Descended from ‘working cats’ that came to America on ships like the Mayflower to hunt rats, selective breeding resulted in today s Domestic Short Hair. The Domestic Short Hair cat was renamed the American Short Hair in 1966 to better reflect this breed s heritage. Today, the name ‘Domestic Short Hair’ is given to cats whose parentage is in question. Adult male Domestic Short Hairs will reach an average weight of 11 to 15 pounds, but females will only weigh 8 to 12 pounds. They are considered fully mature at 3 to 4 years of age and can live 15 to 20 years.

The American Short Hair coat can come in many colors in patterns. In fact, almost 80 different patterns of colors are recognized in this breed. It is an all weather coat that is dense but won t mat. It should be brushed regularly to remove the dead hairs if the cat will not groom itself.

There are also as many different personality characteristics in Domestic Short Hairs from the stereotypical aloofness to the surprisingly friendly and social. This is a fairly healthy breed (part of its working cat parentage), so it is a relatively low maintenance breed, requiring nothing more than routine health care. However, some Domestic Short Hairs are prone to overeating, so it is important to give them plenty of opportunity to exercise and play. Those that cannot (or will not) engage in exercise will need to have its diet monitored closely to avoid potential problems with obesity.

There is a website that has great information on Domestic Short Hair and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Basset Hounds are among the most companionable and lovable dogs on the planet. Here are ten characteristics of the breed you need to know before bringing a Basset into your life.

1. Bassets seem to love everyone:

It’s difficult to imagine a sweeter, gentler or more peaceful dog. An adult basset on a walk in the park will try to make friends with almost everyone. Strangers seem drawn to him, will want to pet and coo over him. Emotionally, he sometimes seems almost human. His temperament is very well suited for a family setting. He’s really good with children and other dogs. He loves to play. Aggression is very rare. Don’t expect him to be a guard dog.

2. Sense of Smell:

His sense of smell is second only to the bloodhound. Bassets were bred for hunting small game. His nose can lead him into danger. He’s an escape artist and a wanderer. It’s advisable to keep him in an enclosed area and on the leash during walks. Left to his own devices, he’ll follow his nose wherever it takes him.

3. Intelligence:

Because of his clown like demeanor, laid back attitude and a streak of stubbornness, there are those who stereotype the basset as dumb. Don’t believe it. On the contrary, he’s a past master at getting his way. Clownishness, soulfulness and contemplative assessment of any situation are all part of his arsenal to win you over.

4. Puppies & Housebreaking:

Admittedly, housebreaking is difficult. If patience is not your long suit, you may want to consider a grown hound from rescue. In housebreaking a basset puppy, gentle tolerance and persistence, with plenty of positive reinforcement, will yield success. During his first year, refrain from allowing him to go down long stairs or jump off couches. His lengthy back is prone to problems during the formative stage if too much stress is applied.

5. Drool:

OK, he drools. Some bassets drool more than others. You’ll accept drool, because you just love him to death.

6. Weight:

Since he’s prone to weight gain and bloat, as is common among all deep-chested breeds, he should be fed reasonable portions only twice a day. Bassets tend to overeat. Remember that they’re long and low, and excess weight can lead to back injury. At a minimum, a daily walk is a must.

7. Ears:

Bassets’ long ears do not provide good air circulation and are prone to infection. Cleaning weekly and application of an ear wash solution from a veterinarian are required. While frequent baths are not necessary, the ears drag in everything and may need scrubbing more often.

8. Care and Maintenance:

With the exception of the ears and drool, bassets are easy to keep clean. His short, dense coat repels dirt and water. Bassets do shed, but regular brushing and removal will keep it to a minimum. Bathing about once a month is all that’s needed.

9. Compact Big Dogs:

His short stature is deceptive. Most bassets weigh in the range of 50 to 65 pounds. He has more bone for his size than any other breed. Because of his short legs, he may have difficulty jumping into some vehicles.

