Feeding groceries to pets

Feeding everyday groceries to pets is animal cruelty


Veterinarians know far more about nutrition than most doctors. Pets generally don't have health insurance, and it's much cheaper to prevent disease in your pet through good nutrition than it is to treat it with drugs and surgery down the road. Veterinarians both understand good nutrition and preach it to their customers. 

Veterinarians also understand the direct correlation between the foods a pet eats and the chronic diseases they will exhibit. For example, vets know very well that if you feed yourdogleftovers of humanfood, you will probably end up giving your dog chronic diseases like obesity,diabetesand heart disease.
Now there is an interesting indication. If leftover human food will kill your dog, what's it doing to you and yourfamily? We'll look at that a little bit later, but here's a hint: pet food is actually more nutritionally balanced than human food. And there is a very good reason why, which will be discussed in detail later on.
If you feed your pets lots ofwhite ricefor example, you will end up giving them diabetes. In fact, if you're asking a veterinarian who has been practicing for twenty or thirty years, they will tell you that they have recently seen a skyrocketing increase in the number of cases of diabetes indogs. That's due to changes in the nutritional makeup of cheaperdog foodproducts today that are using a lot of whitericeas a filler (because white rice is cheap and makes the dogfoodsmore profitable). But just as in human beings, white ricecausesdiabetes and obesity because it's a refined carbohydrate offering little more than "empty calories."
When you look atpets, there is a direct relationship between foods anddiseasethat is quite apparent. Part of the reason this is so apparent is because pets age much more quickly than human beings. Of course, we're all familiar with the phrase "dog years" and the idea that dogs age approximately seven times faster than human beings. This allows you to notice the relationship betweennutritionand health seven times more quickly in your dogs than you might notice it in yourself or in your family.
In other words, if you start feeding your dog foods and food ingredients that promote disease and cause nutritionaldeficiencies(i.e. most human food), your dog will start to show symptoms of those deficiencies seven times more quickly than a human being would.
So one of the reasons that human beings don't catch on to the links between nutrition and disease is because it happens so slowly. It can sometimes take years or even decades for a disease to show up that has been caused by a dietary habit. Yet, in animals, you can quickly see this appearing far more quickly.
Now it would be highly unethical to do this, so I'm not suggesting that you do. This is for a mental experiment only. If you were to take two dogs that were genetically very similar (from the same litter, for example), and you brought them into your house from the time they were very young then fed one dog all the processed foods that human beings eat, while feeding the other dog outstanding nutrition from the more expensive dog food formulas, you would see a tremendous difference in thehealthand lifespan of these two dogs.
The dog fed human food, which would include refined grains, white flour, added sugars, chemical food additives and other toxic ingredients would have a much lower quality of life than thehealthydog. It would also have a shorterlifespan and sky-high health carecostsassociated with the treatment of the chronic diseases it would undoubtedly experience.
The healthy dog, on the other hand, would live longer and would be more vibrant, more emotionally stable, have greater leanbodymass and lower bodyfat. It would have a healthier cardiovascular system, healthier teeth and would express a much higher degree of health than the other dog. It would also probably die someday from so-called natural causes, without all the medical costs associated with the unhealthy dog. So once again, I don't recommend doing this (because it would be unethical), but if you were to take two dogs and feed them radically different diets as an experiment, it would be apparent to anyone that nutrition is a powerful influencer of health in mammals.
You could also do this experiment with guinea pigs orratsor mice. But once again, I think even that would be unethical, because mice are mammals too and it is downright evil to torture a mouse by feeding it human foods. Now some people might find that statement shocking. But I think the really shocking thing is that as a society, we are feeding each other and ourchildrenthe exact same foods that would be considered inhumane if you fed them to a pet, or even to a mouse.
Our nation's public school systems feed our children foods that would be unethical to feed to lab rats-- that's the real shocker here. And the primary reason the effects of those foods are not apparent to everyone is because there is such a long delay between the cause and the effect. It takes human beings years or decades to show the full effects from these poor dietary choices. The other reason it's not so apparent in human beings is because poor dietary practices are so widespread that both the public and members of the medical community think that unhealthy, obese, chronically diseased human beings are now the norm. There are so few examples of people demonstrating outstanding health that we are walking around in a society where we actually believe that human beings are supposed to be fat and depressed and have plaque in their arteries and so on. If practically everyone is diseased, suddenly that qualifies as "normal."
But if you live in another country for any length of time -- a country that doesn't suffer from anychronic diseaseand chronic obesity -- and then come back to the United States, you will be shocked to observe the level of disease found in everyday people. If you walk around any airport, for example, and just take a look at all of the faces and bodies walking past you, you will see apopulationthat is chronically diseased. You can see liverdisorderswritten right on their faces in terms ofskincoloration and huge bags under their eyes. You can see internal organ problems based on skin composition and tone. You can observe energetic disorders by looking at peoples' posture and the way they carry themselves. And of course, it's very easy to see observe what an overweight population we are.
But these are not the norms. This is not the way that the human body was designed to be. This is only the result of feeding an entire population disease-promoting foods that now sadly, pass for "three balanced meals a day."
This article is an excerpt from the book,The 7 Laws of Nutritionby Mike Adams.


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Heartworm drugs

Heartworm drugs for pets; Big Pharma's cash cow

(NaturalNews) In a seemingly diabolical plot, veterinarians and pharmaceutical companies have teamed up in a marketing campaign to frighten pet guardians into giving year-round heartworm preventatives to their cats, as well as dogs. These so-called experts say they're doing this to improve protection for individual pets, but the facts say their motives may be less pure.




