Cat Houses - Green Feline Living

When you think of making pains to leave countrified in your at your house, I beg your pardon? Does so as to entail?

We are in a instance as soon as many citizens are burden more to try and befall more environmentally friendly and leave with a reduction of of a carbon footprint. This may possibly mean you reach constant to operation your recycling bins reliably to undertake additional life to the bottles and cans you arrange used. It plus may possibly mean you read the ingredients in your clothes and other items you are making an allowance for import more carefully, to reach constant they are made of renewable income.

While you may possibly arrange vanished through all the items you operation on a regular basis, nearby is likely an area you arrange still overlooked. What in the region of the items owned by your pets? If you arrange a dog or cat, you likely arrange dog or cat houses. While these may possibly not seem like overly threatening items as soon as you look by the side of them, you plus may possibly not arrange thinking I beg your pardon? Individuals dog and cat houses are made of.

First, let's look by the side of the obvious. Are your dog and cat houses painted? If so, make you know I beg your pardon? Kind of paint has been used? Paint doesn't end forever. Eventually it will flaw and fall inedible and befall a part of the soil. If the paint is toxic, so as to is being leave into the soil around your at your house. Another matter to keep in mind is so as to your pets may possibly well chew on their dog and cat houses. That possibly will mean the toxic chemicals in the paints are ready into their bodies as they chew on the edges of their houses. If your pet does adequate chewing, this possibly will come to an end with them getting sick. Instead, try to attain dog and cat houses so as to arrange been painted with friendly paints, or better yet, not painted by the side of all.

Next, on the whole dog and cat houses are made of wood. If they are inevitable to be outside, often time the wood has been treated to resist drop and the elements. Unfortunately, the simply way to make this is to flood the wood with chemicals. These chemicals can be toxic to your pets if they like to chew on the wood. Their chewing will issue particular of these saturated chemicals and they will absorb them into their body. The chemicals from these treated dog and cat houses will plus vampire into the soil around anywhere the houses are regulate.

Thankfully, nearby has been a massive growth in the figure of eco-friendly dog and cat houses in the ancient times little years as more and more citizens are looking in favor of ways to minimize their carbon stamp. These houses are made of supplies so as to are either completely environmentally friendly, or are made of items so as to arrange been kept back from landfills, like recycled plastic and PVC. The advances in recycled creations arrange stretch a long way and these types of dog and cat houses are being made in a figure of styles and flag to suit even the on the whole discerning dog or particular feline.

Concerned About What's in Your Commercial Pet Food? Try These Homemade Cat Food and Treats

Every day lately, it seems there is another pet food recall, warning dog and cat owners not to feed their pets different brands of foods. This is getting scary. Who knows which pet food will be recalled next. Though I am still using the kibble my cats normally eat, I am now supplementing my pets with a few homemade recipes. These are not meant for feeding your pets forever, since I"m not a vet or nutritionist but they are good for filling their furry tummies while we wait out the lowdown on the canned foods, which seem most affected by these pet food recalls. Here are the basic recipes I am using, don't add other ingredients unless you know for sure that they don't hurt your pets. We all know chocolate is off-limits to pets, as are other foods such as onions. Stick with these ingredients, which seem to be pet safe, according to pet experts I've read about.

Homemade Cat Food

2 cups ground chicken, lean beef or turkey, thoroughly cooked and diced;

4 cups rice, cooked in chicken or beef broth;

1/2 cup potatoes, ground;

1/4 cup spinach or carrots, ground;

1/4 cup green beans, ground;

2 tbsp melted butter;

dash of garlic powder

Mix everything together in large pot or bowl. Make sure it is completely cool before feeding to your cat. Store in covered container in refrigerator.

Homemade Cat Treats

1 1/2 cup oats, ground;

1/4 cup butter;

1/2 cup flour;

1/2 cup chicken broth;

1/4 cup cubed or shredded American or mild cheddar cheese -or- shredded chicken

Mix all ingredients together, form small cookies and bake on greased cookie sheet until done at 350 degrees. Roughly 25 minutes but check as ovens vary. Do not overcook.

Our pets deserve food that is safe, so hopefully, this current pet food crisis will alert the authorities to make sure they buy quality products and be more careful of what they put in their pet food recipes. Cats have specific nutritional needs so don't feed them any of these recipes on a long term basis, as I do not know the breakdown of nutritional value for them. But, by using fresh, healthful ingredients, cooking the meat thoroughly and storing the food you make in the refrigerator, it can help to tie your kitty over until it is safe to go buy food at the store again. Enjoy.

Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.zazzle.com/twopurringcats. Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. She has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico, among other interesting professional assignments in other countries. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

Recipes - Baking Cat Treats

Cats love treats just as much as humans do, and this is a good enough reason to find recipes baking cat treats for your feline friend. Cat treats are fun and simple to make, and they are also cheaper than purchasing them from the store.

Even if you don't possess a cat yourself, you can simply make them for a friend or relative who possesses a cat. I am almost certain that the owner and especially the cat will appreciate this unique and very special gift.

If you possess a cat and love to give Christmas or birthday gifts for his other feline friends, then you can even personalize your cat treat gifts. All you need to do is place some food coloring on a sponge and place your cats paw on the sponge and then onto a card. The food coloring will not harm your cat in any way, and it will wear off very quickly.

You could even add recipe cards to the treats, and stamp the cats paw print on the corner of each card in exactly the same way.

Listed below are some very tasty recipes for cat treats that are extremely nutritious that your cat will thoroughly enjoy. Even though the recipes are extremely simple to make, there is one word of warning: Once your cat has tasted these recipes baking cat treats he or she will not want to go back to eating store-bought cat treats.

o Fish Biscuits

For approximately two dozen fish balls you will need:

7 oz sardines in oil

¼ cup powdered milk

½ cup wheat germ

Method:

Begin by mashing the sardines and the oil together in a bowl. Then mix in the powdered milk and wheat germ. You then need to roll the fish dough into small balls, and place them onto a cookie sheet which has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Using a fork, flatten the fish balls and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees until they are brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool before placing them into an airtight container.

o Fluffy's Favorite Fish Balls

Ingredients:

8 oz can of tuna in oil, drained

2 oz cooked skinless boneless fish

3 miniature carrots, cooked and mashed

1 large beaten egg

2 tbsp shredded cheese

2 tbsp rolled oats

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 tsp active dry yeast

1 tsp dried catnip

Method:

Mix all of the ingredients together and roll the mixture into small balls. Place the balls approximately one inch apart on a greased cookie sheet and place in a preheated oven of 350 degrees. Bake the fish balls for approximately 15 minutes or until they are firm and lightly brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool before placing them in an airtight container.

Your cat will really love you when you take the time to prepare some recipes baking cat treats.

Click Here [http://www.catfoodsecretsbook.com] to find out if you are unwillingly poisoning your cat to death!

Cats Constipation Problems and Solutions

This article is about cats constipation problems and solutions.

Constipation in cats is more common then many people realize.

Before we get into what to do about constipation in cats we need to look at the causes. Then we'll discuss some of the signs to look for and then cover some solutions and also what not to do.

OK, the causes. Here's a list of several possible causes.

o A diet that is unbalanced (This often the cause)

o Dirty litter box. (Always make sure to clean the litter box out regularly

o Dehydration. (Always have fresh water available and monitor how much they are drinking.

o A Foreign object of some type that is caught in the intestines.

o A noticeable change in their daily routine.

o Change in eating habits, as in not eating at all or eating very little.

o Tumors

o Change in grooming habits such as excessive grooming.

Some of the signs you can watch for are:

o The coat (fur) may look different. Out of condition, unkempt.

o Cat may seem very lethargic.

o Straining or crying while trying to defecate in the litter box.

o No stools for more than one day.

o Small amounts of stools that are very hard.

o Stools may have blood on them that could be caused by a broken capillary.

Some solutions for treating constipation in cats are:

If the cat is still passing some stools but they are very hard and if the cat is eating and drinking normally and seems to be healthy otherwise, you can try adding a small amount of fiber to their food. (some recommend adding canned pumpkin or bran to their food)

You may want to check the food your feeding them. Not all cat food is created equal, and many cat foods fall far short of what your cat needs.

If you don't know for sure what the problem is, then a trip to the vet is recommended.

Diet is one of the main causes of constipation in cats (just like humans) but isn't always the case. If the problem is more involved, it needs to be diagnosed and treated right away.

Cats constipation problems can be very serious. Our veterinarian has a glass enclosed case with objects they have removed from cats and dogs. I was amazed at some of them. Many could definitely cause the intestines to be blocked.

We know you love your cat and want the best for them and after all, they are counting on you to take good care of them.

Visit http://catbehaviortips.com now for great tips, secrets and resources on cat behavior, training and cat health.

You and your cat(s) will be glad you did.

Cat Food - A Healthy Treat

There are altered reasons why populace like having pets. For around lonely populace, their pets attend as their companion and lonely. For parents who award their children pets, it is their way of lessons their kids the consequence of liability; through this, they will be able to study how to take control of something all by themselves and a little assistance right now and followed by from the parents. Pets besides attend as playmates in support of babyish children.

