To claw or declaw, that is the question
Cats are born with claws, the same way that humans are born with fingernails and toe nails. Cats need claws in order to mark or scratch a specific place or territory that they have been in. Humans need finger nails to, scratch themselves or others, or for opening a letter envelope. Cats basically stretch their agile bodies in order to prepare their muscles when they dig their claws deeply into wood perhaps or a tree, and then they pull back from their hold. Scratching is a basic physiological need of cats.
So do cats need to be declawed? If cat owners truly care for the welfare of their cats, they would have to think twice on declawing their cats.
Declawing, what is it?
Declawing is done by taking away all the front claws of a cat. In a way this procedure is equal to the amputation of all the finger tips of a human being. For cats this surgery is painful and, for someone who is walking on all fours, terribly unnecessary.
Though the recovery of declawed cats may only take a few weeks or so, its physical and/or psychological effects could last a cat’s lifetime.
The following are the possible results once a cat has been declawed.
Ouch, ouch and ouch
Immediately after surgery, declawed cats suffer severe pain, though it is quite impossible to gauge how much pain they are experiencing. Declawed cats could be considered as amputees. Cats usually try to go on with their cat lives even with pain unless the pain eventually becomes unbearable. Although they may look and act normal does not mean they are free from aches.
Complications after the surgery
After the surgery, declawed cats usually experience one of the following post-surgery effects: presence of abscess, feelings of lameness, claw re-growth. Based on studies performed on declawed cats, it has been found that twenty five percent of them develop various complications. The same result has been found on cats who went under tenectomy. This is also a form of surgery that is currently being offered as an alternative to declawing. It is called this because only the tendons extended on the toes are the ones amputated.
Stiffness of the joints
Cats that are declawed experience stiffness of the joints since the tendons that manipulate the toes retract because of the surgery. As time goes by, these same joints freeze and ultimately they will no longer be able to extend their toes.
It has been thought though that cats really do not miss their claws since they also “scratch” continually even if they no longer have anything to scratch with. However, this act is really the cats' way to stretch those frozen joints.
Catarthritis
Believe it or not, research shows that declawed cats immediately shift the weight of their bodies to the back and onto the larger pad in the front of their feet, away from their toes. The result is still evident despite giving these cats strong anti-pain relievers. If such an effect continues after declawing, the cat will ultimately stress its own joints in the leg, its spine and eventually suffer from arthritis.
Cats who cannot claw, bite
Since the natural instinct of cats is to claw especially when threatened or scared, in the absence of claws cats are forced to resort to another form of defense – their teeth. Declawed cats that are aggressive naturally are more prone to biting.
Declawed cats have no “nine lives”.
There is a serious risk of death for cats that are declawed. Death could be brought on by the anesthesia they received, or any complications in surgery or hemorrhage.
Declawed cats that resort to biting run the risk of being abandoned by their owners. These cats could then be put in a shelter, and since they turn to biting, the probability of being adopted becomes slim. Usually un-adoptable cats are put to sleep or they are used to train dogs to fight usually as bait.
In summary, cats are extremely and highly trainable to be taught to use a post for scratching instead of common household furniture, rugs or curtains. Though declawing cats is one of the options a cat owner can take, it is basically an unkind and a very animal-unfriendly thing to do. It all depends on the cat owner whether Kitty is more (or less than) valuable than that expensive Italian rug. The choice is theirs.
Monday, May 8, 2006
Tips on Grooming Your Cat
“Tips on Grooming Your Cat”
Cats are basically very tidy creatures. They are in the habit of grooming themselves by licking every part of their body clean with their tongue.
This habit of tongue-bathing has several benefits to your pet cat :
- promotes better circulation of the blood
- gets rid of dead skin cells
- removes excess/dead hair on their coat
- tones their muscles
- keeps the fur soft and clean
Although your feline friends groom on their own, you should still do your part in keeping your cat clean and well-groomed.
Here are several ways to keep your cat well-groomed :
1. Brushing
Depending on the breed, your cat can either have long or short hair. Make sure that you brush your cat’s coat well enough to promote proper grooming.
-For cats with short hair, use a brush with soft bristles so that the skin will not be scratched or hurt in the grooming process.
Use soft, gentle strokes while brushing. This should make them purr in pleasure and you will have an easier job of grooming your pet cat.
