Cat Rescue - Hope For Feral Cats

Every town and city has a feral cat colony. Cat lovers immediately think of their own much-loved cats with their cosy quarters and square meals. World-wide, dedicated volunteers have thrown their efforts into helping these domestic cats living wild, assisting with programs ranging from sterilisation to re-homing.

Ferals and strays - what's the difference?

Stray cats are cats that have grown up with humans but because they have wandered or been abandoned are living wild and homeless. At least to some degree, they have usually been socialised to accept humans as benevolent. Feral cats may not have been fully domesticated for generations. They establish colonies where they breed speedily. It is entirely possible for a new generation to be born every six months. These cats are socialised in relation to other cats, but may have little or no experience of humans. In fact, they may have learned from other cats that people are to be feared. Nevertheless, depending on their personality, feral cats can be friendly and trusting - or become so. Others are shy and suspicious and resist handling of any kind, making them more challenging to re-home.

Management of feral cats

Older policies for managing feral cat colonies focussed on simple extermination. Today a more enlightened approach prevails, concentrating on neutering and spaying, vaccination and disease control. With breeding under control and health boosted, colonies remain stable and eventually shrink. Sometimes colonies have to be moved. Feral rescue may involve relocating cats to rural areas where they can live semi-wild around barns or stables. The most difficult option can be re-homing, but it is possible and often very rewarding.

Re-homing feral cats

Cat rescue authorities give varying advice on the issue of adopting feral cats. Under normal circumstances, kittens develop trust in humans early, in the first two or three weeks of life. Some believe that even at six weeks the window for socialising kittens is closing fast. In practice, it depends heavily on the individual cat. Some may resist taming even at a young age, whereas there are many success stories with domesticating older ferals. It is true, however, that the older the cat the longer it may take to become accustomed to people and domestic life.

The viciousness of a tiny ball of fur (and the damage small claws can do) can be truly astonishing, but is a measure of a kitten or cat's fear, not a sign of a malicious disposition. Many ferals are afraid of hands and handling. Hand feeding helps them to develop positive associations. Though it may take years of small steps, rehabilitated ferals can be transformed into loving pets and amiable companions. It's not a task for the novice or the impatient, but when a former tiger insists you provide a scratch and tickle, the hard work all becomes infinitely worthwhile.

Tips for potential adopters

The first task is to make sure your feral has been checked over by a vet, de-wormed, vaccinated and if necessary sterilised.

It may not be a good idea to introduce them into houses with other pets. Though other pets cats may help in their socialising, if you have a bad personality clash you may have to choose between them. This is unfair on the feral cat, especially since they often may bond with a first owner but not with a second.

Don't push the agenda, especially with handling. Persist with attempts to stroke and play with them, but back off if they object. They will trust you in their own time if you deal intelligently with their wariness. Your biggest allies in the process are food, patience and faith that there's a great pet behind the fear.

Louise Gilbert is passionate about saving endangered species, pets, wildlife, nature and the environement. You can view her site at Baby-Mammals.com [http://www.baby-mammals.com/]

How to Choose the Best Siamese Cat Names - And Save Your Cat From Eternal Embarrassment!

Don't make my mistake. Don't fall into this common cat naming trap. One of my lovely cats (not my Siamese cat) is called Stripy. Why? Because he was in a litter of five kittens - and he was the stripy one. Once a cat has a name, you will probably never change it, trust me.

Where to start?

Choosing Siamese cat names is easier than you think. What is the Siamese cat's unique feature? Yes, the heavenly blue eyes. So 'blue' inspired names are a great place to start.

- Artists have given fabulous names to exquisite blue paints. Some you might like Indigo, Prussian and Maya.

- What's more romantic than beautiful old-fashioned wild flower names? Blue or white flowers might be best: Cornflower, Gentian or Bluebell might be purrrfect for your new Siamese.

- How about some precious crystal Siamese cat names? A famous blue diamond called Hope? Or Sapphire or Cinnabar?

- Blue cat names not for you? White-inspired cat names from the frozen north like Frost, Snowflake and perhaps Blizzard for the ultra active Siamese!

- Brown cat names? They might include, Coco (Chanel of course rather than the hot drink) I also know Siamese cats named Onyx and Chocolate.

- Grey names because you are newly-owned by a blue point Siamese? Frosting and Pussy Willow have a lovely ring to them.

- Some 'hot' names for your red or flame point Siamese to consider, Amber Honey and Rufus.

- How about a witchy name for your spiritual Siamese? Choose wisely here, you don't want your cat to live up to a 'bad' name do you?

