How To Introduce A Cat To A Dog Who Hates Cats

April 14, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

‘’Fighting like cats and dogs’’ saying is something that really mirrors how they have instinctively felt about each other through the history of evolution.Nowadays, however, owners are more and more attracted by the idea of having both as pets.

Sometimes, dogs exhibit too much aggression towards cats which troubles the ones who would like to live in harmony with both. In the following paragraphs, we’ll tell you about the way to introduce a feline to a cat-hating dog and hopefully help you resolve the problem.

Pre-training to prevent the dog’s aggression

Dogs that are well trained in the area of self-control are less likely to display any sort of aggression in the first place. They will be more obedient and much easier to manage in an unexpected or new situation. This is why teaching them commands such as ‘’sit’’ and ‘’stay’’ is critical.

The best training you can give them is the ‘’clicker training’’ accompanied with a lot of treats and praise. When dogs associate good and calm behavior with prizes, they won’t cause any issues even in the occasions where they meet cats for the first time.

The command ‘’leave it’’ is of great importance as well. Abiding by this command will help you teach them about things they are and aren’t allowed to touch. Therefore, even if it seems to be intent on chasing the feline, one simple ‘’leave it’’ will make them realize that such action won’t be tolerated,

Getting used to the presence of cats

If you’ve adopted a puppy, you can expose it to the presence of cats regularly. Of course, every time your dog acts calm and collected before them i.e. doesn’t rush to them, bark or growl, treat them with a prize. Having your dog relate treats to not chasing after felines will make the job much easier when the time comes to add a cat to your family. This is just another way to introduce cats to your dog and stop any future aggression on the canine’s part.

Think about their personalities

Emphasis on prevention or at least alleviation of dog’s inner aggression towards cats is never too small. When you’re choosing a cat to adopt, observe its personality. If you know your dog’s combative towards cats make sure you don’t decide on a feline that is too frightful. In this situation an even-tempered animal is preferable. This way you’ll lower the chances of any of your cat’s actions provoking the dog’s animosity.

Isolate the cat for the first period

Besides getting accustomed to the dog, your cat needs to get acclimated to the new surroundings. It’ll need some time to take in the new smells, environment and ‘’family members.’’ Therefore, getting a separate room for your feline would be desirable.

Provide it with everything your cat needs including food, toys, beddings etc. Also, allocate some of your time to bond with your cat. This will create a trusting relationship that will be crucial when you introduce your dog to it. Your presence at such moment will mitigate the feline’s anxiety that otherwise might instigate the aggression of the dog.

The dog getting used to the smell from afar

Therefore, having them to get used to cat’s smell is an imperative on your road to the successfully introducing a cat to an aggressive dog. Simply put a piece of cloth with cat’s scent in the dog’s surroundings and wait until it picks its interest and observes its reaction.

Also, walk your dog to your cat’s isolation room and have it investigate the area in front of the door. Let it hear the sounds the cat makes and let all the new impressions your dog is having at the moment settle in. Don’t forget to have your dog on the leash while you’re doing this and give him treats each time the dog behaves well.

The dog and the cat meeting face to face

Before you even let the dog into cat’s room make sure it has spent the excess energy. This means that you should walk the dog or play with it for some time before the moment of introduction so it is calm once it enters. Slowly walk the dog into the isolation room on the leash and begin the process.

First sessions should last no longer than 5 minutes especially if your dog has shown agitation at the sight of felines. Try to speak to both of your animals in a soft voice so you exclude all the traces of tension. Command your dog to sit, lie down or stay so that the cat (which must be in the crate) feels safe around it.

This situation would make use of treats as well. It means that whenever your dog acts calmly and ignores the cat it should be given some sort of prize which will make it copy the behavioral pattern each time. With dogs that hate cats, however, this process probably won’t go easily.

It will require a lot of patience and re-training of basic commands that’ll have them stay put. If you seem not to be able to handle the situation properly, it may be the best if you could hire a professional trainer.

The final step

When you’ve achieved the point where your dog is completely down-to-earth when the cat is around, you can let the cat out of the crate and let it be free around the dog. Meanwhile, the dog still has to be on the leash. Observe their behavior scrupulously.

The cat might get frightened and run away which means you’ll need some time to make it relaxed in these situations by nicely speaking to it, petting it and giving it treats. , try to unleash it and see what happens but be ready to act on any sign of ‘’bad blood’’ going on between them.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself!

When you’re introducing a cat to a dog that hates cats, make sure that you’re unwound and super calm. Animals have their own special ways of sensing our feelings which could subconsciously guide their actions. That’s why you should pipe down the anxiousness about the introduction process so that your pets feel that you’re in control if anything goes awry.

Don’t meddle too much but take some precautions

Forcing the dog into the interaction with your feline is the last thing you should do. This is likely to agitate both of them even more and make the changes for the animals to get along smaller. Even when you’re finished with the introduction, don’t rush your pets and have them build the trust into each other gradually. On the other hand, don’t leave them unsupervised. Dogs with the increased aggression towards cats can’t be trusted at all times so when you can’t be at home to watch over them, separate the animals into different rooms.

How To Train A Parrot To Fly And Come Back?

April 13, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

Having a parrot as your pet can be very entertaining. They’re one of the most common house pets after all. These birds always amaze us with their ability to learn to repeat human words and not so rarely we make use of this skill and teach them nasty words so that we can mock people. Unfortunately, many parrots end up being locked in their cages for life. This is how to train a parrot to fly and come back which will provide them with much-needed freedom.

Building a trusting relationship

This applies to almost all pets. If you want their training to go without a hiccup, you have to make them believe you and feel secure in your presence. Baby parrots can lie on your chest where you should put a towel. This way you two will create a beautiful bond resembling the one between a parent and a kid from the early stage.

Why is this important? In their natural habitat, fledgling parrots are trained by their parents in the fields of hunting, telling the friends and enemies apart, looking for a shelter etc. Therefore, if your little friend sees you as his ‘’mom/dad”, it is very likely it’ll be more obedient when you start training it.

Additional ways of bonding include having your parrot eating from your hand. Petting is also a nice way to tell your parrot to trust you. Some of these birds don’t really like being touched. In such occasions, start clicker training. Touch the leg first, use the clicker and then a treat.

