Many people in this world treat their pets as if they were their children. The reason behind this is because pets are so loving and caring. They often fill a void in our lives, and making them look absolutely beautiful is important to so many pet owners. It shows a respect for the pet, and it lets the owner know that they are doing the right thing for the animal.

One of the best ways to keep your pet looking beautiful is by feeding it the right types of food. You can buy dog food online that will really help your dog’s coat to shine like it never has before. The dog food can be found at many retail stores online, so it is in your best interest to shop around and try to get some samples of foods that will promote a healthy looking coat for your dog.

When you are looking for pet food online, you should also check for food that promotes healthy teeth and gums. If you can get a combination of foods that will help with the coat and the teeth, then you will have found something special. If you cannot find these foods together online, you can simply purchase one for the coat and one for the teeth, and then mix the foods together at home. Many pet owners, especially dog owners, take a great amount of pride in their dog’s teeth and coat. Getting the right food into your pet helps with both of these goals.

Cat owners can also get cat food delivery services right to their own home. You should find a cat food that promotes the fur and the teeth as well. Cat lovers also need to find a food that will help to prevent the cat from having hair balls. There are treats available as well that will help with the hair balls, teeth, and immune system. In order to have a beautiful cat or any pet, the animal must feel good from the inside as well as look great from the outside.

Typing the words “pet food deliver” into your favorite search engine will give you a lot of choices of foods that will help to make your pet look beautiful each day. The food can be delivered directly to your home, and all that you will have to do is continue to feed and groom your pet.

Pet obesity graphic produced by Matt Beswick for Pet365 – a UK stockist of dog jackets, collars and accessories. Click here to view the full post.

Not everyone is a cat person. They take some getting used to. But if you’re a fan of the felines, you know how they can worm their way into your hearts and make you feel all fuzzy inside just by watching them lick their paws and look at you disdainfully. I think cats are so loveable simply because they don’t care. They don’t care if you love them, and so they don’t pretend to be something else simply for the attention. A cat is a cat. They don’t care about your agenda or to-do list.

Case in point: I have two cats that both needed to be neutered. Rather than try to juggle two cat carriers at once, I took them in one at a time. I later learned that this was a mistake, but we’ll get there.

My first cat, Max, went to the vet’s without a fuss. He calmly slept in his carrier on the way there like I was his personal chauffer (which, I guess, I am). When we got to the vet’s however, he could tell something was up. I took him inside, and when it was time for his appointment, I took him out of his carrier to hand him to the vet. Max however, had a different idea.

He shot from my hands and toward the front door, which was propped open because the AC wasn’t working that day in the vet’s office. When he made it to the open door of freedom, he climbed the nearest tree, jumped to the roof of the vet’s office, and stayed there for a full hour. All of the coaxing on my part couldn’t get him to come down. My husband had to come to the rescue with some of Max’s favorite toys, which finally convinced him that the ground was better than the hot roof. We finally got him neutered and I went home to grab Spaz.

Spaz and Max seemed to have a conversation. Spaz wouldn’t even get in the carrier after he saw Max. He was tearing through our house like a tornado. I knew without a doubt, that at this rate, Spaz would probably end up on the roof just like Max. We didn’t get to take him to the vet that day. In fact, we had to wait a full month before he would even get into his carrier. See? Cats just don’t care about our human schedule and to-do lists.

But cats can be especially caring and sweet, which is why we love them. One night, after they had both recovered from their surgeries, I walked past them already sleeping peacefully on their cat beds. Both cats woke up, followed me into my room, and snuggled with me as I fell asleep. How can you not love that?

Provided they are healthy and well fed most mother cats complete their pregnancies with a normal birthing followed by the nurturing and weaning of their litters.  Unfortunately for some kittens, life can deal a shaky beginning due to the abandonment or death of the mother.  When this happens the only real hope the kittens have is human care and feeding.

Hopefully such orphaned kittens were able to suckle and receive their mother’s first milk before losing her since their chance of survival is greatly reduced without the immunoglobulin and nutrient rich colostrum.  Should you suddenly find yourself in the role of surrogate mother to a litter of orphaned kittens there are certain common sense and practical steps that must be done if such kittens are to survive.

OMG! Now What Do I Do?

