How to Make Sure Your Cat is Happy and Healthy

While your cat may be something of an elusive creature, you will want to make sure that they are happy and healthy while they are in your care. After all, a beloved family pet is not something that should be ignored. They should be an integral part of the family. For cats, they like to have independence. But, they also like to be played with and made to feel welcome. In short, cats are complex creatures. But, once you know how to look after them properly and make them happy, they will soon be a part of the family in a very real way.

Tips for a Happy Cat

Food and Drink

When it comes to matters of feeding, you need to make sure that you are using different dishes for water and good. Typically, a cat will enjoy eating and drinking in different places. So, keep their water and food bowls at other ends of the kitchen. This means that they can have a separate space that will keep them happy. Make sure that you are refreshing their water bowl twice per day. No cat should have to drink dirty or dusty water.

Dietary Needs

Your cat will enjoy eating wet food. Some cats prefer to eat tins of tuna and other fish-based foods. This is an excellent way of making sure that your cats are looked after. Mix up their diets and keep them healthy. But, you should always strive to have a bowl of dry mix in the kitchen too. This should be left for them to nibble at when they please. Cats are free-feeders. By doing this, you will reduce their need to eat elsewhere. What is more, you won’t end up with a kitchen full of prey.

Toilet Habits

Your cat will want to have a clean, dry environment to go the bathroom within; you need to make sure that you are providing this. Some cats like to go outside. But, others prefer to do it in the litter tray or box. According to http://scoopfreedom.com cats, are happiest when they have a litter tray that is equipped for their particular needs. This means that you need to buy a large tray so that your cat does not tread in their waste. They don’t like this as they are clean animals in the main. So, make sure that you are suiting your cat’s needs and providing them with a toilet that they will love. What is more, you need to clean out their litter box twice per day. This is because cats like to be clean. If they don’t have a clean place to do their business, they will feel distressed. So, make sure that you are doing your bit and cleaning up after your kitty. 

Interacting With Your Cat

Did you know that cats can become depressed if they are not given enough attention? Make sure that you take the time to pet your cat. This may be in the form of grooming or just having them on your lap for a cuddle. Make sure that you pay your cat lots of attention.

African Lion

We love watching National Geographic on TV.  You can learn so much about animals  and then when you go to the zoo, it always reminds you of what  you have seen on TV. 

I took some photos of this African Lion when we visited  the Pittsburgh Zoo this year.  My kids were still little when we visited  there the last time.  Now that they are bigger, they appreciated it everything a lot more.  Plus, we don't have to carry them lol.

 This  lion was just relaxing on his den.  He was kind of  hiding  away from  all the people but I am glad I brought my other lens that day and I was able to capture  him from afar.

I think, lions and tigers are the scariest animals.  They are strong and fast.

 According to  National Geographic, lions are only cats that live in groups and they are called pride.  I only see two  lions in Pittsburgh Zoo.  I imagine that they get lonely not seeing many of them.

Look how sad his eyes are.

How To Stop Your Dog Having Little Accidents

If you have a dog, there will be occasions when your dog can't control his or her bladder. When your dog has a little accident, your initial reaction might be to punish him or her. If these accidents become a common occurrence in your home, you need to do something about it. There will be an underlying reason for the accidents, and you need to figure out what it is. Dealing with a dog who urinates in your home is difficult, but it is something you need to do.

Don't shout at your dog

Often, when a dog has an accident, it is because he or she is nervous. If you shout at your dog for what happened, it will make the situation worse. You might be angry about the situation, but you should not take it out on your dog. Instead, send your dog to his or her naughty corner while you clean up the mess he or she has made.

Make sure that your dog feels secure

One of the main reasons that dogs start to have accidents is because they don't feel secure in your home. Does your dog have a place where he or she feels comfortable? Dog beds are great for dogs who feel insecure. Having a space that is theirs and theirs alone will make a huge difference to the way your dog behaves. Make sure that you create a 'safe space' for your dog where he or she will not have to fear anything.

