How to Take Care of a Cat at Home

It would be a really comforting experience to see your pet come running to you, as soon as you enter the threshold of your house. A thought may arise in your mind - how loyal is my cat to me!! Does your cat feel the same for you? Once you have adopted a pet, you have rather adopted a bunch of responsibilities. These innocent creatures are not like the toys you have at home, which are just meant to play with. Animals are living entities and you need to consider them so. Even they desire love, care, shelter, food and many other physiological needs. So, make it your duty to take proper care of your innocent pet and consider it as your family member. Some guidelines to care your cat are provided below.

Adoption: Adopting a cat doesn't mean heading in to a pet store and bringing one back home. Do prior research on the cat breeds that are available and their needs regarding food, shelter, grooming, medical care, etc. The cost of caring your pet may be directly influenced with the breed that you have with you. Therefore, make a smart choice and select a cat that your budget allows you. Generally, there are two types of cats - indoor and outdoor. Indoor cats would love to stay at home while the outdoor cats may ask you to take them out of house.

Food: When talking about feeding your cat, it is not a big deal, as you can feed your cat either with "home food" or cat food available in the market. Feeding it with cat food is considered as best for the reason that they are scientifically formulated and helps to keep your cat healthy. On the other hand, if you are feeding them with "home food", you may require supplying them with additional nutrient supplements too.

Regular Grooming: If you want to keep your animal healthy, proper grooming is essential. It also helps you to maintain a proper hygienic environment at your home. All cats require grooming. However, the frequency at which you need to groom them depends on the breed that you have or clearly speaking, the length of hairs that they have. Cats are considered as clean animals and you do not need to bathe them, unless something unpleasant gets sprayed or poured on them. Use soft shampoo to bathe your cat and make sure to rinse off properly so that no chemicals remain on their body.

Training: Cats do not require much of training. However, telling them what to do and what not to do will obviously make your relation more enjoyable. The major issue that all cat owners complain of is the destructive behavior that it shows when it is bored. Try being human at such instances and provide them with daily play sessions as well as relaxing massage. This will keep them relaxed. Avoid any punishment. Prefer to provide them with accommodation rather than restricting them. Direct approaches to make them act the way you want may not work as they are animals. If you notice any abnormal behavior in your kitty, just consult the veterinarian about it. Avoid strict training processes as it may hamper the relationship between you and your cat. Rewards are the most effective way of training your cat.

If you follow the tips to care a cat provided above, you will surely be able to keep your cat healthy and happy.

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Why Grain Free Cat Food?

Surely you, like me, and like most of us human beings, are in love with your pet. However, you have to be very responsible and caring, besides loving, to ensure the good health of your pet. Choosing the right food for your pet is of prime importance here. Don't worry, it actually isn't your choice to make at all - Your carnivore pet is born to eat grain-free!

Grain foods and its derivatives don't make an ideal feed for cats. Let's see why...

• Being a carnivore, a cat naturally consumes a lot of meat based proteins. It's natural diet contains only a small quantity of fruits and vegetables and very little or no carbohydrates. So, to digest the alien, carbohydrate-rich grain food, the cat's pancreas has to secrete a large quantity of enzymes which can make the animal sick.

• Grain food is known to cause problems like urinary tract disease, kidney disease, obesity and a horde of chronic digestive problems which include chronic vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and inflammatory bowl diseases.

• The more you feed grains to your cat, the more it becomes vulnerable to heart diseases. This is because the increased reliance on carbohydrates can develop a deficiency of 'taurine' in cats.

• Another problem with the grain foods is their reduced moisture content - they can cause dehydration, unless your pet consumes a large quantity of water.

• Grain food can increase your pet's weight. Especially, the old pet cats which move around scarcely are more susceptible to the dreaded weight gain.

• Being an unnatural diet, the grain food invites many other allergies and diseases to your pet's failing immune system.

Now, we can see that cats have simply not evolved to eat cereal grains - they have a relatively short gastrointestinal system which can easily metabolize a high protein diet, but is unable to secrete the enzymes crucial to the digestion of carbohydrates.

Types of Grain-Free Cat Food

You can get healthy, grain-free food for your cat in multiple, ideally preserved forms.

• The first one is kibble. It is very convenient to use. You can find it easily at your local pet food store.

• Grain-free food is also available as freeze-dried portions. Before feeding, water is added to it. The freeze-drying process preserves the nutrients and minerals of the natural food for a long time.

• Also, you can get cat food in its most natural state in the raw-frozen form.

Irrespective of the type of grain-free food you choose, your dear carnivore will definitely savor it with delight. The organic cat food, well-suited to your pet's natural appetite, is the key to its good health and well being.

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Nipper, Scarface And Me

I wish to speak about my cat. Some facts about her bother me, which I find awfully strange. She crept into my life, you see, some twenty years ago, exposing her felinity to six strong, virile Toms while leaping through the grassy fields - the boys in hot pursuit. It really was a sight to see, as I watched from my stoop.

Now, I don't fancy cats at all - dogs are my forte. Cats? Too independent! Canines know their place. But when this earthy critter came mewing at my door with belly showing signs of life, begged food and nothing more, my heart just couldn't turn away. So to the fridge I went, and poured a bowl of milk for her - this was my first mistake.

Then, darn, would you believe it? This moxy to-be Mom just bit the hand that fed her - that's how she got her name.

