnosed only by the elimination of other upper respiratory conditions, such as cancer, foreign bodies, bacterial disease, allergic disease, fungal disease, polyps, dental disease, and prior trauma. Not only will this guide your veterinarian in the proper course of treatment, but will also give you an accurate prognosis. If the diagnosis becomes chronic viral nasal disease, you may expect a long-term treatment or potentially negative results.

Your veterinarian will examine the skull and hard palate very carefully, along with an eye examination. The viruses involved in upper-respiratory diseases do not cause mass lesions or inflammation of the inner structures of the eye. If these problems are identified, then viral disease is unlikely.

To rule out the possibility of cancer, the lymph nodes around the cat's head and neck are also carefully examined. Your veterinarian may also look for a discharge from both sides of the nose or from the cat's eyes. After antibiotics are discontinued, there may be sneezing and relapse of symptoms. These signs are similar to what would be seen in a cat with a polyp.

If the history suggest a systemic cause, then a complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, urinalysis, and chest x-rays are indicated. These tests should also be done if there is any concern about anesthetic risk for the next phase of the examination.

The second phase of examination involves more aggressive testing, such as skull x-rays, endoscopy, and nasal biopsies to eliminate non-viral causes for the nasal disease. You may or may not want to continue with this aggressive diagnostic path, depending on the severity of clinical signs and the evidence provided by the history, physical examination, and other less invasive tests.

Treatment

Some form of antibiotic treatment is often prescribed for a cat with chronic viral nasal disease. If the chosen antibiotic is going to be effective, symptoms should improve noticeably in three to five days.

If improvement is evident, your veterinarian will determine the length of time that the antibiotics should be continued. Normally, the dose is tapered off slowly. In some cats, intermittent bouts of sneezing can be controlled by continued administration of low-dose antibiotics.

Symptomatic treatment also includes the use of decongestants, cortisone, and humidification. Your veterinarian will determine the best treatment for your cat. Local decongestant therapy can be very helpful. Local treatment also decreases the chance of systemic side effects. Decongestants can be given topically or orally.

The problem of using cortisone is that it can mask the development of other problems or decrease the ability of the abnormal nasal cavity to cope with infection. Cats who are virus carriers may start actively shedding the virus. Consequently, cortisone should only be used if absolutely necessary and with close monitoring.

Humidification is a very simple way to provide relief to some patients. Increasing the moisture content of the nasal secretions makes it easier for all the material in the nose to drain. Home vaporizers are inexpensive and easily obtainable from local drug stores. Placing the cat in a bathroom while the shower runs may also be helpful.

To increase your cat's comfort, frequently clean your cat's face, nose, and eyes with cotton balls and water. You can also heat the food to help your cat smell it and increase the appetite.

Although cats with chronic viral nasal disease are prone to intermittent attacks of upper-respiratory symptoms, they can lead normal lives. As with any chronic disease, open communication with your veterinarian and realistic therapeutic goals are essential.
http://www.eliminatecatodour.com

By Anita Hampton

10 Fun Facts About Longhaired Cat Breeds

2008-03-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

Longhaired cats are known for their beauty and lustrous but labor-intensive coats. Popular breeds include the glamorous Balinese, the affectionate Himalayan, the almost dog-like Maine Coon, the water-loving Turkish Van and the quintessential Persian. If you're a lover of longhaired cat breeds, keep reading for 10 fun facts about longhaired cat breeds.

1. Longhaired cats were first spotted in Europe in the early 16th century. The first known longhair, the Angora, was named after the Turkish city of the same name. Meanwhile, Persians weren't imported into Europe from Persia until 1620.

2. The Maine Coon is the largest domestic, non-feral cat breed and regularly grows to over 20 pounds. This hardy and robust cat originated in Maine and is known for its love of snow and unique willingness to "play fetch."

3. The Norwegian Forest Cat is another longhaired breed known for its size. These winter-loving, independent and robust cats will reach up to 22 pounds and are believed to be ancestors of the popular American Maine Coon.

4. The Turkish Van is one of the oldest cat breeds and unique because of its love of water. Vans are known for enjoying the occasional swim and love to get into bathtubs, puddles and any other body of water they can find.

5. The Persian cat, a longhair, is the most popular purebred cat breed in North America. Beloved for their sweet and gentle dispositions, these cuddly felines could win their way into anyone's heart.

6. Most longhaired cat breeds are known for their docile and sweet dispositions. Because so many longhaired breeds, like the Himalayan and Persian, are very passive, it's important to keep these gentle and kind cats inside and safe from potential predators.

7. The Javanese, a cousin to the popular Balinese breed, is a longhaired breed known for its intelligence. Hailed by breeders and fans of the cat, the Javanese is often touted as the most intelligent feline. These frisky cats have been known to open doors, break into cupboards, and track down hidden treats in safely locked drawers.

8. The Birman, a popular Asian longhair, is believed to have sacred origins in its homeland of Burma and Thailand. The legend goes that Sinh, the first Birman cat was owned by a respected and renowned priest named Mun-Ha and was appointed guardian of the temple of Lao Tsun. The legend says that one day Mun-Ha was killed during an attack on the temple. When he died, Sinh put his feet on his fallen master and his legs turned brown like the Earth, his eyes blue like the sky and where his feet touched his master turned pure white.

9. The Cymric, a close longhaired relative of the Manx, is known for its small and sometimes absent tail. This unique breed is known as "the rabbit" thanks to its bobbed tail and tufts of fur on its neck and belly. This playful breed also has a reputation for chasing anything that moves.

10. The Ragdoll, a fairly new large longhaired breed, was first bred in 1960s in California. Bred specifically for their gentle personalities, the Ragdoll is often considered the gentlest breed.

By CS Swarens

Is Your Cat Misbehaving? 4 Tips To Understanding Your Cat

2008-03-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Despite their status as the most popular pet in America, cats can still be difficult. With their sometimes aloof attitudes and unwillingness to tell us what they want, figuring out your cat can be tough.

When your cat, whether it's an Abyssinian or a Turkish Van, starts misbehaving, it can cause serious damage. From ripped curtains to urine-stained bed sheets, a cat on the rampage is hard to handle. Unfortunately, many owners give up on cats with behavior problems, but there are steps you can take to help your cat grow through or out of them.

To learn how to stop your cat from misbehaving, keep reading for 4 key tips on how to understand your cat.

1. Take your cat to the vet for a complete physical.

Sometimes a behavior problem can actually be a physical problem. For example, a cat that's urinating in strange places may be suffering from an illness or an infection.

Your vet can also offer suggestions and advice for problems that are behavioral.

2. Check the house for environmental factors.

Sometimes the solution is simpler than you think so check around the house for environmental factors that could be wreaking havoc on your cat's disposition.

For example, litter box problems are typically the source of rampant or improper urination. First, check where you're keeping the litter box - is it next to a loud appliance or in a heavily trafficked area of the house? Just like you, your cat wants a private and quiet place to do its business. You can also try a covered litter box, which most cats, particularly longhaired cat breeds, tend to prefer.

Next, try switching out the litter that you're using. If you're using scented, try unscented and if you're using non-clumping, try clumping. Some cats are just picky about their litter.

Finally, make sure the litter box is being cleaned frequently enough. Just as you wouldn't want to use a dirty toilet, your cat also wants a clean litter box. Also, make sure there is at least one litter box per cat as cats prefer to have their own.

3. Look to your other pets.

Sometimes problems with other animals in the house, like an aggressive older cat or a constantly chasing dog can lead to behavioral problems. Much like the child who acts out after being bullied, your cat may be dealing with those issues in the same way.

Always introduce new animals into the house slowly, keeping them separated from one another, but still able to smell and hear each other. Once they've gotten acquainted, let them co-mingle. If you're trying to deal with an existing problem, try using baby gates to keep your cats or pets separate from one another for a few days. This separation can help reduce anxiety.

4. Consult a professional.

Expensive and sometimes a last resort for many pet-owners, a pet behavior specialist may be able to help you and your cat work through your problems. According to the listings provided by the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors (ACABC), a private behavior 1-hour consultation can cost anywhere from about $50 to $500, but most hover around the $70-$100 range.

By CS Swarens

Pets: Cats And Ring Worm

2008-03-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease that is found in both dogs and cats. Although its name makes you think otherwise, this skin disease isn’t caused by any type of worm. It’s actually caused by fungi known as Dermatophytes that feed on dead tissues found in the surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal.

With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way.

If you have kittens or cats that are under a year old in your home, you should always use precaution, as they are more susceptible to ringworm. Kittens can easily contract the disease, especially if you allow them to go outside. They can easily come in contact with a contaminated object or another cat that has the disease. Kittens take a long time to build their immune system up, and in the meantime they are more apt to get common disease such as ringworm.

