Ways to Keep a Tabby Cat Happy

Tabby cats are not a breed. The coat of a tabby cat has a set of patterns, such as stripes, swirls, and a distinctive ‘M’ shaped mark on the forehead. The exact placement and shape of these patterns highly depends on the specific type of tabby. Like any other cat, tabby cats also need proper diet and stimulation to remain healthy, active, and happy.

Cat Health:

You can keep your tabby cat happy by establishing its predictable feeding routine. For this, you need to feed your cat at the same time each day. It is better to use different types of foods and alternate both wet or dry food and ingredients for feedings.

If possible, provide your cat an access to running water. You can either provide running water from a tap at expected intervals or buy a cat fountain from a pet supply store.

Providing a small planter of cat grass, that is at least 2 inches tall, is also a good way to keep your cat happy. Place the planter away from the food and water dishes. Moreover, it is advisable to put any houseplants that are toxic to cats in a room where your cat is not allowed to go.

Place at least two litter boxes in two different rooms of the house, and do not change their place once they have been used. Clean them on daily basis or as required.

Cat Stimulation:

Keep your tabby cat happy by providing scratching posts or mats. It is preferable to place them near any object that the cat is presently scratching. You may need to scratch them yourself in order to teach the cat how to use them. Encourage your cat by feeding it after it begins using the post.

Get a cat-climbing tree from your local pet supply store and encourage the climbing behavior of your cat by placing a treat on higher platforms.

Cats love to watch outside world. Keeping window shades open will allow them a clear view of the outdoors. However, if your windows do have enough space to sit, you can provide a cat perch to sit and enjoy the outdoor scene.

Play with your tabby cat every day at the same time. You can also take it outside occasionally; however, you need to secure them with a leash to prevent them from running off and risking injury.

Interesting Facts about Bengal Cats

Bengal cats are among the most expensive cat breeds of the world. These cats have some unique genetic heritage and possess distinct personalities, unusual behavior patterns, and attractive visual appearance, which make them a popular cat breed among the cat owners.

Some of the most interesting facts about Bengal cats are as follows:

• Like other cat breeds, Bengal cats are intelligent, energetic, and interactive cats. They are a dynamic and active part of the family. However, they are not similar to the other cat breeds, and possess various characteristic that make them very special and different.
• Bengal cats are amazing athletes as they can rush around with great joy, climb doors and cupboards, and jump to huge heights.
• These cats often become total softies as they flop over and roll on their backs in joy, come up to you and snuggle your face, purring rowdily, then lastly curl up into happy little balls and fall fast asleep. In fact, Bengal cats crave love and affection of their owners.
• Bengal cats are fond of water, and can play happily, and even swim, in quite deep water. However, it is not necessary that all Bengal cats are swimmers.
• Bengal cats are not particularly noisy cats. Unlike some Siamese cats, they do not constantly commentate on their owners’ life; however, they do have a diverse range of candid calls, which they use when they feel the need.
• These cats love their food. The only problem is that they tend to climb inside the food bag before you can pour it out. Also, they not only carry off treats such as chicken pieces, but also guard them proudly with a low growl.
• Bengal cats are not fierce and wild animals. They are indeed domestic animals, however it is important to note that, being so active, these cats may totally inadvertently scratch people whilst galloping over them or jumping from them. Therefore, caution should be taken if you have small children in the family.

Facts about Maine Coon Cats

Maine Coon cats belong to a large cat breed that is the Native American long-haired cat breed. They are ideal for the harsh winters and varied seasons of the region. These cats are friendly and playful. They tend to be reserved with strangers; however, they are very adoring and understanding with their family. This makes them ideal for kids and dogs, and they have always been a popular and preferred companion.

Here are a few interesting facts about Maine Coon cats that will help you in understanding this large domesticated cat.

