HappyClaws.com, To Your Cat's Good Health.

The Big Cat Breeds Needs Rescue Shelters

Mike Selvon — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:01:11 +0000

Thousands of cats find homes in cat rescue operations. These cats aren’t always the small pets people usually have in their homes. Sometimes, the cats in question are big cats, such as mountain lions or tigers. Purchased through the black market and bought because they are unique creatures, big cat breeds start small and cuddly, but soon grow to large proportions that most owners aren’t prepared to deal with.

Big cats rescue steps in when the owners find they can’t handle their exotic pets any longer. Either the owner abandons the big cats, thinking that because the cat was “wild” to begin with, it can easily fend for itself, or they start to neglect the animal.

Worse, the animal attacks someone. The authorities rush in and do their best to remedy the situation, sometimes having to put the animal down on the spot. If the big cats are lucky, the authorities see fit to send the cat rescue center.

A zoo is not an option. Many times, this is where the trade started. Unscrupulous zoos breed big cats in captivity to increase attendance at the zoo because the public enjoys seeing new babies. When the felines are grown, the public loses interest, and the zoo can’t support the larger cat.

The animal is sold off to private brokers who then turn around and sell the animals to the public. Anyone might end up with the feline. Even worse, that owner might try to breed the cat to have another cub or to sell cubs to his friends. When this happens, the cycle begins all over again.

Supply and demand are the two biggest contributing factors to big cat breeds ending up in a cat rescue. The breeders will keep breeding the cats, and the public will continue to buy them. People have a fascination with getting close to an exotic feline. What the public fails to realize is that there is a massive responsibility that goes along with caring for big cats.

The cats were never meant to be pets to begin with. You can’t keep them indoors, and keeping a big cat outdoors isn’t much better. These cat breeds play rough. They are hunters, and thousands of years of instinct tells them they are the top of the food chain.

That baby tiger will not “bond” with your toddler. This is not a Walt Disney movie. You can bet that when the tiger reaches maturity, your child, your domestic house pet, and you may be labeled as lunch.

Big cats have been kept in cages that are far too small for them. The minimum size required by law of an animal’s cage is one that is large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around in.

We all cry out in anger when we hear of Vietnam Veterans who had been tortured in “tiger cages”. Why should we subject large felines to the same type of torture?

A big cat rescue shelter can offer a better quality of life for the abandoned animal. Many big cats that do reach the rescue stage are suffering from malnutrition.

Others who might have been in show business are nervous wrecks from over-stimulation or are nearly blind from a life of flashing light bulbs and the bright lights of photo shoots. The people who run the shelters have the means and experience to raise the animal properly and meet the cat’s nutritional requirements.

Only eight states have passed bans on owning big cat breeds as pets since 2005. The number of deaths related to owning a big cat continues to grow, as all that’s required for an individual to own a big cat for a commercial venture in the United States is very low and a permit from the USDA.

Breaking the cycle for responsible preservation of big cats for future generations is an important factor in their survival.

Saving Africa’s Big Cats (socialactions.net)
Big cat’s got bark (thesun.co.uk)

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Is Your Cat Overweight? It’s Not Your Fault

Lynne Gordon — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:11:04 +0000

Is food from the pet store better for your cat than homemade cat food? After all the cat food companies are the experts…right? Not to mention the fact that all you have to do is open a can or a bag and dish it out. Well some people might beg to differ with you. They feel that homemade cat food is the better alternative.

In the days when people did not have easy access to the store to buy food for their cats, they fed them from what they had available which was basically, homemade cat food. Did you ever notice those cats were around for a long time? You did not see a different cat every time you went to their house. So maybe there is something to feeding your cat food that is a little healthier than the canned variety.

After all, with all the recalls that have been in the news as of late, for cat food as well as people food, maybe we would all be healthier if we cooked our own food instead of simply opening a can. The truth of the matter is, you can feed your cat either home made cat food or some thing that can be eaten without being cooked and they will eat that far better than the store bought food.

Pet food that is made commercially may not have all the nutritional supplements that cats need in a daily diet. The food is processed using extremely high temperatures and this could cause some loss of vitamins. Another additive is animal fats. When these are added to the commercial cat food to make it more appealing to your pet, you are feeding your cat food that is tantamount to you eating junk food all the time.

Additionally when animal fats and other preservatives are added, they are enough to make your cat become quite overweight, develop diseases, and lose all their energy. No longer do they feel like jumping and chasing imaginary mice. They become lazy and fat. The number one thing to remember about cats is they were born to be hunters and catch their food.

By eating uncooked meat, they were getting the necessary nutrients to keep in good shape.

When modern day cats became house pets, the need to hunt was forsaken. Instead, they spend most of their time inside and when they are fed canned cat food, the result is they become the cat version of the couch potato. Just by experience, many people have figured out that by feeding their cats a healthier more natural diet they are living longer and healthier lives.

If you consider using either meat-by products or real meat, do you think your cat would prefer home made cat food? Sure he would! Which would you prefer? Something that you opened from a can that had artificial flavors, preservatives, animal fats, and meat-by products or would you rather have something that you made.

Cats are the same; and most times, even more finicky than we are. They would rather have homemade cat food.

Change the food that you are serving your cat to preserve his health and prevent an early death.

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Train Your Cat to Stop Bitting

Jay Schindler — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:29:51 +0000

Cats look cute and adorable. That is until they start biting poor unsuspecting human beings. Cats need to be taught good behavior. A lot of biting that is done by cat is a result of uncorrected bad behavior.

Keep in mind that cats came from the wild. Even though now cats have been domesticated and live in close contact with humans, their instincts remain the same. They are born hunters and are equipped with the natural tools designed to hunt a prey.

Cats have predatory instincts

Biting is a part of a cat’s defense mechanism. They do this when they feel threatened. Since biting is a cat’s way to protect themselves, humans have to be careful that their cats don’t think they are threatening them in any way when they are playing with their cats.

Remember that cats are predatory by nature. They exhibit this trait by playfully pouncing and biting the hands and feet of their owners.

It’s important for owners not to tolerate this behavior. Otherwise, their cats will think it is acceptable.

Cat owners should not encourage their cats to think that their hands and feet are play things. A lot of cat owners who tolerate this behavior have scars to prove this unfortunate mistake.

Look for the cause

Sometimes cats exhibit bad behavior such as scratching and biting when they are ill or have an injury. They also do this when they feel anxiety or fear.

Cat owners need to pay close attention to the health of their cats. They also need to examine their cat’s environment to assess if there’s something about their surroundings that is causing their cat’s bad behavior.

Train your cat

When training a cat, owners should reward their pets for their good behavior and obedience! This encourages the cat to maintain a good attitude. You can do this by giving them treats, or showering them with affection.

Fun activities

Sometimes cats bite when they get listless. When a cat starts to scratch and bite, owners can put a stop to this by distracting the cat with a fun activity. Give the cat a toy to play with. This will get the cat’s attention, and keep the cat preoccupied.

Cats are wonderful pets to have. Not only are they clean creatures- they keep themselves clean by licking their fur. But they are also very useful. The Ancient Egyptians used to keep cats to catch rodents.

But first things first, cats need to be trained and taught the rules of the house. Luckily for cat owners, this means, no more biting!

Cat Relations (therealowner.com)

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The Myths of a Cat

Paul Kramer — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:56:13 +0000

Because of their mysterious nature, many myths and old wives’ tales circulate about cats. Here are a few of the more common ones and the facts behind the fiction.

Myth 1: A spayed or neutered cat will become fat and lazy. Not true! A cat’s weight gain is not related to his or her reproductive status. Any cat who does not get the proper amount of exercise or who is overfed will become overweight and sluggish. Spaying or neutering is beneficial to your pet. Cats and kittens that have been spayed or neutered live longer, do not stray from home and become more affectionate.

Myth 2: My female cat must have a litter of kittens before she is spayed, otherwise, she will become unfriendly. False! Females who are spayed before they have kittens do not miss being mothers. In fact, some cats are not good mothers and may resent their kittens. One cat and her offspring can produce approximately 420,000 cats in seven years. With millions of unwanted kittens and cats euthanized in animal shelters each year, there is no reason to add to the pet overpopulation problem.

Myth 3: Cats belong outside. Indoor cats suffer or become bored if they are never allowed to go outside to hunt and explore. Not true! Indoor only cats thrive in the home. Given the proper amount of attention and affection, your cat will not miss being outside. Cats and kittens can learn to walk on leashes to safely experience the outdoors, and most are content to observe nature from a window. Cats who are allowed to roan outside do not live as long as indoor cats because they are subject to many hazards, such as traffic, diseases, and toxic poisons.

Myth 4: Cats always land on their feet when they fall. This myth is partially true. Cats have excellent reflexes and can right themselves quickly. They have a flexible backbone, and as mentioned earlier, can rotate half of their spine 180 degrees. This trait, combined with a fluid filled chamber in the ears, helps a cat to right himself if he falls. If a cat falls one or two stories, he usually will right himself and may only receive mild injuries. However, falling from three to six floors is usually fatal because the velocity from this distance is too great, although some cats have survived a seven or eight floor drop. In this circumstance, the extra time involved in the fall allows the cat to right himself, spread out his feet, and relax, thus creating drag resistance to slow him down.

Cats and kittens come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Although approximately 100 different breeds exist, they all share the same basic body structure. Nature designed cats perfectly. Their bodies, sense organs, and natural instincts enable them to hunt and survive in the wild with no help from humans. Surprisingly the domestic cat that we know and love today is not much different from his wild “big cat” cousins, the lions and tigers. Although our house cats are much smaller in size and cannot roar, they have retained many similar physical characteristics.

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The Concerns Of The Cat Health Heart Murmur

David Faulkner — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:59:15 +0000

If a vet listens to the heartbeat of a cat and if they hear any unusual sounds, they may require more tests, but generally, they give the diagnosis of a heart murmur. The vet listens to the heartbeat, heart rhythm and the heart sounds to determine if the heart has any irregularities. The health of the cat determines if any concern for this heart condition exists.

Types of Cat Health Heart Murmurs

Two types are physiological and pathological conditions. The physiological murmur results when a fever or anemia is present. The pathological murmur results when a condition affects the valves and heart muscle of the cat. Researchers conducted tests to find out more information on cat health heart murmurs.