After all of these things being supposed, it is central to your pet stays healthy and enthusiastic; this can basically be prepared by getting the proper amount of food and the exact kinds as well. Proper diet is forever the means; therefore, it is needed to you give rise to the proper data on what did you say? A cat needs in support of its each day diet to stay healthy and strong. Discover how to move healthy food in support of your pet, so to it will stay glad and enthusiastic all during its natural life.

There are basically two types of cat food: The home-produced and the ad. The question is which of these two are healthy treats. Well, home-produced feline foods are usually made of either cooked or sensitive meat, ground bone is besides used or pureed vegetable. Commercial feline foods, on the other offer, consists of both being and place in the ground resources. These resources are supplemented with the appropriate types of vitamins, reserves and other needed nutrients required to ensure your pet gets its balanced and proper diet. Aside from to, pet owners besides operation multivitamin supplements to are especially engineered in support of cats to ensure to they stay healthy. Frozen sensitive diets or meals are besides made presented in supermarkets; these attempts of having balanced diets complete the needed dietary food to help your cats stay healthy.

Nowadays, populace fancy ad more accurately than home-produced. There are several factors upsetting this commonality amongst owners; and the mainly all the rage incentive is to is more expedient, especially in support of working pet owners. Another incentive is to it has already happen to cost-effective. Food is besides categorized into two: The dry and wet. Dry food is usually preferred for the reason that of its convenience and outlay. Left-over of dry foods can be reused but in support of the wet, at what time absent when a a small amount of hours, it becomes in detail bland.

Having a pet has almost-equal responsibilities to having a offspring. You give rise to to take control of it and ensure to your cat gets a proper diet and the exact food. Just like being beings, pets ought to be taken control of and ought to be specified the exact kind of food and cat treats to construct assured they stay strong and glad. Healthy cat food is not to tough to get back, its recently a stuff of determination to you keep your cat beautiful and fit.

Healthy Cat Diet For Your Pet's Longevity

Giving a cat a healthy diet is tantamount to its longevity and its health. Healthy cat food saves one from the veterinarian bills that can be such a turn off when your pet keeps falling ill due to lack of a proper meal. Exclusively providing your cat with milk and eggs because it is what they like will certainly not secure a healthy pet. The healthy diet for a cat should depend on the overall health, its age, as well as its daily activities. When deciding the food to give your cat, a healthy cat diet is one with high proteins. Roughly, the proteins should take up 26 % of the meal. Kittens require even higher consumption of proteins. Vitamins and minerals are also an important part of the cat's diet. Premium foods and Healthy foods should be the best options for your pet, as they do not contain artificial chemicals and preservatives.

It is a good idea to provide your cat with a treat. A healthy cat diet requirement that is frequently over looked by cat owners is that cats do need a break too, but should not involve junk food. Healthy cat treats should however be given in moderation ad should make up 10 % of the overall meal. A healthy cat diet tip to consider is that it is important to adhere to your cat's preferences. It is also great if there is a regular eating schedule for your pet. This will ensure that the cat does not skip meals and you can easily monitor its preferences and health then.

Catherine Terkers can't wait to get home after a long day at work and just soak in a warm tub. Catherine has written a site containing reviews on Bed Head shampoo, as well as Garnier Fructis shampoo.

Homemade Cat Food Recipes - Safe Treats That Will Have You and Your Kitty Purring

The first thing we must get into when discussing homemade cat food recipes is that there are certain food items that we should never include in these tasty treats. A cat's digestive system is set up very differently from ours and they just don't cope well with many of the foods that we eat.

Humans are omnivorous, whereas cats are considered pure carnivores, which means, they do very well on a very high protein, high meat diet. They only time they actually ever need to eat any plant material is when they need to regurgitate the beaks, feathers, and other indigestible material after they eat a bird, kind of gross, but true. When a cat needs to do this they will eat grass and throw up; it's very healthy for a cat's digestive tract, but we're digressing.

Foods to avoid when preparing these make your own treats would be onion, eggs, high toxicity deep water fish, dairy products, and lastly pork. It's fairly well agreed upon by most experts that cats will have difficulty digesting these foods, so keep them out of any recipe you whip up.

Homemade cat food is wonderful because we have control over the ingredients unlike with store bought cat treats, which have a lot of poor and even toxic ingredients. Therefore not only will your cat love the cat treats that you make but they will also be a super healthy snack. Who could ask for more? It's a win-win situation.

Cats thrive on red meat, so the first ingredient in any make-your-own cat food treat is going to be red meat, usually beef, however lamb is also good, chicken is fine, and let's not forget organ meats. Remember cats scarf down their prey whole, it's natural for them to eat organ meats in the wild, so it's also natural for them to eat them in your home as well, even if they make you a little queasy.

The basics of making these treats is to gather up your ingredients, your meat, a little healthy oil (perhaps sunflower seed or almond oil, even olive oil), a very tiny amount of vegetable material (carrots and celery work well), and lastly a little spice, probably garlic powder and some nutritional yeast flakes for the B vitamin content.

Now, simply make your own little patties with your hands, obviously make them into smaller patties than you would for any human guests, nice and bite sized is perfect.

Lastly, and this is up to you, you can pop the treats into the oven and cook them (350 degrees for 45 minutes) or simply serve them to your cat au natural. Many cat owners believe that homemade cat food recipes should be served raw to keep the enzymes, vitamins, and minerals intact, your cat will no trouble digesting raw meat. Either way you're doing your cat a great service.

Kevin Highfill writes about homemade cat food recipes and other pet related topics at http://www.online4pets.com/.

Healthy Treats Make Happy Pets

We love our pets and want to do what's best for them, right?  Why then do so many of us carelessly feed our pets leftover scraps from the table when such offerings are often harmful to their health?  Many times, pet owners don't think about the extra calories in treats, or worse... harmful ingredients that can physically take years off their lives!  

We think that just because our pet likes them, they can't possibly do them any harm.  This dangerous belief is the farthest thing from the truth.  We often are influenced through advertising on treats that look appealing to us, but we need to be more discriminating than that when it comes to our pets.

Did you know that commercial dog and cat treats are not even required to meet nutritional standards of pet food?  It's true.  And as such, we need to get in the habit of reading the label on any commercial pet treat prior to buying any treats for our companions.  Aside from the high prices of most commercial treats, the contents of these pet snacks-whether from multinational companies or local manufacturers-contain alarming amounts of fat and additives as well as the hidden dangers of contamination. Take, for example, pigs ears which are a popular dog snack and are readily available. More than any other dog snacks, they have been found to be contaminated with the salmonella virus.  Also, many natural treats, often imported from third world countries, have tested positive to e.coli, and purchasing them without knowing where they're from is a modern form of doggie-roulette.  Even treats like rawhides, dried beef and jerky can be home to bacteria, fungus, molds and toxins if not properly prepared or dried long enough.  Sunlight exposure can often cause them to sweat and turn rancid.  Interestingly, rawhide snacks also have little to no nutritional value:  many are high in fat and often have large amounts of sugar, salt and harmful preservatives or flavorings.  Further adding to the problem, corn, wheat and soy flours, popular fillers in many pet treats, can contribute to food allergies. 

So, what can you do to protect your pet's health? First, don't panic!  Pet treats, like everything else your pet consumes, is usually commercially-produced and as such, will usually have nutritional labelling.  From these labels, you can ascertain whether the the treat has excessive amounts of sugars, salts, fat or preservatives, and you can make appropriate choices through performing side-by-side comparisons with other, name-brand pet products.  If a pet snack does not provide a nutritional label, put it back!  You don't want to risk your pet's health on unlabeled food.   For the most part, it is often argued that pet treats are junk food.  How much they are "junk" as compared to "food" is in analysis of the label.  Of course, it's important to realize that not all pets treats [http://www.petstreatsblog.com] are unhealthy; many are very nutritious and can aid in the health of your pet when given as a reward, and in moderation.  For those who are uncomfortable with even the healthiest commercial pet treats, there is a modern movement towards home-made pet treats, and there are many good articles and books on this subject.

Curt Zilbersher writes for the Pets Treats Blog at [http://www.petstreatsblog.com]

Homemade Cat Treats

Homemade cat treats are the best way to make sure that your cat is getting the healthiest treats available. Cat treats are available at pet stores, grocery stores, and various other places. However, do you know what these treats consist of? Are they really all that healthy for your cat? If you really want to make sure that your cat is getting the best possible treats, why not try making them yourself.

You may make them ahead of time or as you need them. Here are a couple that your cat will love:

Cheese Treat

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and combine ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese, 5 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese, and ¼ cup yogurt or sour cream. Add ¾ cup flour and ¼ cup cornmeal. Knead the dough and roll it out to about ¼ inch thickness. Cut one inch size pieces and place them on a greased pan. Bake for approximately 25 minutes. This recipe will give you about 2 dozen treats for your cat.

Chicken Treat

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and combine 1 ½ cups of shredded, cooked chicken, ½ cup chicken broth, and 1 tablespoon soft margarine. Mix these ingredients well then add 1 cup wheat flour and 1/3 cup cornmeal. Knead the dough; roll out to ¼ inch thick and cut one inch size pieces. Place on an ungreased pan and bake for about 20 minutes. This will make 18 cookies for your cat.

