year 2012

Top 10 New Years Resolutions For 2012

As the new year approaches, it is time to look back over the past year and decide what you want to change about your life in the new year. For many people, New Years resolutions are an opportunity to make a fresh start. For others, it is the chance to learn new habits and live a healthier and happy life. No matter what your approach is to New Years resolutions, here are the top 10 New Years resolutions that many people start with at the beginning of the year.

1 - Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the number one health problems worldwide. Smoking can lead to a multitude of health problems, including lung cancer, emphysema, high blood pressure, esophageal cancer and many others. Quitting smoking as a New Years resolution is difficult and addiction to nicotine is extremely hard to fight. But with enough dedication and assistance, you can stop smoking.

There are several methods that have proven to be effective in stopping smoking. One of the most effective tools to stop smoking is one-on-one counseling. With counseling you'll have someone with you every step of the way to quit smoking.

2 - Get Out Of Debt

Today, Americans carry an average of over $10,000 in credit card debt and this is a major New Years resolution. In order to get out of debt, review your budget and cut out the things that you really do not need. Even getting one less daily latte or expensive pair of shoes can make a difference in your budget. If you are deeply in debt, bite the bullet and consider talking to a credit counselor. They may be able to help you consolidate your credit card debts into a single payment or eliminate at least part of your debt and give you some breathing room.

3 - Get Organized

Getting organized can be easy if you are dedicated to carrying through once you get going with it. If your New Years resolution is to get organized, break it down into specifics. Decide precisely what you want to be organized about and then take steps to put it into action. For instance, if you want to be organized about paying your bills every month, mark a day on your calendar when you will pay bills and then set aside a specific place for collecting bills. Then write out your payment checks or log online and make your payments. If you make this into a habit, then it becomes second nature to do it automatically every week or monthly.

4 - Spend More Time With Family & Friends

If your New Years resolution is to spend more time with your family and friends, then you need to set aside time to make it happen. One way to accomplish this is to have one night a week that is for social events. Call your friends and make a date for dinner or to go to the movies. Family night is another great way to spend time with your family. Spending time with friends and family is important because it fosters close relationships and trust. For kids, especially, spending time together can be emotionally healthy and help them develop into healthy adults.

5 - Get In Shape

Getting in shape is a big commitment. Most Americans are overweight and losing even a few pounds and keeping them off can be a challenge for a New Years resolution. If you are out of shape, start slowly and talk to your doctor to discuss any health problems you might have to take into consideration when making a workout plan.

You can take small walks every day and get a good amount of moderate exercise. Instead of parking as close to the mall as possible, park a little farther out and walk the extra steps to go shopping. spaced throughout the day, exercise can be easily integrated into your life.

Also make simple changes to your eating habits to get into shape. Instead of eating ice cream for dessert, choose a dish of fresh fruit. Instead of eating that burger for a quick lunch, choose a healthy salad with a vinaigrette dressing. Even doing this just a few days a week can make a big difference to your waistline.

6 - Help Others

One of the most popular New Years resolutions is to help others. Helping others can be accomplished in a number of ways. If you are active in your church, consider participating in charitable activities, like visiting residents in elderly care or nursing homes. You can also volunteer time in programs to teach adults to read or become a supportive adult to a child. Helping others can be as simple as being kind to the people around you and being willing to lend a comforting shoulder to someone in need.

7 - Learn Something New

Learning something new is one of the most popular New Years resolutions. Think about something that you have always wanted to know and take a shot at it. If you have always wanted to learn Italian, enroll in a language course online or at your local community college. Take an art appreciation course or start reading a non-fiction book on a topic of interest. If you take the attitude that you can always learn something new, then you will grow as a person.

8 - Travel to New Places

Travel is always exciting and is one of the very common New Years resolutions. Choose a place to travel where you have never been and begin to plan your trip. If you do not have someone special to go with you, then try investigating companion travel programs. Be adventurous and throw a dart at a map and go where ever the dart lands on the map.

