Declawing Cat Information and Alternatives.
Declawing Cat Information and Alternatives.
Claws are a very important part of feline life. They allow the cat to balance when running to and fro, jump and grab onto a surface, and protect themselves from predators, other cats, and catch prey. Claws also help a cat to stretch, which keeps their joints relaxed, as well as provide them with a source of relaxation and comfort when they stretch. Also, cat claws can be used to dig up dirt or clay and bury their mess once they use their toilet. Cats are territorial animals, and they mark their territory. Sometimes, people have their cats fixed before he develops the ability to spray an area, but this is not his only method of marking. They also release a chemical in their paws that allows them to mark their area when they scratch the surface. We can’t detect it, but other cats can, and this is very important for a cat to be able to mark the area. Most importantly, the claws of a cat are actually the last digit of the cats paw. When a cat is declawed, the vet actually removes the entire claw, including muscle and the tip of the bone. To make an analogy to human hands, it would be like amputating the tip of the finger up to the base of the finger nail. Now, the advantages to declawing are obvious. It will keep your furniture free of claw marks, and your cat won’t be able to scratch anyone, or ruin rugs. However, if a declawed cat is threatened, it will sometimes compensate by biting instead of clawing, and this poses an even more serious risk of infection than a cat claw. In fact, due to the traumatic nature of this operation, many vets will not perform it unless there is a medical necessity. For example, an AIDS patient in the latter portion of the disease may not be able to heal any wound or scratch that they get, so a cat scratch could be deadly. If the cat is a well loved family pet, the only option may be to give it away, or declaw it. In this case, a vet may perform the operation. But, this is the exception, and really should be the only time declawing is considered. Furthermore, the trauma that declawing can cause may change a cats behavior dramatically. Some cats never adjust to life without their claws, and it can also be painful. Remember, this is an amputation, so it is expected that some will not recover emotionally from this procedure. Also, a cat that is used to jumping on furniture may find that it cannot do so anymore. Nor will it be able to claw at any cat toys, and this can cause depression or even aggressive behavior in a cat. Training your cat is the best alternative to declawing. And of course, just because you have beautiful furniture doesn’t mean that you can’t keep it, and your cat s claws. Start by getting a scratching post, and placing it in an area the cat is familiar with, and enjoys being. Also, a spare piece of carpeting or rug can work well for a cat to scratch on. Our cat happens to love cardboard, so we have several cardboard scratching posts that we add catnip to on occasion, and our furniture has never looked so good. But what if you get the scratching posts, and they just collect dust? Well, you need to train your cat to use it. Start by forcefully using the word “NO” when your cat scratches furniture. It’s crucial that you DO NOT hit your cat when they scratch, it’s cruel, illegal, and bottom line, it won’t work! They will be confused, and simply grow to resent you. Instead, tell them no, pick them up and put them by the scratching post. If your cat doesn t respond to a verbal warning, a good technique to try is to spray them with water. Most cats don t enjoy the water and this will get your point across. Sometimes, they will prefer a horizontal scratching post to a vertical one, and visa versa. If the first one you get doesn’t work, try another style, texture, or even room where it sits. And of course, when your cat starts to use the scratching post, encourage it with treats and affection, this will keep them, and your furniture, happy for years to come.
Greg Podsakoff is one of the owners of Hercules the cat and an editor at http://www.cat-care-cat-information.com
My Cat's Late Night Visitors!
