A Pet's Life

Cats: Indoor - Outdoor

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Cats love the great outdoors. But humane associations agree that an indoor life is far healthier for them--they're safe from outdoor hazards, and their people tend to pay closer attention to them and notice signs of health problems earlier. The upshot? A much longer life span. An all-indoor cat lives an average of 10 to 14 years, whereas a cat who's allowed to roam is likely to survive just two to five years.

The one absolute law when making the indoor-outdoor decision: Declawed kitties should be kept inside. They can't defend themselves from dogs, other cats, or predators, making the outdoors even riskier. But if your kitty's got his claws and you're still on the fence about whether to let him outdoors, here's what to consider.

Indoor cats: drawbacks and benefits

Indoor cats won't:

get hit by a car
get lost
be attacked by dogs, other cats, and predators
eat poison left out by unthinking or malicious neighbors
pick up parasites like fleas and ticks
catch diseases spread by other cats

But there are disadvantages, too:

they're more likely to get fat, which is bad for their health
boredom can make them destructive, depressed, or lazy
they don't get to enjoy the pleasures of the outdoors

Outdoor cats: Drawbacks and benefits

Cats with outside privileges can enjoy:

more exercise
more stimulation from the outside world
the pleasure of fresh air and sunshine

But there are plenty of serious down sides:

getting hit by cars
getting lost
attack by dogs, other cats, or predators
poison left out by unthinking or malicious neighbors
parasites like fleas and ticks
diseases spread by other cats

Safety tips for outdoor cats

Your best bet is to build a large enclosure in your yard where your cat can enjoy being outside, watch birds and squirrels, and do some climbing, yet be safe from all the risks of the outdoors. You can find ready-made enclosures at Kittywalk systems or Wild Whiskers.

If you want to let your cat enjoy the whole yard, you can install special fencing to keep him safely enclosed, such as the Purrfect Fence or Cat Fence-In.

If you let your cat roam outside, microchip him for identification and outfit him with a reflective, breakaway collar and current identification tags.

Keeping an indoor cat entertained

To liven up an indoor cat's environment, give him access to at least two of the following:

a floor-to-ceiling cat post for his climbing pleasure
at least one windowside perch that gives him a view of a bird feeder or other outdoor wildlife
an aquarium that he can enjoy watching but not fall into
interactive toys that require him to use his brain and his physical skills to acquire treats
daily playtime, petting, and training
a tall, heavy-duty scratching post that allows him to stretch, sharpen his claws, and leave his signature scent from the glands in his paws

Bottom line:
Indoor cats live longer, healthier lives, but if you want to let your kitty outside, there are safer ways to do it.

Source

Dogs Need Toys

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:23:00 +0000

Dogs Need Toys

Dogs were originally bred to hunt, yet most of our household pets seldom get the chance to do more than bark at the mail carrier. In order to prevent your pooch from ruining your new stilettos, invest in some fun dog toys!

Toys give your dog the chance to chew, tussle, pull and chase without harming your household. They can save you big money and headaches. Plus, they're fun!

Some dog-toy tips:

Look for toys that are the right size for your dog. A big dog can get small toys lodged in its throat, while a small dog may become frustrated at trying to chew or carry a toy that's too big.
A young, active dog will likely destroy many toys. Supervise playtimes and take away any toy that begins to fall apart, to prevent swallowing stuffing or other parts. (And take heart -- many dogs get better at preserving their toys as they get older.)
One excellent toy is a hard rubber cylinder. To make it more appealing to your dog, fill the inside with broken-up treats or peanut butter (or both!). The dog will have to chew vigorously to get at the yummy things inside, and can stay busy for hours with this.
If you have to spend several hours a day away from your dog, wear an old T-shirt for a few hours, long enough for it to get your scent, then place the shirt in the dog's bed before you go away. The dog may chew holes in the shirt, but will find it comforting and pleasant to have your scent around.
Keep a few new toys around for days when the weather won't let your dog exercise outside. On those days, the dog's "workout" can involve finding or fetching a toy.
Play with your dog every day. It helps keep the dog fit, cements the bond between you and you might find it's a very good stress reliever as well!

Source

Some truths about dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:13:00 +0000

Can a Chihuahua and a Great Dane mate? Why do dogs lift their leg when they pee? or How toxic chocolate is really? These are just some of the questions that we sometimes asked. Find out what were the answers from the common pet lovers and find out the answers from animal experts from this video.

