Critter Chatter
All about animals! Enjoy! Have a suggestion or want to include something of your own creation, story, annecdotes, drawings, etc.? Please feel free to submit a request for publication through our comment form.
If you need to upload something we will send you a form upon receipt of your application. This form will take attachments.
New Articles have a "*" before them
BirdBreath Life from a bird's point of view.
*What Are the Top 10 Most Popular Pedigreed Cat Breeds?
By Amy Nutt
Pedigreed cats are a source of joy and pride for their owners.
Besides their gorgeous coats, beautiful lines, and great
disposition, these animals offer companionship and entertainment
to those who love them. Choosing a pedigreed cat is not easy,
but knowing the most popular breeds of pedigreed cats may help.
1. Persian
Persian cats are known for they beautiful long coats and open
faces. They supposedly originated in Iran and were transported
to the rest of the world along with exotic spices and fine
jewels. Cat breeders and owners of Persian cats enjoy their
gentle dispositions and quiet voices.
Persian cats are best suited to living indoors because of their
long coats. The coat of a Persian cat requires considerable
maintenance, but this breed is extremely hardy and long-lived.
2. Maine Coon
The origin of the Maine Coon cat is something of a marvel. Less
a product of the work of cat breeders than the result of natural
selection, the Maine Coon originated in North America and is
known for its superb mousing ability.
Also known for its loving disposition and keen intelligence,
the Maine Coon is a beautiful long-haired breed. These cats are
wonderful with children and good with dogs as well.
3. Exotic
The Exotic is a variant on the Persian breed. Exotic cat
breeders strive to meet the standards of the Persian cat in all areas except coat. Here, the Exotic differs from its
higher-maintenance cousin. Exotic cats have a short,
easy-to-care-for coat.
Quiet, with a soft, gentle voice, these cats make excellent
pets. They are not demanding but are playful and sweet. Exotics are also clean and mature later than other cat breeds. These
cats physically resemble a teddy bear or other stuffed animal and make wonderful family pets.
4. Abyssinian
Resembling the sculptures of cats in Ancient Egypt, the
Abyssinian has a beautiful, arched neck, slanted eyes, prominent ears, and a powerfully-muscled body. The extremely short hair of this breed makes it distinctive and easy to care for.
Besides their appearance, the Abyssinian has a personality that is unique and easily identified by a cat breeder or educated enthusiast. Abyssinians are known for their remarkable intelligence, amazing sensitivity, and personable attitude.
5. Siamese
Originally from Thialand, Siamese cats are easily identified by their distinctive coats and markings. The color contrast on
their coats is remarkable, and the structure of their bodies is also unique. Cat breeders strive to produce a animal with a wedge-shaped head, long, muscular body, and a long neck and tail.
The coat on Siamese cats is very short easy to take care of,
making this breed a low-maintenance pet. They are first-rate communicators with a distinctive voice and clear body language. Siamese cats love people and become extremely attached to their doting owners.
6. Ragdoll
A large cat with a relaxed disposition, the Ragdoll has long
hair and striking blue eyes. When breeding Ragdolls, a cat
breeder is focused on producing animals with specatular, pointed coats, affectionate personalities, and a large body. These animals love people and usually want to be close to their owners.
The coat of a Ragdoll cat requires regular maintenance, but
otherwise, these animals do not require any special care. They were developed in the 1960s as cat breeders bred domestic longhaired cats and other free-roaming felines.
7. Sphynx
The result of a 1966 natural genetic mutation, the Sphynx is a cat breed that is sometimes entirely without hair. Cat breeders have worked hard to create a breed that is extremely hardy and has few health problems.
Sometimes there is fine downy hair present on the nose, tail, or body of this cat. The Sphynx has a friendly personality, and is very curious and attention-oriented. Due to the lack of hair
on this breed, it requires bathing. However, some people with cat allergies find that they can tolerate a Sphynx.
8. Birman
Orignally from Burma, where it was held as a sacred animal, the Birman is a large, stocky animal with long hair. The coat of the Birman is not prone to matting, making it easier to care for than some other breeds.
The personality of the Birman is considered nearly ideal by
many cat owners and cat breeders: at once sweet, quiet, playful, and energetic. The long coat is tipped and is generally a light color with a golden glow. The eyes of this breed are very round and blue.
9. American Shorthair
Known for their spectacular disposition, the American Shorthair is a breed that makes a wonderful companion. This breed is also extremely healthy, long-lived, quiet, and good looking.
Records show that the American Shorthair, originally called the “Domestic Shorthair,” came to America on the Mayflower. Cat breeders have worked for years to ensure that these animals have the desired qualities for the breed, despite their physical
similarities to ordinary, non-pedigreed animals.
10. Oriental
Devoted to their owners and interested in being a part of all
daily activities, Orientals make great pets. They are bred to be curious and intelligent, as well as to have colorful,
distinctive coats and long thin tails.
Cat breeders have been able to produce over 300 different
patterns and colors of Orientals, making the selection of these animals extremely diverse. They are also noted for their large, open ears and almond-shaped eyes.
About the Author: Cat breeder directory features free and
premium listings for cat breeders and other pet related
websites. When looking for quality information on cat breeds,
refer to Cattery Index. http://www.cattery-index.com/directory
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=313021&ca=Pets
How To Keep Your Dog Happy
By Adam Katz
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and I thought I would quickly send this out to you, before I leave for the
weekend.
We were discussing how to keep your dog's mind stimulated.
Remember: Bored dogs cause problems. If you don't keep your dog's mind stimulated, chances are that he'll find activities to stimulate his mind, himself. And you won't like those activities.
A dog that is mentally stimulated on a daily basis is a happy dog. And happy dogs don't cause dog problems.
Here's a quick list of how to keep your dog mentally
stimulated:
1. Exercise. Lots of exercise. If you can incorporate exercise
with another activity such as playing, "Find the ball," or doing
some agility exercises, then that's even better.
2. Brain teaser toys. I'll be adding some of these to our web
site store, later next week. There are a number of cool toys
that actually challenge your dog's mind. For example, one of the
more popular ones is the "Buster Cube," a plastic cube that
releases a pellet of food, every third or fourth time the Cube
is rolled over.
3. Small rituals done at the same time of day, every day. For
example; feeding time, grooming, walks, "cookie" time, car trips
around town, etc...
4. Dogs like to work. Teach your dog to bring in the newspaper,
carry mail back from the mailbox or to walk out with you when
you take the trash out. (Whenever I go through the drive-thru
window at McDonald's, Forbes - my dog - gets to carry the trash
bag to the trash receptacle when we're finished. Sound silly,
right? But the dog loves it!)
5. Do obedience training with your dog. Obedience training
requires your dog to use his brain and think. Knowing that he
will be praised for making the right decision and corrected for
making the wrong decision (and allowed the opportunity to make
the right decision again) instills a sense of responsibility in
your dog and demands that he use his noggin. Remember: Dogs are
bred to work. They've been blessed with super-human instincts
and drives and they need an outlet for those drives.
That's all for now, folks!
Adam
About the Author: Adam G. Katz is the author of the book,
"Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To
The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In
bravenet.com