When you adopt a cat you make a very important decision the moment you bring them home. You have the choice to control if they will live a long and happy life, or risk them losing years off their life, with one simple decision. That decision happens when you choose to keep your cat indoors or outdoors.
If you want them to live long and remain happy and healthy for many years, then choose to keep them inside. By allowing them uncontrolled access to the outdoors you allowing then to be susceptible to any number of terrible events.
From being hit by a car, finding their way to a poison such as anti-freeze, being stolen, or even becoming lost are just a few of the accidents and happenings that your cat may become prey to.
There may be many reasons that you do not prefer to have your cat indoors but the underlying facts are always there. If the litter box smells, be sure to clean it everyday to prevent an odor from occurring. If your cat enjoys being outdoors this is fine, keep them under supervision and they will remain safe while enjoying their time outside, but once you put them outdoors permanently you are putting them at risk immediately.
Sun bathing can also be a big trigger for cats to become fond of the outdoors, but allowing a curtain or blind to remain partially open at any window can allow them to sun-bathe while still remaining indoors.
If your feline spends time by the doors or windows meowing loudly this can be a sign of their instinctual urge to mate. If you have a cat that has not been neutered or spayed, this may be a good time to do so, it will eliminate this howling. All of the needs of any cat can easily be met indoors. Including exercise, attention, and even sun bathing.
The average life span of a cat will more than double when kept permanently indoors. The average life span of an outdoor cat is only three years. That is surprisingly low when you understand that cats can easily live to be sixteen to twenty years of age. Think of the health and happiness of your cat before deciding to put them outdoors. You have their health and safety in your hands.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Can You Train A Cat?
The worst possible attention we can give our cats is attention that reflects positively on their bad behavior. Since cats do not learn by instruction so much as by experience the way to pint them in the right direction is by reaffirming the behavior that they present.
Has your cat ever jumped on the countertop only to be gently cooed away? This semi-confusing behavior can not be seen as reprimand and the cat will continue in jumping on the counters. Experience based learners are trained by experience based reward. So be careful that you do not accidentally reward bad behavior.
Make a self appointed rule that you will in no way reward behavior that you deem to be disruptive. Set your own standards. On the reverse side, if you see you cat doing what he/she is suppose to be doing, playing where she is designated, scratching in the correct place, be sure to reward this behavior with exceeding joy. Show them that you are very pleased with the way he/she is behaving.
On the same note if you have a cat which finds their way into the bedroom at five AM do not reward them by feeding or petting them for jumping and waking you. Your best response to the situation will be to either ignore the behavior or to keep them from entering the room at that time of the morning. No cat can learn appropriate behavior when they are continually rewarded for being bad.
When you were a child were you grounded when you went against the rules, or were you given a toy or a piece of candy for going against the rules? This is my point. Just because we can not communicate with words, or physically put our cats in time-out does not mean we can not show them by way of reward or proper discipline.
As long as you are devoted to your cat, you have patience to deal with an rebellious antics, and you have treats on hand to rewards positive behavior you will do a great job at instilling respectful behavior in your cat.
Has your cat ever jumped on the countertop only to be gently cooed away? This semi-confusing behavior can not be seen as reprimand and the cat will continue in jumping on the counters. Experience based learners are trained by experience based reward. So be careful that you do not accidentally reward bad behavior.
Make a self appointed rule that you will in no way reward behavior that you deem to be disruptive. Set your own standards. On the reverse side, if you see you cat doing what he/she is suppose to be doing, playing where she is designated, scratching in the correct place, be sure to reward this behavior with exceeding joy. Show them that you are very pleased with the way he/she is behaving.
On the same note if you have a cat which finds their way into the bedroom at five AM do not reward them by feeding or petting them for jumping and waking you. Your best response to the situation will be to either ignore the behavior or to keep them from entering the room at that time of the morning. No cat can learn appropriate behavior when they are continually rewarded for being bad.
When you were a child were you grounded when you went against the rules, or were you given a toy or a piece of candy for going against the rules? This is my point. Just because we can not communicate with words, or physically put our cats in time-out does not mean we can not show them by way of reward or proper discipline.
