Cattle

Archive for September, 2011

One of the newest cat breeds around, Ukranian Levkoy is seen predominantly in the east European country of Ukraine. Very few of these cats exist in other countries. Work on the Ukrainian Levkoy began at the beginning of twenty first century when it was felt there was a need for a cat of Ukrainian origin with a distinct appearance, particularly desirable for some breeders. After continuous efforts, finally in early 2004, first Ukrainian Levkoy kittens were born through crossing of a lop-eared male with a female Sphynx cat. Several dozen cats have been born since then and are currently registered mainly in Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian Levkoys have a very unique appearance. They resemble Sphynx cats but have ears somewhat like those of Scottish Folds. They are medium sized felines with a long and sleek body. Head is long and flat on top with an angular and stepped face that is almost dog-like. Eyes are big, almond shaped and occur in a variety of bright colors. Distinguishing feature of these elegant cats is their ears that are folded frontally downward. In fact Ukrainian Levkoys derive their name from the Levkoy plant, that has bent leaves, owing to their ears. Tail and legs are long and paws are oval in shape.

The other striking feature of these stylish cats is their coat. They have a thick and elastic skin and is often wrinkled if the cat is not in a fully stretched position. It is even said to be excessive over certain body parts. Hair are either very short and coarse, with uniform or patchy distribution, or entirely absent.

Not much is understood about Ukrainian Levkoys at present to indicate the presence of any hereditary medical condition in their lines. They are healthy and active cats and are said to be leading a normal life with the handful of breeders and families they are with at this point in time.

In the United States, half the number of households owns either a cat or a dog as pets. However, it is just a little unfortunate that many people are allergic to cats, which discourages them from owning one, despite their fondness for these loving domestic animals. In fact, there are about 10 million Americans who have shown allergic tendencies to cats.

To help manage cat allergies, let us focus on the specific forms of cat allergies. The first one would be dander, which is dust coming from the cat’s body. Dander is a term used to refer to old skin that is shed off from the cat’s body in the forms of minute flakes.

Aside from causing skin irritation, dander also penetrates the immune system, which consequently causes allergic reactions. Once it enters the immune system, it becomes a problem, and although it is not a disease-producing element, it can certainly cause problems with people prone to allergies.

Cats spread allergens in many ways- blood, saliva, and urine. Even after the cat has left the area, his excretions can still bring about problems. You will find these things all around the house as the cat’s daily routine such as licking, scratching, and rubbing, makes it possible to do so.

Allergic Reactions to Cats

Commonly, if a person is allergic to cats, it is shown by the following signs and symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Itching
• Watery eyes
• Difficulty in breathing

Other times, although rarely, fever and chills are experienced, and this is when you need to get medical help right away because this could be a sign of an underlying condition.

Take note however that people may show varying signs and symptoms of cat allergies, and not all the symptoms above could be present.

Treatment

The most common treatment of cat allergies is decongestants and antihistamines. When do you take these? You take decongestants if you are coughing or have stuffy nose. You take antihistamines if you have asthma attacks, and breathing becomes difficult.

Additionally, there is also an option to get allergy shots but this will depend on your doctor’s decision so you may want to consult with him about it. Not only do these cat allergy shots treat the problem, they also help prevent its occurrence.

It is best to get hold of your doctor if you think you are suffering from cat allergies. This qualified medical practitioner should be able to advise you on the necessary steps you need to take, and this may include taking of medication or allergy shots. Your doctor may also advise you to get rid of your cat, if he deems it is best for you to do so.

Cats are wonderful creatures- warm and loving. Kids and adults alike love cats. However, there may come a point when we have to give them away, especially if they are already causing problems to our body, and to our health. This can be a difficult thing to do if you have grown so attached to your pet, but if it is the only recommended way to stop cat allergies then you should learn to let go.

A shorthair cat, Sokoke is believed to have originated many centuries ago in Sokoke-Arabuko rainforest in eastern Kenya. There it was called Khadzonzo by native tribesmen, the word meaning ‘tree bark like in appearance’ in local language. Despite its independent existence in nature for many years, there is not much evidence of wild cat genetics in this beautiful cat and it is believed by many to be a feral domestic cat. The modern history of Sokoke was initiated when in early nineteen eighties they were brought from Africa to Denmark, Europe, owing to their striking appeal and fear of extinction in shrinking natural habitat. Though the shorthair cats had some trouble early on, adjusting to the cold climate of Denmark, they survived and gained recognition in coming years. Today breeding populations occur all across Europe and North America, even as Sokokes are still relatively rare as purebreds.

