There are a number of products on the shelves which cater to the pet cat population. One very popular product is the ‘cat litter’ product, or simply cat litter. It is a material that is placed inside a litter box to catch the pet cat’s droppings. The material prevents the box from getting soiled by absorbing the urine and trapping the solid dropping. The cat litter is very similar to ordinary dirt, to take advantage of the cat’s natural predilection to cover up its droppings. The cat owner removes and refreshes the cat litter from the box every day. The used litter is disposed off in the garbage. There is just one problem - as long as the box is inside the house, there is a terrible stench that pervades the house! The odor goes only when the cat litter goes. This is a serious sore point with cat owners. Now a very enterprising producer has come up with a novel idea - pine cat litter! His litter is made up of pine pellets. The natural odor of pine masks the smell of the cat’s droppings remarkably well.

The price you pay is in cash. The shelf price is twice that of the usual clumping type. That is enough to put off most cat owners. However, the effective cost of the pine pellet cat litter is hardly more than that of ordinary cat litter! The volume of the pine pellets increases on wetting, so you need only use half the usual quantity of cat litter. So that brings the cost per use of the pine cat litter on par with that of the ordinary cat litter.

The pine cat litter is facing a severe acceptance problem - from Mr. Tibbs himself! Most cats find the pellets strange and unnatural. The pellets are not as easy on the cat’s feet as the other litters are. So cats shy away from using the pine pellet litter.

But “show me a problem, and I’ll show you a solution” seems to be in my blood! My suggestion is to replace a handful of your usual cat litter with a handful of pine cat litter. Watch your cat’s reaction. If he shows reluctance than continue with a handful of pine cat litter. If he appears to be getting used to it, increase the portion of pine cat litter from one handful to two handfuls, simultaneously reducing the portion of ordinary litter by a similar amount. Continue at this level, till your cat gets used to it and uses the box without a fuss. Now up the portion of pine cat litter. Do this until the whole cat litter is 100% pine cat litter. Of course, if Tabby is not persuaded to convert to pine, then you’ll just have to put up with the odor of the mess, that’s all!

If the odor from the cat’s litter is driving you round the bend, and you’ve made up your mind to use pine cat litter, then do what many other owners are doing. Fill the litter box with pine cat litter, and then put down a surface layer of your cat’s favorite litter. This way, your cat is satisfied and so are you!

Hardly have we worked our way around problem #1, than problem #2 crops up. It appears that pine fragrance is not very popular with cats. Now that’s something that we can’t do anything about. After all you’re using pine cat litter solely for its fragrance, and there’s your cat wrinkling up its nose at the very idea! That apart, pine cat litter is completely safe for your cat. All toxic substances have been removed from the cat litter.

There is an environmental advantage in using pine cat litter. It can be composted once the cat’s solid waste is removed. The composted litter can be put to use as manure for gardens, instead of adding to the ever-growing landfill of garbage.

The ball really is in your cat’s court… depending on whether it likes the pine litter or not! If it does, then you’re looking at a home that’s free from that very distinct odor, that too at negligible cost. If not, then you’d better get a nose mask while you replenish the litter box with the litter that Mr.Tibbs favors!

If you are of the persuasion that simply a carpenter can construct a unique home for your chickens then it is time that you altered your point of view. This way of thinking has been proven wrong by many individuals with serve from chicken coop building plans that have enabled them to build their personalized coop from scratch.

These are easily available for a tiny price online and in some pet shops. Do not be disconcerted by the cost of purchasing the plan. Rest assured that this price, added to that of the building materials you will buy it still cheaper than the cost for purchasing a chicken coop that has already been made.

To Boot, you can cut your costs further by selecting the materials wisely. Nevertheless, this does not mean that you should compromise on quality. Make a checklist and see your carpentry shop or home improvement center to collect all the things you will require. It is better to visit a couple of stores and compare prices to get the best deal. Another choice you may research is having a look at material that has been discarded by others. For this, you can visit the local recycling center. You will certainly save money this way.

