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 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/.

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picture of cats

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.

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stray cat

Caring For A Stray Cat

Years ago my aunt, a huge animal lover, started to receive late night visits from a gorgeous ginger stray cat. Due to disgusting abuse by his previous owners he had no teeth or claws left and was very under nourished and extremely frightened. My aunt being very sensitive to animals saw that he was so hungry that his fear was overridden by a desperate need for food. He would let no one else near him except for her and if food was left out by someone else, he would know and leave it to go stale. She really had an amazing gift with animals.

Eventually he trusted her enough to allow her to stroke him, but nothing more. He was content to live a wilder life if it meant he was safe from humans. We really are a disgrace to this planet.

So how do you help stray cats? How do you gain their trust?

First of all you need to know the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat. It's not always easy to tell because in time a stray cat will revert back to its natural instincts, which is the same as a feral cats behaviour.

Obviously a stray cat will have been abandoned by their owners or may have got lost. They might have a collar, but if not you should be able to tell by the quality of their coats if they have recently become strays, rather than being a feral cat. If you can, take a photo of it and check with your local vets if anyone has lost their cat. Don't just assume you can take someone else's cat, in a lot of areas it is illegal. Also there could be a very good reason for them getting lost and there may be a family trying to find them. Usually you can take responsibility and become a stray cats owner after about two weeks of notifying the local animal shelters, vets etc.

A feral cat will be much less inclined to engage with you and will be more likely to show you aggressive, wild behaviour. You're also less likely to see them for any length of time, as any sign of a human and they're off. Can't blame them for that!

Feral cats have been born into the wild from either feral parents or stray cats that have become pregnant. They tend to live together in casual family colonies and are able to survive in urban and rural areas. They aren't always popular as like other wildlife they will rummage through your bins for food. So be warned, your neighbours may not take kindly to you starting a feeding programme for them.

So, if you want to help a stray cat the first thing to do of course is feed them.

An adult stray that is under nourished will build up quickly on kitten food. However switch back to adult food as soon as you see an improvement. They will need the nutrients from adult food once they have initially recovered.

Try wet food as well as dry. See what their preferences are.

Buy new cat bowls as they won't like the scent of other pets.

Always provide fresh water every day.

Feed them at night to start with, but leave dry food out in the daytime in case they start to gain courage and come to your garden more often. They need to feel they have a safe place to come to.

After a while try to be present when you know the stray is going to turn up. Place the food down, step back and speak in a soothing tone. Don't attempt to stroke the cat. Let it feed and leave if it wants to. The main point is to slowly gain trust. You know you can never rush a cat.

On the next occasion offer some food from your hand. They may or may not take it, persevere and try again next time.

If no one claims the cat and you decide to rehome this stray then capturing it in the most humane way is your next step. You may not be able to do this, so it's a good idea to contact your local animal shelter and they may be able to send someone to help.

Once you've done that go straight to the vets for a thorough check up. Deworming, flea and ear mite treatments and neutering must all be done.

If you have other pets keep the new cat in one room until they've settled down and slowly introduce them.

Once you've taken responsibility of a stray cat and brought it into your home, be prepared for the settling in period to take some time. You don't know what they've suffered, be patient. They will probably want to stay by your side as much as possible. In time this should calm down but remember they may be a little apprehensive of this new home.

Pamper them with new cat toys, cat bed and stand. You may want to try using a feline facial pheromone spray or diffuser to help calm their nerves.

At http://www.petpromenade.co.uk/ we understand how important it is to not only have the latest cat toy, or the trendiest dog collar, but also to make sure the boring bits are covered. That's why we have a variety of flea, worming and fur treatments.

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