With few exceptions, heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are a completely seasonal problem, so there is no reason to give heartworm medicine to ANY pet year-round-except to make money for those who make and sell it! Those financially-motivated folks say the number of cases will rise unless everybody gives themedications. They rationalize this by citing statistics on how most people don't use theproducts, and proclaiming that the number of unprotecteddogswill surely cause even moredisease. However, despite years of manyanimalsbeing given unnecessarydrugsand many more who aren't, the prevalance of heartworm has not really changed.

In fact, a recent headline in a veterinary publication trumpeted, "Heartworm now found in all 50 states"--as if it was a triumph! While that statement may be technically true, thesurveydid not differentiate between all dogstestingpositive for heartworm, and dogs testing positive for heartworm that came from somewhere else! The increase in positive-testing dogs may be attributable to the widespread dispersion of heartworm-infected dogs after Hurricane Katrina, rather than a true increase in the level of disease.

Heartworms are transmitted bymosquitoes. Heartworm larvae, called microfilaria, live in thebloodand are sucked up by the bug. Once inside the mosquito, they must further develop before they can infect anotherdog. For that to occur, outside temperatures must remain above 57 degrees F, day and night, for a certain period of time (but at least 8 days).

The warmer the temperature, the faster the larvae will mature. If the temperature drops below the critical level, larval development will stop, but the larvae don't die, development will re-start at the same point when the weather warms back up. Larvae reach their infective stage in 8 to 30 days (the latter being the insect's entire lifespan-if the larvae haven't matured by then, they will die along with the mosquito).

It should be obvious that during seasons and in areas where there are no mosquitoes, there is noriskof heartworm. Evidently that little fact escaped the attention of the veterinarian who prescribed heartwormprotection-- in December-for a puppy living high in the Colorado mountains. At that altitude, temperatures are never warm enough for heartworms!

On this map, heartworm risk is shown by the month when the use of heartworm preventatives should begin. In most states, protection should be continued through November or December. In the Michigan UP, preventatives are suggested from August through October. Within 150 miles of the Gulf Coast and other areas in pink,preventionis recommended from April through January. In the red areas of southern Texas and Florida, year-round preventatives may be needed. Local conditions may vary from year to year. Global warming, hurricanes/flooding, and other factors may increase the mosquito population and thus influence heartworm risk. (This map is a very loose approximation only, and is not intended to be used exclusively to determine risk.)

http://www.naturalnews.com/images/US-Heartworm-Map-1.jpg

When an infected mosquito bites a dog or cat, the microfilaria are deposited on the skin, where they then crawl into the bite wound and enter the bloodstream. Inside thebody, they grow and progress through other larval forms. In dogs, the heartworm'snaturalhost, larvae migrate to theheartand eventually develop into adult worms. In cats, full-grown worms can develop (but not reproduce). A cat cannot transmit the disease. Adult heartworms are over a foot long when grown (in 6-8 months), but it takes only 1 or 2 to fill up a cat's tiny heart and cause serious problems. However, in 80% ofinfections, the cat's own immune system kills the larvae at an earlier stage, and clears theinfection.

However, heartworms don't have to be full-grown to cause problems. In cats, a respiratory condition can develop. Not-quite-full-grown microfilaria can get stuck small blood vessels in thelungs, where they can cause significant inflammation and damage. This uniquely feline condition is called Heartworm Associated Respiratory Disease, or HARD. Symptoms are similar toasthma; and it's possible that some "asthmatic" cats are misdiagnosed with an immune-mediated disease instead of a parasite. Even so, about half of infected cats never develop any signs of heartworm disease at all. And while the disease causes serious damage to the lungs, much of the damage may be reversible by the body's normal healing processes. Chronic and sequential infections have not been studied.

Indoor cats are, of course, less likely to be bitten by a mosquito, but anyone who's ever been around them knows that the little buggers can be quite persistent, so it isn't impossible. In one study, 25% of heartworm-positive cats were reported to be indoors-only. Outdoor cats are at higher risk not only for heartworm but also for feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV or feline AIDS), and all the other parasites, injuries, and diseases common to outdoor cats. However, keeping allpetsindoors during prime mosquito-feeding time (late afternoon an evening) will greatly reduce the risk of a bite.

Heartworm preventative drugs do not kill adult heartworms, but they do kill microfilaria up to a certain stage of development. Currently it is believed that larvae under 6 weeks old are affected. This means that in order to prevent heartworms from reaching adulthood, the preventative can be given up to 6 weeks after the mosquito bite occurs, and still work. The recommendation is to give the drugs every 30 days, purportedly because once-a-month dosing is easier for mostpeopleto remember (and, coincidentally, it also sells more drugs!).

The most common preventative drugs for heartworm are ivermectin (Heartgard) and selamectin (Revolution). While these drugs are generally considered "safe and effective" at the low doses used for heartworm prevention, there are always exceptions. Signs of toxicity associated with ivermectin include: depression, ataxia (balance problems or unsteady walk), and blindness. Selamectin is also used to treat ear mites and some intestinal worms; adverse reactions include hair loss at the site of application, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle tremors, anorexia, lethargy, salivation, rapid breathing, and contact allergy.

Mostveterinarianshand out heartworm preventatives like candy; but there is a serious and growing problem ofresistanceof heartworms to these drugs. This means that we are selecting for "superworms" that will be able to survive and grow even in animals on heartworm preventatives (despite Big Pet Pharma's denials that this is happening). As with all cases ofdrugresistance, the correct response is to reduce use of the drug and reserve it only for when it is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, the veterinary profession and drug industries have decided to go forprofitsinstead, and are continuing to call for all pets to be on medications all year round. This is bad science, and it is bad policy.

The Big Pet Pharma folks are very protective of the income from heartworm drugs, and will apparently stop at nothing to increase profits. Merial, maker of the popular heartworm preventative Heartgard, was repeatedly warned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop exaggerating the effectiveness of the product (which has been declining for at least a decade). Moreover, a fired Merial executive filed suit against Merial, claiming that the company deliberately lied for years, not only about the product's effectiveness, but also the true number and severity of adverse events. Pfizer's Animal Health division alone, which makes the heartworm preventative Revolution as well as vaccines and other animal drugs, is valued at $10 billion to $16 billion (and may soon be sold to Merial or another competitor!).

