Aug 4th, 2008 | Cats | Comments Off
It is virtually impossible to try and find all of the latest research on the ingredients that goes into your cat food. However, there is no need to go to such lengths in determining what is healthy for your cat. This article will give you very simple, yet worthwhile chunks of information that pertain to the food you should feed your cat.
1. Choose the right foods that is appropriate to the age of your cat. While most older cats will do just fine by eating standard adult cat food, your kittens will need much more fat and protein in their diet. These little critters should therefore eat food that’s appropriate for their age. When looking at food packages, try to look for the words “balanced nutrition” somewhere on the label. If you are shopping for your kittens, then look for the AAFCO animal feeding tested statement that says “for all life stages”.
2. Be sure to choose cat foods that are produced from major name-brand manufacturers. If you are going to buy cat food from the grocery store or your local pet store, try to purchase from one of the more popular manufacturers. There is a lot of internal testing that cat food should go through and some small companies do not have the money to pay the expense of these tests. The lack of proper testing leads to unsafe cat food.
What Type Of Cat Food Is Best?
Even if you know exactly what you are looking for in a cat food, it is still hard to decipher all of the packages and labels when deciding on which cat food to buy. Below is a small list of standard types of cat food and some information that may help you choose:
1. Canned cat food: Although cats love the juicy and watery flavors that this type of food delivers, it can be quite expensive. They come in very small cans and are higher priced than buying dried foods or semi-moist foods. However, if it is more important to serve tasty delicious food to your cat rather than saving money, then this is the way to go. It is recommended that you serve your cat a variety of different flavors so that he does not become overly picky towards one. This may cause him to go hungry and pass up on other foods.
2. Dry cat food: This type of cat food is less expensive than canned food and often comes in either a box or a large bag. Another name for dry cat food is called kibble. Not only does dry foods last longer than moist food, but it also helps prevent your cat’s teeth from building up tartar.
3. Semi-moist cat food: This type of cat food is exactly the way it sounds - it is a mix between dry food and canned food. It may come in interesting looking shapes and lots of artificial colors. However, semi-moist cat food has been criticized as appealing to humans rather than cats. Cats do not care what their food looks like or what shapes it comes in. It is also noted as not being as nutritious as dry food or even 100% wet food (canned).
Feb 13th, 2008 | Cats | Comments Off
Ask any relationship counselor about what it takes to make a great relationship, and they will tell you that communication is key. The same goes for you and your cat. If you want to create a strong bond and enjoy a loving and affectionate relationship with your feline friends, then you must understand what cats are saying and how they are using their body language to convey their emotions.
By learning more about how your cat tries to communicate with you, it will only strengthen your bond and make life more enjoyable - not only for you, but for your cat as well. Cats are like creatures from another planet in that they’re very different from people and as a cat lover myself, I can honestly say that it’s a fantastic learning experience when you find out more of what goes on in the cat’s mind.
Cats are considered predators, and like all predators, they have very keen senses. One of their strongest senses is the sense of smell. When it comes to how we use our noses, cats and people are living two entirely different worlds. While you may sniff and enjoy the aroma of an apple pie baking in the oven, a cat can pick up on a number of different people, animals, and other items that are happening outside the walls of your house.
Hot Tip: By understanding this, it may help you to realize that a cat can become very turned off by the smell of his litter box. Many cat owners complain that their feline friends are not properly house-trained, but with a little research we find that is really just a matter of the owners not keeping the litter box clean.
A cats wonderful sense of smell is also of use when it comes to territory, finding its prey, and deciding whether certain foods are safe for them to eat. While dogs will put most anything in their mouth, cats who stumble upon food while roaming the streets are very selective and use their sense of smell to make sure the food is not something that is going to make them sick or is rotten.
Cats also have a body part that helps them process what they smell which is called the vomeronasal organ. This organ is located in the roof of their mouth near the front. Most of the time this organ is used when a cat is trying to process the smell of sexual orientation of another cat, especially when mating. A cat will open his mouth and literally breath in hard enough to “taste” whatever is that they are smelling which will help them determine even more details that they are picking up from the aroma.
