Information about Dogs as Pets
Dogs as Pets
The origin of the canine can be traced back with some certainty to the Eocene Miacids that existed nearly 55 million years ago. The modern day dog evolved from the Canoidea line (a coyote type of dog) that existed around 38 million years ago, which again evolved into a fox-like animal (the Leptocyon) and then into a wolf-like animal (the Tomarctus) about 10 million years ago. The Tomarctus was apparently native to the North American continent, and from there began expanding throughout the various parts of the world. The dog like Tomarctus was a dog-like carnivore that eventually evolved into the modern day dog.
Modern day evidence suggests that the dog is the closest relative to the wolf – experts have deduced this information based on genetics and behavior patterns.
These wolf like animals became domesticated as humans began raising the wolf pups as tame and social animals. Humans probably interacted more with these animals because of the shared interest in the same types of prey and habitats. Eventually these pups became dependent on the humans for food and adapted to living with humans. The modern day domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a descendent of these early wolf-pup domestications beginning around 10,000 BC.
Pet Cat Exercising
Pet Cat Housing
Cats require a padded box or basket to call their home - choose an out of the way location that is cool and well ventilated.
Outdoor cats should be sheltered in a shelter that will prevent wind and rain from getting inside. The house should be big enough to allow the cat to enter completely, and turn in a full circle before lying down. During the winter months, a heavy cloth should be hung over the door to keep in heat and prevent wind and moisture from entering. Make sure to clean the shelter regularly to keep the cat healthy and comfortable.
Pet Cat Grooming
Cat Brushing
Grooming your cat can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for you and your cat. Additionally, regular grooming and handling will better adapt the cat if the need arises for it to see a veterinarian. Although cats do an excellent job of keeping themselves clean, additional grooming can improve the health of the cat’s skin, prevent stomach hairballs and remove dangerous parasites and sticker weeds.
To groom your cat, choose a time when the cat is ready to rest and not in a playful mood. Begin by cuddling the cat in your lap and petting it gently. Once your cat is subdued, use a soft cat hair brush to stroke the cat from head to tail following the direction of the cat’s fur. As you brush, use firm pressure to remove excess hair and other items hiding next to the cat’s fur. Pay particular attention to the ears and between the toes, as these are common places where ticks, mites, thorns and sticker weeds may hide. These areas are generally tender and should be handled carefully. Keep a pair of tweezers close to remove any fur and skin irritations.
Brush the legs and tail, gently stroking out mats and other foreign entities. If you should encounter wounds, use ointments and antibiotics as directed by the cat’s veterinarian.
Cat Bathing
Before you attempt to bathe your cat, be sure to take time to cut its nails. Cat nails grow quickly and can become very sharp. To clip the cat’s nails, use a set of cat specific clippers or pet nail clippers – using normal human nail clippers is not recommended. Hold the cat’s paw with your off hand and the clippers in your strong hand. Before you begin clipping, locate the vein that runs through your cat’s paws and cut just above the vein. Cutting too closely too the vein may cause the nails to bleed and cause the cat unnecessary discomfort. Clip off the end of each nail on both the front and back paws.
Once the cat’s nails are cut, you are ready to get your cat near the bathing water. Cats generally do not like water and become especially agitated with the sloshing and splashing sound of water. Begin bathing your cat away from the tub or wash basin by using a warm wash rag and some baby shampoo to wash the cat’s head, eyes and ears. If you choose to wash your cat with an anti-flea shampoo, be sure to treat your cat’s eyes with mineral oil prior to applying the harsh shampoo – this will protect the cat’s eyes from the stinging irritation that will occur if the medicated shampoo gets in the cat’s eyes. Use a cotton swab to wash your cat’s ears and be sure look for any black discharge that signals the presence of mites. If you do find that your cats ears do have a black discharge, be sure to take your cat into the veterinarian.
Once the head is clean, you can now place the cat into the tub or wash basin – be sure to use water that is right around room temperature or slightly warmer. If your cat struggles with being placed in the tub, and to further prevent soap from getting into your cat’s eyes, you can place the hind end of the cat in the tub and let the forepaws hang out over the edge of the tub. Soak your cat using a cup or hose and then apply a cat specific or pet shampoo. Massage the shampoo into your cat and then rinse the cat thoroughly using the cup or hose.
To dry the cat by removing the cat from the tub or wash basin and placing it on the floor on a towel. Gently cover the cat with a towel and blot the cat dry – do not rub the cat as this will cause the fur to tangle and mat. Use a blow dryer, on medium heat, to gently blow dry the cat’s fur. Be sure to keep the blow dryer in constant motion, about 12 inches away from the fur - never blow the cat directly in the eyes and ears. As you blow dry your cat, use a broad toothed comb to gently move the fur away from the cat’s skin. Be sure to keep your cat away from cold weather for the next 24 hours as the cat’s fur continues to dry.
Pet Cat Feeding Information
Cats require a balanced diet from a cat food that includes proteins, fats, carbohydrates and essential vitamins and minerals. Cats do not do well on a diet that revolves only around meat and do not require fancy or expensive cat foods to be healthy and happy.
A quality cat diet includes mostly dry cat food with only occasional meals coming from the dinner table. As health and wellness varies from cat to cat, it is always wise to seek a veterinarian’s help in adjusting your cat’s diet.
Dry Cat food
Dry cat foods contain a mixture of cereals, vegetable proteins, meat by products, vegetables, and vitamins and minerals. Typical commercial dry cat foods contain approximately 10% water. Generally cats do well with dry cat food, by feeling satisfied sooner and feeling healthier because of the contents.
