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Do you like to learn about new and interesting things? If so, this article will be right up your alley! A healthy animal makes for a happy pet. If you are a cat owner and you want to make your pet happy, you need to make sure that your cat is groomed properly, fed on time, and is given enough love and attention. 

Here are some tips on how you can have a healthy and happy cat:

1. Take care of your cat's health. 

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that your cat is healthy and free from diseases that may even be transmitted to humans. 

Visit the veterinarian if you notice that your cat has become lethargic or less active than usual. 

If you see them 'shedding' excessively or has something unusual on their coat, immediately consult a professional. 

Your cat might have a skin disease, or this could be a symptom of a sickness that you do not know about. 

2. Groom your cat properly.

Cats are in the habit of grooming themselves. You will often see them using their tongue to clean their coat. 

In spite of this, you should still do your part in grooming your cat if you want to keep them really clean.

Brush your cat's fur regularly. There are several short-haired cats that need minimal brushing. For this, you can use a comb with soft bristles. 

There are also cat breeds which have long, silky furs and this variety needs a much longer grooming time. 

Use a wide-toothed comb initially then brush up with a fine toothed one afterwards. You can also use talcum powder in order to separate the hair strands. 

Make sure that you brush with gentle strokes so that their skin will not be hurt or scratched.

Cats are also not that fond of taking a bath. But there are times when your cat would need bathing. 

This is when they have accumulated a lot of dirt on the skin and coat. Bathing will help eliminate ticks and lice. 

Also, there might be substances that could cling on the fur which can be poisonous and it is important for them to bathe. 

When bathing your pet, use a shampoo that is specially made for cats. Prepare the following before bathing:

-a small tub or sink

-slip-proof mat 

-water spray attachment 

-clean, dry towels 

-shampoo 

-comb

Adjust the water temperature, then place your cat in the small tub or sink before filling it up with water. It is better to attach a sprayer in the faucet rather than pouring water directly onto its body. Apply a liberal amount of shampoo on the cat's body, and try to avoid the face, especially the eyes and ears. 

After rinsing, towel them dry and comb the coat. Bathing time should build trust and create some quality time between you and your pet cat. 

This should prevent your cat from making much of a fuss the next time it needs a bath. 

Another part of grooming is keeping the eyes, teeth and ears clean. Also remember to keep the paws clean and the nails trimmed. 

Go to a pet store and you are sure to find products specially made to clean these parts. You can also look for a nail trimmer specifically designed to use on your pet cat. 

Ask a professional groomer or a veterinarian so that you can learn how to properly clean your cat's eyes, ears, teeth and nails. 

3. Feed them on time. 

Another aspect of keeping your cat happy and healthy is by feeding them well and on time. 

Your feline friends can learn how to "stick" to a schedule with your guidance and training. 

Make time in your busy day to feed them. You can learn which variety of cat food they prefer by serving different brands and variants. 

Along with cat food, you should give them plenty of clean water to drink. 

If you have a lot of pet cats, give them individual feeding plates. 

If there is just one dish, other cats might not be fed well because dominant felines will take the most part of the food that you serve. 

4. Shower them with love and attention.

By giving your cats your undivided attention while grooming and feeding them, you are already showering them with love and attention. In addition to this, make their play time a lot more fun by appreciating the things that they do.By following these tips, you are sure to have a healthy cat and be a contented owner. When we learn, we continue on a path of growth. Therefore, learning about this subject has already helped you more than you know.

Cats are very good pets as they don’t require as much attention as other options such as a dog. You don’t have to walk the cat and you don’t have to deal with it barking at everything that happens to walk by your home. Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to. However, most cats are content to play with toys or to be independent  

This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. Your cat won’t come running when you are home at the end of day and knock you over. They also don’t lick or bite so you won’t have to worry about how they will interact with others when you have company. Cats always seem to be able to tell when you need some comfort. 

Taking care of a pet can help a child to become more responsible but some pets just come with too much time required. A cat makes a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy. Indoor cats will have to be trained to use a litter box but most of them learn very quickly so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.

Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day. In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. They don’t require as many vet visits for routine shots either like dogs do which can become quite expensive. 

For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home. Many cat owners claim they haven’t come across a mouse in their home for years with this line of defense. 

Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have a gentle hum to them that can be relaxing for humans. They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds. 

Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.

Many times cat owners are at a loss as to why their cat doesn't use their litter box. Here are some great tips that can help you solve the problem.

The litter box is the first thing you should check. It should be in a quiet, private area of the house. Many people put them in their basements and leave the door open a little as this not only creates a private environment but also keeps odors to a minimum in the rest of the house.

Some use a closet but if you do this be sure and keep the box clean to reduce odors in such a confined space and don’t forget to leave the door open!

