Basil's Baby" watercolor © Drew Strouble
http://www.catmandrew.com/

Cat House - Your Ticket

To A Good Night's Sleep

It happens every night, you are woken up by your cat climbing up on your bed and nine, times out of ten, he crawls right up next to you and falls asleep. Sometimes this is okay with you, but most of the time you can't sleep with him there and thus begins another night of tossing and turning. This doesn't have to be you and in fact, there is a pretty simple solution to the problem, just purchase a cat house for your cat.

What is a cat house you're wondering? Well, it is a cylindrical unit with enclosed compartments made out of wood and carpeting. It is designed to provide your cat with a cozy, safe place to take a snooze, which would be a great alternative to your bed. This fixture can be just one level with one compartment if you just have one cat or you can get one that has two, even three or four levels and compartments, providing all the cats in your family with their very own place to get away from it all.

Another multiple cat house option in addition to the one that is tall and has different compartments is one that actually has those different compartments, but sits flat on the floor. So, if you have a lot of cats and they have a hard time jumping, they can just walk right into it without much trouble. This is a nice choice for getting for elderly cats.

If you don't have the room for a cat house in your home, yet still want to give your pet a personal spot to take a snooze, don't worry, you can just purchase him a nice cat bed. Much like a dog bed, it will be made out of some sort of plush padding that is covered in a soft fabric. There are many different versions available from ones that have bumper sides, to others that lie flat on the floor, and you can even get one that looks just like real furniture, but is just scaled down to match your cat's size.

Feel like a cat house or a cat bed might be a good sleeping option for your furry companion? If so, a great way to shop for one is by hitting the Internet, which is just like having a pet store at your finger tips. You can just click through all the sleeping options that you want for your pet in a matter of minutes. Plus, it is also a great way to look into other things for your cat too like cat supplies, food, toys, and other cat furniture like kitty gyms, cat trees, steps, and scratching posts. After you make your purchase, it will be shipped right to you, something that is pretty convenient if you lead a busy life and don't have time drive anywhere.

Okay, now what are you waiting for? Purchase a cat house today so you can enjoy a good night's sleep tomorrow, and the next night, and that night after that, and well, you get the point.


Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous online specialty shops, shares her insight on how to create more pet friendly space in your home by using decorative cat furniture, cozy cat houses and fun cat trees.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Akre

Give Your Cat A Longer

And Healthier Life

It does not matter what kind of cat you own, there is a few things you should be aware of to better the quality of life for your cat. You need to understand that your cats everyday lifestyle is directly related to his/her overall happiness, behavior and vitality.

Many people (I didn't say you) see cats as the perfect 'low maintenance' companion. Just refill that bowl of kittle, and clean a litter box once a week... done. What many people don't realize is even though their cat can get used to a life of free feeding and couch sitting all day, that lifestyle is opposite what nature intended for this creature.

For that reason it is no surprise most indoor cats in the U.S are overweight and have health problems when they get old. We all usually rather not think of the far future, but if you really care about your pet don't you want it to live long and strong?

In nature, a cat eats mostly protein in the form of meat, a bit of fat and almost no carbohydrates. Imagine for a minute of your cat having to survive in the wild, how active it would be, protecting itself and finding prey. I'm not saying you need to simulate a tigers life for your indoor cat, but just open your eyes to the natural needs of your cat.

To keep your cat healthy and fit for a longer life your cat needs less dry food, less boredom and sitting around, more meat, more action, interaction and attention from their owner. I know not everyone has enough time to play with the cat all day, but just a few minutes a day can make the difference.

For example, make the decision to stop filling up the bowl of dry food and try to have meal times. It's OK if your cats bowl is empty, your cat doesn't NEED to be fed every time it feels like it. You might think your cat knows how much it needs to eat for its own good, but it is just a fact that your cat will eat from boredom just like you!

Once you decide to have meal times for your cat/s, you can easily fit that schedule to yours. For example, give out a meal in the morning before going to work and then again during your own dinner time. It might take a little while for you and your cat to adjust, but doing this will benefit your cat in the following ways:




Your cat will appreciate, anticipate and enjoy the meals more than ever, because it will actually be HUNGRY for it.


Since you are the one giving those meals, your cat will love you more.


Your cat will lose weight and reach old age happier and healthier.


You'll end up spending less money on food (oh, that's your benefit).