A Boston animal hospital conducted a test on one hundred cats and found that twenty-one percent of the cats had a heart murmur. Out of the twenty-one percent, seven cats were given an echocardiography and six cats actually had a heart problem called hypertrophy cardiomyopathy. The result of the study showed that healthy cats may show signs of a heart murmur, but without proper testing, the outcome and diagnosis is inconclusive.

Heart murmurs are measured by grades. Six different types of grades exist from I to VI with grade VI the most severe and grade I mild. Veterinarians grade the heart murmur, but the murmur graded VI does not make it the worst heart murmur to have in a cat.

Cat Health Heart Murmur Issues

Some kittens are born with heart murmurs that disappear by the time they reach six months. The incidental heart murmur occurs in cats that appear healthy, but they may show signs of weakness and color changes in the skin and tongue. A cat that shows signs of poor health may also experience heart murmurs. The only way to determine if a heart murmur exists is to run tests.

The only way to determine the severalty of a heart murmur is by an ultrasound. If you need to have your cat spayed or neutered, a veterinarian may insist on an x-ray or n ultrasound to determine how severe the heart murmur is before doing the operation. The cat that is born with a heart murmur usually receives a lower grade type, rather than an older cat that develops a heart murmur later in life.

For the most part cat heart murmurs need no type of treatment unless they become severe or cause other health problems. Cats do have potential for congestive heart failure, although rare, this may lead to your vet ordering tests for your cat if it has a heart murmur. If you suspect your cat has a heart murmur, the only thing to do is have an exam to determine the grade of the murmur and then follow the veterinarian’s advice on the care and treatment of your cat. The cat needs a healthy and happy life and only you know your cat’s personality and activities.

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Does Your Cat Have A Healthy Diet?

Matthew_Homfray — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:39:52 +0000

They say we are what we eat. This applies to your pet as much as it applies to yourself. A good diet means less health problems, less trips to the vet and lower veterinary bills. But how much thought have you given to what your cat should be eating to maintain optimum health? Ask yourself the following questions.

1) How many times a day do you feed your cat?

Since cats cannot be exercised like dogs can, the only way you can influence your cats weight is by controlling the amount and type of food he or she eats. If the cat is being fed individual meals several times daily, there is often a tendency by the owner to offer the daily supply of food on several occasions rather than divide up the daily feed into several meals. This can also occur with cats fed dry food ad lib. Cats usually regulate their food intake, but continual exposure to large quantities of food may lead to over-eating and subsequent obesity if too many calories are consumed. In short, both several individual meals a day and ad lib feeding are fine, it is the total amount offered per 24 hour period which is the important figure.

Kittens should be fed small meals at regular intervals due to their tiny stomachs. Four or five meals are recommended at eight weeks of age, decreasing to two at six months of age.

2) Is your cats diet manufactured specifically for cats or do you give human food?

Some cat owners like to spoil their cat by feeding them human food as the bulk of their diet. Others have tried feeding their cat regular catfood, but find their fussy cat will not touch it, and prefers to wait for the inevitable human food offering, which soon becomes the staple diet.

Is it really unhealthy to feed cats human food though? Of course it depends what food. Remember that cats are carnivores, and require a high proportion of meat in their diet. They simply cannot adapt to a low protein diet, and will lose bodyweight if deprived of it. In fact, as a species they are relatively unique… a deficiency of the amino acid, arginine, in a single meal can lead to symptoms of lethargy, hypersalivation and vocalisation. Arginine is required by the cat to produce urea, a waste product resulting from the breakdown of protein.

Another essential nutrient for the cat is the amino acid, taurine, which the cat cannot manufacture sufficiently by itself to meet its needs. The cat’s diet must therefore contain taurine in sufficient quantities. If a deficiency develops there is a high risk of serious and irreversible damage to major organs such as the heart and the eye. Taurine is found almost entirely in meat, confirming the fact that the cat is a compulsory carnivore.

Another disease of nutritional origin is that caused by cats eating raw liver regularly, who can suffer from a condition called hypervitaminosis A. Cats suffering from this can present with signs of lethargy, unthriftiness, a stiff neck and other skeletal problems. To play it safe, do not feed your cat liver more than once a week.

Reputable cat foods are formulated after extensive trials by pet food companies to provide the mixture of protein, carbohydrate and fat that suits feline physiology best. It is easier, cheaper and possibly more healthy for your cat to be fed a reputable cat food diet, with occasional treats if desired (tuna, liver etc).

3) Which is better out of dry cat food or wet cat food?

Most vets recommend complete dry biscuit based cat food. This is because studies have shown that cats on dry food diets are less likely to suffer from dental disease than those on wet food from a tin or pouch. The physical motion of biting these biscuits helps prevent tartar from adhering to the surface of the tooth. However, even cats with no teeth can eat biscuit based food without a problem, as they just scoop up the biscuits with their tongue and swallow them whole. Another advantage of dry food is that it does not spoil as quickly which is useful for cats that are fed ad lib.

There are occasionally reasons why a wet food is preferable, as a method to increase the water consumption in a cat with a urinary problem such as cystitis.

4) Which is the best cat food to choose?

There are so many different brands of cat food on the market, the best one is basically a matter of opinion. Certainly palatability is a factor, there is no point in purchasing a particular food if your cat cannot stand it, although this is occasionally a necessity in cats requiring prescription diets. Rather than recommending you a specific brand, we suggest that you choose one which adheres to the criteria below.

Cat foods labeled as complete and balanced must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. There are now two separate nutrient profiles for cats – one for growth (kittens) and one for maintenance (adults). Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time because of the concern that over nutrition, rather than under nutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today. The standards include recommendations on protein, fat, fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins, and mineral content of foods. If you are prepared to get technical, you should choose a food that comes closest to AAFCO recommendations.

In summary, consider the following points:

Choose a food that suits your cats age. Most big pet food companies will have different foods for kittens vs adults. Cats with medical conditions may be recommended special prescription diets.

Choose a food that come closest to AAFCO recommendations.

The ingredients contains the truth about a particular food. Everything else is there only for marketing purposes.

There are no legal and scientific definitions for the terms “premium,” “super premium,” “quality,” or “natural.”

Use dry matter numbers to evaluate and compare foods.

The source of ingredients (e.g. animal vs vegetable) does not matter, except in the case of food allergies.

Avoid supplementation. All commercial cat foods have more than enough protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Feeding your cat a good food incorrectly can lead to significant problems.

5) My cat is overweight, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get him to lose weight. What can I do?

Your cat is almost certainly being fed too much. Below some common mistakes are listed. Have a good look at these and make sure none of them could apply to your cat.

Not following the guidelines on the packet when measuring a portion. Most cat foods will have a table on the packaging suggesting daily portions for cats of different weights. The weight of food suggested is per 24 hrs, not per portion! Use your kitchen weighing scales to measure out the portion until you are sure of the correct amount.

Using a complete dry diet as a replacement for regular biscuits, and mixing it with wet cat food. If it says complete, you should not mix it with anything or you will overfeed.

Offering inappropriate food that is high in fat, or cream/full fat milk to drink.

Several members of the household feeding the cat at different times, whenever the cat is meows for food.

Giving the cat regular treats in addition to its main meal.

The cat is getting fed by neighbors, who think they are being kind by feeding it and enjoy the attention it gives them.

The cat is scavenging food from outside sources, such as other peoples bins.

The cat is part of a multi-cat household and is stealing food from the other cat(s), or even the dog.

Keep an open mind. If there is a possibility that any of the above scenarios might be the case with your cat, investigate it. If you are still at a loss, consider starting a prescription diet (see below).

6) I have heard you can get special light diets, or prescription diets for fat cats. Do they really work?

Yes they do, if used properly. These types of cat food are available in complete wet (tinned or pouches) form or dry (biscuit) form, and are growing in popularity amongst conscientious pet owners. They are low in calories and high in fibre, and often contain high levels of L-carnitine. L-carnitine has been used to help with fat metabolism in other species and recent scientific work indicates that it helps reduce weight in overweight dogs and cats. The real benefit of these low calorie diets though is that because of its low calories, cats can still eat reasonable sized portions and therefore feel full. This means they are more content and less likely to beg and look for extra food.

These diets are perfectly healthy for normal sized cats to eat too, so if you have a multi cat household and it is unfeasible to separate the cats during feeding time, you can safely feed all of the cats the prescription diet together.

7) Where can I buy this low calorie food from?

Many of the big pet food companies are waking up to the problem of pet obesity, and adding light versions to their range. However, they are unlikely to be as effective as the traditional prescription diets that are on the market.

They are known as prescription diets, because they are a specialist food normally prescribed by a veterinarian. However, you do not need a prescription to buy the food as it is a general sales list product. These foods are rarely available in supermarkets as many supermarkets are keen to sell their own brand, or have deals with the big pet food manufacturers. Many owners but their prescription diet from their veterinary clinic for convenience, whilst others prefer to shop around to get the best price. Many online pharmacies and pet stores are now offering these prescription foods, but whilst they may appear cheaper online, watch out for delivery charges added on top.

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Can You Keep Your Cat From Killing Birds?

Cassidy Williams — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:55:54 +0000

It happens to every cat owner. You open the front door in the morning, only to find a small pile of feathers and bones. Your cat winds around your legs, purring, obviously proud of his lovely gift. Cats are the number-one predator of birds, causing frustration for their owners and seriously impacting the ecosystem. Is there any way to keep your feline from hunting?

It is estimated that a cat can kill up to one hundred birds each year. Millions of birds are killed by pets and feral cats, as are tens of millions of rodents and other small animals. Cats are not a natural part of the ecosystem. They were introduced to North America in large numbers in the 1800′s. Unlike other predators, cats are fed and inoculated against disease, and are not reliant on their hunting skills for survival. In addition to killing birds through hunting, cats can transmit diseases, which kill wildlife.

Keeping your cat well fed will not stop him from hunting. Stalking and catching birds is instinctual for cats, so they do it whether or not they need them for food. Often cats leave birds whole once they’ve killed them. They will usually only devour the bird if they haven’t had a meal for a while.

