Name Calling

Naming a pet is a great fun, because you have no limits whatsoever to the name you can choose. Most of our pets probably end up with a couple of names like Pongo, Bridget, Missy, Beethoven, etc.

Look in atlases for interesting place names and turn to literary references for great characters name or the names of author. Or think of names that are related to your profession or great loves, Like the dogs we call them Kimmy and Robin since we are reminded of these names associated with the actors and actress' name in the movie. My nephew named his dog - Chicken. What a weird name that could be for a dog but he likes it.

Although plenty of names- your pet books are out there and they're all fun reading refined that a name your baby book is just as useful.

Make naming your pets a family project and use this opportunity to interest your children on a trip to a library. You don't have that many opportunities in your life to name a family member. So make the most out of it!

This is Kimmy and Robin

(when they were still pups a Rottweiler breed)

How to Keep Kitty Coats in Shape

The amount of time you spend grooming your cat’s fur depends on a couple factors, primarily the kind of coat your cats has. With their long, silky coats, Persians and Himalayans need daily brushing, combing, and detangling, frequent baths, and even professional grooming on occasion. Other long hairs, such as short hairs or the fine fur of some of the lighter-coated pedigreeds, such as the Cats with medium or short coats are fine with weekly grooming and a bath now and then – more frequently if you have allergy sufferers in the home or if you’re especially sensitive to finding hair everywhere. For most cats, though, you just want to pitch in often enough to ensure that mats aren’t forming and fannies are kept clear of debris.

Combing and brushing

Short-, medium-, and wired-haired cats are a breeze to groom after you get your cat used to the idea of being touched by grooming tools. Run the comb through your cat’s fur, follow with the slicker brush or grooming glove, and then step back and admire the shine!

One benefit of short haired cats: You can use a flea comb on them. Flea comb have narrowly spaced teeth that catch the little bloodsucker where they eat: on your cat. To use one, comb with the fine comb first and then flea comb from the skin out, a tiny bit at a time, flicking the pests into a bowl of warm, sudsy water as you go. After you’re done, flush the fleas away – most of them are drowned by then anyway.

You need to realized, however, that combing fleas from your pet does not solve a flea problem. See “Keeping external parasites under control,” total flea control is necessary also to solve this problem

For long haired cats, a flea comb is hard to used, and grooming is a little more involved.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Divide your cat’s coat into sections with the “medium” or “coarse”

comb and work through the fur slowly and gently.

2. Repeat Step 1, but this time use the fine-toothed comb.

3. Follow with a brushing, and again work with a small section at a time, using the pin brush.

4. Don’t forget lots of praise!

Pay special attention to the areas where the legs meet the body, behind the ears, and under the tails – all places that are mat magnets for long haired cat.

Bringing Pets Into Our Home

Your New Pets Home

The day your pet comes home is a big step for both of you. If she's a kitten or a pup she's leaving her little mates and her mom and throwing her lot in with you, and incredibly large and, to her mind, an gainfully and unpredictable creature. If she's grown cat or pup, she's dealing with the uncertainties of her recent life and is unsure of what the future may hold. As you would for a child visiting your home, be there for your cat or dog but don't force yourself upon her.

For four days after joining Francis' family, he's cat, Bridget, lived in a tiled room, refusing to join for a party in any socialize events . In fact, she would jump four feet in the air every time Gerry tried to coax her to interact during his cleaning and feeding time in her room. But slowly and surely, she acclimated to his presence and her new surroundings, and her need for social interaction drew her out on her own terms. She's now the friendliest cat you would ever hope to meet.

Try to arrange sometimes off work after your cat first comes home, or at the very least, pick her up the first morning of a weekend. You want to spend some extra time with her, and a little extra attention her helps with the bonding.

You want the transition to be a smooth as possible, and a safe trip home is an important step. The first rule of transporting a cat or dog: use carrier! The second rule: use a carrier! You may also wants to bring towels, both a the paper and old bathroom variety, and a bottle of pet-mess clean up solution in case of an accident- although don't try to clean up any mess inside the carrier until you and your new pet are safely home.

May you have a wonderful time bonding with your new pet.

Have Allergies???

Can You Have a Cat If You Have Allergies?

Yes and No even as more people than ever before have come to appreciate cats, one group of cats lovers keeps its distances-- and wishes they didn't have to. That's because one of the biggest barriers to keeping a cat is allergies . More people are allergic to cats than to dogs , and cat allergies are oftentimes more severe as well. For people – and especially children – with asthma, cat allergies can be life-threatening.

The first thing you need to know about allergies is that the fur isn't what causes the problem;it's an element called Fel D1 found in cat saliva and deposited on skin and fur when a cat grooms. This allergen becomes part of the dander-- flakes of skin and secretions and saliva that a cat spreads wherever he wanders and that become airborne as he's petted or when he jumps or shakes.

The second thing you need to know relates to the first. Because the allergen-laden skin flakes are what cause the problems, a hypoallergenic cat is not possible. Cats with little or no fur can't help you, allergists say – even though some breeders of cats such as the hairless Sphinx or the lightly furred Cornish and Devon Rexes insist otherwise.

Still, some people live with both cats and allergies, and If you're considering

doing so – or struggling with the situation already – find an allergist who doesn't greet you with, “First, find new homes for your pets.” In some cases, for some people,that unfortunately becomes the ultimate – and only – resolution of the problem.

Here are some other tips for living with cats and allergies:

Don't neglect your other allergies. Consult your doctor (allergist) to control it may give you "breathing room". Remember not to take for granted allergies and asthma since they are serious health problems.

Establish your bedroom as an “allergy-free zone”. More than one-third of our lives is spent sleeping, and so making that time less stressful for the body is very important. Combat dust mites by washing bedding frequently in hot water.

Make the bedroom completely off-limits to pets at all times. Although there’s not a pet lover alive who doesn’t enjoy a purring cat on bed, keeping the bedroom “allergy-free” is probably a necessary compromise fr allergy sufferers.

Try to limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, aerosol products. Cigarette smoke, and strong perfumes and consider using a mask while doing work and house work, especially at the height of the pollen season. Better yet: Get someone else to now the lawn, do the vacuuming, and clean the litter box.

Keep your pets clean and well groomed. The best situation is for a member of the family who doesn’t suffer from allergies to take over these pet-care chores. Weekly bathing of your cat in clear water is a must-it keeps down the dander levels. Add soap if your cat needs a real bath, but its not necessary for allergen control-clear water is fine.

So why not give your cat a bath?