I shook my head in disbelief, said, "Now, what do I do?" while gazing at my finger her teeth had punctured through. Well, needless to say, she was healthy and fine - and soon I discovered that I would survive. The Vet said, "You now owe me eighty-four bucks to send her right back to the wild."

So, greatly disgusted, I tried to ignore the pleaful, sad cries which resumed outside of my doorstep, both morning and night. My neighbors soon asked me to move. And when I got courage to open the door, it wasn't just her, for I saw the scrawniest kittens, with Mom in the front, perched proudly, now begging for four.

And off in the distance, I saw something weird - a battered old Tomcat with half of an ear, just sitting and waiting for Nipper's return. My heart took a lurch, for I thought he meant harm. Now this cat was Scar Face, as ugly as sin, from fighting and clawing all things on his trail. Apparently he was the dominant male. He cast me a look from the side of his eye which told me I daren't step over his "line," nor anywhere near him, for all he'd allow was nourishing Nipper, well said with a snarl.

I knew a little bit of cats, and how they took their prey, so when the dark of night would fall, upon the stoop I'd stay to watch this struggling little Mom protect the young she bore by moving them from bush to bush, to keep those kits secure. For, like a big explosion, the shrub would come alive with hissing sounds, great rumbling, and out the males would fly. But when old Scar Face would appear to staunchly take her guard, she slept the night serenely, her little ones unharmed.

And it was quite a treat to see, when sunshine would appear, young kittens safely romping - with Scar Face sitting near. And Nipper would be free to roam and forage for her birds. This Tom was "babysitting," and that was just absurd.

Now how could it be - that he seemed to know? We all see how cats are - they breed as they go with every, and any, new tail on the block. How in the deuce does he know he's their Pop?

I'd watch them together, revolving their days around one another, in hunting and play. So how does she know there's no danger, in thus entrusting her brood to this crafty old stud?

The love affair flourished, the kits came of age and, proudly, she smacked them right off on their way.

A new life was beckoning me and my child involving a move from this interesting field. Even though I hadn't liked her, at first, upon my departure, I loved her the best but felt it was kinder to leave her with him - for she was a wild cat, and couldn't be tamed.

I lasted for one night in my new abode. When morning came dawning, I ran to the phone. Enquired of my neighbor "Have you seen the Cat?" She said "Come and get her. She's driving me nuts with calling and crying on your favorite stoop. This cat has a problem. I think it is you!"

With glee in my heart, common sense gone astray, I jumped in the auto - my field cat to save! Arrived at her spot which was way across town and shouted her name "Come on, Nipper, come on!" The leaves started rustling, my heart seemed to stop. But then she came bounding right over the top of brambles and briars! I swelled in the chest! She nuzzled me warmly - and bit me, of course.

I wasn't quite so dumb this time, for I could ill-afford another veterinarian and quarantine in board. I grabbed her by the scruff of neck, before she got away - this cat had twice embarrassed me, but never would again. I took her to my new home, and gently put her down upon the kitchen floor, and got some milk, began to pour.

As unconcerned as ever, whereby entering my lair, she sauntered through the rooms and sprang upon my favorite chair, then settled down quite cozily, her motor in a purr, to fall into a peaceful sleep. We now belonged to her.

When night came a-falling, she started to moan from missing her Tomcat, I had to assume. So into the bedroom I went with this friend, while hoping to ease the confusion she had.

I woke the next morning, a smile on my face - which soon turned to shock. "Oh, my God, not again!" For, over the pillowcase, linens I'd seen three new baby Scar Faces - mewing at me.

And what did I see when I looked across the sill? You guessed it! Old Pop, giving looks that could kill!

Try to imagine the noise that evolved. Would not let him in! Could not let her out! His wailing, her calling, three screaming new cats!

How did I fall into this kind of trap?

I raised them, of course, fed the kittens by hand while altering Mother, I say now with shame, for that was the end of cavorting around. I thought that old Scar Face would be homeward-bound. How little I knew, then, of life and it's plays - it just didn't matter that she had been spayed. For he resumed courting again, for a year, as she waited daily. Then... he disappeared.

Another move pending, but now she became a little more house cat, and not so untamed. We settled away, sixty miles or so, for more than three years, dragging Nipper in tow.

She tried. Oh, how she tried to find him, while we were away by disappearing nights on end, and many, many days. And when she would return to us, her spark of life was gone. Would quietly ascend the stairs, and dream her dreams alone.

I, too, was feeling homesick, and soon that day arrived, and stated "We are going home. He might be still alive."

Now, I won't ask for your belief, but listen when I say that ten years had transpired from the time she took her mate. But somehow, she had chosen me, for reasons undefined as being more important than her natural incline. So once more, to a different home we found ourselves embarked - not far away from where her love affair first took a start.

She'd pensively sit by the window and stare, curl up in a ball, to awaken once more, with no interest evident in any birds, or field mice, or rabbits to which we'd returned. She worried me greatly, as seeming to say that we had arrived just a little too late.

But one morning, I saw her ear take a twitch, somehow she was different, her eyes were intense. Stretched out her front paws, threw her tail in a spin. I looked out the window to see... it was Him!

More battered, much older, still ugly, this Tom, but beautifully, graciously he was transformed in my eyes. My Nipper jumped off of the chair, begged loudly for exit, as he waited there.