If you feel you must use heartworm prevention products, get them from your veterinarian. Surveys have found mislabeled, expired, imported, and counterfeit products being sold from other sources. Follow dosage instructions and do not over-treat. NEVER, EVER use a heartworm product made for dogs on a cat. The components are different between dog and cat products, and dog products can kill a cat in a matter of hours. Many cats have suffered and died this way.


About the author:
Celeste Yarnall, PhD is a holistic practitioner and nutritionist, specializing in supplementation and the species specific, raw carnivore diet. She is an EFT consultant and member of the prestiious Tapping Solution's, Insider's Club. She also consults on Non-Verbal communication, visualization techniques, grief counseling and anti-aging for both people and pets. She is a Reiki Master, medical intuitive and author of 4 books on holistic health care for dogs and cats. Her latest book, The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care, chronicles her 11 generations of Tonkinese Cats reared on the principles in her books and is the recipient of the 2010 CWA Muse Medallion Award. The co-author of The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care, is Jean Hofve, DVM. It is the firstanti-agingbook ever written forpets. Celeste and her husband, Nazim Artist have formed the Art of Wellness Collection and live and work in Westlake Village, CA.

She can be reached through her website,www.Celestialpets.com.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033060_heartworm_drugs_pet_health.html#ixzz1wBcvciGy

Homeopathy for pets

Homeopathy for pets - safer and more effective than toxic drugs

(NaturalNews) Homeopathy is a specific form of alternative (holistic) medicine which was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, M.D., a German physician, in the late eighteenth century. At that time, people were being treated with poisonous substances to get the "bad humours" out of them by making them vomit, have diarrhea, sweat, salivate, and bleed. Many patients died from these treatments which included bleeding, setons, sweating, etc. The drugs used today, however in Western Medicine are far more poisonous than in Hahnemann's time and just like dropping a nuclear weapon on an ant hill!

Dr. Hahnemann felt such practices were barbaric, and he stopped practicing medicine. While making a living translating books, he came across William Cullen's write-up on the action of Cinchona officinalis, the herb used to make quinine for the treatment of malaria. Dr. Hahnemann disagreed with Cullen's assertion that it was the astringency of the herb that had the effect, and, to prove his point, took a small amount of the bark himself. He developed symptoms of malaria lasting a few hours. Dr. Hahnemann repeated the experiment several times, each time developing symptoms that went away by the next day.

From this research, Dr. Hahnemann developed the Law of Similars, derived from an ancient concept used by Galen, Hippocrates, and Paracelsus. When a healthy individual is made ill in a particular way by being exposed to a substance, that individual may also be cured by being treated with the same substance. Practitioners using Dr. Hahnemann's homeopathic system are called classical homeopaths.

Many people mistakenly believe that the words holistic and homeopathic are inter-changeable. This is not true. Homeopathy is a 200-year-old system of healing that uses remedies based on the Law of Similars, which is the reverse of the allopathic, or conventional, medical system. Allopathic drugs act in such a way that they suppress symptoms, but in themselves, they don't necessarily cure disease. However, when used appropriately, homeopathy works with the body, not against it, promoting actual curing and not just suppressing symptoms. Homeopathic remedies stimulate the immune system in a very general way, which can and often does enable it to complete the job it was already trying to do on its own, however the immune system is really downstream of the life force of the patient, and there is no special action on that part of the body.

There are those in homeopathy that will declare that we don't have all the hows and whys of how homeopathy works, but this would be true only if one does not accept anything that Hahnemann said about it. He spelled out in great detail how homeopathy acts. When people say they don't know how it acts (even homeopaths) that means they are ignoring Hahnemann's actual explanation. For the purpose of this writing, suffice it to say homeopathy is working on an energetic level, a concept nearly impossible for western trained health practitioners, whose belief systems follow the Newtonian principle of only 'matter matters' to understand this complex study. Quantum physicians and energy workers recognize that we are living in a quantum paradigm, where everything matters!

When in crisis, the human body, as well as that of the canine or feline, speaks to us through its symptoms. Symptoms, produced by the body's attempt to heal, are windows to the internal process that should not be closed. All the symptoms, taken together, are referred to as the symptomatic picture.

LAW OF OPPOSITES, LAW OF SIMILARS

Allopathic, or conventional, medicine usually applies the Law of Opposites to the treatment of disease. The medication prescribed by the doctor or veterinarian acts against the patient's symptoms, as described by such names as antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. Allopathic drugs typically suppress symptoms but do not necessarily cure disease.

The Law of Similars means that the remedy that causes certain symptoms in a healthy person will cure the same symptoms in a sick person. For example, a bee sting (from the honeybee, apis mellifica) causes an area of swelling and redness in normal individuals. The swelling may be accompanied by itching and burning, which feel better from the application of cold, and the person isn't thirsty. In homeopathic dilutions, the remedy apis mellifica cures itchy, burning, red swellings that come on suddenly and
are relieved by cold compresses, especially when the individual is less thirsty than usual.
The red swelling doesn't have to have been caused by a bee sting in order for apis mellifica to be an effective remedy; it just needs to fit the same symptom picture. It may have been caused by something completely unrelated, such as sunburn, allergy, vaccinations, or drugs.

MINIMUM DOSE

Another main principle of homeopathy is the Minimum Dose. Homeopathic remedies are prepared by dilution and succussion, which is a particular way of mixing. They are so diluted that individual molecules of the original substance are extremely difficult to detect in samples. This allows remedies to be made from highly toxic substances, such as arsenic, snake venom, or the saliva of a rabid dog.

