2009

Tuesday, December 8

Give Your Cat A Longer And Healthier Life

By Eyal Barta

It does not matter what kind of cat you own, there is a few things you should be aware of to better the quality of life for your cat. You need to understand that your cats everyday lifestyle is directly related to his/her overall happiness, behavior and vitality.

Many people (I didn't say you) see cats as the perfect 'low maintenance' companion. Just refill that bowl of kittle, and clean a litter box once a week... done. What many people don't realize is even though their cat can get used to a life of free feeding and couch sitting all day, that lifestyle is opposite what nature intended for this creature.

For that reason it is no surprise most indoor cats in the U.S are overweight and have health problems when they get old. We all usually rather not think of the far future, but if you really care about your pet don't you want it to live long and strong?

In nature, a cat eats mostly protein in the form of meat, a bit of fat and almost no carbohydrates. Imagine for a minute of your cat having to survive in the wild, how active it would be, protecting itself and finding prey. I'm not saying you need to simulate a tigers life for your indoor cat, but just open your eyes to the natural needs of your cat.

To keep your cat healthy and fit for a longer life your cat needs less dry food, less boredom and sitting around, more meat, more action, interaction and attention from their owner. I know not everyone has enough time to play with the cat all day, but just a few minutes a day can make the difference.

For example, make the decision to stop filling up the bowl of dry food and try to have meal times. It's OK if your cats bowl is empty, your cat doesn't NEED to be fed every time it feels like it. You might think your cat knows how much it needs to eat for its own good, but it is just a fact that your cat will eat from boredom just like you!

Once you decide to have meal times for your cat/s, you can easily fit that schedule to yours. For example, give out a meal in the morning before going to work and then again during your own dinner time. It might take a little while for you and your cat to adjust, but doing this will benefit your cat in the following ways:

* Your cat will appreciate, anticipate and enjoy the meals more than ever, because it will actually be HUNGRY for it.
* Since you are the one giving those meals, your cat will love you more.
* Your cat will lose weight and reach old age happier and healthier.
* You'll end up spending less money on food (oh, that's your benefit).

These benefits will become the foundation of your cats better life, better health and better relationship with you , IF you go a step further and give the right food during those meal times. This is not hard, just read labels and give your cat more protein. Instead of only dry food, focus more on what kind of meat your cat likes. Find that type of meat product for cats, with minimal moisture and rich in protein. Mix it up for your cat with a bit of kittle or none at all.

Other than meal schedules, interaction with your cat is very important. If you're not home a lot, leave your cat with toys and things to explore. This is a challenge, especially for city apartment cats but why not make your cat happier if you could easily do so. Of course a happier cat means much less behavior problems that usually arouse from boredom and lack of attention.

Something fairly new that I'm doing for interaction time with my cats is clicker training. I know it sounds a bit crazy, like you could train a cat... You'll be surprised! I've already taught both of them to do a few tricks. Anyone could do this, with the right instructions, and this type of interaction really transforms your relationship with your cat.

Cat clicker training is based only on positive reinforcements, so it's pretty much a game for the cat and you'll be amazed how smart your cat really is. Opening up this channel of communication is not hard and could help you build good behavior patterns. After only two weeks of cat clicker training, I noticed both of my cats are much happier. I really feel they are thanking me... it's weird, but amazing.

Come learn more about that and everything else with Sammi and Isla at cat-love-story.com

Thanks for reading,
Eyal.

Sammi and Isla
http://www.cat-love-story.com or more on health

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

Learn The Secrets To Keeping Your Cat Healthy And Happy

By Lorie Huston

Keeping a cat as a pet is a very rewarding experience. Cats can provide comfort, companionship, even entertainment. However, when something goes wrong and your feline friend is not feeling well, the results can be devastating. Fortunately, there are several simple things you can do to help keep your cat healthy and happy.

Keeping your cat up-to-date on the necessary vaccinations will go a long way toward keeping your cat healthy and happy. Vaccinations ("shots") can help keep your cat from getting many of the serious diseases which can make your cat sick, or even perhaps threaten your cat's life. Your cat's individual lifestyle and situation will determine which vaccinations your cat needs to have and how often these vaccines need to be given. Your cat's veterinarian can help you determine what is right for your cat. Do not make the mistake of assuming that your cat does not need vaccinations if your cat lives indoors and never goes outside. This is simply not true, and there are diseases which your cat may be at risk for even if he/she never ventures outside. Nothing is more frustrating than watching your cat suffer through an illness that could easily have been prevented. If you do not know which vaccinations your cat needs, or whether your cat is up-to-date on these vaccines, please contact your veterinarian right now to find out.

