Grooming your cat

If you are the proud owner of a cute little kitten, you may think that grooming isn't necessary. After all, cats are known for being quite cleanly and for constantly preening themselves, right? While it may be true that cats generally do a pretty good job with taking care of their hygiene, your kitten might need a little help with the process. In addition, it is a good idea to start a grooming routine while your cat is still a kitten. This way, your cat will be more receptive to grooming sessions when it becomes an adult. With the help of a simple grooming routine, you can bond with your kitten while also preparing it for the future.

Start with the Face
Your kitten's face should be the first place you start with grooming. It is particularly important to look at your kitten's eyes, checking them to make certain there are no signs of discharge. Eye discharge is a sign of respiratory infection, which is actually quite common in kittens. Therefore, if you notice any discharge, you should contact your veterinarian. If your kitten spends any time outdoors, you should also be sure to check its eyes or injuries.

Move Onto the Ears
After inspecting the ears, it is time to move onto your kitten's ears. If your kitten was abandoned early by its mom or was otherwise removed from its mom at an early age, it may have problems with keeping its ears clean. Even if your kitten was weaned properly, however, you should still check its ears and make certain they are clean. A number of different disease can affect its ears and can cause problems with hearing. A simple cotton swab is good for cleaning its ears. Just make certain you do not stick the swab too far into the ear. In addition, if your kitten's ears are excessively dirty looking, it may have ear mites. In this case, you should consult with a veterinarian to learn more about proper treatment.

Look Inside the Mouth
Next, you should look inside your kitten's mouth and check for signs of gum disease or tartar build up. Although this is not very common in young cats, checking for healthy teeth is essential to the overall health of your pet. Similarly, if you notice that your cat's breath is bad, it can be a sign of more serious problems. In this case, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian in order to make certain your kitten is healthy.

Taking Care of the Coat
Cats have a barbed tongue that is specifically made to help them take care of their coats. With this tongue, they can easily remove loose hair and dead skin while simultaneously stimulating blood circulation. Still, kittens with long hair may have difficulty keeping themselves manicured. In addition, your cat may have some trouble with shedding its winter coat. In these cases, you may need to give your cat a good brushing.

When brushing a kitten or an adult cat, it is best to use a brush that has fine, stiff bristles. A wire brush is usually the best option. By starting the brushing routine while your cat is still a kitten, you will have better luck with brushing it once it becomes an adult.

Why Do Cats Scratch?

Why Do Cats Scratch?

For cats, scratching is one of their most natural behaviors and it is their way of fulfilling the animalistic need to mark their territory. Not only does the scratching leave visible marks, their paws have secretion glands which will leave a distinct smell for other cats. Also, the scratching motion helps the cat to stretch and exercise their front paws and legs. Cats also like to keep their claws sharp and scratching a vertical object aids in this process.

Some of the reasons cat owners have this procedure done is to prevent their cat from scratching furniture, pulling down draperies, and scratching/fighting with other pets. If there are infants or young children in the house, cat owners feel it is necessary to de-claw their cat just in case the cat playfully scratches their child.

De-clawing a cat's front claws is and has always been a controversial subject. Some people consider it as a form of torture and mutilation. While more than 25 % of cat owners believe de-clawing is OK, because their cat will be an indoor cat and they don't really need their front claws. If you visit your veterinarian, chances are they will discuss some of the alternatives to this elective surgery. In some cases, veterinarians will refuse to perform this surgery, unless it is medically necessary. Personally, I DO NOT believe in this inhumane practice of de-clawing, but you can make up your own mind after reading the facts below.

De-Clawing.com

De-clawing is actually an amputation of the germinal (epithelium) cells, which is responsible for the growth of the claw. It also includes removing all or part of the third phalanx (terminal bone) of the toe. In comparison to the human hand, it is similar to removing the finger tips all the way up to the first knuckle. Your veterinarian will likely use a tourniquet around the toes to reduce blood loss. If the tourniquet is too tight it can damage the radial nerve and may result in temporary and sometimes permanent leg paralysis. If the procedure is not done correctly, the claws may grow back with minor or severe deformity. On occasion, the veterinarian may remove too much of the toe or some/all of the toe pad may inadvertently. Mild or severe infection is another factor to consider. Because the wounds are left open to heal, chances of infection is high. Removing the cats back claws is NEVER recommended. These claws are their only defense if the front claws have been already removed.

The Alternatives:

1. Introduce a scratching post to your kitten/cat at a very early age. The scratch post should be tall enough so your kitten/cat can stretch completely out. Make it a fun place for them to play by placing interactive toys around the area. You can also rub catnip all over the post to entice them to use it.





2. Discourage unwanted scratching by spraying your kitten/cat with a water spray bottle. You can also distract them with a loud sound such as clapping, a whistle or an air horn.
   




3. Clip your kitten/cat's nails regularly. (weekly or bi-weekly)
   
4. Purchase a set of Soft Paws® nail caps. These are lightweight vinyl caps that you apply over your cat's own claws. They have rounded edges, so your cat's scratching doesn't damage your home and furnishings.
   ~Deciding whether to de-claw your kitten/cat's front claws is an important decision and it should NEVER be taking lightly. Further more you should NEVER have it done for your own convenience.
   ~Think about your companion animal first! Above all... Don't De-claw Your Cat's Paw!

