Ooh, I Don’t Want to Use That!

You know how there are certain toilet tissues that you like and some you don’t like? Maybe some are too soft, too rough, or too scented? Well, your cat feels the same way about its litter. And if it’s not happy about its litter, it may go outside the box.

Litters come in granules, pellets, and flakes. They come in clay (clumping and non-clumping), wheat, wood, paper, corn and corn cobs, and crystals. They come scented and unscented.

Let’s consider scent first. Your cat has a super-sensitive sense of smell, detecting odors you’ll never be able to notice. This means that if you can smell a fragrance, your cat might find it overwhelming (“Ooh, icky!”) and want to avoid it.

The next thing is texture. What does your cat find most natural? Just like you, your cat wants to feel comfortable when it eliminates. Strange materials are not likely to make the Top Ten List. What this all means is that you have to let your cat help you decide which litter to use.

Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine has created a list of “best value litters” that many cats accept:

1. Precious Cat Ultra
2. Arm & Hammer Odor Alert
3. Fresh Step Perfume & Dye Free
4. Fresh Step Crystal
5. Feline Pine
6. Tidy Cat Premium
7. Pro-Pet: Fresh Results
8. Arm & Hammer Essentials.

However, keep in mind that if your cat is continuing to go outside the box even if you think you’ve found the right litter, there may be other reasons: social or medical that you need to investigate.

Brought to you by Signe A. Dayhoff, Ph.D. http://www.catsmartcatlove.com/

What Listening to Your Cat Can Tell You

Additionally, cats are natural healers.  Did you know that their purring resonates at a vibration that can heal the human body?  And, cats know when something is amiss in your body as well.  It is important to pay attention to whether your cat sits or curls up next to you in the same place repeatedly and if they begin to purr.

Cats also let you know in their own subtle way if something if wrong with them.  Learning to communicate with your cats on a daily basis could actually save either your own life or theirs.

Common Cat Supplement Questions

There are two common Cat Supplement questions:

Is it NATURAL? Does Holistic MATTER?

YES and YES.

As a concerned cat owner, you should be avoiding as many ’un-natural’  ingredients as possible.

Here is what you should be looking for in a Quality, natural supplement:

1.  In choosing a natural supplement, ensure that none of these are on the label:

* No wheat,
* No Soy,
* No Dairy,
* No Sugar,
* No Artificial Ingredients,
* No additives
* and NO fillers.

2.  The ingredients should be derived from Natural Sources- if you can’t pronounce them, then they probably are NOT natural. Some of the more common Natural ingredients, include Vitamins, Minerals, Flax, Fish Oil, Amino Acids- plus both naturally derived animal and plant related components. This includes ingredients such as Herbs, Mushrooms, Colostrum, Glucosamine, and Digestive enzymes.

3.Ensure that the supplement is NATURALLY preserved. Vitamin E and being ‘air tight’ is the preservative of choice. AVOID BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin.

4. Natural flavor and color- If the supplement is chemically flavored or colored DON’T use it.

Here is a List of the NATURAL Ingredients:

Complete Vitamin Blend and Complete Mineral Blend

JOINT SUPPORT BLEND
* Glucosamine HC l
* Chondoitin Sulfate
* MSM (methylsulfonyl methane)

PREBIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS BLEND
* Fructooligosaccharides
* L. acidophilus
* L. Bifidum
* B. Longum,
* L. Rhamnosus
* S. Thermophilus
* B. Brevis
* L. Bulgaricus

KEY AMINO ACIDS BLEND
* l-lysine
* l-methionine
* l-arginine
* l-taurine

KEY IMMUNE PROTECTIVE BLEND
* Bovine colostrum
* Inositol hexaphosphate
* Aloe vera
* Maiitake

Information provided by the staff of http://www.thecatsupplement.com

Kneading: Why Do Cats Do That?

Kneading is the very distinct gentle pummeling action most cats do with their paws on the chests of their people and upon soft surfaces around the house.

Kneading or “milk threading” as it’s often referred to is an endearing leftover from kittenhood. When a kitten is nursing, it typically kneads its paws against the mother both to encourage milk flow and to enjoy the comforting feeling of being close to mom.

Adult cats still find deep comfort in mimicking and possibly remembering this early nurturing. Some suggest kneading is also a way for a cat to deposit its personal scent around their territory because they have scent glands in the pads of their front paws. That makes you part of their territory!

