Aside from being smart, cats are very perceptive of their surroundings. That is why; they have a lot of likes (as well as dislikes). Most of the time, they love things that are also loved by humans. These include eating fresh, delicious food, sleeping in cool places and doing fun activities, among others.

Cats, just like humans, have certain interests that can change as they grow older. For example, a cat may enjoy playing with her feathered toy when she was younger but now, she may find it boring. Cat owners should be able to recognize when this happens to let her remain contented, healthy and active. Cats have different likes and here are eight of them.

Cats Love To Take Naps

It is a known fact that cats love to sleep. As a matter of fact, cats normally sleep from 12 to 16 hours daily. Cats are nocturnal by nature so they take naps during the day. They can’t be blamed since who wouldn’t like to sleep in a cool, comfortable place?

Cat owners have to remember that kittens and old cats spend more time sleeping than adolescent cats. Now, if they are worried about their cat sleeping too much or less often, they can consult their vet regarding the normal sleeping hours based on age, size, and breed as well as activity level.

Cats Love To Groom Themselves And Be Groomed

Whenever adult cats are awake, they spend half of this time grooming. It is plain to see that grooming is an essential part of a cat’s life.

Some of the reasons why cats spend a lot of time grooming are the following.

It lets them stay clean.

Grooming allows cats to get rid of dirt and grime on their coats and prevents predators from finding them. When they lick their coats, this removes the odors that have been absorbed.

It makes their skin and coat remain healthy.

Grooming regularly scatters the oils produced by their fur and skin, making their coat shiny, hydrated and healthy.

It relaxes them.

As humans find a massage relaxing, cats feel the same about grooming. Instead of going to a masseuse, they groom themselves to minimize stress and feel relaxed.

It makes them bond with other cats.

Cats groom other cats and their human family members to bond with them. They often groom each other in areas that are hard to reach.

It makes them feel cool.

When it is hot, humans perspire, dogs pant and cats lick themselves. They use their saliva to dampen themselves.

Not all cats like to be groomed by their human family. If they do, humans can brush their fur using a rubber brush or natural bristles. This will remove remnants from their fur and at the same time, make them feel relaxed.

Cats Love Running Water

Those who have cats are familiar with their habit of drinking water from running water whenever they have the chance to. Luckily, there are lots of drinking fountains meant for cats in order for them to have access to fresh, cool running water.

There are some cat breeds that like to play with water. When a cat loves to do this, their humans can fill up a bathtub or kiddy pool with some water during playtime. This will not only allow them to exercise a little, it will also let them cool off, especially during hotter days.

If not treated in time, urinary tract infection in cats can develop into a serious problem. There are a few tried and tested home remedies for cats with urinary infection that will take care of the problem.

Urinary tract infection can effectively be treated with a tisane (tea) of several antiseptic and disinfecting herbs such as uva ursi, horsetail, juniper berry, cleavers, cornsilk, stinging nettle and marshmallow leaf.

Mix half a teaspoon of uva ursi leaves with half a teaspoon of horsetail and half a teaspoon of juniper berries. Add half a litre of water, bring to the boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove from the heat and add half a teaspoon each of cleavers, cornsilk, stinging nettle and marshmallow leaf. Cover the mix and let it cool down. Give one dropperful every three hours.

Uva ursi acts as an antiseptic and will clean the urinary tract. It is a bitter tasting herb and you can neutralise the bitterness by adding some vegetable glycerine to the mix. Horsetail will disinfect the urinary system and juniper berries are antiseptic and diuretic. Cleavers and cornsilk are soothing kidney tonics and also mildly diuretic. Stinging nettle is another tonic herb that nourishes the entire system. Cornsilk and marshmallow are demulcent herbs and will prevent irritation of the urinary tract by the cleansing herbs.

For acute infections add one drop of echinacea tincture per five pounds of body weight to the mix and administer at the intervals given above until the infection clears.

Other home remedies for cats with urinary tract infection are cranberries and blueberries, which prevent bacteria from taking hold in urinary tract tissue. Cranberry juice extract capsules and blueberry juice will do the job. They help control the infection and also acidify the urine.

