children's toys stuffed cat

On the other side of the world, there is a place North Americans are unfamiliar with: it's called Tiger Island. Tiger Island is home to six Bengal and eight Sumatran tigers. The tigers that live there are not confined to cages (though they are not tame); they are hand raised and enjoy playing, swimming, and wrestling with their handlers everyday. This incredible place, located between The Gold Coast and Brisbane in Australia, offers visitors a one-of a kind and unique tiger experience. If you're ever lucky enough to go down under to visit Tiger Island, you will be able to see tiger presentations (where you will learn all about these amazing animals), have a photo taken with a real tiger, and watch tigers walk through the park with their handlers (where you can both talk to the handlers and pet the tigers). And, as a final souvenir, you can shop in the Bengal Bazaar on Tiger Island, where you can choose multiple stuffed tiger toys to take home.

While most of us will never have the opportunity to visit Tiger Island, we can get the next best thing right here at home: stuffed tiger toys.Stuffed tiger toyscome in all sizes and are ideal plush toys to cuddle and hug.

Stuffed tiger toys also offer parents a rare opportunity to teach their children about these beautiful wild cats. With these plush toys, children can learn that tigers live primarily in parts of Asia (China, India, Indonesia, Nepal) and Far East Russia. They are the largest cat in the world weighing up to 700 pounds. Their patterns of red-orange and black stripes are unique to each cat - no two patterns are ever the same. While we know that cats are not fond of water, tigers love it - in order to keep themselves cool they will often take baths during the hottest parts of the day. In addition, they have webbed feet which makes them powerful swimmers.

While they once roamed freely in great numbers, three of the nine tiger sub-species has become extinct in the last century and experts believe there are as few as 3200 left in the wild. The World Wild Life Fund gives the opportunity to 'adopt' a tiger so that the money donated can go towards education and help to save the species. When an adoption is made, you will receive a package of various tiger goodies including stuffed tiger toys.

Sadly, seeing a tiger in a zoo or wildlife park (or in the wild on television) may eventually become a thing of the past due to their dwindling numbers. Stuffed tiger toys may be the only way we have to remember these majestic cats. Teaching both children and adults about animal conservation and the dangers tigers face in the wild from the human population, is an important part of trying to save them. Whether stuffed tiger toys are part of a plush collection or simply represent an animal you love, they are a fitting tribute to these impressive wild cats.

Shopping Through Online Pet Stores

Caring for an animal has its own kind of special rewards, and unique responsibilities. It has gone way beyond just taking one in the house, and giving it something to eat and a place to sleep. Branches of science are now dedicated to researching and learning about the hows and whys of taking care of them. Different products are also being created and developed every day in answer to the growing demands of pet owners trying to do well by their non-human family members.

Along with the innovations on pet products, these products are also entering a new age, and that is through the online pet store. This is a great step in making the best products available to a larger number of pet owners, all over the world.

Shopping Online

Almost anything that anyone could want can be found online, and even a lot of things that people do not know they even need. There are websites dedicated to selling pet supplies, and websites that sell general merchandise with a category for products for pets.

There are quite a few things that an online pet store can have over a pet store at the mall:

1.Variety in products: an online shop can give access to small manufacturers of quality products that do not have a big distribution capacity. Start-up companies that have great products but little capital for big marketing and promotions will usually try to break into the market this way.

2.Less expensive products: online stores have less expenses for upkeep and operations. In saving money from these expenses, online stores are able to sell the same products at a lower price.

3.Product information: if a customer gets lucky, he will find a store attendant that will tell him more than where what he is looking for is located. Online stores on the other hand will put everything that a buyer might want to learn about the product in their description page, which the customers can browse at their leisure.

4.Internet stores are always open: most website owners make it a requirement that their servers have the most up time.

Minor Adjustments

On the other hand, there are a few things you need to be wary of when buying online, though these can be easily addressed and well worth the other conveniences that they offer:

1.Customers will not get to see the product before hand: a customer can read reviews of the product or ask around if anybody has ever had an experience with them. Choose a store that will give the money back if the product is not as described on the page.

