The Coveted Cat Translation Dictionary

If there’s any problem with cat ownership, it’s that your cat can’t talk to you. Sure, they can communicate with purring and meowing, but they can’t be specific. However, there are a few ways to understand what your fur baby is trying to tell you. Unfortunately, since their faces aren’t as expressive as canines, their communication can be subtler than other animals.

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Your cat’s body language can tell you a lot, much like with people. If you’re scared, you naturally try and make yourself look smaller, in the hopes that nobody will notice you. It’s exactly the same in the feline world. So, if your cat’s trying to make itself look smaller, such as by ‘cringing’, or having its ears flat to its head, then something’s scaring it. It means the same thing as when they’ve backed themselves into a corner. This is pretty much the number one reason as to why people get scratched or bitten: they’ve tried to handle their cat when it’s scared, and it’s lashed out.  

However, when cats are angry about something, they try and make themselves look bigger and more intimidating. So, if your cat’s back is arched, and it has puffed its tail out like a bottle brush, then it’s furious! Usually, this also suggests aggression as well. They’re just like people: if they get angry, they’ll lash out. If your cat’s angry, the pupils of their eyes will narrow, whereas they dilate when they’re scared.

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Because cats can’t talk about specific things that are bothering them, a lot of us are often surprised when we find that our cats have fleas. However, there are a few signs that your cat will give you that will tell you if they’ve got fleas. For one thing, your cat might be more restless than usual. Can you blame it, if it’s got fleas all over it? Luckily, a flea collar, or any kind of flea treatment for cats will clear the problem up. However, it’s still good to know the symptoms; if your cat has fleas, it’s going to scratch itself more than usual, bite parts of its coat, or shake its head excessively.

If your kitty is grooming itself to excess, then it’s usually trying to tell you one of three things: it’s anxious about something, it’s in pain, or has a skin irritation. If you can narrow down the reason why, and sort it out, then your cat will be much happier as a result. Over-grooming can lead to bald patches, skin damage, and even tail amputation, if the problem is particularly severe. If you cat’s biting its tail, then it’s generally trying to tell you that something is irritating it there, and you should visit a vet as soon as you can.

So, cats aren’t that mysterious. They still communicate with us humans (even if they do think that we’re big kittens), and if you can understand them, then keeping your cat and home in harmony should be the easiest thing to do.

Caring For Your Feline

It’s takes a lot of patience to prepare your children for a new pet and welcome it into your family. You have to do your research into different breeds, and determine which kind of furry companion would best fit into your family dynamic. However, you also have to learn how to keep the newest member of your family, the beloved cat, happy and healthy. Here are a few basic ways you can make sure that your new pet is as happy and healthy as the rest of your family.  

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Flea medication

Persistent itchiness is only one small reason why pet owners should be vigilant against fleas and ticks. Fleas can infect your beloved pup with tapeworms, lyme disease, or even Bartonella (usually known as Cat Scratch Fever), which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures. Some of these diseases can even be passed on to you and anyone else living with you. The best thing to do is try to avoid these altogether by getting flea collars for cats to defend against fleas. However, you should also take your pet to the vet if you suspect there might be something seriously wrong with them.

Diet

Meat is the foundation of a healthy cat’s diet, so it should always be their main meal of the day. You shouldn’t try to feed your cat too much kibble, because chances are there is nothing fresh about it anymore. Dry food is very heavily processed which includes being subjected to high temperatures for a long time resulting in alteration and destruction of nutrients. It’s also often contaminated with bacteria, fungal mycotoxins, storage mites/cockroaches and their feces, and more. If you’re in a hurry, feed them canned food instead. You absolutely should not feed it a vegetarian diet either. Cooked beef, chicken, turkey, and lean deli meats are a great way to give them the protein they need for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system. Remember to keep a bowl of fresh water within their reach so they can quench their thirst.

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Grooming

Cat owners must notice the amount of times their feline friend grooms himself throughout the day; cats actually spend 50 percent of their awake-time self-grooming. Relieve them of their duties by picking up a brush and grooming them yourself. Not only does the comb/brush feel good like an all-over massage, it keeps fur mat-free, skin clean, and cuts down on hairballs that can develop in the digestive tract. However, because cats already do most of their grooming themselves, they might not see the brush as a friend. The key to getting a cat to cooperate with brushing is connecting brushing with happy events, such as brushing them before dinner.

Litterbox

As inconvenient as it may be for you, it’s not a good idea to put the litterboxes in a hidden corner. Cats prefer to do their business where they can see everything around them, because that’s how it’s done in the wild.

Rabbit House for our Four Lion Head Bunnies

When we got  the two lion head bunnies back in  January, we didn't anticipate that we will have new babies five weeks after that, whew.  Pippin (our doe bunny)  actually had four kits but two did not survived.  

I am not sure if it was the first time  she gave birth but we assumed  it was because  she seemed to not know  what to do.  She took care of them really good though and we did what we can to help  her out.  We named the two that lived, Lilo and Stitch.  A month after giving birth to the first babies, she got pregnant again and gave birth to two kits but they unfortunately died.

LILO and Stitch are getting bigger. They are now 7 weeks. #bunnies #rabbits #pets

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Apr 19, 2017 at 4:54pm PDT

Since we have four now, we thought it would be  appropriate to make them a proper house .  My husband and daughter  built a new house for them.

We used to have two bunnies at the old house  so we also built them a house but it was smaller than this one that they newly built.  We tore it down when our bunnies died and  thought we will never have bunnies again because losing them was painful.  However, when we saw the lion heads, we couldn't resist.

The good thing is, these two love doing projects together so a house for them isn't a problem\.  It is just a little challenging to keep them inside during the winter but  our basement is  pretty big so they will have room.