Barley water is an excellent remedy for urinary tract infections. Boil 25g of pearl barley in a little water for a few minutes. Strain and add one litre of boiling water. Boil down to half and add some honey and 100ml of grape juice. Give four dropperfuls daily.

You can also help your cat by providing pain relief with natural remedies. Cantharis is very useful for cats who are straining to urinate. It is highly recommended if there is blood in the urine. Give two to three pellets of 30C potency 2-3 times a day.

Drinking extra fluids is also important when treating urinary tract infections, so encourage your cat to drink more water and add water or tea to her food. Drinking all this extra fluid will help to flush out toxins as your cat’s bladder will get emptied regularly. Make sure the water is clean. Filtered or spring water are preferable as chemicals in the drinking water make some cats avoid drinking, resulting in thickening of urine which hinders regular emptying of the bladder.

Strengthen your cat’s urinary tract by providing vitamin C. This has anti-inflammatory properties and strengthens the lining of the bladder. Depending upon the weight of your cat, administer 250-500mg twice a day. However, vitamin C can cause diarrhoea, so you have to get the dosage right.

Conventional treatments for urinary tract infect in cats are based on urine and blood tests to identify bacteria that cause the infection and to give antibiotics to eliminate it. The natural remedies for cats discussed above look towards treatment along immunity boosting with a view to reducing any recurrence.

A cat with diarrhea should be bought to a veterinarian as soon as possible because diarrhea is a symptom of many illnesses and disorders that could lead to serious problems.

After the veterinarian has seen your cat, and given the cat the medication that he needs for whatever illness that he may have, you will still be left with one problem that a cat with diarrhea can bring- the loose stools around the house.

Cat diapers

When your cat has diarrhea, then he would not be able to control when or where he will defecate and one of the best ways to deal with the mess is to make the cat wear diapers. These diapers are a lot like the diapers that are used by human babies. The diaper has a soft and absorbent pad for the urine and the feces inside, and a water proof and leak proof covering. The difference is that cat diapers will have a small hole to let out the cat’s tail.

Making the Cat Wear the Diaper

It will not be easy at first, and forcing the cat into the diaper will only make things worse. Make sure that you talk with the cat in a soothing voice before slapping the diaper on to the cat. If the cat gets too upset, stop, give both of you and the cat a chance to rest and try again. Again, just like human baby diapers, cat diapers need to be checked and changed. You also need to make sure that the cat doesn’t worry, become uncomfortable, or try to take it off.

Other Measures

Aside from the medication and the diapers, ask your veterinarian if a change in the cat’s diet will help with the diarrhea. Some cat foods are easier on the stomach than others and it may help in keeping the bowel movements in check.

You will also need to get a good supply of sanitation wipes like the Lysol wipes, because there will be unavoidable accidents from a cat with diarrhea.

Never lose your temper when dealing with a cat with diarrhea, it’s not like they can help it. If the diarrhea is caused by something that can be avoidable, then do your best to keep it from happening again by removing the cause of the diarrhea.

If you are going to be an effective pick up artist, you must understand the importance of cat theory when it comes to attracting women. Cat theory is an idea that underlines how most pick up artist techniques work and it is something you should ‘internalise’ into your routines in order for you to get the best results. So in this article, I will explain the theory a little more fully and in part 2, explain how you can make practical applications of the theory.

If you have done any study on how to improve your pick up artist skills, you will be aware of many skills that you will need to develop and master. Among them is the importance of overcoming approach anxiety using the three second rule, the importance of coming across as an alpha male, the importance of feigning disinterest in your target, particularly if you are talking to a group. But underlying all of these techniques and skills, the art of hooking up with women is about getting them attracted to you. For the sake of this explanation, I am going to assume you know about these skills if not in practice, at least in theory.

Women and cats; no difference! A cat will chase a string or a feather on a string all day long providing a couple of criteria are met at all times. 1) The object must be able to hold their attention above other distractions and 2) The object you want them to chase must be ‘almost within reach’.

