Peter Leathers, as many other Persian cat fanciers is always eager to learn something new about Persian cat breed. Currently being employed as freelance writer for Catrealm.org, Peter is finally able to apply his skills to promoting some cat knowledge.
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Author: June Sabe  Mark Twain and his cat A lot of people think that cats work on their own agenda, not paying much attention to their owner - provided they have clean litter, food, and water. Cats can behave in odd manners at times, which can easily confuse their owners and make it really hard to determine what the cat wants. As much as cat behavior can be confusing, there are some ways that you can solve common cat behavior mysteries. A common behavior that almost all cats do is push their heads into any type of object that will allow them to do it. You’ve probably seen your cat do this before, probably against table legs, TV stands, or another object. This can be noticed more when you have other people who own animals or those with allergies over at your house. When a cat notices this, he will rub his head against the person. In doing so, he will put a touch of saliva on the individual. In a cat’s mind, he owns what he puts his saliva on. By putting his saliva on something, that object or person will have a familiar scent. Although this can be very annoying, you have to understand that other people in your home are seen as odd or weird to your cat. When a cat does this, he is simply trying to make the visitor belong. When he brushes up against them and puts his saliva on them, he is trying to put his scent on them - which in his mind will mean that they belong in his territory.
Even though marking someone or something with saliva is beneficial to the cat, saliva is one of the most common forms of pet allergies. When someone wipes the saliva off of them, the scent will be gone and the cat will go back and attempt to do it again. Even though it may appear that cats target those with allergies, cats are actually just trying to make the visitor belong at the house. If the guest simply cannot take the saliva, allow the cat to rub himself on their pants leg a few times. Normally, this is all takes for a cat to leave the person alone. Those of you who an indoor cat should expect the cat to spend quite a bit of time lying near windows. During this time, you may hear your cat make very strange noises or weird movements. You shouldn’t fear though, as he is simply acting out his hunting instincts. Whether it’s another cat or object outside moving about, the cat will see it and simply go into his native hunting instinct.
As most already know, cats love to play. They love to played with, especially with toys. They will pounce on things on occasion, which should always be expected. If you try to prevent this type of behavior, your cat will take a very negative approach and you’ll end up with a lot of broken things in your home. You can always play with your cat using a string, as he will love to chase the string around the room. The longer you own your cat, the more odd behavior you’ll see him exhibit. Cats behave in strange ways, although they always have a reason for behaving the way they do. If you can understand why your cat behaves like he does, you’ll have no problems keeping him healthy and happy. If you simply pay attention to your cat and the way he behaves at times - you’ll be able to understand him better than ever before.
 Mary Pickford with her cat As Mary Pickford knows, there’s a beautiful legend which tells that the Persian cat was created by a wizard from a sparkle, which jumped out of the fire, the shimmer of two far away stars and a curl of grey smoke. I’d say that this legend rather closely describes appearance and temperament of the Persian cat, but the real history of persian cat breed is not less interesting or less mysterious. So how does such mutation as long hair appear in a domestic cat? None of its wild counterparts has long hair gene. Well, if only lynx and snow leopard have a slightly longer coat due to the environmental conditions of their habitat. It’s rather difficult now to investigate the origins of the long-haired cats, but most probably they are rooted in Persia, which is now called Iran. That’s from where Pietro della Valle brought several long-haired cat beauties to Italy in 1620. And a few years later the scholar and naturalist Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc brought long-haired cats form Angora (now Ankara in Turkey) to France. When the first long-haired cats appeared in England (which is now called ‘the second motherland of the Persian cats) they were called ‘French cats’. It’s not exactly known whether those were the cats of one and the same breed. Nowadays it is the recognized fact that there existed several breeds of long-haired cats in the East. Angora cats were described as