Posts Tagged ‘cat’
A Look At Cat Breeds
Over the last thousands of years, cats have pretty much handled their breeding themselves. In the beginning, they were used for one purpose – hunting and killing rodents. As the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking. Now days, there are several different breeds of cats – which you can tell if you look closely.
These days there are over 70 distinct cat breeds, which are recognized through cat registries. There are several registries that will recognize around 40 breeds or so, as they exclude the more domestic breeds such as tigers. There are also many variations as well, including wild cats that have longer hair.
There are some cat breeds who have roots going back quite a bit in history. Some Japanese breeds, such as the Japanese Bobtail, can be traced back more than 1,000 years in history. These cats were very common and well known throughout Medieval Japan. Now days though, they are all but a myth throughout Japan and the entire world.
The more common cat breeds that are found in North America include the alley cat, long haired cat, and Persian cat. Siamese cats are also common, although they are well known to be destructive and to have a foul temper. Persian cats are very popular, proving to be loving companions. Persian cats can be very expense, depending on where you get it and what type of Persian cat it is.
Alley cats are the most common in North America. There are actually several different breeds, although most of us just refer to them as alley cats. They make good pets, although there are literally thousands of them in existence. Cats are known to breed more than any other pet, and they will continue to breed until they are stopped. Alley cats are among the most bred, as there are hundreds of thousands of cats that are homeless – and have nothing to do but breed.
The look of the cat is the easiest way to tell what breed he or she may be. Some people choose to go by color, although color isn’t as easy to identify. Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as the Siamese and Persian cats. Siamese cats are almost always black, and easy to identify by their color and their eyes. Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their body type and their hair.
Over the years, there has been quite a few breeds come along. Cats were one of the first pets, and easily one of the most popular. Millions of people around the world own cats, with many people preferring a cat over any other pet – including dogs. No matter breed of cat you get – you’re sure to get a pet who make for a great companion for years and years to come.
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How To Stop My Cat Spraying
The cat backs up, lifts the tail and releases a fine spray of urine. Yes, your cat is spraying. Yes, You have a problem. But You can stop it.
Figures from the Association of Pet Behavior Counsellors say that marking behavior in cats are the biggest behavior problems in the household pet population.
Spraying is a marking behavior, not a litter box problem. Sprayed cat urine contains pheromones, a substance that animals use to communicate. Combinations of pheromones work like fingerprints: they identify the cat and hence mark their territory
A spraying cat marks his or her territory with cat urine. It simply says: “This is mine”. You may not like it, but getting angry doesn’t help. It may even have an opposite effect: more spraying as they continue to display their dominance.
Cats in heat are attracted by the odor of cat urine. For them, spraying is something like an invitation to love. The results may be there in 65 days: a nest of cute little kittens.
Cats do not only spray during sexual encounters. Some also do it during conflicts with other felines, or when they are stressed.
For people the scent is far from pleasant. Thankfully most cats spray outside. But what if you have a cat spraying inside? Do something about it! And yes, that is possible.
The most radical and effective thing you can do is neutering or spaying your cat. Most castrated toms stopped spraying from the day they were operated.
But maybe you have a reason not to neuter your cat. In that case try to find out why your cat sprays.
Maybe it sprays only when it sees another cat. Solution: block the view. Or it sprays because of a conflict with another pet. Keep them separated and problems might be over.
If you don’t know why your cat sprays, discuss it with your veterinarian. Chances are he will advice you to spay or neuter. But your vet can also check if there is a medical problem.
Anyway, do not leave this unsolved, stop your cat from spraing. Cat urine odor and stains can make your home a very uncomfortable place, and your cat will still remain a cat even when it doesn’t spray anymore.
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Domestic Cat Breeds
Have you always wanted a cat, but heard some breeds make better pets than others? Maybe you have always wanted a cat, but do not know anything about them? There are plenty of ways to learn about cats and what breeds fit your personality. The choice can come from having an indoor, outdoor or indoor and outdoor cat. The tough and smart survive in the out of doors. Small cats are often pray for birds and other wildlife and should be kept indoors. Tomcats, a mixed breed, are great at surviving outdoors and mousers. So let us look at a few breeds of cats and then you will be able to choose which one may be right for your lifestyle.
Siamese: The Siamese cat can be a fickle creature. They often require a lot of attention when they determine it is necessary. They tend to meow quite a bit and can tear up a home if left alone for too long. These are the downsides. Siamese can be great pets, especially when raised from infancy. They are often white with brown ears and blue eyes. You may recognize them from Lady and the Tramp? Those two were a little mean and not the typical portrayal of a Siamese. Siamese are generally very affectionate. They are also one of the most intelligent of the cat species. They tend to be very social, which is why they meow or “talk” a lot. A sign for attention is usually a very vocal meow much like a babies cry. Siamese typically bond to one person very strongly and are territorial of that person.