Bandit escaped from the house

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:03:00 +0000

We just came from church, we were gone for three hours and when we got home I was wondering why bandit wasn't in the living room. He usually be sitting by the door or barking at us by the window but this time he wasn't there. So, I called his name but still no bandit came out to meet me. I looked in the bedroom or in the bathroom to see if he was asleep and just didn't notice us but still no Bandit to be found. I suspected that he was left outside when Larry Jr, my stepson left for church he forgot to let Bandit stay in the house. I called hubby that his gone and escaped and probably roaming around the neighborhood. Hubby told me once he gets home we would drive around the neighborhood and look for him as he was already on hi way back home from work. I couldn't wait for hubby to get home and find Bandit so I walked outside, started in the backyard and started calling bandit, then Nichole followed me then we walked around the backyard into the front house. I heard our neighbors dog barking at something so I walked out to the road hoping that bandit might be there and still calling his name out loud. Then I heard another dog braking which seemed to be Bandit's voice. I was not mistaken it was him in the neighbors yard, he was doing something, I saw him from afar and called him he was wagging his tail and running towards us but there was this high fence in between so we started walking to go around the fence so bandit could find his way out but he was smart enough to be able to find his way out of the fence before we got there. I scolded him, he was a naughty dog today. We went back home while walking on the road to the house , bandit saw this ditch that had a water running and he went there and sit on it to dip himself to cool himself up. I guess he felt so hot. He got dirty, we have to let him stay in the back porch and wait til he dries up before he gets back inside the house. What a day for bandit! Well, at least he wasn't really gone I would freak out if we lose him.

Pet Owner Charged With Animal Cruelty

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:21:00 +0000

This is the title of the news I just read over the internet. Yes, that will happen when pet owners will abuse their pets and not take care of them the way they should be taken cared of.

"NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The owner of a Hickman County farm where over 700 animals were seized in June is facing charges. According to press release from the state Attorney General's office, Patricia Adkission is facing 24 felony counts of aggravated cruelty, nine counts of other misdemeanors for animal cruelty and a variety of other misdemeanors in connection with the raid.

Authorities said the raid at the Lyles, Tenn., farm was the largest in Tennessee's history. The investigation was so massive that it took officials days to take animals away from the area.

Investigators said the animals were housed in various buildings throughout the 92-acre property. Many of them were without water and living in cages covered in feces."

I hope the rescued animals will find a good and loving homes.

Spread the Blog Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:37:00 +0000

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Golden Retriever Adopted Tiger Cubs

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:47:00 +0000

Isn't dog amazing sometimes especially when you hear or read unusual stories about them? Take a look at this video clip where a Golden Retriever adopted three tiger cubs who were abandoned by their mother.

I love Golden Retrievers they are really smart dogs

Source

Dogs catch the yawns from people..

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:23:00 +0000

Photo Source

LONDON - Dogs find human yawns contagious, suggesting they have a rudimentary capacity for empathy, British scientists said on Wednesday.

Although yawning is widespread in many animals, contagious yawning — a yawn triggered by seeing others yawning — has previously only been shown to occur in humans and chimpanzees.

It turns out, however, that man's best friend is highly sensitive to catching human yawns, with 72 percent of 29 dogs tested yawning after observing a person doing so.

Writing in the journal Biology Letters, Atsushi Senju and colleagues at London's Birkbeck College said this behavior showed dogs were skilled at reading human social cues and "may relate to their capacity for empathy."

Source

Bandit's Scared....

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:44:00 +0000

Bandit is always scared of thunder and lightning. Everytime he hears thunder, he started shaking and panting. Last night we had thunder and lightning although it didn't rain in this part of the valley where we live but we could hear the loud noise of the thunder and see the spark of the lightning. Hubby and I opened the window blinds so we could watch the lightning in the sky from our wide window glass. Bandit had been shaking and trembling the whole time so I put a blanket on the couch so he could sit with me and hubby. He knows that he was not allowed to sit on the couch but this time he needs to be closed to us coz he was really scared. He had to wait for our permission if he is allowed to jump on the couch and as soon as I pat my hand on the couch and called his name he jump off right away without any hesitation and hubby and I knew that he loved that. So, Bandit was on the couch laying in the middle where hubby and I sat and patted him every now and then to comfort him to ease his fears from the thunder and lightning. Poor bandit, he couldn't helped himself from shaking and trembling and panting too.

As for Tiger and August they don't care. Tiger was in the living room the whole time and was even so hyper running around the living room. While August was downstair laying down on the couch where she usually stays. August is a loner cat, she always want to be by herself.

