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Christmas Gifts for Cat Lovers
With the holiday season fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about everyone on your gift list. And, if you're like most people, you know at least one person who's fanatical about felines. But what should you get that crazy cat lover? We've outlined a few of our favorite picks as follows:
- The Cat Behavior Answer Book -- Arden Moore, the author of this volume, is an expert on helping readers understand why cats really do the crazy things they do. Pick up a copy at Amazon.com for as low as $10.17.
- Cat Scarves -- Check out MeowStore.com and feast your eyes on their gorgeous and colorful cat scarves. These portable works of art by Laurel Burch are a deal for as low as $9.99 - and range in materials from fleece to silk.
- Cat Butts Magnets -- For $11.99, you can pick up a pack of very...memorable...magnets. Just visit PerpetualKid.com!
- Cat Jewelry -- At JustCatJewelry.com, you'll find a wide variety of cat-themed necklaces, pins, pendants, chains, rings, watches, and other gifts. There's something to suit everyone's taste, including Swarovski crystals!
- Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure -- Accompanied by 6 cat companions, the crazy cat lady action figure makes a notable addition to any home or office environment. Just $10.95 from WickedCoolStuff.com.
- Cat Fancy Magazine -- You can buy a 1-year subscription to Cat Fancy at magazines.com for just $15! And as we all know, publications make for great gifts as they give all year 'round.
- Pet Wind Chimes -- If you're in the market for something a little more carefree, stop by the Home Decor / Garden section of UncommonGoods.com. There you'll find some very sweet colored glass and metal chimes for $36.00.
- Wacky Kitties Art Prints -- Florida artist Ann Darling has created a colorful collection of 8" x 10" black cat prints for sale via WackyKitties.com. These whimsical pieces go for as low as $15 each.
- Franklin Mint Cat Figurines -- When quality matters most and you're looking for something to add a touch of elegance to your loved one's home or office, head to CatFancyGifts.com / Figurines. They feature eleven curio cats from the Franklin Mint, ranging from pewter to clay, to blue glass.
- Apparel, Totes, Hats, Stickers, etc. -- CafePress.com has practically anything you can think of that's cat-themed and fun to wear. Check 'em out.
We hope this has given you some ideas for all the cat lovers on your gift list.
Happy holidays!
Hear the cat love of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers.Labels: cat_articles
posted by Marc Gunn @
7:37 PM
 
Cat Safety for Christmas
You do everything you can to keep your family members safe. At Halloween, you check your kids' candy to make sure it's mischief-free. For Fourth of July, you discourage your cousin Ed from chewing on firecrackers (well, most of the time). Now that the winter holidays are approaching, it's your cats' turn for a little extra TLC. Read on for some pointers.
- If you have a Christmas tree -- and a live one at that, never let your cat drink from the water in the tree's stand. Chemicals sprayed on the tree, not to mention toxic tree sap, leach into the water. Spray the tree skirt with a deterrent to keep Fluffy away. Better yet, go for an eco-friendly artificial tree... you'll save on cleanup time and save hours shopping for a tree each year.
- If you decorate a Christmas tree this year, be sure and avoid use of tinsel. Tinsel, though shiny and wonderfully spaghetti like, will not agree with your cat's intestines.
- Stabilize that tree. If you have an acrobatic kitty, he or she may eventually try to climb that bit of nature you've brought indoors. The last thing you want on a "silent night" is to have to call out "Timberrrrr!"
- Be wary of mistletoe and poinsettias, which if nibbled on by your feline companion, can damage their liver and kidneys... eventually proving fatal. Try using imitation plants, or if you must use the real thing, place them out of kitty's reach.
- Ribbons and wrapping may look great on your gifts, but be wary of using any long, dangly ribbons or daubles which may be tempting for kitty to nibble on. The last thing you want on Christmas Eve is a trip to the emergency vet because your cat has eaten several feet of silver and gold ribbon.
- Do not feed your cat rich people-food... especially anything containing coffee or chocolate, which is toxic to cats This goes for all year long, of course, but please resist the urge to bestow your generosity on your fluffy friend in this manner.
- Candles, while pretty, are a hazard to cats...and if they get tipped over, to your entire household. Please limit their use, place them strategically so your cat can't reach them, or avoid them altogether.
- Ah, visitors. While you may love them, your cats may not... and the feeling may be mutual. Be especially cautious if the guests have children who may not know the proper way of treating an animal. If you're not sure how visitors will react to your pets, keep them safely in a bedroom or separate part of the house until your guests depart.
- If you are giving your cat(s) cat toys as presents, check them first to make sure that they are not too small to be swallowed or choked on, and that all small pieces are stitched or glued on thoroughly to survive the chewing process.
- Last but not least... please never give a cat or kitten as a holiday present. This goes for dogs, too. Animals are not things, and once the glow of the season passes, the recipient will awaken to find that they've been committed a life-long commitment to care for this little fluff ball. This is an especially poor choice if the gift is made to a child.
