The Bengal Cat

If a cat that appears as though it has walked straight out of the wilderness and into civilization is what you want, then the Bengal cat fills that order. The Bengal cat is a hybrid breed produced by crossing the domestic cat with an Asian Leopard cat. The desire of such cross breeding is to produce a cat that looks wild, but has the temperament of a domestic cat.

Physical Body

The most distinct feature of the Bengal cat is its extremely soft, thick, and uniquely patterned coat. There are two distinct patterns recognized within the Bengal cat breed. Those are spotted and marbleized. The spotted coat is closest to its leopard ancestor, featuring leopard spots in varying shades of brown, rust, orange, sand, black, and gray. The marbleized coat is produced from the mixing of the Asian Leopard cat with a domestic tabby to produce splotches that look more like marble. In either case, the Bengal cat has a look that is both strikingly beautiful and wild.

Other than the coat, another distinguishing feature that sets it apart from other cats is its muscular body, more prominent in males than females. Bengal cats are very athletic, sleek, and muscular.

Temperament

The Bengal cat loves to be part of the family. They love to interact and play. This is not to say they will not seek out a soft chair or lap in which to lie for a nap, but for the majority of the day they are very active cats. Being a high energy cat, they are not for someone looking for a docile animal to lounge around the house and look pretty.

The exotic heritage of this cat makes it unique both in look and personality. Even though it takes five generations of Bengal-to-Bengal breeding to produce a line recognized as a Bengal cat, these felines have a wild ancestral heritage and some of those instincts can still be seen in late generations through their extreme intelligence, high energy, and innate curiosity. This is a cat that loves to play and will demand interaction with their owners but in a way that is most pleasant. Some Bengals can even be trained to walk on a leash and play fetch. It's also reported by some owners that their Bengals love water and will shower with them.

Due to the wild ancestral line of the Bengal, careful selective breeding practices are implemented by high quality Bengal cat breeders to ensure that the docile temperament of the domesticated ancestors is dominant.

Common Medical Problems

As with any breed of cat or dog, certain medical problems seem to be more commonplace than others. For the Bengal, the most common health problems seen by veterinarians are as follows:

Progressive Retinal Atrophy - This problem eventually causes blindness. There is no way to screen for this problem, so there is no way for a breeder to tell if a kitten will have problems later on.

Cataracts - Thickening and clouding of the eye lens, causing loss of vision over a period of time and eventual blindness. This problem can be reversed since cataract surgery is available for cats.

Cardiomyopathy - This covers both thickening of the heart muscles and thinning of the heart muscles, both causing very poor circulation. Cats stricken with this condition can appear healthy for a very long time and then suddenly appear very ill.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - This is a condition in which an infection is present within the digestive tract. The symptoms of this condition are typically vomiting and diarrhea. Any Bengal showing symptoms should be taken to the veterinarian immediately to avoid dehydration.

Food Poisoning - Bengals have especially sensitive stomachs. For this reason, their diets should be carefully monitored and table scraps should never be on the menu.

One medical problem you'll never have to worry about with the Bengal cat and possibly their most fascinating feature is they possess an apparent immunity to feline leukemia. This is an inherited trait that the Bengal cat received from its ancestor the Asian Leopard cat.

Bengal cats are one of the most interesting breeds in existence today. From their wild markings to their playful and loving demeanor, Bengal's are an absolute joy to have around the house, especially in a household with children. If a cat who acts more like a family member is desired, the Bengal cat is a great choice.

Velita Livingston is the founder of the Cat Lover's Diary blob which provides rich content with great advice on cat care tips and cat training, teaching pet owners how to protect, pamper and live peacefully with their pets. Visit the http://www.catloversdiary.com to watch the Cat Lover's Diary Movie, it contains breathtaking images and heartwarming quotes... It will uplift and inspire you! You can also visit the Cat Lover's Diary on Facebook and Twitter.

