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.

The post Why you need to have a Pet? appeared first on Pet Attack.

Rabbits make for great indoor pets who you do not really need to take care of by making them go on long walks but instead are known to be living, social beings who are so very active with humans. Human interactions are what keeps them away from depression and loneliness which is why they are the best pets that are a source of active entertainment for one and all. Rabbits even act as a good learning animal for little kids around the house as the new borns are able to retrieve a lot of vital education from the characteristics of this furry creature.

KID & BUNNY DEVELOPING STAGES

Rabbits have known to be a favourite amongst other indoor pets since the very 18^th century prior to which they were used for their fur or for food. Rabbits have distinctive personalities as they can be as playful as kittens, as independent as cats or even as loyal as dogs but at the very same time carry with themselves this aura of being unique in their own way. They are very adaptive in nature and can easily recognize and remember names as well as they can remember words, and can even use the litterboxes easily without creating a fuss. For rabbits, Pet shops and rabbit shows are usually high-stress settings. Foster homes, as well as some progressive shelters, offer a better chance to meet rabbits and to get to know them in an environment conducive to relaxed interactions, where their personalities can shine.

There are many things that must be taken into consideration when it comes to taking care of your pet rabbit, some of the relatively imperative ones have been listed as below:

1. Find a perfect cage:

It is vital for a new rabbit owner to find the appropriate cage for their pet rabbit as rabbit have the tendency to become ferocious if they feel like they are being cornered, or restricted into an area. The following aspects of a cage must be taken into account:-

• Cage must be either wooden or should be made of plastic.
• Cage must have wired bars attached to it.
• You can get a doe and a buck if you want to breed or if that is the only choice. It is recommended that you get your rabbit spayed or neutered.
• The cage must be latched at night for tight security.

THE PERFECT BUNNY CAGE

Wires are imperative in a cage as rabbits can get a disorder called pododermatitis if they are always on wire floors.

2. Rabbit Food:

For a newly born rabbit which is less than 6 Months old the following food stuff must always be AVOIDED:-

• CARROTS
• APPLES
• CORN
• BERRIES

For a dwarf rabbit, only one round of feeding is sufficient every day where as one may give Timothy Hay to rabbits when they are this young as this particular hay provides for the adequate nutrition.

For a rabbit which is older than 6 months one may provide the animal with a cup of fruits or vegetables or greens as a very tasty snack for them.

One must always AVOID pet store food for Rabbits, as they may cause sickness to your pet and may not always be fresh. Water is another element that must be provided to these animals as a necessity.

Overfeeding must always be avoided, as rabbits have the tendency to burn off carbohydrates and nutrients very quickly which is why consistency must always be taken into consideration when feeding such animals.

3. Rabbit Exercise:

Although rabbits can easily sustain inside a cage, but they must be let out once a while for proper and healthy development. Although leaving them outside in the environment hopping around all ALONE may lead to some bird snatching the poor bunny away, which is why they must be let out only and only under supervision.

One must purchase the appropriate rabbit harness and leash for such supervision to take place carefully as rabbits unlike dogs when on a walk tend to run away. When taking a rabbit out on a walk, the rabbit might dominate over your hands, and may walk you instead which is why one must keep up with them and have the stamina to walk along with their pet rabbits when they go out grazing grass. One gets more exercise while walking a rabbit than walking a dog in comparison.

4. Bunny Proofing:

It is important for any new rabbit owner to BUNNY PROOF their houses in order to adjust a bunny into their homes and vice-versa. This becomes a part of your lifestyle when getting a rabbit as your pet. Even if you keep the bunny in a cage, condo, or puppy pen, you still will need to safeguard your home when you let the rabbit out for supervised exercise. Rabbits are very curious and persistent creatures.

They will find a way to get into your computer cables, wires, molding, couch piping, slightly frayed rug, etc. They will eat your most important documents.

Cords must be concealed so that the rabbit cannot reach them. Exposed cords can be encased in vinyl tubing (found at hardware stores).

By splitting the tubing lengthwise with a utility knife the cord can be pushed inside it. Give your rabbit enough attention, safe chewables, and toys, so that she is distracted from chewing furniture and rugs. A cardboard box stuffed with hay makes an inexpensive play box. Young rabbits (under a year) are relatively more inclined to mischief and require more confinement and/or bunny-proofing than mature rabbits.

5. Maintaining a Rabbit’s Health:

One must keep the following things in mind when taking care of a pet rabbit:-

• One must regularly check the rabbit’s health by keeping a tab of the number of sneezes, coughing or running drops are exceeding the normal limit. Mild rabbit symptoms like these must be taken into account and be followed up with a check-up with the veterinarian as a safety measure.
• In order to keep your pet rabbits calm during any vet- visits, they must be flipped on their backs and their sides must be stroked gently so that they do not create a fuss during such visits. This process is even called TRANCING, which must be done very cautiously.
• One must never BATHE their rabbits, as they are very capable of maintain themselves and have enough natural oils pigments in their body to be hygienic.

On the other hand, water can get in their ears and their ears can get infected. Also, the stress of a bath can be very bad for your rabbit’s health.