Your cat also needs to be tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (also called feline AIDS). These viruses are common and are passed from one cat to another. The viruses can be passed to kittens from their mother as well. A positive test for either of these viruses indicates that your cat has been exposed to that particular virus. If your cat is positive, his/her immune system may be compromised and your cat needs to observed even more closely. Veterinary care should be sought at the first sign of even mild disease symptoms. A positive test also indicates that your cat could potentially spread the disease to other cats, so your cat should be isolated from other cats if he/she is positive for either feline leukemia or feline AIDS.

Fleas and ticks can not only make your cat very itchy and uncomfortable, they can also carry disease which can cause serious illness for your cat. In addition to causing problems for your cat, fleas and ticks can also attack people, and can spread disease to us as well. You should make a habit of checking your cat's coat regularly for fleas and ticks and act immediately if you find evidence of these creatures on your cat. Fortunately, with the products we have available today, controlling or, better yet, preventing fleas and ticks is very simple. There are many products available that are safe, effective, and simple to use. Often, monthly application is all that is needed. Even cats which live indoors can get fleas. Fleas are small enough to sneak inside very easily. Preventing fleas and ticks will help keep your cat comfortable and healthy.

Preventing intestinal parasites, commonly called "worms", is also important in keeping your cat healthy. Finding out whether your cat has worms is as easy as collecting a sample from your cat's litter box and taking it to your cat's veterinarian for testing. You should do this regularly. If you see worms in your cat's feces, you should collect the worm, along with the feces, and take it to your cat's veterinarian. However, you should not assume that your cat does not have worms because you are not seeing them yourself. Your veterinarian will use special laboratory techniques to check for worm eggs which you cannot see.

Spaying or neutering your cat is another simple way to help keep your cat healthy. Spaying your female cat not only keeps your cat from coming into "heat" and becoming pregnant, but spaying also provides many health benefits for your cat. Spayed cats do not develop the serious, life-threatening uterine infections which are fairly common in cats which are not spayed. And spaying your cat at a young age will also dramatically lower the chances of breast cancer occurring later in life.

For male cats, neutering helps prevent unwanted litters of kittens. However, it also makes living with your male cat more pleasant. The odor of your cat's urine will be more tolerable if neutered, and he is not as likely to "spray" (urinate) inside of your house. He is also more likely to stay at home and less likely to get into cat fights if neutered. Neutering (or spaying) your cat will only improve your cats personality.

Regular physical examinations by your cat's veterinarian are also mandatory to help keep your cat healthy. Often, a thorough physical examination will find evidence of a health problem while the problem is still in the early stages. Many illnesses are more easily treated when detected early, and treatment is often more successful as well. Finding and treating health problems early can save your cat a great deal of suffering and even extend your cat's life by many years.

Copyright 2006 The Pet Med Site

Lorie Huston has been a veterinarian for over 20 years, working with both dogs and cats. She emphasizes the use of routine preventive pet health care to keep your pets healthy and safe. Lorie is the owner, editor, and webmaster of The Pet Med Site where you will find a library of information pertaining to pet health care, including free audio recordings describing the secrets to keeping your dog or cat healthy. For more information, visit http://www.thepetmedsite.com/cat-health/

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

Thursday, June 25

Cat Behaviors - Aggressive Cat Behaviors and How to Control Them

By Becky Cohen
Do you have a cat with aggressive cat behaviors? If so, this can be very frustrating day in and day out. Cat behaviors are very hard to control and it is very hard to communicate clearly with a cat to put a stop to the bad behaviors. If you have a cat that claws at you and bites you then the cat has bad behaviors that can be corrected. The issue with correcting bad cat behaviors is the potential cost of a professional trainer. If you do not have a lot of time to properly train your cat and believe that you have to pay a professional cat trainer you are mistaken.
There are plenty of programs available today that you can use to properly train your cat yourself. It may take you some time to train your cat by yourself, but you will be making a special connection with your cat by doing it yourself. It is very important to have a good relationship and good understanding of one another with your cat. Training a cat is much different than training a dog, but it is possible to put an end to bad cat behaviors. The most common root to bad behaviors is letting a cat think your hands are toys. Once this is instilled into a cat's brain it is hard to break them of these behaviors.
In conclusion, aggressive cat behavior can be suppressed. It may take a little time and patience to "cure" your cat from these behaviors, but it will be well worth it in the end. I'm sure you would much rather enjoy your cat all day instead of bits and pieces of each day.

