Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Games for Your Cat

Cat games provide your cat with the much needed exercise plus this is an effective way to bond and build trust with your furry pet. Aside from that this activity stimulates the mind of cats and your mind as well.

Care and attention given to dogs and cats differ. You can walk your dogs, or ask one to get your slipper or the morning paper and this can serve as exercise depending on dog breed. These you don't do to your cat, hence cat games.

Cats stay most of the time indoors and eat and sleep all day long. Cat games will help control their weight and also develop muscle tone, agility, and stamina.

Kittens are playful and they love to stalk, pounce, and wrestle. As a furry pet owner, you have the responsibility of supporting their playfulness by setting aside time to play with them.

Here is a list of five highly amusing cat games that you or your children can play with your cat for those rainy days and days when you simply can't find anything to do.

  1. If your room is dim use a flashlight or better yet a laser pointer to flash a narrow beam of light on your furniture, walls, and floors. It would surely amuse you to see your cat chasing the light across the room and over furniture. Be sure that you hide the source of light in your hand pretty well. They are smart creatures, once they find out what you're doing they'll get pretty bored.
  2. It doesn't matter if you're doing all the hiding all the time, playing hide and seek with your cat is still fun both for your feline pet and you. To do this, bait your cat with something that he really loves i.e. their favorite food, next get your cat's attention, then try to hide.
  3. Watch what happens when you crumple a piece of paper and roll it across the floor. Cats really love this game and will sometimes bring back the crumpled ball to you.
  4. Get a piece string and attach any cat toy such as a fake mice, to it then move it across the floor until you get your cat's attention. Once this happens, you can run around the house pulling that string with you.
  5. Once in a while allow your cat to 'catch' the fake mice to keep it from becoming bored. See your cat have a good time and hear yourself panting, this is good exercise for you both.
  6. If you let your cats sleep with you, hide your fingers under the blanket and wiggle it. It would certainly be amusing to watch your furry pet try to pounce on what's under the blanket.

You can think out of the box and invent other games what's important is that you vary the cat games that you do because cats get bored very easily. To determine whether your furry friend is having fun look at their eyes, if they are dilated then they are happy.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Bengal Kittens Profile and Information


Bengal Kittens are cute little mini assassins just waiting to steal your heart away, and you can't help but just love them the minute you meet them. They are loads of fun to watch bounce around the house, but there are a few things one should know before going out and buying one. This is a unique breed, with its own pros and cons, and you will want to make sure it is right for you before taking the purchasing step.

A Bengal cat stirs up the imagination, taking your mind to warm steamy places and giving you the feeling that you are not the apex of the food chain after all. A Bengal kitten gains this quality very young in life and just looking into those vivid green or gold eyes that Bengal kittens posses will give you the feeling I am talking about. When you are looking at Bengal kittens for sale, think about the wildness of the breed and consider whether you really feel like having that whirling dervish lay waste to your house the way that it surly will.

If you are fortunate enough to have two kittens at once, count yourself lucky if they take their fury out on each other. Or else they may team up and ensure that you never sleep again. Perhaps this is why too many of these proud animals end up in Bengal rescue, if you are considering one for a pet that will never breed or show, consider this option as well. Nothing will keep a "secondhand" friend from being in any way inferior to a brand new kitten, my second hand cat thanks me daily by destroying any vermin she could find that day around the house, even the little bugs. Consider adoption, purchase is not your only choice for a pet.

Remember, training Bengal kittens is rough work, and more than once you are going to want to squash the little pest under a large book for shredding your curtains or refusing to use its litter box. Resist the urge and you will be forever blessed with a powerful and gentle companion that will be a miniature force of nature with which you will gladly share your home.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Good Quality Cat Furniture


Having a cat means you are facing a lot of situations too. Most of the times people face several health situations of their beloved pets and sometimes they are worried of their furniture being ruined be the claws of their kitty. So, if you want to keep your home or other living place's furniture safe from the claws of your kitty then try to provide her own furniture items. Fortunately, there is a huge diversity of cat supplies in the market and it not as hard to find such products.

