We humans are so susceptible to getting influenced by things around us that we try to reason any unusual happening with hypothetical possibilities, without knowing the logic behind it. Our ancestors came up with religious beliefs,the foundation of many of which where simply based on unknown facts which nobody tried to dig upon and find out the reason behind. Well when it is said that half knowledge is dangerous then that be true because it can turn out to hurt someone or even be fatal. As such we have never spared our fellow species, our pets can be no exception in it as we drag them into this colossal field of false beliefs and myths.

Below are few myths-considered-facts that that we has been going around for a long time now but needs to be clarified.

1. Black BAD LUCK

As if hypothetical ghost stories lost their charisma that they dragged a poor little feline into it. Considering them as inauspicious, black cats are often seen as carriers of some evil that is bound to happen and inevitable. People stop and flinch if they see black cats come across their way. This one is too old a myth and some still follow till date. ‘Uh-uh! I won’t go that way else bad luck would follow’, seriously? You think a cat can make a truck run over you while crossing the road, probably yes if your gaze is fixed on that four-legged dark shadow and not on the road while crossing it. Get over that sick myth! They are like any other cats that people pet around rather just more beautiful and unique!

2. Old dog New Tricks, Uh-uh!

No! This is a false verdict. There is no relation between age and ability to learn new things when it comes to your canine friend. No matter what age they reach you can still teach your friend to sit, roll, stay, fetch or whatever pleases you. This has nothing to do with its age. An everyday practice for a week or two and then your dog is smart enough to grasp what is being taught. Don’t underestimate your dog friend they can be stubborn or lazy but they will definitely pick up more quickly than you expected and surprise you. Changing their habits isn’t that difficult as goes the saying everywhere.

3. A Camel’s own water tank?

Camel is the ship of desert, some books poetically explained so. With their ability to live several days without food and water, they are considered as the most well adapted animal to the harsh conditions of the deserts. Camels have distinctive features like padded feet, long eye-lashes and most visible of them all, its hump. Well most of the people think the camel carries water inside its hump and avoid death due to dehydration. The actual fact being they have got oval shaped red blood cells instead of the common circular shaped cells that most mammals have. This lets them retain water in their body for much longer duration. And as for the hump, it just a mount of fat that acts as a food reservoir rather that that of water. Camels can stay fit and fine for as long as three weeks without food with the fat burning in the hump providing the necessary energy. Special thanks to the kidneys and intestines that reduce the water excretion to minimal levels and help it survive whilst other animals die of hunger and thirst.

4. All parrots DON’T talk

You pay a visit to your neighbor got a parrot pet recently and the first question that comes out is, ‘Hey does it talk?’ And with high expectations you try saying monosyllables to it, thinking probably it might mimic you in the funniest way possible. Well, here goes down your expectation and myth, not all parrots talk. Why?! Simply because they are individuals like us. Parrot species like Amazon parrots and African grey parrots are most famous among the parrot species as they can pick up vocabulary faster and mimic better. Whilst on contrary some of the species won’t talk at all. Even among the above two species, there can be few odd ones who don’t talk or very less in comparison others. The reason for this is still a mystery to the scientist who give the individualistic trait as one of the reasons. Hence so forth, don’t overestimate about the poor parrot, because all parrots can’t speak like you.

5. That Egg is Hers!

Well, it doesn’t who came first the egg or the chicken, you simply have your non-veg delicacies without thinking nonsense, but what is to be clarified it that the eggs you have aren’t the ones that would hatch if you keep them warm or something. As a child I often used to do that, thinking that at least one of them would hatch and I would have a chic to play with. Sadly the eggs that we eat are not the fertilized ones. The hen lays eggs regularly, be it fertilized or not. So no you are not committing any crime and killing those babies developing inside the calcium shells. Veggies, take a note!  If you have roosters n your farm and you think probably the hens are having a good time making fertile eggs then you can keep them in the fridge. Refrigeration can  to stop the further growth inside the egg.

6. RAPE RACK

This one goes as a matter of fact, clearing out every possible ‘made-ups’ and beliefs around. You think you get ample calcium supplies from that glass of milk you have everyday (which is actually not true) and with those endorsement brands of milk showing cows happily grazing in the background, it all seems a perfect cycle of milch industry. The horrendous truth being that the milch animals are tortured inhumanly to get you that glass of milk or cup of coffee in the morning. The concept is simple, cows only lactate when they have babies. No baby means no milk. Hence they are impregnated time and again effecting their health and what is done with the calves is even more unfortunate. They are weaned onto some other diet whilst the milk that is supposed to be for the calf goes to us humans. The babies are kept away their mothers, tied all the time with little space to roam around and if they seem of no use, specially the male calves, they end up in slaughter houses. The sorry and disturbing truth, isn’t a myth but a fact covered with the veil of the benefits of developing good health through milk.

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Why do people keep pets? What is that pushes them to spend their extra time, attention, expense on some random animal? Why people are ready to make a pet a part of the family? Some of the obvious reasons can be to shed boredom, to make their children happy, to establish a status in society owning a pedigree or may be just to get a companion. They don’t speak human yet we try to bind them into an owner-pet bond, which not only provides a love-affection binding but a lot more. Though they are categorized as animals and claimed to not understand human emotions, they still and time and again have proved to be our best friends.