Heated Cat Beds Help Outdoor Cats Survive Winter Temperatures

Cold temperatures can be difficult even for the healthiest of pets. Prolonged expose to the cold for a cat can result in frost bite, hypothermia, and possibly even death. Additionally, the stress on the body caused by prolonged exposure to the cold will reduces the life expectancy of a cat living in the outdoors. Some people are fooled into thinking that just because a cat has a thick fur coat they will be safe from the effect of prolonged cold temperatures. But their fur coat is simply not enough to keep them sufficiently warm during winter temperatures. The overall best practice is to just keep your cat inside during the winter. But, if the situation is such that the cat you are trying to protect is completely outside, here are a few suggestions and practices that will help.

1. Dry, warm shelter is paramount. If a human were left outside in the cold to survive for an extended period of time, one of the first things he would need to find in order to survive would be dry, warm shelter. The same is true for a cat trying to survive cold temperatures. Providing the cat full-time access to a garage, shed or barn is a great start. If this is not possible than providing an insulated cat house placed in a nook away from the weather elements is another good option. The house should be small in size, i.e., just large enough for perhaps two-three cats to go inside and turn around. The small size will help to conserve body heat. The house should also utilize insulation with a high R-value sandwiched in the walls, roof and floor. It is suggested that the interior seams of the house also be sealed so that moisture does not find its way in. The door of the house should be oriented away from the elements such as wind, rain, snow and sleet. A clear path should always be kept to avoid the cat becoming potentially snow bound.

But no matter the shelter that you choose to provide, the cat will also need to be supplied with ample bedding in order to stay warm. A thick bedding of cedar chips or straw can suffice. Blankets and towels are definitely not recommended since once they are wet; they become cold and very difficult to dry. The best option for outdoor shelter venues whether it is a garage, covered porch, barn, shed or cat house is an outdoor heated cat bed. These beds are made of soft PVC and do not absorb water, always providing comfortable warmth even in below freezing temperatures. They also use very low wattage and are efficient. A heated cat bed not only can give you some piece of mind, but it will become your kitty's favorite spot, knowing it will have warmth and comfort from those harsh winter temperatures. It will become their haven, their rescue from an inhospitable temperature environment.

2. Provide and maintain plenty of water. A constant supply of clean, unfrozen water is very important to minimize the risk of dehydration.. The water source should be protected from the elements or heated to prevent freezing. Low-wattage heated bowls work very well as a solution in making certain unfrozen water is always available. As a lower budget option, you can use spray foam insulation on the underside of a deep plastic water bowl. This will help slow the freezing process, but will not eliminate it. So make sure warm water is placed in the bowl regularly.

3. Provide plenty of food. As with any physically body, whether it is human or animal, high levels of calories are burned by the body in just keeping itself warm. So make sure an ample supply of nutritious food is provided. Cats that spend time outside simply need more to eat. Feeding on a regular schedule is also important. Your cat will come to expect the food and will be waiting for it; therefore the food will spend less time in the cold. Ideally, you can provide your cat with a simple feeding station that includes a roof and sides so that your cat will be protected from the elements while it dines.

Cats need protection from the dangers of winter temperatures. Of course, keeping your cat indoors is always the safest and most effective way to promote their good health. But if your cat is going to have prolonged exposure to the cold it is imperative to provide dry shelter and a constant source of warmth which is best provided by a heated pet bed. Keep in mind that if the weather is too cold for you to comfortably spend long period of time outside, then it is probably too cold for your cat as well.

7 Tips to Entice Your Cat to Drink More Water

Most cat owners can attest to the fact that cats are finicky. They will only eat certain kinds of food out of a certain type of bowl. What many people don't realize is that this rule applies to water as well. In general, cats do not drink enough water and this can lead to various health problems, but these problems can be avoided simply by observing the likes and dislikes of a feline with regards to water preferences.

To entice a cat to drink more water takes a little trial and error, but once the magical combination is found, a cat owner should have no problem with their cat remaining hydrated. Below are seven tips to encourage your furry friend to drink up!

1. Water Type
Many people think water is water, but this is not entirely true. There are various types of water from tap water to distilled to mineral. Each cat will have their own preference. Try putting out several bowls of different types of water and see which one they prefer, but make sure all the bowls are identical, as this can be a factor as well in whether or not a cat will drink.

