Cat Information For People Who Love Their Cats All you would ever want to know about cats and their people! Information about Cats and Cat Care and Cat Breed Descriptions. Find sites about domestic cats and kittens as well as information about their specific breeds, care, health, breeding, adoption, socialization, and feeding. You can find lots of cat toys, books on cats and cat furniture too!
kitten


Cat Behavior Secrects Revealed



Cats Indoors!

Excerpt : Keeping Cats Indoors is for the Cats... Each year, millions of cats are run over by cars, mauled by dogs, poisoned and lost. Hundreds of millions of birds and small mammals are killed annually by
Keeping Cats Indoors is for the Cats...

Each year, millions of cats are run over by cars, mauled by dogs, poisoned and lost. Hundreds of millions of birds and small mammals are killed annually by free-roaming cats. The suffering of both cats and birds is all the more tragic because it is so unnecessary.

Today's cat owners face an important decision: "Should I keep my cat indoors?" For your cat's sake, and that of the birds and other wildlife in your neighborhood, the answer to that question must be "yes!"

The average life expectancy of an outdoor cat is just two to five years, while an indoor cat may survive for 17 or more years. Cats who roam are constantly in danger...

Cars - Millions of cats are run over by cars each year. Seeking warmth, outdoor cats crawl into car engines and are killed or maimed when the car is restarted. Motorists risk accidents in attempting to avoid hitting free-roaming cats.

Human Cruelty - Each year, animal shelters and veterinarians treat cats who have been shot, stabbed, or set on fire. Unsupervised cats may also be captured and sold to research laboratories or used as "bait" to train fighting dogs.

Animal Attacks - Torn ears, scratched eyes, abscesses, internal injuries, diseases, and sometimes death result from

Dog and Cat White
Buy this Art Print

Also see : Health Problems In Cats
It may come as a surprise, if you're a new cat owner, that many health problems may befall your feline friend. Some problems are easily preventable, while others are hereditary. Hairballs Hairballs are among the most common of cat health...read more

Holiday Training Your Cat
With all the holiday's coming up soon, there is still time to get your cat trained for the holidays. You will want to search out tips on saving the tree and table for the holidays, with your cat around. One thing you can start with is...read more

encounters with dogs, other cats, and wild animals like raccoons, coyotes and foxes. Overpopulation - Unaltered free-roaming cats are the single most important cause of cat overpopulation. As a result, millions of cats for whom there are no homes must be euthanized each year.

Disease - Cats allowed outdoors risk exposure to fatal diseases, including rabies, feline leukemia, distemper, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Vaccines are not 100 percent effective.

Parasites - Cats allowed outdoors are more likely to contract debilitating parasites such as worms, ticks, mites, and fleas.

Poisons and Traps - Exposure to pesticides, rodenticides and antifreeze poisons and kills thousands of outdoor cats each year. Cats are maimed and killed in traps set for furbearing animals.

...And for the Birds

Today, birds and other wildlife face more obstacles to their survival than ever before. Wildlife habitats are destroyed and degraded every day, and many species are declining as a result. Even the impacts of natural predators on their prey is changing based on how humans are altering natural environments. And the presence of an unnatural predator -- the domestic cat -- is having an impact as well. Scientists estimate that cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year
Siamese Cat and Mirror
Buy this Art Print


Also see : Cat Names
After selecting what type of cat / kitten to purchase, its time for the next biggest challenge - coming up with a name. Certain cat names lend themselves to certain breeds and the markings on many kittens can also make your life a bit...read more

Training a Cat to a New Environment
When bringing home a new cat or kitten to a different environment with other pets and additional family members this does not have to be an overwhelming experience for the new cat or kitten and family. Cats and kittens adjust quickly...read more

and three times as many small mammals. Most birds killed by cats are members of relatively common species, like the Northern Cardinal, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco; others are rare and endangered -- the California Least Tern, Piping Plover, Western Snowy Plover and California Gnatcatcher.

Regardless of the status of the species, each wild animal suffers when captured by a cat. By letting our cats outside, we -- perhaps without intent -- place a higher value on the freedom of our pet than on the life of that cardinal, that chickadee or that chipmunk she kills.

