Does your whole house or apartment smell like your cat? Are you frustrated when you find tiny surprises from your cat in the corners of your house? Are you on the verge of giving away your cat? Your prayers have been answered.

There are easy solutions to all of this.You can always train your cat to do its business in the litter box instead of anywhere and everywhere it pleases.You just need to bring along lots of patience, free time, a handful of treats, a litter box and unending love for your cat.These are some of the cat toilet training tips that you can follow:
Singling out the perfect litter box for your cat will be the first cat toilet training tip.A litter box with good quality and size for your cat should be your target.

Kittens may need litter boxes with just the right level for its reach.Look for a spacious box to ensure the comfort of your cat inside it.This gives the cat more freedom and more comfort.Comfort inside the litter box is the main goal.After the litter box selection tip, the next cat toilet training tip is to pick the litter for the box.
Cat also have their own personalities and picking the perfect kind of litter for your cat will be in a trial and error basis.Fine, sand like grains of litter gives a soft and comfortable effect.Choosing the best type of litter for your cat will aid to its comfort.
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You have to think of the comfort of the cat when selecting the type of litter to use.Keeping away factors that could remind your cat with the outdoors will be the next cat toilet training tip.Your training progress may be hindered by the outdoor elements since cats are naturally attracted to them.Like dogs, cats tend to mark every spot as a form of claiming their territory.

Faster and better progress with toilet training means keeping these items outside the house.Keep away the things that may remind your cat of the outdoors. Keeping away factors that could remind your cat with the outdoors will be the next cat toilet training tip. Put your cat to familiarize itself inside the litter box during the first part of the training.Do this after meals, after play time and after nap time.Next to its successful attempt, be sure to provide rewards to your cat.

Perform these easy cat toilet training tips and you’re certain to have a clean, hassle free home.

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The pet accessories market has expanded significantly in recent years, making it confusing for pet owners to decide which accessories are essential or optional.

Enlightened consumers usually break down their purchases into three categories:

· Must have

· Nice to have

· Can have, provided it doesn’t break the budget

We can apply the same rule when buying accessories for our dog. The guiding theme should be: purchase only those accessories that will keep your pet clean and healthy. Unless you take your pet to dog shows regularly to show him off, you need buy only those products that will help him stay clean and healthy.

We have selected dog accessories that fall under the “must have” category:

Dog Beds

Your dog’s bed should provide adequate body support. Make sure that materials are hypoallergenic and that no toxic elements were used in the manufacturing of the bed. Choose a brand that will prevent bunching or shifting so that your dog’s comfort is ensured 100%.

A suggestion for a dog bed is one that has an exterior made of eco-friendly recycled cotton which is more gentle on your dog’s skin and is machine washable. You can also check if the product or brand has been endorsed by reputable veterinarian associations or dog health organizations.

Dog Tent

If you like to take your dog outdoors during extremely hot and cold weather, a portable tent that can be used outdoors, indoors and inside the van will come in handy and will protect your dog from the elements. It is an umbrella-like mechanism that props up at the flick of a button. A dog tent serves as an extension of your dog’s house or bed; most dog tents come with claw-proof windows made of soft mesh material and a “porch” in the front. This makes travelling with your dog easier, particularly when your car breaks down in extreme weather conditions and you’re waiting for help to come.

Pain Relief

If you have an older dog, their joints and muscles can suffer from pain and swelling. Obesity, seniority and a sedentary lifestyle can trigger arthritic symptoms. Note that young dogs can also have pain symptoms. Choose a product that is made mostly of natural ingredients and which has been tested for effectiveness.

A pain relief product for your dog is your “first aid” chest. Select a product that also has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Use it when your pet is injured and is bleeding, has swollen joints or itchy skin.
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Bathing Products

If your pet is suffering from even the most minor of skin irritations, use gentle coat shampoos that will not have an abrasive effect on skin. You can choose a shampoo that not only cleans but also disinfects your pet against flea dermatitis or infestation including hives, hot spots, odours, ringworms, thrush, wounds and sunburn.

Thousands of pet owners prefer natural oatmeal preparations for their pet’s shampoo because it does not irritate dry skin. You may also buy shampoo and body wash products that will untangle hair and give it a good shine.

Grooming Accessories

You want a stripping comb that will cover large areas of hair to quickly remove loose and falling hair especially if your dog has a thick undercoat. You may also want to consider a lava stripping stone which helps eliminate dead hair to improve the look of your dog’s coat.