As long as you are devoted to your cat, you have patience to deal with an rebellious antics, and you have treats on hand to rewards positive behavior you will do a great job at instilling respectful behavior in your cat.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Cat's Claw
Popular consensus says there are certain guidelines to follow when adopting a cat into your household. First, the essentials: a collar, litter box, kitty food, and hopefully a comfortable little cat bed for Snowball to call her own. Next is the veterinary visit: shots, a test for feline AIDS and leukemia, and possibly a locator chip (in case the cat gets lost and brought to a vet, this implant will indicate who the cat belongs to). Then there are the surgical procedures: spaying/neutering and declawing. This is precisely where popular consensus has misled far too many American cat owners.
One of the leading causes of death for cats is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and leukemia. It is easily spread and a painful disease to watch the loss of an animal to. Testing for these diseases is a must. To spay or neuter a cat is also in the best interest of your pet. Studies have proven that cats live a longer life if they have undergone this procedure. Spaying eliminates the chance of ovarian cancer in female cats, and neutering removes the possibility of testicular cancer in male cats. It also significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer in both males and females. So far, so good.
Then there is the encouragement to declaw your beloved animal. It is all too common for domesticated cats to scratch at your sofa, your carpet, or anything it can comfortably sink its claws into. There are a couple of speculations as to why your cat will do this, the predominant explanation being that sinking her claws into a substantial surface allows her anchor herself while pulling back; this permits cleaning the claw and removing the old outer sheath. It is also a great way to stretch your cat’s muscles. As natural predators, all cats whether domesticated or not, still have keen hunting instincts, and they also are apt to prefer climbing to extended heights. Claws are pertinent tools in both of these engagements.
Contrary to many Americans’ beliefs, declawing is not a painless surgical removal of a cat’s claws, nor is it a simple permanent shortening of the claws. It is an amputation. This removal of the cat’s bone is equivalent to removing the last joint of every finger for a human. It is a sad oversight that leaves cats in pain for weeks and even months. Some cats never recover. There have been reports of suffering cats who change distinguishably after being declawed; biting more, walking differently, mood changes, constant pain, etc. This unnecessary amputation is animal cruelty and is not in the interest of your pet’s best welfare. As a matter of fact, declawing is prohibited in many countries outside of North America, including Europe, Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Isreal to name a few. It is more recently becoming banned in some parts of the United States also.
Because declawing is such a malicious practice, it is important that cat owners learn how to work around cat scratching without the extreme punishment of amputation. Patience and understanding goes a long way when teaching a cat to use a cat pole instead of the $3,000 leather sofa. A water gun will eventually teach right from wrong, as will a stern redirection of the cat’s instincts. In the meantime, one may consider double-sided tape or placing a blanket tightly around the sofa for added protection while the cat is learning what the open grounds for scratching are and where they are not. There is even a non-surgical procedure to adhere vinyl nail caps using a nontoxic glue (by brands such as Soft Caps or Soft Claws), and of course, nail trimming.
The point is cats are amazing, loving, vivacious creatures. They are perhaps the most popular pet alive providing us with comfort and joy, and a sense of companionship. These awesome attributes should not be welcomed home by a painful elimination of knuckles. Just as bringing a child into you home calls for major adjustments and preparations, along with new leniencies and understanding, so must we all adapt when it comes to our feline friends.
One of the leading causes of death for cats is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and leukemia. It is easily spread and a painful disease to watch the loss of an animal to. Testing for these diseases is a must. To spay or neuter a cat is also in the best interest of your pet. Studies have proven that cats live a longer life if they have undergone this procedure. Spaying eliminates the chance of ovarian cancer in female cats, and neutering removes the possibility of testicular cancer in male cats. It also significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer in both males and females. So far, so good.
Then there is the encouragement to declaw your beloved animal. It is all too common for domesticated cats to scratch at your sofa, your carpet, or anything it can comfortably sink its claws into. There are a couple of speculations as to why your cat will do this, the predominant explanation being that sinking her claws into a substantial surface allows her anchor herself while pulling back; this permits cleaning the claw and removing the old outer sheath. It is also a great way to stretch your cat’s muscles. As natural predators, all cats whether domesticated or not, still have keen hunting instincts, and they also are apt to prefer climbing to extended heights. Claws are pertinent tools in both of these engagements.