So how keeping a pet helps us live better? Let us have a look.

7. Human needs and Benifits

Pets were basically used to fulfill needs of humans, for domestication. The poultry and dairy pets are kept for wool, flesh, milk and eggs. The horses and donkeys carry our loads. Some are even for leisure and sports. A dog for protection and cats and other small pets are for companionship and leisure. The basic need was to fulfill our own day to day needs that we began petting animals. With time it has developed from a benificial relationship to a good companionship.

6. Routine your Life

Once a pet comes into your life, you get to shed off the procrastination you carry out every day. No matter how lazy you are, you need to get up to feed your pet, clean it up, play with it, may be take it out for walk but overall you will enjoy all of it. With the well on time feeds and walks, regular cleaning and grooming, you will surely end up retuning the clock of your life while doing it for your pet.

5. Increase your social circle

Yes that’s true! When you take your pet out for a walk you will always meet up other owners and tend to interact with them. You meet people in training centers, clubs, pet stores, pet shows and public parks. Believe me, you end up going out and making new buddies when you are out there with your pet, the conversation starting by talking about each others pets and their behavior. You may progress from having a cup of coffee together to being really good friends!

4. Family Bonding

Children love playing around with pets. They can be one of the reasons for your kid’s joyous day to day activities. Kids can learn to develop affectionate and caring nature from the very beginning, by regular petting and pampering their pets. Even the elderly, who sometimes feel lonely and don’t mingle up with other members of family, get to have a companion and to enjoy lives by spending time with pets. A pet generates affection, laughter fun and exuberance among the people it lives around and hence gets the family together.

3. Relieving Anxiety

Touching, petting, pampering, cuddling your pet can reduce stress levels considerably low. Remarkable behavior changes have been observed in prisoners who have been exposed to being with pets. A sense of comfort and satisfaction is observed in spending time with pet. Your pet always tends to divert your mind and attention to pull it towards it. It is scientifically proved that pet owners are less likely to suffer depression than those who don’t have one. There have been many good outcomes of keeping a pet considering health, behavior, fitness stress etc. Also it is very satisfying to take care of another living creature. According to a research, presented in American Heart Association, the stress and blood pressure levels in stockbrokers, who had been on medication, had come down significantly come down, after they took to petting an animal along with medication. The affectionate bond and support can help in reducing stress that is a major contributor to cardiovascular problems.

2. Exercise

Well, not all pets can help you stay fit but most of them can. Take for example of your pet dog or cat. Regular morning and evening walks is good for your pet and healthy for you too. If you are not a regular gym person then make a habit to go for regular walks with your pet or chase your kitty around playfully. That will not only keep you healthy physically but mentally too you will stay off stress and diverted and devoted towards your pet.

1. Companionship

That is one of the most considered reasons for keeping a pet. A new member in family is always welcomed like a guest and so is a pet. Why because you always look forward to develop that bond with your pet. Sometimes even the closest people betray you and you seem alone and lost. But when you have a pet along it gives a sense of comfort and company to be with. A good pet will always try to interact with you or least keep you busy and try building a bond with you if taken well care of.

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Relocating and have got a pet? Pet owners always freak out a little when it comes to taking their pets to a new place. Before you choose your dream home, make sure it is as good for your pet as it is for you. Your pet shouldn’t feel alien or uncomfortable in a foreign place. Make sure the dog in the neighborhood isn’t too aggressive or always kept loose, there might be chances of your pet getting into an unwanted fight unnecessarily.

1. Space

Ensure there is ample space for your pet as it was in the house before. If not possible at least make sure the pet is let out to roam around if you feel the space is too congested for it. Your kitty doesn’t love much change. Try to make it feel as homely as possible by keeping certain empty shelves for it to climb over and find a space for herself in some corner of the house.

2. Packing

When you are busy putting things in carton and taping them, or when the trucks arrive to take your luggage your pets might not like too much change and may freak out. For that on the day you are moving keep your pet in a quiet room and keep the doors closed until all the commotion is over. You can also send your pet to your friend’s place where it is accustomed to go, so that it doesn’t feel scared by the sound of trucks.

3. Moment

When you move your animals, in crate or a cage, you should be sure they are comfortable enough for a long journey and it doesn’t freak out or get impatient. For this you need to make sure your pet habitual to the crates and cages long before you move. You can first try to keep their food inside an open crate and repeat it periodically. Gradually you can shut the door and have them eat their meals with door shut. Try keeping your pet inside crate for some time or take it for a short drive. You can even keep their favorite toys or piece of cloth, so that they don’t feel alien.

4. Home

It may be exciting for your pet to explore the new house and roam around. For it to get accustomed to the new place start by making them comfortable in one room where they are going to spend their maximum time or where you would like them to stay. Place their favorite toys, food, water and other treats at that place so that they get adjust to the room and make it their home base. Gradually introduce them to other rooms as well, keeping the other rooms shut. Five days is usually enough for your pet to get accustomed to a new place.

5. Additional Tips

Like humans animals can get airsick too. Give your pet light meal the previous evening of travel, at most 12 hours before flight. Avoid giving anything liquid to your pet 4 hours before departure. Also keep in mind that your pet is done with peeing before it begins with the travel. If you are going on a long road trip, take some breaks in the journey for your pet to stretch and relieve itself. A big no to tranquilizers or sedatives during travel as this can hurt them during travel. You can put shredded paper or wood shaving inside the crate for comfortable bedding.

