How To Keep Your Cat Or Kitten Amused For Hours

Cats and kittens love to play. Kittens especially love to play and sharing your life with them is so much more rewarding if you play with your cat. It’s really great fun even if you do pick up the occasional scratch and it’s important for your cat’s fitness and well being too.

How do you keep your cat entertained? After all a cat is not the same as a dog, you can’t play catch or fetch with a cat – or can you? To keep your cat enthralled and interested in playing with you, you need to have a challenging and ever changing environment. Now before you go off the deep end it’s not as bad as you think. All you really need to do is to have a few cat toys out at a time and rotate them to keep your cat interested. It doesn’t have to be expensive toys either. String, paper, balls and boxes are all great cat toys.

Kittens use play as a way of learning. Its fun to watch your kitten carefully stalk a ball, pause, then pounce on it, which causes the ball to quickly scoot off. Your kitten will then chase it all over the house for hours! Even better is having two kittens and watch them play with each other, the toys, and pretty much anything that moves, including your toes!!

As with dogs you need to take care that the toys you give your cat are safe. Even though a cat is not as destructive, (generally), as a dog, cats can and do pull toys apart. Then they eat the bits. Make sure that the components of the toy are non toxic and have no sharp parts that can cut your cat.

Technology innovation is being applied to cat toys. There are toys being introduced such as laser pointers and even remote controlled mice. The problem with these is that most cats and kittens dislike the noise of the motor so remote control toys are not a big hit. On the other hand a laser pointer is a huge hit, your cat will chase that elusive red dot all over the house for as long as you can stand it. Beware, this can be frustrating for the cat though, as it can’t get its claws into anything so it can have an affect on your cat’s behavior over time. To relax, what better than to put on a special cat video. Now your cat can sit and watch TV. These video’s and DVD’s are supposed to be very effective but do you really want to turn your cat into a TV addict?

The secret to keeping your cats happy and healthy is to continually challenge them physically and mentally. Don’t forget that cats like to jump and climb too. Some of the best toys are designed to be played with in 3 dimensions and you’ll be amazed by the acrobatics that your cat can perform.

Use your imagination too. Try putting two toys together to make a new toy. Become creative and play with your cat on a regular basis. This helps strengthen the bond between your cat and you, keeps her mentally stimulated and physically fit. Your Reward will be hours of fun and pleasure and a fit healthy cat.

Does Your Pet Wear a Cat Flea Collar?

Do you believe that you are doing the best you can for your pet by buying a cat flea collar for her? I certainly do but have you noticed that most cat flea collars don't seem to work? They don't seem to last for a day let alone the three or four months that they claim they will. I've no idea why this is the case but I can suggest some different ways of dealing with the problem.

There is something else that I don't like about cat flea collars, or dog flea collars. They contain poison to kill the fleas. This poison can affect humans by causing irritation or soreness. If these cat collars can do this to humans then they might have a similar effect on your pet and we wouldn't want that would we?

So what else can you do about the fleas? You can try a shampoo that is designed to kill fleas, if your cat will let you that is. Personally I've never met a cat that likes getting wet, they turn into teeth and claw monsters, so trying to give her a shampoo is out of the question. Oh and if you do try this, don't expect your cat to talk to you again for the next few days.

My vet recommends treating cats with a product that stops the fleas reproducing. You need to apply this substance to the back of your cat's neck every 3 months for it to be effective. You have to remember that this does not kill the fleas but it does stop them multiplying so you should see a reduction in fleas after a few months and you can make this happen a lot quicker if you remove the fleas by combing them out.

If you love your cat as much as I love mine then you will find that there is nothing better than a daily use of the flea comb. I find it soothing and a great stress reliever. I think that my cat likes it too even though she will tell me off if I do it for too long. If your cat has a flea problem then you will see them on the comb. The hard part is catching and killing them before they vanish by jumping away. When you catch them you must crush them in between two hard surfaces.

Don't forget to treat your carpets and furniture. Fleas will jump off your cat and live in your carpets and furniture until another animal comes along. It's very important that you spray everything with a suitable anti-flea spray. Make sure that you follow the instructions on the label before you use it.

