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Shedding is a normal event in every cat’s life and cat owners should accept this fact. Through shedding cats replenish their fur and maintain it in a good condition.

Wild cats shed their fur twice a year – in the spring to remove the winter undercoat, and in the autumn to prepare their new coat for the coming winter. Domesticated cats, however, are subjected to artificial winter heating and summer air-conditioning. As a result, their bodies are confused and they shed constantly.

When cats shed they remove dead hair from their bodies. Dead hair should be removed because it may cause skin irritation.

Shedding indicated that the cat is healthy; sick cats do not shed. Shedding depends on the time the cat spends outdoors. It is significantly affected by daylight and can be triggered by a number of hours spent on sunlight. Shedding also depends on the bathing, grooming of the cat and the activities she is involved in.

Cats that live indoors shed at any time of the year. The amount of the shed hair is less than the amount shed by outdoor cats because of the artificial light and the temperature in the house.

Outdoor cats shed two times in the year – in the spring and in the autumn. They usually don’t shed at all or shed just limited amounts of hair in the winter because they keep their fur for the cold weather.

Breeds that Don’t Shed or Shed a Little

There are two cat breeds that shed minimal amounts of hair. One of them is the Cornish Rex that has short curly hair, and the other one is the Devon Rex that has similar coat. Their shedding is usually not noticed, but it doesn’t mean they don’t shed.

The only cat breed that doesn’t shed is the Sphynx. However, these cats are not absolutely hairless. Some people describe the skin of the Sphynx as suede or chamois. This cat breed is very rare and requires special care but is a perfect choice for people with allergies.

Dealing with your Cat’s Shedding

You can control the shedding of your cat with regular brushing and combing. Daily brushing removes loose and dead hair and maintains the cat’s hair healthy.

Start brushing your cat slowly and don’t continue the sessions too long; stop brushing the cat before she protests. You can use treat to make the brushing sessions more pleasant. As the cat learns to like the brushing you can make these procedures for longer period of times. They will remove dead hair from the cat’s body and the cat is less likely to shed in the house.

When combing the cat, do it carefully in the hair growth direction, so that you smooth the coat and remove any knows or tangles in the fur. Longhaired cats should first be brushed with a wide tooth comb and then with a fine tooth comb.

The length of the cat’s hair is very important for the good brushing. Short-haired cats, such as Siamese, Burmese and Cornish rex cats, need little brushing. Shorthaired with dense coats like American shorthairs, British shorthairs and Scottish folds need a brushing once a month. Cats with long and flowing coats like Persian cat have to be combed very often and should be bathed once in the week or once in two weeks.

The Advantages of Combing and Brushing are Innumerable:

frequent brush of your cat removes dead and lose hair from the cat’s body and she will not shed that much:

brushing and combing will reduce the presence of hairballs, particularly in the breeds with long coats;

brushing and combing keep the fur smooth and don’t allow mats;

both activities are a good form of interaction for you and the cat, and are perfect for bonding process;

They give the opportunity to examine the cat’s hair for any potential problems, including parasites and skin conditions.

You can also reduce the cat’s shedding by feeding her with healthy food of good quality. The cat food should be balances and should contain all nutrients required by the cat for a healthy skin and fur. In addition, you may use some products that are applied on the cat’s hair and can reduce the shedding. They are available is specialized pet stores. Some vitamins produced from fish oils can also be helpful as they provide the cat with omega-3 fatty acids that make the fur stronger. There are some topical sprays that are used by cat owners to change and reduce the shedding.

If shedding continues throughout the year and is significant, the cat may have food or dust allergy. In some cases then the cat becomes sick from excessive hair ball, vets recommend that the cat is shaves three or four times a year. However, you should consult your veterinarian before you do something, because he will tell you what the problem is and how to solve it.

Nutrition is essential for the good health and long life of every creature. Cats are not an exception. Young cats are especially pliable to nutritional imbalances and feeding errors. The feeding habits of the cat established after weaning are very important for its future health status. Cat owners should be familiar with the nutritional requirements of their cats.