"Is it Nature's Way for Cats to Kill Birds?"

A descendant of the wild cat of Africa and southwestern Asia, the domestic cat instinctively hunts and captures prey. However, wildlife in the Western Hemisphere did not evolve in the presence of a small, abundant predator like the domestic cat, and thus did not develop defenses against them. Cats were introduced in North America by European immigrants only a few hundred years ago.

While cats may instinctively hunt wildlife, it is clear that they are not adapted to life in the wild as are our native wild cats like the bobcat and mountain lion.

Outdoor domestic cat populations are most commonly found in and around human settlements; most do not survive without
Never Doing That Again
Buy this Art Print

Also see : Can You Really Train A Cat? Is It Worth The Trouble?
Cats are notoriously independent and have a mind of their own. Can you really teach a cat new tricks? Cat owners often think that their cat is just too moody to listen. Some owners feel their cats are un-trainable simply because they are...read more

The 5 Things You Should Know Before Breeding Cats
The cat population is astronomical. Most experts agree that average cat owners should spay their cat, not breed. Still there are people who want to have a litter from their pet. But there’s a lot to think about before planning a feline family. ...read more

direct or indirect support by humans. They are in this way very different from native predators.

Truths about Cats and Birds

We all know that cats don't have nine lives, but there are three other myths about cat predation we'd like to dispel.

1. "Belled" cats do kill wildlife. Cats with bells on their collars can learn to stalk their prey silently. Even if they don't, wild animals do not necessarily associate the ringing of a bell with danger.

2. Even well-fed cats kill wildlife. The urge to hunt and the urge to eat are controlled by different portions of the cat's brain. 3. Once caught by a cat, few birds survive, even if they appear to have escaped. Infection from the cat's teeth or claws or the stress of capture usually results in death.

Tips for Happy Indoor Cats

Kittens who are kept indoors usually show no desire to venture outside as cats. With knowledge, patience, and time, we can change most cats who roam outdoors into happy indoor pets. These tips will help.

Provide a safe, outside enclosure, such as a screened porch.

Provide window shelves to permit cats to monitor the outdoors from the safety of the indoors.

Play with your cat each day. Paper bags and cardboard boxes are sources of unending delight when you are
Cat Snorkeling to Observe a Fish
Buy this Photographic Print

Also see : "How to Teach YOUR Cat to Use a Litter Box - Secrets to Litter Tray Success"
Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with a cat that doesn't use its litter box. Yet, patience is the key to creating litter box success. A positive introduction when young, and simple housekeeping on your part will solve most...read more

Ten Tips for Cats Who Are Forced to Relocate With Their Owners
When you're on the move, the cats may have something to say about the process. If you sense your owner plans to move, be on your best behavior. Revive those terminally cute poses you used to get yourself adopted. Let your owner sleep...read more

away.

Plant kitty grass (available from pet supply stores) in indoor pots so your cat can graze.

Clean litter boxes regularly.

Because indoor cats may slip out an open door, it's important to keep in mind the other essentials of responsible pet ownership:

Spay or neuter your kitten as early as possible;

Put an identification tag on your cat's collar- it's her ticket home if she slips out; and

Where such programs exist, license your cat.

For the Sake of All Cats... Support local cat control and protection plans; Support legislation requiring cat owners to register their cats and prevent them from roaming;

Do not feed unowned or free-ranging cats without making a commitment to giving or finding them a permanent indoor home; and Take cats for whom you cannot care to your local animal shelter to give them the best possible chance of adoption into loving, lifelong homes.

More for the Birds

Support efforts in your community to protect wildlife and their habitats. All wild animals have three basic needs: food, water and plants that provide escape cover and nesting sites. If you feed birds in your yard, locate feeders away from windows and brushy vegetation that permits neighborhood cats to hide. Keep your feeders clean
Step by Step
Buy this Art Print

Also see : The Right Cat Litter Box For Your Cat
Your cat will develop and keep good cat litter box habits with the right cat litter box. Here are your choices for different cat litter boxes, and how you can determine which ones are right for your cat. If you receive pet product catalogs, you'll...read more

Understanding Why Your Cat Stalks
By their very nature, cats are excellent hunters who thoroughly enjoy stalking their prey. For domesticated cats, their "prey" can be something as simple as an insect or a wind up toy. But, is it always healthy and normal for a cat to stalk, or...read more

and well stocked. Where possible, establish a brush pile for wildlife away from feeders. Avoid using pesticides.

