The Amazing Maine Coon Cat
July 29, 2008
The Maine Coon Cat which must be one of the biggest of the domestic breed of cats is readily recogised by its lovely bushy tail and its striped and long fur. The Maine Coon Cat belongs to North America and not surprisingly is a native of the state of Maine, and it is the State Cat.
The Maine Coon has been around for more than a century, and it is believed that their physical design enables them to withstand the harsh winters of New England. Everything from their overall size, to the shape of their paws, to the thickness of their fur makes them suitable animals for harsh winter weather. Furthermore, their fur has a water resistant quality to it.
As with so many domestic animals, a number of legends have grown up around them, some which may be true, and others which definitely are not. It has been suggested that the Maine Coon is a product of the domestic cat and the raccoon mating, but most experts think this is not possible. Other suggestions are that the native North American cat mated with the Vikings cat, and this is a possibility because of the similarity between the Maine Coon and the Norwegian Forest Cat.
At one time only the brown tabbie was considered to be a proper Maine Coon, any cat of a different color was called a Maine Shag Cat. The people who have studied the Maine Coon over the years are generally of the opinion that long haired cats from overseas, probably Europe, mated with the domestic short haired cat, and produced what we know today as the Maine Coon.
Maine Coon Cats also have unique personalities. They are often likened to dogs in fact. Unlike most cat breeds, the Maine Coon is highly sociable with humans and other pets. These cats will actually run to you when you call them, and are likely to be sitting at the door waiting for you when you arrive home. They do like a lot of love and attention.
Maine Coons were once a favorite among those who participated in early cat shows - as far back as 1861, but in the 1900’s, Persians came onto the scene, and the Maine Coon lost a bit of popularity. They once again started gaining popularity in the 1950s. The Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association were formed in 1968, by six breeders. The purpose of the organization was to preserve and protect the Maine Coon Cat breed. This breed of domestic cat was not recognized by all cat registries, however, until 1980.
Today, there are thousands of people who own, show and adore the Maine Coon Cat. The MCBFA, which was founded so long ago, by just six breeders, now has a membership of over 200 breeders, with approximately 2000 other members (non-breeders) as well.
Fast and Easy Cat Training and the Lies Told to Owners
June 12, 2008
A new cat is fun, exciting, and full of unexpected surprises. First things first, though. What about that mischievous behavior. Should your cat attend obedience classes? Actually, there truly is no need to even bother with it. With the correct training, your cat can become a well behaved addition to your loving family…and all without spending a bundle on expensive classes!
So is you want a well behaved cat, it is obvious that training will be an important part of that wish list. But let’s be clear on one thing, this cat training is not going to happen in ten minutes. Seriously, you can’t really think that you can train your cat to do tricks, be well behaved, stay off the counter, etc in just ten minutes? No, it takes consistency and patience…do you have some?
While cat training in ten minutes sounds like a great marketing spin for some cat guru, it is just not a reality. Cats do best when you combine consistency and reinforcement into your training plan. There a many cat training aids available that will help you to get control over your cat’s behavior.
One of the training aids that nearly every owner purchases is a well constructed litter tray. Cats are meticulously clean and want their potty area to be clean as well. Litter boxes help to keep the kitty poo in the proper location and not all over your home. If you are really passionate about a clean house, then you might even consider tackling toilet training your cat. Seriously, it can be done!
Cat grass is a fabulous invention. Since cats are such curious creatures and they love to chew and chomp, having cat grass available will allow them to enjoy a plant of their very own.
Cats are known nesters and so you should create an area just for this purpose. Cat condos are lovely examples of nesting areas. Most cats like to get high above the action and look down on everything, so being able to nest in a high spot is their idea of heaven on earth. You can teach your cat to move into the new area you have created by placing a favorite toy there or rubbing the area with a favorite treat. The smell is sure to attract them to the new nest.
While there are many cat training aids available, just choose a few to get started. Treats offer a fun way of positive reinforcement, yarn and balls are good for exercise and litter boxes can be your home’s best friend. But there is no training aid that will replace tolerance and consistency in your cat training plan. And you can guess that these two “must haves” don’t have any place in the “cat training in ten minutes” world.
Cats long for and desire training that is consistent, acknowledged and is incorporated into their daily lives. Remember, that if you put in the time and effort, your cat will appreciate the more well ordered world. It is worth your energy. Good cat behavior is a wonderful gem that once you have achieved it, you will never want to be without it again.
Food for Senior House Cats
May 27, 2008
How do you know what type of food to feed your geriatric cat? It can be challenging without a vet checkup. Always screen your geriatric cat’s desire for food, food consumption, eating routine, weight, and physiological condition. This info will be valuable when you and your veterinarian find out your cat’s particular nutritional needs. Unless your cat has problems digesting normal cat food, is becoming overweight or is on prescription food, ordinary complete formulation cat food accompanied by cool water is acceptable.
Your geriatric cat may also be pleased about a cozy resting place near the center of your family living. It is recommended to progress older cats onto a specially formulated senior cat food. Manufactured cat foods made especially for senior cats provide superior-quality protein and lower phosphorus levels to reduce stress on the kidneys. The senior citizen cat formulas also add Vitamin E to strengthen the older cat’s authentic defenses.
Cats Grow Old Like Humans Do
Cats go through a number of physical and behavioral changes as they age. As your cat’s metabolism slows down, the cat’s senses begin to weaken. Senior cats have more problems with taste, sight, smell, and hearing. Unfortunately, these physical changes are a reality of life, and the cat owner must tweak the nutrition of their cat. Generally, older cats between the ages of 8 and 12 tend to grow overweight and after age 12 have a tendency to become skinnier and metabolically old.
Keeping A Cat Healthy Through Proper Nutrition
There are a number of diseases and afflictions that felines develop in their older years. Cats with cancer have extra nutritional needs. Increasing omega-3 fatty acids and beta-carotene in the elder cat’s diet will aid felines with cancer. Bowel movements may deteriorate as the cat ages, causing problems such as reduced capacity to digest nutrients. Cats will experience a loss in weight when this happens.. There are unique diets formulated for cats that have developed heart disease. Cat diets for heart disease by and large have decreased amounts of sodium and more of taurine, an amino acid. Preservatives in modern cat foods have been fingerpointed for a number of problems in cats from allergies to cat cancer. The jury is still out.
Preparing The Cat Food
When getting cat food out of the fridge, it is best to let the cat food warm up. According to how much you give, it can take up to 2 hours to warm. You can warm catfood in a microwave, but it can get hot spots. Just watch to make sure it don’t overheat, and mix well after heating to reduce the heat spots. In general, avoid serving food that is either too hot or too cold.
Other Things to Contemplate About Feeding An Aging Cat
Older cats need fresh water every time they are fed. This is vitally important in senior cat care. Keeping the old aged cat properly hydrated is very important. Geriatric cats don’t drink water good even when water is available, so providing clean, fresh water helps. I advise placing numerous bowls of water in numerous areas in your home.
Taking Care of an Older Cat Boils Down to This
We suggest that you visit a veterinarian regularly when a cat gets older than 8. The vet needs to supervise the cat’s health. Veterinarians have yet to produce a “one size fits all” geriatric cat diet. The task is merely impossible given the enormous diversity of senior cats and their varying health issues. Tailoring the individual senior cat’s diet based on the cat’s age and health concerns from veterinary lab diagnostics is fundamental to success.
