“You own a dog,” they say, “but a cat owns you.” Sometimes it can seem that way. Calling a cat to come to your side is often a hit or miss proposition. The cat will seemingly come to you when he or she feels like it, instead of when you would like it to do so. The positive reinforcement techniques that work so well in dog training are often eyed with a menacing glare by a cat who will walk away from an attempt at training whenever the mood hits him or her.

Despite the standoffishness of cats, we continue to keep them as pets. Cats were among history’s first domesticated animals and have been an incomparably popular pet since nearly the beginning of recorded history.

What is it about cats that attract human interest? Is it their vulnerability? For all of their independence, domesticated cats could never make it in the wild—they need us whether they want to act that way or not.

Is it their independence? Perhaps we have a respect for their apparent self-determination and willingness to do their own thing regardless of what others want. Cats could be seen as an illustration of freedom.

Regardless of the reasons, cats and humans are forever linked. There is just something unique and special about the human/cat relationship. Even though the bond may defy easy description, it is apparent in the eyes of cat owners and felines alike.

It is worth mentioning that this bond between man and animal can be strengthened and made deeper via the adoption of some very simple strategies on the part of the pet owner. You see, despite their apparent disregard, cats do appreciate human companionship and can be very receptive to being treated in a certain way.

We are so often warned against spoiling. We shouldn’t spoil our children. We shouldn’t spoil our dog. We can, however, safely spoil our cat. Cat pampering is one of the best ways to improve a cat/owner relationship.

Cats thrive on human attention and caring. They tend to mirror that behavior. Those cats who are treated well generally tend to give more positive attention and comfort to their owners. Thus, even though it would still be rewarding without a personal payoff, cat pampering does offer some real advantage to the cat owner, as well as the pet.

Cat owners must take the time and expend the energy to do a few “extra” things for their pets. This might involve making homemade treats, proving a kitty with a massage, or simply giving the cat a warm towel fresh from the dryer in which to play. Efforts can run the gamut from spending some extra time with the cat to buying expensive cat playground equipment in the form of “kitty condos.”

No matter what one does, it can have a positive impact. So long as the cat is receiving caring attention, a relationship is bound to grow. However, by seeking out and finding quality sources of information that provide helpful suggestions and hints on the subject of pampering one’s cat, that relationship is likely to grow even faster and stronger.

Any cat owner interested in improving the overall quality of his or her relationship with her cat should consider searching out a multitude of ways by which they might be able to pamper a cat. Not all cats are amenable to all approaches, so it is important to find a series of options with which one can experiment in order to see optimal results.

Although all cats may not respond in the same way to particular pampering plans, every cat can be reached by some technique. It may take some time and effort to learn what really makes your cat tick, but the rewards certainly justify the efforts.

Having a cat is a two way street. The better the level of cat care that you can provide for your pet, the more energetic, affectionate, and well behaved it will be. By giving your pet with optimum cat care, you will make it more agreeable to the training and gentle behavior modification techniques that can take the headaches out of pet ownership. Good cat care often translates into a good cat that will take commands more willingly than a cat who does not receive enough attention, affection, and care. The more you learn about how to care for your cat, the better the level of health you will be able to bring your feline friend to. The healthier your cat is, the stronger the emotional bond between you and your pet will be, and that bond often serves as the core of obedience training.

By educating yourself about cat care and practicing the best, scientifically tested cat care techniques to provide your cat with optimum attention, you can make sure that your cat is as happy as possible. The happier your cat is, the happier it will be able to make you. A cat that is well cared for is a cat that will be interested in active playtime and in calm relaxation. The better your cat care abilities are, the more fully you will be able to sharing time with your cat doing all of you pets, and your, favorite activities together. Great cat care provides a strong foundation for your bond with your cat. Good cat care can help you grow closer with your beloved pet by making sure that he or she is always up for spending time with you. This is why cat care is an important part of your emotional relationship with your cat.

If your cat isn’t getting the right kind of care, from the best kind of diet to the ideal grooming schedule, your cat may develop behavior issues that can make your pet feel like a problem child. However, the positive side of this equation is that conscientious and responsible cat care can help your cat overcome issues ranging from constant mewling to weight issues to destructive tendencies. Good cat care means a happier pet, and even a problematic cat who receives enough of the right kind of care can become a pleasant companion.

As a result, cat owners often look for new and interesting ways to give their cats extra attention. Cat pampering can take a variety of forms, ranging from simple extended petting sessions to homemade meals to elaborate toys.

