HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH CATS

Communicating with cats can be very difficult  and frustrating as they tend to be very detached, it is way easier when communicating with dogs, they learn very fast, where not to lie, what chair not to sit in, where not to poop ,and whenever they fall out of line they are very apologetic from their eyes, tails and even squirms. 

But when it comes to cat is like they always press a reset button to forget what they did just two hours ago, they seem to forget how pissed you seemed when they peed on your clothes and are likely to repeat itself should the situation presents itself, no matter how often you put them down from the couch, they seem to want to get back up there, they have a mind of their own and are likely to revisit the scene of their crimes. 

One way to communicate with cats is to understand them as that is the only way to relate with them. They have no interests in understanding you or your moods, one can say they can be very selfish. They want you to know when they are hungry, when they need to be pampered, when they are in the mood to play but not the other way around, they don't mind waking you up at 2am  for the fun of it, and you can't help but wonder with all the house space they chose their playspot right next to your ear, the list goes on and on, they would have survive well on their own but you choose to have them as side kicks in which case they cannot afford to be. Basically you need to understand their patterns and adjust to it, when they want to eat, sleep, get a rub, playtime, change in diets and portions. 

What's to gain from this idolisation of a pet? for one thing you get to have a clean house companion, if they are content, you will have very little to tend to in terms of picking up after them, they stick to their litter box, keep rodents away, and when you are bored they will be there to pur, lick your face and rub their soft furry coat all over you and make you feel soo much better.


Credit: Ismail Ibrahim

Cat Health - Symptoms That Show Your Cat Has a Cold

Just like in us humans, cats can get a cold that can be anything from a nasty sniffle to a full fledged, serious illness. In humans, these illnesses are normally caused by a bug called a rhinovirus but cats can't catch this, so this means that cats can't catch a human's cold. However, they do have their own viruses that can cause cold-like symptoms.

Symptoms of a cold

In cats, the majority of these illnesses are caused by two infections - calcivirus or herpesvirus. Symptoms come between a few days to two weeks after exposure to the virus and these symptoms include:

· Sneezing - sneezing is often the first symptom you will notice in a cat that has a cold virus and is designed to clear the nasal passages, just like it is in humans

· Runny nose - or nasal discharge is when the virus irritates the lining of the nose and the body produces mucus to clear this. This mucus leaks from the nose or is expelled through sneezing

· Weeping eyes - a discharge from the eyes is often called conjunctivitis and can be a condition in its own right. It also happens as a symptom of a cold and sees mucus build up in the eyes that then forms an uncomfortable crust. This needs to be wiped away with a warm, damp cloth

· Mouth breathing - as the nose becomes blocked, cats will breathe through the mouth instead

· Lethargy - when fighting a virus, the cat will often become lethargic and tired as the body uses resources for the immune system. They will often sleep more and have less interest in their environment

· Fever - cats have a normal body temperature between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit and during a cold virus, this will likely increase, though it is hard to detect

· Loss of appetite - because they feel bad and can't smell properly, they will often eat less

In addition to these symptoms, there are others that may indicate a more serious condition than a common cold. Coughing is one such symptom as this normally indicates the infection has spread to the lungs and mucus is being created there. Laboured breathing is another sign though is often associated with a blocked nose but can indicate fluid in the lungs that will need antibiotics. Dark coloured mucus is another problem as it is normally creamy or clear - if it turns yellow, green or brown then this can be a sign of a secondary bacterial infection.

Treatment

Whilst it might be tempting to give a cat a drop of human cold medicine or something designed for dogs, this is a bad idea as the ingredients won't work the same on cats and could make them very ill or even be fatal. If you need medication, speak to your vet who will provide the correct drugs for the feline system.

Most of the time, it is a case of waiting it out with your cat and the illness will pass, just like it does in a human. Keep them away from drafts, warm and comfortable even if they have a temperature and consider a cool mist vaporizer to help with the mucus build-up. Make sure they drink plenty and offer strong smelling foods that they like as their appetite will be diminished by a loss of their sense of smell.

Credit: Angela Tempest

Benefits Of Making Healthy Dog Biscuit Recipes For Your Pet

Dog biscuits are known to be effective in rewarding good behavior since dogs can smell treats even when they are 20 yards away. Biscuits are likewise ideal for showing your love for your pet. And since this is important, you would want the best possible treats for your beloved pet.

Pet owners must be aware that instead of going for the common packaged treats, why not consider making healthy dog biscuit recipes using the finest, nutritious ingredients? Indeed, the best way of showing your love for your pet is making wholesome biscuits.

Benefits Of Making Homemade Canine Treats

Ensure your pet's health - Often, plenty of ordinary packaged dog treats contain additives, preservatives, and fillers. These things do little to nothing at all when it comes to ensuring the health of your dog. Also, they might do harm, causing obesity and triggering allergies. Moreover, there are some ingredients that can aggravate your dog's condition. Be reminded that when you make dog biscuits at home, you can actually control what will go in the mix. Wholesome ingredients which carry lots of nutritional value can be used. Apart from that, fresh ingredients can be included as these can do more than just keeping your dog's health intact. For instance, adding parsley can help remove your pooch of bad breath.

Your dog will enjoy its preferred flavor - There is a great possibility that the one you will get from the grocery store or pet shop will not suit its taste. Also, it may contain the ingredient it doesn't like. In turn, you might end up throwing the box of treats you bought in the trash.

