Bird Cages For All Hookbills

Parrots and all Hook bills make great Pets, with proper care and personal interaction make a fun and entertaining addition to your family. My Brother has an African Grey Parrot, who is very smart and has a large vocabulary. They are native to Africa, and you should have the proper size cage which is usually a 36x28, my brother has a 40x30 size for his African Grey Parrot, he also has a play stand which is perfect for exercise and time out of the cage to spread his wings and to interact with you and the family.

My Brothers African Grey sounds just like his voice when he speaks,they have the most human sounding voice of all the parrots. The most important thing to remember is to have their wings clipped so they wont injure themselves if they fly from their perch, and keep their nails clipped and their beaks trimmed which they can do themselves if they have the cuttle bone and pumice stone perch. I had a Cockatiel which was a beautiful bird who had rosy checks and they are native to Australia, they are very smart and loving I taught mine to say a few words, he became part of our family. I had parakeets who mated and had their young in our cage at home, we watched as the male fed the female as she sat on the eggs, and we watched the young hatch, and explore their new surroundings it was a wonderful experience for my whole family.

Just remember cage size is important, finding an Avian veterinarian, a varied diet, and do not give your birds a treat that you think is good for you before checking to see what foods are toxic to your Bird, example: my Daughter enjoys avocados, very toxic to birds, check with experienced sources on toxic plants and foods. Here is a little information which can be helpful, Finches are small birds and enjoy the company of each other, so have more than one in a cage, Love Birds should always be in pairs, Canaries can sing a melodious song that you can enjoy..... enjoy the beauty of the Macaws who are gentle and affectionate, my Daughter has a Macaw, he has bonded with her and the family, but he requires a lot of attention at times, her friend has an Eclectus who loves his toys and has a very soft fur and is very quiet compared to my daughters African Grey and Macaw. To me all the parrots and birds are wonderful to watch and listen too, and with the proper care and love make great companions.

Bird Cage Supplies - How to Shop Wisely For Your Pet Bird

There are different kinds of bird cages, from dome tops to play tops and parrot perches. If you have never owned a bird before, you will probably be taken aback by the sheer number of cage types as well as cage supplies being sold in the market today. Choose the kind of cage designed for your bird, and make sure that it is large enough for your bird to roam around in. From cage covers and cage corner shelves to bird nets, you will have to spend a good amount of time choosing which bird cage supplies to buy first.

Types of bird cage supplies

Basic bird cage supplies include food, feeding bowls, a cage cover, and toys. Different birds like different types of food. Black oil sunflower seed is the most common type of food that is good for different kinds of birds, especially chickadees and titmice, as well as cardinals. White millet, red milo, and cracked corn are also popular types of bird food.

Every bird cage needs two bird bowls, one for food and one for water. Buy bird bowls that are made especially for birds. Other kinds of bowls may be coated with material that can be harmful to your bird.

For stimulation, it is important to provide your bird with a toy and to give it a change of scenery by moving the cage from one location to another or by removing the play top so your bird can walk around.

How to shop for bird cage supplies wisely

Choose toys wisely since the wrong toy can injure and even poison your pet. Your bird can easily snag its claw in a toy or choke on a small piece of toy. Avoid providing your bird with cotton rope toys, toys with metal chains, toys with clips and rings, bell toys, and any toy with loose threads. Toys with chains, holes and rings can trap your bird's beak or claw. Toys with loose threads and ropey toys can easily break apart and your bird could swallow them. They can also snag your bird's beak and claws. Toy bells are not a good idea because your bird's beak can easily get stuck inside. The bird could also remove the clapper and choke on it. The clapper may also contain lead, so even if it does not choke on it, the lead could have potentially toxic effects.

When giving toys made of wood or plastic, make sure that the toy does not have any splinters and is not easily torn apart. Avoid giving plastic toys that are soft and easy to tear apart since the torn parts could easily be easily swallowed and choke your bird.

