Cats And Children Does It Fit

Cats are know to give various benefits to their owners but does this also apply to children? Yes it does providing you introduce your child to the right behavior towards pets. Cats can help to increase the wellness of your child. It is no problem to have a child with a cat but you need to make sure your child know the right behavior towards a cat. Your child doesn't know how to treat a cat, he or she must learn it first.

It is important that your child learns to develop respect for pets and animals in general. If this is provided your child can have a lot of fun growing up with a pet cat. You can buy a a cat as a gift for your child, for example on Christmas or on his/her birthday. Such a special gift will certainly make your child happy.

When you are looking for ways on how to bring out the best between your child and the pet, this article might be helpful.

o Be aware that children do not know how to treat animals the right way, they have to learn it first. Show to your child the proper way of handling and treating cats. Make sure your child does not hurt the cat, otherwise your child will probably get hurt back by the cat. It is very important that your child knows what he or she can do with a cat and what better not to do.

o Explain to your child why a cat acts in a certain way so that he or she understands how to treat a cat. Especially when it's your child's first time with a pet you need to be a guide.

o If you tell your child some facts about cats he or she can better understand why a cat acts like it does. Your child will learn the important things that he or she needs to know while playing with a cat or petting a cat.

o Make sure your child does not play to rough with the cat, this could end in a hurting child and / or cat. Cats may use their paws and your child could get hurt. Show your child how to use certain cat toys rather than using his or her bare hands.

o Let your child know that cats need a lot of sleep and that they sometimes not want to be bothered.

o Remind your child the importance of not letting the cats stay inside homes. To keep their pets safe, it is a must that your child learns how to protect the cat from any untoward incident.

These are things you have to remember when having children and cats at home. Try to avoid any unwanted accidents or injuries by helping your child with the right treatment of a cat.

Guido Nussbaum, a 28 year old cat-friend from Germany. I have 2 cats (brother and sister) that are 13 years old. My website cat urine cleaner [http://www.caturine-cleaner.com] deals with cat urine cleaning products and cats in general.

Do You Know How to Stop Your Cat From Spraying Urine?

Spraying urine is one of the main problems a cat owner has to deal with. Cats use their urine to mark their territory and to notify other cats they have already been there. This typical behavior is known as urine spraying.

Your pets are not spraying in order to make you angry. It is part of cats' natural behavior and is coded in the genes of every cat, no matter if it is domestic or wild.

Urination outside of the cat toilet is not spraying. What makes urination different from spraying is that urination is usually done on flat surface, e.g. a towel, a mat or rug, while spraying is done on vertical surface, e.g. a wall.

Male and female cats both spray urine but it is more common for male. They spray on vertical surfaces, such as walls and furniture.

Why cats spray urine

Urine spraying is a social, sexual and territorial behavior that is typical for male cats. They mark their territory by spraying it with urine. This behavior is caused by hormonal changes and usually starts when cat reaches sexual maturity. Female cats also spray, especially during the mating season.

Spraying can be stopped by neutering. However, some neutered cats continue to spray urine due to the fact they have been neutered after they have reached sexual maturity. By that time, spraying has become a habit for the pet.

Spraying urine is used as a message that given territory belongs to the cat. Cats usually spray as they turn backsides to the object and spray urine usually at the level of other cats' noses. Spraying may also mean the cat is ready to mate.

Spraying as a territorial behavior may occur when you move your pet into a new home or if you have more than one cat in the house. Cats may spray if they are stressed or just to mark an undesirable object or litter.

Occasionally cats may spray items that belong to a certain individual. Cats associate these belongings with bad experiences. Spraying could also mean the pet is angry, stressed or frustrated.

Pets can get stressed by changes in the house, such as your absences from home, changed work schedules that will prevent you from spending enough time with it. Your pet may also spray if you punish it in an inappropriate way or if it has a problem with another pet that accepts as a rival or threat.

Few ideas to stop your cat spraying?

1. The simplest way is to neuter it. This method is effective in 90% of all male neutered cats. However, neutering should be performed before the animal reaches sexual maturity - at the age of 4-6 months.

2. The litter box should be kept tidy and clean. The cat may start spraying if the box is dirty, scented or in a bad location. You shouldn't use scented cleaning agents to wash it.

3. Try reducing the cat's stress by maintaining a routine. Changes can make the pet spray.

4. Give your pet attention and affection. Play, massage, talk to him/her. Happy animals that are not threatened usually don't spray urine.

5. Some cats spray urine near doors and windows where they see other cats. Try to reduce your cat's exposure to other cats, so it doesn't feel threatened by them.

6. You should clean soiled areas very well as cats commonly urinate on places that smell of urine. Avoid using cleaning products that contain ammonia. And keep in mind that your cat can smell many things that you probably can't.

7. If you have many cats in the house, spraying may become very serious problem. Cats spray because of the competition between them. However, if spraying is caused by other reasons that cannot be determined or eliminated, drugs may have to be used to deal with the problem.

8. Hitting or yelling at the cat will not make your pet stop spraying. On the contrary, this will only make the problem worse. You should try to find out why the cat is doing so, not to punish it for doing it.

In case you can not solve the problem yourself, you should consult a vet or a cat behaviorist. There are different herbal remedies and prescription drugs that can be used in such cases

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Is Your Cat Bored?

Once the novelty wears off and your new cat isn't new anymore, problem behaviors can develop. This confounds many pet owners, who feel the cat should be grateful for the life of ease they are providing. Why would a cat jeopardize its life on Easy Street by scratching the woodwork or urinating on the Persian rug?

In the wild, cats seldom get bored, and probably never do, because their lives are quite different from living in houses with humans. Their survival depends on hunting, protecting territory, and propagating their species. All their instincts are geared toward performing those duties successfully and that pretty much occupies all their time and energy, while at the same time providing them with exercise and mental stimulation.

Removed from a natural setting and held as pets, they neither have to search for and catch their food, nor do they need to establish and protect boundaries to define their space. Some problem behaviors are the direct result of this instinct, however, as seen by their strong drive to scratch and mark items in the home.

Their instincts didn't go away...their natural surroundings did.

While this lifestyle has allowed them to live longer and easier lives, it also has deprived them of the activities that supply mental stimulation and physical exercise.

No, you can't solve the problem by releasing domesticated cats to "go wild." It doesn't work that way. Once acclimated to the human environment, special training is needed to survive such a change. Watching animal documentaries on television should illustrate that. Wild animals born in captivity are never casually released into their natural environments, unless they have first been trained to survive there. If cats are so close to being wild, as many believe, then they deserve the same consideration.

However, if they are now living in your home and will not be thrown outside, there are steps you can take to help them reach their potential as a happy member of the family.

Searching for food can be implemented to help satisfy their need to hunt. Hide treats around the house and let their noses help them solve the hidden food puzzle.

Playing with pull toys can satisfy their need to chase prey, providing not only mental stimulation, but muscular exercise to keep them trim and coordinated.

Cats need to climb, too, and a well made cat tree can serve them...and well as save your woodwork.

For more articles about cats and the most common problems we face as pet owners, visit http://www.theproblemcat.com/faq.html

Free Cat Toys That Your Kitty Will Love

Play is an essential aspect of your kitten's development. Through play, a kitten learns basic survival skills like how to stalk, catch, kill and be assertive. If you are reading this you don't plan on turning your kitty loose to fend for itself. However, if you are new to the world of cat play, then here's some tips to get you started that won't cost you a penny.

Most cats, adult and kitten, enjoy the hunt and to wrestle and kick the dickens out of something. They'll do the when you aren't around, but even more when you are present. It's like they want to be sure you know how to hunt too.

Indeed, if you don't provide an outlet for your cat's behavior, your cat will find one. Have you had your naked toes 'captured' from under the bathroom door? How about charging into the newspaper while you are reading it? While this may be a bit unnerving for you, it's all good cat play.