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Obesity in cats

Did you know that approximately 25 to 50 percent of cats in the United States are overweight, and another 5 to 15 percent are obese? Depending on the gender, body type and breed, the average cat should weigh between 9 and 12 pounds (4.1 - 5.4 kg). Cats are considered overweight when they are 10 percent over their ideal body weight, and they are considered obese when they are 20 percent over their ideal weight.

Obesity in cats is a big problem because most people over feed them, which leads to weight gain. Cats are small animals and most only need between 1/4 cup (113 g) and 1/2 cup (227 g) of food twice a day. A cat's stomach is about the size of a 50 cent piece before it expands. Obesity can lead to health problems including feline diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and joint pain.

To determine if your cat is overweight, run your hands along his ribs. You should be able to feel his ribs but not see them. If you feel a thick layer of fat, your cat is overweight and should be put on a diet.

If you have an obese cat, you can help him to lose weight naturally. One way is to reduce the portion sizes of the food that you are feeding. Do not starve your cat or stop regular feedings, simply reduce the amounts of food that he gets per serving. A veterinarian can recommend a good quality diet or weight maintaining food.

Another way to help your cat to lose weight is to increase the amount of exercise that he gets every day. Schedule small blocks of time (five to ten minutes) each day to play with him. It can be a simple game of chasing a string, running after a ping pong ball, or batting a crumpled piece of paper around the house.

Start with short exercise sessions and gradually build on them as your cat's endurance increases. If he likes walking on a leash, take him for a short walk (up and down the driveway) once or twice a day to get him active. Remember, the more your cat moves, the more calories he will burn.

The amount you should feed your cat depends on his size, weight, age, and activity level.

To learn more about how to cure cat with obesity, and how to get discount and cheap medications make sure to visit http://www.callpetmeds.com where you will find everything on getting quality yet affordable medications as well as tips on how to take care of your cats like the experts.

Cat's History

Do you ever wonder what cats are thinking, why they keep schedules, or sleep all day? Yes, indeed, no one can deny that sleep is a wonderful thing. Most cats seem to take these things for granted, but really they are happy to have a nice home, that's why they purr so much. Would you like to learn more about cats?

The cats that we know today have a long history dating back millions of years. Paleontologists discovered evidence of a cat with a retractable claw, Miacis, who lived about 50 million years ago. Most scientists believe that the descendants of Miacis and other prehistoric cats divided into three separate groups nearly a million years ago; the big cats (lions and tigers), the cheetahs, and the small cats (ocelots, bobcats and lynxes).

They come in many shapes and sizes, but the fur coat found on each feline is a big part of how they are classified. They usually fall somewhere in the categories of long-haired, short-haired, or "hairless". Long-haired breeds include Persian, Himalayan, Maine coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and Ragdoll. Short-haired breeds include American Shorthair, American Wirehair, Siamese, Burmese, Korat and Singapore. "Hairless" cats, such as Sphinx, merely appear to be hairless. The breed actually does have a thin layer of hair covering its body.

Cats first started living with people approximately 6,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian farmers domesticated the African wildcats, Felis hybica, a natural hunter, to keep grain storage areas rodent free. Egyptians worshipped Bast, or Bastet, the cat goddess of fertility, happiness and the moon. Impressed with the cat's natural beauty, Egyptian artists painted and sculpted them, making them cultural icons.

Although ancient Egyptians are known for their love of cats, they are not the only people who worshipped them. In Thailand, Siamese cats were sacred temple cats. In Japan, thse animals kept Buddhist temples free of mice. In Norwegian mythology, Freya (the goddess of fertility) rode in a chariot pulled by two white cats. Cats made their way to China in 5,000 BCE and to India in 100 BCE.
Throughout history, sailors and other explorers helped spread cats across the world. They realized that keeping them abroad their ships was a good way to rid their living quarters of mice. In time, it was considered lucky to keep cats on board.
When cats came to Europe in 900 BCE, they crossbred with native cat found in the British Isles, Felis silvestris. By the middle Ages, however, cats fell out of favor with most of Europe. The Catholic Church connected them and those who loved them with paganism, devil worship, and witchcraft. Superstitious people believed that cats (especially black cats) had diabolical powers. They were feared because of their nocturnal hunting habits, their ability to see in the dark and their "glowing" eyes.

In 1484, Pope Innocent empowered the Inquisition to burn all cats and cat lovers. As a result of the drastic drop in the cat population, the number of rodents increased. Millions of rats carrying fleas infected with bubonic plague spread the Black Death across Europe. When the persecution of cats ended, they began hunting rats again, and Europeans saw the advantage of having these natural hunters keep their towns' rodent free.

In Victorian times, they were once again warmly welcomed into the home and were seen as loving companions' pets. Victorian cats impressed artists, writers, scientists, and philosophers of the day. Queen Victoria loved cats, and because of this. Their good reputation was reaffirmed; there it remains to this day.