CatGPS Collars
Can Be Hard To Find

Cat GPS tracking collars seem like a great idea for keeping tabs on your wandering feline. Outfit a tracking collar with a global positioning device that knows its current location at all times. The GPS device can then periodically send its longitude and latitude position to some base station by simply transmitting it over the cellular phone network. Once received, the location information is uploaded to a website which allows you to monitor your cat's location. Not only is this GPS tracking system a good idea, it's already being used in a variety of ways -- from car navigation systems to locating lost hikers.
However, the typical GPS cat tracking system is difficult to locate -- at least in the United States. The main problem is that GPS technology has not been

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Paw Prints Magazine Issue # 2 June 2009

In this Issue

Cat GPS Collars Can Be Hard To Find... How to Find the Right Cat For You... Canine Heat Stress and How to Treat It... Alternative Medicines For Canines... A Grand Investiture For Your Cat’s Wellness... Cat Scratch Fever... Dogs Are More Than Pets... Don't Make a Fatal Mistake... Treatment of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs... Older Dogs Need Special Care... What to Expect as Your Dog Ages... The Ancestry and the Social Ranking ... Choosing the Right Dog For a Child... Are You Going to Buy a Cat or a Kitten?... Bird Watching in a Ghillie... An Exciting Guide to Exotic Pets... Visit Noah's Ark, our Pet Lovers Social Network

How to Find the Right Cat For You at an Animal Shelter

Picking out a cat at an animal shelter can be likened to picking out cat food at a pet store – it should be done carefully knowing as much about the animal (or product) as is possible. If you are seriously contemplating adopting a cat at an animal shelter, than you may want to take a few handy pointers with you that can save you some hassle and help you find the cat of your dreams.
1. Do some research about cat breeds.
You needn’t read tons of history about each bread; instead, know that certain cats like Persians are more suited to be lap cats, while the American Short Hair may be more independent and active. This will help pinpoint what types of cats may fit your lifestyle best.
2. Decide if you prefer short hair over long hair.
People tend to get all excited about a cat until they finally realize the hair issue – “Oh my god, the cat has white long hair and it’ll get all over my black corduroy sofa.” Decide if shedding is a big deal for you – if it is, go short hair or find a cat that best matches your decor, OR perhaps buy a gold fish instead.
3. Consider the first impression you get from a cat.
Everyone needs some time to warm up to strangers – cats are no different. But the first impression you get from cats, is typically the same reliable first impression you get from people. If a cat is antsy and tries to strike or bite you when you meet it, most likely it will react that same way with your visitors and family. Look for a personality that will gel with your family members and any other pets.
4. Talk to the people at the shelter.
If you want to find a particular type of personality in a pet, rather than a type of breed, which is easier to spot, speak with the people who know them best – the handlers at the shelter. They can tell you who is friendly, who likes to be pet, who isn’t picky about their cat food, and who won’t eat anything but one kind of brand name food. All in all, I do suggest that you choose a truly premium cat food. A holistic, premium grade food can make a big difference overall.

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Canine Heat Stress and How to Treat It

There are typically two aspects of a dog's behavior and life that determine their resistance levels to extreme temperatures - obesity and old age. Dogs that have a "pushed in" type of facial appearance normally have some respiratory issues anyway, but they become much more susceptible to the respiratory side effects of temperature extremes than dog's that have a normal appearance.
Remember first and foremost that dogs do not perspire like humans do, so they normally eliminate excess heat through their respiration - i.e. panting. Regarding the types of dogs that have a pushed in countenance, when they are left to

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Alternative Medicines For Canines

Author:Jeff Nenadic

If there is one similarity shared by both canines and felines it is the fear that results when there ears are rattled by sudden, loud noises. This is especially true with young puppies whose smaller ears are very sensitive to sounds like fireworks, thunder, and even vehicles that backfire. Due to the fact that a puppy's ears tend to be considerably more sensitive than an adult dog's ears and that they haven't been alive long enough to be aware of these loud noises, they are more susceptible to the stress that results from these noises.
Some owners have resorted to the use of human

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A Grand Investiture For Your Cat’s Wellness