So, how does a remedy work if there virtually isn't anything there? When the mother remedy is made, the substance is mixed with water and succussed. This causes the water to receive an energetic imprint. Some might call it a ghost, a spirit, or even a memory. Science hasn't yet discovered or explained how homeopathy works.
The concept of minimum dose means that the more diluted the remedy is (in other words the less substance it actually contains), the more powerful it becomes, and the higher "potency" it is.

OUTCOMES OF HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

The principles of homeopathy state that there are three possible outcomes of any treatment: suppression, palliation, and cure.

SUPPRESSION rids the body of specific symptoms, but it drives the disease into other channels by denying the body's expression of the original disease. For example, a skin tumor develops that is itchy and
eventually opens and drains. The allopathic vet may decide to remove the tumor and may not consider that this was the body's choice of a location to push toxins out. After surgery, the wound heals, and the skin looks great. The most troubling symptom is gone. Over time, however, the cat, dog or other life form, may experience a change in temperament (grouchier or more aggressive), or he may develop a more serious condition, such as thyroid disease or liver cancer. Since removing the original symptom, the patient has gotten very sick at a deeper level. It's like plugging the outlet of a volcano. It gets hotter and hotter inside until it explodes at a deeper, more dangerous level and causes much more destruction than it might have otherwise.

PALLIATION means to alleviate symptoms through medicine, such as treating pain through aspirin. With palliation, the medicine needs to be repeated frequently. Palliation makes symptoms go away almost immediately (even if they've been present or recurring for years). A dog or cat may, for instance, temporarily stop crying when urinating, but the symptoms will soon return -- in hours, days, or even far longer periods. Repeated dosing of a remedy, herb, or drug during palliation is a perpetual cycle to keep the symptoms away. The dog or cat is not getting healthier and, in fact, is slowly getting sicker overall.

CURE, the goal of homeopathy, means that the body eliminates the whole disease, not just symptoms, and rises to a state of optimum health. Health is defined as not just the absence of symptoms, but a feeling of well being and vitality. A cure in classical homeopathy is more than just making the symptoms go away, which can happen with many kinds of treatments. Rather, it's when the symptoms go away and stay away permanently. The dog or cat feels, and is, healthy in every respect. They may still get minor ailments, but recovers quickly from them with very little or no treatment. By treating only symptoms and not the whole individual, allopathic, or conventional, medicine tends to be limited to the first two outcomes: suppression and palliation.

HOW HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES ARE PREPARED

Today homeopathic remedies are still prepared according to guidelines given by Samuel Hahnemann, M.D., in The Organon of the Healing Art (1810). If possible, an alcohol tincture is made (some substances are not soluble in alcohol and are prepared differently). Dilution and succussion (shaking) of the tincture produce a potentized homeopathic remedy.
The level of dilution of a remedy is denoted with Roman numerals.
One drop of the mother tincture diluted with nine drops of alcohol (or other solvent) creates a potency of 1X (as in X, the Roman numeral for ten).
Similarly, 1 drop of the mother tincture diluted with 99 drops of alcohol creates a potency of 1C (as in C, the Roman numeral for 100). Higher potencies exist as well, such as M and LM. By the time a potency of 12C is reached, the dilution is beyond Avogadro's number (6.023 x 1023, or 602,300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000), which in physical chemistry means that virtually nothing poisonous or toxic is left, no matter what the remedy has been made from.

NOTE: When we consider the action of dilution and succussion, it is always a tough one to explain. It bodes well for us to emphasize the dilution part because Hahnemann tells us that it is partly the dilution but primarily the succussion (shaking, agitation) that releases the energy responsible for the physical expression of the molecules. That is, the quantum energy behind form to put it in today's vernacular. Again the Western trained scientists tend to reject homeopathy when they hear about our "less is more" principle of dilution.

IS A CURE ALWAYS POSSIBLE?

Through homeopathy, which most conventional physicians or veterinarians are not trained in, a real cure to most chronic diseases can be achieved in many cases where allopathic medicine offers only a quick (and often temporary) fix -- if it has anything to offer at all. Homeopathy works particularly well for feline health problems, because cats are subtle creatures and highly sensitive to energy. However, all animals respond well (yes, even people) and there are many practitioners that specialize in horses and dogs, also. Homeopathic practitioners all over the world work with all aspects of human health care, homeopathically.

Homeopathic remedies are quite easy to administer and they encourage the body to help it heal itself.

If you or your dog or cat has undergone long-term allopathic drug therapy, homeopathy may not work immediately. With persistence it may help restore the dogs or cat's health in cases in which conventional veterinarians might even recommend euthanasia. In the process of attempting a cure, very ill animals may at least feel better even if they can't be cured.

HOW A DISEASE RUNS ITS COURSE

In homeopathy, a cure is obtained by giving the substance whose experimental symptoms in healthy individuals are most similar to the patient's own symptoms. Since this therapy is based on an individual's total symptomatic picture, you must learn the characteristics of each remedy, observe carefully all the symptoms your dog or cat is now exhibiting and has exhibited in the past, and understand his or her general characteristics.
Diseases tend to follow a predictable pattern. Here are the stages of disease:

ENERGETIC IMBALANCE: Your cat seems to be getting sick; there aren't any symptoms, but you just know something's wrong.

FUNCTIONAL CHANGES: For example, your cat is going frequently to the litter box, but there's no straining and the urinalysis is normal. If the disturbance is treated right away, even severe symptoms may resolve quickly or be avoided. At this point, a conventional veterinarian may not be able to diagnose the problem. Dogs may exhibit a similar behavior by asking to go out frequently but again no straining and urin test is normal.

INFLAMMATION: If the disturbance remains untreated, inflammation shows that the body is trying its hardest to rebalance itself. At this stage the dog or cat is sick, often with fever, redness, and swellings.