There are dozens of cat recipes available for making homemade cat treats. These treats are a lot healthier than the ones sold in stores. They are made with natural ingredients, so you do not have to worry about preservatives or products that may have a high fat content.

Cats like treats as much as we do, so instead of going to the pet store or supermarket and grabbing the first thing that catches your eye, try an all natural way of making sure your cat has the healthiest foods that he can have.

Just as you try to eat healthy, your cat should also be eating a more natural diet and forgoing the foods that actually do more harm than good. Cats are prone to many of the same diseases as humans. Preventing health problems by watching your cat's diet is one way to keep him on the road to a long happy life. Homemade cat treats are just one more way of doing this.

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Cat Care - 9 Treats To Avoid Feeding Your Cat

Our feline associates are carnivores and as such their digestive systems are designed instead of in height protein diets and not suited to treats fit instead of being consumption.

Digestion is a process designed to break down food to stores your cat with the indispensable nutrients and ensuing energy to live a healthy, energy-filled life. To the same degree a cat's digestive organism is urbanized instead of a in height protein diet it has powerful gastric juices to assist in flouting down bones and meat. Their digestive systems accomplish not enclose the indispensable enzymes instead of a diet rich in stand be significant or carbohydrates.

To the same degree a liable cat possessor, it is key to understand I beg your pardon? Makes instead of proficient cat food and I beg your pardon? Cat treats ought to be avoided. The following 'foods' and 'treats' are not recommended instead of cats:

Dog Food - Dog food does not contain sufficient proteins and taurine, which is an essential amino acid to cats supply in insufficient amounts. Dog food is not nutritionally balanced instead of cats. Similarly, dogs ought to not be fed cat food. Canned Human Tuna - Canned tuna is not damaging provided it is an intermittent discuss and does not constitute your cat's highest diet. Tuna is in height in mercury and can findings in mercury poisoning. Canned tuna besides has a in height sodium (salt) content and it not nutritionally balanced. Garlic and Onion - Whilst a single feeding of food containing onions and garlic is not likely to produce your cat bad, longterm, the sulfoxides and disulfides restricted in these bulbs compensation red blood cells which contain hemoglobin to is the oxygen hauling constituent of red blood cells. Reduced oxygen supply to the cat's organs can cause grave strength problems and in grave belongings - death Tomatoes - Unripe or verdant tomatoes contain solanine, a toxin damaging to cats. Ingestion of tomatoes can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Grapes and raisins - Whilst the experts enclose not established I beg your pardon? Constituent restricted in grapes and raisins causes renal (kidney) harm, cat's to enclose ingested them enclose supposedly suffered renal failure. Chocolate - This sweet discuss is a no-no instead of cats and dogs. Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound to cats cannot metabolize. Apart from nausea and vomiting, chocolate stimulates the central anxious organism, increases the affection rate and can cause seizures and death. The more uncorrupted the chocolate the more hazardous it is. Dairy Products - Whilst present is much contemplate on the matter of cow's milk instead of cats, the reality is to cats accomplish not enclose the moral enzymes to breakdown dairy products made from cow's milk (ice cream, cheese). They can suffer from gastrointestinal problems as a findings of a lactose intolerance. The question of growth hormone in cow's milk is besides a be significant of separate contemplate. Caffeine - tea and coffee contains caffeine and caffeine is a central anxious organism pick-me-up and not recommended instead of cats. Alcohol - save the Budweiser and Johnnie Walker instead of being consumption.

Finally, it's advisable to feed your cat a veterinary official industrial cat food. If you are skilled in the handle of brute food, organic cat foods or even household foods are precise alternatives, provided they are nutritionally balanced. Give your cat intermittent treats - but cat treats designed instead of cats.

Natural Cat Treats - Safe and Delicious

Have you ever thought about giving your feline friend natural cat treats for a healthier option?

Has your feline friend trained you to give him a treat whenever he flicks his tail or gives you a demanding meow?

If this is the case with you and your cat, then beware, as unfortunately many kitty treats that are currently available in pet supply stores contain vast amounts of sugar and fat. These can of course, lead to an overweight cat.

Opting to give your cat nutritionally complete and balanced treats will add a variety to your cat's diet without resulting in weight gain.

Snack time does not mean sugar time, so it is a good idea to read all labels that are placed on any of the cat treats that you consider purchasing. It is always better to avoid a product that has sugar listed high on the list on ingredients. It is better to opt for low fat, high-fiber varieties.

Your cat can be given certain table scraps provided that they are given in moderation. However, be aware, as there are some human foods that are simply not suitable for cats. You may find that certain table scraps are healthier for your cat than some store-bought treats.

In order to avoid stomach upset, it is important to limit the selection to foods such as small bits of string cheese, rice, well-cooked hamburger and skinned chicken. Avoid giving your cat spicy foods and fatty meats, and certainly do not give your cat bones. Under no circumstances should you ever give your cat chocolate and onions, as these are extremely toxic to cats.

For those cats that are overweight, it is better to offer them fresh fruits and vegetables. You can attempt to give your cat sticks of carrot, apples and cooked green beans. You may find that they like it, or they may prefer something different. There are those felines that enjoy fresh melon, corn, and cooked broccoli. Try these foods out on your cat and see if they fall into the same category.

Some cats are also known to occasionally enjoy munching on grass. However, ensure that you avoid using fertilizers and chemicals on your grass, if this is the case with your feline friend.

Therefore, in conclusion, allow your cat to enjoy healthy natural cat treats that have been made by your own hands rather than the high sugared and high fat cat treats that can be purchased in pet supply stores.

Click Here [http://www.catfoodsecretsbook.com] to find out if you are unwillingly poisoning your cat to death!

Treating Kidney Disease in Cats

As a cat ages, it is more susceptible to kidney disease. Chronic renal failure (CRF) is more common in cats over 15 years old. Since the disease is life threatening, early detection can stabilize the condition and provide for a good quality of life.

If the animal is experiencing weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, loss of appetite, vomiting, difficulty in urinating or a dull coat, the disease could be a cause of the problem. Other diseases such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes causing similar symptoms can mask this condition. A veterinarian can determine if it is present. If left untreated, the kidneys will completely shut down leading to death.

Once CRF is diagnosed, there is no cure but life can be extended with proper treatment. It is diagnosed by a blood panel measuring levels of critical components. A low phosphorus diet can help prevent or retard it. The diet should also consist of low protein content, low sodium content and high potassium content. The diet should not restrict essential nutrients to maintain the animal's health.

The low phosphorus content decreases kidney calcification called nephrocalcinosis. It is the deposit of calcium salts in the kidneys. When functioning nephrons drop below 25%, kidney failure occurs. Toxins build up in the blood and the kidneys are not able to filter the blood to eliminate the toxins. The kidneys besides eliminating waste in the blood, regulate the body's acidity, electrolyte levels, water balance, hormone production and vitamin D.

CRF can be treated by adding additional fluids to food or under the skin (SQ fluids), diet, medications (Epogen shots or oral medication) and appetite stimulants. Appetite stimulants are important because a poor appetite is a result of the disease. Adding tuna juice or liquid from canned food can help the feeding process. In some cases, force feeding with a syringe may be the only alternative. For these options to work, dehydration must not be present. This is also beneficial to an older healthy cat because it could prevent the disease. Hemodialysis and kidney transplants are rare and expensive.

The condition can cause an emotional experience for an owner. The pet will have it's good days and bad days. An owner must try to relax and not stress out. The pet will sense the owner's stress and this can have an effect on it's health. Like any serious condition, the life expectancy is unknown. Caring for and enjoying the cat is the best way to cope with the problem.

There are many foods on the market that are tailored to be used for CRF. Royal Canin and Wellness Core are two brands that offer a low phosphor food. Consult a veterinarian to determine what is best treatment.

Frank Loethen-live in Georgia with wife and three cats, Midnite, Sunny and Sinclair. If you enjoyed this article, please visit my website, http://www.purrfectcatproducts.com, your one stop site for all your cat and kitten needs. Cat treats, litter accessories, cat beds and cat gifts are among the many items on the site. You can also see my three cats on the site. Purrfect Cat Products does not endorse or recommend any low phosphur food mentioned in the article.

Pet Treats: Buyer Beware of These Sweet Snacks of Love

What is it about pet treats that can make even the most unruly pet obey us in exchange for a tiny piece of something that tastes so good they can barely contain themselves? It's an ingredient that is found in some of the most popular cat and dog treats. It's addictive, causes weight gain and could ultimately shorten the lifespan of your pet and it's commonly known as sugar.

Kibble Crack

Just like humans, dogs and cats can develop a sweet tooth and crave sugary snacks, which are essentially junk food for pets. The sugar in some pet treats can create almost addictive-like cravings that have earned them the name, 'kibble crack'. Read the ingredients label on your pet's favorite treats. If any of the following are listed as one of the first five ingredients on the label, your pet's treats are doing them more far more harm than good:


Corn syrup
Sugar
Fructose
Sucrose
Dextrose
Maltodextrin

Sugar-laden treats are one of the primary culprits behind the pet obesity epidemic and over time can lead to excessive weight gain. An overweight pet can suffer from arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure, any of which can shorten their life and impact your wallet due to more frequent visits to the vet.

