Month: July 2021

Tips to Know Before You Adopt a Ferret

So you want to or at least you are thinking about taking that first step to adopt a ferret. If this is so you will be happy to know that you have plenty of options on which to decide of where you are going to source your new pet. Because of this you are given the chance on whether to get him from a pet store, a rescue center, one taken care of by a friend, or other various places. No matter where you plan to get him there is one thing that is for sure and that is the fact that this is truly a rewarding experience to be in.

If you are ready to adopt a ferret here are few things that you may want to know:

As of these days, ferrets are considered to be one of the most popular pet there is in the entire United States as well as in other parts of the world. Next to dogs and cats, ferrets are among the most beloved animals to have in every home! Although this is good news, there is actually something bothering about this. It is the fact that more and more animals are finding their way into rescue shelters because of financial reasons or due to the fact that there are just some owners who aren’t responsible enough to take care of this pet properly.

If you want to save your cash from buying a ferret you may like the idea of going to your nearest rescue center and check out the selections they might have regarding these warm, lovable fur balls. In order to decide exactly which rescue center that you should get your pet from, you can try searching for them online, from magazines or your local newspaper. Remember though that the process of adopting from a shelter is never easy because people from the center will have to ask some things about your history and a little background information about you so they can be assured that you can take care of the ferret once it is inside your house.

Ferrets are normally friendly but if not trained the proper way you can expect some troubled times ahead if you are not careful. Because of this, you should always give your pet plenty of good, loving attention like the way you would give a puppy or kittens. Just be careful in the beginning that it is not a very good idea to allow your pet to stay inside the room with very small children because of the unintentional harm they may cause to kids.

Another concern that owners would normally face is the cleanliness of their pet. Well, ferrets are normally clean as they can be taught on how to use the litter box when nature calls. On the other hand, they can be very messy if they are not properly trained in this discipline.

Now that you know some of the tips to equip yourself with in owning this kind of pet, you can be prepared for the responsibilities involved when you are ready to adopt a ferret.…

How to Build a Cat Tree

No matter what kind of cat tree you want to build, you need to take into consideration the following three things – cost, size, and your construction experience. Don’t let any one of these things stop you from building your own cat tree, but do plan according for what you can manage.

Let’s start with experience. If this is your first time doing a project like this, you might want to look around and check out what others have done. This will give you ideas for your own project. However, if you have done this before, then you most likely have a good idea of what you want.

Beginners should start with a simple cat tree. This will – most likely – keep the costs down and the size of your project small. However, your cat will never know the difference, and will enjoy your hard work immensely – no matter what the size.

And, if you’re concerned about your budget, don’t worry – costs can be kept to a minimum, unless you’re building an extravagant cat tree or you just want to use really high quality materials. For instance, you can find scrap pieces of plywood from a construction site or carpet squares at a discount from a building store. Maybe a friend or relative just got done with a renovation project and there’s left-over scrap materials you can use on your project.

You can also go to your local lumber yard and ask them for scraps or partial pieces of plywood that only cost a couple of dollars, if anything. If you go to a carpet store, you’ll be able to find empty tubes or scraps of carpet for anywhere from a couple of dollars to free. By now, you should be getting the idea that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to build something nice for your cat.

As far as size goes, you can go as simple as a 14″ x 14″ platform mounted to 12″ long center post sitting on a 2′ x 2′ base, all wrapped in carpet or fake fur. On the other hand, you might decide to go with a more expensive multi-story “cat condo” extravaganza – it’s all up to you and what your pocketbook can handle. Also, take into consideration on how much time you want to put into this project. After all, you can always start small and add to it as time progresses.

To build a simple cat tree, all you really need is a square piece of plywood, a wooden post of appropriate width, carpet, wood glue, and nails. Use the glue to attach the carpet to the base and the post, and use nails to attach the two pieces together. You can then use a spring or heavy rope to attach a fun cat toy to the top of the post so that your cat has something to play with.

Whatever method you use – and however much you spend – you can be sure that your cat will love her new home-built cat tree. As long as you build it with love and care – being sure that there are no dangerous corners, edges, or loose parts – your cat will enjoy its tree for years to come.…

Domestic Cat Behaviour: 5 Tips For a More Exciting Playtime

One of the top questions that people have about domestic cat behaviour is why their feline does not want to play with them. Usually the problem is not that the kitty doesn’t want to play, but instead, that the forms of play or toys offered to the cat are just plain boring. Every feline has a different personality, so the type of play that one cat is interested in, may be completely dull to another!