Many cat owners have been accused of giving too much attention to their pets. People will argue that these well-intended owners are actually “spoiling” their cats by going out of their way to show them attention and concern. Is this a valid concern? Can one truly pamper their cat too much?

The wise among us tell us to practice moderation in all things. The same, it would seem, should apply to cat pampering. At some point, too much pampering surely occurs, spoiling a cat and creating a needy animal. However, compared with other pets (most notably dogs), there is a wide margin of error with cats. Most of those who pamper their cats will see far greater benefits from their efforts than they will detriments.

Cats do need to understand that there are rules and boundaries. There are parts of every home and certain activities that must be forbidden in order for the human and his or her pet to function in the same household comfortably. Cats, luckily, are notoriously quick students and usually pick up on these limits quickly and tend to abide by them.

Thus, it is very difficult to spoil a cat too much so long as those basic ground rules are observed and enforced. As long as a cat owner does not allow the animal to break these core rules, there is little risk in spoiling a cat.

Will a cat become more needy if attention is lavished upon him or her? Probably so. The cat who is frequently given pats and rubs will surely begin to expect them and will come back for more. Is this really a negative, though? Most cat owners would argue it is actually a benefit! After all, the cat enjoys the attention, the owner enjoys providing the attention and in the meantime the cat/owner bond and relationship is strengthened.

It is possible to allow a cat to develop unrealistic expectations or to become fairly demanding. Cats will begin to view pampering as “their due” and will insist upon it. In this sense, it could be argued that too much pampering is a bad thing.

However, the cat’s expectations will seldom reach the point where they are unreasonable. In some ways, this development of an expectation is actually advantageous, as it can compel an owner to consistently show attention and love to his or her feline companion.

When one considers all of this, it becomes fairly clear that even if spoiling a cat is possible, the negative repercussions of the spoiling will be relatively minor so long as the owner does not create a situation where he or she cannot keep up with the expectations of the pet.

A cat owner can feel relatively comfortable that his or her kind and pampering acts toward a cat will do very little damage while significantly improving the quality of life for both the cat and the owner.

Yes, there are extreme cases where a spoiled cat could be developed and there could certainly be some annoyance and frustration as a result. However, it is hard to reach this point. The natural independence of cats generally serves as insulation from any such problem.

Cat owners can pamper their cats without too much concern about creating a “needy monster.” Instead, the pamperer is far more likely to create a loving pet.

You can spoil your cat, but you really have to try in order to do so. Cat pampering is unlikely to create major problems for either the owner or the pet and should not be avoided due to fears of spoiling the cat.

Although bones found in a gravesite in Cyprus dating around 7500 B.C. suggest some type of domestication may have occurred earlier with the wildcat species, it is believed by many that actual domestication of cats began as around 4000 B.C. in ancient Egypt in Valley of Nile. Egyptians found the cat to be a useful creature for protecting its stored grains from the rats, and cats found that rats were to be found where humans were. It was a beneficial relationship for both sides.

Although Egyptians possessed many animals, the cat was the only one allowed to roam as they pleased, but they were also kept indoors when guarding the valuable grain. Egyptians began to view cats as sacred animals, as the symbol of the Goddess Bastet was portrayed with a cat’s head. The cat received a highly regarded position in society, and it became a crime to harm or kill a cat. Killing a cat could result in death or a stone beating. The actual death of a cat was an extremely sad event for the family, and many cats were embalmed, put in coffins, and even mummified.

Eventually domestication of cats spread. Nile bargemen kept cats on their ships to control the rodent population, and sometimes when unloading their goods, a cat would wander off the boat establishing new territories for homes. In the Roman Empire cats were used to keep the rat and mice population in check, but were also kept as a pets. Cats became a favorite house pet because of their unique features. And Islamic countries held the cat in great esteem, as the Egyptians did.

The Middle Ages brought about a change of opinion of the feline. Cats were viewed to have magical powers and were thought to be associated with the devil. Their owners were considered witches. Pope Gregory IX launched a war on cats, and even went so far as to label the cat a “diabolical creature.” Cats were put to death and sometimes burnt with their owners. This almost wiped out the domestic cat population in Europe, and is believed to have been the reason for the bubonic plague, since the rodent population was able to increase. To this day, superstitions still bestow an ominous power on the cat, as we often think it bad luck to have a black cat cross our paths. It is also associated with Halloween.

The 1800′s brought another change in thinking, and the cat once again became the beloved pets they once were. Domestication of cats in the United States did not begin until the European settlers arrived. They were brought over on boats from overseas to control rodent population in the new settlements. The rest is history. Cats now safely inhabit homes across the world, purring with happiness.

