Category: General Articles

Looking to Buy a Cat? 4 Valuable Tips For Choosing the Right Kitty

Are you looking to buy a cat? While bringing home a cute kitten can be really enjoyable, there are quite a few factors you have to consider before making the big decision. You should understand that having any pet is a huge responsibility and may want to consider carefully if you are ready to shoulder them. You will also have to buy a cat that will be able to adjust to your lifestyle. If you are ready, here some four valuable tips to choose the right cat for yourself.

Breed

When considering the breed of cat, the first thing to do is to list down your own preferences. Do you like long haired cats or would prefer to have a short coated cat? Do you have any preference regarding the color of your cat? Write down the answers to these questions and when you are ready, start collecting information on the behavioral traits and personalities of the different breeds. It will help you to zero in on the most suitable breed for you.

Choosing a Cattery

This is the second step to buy a cat. For getting a healthy purebred kitten of your choice, you must first take the time to choose the right cattery. You can start by collecting references and from seeking the help of vets or breed owners to locate a reputable cattery. Before you visit them and get carried away with the cute kitties on display, ask the breeders about their professional qualifications, how long they have been running the cattery, specific information and vaccination about the breed that you would like to have etc. After getting your queries answered, visit the cattery and choose your kitten.

Cost

Owning a pet is just like adding a new member to your family. So be ready to spend a generous amount of money on your cat for its well being. You will have to spend on its food, medication, grooming products as well as treats such as outdoor cat enclosures and toys. It may easily cost you $1000 per year. So, before bringing a cat home, consider whether you are ready to commit this amount.

Cat Health and Training

Before you buy a cat, also consider its health. Preferably, you should go for an active and curious kitten and not for one that has a weak appearance or is overly afraid of your presence. However, kittens that are too active will require more attention and if you are not keen on training a kitten, you may consider buying a grown up cat that’s already calm and trained to some extent.…

Cat Behavior Training – Effectively School Your Feline With These 4 Tips

Cats are fascinating and adorable creatures that offer an unrivaled companionship. But there’s more to them than just purring and curling up in your lap. They are also independent and self possessed, which means it can be difficult when it comes to cat behavior training. However, don’t give up hope. It’s not an impossible feat. Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to school your feline.

THEY ACT UP WHEN THEY’RE BORED

When felines are bored, they will do naughty things in order to work off excess energy. Racing up and down the stairs, jumping on counters and knocking things down are only the tip of the iceberg. This can be resolved by spending more time with your pet. Playing with him will not only relieve him of his boredom, but also create a stronger bond.

REPRIMANDING DOESN’T WORK

Here’s the deal, cats really don’t care if you punish them. Dog owners know that punishing them will help change their bad manners. Not so with these frisky fur balls. As a result, reprimanding your cat is often an ineffective tactic. He will learn that getting caught while misbehaving brings about some awful reactions and will simply learn to hide it better and do it when you’re not around.

ENCOURAGE GOOD BEHAVIOR

When it comes to cat behavior training, it’s far easier to reward your kitty when you see him performing a right behavior. This is called operative conditioning. Anything you want him to do should be rewarding, enjoyable and pleasant. Whenever he does something positive, reinforce this good behavior with praise, petting and a couple of treats.

REMOVE THE AGGRESSOR, REWARD THE VICTIM

If you live in a multi cat household, you’ve probably seen your share of “cat fights”. Felines are territorial by nature and will occasionally get into scuffles over their domain. If you witness such a battle, the first thing to do is disengage them. However, don’t try to do this physically. You could get severely injured, since they may not recognize you in the heat of emotion. One of the best cat behavior training tools is a spray bottle. Use this to squirt the aggressor while trying to avoid the victim. Then, confine the “bully” in a separate room and reward the innocent pet. Give him a treat or free roam of the house. Try to keep them as supervised as possible when you reunite them again.

Cat behavior training isn’t hard at all. It just takes a little bit of patience. With the proper tools, you can be on your way to a more fulfilling relationship for the both of you.…

24 Ferret Facts

Here are 24 pieces of information that will aid you in understanding who and what ferrets are. To properly care for your pet ferret you need to know these facts.

Ferrets…

1….share genetics with weasels, otters, badgers, skunks and minks. They are not rodents.

be thought of as somewhere between cats and dogs but smaller.

playful like puppies – except they never grow out of it.

be trained to do anything a dog can do. They can be litter box trained like a cat.

people oriented rather than person oriented. They are able to bond with a number of humans over the course of their lifetimes although its can take up to a year to complete the bonding process..

cross species social. They enjoy being with other ferrets, humans, dogs and cats. Ferrets do not do well with mice, birds or other small animals.

primarily indoor pets. They should be in a harness and on a leash if outside.

not carriers of rabies. There is no record of a human ever contracting rabies from a ferret.

not noisy creatures. They chitter when excited.

