Important Facts About Feline Rabies

By Saman Rashid

When you think of rabies, you may immediately imagine Cujo, that frightening Saint Bernard from the Stephen King novel and the 1980s film. However, would you ever think of Garfield when you hear the word rabies? The surprising truth is that cats can get rabies just as easily as dogs.

Cat rabies has three common stages of symptoms. The first is podromal, which causes the cat to be nervous and withdrawn. The second stage is known as the furious stage, because this is when the cat becomes aggressive. At this point, the cat will exhibit a number of warning signs, including irritability and intense excitement. The final stage is known as paralytic and it's name pretty well sums up what your cat would experience at this stage of the illness.

Rabies can also include more severe symptoms such as seizures, a lack of appetite, and deep breathing. The most serious symptoms are paralyzed muscles starting in the jaw and respiratory failure leading to death caused by weakness.

Cat rabies shuts down the nervous system and is caused when the cat is bitten by another infected mammal. Rabies is not seen in cats very often anymore, but knowing the symptoms is still essential for all cat owners. Rabies causes many other issues including the flu, distemper, infections, diabetes, etc.

Watching your cat for early signs of rabies is important to prevent the disease from progressing to respiratory failure. Cats can get rabies from being bitten by a carrier, but he or she can also get it from consuming an animal infected with rabies.

Rabies will attack the nerves and head towards the brain. This will take about two to six weeks when the symptoms will be progressing. However, the cat will show some signs before the disease reaches the brain. Loss of coordination is the main early symptom that becomes visible. If you see any of the previous symptoms in your felines, make sure to see a vet as soon as possible.

Saman Rashid is an experienced freelance copywriter. To get cost effective and professional articles written for you, kindly visit her website: MS Copywriters and submit your project details.

Chiropractic, Bach Flower Remedies and Alternatives Medicine For Cats

By Paul Kramer

Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, botanical medicine, herbs, homeopathic medicine, massage therapy and chiropractic therapy are designed to help return the body to a natural state of balance.

Many are used to treat chronic pain, behavioral disorders and degenerative diseases. There are numerous books and websites devoted to alternatives therapies for felines. A holistic vet can discuss the different treatments with you in detail.

What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is a form of Chinese healing that is based on the principle that energy or chi flows through channels or meridians in the body. If the chi is blocked, pain, disease or illness may result. Acupuncture works by inserting needles into the body along the meridian that leads to the blocked area. The treatment causes the body to release endorphins or natural painkillers, which temporarily relieves the pain and discomfort.

Before trying feline acupuncture, make sure that the person (preferably a vet) is qualified and experienced in working with cats, and get several references. Acupuncture is often used in conjunction with massage therapy and chiropractic therapy to treat pain caused by injury such as a car accident or fall or arthritis.

Bach flower remedies are flower essences that are used to treat emotional or behavioral problems. The 38 flower essences have different therapeutic properties, and each addresses a specific behavior problem or emotional state.

Chiropractic therapy and chiropractic medicine originated in 1895 in Canada, and in 1996 the American Veterinary Association or AVA declared that it was beneficial for pets. As with chiropractic medicine designed for people, the affected areas of the spine are manipulated and palpated by a qualified, trained professional.

Chiropractic therapy can help cats with misaligned vertebrae, pinched nerves or herniated discs. It is often used in conjunction with massage therapy to soothe injured muscles or joints. Treatments may help cats who were hurt in a car accident or a fall.

Homeopathic medicine was developed in Vienna in the late 1800s. it is a complex system of medicine that boosts the immune response. Small doses of animal, mineral or vegetable substances are derived through a process called potentization, which releases therapeutic or healing properties. These are then used to stimulate the body's natural defenses to heal itself.

To learn more about Chiropractic, Bach Flower Remedies And Alternatives Medicine For Cats and the different types of pet meds for your dogs, cats, horse, etc., and how to get discount and cheap pet medications, make sure to visit http://www.callpetmeds.com where you will find everything on getting quality yet affordable pet medications as well as tips on how to take care of your pets like the experts.

How to Keep a Cat Off Furniture

By Max Young

Sometimes, cats and furniture just don't mix. One of the most frustrating parts of being a cat owner can be the possibility of having your furniture ripped up! But you don't have to simply accept this as a fact of life. There are things you can do to reduce your cat's desire to put his claws on your sofa:

Declawing your cat is the easiest option, but it's also the most painful for him. Most veterinarians won't even perform the surgery since they believe it's inhumane to the animal. Instead, they will probably advise you to try a scratching post.

Providing multiple scratching prospects is a must for cats, who like to scratch after sleeping and eating. Placing a scratching post in your cat's environment is a great way to encourage his claws to stay off your furniture.

