Cats

The Maine Coon cat is one of the largest domestic cat breeds available. Maine Coon’s tend to be friendly and people-oriented, and can weigh anywhere from 9 to 18 pounds.,Big or small, super furry or hairless—whatever size, shape or style our cats come in, we love ’em all. Still, in an effort to get to know all the different types of cat breed available, we thought we’d take a look at some of the large cat breeds out there. After all—what’s not to love about a large cat that gives you more to snuggle with?

References Heidenberger E. Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 1997;52(3-4):345-364.  Kerby G, MacDonald DW. Cat society and the consequences of colony size. Domestic cat : the biology of its behavior / edited by Dennis C Turner and Patrick Bateson. Published online 1988. Accessed May 15, 2023.,References Close,“Adventure cat” is not a new cat breed—rather, the term encompasses a new attitude toward cat parenthood. An adventure cat is a feline who, rather than stay indoors snoozing, joins their pet parents outside on a leash and harness. Any cat with the right personality and temperament can become an adventure cat. But the sooner you introduce a harness and leash to your kitten, the smoother the transition will be. Here is how to leash train a cat.

There are some cat essentials that all adoptive pet parents need to ensure their new furry family member feels safe and comfortable in their forever home. Go through this cat adoption checklist right meow so you’re prepared for their arrival with all the cat essentials you’ll need.,Jump to section Cat Adoption Checklist: Essential Cat Supplies Kitten Essentials Welcoming Home Your New Cat Post-Adoption Healthcare Checklist for Your New Cat

Living and Management Make any necessary environmental changes, as recommended by your veterinarian. A healthy diet is also a good plan for ensuring normal development and behavior. A check-in with your veterinarian to report improvement, or lack thereof, can be conducted over the phone, or during subsequent visits.,Prevention Behavioral problems can be prevented. Kittens should be exposed to positive experiences with people when they are between the ages of three to seven weeks, and owners with children should prohibit roughhousing with kittens. Avoid punishing your kitten, as this can lead to fear, anxiety, and defensive aggressive behavior. Consult your veterinarian for proper training and handling techniques for young cats if you are in doubt. Image via Shutterstock,Behavioral Problems in Cats (or Kittens) Pediatric behavior problems refer to undesirable behaviors exhibited by kittens between birth and puberty. It is important to address this as early as possible, because behaviors acquired during this age range may be difficult to change later. Preventative measures to avoid such behaviors are essential, as kittens are very vulnerable to physiological and environmental influences. The most common problems are related to play, fearfulness, defensive aggression, and elimination (i.e., urinating and defecating in the house, also known as house-soiling). While there are no breeds known to be especially inclined to certain behavioral issues, there may be some genetic factors, as it is believed that parental influence may increase the odds of fearfulness in kittens. Symptoms and Types Issues involving play may include increased roughness, such as fully extended claws and increased biting. Fear and defensive behavioral problems may include hiding, fleeing, and aggression. These behaviors are characterized by hissing, flattening the ears, and dilated pupils. Elimination problems refer to a problem with litter-box use, including house-soiling, urinating or defecating in the house, or in other unsuitable areas.

When people think of traditional pet boarding, dog kennels usually come to mind. Dog kennels usually have an individual, designated area for each canine. Pet parents may prefer to keep their dogs separated from other dogs because they’re aggressive; are small, meek, dogs; or don’t like other dogs, explains Kirsten Seeger, manager at American Pet Hotel in Los Angeles, California. At kennels such as American Pet Hotel, each dog has its own 8-by-8-foot individual run, and they’re taken out by trained staff anywhere from four to six times a day. When each pup is checked in, there’s typically a thorough questionnaire that covers food, allergies, mobility and personality, so that the dogs can be the most comfortable they can be. “We’re diligent and nutty about food and medication, and keep precise lists,” says Seeger. Typically, the onboarding process requires filling out basic paperwork, and the pooches need to be up to date on their rabies, Bordatella and DHPP. If your dog won’t be interacting with other canines, there may not be a temperament test. However, some kennels do offer group play. If you choose one of those kennels, the requirements will likely be a bit different (similar to the doggy daycare requirements below).,While we would love to have our pets accompany us on vacation or on an out-of-town visit, there inevitably are times we must leave them behind. And if it’s your first time boarding pets, it may seem like an intimidating and overwhelming process. To help you make the best choice for your fur baby, get to know your pet boarding options, as well as what you should do and know before leaving your dog or cat with a boarding facility.