The most common symptoms of ringworm in cats are rough or broken hairs, or hair loss around the head or the paws. Ringworm can easily be identified by a patch of scaly skin on the body that appears itchy and inflamed. There will also be broken hairs around the patch of scaly skin. This area is very sensitive, and you should never try to touch it, as it will hurt your cat.

If you notice any of the above symptoms with your pet, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your vet. If the vet diagnosis your cat with ringworm, he may prescribe ointment or tablets. What he describes however, will determine on how serious the ringworm is. If he prescribes tablets to your cat, you should give them with meals. Ointment on the other hand, is normally spread into the coat, topically. You should always use what your vet prescribes on a daily basis, to ensure that your cat heals. The healing process will take time, normally around six weeks or more.

Cats that have ringworm should be labeled as infectious. If you have children in the house, you should keep them away from your pet. Whenever you handle your cat, you should always use gloves. Ringworms are contagious, and you should always use caution. Even though it’s a mild disease, ringworm can result in serious problems due to the slow recovery time and fact that it’s contagious.

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Historic Cats: A 9,500 Year Old Pet Memorial

2008-03-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Our cat companions have been worshipped as idols and used for pest control and good luck. Cats are more than 9,500 years old. It's been estimated that there are currently more than 90 million domestic cats in the U.S.

In an April 8, 2004 article in National Geographic magazine, archaeologists from France found the remains of a human and a cat buried in a 9,500-year-old grave site on Cyprus, a Mediterranean island.

People honor their beloved cats upon their passing, according to Peternity.com.com Founder Colleen Mihelich. Her company offers hand crafted, cremation pet urns, grave markers and engraved pet memorials for cat-lovers who have lost a beloved pet.

Cat domestication appears to be ancient. Many experts believe that the Egyptians tamed and bred felines to produce a distinct species by around the 20th century B.C.

Ancient Egyptians Cats were revered by ancient Egyptians more than in any culture in history. Because they were so respected, cats were often mummified and buried in tombs along with their human owners.Back then it was also considered a high crime to kill a cat, and it was punishable by death. Families that owned cats made shrue their felines were respected long after their death. The family would go through a period of grief after a pet cat died, and they even shaved their eyebrows to express grief. Cats were often mummified after they died and then entombed with fine jewelry and treasures; a custom that was often reserved for the most wealthy. Evidence also shows tombs with mummified rats and mice. All of this signals that the Egyptians believed in life after death.

Bast, the Egyptian Goddess with the body of a young woman and the head of a cat. (The Book of the Dead, 3000 B.C.)

In ancient times, the cat, or miw, which means "to see," was a sacred companion. Domesticated Egyptian cats were used for warding off rodents and even snakes. As time went by cats became more important to the Egyptians, and almost like a God. Cats were also represented in Egyptian mythology as the feline goddesses named Bastet, Sekhmet. In early times Bast, also written as 'Bastet' by the scribes, was a goddess that was shown as a woman with the head of a cat or lion.

In an April 8, 2004 article in National Geographic magazine, archaeologists from France found the remains of a human and a cat buried in a 9,500-year-old grave site on Cyprus, a Mediterranean island. Unearthed in 2001 in the Neolithic village of Shillourokambos, the mummified remains were found along with seashells, polished stones and offerings such as ochre and flint tools, axes, and other decorative artifacts. This predates the known early Egyptian art that depicted cats by more than 4,000 years.

An archaeologist named Jean-Denis Vigne at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France noted that when humans and cats are buried together it indicates a strong bond between the human and pet.

Other researchers have found hints that cats were domesticated even earlier than this, with experts who have found 10,000-year-old engravings and pottery depicting cats that actually date back as far as Neolithic period, or the late Stone Age, which also provides evidence that cats had a spiritual significance.

The world today is still fascinated with cats, and why pet memorials are growing in significance. Mihelich is always on the lookout for unique, handcrafted pieces of art to help her customers express their love, joy and memories.

A professional writer based in Los Angeles, California, Kristin Gabriel works with Peternity.com, a place where people honor their pets for eternity. Peternity provides custom products including pet memorial stones and grave markers, pet urns, garden statue pet memorials, pet memorial headstones, pet keepsake memorials, pet portraits, burial boxes, custom engraved glasswork, and other pet memorials. Call 877-PET-PEACE or go to http://www.peternity.com

By Kristin Gabriel

Take Two Cats and Call Me in the Morning

2008-03-09T06:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a “cat” nurse? No, I’m not talking about Halloween fun at the hospital. A “cat” nurse is the best name I can use to describe an amazing feline phenomenon that I have personally witnessed. They can’t do CPR or take your temperature, but make no mistake your cat loves you unconditionally and it shows. It’s one medicine that you won’t need a prescription for.

It was almost a year ago to the date, my wife Natercia had to have ankle reconstruction surgery after a series of painful falls. The surgery was a success, however, it required my wife to be off her feet for several weeks. Just one day after the surgery I agreed to welcome 2 new family members into our home. We named them Sassy and Shadow. They were 2 of the cutest little kitties I had ever seen. As the kittens started to feel welcome in our home, and my wife adjusted to her new life of staying in bed, I noticed something truly amazing.

Sassy, the female kitten could always be found at my wife’s side. I would take Sassy to another room for feeding, but soon after she was right back in bed with my wife. I asked myself, “Could this kitten know that my wife is hurt?” Sassy would not only stay by her side, but she would always know when to give that little bit of loving that she needed. Though at times it seemed like Sassy new more, almost as if she was protecting her or watching over her.

Sassy’s brother Shadow also shares this magic. I had been sick with a very bad infection. The doctor had prescribed a very strong anti-biotic that caused me to sleep more than usual. Shadow never left my side, only to visit the litter box and to fulfill his craving for salmon. Having him there with me gave me a sense of security. I had been thinking that cats had this hidden nurse like tendency, but I still wasn’t sure if it was just my kittens being extra loving, until my close friend Sharon had a heart attack.

Sharon is a diabetic. After having some difficulties with her sugar and insulin balance she had an episode that put her into a coma for 3 days. Doctors still aren’t sure if she had a stroke or heart attack. Though once she had recovered enough to return home she was greeted by 4 of the most concerned little creatures. That first night back at home Sharon could not believe it. All 4 of her cats, which normally wouldn’t go near her room at night, slept on her bed with her. She had one at her head, one at her feet and one on each side of her. They did not leave her side all night.

The next morning when Sharon’s daughter stopped by to check in on her the nursing didn’t stop. When Sharon’s daughter sat on the bed to talk with her mother, the 4 cats stood up and acted almost as to say, “Don’t get too close to our patient.” They put themselves between the mother and daughter.

It has taken me some time to come to some understanding of this, but I can only say that pets communicate on a totally different level. This can also be seen in dogs that protect their owners or run to get help when their owner is hurt. I’m sure that someday science will find a way to communicate with animals. At which time a plethora of questions will be answered. In the mean time we leave it up to faith. You see, all of the cats in this story knew that their owners needed them. That is why it never hurts to have a pet or two in the family. If you too have experienced a “cat” nurse house call please tell me about it. I would be delighted to know that the Order of the Cat Nurse is alive and well in a bedroom near you.

By Bill Clanton

What to do With a Finicky Cat

2008-03-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

In theory, no cat owner should have a finicky cat - as most cats, if they are hungry enough will eat whatever is put in front of them. But as every cat owner knows, cats can be notoriously finicky and if a cat won’t eat, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is sick.

If your cat is finicky, there may be other reasons than the actual food. A cat may actually have trouble eating from a bowl that is too small or too light. And some cats don’t like where their food bowl is placed – try simply changing its location.

If you have other cats or pets, a finicky cat may be intimidated by other animals. A cat may find it difficult to eat from a bowl placed near a dog’s bed, near a noisy appliance or near a busy area of the house. Many dogs will instinctively try to eat cat food when it is placed down.

And consider how long a bowl of cat food has been left out – food left out overnight or in hot weather may be unappetizing to your cat. And cats – even indoor cats - tend to eat less in warm weather.

If you are changing the type of food your cat eats, one effective method is to gradually mix in the new food with the old over a period of several days. On the first day, the serving should consist of ¾ old food and ¼ new food, on the nest day ½ and ½ and so on, until it consists of entirely new food.

If your cat’s diet consists of mostly dry cat food, try giving it a treat of canned cat food occasionally, or add a little broth to its food. Some older cats or cats with sore gums or teeth can find dry food difficult to chew.

