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Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you’re seeking a companion animal. You’ll be able to select from a wide variety of different breeds and ages as well as save a life. However, I fully realize that if you plan to show or breed your animal, it would make more sense to purchase a young animal from a breeder.

I purchased my first three animals, two dogs and one cat, from breeders. Each animal ended up being a reasonably good house pet. As I’ve got older and wiser, I’ve realized the incredible number of great animals in shelters that need homes. Therefore, my most recent dog is adopted from a greyhound rescue group. My greyhound has been the best companion dog of all! I fully expect my next animal will be an adoption as well.

There are a few things to think about when adopting an animal from a shelter. First, make sure that you’re prepared to accommodate an animal that may need a little more tender love and care in his or her first few months. As you know, it’s quite a transition going from a shelter to a home and a neighborhood.

Secondly, when you get to the shelter, be selective based on which animal would be the best match. This includes the obvious things such as size, breed and hair length, but also the less obvious like personality. You won’t necessarily have knowledge about the animal’s prior history. Specifically, you won’t know whether the animal had been abused, physically or emotionally. Abuse can definitely affect the way the animal behaves. You’ll want to work with the adoption facility director to determine whether the animal is the right fit for you and your family. In most cases, you’ll find that the majority of animals in shelters have very good personalities and will become wonderful pets.

There are thousands of adoption facilities around the country and around the world for dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, horses and other animals. These animals range from being purebreds to mixed breeds, from being puppies to older adults, from being small to being very large. Take a ride to your local animal shelter and see if any of the available pets appeal to you. Alternatively, seek out the perfect pet online. See the below links to do a quick, targeted search for a cat or dog.

http://www.thepetman.com/

By the end of this article, you should have gained enough new knowledge on this subject to feel like a pro. Household pet cats definitely need litter boxes in which they do their business. Just like people, these feline friends can get finicky over this matter, so it is very important that they make sure the litter box they have for their pet cat suits the cats preferences; after all, it is the cat that is going to use it. But the owner should also consider his own convenience regarding this matter; he should consider his budget for the cat box as well as the ease of cleaning it.

Choosing the perfect cat box can be beneficial to both your cats health as well as the owners. The important thing is that the cat box must be appealing to the cat and comfortable for use. Rest assured, the cat’s satisfaction also guarantees success.

In finding the perfect cat box, here are some things that must be considered:

Size and Depth:

This maybe determined by the number of cats there are in the home. However, it is ideal if the number of cats in the home determines the number of cat boxes available rather than the size. For kittens, shallow cat boxes, no more than three inches deep are advisable. For adult cats on the other hand, those about six inches high are desirable. The prescribed area of the litter box is at least 24 inches in length or width.

Material of the Box:

Heavy and durable plastic is the most advisable material for a cat box and is also the most inexpensive variety in stores. Plus with their simplicity in style, cleaning can prove to be a breeze.

Ease of Cleaning:

Basic flat boxes are easy to clean because of their simple design. There is no need to remove any lids or covers to scoop or clean. However, some cats frequently kick litter out of the box so if you choose this option, you had better have a whisk broom and a dust pan always at hand.

Covered boxes usually minimize the trouble of having cat litter and waste scattered outside the box since they have hoods which keep all the litter inside. Covered boxes also tend to become stinky due to poor ventilation.

There are also those self-cleaning cat boxes available in the market. The self-cleaning feature of these boxes keep the cat box neat and tidy, but they also require some cleaning from the owner. Every few days the receptacle must be emptied of urine and feces and sometimes the rake does not get every bit of cat waste so there may be an occasional need for scooping them out.

Style and Features:

There is a wide variety of designs, styles and features for cat litter boxes. The owner may have to choose which one will be most convenient for him and his cat.. Below are listed some basic designs for cat litter boxes:

-Basic flat box. This is the simple rectangular pan which is commonly made of plastic. They come in different depths, sizes and colors. This design is preferred by most cats. An innovation to this design whose is to hold the cat box liners in place by securing them under the rim.

-Covered cat boxes or hooded litter boxes. These cat litter boxes look like the traditional open-type rectangular pans except for the addition of the hood which partly covers the box. An opening is situated at one end of the box which serves as the entrance and exit way for the cat. The hood is also positioned high enough so that the cat can stand and do its job with ease and comfort. While they provide “privacy” for the pet, they tend to get very smelly because of poor ventilation inside. Manufacturers of this type of cat boxes have offered a solution to this problem. Some variants of the hooded type have vents on top plus a filter which aids in trapping odors. For this type of cat box, it is recommended that you choose one that is large enough to accommodate the pet, has a hood which can be easily maneuvered for easy cleaning, and large vents.

-Designer boxes. Also known as “hidden boxes”, this type of litter box disguises itself as a furniture piece or even a plant. A designer litter box not only serves to be the cat’s convenient toilet but it can also function as an accent for the room in which it is located. Although the containers are commonly not large enough, there are designs which are big and more open. These are the ones which are more ideal for use. Try to find one which provides good ventilation.

-Sifting Boxes. A few other variants of this type are available in the market but the basic model consists of two rectangular pans and a tray which acts as a sifter.

-Self-cleaning box. These electrical-powered high-end litter boxes work with a sensor which activates the self-cleaning machinery a few minutes after the cat has left the box. The cleaning machinery contains a rake which works its way along the litter to scoop out cat pee and poop into a waste receptacle. There is still the need to occasionally clean the unit, especially the cleaning mechanism itself.

Cost:

The basic flat box is the most affordable of all the designs mentioned. The self-cleaning box is obviously the most expensive and their guarantee commonly lasts for only one year. This can be a risk which the owner must consider before actually buying a unit.

