Archive for the ‘General’ Category

No, is the short answer you’ll be relieved to know.  However, it’s a “no” that comes with a proviso.  Your kitty may be a little bit too small to bathe now, but it’s never too soon to start getting it used to an idea it’s going to hate when it gets a little older and you have the flea shampoo ready!

The best way to bathe your cat is with patient preparation – and the time to start preparing kitty is as soon as it moves into your home.  You won’t be using the bath, but you can get him used to the procedure so that once the real thing starts to happen, he isn’t going to get a shock.

Prepare a bowl that’s big enough to bath a half-grown cat.  The first couple of times, don’t put any water in it.  Just put the dish on the floor in the bathroom, assemble items you would use in the event that you were actually bathing him such as shampoo, towel, comb, towel plus have a warm (not hot) damp face cloth to hand.

Put the kitten into the dish so that he’s standing, and firmly hold him there.  Talk softly and reassuring to him.  Stroke him from head down then along his body and up to the top of his tail.  When he’s used to you doing that, take the face cloth in the same hand and do the same only with the damp face cloth touching his fur, constantly talking to him in a gentle reassuring voice.  After a few weeks, have a little bit of luke warm water – just covering the bottom of the dish – for him to stand in, and hold him firm whilst talking reassuringly until he gets used to the feeling.  After a few more weeks, raise the water so that it just covers the top of his paws.

It may seem like a lot of work but most cats are terrified of water, and so spending this growing/learning time with your kitten will ensure that when it comes to doing the “real deal” bathing, your cat is going to have some positive experiences to fall back on, and it shouldn’t be such a traumatic exercise for either of you.

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Finding somewhere for your new kitten to sleep is a basic requirement when you first bring kitty home. It also needs to be something you give a lot of thought to before you go to pick the kitten up!

Many people have very strong ideas about this. They don’t want the kitten to sleep anywhere but in its own bed – perhaps a basket that’s been bought especially for it. They certainly don’t want kitty finding its way into bedrooms or sleeping on sofas/armchairs. Then there are other cat owners who have no intention of segregating their kitty from its human family and allow it to choose where it wants to sleep. There is no right or wrong decision on this, the only right decision is what’s right for your family. What you do need to do however is make the decision, and the preparations prior to introducing your kitty to its new environment.

If you decide that you want the kitten to sleep in its own bed – either in your bedroom, or in the kitchen or other part of the house – then you need to ensure you give adequate thought to this. You are bringing into your home a baby cat, a kitty who has just that day been taken from its mother. It may well be happy to play and be fussed over when people are around, but once everyone goes to bed, kitty’s going to feel very much alone and scared. If you have a blanket that his mother had been sleeping on and still has her scent, place this in his sleeping basket and it will give him a little security.

Unless you want to give the kitten the idea that it’s ok for it to sleep on your bed, you shouldn’t bring it to bed even on the first few nights when it’s mewing for its momma. That would be setting a precedent that you will find hard to break once he gets into a habit of sleeping beside you. Instead you need to think about camping out on the floor next to his bed for a few nights until he gets used to his new surroundings.
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Having made the decision to add a kitten to your family, you then need to think about what kind of kitty would be best. There are so many to choose from, and not all of them will be a perfect match for your home.

Once you know that you’re in the market for a kitty, you need to decide one of two things – pedigree or moggy. If you want to buy a moggy, that is a kitten that isn’t of any particular breed, or perhaps a cross between two specific breeds, then you will find them most places. Small ads in local newspapers, on grocery store bulletin boards, or asking at your local veterinary clinic if they know of anyone who is looking to sell a kitten should locate you a choice in your local area. All you need to do is go and take a look at what’s available and choose the one that seems to reach out for you! Moggys are generally friendly. Unless they are cross-breeds with one or other of the parents being a known temperamental breed, you can assume they’ll be good with kids. They also should be easy on your pocket book.

