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Pregnant Women and cats, Strange Behaviors, Feeding Obese Cats May 01, 2011 |
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Hi there, ,What's in This Issue:Updates to the site
One of my goals for 2011 is to the THE Cat Whisperer, much as we associate Cesar Milan as The Dog Whisperer. In order to do that, I ask my readers to step up, step out, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Please tell your friends about my services and how I've helped you. Talk me up, Twitter, Facebook (I'm tn-morgen) and friend me. Talk to everyone and let's see how much closer I get to being "THE Cat Whisperer" in 2011! ~ Morgen Articles
Don't forget the interactive pages... Bragging Rights For Readers These pages are all user-generated! That means you can write about your cat, your favorite cat story, or get help from other visitors (sometimes even me!) if you have a serious problem with a cat. Use the Cat Whisperer Contact form if you or a friend has a problem that is involved or delicate.
Toxoplasmosis And Pregnant Women by Paula SnyderI am pregnant, do I have to get rid of my cat? This question is asked by most first time pregnant women that have a pet cat. The fear is contracting toxoplasmosis while pregnant and spreading this infection to your unborn baby. You are about the learn what toxoplasmosis is and the real facts.Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is found everywhere in our environment and many people carry it in their bodies but may not know because they have no symptoms. Pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have serious illness due to toxoplasmosis. Pregnant women can pass the infection to their unborn baby if they become infected for the first time during or just before pregnancy. The best way to protect your unborn child is by protecting yourself against toxoplasmosis exposure! The first thing you must do is wash your hands after exposure to: soil, sand, raw meat or unwashed vegetables. Cook your meat completely, there should be no pink, and the juices should run clear. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees. Do not sample the meat until is is thoroughly cooked. The next thing is to freeze your meat for several days before cooking to greatly reduce chance of infection. Wash cutting board and knives with hot soapy water after each use. Wash and/or peel all fruits and vegetables before eating them. Wear gloves when gardening or handling sand from a sand box, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards. Have someone else change the litter box if possible. If you have to do it wear disposable gloves and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards. Change the litter box daily because the parasite does not become infectious until 1-5 days after it is shed in the feces. Feed your cat commercial dry or canned cat food. Do not feed cats raw meat during your pregnancy because this can be a source of toxoplasmosis infection. Keep cats indoors, and avoid stray cats, especially kittens. Cover your outdoor sandboxes and do not get a new cat while you are pregnant. As you can see, if you take the necessary precautions, there should not be any reason for you to contract toxoplasmosis while pregnant. Keeping yourself educated is the key. About the Author Paula is a mom, business owner and author. Did you know 90% of fears about pregnancy is lack of correct information? Be an exception to the rule, by keeping yourself informed on Toxoplasmosis- Pregnant Women and everything else that you need to know while you are pregnant in my complete pregnancy report.
Is Your Cats Strange Behavior Brought On By Stress? by Kathrynn KelleyHas your cat recently started to act a little strange? Perhaps it has started to act a little aggressively towards you or other family members? Or maybe it has become fearful of something or someone for no apparent reason? Whatever the strange behavior, it is important to get to the bottom of it before it develops any further.What most cat owners don't know is that the sudden changes in their cats behavior could be a result of stress. If you are like most cat owners and are not sure how to help your feline friend then here is a little helpful advice. Understanding Stress in Cats Cats just like many other beings are vulnerable to stressful situations. Any event that comes on suddenly changing your cats environment or someone new joining the household can cause serious stress to your cat. Some cats take on the change with little or no behaviorial issues at all, however most cats do not react this way. Most cats feel threatened and display these insecurities by being aggressive, or withdrawn. No matter how minor the change could be, most likely your cat is going to feel stressed out and react to it. Some of the changes that stress out your cat include: Moving, and not only moving to a different house, but also just moving furniture around in your home. (Especially if its their cat stuff you're moving.) Another stressful event is when a new member joins the family whether it be a new person moving in or a new pet. However, after you've considered all the stressors above and have concluded that neither of these could be the reasoning behind your cats stress, then it's crucial that you take your feline friend to a vet. Because