• One must even groom their pets as often as they can by cutting their toe nails frequently in order to avoid any cuts or scratches. Rabbits are not known to be docile and may kick as well when being held up.

Rabbits are fun loving creatures for all who are not DOG PEOPLE or who are not CAT PEOPLE.

The post PET RABBITS- AS YOUR BEST FRIEND appeared first on Pet Attack.

Cuddly and adorable!

What strikes your mind? Of course, rabbits do.

There it comes hopping along, your pet rabbit, who is the latest addition to your family.

Rabbits fulfil the cute quotient and make excellent pets. Domestic rabbits are found in abundance today. Most people are fond of raising pets that are comforting and provide an enjoyable time to the owner. Rabbits are furry animals that hop around and burrow into the ground. Their snowy fur and adorable size make them favoured and exotic pets. Even their shyness is an endearing feature.

Have you just got your new rabbit and getting used to the idea of having a pet? It may seem like a daunting task.  Especially in case of these small animals such as rabbits, extra attention is required. Rabbits tend to be quite shy creatures and are wary of humans until they are accustomed to them.

You’ll first have to learn to be friends with your pet rabbit. Be gentle and do not stress him out. Coax him to be friends with you and those around you. Make sure he isn’t agitated around you, so that you do not get kicked by him when you try to lift him and pet him. Remember, rabbits have really strong hind legs and if they feel uncomfortable around you they might kick you! It will not only hurt you, but could cause serious harm to the rabbits themselves.

No one ever wants their pet to be sick, and in the case of rabbits, you might not even be aware of your pet being sick. It is difficult to detect any illness that your pet rabbit might be ailing from. With care and patient observation, you might soon become a rabbit expert and just know when your pet is sick and needs a visit to the vet.

Here are some ways to discover if your pet rabbit is sick:

1. Check your Rabbit’s Eyes: If your rabbit has contracted some eye infection, it will definitely show. Young rabbits are more prone to Conjunctivitis (more commonly known as pink eye). Your rabbit’s eye might be swollen and appear to be red. There might be quite some discharge from the eyes, which may cause the eyes to become sticky and close. The infection may spread to both eyes even, and cause both eyes to be shut. This is caused due to a bacterial infection and must be treated immediately.

      Look out for: Red eyes, discharge from eye.

An infected eye.

2. Ears might have mites: Rabbits have distinctive ears that make them appear adorable. Cute as it may look, the ears of the rabbit might be infested with mites which are external parasites. Mites may cause accumulation of serum in their ears. You would notice if your rabbit has mites in its ears, because it would be constantly scratching its ears. This could result in bacterial infections if left unchecked, and if severe may lead to weight loss and even nerve damage. A consultation with the vet would be good here too and the rabbit’s ears must be cleaned to remove the serum in the ears.

     Look out for: Vigorous scratching of ears

3. Diarrhoea is dangerous: It really is a no-brainer that if your rabbit has acute diarrhoea that is sick and needs veterinary attention immediately. If your rabbit is really young and suddenly it has diarrhoea, it could even lead to death within a day or two if not cared for.

     Look out for: Diarrhoea

4. Hair Loss: Hair loss is an indicator of fungal infection that your pet rabbit might have contracted. If your rabbit has patchy skin and it has hair loss, which might mostly be found in its face. The fungus might cause skin abrasions, so look out for wounds in the skin of your pet rabbit too. Do not wait too long to get it checked, even though it might turn out to be a false alarm.

     Look out for: Hair loss near nose, eyes and skin abrasions

5. Crooked Teeth: Everyone’s bound to notice the long and large front teeth that rabbits have. Straight long teeth are indispensable for your rabbit to munch those yummy carrots and other food that you give him. The uneven growth of rabbit teeth is a serious problem and the condition is known as Malocclusion. Unless you go to the vet have the teeth evened regularly, it is going to be extremely difficult for your pet to eat its meals.

     Look out for: Overgrown and uneven teeth

Overgrown teeth can cause serious harm.

6. Wry Neck: Have you noticed your rabbit tilting its head all the time? This is a sign of a severe ear infection. When a rabbit’s inner ear gets infected, it starts tilting its head all the time. Even after the infection gets treated your pet might still have that stiff neck forever. You should make sure that you get your rabbit treated before its infection spreads to the inner ear causing this head tilt.

     Look out for: Head tilting

This might all look scary, but you will begin to notice these things when you spend time with your pet rabbit. In most likelihood, if you look after your pet well, feed him nutritious food as well as clean his cage regularly, your rabbit is going to be hale and healthy. Just observe your pet regularly, so that you will know when he is not eating properly or is lethargic and sickly. Then a visit to the vet is warranted for.

All you ever need is patience, care and most importantly love for your pet rabbit!

The post Is Your Rabbit Sick? appeared first on Pet Attack.