After brushing the coat with a comb, you can finish the job by wiping the fur with a dry, soft and clean piece of cloth. This should maintain the shine on your cat’s coat.
-As compared to cats with shorter hair, long-haired cats would require more brushing time.
For this, use a comb with wide-teeth that is specially designed for cats. This should initially remove the knots and tangles on their fur.
Afterwards, you can use a fine-toothed comb to work the smaller knots on the fur and eliminate the more stubborn knots.
Do not forget to brush the hair around the face with a smaller comb or a toothbrush.
Avoid the eye and whisker area when brushing.
Brushing your cats fur on a regular basis will help keep their coat shiny and healthy, and will also give the owner and the pet some bonding time together.
2. Bathing
Cats do not often require bathing because they basically take good care of themselves when it comes to grooming.
However, there are some cases wherein you need to give them a bath no matter how you – and your pet – dread the chore.
You need to bathe your cat if the coat has excessive dirt.
Sometimes, a substance that can possibly poison them sticks on the fur and it is vital to give them a bath in this case.
Another instance where you need to bathe your cat is in case of fleas, ticks and lice clinging to their skin.
3. Cleaning the eyes and ears.
For the eyes and ears which are the most sensitive areas in your cat’s body, there are solutions that you may use.
Choose one which is specifically designed to prevent cats with light-colored eyes to develop stains.
For the ears, cats collect a considerable amount or wax so you have to take care of it when grooming.
Removing this would maintain your cat’s health and help prevent infections.
There are also cat wipes that you can use for the ears, eyes and teeth.
4. Keeping the paws clean.
Cats are in the habit of scratching surfaces so it is better to keep them away from the furniture items in the house. It would also help if you keep those paws clean and trim their nails.
You can go to a pet store and buy a nail trimmer specially designed for cats.
Ask your veterinarian for the proper way to trim your cats nails so as not to hurt them in the process.
If you find that your cat exhibits a not-so-healthy clawing habit, you may go for the option of declawing your cat.
This is a surgical procedure where the nails are permanently removed so that it will not grow back.
However, you should still ask your vets advice if you want to go for declawing because with this, cats will lose a natural defense mechanism.
A better and kinder option is to regularly trim the cat’s nails, have them use a wooden post for scratching, or crate-training to prevent them from clawing at your most-treasured possessions.
By following these tips and making time in your busy schedule to groom your cat, you would have a healthy and happy cat and be a happy owner as well.
Cats are basically very tidy creatures. They are in the habit of grooming themselves by licking every part of their body clean with their tongue.
This habit of tongue-bathing has several benefits to your pet cat :
- promotes better circulation of the blood
- gets rid of dead skin cells
- removes excess/dead hair on their coat
- tones their muscles
- keeps the fur soft and clean
Although your feline friends groom on their own, you should still do your part in keeping your cat clean and well-groomed.
Here are several ways to keep your cat well-groomed :
1. Brushing
Depending on the breed, your cat can either have long or short hair. Make sure that you brush your cat’s coat well enough to promote proper grooming.
-For cats with short hair, use a brush with soft bristles so that the skin will not be scratched or hurt in the grooming process.
Use soft, gentle strokes while brushing. This should make them purr in pleasure and you will have an easier job of grooming your pet cat.
After brushing the coat with a comb, you can finish the job by wiping the fur with a dry, soft and clean piece of cloth. This should maintain the shine on your cat’s coat.
-As compared to cats with shorter hair, long-haired cats would require more brushing time.
For this, use a comb with wide-teeth that is specially designed for cats. This should initially remove the knots and tangles on their fur.
Afterwards, you can use a fine-toothed comb to work the smaller knots on the fur and eliminate the more stubborn knots.
Do not forget to brush the hair around the face with a smaller comb or a toothbrush.
Avoid the eye and whisker area when brushing.
Brushing your cats fur on a regular basis will help keep their coat shiny and healthy, and will also give the owner and the pet some bonding time together.
2. Bathing
Cats do not often require bathing because they basically take good care of themselves when it comes to grooming.
However, there are some cases wherein you need to give them a bath no matter how you – and your pet – dread the chore.
You need to bathe your cat if the coat has excessive dirt.
Sometimes, a substance that can possibly poison them sticks on the fur and it is vital to give them a bath in this case.
Another instance where you need to bathe your cat is in case of fleas, ticks and lice clinging to their skin.
