Pets have long been important to man due to the needs they fulfill. These include companionship, security, holding "conversations", among a host of others. Perhaps the most popular household pet, after the dog, is the cat. It has indeed been estimated that up to 600 million households have cats. An observation of a cat both in motion and at rest may reveal the fascination with cats. I think I am beginning to digress from the focus of this article, which is cat tree furniture!
Get the Best Cat Tree Furniture Every cat is wired to carry out certain actions and these cannot be compromised - they are innate. Two important ones after eating and sleeping, are, climbing and scratching. It is easy enough for wild cats to indulge these tendencies but difficult for indoor domesticated cats. There is a proliferation of trees and surfaces for the wild cat to employ in fulfilling these needs. These options are apparently, severely limited for the house cat. Thus she is left with the house furniture, which of course, you the owner will definitely frown at. In order not to worry however, just get a cat tree.
Cat trees conveniently provide your cat with an avenue to legitimately and safely indulge her two needs of climbing and scratching. This is as a result of the way they are designed to accommodate these needs. A large variety of designs, styles, and make of cat tree furniture are available, so there is a need for discerning how to get the best. Here are a few tips:
Get the Best Cat Tree Furniture Sturdiness: this is largely a function of the material used for the cat tree. Be sure to get one that is built from a solid material (wood is mostly used) guaranteed to last for a long time.
Balance: ensure that the cat tree is solidly planted on the ground and not in danger of toppling when your cat uses it. Keep the weight of your cat in mind.
Get the Best Cat Tree Furniture Additionally, ensure that the carpet or other similar materials used are plush, dense, and non-looped, so that your cats will not catch their nails in it. Also be sure to compare prices to secure a good deal.
Monday
Common Questions About Feline Diet
Common Questions About Your Cat's Nutrition
It is important to be aware of the nutritious value of your pet's food. As people become increasingly aware of the importance of a healthy and balanced diet, they begin to ask questions relating to the nutrition value of their pets' daily food intake. Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions about kitty nutrition:
Does my cat need to have a nutritionally balanced diet like me? Cats require at least 41 nutrients (in the correct portions) to stay healthy. These nutrients include protein, fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Remember, the most important nutrient your kitty will need is water; so, make sure that water bowl is always filled with clean water!
Should my cat have protein in their diet? Believe it or not, cats are actually classified as carnivores. They need lots of protein in their diet to thrive and stay healthy. Proteins such as fish, poultry and eggs are excellent sources of protein for your cat.
Should my cat have fiber in their diet? Fiber is found in carbohydrates. Fiber aids in weight loss and also helps keep the digestive tract clean and functioning properly. Fiber also acts as a "filler;" that is, it helps makes your cat feel full after a meal, though they have eaten less calories. Though fiber is good and helpful in a diet, too much fiber intake can be harmful for your cat.
What about a fat-free diet for my cat? Cats need fat in their diet. Fats provide energy, and they also maintain healthy skin and promote a shiny and healthy coat. Fat actually provides twice as much energy as carbohydrates and protein, so fat is necessary in your kitty's diet for their proper growth and development.
People sometimes need vitamin and mineral supplements. Does my cat need any? Mineral and vitamin supplements can be harmful to cats. Pet food manufacturers and distributors are required to meet the standards of the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials), which ensures that all the vitamins and minerals cats need to stay healthy are provided for in the cat food. Go ahead and check the label on your cat food to see if they meet the AAFCO requirements.
How often should I feed my cat? Kittens should be fed two or three times a day because they are growing, and they need their food to provide the energy and the protein necessary for their rapidly growing and developing bodies. Once cats become adults, they are either fed once or twice a day, depending on the owner's preference.
When considering food quantity, how much should I feed my cat? An excellent idea for food quantity is to simply check the label on the food packaging for the proper amount of food to feed. Know your cat's age, size, weight and activity level, and simply follow the instructed/advised quantity.
As increased awareness about nutritional health makes its way through social circles, people begin to wonder about the nutritional health needs of their pet. Remember, if you have any specific questions about your pet's nutritional intake, make an appointment and ask your vet. They will be able to help you determine the best diet for your kitty.
