Lisa Boote shows off the big boy in her life, 8kg cat Boss. Photo Kirsty Graham 260609-KG-094
By Amanda Durry Boss has always been a big cat. At 8kg, he’s always had big feet and a big head, but being big boned isn’t an excuse anymore. Boss is on a diet. The four-year-old was recently taken to the vet for a sore leg and his owners were given strict warnings about the health risks of him being so heavy. Owner Lisa Boote said Boss was big from the beginning. “We live in a farm area so he catches birds, rats and mice but he’s highly unmotivated. He’s never been playful so he doesn’t burn it all off. "We have two other cats that are fine, but they’re all on a diet now because it’s hard to control. “It’s hard to keep him on that diet because he’ll just go catch other things, but he’s lost half a kilo since he’s been on it. "We were told about the health problems he could have so knew we had to do something. He’s still a very happy cat though,” she said. And the Bootes are not alone with their big cat. Overweight animals are becoming a common sight at vet clinics around Ashburton. The biggest cat companion animal vet Justin Silcock has seen at his Vetlife Ashburton Veterinary Centre clinic was 11kg. “Weight in kilograms isn’t always a good indicator of how much fat an animal is carrying. "We use a condition score system that takes into account the natural variation in animal size due to individual or breed differences. “There’s usually a simple reason for an animal being overweight, whether it’s because too many treats are given at home or (in the case of cats) they may be getting fed by neighbours.” ee with obese pets are diabetes mellitus and degenerative joint disease (DJD or osteoarthritis). "These result in reduced life expectancy and unnecessary pain and suffering,” he said. Pets and Vets has a group dedicated to animal weight loss called the Podgy Pets Club. Vet nurse Lisa Pauletich is in charge of the group and said it was like Weight Watchers for animals. “If the vets have any consults with obese animals that need to be put on a prescription diet, they come in fortnightly for a weigh-in. It’s about education too. We teach the owners not to give them treats and to work together to help the animal. “We have had plenty of overweight animals, but use a body score system so can’t say what our biggest would have been. The average cat should weigh about 4 to 6kg, but it’s harder with dogs because of all the different breeds. “There are heaps of health risks with overweight animals like pancreatitis, arthritis, diabetes, liver problems, skin conditions and general bad digestive systems. “They can also take longer to recover from surgery and have a shorter lifespan,” she said. Mr Silcock said that taking control of an overweight animal’s diet was important. “Anyone who is worried about their pet’s weight is welcome to come along and ask about weight management and the best ways to measure body fat,” he said. “An essential part of our service is consulting with owners on routine care issues such as diet composition and feeding regimes. This is important because a lot of owners tend to overlook a little extra weight on their pets. “It’s far easier to prevent unnecessary weight gain than try and get the weight off a pet that is already too fat. “When an animal comes in for yearly vaccinations and health checks, it’s a good opportunity for owners to go over their animals’ feeding regime with their vet. “It is essential that weight loss in cats is a closely controlled process. Their livers have a finite ability to process mobilised body fats and when this is overcome, a kind of temporary liver failure can result,” he said. Miss Pauletich said it was important for owners to follow the labels on pet food containers. “On every bag there should be guidelines to follow and they shouldn’t be getting any more than that. An average cat shouldn’t be getting more than a cup of biscuits a day. “It can be hard to put cats on a diet, because they are natural predators and want to catch stuff. "You have to be strict and try keep them inside at night so they don’t get into scraps,” she said. June 29 2009
A two-month-old tiger cub made her first public appearance this weekend in a zoo in the eastern German town of Aschersleben. Born prematurely and abandoned by her mother, the baby is being hand-reared -- just like Berlin polar bear celebrity cub Knut in 2007.
People are always fascinated by zoo babies -- particularly when they've survived against the odds. Germany's latest bundle of beastly joy is a two-month-old white Bengal tiger born prematurely and abandoned by her mother at birth.
The female tiger cub, who has yet to be named, was introduced to the public this weekend in Aschersleben, in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
She is one of four babies born on April 5 to tiger lady Kiara. Because of the premature cubs' limited chance of survival, the mother followed instinct and abandoned them, the zoo said.
Weighing only 800 grams at birth, the baby tiger managed to survive thanks to the care of zookeepers. Her three little siblings died within days of being born.
Zoo director Dietmar Reisky raised the one remaining tiger cub in his own living room, feeding it a special formula every two hours.
The case has awakened fond memories of Berlin polar bear cub Knut, who was rejected by his mother and hand-reared from birth to become a worldwide celebrity in 2007.
Although the tiger cub is healthy, her chance of survival is still only 50-50, the zoo said.
The little one has some physical problems as a result of the premature birth, including a compressed ribcage causing shortness of breath. She also has difficulties walking because of a stiff hind leg -- but is reportedly improving.
The zoo's management said it was surprised by the birth because zookeepers hadn't noticed that Kiara was pregnant. White tigers are born with a genetic condition causing them to have none of the usual orange pigment in their fur, although they still have stripes.
First newborns found in their native Colorado by scientists since 2006
This lynx kitten is one of 10 born this spring in Colorado, according to researchers. The discovery of the kittens has buoyed the hopes of biologists overseeing the restoration of the long-haired mountain feline to Colorado. The discovery of the kittens after finding none the last two years and the location of some of the newborns outside what is considered the cats' core area have buoyed the hopes of biologists overseeing the restoration of the long-haired mountain feline to the Centennial State.
DENVER - The discovery of 10 lynx kittens this spring marks the first newborns documented in Colorado since 2006, heartening biologists overseeing restoration of the mountain feline.
The tuft-eared cats with big, padded feet were native to Colorado, but were wiped out by the early 1970s by logging, trapping, poisoning and development. They are listed as threatened on the endangered species list.
Biologists found no kittens the past two years, possibly partly because of a drop in the number of snowshoe hares, the cats' main food source.
