Let's talk to our friend

People communicate by talking, reading the written text and interpreting the body language.

Mehrabian study (1971) say that our communication is made up of 7% literal meaning of overall message, 38% makes up of tone of voice and 55% counts for the body language.

Maybe we can use the skills to communicate with our feline.

Here are some hints to what our friends are saying to us~

‘Meow’ is most common and all-purpose vocal word. This could be the greeting ‘Hi’, commanding for ‘more food, open door’, and announcement ‘I’ve found my toy!’.

• -        Short ‘meow’: ‘hey, how are you doing?’
• -        Multiple ‘meow’: ‘I missed you, where have you been? I’m so Happy’
• -        Mild-pitch ‘meow’: its plea for something, dinner, treat or wishing to go outside
• -        High-pitch: ‘Ouch!’

‘Chirps, trills’ the cat is probably want you to follow, perhaps wants more food.

‘Purring’ is sign of happy, but be aware that the cats may purr when they are anxious or sick as well. They    do this to comfort themselves.

‘Growling, hissing or spitting’ sign of wanting to be left alone as they are annoyed, frightened, angry or aggressive.

‘Yowl or howl’ is sign of distress, so go rescue!

Clicking sounds, cat is tracking a prey.

Sources:

·        Information http://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/cat-body-language, http://www.catster.com/cat-behavior/how-to-talk-to-your-cat, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html?referrer=https://www.google.com.au/

·        Image http http://www.communitycarecollege.edu/, https://buyfleaticktreatment.wordpress.com/, https://au.pinterest.com/

       Author – Keun Woo Baek 

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: SIMON'S CAT

FAMOUS INTERNET CATS: SIMON'S CAT

Love animated shorts about a man named Simon and his feline companion? Then the YouTube series Simon's Cat is for you. Created by Simon Tofield, and directed by Chris Gavin, Simon's Cat depicts scenarios around a cat and it's mischievous nature around his owner Simon. It began on 2008 with the first video in the Simon's Cat series where it depicts the cat trying to wake up Simon for its meal. With a series spanning within about 8 years, Simon's cat had been awarded Best Comedy of 2008 at the British Awards Festival and it adding up to a total of over 800 million views and overs 4 million subscribers.

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat/about

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/simon-s-cat

Image-

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W9T9PgStM0Y/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAAA/7pewPBz0KUA/photo.jpg
Video-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ffwDYo00Q

By Allan Nguyen

Tips & Tricks - A Safe Home!

Bringing a cat home to a safe environment is vital to the beginning a new chapter in yours and their life.

Get a cat's-eye tour of your house! Get down on all fours and literally take a tour of your house to see from a cats perspective.

Some potential hazards include:

• Breakable treasures - such as vases or glassware. Cats are inquisitive creatures and 9 times out of 10 anything that can be broken will be broken.
• Poison & Plants - Ant traps, roach traps, mouse traps or poison can harm your cat. So you need to make sure your cat can't reach them! Some houseplants can also be hazardous to your cat so make sure none of your houseplants are poisonous.
• Cords, cords and more cords - all types of cords should be out of reach as they are very tempting for a cat and they can end up in a fatal shock. You can also spray them with a foul-tasting repellent substance so they don't try and eat them.
• Choking Hazards - Paper clips. Coins. Bits of string or thread. Thumb tacks. Left over Christmas tree tinsel. Anything small enough for your cat to get in its mouth might end up going further than its mouth. And that could mean serious health problems for your kitty and expensive vet bills for you.

Taking care of all of the above home hazards will get you off to a great start in making your home safe for your cat. But you also need to think about things that you’ll need to do on a daily basis to keep your cat safe.

Try to think of things that might be tempting yet dangerous to your cat. Washer and dryer doors left open, for example, or dishwasher doors left open.

Do you leave windows open on a regular basis? Better rethink that! It’s very common for cats to be injured or killed after falling from a high-level window.

Containment

Consider a quality cat carrier to be a must-have piece of equipment. Even if you never take your cat on a trip, you’ll use the carrier for taking your cat to the vet. A loose cat in a car is a very bad thing!

But you’ll probably also find a cat carrier to be a handy tool at times for keeping your cat safe at home. There may times when work is being done to your house – an exterminator is spraying; carpets being cleaned; etc. – that can be quite hazardous to a curious kitty.

It’s been said that it’s the little touches that make a house a home. And that will also be true for your cat. By eliminating the little, out-of-the-way hazards that you’ll spot when you take a cat’s-eye tour of your house, you’ll make your house a safe and comfy home for your cat.

And you’ll be more comfortable too, knowing that your home is a safe and comfy haven for both you and your cat.

Sources:

• Picture: http://communitytable.parade.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/cat-safety-ftr.jpg
• Author - Natasha Orchard

Cat Breed of The Week - Sphynx

These cats always interest me because they're hairless well sometimes not always hairless but still a lot less hair then your typical cat. 