If I'd been too calloused to offer my hand to this lowly she-cat when this all began, just think of the beauty I wouldn't have seen and wondrous lessons I couldn't have learned.

Old Scar Face is dead now. But Nipper still lives, a little bit blind, with an arthritic hip, and sometimes responds to the call of her name, but no longer forages outside for game. She's going on twenty-one years, come this spring, remaining with me - while still dreaming of him.

As for me? I've seen my miracle.

This news article is brought to you by DRUG-ABUSE - where latest news are our top priority.

Cat Litter - Choosing the Best Litter for Your Cat

Cat litter is cat litter, right? If only it were that easy. With almost 90 million cats living in the US alone, it's not surprising that the annual global sales of cat litter is nearly $1 billion. It's big business, and with the advent of more eco-friendly litter materials competing with clay, it's going to get bigger. Trying to determine the best cat litter for your cat can be a daunting mission. Just standing in the litter isle can be overwhelming to a new cat parent, as well as cat owners that are just looking for an alternative to their current litter. There are so many questions, so many brands and so many promises. Let's take a look back at how cat litter was discovered, get familiar with some common litter types and materials, and examine the concerns that cat parents have regarding its use and safety.

Prior to 1950, most domesticated cats used the great outdoors as their litter box. The housecats of the day were treated to a box of sand or fireplace ashes. Just imagine the mess that sooty, sandy paw prints would make across a freshly mopped floor. It was for that reason that in 1947, a woman frustrated with the untidy tracks of her cat, approached her neighbor Ed Lowe to inquire about a more penetrable type of sand. Lowes' family owned a company that sold industrial absorbents, so Lowe knew a thing or two about the absorbency of various natural materials. He recommended to his neighbor that she use clay because of its high absorbency, and because it's larger grain size would minimize the tracking. The clay was a hit! Realizing the potential of his finding, Lowe began packing the clay in brown paper bags, scribbling "Kitty Litter" across the front and selling it to local grocery stores. And yes, for lack of a better phrase, the rest is history.

Clay Litter

Non-clumping clay litteris made from natural clay, consisting of the minerals zeolite, diatomite, and sepiolate, and dried into tiny pellets or granules. Clay materials are highly absorbent, drawing the cat urine to the bottom of the litter box, thus reducing odor. A number of clay litters contain additives which offer additional odor control. Since traditional clay is non-clumping, the cat urine eventually mixes into the clay requiring more frequent cleaning.

Clumping clay litteris made from bentonite clay, which tends to clump together when wet. Due to the clumping property, the urine will clump into a ball rather than seep throughout the litter, making scooping much easier. While clumping litter is a little more expensive than non-clumping, you generally don't have to replace the litter as frequently using less over time.

Clay concerns- There are some concerns regarding possible health hazards of using clumping litter. A common concern is that kittens, which typically ingest litter when they are very young, can develop an intestinal blockage, due to the swelling properties of sodium bentonite clay when it becomes wet. Therefore it is recommended that kittens not use clumping litter. However, there are numerous stories on the internet from owners who report that their adult cats, as well as kittens, have developed issues such as intestinal blockages and respiratory problems, due to the dust, when using clumping litter.

Silica Gel Litter

Made from silica dioxide, silica gel litter - also known as crystal litter - is a more common alternative to clay litters. The granules consist of tiny pores that can absorb up to forty times their weight in moisture. However, once the granules have reached maximum saturation, urine will begin to pool in the bottom of the litter box. While the dust associated with silica litter is less evident than that in clay litter, it is still a concern for some cat parents who worry about respiratory illnesses resulting from repeated exposure. Nonetheless, because of its high absorbency and good odor control, crystal litter is a favorite among many cat parents, but some cats find the granules hard and uncomfortable on their paws.

Biodegradable Litter

Until the early 1990's, the litter decision was a relatively easy one: clumping, or non-clumping clay. The barrage of alternative litters has been steadily streaming onto shelves for almost 20 years, and thanks to the eco-friendly mindset of America, there has been a surge of biodegradable litters within the last decade. Biodegradable litters are made from a variety of plant resources, and because they completely break down in the land fields they are considered environmentally friendly. Although these litters cost more than traditional clay litter, they tend to last longer and most of them are flushable. Biodegradable litters are made from a vast array of materials including wheat grass, oat hulls, processed orange peel, cedar chips, pine sawdust; the list goes on. While generally thought to be safer than clay or silica based litters, the unusual materials can be off-putting to some cats, and some cat owners find that the odor control is lacking.

So How Do I Decide?

The truth is, there is no definitive formula for purchasing the perfect cat litter. Cats have a reputation for being finicky; therefore you may have to try a few brands or materials before finding the best fit for you and your cat. Before heading off to the pet store, take some time and research litter online, including visiting manufacturers' websites. Look for unbiased customer reviews, usually found on cat related blogs and forums. Talk with your veterinarian about possible health effects that he/she may have seen as a result of a specific type of litter. Approaching the litter isle with some information in hand will allow you to make an educated decision that will meet your needs and more importantly those of your cat.

This article is brought to you by SINGLES.

How to Buy Cheap Brand Name Cat Flea Treatments Online

These days you can buy almost anything you need for your pets online. This includes some top of the range cat flea treatments that can get to work fast on eliminating these blood-sucking parasites.

