Starter Tips for Exotic Pet

Senin, Desember 15, 2008 | with 0 komentar »

Some people like animals, and some are especially fond of the real exotic ones. Exotic animals are those not usually made as a pet. They are usually found in jungles, forests, and the wild. Therefore, you have to consider it seriously before decided to have one at home. And now that you're sure that you want to be an exotic pet owner, the following tips might be really useful for you.

Choosing the Best Exotic Pets for You

The first thing you need to do is choosing what exotic pet is best for you. When choosing them, it is important to know the reasons for owning one and the responsibilities needed for keeping one. You should have a good knowledge of a particular kind of pet before buying, else, the purchase or adoption could end in disastrous results. You should also know what your motivation is to choose and exotic pet, because it involves a continuous commitment.

Don't forget to consider their adult size, and it is important to know the sociability of a particular exotic pet and to match it to your preference, whether you want a pet that needs much of your attention or one that would best live if left alone in its dwelling.

The point is, the best exotic pet for you is one that you can keep, find as much information as you can before you decide which best for you.

Best Places to Look for Exotic Pets

Now that you've decided which exotic pet is best for you, you need to find out where you can get it. Since they are special pets, you can't buy them in a common pet shop or similar place. These are some places where you can get one.

The easiest way is by checking out the internet. Many exotic pet shops put their store online to get more customers. But beside that, you can also scout the specialty pet shops or veterinarian within you area. They might have one or two. If, unfortunately they don't have what you're looking for, they might know someone else who does. Another interesting option to get an exotic pet is by joining on exotic pet auction. This could be a wise move, because for sure, you are going to see lots of wonderful species there.

Steps in Acquiring an Exotic Pet License

Suppose you've got yours now. What's next? Acquire a license for your exotic pet. It's optional, though, depends on the local government in your area. But some local governments require people, who intend to take care of these exotic pets within their yards or homes, to secure a license. For one, in Illinois, it is illegal to own and take care of an exotic animal. In Georgia, you can take certain species of a skunk as pet without a permit.

But as a precaution, here are the steps you should do the moment you intend to take them home.

First, you need to look for a listing of pets considered as exotic within your area, then check your local laws and see if there is a rule against owning exotic pets. If it's allowed to own exotic pets as long as they have an exotic pet license, then you have no choice but to comply and process the necessary papers. You should also see if there is any vaccines or removal of body parts like teeth is required because some exotic pets can be harmful, and some local state laws require owners to do something like these in order to protect the other people within the community. After making sure that you have all the papers and the requirements met and ready, you are now ready to make a trip to your local government office to file and secure the permit with them.

Good luck, and have fun with your exotic pet!

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Names For Your Exotic Pets

Senin, Desember 15, 2008 | with 0 komentar »

Anyone who owns an exotic pet knows that traditional names like Spot or Fluffy do not seem to fit the bill. So where do you go for good ideas on pet names? Some exotic pet owners start by narrowing it down to the specific type or breed of their exotic pet and go from there. If your exotic pet is from a certain remote region of the world, it would be nice to give them a name to reflect that. Depending on where your pet originated from, there are many areas of the world that can reflect unique and creative names that will help others identify with your pet and know where it came from.

Some exotic pet owners give their pets names that are specific to the natural environment or habitat in which they originally came from. This is especially nice if your exotic pet came from a tropical or other interesting location that most people do not even know about. You can also name your pet after an element that is found in their natural habitat. There are plenty of ideas for exotic pet names if you want to take your time and put thought into it.

Other popular ideas stem from naming your exotic pet after an important historical figure that you admire, or a childhood hero that you have always looked up to. Some also choose favorite vacation spots or pastimes that remind them of happy times in their life. Exotic pets deserve exotic pet names, and really the only limitation to what you can name your pet is the limits of your creativity and imagination.

If you need some help in naming your exotic pet, there are resources online that you can check out, or you can also pick up a book on your type of exotic pet to help get some ideas. The pet store where you purchased your exotic pet from can also have some good ideas to help get you started on the naming of your pet.

Be sure that whatever you choose for the name, you base it on whether the pet is trainable or not. If it is a trainable pet, you want to limit the syllables in the name to only one or two. Anymore than that and the pet can get confused trying to learn commands and have problems telling the difference from their name and other words. If your pet is not a trainable pet, than the options are wide open.

Make sure that you are comfortable with the name you give your pet and feel good about using it for years to come. Some people pick silly names that are funny at first, but when it comes to tell people what the name of their exotic pet is, they tend to get a little embarrassed. Make sure that you put enough thought into the naming of your exotic pet and choose a name that fits them exclusively. Some people find that naming the exotic pet something related to their breed helps other people that are unfamiliar with the pet to identify better with them and know where they come from.