9 - Enjoy Life More

Enjoying life more is among the top New Years resolutions. Enjoying life is about attitude. If you have a positive attitude and make the best of every situation you are presenting with in life, you will find yourself happier and more content, even through the difficult times. Enjoying life is a great goal to have for the new year.

10 - Go to School

In today's economy, people are often looking for ways to reinvent themselves. Going to school is one of the top New Years resolutions as a way to start a new career or develop new skills. Even if you goal is simply to learn about a new topic, going to school is a great way to develop new friends and engage yourself.

Most people who create New Years resolutions unfortunately fail as a result of a number of factors. These factors include creating too many New Years resolutions, not writing down your New Years resolutions, not having a support group and keeping your New Years resolutions to yourself.

How Do I Stick to My New Years Resolutions?

The secret to sticking to your New Years resolutions is to start immediately so when New Years day comes you'll be well and truly on your way to accomplishing your goals. Get your pen and paper out and write up a top 10 list of New Years resolutions for 2012 and check out http://www.johngrahambaines.com for more helpful tips and tricks on how to lose weight and transform your body by next summer, how to make money online, how to travel overseas cheaply and a whole host of useful information you need to know to help you transform your life for the better for 2012.

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cat pics

The Rise of Funny Cat Pictures

People like to laugh, and to give their friends and family reason to laugh as well. One of the best uses of the internet beyond its informational and communication capabilities is giving a platform for people to create and share many ways of making themselves and those around them ways to laugh.

The Rise

If you have wandered around the internet to any extent you have probably encountered funny pictures. They started with just a few people capturing amusing or unexpected images of their pet cats and sharing them with friends and family through emails. These emails were so well received that they were shared further and further until they became chain letters. Soon other people were looking for opportunity to take funny cat pictures and send them around. Beyond just emails, entire websites featuring photo galleries filled with these pictures started opening. People could now go to one place and see hundreds of pictures of cats in any number of funny situations. These pictures were put on shirts, mugs, posters and in books. An entire world of cult-like following cropped up as funny pictures became one of the most popular things searched for using internet search engines.

Kinds of Funny Cat Pictures

What is funny really ranges from person to person. While some people find animals that are dressed up or posed creepy, others find them whimsical and cute. Unposed, candid shots of cats in humorous positions or situations remain among the most loved of funny pictures. If you are looking for a little glimmer of lighthearted humor during your day, it is easy to find a type of funny picture that will make you smile. The websites that were created in honor of these feisty felines generally offer subsections that allow you to choose the category of funny pictures that are most appealing to you. You may really like cats that have been put in costumes or given props so that they can "act out" phrases or familiar situations, or perhaps you would rather look through pictures of cats that have put themselves in endearing positions. Either way, there are plenty of funny cat pictures available to give you a second of comedy during any difficult day.

The Importance of Funny Cat Pictures Captions

Some of the images offered on funny cat websites are not all that funny on their own. What makes these images so amusing is the choice of words that the photographer, or website owner, attaches to the image. For instance, you may not find a picture of a cat standing on its back paws, batting at some unseen toy particularly funny, but if you add the caption "High five!", it suddenly takes on a new level of humor. Giving funny pictures good captions is essential to the effectiveness of the picture.

For more information about Funny Cat Pictures and Lol Builder visit our website meowcheese.com.

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Cat Facts

About 40 million years ago, the ancestors of today's cats were Miacis who lived in a tree. He was a great hunter. Smilodjon was his descendant, who was able to kill large animals because of the size of their teeth. Miacis were quickly spread throughout the world, except Australija. We can say that cat has been always present in the vicinity of man. Sometimes the cat was associated with the gods, sometimes was considered as men helper and sometimes was regarded as the enemy associated with witches and the devil.

Source: http://www.myrelaxplace.com/2009/11/26/seventeen-thing-about-cat-facts/

Despite of the crossings species and the custom of living with people, the cat has not lost their primal instincts.