Ear and Mouth Wipes

Like humans, dogs are susceptible to dirt and wax build-up in their ears. There are ear wipes that are made with non-allergenic ingredients so that you need not worry about whether the wipes are safe and natural. You need a brand that is hypo-allergenic, is free from soap ingredients and by-products, contains no parabens, sulfates or artificial colours and are bio-degradable.

And dogs, like humans, can also have bad breath. Pet owners tend to overlook this; they become worried only when they kiss their dog and smell a foul odour. Enter mouth wipes. Choose mouth wipes that have been pre-moistened with botanical ingredients to keep your dog’s gums healthy and to give him or her fresher breath. Most mouth wipes are flavoured with peppermint for long lasting freshness.

Reflective Dog Collars

If your dog likes to wander around at night and has a dark coat, reflective dog collars are true life savers. Dog Collars are inexpensive and are a good investment. Choose brands that are soft to the skin so they don’t hurt your dog’s neck, and collars that are odor-resistant.

Given recent innovations in pet products, you can now buy dog collars that are made with a special kind of material. There are some materials that have tiny invisible chamber holes to absorb water and to provide proper airing, preventing the formation of mildew.

Mike Cole

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/top-dog-accessories-for-a-clean-and-healthy-pet-741271.html

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An obedient pet is what everyone would prefer. Disciplined pets are envisioned by every wanna be pet owners. Remember that pets may get confused with cues that are given to them. To live in harmony with your pet, right training should be conducted. A well behaved feline is the main goal of the cat obedience training.

A big part of cat obedience training involves the litter box. One dilemma that owners go through is an up-potty trained cat. The first thing a cat should learn is where to go to the bathroom. Be patient and give time to train your cat. Potty training should be introduced to your cat at an early age. Lure your cat to the litter box after every meals, play time and upon waking up. Keep treats in hand for your cats after each successful attempt. Success may take some time before achieved by your cat.

The cat obedience training includes teaching your cat to go and potty at the right place. You will have to train the cat when it is ok to sleep, when it is ok to play and when it is ok to go to the bathroom. To live in peace with your cat will require conducting this training. Cats that lack obedience training usually end up scratching all the furniture, destroying items and peeing everywhere. You can provide scratching posts where it is ok for cats to use their paws and area where all their toys are.
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Rewards will always keep your cats interest. In every good behavior that it shows, reward your cat with its favorite treat. You have to remember that hitting is not acceptable in cat obedience training as this will just lead your pet to stay away and be afraid. Cats are known to always please their owners and a few minutes of your time each day is all it takes for a well behaved pet.

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The most important thing to consider before getting a pet bird is its cage, as it will be your pet’s home, so you want it to feel safe and comfortable. You will be responsible for providing your new pet with the proper amount of living space.

With so many different sizes, styles, colors, and price ranges of bird cages available on the market, you may find yourself a little confused. While it can seem that there’s an endless amount of cages to choose from, there are a few things that you will need to think about before purchasing a bird cage. The following should help you to narrow down your choice.

First of all you must determine where your new cage is to be located. It cannot be situated near windows or around drafts, and it must also be in an active area in your home, so that there is constant stimulation for your bird. This will also help your bird to gain a higher level of social development.

Next, you need to know what size your bird will end up being when it is fully grown. This of course will vary greatly on the type of bird you choose. Your bird needs to have plenty of space to move around and stretch its’ wings. Many owners of pet birds choose a roomy indoor aviary instead of the small traditional bird cages. It is important to remember, bird cages are not supposed to be prisons, but a safe environment and home for your pet.

Finally, you need to ensure you choose a well designed cage. Today’s bird cages are available in a variety of styles which include square, round, pagoda-shaped, and house-shaped. Custom bird cages are the best choice, and are available at most pet supply stores. They are made of many different materials, including wood, acrylic, stainless steel, metal, and iron. Steel bird cages are the easiest to clean and will not become chipped or faded.

You must also consider the toys that your bird will play with. Choose some colourful, interesting toys and accessories for entertainment, so that your bird will not become bored or stressed.

A good bird cage can be expensive, and the materials that the cage is made of have a lot to do with the price. You cannot compromise on the price if you want a good quality cage. Therefore your best option is to choose one that is the right size and is easy to clean and has lasting value.

Susan Fielding

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/bird-cages-what-you-must-consider-when-getting-a-pet-bird-112617.html

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It is quite fun to dress up pets in different costumes during Halloween. There are many costumes to choose from, as we already have different costumes for adults and children. The pets can also join in the Halloween celebrations with the whole family. There are many stores that offer costumes for the dogs and cats. Otherwise we can make them at home with the material that is available. We can use old jeans and convert it into a pant for the pet. An old coat can be used and also scarves and hats can add to the new look of the pet. Old children’s clothes can be altered into costumes for pets.

