Cattle

Archive for December, 2009

Birds can be attracted to your home and surroundings simply by offering food, water and shelter, the three most important ingredients for all living creatures. I want to share with you how I have crated a paradise in my own backyard that is loaded with birds year round.

First-You must discover what species of birds live in your area. You also must know that some of these species you discover will come and go depending on what time of year it is and whether they are migrant birds or birds that live near you year round. There are several ways to go about this discovery but one of the easiest ways to get this information is from your local Audubon Society. They will most likely have a bird list specific to your area and loads of information on those specific birds.

Second-You must find out which species of birds live in your specific habitat. Do live in a wooded area? Is it a mixed forest with conifers and deciduous trees or maybe more of a savanna with grasses and Oak trees? Do you live on a farm in the country or in a big city neighborhood? Different species of birds are adapted to different environments and this will be a defining factor in your decisions on which birds you want to attract to your yard and what kind of feeders and birdhouses you will put up. A good field guide to birds will be invaluable in this respect.

Third-So you know which birds live in your area and may be attracted to your yard in your specific habitat, now what? You need to put up some bird feeders! Birds can live very easily without you putting up bird feeders but you want to see them don’t you? If you want to see them, you have to get them closer to your house. This requires that you put up some bird feeders, but which ones? There are so many different kinds.
The best thing to do is put up a variety of feeders if they are appropriate for your habitat. Here are a few suggestions. A starling-resistant suet feeder, a house or tube feeder for sunflower seed, a bluebird feeder, a wire mesh cage feeder for peanuts, a nectar feeder, a tube feeder for thistle, a stationary or tray fruit feeder and a house or platform feeder for millet.

Fourth-Whatever types of feeders you install, make sure they are safe from predators. Cats are the number one killer of songbirds. Make sure your bird feeders are safe from cats or better yet, keep your cats indoors. If you have squirrels around, make sure you mount your bird feeders so the squirrels can’t get to them or purchase squirrel proof bird feeders.

Fifth-Water is essential for birds. Not only do most birds need water to survive, they love to bath in it! Even without putting up bird feeders, you can attract many birds by installing a bird bath or fountain in your yard. If you have the choice, install a fountain or a waterfall as moving water will not only attract more birds but you will also attract other wildlife as well.

Sixth-Shelter for your birds. If you want to enjoy bird watching to the fullest degree, you must put up birdhouses. The thrill of watching birds go through their mating rituals and raising their young is unforgettable. There are birdhouses for all different species of cavity nesting birds. It is important to note however that not all birds use birdhouses. It is also important to choose only birdhouses that are safe and built specifically for the species of bird you want to raise.

Seventh-Landscape for the birds. If you have the ability to landscape around your house, use native plants that attract wild birds. You can get a list of plants for your area from a local nursery or arbor society.

Pets definitely help us live longer and healthier lives. This is especially true of the elderly and those of us who live alone. Pets make wonderful and faithful companions. They are always there for us. However, this relationship can become strained, and sometimes even be broken when someone in the household develops an allergy to a beloved pet.

Studies show that approximately 15% of the population suffers from an allergy to a dog or cat, and about one third of those with an allergy to cats choose to live in a household with a cat despite the allergy. Some allergy suffers live happily with a pet for a year or two before an allergy starts.

There are sometimes long term health ramifications of repeated allergy flair up’s, especially for children. Repeated flair-up’s can cause permanent lung damage in children. This should be carefully and thoroughly discussed with your physician. One of the ways to live happily with an animal you are allergic to is to decrease your exposure to the animal. Keep the animal outside if possible.

If the allergy sufferer only has a mild reaction to the animal there are ways for the two of them to live together in harmony, but it takes work. The animal should not be allowed in the allergy sufferers bedroom or on the bed. Keep the animal off of any upholstered furniture in the house as dander can be transferred to upholstered furniture. Use a room purifier to remove airborne animal dander. Remove carpets from the home if possible and replace with wood floors. Wash area rugs on a regular basis with warm water. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in order to trap dander. The allergy sufferer should wash his or her face and hands after handling the animal. The animal can be bathed weekly in specially formulated shampoo that removes dander.

In some cases where the above methods and the use of over the counter antihistamines and decongestants do not help, the allergy sufferer may need to seek the help of an allergist. Immunotherapy can be thought of like a vaccination against your allergies. Given on a regular basis as shots, immunotherapy helps your body build up a natural tolerance to specific allergens.