2. Bowls
The type of bowl makes a huge difference. Stainless steel or ceramic will have the highest rate of success. Plastic is a porous material and tends to soak up odor. While a human may not be able to smell it, a cat will and may not want to drink it thinking the water is tainted. One must remember that cats are generally very picky about cleanliness.

3. Cleanliness
Water bowls should be cleaned with hot soapy water on a daily basis. Nobody likes to drink out of a dirty glass. It's logical to believe a cat does not enjoy it either.

4. Placement
Cats also have a preference of where they want their water placed. Try placing several bowls throughout the house and see which ones show signs of having been used.

5. Multiple Cats
Having multiple cats in the home means having multiple food bowls, but it also means having multiple water bowls as well. Smelling another cat around their water bowl can deter the desire to drink water. Nobody likes drinking after another human being and cats do not like drinking after another cat either.

6. Food Additive
Until a cat owner is able to find the best way to encourage their cat to drink water, it may be necessary to use it as a food additive to ensure the cat stays hydrated. Water can be added to either dry or wet food. A bowl of water may also be "flavored" by adding chicken broth or some tuna juice. Normally a cat that will not drink water will go after a bowl of watered down broth.

7. Running Water
If all else fails, chances are the feline is one that prefers running water. It must be an instinct from the wild to prefer running water as opposed to stagnant, but many cat owners report their cats will only drink running water. To check the cats' preference, simply turn on a faucet part way (high water pressure will most likely scare the poor thing) and place the cat next to the sink. There is a good chance the cat will investigate it cautiously at first and then start to drink. If the cat enjoys this, it will be obvious when they begin jumping up to the faucet and trying to drink without the water running. If they do indeed seem to like getting their water this way, a pet drinking fountain may be purchased to facilitate this.

The Importance of Hydration
Feline dehydration can be caused by many different factors from lack of available drinking water to illness. It's extremely important to ensure a cat doesn't become dehydrated, especially for those felines afflicted by diabetes or renal failure, as those two illnesses in particular cause increased urination which in turn causes increased risk for dehydration. The symptoms of dehydration are constipation, lethargy, dry mouth, sunken eyes, increased heart rate, poor skin elasticity, and poor capillary refill time. There are two tests an owner can perform to check for skin elasticity and capillary refill.

To check skin elasticity, grasp some skin at the base of the neck and then release. If the skin does not spring back immediately, the feline is in a state of dehydration.

To check capillary refill time, press a finger against the cats gum. Once the finger is removed, a white spot will be present. Time how long it takes for the white spot to turn pink again. It should only take one to two seconds. If it takes longer than that, the cat is dehydrated.

Enough cannot be said about ensuring a feline remains hydrated. A cat stuck inside a home or apartment 24/7 without water to drink that they enjoy, can easily lead to a state of dehydration. It's extremely important to monitor a cat's rate of water consumption and, if low, take measures to improve that rate. Dehydration can greatly shorten a feline's life, but it's normally a very preventable problem that only takes a little observation and trial and error to correct.

Skin Allergies In Cats - Overcoming Them The Holistic Way

Skin allergies in cats are not uncommon. Their incidence is rising. An allergy is a hypersensitivity to something, which the immune system is unable to deal with. Usually the allergy is to an external, or environmental factor, or allergen.

These factors can be the same as in anyone such as dust, pollen, plants, food ingredients, insect bites, insecticides, toxins in the environment, etc. Some are seasonal.

The main symptoms of skin allergies in cats is an increased or continual licking and constant scratching. Obviously there is an extreme itch going on that we can't see or feel. Common areas are the groin, the base of the tail and the sides.

Skin allergies are often called atopic dermatitis. They can be mild or severe and anything in between. Severe allergies can result in the cat self harming in their desperate attempt to ease the itch.

The factors which lead to skin allergies in cats are only the stimulants. They are not the cause. The real cause is an area that doesn't appear on the veterinary horizon, for a variety of reasons, which are beyond the scope of this article.

