Cat - Cat Behavior - Protect Your Home From Destructive Cats

Save 5% on orders over $75 at Only Natural Pet Store! Use coupon code CJ75. When it comes to cat behavior some cats can be very destructive to your house. From scratching up furniture to destroying plants, the amount of damage can add up after a while. So how do you protect your house from your cat? When it comes to having a destructive cat there are many simple and easy things you can do to protect your house from the cat. One common complaint from cat owners is that the cat is always getting into the plant and digging in the soil. This makes a huge mess on the floor and is bad for the plant. One easy solution to this is to put rocks over the soil. If you use rocks that are large enough it should detour most cats from attempting to get down to the soil. If your plants are small enough you could just raise them off the floor and put them on a shelf where the cat is unable to jump or climb too. Also using a plant basin that is too large for the cat to knock over is another simple step you can take. If your cat is destroying your couch by scratching it you can always try to place a scratching post where your cat seems to scratch the most. Cats love to scratch and they do it for several reasons. Cats scratch because it helps to sharpen their claws, it helps them exercise by strengthening their muscles, and it prevents boredom. If your cat is scratching another thing to try is offering more toys to play with or cover your furniture with a cloth. If you don't want to live like your furniture is always ready to be moved, try a product called Soft Claws. There are dozens of more ways to protect your house from your cat. By learning about cat behavior you can save yourself a lot of headaches. The Cat Behavior Specialist Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Blaise Cat - Have You Checked Your Cat's Teeth Recently? Cats cannot brush their own teeth. This may seem like stating the obvious, but there are a huge number of cats out there with severe dental disease that desperately need treatment. Most owners are unaware of their cats teeth problem until either a vet checks the cats mouth, or the mouth becomes so sore and breath so foul that the owners attention is drawn to it. Cats can suffer from a number of different dental problems, but one of the most common is what is known as a FORL lesion (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion). These are essentially cavities like humans can suffer from, though they are formed slightly differently and can occur in any tooth. The most commonly affected teeth are the lower premolars. Another very common presentation is the presence of gingivitis, simply meaning inflammation of the gums where the gums meet the teeth. Gingivitis can be a reaction to bacterial infection, or as a result of a viral infection such as feline calicivirus. Are some cats more likely to get dental disease than others? Yes. Brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds such as Persians often suffer from dental disease, though any cat can do. Older cats tend to have more teeth problems than younger cats because tartar builds up with time. Outdoor cats that hunt tend to have good teeth because crunching through the bones of mice and other prey helps clean their teeth. Any good vet will check a cats teeth thoroughly as part of a routine annual vaccination check up to advise whether any dental treatment is necessary. Clearly diet plays a major role in the development of dental disease. Cats that eat a dry biscuit based or complete diet are less likely to get dental disease compared with cats on wet tinned food merely due to the crunchy hard food helping to stop tartar attaching to the teeth. However diet alone is not enough for some cats and brushing may be necessary if you are to avoid the prospect of dental scaling and polishing under general anesthetic further down the line. How do I know if my cat has dental disease? The common signs to look out for are: 1. Discoloration of the teeth, with yellow/brown tartar (known as calculus) adhering to the teeth, mainly on the cheek side. 2. Reddening of the gums (known as gingivitis). 3. Recession on the gum to expose some of the tooth root. 4. Presence of cavities (FORL lesions). 5. Bad breath (halitosis). 6. Dribbling more than is usual. 7. Difficulty eating dry biscuit type foods. How do I go about brushing my cats teeth? Firstly, buy a suitable toothbrush. Human toothbrushes are usually too hard for cats, though can be used if they have soft bristles. Ideally you want a toothbrush with a long handle and an angled head to better fit the mouth, and extra soft bristles. An alternative is using a finger brush, which fits over the tip of your finger. Next, find a suitable toothpaste. Cats do not really like the mint taste of human toothpastes, so the whole operation will run more smoothly if you use a toothpaste designed for pets. Some pet toothpastes come in meaty flavors so that your pet enjoys the experience. These pet toothpastes usually contain enzymes that help control plaque. Fluoride may be incorporated to help control bacteria. Tip: try placing the toothpaste between the bristles if you can rather than on the top of them, as this will achieve better cleaning. Now you have the equipment, try brushing the teeth. Most pets will accept this if you are gentle. It is much easier if you start when they are kittens so that they are accustomed to the procedure, but even older cats can grow to accept it. The outside of the teeth (the cheek side) is the most important to clean, as the cats tongue helps clean the inside of the teeth to an extent. The toothbrush bristles should be placed where the teeth and gums meet at a 45 degree angle. The movement should be in an oval pattern. Try to gently force the bristle ends into the area around the base of the tooth as well as into the gap between the teeth. Aim for ten short back-and-forth motions, covering several teeth at a time, then move the brush to a new location. When starting for the first time, do it twice daily without toothpaste for 1-2 weeks. This way your cat will become familiar with the feel of the brush quickly, and you can then start doing it with toothpaste. In the long term, once weekly brushing is usually adequate. My cat already has a rotten mouth, need I be worried about getting his/her teeth done at the vets? As long as your cat does not have a pre-existing heart or respiratory problem, you need not be worried. Even if they do, chances are your cat will be fine. Dental scaling and polishing is done on a daily basis at many veterinary clinics, and does not have any risks in itself beyond the anesthetic risk that exists with every general anesthetic. Many clinics will do pre-anesthetic blood tests for geriatric patients as a matter of protocol, to check on their liver and kidney function. If your cat has severe dental disease or FORL cavities, he/she may require teeth to be extracted. This is not something you should worry about in itself, as it is much better for your cat to have no tooth than a painful tooth. Many cats can eat dry food comfortably without any teeth at all as they tend to swallow biscuits whole rather than chew them anyway. If you think your cat might require professional dental treatment, you should book an appointment with your vet ASAP. Many cats develop a new lease of life when their mouth suddenly becomes pain free, it may be the greatest gift you could ever give your pet.

