Whilst choosing the individual cat you take home with you will ultimately be an emotional decision, you can easily narrow down your choices by addressing a few key areas of cat ownership.

These include:

Long or short hair cat?

Indoor or outdoor?

One or more cats?

Buy or Adopt?

Coat Type

Choosing between a long or short haired cat comes down to aesthetics (looks) as well as whether or not you have allergies or are planning to keep the cat inside where an abundance of hair may bother you. Most long haired breeds like Persians require personal grooming, whilst a semi-longhair or shorthair breed will not require much or any grooming by the owner. Keep this in mind when choosing a cat!

Indoors vs Outdoors

Whilst it is always wise to lock your cat inside at night, will you be keeping him outside or inside during the day? Or a combination of both? Some cat breeds love the freedom of outdoors, whilst others prefer being quietly inside. Choose a cat which suits your lifestyle.

How many cats?

If you are adopting kittens, sometimes it’s a good idea to take two together. This gives the kittens company and allows them to not have to adjust to a single life. On the other hand, it will of course cost you more in food and vet bills so make sure you weigh up both sides.

Buy or Adopt?

If you are after a pedigree (purebred) cat, then you’ll almost always have to buy from a breeder. Prices can vary from a couple of hundred for some breeds up to nearly $1000 for rare or exotic breeds. If you are not into cat showing and just want a friendly pet, or perhaps want to save a life, visit your local cat shelter and you can pick one up there for just the price of desexing and worming (usually around $100 or less).

Good luck with your cat search!

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

While physical abuse is bad, problems associated with emotional damage might prove to be a lot more difficult to overcome.

The good news is that a cat which has been physically abused will eventually start to respond to a loving and caring new owner, once they realize that they are not in danger any longer.

If the cat has been emotionally abused, you will have show a lot of patience and the process will probably take a little longer to build up the trust between the two of you.

In both cases, take your time and let the cat take the lead. Don’t try to force them to trust you, let it happen naturally.

She will probably spend most of the time in hiding when you first bring her home, but cats being the curious creatures they are, she will slowly start checking out her new surroundings. It will be at these times that she tries to sneak up on you when she thinks you are not paying attention for a quick sniff.

Don’t make any sudden moves, and don’t try to pet her the first few times. Eventually the trust will be built up, and she will allow you to pet her, and even start responding when you call her.

It is very important not to use the wrong types of discipline on any cat, but even more so with a cat which has been abused in the past. Avoid raising your voice, using newspapers, flyswatters, hands or feet when disciplining your cat. These types of discipline are probably going to be associated by the cat with the trauma it suffered in the past.

Abused cats can prove to be meaner than their well adjusted, and loved-since-they-were-kittens counterparts.

One problem which can arise from this abusive treatment is biting. This is something which cannot be tolerated for any reason. Cat bites can be dangerous and lead to infections. I personally know of people who have been hospitalized for a single cat bite. So always be very careful with any new cat until you both feel comfortable with each other.

Cats for the most part are very content if they have good food, clean water, a clean litter box, and maybe a companion. If you provide these things, you are more than half way to winning her heart. Just add a soothing voice, and lots of love, and you should have a wonderful relationship with your formerly abused cat.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

You cannot notice pet odors after awhile being in the room because of your nasal cavity. The glands in the nose become adapted to the smell, but your guests will smell it.

So how can you get rid of pet stains and why should you consider trying something that disinfects the carpet as well as removes the stains.

The simple fact that pet stains are caused by urine, feces, blood, or vomit throws up a big warning. All these items can cause bacteria and rot the carpeting as well as your insides. Pet urine contains ammonia, this can be extremely harmful to you and your pet. Don’t even think about using bleach, because the mixture of bleach and ammonia will have your nose in a tail spin.

So what about vinegar?

If you are thinking about using vinegar to remove pet stains and odors then you are in for a big surprise. You see vinegar has a unique odor that really stinks in my opinion. In fact, vinegar can make your entire house smell even worse then messy pet stains and odors.

Don’t even think of using vinegar on the carpeting. Vinegar is potent and will create a funky odor for months that you will never be able to get rid of. As for pet stains and vinegar, I would recommend not to mess with it. You need something that will neutralize and deodorize the odor.

A popular raw material to clean pet stains and odors is enzymes. Pet stain removers are now beginning to use enzymes and some are using organic raw materials.

These organic pet stain removers also disinfect and can terminate bacteria so it not only cleans and deodorizes, you also will get rid of messy diseases that can harm you and your pet.

Pet stain removers are now turning to a natural safe raw material that will be able to neutralize pet stains without damaging the carpets, no matter how old the carpeting is.