• There is a wide variety of Maine Coon cats with different colors and patterns. The most common are Tabbies and Tabby & Whites, whereas Maine Coons with solids and more exotic colors and patterns are quite rare.
• Although Maine Coon cats are known for their large size, however, because of their high vivacity and wisdom quotients, they are also labeled as “the Gentle Giants” in the feline world.
• Nine out of ten Maine Coon cats share one unique facet, i.e. their facial features have a clear M-shape on their brow. This feature can also present in Maine Coon mixes.
• The eye color of a Maine Coon cat can be a shade of gold, green, green-gold, or copper. White or bi-color patterned cats mostly have blue-eyes or odd-eyes.
• Maine Coon cats can be polydactyl, which means that they can have six or more toes on their paws.
• Unlike Persian cats, which have long coat, these cats have middling thick fur with a ruff around their neck and chests, which look similar to a lion’s mane. Also, they have the longer hair around their legs.
• The fur of a Maine Coon has two layers, i.e. an undercoat and a supplementary tier of longer guard hair. This multi-layered coat gives this cat a noticeable look.
• Maine Coons are considered fully grown when they reach 4 to 5 years of age.
• The weight of a male Maine Coon cat is between 18 and 25 pounds, whereas females normally weigh between 7 and 11 pounds, reaching 16 pounds for a mature cat.
• Regardless of their large bodies, Maine Coon cats have tiny voices that squeak and chirp.
• Unlike other cats, Maine Coon cats love to play with water.

Facts about Rabbits

Rabbits are small mammals that belong to their own family named as Leporidae of the order Lagomorphs. They are not rodents.  It is said that the evolutionary separation between rabbits and other living mammals possibly took place about thirty million years ago.

There are 13 species of rabbits with the eastern cottontail being the most popular one around the world. Cottontails found in different colors ranging from gray to brown. They have large ears and hind feet and fluffy tails. Its average length is about a foot and weighs 2 – 3 pounds.

In wild, cottontails are live in brushy hedgerows and the edges of forested areas with dense cover; however, they can also live in suburbs and urban areas. During the growth period, they feed on leafy plants, whereas they eat buds and bard of woody plants in the cold season.

Cottontails are quite popular because of their reproductive abilities as they can breed from February through September. Gestation is about 28 days. They can give birth to 3 or 4 litters of 4 or 5 young ones called kittens in a year. Kittens are born vulnerable in a shallow area lined with grass and mother’s fur, however they grow fast and are weaned when less than half the size of the adult.

Mother rabbits take care their young ones for almost 5 minutes day. Since their milk is very rich therefore the young ones fill up to capacity within minutes. Mothers do not sit on their babies to keep them warm. Often, abandoned baby rabbits are saved by humans, however fewer than 10% of these babies stay alive.

In wild, cottontails can live up to 2 years, however the areas where there are many predators, they rarely live more than a year. According to a study, approximately 85% of the rabbit population dies each year, which comprises at least one out of every three babies that are born in a year.

A number of mortality factors encroach on rabbit population. One of the major factors in nest mortality is weather because ground nests are vulnerable to flooding in heavy rains.

Toys for Rabbits

Rabbits are very interesting and playful animals, and they will love to have a selection of fun toys that can be as simple as a cardboard box or empty paper towel roll.

Toys are of great help in keeping your rabbit physically active and prevent tedium. A jaded rabbit is much more prone to become destructive or even depressed and overweight. It is better to experiment with different kinds of toys to discover what is more entertaining to your pet rabbit, and keep on providing new toys or you can at least rotate the ones your pet has.

There are many items that can be used as rabbit toys. All you need is to be creative and pay attention to how your rabbit respond to that toy. Here are some ideas that can help you in choosing the suitable toys for your pet rabbit.

• Hard plastic baby toys, e.g. links, rings, keys, rattles, etc.
• Cardboard concrete forms
• Organic wicker baskets or other wicker items.
• Cardboard boxes having two or three rabbit sized entrance holes.
• Parrot toys and bells.
• Cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towel rolls.
• Towels
• Dried pine cones
• Straw balls
• Fresh branches from apple trees.
• Large rubber ball
• Hard plastic cat balls with a bell inside.
• Short kitty condos, tunnels, platforms
• Box full of shredded paper
• Small straw whisk broom

Choosing a Leopard Gecko

Leopard geckos are one of the best reptile pets as they are easy to care for, very tame, do not need a large cage, easy to breed, and available in a stunning variety of color morphs. However, they do need their share of proper care and attention.

It is important to know how to properly take care of a leopard gecko before buying one. You need to read all about the leopard gecko care instructions, and if you feel that you won’t be able to take care of your pet then don’t buy it.

How to Buy a Leopard Gecko:

Once you have decided to buy a leopard gecko, it is important to take into consideration a few things.