Cat - Have You Checked Your Cat's Teeth Recently?

Cats cannot brush their own teeth. This may seem like stating the obvious, but there are a huge number of cats out there with severe dental disease that desperately need treatment. Most owners are unaware of their cats teeth problem until either a vet checks the cats mouth, or the mouth becomes so sore and breath so foul that the owners attention is drawn to it. Cats can suffer from a number of different dental problems, but one of the most common is what is known as a FORL lesion (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion). These are essentially cavities like humans can suffer from, though they are formed slightly differently and can occur in any tooth. The most commonly affected teeth are the lower premolars. Another very common presentation is the presence of gingivitis, simply meaning inflammation of the gums where the gums meet the teeth. Gingivitis can be a reaction to bacterial infection, or as a result of a viral infection such as feline calicivirus. Are some cats more likely to get dental disease than others? Yes. Brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds such as Persians often suffer from dental disease, though any cat can do. Older cats tend to have more teeth problems than younger cats because tartar builds up with time. Outdoor cats that hunt tend to have good teeth because crunching through the bones of mice and other prey helps clean their teeth. Any good vet will check a cats teeth thoroughly as part of a routine annual vaccination check up to advise whether any dental treatment is necessary. Clearly diet plays a major role in the development of dental disease. Cats that eat a dry biscuit based or complete diet are less likely to get dental disease compared with cats on wet tinned food merely due to the crunchy hard food helping to stop tartar attaching to the teeth. However diet alone is not enough for some cats and brushing may be necessary if you are to avoid the prospect of dental scaling and polishing under general anesthetic further down the line. How do I know if my cat has dental disease? The common signs to look out for are: 1. Discoloration of the teeth, with yellow/brown tartar (known as calculus) adhering to the teeth, mainly on the cheek side. 2. Reddening of the gums (known as gingivitis). 3. Recession on the gum to expose some of the tooth root. 4. Presence of cavities (FORL lesions). 5. Bad breath (halitosis). 6. Dribbling more than is usual. 7. Difficulty eating dry biscuit type foods. How do I go about brushing my cats teeth? Firstly, buy a suitable toothbrush. Human toothbrushes are usually too hard for cats, though can be used if they have soft bristles. Ideally you want a toothbrush with a long handle and an angled head to better fit the mouth, and extra soft bristles. An alternative is using a finger brush, which fits over the tip of your finger. Next, find a suitable toothpaste. Cats do not really like the mint taste of human toothpastes, so the whole operation will run more smoothly if you use a toothpaste designed for pets. Some pet toothpastes come in meaty flavors so that your pet enjoys the experience. These pet toothpastes usually contain enzymes that help control plaque. Fluoride may be incorporated to help control bacteria. Tip: try placing the toothpaste between the bristles if you can rather than on the top of them, as this will achieve better cleaning. Now you have the equipment, try brushing the teeth. Most pets will accept this if you are gentle. It is much easier if you start when they are kittens so that they are accustomed to the procedure, but even older cats can grow to accept it. The outside of the teeth (the cheek side) is the most important to clean, as the cats tongue helps clean the inside of the teeth to an extent. The toothbrush bristles should be placed where the teeth and gums meet at a 45 degree angle. The