This year, seven male and three female kittens were found in five dens.
More than 200 lynx from Alaska and Canada have been released in Colorado since 1999. Biologists don't know how many lynx are currently in the state.
Marketers are addressing the problem that you face as a cat lover. The odor that emanates from your cat's litter just lingers and lingers, and then you are left with the job of having to pick up the litter from the box and dispose of it. However a newer product on the market, flushable cat litter, helps to rid you of both these issues.
Flushable litter is easy to use because all you do is gather it up from the cat box and flush it straight away. No more carrying it down to waste receptacles.
This kind of litter is finer than clumping clay. It is also about 3 times costlier than the ordinary clumping clay. On the positive side, you don't have to use as much flushing litter as the ordinary variety. If it is not available in the local area, there are plenty of suppliers on the Internet who will take your order and deliver it to your very own doorstep,
Both types of litter have more or less the same environmental impact. One goes to a landfill; the other goes to make sewage and wastes water. The best choice is to get a litter that can be composted after having the dried stool removed.
Just be sure you observe your cat's behavior towards the flushable cat litter. Cats are creatures of habit and most don't accept the flushable litter. This acceptance is the key to the whole question of using flushable litter.
If your cat doesn't accept the flushable litter, it is worth a try to get your cat used to the new variety in a gradual way. Mix a fistful of flushable litter with the clumping clay. See whether Tabby accepts it. If so, go on increasing the quantity day by day, till one day it is 100% of the flushable variety. Don't flush the mixture down the toilet! When it is 100% of the flushable kind, then and only then can you flush it.
If your cat does not like using the flushable litter, you will have to go on as usual. If Tabby accepts it, then you can say goodbye to that horrible stench, and the walks to the waste receptacle.
Whichever way, the environment is going to get impacted by the cat's litter. The convenience of the flushable litter makes it very attractive to the keeper. All said and done, your cat's preference will decide the question: "To Flush Or Not To Flush!
About the Author:
Another way to avoid repeatedly cleaning up after your cat is to buy a self cleaning cat litter box. Visit www.CatLitterBoxesPlus to read about the many cat litter options on the market. You'll also discover the best way to remove cat odor should any accidents occur.
Cat Nurses Puppies At Quad City Shelter www.kwqc.com Updated: June 24, 2009 03:53 PM
The Rock Island County Animal Care and Control Center is sharing a remarkable story about a momma who lost her kittens, and is now nursing orphans. A stray black cat with white whiskers is nursing two blonde puppies who are just days old, as well as an abandoned black kitten. The shelter in Moline says it's extremely rare for cats to nurse animals other than their own, and this is a first for them.
Laurel Harmening says the puppies arrived four or five days ago, "came in and we didn't have a nursing mom but we had a nursing cat that we had just given a baby to, and we put them in on a chance she would take them and she's been a great mom."
The unwanted puppies were dropped off at the Moline Fire Department. They'll nurse a little longer and then be taken to a foster home, where a volunteer will bottle feed them. Harmening says it's important for the puppies to cuddle and be nurtured while nursing, even with a cat and even if only for a few days. They will come back to the shelter and be put up for adoption when they are about eight weeks old.
They'll have plenty of company when they return. In the last six weeks, the shelter has received about 800 unwanted pets and strays. Harmening encourages people who have lost a pet, to check to see if it wound up at the shelter.
thefrisky.com Meet Isabella, a modern-day Lassie. This golden retriever adopted three Bengal tiger cubs after their mother abandoned them. That’s right, tiger cubs. While raising her own litter last year, Isabella also weaned cubs Nasira, Anjika, and Sidani and became their surrogate mother. The alternative animal family was so unbelievably adorable that enough people flocked to the Safari Zoological Park in Kansas and the zoo was saved from shutting down. But all good things must come to end. Now that the tigers have grown up a bit, they must say goodbye to their “mother.” It’s true, tigers are instinctively predatory and dangerous so it is safer for Isabella to be separated as the cubs grow, but I wish it wasn’t so. Even the zoo’s owners Tom and Allie Harvey have chronicled the animal family in a book called Tiger Pups and are gearing up for the tigers’ first birthday celebration. Should be a purrrrrfect party.
The San Diego Zoo shows off a baby cheetah that was bred with bio-acoustics to help the mating mood. Cub was born as a single cub to first-time mother Kenya. Because singletons are often rejected and Kenya does not have previous experience, animal keepers stepped in to assist. The cub was born Feb. 18, 2009 and can be seen at the Wild Animal Park's Animal Care Center.
In a world first, a rare baby cheetah owes its life to a doctored recording of a recently discovered male call that triggers ovulation.
Kenya, a first-time cheetah mom, gave birth to the healthy female cub on February 18 at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, park officials announced earlier this month.
The cub is a direct result of research reported earlier this year describing a male vocalization called a stutter-bark.
Scientists at the park's Conservation Research had found that male stutter-barks trigger females' reproductive systems to start releasing eggs.
The finding was a potential boon, as cheetahs can be difficult to breed in captivity because females don't have regular ovulation cycles.
But there was still a catch: In captivity, certain females need to mate with particular males to maintain genetic diversity among the big cats.
Vocal Competition
Traditionally, scientists have found that their "arranged marriages" for the cheetahs don't always suit the animals' fancies—a situation that could have been aggravated by the fact that the recorded stutter-bark was from the park's dominant male cheetah.
If a female cheetah heard the call of the dominant—and probably more desirable—male, she might reject the male chosen for her as a good genetic match, the scientists feared.
"To compensate for this, I modified the dominant male stutter-bark call slightly using an acoustic software program," said Matt Anderson, the lead bioacoustics researcher on the project.
The software produced a stutter-bark that sounded authentic but was totally different from the calls of any of the park's males.
