Archive forJune, 2009

Cat Care And Your Longevity



Research suggests that spending time providing cat care may actually increase both your life span, and your quality of life. Scientific studies have shown that the relaxation and happiness that come from spending time with a domestic animal like a cat or a dog have numerous health benefits. Cat care that involves directly interacting with your pet may help you make your life longer and happier.

The research done on the correlation between spending time with a pet and having better than average health is conclusive. A study conducted at Brooklyn College in New York followed a number of heart disease sufferers after they were discharged from the hospital. The single social factor that was shown to be the strongest predictor of survival was pet ownership. Other studies have proved that citizens who put time into dog care or cat care visited their general practitioners less frequently than non pet-owners, and were less likely to require prescription drugs. Because of the mental stimulation and positive emotions associated with spending time with a pet, treatment centers and retirement homes across the nation are encouraging people to bring pets to visit residents who are in recovery. This suggests that even short term exposure to a cat or dog can have positive health benefits. If this is the case, just imagine what spending time with a cat every day can do for your body and your mind!

Some experts theorize that the reason why engaging in hands on cat care can both increase your life span and improve your health has to do with the simple fact that cat care offers you stability. Cat care is a daily activity that requires you to spend at least a little bit of time each day sharing love and affection with another living being. This gives your day a little bit of structure that can help you stay calm and focused no matter what life throws at you. Cat care is a regular, steady routine that can help you stay motivated and focused on making progress in all arenas of your life.

Daily cat care can help you feel positive and confident, two traits which research suggest can greatly improve your chances of beating a disease or making a speedy recovery from a medical procedure. Offering your pet ideal cat care is a boon to your health because it makes you feel like a great person every single day. The love your cat shows you when you provide top shelf cat care can help you shake off negative feelings and emotions like sadness or anger. Cat care can help you manage stress and keep an upbeat attitude.

What all of this research adds up to is that cat care is great for your health. Making cat care a part of your routine can help you take a positive, enjoyable step towards a healthier lifestyle in the present and the future. The better cat care that you can provide for your pet, the more affection and happiness your pet can offer you in return. Think of great cat care as a way to say thank you to your cat for the health benefits that it offers you.


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New Kitten Care – How to Kitten-proof Your Home



A very important aspect of new kitten care is keeping your kitten safe from danger. There are a lot of potential hazards round the home for little kittens. This article lists the most common ones and suggests ways you can minimize risks to your kitten and keep her safe.

Washing machine and tumble dryer:

If you leave the door open and there are clothes inside, there’s a good chance your kitten will climb in and go to sleep. Always check your kitten isn’t inside these before you use them.

Fridge and freezer:

As soon as you’ve used these, shut the door.

Hob and oven:

Shut the oven door as soon as you’ve finished with it. Cover hot hob plates.

Raw meat:

Keep it out of reach – it can give your kitten food poisoning.

Garbage:

Put all garbage in a sealed bin that your kitten can’t access.

Plants:

Many plants are poisonous to cats. If you’re not sure whether a certain plant is safe for your kitten if she eats it, put it out of her reach.

Pot pourri:

The oils used to scent this can be poisonous.

Open fires and candles:

Use a guard on the fire. Never leave a kitten in a room alone with lit candles.

Electrical wires:

If your kitten is a wire chewer, you’ll need to put wires out of her reach or buy plastic covers for them.

Curtain tie-backs and cords on window blinds:

Kittens can get caught in these. Either remove them completely or tie them up out of reach.

Filled bathtubs and sinks:

Make sure your kitten doesn’t have access to the room when the tub or sink is full.

Open toilet:

Try to get into the habit of keeping the lid down when the toilet’s not in use.

Medications:

Keep them in a cupboard that your kitten can’t get into.

Small objects:

Kittens can swallow small things like paper clips, rubber bands, staples and needles.

String, wool, fishing line and thread:

Kittens can swallow large quantities of these. For this reason, balls of wool or string and pom-poms aren’t good toys for cats.

Household chemicals:

Most cleaners etc. are highly poisonous to cats and need to be kept somewhere your kitten can’t access.

Tobacco:

Tobacco, nicotine patches and nicotine gum are all poisonous to cats.

Reclining chairs, futons, folding beds, drawers:

If kittens get caught when this type of furniture is moved, they can get crushed. Make sure your kitten isn’t asleep somewhere she could get trapped before you use any of these.