Now with so many natural cleaning products developed, it is about time a few major companies have developed pet stain removers from natural raw materials. In fact the pet stain removers neutralize pet stains and odors entirely as well as been tested to get rid of bacteria. Somewhat like a disinfectant anti-microbial pet stain remover.

For free samples or to try going green with pet stain removers you can look at a few new product launches that are going to be happening like http://www.mycleaningproducts.com/pet_products.html For a limited time you can be given a chance to try there new Stainerizer pet stain remover.

Go green and be sure to stay away from harsh chemicals, not only can they hurt your carpets and furniture, they can kill you and your pets. To look for natural cleaning products research the raw materials of the MSDS sheets. These will tell you if any hazardous raw materials are contained in the formula. Solvents, acids, bleach will all contain some type of harsh chemical. While they will clean you are endangering your carpet, pets, and yourself. Go green and try using natural cleaning products for your next pet stain.

Looking for a natural carpet pet stain remover that kills odors and bacteria, have a try with Stainerizer. Get a free sample of the natural pet stain remover during there special launch. Find more about natural cleaning products at http://www.mycleaningproducts.com

The following tips . . . tricks . . . and techniques cover a variety of situations that most cat owners encounter. Not only that, these tips will no doubt trigger some ideas of your own.  The key to effective training is consistency. Whatever you choose, be sure to do it on regularly, otherwise, you’ll be sending your cat mixed signals. And that will only make it that much harder to train the cat.  Forget about cat training in 10 minutes!

1. Think like a cat:

This one is a good place to start, particularly if you have never owned a cat before. Get down on the floor and survey the room from a cat’s perspective after you’ve closed the blinds, of course!  What might pique a cat’s interest?  What stands out as a potential danger to the cat?  Be sure to use a flashlight and look under the sofa and in smaller areas that a human can’t easily reach, but might be tempting for a cat to explore. Keep a list of the potential hazards that you discover.

2. Remove temptation:

Now that you have identified some of the hazards and off-limit items that may be facing your cat, do something about it. Start by moving any small breakables, irreplaceables, or valuable items out of reach. Out of reach, however, is a relative term for cats, as adults cats can jump and climb nearly anywhere in a room. When possible, store valuables away in a closed container. Also keep in mind furniture if any pieces are extremely important to you, you may want to move them to a room that is off-limits to the cat.

3. Seek out hidden dangers:

Go around any areas the cat will be in once again, This time with an eye for hidden dangers. One that pet owners may not consider is poisonous plants. Cats are often attracted to the movement of plants, and investigate by biting as well as pawing. Either move poisonous plants to a different part of the house or hang them out of reach.

Another item that attracts cats with its movement is cords: hanging blind cords, phone cords, or electrical cords. Cords that can’t be moved out of reach or fastened securely can be sprayed with Bitter Apple, a harmless but unpleasant tasting substance.

Finally, remove any small hazardous items such as paper clips, thumb tacks, or pest poisons from the area.

4. Litter box:

The litter box should be placed somewhere easy for the cat to access, away from busy areas, and out of the reach of any inquisitive dogs or small children.  It’s best to put the litter box on a hard surface, as sometimes cats may mistake soft carpet around it for the actual litter box.  Once you get your new cat home, she will let you know what  type of litter and box she prefers.

5. Make some areas off limits:

In the first few tips, it was recommended to move hazardous or valuable materials to another part of the house. Before you can do this, however, you need to decide what parts of the house can and should be considered off-limits. If a room is a high-traffic area or does not have doors, you should not plan on making it off-limits to your cat. Typically an unused bedroom is a good place to put off-limits items or, alternately, be certain to secure them in closed storage areas throughout the house. The garage is one area that should always be considered off-limits, as there are too many chemicals and hazardous materials in there.

6. Shop till you drop:

In addition to the many obvious essentials, such as a litter box and food, several other items will make you and your new cat more comfortable. As mentioned in regards to cords, Bitter Apple Spray is a handy purchase for when moving danger items is not an option.

To save your furniture and keep your cat happy, a scratching post is also a good investment.  If you like to build things, you could make it yourself. Or purchase one from a store. There is a great range of styles and prices available.

Although some cat owners prefer to have their cats sleep with them,. It’s also a good idea to purchase a cat bed. Your cat can use this throughout the day, for short cat naps, or at night. Ask store employees about what size would be appropriate, depending on your cat’s age and breed.