It makes sense to shop online when it comes to pet health products. You can often find some really good bargains from pet supply websites that could save you a lot of money. It is also so easy to buy online and you will be able to shop 24/7 from the comfort of your own home.

How to Buy Online

If you have never bought pet supplies online then there has never been a better time to start. This is a booming market and you can find some great deals on cat flea treatments and other pet health products. To help you get started here are some top tips on how to buy safely and securely online.

1. Brand Name Products

There are many different cat flea treatments out there. If you are buying online then you will not be able to see the product in person before you make your purchase. This is why it is a good idea to choose a brand name that you know and trust. Buying quality cat flea treatments will help ensure that you get good value for money. For example Frontline is widely available online and offers reliable and effective treatment in the prevention and elimination of fleas.

2. Use well-established and reputable suppliers

It is important when you shop online to find pet health suppliers that you can trust. These will be well-established providers that have a good reputation in the industry. Look for providers that can offer you professional, fully functional websites with top onsite security (including secure online e-payment portals) and comprehensive customer services (including direct telephone helpdesks).

You could also get recommendations by visiting pet owner forums and seeing which online pet health suppliers other people can recommend.

3. Pay instantly with your plastic cards

If you are buying online then it is a good idea to make use of the secure online payment facilities that reputable suppliers can offer. These will provide you with a fast, safe and easy way to pay for your order.

- If you do want to pay instantly online then you will need a valid credit or debit card. These details will need to be input into the secure payment pages after you have reached the online checkout.

- Some websites may also be able to offer other secure instant online payment options such as PayPal.

- Remember you should never send confidential payment details via email as this is not a secure form of communication.

- If you cannot pay online then phone the company directly to provide further payment details.

This news article is brought to you by DESTINATION - where latest news are our top priority.

Discover Safe and Effective Worming Treatments With Drontal for Cats

Treating pets at home can sometimes be a difficult task. Dogs and cats have a mind of their own and will rarely be willing to sit through health treatments complacently. This means using products like Drontal for cats for worming your pets may not always be the easiest task.

Safe and Effective Worming Techniques

It is important to choose a safe worming product like Drontal for cats. To eradicate worms you will need to use quite strong chemical agents. If you choose a reputable brand then you can be sure these treatments have been fully tested and are safe for pets whilst still being effective at getting rid of worms.

- Drontal for cats has been tested thoroughly and is one of the safest and most effective worming treatments on the market.

- Drontal contains powerful agents such as praziquantel. This works quickly to destroy intestinal worms such as tapeworm with the minimum side effects for your pets.

- If you have had problems with other worming products making your pets ill before then Drontal for cats is a good option.

- This does not contain nitroscanate which is a common ingredient in other wormers. This problem with this nitroscanate is that it frequently causes side effects such as vomiting and diarrhoea. This type of wormer also requires you to starve your pet before application.

- This can be very unpleasant for pets and can put you off worming your pets in the future. With Drontal the chances of these side effects are minimal and this means you can carry out successful and stress-free worming for your pets.

- There is also no need to starve your pets before using Drontal products for worming.

- Drontal for cats is sold in user-friendly applications that make it quick and easy for you to protect your pets against worm parasites.

- The tablet and Spot On applications are a good choice for cats. These animals can be notoriously difficult to treat with topical applications.

- If you add tablets to your cat's food in most cases they will swallow them without even realising they are even there.

- The Spot On is also very easy to use and all you will need to do is squeeze a few drops on the back of your cat's neck.

- For the best effects, you should make sure your pets are protected all-year round. If you worm your cats with Drontal every 3 months or so this should protect them all the time from these nasty parasites.

- Don't forget you need to protect kittens from worms as well. They can easily come into contact with microscopic worm eggs even if they have not yet been outside.

- You can start worming kittens from 6 weeks using the tablet or Spot On versions of Drontal.

This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.

Drinking More Water Can Be a Symptom of Diabetes in Cats

As veterinarians, we are often concerned with getting cats to drink more water. These desert descended creatures developed highly efficient kidneys to deal with the water shortages that come with desert living. Because their kidneys work so well to help keep them hydrated, cats have poor thirst mechanisms. Most cats simply do not drink in response to mild dehydration. Additionally, cats are very finicky about the water they choose to drink from.

So, when your cat suddenly start to drink a lot of water, it usually indicates a medical problem of some sort. Whenever you notice your cat drinking more water the first thing you should do is immediately have your cat examined by a veterinarian.

In this article we will discuss diabetes, a common endocrine disease in cats and how a cat water fountain can help in management.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus, more commonly referred to as just "diabetes", is not having enough insulin. Insulin is the hormone which allows cells to absorb and use glucose. Without enough insulin, the excess glucose stays in the blood stream causing high levels of blood sugar and starving the cells of energy. The high circulating blood sugar levels cause many of the symptoms of diabetes. Luckily, diabetes is usually easy to diagnose with a few blood tests. The really good news is that early detection and proper treatment can cause remission in many cats!

