How to Spoil Your Cat

For all you cat owners who believe in developing and maintaining a beautiful relationship with your cat, you will need to put time and effort into it just like any other relationship you have ever had.  Cats, like dogs, are a man’s best friend.  The only difference is that dogs usually sell out in the sense that they can be friends with ANYONE where as a cat is very picky and will only befriend someone after an intricate system of trust has been established.
 
In order to spoil your cat you must first understand what the foundation of the relationship is.  By that I am saying that you must understand that your cat isn’t under the impression that it needs you, but rather you need it.  This is why cats live very independently and although they crave human interaction as well, they are patient because they know how cute they are.
 
This article contains a list of ways I spoil my own cat.  As you read them, keep in mind that I sometimes receive ridicule from spectators because they think, quite frankly that I’m crazy.  But this means nothing to me.  The relationship I have established with my cat Napoleon (named after the French conqueror Napoléon Bonaparte).  If you too are willing to withstand the ridicule than let us begin the journey.
 
The following is a list, in no particular order, of ways I have spoiled, are spoiling, or will spoil my little Napoleon.  Take notes!
 
• No matter what, you must pet your cat on demand.  This means if he jumps on you, certainly you must pet him.  If he enters the room you are in, you must pet him.  If he exits the room you are in, you must either go and pet him upon his exit or at least say I love you from a distance.  You should also pet him while he eats if he likes this and be sure to do it at least once a day.  After all, you don’t want him to feel neglected do you?
 
• If you have another child or person in the house that requires a lot of attention as well, be sure to explain to them that you cannot equally divide the attention all the time and that there will be times that your cat must come first.  For example, when your cat wakes up in the morning from his six hour nap, you must pet him and cuddle with him.
 
• Only offer filtered mineral water verses tap water.  Cats have a sense of taste and can also sense when you’re trying to be cheap.  If you offer your cat tap water he will know you are using him instead of trying to build a relationship.  Our cat gets the best filtered water money can buy and he knows it!  If we run out of the water in the house, we drive miles and miles late into the evening just to make sure he will have enough water with his breakfast. 
 
• Speaking of breakfast, be sure to promptly serve whatever it is he likes at the same time each day.  If you do not serve meals at a specific time, your cat will learn not to trust you and therefore he will not show off all his cute skills when you have company over the house.
 
• If your cat is an indoor cat but shows signs of wanting to go outside, let him go.  A cat that wants to be outdoors but is forced to stay in usually develops a bad attitude and is likely to resort to biting to express his dissatisfaction. 
 
• Whenever you see your cat looking so cutely out the window at the morning sunrise or evening sunset, be sure to tell him you love him.  Also, if he turns his head towards you and tries to speak, you must rush immediately to his side, and offer as much affection as possible.  He will love you for this as long as you pay attention to his every whim and no when not to bother him.
 
• Do not just buy him the most expensive cat food available.  Some of that food can taste like garbage.  To spoil your cat, the best thing to do is buy various samples of nutritious cat food and offer the samples to your cat at each meal.  Soon he will develop a preference and that is the cat food you want to offer him for a few months.  Afterwards, it is your duty to switch it up a bit and offer something new and exciting. 
 
Cats, like humans, do not like to eat the exact same thing all the time.  You changing it up will teach him that you understand his needs and are always listening.
 
In summary, as you can see it is not really spoiling your cat by doing these things.  In fact, you are simply building a relationship on trust and love.  There is nothing wrong with that, right?

The Benefits of Pet Stairs

Your pet is part of your life, but he may need a little help from you from time to time getting up and down on furniture and even onto the bed. To help relieve this problem, consider adding pet stairs to your home. These are essentially amazing ways to easily allow your pet, no matter what size or type to get up and down on furniture as he pleases. There are many benefits to using them and the first one has to do with you. If you are tired of lifting your dog up and down each time he decides to change positions for napping, then these are just what you need.
 
Just like any other type of stairs, these look the same but are designed with dogs and cats in mind. Here are some of the benefits of using them.
 
One type of stair is that for the puppy. When a puppy comes into your home, he is not able to do as he pleases. The couch is a high level and so is the bed. But, he really wants up there. He will likely whine to you until you come over and pick him up. To help him to get around, consider purchasing puppy stairs. These are specifically designed for small animals and will help them to easily get around.
 
For older dogs, remember that they are aging. Just as humans age, so do pets. They can not jump as well as they used to. They can not get from place to place easily. This is because they may be suffering from conditions such as arthritis in their joints. The problem is, though, that they are not capable of telling you that they are in pain. They may just stop jumping up on the couch. To help them, look for larger sized stairs, especially made for older pets.
In between this, many pet owners face trouble with animals that are overweight. If your pet is not as thin as he should be, he may be having trouble getting up on things as well. This could be due to his size or that he has aching joints. Stairs can help to alleviate this problem too.
Finally, for those pets that are just fine, there are still benefits to using these types of equipment. The most important of these is that it will help to prevent injuries and joint problems from happening due to continuos repetition of jumping. In a way, they can help your pet from suffering later on in their lives.
 