Of course with a cat, you attract their attention by wriggling the feather a little. In the case of being a pick up artist, you can learn other methods to wriggle the feather.

Secondly, In order to keep interest, the object should not be fully obtainable – just like a cat loses interest once it has caught its prey, so a woman will lose interest if her prey turns out to be too readily available. The object must be near enough for her to think a well calculated pounce to work!

Anyone who can make use of cat theory in practice will see their success at attracting women increase so make sure you use these concepts in your pick up routines.

In Search of Schrodinger’s Cat was one of very few popular science books published in the early 1980s on the subject of quantum mechanics. The title of the book refers to a famous thought experiment (paradox) devised by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrodinger. The thought experiment presents a hypothetical cat that apparently can be simultaneously dead and alive (or neither dead nor alive), depending on an earlier random event, and assuming that the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics can be applied to everyday objects.

For those of us who are not physicists, the book covers, in a rather accessible manner (especially in its first half), a number of key theories, ideas, and paradoxes such as the dual nature of light, the double-slit experiment, the structure and the inner workings of atoms, Plank’s constant and its history and significance, the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics and its possible far-reaching philosophical implications, the Compton effect, the Copenhagen interpretation, etc. Often incorrectly depicted as just an experimental limitation, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle (the central idea of quantum mechanics), is explained quite nicely (and I believe correctly) in this book. The author also gives a couple of great examples of the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in physics (e.g., Dirac’s mathematical prediction of the existence of positrons, the electron’s antiparticle).

The author’s style of writing is engaging and pleasant to read. The book is filled with relevant historic references, which I personally always find useful, as they help with putting everything in a right prospective and context. Even though it is thought provoking, the second half of the book, which deals with more speculative questions related to quantum mechanics (e.g., the many-worlds theory), is less satisfactory and less focused.

I recommend this book as an easy, non-mathematical introduction to the basic concepts of quantum mechanics, arguably the most fascinating scientific theory ever formulated by human mind. To fully understand and truly appreciate quantum mechanics, however, one has to sharpen one’s mathematical pencil and dig deep into vector algebra with all its eigenvectors and eigenvalues. There are no shortcuts. Thus, my caveat lector: advanced students will almost certainly learn nothing new of importance in this book.

Your cat’s tail is used for more than just balance. Cats use their tails as a sign of emotion and communication, and also to signal what kind of mood they’re in.

Remember those trendy mood rings in the 1970’s? They made a comeback not long ago. Remember how the ring would change colors when our moods changed. Well, our cat’s tails can tell us what kind of mood they’re in. You just have to know what to look for.

In a sense, our cats talk to us with their tails. If we learn to recognize the different messages their tails send us, we can become a better communicator with our feline friends. We can understand their thoughts and feelings better.

Here is a list of various cat tail positions and what they mean. This is a general list of definitions. Remember, like everything in life there are exceptions to what something means. Are you ready? Let’s get started.

Held High– A content, confident cat will hold their tail high in the air. A tail that is erect usually signifies a happy and friendly mood. If a cat approaches you with their tail high in the air and the end of their tail quivers, this usually means that he/she adores you.

Almost every time my tabby cat Tiger sees me, his tail is quivering. That lets me know that he really loves me.

Laying Low- A tail that is positioned straight down, parallel to the legs, may indicate aggression. So, when you see this, be careful when approaching the cat. Now, some breeds are the exception to this mood indicator. Some breeds tend to carry their tails lower like the Exotics, Persians and Scottish Folds.

Question Mark?- When the tail is bent in the shape of a question mark, your cat is in a playful mood. This is a good time to find one of their favorite toys and play with them.

My tuxedo cat Midnight is notorious for showing me this tail position when he wants to play. His favorite game is bally ball (remember I talked about that in another email).

Tucked Underneath– A tail that is tucked away, under the body between the legs, says that your cat is fearful and nervous. You should be careful when approaching.

Whipping Motion- A tail that whips rapidly back and forth can indicate both fear and aggression. That tail is saying stay away!

Twitcher- When your kitty’s tail twitches at the tip, that means they’re in a curious and exited mood.

