Shout About Pets

Cats sleep for a really quite frightening proportion of their lives. Even at their most active, they’re still likely to sleep for about 12 to 16 hours. Lazier cats can rack up 20 hours of sleep in every 24 hour period.

The effect is magnified by the fact that cats are virtually nocturnal, being at their most active at dawn and dusk. This is why your cat absolutely flips out for half an hour or so round about the time the sun goes down.

Bizarrely, long haired cats are generally less active than short haired cats. Maybe it’s something to do with conserving energy in cold climates. I dunno. I just made that up really.

One of the best things about cats is that, like soap, they’re self-cleansing. However, from time to time, you do need to intervene.

Cats are forever getting scratches – mostly from other cats. If your cat gets scratches on their back legs, they’re not a fighter. If they get them on their face and front paws, they’re scrapping.

Most of these cuts don’t come to much, but occasionally one can get infected. If there is a big cut or you can see that one has become infected, you’ll need to clean it.

You need nothing more than salt water and a cloth or kitchen towel, but a word of advice – be forceful. Many cat owners are too gentle and don’t actually clean the wound, which is a waste of time.

Today we are going to cover the top 10 cat names for cats in the UK, but first we must cover how to choose the perfect name.

• Make sure that the name is (or can be shortened) to 2 sylabbles at most.
• Make sure the name is completely different from other pets in the family.
• Try and make it ‘timeless’ - will ‘P-Kitty’ still be relevent in a few years?

1. Molly
2. Charlie
3. Tigger
4. Poppy
5. Oscar
6. Smudge
7. Millie
8. Daisy
9. Max
10. Jasper

According to recent figures released by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a staggering 35 percent of dogs are currently overweight. Cats are faring no better, as apparently one in every four cats is fatter than they should be.

Vets are advising that pet owners get out of the habit of feeding snacks to their cats and dogs, as well as avoiding buying fatty, sugary or other unhealthy pet food or treats for them. Experts are also citing the Lent period as the best time to change your pet’s diet, as you can do it along with your own diet plan.

I have been looking for some outdoor equipment which is going to be practical for my pets as I really want an outdoor wicker sofa with 2 chairs but I know that my dogs will leave dirty foot prints on them but I am bored of the same old wooden table and chairs that you can buy anywhere which you end up varnashing every year as they have gone dull.

I have seen a great set of outdoor equipment in Marks & Spencers have a great deal on a set of all weather furniture by their Autograph range which is at a really good price but the seat cussions are white which will not last long at all..

Another good company to look at is Homebase because they do some funky BBQ’s and the best bit about doing a BBQ is that you can cook some chicken or sausages and feed your pet a treat which they will love you for.

If you are a responsible cat owner you will be attentive to your cat’s moods and will notice their little nuances and phases.  Cats can become deeply unhappy in certain circumstances but there are ways of spotting the signs so you can react before it gets out of hand. 

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Advent calendars for dogs are fast becoming a norm in my house. It takes Tashi, my shih tzu no time at all to cotton on that there is food to be had from that cardboard contraption up on the kitchen counter!  The ritual in the morning after he has jumped around like a demented pogo stick for five minutes is to bead me intently until I remember that its advent calendar time. 

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Christmas time is upon us and I have been busy with my Christmas preparations.  The decorations and tree were purchased at the beginning of December and I had much fun decorating and adorning its branches with shiny, glittery baubles and dancing Christmas tree lights.  Tikka my cat looked on with what could be mistaken as badly concealed boredom but as this is my fourth Christmas with him I know not to be fooled by his apparent lack of interest! Read more…

The recent cold spell with snow and ice and hale has really got me in the festive mood.  The tree is up already and I’m enjoying cosy nights in front of the fire.  It can be easy to forget how the cold affects your trusty feline friend at times like this.  You need to ensure that your cat can get into the warmth when temperatures drop dramatically particularly if he likes to wander outside.

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It has long been accepted that microchipping your dog or cat is one of the best ways of ensuring your pet is permanently identifiable.  It is inexpensive and is of benefit as it cannot be lost as a tag can be on a collar. 

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