change is not the only reason for a cats behaviorial problems it's important to rule out illness. Yes, illness could be one of the reasons your cat is acting strangely.When a cat is ill they cannot tell you the what is wrong with them so their behaviors will change in hopes you will notice or just because of the pain they're in. Once you have found the cause of your cat's stress, you can then focus on dealing with the problem. How to Deal with Feline Stress How you deal with your cat's stress will depend entirely upon what it is that your cat is stressed about. Sometimes patience is the best remedy and this is especially the case when you move homes. Start by placing the cat in one room and allow it to become familiar with the house gradually. By giving the cat its own room, it will start to feel safer in there and when it does feel threatened once it is exposed to the rest of the house, it will automatically go into 'its' room to relax. For other stressors or when your patience is wearing thin you could always go to commercial products to assist you. One product which is call 'Rescue Remedies' which includes the ingredient Bach Flower Essence is used to assist in letting your cat relax a bit. This product is not only used for cats, but many other animals and even for humans. This is how it works when it comes to cats. You will put 2-3 drops in their drinking water. This is a quick and simple way to relieve a little cat stress. At times cats will not drink the water with this product in it because it can taste the alcohol content. If this is the case you can put the remedy behind their ears. When dealing with your cats behavioral problems, first know that stress is a contributing factor. So, if your cat is displaying any strange behaviors notice the recent changes or people that could be stressing out your cat. About the Author:
Feline Obesity- Feeding Fat Cats. by Animal44Garfield is the icon of the all-American fat cat. But feline obesity is no laughing matter. It is a serious health concern that all owners should be aware of.Obesity is the No. 1 feline health problem in most countries in which cats are house pets. Some owners may not realize their cats weigh in as obese, but a few extra pounds can have a large impact on a cat. Three extra pounds on a cat is like 40 extra pounds on an average human. Sometimes Less Is More If your cat is obese as a result of other health problems, you can establish a plan to shed those unwanted pounds. Overfeeding is a common reason for obesity. Cats tend to be grazers and by tightly controlling the daily feeding to the recommended guidelines on every bag, most problems can be avoided. Another method to counteract overfeeding is to offer meals periodically throughout the day to your cats. Cats living in multiple-cat households may be sneaking more than their fair share at meal time. Stores have timing bowls that reveal meal portions at different times of the day, or over a few days for short travel periods. Treats may be a dangerous addition to a cat's diet if you overindulge. Treats add calories that aren't always counted, so they can make a cat fat all by themselves if too much is provide. Low-calorie treats may be a better option for owners who are training their cats or who can't resist spoiling them. You should eliminate table scraps that can defeat the benefits of the complete and balanced nutrition a formula food offers. Exercise can burn calories and also has other health benefits. Lighter food and less food are important, but you have to put exercise into the formula. Some cats, including senior cats, may not jump at the chance to increase their heart rate. House cats can be difficult to exercise and cats have a different mentality than dogs. Cats say, 'You have to give me something really good to get me to play and to come out from lying around'. Interactive toys, catnip toys and toys with erratic movement may persuade a kitty to abandon its sunny napping spot to burn some calories. Mentally challenging cat toys may keep cats at a healthier weight. Cats love those crinkly toys and laser pointers. Mix meal time with play time by putting dry kibble into a toy. Making kibble feeding a game can help lengthen the feeding process, provide a mental challenge and discourage gorging at the bowl. Leash training can be successful if you start cats off at an early age. Short and frequent walks, 15 to 20 minutes at a time, are best for cats that have less stamina than dogs. By slowly acclimating the pet to the feel of the harness and leash for increasing periods of time, cats can enjoy the same sort of exercise that's common for dog owners to employ. Indoor cats are more likely to be sedentary, but don't be fooled. Some outdoor cats may not be getting enough exercise. You still have to monitor them because it depends on the cat. Keep in mind that cats are fickle creatures, so variety is a necessity. About the Author Animal44 is the owner and administrator of http://thatdarncat.aimoo.com a discussion board that spans all aspects of cats.
Goodies for April 
This newsletter is produced for YOU, the reader. Please let me know if you want to see anything in here that hasn't been covered for a while. You can view all the past issues and look deeper into the new information I've found.
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