Calories Count Too

Besides high sugar content, another concern with pet treats is the calorie count per serving. Often not disclosed on the packaging, most of us are unaware of how many calories we're adding to our pets diet by giving them treats. According to Marion Nestle, author of Feed your Pet Right, if the treat package does not list calories, you should assume 3-4 calories per gram, (i.e. a treat that is 3 grams/serving would be 9-12 calories per serving). Treats should account for no more than 10% of your pet's daily calorie requirements to maintain their ideal weight. Some rawhide chews and larger Greenies Dental Chews can contain 100 calories or more, which may far exceed the recommended 10% rule, depending on your dog's size and calorie requirements.

A New Marketing Gimmick

Treats are big business for the pet industry and the newest marketing gimmick is treats that promote healthy benefits, such as healthier hips and joints. There is no government oversight or scientific basis for these claims. When Consumer Lab tested joint health supplements for dogs and cats they found that a popular treat, Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, contained only 6% of its claimed glucosamine and only 15.9% of its claimed chondroitin; amounts too insignificant to provide any claimed benefit.

Healthy Options

With 88% of dog owners and 68% of cat owners giving their pets treats according to the American Pet Products Association, we're not suggesting pet parents cut out this much-loved ritual. We do suggest the following eight tips to ensure your act of love promotes a healthy pet:


Read the Ingredients Label: Pet treats with sugar, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose or dextrose in the first five ingredients should be avoided. A very common filler in pet foods, maltodextrin, is another name to look for on the label. It has a high glucose level, so it should be avoided if it is a primary ingredient.
Opt for Natural Sweeteners: Choose treats with applesauce, molasses or honey as a sweetening ingredient if you wish to indulge your pet in a sweet treat.
Try Vegetable Dog Chews: Opt for all-natural vegetable-based dog chews made from sweet potatoes over animal-based rawhide chews. Some rawhide is high in calories and may be treated with chemicals and bleach.
Consider Home-cooked or Naturally Moistened Cat Treats: Try giving your cat a small piece of cut up chicken or fish as a treat. If you prefer to buy packaged treats look for those moistened with vegetable glycerin rather than a chemical humectant such as propylene glycol.
Try Fresh Fruit and Veggie Dog Treats: Opt for low-calorie vegetables or fruit as a treat for your dog instead of packaged treats. Baby carrots, cut-up apples and green beans are good choices.
Don't Rely on Treats with Health Claims: Discuss supplement options with your veterinarian for your pet's ailments rather than relying on treats that claim to provide adequate nutrients to maintain a healthy heart or joints.
Use VOHC-Approved Dental Chews: Establish a routine of practicing good dental hygiene on your pet and use treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, (VOHC), to clean your pet's teeth.
Learn How to Read and Understand Pet Food Labels: Marion Nestle's book, Feed Your Pet Right , published in 2010, is a great resource for pet owners who want to better understand pet food ingredients and nutrition while also learning how to distinguish healthy pet foods with nutritious ingredients from unhealthy pet foods.

There are many good options available for pet treats and we've listed some of our favorites below. They are low in sugar or calories, all natural and generally easy to find in grocery and big box stores if you don't have a neighborhood pet boutique or pet supply store nearby.

Recommended Dog Treats:


Carnivore Crunch or Carnivore Kisses by Stella & Chewy's
Charlie Bear Dog Treats by Charlie Bear Dog Products
Jerky Naturals and other treats for dogs by Zukes
Liv-a-Littles Protein Treats for dogs by Halopets
Newman's Own Premium Dog Treats by Newman's Own Organics
Original Buddy Biscuits or Muttos by Cloud Star
Sam's Yams Veggie Rawhide Sweet Potato Dog Chews by Front Porch Pets

Recommended Cat Treats:


Natural Purrz by Zukes
Liv-a-Littles Protein Treats for cats by Halopets
Wellness Pure Delights for cats by WellPet LLC

The Pet Obesity Prevention Association's Top Treats to Avoid Sugary Dog Treats:


Beneful Snackin' Slice: Sugar fourth ingredient
Canine CarryOuts Chew-lotta: Dextrose first ingredient
Canine Carryouts Dog Treats: Corn syrup second ingredient
Cesar Softies Dog Treats: Sugar third ingredient
Exclusively Dog Vanilla Flavor Sandwich Creme Dog Cookies: Sugars first two ingredients
Milk-Bone Chewy Chicken Drumsticks: Sugar third ingredient
Milk Bone Essentials Plus Oral Care: Sugar third ingredient
Pedigree Jumbone: Sugar third ingredient
Pedigree Jumbone Mini Snack Food for Small Dogs: Sugars 2 of 3 first ingredients
Pedigree Marrobone: Sugar third ingredient
Pup-Peroni Lean Beef Recipe: Sugar third ingredient
Purina Busy Chewnola: Maltodextrin second ingredient
Science Diet Simple Essentials Treats Training Adult Treats with Real Beef: Sugar third ingredient
Snausages SnawSomes! Beef and Chicken Flavor: Sugars 3 of first 4 ingredients
Three Dog Bakery Lick 'n Crunch: Dextrose third ingredient

Sugary Cat Treats:


Petrodex Dental Treats for Cats: Dextrose second ingredient
Meow Mix Moist Cat Treats: Corn syrup fourth ingredient
Pit'r Pat Fresh Breath Mint Flavored Cat Treats: Maltodextrin first ingredient

Debbie Lingos is Leader of the Pack and Founder of Breed Trust, an online community for pet lovers and the businesses that serve them. Her Best of Breed Blog and Newsletter, offers pet owners helpful information and advice about the best pet products, services and pet care tips for dogs and cats.

How Cats Use Their Tails to Communicate

Your cat's tail can tell you a lot about what sort of mood your cat is in. I love studying my cats and watching them for a long period of time. I find I am learning more about them through their body language which helps me understand them better. I love watching people too as their body language is equally as interesting and tells me much about our society.

Your cat's tail can move in so many different ways. There is the gentle twitch Cassie uses when she is eating. Then there is the slow 'tail wave' when she is lying on my lap being petted. She will often speed up the wave or make it stronger if I'm doing some cross stitch or reading and not paying enough attention to her. She will also lay her tail on top of the book to make me stop reading so I can pay more attention to her. This is a deliberate action on her part.

Cat body language is fascinating. So is the body language of any animal, including humans, which is why I love studying them. And the tail is a special part of cat body language and a wonderful tool that they use to communicate with us.

If you notice your cat's tail all fluffed out, she is most likely frightened or angry and trying to make herself look bigger. Usually the fur will be standing on end for the same reason. If the tail is standing up straight, your cat is happy and content, while a low hanging tail between the legs means she is unhappy about something or being submissive to an alpha cat. One that is waving from side to side at an angle means she could be derisive and not interested in you at all at the moment. It is the cat equivalent to being 'given the finger' from a surly and unco-operative teenager.

A hooked tail means your cat wants to be friends but is not really sure about you, and one that is straight and pointing out at a 45 degree angle is showing another cat that she doesn't feel threatened but doesn't really know the newcomer. She is prepared to be friends when the tail is at this angle.

If your cat is sitting and the tail is thrashing from side to side, she is telling you that she is either excited, angry or irritable. You will need to be careful and watch for other body language cues such as hissing or flattened ears. If the tail is merely twitching when she is sitting, it means she is alert and interested in what is going on around her. This could be a good time to start playing with her or to teach her a new trick.

A tail that is angled down means your cat could become aggressive and if you notice that the tail comes out straight for a bit before angling down, be careful as that means she feels cornered or defensive and could quickly become aggressive and attack.

I love to see my cat's tail standing straight out to the back as this means my cat is in a good mood. She is not feeling aggressive or worried about anything, life is treating her well. Even better is seeing her tail straight up and quivering slightly as this means she is happy to see me.

Study your cat as often as you can. You can learn a lot of things about their mood just by watching their body language, especially the language of the tail. And I suggest you teach these tail movement meanings to your children as early as possible. It could help prevent scratches and bites if they understand when to back away from an angry cat. You will be amazed at how much cats use their tails to communicate.

Kathy Robinson has been writing articles on cat problems and the care of cats on her website http://www.CatProblemsResolved.com for a number of years. Why not download your free copy of The Joy of Owning and Caring for a Cat when you sign up for her free Cat Care Newsletter at http://www.catproblemsresolved.com/660

Symptoms And Possible Treatments For Cat Health Worm Problems

With Cat health worm problems result from internal and external worms that cause many different health problems. Thinking internal worms, there is the heartworm, tapeworm, hookworm and roundworms. Usually you see no signs of worms unless you really know what to look for. Because these worms, except for heartworm, can infect people as well. Some common signs might include lack of the ability to gain weight, dull coats and in some cases diarrhea.

Cat Health Worm and the Heartworm

Heartworms do affect cats, but not as much as they do dogs. The sign of heartworm in cats is anorexia. A cat will become so underweight and experience bouts of vomiting causing concern in for owners. These worms are deadly and need prevention rather than treatment to protect the kitten and full-grown cat.

