What Are the Differences Between Cat and Dog Behaviour?

Chalk and cheese... Mars and Venus... cats and dogs.

Even though these furry friends share similar features - four paws and a tail - they are worlds apart when it comes to behaviour.

A fluffy, feline house guest should never be entertained lightly. Forget the Scouts. 'Be prepared' is the motto you'll need to tattoo on your brain as soon as the one of these hairy heavies comes within five paws of your home.

Life will change... and although you wouldn't usually allow anyone to beat up your other pets, scratch your sofa to bits or leave bird kill round the house, you'll let the cat get away with it. You don't have much choice! After all, she's her own boss and won't answer to anything that doesn't come out of a tin. She's 'top dog,' as far as she is concerned.

A pooch, on the other hand, is an 'eager to please' family member - with simple needs and uncomplicated lifestyle. Even though he'll chew a cushion or toilet roll for fun, he can be trained to respect the house. He likes to obey - and will do anything for a biscuit!

Cats are notoriously choosy, however. She'll decide where she sits, when she eats, what she does and whether she'll bestow any affection or not. And, if she's is a pedigree, she'll have her own peculiarities which you'll need to adapt to. Rather than the cat moving in to your home, you'll be the lodger...

In terms of temperament, dogs are free spirits. He'll bound up to anyone for a pat on the back, and reward the giver with a loving lick! Show him his lead and everything - from his drippy nostril to the tip of his tail - will shake from utter joy.

Pusskins, meanwhile, tends to prefer her own company... She'll rub up against you occasionally, or curl herself round your ankles just as you've put your stockings on. This is her inimitable way of saying,' You're all mine.' Once she's hooked you round her little paw, she'll flounce off to curl up in a corner, not giving you a second glance.

Having perfected the petulant, hoity-toity look, which you'll see when she turns her nose up at a different flavour of cat-food, she'll wail pitifully until you give in - and feed her what she likes. Meal times, in fact, never go to plan. To ensure a quiet night's sleep, you will need a cupboard full of tins and cat nibbles, should you hear a yowl echo through the deep chambers of the house at three in the morning.

For your canine companion, dinner is a breeze. Anything put into his doggy bowl is dispatched in seconds. He'll even do tricks for a chocolate button! Throw him a bone and he'll happily chew away at it for an hour or so.

As far as personal hygiene is concerned, she'll spend her days preening and licking her fur to perfection... as well as catching up on beauty sleep. Dogs aren't bothered about self-grooming. Unless you drag him off to a doggy parlour to be clipped and washed, the little rascal will happily wear whatever he's been rolling in.

Communication is a sore point, since both emit hideous noises at different times. What differs is the trigger. Your mild-mannered, friendly mutt will turn into a snarling hound from hell as soon as the postman steps one foot in your porch. Incessant barking will only stop once the terrified guy has shot off out of sight. Should you leave the house without him, he'll whine and howl in misery until your face appears again.

The cat isn't phased at all by such triviality. She's ensconced in her own little world. When she's happy (fed) she'll purr to her heart's content. Her repertoire, however, extends to hissing, scratching and howling. As soon as another cat dares to invade her territory, it'll not only get her back up... but she'll endeavour to win the hissing competition.

Exercise is another bone of contention. Lazy by nature, Ms High-Maintenance will catnap during the day. She'll disappear into a favourite slumber spot for hours on end, occasionally thumping you as you innocently pass by. Given to psychotic bursts after sniffing a line of catnip, she'll bolt up and down the stairs for ten minutes before collapsing in a heap.

In playful mood, she'll allow you to torment her with string and a peacock feather. But, prefers to chase cotton-buds or stalk birds. Or, she'll crouch under a bush for hours, before pouncing on some unsuspecting rodent.

The dog's exercise regime is somewhat different. He likes to run marathons, swim oceans and chase his own tail! Annoyingly, his favourite pastime is to drag you out for a walk first thing in the morning, when you've not woken up yet. At the first sight of a lady dog, he's off for a sniff! You're the one who gets all the exercise... just keeping up with him!

Whatever their differences, we put up with their idiosyncrasies as they are wonderful company and full of character. Life wouldn't be the same without them...

Nikki Cooke is founder of The Word Well, a freelance copywriting service based in Oxfordshire. Along with her web design partner, she provides first class on and offline marketing for small and medium sized businesses. When she's not knee-deep in copy, she can be found blogging away on her 'Copy Break' blog, or publishing articles. She's also an English tutor, creative writer and poet...