3. Cleaning the eyes and ears.
For the eyes and ears which are the most sensitive areas in your cat’s body, there are solutions that you may use.
Choose one which is specifically designed to prevent cats with light-colored eyes to develop stains.
For the ears, cats collect a considerable amount or wax so you have to take care of it when grooming.
Removing this would maintain your cat’s health and help prevent infections.
There are also cat wipes that you can use for the ears, eyes and teeth.
4. Keeping the paws clean.
Cats are in the habit of scratching surfaces so it is better to keep them away from the furniture items in the house. It would also help if you keep those paws clean and trim their nails.
You can go to a pet store and buy a nail trimmer specially designed for cats.
Ask your veterinarian for the proper way to trim your cats nails so as not to hurt them in the process.
If you find that your cat exhibits a not-so-healthy clawing habit, you may go for the option of declawing your cat.
This is a surgical procedure where the nails are permanently removed so that it will not grow back.
However, you should still ask your vets advice if you want to go for declawing because with this, cats will lose a natural defense mechanism.
A better and kinder option is to regularly trim the cat’s nails, have them use a wooden post for scratching, or crate-training to prevent them from clawing at your most-treasured possessions.
By following these tips and making time in your busy schedule to groom your cat, you would have a healthy and happy cat and be a happy owner as well.
Cat Health : Litter Training
"Cat Health: Litter Training ABC's"
One of the most daunting tasks that you have as a cat owner is litter-training them. You would not want them to soil your bed sheet or wet your favorite furniture.
In litter-training your pet cat, make sure that you start while they are young kittens and they will surely carry this habit as they grow.
Here are the basics on how you can successfully litter-train your cat:
1. Familiarize your cat with the "safe" areas within your house.
You may use crate-training while the cat is young. This is so that they will not roam around the house freely when they are not properly trained yet.
By giving them free rein on every area or room in your house, you will let your pet think that they can litter everywhere.
For starters, familiarize you cat with the areas around the house where they can roam around. Then start introducing the area where the litter box is located.
As a pet owner, you would basically have an idea of when your cat will eliminate.
The most likely times are after feeding, when they wake up and after going outside and walking.
2. Feed them on a regular basis.
Feeding your cat on a regular basis would help maintain a schedule of some sort within their system. After feeding, try to entice them to go to the area where the litter box is located.
Play with them for some time and once they are about to eliminate, the litter box is easily within reach.
Doing this on a regular basis would more or less train your cat of the proper place to soil or urinate.
When your cat takes a catnap, place her near a litter box after waking. Make sure that you muster encouraging words and stroke the coat to soothe her.
This is also your way of showing your cat that you are pleased about what she is doing.
3. Clean the litter box.
Cats are very tidy creatures. If they see or feel that the litter box is dirty, they will not want to go there.
These are some ways to keep the litter box clean and train your cat to use it:
-Your cat would not use a litter box that smells bad. After your cat has used the litter box, make sure that it is cleaned for the next time that your pet needs to use it.
-Discard the old litter immediately after use. Rinse the litter box with water.
You can add some lemon juice or vinegar to remove the smell of urine. This would make the litter box clean and pleasant smelling to your cat.
-Place the litter box in an area that is easily accessible to your cat. If you assign one room for them, you may place the litter box at the opposite end of their sleeping area.
Always supply your cat with clean water to drink, this may also be placed near the litter box so that they can urinate there after drinking.
-If you have more than one cat, place several litter boxes in strategic areas.
4. If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, it may be caused by stress.
Cats will react to stress by urinating or soiling your favorite piece of furniture.
There are also physical reasons why your cat will soil your carpet or wet your bed sheet. Your cat may have urinary tract problems that you would not know about.
It is best to consult your veterinarian if your cat suddenly urinates a lot or soils your furniture.
A sudden change in your cats behavior means that you should consult with a professional.
5. Do not associate the litter box with punishment.
You may also use psychology for litter training your cat.
If they litter on your carpet, do not lead them to the litter box after the fact.
If you do this, the litter box would serve as their punishment and it will be very hard for you to get them to use it again.
Do not scold your pet because they cannot help it if they have not been suitably house-broken yet.
Praise your cat and shower them with a lot of affection for each time that they use the litter box.
With enough time and patience, you can learn to litter-train your pet cat and succeed while doing so.
