Neutering Your Cat

There are a large number of homeless and feral cats in the world. This fact has begun to impress upon people the importance of neutering.

Feral cats are unaltered pets that may have been released into the wild. Some are cats that were born and never handled by people so they are wild and uncatchable. Feral cats can spread diseases to other pets because they will raid trashcans, fight and can become infected with diseases and parasites easily.

Another good reason to have your cat sterilized is because of the racket that occurs when a cat is in heat. When females are in heat they attract males who will sit outside, yowl and fight with other males all night. She will literally attract every tomcat in the neighborhood. Tomcats will also mark their territory inside and outside your house.

Intact cats are also prone to certain types of cancer. They may develop cancers of the reproductive organs. These cancers are rare in cats that are sterilized by one year of age. They may also develop contagious reproductive diseases.

Cats can be sterilized at a young age. Most humane societies will do this at eight weeks. Veterinarians agree that is best to do this at five to six months unless they are feral kittens.

Neutering is harder on females as the surgery is more invasive. If you have both male and female cats, it is often best to neuter males first and then wait until females are six months of age to spay.

These surgeries are very easy and typical, however cats are prone to infection in their incisions. This is because they tend to lick and chew at the stitches. If this is the case you may have to use a plastic surgery collar to keep your cat from licking the stitches. Females will also need to stay indoors for three to five days after the surgery.

How Old Are Kittens When They Open Their Eyes

When do Kittens Open Their Eyes
On of the greatest things to witness it the miracle of birth. Being an owner of cat that is expecting, with kittens is a wondrous thing. When kittens are born there and delicate ball of softness and fur which seem too dainty touch. Their survival depends solely on their mother. The mother supplies the nourishment to them as well as teaches them to relieve themselves and how to defend themselves and live amongst other creatures.

When a kitten is born, their ears are back and their eyes are closed, which means they are literally both blind and deaf. For humans, to look at the little newborn kittens, they find that they have a natural instinct to want to keep them warm and safe.

The best thing you can do is make sure that they are safe with their mother and their surroundings are safe so they will not hurt themselves or get into trouble once they start moving around.

Kittens are very weak when they first come into the world. The best they can do is crawl around their mothers side. This is all part of nature. This allows a mother to be able to keep up with each of the kittens in her litter. As they get older or their strength will improve and they will begin to walk.

Cats generally have very sensitive ears when they are born and that is only to help protect them. During their first few weeks of life their ears will continue to develop, keeping them closed and back, helps protect the very sensitive parts of the years as loud noises can hurt their ears. They're hearing will fully develop around 16 weeks of age.

Kittens are also born with a great sense of smell as their only contact with the world when they are firstborn is by smelling it. They cannot see it or hear it and have to rely solely on their sense of smell. Kittens get use to how certain things smell such as the mother and the humans around them.

They will hit us at things as they are not familiar just from their sense of smell. As to alert their mother that there is danger in the area. Many people wonder how long it will take to the kittens eyes actually open. It actually depends on the length of their fur. The cats with long hair will open their eyes much later than a short haired cat.

Some of the shorthaired kittens will actually get to see the world for the first time after just five to eight days from their date of birth. It may take up to 10 to 14 days for a long-haired kitten to open their eyes.

Litters that are mixed all have different rates of development where opening the eyes are concerned. Even when the eyes are completely open it can still take several weeks for them to grow into the special eyesight cats have. Cats truly are amazing creatures from them and that they're born until they become an adult cat.

Bring Home A Cat And You Just Might Live Longer

Having a pet could surely help you live a better life. In even the simplest effect, it could not be denied that pets bring this different aura to lives of people and it brightens a home.

Any pet may be that secret stepping stone in achieving a certain amusement or comforter but there is something that sets up all these benefits higher, and that is if you choose cats as pets.
What is with cats? What makes them so special?

Cats would really be great companions and friends.

Research shows that having cats as pets could really lighten up a person’s physiological, emotional and psychological side. This is very true. These benefits would really heal the wounds of solitude, age, stress and depression. In addition, cats are affectionate but less demanding, low maintenance and it would surely be very suitable for those who have a modern lifestyle.
Cats are confidence boosters.

