How To Show Your Cat You Love Her

Cats make wonderful pets, and although they are traditionally very independent animals, they can also be very affectionate. The best way of gaining her love is to first show her that you love her. This article aims to give you some tried and proven techniques.

These techniques tend to work best with young cats, but if your cat is older, don’t despair- it may just take longer, so be patient with her. Use caution at all times, and be prepared to try again another day if she backs away or shows signs of fear. Until she has become used to you, always let her approach you rather than force attention upon her.

Cats will greet each other by rubbing heads or noses; obviously you may not want to rub noses, but you can get her used to having your head near her. Pet her and wait until she is in a relaxed and happy state, and then gradually move your head nearer to her; there is no need to talk whilst you do this, although some people find it helps to make small purring noises. Get down to her level; if you are standing up, towering over her, she can find this threatening. Crouch down if needs be- don‘t loom over her as she will find this intimidating.

Some people like to nuzzle their cat, as this is how cats show affection to others. If you want to do this, start by gently breathing on her neck, and progress to gentle nuzzling movements round her head and neck. Exercise caution however, as she could nip you if startled.

Cats love to play, even older cats, so make time each day to play with her. They love small, light balls, feathers, or anything which can be dangled, but don’t let them play with string or rubber bands unsupervised as these can be swallowed.

Some cats like to be groomed, others hate it- be prepared to experiment. If your cat enjoys this, it can be a source of pleasure for both of you. Never force her into being groomed however, and be prepared to stop when she has had enough or this will cease to be a pleasurable experience for her.

Talk to her often; let her get used to the sound of your voice. Use soft, quiet tones. Some cats prefer high pitched sounds; again, don’t be afraid to experiment.

With a little time, the bond between you and your cat could be closer than ever.

How Long Will My Cat Live?

The answer to that depends upon several factors.

The care that you give your cat, the quality of the food that your cat eats the kind of lifestyle that your cat lives. All these things play their part in the chances of your cat enjoying a long life.

Veterinary medicine has made some great advances in recent years, and this is one of the reasons the average age of domestic cats is increasing. A well cared for cat that is kept indoors and is fed a good nutritional diet, would be expected to live for about 15 years.

Some cats do live to 20 plus years and there are records of a few cats reaching over 30 years. These sort of ages for a cat are very much the exception however.

The genetic make up of a cat can be a factor in determining its life span. Some breeds of cat appear to be more resilient than others. Selective breeding can have the effect that some breeds are genetically prone to ailments which shorten their life expectancy. Mixed breeds, the typical moggie or mouser, is usually more vigorous in its genetic make up and may expect to live slightly longer than a pure breed cat.

Cats that are kept strictly as indoor only cats stand a better chance of living to a ripe old age than cats that are allowed outside. The reasons for this are many. Outdoor cats face danger from traffic, from being attacked by other cats or by other animals. They run increased risk of being accidentally poisoned by pesticides or deliberately poisoned by malicious humans. Outdoor cats are also at risk from catching feline diseases particularly from the feral cat population.

The are many things to consider in deciding to keep your cat as an indoor only cat or an outdoor-indoor cat, life expectancy is only one of them.

Overfeeding your cat is a good way to shorten its life. An overfed cat stands more chance of health problems than a cat that is weight controlled. Diabetes, arthritis, breathing difficulties, heart and liver disease can all result as a consequence of overfeeding. All of these conditions may mean your little pet not living a long and healthy feline life. Your veterinarian can advise on the best diet for your cat.

Exercise too, is important for your cat’s health and in maintaining its weight. Healthy cats mostly exercise themselves of course, but the playtime you enjoy with your cat can contribute to keeping kitty healthy. Elderly cats particularly benefit from gentle play-exercise.

Regular visits to the vets for routine checks will give your cat the best chance to live a long life, and to live that life healthily. Many life shortening problems can be tackled successfully if detected early.

Neutered or spayed cats often enjoy a slightly longer life than unaltered felines. This is particularly so for male cats as an unaltered male will often receive injuries defending his territory. There are many other good reasons for spaying and neutering of course, aside from extending the life of your cat.

About The Author If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com Information about your favorite cat breed.

 

 

Cat Care Tips

Just like us, cats have needs, and their needs must be met if you decide to keep them as pets. As well as the basic needs, such as food, water and shelter, cats thrive on regular affection and play time.

What do cats need?

Cat food

Some cats can be very greedy so you have to watch their diet. Others will just eat the amount that they need. Kittens below the age of 12 weeks need 4 small meals a day, but once they reach 12 weeks you should gradually reduce the number of meals to 2 larger ones. Water must be freely available, but milk is not recommended as it can cause diarrhea. Feeding them with grass from time to time can help aid digestion.