WHILE TRAVELLING BY:

1. Car

Your car can turn into an oven for your pet if leave your pet alone in the vehicle on a hot day. It can even distress and in extreme cases lead to death. Ensure that you don’t leave your pet in the car alone, whilst you are out somewhere. Make sure your pet is not super excited and disturbs you while driving. When you or anyone else exits from car, make sure they don’t follow you and escape from the vehicle. Cats, birds, rabbits and other such pets can be kept in crates or cages that have proper ventilation with enough space to sit up, stretch or curl around in their usual positions. The crate should be securely placed to avoid any accidents while applying sudden brakes and cause injury to your pet. Before taking them for the long journey, take them for small car trips so that they are accustomed to it. Make sure they don’t suffer from travel sickness, otherwise consult your vet. Make sure your pet has ample water to drink. Don’t feed them too much during the journey. A meal 2 hours before the journey should be fine enough. Take regular breaks in between so that your pet can go to toilet and stretch around a little.

2. Train

Travelling by train can be a little stressful looking at the sound and continuous movement. Try to make the journey as short as possible as your pet may not be accustomed to the sounds and the sights. It may be freaking or too exciting for him leading to unexpected reactions. You can contact the railway prior to journey to know the rules and policies of travelling with the pet. Again the crate or cage should be secure and robust and big enough for your pet to stay comfortably in. Travel when it is cooler, and when you expect less people around, may be early morning or late night. Again make sure your pet has plennty of water.

3. Ferry

In most cases you may not be allowed to accompany with your dog in the passenger area. Contact the travel people prior to arrangements for travel to know about their pet travel policies.  You would have to keep your pet in crates or cages, or leave them in the car if you feel it is cool and safe. Before doing that make sure your pet can’t escape and land itself into danger. Proper ventilation in and around the crate is a must along with ample water. Your pet might get sickness or may freak out in an alien environment, so take a look over a few times if your pet is comfortable. Keep it busy with his favorite toy and food and let him feel everything is normal. Let the ferry officials know you have a pet along with you so that necessary measures for its safety and comfort and advice some to you too.

4. PLANE

Your pets can’t travel with you in the cabin of the plane; they will be kept in the hold. Hold is usually temperature controlled and ventilated but while the plane is on ground t can become warm. Also if there is any delay in the flight the situation may worsen. Sometimes they do not allow the hold to be opened even during high temperatures. Considering all this you should decide upon selecting the mode of transportation for your pet. Choose the direct flight for your destination, don’t go for break journeys. Travel in early morning or late night to avoid warm conditions. Make sure the water is provided to your in non spill container or even gel water can be provided. Try to get your pet accustomed to flight containers if possible. Contact the air-transport people prior to journey so that they can take necessary measures for comfort and safety of your pet.

Above all make sure that you have got all legal rights and requirements to take your pet along if you are travelling to a different country altogether.

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Do animals have spirits? Do they also become ghosts after they die as many people believe about humans? Perhaps yes. There are many instances, where humans have experienced or felt their pets, better to say apparition of them, long after they have gone to their heavenly abode. It is believed that owners with strong bond with their pets, who suffered great loss after their sudden death, are often approached by ghosts of their pets to remind them that they are alright wherever they are and not to worry about them. It can be a made up story and hypothetical theory, no one knows. Also there are many contradictory questions to it like can only animal pets return as ghosts or if even insects like mosquitoes can come back as phantom animals from the afterlife. Below is a countdown of stories that make you twitch in your seats and leave you baffled. Have a look.

5. Ghost of Ozzy

This is story about a pet ferret, which had to be put down by the owner because of serious illness. Ozzy used to live in the owners grandmother’s house with another pet cat and both were best buddies. After the ferret’s demise, her grandmother started experiencing certain unexpected activities. She claims that every night she felt something climbing under her covers, near her feet. She even tried keeping the night lights on, stripping the bed covers, suspecting it can be mice, but nothing turned up. Also she noticed the cat’s behavior change as if it was playing with Ozzy, as it used to when the ferret was alive. Though her grandmother’s can’t see anything but she is convinced that their pet is still around them and comes to sleep right next to her feet every night.

4. Bandit came Back

This story might not be easy to believe so does every other ghost story unless it is scary. This begins when the owner’s pet died unexpected death while being treated for some illness which it suffered from past three months. The owner was quite attached to the dog and was devastated on hearing the news of his pet dog. Sad and not able to get over this tragedy, one night he went to bed and woke up out of his body. He sat up and looked around to find his dog’s twin sister sleeping at his feet. The room turned dark and he saw his dog, Bandit against his leg, looking at him. Though he didn’t feel scared but certainly he was taken aback. Bandit looked healthy, fresh and wagged its tail continuously. It jumped down and ran off in distance looking back at his owner and wagging his tail. He then woke up suddenly but the out-of-body experience was so realistic that he made a dash to his brother’s room and told him about it. The dog carried a message to his owner as to not worry for it and that he is happy now.