You can try temporarily covering your furniture with something that cats dislike, such as double-sided tape or aluminum foil. Cats can't stand stuff that sticks to them, and they generally avoid the sound of foil. Just make sure the tape won't damage your furniture or your cat.

Provide stimulation so your cat dose not become bored. Boredom is usually the root cause of furniture destruction. Supply your cat with a variety of toys that cover the senses of smell, texture, sound and movement. Observing your cat while he plays with different toys will give you an idea of his preferences.

Make it a habit to clip your cat's nails on a regular basis. This can curb the amount of furniture scratching your cat engages in, or at the very least, it will diminish the damage done by the scratching. Small cats will become easily accustomed to clipping when rewarded with treats following a clip.

If your cat has an affinity for a particular drape in your house, pin a doorknob alarm to it. When the cat tries to climb the curtain, the alarm will sound every time.

Provide endless entertainment for your cat by installing a window perch inside and a bird or squirrel feeder immediately outside. Your cat will spend so much time watching the locals, he'll forget you have furniture!

If you see your cat scratching the furniture, use a squirt bottle to give him a shower and firmly say, "No!" Of course, this only works if you're around to see him scratch.

Taping inflated balloons to the trouble areas may help, as your cat will avoid scratching in a place where he popped a balloon. However, you should only try this if you are around so you can keep your cat from eating the balloon pieces.

Pet supply stores and website sell training devices that deter cats from prohibited areas by emitting aggravating noises. You can also use fragrant deterrents, such as bitter apple sprays or orange peels.

Avoid physical punishments that can produce anxiety or hostility in your cat and will probably only teach them to avoid scratching in your presence. No matter which method you employ, it is unreasonable to think that your cat will stop scratching altogether. Scratching is part of a cat's nature, and if you want to be a cat owner, you'll have to put up with it to a certain degree.

Max Young is an information researcher whom presents working information to be used for every day experiences. To get the inside word on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors like aggression and dominance in your dog, click now on the following link. http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-keep-a-cat-off-furniture

Pedigree Cat Registration in North America and Europe

By Liz Canham

If you live in the United States and are looking for a pedigree cat, then you can't avoid coming across the acronym CFA, in full Cat Fanciers' Association.

The CFA was founded in 1906 with the intention of maintaining the integrity of cat breeds and holds the largest register of pedigree cats in the world. The association also organises cat shows, provides judges and indeed runs training programs for show judges as well as continuing the registration of purebred kitten litters.

The CFA currently recognises thirty nine breeds of cat for showing in the Championship Class and one in the Miscellaneous Class, the Ragamuffin. The Provisional Class is for breeds which have not yet been accepted for Championship Class and neutered males and spayed females may be shown in the Premiership Class. There are also show classes for pedigree kittens and household pets. Those in the Household Pet Class can be of any origin, colour, length of coat, etc. but must be neutered or spayed if over eight months old and must not have been declawed. Interesting colours and markings and a friendly personality are a must .

For kittens to retain the pedigree of their sire and dam the litter must be registered with the CFA by their breeder. When kittens become rehomed, their new owner must register them individually. The owner may only register a cat for breeding only if the breeder provides the appropriate pin number for use on the registration form, otherwise the cat's offspring, if any, may not be registered as purebred.

There are other associations around the world for the registration of pedigree cats. In Canada the Canadian Cat Association formed in 1960, in the United Kingdom the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), established in 1910 and in Europe, the F้d้ration Internationale F้line, founded in 1949, based in Luxembourg but representing forty one countries around the globe. These organisations, like the CFA, are dedicated to maintaining breed standards, ensuring the proper care of all cats and organising and staffing cat shows as well as educating judges and the general public alike. The GCCF currently registers approximately 32,000 pedigree cats each year.

In the USA, Breeds of cats are categorised as either short haired such as the Siamese, the Abyssinian and the British Shorthair while the long haired breeds includ the Persion and Turkish Angoras. In Britain the categorisation is more complex and includes Persian, British, Foreign, Burmese, Oriental and Siamese, while in Europe the categories are Persian and Exotic, Shorthair and Somali, Siamese and Oriental. Both include the semi-long haired e.g. the Turkish Van and the Maine Coon.

Of all the many breeds, the American Shorthair is the most popular in the USA while in Britain, the British Shorthair breed has had the most registrations since the year 2000, having gradually overtaken the Persian whose numbers have dwindled significantly since the late 1980s.

If you want to be sure of certain characteristics in your cat, you need to select a recognised breed and any one of the above organisations have extensive websites full of information which will help you make your choice.

Liz Canham is the proud owner (or maybe servant) of three cats and is webmistress of The Cat Lover.