First and foremost when new-born kittens are orphaned, you must provide a dry, warm bedding area for them in a draft-free place in your home. A sturdy cardboard box lined with a towel over a few layers of newspaper for absorbency works nicely for this. If the kittens are soiled then very gently wipe them clean with a soft moist sponge or wash cloth (non-alcohol baby wipes work well also).  Never place the kittens in water and do not use soap or shampoo. As soon as you’ve wiped them down, very gently dry them with a soft cloth or towel (no hair dryers!) and return them to their bedding.

Next, the orphans must be fed.  New-borns and kittens up to 3-4 weeks of age must be fed kitten milk replacer only. Commercial milk replacer is specifically formulated for kittens and is available at the leading pet stores. I strongly recommend using a colostrum enriched formula, whether or not you know if the kittens received colostrum from the mother cat. Generally speaking, you should feed new-borns and small or weak kittens two – three tablespoons of reconstituted replacer per four ounces body weight every three or four hours.  In all cases though, always follow the label directions for the product you buy. Do not use cow or goat milk as these can cause severe digestive upset and diarrhea in the kittens.  You should weigh the kittens daily to be sure they are getting enough nourishment to sustain growth, and consult with your veterinarian for specific advice on kitten health and feeding concerns you may have.

How Do I Feed Them?

Along with the milk replacer you will need to buy a new-born kitten nursing kit from the pet store of your choice. The kit will come with a washable bottle, an assortment of nipples and directions for use from start through weaning. Be sure to carefully follow the cleaning instructions with the kit so you don’t contaminate it with unhealthy germs.

You’ll need to slowly introduce the kittens to the milk replacer and sucking the bottle nipple the first time or two you attempt to feed them.  Above all, be patient.  Never force the nipple into a kitten’s mouth.  Introduce the milk by putting a drop or two on your finger and touching it to the kitten’s mouth.  This allows them to taste and smell the milk and will stimulate their sucking response.  At this time gently put the nipple to the kitten’s mouth allowing him to react to it.  The kitten will usually take the nipple in at this point.

You may also want to purchase a small feeding syringe to have on hand. Some new-borns will simply not suckle a nipple the first couple of days and it is imperative they receive nourishment.  However, go slow and use caution when syringe feeding as the kitten must not aspirate the liquid into the lungs. Never allow a child to feed kittens in this manner.

How Much Milk Replacer Do I Feed?

Again, a general guide is to feed the liquid milk replacer every three – four hours at a rate of two – three tablespoons per every four ounces of body weight.  However, the mixing and feeding rates may vary between products so always adhere to the label directions. As the kittens grow you will need to increase the amount you feed accordingly with their weight and age.  After the first week, if the kittens are strong and growing at a healthy rate, you may be able to change the feeding schedule to every six – eight hours.

Once the kittens have opened their eyes and begin to move about steadily on their feet you can introduce them to bowl feeding in addition to bottle feeding.  Bowl feeding the liquid milk replacer is a prelude to weaning the kittens. Put the amount equal to one feeding into a small, shallow bowl.  Place your finger into the liquid, allow the kitten to lick it and then guide the kitten to the bowl with your finger. Do not push the kitten’s face into the bowl as he could easily aspirate liquid through his nose which could result in pneumonia.  Once he begins to lap the milk replacer he will eagerly drink at each feeding thereafter.

How and When Do I Wean The Kittens From Milk Replacer?

Generally speaking, you can begin weaning bottle-fed kittens at three – four weeks of age.  This does not mean you can discontinue feeding the replacer at this point.  It simply means you can begin introducing the kittens to solid food.  They must continue receiving their replacer just as before until they are fully weaned, usually eight – ten weeks of age. (You should also understand that the kittens must be fully weaned i.e., relying solely on canned or dry food for their nutrition before considering giving any or all of them away to new homes.)

Because you have already introduced the kittens to lapping their replacer from a bowl it becomes quite easy to transition them to solid food.  Start out at three – four weeks of age by hand mixing an equal amount of liquid replacer with a high quality dry or canned kitten food.  As the kitten becomes used to the taste and texture of the moist solids you can gradually lower the amount of milk replacer and increase the amount of solid food.  By eight weeks of age, the kittens should be eagerly consuming the solid kitten food and have lost their nutrient dependency on the milk replacer. Remember, the duration of the weaning period may be ten weeks for those kittens who started out weak or small.

Above all, be patient in this process.  Not all kittens in the litter will transition to solid food at the same pace.  Some will likely play with and step in the new food before they realize it is something good to eat.  Be sure to gently clean their paws and faces when this happens, but don’t worry, they will catch on to the new food in a hurry.

