Shelter Pets: Pet Adoption Myths

Pet adoption is a great way of getting pets in a much less price.  Pet adoption is also a great way of  taking care and proving homes for pets and animals that have been left or sometimes even abused by their previous owners.

Adopting pets from shelters just charge an adoption fee which is very far from the regular prices of animals in pet stores.  Adoption fees range from $35 to $200 and almost always include medical treatment like vaccines, de-worming, and spaying (neuter).  There are even shelters that offer follow up veterinary services to ensure that pets remain healthy and able to get the necessary vaccines. 

Animal shelters provide great choices for adoptable pets.  Shelters not only have adult animals, but they also have kittens and puppies that a pet parent can choose from. However there are some myths about animal shelters and why it is not a good place to adopt from.

Many people believe that pets in shelters have behavioral problems.  It is important to remember that these animals have bad experiences from their previous owners.  They might have experienced neglect and abuse.  Animals in shelters normally exhibit minor behavioral problems.  Some of these pets may be scared while others can be excited.  Animals that show major behavioral problems are not put up for adoption.

Animal shelters perform screen test to know the temperament of animals in the shelters.  The shelters try to get as much information they could get from the animals’ previous owners.  Soon-to-be pet parents are happier and at ease to know that their new pet has healthy and friendly temperament. 

Since these animals have been neglected, abused and abandoned, the next parent should display more patience to train them. Also since these pets already know and encountered difficult hardships they display more loyalty and devotion to their new owners. There are some pet parents who have adopted from shelters saying that their pets are more loyal and loving than other pets.

Another shelter myth says that pets from shelters and pounds are mature animals and cannot be trained.  Most pets in shelter are older animals but there are also kittens and puppies that is available for adoption. 

Adoptable animals from shelters can be trained like other animals.  The important thing during training is to be consistent, patient and understanding.  Animals (regardless if they are in shelter or in homes) respond to good, effective, loving and humane training techniques.

There are shelters that offer the new pet parent the opportunity to participate in obedience training and pet parenting classes.  These sessions serve as a transition period for the pet and the parent to bond together. 

It is commonly believed that pets in animal shelters are inferior to purebred animals.  According to the Humane Society of the United States there is an average of 25 to 30 percent of purebreds in animal shelters. 

Also, mixed bred animals are not inferior to purebred animals.  Animal shelters have pets that are healthier and have better temperaments than purebred.  Interested pet parents just have to talk to the shelter and provide the what kind of behavior they would like to have in their pets.  Mixed bred pets oftentimes exhibit traits of several breeds.  If a pet parent like to have a purebred because of its temperament, the shelter would likely have a mixed bred that exhibits the qualities of the purebred. 

Going to a shelter for a pet adoption is a great way of helping animals in need in a much affordable and economic way.  Adopting a pet from a shelter is not only a solution for the pet parent’s problem but also a way of saving a life. 

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.

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.

Cat and Kitten Diet Tips

Kittens will need a kitten food to ensure that they are receiving all of the nutrients they need to grow. When it comes to feeding your cat there are many options. There’s dry and there’s canned. There’s kitten and cat.

In general cats need only four main nutrients. They require a meat based protein, taurine, water and various vitamins and minerals. Kitten food includes all of these just more to give the kitty the necessary energy to grow and be healthy and this is the main difference between cat and kitten food.

For the first five weeks, the kitten will be nursing from its mother. At week five the kittens can start to be weaned. They may continue to nurse until they are eight to ten weeks old. Pet owners should feed the mother a kitten food to ensure that she is receiving all the necessary nutrients that she needs for herself and her kittens.

All animals have a higher nutrient requirement when they are pregnant. At week five, the kitten can begin to eat canned kitten food with its mother. The first ingredient on the package should be either chicken, beef or lamb.

Kittens will need kitten food for their first year. At six weeks of age, the kittens should be receiving four small meals per day. At twelve weeks, they can have more food divided into three meals. At one, the kittens may be switched to adult food and fed twice daily. Cats are capable of knowing when they are full, so you can leave a bowl out of dry food throughout the day.

The biggest debate amongst cat owners is whether or not they should use wet, canned or dry food. The answer is both. Kittens and cats need wet food because it contains water. They may not drink enough on a regular basis and the wet food ensures they stay hydrated. The dry food ensures they have something to eat whenever they are hungry. It also helps to scrape the teeth and keep them clean, which prevents dental diseases.

The kitten’s diet should consist mostly of canned food, as it is more nutritious. Keep track of whether the kitten is on track by weighing the cat on a regular basis. You also do not want to allow them to get into the habit of overeating or eating table scraps. Table scraps are high in fat and it also throws off their balanced diet that they receive through their regular food.
Do not feed your cat these foods:

Milk
Green tomatoes
Raw potatoes
Onions
Garlic
Root vegetables
Grapes
Raisins
Chocolate

These foods can be toxic and harmful to your cat.

Litter Box Tips for Cats and Kittens

The Litter Box

One of the biggest drawbacks for some cat owners is the litter box. Not only do you have to clean it, but you also have to teach your kitten to use it.

