Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Cat Care Can Be A Treat For You

By: Bruce Walls
Although the phrase "cat care" may bring to mind thoughts of hard work or obligation, with the right attitude and a little information, cat care can become an enjoyable part of your day. If you do it right, caring for your cat can be something that you actually look forward to.

Helping your cat stay happy and healthy is only as much fun as you let it be, but by learning how to provide the optimum care for your beloved pet, you can make care routines a treat for both of you.

One important part of making cat care fun is taking enough time to enjoy it. If you whip through your care routine with one eye on the clock at all times, you won't be able to fully appreciate the experience of being with your pet. Try thinking of your pet's care as a chance to relax and escape the hassles of daily life.

Put on your favorite CD and relax as you complete care tasks like grooming your pet and playing with him or her to help you both bond and relax. The process of caring for a pet is an inherently satisfying and enjoyable one so long as you allow yourself to have fun while doing it instead of trying to rush through and minimize the time you take for cat care. After all, the time you spend with your cat is quality time indeed.

Another benefit of making cat care a pleasurable activity is education. Teaching yourself a bit more about pet care techniques can help you be certain that you are offering your cat the best possible care. The more you know about your pet's care, the better equipped you will be to keep your cat healthy and happy, and there are few things as satisfying as seeing your cat's health improve because of your love and attention.

If you want the care of your feline friend to be a reward for yourself as well as for your pet, it is important to make sure that you are doing a good job of it. The better you are at caring, the more fun you will have when caring for your cat.

There are few experiences more rewarding than reveling in the knowledge that you have done a job well, and cat care is no exception. When you improve your skills or brush up on your cat care basics, you are taking steps to transform your pet care from a run of the mill experience to something that you can be proud of.

When you provide your cat with the optimum care for his or her personality, age, and type of cat, you will be able to feel a sense of accomplishment in your abilities that is invaluable, and very enjoyable. When you improve your cat care skills, you can look forward to a happier cat, and to a happier you as well.

Bruce Walls is a writer and webmaster at http://www.catcarefacts.com.

Aquariums The Different Kinds

By: Michael Russell

Besides the enjoyment the aquarium can bring to you, just imagine the grand old time your cat could have trying to figure out how to get to the fish.

There are many different types of aquariums. There is pretty much one for each level of enthusiast and not all aquariums are for fish. There are aquatic plant aquariums as well and they are very beautiful.

One of the simplest of aquariums is a fish bowl. A fish bowl can even be part of a table arrangement. When one chooses a fish bowl it should be a big one. At least a gallon. You'll also need a small net and two 1 gallon bottles of drinking water that is not distilled or de-ionized, as tap water isn't safe for your fish. Even if water is treated with water conditioners it still wouldn't be safe. You will also need some floating fish food. You will need to fill your fish bowl 2' form the top of the bowl. Then you will need to cover your bowl with a clean plastic cover. Sometimes a clean lid from a coffee can will do.

You don't want your fish to jump out or another pet jumping in! You will need to replace about 20% of the water twice weekly and you can make your own bottled water by using the following method. Fill a bottle with tap water and leave about 2" of empty space at the top of the bottle. Add about five drops of water conditioner and then replace the cap tightly. You will need to let the bottle of water sit for at least three days before you use it for your fish.

There are also cool water aquariums. These aquariums sit at room temperature and do not require a heater. You need an aquarium and a cover. You should get an aquarium stand as well. You will need a five inch fish net, water conditioner and some food to feed your fish. . Make sure you read all the instructions from your aquarium and water conditioner. Make sure your aquarium is running for at least three days before you add any fish. Only add one fish at a time and wait for at least three weeks between fish. There is a maximum of one 1 foot fish per gallon.

Don't overcrowd your fish.

A Warm Water Aquarium will require more skill to maintain than a cool water aquarium. You'll need an aquarium, an aquarium cover, an stand and a power filter with a BIO-Wheel. You'll also need a 5-inch fish net and a bottle of water conditioner as well as fish food, such as floating flake food and freeze dried blood worms.

One other type of aquarium is the betta fish vase. This has become increasingly popular. Often times buyers of a Betta Fish Vase have been told that the Betta can live by eating the lily roots, this is a mistake. The Betta will eat the roots, but only out of desperation and it will not be a healthy fish.

The Betta should be fed floating food that is labeled for Betta Fish and freeze dried blood worms, which are actually mosquito larvae. Betta Fish usually do much better in a large fish bowl than in a vase. So if you happen to receive one, your fish may be better off if moved to a bowl. Please think twice before offering one as a gift.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Aquariums