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Exotic Animals For Sale

Senin, Desember 15, 2008 | with 0 komentar »

Exotic pets are the ones which is rare and unique. Exotic pets for sale are found in various places and even in online. Buying exotic pets is not like buying a common domestic animal they need extra care for rearing.

Exotic pets are not commonly owned by any individual except some who loves pets and care them very dearly. It is task for an exotic pet and the subject can be a challenge but with lots of fun and enjoyment. It is a task because exotic pets are not traditional pets like cats and dogs. They are generally tamed belong either to rodents, or reptiles or amphibians.

Exotic pets for sale are from rare species like some kinds of skunks and foxes. Some other animals like ferret and frogs are also included in this list. Not every kind of frog can be considered fit in this regard. Green tree frogs are however included. Some turtles and rabbits like the European species are included in this list. These animals are for sale as exotic animals. The reason of their popularity is that these animals are not very often available for sale. These are pretty and nice animals.

While buying an exotic pet one needs to know what the size of the pet will be, when it grows up and several other points. Exotic pets for sale are not that much easy to purchase.

The price of each exotic pet will differ depending on the species and the gender. The cost of healthy nurturing exotic pet is also quite high and owner must know about these matters before buying an exotic pet.

Exotic pets for sale are very little ones; some pets will grow up soon and loots of lot of space, some pets' remains in smaller size. Some pets will become animals and they are difficult to handle. The food of the exotic pet is very imperative as health of the animal is depending on it. The supply of such nutritious food is a necessity for every owner.

Every exotic pet are very finicky about their sleeping places, make sure that your place is correct for pet. Moving about a lot does not suit for the exotic pets, they will suffer, the owner should consider about this also. The relationship between these exotic pet, children and other existing pets in the house must be healthier to avoid the adventures. Exotic pets for sale need special care as they newer to domestic rules of pet rearing. These special pet needs all to be special such as food, shelter and childish care.

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7 Dangerous Exotic Pets

Senin, Desember 15, 2008 | with 1 komentar »

What are this fascination with being different and the need to own something illegal and dangerous? Who owns these animals? And, what are these animals that are owned, sold, and traded worldwide regardless of the consequences?

7. Camels

Camels are known to be pretty temperamental guys. According to a report on Fox News when a local TV news crew was out filming exotic animal farms, an 1800 lb camel named Polo must have decided that they were not shooting his best side. When Polo became agitated he attacked his owner, kicking her and sitting on her. Ouch. Oh, and if you didn't know, camels like to spit too. And it's pretty gross.


6. Ostriches

Sure they seem cute and awkward looking. They hide their heads in the ground right. But apparently these guys will also chase you and they run pretty darn fast. Getting in the middle of an ostrich stampede just doesn't sound like my idea of a really good time.

5. Chimps and Monkeys

They are adorable. The human resemblance is amazing. They are also known to bite and attack humans and animals alike. I once saw the damage that a monkey caused when it attacked a dog in India and let's just say those puncture wounds weren't pretty. The dog also lost an ear and an eye in the process. Sometimes cute is pretty deceptive.

4. Venomous Snakes

Again I go back to my comments about the scorpions. They are snakes. They are poisonous. They bite. None of this is a good combination. In Cincinnati a man was bitten by his rhinoceros viper snake, which is one of the world's deadliest snakes. He did receive anti-venom and survived. But who really wants to take that risk?

3. Crocodiles and Alligators

Often people get crocs and alligators when they are little and cute and look like happy little lizards. Have you seen the jaws on those things? They didn't make an entire TV show around hunting them out if there wasn't some sort of risk and danger there. So keeping one in a kiddie pool in the back yard may not be the best idea. Just ask anyone who has lived in Florida and found one under their car.

2. Big Cats

Again it's these cute ones that you have to worry about. When these guys are babies, who could resist? But no matter how young they are or how well trained they are, they can turn on you in a second. They feed them raw steak for goodness sake, shouldn't that be a sign?

1. Kinkajou

OK, so I had no idea what a Kinkajou even was. But when I looked it up I couldn't resist its adorable little furry bodies and those big buggy eyes. A kinkajou, also known as a sugar bear, looks like a cross between a squirrel, a hamster, and a chinchilla. They are pretty darn cute. But again it's the cute ones. Paris Hilton has a pet kinkajou named Baby Luv. In 2005 she took it shopping with her and was attacked by the thing and it clawed up her face. The brilliance of this is that again in 2006 Baby Luv sent Hilton to the emergency room after she was bitten by that cute Baby Luv on the arm. And that is why this guy is number one on my list of dangerous pets.... Come on, cute rainforest animal that attacks Paris Hilton numerous times. You got to put that one at the top of the list just because.

