Pet Care Information

Most cats are not aggressive towards people, but if you have one that is, it can be a nightmare. Cat bites and scratches are not normally as harmful as those from a dog, but it’s still not very nice being attacked by a cat as an adult, and even worse if you’re a child.

Although aggressive cats are nowhere near as common as aggressive dogs, there are still more than 20,000 cases of cat-scratch disease in the United States annually. If you are bitten or scratched by a cat, it’s important to clean the wounds with an antiseptic solution as soon as possible.

So, why exactly do cats turn aggressive and attack people? Well, there are several reasons:

A cat in pain can tend to lash out. If a normally good-natured cat suddenly strikes out at you for no reason, take it to a vet and have it checked out for illness or injury.

A fearful cat can be dangerous. A mature cat that was never properly socialized when younger, or a cat that has been mistreated at some time in its life, can lash out through fear.

Some cats may start to direct the kind of stalking behavior normally reserved for prey, at an owners hands or feet. This can be particularly disturbing if it gets directed at small children.

Sometimes an owner can be the victim of re-directed aggression, i.e. the cat attacks the owner when it cannot get at its intended target - another cat it can see or smell.

Cats play status games rather more rarely than dogs, but on occasions you will get an animal that thinks it’s Top Cat and indulges in behavior where it challenges the owner to prove it wrong. Professional help is needed from a cat behavior specialist to sort this out before it escalates out of control.

Some do’s and don’ts to help control cat aggression:

Have the cat looked over by a vet for signs of illness or injury.

Scale down the amount of physical contact with the cat.

When it goes into ‘attack mode,’ startle the cat with a loud noise etc. as a diversionary tactic.

Play with the cat ‘at arms length’ by using e.g. a toy on a string held away from the body.

It may be necessary to confine the cat to a cage, particularly if a young child is at risk.

Don’t make prolonged eye contact, always look away from the cat’s eyes after a few seconds.

Don’t use physical punishment. This will only make the cat more aggressive.

Chris Curtis developed Bakersfield Pets Photo Gallery as a place to showcase photos of his family’s beloved cats.
bakersfield-pets.com/ bakersfield-pets.com/

Dogs, Cats, Birds and even Snakes/Spiders are becoming increasingly popular with today’s lifestyle of both young and old. Pets have been an important part of our lives from being a life companion, being an assistance to some disabled, and even becoming an “Ornament” to the rich and famous.

Many potential pet buyers are turning to the internet, hunting for their favourite pets. There are incredible amount of information related to pets on the internet today with loads of useful tips from feeding to grooming to training. Hence, the internet has played an important role in providing vital information to pet lovers, a souce which cannot be neglected.

Pets Classifieds

Online Pets Classifieds have grown in popularity over the years. Mainly because it allows the pet sellers to showcase his collection to interested buyers from the internet community with ease. The possibility of photo inclusion of pets for sale is one critical point. Today, online pets classifieds do allow sellers to upload several pictures at once, with the cutest angles taken from all directions, buyers are usually excited to see how this pretty little thing will turn out in real life. Pets are a very emotional creature, no one will reject an adorable “Teacup Poodle” or a “Siamese Kitten”, so much that they will be carried away from a pet shop within hours after their photos were posted in the classifieds.

So, how can pet sellers capitalise the internet to become his/her online business? Posting ads require some knowledge and little tricks will work every time.

Photos

What catches your customer’s attention is a cute pic. Try taking a full body picture of your pet and not just taken half. Most classifieds allow you to upload more than one picture, so make use of this facility as much as possible. Minimum 3 pics of a single pet is advisable. Always remember to take at least one front view image.

Headline

Headlines are very important. What makes an ad attractive is an outstanding headline. Here are a few examples : AKC , CKC CHIHUAHUAS & POMERANIANS, Cute Puppies for SALE etc.. potential buyers are naturally attracted to “Cute”, “Adorable” and “Beautiful”.

Description

Provide relevant details about the pet you are selling. Always give information on vaccination, health, age and availability. Buyers will feel more trusted with your honest opinions and description about your pets. Be helpful and always leave your contact details for further enquiries.

Hope the above information are helpful.

Some good examples of pet classified postings in Ablewise ablewise.com/ads/view/55751 ablewise.com/ads/view/55751 and ablewise.com/ads/view/52763 ablewise.com/ads/view/52763

A technopreneur running 3 technology companies. I have started writing articles in the area of internet marketing and online businesses not too long ago. It is a privilege to share my experiences in the technology world to a demanding online community.