It is important to be aware of the nutritious value of your pet's food. As people become increasingly aware of the importance of a healthy and balanced diet, they begin to ask questions relating to the nutrition value of their pets' daily food intake. Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions about kitty nutrition:
Does my cat need to have a nutritionally balanced diet like me? Cats require at least 41 nutrients (in the correct portions) to stay healthy. These nutrients include protein, fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Remember, the most important nutrient your kitty will need is water; so, make sure that water bowl is always filled with clean water!
Should my cat have protein in their diet? Believe it or not, cats are actually classified as carnivores. They need lots of protein in their diet to thrive and stay healthy. Proteins such as fish, poultry and eggs are excellent sources of protein for your cat.
Should my cat have fiber in their diet? Fiber is found in carbohydrates. Fiber aids in weight loss and also helps keep the digestive tract clean and functioning properly. Fiber also acts as a "filler;" that is, it helps makes your cat feel full after a meal, though they have eaten less calories. Though fiber is good and helpful in a diet, too much fiber intake can be harmful for your cat.
What about a fat-free diet for my cat? Cats need fat in their diet. Fats provide energy, and they also maintain healthy skin and promote a shiny and healthy coat. Fat actually provides twice as much energy as carbohydrates and protein, so fat is necessary in your kitty's diet for their proper growth and development.
People sometimes need vitamin and mineral supplements. Does my cat need any? Mineral and vitamin supplements can be harmful to cats. Pet food manufacturers and distributors are required to meet the standards of the AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials), which ensures that all the vitamins and minerals cats need to stay healthy are provided for in the cat food. Go ahead and check the label on your cat food to see if they meet the AAFCO requirements.
How often should I feed my cat? Kittens should be fed two or three times a day because they are growing, and they need their food to provide the energy and the protein necessary for their rapidly growing and developing bodies. Once cats become adults, they are either fed once or twice a day, depending on the owner's preference.
When considering food quantity, how much should I feed my cat? An excellent idea for food quantity is to simply check the label on the food packaging for the proper amount of food to feed. Know your cat's age, size, weight and activity level, and simply follow the instructed/advised quantity.
As increased awareness about nutritional health makes its way through social circles, people begin to wonder about the nutritional health needs of their pet. Remember, if you have any specific questions about your pet's nutritional intake, make an appointment and ask your vet. They will be able to help you determine the best diet for your kitty.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath?
Do you have a cat that has horrible bad breath? Do you think twice before greeting him because you fear he'll open his mouth and gas you with his fowl oral order? You're not alone my friend. An animal's bad breath and a human's bad breath are both caused by the same thing, bacteria in the mouth. What happens is that this bacteria breaks down protein and releases sulfur into the air. I'm afraid that the cause is simply tartar buildup on the teeth. Cats don't brush their teeth as humans do so it's very difficult to maintain unless you frequent the vet often for teeth cleaning. The tartar composition comes from the food cat's eat which results in a yellow buildup around the teeth.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? So, what's the answer to ridding your cat of tartar buildup thus resulting in bad breath? Well, it could be as simple as brushing their teeth regularly with a cat-made toothpaste. Depending on the cat, this could either be simple or complicated and painful (for you, that is). The toothpaste should contain the proper enzymes that will dissolve the tartar from a cat's mouth. Do not use human toothpaste as manufacturers throw in mouth fresheners and flavors to add a "fresh" smell. It's unnecessary for a cat and would be completely uninviting for the cat as it would leave a bad taste in his mouth. The motion used to brush his teeth is just as important as or even more important than the actual toothpaste itself. Use a circular motion around each tooth so that tartar will easily fall off the tooth from the gum line down. After brushing your cat's teeth for a couple of weeks, you will notice a definite change in your cat's breath and over time, his bad breath will be completely eradicated.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? If you have tried and failed or simply do not want to tackle teeth cleaning yourself for your cat, then the second option is to have regularly scheduled visits to the vet for teeth cleaning. It is obviously important to keep up with this routine as the minute you stop; the buildup will begin again and slowly cause a cat's bad breath to return. It's not a huge financial burden for this option and might very well be worth it to you if you have a very skittish kitty cat with very sharp claws.
