Using Treats to Train Your Cat

The felis domesticus, or simply cats, are known for its sharp senses. In fact, most zoologists assert that cats have the best senses among mammals. This is because they have sharp sense of hearing, smelling, and keen eyesight. However, with all these remarkable characteristics, cats are little known for learning tricks. Some people contend that it is so hard to teach cats some tricks. The problem with those people is that they do not know how to train a cat properly. In fact, dogs can be as hard to train as well if improper techniques were employed. The point here is that since cats have very strong senses, then, it would be better to train them and use their senses as a good target area. This can be done by using treats while training the cat.

Generally, cats respond more when they are given some rewards immediately after they were able to perform the tasks that were required from them. It is important that these rewards be given on an instant so that they can associate the rewards with what they have just done. Some animals, like dogs, can respond simply by receiving a pat or a good verbal praise after the task. However, cats are more independent animals that seem to have their own sense of thinking. That is why it needs more incentives for them to respond to the commands.

In spite of this, it is not also healthy for the animals to respond to the commands simply because they know that there will be some treats in the end. Hence, it is important to limit the treats while training the cats. It would be better to use treats in commands that are hard to teach like the “come” order.

Nevertheless, treats are very effective tools in training your cats. They are the best tools whenever trainers want to boost the preferred behavior from their cats. People should understand that cats are not given the same intellect that humans have. Hence, they need something to associate with so that they can understand that the action that they have just made is acceptable. Boiled down, training a cat is just a matter of employing the best technique and the right treats. All of these things can assure the cat owners of a wonderful execution of commands done perfectly by their beloved cats. Cat lovers just have to understand that cats, like humans, and like any other living creature in this world, need some praise, love, and rewards so that their pets will return the goodness that they receive.

Article Source: http://catarticles.net

The Truth About Feeding Your Cat Raw Meat

Myths about proper diets for our cats seem always to be with us. Some of these myths may have a grain of truth, but this truth is often greatly exaggerated or misapplied. Other myths are nurtured by misinformation and mistrust. A current myth that could be threatening to our cats' health involves raw meat diets for dogs and cats. The proponents of this belief question the wholesomeness and nutritional value of commercial cat foods. But, in fact, there is no scientific substantiation for raw meat diets.

The truth is that good quality cat foods are backed by years of feline and canine nutrition studies. They are the result of scientific studies by researchers in veterinary colleges and animal nutritionists at reputable cat food manufacturers. Ralston Purina Company, for example, began its cat nutrition studies over 70 years ago. This work continues as researchers launch new studies to learn even more about the relationship of diet to our cats' health. In our own diets, meat is combined with vegetables, fruits, breads and other foods to give us the balanced nutrition we need. If we were to eat one particular food consistently, chances are we would become malnourished or develop health problems. No single food or food group can provide all the nutrients we need in proper proportions. Manufacturers of good quality cat foods have incorporated all the nutrients a dog or cat needs during a particular life stage into nutritionally complete and balanced diets. Although meat is a source of protein, it has very low levels of calcium, a mineral our cats require for proper bone and tooth development. Calcium also plays an important role in blood clotting, muscle contraction and transmission of nerve impulses. It's important to remember that nutrients do not work alone, and calcium is no exception. Mineral nutrients are interrelated. Calcium and phosphorus have a scientifically established relationship in the formation of bones and teeth, provided a proper balance is maintained. This balance is usually not present in meat. If large quantities of raw meat are fed over time, skeletal problems may develop. We tend to think of liver as being a "healthy" meat. Served with other foods, it is a beneficial part of many human diets. Liver has a high level of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored by the body. When liver is fed to cats in large quantities over a period of time, vitamin A toxicity can result. This can lead to improper bone development, lameness and bone decalcification.

Raw meat carries the threat of bacteria and parasites. Salmonella is a bacterial organism that can cause a variety of disease in humans and animals. The risk of salmonellosis is always present when cats are fed raw meat diets. Certain species of tapeworm can be found in raw meat and passed on to a cat who ingests the meat. High quality commercial cat foods are carefully processed to protect against salmonella or internal parasite infection.

It's true that cats and dogs consume a certain amount of muscle meat when they eat wild animals for survival. However, they also consume the bones, intestinal contents and internal organs which come closer to providing a complete and balanced diet.

