Friday, 31 May 2013

Important Stages In A Cat's Life

How Fast Will Your Cat Grow - The Important Stages In A Cat's Life


Just like having a child, it can be incredibly fulfilling bringing a kitten into your family and watching it grow up. It takes only a year for your cute little kitten to mature into a cat. It can seem hard to believe but it will happen fast. Being prepared is the goal here. So what are the key milestones for a young cat?
The First Moments
Kittens are born blind and they are completely dependent on their mother. The first stages will involve learning to eat and then growing. The kitten's eyes will open and he will want to explore. At four weeks old, he is romping around shakily with his siblings. At this time he can begin to learn to use the litter box and should start to become a social animal. In the wild, the kitten's mother will start to supplement his diet with dead mice and other small pretty. But, you may want to give him some soft kitten food or some dry food that is softened a little with water.
Six Weeks
He's now six weeks old and he is more than ready to explore the home. If he's indoors, he will move from room to room. A feral kitten will follow his mother when she goes to hang out with the other cats. These cats will still receive mice from their mother, but they aren't dead anymore. Instead, the kitten has to learn to hunt the animal. Those who are eight weeks old will be completely weaned from their mother and are ready to go to a new home.
The Next Months
Through the next several months, the cats will grow really fast. You'll need to get them in to be vaccinated at this time so that they are healthy and strong. They will begin to learn what they have to do to live with their families and learn which behaviors are okay. You can teach your kitten his name as well as a few simple commands now. If the cat has long hair, make sure to get him used to allowing you to groom him, although the cat's coat doesn't need to be brushed just yet.
Sometimes, cats will suddenly develop a bad attitude. Believe it or not this is an adolescent stage for them. This happens when the cat goes from being a kitten into being a mature cat. Sounds just like children, right? This will happen around the fifth to six month and may last until the cat reaches a year old. They will still be playful but may get carried away to play too aggressively. If your cat is not neutered at six months of age, he will be mature enough to reproduce now. Neutering the cat will help this stage of his development go more smoothly. At six months, the cat looks the way he will look as an adult even though he may still become larger.
Adulthood
Just like humans, adult cats will continue to go through stages. But, these stages can be dealt with quite easily. And, unlike that mid life crisis you may have, the cat isn't likely to go out to purchase a sports car at this age!
If you take care of your kitten's health as he grows into an adult cat you will have a fulfilling relationship that will bring both you and the cat great satisfaction.
Cat owners. We recently discovered a robot vacuum cleaner that is specially designed to pick up cat hair. It's a huge timesaver and cleans while we are out of the house. More details at http://www.roboticvacuumcleanersreviewed.com
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.


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Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Improve a Pet's Life

Improve a Pet's Life With Pet Steps


Furry companions enjoy spending time with their owners but cannot always reach high surfaces such as the car or furniture. Cats and dogs need pet steps to reach high places just as people need step stools. Picking up your pet over and over again can be strenuous on your back, and not all pets enjoy being held. Pet steps can improve the life of your pet by allowing them to enjoy the benefits of independently accessing high human spaces.Greater mobility around the house and into the car will leave your pet feeling great.
Pet steps have often been used for car trips. Dogs especially enjoy riding with their owner in the car for various errands such as trips to the grocery store or to pick up children from school. Rather than lifting your pet into the car or making them jump, steps can be placed at the base of the car door. They provide a safe and easy entry for your pet into your vehicle and are fun to use. Without such steps your pet may have difficulty accompanying you in the car.
In addition to car trips, steps are wonderful for indoor use. You pet can use steps to get onto the bed, couch, or comfortable recliner. Most pets like cuddling with their owners but some are too small to jump that high. Other larger breeds may not be able to jump because of arthritis or old age. Steps provide freedom of mobility to cats and dogs of all shapes and sizes. Allowing your pet the ease of mobility on and off furniture will improve your relationship with your pet.
Beyond providing expanded mobility, you can use steps to train for pet shows or to teach your pet new commands and tricks. Steps are a wonderful mechanism for training whether you are a professional dog trainer or simply want to teach your old dog a new trick. You can use the steps to teach simple commands or as a prop in a pet talent show. Training using pet steps will also give your pet a muscle workout, improving your pet's overall health.
Without access to our spaces such as the car or furniture, pets may feel left out or neglected. Cats and dogs want to be able to reach the couch or bed without the owner's help, and family trips are not the same without Fido. However, Picking up your pet again and again can make your pet feel too dependent on you and can also put a strain your body. Thus, pets need to be able to access the furniture and car independently. Pet steps can be placed beneath any hard-to-reach surface and can be stored in the house or in the back of the car. Use pet steps to improve your relationship with your pet by giving them the freedom to come into your space with a set of easy-to-use pet steps.
If you are interested on more information, please visit the following website: Pet steps.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5886764