The audio manipulation not only worked, it surprised the scientists by inspiring a bit of the real thing. "We were delighted when the stutter-barks from this 'new' member of the cheetah group stimulated all our males to start stutter-barking themselves," Anderson said.
"The females heard these calls and started breeding with the males that we wanted them to breed with."
Shortly afterward Kenya was found to be pregnant, and three months later she gave birth to a single cub. She produced a daughter, but because it was only a single baby, and her first cub, caretaking was a bit of a problem. So the baby was brought to the Park’s Animal Care Center and will be incorporated into our cheetah education program. For now, if you want to see the baby, she is at the Wild Animal Park under the watchful care and supervision of the staff to make sure that she grows and develops into a healthy cheetah.
Fred Bercovitch is head of Behavioral Biology at San Diego Zoo Conservation Research.
Park staff are hopeful that the success could lead to more captive cheetah births in the future.
Your cat can be affected by various parasitic contagions. Though quite a few cat worms can be curable at home, it is still advisable to take your cat to the vet. In case of contact with infected cats, humans can also be affected by these infections.
The following are various types of cat worms:
* Tapeworms: A common type of tapeworms in cats is Dipylidium Caninum. Cats infested with fleas are very likely to get tapeworms. Again cats that are involved in hunting wildlife with tapeworm is likely to be infested. Once the eggs are inside the cats intestine, they break down and mature into adult tapeworms. Then it attaches itself to the wall of the intestine and starts feeding on its nutrients. Then the tail segment fall off and goes through the cat stool. These segments bear the eggs and resemble rice grains when dried.
It must be noted that Tapeworms is irremediable with treatment without veterinarian's prescription. A veterinarian visit is a must.
* Hookworms: Very thin and small worms, Hookworms attach themselves to the wall of the cat's intestine and suck blood. Cats contract hookworms through the ingestion of soil fouled with hookworm eggs. Symptoms are bloody diarrhea, anemia, weakness and loss of stamina. Hookworms can be deadly, even result to death if not timely treated.
Its diagnosed by studying stool sample of the cat.
* Roundworms: Virtually all kittens are born with roundworm larvae in their tissues. They are migrated from the mothers tissues right from the time the kitten was in the mothers womb. Cats can contract roundworms by eating on infected lizards, birds and bugs or also by ingesting fouled soil. The larvae migrates to the intestinal pathways and stay in the small intestine and develop into adult roundworms. The eggs are passed in the cat stool and they can re-infect the kitten, other dogs or cats, if the fouled feces are eaten.
Roundworms can be disastrous. If you see symptoms like pot belly and poor growth in your kitten, then visit the vet straightaway.
Precautions:
* Remove feces from the backyard on a regular basis. * De-worm your cat under vet supervision. * Have the cat stool examined regularly in repeated cases. * Don't mix as they are malicious and can be fatal and do not give any other wormer if your cat is presently under medication. * Always visit a veterinarian if you see any symptoms of cat worms.
All cat worms can affect humans as well. And they also have great prospects of re-infecting your pet. It is highly recommended to get your cat treated by a vet if you see or even suspect any kind of cat worms.
About the Author:
Having read this article, you may want to Protect Your Pets From Fleas And Worms because like they say, "prevention is better than cure" it is better you learn how to keep keep these pet loving creatures away from your pets as well as family members. This and other unique content '' articles are available with free reprint rights.
Spring is finally here. The snow has all melted away and the weather is warming up. Your pet kitten is growing up into a cat and you are considering get your pet spayed or neutered.
This procedure is a must for families with children as pets that haven't been fixed may act more aggressively when in heat. If you are having any doubts about going through with this important procedure keep in mind that not only does the surgery keep the animal population in check bu there are a slew of health benefits associated with it. Getting your pet spayed or neutered is as simple as picking up the phone and calling your local vet and making an appointment.
Still unsure about having your pet fixed? Before making a final choice consider all of the benefits of spaying or neutering. After the procedure your pet will be much more calm and stress free. The stress your pet feels comes from the natural urge to go out and mate. You pet will be much less aggressive and territorial.
What needs to be done? 1. Make an appointment with your local vet or clinic. 2. Routine blood work will need to be done (to check for certain diseases). 3. Bring your pet in and either pick them up that day or the next.
That's it, simple as that. You pet will be much better off having this procedure done. The procedure is safe and very common. This is the best way to control accidental pregnancy and the overpopulation of the animal community. Do the right thing for your pet and have the spayed or neutered. For more information you can visit the ASPCA.org.
wmur.com EXETER, N.H. -- A cat aptly named Ugly is attracting a lot of attention at an Exeter veterinarian, where clients say they can't take their eyes off his striking appearance.
The cat's full name is Ugly Bat Boy. He's bald in most places except for flowing fur on his chest, and he spends his days on a warm computer at Exeter Veterinary Hospital. Bat Boy has become something of a local star.
Ugly Bat Boy gets a lot of stares at the Exeter Veterinary Hospital.
"People come in and take pictures of him on their cell phones," said veterinary employee Christie Hartnett. "He's just great. He's Dr. (Stephen) Bassett's little wonder cat."The cat's striking appearance is normal, for him. He was part of a litter of four with a sister that looked just like him. That kitten died at only a few weeks old, but that was long enough for Bassett to become enamored with Bat Boy.
"The owner knew that I liked the way the sister looked, and I came in from lunch one day and this cat was sitting in a cage, and the owner said Dr. Bassett liked this cat, so that's it," Bassett said.
The cat is mostly bald except for hair on his chest.
Workers said many people who come into the building can't really believe what they're seeing. But they said despite appearances, Bat Boy has a nice disposition and real inner beauty."The impression from clients that come in is he's not real because he just sits so still, and when he does move, he scares them, but they think he's mesmerizing," Hartnett said.The office staff was getting so many questions about the cat that they put up a couple of fliers saying he's about 8 years old and perfectly normal in every way -- just ugly. He has the run of the place and all the attention he can handle."He likes it here," Bassett said. "He's comfortable. He likes the people petting him. So, he enjoys it."