Cats Grammar - Why Should I Care About Language?

By Eri Hariono

"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." ~ Hippolyte Taine

What is Feline (philo)sophy?

I am always amazed on the inter-relations between cats and human. One affected on another and vice versa.

That's how my idea about Feline(philo)sophy came up. Feline(philo)sophy is my unique abbrevaition from feline and philosophy. This is not about how cats think about human. Nor, how human points of view about cats life.

The overture of feline(philo)sophy as feline and philosophy is like intertwining fate between cats and human become lost in bedazzlement. Interface between feline spheres and human world is captivating in diverse ways. Before we get into the crux, let us see the definition behind these words, feline and philosophy. Feline has two different kinds of meaning according to Merriam-Webster OnLine dictionary, relating to, or affecting cats or the cat family and resembling a cat as sleekly graceful, or sly, treacherous, stealthy. Based on history, in a nutshell philosophy means love of wisdom.

Researchers have shown many studies the connection and influence between animal and human. I believe the most interesting animal would be feline. How come? My observation based on the meaning of feline as above mentioned and from the feline characters. Furthermore, many stories, tales, news, quotes, proverbs, jokes and cartoon has been involving feline. The feline has strong affect on human world, from their strategies to survive, its behavior and body language adopted into our language.

What is language? Let's see how an American man defined it.

"Language is not an abstract construction of the learned, or of dictionary makers, but is something arising out of the work, needs, ties, joys, affections, tastes, of long generations of humanity, and has its bases broad and low, close to the ground"

Noah Webster quotes (American Man of letter and lexicographer, known for his American Spelling Book and his American Dictionary of the English Language. 1758-1843)

The examples of how feline inspire our language are catfight, catwalk, copycat, catnap, catfish and so on. Have you ever wonder why there are many terminologies using "cat" word? Perhaps, never across our mind why there is no such crocodilewalk, or antfight, birdnap and maybe even copyelephant?

For centuries feline has given great significance and strong affect to our daily life, either they are being our companions at home, inspiration, even consider as Goddess in ancient history and our closeness to them has added their characters become more like human. Another research recently shows that feral cats or wild cats only have certain limited emotions and characters, i.e. angry and when hungry always hunting for prey. After cats being domesticated, they have several additional emotions and characters like mischievous, know how to begging for food either they hungry or just being copycat because they want to eat our meals too. They have been observing and study our responses and make use of it in interacting with us for the purpose to achieve their goals. Thus, it is the intertwining fate between cats and human become lost in bedazzlement.

"Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel. True, and they have many other fine qualities as well." - Missy Dizick

Eri Hariono loves to share her deep concern and thoughts on the spiritual connections between cats and people in http://felinesophy.blogspot.com Feel free to use and copy my article here as long as my full name as the original author and my homepage URL remain intact with the article.

How to Get of Rid Your Cat's Fleas

By Dave Owen

Is your cat a fleabag? If his scratching and biting are keeping you up at night, it is time to get the pests under control.

Even the cleanest cats end up occasionally with fleas. All it takes is one to start an infestation. When your cat goes outside he is exposed to flea eggs and any time he comes in contact with other animals, there's a chance a flea will chose your cat for a home.

Two of the most well known flea and tick preventatives for cats are Frontline and Advantix. Both of these products come as pre-measured liquid treatments which are applied directly to your cat's skin and works to kill fleas and ticks immediately.

However, most people wait until they actually see fleas or ticks before they begin the pest control war. By the time you see fleas though, you probably already have a major infestation on your hands.

The best way to catch flea problems right away is look for them on a regular basis. Carefully comb through your cat's hair with a flea comb, paying close attention to the hair around his head and on his belly. Fleas like to hide around a cat's ears, eyes, and nose. They also tend to hang out in the creases where a cat's legs and body meet.

If you catch a flea, you will know that your cat is starting to develop a flea infestation. However, while fleas may be able to evade your comb, the dirt he leaves behind will not. If you see specks of blackish dirt in the comb's teeth, this is evidence that fleas are hiding somewhere on your cat.

To find ticks, run your hands over your cat's body, looking for any raised spots. If you find a raised spot, check it closely to see if it is a tick. Don't try to remove the tick yourself. Instead, have your veterinarian do it, as they are quite difficult to remove. Often the tick's head breaks off in the animal, leading to infection.

There are other flea and tick treatments, collars, and shampoos available. If your house has become flea infested, you will need to fumigate your cat's bedding, scratching post and your upholstered furniture. If all else fails, use a flea and tick bomb in your house, but be sure to keep your pets out of the building for at least 24 hours.

For more information on living and loving life, visit Happiness Is A Choice You can also visit http://happynessisachoice.com to find How to live a happy life.