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"No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens." -Abraham Lincoln
"The smallest feline is a masterpiece." -Leonardo Da Vinci
"Time spent with cats is never wasted." -Colette
"If Man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve Man but deteriorate the cat." -Mark Twain
"Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons." -Robertson Davies
"Dogs come when they are called; cats take a message and get back to you." -Mary Bly
"Did you know that most cats only live 10 - 12 years while their normal life expectancy should be 25 - 30 years! And we cause it! This premature death is entirely preventable." - Chantal Williams, author of CAT HEALTH SECRETS: The Ultimate Guide to Having Happy, Healthy, Long Living Cats
Cat Care:
"Taking Care of Kittens: A Task for Mom and Owner"
An Article by Marc de Jong, Author of "How to Take Care of Your Pregnant Cat"
Taking care of kittens does not ask any specialist knowledge. It is mainly a task for the mother. But is important to watch kittens and queen carefully.
Cats instinctively know what to do. But a queen is vulnerable after giving birth, and her children are still very weak. That makes taking care of kittens a quite passive but significant duty for cat owners.
The first two weeks your new little friends do not show much activity. The mother produces milk, the kittens drink it and sleep a lot. That's about it. Newborn kittens do not stand or walk, only crawl.
The queen takes taking care of kittens very seriously. She cleans her children and licks away any waste matter.
The average litter size is five kittens. Weigh the newborn kittens regularly. They should always gain.
It is possible to hand-feed kittens with a feeding bottle or a dropper. However, you should only do this if the cat is rejected or if the mother is not willing or capable to feed her children.
It's important to know that it occurs quite often. In HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PREGNANT CAT
Top breeders and specialized vets tell you all about taking care of kittens and feeding rejected or orphaned kittens.
To avoid any infection you should keep mom and kittens isolated from other cats.
As long as the mother eats well and behaves normally, there is no need to call in the vet.
Kittens are born with closed eyes and folded down ears. It takes five to ten days before they first see the light of day. Then it takes another three days before the eyes are fully open.
At first all kittens have gray-blue eyes, which seems a bit odd when you see if the first time. When they reach the age of 12 weeks the adult colors will appear.
By the end of the first month kittens should have their baby teeth poking through. Around that time you may give them their first small meat feed, such as special kitten food.
During the second month cats start to explore their environment.
They start to run and play with their brothers and sisters. Cats are curious pets, and if you ever doubted this, these weeks will change your mind.
Do not de-claw your kitten if they damage some of your goods. Instead, make sure you have cat toys at home.
Good nutrition is essential for both mom and children. There is excellent food available nowadays, developed for cat mothers and their babies.
By the time they are eight to ten weeks the kittens should have fully switched to solid food.
In this period kittens should also get their first vaccination against feline distemper and other illnesses. Also, check if they don't have worms.
The kittens will learn to use the litter box. They do this by imitating the mother. You can help to put the little cat in the right place if it considers urinating or relieving nature elsewhere.
You can train your kitten to show good behavior.
A new owner will appear, choosing his favorite from the litter. Make sure that you send your kitten to a real cat lover.
Kittens of three months will usually have left the nest.
They are now firmly on the way of becoming a real cat. Their permanent teeth will appear, they'll grow rapidly, play like life is nothing but play, and discover their adult drives.
Taking care of kittens belongs to the past. Cat life has begun!
Feline Behavior:
“Cat Behavior: Independent But Still Social Animals”
An Article by Marc de Jong, author, webmaster and feline expert.
Cat behavior has fascinated people throughout history. Cats are independent, but still social animals, and combine a hunting instinct with playfulness.
Cats are territorial animals. Dogs belong to their master, cats stick to their home. That's why your cat doesn't like traveling.
Cats see their home as holy ground. They mark it by rubbing, scratching and spraying.
When your cat rubs against your leg, it simply says: 'You are mine!'
Their memory for sounds, smells and sights is excellent. It is known that cats manage to return to familiar territory from great distances, negotiating obstacles as rivers and cities.
Cats do not accept hierarchy from people. You are not their master, but their roommate or fellow cat. Cats can save themselves easily. Still they like company very much.
Although they are less responsive to vocal commandments than dogs, cats do listen and can be taught to perform numerous tricks. They need to get a reward, though.
Punishment often has a reverse effect on cats.
Instead of learning they can get scared and start seeing you as their enemy.
Cats have inborn skills. This is first visible when they are kittens. Sucking milk is a reflex, not something they are taught. Mating is another example of inborn cat behavior.
Other habits are learnt by copying from their mother. Kittens learn grooming very young. At six weeks they can groom themselves.
Self grooming is a matter of personal hygiene. But not just that.
In hot weather they groom to lose body heat; sweat is ineffective due to their fur. Grooming is also used to remove loose hair and parasites. However, grooming may lead to hairballs.