It is believed that people who take care of pets are more likely to be caring than those who are not. When old or sick people have pet cats, it would surely give rise to their esteem they will not feel useless or unworthy. When a person feels being needed, it radiates a very optimistic mind. Kids or young people, when being entrusted to do the care for pets, they would feel confident and responsible as well. Another thing is that by taking care of cats and other animals, people learn how to take care of others too.

Cats as pets do also relieve you from stress

According to Medical studies, sitting on a chair, placing a cat on your lap and stroking its hair would let you feel comfortable and at peace. This would make you feel relaxed and would make you feel relieved from stress caused by whatever endeavor.

Cats as health angels

According to the Society for Companion Animal Studies, patients recover or live longer through animals. It has been discovered that having pets would definitely ease the cases of physiological or psychological impairment in people.

Cats as social catalysts

Cats as pets could let you drop your hesitations and shyness. It would tech you what the essence of being with others and exploring the world is. When you go with you cat, people would be interested and as a cat-lover, you would not hesitate to show your pet off.

How To Select The Best Boston Terrier

The Boston Terrier is perfect for people with limited space. It does not need to be outdoors a lot. It loves people and will not constantly bark at visitors in your home. It is also a very intelligent dog and is easy to train. Negative characteristics of this dog are a result of poor breeding by irresponsible breeders. Well-socialized dogs are loving and sociable and not at all aggressive. Always buy your Boston Terrier puppies from reputable breeders. Avoid buying from pet shops as you may get neurotic puppies. Consider adopting an adult Boston Terrier from a shelter or rescue center.

The Boston Terrier dog, although not officially defined as a Terrier by the American Kennel Club, is a small but sturdy dog. It is ideal for people who don’t have a lot of land and therefore cannot keep large breed dogs that are most happy with a large area to run around in. The Boston Terrier is best suited to an indoor life with occasional outdoor play. Their small size also makes them ideal for houses where space is an issue. They are also highly intelligent dogs, which makes training them much easier.

It is a great dog for families because of its loving nature. It is also very sociable and does not mind other dogs or cats. It can be hard to have territorial dogs if you are a social family and like to invite people over. The Boston Terrier is a very friendly dog and will not growl or bark at new people who come over.

A Boston Terrier dog is a very sensitive dog an it is especially attuned to its owner’s moods and feelings. Although it is a sociable dog and will generally get along well with all people in your house, your Boston Terrier may show a particular affinity to one person in the house. They are great companion dogs for the elderly and are very well suited to someone who is older and less active.

Each Boston Terrier is different; each has its own personality. There are high-energy Boston Terriers and there are less active ones who love to nap and cuddle rather than run around. Most Boston Terriers only bark when necessary making them good alarm systems but of course they are not guard dogs because of their size. Some Boston Terriers can be stubborn and you will need patience when training them. Never be harsh with your Boston Terrier when training, be loving and firm for the best results.

It can be hard to tell whether your adorable Boston Terrier puppy will grow into a well-behaved lovable Boston Terrier dog. One way to make sure that you get the best dog possible is to get your dog from a reputable breeder. Avoid pet shops like the plague. Most pet shops get their puppies from puppy mills where the dogs are taken away from their mothers too early and neglected.

This means you are increasing the chances of bringing home a neurotic puppy that you will have a hard time training and taking care of. Consider getting a Boston Terrier dog from a rescue center, not only are you helping to give a dog in need a home but you are also bringing home a dog whose personality has been developed. You can judge from an adult Boston Terrier right away what type of dog you have on your hands.

Wendy Caples is a long time fan and breeder of the Boston Terrier. The Boston Terrier makes a wonderful pet, its intelligence makes it easy to train and its loving nature makes it a family favorite. Basic Boston Terrier information in regards to behavior and temperament can be found in this article.

Choosing A Yorkshire Terrier Puppy

Originally the Yorkshire Terrier was bred as a ratter and hunter who could be small enough to get into fox and badger burrows. Later the Yorkie puppy became a very popular pet, especially with women who wanted a small dog they could carry under their arm or in their bag.