Playing with your cat strengthens the bond between you and your cat. Besides, it's just plain good for both of you. Studies show that people benefit from petting and playing with animals. Examples of this are lowering your blood pressure and reducing your heart rate. Cats that exercise regularly are less inclined to turn into a fat cat. Exercise also promotes healthy joints and reduces the risk of arthritis in cats.

Moving objects are the favorite prey of cats. You'll also discover that you cat prefers some toys over others. Even though you can fill a cornucopia with commercial cat toys, you can find plenty of free stuff that your cat will love to play with, In fact, they actually prefer many natural toys over the man-made fake stuff.

Here's a couple ideas for free cat toys to get your fun started. Tonight when you get home from work and have the attention of your kitty, drop a couple of ice cubes in her water bowl (leave the bowl on the floor and not up on a counter.) Make sure she sees you do this, in fact, use your finger to poke the cubes around in the water bowl. If she doesn't follow suit, then move to stage two. Get a couple of ice cubes and slide them across the floor to your kitty. Yup, she'll catch on and start batting away at these soon to disappear free cat toys. Nothing like playtime to keep your cat's joints limber!

You can get a similar reaction using an empty toilet paper roll and empty thread spools. Just be careful of using something your kitty can accidentally swallow. Stay away from buttons, rubber bands and paper clips. There's just too much chance that those small objects will end up going down her mouth.

Another favorite is the 'boat ride' game. This does require a little participation from the owner. Just get an empty box and put it in the middle of the floor. To gain your cat's interest go ahead and drop one of those empty thread spools in the box. She'll bat that around, but when she tires of that its time for you to take action. You are the tugboat and you gently push your cat in her barge across the floor. Don't worry about what you look like. This is all about your kitty. She'll think you are purrfect!

Play with free cat toys for 10 to 20 minutes twice a day to help keep your cat's weight down and to keep her moving. Exercise keeps her joints lubricated. Finally, consider this natural option as a cat arthritis treatment. Find out how to qualify for product when you visit http://ArthritisCatsTreatment.com.

Common Cat Behavior Issues

Having household pets such as cats can be fun until behavior issues get in the way. Most caregivers do not fully understand why their pets behave this way. To correct these issues, the caregiver must know their causes before instituting any corrective training.

Attention Seeking

Cats tend to be attention-seeking when they feel they are left out. This is especially true when a new baby or another pet arrives. Cats often seek attention through excessive meowing, howling in the middle of the night, begging for food and treats, pawing a person's arm or leg, wool-sucking, or scratching objects and furniture.

Aggression Towards People

Aggressive behavior toward people may be manifested through biting or scratching, usually the hands. As part of their development, kittens learn biting and scratching. But this should be stopped earlier to prevent damage and scarring when the cats eventually grow sharp claws. It may be playful, but it can do more harm than good in the future.

Aggression Towards Cats

Aggression toward other cats has different types: sexual, territorial, and redirected. What may be just plain play-fighting at the beginning, can turn out into aggression. Intervention is necessary when a sign of aggression is present and if another cat gets hurt.

Destroying Items

Chewing of household items by cats is both destructive and harmful. This is caused by teething in kittens, curiosity, boredom, or even nutrient deficiency. Like human babies, kittens explore through their mouths. When does chewing become harmful to cats? If they chew wires and cords, a minor shock or even death can happen. It is best to provide toys and places where the cat can enjoy exploring to prevent boredom. As for the wires and cords in the house, cover them or spray them with bitter apple to make them taste so bad, the cat wouldn't want to come near them.

Litterbox Problems

Cat urine on your walls or place other than the litter box can be caused by either a physical or emotional problem. Common causes range from UTI problems, to territorial marking or that the litter box is just too dirty for their taste.

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Bad Cat Behavior - How to Stop Bad Cat Behavior

You're reading this for a reason: you have a bad cat behavior problem and you want some help to solve it.

Am I right? If so, this article will explain the main reasons of a bad cat behavior and how to solve it.

The causes for a bad cat behavior can be a lot. Remember: the more you pay attention to your cat the more you'll understand what cause the bad behavior.

Let's get started.

Cat Aggressive Behavior.

This is one of the most common reason why cats owners give up with their pets. First of all you need to understand your cat aggression.

1. Pain induced aggression happen when your cat bites or scratches when touched in a particular place. Find out what the problem is and if it can be treated at home. If not, take your cat to the vet. Vet are trained to handling pain induced aggression.

2. Petting aggression is like what is sound. Your cat use this kind of aggressive behavior for telling you that he had enough and wants you stop now. Very common bad cat behavior.

3. Redirect aggression. It's a normal behavior in animals to direct the aggression towards the source of what make them upset. When you cat can't directly shows aggression, he or she redirect their aggression towards the nearest moving target, you. To solve this kind of aggression you must distract you cat and block the view of whatever cause him stress.

4. Play bite aggression. Very common especially for kitten. If your cat is pouncing on your hands or feet and then running away, remember that this isn't to cause intentional harm. Your cat just hasn't learn yet that it's wrong. What you need to do is teach your cat to only play with toys and not with your hand and feet.

If your cat does bite you, freeze yourself and don't pull your hand away. If you pull your hand away you trigger a natural response to bite even harder. You should move your and toward the back of the cat mouth, causing confusion in your cat. You can also stop whatever you're currently doing and completely ignore your cat for 5-10 minutes, so your cat can settle down from "attack mode".

Litter Box Avoidance.

Has this ever happened to you? Your cat peeing outside the litter box, and you're desperately trying to clean up after your cat, wondering if you're actually doing anything to stop it from happening in the first place! Well, you probably want some quick solutions to the problem, or at least a list of checkpoints that you know you must, like a detective on a trail, work through, to get the litter box behavior problem under control.

The reasons for peeing outside the litter box are:

1. Urinate Tract Infection. This is the first thing to watch when your cat stop using the litter box.Take your cat to the vet and check that everything is OK before try to change your cat behavior.

2. Dirty Litter Box. It's very common hear from cats owners that they scoop out clumps every two or three weeks! Cats don't like dirty litter box. Keep the litter box nice and clean. Eliminate the poo every day (at least once every two days) or your cat may stop using it. Clean the litter box every two weeks and use mild soap and water. Don't use citrus smell cleaners, cats hate it. Instead, use ammonia based cleaners: it will attract your cat to pee inside the litter box. Keep the litter box clean it's often enough to stop this bad cat behavior.

3. Litter box in a high traffic area. When a cat gets scared, they leave behind a fear scent, telling them not to go back to that area. If you have the litter box in a room with a loud machinery, take the box out of that room and put it in a different room. It's possible your cat may still be afraid of the box itself because the loud, scary sound was associated with the box - rather than with the room or the washing machine. Simply emptying and thoroughly cleaning the box with some mild soap and a scrub brush can eliminate the fearful scent left behind, and your cat will go back to using it.

4. The litter box causes pain. Your cat may associate the pain with the litter box - and avoid it in order to prevent further pain. This happens most often with cats that have their claw recently removed because the recovery is so long and painful. Rarely, it may happen with a cat that has been spayed - but cats typically recover from being spayed/neutered very quickly. To solve it, get a completely new box just for use during the recovery period. To cut costs, you could just buy a temporary litter boxes that you throw away afterward. (You can also use a large Tupperware storage container) Once your cat has fully recovered, you can toss that litter box or try to continue using it - your cat may still use it, or if you have other cats - they will probably use it.