- There have been lots of famous Siamese cats. How about Siamese cat names with Star appeal? Siam was owned by President Rutherford Hayes and lived at the best address in America; The White House. And Marcus was a present from one famous star to another.

Lucky you to have such a lovely problem - a new cat to name!

Anne Sterck, 'The Siamese Cat Lady', has never been without a cat or two or three! She is presently owned by Cumin, the cutest and naughtiest Siamese cat in France.

Obviously she couldn't include as many names as she would have liked here but you'll find hundreds more including the witchy ones at http://www.loving-siamese-cats.com/siamese-cat-names.html

Build an Outdoor Cat Kennel & Condo For Your Indoor Cat

We have 5 indoor cats. They have their own room, in our home, with 2 cat condos & 3 automatic litter boxes. They very generously share it with my desk, computer & filing cabinet. In order to give them "safe" access to the outside, we built them a two room outdoor kennel, connected to our house. We have several bird feeders around for them to watch (sort of like kitty TV).

1. In the back wall of "their" room is a pet door.

2. Attached to the pet door, on the outside is a walkway the size of the door, enclosed with chicken wire, which attaches to an entry hole cut in the kennel wire.

3. Attached to the walkway is a 2" X 6" X 5' long board, covered with sisal rope descending to the ground inside the kennel.

4. The kennel has two rooms constructed by erecting two 7'W X 13' L X 6'H dog kennels.

5. A secure roof is made by constructing 2 sections of roof, per room, 8' X 4' of 2" X 2" wood frame & 1 sheet of corrugated PVC plastic cut in 2 sections & attached to the roof to allow water to flow off the roof.

6. These two sections are attached in the center of each room to form the pitched roof. A section of pipe, like the kennel frame, is attached to the top of the kennel frame with risers, making the center of the roof about 8" taller than the sides, allowing for the pitch of the roof. The roof sections are attached by strapping the frame of each roof section to the center pipe with long electrical ties.

7. Since the pitch in the roof leaves openings at each end, between the roof & the kennel top rail, a plastic mesh material is attached in the opening to prevent escape. ;-)

Cats love to climb trees, so, sections of cut tree limbs are configured in each room of the kennel to give them trees to climb & allowing space on each where they can lay & watch their outside world around them. Also in the kennel is a perch with scratching posts.

I designed two outside condos made of plastic dairy crates that will be weatherproof. Sides were cut out to make tunnels through which the cats can walk and then ascend to the next level. The first condo is four levels high. Each level has at least one crate on the end where a cat can lay. They can also lay inside each crate forming the tunnel. Since dairy crates have no solid sides, to each horizontal exposed crate surface I have attached a square piece of plastic with a square of outdoor carpet glued to it. This gives them the solid surface on which to walk or lay. The condos are created by strapping the crates together with electrical ties. These are strong and will last indefinitely.

If you're not up to this type of construction, from scratch, consider one of our Premium Outdoor Cat Enclosures These are made of weather resistant, high quality materials, built to last for years. Sizes and designs vary but there should be one for any household. There's even some that include a large cat tree and other accessories such as food and water bowls, perches, and even a "chute" for entrance from a window or pet door.

PLEASE give some serious thought to providing an outside habitat for your indoor cats where they can safely, securely investigate the outdoor wonders they crave.

The author, Pat Lemmons, is a 66 year old woman who has owned cats for 10 years, knows cats and operates a retail web site for cat products. http://www.kittystoreonline.com

Prevent Furball Problems in Cats With Grooming, Food and Natural Herbal Supplements

If you own a cat and have walked bleary-eyed into a dark room to step in a squishy cold mess with your bare or socked feet, you are familiar with the problem of furballs (hairballs). Well, if it's that bad for you, imagine what it's like spitting one of those things back up!

A cat's hair is indigestible, but that won't stop your pretty kitty from grooming daily as she does, swallowing large amounts of her own fur. There are a few things we can do to help kitty to not endure such humiliation, however, starting with good grooming habits - not hers, yours. To decrease the amount of fur your kitty is consuming, give her a good daily brushing! Some cats are not keen on being brushed with hard objects, and you may fare better to just get in there with your hands to pull loose hairs off while you prepare her for the BRUSH. If you'd like to treat your kitty to a healthy groom when she doesn't favor your new tools, you have to give her time to get used to and accept them. Leave them near her favorite places so she can explore them at her leisure. Never just grab your cat and start brushing! Always let her smell the brush first, and when she leans in to rub her jowls on it, you're ready to start brushing, slowly. Just a few brushes once or twice a day will make a world of difference (wait until you see just how much hair comes out of that coat!).