Pets can be made to look like television or movie characters like Spiderman, Superman or Batman. They can be dressed up as a cowboy, a pirate, a witch or even other animals such as a horse. Pets can also be made look like Harry Potter or the Star Wars characters. The fun is in using various ideas that we have already used for adults and children. Halloween is a time to scare people. So, the pet can have glitter or a reflector that will help in keeping track of the pet and also add to the new look.

Costumes stores have costumes exclusively for pets. There are raincoats, sweaters and tuxedos available for pets. These costumes make them look smart and modern. The weather during this season has to be taken into account while dressing up the pets. If it is too cold or raining, then the pet’s thin skin will not be able to bear the cold. It will be good to make them wear a sweater or a thick dress.

In pet stores shoes are also available for pets. This will help in keeping them warm and free of dirt. There will also not be paw marks inside the home. Reflective vests should be worn by pets when they are taken out by the owners. This will help in keeping track of them. Also, people on the road will be able to see them and avoid them during the night.

The costumes for pets are available in all the three sizes – small, medium and large. It is necessary to have an idea about the size of the pet when buying for them. The weight of the pet should be taken into account. The length from the base of the neck to the whole body without the tail should be measured. The shoes should be bought to the size of the paws which can be measured from the longest toenail. The exact size is necessary so that the pet feels comfortable. The dress should not be too restrictive or too loose. The dress should not be such that the pet can chew on it.

With so much variety in clothes, if scarves, hats and other accessories are added, a new look can be created for the pet during Halloween. Instead of masks a little paint can be used to alter the look of the pet. Generally all the costumes can be used for both dogs and cats. Dogs can be made to look like cats with large ears attached to them and cats can be made to look like dogs with drooping ears attached to them. All this dressing up will add to the fun and some pets will also enjoy it.

jackson

http://www.articlesbase.com/clothing-articles/some-interesting-facts-and-ideas-for-pet-halloween-costumes-689851.html

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1. Do some research on fish and aquarium care
Learning how to take care of your fish tank and the fish that are in it is quite simple. You could read books on aquarium care, or go to the internet or ask your pet shop about how to go about this. You just must learn the proper way to manage this other wise you will be wasting a lot of money and effort and of course your fish.

Never put fish that do not have compatible living conditions in together, for they will not last and if they are temperamentally not compatible too, will kill one another. So you will have to do a lot of planning and ask for advice before putting different species of marine and non marine fish together in the same aquarium. If you are putting similar fish in the tank then make sure that you put only two of a kind.

2. Testing kits and other paraphernalia
Along with the aquarium and the fish you will have to think of getting some other equipment and accessories like floss, gravel, filters, buffers, testing kits, lights, heaters and plants. If you have salt water fish then you will have to add salt to the water every fortnight. If the water where you live is salt water it is better that you get fish that are salt water fish only. This way you will not have to do a complete treatment for the water but can maintain salt water fish without any problem.

3. Maintaining freshwater fish
Freshwater fish easily adapt to any kind of tank, where as salt water fish find it easier to survive in reef tanks. As freshwater fish adapt easier to any sort of tank it is better to start with these tanks in the beginning until you get the hang of taking care of fish and fish tanks.

4. Think of the location of your aquarium
Even before you get your aquarium you have to think of where you will be placing it. While considering the size of the tank that you want to buy you will have to decide on where you will place it and if you have sufficient place in your home for a tank of this size. It is better no to keep the tank near windows and door ways, or near heaters. The sunlight will make algae grow faster if there is direct sunlight. The room temperature should be maintained at the correct temperature also.

5. Accessories for the aquarium
You will need humidifiers and dehumidifiers to maintain the room temperature along with fish food, medicines, gravel, floss and filters. You would also require lights and heaters for your aquarium.

6. How to select the right filters?
Filters are available as internal or external filters or even under the gravel ones which are good support for your fish tank. You should see what suits your tank best and could get advice on this from the same pet shop where you bought your fish tank.

Abhishek Agarwal

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/taking-care-of-aquarium-fish-6-valuable-tips-for-healthy-fish-740479.html

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The dog clothing market is huge. People used to buy dog clothes for a specific function such as a warm sweater, for a tiny dog to wear in cold weather. Some dog fashions are beneficial for our dogs. There are dog boots that protect your little dog’s feet from ice, cold, snow or even rock salt. Some dogs just do not like their feet getting wet, so rubber boots are great for them. Dog coats and dog sweaters protect our tiny companions from losing heat in the cold weather or from indoor air conditioning. Dogs such as the hairless Chinese crested need clothing to protect them from the cold or sun, so having a wardrobe for your little dog is necessary for some pets.