After getting the materials you require, the following step will be to cut down the wood into the essential shapes and sizes which have been defined in the building plans for the chicken coop. If you have read the plans thoroughly, you will easily know the number of parts you can cut out from the dimensional lumber. For this step, you will have to use some electrical tools like a miter saw, a jigsaw and an electric drill, so be careful while handling them.

Now that you have all the parts which have been defined in the building plans, you should now be able to place them together to construct the coop. If you had previously put together a model of the coop on a smaller scale, then most of these building plans must be very easy to understand and you will be done with the construction in no time! Your coop is now ready for your chickens and you can now sit back and relax as your chickens make their home in the coop you have just constructed for them from scratch.

Terriers are a very loving and energetic breed that demand a great deal of attention from their family members. They love to make noise and most enjoy being a typical “lap dog.” Terrier training can be a bit difficult if you aren’t persistent, therefore you’ll need to be prepared to be firm and corrective with your terrier pup. If your interest is in breeding terriers, you should do plenty of research and speak to a vet to ensure that you are prepared for the responsibility. This article lists a few of the responsibilities you can expect when raising a terrier.

In order to be a great dog owner, you need to carefully pay attention to your relationship. Caring for the dog won’t be hard as long as you know your responsibilities of caring for them. That means bathing, taking them to the vet and feeding them. Some have different coat styles, and require more grooming than others. Training may be more difficult with some. For instance, Boston terrier training may be a bit more difficult than other terriers as they can tend to be hard to housebreak. The feeding for your dogs can vary depending on what type of breed you have. With the terrier breeds, you have both small and large dogs that need different amounts of servings of foods.

The food needs to be the best nutrients in order for your friend to get the right growth they require. To find the right type of foods you should check out many different food brands. You shouldn’t change the dogs food, because it can mess up their stomach.

One of the very first things you should do if you get your terrier as a puppy, is to get his vaccinations administered as soon as he is old enough. This is ideally done between 9 - 18 weeks of age. The older the puppy becomes, the more likely his body is to develop an immunity. After your puppy has had the initial injections and booster, you should generally follow up with a yearly booster shot and check up.

Caring for a terrier isn’t altogether different than caring for a dog of any other breed, a little training effort and a lot of love go a long way. To purchase a terrier, you can find breeder listings in your newspaper or local pet shop. You can also do an Internet search, such as “Westie puppies for sale” which will display the sites of many breeders or rescue organizations in which you can contact.

Housebreaking a dog or puppy is often the most stressful aspect of owning a pet. However, the process can be less challenging if you have a few tips to help you out. This article will give you pointers on dog potty training based around the concept of accident prevention rather than punishment.

Puppies are a lot like children in that their minds are like sponges, which is why most people begin obedience and potty training when during puppyhood. The main thing which you must understand before beginning the training process is that a puppy does have limited control of his bladder, so it is best if you admit to yourself that accidents will happen, and come to terms with the idea. A good thing you can do for your puppy is to buy him a crate or similar place that will be his own “personal” space. That way, if you’re unable to watch him for a time, the accident will be in the crate and not somewhere around the house where you may not notice for a while.

Keeping to a regular schedule is the key to preventing accidents and potty training your dog or puppy. Take your dog out first thing in the morning, thirty minutes after every meal, and right before bed. Also, feed your puppy on a strict schedule. If it goes in on a schedule, it will come out on a schedule! It is important to initially praise your dog every time you take him out and he does his business. This helps reinforce to the animal that this is the correct spot to eliminate in.

When an accident does occur, don’t get upset or hit your dog. If you didn’t catch him in the act, simply put him in his crate while you clean up the mess. There is no point in trying to punish him, as he will not know why he is in trouble. If you do catch him in the act, giving him a firm ‘No!’ will let him know you are upset. Immediately take him to the proper spot outside and praise him if he goes again.