Your job is to find out what types of toys are the most exciting for your cat. To help you with your decision we have come up with the top 5 toy options to make playtime more fun.

Catnip Toys

Catnip toys have always been a favourite choice for cats and pet owners. Not only do these toys come in all sorts of shapes and materials, but they are stuffed with catnip too! The best way to play with a catnip toy is to place it beside your cat, slowly begin to move it around in front of or on top of Kitty, and finally to throw it across the room to see if she decides to chase it.

Strings

Wriggly, squiggly strings are a favourite form of prey for many felines. Any string-like item will do, just make sure to interest your kitty fully in the activity by dangling it in front of him, on top of him, or by slowly pulling the string past him. If your cat is interested in the game you will notice a sudden attentiveness to the string, and he may even get into a pouncing position to attack the string.

Laser Pointers

Cats go crazy for the little red dot that is just impossible to catch. Playing with this toy is simple, just shine the light anywhere in front of your kitty, and move it around for her to chase. You will want to make sure to shine the light only on areas around your cat. Never shine a light on a feline’s face, especially not in his eyes.

Feathers

Felines love to catch feathers, especially when they are moving around in front of them. To initiate a playtime with feathers, rub the feather on your kitty’s nose or slowly drag the feather beside him. If he begins to get excited about the feather, you know you have found a winner and will be able to purchase all sorts of feathery toys that will excite your kitty for future playtimes.

Paper Bags and Cardboard Boxes

One of the strangest types of domestic cat behaviour is their interest in cardboard boxes and paper bags. Some cats will have no interest in the new toy you have just bought for them, and will instead be more excited by the box or bag that the present came in. The next time you find yourself with a spare box or bag, place it on the floor in front of your feline to see if he or she gives you any reaction. You may have to move the box or bag around a little bit to gain your cat’s attention, but this play option is sure to be a hit.

Try out these tips to see if you can make playtime more exciting for you and your feline friend. Remember to never leave any strings, feathers, or bag handles unattended, as these can be harmful items for your cat to play with on his own. If you’re still having a tough time enticing Kitty to play, try adding a sprinkle of catnip to the mix either on top of or inside of the toy. This addition will definitely make playtime more exciting for any cat.…

5 Tips For Choosing the Right Nutrition For Your Kitten

What you eat is what you are! This is right for the humans and also for the pets. You have to choose the right nutrition for your kitten so that it remains healthy always. Giving the right nutrition to your kitten would save you a lot of trips to the veterinarian and even a considerable amount of money spent on treatments. You can easily avoid serious medical conditions if you give proper nutrition to your kitten.

1. The cat needs proteins, amino acid, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fatty acids and water. You have to ensure that the food that you choose for your kitten is well balanced with all these ingredients in the right quantities. Protein can be got from fish, meat, and poultry. You might ask whether a cat needs carbohydrates. Although it is not necessary it is used to fill the stomach and is found in canned foods as fillers. The color and flavor vary with the brands.

2. You can give both dry and canned foods. Alternate these so that the cat gets both of these. Most of the cats do not drink much water. Hence canned foods are better since it has water in it. Dry foods are better for feeding freely. Minerals and vitamins are to be added to the food that you give. Do not give the same food all the time. Change the menu frequently so that the cat is not bored with the same food. Do we eat the same food all the time? We don’t. So it is fair that we do not expect the kitten to have the same food for every meal.

3. Give foods from different brands so that the kitten is not addicted to a certain brand or flavor. Food addictions should be avoided as you might not get the same food always. Hence it is better to rotate the brands of foods from the start.

4. See whether any particular food causes allergies in the kitten. Just like humans, the kittens are also allergic to certain foods. You have to note them down and avoid such foods in the future.

5. Cheaper brands are not cheaper on your wallet. Cats eat as much as they get the nutrition needed. Premium foods have the right nutrition even if fed in small quantities. Cheaper foods might not have the required nutrition and they are just fillers. Cats will eat more of such foods until they get the required nutrition. So you will end up spending the same amount on cheaper foods too. Hence it is better to choose premium brands.

