April 4th, 2008 at 01:45pm
Under Cat Care+ Cat Owner+ Pet Behavior
By David P Lee
Cats are very interesting animals. They have certain behavioral
habits which, although confusing to their owners, have
explanatory reasons. One such act is purring. People wonder why
their pets purr – does it just mean they are happy or is there
more to it than that?
Why do cats purr
Cats communication using purring. A kitten and its mother will
purr as a sign of comfort and, after this, the kitten will
continue the behavior through its life. Cats usually purr when
something pleases them or when they feel safe and comfortable.
It is known also that an anxious cat or one at death’s door
might purr too, obviously for different reasons.
Purring is interesting because no one is really sure how the
cat’s body produces the sound. It might be because of blood
moving through the blood vessels. It might be because of soft
palate vibrations. Cat purring has been tested
electromyographically, to show the electrical activity in the
muscles of the cat. This could indicate that purring is caused
when the muscles of the larynx, containing the vocal chords, are
activated. the larynx partially closing, or glottis, could be
responsible for the purring sounds.
Face rubbing
Cats rub their chins, cheeks and bodies on everything. It might
feel good to them but that is not the primary reason for this
behavior. Cats have scent glands located on their lips, chins,
mouths and foreheads. They might rub against their owner as a
form of greeting or when trying to communicate something, such
as a request for food. Cats in a group will rub against one
another to swap their scents. Cats together have a ‘colony
scent’ which is useful for detecting intruders. If you bring a
cat back from the veterinarian, the other cats in the colony
might growl or hiss because of the unfamiliar scents on the
returned cat. Cats recognize one another largely through their
heightened sense of smell.
Why does my cat scratch things?
Cats like to scratch (or ‘strop’) all sorts of things.
Obviously you would prefer your cat to scratch a tree or its
scratching post rather than your best sofa. A cat deprived of a
tree or scratching post will strop its claws on whatever it can.
Scratching gets rid of loose nail sheath parts which cover the
growing claws. Cats also have scent glands located in their paws
and the act of scratching will leave the cat’s scent on whatever
they scratch, to mark it as part of the cat’s territory. If a
cat is declawed, it will still try to scratch at things, even
though they have no claws to sharpen. This could be inbuilt
habit or maybe the cat wants to leave its scent on the thing it
is scratching. Cat furniture gives your cat a personal item to
scratch on while saving your favorite furniture.
Why does my cat knead things?
Cats often knead your lap before they will lie down. In fact,
they often knead any surface they plan to lie down on. Kneading
is when a cat extends the claws on its front two paws and digs
them into the surface which an alternating rhythmic motion.
Kneading (also known as milk tread) is first used in kittenhood.
When a kitten is sucking at its mother’s teats, it extends its
legs and kneads the area around the teat. This makes the milk
flow out faster. Perhaps as adults, a cat continues this
behavior because it feels happy and safe and associates the
comfort and joy of lying on your lap with the happiness he
shared with his mother. Kneading can also be a sign of good cat
health .
About the Author: www.AceCatFurniture.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=171606&ca=Pets
By Fred
March 8th, 2008 at 01:33pm
Under Cat Care
By Angela Coyle
It is important to know how to bathe your cat. Cats generally
to a fine job cleaning themselves, however, they my need a
little help from time to time. In this case, it is important to
know how to properly give you cat a bath.
Giving a cat a bath can be a little trick since most cats are
not fond of water or getting wet.
There are dry bath products available on the market today to
avoid the traditional bath altogether, however these products
are better used to keep your cat clean and healthy rather than
get them clean after a roll in the mud.
The dry bath products are generally a leave in treatments great
for eliminating odor. A dry bath is a great idea for keeping you
cat clean. It will usually not effect their current flea
treatment because no water should be needed to wash it away.
Always read the labels before using these products. They are
safe to use on cats, but may contain different ingredients that
you or your cat could be allergic to.
Dry bath products are great, but what do you do when your cat
homes home late at night, covered in mud, paint, or something
incredible messy and possible toxic? Lets face it, cats get into
trouble sometimes.
You probably won’t want to let them come in the house and lay
on your floor or furniture, and, unless you know what your cat
is covered in, probably should not let them sit in the mess all
night, or try and clean it themselves. You should never let your
cat ingest a foreign substance if possible.