Your cat's food might be a major contributing factor in the buildup of tartar. Cat food's that contain a lot of bacteria (mostly very cheap cat food with a lot of fillers and preservatives) will be a definite clue. Check with your vet on what brand and type of food that would inhibit the growth of bacteria buildup. There are also cat treats you can give him that help with the buildup of tartar but don't rely on just those types of treatment. It might be good as an addition to regular teeth cleaning but will not dissolve the majority of the buildup by itself.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? In rare situations, a cat's bad breath might be a result of a condition going on inside the cat's organs as in the liver or kidneys. These are the organs of the body that filter bacteria and toxins and flush them out. If the cat's liver or kidneys are not working properly due to an infection or disease, it could result in a backup of bile and toxins into their oral cavities resulting in bad breath. Be sure to voice your concerns to your vet so he can look at all the possibilities surrounding the issue.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? So, what's the answer to ridding your cat of tartar buildup thus resulting in bad breath? Well, it could be as simple as brushing their teeth regularly with a cat-made toothpaste. Depending on the cat, this could either be simple or complicated and painful (for you, that is). The toothpaste should contain the proper enzymes that will dissolve the tartar from a cat's mouth. Do not use human toothpaste as manufacturers throw in mouth fresheners and flavors to add a "fresh" smell. It's unnecessary for a cat and would be completely uninviting for the cat as it would leave a bad taste in his mouth. The motion used to brush his teeth is just as important as or even more important than the actual toothpaste itself. Use a circular motion around each tooth so that tartar will easily fall off the tooth from the gum line down. After brushing your cat's teeth for a couple of weeks, you will notice a definite change in your cat's breath and over time, his bad breath will be completely eradicated.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? If you have tried and failed or simply do not want to tackle teeth cleaning yourself for your cat, then the second option is to have regularly scheduled visits to the vet for teeth cleaning. It is obviously important to keep up with this routine as the minute you stop; the buildup will begin again and slowly cause a cat's bad breath to return. It's not a huge financial burden for this option and might very well be worth it to you if you have a very skittish kitty cat with very sharp claws.
Your cat's food might be a major contributing factor in the buildup of tartar. Cat food's that contain a lot of bacteria (mostly very cheap cat food with a lot of fillers and preservatives) will be a definite clue. Check with your vet on what brand and type of food that would inhibit the growth of bacteria buildup. There are also cat treats you can give him that help with the buildup of tartar but don't rely on just those types of treatment. It might be good as an addition to regular teeth cleaning but will not dissolve the majority of the buildup by itself.
Does Your Cat Have Bad Breath? In rare situations, a cat's bad breath might be a result of a condition going on inside the cat's organs as in the liver or kidneys. These are the organs of the body that filter bacteria and toxins and flush them out. If the cat's liver or kidneys are not working properly due to an infection or disease, it could result in a backup of bile and toxins into their oral cavities resulting in bad breath. Be sure to voice your concerns to your vet so he can look at all the possibilities surrounding the issue.
Why is My Cat Destroying My Furniture?
We have all seen the evidence. Your once-pristine table leg has deep gouges scratched into it; the wallpaper is shredded and the curtains are snagged.
Why is My Cat Destroying My Furniture? What is the diagnosis?
You have a cat who likes scratching.
Your pine furniture and your nerves are wrecked. Shouting or pleading with the feline will not help; he is not like an obedient, trainable dog. Why is My Cat Destroying My Furniture? So what can you do?
You need to understand that he is only exhibiting natural behaviour. He is not being bad or naughty. All cats need to scratch. The problem is yours, not his; he is simply scratching in an inappropriate place. Mark Twain famously once said, "You shouldn't try to teach a pig to sing. You waste your time and it annoys the pig." In the same vein, you cannot stop a cat from scratching. However, all is not lost. Cats are not trainable in the way a dog is, but you can learn to live with, and then modify, their behaviour.
Cat and Furniture Some people recommend punishing the cat. This can be very counter-productive as he will not understand why he is being punished. It may lead to him becoming nervous - and possibly scratching more. It could also spoil your once-loving relationship. A cat who bears a grudge is not a happy housemate. Cats have excellent memories.