When it comes to choosing food, do a little bit of research on the kind of bird food that your pet should eat. You can ask your vet on what seed your bird eats or you can look at resources online.

Finally, when shopping for cages, it is important that you choose a bird cage made by a reliable manufacturer. Trusted brands provide products that come with users' guides, warranties, and reliable customer support.

Herpes in Cats

Humans are known to contract herpes. A cat can also contract the disease and cause much discomfort to it. The disease is the most common cause of respiratory problems in felines.

The virus, rhinotracheitis or feline herpesvirus infection, causes acute respiratory distress. The symptoms are sneezing, nasal discharge, rhinitis of the nose and conjunctivitis of the eye. It also affects the reproductive tract and can cause problems during pregnancy.

It can occur in kittens, muliticat households, catteries, pet adoption centers, lactating cats, cats with weakened immune systems and unvaccinated cats. It is more likely to contract the disease if it has been overrun by fleas or has had poor nutrition. The worst symptoms will be during the first out break. Although once contracted, it will have the disease for the rest of its life but may suffer less severe outbreaks or no further outbreaks over time.

Most of the time the disease will manifest itself in a cats' eyes. There is an antiviral eye drop available to make a cat more comfortable. Medication containing L-Lysine is available to suppress the virus. Medications for human herpes can cause problems with its blood. If it has the virus, it is important that it be treated.

A veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics, decongestants and/or eye drops or ointments. A cat can be sick up to 10 days. Fresh water and food, cleaning its eyes, isolating it if other animals are around and keeping it warm and comfortable are important in its recovery.

Vaccination is the way to prevent it from contracting the disease. The first time should be 8 to ten weeks after birth, then 12 to 14 weeks and then annually. Keeping it away from an infected cat will also prevent it from getting the disease especially if it has not been vaccinated.

Ringworm in Cats

Ringworm in cats is the most common skin infection in cats and the name is somewhat misleading. It is not actually caused by a worm; it is caused by a fungal infection. It is also extremely contagious and can very easily be spread to other cats as well as to humans. It is caused by several organisms, but the most common is referred to as Microsporum canis. The spores of these fungi can literally live for years in the right type of environment and can be contagious to your cat the entire time.

Ringworm most typically affects young cats, long haired cats, or cats that have had some type of a previous skin disease. However, if your cat has recently has a very traumatic episode in their life, they are also at risk. If your cat has recently been in a shelter or catteries, they are also at a high degree of risk from two fronts; the stress that this has caused as well as possible exposure to another infected cat.

Where it is found:

Ringworm in cats is generally found on the affected cat or their living quarters. Spores for this fugal infection can be shed from an infected cat and once they are shed, can survive for as long as two years. If the environment is warm and humid, these spores can literally explode in growth. Once they are released into the environment, they can live on branches and plants, as well as your pets bedding. They can also very easily live on your furniture or anything else that an infected cat has come into contact with.

Your cat can very easily become an asymptomatic carrier on this fugal infection. An asymptomatic carrier is defined as a host for an infectious agent who does not show any signs at all that they are infected.

How it is transmitted:

Ringworm infection is transmitted by coming into direct contact with the fungi, and this can include another infected cat or any of their grooming materials. However, it can also very easily be transmitted by coming into contact with the spores themselves. Cats by nature have a natural resistance to these types of infections, but if your cat is not healthy, their system can very easily be overrun. This is why it is the most common skin infection in cats.

Cats that are less than a year old are have not built up their immune system to full capacity and are the most commonly affected of all cats. However, if your cat has an immune suppressed condition from a disease or from too many steroids, they are also at a very high risk. Older cats as well as free roaming cats are also at a higher risk, as well malnourished cats. Long haired cats, especially Persians, are also much more susceptible to this infection. Ringworm in cats affect three parts of your pets body; their head or scalp, their body, as well as their nails.