Grooming your dog is very important to his hygiene. Grooming your dog involves bathing, combing, drying, and cutting the coat. Proper drying is an important to make sure the coat looks its best. Even with a good haircut, the coat can still look messy if not properly dried.

There are a couple different ways that are used to dry the dogs coat. The most popular way for at home grooming is the towel dry. The towel dry is very easy to achieve. This is also the most practical way to dry at home. To towel dry just use a towel to briskly dry the dogs coat. This method is used with short haired dogs.

If you have a long haired dog, or show dog other methods should be considered. The next method used is the cage dry. This takes slightly more time, and equipment. To cage dry the dog is place in a cage with a cage fan. This fan or drier is clipped onto the cage, and blows into the cage to dry the coat. When doing this a towel needs to be placed in the bottom of the cage. If your dog is too big for a cage a table can be used instead. The only problem may be keeping the dog on the table. A leash to keep the dog on the table may be needed. Keeping an eye on the dog to make sure they still don’t try to get off the table and get hurt is also a good idea.

Another method that is most often used at a grooming center is the fluff dry method. This method is used for long haired dogs. This method takes time and patience. Show dogs are very popular breeds to have this drying method used. Most often the hair is not only dried, but straightened as well.

To fluff dry a high speed floor dryer is used. The dryer is pointed at small sections at a time. The purpose of the small sections is so that each area can be thoroughly dried and straightened. The warm air dries the hair as the groomer, whoever it may be, uses a brush to brush the hair upward. This upward stroke with the brush will fluff and straighten the coat. Once one section is completely dried and straightened the dryer is moved to the next section, and the same process is repeated. This method takes time to learn the special technique.

The breed of dog you have will have a big effect on which dry method you can use. If you have a dog that needs the fluff dry method a dog groomer is usually the best bet, as not all these methods can be used at home and still have a good looking coat.

For more information by Kelly Perry, see these two important articles on dogtwist.com/liability-for-dog-owners.html liability issues for dog owners, and dogtwist.com/when-your-dog-has-fighting-problem.html what to do if your dog is prone to fighting.

My Jack Russell Terrier Vinny was full of playful energy when I first brought him home. He was 12 weeks old, confident and fearless. And though he had flawless breeding there was one little challenge I had to face - housebreaking my new pet. Now in theory housebreaking is simple. It is a means of preventing the puppy from going potty inside the house and affording him the opportunity to do his business outside. And though Vinny was cheerful, he could at times, by the nature of his breed, be a little stubborn. Jack Russell Terriers are creatures of habit, and as such learn by association.

Here is a solid plan for housebreaking your Jack Russell puppy.

1. When you bring your puppy home carry him from the car to the yard. Pick a spot on the grass and wait for him to potty. When he does give him lots of praise. Jack Russell Terriers are very praise oriented.

2. Jack Russell puppies need to relieve themselves about five or six times a day. Take your puppy out immediately after each meal. A full stomach puts pressure on the bladder and colon. Puppies have limited bladder control and do not know they have to go potty until the second they go. Don’t expect your pup to let you know ahead of time. As a rule expect to take your puppy outdoors every two hours and first thing in the morning. Be observant, if your puppy begins sniffing while circling an area this is a good indication that he has to potty. Immediately take him outside. By preventing accidents inside the house you will teach him that the only bathroom is the one outside.

3. Establish a regular routine for feeding and potty trips. This will help you control times he should go out and prevent accidents in the house. First thing in the morning take him outside for a potty break (remember to praise) then inside the house for playtime, meal break, back outside, nap, outside, etc. After a time your puppy will let you know when he needs to go outside. It helps to have a specific area in which your Jack Russell can relieve himself. He will catch on more quickly.

4. In spite of a regimented routine, your Jack Russell may have an occasional accident in the house. This is when corrective action is necessary. You do not need to hit your dog. The tone of your voice is enough to make your puppy know you are unhappy. A firm “No!” is all that is needed. Immediately take your pup outside to the designated area. Wait for him to go again and if and when he does, praise him. Remember, a dog learns by association and in connection with any act of wrong doing, he must receive some form of discipline in order to learn that he has done wrong. However, you must catch him in the act - it does no good to punish him for an accident he has made even five minutes earlier.

