Details of Some Essential Cat Food Ingredients

Most people are not aware of the effect of various ingredients on the health of their cat. If people have knowledge about the food they give their cats, they can avoid health problems that are caused due to low quality food. There are many infections and illnesses that can be avoided if you give them food that has nutrients they need.

If you are planning to feed your animal friend with packaged food, it is important that you known the ingredients used and the impact of these ingredients on the health of your cat. You can find out the details of the ingredients used by the manufacturer by reading the label. However, your efforts will not yield results if you don't known the pros and cons of the ingredients used.

The dietary requirements of cats are similar to that of humans. When the right ingredients are used, the immune power of your animal friend increases and they are less likely to fall. Here are some important ingredients that must be a part of your pet's diet.

Antioxidants

Vitamins are the most important cat food ingredient as they are an important source of antioxidants. Most vets recommend that you give your pet vitamins like Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin K as they are a good source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential to improve the immunity system of your pet and to keep them safe from various diseases and their symptoms.

Proteins

Cats need both vegetable and meat protein for their healthy growth and development. Some of the best sources of meat protein include ducks, pork, egg, pork and chicken. You can give your pet rice, rye, wheat, oatmeal, beet pulp and corn as they are a good source of vegetable protein.

Fibers and Fats

The importance of food that contains fiber and moderate amounts of healthy fats cannot be denied. Foods that have high fiber content help in maintaining the health of the cat. Hulls of grains are considered to be the best source of fiber. Giving your cat moderate amounts of healthy animal fats will help in maintaining their skin and add flavor to their food. You can give your pet fish oil as it is an important source of animal fat.

So the next time you buy food for your cat, make sure you check the ingredients used. Avoid buying cheap food for your pet as it may be made using low quality ingredients. It is a good idea to buy premium food for your animal friend even if it is a bit expensive.

If you find premium cat food to be expensive, you can use coupons to get discounts on the list price. For more information on the coupons issued by well-known manufacturers, you can visit the websites Fancy Feast Coupons and Whiskas Coupons.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abhishek_Choudhari

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Preventing Hairballs In Your Furry Friend

Hairballs are one of the many problems that a cat owner would be facing in its pet's lifetime. A hairball is lumps of hair ingested by a cat and passed out through coughing or through defecation; either way this is very messy to clean. Hairballs can cause intestinal problems in a cat if this does not pass out, and cause blockage in the intestines of your pet cat, which would need veterinary intervention and this is expensive. There are ways that you can prevent this from happening. This may not eliminate hairballs totally but this can lower the risk of complications.

The most obvious one is to groom your cat regularly. Combing the fur of the cat at regular intervals can help minimize their ingestion of the loose fur, which is a very simple thing to do. There are many kinds of brushes that would be appropriate for the type of fur your cat has. Brushing your cat's fur regularly would get the loose hair and even if they still groom themselves often the hair that they can ingest would be minimal and this would be easily passed out. For long haired cats, it is best to brush their fur every day to get all the loose hair off as these long hairs would be of greater risk of getting stuck inside their intestinal tract.

Giving your cat some hairball preventing fluid mixed in their food can help pass out their fur. These are usually made from vegetable fiber which would help the hairball pass through the intestinal tract easily. These vegetable fiber additives come in various forms and some offer other benefits to the cat. Asking advice from your cat's vet would be a very wise decision when giving your cat something that you are not sure of. This would prevent more complications that your cat would suffer from ingesting substances that may harm them more.

There are certain cat laxatives that can be given to a cat if the hairball is getting into a problem inside your cat's intestines. This should first be consulted with the veterinarian so that they would be able to give the needed dosage to help in passing out the hairball from your cat's intestinal tract. Some of these laxatives have a strong ingredient which can harm the intestines of your cat if not used properly. In whatever medication that you would give to your pet cat, it is very important that you consult the veterinarian first to be sure.

There are plenty of things that a pet would need and one of these is the best pet health insurance. Taking care of a pet can be very easy with the help of the best pet health insurance.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Uy

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Taking Care Of A Pet Cat

There are some people who prefer to have a pet cat than any other animal. With a cat there is no worry of it destroying all the precious things at home and this does not make a big mess in the house. Cats are preferred by other people because of their playful nature and affectionate behaviour. But having a cat at home still requires a great deal of attention and care from the pet owner. There are certain things that a cat would need that would keep it healthy.