This will gradually make it relate accepting the touch with rewards and will feel more comfortable. Progress up to the head until your bird is totally OK with physical contact between you two.

When to start the training

Closely observe the development of the feathers on your bird. As it is more and more covered with feathers it’ll become more vigorous and curious about its surroundings.

When it’s half-covered, there are usually going to be some outbursts of activity which will tire the bird quickly and it’ll fall back to sleep. At this point, it still might be frightful especially if you put its cage into a new environment. Put some card-box with an opening of an appropriate size in its crate so it has a ‘’shelter-place’’ once it feels scared. It will eventually get out on its own in order to further investigate the ambiance.

This will fill it with the feeling of control that is crucial for its confidence. While getting older by the day it will start its own flights, usually towards you in order to get a treat or some attention. However, it still isn’t ready to be trained now.

You should keep socializing and be playing with it with its toys on the floor and give it time to mature both physically and mentally. When the shaft of the flight feather loses the dark fluid, the feather is mature. At this moment, they fly around the room on their own with no clear destination but always end up where they started. This is an indication that they have enough self-confidence and you can start training sessions.

Perch training

Once your parrot has enough confidence and strength, you can start him on the target training. Put 2 perches parallel to each other. You can use a stick as a target. Begin from having it to simply touch the stick. Then go on to making your parrot move its head to reach for the stick. Move the target farther and farther away so that your pet has to move along the perch in order to touch the target. Each time the parrot does this successfully, click and reward the bird with a treat.

The goal is to teach the bird to hop across the gap between the perches to reach the target. You can also make the gap between the perches bigger so that the bird has to use its wings to do the task. Alternatively, you can use your own arm as the other perch and teach it to fly to your arm.

Flying from the owner to the perch

At this stage of training your bird, you two should try to establish a cue that will show your bird that it should come to you. It could be just calling for it or raising your hand. Offer some treats to the bird once it is with you and then have it go back to the perch where it can actually eat them. This way, not only will your bird have a purpose in flying to you but will also have a reason to fly back to the perch.

During this phase, your bird will sometimes come to you even without a cue. However, at the beginning, this should be reinforced too as you want your parrot to make a connection between being treated and flying to you. You could even make little experiments by hiding behind a wall and calling for the bird so you see its reaction.

This is very important when your parrot happens to fly off somewhere besides its room. In these situations, you’ll want it to be able to find the way back to you upon hearing your voice.

Specifying the cues

This means that not every recall response should be reinforced. This is what you usually do with parrot’s slow reactions or non-cued responses. This is a step forward from rewarding your bird for every flight. This way it will know that only specific cues and responsiveness of an accurate speed will get it the treats.

Outdoor flying

Imagining yourself outside with your parrot flying back and forth to you must seem very alluring. However, this is a much different situation compared to the closed space your parrot is accustomed to. The dangers lurking in the outside world are numerous.

First of all, the likelihood of your parrot flying away and never coming back is very high. Strangely enough, this is not due to the fact that it doesn’t want to come back. It just doesn’t know how. Sometimes it happens that they fly too far away, get exhausted and land somewhere unsafe. At such moments they are not threatened only by other predator birds but also dogs, cats, and neighbors.

Yes, people can sometimes be very hostile towards your parrot, especially if they’re irritated by their sound which is why there are many cases of parrot poisoning and shooting. A drive for nesting can also be a great hindrance, especially when it comes to female birds.

All in all, prior to going outside with your parrot, hire a professional to teach you about how to train your parrot to fly and come back. Operant conditioning, i.e. the rewarding trick is sometimes not enough.

You have to enforce strong cues and connection with your bird before letting it fly outside and this is not possible by simply following the Internet recommendations.

Most accidents during outdoor flying actually do happen because of the owner being ill prepared by merely seeing videos on YouTube that give him/her the false impression that it’s an easy task.

Are Sardines Good For Cats?

April 12, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

When we think of sardines we usually remember their bad smell that is repugnant to all of us. It makes us remember all the worst – smelling things we can think of. However, this silvery, stinky fish species that comes from the sea is loaded with vitamin D and B12 vitamins that are crucial for your cat’s health.

Seeing cats crazy about fish in cartoons is no joke after all. They can feel the benefits of fish, especially sardines to their health. This craving for fish sort of flows in their veins since the very beginning of cats’ existence on this planet and we shouldn’t avoid feeding it to them. We have to disregard the smell for the sake of the long and healthy life of our furry best friend.

The reasons sardines are good for your cat

Proteins and amino acids are generally very important for muscle structure. Sardines are packed with essential proteins that will strengthen and protect the connective tissue and also joints, skin, bones, hair and nails.

This fish type is also rich in vitamin D, another essential contributor to bone building and joint empowerment. Sardine-rich diet could also help cats with arthritis regarding pain alleviation and, therefore, increase their movability and flexibility.

Vitamin B12 in concoction with healthy DHA and EPA from sardines is a great cocktail that will boost cardiovascular health of your cat. Vitamins D and B12 found in sardines are victorious against cancer and prevent it from getting into metastasis. What they actually do is causing apoptosis which is a process that practically kills off the cancer cells.

Studies done in beagle puppies showed that omega-3 fats from sardines help the development of cognitive abilities. It sharpens eye-function of your pet as well as the ability to memorize and learn. Being overweight is one of the worst things your cat can experience. It decreases their activity and the ability to self-groom.

Omega-3 from sardines can activate the process of fat-burning in your cat and help them lose a few pounds! While omega-6 accelerates the decline of your cat’s kidney function, omega-3 protects it! Kidney failure is pretty ordinary in cats, so feeding them on sardines will prolong your cat’s kidneys’ life and overall life expectancy.

Cats are known for being pretty indifferent to activities taking place around them. However, what if they’re suffering from depression? Yes, it is possible that without enough cytokines your cat may be down in the dumps all the time. Sardines have a substantial amount of cytokines that will ‘’cheer your pet up’’ and make it feel energetic.

How much is enough?