Another placement possibility is under a table. Many people find a place without carpeting is best from a maintenance point of view as tile or cement is a lot easier to clean.

Ask yourself if you changed the litter box in any way:

* Has the box been moved to a high traffic area recently?

* Does the box need cleaning?

* Is a new litter being used or does it have too heavy a scent (clumping and unscented is best).

* Has the depth of the litter in the box changed? Some cats like their litter deep, others shallow.

* Your cat has outgrown the box and needs a larger one.

* The box is too hard to enter and exit. This can be an issue for older cats.

Do not put food and water near the litter box. Cats like these two areas kept separate (don’t you?).

If your cat has picked out a particular room to soil try closing the door to that room if you can or cover the target area with furniture.

Put a bowl of food over the target area as cats like to keep their eating area away from their “bathroom”.

Take your cat to the Vet on a regular basis.

If you have more than one cat get each one of them their own litter box.

Have you recently moved? A cat might smell an area where the previous owner’s cat urinated.

Let the cat alone while it goes so it can have some privacy.

If it is a new cat in your home it could take from three to eight weeks to get adjusted to the new environment. Be patient!

Was there a recent addition or loss to the family? A new baby, spouse? This is usually temporary until the cat adjusts to the change in their environment.

A change in your schedule can throw off your cat's schedule as well and cause problems. Try and phase in major lifestyle changes gradually.

NEVER EVER punish the cat by kicking, hitting, chasing, screaming or rubbing their nose in their urine (remember the smell doesn’t bother them). Cats cannot make the cause and effect connection like we can so punishment after the fact is useless and will only make matters worse.

Cats are naturally very clean animals and they know where they are going. It is important to remember this and try and help your cat overcome any stress or anxiety they might be having in a caring and loving manner.

 Meow! 

That is the sound you hear when you meet your cat walking through the doorway. It will move with his head and tail held high, looking directly at your eyes and emitting a faint sound summoning you to follow wherever it goes. That is your cat? Right? 

The fluffy little mass, whose behavior seems quite odd at times, and leaves you baffling with a variety of questions. Have you ever thought that your cat is an aloof creature to you? Then it is because you do not understand it. Your cat is always trying to communicate to you through its gestures and body language, so to know your cat more, you need to know more about the cat’s body language. The sweeping of the tail or rubbing of the cheeks, pricking of the ears or purring under breath - each has a significance of its own. Your cat will often rub its cheeks against you or against the cheeks of another cat. Through this, it actually tries to pick up or leave scent markers so that it can again create a future physical contact.

 Importance of tail movement

The tail is the most important part of your cat’s body, to indicate a variety of actions and reactions. The tail often denotes its mood and intention. If your cat is sweeping its tail in broad gestures, then it symbolizes annoyance or impatience at your excessive petting.

 If you continue to cuddle the cat might result in growling softly or giving you a “bat” with its paws. A rapid sweeping of tail back and forth, right from the center shows an extreme agitation in your cat.  If you find your cat turning its body fully sideways and extending its bristled tail upwards, then be sure that your cat is heralding a conflict with the fellow cats. When your cat is busy trapping a prey, you will find it to be more cautious, involved in subtle movements and inflating its tummy while all the time intently aiming at the prey. Often you will find your cat lowering its tail to tuck it between her legs, which show her complete obedience. 

A raised tail also indicates that your cat wants to be friendly, and a twitching of the tail will confirm its anticipation to be with you after the whole day of outing.

 Movement of other body parts

Along with the tail, the cat’s body gestures speak volumes about its mood and behavior. While bent legs denote defending of self, outstretched legs will denote self-confidence and self-assurance.

 If the cat’s ears are back and the body low, it will impart its shame or remorse; pricked ears will denote interest in the happenings around it. If you find your cat with the head completely lowered, then it will show boredom and sneaking subtly with its head lowered on the ground should make you aware of full-fledged assault on the victim ahead. 

Knowledge about these kitty-cat behaviors will definitely strengthen the bond between you and your cat. 

If at any time you’ve been nipped by a young dog or puppy, you’ll know that those teeth can be as knife-like as ice picks. 

Depending on their breed, dogs typically possess a pretty impregnable hide and can nip and be nipped with comparative impunity, but we humans are not so lucky. And yes, a puppy’s nip can definitely pierce the human hide!

So how do you put a final and permanent stop to your young pup’s nipping habits?

Primarily, it helps to appreciate that he's not gnawing on or chewing your leg maliciously! Chewing, mouthing and gumming are ordinary activities for puppies and young adolescent dogs. 

They instinctively nip when playing alongside their siblings. This is the way they communicate with the universe and the environment about them. If uncontrolled by his less close family and “pack” members, a young dog would, in a second, be taught by his mother and siblings to manage his chewing. 