The four main signs of diabetes are:

• Ravenous appetite - cats feel like they are starving
• Weight loss - cats can no longer process energy
• Large amounts of urine in the box - glucose in the urine causes draws water from the body
• Excessive drinking - cats need to drink much more to compensate for water lost in the urine and the high blood sugar stimulates the thirst centers

*** This results in a very thirsty cat! ***

When cats are drinking more water, it is usually very obvious to their owners. Cats will be noticed at the water dish more often and are drinking for longer periods of time. You may notice that you suddenly are filling the bowl much more often than you were. Your cat may suddenly seem obsessed with water; crying at the water bowl, jumping up on the sink or tub when he or she hears running water, or begging you to turn on taps. Whereas your cat was previously happy to drink from a bowl they now only want to drink from a running tap, sometimes to the point of annoyance.

Cat Water Fountains Can Help.

A well designed cat water fountain can help meet the new needs and demands of your thirsty cat. The sounds of running water can attract your cat to the fountain. The water stays fresh and well oxygenated which encourages them to drink. The streams will help keep your cat off the counter and in your way when you turn on the tap. Large reservoirs help ensure your cat always has enough fresh water. But which fountain should you choose? Consider the following factors:

1. First and perhaps most importantly, choose a fountain with a very large reservoir or water capacity. Diabetic cats can drink an astounding amount of water. You never want a diabetic to run out of water as this can quickly lead to life threatening dehydration.

2. Choose a fountain that caters to your cat's (new) drinking style. Get a fountain with streams if your cat loves drinking from the tap or faucet. Choose one with a large pool if your cat prefers to drink from a bowl-like surface.

3. Cats with diabetes, like people, may not heal as well. Choose fountains made of hypoallergenic drinking surfaces such as stainless steel or ceramic. If at all possible, avoid plastic based drinking surfaces to avoid allergic reactions such as chin acne. At the very least, choose fountains made of high-grade plastic.

Final Tips:

• Always have far more water available than you think will be necessary
• Keep your water sources sparkling clean
• Don't forget to change filters frequently!

If your cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes, the amount of information can be overwhelming. Don't panic. Remember many people have felt just as you did and have gotten through it. Support forums such as www.sugarcats.com can be very helpful for owners new to diabetic cats.

This article is sponsored by medical case study.

Five Tips for a Well Balanced Cat

So you've got a cat or cats. Congratulations. Having a cat or cats can be hugely rewarding. Not only do you have a companion to share your daily life with, but they can keep you entertained for hours, comfort you whenever you aren't feeling well, inspire you when you can't seem to get it together, and generally they seem to conspire to make it easier to keep your feet on the ground.

That is - if you have a well behaved and well balanced cat.

Exactly what is a well behaved cat? Well everyone knows that cats possess a mind of their own, and no matter how much we endeavour to exert control over them, they'll always manage to please themselves. Of course, that's in the nature of a cat, and it doesn't mean they're misbehaving, just doing what cats do.

A well behaved cat is one who is: calm, fit and healthy, eats well, toilets suitably, and interacts with all the fellow members in the household (both human and feline) appropriately. A miss-behaving cat can totally disrupt a household (human and feline) to the point of you considering removing the culprit. Commonly there are reasons for the cat misbehaving, sometimes we find it is due to some change in their surroundings, New members moving into the household (human or feline) can have a serious impact.. Some of the more noticeable inappropriate behaviours are, spraying in-side the house, biting, scratching, attacking other cats they usually get on with, ripping up your carpets and rugs, furniture, wallpaper, curtains etc,. Refusing to eat, exhibiting stress and anxiety, fearfulness.

Health

This is a no brainer. If your cat is not well it will probably behave differently, in some cases disruptively. Your cat needs to be physically healthy to be a relaxed well balanced member of your household. It's important you feed your cat(s) a proper diet that's age appropriate, a good clean supply of drinking water and proper housing. A regular checkup at the vets is advisable.

Know who's the boss

Cats are not a pack animal, but that doesn't necessarily mean there isn't a pecking order. There will almost always be one particular cat which will be at the top of the tree, and the rest will fall into line. If one of your cats tries to move into another ones space, trouble can follow. By a cats space, I mean it's preferred spot on the patio, it's preferred sleeping spot, or where it normally hangs out or toilets. The response may be out and out aggression, but sometimes it's quite the contrary. The cat feeling crowded may become withdrawn and stressed. It's important to keep close track of who's the dominate one and ensure all of your cats have sufficient space where they can just be themselves without any interference from others. A cat's emotional wellbeing is just as important as its physical wellbeing.

Regular feeding

Cats are notorious for being fussy eaters, but they will unquestionably benefit from a high quality diet and regular feeding times. Clean drinking water is vital for a healthy cat; they're well-known for failing to take in enough water. In the wild, cats take in the majority of their water requirements through the prey they feed on, so if you feed them dry food, they need to supplement their intake of water. Yes I know they prefer to go outside and drink the dirtiest water they can find, rather than clean water you take so much care to put out for them. Go figure.

Suitable toilet spaces

Cats very much like a non-public quiet spot to perform the necessary. Preferably a place where they're not likely to be surprised. This is true whether your cat is an inside or outdoors cat. Either way, they need somewhere suitable and secure. If at all possible, somewhere you have access to, not an issue for an inside cat that uses a litter box, but can be challenging for outside cats. Not being funny, but keeping track of your cat's toilet habits can frequently help pre-empt health problems.

No favouritism.

Be fair All cats are different and they will all have varying emotional needs. Some will love lots of pats and cuddles, others prefer a quick hello, a pat and then move on, some will spend hours in your lap, while others may only come inside for feeding and need only a quick acknowledgment of their presence. It's important to know your cat and to provide them with the appropriate level of attention.

