Petsmu

Being the owner of a cat can be a very rewarding experience and many cat owners have great, loving relationships with their cats. Others don’t have it so easy. Cats are independent and stubborn creatures and often aren’t willing to comply with the rules of the house, and this can cause many problems between the cat and his owner. Training a cat doesn’t have to be a difficult task and if successful, will give you the loving relationship you wish to have with your cat.

To train your cat successfully, there are several things to keep in mind to get optimal results. First, the earlier you can start training your cat the better. Kittens will pick up on the learned behaviors faster than adult cats, although training an adult cat is not impossible. Whether you’re getting a kitten or an adult cat, the sooner you start training your cat, the better. Once you bring them home, start teaching them what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors aren’t. When training a cat, always remember to use positive reinforcements for good behaviors, rather than punishing them for being naughty.

Whether you are training a cat to use the litter box, to not scratch the furniture, or to do tricks such as playing fetch, you must be consistent with the training techniques you choose. Whatever method you choose for training your cat, be sure to stick to it. If you are constantly changing your techniques or aren’t consistent with the way you react or reward your cat for a specific behavior, your cat won’t know what to expect from you. This will only confuse your cat and they probably won’t behave the way you want them to. Continue Reading »

There are some simple things you can get yourself aware of while taking care of your cat’s health. Realize that health problems with pets are a common thing.It doesn’t matter what breed of cat you have but cat health problems are inevitable and will be there. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.

Worms such as tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms etc. infect cats and can be fatal. Your cat can become weaker day by day if this is ignored, hence get him tested by a veterinary doctor. Hairballs also cause cats a lot of problems. Usually , cats swallow the loose hair that comes from their coats and this will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cat’s stool. Although most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems but sometimes, a hairball can pass through to a cat’s intestine, creating a blockage which can be threatening. Cats can also suffer from constipation because of hairballs and hence it is best to get it solved as soon as possible by visiting your vet.

When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter box or when the cat’s urine starts to smell really strong, it may be due to Urinary tract infection which is also a common health problem with cats.Urinary tract infection is more common with male cats that haven’t been neutered, although females can suffer from this problem as well. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

Cat eye health care is also an important part of the responsibility of owning a cat. Note that your cat’s eyes should be clear and when you see the outer part of the eyeball it should be white. Keep your cat’s eyes free of mucus by gently cleaning his or her eyes.Apply a neutralizing ointment before bathing the cat or before flea treatments.Keep hair out of your cat’s eyes, this is particularly true Continue Reading »

Fatter cats may be cuddlier, but they don’t live as long as average weight cats. Sad but true. Fat cats are twice as likely to die in middle age. They are also 4.5 times more likely to develop diabetes, seven times more likely to become lame from arthritis and three times more likely to have skin problems.

About 20%-30% of domestic cats are obese, particularly older females.

It is important to recognize if your cat has a weight problem. To do this you need to be prepared to admit that you have played a role in this, however unwittingly. Nobody sets out to make their cat overweight…it can just sneak up on you.

How to tell if your cat is overweight
Cats at a healthy weight have a waist. If you have difficulty feeling your cat’s ribs when applying a small amount of pressure, you have a problem. When you look down at your cat, if you see a bulge around his stomach, he is overweight. An average weight cat’s sides will look pretty straight. Continue Reading »