How to groom long haired cats

Some cats enjoy the grooming process, some do not. For the first session, I’d recommend keeping it short and pleasant, with as many treats as possible. It helps if you groom at a time when the cat is normally happy and relaxed. Have all your tools ready beforehand—even the most tolerant of cats is not going to wait around while you go and get the comb you forgot. You can either put the cat on a grooming table in front of you, or any table or counter with a towel or non-skid mat on it, or you can try to hold the kitty in your lap.

Nails First : You can buy cat nail trimmers, or use people nail trimmers—just make sure they are sharp. Remove only the curved part, just the tips. Cat nails are translucent, so even if they are not white you should be able to see where the quick (the blood supply) occurs in the nail. Make sure not to trim too close to the quick.

Brushing : Use a soft slicker brush and gently lift the coat up with your hand, brushing in layers from the skin out. Lightly spray the coat to reduce static, or spray the brush instead. Ring 5 Coat Gloss is my favorite, but there are several on the market that will work well. (Make sure whatever grooming spray you purchase is specifically labeled for cats—there are chemicals that are very harmful to cats that have no effect on dogs or humans).

Combing : Use a comb with medium spacing, or one with medium on one end and coarse on the other. Gently comb through, both checking to see if you have left any snags, and using the comb to remove excess undercoat. Be gentle. Combs with blunt ends or ones with rotating teeth may be effective while producing less tugging. The shedding comb, with uneven length teeth, is ideal for removing excess undercoat and some cats mind it less.

If your cat is upset by any portion of the grooming, change to doing something he didn’t mind for a few moments, or just pet him. Give him a treat and end the session. Next time work just a few moments longer before stopping. Before you know it you will both be enjoying your special time together.

Great Gifts For Cat Lovers

There are a lot of great gifts that you can give to cat lovers, although photo frames are among the most popular. Photo frames are very affordable, and make a great gift for anyone who owns a cat or other pet. Those who own more than one cat will truly appreciate photo frames – as it gives them a chance to show off their pet. Cat lovers can also frame pictures of their pet for memories as well – and keep them forever and ever.

Before you give a cat lover a gift, you should take into consideration what type of cat the person owns. There are several breeds out there, including tabby, pure breeds, calico, Persian, and of course the infamous Siamese breeds. Someone may own several cats as well, which is why you should know a little bit about the breed or breeds someone owns before you get them a gift.

You should take into consideration whether or not the cat lover has an outdoor or indoor cat. Cats, unlike dogs, are more than happy to spend all of their time outdoors. Outdoor cats can be a lot of fun, especially if the owner spends a lot of time outdoors. Cats have a natural urge to go outside, even if the owner has an indoor cat.

Cats who reside indoors are less exposed to sicknesses and common health problems that outdoor cats are exposed to. Indoor cats are almost always trained to use the litter box, which makes them easy to maintain for their owners. Nearly all gifts that you can get for a cat lover are designed for those who keep their pet indoors.

If you’re looking for a humorous yet exciting gift, you can always give the gift of catnip. Catnip is one of the most popular treats for cats, as it’s a naturally occurring plant that has a unique affect on a cat. Catnip gives off aromatic oils that will often make cats appear to be drunk and very hyper – which is always great entertainment for both owners and guests. Catnip is completely safe for cats to consume, often times being included with gifts such as chew toys and play balls.

Other great gifts for cat lovers include decorative mats with cat pictures, which you can get personalized for the owner if you prefer. You can also give cat videos, musical cat dolls, cat shaped mail boxes, toys and treats, and various other goodies that are directed towards cat lovers. If you do your shopping on the Internet, you’ll find that the possibilities are endless. Cats are very popular pets – meaning that you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect gift for the cat lover in your life.

What Do You Know About Pet Foods?

I recently became aware of an interesting survey on pet food, conducted by the Harris Interactive© and commissioned by the folks at the Wellness Pet Food Company. In reading the survey results, it seems that many cat and dog owners don't know quite as much as they think they know about the food they are feeding their pets. A few examples from the survey results:

91 percent of dog and cat owners said they would not want their pets' food to contain ingredients that cause allergies or food intolerance.

Another 66 percent said their preference would be to only feed natural pet food.