So if your pet has fleas then consider using some of the remedies that I've mentioned above before you go out and buy a cat flea collar.

Best Cage for Your Exotic Pet

When looking for a pet think of how much time and dedication you have for walking it, feeding it, and all the other responsibilities that come along with owning a pet. If you don't want to be involved in all of the responsibilities being a pet owner entails then you should reconsider buying a pet to haul along with you on outings just to make you look cool.

Choosing the Best Cage for Your Exotic Pet

When owning an exotic pet, the first thing you should consider is the cage. You should find the right materials when making a cage for your exotic pet. You may also find ready-made cages that have installed housing systems. If you prefer buying a snake as your pet, you should prepare a cage that can suit the size and shape of your snake. The size of the cage may depend on the age of the snake. You should also consider the environmental living conditions of the snake.
What are exotic pets like?

You may also consider using aquarium tanks as your extra cage for snakes that are less than six to seven feet in length and are required to have swim breaks. For desert snakes, you may prepare a screen top cage to provide ventilation. Tropical snakes may need a cage that has a top raise cover screen to sustain average temperature.

Make sure that your cage has glass-based screens so that you can view your pet clearly. You won't have a hard time in cleaning glass aquariums. However, they are heavy since they are solid and should be placed on a steel stand. You may put solid round castors so that you can move it easily.

The International Association of Pet Cemeteries (IAPC) has designated the second Sunday in September as National Pet Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember our departed animal friends.

You may also find melamine cages that are easier to clean. They are perfect for bigger snakes since they are usually made with large space. It is designed to resist moisture. You can also find plastic-made rubber tubs that are used as breeding cages. This will also serve as your secondary cage in case you need to clean or repair your primary cage.

If you can't afford these kinds of cages, you may have the option of using plywood made cages that are cheaper and easier to find. You can create your own design using good grades of plywood, which can give you a nice finish to your snake cage.

For those snake owners who make their own cages, they always prefer using plywood and melamine crafts since they provide the cage with good insulating properties. Cages made from glass may have the tendency to lose heat fast especially on its front portion. You may also find a hard time working on glass cages since you will need special tools for cutting edges and portions of the glass.

Always keep in mind that your cage should provide security for your snake as well as to smaller kids. Make sure that you find the right place in your house where you will place the cage. Your cage should provide the same environmental conditions that your exotic pet needs in order to survive.



The type of pet identification tag that you buy is important, so take 5 minutes or so to think it through. Impulsively choosing a collar tag because it’s cheap or cute often proves to be unwise, long-term.

Where would you get exotic pets for sale?

Do You Know How Not To Train Your Dog?

It might seem strange to ask how not to train your dog, but if you know what to avoid, you'll be better placed to learn more effective methods for training your dog.

If you're reading this then you've already passed one hurdle on your journey to owning a well-trained dog: you care about your dog and want to develop a better relationship with it. Sadly there are some dog-owners out there who either don't feel they have anything to learn, or don't want to spend any extra time, money or effort on their pet.

To even the most motivated and caring dog-owner, our beloved family pets can at times be frustrating. Having to repeat the same training again and again can be discouraging, especially if our dog does not appear to be responding. While sometimes an individual dog may have a stubborn nature, the problem more often lies with us, or to be more precise, the way that we are communicating (or not) with our dog.

It is important for us to understand how our dogs learn so that we can adapt our training methods to them, rather than to us. This can be more difficult to do than it sounds as we are used to 'humanising' our pets. They do after all become an important member of our family - it's therefore natural for us to interpret their behaviour through our view of the world. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't love our dogs - the bond that we enjoy with them is after all very special, but failing to see them as what they are can hamper our attempts to train them.

A critical factor that can explain a lot of dog training problems is the way that dogs understand the relationship between cause and effect. Humans have the ability to understand a complicated series of causes and effects which can be separated by large differences in time or place. Dogs however normally associate cause and effect in a much more directly related way - this is why it is crucial that you apply any training methods to correct bad behaviour in your dog at the time it happens. When you reward your dog for good behaviour the same applies - if you delay the reward your dog will not associate it with the behaviour that you are trying to encourage.