With the use of the above methods you’ll be able to live a long and healthy life with your pet

How to bath a cat easily!? Cat Bathing made simple for both humans and cats.

[1] Make sure that the Water Temperature is right for Bathing Cat.

The water should be luke-warm when going to bathe cat, more on the room-temperature side, because if you put hot water on your cat, it will get burned.
Cold water is always a better solution for bathing cats or kittens. Cats don’t mind the cold. Unlike myself.

Yet water should not be tooo cold when bathing a cat-  you know what I mean – not so freezing cold that your poor cat shakes and its teeth chatter… Just pleasantly luke-warm, like for a baby bath.

[2] What Should You Bathe Cat In?

Choose a shallow bathing tub that your cat can easily stand in. Deep buckets might cause cats to panic and feel as though they’re stuck in a narrow clastrophobic well.

Best would be a shallow plastic container or a small laundry bucket, that is safe for cats and not slippery.

We plan on introducing our cats to water in a gradual way and not throw them into a 6 foot/2m pool and have them get a heart attack from fright.

Place a towel around the dish so that your cat can stand on it afterwards and get dry. Also the towel aroung the cat bath will prevent your house from drowning under water. ;-D

You can also use a rubber mat for the bath bottom, so the cat won’t slip, but it isn’t a ” must have “.

If it’s a slippery tray, then the rubber mat is advisable, but if it is a plastic dish, then you don’t need to worry about it. Anyway, it’s a shallow cat bath so there is no risk.

[3] How Deep Should The Cat Bath Waters Be?

Start bathing your cat with just enough water to be above cats  feet.

For the time bathing kittens or washing cats, just place your cat in the tub and let cat play around in there. Cats will get used to the bath and think it is fun.

Tips For Playing With Your Cat In The Tub:

If you play with your cat inside the cats bath with a string, or with some other toy  your cat will enjoy bathing and want to get in there again.

Make it the place where you play with your cat with a certain item (like a mouse on a string or some kind of “cat bathing” toy.) you only use in bath. Your cat will be glad to jump in there and want to play with you.

Another cat bathing motivator is giving your cat a few yummy cat treats when he baths.

Next Stages Of Cat In The Tub

Don’t worry if your cat makes a mess. The towels  you places around the bath tub will mop up most of it.

Gradually you can begin to increase the depth of the water.

Beware: For most cat types, water should never be deeper than cat’s knees.

This should be enough water to give your cat a bath, without creating the fear of drowning panic in your cat’s mind.

How to wash your cat in the cat bath?

Don’t pour the water over your cat or dunk her inside, instead use a wet cloth and dab your cat with it over his or her fur while paying with it in the bath.

Some cats are amazingly expert swimmers, maybe you will have the next “swimming champion”, but don’t push your cat to be one…

For more information visit CatCamille’s website: http://catlovingcare.com

Good luck bathing your cat!

Catscamille

Since the Tibetan Terrier ‘Willy’ (full name Fabulous Willy) won the trophy for Best in Show at Crufts Dog Show 2007, many people may now be considering choosing the Tibetan Terrier as a family pet. If you are, you will be pleased to hear that the temperament of this breed has been one of the most attractive aspects of the breed since it was first established in the 1920’s. As would be expected from a dog previously used as a watch dog, they tend to be reserved around strangers, but should never be aggressive or shy with them.

One of the features for which the Tibetan Terrier is known is their broad, flat feet. We don’t think that such feet can be found in any other dog breed. The eyes are large, and dark. The Tibetan Terrier is one of the most ancient of all dog breeds, as has been established by recent DNA analysis. The feet have developed for mobility in snow. It has been said that the Tibetan terrier, is more of a herding dog, than a terrier.

It makes an excellent guard dog and has a powerful, siren-like bark which is surprising in a dog this size. It is also a loyal and affectionate pet, though it has a mind of its own and needs firm training. Although its coat requires regular grooming, it does not need a great deal of exercise. This is a playful breed and will enjoy human company in the garden or on the occasional foray into the countryside.

The eyes are large, dark, and set fairly far apart. Long and thick, but should not be so long as to touch the floor, as is typical in breeds such as the Lhasa Apso, or the Maltese.

