By being aware of how your cat is feeling and what it is doing you will help to ensure that its health remains at an optimum level.

There are various different signs that will let you know when your cat is not feeling the best or when some action is necessary where you might need to take it to the vet for a checkup.

For instance, if you find that your cat is vomiting, it is not necessarily a problem unless it appears to be apathetic and low on energy.
Cats will eat grass to induce vomiting often to eliminate hair that they’ve ingested while grooming themselves.
If this is happening consistently then you might need to spend a little more time grooming your cat to remove the excess hair and stop it from swallowing it when it licks itself.

Cold food can also cause your cat to vomit and it is not a good idea to take the cat food directly from the refrigerator and feed it to your pet.
Heat the food in a microwave for a few seconds before placing it on the plate and you might find that your cat has a lot less problems with its food.

If you find that your cat is scratching itself quite a lot then this can be a sign that it needs additional grooming to remove fleas or ticks.

You can often see flea dirt in the fur and even if you can’t find the fleas when grooming this is a sign that they are there and need to be eliminated.

There are various different treatments available for fleas, from pills to powders, and even collars that can be worn around the neck.
You need to be careful when putting a collar on a cat as they like to climb and these can get caught in branches and other things that could result in dire and life threatening circumstances.

Some of the flea treatments can also make your cat feel unwell for a day or two afterwards so look out for any signs and use an alternative treatment next time if you feel that it has been upsetting your cat.

When a cat or kitten becomes part of your household you are going to have to buy cat food for your new pet. The question though when you go to buy cat food is which sort should I get? The choice at first can be quite bewildering. The range and choice of cat food has grown considerably in recent years.

Before the introduction of tin cat food, pouches, dry food and all the rest most cats tended to eat the leftovers from their owner’s meals. They might be given some of the cheaper portions of fresh fish such as cod cheeks but there were no specialist pet foods.

There does appear to be a clear connection with the development of these cat foods with the fact that generally cats seem to live longer now than in the past. However, how do you make sense of the wide selection available when you go out to buy cat food? Most food stores and supermarkets have a selection of the popular cat foods. Whether you buy the tinned versions or those coming in a pouch is purely down to which you and your cat prefer. The pouches tend to be in a one portion size which makes it easier to gauge how much to give your pet, but generally the tinned varieties tend to work out cheaper.

When you visit vets they may entice you to buy cat food from a display in their waiting rooms. These are often the top of the range cat foods that are at the top end of the price range. If you choose to buy ct food from your vets you can be assured that you are getting quality but not necessarily value for money.

Many of the cat foods on offer at your vets will be of the dry food “crunchie” variety. Dry foods are also available from food and pet stores and are very popular with some cats and their owners. The important factor that you need to remember if feeding your cat dry food is to make sure they have a readily accessible supply of fresh water. A cat needs to drink plenty of water if they have a dry food diet or otherwise they could develop kidney problems.

When you first get a cat the question of their food is going to be very much trial and error. Your pet will quickly show you which brands and types of food it prefers. Be aware though that cats just like humans and can be fickle quickly going on or off certain foods. When you go to buy cat food it is a good idea to bring a little variety into your cats diet.

Left to their own devices cats not only make their own fun but can be really amusing to watch. In the video below their are 10 examples of cats amusing themselves without any human help.

Stewie the cat  soothesbaby Connor.

Cat training is it possible?
Cats are wonderful animals!  It is remarkable how well these animals have adapted to domesticity.  It has been estimated that they have been living in close contact with human beings for approximately 3,500 years.

Not only are they good for pets, but they are also very useful to humans.  The ancient Egyptians took care of them to get rid of the mice in their homes.

No wonder there have been hundreds and hundreds of books written that are devoted to the subject of these animals.  Most of these books have to do with cat training.

Since cats are predatory creatures by instinct; they still exhibit some behaviors that are best suited in the wilderness.  This sometimes becomes a problem for people who have cats living in their households .

That is why there are a lot of training books that have been written to address various issues concerning cat training.

Different types of training books

There are various different types of training books that are available in the market.  Some deal with the issue of cats’ health and their behavior.

Some are reference books written by veterinarians.  They offer insights and tips on how to  properly take care of cats.  These types of books can be used as a resource by owners when training their cats.

While other cat training books are categorized according to breed, some give those readers who are seeking to gain more knowledge on a specific breed of cats more extensive, and helpful information.

