Posts Tagged ‘cat’
So you have decided to add a kitten to your household. Some basics of kitten care include preparing your home for the kitten, feeding and daily care, discovering things around the house that may be harmful to your new kitten, and responsible pet ownership.
An important part of bringing home a kitten is preparing your home for the addition. Have a good look around your house and “cat-proof” it. Keep in mind that anything that dangles (such as lamp cords, curtains, etc.) are an extreme temptation for a playful kitten. Kittens just love to venture out, hide, as well as chew and “paw” things. Remember this when making your house cat-proof.
Feeding and daily care of a kitten involve just four items: a place for the kitten to sleep, fresh food and water, a litter box with litter and a scratching pad or post. Kittens love toys, too, so be sure to have plenty on hand when your kitten joins the family. Several commercial brands of food specifically designed for kittens are available. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations if you are unsure when feeding a kitten.
Certain household plants and chemicals are poisonous to kittens and cats in general. For example, antifreeze is poisonous to both cats and dogs. Research either by books, internet, or a call to the vet to find out about these items and substances so that you never put your furry friend in danger.
Veterinary visits are a major responsibility when you care for a kitten. You must have your kitten examined as soon possible, not only for required injections, but for a general check-up to make sure your new pal is healthy and happy. You may also be require to register your pet with the local government (many cities require this, however it is not always a requirement for rural communities).
Some people find that litter training a kitten is quite easy. Most cats seem to be drawn to the litter box and need little or no assistance at all. However, some cats can be particularly difficult. You may find it easier to keep the litter box in an open, obvious area that the kitten can easily find. Also, do not completely replace the litter. Leaving a bit of “dirty litter” in the box can attract the kitten there as his nose will associate the litter box as the proper place to potty.
Owning a kitten is a fun and rewarding experience. Love and take good care of your kitten and you will have a devoted friend for years to come.
It’s safe to say that most pet owners are cautious about their pet’s health, be it physical activity, what they eat, their teeth and ears, etc. This article is going to address the role that bed pet steps can play in your pet’s health.
It is often assumed that pet steps are particularly for sick or old pets that are no longer capable of jumping up onto the bed on their own. While it is completely true that older pets will need steps to protect their joints and muscles, this is true of younger pets as well. The strain of constantly jumping up and down can put pressure on your pet’s body with time.
It is quite common for injuries to pets as well as owners to happen when a pet has to jump up and down from a high bed. To avoid broken bones or collisions with your pet, you will need steps so they can crawl up in a more orderly fashion.
Pet steps are also a necessity if you want to get a good night of sleep. Especially if you own larger sized dogs that can really make a lot of noise and shake the bed when they jump up, you will not be able to sleep peacefully with a pet climbing up and down the mattress during the night.
You could compare the jostle of a pet on your bed to the same situation involving another person. If your partner tosses and turns throughout the night, you are more apt to take precaution by purchasing a mattress that minimizes motion transfer. In the case of your pet, you can easily minimize his excess movement by keeping pet stairs nearby.
Bed side pet steps are absolutely essential if you want your pet to stay healthy and injury free. It is common courtesy to think of them much as you would your own safety and comfort. Also, there is no need to worry about an ugly, intrusive piece of furniture sticking out. Pet steps are available in many fashions, one of the most popular being wooden pet stairs and carpeted pet stairs.
If your cat knowledge is limited to the essentials, at best, the process of choosing which breed of cat you want to add to your family can become quite a chore! When considering a cat, you must be sure to choose a breed that will best suit your lifestyle. While certain cat breeds require a great deal more grooming than others, you can also find breeds that need a lot more exercise–it’s all a matter of traits specifically belonging to certain breeds. Below you will find a list of the five most popular breeds of cat. Each breed has different personality types and grooming responsibilities that will be pointed out in this article.