Saturday, 4 May 2013

Choosing the Perfect Cat


Choosing the Perfect Cat Breed for Your Family

There's a really good explanation for the fact that pet cats have been such a wonderful pet all around the world for such a very long time. They make easygoing company, a wonderful animal to have around the home that requires little by way of human care, but which does react to any care it is given extremely warmly. Pet cats have a friendliness and are able in the vast majority of cases to share this warmth readily with their human partners and so engender a mutually beneficial, and social relationship. In this way cats have found a situation in human families for aeons and are traditionally a very beloved pet.
Technically named Felix the pet cat, or house cat, is fairly intimately related with a range of other mammals. The house cat is a close cousin of feral cats, and slightly more distantly related to wildcats. Although they are usually more slight and certainly a good deal more placid than their near cousins, house cats are known frequently to reproduce with semi-feral and feral cats, proving their relative proximity in breed terms.
In common with the pet dog, and likewise a sound example to their popularity among humans, cats have been the subject of deliberate breeding by human beings to satisfy particular purposes through history. However, as the functions that cats can perform are fairly minimal compared to the many tasks that dogs can provide for human civilization, the result of human influence on cat evolution has had minimal impact on the physical make up of domestic cats as we understand them today. Yes there are certainly distinctly defined breeds within the cat race, but overlooking their appearance in the way of fur hue and texture, the occasional variance to build and bearing, and slight changes in size, one house cat is in many ways the same as any other pet cat no matter the breed. By way of contrast, and to demonstrate this contrast between cats and hounds, comparing a Website to a St Bernard is to compare two dogs that at first glance appear almost so different as to seem to be members of of two very different species.
Having said that, you will find some varieties of cute cats for sale that, regardless of being close in weight, stature and build as lots of other types of cat seem, on the surface at least, to be wholly different to each other. Take, for instance, a cat which has no hair, and a shaggy haired cat such as a Balinese or a. These cats will look very different to each other. However, the fact remains that the nature, diet and character of these animals are very closely related, and if you were to take all the hair off of a Persian cat (although fie on you if you did such a thing!) then they may once more look really quite similar.
Pedigree pets like Persians are increasingly popular in Britain, but some pedigree breeds, in particular thick-furred cats like Persians and Siberians, will also require more effort from their friends than will the average cat. Beautiful Persian cats on sale are a particularly beautiful and well kind of cat, but their bushy hair requires more brushing than many pet cats require.
Technically named Felix Catus, the loveable cats for sale pet cat, or house cat, is fairly intimately related with a range of other mammals. The house cat is a close cousin of feral cats, and slightly more distantly related to wildcats. Although they are usually more slight and certainly a good deal more placid than their Fluffy Persian cats for sale near cousins, house cats are known frequently to reproduce with semi-feral and feral cats, proving their relative proximity in breed terms.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7588825

Friday, 3 May 2013

Destructive Chewing Behavior



Stop Your Dog's Destructive Chewing Behavior





Chewing is a normal behavior when eating but if this becomes a habit even when not eating then it becomes a destructive behavior. This unnecessary chewing habit can be formed by your dog for many reasons but whatever drives your dog to have this habit, the end result can be really stressful. With the strong jaw and sharp-pointed teeth of your dog, his inappropriate chewing habit can damage your appliances, household items and personal possessions. Before all your things get damaged and before you lose your temper, you have to learn how to stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior.
Teaching dogs the right behavior can be really stressful if you do not know how. First, you should know the reasons why dogs usually form the habit of inappropriate chewing. Dogs make chewing a habit because they find chewing a pleasurable and rewarding habit. It is fun to chew things and rewarding if it makes them happy especially if they chew something that tastes good. Chewing can also be an outlet for a bored and lonely dog; the rhythmic cycle of moving his mouth, jaw and sharp teeth over and over again to chew on something is soothing and like a therapy for his boredom and loneliness. Sometimes dogs that lack exercise make chewing a way to keep them active and burn energy. It would be easier to stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior if you know the reason behind it.
The good news is that dogs are capable to unlearn their bad habits and replace them with the proper behavior. So what can you do to stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior?
Dog-proof your home. If you decided to raise a dog and keep it to become part of your family, you need to prepare your home. Manage your personal belongings and household items and keep them away from your canine friend. Even if you have a well-behaved dog, you are tempting your dog to develop destructive chewing habit if things in your house are easy to access or reach by your dog. Important things like cameras, cell phones, remote controls, shoes, clothes, watches, books, notebooks and laptops should be kept properly on places that your dog cannot reach even when he jump or climb. Do not leave food on easy to reach tables or counter tops to avoid your dog from messing with your food. If there are rooms that are off-limits for your dog, keep the door closed to discourage your dog from entering those off-limits areas. You may need to confine your dog in a dog-proofed area to avoid him from reaching the furniture in your home and to let him understand that he does not have the freedom to chew your sofa, chair leg, pillows, etc. Keep things in your house away from your dog if you want to stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior.
Provide an alternative for his chewing habit. Dogs need to chew especially a puppy under one year old. You cannot just stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior without offering an alternative for him to divert his chewing habit. If he has something else to chew, your personal stuffs will look less attractive or less tempting to him. Ask your vet for the best chewing toys for your dog and buy at least three toys for him. He may get bored if you will only buy one type of chew toys so buy at least 2-3 types of chew toys that you can rotate every few days.
Interact with your dog. If you want to stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior, you cannot just cage him in his crate or keep him out because your pet needs supervision and interaction not only for him to learn good behavior but for him to also feel loved. He will not know how to integrate himself into your life as a new member of your household if you just keep him boxed in the dog area. Interact with your dog. If he did something wrong, let him know that it was wrong and if he did something right, reward him or praise him for behaving properly. With the correct interaction and supervision, your dog will understand that your stuffs should not be chewed. It will be easier to stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior if you and your dog are interacting with each other. Dogs cannot talk but they surely have the smarts to understand their owners.
Walk your dog out regularly. Your dog needs to go out to ease his boredom. As mentioned earlier, boredom or loneliness can be a reason why dogs find destructive chewing pleasurable and therapeutic. Spend some time to walk your dog out every morning or on a regular basis.He will learn to behave more properly if he can socialize with people and other dogs.
It is also important to be realistic that you cannot stop your dog's destructive chewing behavior overnight. You and your dog are not perfect and before he could totally forget his bad habits he may chew or damage some of your precious possessions. It will take a while before he could completely learn not to chew your cherished possessions and learn your house rules so be patient with your canine friend. If you need help in teaching your dog, do not hesitate to seek professional help. If you want to know more secrets in raising an obedient dog, visit Dog Lovers Portal
To know more about raising dogs visit Dog's Corner
Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including Stop Your Dog's Destructive Chewing Behavior. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.
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Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Cat Training Guide