Nov 17th, 2007 | Cats | Comments Off
by Paulina Jenkins
The study of kitty chromosomes is really not much different than studying human chromosomes. It is a fascinating procedure that can offer an insight to how cat development occurs. There are many different aspects that need to be taken into consideration when studying feline DNA, and the results are astounding to many in the medical and veterinarian field.
Studies have found that there are nineteen pairs of kitty chromosomes in all cats. One pair of chromosomes is inherited from the mother and the other set is from the father. The X or Y chromosomes are responsible for the sex of the offspring.
The mother always passes on the X chromosome, but the male cat can only give an X or Y chromosome. The gender of the kitten will depend on which chromosome the father gives. The kitty chromosomes from the father also affect the fur color and pattern.
A male calico or tortoiseshell cat has two X and one Y chromosomes. All female cats have two X kitty chromosomes that contain genes creating the three calico pattern colors. A male calico or tortoiseshell has only one X chromosome. This X chromosome gives the fur color of orange or black. In the calico cat there is a gene for the white color of the calico pattern.
Sometimes a kitten has three chromosomes instead of the XX or XY chromosome pattern. This cat will have the XXY chromosome pattern and is always a male and sterile. A calico or tortoiseshell cat must have two XX chromosomes to get the fur colors.
Therefore, calico or tortoiseshell females have a set of X chromosomes, the XX combination. The calico or tortoiseshell male cat has the chromosome pattern of XY or XXY and always sterile. The division of the cells affects the end kitty chromosome combination and the gender of the cat.
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Oct 24th, 2007 | Cats, Pets | Comments Off
As with any new pet, one of the most frustrating aspects of acquiring a new cat is getting him to behave and follow the rules of the house. You need to understand what may be causing his behavioral problems to happen in the first place. There are numerous reasons why a cat may be urinating all over the house, destroying furniture with his claws, displaying loud noises, etc.
With time and proper understanding, you can get to the root cause of the problem and provide the proper solution for it. Below are two possible reasons for your cat’s destructive behavior:
1. He may have a medical condition. You may not be aware of this, but many cats who display behavior problems are often suffering from some type of illness. For example, a cat who has had diabetes for a while will drink lots of water and urinate almost constantly all over the place. Though this may seem like a behavior problem to a pet owner who is not aware of his cats medical issue, it is a serious occurrence that the cat cannot help unless he is properly treated.
Does your cat bite at you or others in the house? Believe it or not this can be another problem stemming from a medical condition. A cat that lashes out and tries to bite or scratch is doing so in order to protect himself. This is very confusing to the owner because the cat is not really being attacked. However, unknown to the owner, his cat may have a urinary tract infection.
When this happens, it is very painful for a cat to urinate. He associates this pain as being attacked, especially when he is near the litter box. He may then lash out at people whenever he feels the need to urinate. Once the cat has been properly diagnosed and treated and the the infection goes away, he will immediately stop trying to “protect himself” by biting and clawing.
2. Are you placing unreasonable demands on your cat? Sometimes it is not necessarily the cat that needs to be looked at as having an issue causing the behavior problem. Many times it is the owner who may be pushing his pet to behave badly. By being open minded to looking at your own role as a possible cause of your cats’ destructive behavior, you may discover that it is simply a problem of you placing unreasonable commands upon your feline friend.
Ask yourself this question: Are you asking something from your cat that he may not be able to deliver? For example, are you asking your cat to use the bathroom in a dirty litter box? Many times owners do not clean the litter box as much as it should be cleaned. This causes their cat to not use it and go elsewhere in the house.
Another example of placing an unreasonable demand on your cat is asking him to stay off the couch while at the same time not providing an alternate posting spot for him to rest on. Cats love and need to have their own areas to lay down and to scratch at. If you are yelling at your cat every time he pounces on the couch, and he doesn’t stop, then it is time to invest into his own scratching post and lay area. This is a very simple solution to getting your cat to stay off of your couch and the other furniture.
Sep 25th, 2007 | Cats, Pets | Comments Off
Even though cats are probably one of the most popular pets in the typical household, there are many people that still hold misconceptions about these wonderful animals. There is no doubt that some people who dislike cats (based on false information) would probably enjoy having them as pets if they would just open up their minds.