10. Barking:

Bassets are not given to excessive barking. Since he is very much a pack animal, he may howl if left alone for long periods. He’s vocal and often makes a variety of sounds in keeping with his mood, especially when excited about the prospect of a walk or play.

If you’re looking for a gentle companion that’s easy to care for and gets along well with everyone, you’d be hard put to do better than a basset hound. Please consider rescuing a basset. Just do a search for “basset rescue” on Google to find dogs in your area.

Ragdoll cat breed one of the most famous cat breeds ever found. They have a voluptuous body and weigh good fifteen pounds if healthy. Children would love them for their bright blue and large eyes that would just roll around with the most passionate love that you would have never experienced.

The Most Popular Ragdoll Cat Breeds

There are several varieties of Ragdoll cat breeds and every variety has its own specialty that would suit one or the other owner. This simply means that anyone in the world would feel it wonderful to have a Ragdoll cat breed. Looking into the most specific details of each Ragdoll cat breed we will look for some of the specific characters, they possess to help their owners.

Maine Coons: The Maine coon Ragdoll cat breed is known for its valor to hunt the mice. A single mouse cannot escape their eyes. They are to go well with kids and with surprisingly with dogs too! Their origin is North America, and they have the same body as any Ragdoll cat breed. They have a very keen intellectual power and their most interesting act would be that they apply the intellectual power in hunting mice.

Exotic: The Exotic Ragdoll cat breed is known for their acquaintance. Lovely they are in their move with owners. The mild and sweet voice and the short hair make them very impressive among the guests. They get well along with people easily.

            There are a lot more Ragdoll cat breeds that could add interest to the cat lovers. One has to see all the qualities of such a Ragdoll cat breed and then get one for their kids and family. If both the parents are office-goers, it is better to get the kid the Ragdoll cat breed, which has short hair, and this would make easy maintenance and great acquaintance.

There are more cat owners than dog owners in the United States, the reason for this is probably because cats are much lower maintenance. Your loving cat that usually loves to have you pet them, may decide to bite you on occasion. How can you prevent this undesirable behavior. In this article I will give you some tips to prevent this from happening.

Get Free: Cat Biting Tips

First, when your cat bites you make sure the cat knows this is not acceptable behavior. This can be achieved by giving a shout such as ouch or shaking your hand or stomping your foot so that your cat knows it hurts and can not happen again.

How to Improve: Your Cat’s Health

Second, just like you would punish a child with a time out, you want to do this with your cat. Put them down step away don’t pick then up and certainly do not pet them again for a while. Let your cat know they have done wrong. Let a period of time pass where your cat is allowed to calm down. This behavior sometimes occurs because your cat gets to excited.

Third, know your pet, look for signs, cats usually give signs if they are going to attack. If you are a cat owner you must learn to recognize subtle signs that your cat will display.

Fourth, don’t pet your cat in a sensitive area. Learn what area will provoke your cat. Most cats do not like to be petted on their stomachs or near their hind quarters. They are very protective of these areas so don’t pet them there.

Lastly, if you have a cat and it seems to want to bite you, you must take steps immediately to break this bad habit. It will not stop if you don’t work at making your cat break this bad behavior.

The Tonkinese breed is widely considered a ‘newer’ breed, a cross between a Burmese and a Siamese, though some dispute this saying the breed existed in the 1800s. The first known Tonkinese was Wong Mau, a descendant of ancient Burmese. Wong Mau was bred with a Siamese and over time, the Tonkinese was bred into its own separate breed but it was not recognized as a distinct breed until 1984. This cat is a medium sized breed with males weighing eight to twelve pounds and females six to eight pounds.

Tonkinese (affectionately referred to as ‘Tonks’) have a short, thick coat that requires no more maintenance than once weekly brushing and come in three colors: pointed, mink and solid. The pointed coat is much like a Siamese and the solid is much like a Burmese. However, the mink is unique to the Tonkinese. It is a combination of a Siamese coat and a Burmese coat but not a blend. Usually, one half (legs only or the body) is one coat and suddenly, it becomes the other.