One of the most daunting tasks that you have as a cat owner is litter-training them. You would not want them to soil your bed sheet or wet your favorite furniture.
In litter-training your pet cat, make sure that you start while they are young kittens and they will surely carry this habit as they grow.
Here are the basics on how you can successfully litter-train your cat:
1. Familiarize your cat with the "safe" areas within your house.
You may use crate-training while the cat is young. This is so that they will not roam around the house freely when they are not properly trained yet.
By giving them free rein on every area or room in your house, you will let your pet think that they can litter everywhere.
For starters, familiarize you cat with the areas around the house where they can roam around. Then start introducing the area where the litter box is located.
As a pet owner, you would basically have an idea of when your cat will eliminate.
The most likely times are after feeding, when they wake up and after going outside and walking.
2. Feed them on a regular basis.
Feeding your cat on a regular basis would help maintain a schedule of some sort within their system. After feeding, try to entice them to go to the area where the litter box is located.
Play with them for some time and once they are about to eliminate, the litter box is easily within reach.
Doing this on a regular basis would more or less train your cat of the proper place to soil or urinate.
When your cat takes a catnap, place her near a litter box after waking. Make sure that you muster encouraging words and stroke the coat to soothe her.
This is also your way of showing your cat that you are pleased about what she is doing.
3. Clean the litter box.
Cats are very tidy creatures. If they see or feel that the litter box is dirty, they will not want to go there.
These are some ways to keep the litter box clean and train your cat to use it:
-Your cat would not use a litter box that smells bad. After your cat has used the litter box, make sure that it is cleaned for the next time that your pet needs to use it.
-Discard the old litter immediately after use. Rinse the litter box with water.
You can add some lemon juice or vinegar to remove the smell of urine. This would make the litter box clean and pleasant smelling to your cat.
-Place the litter box in an area that is easily accessible to your cat. If you assign one room for them, you may place the litter box at the opposite end of their sleeping area.
Always supply your cat with clean water to drink, this may also be placed near the litter box so that they can urinate there after drinking.
-If you have more than one cat, place several litter boxes in strategic areas.
4. If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, it may be caused by stress.
Cats will react to stress by urinating or soiling your favorite piece of furniture.
There are also physical reasons why your cat will soil your carpet or wet your bed sheet. Your cat may have urinary tract problems that you would not know about.
It is best to consult your veterinarian if your cat suddenly urinates a lot or soils your furniture.
A sudden change in your cats behavior means that you should consult with a professional.
5. Do not associate the litter box with punishment.
You may also use psychology for litter training your cat.
If they litter on your carpet, do not lead them to the litter box after the fact.
If you do this, the litter box would serve as their punishment and it will be very hard for you to get them to use it again.
Do not scold your pet because they cannot help it if they have not been suitably house-broken yet.
Praise your cat and shower them with a lot of affection for each time that they use the litter box.
With enough time and patience, you can learn to litter-train your pet cat and succeed while doing so.
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Providing A Scratch Post for Your Cat
Make your cat happy by providing a scratching post
Cats are generally lovable animals until the time when they ruin your sofa and your carpet, no thanks to their scratching talent. How does one get rid of this irritating hobby called cat scratching?
Well, there is no remedy for your cats scratching mannerisms. In fact, cat experts discourage human from interfering with their scratching because it is already second nature to cats.
Scratching is inherent in cats as they were made to scratch. The rear paws of a cat were made for scratching. As your cat grows, their claws also grow. Cats have to remove the sheath on their claws by scratching, so they can expose their new claws.
Remember that maxim "if you can't lick them, then join them" ? This is especially true for cats. If you do not want further damage to your furniture, draperies or carpets, then encourage your cats to scratch - but not on your things. Instead, buy him his own scratching post.
Buying a scratching post for your cat will give them an outlet for their scratching urge. It will not only save your precious furniture but will also keep your cats happy.
Why do cats use a scratching post
A scratching post is used for :
1. Scratching to remove an outer layer of the cat's nails.
2. Cats also need to exercise and move their muscles by climbing on the post
3. The post is not only used for scratching but also for stretching because while trying to scratch himself, the cat will stretch his whole body towards the post.