Most of these misconceptions that people have about cats stem from constantly comparing them to dogs and let’s face it, that’s probably not the best way to look at it. Not everybody loves the way dogs act yet may appreciate the independent character of the cat. It’s the same as a cat lover who might not be attracted to an animal that constantly needs love and attention like a dog does.
Let us dispel a few of these common misconceptions about cats. Below are two that you may be familiar with:
“Cats have no personality and are very cold towards people”
It is no secret that cats are very independent animals and are not the most affectionate of pets. This is probably the most common reason why some people may assume that a cat would not make a great pet for them. Yes, cats certainly do choose their moments when it comes to affection and may not always be willing to be overly friendly, but they are in fact very loving animals.
And when cats do try to nestle up to your leg or try to get a pat on the back, cat critics again claim that they are just in it for the food or a treat. But this is not true. Cats love and appreciate the warmth and affection from their owners, just not as much as dogs do. Cats love to hang out on your lap, lay around your table areas, or smuggle in most places next to you when they are ready to rest.
“Cats take care of themselves and do not need human contact”
This is another misconception that is not entirely true. Sure there may be more wild cats walking around the neighborhood than dogs, but that doesn’t mean that a house cat that has been raised as your pet will want to escape from your home and wonder all into the streets.
Of course it is true that cats are very easy to maintain and pretty much to take care of themselves. However, a healthy cat who has been raised with lots of love will always show affection and want to be in contact with its owners. But that is what many people appreciate about cats - that they are extremely low maintenance compared to other pets.
Sep 8th, 2007 | Cats, Pets | Comments Off
I have three cats and they must be the most adventurous creatures on the planet. All three of them can never stay out of trouble for too long. They like to get into every nook and cranny of the entire house and discover new terrain. It sure does sound fun for cats, but unfortunately these little play times can be frustrating for us pet owners.
The costs of owning a cat aren’t too high between food and the occasional veterinarian checkup. However, the amount of damage that they can cause to our expensive furniture, clothes, shoes, etc. can be quite pricey. And for some reason many cats just love to attack houseplants.
This is a battle that I fought for a long time with my cats. If you also have a green thumb for growing plants inside your home while at the same time own a “plant-loving” cat, then your job is to make your plants as undesirable as you possibly can to the animal. Below are a few tips that can help you stop the battle between your pet and the houseplants.
1. Since cats enjoy chewing on plants, one of the first things you can do is to make them taste terrible. Be careful however, and avoid spraying anything on your plants that may harm your cat or be toxic to the plant. We recommend that you spray a little vinegar mixed with water or my personal favorite, Tabasco sauce. Sometimes a cat won’t even need to take a taste test in order to be turned off. Just getting close and taking to a whiff of that spice and bitterness will be enough to send him running.
2. Next, you can take advantage of your cat’s fear. So long as you don’t mind the ugly decor, you can make the plant look as unattractive as scary as possible. One technique that I use is to run aluminum foil wrapped around the sides of the pots and then extend a couple lines of foil rolled up and coiled 3 feet out, like a big bird claw. It was funny to see my cats avoid those plants at all cost. This was just one idea I came up with that worked. You can brainstorm and find ways to scare off your cats that may suit you better.
3. Last but not least, if you want to avoid having a bitter aroma running through the house from Tabasco sauce as well as prevent your living room from looking like a science fiction movie with all the aluminum, your best bet is to simply turn your plants into hanging plants. Unless your house or apartment is loaded with high levels that your cat can get to, turning your plants into ceiling plants are is probably the most successful technique that can be used to keep them from becoming cat food.
Aug 10th, 2007 | Cats, Pets | Comments Off
Your cat can begin to show signs of pregnancy within two weeks from the mating period, specifically by the change in color of the cat’s nipples. However, these signs are very subtle and many cats will not appear to be carrying their young even up to the last week before giving birth.
In order to safeguard against pregnancy dangers and to ensure that your cat gives birth to healthy kittens, it is imperative that you see your veterinarian in order to have blood work done on your pet. The doctor can use these tests in order to establish your cat’s healthy readings as well as to check for any health problems that may exist or spring up in the near future.