NEW YORK (WABC) -- It's been said that cats have nine lives. Lucky may have used more than one earlier this month.
The cat fell 26 stories out of his owner's apartment window.
"I guess he thought he was safer than he actually was," Keri Hostetler said.
The window in Keri's home office was only open 6 inches, but that was wide enough for Lucky, a curious cat, to squeeze through.
Lucky's terrifying fall and extraordinarily graceful landing were captured on film.
A window washing crew across the street took photos. (see video of pictures) First of Lucky perched dangerously on the ledge, and then a stomach-turning shot of Lucky midair. Finally, they captured Lucky, after landing, on his feet on a neighbor's balcony 26 stories below.
Amazingly, Lucky escaped with minor injuries.
Three-year old Lucky truly lived up to his name. Now, after a brief hospital stay, he is happy to be home. His owner says she hopes other high-rise cat owners take note....
"No windows ever open, ever again," Hostetler said.
Animal hospitals are acquainted with the fact that total nutrition for cats is a cautious guess, at best. But do not be concerned. Premium health for your cat does not have to be a lost cause. Nonetheless, it can be lost inside a bag of vacant nutritional guarantees.
Often, you'll read that bone meal, or meat meal, or corn meal is the primary ingredient in your cat's packaged food. That doesn't mean that it will prove to be the best morning or evening meal.
Rather, holistic cat feeding, tailored to your specific pet, is more likely to promote your cat's best shot at good health and longevity.
Unrefined foods for cats supply nutrients that are more readily accessible for cats' systems to use. Unrefined foods are also more capable in their transfer of energy. Moreover, if you choose organically produced food, you choose to do away with the chemicals that can obstruct nutrient and energy digestion. These are all advantages that hardly any processed foods can claim.
Certain cat symptoms, such as constipation, obesity, malnutrition, skin and coat complications, and allergies can result from improper feeding. And not uncommonly, diseases of the eyes, heart, gums, kidneys, and liver are possible. Additionally, studies have proven that cancer thrives when the diet is lacking.
Ask a veterinarian, and they're likely to suggest a particular diet for puppy care, or during a cat's pregnancy, or in response to any number of cat health problems or sicknesses. Your veterinarian or cat nutritionist can also propose an assortment of natural instructions, designed for your healthy cat's age, weight, and activity level.
Pet medicine is over prescribed. Some canine pharmaceuticals are critical for survival, but some are used to treat cat symptoms that can be prevented with an appropriate diet. For nearly all cat's, the best medicine is the food that he or she eats. Despite the fact that no one can isolate the precise percentages of nutrients, fat, and protein necessary for optimal health of every animal, a diet made up of real food is always best. Your veterinary nutrition specialist can formulate a pure food meal plan designed to your cat's particular needs, or to reduce the chances of the development of specific needs.
To give your cat the best opportunity to thrive, feed foods that will remedy health problems, or foods to maintain his or her already good health; make regular visits to your pet's vet; and brush your cat's teeth often. And, don't forget that appropriate and timely vaccinations give your cat the best shot at fighting common, and sometimes deadly, illnesses.
Don't mistake endearing cat food advertisements and heartfelt promises for good cat nutrition. Convenience is really the only advantage that they can offer. And please, don't confuse meat meal with real meat, or with a real meal.
About the Author:
Dr. Omaboe has been practicing veterinary medicine for over a quarter of a century. His animal hospital, Cabinet Veterinaire International offers specialized cat diets tailored to your cats needs. To find out more about custom diets are you are encouraged to visit the Cabinet Veterinaire International website.
No matter what type of pet you have, you will eventually have to deal with behavior and training. Many people believe that only dogs need training, but that is not true. Cats can benefit from some training, as well. In fact, understanding cat behavior and training methods can help you and your cat to get along much better and live harmoniously.
Don't be alarmed. Many people have heard that training a cat is difficult because cats are stubborn and independent. It certainly can be if you use the wrong methods. However training a cat using the right methods is simple especially once you have a general understanding of how a cat learns. You need to keep in mind that a cat learns through experiences sort of like a small child. Your cat learns to avoid they will avoid doing things that are unpleasant. They will spend more time doing things that bring them attention, praise, pleasure and of course treats!
The question people still have is if cats are so easily trained then why are so many cats still untrained? The simple answer is: People are simply making giant mistakes when training their cats. They are going against a cats' natural learning process. They are rewarding a cat for bad behavior and doing nothing for good behavior. For example: If your cat is meowing and you end up stopping the meowing with a tasty treat or some attention. This has just taught your cat the excessive meowing gets them loves and treats so they end up meowing more often.
Cat owners are frustrated and confused when their cat training practices are not successful. Well, if you are trying to train them like a dog it won't work. Using punishment to train your cat like using a spray bottle to spray your cat when they are doing something wrong doesn't make them afraid of behaving badly it just makes them avoid you since you are the one spraying them. If you're are the one making the environment unpleasant they associate the punishment with you.
One of the things you must do is provide your cat with an environment that encourages good behavior and discourages bad behavior. The litter box can often be an area where problems occur. If your cat does not seem to want to use the litter box then the problem could be with the litter box and not the cat. A litter box should be in a private place, away from noise and kept clean. Additionally, other cats or animals should not be using the same little box as your cat. Providing a litter box that gives your cat privacy and that is clean will provide an encouraging place for him and should help stop accidents.
Another common issue is scratching. In order to feed your cats natural need to scratch you need to provide him with a scratching post and encourage him to use it. In the meantime, cover the areas that the cat seems to prefer to scratch on. Eventually the cat should take to the scratching post and ignore his old scratching spot.