4. Marking the post for territorial purposes.
5. Just for the fun of it.
Outdoor cats usually use wooden fences or objects for scratching, so a good scratching post would be one made of wood. A cat owner can get firewood or a log and convert it into a scratching post. Others who are still training their cats make do with the less expensive cardboard posts.
Since the primary use of the post is for the cats to sharpen their claws, the scratching post must be upright and steady. It should also be tall enough, or a half size more than the cat, to make sure your cat can stretch his whole body on the post. Much care should be placed in choosing the right post because if the cat feels it is not steady enough for him, then he might not use it and will revert to scratching your furniture.
Cats are generally lovable animals until the time when they ruin your sofa and your carpet, no thanks to their scratching talent. How does one get rid of this irritating hobby called cat scratching?
Well, there is no remedy for your cats scratching mannerisms. In fact, cat experts discourage human from interfering with their scratching because it is already second nature to cats.
Scratching is inherent in cats as they were made to scratch. The rear paws of a cat were made for scratching. As your cat grows, their claws also grow. Cats have to remove the sheath on their claws by scratching, so they can expose their new claws.
Remember that maxim "if you can't lick them, then join them" ? This is especially true for cats. If you do not want further damage to your furniture, draperies or carpets, then encourage your cats to scratch - but not on your things. Instead, buy him his own scratching post.
Buying a scratching post for your cat will give them an outlet for their scratching urge. It will not only save your precious furniture but will also keep your cats happy.
Why do cats use a scratching post
A scratching post is used for :
1. Scratching to remove an outer layer of the cat's nails.
2. Cats also need to exercise and move their muscles by climbing on the post
3. The post is not only used for scratching but also for stretching because while trying to scratch himself, the cat will stretch his whole body towards the post.
4. Marking the post for territorial purposes.
5. Just for the fun of it.
Outdoor cats usually use wooden fences or objects for scratching, so a good scratching post would be one made of wood. A cat owner can get firewood or a log and convert it into a scratching post. Others who are still training their cats make do with the less expensive cardboard posts.
Since the primary use of the post is for the cats to sharpen their claws, the scratching post must be upright and steady. It should also be tall enough, or a half size more than the cat, to make sure your cat can stretch his whole body on the post. Much care should be placed in choosing the right post because if the cat feels it is not steady enough for him, then he might not use it and will revert to scratching your furniture.
Training Your Cats to Use The Scratch Post
Using the Scratch Post
Cats really, really, really love to scratch and that is no exaggeration either. If you’re a first-time owner of a cat, you’ll find that out as soon as you see your new furniture full of claw marks and your sofa and the pillows are shredded and torn to pieces. Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. The obvious reason is for marking their territory. Cat’s paws leave their scent and every time they scratch something their scent stays there. Scratching is also an exercise for them; you’ll usually see their love for scratching every time they wake up from a nap.
The first response to this is confining your cat to some place where she can’t damage new furniture or scratch anything valuable. This can be seen as a temporary solution only and can’t be permanent as cats love to wander around too. The best solution is a scratch post.
A scratch post is something you can buy or create yourself. There are several scratch posts on the market and you are sure to find something suitable for your cat. Remember, though, that a cat’s idea of something good to scratch at is different from your idea. Never ever make the mistake of buying something expensive just because you think it looks good or looks exactly like your sofa.
An excellent post is something where your cat can fully stretch her body and should be stable. Once your cat starts scratching on it and it topples over, you can be sure that she won’t return to it.
After buying one, the next step for you is to train your cat to scratch it. Never make the mistake of forcing her claws to scratch the post. Your cat is just like a child and showing her something she knows how to do is something that can make your cat behave aloof to you for a couple of days.
One suggestion is to put the post where your cat used to scratch. For example, if she loves scratching your wooden chair, then put it close to your chair. Other places include a place close to where your cat is sleeping so she’ll have some thing to scratch after her nap. This won’t work at all times, though, so you have to do something clever to entice her to scratch the post.
One of the best solutions is to rub catnip into it. This will have her happily digging at the post in no time. If this doesn’t really appeal to your cat, don’t lose hope because there are other ways. Some cats just don’t love catnip and won’t be fooled easily by this treat.
Another way is to associate the post with something fun. Put some food treats around it or dangle some toys that will entice her to reach out for the toy and inadvertently scratch the post. You must remember to praise your cat every time she scratches your post so she will remember that scratching the post is both fun and agreeable to you.
