© 2011 Woodmors.com All rights reserved
Company Information
Interactive Resources
Do You Have a Cat Shaped Hole In Your Life?
By Alison Wood,
When thinking about the ideal choice of pet for your home, you need to take into consideration your own lifestyle and how that will fit the needs of any pet. If you have a busy life then you will find that cats are a good deal more independent than dogs, however they do still need the basic requirements of feeding, grooming and veterinary treatment, plus also love and attention from their human companions.
A big advantage from a time perspective is that cats do not need to be taken for walks, and are quite happy spending their days footloose and fancy free. This is helpful if you are spending long days at work or away from home, as cats can be left alone for more extensive periods of time than dogs. A cat will disappear for hours on end alone and a quite fascinating thought is where do they actually spend all that time? I guess we will never know. They do however like a nice bowl of food to return to at the end of the day and a nice warm bed in which to sleep.
Now I have mentioned a bed in which to sleep, but this may not be a bed in the conventional sense. It might be the windowsill above a heating grate, stretched out in front of the fire, taking up virtually the whole length of the sofa or perched on your feet whilst you are trying to sleep at night. Yes cats have a canny knack of sleeping where the mood takes them.
The other issue with cats is that because they spend so much time away from home they are quite liable to be caught up in accidents at one time or another and these can prove very expensive for their owners, some treatments running into thousands of dollars. It is important then to make sure that you have adequate pet insurance for your cat and to be quite clear going in exactly what the policy covers. In addition to this your cat will need to be vaccinated and all cats, whether male or female should be neutered or spayed, in order to keep the unwanted cat population down and if you have a female cat to stop you being overrun with kittens.
Cats are independent but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need companionship, either from another cat or from their human companions. If is nice, if you have the space and the means to provide for them, to have two cats, so that they have a feline friend. If you decide to get a cat from a shelter or a cat rescue center, then you may well find pairs that are already bonded.
Whether you have one cat or two you need to spend time grooming them, playing with them and petting and stroking them so that they form a bond with you. Cats may be independent but they are still a pet that requires substantial care. Do you have sufficient finances to cover their needs and do you have time enough to attend to them? If the answers to these questions are yes, then a cat will repay you with affection, a great deal of purring and an excellent way to keep your feet very warm at night.
By Alison Wood,
Pet Hooligans
When thinking about the ideal choice of pet for your home, you need to take into consideration your own lifestyle and how that will fit the needs of any pet. If you have a busy life then you will find that cats are a good deal more independent than dogs, however they do still need the basic requirements of feeding, grooming and veterinary treatment, plus also love and attention from their human companions.
A big advantage from a time perspective is that cats do not need to be taken for walks, and are quite happy spending their days footloose and fancy free. This is helpful if you are spending long days at work or away from home, as cats can be left alone for more extensive periods of time than dogs. A cat will disappear for hours on end alone and a quite fascinating thought is where do they actually spend all that time? I guess we will never know. They do however like a nice bowl of food to return to at the end of the day and a nice warm bed in which to sleep.
Now I have mentioned a bed in which to sleep, but this may not be a bed in the conventional sense. It might be the windowsill above a heating grate, stretched out in front of the fire, taking up virtually the whole length of the sofa or perched on your feet whilst you are trying to sleep at night. Yes cats have a canny knack of sleeping where the mood takes them.
The other issue with cats is that because they spend so much time away from home they are quite liable to be caught up in accidents at one time or another and these can prove very expensive for their owners, some treatments running into thousands of dollars. It is important then to make sure that you have adequate pet insurance for your cat and to be quite clear going in exactly what the policy covers. In addition to this your cat will need to be vaccinated and all cats, whether male or female should be neutered or spayed, in order to keep the unwanted cat population down and if you have a female cat to stop you being overrun with kittens.
Cats are independent but that doesn’t mean that they don’t need companionship, either from another cat or from their human companions. If is nice, if you have the space and the means to provide for them, to have two cats, so that they have a feline friend. If you decide to get a cat from a shelter or a cat rescue center, then you may well find pairs that are already bonded.
Whether you have one cat or two you need to spend time grooming them, playing with them and petting and stroking them so that they form a bond with you. Cats may be independent but they are still a pet that requires substantial care. Do you have sufficient finances to cover their needs and do you have time enough to attend to them? If the answers to these questions are yes, then a cat will repay you with affection, a great deal of purring and an excellent way to keep your feet very warm at night.