Brought to you by the cat loving staff at http://www.catsexclusive.com

Cat Training: A How To Guide

A cat is a cute furry animal that does not usually need to be given a bath like we give dogs. This is because cats are able to clean up themselves very well. But there is more to just giving them food or brushing their fur and there are certain things the owner must foresee.

Just like an untrained dog, an untrained cat can be a big nuisance. Luckily, training your cat is really easy. Take a simple example, like cat scratches on your bookshelves and tables. Kitten training will take care of this problem, by instructing the cat how to use a scratching post while it’s still young. Similarly, bad odors can be taken care of by teaching the cat to use a litter box.

You can resolve the clawing problems in several ways. Removing the claws when the pet is a kitten is one way. But a number of people think this to be unkind to the pet. Another thing you can do is to purchase a scratching post and coach the cat to scratch on the surface when it has a feeling to scratch.
The most recommended method for training a kitten to use a scratching post is to teach it by repeatedly making the motion with its paws. Cats will probably take a while to learn this, so more frequent cat training is best.

You’ll also need to get a litter box for cat training. When the cat learns to use the litter box, it will solve the problem of messes on the carpet and linoleum, which will arise if a cat hasn’t been housetrained. The litter box is available at any pet store, in a variety of sizes for different sizes of cats.

During the training period with a litter box, owners should keep their eyes on their cat. If the cat indicates that it needs to use the litter box, the owner needs to get the cat to the box quickly. Cats require play and need time to exercise. If you do not get something for the cat to play with, you risk the chance the cat might become destructive with your house.

Lots of different products for cat training are available, and they can be found at pet stores or online shops. In buying them, the owner needs to decide which aspects of the cat’s behavior to try and change, making the cat into a happy indoor pet. Lots of owners, for example, don’t know how to clean cat urine. This smell tends to linger, so a strong cleaner is an absolute necessity.

Article courtesy of Kathrynn Kelley

THE SCIENCE OF VACCINE DAMAGE

Here is an alarming study that I thought everyone should know about. This affects humans and animals alike.

A team at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine conducted several studies (1,2) to determine if vaccines can cause changes in the immune system of dogs that might lead to life-threatening immune-mediated diseases. They obviously conducted this research because concern already existed. It was sponsored by the Haywood Foundation which itself was looking for evidence that such changes in the human immune system might also be vaccine induced. It found the evidence.

The vaccinated, but not the non-vaccinated, dogs in the Purdue studies developed autoantibodies to many of their own biochemicals, including fibronectin, laminin, DNA, albumin, cytochrome C, cardiolipin and collagen.

This means that the vaccinated dogs — but not the non-vaccinated
dogs — were attacking their own fibronectin, which is involved in
tissue repair, cell multiplication and growth, and differentiation
between tissues and organs in a living organism.

The vaccinated Purdue dogs also developed autoantibodies to laminin,
which is involved in many cellular activities including the adhesion,
spreading, differentiation, proliferation and movement of cells.
Vaccines thus appear to be capable of removing the natural intelligence
of cells.

Autoantibodies to cardiolipin are frequently found in patients with the
serious disease systemic lupus erythematosus and also in individuals
with other autoimmune diseases. The presence of elevated
anti-cardiolipin antibodies is significantly associated with clots
within the heart or blood vessels, in poor blood clotting, haemorrhage,
bleeding into the skin, foetal loss and neurological conditions.
The Purdue studies also found that vaccinated dogs were developing
autoantibodies to their own collagen. About one quarter of all the
protein in the body is collagen. Collagen provides structure to our
bodies, protecting and supporting the softer tissues and connecting them
with the skeleton. It is no wonder that Canine Health Concern’s 1997
study of 4,000 dogs showed a high number of dogs developing mobility
problems shortly after they were vaccinated (noted in my 1997 book, What
Vets Don’t Tell You About Vaccines).

Perhaps most worryingly, the Purdue studies found that the vaccinated
dogs had developed autoantibodies to their own DNA. Did the alarm bells
sound? Did the scientific community call a halt to the vaccination
program? No. Instead, they stuck their fingers in the air, saying more
research is needed to ascertain whether vaccines can cause genetic
damage.

