No one likes to vomit and the same goes for your cat. Little surprises that they sometimes through up and leave for you on your light coloured carpet, of course are a chore to clean up. Cats are known for grooming themselves a lot. It's roughly estimated that a cat will spend up to a third of its waking life washing itself. When your cat washes herself miniature hooks pull the loose hair out and go in to the digestive system. The occasional hairball is usually nothing to worry about it's when it becomes more frequent that you should worry.
Nature has designed a carnivores stomach to digest fur and hair. Any wildlife programme you watch will show meat eaters stripping fur and flesh and consuming it all together. The issue is the breeding of long haired animals, Persians, Birmans, Maine Coon and other medium to long haired cats. This doesn't mean that a short haired cat won't have problems as well. When a cat grooms, the hair sits in the gut and usually passes through. However if there is a problem in the stomach the hair will collect, become thicker and come back up the wrong way! As a kitten you probably never really saw any hairballs from your pet, however as your cat grows so does their ability to groom themselves better.
Frequent brushing with a good quality cat brush should be a daily procedure for any responsible animal owner. If you're going to have a long haired cat as a pet then make sure you are taking the time out to groom them correctly. Your pet shop should have a mixture of good, quality cat brushes and combs. Brushing alone isn't enough, combing is necessary too. A brush tends to collect fur from the top where as a long, wide toothed comb will get through thick, long hair and remove dead hair from the root. The thickness is just as much a problem as the length. Also the issue of flea treatment will be easier to deal with if you can lessen the amount of dead fur that your pet has to carry around.
Hydrating your pet is a must for helping with hairball problems. Cats are notorious for liking to drink in different places. So having fresh water readily available in all your cat's favourite places, as well as at the feeding area, will get your cat used to drinking more. This will start to lubricate the digestive system and help to flush the hair through rather than clumping in the stomach. It's a well known fact that cats love to drink from running water. Have you ever seen them sit in the bath catching the dripping tap water? If you have a difficult cat then you're more likely to entice them into drinking by purchasing a fountain type water bowl. Certain brands are now selling hairball control food. Where this is good in terms of high fibre content it can cause problems if your cat doesn't drink enough water.
Always check with your vet first and ask for their opinion on dietary changes and supplements.
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Sunday, 28 August 2011
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Microchipping Your Pet
With the frightening reality of pet theft on the rise and animals getting lost, is microchipping your pet the best option? You could be out in the park, distracted for a moment and your dog is gone. What if your pet escaped out the back garden and got lost? What if your dog collar became loose? These and many other situations are faced by pet owners every day. If stray animals are rescued but aren't reclaimed, then sadly they are euthanized. Microchipping is a quick and painless procedure, no anaesthetic is required and it lasts up to 75 years. The microchip is no bigger than a grain of rice and is usually injected between the shoulder blades very close to the surface. The microchip contains a memory circuit which retains your pets individual identification number, which is then registered. A pet microchip has radio frequency identification, (RFID) so when the animal is scanned the chip then becomes active supplying the data about the individual pet. This type of chip is called a 'passive RFID tag' because it lies dormant until scanned. So there is no battery or internal power source inside your pet.
Unlike a tag or collar, once a chip has been implanted it can't be dislodged. Also if your pet is stolen a chip can help with disputes as to who is the real owner. In the U.K the government is considering if it's worth introducing compulsory microchipping. Battersea Dogs and Cats home, is in principle, supporting the idea as they feel it will encourage responsibility in animal owners and help to reunite owners and pets. In 2010 they took in just over 4000 stray dogs and only 32% were microchipped. How would you get your pet back if they weren't chipped? Collars and tags come off where as a microchipped pet is traceable for life.
There is also the benefit of keeping bad breeders in line if microchipping becomes compulsory. If people are held to account for the standard of animal they produce then they will hopefully be more responsible. The financial strain on animal shelters would also be lessened, as stray pets would be immediately identified and owners notified. The cost of having to house, feed and maybe euthanize an animal is far more expensive than having the quick simple procedure of chipping done.
If you are a cat owner then there is also the plus side of a microchip cat flap. We all know about the naughty neighbourhood cats that sneak in when you're not looking. They'll help themselves to your pets food, maybe have a sneaky catnap on your new, expensive bed quilt and perhaps use your cats cat tray for themselves. There is also the added treat of them all spraying their messages around your house attracting other cats as well. A lot of the microchip cat flaps work by setting themselves to only allow your cat in as it will automatically pick up the first microchipped pet through. So make sure when setting it, that your cat is the first to go through.
Whatever your opinion on microchipping is, something has to change. Rescue centres are sadly sometimes the last place a lost pet will call home.
Unlike a tag or collar, once a chip has been implanted it can't be dislodged. Also if your pet is stolen a chip can help with disputes as to who is the real owner. In the U.K the government is considering if it's worth introducing compulsory microchipping. Battersea Dogs and Cats home, is in principle, supporting the idea as they feel it will encourage responsibility in animal owners and help to reunite owners and pets. In 2010 they took in just over 4000 stray dogs and only 32% were microchipped. How would you get your pet back if they weren't chipped? Collars and tags come off where as a microchipped pet is traceable for life.
