Know The Different Types Of Cat Breeds Before Selecting

The population of cats is the United States alone is unbelievable.Almost all the experts will tell you that you should not breed your cat and instead get it spayed.  No matter what experts have to say, a lot of people want to have a litter of kittens from their cat.There are some things that you should consider, before you make up your mind to breed your cat.

The very first thing you should keep in mind that breeding cats is a time taking process.  For the next two months after the litter is born, you’ll need to clean the area on a daily basis.  You’ll also need to watch over the kittens as well, and keep a close eye on how they are developing.  If you plan to breed a litter of cats, you won’t have time for much of anything else.

Breeding cats will also require a good degree of space as well.You should not try breeding a cat, if your apartment is small.  You should also make sure that your family agrees with the idea, as it isn’t good for the kittens if you keep them locked up.  Keep in mind that kittens like to see things; they’ll end up going all over your home as well. 

Breeding cats also requires a degree of responsibility as well.  You should always have a plan of approach, including homes for the kittens to go that you aren’t planning to keep.  Keep in mind that things can change, someone who wanted a cat may change his mind once the litter is born.  In this event, you must decide whether or not you can keep a kitten that doesn’t have a home.

Breeding also requires some education as well.  You should be prepared for any problems along the way, as well as what takes place during birth.  From cutting umbilical cords to delivering early, you’ll need to be well prepared.You should have the proper supplies too, and also know how handle the situation in the event of a c-section.  You’ll also need to know what to feed pregnant cats, as their diets are very important if you are breeding.

Breeding will have it's economical impact also, with kittens costing a lot of money than you ever thought.  The food isn’t the only thing that’s expensive, as the vet bills can also get expensive.  Even though you may go through the entire pregnancy without going to the vet, you’ll still need de-worming and vaccination medicines as well.

In short, there is a lot to think about where breeding is concerned. If you have your mind set on it and you want to breed, you should be sure that you have the proper knowledge and everything you need before hand.  You should always be ready to handle anything associated with breeding – and prepare yourself for the worst possible scenario.

Things To Know About Abused Cats

Cats which have been ill-treated can easily be identified with damaged and maimed  exteriors.  Some may appear to be in perfect shape on the outside, although all of the damage they sustained may be internal or emotional.  Even though physical damage is bad, emotional damage is much tougher to fix.Cats who have been ill-treated physically will still respond to a soft voice and soft touch, as long as they are under the impression that the bad situation has ended.

When you have a cat that has been emotionally abused, you’ll need to wait until the cat comes to you.  You’ll need to use patience, as the cat will be confused and not know if you plan to hurt him or not.  If you take your time and let him know that you are nothing to fear, he will eventually come to you.  When he starts to come to you, you can let him sniff you and pet him.  After a while, he will learn that he can trust you and he will come to you when you call him.

Raising your voice, yelling, or using disciplinary tools like water guns or flyswatters on them can bring about emotional damage to your cat.  If you continue to use the wrong means of discipline on an emotionally damaged cat, the cat can become mean or lethargic.  When a cat turns mean, it’s not always a bad thing.  Meaner cats are easier to reach, as they still care a bit about what happens to them – while lethargic cats could really care less.

Cats that have become lethargic won’t play, take treats, or respond to anything you say to them.  With a lethargic cat, the ideal way to get him to respond is to bring in a companion cat.  Over time, a lethargic cat will eventually look for attention, normally a scratch or a pat.When it happens, you should always snuggle and use a soft voice to him.  Never raise your voice at this point, and make sure you let the cat know that his behavior is a lot better.

You should make slow movements around a lethargic cat, as he is still quite traumatic.  Once he is coming around and letting you touch him again, he is getting back to his normal self.  Keep in mind that it may take some time, which is to be expected with this type of situation.  If your cat starts to get upset again or if you raise your voice, he will hide again.Ultimately your cat will get past this, if you have patience and continue to use soft voice to him.  If you get a cat that is lethargic, you should prepare yourself for a long and very intensive healing period.

Angry or mean cats on the other hand, will either fight and scratch with you, or simply run away from you.  With mean cats, the best thing to do is use gentle treatment with a soft voice.  You can never try to raise your voice or use strict discipline, as it will only make the cat meaner.Never make an attempt for trapping a cat, because trapping will only make the him react adversely.  If you take your time and let the cat know that you are there for him, he will eventually calm down. 

Abused cats are truly a sad thing, although they are out there.  Abused cats can be a sad thing to see indeed, especially those that were physically abused.  Abused cats need a loving home and a loving owner who will give them the type of lifestyle they deserve.Keep in mind always that if you are handling an ill-treated cat - you should always be humble as possible as you can.

The Cruelty Of Claw Removal

Cats use their claws for various purposes.  The claws are important to cats, as they are an essential part of balancing.  If you’ve ever noticed a cat jumping and latching on to a high object, you’ve probably noticed that he uses his claws to pull himself up.  When climbing trees, cats tend to use their claws to latch onto the bark and climb towards their destination.