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Aggression in Cats - Figuring Out What Causes Your Cat to Bite and Scratch You

If your cat is biting or clawing you, you will need to do a little detective work to figure out why. Aggression in cats takes many forms, and the solution of the problem depends on the cause, which often is one or more of the following three:

1) If your cat is striking out because he is afraid or hurting, your best bet is to leave him alone and work on the underlying problem. A cat in pain will have his ears flat back against his head, and his body will be rolled into a defensive posture low against the ground, with claws up and ready. Your cat is saying, "Do not come near me!" Let him calm down, or hide if need be, before you get your veterinarian to check him out.

2) If you are petting your cat, and all of a sudden grabs you with his claws and teeth, he probably has been overstimulated. What should you do in this case? In the short run, freeze. Do not hit your cat, because that might trigger another even harder bite. Sometimes by smacking your other hand against a table will trigger your cat to release your hand. However, if you just stay still, he will calm down and release you. Cat lovers often think these attacks come without warning, but in truth, you have failed to recognize his body language, and he has simply had enough. Often these attacks come if you if you have been petting his belly. This is a very sensitive area for cats, and even if he appears to want you to pet his belly, you are always better off leaving that area alone.

3) The cat who pounces on your feet, then bounces off the wall is not trying to hurt you, but he is playing. For this cat, you should increase your play sessions with your cat using an appropriate toy, such as a cat fishing pole, or a toy on a string, and not one of your body parts, to help your cat burn off excess energy before you have a quiet petting session. Let him know that attacks such as these are not permitted, by blasting an air horn, or squirting him with a spray bottle.

Greg has been writing articles for over 4 years. His newest interest is in home improvement products. Please visit his latest website about tools at Tile Saw Reviews and the best Workforce Tile Saw and other tile cutters and related products that every home improvement needs.

Cat Behavior - 5 Reasons That Could Get to the Root of Behavior Problems With Your Cat

Whenever you bring a cat into your home, you are asking a lot of him. In most cases, the situation works out very well, and says a great deal about the bond between cats and humans. You ask your cat to scratch in only one place, instead of everywhere in his territory. You ask your cat to relieve himself only where you want him to. You ask him to ignore his ability to jump gracefully from countertops and tables. And you ask him to adjust his natural nocturnal schedule to your daytime schedule.

Most cats are able to easily maker these compromises. For those who do not, you need to figure out why not before any problem solving is able to begin.

1) Stress: Cats find any kind of change stressful, and often react by altering their behavior in an attempt to cope better. A cat might mark his territory in a home that has a new pet brought in. In the mind of a cat, this behavior makes perfect sense, and is calming to him. Making the world smell like your cat is comforting to him, if not you. Limit his territory for a while, or put him on medication.

2) Medical Problems: Behavioral problems are often a sign of illness in cats. With untreated feline diabetes, for example, a cat will drink and urinate frequently, and start choosing other places to relieve himself. A cat with a urinary tract infection could associate the pain of relieving himself with his litter box, and avoid that. All of the behavioral techniques in the world will not cure an medical problem, so you will need the help of your veterinarian for that.

3) Boredom: Because you have asked your cat to give up his whole world, and have only offered a few hours with you, or some time with a toy mouse, an indoor cat has a definite tendency to become bored. Indoor cats need a lot of things to keep themselves amused, and adding some different toys, spending more time playing with your cat, or adding another cat to the home for companionship could make the difference.

4) Unreasonable Demands: Look at yourself and your role with your cat. Are you asking more from him than he can possibly give? Your cat may boycott his litter box if it is rarely cleaned, or asking him to quit scratching the couch is not fair if he has nothing else to scratch. Provide him with some alternatives before asking for good behavior.

5) Never Trained Correctly to Start With: If all you ever do is scream or hit your cat, you are not teaching him anything except to avoid you. Physical correction will never change the behavior of any cat, because they just do not understand it. Using this type of correction just stresses them out, causing even more behavioral problems.

Look at what has recently been going on in your life. How has your cat reacted to this situation, and how have you? Once you realize the behavior of your cat is not spiteful can make the problem easier for you to live with while you work to turn the situation around.

Greg has been writing articles for over 4 years. His newest interest is in home improvement products. Please visit his latest website about tools at Tile Saw Reviews and the best Dewalt Tile Saw and other tile cutters and related products that every home improvement needs.

Cat Behavior - Is Your Cat Avoiding the Litter Box?

There are many causes that make cats avoid the use of their litter box. It may be due to a medical or health problem like urinary tract infection, kidney stones or it may be associated with the litter box itself. The box may be dirty or it's place in a location that your cat dislike. But one reason that is not commonly cited is that your cat avoidance of the kitty box could stem from the some negative association it has when using the box.

Your cat may have experience some kind of frightening or upsetting event while using her kitty box previously and she has somehow associated this unpleasant event with the kitty box, causing it to avoid the box thereafter. These could be that she was being cornered or trapped in the box by your pet dog or she may have been startled by some loud noise. And this experience may have made your cat very reluctant to use or even go near the kitty box at all.

You need to overcome their fear associated with the litter box in order to solve the problem.

Here are some tips to help your cat in overcoming its fear and replacing it with pleasant association instead.

1. Look for an alternative spot to place the box. This time, try to locate a spot that is quiet and away from possible intrusion by children or other animals like your dog. The spot where the box is placed should give a sense of security to your cat.

2. Show your cat the way to the new litter box and stay with it for some time. Talk to it gently near the box to ease its anxiety and build it's confidence in using the new box again.

3. You may try playing with it near the box or leave some of its favorite toys near the kitty box. This helps build a positive or pleasant association of your cat with the box.

4. Use a cat litter that your cat loves. Some litter especially the hard pellets tend to hurt when your cat steps on them and this could lead them to avoid the litter box again. So choose one that your cat prefers. You may have to try out by placing a few boxes and use different cat litter in each box and see which one you cat choose to use.

Your patience is of utmost importance in helping your cat overcome its aversion towards the litter box. Sometimes, retraining your cat to overcome its fear or aversion of her kitty box may be necessary.

This article is written by animal lover and animal behaviorist Ann Wong. Ann has written numerous articles on cat care, cat health and cats' nutrition. If you find the above article useful, then make sure you check out her site on Best Cat Litter reviews where he reviewed some popular brands of cat litters like Crystal Cat Litter, Tidy cat litter, feline pine cat litter and many more. If you have yet to find one suitable one for your kitty, then this site would definitely be of help to you.

Cat Problems - How to Train a Cat With Problems

Is your little tiger driving you up the wall with one of the following cat problems?

Biting And Scratching You

Cats naturally have a lot of energy. If you keep kitty indoors, he may not be getting enough stimulation and may be overly enthusiastic when playing with you. It is best if you can schedule some regular playtimes with your cat to bleed off some of this excess energy. Often, you will find that he will stop biting and scratching you too hard all on his own.

You probably don't want to bleed while waiting for kitty to calm down. Instead of rough-housing with him, play with him using some kitty toys instead. Try a squeeking rubber mouse, or a ball. You can also dangle something on a toy fishing pole for him to chase.

Don't punish your cat if he plays too rough. Just immediately stop playing with him and don't pay any more attention to him until he calms down. If he chases after you, you may need to confine him in a room on his own.

Fighting With Another Cat

What looks like fighting to you may be just playing to your cats! The fine line between playing and fighting is this: are they hurting each other?

Very often, the fighting is started by one cat. If you observe carefully, you will find that one of your cats frequently tries to ambush the other cat. A simple way to stop this problem is to hang a bell on the collar of this cat. This makes it harder for him to ambush the other cat, and will help to reduce the fights.

One more thing you can do is to trim the nails of the more aggressive cat. You can ask your vet to show you how to do this. With shorter nails, he won't be able to hurt the other cat as much.

Scratching Your Furniture

Unfortunately, this problem behavior is not possible to stop. What you can do is redirect kitty's attention to something else more acceptable to scratch, like a scratching post. You will need to experiment to discover which type of scratching posts your cat likes best. At the same time, you need to make it unpleasant for kitty to scratch your furniture. One way is to apply a kind of sticky pad to the surfaces which he likes to scratch. You can buy this sticky pad from your local pet shop. Keep scratching posts near all the surfaces which kitty likes to scratch, and he will quickly shift his attentions to these posts.