To have a healthy relationship with your cat avoid punishment at all costs, and remember they love attention. Popular belief is that cat are anti-social nothing cat be further from the truth. They are just independent. Cat's will do anything for a little attention just make sure to give to them when they are not misbehaving or you will reinforce that bad behavior with a pleasant association. An important note to remember is to take your cat to the vet before you decide their bad habit is a behavioral problem. They may be ill and need medical attention and that's why they are acting out.
Take a little time to understand your cat. It will strengthen your relationship with them and keep their behavior under control.
House training seems to be a major reason many people hesitate to get a family pet. Cats however rarely need much training. Just buy a litter box, add some cat litter, and oftentimes that's all that is needed.
Many kittens are already litter trained by their mother so there's really not much for you to do. Once you are sure he knows where the box is, you rarely need to worry about him going someplace else. But you will have to make a decision, and that is deciding what type of litter will work best.
If you haven't been to the pet store recently, you may be surprised by, and even a bit overwhelmed with all the choices available to you. So let's take a quick look at some of the more popular products.
If cost is a primary factor, clay litter is always a good bet. It's cheaper and was one of the first commercial litters available. But it does have some drawbacks. You will need to clean it and change it more frequently. Clay absorbs liquid, but it also absorbs odors, and nobody wants their house to smell like cat waste. And if by chance your kitten is prone to allergies, clay may cause some problems. Dust tends to fly up as your pet scratches around in his box.
Clumping cat litter has replaced basic clay as the litter of choice for most pet owners. As soon as your cat goes, the litter works with the moisture in the waste and forms large clumps. That means all you need to do is scoop out the clumps, there's no need to change the entire box. Then just put in more litter to replace what you just scooped. Clumping litter also comes with various scents to help hide the smell. So what are the drawbacks? Well some cats will eat the clumped waste. Watch your kitten to make certain this is not a problem.
Silica litters use water, sand, and crystals to control the odor and moisture. You've seen those little packets in new shoes or some medicines. Those packets are there to absorb moisture and contain silica. Because of it's moisture absorbing capabilities, those same crystals are now used in cat litter. You scoop out the solid waste and the liquid is absorbed by the crystals. On the down side there is no clumping. On the plus side, this litter is usually biodegradable, returning to a sandy base when decomposed.
Paper litter is also becoming more popular, especially among those concerned with the environment. It is made from recycled paper or pellets. It's very absorbent, weighs very little, and of course, is also biodegradable.
Wood litters, in particular pine cat litter, are also biodegradable and quickly growing in popularity. Softwoods are great at absorbing liquids and odors. No chemicals are needed to help with the process meaning you get a more natural litter.
Once you decide on the type of litter you want to use, your cat will undoubtedly let you know if he agrees with your selection. Some cats for example don't like the smell of pine litter. Others won't use silica because the crystals don't feel good on their paws. In either case, your cat will tell you whether or not he approves by either going or not going in his box.
The key is to become as informed as possible about all the different options. Then you can make an intelligent selection. Of course you'll still have to run it by your cat to see if he approves.
About the Author:
For additional details on these and other cat litter options visit CatLitterBoxesPlus.com. You'll also learn about various litter boxes including the automatic cat litter box that makes clean up easy.
A Canadian mother has fought off a cougar with her bare hands after it pinned down her three-year old daughter in a forest.
A cougar was hunted down after the attack in Canada
The child, named Maya, escaped with only superficial wounds after the attack near the town of Brackendale, 40 miles north of the western city of Vancouver.
But the cougar, an adult male, was tracked down and killed by conservation officers on Wednesday, reports said.
The girl's father Pablo Espinosa told public broadcaster CBC that his daughter thought the wild cat wanted to play.
Maya asked: "Why didn't the kitty play nice?" Mr Espinosa said.
The girl and her mother Maureen Lee were walking on a wooded trail with their dog when the cougar pounced.
I just jumped in there and wedged myself between the cougar and her on the ground.
Mother Maureen Lee
"All of a sudden it just flew on her, rolled her a couple of times and grabbed her," Ms Lee told CBC.
"She was on her back and (the cougar) had his paws on her head, and I just knew I had to react quick.
"So I just jumped in there and wedged myself between the cougar and her on the ground."
Maureen said she then threw the big cat off her back, grabbed her daughter and ran.
Maya suffered puncture wounds to her left arm and head, but was reportedly recovering well.
Conservation officers used dogs to track down several cougars in the area after more than 30 encounters with the big cats were reported in the past 10 days, CBC said.
GUANGZHOU, China - The gray tabby cat with hazel eyes and a white nose scrunched at the bottom of a stack of metal cages filled with rabbits, quail, pigeons, and ducks, across the aisle from the buckets of turtles and scorpions in a narrow shop with as many live animals as a petting zoo.
If it was male or female, young or old, nobody seemed to know or care. All that mattered was its weight, 6.5 pounds.
After a few calculations, the shopkeeper offered to sell the cat for $1.32 per pound, about $9.
"We'll cut it up right here in back for you," the shopkeeper suggested, gesturing toward a blood-stained room.
The scene is routine at butcher shops in the capital of Guangdong Province, formerly known as Canton. Although Cantonese cooking is known abroad for dim sum and won ton soup, it is also recognized as the most exotic of the Chinese cuisines, serving up a veritable Noah's Ark of species on the dinner plate. As a popular saying goes, the Cantonese will eat anything that walks, crawls, hops, or flies.
But now fellow Chinese are drawing the line. Eating cat, they say - that is just too disgusting.
"Cats are your friends, not food," read the banners carried at a demonstration last week at Guangzhou train station, where protesters were trying to intercept a shipment of cats.
Dog is eaten in many parts of China, but the consumption of cat meat generally occurs only in Guangdong. It is rare to see a stray cat wandering the streets.
The Small Animal Protection Association says one Guangzhou-based business captures up to 10,000 cats per day from throughout China. The cat snatchers use large fishing nets and are paid $1.50 per cat.