2.Waiting for deliveries: it doesn't take long to have the products delivered to the customer's home, and there are options for the speed in which they will be delivered.

3.Security concerns: paying online can still send some people into panic, but most online stores will have the proper protocols for their customer's protection. Look for their security certificates before buying anything online.

how to upholster car seats

Seats in an automobile may show signs of serious wear and tear long before you are ready to trade in a perfectly good car. It is a relatively simple project to remove the old upholstery and replace it with new fabric that will breathe new life into the interior of your automobile. By following some basic principles you can learn to upholster different fabric on car seats and replace the old fabric with new fabric.

1. Step 1

   Remove the seats to be reupholstered from the automobile. Check for bolts under the seats that will have to be loosened to remove the seats. Use the tools necessary to remove the seats.

2. Step 2

   Place the seats on a flat work surface (the ground is fine) and examine them to figure out how the fabric can be removed from the frame of the seat.

3. Step 3

   Find the staples that most likely attach the fabric to the seat frame and work them loose with the screwdriver and pliers.

4. Step 4

   Unroll the paper on your work surface and place the old seat fabric on top of the paper. Trace around the old fabric to make a pattern for the new seating fabric. Add in a 1 inch seam allowance to the pattern pieces.

5. Step 5

   Place the paper pattern on the new fabric and cut out the necessary pieces to recover the seats.

6. Step 6

   Drape the new fabric over the seats. Turn under the raw edges where they will be visible and begin to staple the new fabric to the auto seats in the same fashion as the old fabric was attached.

7. Step 7

   Place the seats back in the vehicle and tighten all bolts and hardware completely.

How to Find Wholesale Pet Supplies

Finding wholesale pet supplies!!!

1. Step 1

   Using a search engine, type in "Wholesale pet supplies." This will give you a large list - with the most popular and the highest paying advertisers coming in first. This is fine, but be aware that simply because they claim they are wholesale cost, does not mean they are. Have a pen and paper ready to jot down prices for comparison.

2. Step 2

   Check out several of these sites. Compare prices on identical or similar items. Do your homework, and explore the sites that are not in the top ten on the search engine you used. Sometimes you can fine a real gem that just has not had as many visitors as another site may have had.

3. Step 3

   When you find the best prices on the items you want, you are ready to place your online order. This is a simple process that is virtually the same as any online purchase you have ever made.

4. Step 4

   Take the time to explore all your options. Go to your local pet supply company and ask them where they order their items from. This is often a great way to establish your interest and let people know you are looking.

• Remember, be patient and use diligence while exploring as many different wholesale pet supplies as you have time for. Getting the best price can take time, but a great buy is worth it!
• Don't be scammed! Only use sites that accept certified online payments.

All About Dental Disease in Cats

How many of you forget to check the inner recess of your cat's mouth regularly? According to vets in United States and Canada most pet owners don't check regularly. Because of this, most cat dental problems come to the attention of a vet only in advanced stages when symptoms like difficulty in eating becomes obvious. Periodontal and Gingivitis are the two most common diseases that affect cat dental health.

Periodontal Disease

Sooner or later most cats are affected by this disease. Symptoms include bad breadth, inflammation and reddening of gums, receding gums, deposits on the teeth that might be brown or yellow in color, drooling saliva sometimes with traces of blood, difficulty to eat or chew, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Causes for periodontal disease in cats are varied and builds up slowly, starting from the day the teeth came through. Every day plaque gets deposited on the teeth and the amount of plaque that remains on the teeth mostly depends on the diet. While some believe that dry foods will help clean up the teeth, it is not a proven fact.

Over time, the soft plaque will harden to form tartar or calculus which is difficult to remove. Plaque contains bacteria which causes inflammation in the gums. If left unattended, gums will start to recede, loosening the teeth and eventually leads to loss of teeth. Some of the factors that help promote this disease are overcrowding of teeth, retained milk teeth, infection and genetics.