Spraying And Marking Territory

This is sometimes the toughest behavior to deal with, because there can be many reasons for cat spraying. The first step is to make sure all your cats are spayed or neutered. Spayed and neutered cats are less territorial, and rarely spray.

Sometimes your cats spray because they feel stressed. This could be caused by a change in your schedule, or the introduction of a new cat, or even by extra noise from road repairs outside your home.

Other times, if you have too many cats in your home, one or more of your cats will spray.

So, how can you stop this problem? First, you need to identify the reason for spraying, then eliminate that reason. Unfortunately, this is easier to say than to do. In May 2004, the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists published a case study where they took 3 or 4 years to stop this cat spraying and urination problem.

You may want to get some help from your vet. In some cases, he might prescribe some kind of cat Prozac which could help reduce the stress your cat is feeling. This would reduce the spraying problem.

Dealing with cat problems is tough unless you know kitty well. Sometimes, it can be very helpful to ask a third party like your vet for some help and advice.

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Aggressive Cat Behavior - What To Do

Any plans for happily ever after with your new feline friend are quickly ruined by aggressive cat behavior. If you are victim to a cat scratch, clawing, or biting, it can be more than a temporary ailment. If you do not clean and dress the wound, it might easily become invaded by bacteria and infection.

Instead of worrying about the consequences of aggressive cat behavior, it is much better to understand what causes it and to head it off before it starts whenever possible. This can begin with the play of tiny kittens, and requires understanding a cat's normal instincts and their psychology.

Kittens will naturally exhibit some degree of aggressive behavior since it is instinct for them to stalk and capture prey. However, it's important for the new pet owner to teach the kitty appropriate behavior. The kitten needs strict limits for his behavior and substitutes he can use to vent his aggression. Your first thought may be "How cute!" when your kitten viciously attacks you with little bites and claws. At this point you have to think of the future and tell your kitty a forceful "No!" What is cute now won't be so cute when kitty has grown to adulthood.

Always have cat friendly toys and furniture available for your four legged friends. These provide safe outlets for aggressive play and healthy scratching and stretching. Stand firm and be clear that biting and clawing people is unacceptable. Use kind words and occasional treats to help reinforce every positive behavior you see, but don't use violence to punish your cat. This will devastate your relationship, and often makes the cat more aggressive.

A cat that is ill or stressed out is unable to tell you in words, so he may display aggressive behavior to get your attention. If you pet begins showing aggression you haven't seen before, be sure to take him to the vet immediately to have it checked out. A pet can become stressed by such things as changes in your household or his diet, loud noises, or having a new pet invading his territory. If you can, introduce your kitty to changes gradually in order to reduce his stress. Lower stress levels should result in less aggressive behavior.

Some think aggressive cat behavior may also be caused in part by the diet, so discuss this with the veterinarian as well. Obesity may cause joint pain in older cats, so weight loss can improve both mood and health. Again, speak with a vet because to rapid a loss can be dangerous and even fatal to a cat.

Make sure that you pay attention to the body language of your cat. An over-stimulated feline can quickly turn and show aggressive behavior, just like when a cat goes from purring to biting in the flash of an eye. Danger signs include a flicking tail, an arched back, and pulling back of the ears, which should warn you to back away from the cat. Starting behavioral training early in a cat's life and reinforcing good behavior will pay dividends for years and years by teaching the cat good habits at an early age.

Any plans for happily ever after with your new feline friend are quickly ruined by aggressive cat behavior. If you are victim to a cat scratch, clawing, or biting, it can be more than a temporary ailment. If you do not clean and dress the wound, it might easily become invaded by bacteria and infection. Then it can be a really serious issue. Unusual feline aggression may often be contributed to the cat's health [http://www.purrfectcatbehavior.com/content/70193-cat-sprayingcat.php]. Without the ability to communicate many cats will use aggression as a signal that they are ill or have been injured.

Cat Behavior - Taking Good Care of Your Beloved Pet!

If you are a cat owner and have much know-how regarding this pet then you must have observed its unique behavior. A cat behavior is one of its main features. Most of the people love kitties for their exquisite attitude. We can say that the main reason for selecting a kitten as a pet is its lovely looks and the friendly attitude it expresses to its owner. So, accordingly, it is also required for a cat owner to take good care of a cat by understanding its behavior.

As far as cat behavior is concerned, you might have noticed its bad behavior often, which are the consequences of negligence of owner towards pet. There are a number of techniques that can help in handling and understanding your pet's behavior. At first, the owner must know the reasons on which the cat reacts badly.

Whenever your Cat is Bored:

One of the major reasons for a cat to get annoyed is when it gets bored. You can easily resolve this problem by providing your cat with different supplies to play with like ball or any toy. This will surely keep your pet active, full of life and it won't get bored anymore.

Cat is a Nocturnal Pet:

At night, cats are supposed to be active and lively and they are used to do numerous activities at that time which can be a cause of disturbance in home. If you observe the same problem in your cat's behavior that it is more active at night than day then you can make it busier in day time by giving it toys to play with or by spending more time with it. This practice will make your cat so tired that it would not be able to do anything at night.

Michael Podgoetsky advocates pet health and vitality through his avid research on products that ensure immunity boosting effects and disease-fighting features. You may access his findings at Your Cat's Health and Cat Behavior.

Cat Behavior Problems - Taming The Beast

Cat aggression: it can be frightening. Your sweet, beloved pet is suddenly transformed into a hissing, scratching, biting demon. In this article we explore the issue of feline aggression, focusing on the five most common causes. We also explore some simple ways you can minimize and eliminate cat behavior problems such as aggression.

It is not surprising to see aggression in cats. Most frequently you will observe cats displaying play aggression. During play aggression, you would notice your kitty using their claws or teeth to play roughly. You could easily mistake this for aggression directed to you. In reality, your cat is confusing you for a toy. One way of handling this is to always play with a toy and not your hand.

Another cause of aggression in cats is over-stimulation. As kitty becomes too excited, she may lash out too violently. In order to deal with this problem, remove yourself or the object of kitty's ire from the room for an hour. If this doesn't work, kitty may need to be isolated in her own room, with her own food and water dish, for another short "time out". After kitty calms down, her cat behavior problems should also cease.

Most cats exhibit at least some territorial aggression. Any new person or animal entering a cat's home for the first time is likely to be subjected to it. Your cat believes that your house and all of its contents in fact belong to him. The way to avoid problems with territorial aggression is to slowly introduce the cat to your house's other people and animals, while providing it with treats while it gets to know them.

Redirected aggression in a cat happens when a cat feels aggression toward another animal but turns his anger on you instead. This is an unusual cat behavior problem, but can happen when, for example, your cat feels threatened by another cat outside a window but cannot reach them. A good way to handle this problem would be to place shades on your windows. Then your cat will not be able to see the outdoors cats.

Lastly, it may also be stated that health problems could be responsible for aggressive behavior of some cats. These health problems could be any source of pain like an infection in bladder, formation of abscess or stomach problem. As pets are unable to speak up their sufferings it may cause them to be aggressive at times.

Cats' frequently show playful aggression. Cats play roughly with their teeth and claws. Toys for the cat will keep your cat from sharpening its claws on you. An excited cat can cause other cat behavior problems. Leaving the room will often help him calm down. Most cats exhibit territorial aggression. Any new person entering a cat's home is likely to be subjected to it. Slowly introduce the cat to new people. Cats become aggressive due to health problems. Painful conditions can lead to aggression. If you are dealing with aggressive cats, visit your vet before trying behavior modification. You might find a simple way to achieve cat control.

