One major problem you encounter as a cat owner involves your cat's use (or non-use) of her litter box.
This is probably one of the most frustrating issues that arise in caring for your new cat. You buy a litter box, often an expensive one, fill it with good quality litter, and then find your cat defecating or urinating somewhere else in the house. Even more frustrating is when you discover that your cat “does her business” near the litter box, but not in it.
You have, of course, taken your cat to the vet who has pronounced her “healthy”. So, you've ruled out any physical ailment. You've changed the litter; you've cleaned the box. You've made sure no other cat is going in her box.
And yet, she's still doing it - you still have problems:
· your cat is going somewhere else in the house
· your cat is going next to the litter box
· your cat is going half in and half out
The last possibility can often be solved by getting a larger box: something resembling a tub that your cat can still get into and out of without too much trouble but will confine the scat (not the cat) to the tub.
But the first two difficulties often remain.
The Invisible Culprit
What could be the problem? I'd like to pose a possible answer in one word: plastic.
Most litter boxes, no matter how elaborate or expensive, are made of one plastic or another.
Plastics are polymers…huge molecules made by chemically “stringing together” smaller molecular units. Sometimes the units are all identical, sometimes they vary in composition and recur with some regularity. However all plastics are “organic” compounds.
In case you've forgotten your high school chemistry, organic compounds are primarily made up of Carbon and Hydrogen, sometimes with other elements such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous or Sulfur thrown in.
The plastics used in constructing most cheap cat litter boxes are relatively flexible - they can be easily bent. When you pick yours up to clean it, you'll find it bending as you carry it out the door. It's composed of a flexible plastic.
Flexible plastics are made that way by the addition of what's termed “plasticizers”. Plasticizers are small organic molecules, usually phthalate esters that are added to the polymer to increase its flexibility.
Other litter boxes, particularly the self cleaning ones, are not so flexible. Since they are self cleaning, they are not designed to be picked up, and are generally constructed of several smaller, harder, plastic parts.
Hard plastics are formed in molds (forms into which the plastic is poured, where it hardens and takes shape). The molds are first coated with a “mold release” agent to enable the removal of the plastic part from the mold - otherwise it would stick to it and stay there.
Both materials - the plasticizer and the mold release agent- remain as a residue on (or in) the plastic. And both materials can “outgas”, that is, be released into the air, immediately after your litter box has been manufactured, and, in the cases of flexible plastics, from then on.
Even though you can't smell anything…
So, if you've tried everything to induce your cat to “go” in her litter box and nothing has worked, could it be that your cat is sensitive to the plasticizers or the mold release agents used in the manufacture of her litter box? Even though you can't smell anything, maybe your cat can.
Plastic is basically an unnatural material. It wasn't found in nature before Man arrived and started making disposable food containers and litter boxes, and it wasn't a factor in the evolution of cats.
Maybe your cat is sensitive to it, and is making you aware of that fact by defecating somewhere else, far from this source of annoyance. Or maybe the plastic is triggering some unnatural behavior in your cat, causing her to defecate half in and half out.
Don't tell your guests…
Try changing the material of the litter box. Try a glass litter box.
But, you say, there aren't any glass litter boxes for sale! Where can I get one?
I went to glass some time ago by converting a shallow baking dish into a litter box. My wife used it for baking scalloped potatoes, and I unwittingly grabbed it for a different use, much to her…uh…displeasure.
Granted, a baking dish is shallow and the litter is easily thrown out by a digging cat, but I place newspaper under it (not a plastic mat), to catch the thrown litter. I've owned two cats in succession now, and neither has had a problem “doing their deed” somewhere else.
So try it. Of course it goes without saying that once you convert the baking dish into a litter box, it's the end of using it to cook scalloped potatoes for your guests when they come over for dinner.
Or, at least, it's a good idea that, after they've eaten, to keep that fact to yourself.
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Cat Litter Problems: Litter Box of Glass
Dog Training Tip – Do This And Reach Success!
First and foremost the most important thing that can be mentioned as a dog training tip is patience. It is of course very easy to become frustrated and want to give up on your dog, as you yell at them for the 10th time for going to the bathroom in the house. However there are many things that can help you, many useful dog training tips that will make your life much easier for the next few months.