In summary, housebreaking your new Jack Russell is going to take patience. You should begin the housebreaking process as soon as you bring your new puppy home. You must be willing to invest the proper amount of time and energy for just a few weeks in housetraining. The effort you put in now will last for the rest of your Jack Russell’s life.

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I never had a pet when I was a kid, because my parents couldn’t afford to have one. If taken care of the properly, a pet can cost money. Because of this, I was never really a pet lover, until the family dog Daniel came into my life. A small dog, Daniel weighed about 10-15 pounds soaking wet. But, that little mutt had such a personality, that he would make people laugh wherever I took him. We bonded right away, and he went everywhere with me…the grocery store, post office, and whenever I went jogging, he came along and he loved it.

One day, I was working on the computer in the middle of the afternoon, and out of the corner of my eye, I was watching a television talk show. The show was about a variety of things, but what caught my attention, was the part where the host and the guest began talking about something called the Heimlic maneuver, which is described as the following:

“An emergency technique used to eject an object, such as food from the trachea of a choking person. The technique employees a firm upward thrust just below the rib cage to force air from the lungs.”

I had heard about this technique before, but I had never used it, and I had never seen it used by anyone else, either. But, what was interesting on the show, is that they were talking about how this technique, could not only be used on humans, but how it could be used on pets, too. This caught my interest and I stopped working on the computer and watched and listened to what was being said, etc.

I was hoping I would never have to use this technique on Daniel, but you never know. Dogs can be so unpredictable in their behavior. My own description of the technique is as follows: to grab a person from the backside, in a bear hug and apply pressure to the stomach area, to force the object out, and force air in. (That’s as good as I can describe it) I didn’t know the technique could apply to pets as well, so I learned something new. I made a few notes during the program that could come in handy in the future.

When it came to walking and jogging, I had been doing it for over twenty years, about 15 miles a week. I liked to take Daniel with me, and he loved to get out in the open spaces and run! I jogged in this huge open field, and I would take Daniel off the leash and give him a little freedom. But, I would keep an eye on him. He took off after a rabbit once, crossed the highway and almost got run over by a car! Dogs don’t know anything about looking both ways before they cross the street!

On this day, it was a hot August afternoon, as the sun was going down. Daniel and I were out doing a little walking and jogging. As I said earlier, I don’t have a lot of experience with dogs, but it seems to me that they’re always hungry, and always looking for something to eat. Even if they have just finished eating, they are still looking in the bushes for something to eat, and if they find it…they’ll eat it! There are a lot of dangerous things out there, waiting for a dog to eat, like antifreeze, which will kill a pet or old sharp bones from a dead bird. etc.

Instead of naming my dog Daniel, I should have named him “Hoover,” because he was always sucking up everything is sight, and I had to watch him like a little baby. Anyway, we were out in the field walking and just cooling off after jogging, and Daniel was about 20 feet behind me. and I would check up on him all the time, to see if he was doing okay. AND, THEN IT HAPPENED…

I looked back to check on Daniel, and he had something in his mouth. It looked like an old piece of hamburger meat. I immediately screamed at him to DROP IT! DANIEL DROP IT, I yelled at him! But, instead of dropping the object, HE SWALLOWED IT! As I screamed at him, I raced up to him! In an instant, he was upside down, and choking and suffocating! His little legs were were going a mile a minute as he struggled to get air!

As I saw this happen, I came apart…but, there was no time for emotions! There were only seconds to act! Daniel was going to die in seconds if I didn’t do something FAST! But, what could I do out in the middle of nowhere! There was NO help were we were! It was PANIC TIME, and very quickly, I remembered the television show about the Heimlic maneuver! But, how was I going to give it to Daniel…he was so small? I couldn’t get him in a bear hug…that was silly! I should have thought of this before…but, I didn’t!

Tears and a gallon of sweat were pouring down my face and getting in my eyes! Seconds were ticking away, and I was terrified that Daniel was going to die in my arms! All I could do is, what amounted to a version, of the Heimlic maneuver! So, I got Daniel by the fur on the back of the neck, stood him up, and punched Daniel in the stomach between the ribs! NOTHING HAPPENED…I PANICKED! Thinking I didn’t hit him hard enough, I was going to have to hit him harder, even if I hurt him! Better to have a live dog with bruises and a few broken ribs, than a dead dog!