So what, if anything, can you do to keep your pet from hunting and killing your local bird population?

Often people are advised to put bells on their cat’s collars to keep them from killing birds. Unfortunately this is not very effective. Birds don’t associate the sound of these bells with danger, and so won’t necessarily flee the noise. Many cats become adept at moving slowly and gently so that the bells don’t make much noise.

Cats tend to pick favorite spots from which to hunt backyard birds. Discovering that hiding place and either dismantling it or making it inaccessible can diminish their ability to stalk their prey.

If you can actually catch your cat in the act of hunting, spraying it with a hose will certainly interrupt it! Over time you may be able to keep your pet from constant killing, but remember, this is instinctive behavior. You may not ever really be able to train your cat not to hunt for birds.

Another approach to keeping cats from killing birds is to keep the birds away from the cats. A large fake owl in the yard may frighten birds away and keep them from perching in the cat’s hunting grounds. Putting up netting or screening in a small portion of your yard can provide outdoor space for your cat which the birds are unable to enter.

The best way to keep your pet cat from killing birds is to keep it indoors. Many veterinarians and animal experts advise keeping cats inside for a number of reasons. Certainly this is the only sure-fire method of keeping your backyard birds safe from your pet.

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Cat Cancer-a Brief Explanation

Catharine Wells — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:13:09 +0000

For cat owners, there’s nothing more terrifying and distressing than to find out that your beloved feline companion has developed a malignant tumor or tumors. In order to give your cat the best chance to survive a case of feline cancer, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Also, having a basic understanding of cat cancer and the steps involved in fighting the disease can help make the process of diagnosis and treatment less confusing and overwhelming.

What is Cancer?

Cancer involves the unregulated proliferation of cells resulting in the formation malignant tumors. This type of uncontrolled growth occurs when gene mutations are caused by damaged DNA. Typically, any damaged cells would be destroyed by the animal’s immune system; however, cancerous cells are able to avoid destruction by the immune system and, therefore, continue to grow in their unregulated manner. These cells then form a mass known as a tumor, which can either be benign or malignant. Malignant tumors are the cancerous ones, and they can be very aggressive and dangerous.

Types of Cat Cancer

There are so many different types of cat cancer that it’s not possible to discuss all of them here. Cancer can originate in and affect almost all parts of the feline body; however, there are certain types of cat cancer that are more common than others. These include bladder cancer as well as various abdominal cancers which can affect the kidneys, intestines, spleen, and liver. Feline leukemia and malignant skin tumors also affect cats quite frequently.

Causes

In most cases, it’s impossible to identify one or more particular causes of cancer in a feline patient. The potential causes and triggers of this disease are numerous and encompass both genetic and environmental factors. For example, hereditary defects and toxic chemicals can both play a role in the development of cat cancer. Radiation and viruses such as the Feline Leukemia Virus are also known to increase a cat’s risk of developing cancer. With so many potential triggers and contributing factors, the cause of feline cancer in a particular cat will often remain unknown.

Common Symptoms

Since there are so many different forms of cat cancer, the type of the disease that is affecting a particular cat will determine the type of symptoms and warning signs exhibited. For example, excessive drooling and trouble with eating could be signs of mouth cancer while stiffness and difficulty with movement could be symptoms of bone cancer. However, even though the warning signs of cancer will differ with each type of the disease, there are certain symptoms that are common to various forms of cancer. These warning signs include weight loss and loss of appetite, abnormal and firm swelling, a lack of interest in daily activities, trouble with eating, an offensive odor, and unusual stiffness or lameness.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of cat cancer will be reached through an evaluation of symptoms and clinical signs as well as the results of various diagnostic procedures. Since there are so many different types of feline cancer, there are a number of diagnostic tools and tests that may be necessary to confirm and identify a particular case of this disease. Certain tools and tests that may be employed include blood tests, biopsies, x-rays, and CT scans. Once the presence of a particular form of cat cancer has been confirmed, the veterinarian will also need to evaluate the stage of the disease in order to implement an appropriate treatment plan.

Treatment

When a cat has been diagnosed as having cancer, the necessary treatment plan will depend on a number of different factors, including the type of cancer present and the stage of the disease. Examples of treatment methods frequently used for various forms of cat cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is part of a holistic health approach to treatment and is often used in conjunction with other treatments. This particular form of therapy involves using a variety of natural supplements to boost the cat’s immune system in order to provide the animal with a greater ability to fight the cancer as well as to withstand other forms of treatment such as chemotherapy. In some cases, treatment for cat cancer will successfully eradicate the disease but, unfortunately, in other cases treatment will only serve to slow the progress of the cancer.

Prevention

Since the potential contributing factors with respect to the development of cat cancer are so numerous, it can be difficult and even impossible to predict and prevent cancer in many cases. Yet, there are certain steps that pet owners can take to help lower the chances of their feline friends developing this terrible disease. Often, a holistic health care approach is very beneficial in this regard. By promoting and protecting your cat’s overall health with a good diet, a healthy living environment, and natural supplements, you will be boosting the strength and function of your pet’s immune system. As a result, your feline companion will have a stronger defense against cancer and all other feline medical problems and will be more likely to live a long and healthy life.

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Cat Kidney Disease-a Brief Overview

Catharine Wells — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:48:47 +0000

If you’re a cat owner, you want to ensure that your feline friend enjoys the happiest and healthiest life possible. In order to help make this possible, it’s important for you, as the pet owner, to be educated about feline health issues. While cat kidney disease most often affects elderly felines, it has the potential to affect cats at any stage of life. So in order to protect and promote your cat’s health, it’s a good idea to understand the basics of feline kidney function and cat kidney disease.

The Feline Urinary Tract

Generally, a healthy cat’s urinary tract will consist of two kidneys, each of which is each connected to the bladder by a ureter. As a physiological system, the feline urinary tract carries out several different functions, including the regulation of the concentration and acid-based balance of the blood. However, the main function of the kidneys and urinary system is the filtration and removal of waste products.

Feline Kidney Disease

Feline kidney disease occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to function properly. This usually occurs because the kidney cells become damaged or worn out. In most cases, feline kidney disease will develop slowly over time and a cat with this medical problem generally won’t display any symptoms of the disease until approximately two thirds of normal kidney function is lost. At this point, the kidneys are no longer able to sufficiently remove waste products from the body and toxins begin to accumulate within the cat’s system, causing significant discomfort for the animal as well as dangerous and potentially fatal disruptions with several other physiological pathways.

Symptoms

Once a cat reaches this point, where approximately two thirds of normal kidney function is lost, a variety of signs and symptoms will begin to appear. Two of the most frequently displayed symptoms in cases of feline kidney disease are increased thirst and increased urination. Other common warning signs include bloody urine, loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, depression, and poor coat quality. In some cases, feline kidney disease will also cause vomiting and bad breath. Since chronic kidney disease, which develops slowly over time, is more common in cats than acute kidney disease, signs and symptoms will typically occur with a gradual onset and grow increasingly severe with time.

Diagnosis

Generally, a case of cat kidney disease will be diagnosed through blood tests and urinalysis. With respect to blood tests, the concentrations of the substances urea and creatinine can be very helpful with diagnosing feline kidney disease. Both of these substances are typically filtered out of the body by healthy kidneys and, therefore, unusually high concentrations of urea and/or creatinine could suggest a lack of proper function on the part of the cat’s kidneys. Also, when a cat is suffering from this disease, the concentration of its urine will often be higher than normal as well. As a result, urinalysis can also be helpful when it comes to diagnosing feline kidney disease.

Causes

As alluded to earlier, there are two types of cat kidney disease — acute kidney disease, which develops suddenly, and chronic kidney disease, which develops slowly over time. Acute feline kidney disease is often caused by a traumatic event such as being hit by a car or losing a significant amount of blood. Toxins such as antifreeze can also trigger the sudden onset of cat kidney disease. Chronic feline kidney disease, the most common type of this disease, can be caused simply by the natural wear and tear that occurs with age, a genetic defect, or an infection. While there are numerous potential causes of cat kidney disease, in many cases the exact cause will be unknown.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for feline kidney disease; however, in many cases this condition is controllable. Two of the most basic and common forms of treatment for cat kidney disease include diet control and prevention of dehydration. In addition to these treatments steps, a holistic approach to dealing with this condition often proves to be very beneficial as well. Natural supplements and remedies can help to increase the feline patient’s comfort by reducing symptoms and can also promote the animal’s overall health and well-being. However, no matter what treatment methods are used for your particular cat, they should always be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Prevention

If your cat does not have feline kidney disease and you’d like to ensure that he or she never does develop this condition, there are several steps that you can take to increase the chances of your feline friend living a long and healthy life free of kidney disease. One of the best ways to do this is to deal with your pet’s health in a holistic manner, ensuring that he or she is as healthy as possible in every respect. By providing your cat with a healthy diet complemented by natural supplements, you will be increasing the strength of your pet’s immune system while improving its overall health and happiness. With a well-rounded health care plan and regular veterinary care, you can decrease your cat’s likelihood of developing kidney disease as well as many other feline health problems.

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How Smart is Your Cat

Brad Hodges — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:11:59 +0000

Any cat lover will tell you that their cat is the most unique, the smartest, toughest, the fill-in-the-blank cat in the world. I, of course, am no different.

I read something once, and for the life of me not only can I not remember where I read it, but all the details, that the intelligence of cats ranks just below that of chimpanzees. As a result of my lapse of memory (maybe I should ask my cat Rusty) I therefore cannot verify if this is true or not. If any readers can verify this you will be adored and honored as royalty by all cat lovers everywhere and they will bow down and toss cat nip at your feet as you pass by in fervent adoration — well maybe not quite that but your input will be appreciated. If this is true then it explains a lot when it comes to the intelligence I observe daily in my cat Rusty.

A case in point is Rusty’s ability to keep schedules, remind me of them and have the persistence of an Executive Assistant in making sure I carry out my appointed duties. Let me explain further.

About six months ago for some unknown reason, Rusty developed a food allergy to the dried food he had always eaten. Even my vet had no explanation other than “cats can just suddenly become allergic to their food” — go figure. For most of his life Rusty had eaten on a free-choice basis coming and going to his always full bowl of food at will. When he began vomiting all over the place like Linda Blair in “The Exorcist” I knew a vet call was immediately in order.

