Month: April 2011

Water and Cats

Posted by Robert Baker – April 26

Just like humans, cats need to drink a lot of water to stay healthy. This can be a challenge to cat owners. Cats usually do not drink enough water, but they are always lurking around when you have mile, coffee, tea or soda. As much as they may want these liquids they can make kitty sick.

Cats that do not drink enough water are at the highest risk for disease. Kidney and bladder disease and urinary tract infections can be caused by even the slightest dehydration.

Encouraging drinking can become frustrating to owners, but it need not be. There are very easy ways to get your cat to enjoy drinking. Here are only a few ideas that will have your cats lining up for water!

Spend a few extra dollars and invest in a pet fountain. Fountains made from steel or ceramic are best. The noise of the water and the movement are irresistible so kitty will have to explore.

At the very least get rid of all plastic bowls. Plastic bowls have two disadvantages: they cause feline acne and they can have a strange taste. Use ceramic, glass or metal bowls. Try all three and see which one kitty prefers.

My cat always runs to the sink if I am washing dishes or hands. Let your kitty drink from the running faucet for a few minutes.

In the summer adding ice cubes to the water makes for a great discovery. Cats love to hear the crackling noise and to bat the cubes around.

Putting water bowls in many areas around your house will also be a great encourager for kitty. If the water is in a place that she does not hang out, she probably will not go there to drink.

Clean bowls daily. Bacteria can build up quickly and cause illness.

Cats love soupy wet food. Add more water to the wet stuff!

You know your cat best so if you notice that he is not drinking the same a trip to the vet is in order. Cats classically hide illness and even a slight change in water intake may be an early warning sign of a more serious issue.

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Why Should Your Cat NOT Drink Milk?

Posted by Dawn Kavanaugh – April 25

Milk does a human body good! Cookies and milk are a favorite treat for any child. And if we are honest, it’s a fave for adults as well. However, milk from a cow may taste like a favorite for kitty, but is actually not a good choice for several reasons.

Kitten’s grow up on their moms milk and they should have this for as long as they want. The nurturing process of kittens feeding from mom evokes a feeling of love, safety and comfort. Did you know that your cat’s milk is totally different from a cow’s? One of the main differences is that cow’s milk is full of sugar in the form of lactose.

Just as many humans are lactose intolerant, the majority of cats are as well. This means that they are unable to digest the sugars that occur naturally in milk. This causes problems that include diarrhea and other unpleasant digestive problems.

It is a misnomer that cats need to have milk in order to get all their nutrients. Cow’s milk has no nutritional value to a cat whatsoever! In fact if you only fed you cat milk, you would have a seriously malnourished cat on your hands. Take feral cats as an example- they do not have access to milk and they are typically healthy.

As long as your cat is eating a high quality food, and has access to clean fresh water, she is getting all that she needs. Milk alone is not a sufficient diet for any cat, and should never be given in place of food OR in place of water. Replacing a cat’s food or water with milk can cause your cat to become malnourished.

If you feel that you must give your cat a treat there are many on the market that are made for a cat’s body. There are several brands of “Cat Milk” that are made as treats. They should not be confused with KMR or Kitten Meal Replacement as this is specifically formulated for kittens without moms.

You can also try a very small treat of lactose free milk food in the supermarket. But, remember that any milk is a treat and not a replacement for a meal. Also remember that it is you who has to choose what is important for kitty to eat and drink. Kitty will be happy with your high quality choices and never miss milk at all.

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Feline Upper Respiratory Infection

Posted by Robert Baker – April 24

A feline upper respiratory infection (URI) by any other name is a kitty cold. These colds are one of the largest challenges when it comes to group care of cats. The URI is spread by what we call fomites. A new word to show off to friends, a fomite is anything that has come in contact with the germ and could now carry and spread it.

There are many factors that lead to URI’s in homes, shelters or catteries. The following is certainly not an exhaustive list but includes overcrowding, poor sanitary conditions, stress, poor ventilation, poor nutrition and so many more. This makes it impossible to eradicate the URI from a group cat situation.

Crowding and the attendant stress is undoubtedly the single greatest risk factor for severe respiratory (and other) disease outbreaks in populations. Increased population density leads to a greater risk of disease introduction, higher contact rate, reduced air quality, and often, compromises in housing and husbandry. Unfortunately, crowding in shelters is not uncommon, either due to insufficient facilities to provide even minimal care for the stray population, or (as is increasingly common) a well-intended attempt to decrease euthanasia by housing more animals.