This also means that patience is an essential quality that we will have to show towards our dogs. If we start building up resentment and punish our dog through frustration when he has just shown good behaviour, we could easily undo hours of previous training. A simple example of this might be where our dog fails to come to us when called. It may be that we're in a hurry or it's just started raining, and it's natural for us to get annoyed. Admonishing your dog while putting him on his leash after he's finally decided to return to us will only however confuse your dog. Unfortunately he won't link the ten minutes he spent wandering about sniffing for rabbits with your negative response when he ran back to you.

A crucial part of this patience is to resist the temptation to use physical punishment on your dog. In a wild pack situation the majority of problems will be solved through body language and through each dog understanding his place within the pack hierarchy. While many people look for solutions to specific dog behaviour problems, the overall object of dog training is to develop a better relationship with your dog. This improved relationship will allow you to correct any behaviour issues more effectively. The use of physical punishment will only make your dog fear you and will strip away any trust that they have built for you. It also effectively weakens your position as pack leader as the top dog in a pack would not normally have to resort to violence to get his own way.

So to summarize how NOT to train your dog:

Resist the temptation to humanise your dog too much -remember their differences.

Understand that your dog will not interpret time and action in the same way as you.

Although it's not always easy, try not to lose your patience when your dog misbehaves.

Do not resort to physical punishment no matter how frustrated you are.

Invaluable Gift Information For The Dog Lover You Know!

Dogs are great companions. Most dogs are affectionate and respond to our emotions. They cheer us up when we are feeling sad, make us laugh, and take a place in our hearts. To say that some dog owners get very attached to their pets would be an understatement. Dogs are often thought of as children, and we create a secure place in the family for them. They have a soft, comfortable dog bed (or sleep with their owner) and eat like kings.

Not only do we form strong bonds with our dogs, but we also make a connection with the particular dog breed that our dog is from. Dog owners get to know the typical traits and behaviors of the particular dog breed. We understand their need for affection, their desire for a sense of belonging, their need to have a den to retreat to, their protective nature, why they tuck their tail between their legs, why they circle around before lying down, and more.

It is not unusual to find dog-inspired art in our homes since we love our dogs and often become passionate about our dogs breed. Dog lovers appreciate quality art pieces that feature their dogs face and capture their personality, from caricature drawings to paintings. Some dogs have peculiar expressions, tilt their head a certain way when they are curious, or wag their tails furiously when they get excited. Dog owners appreciate art pieces that capture these qualities.

Dog lovers also enjoy finding unique gift items that feature a realistic-looking picture of their pet. We take pride in our dogs and want to show them off. Collecting dog memorabilia like coffee mugs and key chains can become a hobby in and of itself. But not all dog breeds can be found on items sold at the mall. Art work featuring the faces of lesser-known breeds are harder to come by. Furthermore, some people want a more unique item than a coffee mug to show off their dog.

There are unique websites where you can find high-quality, hand-carved, and hand-painted works of art that are dedicated to a wide variety of dog breeds. Featuring popular and lesser-known dog breeds alike, including breeds like the pug to the American Eskimo and the Tibetan spaniel. The faces of the hand-carved wood items capture the dogs individuality and personality, from the spark in their eyes to the way they cock their heads.

Wood sculptures and art pieces have an air of timelessness. Such treasures commonly display old world craftsmanship. Each piece of solid wood is hand-carved, painted, and rubbed for a finish that is original. You can clearly see the painstaking work that goes into creating each wood sculpture.

Wood furniture with unique dog carvings make thoughtful gifts for your family and friends as well. Dog lovers delight in seeing their poochs face on a high-quality sculpture. Wooden dog sculptures are also a tasteful way to remember a beloved pet that has passed away.