When this happens, hopefully on a rare occasion, you will want
to know how to give your cat a bath.
If you’re very lucky, this may not be much trouble. Your cat
might like the water. But if you have a normal cat like the rest
of us, things could get pretty interesting.
When you’ve decided to give your cat a bath, you should get
them a special kitty shampoo. The regular shampoo you use
everyday may have harsh perfumes or chemicals that could be
harmful to your cat. If this is not available, try and do the
best you can with just water in an emergency. It may not be as
easy, but this should get most of the muck out of your cat’s
fur.
By this time you should be well aware of your cats temperament.
You will know if your cat will fight you and how hard he or she
will fight to get away from bath time. So take every precaution
necessary to protect yourself and your cat. After all, most cats
are equipped with an effective defense. Claws!
If you have a leather jumpsuit or bird handling gloves, then
you’re set. Of course, most of us don’t have these types of
armor and they are not necessary to get the job done. Rubber
gloves are suggested, but long sleeves are a must! Personally,
I’ve found that a thick, durable fabric like denim or even a
thick cotton work just fine. Just make sure, what ever you wear,
that it can’t be penetrated too easily by your cat’s claws.
The size of your cat, and intensity of his or her frenzy,
should determine your bath space needed. You may be able to get
away with using your sink for small cats and kittens. If not,
use your bathtub and keep all doors closed. If you have a glass
shower door, it’s not a bad idea to climb into the tub with your
cat and keep that door closed too.
Stop! Before you throw you cat into tub of water, remember they
will, most likely, be frightened.
When you attempt to give your cat a bath, chances are, your cat
will know that something’s up even before you begin. Your cat
may be frightened by the sound of running water, or the
splashing sounds in the tub or sink. It’s usually not the best
idea to run the water over your cat like a shower. This could
startle your cat and cause him or her to spring into action and
try to run away from it.
The best way I’ve found is to draw a shallow bath and have a
cup handy to pour water, slowly onto your cat in order to wet
him.
Maintain control! You are the master of your domain and don’t
let your cat think otherwise in this situation. While hogtying
your cat is not recommended, you will need to restrict his
movement somewhat. This might take the effort of two people for
unruly cats and may take some force. Whatever you do, please
don’t hurt your cat!
Once you have control of your beast, and the water is ready,
complete the procedure as quickly as possible.
Wet your cats coat thoroughly and lather him up with his own
special shampoo. Do the best job you can; don’t forget the feet,
tail and stomach. Always use extra special care when washing
your cats face! Shampoo may not be needed in this area, and be
very careful around his eyes.
Once your cat is soapy, start to rinse. Using the same, gentle
pouring motion with your handy cup and the water in the tub
rinse your cats fur. You may want to have a reserve of fresh,
clean water for rinsing. Try and use your fingers to break up
any matting and wok through thick coated areas. Rinse well,
drain the tub, and you are almost done.
Now it’s time to dry your cat.
Drying your cat should not take as much effort as it seems. You
will not be able to get him completely dry, so do your best and
your cat, and time, will gladly finish the job.
When you let your cat out of the sink or bathtub, keep him in
the area. Your cat will most likely want to shake first, just
like dogs, and then gently, but with enthusiasm, rub your cat
with a towel to rid him of excess water.
Your cat will begin to lick himself dry. You can them leave
your cat in the bathroom until he’s dry, or let him out whenever
you feel is best you, your home, your furniture, and your cat.
In order to simplify this process, here is a step by step guide
on How to give a cat a bath:
1. Get cat shampoo
2. Suit up! Protect your body from potential injury.
3. Draw a shallow bath (warm, not hot or cold)
4. Restrain your cat
5. Wet
6. Lather
7. Rinse and dry.
The last thing you should know before giving a cat a bath is
not to be intimidated. It may not be as simple as one, two,
thee, but it’s not impossible and you’ll both feel better when
it’s over.
About the Author: Angela Coyle is an avid cat lover, and owner
of Hercules the cat, Murteza Abyssinian, Mango, and many others
throughout the years. She is also currently an editor at
www.cat-care-cat-information.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=81250&ca=Pets
By Fred
