If you own a pedigree cat the best way to find a great veterinarian  is to phone your local rescue organization for your breed. They usually have the best recommendations regarding veterinary care because they know about all about the medical vulnerabilities .

 Otherwise you should make plans for find a “regular doctor” for your cat. You should always be prepeared as there is nothing worse than having a medical emergency to do with your pet and no veterinarian to turn to for help. 

The best way to approach looking for a veterinarian for your cat is to treat it as if you were looking for a personal doctor for yourself. Here are some questions you should ask when you are checking out a vet for the first tiem. Is the place clean or does it smell like a feces or urine?Are the people friendly as well as knowledgeable or do they act like they have no time for you. Do the medical equipment and other technology seem up to date? Is there any medical equipment missing such as a weight scale? Can you hear animals howling or in distress? Would my cat be comfortable in the “kennel room”? Does this look like a safe place for my pet to have to spend the night or longer if need be? Do my gut instincts tell me this is not a place that I can trust with the care of my pet or do I feel like I can trust the staff? 

In essence you are looking for a vet that can easily refer you to an emergency service if needed or that has an emergency service it can provide in-house. It might also be important to find an experienced doctor for your cat, especially if it is older. Veterinarians that send out reminders by email or snail mail about when your pet’s shots are due, diseases going around and other important information are preferable to ones that seem to be too busy to be involved in their community. One way to get feedback about vets is to simply ask your neighbours and freinds. When it comes to pets very few people lie about the credibility of their doctors. Ask friends, neighbors, family members, animal shelters, and local cat breeders about who the best vet in your area is.  

Once you have found a few prospects to be your pet’s doctor you should then write down some pertinent questions to be answered by an employee at the clinic. Usually an employee, not the busy vet, is the one who will be instructed to deal with general questions. I

f the vet is a really good vet and you have a particular question about your cat breed or a specific question the clinic will immediately book you and your pet an appointment for a consultation.  An excellent vet will call you back right away, no charge to see how your pet is and if everything is okay. However this gentle  and attentive old style vet is becoming rarer and rarer especially in the big cities.

Just like you, most cats find moving to be a traumatic. This is because they are territorial animals need a routine that is the same every day.

 The minute you start removing furniture, rolling up rugs and removing objects you are disorienting your cat. He or she is no longer able to define his or her territory. This can cause your cat a great deal of emotional distress and confusion. 

When moving your cat it is important to keep steady emotional contact with your him or her. The animal needs to know that even in the midst of all of the confusion that you are there for him or her. 

To minimize the trauma of moving, make sure that you spend extra time talking to and bonding to your cat to increase your trust level. Grooming the cat and patting it will also help him or her feel more secure. Make sure that you teach your cat to come when called in case he or she gets lost or disoriented during the move.

Cats also have a habit of running off on the day of moving and sometimes your only hope of getting it back is by calling it’s name.  Makes sure he or she is wearing appropriate I.D. tags. Get your cat used to being in a cat carrier.

Reward your cat each time he gets in and out of the cat carrier and remains calm.  It will also help him or her feel like you have the situation under control.   Sometimes cats run off before a move because they are not used to being inside a car. It is a good idea to get your cat used to the car by driving him around while he is inside his cat carrier. Board your cat for the day instead.

One of the nicest (and most expensive things) you can do for your cat is to board it in a kennel for a day or leave it in a kennel. That way the cat it protected from the emotional chaos of moving. Make sure a favorite toy or blanket is always within your pet’s immediate access at all times. 

When you move make sure the pet is protected from being trod on by movers or accidentally injured by furniture in transit. Sometimes the animal’s behavior changes slightly after a move. Don’t be surprised if your cat hides for a few days, acts hyperactive or unfriendly or refuses to eat. One way to keep a very upset cat calm is to leave it inside its carrier a quiet room that is apart from the rest of the house. Keep the lights off and the carrier in a place that feels sheltered. 

Make sure that the minute that carrier door is opened that all of the cat’s favorite toys, drinking and eating bowls are right there so that the cat feels like he or she is at home.  It is also a good idea not to let your outdoor cat outside for at least three weeks after you move. This is because many cats become disoriented and try to run away (usually in the direction of its old home) after you first move in. However if you are a responsible pet owner you will not be letting your cat out without supervision in the first place. 

 Most vets, humane societies and rescue organizations are now currently recommending that people keep their cat indoors. Installing a cat enclosure is is the best way to keep cats happy while also keeping them inside. The purpose of these structures  to give them a protected place where they can loll about in the sun and yet still have a view of the street or garden. 

