Once you train your cat to use the toilet instead of a litter box, you'll save yourself a lot of time and money. Just think about how much time it takes you to change the litter and clean the litter box. And you won't have to buy cat litter any more, which will save you quite a bit of money through time. As well, you'll be making an environmentally conscious decision. As you can see, there are lots of reasons for you to give cat toilet training a try. These steps will help you reach your goal quickly and effectively.
The first step in how to toilet train your cat is to relocate the litter box to the bathroom. You need to do this very gradually, shifting it in one-inch increments. This way, your cat will become accustomed to the litter box moving and will continue using it as it moves ever nearer to the toilet. The litter box should finally be positioned right beside the toilet. This entire process might last a few weeks or it might take much longer, depending on how far away the toilet is from the original location of the litter box. Nevertheless, if you have enough patience, learning how to toilet train your cat can be a successful undertaking.
Once the litter box is located next to the toilet, the next step is to gradually raise it up so that it's at the same level as the toilet itself. You can use bricks, cement blocks, or phone books to slowly increase the height. Just be certain that you securely fasten the litter box to its base as it rises in height. Your cat will be jumping up to use the litter box, and you don't want it to topple over. When the litter box is eventually at the same level as the toilet, slide it over incrementally so that it gets nearer and nearer to the toilet. Eventually it will be sitting directly over top of the toilet. At the same time as you're shifting the box, you also need to reduce the amount of litter that it contains.
Now it's time for the final step in learning how to toilet train your cat. Get rid of the litter box, and replace it with an aluminum pan. Fasten it securely to the toilet. The tray should contain only an inch or so of flushable litter. Once your kitty has become accustomed to the new situation, cut a small hole in the bottom of the pan. Gradually increase the size of the hole. Eventually, your cat will essentially be using just the toilet, and you can remove the pan entirely. Success!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Importance of Proper Pet Grooming and Training
A pet is not just an animal, which was brought into your house to entertain you. Your pet has a personality of his own. Your pets also like to be properly groomed. So, when a pet is properly groomed and is appropriately trained, everybody likes your pet. This not only boosts the happiness of your pet, but also pampers your ego as you are the owner of the pet. Do you know about any pet which is smelly and ill-mannered? Does anyone like that pet? The answer would be an emphatic no. Just like being well groomed and to be like by everyone else, proper pet training and grooming is really very important.
By grooming of pets we mean the cleanliness of your pet. Pet grooming and training is much more important to animals as they get easily infested with ticks, fleas and other pathogens. Unlike humans, pets do not possess dexterous hands so they can barely clean themselves. This is where pet grooming and training comes into play. During these programs you are taught how to properly clean your pet. Take for example if you have a pet dog, and you attended a pet training and grooming session at some place, you will know how to clean the ears of your dog, how to protect him from flea attack, how to take care of his health and other important things. These pet grooming and training sessions help you out in the long run.
Suppose your pet is very well groomed and looks really beautiful, but the moment someone tries to touch it or pamper it, it bites them back. What would be their first reaction? They would simply say no doubt it the pet is well groomed but not trained properly. Your pet should be properly potty trained so that its stink does not drive away visitors that come visiting your place. After all, it is part of pet grooming and training program.
If you are unable to get proper pet grooming and training, then it is a good idea to get a professional help. Nowadays, there are a number of pet beauty parlors or grooming salons where pets are properly cleaned and groomed. As far as training is concerned, you can take the help of books, videos, or friends. Even professionals will help you out in giving proper pet grooming and tips. So remember that whenever you buy a pet, pay a little more attention to its grooming and training.
By grooming of pets we mean the cleanliness of your pet. Pet grooming and training is much more important to animals as they get easily infested with ticks, fleas and other pathogens. Unlike humans, pets do not possess dexterous hands so they can barely clean themselves. This is where pet grooming and training comes into play. During these programs you are taught how to properly clean your pet. Take for example if you have a pet dog, and you attended a pet training and grooming session at some place, you will know how to clean the ears of your dog, how to protect him from flea attack, how to take care of his health and other important things. These pet grooming and training sessions help you out in the long run.