Cat Behavior Problems Can Relate To Instincts

There are more cats in American homes these days than there are dogs. People have found that cats make unique little pets, each with their own little personality making them funny, mysterious, cuddly, and always puzzling. A cat owner who understands cat behavior problems will find it easier living with the little wildcat they've brought into their home.

Although cats have been considered domesticated animals for centuries, the bottom line is that domestic feline behavior remains similar in many ways to the behavior of cats in the wilds, such as lions and tigers. Our generally-docile house pets still have instinctive predator behaviors buried deep down inside. Many behaviors humans consider cat behavior problems are just some of these intrinsic behaviors surfacing even though they're no longer needed.

If you have previously raised kittens, you will know that they begin aggressive play as soon as they can walk. This aggression is natural as the skills they learn by this early play would help them be prepared to catch prey and feed themselves in the wild. You should channel this aggressive behavior into outlets that you find appropriate so that they do not see you toes as potential prey.

Remember to provide appealing toys for your kitten, especially tools that are tempting to bite and chase. Kittens offend grasp a toy with their front paws and use their back legs to scratch the toy, which puts on an entertaining display for observers as well as gives the kitten vigorous exercise. Toy mice with a furry texture entice kittens to jump and chew them. Nearly grown kittens and adult cats may respond more actively to toys containing catnip; however, not all cats are affected by catnip and some kittens may require a few weeks of exposure to feel the effects.

While your cat is at play, it's up to you to set limits for his behavior. Teach him not to bite, scratch, or chew on humans. Help him learn which of his behaviors aren't acceptable. In so doing, however, never strike your cat. Instead of stopping cat behavior problems, hitting may well cause more. With one slap you can destroy the trust your pet has in you making him angrier and more aggressive. When kitty is misbehaving, tell him "No" sharply and move him away from the problem area. Offer him another, more appropriate activity, or reward good behavior by saying "Good kitty!" or with an occasional treat.

Scratching trees and other rough surfaces is the natural way for cats to control the growth of their claws. Their instincts drive them to do this. To avert having your cat scratch your furniture or other indoor valuables, provide a cat scratcher. A cat scratcher can be purchased at a pet store. A cat scratcher can also be made at home. To make a traditional cat scratcher, attach carpet scraps to scrap wood. If you do not have wood, you can use strips of cardboard in a box. If you do not have room for a traditional cat scratcher, you can buy a cat scratcher that hangs from a doorknob. You can entice your cat to use use the cat scratcher by spraying it with catnip spray.

Even though cats have been domesticated for ages, their feline behavior has remained much like that of a lion or a tiger. Cat behavior problems only reflect their genetic brain formation for the life they were originally meant to lead. Kittens begin aggressive play as soon as they can walk. Provide toys for your kitten that are tempting to bite and chase. You need to teach the cat not to bite things that are off limits while it is playing. Cats limit the growth of their claws by scratching trees. You need to provide cat scratchers to keep cats from using your furniture for the same purpose.

The Cat Toys and the Dog Toys Are More Important Than You Think

It's true, toys aren't just for kids. They are tools to prepare for adulthood. Toys are actually necessary for physical, social, and mental development in many species, including our pets. And on a lighter side, toys make us happy and help make life worth living.

Just as we child proof our homes for children, so must we do the same for our pets. That is if you don't want your belongings to be chewed up or shredded. Spoil your pets all you want with a toy box overflowing with safe toys (size appropriate). Be generous. Offer stimulation in abundance. And do reach in and toss a toy as you pass by.

Social rules are developed during play. Notice what happens when the rules are broken and you are bitten too hard. Notice the rewards of positive, fun play. Your pet learns, from you and each other, the rules of socialization- of being together.

Scientist associate play with brain building. Play actually helps to sculpt the brain, by building, thickening, and connecting the neurons. Now that's a pat on the head for your pet.

Playful stimulation also wards off boredom, depression, anxiety, obesity... you get the picture. If your pet is plucking, pulling, and scratching, it isn't because they are happy. It may have something to do with anxiety or allergies. Encourage play to change those negative emotions and behaviors to positive ones.

While play comes naturally to the young, gently encourage play with the elderly to keep those neurons firing- in all of us 'species'.

PLAY FOR THE HEALTH OF IT!

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Cat Behaviors - Just Who Owns Whom?

As any cat owner will tell you there can be a dispute about owning a cat and having a cat own you. Depending on the bond that exists or not between you and your feline friend this can change daily or hourly. Cats, according to cats, are superior to any creature on earth. The behaviors exhibited by them illustrates this point clearly. How many cats have you witnessed ignoring their human handlers (until meal time). Have you ever really watched a cat and a dog together? Have you ever seen a dog actually catch a cat? I've frequently seen dogs move off with their tail between their legs after an encounter with a cat!

There are many behaviors that a cat uses to communicate with humans. There are the crazy mood changes from pure laziness to absolute happiness. Then there is stalking, pouncing and conquering. the nipping, tail switching, hissing tangle of fur that warns you to keep clear. Unless the tall two legged members of the family wish to live in fear and trepidation, it is wise to learn to interpret the vocalizations and body language of that small furry four legged family member early on in the relationship. In fact, the earlier the better!

Unfortunately when humans fail to understand, interpret and correctly react to the communications of a cat, it is often the cat that suffers. Many of them end up abandoned on the streets or perhaps if they are lucky, they might end up in animal shelters or rescue organizations.

In order for human and cat to co-exist peacefully, successful communication is essential. Just like in any other successful relationship.

Some signs that a cat is being irritated or over stimulated include: tail twitching, ears back, hair raised, lack of purring, or sudden stoppage of purring. There might even be a hiss or two as a warning.

If the above signs are ignored the cat may choose to grab our attention by nipping at the offending hand if petting was being done or a nip or scratch at any other available area of skin. This nip is really not something the cat does to be mean, but is merely a way to attract your attention and to say, "I have had enough of petting, or whatever the interaction has been between cat and human".

When you see your cat stalking or pouncing, it is exercising a natural instinct to hunt prey. The prey might be a toy, or your hand. However, when this behavior comes out of nowhere, it can be startling to us humans and we might lash out back. To a cat it is just good clean playful aggression and they won't understand why you've reacted like that. Cats usually do outgrow this behavior. Think of it as being like the 'terrible twos' in children. Us humans should always be aware of the location of the cat when entering a room so to be prepared for any cat and mouse games the cat decide to play. If you see the cat in a pounce position be prepared that you just could be the prey. You can redirect this playful aggression before it happens by distracting the cat by tossing one of its toys in the opposite direction even by calling its name. This spoils the "incognito" role of the hunter.

Cats also love to dig. It is just one of those genetic tendency behaviors that allow them to scratch and dig to cover up evidence of litter box elimination that can be carried over into your flower pot or a laundry basket. Use unpleasant (to cats) smells such as citrus products that can be sprayed in these areas to discourage kitty from enjoying these passions.

By using careful observation techniques, you will finally be able to understand your cat and will come to the realization that it really does own you!

Kathy Robinson has been writing articles on cat problems and the care of cats on her website http://www.CatProblemsResolved.com for a number of years. Why not download your free copy of The Joy of Owning and Caring for a Cat when you sign up for her free Cat Care Newsletter at http://www.catproblemsresolved.com/660

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Tips For Effectively Training Your Pet Cat

Cats are very rewarding pets. They are intelligent, relatively easy to care for and can be trained if you know how to do it correctly. The first thing to teach a cat is its name. You will want it to come to you when you call its name, so repeat this exercise a few times.

Cats have needs, such as food, water, somewhere to strop their claws and toys or items to capture their interest. If you fail to provide an adequate scratching post, for example, a cat will use your couch or stereo speakers to strop its claws. Your pet cat is not doing this "to be naughty" but it does not have an alternative. If the cat begins to scratch the furniture, you can remove the animal and place it at the scratching post. You might need to do this a few times, but it will eventually realize what the scratching post is for.