The irony of the stress and overcrowding is that it does the exact opposite of what is intended. Ill cats actually lead to more euthanasia. In kennel and boarding situations there are also peak times of the year that there can be breakouts. No cat is immune to these.

There are many signs to be on the lookout for a URI. As soon as one is suspected the cat should be removed from the environment. However, the other cats should also be watched as it is rare to only get one cat with a URI in a group setting. Look for the following: Discharge from the nose that can be clear of colored Sneezing and coughing Eyes or the white around the eye that is swollen or red Sores or ulcers on the lips or inside the mouth Loss of appetite or a fever

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Which Pet Food is the Best for Your Pet

Posted by Summer Reed – April 23

The immune system’s strength, in people as well as animals, is affected by the quality of nutrition. A dog’s behavior, happiness, health, longevity and overall well-being are a direct result of the nutrition offered in the daily diet. Each dog has special nutritional needs that vary from animal to animal.

There are several easily noticeable symptoms of nutritionally caused deficiencies: allergies, hot spots, lack of energy, joint problems, arthritis and poor behavior. Nutritional balance is the key to a healthy pet and not giving the dog bad pet food will help with the inflammation of arthritis and other major health problems.

Seems odd that just a few months ago I was blogging about homemade cat toys and condo’s and now I am pursuing the value of commercial cat food. In a past blog I had quoted several veterinarians, that cats did not produce enzymes to digest grains in their feed. Yet almost every can, pouch, or bag lists some type of grain, (wheat, corn, oat, or rice).

You will probably find that small companies tell you that they do not conduct feeding trials because they do not consider them necessary – usually a new food is given to staff and family to try out on their pets. If there are no adverse comments from users over a four or six week period then the food is launched to the general public.

It would be safe not to play with your dog’s health. As you love your pet and wish for the healthy well-being of your dog, don’t compromise in the food that you are giving to them. It could possibly invite the dangers in your dog’s health. So select the best dog food available in the market and the best one could be Blue Buffalo dog food.

This is not a highly regulated business like human food so a lot of cheap sources of protein are used and unfortunately are not good for your pet’s health. Oh, but it is so convenient to pop open the can or scoop out the dry pellets without much fuss or mess. This is great and easy for us but not so great for your pet and its health.

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Why Should You Rescue A Cat?

Posted by Robert Baker – April 21

It has become a common controversy. Why should you go to a rescue or shelter instead of a breeder? What about all the free ads on CraigsList? If you are looking to add a new fuzzy family member where should you go?

A few general statistics may help sway you in a certain direction: * 50% of all animals in shelters and rescues are purebred * About 71% of cats entering shelters are euthanized * The majority of cats entering shelters have no identification tags lowering the chances that their owner would be found * Only 24% of cats entering shelters are adopted

I am sure these numbers surprise you as they do me. Cats are surrendered to a rescue for many reasons the common ones being that the people are allergic, cannot afford their care or in this economy are losing their homes. If the cat turned in has any sort of issue whether behavior or medical they are typically euthanized.

There are some great reasons to adopt a pet from a shelter. Shelter pets are altered (meaning they are spayed and neutered), vaccinated, tested for FeLV/FIV, and medically sound. Most shelters even offer medical insurance for their newly adopted pets. A reputable shelter will assist with behavior challenges and most will take back an animal if you can no longer care for it.

There are two different types of shelters: no-kill (or really, low-kill) and those that euthanize. Make no mistake that the folks that euthanize would rather not. They are simply in a position where there is a lack of space and funds to treat the amount of animals that turned in. These are typically facilities that are run by the city. Low kill shelters do not euthanizes animals to make room for more. They only take in as many as space allows. There is truly no thing as a no kill shelter. All shelters deal with animals that have a poor quality of life and must make the sad decision to let these animals pass.

This short article only begins to touch on the issues that shelters contend with. However, perhaps this will direct you to save a life by taking and animal from a shelter and making room for just one more.

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Horse Whispering in Horse Training

Posted by Annabelle Cabella – April 20

Do you ever think of how do whisperers do what they do? Here are some of the essentials of horse whispering.

Possibly one of the most humane ways of training your equine is through horse whispering. Technically, every natural horseman can be considered as a horse whisperer because they try to understand the “real” language and psychology of the equine.

You don’t require any particular tool for horse whispering. With just a round pen and a rope, you can start “whispering” to your horse. However, it should be mentioned that before ever attempting to learn and attempt horse whispering, you should fully understand equine psychology.

