Cats Information Source

A Look At Cat Breeds

2009-01-19T12:36:00.000-08:00

Over the past thousands of years, cats have more or less manipulated breeding themselves. At first, they were used for one purpose - hunting and killing rodents. In the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking. Today, there are different breeds of cats - you can tell if you look closely.

These days there are more than 70 different breeds of cats, which are recognized through the records of cat. There are several records that are recognized around 40 races more or less, as they exclude the more domestic breeds such as tigers. There are also many variations, such as wild cats that have longer hair.

There are some breeds of cats that have roots that go back a little bit of history. Some Japanese breeds, such as the Japanese bobtail, dates back over 1000 years of history. These cats are very common and well known throughout Medieval Japan. Today, however, they are all a myth, but in Japan and around the world.

The most common cat breeds that are found in North America include the alley cat, long-haired cats and Persian cats. Siamese cats are also common, although they are well known to be destructive and have a bad temper. Persian cats are very popular, proving to be loving companions. Persian cats can be very expensive, depending on where you get and what kind of Persian cat it is.

Alley cats are more common in North America. In fact, there are different races, although most of us just refer to them as alley cats. They are good pets, although there are literally thousands of them in stock. It is known that cats are more than any other pet, and will continue until the race was stopped. Alley cats are among the most bred, as there are hundreds of thousands of cats who are homeless - and have nothing to do but race.

The eye of the cat is the easiest way to tell what race he or she can be. Some people choose to go by color, but color is not so easy to identify. Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as Siamese and Persian cats. Siamese cats are almost always black, and easily identified by their color and their eyes. Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their body type and hair.

Over the years, there have been a number of races to come along. Cats are one of the first pets, and easily one of the most popular. Millions of people around the world own cats, with many people preferring a cat over any other pet - including dogs. No matter what breed of cat you - you're sure to get a pet to make a great companion for years to come.

Tips On How To Toilet Train Your Cat

2008-11-14T18:22:00.000-08:00

Potty training a cat is becoming an increasingly popular way to get rid of cat litter instead of merely using a cat litter box. Compared to the latter, it offers convenience to the owner because, unlike when using a cat litter box, the owner will no longer have to clean up the litter after use, and it is much cheaper because he does not have to buy cat litter boxes that only serve as a temporary place for cat litter anyway.

So how exactly do you potty train your cat? Here are some tips to help you.

First off, teaching your cat to use the human toilet is not going to happen overnight. It will take weeks before a cat could adjust to her new environment and her new habits you taught her. Therefore, you need to be very patient in teaching her a new habit, which is to use the toilet.

Now that's said, let's start off by getting your cat to get used to her new environment by putting the cat litter box closer to the toilet. Then gradually raise the litter box higher next to the toilet every day with something like a pile of papers or books, or anything else that could raise it, until it is exactly at the level of the toilet. Remember that as you do this, you need to secure the place of the cat litter with a tape or else it will be knocked over by the cat when she uses the cat litter box.

When the litter box is as high as the toilet seat, it is time to get your cat to get over to the toilet.

Begin by placing a litter pan or box on top of the toilet.

When you see your cat is already comfortable with that habit, you can now remove that pan and your cat will get used to that habit from now on.

By Juana Cruz

Want to know more about how to toilet train your cat? Visit http://www.squidoo.com/cattraining101 for a comprehensive guide on how to toilet train your cat.

Cat Flap Training - Some Pointers For Success

2008-07-30T08:30:00.001-07:00

Kittens are so cute, everyone loves them. Sooner or later, they need to learn how to use the cat flap. Then it is time for cat flap training. This guide will tell you just how easy it is - you won't believe it.

First thing to take note is that the cat cannot be too young. A kitten cannot be expected to learn to go through a cat flap on its own anymore than you would expect a toddle to learn to open the door by him or herself. The kitten should be well weaned and confident both inside and (more importantly) outside of the house before beginning cat flap training. If the kitten is not confident outside the house then there is no way you will get him or her to use the cat flap!

You will need two of you to do this and you will need to set aside 20 minutes or more. One person is to kneel on either side of the cat flap.

At all times BE GENTLE with your cat. You DO NOT want to scare him or her.

One person is to gently push the cat through the cat flap to the other person. The second person is to then turn the cat around and gently push him or her back to the first person.

Remember: The keyword is GENTLE

Repeat this process for about 20 minutes. Yes, I know this sounds tedious and will take patience for the both the humans and the cat. But if done correctly, this will be sufficient for your cat to learn how to use the cat flap.