One of the most naive facts that are attached to adoption agencies for pets are regarded to be false in nature. Facts of which people are unaware of generally makes one assume that such agencies work for nothing as such. This in fact is FALSE. Agencies for Pet Adoption tend to work the hardest towards spreading awareness about pets in dire need of shelter and care from foster homes and pet lovers. Such pets generally await for two consequences in their respective conditions:

1. SHELTER FROM PET LOVERS
2. DEATH

This is the hard truth. People are so oblivious to the conditions that these pets are surviving in, it is unbelievable and so shocking. Living in a supposed “developing” world wherein all are considered to be AWARE and CARING FOR ALL, it is shocking how people still carry the burden of being unknown almost every day of their lives. Such people end up spreading such false perceptions about re homing of pets to others in a way that describes these shelters and facilitating centers as being a no less than a slaughter house. This not only leads to misconceptions being formed in the minds of people around us, it even ends up making one doubt the existence of such agencies who work day in and day out towards providing for nothing but noble rehabilitation centers for pets in need of them.

WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO PICK THEM UP AND GIVE THEM A HOME

People end up becoming reluctant due to such misconceptions and thus there is an innate need to provide for the TRUTH in its totality and pure self. Truth be told: Such pets are more than keen to provide you with more love and affection despite the negative stereotypes that they carry with themselves. Being termed as “unwanted” is not what anyone would want to be feeling like, which is why we must do away with such immature and misrepresented facts AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Some MYTHS that are carried around about PET ADOPTION AGENCIES are as follows:

MYTH #1:

 “AGENCIES WILL PROVIDE ME WITH AN UNKNOWN PET” 

This is one of the primary concern of any “about to be” pet owner that seems to crop up when wanting to adopt a furry creature. This is completely false, a research study shows that when one tries to attain a pet from an agency/shelter: MORE information is provided for against the information provided for pets by a breeder or a pet store. No matter how authenticated your pet store might be, you would never double check such stores, but consider this very fact: why would one want to let you adopt a bad specimen of a creature which in this case is a pet, despite providing you with a valid contract and all the valid legal documents ? All decent pet shelters/agencies have the provision of being able to provide you with the necessary documents that you may require in order to satisfy yourself when adopting a pet.

Even more so, such shelters contain with themselves pets who have been disowned by their ex-families due to financial issues or health related problems and if the pet that you are looking for has already been staying at the shelter for a long while you might be able to get a better background story to the pet from their previous owners/ the volunteers who have been taking care of the pets. They could provide you with the behavioral tendencies of the pet and let you know about the relevant information of the particular pet you are thinking of adopting.

 MYTH#2:

“NO PURE BRED/NO STRAY DOG = NO PET ADOPTION”

What usually one thinks when they get to know that the dog they were considering to adopt two seconds ago, that they are “stray dogs” or “non-pure breeds” is that SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH THEM which is why they are living in the shelter/agency now. UNTRUE. Only because they ran away from their “MALICIOUS” masters makes them “UNRULY”. Only because they were “SEIZED” by the police for roaming about in the residential area makes them “CONTAIN EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS” which are permanent, always. Only because they were “AGGRESSIVE” after being tortured by other dogs makes them “VICIOUS”. FALSE. FALSE. FALSE.

The only thing “wrong” with such animals is that they can’t find a home with loved ones to live in.

MYTH#3:

“SHELTER PETS ALWAYS HAVE A DISEASE”

This might not be completely false. But at the very same time, it is not something that cannot be taken care of. Most of the authenticated shelters/agencies provide the owners with a NO-CHARGE VET FACILITY option or already take care of such problematic pets and will not let you hamper your own health only because they are monsters. Because they are not. A kennel cough is not something one could die of. Vaccines for diseases like DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, par influenza) will always be provided for, even before the adoption takes place.

MYTH#4 

“AGENCY PROVIDED PETS COME WITH BAGGAGE”

The only baggage one might face could be the amount of poop/urine that one might have to deal with – but wait, that happens when a baby comes in as well.

Trust me, when I say this, there are no differences between a pet provided for by a pet store or one adopted from an agency; if they are not pure breeds- so what? Research shows that pure breeds tend to carry more problems regarding their health than stray pets/mixed breeds. Their personalities do not differ- pure breeds might cause more trouble for you if not less in comparison to such pets. If you think they will die earlier- that’s wrong; they might live more than your Pomeranian’s and Labradors- provided you take care of them, the correct way. Treat them like pets, NORMAL PETS and get the love back that you provide them with, with an additional security aspect(with dogs).

MYTH#5

“AGENCY WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH WHAT I WANT”  

Emphasizing on the fact again- if you find an authenticated agency; you will find what you are looking for. Sites such as PETFINDER and PEOPLE FOR ANIMALS provide the option of searching up for the pet you are looking for at a very minimalistic price.

It may seem that the task of creating awareness over this issue is next to impossible- FALSE. FALSE. FALSE. It is possible, and agencies like PEOPLE FOR ANIMALS help provide you with the same.

When it comes to providing for an adoption agency and National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy provides you with the article regarding the very same, allowing you to understand that what you are paying for is nothing in comparison to what you might be paying at a pet store or to a breeder.

So go ahead, spread awareness- if we can adopt babies from around the world, then why not pets?

Let’s find these homeless, loving creatures a safe, healthy environment to nurture themselves in.

The post PET ADOPTION AGENCIES- MYTHS ATTACHED TO THEM appeared first on Pet Attack.