I have to say, I have never been so frightened in my life, as Daniel was dying and seconds were ticking away! This was a matter of life and death! Again…I grabbed him by the fur on the back of the neck…stood him straight up, and punched him in the stomach just below the ribs…HARD THIS TIME…and the object came flying out of his mouth, and landed about six feet away! Boy, was I relieved! I could see that Daniel could breath now, and he was going to be okay! I was exhausted…I’ve never been so exhausted in such a short period of time in my life!

I laid Daniel on the ground and shielded him from the sun, and let him stay there a while. With tears running down my face and drowning in sweat, I must have sweat 30 gallons in 30 seconds! I was soaking wet! I have never had to act that fast, as I had to act that day! I sat on the ground, and tried to pull myself together. Daniel lay on the ground next to me, and looked at me with those glassy big brown eyes, as if the say, “thank you.” I could not express the relief I felt when I knew Daniel would be okay! Both of us were shaken as to what had just happened!

I didn’t want Daniel out in the heat of the day too long, so it was time to go back to the car. I got him up on his feet, and he seemed okay. I put him over my shoulder, where he liked to ride, and we slowly headed back to the car. I have to say, that those were the most terrifying 30 seconds of my life…but it all had a happy ending after all.

* * *

A few days later, I told one of my neighbors about the incident with Daniel, because, he too, owned a dog, and the story about Daniel was of interest to him. Amazingly, an incident to his dog happened to him a couple of weeks later. He told how he saved his dog, too.

The neighbor’s dog must have eaten something that didn’t agree with him, and the dog got violently sick! The dog lay on its side up against the wall…was throwing up and having trouble breathing! The neighbor remembered the story I told him about Daniel, so he punched the dog in the stomach just below the ribs, and the dog threw up! But, the dog was still having trouble breathing and choking on his own vomit, so the neighbor punched the dog in the stomach a second time! Again, more and more vomit came out, and now the dog could breath easier! The neighbor stayed up with the dog all night, and by morning, the dog was feeling better! This technique saved the dogs life, and it was another happy ending!

All of us know what it feels like to get hit in the stomach and get the wind knocked out of us! It’s a terrible feeling for sure! But, when something awful happens to a human or a pet like this, you have to act fast! Don’t worry about bruising or hurting the person or pet…it’s a matter of life or death!

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Copyright; Jerry L. Aragon (The Humor Doctor); 2006

If you own a dog, then you probably already realize how important it is for your dog to interact in a friendly way with other dogs and people. Dogs might instinctively know how to bark or dig a hole, but they have to learn appropriate behaviors to fit into the human world.

So one of the first things you should do when you bring your new dog home is start the training process. Now only will this make the dog a much better behaved addition to your household, you can also have friends and family over without having to worry about what could go wrong.

There are a number of ways to learn about training your dog. There are plenty of good books that contain helpful techniques. You can also buy dog training DVDs if you learn best by watching. Or if you really feel you need expert help, you can attend dog training classes.

The priority when training your dog is to establish that you’re the leader. Dogs are used to being in a pack hierarchy, and they want to look to your as the leader so they know how to behave. With dogs that are badly behaved or disobedient, it’s often a case that their owner isn’t strong enough. The dog has taken the position as pack leader.

If you find that training your dog isn’t working, then you might need to change your methods. Perhaps get some different ideas from another book or DVD. Or, if you’re really struggling, a dog training school may be the answer. There are even professional dog trainers who can work one on one with your dog to at least begin the process of training your dog. In rare cases, there may be a medical issue, so it may be worth asking your vet a few questions on your next visit.

A loving, well behaved dog is definitely man’s best friend, but a disobedient, badly behaved dog can make life very unpleasant. So get started training your dog straight away, and you’ll be glad you did.

For more information on how to yourdog.biz train your dog, try visiting yourdog.biz yourdog.biz - a popular website that provides tips, advice and resources for puppies, middle-aged and veteran dogs, as well as their owners.

In the ancient hills just 1.5 miles south of the town of Uffington, England is a three-thousand year old drawing of a horse that is both elegant and mysterious. Best seen from the air, the remarkable stylized horse drawn with white chalk is believed to represent Epona, the Celtic horse goddess. The 374 foot drawing was the focus of ancient religious celebrations. Every seven years, the horse drawing was ritually cleansed. Even today, the members of the English Heritage clean and maintain the beautiful drawing which calls to us with an air of mystery.

Why Are Ancient Horse Goddesses Important Today?