Suppose your pet is very well groomed and looks really beautiful, but the moment someone tries to touch it or pamper it, it bites them back. What would be their first reaction? They would simply say no doubt it the pet is well groomed but not trained properly. Your pet should be properly potty trained so that its stink does not drive away visitors that come visiting your place. After all, it is part of pet grooming and training program.
If you are unable to get proper pet grooming and training, then it is a good idea to get a professional help. Nowadays, there are a number of pet beauty parlors or grooming salons where pets are properly cleaned and groomed. As far as training is concerned, you can take the help of books, videos, or friends. Even professionals will help you out in giving proper pet grooming and tips. So remember that whenever you buy a pet, pay a little more attention to its grooming and training.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Why Pet Training Is Necessary
Let’s face it, the way today’s society functions, every individual is becoming more and more secluded from society. But again, man is a social animal and in order to keep ourselves happy resort to pet keeping. Things would have been quiet simple if there were only few pets. At present there are 73 million dogs in the US, which has created a need wherein pets behave in a perfect manner when outside. This has created the need of efficient pet training. Also we as human beings want to show the world the power we have over our pets, that is why we want them to obey our commands, and this calls for pet training. No matter what the reason is, pet training has become essential as having a pet.
Pet training is nothing but teaching your pets to follow commands. This includes basic commands like sit, stay, and lay down for your dog. When your pet is trained perfectly, they can become your best friends for a lifetime. This is just an example. The commands can get really complex when you try to train them for special occasions or needs. Like a blind person would like to train a dog as a guide, in that case the training would be very special and different. If you are planning to train your pet for competition, then again the pet training would be very specialized in nature.
So how do we go about training our pets? If you want your pet to be trained only for basic commands, then there is absolutely no need to hire a professional pet trainer. You yourself can become a proficient pet trainer if you use some of the tools available in the market. The most basic tool is of course a book. Any good book store will have hundreds of books on pet training categorized according to pets and trainings. If you are not too comfortable reading a book, you can also go for pet training videos. These are particularly useful if you never had a pet before and have bought a pet for the first time.
However, keep in mind that pet obedience training is to be done with love and affection. Animals like humans also have feelings and also have egos. If you try to force your will on them, take it for granted that you will lose. You may be able to force them to do certain things, but they might never love you, so carry out the pet training in an efficient manner.
Pet training is nothing but teaching your pets to follow commands. This includes basic commands like sit, stay, and lay down for your dog. When your pet is trained perfectly, they can become your best friends for a lifetime. This is just an example. The commands can get really complex when you try to train them for special occasions or needs. Like a blind person would like to train a dog as a guide, in that case the training would be very special and different. If you are planning to train your pet for competition, then again the pet training would be very specialized in nature.
So how do we go about training our pets? If you want your pet to be trained only for basic commands, then there is absolutely no need to hire a professional pet trainer. You yourself can become a proficient pet trainer if you use some of the tools available in the market. The most basic tool is of course a book. Any good book store will have hundreds of books on pet training categorized according to pets and trainings. If you are not too comfortable reading a book, you can also go for pet training videos. These are particularly useful if you never had a pet before and have bought a pet for the first time.
However, keep in mind that pet obedience training is to be done with love and affection. Animals like humans also have feelings and also have egos. If you try to force your will on them, take it for granted that you will lose. You may be able to force them to do certain things, but they might never love you, so carry out the pet training in an efficient manner.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Kitty Training Made Easy
You may scoff at the idea that you can train a cat. After all, they’re not as smart as dogs, right? You can’t train a cat to fetch, come or even stay. That’s just nonsense. But what if you could train a cat? The fact is you can train a cat and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Kitty training is not unlike dog training. You only need to remain consistent, use positive reinforcement instead of negative reinforcement, and you need to show your cat lots of love and attention when it does what you want it to do. We’re all familiar with litter training kittens. You only sit the cat in the litter box and, shazam, the job’s done. Kitty training may not be as easy as litter training but it’s not that hard once you get going.