These benefits will become the foundation of your cats better life, better health and better relationship with you , IF you go a step further and give the right food during those meal times. This is not hard, just read labels and give your cat more protein. Instead of only dry food, focus more on what kind of meat your cat likes. Find that type of meat product for cats, with minimal moisture and rich in protein. Mix it up for your cat with a bit of kittle or none at all.

Other than meal schedules, interaction with your cat is very important. If you're not home a lot, leave your cat with toys and things to explore. This is a challenge, especially for city apartment cats but why not make your cat happier if you could easily do so. Of course a happier cat means much less behavior problems that usually arouse from boredom and lack of attention.

Something fairly new that I'm doing for interaction time with my cats is clicker training. I know it sounds a bit crazy, like you could train a cat... You'll be surprised! I've already taught both of them to do a few tricks. Anyone could do this, with the right instructions, and this type of interaction really transforms your relationship with your cat.

Cat clicker training is based only on positive reinforcements, so it's pretty much a game for the cat and you'll be amazed how smart your cat really is. Opening up this channel of communication is not hard and could help you build good behavior patterns. After only two weeks of cat clicker training, I noticed both of my cats are much happier. I really feel they are thanking me... it's weird, but amazing.

Come learn more about that and everything else with Sammi and Isla at cat-love-story.com

Thanks for reading,
Eyal.

Sammi and Isla
http://www.cat-love-story.com/ or more on health
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eyal_Barta

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Cat Resource Corner

Cat Obesity

Obesity in cats is a growing concern. In fact, 25 to 30 percent of pet cats seen by veterinarians these days are overweight. The condition seems to be more prevalent today than it was 20 years ago, primarily because of differences in lifestyle and feeding. A large number of cats are exclusively indoor pets who are rarely called upon to defend their territory, stalk their prey or do little more than beg for their next meal.Boredom is also a culprit, and good-tasting cat food is a never-ending temptation to a cat with little else to do. And the higher the fat and calorie content of the food, the greater the risk for obesity.All cats have the potential to become overweight, but the problem appears to be more prevalent in mixed-breed cats. The highest incidence appears in neutered, middle-aged, six-to-eleven-year-old male cats.There are a number of theories why neutered cats are more prone to obesity than intact ones. The removal of reproductive organs alters the hormonal balance and causes metabolic changes. Also, cats are usually neutered in late kittenhood or early adulthooda time when energy requirements are declining but owners may fail to make appropriate dietary adjustments. Finally, neutering tends to curb certain cat behaviors, such as roaming and fighting, resulting in yet another decline in activity. In fact, surveys of overweight cats show they tend to be very inactive and sleep up to 18 hours a day.What are the dangers of obesity? Preliminary studies indicate that overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes mellitus, skin problems, lameness due to arthritis and feline hepatic lipidosis (an accumulation of fat cells that impairs liver function).How do I diagnose an obese cat?Obesity is typically defined as 20 to 25 percent over the cats ideal body weight (for example, an extra 2.5 pounds may not sound like much, but it can be an enormous burden to a cat whose ideal weight is 10 pounds). To determine whether your cat is obese, you first have to determine your cats ideal body condition. The best method is to look at his profile and feel his body.Overfed: Ribs are difficult to feel. Waist and abdominal tuck is absent or barely visible.Underfed: Ribs are easily felt and pelvic bones may be prominent. Obvious waist and abdominal tuck.Ideal: You should be able to feel your cats ribs, but not see them. The view from above should reveal an hourglass figure. The cat has a slight indentation at the waist beginning at the back of the ribs to just before the hips. In profile, the cat should have a slight tummy tuck beginning just behind the last ribs and going up into the hind legs.What you can do about feline obesityAlways consult your veterinarian before placing your cat on a diet. Weight loss should be done slowly and with great care, or you could be putting your cats health in jeopardy.Try eliminating treats and slightly reducing the amount of your cats regular food. Then, divide his new, reduced daily food allotment into four or five small meals to keep him from feeling deprived. Multiple small meals also tend to increase his metabolic rate, which can help your tubby tabby slim down. Switching your cat to a lower-calorie, lower-fat diet is another option.If you want to add this cat article to your website, you must include the following author information with the cat article - including the links:

Cat Article courtesy of AwesomeCats.com

Article Proposed by... Pictures-of-Cats...Lovers

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