My cat Spike is very laid back . He s a lover, not a fighter, so it was with surprise that one morning as I was feeding him his daily ration of cat food, I saw two scratches on his nose. He ate the food like he was famished, instead of taking a few bites then going somewhere to think the situation over. Normally he would then come back to his bowl and begin to eat again. At the time I didn’t know there were raccoons eating his food at night. Spike sleeps in the garage. He has a cat door to the outside, so he comes and goes as he pleases. Only on the coldest winter nights does he sleep in the house, preferring the solitude of his own kingdom where there is always silence after dark. His quiet time was shattered one night a couple of hours after dinner. I heard a noise in the garage that sounded like something falling from a shelf. I opened the door to the garage and saw a large raccon scurrying from the cat s bowl to the opening in the pet door. He scooted through the door to the outside, then turned around and stuck his head back through the door, staring at me as if I should be sorry for interrupting his dinner. The next day surveying the damage to my exterior door, where the raccon had scratched and torn at the pet door to get inside the garage, I did some studying about the subject of raccoon removal. I found out that they are nocturnal animals, sleeping all day and feeding and roaming at night. I also learned that there are ways to remove raccoons without shooting them. They are as follows: Remove their food supply! This sounded like such a good idea that I tried it. I brought the cat s dish into the house. That didn t deter the raccoon in the least. He couldn’t see the food, so he chewed the lid off the five gallon containers that held the cat food, scattering it all over the garage. This dampened my spirits somewhat, but I was determined to drive him from our house forever! Play the radio loudly in the areas the raccoon has invaded! They will think someone is talking and stay away! I tuned the radio in the garage to a station that played rap music all night, then turned up the volume. I figured if that didn t do the trick nothing would. It didn t work! Somehow he climbed up a bookshelf onto the top of a refrigerator where I had stored the cat food. He pushed it off onto the floor, dry cat food bouncing on the concrete floor like raindrops on a roof. Trap the animals. I called the city animal control people and they brought me a trap. This was a big cage that would catch the raccoon without hurting it. The theory is that the raccoons would enter the trap, stepping on the trip mechanism as they ate the bait, (cat food), thus tripping the trap door. The raccoons would be caught, the city would then remove the animal to a safe place, miles away from my house and all would be peaceful again. Wrong! The only thing I caught was my cat Spike! Twice! I learned that those traps do work, but raccoons are very intelligent. You have to put concrete blocks or some kind of barrier around the sides of the trap so they won t put their paws into the cage and grab the food without springing the trap. Raccoons have paws with fingers that enable them to grasp food and stuff it into their mouths. By this time I realized I had a family of raccooons. By now I had seen five; two adults and three young ones. The young ones let me take their pictures while munching on Spike’s cat food. I reward them for allowing me a photo shoot. The older ones wait patiently outside the door until I finish shooting. They ll finish up the food when I go back into the house. Spike the cat is sprawled in an old chair, yawning at the raccoons. My wife thinks I m nuts to have fallen under the spell of the adolescent raccoons. Since one of the young raccoons tries to get into the house every time the Maybe I am, but they are a lot of fun. I ve ordered a sure-fire raccoon repellant that I know will work. It s coyote urine. Sprinkled around the area the raccoons frequent, it will scare them away. They re afraid of coyotes because they are one of the natural predators of raccoons. If this doesn’t work, I’ll order wolf urine.
Bob Alexander is the author and sole owner of this article. He is greatly experienced in the art of southern barbequing and leisure activity, including Raccoon survival. Learn to enjoy yourself with more of Bob's ideas. Visit: <a href="http://www.bluefishbob.com >http://www.bluefishbob.com Visit: <a href="http:////www.homeandgardenbob.com">http://www.homeandgardenbob.com
How to choose the right cat food
As all cat owners know, a feline can be a wonderful addition to any family. One of the most basic aspects of cat ownership is proper health care for the cat. Health care for a cat encompasses a wide array of vaccine shots, flea protection, vet visits, medications, and even proper exercise. However, the most important aspect of cat health is also often overlooked. People spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a cat to keep it healthy, but most cat owners don t pay nearly enough attention to the proper cat food. The right cat food is absolutely essential to a healthy, happy cat. But what is the best cat food for your cat? While each cat will have slightly different nutritional needs, there are some general rules that must be considered when looking for cat food. First of all, cats (like their human owners) need a high quality diet. This means the best types of protein, fats, carbs, and the less preservatives and chemical additives, the better. Most of the research available online does not compare specific brands of cat food, as much as specific ingredients to feed your cat, and which to stay away from! Cats need a high protein diet. Wild cats are very carnivorous, and cats derive a great deal of their nutritional needs from protein. House cats, while not wild, still have many of the same nutritional needs as their wild feline ancestors. So, the most important ingredient in any cat food is protein. Carbohydrates are also an important part of a cats diet, though not as important as protein. Cats really should derive the majority of their nutritional needs from protein, so cat foods that are high in carbohydrates may not necessarily be the best for them. Interestingly enough, many of the premium brands of cat food, such as Eukanuba and Innova offer exactly what most cats need, and aren t necessarily more expensive in the long run. This is because high end cat foods need a smaller serving amount than the low end cat foods to give a cat all the nutrients they need to be satisfied and healthy. When comparing a premium brand such as Eukanuba, to a lower cost brand such as Purina, they cost difference for the recommended serving size is only a nickel a day. Furthermore, because a cat will eat less of the high end cat food, their waste will be reduced. This can cut down on the frequency of litter replacement and litter box related chores. Another aspect of cat food to be considered is the quality of the protein in the food. Because of the way many pet food companies describe the meat in the food, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what the difference between chicken flavored , and chicken dinner is. Food that contains chicken meal can only be made from the skin, flesh, and bones only. This is really the best type of protein for a cat. Food that has meat byproducts can contain nearly any animal parts, and are of lower quality than chicken meal . Food that is chicken flavored only has to taste like chicken, but may not contain any animal meat at all. Also, chicken is generally better than beef for cats. And it goes without saying, preservatives, as well as artificial colors, should be avoided whenever possible. Although specific research is lacking on this subject, we do know that preservatives and artificial colors can have a negative impact on human health. It is only logical that cats will also be negatively affected by artificial colors and preservatives in their cat food. With the vast selection of cat food on the market, it is easy to be intimidated and just pull the cheapest variety off of the shelf. Just remember what s good for your cat and read the labels. Always remember, a little research can go a long way when it come to the health and well being of your cat.