Cats cannot be blamed for killing wildlife. It is the responsibility of cat owners to ensure that their cats are safely indoors. The Humane Society of the United States, American Humane Association, and other groups are working with American Bird Conservancy on "Cats Indoors! The Campaign for Safer Birds and Cats." Through this campaign, we will educate and encourage cat owners to protect cats, birds and other wildlife by keeping cats indoors.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin any course of treatment without consulting your regular veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every 12 months.

About the author:

Adapted from the Cats Indoors Isn't Just For The Birds brochure, part of "Cats Indoors! The Campaign for Safer Birds and Cats". For more information, please visit www.abcbirds.org.

Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital and its cat-only affiliate, Coastal Cat Clinic, are small animal practices located in Pacifica, California. To find a veterinarian or to learn more about the vet clinic and our staff, visit:[http://lindamarvet.com/]

More Cats Articles



Living with a Deaf Cat
Living with a Deaf Cat A genetic anomaly causes blue-eyed white cats to be born deaf. I have not...

No More Stillborn Kittens – Know How To Care For A Pregnant Cat
‘I named all kittens, although they were all stillborn.’ ‘My pregnant cat has a bloody vaginal...

Google

Strategy
Buy this Art Print

For Cat Lovers Like You and Me | sitemap
copyright www.kittykittystore.com 2006

Recently Added Cats Articles


10 Essential Pregnant Cat Care Tips
1. Keep your pregnant cat indoors. Don't expose an expecting kitty to danger. But there are more reasons. Some queens go into heat even during pregnancy. Cats are capable of being pregnant of two different litters at the same time. And of...read more

How Fast Will Your Cat Will Grow - The Important Stages In A Cat's Life
Just like having a child, it can be incredibly fulfilling bringing a kitten into your family and watching it grow up. It takes only a year for your cute little kitten to mature into a cat. It can seem hard to believe but it will happen fast....read more

How To Clean Cat Urine - Home Remedies and Commercial Products
Anyone who has ever owned a cat has likely had the experience of stepping in a cold puddle of urine on the floor at least once. When it's on linoleum or another washable surface, it's not so bad, but when it starts happening on carpet and rugs -...read more

Ragdoll Cat History is Stranger Than Fiction
The origins of Ragdoll cats are full of myth and controversy. This cat's history is often contradictory and confusing; some of the Ragdoll story is just not possible. Other parts we know to be factual. First things first: the Ragdoll cat breed...read more

Solar-Induced Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Cats
Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancerous disease that most commonly involves skin. Fair-skinned people tend to be predisposed to this type of cancer after chronic, excessive exposure to sunlight. Likewise, white or light-colored cats are also...read more

"Caring for an Older Cat - Cat Health and Cat Care"
Cats are living longer lives thanks to dedicated care from their humans, and advances in veterinary medicine. Most experts consider a cat's "senior years" to begin on her 10th birthday. After this point, the aging process begins to slow in even...read more

Disciplining Your Cat the Right Way
Most people struggle with the right and the wrong way to discipline their cat. By no means do you want to use hurt tactics. What I've found from owning eight cats of my own since childhood is that a simple spray bottle with water will do...read more

How To Make Sure Your New Cat Will Be At Home In Your Home
Buying a cat is a big decision. Do you have time to look after her? Is your home or appartment suitable for a pussy cat? Are there any health issues you need to think about, and are your family members ready for a new addition to the family? Find...read more

Show You Care -- Neuter Your Cat
The hordes of homeless and feral cats everywhere are growing by leaps and bounds, and finally people are beginning to wake up to the necessity of neutering their cats. Population Explosion Because cats can reproduce several times a...read more

What Is The Best Way To Feed Your Cat?
Think that your cat needs a fancy set of dishes to eat from? He doesn't. But, what he does need is something that is sturdy and durable and it needs to be easy for you to clean as well. Cat feeders and bowls should be cat-proof. One type of...read more

How To Make Your Cat Adore You

Some News About Cats