Articles » Cat Basics
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Toxoplasmosis – What is It and Should You Be Worried for your Family?
Many cat owners have been unfortunate as to contract toxoplasmosis, a disease that can be contracted through cats. All cat owners should be aware of this disease, how it can affect the entire family, and how it can be prevented. Being educated about the disease is the best way to protect yourself and your family from its affects.
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The Litter Box Lowdown – How to Get your Cat to Use It
There are many considerations to be made when it comes to getting a new kitten in your house to use the litter box; while this, in and of itself, is trouble enough, there’s also the disconcerting experience of having a cat that has used a given litter box without problems for 4 years in your house suddenly choosing to relieve himself on the dining room carpet instead of using said litter box.
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The Deal with Catnip – Why Felines Just Go Loopy Over It
Catnip is found inside many toys made specifically for cats, and many cat owners notice that their cat’s reaction to these toys is absolutely different from their cat’s reaction to toys that do not have catnip inside. Many believe that catnip is some crazy cat attractor developed by vets or by scientists in a chemistry lab because, indeed, cats are just crazy about catnip. Some cats get so crazy over catnip that they will stop at virtually nothing to get to the coveted spot where they know those toys are stored.
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Six Secrets to Living Harmoniously with your Bossy Cat
You might be surprised to find out that not all people have trouble living with cats. Yes, they are a lot more independent than other animals, but that doesn’t have to mean that your house has to be dominated by your cat’s rude behavior and your own sour attitude that comes about in response to your cat’s unbearable behavior.
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Interpretation Tips for your Cat’s Many Meows and Purrs
Most cat owners, at some point in time, have wondered what the cat means when he meows. Sometimes it seems that your cat will purr out of nowhere. Other times, you can’t get him to make a single sound. If humans were able to understand cat’s meows, there no telling the things that would be heard. Even though you might not be able to interpret your cat’s sounds in the same way another cat would, there are some general ways that you can tell what your cat is saying.
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Great Tips to Curb that Clawing in your Kitty
Cats naturally get the urge to scratch on things. It’s part of their innate nature. They scratch because they want to mark their territory. They scratch to keep their claws sharp. Finally, they scratch whenever they stretch their muscles. Even though humans might not understand it, cats have perfectly good reasons for scratching. No matter how natural it is for cats to scratch, it is just as unnatural for you to have your furniture scratched up.
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Five Fun Ways to Entertain your Cat
Have you ever noticed that your cat(s) walk(s) away from the toys you playfully offer with a disdainful look, but are all too ready to play with that ribbon hanging off the chair (or your favorite skirt) and the needles in your pin cushion? Not only is this frustrating for us; it is also dangerous for our cats because ingesting any of these things can be very harmful to your cat.
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Cat Fight! Why They Fight and Owner Tips to Break It Up
Cat fights can be a total nightmare for owners of multiple cats. Cats have their reasons for fighting. Some of these reasons are similar to the reasons that humans have disputes. Knowing these reasons can help you determine how to prevent your cats from fighting in the future.
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Are You a Cat Person? Several Ways You Can Tell
There is an ensuing debate among cat lovers and log lovers over which animal is the best. Of course each side holds their position that their respective feline and canine friends is better than the opponent. Of course, there are those who are neutral and undecided about either cats or dogs.
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For many people, a single cat is the ideal situation. However, for others, cats seem to be like potato chips. They can't stop with just one. This is partly because there are so many wonderful cat breeds and partly because most cats enjoy the companionship of other cats.
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Are your chairs, window screens, and rugs all turning to confetti beneath your cat's lethal claws? If so, you may be wondering how you can stop this behavior. Of course, it may be easier to stop your cat from destroying your home if you understand why he scratches first.
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Has your cat been coughing and hacking? If so, he may have hairballs. If you see disgusting skinny oval blobs on the floor, you will know that your cat has managed to dislodge one of his hairballs.
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While cats do have a reputation as finicky eaters, few cats really insist on dining from fine crystal bowls. However, that doesn't mean you should feed your cat straight from the can, either. Cats should have their own sturdy feeders or bowls that are easy to clean.
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Choosing A Bed For Your Cat - The Perfect Place To Cat Nap
Are you tired of cat hair on the counters, footprints on the windowsills, and rumpled pillows? If so, you may want to consider giving your cat his own resting spot. In fact, to truly make your cat happy, you may need to provide him with several cat beds in different areas.
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Cat Growth Stages – How A Cat Matures
When a kitten is born, it is hard to believe that one of these helpless little pink things will become a graceful and powerful hunter. However, within a year, that tiny kitten will be a mature cat.
