Archive for February, 2010

Five Tips how to keep your Cat's Food Safe from Your Dog!

Does Your Dog Eat up Poor little Kitty's Food? Is your cat meowing miserably because when she finally gets to the food dish it is empty and she's left hungry? Does your dog gobble up both HIS food and your CAT'S food?

Have you tried everything you could think of to stop your dog from eating up your cat's food and been unsuccessful?

Did you try to shout, scream and maybe even hit your dog for doing it again and again?

Are you just FED UP??? Calm down, I shall help you now stop your dog from eating your cat's food up.  If you want your dog to stop eating up your cats food then read these tips carefully on how to prevent your dog from stealing your cat's food away.

How to Keep your Dog out of your Cat's Food Dish!

Get a square cardboard box from a local supermarket or book shop.
The size of the cardboard box depends on the size of your cat: If your cat is a big maine coon cat for example, then it would be best to get a big sized box in which your cat could comfortably fit. However, if you have a small cat, you needn't get a such a big box.
Place the opening of the box upside down onto the floor where your cat normally eats.
Cut a small flap hole into one of the sides of the box just big enough for your cat to squeeze through. Make sure that there is no chance that your dog could fit even just his head through it.
Place your >">cat's food dish inside of the cardboard box.
Fill your cat's food dish up with your cat's favorite food.
Watch what your cat does.
Either your cat will squeeze right through the flap into the box to get at the food or else she might not.

If your cat doesn't want to go into the box it might be because of one or more of these reasons state below:

The box is new and unknown to your cat.
Your cat hasn't been in the box before and doesn't know if it's safe.
Your cat is worried to get in.
There might be a smell of another animal inside of the box, a dog or a different cat.
The opening is too small for your cat and your cat thinks that she might not fit in.
Your cat isn't hungry.

You can mostly tell if your cat is scared of the new box by her behavior: That is, if your cat is staying away from the box then you can see that she is worried about it. Is your cat meowing sadly, swishing her tail back and forth, and rubbing against your legs? Are her ears back as though the box were her enemy?

If this is the case, you will want to try this:

Pet your cat, lift her up, calm her down and whisper soothing things to her. Cats can often tell how we humans feel by the sound of our voices. Therefore, talking to our cats in a soothing voice can often have affect on our fellow purring machines.
Tell her the box is okay and that you love her.
Open up the box to show her that there is nothing dangerous inside of it.
Place it upside down and let her explore it at her own pace. If she doesn't feel like exploring it right then, maybe she will later on.
Lift her food dish up in front of her eyes and place it inside of the open box.
Do it a few times, taking the dish up from where you have always placed it.
This will make your cat get used to the idea that the food dish is not anymore where it has used to be and that the new box is okay and safe for her to get into. Cats have very short memories so doing it a few times will cause your cat to remember it better where the food dish is.
Show your cat where the flap is.
Hold the flap open so that your cat can get in and out easily.
Try widening the flap or hole if your cat still doesn't want to go in.
Place some of your cat's favorite cat treats and snacks inside of it so that she can smell them and climb inside of the box to get them. After doing this a few times, your cat will get used to the idea that the box is a good box after all and want to go into it all the time!

TIP:To make sure that the box won't tip over or be knocked over by your dog, place some heavy books or stones on top of it. 

If all this doesn't work, then try feeding your cat and dog in different rooms with the doors shut between them so that the dog won't be able to get at your cat's food dish.

Hope this helps you.

Good Luck!

CatsCamille from CatLovingCare.com


CatsCamille is a Loving Cat Owner and writer for many big online sites including her own Cat Lover's Community Site CatLovingCare.com
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Cats Protection. Long Term Cat Care

A cat can be a pet an also a friend. If you want the feline to be with you for the long term, it pays to know proper cat care.  Before getting one from the pet store or animal shelter, be sure to have a bed, dish bowl and litter box ready. By giving them their own space, they will be able to adapt to the new environment that you have made for them.

Since the cat will explore around the house and might even go out, it is advisable to put a collar around its neck which has your name, contact number and address so in case it wanders off, one of your neighbors will be able to return it. Another option is to insert a microchip under their skin. Putting this device into the feline is very similar to giving it a vaccination. Aside from using it merely to identify the cat if it gets lost, it also has another purpose which is a flea deterrent because it has a chemical that helps keep these parasites away.