Cats are picky eaters and giving them the right food would help them in their nourishment and health. There are different kinds of cat food in the market and some of these your cat may not be fond of. Getting the food that it likes would ensure that it gets the needed nourishment for it to stay healthy. Some foods have additional ingredients that would help in keeping the cat healthy which is why it is very important to read what the label says about the food. You could also ask your vet on what they would recommend for the type of cat you have. Changing the food often would give its taste buds a variety of flavors keeping it interested in its food.

To keep your cat away from scratching and damaging the corners of your furniture, a scratching pole would be a good idea to have. You can start by putting a piece of fabric that is similar to the furniture that they love to scratch on a piece of wooden pole. They need to keep their claws sharp and exercise their muscles and a separate scratching pole can achieve this without them damaging your furniture.

Some cats prefer to have their own place to sleep in or rest and there are plenty cat litter boxes or baskets that can be found in pet stores, but if you are saving on expenses then an ordinary box can be made into one. Your cat would be equally comfortable as long as you place a cushion or blanket for it to stay in.

Cats still love to be petted even though these don't go near you all the time. Constant attention is what a cat wants and petting them whenever you have the time would make them appreciate you more. They would be more affectionate to you giving you their attention in return.

Having pet health insurance can be very helpful in maintaining the health of your pet. With pet health insurance you would not have to worry about the expenses associated with it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Uy

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Six Suggestions to Prevent Cats From Scratching Furniture

Scratching is a fundamental feline activity. There is no way to live with cats and not deal with scratching in some form. The trick is to prevent cats from scratching furniture and redirect their attentions to where it's OK to scratch.

1. The first thing to stop cats scratching furniture is providing at least one scratching post, several would be better. Cats like stretch and scratch after sleeping or after meals. It makes sense for a scratching post to be near the cat's food bowls. Cat trees provide for a number of feline activities at the same time. Cats can scratch and climb them rest on them and even use them as observation posts.

2. It can also help to reduce the cat's need to scratch by keeping the claw tips trimmed. After all one of the reasons cats need to scratch is to get rid of excessively long claw tips.

3. Keeping them entertained is another way to prevent cats from scratching furniture. Boredom and lack of exercise can lead to frustration and silly ideas which is often taken out on the furniture. Actively playing with the cat promotes the bonding process, and the cat gets rid of excess energy. Creating a comfortable spot near a window can provide mental stimulation for when the human is absent.

4. Yet another trick to prevent cats from scratching furniture is to change the texture of the item. Usually cats decide what to scratch based on how it feels under the paws. Taking that away can be very effective. Double-sided tape as well as silver or plastic foils can be used for the purpose. But this method is only recommended with cats the don't chew or even eat non-edible things. Where this is a problem citrus or eucalyptus oils can be applied to the endangered objects. Such oils are non-toxic, but they will keep most cats at a distance. (Tea tree oil must be avoided!)

5. When they're caught in the act, one can stop cats scratching furniture with a direct squirt of water or a shout. But cats are smart. This will not deter them in the human's absence.

6. A new invention, soft vinyl claw caps, can help cat owners in their effort to prevent cats from scratching furniture. Many happy customers testify to the effectiveness of this method. Though it should be considered that a cat's personality can play a role in the success.

Declawing:

Some readers may wonder why declawing surgery isn't listed as a recommended method to prevent cats from scratching furniture. Here is why:

Declawing surgery can't be compared to a manicure because a cat's claws are more than nails are to a human. The surgery itself is major, with a long and painful recovery period, as claws are direct extensions of the bone. Declawing in fact amputates the last joint of a cat's toe.

While recovering form the surgery a cat would have no alternative to the continued use of its injured paws. There would be great danger of blood poisoning from digging in the litter box, not to mention excruciating pain. Cats are very sensitive to pain, just as all their senses are very keen, even though they disguise it as much as possible.

Claws are an important part of a cat's anatomy. Amputation severely changes the paws' conformation. Both that and being without the primary defense mechanism, its claws, would cause a cat to be at a major disadvantage when facing rivals or predators.

It has been reported that a cat's personality changes after being declawed due to the surgically imposed limitations. Sadly not all professionals recognize this further side effect.

