Sunday, November 15, 2009
How to Build a Pet Bird Aviary
A bird aviary has to be constructed in a way the keeps the birds protected from snow, sunlight, thunderstorms or rain, intruders should not access the aviary easily, it should be away from noisy roads and avoid placing it under a tree because certain unwanted things may fall into it. The size of the aviary should be constructed in a way that it can accommodate an extra number of birds in the future when need arises.
The size of the aviary will depend on size of birds. It should have equal panels and a gate should be included to make its easier for the birds to enter. The aviary should be big enough to have a view of the surrounding area; the recommended size of the panels should be a two by four of equal size, these panels should be fastened together with galvanized nails.
Perches should be placed inside the aviary where the birds can roost on at night usually they are made of wood and can be got from any bird shop. The perches should be many to provide a place where the birds can make a nest. The roof should be constructed with materials that will keep the inside of the aviary dry and the feeder should be placed in a way that it does not interfere with the birds while flying around the aviary.
The floor of the aviary should be easy to clean, ceramic tiles or concrete can be used for the flooring. Sand or wood shavings can be put on the ceramic or concrete tile to create comfort and warmth. A wire mesh should be used on each panel to avoid your birds from flying away usually a double wire mesh should be sufficient. It is important to note that when building the aviary with wood, take into consideration the type of wood you are going to use, there are some trees that are poisonous to some different type of birds. Building an aviary does not require expertise and information on the steps to take and the materials one can use to build one can be easily accessed from the internet.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Ring Worms In Cats
If we're talking about cats, the M Canis fungi will be responsible for 95% of all cases of Ringworm. Usually, they will get this disease from objects that are contaminated, like clippers or bedding, or from other pets that are already sick.
If you have another pet that already has this disease, other animals should be kept away from it, so they don't get it as well.
The Ringworm disease is much more likely to show up in cats or kittens that have less than a year since birth. A kitten that is allowed to go outside is more likely to get it, either by meeting a cat that has it or by entering in contact with something that is contaminated. This happens because when they're young the immune system isn't as strong, so the Ringworm disease is more likely to affect them.
The Ringworm symptoms are broken or rough hairs and losing their hair around their paws or head. If you see a patch of skin that looks scaly, inflamed and itchy, chances are that the cat has Ringworm disease. Near that area of skin you should also see some broken hairs. It's a sensitive area, so touching it can hurt the cat. Avoid doing that.
Once those symptoms are observed in your cat, get on the phone and get that vet appointment. The treatment for this disease is usually tables or ointments. What he will give her depends on how serious the disease is. Tables are usually given to cats together with their meals. Ointments are spread topically on the coat of the cat. Make sure you respect the treatment each day, so the cat has a chance to heal. It can take six weeks or even more until the cat heals.
Cats that suffer from Ringworm disease should be treated as infectious, and not allowed in the vicinity of kids. Gloves should be used at all times when handling the cat. This disease is contagious, so be careful at all times. It's not a serious problem, but it can cause them, since the recovery time is slow.
How serious is Cat Dandruff?
Cat dandruff is a lot like human dandruff, it is just the skin scaling off because it is dry. It is a bothersome disorder, but not often a serious one. It could also be indicative that there is something else wrong with the cat.
The thing that owners of cats with dandruff should be wary most of is that if the cat is scratching too much and could cause weeping and open sores that in turn could get infected.
While most treatments and medications will address the cause of the dandruff, the itching and discomfort caused by it will not go away until the cause of the dandruff is eliminated, and that could take some time.
There are also several things that you should take note of because these will make the dandruff worse:
1. Raise the humidity in the house. Dry air will aggravate the cat’s dandruff, and it is also a cause for brittle and dry hair on your cat. During this period when your cat has dandruff, and he needs grooming, do not use a blow dryer because the added heat will irritate the skin more.
2. Do not let the cat out in the heat, for the same reasons stated above. Wait until the late afternoon to let him out, when the sun’s heat has already dissipated.
3. If the cat has not yet been de-clawed, have it done as soon as it is advisable. It will prevent him from gauging wounds on his skin when he scratches. It is better to have dandruff than have dandruff plus skin wounds.
4. Keep the cat comfortable with topical applications that will get rid of the itchiness. It will relieve his discomfort and lessen the chance that he will scratch.
These are just a few things to keep in mind about taking care of your cat when he has dandruff. If the veterinarian has prescribed medication to get rid of the cause of dandruff, make sure that you follow his instructions well to give the cat a speedy recovery. You should also ask for something that will make the cat more comfortable.
Cat dandruff may not be a serious disorder, but that doesn’t mean that it should not be addressed. Every responsible pet owner knows that anything that could cause your pet harm and discomfort has a way of getting worse if you do not address it properly.
Cat Care 101
It seems that cats have become a common fixture in our household. Many people own one, and in fact, having cats as pets has been a practice for over thousands of years.
Just like dogs, though not as many, cats also have numerous breeds, but the popular ones are Siamese and Persian. If you plan to get one for a pet, there are factors you have to consider, and among these is the cost.
Just like owning any other pet, it will cost some money to own a cat. Of course, you will need to buy food, medicines, clinic visits, and also a litter. The basic essentials you should have are: food plate, water plate, and a litter box. Additionally, cats love to play so buying toys would be recommended. Other paraphernalia you will need: cat collar, bed, carrier, and scratching post.
Feeding Your Cat
The kind of food and frequency of feeding vary with age. When a cat is still very young- a kitten- he will need to be fed several times a day; as he grows older, you can feed him twice daily, or even with one big meal. To be more specific, before he reaches 12 weeks, you will have to feed him at least 4x daily; when he reaches 3-6 months, feeding is lowered down to thrice daily.
Dos and Don’ts
1. Never feed him food that has been left out for more than half an hour.
2. Canned food can be given, but these can be expensive. For some reason, cats love canned meals but these do not really have any advantage to dental health in the way that dry meals do. So you might want to consider giving him dry food too.
3. When giving dry food, see to it that your cat gets sufficient water intake on a day to day basis.
4. When buying dry food, make sure that you look at the nutritional value it offers and not buy it because it is cheap. Usually, generic food does not contain enough nutrients that your cat needs.
5. Kittens should only be given kitten food, and do not feed yours with adult cat food.
6. Do not keep on giving your cat milk. They love milk but it causes diarrhea.
7. Do make sure to wash his plate everyday.
8. When giving treats, keep it to a minimum as this will make your cat fat.
9. You can feed your cat human food occasionally but still mix it with his regular food.
10. Brush their coat once daily to avoid hairballs, and at the same time, it helps keep their coat shiny and clean.
11. Clean their litter box at least once a week because cats hate it when their litter box is dirty.
12. Take regular visits to his vet, and make sure required shots are given.
Well, if you may have noticed, owning a cat is not always that easy as they require maintenance and care. But cats are wonderful, loving creatures who will keep you company for many, many years. In the end, it is going to be worth it.