"They've eaten all their cats so they have to take ours from Beijing. People don't want to let their cats go out on the street," said Zhao Ming, 55, a physician who was among about 40 people demonstrating in Beijing. Cat meat is not illegal and thrives in a seemingly boundless gray area of commerce. Police are reluctant to charge the cat catchers with theft because many of the cats involved live outside and are not technically owned by humans, merely fed and nurtured.
In the absence of laws against cat eaters, cat lovers are taking matters into their own hands.
When Shanghai activists got a tip in August that a truckload of cats was passing nearby on its way to Guangdong, they staged an ambush. About 11 p.m., they confronted the truck at a market, where the driver had stopped to rest, and tried to buy the cats.
When the driver refused, a standoff dragged on until the next afternoon. While some activists argued with the driver and police, others opened the back of the truck and released about 1,600 cats. Some 300 cats were found dead.
Many of the rescue efforts are directed by Lu Di, 80, a woman who had worked for the late Mao Tse-tung, reading to the Chinese leader in his final years when his eyesight was poor.
"You can judge how advanced a civilization is by the way it treats its animals," Lu said.
She founded the Small Animal Protection Association, which she runs out of the Beijing apartment that she shares with 15 cats, more than a dozen dogs, a quail, a pigeon, and a monkey.
She picked up one cat with a fresh red scar running around its body caused by a wire attached to a brick that dealers wrap around cats to keep them from running away. Often, the cats are badly mistreated in their final moments, crammed into crates and clubbed into semi-consciousness before being thrown alive into boiling water.
"This is a crime that humiliates all Chinese people," Lu said.
The dispute cuts across the fault lines of Chinese society. Among the increasingly Westernized middle class, there is a growing culture of cat fanciers who like them for cuddling.
Chinese forced to choose with one-dog policy
reference: msnbc.msn.com GUANGZHOU, China - Mrs. Chen can't imagine abandoning one of her two best friends: her scruffy terrier mutt and a white fluffy Pekingese mix with buggy eyes.
But that's what the government in this southern Chinese city wants the middle-aged housewife to do when a one-dog policy takes effect in Guangzhou.
Beginning July 1, each household can raise only one pooch. The regulation won't be grandfathered in, so families with two or more dogs will apparently have to decide which one gets to stay.
"It's a cruel regulation. These dogs are like family. How can you keep one and get rid of the others?" said Chen, who declined to give her full name because she feared the police would track her down and seize the dogs.
Potential for backlash Such dog controls have touched off resentment among urban — mostly new middle class — Chinese in other cities. The Guangzhou measure comes as many are worrying about the economy, and there's potential for the regulation to trigger a public backlash.
Police and city government officials appear to be aware of the issue's sensitivity. The Associated Press spent three weeks making calls and sending faxes to officials requesting an interview about the policy. But after the requests were passed back and forth between the police and city government, neither agreed to discuss it.
The regulation appears to be part of an effort to control stray dogs in Guangzhou, once known as Canton. An hour north of Hong Kong by train, it is one of the richest cities in China and has a rapidly growing middle class that can afford to own dogs.
Many of the first-time pet owners don't bother to spay or neuter their animals and are new to the burdens of keeping an animal. The canines often end up on the street when their owners grow tired of raising a cute puppy that grew up into a big mutt and constantly demands care.
Guangzhou is also preparing to host the Asian Games next year, and crews have been scrubbing down and sprucing up the city of 12 million people. Reducing the dog population will likely mean cleaner sidewalks.
'About 10 calls a day' People were quick to react to the regulation when it was announced in March, said Mao Mao, who six years ago founded a shelter for stray dogs called Family of the Pet. She said that before March, she would receive only a few calls a month from dog owners who wanted to give up pets.
"Since March, every day we get about 10 calls a day," said the woman, who takes in only strays and advises pet owners how to find new homes for their animals.
"I'm afraid there are going to be many more stray dogs in July when the one-dog regulation becomes effective," she said.
Other cities have one-dog policies Many other Chinese cities, including Beijing, have long had one-dog policies. Officials commonly launch mass roundups of dogs when the canine population is deemed too big or infected with rabies and other diseases. In 2006, Beijing authorities caught 29,000 unregistered dogs in one month — a campaign that sparked public anger and protest.
Worries about rabies prompted authorities in Hanzhong city in the northern province of Shaanxi to order all the dogs in rabies-infected areas killed this month, and more than 34,000 were put to death, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
Such killing campaigns, and rabies outbreaks, are common in China, with more than 2,000 people dying every year after being bitten by rabid dogs.
During the 2006 Beijing roundup, there were no reports of authorities entering homes to seize dogs. But witnesses accused the police of going through neighborhoods and collecting unregistered dogs from the streets, then beating them to death. In one county in the southwestern province of Yunnan, where three people had died of rabies, authorities killed 50,000 dogs, often clubbing them to death in front of their owners.
Changing its approach Recently, Beijing has been changing its approach to animal control, said Grace Ge Gabriel, Asia regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. City officials have been working with the fund and veterinarian associations to organize campaigns to spay and neuter animals, she said.
Getting the dogs fixed is key to controlling the population, she said. Also important is regulating dog breeders and keeping fees for dog tags and vaccines affordable so people will register their animals.
"Beijing realizes there are positive and non-confrontational ways to solve the problem of overpopulation, instead of draconian policies of taking pets away," she said.
Dog owners in Guangzhou aren't sure if the one-dog policy will be strictly enforced. Often Chinese authorities announce a tough new law, launch a crackdown, then ignore the measure.
Mrs. Chen, the owner of the Pekingese and terrier mixes, said her plan was to register one of her dogs with her parents. She said the Chinese are masters at finding loopholes and other ways to skirt around laws.
"In China, we have a saying," she said. "When the people at the top make a policy, the people at the bottom find a way to get around it."
