Posted on: 06 June, 2005
Author: Nancy E. Wigal
Frazzled felines will sometimes relieve their anxiety by urinating, or marking (spraying) outside the cat litter box. Here are a few of the causes and the solutions to calm your kitty down. Like humans, cats like their routines and daily habits. When something changes in their home, one way their anxiety may manifest itself is by urinating outside the cat litter box. With a little bit of work and patience, your kitty can be calmed down and get back to her good litter box habits. Here are just a few situations that can make cats anxious: - A new person...
Posted on: 05 June, 2005
Author: by Paul J. Buckley
Have you ever thought about what you need to do should your dog or another dog ever suffer a serious, life-threatening injury? What if they have a severe allergy to an insect bite or a bee sting? Its great to know your vets phone number, but what if something happens during off hours? What if you dont know where the closest emergency animal clinic is located? Augh! Enough with the questions already, right? Any emergency is stressful and scary, and one involving that furry little four-legged member of your family is no exception. The toughest of owners can...
Posted on: 05 June, 2005
Author: Lee Dobbins
If you are looking for a toy dog that is intelligent, curious, lively and cuddly, then the Pomeranian could be the dog for you! Before you enter into dog ownership of any breed, however, you must ask be honest with yourself about if you are ready for the commitment of money and time that it takes to be a responsible dog owner. The first thing you must do is make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Are you ready to spend time training and grooming your Pomeranian? Is your family agreeable to the decision? Are you aware...
Posted on: 27 May, 2005
Author: Aki Desorcy
As there are certain health issues that affect only the female dog, care should be taken to ensure that these are fully understood before deciding whether or not to buy a bitch. The most important concern is that of spaying. Only those who are fully educated in all aspects of a specific breed and who have the time and energy to put into making sure that bloodlines are kept strong and healthy should ever consider breeding. With that in mind, most owners of female dogs will not be thinking of breeding and should therefore seriously consider having their pet spayed....
Posted on: 26 May, 2005
Author: NS Kennedy
At some time or another even the sweetest cat "misbehaves." Ironically, a cat's bad act is usually quite normal behavior for her, but may have a result humans don't like or want. Screaming at the cat or physically punishing her won't alter negative behavior. The best way to change undesirable behavior is to eliminate the opportunity and/or distract the cat to an acceptable alternative. Immediacy is vital: even seconds late may be ineffective. You must do it as soon as the cat starts misbehaving. Distracting a cat away from an act is not very difficult. A loud, unfamiliar noise will...
Posted on: 26 May, 2005
Author: NS Kennedy
For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans, cats pretty much took care of their own breeding. People kept them for one purpose - hunting rodent - and they are already perfectly designed for that. More than 100 years ago, however, we began systematically breeding cats to appeal to our aesthetic tastes. Hair length, color, coat pattern, as well as head and leg proportions contribute to the "look" of specific breeds. Look at enough cat bodies and faces, and you'll see two distinctly different types. Faces are either triangular or rounded. Bodies that are lean and slender belong...
Posted on: 26 May, 2005
Author: NS Kennedy
Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes this means a simple "kitty cold," at other times the disease might have a more lasting or even fatal result. The following are some of the more common causes of serious illness in cats. An upper respiratory infection (URI) is the medical term for what many cat lovers call a "kitty cold." Indeed, the symptoms match those of a human cold, sneezing and discharge from the nose. While they seem similar, the human and cat version of this infection are different, and one species cannot be infected by the other....
Posted on: 26 May, 2005
Author: NS Kennedy
If you are thinking of adding a feline to your family, consider adopting a cat from your local animal shelter or humane society. The animals have been carefully screened for adoptability and have usually been worked with to enhance sociability. Unfortunately, many people think that only "bad" animals wind up in shelters. Actually, the opposite is true. People relinquish their pets to shelters when they are no longer able to care for them. Sometimes this is because the owner was unprepared for the responsibility that comes with caring for a pet. If there is no indication of 'reason for surrender'...
Posted on: 26 May, 2005
Author: A. Grignard
Why use a crate:When used properly and not abused, crates are the fastest and most humane method of housebreaking dogs. Dogs are den animals that will instinctively seek out a small, cozy place to rest for shelter and security. Crates act on a dog's instinct to keep its den clean and unsoiled. Keeping your dog in a crate teaches him to "hold it" until he can go in an appropriate place, which helps your puppy develop his bladder control. For older dogs, crates act as a "bedroom" where they can relax and escape the hustle and bustle of kids, other...
Posted on: 24 May, 2005
Author: NS Kennedy
Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with a cat that doesn't use its litter box. Yet, patience is the key to creating litter box success. A positive introduction when young, and simple housekeeping on your part will solve most problems. Most cats instinctively use the litter box. However if you see your kitten crouching or sniffing in a corner lift her and place her in a litter tray - this is a sign of oncoming urination. If your kitten is not using the litter box you should place her in the box every morning. It is important...