Whether you bought your Persian cat as a show cat or simply as a house pet, the fact is that Persians need more grooming than the average cat and that responsibility falls upon you. If you don't know where to start with learning how to groom your cat then this article is for you. We've put together some of the most pertinent information you need to know when it comes to grooming your cat. Persian cats are not particularly easy to maintain, although the trouble is worth it when one considers their beauty. There is a whole host of merchandise available when it comes to pet grooming these days and you are free to buy as much as you like. Generally though, the bear essentials needed for grooming and bathing your cat include a brush, blunt ended scissors, toothbrush, shampoo, sponge or wash cloth and a few towels.
Before you begin grooming your cat its important to be organized. This will help you to relax and be in control of what you re doing during the whole process. Cats, like all other animals are sensitive to the emotions we give off. If you are nervous it is likely to make your cat feel the same way which in turn will end up making the whole bathing and grooming process a lot more difficult. If you've just bought a Persian kitten you should aim to have it in the bath tub at the latest by three months of age. This allows your cat to get used to the process as it gets older making things easier for you. Once you've established a routine stick to it, that way your cat knows what to expect and will remain calm throughout the grooming process. You should try to give your cat a complete bath and trim at least once a week although with a Persian if you want to keep its coat in great shape then you really need to set aside a few minutes each day to comb out any matts in the hair.
Giving your Persian cat a regular bath is the core activity of the day to day grooming process. Regularity is the key bathing as the more your cat gets used to it the less resistant he is likely to be to the whole process. Place your cat gently but firmly in a bath of lukewarm water. Too hot or too cold and you're likely to cause resistance in your cat or even injure it. The water needs to be well worked into the cat before you start to apply the shampoo. Initially this can be difficult as the cat does not have the patience to stay in the bath tub but with practice things should get easier. Choosing a shampoo may involve some experimentation on your part to see what your cat likes but generally any cat shampoo or even a shampoo with a no tears formula designed for children works fine. Work the shampoo in gently with your hands or a sponge but be careful not to vigorously scrub. Once this is done the only thing left to do is give the coat a good few rinses to get out any shampoo and gently pat your cat dry with a towel.
To dry the coat of your Persian cat you need a hair dryer to be used on its lowest setting. This is important as using a higher setting will likely irritate your cat. Place your cat on a specially prepared grooming table and begin to use the dryer very gently will combing out the hair. Once you can feel that the hair is dry then you can begin to trim off any excess hair from around the body and face using trimming scissors or thinning scissors. Cats have a tendency to get inpatient at this point so its important you remain firm in keeping your cat on the grooming table. Take special interest in grooming excess hair off from around the face and ears of the cat.
Trimming the nails & ears is important not only because it looks good but improves the hygiene of the cat in general. Firstly you should have a specially prepared grooming area which is both comfortable for you and the cat. Place your cat on the table and give the face & ears a quick wipe with a slightly wet piece of cloth. Begin to separate tufts of hair around the ears and cut of excess hair around the ears. Be careful not to accidentally cut into the ear leather as this can happen given the thickness of the Persians hair. One way of avoiding this is to make sure the ears are wet before you start to cut which makes it easier to distinguish between the hair and leather. Similarly, it is easier to clip a cat's nails when it is wet, although you have to exercise great caution when doing this part of the grooming process. In general cats do not like to have their paws held and you should also not cut too much of the nail off as this is likely to cause your cat pain.
Here is a great way to make some extra money! Construct cat trees, cat furniture and scratching posts. What a great way to show off your creativity and make some extra money to spend on your furry feline friend.With a few simple tool and basic supplies cat furniture can be made for a fraction of the regular retail price and only limited by your imagination. To start browse your local pet supply shop or the internet for ideas. If you are constructing anything for your own cats enjoyment watch what he/she likes to do. Look out the window, take a sun nap or destroy the couch! Design a cat tree high enough to watch all those birds fly by, stretch out in the sun and enough scratching posts to walk right by the couch. Tailor made cat products are the best!
Once you have made a few of these you will see how easy it is to incorporate different designs. From your examples you will notice the more elaborate the design, the higher the cost. Do not go crazy with the four story, double condo, with his and her baths! It's best to remember that when customers are shopping for cat trees, space is the biggest consideration. If it will not fit their needs they will most likely not purchase it.
Start small with basic scratching posts and smaller cat trees. Set up a booth at a flea market to show off your cat tree business. This is a great way to get started. There is one thing cat lovers enjoy talking about is their cats! Strike up conversations with cat owners. Everyone has a funny cat story. Bring a few samples of your product. Make a portfolio of different cat trees and cat gyms offered. That way you will not end up with a basement full of cat furniture! Attend cat shows, post flyers, ask your customers for referrals. Work with local veterinarians to set up a sample in their offices. Go where the cats are.
Kitten care may be intimidating to the first time cat owner. There are a lot of things to know about kitten care. From bottle feeding to socializing your kitten, you'll have to learn these things in order to raise your kitten properly.Kitten care should be fun. You will look at your kitten and see a totally helpless creature for the first few days. You need to take care of your kitten and eventually; they will grow into strong, intelligent, and loving cats.
Kittens will grow very quickly. For the first six weeks, they will grow their fastest in their entire lifespan. This stage is crucial. There are some things that you should not do during this stage of a kitten's life.