3. Ghost Friend

In one of the cases the owner’s daughter suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since she was 12. Due to this she was in discomfort most of the time. But the strange part was that from the past couple of years she had been telling her mother that a ghost visited her and sat on her bed when she really felt sad. She claimed that it always sat right next to her feet and the mattress would depress right there when it would sit. Suddenly a realization dawned upon her mother who was dead sure now that it was their cat Andy, whom they had lost couple of years back. How? Well, Andy, when alive used to follow the same routine when her daughter would have been sad before.

2. Diabolic Cat

Not satisfied with the above stories? How about a ghost cat lurking around in Washington D.C? Demon D.C is the name given to the cat that haunts the government buildings in Washington D.C. The story behind it begins when cats were brought in the basement tunnel of the building to get rid of the rat menace. As the legend goes, there is a black cat ghost that is seen before and after the presidential elections in Washington D.C. It was spotted by the White House guards, the night before John F. Kennedy’s and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The cat is said enlarge to the size of a tiger and even pounce on its victim and disappear in mid air. In an incident in 1890, one of the guards had fired at it while the other got a heart after seeing it, though it vanished.

1. Out of Ouija

Calley had a pet cat called Princy, which was seven human years when it had died few years back. This story is about two curious friends who played with Ouija Board one night. Dangerous as it is, they tried with the game and started asking question to the spirits like, ‘What is your name?’ and ‘How old were you when you died?’ The thing that frightened them was when the board replied that its name was Princy and it is seven years old. After finishing off the game, strange things started happening day by day. Calley heard moans of cat, the same she had heard when Princy was dying. Often she would here purring sounds in the basement which would often scare her. All this continued for some time but eventually dropped to nothing. Calley thinks it was Princy’s way of saying goodbye to her owner.

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Now you might be of the opinion that there is nothing to learn about petting a cat. Just a tap or a rub on the back should do the trick. However, and I hate to tell you this, this is not the case with a cat. Cats, unlike dogs, do not like to be petted at all times, and they have some particular places or spots where and only where they like to be touched. In fact, if you think you can just do it your way, do remember that cats are found to even go to the length of scratching and biting if they do not like your speed or skill!
Cats are very particular creatures. You must know that the Egyptians worshipped cats once upon a time. Now, you might have forgotten or overlooked this but, trust me, they surely have not. So, the first thing that you should do before petting a cat is to make it clear to your feline companion that you are seeking permission to touch it.

First things first, I think you should let your cat sniff you for as long as it wants to so that it can be comfortable with your touching it. Remember, in all other cases, it is you that adopts the pet. However, with cats, it is the other way around; cats adopt you, and they can be really exacting!
Now, what you should do is extend a finger and allow the cat to rub its nose against your fingertips. More often than not, it will show no interest in sniffing your hand, and instead stare at you suspiciously or with utter disregard. This is a way of their saying, “Back off, I am not in a mood!”
You should never, at this point, try to pet it for it will definitely be against its will, and you might just be awarded with a scratch or a bruise. All you can do is wait for your cat to be in a better mood. Another thing to remember is that you cannot always be lucky with cats. Some cats just are not friendly. They do not like to be petted, and if, sadly, you have brought home such a grumpy soul, it would be in your best interest to let it be. However, if the cat, exhibiting an unexplained change of mood, sniffs your hand and rubs its chin or one side of its head against your hand or any part of your body, there is a slight chance that your pet expects to be petted. If that happens, open your palms and touch its body in a gentle fashion.

You should be gentle with your cat at all times, because your feline companion approves of it. Your fingertips are nonpareil. Now you need to know about some pleasure spots in your cat’s body. Not all parts of your pet are open to your touch, mind it. If you go on, however lightly, touching it all over, be confident that you are about to be bruised badly. The most viable spot to pet is the area between or behind the ears in a back-to-front- movement.

Now, if you are a stranger in a friend’s place who incidentally has a cat, and you have heard hilarious stories about how friendly it is, do not, under any circumstances , try to check out for yourself. You must remember that however friendly a cat is, it does not like to be touched by strangers. You need to acquire the trust of a cat before daring to pet it!

The forehead is another good place to begin with. With your fingertips or the palm of your hand, pet the forehead and then, gently, travel along the length of the forehead to the base of tail and repeat. Massage the muscles in the neck by applying a little pressure. Once the car is warmed up, you might try using your middle finger and thumb simultaneously stroke the cat’s moustache, which however is a daring attempt and I advise you to try this only after the cat has become quite comfortable with you.

While the shaft of the moustache and the forehead has musk glands that give pleasure when stroked, you cannot ignore the other parts of your pet. For getting it to like you, you must dig deeper, and wider! To do that, you should start by running the palm of your hand gently from the neck and along the back all the way, until you reach the tail. Do not, under any circumstances, touch the tail, for your cat would not like it. Now, if your cat likes what you are doing, it will arch its back and expect you to apply more pressure. When you start over, it might even rub its forehead against your hand in a pressing way to encourage you to do it again. However, if you notice your cat cowering away or covering your ears, or simply trying to walk away, then you should probably stop petting it.

There are sundry ways of petting a cat but what you have to remember is that you must pay attention to its reaction to what you are doing.