fluffy, light and active animals of a medium size, while well-known Alfred Edmund Brehm described long-haired Angora cats as big-sized and clumsy cats. He as well noted that grey and blue Angora cats were observed in the South of Siberia. It’s not easy to answer the question why the animal from hot Asian counties has got long hair, while Mother Nature usually gifted long-hair to animals from severe Northern countries. There are several versions regarding the long-haired cats origin. Some believe that among the ancestors of the Persian cat breed there were long-haired cats form Siberia which at first got into East and Small Asia, and only then were brought to Western Europe. Others believe that long hair was a mutation which happened to a short-haired cat in the East, which then was kept in the process of domestication and some sort of selection - thus the cats which got into Europe and Siberia were aborigineous to Eastern countries. The third theory roots in the phenotypic differences between the Persian cats and other domestic cats. This theory suggests that massive stocky with the ears set wide, big round head are related to Pallas’ Cat ( Felis manul ) otherwise known as Manul - wild cat which lives in Central Asia and has comparatively long hair, flat face with round eyes and ears set low on the head. Recent research however refutes this theory. Such are the different Persian cat origin theories but anyway, all of them are pointing to Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan as the Persian cat native lands. England is rightfully called the second Motherland of the Persian cats, as it were British cat fanciers who started to purposefully breed cat breeds (and primarily - Persian cat breed) in the 19th century. Although that was the time when the long-haired cats started being differentiated into Turkish Angora (long flexible body, silky but less thick coat, big pointed ears) and Persian cats (massive, with big round head and small ears), as a matter of fact only blue cats of the latter were called Persian, and all the rest were simply called ‘long-haired’ cats. Every of about 50 colors of long-haired cats was considered to be a separate breed. Till nowadays the Persian cat in England is not in fact called ‘Persian’ but rather ‘long-haired’, and every color variation is attributed to a separate cat breed. Also the official ruling of the British cat fanciers club regarding this issue was issued as early as 1910, the Englishmen still follow this kind of breed distinction. The Persian cats arrived into America in the eighties of the 19th century and soon became a very popular cat breed. Unlike British clubs, in America all the color variations of the long-haired cats were attributed to one cat breed - “the Persian cat”. There are lots of color variations for Persian cats but Persian show cats are limited to the following colors: solid color, shaded and smoke, tabby, particolor, bicolor. For today we know about 150 variations of the persian cat breed and contemporary persian cat, due to the efforts of many breeders, is a work of art among the other cat breeds. New age Persian cats are quite different form their ancestors. The Persian cats of the ‘old type’ had a narrower face, the color variations were not so rich and the coat was not so thick and delightful. Contemporary Persian cat might have its coat as long as 10 centimeters. One could say that the contemporary persian cat is the result of selective breeding by cat breeders from different countries. Probably due to that fact there are several Persian breed standards and some of the traits are still not agreed upon. For one, starting form the middle of the 20th century, American cat breeders’s efforts were aimed at reinforcing traits peculiar to Persian breed - they were trying to breed a cat with even more massive, short body, even more round head and flat muzzle. As a result a new variation - Extreme Persian (or Peeked Faced Persian) - emerged. The first kittens of that type were born to red and red tabby persians in 1920-s. Although veterinarians believe that extreme manifestation of such traits is harmful to the animals health (specifically affecting their sinuses and breathing), and the despite the fact that British cat fanciers stand against such breeding, extreme persians are extremely popular in America and many European countries. Contemporary persian cat became progenitor to a new breed - Exotic cat - a short-haired cat breed which has all the traits specific for the Persian cat breed with the exception of the coat length. Exotic cat is a hybrid with adorable temperament and excellent physical condition. The breed was created by American cat breeders in 1960-s. FIFe (Federation Internationale Feline) recognized the Exotic cat breed in 1984. Short (though longer than with other short-haired cat breeds) but awesome sparkly coat of the Exotic cat does not cause any problems with grooming.  