Cats naturally chew and play with things. Providing your pet cat with an assortment of interesting cat toys means he or she is far less likely to chew up your slippers or cushions instead.

It is always a bad idea to hit a cat. Hitting an animal just makes it afraid of you and it does not understand the relationship of being hit with behaving in an inappropriate way. Often a firm "no" or clapping your hands will let your pet cat know you disapprove of whatever it is doing wrong. It's not that the cat understands your spoken word, but the harsh sound and tone of your voice is enough to make it realize something is wrong. Some people use a water sprayer to spray the cat's face if it does something wrong. This is also perfectly acceptable and can be used if you are training your pet cat. Some cats like being sprayed (not many though!) so, for them, a loud noise such as a clap can be used instead.

If your kitty does something good, it is fine to reward it with a cat treat or a few minutes of playtime between you both. It will then associate its good behavior with receiving a treat or some kind of bonus.

Cats are naturally nocturnal but can be trained to sleep at night. A cat pouncing on you at five in the morning expecting food can be inconvenient! If you get up and feed your pet cat, you are encouraging this behavior. Having a set feeding time and sticking to it will let the cat know it is pointless to wake you in the middle of the night because it is not going to get fed. Make sure you play with your pet cat in the daytime and provide it with toys so it is tired enough to want to sleep at night.

Different breeds need slightly different types of training. Some breeds can be quiet and shy and others might be more rambunctious. The important thing is to get to know your particular pet cat and see how it responds best to the training. The Japanese Bobtail, for example, is highly strung and resilient. This means it will keep stropping the couch even though you are shouting at it to stop because it is less intimidated by you than, for example, a Persian or Ragdoll cat. You can still train it - just alter your approach slightly.

Cat training is mostly about using common sense and making sure your pet cat has everything it needs for a happy life. Correct training and a lot of love and care will make sure the two of you have a happy relationship and a lot of fun together!

For more insights and additional information on Pet Cat Training please visit our web site at http://www.cat-pet-info.com

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Cat Behavior - How to Stop Bad Cat Behavior!

If you are a cat owner and suffering from a miserable cat behavior then to alleviate it, you must need to understand the reasons on which it is showing bad behavior. In this article I am going to discuss the problems and their solutions to stop the bad behaviors of kitties. Some of the cat behaviors are discussed below.

Cat's Aggressive Behavior

Most of the cat owners suffer a lot due to the aggressive behavior of their pets. The reason for such a behavior might be any of the following.

• If your cat is in any pain, it might show aggressive behavior by yelping or giving some scratches to its belongings. It is good to take it to the vet for proper check up.

• Another aggressive behavior in cats is known as redirect aggression. In this type of behavior, cats tend to show the aggression towards the source that disturbs it.

• A common behavior which has been observed in kitties is Play n Bite aggression that is when your kitty becomes habitual of swooping on your feet. If you are facing such a problem then you can ignore your pet for some time so that it comes out from the aggressive mood but you must need to teach your kitty to play with its toys only to get rid of this behavior for good.

Litter Box Avoidance

If you are facing the problem that your cat is used to keep itself away from litter box and you have to clean up all that. To solve this problem, first you need to get to know the reasons for which your pet is avoiding its litter box. Some of them are explained below.

• Cat may leave using its litter box due to the lack of cleanliness. As cats are used to keep themselves clean and tidy, they want their litter boxes clean and tidy as well. Being an owner, it is your responsibility to clean the litter box after every two days with a soap and water. You can use ammonia cleaner which will appeal the cat to use it.

• You should try to put cat's litter box in a silent, quiet and noiseless place because kitties may get scared of noisy places and may leave a fear scent for not entering that place in near future.

Michael Podgoetsky advocates pet health and vitality through his avid research on products that ensure immunity boosting effects and disease-fighting features. You may access his findings at Your Cat's Health and Cat Behavior

Biting Cat Behavior Prevention

"Why is my cat so mean?" This was a question posed on a message board regarding a cat that would repeatedly bite her owner despite the fact that the owner loved the cat dearly and constantly petted, fawned over and otherwise treated the cat nicely. Well, the short answer to the question is that the cat is not being mean. It is simply being a cat and cats may bite for a number of reasons. For example, did you know sometimes when a cat bites it may be trying to convey it loves its owner? Yes, biting cat behavior can be relatively complex and in order to understand this behavior one need to examine it closely.

If there was one common biting cat behavior that is annoying (and frightening) to people it is when a cat mildly bites your hand when you pet it. Usually, this type of behavior is not so much aggressive as much as it is the cat's only way of saying "Enough! Stop petting me!" When the cat does this it would be best to just leave the cat alone. Similarly, all cats - 100% of them - will wrap their front and rear paws around your arm and chomp (lightly) into it if you rub their mid-section. This is a primal protection behavioral reaction that is instinctive and not really a sign of over aggression. Again, not all biting is about aggression; however, there are instances where the biting does become benignly aggressive.

Probably the most common instance of benign cat biting behavior is when cat thinks it can play with your hands as in the same way it can with toys. (Cats bite their toys, remember) You must let your cat know that hands are not toys and they are not for biting! If you cat tries to bite your hands when you pet it in a playful manner PULL YOU HAND AWAY and stop petting it. Whatever you do, do not encourage cat biting behavior as this will ingrain a really bad habit that will become very difficult to break down the road.

The second most common instance of benign biting cat behavior occurs when a cat is petted in areas where it is overly sensitive. There is a way to break the cat out of this habit, but it takes a little patience. Now, a cat will never bite you when you pet it on top of its head because this is not a generally sensitive area so you use this to your advantage by slowly moving your hand beyond the cat's head to its torso region by about a half an inch. Over an extended period of time, you increase your petting area by an additional half an inch. This will gradually wean the cat out of being oversensitive and, hopefully, will break him out of the habit of biting.

As such, biting cat behavior is not because the cat is mean as much as it is because the cat picked up some bad habits, but fear not - these habits can be easily broken if you have the patience!

Are you tired of your cat biting you, your friends and loved ones? When biting cat behavior [http://www.catloverslounge.com/article/biting-cat-behavior] causes problems with visitors in your home. You need to train your cat to change their behavior. Jennifer McDonnell has helped thousands of cat owners over the years with training their cat to drop their bad habits. You cant learn how to prevent your cat from biting ever again at [http://www.catloverslounge.com]

A Veterinarian’s thoughts on Specific Life Stage Diets

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In our first installment of “Ask the Doc,” we caught up with Dr. Tim, and asked him if specific life stage foods are indeed necessary, or if they’re just good marketing by the pet food brands. Here is what the doc had to say, you may be surprised by his view!

Do older dogs and cats have nutritional needs that differ from younger dogs and cats, as a general rule? I don’t believe so. Many dog food companies and veterinarians will tell you that a dog is a senior once he or she turns seven years old, and at that point they’d be better off with a senior diet – but it’s not that cut and dried. Every dog and cat is different. For instance, I ran two dogs that were ten years old in the 2009 Iditarod and they finished strong. Were they on a senior diet? No – they simply ate as nature intends for a highly active canine to eat. Is the “Senior Diet” marketing, pure and simple? Heck yes!

My belief is that specific life stage and senior pet diets are pure hype. The best way to feed a dog, regardless of their age, is a diet that consists of a minimum of 26% protein and 16% fat. A dog’s metabolism is naturally geared to respond to these percentages, so accordingly I recommend an “All Life Stages Diet” as opposed to a diet that addresses a perception rather than a reality.