If you already know horse psychology, then you should realize that equines are prey animals and they have very strong flight responses when faced with unfamiliar occurrences. Like it or not, you are likely to be perceived by the animal as a threatening figure but interestingly, chasing the horse away will help the animal think that you are not a threat at all. Ultimately, the equine will feel exhausted and begin to become curious of you.

Even when tired and curious, the equine is continuously aware of your actions. The act of “horse whispering’ is done at this point. This is actually by standing with your side to the horse. Doing this would appear as if you are whispering to the horse. This is actually putting the equine in its comfort zone as you’re merely reenacting the behavior of the mare in the herd. Horses are used to this kind of herd language.

Horses are easily scared and have a very flighty response. However, horses are also easily bored and if you lack resolve in your approach, the horse will lose interest. Your confidence travels right through your body into the equine. Build your own confidence and you’ll build your horse’s as well.

There should be a fine balance between being too assertive and being too careful. Your horse may handle things differently from other equines. It is up to you to determine the right approach.

Getting the animal’s trust is one thing but it is not enough as you need to display your dominance and leadership. The success of your horse training endeavor depends on it. Turning your back to your horse is also an intricate aspect of horse whispering. Turning your back to the horse is simply implying to the horse that you are its leader and should be followed. Turn and step away slowly as you try to see if the animal is indeed following you. Don’t expect to get it the first time. You will need a few more tries to perfect this method.

A good horse whisperer values technique, practice and is always patient with his horse. Try to be sensitive as much as possible because horse whispering depends on two important things-knowledge and intuition.

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Duncraft Feeders Give Finches Something To Sing About

Posted by Chloe Gib – April 17

From the dusty corner of the storage shed, two yellow-topped Duncraft feeders are dragged from their resting spot and hung on the branches of the maple tree. Settling into the canvas cover of a redwood framed chaise lounge, one can feel Spring continue forcing its way into the day. The day resists and seems to be looking back toward the memories of winter. The brisk air is warming, and the blue skies are overcoming shades of gray that held it captive for the last months. Suddenly the song of the small finch trickles through the air, and the day surrenders to the melody.

The female finches are not the flashy kind. Their dull olive green feathers pale in comparison to the bright colors their men wear like a pitcher’s baseball cap and breastplate. Still, they both sing a flashy show tune, so encourage them to stay by setting up the best bird feeder for these fellows.

Finches are known to be finicky eaters. They are vegetarians who, in the wild, forage for food on the ground, or in trees. They like very dry seeds and nuts, but also eat fruit and buds. The favorite finch seed used in tube feeders is nyjer seed, which has a very dark, thin shell and is packed with calories and oil, providing the birds with great source of nutrients and energy.

The good news is that they don’t demand a fancy serving tray; a simple tube bird feeder will do just fine. This bird station should, however, have an internal baffle system that helps the seeds drop into place equally at each opening. Since several birds will be eating at once, this feature is quite important.

The Duncraft tube bird feeder is ideal, and oh so simple. It’s a see-through plastic tube, covered on top and bottom with plastic, metal, or recycled wood. It has multiple openings (ports), for accessing food and many narrow rods where birds can balance while they munch. They are super easy to replenish with fresh seed.

Finches sometimes arrive on the scene with lots of their buddies in tow. Some outdoor food tubes have up to twenty perches that provide rest for those standing in line to eat. Others are designed with a thin, powered-coated wire that gently spirals around outside of the feeding source. These are attractive and practical for large flocks dining at the same time.

There are also wire framed tube stations that allow these sweet singing sopranos to hop inside to dine protected from the bigger birds that like to intimidate the smaller finches. Although the tube bird feeder is a simple concept, there are over ninety different designs of these Duncraft feeders to pick from. One is sure to bring these finches flocking, singing and staying awhile.

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Get Help from the Experts in Possum Removal Treatment to Get Rid of Possums

Posted by Jarius Marl – April 16

While my brother was soundly sleeping the last night, he was suddenly disturbed from the irritating noises that were coming from our roof. He was greatly upset to those disturbing noises coming from the roof of our house. It was those possums again that were making loud noises from our roof. We have tried to get rid of possums out from our roof by ourselves, but here they go again, messing up and creating irritating noises in our roof again. Those possums were very persistent creatures and were very hard to capture. We have captured several possums by our own selves but unfortunately they kept on coming back. We really need to get rid of possums out from our home before they could create greater damages to our roof.