Owner often overfed their rabbit, he should know that overfeeding is the main thing which causes obesity in rabbits. Yes! You’ve heard it right, rabbits, too, can become overweight just like any other pets. Obesity in rabbits can cause many other problems, related to health and behavioral, which can decrease the life – span of his life. Rabbits which are suffering from obese are unable to function their body normally. I will tell you everything about the problem and treatment of obesity in rabbits. But firsr let me tell you about the causes of obesity :-

CAUSES :-

Well, we all know that human beings also suffers with the same problem – Obesity, and even the causes are same in human beings as well as in the animals. The three things that causes obesity in rabbits are – Too much of food, no exercise, improper diet. If you control these three causes then you’d be able to control gaining weight in rabbits. We often see that people overfed their rabbits in the name of treats, sometimes they do this for fun or any other reason but this is the top most reason that causes obesity in our adorable bunnies, you should know that you should feed him treat once or twice in a week. Secondly, sometimes people do not know about the correct diet of rabbits so they simple feed everything, for example, feeding only alfalfa – based pellets can cause this as alfalfa is higher in proteins, you should feed them a good combination of healthy diet like grass – based pellets, fruits, grass hay etc. In the last, not letting him to roam outside the cage can also cause obesity in rabbits.

DANGERS OF OBESITY IN RABBITS :-

Obesity is a serious problem whether it occurs in humans or pets, it must be treated, otherwise, it can bring many other health and behavioral problems. Over – weight rabbits can develop the following problems :-

♦  Heart problems

♦ Improper digestion

♦  Arthritis *Restricted movement

♦ Inability to groom

♦ Laziness

♦ Skin problems

♦ Bladder stones

♦ Reproductive issues

♦ Fly strike *Sore feet

♦  Pododermatitis which is a common infection of a rabbit’s hock.

♦ Shortened life – span and poor quality of life.

So now you have convinced that how obesity is dangerous for rabbits. Obese rabbits live a miserable and painful life. Sadness is, rabbits do not show any signs if they are suffering from any diseases however you will come to know in the end only when these diseases become worse.

SIGNS :-

There are many signs of obesity rabbits which may range from subtle to very obvious. You should do the most important thing which can help in preventing obese and that is – Observation. You must observe daily your adorable bunny if he shows any illness or weight gain. This will not only help you to identify the illness but it will also helps to create a bond between you and your adorable bunny. The visible signs of obese rabbits may include the following :-

♦ Sluggish behaviour

♦ Difficulty during self – grooming

♦ Bulging skin behind legs

♦  Flaky skin

♦ Difficulty in walking

PREVENTION :-

You have now seen that how obesity is dangerous for your bunny and you do not want your pet to fall into obese category, but do not worry as I told you about the health affects of obesity so I will also like to tell you how to prevent this. Obesity in rabbits can be acheived easily if we aren’t careful. You can prevent this problem by adopting two steps which are as follows :-

1. EXERCISE :-

If you think that exercise is not as important as in dogs or cats then you are wrong because every species needs to do exercise. Letting him to do exercise will not only helps him to stay fit but it will also allow you to spend some quality time with your adorable companion. If you have a large yard then you can allow him to roam in it where he can stretch his legs, you can repeat this exercise daily one hour. However make sure to make the yard predator – proofed. If you don’t have yards then you can simply let him to take inside your home but make sure to keep your cords out of reach as they love to chew! You can also take him by putting him on a leash to the park nearby your neighbourhood after giving proper training. Wherever you take him but make sure to let him exercise atleast one hour daily.

2. PROPER FEEDING :-

The best way The best way to prevent obesity is to feed him a correct balanced – diet. They requires high fibre content im their diet as they are herbivorous. Rabbits’ proper good diet may include good quality hay, vegetables, fruits and plenty of fresh leafy greens. You can also add pellets but in a small amount. Giving pellets contains high amount of protein so feeding him too much of pellets can make him over – weight.

The post Obesity in Rabbits! appeared first on Pet Attack.

We could able to find a lot of soft animals available in the world, which we could be petted. In such categories, I brought you some list of animals which can be kept as a pet in the city sides home (metro-lives) in this article. The listed pets will have a great tend to attract people and same time; it gives you a royal look.

5. Guinea Pig

Guinea Pig is one of the smallest pet among others. It sometimes called as Cavies. It is originated from South America. Though its name is weird, it looks good. It has tendency to draw the people towards it. We could say, Guinea Pig is one of the best pet to have in the city sides’ home, because it could able to live in cages (small or huge, it depends on you) happily.

It is a tiny creator with puffy hair all around the body (it may be small or long hair). Though it is tiny creator, it weighs around 1.5 kgs. It got cute and dark bally eye which is really attractive point. It has flexible food habitat. It likes to have fresh vegetables, Commercial pellets, prairie hay along with the water. It loves to walk on pipes and hide in the small or hidden box, which will be a good entertain for you.

4. Parrot

Though there are a lot of birds in the world, Parrot got a whole and separate place for it. It can’t compare to any other birds. Its appearances are doping beauty. It is originated form South side of the world, as it need moderate temperature to survey. But still, it has tendency to hold itself in cold climate even. Mostly, Parrot would be caged but some of the trained parrot left free to roam around, still kept under care. Parrot has special talent to attract and entertain the people. It could able to imitate the master’s (owner’s) voice or words. And, it swings well in its cage.