Vets recommend that we don’t give the whole can content to the cat. A maximum of ½ of the can is enough for it to get the optimal amount of healthy fats and proteins sardines can provide. Why shouldn’t we overdo it? Sardines are high in calories which will not keep your cat in shape, i.e. your cat will gain some weight!

Are sardines potentially dangerous for your cat?

Sardines are pretty much within the bottom of the aquatic chain. This means they feed on a lot of planktons. Consequently, they should not be full of mercury which we should watch out for because it is poisonous!

However, this doesn’t mean they’re completely harmless. Some experts say that the smaller the fish is, the likelihood is higher that they will have mercury in them. Also, sardines have a lot of salt which is not very healthy for your cat.

Moreover, giving raw sardine to cats puts them at risk of salmonella which means we’ll have to bother cooking it every time we’re preparing it for our pet. Finally, it is said that sardines have an enzyme that destroys vitamin B responsible for neurological health. Cooking the sardine will kill off this enzyme but this also means that’ll we’ll need to put some extra time in the preparation of the meal.

So, should you feed sardines to your cat? Absolutely yes, but in moderation! They still have more good than bad aspects to them that help your cat feel healthy. Additionally, they’re much better than tuna because of the low mercury level, a lot of water in it and a few spices.

How to properly feed sardines to your cat?

The first step to feeding your cat with sardines is to choose the right product. The best choice would be fresh, cooked sardines. If you’re looking for canned ones, make sure they’re packed in water or oil. There are some that come with different types of sauces but they are usually full of hazardous ingredients such as salt or garlic.

You can than the fish, make a paste of it by putting it into a blender or chop it in tiny pieces. Be sure to know the right amount of daily sardine intake. One sardine a day is enough for your cat to get all the beneficial fats, proteins and acids. You can put it on top of your cat’s regular food. There

There is certainly another way you can schedule the sardine meals for your cat. You can make a whole meal made of sardine once a week by just putting all the sardines your cat would get during a week’s time into one meal. Chop the sardine so you make it easier for your cat to digest it!

Where Can I Get My Bird’s Wings Clipped?

April 11, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

Clipping your bird’s wings is not an easy job. If you are not attentive enough, hurting the animal is quite possible. Before you even think of trying to trim your bird’s wings, you’re supposed to know which feathers to clip, how many is enough, and what you need for the process. Light-hearted people who are afraid to do this on their own rather make an attempt at hiring someone. Here are some of the most common places where you can get your bird’s wings clipped.

Going to the avian vet

Going to an avian veterinarian, a doctor who specializes in treating birds is the safest place where you can get bird’s wings clipped. Try looking for the best local veterinarian on the Internet. Browse some official websites concerning this topic. They will probably provide you with a list of the best doctors among which you can see who’s the one closest to your area.

Each state, or sometimes even regions of a country, has multiple avian vet associations whom you can look up on the Web, find their phone number or e-mail and ask if they could provide you with the information about the best doctors in your vicinity. Sites such as aav.org offer you the option to search for your veterinarian by his/her name.

You even have the option to select the country and particular association that he/she is a member of. This is especially useful when you hear of some doctor but want to find information on the person and check his/her credibility.

The ‘’free-lancers’’

The second most secure option is to find a well-known local groomer. These people have to have a lot of experience in doing this, probably from early childhood if they lived on farms Make sure you check with the neighborhood about his/her reputation.

If possible, observe him/her during the work, or take a look at the birds that have been treated by that person. You can also ask a veterinarian to recommend you, someone. These ‘’free-lance’’ bird groomers don’t necessarily have to be any cheaper or more expensive than your local vet, but may be more flexible with their schedule and even come directly to your home and save you much time.

Pet shops

Pet shops are supposed to hire people who are highly-qualified in animal care so as to be able to provide you with accurate information and suggestions on everything you’re buying for your pet, be it food, medicines or toys. Not so rarely, pet shops provide some services concerning grooming including wing clipping.

If you don’t have much trust in them, we advise you not to have the pet shop workers do the work. They might lure you with discounts, especially if you’ve purchased the bird from them, but giving a few more bucks for a certified vet to ensure the safety of your bird won’t leave you penniless.

This doesn’t mean you should reject the idea immediately. If the pet-shop is renowned and received good comments for its services, you’re free to let them do the work and your bird will be in safe hands.

‘’Knowledgeable’’ friends

Having a friend who would do this job free of charge for you is definitely convenient but not smart. It is not unusual that in these cases, your friend does more harm than good. Although he/she might seem to know how to do this in theory, ‘’the practice’’ is so much more perplexed than any other ‘’how-to’’ video the person has seen.

It often happens that after a friend has ‘’operated’’ on your bird’s wing, the owner has to get the animal to the doctor’s in a very bad state. It is almost always because the blood vein was damaged or the wings have been clipped unevenly. Therefore, unless your friend has significant experience doing this, you’d better invest some of your money into the well-being of your pet.

Doing this at home

This is probably the most cost-effective way of going about wing clipping. The familiar atmosphere of your home will be helpful in calming the bird and providing it with a pleasurable atmosphere. However, doing this by yourself in the comfort of your home is a double-edged sword.

Unless you’ve been trained by a professional in this, you shouldn’t dare to clip your bird’s wings, especially if you’re a first-timer. There is so much that can go wrong: you can hurt your bird by cutting the blood feathers, stress it out if you don’t know how to communicate with it or hurt its wings while trying to seize it.

The cost of wing clipping

When choosing where to get your bird’s wings clipped, the price will probably play a major role. Doing this at home is, of course, the most economical. All you will need are some scissors, corn starch for eventual injuries of a blood vein and a co-worker who’ll give a helping hand by holding the bird for you.

If you’re willing to pay a professional so you can avoid the nerve-wracking experience, prepare up to 20 dollars. The price will surely vary from vet to vet, and it will depend on a lot of factors. The more high-tech technology a doctor uses, the more famous he/she is, the service fee will probably be a bit on the expensive side. The same refers to the free-lancers. The only difference is that some of them may charge you for coming to your home

How To Treat Your Cat’s Dry Skin

April 10, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

Your feline friend’s coat has lost its shine, its fur is less thick and the surface of its skin is dry and itchy? There are a number of causes for this problem, some of which may be bad nutrition, too frequent bathing or absence of bathing, allergies to food, weather changes, fleas etc.