Bandit's Whining

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:57:00 +0000

We went to bed at midnight last night. I was in the middle of dreamland when suddenly I heard bandit whining on the side of the bed where hubby was laying down. It was only 5 am, I waited for awhile because I was too lazy to get up from bed. I knew bandit is telling something that he wanted to go out from the bedroom as he usually stays with us every night in our bedroom. So, I got up from bed and as soon as Bandit knew that I was getting up he started getting hyper, jumping up and down which means that he wants to go out. He does this when he wants to go to the bathroom and so I let him out of the house and he quickly ran to the bushes to go "wewe" and then he ran to the backyard and I knew what he was doing when he went there. He went to "drop a load" which meant he went pooped. I always admire how smart Bandit is, as long as there is somebody in the house he would let us know when he wants to "GO to the Bathroom".

Whenever he gets hyper jumping up and down, whining and sometimes standing by the front door or kitchen door it means "mommy I want to go potty/drop a load".

Tips for a Poison-Safe Household

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:21:00 +0000

Ten Tips for a Poison-Safe Household

Be aware of the plants you have in your house and in your pet's yard. The ingestion of azalea, oleander, mistletoe, sago palm, Easter lily or yew plant material by an animal could be fatal.

When cleaning your house, never allow your pet access to the area where cleaning agents are used or stored. Cleaning agents have a variety of properties. Some may only cause a mild stomach upset, while others could cause severe burns of the tongue, mouth and stomach.

When using rat or mouse baits, ant or roach traps, or snail and slug baits, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your animals. Most baits contain sweet smelling, inert ingredients, such as jelly, peanut butter and sugars, which can be very attractive to your pet.

Never give your animal any medications unless under the direction of your veterinarian. Many medications that are used safely in humans can be deadly when used inappropriately. One extra strength acetaminophen tablet (500mg) can kill a seven-pound cat.

Keep all prescription and over-the-counter drugs out of your pets' reach, preferably in closed cabinets. Pain killers, cold medicines, anti-cancer drugs, anti-depressants, vitamins and diet pills are common examples of human medications that could be potentially lethal, even in small dosages. One regular strength ibuprofen (200mg) can cause stomach ulcers in a ten-pound dog.

Never leave chocolates unattended. Approximately one-half ounce or less of baking chocolate per pound of body weight can cause problems. Even small amounts can cause pancreatic problems.

Many common household items have been shown to be lethal in certain species. Miscellaneous items that are highly toxic, even in low quantities, include pennies (high concentration of zinc), mothballs (contain naphthaleneor paradichlorobenzene - one or two balls can be life threatening in most species), potpourri oils, fabric softener sheets, automatic dish detergents (contain cationic detergents which can cause corrosive lesions), batteries (contain acids or alkali which can also cause corrosive lesions), homemade play-dough (contains high quantity of salt), winter heat source agents like hand or foot warmers (contain high levels of iron), cigarettes, coffee grounds, and alcoholic drinks.

All automotive products such as oil, gasoline and antifreeze, should be stored in areas away from pets. As little as one teaspoon of antifreeze (ethylene glycol) can be deadly in a seven-pound cat, and less than one tablespoon can be lethal to a 20-pound dog.

Before buying or using flea products on your pet or in your household, contact your veterinarian to discuss what types of products are recommended for your pet. Read ALL information before using a product on your animal or in your home. Always follow label instructions. When a product is labeled, "for use in dogs only," this means that the product should NEVER be applied to cats or other pets. Also, when using a fogger or a house spray, make sure to remove all pets from the area for the time period specified on the container. If you are uncertain about the usage of any product, contact the manufacturer or your veterinarian to clarify the directions BEFORE use of the product.

When treating your lawn or garden with fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides, always keep your animals away from the area until it dries completely. Discuss usage of products with the manufacturer before using. Always store such products in an area that will ensure no possible pet exposure.

source:

Golden Retriever and Newfoundland Breeds

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:41:00 +0000

Since Bandit is a Golden Retriever and Newfoundland mix I search some articles that tells more about each of this breed. Here's what I found out:

Golden Retriever : sturdy and beautiful dogs with a medium-length hair and a cream to golden colored coat. These are lovable, well-mannered, highly intelligent dogs with a great charm. They are easily trained. They love to please their owners, they are friendly and gentle with children and even to everyone. They are loyal, confident, sweet and eager to please. They are good watchdogs and they excel in obedience competitions. They like to retrieve balls and other toys. Golden Retrievers are well known for their hunting capabilities on land and in the water.