This beautiful creator has good body structure. It’s curved bill body with upright stance, along with the erotic Chinese fan like feather looks awesome in whole. It likes to have mixed seed and grain, fresh vegetables along with the water has its food. Generally it is grows 12 to 100 cms depend on its species nature.

3. Rabbit

Rabbits vary from variety of ranges. Each rabbit species has different outlook and slight differ in body structure. Though it is seen all over the world, it is highly available and originated from North America. Still, we could find equal amount in South-West Europe, South-East Asia, South America, South Africa and more parts in Japan. Rabbit has habitat to live in meadows, wood and forest (grassy land). So, we could cage the rabbits with grassy land at the bottom, or else can create meadow structured home to stay.

Rabbit has lovely body structure. The bended body with puffy hair over it. It uses its rear legs to stand, sit and jump-start, and front to hold and land from jump. The attracting point in the rabbits is its ear. It got to have a long ear. Sometimes, because of its ear, it is called as bunny (bunny ears). It likes to eat fresh carrots (mostly), vegetables and pellets along with water. It loves to tap the ground and make funny noises.

2. Cat

Cats are considered as cutest, sexiest and cunning animal among all other pets. It is the most common pet all over the world and available even. But, in South Africa, we could able to find wild breed of cat mostly, so can’t be petted easily. Usually, cat is never be caged. Sometimes, if it isn’t trained properly or not good enough to roam around. It left free to roam around, as it loves to have.

Cat has cylindrical body with four beamed legs at the corners. It has cute face with black nose and upright ears. And, as like other mammals, it got to have an erotic tail at back. Cats are good in adapting to the environment. If you are vegetarian, it likes to have cup-rice and milk. If you are non-vegetarian, it loves to have meat and milk. And, it makes lovely sound meow… So, it sometimes called as meow-y.

1. Hamster

Hamster is very famous for its size. It is tiny in size and we could carry in our pocket even. It is sometimes called as pocket pet, even. It is originated from Russia and German, though it is available all over the world. And even, it is exported to places where it doesn’t. It makes itself to get fit with the cage. It loves to walk on wheel and make cut-biting sound. It has unique habitat, it sleeps all day and wake up all night. It suits well for the working people, because it entertains its owner (master) by walking on wheel at evening time.

Hamster has a tiny body structure; it looks similar to the rats. But its body is covered with combo colored softy hairs. It grows around 15 to 17 cms long. It likes to have pellets, fresh fruits and vegetables (occasionally) along with water as its food.

The post Pets love to have!!! appeared first on Pet Attack.

Let’s say there’s someone who really loves animals, someone who genuinely cares for animals and would find it a privilege to be able to own a pet. But due to some reason is unable to fulfill this wish of theirs. Financial constraints, lack of space, unavailability of time to devote to them or incompatibility with the other members of the household. Sometimes, one’s profession is such, that it demands constant travel. This translates to inability to take proper care of the pet. In cases like these, there is a need for establishments that cater to such people. A place where one can go and live the life they have always dreamed of.

The concept of petting zoos first came into the picture when the London zoo started a children’s zoo with domesticated animals and trained wild animals, which they could play with, touch, pet and even feed. With time this idea grew and spread to other cities around the world. There are places that are still reluctant to accept the idea of opening up their zoos for human contact. The apprehension could be due to the investment that it requires in terms of capital and staff. While at the same time, some might say that there’s a certain risk factor involved for people and animals alike. One cannot expect every person to be genuinely caring towards the animals. Certain people including children find it amusing to try and harm or pester the poor creatures. Similarly, some time an animal might be particularly unpredictable.

But zoos, where this experiment has been successful, vouch for the increased acceptance and popularity of animals as an integral part of one’s well being, compared to where one could only view them from beyond safety enclosures. It is also an effective source of revenue generation as well as increased employment opportunities amongst professionals trained in handling animals. The importance of affinity towards animals was propagated through such an experience. Awareness towards how they should be treated was also generated. Hands on experiences are useful in making professions to do with animals, an evidently viable career option too. It also helped to change the thought amongst people that one must stay away from animals. One needs to be careful but not scared of them. As a result people got an opportunity to experience bonds with animals. One could explore the love that any animal feels for someone who treats it right, whether they are pet, domestic or even wild, in most cases.

The animals that are usually considered for petting zoos are well trained. Domestic animals such as cows and goats are often used. Some wild animals that are harmless are also present. Alpacas, llamas, monkeys, pythons and even kangaroos are often found to be some of the popular choices. Guinea pigs, turtles, birds, miniature donkeys, rabbits and ponies are especially loved by young children. The zoos provide the patrons with relevant food, to ensure the health and well being of the animals is not compromised, and at the same time it is convenient for them. Food often fed to them includes hay, grass or crackers based on the animal in question. This is an exception to the general rule of not feeding zoo animals.

Animal lovers will tell you that the mere petting of an animal can successfully help you release the stress and tension of regular day-to-day life. Even watching them go about their business at leisure soothes the nerves. A genuinely happy animal can transmit similar feelings into those around it. Their lovable and adorable nature makes one feel special in an instant. Scientific studies have proven the benefits of constant interaction and contact with animals. Kids benefit especially from pet animals, and since one may not be able to own one, having a place where they can experience the joys of being a pet owner, even for a short time, can help make the child less aggressive, sharper and a better human being.