If you follow these tips, you and yours should enjoy a safer, more snuggly holiday!
Hear the cat love of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers.Labels: cat_articles
posted by Marc Gunn @
4:42 PM
Flying With Your Cat.....
Before flying with your cat, take the necessary steps to be fully prepared. Many necessities for air travel can be addressed long before leaving the ground.
Book tickets according to seasonal temperature variances. Most airlines do not have temperature controlled cargo areas and do reserve the right to refuse animal service if the conditions are too extreme. During summer months it is best to fly at night, while in winter it is best to fly during the day.
Double check airline policies. Cover yourself by documenting all conversations, including a list of whom you spoke with, where and when.
Visit your cat's veterinarian a few days before you leave and ask for a current health certificate and an updated vaccinations certificate for your cat. Airlines and some county, national park and border patrol officials may require proof of an up-to-date health certificate.
Get an airline-approved crate. Some airlines allow owners to carry small crates for tiny cats, as long as they fit under the seat.
Reserve tickets as early as possible for both you and your pet. Your pet may be able to travel in the cabin if there aren't too many animals booked on the flight and if it meets size specifications.
From the CatNips Newsletter.
Hear the cat love of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers.Labels: cat_articles
posted by Marc Gunn @
1:45 PM
Cats Need Plenty of Water With Their Food
It Is extremely important nutrient with respect to over-all health is water. It is very important for a cat to ingest water with its food, as the cat does not have a very strong thirst drive. This is a critical point. This lack of a strong thirst drive leads to low-level, chronic dehydration when dry food makes up the bulk of their diet.
Cats are designed to obtain most of their water with their diet since their normal prey contains approximately 70 - 75 percent water. Dry foods only contain 10 percent water whereas canned foods contain approximately 78 percent water. Canned foods therefore more closely approximate the natural diet of the cat and are better suited to meet the cat's water needs.
A cat consuming a predominantly dry-food diet does drink more water than a cat consuming a canned food diet, but in the end, when water from all sources is added together (what's in their diet plus what they drink), the cat on dry food consumes approximately half the amount of water compared with a cat eating canned foods. This is a crucial point when one considers how common kidney and bladder problems are in the cat.
From the CatNips Newsletter.
Hear the cat love of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers.Labels: cat_articles
posted by Marc Gunn @
4:57 PM
Stop the Cat Scratching and Smell the Citrus - Ways to Protect Your Furniture
By Rob Metras
Cat scratches are considered as the biggest menace in the training of a cat. The cat normally scratches the furniture and other hard surface with its claws and can damage furniture and other surfaces, causing you to feel desperate, especially when nothing seems to deter it from doing it again.
If cat scratching is what's keeping you from getting that cute cat, then don't worry so much. The scratching of the furniture and sofa can be stopped, and you can teach cats to scratch the right surfaces, and keep them away from your furniture and other unwanted scratching surface.
There are a few reasons why cats scratch. They may scratch, in order to leave a visual presence and mark their scent. They want to let other cats know that they are living here and don't want other cats to interfere.
A cats' claws grow in layers and the outer layer promotes the growth of the new layer. The growth of the claw causes some discomfort and forces the cat to scratch on any rough surface. Scratching the rough surface gives the cats claws in shape and this is just another reason they continue to scratch..
Scratching of the hard surfaces enhances the stretching of muscles, creates good blood circulation and promotes a healthy and stable body for the cat. The cat becomes comfortable in the process of scratching and also tends to do it when playing with the other cats.
You may be able to discourage this cat behavior by scolding them to a certain extent, but you can also avoid your cat from scratching in the wrong places by adopting the following techniques.
- Purchase the right scratching surfaces for the cat to prevent them from scratching the furniture and other items.
- Generally cats prefer hard and rough surfaces like wood for scratching. Having the cat Practice on the scratching post or tree lets him be happy and gives you scratch free furniture.
- Decorate the scratch tree or post with toys and catnip. This creates an attraction for them. The scratching post should be lengthy and tall for the cats.
- The scratching materials should be made visible to the cat, so it can scratch these items rather than the furniture.
- Using Sticking tapes and adhesive tapes on the furniture over the scratched areas, causes the cat to stay away from those areas because of the discomfort the stickiness of the tape causes.
- Some noise makes cats uneasy, so bonding of aluminum foil and plastic covers over the furniture or other items frustrates the cat because of the sound caused and they will avoid scratching on these areas.
- Cats generally hate the aroma of oranges. Keeping oranges over the furniture makes them run away from the place. Hanging the oranges over any hard surface also prevents the cat from scratching.
- Training the cats also helps in keeping a scratch free home and furniture.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Metras
Hear the cat love of Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers.Labels: cat_articles
posted by Marc Gunn @
10:40 AM
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