Pedigree cats on the other hand are harder to locate, especially if you have a specific breed in mind. If you have children in the home, read up on the breeds you are interested in and discount any of them that have known issues with kids! Some cats are very temperamental and have zero-tolerance with children. Whereas a moggy, or even a different breed, will have no problem being dressed up in a doll’s clothes and being pushed around in a stroller, a breed such as a Siamese or Burmese will usually take great offence at this and will scratch and claw its way out – not the best choice for a home that has small children. You should also be aware of which breeds are prone to illnesses, and which of them have relatively short life spans and take all this information into account before finally deciding what kind of cat you want.
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Losing your hair is something all of us do not want. It is especially through for those still in their youth or young adult age. The causes of losing hair for those in their prime is still a myth and while there are many so call hair theories available, none can tell why people lose hair in their prime.

Some put it to genetics. That means if your parents do have symptoms of losing hair in their prime, most likely you ill have it too. Another theory according to research done by scientists is the lack of certain minerals, vitamins or nutrients in our daily diet that slowly causes people to lose hair in their prime. Another theory put it to stress. As you know, in modern society, it is getting more and more competitive and as a result a lot of stresses are created in our daily lives. This can lead to a loss of hair eventually if the stress level cannot be controlled.

I have a friend who has a serious case of hair loss and he has been going to a Manhattan hair restoration clinic for a few months. Recently I spoke to him over a video conference and imagine my surprise when I see his hair problem is getting better. Although there are still patches of baldness, the improvement can never be in doubt. Maybe, someday if I need it, I may have to ask him where the clinic is. You never know when it could happen to you.

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Picking a name for a kitten, or any pet for that matter, is rather like choosing a name for a baby.  Everyone’s got an opinion, and everyone has a favorite.  The difference with naming the kitty however is that often there are more valid opinions to be acknowledged!  So how do you go about naming your new kitten?

Well the first thing to consider is the physical appearance of the kitten, it may very well be “cute” to call your ginger cat “Sooty” but eventually the joke will wear a bit thin and you’ll be wishing you’d went with something more fitting with his color.  So take a good look at your new kitten.  Is there a name associated with the color of his fur that comes to mind?   Watch him for a couple of days before you name him.  What kind of personality does he have?  Is he feisty and up to mischief already?  Or is he more shy and scared looking?  Think of a name that sums up his personality.

Do you have other pets in the home?  What names could you choose for the latest addition that would complement the existing pet(s)?  If you don’t want to choose names that are similar, how about names that are opposites?  Are there pet names that seem to be “historical” within your family – as in “There’s always been a cat called Smudge in our family.  Gran used to have one, but it died.”  - And so you name your cat Smudge to fit the family pattern.

Do you prefer traditional kitten names, or are you more biased on choosing a name that you could call a child?  Increasingly people are opting for real names rather than pet names when naming their four-legged friends.  Do you have a preference either way?
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Having a brilliant smile with shiny and sparkling teeth is the dream of many people. There are many ways to go about achieving the perfect smile. As you know, there are tons of teeth whitening products available, but are they really useful and really helps you to achieve your desired perfect smile?

The best ways is still to go to a professional whitening professional also known as a dentist for teeth whitening treatments such as teeth bleaching to solve your problem and achieve your desired perfect smile. Bleaching is an excellent teeth whitening treatment. It is the most widely known treatment for whitening teeth because it is cheaper compared to laser treatment. The treatment is done without taking away any of the tooth surface. This is perfect for those people who smoke a lot and have stained teeth. It is also perfect for those who are eating a lot but fail to brush properly.

It is recommended that you seek an advice to a dentist before applying these teeth whitening product.

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Whenever I travel abroad with my family and there is no one to take care of my pets, I would normally engage the services of a pet sitter to look after my pets when we are not around. As you know, traveling with your pets around can be quite a hassle, especially for long distance journey. That is even more so for trips abroad. That is why a pet sitter would be the perfect solution for pet owners when they go on vacations. However, to find a reliable pet sitter can be quite a feat. One way to find a good and reliable pet sitter is through recommendations from friends, neighbors, and even your local vet.