Every part of her body developed primarily for hunting:

Sense of balance, length of tail, structure of the pelvis allows her to jump from a height of more than 20 yards on four paws, and remain almost unharmed.

Claws are a means for climbing.

If climbing is enjoyable entertainment, lowering carries some risk. Claws, although very useful for climbing, at the time of landing may be interference.
Before alighting from the trees, cat will carefully evaluate all the possibilities, especially distance from the ground, measuring it with the movement of the head from the top to the bottom. If the cat has no other option but to throw herself, she will try to extend the jump as much as possible in order to achieve the landing as horizontal she can. It makes landing easier.

In cases like that or in the case of vertical drop, flexible spine allows her to rotate the body spiraly and fall straight on the paws.

http://crocats.comoj.com

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abyssinian cats

Cat Breed - Abyssinian

The Abyssinian cat is commonly believed to date back to the 1860s, originating in Ethiopia, yet some people claim that the breed can be traced back to the ancient cats of Abyssinia, now called Egypt.

It is one of the oldest known breeds, the first one being brought to England in 1868. The Abyssinian was officially recognized as a distinct breed in 1882.

They are known for their sharp intelligence, litheness and a refined, pleasant demeanor, often becoming very attached to their owners. Abyssinians are extroverted and willful with a curious and adventurous nature being the norm; they are active, playful and inquisitive!

This cat has a medium length body with well-developed muscles, and short, silky, fine, close-lying coats; their faces have round, almond-shaped eyes, green, hazel or amber in color. They have legs of moderate length; size-wise they tend to weigh between 4-7.5kg (9-16lb).

The tail is fairly long, broad at the base and tapering to a point. Abyssinian's have fine bone structures and their paws are small and oval-shaped.

The cat's ears are alert and relatively large, broad and cupped at the base; they have an M-shaped marking found in fur on the forehead.

The Abyssinian has a "ticked" coat, meaning that each hair, light in color, has several dark bands which are evenly spaced. This coloring results in an ideal camouflage for the dry desert lands of North Africa.

These days, the Abyssinian comes in a range of different colors. Anything from red through fawn, lilac, cinnamon, cream and chocolate, amongst others.

They are a popular cat breed and are generally healthy except for occasional blindness, especially an inherited form called retinal atrophy. Although making good companions they can be suspicious of strangers.

Abys, the term used fondly by owners, are hardy and adaptable as pets and are a popular breed for showing; a good choice for any prospective cat owner!

For other great cat articles, please visit: http://fatherspirit-catablog.blogspot.com

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All About Cats

Cats have been around for thousands of years, most of which they bred in the open unsupervised by humans. Humans acquired cats mainly for hunting and for keeping down the rodent population. According to researchers the cat first became domesticated in the valley of the Nile, less than 5,000 years or so ago. As we became more interested in the cat for purposes other than hunting cat owners became more selective in the type of cat they purchased which led to breeders.

There are some ancient breeds that go back more than 1,000 years such as the Japanese Bobtail, that can be traced back more than 1,000 years and were well known in Medieval Japan. They are sadly just a myth today.

In North America there are more common cat breeds including the alley cat, the Persian, and also the Siamese. There are several different breeds that are lumped together as alley cats. Alley cats make good pets. Many feral and homeless cats are alley cats, which is why there are so many of them. Persian cats can be expensive, depending on where you purchase one. Cats are very loving and make good companions. Siamese cats are very noisy, and are known to be destructive; still they are popular possibly because of their distinctive looks.

The look of a cat is why most owners select them. Owners are interested in color, hair length, eyes and ears of the cat. Cats were one of the first pets and remain a favorite today among pet owners.

Today cats are used for companionship and sometimes as show cats.

Cats can be obtained through breeders, cat shelters, and by individuals selling kittens in local newspapers.