Where to get these books

These books can be purchased in local bookstores.  They can even be borrowed in libraries. But the most convenient place to get them would be online.  There’s a wide range of cat training books to choose from in the internet.

Rates and reviews of these books are also available.  This gives the buyer some insight about the book, helping them decide and pick out exactly the type of cat training book they are looking for.

Who buys these books?

Books on how to train cats are perfect for first time cat owners.  These books will offer them the much needed information they need in order to take care of their cats.

A lot of cat lovers also have a collection of cat books.  Ranging in topics from:  breed books, photography, fiction, cat care, training, nutrition, etc.

Cat training books are a perfect companion for any cat owner. Every cat owner should at least have one on their book shelf.

When the mouse is away, cats play. And cats have the tendency to both play hard and play soft. Toys are to cats the same as toys are to dogs. It helps fight the boredom experienced by these pets as well as gives our feline friends the opportunity to practice and use their natural inclination to chase and hunt for prey. It also gives the cat owner that great chance to play with their pets, an experience that will aid in bonding their relationship.

But what toys are best for cats? The following are tips and helpful advice to get that perfect toy for the cat owners perfect pets.

Play safe

The good thing about cats is that they can play ball inside the house and the owners will never know it. Still, there may be things inside the house that cats could find attractive yet might actually endanger their health and safety. Houses must be cat-friendly. As much as possible, take away any string, yarn, needles, rubber bands or other objects that could easily be swallowed by cats. These things could be lethal to cats. Do not let them play with these articles no matter how cute they may appear to be.

Play soft

Choose soft toys that can easily be machine-washed. It is best that the toys chosen to be played with by cats are also the toys marked as safe to be played with by children below three years old. Toys such as these usually contain fillings that are not hazardous. Also, avoid giving cats toys that are hard and rigid, these types do not appeal to them that much.

Know your cat, know their toy

It is best that one also familiarize themselves with your cat. Doing so helps in ones selection of the kind of plaything that best serves the size of ones cat – the kind of activity the cat likes and its unique preferences. Know the environment in which the cat likes to spend its time the most.

Choose active toys

Toys that are great to play with for cats are usually the round plastic ones (such as rings from shower curtains, plastic balls, golf balls, balls used in ping-pong) as these give cats the opportunity to chase and paw around. They could also carry these in their mouths, make sure though that these are big enough they cannot be swallowed but not so large that they cannot carry them in their mouths.

Choose active play

Balls can be placed inside bath tubs filled with water. Watch as cats frolic and play on and around the toy. It is just as enjoyable to the cat as it is fun for the cat owner. Another added feature that could be placed on balls are bells. One not only sees how cats play, one could also listen and take pleasure in the playful sound
.
Another simple yet effective plaything for cats is a paper bag. Use paper bags that do not have handles. These bags are good for pouncing around. Cats hide in them too. As much as possible, avoid the plastic ones as cats have the tendency to chew these and they may eat the plastic. This is not good.

Toys with tails

Cats like playing with soft toy animals – specially the ones that have tails. They either bite them, paw them or chase these little stuffed toys around. It is best if these toys are as big or as small as the cats playing them.

Toys with catnip

Catnip is sometimes used as stuffing for toys that are soft. Putting catnip in such playthings make the toys more enjoyable to carry, kick and throw around. More importantly, it is safe for cats to chew on, roll around in, or eat.
It is okay for owners to place catnip on carpeted floors, or (to make clean-up easy) on towels. There are now catnip oils that can be placed on carpets, and they usually stay there. Cats detect these too. Although small cats, specifically kittens who are younger than six months have shown a certain kind of immunity to catnip.

All in all, it is best that cat owners define what kind of toy should be played by their cats. It is advisable that different kinds of toys be given on certain days, and that displaying all toys simultaneously may not be a good idea. Cats can easily tire of seeing the same fluffy toy animal again and again. Variety always works best. However if cats show a certain liking to a specific toy, let them play with it, or sleep with it – whichever they like.

A cat can make a perfect companion for an elderly person, especially if they live on their own. As people get older, friends die or move away, they become less mobile and tend to spend more time in their home. In these circumstances a cat makes an ideal antidote to loneliness.

The big advantage of a cat as a pet is that they need minimum exercise and unlike a dog does not need to be taken for walks. Many older people tend to downside and live in smaller homes such as bungalows or flats and again this can make a cat more suitable a pet than a dog.

The best cat for an elderly person could be an older cat rather than a kitten. An older cat will be easier to cope with than a frisky kitten and most rescue societies will have plenty of older cats looking for good homes. As an older person tends to spend more time in their home it should not take too long for the owner and pet to bond.