Figure out what has changed

Has something changed in your household? Tiny changes in your home can make a huge difference to your dog. For example, if you have started using a new laundry powder or perfume, your dog will know. Dogs are sensitive to small changes, particularly smells. It could be that your dog was trying to mark his or her territory by urinating in a certain area. Investigate and see whether there have been any changes in your home. If a friend's dog came into your house, your dog will still be able to smell it. The scent will threaten your dog's territory.

Give your dog the comfort he or she needs

When your dog is nervous, he or she needs a lot of attention and comfort. Rather than berating your dog for his or her accidents, try and provide your dog with some comfort. Give your dog extra attention and love. It might be that your dog is suffering from anxiety or stress. If you leave your dog at home alone for much of the day, you need to ensure that he or she gets attention from you when you get home.

Consider your dog’s age

As dogs get old, they lose control over their bladder. That is a natural part of the aging process. If your dog is twelve years old or more, he or she could be experiencing incontinence. That means that you dog has no control over when he or she urinates. If that is the case, there are some things you can do. You might need special medication for your dog so that he or she can deal with the issue. 

Take your dog to the vets

If you think that age might be the problem, you should take your dog to the vets so that a professional can check for you. It is wise to do this sooner rather than later so that you can deal with the problem as quickly as possible. Sometimes pet owners fail to realize when their dog has a medical issue. If your dog doesn't seem to have control over his or her bladder, that is a real problem. 

Feeding the Baby Cow

We had so much fun f3eeding the one day old baby cow at the Windsheimer's Dairy Farm.  They let my daughter named this cow which is  the sweetest thing.

My kids watched the cows eat their food.

 Some of them are a bit afraid, they backed  away as soon as we get near them.

 Melissa said that the cow knows the people that works in the farm so when they notice that the people aroound are someone they don't know, they are shy.

 This one here got scared of me lol.

I am so glad that the kids had the chance to  see what's going on in a Dairy Farm.

Who’s the Leader of Your Pack?

One of the main causes of dog behavioral problems is when a dog doesn’t understand its place in the family hierarchy. Dogs are pack animals and they need to know their pack position in order to feel happy and settled. In a human household, the dog should be bottom of the pack, below all of the human members and, often, below any cats that might also be resident. If your dog is submissive, he will almost certainly know his place and you are unlikely to have any problems with him. But if your dog exhibits dominant traits, you could be in for trouble further down the line.

Don’t Treat Your Dog like a Human!

Dogs are not humans. For one thing, they have four legs and for another, they don’t think the same way we do. Many owners make the mistake of mollycoddling their dog and treating him like a person: they let their dog sleep on the bed, eat off the same plate, and generally behave like a spoilt child. The end result is a badly behaved dog with no manners and an attitude problem. This type of behavior is bad enough in small breeds of dog, but if the dog is a large breed with a lot of physical strength it can be catastrophic.

Dominant behaviors include:

• Disobedience
• Aggression if you try to remove a favorite toy
• Jumping up
• Bad manners
• Overtly sexual behavior

How to Deal with Dominant Behavior

A dominant dog is unpleasant to be around. They are usually badly behaved and difficult to control. The best way to avoid this is to prevent it becoming an issue in the first place by implementing a dog-training program  from day one. You need to act like a pack leader from the moment you introduce the dog to your home.

The dog must behave appropriately at all times. Feed him on a schedule, so he knows you control the food. Don’t let him snatch food or toys and if he does, remove them immediately until he learns not to. Pay attention to your dog when you want to, not when he demands attention. 

A useful way of punishing bad behavior is to remove the dog from the room and let him have some ‘time out’, in much the same way as you would a naughty toddler. Dogs are social animals and to remove them from the family is upsetting for them. Ideally crate the dog up in another room, but if you don’t have a crate, shut them in a room where they can’t be too destructive. After a short time, release the dog and observe to see if his behavior improves – if it doesn't rinse and repeat.

When to Back Off

If you ever feel physically threatened by a dog or he refuses to back down, it is time to ask for help. Simple behavioral management techniques will work with a badly behaved dog, but if the traits are well established or the dog is aggressive rather than badly behaved, it is a good idea to consult a behavioral expert or check out online resources such as My Pawson.

A dog that knows his place in the pack is a happy, confident dog, which makes him a pleasure to be around. And a happy dog is a happy owner.