Attempting to supplement a raw meat diet with vitamins and minerals is risky for your cat's health. Certain vitamins and minerals react with one another. Unless they are present in the proper amounts a cat may suffer malnutrition. When a myth involving cat nutrition is suddenly exploited, we should ask ourselves: "What scientific research supports this statement?" "Have veterinary colleges done research to validate it?" "Do respected researchers in the fields of canine and feline nutrition support it?" "They said" or "I heard that" do not provide the substantiation we need when confronted with myths involving the nutrition and well-being of our special companions.

Article Source: http://catarticles.net

Litter Cleaning For Your Cats

Almost everyone, adults and kids alike have a natural fondness for cats. They are loving, quiet, and very playful pets that can provide you with years of entertainment. Although most of us have a fondness for cats, that fondness can rapidly diminish when it comes to the litter box. Even the most hardened cat lover may get tired of litter box duty, especially when it comes down to scooping “you know what” from the litter box.

Cats are very intelligent, instinctively knowing how they should use the litter box. After the cat has finished using the litter box, someone in the family will need to scoop the waste from the litter box. This can be a very dirty and somewhat smelly job, one that is often overlooked during the day when the workload gets heavy. Cleaning up the litter box doesn’t take but a few minutes, although most would prefer not to do it at all. Although the litter box will need to be scooped out daily, it will also need to be changed once a week as well, by throwing the current bag out and replacing the box with a new bag and fresh litter.

Those who don’t like to scoop out the litter box should invest in one of the best inventions ever – the self cleaning litter box. These litter boxes are easy to use, and will keep the area clean. After the cat has used it, the self cleaning litter box will automatically clean the litter either by sifting or using a device that resembles a rake.

Self cleaning boxes that use shifting will often times have a round design. Once the cat leaves the covered box, the dome on top will revolve for the box to clean. The litter in the box will be shifted with the waste being put below the litter where it is discarded. Once the waste is properly disposed of, the litter will be returned to its normal position in the box for the cat to use again.

Boxes that have raking systems will often times sport a rectangular design. Once the cat leaves the box, the rake will automatically come out and clean the litter. The rake will clean all of the litter in the box, including the clumps of waste as well. Rakes are popular, although the shifting litter boxes are by far more popular and more common.

Those who are often times away from home could greatly benefit from a self cleaning litter box. They are great to have for cats that spend a lot of time by themselves, as they virtually eliminate any scooping of litter on your part. You can find them at your local pet or department store, even online as well. They are very affordable – and ideal for anyone who doesn’t like scooping waste from their litter box.

Litter Cleaning For Cats courtesy of Cat Articles

Why Your Cat Wont Use His Litter box

The biggest complaint of cat owners is due to having a cat that suddenly decides he doesn’t want to eliminate in his litter box. Besides the smell, there is the added cost of ruined rugs and the embarrassment when visitors stop by. Cats are, however, naturally clean animals and you will need to do some investigating to see what is going on that may have changed this habit.

The first reason cats stop using their litter box is cleanliness. How often do you clean the box? While one cat may tolerate once a day, others may insist the box be cleaned each time they use it. In the latter case, it might help if you can invest in a self-cleaning litter box. If cost is an issue, then try cleaning the box more often and see if this helps.

Have you recently changed litter brands? Most cats prefer the brand they are used to. This doesn’t have to be the most expensive; some actually prefer the cheaper brands. If you find a litter that seems to make your cat happy, stick with it.

A more important reason a cat may stop using his litter box is illness. A visit to the vet to have your cat checked for possible urinary track infection could be in order. A cat with this infection may feel pain upon elimination and associate that pain with the litter box.

Keeping in mind that most cats will not stop using a litter box once trained should make it easier for you to understand. Find the cause by eliminating things one by one. Both you and your cat will be happier for the effort. He stays out of trouble and you benefit by a cleaner-smelling house and nice carpet

Why Your Cat Won’t Use His Litter box courtesy of Cat Articles

Litter Training As ABC For Your Cat

One of the most daunting tasks that you have as a cat owner is litter-training them. You would not want them to soil your bed sheet or wet your favorite furniture. In litter-training your pet cat, make sure that you start while they are young kittens and they will surely carry this habit as they grow.

Here are the basics on how you can successfully litter-train your cat:

1. Familiarize your cat with the "safe" areas within your house.
You may use crate-training while the cat is young. This is so that they will not roam around the house freely when they are not properly trained yet. By giving them free rein on every area or room in your house, you will let your pet think that they can litter everywhere. For starters, familiarize you cat with the areas around the house where they can roam around. Then start introducing the area where the litter box is located. As a pet owner, you would basically have an idea of when your cat will eliminate. The most likely times are after feeding, when they wake up and after going outside and walking.