Variety really is the spice of life – even for cats. A finicky cat may simply just be bored if it is eating the same flavor of food all the time. To prevent your cat from becoming a finicky eater, try to vary the flavors and varieties of food – ideally, starting when your cat is a kitten.

By Laurie Buckley

Cats and Kidney Disease

2008-03-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

Many people assume that an old sick cat automatically has kidney disease. This is incorrect, and my own cat (Prada's predecessor!) Humpy was living proof of it. A young cat, Humpy developed the symptoms early, and the cause was probably an inferior diet in the 2 years before he took charge of me.

In case you aren't sure why kidneys are important, they are basically the waste disposal systems of cat bodies. They eliminate toxins from the blood and also filter out waste products from the food your cat eats.

The higher quality the food your cat gets, the less work the kidneys have to do, and the less likely there will be problems. This is why I feed Prada nothing but the best. There are many symptoms to watch out for - they include constant scratching, tiredness, constant drinking and going to the kitty litter tray. Note that none of these symptoms is definitive - it could be something else, so don't panic if your cat suddenly gets an itch!

The safest way to determine how well your cat's kidneys are functioning is a BUN test (blood, urea, nitrogen concentration) together with a urine test, and only your vet can do this for you. Once a year is best because the earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to fix. But what's better than fixing a problem? Preventing it! Here are my top tips for preventing kidney disease and keeping Prada fit as a fiddle.

1) Only feed your cat high biological value protein food. Twice daily is best.

2) A fat cat is an unfit cat. Exercise before food!

3) Give her dietary supplements - crushed garlic that contains potassium is good, as are B vitamins.

4) Plenty of fresh water. Change the water in the bowl regularly.

These tips are helping keep Prada fit and heathy - don't you owe your cat the same? She'd look after YOU if things were reversed!
By Many people assume that an old sick cat automatically has kidney disease. This is incorrect, and my own cat (Prada's predecessor!) Humpy was living proof of it. A young cat, Humpy developed the symptoms early, and the cause was probably an inferior diet in the 2 years before he took charge of me.

In case you aren't sure why kidneys are important, they are basically the waste disposal systems of cat bodies. They eliminate toxins from the blood and also filter out waste products from the food your cat eats.

The higher quality the food your cat gets, the less work the kidneys have to do, and the less likely there will be problems. This is why I feed Prada nothing but the best. There are many symptoms to watch out for - they include constant scratching, tiredness, constant drinking and going to the kitty litter tray. Note that none of these symptoms is definitive - it could be something else, so don't panic if your cat suddenly gets an itch!

The safest way to determine how well your cat's kidneys are functioning is a BUN test (blood, urea, nitrogen concentration) together with a urine test, and only your vet can do this for you. Once a year is best because the earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to fix. But what's better than fixing a problem? Preventing it! Here are my top tips for preventing kidney disease and keeping Prada fit as a fiddle.

1) Only feed your cat high biological value protein food. Twice daily is best.

2) A fat cat is an unfit cat. Exercise before food!

3) Give her dietary supplements - crushed garlic that contains potassium is good, as are B vitamins.

4) Plenty of fresh water. Change the water in the bowl regularly.

These tips are helping keep Prada fit and heathy - don't you owe your cat the same? She'd look after YOU if things were reversed!

By Ms Jayne Marsham

What Are The Characteristics Of Tonkinese Cats?

2008-03-09T06:07:00.000-07:00

In case you are still undecided which cat to keep, Siamese or Burmese, you might as well go for the wonderful cross breed of these two – the Tonkinese. This beautiful breed was developed in the 1960’s in North America by cross breeding a Burmese cat with a Siamese cat. Unofficially however this cross breeding was being done many years before.

Usually cross breeds are created to follow a particular color or trait. But Tonkinese breed was created to get the best of both of the mother breeds – namely body, character and coat.

Because this breed has taken the best of both mother breeds, a Tonkinese cat is extremely friendly and pleasant in its personality. It is an excellent family pet or homes with many cats. They tolerate children and their pranks too. They are friendly with dogs and even other pets.

If you do not like cats that cuddle up, this breed is not meant for you, since they are extremely people friendly. Starting from being present at a children’s party to positioning itself on your lap to getting inside your cover while you are planning to go to bed.

The Tonkinese cat has a very playful nature. They would love to play hide and seek or even launch an unannounced leap on a family member quite suddenly. Keep a lot of toys in the house to keep the cat playful and occupied. This is a good pet for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. If you work for long hours and remain out door, keep another Tonkinese cat to make a pair.

These cats can be trained very easily. You can train them to fetch, come to you when called or go for a walk on a leash. Cats with intelligence.

These cats come in brown, chocolate, red, blue, lilac, cream, cinnamon or fawn colors. You can have tortoiseshell, mink, self or tabby patterns on their bodies. They weigh six to twelve pounds. Their head is wedge-shaped and the eyes are slanted. They have a strong muscular body with a long and bushy tail. Only mink patterned cats participate in cat shows. These cats have attractive blue eyes whereas others have coat color or green eyes.

If you find Siamese cats too noisy and the Burmese too reticent, the Tonkinese cat is perhaps the right choice of feline.

By George Adams

Cat Eye Care - Diagnosing Cataracts As Part Of Your Cat Eye Care Program

2008-03-09T03:36:00.000-07:00

A solid cat eye care program includes understanding the impact of some cat eye disorders on your cat's eyesight. Cataract problems are relatively rare in cats and are usually related to complications from diabetes. Some breeds inherit a tendency for developing cataracts: Birmans, Himalayans, Persians and British Shorthairs. The incidence is low and the cataract tends to remain small, often small enough to be ignored.

Of those cataracts that do cause or threaten blindness, many are treated with surgery. If blindness does result from an inoperable cataract, your feline should live a safe life if she is kept indoors. The cataract itself is not painful.

Recognizing Problems

It pays to catch the problem early. A long-term cataract is denser and harder to remove with longer surgeries tending to involve more complications. A cat owner should suspect a problem and seek veterinary attention whenever the eye appears different than it usually does.

Don't just think your cat's eyes are getting older when you notice a distinct disparity in eye clarity, increased opacity, cloudiness or a change in pupil size. These changes indicate a real problem.

Causes

Diabetes is the most common cause of cataracts in cats. The second most common cause is an inflammatory disease, like uveitis. You can readily recognize the signs of uveitis: the eye color changes, the surface of the eye is roughened and the pupil becomes smaller. This condition is painful to your cat. He may squint, have watery eyes, and eyelid spasms.

The most common causes of uveitis are the feline leukemia virus, feline infectious peritonitis, toxoplasmosis, or feline immunodeficiency virus. Early treatment of the cause can prevent a cataract or minimize the effect of one that has already formed.

Another cause of cataracts is an eye trauma. If your cat's eye is punctured in a cat fight or other incident and the outer layer of the lens is damaged, your veterinarian may talk with you about removing the lens. This is because damaged lenses tend to develop cancer in cats. Removing the lens negates the chance of cancer.

Treatment

Cataracts that go untreated can lead to glaucoma, which is a painful disease. If your cat's eyes look cloudy, watery, squinty or just don't look normal, it's time for a visit to your veterinarian. If uveitis is suspected, your veterinarian might run tests for the underlying causes and prescribe a medicated eye drop to bring the inflammation under control. If a cataract is formed or there has been eye trauma, you will probably be referred to an eye specialist, a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Surgery

Just because a cataract is present, it does not necessarily mean surgery. The size and location of the cataract are factors in treatment. If the cataract is large or very dense, then complications can be controlled with medications.

It is completely reasonable to expect your cat to have a good life even if he becomes blind. Keeping him indoors helps protect him as well as keeping things in the same place so he can learn the paths to his toys, litter box, food and favorite areas. Keep the lights dim helps him see better with what eyesight he has left.

A puncture to the eye lens or larger congenital cataracts are more likely candidates for surgery. Some cat owners forgo cataract surgery that is caused by uveitis. Uveitis already causes inflammation to the eye, so surgery can just lead to more inflammation, complications and pain.

Other Considerations

The pre-op analysis, surgery and post-surgery checkups run from $1,500 to $3,000. Then there is the post-op medication. Opting for a small monthly cat health care insurance program helps with the financial burden. It certainly reduces the necessity of a cat eye care decision based upon limited financial resources.

Cataracts in cats are rare. As part of your cat eye care program, take a few minutes to check out your felines eyes. If you notice cloudiness, watery eyes, squinting or a significant change in your cat's eyes or navigation, look to your veterinarian for cat eye care guidance. Not all cataracts warrant surgery. A blind cat can lead a normal, happy life indoors and with proper eye medications.

