All felines, even house cats, have evolved from a long line of predatory animals. Indeed, many of your cat’s most famous attributes like soft, silent paws, sharp teeth, and superior night vision have evolved to make them better hunters. As such, the natural instinct to hunt is incredibly difficult for a cat to shake. Even more interesting, is the fact that the feline hunting abilities are what encouraged the Egyptians to domesticate them in the first place. Cats were even used on sailing vessels from Europe and bound for the Americas for their ability to hunt and kill pesky mice.
Nevertheless, in the past hundred years or so, cats have gone from being prized as hunters to being loveable house pets. As you can see, our expectations of cats have changed considerably. Yet, while we hope to have cute, cuddly, and cherished companions our cats are still hard wired to hunt. An obvious example of this deeply ingrained characteristic can be seen in the way your cat plays. In many cases, hunting behavior and play behavior in cats cannot be distinguished. Stalking, pouncing, scratching, and biting are all natural hunting behaviors.
Have you ever wondered why your cat is insistent upon delivering unwanted gifts to your door? Just about the last thing any cat owner wants to see is a dead mouse or bird at their doorstep, but even this behavior is a clear indication that your cat is a predator. Cats will capture and deliver dead animals for a number of reasons. Some researchers believe it is because they are aware of our inferior hunting skills and that they’re treating us like kittens by delivering our food. Most cat experts believe that capturing and delivering animals is simply an expression of your cat’s innate drive to hunt and kill prey and that scolding your cat for these efforts is futile.
Believe it or not, you can even brush your cat’s teeth. Non-foaming pet toothpastes are available at your local pet store as well as a range of chew toys that are designed to clean your cat’s teeth. Similarly, you can purchase a pet mouthwash or spray that destroys bacteria in your cat’s mouth. Finally, ensure that your cat has regular dental checkups with your veterinarian who will also conduct a thorough cleaning.
When a new friend comes to visit you notice that your dog flattens his ears behind his head, tucks his tail between his legs, and maybe even urinates inappropriately. These are all signs that your dog has immature social skills and may even suffer from 
Dogs bark for many reasons and sometimes it seems like they bark too much. Understanding why your dog barks can help you to gain control over excessive barking so that your neighbors stop complaining. Yet, excessive barking is also a sign that your dog is under some stress so controlling the problem also helps your dog to deal with stress and ultimately be more content. Remember that barking is a natural dog behavior but excessive barking could be a sign of a more serious problem.
When we think of pet tricks, few of us consider tricks for cats. Indeed, it is usually our dogs that we take the time to teach tricks but the fact is, cats are highly intelligent creatures and they are also more than capable of learning tricks. Nonetheless, because of their independent nature, cats can be a bit more challenging to teach as they need to see the inherent reward in these activities. But, with consistency and patience, you can teach your cat some fun tricks and in the meantime you’ll get more time to bond with your cat and improve your relationship. Here are the top tricks to teach your cat.
Regular brushing prevents the development of knots or tangles in your cat’s hair that are usually very difficult to remove. In fact, when your cat’s fur gets severely tangled or knotted sometimes the only solution is a visit to an expensive professional groomer. Sometimes, cats will need to be shaved because of excessive matting and in this case you’ll need to visit a veterinarian. Clearly, regular grooming can also save you money.
It’s not that dogs and cats don’t live pretty lush lives, they usually have loving owners who feed and shelter them, but from time to time it’s nice to treat your pet to a bit of pampering. Dogs and cats feel stress just the same as humans and over time this stress can really start to weigh down on them. As such, a bit of special treatment goes a long way to helping your pet live a long and happy life that is free of illness and unnecessary worries. Here are the top 3 ways for you to pamper your pet.
Grooming is an important aspect of pet care that gives you an opportunity to spend some quality time with your dog. Most dogs enjoy being groomed as it is a practice that has evolved as a central part of their natural social order. Proper grooming can help to maintain your pet’s health because you can keep an eye out for skin problems like parasites, lumps, fleas, or other problems. Grooming for dogs with short coats, medium coats, and long coats will help you determine which practices are most appropriate