movement should be in an oval pattern. Try to gently force the bristle ends into the area around the base of the tooth as well as into the gap between the teeth. Aim for ten short back-and-forth motions, covering several teeth at a time, then move the brush to a new location. When starting for the first time, do it twice daily without toothpaste for 1-2 weeks. This way your cat will become familiar with the feel of the brush quickly, and you can then start doing it with toothpaste. In the long term, once weekly brushing is usually adequate. My cat already has a rotten mouth, need I be worried about getting his/her teeth done at the vets? As long as your cat does not have a pre-existing heart or respiratory problem, you need not be worried. Even if they do, chances are your cat will be fine. Dental scaling and polishing is done on a daily basis at many veterinary clinics, and does not have any risks in itself beyond the anesthetic risk that exists with every general anesthetic. Many clinics will do pre-anesthetic blood tests for geriatric patients as a matter of protocol, to check on their liver and kidney function. If your cat has severe dental disease or FORL cavities, he/she may require teeth to be extracted. This is not something you should worry about in itself, as it is much better for your cat to have no tooth than a painful tooth. Many cats can eat dry food comfortably without any teeth at all as they tend to swallow biscuits whole rather than chew them anyway. If you think your cat might require professional dental treatment, you should book an appointment with your vet ASAP. Many cats develop a new lease of life when their mouth suddenly becomes pain free, it may be the greatest gift you could ever give your pet. Dr David Brooks is part of the online veterinary team at WhyDoesMyPet.com Veterinarians, Vet Technicians, Nurses, Trainers, Behaviorists, Breeders and Pet Enthusiasts are here to answer your pet questions and concerns... Our dedicated community of caring experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Brooks Cat - A Review of Cat Fancy Magazine Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is totally fun and such is the case with my assignment to review Cat Fancy Magazine. My own two Bengal cats volunteered to assist with my research but in the end both of them were found sleeping on the job. A recent issue of Cat Fancy Magazine estimated that, based on the latest surveys, there are approximately 90 million cats in the United States. Thus, it is indeed fortunate for those of us who own these 'purrfect' animals to have Cat Fancy Magazine available as our own resource. Every issue of this magazine contains delightful sections such as: Purrs and Hisses (letters from readers), the Cat Calendar (who, what, when, where), In the Mews, What's New Pussycat, and other zany sections that make reading each issue a pure pleasure. One of my favorite browse sections of the magazine is the Breeder Directory. It contains about twenty pages of information organized by breed to help anyone quickly find additional resources of interest. The Cat Clinic - Ask the Vet section of Cat Fancy Magazine contains very important and helpful tips regarding the health of your pet. Of course the absolute best part of each magazine issue is the surprise that comes from their monthly feature stories. Everything about cats from their ancient Egyptian history to their downtown New York penthouse dwellings is covered. Naturally, Cat Fancy Magazine features photographs of the most stunning cats in the world but it also includes the everyday house cat on an equal pawing. Practical stories such as how to save on veterinary bills and an enjoyable monthly editor's note from Susan Logan help round out the value of the magazine. The complete Cat Fancy Magazine review and associated graphics are online at: http://magazines.canon.org. ? 2005 Peach ePublishing, LLC