To make a longer story shorter, through much trial and error I had to find a replacement and it boiled down to the fact chicken seemed to be the culprit. Try finding a dried cat food product that does not contain some chicken in it. I first tried sticking to dried food heading to my local PetSmart store to avoid the cheap stuff at the grocery outlet. A kings ransom later and a few returns yielded no relief both from expensive custom dried food nor custom canned food.

The bottom line solution — again go figure — was Purina Friskies mixed pate’ variety pack, sans the turkey that was included which made Rusty blow also, from Costco! What does this all have to do with the intelligence of cats you ask at this stage? Patience — I am setting the stage to highlight the complex occurrences that took place to showcase brilliance!

Rusty was relatively suddenly no longer a free-choice eater but instead — gasp — dependent on me to maintain a feeding schedule for his 15 pound orange tabby body to function and he was not about to let me forget it.

Rusty has always been a big eater. So again through a little trial and error I worked out that in order to maintain his needs I had to give him a half a can of food three times a day; morning, noon and night — wow just like our cats humans! Now some may call it instinct (I don’t) or whatever, but no matter what is going on Rusty knows when he wants to eat.

Breakfast is easy because I feed Rusty as soon as I get up to silence his loud mouth indignantly demanding food NOW for being cruelly forced to wait through an entire night without nourishment (his words, not mine). During the day while I am working in my home office Rusty naps away in my daughter’s room on her cushy desk chair. If I miss lunch for myself Rusty knows it, checks his schedule book and loudly comes into my office, sits by my chair and stretching his legs fully out until he touches my cheek with his paw, reminds me that even if I want to starve myself because I have to work and he does not, his majesty still MUST be fed on time.

Now like most good humans do for to their master I usually immediately get up and feed the king. Sometimes, however, I refuse because I just cannot tear myself away from a project. After more prodding from Rusty and clear verbal notice he is bent out of shape because I am not jumping to my feet, he will leave the room. Of course this is usually only done after I yell at him to be quiet and tell him can’t he see I’m busy then flap a paper at him! If I get up within a “reasonable” amount of time to feed him he is always sitting near the kitchen impatiently waiting for me. If I DON’T get up and go out to the kitchen he will continue to periodically come back in, throwing all caution to the wind, to remind me I am here to serve. This ritual is rinsed and repeated at dinner time.

Now no one can tell me this is not the height of intelligence. Rusty knows his schedule and executes it whether I do or not. I have certainly observed humans who are not this far thinking and I am sure you have too. To help support my unscientific theory if you have similar stories to tell please comment to this article.

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freekibble.com Every dog deserves a decent dinner!

Trimmer Of Claws — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:30:09 +0000

“Easy Dork, that’s my leg you’re ripping!!”, I softly screamed at the cat sitting on my lap who was sinking her rarely used claws into my flesh after she saw “DOG” in the title of the post I had began composing. It is a good question though: why IS there a dog in a title on a website about cats. Well, let me explain…

I was checking out HootSuite and came upon a couple posts to retweet. One of the twits was about someone “Donating a meal to shelter pets for each new follower @freekibble & @halopets” on humpday (Wednesday), sos I follows ‘em both with my alter-egos, @HappyClaws and @RantingIdiot. Then, I went and started checking references.

I multi-linked over to @freekibble‘s T-page and everything I saw was strictly about getting meals to shelter/rescue pets. Sliding over to www.freekibble.com I was greeted with:

Right or wrong, you win! Click on an answer, and every day you do, we’ll provide 10 pieces of kibble to Animal Shelters to help feed their hungry dogs. Play Bow-Wow Trivia every day – the more you play, the more kibble for the dogs!

Personally I had never seen anything like this before. Unlike those urban myth e-mails sent by our well meaning friends, I knew this was the real deal. My prejudice was justified finding substantiation from the sponsor’s website.

Turns out there was this little girl from Bend, Oregon whose parents raised quite well, that felt the need to feed shelter pets. Unable to fund her desires through her weekly allowance, she sought other means of putting food is doggy dishes. It wasn’t explained how a 12 year old kid convinced local pet food manufacturer Castor & Pollux Pet Works to sponsor this project, but she did. Ahh, local is only a 3-1/2 hour drive for her parents, each way. Actually, all of this is really just old news. Mimi Ausland has already been on the Ellen DeGeneres show, NBC Nightly News (did her parents proud to be on National News for the good you did), ASPCA Kid of the Year, and been a topic on a host of articles.

I slid over to sister site freekibblekat.com and played the game there. They have some pretty neat banners

Play a round of trivial each every day.

Castor & Pollux Pet Works, a leader in organic and natural products for pets, is the founding sponsor for this charity project. Their featured product lines are ORGANIX organic dog and cat foods and treats, Natural Ultramix natural dog and cat foods and treats, GOOD BUDDY dog cookies and Curious Cat treats.

The project expanded. CANIDAE All Natural Pet Foods and HALO Purely for Pets joined as sponsoring contributors. Today 14, yes 14, shelters are being feed monthly through Mimi’s dream.

Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

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Aussiecats takes on the new local cat laws in Western Australia

Rosemary Donald — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:45:58 +0000

In WA local laws are being introduced in several shires in relation to the keeping of cats. The City of Joondalup have formalised laws which will come into effect in October 2009. Other shires are testing these new laws over the next 12 months before

: Image via Wikipedia

compulsory registration of cats is enforced and the application of fines.

These laws aim to promote responsible cat ownership, welfare and safety of domestic cats and to assist in the prevention of nuisances to the community caused by cats.

Unfortunately for cat owners there is presently no avenue of disputing these laws with the individual shires nor dispute the decisions made under them. These laws have the potential to disrupt and damage relations between neighbours and encourage vigilantes to target several cats in one street just because they don’t like cats.

There are some variations in these local laws depending on which shire your suburb falls in, the main requirements are:-

1. The registration of cats may be compulsory for each cat you own or only for 3 – 6 cats.

2. All registered cats within the Shire shall be sterilized.

3. Cat owners shall ensure their cats are identified by a collar and tag with their identification details including address and telephone number of the owner or be micro-chipped with the contact information of the owner.

4. A cat shall not be in a public place unless it is under effective control; a cat shall not be in designated place specified in a schedule under the local law in particular protected flora & fauna areas. A cat shall not be on private premises where a complaint by the owner or occupier of the premises has been made to the City in relation to the cat’s unwanted presence on the property.

Penalties

Contraventions to these local laws may incur a fine as nominated by your Shire or the impoundment of your cat by an authorised person which includes a Shire Officer or the occupant/owner of a private residence. If a complaint is made by a neighbour to the Shire about your cat, the Shire Advocate or a Shire Ranger will contact you directly as to the nature of the complaint and remedies expected.

Note: you cannot be forced to fully enclose your cat currently under these local laws, only to keep your cat inside during the hours of 9pm to 6am each day.

Where an unidentified cat is impounded and not collected within 7 days of its impoundment the Shire can offer the cat for sale, cause the cat to be destroyed or cause the cat to be rehoused.

How these Local Cat Laws affect Real People…

Trapping cats and removing them from their own street and neighborhood under these new local laws is an emotional issue for the cat owner, their immediate family and for other pets in the household. Children are particularly affected when a beloved pet goes missing as are the elderly and those pet owners who have had their cats for a many years.

With the urban sprawl in Australia the advent of much smaller block sizes for home owners means we are nearer to our neighbours than ever before. Surely there has to be some realism to these new cat laws and equality & fairness for cat owners to also protect their cats and have the due process to dispute complaints.

Aussiecats.com is a new website set up for cat owners in Australia to publicly protest against these new cat laws. Presently cat owners have no rights to dispute complaints made against their cats under these new laws nor are there any legal avenues to protect your cat being trapped by a neighbour. Game on…

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Suburban Cats to be Legally Trapped & Euthanized under new Local Cat Laws

Rosemary Donald — Sun, 30 May 2010 21:45:56 +0000

Cat ownership in WA is under siege by local cat laws newly introduced by the Shire of Swan and soon to be implemented by the City of Joondalup. Cat owners will be penalized by fines if their cat unwittingly trespasses onto a neighbors property without their permission. The ultimate penalty is the trapping of your beloved moggy by a neighbor in a trap supplied by the shire and the impoundment and possible euthanization of your cat if you can’t locate it within 7 days.

: Image via Wikipedia

The legal trapping of cats opened up by these new local cat laws will only encourage vigilantes who hate cats to have an ‘open season’ on cats in their neighborhood. The Cat Haven, a well known Perth based cat rescue group have already reported incidences of cats caught in traps being drowned in lakes. A horrible death for any animal with no chance of escape and astonishingly still a set of laws introduced in such poor format by local councils that policing these laws is almost impossible.

Very little forethought went into the ultimate outcomes that these laws would fester, if councils honestly thought that residents of their shire would act responsibly under these new laws they have already been witness to the folly of their naivety. With cats being drowned in traps and my own experience of having my cat Simon being trapped by a neighbor in my own street and taken to the pound with no consultation with the shire. I managed to rescue my cat Simon on Day 6, it was clearly a lucky day for him will your cat be so lucky?

Parts of these laws have validation with responsible cat ownership including limiting the number of cats per household, sterilizing cats, micro-chipping or identifying your cat with a collar & identification tag and keeping your cat indoors from the hours of 9pm to 6 am is also very doable.

What these laws fail to take into consideration is the intrinsic nature of cats and the impossibility of cat owners to always control some of their inherit behaviors which have allowed cats to survive well prior to their domestication.

Cats are highly independent creatures who value their freedom, they have instinctual drives to patrol their territory and to chase off any intruders entering their territory. Cats have very strong maternal instincts and are predatory in nature and mark their territory with their scent to keep any other animals out of their area. Cats rely on these instincts to get through life and expecting them to change these behaviors is literally asking them to stop being a cat.

Cats cannot be trained like the dog species and forcing cat owners to achieve the impossible by preventing their cats from occasionally wandering into a neighbors yard is simply ludicrous! The harsh penalty of trapping cats, impounding them and having your cat euthanized as a result is a sickening and heart breaking reality now for cat owners and their families. That this type of action is being implemented by your local shire and your neighbors is just disgusting.

