It is not surprising that cats are among the most loved of domestic animals as they have been revered for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt the cat was the most sacred of creatures. Cats were not only protected by almost every occupant of Egypt, but also by law. Infarct if a human killed a cat either on purpose or by accident, that human faced the death penalty. Some Egyptians went as far as worshipping the cat-goddess Bast and mummifying their pet cats so they could join them in the afterlife.
So for those cat lovers today, the worship of their beloved feline friends is continued. You only have to look around the home of a cat owner to see just how much this worship and fascination is reflected in ornaments and decorations around the home.
This makes buying a present for a cat lover very simple as there is so much variety in the way of cat gifts on the market to please every taste and budget.So if there is a cat lover in your life and you are looking for a special cat themed gift, here are a few ideas.
Lets start with cat gift presents that are inexpensive and easily sourced. Cat mugs not only make a decorative present, but are useful too. These could have either a picture of a favorite breed of cat or a transfer of the owners cat on it. The same can be done with magnets.
Cat posters make an ideal gift if your cat lover is also an art lover. There is a wide selection to choose from, including humorous to classic works.
Cat T-shirts make great presents for any age or size. They can be bought on-line in any style and you can customize your T-shirt using your own graphics. These make good presents for children too.
One favorite cat gift is cat books. This is the perfect gift for cat lovers who also like to read. Cat books can be found in a variety of topics including, humor, art, photography, history, poetry, fiction and much more.
Cat jewellery such as watches or necklaces are popular gifts. Not to mention ornaments, cat figurines or cat clocks.
For those cat lovers who also love the kitchen, there are many cat themed items available, such as oven gloves, aprons, salt and pepper sets.
For a cat gift that lasts the whole year, a cat fancy magazine makes a lovely gift. There are many cat magazines published now. There are also cat charities that have as part of your donation a magazine that they post to you, such as The Cats Protection.
For a more expensive gift, cat portraits make a very special gift. These can either be painted by an artist from real life or from a photo. For a less expensive alternative you can take along your favorite photo of your cat to a photo shop and have it put onto a canvas frame to make it look like a portrait.
For those who love cat decor, there are individual gifts suited to any room in a home. For example the bathroom. You can buy complete sets of cat themed bathroom accessories. These include matching soap dishes, shower curtains, bath mats and wastebaskets. For the bedroom there are cat throws, duvet covers and rugs. And of course as you come through the front door there has to be the welcome mat with a picture of a cat on it.
So whatever cat gift you choose for you feline loving friend just keep in mind that each cat is unique but cat lovers aren’t. Cat lovers are simple to buy a gift for as they generally love anything to do with cats. You can even make their day by sending them a cat greetings card to go along with the gift.
Pet owners know that their pets become an integral part of their lives. For cat owners, when you first bring that little bundle of fur home as a kitten, the last thing you think of is them being unwell. But the responsibility falls on the pet owner to get the best veterinary care for your pet.
Advancements in veterinary science have made all kinds of treatments available to heal and cure your cat. Because of new technology and medicines, the cost of vetenary care has increased considerably, and cat owners can be faced with very high and unexpected bills.
To have an X-ray or anaesthetic at the vets alone can run up a very high bill. Cats are prone to road accidents, broken bones, teeth problems, not to mention injuries from other cats. Older cats too suffer from long term heath issues such as kidney failure, diabetes and arthritis. All of which can be very costly.
This is why cat insurance is advisable. A cat insurance guarantees that the medical expenses incurred on your cat is met in part on in whole by the insurance company, depending on your policy.
Most registered veterinary clinics accept pet insurance and some companies will give you a discount for more than one pet. Insuring your cat means that you guard against unexpected expenses as well as acting against inflation as prices rise at your vets. Medical expenses that look affordable now, may look enormous in a few years time.
Insuring your cat will give you peace of mind that no matter the medical emergency, you will always be able to afford the vets bills. Also as your cat becomes older and prone to age related conditions, your cat insurance will pay for itself. Getting your cat insured while still young, ensures coverage for accidents and illness which may occur at a later stage.
As well as the medical expense benefits, many insurance companies include in the policy cover for advertising if your cat is lost. They may well offer insurance for a cancelled holiday due to your cats illness and help towards boarding your cat if unwell while you are away. For this reason it is well worth doing some research in to a variety of insurance companies and the terms and conditions they offer you.
The advantage of having insurance for your cat is that you just take your cat to your favorite vet, pay for the treatment and then file a claim with the insurance company. The one downside with this is that you may be initially out of pocket before being reimbursed. Make sure you take your claim form along with you to save any delay getting your money back.