Periodontal disease develops gradually and it can be cured by timely detection and proper treatment. Treatment for mild cases of this disease might be as simple as regular brushing with special toothbrush and toothpaste that your vet might recommend to stop the built up of plaque. In advanced cases, the hardened tartar can be removed only by descaling, which has to be done by a vet under general anesthetic. In very severe cases certain surgical procedures might also be recommended.

Gingivitis - Stomatitus

Gingivitis is a localized inflammation of gums and stomatitus is the general inflammation of the gums in the entire mouth. Both these dental conditions generally occur simultaneously and called as gingivitis-stomatitus. Though this disease is most often acute and sudden, many cats are affected by chronic gingivitis-stomatitus, treatment for which is complicated and very difficult.

Symptoms for this dental disease in cats is similar to the symptoms of the periodontal disease including bad breadth, inflamed and reddened gums, inability to chew or eat comfortably, decreased appetite and weight loss.

Causes for gingivitis-stomatitus include chemical irritation, viral infections and traumatic injury. It can also be caused by existing conditions like diabetes mellitus or chronic renal failure. When periodontal disease is left untreated for long it can develop into gingivitis-stomatitus.

Treatment for gingivitis-stomatitus is complicated and difficult. Chronic condition of this disease is extremely painful. You should consult your vet immediately if your pet exhibits any of the symptoms. Since the causes are numerous diagnoses can be difficult. If the exact causes are known then your vet might recommend a specific treatment. Otherwise, a general treatment regimen will be recommended to control the symptoms which might include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids. The only way to prevent and keep your cat dental problems in check is to follow a regular cat dental care routine.

Understanding The Human Bond With Cats

While every cat owner proclaim their love for their furry friends, some just consider cats as their "property" and only some truly consider and treat their feline pets as one of their family. When some people refer to their cats as their "baby", they mean it in the true sense and shower their cats with the same love and attention that they give their children. One can safely say that the human bond with cats can be as precious and strong as any other human bond.

Most assume that cats can be treated as "children" only by a recluse or by women who lead a lonely life. While it is true that such intense human-animal bond is most often symbiotic, one cannot but wonder who gets the most out of such a relationship. The cat definitely thrives on the undivided attention and the "cat mom" on the other hand is ecstatic to be the recipient of such unconditional love by someone. However, it is also true that women who are vibrant and vivacious have proclaimed their undying love for their cats.

If you happen to visit one of the numerous online message boards and forums devoted to cat lovers, you will realize how many people from different walks of life come together to share their knowledge and experiences with cats. They talk about everything regarding their feline friends, from every little new trick that their cat performed to queries about how to treat some known or unknown "symptom" displayed by their cat.

While dogs have been traditionally employed and accepted as therapy and companion animals, cats are also increasingly favored as therapy animals in health care facilities and nursing homes. Patients are delighted when a visitor brings along a cat. The act of petting and pampering a cat helps to reduce the tension and stress in patients. These qualities of cats are gainfully utilized in health care facilities and nursing homes. The same qualities can also work wonders for the rest of us. The value of therapy cats is especially felt in Alzheimer's patients where the feline creatures help to rekindle their forgotten memories. Therapy cats differ from "ordinary" cats in that they have a more serene temperament and a better tolerance level to new surroundings.

The bond between children and cats is unique and should be encouraged as children should be made aware of the importance of loving and respecting all creatures that share their world. If you think that only children and women can bond with cats then think again. Men too find it impossible to resist the comforting kitty charm.

Human bond with cats is more evident in the event when either one in the relationship is devoid of the others company abruptly, either temporarily or permanently. While humans cope with the separation by sharing their grief and talking about the good times spent together, feline creatures express their grief differently. They become lethargic and lose interest in their regular activities. They also lose their appetite and display marked difference in their temperaments.

With so much and more to say, it is quite evident that the human-feline bond is something exclusive that should be appreciated and cherished.