Cost-effective - You can create plenty of biscuits that can actually last for a very long while. Moreover, you might already have the ingredients you need, in your pantry or garden.

Pet experts highly emphasized that there is no better way to show your love for your beloved pet than by creating healthy biscuits. In fact, your canine companion might even stay in your kitchen while you whip up those treats. And this could be a great bonding moment for you and your beloved pet. Be reminded though not to give in to the urge of giving the biscuits any time. Rather, you must use the treats very wisely - as snacks in between meals and to reward good behavior.

Most importantly, you have to choose very carefully which ingredients to include in the mix. Be sure not to include those that can trigger allergies. Consult a reliable vet whenever necessary.

Credit: Kurt Anthony Reynolds

Curiosity Killed The Cat

It is entertaining to watch kittens explore their environments. They have the ability to find holes and corners owners didn't know existed. They can find wires, chew cords and undo those bread ties used to keep cords wrapped together in what seems in a matter of moments. As the kitten grows older, this curiosity doesn't go away. It may seem to mature but this characteristic is always there. Bringing in new items, changing the room around, washing bed sheets are all invitations for your cat to satisfy their curiosity. It provides just as much entertainment to see the cats explore.

Feline proofing a house is simple but also challenging. Some simple proofing can include removing live plants. Plants seem to be an attractive magnet for cats. Even if they are placed high up, cats will not let this curiosity go and will find a way to get to. When it comes to artificial plants, lookout that it is not used as a litter box for one, the other it doesn't attract them to chew on the leaves. In our household, I have three small vases of artificial plants. They are located high, on a single shelf and have not been a problem.

Another simple proofing is putting up or hideaway cords. Bundling cords together around an entertainment system or computer system is an organizational nightmare at times, however it does make a room look cleaner, but also keeps those curious cats from making a nest out of them. In our household, I use double-sided velcro to keep cords and wires together. The velcro seems not to be as attractive to my cats as bread ties.

Another area of proofing includes the smallest of places that kittens and some cats love to get to and that is under the couch, end tables and lazy boy chairs. In our household we put a 2x4 board around our sofa, not only did this prevent any further cats going under the couch but also raised the couch up (getting up from the couch is so much easier now). A similar solution was performed on our end tables, except we put small wheels on them so when I clean I can easily move them around. As for the lazy boy chairs, this was a challenge. It mainly was slapping the chair before sitting down, but also we had to block the opening between the fabric and the chair itself with pillows. Wolverine was the main culprit of this. She would hide between the fabric and the chair. We found small pliable pillows at a Goodwill and used these to block those entrances on all five lazy boy chairs and sofas. Even after two years we can't remove them, because she still will crawl behind them.

Some bigger challenges to proofing can include: if there is clutter in the room, could the cat get caught in the clutter and harm themselves. This clutter can include what is inside cabinets. For example Zorro was our tiger cat that opened cabinets and would hide in them, especially in the kitchen. So we had to remove cleaners and roach baits to a higher cabinet that he could not access. Luckily, this was the only cabinet that had the doors he could open, so putting up baby locks was not necessary.

Another proofing includes looking high. Is there access to shelves or ledges that the cat could jump on? Could these areas handle the weight or momentum of jumping? Are there any fragile items that will need to be moved? This is a good time to decide should items stay or can they be tossed or recycled somewhere else in the house. I have four ceiling to midway wall shelves made for my music water globes. They are actually situated behind glass to keep my curious cats away from them. The other areas for my fragile and smaller items are located on single small shelf compartments my husband built, specifically to keep them away.

The last challenge in cat proofing a house is the cat themselves. Cats have knack for knowing when they are being watched. The cat will not show their "secret" spot too quickly. Keeping a lookout is key if you have a cat that loves to keep you on your toes. An example of this was about two years ago when my husband and I bought a new entertainment system. This five piece cabinet system was delivered and set up in the library room. Immediately the cats came out of the wood work and starting investigating. They jumped into all of the shelves. These shelves are above five feet tall. They would wonder inside of them, while I was watching. After about an hour they are left. I closed the doors to the system and went about my day. I had not seen Snoopy that afternoon, which is typical, considering she sleeps practically all day. At dinner time she didn't show. I called, and went on the search. It was about 15 minutes later that I heard some wrestling coming from behind the system. Joe moved two of the cabinets and there she was. Head down, body up and right next to the cords. We quickly removed her and she ran to eat. It was about two hours later, I saw her looking at the entertainment system again. I watched her from the kitchen as she showed me her "secret". Jumping from the couch onto a walking ledge she leaped onto one of the cabinets next to the wall. When she tried to walk to the other system cabinets she fell again. Joe moved the cabinet and we removed her. Joe went to the garage and put on a piece of plywood temporarily until a permanent attachment could be made. After this was done, Snoopy didn't really have anymore inclination to do any more exploring. But we have not removed this plywood for fear she may one day try again.

I like using this example. Why? Because everything I wrote about proofing a house we forgot to do when it came to this new system. The shelves were sturdy enough and in fact the cats had taken turns investigating the insides of the shelves. What I didn't think of at the time was the top of the system. Mainly because I couldn't see it so I didn't think about what was up there. Snoopy taught me otherwise. No matter if the rest of the house is proofed, all it takes is one "miss" that could lead to devastating results.

Credit: Angela Pellerin