The most common cat health problems could have your cat in his or her death bed. As you know, when your feline friend has a problem, you need to get them to a vet as fast as you can. If you want to be considered a good pet owner, you should find the best vet that is recommended for the health problem your cat is having. There are many problems that you can run into when you have a cat and in this article, you will know more about the bad health problems your feline can have.
The first thing you need to deal with when you get your kitten is to take her to get her shots and spayed or neutered in order to stop some of the problems that will be discussed in this article. You will discover that cats are delicate and using the best products will help them get the healthy body they need. You can also help them live a long healthy life by purchasing the proper foods.
For those that have no idea about what types of food you need to buy for your cat, you must give them the right type of diet. This will cut down on some of the health problems they will encounter during their older years. Cat owners must also make sure their cats stick to their diet. They must not eat human food because food that have been in the trash or even food that have been out for a few hours will increase their chances of getting parasites.
Your cat's health has to be your responsibility. This means that you must be informed about the health problems that your cat can get. There are plenty of diseases and parasites that can harm your cat. So it is important to find the right medicine.
What do I mean by medicine? I mean prevention for heartworms. Heartworms eat at the heart which can shorten the life of your cat. Heartworms can be fatal within several years. There are many products you can find that will help fight and protect against heartworms. They can help stop the worms from getting into the heart. The medicine that's right for your cat is the medicine that is recommended by a reliable veterinarian. The vet can give you the right ideas such as when to administer the heartworm prevention and how much to give.
To avoid heartworms, you need to make sure they eat the right foods because there are actually some foods that can cause heartworms. Prevention can also help here. Watch your cat outside and clean the litter box out each night. Make sure you visit the vet on a regular basis.
Are hairballs a problem for your feline? If your cat has problems with hairballs, you may be able to help her by purchasing the correct foods. There are plenty of foods available in a pet store that can combat hairballs and reduce the amount of hairballs they have to put up with.
Tick and flea prevention should be set up for your feline when you get her. Your pet's health can be negatively affected by parasites such as fleas and ticks. Ticks can do harm to the body because they can cause many diseases. They can cause your pet to suffer through some detrimental health problems.
Having fleas is another pest problem and can result in bad health as well. Prevention of fleas is a good idea because fleas can be fatal to your feline if you do not get the problem treated. You cannot do very much when your cat is young but there is some powder that can help cut down on them.
If your cat has a problem with fleas and ticks, then you and your cat need to visit the doctor to see if he or she is still healthy after being exposed to them. Your fluffy ball of joy needs a good type of medication that can get rid of the fleas and ticks. You can get this information by speaking to a vet. The vet will point you to a good brand that can help your cat get rid of this problem.
When you avoid most of these health problems, you will have a healthy cat. However, there are more health problems that you need to know about. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one thing that is common in most friendly felines. You will come across situations where your pet has a UTI because of the litter that you are using.
The chemicals in some types of litter can harm the urinary system which can result in a UTI. If you want to avoid problems with a UTI, you must find the type of litter that helps prevent UTIs. The litter that you purchase should be safe for your feline to use. The vet needs to see her in order to make sure she gets the right medications that can help her eliminate this problem. UTI occurs often with males and rarely with females. Your cat can die from a UTI if your cat does not get looked at by a vet.
The most important type of cat health problem that needs to be taken care of is Feline Leukemia. This is known for causing death in felines. You can prevent this health problem by getting them vaccinated. When your cat has leukemia, it is important to avoid contact with other cats. Why? Because this health problem is extremely contagious.
It can be expensive to deal with cat health problems but you do not have a choice. You should realize by now that it is your responsibility to handle all of your felines health problems. Your vet can prevent him or her from suffering any prolonged problems with their health. Cat health problems can be easier to handle when you get to them before the problems become really bad. There are many cat lovers out there that take care of their cats and need information about preventing these bad health problems from happening. In order to find additional information, you should check out the Internet for solutions to some of your cat's health problems. To find the best vet that can help you avoid these bad health problems, you should check out the Internet for a list of veterinarians. You will find a long list that can help you find a solution.
cbs5.com If you have ever had a kitten you know that they love sleeping right next to a ticking clock because it may feel like their mother's heartbeat. Well this kitten doesn't need a ticking clock because she's got a clucking chicken for a mother.
Big Wig the hen took Tofu the kitten right under her wing, no questions clucked. The two have been inseparable since their first meeting.
On a particular day when the two animals were in the front yard, Tofu wandered off leaving Big Wig confused and upset for days not knowing what to cock-a-doodle do. The distraught chicken stayed in her basket for days refusing to eat or move.
Then, just like an answered prayer, a neighbor who saw a sign for the missing kitten brought her back to her home, originally thinking the cat was just feral.
Once again, hen and kitten are back to being basket buddies at home.
Many cat owners wince when they are faced with the prospect of bathing their cat. Past experience - or lurid second-hand tales from traumatized friends - often conjures up images of wet chaos with the blurred shape of a soaked cat climbing the walls (or, worse, your arms) with claws fully extended. As a result, most owners avoid bathing their cat altogether.
In fact, cats can be accustomed to regular bathing - professional cat breeders often bathe their cats as part of the grooming regime. A continuous repetition of the procedure accustoms the cats to water - just as their larger jungle cousins learn to swim across rivers, wade in and fish for their dinners, and even play in the shallows of lakes and streams.
Cats that are not used to being bathed will often panic, but consider that most cats will happily go out and hunt in the pouring rain. The operative concept in bathing cats is to approach the event as calmly and relaxed as possible. To help you do that, the following suggestions are offered. They won't work with every cat, but they will work with most. Why Bathe Your Cat?
Cats spend hours a day washing themselves. In fact, most can do very well to keep themselves clean without additional help from us. However, there are times when your cat may need a bath:
* When she is covered with a substance you don't want her to lick off and ingest, such as machine oil, pesticides, or cleaning powders and fluids. * When you need to bathe your cat with medicated shampoo to treat the skin for fleas or other disorders. * When you are showing your cats - a thorough bath a few days before the show is usually desirable.