7. Stock the pantry:

Your best option for finding a food your new cat likes would be if you can speak with the cat’s former owners. If not, be sure to pay attention to the needs of your cat based on age or physical condition. Kittens need more nutrients than adult cats do, and overweight cats may be put on a special diet.

Don’t forget that the food needs to go somewhere! Food and water bowls should be ceramic or metallic—plastic is not recommended as some cats may develop a chin rash. If you will be gone for long periods of time, also consider automatic food and water servers.

8. Toys:

Cats are born to hunt or—in the case of pet cats play.  Playing offers you an opportunity to bond with your new cat and help kittens develop. There’s a wide variety of toys available in any pet store, from the very small to elaborate houses and climbing posts. Purchase toys based on your budget, your living situation, and what your new cat’s preferences might be. If it is an older cat, you may want to stick with smaller toys. With a kitten, the sky’s the limit!

9. Cat carrier:

Cat carriers are a necessity even if you plan on keeping your new cat indoors. For starters, you will need a way to get the cat home from the shelter or pet store. Additionally, there will be many trips to the vet and possibly to friends’ houses or a boarding facility when you are on trips. A cardboard carrier is a good short-term solution, but you will eventually want to purchase a sturdy plastic one that will afford your cat comfort and security during travel.

10. Grooming:

If accustomed to it, cats enjoy grooming just as much as playing. It is also important to your cat’s health, since grooming helps prevent hairballs and overgrown nails can become problematic. Be sure to get a fine-toothed comb and rubber-backed pin brush for brushing, and a nail clipper specifically designed for cats.

The key to effective training is consistency.  Whatever you choose, be sure to do it on regularly, otherwise, you’ll be sending your cat mixed signals. And that will only make it that much harder to train her. Forget about cat training in 10 minutes!

These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg when you’re training your cat. As you and your pet begin to know each better, you’ll discover a language of your own.  It may be through speech – you talk and she meows. But more than likely, the two of you will eventually be able to read each other’s body language. You’ll soon learn the subtle nuances of this very effective form of communication . . . and teaching your cat what she needs to know will be easier than you can ever imagine.

Anne Pacey is a caring and loving cat owner. For more information about Cat House Training http://cat-house-training.info/

Source: Add new tag

There are many ways a cat can easily adjust to you. The adoption process usually begins when a cat gives its consent by starting to interact with you. One way of earning his trust is by giving him food. When he takes it you will know that you are slowly tearing down his barriers. Through patience and perseverance you will be rewarded by his trust.

It’s wonderful to have a kitten in your home. However, cat behaviors like cat scratching, urinating all over the house, and hunting for prey can not be accepted. Before you are ready to find a new home for your pet, do some research. You can find a solution to the problems that will make you and your pet happy.

A feline’s desire to claw can hurt furnishings or walls, therefore it is a wise thought to acquire some sort of scratching post. This can vary from plain cardboard types to bigger styles with carpet. A kitten jungle-gym not only allows your feline to claw but also provides a place in which to climb or sleep.

If you have a male pet cat, it would be crucial for you to have him neutered. Otherwise you will experienced having his urine sprayed all over your place to mark his territory. This will also be good for him because it will discouraged fight with other male of the same specie.

The cat is one of our favorite domesticated animals. Cat behavior may sometimes included actions that may make you uncomfortable or surprised. Among these is your cats desire to hunt. Your cat may feel the need to kill small woodland creatures. This is especially common in stray or feral cats. Don’t show alarm instead praise your cat for his actions and allow him to do what makes him happy.

Hunting and scratching are natural cat behaviors. Taking these behaviors in to consideration will make you and your pet happier. Cats tend to scratch on your furniture and walls, and will hunt any chance they get. Giving them an outlet to scratch will curb this destructive activity on your most prized furniture. Playing with furry little mouse toys or a feather on a stick will curb the hunter in him.

Considering getting a cat for a pet? It is best if the cat wants to become a part of your family. If the cat shows interest in you, you know you’re on the right path. Some cat behaviors are problems when these pets live in our homes. Territorial urine spraying, cat scratching and the hunting instinct tend to cause the most problems. Cats tend to scratch on your furniture and walls, and will hunt any chance they get. Giving them an outlet to scratch will curb this destructive activity on your most prized furniture. Sometimes cat behaviour may include some actions that will surprise us.

- Paul Proctor

Source: Misc

Although becomes difficult to maintain a completely pet-hair free zone on a daily basis. If you find yourself short on funds, but desperate for inexpensive ideas for removing those pesky pet hairs, then try these three pet hair removal tactics:

Duct Tape

Duct tape is known for being the king of all tapes and nearly every household has a roll of this type of tape. The secret to the magic of duct tape is its extreme stickiness. The adhesive side of duct tape is known to be strong enough to fix broken furniture temporarily, repair tears in upholstery until it can be mended, and much more. Now you can put your duct tape to use in help with pet hair removal.