The Tonkinese personality is described as ‘the best of both worlds’. From their Siamese side, they take curiosity and intelligence. From their Burmese side, they take their easy-going personality. They are active and stubborn but not particularly high strung or stressed out. Tonkinese are social creatures. They enjoy their humans and get along well with other pets and children.

Tonkinese do not like being left alone and it is recommended that if they are going to be left alone for long periods of time, there should be two Tonkinese in the home. It is also useful to have a cat condo around for exercise and play, and to keep them out of trouble stemming from boredom. Tonkinese tend to have almost no genetic medical concerns though they are more prone to gingivitis than other breeds.

There is a website that has great information on Tonkinese and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Cats are known to breed more than any other pet, and they will continue to breed until they are stopped. They are also extremely susceptible to immune malfunction and immunosuppression, and are very self-sufficient (as most people are aware) and excellent hunters, and thus able to live in the wild just fine. They are usually on smallish dosages, so the small-capacity (3/10 cc) syringes work well, with the added bonus of having the gradation marks further apart and easier to see. Cats are not stupid, and are very territorial and will defend their territory to the death, if challenged by another cat. They are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to many ailments!

Cats are not little dogs, and are also adept at manipulating their owners; those whose cats enjoy playing fetching games might reflect on who taught whom the game. They are very clean pets because they always clean themselves. They are loving, playful, charming and cute companions, and are all together another animal. Cats are just like people in that many traits of their personality are a result of their genetic background.

Cats are not a natural part of the ecosystem. They are absolutely spectacular, and are highly sensitive to fragmentation and loss of habitat, and declines in their prey. They are the ultimate narcissists. Cats are attracted to food that has a strong meat or fat flavor.

Cats are so like women: they are lovers of luxury, and they groom themselves incessantly, and aren’t as fussy about plastic food dishes. They are particularly vulnerable to poisoning since they often lack key enzymes for metabolizing or detoxifying OPs. They become accustomed to their own situation and habitat while being aware of the importance of their survival, and are usually asymptomatic, but uveitis, endocarditis, neurological signs, fever, necrotic lesions at the inoculation site, lymphadenopathy, and reproductive disorders have been reported in naturally or experimentally infected cats.

Cats are extremely agile; they can run faster than any other mammal for short distances and are remarkable jumpers. They are undemanding, low-maintenance, and self-sufficient.

In the 1960s a Persian was crossed with a Domestic Shorthair in an attempt to create a Persian with only short hair. The result was today’s Exotic, a breed that looks strikingly similar to the Persian, but with less maintenance involved, hence the nickname, ‘the lazy man’s Persian.’ There are long- and shorthaired varieties of Exotic. The coat of a Longhaired is very similar to a Persian. It is very thick and dense, and requires daily grooming, along with regular bathing. The Shorthaired Exotic coat is, well, short. However, that does not mean it does not require some maintenance from the owner.

Though Shorthaired Exotics tend to be able to keep themselves clean via regular grooming, the occasional brushing is recommended to lower the occurrence of fur balls. Both Long- and Shorthaired Exotics are seen in a wide array of colors and both will shed, though not nearly as much as a Persian. Both tend to be of an average size and weight and tend to live around twelve years, though they are not considered mature until approximately two years of age and enter puberty later than other breeds.

Exotics, though loving towards their human families, tend to be aloof. They do not demand much attention or interaction, but, from time to time, will want to enjoy their company. This is accomplished not by tricks or antics but by sitting and waiting patiently while staring to get their point across. This does not mean that Exotics are not playful. They do enjoy the occasional romp around the house and do not like being left alone for long periods of time. They do well with children and other pets but some children may not like their independent nature.

The Exotic does have some health concerns. Since it was bred with a Persian, Exotics have flat faces, making their tears prone to overflowing and staining the face. They can also suffer from constricted nostrils (causing them to breathe loudly), dental malocclusions, seborrhea oleosa (itchy, dry skin or hair loss), and polcystic kidney disease. Exotics are also prone to ringworm.