PATHOLOGY: Finally, the body tries to ward off the problem by moving into pathology, such as bladder stones; thick, hairless skin; or fluid accumulation in abdomen or chest. Once this stage has been reached, a cure takes longer to achieve. The dog or cat must work his or her way back through the previous stages of the disease: inflammation, functional changes, and energetic imbalance. This is why it often seems as though the dog or cat is worsening before improving. When a chronically ill dog or cat is given an appropriate remedy, there will often be an immediate mental and emotional response of contentment, even though the final "physical" cure may take much longer.

WORKING WITH A HOMEOPATHIC PRACTITIONER

Never attempt to use homeopathy on your own to treat your cat or dog. Always work with a homeopathic veterinarian because by far, the great majority of human homeopathic prescribers are not equipped to treat animals. There may be exceptions but they are such.
I especially like to refer those who are searching for a Homeopathic Veterinary Specialist to see the web site of a world authoritity on the subject, Richard Pitcairn, DVM where there is a listing of many veterinarians that have trained with him personally in homeopathy. Also there is a page of instructions that tells people how to select a homeopathic veterinarian, and how to know they are qualified. (www.drpitcairn.com/referrals/anhc-referrals/)

Although you may read this article and a few books on the subject and feel confident moving forward please keep in mind that selecting the right remedy in the right potency at the right time is not a simple process, and assessing the progress of the case takes training and experience.

Beginning homeopathic treatment may also seem expensive, but the costs are nearly all up front. Over time, you'll spend less money than you would have with conventional care and its repeated tests and treatments.

Your first appointment with a veterinary homeopath is likely to take an hour or more. He'll or she will ask a lot of questions; some of which might seem irrelevant at first. In prescribing homeopathic remedies, the smallest details help the homeopath understand the dog or cat's personality, which will help your practitioner distinguish among remedies. It is helpful for guardians to
keep a journal of symptoms as homeopathic treatment progresses. Here are some questions to consider.

1. How does your dog or cat react to situations, people, other animals, noise, and other stimuli?

2. Does your dog or cat seek warmth under your covers or lie on the carpet or cool, hard surfaces?

3. How much water does your dog or cat drink? 4. Does your cat like dry, soft, or soupy foods? 5. How does your dog or cat interact with other dogs or cats in the house? 6. Is your cat the boss or the low cat on the totem pole?

A homeopath makes a list of all past and present symptoms, as well as of the individual's unique characteristics. The homeopath asks about every body system and what makes each symptom better or worse. He looks for changes in symptom pictures and tries to discover a cause for the changes (for example, symptoms started after the dog or cat's human companions divorced). Your practitioner will also look for characteristic symptoms (those symptoms that aren't normally associated with the disease). For example, everyone with the flu feels tired and achy, but characteristic symptoms might be feeling better from being consoled, worse from exposure to an open window, or better from having only cold drinks.

In many cases, this is the point where you and your animal companion will go home.

Later, the homeopath looks up the most important and unique characteristics (and this takes experienced judgment) in a repertory containing tens of thousands of symptoms along with the remedies known to help each symptom. By cross-referencing the most important symptoms and traits, the homeopath comes up with the two to five best potential remedies.

Next, the homeopath compares his choices in a materia medica, which is a book containing in-depth descriptions of each remedy. He or she makes a selection and provides the remedy to you.

WAITING FOR A TRUE CURE

Be patient! A true cure takes time. Once a remedy is given, you must be vigilant about observing changes in your dog or cat's symptoms, attitude, and any other signs or patterns the homeopath may ask you to watch. Keeping a journal is extremely helpful, noting observations and remedies along with the date, time of day, weather conditions, and any unusual stressors the dog or cat has been exposed to. The homeopath will ask you to report back as things happen or at specified time periods; be sure to stick to the schedule.

The most common instruction you will hear from a classical homeopath is "Wait." Each remedy must be allowed to complete its work; for high potency remedies, a month or more is the minimum. Day-to-day changes should be noted in your journal, but try to see the bigger healing trends that are occurring. You will check in with the homeopath at intervals so that he or she can assess the case and make sure that the remedy is acting to cure, not to palliate or suppress.

When a homeopathic remedy is given, the energy field of the body immediately starts to react. In the first couple of days, the dog or cat may seem to feel better, even if symptoms haven't changed. Three to five days after the remedy has been given, a response will usually be noticeable. This may look like current symptoms getting worse, older symptoms returning, or new symptoms arising -- yet the dog or cat clearly has better energy, a better appetite, or just looks more like his old self.

As you research homeopathy you may come across the term "healing crisis" and this could cause one to believe that this is something that happens quite frequently during homeopathic treatment but keep in mind that this really does not occur if the homeopath is skilled. Healing crisis usually equates, in most cases, to animals getting worse with inappropriate homeopathic treatment. There is no need to expect this to happen.

However, keep in mind that a slight aggravation or change can be a very good sign; the body is being jolted into starting to heal itself. (Of course, if the symptoms get much worse and the dog or cat is clearly feeling sicker, call your homeopath immediately for instructions; the remedy is not acting curatively and may need to be changed).

When the aggravation or healing crisis occurs, it is critical to wait and not use another homeopathic remedy. You can make your cat more comfortable with other gentle treatments, such as massage, herbs, flower remedies, EFT Tapping, and Reiki.

Most animal companions have been instructed by their holistic veterinarian, or practitioner, who practices homeopathy in the "how to's" of the preparation of a home made, organic, species specific raw diet, with proper supplementation, including omega -3's which reduces inflammation that quite naturally occurs during the disease process itself and it's healing crisis. Proper nutrition and stress reduction, will always assist the homeopathic remedy to help the body heal itself. As a practitioner, I wouldn't consider practicing homeopathy without also using nutritional and nutraceutical support, as well.