The Oriental is one of the most popular cat breeds around. As a very intelligent, loyal breed, you could expect to develop a very deep bond with this cat. It has large, pointed ears, and although its body is very sleek, it is still quite a muscular breed.
One of the most popular cat breeds for a family is the American Shorthair. The American shorthair originally was a working breed, mostly for mouse hunting, which explains the lithe muscular structure and short hair. They do need a little exercise, but most are quite content being a lap cat.
The Birman breed is thought to have originated from Burma. They usually have a white body, bright blue eyes, and brown ears, legs, tail, and face. Birmans possess a long, sturdy body structure with extensive, mat-resistant hair. They love to play and are quite gentle. Their personality is the type to give and receive affection without becoming needy.
If you’re looking for a very affectionate, cuddly cat, then a Sphynx may be the breed for you. Although they appear to have no fur, they actually have a peach-like fuzz all over their body. As they don’t have much hair to protect their skin, they should strictly be kept indoors. This breed does require a bit of extra care, particularly with room temperature, as this breed can easily become too cold.
A very mild and gentle cat breed is the Ragdoll, appropriately named such as it can be quite floppy and relaxed when picked up. If you love a cat that accompanies you from room to room, this breed would likely be a wonderful match for you. They are very gentle when playing, keeping teeth and claw use to a minimum.
{Now that you have a better idea about the most popular, yet very different, cat breeds out there, hopefully you find choosing a cat to be a little less daunting than before. Be sure to remember that lifestyles are important factors to consider; so if you aren’t very active, you probably shouldn’t choose a cat that requires a lot of activity, and vice versa. Hopefully you have a better understanding of which type of cat would be best for you. Just keep in mind the requirements that each breed can demand, and be sure that whichever cat you choose, you are up to maintaining it. The best rule of thumb to go by is to choose a cat whose activity levels and lifestyle best match your own.}
It is equally important that you have the proper supplies to raise a cat. Whether your cat is exclusively an indoor pet or not, a piece of cat furniture or pet steps are a great way to ensure that your cat gets the exercise he needs to remain fit.
Many cat owners are probably not aware that cat pet training can actually work. You can train cats to do lots of things but there are certain things that will be very challenging.
If you think you are going to train your cat to retrieve a stick, fetch the paper, or play dead, then forget it, buy a dog.
Training your cat is a million miles away from training a dog. Cats are independent animals, however they will respond to treats and rewards, basically they will want to know what is in it for them if they do something for you. Fling a stick for your cat, and it will think "yeah right"? if it is that valuable, then you should go get it".
Using punishment to train a cat will not work either; all it will do is alienate the cat from coming anywhere near you. The best way to train a cat is through rewarding it. I'm not talking about rewarding your cat when it does something wrong, but rewarding it when it does something right.
The first step is to never try and punish your cat in any way when it does something wrong, learn to ignore what it has done but make sure that you do not give it any attention whatsoever. Although it is not always obvious, cats do need and want praise from you. Cats can become easily bored and require stimulus. When your cat misbehaves and you don’t supply any attention or stimulus, it will register this in its brain, and your cats problems with behaviour can increase.
Cat pet training can work if the training is based on reward, and not punishment. You give the cat this every time you see it doing something right. Make sure you give your cat some praise after it uses the litter tray. If it begins to use a scratching post instead of your furniture, you should go overboard with praise and attention. Once your cat understands that acting in a certain way will result in some form of reward, it will be more prone to act in that way.
From when your cat is a kitten, make sure that you spend plenty of time with it and offer it plenty of attention, so that it becomes normal for you to act in this way with your cat. Your cat will soon learn that it gets treats and praise by doing certain things, and gets nothing by doing other things.
Cat pet training does work, it’s just a question of doing the right things, and knowing how your cat’s mind works, realise this and cat training becomes easier.
Many people don’t understand the reasons why the cat temperament is different to the dog temperament. There are people who try to use the same methods to train a cat, that they would use on a dog, the fact that they are 2 completely different animals will not allow this to work.