Most people fail at kitty training because they get frustrated when the cat doesn’t do what they want. They end up yelling at the cat or, worse, they end up smacking the cat on the butt because the cat acts stubborn and aloof. That’s a cat’s personality, however. A cat usually won’t come to you until you stop showing it attention. A cat would rather look the other way than show you affection. That’s how cats are. However, if you praise your cat and you show your cat that you’re pleased whenever it comes to you or fetches a toy, or whatever else you’re attempting in your kitty training efforts, the cat will be more likely to respond positively to you and your training. Positive reinforcement is the act of using toys and treats and affection instead of punishment whenever you’re involved with kitty training. If you’re using treats, which work wonders for kitty training, gradually ease back on treats until you’re only using affection. That way, your cat won’t expect a treat every time yet will continue to perform whatever trick you teach it.
So what can you train a cat to do? Kitty training varies from person to person. Circus performers have successfully trained cats to walk on two legs and jump through hoops. This isn’t for the faint of heart, however, and you should probably stick to simple tricks before you move on to circus stunts. Some basic tricks you can use during kitty training include coming to you when your cat is called, fetching a toy or other item, sitting and staying and you can even guide behavior. You may want to teach your cat not to claw your furniture or even to stay off your furniture. Once you get better at kitty training, you can move to more advanced tricks but it’s best to keep it simple at first so your cat doesn’t get confused.
Most people fail at kitty training because they get frustrated when the cat doesn’t do what they want. They end up yelling at the cat or, worse, they end up smacking the cat on the butt because the cat acts stubborn and aloof. That’s a cat’s personality, however. A cat usually won’t come to you until you stop showing it attention. A cat would rather look the other way than show you affection. That’s how cats are. However, if you praise your cat and you show your cat that you’re pleased whenever it comes to you or fetches a toy, or whatever else you’re attempting in your kitty training efforts, the cat will be more likely to respond positively to you and your training. Positive reinforcement is the act of using toys and treats and affection instead of punishment whenever you’re involved with kitty training. If you’re using treats, which work wonders for kitty training, gradually ease back on treats until you’re only using affection. That way, your cat won’t expect a treat every time yet will continue to perform whatever trick you teach it.
So what can you train a cat to do? Kitty training varies from person to person. Circus performers have successfully trained cats to walk on two legs and jump through hoops. This isn’t for the faint of heart, however, and you should probably stick to simple tricks before you move on to circus stunts. Some basic tricks you can use during kitty training include coming to you when your cat is called, fetching a toy or other item, sitting and staying and you can even guide behavior. You may want to teach your cat not to claw your furniture or even to stay off your furniture. Once you get better at kitty training, you can move to more advanced tricks but it’s best to keep it simple at first so your cat doesn’t get confused.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Cat Leash Training Can Do Wonders
You might have seen dogs been taken out on leash, you even might have seen ponies on leash, but have you ever seen cat on a leash? Probably never, but looking at its benefits, cat leash training can do wonders to your cat’s life. The main purpose of a leash is to control the erratic behavior of your pet while outdoors. Dogs are taken on leashes so that they don’t run away from you and cause public nuisance. Cats on the other hand take care of such things on their own i.e. they exercise themselves enough and if are properly trained, even do the tasks of relieving themselves in the right place. But can you leash train a cat? Yes they can be and here is how.
Often it has been seen that whenever the owner opens the door, cats run out of the home. Probably the cat is just curious to have a look at the outside world. If that is your problem, then you should probably try cat leash training. Just as any type of training, cat leash training will take a considerable amount of time. Do you remember the first time you tried to put a collar on your cat? The cat might have resisted putting it on and after you managed to put it on somehow, the cat would have been busy for hours trying to remove it. The good thing about cat leash training is that the collar is already in place and you don’t need to start from scratch. If your cat does not have a collar, then probably you are going to have a tough time to complete cat leash training, but it’s not impossible.