You will be reminded of your loving canine companion every time you see one of the hand-painted faces on the solid wood furniture pieces. From mirrors and magazine racks to walking sticks and clocks, you are going to love what you find. These unique carvings are created on items that are decorative, like wall plaques, or more practical, like water/food dish holders.

Dog Training: When To Reprimand And When To Reward

There are a lot of things people have to remember when they start dog training. There are a lot of different dog training techniques to try.

Some of these dog training techniques work, while other dog training techniques seem to work against you. With so many different aspects of dog training, it is hard to know what techniques work the best.

One of the biggest things that often confuse people with regards to dog training is when to reward your dog and when to reprimand your dog. If you have trouble deciding when to do which, please read on.

Most dog training course instructors will tell you that positive dog training is the best technique to utilize. Unfortunately, there are some instances when you do have to reprimand your dog.

Reprimanding your dog should not happen often, as dogs respond better to positive reinforcement used in dog training. Before you learn when to reprimand your dog, you should first learn when to reward your dog.

You should reward your dog any time your dog does something it is supposed to during dog training. This can be when it sits, stays, eliminates where it should, fetches, etc.

The reward you use during your dog training can be many things: praise, kind words, tummy rub, pat on the head, or a treat.

Dogs learn very quickly from positive dog training. Dogs tend to want to make you happy and this is why they do so well with this type of dog training. However, be sure you never reward bad behavior.

Reprimanding is a type of dog training that should not be done unless necessary. This can be when your dog jumps, eliminates in the wrong place, barks, growls, pulls on a leash, destroys something, etc.

You must only reprimand your dog if you catch it in the act of doing something wrong.

Otherwise, your dog will not realize what it did. The reprimand used for this dog training should be a quick, sharp "no" or "bad dog."

Your tone should be angry, but remember to be short and quick. If you constantly do this, your words will end up being ignored by the dog. Never spank, hit, or constantly scold your dog. This will only lead to more problems in the future.

These are all of the important things you need to focus on when determining when to reprimand or reward your dog during dog training. Remember to be patient because your dog is learning and trying its best.

With some love and consideration, your dog should do quite well with its dog training.

Then it will be a rewarding experience for you both!

More Information Concerning Bears

Brown bears are technically carnivores, but in practice most of their diet consists of plant matter such as sedges, grasses, bulbs, seeds, berries, and roots. They will also eat insects, fish, and small mammals. Some of these bears have even developed predatory practices on large animals, including moose, caribou, and elk.

The polar bear is a mighty hunter of seals. The most carnivorous of the bears, it is also the most patient. They will sit near a seal blow-hole for hours, waiting, until the animal surfaces. When it does, it is all over for the seal. One powerful blow from a forepaw brings a swift meal for the bear and a swifter death for the seal.

The conditions of the polar north are harsh, with temperatures well below freezing almost constantly. In order to survive, the polar bear has to be an expert survivalist, able to cope with the grueling conditions of his environment. Like a giant solar panel, the skin of the bear is black to draw every bit of possible heat from the sunlight. The hairs if the pelt appear to be white, but are actually transluscent and transmit the light down to the skin. Below these hairs are "underhairs" of orange or yellow.

Like those of other bears, the ears of the polar bear are round. They are, however, smaller and closer to the head. This, along with the overall shape of the animal help to make it a formidable swimmer. The paws are large, and slightly webbed, which also contribute to the bear's abilities as a swimmer.

There is a great degree of sexual dimorphism among the bears as well. The males are huge, the heaviest of them weighing as much as 1300 pounds. The females are smaller, the largest of them being only about 600 pounds.

The boars do not generally hibernate, but remain active for most of the year. The pregnant females are the exception to this, however. They go through a denning and hibernation period, just like that of the black, brown, and other bears.

Polar bears are more agressive than other bears. Even in captivity.

The asiatic black bear has many similarities to its American cousin. Both are medium sized, and black. The ears of the asiatic bear are large and seem inappropriately sized to the rest of its head and those of other bears. These bears have a white patch of fur on their chest, which is often shaped like a V, with some varying amount of white on their chin as well. Occasionally, they can be found in a brown color phase.