Contrary to many Americans’ beliefs, declawing is not a painless surgical removal of a cat’s claws, nor is it a simple permanent shortening of the claws. It is an amputation. This removal of the cat’s bone is equivalent to removing the last joint of every finger for a human. It is a sad oversight that leaves cats in pain for weeks and even months. Some cats never recover. There have been reports of suffering cats who change distinguishably after being declawed; biting more, walking differently, mood changes, constant pain, etc. This unnecessary amputation is animal cruelty and is not in the interest of your pet’s best welfare. As a matter of fact, declawing is prohibited in many countries outside of North America, including Europe, Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Isreal to name a few. It is more recently becoming banned in some parts of the United States also.
Because declawing is such a malicious practice, it is important that cat owners learn how to work around cat scratching without the extreme punishment of amputation. Patience and understanding goes a long way when teaching a cat to use a cat pole instead of the $3,000 leather sofa. A water gun will eventually teach right from wrong, as will a stern redirection of the cat’s instincts. In the meantime, one may consider double-sided tape or placing a blanket tightly around the sofa for added protection while the cat is learning what the open grounds for scratching are and where they are not. There is even a non-surgical procedure to adhere vinyl nail caps using a nontoxic glue (by brands such as Soft Caps or Soft Claws), and of course, nail trimming.
The point is cats are amazing, loving, vivacious creatures. They are perhaps the most popular pet alive providing us with comfort and joy, and a sense of companionship. These awesome attributes should not be welcomed home by a painful elimination of knuckles. Just as bringing a child into you home calls for major adjustments and preparations, along with new leniencies and understanding, so must we all adapt when it comes to our feline friends.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Cat Proofing Your Home
When you bring a new kitten or cat into your home, you may find very quickly that you needed to put a few things away. The best way to overcome this trouble is to simply cat-proof the home ahead of time.
The major things you may need to be aware of are cords, breakables, and possible hazards that your furry friend may find. As your cat should be part of the family it's easy to think of them as kids, and to do so while you cat proof will be of help.
Cords are everywhere in our modern world. On all of the electronics which can cover the living room with the TV, DVD Player, Stereo, Lighting, etc... to the kitchen with the appliances, and then to the bedrooms and bathroom. You're best bet is to go through all of your rooms and hunt for cords. The reason cords are an important part of cat proofing is because some cats enjoy chewing on them, which unknown to them will create electric shock to your cat that can seriously injure and kill them. Not all cats have this habit but others may also enjoy playing with them and cutting up your cords to the point they no longer function their purpose. For the safety of your companion and the longevity of your electronics you may want to consider either covering your cords or simply keeping them out of reach.
We all have those breakable items we wish to keep nice and in one piece. Whether it's an antique passed down from the family, or a simple vase made of glass, you may need to keep it in a higher place or locked away. Cats love to rub up against anything they can, smell, investigate, and get up close and personal with everything...antiques included. An easy way to avoid this is to simply move it to somewhere your feline can't reach. This can be a slight challenge as cats are very flexible, jump able, and climb masters, so in a completely secluded area or a room your cat is not allowed can fool proof your valuables. One trick you can use is to whatever object to the cat and let them investigate it, by so doing they may be less interested in it than if never seen before. You can also add weight to an object by filling it with sand or rocks to stop it from tipping over when your cat rubs against it.
The major things you may need to be aware of are cords, breakables, and possible hazards that your furry friend may find. As your cat should be part of the family it's easy to think of them as kids, and to do so while you cat proof will be of help.
Cords are everywhere in our modern world. On all of the electronics which can cover the living room with the TV, DVD Player, Stereo, Lighting, etc... to the kitchen with the appliances, and then to the bedrooms and bathroom. You're best bet is to go through all of your rooms and hunt for cords. The reason cords are an important part of cat proofing is because some cats enjoy chewing on them, which unknown to them will create electric shock to your cat that can seriously injure and kill them. Not all cats have this habit but others may also enjoy playing with them and cutting up your cords to the point they no longer function their purpose. For the safety of your companion and the longevity of your electronics you may want to consider either covering your cords or simply keeping them out of reach.
We all have those breakable items we wish to keep nice and in one piece. Whether it's an antique passed down from the family, or a simple vase made of glass, you may need to keep it in a higher place or locked away. Cats love to rub up against anything they can, smell, investigate, and get up close and personal with everything...antiques included. An easy way to avoid this is to simply move it to somewhere your feline can't reach. This can be a slight challenge as cats are very flexible, jump able, and climb masters, so in a completely secluded area or a room your cat is not allowed can fool proof your valuables. One trick you can use is to whatever object to the cat and let them investigate it, by so doing they may be less interested in it than if never seen before. You can also add weight to an object by filling it with sand or rocks to stop it from tipping over when your cat rubs against it.
