There is more to cats than the cuddly and lovable pets who purr on one corner of the house. At times, they can be a menace to housekeeping too. Scratches in furniture, broken ornaments, and ruined stockings are just a few things that misbehaving cats can do.
There are reasons why cats misbehave. And by knowing these reasons, cat owners can be capable of controlling their pets' actions.
Here are some things about cats which cause misbehaviors together with tips on how to make them behave.
- Cats misbehave when they are bored.
Cats that donít have much to do have no choice but to do obnoxious things. They may be looking for attention, or they just needed something to do to spend their energy.
Whatever the case may be, these can be solved by allotting time for your cat to play with you. However, do not do this immediately after your cat misbehaved. Your cat will associate its misbehavior with you giving it more attention.
- Cats are naturally nocturnal animals.
Cats are more active during nighttime. They can do more exciting activities by that time.
With this in mind, make your cat busy in the morning. By doing this, the cat will be too exhausted to do things when it is time for his owners to sleep.
-Cats misbehave when they are sexually-driven.
Expect misbehavior when cats feel that it is time to mate. Expect a lot of misbehavior for cats who are confined inside their homes when it happens!
Surgical procedures can be done to prevent misbehaviors caused by sexual urges. Female cats can undergo spaying; male cats can undergo neutering.
- Cats misinterpret owners' reaction to its misbehavior.
Owners usually get mad when their pets misbehave. But they are vague in telling their pets that they are mad. When owners reprimand their pets for misbehaving, cats think that their owners just want to play with them.
Owners must be clear with their reactions. If their pets misbehave, owners would make it clear that it is a punishment and not a game.
Remember that cats seek reward. They avoid punishment. Do not make misbehaving enjoyable to your cat by giving it a lot of attention when it happens.
By associating punishment for misbehaving cats learn what should not be done.
-Cats enjoy playing with certain things in the house.
There are things that cats love. It may be a curtain, or a pillow.
The good thing is they hate certain smells too. Spray unpleasant smells on those things to keep cats away.
By knowing why pets misbehave owners have more chances to correct these bad habits!
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Breed, Not Produce: Tips on Responsible Cat Breeding by Anita Hampton
Cat breeding is not as easy as just letting cats mate. Breeding is not just about choosing cats to produce adorable kittens to earn money. To breed cats is not the same as to produce them. Breeding encompasses that stage.
Breeding cats involves scientific and systematic concepts. Producing cats involves only common sense. Breeding cats has an emotional aspect to it. Fulfillment does not come from mere moneymaking. Sacrifices have to be made to achieve the breeder's goal: to safeguard the welfare of the cats.
A lot of things must be taken into consideration before breeding cats. Here is a guide to help us better understand the dynamic process of cat breeding.
- A cat breeder's concern is the preservation or improvement of cat pedigree.
This is a serious matter. Selection of the parent cats is done on the basis of health, quality traits and reproducing capability. A breeder will never pair cats carelessly.
- A cat breeder is dedicated to learn more about cats.
A lot of things must be learned regarding cat breeding. Latest researches must be employed to properly select the cats to be bred. The welfare of the cats depends on how much the breeder knows.
- A cat breeder makes plans.
Breeding does not involve hasty actions.
- A cat breeder has to follow rules set by the government.
Breeders are obliged to register their cats to their respective breeds. Certain taxes are imposed to hobbyists and to businessmen alike.
- A cat breeder's primary motive is to take care of cats. Monetary motives come after this.
A cat's life is more important than money. And it is more rewarding to see the kittens grow. The money earned is just an additional reward.
- A cat breeder's responsibility to the cats does not end.
His care for his cats does not end when the kittens were sold.
- A cat breeder holds the future of the cat's offspring.
Whatever a cat breeder does affects the life of the kittens, thus extra care must be given by cat breeders when making decisions.
- A cat breeder knows when to stop breeding.
Breeding is not just about having many cats. It is about taking care of all of them.