Epona, like the horse goddesses from Celtic and other cultures, links the horse, the divine and the feminine. These ancient myths and legends can still inform us today and may help us understand the incredible draw that so many girls and women have to horses. Epona, depicted so beautifully on top of the English hill, reminds us of a time when women and horses were sacred, honored, and free. So, who was Epona? What did she represent? And how does she speak to us today throughout the millennia?

Who was Epona?

The name Epona comes from the Gaulish word epos, meaning horse. The “on” and the “a” at the end of Epona’s name show that she was a female deity. Some translations of Epona are “divine mare” and “she who is a mare.”

Epona was a deity that reigned over the fertility of the land, who later became the goddess of the equine race. Some historians suggest that she may even have been the prototype for Lady Godiva, the woman who protested taxes levied on the poor in 1057 by appearing nude upon her horse in Coventry, England.

In Germany, Epona was honored as a psychopomp, or spirit guide for the dead. In Ireland, she was associated with nightmares, and also with crossroads. Throughout western Europe, small devotional figures to Epona were widely found in stables. Epona was clearly revered as a protective deity with deep connections to other realms of knowing.

Patriarchal Transformation of Epona

It appears that the original sacred meaning of this divine feminine deity was altered by prevailing patriarchal values. Horsemen from Gaul (now France) that were conscripted in the Roman conquest brought the worship of Epona to Rome, where she had her own holiday (December 18) as a goddess of war. Previously, Epona is known to have been widely revered as a protector of horses, cattle, donkeys and oxen. Until the Christian era, roses were used to decorate both horses and stables to honor Epona. Probably because of horses’ critical role in warfare, and Epona’s role mediating between the lands of the living and the dead, the devotion to Epona became linked to the winning of wars. The idea of Epona as a war goddess is repugnant, though it makes sense that a mother may have prayed to Epona as a strong feminine figure to protect her sons and their horses fighting in a faraway land.

Epona’s connection with nightmares was probably a similar adaptation of her original role in mediating day consciousness, and the unique and uncontrollable world of night dreams. As a crossroads figure, Epona was a mediator between day and night, and between the living and the dead.

Epona is Re-emerging in the Culture

Not much more is known about Epona, so it is up to us to fill in the blanks with our imagination. She is a very real presence that has resonance for many modern horsewomen. Countless women have taken Epona’s name for their stables and riding programs. Epona has appeared as a character in the popular historical fiction The Horse Goddess by Morgan Llywelyn. Judith Tarr is another novelist who blends history with fiction in her White Mare’s Daughter series that features reverence to the Horse Goddess. Epona’s re-emergence in modern culture may speak to our need to honor the strength and resilience of women, and our connection with the divine feminine.

As we ponder Epona and the mysterious Uffington horse drawing, it appears that there are ancient stirrings at the heart of the deep love that modern girls and women have for their equine companions.

To learn more about Epona and other topics related to women and horses, I invite you to visit dreamhorsewomen.com dreamhorsewomen.com

I could go into the moral arguments against declawing. I could tell you that declawing is inhumane. That we, as humans, do not have the right to choose to surgically alter any living thing that cannot understand and give consent for the procedure when there is no solid medical reason to do so. I could also get into the details of the procedure itself, since it is, after all, amputation.

I could get into many aspects of why you should not declaw your cat, but I would be a hypocrite. You see — three of the cats I’ve called family have had their front claws removed.

So what I am going to do is relate to you my personal experience with the declawing procedure, and why I would never put another animal through it.

A number of years ago, my beautiful 6-year-old tortoiseshell Persian started to limp. Now, having three rather feisty cats at the time, an injury is not unheard of, so I didn’t think much of it at first. A limp here, a few missing whiskers, a cut or two — these are all normal occurrences in a multi-cat household.

When it didn’t go away after a few days, I suspected the beginnings of arthritis. Gizmo had, after all, reached middle age, and the weather of late had been damp, conducive to arthritis.

She didn’t seem to be in terrible pain, but I did worry, since I had to leave her in someone else’s care while my husband and I went away for a week. My mother was given explicit instructions to take her to the vet immediately if she deemed it necessary.

Upon our return from vacation, I was dismayed to find that Gizmo’s limp had worsened, so we immediately made an appointment with our veterinarian.

This was a new vet, since we’d moved to the area recently, and boy did we get an education.

