I keep returning to this subject, but only because it is so important. If you do not feed you cat correctly you run the risk of doing serious damage to its health. I realise that to regular reader it must appear that I’m on some sort of campaign here, but only because the need of a cat for meat is so fundamental to its nature – and not merely a “psychology” but its physical and metabolic makeup.

Today I came across the following article, and as it expresses the facts so clearly decided to put up a link here.

Difference Between Dog and Cat Food | Difference Between

Dog vs Cat Food Most pet owners think that a dog and a cat’s food is the same. People believe that they can feed their dogs with cat food and vice versa. … dogs are omnivores and cats are carnivores. …

Tags: Add new tag, Cat, cat food

I have a friend who I often described as “her with two kids, two cats and a dog”.  The dog is a golden retriever; the cats defy description in terms of breed.  The great thing, though, is how well they get on together. Like human brothers and sisters they sometimes tantalise one another, they sometimes argue, but they don’t like being apart – as is seen very clearly when the dog is away being looked after by friends for a few days; the reunion is something to be seen.

This made me think about specific cat breeds, and I started to do some reading.  As is often the case I don’t claim this to be thoroughly researched, but from my reading so far I’ve put Burmese, Siamese and Ragdolls on my initial list of cat breeds likely to live in harmonious coexistence with a dog.

I suppose, though, that peaceful cat-dog coexistence will depend also on the breed of dog. That’s something I haven’t yet researched.

Tags: cat breeds, cats and dogs together, dog-cat coexistence

Portrait photographs of cats and dogs is subject that has exercised my mind quite a bit recently.  I still have not tried taking cat portraits but it’s very much on my agenda for the next few weeks.

In addition to this blog about cats I have several others, mostly on subjects about which I have been enthusiastic for many years.  Having come to the end of a career which demanded a great deal of international travel I’m now able to spend time closer to home and once again enjoy my hobbies as well as returning to a closer interest in pets.

My English travel blog, Around England and its associated site about the English Lake District require a lot more photographs.  So does the one under development about my wife’s and my favourite holiday destination, Madeira.  Recently, therefore I invested in a new camera and some clever lenses.  Landscape photography will be the big thing, and I’ve also tried doing a portrait of a friend’s Golden Retriever.  Cat pictures must come soon.

As I don’t yet have any expertise in the subject I’m not going to flannel my way through writing about cat photography but I did come across what seems to me like a very sensible approach to photographing the family pet.  It’s an interesting article on someone else’s blog.  Here it is: “Taking a Good Cat Picture“.  I hope you find helpful.

For a more extensive treatment of the subject in book form why not try Pet Photography NOW!: A Fresh Approach to Photographing Animal Companions by Paul Walker, or Pet Photography 101: Tips for taking better photos of your dog or cat by Andrew Darlow.

The links above are to Amazon.com.  To buy in the UK from Amazon.co.uk the links are as follows: Pet Photography Now! and Pet Photography 101

Tags: cat photos, cat pictures, cat portraits, pet photography, photographing pets

This article is being written at the end of December.  At this time of year many families take on a new pet.  Children clamour for a pet as a Christmas gift and all too often kittens are bought without adequate thought as to the long-term consquences.  If that has already happened in your house then some of what I’m about to write might come too late, but here goes anyway. (And the points below apply whatever the time of year)

Think before you buy. Never buy a kitten or adopt a cat on an impulse without thinking through the implications.  To take on the care of a dependent animal is a heavy commitment. Don’t do it lightly.  There’s going to be far more to deal with than those cuddly moments with a gentle furry friend.

Give attention to training. Give close attention to the training of your new pet.  It needs to know what are the boundaries of its behaviour. Invest time and patience in teaching it standards of conduct that will make your companionship a truly happy experience.

Feed your cat well – without over-feeding. Learn the principles of cat nutrition. Ensure that your pet is properly nourished so as to keep it healthy and full of vitality. Be very careful, though, to avoid over-feeding; far too many pet cats become obese with long-term damage to their health.

Neuter your cat. Unless you have a well-considered plan for deliberate breeding from your cat, have it neutered, whether male or female.  Unwanted litter with a female and tom-cat behaviour with a male can make life very difficult.

Keep your cat clean. Hygeine is one of the principal responsibilities of a cat owner.  Two areas stand out as of special importance – grooming and the litter box.  Short-haired cats will need less human grooming attention. Training in the use of the litter tray is important for cats; training in regular cleaning out of the litter tray is essential for humans.