While there are innumerable benefits of contact with animals, one needs to be aware if they are allergic to any particular animal. Some people might be prone to allergic reactions to animals such as cats, or animal hair. If so, one must avoid any contact with them, at the risk of fatalities. Apart from that, there is also the risk of transmitting diseases to and from the animals. Hence, it is critical to properly cleanse yourselves before and after coming in contact with them.

Along the lines of petting zoos, cat cafes are now popular in some eastern countries especially Japan. These cafes allow people to interact with cats exclusively at nominal charges. The physiological and psychological benefits of petting cats are well documented, especially among the elderly. The purring sound that they emanate while being petted is deemed to be comforting for most people. Their unassuming, no-fuss temperament is highly appreciated by cat lovers. There is an increasing need of establishments along such lines considering the kind of lifestyle that is becoming common lately. A place where one can rejuvenate among silent, loving, non-judgmental creatures that help you relax without asking for anything in return.

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I know it will feel awesome to have an animal hopping all over the house. A house rabbit is a pet rabbit kept for companionship that lives inside its owner’s home. Although the rabbit’s earliest link with the humans was based on the ‘fur-and-food relationship’, people kept rabbits from as early as the 18th century. British poet William Cowper kept hares in his home to help combat severe depression and he constantly wrote eloquently of his love and appreciation for such companion animals.

We have often heard people calling someone “a dog person” or a “cat person”, but who exactly is a “rabbit person” ? According to Jennifer Saver, a rabbit owner is someone who enjoys observing as much as handling and one who does not easily get upset at its natural tendencies like chewing and digging.
Rabbits are relatively quiet animals. They do have an unique communicating method, from binkying to flopping to thumping. They are sociable, highly intelligent. They have distinctive striking personalities. They can be playful and silly as kittens or puppies, intelligent and fascinating as cats and loyal and openly lovable as dogs. Many owners claim that domestic rabbits are, in their way, every bit smart as a dog or a cat. They are very adaptive and elegant. An entire white ball of white fur will always be cuddly and pleasant to watch.
Male rabbits are called Bucks; females are called Does. A young hare is termed a Leveret. Many house rabbits have successfully cohabited with the family dog or cat. Leaving them alone with rabbits can be a little dangerous as animals with aggressive predatory instincts or overenthusiastic play can result in the dog or cat attacking the bunny spontaneously. However with indoor cats and well mannered dogs, they get along pretty well. Proper safety will ensure its well being. Bunnies can change your life. They are wonderful and fun to live with.
Rabbits can live uptill 12 years. They quickly get bored if not given enough space to explore and move about. So, one must follow these ways of making them a happy pet.
1. Giving them space- if a bunny is kept in a puppy pen, a multi-level condo or a cage, you must let the bunny out on a regular basis as they love sniffling around and examining their surroundings.
2. Coming down to their level- Wait for them to approach you so that they first build the trust on you. Once comfortable, they enjoy being petted and have your attention.
3. Being creative with cardboard- cutting rabbit sized doors and windows in an old cardboard box, you’ve built into a cardboard castle for your rabbit to rule. They’ll love widening and shaping the doors to their liking. Rabbits also like tunnels. So be sure to save and reshape any old narrow, tall box or tube for their enjoyment.
4. Toys – when you are away from home, selection of correctly shaped toys is a necessity for your rabbit. They love toys that they can hold in their mouths and toss. Cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towel rolls are their favourite. Other toys include untreated wood products, hard plastic baby toys, plastic balls with bells inside, pine cones, phone books. But the caution is some kinds of wood are poisonous for them like redwood, peach and cherry.
Whether it’s bowling or anything else, rabbits love to play. Their unique personality unfolds. Games that play into their natural tendencies, especially bunny bowling reveals their mischievous side as they love to knock things over. Playing with rabbits doesn’t only establish a bond with your pet, but provides it with much needed mental stimulation to thrive.

Access to unlimited amounts of hay makes up about 80% of a rabbits diet. Adult house rabbits should be given grass hay while young and growing rabbits can receive Alfalfa hay. Pellets made from hay may supplement its diet. In addition they can be given leafy vegetables- green and fresh daily for adequate vitamins and minerals. The owner should try to stay away from ‘the pet store food’ as it can make them sick. It’s a complete no-no to over feed them. But they need to be feed everyday because rabbits , usually the adult, big ones burn off their carbs and nutrients very fast. They should never be left to starve. Also one should make sure that they have fresh water to drink. Rabbits drink a lot of water.
If you think of bring a furry rabbit friend home, remember they can be a costly purchase and a pinch to your pocket. Rabbit ownership requires the same commitment as owning a puppy and should be taken care of seriously. A rabbit has the best chance of being a well-loved pet only if the owner is well-prepared. Books and Internet resources help close the knowledge gap, but there is no peace like interacting with the rabbits ‘up close and personal’ to give you an unique kind of feeling for this species. Foster homes as well as progressive shelters provide a greater opportunity to know the rabbits well in an environment conductive to relaxed interactions, where their personality opens up readily.
Kids and rabbits together can be a delight but the dilemmas cannot be unnoticed. They can be unsuitable for toddlers. Experts say that young children and rabbits do not mix well and this fact cannot be emphasized well. Children are loving beings but their love means holding, cuddling and picking up which can make the rabbit insecure and frightened. Many bunnies are dropped accidentally by the children, resulting in broken legs and back. A rabbit might also bite or scratch your child to protect itself, which can be mistaken as ‘bad behaviour’ by us and hence they can be euthanized. However responsible and properly trained children can be left with rabbits who can aid to their needs to form long lasting bonds besides respecting animals that carry into adulthood.