After learning about these things, it can be concluded that breeding is an arduous task indeed. However, for those who are cat breeders at heart, all these hardships are worth the kittens they bred (not produced)!
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Breeding cats involves scientific and systematic concepts. Producing cats involves only common sense. Breeding cats has an emotional aspect to it. Fulfillment does not come from mere moneymaking. Sacrifices have to be made to achieve the breeder's goal: to safeguard the welfare of the cats.
A lot of things must be taken into consideration before breeding cats. Here is a guide to help us better understand the dynamic process of cat breeding.
- A cat breeder's concern is the preservation or improvement of cat pedigree.
This is a serious matter. Selection of the parent cats is done on the basis of health, quality traits and reproducing capability. A breeder will never pair cats carelessly.
- A cat breeder is dedicated to learn more about cats.
A lot of things must be learned regarding cat breeding. Latest researches must be employed to properly select the cats to be bred. The welfare of the cats depends on how much the breeder knows.
- A cat breeder makes plans.
Breeding does not involve hasty actions.
- A cat breeder has to follow rules set by the government.
Breeders are obliged to register their cats to their respective breeds. Certain taxes are imposed to hobbyists and to businessmen alike.
- A cat breeder's primary motive is to take care of cats. Monetary motives come after this.
A cat's life is more important than money. And it is more rewarding to see the kittens grow. The money earned is just an additional reward.
- A cat breeder's responsibility to the cats does not end.
His care for his cats does not end when the kittens were sold.
- A cat breeder holds the future of the cat's offspring.
Whatever a cat breeder does affects the life of the kittens, thus extra care must be given by cat breeders when making decisions.
- A cat breeder knows when to stop breeding.
Breeding is not just about having many cats. It is about taking care of all of them.
After learning about these things, it can be concluded that breeding is an arduous task indeed. However, for those who are cat breeders at heart, all these hardships are worth the kittens they bred (not produced)!
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Cat Training: Do It With Gentle Care by Anita Hampton
Cats are trained and encouraged by treats or rewards. A clear illustration of such behavior is when cats come running when it hears the food bag rustle or the can openerís sound. Cats often relate the sounds to food rewards.
Keep in mind that your cat must be closely examined on a regular basis by the veterinarian, to ensure that there are no unknown problems in your catís health that could be aggravated or intensified during training activities. To further encourage your cat to maintain a good behavior, the most effective way is to offer immediate treats, a full tasty meal, or a favorite toy as rewards.
When saying ìgoodî and offering a treat all together, your cat will later relate the word with its positive act, even if later, food is not available and upcoming. In place of food rewards, you can give your cat an enjoyable playtime or a rub behind its ears.
With the use of positive emphasis and reinforcement, your cat will be willing to learn good behaviors and basic instructions or commands.
Here are training guidelines:
1. It is best to begin training with kittens. They will be more open and responsive to training. Bad behaviors have not yet been formed and not given a chance to develop.
2. Use positive emphasis and reinforcement at all times. A gentle hug, caress, or a whisper has a longer lasting effect than harsh or bitter words.
3. Limit the training time. Make it brief but frequent. Cats normally have short attention and interest spans; so it is much more effective to have four to six sessions of five minutes each, during the course of the day than an hour or two of continuous training.
4. Confine the training to indoors. This is essential so that your cat will not be distracted by other neighboring pets or be attracted to climbing trees instead.
Discipline should be instilled for a well behaved cat, but tough punishment must be avoided. In training your cat so to avoid negative acts, you need to approach it positively. Cats generally will not respond to certain punishments like hitting or yelling. They usually correlate the undesirable act with you rather than with their bad behavior. The outcome will be that your pet either stops loving you or will be afraid of you; not the result that will lead to a loving and warm relationship with your wonderful pet cat!