The asiatic black bears are not as widely studied as the other bears, so very little information is available about their relative size and other statistics. Generally, they have been found to be 50-75 inches in length. The males usually weigh from 220-440 pounds, and the females from 110-275 pounds.

These bears can be found throughout Southern Asia. They are known in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sikkim, Northern India, Bhutan, and into Burma. They can also be found in Northeast China, and Southeast Russia, Taiwan, and the Japaneese islands of Honshu and Shikoku. Mostly, these bears live in forested areas, especially hilly and mountainous places. The preferred elevations change seasonally. In summer, asiatic black bears have been spotted at over 9,900 feet--moving to lower elevations as the cold of winter comes on. In the northern parts of their range, they den for winter. Current thinking is that the bears in the southern reaches do not hibernate.

The diet of the asiatic black bear is quite diverse. They eat carrion, bee's nests, insects, invertibrates, small vertibrates, and fruit. They have been known to kill domestic livestock, but to what degree they exhibit this predation is not known. They are also known to make daybeds and feeding platforms in nut-bearing trees

Don't Let Fido Get Sick As A Dog!

You love your dog. And like most dog-owners, you likely consider your dog to be a part of your family. That is why your dog's health is so important. Just as you would be concerned about the health of a child, you should be concerned about the health of your dog. Fortunately, if you've already looked after your children, or even if you are concerned about your health, looking after your dog's health should be easy. It requires all the things that you would expect: preventative care, paying attention to warning signs, knowing what to do when your dog is sick, and finding a veterinarian you and your dog can trust. If you follow all these steps, you will help ensure that your dog has a long and healthy life.

The key to keeping your dog healthy is, not surprisingly, a healthy lifestyle right from the start. Most importantly, this means only giving your dog nutritious dog food, throw those scraps away! Look for dog food that has been endorsed by veterinarian groups. While it may be more expensive than generic or even some brand name dog foods, in the long run it will help with your dog's health.

Along with good food, your dog will need a lot of exercise. Although the amount of exercise each dog needs will vary according to the breed, no dog's health will be improved by being stuck inside a cramped apartment everyday. Dogs need walks and time outside to play. Incorporate your dog's exercise routine into your own. This will help your dog's health, and your own health.

Finally, get your dog a veterinarian and have your dog's health checked regularly. Along with spotting problems, your veterinarian will also be able to give you tips and suggestions on preventative dog health.

So you've decided to pick a veterinarian. You open the Yellow Pages and find dozens and dozens of veterinarians to choose from. Where do you start? Right off the bat, you will want to find a veterinarian that has a "small animal" practice, which will include dogs and cats and other common pets. These veterinarians will know the most about dog health. Most veterinarians are similar to a doctor who is a general practitioner. These veterinarians will be able to deal with and identify a wide range of problems related to your dog's health, and are what you should use as your main veterinarian. Once you've found a general "small animal" veterinarian to deal with your dog's health, they will be able to refer you to specialists as required.

If you've identified some possible veterinarians, start asking your friends and colleagues with pets for recommendations. And most importantly, talk to your prospective veterinarian. Ask about prices and availability for emergency care. Finally, before you chose any veterinarian to help you look after your dog's health, be sure that you are comfortable with them and trust them to look after your pet.

After a lot of consideration, you've picked a veterinarian that will keep track of your dog's health, and have started a preventative regime of good food and exercise. No matter how careful you are about your dog's health, however, your dog will get sick. Either from contact with other dogs, or accidents while you are out on your walks, something will likely happen to your dog that will require the attention of a veterinarian. The problem is that it is not always obvious when your dog is sick. Unlike children, your dog can't tell you when it is feeling down.

There are a number of sign you can look for, however. Is your dog more tired than usual lately? Does it seem depressed? Does it have a dry nose? Is it limping? Does your dog's feces look off or runny? These are just some warning signs. In the end, it all comes down to whether you think your dog is sick or not. This requires you to have a close relationship with your dog to know when it is acting differently, and this attention will be the best support for your dog's health.