Equipment

There are items you can provide for your cat that increase comfort. One of the most important things you have to provide is the litter tray. Cats may be clean animals, and some may choose to go to the toilet outside. Others will need to use a tray inside, especially if they are house cats.

A post to scratch is another thing that could be provided by the pet owner. This will prevent your cat from sharpening his claws on your furniture.

Cat grooming

Some cats need regular grooming, especially if they are long haired, to avoid knots and tangles. They usually find the act of grooming very pleasurable, and this can strengthen the bond between cats and their owners. Short-haired cats may nit require grooming, but you will need to check them regularly for fleas and other parasites. Regular flea treatment is recommended. You should also treat carpets and furnishings as fleas can drop off and live in your home.

A happy, healthy, well cared for cat is a joy to own, and will return your kindness ten fold.

Cats & Kidney Disease

Many people assume that an old sick cat automatically has kidney disease. This is incorrect, and my own cat (Prada’s predecessor!) Humpy was living proof of it. A young cat, Humpy developed the symptoms early, and the cause was probably an inferior diet in the 2 years before he took charge of me.

In case you aren’t sure why kidneys are important, they are basically the waste disposal systems of cat bodies. They eliminate toxins from the blood and also filter out waste products from the food your cat eats.

The higher quality the food your cat gets, the less work the kidneys have to do, and the less likely there will be problems. This is why I feed Prada nothing but the best. There are many symptoms to watch out for – they include constant scratching, tiredness, constant drinking and going to the kitty litter tray. Note that none of these symptoms is definitive – it could be something else, so don’t panic if your cat suddenly gets an itch!

The safest way to determine how well your cat’s kidneys are functioning is a BUN test (blood, urea, nitrogen concentration) together with a urine test, and only your vet can do this for you. Once a year is best because the earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to fix. But what’s better than fixing a problem? Preventing it! Here are my top tips for preventing kidney disease and keeping Prada fit as a fiddle.

1) Only feed your cat high biological value protein food. Twice daily is best.

2) A fat cat is an unfit cat. Exercise before food!

3) Give her dietary supplements – crushed garlic that contains potassium is good, as are B vitamins.

4) Plenty of fresh water. Change the water in the bowl regularly.

These tips are helping keep Prada fit and heathy – don’t you owe your cat the same? She’d look after YOU if things were reversed!

Please feel free to show your appreciation for my little essay by voting for Prada here – http://www.petmillions.com/vote.asp?vote=3140. If she wins, you can be sure plenty of winnings will find their way back to rescue cats!

About The Author Ms Jayne Marsham is the carer for Prada, a beautiful rescue cat entered in the petmillions Grand Prize Draw. You can vote for Prada at http://www.petmillions.com/vote.asp?vote=3140

 

 

Adopting A Cat

Cats are sweet and cuddly! It’s easy to get swept up in the emotion and buy a cat without thinking. But that’s not how it should be.

Whether or not to adopt a cat is by no means an easy decision. It carries with it huge responsibility. You will have to take care of a cat until its death, which could be in 15 to 20 years. In addition, you should be ready to spend a large amount of your time feeding the cat, grooming it, and playing with it on a daily basis.

Keep the following points in mind before deciding to adopt a cat:

1. Prior to bringing a cat home, it is essential to know if any member of your household is allergic to cats. Having to get rid of your new pet would be cruel.

2. Cats are social animals and need regular attention and care. They must not be left alone for extended periods, nor be handled roughly, as this will make them aggressive and nervous.

3. Cat care can take a financial toll. You must ensure that you have sufficient funds to take care of your cat’s food, toys, medication, and so on.

4. Decide whether you want to adopt a kitten or an adult cat. The only advantage of getting a kitten is that kittens are cute. On the other hand, an adult cat has a well defined personality. Moreover, adult cats are more likely to be litter-box trained and less likely to scratch every bit of furniture in your house.

5. Children and cats can prove to be a bad combination, especially if the child is very young. He or she may mistreat the cat (knowingly or unknowingly) and get a nasty bite in return.

6. A cat requires proper care and medical treatment. This includes annual check-ups, vaccines, and prescription medication for any health problems that could occur.

7. It does not really matter whether you get a female cat or male cat; both genders are equally affable. However, always have your cat spayed or neutered. This helps avoid the unhealthy effects of the mating season in female cats and curb aggression in males.

8. Cat adoption is the most humane way to get a cat, due to the large number of homeless felines. However, it helps to remember that sometimes cats from the animal shelter can be prone to stress. Moving a cat to a home environment allows it to relax and show its true personality. Cats are creatures of habit — they don’t like change. It may take them a month or more to adjust to your home.

Keeping these points in mind when choosing to adopt a cat can help you find the feline that is right for you. It’s a big decision, don’t leave it to chance!

About The AuthorChristopher Thomas contributes to several web sites, including http://biduv.com and http://famif.com.