By Kate Rieger

A Purring Cat Is More Than Just A Happy Cat

2008-03-09T03:24:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows how good it makes us feel to be around a cat that is purring. But have you ever really thought about what causes this phenomenon?

When you were a child, you were probably told that cats purr when they are happy. Therefore, we learned to associate the purr with pleasure, and we assumed that every time our feline friends were purring, it was because we were doing something to make them happy.

Some new information provided by respected veterinarians, Doctors Foster and Smith, provide some more nuanced information about purring cats. If you want to learn more about what REALLY gets your cat's motor running, read on!

Most pet owners interpret a purring, squinting cat as an obvious indication that their pet is both happy and healthy. They think that the purr always expresses contentment, showing that the cat is comfortable and feels secure.

This is not totally false, but it is also not the whole story.

Many cats do purr when they're happy. Recent research by pet behaviorists has suggested that purring originally developed as a communication mechanism between mothers and kittens. The kitten could purr to his mother, thereby signaling that "everything is alright." This occurs most frequently when kittens are nursing, because kittens can't meow and nurse simultaneously. Purring and nursing at the same time, however, can be done. When the mother hears the purr, she may reciprocate, thereby reassuring the kitten by this communication mechanism.

This explains why your cat may purr when you pet him: he instinctively gives the "everything is alright" message so that both of you know all is well.

But what are the other possibilities?

Sometimes, older cats use purring as a form of communicating when they approach other felines. This helps them show that they are not an enemy and that they want to come closer, maybe to play.

Perhaps most surprisingly, purring is also a way that cats communicate when they are scared or in distress. Have you noticed that cats in the veterinarian's office often purr? So do cats who are injured or otherwise ill. This might be a way that cats try to calm themselves down and reassure themselves.

Purring is only one way that cats communicate their moods, desires, and needs non-verbally. They may also use their eyes, squinting or blinking slowly. Other "typical" cat behavior, like stretching, facial rubbing, or spraying can also be forms of communication. If you really want to establish a connection with your cat, try purring back. You'll both know that you're listening!

By Ian Spellfield

Jungle Cat

2008-03-09T01:38:00.000-08:00

A medium-sized feline, Jungle Cat is believed to be the largest of the existing Felis genus wild cats. Distributed over a wide area extending from North Africa to Southeast Asia, the Jungle Cat is one of the most adaptable and versatile cats. Contrary to what its name suggests, the Jungle Cat is seldom seen in dense tropical rainforests - existing more on forest and river margins and marshy areas. A large, slender cat it resembles a serval in its physique with a weight ranging from ten to thirty five pounds, height at shoulders around fourteen inches and length nearing two and a half to three feet - though considerably bigger Jungle Cats have been recorded in the wild.

Color is uniform and quite similar to the domestic Abyssinian cats, varying across the cat's distribution, from a sandy grey to reddish. Legs are long and are often marked by some brown stripes. Tail is short, black-tipped and often ringed. Nose and chin are usually white and ears are large with dark tufts on the top like those of a lynx - giving rise to their common name 'Swamp Lynx'.

Felis Chaus, the Jungle Cat seems to have been bred of its ancestor African wild cat in ancient Egypt for the purpose of hunting wild fowl - afterwards it was mummified and entombed there. Primarily a predator of small mammals, fish, birds, rodents and snakes - the cat has been known to take down deer fawns and wild pigs. Hunting mostly in daytime, Jungle Cat has been known to swim and attack aquatic animals.

Often seen in groups, the Jungle Cat is perhaps the only feline where both male and female come together to actively partake in the rearing of the young. Kittens are born after a gestational period of around sixty five days with a large litter of up to six babies often recorded. They have a number of stripes to camouflage them in their infancy that disappear as they age. Males, the larger of the specie, are even more protective of the young than the females and emit loud barking sounds as part of their vocalization. The kittens are weaned off at three months and begin hunting at six months. Independence is reached at ten months and sexual maturity is gained at around eighteen months of age. Mating is believed to occur twice an year.

Several subspecies of the Jungle Cat are recorded, in accordance with its distribution in the wild:

Felis Chaus Chaus (Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Jordan, Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Pakistan)

Felis Chaus Affinis (Kashmir, Sikkim and Indochina)

Felis Chaus Fulvidina (Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam)

Felis Chaus Furax (Syria and Iraq)

Felis Chaus Kelaarti (Sri Lanka)

Felis Chaus Kutas (Pakistan, western India)

Felis Chaus Nilotica (Nile Valley Egypt)

Felis Chaus Prateri (Pakistan, western India)

Felis Chaus Oxiana (Russia)

Despite having a large distribution in the wild, the Jungle Cat, also known as Reed Cat, is now being considered to be under threat owing to widespread hunting for its fur. It is estimated that as many as twelve adult jungle cats are killed to make one fur coat. It also comes in conflict with farmers over occasional consumption of domestic poultry. Many sport hunters do not hesitate to poison this beautiful cat since it preys upon the small mammals they like to hunt!

By Omer Ashraf

Wool Sucking In Cats

2008-03-09T01:19:00.000-08:00

As cat owners know, cats will do some of the craziest things. Most are harmless, however, often cats will display abnormal, destructive behaviors. One such behavior, categorized as an inappropriate consumptive behavior is wool sucking. As it implies, a cat displaying this behavior will suck or chew on wool. The owner of such a cat might also find that the cat sucks or chews on the armpits of their sweaters, unfortunately when they are wearing the sweater!

Needless to say, this can become a very bothersome (and embarrassing!) habit. Wool sucking cats seem to prefer a woven material such as a sweater instead of raw wool. In some cats, the sucking begins with wool, but then progresses to other available materials such as cotton or even plastic. The behavior most often begins at puberty and, if left untreated, can lead to serious digestive illness and destruction of household items.

Why Do Cats Wool Suck?

The majority of cats that display this behavior are Siamese and this fact gives a strong indication that it can be inherited. It is not, however, related to any nutritional deficiencies, external stresses or to the sex or reproductive stage of the animal. One hypothesis is that this may be a behavior that is "left over" from the prolonged six-month suckling period that is common in feral (stray or wild) cats. Since domestic kittens are usually weaned at six weeks, this may result in suckling deprivation that is expressed by the sucking of man-made objects such as wool. Unfortunately, this idea has not been tested experimentally.

It has also been thought that cats may wool suck because the odor of lanolin in wool is similar to the odor of the fur around the nipples of the kitten's mother.

What to do With a Wool Sucking Cat

The treatments available to the owner of a wool sucking cat include behavior modification, drug therapy, and, in extreme cases, euthanasia.

Obviously, every attempt to control this behavior should be made in order to avoid having to put the animal down. This takes patience and perseverance on the part of you the cat owner.

Behavior Modification

The following are a few steps that you could take to help control a cat's wool sucking behavior: The first step is to remove any objects that the cat may suck or chew on.

This may mean confining the cat to one room of the house. In order to encourage the cat's natural meat eating instinct, a supply of rawhide or bones could be made available to the cat (no chicken bones!).

The next step in involves the use of some punishment: One method is to thump the cat on the nose and say, "No" when it begins to suck.

(Editors Note: The above statement is exclusively the viewpoint of the article writer and not of the staff of this blog. We do not condone nor endorse any form of physical punishment or aggressive behavior towards any animal.)

Another is to spy on the cat and use the trusty water pistol any time a cat is found sucking. In order for this kind of discipline to work, the punishment must be delivered immediately after every incorrect behavior occurs. For this reason, punishment often does not work because you cannot always punish the cat the moment it begins to suck and every time it sucks. The cat will take advantage of this and often turns the situation into a game. It will begin to sneak and lurk around to try and avoid getting caught. For these crafty cats, the use of slightly sprung mousetraps hidden in clothing may be effective. This allows punishment to be delivered even if you are not around.

Another technique that can be used involves a bottle of your favorite perfume and a bottle of Tabasco sauce. This method relies upon the association of a certain odor with a bad experience to deter the cat. By applying the perfume and hot sauce to an item of clothing, the cat that sucks on the clothing will associate the smell of the perfume with the unpleasant taste of the hot sauce.

Chemicals that can be administered

If punishment and/or the hot sauce do not work, there are various substances that you can give to your cat.

Since one possible explanation for wool sucking is a craving for lanolin, it can be fed to the cat. Although no nutritional deficiencies have been found in wool sucking cats, it has been found that feeding the cat a diet high in fiber can eliminate the behavior in some cases.

It has also been found that administering 0.5 g per day of thyroid hormone also controls some cases of wool sucking. For cats where none of the above treatments work, anti-anxiety drugs (e.g. amitriptyline HCL) may help however there are side effects to these drugs.