Other than pet sitters, you can choose to enroll you pet into a pet care center or pet hotel during your absence. Although the price may be steeper than engaging a pet sitter, you will rest easy with the knowledge your pet is safe and sound with real professionals.

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San Diego in California is a wonderful place to be for your summer holidays. It has many miles of beach and a Mediterranean climate suitable for beach activities. Besides the wonderful beaches, there are also many places of interests for tourists and locals alike. You can visit places of interests like SeaWorld San Diego, Belmont amusement park, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, and nearby Legoland.
If you are into arts, history and cultural stuff, there are many popular museums to be found in San Diego such as San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Museum of Man and the Museum of Photographic Arts which are all located at Balboa Park. San Diego also has a growing art scene which will surely fascinate art lovers.

There are also many bars and cigar bars in San Diego for those who love the night life. So if you are thinking of where t o go for your next holiday trip, why not choose San Diego? You will surely love it there.

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Those of you who are obese should try to shed some pounds as soon as possible. As you know, the longer the duration you are obese, the higher your chances of getting serious diseases such as diabetes, high bloods, hypertension, etc. The thing about weigh loss is also if you are older, it will be harder for you to lose the ponds unless you really put in some real effort.

There are many options that you can go about losing your weight such as dieting, exercises, diet programs, diet pills and even weigh loss surgery such as liposuction. However, the key to successfully shedding your weight and maintaining it is discipline. There is no point going for a quick fix method only to find yourself back to square one a couple of months down the road. If you dread exercising alone, either you can get a friend to join you or you can try joining an exercise group. Another option is to keep a pet and go walking or jogging with it to ease the loneliness of exercising alone.

Don’t go for quick fix methods, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet plus discipline will keep you healthy and looking good for the rest of your life.

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Well the first question really is, where are you going to put it?  If you’re talking about kitty as an 8 week old furry babe who’s just arrived in your home, then probably you don’t need one yet.  The purpose of an ID tag is to help to identify your cat should it go missing, and as your new kitty shouldn’t be going outside just yet, then it doesn’t really need an ID tag – plus you’re also going to have to find somewhere to put it because 8 week old kittens are a little bit small to wear a collar!

Once your kitty is a little bigger and demanding to explore the world outside your home, then it’s time to consider an ID tag.  There are many different types you can buy to attach to the kitten’s collar.  These range from classy to fun, and from self-wrote information to engraved.  Classy or fun is an open choice, but there are a few things you need to think about with the information – if the tag is engraved, then the information is there permanently (well until you change it for another one, if you move for instance), but an ID tag where you write the information needs three things – firstly a permanent ink pen so that the information doesn’t wear off or fade, the information must be clear so that anyone reading it can understand the address or telephone number, and it must have some form of waterproof covering so that snow, rain and puddle damage can’t erode the information.

Another thing you could consider is having your vet implant an ID chip into your kitty.  He could do this when undertaking a routine examination or perhaps taking out stitches after your kitten has been neutered.  ID chipping means that there’s no possibility of your cat losing its collar and becoming ID-less, all anyone needs to do is take the kitty to the nearest authorities and they’ll be able to scan him and have you traced in the least possible time.

There are those who love the ID chip implant idea, and those who hate it, and there’s no right and wrong decision, it’s very much up to you.  The only thing to remember is that cats, especially kittens, sometimes need a little help getting back home, and so once your kitty is mobile enough to be outdoors, he really should have an ID tag that speaks for him.

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Pet healthcare insurance is a red hot topic.  Is it necessary?  Well the first thing you need to know, especially if you’ve never owned a pet before this new kitty that’s just joined your family, is that veterinary clinics cost a lot of money!  This implies that pet healthcare insurance is a good idea, but wait – don’t go signing that agreement just yet!