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A pet is your animal companion and eventually becomes your family as you develop bonds with it. At one point this human-animal bond becomes so strong that it can turn your pet into your protector. There are hypothetical super-humans who risk their lives for your safety. Now let us have a look at super-pets who have pushed the limits of human-animal relationship and emerged as heroes with their extraordinary and unbelievable deeds to protect their owners and family.

Below are few instances where animals have proved themselves to be understanding, protective, heroic and above all a best friend.

1. Protector Pedigree

This incident took place on a fine October day in 2007. Charlotte Svillicic, a 17 month old baby was playing in yard in her Australian home when suddenly their pet Doberman, Khan starting making growling noises. The reason behind his snarl was totally unexpected, as it turned out to be one of the most poisonous snakes of the world, king brown snake, under the house. The dog tried to nudge the baby away but when it realized no avail in doing so, it lifted the baby with the diaper and tossed her few feet behind him. This startled the snake and in the sudden act it struck back at Khan and bit him on the paw. The snake dashed away and the toddler was saved, but the dog was ended up in hospital. Though Khan was given antivenin and he soon recovered but this act of courage got him appraisal and made him ‘hero of the day’.

2.  Parrot Alarm

Megan Howard, who was babysitting 2 year old Hannah Kuusk, heard her pet Quaker parrot screaming at the top of its voice and flapping its wings. Megan was in bathroom at that time and later said that she had never heard such shrill cries of her pet before. When she came out of the bathroom, she saw the toddler had chocked herself and her face had turned blue by then. Immediately Megan performed Heimlich maneuver over Hannah, a series of steps to save people from chocking. Although she saved the little girl but admitted that her pet had been the real life saver. The bird was later presented with the local Animal Lifesaver Award by Red Cross.

3. Lulu to the Rescue

While on a vacation in Pennsylvania woods, Jo Ann Altsman suffered from a heart attack. Lulu, her potbellied pet pig realized that something went wrong with her owner and somehow managed to get out of their mobile home, towards the road. When a car would approach, the petit piggy would lie down in the middle of road to stop the passerby. The times car didn’t stop, Lulu would go back to her owner to check upon her and then run back to the road. This intelligent act of the pig made a motorcycle stop and follow the pig into the woods. There he found the lady and immediately called 911. Such an immediate and surprising act saved by Lulu, saved the owners life.

4. A Meow saveS 3

Keesling family would have died in their sleep, had their cat not woken them up, by nudging and meowing loudly and continuously. A gas-powered water pump started leaking odorless carbon monoxide in the home. Nobody realized it except the cat, who tried her best to wake up her owners. Cathy’s husband and son were already unconscious, when Cathy got woken up by shrilling meows of her cat. Slightly feeling dizzy she called 911 and got help before it was too late.

5. Magic Mare

Animal therapy has long been known for its health benefits. Animals are known to reduce blood pressure and even prevent heart attack.  In a similar incident where horse therapy proved to be a boon to a patient who hadn’t spoken to anyone for three long years in her assisted-living facility. Magic, a beautiful mare with blue eyes used to visit patients, who needed comfort. That included her trips to hospitals, care facilities and group homes. When that patient saw Magic for the first time, she uttered out her first few words after a long time and that were,” Isn’t she beautiful?” Those words made every one come to tears and the lady improved considerably up on her health. This one interaction got Magic AARP’s Most Heroic Pet 2010 award.

6. Taking a bullet

In this heroic act by Lefty, this brave dog dared to cross all bounds when she leaped in front of one of the robbers, who pointed the gun at one of the family members. This incident happened during one night when the family home was broken in by four robbers. The dog took the bullet all by her and ended up getting injured on her leg and her shoulder. She was immediately taken to the nearby veterinary hospital but unfortunately had to lose one of her limbs. The cost of surgery was too much so in order to raise money for her treatment, they shared her story on Facebook. Not only were they able to get enough funds but the family pet became a heroic pup overnight.

7. Fire Fighter

Buddy, a brave German shepherd, received a silver-plated bowl from Alaska State Troopers for his heroic act when he saved his owners home from fire. When Ben Heinrich’s workshop caught fire in 2010, he shouted to his pet for help. Buddy made a dash to the road nearby and led a state trooper to the fire site. With the in-time help and Buddy’s bravery, Ben’s house was saved from flares.

These are just a few stories of bravery and selfless acts of pets towards their owners. These super animals have saved lives in time, with their intelligent and heroic acts. They are not just your friends, they are caring and concerned for you as any family.

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While dogs are the most popular pets, there are many loyal cat lovers out there. Cats are great companions to their human friends. They are basically hunting animals who love the thrill of the chase and the satisfaction of catching their prey. Although wild cats are great hunters, the domesticated cats which are mostly found indoors are much tamer. Do not let that fool you though! The natural instincts of cats are to hunt and while your pet may be an excellent companion, he may find it boring to stay indoors all day.

If you are an ardent cat lover, you must realize that cats cooped up in the house all day need to do something exciting to refresh them. Cats need their entertainment, and it is your duty to provide it to them. So, how could you entertain your feline friend and have fun in the process?

It is simple really! Playing games with your cat is an excellent way to chase away the monotony and boredom and bring in the much needed excitement into the fray.  Games are also an excellent way to bond with your cat. We have all heard about anti-social cats or grumpy cats that are famous all over the internet. Their owners would probably enjoy nothing more that engaging them to play with them.