Another way to “fool” your cat into scratching the post is to play games with her running around the scratch post. Once she finds that scratching the post is better than playing your game, don’t feel bad as you have done your job of “fooling” your cat into using the scratch post.
Of course you can try to train them directly to scratch the post. You can give the order to “scratch” and point to the post while you give the order and every time your cat scratches the post give her a treat and praise her loudly so she can be proud of pleasing you.
Once your cat starts using the scratch post, the next step is to prevent her from scratching your furniture. You could do this by covering your furniture with aluminum foil or double-sided tape. These are surfaces that your cat will find not so good to scratch and she will soon realize not to scratch things other than her scratch post.
The only thing to remember is that to prevent your cat from scratching your furniture is to provide her with something better to scratch.
Cats really, really, really love to scratch and that is no exaggeration either. If you’re a first-time owner of a cat, you’ll find that out as soon as you see your new furniture full of claw marks and your sofa and the pillows are shredded and torn to pieces. Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. The obvious reason is for marking their territory. Cat’s paws leave their scent and every time they scratch something their scent stays there. Scratching is also an exercise for them; you’ll usually see their love for scratching every time they wake up from a nap.
The first response to this is confining your cat to some place where she can’t damage new furniture or scratch anything valuable. This can be seen as a temporary solution only and can’t be permanent as cats love to wander around too. The best solution is a scratch post.
A scratch post is something you can buy or create yourself. There are several scratch posts on the market and you are sure to find something suitable for your cat. Remember, though, that a cat’s idea of something good to scratch at is different from your idea. Never ever make the mistake of buying something expensive just because you think it looks good or looks exactly like your sofa.
An excellent post is something where your cat can fully stretch her body and should be stable. Once your cat starts scratching on it and it topples over, you can be sure that she won’t return to it.
After buying one, the next step for you is to train your cat to scratch it. Never make the mistake of forcing her claws to scratch the post. Your cat is just like a child and showing her something she knows how to do is something that can make your cat behave aloof to you for a couple of days.
One suggestion is to put the post where your cat used to scratch. For example, if she loves scratching your wooden chair, then put it close to your chair. Other places include a place close to where your cat is sleeping so she’ll have some thing to scratch after her nap. This won’t work at all times, though, so you have to do something clever to entice her to scratch the post.
One of the best solutions is to rub catnip into it. This will have her happily digging at the post in no time. If this doesn’t really appeal to your cat, don’t lose hope because there are other ways. Some cats just don’t love catnip and won’t be fooled easily by this treat.
Another way is to associate the post with something fun. Put some food treats around it or dangle some toys that will entice her to reach out for the toy and inadvertently scratch the post. You must remember to praise your cat every time she scratches your post so she will remember that scratching the post is both fun and agreeable to you.
Another way to “fool” your cat into scratching the post is to play games with her running around the scratch post. Once she finds that scratching the post is better than playing your game, don’t feel bad as you have done your job of “fooling” your cat into using the scratch post.
Of course you can try to train them directly to scratch the post. You can give the order to “scratch” and point to the post while you give the order and every time your cat scratches the post give her a treat and praise her loudly so she can be proud of pleasing you.
Once your cat starts using the scratch post, the next step is to prevent her from scratching your furniture. You could do this by covering your furniture with aluminum foil or double-sided tape. These are surfaces that your cat will find not so good to scratch and she will soon realize not to scratch things other than her scratch post.
The only thing to remember is that to prevent your cat from scratching your furniture is to provide her with something better to scratch.
Thursday, May 4, 2006
Tips in finding cat breeders
Responsible cat breeders produce better cats
It is your youngest son's birthday and you want to give him a pet that will be sociable and one that will fit in with your household. You decided that a cat would be a good idea. But how does one go about choosing a pet cat?
First you have to do some research on the breed of cat that interests you, or that would fit your son or your family's personality. Most people will give a cat one look and they have already decided. Of course, a nice-looking cat would be a welcome treat but the choice of cat should not only be based on its looks but also on its temperament.
Consider if there are children in the household and research what breed of cats are friendly and are easy to groom and to take care of? And then decide whether you would like to get a kitten or an older cat.
Once you have decided on the breed of cat, then look for legitimate cat breeders who can supply you with the cat you require. Try to attend cat shows and ask for a recommendation. It also helps to read the newspapers or surf the internet since most breeders have their own sites.
