Pets, Pets, Pets...Name 'em, Train 'em, Spoil 'em and Luv'em!

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There was a time when our home was shared with cats and among them there was only one that took to being a home feline. When the cats got bigger the more they strayed except for the one that chose being a stay at home cat. By accident our cat caring had led us to some helpful experiences.
Since Tosca was the only home cat we tended to spoil him and he definitely got more loving and his own space at the end of the bookshelf. Among all th cats were feeding at that time Tosca was the only one that got to appreciate pet food while the others preferred canned sardines or liver spread. Most of the cats that strayed still come home for a meal or two and have their own regular neighbors that keep them fed too.

As a present cat owner of 2 that started out as strays, there is really a difference between a feline raised in the streets and in the home.

When it comes to diet, a stray cat's meal can consist of leftovers that do not meet their needs. While home cats get their meals at the right serving and proportion. Proof that home raised cats have a good diet is the sheen and texture of their coat. Even if your cat may have some Angora in their blood or other wiry haired ancestor, a healthy cat has a soft shiny coat and a certain plushness to it. Owning cats with my Mom as a child and now an owner of my very own cats too, there is certain unhealthy lok on a fur of some strays I've come across. There are the ones with matted coats which can signify sickness- it also shows the cats inability to groom itself. There are cats that have fur that jut out or fur that stand on ends. Curiosity got me one day when I saw a tabby that we were feeding disappeared and cam e back a week after. Its skin was not the sleek groomed hair strays can be expected to have. I was able to get a closer look at it and ran my hand over it's hair, it was gritty and felt like split-ends. When i pulled its fur to check on the skin, it had wrinkly, flaked skin and some irritation due to scratching. With some itch medicine and lots of water it got its nice fur back. Apparently, it was fed something not meant for cats.

To know a pet cat is getting the right kind of nutrients, a cat parent has only to look at their feline.

Great coat- sleek, with a healthy sheen and not oily in appearance. No stringy hairs or puffed-up hair- unless it is genetic. A clean coat means your cat is still capable of grooming. Cats that miss out on grooming all of a sudden may hint joint or arthritic pain, making it difficult to make normal grooming movements.

Clear eyes- pink eye or yellow-green discharge is a sign of your cats' susceptibility to upper-respiratory infections. Some foods lack nutrients that build the immune and respiratory system.

Teeth-Visible plaque and fouler than normal breath hint some digestive problems for your cat. Good food and a well-hydrated cat can lessen the foul breath, aside from brushing your cats teeth or some dental cat treats.

Waste-A pet cat's poop says more than just unprocessed food being passed from the bowels. A healthy cat has a 'poop' that is slightly moist and elongated 'links'. A dehydrated pet cat on the other hand has pellet-looking 'poop' and it would look dried up enough to crumble. Watery 'poop' is a hint of a stomach discomfort. When it comes to a pet cats stomach discomfort, either by dehydration or discomfort a trip to the doctor is best advised.

Checking on your cat is the best way to see if your cat food brand or preference is doing your cat any good nutritionally. Commercials and endorsements do influence cat parents to try a certain brand. Checking on your cats reaction to it is still the best road to maintain your cats health.

*The cat image on the right is Cinder, his coat is sleek and not dull looking, the best example for a healthy coat. Consider his stocky look, he is at the proper weight for his age.

For the squeamish, it would do well for your education to read on about one of the popular exotic pets in the market.When it comes to exotic, an image of a snake will always pop up in most person's heads. Though reptiles of the same genus or specie, not all of them would make great pets (Taipans, Black Mamba and other Pits or vipers are best kept for research-yeouch!!!). Among the reptiles I've read of the Ball Pythons are great exotic pets, they live until about 20 years,sometimes more, making them lifelong companions.
Ball Pythons cost from about $200-$800 or higher the price is based on the variant of Ball Python you have chosen. Before some smart aleck comments, they are not scented or even flavored (pinoy na pilosopo)... For years, Ball Pythons breeders have been using genetics to be able to morph these snakes into amazing looking creatures.With the use of the Punnet square, breeders can predict the outcome of a clutch by using this table. So a nicely colored and awesome looking Ball Python commands a high price, it took years and successful clutches to get it right!

All breeders advice people interested in buying this snake specie to have the right equipment and facitlities to house it. Alam ko dito sa 'Pinas kulungang lang ng manok oks na, In other countries serious about exotic pet keeping, having the right stuff protects their collection exotica.
before purchase, have these ready:
*A Terrarium, glass enclosure. The best is one set near the floor. If you want something higher a smaller cage is needed.
*A hide box-they like to keep to themselves sometimes, 'di sila papansin tulad ng dog o cat.
*A heater that is portable, these snakes get chilled a bit and may suffer sickness(colds!).
*A water basin or its own bath and water source
*A scratch pole, this is where the snakes will be rubbing themselves against to loosen the old skin to reveal the new one.