So there it is: Cat flap training in under 20 minutes. Yes, boring - but effective and in under only 20 minutes.
By Mary Telford

Mary works part time in a pet motel near her home in NSW, Australia.

Want more detailed information on cat flap training or other training methods for cats why not read this guide to see how easy it really is.

Labels: cat,cat training,cat flap training

What You Need to Know About Cat Food

2008-07-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Cat Food Info #1 Cats Need Protein in their Cat Food

The cat food you feed to your cat should always be rich in protein. This generally should come from meat, poultry or fish. Many cat food brands advertise chicken, beef, and tuna flavored cat food because they know that cats need protein and cat owners are looking for quality cat food. However, you need to make sure the cat food you buy has a sufficient amount of cat food regardless of what flavor it is.

Cat Food Info #2 Cat Food with Taurine

Also check the cat food you typically buy for an amino acid called taurine. This particular amino acid is very important in the overall health of your cat, and your cat will eat as much food as it has to in order to supplement this particular amino acid. So, if you are buying cheap cat food that does not have the proper nutrients your cat will eat a lot. If you buy a nutrient rich cat food then your cat will eat little and save you more money while still getting proper nutrition.

Cat Food Info #3 Canned Cat Food or Dry Cat Food?

Many people do not know whether they should buy canned or dry cat food, or whether it even matters. Because of this, many people simply buy the cat food that is most affordable or convenient for them. This is actually a mistake. Cats should be fed a mixture of cat food. The dry cat food should be given for free feeding, especially if you are away on vacation or out for the day. Canned cat food should be supplemented at other times as well because it has water in the food and significantly more protein than the carbohydrate rich dry cat food. Not to mention the same food over and over might bore your cat and cause him to stop eating that cat food altogether.

Cat Food Info #4 Avoid Cat Food Fillers

Cats need to eat a cat food that is rich in protein, so make sure the amount of fillers is kept to a minimum. Carbohydrates are not essential for a cat’s existence, so don’t buy cat food that is full of them. Instead, read labels and buy cat food that is not filled with fillers and other by products.
By Jay Moncliff

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.catfoodcenter.info a blog focusing on the Cat Food, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on Cat Food. For more info visit his site: Cat Food
Labels: cat,cat food,cat tips

What Cat Lovers Should Know About Tapeworms in a Cat

2008-07-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

Cats Infomation Source

By Nat Williams
Nearly all cats will experience at least one form of worm infection during their lifetime; among the most widespread worm infestations are that of the roundworm and the tapeworm.

What are Tapeworms?

All worms are parasites that feed off the inside of your cat and can make them rather sick. Worms can be transferred from the mother to the kitten; the litter box is also a source of worm infestation - particularly if you have more than one cat.

The tapeworm is made up of a number of segments and each of these segments contains the eggs of the worm. The segments containing the eggs fall off the worm and are excreted out of the cat's body in its stools.

How Do Cats Get Tapeworms?

The tapeworm may have been passed down to a kitten by its mother. However, the main source of the tapeworm is cat fleas. Fleas eat the tapeworm eggs that are passed in the cat's stool - the cat will swallow the flea when it cleans itself and this is how the tapeworm egg enters your cat's body. If you want to avoid tapeworm infestation then you first need to ensure that your cat is free from fleas. If a cat has fleas then it is more likely to be suffering from tapeworms, which attacks the cat's intestinal tract.

Symptoms of Tapeworms in Cats

You should watch your cat's behavior. Cats who have tapeworms will show more scratching and licking around their anus. Irritability and loss of appetite are other symptoms that the cat has fleas.

Treatment of Tapeworms in Cats

You should always bring your cat to the vet for a checkup if you suspect it has a worm infection. Your vet will most likely treat your cat by prescribing some deworming medicine, which will almost always get rid of the tapeworm problem. You will also need to clean the cat's bed and areas of the house your cat has access to. Combine the treatment with exercise along with a correct diet and regular checkups and your cat should be free of tapeworms.

Prevention of Tapeworms in Cats

In order to prevent your cat from being re-infested with tapeworms, you will have to keep fleas out of your cat and house. A regular dosage of deworming medicine prescribed by your vet will definitely keep the worms out permanently.

Natalie Williams is the author of WormsInMyPet.com. Visit her web site for more tips on treating and preventing worms in your pet.
Label: cat tapeworm,cat lover