Roundworm and the Cat Health Worm Issue

Roundworms grow to be about four inches long and live in the intestine of the cat. Roundworms appear in the stool and vomit of a cat as they populate inside the cat. The cat may also show signs of bloating and in some cases, will block the intestines to prevent bowel movements. If you catch this problem early enough, you can prevent some further complications that may put your cat at risk of death.

Hookworms and the Cat Health Worm Problem

Hookworms live inside the cat and suck the blood from the cat usually causing the cat to become anemic. These worms live in the intestines and are generally found in younger cats rather than in older cats. Older cats seem to develop an immunity to fight the hookworm that kittens do not have at such a young age.

Cat Health Worm Problems and the Tapeworm

Tapeworms feed from the cat and cause the cats to become weak and listless if not treated. In young kittens, these worms hinder the growth and can cause death if not treated early. You see these worms by the rectum and they appear to be little pieces of rice.

Treatment of Intestinal Worms

If you bring a kitten home without treating it for worms, chances are, if you have other cats, they will become infected. The thought that all kittens have worms, is not true. Kittens born outside probably do, but kittens born inside to a properly cared for mother may not. If you have a kitten with worms, an over the counter de-wormer works great. You may need to treat more than once, but generally speaking, one dose for an inside cat usually cures the problem.

Heartworm prevention is the only way to protect the cat. If an animal contracts the heartworm, killing the worm may and not of the time does kill the pet. These worms affect cats and dogs, but for cats, it appears to cause health problems earlier than with a dog. Prevention always saves lives and keeps the cat happy and healthy. Cat health worm and potential problems need immediate attention to prevent further health complications.

You can also find more info on Neutered Cat Post Operative and Pregnant Cat Health. Aboutcathealth.org is a comprehensive resource to find more information about cat health.

How to Make a Cat Tree - The Do-It-Yourself Tips

How to make a cat tree is one way to show your love to your feline friends since these animals also need shelter. There are many ways on how you can build it. Well, making it using your own tools and hands can give you satisfaction as well as it will definitely make your cat happy.

Now, here are the steps on how to make a cat tree. Read on my friend.

Step 1 - Know your budget

It is important for you to know how much it would cost you to spend materials on how to build it. It is best to search online regarding the cost of the things you want to install in your cat tree.

Step 2 - List down the materials to use

To build cat trees, you need to list down all the materials you need to use. Tools are also essential. Here are some of the lists of materials and tools you have to use.

- Plywood

- Cardboard

- PVC pipes (for posts)

- Glue

- Carpet (for cats to scratch on)

- Accessories

- Saw

- Nails

- Screws

- Hammer

These are the basic materials you need to use to make a cat tree. You can also order pre cut plywood and cardboards for easy installation. Also, you can recycle materials that are not being used in your garage. Well, it will cost you less since materials can be available within your garage.

Step 3 - Plan your design

Planning your design will depend on your cat's abilities, age, and gender and how many cats you have. Carefully consider these things because you are to make your own. This will only mean that it will depend on your taste and you should also be creative in a way that even other cat lovers will definitely love it.

Step 4 - Start Installing

After all the materials have been set up, it is time to begin working the cat tree for your feline friend. Remember to measure and install the proper materials in your cat tree. This is to make your end product more presentable and convenient for your cat as well.

It is also imperative for you to thoroughly check for sharp edges. This is to prevent your cat from having accidents.

Start from the bottom of it and continue until you create the basic structure. After creating the "skeleton", you can now cover the cat tower and put in some accessories.

Remember to install the carpet tightly so since your cat will likely be "harsh" on it. Combine glue, nails and even screws to make the carpet more secured to the wood surface. Also make sure that your cat tree is properly level so as not to make it wiggle as the cat stands orjumps on the post.

These are the easy steps on how to make it. If you are still a beginner, you can search online or you can ask the help of your friend or any of your family. Making the cat tree will surely be more enjoyable.

Discover many useful articles and valuable information about build cat tree at my blog today, www.makeacattreehouse.com

Cat Health Insurance - Taking a Nip Out of the Cost of Keeping a Cat

When you adopt or purchase a pet cat, the last thing you think about is the impending financial burden this little darling adds to your family expenses. You may not have heard of cat health insurance, but it does exist and it helps you keep your kitty in the best of health without placing you in deep debt with vet bills. Whether its for emergency care, unexpected illnesses or routine care, you need to put a plan in place for cat health care.

By the time you finish this article, you will be able to put some real dollar numbers to the cost of keeping a cat. Being a responsible caretaker of a cat - or any creature - carries with it certain commitments to physical care. If your current circumstances don't allow for pet care it is better that you don't take in a cat.

The cost of keeping a cat doesn't end at the cat food bowl. But it usually starts there. Here's a list of the costs associated with typical care. These costs do not include care for emergency situations and illnesses. That's where cat health insurance really can pay off.

Typical Cost of Keeping A Cat For One Year

1. Food: This number is based on commercial dry and wet cat food products. $400

If you use raw meat instead of dry or wet commercial products, your cat will benefit, but you will have more work to do to prepare and store her meals;

2. Kitty litter $60;

3. Bedding, scratch post, travel carrier $220;

4. Spay or Neutering $50 (when adopted at a local shelter) or $125 outside of a shelter service veterinarian;

5. Basic Core Vaccinations $75 - $125;

6. An annual veterinary examination with re-vaccination $75 - $125.

In short, you can expect a first year cost of keeping a cat to be about just shy of $1,000 for the first year. Thereafter $475 - $525 per year and this doesn't included any goodies like toys, treats, and flea care.

You can see the cost of keeping a cat isn't small change. So what happens if Ms Kitty swallows a yard of string or rubber bands or Christmas tree tinsel? Now her intestines are all bound up and you have an emergency veterinary bill to face.

Now you have a big choice to make. You can take on the big expense of this surgery to save her life or end her suffering and humanely euthanize her.

When you have cat health insurance you don't have to think twice about treating your cat's illnesses or accidental injuries. You can choose to treat your cat without taking on huge debt to pay the vet. Standard cat health care plans reimburse from 70% to even 100% of vet bills after you pay the deductible, typically $100.

When emergencies and unexpected illnesses hit your pet cat, you can bank on cat health insurance to help you pay the vet bills. A typical kitten insurance plan is around $12 / month. Even senior cats can enroll in cat health insurance programs for about $26 / month.

The choice is yours. Our life choices are often made in times when love and charity tugs at our hearts. When it comes to our pets this is a choice for a lifetime.

Your next move? Take a few minutes to compare the best cat health insurance deals available for your cat. Its one of the cheapest cat care choices you can make.

Kate Rieger has been owned by 15+ cats and is a champion of spay and release for her feral cat neighbors. She is partnered with the Kentucky S.N.I.P clinic and together through adoptions, spay/neuter efforts, and discount cat health insurance they provide affordable solutions to pet owners. While she would like to provide great cat health insurance deals to every cat parent in the neighborhood, she takes it one step at a time. Stop by http://www.BestCatCareInsurance.com to find more about reducing the high cost of cat care for your pets.

Are You Risking Your Cat's Life? Will Cat Health Insurance Help?

More than likely you've heard about pet insurance, and this is actually a type of insurance that is not just for dogs. You can also purchase cat health insurance to keep your cat protected. As your cats begin to age, you never know what kind of physical problems they may have, from illnesses to injuries. For this reason, there are many owners that have found cat health insurance an important expense. Insurance is extremely affordable and you need only pay a reasonable monthly fee.

Cats Have Lower Insurance Rates than Dogs

The great thing about having a cat is that they have lower insurance rates than dogs. If you start your cat in a health insurance plan while it is young, you'll also save money. As long as it never has any serious illnesses the insurance rates will continue to be low. However, if it gets injured or becomes ill, you'll have something to fall back on to help pay many bills.

Routine Checkups and More

As your cat continues to age the health insurance is going to come in handy. You'll need to have routine checkups and there may be some other procedures needed along the way. Having cat health insurance will help you afford the checkups and preventive health care that your cat will need.

Making Your Cat's Prescriptions Affordable

If you are a cat owner, one of the most expensive things to pay for can be its prescription drugs. Whether you cat needs a prescription after a procedure or due to an injury, it can really get quite expensive. As your cat gets older, it may need drugs to help with arthritis or other health conditions. These medications can get expensive and may cost more than $100 each month. However, if you have insurance for your cat the prescriptions may be covered by the insurance company.

Pure Bred Cats Really Benefit

If you have a pure bred cat, then you can really benefit from having cat health insurance. You see, many pure bred cats, as well as dogs, have specific physical problems that occur later in their lives. This can get expensive as your cat grows older, so having the cat insurance can really save you money as you endeavor to care for your pure bred feline.

It is important that you don't wait until your cat gets injured or sick to begin thinking about health insurance. You can save a huge amount of money by insuring your cat now. Yes, you'll be paying on a monthly basis, but the benefits of the insurance are enormous.

In summation, you may be risking your cat's life if an unexpected sizable health expense surfaces and you are not prepared.

Yes, cat health insurance can make the difference between risking your cat's life to euthanasia and being able to afford proper health care.