Cats are carnivorous animals and cannot receive nutrition from the majority of vegetable proteins. Wild cats eat the whole of their preys – muscles, organs, viscera, bones, offal, skin. Thus, they ingest the digested food the prey has eaten. This gives the cat the opportunity to receive nutrition from various sources – meat and vegetable sources.

Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements – cats need more protein and have greater tolerance for fat.

We cannot mention one particular food that all cats will like. Cat foods can be found in different flavors and textures. When you find the food your cat likes, and if it meets the nutritional requirements, stick to it and don’t change it often because frequent changes may make the cat fastidious and may cause digestive problems.

What Do Cats Need?

Cat owners should choose foods that provide all necessary nutrients and promote the good health of their cat. There are foods specially developed for kittens, mature cats, pregnant cats, but all food should contain the following essential nutrients: water, proteins (essential amino acids and nitrogen), essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins.

Proteins provide energy. They contain amino acids which stimulate the body to rebuild tissues and to perform its functions. Fats are a good source of concentrated energy and unsaturated fatty acids. Minerals regulate the functions in cat’s body. Minerals include macro minerals – calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and micro minerals – copper, manganese, iron, and iodine. Vitamins are involved in many physiological processes and can be divided into two groups: fat-soluble – vitamins A, D, E and K, and water-soluble – thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12.

Types of Cat Food

There is a variety of cat foods on the market produced by different manufacturers. We can divide cat foods into three main categories:

Dry Food

It contains approximately 6-10% moisture and has an abrasive function, so it cleans the teeth and gums, and keeps them healthy. Dry foods have a long shelf life. Food that contains 34-38% protein and 19-22% fat provides a healthy balance.

Soft – Moist Food

It contains about 23-40% moisture and cat owners prefer it because it is convenient and has a long shelf life. However, soft-moist foods are more expensive than dry foods. You should be careful because soft-moist foods contain a lot of preservatives.

Canned Food

Canned food contains approximately 68-70% moisture and most cats like it most of all other foods. However, it is not recommended to feed your cat with canned food only because it sticks to the cat’s teeth and this may lead to dental problems.

You should give your cat small amounts of canned food two times per day and leave some dry food because most cats like eating dry food all day long.

What Should You be Careful About when You Feed Your Cat?

Cats don’t need to eat the whole day long. Do not give your cat more food than your vet has recommended. Distribute the amount of food into two or three meals and give it to the cat throughout the day.

Do not give your cat dog’s food because it doesn’t have the necessary amounts of protein and amino acids. For the same reason, avoid feeding the cat with vegetarian food. Do not over feed your cat as obesity can cause diseases, pre-mature aging and early death.

Do not give your cat chocolate, alcohol, onions, pork, raw fish, raw eggs and bones.

Consult your vet if your cat refuses to eat more than two days because fasting may be harmful and may cause serious liver problems.

Do not put your cat’s food near her litter box. Cats eat far away from the place she eliminates. If you put her food near her litter box, the cat may eliminate away from the litter box.

You shouldn’t give your cat hairball remedy around her meal because many hairball remedies and treats contain mineral oil or petroleum jelly which will extract the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K from the intestines.

Reduce the usage of tuna because it contains high levels of mercury.

Tips About Feeding your Cat

1. Cats that live free in the wild eat grass every day. Domestic cats will also eat grass if they have the opportunity, so cat owners should provide sources of green vegetation for their cats.

2. Milk is a food, not a drink. The only drink that cats use is water. Milk is a good source of calcium and phosphorus which make bones and teeth stronger. It also provides many vitamins and minerals. However, you should keep in mind that many cats cannot digest milk as they grow older.

3. Provide your cat with varied food. You can mix some of the new food with the old for 3-5 days in order to make gradual changes.

4. Cats should be fed in quiet parts of the house where no one will bother them because they feel vulnerable while they eat.

5. If you have more cats, you should provide each of them with a separate food bowl and you shouldn’t keep them close to each other while they are eating, because cats compete for their food and feel uncomfortable if they are too close to one another.