Once your cat gets accustomed to a collar, half of the battle for cat leash training is won. Then you can start training your cat for a leash by attaching a leash to your cat’s collar. Do not tighten the leash and keep it slackened, so that the cat gets used to it. Also, do not walk or drag the cat the first time you put the leash on your cat. Let her get used to it. This is the secret of successful cat leash training. Try this method for a few minutes on the first day. The next day try to walk your cat around the house. Once she gets accustomed to walking with the leash on, try to take her outdoors.
You can try to entice your cat for leash training by giving treats to your cat. If you find this process very cumbersome, just get professional help. It won’t be a surprise if you see lots of cats walking around in their neighborhood with their leashes on.
Often it has been seen that whenever the owner opens the door, cats run out of the home. Probably the cat is just curious to have a look at the outside world. If that is your problem, then you should probably try cat leash training. Just as any type of training, cat leash training will take a considerable amount of time. Do you remember the first time you tried to put a collar on your cat? The cat might have resisted putting it on and after you managed to put it on somehow, the cat would have been busy for hours trying to remove it. The good thing about cat leash training is that the collar is already in place and you don’t need to start from scratch. If your cat does not have a collar, then probably you are going to have a tough time to complete cat leash training, but it’s not impossible.
Once your cat gets accustomed to a collar, half of the battle for cat leash training is won. Then you can start training your cat for a leash by attaching a leash to your cat’s collar. Do not tighten the leash and keep it slackened, so that the cat gets used to it. Also, do not walk or drag the cat the first time you put the leash on your cat. Let her get used to it. This is the secret of successful cat leash training. Try this method for a few minutes on the first day. The next day try to walk your cat around the house. Once she gets accustomed to walking with the leash on, try to take her outdoors.
You can try to entice your cat for leash training by giving treats to your cat. If you find this process very cumbersome, just get professional help. It won’t be a surprise if you see lots of cats walking around in their neighborhood with their leashes on.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Set Up Your Aquarium for Feng Shui
Aquariums are not just an attractive addition to your home or office. If set up properly according to the principles of feng shui, it is considered to be a source of wealth chi (energy). The thing that makes feng shui aquariums unique is that they provide an ideal balance of the five elements of feng shui.
* The water element is obvious: it's the water in the aquarium.
* Plants comprise the wood element.
* The structural components are the metal element.
* The earth element is the gravel and rocks you place at the bottom of the tank.
* The lighting represents the fire element. Certain kinds of fish can also provide this element.
This kind of harmony is quite hard to reproduce through any other means and even if you could, it won't be as lovely as an aquarium.
The best location for a feng shui aquarium is the southeast part of the room. This is the place that is associated with abundance and wealth. That means twice as much wealth energy flows through that region.
The most usual kind of fish to keep in a feng shui aquarium is the goldfish or koi. They have a pleasing color and are quite hardy. The dragon fish is also appropriate for a feng shui aquarium; however they can be quite costly. Always be certain that at least one of your fish is black and don't have more than 10 in total in your aquarium.
Just like any other pet environment, you need to be certain that your feng shui aquarium is clean and well maintained so that it can go on bringing you positive chi.
Be sure to remove and replace any dead fish right away and help to keep the plants healthy and green. Your aquarium needs to be in top shape in order to positively impact your wealth chi.
* The water element is obvious: it's the water in the aquarium.
* Plants comprise the wood element.
* The structural components are the metal element.
* The earth element is the gravel and rocks you place at the bottom of the tank.
* The lighting represents the fire element. Certain kinds of fish can also provide this element.
This kind of harmony is quite hard to reproduce through any other means and even if you could, it won't be as lovely as an aquarium.
The best location for a feng shui aquarium is the southeast part of the room. This is the place that is associated with abundance and wealth. That means twice as much wealth energy flows through that region.
The most usual kind of fish to keep in a feng shui aquarium is the goldfish or koi. They have a pleasing color and are quite hardy. The dragon fish is also appropriate for a feng shui aquarium; however they can be quite costly. Always be certain that at least one of your fish is black and don't have more than 10 in total in your aquarium.