Clark Gable had a cat Clark Gable and his wife Carole Lombard loved cats. Cats are probably the most popular of pets nowadays. Originally valued for their inbred ability to hunt various house pests such as mice and roaches, cats also offer a warm and affectionate companionship to their owners. In 1987, cats overtook dogs as the number one pet in America (about 50 million cats resided in 24 million homes in 1986) and bout 37% of American homes today have at least one cat. Domestication of cats were first believed to have originated in ancient Egypt in about 3000 BC, where cats where also revered as sacred animals. Different breeds of domesticated cats come in various sizes. Some pet owners prefer small kitten-sized ones, while some prefer large-size domesticated cat breeds. When choosing pet cats, one must consider the breeds’ characteristics in addition to its size. Here are just some of the large domesticated cat breeds that are popular with cat-lovers. The Maine Coon The Maine Coon is a native of the state of Maine in the USA where it is also the official state cat. It is one of the largest breeds of domesticated cats where the males can weigh anywhere between 13 and 18 pounds (5.9 and 8.2 kg) on average, and females between 8 and 12 pounds (3.6 and 5.4 kg). In 2006, the Guinness World Records named a male purebred Maine Coon the “Longest Cat”. It measured 48 inches (120 cm) in length, from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, and weighs 35 pounds (16 kg). The Ragamuffin The Ragamuffin is a long-haired domestic cat. Ragamuffins are fairly large cats - females weigh between 10 to 15 pounds (4.54 to 6.80 kg), and males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds (6.80 to 9.07 kg). Ragamuffins are notable for their sweet, friendly personalities and plush, rabbit-like fur. They are adoptable as early as four months of age, but do not reach full maturity until around four years of age. The Ragamuffin is an expensive breed and costs can range from $900 - $1200 per kitten. The Ocicat The Ocicat is an all-domestic breed of cat which resembles a ‘wild’ cat but has no wild blood. It is named for its resemblance to the ocelot, which is a wild cat. Ocicats are a very outgoing breed. They are often considered to have the spirit of a dog in a cat’s body. Most can easily be trained to fetch, walk on a leash and harness, come when called, speak, sit, and lie down on command. On average ocicats weigh about 12.1 pounds or 5.5 kilograms. The Turkish Van The Turkish Van is a large, semi-longhaired cat with a swimmer’s body. The cat is moderately long and its back legs are slightly longer than its front legs. The coat is the most fascinating trait on this cat. The semi-long haired, water resistant single coat, is thick in winter but very soft, like rabbit fur or cashmere. During the spring and summer months when it becomes extremely hot, the long hair on the body is shed for a shorter coat that retains the cashmere feel. Male Vans grow to about 16 pounds (7.3 kg) while females tend to be a bit lighter in weight, 12 to 14 pounds (5.4 to 6.4 kg). Vans, because of their fine fur, are hypo-allergenic cats. They are considered excellent pets for those with allergies. Pixie-Bobs Pixie-Bobs are a fully domestic breed of cat bred to resemble the North American Bobcat. Pixie-Bobs are a large breed, with males reaching 18 pounds (8 kg) and females reaching 14 pounds (6 kg). The Pixie-Bob’s body is stocky and solid. Pixie-Bobs are also the only polydactyl breed recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA). These cats may have anywhere from six to seven toes on each foot. These large-size cat domestic cat breeds are only a few of the ones available for pet purposes. It is important to take note of the qualities of the breed of cat before we decide which ones to adopt, as this would remarkably affect the way we take care of them. Knowing such could help make things a lot easier for us pet owners as we go about our endeavor in raising our pets. Morris is a cat fanatic who adores felines ever since he was a child. He also enjoys blogging and reading novels, and loves eating spaghetti. Morris Crisologo Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morris_Crisologo  Janis Joplin and her cat Janis Joplin was a cool cat, and had one, herself. So you want to know the secrets to training your cat. Cat training is a process different that any other pet training. I know this for a fact. Cats and dogs are so different from one another that we even have the phrase “fighting like cats and dogs”. Attempting to train a cat like you would train your dog is not a very good idea. In fact, it’s a very bad one. If you want to end any possible struggle you have or might have when attempting to do cat training here is one quick tip that would make tremendous difference on your cat’s behavior. Don’t confuse your cat! Even