So, for the past 2165 characters,ain't that reason enough for it to be exotic? It takes a special kind of person to go through the task of having to care and spend for any Ball Python (and other exotic species actually).
To get better Ball Python and Boa education, check out Ralph Davis'site, he's a breeder and a ringer-totally rad and not too formal read...check out his Gallery of Ball Pythons, so far his is the only flourescent Lavander Ball Python that I've seen...(check image upper right corner-that's his baby!)
www.ralphdavisreptiles.com
This is where i got to learn about snake genetics: http://ralphdavisreptiles.com/matrix/squares.asp

For other exotic snake species, check out the link below, they have the most awesome photos of Cobra, albino ones at that!!!

As much as we'd like to think of our pets as honorary people, there are some thngs that we just can't change. People solve their body odor problems by buying tons of deodorizers, anit-perspirants, have electrolysis done or go back to organic(tawas sa mga pinoy).
Unlike us there are just pets that have no sweat glands. Don't wreck your head on "WHY?" it just is, read on so you'd know the how to get to the bottom of the phenomenon.

Its all in the fur and covering, while furry anumals may have hair shafts and fur coverings (top coat and under coat) they do not have pores to perspire from. Dogs keep cool through their panting, them dogs don't loll their tongues out for nothing. Cats are cool animals that all they do is stock up on water and are more in touch with their body temperature. Domestic cats find shade and water, while the over dependent canine wait for the sky to fall. Chinchillas, are worse off than dogs because they take a bath in special dirt (yup can be bought in your regular petshop! 'Tate talaga!). These creatures must drink a lot but NEVER a bath! They get fungus on their fur and end up ingesting it then die, so just like Gremlins and GIzmo: no bath for Chinchilla.
Rabbits also smell and they also have no sweat glands, most of their heat is 'fanned' out with their big ears. Unlike Cats, Rabbits release body heat through their ears...yup still no perspiration.
Snakes obviously do not sweat, they are cool customers too and need extra care t keep them looking good. Heat and Snakes don't mix unless it is winter. You'd now that your pet Snake is not getting enough is when it sheds, the dry skin breaks away from the body instead of sliping-off.
Bottom line, animals were made to adapt to living in the wild, their having no sweat enables them to battle with the elements. Besides, who are you to argue???
Every pet owner must not be too concerned about the smell their pets have. Just give constant baths (with water or special dirt depending on specie) and continuous hydration. The more hydrated they are the less the smell.
For pet parents, the smell loses its sting with constant exposure. Be conscious of it since their cleanliness is tied with their health (AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW!).

One point as a teen, I took care of 7 cats, mostly the grey with black stripes and calico colored. Years after having to part with most and renewing my love affair with cats this year, I have come across a cat breed that just had to be on my dream list!
The Bengal Cat is a rare cat breed that has its lineage traced back to a wild cat, Leopard Cat and the older domestic breeds (Abyssinian and Egyptian Mau). The strains of the genes from the domesticated and rare-wild have produces tremendous markings and colors ever seen in cats and traits very and never seen in regular domesticated cats.
Why would anyone mix a wild cat and a domesticated one? Aren't there enough home cats in the world??! Well in the early '60's the need to breed bothe wild and home cats wasa made in the name of medical research.Cats as pets were on an all time high and most succumbed to the deadly feline leukemia. Feline Leukemia research didn't improve when scientists found out that not all in the feline family was succeptible to this disease. Wild cats (Lions, Tigers, Leopards)were immune, not even affected by the disease.The closest they can observe feline genes without having a wild animal specimen is to get genes from the smallest jungle feline and mixing it with the domestic kind. The outcome was the Bengal Cat, the litters produced were kept and eventually were bred and proliferated.
The Bengal Cat is an amazing specie, they are medium in built. They come in Spotted or Marbled veriety, spotted is like the one picture (http://www.bengal-cat.net -they've got lots to show!). Its the Marble coating that i'd like to have in my dream list, I've seen one with the same markings in the neighborhood and too bad its a male and has an owner.
Anyway, one of the endearing traits we can find in this cat is their love for lay anf appetite to play with water! These are the traits of wild cats that the generations of Bengals have in their blood, unlike the fearlessness of heights is a cat to cat basis. Their love for water makes them easier to bathe and very playful when water is in sight.
There are Bengal Cat breeders who specialize in markings while there are those who have several coats they breed. Cats are also registered with some associations, the oldest would be the International Bengal Cat Society (TIBCS)http://www.bengalcat.com/. The TIBCS has several links to many breeders and fenciers any cat parent owner can consult and learn few bengal tips and tricks from. This site also shows the talented Bengals Cat artist, the cats paint several designs by pawing at special paint in their wash basin.