Apart from these it is important that the cat food you buy adheres to the protocols set by the AAFCO. The nutrients should be at that level or more than that. Check for the protein source in the label and the expiration date of the food. Avoid labels that have ‘by-products’ and ‘preservatives’. Avoid cat foods that have corn meal fillers and excess of other fillers.…

Licking Away Fur – How to Put an End to Your Cat’s Baldness

What would you think if you had a lovely, fluffy kitty and it suddenly started to lose its hair? Unfortunately, this problem is more common than many people realize and, in many cases, the hair loss is actually the result of your kitty simply overgrooming or doing other things that are causing hair loss to occur. Just as humans can suffer from obsessive compulsive disorders that cause them to repeatedly engage in the same behavior, your cat may do the same thing when it comes to grooming. As a result, baldness, which is also referred to as alopecia may occur. At the same time, there are other potential causes of feline baldness that needs to be ruled out before you assume the alopecia is the result of overgrooming.

Exploring Other Potential Causes of Alopecia

In addition to excessive grooming, there are several other potential causes of alopecia. Some of these include:

o Skin Parasites – parasites such as fleas and mites may cause your cat’s skin to become irritated, which can lead to overgrooming. Fortunately, it is usually pretty easy to spot fleas and mites, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to diagnose this as the cause of the baldness. In addition, there are several medications and other products available on the market that can help you get rid of these parasites and give your cat some relief from the irritation.

o Fungal Infections – fungal infections can also cause hair to fall out or make it brittle, which makes its break easily and for your cat to appear bald. If your cat is suffering from a fungal infection, you will likely need to visit your vet for medication to clear up the condition.

o Hormones – certain hormonal conditions can also lead to hair loss. By performing a simple blood test, your veterinarian will be able to determine if hormones are causing your cat’s hair loss to occur.

o Allergies – allergies can cause several problems to develop in your kitty, including hair loss. In addition, allergies can lead to skin irritation, which may cause your cat to overgroom.

If all of these conditions have been ruled out, you may have a cat that suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. It is important to keep in mind, however, that there may be certain triggers or environmental factors that are causing your pet to overgroom. By understanding these triggers, you can more effectively treat the problem and, hopefully, put an end to your cat’s obsessive grooming.

Treating Overgrooming

In many cases, cats who overgroom are doing so in response to stress or anxiety. Therefore, one step in the treatment process may simply involve giving your cat anxiety medication or better yet, making changes in your household that will alleviate stress. For example, your cat may begin the behavior when a new cat is added to the household. By separating the cats and gradually reintroducing them, your cat’s stress and anxiety may be reduced and it may slow down on the grooming.

Providing your cat with other activities may also help reduce its tendency to overgroom. By introducing new toys or engaging in new activities, your cat may find other ways to entertain itself that do not involve licking its fur away!…

How To Set Up Your Home For Your New Ragdoll

Before you can bring home your new Ragdoll kitten, you must make sure that your home is ready to receive it. You would want to ensure that your new addition to your family will find its new home welcoming, safe and comfortable.

Here is a breakdown of 5 places in your home that you should kitten-proof:

Bathroom

The bathroom can be place of danger for any kitten because more often than not, water can be left unattended in a bathtub or in a bucket. If your Ragdoll kitten gets thirsty, it may wander to the bathroom and try to drink from the tub or bucket. Your kitty could possibly fall into either the bucket or the tub so to avoid that, be sure to keep your bathtub drained and have a lid to cover buckets filled with water. Always keep the toilet seat covered, too.

Outdoors

Cats, by nature, love to explore and the outside world is just as fascinating to them as the inside of your home. However, Ragdoll kittens should not be allowed to go outside the confines of your home or apartment. You should also check which plants you have in your home that can be poisonous to your new pet. Do what’s necessary to keep them away from it.

Kitchen

As a place where you cook and prepare food, kittens love hanging out in the kitchen. You have to be watchful of your new Ragdoll kitty around kitchen appliances, their wires and other electrical appliances. Try to keep your sink drained of water to avoid having your pet fall into it. Keep cleansers, soaps, liquids and powders that they can open and spill or even ingest in high cupboards or cabinets with child-safety locks to avoid poisoning.

Living Room

Ragdoll kittens like to play on the floor but will also like to play on sofa, chairs and tables. It would be best to have a scratching post or a cat tree around so they have a proper place to relax or have fun. You should also put away your favorite breakables in another cabinet that is far from your new kitten’s reach.

Bedroom

To avoid choking, personal items that include needles, pins and other small objects should be kept in a drawer. Your Ragdoll kitten is curious about everything and will try to taste or swallow those small items. Curling iron, blowdryer and other accessories should also be hidden away after use to avoid burning and other accidents. Cats also find laundry baskets appealing so it would be good to have a cover for your laundry pile.…