Know your cat type:

Before you start playing games, it is important that you understand your cat. Animals have their own distinct personalities like humans and cats are no exception.  You might own a curious cat, which likes to prowl about and on the lookout to observe and sniff through everything around. Or, your cat might be the hunting type that enjoys the thrill of the chase above everything else. Some cats may be very physical, picking fights with other cats they encounter or your cat might just be a shy thing that prefers subtle games that do not make it nervous.

It is up to you to identify your cat type, know his little behavioural quirks and interests. Only then will you be able to identify the types of games your pet pal would enjoy. This way, you will guarantee a fantastic time for your feline companion.

There are various games out there that you could play with your cats. You could go creative and devise your own new games, games that would tailor specifically for your cat type and boost up that fun quotient. A few starter games that you could play are listed below, games which your cats are bound to enjoy.

1. Bouncing Balls: Cats love playing with balls. Just roll them across the floor to your cat and he is bound to come jumping towards it. You can play alongside your cat, rolling it over to him back and forth. Make the game more entertaining by using different variety of balls – plastic, rubber and so on. Ensure that the ball isn’t too small; you do not want your cat swallowing it accidentally. A big ball would be difficult for your cat to paw with. With the right sized ball and the right play buddy, you are going to be on a laughter riot. Even when you are away, your cat can entertain itself with its play toy ensuring that boredom is banished.

1. Catch a Mouse:  Most people might have a cat at home, so that it could hunt down that elusive mouse you find lurking around in your house. An excellent way to train your cat to be a better hunter is to play with him with a toy mouse. Hide that toy mouse around the house, possibly one with a catnip scent, so that you cat can sniff its way towards its prey. You could even move the toy mouse around the house, keeping your cat on its toes. Either way, your cat will love the feeling of discovering the toy mouse and will play with it. This will help him hone his hunting skills and have enormous amount of fun too. Ensure that the toy mouse isn’t too small and does not have any small parts (like eyes) that may come off with intense play. You wouldn’t even know if your cat swallowed a small bit accidentally.

3. Feathery Delight:  Cats don’t only love mice. They love chasing away any bird that they might find. While indoors, your cat wouldn’t be able to spot any real birds to chase. That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have any feathery fun. Get a long feather, attach it to a piece of string and hang it at a height. Make sure that your cat can reach the dangling feather if it leaps. This is going to be an extremely fun game. It doesn’t require you to be right next to it, but you can have a lot of fun watching your cat leap gracefully and try to snatch the feather. If you can hang the feathery close to a breezy entrance, the slight gust of wind will toss around the feather causing more of a challenge to your cat. Not only that, you could even construct your cat a feathery toy, sewing a few feathers together. Rest assured, your cat would love tossing the feathers around.

4. Obstacle course time! : Cooped indoors all day would be annoying for your cat, unless he has his own mini obstacle course indoors to play with. Design a small obstacle course that your cat would enjoy. If you have a spacious house, you could erect a few ledges that your cat would have to leap skilfully on to reach its prey, a toy mouse at the end. This would improve your cats agility and ensure that he doesn’t get tired playing with the same toys. Unleash your creativity and come up with obstacle courses that will challenge your cat and keep him on his toes!

These are just a few games that you could play with your cat. As you go along you will figure out your own unique and creative ways to entertain your cat and play with him, so that his boredom and grumpiness vanish. It isn’t only going to be your cat that is going to enjoy, you will have tons of fun too!

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Eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos is a part of growing up for most of us. Most of us buy our beloved “pets” at pet shops like they are commodities. Then we keep our dogs chained up even inside the house, make guinea pigs run around the wheel for food and keep beautiful birds in cages. We take pride in wearing wool and silk, gobble up McDonald’s burgers, and go to fishing trips for recreation. We never consider the impact of these actions on the animals involved. Then for what reason should animals have rights?

Animal rights in India? How many people in India do actually know that something called ‘animal rights’ even exist? In a country where fellow human beings are deprived of their fundamental rights laid down in the country’s constitution, how can we even expect people to grant animal rights to their fellow living beings? Can even one person say that they have not seen a sleeping stray dog being kicked or a street entertainer making a monkey dance for money? The plight of cows and stray dogs is a common sight in India. Is it not cruelty to let them roam around on the streets, and let them eat garbage dumped on the road sides, exposing them to being hit by fast moving traffic and also by shopkeepers whose goods they are destroying? When the animal has served its purpose and becomes old, infirm, or diseased the amber abandons it and leaves it on its own to suffer pangs of hunger and pain.

The Animal Welfare Board of India, the first of its kind Animal welfare organization to be established by any Government in the world, was set up in 1962, in accordance with Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Acts 1960. Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale pioneered the setting up of the Board, with its Headquarters at Chennai, and guided the activities of the Board for nearly twenty years till her demise in 1986. In 2000, the High Court in Kerala used the language of “rights” in relation to circus animals, ruling that they are “beings entitled to dignified existence” under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The ruling said that if human beings are entitled to these rights, animals should be too. The court went beyond the requirements of the Constitution that all living beings should be shown compassion, and said: “It is not only our fundamental duty to show compassion to our animal friends, but also to recognize and protect their rights.” In 2012, the Indian government issued an extensive ban of vivisection in education and research.