This brief overview should adequately illustrate why it is an inhumane choice. Notably, it's also illegal in many countries, and where it isn't many vets refuse to perform it.

A genuine cat lover would not resort to mutilation for the sake of their furniture. Admittedly, valuable antiques should be protected. Or people may just be a lot more house-proud than the author of this article.

Keeping valuable items in cat free rooms and using one or several of the above suggestions will bring the desired result.

If all these solutions are not enough to reassure some people that they can prevent cats from scratching furniture, there are still ways to interact with cats and do them good. Most people have at least some friends with cats. It's very enjoyable to make friends with one's friends' cats. Sponsoring cats with reputable charities is another great way to help felines in need and keep one's furniture safe.

This article was written by Amy L Watson. She is a lifelong cat lover that currently lives with her husband and three cats. They also maintain the informative website http://www.solvecatproblems.com/prevent-cats-from-scratching-furniture/

Please visit Solve Cat Problems for more information on cat care and training.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_L_Watson

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The Key Benefits Of A Pet Door With a Locking System

Do you own a pet cat? In case you do, I am certain you ran into a classical difficulty: Do you want to allow your kitty to go out or not? The answer to this problem is determined by many aspects. In case you have a flat, it's going to be quite problematic for the kitten to go outside and survive amid the city's traffic and agglomeration.

However, if you have a residence in the suburban area, letting your cat spend some time outside the house will be a good option. Let's not forget that felines aren't indoor plants. They are gorgeous and strong creatures, predators which like being free, sprinting, scratching trees and fences, exploring new territories, running after smaller creatures or taking a nap in the sun light. If the safety of your area allows it, don't keep the pet away from the satisfaction of engaging in all these normal cat activities.

In the event you came to the conclusion that your cat can go out everyday, there exists one more issue ready to be solved: Does the occupation of becoming your pet's doorman sound attractive to you? If not, I would recommend purchasing a cat flap and instructing your pet how to use it.

Everybody knows what a cat flap is - is that little flap set up on your entrance door which allows your kitty to leave the house and come back home any time she'd like without 'asking' you to open the door for her. Simple cat doors are good, of course, but they also include a number of negative aspects: being made from rubber, plastic or wood, they swing out and in, letting your pet to go through when pushed. But, regrettably, with a simple flap, your kitty will not be the only one getting into the house. Breezes and chilly air, little puppies, raccoons and other kitties will be able to take advantage of the comforts of your house as well.

That's why I'll advise you to get a cat door with a lockable mechanism. The major benefit of these products is safety. You will find a lot of various models on the internet and select the one you consider best for your four-legged friend and your house's protection. After setting up such a cat door, all you have to do is plant a transmitter on your kitten and that's it! She'll become the only one capable of open the door. Even when she's being chased by a puppy, your pet can always count on her little door - it's going to close immediately after she steps through, 'abandoning' the discouraged doggy outside. Soon your kitten will find out that her new little door is not only her way to freedom, but also to comfort and security!

A genuine kitty lover is the individual who values his furry friend's character, basic instincts and needs. Always bear in mind that your pet is a magnificent creature that cherishes her liberty! Locking pet safe cat flaps will keep your kitten safe, content and purring, simultaneously offering you a quiet rest. If you're searching for advanced safety options, look at the innovative electromagnetic cat door.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kris_Lovenda

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How Do I Know That My Cat Is Fat?

Cats may be compared to human beings in many ways. When we eat our daily food, we know that we should take care to ensure that what we are eating is of good quality and certainly is safe to eat. The same care should apply to your pet cat, we should be aware of what is eating and when it is eating to avoid problems of obesity.

You are with your pet cat constantly and may not notice a very slight, a very gradual increase in weight; at least not until the extra weight virtually "screams" at you.

There are some classic symptoms which will go a long way in finding out whether your cat is becoming overweight. Some of the classic symptoms are:

• If you find a cat with a double chin, you can safely assume that it is becoming overweight. The best way to identify it is to look for a mass of fat, not just loose skin, underneath its chin. If it is present, you can be pretty sure that your cat is overweight.

• Another symptom which is very crucial is the size of the belly. A large belly is a good sign that she is becoming fat and it can be confirmed further if the stomach is dangling, which is a possible sign of obesity.