It took a while before the project got done but it eventually got finished.

We couldn't figured out what to put underneath at first so I  used  some cardboard to trap all their waste.  Then we went to Home Depot and found some of these Utility tubs and thought it was  a perfect size  to  put under their shelters.

The cedar wood chips  helps in killing the odor of the  urine and  poop.

So now, cleaning their  waste is  easier with those  utility  tubs in there.

We used a thick  plywood for the roofing because  we didn't have  shingles.  We treated it  so that when it rains, the water  will roll off.  Whenever there's a storm, we  put a tarp over it so they won't get wet.  Now that our fence project is almost finished, we let them run around inside the backyard which they love.  They also love to nibble on my vegetable garden lol.

How to Manage Acid Reflux in Dogs

Acid reflux is fairly common in dogs and it is treatable. It occurs when there is a build-up of acid in the stomach which can be caused by obesity, eating inappropriate foods (usually human foods) or high blood calcium.

Here are some of the symptoms of acid reflux:

·         Gurgling and burping sounds

·         Vomiting

·         Bad breath

·         Whining when eating

·         Demonstrating discomfort when eating

·         Wheezing

·         Excessive salivation

If your dog has some or all of these symptoms and is diagnosed with acid reflux, there are some things you can do to help treat it at home. Here are some tips.

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Small Meals

A dog with acid reflux will need to eat little and often. This is so the stomach doesn’t remain empty for long periods of time, allowing a buildup of acid to occur. You can still feed your dog dry food every few hours, but if you notice your dog vomiting after eating or drinking, you may need to change the diet while treating them for acid reflux. Food like cooked chicken, plain rice and broccoli are all hydrated foods and could be a better option for your dog. Make sure your dog has something to eat before sleeping through the night and something to eat immediately after waking.

Avoid Long Walks

When dealing with acid reflux, it’s better for your dog to have short burst of exercise, rather than prolonged ones. Dogs that have been on long walks are more likely to come back and want to drink and eat excessively. Large amounts of water or food in the stomach is likely to lead to vomiting. Dogs that go on shorter walks are less likely to be tempted to gorge on drinks and meals. So, instead of going for one long walk per day, do two short walks- once in the morning and once in the evening.

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Allow Your Dog to Rest

Just like any other canine illness, acid reflux can take its toll on a dog’s energy levels. Rest promotes self-healing so it’s important you allow your dog to rest when needed. You may notice slight lethargy and there may be changes to your dog’s breathing as it sleeps. If any of your dog’s behaviour starts to worry you, it’s important you seek advice from a professional, like a Kotara Vet. A vet will be able to tell you if there are any underlying issues that could make the condition worse.

Honey

Although it’s important to get the okay from your vet first, honey is often recommended for dogs with acid reflux. Just one teaspoon is enough to coat the oesophagus and provide protection from gastric acids. Feed the teaspoon of honey to your dog before an evening meal and you could start to see an improvement. This condition can take months to resolve so honey is an ideal solution for relief in the interim.

The most important thing to do is monitor your dog. As a dog owner you’ll have a sixth sense about what your dog needs, so go with your instincts.

Keeping Your Cat And Home In Harmony

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Getting a cat as a pet requires some home preparation. This will stop your cat from doing damage to your home and your home from doing damage to your cat. Here are some of the main things to consider whilst introducing your new feline family member.

Limit scratching

All cats – particularly kittens – like to find a rough surface to scratch to sharpen their claws. Carpets and sofas can be popular choices much to the dismay of many cat owners. Whilst you should discipline your cat to not scratch furniture, your moggy will benefit from having some outlet such as a scratching post or designated rug. Scratching is often a comfort thing and not giving a cat an outlet could make them feel unsettled.  

Keep on top of fur shedding

Your feline friend is likely to shed a lot of fur around the house. It’s important to keep on top of this so that you’re not breathing in hair all the time. Cat combs can be bought to help get out excess fur. Not all cats will let you comb and clean them and sometimes a professional cat grooming service might be worthwhile. If your cat has a bed, taking the time to hoover this occasionally could prevent bacteria build up.

Consider a litter tray

A litter tray is needed if you’re going to have a house cat. For cats that are allowed outside, a litter tray might not be as much of a necessity and could make your cat lazy refusing to do its business outdoors. Regularly replace litter and keep away from food.

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Beware of hanging objects

Shoelaces, curtain pulls, hanging clothes and other dangling items can make great playthings for cats. Tuck these away to avoid them getting shredded. Introduce a hanging toy to satisfy your cat’s playfulness. Not all cats will be in love with dangly things and some may not like toys.

Install a micro-chipped cat flap

A cat flap can allow your pet to easily exit and enter the house, but it could also allow an invitation to other cats in the neighbourhood. Most cats will chase off intruders, but some may be more timid and allow other cats to bully them and steal their food. Either way, you can be safe by buying a micro-chipped cat flap. This only opens when activated by your cat’s micro-chipped collar and so stops other creatures from sneaking in.

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Eliminate potential cat dangers

You’re probably familiar with the expression ‘curiosity killed the cat’. Most cats are sensible enough to avoid obvious dangers, however they may get curious with certain man-made substances that are left out such as cleaning chemicals, medicines, rodenticides and fertilisers. Vets across the country get thousands of cases a year of cat poisoning from eating rat poisons, detergents, fertilisers or drinking from a toilet that’s been recently bleached. Keep chemicals stored away (and shut the toilet lid after cleaning it if you’re cat likes to occasionally take a sneaky drink). You should also be careful of certain foods such as grapes, raisins, avocado and chocolate.