No matter how you get your cat, make sure that you have a vet check them out immediately to be sure that they are healthy. Once you have determined that your cat is healthy, you will have a good companion for a long time.

Things you should know about cats in general before you buy one:

Besides being great companions cats require less time to groom than a dog does, less training (usually), and do not usually require a bath.

Resign yourself to the fact that having a cat means having to scoop litter out of a litter box everyday, or hiring someone else to do it.

Cat smell, hmmmmm this can be from two sources...the litter box, which you forgot to clean, or if you have an un-spayed cat it could be a little something left behind.

All cats shed, and if you do not brush a cat frequently, you will find little cat hairs all over your clothes, rugs, bed, furniture, and well everywhere!

Some people are allergic to pet dander and react to most cats.

Cats are nocturnal creatures which means they are awake most of the night.

Cats are usually climbers, because they are curious and they like to perch up high and see what everyone is doing from a great vantage point.

They are flea, heartworm and disease magnets if exposed to these items.

Cats have a great sense of humor and love making you laugh. They are pure fun to watch in action.

Cats make a very pleasant purring sound, which can lull you to sleep.

Visit [http://www.bestcatbook.com] to receive your free copy of the Best Cat Book.

Jason Burton is an expert on cat care and has had a lifelong love for them. To learn more about proper cat care and tips on how to best care for your cat visit [http://www.bestcatbook.com]

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tabby cat

What Makes a Cat a Tabby?

A tabby cat conjures up a lot of images from the alley cat to the ship's cat. It represents your run-of-the-mill average cat. Funnily enough, it does not have a breed of its own; it is spread across a wide range of breeds and has four, perhaps five, distinct types of markings that make it a tabby cat.

Patterns

The four patterns are:

• Mackerel
• Classic
• Spotted
• Ticked

Some cat experts also include a fifth pattern called patched, which is more a tortoiseshell color with patches of tabby.

The mackerel is the most common pattern of the tabby cats. Named after the mackerel fish because of the markings, a mackerel tabby cat is the most like the markings of a tiger. They have narrow stripes down their flanks and rings around their legs and tail. They have the familiar M marking on their forehead.

The classic tabby cat has swirls down its sides like a marble cake and bold stripes down their legs and tail. They are sometimes referred to as a blotchy cat.

The spotted tabby has spots all down its side: sometimes big ones, sometimes small ones. The American bobtail and ocicat are good examples of spotted tabbies.

The ticked pattern or agouti tabby has a tabby face but doesn't have stripes or spots on its body. It has different bands of color down each strand of hair.

Colors

Tabbys come in different colors. The agouti colors (ground colors) vary vastly in color.

• Brown tabby - brown or gray ground color with black or dark brown stripes
• Blue tabby - gray or buff ground color with gray stripes, varying degrees of gray can be found
• Red tabby - cream ground color with orange stripes, the orange may vary in colors
• Cream tabby - pale cream ground color with peach, sand or cream stripes
• Silver tabby - white ground color with black stripes; there is also blue silver, cream silver, or red silver

Personality

Tabby cats personalities are as wide and varied as are peoples. Generally happy-go-lucky and easy to be around, they are affectionate and intelligent and like lots of cuddles. They can also get angry if they don't get their way, but, because they are intelligent, they are good at getting what they want.

Tabby cats feature through all breeds. They range from Persians to Abyssinians, from the American shorthair to main coons. The CFA has the tabby listed in twenty-five breeds. So, even though we can find out what is a tabby cat, your run-of-the-mill cat isn't so specific after all.

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Tabby Cats

The tabby cat is the best known type of cat. Indeed, tabby cats are the most common of domestic cats. In fact, the tabby pattern is believed to be the pattern of the cat's wild ancestors.

Tabby is not a cat breed. It is not a color either. In fact, the tabby pattern occurs in different cat breeds and it comes in different colors. Tabby is a pattern.