There are more than four dozen recognized breeds of rabbits with various colour, sizes, shapes, fur type, body type to choose from. It is always best to select pet rabbit keeping aside all the pre-occupations regarding colour, breed and size.
Adopting rabbits from a shelter rather than purchasing from a pet store can be a win- win situation. Shelters and Rescue Organisations know the rabbit behaviour and can match an owner with a rabbit; “a good-fit”. Rabbits do not need annual vaccinations but regular checkups might detect small health problem which can be cured instantly. They should also be sprayed and neutered once they reach sexual maturity by a veterinarian experienced in rabbit surgery.
A new rabbit is usually timid in new surroundings but given time, they will make themselves at home. A bunny’s typical pattern of exploration starts from an area of perceived safety to venturing out a few feet at a time, increasing his range with each successive trip. Many bunnies even adapt to the hustle, bustle and noise of the cities remarkably. Many owners even remain surprised at their rabbit’s gregariousness.
Rabbits are clean pets if properly litter trained. Selecting a right place according to his wish and keeping a litter-box there is of much help. Rabbit cages must be atleast three to four feet long, giving them place to relax all by themselves yet not secluded from the family. Rabbits need a lot of enrichment activities. Litter training can be frustrating but persistence and tolerance can make it right. A rabbit’s teeth grows continuously all her life and they become prodigous chewers. You should rabbit-proof the area by making electrical wires, house plants etc inaccessible to it.
Keep this in mind: Pick up your bunny by carefully supporting his forequarters with one hand and then the hindquarters with the other. Tuck him up under your arm or hold him snugly against your body so that their eyes are never covered. Do not pick up a rabbit by his ear. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to clip his nails. Regular brushing helps remove excess hair.

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In one of the previous posts in this blog, we have gone through few of the interesting movies based on pets. Now we shall turn our attention towards literature in which pets make appearances. For all the pet lovers who are also avid readers, here is a list of where you can find pets in books.
1. Dogs
• Argos from The Odyssey

The epitome of faithfulness, Argos is one of the first dogs to have appeared in Western literature. He was the only one to recognize Odysseus when he returned to his home in disguise, after a long gap of twenty years. Upon seeing his master after so long, old Argos put his years down n wagged his tail, dying shortly after. Seeing his old friend’s loyalty brought tears in to eyes of Odysseus
• Toto from the Wizard of Oz
The little black dog of Dorothy Gale, Toto is the famous character of the books under the title “the Wizard of Oz”. He accompanied Dorothy on her adventures to Oz and other lands. He does not talk in many of the books unlike his other animal counterparts. Later it is revealed that he is capable of speaking but he only chooses not to.

2. Cats

• Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland

Possibly one of the most annoying yet amusing cats of all times, the Cheshire cat is known for his mischievous grin. He often engages Alice in interesting and baffling conversations. He possesses the ability to appear and disappear at will, thus escaping from punishment and danger quite a few times.
• The Cat in the Hat
The cat in the hat is a peculiar cat who enters the home of Sally and her brother while their mother is away. He dresses up and talks like a human being. He first proposes to play games with the children, making a mess in their house in the process. But just as their mother is about to return, he also manages to clean up the whole house, thus saving the kids from getting into trouble.

3. Horses
• Black Beauty

A must read for all horse lovers, Black Beauty is the story of a horse from his childhood to his old age. Here, the horse himself narrates his story and speaks of his memories. He has to face many hardships and also cruelty at the hands of others. But he overcomes it all and teaches everybody lessons of kindness, sympathy etc
• Houyhnhnm from Gulliver’s Travels
Houyhnhnm are a race of very intelligent and rational talking horses, with whom Gulliver comes into contact. They are calm and never do wrong things. All of them agree on the rightness of things and so there is never a difference of opinion amongst them. However, these horses are devoid of emotions like love and affection. But they do take interest in the well-being of all.

4. Rabbits
• Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh
He is often the self-appointed leader of the lot and can get bossy at times. He makes plans but they do not usually go the way he intends them to, as he misses some important points. He also likes to organize things. He is loyal to his friends but take some time to warm up to outsiders.
• Peter Rabbit from The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Peter Rabbit is an anthropomorphic rabbit who wears a jacket and shoes. He lives with his close family members in a rabbit hole. He once goes to his neighbor’s garden and eats a lot of vegetables. As a punishment, his neighbor takes away his jacket and shoes. Later on, Peter once again sneaks into his neighbor’s garden to take back his clothes which now adorn the scarecrow there.