though cats are different, they still learn through association. So if you want your cat to stay off the table or counters then don’t put his food up there. Want him to stop biting you, then keep your hands off his face. These and many more are mistakes that 90% of cat owners make during cat training. It’s very basic stuff, but if you don’t have the foundations down, then the whole cat training experience can get to be a very ugly one. That’s why some people don’t like cats. It’s because they don’t understand them. But if you’re like me, I know that you want to train your cat the proper way, easily, without any headaches. That’s why learning and understanding our cat is very important. So we need to pay attention to our cat, and how we act and react around him. Putting your cat’s litter box in an open, “public” area and yelling at him when he’s using it might also confuse your cat. So what is it you do that will confuse your cat during cat training? Don’t underestimate the power of this little secret. It seems very basic but you might be surprised to see that many cat owners don’t really know how to act around their cat to ensure they train their cat properly and not mis-train them. If you want to learn more about how to train your cat then signup for my free email MiniCourse on The Secrets To Raising A Happy, Healthy Cat at my website: http://trainkitten.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Nerman By Samantha Markham Obviously, it is unrealistic to expect to be able to train a cat as you would a dog. However, there are ways to tackle an unwanted behavior. Below are eight tips to help keep your cat away from kitchen surfaces. 1. Before embarking on an attempt to restrict your cat’s movements, it is important to ensure that he, or she, has plenty of roaming space. This is crucial, especially for an indoor cat, because cats can make mischief due to boredom and frustration. When considering the space that your cat has to play, it is wise to consider the amount of vertical freedom too, as cats require an opportunity to jump and climb. It may be wise to consider purchasing a cat shelf, gymnasium or a cat tree. 2. Typically, discipline is not an effective method of training cats. As already mentioned, a cat’s aim is not to please its owner. This, coupled with the fact that you are trying to discourage, rather than encourage, a behavior, means that you need to employ ‘negative reinforcement’ techniques. In other words, if a cat associates a behavior (that you are trying to discourage) with an unpleasant consequence, then he, or she, will be far less likely to repeat this action. 3. There are several things to bear in mind before selecting a method of negative reinforcement. Firstly, it is a good idea to ensure that your cat does not associate the unpleasant consequence with a human. A fundamental part of these training techniques is that the cat directly links its actions and the negative response. 4. Always try to keep the training as consistent as possible. Therefore, if someone else is caring for your cat, ensure that they understand how and when to use your chosen technique. Similarly, it is important not to overstress your cat. Some cats are particularly highly strung and can become stressed easily. Observe your cat’s reaction and gauge the severity of negative reinforcement that is required. 5. Many owners choose to use a water squirter to train their cat. Some people feel that this is cruel, but the effectiveness of this method and its necessity should be decided upon by individual owners. If you do choose to use water, never spray your cat directly in the face. Simply, spray the cat with a little water every time it jumps on a counter. Ideally, it should be done in such a way that the cat does not associate the water with you, but this is easier said than done. 6. Alternatively, some owners choose to use a noise, such as a can filled with coins. Again, when the cat performs the behavior you wish to eliminate, shake the can. The noise should startle your cat causing him, or her, to cease the behavior. 7. Unfortunately, these methods of training require an owner to be alert at all times. However, it is wise to bear in mind that if the negative reinforcement is consistent, it will not take long for your cat to learn. 8. Most importantly, it is a good idea for owners to monitor a cat’s reaction to either the loud noise or the water squirter, because, as mentioned before, some cats can be easily stressed. If these techniques are causing your cat disproportionate anxiety, then the exercise should be abandoned. Remember, cats cannot be obedience trained like a dog. Therefore, owners need to be creative and patient in their attempts at training a cat. Moreover, a cat owner should ensure that their feline friend has ample stimulation and opportunity for exercise, as this simple step can quickly eliminate behavioral problems.