You can protest against these new local cat laws by visiting www.aussiecats.com and having your say.

Cat wanders into police parking lot, is euthanized (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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Eight Foods Your Cat Should Never, Ever Eat

K.L. Bonfiglio — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:01:41 +0000

Most of us know that there are some human foods our pets shouldn’t eat. Keeping our cats away from alcohol, for example, is a no-brainer. But did you know that onion powder can cause anemia in cats and dogs? Because of their different metabolisms, many common foods that are safe for human consumption are not safe for your cat. Reactions can range from upset stomachs to severe illness or death.

To help keep your kitty safe you need to know which foods to avoid. The following list spotlights eight common foods your cat should never eat:

Baby Food

It’s hard to imagine that a food that’s safe enough for a baby’s tender tummy would hurt our fur-kids. But what makes baby food so dangerous for cats is that it might contain Onion Powder (see below) which could lead to anemia. Also, baby food doesn’t meet your cat’s nutritional needs, and could result in malnutrition if she eats too much of it.

Chocolate

Most people know that chocolate is bad for dogs, but many of us don’t realize that it’s harmful for cats as well. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical compound that humans can eat safely. But cats and dogs metabolize theobromine more slowly; as a result, even small amounts of the compound can lead to theobromine poisoning, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excitability, panting, abnormal heart rate, tremors, seizures — and even death. Theobromine poisoning is treatable if caught early enough. But to be safe, keep chocolate away from your kitty.

Coffee and Tea

Caffeine is toxic to both cats and dogs, and there’s no antidote. According to ProVet Healthcare, it only takes about 8 teaspoons of coffee to potentially fatally poison a cat that weighs 3 kilograms (that’s about 6.6 lbs). Signs of caffeine poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, panting, hyperactivity, restlessness, muscle tremors, increased or decreased heart rate, irregular heart rhythm, increased body temperature. But most scary of all: caffeine poisoning can lead to seizures, coma and death.

Grapes and Raisins

Scientists aren’t sure exactly just what substance is in grapes and raisins that make them so toxic for our pets, but according to the ASPCA Poison Control Center, dogs who’ve eaten large amounts of grapes and raisins have suffered renal (kidney) failure. Although it’s unclear what effect grapes have on cats, to be on the safe side the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center “advises not giving grapes or raisins to any pets in any amount.”

Onions and Garlic

Raw, powdered and uncooked onions and garlic are especially harmful to cats because they damage red blood cells, which could cause anemia. Not only does anemia make your kitty pale and lethargic, it can be a life threatening illness.

Spinach

The jury’s still out on whether or not spinach is bad for cats, but scientists do know that spinach leaves contain a small amount of calcium oxalates (a chemical compound that makes needle-shaped crystals), which is a major component in kidney stones. If your cat eats enough spinach, it could lead to crystals in her urine. Cats with a history of urinary problems such as infections, crystaluria and kidney disease, should definitely avoid eating spinach.

Unripe Tomato

Everyone knows that tomatoes are good for humans. But did you know that they can be toxic to cats? Tomatoes are a member of the deadly nightshade plant family and contain a poisonous alkaloid called, solanine. Solanine is toxic to humans too. But you have to eat it in large amounts for it to hurt you. That’s why you shouldn’t eat green potatoes — a potato that has gone green has higher levels of solanine inside it. And it can make you sick, causing a bevy of symptoms that range from nausea, diarrhea and vomiting to hallucinations, paralysis and in the worst cases, death. Unlike humans, however, only a small amount of solanine can hurt your cat. According to FelineFuture.com, “traces of Solanin, like those found in just a 100g of cherry tomatoes, can be fatal!”

Yeast Dough

Raw or uncooked yeast dough should never be fed to your cat. What makes it so dangerous? Yeast (the single-celled fungi that causes bread to rise) isn’t toxic per se, but if your cat eats the raw dough, it might continue to rise inside your kitty’s stomach. And you can imagine what that could lead to: painful bloating, gas, and in the worst-case-scenario, possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Remember, the information in this article is for informative purposes only. If you suspect your cat has eaten something that is harmful, or needs medical attention, contact your veterinarian immediately! For more information about other harmful foods or toxins found in your home, check out these great references: ASPCA Animal Control Archives and PetEducation.com.

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HappyClaws is on Facebook

Bard the singer — Fri, 28 May 2010 05:03:37 +0000

That’s right friends, we now have a Facebook page (http://bit.ly/bT79Dm)! Come on over and give us a like!! Of course we’re still under construction, everything’s always under construction. And we are learning how to integrate our website here with Facebook over there trying not to duplicate content, spin our wheels, or waste any precious resource.

You needn’t worry about how we will use any of your data because nothing we could possible do can compare to what has already done by the administrators of Facebook already so it is a non-issue with privacy or whatever and HappyClaws.com having a Facebook page. Anyways, if you already have a Facebook account, then you gave up a rights to privacy in perpetuity. Actually, I don’t think we collect any information through our Facebook page.

We do use Facebook Connect (AOL, G-Mail, LiveID, Twitter, and Yahoo accounts too) in combination with RPX secured OpenID log-ins (free version). That function is merely a means of allowing a person to “register” for a site without having to actually register for the site giving them the same abilities as a regularly registered user and proving the site owner with a means to combat Comment SPAM and other unwanted materials. I’ve found that I get the bare minimal information, less personal information than requested..

I must admit, I got WP-Dashboard Social Engagement Fever and it is all Dave Ligthart‘s fault. You see, I had installed his WordPress plug-in WP-Dashboard and among other things it lists out “Stats – Overview” –> “General Social Metrics” where this website started out at 0 (Zero). Then our Engagement level started to increase ever so slightly. The fire was lit. Fanning the flames, I started registering for some of the available services. The engagement level rose higher (wish I would have had “Trends” enabled) and higher. And that is why HappyClaws has a Facebook page.

If you might have some valid ideas on how we might use own new found treasure to the best advantage for everyone involved, then we will gladly accept your suggestions.

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A Detailed Guide to Grooming your Cat

Andrew Mcgregor — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:50:41 +0000

To keep your cat happy, healthy and clean it is essential to properly groom your cat. By reading this section you will learn how and when to groom your cat and also what equipment to use. You will learn how to brush your cat, bath your cat, how to clean your cats ears and how to look after your cats teeth.

Brushing and combing your cat

Cats spend 10 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves by licking dirt and excess fur of their coat but this is not enough to properly keep them clean and some cats do not clean themselves properly. You should brush and comb your cat on a regular basis. Short-hair cats are much easier to groom than long-hair cats. If you are unsure of what your cat is, visit the breeds section. When you are grooming your cat you should be alert and checking for fleas, scars, wounds and lumps.

The first thing you need to know is the difference between a cat comb and a cat brush. A cat comb is used to remove excess hair, remove knots and to remove dirt. A cat brush is to fluff up the fur and make it smooth and look good. If you own long-hair cat I would recommend buying both a comb and a brush as you will learn later on, if you own a short-hair cat it is not as important but you can if you want.

You could alternatively choose to buy a cat grooming kit which includes a comb, brush and everything else you need. You can buy the right equipment from your local pet shop but you could also consider buying online. There are many different combs and brushes to choose from and all of them have their advantages and disadvantages. If you want to get the best results and not spend a fortune you should buy a wide toothed comb, a brush and a flea comb. This should all cost under $10 USD.

It is a waste of time brushing your cat with a normal comb/brush. The advantages of using a cat brush is that it shelters the natural body oils, the bristles gently remove tangles and after brushing your cat it will have a shiny, good looking and healthy coat. But most importantly it is designed to remove excess hair, then in future when your cat cleans itself it does not swallow as much hair, preventing it from having a hairball.

If you have a kitten, it should be brushed from an early age so it becomes accustomed to the process and doesn’t find it a scary and distressing experience. It will enjoy the grooming procedure but most of all you will not have to train it later on in its life. If you have an adult cat that does not like to be brushed and finds the experience frightening, introduce grooming slowly and do not make the sessions more than five minutes. If this does not work you could try ending the grooming session with playtime so your cat will look forward to it each day. One of the most important things to remember is that a short session each day is better than a long session each week.

As I briefly mentioned before, short hair cats are easier to groom than long-hair cats, it is a bit more difficult and the process can take a bit longer. If you own a short-hair cat you should groom it on a weekly basis or every few days and it should take from 5 to 10 minutes. If you own a long-hair cat grooming should be done everyday or every two days and it should take about 10 to 20 minutes. By now you are probably thinking ‘how can you brush a cat for 20 minutes’. The grooming process is not just brushing but is also cleaning nose and ears if necessary and sometimes brushing your cat’s teeth. For more information about these, read on.

To groom your cat, follow these easy steps:

-Place your cat on a bench or table. It depends on what your cat is most comfortable with; some owners brush their cat on their laps.

-Gently brush from head to tale using short and gentle strokes with your comb to remove knots, do not pull hard otherwise it will hurt and distress your cat, making the experience unpleasant and enjoyable. For best results also brush under its neck and stomach. If you have a flea comb, brush again from head to tale.

-Use a brush to fluff up the fur, if you are unsure of what brush to use ask your local pet shop. A cat brush is good for your cat’s appearance and health and can be brought from a number of different places.

Bathing your cat

It is not necessary to bath your cat unless it becomes very dirty. Most people who have prize-winning cats bath their cat on a regular basis. Many cats do not like water and find a bath a frightening and traumatic experience. If you ever need to bath your cat, the below information will tell you how. The first thing you need to do is to brush your cat to remove excess hair and dirt. Talk to your cat with relaxed voice to keep it as calm as possible and do no make quick movements. Have everything ready before you start which should consist of 4-6 towels, shampoo, a hair dryer and cotton balls. You can use special cat shampoo or you can use regular shampoo but it really doesn’t make a difference.