2. Feed them on a regular basis.
Feeding your cat on a regular basis would help maintain a schedule of some sort within their system. After feeding, try to entice them to go to the area where the litter box is located. Play with them for some time and once they are about to eliminate, the litter box is easily within reach. Doing this on a regular basis would more or less train your cat of the proper place to soil or urinate. When your cat takes a catnap, place her near a litter box after waking. Make sure that you muster encouraging words and stroke the coat to soothe her. This is also your way of showing your cat that you are pleased about what she is doing.

3. Clean the litter box.
Cats are very tidy creatures. If they see or feel that the litter box is dirty, they will not want to go there. These are some ways to keep the litter box clean and train your cat to use it:
-Your cat would not use a litter box that smells bad. After your cat has used the litter box, make sure that it is cleaned for the next time that your pet needs to use it.
-Discard the old litter immediately after use. Rinse the litter box with water. You can add some lemon juice or vinegar to remove the smell of urine. This would make the litter box clean and pleasant smelling to your cat.
-Place the litter box in an area that is easily accessible to your cat. If you assign one room for them, you may place the litter box at the opposite end of their sleeping area. Always supply your cat with clean water to drink, this may also be placed near the litter box so that they can urinate there after drinking.
-If you have more than one cat, place several litter boxes in strategic areas.

4. If your cat suddenly stops using the litter box, it may be caused by stress.
Cats will react to stress by urinating or soiling your favorite piece of furniture. There are also physical reasons why your cat will soil your carpet or wet your bed sheet. Your cat may have urinary tract problems that you would not know about. It is best to consult your veterinarian if your cat suddenly urinates a lot or soils your furniture. A sudden change in your cats behavior means that you should consult with a professional.

5. Do not associate the litter box with punishment.
You may also use psychology for litter training your cat. If they litter on your carpet, do not lead them to the litter box after the fact. If you do this, the litter box would serve as their punishment and it will be very hard for you to get them to use it again. Do not scold your pet because they cannot help it if they have not been suitably house-broken yet. Praise your cat and shower them with a lot of affection for each time that they use the litter box.

With enough time and patience, you can learn to litter-train your pet cat and succeed while doing so.
Cat Article courtesy of http://www.i-love-cats.com/

Things To Know Before Breeding Your Cat

The population of cats is the United States alone is unbelievable. Nearly all experts will tell you that you should spay your cat instead of breed it. No matter what experts have to say, a lot of people want to have a litter of kittens from their cat. Before you decide to breed your cat, there are a few things that you should think about.

The first thing you should know is that breeding cats takes time. For the next two months after the litter is born, you’ll need to clean the area on a daily basis. You’ll also need to watch over the kittens as well, and keep a close eye on how they are developing. If you plan to breed a litter of cats, you won’t have time for much of anything else.

Breeding cats will also require a good degree of space as well. If you have a small apartment, you shouldn’t attempt to breed a cat. You should also make sure that your family agrees with the idea, as it isn’t good for the kittens if you keep them locked up. Keep in mind that kittens like to see things; they’ll end up going all over your home as well.

Breeding cats also requires a degree of responsibility as well. You should always have a plan of approach, including homes for the kittens to go that you aren’t planning to keep. Keep in mind that things can change, someone who wanted a cat may change his mind once the litter is born. In this event, you must decide whether or not you can keep a kitten that doesn’t have a home.

Breeding also requires some education as well. You should be prepared for any problems along the way, as well as what takes place during birth. From cutting umbilical cords to delivering early, you’ll need to be well prepared. You should also have the proper supplies, and know how to handle things in the event of a c-section. You’ll also need to know what to feed pregnant cats, as their diets are very important if you are breeding.

Breeding will also cost money as well, with kittens costing a lot more money than you may think. The food isn’t the only thing that’s expensive, as the vet bills can also get expensive. Even though you may go through the entire pregnancy without going to the vet, you’ll still need de-worming and vaccination medicines as well.

In short, there is a lot to think about where breeding is concerned. If you have your mind set on it and you want to breed, you should be sure that you have the proper knowledge and everything you need before hand. You should always be ready to handle anything associated with breeding – and prepare yourself for the worst possible scenario.