Fortunately, his friend had referred him to the possum removal experts that could help us get rid of possums properly and effectively. They were known to be very skillful in eliminating those possums out from their hiding place without any troubles. They were very adept and have the proper method to effectively capture those possums out from our roof without making any harm to them. They are very reliable in handling those possums in a very professional way.

My brother decided to call the possum removal experts to help us get rid of possums out from our place. We were very convinced by his friend who referred us to the possum removal experts. We are very confident that the possum removal experts can completely get rid of possums out from our place. With their ability and expertise in handling those possums, we are very certain that those possums that dwelling in our roof will be fully eliminated permanently.

As soon as the possum removal experts had arrived at our house, we were considerably amazed because of their gadgets they have brought alongside. They hold the suitable gadgets which could fully get rid of possums out from their hiding place. Making use of their abilities and techniques in creating traps in every single possible entrances and exits that those possums might enter, I know they can totally take them out from the house without having any harm incurred to the possums. After such they were done eliminating all those possums away from our house, they even mended several of the damages that those possums had sustained to the roof structure.

Right after they have done capturing those possums out from our home, they must be released in the natural environment exactly where they are able to survive and away from the houses of the people. They must be handled humanely and never to get injured in anyways. Possums are safe creatures as mentioned from the wildlife regulation. That is the way the possum removal experts get rid of possums out from our residence area.

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The Way To Select The Appropriate Pet

Posted by Caitlin A. Xavier – April 15

Pets are a great thing to have. If you have a pet, you can look forward to increased companionship, less lonely nights and something to look forward to when you come home from work. However, choosing a pet is not an easy task. Since there are so many pets to choose from, it can be difficult to choose the right one. That’s why in this article you’ll learn how to do that, so you can enjoy your new pet sooner than you know it.

It can help to understand what you want your pet to do for you. Some people get pets because they need a friend, and they want somebody to go places with them. Other people desire pets as more of a hobby. Figure out which one is true for you.

To give a couple of examples, those that are interested in companionship might do well to get a dog or a cat. Those that aren’t interested in anything other than a hobby should consider getting something much easier like a goldfish.

If you don’t have a lot of spare time, then you shouldn’t get something like a dog that requires a couple of hours a day. You should probably get something easier to take care of, like a fish or something. However, if you have the time, then dogs can be great pets to have.

Money is also something you need to think about. While dogs and cats can be free to get, they can be pretty expensive to take care of. Especially if you have a cat that claws apart your furniture while you are gone. Fish, on the other hand, while very expensive to buy, since you need all the equipment, are pretty cheap to take care of. You can buy a pound of fish food for a couple bucks.

Of course, if you travel quite a bit, then that’s another question. Some animals like dogs might be a problem if you are away from home for extended lengths of time.

No matter what kind of pet you choose, they can provide you with an incredible amount of happiness and pleasure. Just make sure you take your time to choose the right one.

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Fantastic Points About Dogs

Posted by Caitlin A. Xavier – April 13

There has been an age old war going on for centuries. No, this is not between werewolves and vampires, nor Pepsi and Coke. This war is between dog lovers and cat lovers. Of course, everybody has their preference, based on their own criteria. In this article, I’ll show you objectively why dogs are superior to cats in all cases.

We go back a long ways with dogs. They have been helping us out every since humans stopped being foragers, and started being farmers. Scientists believe this happened over ten thousand years ago. So as you can see, we share a long rich history with dogs.

In today’s modern world, dogs are just as helpful. When you are sitting around relaxing at home after a hard days work, your loyal dog is waiting to serve you. Should somebody unfamiliar come knocking at the door, your dog will jump up and investigate.

One thing you can be certain of, is that if you have a dog, and your house happens to catch fire in the middle of the night, your dog will wake you up. This happens all the time, and you can read about it in the newspapers. Dogs will always protect their masters from danger.

Another thing that dogs are good for is going and getting help for their masters when their masters are injured. For example, many farmers have been working on the far end of their fields, and have become injured. Their loyal dogs race to get help, and bring it back to their fallen master. Can you ever imagine a cat doing this?

Training a dog is another advantage. Police dogs are trained according to a variety of specific tasks for a variety of specific purposes. If you have a dog at home, you can train him or her to sit up and beg, roll over, speak, shake hands, and many other simple tricks.

One thing that must be said is that dogs and cats do have on thing in common, and that is many people are allergic to them. Whether you have a dog or a cat, you need to make sure you have the right allergy treatment so that you can enjoy your pet.

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