For More Detailed information visit, http://www.allthingscat.com/cat_health_insurance.html

Sheri Davis Collins is a responsible pet owner for 20+ years, practicing holistic and homeopathic care. She is also the webmaster of http://www.allthingscat.com The website for alternative views on cat health care. Which includes correct feeding, health problems, harmful cat litter, hairball resolution and cat lover gifts.

Atrial Fibrillation in Cats

Atrial fibrillation in cats can and does occur, and when it does, in most all cases it will remain a permanent condition. In the severe cases, it can be fatal, and in most of the cases, your cat will also be in what is referred to as CHF, or congestive heart failure. Atrial fibrillation is actually an electrical disturbance that is marked by very rapid contractions of your cats atrial heart muscle. This than causes an irregular heart beat as the electrical activity that is usually very well coordinated, is suddenly lost.

The actual definition of atrial fibrillation in cats are abnormal heart rhythms in which the atria, which the upper chamber of your pets heart, become out of sync with the ventricles, which are the lower chambers. When atrial fibrillation occurs, the atrium actually quivers or wiggles chaotically, and as a result the ventricles start to beat irregularly. If the condition is considered atrial flutter, the atria will beat regularly but it will be faster than the ventricles.

Both of these situations are very dangerous for your cat, as they dramatically reduce the proper functioning of their heart. Atrial fibrillation can occur as a stand alone problem, but in most cases is a combination of a heart muscle disease or a chronic heart valve disease. What makes this condition so very dangerous is that it can rarely be cured or corrected back to a normal state of operation. It is estimated that over 90 percent of all the cases can not be corrected.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of atrial fibrillation in cats will not be real specific, and as a result, can be very difficult to detect. The first symptom will be an unwillingness of your cat to attempt any type of exercise. This should not be treated lightly and assumed that your cat has become lazy. Most all cats can be very slow and methodical at times, but in this case, it will develop into a situation where it will be all of the time. But they are not being lazy; their heart will not allow them to do much exercise.

If you suspect this, the first thing you should do is to check your cat heartbeat. If it is atrial fibrillation, their heartbeat will be both rapid as well as chaotic. The normal pulse rate, or heartbeat of your cat, should be between 130 and 240 beats per minute. Checking their pulse, however, can be somewhat challenging. The first method is to run you hands along the inside of your cats thighs at the groin until you can feel the femoral artery. If you can not locate the artery, there is another method to try.

Press your hands on your cats ribcage directly over their heart. Do this while your cat is standing, and you will feel their pulse directly below their elbow. With either method, count the number of beats in a fifteen second cycle, and than multiply it by four. Do it three to four times to make sure it is accurate. If they indeed have atrial fibrillation, it will be much more rapid. You may also be able to feel the actual chaotic rhythm as well.

The final symptom will be congestive heart failure. This occurs as the result of fluid accumulation in your cats chest, abdomen, or both.

Treatments:

Treatments for atrial fibrillation in cats will all depend on the actual underlying heart condition. The major objectives of any type of treatment will be to do three things; control the congestive heart failure, control the heart rate, and to provide home therapy to slow the progression of the condition. In most all cases, you can never reverse or completely stop it, but you can certainly slow it down considerably. The initial treatment for your cat may require hospitalization that will involve both drugs and oxygen. If your cat is in congestive heart failure, the fluid will have to be drained.

The first form of treatment is usually with a diuretic drug that will prevent your cats kidneys from retaining an excessive amount of sodium and water. It will be very important that your cat does not retain water, and this is the main reason this is the first form of treatment. However, this can be a very tricky process; if it is too high, it may cause kidney failure or lead to an excessive loss of potassium. Potassium is absolutely critical for you cat to survive.

For this reason, a potassium supplement will also be used. Liquid forms are usually advised as they absorb much quicker and much more effectively in your cats system. Most all cats will also be given an angiotensin which acts as a very powerful controlling agent in regards to controlling arterial pressure. It is also very effective at preventing sodium or salt retention. However, it is also very tentative, as it can also cause kidney failure, but it can also dramatically lower your cats blood pressure.

Beta-blockers may also be used to control your cats heart rate as well as controlling and protecting the heart muscles. But before these are used, ask for a second opinion; they are extremely dangerous if the dosage is too high. As a result, your veterinarian will usually start out with very small doses and work up slowly until it starts to produce results.

However, by far and away the safest and most effective treatment will be an immediate modification of your cats diet. Fish oil supplements are recommended in most all cases. There is mounting evidence that tuna and salmon eaten twice a week has had a huge impact of atrial fibrillation in humans. Raw tuna and salmon fed to cats can be dangerous, but cat foods that contain them as well as fish oil supplements are extremely effective. Vitamin E and the coenzyme Q10 are also very effective in treating atrial fibrillation in cats.

Coenzyme Q10 helps to ignite the cellular power stations in your cat and this powerful antioxidant is found in concentrated levels in your cats heart muscles. Because of this, in supplement form it may help to reinforce your cats natural ability to control the condition.

Summary:

Atrial fibrillation in cats is a very dangerous situation that may never be reversed or even stopped. But it can be controlled if you watch your cat and catch it as early as you can. If your cat suddenly becomes lazy, there is a reason. Check their pulse when you spot these initial symptoms and than immediately notify your veterinarian. Next, modify your cats diet as soon as possible. However, reinforcing your pet diet with these very simple supplements may prevent it from ever occurring.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field. He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds. After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach. Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process. Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;

Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets
http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com/

Help Me Choose a Cat Collar!

Sometimes getting a cat to accept wearing a collar can be pretty hard. Plenty of cats will not be bothered, not even if it's the first time they see a collar. However, some unfortunate owners have felines ready to go nuts attempting to escape. Some will even succeed. When dealing with such a sensible feline, the best advice is to get her used to it gradually. It's easier to get the collar accepted if it is comfortable and fits properly. There is a large variety of models and material to choose from. Let's see the most common.

Collars made of fabric are cheap, but aren't too resistant. If they get wet, often tend to shrink and cause troubles. If the cat is scratching, they start shredding gradually and will break ultimately.

Buckle collars are a classic model, with easy handling, but sliders for the adjustment of the size do a better job when looking the most adequate length. A well-adjusted length is vital for a fit wear, stopping the collar from slip off, or getting caught someplace. There are people who say the Best length leaves space two fingers wide under the collar.

Elastic bands are also recommended for a better adjustment, with far less potential of getting caught. Anyway, they can be tricked easily by cats decided to get loose. So it's advised to use when your feline is already trained to wear one.

You can buy a breakaway collar if you are in search for more safety. Its pressure sensible mechanism will release the pet if the collar gets stuck and the animal struggles to get free.

Collars made of leather are comfortable and resistant. Leather needs no further presentation, as it's been used for clothing and shoes for centuries.

Nylon is usually used to create personalized collars, with the owner's contact information and the cat's name.

Designer collars are prepared to please any extravagant taste. Made of various materials and with different decorations, such as stones or jewels, a designer collar is ready to make your cat stand out in the crowd.

Reflective collars are designed to keep your feline safe at night, making her more visible for drivers.

Always remember that cat collars can stretch out regardless of the material, and sliders created from plastic will often break or allow slippage. Periodically it's good to check your cat's growth, and readjust the collar, otherwise it can lead to great discomfort.

Even though a harness is not as practical on felines as they are on dogs, sometimes they are used on felines too.

The idea that an indoor cat will not get lost and has no use for a collar is wrong. Thousands of cats have disappeared after slipping out of the house unseen after someone forgot the door open. A collar will be useful even if your feline has a microchip. Sometimes, the equipment required to scan the microchip can be unavailable, while a collar can quickly offer reference for the finder.

Do you need more information about designer cat collars or leather cat collars?

Cat Water Dispensers - How to Choose the Best Drinking Fountain For Your Cat

Water is an essential for cats, as for any living being. It's important for proper hydration and health. Sufficient water intake helps to flush toxins out of the body and to avoid kidney and bladder problems. The trouble is, cats often don't drink enough. The trick to choosing the best cat water dispenser is to figure out which one has features that will entice your cat to drink more.

The simplest cat water dispenser is a plain open bowl. This is also the least expensive. A bowl can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. It can be especially made for holding your cat's water, and may have cat-related designs on it, or it can be any odd container you have around. The only requirement is that it holds water.

One problem with a plain water bowl is that it usually holds only a small amount of water, meaning that you will have to be alert to make sure it doesn't run out. Your cat may play in the water, filling the bowl with dirt and debris and making a mess on the floor. Standing water also tends to go stale; cats don't like stale water, and it just may be too boring to encourage drinking.

Another cat water dispenser option is a bowl with a reservoir. Usually made of plastic, it is a bowl with a water container on top. Water from the container flows by gravity to keep the bowl filled as your cat drinks. The advantage is that it will hold much more water than a plain bowl, and you won't have to fill it as often. However, it is still boring standing water in the bowl, and your cat may not be attracted to drink enough.

Cats prefer moving water because it is fresher. As the water moves, it is aerated so it doesn't go stale. Petmate and Catit produce cat water dispensers that use small electric pumps to move water from a reservoir, across a surface into a drinking area. The Petmate receives the water in a bowl at floor level, from which it recirculates. The Catit has no bowl; the cat drinks the water as it flows over a dome on top of the dispenser. If your cat ignores the standing water in a plain bowl, an electric water dispenser may encourage it to drink more.