1. Breeder reptiles – if you decide on purchasing a leopard gecko from breeders, it is a good idea because they take better care of their reptiles and any symptom of health problem that may have a bit chance of being hereditary, is removed from the breeding groups.
2. Retail reptiles – if you purchase a leopard gecko from a retail reptile, you do not know whether or not the parents were in good health and not apt to genetic disorders.

When buying a leopard gecko from a pet store, consider the following things:

• Their present husbandry may not be right
• Unidentified genetic history
• Overall unidentified history

It is up to you to decide where to buy a leopard gecko because not all pet store reptiles are unhealthy and housed improperly. You can also consider a local reptile show, where you can find more variety on cheaper prices.

Signs of a Healthy Leopard Gecko:

Generally, a healthy leopard gecko exhibits the following traits:

• Well-developed body
• Bright and watchful eyes
• Clean nostrils (free of discharge)
• Thick and round tail
• Intact toes and claws
• Closed and clean mouth
• Alert and active behavior

Signs of an Unhealthy Leopard Gecko:

Generally, an unhealthy leopard gecko exhibits the following traits:

• Sticking out hip bones is the sign of underfeeding.
• Sunken eyes indicate a dehydrated or sick animal.
• Discharge and bubbles around the nostrils indicate respiratory infection.
• Flat and thin tail is the sign of improper feeding.
• Gaps when trying to hold mouth closed indicate vitamin or mineral deficiency.
• Missing toes indicate shedding concerns mostly because of improper husbandry.
• Sluggish behavior is the sign of parasites.

How to Care for Chinchilla

Chinchillas make great pets and can live about 20 years if they are treated and taken care well. Here are some important ways of taking care of pet Chinchillas.

Housing:

Chinchillas require plenty of space to move around therefore, its cage should be large enough to accommodate a pair of chinchillas. Never keep these creatures in a glass cage or aquarium as there is less air circulation in these types of cages. The ideal cage size is 2 x 2 x 3 feet.

Since chinchillas have small feet that can easily be caught in big spacing screen of the cage, therefore choose the flooring that has almost 1.5 by 1.5 inch spacing. Also, provide them with solid surfaces on which they can sit comfortably. Wooden shelves, made of wood such as pine, poplar, apple, and aspen, are best for this purpose. Never leave any plastic or cloth item in the cage as chinchillas are in habit of chewing everything. Provide them plenty of toys for playing and chewing.

Temperature:

Chinchillas are very sensitive to temperature, and cannot be kept in temperatures above 75 F. Keeping them in temperatures over 75 F will overheat them, and if they are not cooled down immediately, they can die. It is advisable to keep terra cotta pots or marble tiles in the freezer for emergency situations so that you can treat your pet in time. For those who live where temperature gets over 75 F, it becomes compulsory to have air conditioning when owning a Chinchilla.

Diet:

Feed your Chinchilla a diet of Alfalfa and Timothy hay along with high quality Chinchilla pellets. Do not give them treats frequently. In wild, Chinchillas used to eat varied diet, and cannot properly digest too many treats. However, if you want to give your pet treats, then only give one treat twice or thrice a week. The treats should not be larger than the size of a raisin.

When it comes to water, do not give Chinchillas tap water. Instead, give them filtered or purified water. This is important because Chinchillas are prone to certain things, such as Giardia, in tap water. Giardia can cause severe diarrhea and it should be treated by a veterinarian. It is also important to change the water on daily basis to keep your pet healthy.

Identifying a Chausie Cat

The Chausie cat is also known as a Mountain Cougar, Jungle Curl, or Stone Cougar. It is basically a hybrid of the African Jungle cat and a domestic shorthair cat. It was registered officially in 1995, and is comparatively a new breed.

Its name was derived from the Latin word for the African Jungle cat, Felis Chaus. Owing to their lineage, they are skillful hunters and are extremely active. In spite of this, they are also very loving and adoring pets. They like to be touched or petted, however they do not really like to be cuddled and act as if it were indecorous. The best way to describe this breed of cats is: imperial and intrepid but not hostile or antisocial.

If you want to buy a pedigreed Chausie cat then following main points will help you in identifying it.

• Take a look at the general build of the cat. It should be almost 1 ½ feet high at the shoulder and approximately 3 feet long. This is a big cat, since Chausie cats are famous for being twice the weight and size of a typical domestic cat. Regardless of their size, they are not bulky, and have an athletic body with a broad chest, long legs, small paws, and a thin but dense bone structure.
• Check the coloring of the cat. The pedigreed Chausie cats have only 3 official color patterns.