However, dandruff and itchiness that may occur when the cat’s skin is dry could be indicators of a more severe medical condition. Dry skin in cats is not an uncommon condition in cats of all ages, but be sure to take your pet to the vet if you notice any symptom that may signify something graver or if the dryness is persistent.

These are multiple ways you can alleviate, and ultimately, cure dry skin:

Changes in Your Home

Your cat may be having an allergic reaction to recent changes you may have made to your home. Perhaps you brought in a new toy or piece of furniture which is made from materials that do not agree with your pet’s organism.

It may be the new carpet, or the heating system drying up the air during winter months, which can be solved by removing those new objects from the cat’s environment or using an air moisturizer to raise the humidity. However unlikely this may seem, make sure to inspect whether recent changes to your household may have been the cause of the problem.

Feed your cat properly

Lots of protein, fewer carbs! Buy food that is designed to stimulate and improve the state of your cat’s coat, skin, and health in general. It’s important to feed your cat Omega-3 fatty acids, as they improve substantially the condition of the skin.

Feed your cat with fresh fish as often as you can (suggestion-salmon). Also, a small amount of fish oil added every other day to the food may prove to be beneficial for the skin and for your cat’s health in general. Also, there are food supplements that contain Keratin which can help the skin as well.

In the case of dehydration – your cat may be reluctant to take the required daily intake of water, thus damaging organ functions and having a detrimental effect on the condition of the skin and coat. Consider purchasing a water fountain, or any other stimulating object to help it hydrate properly.

Relieve Possible Allergies

Your cat might have developed a reaction to either a food substance, something from the environment or fleas, ticks and other such parasites. This is something that you requires a visit to the vet, as there are various tests to determine the trigger of the skin reaction.

Get rid of parasites

Although it is rarely the case to have a serious reaction to fleas, ticks and other types of parasites, in such cases, some of the household remedies include bathing a cat with a proper anti-parasite shampoo, especially for fungal infections. If something more serious is at hand, usually antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and antihistamines are prescribed to relieve the allergic reaction. However, you must consult your vet in order to get proper medication.

Bathing and mental issues

Cats need to be bathed only in occasions such as these when they are experiencing some sort of unease, injury or disease, as they usually keep their own hygiene by grooming themselves.

Use shampoos with moisturizers, natural oils ( the homemade essence of peppermint, pennyroyal, especially for fleas) and baths with various herbs (catnip, aloe, rosemary). Washing your furry friend is highly recommended as the flow of cat’s natural oils is stimulated in this way.

Stimulate the cleanliness of your cat by regular brushing and combing, as that improves the blood circulation and oil secretion. When groomed, wipe your cat with a wet towel.

Be sure to abstain from frequent bathing, as cats keep their hygiene by themselves, by self-grooming. Frequent exposure to water and hair products may over sensitize the surface of the cat’s skin, thus making ground for the appearance of skin diseases. In that way, this may be a cause of the dry skin condition.

Ditto, if your cat has bald patches, loses hair, or any other type of external irritation, it may be caused by licking the coat to the point of self-inflicting damage to the dermis. This may come as a result of a lack of exercise, or result in a compulsive, affective state due to stress. Also mere idleness, inactivity can be what makes the cat over-groom.

Make sure that your cat develops an active, healthy lifestyle, try introducing new toys or even a companion if the cat is left alone a lot, as there is proof that this may prove beneficial in a situation such as this one. These issues may develop into a full blown compulsive disorder. Try seeing a vet if this behavior is persistent.

More serious conditions

In principle, dry skin and irritation of the dermis in its less severe forms should be easy enough to cure. Follow the instructions given above in accordance with the cause that you are most suspicious of. In due time, the problem should be solved.

Unfortunately, the dryness of the skin may be just a symptom of a more serious condition. If you notice that the state of the skin is becoming worse by the second, you ought to put the matter in a vet’s hands. Do not panic, because if dealt in time, and with proper care and medical aid, you can get to the bottom of this issue, and the underlying cause as well. But do not take this condition too lightly. Dry skin may indicate the following conditions:

Thyroid disease (Hyperthyroidism)
Heart disease
Malassezia (fungal infection, hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, causes dandruff)
Diabetes
Seborrheic dermatitis (redness and flaking, yellow or red scaly pimples)

How To Stop A Cat From Shedding Too Much

April 7, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

Cat’s fur shedding is an unsightly thing and it definitely causes a lot of mess. This also is pretty unhealthy if someone inhales some of the hair which can cause problems, especially to people allergic to cats.

Fur shedding is a normal daily occurrence when it comes to cats and is impacted by different factors. One of them would be the variety of the cat. For example, Sphinx and Peterbald cats hardly do have any hair and don’t shed. There is also an alternation in shedding between indoor and outdoor cats: while indoor cats shed throughout the year, outdoor cats shed the most in spring and autumn.

We have to stress that shedding doesn’t depend on the temperature but on a number of daylight cats are exposed to. Normally, when there’s less daylight during autumn, cats automatically start growing thicker fur while the opposite happens in spring. In the following paragraphs, we’ll tell you how to deal with too much cat hair shedding once you notice it.

Change in nutrition causes less hair fall-out

You must have heard many times that the look of your cat’s fur reflects its health. If your cat’s coat is glossy, smooth, mat-free and without bald patches, you can be at peace because your cat is in a perfect condition. However, if you notice any deformities with cat’s fur shedding pattern, you should consider changing your cat’s diet.

Excessive fur shedding could be due to dehydration or omega-3 deficiency. In such cases, you should think about switching from dry to wet food. As for the increase of the healthy fats and acids your cat is given, you can add omega-3 supplements to its diet. This will not only prevent shedding but will also improve the quality of your cat’s coat.

Direct sources of omega-3 would be raw fish such as tuna, sardine or salmon. Vets recommend that you take a sardine per day, chop it and mix it with the regular food you’re giving to your cat or make a meal made only of sardines once a week.