The appearance of the Tibetan Terrier is that of a powerful, medium sized dog of square proportions, with a shaggy coat. A fall of hair covers the face and eyes, but long eyelashes generally prevent hair from getting in the Tibetan Terrier’s eyes, and the breed has very good eyesight. As such, the early history of the breed is linked to only a handful of foundation dogs.

No particular colours are preferred, as with terriers generally a wide range of colours are permissible, however, liver and chocolate are not allowed. Although waves are acceptable the coat should not be silky or curled.

Breed health problems have been seen and because of that, Tibetan Terrier clubs recommend purchasing from breeders who participate in eye and hip testing.

The Tibetan or Lhasa Terrier, being such an ancient breed, is probably the ancestor of the Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu. The most plausible version of its history is that it was bred as a herder, working in tandem with the much larger Tibetan Mastiff which guarded the herds. Less hardy individuals were given to the Tibetan monks, who in turn may have given them to nomadic tribes to protect them on their travels; it is also possible that the nomads stole the dogs. Another account claims that the Tibetan Terrier originally came from Japan and was brought to Tibet by nomadic traders.

Like the other Tibetan dogs now popular in the West, the Tibetan Terrier has a long and luxurious coat. Typically it has a fringe falling forward over the eyes, a small beard and a jaunty kink to its tail.

It makes an excellent guard and has a powerful, siren-like bark surprising in a dog this size. It is also a loyal and affectionate pet, though it has a mind of its own and needs firm training. Although its coat requires regular grooming, it does not need a great deal of exercise. This is a playful breed and will enjoy human company in the garden or the occasional foray into the countryside.

More information at http://www.dog-breeds.me.uk/html/tibetan-terrier.php . A ‘must-visit’ web site for all Dog Lovers.

The history of the Shih Tzu dog breed spans more than hundreds of years and finds it very beginnings in China. Today, the dogs are still trusted companions of millions of families with young children because of the same reasons they were once the favored canine choice of imperial ladies-in-waiting and royalty.

It is believed that the origins of Shih Tzus go back nearly 3,000 years when the country of Tibet gifted the dogs to the Imperial palace of China. There are many historical reports that talk about “under table” dogs who ate up the scraps and kept their keepers (usually eunuchs who oversaw many of the Imperial household functions) of anything or anyone approaching the castle.

The appearance of Shih Tzus resembles that of a lion, which also suggests they hailed from further west. Today, the breed of Shih Tzus is also known largely due to the efforts of the last Imperial Empress of China. For some 50 years, until the early part of the 20th century, she ruled the vast empire which was comparable to the modern China of today.

During this time, the Empress also enacted a breeding program to create the perfect lineage of Shih Tzus, Pugs and Pekinese as well. Detailed accounts that been maintained for many years, contain vivid descriptions and breeding notations. Though it is believed that some of the eunuchs who actually physically cared for the dogs cross bred them, the results were a surprisingly varied line of Shih Tzus. It was in this process that three distinctive sub-breeds within the larger Shih Tzu breed, would eventually emerge.

When the pressures of Europe and modernization took effect, the results eventually forced out what had been an unpopular regime, the Shih Tzus were taken from the palaces by the overthrown Imperial family and recently ousted eunuchs. During this time period, many of the dogs were exported out of China.

With the dawning of the early 20th century, the breed suffered hard times and was nearly wiped out, they are believed to have become extinct in China. It is believed that only around 11 dogs were able to escape to the west. In locations throughout western Europe, breeding began in the 1930’s through the 1950’s, this resulted in millions of dogs being produced and replenishing of the breed. Because of this significant rise in population, the Shih Tzu breed is somewhat likely to have congenital health issues.

It is interesting to note that Shih Tzus in the United Kingdom are mostly descended from a single cross breed with a straight-legged Pekinese during the 1930’s. As a result of this, most of the Shih Tzus in the UK are a little bit taller than others found all over the world. Other than this fact, it is a living tribute to the Empress as to how much variation is still in existence today, in the various coat color combinations still witnessed in the breed.

Though somewhat noisy, Shih Tzus are still great at keeping a household alerted to anyone approaching. Furthermore, Shih Tzus were selected to be docile and easy to handle. Because they were bred exclusively to form close bonds with human beings, Shih Tzus are extremely loving and happy to follow you around all day long.