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Is A House Rabbit For You?

By Alison Wood on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 | No Comments

Would you like a house rabbit as a pet? Then read on to discover what factors you need to consider before you make the final decision.

Firstly, as with any pet, you must take into account the long term commitment. A rabbit can live for anywhere between seven to ten years, so you must be sure that you are able and willing to care for your pet for this length of time.

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Any pet also always requires a financial outlay and a rabbit is no exception to this. At the end of the day rabbits will be an expense in terms of veterinary bills, housing and food. A house rabbit will most certainly need to be spayed or neutered as this will make litter training much easier and will also stop male rabbits marking their territory. For a female rabbit spaying is doubly important as a very high percentage of domesticated female rabbits will suffer from uterine cancer, this is because as opposed to in the wild they are not continually having litters, and thus for them spaying is vital. This does not need to be a hugely costly operation but again it is one more aspect to consider.

Another outlay comes in terms of the time you are able to dedicate to your pet. Aside from the usual time required for feeding and caring for a pet, it must be remembered that rabbits are very social animals and thus unless you have more than one, you are going to have to dedicate a considerable amount of time to interacting and playing with your little housemate. Of course this is very enjoyable time, but none-the-less requires you to be aware of it from the start.

Another big factor to consider with a house rabbit is just how much they love chewing. If you are a household with a lot of cabling lying around or you have very treasured furniture, then a house rabbit may not be the perfect choice for you. You are going to have to bunny proof your house to a large extent, making sure that any electric cable is well out of reach or properly boxed away behind cable protectors. Furniture is not quite so easy to deal with and whilst some rabbits will grow out of chewing or you can get sprays to discourage them, I’m afraid this can not be relied upon for all rabbits. A rabbit is not a dog and thus they are not really open to being trained, so just make sure you are happy to deal with the adjustments before you make the choice of a house rabbit.

In line with the above comment about a rabbit not being a dog it must be remembered that their natural instincts are that of a prey animal. They are sensitive to what is going on around them such as disturbance and noise, and need to be in a calm environment where possible. Some rabbits need quite a lot of time to adjust to being picked up, as their instinct is always to have all four feet safely on the ground. If you have young children or other pets in your home then you need to consider whether a rabbit will be a good addition as they are delicate creatures who need careful handling.

These factors aside, rabbits do make lovely pets. They are very clean animals, are easily litter trained and have really cute, mischievous little characters and they love to interact with humans, albeit on their own terms. If you have the right environment for a rabbit, or are willing to adapt the one you have to their needs, and you have the finances and time to commit to their care long term then they are a very rewarding housemate. A rabbit is a very sweetnatured, cute animal but you must consider all the factors before you decide if they are the right pet for you.

Keep Your Dog Entertained With Toys

By Alison Wood on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 | No Comments

Food cubes are great toys to buy for almost any dog as they make the dog think before they can be rewarded with the food. This can keep a dog entertained for a long time and is a good remedy for a dog that gets bored while you are away.

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By solving a puzzle the dog will be able to get the food treat and dogs are usually very determined when they know that there will be a food reward for them if they can sort out the puzzle.

Other types of puzzle toys are the biscuit balls, which are equally good at keeping a bored dog entertained.

If you are going to be away from home then it is worthwhile looking at buying some of these to keep your dog happy as they pass the hours until you return.

Other good toys that don’t require a puzzle for the reward are the doggie potato chips. These come in a wide variety of styles from pig’s ears to hooves and they can last for a couple of days. They are also excellent for the dog that needs to be left alone while you are at work all day, as they will keep them entertained.

There are various different options for the dog that likes to chew and most of these are non-consumable items that your dog can chew on for hours. As they get older you can simply throw them away and replace them with another new one, as they are relatively inexpensive.

Fortunately most of these toys are cheap so you can test and try them until you find one that your dog will remain contented with. It’s a great way to stop your dog from getting into trouble while you are away and also to help stop them whining and barking if they are missing you.