You should not feed your kitten dog food. This might make end up with cats vomiting or cat sickness. You should not feed it table scraps either. Avoid giving your kitten liver, canned tuna or any type of canned fish for human beings. You should feed your kitten specialty food and nurse them with their proper milk. Kitten care in feeding is important.
Socializing your kitten is part of kitten care. You can talk to your kitten, cuddle with your kitten, and play with it. When you handle it properly, they will associate positive experiences with you and thus, become properly socialized.
Part of kitten care involves what you should allow and what you should prohibit when your kitten is playing. You should now allow your kitten to play with your fingers and associate it with some play toy. This may develop into a bad habit and may eventually cause scratching and biting not only to you but to other people in the household as well.
Part of care involves what kind of toys to buy them. In some cases, you don't even have to buy them because you can find them lying around the house or you can make them. One toy that you may want your cat to play with is a plastic straw. These are excellent for teething during the early stages of cat's life. Aside from straws, you can also get old shoulder pads. They will enjoy playing with this too.
Kitten care also involves what your cat should not play with. Avoid giving your cat curling ribbons or loose string elastics. They may get a cat hairball. You don't want your cat going to the vet because of their toys.
So you want a pet parrot but have you thought it through? Yes parrots look like wonderful pets and Polly looks really cool sitting on pirate Long John Silver's shoulder or Johnny Depp's for that matter. The thing is, parrots are not pets you should get involved with either lightly or on impulse. There are some far reaching factors to consider and I have listed some of these pitfalls below. Parrots are fast becoming the world's number one unwanted pet so serious consideration of the following pitfalls to parrot ownership would make sense.
1. Parrots, depending on which type you get, can live for a very long time. Some live for up to 70 years. Will you still be around or is your parrot to become an heirloom bequeathed to one of your nearest and dearest?
2. Noise. Parrots can make an awful lot of noise. What about your neighbours? Do you live in a detached house or an apartment block? What about you, will you be able to handle the noise? At dawn and dusk your parrot will call out to his flock. He will also probably do a fair bit of calling in between times as well!
3. Mess. Parrots can make a whole lot of mess. Anything chewable can and will be chewed. Your furniture will be fair game and believe me the damage inflicted by a parrot can be great.
4. Behavior Training. Believe it or not your parrot needs to learn social graces. They need to learn how to behave, not just with you the owner, but also in the company of strangers. Are you prepared to do this? This is not something you can delegate and if you don't do it you WILL end up with a juvenile delinquent for a pet. That won't be fun!
5. Food. Feeding your parrot properly takes effort. You won't get away with just seed. Your parrot needs more than that. Fruit and veggies and occasionally some meat. My African Grey Parrot really enjoys his chicken bones. But not all food is suitable or even safe, so are you prepared to learn what is and is not suitable and are you prepared to prepare food each day for your bird?
I would not want to put you off having a parrot as a pet. Parrots make fantastic pets BUT they do take a lot of time and effort and it is better to go in to owning a parrot with your eyes wide open, rather than blinkered and then end up having to find another home for your parrot because you are unable to cope.
African Grey Parrots are considered to be some of the smartest members of the Parrot family, and have become a coveted pet for bird lovers. Known for their ability to imitate sounds and use words in their proper context, Greys are intelligent as well as beautiful. Here are 5 answers to frequently asked questions about the Congo and Timneh African Grey Parrot.
What is the difference between the Congo (CAG) and the Timneh (TAG)? The Congo is slightly larger and can be easily identified because of its brilliant red tail, dark grey beak, and overall powder grey feathers. The Timneh sports a sleeker body build, has a maroon tail, grey feathers that are a darker charcoal color, and has a two-tone beak with the upper mandible being bone in color and the bottom one grey. With proper care they have been known to live 50 years and longer.
Is there a difference is cost? The Congo seems to be more in demand among bird lovers because of their size and their powder grey color. And because of the higher demand they are more expensive, so breeders tend to raise more of them because they can be sold for a higher price. So if you are on a budget, but still want an African Grey, the Timneh is a great bird to choose. They are just as intelligent but cost a lot less.
How does their care differ? There is no difference in the care needed. They both need a high quality pellet base diet supplemented with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, a continuous supply of fresh water, toys, a large cage with perches at various levels, a lot of attention, socialization, and training. This will keep you Grey physically healthy, and emotionally happy which goes a long way toward preventing behavioral issues such as biting, screaming, feather plucking, and self mutilation.
Is there a significant difference in their personalities? There are some who believe that the Congo tends to be more excitable and prone to feather plucking than its smaller cousin. Others believe that any difference between the birds is due more to their individual personalities than a generalization about the subspecies.
What can be done about the dust they create? The dust they create is a natural phenomenon and is nature's way of helping their wings develop normally. In the wild this dust would dissipate rather than build up as it does in captivity. This dust is not good for the birds because it clogs their air passages which can lead to respiratory infections. It also serves as a carrier for airborne bacteria and viruses that can cause disease and infection in your bird. In addition, it is also not good for people, particularly those who suffer from allergy or asthma. The best way to keep your bird's air clear of this dust is to use a high efficiency particle arresting air purifier that is designed with birds in mind.