Visit The Word Well at http://www.thewordwell.co.uk to find out more about Nikki and how she helps businesses. Or drop by Nikki's blog on http://www.thewordwell.co.uk/wordpress

Homeward Bound II - Lost in San Francisco (Walt Disney Pictures Presents) [VHS]

This movie follows the unwritten law of sequels: bring back the same characters and put them in similar jeopardy with slightly tweaked circumstances. Instead of a cross-country journey, this time the pet trio must get from the San Francisco airport across the Golden Gate Bridge to their suburban home. Michael J. Fox and Sally Field return as the voices of Chance the bulldog and Sassy the cat, with Ralph Waite replacing the late Don Ameche as the elderly golden retriever. Their journey features dogfights, house fires, an epic battle with a pair of petnappers, and a love affair for Chance with a stray from the other side of the bridge (Carla Gugino). Sinbad voices another dog who guides them through the mean streets of the city by the bay, and Robert Hays stars as the father, but, frankly, that hardly matters. What does is the animals' banter, and they're funny. (Ages 3 and up) --Kimberly Heinrichs

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When to Start Training Cats and Dogs

Training cats and dogs to use the litter box or to scratch at the door is simple if you start early. Usually the earlier the pet, the faster they will learn as long as they are weaned from their mother. The best performing dogs and cats have been started early and constantly praised for their efforts. Animals vary in personality so do not fear if the dog or cat doesn't learn right away. Be patient and loving with your animal. If the pet does not learn after many weeks of training, something could be wrong. It might be a behavioral or medical problem. Check with your animal's vet if you become concerned.

Kittens can be litter trained any time after 4 weeks. If the kitten is still around its mother, set up a smaller litter box next to the mother's larger litter box. The cat will learn by watching and eventually start using it as well. If the cat does not have its mother to draw an example from, or it is still not learning to use the little box as it gets older, you have a little more work to do, but do not be alarmed. All animals vary on their learning abilities. Try putting the cat and its litter box in a small room such as a bathroom or laundry room, with food and water. Check every hour to see if the cat has used the box correctly. Do this one more time until the cat has used the litter box again correctly, then praise the cat, and remove its supplies back into the rest of the house. Place the litter box where you would like then show the cat where it is located. Always make sure the litter box is clean because cats have a tendency to not use a litter box if it is constantly dirty. Clean the box once a day in order to avoid this.

Anywhere from 5 to 8 weeks is acceptable to start potty training a puppy. As soon as a puppy can start going outside, do so. Take the dog out after eating, playing, and waking up and show it an area where it is acceptable to go. Also, pay attention to what the puppy does inside. If the puppy is sniffing around the house, take the dog to its spot outside. Pee-pads are also acceptable if you have a very young or small dog, but training a dog to do its business outside is always less messy.

Talk to the dog whenever you take it out. Phrases like "Let's go outside" or "Let's go potty" said excitedly will eventually be learned by the dog. When the dog finally does do its business outside, praise him or her immensely. Give the dog treats and a lot of attention. After the dog is potty trained, obedience training can begin via at home or dog training classes at your local humane society or local pet stores like Petsmart or PetCo.

It is always a good idea to invest in puppy training for your dog. A reputable place is not hard to find, and there is dog training Kelowna

Open Season 2

Commitment can be a scary concept, especially when it means "forever and ever." When Open Season concluded, Boog the bear and the domesticated dog Mr. Weenie had run off into the woods to join the wild animals and buck Elliot had become smitten with doe Giselle. Open Season 2 opens with a nervous Elliot and a beaming Giselle about to take their wedding nuptials, while Mr. Weenie is being enticed back to captivity by a trail of dog biscuits. Rationalizing that he's a good friend above all else, Elliot leaves Giselle at the altar and sets out to save Mr. Weenie. Boog, McSquizzy, Buddy, and the rest of the forest gang join Elliot on his quest, followed by Giselle who quickly proves invaluable to the team. New characters Roberto, Fifi, and a host of other domestic pets try to convince Mr. Weenie that sacrificing some freedom is a small price to pay for being loved, but in the end only Mr. Weenie can decide which is the right world for him. Likewise, Elliot must decide whether marriage entails more commitment than he can handle. Open Season 2 has some funny moments, but the plot is fairly weak and it's just not as good as the first movie. The kids that previewed the film found it entertaining, but preferred the original Open Season, and most parents will probably be just as happy skipping Open Season 2. Bonus features include 14-minutes of voice talent interview footage (with mostly new voice talent since few actors returned for this second film), 5 fairly basic DVD games, and a "how to draw" Boog, Elliot, and Fifi tutorial. There are also 3 storyboarded deleted scenes and Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out" music video. (Ages 3 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Stills from Open Season 2 (click for larger image)

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Dog Food Recipes - Huge Seller!