The hazards that your cat can run into is an endless list, but keeping things picked up is the best thing you can do for them. Like the bird they will also pick things up that are small and possibly harmful to them in hopes of it being something tasty. Especially keeping an eye on needles, small pointy objects, and anything else sharp or small enough to be eaten. Things that can chemically harm them is also a problem in some homes and keeping an eye on your cleaning supplies is crucial.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Americas Favorite- The Feline
Ever since the days of ancient Egypt cats have been near necessity for humans. Egyptians worshiped the domesticated feline as Gods. Their appreciation for cats spread around the world.
The feline specie survived the centuries and were even widely used in Europe to help control the rodent population and to help salvage food supplies from pests and rodents. Humans used cats to help them in this manner for generations. Even leading up to the migration of the feline family to the Americas. When America was colonized the settlers brought cats from over from Europe for the same purposes of protecting their food and homes from infestation.
While cats went from being worshiped to being used for extermination they none the less survived the times and made friends out of their human counter parts. We learned long ago that cats were more than just wild animals. With care and attention these magnificent creatures become a part of own families.
Over the years organizations and special societies have built themselves around the care, understanding, and fair treatment of cats. From cat care foundations to retirement centers for cats we have fallen in love with cats all over again. The evidence is everywhere. People love cats.
Our love of cats has even provoked a compilation of the Top 10 Most Popular Cat Breeds. And this comes as no surprise. From the #10 Tonkinese to the #1 Persian America loves them all.
Is there any wonder why? Being self sustaining and emotionally bonding creatures they have brought millions of us pleasant moments of love and connection. Though a cat can not speak they still share their thoughts. Though a cat can not hug they still comfort.
Cats are amazing creatures of connection and love and any cat-owner knows this to be true. This is why cats of all breeds are used in hospital rehabilitation programs, just as dogs are. Their gentle demeanor brings a sense of oneness and understanding. Burn trauma centers, children’s pediatric hospitals, and even mental rehabilitation centers all across the country use animal rehabilitation as a means of lifting the spirits of the patients.
These special animals may have came from the world of undomestic felines but their adaptation to our way of life sets the bar closer to family and friendship then the animal kingdom. They share our joy, they share our hurt, they share our unconditional love. These beautiful animals are one of a kind. and they have made their way into the hearts and homes of millions. The more we love them the more they love back, and that is one factor to cat ownership that will never change.
The feline specie survived the centuries and were even widely used in Europe to help control the rodent population and to help salvage food supplies from pests and rodents. Humans used cats to help them in this manner for generations. Even leading up to the migration of the feline family to the Americas. When America was colonized the settlers brought cats from over from Europe for the same purposes of protecting their food and homes from infestation.
While cats went from being worshiped to being used for extermination they none the less survived the times and made friends out of their human counter parts. We learned long ago that cats were more than just wild animals. With care and attention these magnificent creatures become a part of own families.
Over the years organizations and special societies have built themselves around the care, understanding, and fair treatment of cats. From cat care foundations to retirement centers for cats we have fallen in love with cats all over again. The evidence is everywhere. People love cats.
Our love of cats has even provoked a compilation of the Top 10 Most Popular Cat Breeds. And this comes as no surprise. From the #10 Tonkinese to the #1 Persian America loves them all.
Is there any wonder why? Being self sustaining and emotionally bonding creatures they have brought millions of us pleasant moments of love and connection. Though a cat can not speak they still share their thoughts. Though a cat can not hug they still comfort.
Cats are amazing creatures of connection and love and any cat-owner knows this to be true. This is why cats of all breeds are used in hospital rehabilitation programs, just as dogs are. Their gentle demeanor brings a sense of oneness and understanding. Burn trauma centers, children’s pediatric hospitals, and even mental rehabilitation centers all across the country use animal rehabilitation as a means of lifting the spirits of the patients.
These special animals may have came from the world of undomestic felines but their adaptation to our way of life sets the bar closer to family and friendship then the animal kingdom. They share our joy, they share our hurt, they share our unconditional love. These beautiful animals are one of a kind. and they have made their way into the hearts and homes of millions. The more we love them the more they love back, and that is one factor to cat ownership that will never change.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)