Over time, you will most likely see the symptoms slowly start to lessen. Again, the length of time needed for a cure is proportional to the length and depth of an illness and the amount of prior inappropriate treatment received, no matter if they were allopathic, homeopathic, herbal, or other. Cures take time and patience, and they often require several remedies over months or years. Patience is the key.

NOTE: If your dog or cat is experiencing serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you may need to get your animal companion to emergency allopathic care, such as at a veterinary emergency facility. As soon as possible, let your homeopathic practitioner know what treatment your dog or cat received . For example, if your dog or cat develops a life- threatening asthma attack on Saturday, he or she might need steroids as this is life threatening condition where emergency medicine may be a life saving solution. But if you panic during a healing crisis with a dog or cat already under homeopathic care and use allopathic treatment or give a homeopathic remedy on your own, you can create a difficult knot for your homeopath to untangle. It's challenging to decipher what requires
emergency treatment and the use of western medicine and what is an acceptable level of crisis reaction. You should discuss this with your homeopath, in order to be prepared as to what you might expect, but when the moment arrives, only you can make that decision. A healing crisis and a true emergency may look quite a bit alike and it will always be better to err on the side of caution.

It pays to be prepared, however. And homeopathy can be used to great advantage in first-aid situations for acute injuries or illness. You may want to keep a homeopathic kit on hand for emergencies in 30C potencies. Study it carefully and have a basic understanding on how to use emergency homeopathic. Jean Hofve, DVM and I have included the basic emergency remedies and instructions in there use in our book, The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care, which will of course be instructional and benefit dog companions, as well.

Talk with your homeopathic practitioner in advance of an emergency for additional information and remedies in your individual case to know how and when to use the recommended remedies properly.

Homeopathy is complex, and you can do serious harm with inappropriate remedies. Don't take chances with your precious animal companions life. It's best to work with a holistic veterinarian who is trained in small animal homeopathy, either in person or by phone, to select the right remedy, potency, and schedule of administration.
If you're seeking a homeopathic practitioner in addition to your conventional vet, be aware that many conventional veterinarians will welcome your search for another way to heal your dog or cat. Other veterinarians may be threatened by new approaches, or feel they're not appropriate. Just be honest and, if you can, enroll them as your partner in healing but if you are not comfortable with the response you get, find another veterinarian who is open to homeopathy and alternative adjunct therapies.

DOSAGES

Homeopathic remedies are available in tablets and granules (pellets). Because the size of the animal isn't important, the dosage is the same for dogs and cats as it is for humans. The potency selected and how frequently it's given are more important than the amount given. If your dog or cat
doesn't swallow a complete dose (for example exactly three pellets), he or she will still get the benefit. If your dog or cat refuses to be pilled it is also acceptable to dissolve the remedy in water and then give it with a spoon or dosing syringe. Your homeopath will help you determine a proper dosage schedule.

It's best to give homeopathic remedies on an empty stomach. However, if necessary, the remedy may be given in a small amount (approximately 1 teaspoon) of organic raw milk or raw cream or in organic, raw carnivore, species specific food.

No Expiration Date is really necessary for homeopathic remedies even though one is provided on the package.

Homeopathic remedies don't seem to lose their effectiveness unless they are stored improperly. Remedies one hundred years old have been used successfully! Just be sure to store your remedies away from sunlight, heat, strong odors, microwaves, motors, electrical equipment, and disinfecting agents.

Homeopathy is an exciting journey of discovery to embark upon for your own health care, as well as your companion animals.



About the author:
Celeste Yarnall, PhD is a holistic practitioner and nutritionist, specializing in supplementation and the species specific, raw carnivore diet. She is an EFT consultant and member of the prestiious Tapping Solution's, Insider's Club. She also consults on Non-Verbal communication, visualization techniques, grief counseling and anti-aging for both people and pets. She is a Reiki Master, medical intuitive and author of 4 books on holistic health care for dogs and cats. Her latest book, The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care, chronicles her 11 generations of Tonkinese Cats reared on the principles in her books and is the recipient of the 2010 CWA Muse Medallion Award. The co-author of The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care, is Jean Hofve, DVM. It is the first anti-aging book ever written for pets. Celeste and her husband, Nazim Artist have formed the Art of Wellness Collection and live and work in Westlake Village, CA.

She can be reached through her website,www.Celestialpets.com.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/033853_homeopathy_pets.html#ixzz1v2n1BWyu

Pet oxygen mask

Firefighter Ted Jackman provides oxygen to a pet cat after a house fire using a pet oxygen mask like the ones being donated to thousands of fire and rescue units across the country by Invisible Fence. (Courtesy Invisible Fence)


link: http://abcnews.go.com

Healthy cat

How to have a healthy cat?

(NaturalNews) Domestic cats are suffering with more and more health problems at earlier ages. Clearly something is profoundly wrong with the current model of feline health care. Here the main cause of this decline in health is explored, along with the action you can take to have an enormous and positive impact on your cat's quality of life.
 

Diet is at the heart of the majority of feline health problems

Most people who are concerned for their own health are fully appreciative of the role food plays in their health. The motto 'garbage in, garbage out' is a succinct, if somewhat crude way of getting this message across.

The same is no less true for cats. Commercial cat food is the fast food of the feline world. Commercial cat food manufacturers are corporations. Corporations are all about making as big a profit as possible. That is there bottom line. Corporations are run by many people all doing their job, making up the bigger picture. Corporations tend not to have much in the way of ethics or scruples as these get in the way of profit.

There are few laws in any country regarding pet food. Those that are in existence are almost impossible to uphold. Few people will spend the thousands in legal fees needed to pursue a lawsuit for the sake of an animal. The few who are able and willing would have a hard time proving that the brand in question caused the problem.