The second question arises is buying of such type of cat supplies. Most f the cat owners are found confused on buying of such products only because of the wide range of such supplies. So, to give you people a proper idea regarding buying of such items I felt an urge to write a guideline for all you people out there. Below, some useful guidelines are given that can help you easily to buy such products at affordable rates.

Weight of your Pet:
Before buying good quality furniture for your cat try figure out her weight and then buy the supplies according to her weight, size and length. Remember, the reason you are going to buy her a set of supplies is to make her feel comfortable with these products. Furniture items are available in different sizes and weights to fulfill the needs and requirements of a cat.

Suitable Style:
These products are also available in different styles and designs along with alluring colors that attract the attention of your cat very easily.

Quality of the Product:
Animals are also allergic of different as human beings are. So, before buying such type of products, make sure that your cat is willing to play or stay in the furniture you are going to buy her or not.
Below, some vital links are given on cat furniture for your better guidance and assistance. Do follow them to avoid any displeasure and discomfort regarding your beloved kitty.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

5 Steps to Tame an Aggressive Cat


When the fur of your cat spikes up, his claws come out, and ears go flat, you are sure you have an angry cat on your lap. Whether your cat is prone to occasional anger fit or is chronically aggressive, taming an aggressive cat seems like a daunting task. However, there are sure ways to make your cat tamer and calmer. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Determine the reason why your aggressive cat is acting that way. Is it because of another pet in your household or is his aggressiveness triggered by certain situations or people? Generally, aggression and strange behavior is very common in rescued cats since they'd been through certain conditions that occurred before the cat was adopted. For instance, cat often kicked by his previous owner may suddenly lash out and get angry at the sight of approaching feet. Another example is a cat neglected by its owner may show mistrust to other unfamiliar men. It may hard to know why your aggressive cat is acting this way; however, there is a pattern of behavior that you can look for to determine the cause.

Step 2: Talk to people your cat has contact with. Inform them of your cat's aggression problems and that you are finding ways to tame and calm your cat down. Explain to them what you think is triggering your cat's aggression and make a plan with your family, close friends, and roommates to keep your cat from getting aggressive.

Step 3: Don't take your aggressive cat into a situation that may exhibit his aggression. Put your cat in a bathroom or bedroom and leave him there for a few minutes. Sometimes, without any obvious reason, a change in environment may be enough to calm your aggressive cat down.

Step 4: If your aggressive cat is lashing out at the sight of other pets in the household, try calming him down and easing his aggression and anger by trying the Feliway Comfort Zone. Feliway Comfort Zone is an artificial cat pheromone, designed to mimic the friendly and light facial pheromones produced by cats in their facial glands. For unknown reasons, this method calms down most unbalanced aggressive cats.

Step 5: Keep yourself calm and make your cat feel that you are a loving and safe human. If you can prevent and avoid it, never introduce any noticeable changes to your cat's environment. For instance, if your cat is exhibiting chronic aggression, do not get a new roommate or a new puppy for a few months.

Additional Tips and Warnings
  1. If you are having a hard time finding out the cause of your cat's aggression, seek the help of a veterinarian. Explain the problem about your cat in detail and make sure to mention all noticeable changes in the normal routine of your cat. Your veterinarian may help you determine the cause of this or may even figure out underlying health problem that is not manifested by other obvious symptoms.
  2. When you decide to take your cat to the veterinarian, you have to inform the vet as well as other people in the clinic that your aggressive cat may bite. Don't worry because your cat's behavior will not classify you as a poor and bad owner and for sure, your veterinarian has enough experience taking safety precautions with any animal that suddenly becomes aggressive when they are in pain or frightened.

Follow the steps given above and for sure, your aggressive cat will be a newer, tamer, and nicer cat, one that you have really wanted when you decided to take him home.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Cats Sneezing

If your cat sneezes frequently, it can come from a host of reasons. Your little feline companion loves to stick his nose in every little crevice and crook, and can get his nasal passages blocked. Viruses also play a big part in making your cat sneeze. With a cat sneezing constantly, you feel his pain and discomfort every time he wheezes, coughs or sneezes. When a cat sneezes frequently, this behavior can be accompanied by nasal discharge and runny eyes. Whether caused by viral infection or nasal blockage, untreated, the condition can worsen and lead to more extreme disease.