Before committing to a particular healthcare plan for your kitten, make sure that you collect a number of different leaflets from various companies.  Then spend a couple of hours reading through each one and if possible, create yourself a table that lists the types of benefits down the side and the names of the insurance companies along the top.  You should also leave space at the bottom of each insurance company’s column to write in anything “not covered by policy”, this could include specific chronic conditions such as allergies, diabetes and asthma.  Complete the table as you read the leaflets.

Once you know what each insurance covers, and how much the cost, and more importantly what their policy doesn’t cover, you can start to see which policy(s) stand out from the rest as being good possibilities.  Before you sign up for anything check on the internet for any reviews the company has for its pet insurance.  Just because offer a fantastic house insurance, or retirement planning package, doesn’t mean they will pay for whatever illness you kitten may have throughout its life!  See what other people who have used them as healthcare insurance for their cats have to say.

Finally, read the small print.  Will they cover your kitty for the same amounts and same illnesses throughout her entire life, or will it change as she gets older?  That is to say, when she starts to have health issues, will the insurance company still have the same good benefits and prices or will there be exemptions and higher excesses for you to pay once she really needs the insurance.

You may decide that it’s worth the peace of mind just to insure your kitty anyway, but at least you know that things are going to get more expensive as she gets older – or you could simply decide to ignore the insurance (routine annual check-ups and shots are excluded from the policy anyway) and financially commit the same amount of money to a special account each month, and use that only when kitty has extra healthcare needs.

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When you first bring kitty home, there will need to be a transition period for both the kitten and the members of your household.  A kitten is tiny, and it’s curious about everything and so no matter where you are, at any time the kitten could be right behind you, in front of you, or trying to climb up your leg!  In order to get through the transition period without becoming a bundle of nerves, the best thing you can do for the kitten and yourself is to create a safe zone.  This is a place where you can put kitty so you know he’s safe and not going to get trod on, and where kitty also knows he’ll be safe from getting stood on!

Find a large cardboard box, approximately 3 feet square, plus at least 3 feet high.  Organize the inside of the box so that there are specific areas for specific things, such as a sleeping corner, some paper to go potty on (if there’s room for a temporary litter tray in there all the better!), and a supply of fresh water that’s not easily knocked over.  Also give the kitten a couple of small toys to play with so he doesn’t get bored.  This becomes like a toddlers playpen.  It’s somewhere you know he’s safe.

As with a toddler however, he’s going to try and get out once the novelty of the box is gone and it’s been completely explored.  He’ll take a jump for the top of the box, so make sure that you use a box that’s quite heavy and won’t fall over if he manages to hang over the top of it – you also don’t want to make it so high that if he does manage to get to the top, and fall out, he’s not going to hurt himself – you could place a cushion at the base of the side most likely to be the “escape route” just in case.  You also should place the box in a shady area, away from sunlight, and out of the way of drapes because if he can, he’ll make a jump for the drapes and escape that way!

Despite the escape possibility, the safe zone will give you peace of mind, especially in the early days when you’re still adjusting to having him around, and it will give him somewhere of his own to retreat to when he’s had enough of the “big” world inside your home.  Although he may want to escape the box, there’ll be other times when it all gets a bit much and he actual sits beside his safe zone – or attempts to jump in!

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1. They are not unlike fast growing babies.  They start off lying in your arms looking at peace with the world but before you know it they’re at the “toddler” stage and running up drapes and under rugs!

2. They are fussy eaters.  Even the smallest kitten will spit out everything it doesn’t believe to be the very best available – oh and “the best” is very subjective, it depends less on the price/brand and more on the cat’s likes and dislikes!

3. Which brings us onto number 3, your kitten will grow into an opinionated cat with strong likes and dislikes.  It won’t care if that’s your chair, your child’s bed, an antique sofa or fragile houseplant.  If your cat likes it, it’s his!

4. If you have friends and family who don’t like – or even better, are allergic to – your kitten from a very young age will see these as their new best friend and insist on sitting on their lap!