The ingredients of most commercial cat food

The best food will always go to the more lucrative human market. Meat is expensive. Every tiny morsel that can be turned into a profit, will be. Cats don't just get the dregs, they get what is deemed to be unsuitable for human consumption - slaughter house waste (fat, etc), road kill, euthanized animals from small laboratories, dead or diseased farm and zoo animals, even euthanized pets from veterinary clinics in some countries.

These are sent to a rendering plant where they can be left for days in any weather, before being processed. The processing itself uses very high temperatures and pressures to kill pathogens. This process also kills and alters nutrients. The euthanasia drug doesn't break down during processing.

The end product has a preservative added (normally one that is considered unfit for human consumption on toxicity grounds) to ensure it keeps indefinitely without refrigeration.

This is sold to pet food manufacturers. Because they didn't add the preservative, they can legally claim their product to have 'no added preservative.'

The pet food industry uses this product as their protein base, diluting it down with cheap carbohydrates such as fast food waste, newspaper, sawdust, ground up nut shells, and anything else cheap on the world market.

Isolated and synthetic 'nutrients' are then added to try to address the nutritional imbalance. Synthetic nutrients cannot be digested or utilized. At best they pass through your cat's body unused. At worst they end up in parts of the cat's body they have no business to be.

This sad picture may not even be the worst one. Better or more expensive commercial cat food may start off with slightly better ingredients, but the processing will be similar.

Cats are carnivores, not omnivores

Cats eat the carcass they have just killed immediately. They don't scavenge as dogs do. They are unable to digest old or decayed meat.

Cats are lone hunters and they alone are responsible for their food. This means they have adapted to have light bones and organs, so they can run fast, lightly and for sustained periods of time. This means they are unable to digest vegetable matter, which takes longer.

The best food for your cat is food you have made yourself from quality ingredients. You can find more information on this subject here.http://naturallyhealthycats.com/indexnn/html

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/035633_cats_pet_health_cat_food.html#ixzz1srkpj9MU

Pets

Pets are good for child health

(NaturalNews) TheNew York Timescame up with an article recently entitled "Can Fido and Whiskers Enrich Children's Lives?" Different medical researchers and scientists were consulted for this article, which begs the question: Does research money really need to be spent on this type of question?




It's one thing to write an essay on the topic, especially one coming from real experience. But asking scientists and medical professionals, who are doing research on child and pet relationships, for their opinion as if the facts aren't entirely visible to anyone who bothers to look is rather far-fetched.

Here's a real life anecdote illustrating that absurdity. A young family residing in a large college town had a pre-teen daughter, a dog, and two cats. The father was a college professor while the mother ran a small political fund raising operation out of their home. The daughter asked, "Mom, do animals have feelings?" After a short pause, the mother answered, "I don't know dear, science hasn't figured that out yet."

Relying on science or any authority to determine what should be observable or perceived through experience is indicative of our cultural dysfunction.

Help an animal survive well and that animal can help you emotionally

This is one good reason among others that children should have a pet or pets. Animals, especially dogs, actually bond with human family members. Children can not only learn caretaking responsibility but compassion, as they perceive that indeed, dogs (and yes even cats) have feelings.

One of the doctors consulted in the above-mentioned article did comment that having a pet offers emotional support to children. When children come home from school or play, the dog is there to happily greet them. This is observed as a real event by anyone who has a dog that is treated decently, especially one rescued from an animal shelter or the mean streets.

However, this doctor couched such behavior cynically with the implication that the pet is happy because you may have a food treat for it. That's just not usually true. This author has dealt with different animals from horses to parakeets, and dogs and cats. They do show gratitude for help given and good company shared. They do not "mimic" body language, as most "experts" claim,solely for expected favors.

Of course, some dogs and cats can be a little out of sorts, just like humans. Allowing vets to drug or vaccinate them to the fullest extent can exacerbate such behavior and worsen your pet's health. Dogs especially need to exercise or they'll get grumpy.

It takes a calm, even-tempered effort to channel pets into agreeable habits or coax them out of any bad ones. Allowing a child to be involved with caring for and training of the family pet can help that child develop character by practicing kindness and patience with appropriate firmness.

Many scientists who research animals and sometimes even animal trainers assume other living non-human creatures are out of touch with real emotions or feelings because they're out of touch themselves. It's their own closed hearts that influence animals in their charge to clam up.

Animals can often sense where humans are coming from emotionally even as they deceive fellow humans. Children can develop a finer sense of empathy by showing their open hearts to directly bond with a pet dog, cat, or other animal. Pets sometimes attempt to comfort humans who are sad or upset. Children can use that break from stress when they're having issues with other humans.

Pets aren't appropriate for all kids. But for many they're fun to play with, interesting to observe, and a pleasure to have around. That's healthy, and you don't need a research team to figure that out.

Sources for this article include:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/kids-and-pets/

http://www.petloveshack.com/kids.html

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/035600_pets_children_health.html#ixzz1sUAatwx0

Hamster cages

Evolution of hamster cages

Hamster are a good choice for a small pet

There are many options for pets, but some like to start out small. Others like to have small ones simply because their landlords will not allow them to have a cat or a dog. Hamsters are very popular when it comes to small pets, though they certainly won’t live as long as a cat or a dog, they can have a decent lifespan. When you get one, you do have to find the best hamster cages that you can afford to keep them happy and healthy for as long as possible.

Basic cages

The hamster cages that most of us had when growing up were rather simple. They had a metal cage, and the tops and bottoms were either closed or open. These hamster cages had a running wheel, and then food and water apparatus. That was usually about it. They worked well enough, and some had a ball they could put their hamster in to let it run around the house without getting hurt or lost. It was also great exercise, but not being a hamster myself, I couldn’t really tell you if they really enjoy it or not.