While many pet owners use a lint roller, a roll with sticky adhesive on the outside used for clothing, it sometimes is just not sticky enough. Sometimes several sheets of lint roller adhesive sheets are need to remove pet hair from the smallest areas. Duct tape becomes a clear alternative that in the long run might be cheaper than purchasing lint rollers and lint roller refills.

Simply wrap the duct tape around your palm, with its extreme sticky side exposed, and pat along the areas that require pet hair removal. If you want to cover a larger areas, then consider cutting longer strips of duct tape on sticking the tape directly onto the surface of the area where the pet hair is to be removed, firmly press onto the tape, and rip off!

Liquid Fabric Softener & Water Solution

If you have liquid fabric softener, water, and a spray bottle, then you are halfway to eliminating pet hairs from your home! Mix a solution of fabric softener diluted with water and place into a clean spray bottle. Make sure that you label the spray bottle so that when you are organizing your cleaning supplies, you will know what type of solution is in the bottle.

With the solution in hand, lightly mist areas where there is a lot of pet hair, do not drench the area, a light mist that will only take a couple of minutes to dry is sufficient. The mixture of liquid fabric softener and water is almost like a magic solution that loosen pet hair in carpet and upholstery. Now wait a few minutes, make sure that they area is dry, and vacuum over the area. The solution will likely have loosened up plenty of pet hair to really make it easier to vacuum.

Rubber Gloves

Rubber gloves, either kitchen gloves or gardening gloves, can work against the battle of pet hair removal. Put on a clean rubber glove, perhaps you may label to glove for pet hair removal for the future, and rub around the area where there is excessive pet hairs. The static from the rubber gloves with work to clump the loose pet hair together, creating little pet hair balls that you can pick up and throw away.

Dave Roth runs a website about vacuum cleaners, which rates the top brand name vacuums on the market. The website features reviews on Dyson, Oreck, and Miele as well as user vacuum cleaner ratings and experiences.

Excessive urination and thirst (known as polyuria and polydipsia) are the most obvious early signs of the disease. Initially, your cat may show only these symptoms, or no symptoms at all.

As diabetes in cats progresses, additional symptoms may surface. These may include weight loss, even with an increase in the consumption of food.

In addition, sick cats may develop lethargy. They may also become weak in the hind legs due to a condition known as diabetic neuropathy.

More severe symptoms may include loss of appetite, vomiting, and dehydration. Over time, afflicted cats may present with liver disease, secondary infections, and display poor hair coat.

Additional symptoms can be brought on if a cat develops diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a potentially fatal condition that may cause breathing problems, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea.

With proper treatment and disease management, feline diabetes can be controlled. There are two things you can do to help prevent the onset of the disease and reduce its effects in affected cats. First, ensure that your cat gets plenty of exercise, and second, ensure that your cat does not over eat.

Source: Pets and Animals

The moment the cat is brought into the house, you should give it his or her own room for the time being with food, water and a bed. If it has not yet been toilet trained, you should start teaching it so there are no stains in the carpet.

Teaching the cat how to use the litter box can initially be done by carrying it to the box when nature calls. When you see the cat is able to do it, praise and reward your pet so they know that this is the right to do.

The exact dimension of the litter box depends on the size of the cat. This must be cleaned naturally using soap and water not disinfectant.

If ever they do something wrong like climb up on the table or scratch the furniture, you must never scold them as they are very sensitive animals. You can enforce discipline without causing any harm by squirting water on their face.

There must be food and water at all times. The feeding dish and bowl should be made either of plastic or aluminum and cleaned. Any unfinished food must be disposed of properly.

Their diet must come from high quality cat food and although this may be more expensive than the other brands, you know that it has the right vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy. Aside from food, you can also give them supplements. One example is Omega 3 fatty acids that are good for their nutrition.

For those that have other pets in the house, you should give some time for the two pets to be acquainted with each other. If you have a dog, make sure it is kept on its leash first. If you have another cat, be ready to break off a fight since this normally happens.

House rules must be set regarding what the cat can and cannot do in the home. For instance, you can decide whether or not the cat may be allowed out of the house even if the experts have said that they must always be confined indoors. There are other issues which you have to discuss among yourselves.

You must also provide a scratching pad so it can play around without causing any damage to your furniture. This should be 3 feet in height and placed either near the furniture or their bed. When their nails get too sharp, you better trim it so they don’t hurt you or themselves.