It is usually fairly easy to teach your kitten to use a litter box. The most important thing is that you put it in the place you want it and leave it there. You also need to keep it clean so that they won’t decide to use the carpet instead. A litter box should also not be kept near food bowls or water, as cats like to keep these areas clean.

Once you find the right place for the litter box, you will need to teach the cat what the litter box is for. Begin by placing the cat in the box and raking your fingers through the litter. Your cat may quickly decide that they need to use it right away. If they hop out, play with them a few minutes and then place them back in the box. Repeat the process several times, but try not to overdo it.

After your cat eats, you will want to wait for about 10 to 15 minutes and then place them in the litter box. If they use it, then you will want to praise them. If your cat is taking a nap, watch the cat and place him in the litter box when he wakes up.

If your cat has an accident, you don’t want to scold them. They will only become frustrated or angry. Instead place the litter box in the area the cat tends to have accidents and encourage the cat to use it. Once they get in the habit, they should start to use it regularly. If the cat stops, try cleaning it. If it is not dirty, have the vet check him out for a bladder infection or other health problem.

There are several litter box designs that make it easier to keep the litter box clean. The hooded type is best for cats that want their privacy. It is also good for those who kick and make a lot of dust. There are also removable lines that help you in cleaning the litter box. Simply lift out the whole liner and discard it. Another popular litter box is the design that is self-cleaning. These are best for multiple family cats. The litter box automatically cleans itself after each use. You then empty the container the soiled litter is discarded in.

Hot Weather and Your Cat

Cat Safety in Warm Weather

If you live in a climate that has sticky, hot, summer days, you may find yourself longing for cooler days. Your cat will definitely agree! In warm weather, it is necessary for you to care for your cat’s healthy so that he or she does not become overheated.

Remember, a pet is like a newborn baby—your cat cannot tell you that he or she is hot or uncomfortable. You have to notice warning signs and provide a good living environment so that your cat does not get too hot.

When you take your pet places during the summer, never ever let your cat inside of a parked car, even for a short time. Cars quickly become ovens in the summertime, even when you park in the shade, or even if you have the windows cracked. Your pet will not be able to alert people in order to get out of your car safely.

In as little as ten to fifteen minutes, your pet could die from the heat in a parked car, and parking in the shade does little good to prevent this, since the sun continuously moves and the heat of the air alone will be bad for your pet. If your pet will be going with you, make sure that cats are allowed wherever you will be.

When the heat index is high, keep your cats inside. Cats that are not outdoors most of the time won’t know where the cooler places to hide are, or they may find these cooler places and not return home. Hot asphalt can also wreak havoc on a cat’s health, as it can burn his or her sensitive paw pads.

If your cat does not use a litter box and instead goes outside, make sure that he or she is let back inside after only a few minutes on the hottest days of the summer. Basically, if it is recommended that seniors and children stay inside, it is good for pets to stay indoors as well.

Keep your cat well groomed during the summer as well. Brushing you cat often will help get rid of the excess hair that has been shed and is weighing down the animal. If your cat has very long hair or is overweight, provide him or her with an air-conditioned room if possible. Preventing overheating is key.

As always, make sure your cat has access to clean, fresh water. This can be tap water, but should be cool and changed multiple times a day when it is hot outside. Your furry feline is very important in your life, so make sure that he or she gets proper care when the summer days make your sweat.

Your Cat and Moving

Your Cat and Moving

Moving can be a difficult situation with which to deal for all member of your family, including your cats. If you will be moving in the near future there are a number of things that you should consider in order to make sure that your cat’s health is not compromised. Don’t forget to think about your furry friends when moving!

First, when you are packing for the move, it might be a good idea to confine your cat to a single room or to have a friend of family member watch your cat for the day. Movers are often caring very heavy items, like sofas and refrigerators, so they shouldn’t have to watch where they step.

Your curious kitty could also climb into the moving van or boxes and get packed away! If your cat is fully an indoor cat, the open doors while you are loading your belongings are also a worry, since it is easy for a pet to bolt out the door.

About a month before you move, have your cat wear his or her collar full-time, even if you do not normally put the collar on your cat. All of his or her information should be updated and the tags should reflect your new address.

When cats are confused, they often run, and a lost cat in a new neighborhood may not be able to find his or her way home very easily. If your cat needs certain medication, this can be very dangerous. By having his or her wear a collar at all times, at least until he or she gets used to the new location, you can make sure that your cat is returned home if lost.

During the move itself, don’t forget to make special accommodations for your cat. A cat carrier that is well ventilated is a necessity, and if the trip will be more than a few hours long, you’ll also need to carry food, water, and litter box supplied for your cat.

Cats that are not used to riding in cars may get sick, so talk to your vet about ways to prevent this. You can also cover the carrier with blankets to provide a bit of extra security for a stressed-out kitty when you’re in heavy, loud traffic or construction areas.

Remember, that you’ll need to find a new vet in your new neighborhood. This should be a top priority for you if you’re moving, and you should talk to your current vet about having your cat’s medical records transferred to a new location.

If your cat is acting strangely at all, do not hesitate to call your vet to more tips about moving with your cat.