Cat and Furniture It is important to understand why the cat needs to scratch in the first place. We all know that dogs mark their territory while out and about by constantly cocking their legs and urinating. Cats mark territory in several ways. Firstly, and most distressing, is the way that un-neutered tomcats spray inside their homes, with an aroma so strong that it could make your hair curl. Another way is by rubbing their chins around. Some traces of fluid are released from a gland as the cat rubs your legs, chin or door frame. The third way is by scratching. We cannot detect the fragrance that is left by the cat's chin-rubs; neither can we smell the special scent left behind by the cat's paws as he scratches. Unfortunately, the unique interior designer touches that your beloved pussycat adds to your house tend to be unwelcome ones. As well as customising your lovely furniture, the cat is having a jolly good workout, as you can testify if you have ever seen a pussy having a good stretch while scratching.
Why is My Cat Destroying My Furniture? What is the diagnosis?
You have a cat who likes scratching.
Your pine furniture and your nerves are wrecked. Shouting or pleading with the feline will not help; he is not like an obedient, trainable dog. Why is My Cat Destroying My Furniture? So what can you do?
You need to understand that he is only exhibiting natural behaviour. He is not being bad or naughty. All cats need to scratch. The problem is yours, not his; he is simply scratching in an inappropriate place. Mark Twain famously once said, "You shouldn't try to teach a pig to sing. You waste your time and it annoys the pig." In the same vein, you cannot stop a cat from scratching. However, all is not lost. Cats are not trainable in the way a dog is, but you can learn to live with, and then modify, their behaviour.
Cat and Furniture Some people recommend punishing the cat. This can be very counter-productive as he will not understand why he is being punished. It may lead to him becoming nervous - and possibly scratching more. It could also spoil your once-loving relationship. A cat who bears a grudge is not a happy housemate. Cats have excellent memories.
Cat and Furniture It is important to understand why the cat needs to scratch in the first place. We all know that dogs mark their territory while out and about by constantly cocking their legs and urinating. Cats mark territory in several ways. Firstly, and most distressing, is the way that un-neutered tomcats spray inside their homes, with an aroma so strong that it could make your hair curl. Another way is by rubbing their chins around. Some traces of fluid are released from a gland as the cat rubs your legs, chin or door frame. The third way is by scratching. We cannot detect the fragrance that is left by the cat's chin-rubs; neither can we smell the special scent left behind by the cat's paws as he scratches. Unfortunately, the unique interior designer touches that your beloved pussycat adds to your house tend to be unwelcome ones. As well as customising your lovely furniture, the cat is having a jolly good workout, as you can testify if you have ever seen a pussy having a good stretch while scratching.
Natural Cat Health - Three Areas to Target
Natural cat health is all about looking to nature to provide the answers to your questions. Nature has perfected every aspect of health care. Wild cats are healthy and never suffer from the crippling diseases their domestic cousins do. They can suffer from a lack of food, from injuries and territorial squabbles, but debilitating disease is definitely not on nature's agenda.
With this firmly in mind, Natural Cat Health indicates there are at least three possible areas that cause your cat's ill health.
- diet
- health care
- environmental issues
Natural Cat Health One of the most effective and fastest ways to turn your cat's health around is to feed her a diet similar to that of her wild cousins. Now, you may not be interested in going out to catch mice, especially if you're out at work all day. But the diet doesn't have to be identical, just similar.
Take the essential points out, and compromise in other, less important areas. For example, a wild cats diet is essentially quality raw meat and bones. Mostly from animals their own size or smaller.
So by feeding your cat quality, human grade food from lamb, chicken and rabbit, you're not far off the mark. Even beef is OK as long as it's quality meat and raw.
However, the bones do need to be the small ones found in chicken necks or chicken wings. Bigger bones may chip their teeth.
Natural health care is all about keeping a strong immune system. This is not achieved by drugs and vaccines. This can only be achieved by good food and a happy, healthy environment.
Try to use only those modalities of health care which support your cat's immune system, rather than depress it. Homeopathy, probably one of the most effective and affordable health care systems, works by doing just that.
A healthy environment is essential to cat health, whether natural or not. This includes access to the sun, stimulating play, a happy household, a toxic free house and garden, ability to get away from the family when necessary and access to healthy water.
Natural Cat Health - Three Areas to Target: Combine these three areas for good, natural cat health and you will be rewarded by a healthy cat and a load off your wallet.
With this firmly in mind, Natural Cat Health indicates there are at least three possible areas that cause your cat's ill health.
- diet
- health care
- environmental issues
Natural Cat Health One of the most effective and fastest ways to turn your cat's health around is to feed her a diet similar to that of her wild cousins. Now, you may not be interested in going out to catch mice, especially if you're out at work all day. But the diet doesn't have to be identical, just similar.