Use cotton balls to protect water from getting into your cats ears. If your cat has smaller ears use only half or even a quarter. If you have a bathroom or laundry hose, use it because it makes it much easier. If you don’t have a hose use a cup or plastic container. You should not wear good clothes because the chances are that you will end up as wet as your cat. Wash your cat in a bath or a laundry sink. Start by wetting it with warm water. Avoid wetting its eyes and ears as much as possible unless it particularly dirty.

Hold your cat firmly because it will try to escape and probably bite and scratch you. Once the cat is wet apply shampoo and gently massage. If your cat is really dirty you can shampoo twice. Rinse your cat from top to bottom and make sure you get all of the shampoo out. Use the towels to dry your cat as best as you can then finish the job off with a hairdryer.

Cleaning your cats ears

Cleaning your cat’s ears should be a part of your grooming routine. To get rid of the dirt and wax, use a cotton swab but never go deeper than you can see because it can cause permanent damage to your cats hearing. It should be done every month.

Dental Care

Many people do not brush their cats teeth often enough, some have never done it. If your cat’s teeth are not brushed, bacteria will build up and could result in loss of teeth. You should brush your cat’s teeth every week. If you have a kitten you should start brushing when all of its 36 teeth have grown which is around 6 months of age. If you have an adult cat, introduce slowly and keep the sessions short.

You can buy special toothbrushes designed for cats but a child’s toothbrush will be just as good, just make sure the bristles are soft so they do not cut the gums. Do not use normal toothpaste because it will cause digestive problems and make your cat sick. You can buy special cat toothpaste from your pet shop, vet or online.

To properly brush your cat’s teeth start by gently brushing the outer surface of the teeth. Do not brush the inside of the teeth until your cat is used to the process. Brush in a circular motion from the bottom of the gum to the tips of the teeth. Some cats require professional cleaning when there is a severe build up of tartar. When brushing your cat’s teeth note the condition of your cat’s gums.

Consult your vet if the gums are swollen, if there is any bleeding, bad breath, drooling, dark spots, sores, refusal to open mouth or reluctance to eat. If your cat has any of these symptoms there is a chance that it has gum disease. Gum disease is common in cats and can be fatal unless treated. It begins with the build up of plaque and tartar which causes the roots to become infected. This can be prevented by regular brushing.

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GRIEF: Getting Beyond It Even When You Feel Stuck

Steve B. Reed — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:25:46 +0000

THE NORMAL PATH OF GRIEF

Grief is the natural emotional response to a significant loss. The loss of a loved one, an important relationship, a pet, a career, a belief, some aspect of one’s health, an opportunity, or even a prized possession can trigger a normal grief response. When we go through grief, we can experience a range of related emotions. People may feel shock, regret, anger, sadness, and eventually acceptance in route to resolving grief. We usually work our way through these stages in a period that is proportionate to the loss suffered. In most cases, we eventually move through the process to arrive at a place of acceptance and a readiness to look forward in life.

STUCK IN PAINFUL EMOTIONS

For Pam, this healing pattern was not happening. Instead, she found herself stuck, unable to let go, always looking back at what was lost. She had a history of being stuck in grief. After her divorce, she grieved for 6 years. This time she was stuck grieving the loss of her 2-year relationship with a boyfriend. It had been going on for a year and a half with no end in sight. She felt hopelessness, depression and fear.

CAUGHT IN A TRAP

Pam’s plight reminds me of a story about catching monkeys. In some parts of the world, people employ an ingenious method to catch monkeys. They use a large heavy jar, with an opening just big enough for the monkey to squeeze a hand through. In the bottom of the jar, they place a banana as bait. The monkey slips its hand into the bottle and grabs the banana. Then, holding tightly to the banana, it is unable to remove its hand from the jar. It never occurs to the monkey to let go of the banana, so it remains in the trap. Pam was clinging tightly to the memory of a lost love. Unable to let go, trapped.

WANTING OUT

Pam did not want to suffer the way she was. She had been in therapy for years. By now, she was nearly an expert at behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy and the analysis of her problems. She understood her dilemma intellectually, but was helpless to feel better. She was on antidepressant medication, talked to her friends and spent time attending a grief support group. Still her pain persisted. She had come to me with the hope that one of the new forms of treatment that I work with might help light her way out of the darkness of her grief.

TRYING SOMETHING NEW

The first time I saw Pam, she was in the wake of a painful rejection. She would frequently call her old boyfriend, try to get him back but he would coldly reject her effort. She sat in my office emotionally bleeding as though the scab had been freshly knocked off her wound. The only thing I could offer to help ease her suffering was an experimental new treatment. Pam was in such pain she was open to any option. Therefore, I briefly told her about a new type of treatment that is more similar to Chinese Acupuncture than to Freud. It is the REMAP process and it involved her gently tapping a series of acupuncture meridians while she thought about the problem that bothered her. It’s a simple yet profound process designed to adjust the body’s natural energy system and to produce blood flow changes in the deep regions of the brain as a way of effecting thoughts and emotions. This alternative approach uses an entirely different pathway to heal emotional pain than talk therapy alone. Since Pam had tried all other treatment paths, she was open to the experiment. She began working with the protocol and to her great surprise her level of disturbance dropped 60% in 30 minutes. She left smiling and saying that she could cope with that level of pain.

BEYOND GRIEF

Next week, she reported another call to her ex-boyfriend and another cruel rejection. However, she also reported something new, a decision never to call him again. She also reported no further obsessive thoughts about him and a dramatic improvement in how she felt, virtually no grief.

Such changes are more common than not. By using leading-edge therapies, people are able to free themselves from painful emotions even when they are stuck. The best part is that the changes last. Three months after Pam’s treatment, she still reports feeling good.

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Herbs From A-Z For Better Health

Darrell Miller — Tue, 25 May 2010 17:31:24 +0000

Since time began, humans have been using herbs to cure illness and maintain good health. They have been gathered from the wild and cultivated domestically, and their benefits cannot be disputed.

Everybody knows about the benefits of the better known herbs and flowers such as peppermint and St. John’s Wort or Ginseng and oil of evening primrose. But how about those lesser known herbs with wonderful and strange names? What of them? Let’s have a look at some of the traditional old remedies and the truth behind their use.

Agrimony is a herb once used for treating cataracts, and also to treat bites, wounds and warts. It is still used for sprains and as a tea, gargle and poultice. Also known as cocklebur and stickwort, there is a scientific basis for these applications in that it contains a number of tannins, and also triterpenes that are antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial agents.

That is only one of many old herbs that have been shown to have a scientific basis for their use. Willow bark, for example, has traditionally been used as an anti-inflammatory and for reducing pain. Willow contains salicylic acid, the basic ingredient of aspirin.

Burdock root can be used as a remedy for digestive disorders, and is also a diuretic. Burdock is a type of thistle, and the leaves are used for the treatment of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Active ingredients in the leaves are sesquiterpenes. The inulin in the roots promote friendly bacteria in the gut and is good for the digestive system.

Viburnum has another name that indicates exactly what it was, and still is, use for: Cramp Bark. It is also called the Snowball Bush and is used to alleviate menstrual cramps, stomach cramps and muscle cramps. There is a scientific reason for this use of the plant, since it contains viopudial, a chemical that is used as a smooth muscle antispasmodic that relaxes muscles by blocking an enzyme that cause muscle spasms. Our forebears did not know this of course, only that it worked!

The more investigation that is carried out into these old remedies, the more they are being understood, and the scientific reasons for their use are being revealed. Some have very strange names, such as dog grass root. The dog grass rhizome is used as a tea for the treatment of urinary infections such as cystitis and urethritis. The active ingredient discovered in that is agropyrene, an oil that has strong antibiotic properties. You might be more familiar with dog grass under its alternative name of couch grass.

Figwort was used by the Romans for various skin problems such as eczema, pruritis and psoriasis, and is also a diuretic and laxative. Its alternative name is the scrofula plant, and has several active ingredients. Saponin is a diuretic and hesperitin is an antiflammatory. It also contains glycosides that have recently been found to be essential to the human immune system, and also aucubine that is a laxative. Every use that the Romans put it to, therefore, has a scientific basis for its efficacy.

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the iridoid glycoside content of Devil’s Claw that is used to alleviate the pain of arthritis, is not so medically proven. However, those that use it swear by it, and proven or not, the iridoids are thought to have analgesic anti-rheumatoid properties. There are a large number of herbal remedies that are used by people who claim them you be effective, and that are known to contain chemicals that could feasibly produce the pharmacology claimed. However, for these to be proven, the test carried out must provide irrefutable results.

That is not to say that they are not effective: only that there is no unequivocal proof for the claims. One herb for which no such proof is required is valerian. Valerian has been used since time immemorial as a sedative and analgesic, and is commonly used for insomnia. Although the mechanism by which it works is not yet fully understood, there is no doubt that it is effective. Its alternative name is heal-all, although that name is perhaps just a little bit optimistic.

The aptly named lungwort is used for chest infections and as an expectorant. It was for a long time believed that there was no basis for use in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, even though its name suggests that it has been found effective in the past. Its alternative names are lungmoss and oak lungs, so the connection with the lungs is pretty obvious. However, recent studies have revealed all. New technology has shown that lungwort lichen contains antibiotics that are effective against forms of bacteria that cause chest infections, including tuberculosis.

As with lungwort, as science progresses it is continually proving the use of many of these old folk remedies. It is possible that the scientific basis for the uses of many herbs and flowers could be used in the future for the development of new drugs and medicines. The medical knowledge of our ancestors should not be underestimated, and considering the conditions under which people lived at times in our history it should not surprise us that the medical knowledge was at least equal to what we know now, relative to the crude science of these times.

Let us have one final look at another herb used by the ancient medics. This is an A to Z, and we started with A so should correctly finish with Z, and yes, there is a Z. The curiously named zedoary. This was used for digestive problems, and is a member of the same family as turmeric. It was once used as a spice, but no longer.

Does zedoary have any medical basis in fact? It has yet to be proved, but it appears to stimulate the production of digestive juices and the production of bile by the liver. Extracts of zedoary are used to this day in the treatment of conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and to stimulate the digestive system. A knowledge of herbs from A-Z for better health can help you to determine the degree of supplementation you require.

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The Do’s to Reach Effective Communication: Learn From Cats!

