CAT Grooming

can be a special bonding time between you and your cat. You can also use this time to check your cat’s health. Look carefully for signs of fleas, ticks, skin irritations, lumps or painful spots. Check your cat's eyes, ears and teeth regularly. Consult your veterinarian if you find anything unusual or concerning. Most people find that their cats do a good job of grooming themselves but longhaired and medium haired breeds as well as older cats need extra attention.

Brushing and combing
Shorthaired cats generally require once a week brushing with a brush and maybe a fine-tooth comb. Longhaired cats require more frequent grooming up to 2-3 times a week with a brush, wide-tooth comb and a flea comb, like the one found within our Cat Flea Control Products. Outdoor cats may require daily brushing and combing, particularly if they have long or medium length coats. If your cat's seems to be scratching excessively, or it’s hair is falling out, or you notice any form of skin rash, consult with your veterinarian. (More Cat Grooming Care Products)
Bathing
Generally speaking you should not have to bathe your cat. Cats do a really good job of keeping themselves clean. However, should bathing be necessary, use a shampoo designed for cats. Remember, just because it works for the dog does not mean it works for the cat. Rinse and dry your cat thoroughly. Introducing cats to baths at a young age makes the job much easier and less stressful later in life. (More Cat Grooming Care Products)

Trimming nails
Cats living indoors may need their nails clipped once a week to minimize destruction of furniture and draperies. If your cat's nails snag on fabric or carpet it's time to clip them. Specially designed clippers should be used. Scissors can crush and injure your cat's nails. Clipping a cat's nails is generally a job for two persons. Gently pressing on one toe with thumb and forefinger cause the claw to "pop" into full view for easy clipping. Be careful not to cut into the quick (the pink area at the base of the nail containing nerves and blood vessels). (More Cat Grooming Care Products)

Dog Grooming

Grooming can be a special bonding time between you and your dog. You can also use this time to check your dog’s health. Look carefully for signs of fleas, ticks, skin irritations, lumps or painful spots. Check your dog's eyes, ears and teeth regularly. Consult your veterinarian if you find anything unusual or concerning. Dog Grooming basics

• Longhaired dogs generally need to be groomed daily while shorthaired breeds may only need to be groomed weekly.
• Selecting a time when your dog is calm and you have adequate time will help make grooming a pleasurable experience for both you and your dog.
• Get your puppy accustomed to grooming early in life by handling your puppy often and touching its ears and paws. Be gentle and reassure your puppy constantly.
• Some areas of your dog’s body may be more sensitive to combing and brushing than others. Be aware of these areas and be gentle.Brushing and Combing
• Regular brushing and combing will remove loose and matted hair and help keep the skin free of disease and parasite. Natural oils will be more evenly distributed to give your dog a nice shiny coat. Comb in the direction of hair growth to remove tangles.
• Fine-toothed dog combs are used for soft, thin or silky coats. Medium-toothed combs are used for normal coats. Wide-toothed combs are best for heavy and thick coats.
• Flea combs are very fine and are used for removing parasites and flea dirt from the coat. They may also be used to comb the hair around the eyes.
• Rakes are ideal for removing dead undercoat hair in larger dogs with coarser, thicker coats.
• Brush in the direction of hair growth, beginning at the head, and work towards the tail and down the legs. Brushing removes loose hair and daily brushing of longhaired and double-coated dogs removes dead hair from the undercoat to help prevent matting. Slicker brushes are ideal for this purpose but are also a good general brush for all breeds if used lightly.
• Pin brushes, with rounded tips to prevent damage to the skin, are good for dogs with long, fine hair such as Silky Terriers. They can also be used to fluff the coat by brushing against the direction of hair growth
• Bristle brushes are good for dogs with very long coats, such as the Afghan, and help add shine to the short coat.
• Grooming mitts are also good for shorthaired breeds to add polish and shine once the loose hairs are removed.Nail TrimmingKeep your dog’s nails regularly trimmed by using nail clippers specially designed for dogs. Only clip the tip of each nail, being careful to stop short of the quick where the blood vessels are. Ask your vet to show you the correct technique the first time, especially if your dog has dark nails. Human toenail clippers are ideal for puppy nails. (More Dog Grooming Products)Bathing Bath your dog as necessary with dog shampoos formulated for dogs. Frequency depends on the breed of your dog, the characteristics of its coat and its environment. Frequency of bathing should also take into consideration whether you are using a general shampoo, a medicated shampoo for specific skin conditions or a flea shampoo. There are also crème rinses available for dogs some of which may be medicated. (More Dog Grooming Products)

Should I or Shouldn't I Adopt A Dog?

Making the decision to adopt a dog should not be taken lightly. Dog ownership comes with considerable responsibility. Once you adopt your dog, your life will be forever changed.The decision to adopt a dog and bring them home will hopefully be a 10 to 12 year commitment.Dogs are pack animals and they don't like to be left alone for long periods of time. They enjoy spending time with their people. You will become a member of their pack. Your dog's greatest desire is going to be spending time with their pack, that is You.You will want to have a well behaved dog, so spend time training and socializing your dog. Your dog must be under your control when they meet people or other dogs on a walk or if you have company over to your home. Successful training requires patience, consistency and time. If you don't have experience in training dogs then join an organized obedience training class.You will need to spend time maintaining your dog. This will include things like brushing their teeth or hair, cleaning their ears, giving them bathes, taking them for walks or playing fetch with them.Before you adopt a dog make sure you have the time required to properly care for them. Remember, your dog will provide you with unconditional love as long as they feel safe and are happy.

Training Your Cat

Cats are such rewarding companions for humans. Most cats will need a little training and it doesn't have to be a chore.Cats and dogs learn the same way. Punishment is not an effective way to teach your cat the behaviors you want them to learn. Positive reinforcement is always the best method for training your pet. Your cat will continue to repeat the behavior that got the most pleasant response from you.Using a toy to train your kitty will keep their interest and keep them occupied. Try rotating different toys during your training sessions to keep up their curiosity.Give your cat a quick squirt with a water bottle to interrupt the bad behavior that you want to stop. This method does not harm the cat, it just startles them.A very effective training technique for both cats and dogs is to blow in their face when they are doing something that you don't want them to. In the animal world, this is want their birth mothers would do to stop the bad behavior.Give your cat quality time. This will create a bond between you and your cat and help with the training sessions.

Cats & Dogs

Which do you prefer? Are you a cat-lover or a dog-lover? I personally prefer cats..dogs bark, whine, smell, and drool all over...and cats just lay around and sleep all day. You don't have to take a cat out to the bathroom, but you do have to scoop their toilet daily. That's a chore I don't care for too much, but I might prefer it to taking a dog out in winter time to do its business.