But the majority of puppies are separated from their mothers and family prior to the time when they've had an opportunity to take this skill and understanding on-board; hence, it remains “unlearned”.

So, what to do? First, you need to let him have fun and mix with a group of other dogs. 

Puppies adore jumping about, to fall and tumble and having fun. If your little bundle of fun becomes a bit too boisterous in the presence of different, unknown dogs, the other members of the crowd will rapidly address his improper and unnecessary behavior! 

As basic as it is, this socialization alongside different dogs is hands down the simplest way for him to discover to manage himself when he's tempted to nip.

There are additional benefits to allowing our pup to socialize in this way. He'll discover not to be nervous or to have any fear of strange new dogs. He'll get rid of his surplus vitality. And you'll see that he interacts more calmly when amongst other members of your household. 

Puppies that forgo this socializing aspect are often inclined to be over-active, wild and destructive, perhaps demonstrating a range of different difficult behavioral patterns.

Additionally, dogs without any canine social skills generally tend to react unnecessarily aggressively to new situations. 

So, any efforts you can engender to introduce your young dog to new and unknown dog, as well as new human beings (particularly the youngest members of your household) should pay huge dividends in numerous areas of your pup’s growth and development.

This can be especially useful if you there are very young children in the family.

The young are closer in weight, bulk and size to dogs, and they frequently possess that selfsame puppy-like vitality that can be interpreted as belligerent by a dog. 

So, during the period when your puppy is relatively youthful (four months old or less), this is a sensible period to ensure that he frequently interacts with family in an appropriate way that causes neither your dog or the offspring to become too over-excited! This can be particularly significant if your pup is from a species of big or quarrelsome dogs.

The second way to try to train your young dog to drop his nipping and gnawing habit is to work to elicit his confidence and esteem. 

This can go a long way to ensuring that all subsequent training becomes easier and that the effects of all your training efforts are permanent, notably if you're striving to manage and then rectify difficult or unmanageable behavior.

How do you garner your young pups esteem? By treating him with exactly the same levels of respect and consideration that you expect from him (or her).

Whether you're teaching your puppy or only playing, try to handle him with consideration. This entails no hitting or slapping of your puppy, even when in situations where you're attempting to rectify and deal with seriously improper behavior. 

Tangible physical discipline (or abuse) can not only ruin the confidence and admiration of your pup, it'll almost guarantee that he is scared him of you.  Moreover, it's frequently ineffectual and counter-productive to act this way.  Reprimanding your puppy does not prevent him from nipping and chewing. In all likelihood, it'll do nothing more than flummox him.

By using positive support, usually involving the giving of treats and an abundance of compliments, you should be able to train him infinitely more quickly faster and far more effectively, whilst getting the pup to understand that it is possible to have fun without nipping!

A young dog that bites can mature to be a grown dog that continues to bite unless you instruct him otherwise. Untended, these antagonistic and aggressive behavioral patterns will almost definitely become worse and increasingly less manageable over time. 

So, act to deal with them ahead of time, emphatically but fairly, and you'll lay down the necessary corner stones for a caring, vigorous and trusting partnership with your young pup for the rest of his days.

Before making the decision about buying a new dog, here are some points you should consider :- 

1. Is someone at home for most of the day ? 

A dog, especially a puppy, should not be left on its own for more than a few hours at a time. If you are out at work from 9-5 don't get a dog unless you can make satisfactory arrangements with a friend to let the dog out. 

2. What about holidays ? 

It is sad to say that more dogs are destroyed at holiday time than any other. Unless you have a helpful family to look after your dog, be prepared for the expense of boarding kennels. Because of the increase in running costs, reputable kennels now have to make a higher charge - don't forget to book well ahead. 

3. Are you prepared for the cost of keeping a dog ? 

This includes not only the cost of food, and kennels at holiday time, but also the cost of vaccinations and also possible veterinary fees in case of illness. A dog, like a child, can fall ill quite suddenly and unexpectedly, so be prepared for any eventuality. Take out pet insurance for peace of mind. 

4. Exercise 

To keep healthy and happy, dogs need daily exercise, and this means a good run in a field or park, or a game with a ball, not just a stroll round to the shops on a leash. If you love your dog, be prepared to sacrifice some of your leisure time each day, whatever the weather. If you can't provide this kind of exercise to a dog, consider giving a home to an older dog. Your local dogs home may have just the right one for you. 

5. Family circumstances 

Dogs and children usually love each other and get on well, but don't make the mistake of buying a young puppy for a small child. Young children can be very cruel and a puppy may be badly thrown about. Worse still a young pup's bones may easily broken if a child treats it like a toy. Wait until the children are older and a little more responsible. 