There are many things that you can consider purchasing for your pet, but by far the most important of these is providing them with a place to call his home. Whether it is from age or from just being too little, pets need some additional help getting around. This option of stairs is an easy one to do. They come in a wide range of styles and shapes, don't get in your way and still allow your pet to easily move from place to place as he sees fit. Pet stairs are also affordable solutions too.

What's Holding His Pet Name Tag?

You love your pet and gave him a great looking pet name tag, beautifully spelling out the letters of his name. But, what you hang that collar on is what will make the most difference to your pet. One thing to consider is which type of dog collar you will use on your pet. There are many options out there and many of them have some pretty great advantages to them. Take a look at some of the choices that you have and see why this may be the ideal way for you to go.
 
Buckle Collars: By far the most popular type of collar to place around your animal's neck, these will have a simple strap that has a buckle in the front. Usually, the buckle is weighted and therefore will hang at your dog's neck, under his snout. These are the least expensive and will easily be used by most pet owners. They come in a wide range of colors and styles which makes them an ideal choice for many. But, there are some problems with these. Because the leash will attach to the collar, when you are walking the dog, you will virtually be choking him. The dog will strain against this and therefore will call a pull reaction up the leash and into your hands. This is not comfortable for you or the dog.
 
Halter Style Collars: Another option that you have is the halter style. These fit over the dog's nose and head and are easy for you to use. They also provide for the best treatment for your pet. They do not harm them in any way yet allow them as much freedom as you will give them. Even though they seem so easy to use, they are actually quite strong and will allow you to easily manage your pet when out there walking.
 
Training Collars: These provide a little level of force which will help in training your pet. These are not meant to be used on a daily basis but rather as a tool in teaching your pet to sit, walk, and to heel. They work well and do not necessarily hurt the animal either.
 
For your cat, there are many collar options to consider as well. Since cats can sneak out of collars that are just a buckle, they can really benefit from a harness instead. But, don't worry; they will not be hurt by this any more than a dog would. If you can get your pet cat to walk in a harness, you are a lucky one. Their nature alone keeps them from being social animals.
 
Pet collars are available in a wide array of styles, colors and even come with gem studding and beautiful designs. If your pet loves to dress up, there are plenty of options out there for you to choose from. Don't forget the pet name tag too. These can be dolled up with engraving and gorgeous diamonds if you would like to give him the highest level of pampering out there.

Types of Dogs

So you and your family are ready to find the right puppy for your household. It is going to be quite a time looking because there are so many different types of dogs out there. I bet you didn't realize that there are over 400 different types of dogs up to this year. Of course, qualified breeders around the world develop new breeds by cross breeding, also. The perfect example for this crossbreeding is the peek-a-poo - a cross between a Pekinese pup and a poodle. And we all know how cute that mixture that is.
 
Remember when trying to select one, that all types and breeds have their own characteristics. Aside from large and small, long haired or short, there are many others to take into consideration. If you aren't particular about specific training, choose a dog likely to adapt best to your family routine in energy level, size, and grooming needs. Also keep in mind yard space and your availability to walk your new friend.
 
Breeders from America and the UK kennels keep the most current and complete registries of pure breeds. This might be a good place to start if you are looking for a pure bred puppy and one that will be able to be used in breeding on down the line. Since there are such a great number of different types of dogs, it is important to start with a breed that has generations of expertise bred into him. From there, you can decide if breeding is one of your primary reasons for getting your new pet or not. If not, then choosing another dog or a mixed breed that has the physical characteristics that you prefer is the next way to choose your type of dog.
 
Below are seven groups of dogs listed and their common characteristics. This will give you some information and help you narrow your search.
 
Classifications of dogs:

-  Hounds - Greyhounds, Whippets, Beagles, Coon Dogs. 
-  Sporting dogs, gun dogs - Spaniels, Pointers, Setters. 
-  Terriers - Bedlingtons, Airedales, Scotties, Jack Terriers. 
-  Working dogs - Dobermans, Huskies, Samoyed, Newfoundlands, St. Bernard, Spitz. 
-  Herding dogs - Collies, German Shepherds, Great Pyrenes, and Komondors. 
-  Companion dogs - Maltese, Shi Tsu, Chihuahuas, and Chows.
-  Fighting dogs - Dogos, Canary Island , Tosa Inu, Pitbull Terrier.
 
This is by no means an extensive listing of all types of dogs. If you search the Web you can find many websites on each of these groups, and plenty more different dogs within these groups - both pure bred and mixed. Choosing just the right addition to the family is a fun thing to do so be sure and get everyone involved in the selection. Then of course, if you truly want the most grateful pooch in town, go down to the city pound and take a good look around. These pups and dogs come in all types and sizes and shapes and because they are abandoned or donated the get all their shots from the pound, too! Whatever type of dog you choose; good food, good training and a whole lot of love will make him a great pet.