It's All About Cats

Author:Robert Buford

When I was growing up, I almost always had a cat. Back then, a cat was just a replaceable "thing" to most people, and if one got run over, killed by the neighbor's dog, poisoned, or just disappeared, there was always another cat to be found.
Fortunately, attitudes have changed over time. These days many people recognize that animals should not be treated as a disposable posses- sion. Certainly, I've gotten wiser as I've gotten older, and my cats have benefited from that.So I decided to take all the tips, tricks, and advice I learned and "compress" it into a sanity saving resource for anyone battling bad cat behavior.
Unfortunately, one of the side effects of people bringing cats indoors has been a trend toward having them declawed for their owner's personal comfort.

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Paw Prints Magazine *August 2010 *

In this Issue

It's All About Cats... Why Cats Are Different ... The Temperament Of Cats... Why Cats Are Better Than Dogs... Outside and Inside Cats... Neutering Or Spaying Of Cats... Interesting Facts About Cats ... Cats And Feline Diabetes... Cats And Ring Worm... Hyperthyroidism In Cats... Gingivitis In Cats ... Tabby Cats And Other Colors Of Cats... Cats Bonding With Their Owners ... Cats And Litter Boxes Don't Always Get Along... Litter Box Strategies For Disabled Cats ... Useful Advice For Cats: How To ... Visit Noah's Ark, our Pet Lovers Social Network

Why Cats Are Different

Author: John Dow

All cats are unique in many ways in the animal world. The entire species from big cats to the most docile of domestic cats have several common traits. It is believed that the cat species evolved from a weasel type of animal over 40 million years ago. To put that into perspective, what many believe to be the first real human ancestors (homo erectus) evolved about 1.8 million years ago.
The first real record of cats being domesticated dates back to early Egyptians in the Upper Egypt area of the Nile River. These early African cats were great at chasing down and eliminating small pests and snakes. Grain that was one of the primary Egyptian food sources were constantly sought after by these pests (mice, rats, and other rodent type creatures) and cats were quickly recognized as a highly effective pest eliminator and a good animal to have around. This worked out well for both the cats and the Egyptians. Once both lost their fear of each other, a more close relationship developed. The Egyptians were fascinated by the cat’s hunting and agile physical abilities, and the cats enjoyed a safe refuge from other predators plus all the food they could catch. Throw in the ability of a cat to see at night, their uncanny ability to escape physical harm, and their indifference to humans or other creatures and the cats were quickly elevated in stature.

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The Temperament Of Cats

Perhaps you imagined yourself as a sleek young woman like Selena Kyle. But is a cat the right pet for you? To decide, you must have an idea what to expect from a cat. You must be familiar about the temperament of cats.
First of all, a domestic cat is a highly intelligent and fiercely independent creature. It can never be placed on a leash the way dogs are. Cats do things they want to do and when they want to do it. They will demand the things they want, such as food and play. And they will also make it clear when they want to be left alone. Thus, the owner of a cat cannot expect his pet to do “work” for him.
Different breeds of cats have different personalities. Some cats are quiet while others like to meow all the time.

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WhyCats Are Better Than Dogs

At the risk of offending of all the dog lovers who read this article, I must state my preference for cats over dogs. They are very adorable creatures that also have a wonderful air of independence and intelligence about them. This independence gives them a more well rounded personality than dogs who seem to always want to be by your side.
Cats are also much easier to care for and are great even small apartments. If you live in the city like I do then having a dog is a total pain. You have to take them out for a walk twice every day or pay for an expensive dog walker! A cat can be perfectly happy indoors. They can cope much better in small places than dogs do.

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Outside and Inside Cats

It was just last year that we were adapting our new little Burmese kitten to our two dogs. That was a time-investing, heart committed time of months of special care and attention that the new kitty was protected, safe, developed a sense of self and that the dogs adjusted to this new, rather spoiled indoor kitten we have. We successfully did that, and the dogs and kittens within months were best of friends with everyone maintaining their own identities and sanity. Well, come along a much older Tom cat that moved into our home along with a family friend. This was a much bigger challenge. Big difference in a Tom cat and a genteel indoor cat. We again took this on with special attention, careful observation and watchful waiting. It was rather disastrous it seemed at first. Neither liked each other, particularly our cat felt his home was infringed upon, and he was scared of this much bigger outdoor Tom cat. The hissing sounds that came out of our cat could have scared a lion. That is pretty much went on the first week. Our cat, Sid, hissed and made other worldly sounds at the Tom cat and the Tom cat, Tabby, sat back and watched and pounced. We watched this behavior, protecting both cats for the first week. Nothing really changed that first week; they really did not like each other.