If you’re using commercial cat food found in stores, read the labels and ensure they have high-quality ingredients. It is the best if you could buy premium foods. Avoid can cat foods with different sauces and buy only the ones in the water. The reason for this is that the sauces usually contain seasonings and vegetables (such as garlic) that cats don’t really like.

Regular grooming and bathing

Brushing will scoop the excess hair before it actually falls out. The frequency of brushing depends on the variety of the cat. If you have a short-haired cat, then brushing 3-4 times a week would be enough. However, if it is long-haired variety, you’ll need to take that brush more often.

The tools you’ll need for this are:

mat removing brush (for untangling the mats)
slicker brushes (for final brush-out) and de-shedding tools (for removing the loose hair).

Brushing will not only aid your cat to get rid of excess hair but will also spread the oils evenly and promote healthy and shiny coat.

Bathing your cat is also a part of its grooming and keeps the coat shedding at the minimum. Remember to use the shampoos specifically made for cats because the ones made for humans are too aggressive for cat’s sensitive skin and could cause shedding bigger than it used to be.

The choice of shampoo should be also approved by your vet. You’ll also have to prepare the environment well. Make sure it is not too cold or too hot in the room where you’re bathing your cat. Also, the water must not be too hot and don’t put the cat in the water too suddenly because cats sometimes react abruptly and angrily to water.

This means that bathing is often pretty stressful for cats, so insure you make them feel relaxed and secure. You can choose the time for bathing on your own but it is desirable that you do it when your cat is least active.

If you have too much trouble with your cat’s behavior during bathing, then you can use Cat Bath Wipes saturated with natural proteins and conditioner or waterless cleaners which you spritz on, massage in and towel off.

Using Furminator

Furminator is an electric tool for getting rid of your cat’s loose hair. It is especially effective with long-haired cats. It removes 90 per cent of loose hair with its stainless, steel edge that reaches deep beneath the coat safely, fast and easy.

Before using this gadget, ensure that your pet is completely dry. Also, remove all the tangles and mats because it will get painful for the cat if the Furminator stumbles upon them. Look carefully at your cat’s body for injuries and scars so you don’t go over them when you use the device.
When you brush the cat’s coat with Furminator, do it with the teeth angled in the direction in which the cat’s hair grows. Use long and gentle moves and be attentive when it comes to the areas around the animal’s ears, stomach, legs, and genitals. Furminators should be used once or twice a week.

You can choose a specific room for the times when you use this and don’t forget to vacuum regularly (or even more than it is optimal) and clean the teeth from the device so that too much cat hair doesn’t get stuck in it.

Make sure you rule out possible underlying medical conditions that can cause hair shedding

Hair-shedding in cats is not unusual. However, not all fur loss is normal, especially if you notice bald patches on your cat’s coat. There are a few medical problems that underlie excessive hair shedding. When it comes to older cats, cancer could cause the shedding. Also, in case of nervous disorders that cause overgrooming, alopecia is a common occurrence. Other medical issues that cause alopecia are parasites (cause manga), fungal diseases like ringwarm, allergies and hormonal misbalance.

A Complete Guide: How To Introduce A Dog To A Cat For The First Time

April 6, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

Dogs and cats are known not to be on good terms. Some people love having both of them in their house and have been figuring out a way to help them live as harmoniously as possible. It is important to note that this isn’t a fast process and it sometimes takes months for them to get used to each other. Here are some tips on how to painlessly introduce a dog to a cat for the first time so that they lead a happy life along with you despite their deep-seated drive to go against each other.

Try to match their personalities

We’re putting emphasis on this because it will greatly help the following process of introduction of the animals to each other. Closely observe both of them. For example, if your dog has displayed signs of aggressive behavior towards smaller animals before, such as cats or squirrels, maybe your best bet is not to have a cat at all. Also, if your cat is timid and shy, pair it up with a dog that is of the same character.

If your dog is too lively and loves chasing, your gentle cat might be stressed. On the other hand, pairing up aggressive cats with shy dogs is not a very good option either, as the cat could be frightened or irritated by dog’s presence and scratch it despite the fact that the dog isn’t showing any ill intentions.

Being separated

It would be great if you could put them in adjacent rooms so they can learn about each other’s sounds and smell through the wall. You can also put a blanket with the smell of the cat in the room of your dog and vice versa so that you prevent them from being upset or surprised when they see each other face to face.

The other way to go about this is to have your dog on the leash and get it closer to your cat’s isolation room. Let it inspect the area without letting it in. This way the dog will realize the existence of a new member. It is OK if this sparks some interest in your dog as long as it doesn’t have any abrupt, aggressive reactions which it should be rewarded for.

Make sure that they are provided with enough food and toys as well as your attention. It means that you’ll have to concrete time to both of your pets in order to create a credulous relationship that will be helpful in further steps of the introduction.

Getting ready for meeting in person

For the purpose of sliding through the introduction process without a hitch, prepare both animals. The dog should learn the ‘’stay’’ and ‘’sit’’ commands before seeing the cat for the first time. Also, before meeting in person, it is suggested that you play with your dog until it’s tired and calm which will greatly add to the smoothness of the introduction.

On the other hand, the cat has to be accustomed to being in a small crate for short periods of time in order to be able to fulfill other steps of introducing your new dog to the cat. Sometimes, cat’s getting used to the crate isn’t so effortless. You might have to use some food or toys in order to lure it into the crate.

The feline might seem frightened and unsteady in the crate so you may have to repeat the session a few times a day until it feels completely relaxed in the cage. Meanwhile, your dog should be confined in a separate room or out for a walk.

First visual meeting without physical contact

This step will help your pets to get accustomed to each other’s looks and Try to bring them closer and closer together each time. First sessions should last for 5 minutes. The more relaxed and comfortable the animals get with each other the longer the sessions can be. Don’t forget to reward your dog each time it behaves well in front of the cat, i.e. ignores it and doesn’t make sudden moves and growls due to its presence.

Letting the cat loose in front of the dog

This step involves the dog being on leash and cat trying to be at ease while moving freely around the canine. The dog should be in the lay-down position while the cat slowly gets out of the crate. Ideally, the dog will not pay attention to the cat. However, sometimes it happens that the cat won’t come out because it’s afraid. In order to deal with this, you can have someone take the dog outside for a few moments until the cat gets out of the crate. The dog, then, should be walked into the room slowly and on the leash.