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Keep in mind that your cat must be closely examined on a regular basis by the veterinarian, to ensure that there are no unknown problems in your catís health that could be aggravated or intensified during training activities. To further encourage your cat to maintain a good behavior, the most effective way is to offer immediate treats, a full tasty meal, or a favorite toy as rewards.
When saying ìgoodî and offering a treat all together, your cat will later relate the word with its positive act, even if later, food is not available and upcoming. In place of food rewards, you can give your cat an enjoyable playtime or a rub behind its ears.
With the use of positive emphasis and reinforcement, your cat will be willing to learn good behaviors and basic instructions or commands.
Here are training guidelines:
1. It is best to begin training with kittens. They will be more open and responsive to training. Bad behaviors have not yet been formed and not given a chance to develop.
2. Use positive emphasis and reinforcement at all times. A gentle hug, caress, or a whisper has a longer lasting effect than harsh or bitter words.
3. Limit the training time. Make it brief but frequent. Cats normally have short attention and interest spans; so it is much more effective to have four to six sessions of five minutes each, during the course of the day than an hour or two of continuous training.
4. Confine the training to indoors. This is essential so that your cat will not be distracted by other neighboring pets or be attracted to climbing trees instead.
Discipline should be instilled for a well behaved cat, but tough punishment must be avoided. In training your cat so to avoid negative acts, you need to approach it positively. Cats generally will not respond to certain punishments like hitting or yelling. They usually correlate the undesirable act with you rather than with their bad behavior. The outcome will be that your pet either stops loving you or will be afraid of you; not the result that will lead to a loving and warm relationship with your wonderful pet cat!
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Clicker Training Cats: Easy and Effective by Anita Hampton
Clicker training incorporates the use of a clicker as a reward or encouragement when training a cat.
Cats are able to relate with the clicker, displaying good actions and behavior. Clicker training is often linked with conventional condition, where cats associate sound with food and operational condition and where cats execute movements for food.
A clicker is found to be more effective than verbal command because cats can hear clicker sounds more clearly than a voice, as human voice tones change while the clicker sound is always steady or constant.
The click is brief and concise, whereas a voice, phrase or a word, is fairly long in cats' point of standing. To say ìgood boyî will take time than a click.
With the use of a clicker, cats can be successfully trained in three simple steps: obtaining the cats behavior, marking its behavior, and reinforcing its behavior.
Guidelines when training with a clicker:
1. To make a sound, push the clickerís spring end and then release. Treat the cat.
2. When you notice a behavior that you want your cat to continue on doing, click during while the behavior is being performed, never after it.
3. Click only once, to express enthusiasm towards the act of your cat and add more treats.
4. Note that practice periods should be short. More can be learned in three brief five minute sessions per day than hours of boring and stressful repetition.
5. Correct bad acts by ignoring and clicking when good behavior is displayed. Click when your kitten uses the litter box or when it plays on the scratch post, not on the furniture.
6. Click for accidental and voluntary actions nearing your objective. You should entice the cat into a position, but never pull or push it or hold it.
7. Never wait until your cat performs the perfect act that you told it to do, instead click and reward for little actions towards the correct direction. When your cat is signaled to sit and it crouches in its back, click.
8. Carry the clicker at all times when you are with your cat, so you can catch good acts.
9. Make sure to put aside the clicker when you are scolding your cat.
The non-confrontational character of a clicker makes it an ideal tool for training your cat. You too, can be happy with the results, having achieved all positive behaviors that you worked for with your cat. With lots of understanding, love, and patience, cat clicker training will continue to give you wonderful results that you and your cat will benefit from for years to come.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Cats are able to relate with the clicker, displaying good actions and behavior. Clicker training is often linked with conventional condition, where cats associate sound with food and operational condition and where cats execute movements for food.
A clicker is found to be more effective than verbal command because cats can hear clicker sounds more clearly than a voice, as human voice tones change while the clicker sound is always steady or constant.
The click is brief and concise, whereas a voice, phrase or a word, is fairly long in cats' point of standing. To say ìgood boyî will take time than a click.
