4 Fun, Cheap Things to Do With Your Kitty (And How to Save Your Furniture in the Process!)

Author: Susan Roberts

Nothing is worse than a bored cat, particularly when they take that boredom out on, say, your new sofa. Keep kitty interested, and you'll keep your furniture and feet intact. Bonus points for doing it with things you have around the house!

1. Mirrors
Particularly fun if your cat has never seen its reflection, as cats tend to go nuts the first time they see a mirror. Lean a mirror on the wall or place it on the floor and watch the cat go nuts. If its hair rises on end when it looks at itself in the mirror, avoid touching it, since that's a good way to get your hand mauled!

2. Ping Pong Balls
If you have a hard floor (not carpet, it doesn't work quite as well) bounce a ping pong ball on the floor. The noise instantly attracts cats, and they're fascinated with them. Make sure to pick up the ping pong ball afterwards, or you'll be woken up at three in the morning to the sound of ping pong balls bouncing around your house.

3. Empty Boxes
Working from home, I get a lot of packages in the mail. I discovered that if you leave a box open on the ground, cats like to sit in or on the box. Any sort of carton works great for this, especially those with hand holes on the sides for them to look out of.

4. Shoelaces, String, Yarn
Pretty much a staple of cat toys. Drag the shoelace on the ground, and cats will chase after it. Hold the shoelace in the air, and watch the cat jump and try to catch it!

About the Author:

There are plenty of other ways you can keep your cats happy and well trained. Ultimate cat secrets is one of the most informative guides I've ever read on connecting with your cat and making your relationship with kitty a wonderfully happy one!


4 fun things to do with your kitty

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - 4 Fun, Cheap Things to Do With Your Kitty (And How to Save Your Furniture in the Process!)

Human Training For Your Maine Coon Cat

Author: Jonathan Charles

Having a pet gives you lots of opportunities to talk with other pet owners on the subject of training, but when you own a Maine Coon Cat, everything is turned on its head. The talk is not about training your pet but actually it's about training you.



The first thing you'll notice is that your maine takes careful note of your sleeping habits, when you go to bed and when you wake up, and if you try to deviate from these times your cat just will not put up with it. You will be told in no uncertain terms what you're sleeping and waking times are and you must keep to these times or else...



You will soon discover that your Maine is a creature of habit and that he likes his breakfast and lunch and dinner at the same time each day, and you can be sure that he knows exactly where the food cupboard is. It will soon become clear to you that the best thing to do is to keep to a set schedule and stick with it day by day.



Your cat will never tire of making sure that you do exactly what you are supposed to do and this means that he will be checking up on all of your duties both in the house and indeed outside the house. Friends will be vetted and even you will be checked to make sure that you have washed and dressed properly.




You will need to develop the habit of going on regular walks with your cat but please make sure that you know how to use the lease and harness correctly so that you can have an enjoyable and safe walk.



We have spoken a bit about training and much of this will be learned as you go along and as you get to know your cat more and more. A lot of it is just plain common sense for instance make sure you don't leave easy access to your toilet paper otherwise you may find the toilet paper is not just in the bathroom but in the rest of the house as well. Just common sense really.



Space is something that is vital for your Maine Coon cat. Whether you're sitting down relaxing in front of the television or whether you're attending to some household chore your Maine Coon will want to be with you and so you must ensure that there is sufficient space for him or her to join you. You just need to remember that although you may think you own a Maine Coon, they actually own you!



Finally just to say that Maine Coon Cats are a very unique breed of cat, unlike any other domestic cat. If you already own one you will know that to be true.



Unlike most other cat breeds, the Maine Coon is a highly sociable cat, and in many ways similar in sociability to a dog.




And so keeping your Maine Coon Cat happy and contented requires much more than simply keeping it fed and watered. They need lots of love and attention from you as well, and you need to be prepared to give this if you want a happy, well balanced cat.

About the Author:
Before you go anywhere else make sure you read about John's book on Maine Coon Cats

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/human-training-for-your-maine-coon-cat-759686.html

Incontinence in Cats or Inappropriate Urination? How You Can Tell the Difference

Author: Darlene Norris

Has this ever happened to you? You're noticing that your cat is urinating in places other than his litter box. People automatically assume that inappropriate urination in cats is because of a behavior issue, or it's because their cat is getting older.