Unleashing the dog

After 2 weeks, the pets are usually ready to be loose in front of each other. If you see that they completely disregard each other and are minding their own business without any inkling of them being agitated by the other’s presence, you can consider that your efforts to introduce a dog to a cat were lucrative. We still have to warn you that even after the period of introduction they may not be completely prepared to be left unsupervised. Some cats are very territorial and some dogs can get very prey-driven, which is why they have to be monitored at all times in order to stop them from fighting.

Conclusion: Is it possible for a cat and a dog to get along well?

It is definitely not unusual for a cat and a dog to be friends. Although it is not in their nature, with great care and patience of the owner, the likeliness for you to live with these 2 in harmony spikes to 100 percent. Bear in mind, however, that you should not permit that they work it out on their own! This means that the probability of successfully introducing a dog to your cat significantly drops without proper attention given to their personalities, feelings and personal space.

How To Introduce A Kitten To An Older Cat

April 5, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

Cats are very territorial beings that care a lot about their personal space, environment, and habits they’ve got accustomed to. Therefore, any new situations going on around them and changes in the surroundings may put a lot of stress on them.

Adding anything out of the ordinary to their habitat has to be done with great attention and patience. This especially refers to the situation where you’re introducing a kitten to your older cat that might perceive the little one as an intruder and a threat to its firmly established daily routine and relationships within the house. In the following paragraphs, we’ll recommend you some widely-accepted methods to resolve this problem and make the introduction easier both on your pets and you.

Don’t hold your expectations too high

This certainly doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily fail at integrating the new kitten into the life of the resident cat. If you actually follow the steps, you’re likely to be successful. However, you have to bear in mind that in most cases this process spreads over a few weeks.

The reason for this is that adult cats usually don’t like kittens and, as strange as it seems, can be more afraid of them than of their coevals. Cats up to 12 weeks old or even a bit older are still babies and aren’t familiar with the rules that govern the cat world.

At that stage of their lives, they’re pretty bold, intrusive and playful which is something that is not up to the tastes of the older feline that has already gotten far deep into the ‘’ways cats do things.’’ In other words, kittens are likely to bother the older cat by jumping on their heads while sleeping with the intention to play.

However, your older furry friend may not read this as a sign of ‘’play time’’ but rather as a threat, especially if they haven’t had experiences with baby cats. Then, your kitten might get hurt by the irritated resident cat due to the major difference in their physical strength. This is why vets and animal specialists recommend taking a cat of the same age as your resident cat because they already have developed personalities and behavioral patterns.

Safe room for the kitten

Under no circumstances should you try to familiarize your cats with each other the moment your new kitten gets into the house. This could leave both of them very distressed because, as it has already been mentioned, cats are not very good at taking in new situations in their environment rapidly. Moreover, the kitten might need some time to get accustomed to its new home. Therefore, you have to put it in a separate room where it will feel cozy and protected.

Provide the kitten with its own food container, toys, and beddings that will be in the room. Also, try to have some alone time with it. You need to create a bond between each other so that your kitten builds trust in you and shakes off the stress gradually. Remember that it may still be suffering because of the separation from its mother and other littermates, which is why you should be especially considerate to it.

Knowing each other by the scent

It goes without saying that scent is cats’ principal tool for perceiving the world. Therefore, having your cats get conscious of each other’s smell is imperative. There are numerous ways to do this. Take two towels and rub each of them onto the respective cats’ skin. Then leave the towels in the areas they mostly hang out in. By doing this you will add a new piece to their picture of the surroundings and will gradually get used to it.

If the older cat is upset too much with the new smell then you can mix your smell along with the kitten’s one by getting a towel rubbed both onto you and the kitty. A shirt you’ve been cuddling the kitty in can also be helpful. Just put it in front of the older cat and have it sniff the shirt. What you can also do is getting the resident cat into the kitten’s safe room.

While the old cat is roaming around, lock it in there for a few moments while the little one is investigating the other parts of your home where the older cat spent the most time in. Before you do this, baby-proof the environment so your kitty doesn’t end up hiding in some place where you can’t reach.

First visual contact

Getting used to the smell can last for a few days and even weeks depending on your cats’ reactions. Once you have the impression that they’re both ok with the new sensations, you can proceed to the next phase – having them see each other in person. First few sessions should last up to 10 minutes. The length depends a lot on the first reactions of the cats once they see each other.

If the older cat is hissing too much it is the best to have it see the kitten for just a few seconds While the kitten is in the crate, let the older cat in the safe room. It will probably go around and sniff around the cage and inspect the little one’s posture and overall behavior. Once it gets too angry halt the process and continues During the first visual contact, there shouldn’t be any physical contact whatsoever. It is still too early for that.

Gradually letting the ‘’free mingling’’

This step actually begins during the visual introduction. Have the 2 cats eat together. The kitten has to be in the cage and the older cat far away from it. As the resident cat is getting more and more comfortable try to bring its food container closer and closer to the cage until they are just a few feet away from each other. Once this goes well, you can go on to letting the kitten out of its cage.

You have to put their food containers far apart again so as to prevent any sudden reactions by the older cat due to the little one being let out. When you see them totally relaxed about being around each other, you can say you’ve overcome a big obstacle. Then you can have them be together for some time under your supervision. There will probably be a bit of hissing on the older cat’s part but as long as it is not prolonged it is ok. This is just a way it sets the rules and boundaries that the kitten still doesn’t know.

Don’t leave the cats unsupervised

Leaving your 2 felines unmonitored is too risky even after you’ve conducted a successful introduction. Sometimes the most tolerant cats can snap and turn to aggressive behavior. In this case, due to the great difference in strength, the kitten could get severely hurt. Baby cats just love wrestling and any sort of play fight which annoys older cats. They see them as their ‘’mock prey” on which they can practice hunting and that is definitely not the case.

Therefore, when introducing a kitten to an older cat, you might want to teach the little one how to play with stuffed animals of its size so its attention is averted from the older cat to something else. This way, you’ll save your kitten from the resident cat’s wrath.