Ringworm in Cats

Ringworm in cats is the most common skin infection in cats and the name is somewhat misleading. It is not actually caused by a worm; it is caused by a fungal infection. It is also extremely contagious and can very easily be spread to other cats as well as to humans. It is caused by several organisms, but the most common is referred to as Microsporum canis. The spores of these fungi can literally live for years in the right type of environment and can be contagious to your cat the entire time.

Ringworm most typically affects young cats, long haired cats, or cats that have had some type of a previous skin disease. However, if your cat has recently has a very traumatic episode in their life, they are also at risk. If your cat has recently been in a shelter or catteries, they are also at a high degree of risk from two fronts; the stress that this has caused as well as possible exposure to another infected cat.

Where it is found:

Ringworm in cats is generally found on the affected cat or their living quarters. Spores for this fugal infection can be shed from an infected cat and once they are shed, can survive for as long as two years. If the environment is warm and humid, these spores can literally explode in growth. Once they are released into the environment, they can live on branches and plants, as well as your pets bedding. They can also very easily live on your furniture or anything else that an infected cat has come into contact with.

Your cat can very easily become an asymptomatic carrier on this fugal infection. An asymptomatic carrier is defined as a host for an infectious agent who does not show any signs at all that they are infected.

How it is transmitted:

Ringworm infection is transmitted by coming into direct contact with the fungi, and this can include another infected cat or any of their grooming materials. However, it can also very easily be transmitted by coming into contact with the spores themselves. Cats by nature have a natural resistance to these types of infections, but if your cat is not healthy, their system can very easily be overrun. This is why it is the most common skin infection in cats.

Cats that are less than a year old are have not built up their immune system to full capacity and are the most commonly affected of all cats. However, if your cat has an immune suppressed condition from a disease or from too many steroids, they are also at a very high risk. Older cats as well as free roaming cats are also at a higher risk, as well malnourished cats. Long haired cats, especially Persians, are also much more susceptible to this infection. Ringworm in cats affect three parts of your pets body; their head or scalp, their body, as well as their nails.

Symptoms:

One of the first symptoms of ringworm will be areas of hair loss that are usually in a circular formation. This loss of hair can range from very mild to quite severe, depending of how serious the ringworm infection is. Once the hair loss starts to occur, you may also see lesions in the center of the hair loss. These lesions will contain pustules and will generally start out very small, but than will start to grow in size. If you see this symptom, it is almost always the result of ringworm.

These lesions may or may not be itchy to your cat, and they are most commonly found on your cats head, ears, or their tail. However, the symptoms will not always be circular in formation. If it is severe enough, it can very rapidly spread across your cats face, lips, chin, or nose. In some cases, it may appear like chin ache in your cat or look like dandruff on your cats skin. If it infects your their nails, it will cause them to become malformed and as a result look very odd.

Treatments:

Treatments for ringworm in cats can be both very frustrating as well as very expensive, especially if you have more than one cat. You will not only have to treat your cat, but the environment as well. In most all cases, your cats immune system will naturally defeat this infection, but it can take several months for this to occur. In the meantime, you must treat your cat or the symptoms will intensify. Some cats, if not treated, can be attacked several times even with a strong immune system.

In healthy, short-haired kittens and cats, the first form of treatments will be with topical creams that contain anti-fungal ingredients. You will also have to treat any underlying health issues, especially nutritional. Most cats will need some type of a vitamin supplement to build and than maintain their immune system to fight this infection.

In the more severe cases of ringworm, a combination of both oral and topical treatments will be used. The lesions may have to be clipped by your veterinarian so the topical cream can reach your cats skin. However, there is one very controversial topic among some veterinarians in treating long haired cats with ringworm.

There is a growing opinion that any long haired cat should be completely shaved in order to successfully treat this infection. If the ringworm infection is severe, your cat may also have to be given lime sulfur dips. These are extremely effective but you may want to get a second opinion as they can temporarily turn the remaining hair coat a yellowish color. There are some alternatives, but they will vary depending on what country that you live in.

Summary:

Ringworm in cats can range from mild to severe and is the most common skin disease your pet will face. It is extremely contagious and any measure that you take in preventing it is very well spent. If you bring a new kitten into your house and already have a cat or several cats, be extremely careful and take the extra precautions of having them checked first.