There is a website that has great information on Exotic and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Pets are man’s best friends as they understand you better than a human being and this is all due to well developed sixth sense that compensates for their lower speech or brain development compared to that which is found in humans. If you have decided to keep a pet at your home or in your garden, you will have a wide variety of animals to choose from as your pet. You can choose from animals such as birds or from insects to even reptiles, and if you are planning to have a pet snake, it will be a most thrilling experience you might have ever had in your life. Before keeping a pet snake you need to ensure certain things to help it grow and live peacefully with you. First of all, think about an appropriate house for your pet snake so that it moves around freely and comfortably. The house is nothing but a cage where your favorite pet will curl up to live in happily. The cage should be well ventilated so that your pet snake doesn’t smother itself and so that the temperatures can be maintained at the ideal setting. The cage should not only satisfy your snake but must also be easy and convenient fro you to clean it. Snake house include a huge variety made from wood, plastic etc, you can also get large aquariums that works absolutely well for your pet snake. You will find a huge choice of them available to buy online, but do your research first to make sure you are buying a quality product for your pet snake, that will keep it safe and not harm it. You also need to regularly clean the snake cage and change its bedding once in every seven or ten days. If you ignore this, the droppings pile up and lead to a situation called Dirty Cage Syndrome. While washing the snake cage add some baking soda to the water which acts as a disinfectant and will reduce the awful smell due to droppings. Take care of other disinfectants used for cleaning the cage, as these may prove to be poisonous to your pet snake. Streak the base of the snake cage with a newspaper or a torn aspen but never try to line it with sawdust or litter as they expel ammonia and don’t dry up fast. After deciding upon a perfect house for your pet snake, the next thing is to adjust the temperature in which your pet snake will live most contentedly. Usually the temperature of snakes’ natural habitat is in between 25 -30 degree C, so its house should always be maintained at this temperature, because a colder or a warmer temperature leads to its discomfort and hence your pet will stop eating anything. Always remember that nights are usually cool so maintain the temperature which suits it most, a temperature lower than 24 degree can cause serious problems for your pet snake. The cage should be help up at least nine inches from the ground. Every snake has some unique aspects to its care and maintenance, so make sure you study up on the specific requirements for your pet snake breed. Not all snakes like the same temperatures for instance. Lighting of the snake cage depends on the species of your pet snake; some species may need adequate amount of light where as others may not need any light as the ultraviolet rays from the light affect the health of the snake. Sunlight is actually sufficient for most of the species. Snakes love to eat mice and rats and foods like plants and vegetables are just useless for them. You need to serve these rats and mice in their dead lifeless state as a live one may cause injury to your dear pet. An adult snake needs to be fed just once in seven days, where as a younger one may need more food to help it grow. Frozen food can also be served but it should be thawed thoroughly before serving. These rodents are bred and frozen for you by pet supply stores and you can even order the meals for your pet snake online delivered to your door. You also need to feed them with extra vitamin supplements, females and baby snakes may not need but adult males do need an extra vitamin pill. Some snake breeds will live happily on a diet of eggs, and you may prefer a pet snake with that kind of diet instead of having to provide it with a supply of dead rodents. You also need to know that your pet snake will shed its skin every three months and this process takes just some minutes. You can help your pet to shed its skin completely by soaking it in water at its room temperature for an hour, if your pet doesn’t shed it completely on its own. A snake is very vulnerable at the time it is about to shed its skin, and it should be left alone in its nest, and certainly not have any live rodents in the cage to feed on at that time as the snake can be very easily injured while they are in that state. Now that you have a thorough idea about how to take a good care of your pet snake, so don’t wait, get its cage ready and buy one that suits your taste as you find a number of breeds in snakes too.

There are several things that you might not know about your cat. Why is your cat behaving in

a certain way? Why is your cat always sleeping? There are so many question coming up if you are

a new cat-holder.

Cats are wonderful animals and they are even healthy for us humans.

Research shows that having cats as pets could really lighten up a person’s physiological, emotional and psychological side.

