The best pet is not really determined by breed but rather by the cat’s body shape. The cats with the most sociable personalities tend to be ones with shorter legs and low slung bellies that look like pouches.
The slimmer and more sinewy the cat, the more demanding, vocal and hyperactive it usually it is. A good example of this is the Siamese cat, which is considered to be one of the most the most lively, vocal, chatty and intelligent breeds. A drawback is that they can have a little bit too much of a personality and make a lot of noise. These cats can learn to stay quiet however and they are very trainable. One problem is that many Siamese can suffer from separation anxiety and yowl when you leave home. This is not good if you live in close quarters or in an apartment.
Similar breeds to the Siamese cat are the Cornish Rex, Oriental Shorthaired, Abyssinian, and Balinese. Their owners who find themselves at the animal’s beck and call have even described some of these breeds as bossy. However if you require a lot of company then you love these breeds.
A mixed breed cat with a stocky body is probably laid back and friendly. This type of cat is voted most likely to watch television to you. They are probably related to the Persian, which is considered by the Cat Fancier Association to be the easiest going of the breed cats. Persians love to be stroked and patted. Others breeds that love to be patted are stocky breeds such as the British Shorthaired, Exotic Shorthaired, and the Sacred Cat of Burma. Look for a belly that is more likely to graze the ground when the cat walks. This is a sign that the cat is calmer in character.
In the middle of the spectrum for body type and personality is the pedigreed American Shorthaired. It has a middle of the road personality and it makes a good cat. The domestic shorthaired is what is casually referred to as the alley cat. They can have short hair or long hair. They can be every bit as loving as a pedigreed cat. One cue as to how they might behave is to look at the cat’s body type. If it is lithe and muscular it will be an extrovert. If it is short and stocky it will be more laid back like a Persian cat.
When shopping for the cat that would make the best companion for you need to be careful not to stereotype a cat just because it is a certain breed. Although the information in this blog is generally correct you should also keep in mind that most cats have a personality just like humans do. There are quite calm Siamese and needy, screaming American shorthairs as well.
If you have any kind of pet you are probably dealing with a dirty carpet of some kind thanks to nature’s little accidents. Carpet steam way is one of the mosteffective ways to clean a carpet and most modern day manufacturers also recommend it as the method to use so you don’t damage your carpet further. Carpet fibers are not usually ever damaged by steam, which after all is merely hot water.
However as safe as carpet steam cleaning may be there are some types of carpet fibers that can be damaged by the process. This is especially true if the carpet is made from a very thin or delicate thread such a silk. Steam cleaning might not be ideal for antique carpets either. If your pet has gone and stained one of these types of carpets you may have to live with the discoloration or smell, as there are not many successful cleaning methods for this.
The process of carpet steam cleaning is based on a very simple principle. To deep clean a carpet, steam cleaning removes stubborn dirt particles by drawing dirt from out of the depths of the fibers and then removing what is revealed on the surface before it has a chance to stain. Typically carpet steam cleaning uses a liquid based cleaning agent which can be vaporized or turned to steam in a steam cleaning machine that is either used by a professional or rented by yourself to clean your carpet. These machines are also sometimes referred to as steam vacuum cleaners or as carpet extractors. The best performing machines or the self contained ones that also have built-in vacuum cleaner. Sometimes when you are using these machines you can actually see the yellow urine being sucked up from your carpet and into the tank of the machine. The process might also be a bit smelly as moisture is added to the original urine stain. Often it smells like ammonia.
Renting a carpet steam-cleaning machine is one of the simplest ways to clean your carpet. After selecting the cleaning solution that is right for your carpet fibers follow the instructions provided in the carpet steam cleaning machine user’s manual. All you need to do is move the machine over the entire carpet surface. Then, move the extractor over the carpet surface (as directed in the user’s manual), The extractor injects the cleaning solution into the carpet in the form of steam or vapors that pushes dirt upwards and the inbuilt vacuum sucks the dirt up. This process is completed in a few minutes, and with some of the newer machines, even a few seconds.
Carpet steam cleaning is probably one of the most powerful ways to extract pet urine. This is because as a method it does not just clean the surface of the fibers but it also cleans the carpet base as well as the carpet fibers. It can help you get rid of that pet smell for good.