Keeping your cats indoors is the responsible thing to do and protects cats from injury, infection, being run over by a car and kidnapping. Cats do not necessarily suffer if they are not also adept well to indoor living. That is why they makes such good pets in the first place. They can adapt to all kinds of different situations. 

Still cats need some light, exposure to sun and a little visual stimulation. That’s where cat enclosures come in. These enclosures allow your cat limited access to the great outdoors without exposing him or her to the dangers. Different types of enclosures include cheap window ledge perches to window-mounted bays to large and elaborate wood and wire courtyards to plastic enclosures with holes in them to cat proof fencing.

Outdoor cat enclosures can help keep your cat safe while providing fresh air and fun in the sun. They can be a big help in keeping kitty happy, contented, and safe. The least expensive type of cat enclosure is the window perch. It is merely a platform that can be attached to your windowsill so that your cat can watch the activity outside the window.

These usually cost less than $50 and are easily installed with wood or metal wall braces. They can look like perches, hammocks or baskets. Window bay cat enclosures fit are acrylic or polyethylene boxes that allow your kitty to sun him or herself as well as a three-sided view and venting that gives the cat a whiff of fresh air.

These usually cost between $80 and $150 depending on the manufacturer. Freestanding enclosures that attach to your home can be bought as kits or you can build your own quite easily and inexpensively. These usually cost between $100 and $300 per kit and can be installed you.  These freestanding cat enclosures are similar to little green houses complete with carpeting, shelves for sunning and venting for air. A larger and more elaborate structure is the outdoor cat habitat. These also look like little greenhouses include screened patios and decks, sunrooms and multipurpose and dual-species habitats.

These can range from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars in price. The appearance of an outdoor cat habitat really depends on the design of your house and the limits of your pocket book. 

Perhaps the easiest way to start building any enclosure is to think of how you can incorporate an existing architectural component of your home into the design. Design. For example, patios, porches and decks make great starting places for enclosures that both cats and humans can enjoy. A patio can be wood framed and secured with wire fencing can help keep predators out and your cats safely within range of your home’s entrance.

People often ask me which dogs are the least trouble.  Here is a list of what I consider to be the most low maintenance of all the dog breeds. 

American Water Spaniel –This is a hardy, healthy dog. It is expensive but you are paying for the great personality. It is good with children. This sturdy medium sized dog is hard to find but the expense of paying for the breed is made up by the fact that it is one of the hardiest and healthiest breeds that exists. This makes it a good investment. It is smaller so it can live in an apartment. The breed is good with dogs, cats and children but it does require vigorous exercise to work off excess energy.

Bedlington Terrier -This unusual looking dog is considered to be brighter and calmer than most terrier breeds. It is of a small to medium size that makes it ideal for an apartment or condo dweller. It is also a good family dog because it can be so easily trained. It also sheds less hair than many other types of dogs.

Bichon Frise -This small but sturdy little dog is similar to a toy dog but it is much stronger and sturdier.  It is friendly with both other pets and peopleIts short gnarly coat never sheds so it is one of the better breeds for allergy sufferers. It does not tend to incessantly yap as much as other small watchdogs.

Brussels Griffon -This unique toy breed is stronger and sturdier than most tiny dogs. The dog resembles a tiny terrier. It is a spunky eager little dog that is easy to train and keenly intelligent. He is easy to carry and does not need a lot of exercise.

Cesky TerrierThis friendly little dog is long bodied and short legged. It has a silky coat that doesn’t shed much. It does not need much exercise and has a relaxed and positive attitude towards family members and other pets.This uncommon breed suits both rural and urban situations but is happiest when other pets and people are around.

Coton de Tulear -This strong, small dog is one of the hardiest of the toy breeds. It has a long soft coat that doesn’t shed so it is ideal for allergy sufferers. It is not as timid and shaky as other toy breeds and is polite with people and other animals.The Coton de Tulear is one of the better investments, as it is a very healthy breed. It also lives a long time. It is best for single people and apartment dwellers as its small size can easily make it the victim of thoughtless children or larger pets.This massive dog has a short easy to maintain coat and is calm and quiet indoors. Despite its size it needs only moderate exercise.It is one of the most good-natured of the larger dogs and makes an excellent watchdog and personal guardian.It is best suited to owners without families who need a large quiet dog to protect them.

Low Chen -This small elegant dog is one of the easiest to train and is very healthy and long-lived. He has a fun but also sensible personality that makes him ideal to take anywhere. He is very polite with other animals and strangers. This friendly little dog doesn’t need a lot of exercise and is ideal for apartment dwellers. The fact that it is so easily trained also makes it an ideal family pet and an easier pet to take with you on the road if your lifestyle involves a lot of travel.