We have always been fascinated by what that cat tail is doing, from the question mark shape it makes to swishing side to side or standing bolt upright.

Did you know that when you see your cat’s tail, swishing from side to side, means that it is extremely angry.  I for sure know, that when I’m curled up watching a film and my cat gets petted the wrong way, that tail will start moving from side to side.  Talk about a short fuse!

How To Read A Cat’s Tail

Upright tail:
A friendly greeting to another cat or human, that are feel no threat.

Upright tail with the tail tipped:
A greeting, but the cat may have some reservations.

Gentle Downward Curve but the curve tipped up:
Total relaxation and contentment.

Tail is still but the tip is actively twitching:
Very irritated and annoyed.

Upright and fully bristled tail:
Aggression or defense from another cat.

Fluffed out and lowered tail:
Fear and trying to avoid confrontation of another cat.

Tail downward and tucked between the legs:
Submission or defeat.

Tail is wrapped around the body:
Contentment or slightly defensive.

So just when you think you may have it all figured out, watch out, because the results may shock you; keep yourself well informed before you decide to pet your cat, and reach out that hand.  Trust me, because I had to learn the hard way!

Cats are mysterious creatures indeed, but with time and experience we have certainly developed some clues towards understanding what they are thinking.

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By Madeleine Innocent

Caring for your cat is easy when you try to remember her origins. Being domesticated doesn’t mean you should abandon how she would live in the wild. Cats have evolved in the wild over millennia. They have been domesticated for a mere trifle in comparison.

This means that their nutritional and emotional needs remain identical to those of their forebears. In attempting to provide the best cat care means looking at these needs. Lets look at their nutritional needs first.

Wild cats hunt on their own. They hunt small animals, sometimes up to about their own size, but mostly smaller than themselves. They rarely eat anything other than freshly killed meat. Contrasting this with a typical domestic cat’s diet of dried pellets and you realise how off the mark commercial pet food is. Even if dried pellets were made with the best cuts of meat (which they aren’t), the meat is still not fresh or raw. So, if you’re trying to provide the most complete cat care, what should you feed your cat?

In my opinion, the best cat food is raw meat and bones. You can’t completely duplicate a wild cat’s diet, but you can come so close as to not compromise her health. Cat care starts with food as this is consumed daily. Something done daily has much more impact on our health than say something that only happens once a year.

When a cat eats her prey, she will eat all the meat, including the bones. Bones are the best source of calcium for a cat. And meat can only be properly digested when it is consumed with bones. After all, all carnivores eat meat with bones. Not only that, crunching up on bones is the best way of keeping her teeth and gums healthy, as long as they’re not too big. No dried pellets can do that as well, despite the promises on the label.

Natural cat care also means providing your cat with her basic emotional and physical needs. Cats are intelligent and inquisitive. They need visual stimulation. This is best served by being outdoors, where nature provides an abundance of stimulation. If it’s impossible or too dangerous to let your cat outside, do make sure she has access to safe stimulants, perhaps in the form of toys. Make sure you play with her to ensure she gets adequate exercise.

Sun is an important aspect of good cat care. Cats love the sun and it is essential to good health for all of us, not just your cat. Regular outdoor access will allow her to choose for herself. For confined cats, make sure there are times when you can open a window (safely) to allow the sun’s rays in, unhindered by glass or plastic.

Easy cat care really means allowing your cat the freedom she desires. Confining cats indoors is going against good animal husbandry, I am also of the opinion that declawing cats is not only painfully inhumane, it deprives the cat of the natural joy of stretching. If you are considering declawing your cat, maybe you should also consider having a cat is not for you. Cats have already adapted a great deal to live with us. Putting them through an unnecessary, inhumane and painful operation is purely for your benefit, not your cats.

Cats provide us with an abundance affection, love and enjoyment. To provide even adequate cat care, we should at least do the same for them.

If you liked this article, then I invite you to sign up for my free, weekly ezine on how to improve your health and that of your family, including pets, naturally. Included is a complementary ebook on how to have a healthy cat, starting today. Visit http://www.naturallyhealthycats.com

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By Cristian Stan

It seems that cats have become a common fixture in our household. Many people own one, and in fact, having cats as pets has been a practice for over thousands of years.

Just like dogs, though not as many, cats also have numerous breeds, but the popular ones are Siamese and Persian.  If you plan to get one for a pet, there are factors you have to consider, and among these is the cost.

Just like owning any other pet, it will cost some money to own a cat.  Of course, you will need to buy food, medicines, clinic visits, and also a litter.  The basic essentials you should have are: food plate, water plate, and a litter box.  Additionally, cats love to play, so buying toys would be recommended.  Other paraphernalia you will need: cat collar, bed, carrier, and scratching post.

Feeding Your Cat

The kind of food and frequency of feeding vary with age. When a cat is still very young – a kitten – he will need to be fed several times a day; as he grows older, you can feed him twice daily, or even with one big meal. To be more specific, before he reaches 12 weeks, you will have to feed him at least 4x daily; when he reaches 3-6 months, feeding is lowered down to thrice daily.

Do’s and Don’ts

• - Never feed him food that has been left out for more than half an hour.
• Canned food can be given, but these can be expensive. For some reason, cats love canned meals but these do not really have any advantage to dental health in the way that dry meals do. So, you might want to consider giving him dry food too.
• When giving dry food, see to it that your cat gets sufficient water intake on a day to day basis.
• When buying dry food, make sure that you look at the nutritional value it offers and not buy it because it is cheap. Usually, generic food does not contain enough nutrients that your cat needs.
• Kittens should only be given kitten food, and do not feed yours with adult cat food.
• Do not keep on giving your cat milk. They love milk, but it causes diarrhea.
• Do make sure to wash his plate everyday.
• When giving treats, keep it to a minimum as this will make your cat fat.
• You can feed your cat human food occasionally, but still mix it with his regular food.
• Brush their coat once daily to avoid hairballs, and at the same time, it helps keep their coat shiny and clean.
• Clean their litter box at least once a week because cats hate it when their litter box is dirty.
• Take regular visits to his vet, and make sure required shots are given.

Well, if you may have noticed, owning a cat is not always that easy as they require maintenance and care. But cats are wonderful, loving creatures who will keep you company for many, many years. In the end, it is going to be worth it.

Visit Feline-Leukemia.Net for more information on Feline Leukemia virus and how to control Feline Leukemia.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cristian_Stan
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