The Sohynx breed originated in 1966 in Toronto Canada, discovered through genetic mutation. These cats may not always be hairless in fact their a different degrees' of hairlessness! The colours and patterns on the Sphynx are limitless and can occur at any stage of maturity.  They are medium sized cats and not fragile in any way. They have sturdy boning with good muscle development. 

They absolutely love attention because they always receive attention wherever they go, when they are not receiving attention they are usually exploring their surroundings and climbing trees and high places. They are very friendly cats and are good to keep around strangers and other pets, other pets a recommended when you leave during the day.  

As I said these cats fascinate me because they are so unique and intriguing. My neighbour owns this  breed of cat and I have to agree with their personality 100% friendly and outgoing all the way!.

Sources

• Picture: http://animalia-life.com/image.php?pic=/data_images/sphynx-cat/sphynx-cat1.jpg
• Information:
• http://cfa.org/Breeds/BreedsSThruT/Sphynx.aspx
• http://cattime.com/cat-breeds/sphynx-cats#/slide/1
• Author - Natasha Orchard

cats can develop allergies too

  

Cats can develop allergies and asthma just like us.

Exposed to smoke can develop asthma if breathed in. Being exposed to pollen can develop a hayfever like allergy. Fleas can transport diseases and enable cats to create an allergy for themselves. Symptoms of cat asthma are coughing, wheezing and sneezing, like a human. Symptoms to allergies include increased scratching of skin, itchy and runny eyes, itchy ears or ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, unusually loud snoring and swollen paws. If your cat has an itchy base or base of tail, it is most likely to have a flea allergy.

Vaccination is just as important for the cat as well, they are as vunerable to diesieses. Cats can catch many different diesieses and can also be transpose to us, human.

Sources: pets.thenest.com, pets.webmd.com

Images: www.care2.com www.wormsandgermsblog.com

Author: Keun Woo  Baek (44768400)

Benefits To Owning a Cat!

Pet ownership in general, and cat ownership, in particular, can improve your quality of life. Dr. Bradley Smith, one of many scientists who study human-animal relationships, recognises these positive impacts as something he calls the “Pet Effect.”

Here 5 main benefits of owning a cat:

1. Companionship
   
   
   One of the most reasons to get a pet is for the companionship. Those who don't have a cat as a pet believe that they are unsocial distant creatures  but they are the complete opposite they are one of the most affectionate pets to have, and if you have ever been the recipient of a head-butt you will see that being "unsocial" is a myth.
   
   
2. Exercise
   
   
   Whilst you can't take a cat out for a walk you can still get active by throwing a mouse around and playing with your cat. 
   
   
3. Nurturing
   
   
   Some people accuse their friends of turning their pet into a substitute child. They can be correct in that instance as pets usually serve that need but it's not necessarily a bad thing, everyone need to love.
   
   
4. Empathy
   
   
   Surprisingly children who grow up with cats appear to have more practice with considering what people are thinking or feeling. It allows children to consider their actions in light of how those actions affect other. 
   
   
5. Purring
   
   
   Petting a cat who is curled up and purring on your lap lowers your stress level and blood pressure. Recent studies show that the frequency of a cat's purr helps bones and muscles heal after injury.

Sources

• Image - http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/images/articles/1246/large/how-to-give-your-cat-a-monthly-health-check-52a3b2f3d92b2.jpg
• Author - Natasha Orchard

Cat Allergy 2

Allergy to cat, but love those PAWS?

 Human allergic reaction to cat is due to one or more allergens produced by cats.

There are one or more allergens that are produced by cat that we are allergic to.  Mostly it’s the glycoprotein (cat’s saliva), dander (dandruff) and even from their urine.

The allergens can be anywhere in our home, especially if there’s a pet or two. Allergen can be found in the carpet, pillows, and even on the walls. Cat’s dander is smaller than the dust mites that it can even be airborne.

Here are few tips to try avoid the allergic reactions to those paws~

Regular cleaning home would be best prevention, and using air filter/purifier. Limiting access to the areas where you spend much time, such as the bedroom.

• -        Frequent hand washing 
• -        Regular vacuuming, dusting (wear face mask)
• -        cover air-conditioning vent with a dense filtering material such as cheesecloth
• -        Regular brushing to prevent loose fur, and bathing cat (every 6 weeks is recommended)
• -        Regularly change the litter box 
• -        Feed high quality cat food with Omega-3 fatty acid (this minimize dander)
• -        There is medical treatment available as well.

 There are some breeds of cats that are less likely to cause allergic reaction for us.  Siberian, Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, Abyssinian cats, Oriental Short and Longhair and some Siamese cats

Sources:

• Information Wikipedia.org, healthline.com, webmd.com, allergy.org.au, acaai.org
• Image: cutecats.candra.info   jkmod90.blogspot.com
• Author – Keun Woo Baek