• A cat of normal or expected weight can easily be identified by trying to feel its rib cage. Feel the ribs. Easy identification of individual ribs is a sign that you cat is normal in weight. If there is a noticeable amount of fat you are seeing a definite indication your cat is overweight. If the ribs are difficult to identify individually your cat is very likely obese.

Many cat owners do not easily understand the problems associated with their cats being overweight or obese. For many of them a chubby and well-rounded cat is something which they adore and love. While it may be very good for cuddling, as far as its health is concerned it is indeed very damaging. Remember, like human beings, being overweight means accumulation of unnecessary fats around the body. This additional weight needs to be carried by the cat, which of course does put a lot of strain on its cardio respiratory system, kidneys, liver and other important internal organs. (Think more visits to the veterinarian, particularly as the cat gets older.) Keeping watch on the weight of your cat is very important.

Apart from regular exercise, which is so important, food habits also form an important part in regulating and maintaining your pet's normal weight. Many cat owners have a habit of offering their cat some newly discovered food, which the owner bought because it was "on sale" or has an attractive package. These food items may be loaded with calories from non-nutritious ingredients and could contribute to an increase in weight. Here are some rules for choosing cat food:

• Read the label.

• Read the label for ingredients.

• Read the label for % nutrients and moisture content.

Choosing a correct and balanced diet is very important for your cat's weight management. Checking your cat, just as humans weigh themselves, is very important for maintaining your cat's ideal weight.

Being raised with 6 cats gave me an intense education on "what can go wrong" when living with such a mix of felines!

With a current pet cat that is a true "fluff ball" I was on a first name basis with our vet.

I needed to find out more about WHY and HOW my overweight cat had gotten this way. Intense research led me to problems, concerns, questions and solutions!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kef_Hollenbach

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What Should I Feed My Overweight Cat?

You just arrived home from the vet and you were told something that wasn't shocking. Your best friend is extremely overweight. You've done research about feeding regimens, types of food, and other exercises that she could do; but, there doesn't seem to be any interest with any of it. This is when you realize that you have a very stubborn and, perhaps, lazy cat!

At this point there doesn't seem to be a solution. So, what can you feed your cat to insure that she's able to lose some weight?

One of the most recommended strategies is to increase your cat's intake of raw food. Cats are carnivorous animals, so they are able to obtain more nutrients ingesting meat rather than synthetic dry food. This also assists with speeding up the metabolism and in return, shedding a few pounds.

Assuming that rare is not your forte, wet food is a great alternative. If canned food is your choice, make sure that it is specifically designed for overweight cats. Contrary to popular belief, wet food can be just as fattening as dry food. Balanced nutrition is one of the most overlooked reasons for a cat to be past-husky. Canned cat food may be just as unbalanced as anything else. See more about balanced nutrients and how important it is.

Your last option would be a bag of reduced-calorie dry cat food. There are a few brands that offer high protein, animal proteins, and fiber that can help clear the digestive system. For instance, Pro Pac Low Fat Cat Food is an acceptable start to your cat's new diet. This particular cat food is designed for the passive cat. It is easily digested and highly palatable. Within one meal, it reduces calories without eliminating any vital vitamins.

Another favorable food line is Innova Cat Low Fat. Based on recent research, this product has a special low-calorie formula for weight control. It is also known for its high fiber content and whole ingredients that help with regulating your cat's digestive tract. Even the laziest overweight cats are able to benefit from this brand.

Lastly, if all else fails, measure the amount of food that is being consumed - not just what you offer. The most effective way is to offer a very small portion twice a day. Your cat's breed determines the ideal weight and feeding amount, so make sure to read the directions on each bag of cat food. Also, avoid giving your cat any treats during this weight loss period. Most treats, but certainly not all, are synthetic based and are not made with raw ingredients. In other words, they can be one of the unhealthiest pieces of food, so don't use treats unless you read the label first! Even after reading the label, confirming nutritious and balanced ingredients, restrict offering treats. Putting your cat on a diet doesn't have to be painful for you or your feline. As long as you follow the directions, you'll successfully change your overweight cat's eating habits.

Being raised with 6 cats gave me an intense education on "what can go wrong" when living with such a mix of felines!

With a current pet cat that is a true "fluff ball" I was on a first name basis with our vet.

I needed to find out more about WHY and HOW my overweight cat had gotten this way. Intense research led me to post my problems, concerns and solutions!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kef_Hollenbach

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