However there could be a medical problem causing incontinence in cats to be a problem for your feline friend. A trip to the vet is always in order for a cat who suddenly starts showing signs of feline incontinence.

Feline Incontinence Versus Inappropriate Urination

An incontinent cat has no control over his bladder at all. He may urinate when he's lying down, or sleeping, or even dribble as he walks around. The usual cause is a weak sphincter muscle. This is not a very common condition in cats, although it's sometimes seen in spayed females who are somewhat overweight.

Incontinence in cats may also be a symptom of feline diabetes. Diabetes causes your cat to be extremely thirsty. If he's drinking lots more water, he may not always make it to the litter box in time.

If your cat is incontinent when he's resting, you should have him checked for feline leukemia. Both male and female cats who are positive for this virus are sometimes incontinent.

While inappropriate urination is sometimes a behavior problem, it can be a result of feline lower urinary tract disease.


Feline Cystitis Is The Most Common Reason For Urination Outside The Litter Box

A cat with a feline bladder infection has an inflammation of his bladder. This causes him to need to empty his bladder frequently. If you use clumping cat litter, you should see a few big clumps of urine when you scoop it. If you find many small clumps, this is a sign of cat urinary problems.

Other symptoms include crying out in pain as he tries to use the litter box. You may see him crouching over, straining to pass urine. Many cat owners mistake this for constipation, which can be a fatal mistake if he has a urinary blockage. A blocked cat is a veterinary emergency. Your cat will die within a day or two if he's completely blocked.

What Your Vet Needs To Know

Your vet will ask the following questions:

• Has your cat been under a lot of stress lately? Have you moved, or added a new person or pet to the household? Have you changed his diet?




• Where is your cat urinating? In a corner? On your bed? Where he sleeps?




• Is he drinking more water than he usually does?




• Is he dribbling urine or is he just urinating more often than usual?




• Does he have blood in his urine?




• Has your cat ever been injured?

Your vet will check your cat for a urinary blockage that could be caused by cat bladder stones.

Treatment For Feline Cystitis

Antibiotics are usually prescribed to clear up any infection. What you need to do at home is to increase the amount of water your cat is taking in. The easiest way to do this is to switch him over to canned food, which has a much higher moisture level than dry. It's been found that the key to preventing feline bladder infections is to increase the amount of liquid going through your cat.

You may also want to consider a natural remedy for feline urinary support. Look for one that contains both herbal and homeopathic remedies that support bladder health in animals. Uva ursi and barberry, along with Cantharis and Staphysagria have stood the test of time in humans, and they can be very effective for cats, too.

Your next step? To take what you've just learned and determine what's causing feline incontinence in your furball.

About the Author:

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health. Learn more about solving the problem of incontinence in cats, and find feline urinary support information at http://NaturalPetUrinaryHealth.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/incontinence-in-cats-or-inappropriate-urination-how-you-can-tell-the-difference-751439.html

What is Kennel Cough and what are the symptoms?
Kennel cough is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection that often affects animals that are kept in a confined space such as boarding kennels, dog shows or veterinary hospitals.

Symptoms include a persistent dry hacking cough or bouts of deep harsh coughing often followed by gagging, which may produce a foamy mucus.

What is the conventional treatment?
Mild cases may improve without treatment. Conventional treatment of kennel cough often involves antibiotics which tend to relieve the animal's symptoms fairly quickly, but also have a general weakening effect on their immune system, which can cause further problems, especially in the long-term.

Vaccinations to prevent kennel cough are also often recommended. But research indicates that frequent vaccination or over-vaccination may unnecessarily stress a pet's immune system.

How can natural remedies help?
As part of a holistic approach to treating your pet, natural remedies can help to build and strengthen your pet's immune system, encourage the elimination of toxins and generally improve the overall health of your animal.

Natural remedies can also help to relieve specific symptoms such as upper respiratory infections and coughs without the accompanying toxin build-up caused by conventional treatments.