6. It is recommended that you don’t feed your cat from plastic bowl. Provide ceramic or stainless steel bowls because plastic dishes may give shelter to bacteria. Moreover, some cats may develop allergies to plastic and may get pimples on their chins.

7. Older cats would like you to raise their food and water bowl a few inches off the floor because this will make it easier on their backs and necks.

8. You should observe your pet closely after you give it new food. Any changes in the coat, appetite, weight or mood may indicate a problem. If you have any questions about the dietary plant of you cat, consult your vet for advices.

One of the largest negative aspects to being a cat owner is the damage they can do to furnishings and drapes. Cats love to climb and they will need to scratch. Scratching serves not only to keep kitty’s claws in good shape, it also provides exercise for his forelegs.

If you have experienced the frustration and anger of coming home to discover a ruined couch or recliner chair, you’ve most likely been tempted to think about having your feline friend declawed. Stop! Declawing is cruel for several reasons. The truth is, unlike the large majority of animals, cats walk on their toes, not the soles of their feet. A cat’s claws are in fact attached to the last bone on its toe.

What this means is that when you eliminate your small friend’s claws, you’re also removing the last bone and joint in every one of its toes. It would be just like amputating the last bone in every single one of your fingers! It can make walking hard and it takes away his normal defense if he gets himself outdoors. There’s also possibility of nerve injury, infection and extreme pain.

Declawed cats frequently become distant, fearful or aggressive. The truth is, declawing is illegal in a number of countries. But there is great news! There’s a normal and humane strategy to save your furniture, your draperies and your sanity.

Offer your feline friend with a cat tree or condo. Make it sturdy and tall enough to give your little buddy a place to climb and look down on his domain. Include a scratching post of sisal rope or some comparable material. Cats climb and scratch automatically. Give kitty a place to do it and you’ll both be happier.

Why do you go to the gym every day? To sweat and get your aggression out right? It centers you and calms you down for the rest of your activities during the day whether you are going to work or running errands. To you, working out is important and believe it or not, it’s just as important for your cat too. She needs a place to just let off some steam, something that cat trees nicely provide.

Cat trees offer your cat a fantastic place to just get rid of its energy, which is the result of its basic design. One will generally be, you guessed it, in the shape of a smaller tree and will have one center pole with various limbs of different lengths sticking out of it. They can be anywhere from two feet high to others that are four, even five feet high, giving you a lot of options depending on how much space you might or might not have. They are made using some sort of wood for the base that is then covered in a fabric that is both plush and durable, like carpeting. With one, your cat has a nice place to paw, scratch, jump and play, which is great because then you don’t have to worry about your furniture getting ruined since she can take out her aggression on the cat tree instead.

In addition to cat trees, there are other options where your cat can just jump around and have a good time. Like kitty gyms. They have a design base on the cat tree, but are a lot more elaborate. Featuring limbs that criss-cross, perches, hanging toys, and compartments where they can even go in when they want to take a nap. If you don’t have the room for cat trees or kitty gyms, there are also some nice smaller options available for your cat as well with one of them being sisal posts. They are also made from wood and have a sisal rope wrapped around it, perfect for your cat to scratch on. Toys are also another nice smaller choice and you can even get ones that run around by themselves on the floor.

Now, if you are thinking that cat trees sound like a good investment, you’re right and don’t make the mistake of running down to your local pet store to get one. They won’t offer you a lot of options and their prices will generally be through the roof. So, what you need to do instead is just shop online. Browsing through the different online sites and what they offer is a breeze, especially since you can comparison shop and find the best deals possible.

When it comes to your cat, just like you, she needs to blow off some steam every now and again. With cat trees, you give her the perfect spot to do just that. Purchase one today so your cat can get a good workout in tomorrow and for many years to come.

There are many breeds of dogs all around the world. All these dogs require some degree of comfort while resting just as human beings. Dog beds are therefore important, after all a dog is said to be mans best friend and should be treated like one. A normal dog sleeps for about 14 hours a day so buying a cozy dog bed advisable.