Just like any other pet environment, you need to be certain that your feng shui aquarium is clean and well maintained so that it can go on bringing you positive chi.
Be sure to remove and replace any dead fish right away and help to keep the plants healthy and green. Your aquarium needs to be in top shape in order to positively impact your wealth chi.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Pet Owners Have Less Stress in Their Lives
When you come home from work, do you walk in the door and get greeted by a wagging tail or a cat sidling up beside you waiting to be pet by you? If so, you’re one of the lucky ones – your stress probably isn’t nearly as bad as it could be if you didn’t have an animal to show love and affection to on a daily basis.
Research has been conducted for decades about pets and their stress relieving benefits. It’s been proven that animals help diffuse your anger. All you have to do is pet them, or even watch them if the type of pet you have isn’t the kind you actually pet, like a bird or a fish.
People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, suffer fewer heart attacks, and live longer after being diagnosed with medical problems than those with no pet companionship to help them get rid of stress.
You might notice that many doctors' offices now have large aquariums in their waiting rooms. That’s because the stress of their patients is diminished when they’re focusing on the tranquil scene of swimming fish rather than wondering if the spot on their face is skin cancer or if their doctor will diagnose them with heart disease.
Researchers have found that pet therapy mimics the stress-busting relief that someone has when they undergo hypnosis to help achieve a calmer outlook on life. Many nursing homes are now adopting pets to help the elderly lower their blood pressure and steer clear of stress and depression.
You may have to find a pet that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance if you don’t want the added stress of having to care for an animal. Some pets require constant attention and cost more money, which can add a burden to your life.
If getting a pet is not an option for you at all, then you can still achieve the same benefits using animals to help you stave off stress – you have to find a different way! If your friends are looking for a pet sitter, offer your services.
Spending a few minutes to check in on a pet, take it for a walk, and play with it can help deter you from focusing on other troubles. Or, contact your local animal shelter and volunteer to help care for the pets on a regular basis.
You might do it daily, just on weekends – or only a couple of times a months. Any interaction you have with pets can help you alleviate stress that gets built up in your system and is hard to release.
Research has been conducted for decades about pets and their stress relieving benefits. It’s been proven that animals help diffuse your anger. All you have to do is pet them, or even watch them if the type of pet you have isn’t the kind you actually pet, like a bird or a fish.
People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, suffer fewer heart attacks, and live longer after being diagnosed with medical problems than those with no pet companionship to help them get rid of stress.
You might notice that many doctors' offices now have large aquariums in their waiting rooms. That’s because the stress of their patients is diminished when they’re focusing on the tranquil scene of swimming fish rather than wondering if the spot on their face is skin cancer or if their doctor will diagnose them with heart disease.
Researchers have found that pet therapy mimics the stress-busting relief that someone has when they undergo hypnosis to help achieve a calmer outlook on life. Many nursing homes are now adopting pets to help the elderly lower their blood pressure and steer clear of stress and depression.
You may have to find a pet that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance if you don’t want the added stress of having to care for an animal. Some pets require constant attention and cost more money, which can add a burden to your life.
If getting a pet is not an option for you at all, then you can still achieve the same benefits using animals to help you stave off stress – you have to find a different way! If your friends are looking for a pet sitter, offer your services.
Spending a few minutes to check in on a pet, take it for a walk, and play with it can help deter you from focusing on other troubles. Or, contact your local animal shelter and volunteer to help care for the pets on a regular basis.
You might do it daily, just on weekends – or only a couple of times a months. Any interaction you have with pets can help you alleviate stress that gets built up in your system and is hard to release.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Where to Find the Perfect Pet
Finding ideal house pets is not as easy as you think. It entails a lot of decision making. First, you have to think thoroughly what animal would be most appropriate to give to your child and whether this is the opportune time to introduce a pet to your home. Once you have come up with the decision, it is important for you to consider where the soon to be member of your family should come from. There are several options you have to be regarded. Every single one of them has something to offer.