Author: Russ Elderman

Pet Outflow:
If you are very much touched about the Health and sustenance of your cat, then you will not recollect twice about putting in something that will find out her welfare. As such, maybe it is high time that you should think about realise her a pet Spring. This equipment is the best thing that you can buy to meet the need of your cat for clean and fresh water.
A pet Outpouring will also help entice your cat to drink water more often, specially if she disregards the water bowl. Because cats need a Grand amount of water to stay by rights hydrated, coming a pet Outpouring for her is decidedly a tread towards her better Wellness.
Satisfying Your Cat’s Need for Water
Water is the most distinguished matter for any live being! The water need of your cat is more than the dry food that she eats every day by two and a half times. This volume of water is quaternary or tripled during other times like when the endure is very hot or when you have subjected your cat to some uses. If your cat is also fresh, then she will also need more water. So a pet Jet is really a very smart steal if you want to find out the healthy state of your cat by Confluence her water of necessity. Because a pet Jet leaves fresh, clean, and streamlined water every day, then your

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Cat Scratch Fever

Author: Doris Canova

Cat scratch fever is a legitimate disease and your child can catch it from your cat or kitten from a scratch or even a bite. Disease results from a cat scratch (or bite) and transmission of the bacteria. Papules and Pustules initially form around the site of infection.Symptoms may not appear for several days after exposure and may last for several weeks. Although cat-scratch disease usually subsides without treatment, antibiotic and/or antimicrobial therapy may speed recovery.
The virus acts by attacking the lining of the small intestine. Symptoms include: stomach pain that starts 1 to 3 days after becoming disease a slight fever, headache, backache, chills, and shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dark urine, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea, and jaundice. The area of the bite or scratch will become red and swollen?
Infection is a concern of course, but you don't want to mess with any chance of rabies. It's not likely, of course, but it's also not something to fool around with because it's, as you know, fatal. Infection is a very serious concern and threat to all those who deal with these animals on a daily basis. The germs and bacteria inside the mouths and under the nails of these cats can be deadly! Infected cats carry the micro-organism in their blood where it can be present in

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Dogs Are More Than Pets

Dogs are unique animals because they can immediately become a part of your family If you have had your dog for a long time there is no question this is true...
Dogs are unique animals because they can immediately become a part of your family. If you have had your dog for a long time there is no question this is true.
Dogs in general have similar social systems to those in the human world. They survive with the lead of an adult male who is alpha or dominant over all others in the pack. If the leader oversteps his boundaries then a strong and competent female will step in.
Just like your family works together as a group, so does the dog pack. There are social bonds and loyalty on both sides. Even if the family group or pack of dogs fight, it doesn’t matter they are always united and come together when it counts.
Dogs have a great number of strengths. They are incredibly alert, have a strong sense of smell and many are superior hunters. Their ability to survive on something as small as food scraps makes them ideal to have around whether you’re referring to ancient or modern times.
From Ancient Times to Today
This animal and human relationship is so strong that it even goes back to the prehistoric times.
Imagine a prehistoric hunter finding a lost wolf cub in the woods and bringing the animal home to care for it. They might have found that the cub fit in quite nicely at home. To top it off the hunter probably found that the wolf was helpful for practical reasons as well.
Of course, the wolf pack that prehistoric man would have found isn’t quite as gentle and kind as the dogs we keep in our homes today. Wolves had just the rough type of personality that suited the prehistoric people, just like dogs suit our families today. It is our own domestication of dogs that makes them more and more suitable to living the family lifestyle.

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Don't Make a Fatal Mistake
When Choosing Dog Pain Relief Methods

For dog owners it is very heartbreaking to see their pets suffering in pain This is the reason why many of them will provide dog pain relief medicines readily just to avoid seeing their pets suffer...

For dog owners it is very heartbreaking to see their pets suffering in pain. This is the reason why many of them will provide dog pain relief medicines readily just to avoid seeing their pets suffer. What many of these well-meaning dog owners do not know is that many of the dog pain relief medicines that are available commercially are full of ingredients that can be harmful to your beloved companion.
You may not see the negative effects of these medicines immediately, but their harmful contents accumulate in the body and may cause serious conditions in the future. It doesn't make much sense to relieve your dog of the suffering he is experiencing currently just to see him get a more serious disease later on.
What you need to know is that there are natural dog pain relief supplements that are safer and are actually more effective than the ones available commercially.