Persian: The Persian cat breed is one of the oldest cats around. They are longhaired cats with beautiful shinny coats. They are very soft and friendly; however, they are prone to health problems such as allergies. The Persian does not always play as much as other breeds, but they do enjoy a bit of fun for exercise especially in a social situation. They love to have other cats around to play with as well as have a lap available when they are in need of a lap. Persians are a variety of colors from solid black, white or a mix of white and browns around the face. A popular Persian is the Himalayan.
Manx: The Manx is known for its stubby tail or having no tail. The downside to Manx cats is the lack of tail. Often a Manx can suffer from worms and other parasites due to improper cleaning and not having the protection of a tail. This does not mean you should discount the Manx as a breed. The Manx breed is extremely intelligent and playful. They are a lot like dogs in the play area because they can fetch when you through toys and bring them back to you. They are very social animals and depend on human care. They don’t like to be left alone for too long, so it is wise to have other cats to play with when you are gone during the day. The best home for a Manx is one filled with children.
These are just three of the more popular breeds of cats. There are over a dozen cat breeds to choose from and finding the one to fit your lifestyle is important. Cats are very social and intelligent, but some breeds can be loners. Most often, a cat chooses when the time is right and what type of attention they want at the time. The phrase “you do not own a cat it owns you” is very true.
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Luxury Dog Houses – Should I Buy One?
Unfortunately, there are quite a few Dog owners that keep their Dog in their home all day long and others who prefer that their Dog Brave the elements 24/7 in a Kennel (or chain link Fence) in their yard. Some justify a garage, shed, and or (believe it, or not) a 1×2x2 travel Kennel as suitable living quarters.
Then there are those owners that consider their Pooch part of their family. Not only do they love their Dogs, they favor them more then most people they know. It is for this reason that they would go to ANY lengths to make their per comfortable.
Let’s face it: When we are Hot, Cold, or Wet outside,our Dogs are too. People who have a strong attachment to their Dog,would find it quite difficult to argue against anything but the best living quarters for their pet!
Our Dog Houses are second to none in durability, aesthetics, functionality and comfort. They are the standard of which all Dog Houses should be built. They can provide all the comforts of home at a “respectable” price, and they will be the last Dog House our customers will ever buy.
Dog Houses can be built with virtually ANY amenity that you can find in your home. They truly can just as durable, eastheticly appealing and be the last dog house you will ever have to purchase.
If you don’t have a strong attachment to your pet, you will not be interested in this product. However, if your pet is considered part of your family and you want nothing but the best for it, then you probably will. For this group of individuals I highly recommend visiting our web site at http://www.jimboshoundhouses.com.
Exotic Pets – Making The Right Decision
Most families at some point decide to introduce a pet or animal to their family home at some point in their lives. Although cats, dogs, rabbits, gerbils, fish and other small animals are the most common family pet it is becoming less unusual for families to look at bringing home exotic pets.
Exotic pets may seem more exciting and different however unless your are fully prepared and understand enough about the exotic pets you choose bringing one home could end in disaster.
Generally speaking, the more exotic the pet the more education you will need and it will probably require more expensive housing and food. When you are looking for exotic pets do your research before you shop, you may find you purchase an animal on impulse that you know little about and does not fit your family surroundings.
It is extremely important to do plenty of research on exotic pets before you decide what sort you want. You can find plenty of information on the internet simply type in the animal you are look for and read as much as you can to see if this animal suits you. You can also visit your local library and borrow books on exotic pets.
It may be helpful to visit a few pet shops to seek advise about exotic pets, make sure you are aware of all the special requirements they need.
Things To Ask
What sort of housing do they require including the size and shape.
What sort of food do they eat and how often should they be fed
Are they prone to any type of diseases or problems you should look out for
Do they require any special equipment such as a UV light or heat mat
How long is their life expectancy
Do they need any type of vaccinations
Do you need any sort of licence to own this type of animal
If you have children it may be worth finding out how much your exotic pet likes to be interacted with. If you have chosen an animal that does not like to be handled will your family be happy with a pet that can only be looked at and not touched?
If you have other pets already you will need to know if the new addition will upset your existing animals and how they will get along. You may need to set up alternative measures if they need to be kept well away from each other.
Buying exotic pets is not as easy as it seems but if you are fully aware of everything that it needs and have prepared a loving home with the correct facilities there is no reason why you should not enjoy having one.
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Would Ancient Egyptians Worship your Pet Cat?
The next time you sip your morning coffee while watching your favorite pet feline methodically groom herself for the day, consider this: your pet cat might have been revered, even worshipped by Egyptians thousands of years ago. These ancient Egyptians were a technologically and intellectually advanced society for their time. What exactly about your pet would they find so worthy of adoration?