With the use of a clicker, cats can be successfully trained in three simple steps: obtaining the cats behavior, marking its behavior, and reinforcing its behavior.
Guidelines when training with a clicker:
1. To make a sound, push the clickerís spring end and then release. Treat the cat.
2. When you notice a behavior that you want your cat to continue on doing, click during while the behavior is being performed, never after it.
3. Click only once, to express enthusiasm towards the act of your cat and add more treats.
4. Note that practice periods should be short. More can be learned in three brief five minute sessions per day than hours of boring and stressful repetition.
5. Correct bad acts by ignoring and clicking when good behavior is displayed. Click when your kitten uses the litter box or when it plays on the scratch post, not on the furniture.
6. Click for accidental and voluntary actions nearing your objective. You should entice the cat into a position, but never pull or push it or hold it.
7. Never wait until your cat performs the perfect act that you told it to do, instead click and reward for little actions towards the correct direction. When your cat is signaled to sit and it crouches in its back, click.
8. Carry the clicker at all times when you are with your cat, so you can catch good acts.
9. Make sure to put aside the clicker when you are scolding your cat.
The non-confrontational character of a clicker makes it an ideal tool for training your cat. You too, can be happy with the results, having achieved all positive behaviors that you worked for with your cat. With lots of understanding, love, and patience, cat clicker training will continue to give you wonderful results that you and your cat will benefit from for years to come.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Pet Lovers: How to Crate-Train Your Cat by Anita Hampton
Taking care of a cat can both be a rewarding and frustrating experience.
The rewarding part is coming home to a cute, furry little creature whose antics can bring a smile to your face.
The frustrating part is trying to house-train and litter train them.
You can get over the frustrating part by starting them young.
Once you have a kitten that you plan to take home as a pet, you may start house-training them. Crate training is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Cats can be your best friend for life if you just care for them properly.
If you will train them at a young age, they will learn to follow "house rules" and not litter on your bed or scratch your furniture with their claws.
A cat needs proper care, time and attention. Here are some tips on how you can use crate-training work to your advantage:
1. Remember that crate training will take some time.
You need all the time and patience that you can muster as a cat owner to fully train a cat. This is why you have to start out while they are young.
Familiarize them with what they can and cannot do using the crate.
If you take your cat along with you when you travel and you are in a place where pets are not allowed to roam around freely, put them in a crate.
This would let your cat know that being outside is not that safe, so your pet will be content to stay inside the crate.
2. Select the perfect crate for your feline friend.
There are some materials that cats love to scratch with their claws. This would make the time that they spend in the crate more bearable despite being confined.
There are metal and plastic crates that your cat can fit into. Make sure that it can move freely when inside. Also, you can put your cat's favorite toy in the crate, like a ball of yarn or a small stuffed toy.
3. Crate-train your pet cat slowly, but surely.
Start by spending time with them while inside the crate. Then you can introduce your cat to eating food inside the crate. Do not worry if they do not respond positively the first time, as they will get used to it eventually.
Later on, they will learn to spend time in the crate when you are not at home or during the night.
The key here is to not let your cat feel frustrated inside the crate and spend enough time with them to make them feel loved and cared for.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
The rewarding part is coming home to a cute, furry little creature whose antics can bring a smile to your face.
The frustrating part is trying to house-train and litter train them.
You can get over the frustrating part by starting them young.
Once you have a kitten that you plan to take home as a pet, you may start house-training them. Crate training is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Cats can be your best friend for life if you just care for them properly.
If you will train them at a young age, they will learn to follow "house rules" and not litter on your bed or scratch your furniture with their claws.
A cat needs proper care, time and attention. Here are some tips on how you can use crate-training work to your advantage:
1. Remember that crate training will take some time.
You need all the time and patience that you can muster as a cat owner to fully train a cat. This is why you have to start out while they are young.