Of course you’re going to notice your companion slowing down as he or she ages, and we’re all a little sad when we acknowledge that Buster just can’t get on the bed anymore without a boost. But does that natural aging process warrant a diet change? No! Those fat and protein requirements remain the same, and barring any liver or kidney issues or diabetes, as diagnosed by your veterinarian, there is no need to buy into a specific life stage diet.

And while it seems like a convenience and a time saver to feed your dog a senior diet that contains glucosamine and chondroitin and all the other built in supplements, the fact of the matter is that the amount of those supplements in the feed is not adequate to address any issue; it is cost prohibitive and simply “window dressing” for the vast majority of pet food manufacturers. If your veterinarian recommends a supplement, give a supplement; it’s the only way to ensure your pet is getting a useful dose.

The same goes for cats; the higher the overall protein and fat the better, which logically lowers the carbohydrates in their diet. And again, if there is a medical issue that develops with the cat, then it may be medically prudent to adjust the amounts of protein and fat in the diet; but as a rule, the more digestible a protein is, the better a dog or cat can handle it – medical issue or not.

The specific life stage diets are pure marketing by pet food manufactures, who grasp onto a human trend and apply it to dog and cat nutrition. Are there some human trends in diets that can relate to dogs and cats? Maybe, but you shouldn’t anthropomorphize the dog and cat diet based on our own. A dog is not a small person, and the cat is not a small dog. Feed your pets the way they are meant to be fed, and you will have a healthy animal no matter what their age.

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Been Bitten by Your Cat Yet?

It is unusual for cats to be aggressive towards humans unless they are mishandled,but if they have not had much handling as kittens then they may develop the petting and biting syndrome

We all know it so well!

This adorable cat sitting on our laps purring while it enjoys your stroking hand and then quick as a flash it has its claws around your hand and sinks its teeth into your flesh while its back legs beat painfully at your arms!

You get the appearance that at first your cat behaves like a kitten enjoying the cuddle and then suddenly it becomes an adult who feels maybe trapped and fearful so it kicks out.

If this happens with your cat then try to limit yourself to short sessions of petting your cat [if you want to save your arms!]

When it sits on your lap don t try and cradle it but leave it free to get down from your knee when it wishes.

Do not try and rub its tummy or back legs and after a few minutes put it down.

Your cat may then want to initiate more contact as it will gradually start to feel under less threat.

If your cat is normally quite docile and has suddenly become aggressive then check that it has not developed an allergic reaction to anything.

If you have started to use any new household cleaners stop them for a week and see what happens.

You could try changing the diet from tinned food to fresh chicken or fish and see if this makes a difference. The recipe of the canned food he normally eats may have changed to include another additive.

Then there is the cat that claws into your ankles when you walk past and pounces on your out-stretched hand and inflicts minor woulds how many of those have we met?

I know I have met a few horrors in my past. One in particular in my mother in laws house in S.Africa. An ardent cat lover with 6 of them in the house ,all strays and waifs picked from various localities around the town. The most beautiful of all a pure white with green eyes had a favorite spot in the hall well hidden behind a bookcase. Any unsuspecting poor soul that walked past was liable to for attack. Not on the ankles but a full blown airborne launch onto the arm of the unsuspecting visitor. A scary experience I can tell you!

If a cat is a real biter and scratcher then it could be suffering from under-stimulation. It might work to let it outside for a while and even play chase and pounce games with a toy mouse,this may work wonders.

Kathy Davison is a Health Studies lecturer in the UK. She lectures on Humans and Animals health and Behavior

[http://www.YourDogMyCat.com]

Are Outside Cat Enclosures the Solution to Common Cat Behavior Problems?

Indoor cat owners can solve the most common cat behavior problems by providing their feline with a safe outside cat enclosure or catio. Understanding why feline cats behave they way they do is an important first step to changing their behavior and enjoying your pet.

There are four main types of feline behavior that tell us when our cats are either anxious, territorial, bored or unhappy. It is natural for your feline to exhibit these types of behaviour from time to time. If your cat decides to claw furniture in your home this may be a sign that they are in need of something fun to scratch on. Sharpening their claws feels good to cats. Providing a cat enclosure and some cat trees, condos or scratching posts will help eliminate this behavior.

Felines which have access to the outdoors in a safe secure outdoor cat enclosure will often be less destructive to their cat toys than those indoors. It is no secret that cats enjoy fresh air and being active outdoors. Building a catio will provide a stimulating environments for your kitty. Fresh air, sunshine and green grass can help keep your cat happy and healthy.

When your pet sprays to mark its territory this is often a sign of multiple cat behavioural issues and is stress related. Felines like to have their own space and when they are only indoors, they can often become overly anxious and mark their areas when they feel that other felines are infringing on them. Catios or outdoor cat enclosures are a great way to give them access to more space and lessen the frustration of feeling cooped up indoors. Your furry friend will experience a greater sense of freedom and it will help decrease the spraying behavior.

A very common problem for outdoor cats is the natural predatory behaviours or hunting. After all these animals are genetic descendants of a great predator line. Although it is apparent the cats hunt for the sport of it and not necessarily due to hunger, felines love to hunt and proudly bring home rodents and birds which often carry sicknesses and will cause an urgent trip to the vet. An outdoor cat enclosure gives your kitty a safe place to play while keeping it away from dangerous predators, and illness. It also helps keep the bird population safe from your furry friend.

Catios or outside cat enclosures are safe solutions to help with common cat behavior problems and help you understand whether your cat is anxious, territorial, bored or unhappy. With som many new Catio designs, you will easily find a catio DIY project that is right for you.

Samantha H Nichols is the proud owner of six stray cats rescued from the local shelter. She is part of a pro animal community bringing awareness to cat containment and safely allowing your cat outdoors in outdoor cat enclosures known as catios. Visit the Catio Designs Website for tips about how to build a cat enclosure and to keep your cats safe and happy.

Cat's Play - Active Play and Attention - A Lifetime of Love Playing With Your Feline Friend

The Hidden Benefits of Playing With Your Cat

Playing with your cat probably is not something you think about very often. We all enjoy playing with kittens. But once those little bundles of energy grow up, cat owners tend to stop playing with them. Maybe that's because they think cats are independent and prefer being left alone. And to a certain extent that is true about a cat.

But playing with your cat is actually an important part of responsible cat care. Besides being fun, playing with your cat is an excellent way to give your pampered pet some exercise. And the cat will not even realize it!

Playing with your cat helps keep your cat from becoming bored, too. That is really important because a bored cat is more likely to develop behavioral problems. Chewing or scratching furniture, aggressiveness, and a tendency to shy away from others are just a few of the problems bored cats develop. A well-established cat care routine can keep this from happening.

Believe it or not, playing with your cat benefits you, too. It is a great way to relieve stress. Throwing a small ball or fuzzy mouse around or dangling some string to see how high your cat will jump is all it takes to start relaxing. Give it a try tonight and you'll see.

Don't be surprised if one result of playing with your cat is a closer bond between the two of you. Cats might be independent, but they need love and attention.

How much time should you spend playing with your cat? A few minutes a day, a couple times each day is sufficient. Even if you are busy, it should not be hard to work that amount of time into your daily cat care routine. And don't worry. When your cat is ready to stop, it will let you know by simply walking away.

Playing with your cats is one method of relaxation and exercise for both them and you. Come to my blog at http://yournewpets.com and find interesting tips and free special reports. Subscribe to our newsletter and we will keep you up to date on your new pets.

Research breeding facility raided – 2500 dogs saved!

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SAVED!

After years of protests targeting the facility and its mistreatment of animals, advocates are celebrating the closure of Greenhill Farm. Thirty rangers from Italy’s forest service raided the notorious breeding facility Wednesday and shut it down.

Located in Montichiari, close to the town of Brescia in northern Italy, Greenhill has drawn fire from activists for breeding thousands of Beagles for vivisection laboratories, and raising them in inhumane conditions.