You must only buy high quality cat food for your pet. These should be rich in protein that may come from meat, fish or poultry. These are available either in canned or Kibble and most nutritionists agree that a combination of both is ideal so they do not develop food addictions.

One thing you must never feed a cat is chocolate because it has certain chemicals that could be fatal for them. Aside from food, you can also give your cat food supplements such as Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Taurine which is an essential amino acid. Don't forget to bring your cat at least once a year to the vet. This is to check on your pet's state of health as well as giving the annual vaccinations. You should know that the older the cat gets, such visits to the vet should be done every 6 months because they also get old.

If there's a controversy or suspect that something isn't right, drive down to the vet even if you don't have an appointment. Remember that when it comes to working with felines, this pro is the expert. Cats have the power to wash themselves but they can only do so much on their lonesome. While they are young, they should get used to the concept of giving them a bath. Once dried, their hairs should be brushed so it isn't getting tangled.

You should trim their nails so they don't scratch too hard and hurt themselves or even you. Since they love to scratch and this may cause damage to your furniture, make sure to also have a scratch pad nearby positioned by their bed or the furniture. House cats should always be kept indoors. This will prevent them from coming into contact with other animals that may be carriers of infectious diseases that may be fatal to them. If ever you go out, make sure all the windows and doors are locked.

Long term cat care may let it live for ten years or more. If others are able to do it, so can you. Just remember that it is a responsibility that you got yourself into so make the most of it.

Pet Cat Care for providing Tips and Information on how to take good care of yourpet cats and more!

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Understanding Cat's Body Language

Cat are domestic animals, they are not only sociable but also fashionable. Domesticated cats are inclined to form cat communities based on sharing of love and food. Female cats bond with each other very quickly that is quite different from humans. Cats are very territorial just like dogs. A sexually active male is dominant and has the biggest territory. Male dominated cat colonies may be a lot bigger than territories ruled by female cats.

Cats don’t always cry because of being hungry for food but in many cases they cry because of being hungry for a sexual partner. Because cats are social animals, they cry because they want to have company. Cats may not cry every time but they may chatter or mumble. It’s really scary to hear cats chattering like old women. They should be listened and one must talk back. Cats love when its master speak out a few comforting words.

Meow does not mean that the cat is crying but it is simply a greeting. A cat’s cry may depend on what they are looking for, it can be championship or sexual relationship. Cats may cry because of boredom on rare occasions. Cats also need rest and recreation. Cats get stressed when they are ignored, it can be given a name and called, it can be given a pat on the head, it should not be kicked when it wraps itself around its master’s leg and it will simply go away when it will feel that its master has had enough. If one cares for its cat then one has to be there when the cat calls.

A cat follows its master around because of a connecting feeling. Cats look upon its master as a second mother. Even if a cat is old, they never ignore the feeling of being attended and cared for.

Cats use a variety of sounds like mimicking to communicate with one another. They are very moody and they can’t be made like oneself all the time. They have varying body language signs which you can tell by the way their tail, ears, paws and body are positioned.

There are many ways by which a cat can be stopped from crying like setting up playful activities with the cat, not ignoring it, taking it to a walk and feeding it regularly. A cat knows how to take advantage of its master’s feelings because they can read them.

A person will relax more when having a relaxed reline on the lap, this moment regulates the blood flow and calms the heart.


Also learn why does my cat follow me and why does my cat cry
.
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Self Cleaning Cat Box

Cats, along with dogs, are some of the most popular pets in the world. People the world over have fallen head over heels in love with our feline friends and many keep cats at home. As a matter of fact, some people even keep more than one or two cats.

Cats may be terrific pets, but in at least one aspect they are somewhat less than desirable – in terms of the waste or litter that they produce. It is often said that cats that are fed cat food produce waste that is less smelly than cats that are fed mostly meat, fish, or leftovers. Whether that is true or not, the truth of the matter is that even cats that are fed cat food still do produce smelly waste, whether solid or liquid. In addition, there is a danger of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that humans can get from coming into contact with the feces of cats that have recently been infected, and which can be very troublesome for those already sick with immune-system diseases or disorders. It is therefore advisable that owners stay as far away from cat feces and waste as they possibly can. A self cleaning cat box can work wonders in this department.