If your cat is one of those who love to drink from a dripping faucet, it may not be enough just to have moving water. Drinkwell offers cat water dispensers which actually produce a falling stream of water. The water stays fresh and aerated, and the gentle trickling sound entices cats to drink. If nothing else has worked to get your cat to drink more water, the falling water stream may be just what you need.

There is another consideration in choosing the right cat water dispenser -- the type of material it is made of. Plastic is porous and can be scratched, providing places for bacteria to hide and multiply. It is also suspected that some cats may be allergic to plastics. Pioneer Pet makes water dispensers of ceramic and stainless steel, the materials recommended by veterinarians as the best for cats. These dispensers also have a pump that circulates the water, and they are of an attractive design. If your cat has itching around the mouth and throat, or if it has feline chin acne, the best cat water dispenser for you may be one of these.

Historically, wild cats would get a good bit of water from the raw flesh of the prey they would hunt and catch. They just didn't develop the habit of drinking a lot of water. Today's house cats can get a good percentage of their water from a raw- or canned-food diet, but if they eat dry food, they are at risk of becoming chronically dehydrated. Encourage your cat to drink more water by providing a cat drinking fountain for better health.

Top Ways to Keep Your Dogs and Cats Entertained

People often believe that if their pet has lots of love, water, food and proper medical care then they are set for life. Two items we often forget about are:

Giving them adequate physical exercise, and,
Plenty of mental challenges to stimulate their brains.

These two factors can increase their quality of life by leaps and bounds. ASPCA Animal Trainer, Kristen Collins, touts that "Pets need jobs." Both dogs and cats have a need to be engaged and stay busy. Keep in mind that animals were created to take care of themselves by foraging or hunting for food and shelter. Although our pets have been domesticated, their energy levels and natural instincts still exist. More often than not our pets are bored and spend the day laying around waiting for us to return home from work. This is why animals get into mischief while we are away. They need simulation to deal with the overwhelming restless feeling. Much like children, dogs and cats that are left to their own devices must find new ways to entertain themselves. When you find your cat or dog gnawing or scratching on furniture or shoes, eating houseplants, tipping over the garbage can or spending excessive amounts of time barking or meowing, then it is time to take action (or, consider taking action before these behaviors occur). Several different workouts are recommended:

For Dogs:

Get moving -- Healthy dogs need a minimum of one hour of aerobic exercise per day. Kristen recommends breaking this into 2 separate 30 minute sessions. Great ways to burn off that energy are jogging, playing at the dog park and swimming.
Games -- Combine exercise with a lesson by involving your pet in structured games. These can be games such as tug-of war or fetch. These types of games teach your dog about impulse control and creates a closer relationship between the two of you. Great items for the game of fetch include items such as an Air KONG squeaker tennis ball, a plain tennis ball, flexible Frisbee for dogs, Flying Squirrel fetch toy, or maybe just a good old fashioned stick.
Toys -- If your dog is home alone, keep him occupied with chew toys or the Kong, which is a puzzle-toy stuffed with food.

For Cats:

Toys & Games -- Your kitty also needs plenty of exercise. This can involve playing games or playing with toys. Great games include fetch with small balls or furry toys or even a game of chase.
Activities -- Activities for your cat to do when they are home alone can consist of bird watching, watching cat videos, spending time playing in a secure outdoor area, or playing in boxes or paper bags.
Training / Tricks -- Cats are amazingly intelligent creatures. Teach your pet new tricks such as rolling over, sitting up, or coming when you call them. Some cats can even be trained to use the toilet. A few tips to teaching your cat tricks include using treats or a clicker:
Treats -- The treat method includes getting your cat's attention with the treat. Allow them to smell and see the treat. Don't raise the treat up too high causing them to stand on their hind legs (unless, of course, you are teaching them to stand). Once your cat sits or stands, depending upon your desired response, praise your kitty and give him the treat. Repeat this as necessary, do not hand over the treat until your cat has performed the desired outcome.
Clicker -- A clicker can actually make training happen faster. You don't have to purchase a clicker for this specific purpose. Simply find a pen that makes a loud clicking noise or even a clicky cap off of an iced tea bottle. When your cat performs the desired behavior, click your pen then offer your pet a treat. The cat will soon understand that the click means he did it right.

Animals learn through repetition so you will need to practice over and over. Repeat the process several times in a row but in short periods of time. These can be spread out in five to ten minute increments throughout the day. When it comes down to proper exercise for your pet, it's all up to you. Giving your cat or dog exercises for their body and mind will help create a happier, healthier pet. This will also create a lasting bond between you and your animal.

(original article: http://www.pethub.com/articles/behavior/top-ways-keep-your-pet-entertained ) PetHub.com connects new and seasoned pet owners with resources to help raise happy and healthy animals (such as articles, parks, businesses, groomers, vets, trainers, and much more).

Copyright ? 2010, PetHub, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tremors in Cats

Tremors in cats will happen several times during your pet's lifetime and it is a normal reaction to either fear or excitement. However, tremors and shaking that persists or suddenly develops for no apparent reason is anything but a normal reaction. Tremors or shaking can attack any part of your cats body and can have a multitude of causes ranging from genetic to something that is seriously wrong with the nervous system.

In some cases, when the tremors in your cat appears both rapidly and with severity, there is a very good chance that they have had a toxic reaction to something and need emergency medical care.

However, regardless of the actual underlying cause, tremors should always be treated very seriously if they persist for any duration of time.

Tremors in cats are an involuntary movement of the affected portion of the body that is almost rhythmic in nature and will continue to occur the entire time that your cat is awake. If it is truly tremors, they will stop when your cat goes to sleep. They can and do affect the muscles of any part of your pets body and are caused by the rapid alternating contraction and than the relaxation of the affected muscles.

It will in most all cases be a motion that seems to go back and forth in your cat and it the majority of cases it is an infectious disease in your pets nervous system that is the cause. These tremors or shaking in your cat can be very subtle or they can become almost violent in nature.

There are three basic types of tremors in cats: Tremors that affect the head, the rear limb or pelvic area, or generalized tremors that affect the entire body. When you start to see any type of irregular movements in any of the three areas of your cats body, they have developed tremors.

Causes:

Tremors that affect your cats head can often be the result of an inherited condition but this condition is not related or specific to any particular breed. What is inherited is the underlying cause of the tremors. The most common causes of head tremors in your pet are from cerebellar abnormalities, which affect your cats brain. However, this condition can also cause the entire body to shake.

The cerebellum in your cat is part of their brain, and when there is an incomplete development of this part of the brain, it causes tremors. This lack of development can be inherited, or it can be the result of an infection, some type of toxic agents, or it can be a nutritional deficiency of either Thiamine or Vitamin E. It is most common in kittens but it can also affect mature cats and is most often the result of the panleukopenia virus.

This virus is passed down from the queen to her kittens where it attacks the fastest growing cells it can find, which are in a kittens developing cerebellum. The next possible cause is from a disease known as Encephalitis, which is an inflammation of your cats brain. This inflammation is a very serious threat to your cat and the tremors you are witnessing may soon be followed by seizures as the brain as well as the spinal column is infected.

The next potential cause that affects the brain is from a vestibular disease that affects your pets head relative to gravity. The vestibular system in your cat alerts your pets brain to all of its functions from standing, sitting, lying down, or falling down. When it is affected by a type of an infection, usually to the inner ear of your cat, the first symptoms you will see are tremors.

Tremors that affect the pelvic or rear limb areas of your pets body can be caused by a kidney that is starting to fail or low blood sugar counts. Diabetes mellitus is the most common hormonal condition that affects cats, especially older cats. It is a deficiency of the hormone insulin and restricts your pets ability to metabolize sugar properly.

The first symptom that you will see with this condition is a weakness or pain in the rear legs that will rapidly be followed by tremors. Tumors that cause an obstruction or a narrowing of your cats vertebra and place pressure on the spine will first appear as tremors before the rear limbs of your cat become severely impacted or damaged.

Tremors that affect your cats entire body at the same time are generally caused by a toxic reaction to something. There are several agents that are toxic in cats by the most common are flea and tick treatments for dogs, topical flea agents, any type of glow jewelry or sticks, and liquid potpourri. Other highly toxic agents include lilies, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, and mice or rodent bait.

Rat bait is so toxic to your cat that they may not survive after the initial symptoms of tremors sets in.

However, there is another condition that was originally thought to only affect dogs, but it is now becoming more widely accepted that it may also be perhaps the largest cause of tremors in cats as well. It is a condition that is referred to as White shaker syndrome and it is a very strange situation that it is still not fully understood.

This condition has historically attacked small breeds of dogs with white hair coats and is the source of its name. But it is now believed to also affect cats because of their size relative to small dogs and the same structure of the brain. It is a sudden development of both tremors and shaking that starts out very mild at first, but than develops to a situation where you're pet has difficulty in standing let alone walking.