The Importance Of Grooming Your Cat

By Alison Wood on Saturday, October 24th, 2009 | No Comments

Grooming your cat on a regular basis will remove any loose fur that could end up in the cat’s digestive system, causing constipation, fur balls, and discomfort that can also result in your cat throwing up on a regular basis.

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As a cat grooms itself by licking its fur, quite a large amount of that fur ends up being swallowed and when this is combined with the food in its stomach fur balls develop that need to be eliminated one way or another.

Longer haired cats obviously have a bigger problem than those with short hair, and they will need a lot more grooming to remove loose hair.

In addition to removing the loose fur, grooming can also get rid of any fleas that might be on your cat. While there are good flea formulations on the market, this regular grooming helps keep your cat in better condition and it also allows you to check if there are any other problems that might need attending to, particularly with tomcats as they get into fights with other cats that can lead to sores and infection.

If cats are living near farmland and they venture out into the fields they can get ticks in vast numbers in a very short time and grooming helps to remove a lot of these before they can cause too much trouble for your cat.

Grooming with a good cat comb also stops the fur from knotting. If left unattended for too long, and particularly with cats that have long hair, this knotting can get so matted that they need to have the fur cut to remove it. Knotted fur can form into hard lumps that can cause distress for the cat.

Regular grooming and good nutrition will ensure that your cat has a nice shiny coat, few problems with constipation and fur balls, and less chance of getting any other skin related problems.

Is Your Dog A Problem Digger?

By Alison Wood on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 | No Comments

Dogs love to dig but this can be a problem if that lovely landscaped yard of yours looks like a minefield from all the holes that your dog has dug. No doubt if you have a dog that likes to dig you have tried all and sundry to get it to stop from dsiciplining  it to yelling at it when it starts to dig and you probably still haven’t resolved the problem.

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Once again, like all methods of dog training, if you can address the reason why the dog is doing something you will be able to eliminate the problem. There are many different reasons why a dog will dig, from boredom and frustration to the search for a cold place to rest in humid weather.

Consider the surroundings that you have made available for your pet and see if there are any areas that need attention. Does your dog need more shelter, or is the current shelter just a little too hot for the climate that you are living in?

Is the dog digging to gain your attention and if so you will need to look at earlier lessons on how to give your dog the attention that it is seeking without encouraging it to continue with the behavior that you wish to stop. Maybe your dog needs more toys to play with or more exercise to relieve some of its pent up energy.

Maybe you will need to fence off parts of your yard where you know your dog prefers to dig. If you have a dog that just prefers to dig for no other reason than the enjoyment of digging you might need to offer it a dedicated area of the yard where it can dig to its hearts delight. This might help to keep your dog contented while you are away.

There will always be a solution, you just need to look at the circumstances and take the appropriate action.

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The Right Environment For Your Cat

By Alison Wood on Monday, October 19th, 2009 | No Comments

It is important that you keep your environment safe for your cat, as they are very inquisitive animals and will get into all sorts of trouble given half the chance.

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Living near a road is a major concern for any cat owner, as cats love to wander around the neighborhood in search of other cats or company from other people. It is not uncommon for cats to wander a long distance particularly at night, and the best bet is probably to keep it confined inside at night so you know where it is. This might require that you keep it locked inside the house or have an external area that is fenced, in such a manner that the cat can’t climb out remembering that cats are extremely good at climbing and escaping from any enclosure.

They also need to be protected from other animals, and in particular dogs that can become quite vicious in the pursuit of a cat. You really need to use your common sense and look about the environment that your cat is living in to determine any areas that could be a danger to it.

Having a cat door that will provide your cat with unrestricted access to the house is essential for any cat that prefers to spend some of its time outside during the day or night.

Cats can pick up infections from other animals, or from the feces that has been left about by other animals, so you need to know where your cat is wandering and whether those places could be endangering its health in any way. By having your cat neutered there is less chance that it will wander about the neighborhood looking for other cats.

If your cat isn’t kept within a confined area then you will need some form of identification on it should it ever get lost.

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