To better appreciate this race’s amazing allegiance to their four footed companions, one must have a modest understanding of history. The Egyptians wisely utilized the waters from the Nile River, and its surrounding fertile soil to grow a variety of crops. Those seasons when the crops failed, the economy suffered horribly, and thousands of people went without food. This ancient culture relied heavily upon the wild, or feral cats of their era to protect their prized grains and harvested crops from disease carrying rats and mice. With their long, graceful limbs, large eyes, and sleek form, these agile felines were perfectly suited to catch vermin. It is suggested that terrible plagues were avoided just from the cats keeping the local rat population in check.
While feral cats were doing their part to protect important Egyptian grains and produce (as well as the local economy), in their cities and villages, domesticated cats served another significant purpose. Household cats were bread for their abilities to protect their beloved owners from snakes, rats, and other harmful pests. Cats were known to risk their lives for their owners, attacking and killing venomous cobras to protect their families. They kept young children from harm, and roamed the houses at night, using teeth and sharpened claws to safeguard the premises.
The cleverness, resourcefulness, agility, and grace of the Egyptian’s domesticated cats inspired this ancient culture to associate them with the goddess Bast. Bast’s spirit was often personified in feline appearance, and was frequently seen in the form of statues, paintings, and sculptures of the period. At times Bast was depicted with the face and head of a feline. On other occasions she was portrayed as a wise, regal cat. Bast was eventually given her own beautiful temple so that pilgrims could travel to revere her spirit in her own place of worship. Inside this structure, the priests of Bast cared for the many temple cats that dwelled in the sanctity of this holy place. In time, the sacred practice of mummification was extended to cats, for their owners adored them, revered them, and wished to be with them even in the afterlife.
In modern times, cats are still of importance to society. As the ancient Egyptians correctly realized, there are many advantages to having cats in the household as well as in the community. Although most cats in modern society are not required to save their owners from deadly cobras, many have been known to (depending on the local climate) protect against rattlesnakes, scorpions, poisonous spiders, and disease carrying rats and mice. Many farms, vineyards, and orchards continue to welcome cats for their ability to contain the local pest populations.
Scientists have spent vast sums of money trying to unlock the secrets of feline nocturnal vision. Cats’ nerves, reflexes, and musculoskeletal systems are presently being analyzed with the hope of making medical advancements that would be of benefit to humankind. Hundreds of years from today, we will still be learning about our feline companions, and benefiting from their presence in many ways.
Now would an ancient Egyptian have worshipped my pet cat? It’s quite possible. Would I worship my cat? Possibly, if she were able to reorganize my DVD collection, tidy up the kitchen, and organize my computer desk. I would definitely have to consider it.
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Things to Prepare Before Bringing your Pet Cat Home
Purchasing a new pet cat can be a wonderful experience, yet, it can also be a little overwhelming and worrying, too, especially if you have other animals! So just how do you go about introducing your new pet to the rest of the household and do you really know the true needs of your cat in order to look after them properly?
Introducing Your New Pet into Your Home
There are a number of factors that you will need to take into account before you introduce your pet into your home. These include:
* When to introduce The Cat
While it may be extremely tempting to just bring the cat home and put it down onto the floor to roam around freely, if you have other pets it is an extremely bad idea! You simply cannot realistically expect your other animals to get on with this new arrival instantly. It takes time and if you do not introduce the cat into the home with plenty of time, you could face daily conflicts for a long period of time!
So just how is it possible to bring a new cat home and not introduce it to the rest of your pets? Well, the simplest way to do it is to put the cat into a separate room and give it a litter tray, food, water, a bed and plenty of toys to play with. Ensure that no other animal can get into the room but allow them to be able to sniff under the door. It is extremely likely that you will hear a lot of hissing and scratching as the animals sniff each other under the door, but that will fade in time.
* How to Introduce the Cat
As well as keeping the new cat in a separate room, it is a good idea to let the animals sniff each other indirectly. This basically means wiping the new cat with a towel and letting the other animals sniff it and vice versa. All the animals should, over time, get used to the new scent and they will accept it as normal.
Another way is to switch the cat’s rooms every now and again. Let the new cat into the main house and put the other animals into the cat’s safety room in order to let them sniff around. Once you have done this a few times, you can then step it up by allowing the animals to sniff and see each other through a safety gate. Monitor their behavior and obviously remove the animals from each other if they get too nasty with each other. Over a period of time of doing this, you will notice an improvement and eventually you will be able to introduce them into the main house altogether without many problems.
Bringing a new cat home is exciting and it can be very rewarding also. However, you really do need to take certain precautions if you already have other pets. If you follow the instructions above, you should be able to introduce your new pet into your home without much hassle. It just takes time and patience but you will get there if you persevere!
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