Tabby patterns

The tabby pattern may include swirls, stripes, whorls, and spots. There are four tabby patterns: the classic, the mackerel, the ticked, and the spotted.

Classic (or blotched) tabbies are one of the most common. This type of tabby will have swirls and clearly defined stripes all over the body. Usually, a thick band or stripe will run all the way from the neck to the tail.

Mackerel tabbies are also very common. Many in fact believe that this is the original pattern dating back to the wild African cats. The mackerel pattern will display vertical stripes at the sides of the body and rings around the legs and tail.

The spotted pattern is said to be a different version of the mackerel pattern. In this pattern, the stripes are broken into big spots all aligned in a single file.

Ticked tabbies are very interesting. At first glance they don't seem to be tabby cats at all. They don't come with the usual whorls, swirls and stripes. They would appear to be of a solid color. Upon a closer look, however, you will see that the fur of ticked tabbies has stripes and swirls.

Tabbies also come in different color variations: you will find red tabbies, silver tabbies, and brown tabbies - to name a few. The tabby pattern also occurs in different cat breeds, including the Bengal, the Bombay and the Egyptian Mau.

© Claudia Escobar is a cat lover who loves anything cat-related. For more on tabby cats and gift ideas for cat lovers visit her site at http://www.cat-lovers-gifts-guide.com. If you would like to reproduce this article please feel free to do so, provided that you publish the article in its entirety and include this resource box.

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cats rescue

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/]

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Cat Rescue

Today, cats are the favored house pets all over the world, and have out numbered dogs for a decade or more. Many of us pet owners and our veterinarians have seen unprecedented numbers of well cared for felines living alongside people who are willing to make it necessary to give their pets long, healthy and happy lives.

Recent scare concerning feline AIDS led to the needless slaughter of a large number of healthy house hold pets. when newspapers in California reported that a number of domestic cats had been identified as carrying aids virus,many owners panicked and had their pet cats put to sleep, in case a simple scratch from a feline claw would gave them the dreaded disease. Within hours of the reports appearing in the press, vets and cat sanctuaries were flooded with requests to have cats destroyed or to find them new homes.

Fear of infection were quite unfounded, because the disease feline aids, is cause by a different virus from the ones that attacks humans. True,it belongs, to the same group of virus,but within that group it is only distantly related so, even if bitten or scratched by a cat that had somehow smeared its teeth or claws with infected blood from its sores, the human victim would still not be able to pick up the disease. There were no evidence at the time and still there are no other source that feline aids can infect the humans body. Similarly humans aids cannot be transmitted to cats.

Sometimes it seem that these newspapers, and news enthusiast, take pleasure in a lot of shady uncharacteristic information, and without any caution their plans are premeditated to cruelty. This may seems paranoid but unfortunately there are unsavory people who take advantage of others through pets.

Our pets are well secured and examine regularly, http://pethealthinfomation.blogspot.com/

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hairless cats

Hairless Cat Breeds

When people hear the term "hairless cat breeds," they tend to think that the cat is completely bald. This is not true as this type of cat actually has a coat of fine down hair that covers its body.

Even though these cats have less hair than other types of cats, it does not mean that it is a hypoallergenic cat breed. People are allergic to a protein that is present in the saliva of a cat and not the actual hair.

One of the most well known hairless cats is the Sphynx. In Toronto in 1963 a litter of kittens were discovered that had been born without hair. A breeding program was started with these kittens but was discontinued in the late 1970's. In 1978 the last breeding pair was sent to Holland but they did not produce any litters. Kittens that were born without hair due to natural mutations were bred to the Devon Rex - a cat with almost no hair. This established a new interest in the Sphynx and today this different cat breed is recognized for shows by cat fanciers worldwide.

Another of these strange looking cats is the Peterbald cat breed that has the elegant look of the Siamese but without the hair. The coat of this cat is divided into two groups: bald and hairy. A kitten that falls into the bald category is born without any hair, whiskers and eyebrows and stays like this throughout its entire life.