Symptoms:

One of the first symptoms of ringworm will be areas of hair loss that are usually in a circular formation. This loss of hair can range from very mild to quite severe, depending of how serious the ringworm infection is. Once the hair loss starts to occur, you may also see lesions in the center of the hair loss. These lesions will contain pustules and will generally start out very small, but than will start to grow in size. If you see this symptom, it is almost always the result of ringworm.

These lesions may or may not be itchy to your cat, and they are most commonly found on your cats head, ears, or their tail. However, the symptoms will not always be circular in formation. If it is severe enough, it can very rapidly spread across your cats face, lips, chin, or nose. In some cases, it may appear like chin ache in your cat or look like dandruff on your cats skin. If it infects your their nails, it will cause them to become malformed and as a result look very odd.

Treatments:

Treatments for ringworm in cats can be both very frustrating as well as very expensive, especially if you have more than one cat. You will not only have to treat your cat, but the environment as well. In most all cases, your cats immune system will naturally defeat this infection, but it can take several months for this to occur. In the meantime, you must treat your cat or the symptoms will intensify. Some cats, if not treated, can be attacked several times even with a strong immune system.

In healthy, short-haired kittens and cats, the first form of treatments will be with topical creams that contain anti-fungal ingredients. You will also have to treat any underlying health issues, especially nutritional. Most cats will need some type of a vitamin supplement to build and than maintain their immune system to fight this infection.

In the more severe cases of ringworm, a combination of both oral and topical treatments will be used. The lesions may have to be clipped by your veterinarian so the topical cream can reach your cats skin. However, there is one very controversial topic among some veterinarians in treating long haired cats with ringworm.

There is a growing opinion that any long haired cat should be completely shaved in order to successfully treat this infection. If the ringworm infection is severe, your cat may also have to be given lime sulfur dips. These are extremely effective but you may want to get a second opinion as they can temporarily turn the remaining hair coat a yellowish color. There are some alternatives, but they will vary depending on what country that you live in.

Summary:

Ringworm in cats can range from mild to severe and is the most common skin disease your pet will face. It is extremely contagious and any measure that you take in preventing it is very well spent. If you bring a new kitten into your house and already have a cat or several cats, be extremely careful and take the extra precautions of having them checked first.

If you use a grooming facility, it will not be out of place to ask them how and what they use to sterilize their cleaning equipment. If the answer is anything other than heated or chemically sterilization of the equipment, look for a different groomer. If you do see any of the symptoms, isolate your cat from other cats as quickly as possible and than have them treated.

Choosing the Right Cat Litter

For some, many different aspects can appeal to one's self in choosing the right cat litter for your feline friend. If this is your first time caring for a cat, walking into the pet aisle where you have never been before at your local grocery store may be a bit overwhelming. A little research before venturing out can go a long way. Not only will it save you time, but knowing the facts before you buy may also save you money!

Some people have the initial reaction of going directly to the cheapest cat litter available. This may be fine for most cats, but are you aware there are some cats that may have an allergic reaction to said pet litter? A pricier alternative would be to purchase a brand consisting of cat litter made up of gray cardboard or paper clusters.

With today's unpredictable economy, buying the all natural or organic cat litter may not be an option. You may be wondering, what else is there to do? If your cat does not have an allergy and you are simply concerned with their hygienic well-being, might I suggest involving a litter scoop into your cat litter box cleaning routine? No, you don't have to stand over your cat, waiting for him or her to finish their business so you can pounce on what they've produced as soon as they leave, but you'd be surprised how utilizing a litter scoop in maintaining your cat's litter box can stretch out how much you are having to spend.

Another suggestion would be to buy in bulk. You may be tempted to buy the smaller sizes since the larger bags can be quite heavy and awkward to carry, but you will wind up paying for it in the end. With almost any item you go to purchase, you will find that the larger the size, the less you are paying per measurement. So buckle on down and remember to bend at the knees!