There are books to read, and classes to take, and people to talk to. Believe it or not training your dog involves a lot more than teaching him/her to go to the bathroom outside. There are other very important accepts of having an animal. You are going to have to train the dog not to jump on the furniture (should that be your wish). Maybe you want to train them to heel and come, sit and lie down always come in handy too. Well how do you do this? And I don’t mean the type of training that works 1 out of every 5 times, I mean really train your dog. Well there are many tips to be found everywhere. The American kennel club provides some on their website and there are many, many books out there to be read, all with helpful dog training tips and methods.
If you want the information it is not finding it that is difficult, it is deciding what school of thought you agree with, and yes there are schools of though for dog training. Do you want to use a crate? Or just rewards for good behavior? In order to make the best out of the situation and develop and truly respectful relationship with your animal training is important and you must decide how to go about it. Careful research is the only answer.
Advantages of pet insurance
Having a health insurance is no longer restricted only to man, it has been modified to include our pets too.
Individuals who own animals appreciate that taking their pet to the vet might be virtually as expensive as they themselves taking a trip to their own doctor.thus it seems justifiable to prevent these unexpected veterinary expenses by considering health insurance for pets. It's not only for humans anylonger and is worth getting.
You can by no means understand when the pet is going to get unwell, they swallow all sorts of things and like rummaging around and as of this splendid risky spirit they all have, they finally will find themselves at the vet's.
And when they do really fall sick, to recognize that our pet's subsistent is based totally on financial factors is a totally helpless feeling. It's a not easy decision to tackle mianly when they are believed to be a fraction of the house.
The truth is that something or the other will constantly come up at some point and that’s only a matter of time. So it is a wise decision to have your pet insured
A decent pet insurance plan is necessary to make certain that your pet is taken care of and you are not troubled monetarily. There are many plans to decide from, many cover more than one pets.
never let the money matters affect your decisions when it comes to your much loved pet's fitness. Pets are a fraction of the house too and are worth it getting insured as you would never discern when you might just need one.
Chloes Basics of Education Sit, Stay and Lay Down
Chloe is a 2 year old chocolate lab, much loved by her family, and very easy to train, this is because of the amount of love she is given by her family. You see, Chloe, like any other dog, will do anything to please the people she loves.
The first lesson Chloe was given was her housebreaking, she was kept outside the first time she came home until she went to the bathroom.
This took the efforts of several family members but it showed her where she was allowed to go. When she was finally taken into the house, she was watched closely and whenever she started sniffing around she was taken back outside again.
At night she was put in a box next to her owners bed, where she was kept when there was no one available to watch her. She was taken outside just before they went to bed and as soon as they got up in the morning.
When they left home, if they couldn't take her with them, she was again taken outside to go to the bathroom and put in the box, as soon as they returned she was again taken outside.
This took a few days, and there were accidents, but she soon learned that if she went to the door, she could go outside and take care of her business.
Teaching her to sit was her second lesson, her owner would sit on the floor and play with her, teaching her to sit was a combination of holding her toy up above her head, at this point she would sit down to keep the toy in her site.
She would also tell her to sit while gently pushing on her hind quarters, when she was successful; she was praised and loved on, she learned this one very quickly too.
Her third lesson was to lie down, again on the floor with Chloe, her owner would tell her to sit, when she was in the sitting position, she would then tell her to lie down and gently pull her front legs out and push her front end down.
What this family now has is a very well trained dog, which everyone enjoys having around.
The Commitment to a New Puppy
There was a small dog named Fifi; she was a Maltese and also extremely spoiled. Fifi was purchased by her owner, Judy, five years ago and spent a delightful half-decade with her. They spent a lot of time together, the owner was a consultant and worked from home so she could spend a lot of time with Fifi, and in fact they had never spent a single day apart since Judy brought the tiny puppy home. Even when it was necessary for Judy to travel she would take Fifi with her everywhere, after all she was such a small dog it was easier to carry her in the special bag they bought or if need be in a little carrier for the airplane. They had formed an incredibly close relationship over the first three years they spent together, and then Judy’s husband entered the picture.