Next, we move on to diet. You'll find many cat food products out there that claim to reduce furballs, and some of them work, and some of them don't. And just like humans, each cat has her own tastes, and no one is more finicky than a cat, right? So, the best way to test a hairball remedy for your cat is to start giving it to her to see if she'll even eat it. If so, continue to feed the same brand and flavor for at least 3 weeks, and take note of how often hairballs are discharged, any changes in stool texture (sometimes the food tastes good, but it doesn't sit well through the digestive process), and overall coat health. If all checks out, then you may have found another partial solution!

There are also different supplements you can give kitty to reduce the accumulation of hair in her belly. Aloe, cat grass (barley, wheat and rye grasses) and bulk fiber, such as psyllium husk, work to lubricate the digestive tract and move the hair along its path. Of course, you always have the option of commercial hairball lubricants, petroleum jelly, or you could just tempt kitty with a little melted butter (1/4-1/2 teaspoon once a day for a couple of days, until the yakking subsides - not more than a week, however) - most cats enjoy dairy and will happily snack on some buttery lubrication.

And believe it or not, exercise also helps. Movement always assists digestion. So, grab your kitty's favorite toy and give it a whirl, or just chase her around the house or yard whenever you have the chance. Her digestive health and your bare feet will thank you for it!

Kerri Shaw is a Naturopathic Doctor near Boston, MA. She has been practicing medicine for over 15 years incorporating homeopathy and herbal remedies, as well as applied kinesiology into her practice. She has found the best price for her patients on products that she doesn't keep on hand and can always recommend http://www.sageandwisdom.net for their outstanding deals and terrific natural pet products. For hairball remedies, visit Sage & Wisdom and search for "furball".

Design Your Cat Bed

If one owns a cat as pet, they could notice that cats love to sleep on beds. They usually crawl over the owner's bed and search in for soft warmth place to sleep. Moreover, they spend most of the time sleeping on bed. This would not only give pleasure to your most beloved pet but also leave behind their hairs. This causes damage to your health. There are a lot of viruses that spreads from their hairs. So one must be careful in dealing with the cat's sleeping locations.

The best remedy that one could afford is get the cat its own bed or sleeping mat so that it would easier to clean them and also keeps them away. This would become essential when there are kids and elderly people. They get attacked easily with these cat hairs. Children mostly crawl on floors and elderly people lay in a position with no activity. Hence, one must be careful to keep them away from pet hairs. The most interesting thing about cat bed is that one can get the most beautiful cat bed design from shops or make a one of their own. We will see both here.

Getting a good Designed Cat Bed Designed:

1. When you get a ready made bed from the shop, be sure to get a warmth bed. Sometimes this bed would be filled with gel or water ad electrified to give warmness. Avoid such type of beds as this may someday lead to accidents that may harm your pet.
2. Be sure that the bed is non-toxic. Cats may chew the bed or play in them that may cause illness to them. Hence, always go green with cat products.
3. Let the material be puncture proof and be sure that they last for long. Cats are pets that love to play all day and hence they may tear up the bed. Be sure that they are resistant to their paws.
4. Let them not be too puffy and difficult to maintain and clean. Let them be plain, simple and easier to clean.
5. Consider the size of your cat and then get a bed that suits most. Let it be a little bigger for the cat to stretch. Remember cat stretches itself often in sleep.

Make Your Own Designed Cat Bed:

1. Make use of old sweaters and old pillows to design your cat bed. Take them and place them in shape. Let them be a little decorative to suit your interior design. Fill the sweater or your old pillow with soft sponges or old clothes. Neatly patch them up in the form of nest.
2. If sweaters are used the hands can be used to form the border of the circular bed. Stuff them with wool, place them around the bed, and stitch the ends. Now they stand firm in their position surrounding the bed to keep the cat from rolling out of bed.
3. One can also use baskets to place his small bed over them so that it could give a good base for the cat to lie in just like a cradle. It can also add beauty to your home.
4. Place the basket near the window where sun rays fall or where the room is warm. Cats love warmness when they sleep.
5. If you do not want to afford for a basket go in for a simple rounded or squared cardboard. Line the cardboard with foam or sponges to half its depth. Do not fail to line the cardboard edge with sponge or good cloth, which can cushion when the cat places its legs on them.

One must understand that cat beds are not just expensive items that could be bought only from shops; one can also make the most attractive and affordable cat bed at home.
One could design them effectively to give the best comfort to your pet and give best look to your home.

Cats are very lovable creatures but they also bring about a number of diseases to their owners.

Are you one of those people who are fond of letting your cat sleeping in your bed?

If yes, do not forget to visit [http://cats.bignewspool.com] for healthy and safety measures.