Some people are attracted to a particular breed and for those who have a fetish on this, the only way to go is to a breeder. There are a number of advantages in getting a pet from a breeder. Just be sure to get a conscientious breeder. They will assure you that the animal you will be purchasing is purebred. The advantage of opting for this is that a wellness check done by a veterinarian is a guarantee. You will be provided with a pedigree and you could also ask about the animal’s relatives and how they fair. The genealogy of your pet is important in order for you to anticipate how your pet will turn out as it grows older. Through this, you can ascertain that your pet will look the way you expect it to and will most probably display the characteristics that you found endearing. However, this will mean that a larger amount of money might be involved since this would be an expensive source.
Shelters
For those who are not very particular about their pet’s breed getting them from a shelter is a welcome possibility. There are several breeds available for adoption. Adopting from shelters does not decrease the possibility of the pet turning out exactly as expected. Acquiring a pet from shelters assures you that the animal has undergone a disease screening. Plus, you will also be provided with a history about the pet you adopted.
Most of the animals from a shelter come with a full history. Information that is deemed important in dealing with them will be given to you. This is necessary especially kids will be involved in handling their care. The good thing about getting a pet that is previously owned is that they have gained a fair training of basics. It is also easier to be aware of their personality as well. Having been domesticated, they have already adapted to human beings and would be a lot safer for children to be around.
Also, acquiring a pet from a shelter is just like hitting two birds with one stone. Usually, there will be no charges involved or if there is it would be very minimal. You not only get a pet through an inexpensive mean but you have actually saved a life. More often than not, the reason someone relinquishes or gives their pets away is numerous. Allergies to animals are primarily a reason. Another very common ground is a change in the previous owners living conditions. It would add to your gratification knowing that you are in fact showing kindness. This is yet another of those values you wish your children will imbibe.
The bottom line to all these is that wherever you get the newest member of your family from be sure to think things thoroughly. It is imperative that you know that you are certain you have chosen the perfect pet for your kids.
Some people are attracted to a particular breed and for those who have a fetish on this, the only way to go is to a breeder. There are a number of advantages in getting a pet from a breeder. Just be sure to get a conscientious breeder. They will assure you that the animal you will be purchasing is purebred. The advantage of opting for this is that a wellness check done by a veterinarian is a guarantee. You will be provided with a pedigree and you could also ask about the animal’s relatives and how they fair. The genealogy of your pet is important in order for you to anticipate how your pet will turn out as it grows older. Through this, you can ascertain that your pet will look the way you expect it to and will most probably display the characteristics that you found endearing. However, this will mean that a larger amount of money might be involved since this would be an expensive source.
Shelters
For those who are not very particular about their pet’s breed getting them from a shelter is a welcome possibility. There are several breeds available for adoption. Adopting from shelters does not decrease the possibility of the pet turning out exactly as expected. Acquiring a pet from shelters assures you that the animal has undergone a disease screening. Plus, you will also be provided with a history about the pet you adopted.
Most of the animals from a shelter come with a full history. Information that is deemed important in dealing with them will be given to you. This is necessary especially kids will be involved in handling their care. The good thing about getting a pet that is previously owned is that they have gained a fair training of basics. It is also easier to be aware of their personality as well. Having been domesticated, they have already adapted to human beings and would be a lot safer for children to be around.
Also, acquiring a pet from a shelter is just like hitting two birds with one stone. Usually, there will be no charges involved or if there is it would be very minimal. You not only get a pet through an inexpensive mean but you have actually saved a life. More often than not, the reason someone relinquishes or gives their pets away is numerous. Allergies to animals are primarily a reason. Another very common ground is a change in the previous owners living conditions. It would add to your gratification knowing that you are in fact showing kindness. This is yet another of those values you wish your children will imbibe.
The bottom line to all these is that wherever you get the newest member of your family from be sure to think things thoroughly. It is imperative that you know that you are certain you have chosen the perfect pet for your kids.
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