These cats require special care and grooming. Ideally, they should be kept as indoor cats. If allowed to go outside, an animal-friendly sunscreen has to be applied to prevent sunburn.

In the cold winter months, they have to be protected against the cold. This can be done by providing fur-lined baskets and tunnels or by dressing the cat in a soft coat.

This is one cat breed that actually requires a bath. As there is no hair to absorb skin oils, the skin will be greasy to the touch and breeders recommend a bath twice a week to keep the skin in good condition. When bathing this type of cat, use only a veterinary quality product (never human shampoo!) and make sure that there are no drafts. Dry the cat with a soft towel.

Before choosing such a cat, think about the extra care and grooming that they require. You have to be able to make the commitment to ensure that your hairless cat is happy and healthy.

People who love cats come in all shapes and sizes, as do cat breeds. Being informed about the different cat breeds and their needs will ensure that you and your cat have a mutually beneficial relationship.

If you would like to learn more about cat breeds and how to take care of your cat, visit http://www.cat-breed-info.com

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names for cat

Literary Cat Names

Naming a cat is no easy feat. T.S. Elliot said that "The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter" (Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats). Certainly, you cannot give your cat any ordinary name. The name you choose must capture the essence of your cat's nature. And of course, you and your cat must like the name.

So how do you find that special name that will make justice to your cat's true nature, personality and beauty? You do have to consider your cat's physical traits and temperament. Beyond these basics, you can also consider other sources. Indeed, there are many sources of inspiration: People names (Leo, Sophie), animal names (Bear, Tiger), names of gods and goddesses (Jupiter, Venus) just to name a few.

If you long for a unique even sophisticated name, then consider literature as a source of inspiration. Contemplate the names of both human and feline characters that appear on famous literary works. Indeed, cats have appeared on many novels, poems and short stories. You can also consider the names of famous authors. Below you will find several literary-inspired cat names to get your creative juices flowing.

This is a sample of cat names that appear on T.S. Elliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats: Alonzo, Bustopher Jones, Coricopat, Jellylorum, Mungojerrie, and Quaxo.

From The Tale of Tom Kitten by the beloved author and illustrator Beatrix Potter, here are three fun names: Tabitha, Moppet and Mittens.

Still need more inspiration? Here are other famous literary cat names for your consideration: 

• Crookshanks (Hermione Granger's cat, which appears in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling)
• Dinah (Alice's pet cat in Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll)
• Puss (Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault)
• Thomasina (The Three Lives of Thomasina by Paul Gallico)

You can also consider human characters, such as: Darcy (one of the main characters in the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen), Hamlet (title character, Hamlet by William Shakespeare), Heathcliff (the brooding hero of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte), Oliver (from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens), Delicia (The Murder of Delicia by Marie Corelli), Lara (the heroine of Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak), Ophelia (Hamlet by William Shakespeare), and Thelma (Thelma by Marie Corelli).

Also consider these names of authors: Ernest (Hemingway), Dickens (Charles Dickens), Henrik (Ibsen), Hugo (Victor Hugo), Marie (Corelli), and Gertrude (Stein).

Hopefully, these literary names have inspired you. This is just a tiny sample. Have fun choosing the perfect name for your kitty.

© Claudia Escobar is a cat lover who loves anything cat-related. For more cat names and gift ideas for cat lovers visit her site at http://www.cat-lovers-gifts-guide.com

If you would like to reproduce this article please feel free to do so, provided that you publish the article in its entirety and include this resource box.

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names for cats

Cool Names for Cats

Are you looking for cool names for cats? I know when I got a cat last year; it was difficult to come up with one I liked. When you are choosing a name for your new kitty, there are many things you should consider. If the cat is a kitten, then the cat probably doesn't have a name. If you pick up an adult cat from the shelter, they may have a name that was given to them by the shelter.

Even if the adult cat already has one that does not mean that you do not have the opportunity to change his or her name.

Here are some cool ones for cats that are males:

Shaggy: If you have adopted a long haired cat, Shaggy is a great for a cat. This is probably going to be for a male cat, but it would work well with a Persian kitty. If you adopt a cat that does not have long hair, then you probably shouldn't call your cat Shaggy.

Lincoln: When most people hear the name Lincoln, they think of the car or the former president of the United States. Lincoln is great for a cat. While Lincoln can be a name for a person, it is usually the last name. Lincoln is great because it doesn't sound like the name of a person.

Caspar: Caspar is spelled similar to the name of a ghost in a movie in the 1990s. If you own a white male kitty, then this would be a great name for the cat. People usually associate ghosts with being white, so this is the perfect name for a solid white cat.

Alexander: This is a great name for a distinguished mature older adopted cat. Even though many people have had this name throughout history, it is one of those names that could be associated with a cat.

Here are some cool names for cats that are females:

Aristokitty: I just love this one because it makes the cat sound very special and unique!

Priscilla: This sounds like a distinguished name for a female cat. If you have a kitty that seems very smart, this might be a good name for her.

Happy: Happy is a great name for a happy cat! If you have a friendly cat that seems playful and lovable, then this name might fit her well. This is one of the many cool names for cats.

Morgan: Morgan can be the name of a boy or girl, so this does not seem like a stereotypical name. In my opinion, gender neutral names make great names for cats.

There are many cool names for cats. Try to name your cat based on his or her personality when you first meet them. Even though the cat personalities change over time, you can usually identify the cat's personality quickly. Cats will understand if you change their name. It might take a few months, but you can train a cat to respond to a different name.

Kevin Highfill writes about pets and pet related topics at http://www.online4pets.com/.

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

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Teaching Your Cat to Say Cheese: How to Take the Best Cat Pictures

There is nothing cuter than a picture of a cat, fur, whiskers, paws and all; there is something irresistibly adorable about a kitty busily playing with a ball of yarn, chasing a butterfly in the meadows or hanging out with a bunch of puppies. Most cat owners would naturally want to take pictures of their lovely pets as a souvenir or simply because they are such interesting photography subjects. It truly shows that you are caring for cats when you have cute pictures of them posted everywhere. Learning a few tips on how to create the best cat pictures will help a cat owner capture their pet's cute cuddly image, their hunting prowess or climbing skill whether they are still or in action. First off, a decent digital camera is highly important; Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras are recommended. Needless to say, the cat's cooperation is the most challenging part; cats see cameras as strange clicking objects so one must make sure first that the cat gets used to him carrying it around.

The best cat pictures owe their greatness to the angle; the next is to make sure that the cat and the photographer is on the same level if a close-up picture is to be taken or position oneself high above the cat if planning to capture snuggling poses. Experimenting with several different angles and deciding on which ones to keep during the editing phase will help enable one to surely end up with an amazing photo. One must also be sure to get enough of the cat in the frame and to not take too much of the dead space. Pre-planning where the cat should be placed, setting the background ahead of time and imagining which angles are to be taken is absolutely necessary; one could make use of a bait such as a toy to lure the cat into the zone. It is also useful to get a hand from a friend who is willing to operate the tease while one concentrates on getting good shots; the person can also help in getting the cat's attention, enabling one to authentically capture priceless gestures such as pricked ears and alert eyes.

The best cat photos often make use of natural light instead of flash; one must either take photos outdoors or in a room which allows a generous entry of daylight. If using the flash is unavoidable, one must utilize the red-eye setting or manipulate angles to avoid laser eyes; a white tissue paper over the flash helps in diffusing the light. One must be creative in manipulating the cat to assume the position that they desire; for example, if one wants the cat to sit over a chair, one could drape a piece of colorful cloth over it to coax the curious kitty. Lastly, one should be strict in deleting bad photos; one must remember, it's not uncommon to take fifty or more shots in order to come up with at least a perfect one. With these basic techniques and the right kitty treats, one can even make their pet look forward to every photography session.

Adam Fisher writes about caring for cats and general information about cats.

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

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Cat & Kitten Photography Tips For Cat Lovers - Photographing Your Pet & Cat Picture Taking Tutorial

1. Personality: Is your cat playful? Lazy? Curious? What makes your kitty special? Try to incorporate that into your photographs. Your photographs will have a more natural look if you photograph your cat doing what it does best...sleeping by a window in a warm ray of sun, or patiently waiting to pounce on that elusive ball of tin foil. Shots like these are easier to get when your cat does them naturally.
2. Your cat's eye view: Get down on your hands and knees if necessary. Shooting from your kitty's level will bring an intimacy to your photographs and create a relationship between the viewer and your subject. Shots looking down at your cat will make them look smaller and distort proportions.
3. Zoom in close: Fill the whole frame with your kitty's cute face! This will bring attention to what you love most, and leave out distracting details.
4. Watch your backgrounds: Sometimes plain backgrounds are the best. A nice green patch of grass, a white kitchen floor, your cat's favorite blanket. Avoid backgrounds that are distracting. Watch out for background elements that seem to "grow" out of the back of your pet's head, like trees, telephone poles, chair legs, etc. If you have a manual setting on your camera, a larger aperture ( like f/2.8, f/4 etc.) will give you a nice blurred background, thus accentuating your subject. When using larger apertures, accurate focusing becomes more critical so be sure and focus directly on your pet rather than any background or foreground area.
5. Lighting: Use natural lighting whenever possible. Flash lighting can create "red eye" and will tend to over expose white or light colored pets. Be sure your camera's White Balance option is set to match the type of light you are using. If your indoor shot comes out extremely blue, chances are you have your camera set on "Daylight" rather than "Tungsten". If your outdoor shots come out extremely orange, chances are you have your camera set on "Tungsten" rather than "Daylight". More than one source of light such as 3/4 light plus a little backlighting will give more rounded results. Light only from the front will tend to give your shots a flat look.
6. Freeze frame: Kitties are playful and often the best shots are when they're on the move. Avoiding blur in your action shots means using higher shutter speeds. Higher settings mean that the shutter on your camera will open and close faster, thus "freezing" the action. If you have a manual setting on your camera, use faster shutter speeds such as 1/250, 1/500, or 1/1000. If your camera has preprogrammed settings, use the "Sports" setting. But be aware that faster shutter speeds require more available light, so don't try this is low light settings.
7. A little overexposure is a good thing: Fur tends to absorb light, making photos darker and flatter. Err on the side of overexposure for more detail in your furry friend.
8. It's all about relationships: Pets bring love and joy into our lives and it's in the relationships that those feelings are best conveyed. What does your cat best relate to? What does it care about? You...another pet in the family? It's favorite toy...it's food dish? Including these things in your shots will bring out your cat's personality as well as adding interest and emotion to your photographs.
9. Print vs. web: How will you be using your photos? If you intend to make large, high quality glossy prints of your pet, make sure your camera is set on the highest resolution possible. This will allow you to enlarge your photographs for print without the dreaded "pixelation"! If you are shooting primarily for posting your pics on the internet, using a lower resolution on your camera will allow you to store more photos on your memory card as well as eating up less space on your computer.
10. Keep pushing that button: With the invention of digital photography came the ability to take hundreds of photos without the expense of having the film developed. So take lots of pictures! Try different camera settings, experiment with different lighting, just have fun! It's free, and you will increase your chances of getting exactly that shot you're looking for.

Kimberly Lunning is an artist, photographer, and owner / creator of Tuff Kitty Designs. If you love cats and the funny things they do, please visit our online gift store. Tuff Kitty Designs: Funny and irreverent gifts & t-shirts for cat lovers. http://www.tuffkitty.com

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