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While almost everyone walks their dog, few people walk their cats. However, cats can learn to walk on a leash. In fact, there are collars, harnesses, and leashes designed just for cats.
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There is so much that can be told about a cat's mood by observing his body language. A happy cat will have his ears held high and a tall, straight tail. Ears that are slightly swiveled to the side, or a tail held high but bent over at the tip towards his back show that the cat is very happy. A tail that is carried horizontally means that the cat is feeling average; a dropping tail means that he is unhappy or unwell. A bottle-brush looking tail means that a cat is ready for battle or is very frightened.
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Understanding Cats Behavior - Part II
The dominance of male cats is decided by the following; the bigger, stronger and younger cat wins his place in the hierarchy. He does not always have to fight to work his way up the ladder, because older or weaker cats may submit peacefully; nor does any one cat have to fight every other cat in a group where the hierarchy has been well established.
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Understanding Cats Behavior - Part I
A cat has his own welcoming miaow which he will use only for his owner. Other people, even companion cats, will hear a different miaow as their greeting. The cat will then rub against the owner's legs and may accompany this with a chirruping noise of greeting. He may bounce on stiff font legs, back slightly arched, with ears pricked up and tail held high.
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The Physical Description Of The Cat
Muscle and bone are what designs the conformation. The 244 bones in the feline skeleton lend support and substance to a cat's body while protecting its internal organs. In some breeds bone is sturdy as an oak; in others it is very delicate. In every breed bone is decorated in wreaths of muscle. By conducting an electrical impulse, and then through a series of chemical transformations, converting that impulse into contractions, muscle produces movement and, ultimately; the gracefulness that characterizes the cat.
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The Development Of The Domestic Cat
Researchers believe that the African wild cat, a yellow, faintly striped animals somehat larger than present-day felines is the probable ancestor of the domestic cat. Among the reasons for this conclusion are correlations between human and feline habitats during the period when domestication is most likely to have occurred; morphological and behavioral adaptations in the domestic cat, including a hearing apparatus suited to open spaces like the desert; behavioral evidence, the African wild cat is docile and is still easily tamed today; and etymological evidence, the English word cat, the French chat, the German Katz, the Spanish gato, and the modern Arabic quttah, appear to be derived from the Nubian word kadiz. meaning a cat.
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Nothing beats a kitten for fun. But the feline "wonder years" can also be the most frustrating and dangerous time in your kitten's life. Do not let his sweet, innocent face fool you. Behind those twinkling blue eyes is a mind brimful of curiousity, and the boundless energy to try and satisfy it. Kittens have a way of turning the most innocuous situation into a disaster. Whether you survive with your sanity intact and whether your kitten survives at all depend on you kitten-proofing your home.
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Your new cat's first few weeks in your home is a critical time. You will be laying the groundwork for your new relationship. Remember that cats are similar to people in a way that first impressions are important. If this is your first cat, get ready for one of life's great pleasures. Cats are great! but they can be problems if you go against their nature.
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Choosing The Right Cat Litter Box - Part II
When adding a new litter box, consider that a cat may not use the new box for a few days. Do not force him into it. Do not put him inside it. Always sound positive when he gets near and let him accept it on his own terms.
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Choosing The Right Cat Litter Box - Part I
Many types of cat litter on the market. Most litters are disposable; some are even flushable. Clawed cats are not likely to care what type your use. Declawed cats, on the other hand, are often challenged with litter box issues.
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Cats will fight only when a fight is inevitable, and they have a range of body postures and noises designed to frighten off an opponent. If a hiss, followed by a short sharp spitting noise, does not see the other cat off, the cat will turn sideways to his opponent with his back arched and his tail upright. The hair on the body may fluff out, and so will the tail fur until the tail looks like a bottle brush. This is designed to make the cat look bigger and more threatening; and if he is not sufficiently frightening, he will execute a sideway skipping dance, stiff-legged in front of his opponent, growling or making a high-pitched yowling sound.
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If your new kitten attacks you, it probably will not hurt. But never encourage this behavior because you do not want him to grow up thinking that climbing up on people's legs is an acceptable behavior. If he attacks you when he is an adult, it is definitely not cute. He must learn to attack only his own belongings.
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The average, healthy cat adopted from a shelter is not aggressive and should not hurt you under normal circumstances. Some cats will occasionally bite or scratch at you when irritated or handled roughly, and some may act mean toward other cats in the house or neighbor cats. But generally, your average healthy cat should not hurt you or others.
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The average life expectancy of a cat is around fifteen years, but many lead active and happy lives into their twenties and a few even manage the early thirties. The oldest cat recorded was thirty-four years five months old when she died.