First and foremost, realize that the first step to successful cat ownership is to love your cat. Filling in the blanks on the information you don’t know yet will come. And here’s some information and knowledge to get you started. Of course homeopathic care for cat is something that is all over the news right now, but there’s actually a lot more to know then that.

Yes, cats shed. And the shedding of a long-haired cat is more noticeable than that of a short haired feline. Expect your cat only to shed at the change of the seasons. That’s not so. Because of his exposure to a constant temperature and continual artificial light, your indoor cat sheds year round. But it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds.

Here’s a good piece of important cat care information, cats take care of a lot of their shedding on their own. They are fastidiously clean animals. You’ll discover they are constantly cleaning themselves with their rough, sandpaper-like tongues. The very mechanism, though, that helps them to control shedding also contributes to one of their health problems, hairballs. Hairballs are a very real threat to your cat’s digestion. They can block the food that’s already been digested from traveling through his intestines.

So how can you tell when your cat is experiencing hairballs? You’ll be able to recognize them if he coughs them up – as cats are prone to do. If you find cigar-shaped masses of some indistinguishable matter on the floor or on your furniture, you’ve discovered a hairball.

Sometimes, though, a cat will expel them along with his feces in the litter box. If you find that your cat’s bowel movements have hair on them, that means he’s got hairballs. Another symptom your feline may exhibit is dry coughing or a hacking. This will especially occur after he’s eaten. In fact, if your cat has a sudden, unexpected loss of appetite, you may suspect a hairball is at the root cause.

So how do you prevent hairballs? Take matters in your own hands, literally! Brush! Brush! Brush! Groom you kitty often. Most cats find it most enjoyable and it builds a marvelous bond between you and your feline.

If you discover that your kitten may need more aid than this, there are many effective hairball remedies on the market today. They come in a variety of forms, from granules you sprinkle inconspicuously on his food to gels.

Thinking about declawing?

If you haven’t heard, declawing your cat so he doesn’t ruin your furniture or accidentally seriously scratch an individual is controversial. A generation ago, this operation was routine, many times performed at the same time the kitten got spayed or neutered.

The public today, though, is more widely educated on exactly what surgery for declawing entails. It’s not just a matter of pulling the claws out of the kitty. To remove a cat’s claws, a veterinarian must actually amputate the cat’s paws at the first joint. This would be the equivalent you getting your knuckles amputated right below your finger nails. Ouch!

In order to perform the surgery, your veterinarian will anesthetized your cat as well as give him pain medication. He will literally cut the first section of your cat’s paw off, since the claws are intricately intertwined in the first “knuckle.”

Following the surgery, your cat’s paws are carefully bandaged. Your cat will undoubtedly spend the night at the animal hospital. The following day you’ll be able to bring her home.

Be prepared! Your cat – understandably – will be distinctly uncomfortable for several days following the surgery. (Actually, she’ll probably be in great pain. But felines are wonderful actors. Cats hate to show that they’re in any type of pain.)

Considering, though, the extent of the surgery, your cat heals quite quickly. You’ll notice that your pet walks around the house rather gingerly. That’ll last for about a week. After that she’ll back to her old self.

To help prevent infection, you should replace her litter with some shredded paper. This avoids getting granules of litter in his already very tender paws.

Declawing your cat does more than just eliminate the problem of scratching. Her claws -and that portion of the toes that are removed, are valuable to her in another vital way. Removing her claws may throw her entire system of natural balance off.

A cat, you see, is classified as a “digitigrade.” It’s a strange label, but essentially it means that she walks on her toes. But, a cats toes are used for so much more! Her entire balance and form are based on the length of her digits. Nature, it seems, designed the cat’s body – including her back, shoulders, paws, leg joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons and even her nerves! – based on walking on her toes. Because of this, her weight is distributed across its toes as it walks, runs and climbs.

That means a cat’s claws are absolutely essential for her balance as well as for her ability to exercise effectively. Not only that, her toes – and especially her claws are vital aspects of her stretching. Notice when your cat scratches at a post (or, yes, your furniture!). We all assume she’s just sharpening her claws. Not so! She is really stretching her entire body. When you declaw your kitten, it throws her entire body alignment off.

Hairballs and declawing. Not usually subjects that come up in everyday conversations, now are they? But these are only two of the important bits of information that every cat owner needs to know in order to give Fluffy the best of care. That, and your love, will help your kitten live a long and healthy life.