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The physical feature that people notice most about cats is the eyes. It so important to inspect them on a regular basis. It's good to know that most of the time infections can be prevented. Below are a few things you can do prevent eye infections in cats.

Look out for mucous buildup

Mucous can build up and turn into an eye infection. Once a day your cars eyes should be gently wiped with a damp cloth. This should also be done any time you notice mucous around the eyes.

Eye protection

Anytime a chemical treatment is used on your cat's skin the eyes should be protected. One of the most common treatments includes flea dips. Your veterinarian will should be able to give you a neutralizing ointment that should be applied to your cats eyes before treatment.

Cat hair

Anything that comes into contract to your cat's eyes can cause irritation. This includes his own hair. Make sure you keep your cat's hair trimmed to a reasonable length to avoid unnecessary irritation.

General eye cleaning

Your cat's eyes should be cleaned at least once a week. You can make your own eye cleaning solution by mixing 1 cap of baby shampoo with 20 caps of water. Use either a cotton ball or Q-tip to apply the solution. Your cat will not enjoy this, but in the long run it's necessary.

What to do in case of an eye infection

Eye infections happen. Sometimes there's nothing you can do. If this happens to you, take your cat to the vet right away. He'll likely prescribe medicated eye drops that can be used to clear up the infection.

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Tips to Stop Cat's Scratching Habit

Senin, Desember 15, 2008 | with 0 komentar »

The cats use their claws for scratching for a variety of reason. They may be scratching objects for communication or marking territory. The cats show the tendency to scratch in the same area for a period of time. Scratching of cats have nothing unusual to it and is quite natural. Scratching also has some benefits for the cat; it helps to keep the nails healthy and removes the old layers of nail present on the nails of the cat.

The suitable method to stop cat scratching is providing a scratching post and teaching him how to use it. Scratching is instinctive to cats and is difficult to stop it completely. But providing a scratching post makes it possible to provide satisfaction for the cat as well as will not damage any valuable items in the house. Scratching valuable items like furniture or carpets in the house is that causes frustration to the cat. If the cat is directed to scratching this unacceptable scratching stops. The aim of the owner must not be stopping scratching but to stop scratching on everything that the cat see around.

There is certain taste in scratching for the cat. Some cats like to scratch in soft things while some prefers hard items. Some cats need to scratch on things of certain type at certain type. So the likes of the cat must be considered before designing the scratching post. The post must be chosen such a way that it will not get damaged after some scratching. Scratching posts made of wood will not get damaged quite easily and most cats like scratching it.

The scratch post must have the enough for the cat to stretch out fully when using it. This will give an opportunity exercise the muscles of the cat. The cat should be made aware that the post is only place that it should scratch.

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If you have recently got a pet cat, you may not be aware of certain facts pertaining to its health insurance. As a matter of fact, it is also probable that you may possess a cat for many years yet you are not well equipped with all the facts pertaining to its health insurance.

Ever since the inception of internet, we have got access to much information which we could not get very easily earlier. You can know as much as you feel like via internet regarding your cat's heath insurance and its pros and cons. It is absolutely imperative for you to get a health insurance for your cat as you never know when any disease or accident might hit it. However, there are certain things that people overlook or do not bother to look into when getting a Cat's health insurance. You must not ignore these facts because if you don you may suffer in the long run.

While choosing a plan, you need to take into account several factors. These include your monetary circumstances, your living environment, if you have other pets as well; the heath and age of your cat and which veterinary service you are dealing with etc.

The insurance policies are of various kinds. You need to evaluate many of them to finally opt for the one of your choice. You must not be blinded by some flowery information on the net that you ought to get the most expensive health insurance for your cat. You must make sure that the plan you opt for must cover annual checkups, shots and vaccines, and other annual safeguarding requirements. Cat health insurance varies on the age or medical condition of your cat. Since your cat is like a member of your own family, you must be vigilant about its health issues and not take any risk. Health insurance also covers accidental cases. What you must ensure is that whichever policy you may opt for, it should meet your requirements. For this, you must do through homework before selecting any policy for your kitty.

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Are you frustrated with the smell your cat's urine throughout the house? Don't get mad at kitty. Cats are very sensitive to numerous stresses, and there could be medical causes such as Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). The symptoms of UTI or FLUTD are difficulty urinating, bloody urine, discomfort, and can also include urinating in places other than the litter box. If the cat is showing signs of discomfort or has blood in the urine take kitty to the vet.

If there are no other physical signs of illness, the following could be causes of a cat urinating in house. The following is a list of stresses for a cat but there can be many more.

• Other cats (inside or out)

• Litter box aversion

• Owner is gone

• New child or pet

• Owner was absent for a lengthy period (vacation, trip, work)

• New house

• New furniture added or moved

Litter box aversion can create urination problems for cat urinating in house because;

• The box is in a noisy area

• Does the cat associate the box with something negative?

