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Cat Bites - Why is this Common Cat Behavior?

November 11th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Ow! Your feline just sunk her sharp little teeth into you. Reasons for why your cat bites you are discussed below.

Your cat could be frightened. Your child might be yanking on the cat’s tail. A stranger could have tried to handle the cat. Cats will bite to protect themselves.

Playing with you or other animals may lead a cat to bite. You may be strolling across the room and suddenly have a toe attacked. Some cats hate to have their bellies tickled and will bite your hand. Whilte biting is normal cat behavior, a bite to you or a family member is probably not what you would like. Give your cat exercise by playing chasing and pouncing games with cat toys with long poles so your hands will not get in the way. Don’t use your hand or other body part as the object to be chased as this cat training will only encourage biting.

Some kitties bite to, believe it or not, show love. Cats bite each other lightly to demonstrate their affection for each other, and your cat may be giving you love cat-style. Some cats will also bite gently while they are licking you. The cat is actually grooming you, and it is customary for cats to bite softly while they groom each other.

Cats bite to let you know that they have had enough attention for awhile. Your cat may be purring contently while you pet her and then turn around and bite to get you to stop petting. Before biting, cats will generally signal that they are at their limit by making tail circles or laying their ears back.

Feeling pain can lead a cat to bite. If your cat suddenly starts biting for no apparent reason, get a vet exam to rule out any physical problems.

Handling small kittens in front of their mother can result in a bite since they are extremely protective of their young. Generally, the mama cat will stop biting when the kittens get older.

You should now understand why your cat bites. By not playing aggressively with your cat, treating underlying medical conditions, and learning cat behavior secrets , you can reduce or eliminate the biting and enjoy your cat friend.

Large Domestic Cat Breed: What Choices Are There

October 25th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

One of the best options for a large domestic cat breed is the Jaguarundis. This is certainly not the only large domestic cat breed but definitely one of the best, and they are very unique. They do not look like little jaguars, as they have small heads with low set ears, a long flat tail and a long low set body.

This is a very rare cat breed and they are actually one of the only solid colored wild cats. They have solid colored ears and are also commonly referred to as Otter Cats.

These cats typically live in the dense, thorny thickets of southern Texas but can also make great housepets if properly trained. In their native environment however, these cats live a life of relative safety because the thickets are so safe that they are almost impenetrable to both dogs and man, which are their chief enemies.

This large domestic cat breed is one whose food consists of rats, mice, birds, and rabbits. They are also reputed to make inroads on the poultry, and as for their breeding habits these are not well known.

The Problems

You need to keep in mind that although owning a large domestic cat breed such as the Jaguarundis may be exciting and unique, at the same time you have to take into consideration the possible dangers that are present, just as with any sort of larger or wild animal.

Although they are given the term large domestic cat breed, this certainly does not mean that they could not pose a danger to you or your family, especially since man is known as being one of their chief enemies. Therefore, and especially if you have other pets or children in the home, you will need to make sure that the cat is completely domesticated and tame before bringing him into the home.

The best idea will be for you to speak to a cat breeder or trainer who will be able to offer you more information on the breed and on what your options are here. As long as you know that they are well trained and are not going to be moody or aggressive you should be fine and there should be no problems with you bringing the cat into your home.

Also keep in mind that there are other options available if you are looking for a larger sized domestic cat breed that you may want to consider as well.

Buying a cat- what you need to know.

October 23rd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Buying a cat- what you need to know.

So,you’ve decided that you want to have a pet cat. However, before you shop for your kitten, you may need to consider a few important things. After all, finding out that a cat is not for you after you’ve already grown attached can be heart breaking.

The main reason that people have to find their cats new homes is that they are allergic to cats. If you’ve never spent much time around cats, be sure you can spend a few hours in a home with cats without developing an allergy attack. Also, check with friends and family to be sure none of them are highly allergic.

Next, you may want to consider your lifestyle. Although most different cat breeds need less interaction than dogs, your cat can still become lonely and bored if left alone all day. A bored cat is often a bad cat. If you work long hours, consider getting two kittens so that they can keep each other company.  