10….smell like ferrets. A neutered ferret does not have an offensive smell. Regular cleaning of his cage and bedding will help keep smells under control.

relatively poor eyesight compensated for by acute senses of smell and hearing.

expectancy is 6-8 years although they can live up to twice that length of time.

13. Baby ferrets are called kits, females are jills and males are hobs.

14. Males tend to be about 16 inches long and weigh nearly 3 pounds. Females grow to around 12 inches and weigh in at one and a half pounds or so.

to sleep 15-20 hours per day. They are crepuscular, i.e. most active just before dawn and just after dusk.

very energetic and love to play.

good pets and are people-friendly.

18….require more attention than cats. They are more likely to “have an accident” and miss their litter box than cats.

not a good pet for families with small children under the age of six.

extremely inquisitive and will attempt to explore everything in their environment. Ferret-proofing a room for them to run around in is a must.

chew things. The danger is they may swallow small pieces and experience intestinal blockage – an emergency visit to the veterinarian.

illegal in Hawaii and California. Many municipalities have made ownership of ferrets a crime. Their illegality stems from misinformation. First, many consider ferrets to be wild animals like raccoon or skunk. History shows that ferrets have been domesticated for over two millennia. Second, domesticated ferrets offer no rabies threat. If a ferret contracts rabies (rare due to almost universal vaccination against it), it tends to die before it is capable of passing it on to others. As of this date, records indicate that no human has contracted rabies from a ferret in the United States. Third, the danger of escaped or abandoned ferrets forming feral communities is minimal. Most domesticated ferrets are neutered. Their ability to survive in the wild is almost zero. An escaped ferret will be dead within 72 hours of release into the wild. There is no evidence of even one feral ferret community in the U.S.

to spend a significant amount of time outside their cages in a supervised environment.

to make regular visits to the veterinarian for shots and annual checkups.…

Steps in Caring for Your New Ferret

Did you know that the English translation for the scientific name for Ferret is “Stinky Thief”. Ferrets have a strong body odor, due to their scent glands that are used to attract mates. They are also known for stealing food and children’s toys.

A Ferret does require a well-ventilated home with a solid floor. The habitat should be large enough for a food dish, water bowl and a hiding house. The right sized home will allow for separate areas for eating, sleeping, exercising and eliminations. A multi level home is preferred as they provide additional space for exercising.

Ferrets are social animals and can live in groups or pairs. Remember to allow extra room if you own more than 1 ferret. Ferrets love to play and exercise, they enjoy hard plastic toys as well cloth toys. Tunnels are also a favorite item. Just remember, soft rubber and foam toys must not be given to ferrets.

When outside the habitat, your pet can enjoy exercise in a exercise pen or take him for a walk on a leash.

Ferrets can be very easily litter trained. There are corner litter pans available from pet retailers and these should be placed in a corner away from food and water. There are many different types of litter available. The best for ferrets are pine, aspen or recycled paper, please do not use Cedar shavings. The litter pan and bedding should be spot cleaned daily and completely changed once a week.

Ferret are very inquisitive and outgoing and will bond strongly with their pet parents. Ferrets are sound sleepers, who sleep during the day and may not wake up if picked up and carried around.

Ferrets are carnivores and require a diet high in protein. Pellets should always be placed in their food bowl and not directly on the bedding. All food and water bowls should be cleaned out daily. You can offer you pet Papaya, bananas and melon once a week as a treat.

When you purchase your ferret just remember that it will take 3-4 days for them to get used to their new surroundings and environment. Please try and wait 3-4 days before handling your new friend, all the while you should be monitoring her behavior for any signs of excessive stress or illness. Things to watch for that are signs of excessive stress are bare patches of fur, diarrhea, or/and lethargic behavior.

You have made a great choice in a new pe., most of all enjoy your new member of the family.…

Kitten For Sale – Advice on Buying Your First Kitten

Buying a new kitten for sale can bring a lot of happiness into your home and they make wonderful pets. They require little grooming, can be easily house trained and are naturally very clean animals. Cats also make great companions but are also independent and can amuse and take care of themselves.

Before you look at a kitten for sale there are some things that you should know. Below you will find a few tips and advice on caring for your new kitten.