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Treatment of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Canine hip dysplasia in dogs is a very common degenerative disease, having said that it does not always affect all dogs. However there can also be many misconceptions regarding this disease, some that are known and some that are not.
A young dog who has an abnormal development of the hip joint will suffer eventually from hip dysplasia, this does not necessarily mean that it will be bilateral, affect both the left and right side. It happens because of the laxity of the muscles, connective tissue and ligaments that would normally support the joint.
The majority of dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips, although in some due to genetic and other factors, the tissues surrounding the joint can develop abnormally as the puppy starts to grow. The changes that this causes are that the bones actually move instead of being held in place.
This will cause the joint capsule and ligament between the two bones to stretch; this adds further instability to the joint. Once this happens the surface of the two bones will lose contact with each other. The separation of these two bones within the joint is known as subluxation, the results of these problems, are what are associated with this

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Older Dogs Need Special Care

The older dogs have a lifespan of around eight to sixteen years. Some of the breeds have less age expectancy, while some of them have a longer life span. It is time to take some preventive actions when you know that your dog is grown old. These steps are needed to keep the dog healthy, happy and active. Keep a regular appointment with the veterinary doctor, this means that they are kept healthy and the owners know if there are any health issues. The veterinary doctors know different types of breed and they can also advice you on how to keep a tab on the health of the old dogs.
The older dog also needs to keep a tab on the weight. In case the dog is overweight, they develop joint problems, arthritis, diabetes and liver or kidney malfunctions. Treat your dog for less amount of sugar, salt. You can buy the dog cookies which are manufactured especially older and fat dogs. In case your dog is growing old, you can fewer amounts of treats, and more amount of healthy and low calorie food. Sometimes, it is little difficult to stop them staring at food when you eat, but it is for their good. You can feed your pet once or twice a day in smaller quantity. In case you find children feeding the dog, explain them why they should not feed the dogs.

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What What to Expect as Your Dog Ages

Author:  Kelly Marshall

As most animal owners know there comes a time unfortunately when their beloved friend starts to show the signs of old age creeping up on them. There may have been those times in the past when you have showered your beloved pet with little luxury dog clothes and fun toys for him/her to play with.
The aging process in dogs can be quite different, some breeds can age faster than others there is know set pattern. There are those of you who will have two dogs of the same breed and one may start to age faster than the other. The way a dog can age can depend on their general health and environment, and also his family heritage.
As all breeds of dogs come in different shapes and sizes the same can apply to certain breeds being prone to heart problems, for example while there are other breeds that may be prone to certain types of cancer. That is why it is so important for your dog to have regular checks by a veterinarian to diagnose any problems that can occur as they are getting on in their life.
When asked how old your dog is and you reply by saying six or seven, in actual fact for the dog’s years it may mean fifty to fifty five and so on. Sometimes there can be controversy in that some people say it is seven years for a

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Dog The Ancestry and the Social Ranking of Your Dog

Social ranking, superiority and inferiority, domination and submission are common traits of human race. However, they do exist in animals and birds too. It is a common sight to see some dogs/wolves leading in a pack with others following meekly with their tails in-between their legs. It does make one wonder why do the meek animals accept the aggression so meekly.
It is simply an instinctive and evolutionary way of survival. The meek do so for their benefit. They know when they are in no position to go against the powerful, stronger and confident members of the group; the better option is to play along with the pack. They accept what they need to, for the sake of survival even if it means to be bullied and pushed around.
It isn’t that they can’t fight nor are cowards. They do have feelings and self-respect and the thought of being sub-ordinate doesn’t appeal to them. However, they know that either they submit or get involved in violence and be killed. It doesn’t make sense to go against the mighty, if you aren’t ready. Hence, in reality the meek are simply waiting for their time; to come up to that position wherein they can challenge the dominating members.
If each were to fight, then packs shall not exist and the wolves/dogs shall not survive. Staying together in a pack is essential for their survival. Hence, the inferior ones accept the social ranking for peace and survival, and for their own benefits. Social ranking works for the meek. However, it doesn’t mean that they are cowards or peaceful creatures. They are being wise and know that the time isn’t ripe for them to rise against the mighty.
Hence, the meek coexists with the mighty in packs, forever alert to signs of aggressions or violence which they quickly diffuse and submit to the domineering demands so that they can stay on with the pack. They have the insight, strength, and capacity to neglect their own driving force to rise against the mighty. They shall rise only when the time is ripe and it is advantageous for them. Till then, they shall keep their heads down and put their tails in-between the legs. Â It is better to stay with the pack than starve.
Hence, you can see the power of the submission strategy as compared to aggression especially when it isn’t in your benefits. They say either have the strength and courage to change what you can or have the serenity and wisdom to accept what you can’t. This is exactly what the inferior wolves/dogs do.