Gizmo, like our other two cats, had been declawed as a kitten. My excuse for it then, as ashamed of it as I am now, was that the cats were wrecking our furniture. The vet that we went to then was a good vet, competent, and he did not try to dissuade me from having the procedure done, so I thought it was fine.

Well, our new veterinarian, after examining Gizmo thoroughly, explained to me that some of Gizmo’s claws were growing back — underneath the skin of her paws. I was horrified. She had sharp nails growing in underneath her skin.

The new vet (who was wonderful through all this) explained to me that if even so much as a few cells are left after the declawing procedure, this can happen. It doesn’t happen often, but it is possible, and the only way to remedy it was more surgery. The nails wouldn’t break through the skin on their own, and my cat would continue to suffer.

So my poor, precious kitten had to have surgery all over again. It broke my heart. The procedure is more difficult as a cat ages. There are more risks, and it would require a several-day hospital stay. My Gizmo was so shy and timid, that the trip to the vet alone traumatized her enough, no less a long stay, and surgery.

This procedure is expensive and painful. For my cat to have to go through this twice was unthinkable, and of course, I blame myself.

I wish when I’d originally planned on declawing my cats, that the vet would have sat me down and explained to me just what was involved. I wish he would have told me how painful this procedure was, and that there was a possibility of something like this happening later in their lives.

My Gizmo, thankfully, recovered 100% from this procedure, but I will always remember what she went through.

Please, before you consider declawing your cats, think about it very, very carefully. Talk to your veterinarian. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find out exactly what is involved, risks and all. Ask your veterinarian about alternatives because there are alternatives — and then make your decision.

I know you’ll make the right one.

Lisa is currently owned by three cats. This article has been submitted in affiliation with PetLovers.Com/ PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for

Ever felt like your dog just wasn’t paying any attention to you at all? You talked, you yelled, you shouted, maybe you jumped up and down and waved your arms, but he just wasn’t interested in anything you had to say to him in any tone of voice.

Well don’t worry. This happens to all dog owners at some time. But there are things that you can remember to help you through it.

1. Your dog isn’t human.

Unless you believe in dog whisperer’s, there’s really no way for you to read your pooch’s mind and figure out exactly what he’s thinking. The good news is that, like many dog owners, the problems you’re having can probably be traced to one simple thing: you’re trying to communicate with your dog from a human standpoint, and your dog isn’t a human. Sure, you know that, but lots of humans try to relate with their dogs in the ways that they think are rational as humans. The problem is that strong instincts drive dogs in every act and every moment. Deciphering those instincts and leveraging them to build a productive relationship is like finding the keys to the city.

2. Your dog doesn’t speak English/French/German or any other language.

Take the word “no,” for example. Does your dog speak English? What’s meaningful to your dog is your tone of voice, not the word itself. Now let’s think about that – we’re taking up excess time trying to teach our dog a word he’ll never speak and that probably doesn’t mean much to him anyway. Sure, it’s meaningful to us, but that’s only one side of the equation. What about something that’s meaningful to both human and dog?

3. You know what a growl means, and your dog knows what a growl means.

If you think that mutually meaningful language doesn’t exist, you’re not thinking creatively enough. What does it say to you when a dog growls at you? Anything from “get away from my food” to “back off, dude,” right? Yet in every case, a dog’s growl typically means that he is not happy with whatever you’ve done. And you’ve seen dogs react to other dogs’ growls, right? So you know what a growl means, and your dog knows what a growl means. Where’s the disconnect? Growl at your dog!

I am serious here. The next time your dog starts stepping outside her bounds or doing something you don’t like, growl at her. A nice, strong, guttural growl that would put the alpha wolf in a pack to shame. While you’re growling, look directly into her eyes. You’re almost guaranteed that she’ll back off.

4. Instincts save time and communicate effectively.

See that? You worked with the instinct and the information hardwired into the brain, and the result was instantaneous. Why spend your time working against the instinct to only end up frustrated, angry, and still miscommunicating? This approach works in everything from basic discipline to full-on obedience training. You just need to figure out how to apply it in each of those situations.

Justin Bryce is the Proprietor of

It is said that you cannot teach a cat much of anything. Cats do what they want, when they want and only if they really want to. To teach a cat a trick takes patience, more patience and a good slab of tuna as a bribe.

Cats seldom look stressed and are seen most of the time in a horizontal position.

What is it that cats know that we do not?