Appealing to the Cat:

Cats generally do fine with the open box type. Covered boxes offer the “privacy” which some cats like but some cats feel trapped inside them. Owners of designer boxes may find it attractive to put them in places where they will be most appreciated. However, they must be sensitive to the fact that cats most often opt to do their business in a place which is quiet and safe. As for the automated self-cleaning cat litter boxes, some finicky cats may find them comfy since they are clean and spacious. However, they may get psyched out by the mechanical action if they chance to see it actually happen. They might be afraid of using the unit again.

Finding the perfect cat litter box may be a hard task and may require experimentation on the part of the owner. If the owner tries out a box which his pet really does not like, he should not insist on the cat using it. Though this experimentation may become tedious, it can be necessary to find the perfect box for your cat. Providing the cat its preferred litter box can bring good health and satisfaction to both owner and pet, and the carpet as well! We hope that you finished reading this article having learned at least a little bit of new information. If so, then we have done our job.

Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet’s popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website visit ArticleTeller.com and ContentWOW.com

Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancerous disease that most
commonly involves skin. Fair-skinned people tend to be
predisposed to this type of cancer after chronic, excessive
exposure to sunlight. Likewise, white or light-colored cats are
also susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma. Solar-induced
squamous cell carcinoma usually occurs in areas with little hair
coverage that are chronically exposed to sunlight. The most
common area affected in cats is the ear tip.

This disease occurs in older cats and may first become apparent
in summer, when sunlight exposure is greatest. The first symptom
of this disease that you will notice is reddening of the ear
tip. Other early signs of this disease include mild hair loss
and flaking of skin on the ear tip. Usually the first impression
is that your cat has psoriasis, in which the skin seems scaly
and inflamed. If caught early, these clinical signs may be
indicative of the precancerous form of the disease known as
actinic dermatitis.

A small skin biopsy is required to differentiate precancerous
actinic dermatitis from squamous cell carcinoma. It is best to
perform the biopsy procedure early because the clinical lesions
of squamous cell carcinoma are subtle and similar to this form
of dermatitis. One or both ears may be affected. If only one ear
is diseased, the other should be monitored closely because it
may also acquire the disease in the future.

Early, effective treatment of precancerous lesions may prevent
the onset of squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment for actinic
dermatitis includes sun restriction, especially during times of
peak solar intensity; water-resistant sunscreens with sun
protection factor (SPF) 15 or greater applied to the ear tips
twice daily; topical steroid application; and possibly oral
steroid or anti-inflammatory therapy.

The drug etretinate may also be used to alleviate symptoms. The
effect of etretinate is to decrease inflammation and skin
flaking while normalizing skin cell metabolism. Medical therapy
is not effective for lesions that advance to squamous cell
carcinoma, underlining the importance of early diagnosis for
suspicious lesions. Surgical removal of squamous cell carcinoma
of the ear tip (partial pinnectomy) is most effective when
performed as soon after diagnosis as possible. Early
intervention decreases the amount of the ear that must be
removed, because the lesion is smaller.

Early surgical removal also decreases the incidence of spread of
the cancer to the lymph nodes near the ear. There are different
surgical methods that are effective in removing the cancer. With
cryosurgery, like frostbite, the ear tip is frozen. The frozen
tissue dies and is removed. Although this method may be
effective, it is sometimes difficult to control the precise area
of tissue freezing. Freezing an inadequate area may lead to
recurrence of the cancer, and excessive freezing may result in
an unsightly appearance and be associated with excessive scar
and deformation of the remaining ear.

Laser surgery is available in veterinary medicine, but the
equipment is expensive and may be available only at special
referral facilities. Laser surgery provides precise removal of
the cancer with minimal, if any, side effects.

Finally, traditional surgical methods may be used to remove the
cancer. The procedure is similar to ear cropping in dogs, in
which part of the ear is removed with scissors and the skin
edges are sutured together. In cats with squamous cell carcinoma
of the ear tip, the veterinarian caring for the pet will remove
the cancerous ear tip and about one-quarter inch of
normal-appearing ear. A small amount of normal-appearing ear is
removed to ensure that the entire cancer has been removed.

You should insist that a pathologist evaluate the excised tissue
to make sure that the cancer has been completely removed. If the
biopsy shows that the cancer has not been completely removed,
further surgery should be performed. Incomplete removal of the
cancer at the initial surgery is not the fault of your
veterinarian. Microscopic evaluation of the tissue after special
processing is required to determine whether cancer cells are
present in the tissue. The naked eye is not able to make this
determination.

Cats tolerate the surgery well, and healing should progress
without complication. The healed surgery area will have more
hair than the ear tip, which will aid in preventing recurrence
of the cancer. Preventive care should be continued after
successful surgery.

In summary, prevention of precancerous actinic dermatitis is
recommended by limiting the outdoor activity of white or
light-colored cats to periods of nonpeak solar intensity.
Appropriate sunscreens should be applied to the ear of
pre-disposed cats who are outdoors during periods of peak solar
intensity. If your cat is diagnosed with actinic dermatitis, it
should be treated aggressively in the hope of preventing cancer.

Progression of actinic dermatitis to squamous cell carcinoma
requires surgery to remove the cancer. Because of availability
and financial considerations, most cats with this form of cancer
receive treatment consisting of traditional surgery. The
appearance of your cat’s ear after surgery will depend on the
extent of the disease. The ear may simply appear rounded at the
tip or require complete removal. If the entire ear is removed,
your cat will still be loved and cute with a striking
resemblance to “E.T.” of movie fame. Either result is far better
than uncontrolled spread of cancer to deeper tissues of the head.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.