Cats also use their claws for stretching, walking, and running as well.Cat's primary source of defense against any human or a hostile animal is it's claw.  Most cats keep their claws extremely sharp, as their claws and teeth are basically their only weapons.The claws are also vital because cats use the claws to cover up litter after it has done it.

Cats also use their claws to scratch things, which mark their territory.  Their claws have glands, which contain a secretion.  When they leave their mark on something, the secretion is transferred to the area they scratched.  This is detectable to other cats although not to humans.  Sometimes, they will also scratch something to remove the older claw which will fall off and give them a brand new claw that resides underneath.

As sad as it is, a lot of pet owners choose to put their own possessions above their cat, such as their expensive furniture or carpets.  These cat owners are afraid that they cat will ruin their furniture or carpet, and therefore will choose to get their cat de-clawed.A veterinarian can only remove the cat’s claws appropriately as it is a well defined surgical procedure.  The owner will need a good reason though, as a vet won’t do the surgery just to keep one’s furniture or carpet protected.

If you’ve been thinking of getting your cat de-clawed, you should know that the process can totally change his personality.  Once the cat is de-clawed, he will be in pain and confused.  He may not be able to jump in the window or on the couch, and he may not be able to play like he once did.After getting de-clawed, quite a few cats, turn hostile and often bite with it's teeth.  To make a long story short, the cat will be completely miserable – which is a tough thing to bear for those who love their cats.

Those who decide to own cats should know that a cat can scratch on occasion. If someone isn’t prepared to deal with that fact, they shouldn’t own a cat in the first place.  Cats are great pets, although they do have claws and they will use them on occasion.  There are plenty of other great pets out there, if you aren’t up for handling a cat.  If you’re just worried about your furniture or carpet, there are ways that you can keep your cat from scratching on your belongings.

The first thing to do is to get your cat a scratching post and let him know where it is and how to use it.  You can also get a rush mat as well, which will help your cat with his instincts to scratch.Even though your cat should pick it up quickly,  you may have to give demonstration how to use the post or the mat initially.  Once you have shown him the ropes, he will scratch on the post or the mat – and not your furniture or your carpet.

Although many don’t realize it, there are other ways to protect your things other than getting your cat de-clawed.  Getting a cat’s claws removed is very painful and confusing to the cat, and may totally change his outlook on things.Before making the decision to take the inhumane path of subjecting your cat to de-clawing process , you should also go for other options which are available- your cat might love these options far more than loosing it's claws.

Knowing About Cat Whisperers

A cat whisper is somewhat similar to a dog or horse whisperer, although cat whisperers relate quite well with cats.  These types of people are unusually lucky and very successfully with cats.  In most cases, a cat will be abandoned or just show up at someone’s door.  In this event, the cat will adopt this individual as the cat whisperer.

Often times, alley cats and black cats will show up at someone’s door and decide to move into their homes.  This can be a result of abandonment, or the cat’s family moving away and simply leaving the cat behind.  Sometimes, the cat may decide that he likes someone else’s home better and decide to move there instead of staying with his owner.

A lot of people will tell you that a cat whisperer can be thought of as a therapist for cats.  Almost all cat whisperers haven’t have any type of training, what they know just seems to come to them naturally.  These types of people understand the way a cat thinks and knows how to work with the cat to achieve the results they want.  Even though many think of a cat whisperer as a therapist, it actually couldn’t be further from the truth.

Cats who have been abused or mistreated, often times won’t respond to anyone but a cat whisperer.  Although others may have tried to help the cat, it will only make matters worse by making the cat feel scared and afraid.  In most cases, these cats will end up in a pound.  This is very tragic, as the cats have already endured more than they ever should have.  A majority of the cats who have been abused were once loved pets.  Along the way, they were abandoned, mistreated, attacked by dogs, and in some cases tortured.

Cats who have been treated unfairly often times won’t trust anyone. They are often times confused, in a lot of pain, and not sure what they should do.  Like humans, cats feel pain.Those who have been abused physically are a sad sight indeed.  Emotionally damaged cats may appear to be in perfect health on the outside, although their emotions are a wreck.  Emotionally abused cats are much harder to get through to, especially if they were stray cats to begin with.

On the other hand cat whisperers, are able to communicate with physically as well as emotionally ill-treated cats.  Cats know who they will choose to be their cat whisperer, which is normally an individual they sense trust with.  Cat whisperers are common with cats, although most people have never heard of them before.  Even though a cat whisperer may be able to communicate better with cats, it will still take time to heal a cat that has been abused.

Selecting a Cat breed

If you are going to get your first cat or even if you had some in the past, you are likely to get surprised by the breed options available to you. With all of cat breeds out there to choose from how can you be sure that you are getting the right one for you and your family. There are three steps to consider when selecting your cat breed to make sure you are getting a cat that will match with your household.

Noisy Or Quiet?

