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By Sharon Cowherd

Have you ever wondered what your cat is feeling? Did you know that you can tell by the movement of their tail? A cat will convey their emotions through a simple motion of their tale. Just as we can show our feelings without talking through our body language, cats do the same with their tail.

Now to interpret their movements is going to allow you to know exactly what your cat is feeling or experiencing at that moment. This will also help you to leave a cat alone who does not want to be bothered or shower them with love when they want attention.

When your cat’s tail is swishing violently back and forth, sometimes called a Sword Tail, it is your indicator that they are agitated or anxious. This movement is also a warning that they could attack at any time. When you see your cat moving its tail in this motion you want to either leave it be and let it relax. You can also try to get its attention away from you or whatever is agitating it, by tossing a toy for it to play with.

A cat will curl up with its tail tucked all around it, showing that it is content. They may also want to keep to themselves for awhile in this position. Wrapping their tail around them also allows them to keep their feet warm and protected.
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By Brett Owenhouse

Setting up and running a marine fish tank requires several essential items, for example aquarium lighting, live rock and a filter.

For the beginner, there is what appears to be an almost bewildering variety of filters available, all of different makes and prices.

Filtering methods can be split into three categories – chemical, biological and mechanical.

Chemical filters

These filters remove dissolved nutrients/pollutants from the water, keeping it clear and free from discolouration and odours.

Biological filters

Biological filters are very important as they encourage the growth of bacteria beneficial to your tank ecosystem. Such bacteria convert harmful ammonia, produced as a waste product of the fish, into nitrogenous compounds known as nitrates.
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By Jeanne Gibson

A meowing cat can drive you up the wall-or at least away from home to seek relief for a few hours. Does your cat meow too much? I’m not referring to a meek little meow now and then, but the “Chinese water torture” kind of meowing that goes on, and on, and on.

Before you do anything about your cat’s excessive meowing, you need to figure out the reason behind this problem behavior, one that can become serious, if no steps are taken to curb it. Here are 5 of the most common reasons cats meow too much:

1. Your cat may be ill and meow to let you know he or she needs help.

If your fairly quiet cat suddenly starts meowing excessively, it is time to check it out for a physical problem. Look the cat over thoroughly, checking for scratches, tender spots, a tendency to favor one or more paws when walking, reluctance to walk at all, listlessness, discharge from eyes, ears, or nose, etc.
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Article By: Cristian Stan

Just like humans or other animals, dogs are also susceptible to diseases. There are many dog owners that hate to see their pets suffering. Usually when the dog gets old, problems appear. Around 10 years dogs tend to develop serious health problems.

The Most Common Health Problems for Older Dogs

Depending on the breed, size and other key factors, dogs will develop different illnesses. Some of the most frequent illnesses are:

- Bone and joint issues
- General reduction in the metabolism
- Difficulty with ears and eyes
- Kidney dysfunctions
- Liver dysfunctions
- Skin gets thin and the coat is patchy
- Teeth and gums issues
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By Kartika K. Damon

Have you ever brought home a kitten assuming it would instinctively know how to use the litter box from day one, only to discover your new feline needed a few lessons? Most kittens have learned from their moms by four weeks good bathroom habits, and cats do instinctively bury their feces and cover up their urine deposits. But, sometimes a kitten is abandoned or weaned too early before it has learned how to use the litter box and needs some help from its owner.

Here are some tips to help your new kitten get off to a good start:

Purchase a small litter box with low sides (no higher than three inches), making it easy for your kitten to get in and out. Large little boxes with hoods can be intimidating to kittens.

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By Elizabeth Christopher

Does your cat sneeze? Cat sneezing symptoms, like human symptoms, are not in and of themselves a necessarily bad sign. However, chronic sneezing coupled with other symptoms can be especially concerning. Let’s take a look at some common cat sneezing symptoms.

1 – Dust, Pollen, Cleaning Supplies, etc

Little Muffy sticks her investigative nose everywhere… in corners, under furniture, in old smelly shoes. Her sneezing may be nothing more than a healthy reaction to a common household irritant such as mold, dust, cleaning supplies or pollen. As long as your cat is not frequently sneezing, mark it up to her curiosity.