Don’t forget to take a look at your home and be sure you can fit in a cat and all of his accessories. Cats need litter boxes, food dishes, toys, and a scratching post. If you have children, the litter box will need to be placed in a place that your children can’t get to, but that your cat can access easily.

Once you decide that a cat will fit into your household, you will need to decide whether you want a kitten or an older cat. Most people take one look at that cute, fluffy kitten and fall in love. Since kittens have not developed bad habits, a kitten is the perfect choice for people who have time to litter box train their new pet. Most kittens have not yet been altered or declawed and must receive a series of immunizations to protect them from infectious cat diseases. Older cats are a good choice for people who want a slightly less energetic pet and do not have time to train their cats to use the litter box. Most older pet cats have already been altered and will only need to take booster vaccinations.

Now that you know whether you want a cat or a kitten, you will need to find out where to buy your new cat. If you just want a great pet and aren’t concerned with owning a specific cat  breed, the best place to look is your local humane society or animal rescue. These organizations are usually overrun with healthy, sweet cats and kittens. If you are looking for a specific cat breed instead, a cat show can be a wonderful resource. Many exhibitors bring along a few kittens that are for sale. Even if you can’t find kittens of the breed you are looking for at the show, you can ask exhibitors to place you on a waiting list for one of their kittens.  

Once you bring your new pet home, don’t be surprised if your cat takes several days to settle in. To help your cat adjust quickly, be sure you have a bed, litter box, and food dishes set up in a permanent spot.

A Guide To The Behavior Of House Cats

October 23rd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have a house cat, you probably sometimes have trouble interpreting its behavior. Because cats can’t tell us with their voice what they are thinking about and feeling, we have to rely on their outward body language. Let’s take a look at several house cat behaviors and moods and how to interpret them.

Contented – Ah, Yes!

Our favorite time is to be with our house cat with behavior that shows they are content. It is nice to get along with your cat, and to be able to enjoy the mutual pleasure. Cats enjoy being petting or stroked when they are contented, and people enjoy the stress relief from rubbing a pet.

Often cats that are contented will knead on a person or a favorite sleeping spot or blanket. This is a behavior that house cats have from when they were kittens and nursing from their mother. The baby kittens would knead the mother’s “breasts” to help the milk flow faster. Because nursing with their mother was such a pleasant memory, kittens and cats can continue this behavior in memory of the good feelings it gave them. It can show that the cat is happy. While in most situations the cat or kitten will only do this for a few minutes, in some cases they can do it for quite a long time. This house cat behavior has been shown by researchers (Oxford University) that it is immensely pleasurable, like massages or snacking in humans. No wonder they enjoy doing it!

Relaxed – Hm….

If a cat lays out on its back or side, or rolls around, it can show how relaxed the cat is. This often happens when a person enters or leaves the room, coinciding with when the person moves.

Affection – I Love You, Too!

When a cat rubs their head up against a person’s leg or body, they are not just expressing affection for the person. They are also marking the person with their scent as a way of marking their territory. Cats also blink slowly as a way to show their secure feelings or affection. Some cats will round their tails into a question mark as they great people they like.

Aggression – Don’t Mess With Me!

The behavior of a house cat who wants to be left alone is commonly to swish or sweep the tail widely behind it. If the cat is further irritated, it will often leave the room or move away.

These are some basic behaviors of a house cat, and are easily understood. If you watch carefully, you’ll see your house cat exhibit these behaviors and be better at understanding cat behavior

Hill’s Prescription Diet Cat Food – The Natural Cat Diet Food

October 21st, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Whether you want to put your cat on a natural cat diet or just stick with regular prescription diet cat food, Hill’s is going to be the perfect place for you to go to get all the products that you need for your feline friend. They feature one of the largest and most comprehensive selections of prescription diet cat food for you to choose from, and here are a few examples.