These benefits can heal the wounds of solitude, age, stress and depression. In addition, cats are affectionate but less demanding, low maintenance and it would surely be very suitable for those who have a modern lifestyle.

According to the Society for Companion Animal Studies, patients recover or live longer through animals. It has been discovered that having pets would definitely ease the cases of physiological or psychological impairment in people.

Some more facts acts about cats:

- Cats have been associated with humans for more than 9000 years

- Cats can be trained to obey simple commands

- Grown pet cats weight between 2 and 8 kg, but some breeds like the Maine Coon can reach up to 20 kg.

- Cats usually live between 14 and 20 years, but there are cats older than 30 years

- Cats can move each ear independently of the other

- It’s in a cat’s nature to scratch vertical surfaces. They do so to clean the claws and to strech their muscles

- Cats as pets do also relieve you from stress

- Cats need to sleep very long. They sleep 16 hours or longer

- There are more than 500 million domestic cats in the world

- A cat’s heart beats twice as fast as a human heart

- Cats can “read” peoples mood.

- An cat has 1 up to 8 kittens per litter and up to 3 litters per year.

- 21% of the U.S. households have a cat

- Cats need five times more protein than dogs do

- The fastest land animal is a cat, the cheetah can reach 60 mph

It can be very enjoyable to have a cat. They sometimes do funny things or thy help us to relax. Having a cat means

having a good friend. Cats are very intelligent, they notice if you are feeling good or stressed.

Having a cat also means that you will have some extra work to do. You need to feed your cat, play with it, take care

about the litter box… There are many things you need to take care of to provide your cat a nice home to stay.

If your cat does not feel comfortable it will get sick or even leave you.

There are certain things that you should never do to a cat:

- declawing: Don’t even think about that, it is like amputating your toes! In Germany and other European countries declawing is forbidden by the law.

- never punsh or kick your cat, don’t be crual to your cat in any way. They won’t forget…

- never leave little children alone with cats

- don’t bath or shower your cat, they can clean themselves

- don’t annoy your cat with loud music, their ears are much more sensitive than ours

If you are uncertain about things go to your veterinarian, he has the answers to your questions.

The name ‘Oriental’ does not refer to a specific breed of cat, but a group of cats originating from Southeast Asia. Siamese is the most familiar (specifically, a Siamese without points), but Oriental can also refer to Japanese Bobtail, Burmese, and Balinese to name a few. Oriental cats are either longhaired or shorthaired and come in nearly 300 varieties of colors and markings. Longhairs do not require much brushing of the coat and it does not tend to mat making it one of the lower maintenance longhaired breeds. However, longhair varies are known to have problems with fleas so it is important to introduce baths early on in case a flea bath becomes necessary. Shorthairs have a coat that lies close to the skin and is described as silky.

Other than occasional brushings, it is a low maintenance coat. Orientals are small and lean cats (some can be three feet long), living approximately fifteen years. Mature males will weigh between nine and twelve pounds and females, four to eight pounds. They are described as loud and talkative, as well as curious and intelligent.

Orientals are playful, and have been known to use almost anything include breakables and valuables as toys. They enjoy heights and jumping so they would enjoy a cat condo, but do not enjoy the outdoors. They make an excellent family pet and are good with children, provided the children play gently. Orientals are ‘people cats’ and need lots of love and attention from them. Failure to provide adequate attention will result in boredom, which will result in trouble.

Because Orientals have a large gene pool, they are less likely to suffer from genetic problems, but since many of them have Siamese in them, Orientals are more likely to have issues with nystagmus (crossed eyes) which is not serious and will not medically affect the cat. Some Orientals are also prone to heart defects and some have issues with obesity if they do not get adequate exercise.

There is a website that has great information on Oriental Cats and most other breeds of cats. It has details that pertain to a cat breeds health, grooming, living conditions, best food choices and more, the website is called: Dog And Cat Facts, and can be found at this url:

http://www.dogandcatfacts.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.