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Neutering Or Spaying Of Cats

Sterilization of cats has several important benefits. And unless you are a serious breeder, I do suggest you consider the following:
Male cat - When your tom cat reaches puberty at nearly six months of age, he will start yearning for female cats, and it's not his fault - it's only natural. He will meow at night, spray foul smelling urine all over the house aside from his litter box, and totally ignore all your attempts to control him, in short there will be a total change in his personality and it will continue...until you let him out! Once outside your tommy boy will be no match for the ferals who have grown on their own and are much better hunters and fighters than your pet who never learned to fend for himself under your loving care. So when he's gonna eye female cats and try and establish his territory, he'll end up inevitably in a fight with another feral male cat - and return to you with a scratched face and scarred ego! You'll worry about him but there's not much you can do - he will go outside again - and this time may not return (as your domesticated pet he didn't even learn how to cross a street or avoid humans!) And you'll be left with heart break, uncomprehending...when all of this could be avoided by a simple procedure...neutering. The surgery is one of the simplest in all of veterinary medicine.

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Interesting Facts About Cats

Interesting Facts About Cats
Cats are kept as domestic pets and the species has been living with us for thousands of years. There are many breeds of cat, including ones without hair and tails. They are capable of hunting many different types of species and are highly intelligent. Because they are so intelligent, it is possible to train them to do the most unlikely of tasks, such as opening doors ( although obviously not with a key of course ).
How Do Cats Communicate?
They purr, miaow and hiss. They also use body language and use a combination of these things when communicating with 'fellow felines'. They are still capable of living in the wild.
Defining Terms
A male cat is known as a tom. A female, believe it or not, is called a queen. The cute young variety are known as kittens. If the cat in question has registered ancestry, then it is referred to as a pedigree cat. Purebred cats constitute only one tenth of the total cat population.
How Long Do They Live?
If kept at home as domesticated pets, cats live a very long time. The average is fourteen to twenty years. The oldest cat in recorded history lived to the grand age of thirty six. Generally speaking, cats that don't venture outside tend to live longer because they don't get into fights or risk injury from accidents.

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Cats And Feline Diabetes

Cats are one of the most popular pets in North America. They are loving pets, capable of providing you years of companionship. Like other pets, cats can sometimes get sick. There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes. Feline diabetes is a serious disease, although it can be treated by a veterinarian http://www.networkmarketings.info
Diabetes is more common with humans than with cats or other animals. The cause of diabetes is actually quite simple. Sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood. The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces. When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, diabetes is to blame.
The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary. The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst. Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat. An increase in thirst is easy to detect, as you can easily notice the water dish empty throughout the day.
If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma.

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Cats AndRing Worm

Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease that is found in both dogs and cats. Although its name makes you think otherwise, this skin disease isn’t caused by any type of worm. It’s actually caused by fungi known as Dermatophytes that feed on dead tissues found in the surface of the skin, spreading them around the skin of the animal http://www.motorcycless.info
With cats, there is a certain type of fungi known as M Canis that is found with nearly 95% of all ringworm cases. Normally, cats will get the ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have the ringworm disease, your cat could very easily contract it this way.
If you have kittens or cats that are under a year old in your home, you should always use precaution, as they are more susceptible to ringworm. Kittens can easily contract the disease, especially if you allow them to go outside. They can easily come in contact with a contaminated object or another cat that has the disease. Kittens take a long time to build their immune system up, and in the meantime they are more apt to get common disease such as ringworm.

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Hyperthyroidism In Cats

Veterinarians tell us that hyperthyroidism is very common type of hormonal disorder seen in older cats, and even some middle aged cats. This occurs when the thyroid glands began producing large amounts of thyroid hormones. Often this happens as a result of a benign thyroid tumor (adenoma); however, vets do not know what causes the tumor to develop in cats. For informational purposes, thyroid glands are paired glands located in the neck and they secrete thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is important because it controls metabolic rate of an animal. Cats with hyperthyroidism have an increased metabolic rate, and thus they tend to use up excessive amounts of energy within their bodies. This means that your cat may be eating more and always hungry, but still seems to be losing weight. This is one of the most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism. Some other signs may include a patchy hair coat and hyperactivity. The onset of this disease is usually very slow, and signs are usually not recognized until they are severe. Sometimes, the hyperthyroid state can exist for months to years before becoming severe enough for the owner to recognize the clinical signs. Many times, a veterinarian can feel a nodule in your cat's neck where the thyroid gland is located.

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Gingivitis In Cats

A chronic condition occurring in cats that causes extreme gingivitis and tooth loss is Plasmacytic-Lymphocytic Stomatitis. This disease is usually is a result of another disease. It has been found in cats with Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency. The symptoms are salivating excessively, trouble eating, and a really foul odor in their mouth. Naturally this soreness in their mouth causes them not to eat and they lose weight rapidly.
Severe gingivitis around the back upper molars is found upon examining the mouth, and the gums will appear raw, red and easy to bleed. Untreated, the gums will recede as the tooth root becomes absorbed, thereby causing tooth loss or breakage. Lymphocytes and plasma cells are found in biopsies of such areas, this gives the disease its name. Bacterial infections have a higher than normal breeding ground with the inflammation of tissue. Whenever there is a chronic inflammation and results in secondary infections, these cells are present and can lead to a bacterial infection in the blood stream. Other organs, such as the liver, kidneys and heart can be affected, by such an infection.
Essential to beginning any treatment, a careful cleaning under anesthesia, while cleaning below the gum line with a long acting good quality disinfectant gel is vital.

