Why Cats Make The Best Pets

The domesticated cat of today has become the pet of choice for millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, over 30 million domestic pet cats now overshadow the dog population by several million, with the gap increasing each day. Why has the household cat gained in popularity? What is it about this puzzling creature that appeals to so many of us?

One possible reason certainly has to be the inscrutable nature of the cat. Extremely intelligent, it possess a rare combination of personality traits not found in other houshold pets. Beguiling and quiet, poised and self-sufficient, athletic and fastidious, the cat is seldom needy. It appreciates company but is also content to spend time alone for hours at a stretch, making it the perfect pet for single people especially, let alone families.

This independent trait, a result of felines in nature living a largely solitary life, gives the household cat a slightly cavalier attitude for life; for them, the sun does not rise and fall around humans, although they appreciate what we have to offer, thank you very much.

The ability cats have to survive, with  or without the aid of humans could perhaps be one of the top reasons why we like them so much. Emotionally needy pets (or people) tend to grate on the nerves after a while; cats are delightful egocentric creatures. This, combined with their grace, dignity, beauty, and ease of care, make them always desirable.

Humans also love cats because they say, " we are your roommate, not your servant," and for their capacity to recognize the value in taking a nap. And who can fail to appreciate the cat's clean, fastidious nature and built-in toilet training? The best of luck to you in getting a Schnauzer puppy to use a litter tray!

Cats enjoy all the consideration we humans give to them, though they will, given the chance, never confess it. They are content to stay with us because we love them and look after them, but if we vanished from the Earth tomorrow, it#s more than likely that the cat would mourn somewaht, meow some, and then get on with the business of finding a furry little meal - all the while mocking the millions of aimless, heartbroken pooches aimlessly wandering about, wondering what to do next.

In my experience, closer bonds have been developed with a cat when an owner doesn't smother the animal with unwanted affection at times when the cat just wants its own space. As my grandmother used to say: "You'll never own a cat but one may choose to live with you".

Toilet Training Your Cat in 2 Quick Lessons

Almost anyone who possessed a house cat is aware how much of a tough job it is, to take care of a cat litterbox and clean it whenever it has to be or when the cat demands it. And so many owners of indoor kittys have experienced what an even bigger chore it is if the cat doesn't take the litter box! Of course there are many among us always dreaming of higher things and do not want to settle for litter box cleaning. For these cat owners, we have good news now. Indeed, believe it or not, it is not a big thing to train cats, to use an actual toilet. When you are toilet training your kitty, you will teach it in the process to to do business on the toilet instead of using the litter box. In case this sounds too good to be true, moderate your imagination a little with the realization that you may still have to flush the toilet for your kitty.

1. Changing the Place of Your Cat's Litter Box

In case your cat's litter box is not already in the bathroom, you have to move it there. The cat litter box should be near the toilet on the ground for some time. Every few days you can put the litter box up a few inches using something very stable to sit under it. In case you have no appropriate furniture fitting this description, you could use books if they are arranged in a stable pattern. The goal is, to arrive at the point where the rim of the litter box and the toilet bowl are even. Only then you want to install a sturdy aluminum pan over the toilet bowl in a manner that will support your cat steadyly as you begin the toilet training. You should put less than an inch of cat litter across the surface of the pan.

2. Getting the Kitty Used to the new Toilet

Once you have removed the litter box and have the cat using the pan only, you are ready to start with the last part of toilet training of your cat. You will begin the training by putting some holes in the surface of one side of the pan. Yes, you should reduce the cat litter so it doesn't go down the toilet. In addition to that, you should consider using flushable cat litter at this point. The holes should force the cat to stand with its front paws on the toilet seat when it needs to potty. When your cat has been doing this for some days, you should put holes on the opposite side of the pan and that the cat will stand completely on the toilet seat. The difficult part of the toilet training is that after your cat has been doing this with success for a some time, you have to completely remove the pan. If you have been successful with toilet training your cat, your cat should from now on take the toilet you are using, too!