Following the raid, officials said three employees were already under investigation for animal cruelty. The 2,500 dogs living on the property were seized, and are being held there until they can be relocated.

The raid occurred just months after after a thousand anti-vivisection activists stormed the compound to liberate puppies. A few protesters were arrested, but many believe that the attention the incident drew led officials to take a closer look at Greenhill.

Animal rights activists say the closure of Greenhill represents a massive victory in the war against animal testing.

“It’s the first good news of the year and I am happy it’s coming from Italy,” said French film star and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot. “This dog farm of shame must permanently close its doors because we have no right to abandon thousands of dogs in hell,” she said.

The Italian senate is now considering a provision to ban the breeding of dogs, cats and primates for research purposes.

More information on this here. Please note, there are some graphic photos, please do not click the link if you are faint of heart.

If you’d like to save money on your pet’s food with PetFlow, please click here to visit PetFlow.com. Use coupon code BLOG10 to save $10 on your first $40+ purchase!

Please click LIKE below and share this great news with everyone!

Other interesting posts to read:

Free World’s Best Cat Litter

How to deal with Anxiety in pets

Four life lessons you can learn from your cat

A must read about Grain Free pet foods!

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Keep it Clean: Five Tips for Bathing Your Dog

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We’re frequently asked for tips on how to bathe our four-legged friends and which products are best for which ailments. Fortunately, gone are the days of one-stop-shop pet shampoo! These days, many brands are coming out with unique formulas for a variety of common fur and skin ailments. Here are answers to five questions we’re commonly asked about pet hygiene.

How often should I bathe my dog?
According to the ASPCA, it’s recommended that you bathe your dog at least once every three months. That being said, dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors (as well as certain breeds) to need to be bathed a bit more frequently.

Can I use human shampoo on my dog?
Although some animals aren’t sensitive to the fragrances and chemicals in human shampoo, many are – thus it’s better to be safe than sorry. Shampoo with natural ingredients such as oatmeal and aloe are excellent for pets with sensitive skin. We highly recommend Pure Love’s Oatmeal Shampoo with Aloe, as it also is quite effective on dry skin.

My dog has dry, flaky skin. What is the best remedy?
Pramoxine is a great solution for pets with dry, flaky skin. Pure Love’s Pramoxine Shampoo has colloidal oatmeal as an added benefit in order to calm itchy skin. Pure Love also has a spray with Paramoxine and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids which work to nourish the skin and further control irritation. This product is a great option for those who want to provide relief to their dog or cat without having to bathe him. Finally, Pure Love also makes a wonderful Coal-Tar Shampoo for Dogs and Cats. Although the name sounds off-putting, Coal Tar is a great, natural way to calm your fubaby’s itchy, dry skin.

How can I help my dog ward off fleas, mosquitoes and ticks?
If you live in a rural, wooded area, it’s smart to protect your pet from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes – especially in the summer months. Neem “Protect” Shampoo by Ark Naturals doubles as a shampoo and insect repellent – and it’s natural! In fact, Neem has been used for thousands of years by the people of India, Asia and Africa as an insect repellant.

How can I brighten my dog’s white coat?
White dogs are majestic – but unfortunately, their coat can go from snowy white to “yellow snow” very quickly. There are many products on the market that can help whiten your pet’s coat and restore that “snow white” quality. We recommend Whitening Shampoo with Oatmeal – not only does it do wonders for your cat or dog’s coat, but it also has a delicious Pina Colada scent!

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Free 7LB of World’s Best Litter

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MEOW!

There’s litter…
There’s good litter…
There’s great litter…
There’s amazing litter…

And then…

There is THE WORLD’S BEST LITTER!

And for a very limited time, you can try a 7lb bag of World’s Best in your home, absolutely FREE. But before we tell you how to get it for free, take a look at what people have to say about World’s Best:

“”My daughter wanted to have a cat as a pet. I said absolutely not, invoking memories of disgusting litter boxes. I had cats all of my life, but the thought of having to change the litter again was awful! Then I discovered World’s Best Cat Litter™, and I was stunned at how clean it smelled and how easy it is to use. It also is a product that uses a clean renewable source, so I feel good inside and out. Thank you for making our lives better with our happy kitties.”"

“I have tried just about EVERY litter available on the market. I keep returning to World’s Best Cat Litter™. Why? Because it is the world’s best cat litter. Plain and simple.”

“I have tried several clumping litters and I find that World’s Best Cat Litter™ is the most effective in staying clumped and also dust-free which is not only safer for my 2 darling, loving cats, but makes cleaning easier.”

“We were as surprised as our cats at how we all liked World’s Best Cat Litter™. Lightweight, good clumping, stays in the box and not all over the floor and best of all no unpleasant artificial fragrance or urine odor. And it really last twice as long as anything we have ever used. And believe me, with three big cats in the house, it’s the best litter we have ever used.”

“We LOVE WBCL, have been using it ever since we were wee widdle ones. The multiple cat serves our needs just fine, clumps and controls any odors. We recommend it to all our friends and furfriends to give it a try, and we love the fact that its made from natural corn (we are a go green furmily you know). Thanks for giving us this opportunity to speak about our favorite product.”

The reviews just go on and on… We’re confident you’re going to LOVE World’s Best Litter too, so here’s how you can go about getting your very own FREE 7lb bag of this amazing litter.

1. Click here to order any 7lb bag of World’s Best (there are 3 different varieties to choose from)

2. Click here to download and print out the World’s Best 100% rebate form.

3. Mail in your rebate form to World’s Best, and you will receive a check back for the FULL purchase price!

And to make this deal a little sweeter, here’s a coupon for FREE SHIPPING on any $39 order! Just check out with code BLOG39 and your shipping will be waived too! We have many different products for your amazing cats. Whether you’re looking for a laser toy, a scratch pad, or even some amazing canned food, we’ve got that too.

Oh… And since we cat lovers like to stick together, please click the LIKE button below so that other kitty lovers can get in on this deal too! Meow!

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What makes your pet special? Tell their story.

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You think your pet is special, right? Have they changed your life for the better? Have they given you unconditional love when you needed it most? Are they looking at you right now with their beautiful eyes?

We want to hear their story! How did they come into your life? What makes them special?

Please reply to this post in the comments below. And after you’ve written your comment, please read all the other stories and feel free to reply if you loved the story!

We at PetFlow.com think every pet is special, no matter the species, age, or breed. We think they’re so special, in fact, that we’ve gone out and partnered with some of the toughest to find, high quality, pet food brands to make those brands available for pet parents who care deeply about the wellbeing of their pets! Now, instead of spending countless hours in the car driving to an out-of-the-way pet store, you can spend time with your friends, family, and your pets – and PetFlow.com will deliver your pet’s food… right to your door.

Oh, and here’s a code for $10 off a $40+ purchase at PetFlow.com. Just Click Here and check out with code BLOG10!

Click “Like” if you think your pet is special!

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Product Trial Invitation for Small Breed Puppy owners!

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Hi Puppy!

Extra-small dogs have unique physiological distinctions, such as jaw size, bone strength and digestive systems. And even though extra-small dogs do share many of the same nutritional needs as mini dogs, their difference in size means those needs must be met in distinctly different ways.  So, if you’ve got a small breed puppy, then you are invited to participate in this amazing product trial conducted by Royal Canin and PetFlow!

You can order up to 2 3-lb bags of Royal Canin X-Small Puppy Dry Dog food for only $2.99 each! (Regularly $14.99 each)

This food is developed to support the high energy needs of very small puppies during

Try this product!

their short, yet intense growth period.  It has proven kibble technology that helps reduce the formation of tartar and it helps support the puppy’s natural defenses with antioxidant complex.

We only have enough trials to accommodate approximately 200 customers, so please do not wait if you’re interested in participating!

Please CLICK HERE to participate in the trial!

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