Buying a cat from a responsible cat breeder will not ensure you have a purebred cat but will guarantee that you are getting a healthy cat. You can also ask about retired breeders as they can sell at lower prices. Cats purchased from retired breeders are often better than kittens as they are probably already neutered, of high quality and they can easily adjust to their new home.
Responsible breeders will not sell very young kittens that are not yet weaned. Also choose a breeder who will provide a health guarantee for the kitten as well as complete papers and registration.
Tips in finding cat breeders
1. To get good cat breeders, make sure to talk to people who may have purchased animals from the same breeders as they can give you insights as to how responsible the breeder is.
2. Ask the breeder for references and go check on these references.
3. Check a cat breeders cattery list because if the breeder has lots of available kittens, then it may mean that the breeder is having a hard time finding homes for these kittens and the reason may be significance to you.
4. Make sure the breeder can give you the cat registration, health records and pedigree records.
A cat's lifespan is normally 20 years or more, depending on the care it is given. Choosing a responsible breeder will make your cat not only healthier, but live longer.
It is your youngest son's birthday and you want to give him a pet that will be sociable and one that will fit in with your household. You decided that a cat would be a good idea. But how does one go about choosing a pet cat?
First you have to do some research on the breed of cat that interests you, or that would fit your son or your family's personality. Most people will give a cat one look and they have already decided. Of course, a nice-looking cat would be a welcome treat but the choice of cat should not only be based on its looks but also on its temperament.
Consider if there are children in the household and research what breed of cats are friendly and are easy to groom and to take care of? And then decide whether you would like to get a kitten or an older cat.
Once you have decided on the breed of cat, then look for legitimate cat breeders who can supply you with the cat you require. Try to attend cat shows and ask for a recommendation. It also helps to read the newspapers or surf the internet since most breeders have their own sites.
Buying a cat from a responsible cat breeder will not ensure you have a purebred cat but will guarantee that you are getting a healthy cat. You can also ask about retired breeders as they can sell at lower prices. Cats purchased from retired breeders are often better than kittens as they are probably already neutered, of high quality and they can easily adjust to their new home.
Responsible breeders will not sell very young kittens that are not yet weaned. Also choose a breeder who will provide a health guarantee for the kitten as well as complete papers and registration.
Tips in finding cat breeders
1. To get good cat breeders, make sure to talk to people who may have purchased animals from the same breeders as they can give you insights as to how responsible the breeder is.
2. Ask the breeder for references and go check on these references.
3. Check a cat breeders cattery list because if the breeder has lots of available kittens, then it may mean that the breeder is having a hard time finding homes for these kittens and the reason may be significance to you.
4. Make sure the breeder can give you the cat registration, health records and pedigree records.
A cat's lifespan is normally 20 years or more, depending on the care it is given. Choosing a responsible breeder will make your cat not only healthier, but live longer.
How to Name Your Cat
I Dub Thee - Sir Kitty : How to Name Your Cat
When T.S. Elliot wrote in a poem (The naming of cats) the lines “(when) I tell you, a cat must have three different names’, he must have owned a cat. Many cat owners would have to agree that finding a cat’s name is both a serious and a fun thing to do and that a cat’s name barely lasts a whole year before they find a new, better and apt name for their pets.
Most cats start out with simple and uncreative names. A black cat given to you by a friend is unsurprisingly called Blacky, much like what you will expect from a fluffy cat named (surprise, surprise) Fluffy. These names (along with the likes of Smokey and Tiger) are given by previous owners who really do not want to be attached to the cat because they are giving it to some other friend. They sort of expect you to change the names of these cats as you take them to your house.
When you give a different name to a cat, you are welcoming him to your family. Most names come from favorite things, like characters from a book, movie or television show. Other names crop up from famous (and infamous) celebrities such as Britney, Saddam or Osama.
Aside from giving your cat a name that first popped into your mind, there's one fun way that a certain website mentioned. It's acrophonology - it is the analysis of a name through the qualities of the letters. Before giving your cat or any pet just any moniker, it won't hurt to give acrophonology a try, right? You can even find online analysis of your cat's name. Sites that offer this kind of service often deliver a brief summary of the hidden meanings that are within your cat's name. Sure sounds fun and quite rewarding, right?