2 – Upper Respiratory Infection

Upper respiratory infections are the most common cause for continual cat sneezing symptoms. Comparable to the common cold in people, they can usually be cured by good food and rest. If the sneezing continues, a natural application of homeopathic medication can help. Borax and Phosphorous are two elements found to help alleviate sneezing symptoms in cats of all ages. As always, contact a reputable source to obtain these remedies.

3 – Dental problems

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By Alex Weidmann

If you’re a pet owner, you obviously know the joy and love that comes with having a cat in your life. And while cats may seem easy to raise and live with (they pretty much take care of themselves), there are still quite a few things you need to do to keep your cat healthy and happy.

If you ever see your cat drinking out of a puddle of water outside, or out of your sink or bathtub, you should go check his water. Your cat is either out of water, or the water is stale. If the water is just sitting in the bowl for a long period of time, it tastes bad and cats hate that.

Obviously, just like you, your cats need to eat every day. But that dry cat food is not enough to keep your cat healthy. Wet food is absolutely necessary to keep your cat’s digestive system working properly and to avoid kidney stones.

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Learn how important it is to set boundaries for your dog.

Boundaries are a tough issue for a lot of people to enforce. I know when you have a family pet that you want to treat them like part of the family and that usually means spoiling them like a child, but allowing them out free as if they’re going to make the adult decision. Well, a dog isn’t as smart as we are and they can’t determine what is necessarily good for them or bad for them. The last place you want to see your dog is on the road because a car will kill them. This is why I’m going to show you how to set boundaries in a case like this.
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Before you begin your trip, be sure that your pet is “up” for the journey. This means a visit to the vet for a medical checkup and to ensure that your pet is up-to-date with all necessary vaccinations. Be sure to tell your vet about your plans to travel by air. Your vet can recommend to you whether your pet is suitable for this method of travel. Once you’ve got the green light, here are some tips that will help make you and your pet’s air travel happy and safe.

• During your pre-trip vet appointment, ask your vet to issue a health certificate for your pet. This typically needs to be dated within ten days of departure. Carry this with you while traveling with your pet, as it may be required at different points throughout your travel.
• Consider booking a non-peak flight, which typically means less passengers and more cabin room. This will help ease potential stress for your pet.
• Have everything packed early and leave early to allow plenty of time to deal with normal air travel as well as your pet’s needs. Keep yourself calm before the flight as pets sense your stress and anxiety.
• Select the right carrier. Carriers are available in both hard-sided and soft-sided. Soft-sided carriers are more suitable for carry-on and tend to fit better under the seat. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as far as the appropriate size carrier for your pet. The proper size carrier should allow your pet to be able to lie down comfortably, stand up and turn around. Ensure for proper ventilation and comfort.
• Give your pet at least a month before your flight to become familiar with the travel carrier. This will minimize his or her stress during travel.
• Include a favorite toy or item with your scent in the carrier with your pet for comfort.
• Affix a travel label to the carrier with your name, the name of your final destination or contact person, home and final destination addresses, as well as your home, cell, and final destination phone numbers.
• Fit your pet with a collar that can’t get caught in carrier doors.
• Make sure that your pet’s nails have been clipped to protect against their hooking in the carrier’s door, holes, and other crevices.
• Do not feed your pet for four to six hours prior to air travel. Small amounts of water can be given before the trip. If possible, secure a collapsible travel bowl to the inside of the carrier and place a few ice cubes in it.
• Use direct flights. Changing planes with your pet may cause undue stress on your pet, particularly if layover time is not adequate for a pet walk and bathroom break.
• When you board the plane, notify a flight attendant that your pet is traveling with you as special precautions may be taken.
• Attach two pieces of identification to your pet’s collar, a permanent ID tag and a temporary ID tag. The permanent ID tag should include your name, home address, and home & cell phone numbers. The temporary ID tag should include the name of your final destination or contact person name, your name, address and phone number of your final destination, as well as your cell phone number.
• Bring along a current photo of your pet. This will make it easier for others to help you find your pet should your pet get separated from you.
• Do not give your pet tranquilizers unless your veterinarian prescribes them. Make sure your veterinarian understands that the prescription is for air travel.
• Carry a leash with you so that you may walk your pet before check-in and after arrival. Do not place the leash inside the carrier or attach it to the outside of the kennel.
• When you arrive at your destination, open the carrier as soon as you are in a safe place and examine your pet. If anything seems wrong, take your pet to a veterinarian immediately.

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