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Tabby Cats And Other Colors Of Cats

Patterns are a mixture of colors in a definite arrangement. The six fundamental types of coat patterns present in cats with some differences are Tabby, Tortoiseshell, Solid, Bicolor, Colorpoint and Tricolor.
1. Tabby: This coat pattern is the most widespread found naturally and is present in four varieties: blotched (marbled), striped (mackerel), ticked (agouti) and spotted.
2. Tortoiseshell: An unswerving blend of black and orange or thinned shades of blue and cream form this exclusive coat pattern. This coat pattern is a tricolor present almost uniquely in females with a blend of orange and black. Male cats rarely show this pattern and are likely sterile. These cats also show an inner tabby pattern called as “torbie”.
3. Solid: This pattern is the easiest and identifiable one, as it consists of a single coat uniformly spread throughout the body. An interesting solid pattern with hair of different color is seen in young cats. The secondary colored hair vanishes as the cat grows and very soon, the cat displays a solid hairy pattern all over. It is not possible to acknowledge a cat that has a spot of some other color on its coat, as a solid. People generally refer cats with a solid pattern as “self's” or “self-colored”.
4. Bicolor: The word bicolor is actually a white-colored coat along with another color. The other color displays a tabby or a solid pattern. People commonly describe a cat with a white colored coat as a harlequin. “Van” is the term describing a definite variation in which the feline is white colored, with spots of color present only on the tail and head. Names are given for the patches of white present on a bicolor cat, which express their positions such as mittens (paws), locket (chest), and buttons (patches on the abdomen).

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CatsBonding With Their Owners

There are a lot of experts out there who say that cats are strictly independent animals. These very same experts state that cats have chosen to associate with humans due to their strategy of survival. Although many argue with this statement, there are many who agree as well – although those that agree are normally those in the percentile who don’t agree with cats http://www.jokess.info
Anyone who has owned a cat will tell you that cats are great at bonding with people, although they are very particular. Normally, a cat will choose someone in the home that he bonds with. You’ll know when a cat wants to bond with you, as he will hop on your lap seeking attention or snuggle up to you at night when you are sleeping. Purring is a strong sign of affections, especially with cats that are looking to bond.
Although many experts have tried to figure it out, no one really knows why cats choose a particular person whom they will bond with. It could be the individual’s manners, voice, or simply how that person treats the cat. Perhaps it may be the individual is really gentle, or maybe a little more forceful – bringing the best out in the cat.
There are a lot of ways that researchers have tried to take this subject, one of which being psychic.

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Cats AndLitter Boxes Don't Always Get Along

If your cat has a problem using a litter box, don't worry. You're not alone. It is one of the most common problems among pet owners in regard to their cats.
Cace explains that if the cat is not using a litter box, this is probably occurring for one of two reasons. Either the cat has developed some dislike for its litter box for some reason, or a stressor is causing the cat to stop using its box.
The most common cause of the cat not liking to use its litter box is that it simply may not be clean enough. Case states that if you feel at all this might be a problem, the first thing you should do is to scoop every day and change litter more often than previously. A cat may also develop an aversion to its litter box simply because it is not accessible enough. Some cats either can't or don't want to spend a lot of time trying to find their litter box. Therefore, if you place the litter box in an accessible location, you take this obstacle away and make it easier for the cat to use. Another problem is that the cat may not like the spot you've designated for the litter box. Simply moving it may help this simple accessibility problem.
If your cat is under stress, he or she may urinate outside the litter box.

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LitterBox Strategies For Disabled Cats

Cats that are blind, partially paralyzed, have a missing limb, or very old can develop litter box problems that affect you as well as them. Owning one of these special kitties is challenging, but you can develop solutions to work around cat litter box issues.
This article will touch upon some of the cat litter box issues and corresponding solutions you can implement for your blind, paralyzed, amputee, or very old cat.
Blind cats:
If you have owned kitty for a long time and her vision fades, it is critical that you keep her surroundings as static as possible. She will continue to navigate her way around by memory, and it's vitally important that her cat litter boxes remain fixed in her memory. This doesn't mean there won't be accidents, but you can eliminate the possibility by maintaining her cat litter box location.
You can also develop a system where you keep her confined to a room with her food, water, litter box, and toys when you're out of your home. This way, she's in familiar surroundings with all her essentials. If she does have an out of litter box experience, it's confined to one room.

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Useful Advice For Cats:
How To Care For Your Human

For us cats there are several sweet advantages in having a human as a pet. However, remember you are taking on a big responsibility when you adopt one or more humans. Humans are demanding pets that need daily care and attention.
With responsibility come both advantages and disadvantages. If you adopt a human, you must get used to spending time at home. Your human does not deal well with being left alone - they will get into all sorts of mischief. For example, if you are gone just two or three days you run the risk of seeing posters put up all over the neighborhood. Your human will put out an APB on you ! Often with an embarrassing text that reveals all sorts of personal details - and usually accompanied by an unflattering photo of you - with morning fur and crumpled whiskers. Exactly the kind of thing that attracts ridicule from all the neighbor cats.
So please consider carefully if you are ready for a life with humans. In addition, remember humans generally grow very old, so there is a big chance that you will spend the rest of your life with your human.

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