Cat - A Review of Cat Fancy Magazine

Quality Cat Supplies available at Low Prices and Free Shipping! Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is totally fun and such is the case with my assignment to review Cat Fancy Magazine. My own two Bengal cats volunteered to assist with my research but in the end both of them were found sleeping on the job. A recent issue of Cat Fancy Magazine estimated that, based on the latest surveys, there are approximately 90 million cats in the United States. Thus, it is indeed fortunate for those of us who own these 'purrfect' animals to have Cat Fancy Magazine available as our own resource. Every issue of this magazine contains delightful sections such as: Purrs and Hisses (letters from readers), the Cat Calendar (who, what, when, where), In the Mews, What's New Pussycat, and other zany sections that make reading each issue a pure pleasure. One of my favorite browse sections of the magazine is the Breeder Directory. It contains about twenty pages of information organized by breed to help anyone quickly find additional resources of interest. The Cat Clinic - Ask the Vet section of Cat Fancy Magazine contains very important and helpful tips regarding the health of your pet. Of course the absolute best part of each magazine issue is the surprise that comes from their monthly feature stories. Everything about cats from their ancient Egyptian history to their downtown New York penthouse dwellings is covered. Naturally, Cat Fancy Magazine features photographs of the most stunning cats in the world but it also includes the everyday house cat on an equal pawing. Practical stories such as how to save on veterinary bills and an enjoyable monthly editor's note from Susan Logan help round out the value of the magazine. The complete Cat Fancy Magazine review and associated graphics are online at: http://magazines.canon.org. ? 2005 Peach ePublishing, LLC Jason Canon has authored numerous technical research papers including: photonic switching, gigabit networking, VoIP E9-1-1 and others. He is an expert author for EzineArticles.com. E-mail: Jason Canon at jmc@canon.org. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Canon Cat - Your Cat and Wild Birds There are a lot of good reasons for *not* letting your new cat become an outside cat and I mention most of them in my new ebook "Your New Cat's First 24 Hours". But one very important reason that I left out was the fact that cats are death on birds. Yes, this is a fact that cat owners don't like to face, but a cat is a predator that doesn't distinguish between mice and birds when it comes to her prey. It's estimated that there are about 40 million cats in the United States free to roam outside, and 20 to 30 percent of the kills they make are birds. When you figure that a single outdoor cat will kill up to 200 birds and mammals every year, this can add up to over a billion birds killed by outdoor cats! Many cat owners think that if they keep their cat well fed she won't feel the need to kill, but they are not taking into account that a cat does not kill out of hunger, but because she is an instinctual predator. A well fed cat *will* kill birds. So, do Mother Nature and her wonderful birds a favor. Keep your cat indoors! ? John Young, www.yourcatsecrets.com, All Rights Reserved

Cat - Your Cat and Wild Birds

Save 5% on orders over $75 at Only Natural Pet Store! Use coupon code CJ75. There are a lot of good reasons for *not* letting your new cat become an outside cat and I mention most of them in my new ebook "Your New Cat's First 24 Hours". But one very important reason that I left out was the fact that cats are death on birds. Yes, this is a fact that cat owners don't like to face, but a cat is a predator that doesn't distinguish between mice and birds when it comes to her prey. It's estimated that there are about 40 million cats in the United States free to roam outside, and 20 to 30 percent of the kills they make are birds. When you figure that a single outdoor cat will kill up to 200 birds and mammals every year, this can add up to over a billion birds killed by outdoor cats! Many cat owners think that if they keep their cat well fed she won't feel the need to kill, but they are not taking into account that a cat does not kill out of hunger, but because she is an instinctual predator. A well fed cat *will* kill birds. So, do Mother Nature and her wonderful birds a favor. Keep your cat indoors! ? John Young, www.yourcatsecrets.com, All Rights Reserved Hi! My name is John Young. I'm a writer and a cat lover, having owned one cat or another since I was four, and that was over 57 years ago. I've written a new ebook, "Your New Cat's First 24 Hours", and have packed into it every shred of information I could find to help you introduce your new cat to your household and care for it from then on. Please check out my website at http://www.yourcatsecrets.com and sign up for my free newsletter, "Your Cat's 9 Secrets". Thanks! http://www.yourcatsecrets.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Young Cat - Cheap Cat PlayThings You can Find Around Your Home Buying toys from your local pet shop can be expensive, and after the money you spend on it, your cat either tears the toy to pieces in a couple of hours or turns its nose up completely! Why not save your money and entertain your cat with the following things you can find around your own home? String! I guarantee all cats love string. As it wiggles along the ground, moving fast and slow, it triggers your cat's hunting mechanism and makes a great plaything. A great idea is to tie a long piece of string to a stick, so you can drag it along the ground and tease your pet while sitting comfortable in a chair. Paper! Other than the sound of pet food, nothing perks my cats ears up like the sound of paper being rolled into a ball. A ball of paper about the size of a ping-pong ball is ideal for your cat to chase around the house. They absolute love it. Similar thing to use for ball pet toys are rolled up sweet wrappers and small balls of foil. Rope! One of the most versatile products you can use to make different cat toys and activities. It's great to wrap around a post to make your very own cat scratch post and can be pined to pieces of board to make scratch boards that can be mounted on a wall inside or out. These are just some of the things you can find inside your home to entertain your pet, without having to spend a lot of money in pet shops on toys and pet accessories.