The first step to considering a cat breed is whether you want one that is vocal or one that will be quiet most of the time. There are some cat breeds that are extremely vocal so you should consider if you can handle this before getting one of these cats. Even if you feel that you can handle a vocal cat you should consider your situation, if you live in an apartment then perhaps your neighbors wouldn’t be so happy with you getting a cat that is extremely vocal.

If you prefer a vocal cat then probably you should go for the following breeds: the Korkat, the Siamese or the Burmese.  For those who are looking for a quieter cat breed you should consider one of the following: the Scottish Fold, Somali or the American Curl.

Distant Or Friendly?

The next thing to ponder while selecting a cat breed is the attitude of the cat. There are some cat breeds that thrive on human contact while others would prefer to have nothing to do with their human counterparts except for food. For those who don’t have a lot of time to spend cuddling their cat then perhaps a more independent cat breed would be a better choice .However, for those who are looking for a good family cat then perhaps an affectionate cat breed would be the better option.

If you are looking for a cat that will cuddle then you should consider the following: the Snowshoes, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Tonkinese and the Himalayan Persian. For those who want a more independent cat you should consider the following breeds: the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Nebelung and the Russian Shorthair. Or perhaps you want a cat that is a bit of both and will spend the hours in between your cuddling entertaining themselves. These breeds would be the Sphynx, Siamese, Rex, Balinese and British Angora.

Long Or Short Hair?

This choice can be almost as important as selecting temperament. A short haired cat breed is a good choice for those who may not be able to spend a lot of time caring for their cat. Long haired cats may be cute but you should always consider the amount of time that is involved in grooming them. If you don’t properly take care of a long haired cat coat then it can tangle quickly and may result in shaving the entire cat.

Furniture for Cats

While cat furniture may be designed for the specific needs of your cat, they still often prefer the human furniture. It can be a difficult process to find the right cat furniture that your pet will not only like, but will also use. Much of the cat furniture on the market today is designed to meet all feline needs including climbing, scratching, lounging and height-loving views.

The right furniture choice will provide your cat with lots of fun, challenge, joy and imagination. The biggest advantage of buying a cat furniture is that in all probabilities your cat might spare your own furniture from scratching. However, it can often be difficult making a decision on cat furniture since there are as many options for cats as there are for humans.

What You Should Consider

Since the cat furniture you purchase is going to be a playground for your cat you should make sure it has a variety of options for your cat. Cats often get bored with the same thing so it is best to have something that contains may play objects including toys that swing and dangle. The cat furniture should have lots of towers, platforms, ramps and stairs in addition to a few dark and small spaces where they can cuddle and get away from the hectic pace of the household.

But, your cat is not the only one to be considered while taking a final decision with respect to purchase. An important aspect is space consumption and cat furniture take an equal amount of space hence make sure if you can live with it for a long duration. Make sure it will fit in your living room and that you won’t be embarrassed when you have company come over for a visit.

If you are renting it is a good idea to choose a furniture piece that is easy to put together and take apart, so when you move you won’t have to carry out the big furniture as one. If you must get a furniture piece that can’t be taken apart then it should be lightweight yet sturdy enough that it won’t fall over when you cat jumps on it.

Features To Avoid

You should make sure your cat furniture won’t tip easily so that you cat can jump up onto it without trouble. You should also stay away from cat furniture that has objects that can be chewed off and swallowed. It can lead to development of intestinal blockage and consequent veterinary expenditure. The surface should be devoid of any slippery area in give your favorite cat ambient walking area.

Top 5 Famous Fish

Searching for fish online, here is a selection of the most Famous Fish that have featured in Hollywood films. 

1. "Sebastian"

From the film "The Little Mermaid," Sebastian is a lobster.

Lobsters like Sebastian tend to live in rocky and muddy waters submerged under a rock. Their diet consists of mollusks and the remains of dead animals, however they can also catch fish as well as consume algae.

2. "Dora"

Hailing from from the 2003 smash hit film "Finding Nemo" Nemo is a regal tang fish.  Regal tangs survive in warm tropical waters and eat a diet of live fish and vegetation. A real life regal can grow up to ten feet long.

3. "Flipper"

Is a bottle-nosed dolphin that featuresd in the highly successful series entitled, "Flipper". The series was later made into a film starring actor Paul Hogan better known as Mick Dundee.  Living in warm coastal waters these types of dolphins are noted for their playfulness, friendliness and intelligence. They live off a combination of fish and squid, and can live upto 25 years

4. "Keico"

Originating from Iceland "Willy" was the star of the "Free Willy" trilogy of movies. Weighing over six-tons, Willy was an orca whale which lived in various Aquariums across North America before returning home to his native Iceland. Orca whales have a varied diet ranging from fish, squid, seals other whales and even sharks!

5. "Nemo"

The main protagonist from the film "Finding Nemo" - Nemo is a clownfish.  They can also be known as a anemonefish, these creatures habitat is the warm waters of the South pacific. The anemone are, for some unexplained reason, friendly towards the clownfish and actually provide shelter and refuge.  Their bright colour and weak swimming skills make them an easy target for predators. They live on a staple diet of mysids and copepods but can grow over 5 inches long.