5. Birds
• The Ugly Duckling
This is perhaps the most famous story about a bird, which is told to children right from the time when they are small. The story speaks of a little duckling who is ridiculed by everyone for his looks. He moves from place to place but nobody accepts him. Finally when he matures, he turns into a beautiful swan and then is loved by all.
• Fawkes from Harry Potter

Fawkes is the name of a mythical creature, called Phoenix, in the Harry Potter series. He was extremely loyal to his master, Dumbledore. He also helped Harry many of the times that he was in danger and also healed him once, with his tear. Fawkes was highly intelligent and understood his master and he was also capable of knowing when his help was needed.

Most of you might be familiar with many of the pet characters above for they have appeared in famous works of literature. Some of these works have also been made into movies, cartoons or series. But the adaptation of the book is not always perfect on screen. Therefore, it is suggested that you read the books first as emotions and feelings can be better experienced in books than on television. I hope you like the books and are able to connect with the animals mentioned here. Happy reading!

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What is the first thing that comes to your find when I say rabbits? For most of us it is our beloved character Bugs Bunny from the cartoon The Looney Toones. We always imagine rabbits munching on carrots but normally rabbits do not like carrots at all. Some might but mostly rabbits eat only green leafy stuff and hay. What is worse is that due to the notion of rabbits eating carrots people start feeding rabbits nothing but carrots and it leads to death in most cases.

Rabbits are adorable little balls of fur that need our love and attention; if they are properly trained they are really friendly and become companion animals. Rabbits come in different sizes and colours, brown, white or a mixture of both. If trained well rabbits learn to use the litter box but due to hormonal changes unspayed and unneutered rabbits try and mark their territory. To avoid this they have to be spayed and neutered and this not only prevents aggressive behaviour and excessive chewing but it will also give your rabbit a long long life. The best time to neuter your rabbit is between ages 3 ½ months to 6 months. If your rabbit is more than 2 years old check with a vet first before you decide to neuter your rabbit.

Most of us don’t like to keep our pets in cages which of course is a very good thing but in case you have a rabbit, keep it in a cage for sometime in the beginning atleast. Once it gets accustomed to using the litter box in its cage you can allow it to freely roam outside. To train a rabbit properly you must use treats and praises the same way as you would train a dog.

We all have heard of baby proofing but bunny proofing is not a much known concept.  Rabbits have the ability to chew on everything, be it curtains, drapes, furniture and if can lay its furry paws on some wires and cords it will chew through it too. It’s not their fault; it is in their nature to chew. To prevent this, exposed cords must be encased in vinyl tubing and others must be hidden from their sight. Rabbits like dogs and even cats need toys to play with, small chew toys distract them from chewing the furniture and even a cardboard box filled with hay works well as a playground for them. Rabbits get along well with both cats and dogs and you can even keep another rabbit if the first is neutered. Getting another rabbit will be a good idea because your rabbit will have a companion to play with when you are not around and it will not get bored.

MAJOR HEALTH PROBLEMS

Bacterial balance: rabbits have good bacteria in their digestive tract and this balance between good and bad bacteria must not be broken because it will lead to the death of your rabbit.

Prevention: stale food must not be given to your rabbit and sudden change in food habits must not be made.

Intestinal blockages:  like cats, rabbits have the tendency to clean themselves which results in fur balls but unlike cats they do not have the ability to cough out the fur ball. This leads to intestinal blockage.

Prevention: always keep your rabbit’s fur brushed and groomed. Give your rabbit space and time to exercise, add veggies to its diet and during heavy molting make sure you give your rabbit petroleum laxatives.

Infectious bacteria: most people believe that viruses and not bacteria cause diseases in rabbits but this is not true. Bacteria are responsible for most diseases in rabbits. Drugs belonging to the penicillin family should never be given to rabbit because this may destroy the good intestinal bacteria.

DANGER SIGNS

If you see any of these signs call a vet immediately

• Sudden loss of appetite with bloat
• Loss of appetite with runny nose
• Diarrhea
• Labored breathing
• Swelling and lumps
• Urine soaked rear legs
• Sudden change in behaviour

THINGS YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR RABBIT COMFORTABLE

• Litter box
• Roomy cage
• A small bed
• Water
• Feeding bowl
• Pet carrier
• Toys

GROOMING

• Toenail clippers
• Flea comb
• Flea products safe for rabbits
• Brush

Once you see a rabbit in a pet store you can’t help but get one home. They are adorable little creatures that make wonderful pets and are suitable pets for children of all ages.

Rabbits may be small pets but they need a lot of exercise. They need an hour or two everyday to jump and hop around. But don’t leave your bunny outside unsupervised, birds or other animals like snakes or ferrets may take your bunny away and kill it. The best way to make your rabbit do some exercise it to buy a harness and leash and then take it for a walk in your neighbourhood. Not only will it be safe from predators this way but it will also look really cute if you have a rabbit walking on the road with you.

Rabbits may have all the qualities to make a good pet but before you decide to buy one make sure you can keep one properly. Just because they are not dogs doesn’t mean that they won’t need your love or attention. Gather as much information as you can on rabbits and then think about getting one home. Remember that pets are there to give you company and love when you need it not to amuse or entertain you when you are bored.

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