Cats

I have a cat that is really fat, and I mean really fat. I think that she weighs about fifteen pounds I bet she is just big boned maybe she’ll lose alittle weight. I got this cat one year for Christmas. It was a present for my wife, I think. No, I take that back we went and picked out the cat when we were together at the pound. We went to the pound one day, to get a little cat, because … I don’t know, just to get a cat, man. It’s hard to decide on which one of the kittens gets to have a home. They are all just meowing at us, wanting to go home. I just felt bad for them. I didn’t know what one to get. Then we found the cutest little cat, stuck in the front gate. Just hanging there right on the front door of its little crate. This cat was crazy looking and yet some how she charmed us. We liked her the best, instantly she was ours. The next few days and weeks were pretty scary. This little cat was a monster. All she would do is jump out and scratch or bite us. It got worse… at night sometimes; I would have to sneak out of the room to get some water. I would tip toe through the house, trying not to wake up the tiny beast. She is a very good hider, and does not want to be woken. If I do wake up the beast I better run, or just pray that your had your socks on. The kitten had a taste for human blood. But then in the morning time, she would be this sweet, sit on your feet, type cat. But then again she is a cat. And I haven’t met a cat that it didn’t think was crazy.

Hamster Care Requirements

Hamsters are the most popular rodents kept as pets. They are extremely easy to tame and take care of and are relatively inexpensive animals. Hamsters are a suitable pet for almost any household; children can even keep them!

There are many different types of hamsters: large, small, patterned, solid colored, longhaired and shorthaired. The most popular hamster is the Syrian. It is the largest variety and comes in either longhaired or shorthaired. The longhaired Syrian hamster is often called the “Teddy bear hamster”. There is even a hairless Syrian! It also comes in many colors such as golden brown, white, cinnamon, cream, rust, gray, lilac, honey, yellow and black. An adult Syrian hamster reaches a length of six to eight inches.

The next most common hamster is the Dwarf Russian. It only reaches a length of three and a half to four and a half inches. The smallest hamster is the Roborovski. It is only two inches when full grown. The main difference between the Syrian hamster and other hamster species is that Syrian hamsters must be kept alone and the other species can be kept in groups. If Syrian hamsters are kept together, they will fight and can become seriously injured or even killed. You must keep only one Syrian in a cage.

You can buy hamsters at a pet shop or from a breeder. Make sure that the place you get it from spends lots of time with the hamsters and that they keep males and females separate. Hamsters can breed at a very young age so if you get a female hamster from a place that does not separate the males and females then you will probably be getting a pregnant hamster.

The hamster itself is usually very cheap. The cage and accessories make it more expensive. There are many types of hamster cages available at pet stores. Just make sure you get a cage enough space for the hamster to exercise and explore. The cage should also have a wheel in it so the hamster can get the activity it needs. When you get the cage, do not put it in direct sun or in a drafty place.

You will need to put shavings on the floor of the cage. Do not use cedar shavings because they contain oils that can hurt the hamster. Good materials for the shavings include pine, aspen, paper, or pulp. Your hamster will make its bed from the shavings so make sure you put enough in the cage for that.

There are many other types of accessories that you can buy for your hamster. Try to give some things made out of wood so your hamster will have something to chew on. This is good for their teeth. You will also need to provide food and water at all times. A water bottle works best for water because it will not be tipped over or get dirty like a water bowl will. There are many types of hamster food mixes that you can feed to your hamster. Just make sure that it is available all the time.

Once a week you should thoroughly clean the cage and change out the bedding. Make sure you clean all the toys and accessories as well. Rinse the cage completely so that no soap residue is left behind.

If you do these simple things, this will keep your hamster happy and healthy. They are very fun animals to watch and play with. They will surely keep you entertained!

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Pet Care

Herbs For Your Dog

Herbology, basically, is the use of herbs in the treatment of many types of illness. Herein the emphasis of treatment is based strongly on the specific use of herbal roots, flowers and leaves to stimulate the healing process. Keep in mind that these herbs are not a form of drug(as in man-made forms, such as aspirin) but are strictly natural in content. Practiced for centuries, herbology is probably one of the most primitive and fundamental uses of specific remedies to treat various illnesses, known today.

How, though, does the knowledge of herbal alternatives tie in with owning an
animal? Think about it for a moment. What do wild animals, or even your pets,
typically do when they are not feeling up to par? Most instinctively seek out
appropriate herbs when they are sick. How many times have you witnessed your dog
eating grasses?

Many man-made drugs are simply compounds based upon active principles found
in many herbs. One simple example could be caffeine found in coffee. Herbalists
differ from most traditional medicinal methods at this point however. Herbalists
believe in the use of the entire substance- not in simply the use of one part. They
believe the whole is much greater than the sum of one or more parts.

Basically, herbs work much slower than traditional medicines(t.m.’s) though they do
many things t.m.’s don’t- such as detoxify the body, stimulate movement of the
bowels or urination, and add vitamins and minerals to the patients system which are
already greatly needed.

Herbal remedies have also been used to treat animals over the centuries for such
illnesses as arthritis, worms, diarrhea/constipation, diabetes, epilepsy, mange and
cataracts, among others. Juliette de Bairacli-Levy is an author who emphasizes the
use of herbs in the treatment of many ailments in connection with pets. She also
emphasizes the importance of freshly gathered herbs, natural diet and fasting.

Probably the biggest drawback to herbal therapy would be the amount which must
be administered, the very frequent intervals of administration and the extended
periods of time over which administration must occur. Additionally, many herbs do
not taste good in their natural state and must be disguised in food. Still, if you are
willing to carry out a complete program, administering “medications” at their proper
intervals, herbal alternatives are very effective in treating and curing many types of
ailments. For more information concerning herbs and their uses, contact your
nearest herbalist or herbal store.

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/
Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - “Your New Best Friend”

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

Debbie Ray, owner of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com is a lifetime dog lover and
owner and breeder of german shepherd dogs for over 15 years.