Consider cat safety. Most cats are allowed outdoors unattended without problems.  I’ve noticed in recent months, however, that especially in the United States (in line with an increasingly zero-risk approach to life) there appears to be a movement toward being more protective and keeping cats indoors.  Personally I don’t agree with this, except possibly in highly urban environments where there is serious risk from intensive road traffic or with very expensive breeds where there is a significant risk of theft. In such cases the use of a leash or an outdoor pen might be advisable.  Generally, though, cats are very capable of taking care of themselves and don’t need pampering.

Don’t skimp on the Vet’s Fees. Most certainly it is a good thing to learn the basics of cat health, animal first aid and DIY treatments for minor ailments, but don’t skimp on veterinary fees.  And don’t delay treatment for serious conditions or the pain both to your pet and to your bank account could get much worse.

Tags: cat care, cat equipment, cat health, cat safety, cat training

As is indicated by its name the Burmese cat originated in Burma (often known today as Myanmar) and was brought to the West in the years immediately before the 2nd World War. After the war the look of the breed diverged on opposite sides of the Atlantic so that now there are European Burmese and American Burmese cats. Although the ordinary cat lover might often be hard pressed to tell the difference the expert breeders and show judges have long debated the merits and demerits of the two.

The breed is good around people and enjoys being in a home with more than one cat.  The following YouTube video clip shows the playfulness of Burmese kittens.  I liked this when I saw it but have so far been unable to identify its producer or I would give them credit.

A Burmese cat is sleek and smooth which from the point of view of the owner is extremely convenient as its glossy coat needs little or no grooming by human hand. The Burmese has been described as the ultimate low maintenance cat. Although sleek and medium-sized people are often surprised at the weight of a Burmese as they tend to be very muscular. Colour varies from platinum and champagne to chocolate brown, and the eyes are often bright yellow or gold.

Burmese Cat Calendar from Amazon.com

Burmese Cats 2011 Square 12X12 Wall Calendar (Multilingual Edition) $11.69 Known to shadow their owners wherever they go, Burmese Cats relish the attention and affection people give them and they return the favor generously. A Burmese is truly an extrovert. Fans of this fabulous breed will cherish this Burmese Cats wall calendar...

UK visitors to our site can find Burmese cat calendarson Amazon.co.uk.

Tags: Burmese cat, cat breeds, cat video

I came acros this excellent article on care for a mother cat and its kittens, published yesterday on vetinfo.com.  I hope you find it useful.

Helping Mother Cats Take Care of Kittens
Vetinfo.com, 15 Dec 2009
“Most mother cats have the natural instinct to care for their kittens after birth. However, while the mother cat means well, sometimes she cannot handle all of her kittens or she is at a loss for how best to do it. …..”

Tags: cat care, kittens, mother cats

The treatment of cats when they are ill can be quite a problem for many owners.  Anyone who has tried to get medicine into a reluctant kitten can testify as to how difficult it can be.  A cat will struggle hard and long to prevent you getting anything down his throat that he doesn’t fancy.  Come to think of it I remember one of my children being a bit like that as well!

So how can it be done.  One approach is to take a cat pill, powder it fine, and mix it in with some of her favourite wet cat food.  Usually this will work, and you pet will think she’s been given a special treat without realising that she’s been tricked into taking medicine. A similar approach can be taken with the contents of capsules.

If this doesn’t work, possibly because you cat recognises a change in flavour, you may need to try stronger tactics.  Your vet may be able to supply you with a pill shooter which gently but firmly shoots the pill into the back of the throat, from where hopefully it is swallowed.  Or you may have to hold her head firmly, open her mouth and manual flick the pill into the back of her throat.  Once the pill is in there, by either of those methods, you should hold the cat’s mouth closed for a few moments and almost certainly the medicine will be swallowed.

It’s not always easy, and in extreme cases you may need to take further advice from your vet.  But whatever you do, remember that the treatment of cat diseases is important and can be urgent.  Always make sure that your pet takes the medication prescribed.

Tags: cat medication, cat medicine, cat pill, cat treatment, treatment of cats

Cats are fundamentally very clean animals. They put a lot of effort into grooming themselves. An occasionally, maybe weekly, brushing will help it and also strengthen the bond between pet and owner. If a short-haired cat becomes seriously dirty and unkempt there is almost certainly something wrong with its health and you should see your vet. Long-haired breeds of cat, however, do need some assistance with grooming and should be brushed regularly as a matter of routine.

While grooming your cat take notice of its skin condition. Look out for obvious irritations and sores. You might identify a disease problem early by this means and be able to prevent it getting worse.  Always brush the hair in the direction of its growth, from head to tail.  Never brush its face or paws.