Eri Hariono — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:01:41 +0000

If animals could speak the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow, but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much. ~ Mark Twain

Every creature living on planet earth has its own unique way of expressing themselves, i.e., to communicate. Communication in a broader sense is the art of delivering messages to each other and vice versa by signals, behavior, body language, gestures, writing and speech. Let’s see the interesting way cats convey their wants and needs to us humans. Domestic cats have their own way of communicating with humans. Research has shown that wild cats in Africa – which later evolved into domestic cats – don’t have this special skill. However, regarding the domestic cat’s ancestor, a recent study said

The domestic house cat is descended from the Middle Eastern Wild cat, uncovering proof of how and when cats first came to supervise so many homes for humans. The DNA of 979 cats throughout the world were analyzed and found that all feral and domestic cats today have a common ancestor: the Near Eastern Felis silvestris. Cats were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent, an area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf, and then cats were transported around the world by humans. The earliest archaeological evidence for cats and people living together was found in Cyprus, dating to 9,500 years ago.

Domestic cats have a long relationship with humans, traced all the way back to when farmers began growing grain 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Farmers recognized that cats would prey on rodents who ate their crop, and through this situation there developed a mutually beneficial relationship between our two species. You see, cats and people have been communicating pretty well now for 10,000 years.

In 2002, a psychologist from Cornell University, Nicholas Nicastro, compared hundreds of “meow” vocalizations from domestic cats (Felis catus) to African wild cats (Felis silvetris lybica) and his research proved that the difference between their vocalizations were in accordance to whether they were trying to communicate with humans. For instance, when cats demand to be fed, they express a different “meow” then when they are in an angry mood. Thus, based on my own experience at being a longtime cat-lover, I can tell their moods not only from their different meows, but also by a wide range of kitty lexicon including their body language and gestures – headbutts, how they wag their tails, et al. – right on down to the different ways they purr. Please see YouTube video below for the hard evidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3U0udLH974

The research showed that there are indeed significant differences in the two different types of cats’ abilities to communicate and it all centered on their exposure to humans. The African wild cats were only capable of expressing the unpleasant meow vocal range. They don’t produce the soft swaying meows like domestic cats. Furthermore, cats love to observe and study how we – humans – express our emotions and communicate our feelings to each other and with other creatures. And the clever little devils are taking notes because our cats really know how to push our buttons to get what they want. They have been learning from us all this time. The proof of this statement is available in the YouTube video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JynBEX_kg8

“Cats are domesticated animals that have learned what levers to push, what sounds to make to manage our emotions,” Nicastro says. “And when we respond, we too are domesticated animals.”

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My Cat Is Not Eating And I Need Help

David Faulkner — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:55:10 +0000

If the cat is not eating the cat health, some time’s becomes poor. The reasons vary as to why a cat may not eat properly, but for the most part, a healthy cat will eat and remain in good health. A cat that does not eat may have some sort of health problem that prevent the cat from eating or reduces the appetite. Sometimes cats have health problems that cause this type of problem such as digestive tract problems, tumors or infections. These problems need medical attention.

A psychological problem similar to what people have is anorexia. Cats also develop this problem for other reasons than what people do, but the results are the same. I cat who does not eat needs to be under the care of a veterinarian to receive the proper care. In most cases, this condition results from another medical condition.

Some Causes That Account for the Cat not Eating

Although it is thought that cats can have signs of anorexia, there may be other reasons why cat health and not eating happen. Any conditions such as painful teeth, sore mouths or throat, tumors, kidney or blood disease and skin problems along with eye problems can result in cat health problems for not eating. As we discover more about our cats, we see that fear of pain is their only problem. For more info see http://www.aboutcathealth.org/cat/Common_Cat_Health_Problems/Health_Persian_Cat_Problem.php on Health Persian Cat Problem.

Cats also do not like change and will sometimes refuse to eat because they do not like the food. Some cats become so finicky that they refuse to move to a new place in the house to eat. A new pet may cause the cat to go into hiding, causing them not to come out to eat or go to the litter box. Cats need reassurance and then they can overcome any cat health eating problems and sometimes a visit to the vet may be required.

Treatments for Cat Health not Eating Problems

One treatment is more or less psychological. You need to remove the problem, if not health related, in order to get the cat to eat. If you have a new pet, get them together and once they get used to each other the problem should be resolved. There must be a solution to the problem and with a little thinking of when the problem started, you can correct the problem.

If the cat health not eating problems are medical, you need to seek medical care to correct the problem that causes a lack of appetite. This might include medication, surgery or placing the cat on a new and healthier diet. If your cat has no medical problems, the vet may introduce intravenous feeding to help bring the cat back to health. You may have to hand feed the cat in order to establish a healthy eating routine.

Not all cats come this finicky, but some breeds are worst than others. If you need help, a vet will offer suggestions for treatment even if the cat health not eating problem appears to only be psychological and not medical.

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Can You Spoil Your Cat

John Savage — Sat, 22 May 2010 17:14:35 +0000

Cats, despite their lovable and inimitable independent tendencies, really do thrive when attention is lavished upon them. Often nearly standoffish, absent a great deal of the time, cats seem to develop a closer relationship to their owners when pampered.

As a result, cat owners often look for new and interesting ways to give their cats extra attention. Cat pampering can take a variety of forms, ranging from simple extended petting sessions to homemade meals to elaborate toys.

Many cat owners have been accused of giving too much attention to their pets. People will argue that these well-intended owners are actually “spoiling” their cats by going out of their way to show them attention and concern. Is this a valid concern? Can one truly pamper their cat too much?

The wise among us tell us to practice moderation in all things. The same, it would seem, should apply to cat pampering. At some point, too much pampering surely occurs, spoiling a cat and creating a needy animal. However, compared with other pets (most notably dogs), there is a wide margin of error with cats. Most of those who pamper their cats will see far greater benefits from their efforts than they will detriments.

Cats do need to understand that there are rules and boundaries. There are parts of every home and certain activities that must be forbidden in order for the human and his or her pet to function in the same household comfortably. Cats, luckily, are notoriously quick students and usually pick up on these limits quickly and tend to abide by them.

Thus, it is very difficult to spoil a cat too much so long as those basic ground rules are observed and enforced. As long as a cat owner does not allow the animal to break these core rules, there is little risk in spoiling a cat.

Will a cat become more needy if attention is lavished upon him or her? Probably so. The cat who is frequently given pats and rubs will surely begin to expect them and will come back for more. Is this really a negative, though? Most cat owners would argue it is actually a benefit! After all, the cat enjoys the attention, the owner enjoys providing the attention and in the meantime the cat/owner bond and relationship is strengthened.

It is possible to allow a cat to develop unrealistic expectations or to become fairly demanding. Cats will begin to view pampering as “their due” and will insist upon it. In this sense, it could be argued that too much pampering is a bad thing.

However, the cat’s expectations will seldom reach the point where they are unreasonable. In some ways, this development of an expectation is actually advantageous, as it can compel an owner to consistently show attention and love to his or her feline companion.

When one considers all of this, it becomes fairly clear that even if spoiling a cat is possible, the negative repercussions of the spoiling will be relatively minor so long as the owner does not create a situation where he or she cannot keep up with the expectations of the pet.

A cat owner can feel relatively comfortable that his or her kind and pampering acts toward a cat will do very little damage while significantly improving the quality of life for both the cat and the owner.

Yes, there are extreme cases where a spoiled cat could be developed and there could certainly be some annoyance and frustration as a result. However, it is hard to reach this point. The natural independence of cats generally serves as insulation from any such problem.

Cat owners can pamper their cats without too much concern about creating a “needy monster.” Instead, the pamperer is far more likely to create a loving pet.

You can spoil your cat, but you really have to try in order to do so. Cat pampering is unlikely to create major problems for either the owner or the pet and should not be avoided due to fears of spoiling the cat.

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Cat Eye Care – Is It Important?

Graham Williams — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:32:41 +0000

Cats eyes have often been used in horror films. But as a pet owner, you will know that the cats stare is really the complete opposite of what is portrayed in films. That is why cat eye care, is so very important for you to know.

How do cats say I love you? well this is through their eyes, of course. This is why you should never be frightened by there gaze. So how does this work? First of all, the cat stares at you for a long time. And after that, it blinks its eyes slowly. Some people call this the cats kiss. But you should also know that this is your cats way of showing you that it loves you.

But how do you return the favor? This is easy, all you need to do is follow your cats lead. Stare at it for a long time and then slowly blink your eyes. See? Cats eyes have also be used for romantic films as well.

Do not believe the horror films you see. Cats do not and never have had a third eye. Their eye sight is really far better than a humans. Instead of a third eye, what cats have is a third eyelid. This is called a nictitating membrane.

This inner eyelid protects the eyes of the cat from harm and also from dryness. You will always notice that when a cat is sick, this membrane will be some what closed. This should always alarm enough for you to call your vet or get your cat to them fast as possible.

But this third eyelid will also show once a cat is happy. So you will know what kind of mood your cat is in just by looking at the membrane.

You should always observe the pupil of your feline friend. A change in size of one of the pupils can often be an indication of an inflammation. It can also be a sign of a kind of a neurologic, disorder, this is called Horner’s Syndrome. Or worse, it can also indicate tumors or injuries in the central nervous system.

Never believe what others say that cats are color blind. They do see some colors. They may not see them as clear as human do, but its not true that they cannot see any colors at all.

Cats can also see clearly over long distances. There vision is very different from peoples. There vision will blurry if they are looking at objects that are very close to them.

Yes it is true, cats do have the nocturnal vision. But they can not see in complete darkness. Do you see the muscles on their iris that surround the pupils of their eyes? They are constructed in a way that it narrows into a vertical split when they are exposed in the bright lights. And it opens fully when they are in a quite dim light.

This feature of the cat may be traced back to their roots. They can use this feature to hunt for food during the night, that is if they were left out in the jungle or left with no one to care for them.

So you must forget about the horror movies that you have seen. Now it is time to put some effort into your cats eye care. Never let a minor ailments worsen. Always call your vet immediately when you think there is something not right or amiss. You do not want your cat to lose their sight or even worse lose their lives. Just remember it is always better to be safe than blind.

(ArticlesBase SC #503648) Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Cat Eye Care – Is It Important?