1. Plain Black
2. Brown ticked tabby – these cats have a pale belly with a light tan body and darker brown stripes.
3. Silvered tip – this is a unique pattern in which a cat has a silver-grey coloring with black splotches on its whole body, like that of a leopard.

• See the head of the cat. The pedigreed Chausie cats have a long, but thick neck that leads to a high and slim cranium. The jaw is tapered sharply down to the nose and the eyes are relatively low on the face. The cat’s whole head is dominated by very tall and straight ears, often tipped like a bobcat. When this cat is in a resting position, its ears angled to face directly forward similar to a pair of headlights on a car.
• Observe the behavior of the cat. The pedigreed Chausie cats generally have fluid and slow movements. They drag their heels, apparently confident in themselves irrespective of what situation they find themselves in. This behavior is similar to that of a dog. These cats obey orders, come when called, follow their owners closely and often sit tolerantly at their feet waiting for an order or attention. Also, observe the cat jump. These cats have unbelievable strength in their loins, which allow them to leap up to 6 feet straight up.

If you find a cat having all of the above mentioned criteria then it is a pedigreed Chausie cat that you are looking for. Since it is an extremely rare breed, therefore it is often found only in catteries.

Facts about Bulldogs

In past few years, bulldogs have become one of the most popular show dogs. They are greatly loved for their charming temperament and friendly nature. They originated in the British Isles, and thus also known as British or English Bulldogs. However, in past, they were often known as guard dogs.

The intention behind breeding the very first bulldogs is to produce fierce fighters with a daring personality. However, when the fighting became illegal, the bulldogs were soon lovers. Today, bulldogs are known as calm and kind family pets. They walk confidently and gracefully, can participate in obedience, agility, rally and flyball competitions. Some of them even play a role of active therapy dogs, and visit sick or disabled people.

A bulldog is a medium-sized dog. Although these dogs look small however they weigh more than you think. The average weight of males is about 50 pounds, whereas the average weight of females is about 40 pounds. An average height of a bulldog can range from 12 to 16 inches.

The physical appearance of the bulldogs is very interesting. They have very short bodies, wide shoulders, and thick and strong legs. Their coat is short and lies flat, whereas the hair is fine and very smooth. They have soft, loose skin around their head, neck, and shoulders. They have a short tail.

Bulldogs come in a number of colors, which are as follows:

• Piebald bulldogs have irregular patches of two different colors.
• Red brindle and brindle bulldogs are a tawny or brownish color with streaks of another color.
• Solid colored bulldogs can be all light brown, all fawn, all red, or all white.

In order to keep a bulldog clean, bathing is recommended. His wrinkles particularly require cleaning quite often. Although his hair is short, however he will shed. Therefore, they need to be brushed infrequently. Moreover, brushing makes the dogs feel good, and aids in keeping his skin health and shiny.

Facts about Russian Blue Cat

The Russian Blue Cat (also known as Archangel Blue Cat) is believed to have originated from the port town of Arkhangelsk in Russia. In 1800s, it was brought to the UK and has been domestically bred since then.

The Russian Blue Cat is famous for its silver-blue coat that shows off its wiry frame and complements its vibrant, dark green eyes. It has a long, slim body with short fur, and its coat is known as “double coat” as it has a soft, velvety undercoat that helps in providing the cat with an additional insulation in the extreme northern winters. The topcoat fur (even if sometimes a soft black in color) can be a real shade of blue with silver tips, giving the cat an iridescent look.

These cats are recognized as highly intelligent and playful; however, they are really shy around strangers. Moreover, they are quite easy to train and are well known for developing close bonds with their owners.

Since the saliva and sebum of Russian Blue Cats contain less of a certain protein than many other cats, they are among the hypoallergenic breeds of cats.

The purebred Russian Blue Cat does not have any white markings on its body, however in rare cases, a ‘locket’ of white fur can be found on its throat, which is considered as an extremely negative feature in cat shows. Another prominent feature of a purebred Russian Blue Cat is the positioning of its ears on its head, which are usually attached to the head at a rakish angle.

Russian Blue Cats are popular due to their calm and loving nature. In addition, they are one of the few domestic breeds that are not prone to illness or carry genetic defaults.