The Best Stuff For Your Cat

By Cristian Stan

It seems that cats have become a common fixture in our household. Many people own one, and in fact, having cats as pets has been a practice for over thousands of years.

Just like dogs, though not as many, cats also have numerous breeds, but the popular ones are Siamese and Persian.  If you plan to get one for a pet, there are factors you have to consider, and among these is the cost.

Just like owning any other pet, it will cost some money to own a cat.  Of course, you will need to buy food, medicines, clinic visits, and also a litter.  The basic essentials you should have are: food plate, water plate, and a litter box.  Additionally, cats love to play, so buying toys would be recommended.  Other paraphernalia you will need: cat collar, bed, carrier, and scratching post.

Feeding Your Cat

The kind of food and frequency of feeding vary with age. When a cat is still very young – a kitten – he will need to be fed several times a day; as he grows older, you can feed him twice daily, or even with one big meal. To be more specific, before he reaches 12 weeks, you will have to feed him at least 4x daily; when he reaches 3-6 months, feeding is lowered down to thrice daily.

Do’s and Don’ts

• - Never feed him food that has been left out for more than half an hour.
• Canned food can be given, but these can be expensive. For some reason, cats love canned meals but these do not really have any advantage to dental health in the way that dry meals do. So, you might want to consider giving him dry food too.
• When giving dry food, see to it that your cat gets sufficient water intake on a day to day basis.
• When buying dry food, make sure that you look at the nutritional value it offers and not buy it because it is cheap. Usually, generic food does not contain enough nutrients that your cat needs.
• Kittens should only be given kitten food, and do not feed yours with adult cat food.
• Do not keep on giving your cat milk. They love milk, but it causes diarrhea.
• Do make sure to wash his plate everyday.
• When giving treats, keep it to a minimum as this will make your cat fat.
• You can feed your cat human food occasionally, but still mix it with his regular food.
• Brush their coat once daily to avoid hairballs, and at the same time, it helps keep their coat shiny and clean.
• Clean their litter box at least once a week because cats hate it when their litter box is dirty.
• Take regular visits to his vet, and make sure required shots are given.

Well, if you may have noticed, owning a cat is not always that easy as they require maintenance and care. But cats are wonderful, loving creatures who will keep you company for many, many years. In the end, it is going to be worth it.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cristian_Stan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cat-Care-101&id=2779109

While the Mean Kitty Song is funny and cute and has enjoyed over 23 million views at YouTube (!!!) the solution to a biting kitty is often simple – don’t use fingers to taunt and tease and play with cats when they are still young. Once they become acclimated to lunging at your wiggly fingers as kittens, they won’t stop doing so when they grow up and develop fangs that can cause some real ouches.

Better to teach them to chase toy mice, or toy fishing poles and so on. In the meantime enjoy the video, but remember that cats don’t bite because they are mean – they bite because of learned behaviour.

Author: Lucky Cat Furniture

Choosing a cat breed can be a bit daunting, especially if you don’t know very much about cats! When considering a cat, you must be sure to choose a breed that will best suit your lifestyle. Some breeds require more physical activity than others, and some require much more grooming. Look below to find the top five most popular cat breeds. You will also find a brief description about each breed’s grooming requirements and personality type.

The Oriental is one of the most popular cat breeds around. This breed is a very intelligent, loyal companion and tends to bond deeply with its family. It has large, pointed ears, and although its body is very sleek, it is still quite a muscular breed.

The American Shorthair is extremely popular with families, as they tend to be very affectionate and friendly. The American shorthair originally was a working breed, mostly for mouse hunting, which explains the agile muscular structure and short hair. They do need a little exercise, but most are quite content being a lap cat.

The Birman breed is thought to have originated from Burma. It is perhaps best recognized by its blue eyes, white body, and smoky-brown face, ears, legs, and tail. Birmans possess a long, sturdy body structure with long, mat-resistant hair. They love to play and are quite gentle. They are affectionate without being too needy.

If you’re looking for a very affectionate, cuddly cat, then a Sphynx may be the breed for you. Although they look like they have no fur, they actually have a peach-like fuzz all over their body. As they don’t have much hair to protect their skin, they should strictly be kept indoors. This breed does require a bit of extra care, particularly with room temperature, as this breed can easily become too cold.

A very mild and gentle cat breed is the Ragdoll, appropriately named such as it can be quite floppy and relaxed when picked up. If you love a cat that accompanies you from room to room, this breed would likely be a wonderful match for you. They are very careful not to use teeth or claws when playing around, so they would also make an excellent cat for children.

Now that you have a better idea about the most popular, yet very different, breeds out there, hopefully you find choosing a cat to be a little less daunting than before. Be sure to remember that lifestyles are important factors to consider; so if you aren’t very active, you probably shouldn’t choose a cat that requires a lot of activity, and vice versa.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Top Five Cat Breeds

photo by law kevin