Modern cages

The hamster cages of today are a bit more fun, probably for the hamster and the owner alike. You can still find the old kind, but the newer ones don’t have any bars at all. They are made of a plastic that has holes in it for proper air ventilation, and are often in really neat and bright colors. The plastic is see-through, so the hamster is not hidden most of the time. Not only that, the hamster cages can be as big as you want, as they have additions that can go on and on. If you have more than one, this is a fun thing to do.

Tunels

Most of these hamster cages can be put together with tunnels, or the tunnels can go in and out of the same cage. That makes them a lot of fun, and gives the animal more room to roam and more exercise to boot. What you want to spend on your hamster cages will be up to you of course, and you can buy each piece on its own, and then add more later if you really want to. Just remember to keep them clean, and that when you have more, you have more to keep up with. However, most hamster owners don’t mind the work, and they think their little critters are well worth it.

Source: ArticlesGratuits.com - Free Articles

Loved by pet

How to be Loved by your Pets and Become Popular

My pets love me, at least that is what I conclude from their over all behavior all day. My lucky cat is a cute yet aggressive creature who never quits loving. I call her “kinky” I don’t know why just it was revealed or I was blessed by this name the moment I saw her. It was one dreadful night and my neighbors were having a late night party. I walked alone in my garden, on soft grass, unintentionally hearing the “hee haa” coming from adjacent wall. Indeed, the night was dreadful for me and my loneliness and wonderfully excited for my neighbors. At that particle moment , when I was seriously thinking about all troubles the life has given me and still giving , my always infuriated boss , my forever angry wife , My unhappy kids and what else my monotonous, dull ,weary and boring life ; It all prompted me to seriously think of suicide , scary enough of getting death by your own , I trembled heavily for just thinking about suicide . I closed my eyes and shouted “lord lord! Help me lord”



The answer came instantly “mee—AAA –ooo” I was shocked to hear such reply; I hurriedly opened my eyes to see a “little cat “looking like an angel wrapped in fur, just beneath my shoe. Yeah, I mistakenly put my heavy shoe on her soft tail. But I took it as a sign, a sign from HIM; yeah she came just to help me out of this misery. I took “kinky” in my arms, softness I felt and softened my heart became, and she was cute, small, shy, beautiful, and a cat. I felt her love instantly, I lamented over cruel men not caring for creature not termed as “human beings”.

I felt I would make me an example for all those who treat such cute animals with tyranny and indifference and I felt… “Ouch” I shouted, she bit my finger and cut my thoughts in to pain. However, to forgive is divine… I took kinky inside, in my home and in my heart and in my life.
The next day was a new beginning, the boss was happy since I was so up to the mark miraculously that day. My wife was glad as I looked romantic and loving that day, My kids were excited as I appeared to them a father who would take them to park with no arguments at all and above all my loneliness and solitude was replaced by socially encircled and happiness . What else I could wish for, I may sound dumb, but “kinky’s coming” made me popular in home, outside and everywhere and this popularity is ever increasing. Now I have 10 pets and my family includes humans and animals. From this wonderful experience I made the following guide instantly.

•Every man/woman/gay/lesbian must have at least one pet.
•Be a part of a pet community club, if there isn’t any in your area, start your own.
•Don’t be indifferent with your pets
•Don’t discourage them, they have hearts and feelings.
•Pets are blessings of lord, be blessed.
•Any will do , cat, dog or cats and dogs etc
•Get loved be popular and have a good life by just getting one pet
•Love them to get their love, check food manually, their sleep timings, their home, their fundamental rights of shelter, food, freedom within home etc.

One cat changed my life, there are billions out there waiting for you.

Source: ArticlesGratuits.com - Free Articles

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.

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

Bengal Cats

Bengal cats are a new breed, cross-bred with a wildcat. Their spotted or marbled coat is soft and thick, they have a large, sleek muscular build, rounded slighted long face, oval eyes and thick tail. They have an enviable, exotic appearance without the wild temperament of their much larger untamed ancestors.

Characteristics

Bengal came from the taxonomic name of the Asian Leopard Cats (ALC) and not from the more widely known Bengal Tiger species, which is unrelated to the Bengal Cats ancestry. These cats have a series of horizontal stripes on their faces, known as mascara, which extend along the eye to the back of the neck. Their back and sides are marked with spots like those of a jaguar, and the rest of the body, legs and tail, are marked with symmetrical stripes. The spots sometimes have a marbled appearance and are generally made up of two colors. The following colors and patterns are recognized as Bengal Cats and therefore eligible for competition; Brown Spotted Tabby, Brown Marbled Tabby, Seal Mink Spotted Tabby, Seal Mink Marbled Tabby, Seal Sepia Spotted Tabby, Seal Sepia Marbled Tabby, Seal Spotted Lynx Point, and Seal Marbled Lynx Point. These pets are the only variety that sometimes have a pearl or gold dusting, sometimes called glitter, and the texture of their fur is rich and silky-smooth. Bengal Cats even have a different sound in their voice and tend to be very vocal.

Temperament

Originally some of the Bengal Cats inherited the unpredictable temperament of the wildcat, but breeding programs concentrated on breeding a gentler nature. The domestic feline is very lively and active, but also quite self-contained and quiet.

Brief History

As the story goes, Jean Sugden Mills, around 1982 bred a domestic cat with a feral Indian Mau. At about the same time, Greg and Elizabeth Kent started their own breed of Bengal Cats using an Egyptian Mau. Both Jean Mills the Kents worked hard to popularize the this breed, and in 1986, The International Cat Association adopted the first written breed standard. Today Bengal Cats are the most popular registered cat breed.

Care and grooming of Bengal Cats ought to be kept up as any other housecat; frequent combing of fur, good nutrition, regular play and veterinary visits. For more information on the care and feeding of our favorite furry pets, visit: [http://lovefatcats.com]

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

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

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