The cat’s dish should be kept full to encourage regular eating.
Semi-Moist foods
These types of cat foods are created to look and smell like meat, but are generally made of soy, cereal grains and meat by products – they are also heavy in preservatives. These foods contain 25 – 30% water and are high in proteins. While not recommended as the primary source of nutrition in a diet, semi-moist foods are a great supplement to a cat’s diet.
Canned Foods
Canned cat foods are expensive, are not nutritionally well balanced and are mostly water (almost 80%). Cats that are fed canned foods tend to overeat and can experience weight problems. Additionally, these types of foods do not clean the cat’s gums and teeth.
Pet Cat Care
Cat General Care Information
Information about Cats as Pets
Cats as Pets
Cats are believed to have first been domesticated by the ancient Egyptians around the year 4500 BC, although some evidence suggests that cats were part of Egyptian culture as early as 7500 BC. The Egyptians used cats to defend their grain storage from rats and mice and eventually began to revere the cats. The Egyptian goddess of love and fertility, Bastet, resembled a cat. Throughout time, cats have also been revered by the Vietnamese, Japanese and Islamic cultures.
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Interview with Deepika Padukone
In what ways have the film OM SHANTI OM affected your private life?
I am still to register all that has happened to me post OM SHANTI OM. The overnight fame, awards, millions of fan mails, interviews being taken, being called the 'Bollywood sensation'...all these is new to me. Despite being the daughter of badminton champ Prakash Padukone, and being a model for quite some time I was not used to so much media exposure and attention.
You are only 22. Don't you miss doing normal things a girl of your age does?
I moved out of home in Bangalore to work in Mumbai at a tender age. So that naturally has made me a lot more mature than my contemporary girls. But there is a price to be paid for every thing. I do normal things and have a life outside the studios as well.
Your off-screen chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor is the most talked about affair at present. Any comments?
This is the first time I am truly in love and hence we decided not to hide our feelings from public. Being in love is the loveliest of feelings. Besides I am not a person who is frivolous in relationships.
But there were news of your multiple affairs. Even you broke off with Ranbir once before restarting your relationship!
As I told you this is the first time I am in love. Having lunch with someone doesn't mean that I am having an affair with that person. As for Ranbir and my relationship, initially we were good friends. But the media linked us together when we were not even sure of our feelings for each other. Before we could spend enough time together to sort out things we got busy with our debut films and hence parted. It was only during shooting together for a flick BACHNA AE HASEENO in Australia that we got the chance to know each other and fell in love. But there is no baggage from the past, as we never parted bitterly. We started our relationship like two new people.
So when are you getting married?
Not in the next three years, at least.
Q-Kapoor bahus are not allowed to work in films. So if asked will you quit your career for Ranbir?
It depends on the situation. Right now neither Ranbir, nor his family wants me to quit my career. So abhi se sochne ka kya fayda!
Katrina Kaif interview
Katrina Kaif interview during making of SINGH IS KINNG
Tell us about your role in the film?
I am the only person in the entire gang who is a non - Punjabi character in SINGH IS KINNG. Sonia, my character's name is unlike the other characters played by me till now...In fact she is very unlike me, she is very enthusiastic, spontaneous and an impulsive person. She doesn't think before she speaks, is it a right time, right situation. Doesn't matter to her... She is full of life. Sonia is equal to bountiful energy.
After WELCOME, how was it working with Aneez ji again?
I must say he is a commercially sound director. He knows it very well what the audience will like. I feel lucky to work with him again. It was wonderful.
Your chemistry with Akshay Kumar is being talked a lot about. You have given big hits together and being appreciated a lot. What is the reason behind this great chemistry?
Well I can say we both are very good actors (laughs)... We have had two huge hits behind us - NAMASTEY LONDON and WELCOME... so everyone has been offering some very good scripts. Basically we both have been very lucky to get opportunities where we can bring out our best. It is that we both were offered such roles that would be liked by the audience.
Your favorite song in SINGH IS KINNG?
I just love the romantic song 'Teri Ore' that was shot in Egypt.... I am wearing Saree in that song for the first time. Aneez ji was so happy to see me in sari. He is traditional by nature and feels that I look best in a sari.
How was the environment on the sets?
Oh! Yes couple of them...you know everyone on the sets had started interacting in Punjabi in between the shots. It was only Aneez ji and me who would not understand the language at all. And both of us would feel so out of their conversation. We would be sitting aside as loners, look at each other and say... 'Nice weather'... (Laughs).It was really funny.
Any incidents you remember?
During our long schedule of shooting Australia we all had put up in a residential building that is world's tallest building. We all decided to climb up the stairs, which would be a substitute to our workouts. I thought I will be able to do that. But then on the very first day I found it so exhausting and I decided not to continue with it. Akshay, Sonu and all actually did that...hats off to them.
You have been voted as the sexiest woman by Magazine. How do feel about it?
Oh! Please... That is not supposed to be taken seriously. You know they have used a wrong word. I don't consider myself as sexy. Basically, by saying sexy they meant nice, cute, glamorous... anyways these polls are very flattering.
When do we get to see you with Salman again?
We are working together in Subhash ji's film MAIN YUVRAJ... It should release by end of this year or next year.
In a recent interview Salman talked about his relationship with you. When will we get you to speak about it?
I'm not aware about it. And please I don't like to speak about my personal life.
People say that it is because of him that you have reached to such a level in Bollywood?
Well, I really don't care what people say. I know how much one has to put in as hard work in one film. Let them say what they feel. Honestly, God has given me so much, I feel so blessed. I have got so much that I feel very petty to even comment or clarify on such issues.