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Choosing the Right Dog For a Child

Many people feel that a dog is a great pet for a child and they are right. A dog will be a friend, a companion, and a great way to learn some responsibility. But first, you want to make sure that your child is the right age for a dog or you are pretty much just looking at a dog for yourself. A lot of people feel that five or six years old are a fine age to give a dog to a child. As long as the parent is able to do the training then this would be fine as children that age can easily find enjoyment in their furry friends and even learn a little bit about what chores and care taking are about.
If you are not up for training the dog yourself but still want your young child to have a dog then make sure that you are choosing one that is a little older then a pup and is already housebroken. This way, there will only be a small adjustment period and the dog will feel and act as though it is right at home. Make sure that you are being careful though when selecting your dog.
While it is okay to want to have the children in on the process of picking the right dog for him or her, you really have to have a few restrictions. Not all breeds are suitable for children. Some are okay with all ages, some with no child no matter what the age is, and others are fine with

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Are You Going to Buy a Cat or a Kitten?

Before you get a kitten, you should be prepared for the responsibility that you are taking on. A kitten is not disposable you cannot just get rid of it if the cat becomes a problem on your lifestyle. You are responsible for caring of your cat for its entire life. No cat is perfect they will all have accidents on your carpet till they learn how to use the litter pan and claw on your favorite sofa or chair if left unattended.
It is your responsibility to watch the cat and to properly train him or her. There is no Bad Cats, but there are inexperienced pet owners that fail their pet by not properly training there cat. The cat or kitten should not be penalized for your lacking the skills. If you are not an experienced pet owner, you should talk to cat owners so you can learn what is needed, and you can learn how to teach. Pets can not learn everything they need to know in just one day training your pet is a constant process, and it is your responsibility.
You will also need to figure out just where you are going to get your cat from. If you have made the decision and you are set on getting a purebred kitten, you should check out a good breeder. They also do health checks on their kittens before they are bred them.

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Bird Watching in a Ghillie

As a member of a local birdwatchers club, we often like to tell stories about the birds we have seen, and how close we have gotten to them. No one believes my stories, but I guarantee that they are all true. I also have pictures to back that up too. I mean, I’m not going to say that I was close enough to touch a bird unless I have some proof, so a nice close up usually backs me up all the way. How do I get so close to the birds? Well first of all I watch for where they like to go to eat. Sometimes if I am doing birds that like to eat by ponds and rivers I will have to go there, other times I may need to be in a field, and yet other occasions call for me to wait in a tree - which is by far the hardest, and plus I’m getting a little too old for that.
How I’ve been able to get so close is through perfecting the art of the ghillie suit. Whether it’s from one of mine that I made from a ghillie suit kit, or one that is a home made ghillie suit, they are all of my final creation and touches. I have probably had more questions about my ghillies suits than about all of my bird watching days combined into a number, because people find them fascinating.

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An Exciting Guide to Exotic Pets

If you are thinking about getting a pet for yourself or for your family, you should know that dogs and cats are not the only animals that make good pets. If you are interested in getting a more unusual and intriguing type of pet, you'll be glad to know that there are many different, some unexpected types of pets available to you. You may have come across some of these pets in your life, and others, you may be shocked to learn make very good pets to certain households (and could make a good pet to yours). The type of exotic pet that suits you best will depend on many factors including your lifestyle, budget, personality, tolerance, etcetera. Some of these types of pets are very low-maintenance and easy to take care of, while others may require large amounts of attention and money. No matter what type of rare pet you decide is right for you, cultivating the bond between pet and pet-owner will take time and effort.
Ferrets
Ferrets are very amusing pets. They are a lot of fun to watch and play with. A little-known fact about ferrets is that they sleep for a large part of the day. Ferrets require a good-size cage and plenty of toys. Ferrets also have a high

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