Does your cat appear to be a little grumpy lately? You could be causing your cats behavior. Your cats body language could be telling you that something is upsetting him. One pet peeve of cats is dirty kitty litter.  Does his letter smell like a portable toilet?  Cats hate dirty, stinky litter boxes.  They may even be driven to seek a substitute toilet.  It could be the carpet or even your bed!  The solution, make sure that you keep your kitty’s litter clean. Scoop every day and change the entire litter once a week. I’m sure that your cat will appreciate you for it!

Remember, your pets count!

If you’re feeding your dog a high quality dog food, and if he looks fit with bright eyes and a shiny coat, he’s probably getting all the nutrients he needs but there are times when  vitamin and mineral supplements are a good idea. For instance, if you’re feeding your dog  a homemade diet, he probably needs more vitamins and minerals than he’s now getting. If your dog gets stressed our or if he’s getting older, he may also require nutritional support. If your dog just had pups, consider extra vitamins and minerals. Before adding supplements to your pets diet, make sure you consult your veterinarian. Too many vitamins and minerals can be dangerous.

Remember, your pets count!

Bengal kitten

There are several expensive cat breeds but the ones that are the most expensive to adopt is the Bengal cat and the Savannah Cat. The Bengal cat has short hair and are a hybrid from the domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat. Most of the time, this cat is fairly active so make sure that you provide plenty of cat toys.  They also enjoy being around people which makes them a great house cat. The price tag of Bengal cat ranges from hundreds to thousands  of dollars.

The Savannah cat is a medium size cat.  These breeds are loyal, social and love to play.  Savannah cats can cost as much as $20,000.

The Scottish Fold is a spoiled cat and often meows a lot to get attention. It comes from a natural gene mutated breed and has “foldable” ears. The price of these cats range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Remember, your pets count!

Savannah Cat

Scottish Fold kitten

We all know that fatty foods taste good even to a fussy cat.  If a cat has a diet that is too high in fat, he could gain weight and become obese. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t feed any fats to your cat. In fact, fats are a very important part of your pets diet. Fats give your cat the energy he needs throughout the day. They also help keep his coat soft and shiny. Fats also help your cat’s body absorb important vitamins like vitamins A,D,E and K. Check the label on your cat’s food.  By law, it has to state the fat content. Talk to your veterinarian to determine what fat content is best for your cat’s age, health and overall activity level.

Remember, your pets count!

As we know, there is a very large variety of cat food available.  Wet food, dry food, semi moist, beef, chicken and seafood are only some of choices. There are several combinations of seafood alone. These range from shrimp to crab and fish. Fish includes several species, usually salmon, cod, yellow fish, white fish and tuna.  So as a cat owner, how do you choose?  If you read the guarantee analysis on the labels, you’ll notice that even though the ingredients vary between the flavors offered, within one brand, the percentage of proteins and other key elements will be somewhat consistent. So find what what your cat likes best and serve it to her with lots of love!

Remember, your pets count!

Falling through the ice or even just standing in cold water on a windy day can make your dog’s temperate plummet. If he’s shivering, he’s loosing essential body heat and there is a possibility that hypothermia will set in.  He needs to be dried off and warmed up fast. If your dog is small, wrap him inside your coat and carry him home. If he’s a big dog, get him out of the wind as quickly as possible. Dry him off with a towel and wrap him in a warm blanket and rub him down to get the blood flowing. If he’s shivering, that’s actually a good sign.  Hurry home and use whatever you can find, this includes hot water bottles, heat lamps if you own any. If not, a heating pad will help bring his temperature back to normal which is 103 to 105 degrees F.

Remember, your pets count!

Our pets need the same things that we need during the winter months.  Shelter from the elements, a warm, dry bed,  Some extra food if they spent lots of time playing outdoors and plenty of fresh, clean water.  In the winter, it’s especially important to keep your dog clean and well brushed.  This will help maintain the natural, insulating properties of their coat. If he gets wet in the freezing rain or snow, dry him off with fluffy towels or a bow dryer. Be sure t0 clean and dry his paws each time they are exposed to rock salt or deicing chemicals. When it’s cold, keep your cat indoors as much as possible.  If you do let him out, check under the hood before you start your car to make sure that he hasn’t curled up in to stay warm.

Remember, your pets count.

As we get into the cold winter months, you may be concerned about the feral cats that are out there trying to “brave the elements.” There’s a cat that has been under your deck that you feed but can’t be sure that it will be safe in the winter. You decide to adopt it and introduce it to the pleasures of indoor living. If the feline is friendly and you’ve already been feeding it, having it move indoors with you may not be as hard as you think.

Litter box training is the biggest concern for most people. Place the box where you want it permanently located. In the past, if you allowed  this cat inside once in awhile, place a transitional litter box near the door where she used to come in and out. As time goes on, slowly move the transitional box closer to the permanent box. Once the boxes are side by side, you can remove one of them.

If the cat was never litter box trained, a confinement method is usually necessary. Set the cat up in a large crate complete with litter box, resting place, food, water and cat toys.When the cat is consistently using the litter box, she can be moved to a small room. After she gets the hang of that, gradually increase her space. If she has a lapse, return to the last place that she kept clean.

Once she’s litter box trained, enrich her new environment. Give her access to a window sill so she can look outside. Give her some catnip or wheat grass so she can nosh on some cat safe greenery. Get her cat toys to keep her occupied.  Safeguard your furniture by putting several cat scratching posts throughout the house. Cardboard scratch pads embedded with catnip are inexpensive and can be scattered throughout your home.

Even though your cat is in a safe, comfortable environment, the lure of the great outdoors may still entice them. Make sure screens are tightly secured and make sure that the door is never left open. Distract her from going for the door by rolling a toy across the floor or giving her a treat. Make sure that she is spayed. Eventually, she will be very content staying indoors and will not dash for the door anymore.

Finally, give your cat a good, healthy diet high in protein. Provide treats and lots of love and you new guest will become a beloved family member.

Remember, your pets count!

Calcium and vitamin D are essential for building your dogs bones and teeth. These nutrients are especially important for growing puppies and for pregnant and lactating dogs. Dairy products, legumes and bones themselves contain lots of calcium. Most grains and meat contain little.  Veterinarians do not like it when owners feed their dog a calcium deficient  diet consisting of meat and grain alone. Their dogs may develop Osteoporosis, broken bones, loose teeth and arthritis. Calcium deficiency is rare, thanks to commercial pet foods that are easily prepared and properly balanced. If you suspect a problem, your veterinarian can use X rays to check your dog’s bone density, and detect hairline fractures.

Remember, your pets count!

According to the Cat Fanciers Association, the Persian is the most popular pedigreed cat breed in the United States. It could be it’s long, beautiful coat that makes everyone love it or maybe it the Persian’s playful personality. It’s also quite and easy going and most Persians readily adapt to new households and accept other pets. This makes the breed relatively easy to care for. Persians do require extra grooming.  Their large eyes are prone to tearing and infection so a Persians eyes and face should be kept clean. The breeds long fur can also become matted so they should be brushed daily. Persians are a pleasure to own and all the extra care is worth it!

Remember, your pets count!