Meanwhile, the study dogs were found good homes, but no
long-term follow-up has been conducted. At around the same time, the
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force initiated several studies to find out why 160,000
cats each year in the USA develop terminal cancer at their vaccine
injection sites.(3)

The fact that cats can get vaccine-induced cancer has been acknowledged by veterinary bodies around the world, and even the British Government acknowledged it through its Working Group charged with the task of looking into canine and feline vaccines(4) following pressure from Canine Health Concern. What do you imagine was the advice of the AVMA Task Force, veterinary bodies and governments? “Carry on vaccinating until we find out why vaccines are killing cats, and which cats are most likely to die.”

In America, in an attempt to mitigate the problem, they’re vaccinating
cats in the tail or leg so they can amputate when cancer appears. Great
advice if it’s not your cat amongst the hundreds of thousands on the
“oops” list.

But other species are okay – right? Wrong. In August 2003, the Journal
of Veterinary Medicine carried an Italian study which showed that dogs
also develop vaccine-induced cancers at their injection sites.(5) We
already know that vaccine-site cancer is a possible sequel to human
vaccines, too, since the Salk polio vaccine was said to carry a monkey
retrovirus (from cultivating the vaccine on monkey organs) that produces
inheritable cancer. The monkey retrovirus SV40 keeps turning up in human
cancer sites.

It is also widely acknowledged that vaccines can cause a fast-acting,
usually fatal, disease called autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA).
Without treatment, and frequently with treatment, individuals can die in
agony within a matter of days.

Merck, itself a multinational vaccine manufacturer, states in The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy that autoimmune haemolytic anaemia may be caused by modified live-virus vaccines, as do Tizard’s Veterinary Immunology (4th edition) and the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.(6) The British Government’s Working Group, despite being staffed by vaccine-industry consultants who say they are independent, also acknowledged this fact. However, no one warns the pet owners before their animals are subjected to an unnecessary booster, and very few owners are told why after their pets die of AIHA.

Article brought to you courtesy of Catherine O’Driscoll,  www.dogsadversereactions.com

Cat Behavior Problems – Taming The Wildcat Within

Cats have won the popularity contest. More people now have cats in their homes as pets than any other pet. Cats are unique animals. They can be funny, mysterious and cuddly. They can also be perplexing. Accepting up front that you have a tiger in the house can go a long way toward understanding cat behavior problems.

Even though cats have been domesticated for ages, their feline behavior has remained much like that of a jungle cat like the lion or the tiger. Even our adorable little pussycats still retain certain predatory instincts, so much of what appears to be cat behavior problems only reflects their genetic brain formation for the life they were originally meant to lead.

If you have raised a kitten, or more than one kitten, you will undoubtedly notice that kittens become aggressive in their play when they are active. Doing this helps them learn skills that would help them catch prey in the wild to survive. With indoor cats, however, you should teach them to channel these aggressive instincts into acceptable forms, so they do not try to bite your fingers or toes!

Give your kitten appropriate cat toys that can withstand being stalked, bitten, chewed, and kicked. Kittens like to hold a toy with their front paws while kicking it with their powerful back legs. This activity is good exercise for your pet and a lot of fun for you to watch. Mice made of fur or leather make good toys, because your kitty can pounce on them and chew to his heart’s content. While your kitten may be several weeks old before he reacts to catnip, you may need to add some to toys in order to attract the attention of an older kitten or cat. Some cats don’t seem to be affected by catnip, however.

If your cat is playing in this manner, you must set limits and teach him or her not to bite, scratch or chew humans, or anything else that you consider to be out of bounds. Do not hit a cat; this won’t deter him and will only cause more cat behavior problems. It will undermine the trust between you and your pet, making him or her more aggressive and angry. Instead, say “No!” after removing the cat from the situation, and reward good behavior with a “Good kitty!” and, in some cases, a treat.

Cats naturally control the growth of their claws by scratching trees and other rough surfaces, another instinct behavior. To make sure they don’t treat furniture or carpet as an indoor substitute, you need to provide cat scratchers for them to use instead. Catnip or catnip sprays can help lure the cat to use these at first, but many catch on easily. You can make your own from scrap wood and carpet scraps, or even strips of cardboard crammed sideways in a box, or buy them at any pet shop. Some types hang from doorknobs as well.

There are more cats in American homes these days than there are dogs. A cat owner who understands cat behavior problems will find it easier living with the little wildcat they’ve brought into their home. To address feline behavior issues, you need to provide cat scratchers to keep cats from using your carpets and furniture for the same purpose. Also, you need to teach the cat not to bite, chew or scratch things that are off limits. When the cat does something bad, say “No!” sharply and remove the cat from the situation, and reward obedience with a “Good kitty!” and perhaps a treat.