Prevention

Unfortunately, since it is not known exactly why cats wool suck, there are not many steps that you can take to prevent this behavior from occurring. However, here are a couple of points to keep in mind:

Siamese cat breeders should wait until kittens are 12 weeks old to wean.

This ensures an adequate suckling period. A cat displaying wool-sucking behavior should not be used for breeding because there is the possibility that the kittens could inherit the behavior.

Conclusions

Wool sucking is a peculiar and destructive behavior that is often hard to control. However, there are many ways in which this behavior can be controlled or eliminated, and with the development of new drugs, there may be even more options in the future. A lot of time and patience are required to successfully control wool sucking but these are rewarded by a normal cat, and clothing without holes!

By Anita Hampton

Eye Problems In Cats

2008-03-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

The most common disorder in cats is runny eyes. Infectious organisms such as the flu viruses or chlamydia cause conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the membranes lining the eyelids. This results in a discharge which is either watery and runny or thick and a greenish yellow color.

Occasionally a runny eye is caused by a disorder of the normal anatomy.

Tear glands continually produce secretions which lubricate the surface of the eyeball and flush particulate material into the tear ducts which then drain into the nose. If there's a blockage of the ducts, the tears have no choice but to spill over and run down the face. Blockage can occur if there has been previous damage to the ducts or if the cat has an abnormal anatomy.

Persian cats frequently have tear staining, partly because their tear ducts are kinked and partly because their eyeball shape prevents effective drainage. Chronic tear overspill causes a brown staining on the fur which is most noticeable in pale colored cats.

Runny eyes are also a result of tear overproduction if there is an irritation to the sensitive eyeball. The cause may be easily identified as in some longhaired cats where a clump of hair rubs the surface. Some can be much more difficult to detect; solitary aberrant hairs may grow inside the eyelid and can only be discovered by carrying out an extremely thorough examination under general anaesthetic.

The cornea is the clear outer covering of the eyeball and is a very sensitive structure. Flu infections can sometimes extend beyond the membranes and also affect the corneas. In very young kittens, the damage can be so severe that the cornea is extensively scarred and the cat grows up visually impaired or even blind.

Most corneal disease is encountered as a result of a bit of a punch up with another cat and a claw being poked in the eye. The puncture wound may be very obvious, particularly if a bit of claw is left behind in the eyeball.

In other cases there may be no apparent defects.

Mild corneal damage will heal well if the cat is supported with antibiotics but more severe damage may require surgery. Stitching the eyelids together often helps with the healing.

The iris is the structure which gives the eye its color, ranging from pink in albinos, to blue in Siamese, through all shades of yellows, coppers and greens. The iris is a muscular structure which contracts and expands in order to vary the amount of light which passes through to the back of the eye.

It has very delicate blood vessels and if a claw has managed to pierce through the cornea to the iris, the bleeding can be very dramatic.

Some of the more unpleasant feline infections, Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) virus, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and toxoplasmosis can all cause disease in the iris.

The first sign an owner may notice is a change in color of the eye.

Close examination reveals changes in the shape of the iris and the presence of debris in the fluid behind the cornea. It is very difficult to distinguish which one of these infections has caused the abnormality, so further investigation is always necessary.

If there is a diseased iris, also have to consider the possibility of a tumor. T he two most commonly encountered are lymphosarcoma, a solid form of leukemia, and melanoma, a cancer of the pigment producing cells.

If an iris has been affected by a treatable condition, it may be left with permanent color change and a distorted shape because of adhesions or scar tissue produced during the healing response. Not all areas of new pigment are associated with disease. Some cats, particularly orange colored individuals, can develop little dark patches of pigment in the iris as they age, but any change in eye color should always be checked by your vet.

The retina is a fine membranous structure which lines the back of the eyeball.

Light passes through the pupil and the lens and lands on the retina.

There it stimulates nerve endings which cause electrical signals to be sent to the brain where the information is interpreted as vision.

Any abnormality of the color, the reflectivity or the blood vessels indicates disease of the retina. One of the most serious conditions is a generalized degeneration of the retina. The retina appears to be very bright.

Blood vessels become much finer and in advanced cases are barely visible.

The retina can detach from the underlying tissue if there is a leakage or overproduction of fluid between the layers, or if there is bleeding.

High blood pressure resulting from kidney failure or an overactive thyroid gland can cause this eye problem.

Retinal detachments tend to be quite dramatic in onset and owners report that the cat appears to have gone blind overnight. The pupils are massively dilated and instead of a smooth concave surface there are billowing folds of retina. There is virtually no hope of restoration of eyesight in these cases.

The thought of a blind cat is quite horrifying to most owners but a combination of the cat not knowing it's supposed to worry about its lack of vision and its other senses being so well developed means they actually cope remarkably well. If the environment is kept as constant as possible, most individuals adapt very well to their surroundings.

Many problems in cats are self -limiting and given one or two days most will rectify themselves. Eye conditions should be treated with a little more respect and a little more urgency even if the cat appears to be totally indifferent to its problem. A mild disorder can result in quite dramatic and devastating changes to the eye if left untreated so don't delay and seek expert advice as soon as possible.

The Doctor and His Cat

2008-03-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

One day I saw a doctor playing a cat with a plastic fish. I went closer and told the doctor, "You have a nice cat, Doc."

The doctor answered, "Oh! Sel… I enjoyed playing my cat with this toy." He showed the plastic fish to me and said, “Yesterday morning, I fed this cat with a real fish. The cat immediately eat the fish alive. In the afternoon, I made this toy smell like a real fish and give it to the cat, but the cat didn’t responded. He only threw a weird look into this toy, and then after a while the cat played it."

I only smiled at him to show my agreement with him.

"Now I realized," the doctor continued, "that cats are really intelligent. We couldn't fool them. They knew if the food we fed them is real or not."

"Yes doc. Cats are really intelligent." I agreed. "They’re even smarter than you Doc. Cat’s didn’t study to learn what’s the real fish and what's not, isn’t it? And you studied several years just to earn the title and profession as a Doctor, but then you didn't noticed that the one you are kneeling and praying to is just an idol."

The doctor blushed and wanted to say something to me, but then I continued, "if I will bring you a piece of wood and told you to kneel down before it and pray, would you do that Doc? I think you would not do it instead you would say, 'am I fool to do it?' But if I will form that wood into Sto. Niño and bring it to you and tell you to kiss it, kneel before it and pray, I think you'll do it sincerely, isn't it?"

Then I got my Bible and said, "You know Doc, it was already written on the Scriptures…"

13 The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in the form of man,
of man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine. (Isaiah 44:13, NIV)
19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” (Isaiah 44:19,NIV)

"You see Doc? You’re at the peak of your education but then you never realized that half of that Sto. Nino was used to cook food and to other purposes, and you bow and pray before it." I said.

"Christ’s told us that worshipping God should be done in Spirit and in Truth,

24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24, NIV)

not through the images.

I wish you’ve learn a lesson from your cat, Doc."

By Sustines Laplana

Why Do Cats Eat Grass?

2008-03-01T05:38:00.000-08:00

Some cat owners make the mistake of preventing their cat from eating grass. There are various reasons for this, one being that they think it makes their cat ill or upsets their stomach. This is an incorrect assumption and in fact the eating of grass followed by regurgitation is a perfectly natural behavior for all cats.

Cats do not possess the ability to separate meat from fur bones or feathers before eating like we do so they have to eat the digestible parts along with the indigestible parts. When the cat has finished digesting what he can the rest has to be removed from the system. To try and pass this through the digestive tract could cause obstruction and severe illness so this is where grass eating comes in.

The habit of eating grass triggers the natural process of regurgitation of indigestible foods including its own fur balls which would otherwise obstruct the system. This can appear to us humans as if the cat is being violently ill but this is not the case and in fact is very beneficial to the cat.

What about other plants and vegetables?

Cats cannot produce the enzymes needed to break down plant matter. Even when pureed or powdered, vegetables simply pass through the digestive tract without leaving any of their nutritional content. This alone is not harmful to your cat, but when undigested plant matter mixes with highly digestible food such as meat, indigestion and other complications may occur. Grass is an exception however; some cats compulsively eat grass when you leave them outdoors. This will cause them to regurgitate the indigestible matter, including raw vegetables.

If your cat is unable to get access to grass he may attempt to eat your house plants instead. This could be dangerous because some house plants and flowers are toxic to cats, so if you have a house cat like a Ragdoll cat for example you should provide a regular supply of potted grass to prevent him looking elsewhere. And most importantly do not punish your cat for regurgitating on to you carpet because he will not know why you are punishing him. Regurgitation is an involuntary action of your cat’s stomach so he could not stop it happening even if he tried. Cleaning up after the occasional regurgitation should be an accepted part of being a loving cat owner as they are only doing what comes naturally.