Sure, you can fight your cat into a pet carrier, make an appointment with the vet, and watch in misery as your cat is, pricked and prodded, x-rayed and handled, all the while seeing the mistrust and pain in her eyes. You can almost hear her thinking, "Why are you doing this to me? I love you. I trusted you!" Aside from the mental stress and emotional wreckage levied on you and your cat, there is the vet's bill, which can easily run several hundred dollars. I know, I spent $600 in two weeks trying to cure my cat's sneezing and nasal discharge, to no avail.

I eventually found a company specializing in natural, homeopathic cures and remedies for pets. For a fraction of the cost of a vet, I was able to stop my cat sneezing constantly. If your cat sneezes frequently, maybe you would benefit from this natural cure as well. Especially when dealing with young kittens, older cats and pregnant queens, using regular vaccines can be scary, even deadly. Their immune system is weak, and this makes them susceptible to strong medicines. Natural, non-chemical remedies have been proven to be extremely effective for curing these cats with weaker immune systems without putting them at risk from normal vaccines.

When your cat sneezes frequently, he is asking for help. He can not drive to the drug store and fix himself, so reach out to him. If you have a cat sneezing constantly, he may benefit from a natural, holistic remedy. I was in the same boat you are in, and I know it worked for Shorty McGee, my 8 year old tortoiseshell, and my pocketbook! She is living proof of the effectiveness of natural, homeopathic remedies for pets.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Cats Door and Its Benefits


A lot of time and effort is spent when you own any kind of a pet. And this is true for a cat as well, even though they are not as demanding as dogs. But all the same, cats need care especially when they are left alone with nobody to let them in and out of the home. Setting up a cat door is a good alternative to having the pet owner be always present at home. Of course, make sure that the door is big enough for your cat, but too small for any dogs or humans, so that you don't have any intruders in your home.

How Useful Is A Cat Door?
Some cats can be extremely persistent about going in and out of the home. With a pet door, you will not have to leave your favorite TV program, or worse still, wake up at night, to put your cat outdoors. Your cat can go in and out of the house as desired without your help.

If you have a cat as well as a big dog for a pet, besides, having a cat door leading outside, it'll be best to have one also fixed on a door leading into another room in your home. This will give your cat a chance to run to safety if it's being chased by your big dog, and keep them apart. And, of course, since dogs love eating, virtually, anything including cat food, you can keep the food in the room with the cat door, so that the dog will not get to it and start a fight.

During harsh winters, your cat could develop frostbite of the nose, ears and foot pads, if left outdoors for a very long time. Whether you live in the city or countryside, don't leave your cat outside at night, as it will be dangerous for the cat, since cars find it difficult to stop on snow-covered roads. With a cat door, your cat will be able to escape the cold and ice outside, if there's no one at home.

A special door will not only save you time and energy, but will also make your cat a happier pet. Cats, basically, are impatient, and can't be trained as easily as dogs. So, by setting up a cat door in your home, it would be beneficial to both, you and your cat to live a more comfy life together.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

How to Feed Your Cat

Nutrition is essential for the good health and long life of every creature. Cats are not an exception. Young cats are especially pliable to nutritional imbalances and feeding errors. The feeding habits of the cat established after weaning are very important for its future health status. Cat owners should be familiar with the nutritional requirements of their cats.

Cats are carnivorous animals and cannot receive nutrition from the majority of vegetable proteins. Wild cats eat the whole of their preys - muscles, organs, viscera, bones, offal, skin. Thus, they ingest the digested food the prey has eaten. This gives the cat the opportunity to receive nutrition from various sources - meat and vegetable sources.

Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements - cats need more protein and have greater tolerance for fat.