Safety is a major factor for new kitten care. It’s fairly easy to keep your kitten safe as long as you anticipate potential dangers and take the necessary steps to prevent them. Putting brightly colored post it notes up around your home is a good way to do this. Stick the notes on or near potential dangers – for example the fridge, washing machine, oven, toilet and futon – and anywhere else that could be a hazard.


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Kitten Training Explained



Bringing home a cute ball of fluff (otherwise known as a kitten) is always an exciting addition to anyone’s family. Now I know you didn’t forget the food dish with pouting fish to be sure that your kitten dines in fashion, and of course, you didn’t forget the litter box. You’re all set, right?

In the beginning your new kitten sniffed out every place in its reach. It ate half the bag of cat food, and had been faithfully breaking in its brand new litter box. Now you have noticed your new cuddle monster breaking in to more things then you intended.

When trying to correct cat problems, there are a few more things you should consider doing. Believe it or not, you are not the only person to need some tips on kitten training after bringing your new furry friend home.

How does one approach kitten training? How do you keep your kitten from jumping on the counters, climbing the walls, biting your hands and feet, wrestling on your tabletops and turning your brand new furniture into confetti? How do you train a kitten not to destroy your home?

Calm down and breathe, you’re not the only person to have encountered moster kitten syndrome. To start the adventures of kitten training there are a few investments you’ll want to purchase. First and foremost, you’ll want to preserve your furniture and buy a scratching post. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, any simple one from you local pet store will work.

What do you do if this fearsome little beast is still destroying your household belongings? If you catch her in the act, you should gently rub her paws along her new scratching post imitating the scratching she does on your couch or table or chairs.

Then caress her and let her know how pleased you are with her. It may require many repetitions, but after a while your new little one will begin to comprehend what it is you want her to do.

Next, get an aluminum can, fill it with rocks and put tape over the opening. And the next time you catch kitten in a place he shouldn’t be, such as wrestling with your newspaper on the kitchen table, shake the can loudly. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt him, but he’ll know every time he does something “naughty” he’ll hear a loud scary sound.

And a final note in kitten training is how to deal with the age old issue of kitten bites. Whenever you catch your kitten becoming unruly with your hands or feet give him a toy to replace your skin with. Any standard kitten toy will do such as a fur mouse or jingle bell ball.

Okay. You now know the essential elements of kitten training. Remember to let your kitten know how much you love him or her. Praise your pet for good behavior. Use positive reinforcement to create a strong bond with your cat for years to come. Your kitten and you, both, will be happier. Your pet will give you hours of enjoyment and will show you unconditional love.


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Kitten Care



Your little girl has been asking for a kitten ever since her friend down the street got one and you’ve come to the point where it’s getting hard to resist her pleading little eyes. So you give in quite easily and take her down to the pet store, because let’s face it, you had always wanted a kitten when you were smaller as well. Before you actually go and get your kitten however, you might first want to consider what type of kitten you want. Sure they all look adorable with their big eyes when they’re still very young, but you have to realize that they’ll grow one day and you will have to live with your choice. And don’t forget that you’ll need to give the kitten care and love for a long time to come.

You might have only promised the kitten to your daughter on the basis that she look after the kitten by herself, but if you’re realistic you’ll know that there’s no way you’re going to let the poor thing go to rack and ruin when she does forget to look after it. And she will forget all about her kitten care will be the last thought on her mind, and you will be saddled with the kitten. She’s still too small and you knew that when you gave in to the whole kitten idea, so ultimately like everything else, the kitten care giving bit has now become your responsibility.

So how do you give your kitten care and love the way it needs to be done. Well first of all, the love part of this whole thing should be quite easy as you almost always fall under the spell of their big, wide eyes which will always seem to be staring up at you. For full details and information on what you will need to do for your kitten care wise that is, you should go see your vet.

They’ll also tell you what you need to do to keep your kitten happy and contented. You’ll be told that you need to give shots to your kitten care will also need to be taken to ensure that she doesn’t get into any scrapes or the like.

Kittens are also notorious for climbing up anything and everything that is within their sights so don’t be too surprised if you come home one day to find your lace drapes torn from top to bottom because the little critter climbed up them and couldn’t get a good enough grip.

When you go to get a kitten then, kitten care and everything that goes along with that should be uppermost in your mind. Your kitten should be healthy and well loved and able to boast to all the other little kittens it meets that he has found the perfect pets to keep him in the lap of luxury.


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