After completing the form by either yourself or your vet, you need to attach copies of receipts and invoices and send it to your insurance company who will review your claim.
When looking for an insurance company there are several things you should look for in the small print. There are now many companies that handle pet insurance from supermarket chains like Tesco in the UK or Walmart in the US, to big insurance companies such as Petplan. Each company offers very different terms and conditions.
Before you decide on a company check terms such as how much excess you will have to pay. Which conditions will your cat not covered for? Some companies will not cover dental heath. What is the upper age limit that they will cover? This is usually 10 years old, but if they have been insured from a young age with the company, they remain covered.
Will you have to contribute towards any expenses. With Petplan, once your cat turns 10, you have to contribute 20% of the vets fees. And how much will the insurers pay out on any one illness? Will they continue to pay for a long term, incurable condition such as thyroid or diabetes.
The cost of insuring your cat varies from one company to another and depends on the extent of the cover.Most insurance companies insist that your cat is fully up to date with all it’s vaccinations or it will not be covered. Certainly covering your cat from a young age will mean you will always be able to care for your cat with the best possible care at any time, without having to worry about finding the money for a huge vets bill.
Cats are true carnivores, and therefore must eat actual meat and not meat substitutes, to survive and be healthy. Commercial cat food consists mostly of animal products. However, it is supplemented with some grain filler and premium cat food also contains added vitamins and minerals.
There are two main groups of cat food, dry cat food and wet cat food. The debate over which one is best for your cat goes on, as some owners worry that their cat will not get enough water when eating dry cat food. Dry cat food certainly wins over in convenience to wet cat food. There are also different diet cat foods for those cats with specific medical conditions e.g. diabetic cat food or hypoallergenic cat food.
For any cat owner, feeding their cat can often be difficult, as cats are well known for being fussy eaters. So balancing your cats health needs with what they will eat, can often be a task. However, there is now so much choice available to cat owners to tempt the fussiest feline or those with health issues.
One of the leading brands of cat food on the market is Hills Science diet cat food or Hills prescription diet cat food. Many fussy cats can find one flavor of biscuit or wet food that they like and their range includes many types of foods for specific requirements.
Oral disease is one of the most common health problems in adult cats. Plaque is the main cause of oral disease. As plaque builds up on the teeth and around the gums, bacteria irritates gum tissue and can lead to infection. If not treated, it can lead to serious disease of the liver and heart.
Specially formulated foods can help keep your cats teeth clean and healthy. They work by helping scrape debris off your cat’s teeth. Hill’s science Diet oral care offers just such a cat food.
Cats that are obese can suffer from respiratory problems, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. For this reason you need to consider very carefully your cats diet. If your vet suggests you start your cat on a complete weight loss program, he will also suggest several specially formulated cat foods for your cat.
There are now several good dry cat foods available such as Hill’s light cat food, Royal Canin or Blue cat food. These all have restricted calories and fat, with the proper amounts of fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals to keep your cat healthy while they are losing weight. They also have the advantage of being easy to measure and monitor the exact amount your cat gets.
Hairballs are a very common problem with cats, especially if they don’t have access to grass, have long coats or like to constantly clean themselves. For this reason, a diet that is high in fiber can help your cat pass existing hairballs and help prevent new ones forming. Again Science plan and Royal Canin offer hairball control cat foods.
Another common ailment in cats is urinary infections. Symptoms include inappropriate urination in places other than the garden or litter box. Nutrition is an important factor in treating and preventing urinary problems. The proper balance of nutrients helps maintain proper pH levels. Purina ProPlan along with plenty of drinking water offer the correct balance for your cat.
Older cats often require a special diet. Senior cats sometimes do not digest, and thus absorb fat, as well as younger cats. This means that older cats need to consume fat that is more digest able to get the same amount of energy. There are now many brands of cat food on the market for senior cats including, Natural Choice, Science Diet for seniors and Royal Canin.
Cats are best fed twice per day, giving small cat treats between meals if necessary. If your cat does not like a diet of biscuits, there are plenty of good wet cat foods available. Even then if your cat refuses to eat a commercial diet, you may be able to tempt it with cooked chicken and other meats, or the occasional tuna meal (not in brine). These can be gradually mixed in with brand cat foods to get your feline used to other foods.
It is well worth trying several different brands and flavors for your cat. Even choosing a cat food in gravy or jelly can make a difference. Whichever cat food your cat chooses make sure it is a good quality cat food as some cheap cat foods do not offer the recommended nutrients for your cats health. If in doubt seek information from your local veterinary nurse or surgery.
Click Image for More Info