Brought to you by Paul Proctor, article found at http://www.amazines.com

Strange Cat Behavior Demystified

Scenario: You’re walking down the hall, in your own little world, when suddenly a flying, foot-snagging cat grabs a hold of your ankle and takes a bite. “But he was purring away on the couch a few minutes ago,” you think to yourself. “What happened?” Explanation: Chances are your cat is simply practicing skills he would normally use in the wild, such as: stalking, chasing, swatting, clawing, and biting. He may draw his ears back, twitch his tail, freeze in a low crouch before pouncing, and/or wrap his front paws around your hand or foot in an attempt to bite. These are all body postures cats, large and small, show when searching for and catching prey.

Despite your kitty’s playful intentions, they can result in scratches, bites that don’t break the skin, or serious injury (scratches and bites that break the skin and become infected). The most common play aggressors are cats less than two years of age, those living in a one-cat household, and cats spending 8-10 hours a day home alone.

Playful “attacks” commonly occur when unsuspecting owners round a corner, come down the stairs, or toss around under a blanket. These attacks can often be distinguished from aggressive encounters by a sideways hop or pounce, an arched back, a half open mouth, or silence (the absence of hissing, growling, or spitting).

Can You Teach a Cat Tricks?

Who says you can’t teach a cat tricks? Believe it or not, a cat can learn almost any trick that a dog can learn. It just takes a little time, patience and communication. Today, we’ll focus on the most basic commands – sitting and standing.

What You Need:

* Your cat before mealtime

* A quiet area where your cat is comfortable

* A table for your cat

* A specific command (in this case, the words “sit” or “stand”), preceded by your cat’s name

* Your positive signal (a clicker, or an upbeat word such as “yes”)

* Your cat’s reward (favorite food or special treats)

Teaching Your Cat to Sit

1. Gently put your cat on the table at the edge nearest to you, and pet her so she is comfortable.

2. Show your cat the reward, then give the command “Fluffy, sit” and move the reward back and over her head.

3. As she tips her head back to follow the food, she will naturally sit to keep her balance. When she sits, hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “sit, good sit”. Immediately give her the treat.

4. Eventually your cat should respond to the command “sit” without you having to dangle food over her head.

5. Once your cat has learned the behavior, you no longer need to place the cat on the table to sit.

In the beginning, if your cat does not sit on her own, you may gently press down on her hindquarters. Then hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “sit, good sit.” Be gentle and patient. If she resists, try again another time. It’s always better to have her sit on her own.

Teaching Your Cat to Stand

Standing is one of the simplest tricks you can teach your cat, as they often assume the position naturally. Your goal is to have your cat stand up on her haunches when you give the command “up” while you hold the reward above her.

Training Steps

1. Put your cat on the table at the edge nearest to you, and pet her so she is comfortable.

2. Show her the reward, then give the command “Fluffy, up” while you hold the food directly above her (but not close enough that she can grab it).

3. When she stands on her hind legs or haunches and reaches for the food, hit the clicker (or use your positive signal) and say “up, good up.” Immediately give her the treat.

4. Eventually your cat should respond to the command “up” without you having to hold the food above her.

5. Once your cat has learned the behavior, you no longer need to place the cat on a table to sit up.

For those who may not think it’s kosher to teach a cat tricks, remember this. Training is all about learning how to communicate and work together, like in every good relationship.

Above all, training should be fun for you — and fun for your feline friend too. Now, go teach your kitty some new tricks!

Human ADHD Drug Most Common Poison for Cats

Dr. Jean Hofve shares a report with us from the National Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Illinois that states drugs designed for use by people have been the leading source of poisonings among companion animals.  Among cats, Adderall (an amphetamine combination used to treat ADHD) is one of the most common and dangerous of these pharmaceutical threats.

Adderall apparently tastes good to cats. A single 20 mg capsule can be fatal to a cat. Symptoms include vocalization, anxiety, agitation, pacing, disorientation, hypersensitivity to light, sound and touch, and even tremors. With quick, aggressive treatment, cats may recover. Please keep this drug (and all medications) securely inaccessible to cats, children, and other pets. Never give medications intended for humans to pets. Most cases of pet poisoning involve acetominophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin.