facts about cats

Interesting Facts About Cats!

Did you know?

All cats are born blind. The ability to see comes during the first couple of weeks after birth!
Cats have rudimentary nonfunctional collar bones that allow them to squeeze themselves through tight spaces and helps them in their balance and stride!

Cats often have a third eyelid that is not normally visible to us. If you are seeing it more often - the cat may be ill!

Cat vision is similar to humans in daylight, but they can see six times better than us in dim light - owing to larger pupils and the ability to gather light at the back of the eye owing to a reflective retinal surface!

Field of vision in cats is slightly compromised for a more binocular vision, that grants them greater depth perception and ability to judge their prey's position more precisely for pouncing upon them in high speed pursuits!

Cats' sense of smell is fourteen times stronger than ours - this means they can smell the odour in the litter box much earlier than us!

Cats' hearing is also very good. They are able to hear sounds of higher pitch than us and dogs. Thirty two individual muscles in their ears allow them to pinpoint the exact location of a source of sound!

The individual positioning of whiskers is unique to all cats - they are like finger prints. Whiskers also allow cats to feel their way in extreme dark and since their span, when fully erect, is nearly equal to cats' body width - it allows cats to judge whether a space or passage is too narrow for them! Whiskers also are usually indicative of cat behavior. Erect, forward pointing whiskers indicate that the cat is excited, animated. Whereas laid back whiskers are often seen in resting, defensive conditions!

Cats have sharp pointed teeth that are built for killing prey by suffocation/severing of spine. A cat's teeth are its greatest asset in the wild. In proportion to body size, the elusive Clouded Leopard has the longest canines in the family felidae, whereas the Jaguar has the strongest jaws - I have seen it bite through the shell of turtles in documentaries!

Cats have more spines than us since they also have spines in their tail. Next time you see a kid pulling a cat's tail - stop him - since it hurts. Their vertebrae are also more loosely connected to each other than ours, allowing them great flexibility!

Flexibility of the spine is highlighted in the Cheetah - the fastest land mammals. With big adrenals, flexible spine and a rudder-like tail, Cheetah can out pace everything on African savanna!
Tiger is the largest feline on earth. An adult Siberian tiger may weigh up to eight hundred pounds and is one of the top predators on earth. Tigers are excellent swimmers and are in fact the only cat who seem to enjoy stepping in water (the Jaguar in Americas frequently go into water to hunt baby alligators and anacondas)!

Lion is the only cat that lives in groups, called prides. The only social cat, family life gives lions edge over other felids by virtue of their cooperative hunting!

Leopards are highly secretive and are perhaps the best tree climbers and individual hunters amongst big cats. Black leopards are called panthers!

The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on interesting cat facts

Learn more about cats by visiting: http://www.ofcats.com

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Camel song

The campgrounds of the hamlet Pushkar swarm every year in November with thousands of tourists from all over the world visiting the place to witness the fair of the ship of the desert. From just 14,000 people, the crowd swells to a huge 200,000 during the months of the Pushkar camel fair. The advent of the kartik purnima month marks the vibrant colours all over the place. This increases the craze of tourists in the fair even more as such bright colours are generally not found in the western countries. The magnanimity of Rajasthan is thereby unparallel to any other place and is reflected perfectly in these colours.

Camels are dressed in the best attires and accessories that bestow a magical charm to the complete scenario, which attract tourists. As the tourists discover and enjoy the different aspects of desert life, memories are etched inside their hearts with the desire to revisit the Pushkar camel fair again. 

Visiting the holy place of Pushkar at this time offers an exclusive experience to all. What adds more to the enjoyment of the fair is the pleasant weather of the place with the beginning of winters. Around 50,000 camels participate in the fair. They are decorated and sold to visitors. Many also take part in races that are held every year. The rustic element adds charm to the place. Tourists are enthralled by the innocence and generousness of the natives. Locals also indulge in dance and song for the entertainment of the visitors and show the true culture of Rajasthan. 

There are also craftsmen who exhibit innumerable beautiful souvenirs. Visitors purchase these exquisite pieces for their friends and family members as a memorabilia of the Pushkar camel fair. Apart from the fun and the religious factor, the cultural part of Pushkar is also equally interesting. Traders set up innumerable shops. Woolen blankets from Merta, textiles from Jodhpur, broad necklaces from Nagpur and brassware of Jaipur are all displayed for sale by these traders. Ropes, saddlers and many such items can also be purchased. 

After witnessing the vibrant fair, tourists may take a small leisure trip of the Rajasthan state. Temple of Lord Brahma located in the vicinity is also very famous. An interaction with the tribal folk is also an interesting experience. 

So, if you are also looking forward to catch the charm of the Pushkar camel fair and witness the camel race and the culture of Rajasthan, make sure that you have made all your accommodation arrangements beforehand. With people flocking from all over the world, it can be really difficult to find a suitable place to stay in Pushkar during the fair. 

Do not forget to carry a camera to capture the colors, fun and the tradition of the fair. Visiting the Pushkar camel fair will surely be an experience of a lifetime. Prior arrangements are necessary to ensure that it is a pleasurable one. So, what are you waiting for? Make your bookings for Pushkar before it is too late!

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Camel

Camel is a Pablo Picasso sketch which was classically Picasso, simple genius in demonstration as can also be seen in similar drawings that he produced such as Penguin, Cat, Dog and Rooster. This article uncovers the Camel sketch by Picasso and also comments further on the famous Spanish artist's life as a whole.

Camel features just a few strokes of the pencil in an intelligent way that makes the animal immediately obvious despite the lack of detail in the work. The same can be seen in Penguin, Cat, Dog and Rooster and these works have become respected as some of the most popular from his whole career, with many preferring simple sketches over complicated, detailed oil paintings or similar.

Pablo Picasso is a very popular artist online, with regular searches made on topics such as periods of his life, certain art styles in which he was prominently involved and also on individual works that he created during his career such as key oil paintings, drawings and some ceramics. Camel is certainly one of the most loved of all with a charming look to the sketch thanks to the artist's skilled eye for capturing it.

Camel is a great example of simplicity in art with just a few small short strokes of the pencil giving a charming art work that remains highly popular today. Those interested in Camel should also try out Picasso's other similar drawings of animals, of which he did many during his career as he found them enjoyable and an interesting alternative to his much more complicated paintings.

You can order Camel Picasso prints now at PabloPicassoPrints.org.

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

Veterinarians

A friend of ours who works at a local veterinary office stopped by the other day and happened to mention that she had a set of acupuncture needles and was learning how to use them. When I asked who she was going to use them on, she said that the veterinarian at her clinic intended to start offering acupuncture as an option for some of the pets that came in for treatment. Later I did a little research on the internet and it appears that her clinic isn't alone -- a good many veterinarians are turning to alternative medicine in certain cases, particularly the use of acupuncture.

According to traditional Eastern medicine, acupuncture is considered to be a method of correcting an imbalance in the flow of energy (or "qi") along certain pathways or "meridians" in the body. Small needles inserted in any of hundreds of specified acupuncture "points" redirect the flow of energy and restore the body to health. Western medicine explains the effectiveness of acupuncture by pointing out that most of these acupuncture points are located at clusters of nerves and blood vessels. Stimulating those areas through the insertion of small needles can trigger a number of reactions, including increased blood flow, the release of endorphins (the body's pain regulators), and the release of smaller amounts of cortisol, the body's own anti-inflammatory drug. The improved biochemical balance that acupuncture produces stimulates the body's natural healing abilities and promotes physical and emotional well-being.

Today veterinarians are using acupuncture to treat various conditions including chronic pain, digestive disorders, hip dysplasia, allergies, asthma, neurological problems and urinary tract disorders. Even behavioral issues can sometimes by alleviated through acupuncture treatments. Of course acupuncture by itself doesn't cure disease but it can help the body to heal itself by altering various physiological and biochemical factors.

An acupuncture session will usually involve inserting very thin needles (about the diameter of a thick hair) along the animal's bladder, kidney, and spleen meridians. The animal is conscious during the entire process and shouldn't experience any discomfort; in fact most animals actually tend to become relaxed during a typical session. The size and exact location of the needles varies depending on the size of the animal and the type of illness being treated, with short needles about half an inch in length being used on areas around the head while longer one-inch needles are used elsewhere. A typical session may last anywhere from a couple of minutes to a half hour, although a particularly complicated case can take somewhat longer. If the treatment is done by someone trained and experienced acupuncture is a very safe procedure and you should see some improvement in the animal's condition in a few days or a few weeks at most.

There are numerous documented examples of the successful use of animal acupuncture. In one instance, a woman's 16 year old border collie was diagnosed with kidney disease. Traditional veterinary medicine gave the owner two options -- dialysis or euthanasia. The collie's owner chose another option - acupuncture - and for over a year now acupuncture treatments have helped alleviate the border collie's symptoms and have relieved much of the discomfort. The disease hasn't been cured, but acupuncture has prolonged the dog's life and has done it in a way that provides a decent quality of life.

Another example from a local veterinary clinic involves a 12 year old German Shepard with degenerative spinal disease. The shepard gets weekly treatments using a number of needles in his back to maintain feeling in his spine and other needles at points in his lower legs to preserve feeling in his toes. There isn't any surgical cure for his condition and without these treatments he would soon begin to lose the use of his back legs.

While the examples above both involved dogs, acupuncture can be applied to dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, horses, cows, and even birds. Veterinarians first began to use acupuncture in the 1970's and today it's rapidly becoming an accepted part of the veterinarian's arsenal as an alternative to or in addition to drugs and surgery. It may or may not be something you would choose to have used on your pet -- but it's certainly something to think about when you look at the growing number of successes in providing help for animals, particularly those who have run out of traditional treatment options.

http://www.paulelove.com

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Vets for pets

Good health and hygiene are as important to animals as they are to their human masters. With proper nutrition and regular exercise domesticated animals can maintain a healthy coat and good physical condition. By visiting vets in Brooklyn dog and cat owners can receive an annual checkup that gives their pet the attention needed to keep them in top form. However even with a good bill of healthy animals should still be exercised regularly and taken out of their home to be walked or run. Dogs in particular need to be exercised daily. That does not mean tying up a dog and leaving him outside on a small balcony or area on the ground floor where they can have a little space to roam. It means walking around the block or going to a dog friendly park where the animal can be let off their leash to run free for an hour. 

For many pet owners in New York a cat is a good choice because these animals are very independent and require little attention. Even when they cuddle up to their owner and want to be petted, a cat will not need as much exercise nor have the same energy as a dog. Within the confines of an apartment building there are house cats that are content to be left inside all day. In addition to cats some pet owners in Brooklyn also have exotic animals, birds or reptiles as their companion. 

Making an ideal pet for a small space, reptiles, amphibians and fish can be kept in an aquarium or terrariums where they are able to live quietly in a glass enclosure without taking up much room or disturbing the neighbors. With a choice of pets to select from there is something that can be a comfort and friend to people of all ages. With every option from aquatic, to reptilian, to canine, to feline and aviary or birds having a pet that is healthy and strong helps many New Yorkers to maintain their own level of well being. Through their care and attention healthy animals are able to provide comfort and relieve stress for their owners. Through a physical examination from one of the vets in Brooklyn pet owners can keep their animals in perfect health. 

There are times however when even the healthiest of animals can become ill and need the services of vets in Brooklyn to restore their health. Being able to diagnose and treat a variety of dogs, cats and exotic creatures the medical professionals that work for the health of animals are able to keep the pets of New York in their best physical condition

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Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com