The veterinarian may also use an ultrasound early on in the pregnancy in order to properly diagnose the process and to assess the development and health of the unborn kittens. In addition, x-rays may be taken of your cat approximately 45 days after mating which can help determine how many kittens will be born and what their size will be. This information can better help you prepare for the burning time and to adjust your schedule accordingly in order to take care of your cat.
Caution: Your veterinarian is an expert when it comes to your cat’s pregnancy and exactly what prenatal care should be given. Therefore, it is important that you do not risk complications by giving your cat any type of pet supplements, vitamins, or medications that the vet did not administer or approve of.
Within two weeks of mating, your cat will become restless and instinctually start to find a place in your home where she will decide to have her babies. Cats do this without having to think about it. It is nature’s way of keeping the kittens safe when they are born. It is important that you keep your cat confined to the inside of your house from this point on, even if she is already considered to be an outdoor cat. In fact, it is best to confine her to one room of the house if at all possible.
Prepare your cat’s solitary area with what is called a “queening box”. A queening box is simply a place where cats can give birth and it will also help keep the area relatively clean. It can be a simple as a cardboard box that has one side cut open for easy access. You can fill the inside with newspapers or other material that you see fit. And do not keep her food and water dish in or near this box. It is best to keep them a slight distance away from both the queening box as well as her litter box.
Jul 14th, 2007 | Cats | Comments Off
If you don’t already know this already, overweight cats can suffer numerous health problems, including a serious liver disease that is often fatal. This is an important issue which needs to be addressed if your cat appears to be a bit overweight. On the other hand, just as dangerous to your cat is the problem of not eating enough.
The problem: These cats are just too finicky!
It’s very rare to see a cat, or any animal for that matter, pass up food. I haven’t seen a cat skip a meal yet! However, there are a few finicky cats out there who are so choosy about what they eat that they end up being malnourished and underweight. These cats can become this way for a variety of reasons, but is typically the fault of the owner.
Sometimes cat owners get lazy and they buy the same old cat food day after day, week after week, month after month, until one day they realize that their cat isn’t eating the food anymore. They simply get sick of it. One way to prevent this is to cycle different flavors of cat food during the week, as well as try out different brands of cat food periodically.
It could be a medical issue
If your cat still refuses to eat and is looking very thin, the chances are high that there may be a medical problem in which you cannot solve yourself. In order to see if your cat is too thin, take a look at his ribs and if they are clearly visible then he has a problem and you must take him to the veterinarian.
What about the cat that does not eat, yet still gains weight?
This scenario is one I am familiar with personally. Being a cat owner myself, I started with owning just one cat many years ago. His name is “Sparks”. Every day I would come home from work and his food would not be touched. Only seldom did he eat in front of me and that was on the weekends when I was usually home all of the time. After a while I started to get a little concerned that there was something wrong, however he was still the same weight. Even the veterinarian claimed that he was totally healthy and getting more than enough to eat.
I found the problem. He was eating food from the outside trash bin. Sparks had figured out a way to escape the house while I was gone. In one section of our basement was an old ventilation shaft that was just big enough for him to squeeze through which led to the outside. What was happening was that he was escaping everyday and eating old food from trash cans and other foodstuffs that he would find.
Although this doesn’t seem like a major problem, there was a good likelihood that my cat ate something that was bad for him or toxic. Luckily he never got sick, but he could have. I realize that many cats practically live outside in the owners are okay with that. But for us house-cat owners, our little friends are more vulnerable to picking up diseases and toxic foods from the outside.
Jun 18th, 2007 | Cats, Pets | Comments Off
Feral cats are different from stray cats. Stray cats are usually the product of a person’s irresponsibility. Irresponsibility could be defined in two ways when it comes to strays: dumping a cat to fend for itself and/or neglecting to spay and neuter their cats. Stray cats can be timid, but are often easily tamed. Feral cats are cats that were probably born to wild parents and are wild themselves. Feral cats have had no human interaction and are very difficult to tame.
Because feral cats are difficult to tame, thus making them undesirable indoor pets, there are many rescue organizations that are dedicated to the trapping and spaying and neutering of feral cat colonies. Many times, these organizations trap the cats, have them spayed and neutered and then release them near where they were originally found. Then, they dedicate themselves to providing food to these colonies.