There is also the benefit of keeping bad breeders in line if microchipping becomes compulsory. If people are held to account for the standard of animal they produce then they will hopefully be more responsible. The financial strain on animal shelters would also be lessened, as stray pets would be immediately identified and owners notified. The cost of having to house, feed and maybe euthanize an animal is far more expensive than having the quick simple procedure of chipping done.
If you are a cat owner then there is also the plus side of a microchip cat flap. We all know about the naughty neighbourhood cats that sneak in when you're not looking. They'll help themselves to your pets food, maybe have a sneaky catnap on your new, expensive bed quilt and perhaps use your cats cat tray for themselves. There is also the added treat of them all spraying their messages around your house attracting other cats as well. A lot of the microchip cat flaps work by setting themselves to only allow your cat in as it will automatically pick up the first microchipped pet through. So make sure when setting it, that your cat is the first to go through.
Whatever your opinion on microchipping is, something has to change. Rescue centres are sadly sometimes the last place a lost pet will call home.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Five Ways to Deal With the Loss of a Pet
Sadly we can't all live forever and there may come a time in our life when our beloved faithful pet leaves us behind, as much as it can be devastating and life changing we must try to move on and cope with the sad loss.
Here are some ways to help you in coping with the loss of a pet.
1) Remember the Good Times
Do not focus on the negative factors but instead focus on the positives, the good times that you had with your pet. Think about the way your pet used to greet you when you arrived home, the games you played, the trips or days out when your pet came with you and any funny habits that your pet had. Cherish the memories and be grateful for every day that you spent with your pet. Feel grateful that you were lucky to be the proud owner of your pet and also that you cared for your pet as much as you could.
2) Allow the Natural Grieving Process
Do not try to rush the grieving process for the loss of your pet, as the process must be natural and it is all part of the course to express your true feelings. This much loved pet was part of your family and whom you had a strong bond with, who was there with you everyday, who you shared your life with and who was part of so many of your memories, so feeling extreme pain and sadness is completely normal in this situation.
3) Keep the Memory Alive
Print a special photo out of your pet and frame it, then display it on your mantelpiece or somewhere you pass by often, so he or she is never far from you and if you are feeling lonely you can always look at the photo. Many places offer pet memorials such as a pet headstones and also pet cemeteries. You may also want to consider a pet cremation service. Another memorable thing to do would be to plant a tree or shrub in memory of your pet then you can look out into your garden at the tree or shrub and remember your beloved pet and every time the tree or shrub blooms you will feel a little closer to your pet.
4) Stay Healthy
The loss of a pet can be a very stressful time and can drain your energy levels, so it is important to continue regular meals to keep your strength up. Having plenty of sleep will help boost your energy and when you awake you will feel ready to take on another day, whatever it may bring. Walks will help too, get some fresh air and a change of scenery, you will feel much better for it.
5) Talk to Friends and Family
Talk to people about the way you are feeling, it will help to get things off your chest and clear your mind. Friends and family may have experienced a similar loss and they may be able to tell you the way they felt and what helped them cope with their sad loss. It may help to clarify things in your mind.
Losing a pet is a very difficult time and it is always hard to deal with and come to terms with but if you follow the above advice it may help you in coming to terms with the loss of your pet.
Here are some ways to help you in coping with the loss of a pet.
1) Remember the Good Times
Do not focus on the negative factors but instead focus on the positives, the good times that you had with your pet. Think about the way your pet used to greet you when you arrived home, the games you played, the trips or days out when your pet came with you and any funny habits that your pet had. Cherish the memories and be grateful for every day that you spent with your pet. Feel grateful that you were lucky to be the proud owner of your pet and also that you cared for your pet as much as you could.
2) Allow the Natural Grieving Process
Do not try to rush the grieving process for the loss of your pet, as the process must be natural and it is all part of the course to express your true feelings. This much loved pet was part of your family and whom you had a strong bond with, who was there with you everyday, who you shared your life with and who was part of so many of your memories, so feeling extreme pain and sadness is completely normal in this situation.
3) Keep the Memory Alive
Print a special photo out of your pet and frame it, then display it on your mantelpiece or somewhere you pass by often, so he or she is never far from you and if you are feeling lonely you can always look at the photo. Many places offer pet memorials such as a pet headstones and also pet cemeteries. You may also want to consider a pet cremation service. Another memorable thing to do would be to plant a tree or shrub in memory of your pet then you can look out into your garden at the tree or shrub and remember your beloved pet and every time the tree or shrub blooms you will feel a little closer to your pet.
4) Stay Healthy
The loss of a pet can be a very stressful time and can drain your energy levels, so it is important to continue regular meals to keep your strength up. Having plenty of sleep will help boost your energy and when you awake you will feel ready to take on another day, whatever it may bring. Walks will help too, get some fresh air and a change of scenery, you will feel much better for it.
5) Talk to Friends and Family
Talk to people about the way you are feeling, it will help to get things off your chest and clear your mind. Friends and family may have experienced a similar loss and they may be able to tell you the way they felt and what helped them cope with their sad loss. It may help to clarify things in your mind.
Losing a pet is a very difficult time and it is always hard to deal with and come to terms with but if you follow the above advice it may help you in coming to terms with the loss of your pet.
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