Golden retriever
Breed Group: Sporting
Weight: male: 65-75, female: 55-65 lbs
Height: male: 23-24, female: 21.5-22.5 inches
Color(s): various shades of gold

New Foundland : a gentle giant among canines, is a striking dog bound to elicit admiring commentswherever he accompanies his owner. A sweet, devoted companion, the Newf will protect children, haul leaves and firewood, save drowning people, and compete successfully in obedience and tracking trials.

The Newfoundland is a sweet-dispositioned dog that acts neither dull nor ill-tempered. He is a devoted companion. A multipurpose dog, at home on land and in water, the Newfoundland is capable of draft work and possesses natural lifesaving abilities.

The Newfoundland is a large, heavily coated, well balanced dog that is deep-bodied, heavily boned, muscular, and strong. A good specimen of the breed has dignity and proud head carriage.

Newfoundland
Breed Group: Working
Weight: male: 130-150, female: 100-120 lbs
Height: male: 28, female: 26 inches
Color(s): solid black, brown, or gray, may
have white on chin, chest, toes, and
tail tip; or white base color with black
markings.

Here's the photo of Bandit as a Golden Newf mix.What a very handsome dog!!! If you are planning to get a new pet why not consider the Golden Newf mix.

Welcome to "A Pet's Life"

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:30:00 +0000

Welcome everyone to my new blog " A Pet's Life" where I will be sharing adventures and experiences of my pets Bandit, Tiger and August. I am very passionate when it comes to dogs and cats. They make me happy everytime I see them in the house. I should say that hubby and I have an extraordinary cat and dog like Tiger and Bandit. Why? because of their unusual traits and characteristics. They are so goofy, fun and smart that sometimes I wonder if I could find somebody like them.

Find out more about them as I share my stories of these adorable critters. This blog will not only talk about my pets but also other important and interesting informations about cats and dogs.

Thank you for taking time to read. Will see you around.

My Pets

noreply@blogger.com (Lara) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:50:00 +0000

This is Bandit, he is a mixed Golden Retriever and Newfoundland. Hubby adopted him from Roist Hurst Humane Society in 2004. He is approximately 7 or 8 yrs. old. We sometimes call him Bandito, Banditers and skitters. His favorite toy is a ball. He loves to play throw and fetch. He is a very smart dog. Hubby was so amazed at how Bandit came to the dog pound with Bandit's wonderful characteristics and abilities. He knows a lot of tricks and commands like sit, stay, speak, no, back, hi 5 and if you ask him " where is your ball?" he would get hyper and would start looking for his ball and grab it with his mouth and would show it to you and start playing with it. He is such a sweetheart and he is a good boy because he is friendly with cats. To me, he is an extra ordinary dog. He loves to be snuggled and scratched in his chest. If you ever see him you will surely fall in love with him.

Tiger is a female Tabby cat, she was a Christmas present to my hubby from his daughter Nichole in December of 2006. Tiger is only one year old. She is so adorable and sometimes funny. She makes my day with her silly ways. Sometimes she thinks she is like a dog because she loves to lick and sometimes she acts like a mouse because she would tear up a cat food bag until she could sneak in and eat the food inside the bag. She loves grabbing things with her mouth. She is a playful and a very active cat.

This one is August, she used to be a wild cat and used to be Mark's (hubby's brother) cat back in Florida but when Mark and his wife moved out of Florida they left her and had my mom-in-law take care of her. When my mom (mom-in-law) moved here to Colorado in 2002 she couldn't find August so she was left again in Florida. After a couple of months the people that live at my mom's house found her and mom had them send August through the plane which cost around $200-300. August is a loner and just want to be by herself. I rarely see her play, I think it's because she is already around 10 years old or more. She doesn't like someone to pet her but when she is in the mood she would come to me or to hubby and sit on my/his lap and start pushing her front paws back and forth as if giving me a massage. Since August used to be the only cat in the house she hasn't liked Tiger from the first time they met. She would attack Tiger in no time once she sees her so I always end up the referee when the two start fighting. I just hope that one day August would leave Tiger alone and the two could become friends. It's funny because normally dogs and cats do not get along well with each other but here in our home it's our cats that don't get along and Bandit would never want to get involved or deal with these two cats when they start fighting because Bandit is peaceful and kind natured and avoids all confrontations.