This all helps to maintain balance in the household. This is by no means an exhaustive list of what it takes for a well balanced cat, but if you follow the above suggestions your cat will be well on the way.

This article is brought to you by MATCHMAKING.

Sam The Terrible!

The Cat I Grew Up With, and All My Other Furry Friends

Conan the Barbarian was bested by Sam the Terrible. When I was a teenager, there were critters in my life who proved to be invaluable guides on my destiny into the dark, mysterious and challenging world of adulthood. They were not peers, or friends or even enemies in the human form. They were animals in my life who kept me in stitches; and probably out of trouble. I believe those buddies of mine protected me from the big, bad mean world until I was ready to take that leap. I learned humor and a joy for life through their example.

Nowadays, a haberdashery seems to be primarily a small store selling something to do with sewing and clothing. But when I was a kid, the haberdashery was where I could buy small animals; the babies of the breed. As a side note, I actually learned how to sew on our old Singer sewing machine but that is not what kept me in "stitches." The little ducklings did. They were my favorite purchase at the haberdashery where we bought lots of things for our animals.

We lived on a small 5 acre ranch in Southern California, about fifty miles East of Los Angeles. We had horses and a cow, chickens, dogs and a cat; and we had the occasional little ducklings, of course. I would find a small pan about 6 by 10 and about two inches deep, fill it with water, and surround it with a short piece of chicken wire that was about 3 feet tall. That was necessary to keep Sam the Terrible from having ducks for dinner. The ducklings needed their privacy and did not want to be disturbed. It was then that Pete, the Weimaraner, and I would take the prone position, my hands tucked under my chin and Pete with his face resting on his long front legs while we stared at baby ducks. His ears were touching the grown but not mine. Mine stuck out too much.

We would actually lay there for hours enjoying the show. I looked over at Pete, smiled, and began to wonder if these ducks were dumber than he was. They wouldn't use the ramp at all. They would walk right up to the side of the pan, lob their breast over the edge and plop on in. They were having almost as much fun as we were watching them. The dunking of beaks from a darting neck would collect enough water to splash on their backs. And then the wing-flapping would follow just before the process would begin again. Out of the pan, back in the pan, a hundred times a minute. Pete's a bird dog but I don't think he realized those ducks were birds.

Pete's IQ was about 3 points above a rock. He wouldn't know a duck from an ostrich but if he had a choice he would try to each the ostrich not knowing the duck would taste better and the ostrich would kick his butt. But that is not the reason I referred to him as a "Whine-a-runner." Two reasons come to mind, but there are hundreds of others. My brother and I would saddle the horses, get our.22 rifles and go rabbit hunting in the vineyards. Pete would always be with us. That's why we never shot any rabbits. There were miles and miles of vineyards near our ranch. There was a dirt road which ran through the middle with thousands of grapevines to either side. It was off season so the grapevines had no leaves. And from the back of a horse you could see everything happening around us.

As we were riding down the road, a rabbit sprang out from the left, saw us, and darted off down the road with a yelping Pete in hot pursuit. We brought our rifles up to fire but we knew, with Pete in the way, hunting rabbits was going to be pretty difficult. We could only watch. About a hundred yards down the road the rabbit made a hard right, went in about 3 or 4 rows and turned left. Pete got his first turn right and made it right in the same row as the rabbit. But Pete missed the second turn left. We almost fell off our horses with laughter, watching the rabbit go north and Pete going east. As he ran down the row between the grapevines, we could see him bobbing up and down in hot pursuit of nothing. It's obvious; Pete can't think and yelp at the same time. That's for sure. The things Pete did were why we loved him so much. He was hilarious.

At dinner time, the dishes of food would find their way out into the backyard where Buttons, our Australian Shepard, and Pete and Sam the Terrible would dine together. Ironically, Sam and Pete would finish about the same time. When Sam is done he turns and walks off minding his own business. And that is exactly the way he likes it. But Pete, overjoyed with a full stomach, wanted to play. That is all he does except when he is watching ducks. He chose to play with Sam. Dumb.

He began is playful little leaps just to the left of Sam taunting him to play. Sam has very little patience for this mousey colored big stinkin' dog. He turns, looks Pete right in his poor sad eyes and with claws fully extended; Pow! Pow!... Pow! Pow! and Pow! Pete received right and left shots on both sides of his cheeks with blinding speed like he was in a fight with Manny Pacquiao, the champion Filipino boxer. Let the yelping begin. But this time the yelps had a familiar ring of pain to them. Pete comes running to me for protection and sympathy. While laughing like crazy, I would cup his face in my hands and rub his cheeks to ease the pain. I would follow that with a few words he hears often: "You are really dumb!" The next week, we learned Pete has a very short memory. He tried exactly the same thing and Sam obliged by giving him a history lesson. Yelp! Yelp!