How To Introduce A Dog To A New Dog

April 4, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

Introductions have always been somehow tricky. Believe it or not, first impressions are important even in the dog world. Pet owners sometimes don’t put much thought into this when getting a new in addition to the resident on and end up having trouble with their pets constantly being hostile towards each other. Here are some tips on how to introduce a dog to a new dog painlessly.

Meeting on a neutral territory

Dogs have an instinctive drive to be territorial. This means that having them meet directly at your home is not a great idea because the resident dog will probably act protective of ‘’his stuff” such as food container, toys, and even beddings. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you have your dogs meet at a place both of them have never seen before. This way they will be in an equal situation.

Make sure your dogs are on the leash

Being on the leash is of great relevance when you’re introducing 2 dogs. It may happen that they experience an emotional breakthrough when seeing another dog which will eventually put them in a fighting mood and that is what we should definitively try to avoid.

Be supportive

Dogs are responsive to the tone of our voice. You’ve seen for sure the differences between how your dog reacts when you’re angry by lowering its tail while bowing its head and how it waves its tail cheerfully when you speak to them in a happy voice. Therefore, when you’re introducing your old dog to a new one, make sure you use a calm and soothing voice in order to relieve the tension they may feel in this situation. This will give them the confidence that everything is going to be fine and will make it easier for them to get used to the brand new phase in their life.

Taking the dogs for a walk

Professional trainers say that taking your dogs to a walk provides them with a ‘’hunting mood’’ they all love. This is their natural state after all and, therefore, will make them feel comfortable with each other. You can have someone help you with this procedure by walking one of the dogs while you walk the other. It is important that, if you’re having someone else help you with this, you two walk one behind the other.

If you’re walking the dogs by yourself they can walk side by side but keep a safe distance between them. You don’t want them to be in a direct contact just yet. Change the position of your dogs by crossing their paths or getting in front of the person who’s aiding you with this process. This will stimulate dogs’ curiosity for each other and raise the possibility for at least one of them to take a step further and try to get to know the other’s smell.

Sniffing

Olfactory senses are very sensitive in dogs and have always been intrinsic in their survival through the years. Therefore, having them sniff each other is basically equal to the ‘’Hello, my name is… ’’ in human introduction. When you’re walking them, make sure they’re both able to sniff the path each of them has gone through.

The best imaginable situation here is when dogs make a move to sniff each other’s rears during walking. This is how they are getting used to each other and start accepting the other’s presence. However, this is still not a sign that they’re ready to meet each other completely free of the leash. Also, let the dogs smell each other’s poop/pee. Looking from a perspective of a human, this is surely strange, but for dogs, this is a very important source of information that they use to resolve the new, puzzling situation they’re in.

Having a closer contact

Once your dogs have sniffed each other, you can proceed to having them meet head to head. Don’t drop the leash completely yet. Also, the leash should not be too tense for your dogs because it can make them anxious, nervous or irritated. Try to observe their body language closely. The best situation possible is when there are some play signs between them. However, if you see some indications of hostility between the dogs such as raised hair and long staring into each other’s eyes, stop the introductory process because this means they’re not going to be friendly with each other so soon. It is frequently recommended that you seek some help from a professional on these occasions.

Getting your dogs home

Although your dogs may have been on good terms while being on a neutral territory, owner’s house is an absolutely different story. Make sure you put away all of the resident dog’s things away, including its toys, beddings, food containers etc. These can all be a huge source of conflict between your pets because the old dog is accustomed to them and thinks of them as ‘’its belongings’’. Also, try to provide their transport in 2 separate cars. You don’t want them hanging out in such a cramped place right after introduction. At this point, they still need their own air and space and hurrying their closeness can just make all the efforts go to waste.

If you’re getting a puppy

Puppies are ignorant of behavioral rules that dogs tend to set between themselves. They’re playful and will probably be getting in the older dog’s way. Well-trained dogs usually settle this by a simple growl but the ones that are not may hurt the little one.

Therefore you have to pay special attention to these 2 and pluck up some extra patience. Take a shot at experimenting with some of your friends’ puppies (if any of them has one by chance). Observe how your dog reacts to the puppy on the leash and from that point on decide on the future actions. If the feedback from your canine is filled with contentiousness and threatening signals aimed towards the puppy, you should consider hiring a professional that would teach the dog some self-control.

Home treatment of both dogs

Leaving your dogs to work things out on their own in the backyard may sound logical but, in reality, it is a completely wrong approach. It is true that they don’t like too much owner’s involvement in their relationship but they still need your guidance and coordination. This especially refers to the ‘’alone’’ time with your dogs. Ensure that you have some quality, bonding time with each dog separately. This will make them both believe you and it’ll be much easier to manage any unwanted situations.

When it comes to feeding, you should separate them while eating at least for the first few times until they’re completely used to each other. Finally, try to persuade the resident dog that this new situation will not be interrupting its daily routine. The best way you could achieve this is to get both dogs have the same schedule throughout the day.

Once you see your dogs playing around instead of exchanging angry barking, you can consider introducing your dog to a new dog rounded up and complete.

How To Make My Cat’s Coat Shiny?

April 3, 2017 by Admin2 Leave a Comment

We can all agree that cats have always had a very special function among human beings. They can be pets, our houses’ rodent extinguishers and our own ‘’psychiatrists’’. Yes- cats are reported to have a therapeutic effect on people. It is said that petting them will reduce our stress and anxiety. No wonder they were even perceived as deities in Old Egypt.

Cat’s fur that we all tend to love has multiple functions. It protects the cats from coldness and scorching heat. When threatened, the ‘’hackles rise’’, which goes to show the cats’ fur even presents their defensive system. The coat could also be a reflection of its health.

When we feel the cat’s fur is dull, it could be a warning about different unwanted illnesses: kidney issues, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, or parasite infections. Other most common causes of dull fur in cats are frequent bathing, bad nutrition, old age or being overweight. This article will provide you with solutions that will fix your cat’s fur and make it glossy.