• The actual litter material may not be to kitty's liking, try another. This often happens if the cat has been declawed as they don't like the way the litter feels on their foot pads.

• Is another pet bothering the cat while she is using the litter box?

• They may not like the smell if not changed often. Cats are very clean. My cat tries to cover an accident on the tile floor even though no litter is near.

• Is the litter box shared by more than one cat?

• Did you change litter brands? Cats do not like change much.

• Do you have a covered or open box? Try switching

• Is the cat neutered?

Try correcting any of these suggestions and if you are still asking "Why is my cat urinating in house" you may want to try an anxiety medicine or consult your vet for other options.

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Why does my cat look at me like that, its a evil stare. Perhaps he is working out which bit to eat first!

Does he have a second family, who only look after him from 9pm - 7am! I might even get one of those cameras you can attach to cats, record his movements.

The dog even seems confused by the cats behaviour, does not even get excited when I put my walking shoes on! Does the cat not appreciate how much fun the dog has running around in circles, slipping on the wooden floor in a frenzied dash for the door.

Even simply walking across the floor has to be completed in an arrogant manner, tail up high and walking with attitude any self-respecting rapper would be proud of! Come to think of it, what music does the cat prefer, I know the dog has a liking for Status Quo!

So having watched a couple of Cat programs, it is time to communicate with this pet with attitude, I will show it who the alpha male around here is! First, apparently if you look your cat in the eye and slowly close and open your eyes, it is a sign of friendliness! Ok, the cat is definitely looking at me with a view to eating me!

Next, I try the rubbing of heads, which is another sign of greeting! The cat must of been watching Rocky 4, I never saw that left hook coming! I am sure the dog is laughing as well!

My final attempt at training the cat, put it on a lead and train it to walk by my side. This I have seen done, if the old girl down the road can train her pet cat to do it, then I am sure this fully qualified instructor of people can achieve it. The cat has definitely been watching Rocky, that was some combination!

I have not finished with you Tiddles! A quick bit of research reveals a book on "Understanding, Caring for & Training Your Cat"

The book deals with:

What Breed is best for you
What you should know before buying a cat
How to select a Cat Breeder
Discover how cats behave
How to create a healthy environment for your cat
Common cat diseases and health problems
Selecting the right cat litter
Grooming your cat
Selecting cat toys
Training your cat to walk (This was what I am looking for!)
Diet
Training tips

It was a comprehensive list, covering the areas I needed and some I should of read before letting Tiddles into the family home! It certainly would of saved a few quid down the vets, if I had read this book first.

The book was easy to read and understand, dealing with a lot of questions I needed answers for and some I had not even thought about.

Following the advice in the book, the cat is definitely beginning to understand me a lot easier! You never know it might even let me stay!

That's the cat sorted, now I wonder if there is a book on "Understanding,Caring For and Training Your missus"?

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Emergency Care and Cat First Aid

Senin, Desember 15, 2008 | with 0 komentar »

If you are cat owners, you may have to encounter emergency situations pertaining to your kitty. Your cat may fall ill anytime unexpectedly or meet an accident which would require you to act as her vet and treat her on urgent basis. In such emergency situations, mostly, you do not have the time to get across your vet.

For this reason, every cat owner needs to have the basic first aid knowledge and know-how to manage such situations. It is absolutely imperative to equip yourself with this knowledge because sometimes it may prove deadly for your cat if she is left untreated in emergencies. Here are some of the common emergency issues and their treatment.

Your kitty may break its bone while climbing, jumping or in a road accident. It is not recommend setting the broken bone yourself. All you need to do in this situation is to stop the bleeding if any with ice or cold water and take her to the vet for proper treatment.

Choking is also common issue amongst cats. If your cat gets choked, open her mouth gently and see if you can see the object. You must remember not to tilt her head backwards. You can remove the object if it is visible with the help of a tweezer or your own fingers. Make sure you do not push the object as it will aggravate the situation all the more. You should hold her upside down and press on her chest using your hands. In case you are able to remove the object, it is still advisable to take her to the vet to be on the safe side.

Getting an electric shock is also a serious issue. Some kitties bite electric wires while playing with them. It may produce burns on her tongue or palate of her mouth. It may cause breathing problem or pain in her mouth. You must remember that you should not touch your cat if it touching an exposed electric wire. You need to turn of the current first and then put your cat away from it with the help of a wooden stick. Take her to the vet.

If your cat encounters eye injury and the eye is bleeding, just wipe the blood with wet cloth. You must not let your cat go on rubbing her eyes. It is also advisable to not apply any medicine without consulting the vet.

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