Lastly, remember that the orphaned kittens must learn to play and socialize without the benefit of their mother’s teaching.  For this reason always keep the litter mates together so they can interact with each other and follow their feline instincts for play and exploration.

By following these common sense guides, the directions on the product labels and your vet’s advice your orphaned kittens should survive, wean successfully and mature into wonderful pets.

Wayne Morrison has a master’s degree in animal science with over 40 years experience in raising cats and dogs.  He is the co-founder and administrator of a website business providing visitors with ideas for everyday living.  For more information cats and cat products please visit Woodmors.com/pet_care.

The Fur Code is a new innovation in tags for cats and dogs. What are the 5 top advantages of these pet tags?

1.    They are clearly visible on your pet and give immediate access to your contact information from any PC or Smartphone.

2.    You can update your contact information at any time, so if your pet gets lost, the tag will always hold current information.

3.    It doesn’t require a vet visit to be fitted but it does carry important health information on your pet and any diseases, allergies or health issues he or she may have.

4.    The tags are low cost and have no ongoing costs. In fact if your pet’s tag gets lost, damaged or flushed down a toilet (I know Fido really shouldn’t do that) it will be replaced if you email them.

5.    Your pet will look cool and pretty much the highest tech cat (or dog) on the street

In honor of the launch of these tags, Fur Code have provided us with 5 tags to give away. In order to be in with a chance of being one of 5 lucky winners please follow the steps below.

There will be 5 winners (and each winner will win one tag) chosen by random number generator on Wednesday 30th  November at 10pm GMT . To enter you need to follow the two steps below, the winners will be contacted via email, but if any person doesn’t claim their prize within 14 days by providing their postal address the prize will be awarded to another person drawn randomly.

No other prizes are available and Pet Hooligans’ decision on how the prizes are awarded is final! Ok rules over – let’s get going!

To Be In With a Chance of Winning – Please follow these 2 steps:

Step 1: Please Like the Pet Hooligans page on Facebook, which you can find here:

Pet Hooligan’s Facebook Page

Step 2: Leave a comment in the comments section below on the blog letting us now why you think these tags are a great idea for your cat or dog.

Good Luck!

** The giveaway is now closed – Deena, Kristen, Maggie, Airon and cb, you are all lucky winners and I will be contacting you shortly via email **

Why Do Kittens Have to be Weaned?

Weaning is the natural transition process of kittens from suckling their mother’s milk to eating solid food.   

The weaning must be successful in order for the kittens to survive, grow properly and remain healthy.  This is also the critical time when kittens progress from total dependence on the mother cat to becoming socially aware and independent.  During the weaning process kittens become more interactive with their mother, litter mates, and their surroundings.

Weaning should be a wonderful time of exploring, learning and playing for the kittens, as this is when their personalities, bonds and life skills develop.  Normally, weaning is the job of the mother cat who inherently knows what to do.  However, in order for the kittens to progress from mother’s milk to solid food we have to intervene by providing their starting food source.

When Should Kittens Be Weaned?

Weaning is typically a four to six week process that starts when kittens are about four weeks old, and is normally finished when they are eight to ten weeks.  It is very important for the health and socialization of kittens that they are never forced into weaning too early.  However, if you are uncertain of when the kittens were born, the rule of thumb is once the kittens are able to focus their eyes and walk steadily you can begin to gradually introduce solid food.

How Is Weaning Done?

Firstly, and if possible, the litter should always stay with the mother cat through the entire weaning period.  Again, this is a natural process that allows the kittens to observe and learn from the mother.   No one should ever intentionally remove the kittens from the mother before weaning.  This is an act of cruelty which will negatively stunt their development, and worse, it will cause digestive and possibly respiratory failure.

Once the kittens are four weeks old, you can place them in a separate area for a short time each day to begin reducing their suckling and dependence on mother’s presence.  Mom’s nurturing continues to be important for both kitten and mother during weaning so let them continue receiving mother’s milk through the weaning period.  The health benefits of her rich milk are enormous for the kittens while the suckling helps mother cat through postpartum recovery and avoiding mastitis

It’s a good idea to make a special, warm place for the kittens with small food and water dishes and a litter box when you separate them from mom.  You should use a low or no-dust pelleted litter to safeguard the kittens from inhaling dust. You will find that the kittens will become less dependent on mom and more adventurous each time they are separated from her.  The kittens will be completely weaned after four to six weeks of weaning and the mother will stop lactating.