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What Are the Top 10 Most Popular Pedigreed Cat Breeds?

Amy Nutt — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:59:36 +0000

Pedigreed cats are a source of joy and pride for their owners. Besides their gorgeous coats, beautiful lines, and great disposition, these animals offer companionship and entertainment to those who love them. Choosing a pedigreed cat is not easy, but knowing the most popular breeds of pedigreed cats may help.

1. Persian

Persian cats are known for they beautiful long coats and open faces. They supposedly originated in Iran and were transported to the rest of the world along with exotic spices and fine jewels. Cat breeders and owners of Persian cats enjoy their gentle dispositions and quiet voices.

Persian cats are best suited to living indoors because of their long coats. The coat of a Persian cat requires considerable maintenance, but this breed is extremely hardy and long-lived.

2. Maine Coon

Maine Coon Cat Image via Wikipedia

The origin of the Maine Coon cat is something of a marvel. Less a product of the work of cat breeders than the result of natural selection,the Maine Coon originated in North America and is known for its superb mousing ability.

Also known for its loving disposition and keen intelligence, the Maine Coon is a beautiful long-haired breed. These cats are wonderful with children and good with dogs as well.

3. Exotic

The Exotic is a variant on the Persian breed. Exotic cat breeders strive to meet the standards of the Persian cat in all areas except coat. Here, the Exotic differs from its higher-maintenance cousin. Exotic cats have a short, easy-to-care-for coat.

Quiet, with a soft, gentle voice, these cats make excellent pets. They are not demanding but are playful and sweet. Exotics are also clean and mature later than other cat breeds. These cats physically resemble a teddy bear or other stuffed animal and make wonderful family pets.

4. Abyssinian

Abyssinian Cat Image via Wikipedia

Resembling the sculptures of cats in Ancient Egypt, the Abyssinian has a beautiful, arched neck, slanted eyes, prominent ears, and a powerfully-muscled body. The extremely short hair of this breed makes it distinctive and easy to care for.

Besides their appearance, the Abyssinian has a personality that is unique and easily identified by a cat breeder or educated enthusiast. Abyssinians are known for their remarkable intelligence, amazing sensitivity, and personable attitude.

5. Siamese

Siamese cat Image via Wikipedia

Originally from Thialand, Siamese cats are easily identified by their distinctive coats and markings. The color contrast on their coats is remarkable, and the structure of their bodies is also unique. Cat breeders strive to produce a animal with a wedge-shaped head, long, muscular body, and a long neck and tail.

The coat on Siamese cats is very short easy to take care of, making this breed a low-maintenance pet. They are first-rate communicators with a distinctive voice and clear body language. Siamese cats love people and become extremely attached to their doting owners.

6. Ragdoll

Ragdoll cat Image via Wikipedia

A large cat with a relaxed disposition, the Ragdoll has long hair and striking blue eyes. When breeding Ragdolls, a cat breeder is focused on producing animals with specatular, pointed coats, affectionate personalities, and a large body. These animals love people and usually want to be close to their owners.

The coat of a Ragdoll cat requires regular maintenance, but otherwise, these animals do not require any special care. They were developed in the 1960s as cat breeders bred domestic longhaired cats and other free-roaming felines.

7. Sphynx

The result of a 1966 natural genetic mutation, the Sphynx is a cat breed that is sometimes entirely without hair. Cat breeders have worked hard to create a breed that is extremely hardy and has few health problems.

Sometimes there is fine downy hair present on the nose, tail, or body of this cat. The Sphynx has a friendly personality, and is very curious and attention-oriented. Due to the lack of hair on this breed, it requires bathing. However, some people with cat allergies find that they can tolerate a Sphynx.

8. Birman

Orignally from Burma, where it was held as a sacred animal, the Birman is a large, stocky animal with long hair. The coat of the Birman is not prone to matting, making it easier to care for than some other breeds.

The personality of the Birman is considered nearly ideal by many cat owners and cat breeders: at once sweet, quiet, playful, and energetic. The long coat is tipped and is generally a light color with a golden glow. The eyes of this breed are very round and blue.

9. American Shorthair

American Shorthair Cat Image via Wikipedia

Known for their spectacular disposition, the American Shorthair is a breed that makes a wonderful companion. This breed is also extremely healthy, long-lived, quiet, and good looking.

Records show that the American Shorthair, originally called the “Domestic Shorthair,” came to America on the Mayflower. Cat breeders have worked for years to ensure that these animals have the desired qualities for the breed, despite their physical similarities to ordinary, non-pedigreed animals.

10. Oriental

Devoted to their owners and interested in being a part of all daily activities, Orientals make great pets. They are bred to be curious and intelligent, as well as to have colorful, distinctive coats and long thin tails.

Cat breeders have been able to produce over 300 different patterns and colors of Orientals, making the selection of these animals extremely diverse. They are also noted for their large, open ears and almond-shaped eyes.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-are-the-top-10-most-popular-pedigreed-cat-breeds-624836.html

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When Family Cats Fight

Ann Wamack — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:56:09 +0000

Many households have successfully adopted more than one cat. Other households have not been so lucky. What causes family cats to fight? Why do some multi-cat households live in peace while others are scenes of rivalry? What can be done to bring harmony back to your multi-cat household?

There are several possible causes for aggressive behavior between cats.

TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION: Both male and female cats are very territorial; much more so than dogs. In this type of aggression, one cat will stalk, chase and ambush the “intruder.” This type of aggression may occur when a new cat is introduced into the household or when a kitten comes of age. It is not unusual for a cat to be aggressive towards one family cat, yet not towards another.

REDIRECTED AGGRESSION: This type of aggression occurs against an animal (or person) who did not provoke the behavior. An example of this sort of behavior would be when an indoor cat, seeing an outdoor cat in the yard, will attack another cat sitting nearby his window as a substitute to attacking the cat outside.

DEFENSIVE AGGRESSION: A cat who feels threatened or afraid may attack because he believes he cannot escape. In this type of aggressive behavior, the cat will crouch down, pulling his legs and tail underneath his body and laying his ears back. If you approach a cat in this posture, an attack is likely. Punishing a cat for this type of aggressive behavior will have the reverse effect.

MALE-ON-MALE AGGRESSION: This type of aggression usually involves staring, howling and yowling, and much ritualized posturing. The attacker will leap forward, trying to bite his opponent’s neck. The opponent will fall to the ground, trying to bite and scratch the attacker’s belly. These cats may roll around, biting and screaming, and then suddenly stop to resume posturing. Cats exhibiting this type of aggression seldom injure each other in these bouts, buy you should always check for wounds that may become infected.

What can you do?

· Don’t allow the fights to continue, hoping that the cats will “work things out” in time. The more often your cats fight, the worse the issue will become.

· Spaying and neutering, a great idea any time, will reduce some types of aggression.

· Separate the sparring cats, and keep them physically apart. Restart the introduction process slowly from the beginning. You should never expect the quarreling cats to become great friends, only to learn to tolerate each other without open combat.

· Discuss the matter with your veterinarian who may have helpful advice (from a referral to an animal behavior consultant to temporary medication). Make sure the quarreling cats have thorough medical examinations; in addition to checking for wounds, the aggressive behavior could possibly be the result of some underlying medical issue.

Cats that were well socialized as young kittens — with positive experiences both around people and with other cats — are more likely to get along well in a multi-cat family. However, as you choose to invite more cats into your home, you will become far more likely to encounter conflicts. Reflect on your intentions and motivations before bringing more cats into your household.

(ArticlesBase SC #798956) Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – When Family Cats Fight

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Cat Health And Cat Metabolism Information For The Best Cat Care

Martin Marks — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:05:44 +0000

Cat lovers who own cats in their houses usually look after their grooming, feeding, or the training part. However, understanding the metabolism of the cats is equally imperative, because it enables pet owners to know the temperament, nature and the habits of their cats. Metabolism means ongoing of the physical as well as chemical changes, which take place in the cat’s body.

The metabolism of a healthy cat can be found by checking the glucose level in its blood. It has to be between 80 to 120 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).

Hence, cats need to take rest and tend to sleep a lot. Their sleeping durations are usually of 12 to 16 hours. They do not sleep continuously for these many hours, instead they take short naps which together sum to 12 hours. It helps them to conserve energy. Some cats sleep for much longer duration for about 20 hours in 24 hours. Perhaps, this might be the reason why people refer to individuals who sleep more often as “having a cat nap”.

Factors Of Metabolism:

Body temperature is the main factor of the cat’s metabolism. The layer of fat beneath the skin protects it from harsh winters. A body temperature of a typically healthy cat is within 38 to 39 degree Celsius. A cat is assumed feverish if its body temperature is equal to 39.5 degree Celsius or greater than that. Moreover, if the body temperature of the cat is lower than 37.5 degree Celsius, that cat is hypothermic.

Heart beat of the cat ranges from 140 -220 beats/minute. If the cat is on the hunting spree, its heart rate becomes higher. Whereas, the heart beat of the cat in resting position is within 150-180 beats/minute.

Due to their frequent nocturnal nature, they often enter a stage of greater hyperactivity and liveliness. It happens mostly in the evening times and, hence pet lovers refer to this phase as happy hour or mad hour or evening craziness.

The temperament of the cats varies and depends on their breeds. Short and haired cats are usually skinnier and, hence more energetic, whereas longhaired cats and taller cats are heavier and inactive.

Overview:

Cats are carnivorous, so they have this unique capacity to metabolize protein in meat to sugar and carbohydrate. Most people feed cats with dry feline diet, which is widely available in the market. Nevertheless, cat’s metabolism is such that, it converts the dry diet into carbohydrate, which is not good for their health.

Give them high protein diet such as meat-based food to make them active and healthy. One of the common problems faced by many cat owners is, their cats eat a lot sometimes and at times, they do not eat at all. In such case, people need to know that, it is just natural because cat’s metabolism is equipped to “treat and crisis” cycle.

Therefore, if felines go without food for many days, people need not have to worry. Simply wait and the cats will start eating, when hungry. Hence, this is all about cat metabolism.

(ArticlesBase SC #435349) Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Cat Health And Cat Metabolism Information For The Best Cat Care

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