Bathing Your Cat

2008-03-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

Anyone who decides to bathe their cat, must be prepared for a long afternoon. Most cats do hate getting wet and they'll probably be very clear about letting you know that they don't like what you're doing. So think it through ahead of time. Get everything you need lined up and be prepared to remain patient, kind and good humored in the face of your cat's wrath.

Before you begin bathing your cat, you will need to gather a few supplies. At the minimum, you will need two absorbent terry cloth towels, a pet safe shampoo, a pet safe conditioner, a sponge, and a sprayer attachment for your sink or tub. If you don't have a sprayer attachment, you should have a pitcher or large cup that you can use to scoop clean water over your cat's body. Ideally, you should also have a non-skid mat to help your cat feel more secure.

If you decide to bathe your cat in the tub, you may have a harder time holding on to him if he becomes frightened. However, it is usually easier to keep him contained if he escapes in a bathroom than in the kitchen.

Place your non-skid mat in the bottom of the sink or tub. Add two to three inches of warm water and gently place your cat in the tub. Talk to him quietly and reassure him. He will most likely settle down within a few seconds. Once he is calm, begin to wet him down. If the sprayer attachment scares him too badly, you may have to pour water over him using your pitcher or cup, instead. Do not pour water on his head. You will clean his face later.

Once your cat is wet enough to shampoo, apply the shampoo with your hand, massaging your cat's fur and talking kindly and calmly to him while you do. Rinsing the shampoo is probably the most difficult part of the bath. It's important you do it thoroughly even if your cat objects, because the residue from the shampoo will irritate his skin.

Now, work a palm sized dollop of conditioner into your cat's coat and then rinse it out. This step is actually optional if the cat has short hair. However, conditioner will not hurt a short haired cat, so, if he is not too upset, you may still want to use it.

Once your cat's body is clean, dampen your sponge and use it to carefully wipe down his face. Pay close attention to the area under his eyes.

The drying stage is the easiest. Wrap your cat in a towel and rub him down. Change towels when the first one is wet. Get your cat as dry as possible. If you have a long-cat, some people suggest a hair dryer, but most cats are afraid of the sound. Use your judgment. If you do use a dryer be careful that it doesn't get too hot for his skin. Tell your kitty he smells wonderful and is going to look so beautiful now that he's clean.

Protect Your Cat Against Sunburn And Skin Cancer.

2008-03-01T04:56:00.000-08:00

We are all used to seeing the many advertisements on our televisions about protecting ourselves and our children from the summer sun, but do we ever think about protecting our pets? Probably not. However cats and dogs can get sun burnt too and with the same terrible consequences that causes, including the possibility of skin cancer.

Cats who are outside a lot during the summer, especially those with light coloured fur are particularly at risk from the effects of the sun and the heat. So before we let our pets outside on a summer’s day we must make sure we provide adequate care for them, just as we would for our children and ourselves.

Areas particularly at risk on your pets are their ears. They often have a much lighter covering of fur and this makes them much more likely to burn in the sun. Add this to the fact that cats will often spend hours laying in the sun and the risks of skin cancer rise dramatically. Often in Mediterranean countries you will often see a lot of cats with both their ears missing. This is because that the region receives a lot of hot sunny weather and skin cancer on cats has become so common that owners will often ask the vet to remove the cats ears to reduce the risk of them catching skin cancer. Another method used is to have the ears tattooed all over in black; this helps to reflect the sun and provides protection.

Of course there are other simpler methods to protect your pet from the effects of the sun. Simply remember when you let your pet out on a hot summers day, make sure you rub a high factor sun cream onto the ears and areas which are not as covered with a thick layer of fur. Some breeds have a very thin covering of fur all over, and it might be safer to keep these breeds inside on very hot sunny days.

Also make sure that you provide plenty of fresh water for your pet which is readily available all through the day. Perhaps have several bowls of water dotted about the garden in a cool spot. Of course making sure that there are plenty of shady places that your pet can keep cool is essential. The affects of heat stroke can come on very fast and if not treated promptly can be fatal. If you suspect that your pet is suffering from heat stroke i.e. is panty very heavily and seems to be wobbly on their legs and disorientated. Cool them down immediately in a bath of cool water and then take them immediately to a vet.

All of the above are quite simple and affective steps, which will protect your pet during the summer months. A little time and thought could save both you and your pet any suffering and will ensure that summertime is enjoyed by every member of your family.

By Kate Tilmouth

The Best Gifts For Cats – Gifts They Will Love

2008-02-09T03:31:00.001-08:00

Do you have a gift list that includes a true cat lover? If so, you're in luck! Buying for a cat fancier is simpler than ever, especially with the selection and specialty items available over the Internet. Before you grab the first kitty-themed item, take a moment to consider the following idea. The best gifts for cat fanciers are personal and specific to their cat.

Before you buy a present for the cat lover on your list, think of the following:

What type of cat breed does the prospective recipient most like or have? Many potential presents for cat lovers are also breed specific. If possible, purchase a gift that reminds the recipient of their favorite cat.

If you are buying a gift for someone who currently has a cat, find out the sex of the cat. Many cat-themed gifts are gender-specific, so you should ask what sex your recipient's cat is.

Does your recipient like to dress up your cat? If you are buying a gift for a person who likes to dress their cats in sweaters or other types of apparel, your search for an appropriate gift will be much easier. Don't assume that the receiver dresses their cat, however.

Now that you've taken a few moments to think of your recipient's cat, here are the top 6 gifts that any cat lover would be happy to be given.

1. A cat-themed picture frame. What better way to show your love for your animal than putting the feline's picture on display? People looking for gifts for cat lovers would be pleased to receive a lovely picture frame to show their beloved pet. You may want to ensure your intended recipient doesn't already own too many cat picture frames. This is a popular gift to give and to receive, so it is not uncommon for avid cat lovers to possess more than one cat picture frame.

2. Cat-themed jewelry. It is common to run across a lovely cat broach, pin, charm bracelet, necklace, or other piece of jewelry. Nothing could be more personal or intimate than a pretty piece of jewelry. If you have a close friend who you think would love this type of present, you will find many online retail websites dedicated to presents for cat fanciers that carry a great selection of cat-related jewelry. For an even more personal effect, you can also have these type of gifts engraved with a message as well.

3. Cat-related stationary, desk calendar, engagement calendar, diary, or books. Every New Year, hundreds of beautifully-designed calendars are put on the market for purchase. The selection can be fantastic with hundreds of breeds and cat themes represented. This is a great choice that any cat fancier would enjoy receiving, especially if you can find a calendar that represents the recipient's favorite breed. If you want to go beyond the ever-popular cat calendar, you can also purchase lovely cat-related stationary for your recipient. Another superior choice is to get a nice cat-themed diary for your recipient.

Gifts for cat lovers may include a cat calendar, stationary set, or diary that you like. Consider buying the cat lover on your list a beautiful cat-themed coffee table book. Most cat lovers will delight in feasting on the gorgeous photography and text of a good cat coffee table book.

Do you have a gift list that includes a true cat lover? If so, you're in luck! Buying for a cat fancier is simpler than ever, especially with the selection and specialty items available over the Internet. Before you grab the first kitty-themed item, take a moment to consider the following idea. The best gifts for cat fanciers are personal and specific to their cat.

Before you buy a present for the cat lover on your list, think of the following:

What type of cat breed does the prospective recipient most like or have? Many potential presents for cat lovers are also breed specific. If possible, purchase a gift that reminds the recipient of their favorite cat.

If you are buying a gift for someone who currently has a cat, find out the sex of the cat. Many cat-themed gifts are gender-specific, so you should ask what sex your recipient's cat is.

Does your recipient like to dress up your cat? If you are buying a gift for a person who likes to dress their cats in sweaters or other types of apparel, your search for an appropriate gift will be much easier. Don't assume that the receiver dresses their cat, however.

Now that you've taken a few moments to think of your recipient's cat, here are the top 6 gifts that any cat lover would be happy to be given.

1. A cat-themed picture frame. What better way to show your love for your animal than putting the feline's picture on display? People looking for gifts for cat lovers would be pleased to receive a lovely picture frame to show their beloved pet. You may want to ensure your intended recipient doesn't already own too many cat picture frames. This is a popular gift to give and to receive, so it is not uncommon for avid cat lovers to possess more than one cat picture frame.