Like small dogs, cats that are affected have all of their mental functions and there is absolutely no sign of any type of an infection or nervous disorder. However, the tremors become a lot worse with any type of stress or a constant handling. Although the cause is idiopathic, meaning there is no known cause, it is believed to be some type of an inflammation in the brain.

Summary:

Tremors in cats can and do occur when your pet is excited, but it should stop just as suddenly as it starts. If it persists, you should seek medical attention form your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

With some underlying causes that can be identified, the tremors can successfully be treated. If the cause is unknown, there is no treatment other than supportive care. In will also be extremely important to monitor both your cats dietary intake as well as their nutritional intake as this will often cause a weight loss because of the stress that is associated.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website - Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets - http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com

How to Deal With a Cat That's Aggressive Toward People

Felines are stereotypically selective with their affection, but cat aggression can be dangerous. First of all, someone could get hurt. Secondly, no one likes to visit a friend whose pet bites and scratches!

The first thing you need to do observe your cat for a while so you can identify patterns. Once you recognize the problem, then you can move forward with an appropriate solution.

Potential causes of cat aggression include:

Rough playing

Biting and scratching are instinctive to cats. Your kitty doesn't need to defend herself like she would in the wild, but she still feels the natural urge to pursue and pounce on her prey-even if she's playing. If you want your cat to behave around other people, don't encourage or ignore this behavior. Clap your hands or rattle a coin-filled bottle in front of her when you notice her stalking you. Then redirect her attention with an interactive cat toy. If she manages to scratch or bite, grasp the scruff of her neck-like mother cats do with their kittens-and firmly push her downward while saying no.

Fear

If your cat wasn't properly socialized as a kitten, she may be fearful around other animals and people. You can't miss the standard scaredy-cat stance: crouched with her ears laid back, her tail curled inward, and her body leaned away from the potential threat. Her hair may even stand on end. Teach your cat to be less skittish around strangers by having a friend hold her favorite treat in front of her when she's hungry. Make your cat come to your friend, not vice versa. This way, she learns to trust the people you bring into your home. If she won't come, have someone she trusts hold the treat while your friend stands by. Do this repeatedly, moving your friend closer each time.

Over-attention

Your cat might enjoy being pet for a while and then all of a sudden attack. In this case, you should look for signs that she's reached her limit. Those signs include: tail twitching, flattened ears, and head movement toward your hand. Once you notice the signs, stand up and remove her from your lap. Many experts recommend using desensitization to treat petting-induced aggression. Ignore her for several days, then if she initiates affection, pet her for a few minutes, give her a treat, and then back away. Gradually extend the time so she learns to increase her affection threshold.

Dominance

Your cat may treat you and guests in your home like other cats, attempting to dominate you to show where she stands in the hierarchy. She might growl or hiss when you approach, or stand in your way when you try to enter another room. You need to teach her she's not the leader when it comes to people. The best way to do this is to leave the room she's in, and withhold attention, affection, and treats until she relaxes. Reward good behaviors with treats to show her people are in control of rewards, and that she'll only get them by behaving.

Maternal Aggression

If your cat just had kittens she will likely be very protective. Your best bet is to disturb her as little as possible when the kittens are young-especially while they're nursing. With the right rewards and desensitization, she may allow you to handle the kittens, but this will likely be a challenge.

If you have no idea why your cat is displaying aggression, you should book an appointment with your vet as there may be a medical problem. Possibilities include distress from mites or fleas, a hormonal imbalance, arthritis of the spine or limbs, dental disease, or a neurological condition. This would cause your cat to growl or hiss when handled.

As with any training technique, consistency is crucial. It may take a while to change your cat's aggressive behavior, but you can do it if you stick to your guns!

Pet Care Expert | [http://www.iBlogPet.com]

Heart, Respiratory and Urinary Tract Problems Require Immediate Attention in Cat Health Care

Our cats have complex body systems just as we do and often suffer from diseases and disabilities similar to those their owners may encounter. Your cat may have high blood pressure, asthma attacks and congestive heart failure.

Cat health problems include respiratory illnesses with symptoms similar to our head colds, bronchitis and even pneumonia. Diseases may affect cats of any age and because of the small size of the animals, diseases and infections can rapidly become life threatening.

Feline upper respiratory infections are common and easily spread from one animal to another. Symptoms include sneezing, red eyes, and nasal discharge. Lethargy and loss of appetite are also present. These infections are due to a virus which explains why they are highly contagious. Clavamox and Baytril are widely used to combat respiratory infections in cats.

The feline herpes virus can infect other cats but will not spread to humans. This is a serious malady for young cats and can leave the animal with chronic nasal congestion and infections. Treatment in the early stages of this disease is needed to prevent long term health problems.

An asthma attack in a cat displays the same wheezing and coughing as asthma in people. The cat will have difficulty breathing and a severe attack may be life threatening.. Flovent inhalers as well as Aminophylline and Terbutaline are available to treat asthma in felines

High blood pressure is called the silent killer when it affects people. The same is true for cats as the first sign of a problem with blood pressure may be blindness. Fast treatment may lead to the cat regaining his sight. If blindness cannot be reversed it is not the end for your cat. Absent the human emotions of fear and sadness, cats that have lost vision are often able to adapt quickly to their disability and quickly learn to find their bed, food bowl and a friendly lap to sit in.

Feline heart disease is not confined to older cats but may become a problem at any age. The cause is most often a weak heart muscle. Your vet can perform sensitive tests to isolate the specific problem in the cat's heart. This diagnosis is necessary for him to provide the proper combination of pet medicines that will control the cat's heart problem.

Proper diagnosis will lead to pet medicines that will control the chronic health problems and provide your cat with many more happy years. Heart disease and high blood pressure can be controlled with Atenolol, Benazeprill, Diltiazem and Disal. Urinary tract infections are not only a dangerous health problem for cats but have led to the death of many cats who were put "to sleep" by owners in the mistaken belief the cat suffered from behavioral problems.

Urinary problems in cats are common and painful for the animal yet there is no way to tell from looking at the cat that an infection is present. The first indication of a urinary problem may be a cat that suddenly refuses to use his litter box.

To the owner, this is unacceptable behavior and many do not realize they are seeing a symptom of disease. If the cat first experiences pain on urination when using his litter box, he may associate that litter with causing the pain. For some cats, urinating outside his litter box may be an attempt to get his owner's attention to the problem.

A long term, untreated urinary problem in a young cat can lead to behavior problems with the pet forming the habit of avoiding his litter box. This is a difficult behavior to correct.

Before dismissing your pet's failure to eliminate where he's supposed to as the action of a bad cat, have your vet examine him thoroughly. A change in behavior often indicates a health problem in cats. Once the urinary infection is diagnosed, medication can cure the infection. By using a combination of cat meds and products designed to solve behavioral issues, you can totally eliminate the nasty side effects caused by cat urinary problems.

Stop cat urinary tract problems [http://www.petscriptsdirect.com/cat-illnesses/medications-prescriptions-rx/cat-health-problems.html] and treat respiratory and feline heart problems with pet medicines prescribed by your vet. Buy discount pet meds online from a practicing veterinarian at http://petscriptsdirect.com.

GNU Linux Command Line Bash Tools - Mv (move and Rename), Cat, Touch, Echo

If you want to move a file from one place to another, use the mv, or move command. Now, the mv tool can send a file from one directory to another, but it also can rename a file. If you simply want to change the name of a file, say, from joo.txt to joe.txt, you can do that with mv also. Here are a few examples to get you going.

mv joe joe1

The file joe is simply renamed joe1

mv joe /Documents/joe

The file joe is moved to the Documents directory.

Now, what if we wanted to move joe.txt to the Documents directory and at the same time rename it to joe2?

mv joe Documents/joe2

This would move the file joe to the Documents directory and would change the name to joe2. This is similar to cp, but the original file is changed. With cp we get a new file and the original file is unchanged.

If you'd like to see the contents of a file, use the cat command. cat stands for concatenate. cat will display the contents of a file and also join, or concatenate several files.

cat joe

This command will output the contents of joe.

What if you'd like to view the contents of two or more files?

cat joe bob

Will output the contents of joe and then bob.

Ok. Now let's play around with cat and two new commands: touch and echo.

Do this:

touch jj.txt

Which will create new text file called jj.txt.

echo "Hi there" >> jj.txt

This adds the text "Hi there!" to jj.txt.

You can append some more text to the end of jj.txt with another echo command and two greater than signs ">>" like this:

echo "How are you?" >> jj.txt

Now take a look at the contents of jj.txt via:

cat jj.txt

One thing to know when using cat, if you use only one greater than sign ">", it will overwrite the contents of the file. Be careful!

Let's overwrite jj.txt on purpose.

echo "See you later." > jj.txt

Now view the contents via cat:

cat jj.txt

... and you should see only the "See you later." line.

I hope this helped you become a little more familiar with the Linux command line. Have fun and experiment. Remember, while playing around, it's best to create a new directory and make new files specifically to experiment with so you don't lose any important data. Soon you'll be using the command line like a pro!

Rand writes about web design, men's health and latex free nitrile gloves. Please check out his new website all about Blue Nitrile Exam Gloves for info and nitrile glove knowhow! Rand's other writings can be found here: Rand Whitehall.