What is PetAlive KC-Defense?
KC-Defense combines herbal and homeopathic ingredients with selected biochemic tissue salts for the treatment and prevention of Kennel Cough and other respiratory tract infections in pets.

It may be used preventatively (especially before visits to the vet, kennels, cattery etc) or acutely to treat an active infection.

What are the ingredients of KC-Defense?
PetAlive KC-Defense contains the following 100% herbal and homeopathic ingredients:

Plantago lanceolata: is an herbal remedy well known for treating dry coughs. It is also an effective expectorant and anti-catarrhal and helps to expel mucus build up in the lungs. This medicinal herb is also approved by the German Commission E for internal use to ease coughs and mucous membrane irritation associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Clinical studies have supported its effectiveness in the treatment of bronchitis.

Bryonia (C6): is a proven homeopathic remedy which is very effective for the treatment of coughs and dry mucus membranes, as well as the clearing of mucus from the chest.

Echinacea purpurea: is one of the top selling herbs for the treatment of colds, flu and other viral infections. Clinical trials have proved its effectiveness in a variety of settings. Studies have shown that Echinacea works by preventing the formation of hyaluronidase - an enzyme that is known to break the cell barriers between healthy tissue and pathogenic organisms like viruses. This immune boosting herb has also been successfully used to restore immune functioning in patients who have undergone chemotherapy and during recovery and convalescence from major illness.

Ferrum Phosphate (C6) (Ferrum Phos.): is one of the most important biochemic tissue salts to use when there is any infection or inflammation in the body. It helps to distribute iron and oxygen throughout the body, strengthen cell walls and fight infection

Kalium Sulphate (C6) (Kali. Sulph.): This biochemic tissue salt is essential for distributing life giving oxygen throughout the body and keeping cell membranes in peak health. It is often called the 'natural antibiotic' of the tissue salts and together with Ferrum Phos. can treat both the initial, secondary and third stages of infection. Kali. Sulph. is used for a variety of chest infections, including chronic cough, asthma, bronchitis and even pneumonia.

Magnesium Phosphate (C6) (Mag. Phos.): is a natural painkiller and antispasmodic and is very helpful for bronchial spasms and other forms of spasmodic cough.

Lactose: (inactive ingredient)

(PetAlive KC-Defense contains no gluten, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives)

How has PetAlive KC-Defense helped others?
"I can recommend the KC-Defense as an effective remedy to help with kennel cough. It has worked for our dog very quickly and I thank you!" - WLG

"After successfully treating my Afghan with KC-Defense, I will not send her to the kennels without it! At least I can be confident that she is protected as her system is very sensitive and she easily picks up infections from other dogs. This product is great! Once again I have been very impressed by your service and your products!" - Brent

"We adopted our baby Boxer from a pet store where she had contracted kennel cough, and was still not doing okay after a plethora of antibiotics for over a month! When she got home we continued her antibiotics, and she still was not recovering at any noticeable rate. But once I took her off the antibiotics, and switched to your KC-Defense, in combination with the Immunity & Liver Support, she was noticeably better in 1-2 days! Thank you PetAlive! And just say NO to antibiotics--they actually weakend the immune system!" - Sharon, MD, USA

"We rescued a very sick 9 week old male pom. He was very weak and had kennel cough, with signs of pneumonia, and underfed. After literally weeks of treatment with antibiotics and other strong meds, Cujo was still racked with a bad cough and phlegm discharge. The vet was ready to send him to A&M for help. We decided to just give KC-Defense a try. Within just two days we saw immediate results. Now at 3 weeks, all symptoms cleared up. THANK YOU!! He is now a robust little guy that is so much fun." - Patricia, TX, USA

"KC-Defense is incredible! When we adopted a puppy from the pound, we didnt know she had kennel cough, or that she would pass it to our 7 year old dashund mix. I gave them both hourly doses of KC-Defense, and by the 3rd dose the terrible, hacking cough had disappeared! By the end of day one, they both looked happier, and no more sneezing! I will definitely recommend this to my friends." - Becky M., CA, USA

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How do we use KC-Defense?
DIRECTIONS:

KC-Defense comes in convenient dissolvable granule form. The tiny granules are easy to administer to pets of all sizes and personalities and are simply sprinkled on the back of the tongue and left to dissolve. No fuss and bother!