Feral cats are everywhere. You can find feral cats in rural or farm areas, abandoned buildings and even parks and alleyways. You might catch a glimpse of them, but chances are that you would not be able to catch them easily. After all, they have not been around humans so any contact would make them shy away from you. If you have feral cats in your neighborhood, you may wonder whether these animals can be kept as pets.
Taming a feral cat can be a difficult proposition simply because they are not accustomed to humans. Depending on the level of their interactions with humans, some cats might be classified as semi-feral, total feral or even a converted feral cat. Depending on what your cat is classified dictates your potential success in socializing it. In addition, it takes a lot of time, love and patience to tame these cats.
If you find a cat that is has been feral for a years, chances are that there is little to no chance of socializing it. With no human contact at all, these cats are overly independent and would never depend on a human for food or companionship. You might have better success with a cat that is semi-feral. In these instances, they have had some limited human contact. A converted feral cat would probably have the best chance at a normal life as someone’s pet. These cats were once domesticated, meaning that they probably started life as a pet and then was abandoned. The converted feral cat will more than likely eventually respond to human interactions such as love and affection.
If you want to attempt to tame a feral cat, remember that it can be hard work reaching out to the feral cat and getting them to trust you after being on their own. Sometimes, your efforts will not pay off for months, especially with older cats. If your attempts are a success, the rewards are well worth it because a strong bond can develop and loyalty and love is the reward.
If you believe you have the time and the love to attempt to tame a feral, there are some things to remember. First, these cats see you as an intruder and are very likely to spit, hiss, bite and claw. This is a normal response as they are defending themselves against a perceived predator – you. If they manage to get in a few bites or scratches, you should apply first aid immediately. After you have successfully trapped a feral cat, your very first step is to get it to the vet for spay or neuter and to check for any diseases it may carry. This is a necessary step and an absolute must if you have other pets in the house. After you have arrived home with your cat, you need to let it adjust to you and the surroundings by giving it a small, safe place to stay. Allow the cat to stay in a small bathroom or laundry room, where it does not feel overwhelmed. You will need to take time every day to spend time with the cat and allow the cat to adjust to you.
Remember, not all feral cats can be socialized; however with love and patience, your time and efforts may be worthwhile.
Jun 11th, 2007 | Cats, Pets | Comments Off
Introducing a new pet to the family can be one of life’s sweetest experiences, especially when it’s a new kitten. Regardless if you are a child or an adult, we all melt when that new furry little friend becomes part of the family.
It should be quite obvious then, that your family would all like your new cat to live a long healthy life and bond tightly with the members of the household. You should expect to spend every day conditioning your cat with mild behavior training and direction, especially during the first few months as a kitten. You must lay the groundwork early on so that your new pet will be trained for a lifetime of good behavior.
For example, if you want your new kitten to use the litter box, scratch at his own scratching post instead of your furniture, or not get into the habit of nipping your fingers, then you need to establish the rules on the very first day of homecoming. Do not feel bad about disciplining your little kitty. This is a mistake that many new kitten owners make. They feel guilty and end up not training their pets appropriately. Going this route will ensure your frustration in the future when he is an adult cat that is giving your problems.
Keeping Your New Kitten Safe
In addition to behavior training, the first few months of having a new kitten in the house involves detailed attention to the safety of the animal. You must ensure that the surrounding areas in your home is safe for the little guy. All too often, cats can get seriously injured or even die because of household dangers that could have been avoided.
For example, look around each room and check all objects and low lying shelf units within at least the first 3-4 feet high. Is there anything that a kitten could paw into which could fall on top of him? Is there any electronic wiring within the kitten’s reach that could cause him to be electrocuted? Do you see any small areas that a kitten can squeeze into and possibly get trapped?
Many new pet owners underestimate these dangers. But as you can see by the examples above, it doesn’t take much for your kitten to get himself into danger around the house. In fact, it is best to create a checklist of all of the possibilities that may be harmful to your cat before you even bring him home. Once you have secured all dangers, you can rest assure that your kitten’s new home is safe and sound.