By Max Kazen  My Ragdoll, Little Girl, as a kitten Notoriously limp and lovable, Ragdolls are exactly that…rag (deliciously soft, well-worn comfortable) and… well…dolls! They are a large, docile cats. They are sweet-faced, muscular and elegant. They have a medium-long, non-matting coat with a soft texture. They are generally pointed in color (like the Himalayan or Siamese) — in seal point, blue point, chocolate point, etc., with or without white markings. They are non-aggressive in nature, and therefore much better suited to being an “indoor only” cat. Ragdolls like to share their homes with human “staffers” who will spend time with them, and ensure their need for “service” and “attention” are well met. Princess and Hope…Ragdolls who share this author’s home…wanted to let you in on a few of their secrets on how to select…and train… your human staff. Princess is taking the lead in discussing what’s required: “If you don’t currently have staffing, and are in the selection process, we recommend, at a minimum, the following: A) Jump in the lap of your prospect — decisively! If they jump up immediately and dump you…they’re out. If they go “Oh, isn’t that sweet”, they’ve passed the first test. B) Knead their thigh. If they slap your paw — forget it! If they gently remove your claws, or provide an alternative, they’ve passed the second test. If you’ve lost your front claws, lick their hand or arm. If they bat you away — forget it. C) Make sure you deposit cat hair everywhere you can. Do your best to reach your potential staffer’s face. It’s easy to see at this point whether this prospect has potential. If they like the attention, and gently remove the cat hair instead of dumping you immediately…you’ve got a Staffer with potential. Now, if the prospect says to your agent, “I’ll take that one” and doesn’t pass any or most of the aforementioned screens, yowl at the top of your lungs….and run for the hills! Remember…Ragdolls are Royalty…and not to be treated as anything less by ANY Staffer! Now, for our training tips, we recommend the following: 1) The first thing is learning how to wake them up: We generally start at around 3 AM in the morning. It’s our usual time to start the day rolling. First thing in our job description is to make sure Mom (Staffer #1) gets up to use the restroom. Most of the time, her bladder gives us a hand. She loves that last bedtime cup of tea…that she really should skip! But… occasionally, she forgets, and sleeps past 3 AM. That means one…or both of us…will need to walk across her head several times, and meow. We start soft…and if that’s not working, we “amp up.” If necessary, we stick our noses under the blanket and then crawl to her feet to nibble a toe gently…or not. If that’s not working, we’re not above flopping directly on her face, or chewing on her hair. Jumping up and down from the bed, talking loudly, chasing each other…doing what it takes. Whatever it takes, we’re pretty darn good at getting that 3 AM Ragdoll Prance started. After all, this is when we get our first belly rub of the day, and it’s important how we start our day. We’re generally not really interested in eating this early, just want to make sure Mom gives us that first belly rub of assurance that all is Right in Ragdoll Kingdom. Then, we’re generally OK until 6′ish, and have been known to leave our Staffers alone until as late as 6:30 AM. After that, though, Staffers are expected to be up and ready to start the day’s duties. 2) The second thing is teaching them what you like to eat: First thing, of course, is our “treat.” I (that would be me…the Princess) will only drink the juice from the cat food packet. I won’t eat the food from the packet. Much too ordinary, boring and mundane for a Royal Ragdoll. And, thank you very much, I want it mixed with just a touch of fresh Norwegian fish cod liver oil. Perfect seasoning for the Royal Ragdoll. Hope, my younger sister, has (in my superior opinion) more “pedestrian” tastes, settling for a particular oceanfish canned variety in gravy for her treat. To her credit, though, she has discriminated several times quite thoroughly in turning down cheaper cat food pates clearly not suitable for the Ragdoll Royalty. Whatever your choice of gourmet treat, just insure your Staffers are clear about what needs to be served…and when! Of course, having our regular “best selection” of dry cat food is equally important. We like a premium cat food, and are happy to help with the selection. We tend toward a somewhat sensitive digestive system, so finding the right food can be important…and may, in certain circumstances, even require veterinary assistance. But not to worry, with a little help, caring human staffers can find what’s exactly right for your digestive needs. 3) The third thing is, of course, training them on how and when you want to be played with: …sometimes Staffers just don’t appreciate our “Wild Side.” In between cat naps, Hope and I check the toys throughout the house, and move them about, drop them at a Staffer’s feet if it’s time to play, and we make sure one of the Staffers checks our restroom facilities regularly. Cleanliness is Critical! They need to understand that. By and large, our Staffers are fairly well suited for Ragdoll Royalty. Since Staffer #1 is home-officed as a Writer and Value Creator, we have “nearly-instant” staff. And Staffer #2 is obviously so smitten with our sweetness, playfulness, and totally endearing manner to him, we have simply to arch a tail, or plop down, or roll over in front of him to have his full and undivided attention. (… this….dubious Readers…was NOT even someone who particularly liked “cats” before we came along). All in all, we believe we chose well. 4) Last, and definitely not least, is keeping it a secret that YOU are always in command: We let the Staffers believe…occasionally…that they are in charge. As long as they continue to meet all of the Ragdoll Royalty requirements, I don’t think there’s any harm in a little innocent self-delusion, do you?”