At first, Fifi was downright unhappy with the presence of a new man in her house and she was even more upset when one night Judy actually made her get off the bed and would not allow Fifi to sleep there. This was an outrage to Fifi as she had never been banished from the bed until this man showed up and started taking Judy out all of the time, leaving Fifi to be alone in the house, something that previously had rarely happened.
Eventually Fifi adjusted to Judy’s new husband and it turned out that he was usually a pretty decent guy, although he clearly lacked the appreciation that Judy had for Maltese. Fifi could live with that though as she realized she had a lot more in common with female humans anyway, rather than gritty, rough, males whose hands were not nearly as soft as Judy’s. All of that work and adjustment to make room for Judy’s husband was nothing compared to what Fifi had to face now and she had no idea just how hard it was going to be.
Fifi had noticed Judy’s belly getting much bigger over the last several months and she wondered why her owner had let herself go so quickly after getting married. Then one night Judy was gone for the night and then the next. Fifi was freaked out because she had never spent a night away from Judy before, but then on the third day, her loyal owner returned only she had a tiny human that was screaming in her arms. Fifi ran to Judy to be lifted up and adored after the separation they had just endured and the owner actually shooed her away and refused to pick her up. A slap in the face like this would not be taken well by anyone, let alone a pampered, spoiled Maltese named Fifi.
People must be aware when making any significant changes in their lives how it can affect their spouse, kids, friends or even pets. Animals are far more in tune with human emotions than a lot of people give them credit for and they can respond a great deal to certain changes in their surroundings, especially dogs. One of the most difficult adjustments dogs have to make is the addition of a new baby to a family. A common sequence of events is for an adult to get a dog after college or once they are “settled down” and in need of some companionship but not ready for marriage yet. The dog is their best friend in the whole wide world and that relationship becomes very special to both the owner and the dog. Eventually the owner finds that special someone they have been looking for, only this time it is a human and they get married.
Now the relationship with the dog is a lesser priority to that owner because their spouse naturally becomes the primary focus. Some dogs go through a lot of adjustment in these stages but most do all right. While dating it is wise to make sure your potential future mate loves your dog.
This is all too common with families who have major adjustments. Usually the four legged family member has to go. Needless to say, poor Fifi suffered tremendously as the new baby took over every element of the house and Judy. Eventually Fifi went to live with Judy’s mother, which was better than staying in the baby house but not the same as the life she had once shared with her beloved owner Judy.
So when deciding to add a four legged one to your family please consider all the factors before bringing a puppy home. Buying a new puppy should be a commitment for life.
The Amazing World Of Virtual Pets
The virtual pets also known as the digital pets have mostly taken the place of the real animals like the dog, cats, hamsters and few more similar to it. These pets are artificial human companion and are kept for enjoyment and companionship. Nowadays people prefer a digital pet in the place of real pet.
These pets are gaining popularity simply because keeping a real pet is sometimes practically impossible due to lack of time.
The pet when added in the family becomes the responsibility of the owner to look after it in every sense. For this pet can be the better choice and can give a sense of owning a pet.
There are basically three types of virtual pets namely gadget-based, web-page based and Game or-application based pets. The gadget-based virtual pets are sold as a self contained, palm size computer. It has a small screen where the image of a pet appears. The buttons on the case are meant for the users to perform different tasks like feeding them, playing with them or washing the pet clean. Pets who are not satisfied with the care taken can emit beeps and sometimes die.
Many of the popular websites adopt virtual pets to put on their webpage and use for role playing in chat rooms. In some websites you can become the adoptee and ca adopt a virtual pet for which you will require to have a web page ready for your virtual pet.
Some of the sites can also adopt pets to put on a web-page and are revolving around writing for and breeding said pets to create newer, often 'showier' pets. Members of such sites are often encouraged to create their own species of draconic creatures, to adopt from other members, and to breed the various species together.
The last one is the Game or-application based pets that come in software run on PC or video games consoles. It had powerful computing than with web page or gadget based digital pets, which helps in achieving a higher level of visual effects and interactivity.
The advanced technology gives a sense of reality to the pets and some enhance playability. With the advanced video gaming technology the user and interpret the actions of the pet like body language and the facial expressions. The user can have a short term or long term interaction with the pet.
In short term interaction the user can touch the pet with the cursor of the mouse and the pet will response to the touch. In long term interaction the users action affect pet's growth, behavior or life span. The user starts understanding the needs of the pet through its behavior, which seems natural and nurtures a feeling of developed relationship between the pet and the user.