Dogs vary in sizes and range from the giant breed known as the Irish wolfhound to the very small ones like the Chihuahua. All dogs have certain similar characteristics although each breed portrays its own unique characteristics. With this in mind you have to consider various factors before choosing a dog bed.

As mentioned earlier the first thing you should consider while purchasing a dog bed is the size of your dog. There is no way one would buy a large bed for a small puppy. This is quite inappropriate and will not only look odd but will tend to occupy a larger space in the room where you intend to place it. Normally, when purchasing a bed for a puppy one would go for something that the puppy will grow into. A dog bed for a puppy requires less cushioning because it does not have too much weight to weigh the cot down.

In case you want the bed to last long, you should consider that the puppy will grow to a bigger dog. Hence, a larger bed is required. The owner may also go for a cheap puppy bed and replace it when the puppy grows. For beds, meant to last it is good to choose one with cushioning made firmer because it will support a lot of weight in the future.

Another thing to consider is a dog bed with a washable cover. This is because after time, a dog bed may produce a doggy smell. The smell is not pleasant and since most dog owners place their dog bed in prominent view of where guests are able to see it, it can be embarrassing. Therefore, a dog bed with a washable cover is good as it helps you deal with the problem. The color of the cover can be coordinated with overall color theme of the house.

Dog owners should also consider the age of the dog when purchasing a bed. This is because old dogs, just like older people tend to be a little stiffer especially in the joint areas. Such dogs should have dog beds padded well and made of memory foam or one that is heated as it is particularly good at soothing the minor pains and aches.

Some dog beds are stuffed with cedar that helps in repelling fleas. However, in the case where a dog shares the bed with a cat, a bed stuffed with cedar must be avoided completely because cedar can be harmful to cats.

In most cases, pet beds are thick padded and flat. They are also available in oval, rectangular or round shapes. The most popular style for a dog bed is the cot. It has its surface lifted some inches from the ground with the material being mesh or a cool fabric. This means it is possible to get perfect dog beds to fit your style and preference.

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It never fails, whenever you buy new furniture, your cat ends up running and jumping on it. At some point he’ll get out the claws and then just like that, your new furniture is ruined. Well, this time around, you can avoid that from happening by purchasing a few cat trees to put around your home.

The reason why cat trees will prevent your furniture from getting damaged is because they provide your cat with a fantastic place to get rid of its energy. So, instead of clamoring all over your furniture, it will take out all its aggression on this piece of cat furniture instead.

What’s great about cat trees is the fact that they’re pretty durable since they are made out of wood and then covered in a strong, sturdy fabric. Usually carpeting is used, but sometimes other fabrics are used as well that are also very strong. Generally, one will be tall, long and slender and will have limbs sticking out of it, where your cat can jump and scratch to its heart’s content.

Now, if you still want a place where your cat can play, but are in the market for something a little more extravagant, then a kitty gym would be the way you should go. Just like the cat tree, it will be made out of wood and then covered in carpeting, however instead of just having a slender pole, it will have multiple poles with multiple limbs juxtaposing with one another along with perches where your cat can sit and some of them even come with toys built right into them.

On the other side of things, if you need a place where your cat can let loose, yet do not have a lot of room to work with, then a scratching post would be a good option for you. Unlike cat trees and kitty gyms, a scratching post is generally smaller in size and consists of a single post that can also be covered in carpeting, but will sometimes be covered in sisal rope.

To check out all the cat furniture options that are perfect for letting your cat let loose and have a good time, including cat trees, instead of going to your local furniture store, just hit the Internet for some online shopping. It’s fast because you can see all the different options in no time at all just by the click of the mouse. And, when you do come across something you like, it will generally be at the best prices possible.

Along with finding cat furniture online, you can also buy the different supplies that your cat needs on a day to day bases. Like, food and litter. You can get other items too like toys, medications, and even fun accessories including cat jewelry, decorative collars, and clothes if your cat will let you put some on him.

In the end, if your cat has a lot of energy, turn to cat trees to help him get rid of some of it. And, remember online shopping is the way to find it and your other cat supplies. So, what are you waiting for then, go and turn on that computer and get one, or two, today to keep your furniture from getting ruined tomorrow.