Greg Podsakoff is one of the owners of Hercules the cat and an editor at http://www.cat-care-cat-information.com.
Fleas and other parasites
We all love our cats and we treat them as good as we can. There are still diseases and parasites that your cat can get no
matter how good you take car of the cat. Once you know that your cat has a parasite or a disease you need to take it to a
vet. Some parasites or diseases remain uncovered but if you control you cat on a regular basis, you discover most parasites
and diseases early.
This article gives you a small overview about some parasites and diseases that cats can get. There are far more diseases out
there way to many to cover them all in one article but it should be enough for a short overview.
Fleas
Cats can get fleas and if you don’t get rid of them, they will reproduce and can become to a real plague.
This can happen even to well-groomed cats and needs to be eliminated as fast as possible.
There are different cat supplies like spray, pouder or a shampoo that will helpy you to get rid of the parasites.
Adult fleas spend most their time on pets but their eggs can be found on your carpet, bedding and rugs. Therefore you need to
treat the environment of the cat as well as the cat. If you fail to do so the next generation of fleas will be born and your
cat re-infected.
Ticks
Ticks can be a serious threat to your cat, they can transmit a number of diseases like tick paralysis or lyme disease.
Researches have shown that one out of 5 icks is infected with some kind of disease. A frequent tick control needs to be done
with cats that go outside the house. Keeping your cat out of grasses and woods will reduce the risk for them to get infected.
As with fleas you need to also clean the environment of your cat in oder to get rid of the ticks. For removing ticks you
should use a pair of tweezers. Grab the tick and then carfully pull it out without twisting. Do not grab the tick too hard
otherwise it might crush and leave harful bacteria in your cat’s bloodstream. Once the tick is removed you should clean and
disinfect the wound.
Ear Mites
These are mites that live in your cat’s ear. They are extremely contagious and can be passed from cat to cat but also from
other pets like dogs, hamsters, mice… These mites are very common but they are still very dangerous. They can cause
permanent hearing lost if left untreated. You need to go to a vet and have your cat’s ears examined. There are a number of
very effective medications, but you need to make sure you are also using a flea control medication since these ear mites can
sometimes be found on the cat’s body as well.
Heartworm
Cats can get infected by a heartworm. This parasite lives in the cat’s heart and can cause a sudden cat death. Heartworm is a
preventable disease, there are medications for it.
Roundworms
This up to 4 inch long worm is the most common type of worm to infect pets. Roundworms can cause diarreha and other signs of
illness. Signs of a worm infection include weight loss, black looking stools, pale color, weakness and others. You should
consult a vet to get some worm remover medications.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms can be a treat to your cat and they need to be removed as quick as possible. You should go to a pet-doctor
if there are certain symptoms. Cats can get Tapeworms by eating infected mice or other small animals. If you pet has a
tapeworm you need to be very careful because some can infect humans as well.
Giant Kidney Worm
This worm rarely infects pets but it can happen. The worm lives in the kidney and can grow up to 1 yard long. It can cause
different kind of diseases and even destroy the hole kidney.
Skin-fungus
Almost all kind of pets can get serious skin-diseases like rash or fungus. Some symptoms are loss of hair, continues
scratching on one body part and others. If your cat showes these symptoms you should consult a doctor.