The virtual pets are designed in such a manner that their certain level of autonomy and unpredictability gives a user a sense of reality. The user can interact with the pet and forms a special corner in the heart of the user. The user starts developing attachment for the virtual pet and a sense of responsibility towards it like when it comes having a real pet.
Understanding The Concept of Dog Training
Guarding, hunting, retrieving, searching, and obedience are some of the most common things that dogs are trained on. You need to instill the liking for training in your dog at a very early age. So the process of training should start right at the beginning, when you bring the little puppy into your house. And don't forget that training is a perpetual process. You will find it very difficult to train a dog that has already learned something that you did not want it to learn.
The training must be focused upon educating the dogs about developing his instincts and living with people in his house. It also involves making it unlearn the undesirable things that he may have learned accidentally in the past. You may be surprised but you can bribe your dog so that he gets interested in the training! In training through bribery, the dog is awarded with its favorite food or some toy when he completes a command.
At times, you may become disappointed thinking the training isn't helping your dog. But be positive, it may just take a little longer than you had assumed. The reason is simple! It also takes time for you to learn to train the dog. The most difficult thing in the training as you may know is to communicate with your dog.
While training, you also need to understand the emotional state of your dog. This will give you a direction for your training. Even your dog goes through mood swings and if it is not in the mood to be trained, your efforts will be futile. Further, if you fail to reward your dog for the training, this smart creature will again loose faith and the training will get more difficult for you. Training involves rewarding the dog for a good behavior so that he continues to behave in that manner.
As a matter of fact, most modern trainers use the positive training methods and hence use reward-based training to promote good etiquette in dogs. These trainers avoid using physical punishments to promote good behavior. The goal here is to make the dog do something even on occasions when the trainer has no reward to offer. This happens because the dog's training has taught him that the handler may have a reward even if the dog cannot see it.
You may consider using electronic dog training collars which will not cause any harm to your pet during training. These shock collars are useful in various training exercises like hunting, agility training, retrieving and so on. Although shock collars are not harmful to dogs, you should be able to judge whether they need them or not. Your positive attitude can be very helpful in imparting this seemingly difficult training to your dog.
Helping Your Cat Stay Healthy
As a cat owner, you'll want to ensure that you feed your cat only the best. Premium cat food is the ideal for cats, as the food is designed to keep your pet happy and healthy. You'll also need to pay attention to his behavior, so you'll know when he's sick and when to take him to the vet. Most of the more common ailments and sicknesses are minor, although there are some cases where a vet can be the determining factor between life and death for your cat.
Your cat's behavior will be one of the most critical factors when you are trying to determine whether or not he is under the weather. Acting sluggish, laying around all the time, lack of energy and not eating are all signs that you need to take him to the vet immediately. His coat is also a good thing to watch as well. If you notice his coat dull and patchy or notice him shedding abnormally, you should contact your vet as soon as you possibly can.
Diarrhea and vomiting are sometimes common, even with basic sickness. On the other hand, if your cat seems to be doing either one of the two for more than a day, you should contact your veterinarian. Coughing is common as well, simply because coughing will cats dislodge hairballs. If your cat seems to be coughing for another reason, you should have him checked out as soon as possible.
To ensure that your cat isn't subjected to various diseases, you should always make sure that he stays up do date with his vaccinations. There are several diseases out there that require vaccinations, including rabies and feline distemper. Feline distemper is one of most devastating diseases a cat can get, yet it is also one of the easiest to prevent as well. The disease strikes cats very fast, and leaves you as an own very little time to seek treatment.
Feline leukemia is another disease that is very deadly, yet can be prevented early on with the proper vaccinations. Although the disease isn't possible for humans to contract, it can be spread quickly among cats. There are vaccinations that can treat the disease these days, although you'll still want to be careful and not expose other cats around a cat you know has feline leukemia.
Another problem, which is very common with cats that stay outdoors, is worms. Cats that have worms will normally have a lackluster coat and little to no appetite. There are several different types of worms, including ringworm and hookworm. Worms can come from fleas, lice, or even the organs of dead rodents that cats consume. Normally, the cat will digest the eggs which will later mature and attach themselves to the walls of the intestines. If you feed your cat garlic frequently during feedings, it can help to protect him against worms.
