Playing with your cat is the best possible way to build up a bond between the two of you. She will become more attached and you will feel closer to her. The best way to ensure that your cat does not become overweight is by feeding him correctly with a balanced diet, but exercise also plays a part in keeping your kitty healthy. If yours is an indoor cat, then playing with you may be his only opportunity for exertion and staying trim. Playing will help your cat to become confident. Also regular play periods, coupled with petting sessions, will get your cat used to human interaction, he will be less likely to shy away and hide, when visitors call. Playing will help your cat develop his hunting abilities. Hunting is a natural instinct for all cats, a cat confined to indoors usually has little chance to express and develop this instinct. Encourage kitty to chase a toy mouse, allow him to pounce for the 'kill'. This will aid him should he ever get lost and need to find food. Playing will help your cat release aggression. Cats often display aggressive traits through boredom. Tutor your cat not to scratch, bite or attack you with play sessions. Use praise to reward your cat for playing gently, as soon as he shows any sign he is about to use his teeth or claws - end the play session. This will teach your cat that aggressive cat behavior is best directed to his toys, and not you! Cats need fun in their lives, just like humans need it. Relieve the monotony of eating, snoozing and using the litter box by putting a bit of fun in your cats life. You will have a happier, more confident and less aggressive kitty.
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The common parasite can change brain chemistry in humans, researchers say. Sure, your cat is cute and cuddly. But if you’re angry more often than not, read this meow – now. People with intermittent explosive disorder – a psychiatric condition involving extreme, impulsive bouts of anger, like road rage – are more than twice as likely to have been exposed to a common parasite carried by cats, compared to people with no psychiatric diagnosis. That’s according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Previous studies have shown that the parasite – toxoplasma gondii – can alter brain tissue, and it’s been linked to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior. Intermittent explosive disorder – or IED – is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as recurrent, impulsive, problematic outbursts of verbal or physical aggression that are disproportionate to the situation at hand. The explosive eruptions usually last less than 30 minutes, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disorder affects as many as 16 million Americans. Researchers from the University of Chicago collected antibodies of the parasite from 358 adults in the U.S. and screened the participants for IED, personality disorder, depression and other psychiatric disorders. The parasite was associated with higher aggression and impulsivity scores. People in the IED-diagnosed group were twice as likely to test positive for parasite exposure compared to a healthy group. And about 16 percent of the psychiatric control group tested positive for the parasite, but had similar aggression and impulsivity as the healthy group. But don’t get rid of your cat just yet, study author Dr. Royce Lee, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, said in a press release: “We don’t yet understand the mechanisms involved – it could be an increased inflammatory response, direct brain modulation by the parasite, or even reverse causation where aggressive individuals tend to have more cats or eat more undercooked meat,” Lee said in the release. “Our study signals the need for more research and more evidence in humans. Grooming Your #Pets: Not Difficult! #cats n #dogs I want to thank everyone for the tremendous response to the post: Dental Care for Cats. Thank you all so much. And now for grooming your pets. Their are pet owners who will not groom their pets because whenever they try the experience turns into a bad experience that leaves both the pet and the owner with strained nerves and shaken confidence. Some of these pet owners, knowing that their pet is in desperate need of a good grooming, bring their pets to a professional pet groomer, hoping that the groomer knows some magic trick that will make their unruly pet behave. Most of these pet owners are devastated when they return to the groomers to pick up their pet and find out that the best the groomer was able to do was a partial job, they send the pet home half clipped and uncombed, telling the owner that the pet is their responsibility. The hard truth is that some pets really don’t like to be groomed. Dogs, who are perfectly happy to splash in mud puddles and swim in rivers, develop an unreasonable fear of water when their owner starts to unroll a hose. Cats who are happy to spend the entire day being stroked by their human, turn into shrieking banshees when that same owner picks up a brush. The first thing a pet owner has to understand is that if they brush or bath their pet at home, there is absolutely no way a pet groomer is going to be able to. Professional groomers are people who know how to make a pet look good, they aren’t animal trainers. Pet owners shouldn’t expect them to turn into trainers when they drop their pet off at the pet groomers. The easiest way to teach your pet that grooming is a pleasurable experience is to start grooming them when they are very young. Sure puppies and kittens squirm around a lot, and grooming them will be difficult, but they are still small. They are a lot easier to hold onto know then they will be a year or two down the road. And remember, part of the reason they are squirming and wiggling around is because they are so happy to be with you. If you start brushing their coats and washing their eats now, they will start to associate those activities with one on one time. Make sure that you spend some time handling and cleaning your pets ears. The more their ears get handled at a young age the easier it will be for your veterinarian to inspect and treat any ear infections your pet might develop later in life. Dog and cat owners all know that trimming their pets nails can be a monstrous engagement. Although you shouldn’t have to trim the nails of your new puppy or kitten, you can make play with their feet and start getting them accustomed to the feel of your fingers against their paws. This will make your life easier down the road. When your grooming process is complete reward your young pet with treats and play time. It won’t be very long before they learn that sitting still through the grooming process means that they will get to the fun stuff faster. If you are having a bad day, avoid grooming your pet. They will pick up on your negative energy and be uncomfortable being trapped on your lap. Instead of grooming, spend the time playing a game with your puppy or kitten. They won’t feel trapped and will still have your undivided attention which will make them happy, and you will find that watching them play will have a therapeutic effect on your mental health. |