If you use a grooming facility, it will not be out of place to ask them how and what they use to sterilize their cleaning equipment. If the answer is anything other than heated or chemically sterilization of the equipment, look for a different groomer. If you do see any of the symptoms, isolate your cat from other cats as quickly as possible and than have them treated.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process. Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;

Choosing the Right Cat Litter

For some, many different aspects can appeal to one's self in choosing the right cat litter for your feline friend. If this is your first time caring for a cat, walking into the pet aisle where you have never been before at your local grocery store may be a bit overwhelming. A little research before venturing out can go a long way. Not only will it save you time, but knowing the facts before you buy may also save you money!

Some people have the initial reaction of going directly to the cheapest cat litter available. This may be fine for most cats, but are you aware there are some cats that may have an allergic reaction to said pet litter? A pricier alternative would be to purchase a brand consisting of cat litter made up of gray cardboard or paper clusters.

With today's unpredictable economy, buying the all natural or organic cat litter may not be an option. You may be wondering, what else is there to do? If your cat does not have an allergy and you are simply concerned with their hygienic well-being, might I suggest involving a litter scoop into your cat litter box cleaning routine? No, you don't have to stand over your cat, waiting for him or her to finish their business so you can pounce on what they've produced as soon as they leave, but you'd be surprised how utilizing a litter scoop in maintaining your cat's litter box can stretch out how much you are having to spend.

Another suggestion would be to buy in bulk. You may be tempted to buy the smaller sizes since the larger bags can be quite heavy and awkward to carry, but you will wind up paying for it in the end. With almost any item you go to purchase, you will find that the larger the size, the less you are paying per measurement. So buckle on down and remember to bend at the knees!

Kitty Behavior

Sid (Sidi Kitty), our first cat, is at his new home, finally. We had put a tremendous amount of research and thought into our new kitten, especially welcoming him into a home with two dogs. What would our cat's behavior be like? Would he get along with the dogs? That said, the drive home with Sid possessed a bit of trepidation. We had to assure his safety. We weren't sure of any cat behavior problems we might encounter, or how this transition to a dog-only home to a cat and dog home would go.

We kept Sid close in our arms the first week. We did - while gently holding him - slowly begin to introduce him to Lady and Missy, our two dogs. There was mutual interest between Sid and the dogs. I knew in time they would be palls. Specifically we,

1. Did introduce them to each other very slowly. Holding onto both the kitten and the dogs we let them smell each other, begin to touch and be close to each other.

2. We never let them be alone together for at least four weeks. During that time the kitten started to show some interest in playing with the dogs, and it was clear the dogs were tolerant of this so after four weeks we felt it safe to let them be more exposed to each other without our direct involvement, though we watched closely.

3. We did make sure that it was clear where the cat food was kept and water as well as litter box; and that the kitten knew this. Equally, we assured that the dogs did not interfere with the kitten's food or litter box. The kitten knew he had his own space.

4. For the most part the kitten slept on one of us or in bed with us the first few months, but if not he had his bed to sleep in and we assured that the dogs did not or were not aggressive toward the kitty when his guard was down.

After several months, things were going great and our initial concerns were unfounded, and the cat and dogs are becoming best of friends. But In fact, he is playing so well he followed Lady out the doggie door one night. Sid is not an outside cat. We had put up many barriers from Sid accessing the doggie door - but ashe had figured out how to penetrate them Sid got his first taste of a freezing Kansas City night. We found him within a few minutes - looking in the deck door - wanting back in his warm bed and on his kitty heating blanket.

We learned that he was a bit self minded, and may challenge us with some cat behavior problems. It was an issue for month how to keep our indoor cat just that, indoors. He wanted to go outside all of the time so it took a lot of commitment and follow through to assure at all times that the kitty gates were up and working, and that he did not sneak out. That was a large commitment but had to be done. When the kitty gate was down, one of us had to hold the kitten to assure he would not go out the doggie door, or the doggie door had to be shut. It is something to this day that we have to watch as even though he is an indoor cat, naturally he wants to go outside so it is a large commitment that we always have to stay on top of.