Potty training your puppy can be a trying time, but a bit of patience and determination will see you through the process. Just remember: develop a routine and take your puppy outside about 15 minutes after meal time. Soon, you will find that training becomes even easier, at which point you’ll want to start training him not only for obedience, but also for using items such as pet stairs instead of jumping onto furniture. Pet steps are much better for your dog’s joints and reduces the likelihood of your dog developing arthritis or sustaining an injury from falling off of high furniture.

Most people choose not to breed simply because they don’t have the room for the extra piggies. Others realize that they don’t have the time, or money, to keep the little puppies.

However, if you decide to do so, scope out your neighborhood first for any other breeders. Your efforts might be an exercise in futility if there are already existing sellers near you.

A good breeder has to be knowledgeable in all things guinea pig. That way, you’ll be able to sell your pigs well and field all kinds of questions and inquiries. You should at least be able to tell them important things like what to feed them and what they are not allowed to take.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of guinea pigs die each year because their owners are unable to take care of them, or let them breed excessively. It’s good to have a family or families in mind that will want your puppies before you breed your guinea pigs, because then you know they’re going to a good, solid home.

Procedures and Protocols

The ladies have to be old enough to carry children. Make sure they are at least half a year old.

They also have a 16-day cycle, after which they have a 24-hour window withing which they are ripe for mating.

The procreation procedure begins with the man going toward the woman with his head down.

The rumbling sound they make is very distinct, so don’t be nervous if you’ve never heard it before. His bottom will even wag side-to-side several times.

He will also be very talented in attracting the female with his dance moves, which is basically a just the pig fluttering and flitting around.

While this is very humorous to watch, remember that this mating ritual has been intact for hundreds of years, and it has evolved to be the best the species can bring. That being said, it’s polite to leave the room if you’re going to laugh!

Should the lady feel the connection, she will make whimpering sounds that go up in volume the nearer the guy gets.

If she does not, she will growl at him and do whatever it takes to get him off her back, even pee on him!

When it is the woman who wants the man, she will also try to lure him the same way a guy does.

She might even be aggressive enough to press herself on his body just to get him to notice her. Do not freak out if you see this. This is how they really do it.

It is interesting to know that these creatures are capable of mating with ten girls at one go. But this is something you would not wish for, imagine having all those children!

A puppy’s growth rate depends on what type of dog breed you have. You will find different puppy weight estimates with each breed. To find out how much your dog should be growing by the year or month you should check out information about your breed of dog.

You can use the Internet as a resource for finding out roughly how much your puppy should weigh at particular age plateaus. Many veterinary office and websites have a dog weight chart you can look at, which determines a dog’s healthy weight based on an age to size ratio for each dog breed.

To determine the weight your dog should be, you will be able to use the chart for your breed of dog. As mentioned earlier, many veterinary offices will have a chart you can use, and some even offer the information in pamphlets. Your vet can help you learn about the right type of foods your dog needs and what size they should be by certain age.

It’s a good idea to understand the breed of a dog before taking on the care of one. Larger breed dogs will usually put weight on more quickly than a smaller dog, and breeds which are particularly athletic may weigh more due to their muscularity. For instance, a hunting dog, such as an English Springer Spaniel won’t put on as much weight as an English mastiff, because Springer Spaniels are wiry/athletic where mastiffs are extremely large and less active. Each dog growth rate depends upon the ultimate size of the breed.

If you can’t seem to find any information on your dog’s growth rate, ask your vet if they would be willing to give you a guide for your pup’s first two years of growth, make a record of it, and keep it somewhere visible where you can check up often. A good place would be near your dog food storage area or on the refrigerator.

I started to get serious about health issues for dogs once mine started having them at the age of six. Instead of wasting time watching TV, lately, I have been studying ways to ensure my dogs have the longest lives possible.

People who are acquainted with me also know that I think the main reason for health problems with dogs is the commercial dog food. I have made it my purpose in life to educate people about the best dog food and strongly recommend homemade dog food.

In actuality, the majority of people will need to provide supplemental commercial food in addition to the homemade diet. This is the reason I take a lot of time with the best dog food topic.