You know? You have not lived until you have kissed a horse's nose. You just want to make sure they are not in the process of sneezing at that very moment. Featherfoot was my horse. What a wonderful animal. She gave me thousands of hours of pleasure and companionship. Riding, running and just about every other joy a young boy could have with such a great horse. I kissed her on the nose often. And after we bred her to Poco Mo, she gave birth one early morning right in front of me while I watched. I didn't learn about the birds and bees at school or from my parents, Featherfoot taught me. Mares are very protective of their foals. But shortly after she cleaned up her newborn, she let me hold him. But I was the only one she would let near. Cradling a brand new baby horse, not yet dry, in your arms, is a treasure. A sweet smell, pristine hair, a cuddly face and 4 long wobbly, spindly legs were part of a surprisingly strong little creature.

"Dindin," as my mother called it, in her English accent, was ready and waiting. He didn't really need help in finding the drinking station Featherfoot had prepared, but to guide him in the right direction was my pleasure. Instinctively, he began nudging around between her hind leg and lower belly until he found it. The nudging also helps with the milk flow. Mother Nature has such wonderful designs of perfection in her little miracles of life.

Featherfoot was mine. Bossy was not. But milking the cow was nonetheless my job morning and night. So I made the best of it. I would tie her up in the routine position, take a seat on my stool, place the bucket in just the right spot and begin the milking process. The trick was trying to get it done before Bossy put her hoof in the bucket. If I took too long, she would punish me in just that way. I think we named her Bossy because of how pushy she was. Bossy and Featherfoot taught me a lot about women. I had this look like Alfalfa from Spanky and the Gang so girls didn't show that much interest in training me.

Sometimes I did take a little longer than usual with milking because Sam and Pete were right there next to me waiting patiently for our daily ritual. I would stretch a full nipple from Bossy's utter and squirt each of them in the face. More milk was on their face than in their mouths. The joy on their faces and the frantic licking to clean them up, told me they didn't care. My aim was not that great so sometimes I had to make quick multiple shots. I guess you could say they were rapid-fire automatic nipples mowing down the enemy.

I learned to relax and remain calm from being around Poco Mo, our young stallion. He was a nervous wreck. Stallions are like that due to their hormone imbalance. His constant gnawing on the wooden posts of his covered stall was really destructive. It got to the point where we had to save his life by getting him out of there in a hurry so we could repair the stall. The roof was about to cave in on top of him. I believe he may have known it was dangerous in there because, not like other horses that sleep on their feet, Poco Mo would go outside and sleep in the manure pile, laying down. He not only had bad breath in the morning when he got up, but his whole body reeked of poop. He had to have a bath almost every day. And we often rubbed on a special oily mixture that helped ward off the flies. It had an unusual odor to it but it smelt a little sweet. The smell was much better than poop, though.

That's when I figured out what Poco Mo was up to. He gnawed his stall down because he was trying to look like a burley handsome lumberjack to impress the female equine beauties living nearby. It also seemed he was a little shy and nervous about meeting them. But if you got him close enough, he would get right to point and chat up a storm. I believe he was deliberately setting himself up for a daily bath and fragrance treatment for the same reason. He wanted to look sharp and smell his best for the ladies. I think that's where I got the idea I needed to take baths more often and splash on a good dose of Old Spice to make myself presentable. I figured that would do the trick when I went to school. I tried my best but I didn't get any tricks.

I have had many other fine animal times. But what about Sam? Why "The Terrible?" Sam takes the prize. He was the absolute ruler of the whole 5 acres. I already explained how he treated his buddy, Pete. Buttons was the smart one. She never bothered him. In fact, she was so quiet, calm, sweet and respectful she was almost boring. It was midday and another cat made the mistake of cutting across what we can only define as Sam's place. Sam knew his boundaries. And he also knew there was a big oak tree on the neighbor's property next door. And that is where that innocent trespassing cat ended up out of fear and common sense. It was the only place to fly in getting away from Sam the Terrible. He stayed in that tree for several days, trembling, wondering where he might go - as long as it was safe. Never again did that cat cut through the Territory of Terrible Sam.

Sam didn't like birds hanging around, either. He cared for birds only in one way. And it wasn't pleasant for them to find out how. He had a saying, "The early worm gets eaten by the bird." And the bird gets eaten by Sam. My parents had a huge picture window in their bedroom. It was like the biggest widescreen TV you ever saw. On dewy mornings we would scurry into the bedroom to see the "Sam Being Sam Morning Show." It was so exciting; and not wanting to miss a moment, we allowed no time for preparing the popcorn. We had no time to get chairs, either. Standing up for the show, that was the ticket. At least it was free.

The birds would lite on the grass outside that window looking for worms. And we would stare down to the left side of the giant screen TV to get a clear view of the corner of the house. That is where Sam would begin his stealth-like approach. The tension was instant the moment he appeared. Although we really wanted to warn the bird, messing with Sam's plan of attack could be deadly for us instead of the bird. It was very impressive how he would be in one spot low to the ground in a crawling position and then in another spot a little later, closer to the prey, without moving a muscle. The length of time it took him to get to the launch position seemed like ages. Bossy was mooing at me because her utter was full and couldn't care less about Sam. But she had to wait. And finally, after what seemed hours with Sam snaking into position, the iron was hot for striking.

The move was like lightning and what happened next took place in a nanosecond. Sam would dart in the direction the bird and while underway, Sam's GPS would lock-in on the target with his latest weapon - SAM the Missile. He knew the fowl was going to take flight but in what direction? Sam didn't care because his guidance system was prepared to follow its target. There was not a chance of an escape. Pete was lucky. He witnessed the wrath of "The Claws of Sam," and lived to experience the "Claws of Sam" another day. And he lived through that as well.