Although small, the breed still makes an excellent guardian for the family. People will often have more than one Yorkie puppy in their house because they are so delightful to own.

For people who don't have a lot of space, the Yorkshire Terrier is an excellent breed. Although it is important to remember that each dog is an individual. While some dogs are great with children and families you need to consider every factor that is involved.

When choosing a Yorkie puppy one of the most important factors that you need to consider is the family lineage since it have a great impact on the general disposition of the puppy. It is also important that you have children who can provide your Yorkie puppy with a nurturing and loving environment otherwise it won't matter what personality your puppy has.

After you decide to get a Yorkie puppy you need to properly prepare your house for your new arrival. First it is very important that you find a veterinarian whom you are comfortable with and trust. It can be a good idea to talk with other Yorkshire Terrier owners in your area to get some recommendations of veterinarians.

The second important part of preparing for the arrival of your Yorkie puppy is to make sure your house is puppy proof. If you leave anything out your dog will get into it and sometimes the consequences can be deadly.

Ten of the most deadly items in your home include antifreeze, chocolate, bleach, Tylenol, watch batteries, mothballs, fabric softeners, mouthwash, peach pits and household plants.

The third more important thing to do before bringing your Yorkie puppy home is to educate yourself on the most common health problems for the Yorkshire Terrier breed. This way you can catch any health problems before they become a major problem.

Once you get your Yorkie puppy you want to schedule an appointment with the veterinarian for a regular check up as soon as possible. The best time to take your new puppy to the veterinarian is between three and ten days. This allows you Yorkie puppy to adjust to their new surroundings in your home. In order to avoid health problems it is important to keep stress to a minimum since stress is the most common factor for Yorkie puppies.

Take your puppy to the vet right away if you notice them acting strange or if they don't want to eat. Keep feeding your Yorkie puppy the same food that the breeder used for at least two weeks and then start slowly mixing it with your new dog food. You should feed your puppy at least three to four times a day and if you puppy isn't eating then you can add a bit of warm water. Maintaining a proper grooming schedule is also important, which should include checking the ears and clipping the nails.

Susan Bailey has spent years researching information on properly caring for puppies. It is important to make sure you are ready before choosing between Yorkshire Terrier puppies. Choosing Yorkshire Terrier puppy names is one of the most enjoyable parts of getting a new puppy.

What You Need Before Getting a New Kitten

Cats have always been associated with power and mystery. In the olden time, cat was thought to be a witch’s best friend. This is probably because a cat is more intelligent than a dog. In fact, statistics reveal that cats are preferred over dogs as pets.

The reasons for this are not hard to guess. A cat is cleaner and more intelligent than a dog. While a dog needs to be walked and groomed and bathed, cats are quite self-sufficient creatures. They groom themselves with their saliva, use litter boxes and play on their own. Hence, having a cat as a pet can be a great experience.

However, before you bring your new kitten home, it’s important to take care of a few things first:

The new items that you will need:

Litter scoop/litter tray: In case you need to keep your kitten indoors, and then these items are important. Try shopping for a covered litter tray that will help to prevent any spillage.

Cat food: It’s important to know what kind of food is good for your kitten. Generally a balanced diet with all nutrients is a good idea. There are special formulas for your kitten depending on their age.

Pet carrier: A pet carrier is a great asset and makes visits to the vet and boarding kennels convenient and easy.

Collar and tag: Though cats have a great home sense, its better to have a tag and a collar on your cat lest it is lost.

Toys and scratching post: These are a must for your kitten’s health and happiness.

Kittens are as good or bad as children. They have no sense of good and bad and are capable of doing anything. Hence, before bringing your kitten home it’s important to cat proof your home. Take care that you don’t have small items that they can play with and swallow.

Examples are small items such as strings, rubber bands, buttons etc. You also need to take care of plastic bags that may be tempting to your kitten and cause choking (they love plastic bags because they rattle and make such intriguing noises). Keep bottles, pills and other medicines out of reach since kittens have a tendency to spill them and drink or eat the contents.