Many people buy wonderful clothes for their beloved pet strictly for fashion. Some just want their pampered pooches to look as good as they do and feel money is no object. Celebrities certainly were instrumental in making dog clothing popular, by showing their pets wearing fantastic outfits and accessories. Clothes designers have got on the bandwagon. They are now designing and making fabulous clothes for our wonderful dogs.

Many dog owners love special holidays such as Easter, Christmas and Halloween, so they can dress their pampered pets in Santa suits, ghost outfits or even as cupid. Often pets enjoy the attention they get from their owners dressing them up and pampering them.

Unlike years ago, there is a huge, varied selection of pet clothing and accessories because of the market demands. No longer just for smaller breeds of dog, there is clothing available for both large and smaller dogs that keep your pet dry, warm or fashionable. Our pets are such a valuable and loved member of our household and give us unconditional love. In return, we feed and shelter them and love them back. We have now added ‘clothe them’ to this. Because domestic breeds have adjusted to our environment standards, they require more protection from bad weather just as we do. Many of the smaller breeds lose body heat fast, so protective clothing helps reduce this loss.

When shopping for dog clothes remember there are dog boutiques and shops that specialize in everything from daywear dog fashions, designer dog clothing, cold weather wear, to unique and fabulous evening dog clothes. Make sure you have extra room in your drawers or closets for your pets clothing. Better yet buy them their own dresser to store your pampered dog’s outfits.

Many of the doggie clothing boutiques allow owners to bring their pets in when they are choosing clothing for them. This way you see what the outfit looks like and have the fun of seeing others with their cute dressed dogs. Just like our clothing, dog’s outfits come in sizes from extra, extra small to extra large. Make sure that whatever outfits your decide to purchase, they fit your dog properly. Safety is extremely important, so dog outfits should have nothing that a dog can pull off or injure him or herself on.

Kelly Marshall

http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/clothes-for-your-stylish-dog-71523.html

I want to buy a dog collar that could stop my dog from barking. There are these Dog Collars on eBay that are supposed to stop dogs from barking with some sound that only dogs could hear. If you have any experience with these collars and know if they work or not them please reply.

Yes, they do..The one who mentioned sores on the skin was an electric collar, not a sonic (high pitched buzz) one. . I used one for a very traumatized rescued dog, that just couldn’t stop barking..She quit within a couple of days, and I took the collar off after less than two weeks..I have loaned it to many friends, as well.
It didn’t harm the dog in any way. She is curled here at my feet 10 years later..and only barks if a stranger is here..
I got mine at Walmart..They currently run $32.

What type of collar do you use for your dog?
Do you leave it on all the time? Or just when the dog is out of the house? (Obviously it’s not safe to leave collars on dogs in crates.)
Is there any collar you refuse to use, or hate when other people use?
Now that microchipping is becoming so popular and affordable, are collars becoming obsolete?

I usually leave my dogs’ collars on, with the exception of my standard poodle. I worry that his fur could get matted with the collar rubbing on it all the time, and so I leave it off a lot unless we are going somewhere. I was just wondering what everyone else thought about collars. :)
To clarify, I don’t mean collars obsolete as in not having a dog on lead, I meant it more as ‘for identification’ purposes.

Obviously dogs should always be on the leash when not in their yard/home.

You people can be so nitpicky sometimes. :P

all of mine wear LUPINE. it’s gauranteed forlife even against chewing. and i use the combos, so once they’re on, they’re on. except for the 2 that are crated. for now they have the regular Lupine with the clips.

My dog is young but she already broke two collars, one of which was metal. What is the strongest collar I can get her that won’t be too unconfortable for her? Also, some guy kicked my dog after she snapped her collar and ran down the street and then threatened to call animal control on her. She has never done anything bad at all to anyone. Can he do that?

Train your dog not to pull. If she is pulling hard enough to break her collar then she is pulling hard enough to potentially damage her trachea and esophagus. Try using a properly fitted pinch collar on walks.

As far as other people harming your dog. Yes if they feel your dog is charging at them, threatening them etc they have a right to defend themselves by what ever means the feel necessary. Also in most areas if your dog gets loose and is chasing livestock it can legally be shot and killed. As far as him calling animal control he most defiantly can. It is your responsibility to keep your dog under control at all times. If she is breaking her collar and running off she is not under your control and you are in violation of the law