Vaccinations are known to be one of the main causes of allergies. Most people believe that by vaccinating their cat against the common feline diseases, they are improving the health of their cat. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Let's look at the common ingredients in vaccines. Depending on the species and the vaccine, these will vary, but the common ingredients include:

    thimerosal - a mercury derivative
    formaldehyde - a strong preservative used to embalm dead bodies
    aluminium salts - considered linked to alzheimers disease
    phenol - a derivative from coal tar
    various animal cells, proteins or DNA - cross species and ethical issues
    monosodium glutamate - known for many health related problems
    aspartame - known for many health related issues
    sorbitol - an alcohol
    hydrolised protein - hydrolising is a known health hazard

Injecting these directly into the blood of any animal creates an immediate immune response. However, this is not a healthy response, as all the normal, subtle paths have been bypassed. Instead, the immune response is not unlike when bitten by a poisonous snake.

Many cats do become resistant to that particular strain of that particular disease, but this comes at a price. The immune system takes a tumble. This means that overall your cat is less healthy.

A common side effect of vaccines is allergies, but they don't stop there. Here are a couple of statements from medical doctors, which you may find interesting. The same applies to veterinary vaccines.

Rebecca Carley M.D - "If children receive all recommended vaccines, they will receive 2,370 times the "allowable safe limit" for mercury in the first two years of life (as if there is such a thing as a "safe" amount of a toxic poison)."

Russell L. Blaylock M D Neurosurgeon - "Most have at least heard about the controversy surrounding possible harmful effects of some of the vaccines. What is less well known is that even greater dangers exist than are being conveyed to the general public. Much of this information is buried in highly technical scientific journals beyond the reach and understanding of the average person."

There are other, far safer ways to prevent your cat from getting disease. The first thing is to ensure you take care of their immune system, This is the key to health. And there are three important ways to do this:

    quality, natural, nutritious food
    healthy lifestyle
    holistic health care

You can learn more about this by clicking on the link below

Sureflap Microchip Cat Flap For Your Home

As a nation of cat lovers, we all know how much our cats like to come and go and have their own freedom and space, generally doing as they please and we as their owners like to fulfill those wishes. Cat flaps are a way of ensuring your pet can have his or her freedom, while at the same time keeping the home secure.

Many cats go off on their adventures, playing with others, marking out their territory and all sorts of fun exploring, but when the cat decides its time to return home to its family, what you do not want is him or her bringing their mates back home with them. There has been many a time that cat owners have returned home to find that they have acquired an extra cat in their home, due to the cheeky newcomer using the cat flap for the resident pet.

This can sometimes cause problems between cats such as; your pet may get territorial with the other cat and mark territory or even have a scuffle, the other cat may be not be neutered which could be a problem if yours are not neutered either, the newcomer may not be house trained and could cause destruction, plus many more other important concerns.

The answer to this problem is to purchase a Sureflap Microchip Cat Flap which is completely unlike the normal pet flaps. This invention has a Sureflap microchip, which is an innovative work of art and it really does show how advanced technology has become these days. How it works is very simple; Once this is set into learn mode, you should ensure your cat passes through it, once he or she has passed all the way through and is out the other side, the special microchip technology in the device will save your cats personal microchip I.D. into the built in memory, by doing this it ensures that the flap will only allow access to your very own cats inside the home which ensures the problem is solved. The benefits of this microchip design are, the cat flap fitting is easy, as it will fit most standard doors, walls and windows, it also has a magnetic latch, which will ensure that other daring felines cannot successfully open the microchip cat flap and roam free around your house.

This Sureflap cat flap also works if you own quite a few cats, as up to a whopping 32 ID's can be stored, so it is very economical, especially if you own more than one mini tiger! It is compatible with your cats own existing microchip, which means that your cat doesn't have to wear a special tag or collar to enable this system to work. As well as looking smart and modern this product really does the required job of being a secure electronic cat flap very well and you can rest assured that there will be no more unexpected visitors sitting on your couch when you return home.

Whatever shape, size or breed we have everything in our pet store to satisfy even the most demanding, four legged diva in your household. We understand how important it is to not only have the latest cat toy, or the trendiest dog collar, but also to make sure the boring bits are covered.