Secondly, to introduce the kittens to solid food prepare a food mixture twice a day by adding a small amount of kitten milk replacer to a quality dry or canned kitten food (mix this by hand until it is moist and palatable, don’t use a blender!) Don’t use cow’s milk as it can cause digestive upset and diarrhea, milk replacer is available at all leading pet stores. As the kittens get used to eating (three to four weeks into weaning) you can stop adding replacer and simply increase the amount of kitten food.

By nine to ten weeks of age I like to set out a small dish of dry food with fresh water in addition to feeding canned food in the morning and evening. At ten weeks of age you’re done – the kittens will be weaned and no longer needing mother’s milk – happy and healthy kittens and mother cat.

Wayne Morrison has a master’s degree in animal science with over 40 years experience in raising cats and dogs.  He is the co-founder and administrator of a website business providing visitors with ideas for everyday living.  For more information about pets and pet care, please visit Woodmors.com/pet_care.

I have been showing my Ragdoll Cats for about 2 years now, and want to share how much fun it can be, and hope to encourage others to show their fabulous felines.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to own a pedigreed, or even a purebred cat to participate in show. In Australia we have Companion Class, which  is defined as any kitten over the age of 10 weeks or cat either from  either registered stock but not shown as registered, part pedigree or  domestic cat of undetermined heritage. Companion Pets over the  age of 6 months must be desexed.

You will need to prepare your cat for a show a couple of days before or at least a day before the show. Preparation includes bathing (longhairs), nail trimming, removal of any traces of fleas, ear cleaning, and general brushing and grooming to make sure your cat is in tip top condition for judging.

There are varying rules for different cat clubs, so make sure you read the paperwork you receive with your entry, to ensure you follow their procedures.

Part of the preparation should also include packing your bag for the day with essentials and items for emergencies. Things you may wish to include are:

• Food and water bowls
• Dry food
• Bottled water (in case none is readily available)
• Cage curtains and cushion
• Litter tray, litter and rubbish bags for disposal
• Secure cat carrier
• Grooming tools
• Pen for keeping scores
• Camera

There will be someone at the entrance of the show who will be able to guide you as to where to go and what you need to do for set up. Once you have set your show cage up complete with your cat, you can find yourself a good position and get ready to enjoy the excitement of the day.

Angela Love is a Registered Breeder of Ragdoll Cats in Qld, Australia and also shows regularly. Checkout her cats at Hugalicious Ragdolls. Angela also owns and operates BEST PET JOBS a site which is full of Jobs and Business Ideas for Animal Lovers.

Beanie was a tough cat. She had a healthy respect for dogs, of course, as all smart cats do, but, to her, other cats were only cannon-fodder: invaders to be driven away. If one of them dared to cross into her yard, they were met with flying teeth and claws. And size was no matter – especially if another cat tried to make off with her ! Weighing in at a mere seven pounds, Beanie, the vet told me, was considered petite. Beanie, however, did not know that. She knew she was a big, brave fighting-machine and that was all that mattered. Even huge tomcats did not intimidate her. During any confrontation, her sheer, cocky self-confidence would usually send her adversary flying before any contact was even made.

What happened one bright, summer day, however, changed all of that. My big boxer was patrolling the yard when she spotted a stray cat in the garden shed. Trying to be helpful, my little boy ran to pick up the kitty but only succeeded in driving it out of the shed and straight at the boxer. A brief, loud battle ensued, ending quickly with the surprised boxer, who had never actually caught a cat before, sporting a bright-red scratch on her nose. The stray cat escaped, unhurt, over the back garden fence. Beanie, however, had been watching in shocked amazement. Not knowing that my boy had accidentally chased the cat toward the dog, she seemed to think that this wild, crazy cat had actually attacked the boxer. “How could that be?” she must have asked herself. “All cats are afraid of dogs!” Horrified, and not looking back, she raced in the opposite direction.

It was two long days before Beanie came back home, despite the fact that my son and I called and called for her. When she did come home, scared and more than a little hungry, she raced into the house and hid behind the couch. For the rest of the week, she tip-toed around the house and yard looking carefully behind curtains, furniture and even the washing machine. Any little sound would send her flying for cover. She wasn’t afraid of the dog at all. My son and I thought she might be, but they remained fast friends. She seems to spend a lot more time in the safety of her cat condo though! I’m convinced she was looking for that mythical creature: the cat who had dared attack a dog.