Cats and very small dogs: Large pinch of granules sprinkled into the mouth.
Small to medium dogs: Two pinches sprinkled into the mouth.
Medium to large dogs: 1/4 cap of granules sprinkled into the mouth.

Preventative: KC-Defense may be given for up to a week at 3 - 6 month intervals for the prevention of Kennel Cough and other respiratory disorders. This is highly recommended before a stay in kennels or a cattery or for 5 - 7 days before a visit to the vet. Respiratory infections are contagious and your pet will be vulnerable whenever there is contact with other animals.

Acute: Administer every hour for up to 10 doses or until symptoms subside. Thereafter administer three times daily for 14 -21 days.

How long until we see results?
When KC-Defense is taken prophylactically (preventatively) your pet will be protected from respiratory infections. If an infection should occur, this will be much milder and will resolve far easier.

For animals who have contracted Kennel Cough or any other viral respiratory illness, KC-Defense should help to clear symptoms quickly and improvement is usually noted within one or two days.

Treatment should be continued for 14 - 21 days after this to prevent relapse.

How long does one bottle last?
One bottle of KC-Defense will last for 15 - 30 days, depending on the size and needs of your pet.

A 45-90 day supply of 3 bottles is offered at a discount see the Buy 2 Get 1 FREE special below.

What else can I do to help my pet?
Ensure your pet is eating a balanced, high quality diet with plenty of raw and unprocessed food (preferably organic).
Use Immunity and Liver Support capsules to boost your pet's immune functioning and resistance against disease and infection
Avoid exposure to toxins and chemicals as much as possible including pesticides, herbicides, commercial flea collars, flea powder, insecticides and second-hand cigarette smoke.
If going to boarding kennels causes your pet undue stress, consider investigating other options. Stress can weaken your pet's immune system and make him more susceptible to infection.
Talk to a holistic vet before immunizing your pet. Over-vaccination may stress the immune system unnecessarily.
Regular exercise will help to keep your pet's immune system in tiptop form.
Small doses of ready-made herbal cough mixtures may ease your pet's cough.

Cat Diabetes-And How You Should Treat It

If your cat has diabetes then cat care is important to your pets health. You will need to take the appropriate steps to make sure your pet can lead a normal life. It is unfortunate that pet cats have there own form of diabetes. It is important as a pet owner you learn how this will affect your pet and how you can help your cat lead a normal healthy life.


There are two types of cat diabetes, that could affect you pet. The first type is caused by the lack of production of insulin, while the second type is the inability of the cats body to process insulin as it should do. just like in humans, diabetes can affect a cat at any age. But it normally appears in a pet in its later years.

Your cat will start to display symptoms that will tell you there is something wrong. These symptoms are very similar to the one in humans, You would start to notice your cat would require more fluid and would also urinate more. Because of your pets inability to process any glucose, then you will start to notice some weight loss.

Other symptoms you may see your cat are vomiting, loss of appetite and general weakness. Diabetic cats also start to have poor skin and coat condition, as well as breathing problems

If your pet cat starts to display the above symptoms, it would be very wise of you to take your pet to your local vet. This way you can have your cat tested for sugar levels in there blood as well as in their urine. it is better to have both tests done, because any cat that feels under any form of stress, will show a spike in there blood sugar levels. By having both tests done, you will be able to confirm if your pet cat really has diabetes.

There is no cure for your cats diabetes as of yet. There diabetes can be controlled through a various means, and for cats it is done by diet and weight control. Giving your pet a diet high in fiber and carbohydrates would be ideal for diabetic cats, especially if they are over weight.

By using this type of diet, you will control your cats weight and blood sugar levels. There are also some oral medications available that your trusted vet may recommend. These should help to maintain a suitable blood sugar level.

Owners of diabetic cats, also will need to monitor their pets glucose and insulin levels. This is for those pet owners who will have to give there cats insulin injections for their diabetes. But be warned, you need to be carful to avoid giving an overdose of insulin as this will be fatal to your pet.