Other ideas can come up from cartoons, mythology, ancient historical figures and even from common names of people. There are plenty of names out there and if you can’t think of any, just type ‘cat names’ in your favorite search engine and you’ll find great names that you might have not thought of.
These names though, however good they are, tend to change after certain circumstances. Imagine a cat you named Fatso because he was fat when he was a kitten. All of a sudden, after 1 year he went from a kitten who always slept to a cat that prowls the night. This will build up his body and the once fat kitten is no more. So what about his name of Fatso? It sounds ridiculous introducing him to your friends as Fatso when he is not fat at all, so you are bound to change her name after that.
Another secret with cats names is that you have to be creative. Sometimes you don’t even have to think of a word as cats provide them to you with their actions.
Other cats names change after certain incidents. These incidents include accidents such as your cat breaking a big bottle of strawberry jam (so you named her Strawberry) or like when she cries too much and you can’t sleep for several nights (so she is named Banshee).
The value of your cats name does not only extend to that term of endearment that you would like your lovely feline companion to be regarded with, but your cats name is also important when it's time for you to train it. If you are planning to make your pet one of the most well-trained, making your cats name easy to say and quite unique will make it easier for you to say it when you have to issue a command. One tip is use your cats name in positive commands such as "come". When your cat gets accustomed to hearing its name in only positive commands it will learn to love its name.
Truly, naming your cat can be a very rewarding and fun endeavor. It doesn't have to be a mind-boggling feat. If you really are quite passionate with your feline friend, chances are giving it a name would be a cinch.
When T.S. Elliot wrote in a poem (The naming of cats) the lines “(when) I tell you, a cat must have three different names’, he must have owned a cat. Many cat owners would have to agree that finding a cat’s name is both a serious and a fun thing to do and that a cat’s name barely lasts a whole year before they find a new, better and apt name for their pets.
Most cats start out with simple and uncreative names. A black cat given to you by a friend is unsurprisingly called Blacky, much like what you will expect from a fluffy cat named (surprise, surprise) Fluffy. These names (along with the likes of Smokey and Tiger) are given by previous owners who really do not want to be attached to the cat because they are giving it to some other friend. They sort of expect you to change the names of these cats as you take them to your house.
When you give a different name to a cat, you are welcoming him to your family. Most names come from favorite things, like characters from a book, movie or television show. Other names crop up from famous (and infamous) celebrities such as Britney, Saddam or Osama.
Aside from giving your cat a name that first popped into your mind, there's one fun way that a certain website mentioned. It's acrophonology - it is the analysis of a name through the qualities of the letters. Before giving your cat or any pet just any moniker, it won't hurt to give acrophonology a try, right? You can even find online analysis of your cat's name. Sites that offer this kind of service often deliver a brief summary of the hidden meanings that are within your cat's name. Sure sounds fun and quite rewarding, right?
Other ideas can come up from cartoons, mythology, ancient historical figures and even from common names of people. There are plenty of names out there and if you can’t think of any, just type ‘cat names’ in your favorite search engine and you’ll find great names that you might have not thought of.
These names though, however good they are, tend to change after certain circumstances. Imagine a cat you named Fatso because he was fat when he was a kitten. All of a sudden, after 1 year he went from a kitten who always slept to a cat that prowls the night. This will build up his body and the once fat kitten is no more. So what about his name of Fatso? It sounds ridiculous introducing him to your friends as Fatso when he is not fat at all, so you are bound to change her name after that.
Another secret with cats names is that you have to be creative. Sometimes you don’t even have to think of a word as cats provide them to you with their actions.
Other cats names change after certain incidents. These incidents include accidents such as your cat breaking a big bottle of strawberry jam (so you named her Strawberry) or like when she cries too much and you can’t sleep for several nights (so she is named Banshee).
The value of your cats name does not only extend to that term of endearment that you would like your lovely feline companion to be regarded with, but your cats name is also important when it's time for you to train it. If you are planning to make your pet one of the most well-trained, making your cats name easy to say and quite unique will make it easier for you to say it when you have to issue a command. One tip is use your cats name in positive commands such as "come". When your cat gets accustomed to hearing its name in only positive commands it will learn to love its name.
Truly, naming your cat can be a very rewarding and fun endeavor. It doesn't have to be a mind-boggling feat. If you really are quite passionate with your feline friend, chances are giving it a name would be a cinch.
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