Do You Need a Cat Training Guide?




Many cat owners don't believe that they need a cat training guide and that training a cat doesn't require any specific skills, just instinct. A lot of people think that if they've already trained a dog then they know how to train a cat. The fact is that there are a lot of erroneous beliefs about training cats and investing in a cat training guide will set you on the right path.
If you're new to owning a cat, you may not know that trying to train a cat in the wrong way is a complete waste of your time and effort. More importantly, it will be much more difficult to reverse any inappropriate behaviour that your cat has already learnt. A cat training guide will teach you the correct way to train a cat and some of the pitfalls to avoid.
Rewards
A good cat training guide will show you the importance of rewarding good behaviour over and above punishing bad behaviour. Cats are different from dogs in that they don't relate the present with what they did in the past.
For example when you're litter training a cat, you'll need to take him to his litter tray the first few times and when he does his business in the tray he should be rewarded with a treat. However, if he misses the box, there's no point shouting at him because he just won't understand. You can't rub his nose in it like you could with a dog to make him understand.
Who is training whom?
Anyone who writes a good cat training guide will know how easy it is for a cat to take charge so take care that you aren't the one who's being trained. Your cat will learn very quickly that you can be manipulated and he will exploit this mercilessly. For example if you jump to your feet the moment your cat asks you let him in or out, he'll be forever scratching at the door and if you attend to his meows right away, no matter the time, you may find yourself hopping in and out of bed throughout the night.
You need to let your cat know who is boss despite that old saying that dogs have masters but cats have servants. You also need to make sure that your cat can mix and behave well with other members of the household especially other animals and children.
A cat training guide can give you lots of hints and tips as to how to train a cat effectively and without too much effort.
This article on cat training techniques may help you to decide whether you need a cat training guide.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7472892

Training a Dog


Training a Dog to Walk on a Leash




One thing that most dog owners face problems with while training their pets is teaching them loose leash walking. The tips that will follow have been compiled after taking interviews of dog owners and professional trainers. These are sure to make the training process much simpler.
Reasons why training puppies for loose leash walking is a challenge:
  1. Keeping with the natural behavior of dogs, the puppies tend to pull their owners to places they want to go to. Walking with their owners does not come naturally to these canines.
  2. Running towards the things that they find exciting is almost a reflex action for puppies. This is a strong reason why they must be effectively trained at loose leash walking.
  3. Providing this kind of training is a task because owners usually focus on what they are hoping to achieve and in the process, neglect the needs of the dog.






Making your dog walk on a leash made easy:
  • You have to ensure that your dog get accustomed to wearing the collar. It might be uncomfortable for the puppy at first, but with time, the dog will get used to it. Do not remove the collar when you see your dog barking or scratching. The collar must be removed only after the puppy gives up trying to free himself from it.
  • Start by using a small size of a string for a leash, for example a shoelace and gradually increase its length. Using a long leash at first might scare the puppy which is why they must get habituated to the shorter leash first.
  • Involving the dog in some fun activity before beginning to train him at loose leash walking is advisable. Playing games like run and fetch are certain to prove helpful. Rewarding the dog and praising him while on a loose leash is a sure shot way of training the dog.
  • Never let the dog pull you while on a long leash. If you repeatedly stop when the dog is trying to pull you, the dog will get frustrated and give up the habit completely. For starters, you must practice loose leash walking with your dog for a minimum of 5 minutes.
Mastering this method at home:
There are a series of eBooks and videos available online which can be the best form of guidance for dog owners who are having trouble training their pets. The owners can also read articles on training dogs.
If you're looking for help with dog training and anything else related to dogs, visit: http://dogtraininguide.com/


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