Cat care and diabetes should always go together, this will ensure that your pet can lead a normal healthy life. If you provide the right care for diabetic cats, then you will still have many happy years to come with your pet.

For further Free information on Cat Care try visiting Caring For Your Cat….

Cat Eye Care-Why It Is Important?

Cats eyes have often been used in horror films. But as a pet owner, you will know that the cats stare is really the complete opposite of what is portrayed in films. That is why cat eye care, is so very important for you to know.

How do cats say I love you? well this is through their eyes, of course. This is why you should never be frightened by there gaze. So how does this work? First of all, the cat stares at you for a long time. And after that, it blinks its eyes slowly. Some people call this the cats kiss. But you should also know that this is your cats way of showing you that it loves you.

But how do you return the favor? This is easy, all you need to do is follow your cats lead. Stare at it for a long time and then slowly blink your eyes. See? Cats eyes have also be used for romantic films as well.

Do not believe the horror films you see. Cats do not and never have had a third eye. Their eye sight is really far better than a humans. Instead of a third eye, what cats have is a third eyelid. This is called a nictitating membrane.

This inner eyelid protects the eyes of the cat from harm and also from dryness. You will always notice that when a cat is sick, this membrane will be some what closed. This should always alarm enough for you to call your vet or get your cat to them fast as possible.

But this third eyelid will also show once a cat is happy. So you will know what kind of mood your cat is in just by looking at the membrane.

You should always observe the pupil of your feline friend. A change in size of one of the pupils can often be an indication of an inflammation. It can also be a sign of a kind of a neurologic, disorder, this is called Horner’s Syndrome. Or worse, it can also indicate tumors or injuries in the central nervous system.

Never believe what others say that cats are color blind. They do see some colors. They may not see them as clear as human do, but its not true that they cannot see any colors at all.

Cats can also see clearly over long distances. There vision is very different from peoples. There vision will blurry if they are looking at objects that are very close to them.

Yes it is true, cats do have the nocturnal vision. But they can not see in complete darkness. Do you see the muscles on their iris that surround the pupils of their eyes? They are constructed in a way that it narrows into a vertical split when they are exposed in the bright lights. And it opens fully when they are in a quite dim light.


This feature of the cat may be traced back to their roots. They can use this feature to hunt for food during the night, that is if they were left out in the jungle or left with no one to care for them.

So you must forget about the horror movies that you have seen. Now it is time to put some effort into your cats eye care. Never let a minor ailments worsen. Always call your vet immediately when you think there is something not right or amiss. You do not want your cat to lose their sight or even worse lose their lives. Just remember it is always better to be safe than blind.

For further Free information on Cat Care try visiting Caring For Your Cat….

What Is Feliway Spray?

While Feliway sounds like something to get rid of felines, it is in truth a pheromone scent created to prevent felines from inappropriate unrination. When your cat decides to pee outside the litter pan, you do have a issue, since cat pee is one of the highly awful pet odors. Feliway uses the facial pheromones to prevent litter box issues, but also Feliway Spray has a pronounced relaxing effect for calming anxious felines.

How Does Feliway Work?
Feliway Spray is consists of the cat Pheromones combined with an ethanol spray. These exact same facial pheromones are used constantly by all cats in order to demonstrate their territory. Other felines in the area can sense such pheromones from a distance and find out about claimed territory. Felines won’t to urinate to claim territory when it’s already been marked, so this will prevent inappropriate urination. Kitties place these pheromones onto objects by rubbing their cheek or foot pads against them. If you’ve ever had your cat rub their chin against you, now you know specifically what was really happening. When people say their moggies own them, that’s exactly the case. Feliway essentially duplicates this effect.


What Will Feliway Fix?
Urinating outside the litter pan
Spray marking of territory by non-spayed/neutered pets
Helps calm those who are stressed out
Can stop constant disagreements
Helping bring in cats to new places
Common view by pleased people who tried it on the net are that it’s a incredible product. Keep in mind however that these inappropriate urination can come about from disease, so you recognize that Feliway for cats isn’t a wonder solution though it should prevent the symptoms. Pets can behave like aliens sometimes that we may not grasp how to correct, but it’s a risk-free bet that Feliway will help.