For these reasons, it might be better to get your cat acquainted with the bathing concept when she is still young. Small kittens rarely take violent exception to slightly warm water if you approach the job with confidence and soothing talk. Then when you have that emergency need to bathe your cat, the procedure will be familiar. How Often Should A Cat Be Bathed?
Even if your cat is comfortable with baths, make sure you don't overdo a good thing. Washing the cat too often removes natural skin oils and may dry out the coat. Tools and Equipment
Going ahead with this? You will need several basic items to help you with the task.
* Shampoo - Choose a safe cat shampoo, especially if you use one that is medicated. If you must bathe the cat in a hurry, and you don't have a cat shampoo, the only alternative is tearless baby shampoo. Regular shampoos for people are usually too harsh for feline skin and may cause irritation. If you need to use medicated shampoos, such as anti-flea solutions, make sure that they are cat-specific. Dog shampoos can be toxic and even deadly to cats! * Towel - It should be dry and fluffy. You can warm it slightly before bath time, but make sure it's not too hot! * A soft washcloth - You will need it for cleaning the cat's face. * A couple of cotton balls - These will go into the cat's ears.
The Preparations
Unless you are very experienced and the cat is particularly calm, you should probably get a helper. Choose a patient, cat-oriented person and let him or her know what bathing a cat is all about. Make sure it is someone your cat knows and likes.
Make all the preparations you need before you bring the cat into the bathroom. Get all the bathing equipment ready and get all breakable items in the bathroom well out of the way. Cats don't like the slippery feel of the bathtub, so place a rubber mat on the bottom of the tub. Your cat will need it to grip onto.
Now for the guest of honor. A couple of hours before the bath, have a grooming session and brush the cat's coat. This is especially important for longhaired cats, since any mats and tangles are likely to shrink during the wash and become difficult to handle. Don't forget to trim your cat's claws some time before the bath, to avoid injury.
After you have the room and props ready, gently pick up the cat and prepare her for the bath. Place half a cotton ball in each ear to prevent water from getting into them. reference: thecatsite.com
In 1961 a shepherd by the name of William Ross spotted the first known Scottish Fold cat at a farm near Coupar Angus in the Tayside Region of Scotland, Northwest of Dundee. Ross asked the owners if he could have one of the kittens, and proceeded to develop the breed from the original, Susie, a white barn cat. The unique thing about this cat was that her ears folded forward and downward on her head. The resulting look gave the impression of a “pixie”, “owl”, or “teddy bear” that has captured the hearts of many American cat fanciers and judges. The Scottish Fold was granted championship status by The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1978.
Scottish Folds come in two types: folded ear and straight (normal) ear. The folded ear is produced by an incomplete dominant gene and is the result of a spontaneous mutation.
Over the last two decades the Scottish Fold has developed a look all its own...even though allowed outcrosses include American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs. The Fold does not necessarily resemble the American Shorthair’s hard, powerful “working cat” body and squared-off muzzle. Nor does it look like the British Shorthair’s massive, compact body, short legs, and flat planed top-head. The Fold, instead, is a medium cat with a rounded, well-padded body and a short, dense, and resilient coat. It has large, round, broadly spaced eyes full of sweetness; well-rounded whisker pads and a short nose with a gentle curve in profile.
Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears. At about three to four weeks of age, their ears fold...or they don’t! It is usually around eleven to twelve weeks of age that the breeder can determine the quality (pet, breeder or show). Presently, only folded ear cats of Scottish lineage are permitted in the show ring, and naturally, every breeder wants to produce show cats. The straight ear progeny of Scottish Folds, nevertheless, are invaluable to the breeding program.
Due to the rarity of the Fold, AND due to the fact that not every kitten born has folded ears, it is very hard for the supply to keep up with the demand.
Scottish Folds are hardy cats, much like their barnyard ancestors. Their disposition matches their sweet expression. They have tiny voices and are not extremely vocal. They adore human companionship and display this in their own quiet way.
Scottish Folds adapt to almost any home situation and are as comfortable in a room full of noisy children and dogs as they are in a single person’s dwelling. They don’t usually panic at shows or in strange hotel rooms, and they adjust to other animals extremely well.
Scottish Folds come in any and all colors possible with the exception of those showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern, or a combination of these and white.
When inspecting a Fold for purchase, be sure to determine the flexibility of the tail and check the feet and legs. There must be no hint of thickness or lack of mobility due to short, coarse legs or splayed toes. Determination of tail flexibility can be accomplished by moving your hand down the tail in a VERY GENTLE, slightly upward-arching movement. With proper flexibility, this arching movement can be made without discomfort to the cat. Again, when doing this PLEASE BE GENTLE!
The Scottish Fold is an undemanding cat. A clean environment, proper nutrition, and generous doses of love are its only requirements.
Pricing on Scottish Folds usually depends on type, applicable markings and bloodlines distinguished by Grand Champion (GC), National or Regional winning parentage (NW or RW) or of Distinguished Merit parentage (DM). The DM title is achieved by the dam (mother) having produced five CFA grand champion/premier (alter) or DM offspring, or sire (father) having produced fifteen CFA grand champion/premier or DM offspring. Usually breeders make kittens available between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. After twelve weeks, kittens have had their basic inoculations and developed the physical and social stability needed for a new environment, showing, or being transported by air. Keeping such a rare treasure indoors, neutering or spaying and providing acceptable surfaces (e.g. scratching posts) for the natural behavior of scratching (CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery) are essential elements for maintaining a healthy, long and joyful life.
There are CFA clubs devoted to the promotion, protection and preservation of the Scottish Fold breed. For more information, please send inquiries to CFA, PO Box 1005, Manasquan NJ 08736-0805.