Decorating any home is a complex procedure, and when you add pets to the equation the task becomes even harder as you are not only decorating for yourselves, but for them too. Subsequently, you need to take more than just visual appeal into account, as you also have to make sure that they are compatible with your pets, won’t provide any threat to them or the temptation for them to play.

Window treatments are no exception to this rule and the wide variety available means that your options should be very carefully considered. Curtains should be seen as a big no-go area, as there is no end to what pets can do to them. They are the pets’ equivalent of a ball pool, as they can scratch, climb and pull at them to their heart’s content. Any pet owner who has had curtains in their home before will vouch for this, and may wish to consider a set of roller blinds instead.

Before I start to explain the practical benefits of roller blinds, it’s worth mentioning how much money you could stand to save them. The day-to-day ragging that your excited pet will give to a pair of curtains means that they will need to be replaced possibly on more than one occasion, which will hit your wallet hard. Similarly, when your curtains are on the way out, they are likely to be more of a liability and more prone to causing accidents which can be a potential health hazard to you and your pets.

One of the main appeals for roller blinds in a pet-loving home is the fact that they can be easily rolled up high and out of your four-legged friend’s reach. This is something that curtains cannot do unless they are tied high up which can potentially take away from the aesthetic appeal. Blinds, on the other hand, simply do not allow as many chances to grab hold and are more likely to survive a playtime session with your pet than curtains – no matter how high quality they are.

It’s not just for safety reasons that roller blinds come in handy however. When it comes to providing a comfortable environment for your pet, blinds can help. The opacity of them means that they are perfect for you and your pet to get your heads down for a nice night’s sleep. On the other hand they can be freely opened and hung out of the way during the day to allow you and your pets alike to take in the sun too.

It’s important to remember that your pet has to live in your home as well, and they should be taken into consideration with every change you make. Roller blinds represent a practical and comfortable option for both you, and your companion.

If there’s anyone who might spend more time in our yards than we do, it’s our pets. As a beloved member of the family, they are entitled to a space that’s both fun and safe to play in. Here are the top five ways to make your outdoor space a pet paradise.

1. The Right Enclosure

When picking out the best fencing options for your pet, you need to consider not only the look you want in your yard, but also your pet’s behavior. If you have a dog path along the fence line, consider paving it with flagstones. If your pet is a digger, look into invisible fencing or rock features, and if you want to keep your cat in his own yard, check out PurrfectFence.com. Throughout your yard, smaller picket fences or gardening edging can also help to define a space as well as keep Fido from trouncing your daylilies.

2. Space to Play

Considering how your pet likes to use the yard can be a big help when planning a place to play. Retrievers like long open spaces to play fetch or Frisbee®, smaller dogs may like a line of bushes that create a tunnel, and others may wish for their very own sand box. Whatever kind of space you create, also try to keep the plants and features to scale with your pet.

3. Shade and Sun

It is important to remember that your pet will be in the yard at all hours of the day, through every season of the year. For their health, it is necessary to create places where they can get warmth from the sun, and cool off in the shade all day long. Take into account the direction of the space, surrounding buildings and consider planting trees or shrubs that can add visual interest as well as a shady place to nap in the afternoon sun.

4. Water Features

The right pond or fountain could be the best investment you make for your outdoor space. If your pet spends a lot of their time out doors, it is important to have water available for them at all times. On the other hand you don’t want to have to wipe up your bird dog’s muddy footprints all year long. Pick a feature based on your style and how your pet will interact with it: raised to discourage paws, deep and flowing to keep it fresh and drinkable and always chemical free.

5. Appropriate Plants

Choose a grass that will hold up to paw traffic, watch out for landscaping plants that are poisonous or have long thorns, and consider adding plants your pet will enjoy or benefit from like cat nip, wheat grass, or fleawort. http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ is a great website to help you learn which plants may be toxic for your pets.

For more tips and ideas, ask your local garden shop or a landscaper to help you create the perfect outdoor space that both you and your pet can enjoy.

Photo credits: A very serious Mugsy by Chuck Falzone/flickr; Cat drinks lake by Steve/flickr

Casey Stevens is a landscaper and animal lover who really enjoys making over yards to incorporate pet-friendly choices. If you’re interested in a landscape business, check out the listings for a used dump truck or maybe you could use a box truck for your next project.