Swishing– A tail that swishes slowly from side to side usually means that their attention is focused an a specific object. They will display this tail position right before they pounce on something…like a cat toy, an insect, a moving object etc.

All Puffed Up– I’m sure you’ve seen your cat’s tail get thicker, and it looks fat and bushy…also called puffy or poofy. This means your cat is very agitated, scared or afraid. Cats do this to make themselves look bigger and scarier to other animals, usually other cats. It’s a defense mechanism designed to confuse and deter possible attackers.

Tail to Tail– When a cat wraps it’s tail around another cat, he/she is displaying feline friendship. It’s a sign of affection.

Well there you have it. You have just learned the tale of the tail. These are the secrets your feline friend is tryng to tell you with his/her tail.

Learning these tail positions will help you better under- stand cat behavior. This will help you and your cat grow closer. Pretty cool isn’t it?

Best Wishes,

Connie Edwards

Did you know that domesticated cats came from wild cats? If so, read this article to gain ideas and insights about cats.

Cats are among the favorite pets of households because these animals are not only cuddly and loving, but they are also inexpensive to maintain and easy to take care of.

History

According to history, taming of wildcats, like feral, leopard, Bengal cat and Savannah, dated back as early as Ancient Egypt and Cyprus, wherein rich families got them as house pets. The modern domesticated cats found nowadays were descendant of African Wild cat.

About 9,500 years ago in Cyprus, wild cats became domesticated animals as shown by their relics found next to their deceased pet owners. About 4,000 years ago, skeletons of Felis silvestris lybica or African wildcat was found in Egypt. These cats were also worshipped and venerated by the Egyptians. One great example was goddess Bastet, who has the body of a woman and the head of a cat. Another was goddess Shekhmet, who has the head of a woman and a lion’s head. The mummified bodies of cats found throughout Egypt revealed the great reverence shown by Egyptians for cats.

Apart from being worshipped, these animals were traded to other nations. More than 2,000 years ago, the first short haired cat appeared in Italy and in England about 1,900 years ago. Moreover, they considered cats not only as a pet, but also as pest controller and companion.

Have you not wondered how ancient people tamed these wild cats to become domesticated animals? To gain insight on how to tame them, read the tips and suggestions mentioned below.

Taming process:

• You should enclose your kitten or cat in a small space like bedroom or bathroom. If the cat is afraid and terrified of the lights, then turned it off to calm them off. Confinement is needed to tame them. Aside from enclosing them inside a room, you can also enclose them inside a pen to prevent escape. Be sure that the area is warm and dry.
• Make sure to put a feeding bowl, a bed, water and litter box in the room to train them early on how to use them. If your cat is between 6 to 12 weeks old, make sure to enclose her in a larger pet carrier with small windows and grated door.
• Make sure to spend at least 2 to four hours daily with the cat to tame him. You can sit inside the room to inform her that you are not a threat.
• Try to touch her by wrapping her with a blanket and holding her on your lap. Stroke her and touch her face, ears, neck as you talk to her in gentle and soothing voice. Scruff her neck when she attempts to leave you is one way of relaxing and training her.
• Never forget to give her treats like tuna, chicken and other types of food which she love to eat. If she attempts to eat from your hand, then let her because it shows that she is already comfortable with your presence.
• Slowly allow her to roam in more rooms to familiarize her inside the house.
• If she tries to run away from you frequently, enclosed her inside the room again and repeat the process again.

As a cat owner, do you know food is very important to cats? And do you know what is that cats can’t eat? Here are some information about food that cats can’t eat.

1. Onion. Onion include something that may destroy the red blood cells of a cat. So please pay attention to meat which may mixed with onion.

2. Haslet. We all know that eat too much haslet may cause Skin problems. The same is true of the cat. And eat too much haslet will also cause Bone problem. So please don’t feed your cat haslet frequently.

3. Fish bone. Some one believe that cats chew bone while it eat food. Actually, cats Swallow food without any chewing. Big bone may stab its stomach. So we’d better get rid of the bone from the food before feeding the cat.