Feline Friends
Merchant Affiliations
Affiliate Disclosure
Shopping Our Merchants
Merchant Privacy Policies
Merchant Return Policies
Shopping Our Store
Secure Checkout
Shipping & Tracking
Return Policy
Terms of Use
Disclaimer
Sitemap
Affiliate Disclosure
Shopping Our Merchants
Merchant Privacy Policies
Merchant Return Policies
Shopping Our Store
Secure Checkout
Shipping & Tracking
Return Policy
Terms of Use
Disclaimer
Sitemap
AARP Community
Everyday Health Community
Senior Living
WebMD
WebMD/Pets
Vetinfo
Just Answer
DIY Forums
DIY Chatroom
The Garden Web Forums
Shopping Forums
The Boomers Forum
Car Forums
Everyday Health Community
Senior Living
WebMD
WebMD/Pets
Vetinfo
Just Answer
DIY Forums
DIY Chatroom
The Garden Web Forums
Shopping Forums
The Boomers Forum
Car Forums
About Us
Our Mission
Privacy Policy
California Privacy Rights
Our Charities
Contact
FAQ
Be A Guest Blogger
Submitting Articles
Our Mission
Privacy Policy
California Privacy Rights
Our Charities
Contact
FAQ
Be A Guest Blogger
Submitting Articles
Should You Microchip Your Pet?
For many people, their furry little friends have become full-fledged family members. Over the past decade, micro-chipping pets has grown in popularity as more pet owners have become proactive about keeping their pets safe. There has been some debate on whether or not this procedure is worth the risks involved. You be the judge.
Millions of animals have been euthanized every year due to pets being lost with no identification. Collars and/or licenses and ID tags can be lost, thereby leaving the animal with no way to tell who they belong to or any way to locate their home. Most of the time, this leaves shelters with no other choice but to put the cat or dog down since they cannot afford to keep all the animals that are found. The American Humane Association reports that 1 out of every 3 pets will be lost at sometime in their life and never be recovered. Those are scary odds for pet parents. Micro-chipping a pet can cuts those odds drastically, however, enabling veterinarians and shelters in getting lost pets back to their owners much quicker.
As with any procedure, whether in dealing with humans or animals, there are some risks involved. In rare cases, infection at the injection site (between the shoulders normally) has been reported. There is also a slight chance of a tumor forming around the chip which is roughly the size of a rice grain. Sometimes the chip can migrate to another area in the pet’s body and cause irritation or infection, but this is unusual. Your vet inserts the chip through a needle. The procedure is very quick and the discomfort to your pet is minimal. In many cases, your pet will not even feel the needle.
All microchips are not the same. There are several different manufacturers, each requiring their own scanner. In some cases, the same scanner can be used with different microchips. This can make it difficult for vets and shelters that do not have all of the scanners, but often the companies that make the chips donate scanners to various organizations, easing some of the financial burden. There are certain chips that are better if you travel abroad frequently. Consult your vet on this.
The ASPCA advocates the use of microchips, stating that the chances of Fido being reunited with his family are much improved when he has a chip. The average cost of a microchip is anywhere from $25 to $55. The price can depend on which manufacturer a chip is from and the fee your vet charges. In the case of adoption from a shelter, the cost of the chip is usually included in the adoption fee. The ASPCA also recommends that traditional collars and ID tags be used in conjunction with the microchips, increasing your pet’s chances of being brought home even more.
Although the microchips are so helpful, they will not be if the contact information listed in the registry is outdated or incorrect. It’s a good practice to update your information every time you move to ensure that a vet or shelter will be able to get in touch with you. There are different registries, some that cross over into other registries, which makes it easier to locate an owner.
These electronic registries are much more efficient than tacking up posters on telephone poles or in stores. They are permanent and cannot blow away or be torn down. Some registries charge a fee (paid once usually) for registration. This fee is usually less than $20, a nominal cost for peace of mind. Some also offer packages for multiple pet registrations, cutting the owner’s expense.
A pet can be chipped when they are around six to eight weeks of age. At this age, a pet is not yet trained to stay around or with an owner and the chances of them getting lost are very high. The chip is an excellent way to make sure a straying youngster is returned to their family. For breeders and owners of expensive dogs, the chip makes even more sense, not only from an emotional and humane point of view, but an economical one.
In these cases, if the animal is stolen and the perpetrator takes the animal to the vet for any reason and the vet scans the animal, the vet can discover the real owner and have the animal returned. The chip also aids animal control officials in prosecuting offenders and in enforcing licensing of pets in their area.
All in all, the scale tips drastically in favor of micro-chipping pets. The costs of micro-chipping are minimal along with potential risks. The chip helps give your family peace of mind, knowing that your favorite furry loved one is much safer in the event they are lost, and helps their chances of coming home again.
Millions of animals have been euthanized every year due to pets being lost with no identification. Collars and/or licenses and ID tags can be lost, thereby leaving the animal with no way to tell who they belong to or any way to locate their home. Most of the time, this leaves shelters with no other choice but to put the cat or dog down since they cannot afford to keep all the animals that are found. The American Humane Association reports that 1 out of every 3 pets will be lost at sometime in their life and never be recovered. Those are scary odds for pet parents. Micro-chipping a pet can cuts those odds drastically, however, enabling veterinarians and shelters in getting lost pets back to their owners much quicker.
As with any procedure, whether in dealing with humans or animals, there are some risks involved. In rare cases, infection at the injection site (between the shoulders normally) has been reported. There is also a slight chance of a tumor forming around the chip which is roughly the size of a rice grain. Sometimes the chip can migrate to another area in the pet’s body and cause irritation or infection, but this is unusual. Your vet inserts the chip through a needle. The procedure is very quick and the discomfort to your pet is minimal. In many cases, your pet will not even feel the needle.