One of the most important things about cat care is proper grooming. You can bathe the cat by wetting their head and tail with shampoo. Never lather their ears or eyes and dry them using a clean towel. Brush the hair lightly and apply combing powder so it never gets tangled with each other.

Lastly, bring your cat to the vet regularly and when you see something new in their behavior as quick thinking could prevent a possible sickness from getting worse. If you don’t know any, get a recommendation from one of your neighbors.

House cat care is challenging but rewarding. You just have to put in the time and effort when you decide to bring a pet into your home.

Source: Cats

Since a radical change in your cat’s behavior can be a sign of trouble, you’ll want to note your cat’s typical routine. Cats are very good at hiding discomfort and signs of illness, but if you notice a change in behavior, look more closely to see if there’s a physical cause.

Elimination problems — Cats may experience a number of issues involving urination, defecation, and litter boxes.

Some urinary tract problems can be life threatening. FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) is a label for a group of problems that can involve crystals, stones, infection, or inflammation.

Cats self-groom regularly, but excessive licking in the anal or groin area can be a sign of illness. If your cat is urinating more often than normal, this can be a sign of an illness such as diabetes.

Occasional constipation is common in cats, and is most often caused by hairballs. Treatments are available for this, and include store bought hairball remedies as well as veterinarian prescribed treatments such as lactulose.

It should be noted that long term constipation may lead to a serious bowel condition known as megacolon. Impacted anal glands my also be a factor which will require treatment.

If your cat is dragging her rear end on the floor she may have impacted anal glands or a bad case of constipation. If your cat makes frequent but unsuccessful trips to the litter box, or cries out while using the box, she may have a problem that needs to be looked at.

If your cat is not urinating or defecating or is missing the litter box, contact your veterinarian immediately. Inappropriate elimination is common and is the number one cause that adult cats are brought to shelters. It has a number of physical and behavioral causes. You should address any medical problems first.

Other things to look for are evidence of blood in urine or feces, including black tarry stools. Diarrhea may indicate intestinal disease and can lead to dehydration, which can be fatal.

Eye and mouth problems — Check your cat’s eyes for pupils of uneven size, cloudiness, or discharge. The nictating membrane, or haw, is a “third eyelid” that you will sometimes see when a cat’s eyes are open. This is often an indication of disease.

Pallor of the lips and gums is a sign of disease and could indicate anemia. Other possible cat illness symptoms include bad breath, ulcers in the mouth, and obviously, loose teeth.

Skin and hair issues — The skin and coat of your cat can be used as a measure of overall health. Poor coat or problem skin can be a sure sign of cat illness.

Certain cat illnesses will manifest as poor or oily looking coat. In addition, if a cat stops grooming, it’s a sure sign of trouble.

Also look for excessive dryness or flaking, skin growths, hair loss, and any kind of swelling or skin eruption. Parasites on the skin are usually easily spotted. Check your cat at least once a week.

Domestic felines may experience other health problems for sure, but these are a few of the major categories. Keeping an eye on your cat’s normal routine, and being sensitive to any of the above problems is an essential part of cat care.

Source: Pets and Animals

The most common infectious skin disease in domestic felines, cat ringworm is a fungal infection, and not a worm at all. It is easily spread by contact.

It’s a self-limiting disease, meaning that it will clear up on its own. In many cases the disease resolves within 6 to 8 weeks. Stubborn cases, however, may persist for weeks or months even with treatment.

Cats with compromised immune systems may take longer. In any case, your veterinarian may prescribe treatment no matter what, since it is very common for animals to pass this disease to humans and other animals.

Ringworm is also referred to as dermatophytosis. It’s a fungus which feeds on the keratin protein found in nails, skin, and hair.

The disease gets its name from the round ring-like appearance seen on the skin. The classic ringworm symptom presents as patches of hair loss which appear as circular scaly areas with raised edges. These symptoms are fairly easy to spot.

The most common locations for infection are the head, face, ears, tail, and paws. Early symptoms include dry, flaky skin. In addition, you may see bald areas on ears, the legs, and around the eyes.

In severe cases in cats with compromised immune systems, more serious symptoms may develop. If left untreated, crusty lesions that may become red and sore, as well as infected may develop.

Cat ringworm symptoms include hair loss and broken hair in circular or irregular patterns. You may also see bumpy, scaly, red, or inflamed skin, and possibly deformed claws. The affected areas do not always itch, and some cats may experience little to no hair loss with this disease.

Cat ringworm can only be diagnosed by your veterinarian, so get in contact with your vet if you suspect your cat is infected.