Sokoke has a sleek athletic body that is chiseled like that of the Cheetah. Its slender, hard muscled trunk, long legs and short head give it the appearance of a skilled predator. Coat is single layered and dense. It has a blotched tabby pattern with ticked hair and occurs in shades of brown. Head is flat at the top with alert, rounded ears and almond shaped slightly slanted green eyes.

A relatively recent development in Sokoke lines is the ‘Snow Sokoke’. This cat has a basic color in the range of cream to gray with similar marbled tabby markings on body. Legs and tail are striped and eyes are of a blue color. Snow Sokokes are very pretty. However, they are not widely accepted in breed standards at the moment.

Sokokes are very intelligent cats that are sensitive and react well to alternating moods and behavior patterns of humans. They are social and accept other pets easily into the household. Active and vocal animals, these cats readily communicate with their humans.

Cats scratch for different reasons and the act of scratching provides the cat with the necessary exercise in order to keep their bodies supple. By scratching, cats also mark their territories and indoor cats that don’t have any scratching posts, have as their only option your furniture and carpets. Fortunately for cat owners, nowadays there is a wide selection of cat scratching posts available and it is practically impossible not to find something your cat would like.

Since cats differ greatly in the way they scratch, the diversified types of cat scratching posts available on the market represent a good thing. Nowadays manufacturers use various surfaces for covering scratching posts and the most frequent is the sisal fabric. Another material used as a carpet is the jute, but it does not stand a lot of laceration. A cat scratching post can also be made from cardboard but this is not very durable and it will need to be changed frequently. However, cardboard scratching posts are cheap and there are cats that prefer them.

There are three main types of cat scratching posts and some posts are made of combinations of materials. Although your decision will be influenced by your budget and particular needs, the cat will definitely be the one to determine the type of cat scratching post you will buy. Sisal posts have a rough surface and they are not recommended in the case of cats with very sensitive paws. However, there are other cats which find these posts delightful and use them frequently.

Carpet cat scratching posts are the most common and they can be found even in grocery stores. These have a soft surface and they wear out in a short period of time. However, if you have a cat scratching post that must be replaced, make sure you choose one of the same colors because kittens don’t like change and a replacement will confuse them. There are scratching posts that will need to be assembled once you get home but all you need for that is a screwdriver. 

Cardboard posts are boxes filled with exposed corrugations; usually, they are placed on the floor so that the cat can scratch without leaning up.  Many cats like cardboards and the glue used in making them while others enjoy chewing it. As you can imagine the cardboard material will wear out faster than other posts but luckily, these posts are quite thick.

Another type of cat scratching posts is those made of natural wood.  These consist of a tree limb or log with bark on it and although it is very natural, it can contain insects or mold that can be harmful for your cats.  Many cats have their own preferences when it comes to scratching positions so we advise you to observe your cat while scratching before purchasing a cat scratching post. Note the details regarding its preferred texture and see if its scratching locations vary or if he always returns to the same place. Once you observe all these aspects, you will know what you have to do.

Our experience has taught us that cats should own several cat scratching posts, of different sizes, angles and scratching surface. These posts are essential for the cats because they provide the needed physical exercised and they relieve stress. Scratching posts will save your furniture and carpets from being scratched.

Tired of dog barking? Wondering how to stop my dog from barking at people? Firstly, you need to understand that every time a dog is barking or growling he is probably barking at people out of fear.

A barking dog is not essentially a bad thing. Most people prefer dogs over other animals as pets because they do bark. A barking dog can scare off a potential burglar or alert you of a stranger on your property. However, there are other times when you wish your dog would stop barking. If you have visitors and your dog will not stop barking at them, your guests may be scared, uncomfortable and perhaps, annoyed. Fortunately, you can teach your dog to stop improper barking.

An important aspect of training a dog to stop barking is not to yell or shout at him when he barks. This kind of behavior from your will increase his barking habits.

Mentioned below are a few tips for you to learn how to stop my dog from barking at people -:

1 – Understand the fact that your dog bog is probably barking at people out of fear. Take your dog out for a walk at least once a day. First keep him at a safe distance from other people and everyday walk him a bit closer to people.

2 – Train your dog to bark when you command. Well this might sound counterintuitive, to you; it will actually help you train him to stop on command as well.

3 – Train your dog to obey your commands. Once he begins to bark at other people, tell him to lie down and stay. Since you demonstrated him that you are in total control of the situation, he is less likely to feel intimidated by people around your home and thus stop barking.

As you can see here learning how to stop my dog from barking at people can be a pretty daunting task. When trying to stop dog barking, a good dog training course can be very useful. You will want to look for the one that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.