The claws of the missile hit their mark - all over that bird. It was very impressive and as Sam walked off with Tweety in his mouth, the show ended. It was rated PG for action. We were too young to be permitted to watch the second part. It was too gory for the faint of heart; or those who might faint; even those who might deposit their breakfast on their shoes. There is a sequel that comes out every dewy morning but it had a very similar storyline - just a different bird.

Describing Sam snaking along the ground, reminded me of the time we vacationed in a cabin in the mountains. Sam came along with us. If he needed a vacation, he didn't show it. After our first peaceful night of sleep, my father and I stepped outside the cabin to smell the fresh, morning mountain air. In doing so, we usually check the ground to make sure there weren't any varmints around. It didn't take long to notice what appeared to be a motionless snake lying on the ground in front of the cabin. As we were looking, wondering how it got there, Sam came nonchalantly walking around the corner of the cabin and took a sitting position right in front of us and right next to that snake. The ground around the cabin was mostly gravel. So I got an idea and executed it immediately. I quickly, and intentionally, moved my foot, making a rustling sound in the gravel. Instantly, Sam went into launch mode and shot into the air about 6 feet; while all the time staring at that snake. He had killed it. But after hearing the rustling of the gravel, he had his doubts. And by the time he hit the ground, he had determined that it wasn't going to move. He then went on about the business doing what cats in casual mode do.

That is not the only time I got a chance to mess with Sam without him knowing it. He had a very clever method of coming to the front door and asking to come in. It was usually pretty hot in Southern California. The global warming was killing us, and Sam, too. We always left the door open but kept the screen door closed so the air could come in and the flies would stay out. Sam didn't meow or knock on the door. He didn't scratch at the doorway and he didn't say, "Open the dang door." Sam was special. He did things differently. He would walk away from the door about 10 feet, turn and dart to the door, jump about 5 feet in the air and bury his claws in the center of the screen. He would not let go until someone opened the door. Oddly enough, he uses that same technique on birds. The glass of water we kept on the floor next to the front door was my idea. You just pick it up and throw it through the screen. Sam takes his need to lick himself dry elsewhere. Fill the water glass, he will be back.

Why am I different? I didn't have a street corner to hang around on. I didn't have a bunch of lazy, crazy teenagers standing around trying to help me decide how to do absolutely nothing in my life and get paid for it - by my parents. I was living in Southern California so I didn't even know separate water fountains existed in the South. The kids on my street were busy tending animals and doing chores so you wouldn't get a lickin'. Works pretty good. With a little physical encouragement from my parents and help from my very good friends; Pete, Buttons, Bossy, Featherfoot, and Poco Mo, I turned out OK. I didn't learn anything from Sam except how to fight, kill snakes, eat birds and smack Pete around. That's about it. Is Sam the reason I joined the military? Maybe.

At least that, too, continued to keep me off the block and into a nice safe foxhole. Here Foxy!

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Preventing Feline Diabetes

Unfortunately Diabetes in cats is steadily increasing. Diabetes is a serious condition that needs immediate attention and consistent monitoring. But the good news is that there are steps you can take to help prevent this all too commonly seen feline illness. But if your kitty has feline diabetes there are ways to control it so you can maintain a good quality of life for both you and kitty if you diagnose the problem early.

Diabetes in cats occurs when there is a problem with the cat's insulin. Either the insulin isn't able to regulate the blood sugar anymore or the pancreas is not making enough insulin to regulate the blood sugar. There are a variety of reasons why this happens but there are some common risk factors that appear to contribute to this problem. You can help prevent diabetes by reducing the controllable common risk factors.

Controllable Risk Factors

The main risk factor that you can control is your cat's weight. Obesity is the main controllable risk factor you can control to help prevent feline diabetes. It is best to be careful and make sure your cat doesn't get to the point of being overweight. This doesn't mean you should deprive him of food, but it is important to feed the recommend amount of a quality cat food.

If your cat is already overweight work with your vet to start a weight loss plan. It is important to make gradual changes as losing weight too quickly can cause other serious health problems for your cat.

Maintaining a healthy diet is another important step you can take to prevent diabetes in your cat. This goes right along with keeping a healthy weight. Just like us if cats eat junk food they will gain weight and lack necessary nutrients. Unfortunately some cat foods contain too many fillers so your cat may eat too much because he doesn't feel full. Buy a good quality cat food and make sure you aren't providing too many unhealthy treats.

Lack of exercise is the other controllable risk factor. Make sure your cat is getting enough exercise. Have fun with him and have kitty play time every day, and find some toys he likes to play with on his own so he can play when you're not there too. Rotating toys can help keep them interesting.

Other factors like medications, a hormonal imbalance and stress can also be risk factors. You can take steps to minimize stress, but you will need to work with your vet on these other factors.

Non-Controllable Risk Factors

There are some factors you can't control, but it is good to know about them so you can watch for any symptoms and get a diagnosis early if you start to see signs that your cat isn't acting "normal".

Age can play a role; middle-aged and older cats have a greater chance of getting feline diabetes. Gender can play a role too as males are more likely to get this than females. Just like with us humans some cats may have a genetic factor giving them a greater predisposition of contracting this disease. Certain breeds also have a greater risk.

This article is brought to you by PERSONALS.