Familiarize them with what they can and cannot do using the crate.
If you take your cat along with you when you travel and you are in a place where pets are not allowed to roam around freely, put them in a crate.
This would let your cat know that being outside is not that safe, so your pet will be content to stay inside the crate.
2. Select the perfect crate for your feline friend.
There are some materials that cats love to scratch with their claws. This would make the time that they spend in the crate more bearable despite being confined.
There are metal and plastic crates that your cat can fit into. Make sure that it can move freely when inside. Also, you can put your cat's favorite toy in the crate, like a ball of yarn or a small stuffed toy.
3. Crate-train your pet cat slowly, but surely.
Start by spending time with them while inside the crate. Then you can introduce your cat to eating food inside the crate. Do not worry if they do not respond positively the first time, as they will get used to it eventually.
Later on, they will learn to spend time in the crate when you are not at home or during the night.
The key here is to not let your cat feel frustrated inside the crate and spend enough time with them to make them feel loved and cared for.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Caring For Your Cat's Health by Anita Hampton
Just like humans, cats feel miserable when they are sick. As a pet owner, it is your primary responsibility to keep your feline friends healthy and happy.
With proper care and nutrition you will have a friend for life in the form of your pet cat.
Here are some tips on how you can properly care for your cat's health:
1. Feed them properly.
Every cat has a preference when it comes to food. There are several types of cat food available in the market. Try each one until you find out which variety your cat prefers.
However, you can still try to mix the variety of cat food you prepare so that your pet will have a nutritious and balanced diet.
Commercial cat foods have been well-researched so you do not need to worry about the nutritional value of what you are feeding your pet.
Also, supply your pet with a lot of clean water to drink. Having an ample supply of drinking water will lead to a healthier animal.
It does not matter if you serve dry, canned or moist cat food. Just make sure that you preserve the freshness of the food that they eat.
You would also want to opt for a healthy and natural cat food. Remember that it should be made of quality ingredients.
2. Remember that even domestic cats are natural hunters.
Mice can serve two purposes in your cat's life: prey and dinner. Hunting for mice would preserve their natural abilities to hunt and seek prey.
If you decide that you do not like the idea of your cat regularly "hunting" for dinner, make sure that you provide them with a proper diet. This will result to your cat ending up just chasing and running after their prey for satisfying their natural hunting urges.
3. Watch out for unusual behavior.
If your pet is exhibiting unusual behavior, then the cat might not be at its best condition.
Try to look out for the following symptoms:
- being lethargic or less active than usual - shedding of the fur or coat - it has waxy ears - looks poor and unhealthy
If you see these symptoms, you might want to change the food that you are serving your cat.
Better yet, consult a professional if you see your pet being less active than usual. Your pet might have a sickness or disease, and as a pet owner and cat lover, you would not want that to happen.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
With proper care and nutrition you will have a friend for life in the form of your pet cat.
Here are some tips on how you can properly care for your cat's health:
1. Feed them properly.
Every cat has a preference when it comes to food. There are several types of cat food available in the market. Try each one until you find out which variety your cat prefers.
However, you can still try to mix the variety of cat food you prepare so that your pet will have a nutritious and balanced diet.
Commercial cat foods have been well-researched so you do not need to worry about the nutritional value of what you are feeding your pet.
Also, supply your pet with a lot of clean water to drink. Having an ample supply of drinking water will lead to a healthier animal.
It does not matter if you serve dry, canned or moist cat food. Just make sure that you preserve the freshness of the food that they eat.
You would also want to opt for a healthy and natural cat food. Remember that it should be made of quality ingredients.
2. Remember that even domestic cats are natural hunters.
Mice can serve two purposes in your cat's life: prey and dinner. Hunting for mice would preserve their natural abilities to hunt and seek prey.
If you decide that you do not like the idea of your cat regularly "hunting" for dinner, make sure that you provide them with a proper diet. This will result to your cat ending up just chasing and running after their prey for satisfying their natural hunting urges.