Ringworms are one of the diseases caused by fungus. Ringworm can be transmitted to people by direct contact with pets.
Always consult a vet, don’t try self medication on your pet. Control your cat on a regular basis for parasites like mites,
fleas and ticks. The earlier you find them, the better for your cat’s health.
Guido Nussbaum, a 28 year old cat-friend from Germany. I have 2 cats (brother and sister) that are 13 years old. My website http://www.caturine-cleaner.com deals with cat urine cleaning products and cats in general.
Should You Correct A Puppy With A Pinch Collar?
Hi, Adam!
My husband and I recently purchased a white German Shepherd. She is 12 weeks old today and quite a handful. Sometimes she can be so sweet, but other times she is actually quite vicious.
Well, I don’t know if vicious is the right word, but when I tell her “No!” she just gets more agitated and lunges at me with her teeth bared.
I got a small pinch collar since she’s a puppy but I have a question as to how it should fit. When I take 2 prongs out it is snug against her neck and I worry about it being too tight. When I only take 1 prong out, it sort of slides down her neck a little bit and she constantly scratches at it and it circles around her neck and doesn’t stay put. Which is the right fit?
She is really a handful and I think the pinch collar is a great tool, but I want to make sure it fits right so as not to cause her any discomfort.
You say in the book that you should be able to slide half a finger in there, but I guess I am just confused as to how you should judge the fit.
Please help! I’m afraid my time is running out to get her to start obeying me. She doesn’t see me as the Alpha dog quite yet and it is very frustrating to be with her for long periods of time. When I say “Duchess, come” she only comes when she feels like it. With the pinch collar, what is the best way to make sure she comes each time I call her? I don’t want to go around yanking on her neck, but at the same time she needs to respect me. Any tips you can give me on making sure she sees me as the boss would be very helpful!
Thanks,
Cassidy
Dear Cassidy:
When I refer to “half a finger space” in regard to the proper fitting of the pinch collar, what I mean is:
- If the average person’s finger is inch wide, then there should be aproximately inch of space between the end of the prong and the skin of the dog’s neck.
So, why don’t I just say, “1/4 inch of space”? Because it’s easier to judge by sticking your finger beneath the prong than it is to break out your old high school ruler.
Many of you (newsletter subscribers) are no doubt wondering why I would recommend a pinch collar for a puppy. And my answer is: I’m not. At least not for most puppies.
But there are some puppies who will not respond to a simple diversion or verbal, “No.” They will bite and cause puncture wounds on your legs and arms if they are not corrected for this behavior. So, if you’ve tried the other methods for dealing with “puppy nipping” that I’ve outlined in the book, then you’ll need to progress to a small pinch collar. (Also described in the book.)
“But aren’t they too young for a pinch collar?” you’re probably thinking.
The answer is: No.
They ARE too young for formal obedience training. (I.E., Sit, Down, Come, Heel, Stay). [This should start when you see the adult teeth come in… at aproximately 4 to 5 months of age.]
But a puppy SHOULD be corrected for biting… if you’ve found that diverting his attention to a chew toy or another activity is not working.
Why? Because the mother dog would not allow the puppy to bite her. If the pup bites her too hard, she will turn and bite the puppies neck.
From the puppies perspective, THIS HURTS.
But it does not cause damage.
And that’s why the puppy chooses not to bite the mama dog any more. Because it doesn’t feel good.
This is the same reason that it’s okay to correct a puppy for excessively hard biting with the pinch collar. The pinch collar replicates the mama dog.
Trust me on this: I’ve seen 11 week-old Rottweiler puppies and 10 week-old Jack Russell Terrier puppies who had bitten through (literally) their owners fingers with their needle-like teeth. The owners are almost in tears with the idea that they may have to put their puppy to sleep. They’ve tried all the nonsense garbage your read in the dog magazines.
Stuff like shrieking in a high-pitched voice. Or putting the puppy in the crate. Or turning your back on the dog. But none of it works on a puppy who is intent on biting down as hard as he can on your soft, human flesh.
Getting back on course… When you correct the puppy, just use common sense. Simply because your car can accelerate up to 140mph does not mean that you should or need to drive that fast. The same goes for the pinch collar. If you’re an adult and you can employ reason and common sense, then you should be able to tailor the intensity of your correction to appropriately match your dog’s temperament.
How do you do this? You test.
If you correct the puppy for biting, then next you should immediately offer him your hand again. If he immediately bites you again… then you now know that your correction wasn’t meaningful.