6. Grooming. 

If you don't have much time to spare, choose a dog with a smooth or wire coat which needs little attention to keep it tidy. Long and curly coated dogs look beautiful, but they need daily grooming to keep them this way. Poodles need regular trimming, as well as grooming, so unless you are able to do this yourself be prepared for extra expense. 

You could House train your dog easily if you had the time to watch your puppy 24 hours a day. But as you can’t watch them around the clock, don’t expect to train them all at once. Training can take up to about 6 months. Puppies are growing and developing quickly at this stage. They eat more food and burn up lots of energy and consequently need to ‘go’ more often.

The most important issue in house training dogs should be teaching him to control his bowel. When he is still a puppy, he has not yet developed bladder control.

House training dogs is hard when you are not home. Your puppy needs a lot of attention. You should first confine your puppy in a puppy-proof room with paper spread all over the floor. Put his water bowls and food right next to it. The papers you have set on the floor may be dragged and chewed around his little den, but its important and helpful in teaching your puppy where to eliminate his waste properly. There will be no reason for him to defecate elsewhere. Your puppy will ‘go’ on the paper, and you need to clean it up when you arrive home. This may be an additional job for you, but patience is all it takes. Don’t worry because later on, he will move past this stage. 

Paper training is very useful and a proven technique in training dogs. In this way, no matter where the dog relieves himself, he will still eliminate on the paper because he has no choice. Little by little, you will see some changes. Gradually reduce the amount paper you have set on the ground. Start to move the paper outside the house. Of course, as your puppy has become used to using the paper he will look for it. Once the paper has been moved to outside the house, your training is near its end. Move the paper about an inch per day. 

Occasionally, you may discover that he has had ‘accidents’ inside the house again. Don’t be discouraged. This happens. What you need to do is repeat the training. But understand that it will not be as hard as the first time. House training your dog is key for both your dog and your sanity and sanitation.

Chewing is something that comes naturally to every dog.  Every dog feels the instinctual need to sharpen its teeth and hone his biting skills.  Chewing on the right things, like specially designed chew toys for instance, can even help the dog clean his teeth and remove plaque.      

Even though chewing is natural and healthy, that does not mean that the dog should be given carte blanche and allowed to chew everything in sight.  It is vital for every dog to learn the difference between the things it is OK to chew on, like toys and ropes, and the things that are off limits, such as carpets, shoes and other items.

When working with a new puppy, it is advisable to keep the puppy in a small, puppy proofed room for at least a few weeks.  This is important not only to prevent chewing but to properly house train the puppy as well. 

Older dogs should also be confined to a small area at first.  Doing this allows the dog to slowly acquaint him or herself to the smells and sights of the new household.  

When you set up this small, confined area, be sure to provide the puppy or dog with a few good quality chew toys to keep him entertained while you are not able to supervise him.  Of course the dog should also be provided with a warm place to sleep and plenty of fresh clean water. 

As the dog is slowly moved to larger and larger portions of the home, there may be more opportunities to chew inappropriate items. As the dog is given freer access to the home, it is important to keep any items that the dog or puppy should not chew, things like throw rugs, shoes, etc. up off of the floor.  If you forget to move something and come home to find that the dog has chewed it, resist the urge to punish or yell at the dog.  Instead, distract the dog with one of its favorite toys and remove the inappropriate item from its mouth.

The dog should then be provided with one of its favorite toys.  Praise the dog extensively when it picks up and begins to chew its toy.  This will help to teach the dog that it gets rewarded when it chews certain items, but not when it chews other items.   

Teaching the dog what is appropriate to chew is very important, not only for the safety of your expensive furniture and rugs, but for the safety of the dog as well.  Many dogs have chewed through dangerous items like extension cords and the like.  This of course can injure the dog severely or even spark a fire. 

Most dogs learn what to chew and what not to chew fairly quickly, but others are obviously going to be faster learners than others.  Some dogs chew because they are bored, so providing the dog with lots of toys and solo activities is very important.   

It is also a good idea to schedule several play times every day, with one taking place right before you leave every day.  If the dog is thoroughly tired after his or her play session, chances are he or she will sleep the day away. 

Other dogs chew to exhibit separation anxiety.  Many dogs become very nervous when their owners leave, and some dogs become concerned each time that the owner may never come back.  This stress can cause the dog to exhibit all manners of destructive behavior, including chewing soiling the house.  If separation anxiety is the root of the problem, the reasons for it must be addressed, and the dog assured that you will return.

This is best done by scheduling several trips in and out of the home every day, and staggering the times of those trips in and out.  At first the trips can be only a few minutes, with the length slowly being extended as the dog’s separation anxiety issues improve.