If you take care of your cat, chances are you'll keep him healthy for years to come. You should always make sure he has quality food, and doesn't miss any of his scheduled checkups with the vet. If he gets the proper vaccinations when he is required to get them, he should be safe against numerous pests and diseases. Taking the proper steps with your cat now will prevent anything from happening in the future.
Salt Water Fish Tank Filter Systems
In natural habitats, the fish have an ample areas in which to live. In your tank, they are confined to a relatively small quantity of water. In your tank, waste products can quickly build up and spell disaster. That's where the filter comes in.
Four factors have a huge impact on the success of your tank, and your filtration system. You must have an adequate biological base, the appropriate choice of animals, not over-populate, and don't over feed. Get one of these factors wrong, and you most likely will have problems with your saltwater tank.
Biological filtration is the most important sector of salt water fish tank filter systems. The biological filters are living organisms within your tank. They consume oxygen and waste material within your tank. It's not something you can add. They will occur naturally within your saltwater fish tank.
Mechanical Filtration
The second type of filtration for your tank is mechanical filtration. This is where you choose the type of salt water filter system you will use in your new tank.
Mechanical filtration strains the solid particles from your tank water. It will not remove solids trapped by gravel, or other items within your tank. A good mechanical filter traps enough solids to keep your water clear, without becoming clogged frequently.
Smaller openings catch finer particles and are clogged
faster than a larger opening. Keep this in mind as you choose your mechanical filtration system.
Types of Mechanical Filters
For years, the corner filter has been the least expensive and most used type of salt water fish tank filtration systems. These clear plastic boxes sit inside the tank. An air stone bubbles air through an airlift tube, which forces water through a bed of filter floss mechanically filtering the water.
Today there are better methods,that don't take up space, look nicer, and perform well.
Power filters are used by many. You'll find many styles of power filters. The most common hangs on the back of the tank. A siphon tube pulls water from the tank into the filter box and passes the water though a mechanical filter. An internal pump returns the filtered water into the aquarium. Power filters come in many sizes suited for small to large aquariums
Under-gravel filters work by slowly passing water through the gravel on the bottom, which sits on top of a perforated plate. The water pumped with an airlift, with bubbles air lifting the water in a vertical tube attached to the filter plate. One problem is that the gravel clogs up with waste creating a health risk for your fish.
Sponge filters are an efficient,cheap form of biological filtration. Water is forced through porous foam by air bubbling through an airlift tube. Water flowing though the sponge allows the growth of a colony of beneficial bacteria that neutralizes toxic ammonia.
Chemical Filtration
Chemical filtration removes dissolved wastes from aquarium water. The most popular chemical filtration is the carbon filter method. Your water is filtered through gas activated carbon. The best GAC for filtering water is made from coal and is
macro-porous (larger pores).
How To Get A Dog Training Certification
Candidates who pass the exam earn the title Certified Pet Dog Trainer and may use the designation, "CPDT," after their names. As creators of the examination, the task force members have also earned the use of the CPDT designation. All certified trainers must earn continuing education credits to maintain their designations. They must also adhere to a strict Code of Ethics in their dog training practices.
Why would you as a dog owner care about dog training certification? You care about your dog. You want a positive experience for both you and your four-footed friend. Whether you are looking for a training class or private training, you are looking for a high-quality, safe, and effective training experience.
When you choose a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, you can be confident that you are working with a professional who has the knowledge and expertise to make your investment in dog training safe, effective, and even fun! Certified Pet Dog Trainers have dog training skills as well as instructor skills to enhance the experience and success for you and your pet dog.
Certified Pet Dog Trainers have earned this credential by demonstrating their knowledge and experience in dog training. A Certified Pet Dog Trainer stays informed of current knowledge in the field and is familiar with the latest, most effective training techniques and equipment. A Certified Pet Dog Trainer adheres to a strict Code of Ethics.
The Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers is committed to maintaining rigorous testing and recertification systems to provide dog owners with information to help them make an informed choice when selecting a dog trainer.
So the next time you need a dog trainer, look for a professional with the Certified Pet Dog Trainer credential. Your dog will thank you!
