Cats: Indoor - Outdoor

Cats love the great outdoors. But humane associations agree that an indoor life is far healthier for them--they're safe from outdoor hazards, and their people tend to pay closer attention to them and notice signs of health problems earlier. The upshot? A much longer life span. An all-indoor cat lives an average of 10 to 14 years, whereas a cat who's allowed to roam is likely to survive just two to five years. The one absolute law when making the indoor-outdoor decision: Declawed kitties should be kept inside. They can't defend themselves from dogs, other cats, or predators, making the outdoors even riskier. But if your kitty's got his claws and you're still on the fence about whether to let him outdoors, here's what to consider. Indoor cats: drawbacks and benefits Indoor cats won't: get hit by a car get lost be attacked by dogs, other cats, and predators eat poison left out by unthinking or malicious neighbors pick up parasites like fleas and ticks catch diseases spread by other cats But there are disadvantages, too: they're more likely to get fat, which is bad for their health boredom can make them destructive, depressed, or lazy they don't get to enjoy the pleasures of the outdoors Outdoor cats: Drawbacks and benefits Cats with outside privileges can enjoy: more exercise more stimulation from the outside world the pleasure of fresh air and sunshine But there are plenty of serious down sides: getting hit by cars getting lost attack by dogs, other cats, or predators poison left out by unthinking or malicious neighbors parasites like fleas and ticks diseases spread by other cats Safety tips for outdoor cats Your best bet is to build a large enclosure in your yard where your cat can enjoy being outside, watch birds and squirrels, and do some climbing, yet be safe from all the risks of the outdoors. You can find ready-made enclosures at Kittywalk systems or Wild Whiskers. If you want to let your cat enjoy the whole yard, you can install special fencing to keep him safely enclosed, such as the Purrfect Fence or Cat Fence-In. If you let your cat roam outside, microchip him for identification and outfit him with a reflective, breakaway collar and current identification tags. Keeping an indoor cat entertained To liven up an indoor cat's environment, give him access to at least two of the following: a floor-to-ceiling cat post for his climbing pleasure at least one windowside perch that gives him a view of a bird feeder or other outdoor wildlife an aquarium that he can enjoy watching but not fall into interactive toys that require him to use his brain and his physical skills to acquire treats daily playtime, petting, and training a tall, heavy-duty scratching post that allows him to stretch, sharpen his claws, and leave his signature scent from the glands in his paws Bottom line: Indoor cats live longer, healthier lives, but if you want to let your kitty outside, there are safer ways to do it. Source

Dogs Need Toys

Dogs Need Toys

Dogs were originally bred to hunt, yet most of our household pets seldom get the chance to do more than bark at the mail carrier. In order to prevent your pooch from ruining your new stilettos, invest in some fun dog toys!

Toys give your dog the chance to chew, tussle, pull and chase without harming your household. They can save you big money and headaches. Plus, they're fun!

Some dog-toy tips:

• Look for toys that are the right size for your dog. A big dog can get small toys lodged in its throat, while a small dog may become frustrated at trying to chew or carry a toy that's too big.
• A young, active dog will likely destroy many toys. Supervise playtimes and take away any toy that begins to fall apart, to prevent swallowing stuffing or other parts. (And take heart -- many dogs get better at preserving their toys as they get older.)
• One excellent toy is a hard rubber cylinder. To make it more appealing to your dog, fill the inside with broken-up treats or peanut butter (or both!). The dog will have to chew vigorously to get at the yummy things inside, and can stay busy for hours with this.
• If you have to spend several hours a day away from your dog, wear an old T-shirt for a few hours, long enough for it to get your scent, then place the shirt in the dog's bed before you go away. The dog may chew holes in the shirt, but will find it comforting and pleasant to have your scent around.
• Keep a few new toys around for days when the weather won't let your dog exercise outside. On those days, the dog's "workout" can involve finding or fetching a toy.
• Play with your dog every day. It helps keep the dog fit, cements the bond between you and you might find it's a very good stress reliever as well!

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Some truths about dogs

Can a Chihuahua and a Great Dane mate? Why do dogs lift their leg when they pee? or How toxic chocolate is really? These are just some of the questions that we sometimes asked. Find out what were the answers from the common pet lovers and find out the answers from animal experts from this video.

Bandit escaped from the house

We just came from church, we were gone for three hours and when we got home I was wondering why bandit wasn't in the living room. He usually be sitting by the door or barking at us by the window but this time he wasn't there. So, I called his name but still no bandit came out to meet me. I looked in the bedroom or in the bathroom to see if he was asleep and just didn't notice us but still no Bandit to be found. I suspected that he was left outside when Larry Jr, my stepson left for church he forgot to let Bandit stay in the house. I called hubby that his gone and escaped and probably roaming around the neighborhood. Hubby told me once he gets home we would drive around the neighborhood and look for him as he was already on hi way back home from work. I couldn't wait for hubby to get home and find Bandit so I walked outside, started in the backyard and started calling bandit, then Nichole followed me then we walked around the backyard into the front house. I heard our neighbors dog barking at something so I walked out to the road hoping that bandit might be there and still calling his name out loud. Then I heard another dog braking which seemed to be Bandit's voice. I was not mistaken it was him in the neighbors yard, he was doing something, I saw him from afar and called him he was wagging his tail and running towards us but there was this high fence in between so we started walking to go around the fence so bandit could find his way out but he was smart enough to be able to find his way out of the fence before we got there. I scolded him, he was a naughty dog today. We went back home while walking on the road to the house , bandit saw this ditch that had a water running and he went there and sit on it to dip himself to cool himself up. I guess he felt so hot. He got dirty, we have to let him stay in the back porch and wait til he dries up before he gets back inside the house. What a day for bandit! Well, at least he wasn't really gone I would freak out if we lose him.

Pet Owner Charged With Animal Cruelty

This is the title of the news I just read over the internet. Yes, that will happen when pet owners will abuse their pets and not take care of them the way they should be taken cared of.

"NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The owner of a Hickman County farm where over 700 animals were seized in June is facing charges. According to press release from the state Attorney General's office, Patricia Adkission is facing 24 felony counts of aggravated cruelty, nine counts of other misdemeanors for animal cruelty and a variety of other misdemeanors in connection with the raid.

Authorities said the raid at the Lyles, Tenn., farm was the largest in Tennessee's history. The investigation was so massive that it took officials days to take animals away from the area.

Investigators said the animals were housed in various buildings throughout the 92-acre property. Many of them were without water and living in cages covered in feces."

I hope the rescued animals will find a good and loving homes.

Golden Retriever Adopted Tiger Cubs

Isn't dog amazing sometimes especially when you hear or read unusual stories about them? Take a look at this video clip where a Golden Retriever adopted three tiger cubs who were abandoned by their mother.

I love Golden Retrievers they are really smart dogs






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Dogs catch the yawns from people..

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LONDON - Dogs find human yawns contagious, suggesting they have a rudimentary capacity for empathy, British scientists said on Wednesday.

Although yawning is widespread in many animals, contagious yawning — a yawn triggered by seeing others yawning — has previously only been shown to occur in humans and chimpanzees.

It turns out, however, that man's best friend is highly sensitive to catching human yawns, with 72 percent of 29 dogs tested yawning after observing a person doing so.

Writing in the journal Biology Letters, Atsushi Senju and colleagues at London's Birkbeck College said this behavior showed dogs were skilled at reading human social cues and "may relate to their capacity for empathy."


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