We cannot mention one particular food that all cats will like. Cat foods can be found in different flavors and textures. When you find the food your cat likes, and if it meets the nutritional requirements, stick to it and don't change it often because frequent changes may make the cat fastidious and may cause digestive problems.

What do cats need?
Cat owners should choose foods that provide all necessary nutrients and promote the good health of their cat. There are foods specially developed for kittens, mature cats, pregnant cats, but all food should contain the following essential nutrients: water, proteins (essential amino acids and nitrogen), essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins.

Proteins provide energy. They contain amino acids which stimulate the body to rebuild tissues and to perform its functions. Fats are a good source of concentrated energy and unsaturated fatty acids. Minerals regulate the functions in cat's body. Minerals include macro minerals - calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and micro minerals - copper, manganese, iron, and iodine. Vitamins are involved in many physiological processes and can be divided into two groups: fat-soluble - vitamins A, D, E and K, and water-soluble - thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12.

Types of cat food
There is a variety of cat foods on the market produced by different manufacturers. We can divide cat foods into three main categories:

Dry Food
It contains approximately 6-10% moisture and has an abrasive function, so it cleans the teeth and gums, and keeps them healthy. Dry foods have a long shelf life. Food that contains 34-38% protein and 19-22% fat provides a healthy balance.

Soft - Moist Food
It contains about 23-40% moisture and cat owners prefer it because it is convenient and has a long shelf life. However, soft-moist foods are more expensive than dry foods. You should be careful because soft-moist foods contain a lot of preservatives.

Canned Food
Canned food contains approximately 68-70% moisture and most cats like it most of all other foods. However, it is not recommended to feed your cat with canned food only because it sticks to the cat's teeth and this may lead to dental problems.

You should give your cat small amounts of canned food two times per day and leave some dry food because most cats like eating dry food all day long.

What should you be careful about when you feed your cat?
Cats don't need to eat the whole day long. Do not give your cat more food than your vet has recommended. Distribute the amount of food into two or three meals and give it to the cat throughout the day.

Do not give your cat dog's food because it doesn't have the necessary amounts of protein and amino acids. For the same reason, avoid feeding the cat with vegetarian food. Do not over feed your cat as obesity can cause diseases, pre-mature aging and early death.

Do not give your cat chocolate, alcohol, onions, pork, raw fish, raw eggs and bones.

Consult your vet if your cat refuses to eat more than two days because fasting may be harmful and may cause serious liver problems.

Do not put your cat's food near her litter box. Cats eat far away from the place she eliminates. If you put her food near her litter box, the cat may eliminate away from the litter box.

You shouldn't give your cat hairball remedy around her meal because many hairball remedies and treats contain mineral oil or petroleum jelly which will extract the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K from the intestines.

Reduce the usage of tuna because it contains high levels of mercury.

Tips about feeding your cat
  1. Cats that live free in the wild eat grass every day. Domestic cats will also eat grass if they have the opportunity, so cat owners should provide sources of green vegetation for their cats.
  2. Milk is a food, not a drink. The only drink that cats use is water. Milk is a good source of calcium and phosphorus which make bones and teeth stronger. It also provides many vitamins and minerals. However, you should keep in mind that many cats cannot digest milk as they grow older.
  3. Provide your cat with varied food. You can mix some of the new food with the old for 3-5 days in order to make gradual changes.
  4. Cats should be fed in quiet parts of the house where no one will bother them because they feel vulnerable while they eat.
  5. If you have more cats, you should provide each of them with a separate food bowl and you shouldn't keep them close to each other while they are eating, because cats compete for their food and feel uncomfortable if they are too close to one another.
  6. It is recommended that you don't feed your cat from plastic bowl. Provide ceramic or stainless steel bowls because plastic dishes may give shelter to bacteria. Moreover, some cats may develop allergies to plastic and may get pimples on their chins.
  7. Older cats would like you to raise their food and water bowl a few inches off the floor because this will make it easier on their backs and necks.
  8. You should observe your pet closely after you give it new food. Any changes in the coat, appetite, weight or mood may indicate a problem. If you have any questions about the dietary plant of you cat, consult your vet for advices.