How to make your cat’s coat shiny in a natural way

Cats are sure apt at taking care of their fur by themselves. However, this means that you should think twice about what you’re treating them with in order for them not to digest unsafe ingredients.

Omega-3 oils are the first choice when you’re attempting to treat the fur in a natural way. The best way you can do it is to add some real salmon or tuna to their meals. You can also opt for the foods in the convenience stores that are claimed to be Omega-3 supplemented, but bear in mind it is probable that the big portion of this element has disappeared during the production process.

Use a brush to comb and detangle mats and long hair. As they grow old, cats naturally lose the ability to take care of their fur accurately so they might need your help stimulating hair follicles and distributing natural oils throughout the hair. The frequency of brushing your cat will depend on the variety itself. In case you have a long-haired cat, vets suggest brushing it once every few days or even 15 minutes a day. As for the short-haired ones, you can brush them once a week. The tools you need for combing have to be specifically made for these animals and them

The frequency of brushing your cat will depend on the variety itself. In case you have a long-haired cat, vets suggest brushing it once every few days or even 15 minutes a day. As for the short-haired ones, you can brush them once a week. The tools you need for combing have to be specifically made for these animals and they include a quality general brush, a steel comb, and a rubber or bristle brush. When you start combing, start it with the regular brush, from head to the tail and do it softly. Use the steel comb

When you start combing, start it with the regular brush, from head to the tail and do it softly. Use the steel comb afterward in order to remove any dirt or debris. Finally, take the rubber brush and take all the excess hair away. For more shine, use a washcloth or chamois and wipe the coat with it.

Limiting the number of baths is another way in this sequence of pieces of advice. Since cats’ specialty is to groom their fur, it doesn’t need much additional cleaning. Try to use special cat shampoos that are not too strong because, otherwise, it will contribute to further problems with both the fur and the skin.

Bathing cats have a few steps. Firstly, you have to decide on the time of bathing based on the variety of the cat as well as its activity. Long-haired cats may need washing more often as well as the ones that are more active. Also, if your pet is having trouble taking care of itself, it will also require frequent bathing. Before bathing your cat, put some mineral drops in its eyes so that you protect it from soap and clip its nails to avoid scratches. Choose the time of bathing wisely- it is the best that you do this when the cat is calm.

Follow this with a pre-bathing process:

Dip a washcloth in lukewarm water and carefully wash your cat’s eyes and its face (if necessary).
When you fill the sink or tub with water make sure it is not too hot and abundant. If you’re using a tub, put something on the bottom so that your cat feels secure and has something to hold on to.
The room you’re bathing your cat in should be no colder than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Seek vet’s advice related to the shampoo you should use, especially if your cat has skin problems.
While you are putting your cat into the water secure yourself with gloves in case the animal gets frightened or agitated by water and starts scratching.
Then take some water and the shampoo ( 5:1 ratio) and gently rub it on the cat’s skin, working it from the head to the tail. Make sure that the product you’re using is specifically made for animals since the strength of the ones made for humans can dry their skin out. You can also use finishing spray while its fur is still wet so that you make the brushing easier.
What is crucial is to rinse your cat well in order get rid of all of the chemicals of the shampoo in its fur.
When the time comes to dry your cat, try not to use hair dryers because it could cause your cat a heat stroke or the noise could upset them. The best thing is to wrap your cat in a towel and hold it like that until it’s completely dry.
Conclude this process with brushing the cat’s fur if necessary and don’t forget to treat your cat after this since bathing can be pretty stressful for them.

Coconut oil has wonderful effects on a cat’s fur and skin just as it is miraculous for humans. The fats inherent in the coconut are critical for healthy skin and hair. You can rub it in the animal’s skin or you can add it in smaller amounts to their food if they like it.

Using herbs could be a double-edged sword but some of them could be very beneficial for your cat’s fur. Goldenseal is tremendously good for the cat’s skin. It is a natural disinfectant and lessens the skin’s allergies. Before you give any herbal oil to your cat, make sure it likes it because otherwise, it will do anything to get it away from their skin and fur, making all the efforts useless. The plants you should exclude from your cat’s treatment are eucalyptus, borage, and comfrey because they could be poisonous.

Changing nutrition. The welfare of your cat’s skin and fur substantially depends on the intake of minerals. The imbalance between essential minerals like zinc and copper can cause a variety of skin and fur diseases such as fur’s dullness, alopecia (losing of the fur), and fur discoloration.

A raw diet is one of the most commonly suggested solutions to solve the problem. It will provide your cat with the right amount of proteins and fats vital for the healthy look of the fur. First of all, proteins are a pivotal factor in hair growth. Hair is 95 percent protein, so it comes as no surprise that raw food which is rich in protein will maintain an optimal pace of new hair production.

Essential fats are also game-changers with respect to the outlook of your cat’s hair. It stimulates sebaceous glands that exude the oils that lubricate your skin. Also, omega-3 and omega-6 fats are essential in creating the new epidermis that will retain water within your skin and keep it hydrated. Other than fish oil, you can add things like flaxseed, chicken fat, soybean oil, zinc and whole grains in order to get your cat’s fur back the glow it should have.

On the grounds of age, species, and activity, cats may need different nutrition Therefore, you’re highly advised to consult your vet about the cat’s diet.

When natural ways don’t help anymore

Cats are susceptible to certain kidney diseases, as well as diabetes, allergies, infections, parasitical diseases and hyperthyroidism. Dull fur is actually one of the early signs of these diseases!

Systemic diseases like hyperthyroidism are usually managed by hormone replacement, surgery or radioactive iodine.

Diabetes is treated with insulin injections.

As for the kidney problems, they’re usually dealt with a change in diet accompanied by medications.

Infections are hard to deal with because the treatment doesn’t usually entail medications. In some situations, the cat will be prescribed antibiotics but other than that, drinking a lot of fluids and keeping a healthy diet are recommended.

Diseases that are caused by parasites usually require anti-parasitic drugs pastes and topical applications. Finally, when it comes to grooming, it’s usually the ‘’cat’s business’’ but in some cases, you’ll have to help, especially if the cat is arthritic.

In the case of overgrooming, your cat may need some anti-anxiety drugs and will need some extra, stress-relieving soothing.