There are some cats that do not like a brush.  They will often, however, accept a cat grooming glove.  Most that are groomed with a brush from being small kittens will enjoy the experience.

Don’t only take note of the skin condition.  Look also at your cat’s eyes, ears, teeth and claws while you have thins close up opportunity. Once again you might well discover health problems at an early stage.

Grooming is an important aspect of practical cat care.  For the good of your pet’s health grooming should be done regularly.  It is also one of the great opportunities to strengthen the bond between yourself and your feline friend.

Tags: care of cat, cat care, cat grooming

A responsible cat owner will always want to protect the health of the family pet.  Especially where there are children people often treat their cat as a member of the family.  Keeping it healthy and treating it well when ill are seen as solemn responsibilities.

In this article we will look at a few starting points for your cats health. As with humans an important  influence on health is diet, and not only the nature and quality of food but also its quantity

Feline obesity is a major problem in the ‘developed’ countries of the world, where both people and the their animals have become far too prone to eating far too much of the wrong kinds of food.  In the UK, for example, it has been estimated that almost 35% of cats are overweight

Obesity can lead to heart disease, especially as your pet ages.  It is important to manage the quality, quantity and frequency of feeding a cat in this situation.  Get advice from your vet as to all three of these points.  The necessary mix of nutrient material can be crucial to health,and even to survival, and it could be very different from what you might yourself expect.

Whilst shorthaired cats can groom themselves, those with longer hair often need some help.  Keeping your cat’s hair clean and in good condition is important to its health.  Try to give it a good brush on at least a weekly basis.  Incidentally, this can be an excellent way to create an affectionate bond between you and your cat.

Cat dentistry can become necessary.  Mouth infections are not rare.  Even more common, in female cats, are unwanted pregnancies. Unless you especially want a litter of kittens, it is good practice to have your kitten neutered.  Repeated litters of unwanted kittens are not good either for you, the cat, or the kittens themselves.  Remember also that following a sterilisation your cat may need an adjustment to her diet, and you should check this with the vet who does the operation.

Many people prefer to remove the claws of pet cats so as avoid risk of scratches both to humans and to their furniture.  In many countries, however, this is now an illegal practice and hopefully will become so more widely.  Claws are an inherent part of being a cat, and declawing is an attack on its ‘cattiness’.  It is done solely for the convenience of a human owner, with no benefit to the animal itself.

Providing somewhere for your cat to deposit its urine and faeces other than on a corner of your carpet is vital both for your health and hers.  A litter box or tray is a must. However, this does need to be ket clean.  Contaminated areas of litter should be removed daily and all of it replaced weekly.  Be sure to use litter material which is highly absorbent and also, especially if your cat is prone to attacks of feline asthma, make sure that it is not too dusty.

As with small children you should be careful what you leave lying around in the house. Poisonous liquids especially should be away from access even by an adventurous kitten.  You may also be well advised to check on the safety of your houseplants and their fruits.

Cats tend to bond strongly to their location.  Removal to another town or city, or example, can be quite traumatic. Use a cat carrier to transport your pet, and your vet should be able to recommend a mild sedative if he considers it appropriate.

Don’t forget to have your kitten immunised against the more common cat diseases, especially if it is not being kept totally indoors.  Infections pass quickly from cat to cat.  Take advice from your vet and remember that although there is a cost to this, the price of ignoring these precautions can be very much higher, quite apart from the unnecessary suffering that can be caused to your cat

Tags: cat care, cat cealth, cat diet, cat neutering, cat sterilisation, cat sterilization, looking after cats, looking after kittens

Last month we mentioned a story about a cat that developed a practice of slipping in through other people’s insecure cat flaps, stealing soft toys and bringing them home.

It should have occurred to me at the time that our readers might want to think about how to prevent anything similar happening to them. How do you provided a way for your own cat to come and go without opening your house to all the unwanted feline visitors in the neighbourhood?

Well surely the answer is obvious. When you yourself go in and out of your house you use a key. So why not give a key to your cat? Are you afraid she’ll lose it?

Hmm! Can the cat reach the keyhole and turn the lock to let herself in through the door? No, of course not. However there is a way. Install a lockable cat flap. But then, you ask, how will the cat lock and unlock this secure cat flap as it comes and goes?

Answer: a magnetic or infra-red triggered lock.

Lockable cat flaps are available which unlock in response to a magnet or miniature infra-red emitter attached to your cat’s collar as he or she approaches. Any other cat trying to get in without the required collar attachment will find itself firmly excluded.

Lockable cat flap sources: Click on the cat flap above to see a selection from PetsAtHome in the UK, or click here for cat flapsat Amazon.com.

Tags: cat care, cat flaps