Minced Gourmet Beef Entrée Adult

This prescription diet cat food is particularly effective, and definitely worth considering if your cat needs to lose a great deal of weight. This food combines the satisfying taste that cats love with all the essential nutrients they need to stay strong and vital throughout their adult years. You can cover and refrigerate any unused food for up to a week.

Tender Chunks in Gravy Real Chicken Dinner Adult

This is another great option for Hill’s prescription diet cat food. This food is made with real chicken cooked to perfection and covered in savory juices. Great taste is 100% guaranteed so your cat is sure to love it, and it gives them the precisely balanced nutrition that they need in order to stay strong and healthy.

Advanced Protection Adult – Dry

This is another option that you have for prescription diet cat food. This is perfect for adult cats who need to lose a couple pounds or more and which is definitely worth a try.

Hill’s is a great name that you know you can trust in to provide your cat with the nutrition they need and the vitamins and minerals they need to lose the weight.

Make sure that you are doing much more than just feeding your cat the right food however if you want to see results. Just as with people, you need to make sure that your cat is drinking enough water and getting regular exercise if want to ensure that they have the most success. You may also want to speak to your veterinarian to get more information on this issue and to get tips on what you can do to get the weight off your cat and maintain it.

You might even want to talk to your family and friends to see if they have any ideas. Most people have pets and it is very common to have pets that are overweight. The important thing is that if your pet is overweight you are taking the proper steps towards getting them to a healthy weight.

Cat Care Symptoms That You Need To Know

October 20th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When people have any pain in there bodies, they can just tell somebody they are feel ill or are in pain and the person they tell, will either call a doctor or take them to a infirmary, Cats obviously are not able to do this, but by observing them you can tell you lots of things about there health. This is why pet owners should practise cat care and be aware of any symptoms that may develop.

Discussed below are a a few diseases and their symptoms you should look out for.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is the most feared disease by cat owners. It is a known fact, that it is the leading cause of death amongst cats. It is caused by a coronavirus infection and what is yet worse, is that the symptoms are very much like other diseases so it is really tricky to diagnose.

There is also Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) that is similar to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Just like the version in humans, it is a life long infection that progresses slowly and kills the cat.

Cats may as well be infected by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). This is a is a retrovirus that causes fatal cancerous and non cancerous diseases. Fortunately, it can be easily treated by using some household bleach and detergents, also your pet must be kept warm. This disease is transferred through the saliva, tears, urine and feces of other cats that are infected. unlike the other two diseases, it cannot live that long in the environment. Thus, it is only transmittable when the infected cat stays with some other cat for any period of time. 

Worms are another threat to cats and this is caused by a fungal infection that is spread through spores.. Since this disease is self limiting, you will not have do anything to make it clear up. It will in eventually clear up on its own, but it may take a few months to do so.

If you have a obese cat, then the prospects are it will already have feline diabetes. The symptoms of this disease are pretty simple to see and are excessive urination and thirst as well as weight loss or gain. Veterinaries are of yet uncertain what is the cause of this, but recent research studies that have been done, have shown that there is a link between pancreatic disease, hormonal imbalance and particular medications.

The symptoms of most of the diseases mentioned are very alike. These include diarrhea, vomiting, lameness lasting for more than 5 days in one leg, a decrease in vision, excessive panting, a seizure, blood in the stool or urine, hair loss, persistent coughing or gagging and breathing heavily or rapidly at rest. In order to find the answer, your cat will have to undergo some tests.

The vet will take some blood, urine and feces samples. Any input that you have observed and give will also be helpful. When the tests come out, only then will the proper treatment be administered to the cat as each case varies, so what worked for one cat may not have the same positive effect with yours.

Your cat will always be healthy if you give it constant attention. This is done by giving it leading quality natural food, giving it fresh water daily, allowing it to exercise, proper grooming, making for sure it stays inside and taking it for regular visits to your vet.

If you miss any of these simple steps, then something wrong is sure to happen to your cat and you will soon detect a change in the behaviour of your cat and if you do nothing about it, it is just going to make matters far worse. So you need to keep proper cat care and look out for any symptoms.

For further Free information on Long Term cat Care try visiting Caring For Your cat Help.

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