Some people simply put up with it and wear masks whenever they empty out their cats’ litter boxes, or spray the areas where these boxes are located with Lysol or other such disinfectants. Others purchase cat litter with special properties; there are some available which clump together, for instance, coating the surface of cat feces and covering it completely so that it does not smell, and solidifying when it comes in contact with cat urine and thus having the same effect. However, there is little need to simply try to endure such methods. Many enterprising companies have come up with their own take on a self cleaning cat box, which can really help ease matters for cat owners.

There are several different brands of automated cat litter boxes available in the marketplace. Many make use of premium cat litter, and owners will have to load their automated litter boxes with new litter as necessary. However, the “dirty work” is all left to the machine. Many models even have ionic air cleaners that kick in before the cleaning initiates, to ensure that no smell escapes the machine. After the air is cleaned and sanitized, a rake-like mechanism sifts through the litter, detecting and removing clumps and moving them to a holding area, leaving only clean litter behind. A waste container opens up to receive the clumps and seals itself once the clumps are in place. The owner only has to dispose of this container after a week or so, or once it is full, and replace it with a fresh container.

You can buy your cat and yourself a self cleaning cat box at any major mall or pet store. A device like this can really take a lot of fuss out of cat ownership, leaving owners to enjoy caring for cats.


Sabrina Rocca Author: "The Ultimate House Cleaning Checklist Book" For more FREE cleaning tips and a FREE speed-cleaning course, visit http://www.housecleaningchecklist.ca.

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Doesn't Your Kitty Deserve The Perfect Cat Bed?

A huge selection of different types of cat beds is available on the market today for your pet cat. They can be fancy looking with hot pink bows, or simply warm and cozy with brown-colored fabric. Some of the most popular types include the heated bed, outdoor bed and wicker bed. These beds are an essential part of keeping a cat as a pet, especially because cats like to sleep often. An average cat can sleep up to 18 hours each day! Considering these long hours of sleep, a nice cozy place is one of the most desirable places for any cat.

When shopping for a bed for your kitty it is important to not only focus on the appearance -- such as how well it fits in with the room decor or its color -- but there are also other certain elements that need to be kept in mind. These include:

1. Texture: What determines whether or not your cat actually loves the bed you've chosen for sleep or nap time? Probably the texture and softness are the best judge, no matter if it's a heated bed or outdoor bed. As you may have noticed, most cats are very picky and hop from this place to that place when trying to find the right place to nap. If the bed is not soft and the texture is not what your cat prefers, then they will most likely leave the bed and go somewhere else to take their nap.

2. Structure: The range of structures of cat beds can be confusing, but you can select between donuts shapes, "enclosed" and many others. Some other structures include a raised platform for added comfort.

3. Temperature: No matter what the time of year might be, cats all love warm places. There are newer beds which come complete with built-in heading pads. These are either microwaveable or electric-powered. These provide therapeutic warmth with a healing quality that can keep your cat looking forward to using the bed.

4. Size: When you're trying to choose between the different kinds of cat beds always be sure the one you select is the correct size. Some cats are bigger than others, of course, and require more space for sleep. If you have more than one cat, then they might want to snuggle up and sleep together. If this is the case, it might be best to get a larger size. Remember,you can always opt to place more cushions or bedding inside if the dimensions seem to large.

There are still other types of cat beds, including those such as cardboard, cushioned, sleeping bags, fleecy rounded beds, plastic, and beanbags, among many others. Also remember that whichever bed you finally select, it's important to make sure the location it's place in will be perfect as well. Most cats like to have a nice view of the whole house when sleeping. Considering these factors can make kitty's sleeping experience even better!


Tom H. Brown is the editor and chief writer for Small Decor, the online magazine with Big Ideas for Decorating Small Spaces, at http://smalldecor.com . If you found this article helpful, you might also enjoy "The Heated Cat Bed: Give Some Warmth to Kitty!" Click here to read => http://smalldecor.com/heated-cat-bed/
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