By Ryan Coisson  Little Girl - my Ragdoll If you have been seriously thinking about adding a new kitten to your household, the type of cat you choose matters! Like dogs, cat breeds differ in their size, disposition, and temperament and some cats simply make better pets than others. Here’s a little bit of info about the Ragdoll, widely considered as the sweetheart of the cat world. It’s hard to imagine more “perfect” cats than Ragdolls. They come in all kinds of colors to satisfy anyone’s preferences; they are fluffy and beautiful, almost without exception; best of all, they are considered to be the friendliest and most cuddly type of feline. What Do They Look Like? In a word: big. Ragdolls are famous for their size, with females averaging 10-15 pounds and males ranging from 12 to a whopping 20 pounds. A Ragdoll’s coat is always long, but it doesn’t require the high maintenance of a Persian’s fur. Their markings are much like a Siamese, with shots of colors on the muzzle, tips of ears and tail, and paws. Their marking patterns may be bi-color, van, mitted, and pointed; their colors can be seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, and cream, with points in solid, lynx, or tortoise shell. They almost all have one other feature in common: beautiful blue eyes. There are exceptions to this rule, but they are few and far between. What About Their Disposition? They are called Ragdolls because they are so fluffy and tend to go limp when you pick them up. They are sweet and friendly and, unlike many cats, seem to actually enjoy their owner’s company! Because of this amazing disposition, Ragdolls are considered ideal family pets since they enjoy children. Enthusiastic owners report that they often act more like dogs than cats! If you are interested in Ragdolls, make sure to only adopt one from a reputable cattery where kittens are treated like the sweethearts that they are. Cokls Ragdolls (http://www.coklsragdolls.com/) is a ragdoll kittens Georgia. Ryan Coisson is a freelance writer. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Coisson  Two of our Bengal Cats The Bengal Cat is a hybrid that is designed to look like an Asian Leopard Cat. Muscular and sturdy, the Bengal house cat can weigh between fourteen to twenty pounds for males and ten to twelve pounds for females. They have small rounded ears, a spotted coat and a beautiful, wild look. There are many variations in coat color and eye color. Temperament The Bengal is a loving cat that enjoys the company of people. Active and quite vocal, the Bengal actually likes water and given a chance will often play in it. Health Cats who reside in the house should generally visit the veterinarian yearly, unless health problems are evident. Cats who enjoy the outdoors may need to see the vet more often, perhaps as often as four times a year. When you take your cat to the vet, be sure to bring along a fresh stool sample so the vet can do a fecal exam to check for internal parasites such as tapeworm, round worm, whip worms and hook worms. The vet can also check for external parasites like fleas, ticks and ear mites. The veterinary visit should include a complete dental examination and if needed a cleaning. Decisions about vaccinations can be made at this time. Cats eight years of age and older are considered geriatric and additional blood and urine tests may be necessary to screen for any health problems. At about six months of age, the kitten should also be examined for sexual maturity and decisions about birth control should be made. Bengal Cat History The Bengal cat is a hybrid developed to look like a wild Leopard. They are awesome cats that are bred to look wild but have excellent, tame temperaments. Some cat associations have accepted this breed but some have not. Because it is a hybrid, the Cat Fanciers Association has not accepted it as of this writing. The more lenient, The International Cat Association has accepted it. This breed is a hybrid derived from crossing the Burmese, Abyssinian, American Shorthair and the Asian Leopard Cat. The credit for this breed is often given to Jean Sudgen who later became Jean Mill. The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wildcat, the genus Felis Lybica. This genus is comprised of smaller cats. Cats are thought to have been domesticated with the advent of farming and the storage of grain. The grain attracted rats and other vermin which naturally attracted wild cats. As time evolved, certain of these cats were domesticated for the mutual benefit of both cat and man. The African Wildcat has certain features which is obvious in the housecat of today. Bengal Cat Registries International Cat Association TICA The Australian Cat Federation Inc United Feline Organization UFO Bengal Cat Kittens Unlike puppies, kittens should not be separated from their mother until twelve to sixteen weeks of age. Very important emotional, mental, medical and developmental stages that the kitten needs to experience happen during this time period and should not be curtailed. Kittens separated from their mother at too young an age often fail to gain weight fast enough, have immunity problems because they have not had enough mothers milk, have eating and eliminating problems, and can develop socialization problems. Every cat and kitten is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your cat or kitten. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only. By Paul Strong  John & Yoki had a cat - Pepper! Do you know that the word “natural” on cat food labels is regulated? The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is the major pet food regulatory body in the United States. If the cat food doesn’t have a label of nutritionally complete information by The American Association of Feed Control Officials, you have no guarantee the food is complete. Certainly John Lennon and Yoko Ono would be concerned. The definition is a technical mouthful, but understanding what it means can help you make more informed decisions about the cat food you buy. In short ,The American Association of Feed Control Officials defines natural as: -A feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing. -Not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices. By current manufacturing processes and The American Association of Feed Control Officials definition, here’s what you can find in natural cat foods: -Natural proteins, vegetables, grains and fruits Each of your formulas should be rotated every 2-3 months and different enough in composition to provide a varied diet, provide high levels of nutrition and are formulated for all life stages to allow your pet system to absorb the nutrition benefits of all the different ingredients. Ingredients in natural cat foods can vary, depending on the food’s manufacturer and the product’s particular flavor. Please read each of the formula descriptions, which should help you decide which formula best suites your pets needs. Don’t feeding the same food for long and extended periods, it’s may allow your cat to develop allergies to some foods. If you try to eat healthy and organic foods yourself, why not give the same to your cat? If you are looking for information, please visit http://www.petforhome.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Strong  Ava Gardner with her siamese cat Ava Gardner loved cats, and everyone wants to have immune cats living in their home, because watching a cat suffer from disease is really hard to do. Your cats immune system is very important, because it helps them remain healthy and strong throughout their lives. There are certain herbs you can give your cat that will help improve its ability to fight off disease. Diseases that will kill some cats, will not harm immune cats at all. Immune cats are not as likely to suffer from diseases like liver disorders, pancreatitis, cushings disease, diabetes, feline urinary tract infections to name a few. Loving pet owners everywhere want to help their cats immune function, so that they can reduce the frequency of these illnesses. Not only is it a lot better for your cat, but you will save a lot of money by not having to take your cat to the vet as often. Echinacea is one of the best herbs that will help your cats immune system. There are two main species of Echinacea that you should look for. One is the angustifolia and the other is purpurea. Purpurea is the most common for helping to boost your cats immunity. Echinacea includes large polysaccharides, like inulin that will help to produce more immune chemicals, which will activate microphages. Microphages are derived from the white blood cells, and will be what makes the immune system more active in your pet. Echinacea also helps to promote antiviral activity in the body, and can help prevent further spreading of bacteria. Astragalus membranaceus has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years in order to help boost the immune system’s health and at the same time it fights off viral infections. Research shows that animals who use astragalus have stronger immune systems. It is a valuable herb for cats or any other pet you may have. It is specifically useful in a case where the cats immune system has been damaged either by diseases like cancer, or by chemicals. If you don’t want your cat to suffer from disease, the health of their immune system should be your top priority. Immune cats are not likely to suffer from diseases that would normally kill a cat. By using the two herbs listed above, you can help to strengthen your cats immune system, making them less likely to get a disease that will result in large veterinarian bills. Your cat is worth it, don’t you think?
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As Ernest Hemingway could have told you and any cat owner will know, felines are often a law unto themselves. Subsequently, it can be difficult to train them. A cat’s willfulness coupled with its agility means that it is tricky for many owners to establish areas that are out of bounds to their feline companions. This can cause problems, especially in the kitchen where hygiene and safety issues arise.