One of the biggest fan of cats is Betty White, the actress, animal activist and author of the book Pet Love. As a senior she notes in her book that an increasing number of hospitals and nursing homes are letting cats roam free in their halls.
Betty’s enthusiasm about this idea is backed up by scientific research that has found that therapy pets such as small cats and dogs definitely do have the power to heal the ailing and elderly psychologically.
It is also very well known that a small pet such as a cat can relieve the loneliness that is experienced by elderly individuals who have lost a spouse. A pet can provide unconditional love as well as relaxation and chances for the owner to get more exercise.
Cats in particularly are known for relaxing the human mind and also being trusting and gentle with older people. Studies have shown that patients in hospitals and nursing homes who have regular visits from pets are more positive in attitude and take the human mind of off pain, boredom and other sorrows.
Pet therapy has been especially valuable as an aid in helping the elderly, the infirm, the addicted and the abused to reach out and connect emotionally once again. Pet therapy is especially successful with children who feel abandoned lonely or ill. Pets have also been known to bring out the best in individuals who can’t connect anymore or who have lost their memories. The same goes for cats and children with autism.
These types of cats, called therapy animals, travel to convalescent homes, hospitals, day care centers, juvenile halls and prisons along with their owners for the express purpose of cheering people up. However not every type of cat makes a good therapy cat. The best ones have a calm gentle personality and are naturally people-friendly.
The ideal therapy cat must love petting and attention and not be skittish around surprising noises, wheelchairs and the other animals that are found in institutions. The cat also can’t be that vocal as it could disturb people who are trying to sleep. Therefore a Siamese may not be a good idea. Researchers in the field of pet-assisted therapy have found that physically being around a cat can help lower high blood pressure and stress levels, motivate the person to interact with others, alleviate depression, reinforce self-esteem and reestablish motivation.
Types of disorders and conditions that can benefit from pet healing include children with attention deficit order and depressed individuals who need a boost in mood or morale. The act of stroking or petting the animal also makes the person feel less alone. Even the simple act of grooming a cat is a huge step for an individual who is mentally depressed or physically handicapped, but many find the inspiration to exceed their limitations when confronted with a therapy pet.
Sometimes when you bring home an adult dog from a pet rescue organization or shelter it needs to be housetrained. Here are some tips to teaching old dog new tricks.
Make him feel safe and give him a den to retreat to. Making your rescued dog feel emotionally secure by providing him with a den builds your trust bond with him and makes him less anxious. A dog that is calm and feels secure is easier to train than a dog that does not know his place in your home. Providing him with a safe haven may also prevent him from urinating out of fear if he encounters other members of your pet or human family.
Learn to read his body language. When it comes reading the dog’s body language, circling, sniffing, rising to a standing position and then sitting down again repeatedly and whining are all messages that he needs to go outside. Don’t ignore these messages. Validate the dog immediately by taking him out to urinate or defecate. Don’t punish an adult dog by pushing his face in urine or feces. These substances are not offensive to a Stafford so he will have no idea that he is being punished if you do this. He will enjoy the sensation of the smell and associate it with pleasure. He may also associate this with positive attention from you.
Also note that adopted that have suffered from malnutrition may have small, underdeveloped bladders. These poor dogs may simply not be able to hold their urine. The only solution to this is to take him out more often. It is absolutely crucial that you never blame this type of dog for accidents, as he just can’t help it. If you do intimidate this type of dog the first thing it is going to do is urinate. This is how it shows that it is submissive to you and recognizes your anger. The dog may even begin to urinate unprovoked when it sees you to show you that it recognizes that you are dominant. In this case, the dog has a hard-wired instinct to please you by automatically piddling when it sees you. Once again, your best course of action is to be patient. Try not to resent the dog for having accidents.
A dog is not a vengeful creature. He simply doesn’t understand where he is supposed to go or why he should hold it. He has either been badly trained or not at all. All you can do about this one is keep a lot of paper towels handy in all areas of your home in case it happens again. The thing to realize is that nearly all shelter dogs have problems like this. If you have nice carpets or don’t like the smell of urine then don’t get a dog from a shelter or a rescue organization. Chances are very likely that the dog will have problems with its training and have to be retrained. Simply accept that accidents are going to be inevitable with a rescued dog especially if it has had a traumatic time.