2. Cat-themed jewelry. It is common to run across a lovely cat broach, pin, charm bracelet, necklace, or other piece of jewelry. Nothing could be more personal or intimate than a pretty piece of jewelry. If you have a close friend who you think would love this type of present, you will find many online retail websites dedicated to presents for cat fanciers that carry a great selection of cat-related jewelry. For an even more personal effect, you can also have these type of gifts engraved with a message as well.

3. Cat-related stationary, desk calendar, engagement calendar, diary, or books. Every New Year, hundreds of beautifully-designed calendars are put on the market for purchase. The selection can be fantastic with hundreds of breeds and cat themes represented. This is a great choice that any cat fancier would enjoy receiving, especially if you can find a calendar that represents the recipient's favorite breed. If you want to go beyond the ever-popular cat calendar, you can also purchase lovely cat-related stationary for your recipient. Another superior choice is to get a nice cat-themed diary for your recipient.

Gifts for cat lovers may include a cat calendar, stationary set, or diary that you like. Consider buying the cat lover on your list a beautiful cat-themed coffee table book. Most cat lovers will delight in feasting on the gorgeous photography and text of a good cat coffee table book.

Cat Hyperthyroidism-A Brief Introduction

2008-02-09T03:17:00.001-08:00

How To Remove Cat Urine, And Dealing With Cat Urine Smell

2008-02-09T03:11:00.000-08:00

If you have problems with cat urine smell, either because of a cat not using its litter box, or because of urine marking, don’t panic! There are some simple tips on how to remove cat urine. However just because you remove the stains and the cat urine smell, it doesn’t get to the heart of the problem. If you don’t find out why it is doing it your cat will probably continue with this behaviour.

Before we get to the clean-up lets try to find out why your cat is doing this. There could be many different reasons why your cat is not using its litter box, and urinating in different places around the house. It may simply be marking its territory, or it may be more serious and be caused by a medical problem. If you suspect the latter then you should take it to a vet for a urinalysis, and an overall check-up, just to make sure there is not a medical reason for its behaviour.

Another reason for a cat not using its litter box is because cats can be very shy when it comes to going to the toilet. Cats enjoy their privacy, especially when they are doing their business. Make sure that you have more than one litter box for your cat, and always place it in a quiet spot away from people and other animals. You may find by simply doing this that it will start to use the litter box, and stop leaving that nasty cat urine smell all over the house.

There are several tips on how to remove cat urine, and the use of white vinegar seems to be a popular one. After soaking up as much of the urine as you can with paper towels, (don’t rub, as this will only push the urine further in,) mix two parts warm water with one part distilled white vinegar. Apply the mixture to the stained area and this time rub it well in. Allow the area to dry, and then go over it again using just warm water.

Once the affected area is fully clean and dry, you should use a high quality pet odour neutraliser; (available at pet supply stores) this will get rid of any lingering smell and so should stop your cat from re-offending in the same place

This is just one method of how to remove cat urine, there are many more home made remedies as well as some very good commercial products available at pet shops. However never use anything with ammonia for removing cat urine odours, as the urine itself contains ammonia and this will only attract your cat to mess in the same place again.
By: Mike Legg

Adult Cats are Fun Too - Adopt An Older Cat

2008-01-26T23:08:00.000-08:00

You’ve finally made the decision to adopt a cat, you’ve dreamt about it for quite some time. Visualising your cute new little kitten playing around the floor and looking up at you with those big baby blues. What could possibly go wrong, after all it’s only a tiny kitten. But have your really thought about how much time, effort and trouble a kitten really is. A kitten is packed full of energy and curiosity and will cry for attention, scratch the furniture, bite and urinate everywhere until it is litter box trained, and will run around the house getting into all sorts of scrapes and trouble. And it’s up to you to look after them 24/7. If you’ve got the time and dedication to look after a kitten, great, but if not, why not think about adopting an adult cat.

A lot of potential adopters seem to think of an adult cat as second best, as if they are defective or worn out like a second hand car. That’s just not the case. Most adult cats have found themselves in animal shelters from no fault of their own. They may have out lived their owner, their owners may have moved to somewhere that doesn’t allow pets, become lost or someone in the family may have become allergic to them. The reasons are far to numerous to list them all. The cats themselves are perfectly healthy animals, bristling with fun and energy and simply looking for a caring loving home.

Adopting an adult cat has many advantages. Remember an older cat has already developed its personality. So you will know what kind of pet they will be and whether or not they will suit your family. Many people go for the cute little kitten; only to find out that they grow into a very shy and non-playful cat that likes to spend all it’s time away from the family. That’s fine if that’s what you want, but too many people decide that this is not for them and returns the cat to the shelter. Rejection is a very harsh punishment for the cat just because you didn’t take the time to think about what sort of cat would be the right pet for your family.

An older cat will also be less demanding of your time than a kitten and will require less supervision, well after the first few weeks anyway. They will be able to spend time alone when you are out of the house without getting into too much trouble and hopefully will already be litter trained.

There are also many benefits for older owners in adopting an adult cat. Adult cats are much calmer and more likely to want to spend some quiet time sitting on your lap for strokes and purring. Studies have shown that cats can have a real health benefit for humans in reducing their stress levels and blood pressure. I can’t image an energetic curious kitten being as good for your stress levels somehow.

Many worry about health problems and vet bills for the older cat. Usually when you are adopting a cat from an animal shelter they will be able to let you know if the cat has any underlining medical conditions and what it is likely to cost. Many will even provide you with free medical treatment for your cat if they over 10 years old as an incentive for more of the older cats to be re-homed.

Cats can live well into their late teens and even early twenties with all the advances in food nutrition and medical treatments. So that 12 year old cat waiting in the animal shelter for a good home is still a good bet and will still be able to provide you with many years of fun and love. Our own cat is now 14 years old and still behaves like a playful youngster and keeps us entertained for hours.

It can be a very rewarding experience to adopt an older cat, not only because of the pleasure they will give you over the years but also in the knowledge that you have provided a loving home for what was probably a very frightened and confused cat, who had no idea why he had lost his family.

by Kate Tilmouth

Significance Of Cat Pet Insurance

2008-01-26T22:49:00.000-08:00

Cats or felines as they are referred to in the scientific nomenclature are one of the popular species to have won the love of the humans as their pets. Cats being small and indoor type pet who loves to be around its owner than be in the outer expanse where they might fall prey to more strong animals around. The owners seem reluctant to buy an insurance cover for these beloved pet of theirs but they sometimes fail to understand that the sickness or any ailment might strike the feline even in the secured environment of the house.

The Risks to Cats and From Cats

The cats are prone to various diseases and their treatment thus could burn a hole in your pocket. It is thus advisable that you opt for an insurance cover. The cats are generally seen to suffer from mouth related diseases which might call for a extensive treatment. The consultation fee of the vet is high enough and above that the treatment cost and medication can become a real worrisome equation. To stop these issues from eating into your savings you should opt for a cat pet insurance cover.

Cats come into contact with various other felines as well and hence are prone to carry germs from other infected cats. Its co-habitation with the pet owner on the same premises may make pet owner prone to the diseases. The vets thus advise proper vaccinations to the home reared cats for your own safety. The cat becomes a part of the family for the pet owner making more emotional bonding to the pet, thus any untoward incident where in the cat attacks others could lead to severe lawsuits and thousands of dollars in damages. These issues can be acknowledged to a limit by buying an appropriate insurance cover for the pet cat.

Emotional Value is Greater than Financial value....Get your Cat Insured

The insurance policies or the insurance covers these days are affordable. The pet insurance is rated as per their utility and thus can be researched according to your needs. The cat pet insurance needs to satisfy main concerns of the pet owner about the inclusions or covered provisions, the exclusions from the policy, those things or medical ailments whose treatment is not covered and finally the costing. Though competition in the insurance segment have encouraged the insurance companies to pitch their products at a very competitive prices, the customized plans for the pet insurance are also on offer. You can hand pick the policy provisions and risks that you feel are real in the present living standards of your cat and the immediate habitat of it. Others could be ticked out thus bringing down the costs to an affordable value.

Pet insurance will also help if some people are not satisfied with the health of the puppy and want to seek veterinary care. You can consult your vet for his advice on which insurance cover to buy. Lastly you can search internet for more detailed information. Selecting the right insurance cover by comparing the ratings of the different policies is a dependable method

by Cats or felines as they are referred to in the scientific nomenclature are one of the popular species to have won the love of the humans as their pets. Cats being small and indoor type pet who loves to be around its owner than be in the outer expanse where they might fall prey to more strong animals around. The owners seem reluctant to buy an insurance cover for these beloved pet of theirs but they sometimes fail to understand that the sickness or any ailment might strike the feline even in the secured environment of the house.