5. Don’t believe what your cat tries to make you think – it is possible to train a cat to do certain things.  Just take potty training as an example, you can train a cat to use a litter box, so it follows a cat is capable of learning.  Unfortunately an ability to learn does not automatically mean a willingness to learn, especially in a cat!

6. A kitten will grow, and grow fast.  Remember this as you think it’s cute to have that tiny ball of fluff curled up next to you on your pillow at night!  Pretty soon that little kitten is going to take up all the pillow, and not be happy when it suddenly finds itself on the cold floor in a property fight over whose pillow it is!

7. A kitten will quickly worm itself into your heart and stay there – so make sure you only take enough money to buy one or you could end up bringing two or three home because you couldn’t choose between two of them, and then the third one looked so lonely!

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Cats are also vulnerable to some common sickness. As a cat owner, it is necessary that you observe the health of your pet. It does really matter. Just like us, cats would surely have these phases of their lives when they would get sick or show signs of weak health. When this happens to your pet, you have to be ready and you have to do what is indeed helpful for it.

There are different health problems common in cats and they are as follows:

Diarrhea

- When your cat has diarrhea for a consistent number of times, do not be alarmed. The first thing you need to do is change the diet. When you know what your cat likes to eat, you better give it to him or she for it would surely help. When there is still a continuous diarrhea, it would be best to bring your pet to a veterinarian.

Diabetes

- Not only common to people, but also to cats. This occurs when a cat becomes aged. The more it grows old, the more it must stay at home. You have to watch its diet for improper food intake is what the real cause of diabetes is. When you notice signs and symptoms like the cat urinates always. You could obviously notice as well that it gets thirsty so fast.

Throwing up

- This is a very common health phenomenon for cats. When this happens to your pet, you have to check the food you have fed to it. After doing so, it would be better if you try to change the food. As much as possible try a far different one from the food you have observed to cause such vomiting.

- It has been discovered that the min cause of this is hairballs so as much as you could, brush or comb the hair of your pet.

- There is also another angle, and that is allergic to food.

- Meeting your veterinarian is the best move to make. Make sure that you give enough liquid to your pet, throwing up may lead to dehydration.

FIV

- This cat disease has something to do with HIV and the best thing for you to do is to seclude your pet from foreign cats. It would be better if you keep it in your home. You have to protect your pet well.

You have to be cautious about these diseases for they would surely be a threat to the life of your pet. When you encounter such health problems, you have to seek the help of the expert, you must not let your insufficient knowledge let you lose your pet.

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Cats are very interesting members of the animal kingdom. Some of them stay wild in the thick forests while some of them stay tamed in our homes. Wherever they are, cats are very interesting and they possess really exquisite characteristics. How much do you know about cats? Well, we hope top add more information to you:

• Did you know that cats could see 6 times better than human beings? Yes, according to studies, it is during night time when cats could really see more than we could.
• Anywhere in the world, cats are existent from steaming Africa to icy cool Greenland; you could surely find them in different corners of the world. They may have varied looks or characteristics by counting in the different factors.
• Just like dogs, cats could swim it just so happened that they are not into it that much.
• An eighteen-hour sleep is achievable by cats in hot countries. These areas include desert-like areas and in some angles, the tropics.
• There are different cats and most of them have rare characters.

• One of them inspired ancient Egyptians. This is the Sphynx. Actually, it does not have any hair at all.
• There are cats called Manx which originate from the Isle of Man and that they do not have tails. They just have this so-called stub.
• Who do not know the fastest animal? The Cheetah is of course another member of the cat family.
• There are also fishing cats which really show great skills in catching fish.

These tidbits are just some of those cool yet factual things about cats. When your aim is to explore more about these animals, you could always use the power of the internet in order to familiarize yourself with the world around you.

When you wish to have your own cat, you could also consider those factors that may make or break your choice. There are actually different choices of cats for pets. In general, cats are very good pets for they are very affectionate.

According to research owning cats as pets is most beneficial for ill or old patients. It has been found out that animals like cats could reduce their depression and other negative feelings brought by solitude and sickness.

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