There is much debate about the addition of meat by-products as well as some other controversial ingredients. This can be identified as chicken, poultry, beef or just about any kind of meat with the phrase by-product behind it.

What does it contain and is it any good for your pet? If you really get into this matter, you will discover there are two different groups, one the feels that by-products are just fine, and the other that feels that they are unhealthy to feed your dog.

The answer is, it depends; we need to explore what it really means when we say there are poultry by-products.

“Poultry derivatives contain mashed up, renderings, clean portions of murdered poultry cadavers, such as necks, beak, feet, unhatched eggs and intestines, leaving out feathers, “except in various amounts that might happen by accident in normal processing”The trouble is you are not aware of the ingredients all the time. There isn’t any standard that states there are a certain amount of feet or a measurement of intestines or any form of nutrition at all. In reality, none of this is actually suitable for a person to eat.

Some will debate that a wild dog will consume anything that is found on the by product ingredient list and this is why it is alright to give this to your dog. Although there is some truth to it, it is like saying that humans could eat from dumpsters and garbage cans if necessary.

I want to feed my dogs the best dog food, and therefore I’ll be leaving the by-products where they belong and that’s in the dumpster and out of my dogs bowl.

Most of us can readily say that our pet definitely fills a void within us. Whether our dog is our running companion and “security alarm,” or our cat is a cuddling buddy, we all love our pets. But taking care of a pet is a big responsibility, and responsibility means trying our best to supply the physical, emotional, and safety needs of our pet.

Making sure that our pets have everything they need is generally a pretty easy job. The main concerns of food, water, and shelter are taken care of, but sometimes pets require more. With our busy schedules and various things that come up, it can be easy to overlook pet furniture, which is normally seen as a frivolous display of pet pampering. Granted that some pet accessories are a bit over-the-top, but there are some items which can be important to your pet’s safety.

One item that you don’t have to contemplate is pet stairs. If you have a very small cat or dog, pet stairs are a must. This valuable mobility assistant provides your pet with the confidence to move from one height to another and allows you to be sure that they will not fall and injure themselves. Even large dogs benefit from pet stairs as they are less likely to develop bone or joint problems late in life if you take away the impact of jumping to and from furniture.

Pet beds are another good item to have for your pet. Not only does it give your pet a “retreat” to seek whenever he wants to be left alone, but it also give him an alternative to sleeping on a cold floor (for those of us who don’t allow pets on the furniture). If you put the bed in an easily accessible place, it will not only encourage your pet to sleep on his own “turf,” but it will also help develop a sleeping pattern.

A pet carrier is the final piece of furniture we’re going to mention. Carriers are usually associated with small dogs, but you can in fact find large carriers (although they are more like crates, going by the size!). A pet carrier is an excellent way to practice safety when taking your pet on a trip. Not only does this give your animal a barrier in case of an accident, but it also gives him a familiar, tight space that he can feel more secure in.

You can easily find pet steps, cat litter furniture, and other pet furniture items by doing a quick search online. The Internet provides a great variety of online retailers who offer a variety of colors and styles to choose from at a much cheaper cost that most local retail stores.

Decorative pet stairs have become increasingly more popular in the past few years. Pet steps assist small and/or aging pets in reaching places hard from them to jump onto, such as a bed. Many models are now made with soft materials for low impact effect on the pet’s joints and bones. Types of decorative pet steps will be evaluated in this article.

Naturally, the more decorative or durable style of pet steps will be priced a bit higher than those made for pure functionality. There are high-end doggy stairs available, for example, made of cherry wood with a carpeted stair surface and accented with moldings. Other models available are even made of mahogany and contain storage areas under the stair surfaces, as well as large and small pet stairs. These models are usually priced around $34.99. Most pet steps range from $30 to about $70.

You can find pet steps that are permanent structures, and others which are retractable, enabling them to be stored under the bed or stashed away in the closet. If you have a heavier or larger dog, it would probably be best to stick with a more solid set of pet steps, as the collapsible models are often limited to certain weight restrictions.