After the first few months, and what I knew would happen, just last week Sid went over to Lady and they slept belly-to-belly and paw-to-paw, too cute. I cannot express how much laughter, warmth and love Sid has added to our life!

How to Make Your Cat Lose Weight

If you have a cat which is overweight then it can be really dangerous for its health. The cat may suffer from diseases like arthritis, heart failure, skin problems, diabetes mellitus and other kidney problems. You can find out if your cat is overweight by running you hand against its flank, if you are not able to feel its ribs then most probably it is overweight. You should not make your cat reduce wait immediately as this can be really risky for its health, it is better to consult a vet and then ask for the correct method. Here I would also try to give you tips that will help you in making your kitty lose weight in healthy way.

Firstly consult your vet and ask whether your cat's body demands special food. If it does not require special food then you should keep a watch on what your kitty eats. All the members of family should be aware about the cat's diet and should not feed it the scraps of leftover food. The 10% of calories is more than enough for the meals of your cat.

Secondly take your cat for a checkup every 3 to 4 weeks. Consult the vet for any changes in the meal. Most of the veterinary doctors insist on giving wet meals to cats than dry meals as the wet meals are low in fat, have higher protein to calorie ratio and high fiber content and are also low in fat. Dry food dehydrates the cats body and causes kidney and bladder problems. If your cat is eating less food then the vet may prescribe vitamins to ensure that the cat is having nutrient rich diet. It is important to ask your vet when you switch your cat's routine diet.

The best way to make your kitty lose weight is to provide it ample of space to move, leap, jump, stretch and run. Let them run and move on stairs as it is a good exercise for them. If your cat is not active enough to run and jump itself, it is recommended that you play with kitty using toys and balls etc.

Good diet and proper exercise is necessary to keep your cat in good shape and health. If you follow the above mentioned tips then I am sure your kitty will loose weight easily and will get get into good shape.

Self Cleaning Cat Box

Cats, along with dogs, are some of the most popular pets in the world. People the world over have fallen head over heels in love with our feline friends and many keep cats at home. As a matter of fact, some people even keep more than one or two cats.

Cats may be terrific pets, but in at least one aspect they are somewhat less than desirable - in terms of the waste or litter that they produce. It is often said that cats that are fed cat food produce waste that is less smelly than cats that are fed mostly meat, fish, or leftovers. Whether that is true or not, the truth of the matter is that even cats that are fed cat food still do produce smelly waste, whether solid or liquid. In addition, there is a danger of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that humans can get from coming into contact with the feces of cats that have recently been infected, and which can be very troublesome for those already sick with immune-system diseases or disorders. It is therefore advisable that owners stay as far away from cat feces and waste as they possibly can. A self cleaning cat box can work wonders in this department.

Some people simply put up with it and wear masks whenever they empty out their cats' litter boxes, or spray the areas where these boxes are located with Lysol or other such disinfectants. Others purchase cat litter with special properties; there are some available which clump together, for instance, coating the surface of cat feces and covering it completely so that it does not smell, and solidifying when it comes in contact with cat urine and thus having the same effect. However, there is little need to simply try to endure such methods. Many enterprising companies have come up with their own take on a self cleaning cat box, which can really help ease matters for cat owners.

There are several different brands of automated cat litter boxes available in the marketplace. Many make use of premium cat litter, and owners will have to load their automated litter boxes with new litter as necessary. However, the "dirty work" is all left to the machine. Many models even have ionic air cleaners that kick in before the cleaning initiates, to ensure that no smell escapes the machine. After the air is cleaned and sanitized, a rake-like mechanism sifts through the litter, detecting and removing clumps and moving them to a holding area, leaving only clean litter behind. A waste container opens up to receive the clumps and seals itself once the clumps are in place. The owner only has to dispose of this container after a week or so, or once it is full, and replace it with a fresh container.