Choosing Your Kitten:

When looking at kittens for sale and deciding which one to choose you must first know what type of cat you are looking for. If you are buying a family pet the only thing to worry about is that it’s healthy and happy. A healthy kitten will have a glossy coat and bright shiny eyes. If however you are buying a cat to breed or a show cat you will want to make sure you get to see the kitten’s mother, as this cat should be a shining example of the breed.

Feeding:

What you feed your kitten is very important as giving it the wrong food could result in a number of health problems. Kittens for sale will be on a special diet designed specifically for kittens from the age of 4-6 weeks. Initially you should feed him 4 times a day, up until the age of 3 or 4 months and which point you should feed him 2 or 3 times a day. It is at this stage that you will have to decide on wet or dried food. It is generally agreed that dried food is a much better option for a healthy cat. You should also ensure that your cat has constant access to fresh clean water.

Vaccinations:

Once you have chosen your favourite kitten for sale and he has settled in to your home, you should arrange an appointment at the vet for his vaccinations. The first vaccination should be at 8 weeks and again at 12 weeks to give protection against a number of diseases.

If you can follow these guidelines your new kitten should be well on its way to a happy and healthy life.…

Introducing A New Kitten

Want a new kitten for a friend? If you want to have a loving kitten, or if this is your first time caring for new kitten, it’s vital that you simply follow these recommendations on taking care of cats, and of course, utilize them. This article shares basic kitten care information, so read on.

Kittens are playful and heart capturing creatures, so long as you know all about taking care of kittens properly. For those who already own a kitty, and those who would like to guarantee that they have a loving cat, here’s some cat care information. Make certain you understand your kitten and are truly caring for a new kitten the proper way. Follow the rules shared right here and see how your relationship with your cat becomes more fulfilling.

From the second you arrive home with your new kitten, it is best to carry it directly to its personal space, and its new litter box. It is important to give it time to adjust to its surroundings, adjust to you, and to the other folks in the household. Why does the new kitten need to have an area of its own? Effectively, for it to really feel comfy, it needs its personal space whether or not it’s a separate room, a small basket, or a bit of mat. So a tip on taking good care of cats is to have a space prepared even before you bring your kitten home. For your pet to adjust to you quickly, it is recommended that you simply murmur soothingly to it, pet and stroke it gently, and before you even realize it, you will start to own a loving kitten.

One important piece of information every kitten owner should know is that permitting cats to go outside is highly recommended. Nevertheless, should you live in a high traffic area, or if the neighborhood isn’t that safe for felines, you may elect to have your kitten remain indoors. If your kitten is to remain indoors, it’s a must to follow this part on caring for your cat. Be certain that it has sufficient play time so that it will hopefully still get exercise inside your house, and so that it won’t get bored. Cats, like people, need some change in their daily life. Make sure to provide toys like balls, colorful toys or strings, things that squeak, and so on. Kittens like to play, and you may make your kitty completely satisfied to stay indoors when you give it toys. Very important to your new relationship with your cat is taking time with the kitty each day. This will ensure that you will have a loving cat in your home.…

What is the Best All Natural Cat Food to Start My Kitten On?

There’s no denying the fact that the best all natural cat food, especially for a new kitten, is the one Mother Nature so adequately provides. This quality raw meat and bones diet provides balanced nutrition, a happy and healthy mind and goes a long way to satisfy the natural hunting instinct.

The problem arises in just how to duplicate this healthy diet in the context of domesticity, juggling work and family commitments and the weekly shop. Obviously there have to be some compromises, but these can be minor once you are aware of the important aspects.

Let’s look at the major points of a quality raw meat and bones diet according to Mother Nature.

1. A cat kills and eats their prey immediately, indicating the dual aspect of raw and freshness are of primary importance. This means it’s better to keep the raw food for only a couple of days in the fridge, freezing the rest and thawing out as necessary.

2. A cat will eat the whole carcass so along with quality muscle meat, you should also include raw bones and some organ meat. Small raw bones are perfectly safe for cats up to about the size of medium sized chicken wings. Larger bones may cause the teeth to chip.

3. Cats are carnivores. Although they will eat the contents of the prey’s stomach, which will be partially digested grain or plant matter, their diet needs to consist of meat and bones, with the plant matter offered as a choice rather than a part of the diet.

Inevitable compromises humans have to make for the sake of convenience is that the meat will mostly be from animals much larger than a cat would normally kill. However this is of much less importance than the quality of the protein.

When you are in charge of the quality of the food you feed your kitten, you can expect her to grow into a fine and healthy cat. Leaving this most important aspect to people you don’t know, who only have an interest in your wallet, not your kitten, is playing Russian roulette with her health.…