Pet stairs also vary depending upon the amount of steps they consist of. Some models have two steps, some three, and some have up to even six steps. Pet steps also vary with regards to the amount of weight they are able to support. Solid wood construction would support more weight than pet steps made of a plastic frame, of course. Some pet steps offer more surface area on the stairs for larger animals. A few models are also made for use with an automobile. You may also find designs of pet steps for bed climbing assistance.

The range of color available is extreme; some companies are even able to do color-match services. However, most models and choices are neutral colors. Decorative pet steps come in many shapes and sizes. Find one that is right for you and your furry friend.

This information has been created to aid you in recognizing a number of symptoms that pertain to Guinea Pig Health. It’s not intended to substitute the advice of your veterinary. If you think that your pet is ill or injured please seek the help of your resident licensed vet. The best medicine is always prevention. This is your key to success. Be prepared to give your Guinea Pig the proper diet, exercise and daily attention, and the result will be good Guinea Pig health.

Groom them frequently and keep their cages clean and sanitary. Guinea Pigs (or Cavys as they are called) try to avoid getting wet (just like their feline friends cats) so unless your guinea pig has gotten involved in a dirty smelly mess, its better not to strain them with dipping them in water. Keeping the living space clean and free of urine, waste, and uneaten food will prolong the life of your little fur ball and keep him/her Strong and vibrant!

Cavys (as Guinea Pigs are also called), are much more susceptible to illness when compared to other pets. One reason is thought to be the size of the area they are kept in. Picture a 3×4 foot cage and compare it with where Rex and Fluffy roam. See what I mean?

Runny irritated noses. Allergic reactions to the litter material are common. Introducing your pet to a new territory such as the living room carpet, the inside of your jacket and even a romp through the flower pot can produce nasal irritation. Replace the litter with fresh bedding and avoid the places you suspect cause the adverse condition.

Coughing or gasping. When your guinea pig has difficulty breathing and is coughing or wheezing, a respiratory infection may be to blame. Seek immediate attention from a Vet as these disorders can quickly become fatal.

Watery or cloudy eyes. Small particles like, dust, dirt and pollen can affect the eyes adversely and cause tears to form. A liquid solution from your Vet or local pet store can be used safely to flush out the irritants. If trouble persists see your Veterinarian.

Hair loss. When a Cavy is cut or bitten the fur near the injury will fall out. This is entirely natural.Extreme hair loss is much more severe. Parasites such as mites, ringworm and fleas may be to blame and should be treated by your vet right away.

Diarrhea. Too many wet foods is the likely suspect. Curb the fruit and vegetable intake , and up the amount of hay, pellets with vitamin C, and dried foods. Lactobacillus acidophiles in capsule form purchased from your Vet or pet store can remedy the problem. Add the recommended dose to water or administer directly from dropper to your pet’s mouth.

Pink or red urine. Get your pet to the Vet ASAP! Discharging blood from the urinary tract can be fatal and requires immediate attention.

Scratching and itching. Examine your pet’s coat frequently. Pesky mites, lice and other parasites can find their way onto your little fur ball and quickly cause irritation. These little vermin can be stooped dead in their tracks with specially treated shampoos and ointments available through your Vet or local pet store. Visit your Vet if scratching continues.

Convulsions and tilting the head. A dangerous condition that requires immediate examination by a qualified Vet. Severe and painful ear infections lead to these symptoms. Wounds caused from parasites have been linked to brain and nervous system abnormalities. Symptoms such as body curling, shaking,stiffness and erratic behavior can result from parasites.

In Conclusion. The most significant aspect of bringing up a healthy Guinea Pig and the key to sustaining the life of your little fur ball is by keeping his/her cage clean. Change the litter material regularly and sanitize the cage frequently. Doing this will prevent some of the unfortunate symptoms discussed in this report and ensure good guinea pig health!