That’s all for now, folks!
Adam
Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History." Get a free copy of his report "Games To Play With Your Dog" when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: <a href="http://www.dogproblems.com" title="http://www.dogproblems.com" target="_blank">http://www.dogproblems.com</a>
Good Things To Know About Ragdoll Cats
The Ragdoll cat breed goes back to the 1960 s in California. It is very popular for the relaxation skills the cats in this category are capable of. The Ragdoll cat is able to completely relax, which allows people to handle them in almost any possible way, without the cat to complain about any pain. This is where their name comes from: they go totally limp when picked up! This is probably the fact to cause the whole controversy surrounding the Ragdoll cats. One of the accounts even claims that this breed has been left on Earth by an alien race. Many of these wild claims were made by the breed s founder and are still passed around. Their special traits as the characteristic limpness when picked up, as well as their easy going nature are what they are selectively bred for. They are the result of mixing Birman, Persian, and Burmese cats. To go with its large size and long, muscular body, the legs on the Ragdoll are medium to medium long and the back legs are longer than the front ones. Their chest is very big, as well as the shoulders. To speak about the coat, these cats have silky fur, which needs to be groomed on a daily basis. A wide toothed comb is the best tool for this! This will prevent tangles and remove dead hair that can cause hairballs. A gentle brushing with a long bristled brush is also very good for these cats. The pointed color pattern can be colorpoint, mitted and bicolor. The colorpoint coat takes about two years to fully develop. These cats come in lilac, seal, blue, and chocolate, but there are also some special colors like red and lynx point. The adult males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds, while female cats are smaller, that is from 9 to 13 pounds. This clearly qualifies the Ragdoll cats as the largest domestic cat. They are wonderful companions though! When it comes to their personality, you must know that these cats are very gentle and easy going. They are loyal and loving towards their owners. Ragdoll cats are famous for their placid temperaments as well as their affectionate nature. Unlike the other cats, they do not have any fighting instincts, so you they must rather be kept inside than left to defend themselves. They are not aggressive and might therefore be easily hurt by other cats.
Visit Cat Breed Adivce to find out more about <a href="http://www.catbreedadvice.com/Cat-Breed-Pages/Ragdoll.html">Ragdoll Kittens</a> .Learn new things about your <a href="http://www.catbreedadvice.com/Cat-Breed-Pages/Ragdoll.html">Ragdoll Cat</a> .
How To Start Training Puppies
Training puppies too early can be difficult. But, if you do not train him early, he will very quickly have the run of the house.
Training puppies is necessary because it saves you trouble later. Most dog owners skip this because we all know that dog training takes some effort. If you could teach a puppy in a month, you would be happy. But training a dog well is a longer task. Just because your dog looks cute as a puppy do not let this deter you from training him early.
In training puppies, there are some do?s and don?ts.
Do
Provide the puppy with consistent access to the toilet area. If you are training your puppy at home take him to his toilet area every 45 minutes or so. If you are not at home make sure you help your puppy make as few ?mistakes? as possible, by giving him a puppy friendly environment.
Every time your puppy does something ?good?, give him a reward. If he eliminates his waste in the toilet area, praise him and give him a treat. He will then recognize that his actions were right and aim for more because of the reward he will get. Make sure your rewards immediately follow the good action.
Feed your puppy just like you feed yourself. If you eat regularly, set aside food for him. It is important to train your puppy the right time to eat. This will prevent him from begging for food from your plates.
Be patient in training your puppies. Relapses will take place, but patience and perseverance are key. Remember your dog wants nothing more than to please you. After he is fully trained and it will be worth the while.
Don?t
Shout at your puppy when he makes mistakes. Especially when dogs are young as this can cause frights that can stay with the dog as it gets older.
When house training your dog, don?t leave water and food out all the time. If he drinks a lot, he will urinate more frequently. You will have to allow for more mistakes to be made.
Always watch the actions of your puppy and reinforce the good behavior many times throughout the day. It is not proper to let him run around as if he owns the house. If he does so, he will carry that attitude until he grows up.
Remembering some of these simple tips can make your puppy a better trained dog and a more enjoyable pet.
Simon Oliver has an interest in Recreational Activities & Hobbies. To find out how you can get more information on successfully training your dog please visit this <a href="http://www.boxer-dog-guide.com">Boxer Dog</a> site.
Filed under Pets | Comment (0)