A cat is a solitary creature; most cats in the wild live and hunt on their own. Cats are solitary hunters and not pack animals. It is in a dogs nature to be a part of a group or a pack. If you have a dog in the family, then the dog will regard the family as a pack, and it will have some sort of position within that pack.
The cat temperament differs in the fact that it will not regard you or members of your family as a pack, but individuals similar to itself, living under the same conditions. Dogs don't like to be away from their pack, and in the modern world the dogs owners are the pack. Most cats don't have a problem spending time on their own. However if a cat has from a young age been bought up in an environment where it gets lots of attention, and that attention is removed, it can get bored and start to become destructive. However these types of cats problems will not last, and as soon as you start to give your cat more attention, it should revert to its original habits.
On the face of it you may think that a cat does not really need you, however try to remember that close bonds are very important to cats, and this is not always reflected in the way that they may behave. The bond that a cat forms with its owner is important, although a cat will probably try to play it a bit cool compared to a dog.
Another variation in the cat temperament compared to the dog is that a dog will be ecstatic if you do anything for it. Making eye contact, talking to it, or grooming it will send bursts of pleasure through your dogs body. The cat on the other hand doesn't need you to brush it, it is more than capable of cleaning itself, make eye contact with the cat and it won't see it as another means of attention.
A cat requires different forms of attention compared to a dog. Cats like contact and a cat wants you to talk to it. Your cat will understand the way you say what you say, although it won't have any comprehension of what you are saying. Your cat will respond far better to a calm and soothing voice, instead of a harsh and loud voice. You can learn a great deal about the cat temperament by the body language your pet uses in different circumstances. Try to learn from your cat's body language when it is annoyed or when it is content. Start to read the signs as to what your cat is thinking and you will a step closer to understanding the cat temperament.
Our affection for cats often leads us to spoil of loved pets. A fancy scratching post? No issues. The best quality food available in today’s market? It is all about money. Ten dollars for a mouse made from old scraps of material? Here’s the credit card.
But what about a special house for your cat? Is that worth the expense? If your cat were a dog, there would be no question. Dogs have inherited the willingness to sleep in dens from their ancestors like wolfs. An anxious or overtired puppy is often happiest tucked away in its carrier or crate.
Cats, however, have the blood of lions flowing through their . Lions don’t seek dens. They lie out on veldt sunning themselves and surveying their kingdoms. That’s what your cat wants to do as well. He or she will, therefore, take a dim view on being shut away in a carrier or crate like a puppy.
Another reason not to purchase a cat house for your cat is that the odds of your feline actually sleeping in it are astronomically low. When do cats ever sleep where you want them to? You can spend fifty dollars on a faux sheepskin cat bed, and ten minutes later, you’ll find the cat sleeping in your laundry basket or sprawled across your futon.
Let’s face it. Your cat doesn’t need a special house. He or she already has the run of your house.
However, if you have madeup your mind to pamper your pet by providing it the best house available, you should consider these options.
Wicker Cat Bed – PetSmart
The Wicker Cat Bed is available through PetSmart and will cost you around forty dollars. It has the potential to be a winner, because there’s a bed on top of the basket as well as a hole on the side for your cat to crawl into the basket. A cat might receive a kick out while scratching at the wicker. With this many options, even the most finicky cat will give this living space a second glance.
Cat Hutch – Dura Craft
This hutch, which retails for around $35, is like a teepee for your cat. A hole in the side to crawl through and soft cushions inside will tempt any feline to give home dwelling a try. And if your cat finds other…er…uses for the hutch, both the cushions and the outer cover are machine washable.
Half Moon Multi Tier Tower – Green Duck
For $130, you can make your cat a condo dweller. This cat house is wonderful for scratching, climbing, and napping. It is not enclosed, so kitty can survey his or her domain. If your cat must have a house, this is definitely the way to go.