If it is possible before a cat comes into an old persons home they should get someone to install a cat flap. Having to get up and open the door to let cat in and out can be tiring and even a little frightening on dark nights.

If you are getting a cat on behalf of an elderly person there are some items that you will also need to get. Feeding and water bowls, litter and litter tray and a grooming brush are essentials. You will also need to check that in the event of the older person going away on holiday or to hospital that there will be someone who can look after the cat.

Another point to consider is that vets bills which can be expensive and a drain on resources for an older person who is on a limited budget. Therefore, it is advisable to take out a pet insurance policy to cover these costs.

One major concern for old people when they consider getting any pet is that they are worried that it will outlive them. In this case they are worried about what will happen to their pet after they are gone. These days there are several schemes run by organizations such as in the UK the RSPCA who will agree to take and try and find a home for any pets left behind after a persons death.

Older people usually have more time to spend with their pets and as a result a strong bond can be formed between owner and cat. So if you know any lonely old person you could suggest they take a cat as a pet.

There may be one member of the family who will not be over joyed at the arrival of a new baby. It is very easy for your cat to feel less than impressed at the arrival of another claim to your affections. However, if handled correctly your baby and cat could become the best of friends.

Tip 1. It is likely that you may change some of the house rules when the baby arrives. For instance, if a room that the cat use to sleep in has been converted to a nursery you should ban it from that room well before the baby is brought home. This way the cat will not associate the baby’s arrival with the restriction.

Tip 2. To be on the safe side take your cat to the vets for a complete check-up before the baby’s arrival. This way if there are any problems such as fleas or parasites they can be cleared up before the baby comes into the house.

Tip 3. If you have a cot or crib for your baby leave it out before the baby is born and deter the cat from either jumping into it or trying to use it as somewhere to sleep. Under no circumstances should a cat and baby be allowed to sleep together.

Tip 4. Cats can get jealous and there are several things you can do to avoid this happening. If there are already children in the house you can ask them to make a bit more of a fuss of the cat than they might normally do. When you come back from the hospital with your baby get the father to carry it into the house whilst you make a fuss of the cat. You will not have seen him for a day or two and he will have missed you so do not ignore it.

Tip 5. At some stage you are going to have to introduce the cat to the baby. Whilst you obviously will need to watch the situation closely do not hold the cat. Let it approach the baby in its own way, almost certainly sniffing and approaching carefully. Do not try and introduce them if the baby is tearful or crying as the noise may well put the cat off.

Tip 6. Babies are like cats in the fact that they sleep a lot. When your baby is sleeping find time to fuss your cat.

Tip 7. As the baby grows and begins to crawl around you will need to teach it how to pet the cat gently. Babies and cats can become firm friends but until the child is older possibly around 4 years you should never allow it to play with the cat unsupervised.

Follow these simple tips and your new baby and the cat should become firm friends

As in any new relationship it takes time for the two new partners to get to know each others ways and little foibles. It is just the same when you bring a new cat into your home. It is a mistake to believe that all cats are the same. This is not true each is an individual in its own right and has its own ways and manners.

It is important that you both get to know each other as quickly as possible. Because a cat cannot tell you what it feels or finds annoying you will have to learn to read the signs. Some cats are quite solitary creatures but most will want to spend some time with you on a regular basis for some tender loving care. However, there can be a limit to the amount of fussing some cats will take.

If you accept the fact that all cats believe in their ultimate superiority over all other creatures including humans you will be well on your way to understanding your pet. They may want a tickle and a bit of a fuss but only on their terms. If they are getting over stimulated or simply bored they will let you know by swishing their tail, pricking back their ears, a stiffening of their bodies or even taking a bite or a swipe at you.

If you want loyalty from a pet then you would be better off getting a dog, cats are not big into loyalty. There is a saying that “dogs have masters and cats have servants” and this is very true. In return for providing a home, warmth and regular food a cat will come and sit on your lap, allow you to play with it and even occasionally show signs of affection but only if it feels like it.

Cats are remarkably impatient animals and if you do not open the door for them or put their food down quickly enough they will let you know. My cat will usually circle me, give the occasional meow and generally make a pain of himself until I do what he wants.

Of course this may sound a bit weak and pathetic on my part but that is what happens when you get a cat. You have this vague idea that you will train it so that it will fit into your home and life style but you realise that the truth is that it is the cat who is training you.