56 percent of dog and/or cat owners worry their dog(s)'/cat(s)' food contains ingredients they wouldn't want him/her consuming.

Only 38 percent of dog owners and 38 percent of cat owners say they always or often read the labels on their pets' food.

Just 38 percent say they understand all the ingredients listed on their dog/cat food labels.

When asked to name the first ingredient listed on the label of their cat(s)' dry food, 48 percent of cat owners answered they are not sure

Do you see some discrepancies there? Using the 80-20 rule, judging from my email and many of the comments posted on this blog I'd hazard a guess that maybe 15-20 percent of my readers read cat food labels, and possibly 60 percent of those people completely understand them.

If 66 percent want to feed only "natural" pet food, but only 38 percent actually read the labels, where are the others basing their buying conclusions? Most likely from the vivid claims on the front of the bags or cans. Take The Goodlife Recipe, for example, which I reviewed. The back of the bag sports a colorful "food pyramid" (pictured here) which proclaims Natural nutrient-rich vegetables, Real natural chicken, and Natural whole grains. The front of the bag boasts real chicken - no fillers, among other merits.

So, what are the ingredients? The very first ingredient listed is ground corn, which is not only a known allergen for cats, but a notorious filler. The second ingredient? Chicken by-product meal , followed by corn gluten meal and animal fat. Yes, chicken and whole grain rice are listed in the fifth and sixth place.

So as not to leave The Goodlife Recipe on the hot seat too long, it should be noted that even some veterinarian-recommended pet foods contain ingredients that are not all that great. Here's a brand often sold in veterinary clinics. Note the first ingredients: Chicken by-product meal, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn. Interestingly enough, this food received 5-star rave reviews from the three consumers who reviewed it. I'll be posting my own review later. In fairness, the same company manufactures another formulaof cat food, which I will also review later. This one fares much higher on the protein content (first ingredient chicken), although it contains several different grains up front (Cracked Pearled Barley, Maize Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Oats, Brown Rice). Where I'd really find fault is the seventh listed ingredient, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid).

I think as a whole, we as consumers have come a long way in our knowledge of pet food ingredients since the pet food recalls of 2007. The pet food manufacturers have collectively learned what has been a very expensive lesson for some. It's clear though, that we all still have a long way to go.

By:Franny  Syufy....about.com

Cat Breeding

The population of cats is the United States alone is unbelievable. Nearly all experts will tell you that you should spay your cat instead of breed it. No matter what experts have to say, a lot of people want to have a litter of kittens from their cat. Before you decide to breed your cat, there are a few things that you should think about.

The first thing you should know is that breeding cats takes time. For the next two months after the litter is born, you’ll need to clean the area on a daily basis. You’ll also need to watch over the kittens as well, and keep a close eye on how they are developing. If you plan to breed a litter of cats, you won’t have time for much of anything else.

Breeding cats will also require a good degree of space as well. If you have a small apartment, you shouldn’t attempt to breed a cat. You should also make sure that your family agrees with the idea, as it isn’t good for the kittens if you keep them locked up. Keep in mind that kittens like to see things; they’ll end up going all over your home as well.

Breeding cats also requires a degree of responsibility as well. You should always have a plan of approach, including homes for the kittens to go that you aren’t planning to keep. Keep in mind that things can change, someone who wanted a cat may change his mind once the litter is born. In this event, you must decide whether or not you can keep a kitten that doesn’t have a home.

Breeding also requires some education as well. You should be prepared for any problems along the way, as well as what takes place during birth. From cutting umbilical cords to delivering early, you’ll need to be well prepared. You should also have the proper supplies, and know how to handle things in the event of a c-section. You’ll also need to know what to feed pregnant cats, as their diets are very important if you are breeding.

Breeding will also cost money as well, with kittens costing a lot more money than you may think. The food isn’t the only thing that’s expensive, as the vet bills can also get expensive. Even though you may go through the entire pregnancy without going to the vet, you’ll still need de-worming and vaccination medicines as well.

In short, there is a lot to think about where breeding is concerned. If you have your mind set on it and you want to breed, you should be sure that you have the proper knowledge and everything you need before hand.  You should always be ready to handle anything associated with breeding – and prepare yourself for the worst possible scenario.