3. Watch out for unusual behavior.
If your pet is exhibiting unusual behavior, then the cat might not be at its best condition.
Try to look out for the following symptoms:
- being lethargic or less active than usual - shedding of the fur or coat - it has waxy ears - looks poor and unhealthy
If you see these symptoms, you might want to change the food that you are serving your cat.
Better yet, consult a professional if you see your pet being less active than usual. Your pet might have a sickness or disease, and as a pet owner and cat lover, you would not want that to happen.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Cat Leashes: What They Are For and What You Need to Know by Anita Hampton
Cats are more known to be feisty little creatures that donít take too well to certain habits compared to its other household pet compatriot, the dog. Such habits for example are wearing a leash and being able to walk around tethered to it.
But leash wearing for cats is becoming more and more commonplace, especially with city dwellers, as it prevents the cat from wandering around and getting lost.
However, given the temperament of cats, the leashes to be used on them need to be both sturdy and as unobtrusive as possible. Below are some tips in choosing the right leash for your cat.
It is very likely that when you think of leash, next thing that comes to mind is a collar. However, a cat collar works differently than a dog collar. Cats have the uncanny ability to wiggle out of a lot of things, including collars. It is recommended that collars for cats should only be used as fashion accessories or identification tags.
If using a leash is your intention, go for a body harness design that wraps around your petís torso. This makes it harder for your cat to take off and the tension from the leash is removed from the catís neck, which will happen if you choose a collar.
Make sure that the material is durable but comfortable. Nylon is a good choice since it is both strong and pliable. This material is also machine-washable use the gentle cycle.
Next, the design of the harness should be able to wrap around the body, particularly around the stomach so it will cradle the weight around that area and off the neck and shoulders, which is very uncomfortable for your pet.
However, avoid designs that cover too much of your petís body. Although the material may be breathable, it may hamper ventilation making it more difficult for your pet to adjust to the idea of a leash quickly.
Another thing you should consider is the fit around the neck. A good fit is when you are able to comfortably slip two fingers in between the collar area and your catís neck. To make sure the leash will hold this particular area should be reinforced with additional stitching.
Investing time and energy for your peace of mind and your petís safety is always a good thing. And choosing the right harness and leash for your cat is a smart first step that will make wearing a leash a welcome experience for your pet.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
But leash wearing for cats is becoming more and more commonplace, especially with city dwellers, as it prevents the cat from wandering around and getting lost.
However, given the temperament of cats, the leashes to be used on them need to be both sturdy and as unobtrusive as possible. Below are some tips in choosing the right leash for your cat.
It is very likely that when you think of leash, next thing that comes to mind is a collar. However, a cat collar works differently than a dog collar. Cats have the uncanny ability to wiggle out of a lot of things, including collars. It is recommended that collars for cats should only be used as fashion accessories or identification tags.
If using a leash is your intention, go for a body harness design that wraps around your petís torso. This makes it harder for your cat to take off and the tension from the leash is removed from the catís neck, which will happen if you choose a collar.
Make sure that the material is durable but comfortable. Nylon is a good choice since it is both strong and pliable. This material is also machine-washable use the gentle cycle.
Next, the design of the harness should be able to wrap around the body, particularly around the stomach so it will cradle the weight around that area and off the neck and shoulders, which is very uncomfortable for your pet.
However, avoid designs that cover too much of your petís body. Although the material may be breathable, it may hamper ventilation making it more difficult for your pet to adjust to the idea of a leash quickly.
Another thing you should consider is the fit around the neck. A good fit is when you are able to comfortably slip two fingers in between the collar area and your catís neck. To make sure the leash will hold this particular area should be reinforced with additional stitching.
Investing time and energy for your peace of mind and your petís safety is always a good thing. And choosing the right harness and leash for your cat is a smart first step that will make wearing a leash a welcome experience for your pet.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
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