In the event that you have plants in your house, make sure that they are not harmful to your kitten just in case your new pet tries to eat them as some ornamental plants are poisonous and can cause harm. Hence it is important to examine your indoor garden before your new cat comes in.

Kittens are the stress busters of life and are a great delight to have. However it is important to make sure that they remain safe and happy in their new home. Hence we need to take care of little things that can make a lot of difference in your new kittens comfort!!

Choosing a Cat or Kitten

One of the first things you will need to decide upon once it is sure that you will be adding a feline to your home is that of should I get Kitten or think about a rescue of a full grown Cat from the local shelter.

Kittens are often the best cats to start out with.

With a kitten you are starting with a clean slate and you will have a friend that will quickly bond with you. Kittens are excellent because they don’t have any bad habits yet and you can begin training them your rules right away.

Older cats are often best if you are a low energy person and you don’t have time to constantly be looking after a kitten to ensure they are not getting in any mischief.

Older cats have usually been spayed or neutered, may be declawed and their maintenance is much easier in terms of feeding and vaccinations. Ultimately, it will be up to you to determine if your lifestyle fits a kitten or an older cat.

The How to's of Keeping your Cat Worm Free

Let’s first start with how the indoor cat can get worms. Well, the most common way an indoor cat can get worms is by fleas jumping into your house from the outside. Fleas carry tape worm eggs in their lovely, little black bodies. Your cat grooms itself all day long, and will eat a flea or two here and there.

The cat obviously doesn’t go looking to flea graze off its own body, but ingests the fleas when trying to pick them of itself in the course of grooming. Or a cat will accidentally lap up a flea while licking its coat. The most classic sign of tape worm infestation is the appearance of small white tape worm segments around your cat’s back side or in its litter. As soon as you notice this you should contact your vet to receive strong tape worm medication that will eradicate the worm.

If you think that tape worm medication is poison, which I don’t know if it is or not as of this typing, you can also try herbal remedies. Garlic, black walnut hull and wormwood, are mentioned in many Internet sites as cleansing cat bodies of tape worms.

Do not use these unless you have done your own research first and have determined that it would be safe to administer to your cat. Scientific evidence of the effectiveness of these natural remedies may of course be hard to find, because it is very difficult to profit of off a naturally occurring substance.

The outdoor cat is exposed to a whole range of worms. They can get tape worms by coming in contact with the fecal matter of another cat. And this is extremely easy to do, a cat simply has to accidentally step in some, and then lick its paws to ingest some of the eggs of the tape worm. It is very easy for this to happen. That is why you should keep your cat away from areas inhabited by feral cats, because they will most likely have fleas which carry tapeworm eggs, and they will have tape worm larvae in their fecal matter.

Another way in which cats come in contact with worms is by eating other animals, like mice, shrews, squirrels, birds, and chipmunks. The roundworm for instance can be consumed by a cat when they eat the flesh of one of the aforementioned creatures.

Roundworms can be transmitted to humans from cats. So if you have children be sure to keep them away from any cat you suspect of being infected. And always keep your kids away from cat litter boxes. The roundworm is a very, very resilient creature infecting both flesh and intestines. They are not killed easily, thorough research needs to be done for the effective treatment of a cat when it is known to have a ringworm infestation.

If you trust your vet, then take their advice, and put your pet on a course of de-worming medication.

Cats in general can also get two other types of worms, hook worms and whip worms. These two types of worms are a bit rarer and more difficult to find with the naked eye. That is why you should always have a fecal sample from your cat examined.

The whip worm is a freak of nature, its eggs can survive freezing temperatures and remain in soil for many years. That is why you need to manage worms in your cats pro-actively. Worms have life cycles like no other creature, they infect flesh and intestines and can actually go dormant for long periods of time within the cat.

Some worms even awakening during pregnancy just to infect kittens. These are sophisticated parasites and should be taken seriously. Dispose of your cat waste properly so we can all keep worms away from our cats.

To read about how to properly protect your cat from serious illnesses visit this cat health insurance site to read about the most reliable cat insurance available.