All microchips are not the same. There are several different manufacturers, each requiring their own scanner. In some cases, the same scanner can be used with different microchips. This can make it difficult for vets and shelters that do not have all of the scanners, but often the companies that make the chips donate scanners to various organizations, easing some of the financial burden. There are certain chips that are better if you travel abroad frequently. Consult your vet on this.
The ASPCA advocates the use of microchips, stating that the chances of Fido being reunited with his family are much improved when he has a chip. The average cost of a microchip is anywhere from $25 to $55. The price can depend on which manufacturer a chip is from and the fee your vet charges. In the case of adoption from a shelter, the cost of the chip is usually included in the adoption fee. The ASPCA also recommends that traditional collars and ID tags be used in conjunction with the microchips, increasing your pet’s chances of being brought home even more.
Although the microchips are so helpful, they will not be if the contact information listed in the registry is outdated or incorrect. It’s a good practice to update your information every time you move to ensure that a vet or shelter will be able to get in touch with you. There are different registries, some that cross over into other registries, which makes it easier to locate an owner.
These electronic registries are much more efficient than tacking up posters on telephone poles or in stores. They are permanent and cannot blow away or be torn down. Some registries charge a fee (paid once usually) for registration. This fee is usually less than $20, a nominal cost for peace of mind. Some also offer packages for multiple pet registrations, cutting the owner’s expense.
A pet can be chipped when they are around six to eight weeks of age. At this age, a pet is not yet trained to stay around or with an owner and the chances of them getting lost are very high. The chip is an excellent way to make sure a straying youngster is returned to their family. For breeders and owners of expensive dogs, the chip makes even more sense, not only from an emotional and humane point of view, but an economical one.
In these cases, if the animal is stolen and the perpetrator takes the animal to the vet for any reason and the vet scans the animal, the vet can discover the real owner and have the animal returned. The chip also aids animal control officials in prosecuting offenders and in enforcing licensing of pets in their area.
All in all, the scale tips drastically in favor of micro-chipping pets. The costs of micro-chipping are minimal along with potential risks. The chip helps give your family peace of mind, knowing that your favorite furry loved one is much safer in the event they are lost, and helps their chances of coming home again.
Cats
Is a Cat Right for You?
Microchip Your Pet?
Reducing Cat Hairballs (1-800-PetMeds)
Cat and Kitten Health Guide (1-800-PetMeds)
Healthy Treats
Click image for more information
Quality Products for Cats:
Articles:
(Click images to learn more about these products)
Cat Beds
Click image for more details at
1-800-PetMeds
1-800-PetMeds
Click image for more details at
1-800-PetMeds
1-800-PetMeds
By Melissa Leinhard
Click image for more details at
1-800-PetMeds
1-800-PetMeds
Click image for more details at
Amazon
Amazon
16" x 20" $24.00
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
Amazon
Amazon
Click image for more details at
Amazon
Amazon
Tan or Teal $18.00
Order Here
Order Here
$25.11
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
Amazon
Amazon
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
$10.07
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
Scratching Posts & Cat Furniture
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
$279.99 Ships Free!
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
$129.99 Ships Free!
Order Here
Order Here
$79.99 Ships Free!
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
$29.99
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
See all cat furniture and scratchers at PetSmart
Shop over 350 products at PetSmart's new Cat Center
Shop over 350 products at PetSmart's new Cat Center
$25.95
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
Amazon
Amazon
Click image for more details at
Amazon
Amazon
$147.70
Order Here
Order Here
Litter Boxes
$129.99
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
Click image for more details at
PetSmart
PetSmart
$18.99
Order Here
Order Here
$36.99
Order Here
Order Here
$29.99
Order Here
Order Here
See all litter boxes at PetSmart
See litter box accessories at PetSmart: Liners Scoops & Mats Odor Control
See litter box accessories at PetSmart: Liners Scoops & Mats Odor Control
4.5 oz. $2.49
Order Here
Order Here
Click image for more information
6.0 oz. $5.19
Order Here
Order Here
Whiskas Temptations Treats for Cats #2751589 TOP SELLER
Click image for more information
Click image for more information
Click image for more information
Click image for more information
2.47 oz. $1.11
Order Here
Order Here
2.1 oz. $1.89
Order Here
Order Here
Whiskas Hairball Control Cat Treats
#2751588 TOP SELLER
#2751588 TOP SELLER
2.1 oz. $1.89
Order Here
Order Here
See all cat treats and cat health products at PetSmart
Currently out of stock
Currently on back order
Currently out of stock
Currently on back order
Melissa Leinhardt is a writer for a cat food website that provides pet safety information, cat food ratings, and other important information about cat care. Source: http://pethooligans.com/2010/09/14/should-you-microchip-your-pet/
Alison is a professional blogger, human resources director and managing partner of Woodmor's. Blog posts by Alison frequently appear in Woodmor's. Alison's blogs include: Pet Hooligans, Art of Crafts, Midnight Eden, Woodmor's World and Greener Living Today