A Last Word on Cat Toilet Training

These 2 lessons take maybe as long as two or three months with a stubborn, senior cat. So be patient with your little friend. Remember water isn't exactly what cats are usually comfortable around. Don't give up if your kitty does not want to use the toilet a couple of times in a row. Just keep your pan in case your cat is against it or at times down the road prefers to not using the toilet. Put the pan back again on the toilet and the cat can be re-trained to take the toilet again pretty quickly. The advantages of toilet training your feline companion are many.

Tips To Start Your Cat Toilet Training

toilet training for

You may have heard stories about cats that use a toilet to relieve themselves. Many people want to know how to potty train their cats to go on the toilet simply because they are sick and tired of handling and changing the litter box, and lugging home large sacks of expensive litter. The process of cat toilet training can take anywhere from 3 or 4 weeks to 3 or 4 months, depending on the receptiveness of your cat. With patience, you too can banish the cat box forever.

To start potty training your kitty, go slowly. The transition from litter box to toilet should be accomplished in a series of stages. If at any time he has a setback and uses a rug instead of the potty, then you may be going too quickly. Just back up a stage or two and try again.

The first step in cat toilet training is to place your cat's usual litter box next to the toilet. Give him several days or even a week to get used to the new location. Over, say a week or two, elevate the litter box a few inches at a time until it is the height of the toilet seat. You can use telephone books, a stool and stacks of magazines or newspapers; just about anything that will add height but is stable while your cat is using the box.

Now, move the litter box over so that it is sitting directly over the toilet seat. Let your cat adjust to this for a few days. The next step in potty learning is a big one. Take away the box entirely.

Toilet training for cats is big business and many companies sell "kitty potty training" kits or a toilet training system online and at pet retailers, or you can purchase a metal mixing bowl or aluminum roasting pan for this next step. Place either container (measure the inside of the rim to make sure your bowl or pan is big enough) inside the toilet bowl and lower the seat. Fill it with a few inches of scoop-able litter. You may need to tape it in place to prevent it from sliding around.

Begin reducing the litter in the container every few days. Go as fast as your cat will feel comfortable with. Make sure to flush the waste immediately to minimize both the smell and the possibility that your cat tries to cover it up and ends up tracking unpleasantness into the rest of the house.

By now, you should be down to a teaspoonful of litter in the bottom of the container. Start adding a little bit of water to the container. Increase the water level every few days. Remember that if your kitty isn't adjusting well, back up a step and try again more slowly.

Once the water in the bowl or pan is a couple of inches deep and your cat is comfortable with everything, take the container away, leaving the bare toilet. The task of potty training is now complete.

Cat toilet training can take a short time or long time, depending on the kitty. Don't forget that if your cat becomes reluctant at any stage of the training, go back a step or two. Just slow down, follow these potty training tips and your patience will be rewarded. Felines adapt to toilet training quite well.

Typical Cat Health Problems and Cures

Healthy Cats

If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing.

No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about.  With any breed certain problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented. Worms are a common and recurring problem for every breed of cat.

Cats are more susceptible to getting Tapeworms, Roundworms and Hookworms. Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Worms have been proven to be fatal if not treated correctly, so always remember to use the medicine prescribed.

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. Cats clean themselves every day, and they swallow the hair that they shed. On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cats stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball - as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Although it is kind of gross, cats can usually get rid of the hairballs without difficulty. In rare cases, a hairball can pass through to a cats intestine, creating a blockage.

Blockages are not to be ignored, since they can kill you if left untreated. If your cat becomes constipated, isnt eating properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a blockage. Seek veterinary assistance immediately if any of the symptoms listed appear.

You can prevent hairballs and blockages by brushing your cat 2 3 times a week to remove loose hair. Urinary tract infection and hairballs are common ailments in cats. You can purchase food specifically designed to control hairballs.

Female and male cats can suffer from urinary tract infections, however, this is more likely to occur in male cats that have not been neutered. This problem is usually the culprit when your cat(s) suddenly stops going to their litter box. If a cat's urine smells unusually strong, the cat may have a urinary tract infection and should be taken to the vet. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

Feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats in the past, however, these days, vaccines are available that can treat the disease. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don't have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can't be avoided, most of them can. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.