In This Article Summary View 6 More +

In This Article Summary View 6 More +

6. Turkish Angora Photo courtesy of Kit Goodwin Turkish Angoras are highly intelligent and athletic with a keen sense of independence. They might not be your typical cuddly lap cat, but they’re very affectionate and will form strong bonds with humans and other pets. These kitties also love water and are known for being excellent problem-solvers. ,7. Burmese Photo by Alina Lebed/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Burmese cats are loving and friendly cats, often following their people wherever they go. As one of the smartest cat breeds, Burmese enjoy learning through clicker training. They’re best kept indoors (or in a catio or on a harness and leash) due to their curious nature.,When it comes to intelligence, every cat is unique. Some kitties may love and excel at puzzle games, while others prefer quiet window watching. While all kitties have their own personalities and quirks, certain breeds are known for being particularly clever. These brainy breeds thrive on (and need!) mental stimulation and love engaging with their pet parents. If you’re looking for a feline friend to keep you on your toes, the kitties below have earned a reputation for being some of the smartest cat breeds around.

People may think that you can give kittens a saucer of milk, but is cow milk actually healthy for kittens? What about soy milk, goat milk or almond milk? Are those healthy choices to feed kittens if they are orphaned from their mother? Can Kittens Drink Milk? The short answer: The only milk that is healthy for kittens to drink is either their mother’s, or they will need a kitten milk replacer, which can also be called KMR or kitten milk formula. Kittens lack the proper enzymes to digest the lactose in cow milk, and feeding cow milk to kittens can cause diarrhea and dehydration very quickly in very small kittens. This is why it is important to avoid feeding cow milk to kittens.

If you’re the type of person who likes to plan and prepare your meals ahead of time, why not get your pet involved? You could try making homemade dog food, or if that’s a bit too ambitious, make some simple homemade treats for your pet to enjoy throughout the week. For some people, meal prep can be a bit of a daunting task, so Caraballo suggests making it more fun by letting your pet be your sous chef. “Have them be your de facto vacuum as you are chopping and stuff is falling on the floor,” he says. Just enjoying that time together and looping them in, like you would if there were another person there helping you — that could be a really great way to make the experience more enjoyable, and it’s also a way of taking care of yourself, so it’s a win-win.”,You know that feeling when you’ve been enjoying a nice, restful weekend, and then all of a sudden Sunday rolls around and you’re hit with feelings of dread and doom? If so, you’re not alone. This common phenomenon is known as the “Sunday scaries” and refers to the feelings of nervousness that come with the start of a new week. A type of anticipatory anxiety, the Sunday scaries generally revolve around returning to school or work — and all the things that could happen once you’re back in the classroom or office. “For many people, the Sunday scaries can look like general feelings of nervousness or unease. Sometimes people have racing thoughts, so they’re really anxious and they find it hard to relax and hard to enjoy the rest of the weekend,” says Jor-El Caraballo, a licensed mental health counselor and co-founder of Viva Wellness in Brooklyn, New York. “It can be really disruptive in that way.” The good news is that if you have a pet, they can help you cope with the Sunday scaries — because they’re great for our mental health in so many ways. “Pets can produce a mild euphoric feeling and put people at ease. Even being in the same room or looking at pictures of pets has been found to reduce heart rate and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety in people,” Caraballo says. “So they’re really good to help ground us.” So the next time you feel those Sunday blues start to creep up on you, try these seven coping strategies that involve the ultimate decompression machine: your pet.