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 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.