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

Tuesday, June 16

Funny Cats

Famous Cat Stars

By Frank Loethen

Do you know how many cats have became famous in the movies, on TV and in the comics? A cat as a main character has always been popular especially with children. Listed below are some of the more well know cat stars.
Duchess: Appeared in Walt Disney's "Aristocrats" with O'Malley the Alley Cat.
Garfield: Appeared in his own comic strip and cartoon movies. Still used in commercials and toys.
Felix: The star of the first talking cartoon. Felix was used as the very first television test broadcast.
Fritz: Invented by Robert Crumb as Fred the Cat. Crumb made a movie about Fritz but eventually stopped any further episodes.
Sylvester: " I thought I saw a puddy cat". Tweetie's favorite nemesis in the cartoon series.
Krazy Cat: The star of the first cat comic strip with Ignatz Mouse.
Morris: Rescued from a Chicago animal shelter by Bob Martwick, a professional animal trainer. Morris did commercials for Purina's 9 Lives cat food. Morris died in 1978.
The Cat in the Hat: Made famous by Dr. Seuss, it is a children's book classic. Eventually made into a video.
Socks: Pet cat of President Bill Clinton.
Tom: Portrayed in the Tom and Jerry cartoons. You would always find Tom scheming something up to try and catch

Jerry.
MTM kitten: Symbol of Mary Tyler Moore's company and a take off on the MGM lion. Mimsey died in 1988.
Puss'N'Boots: He was first written by the Brothers Grimm but in later years was made into cartoons and starred in "Shrek II".
Bagpuss: The BBC's favorite children's show of all time.
Pepper: A gray cat who worked with Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle and the Keystone Cops.
Orangey: Appeared in "Rhubarb", "Gigot", "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Our Miss Brooks".
Solomon: A white Chinchilla longhair who appeared in "Diamonds are Forever" and "A Clockwork Orange".
Topcat: Cartoon series featuring Topcat as the leader of a group of cats in a city.
There were many movies that also feature a cat. Secret agent D.C. in "That Darn Cat". Pyrewacket, a Siamese, in "Bell , Book and Candle". Si and Am, two Siamese cats, in "Lady and the Tramp". Jiji, a black cat, in "Kiki's Delivery Service". A ginger tom cat called "cat" in "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Various cats in "National Geographic's Caressing the Tiger". Isis, a black cat, and Sylvia in "Star Trek". Winky, a black cat, in "Escape to Witch Mountain". The Cheshire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland". Various cats in the Broadway musical "Cats". In addition, a cat was usually included in many horror and suspense movies, television shows and novels.
The cat has had an influence on the media and has provided entertainment for young and old. Who knows what will be the next cat star!
Frank Loethen, lives in Georgia with a wife and three cats, Sunny, Sinclair and Midnite and has 4 grandchildren. Please visit my website http://www.purrfectcatproducts.com, your one stop site for all your cat and kitten needs. Cat beds, cat treats, cat gifts and cat trees are among the many items on the site. You can also meet my three cats there.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Loethen

Thursday, April 23

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Tuesday, March 17

Tuesday, March 3

Funny Cat Behaviors and What to Do About Them

By Carolyn McFann

Cats sure have interesting ways of expressing themselves. Some are cute, and some, well, can hurt. Most cat owners know about love chomps, those playful nips cats give at times. They are different than true, defensive bites, which draw blood and really hurt. Love chomps are given out of affection, and sometimes can hurt a little, depending upon kitty's mood. What is going on, and why do they do this?
My cat Beau is deaf and is very physical in expressing himself. He loves to be touched, petted and kissed. His reaction back is to "chew" on me, sort of gnawing his teeth against my arm, as he purrs. I soon realized that this is out of caring, not out of defensiveness. He does this whenever he is deliriously happy, and it's sort of like he's trying to kiss me back but does it with his little teeth. Lucky me. I appreciate him for being so loving, and just show love back, but back off if he chomps a little too hard.
When your cat does this, don't hit or get mad, just gently brush it off and distract him to do something else. Cats respond to suggestion, professional trainers rely on this principle to train them. By giving kitty something else to think about, he will forget about gnawing on you and put his attention elsewhere. Though I'm not an animal behaviorist, I know what works for my cats, and use information learned by those in the know. A good resource to contact if you need a real professional's advice on cat behavior is at your local chapter of the

ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Aniimals). I called my local chapter and asked who to talk to regarding certain behaviors and they told me a behaviorist would call me back. She did, and was very helpful in giving me tips on handling problematic cat behaviors of different kinds. The ASPCA has local chapters in most cities and is a good resource for help with animals of many kinds so I recommend them.
Learning better communication with our pets is always helpful in understanding what they do and why they do it. Many pets end up at the pound because their owners didn't take the time or energy to learn why the animal did certain behaviors, then just gave up instead of fixing the gap in communication. We have to show our pets what to do in order for them to know what is expected of them. Cats can be more independent, of course, but they can be trained to undo bad behaviors with time and practise. Some things take more time than others. It is important to be patient and kind, anger only makes pets fearful and less apt to learn what you want them to learn.
For example, my cat Beau didn't sleep through the night when I first got him. As soon as the lights went off, it was his time to party. He sang his lungs out, picked on the other two cats (who were trying to sleep) and made a nusiance of himself. So, to combat his nighttime rowdiness, I kept him up all day, by waking him up every so often as he tried to nap, getting out a string with a toy on the end of it, and getting him to play till he was tired. By the end of the day, he welcomed sleep. And, he slept through the night. It worked. After awhile, I didn't need put forth any effort anymore, he just automatically slept through the night. I still wake him up occaisionally during the day, just in case, to make sure he's truly tired by the end of the day.
Another strange behavior is leg climbing. Sometimes, kittens think your leg makes a good substitute for a tree trunk and try to climb it. O-u-c-h! That can make just about anyone mad at first but remember, it's just a behavior that needs correcting. Kitty isn't aware that he is clawing the heck out of your skin, and is trying to be energetic. Give him something else to play on, like a kitty condo/cat tree. Those are great for cats who love to climb. Sprinkle it with catnip, and the next time little kitty throws himself at your leg, quickly put him on the cat tree, and mimic scratching on it, to show him what to do with it. By showing him, he will learn that it's more fun to climb the cat tree than you. Cat trees are always a good investment, I got mine on Ebay, and the cats live on it, practically. They know it's theirs and never scratch the couch since they have a place to get out their scratching needs.
Do you have a cat who loves to rocket around the house as he knocks over knicknacks and other stuff in his way? It's kind of like having a herd of wild elephants go charging through the living room, making a load of noise as they go. This is just cat energy being spent, kitty is bored and finding something to do. Give him some toys, and throw them for him so he can play. One great way to get kitty's energy focused is to use a laser light pointer and aim it at the wall. Watch kitty flip and flop, hopping at the wall on his tiptoes, as he tries to get that light. Don't shine the light in his eyes, because it is a laser, but do use it as a tool to play. Beau loves the laser light pointer and will watch the wall for hours afterwards, waiting for the light to come back. They can be bought at any office supply or pet store, cheap.
Another great and cheap toy to get kitty playing and distracted is the cotton swab, or Q-tip, but only let your cats play with these under your supervision so they don't ingest the cotton fuzz on the end. My cats never have swallowed any, and we've used them as toys for all my life. These things make my cats go wild. Just throw it in the middle of the room, or tie it to a string and drag it around the room. Any cat in the room will be drawn to it like a moth to a flame. My cat Blackie will do gymnastic manoevers with Q-tips, as he picks it up and throws it for himself, when nobody else does it for him. He can leap and rotate in mid-air. Cotton swabs make cats do the funniest things.
Embrace the crazy things your cat does, don't punish, just retrain if they do things that really bother you. It just takes a little understanding and patience. See what they need - are they bored, are they trying to show caring but doing it in a way that hurts? Gently retrain or distract. When kitty knows what you want from him, he will eventually get the hint and learn..most of the time. Beau still chomps on my arm, but doesn't do it as hard as he used to. He doesn't like being ignored, and if he mistakenly chomps too hard, I just walk off and don't give him the attention he wants. That, in itself, is punishment to him and he has learned from it.
If you want to see what other funny things other peoples' cats do, just watch America's Funniest Home Videos. Cats and dogs are great material for funny videos because they are fun and entertaining. Enjoy them, and let them enjoy you back. Teamwork is the answer.
Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats . Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. She has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico, among other interesting professional assignments in other countries. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_McFann