Why do cats seem calm, cool and collected, when we wander about feeling stressed, upset and sometimes just plain cranky?

Granted cats do not have to go out and earn a living, pay the bills and tend to all the household chores most of us have to deal with. They do not have a “bully boss” or nasty co-workers to ruin their day.

Yes, they do seem to have a life of ease, but they have a unique way of looking at life that we could learn from.

Cats have learned that they do not have to please everyone, actually they only have to please themselves and that is lesson number one for us to learn.

I have been told that there is no better person to be nice to than you. Who cares more about you than you? We know this intellectually, but do we practice it?

No! Why not?

Simply because we think it is selfish to do so. We have been brainwashed, trained or forced to believe that in order to become a “good person” we have to bend over backwards to please other people.

Dogs have a genetic wiring that almost compels them to be people pleasers cats do not.

So let us for a moment think like a cat. It is dinnertime, the phone rings and what do we do? We get up to answer it and let the dinner get cold.

What would your cat do, if it was eating dinner and the phone rang?

A cat considers mealtime a time to enjoy what it is eating. A cat will eat slowly enjoying every mouth full. Cats do not have indigestion or stressed caused ulcers. If the phone rang and a cat could answer it during mealtime, what would it do? Simply let the machine answer it and deal with it later.

Now why do we not do the same thing?

Cats do not live by the clock. Okay, we have to, to a certain point. Work, children and life demands we live in a timely world, but there are some things we can do to take away some of that stress.

Cats only eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. Just because the clock says it is lunchtime does not necessarily mean we “have to eat” especially if we are not hungry, but how many times do we do it anyway? Eat when hungry and stop when full, what a great idea.
I realize that you cannot follow that rule 100% of the time, but try it once in awhile and see how free you feel.

Sleep is another thing cats do at will. When they are sleepy they sleep. Once again I know we live in the real world, but how many times have you had an opportunity to take a nap and you really wanted to and didn’t?

Cats have another great idea. Sometimes they want to just get away from everyone and everything. They find a nice quiet out of the way corner to either nap or just to sit and think. You could call it a type of “cat meditation.”

Find a quiet spot and take a moment to breathe deeply or to sit quietly for a minute or two in order to calm your mind and regroup your thoughts. Closing your eyes and shutting down your mind for even a moment or two will do you, the situation and your body much benefit.
Learn to relax and let go. Your body will love it

Cats love to stretch. There is nothing like a good scratching post or a tree to claw and stretch those muscles. It feels good and is great for relieving “stress.”

If we could learn to take time to stretch if only for a moment every time we feel the tension of the day creep through our bodies, we would feel so much better. Stress causes our bodies to tense up, muscles get tight, our neck or shoulders will start to burn or ache, we may get a headache, but do we stop to take a moment to stretch and release that tension?

Of course not, we just plod on. A cat knows better. A good stretch loosens their muscles and lessens the tension and they are ready for any “fight or flight” occasion.

Be silly. Cats enjoy chasing imaginary mice and playing with a ball of yarn. I am not suggesting that you do either, but take a moment out of your day to do something silly, just for you. Sing a song when you are in the car alone, dance in the living room by yourself to some favorite music or eat the last bit of ice cream that is in the freezer. Do it just for you.

Take time to cuddle and purr. Cats love laps to sit on and gentle back rubs. Take some time to curl up with your loved one (your cat if necessary) and spend a few minutes enjoying each other’s company. Whisper sweet nothings to each other. You really can make time for that. Try it!

Take time to smell the roses, look at the sunset or listen to the wind and birds. Take in the world around you. Your cat does.

I realize we cannot live the life of a cat, but we can learn from Miss or Mr. Kitty. Watch your cat; notice how it relaxes.

Take time to pet your cat. Five minutes petting your cat can lower your blood pressure for almost 24 hours. Stroking kitty’s fur can relieve your tension headache, listening to your cat’s purr will help you breathe easier as it has a great calming effect.

Cats really know how to live life; they have mastered the plan, now it is up to us to learn from them.

Watch, learn and live.

I have learned a lot from watching my cats. They have taught me that sitting in the afternoon sun, watching the butterflies flit from flower to flower is constructive and good for my mind. Watching the lizards hunt for bugs is also a worthwhile occupation. The pay is rather poor, but it does wonders for your soul. Learning to relax is an art and cats have mastered it. Learn from them, relax and be happy. Once you have relaxed come and visit me at cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com