But even today, most Indians do not even recognize their acts as abuse towards the poor animals. Some try to blame it on our culture. Myths, legends and superstitions of black dogs still haunt our collective unconscious, illustrated by the difficulty black dogs often have being adopted from shelters. ‘Never cross the road if a black cat has crossed the road before you’ is one myth, which brings out the meanness of our society.  There is a great amount of fear in people even today when they see a black cat, or a cat crossing the road or path they are travelling upon. I have seen that people stop besides the road, or slow down their car/scooter and wait for another person to cross it, before they do so.  This shows the height of selfishness and meanness to which we go.  I think this is one baseless belief we are still carrying on, without thinking that a healthy animal is bound to move around whether we think it’s a good omen or bad. Animals being discriminated against on the basis of colour gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘racism’! But in our wide ranging mythologies, there are a few stories which teach people to love and care for animals too. Dogs are worshipped as a part of a five-day Tihar festival in some northern regions of India that falls roughly in November every year. It is believed that dogs guard the doors of Heaven and Hell. This is a day when the dog is worshipped by applying tika (the holy vermilion dot), incense sticks and garlanded generally with marigold flower. Sarama, the female dog of the gods, is described as the mother of all dogs. The dog (Shvan) is also the vahana or mount of the Hindu god Bhairava. Yudhisthira had approached heaven with his dog, therefore among many Hindus, the common belief exists that caring for dogs can also pave way to heaven. Cows are revered as the source of food and symbol of life and may never be killed. They may be worshipped during some festivals or at some places. Verses of the Rigveda refer to the cow as Devi (goddess), identified with Aditi (mother of the gods) herself. Despite their sacred status, cows don’t seem much appreciated in India. Visitors are often surprised to see them walking neglected around city streets, living on garbage from the gutters.

Animals surely deserve to live their lives free from suffering and exploitation. Even animals have the ability to suffer in the same way and to the same degree that humans do. They feel pain, pleasure, fear, frustration, loneliness, and motherly love. How can people be so heartless and use these creatures for scientific experimentation, medicines, cosmetics etc.? Whenever we consider doing something that would interfere with their needs, we are morally obligated to take them into account. Every creature with a will to live has a right to live free from pain and suffering. Animal rights are not just a philosophy—it is a social movement that challenges society’s traditional view that all non-human animals exist solely for human use. All living things have a right to live on this Earth but, we, very often become, totally, insensitive to their pain, only because animals can’t speak the language of humans, they don’t have a voice. But they are creations of God too and they have lives which cannot be governed by us, humans.

So the next time you see someone stoning a dog raise your voice against him; if you see an injured cow, try to help her or atleast ring up an animal shelter; if you find a baby bird on the ground, put it back in its nest. Making all Indians aware of animal rights and making them regard it as a serious issue will take many years but we must remember that ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’.

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In humans, the pregnancy period is quite a delicate time, so is for animals. Proper attention care is required towards the animal whether it is diet, safety, exercise or meds. First thing to keep in mind is that, you should not breed your pet unless are ready to take up the responsibility of the litter. Just for the matter that your dog/cat should have the experience of having a litter is not a reason enough for breeding your pet. Also if you have already planned for it then you should go to a responsible breeder who has considerable knowledge about your breed. You can also consult the vet first to get the breeding done.

After your dog/cat is in the gestation period, a lot of attention and care is required from your side being an owner. Below are few important points that you should realize while taking care of your pet.

Diet

This is the first and the most important thing that your dog/cat needs good nutrition. Now that she is carrying babies, she needs to intake extra calories, to feed more than one. Improper diet can even lead to death of newborns. After mating and while gestation, you should make sure that your pet eats properly. During the first few weeks dogs eat in normal amounts but as the weeks precede so does their requirement. By the end of the gestation period they tend to eat 1.5 times their initial diets. Same applies to your cat so increase the amount of food you provide to your pet. Give your dog/cat commercial dog/cat food that is high in calories. Also talk to your vet about the dietary habits for your pet and how to make it better. Most importantly provide ample amount of water at all times.

Exercise and Fitness

You dog should undergo sufficient exercises though not vigorous ones. The target should be to ease the complications during delivery and not weight loss. Regular outdoor walks should keep your pregnant dog fit and fine. Cats usually take care of themselves on their own during pregnancy. They may undergo morning sickness like certain behavior changes, not having food on time, vomiting and restlessness. But worry not this is a part of the hormonal changes going inside her body. Sometimes you might not even notice such changes. If the cat doesn’t eat food for a long stretch of time do consult your vet. Weight loss is not recommended for your pet and a lot of rest and sleep is required, so don’t try to tire your pet, in the name of exercise. Again plenty of water is a must.

Discharge

Your pet both dogs and cats experience discharge from genital area during pregnancy. The discharge is often pinkish in color in case of dogs and transparent in case of cats. If the color of discharge differs, it can be pus or blood. You should immediately contact your vet in this situation. In case of cats, if the discharge is pink it is a fungal infection while green discharge indicates bacterial infection.  After delivery discharge is normal in case of cats, which can be thick and either punk or brown in color. This continues for 10 days so no need to worry. Discharge during pregnancy should be taken seriously ignoring certain conditions can even lead to abortion or premature delivery.