The Cat Tower

Friday, January 30

5 Great Tips On Training Your Cat To Behave

By Chaganty Ashwini

There is more to cats than the cuddly and lovable pets who purr on one corner of the house. At times, they can be a menace to housekeeping too. Scratches in furniture, broken ornaments, and ruined stockings are just a few things that misbehaving cats can do.

There are reasons why cats misbehave. And by knowing these reasons, cat owners can be capable of controlling their pets' actions.

Here are some things about cats which cause misbehaviors together with tips on how to make them behave.

- Cats misbehave when they are bored.

Cats that don’t have much to do have no choice but to do obnoxious things. They may be looking for attention, or they just needed something to do to spend their energy.

Whatever the case may be, these can be solved by allotting time for your cat to play with you. However, do not do this immediately after your cat misbehaved. Your cat will associate its misbehavior with you giving it more attention.

- Cats are naturally nocturnal animals.

Cats are more active during nighttime. They can do more exciting activities by that time.

With this in mind, make your cat busy in the morning. By doing this, the cat will be too exhausted to do things when it is time for his owners to sleep.

- Cats misbehave when they are sexually-driven.

Expect misbehavior when cats feel that it is time to mate. Expect a lot of misbehavior for cats who are confined inside their homes when it happens!

Surgical procedures can be done to prevent misbehaviors caused by sexual urges. Female cats can undergo spaying; male cats can undergo neutering.

- Cats misinterpret owners' reaction to its misbehavior.

Owners usually get mad when their pets misbehave. But they are vague in telling their pets that they are mad. When owners reprimand their pets for misbehaving, cats think that their owners just want to play with them.

Owners must be clear with their reactions. If their pets misbehave, owners would make it clear that it is a punishment and not a game.

Remember that cats seek reward. They avoid punishment. Do not make misbehaving enjoyable to your cat by giving it a lot of attention when it happens.

By associating punishment for misbehaving cats learn what should not be done.

- Cats enjoy playing with certain things in the house.

There are things that cats love. It may be a curtain, or a pillow.

The good thing is they hate certain smells too. Spray unpleasant smells on those things to keep cats away.

By knowing why pets misbehave owners have more chances to correct these bad habits!

Cat Care Secrets is an excellent place to find cat links, articles and resource. For more information on Cats visit: http://www.catcaresecrets.com/blog/

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

Thursday, January 22

Caring For Cats - What You Need to Know

Do you consider yourself a dog person? May you consider yourself a cat person? Maybe you just love all animals and recognize their value as human companions. Whatever the case may be, if you are going to take the plunge and get yourself or you're a child a kitten or cat, it is definitely worth your while to learn as much as you can about caring for cats.

There are numerous books, tapes, movies, and Internet sites devoted to the care of these majestic and beautiful animals, and with a little time and attention, it is not all that difficult to understand the basics of caring for cats.

If you are planning on getting the pet as a companion for your child or children, rest assured that you are making a wise decision; it is a great idea for children to have the experience of pet ownership when they are mature enough to handle it, or even when they are too young to care for the pet themselves, they can see you taking good care of it. This builds a respect for life, a sense of responsibility for others, and the mutual satisfaction of a loving relationship between pet and human. In a lot of ways, cats can be a much better pet for kids than a dog. For the most part, caring for cats is less time consuming than caring for dogs, so if you worry that your youngster will get bored or not be as responsible as you would like about exercising your pet, a cat might just be the perfect choice for you.

Like any living creature, your cat will need food and fresh water available all the time; cats often have very distinct personalities, and some are very good at reminding you that they do not have enough food. For example, my own cat will go up to the closest table and just start knocking things over when her food bowl is empty. Not all kitties will behave this way, though, so as the human, you must not rely on your cat - your cat must rely on you, so learn all you can before you get the pet, keep learning while you enjoy the kitty, and most of all, love your cat.

Learn Cat Care Secrets! Caring for Cats is the place to visit.

By Rob Bleckorski

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