The Risks to Cats and From Cats

The cats are prone to various diseases and their treatment thus could burn a hole in your pocket. It is thus advisable that you opt for an insurance cover. The cats are generally seen to suffer from mouth related diseases which might call for a extensive treatment. The consultation fee of the vet is high enough and above that the treatment cost and medication can become a real worrisome equation. To stop these issues from eating into your savings you should opt for a cat pet insurance cover.

Cats come into contact with various other felines as well and hence are prone to carry germs from other infected cats. Its co-habitation with the pet owner on the same premises may make pet owner prone to the diseases. The vets thus advise proper vaccinations to the home reared cats for your own safety. The cat becomes a part of the family for the pet owner making more emotional bonding to the pet, thus any untoward incident where in the cat attacks others could lead to severe lawsuits and thousands of dollars in damages. These issues can be acknowledged to a limit by buying an appropriate insurance cover for the pet cat.

Emotional Value is Greater than Financial value....Get your Cat Insured

The insurance policies or the insurance covers these days are affordable. The pet insurance is rated as per their utility and thus can be researched according to your needs. The cat pet insurance needs to satisfy main concerns of the pet owner about the inclusions or covered provisions, the exclusions from the policy, those things or medical ailments whose treatment is not covered and finally the costing. Though competition in the insurance segment have encouraged the insurance companies to pitch their products at a very competitive prices, the customized plans for the pet insurance are also on offer. You can hand pick the policy provisions and risks that you feel are real in the present living standards of your cat and the immediate habitat of it. Others could be ticked out thus bringing down the costs to an affordable value.

Pet insurance will also help if some people are not satisfied with the health of the puppy and want to seek veterinary care. You can consult your vet for his advice on which insurance cover to buy. Lastly you can search internet for more detailed information. Selecting the right insurance cover by comparing the ratings of the different policies is a dependable method

by David Faulkner

A Cat's Amazing Whiskers

2008-01-26T22:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever experienced the tickle from one of your cat’s whiskers as they brush against your face or neck? I have been tickled on many occasions from each of my cat’s as they rub up against me for attention or curling up on my shoulder to go to sleep. I never really thought about what they use their whiskers for, all I really knew is that they tickled me a lot.

Besides giving each cat their own unique distinction, whiskers are a functional part of a cat. Whiskers are a sensory system for cats made up of nerve endings that allow them to feel the lightest touch, even an air current.

Cats are known to be farsighted and they will use their whiskers to move around in those areas that they are not able to see clearly. Even cats that are blind or their vision is deteriorating will rely more on their whiskers to move about. Cats that are born with their vision impaired will often have longer whiskers to help them move around. If a cat were to lose their whiskers, they would more than likely bump into things.

You also can tell the mood of your cat from their whiskers. When your cat is calm you will see that their whiskers will be pushed forward. And if your cat is stressed out or is being defensive their whiskers will be pulled closer to their face.

If you have more than one cat, have you noticed that the whiskers of each of them are not the same? The length of a cat’s whiskers even varies between breeds. I currently have three cats and have noticed that each one has whiskers that are different in length to the others. I have also noticed that Tiggy my oldest cat has a few whiskers that are not all white, but have some black in them. While the other two, Leena and Cooper, have whiskers that are all white.

Most of us see the cat’s whiskers above their eyes and around their mouth, also called muzzle. But did you know that they also have whiskers on the back of their front legs or what would be considered their wrists. I never knew that, but after I read about it, I looked on mine and they have them. They are not as long as the whiskers on their face, but they have them.

Whiskers do get very long and some people are tempted to trim them thinking that they should be to help the cat. But whiskers are never to be trimmed, cut, or any other method of removing them. The cats do have nerve endings in the whiskers and they will feel the trimming and it will not be pleasant for them. Have you ever touched one of the whiskers on your cat’s face? Did you notice them blink or twitch? It is because their whiskers are very sensitive and should be treated with care.

Whiskers can be ticklish when applied to us in the right fashion, and they are a very distinctive characteristic on a cat. We should always leave a cat’s whiskers alone, as they are their guide to moving around.

by Sharon Cowherd

De-clawing Your Cat

2008-01-23T04:26:00.000-08:00

Removing your cat’s nails is not the only choice in your battle against cat scratching. There are many alternatives to this surgical procedure.

The claws of a feline serve many purposes, most of which are overlooked y owners who just want to protect their belongings. Claws are not just a device for scratching. They are a multi-purpose tool that cats use for many things, such as balance, climbing, defense, kneading, playing, and self-expression.

The act of de-clawing itself involves more than you may think. De-clawing not only removes the nail itself, but also the first knuckle on each toe of the paw. This removal of bone is very painful for the animal, especially since it has to walk on its paws in order to sustain itself. The surgery itself is related to disfiguring, dismembering, and disjointing the animal, resulting in severe pain. It is much more closely related to an amputation, as often the digits of the toe are removed. Upon removal of this end digit, sensory and motor nerves are cut and destroyed; they do not grow back for months. The cat is left to walk on the stub end of the remaining second digit, experiencing considerable pain.

Understanding the physiology of the cat may make this horrific the process easy to comprehend. Cat’s nails are unlike those of humans. They are more similar to the human finger, as the feline nail is a movable digit, attached by muscle. Ligaments and tendons attach to the claw, giving it strength and motor function.

There are several alternatives to the procedure of claw removal:

* Scratching Posts. If scratching furniture is the problem, provide your cat with an adequate scratching post for which to scratch on. Make sure it is as tall as your cat at extended stretch. Do not purchase carpeted posts as your pet will have a hard time differentiating between what carpet she can and cannot scratch. Praise your pet when she uses the post to encourage the behavior.

* Discourage Wrongful Behavior. Each time your cat uses the scratching post, praise her and spend time playing with her near the post. When the animal scratches at the wrong area, say her name followed by the word “no,” and move her to the post. Try dangling a toy in front of the post. When the cat goes for it, she will end up scratching and playing at the post.

* Trim the Claws. Keeping the nails clipped will minimize the need for her to scratch, as well as lesson any damage she can do. Use clippers especially made for cats, and enlist the help of a second person to hold her still. This can be done once per week.

* Nail Covers. Plastic nail caps have been manufactured to aid cat lovers in their attempts to protect their belongings. The plastic sheaths are attached to freshly trimmed claws with glue. They are replaced every month, or as needed.

De-clawing your cat is unnecessary if the proper measures are taken. In fact, the United States and Canada are the only countries where this procedure is performed. It is considered inhumane or illegal in most places.

by: David Beart

How To Check And Clean Your Cats Ears

2008-01-23T04:09:00.000-08:00

An important part of keeping your cat healthly and happy is checking and cleaning their ears. Because the ears are one of the few parts that cats can not reach themselves they need a little help from a loving owner. Keeping your cats ears clean is extremely important because any unremoved dirt, debris, or wax can clog the ears and cause infections. Regular ear cleaning at home augment’s your cats own natural grooming habits.

1. How to check the ears

During petting, casually check your cats ears for discharge, redness, unpleasant smell, swelling, and even lumps. Also observe your cat’s behaviour, if he often scratches or paws at his ears (and sometimes even shakes his head often), then he might be feeling discomfort in the ear area.

If you notice that your cats ears are becoming painful or inflamed, visit a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian has the equipment to look deep into your cat’s ear canal and give an accurate diagnosis. The veterinarian will determine if allergies, skin conditions, ear mites, bacteria, yeasts, and fungi are causing ear diseases. Seek early treatment, or your cat’s ear condition may become too late to heal.

2. How to clean the ears

Ask your veterinarian for gentle ear cleaning solutions you can use to keep your cats ears clean. These special solutions are effective in removing excess wax, moisture, and debris from your cat’s outer ear canal. Be sure to use only solutions that are specifically formulated for cats. Avoid medicated solutions, unless your veterinarian advises you to use it.

Different solutions are administered differently, but most of them require you to follow these steps.

* You typically only need a few drops of the ear solution. Squeeze the bottle and let a few drops fall on into your cat’s ear canal.

* Start massaging the base of your cats ear gently. You should hear a ‘squelch’ while you do this. Repeat the same procedure with the other ear. After both ears have been cleaned, let your cat shake its head, this loosens the waxes.

NOTE: Stop massaging immediately if your cat feels pain, and then take your cat to the veterinarian if you haven't already done so.

* Wipe the solution by wrapping your forefinger with cotton wool, this should clean off wax and debris. Do this gently though and do not poke in too deep, or you might hurt your cats eardrum.

It is recommended not to use cotton buds, which can injure the ear canals’ sensitive lining.

by: Drew Pilton