Cat behavior is very much ruled by their senses. These come together in cat play.
Cats love to play, especially when they are young. Kittens can spend hours playing ... and biting!
Don't worry. By playing they pick up the rules of hunting. Toys are preys in their eyes and during cat play they behave like a cats in nature would.
Even elderly cats will find it difficult to resist running after a toy mouse, colorful ball or elastic.
Cats are fast runners, but don't like running for long. And though they use a sound, their main weapons are silence, patience, and observation - followed by a sudden attack.
Once playtime is over, cats lie down to sleep.
Cats sleep for about 16 to 17 hours a day.
Pregnant cats sleep even more. In the last stage of cat pregnancy, queens become restless and start to search a place to give birth.
By nature cats sleep mostly at daytime. It's the kind of cat behavior everybody knows. Very often cats sleep lightly, constantly scanning their environment with their senses and ready to react on the slightest movement or noise.
Felines prefer to choose their bed themselves. It should be warm, high and protected.
Don't be surprised if your cat changes his favorite sleeping place every two weeks.
Although your cat will love to have a special bed, you can't force to sleep on the same place for years. Change is part of their instinct.
Cat behavior can be influenced through kitten training or by a successful alternative method like clicker training, but you won't change a cat's instinct. In the end it is instinct that determines cat behavior
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marc de Jong runs an acclaimed web site on cats and is the Author of HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PREGNANT CAT
Cat Breeding:
Cat-Breeders.biz "Serving cat lovers and cat breeders worldwide."
Cat-Breeders.biz was launched in recognition of the need to provide a secure environment, where cat lovers can find pedigree cat breeders, and cat breeders can achieve their lifestyle objectives, and find good homes for their kittens.
"We soon saw the need for a dedicated Cat breeders directory!"
“We use the power of the Internet to connect our members worldwide. We are committed to membership satisfaction, and use our member’s suggestions to continually improve the effectiveness of our site.
"Our focus is providing a secure environment where cat lovers can quickly match, screen, and select Purebred Cat breeders; and cat breeders can find good homes for their kitten litters or adult cats.
"We guide you through the process of successfully matching cat lovers with cat breeders. Cat breeders list their services, experience, and motivations through our simple registration process. Cat lovers may list their kitten wanted ad, and communicate with cat breeders through our confidential message system to preserve privacy and security.
"Our directory includes listings by private cat breeders, cattery clubs, and occasional hobby or family cat breeders. We automate the matching of kittens for sale with kitten wanted entries; - with daily email notifications."
Whether you’re a cat lover or a cat breeder, Cat-Breeders.biz will help you find a match you can trust.
Cat Furniture:
“Quality Cat Furniture Makes Your House a Home”
An Article by Marc de Jong, Author of HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PREGNANT CAT
Cat furniture. You may think it is ridiculous to buy furniture for a cat, but it does have many benefits. For your pet and ... for you!
Let's face it. Cats are wonderful animals, but they can make a mess of your household. They damage and sometimes even ruin bedding, chairs, sofas, carpets, wallpaper ... well, we could go on for a while, but let's not occupy your time.
Kittens are worse than mature cats when it comes to messing things up, but even elderly cats still put their nails in your carpet, if they like to.
If you get your cat its own furniture, yours will retain its look.
One of your cat's favorite pieces of cat furniture will be your bed. Cats need a warm bed too. They may choose yours. Cats also like to play with moving little objects. Like your feet or toes, while you are in bed.
It may be a small investment or - if you build the furniture yourself - cost you sweat and creativity. But once your pet put its claws into its own supplies, your chairs, carpets or curtains do not have to be repaired or replaced. Cat furniture keeps your home intact.
In the end cat furniture saves money.
Felines have other interests than worry about money. They simply love to climb, play games, scratching their nails. Good quality scratching posts, toys, condos and cat houses stimulate activity.
Kittens will learn from cat furniture, and mature cats stay bright and active.
So let's not forget one more reason why scratching posts, nest beds or cat condos are important to own:
Cats like them!
That is, if it is really good. Modern day cat furniture is designed with the assistance of animal behaviorists and really appeals to most cats and kittens. OK, cats are obstinate and maybe yours will reject that beautiful condo, but good pet stores will refund your purchase if you are not satisfied.
Pet supplies can be bought in your local pet store. But:
Your cat accepts furniture bought from an online shop quicker than furniture from your local store!
Here's why:
Goods from a reputable online pet-store come to you brand new in the box.
In your local store it may have been lying around for some weeks or even months, absorbing smells from birds, dogs, pet food, strange people and so on.
Felines have an incredible nose - as we all know - and if your cat does not like one of these smells, it may reject your well chosen piece of cat furniture.
Check out the latest Cat Furniture...
Cozy Round Cat Bed
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Kitty Fun Cheese Slice
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Take a look at our favorite feline posters...
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