Take the essential points out, and compromise in other, less important areas. For example, a wild cats diet is essentially quality raw meat and bones. Mostly from animals their own size or smaller.
So by feeding your cat quality, human grade food from lamb, chicken and rabbit, you're not far off the mark. Even beef is OK as long as it's quality meat and raw.
However, the bones do need to be the small ones found in chicken necks or chicken wings. Bigger bones may chip their teeth.
Natural health care is all about keeping a strong immune system. This is not achieved by drugs and vaccines. This can only be achieved by good food and a happy, healthy environment.
Try to use only those modalities of health care which support your cat's immune system, rather than depress it. Homeopathy, probably one of the most effective and affordable health care systems, works by doing just that.
A healthy environment is essential to cat health, whether natural or not. This includes access to the sun, stimulating play, a happy household, a toxic free house and garden, ability to get away from the family when necessary and access to healthy water.
Natural Cat Health - Three Areas to Target: Combine these three areas for good, natural cat health and you will be rewarded by a healthy cat and a load off your wallet.
Friday
Overweight Cat Health Problems - Secrets That Resolve Them
Overweight cat health problems are common, tragic and unnecessary. There is no such thing as an overweight cat (or any other animal) in the wild. This means all overweight cats and their associated health problems is a man-made condition.
Obesity puts a huge strain on internal organs and greatly upsets the natural functioning of your cat's systems.
Overweight Cat Health Problems Although there is more than one factor that contributes to this, diet is by far the most important trigger. And there are two main areas in the diet that leads to obesity.
The first area is the diet itself. Most cats are fed a processed, commercial cat food. You may think you are doing the best thing for your cat. But if you look at the (real, unlisted) ingredients of most of the commercial cat foods, you'll find a very high fat content.
Overweight Cat Health Problems You may not be very happy to hear this, but most commercial cat food manufacturers care far more about their profit than about the health of your cat. They spend far more on an attractive packet and alluring advertising, than they do on the quality of the food.
Cheap, unhealthy ingredients are the order of the day. And fat is one of the cheapest ingredients around. But has little nutritional value, certainly not in high proportions.
You can reduce or eliminate your overweight cat health problems by switching to a quality, home made, raw meat and bones diet.
It's not difficult, time consuming or expensive.
Overweight Cat Health Problems The second problem many cat people do is to leave food out all the time. Cats are not grazers, like horses. They are carnivores. They don't hunt all the time. Cats tend to rest after a successful hunt, and sleep for several hours.
Carnivores tend to have a lot of unsuccessful hunts. So your cat's digestive system is geared up to few meals rather than many. Two meals a day is perfectly adequate for all adult cats.
Too frequent meals also upsets your cat's digestive system, causing Overweight Cat Health Problems.
Obesity puts a huge strain on internal organs and greatly upsets the natural functioning of your cat's systems.
Overweight Cat Health Problems Although there is more than one factor that contributes to this, diet is by far the most important trigger. And there are two main areas in the diet that leads to obesity.
The first area is the diet itself. Most cats are fed a processed, commercial cat food. You may think you are doing the best thing for your cat. But if you look at the (real, unlisted) ingredients of most of the commercial cat foods, you'll find a very high fat content.
Overweight Cat Health Problems You may not be very happy to hear this, but most commercial cat food manufacturers care far more about their profit than about the health of your cat. They spend far more on an attractive packet and alluring advertising, than they do on the quality of the food.
Cheap, unhealthy ingredients are the order of the day. And fat is one of the cheapest ingredients around. But has little nutritional value, certainly not in high proportions.
You can reduce or eliminate your overweight cat health problems by switching to a quality, home made, raw meat and bones diet.
It's not difficult, time consuming or expensive.
Overweight Cat Health Problems The second problem many cat people do is to leave food out all the time. Cats are not grazers, like horses. They are carnivores. They don't hunt all the time. Cats tend to rest after a successful hunt, and sleep for several hours.
Carnivores tend to have a lot of unsuccessful hunts. So your cat's digestive system is geared up to few meals rather than many. Two meals a day is perfectly adequate for all adult cats.
Too frequent meals also upsets your cat's digestive system, causing Overweight Cat Health Problems.
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