4. Food for human. There are so much edible oil, salt and other condiments in our daily food. All of these things are not comfortable for our cats. It is enough for an adult cat or dog to eat food with 5 percent of salt. More salt will be bad for their health.

5. Ice cream and cream cake. In fact, there is no need to feed pets ice cream and cream cake. Because it may include too much sugar and other things that pets can’t digest well. We can see that these things are not good for pets’ health.

6. Chocolate. Chocolate include pentoxifylline which may cause food poisoning. And chocolate poisoning may cause vomiting, uneasy, hyperactivity, even die of heart failure. So please be very careful!

7. Milk. Though milk have high nutritional value, cats and dogs can’t assimilate easily and cause diarrhea. Especially raw protein can prevent pets from assimilating vitamin.

8. Raw pork. Do you know that raw pork include toxoplasma gondii which may badly hurt your pet. So never feed your pet raw pork.

Also, there may be other things that would hurt your pet. We should take good care in our daily life. Just read more about pets and learn to be a good pet owner and get along well with your pet.

It is important to learn how to train cats to litter in the right place. It can be absolutely devastating to your household if your cat litters all over the place. Cat litter can stink up your house, it can ruin furniture, and it can drive all your guests away. You certainly don’t want this happening to you and that is why cat potty training is important. What you want is a loving cat who will adore you and your guests whenever they’re around.

Your cat must have a litter box. In order to learn how to train cats to litter, they need a place to litter in. You can purchase it at your local pet store. There will certainly be a lot of choices there. If you are on a budget then you can make a litter box yourself. You can make one out of plastic and use recycled material in your household.

Knowing how to train cats to litter is the start of everything. You must know that cats learn from experience. If you want to teach them how to litter in the proper place then you will have to condition them to do so. When you introduce your litter box to your kitten or cat, make sure you make them familiar with it early on. When you see signs that your cat wants to litter, bring them to the box as soon as possible. Sooner or later, they will get the idea that they should be in the litter box when they have to litter. You will not even have to bring them to the litter box anymore.

A more complicated task is to learn how to train cats to use toilet in the bathroom. If you want to do this then you will need to bring the box closer and closer to the bathroom and then eventually to the toilet bowl. You can elevate the litter box using newspapers and yellow pages. Just make sure that the litter box is properly fastened and secure. Eventually, you will put the litter box into the toilet and remove it when your cat litters there regularly.

If you think that learning and knowing how to train cats to litter properly is difficult then be prepared to actually do it. You will need a lot of patience and love for your cat during cat potty training. Good luck and may you and your cat live harmoniously together.

Before you build decide on a catio design and build an outdoor cat enclosure you should know these important facts to keeping your feline happy and safe. Catios, also known as cat runs and cat cages are great structures that allow pet owners to let their kitties outside while keeping them safe. This new cat containment solution is a raving trend since featured in a New York times Article recently.

Catios are available in many sizes and shapes ranging from a window box or window cage to a fully detached outdoor enclosure. Before deciding which catio design is right for you and your loved cat there are a few safety considerations to be aware of to guarantee your catio is as safe as possible.

Catio construction materials should not be toxic to cats. Many kitty owners are unaware of the many dangerously toxic materials to felines. For example Pine wood is toxic to cats. Pine is a dangerous type of wood that should never be used when constructing your outdoor cat enclosure. Any pressure treated wood found at local home improvement stores is toxic to your feline friends so choose a wood such as untreated eastern white cedar to make sure your cat does get sick from the chemicals used most pressure treated lumbers.

Catios are most lustrous when furbished with accessories and plants. however, there are many species of plants that are toxic and choosing the right ones for your new outdoor enclosure is one of the most important things you can do to keep your feline safe. The following is a list of cat friendly grasses you can grow to put inside your cat cage. 1) Oat Grass 2) Wheat Grass 3) Catnip and 4) Cat Grass. Plants such as tomatoes are deadly for cats so make sure you check out each plant you are thinking about putting in the outdoor cat enclosure catio design by going online to obtain a cat plant safe list.