Surroundings

To make your dog/cat go through the gestation period comfortably you need to ensure that their surrounding environment is stress free and tranquil. Make separate bedding for your cat, some time before her due date like a box. Provide comfortable bedding or base, by putting a soft towel, blanket or may be an old launder that makes them feel warm and cozy. Place it in a silent location; make it a point to keep it away from other pets and children in the house so that your cat/dog may rest silently without any disturbances. Let her know where the box is kept but don’t force her to be there. She may end up choosing some other location to give birth or may even make changes according to her wish in her newly made space. Keep your pet away for three weeks after parturition so as to prevent transmission of any potential diseases.

After Birth Care

You should make sure that your pet feels comfortable and secure around people in the house. Keep a separate den for the new mommy where she can feed and tender to her litter without any trouble or disturbances. Keep a bowl of water close by, but make sure that pups don’t fall into it by mistake. Change the bedding regularly to avoid smell and maintain hygiene in their resting place. Clean the puppy poop from time to time, although in case of cats, the queen, that’s what the new mommy is called, tends to eat up her baby poop, clean and groom them simultaneously. This behavior is sometimes seen in dogs too and is fairly normal. Ensure that your pet has proper food even during lactation. Whenever you feel any abnormal changes like loss of appetite in your pet, insatiable thirst, discharge etc contact your vet.

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We the humans know how bad it feels to face neglection. It hurts when one throws a straight no at your face. The miseries seem endless, troubles unending and we feel as if nobody is standing beside us as a support. We are shattered, lonely and sad. All the bright, wordly colours of life look bleak and dull.
Animal emotion is a complicated arena, but it seems the scales are slowly tipping toward the opinion that animals do have emotions, although some skeptics remain. The debate surrounding the scope of emotions animals possess derives from two main complications: the potential for anthropomorphism (humans projecting their own traits onto animals) and the inherent difficulties of studying emotions in nonhuman species.
Such emotions must have evolved out of a social necessity. Animals, once involved with others learn such social necessities. Hence a slight mistreatment from your side can upset your beloved friend. The relationships with pet animals are very mutual, we find a source of happiness, playing with them gives us a scope for physical exercising and the attention we give to them is returned manifold times through constant company they give us. Not only we talk to our pets without even thinking if they understand our language or are interested in them; animals when not in direct contact with us make up for a pleasant watching through their playing, jumping around and other surprising activities. Animals at home are a complete element of surprise because everyday we get to discover a new aspect of our pet. When you let down this very source of joy, you break its trust. Dogs empathize and sympathize with humans and in turn expect just a little encouragement from us, their masters. If we fail to provide so they become depressed since thy too need plenty of attention, care, love and time. If they are left alone and hardly taken outside for strolls, he is likely to feel and remain aloof. We, as the proud, responsible owners, also have some commitment towards them which we ought to fulfill other it will feel useless and unncessary to you. If someday you return home tired from work and your pet dog suddenly starts jumping on you, demanding to be taken outside for a long walk, we usually put it away. He does understands well that you will not take him out and will, instead move away with a bowed down head and a dejected heart.

Usually animals, especially dogs show attention seeking behaviour from their very puppyhood age. They communicate to us by showing actions or even barking, pawing at your hands, whinning etc which is perfectly normal. We try to stop their behaviour by yelling at them because we get annoyed. This discourages them. Like any other living creature, animals are also a basket full of emotions. When we, the all powerful humans stop them from channelizing their energy in the correct direction, they get depressed which at times may lead to an aggressive behaviour. This can later on become uncontrollable. Simply buying an animal and keeping it at home is not enough. Just bathing and feeding it daily and giving this the name of love and care is not enough. We become selfish and mean with the bonds we share with them. Do we take them for granted? Surprising to hear that we ourselves do not know this answer because we are so overloaded and preoccupied with our own worlds. Since we are their closest companion, we need to understand their psychology better. They have different needs, their own way or method of approaching things and their own workings of the brain. It may want to spend quality time with you to be happy and satisfied. It doesn’t like being left alone. When they do not get it, normally, they will react resultantly. Then, we cannot merely judge it as BAD or GOOD behaviour.

We vow to love whatever pet animal we bring home and when that vow is broken, the animal’s heart is broken. Animals love humans. Why can’t we love them back? Pet owning is a wonderful experience but if we are busy and as a result neglect them, we can never call ourselves ‘the responsible owners’. Maintaining a social bond with your pet companion is a lifelong process. So do not think that simply buying a pet dog and having a walk or two with it completes your task of showing generosity towards it. Training them, caring about them is also a good way to hook up with your pets. If you treat your dig like a showpiece meant only for decorating your household and not to treat it humanly, you simply don’t deserve to have them. Your pet will love nothing more than being commited to you for a lifetime. It will never doubt your love, your intentions nor be jealous or possessive. It will never get bored of you. It will not mind if you shout at him for minutes. Such a generous creature your pet proves to be. Such noble manners is he gifted with. The love from animals cannot be found elsewhere. It is said that animals constitute a small part of our lives but for them we are their whole lives. It will never demand materialistic things and fussing that you otherwise have to provide in case of others. All it needs is you to play with him often and give him some love. So, when, though you do not have to put in any effort to woo it, please do not neglect it by sheer means. Make your beloved animal feel loved.

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