Cat Sleeping on Bed

Cats are nice pets that require almost an environment similar to us. The usual sleeping places for cats are our bed, pillows, and sofa cushions.

They require all luxury just like us. It is not so good for a person to sleep in the bed where your cat has spent his sleep. It may also leave cat hairs and other stuffs that may cause spread of certain diseases to human beings.

Therefore, it is better to make a kitty bed for your cat and practice it to sleep there.
People with sleeping disorders often find it difficult to go back to sleep after being awaken.
For them, it is better not to encourage your cat to share your bed. This could even lead to a practice that the cats will never be able to sleep later on anywhere else.

Making a cat bed is a little cheap method. This ensures you to get a sound sleep and make your cat feel comfortable. People bed often has the comfort and ideal for cats to have their short naps.

Therefore, making a kitty bed with a similar condition is better to avoid cats sleeping on your bed.

Here are few suggestions to avoid your cat sleeping on your bed:

• Give a separate bed for your cat. This will make sure your cat loves his bed and sleeps there without disturbing you. Initially making the cat to stay there will be a problem. However, later, he will love it and never leave his place. To make a simple bed, visit a nearby market place and get a large size cardboard, which can hold your cat. Then put some pillows or waste clothes and other soft stuffs. Then, put your cat in the bed and make it feel warmer.
• It can also be an issue that your cat feels lonely, so it comes to you. It is better to get yourself a second cat, so that both of them will be fine. This is certainly fine with kittens, because they have more energy to spare, but we have lesser time to spend. Cats love to play with other cats.
• Have a playtime. Like exercises, spend few minutes with the cats as playtime. Cats like to follow a timely schedule. Therefore, once you make time for food and play and sleep, they follow it. Therefore, they will not disturb you and rest on their bed for sleep.
• Sometimes dark rooms will make your cats go asleep. If they disturb you night for playing or feeding, darken the rooms, so that they can go sleep as soon as light goes off. They cannot see well on entirely dark rooms leaving them to sleep naturally.
• Cats will prefer to sleep near the owner. So place the cat bed near you so that it wont feel distant from you and at the same time it wont disturb your nap.
• Make a nice atmosphere for both you and the cat to sleep. This may include making place with some pleasant sounds. Some electronic instruments are available to create such atmosphere. With the help of them, create a good atmosphere and help yourself and your cats sleep well.
• Sometimes it is better to avoid cats entering your room. You can close the door. Some cats may still want to scratch the doors and get inside. But be sure not to allow such activities and the cats will learn themselves that these things wont be entertained.

Cats are very lovable creatures but they also bring about a number of diseases to their owners.

Are you one of those people who are fond of letting your cat sleeping in your bed?

If yes, do not forget to visit [http://cats.bignewspool.com] for healthy and safety measures.

Cat Travel Cages - Comfort and Peace of Mind For You and Your Pet

Cat travel cages are a necessity when traveling with cats. If you have ever tried just picking up Fluffy and putting her in the back seat of your car for a road trip, you will know why. Cats are notorious for hating change, and are not the most calm of car companions. Unless your cat is one of the few really mellow travelers who takes everything in stride (there ARE a few cats like this), then having a carrier or travel cage for her is going to make the trip a lot safer and smoother for you both. After all, you do not want to have to try to drive while simultaneously keeping your cats claws out of your head!

Most cat travel cages are similar in size and appearance. They are low and long, to easily accommodate a cat in a reclining position. Unlike dog crates, cat carriers do not need to provide room for the cat to stand or turn around. In fact, for most cats, it is far safer for them if their movements are restricted while they travel. Otherwise, they will be running around inside the carrier while the car or plane is moving, and could be seriously injured if there is a sudden stop or a lot of turbulence. It is in your cats best interest to lay down while on the road.

You can choose from a variety of designs and colors in your cat travel cages. In fact, there are even designer options available. You can also select carriers made out of metal, plastic, wood, or just about any other material, and some are even upholstered inside for added comfort! Unless your cats carrier is very large, there will not be room for a food or water dish inside. However, you can keep her fed by putting small amounts of dry food on the floor of the carrier, in the back. You can keep her hydrated by bringing along travel water bottles with nozzles made just for cats that you can stick through the small openings in the carriers front grille, to allow her to get a drink. With a little planning, travel with your cat can be safe and pleasant for both of you!

Joe Sloan has been writing and publishing information, tips, and resources for 6 years now. Your attention is appreciated. Read other information published by Joe Sloan here wireless surround system [http://wirelesssurroundsoundsysteminfo.com], and here [http://wirelesssurroundsoundsysteminfo.com]