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Miracle Beam Marketing Inc Miraclebeam Laser 2041 Flashlight Accessories

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Video Catnip: Entertainment for Cats [VHS]

A best seller! Cats go crazy when they watch this tape created just for them. Your cat will be entranced as he follows the antics of a menagerie of wildlife including birds, rabbits and chipmunks. 25 minutes/VHS.

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Transporting Pets - Cats and Dogs Are Different

Here are useful three tips to make your pet and those travelling with you stress free. Transporting pets takes a little preparation if you want a peaceful time and the effort will be worthwhile. Many cats and dogs find it stressful to travel in a car, so reduce that stress.

Transporting dogs is one thing, transporting cats is quite another. To reduce the stress to you the reader, lets just deal with dogs right now. Cats are quite a different kettle of fish if you know what I mean, so dogs it is.

Prepare: Making your dog feel at home in new surroundings is the key so make your car their home a few minutes every now and then when you are not travelling. Encourage your dog or puppy to make itself at home. Once inside the car close the door and start the engine. Then talk to your dog, calmly.

Education: Teach your pet that that the car is not the enemy, its just different. Your dog loves you and guess what? She or he wants to be with you. So if you are in the car guess where your dog wants to be? With you! So get it together in the car and have fun.

Trauma: Acclimatize your dog by feeding, petting or allowing him or her to sleep in the car. Put favorite toys in the car and let play commence, If you need to be a bit firmer, drag, coax or bribe the sonnovabitch but for goodness sake do not stress.

So...all this takes time and patience and you may not be immediately successful. However, you must not give up...do NOT give up...keep trying...keep working at it...but if all else fails...I know a guy who does a good deal on guns...

Seriously, most of the trauma related problems concerning transporting pets come from lack of preparation. Take your time, give your dog a chance and all will be well.

Look out for "Transporting Cats" soon... http://vetnurse.org

Pro-Treat Beef Liver, Freeze Dried Dog Treats

Pro-Treat Freeze Dried Liver Treats are 100% pure beef liver. They were developed many years ago as a tool for training pure bred dogs for show, and as an obedience tool for dogs in the ring. Over the years the use of freeze dried treats expanded from professional dog trainers and breeders to pet owners that want a more natural and healthy treat for their pets

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Little Bill - I Love Animals [VHS]

Bill Cosby's animated young doppelganger visits the zoo, the pet store, and the responsibilities of pet care in this animal-centric installment of Cosby's gentle instructional series. In the first episode, Little Bill is impatient to see his favorite animals, the elephants, on his class trip, but he must learn patience since they are the last stop at the zoo. Inspired by his trip, in the second episode Little Bill gets permission from his parents to buy a pet but scales down his wishes from elephant to hamster. In the final two episodes, the class rabbit has bunnies, which class members seek homes for, eventually coming full circle to find a place for them at the zoo's petting area. With the stellar voice talent of Ruby Dee, Gregory Hines, Phylicia Rashad, and Doug E. Doug, this classy series (seen on Nick Jr.) makes race irrelevant through its universal stories. Ages 3-7. --Kimberly Heinrichs

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Buying Eco Friendly Pet Furniture

Your dog or cat is probably is not all that worried about global warming and deforestation, but a lot of owners are, and so many are now adding environment friendly pet furniture to the eco-friendly items they have in their homes.

In just the last couple years there has been an explosion in eco friendly pet furniture sales, and to meet the demand manufacturers have produced a vast new array of pet related eco-friendly products.

Pet owners across the country are now seeking out quality, eco-friendly items for their pets, giving the same emphasis to buying planet saving products for their pets, as they do to their homes and vehicles.

This movement seems to be mushrooming each year, with sales of these products, such as certified organic pet beds booming across the nation. Many owners now feed their pets, as well as themselves, on organically produced food items. Many vinyl and plastic toys for pets are produced from soft PVC, which contains several harmful toxic chemicals. When your dog chews on his favorite squeaky ball these harmful chemicals can leach into the animals system, causing serious side effects such as organ damage and tumors.

It is preferable to search out toys that use natural dyes or organically grown fibers that are chemical and pesticide free, these items are also biodegradable. Another good example of pet and planet saving products are certified organic pet beds which are filled with various materials, often100% fleece scraps that have been recycled.

These beds can be slightly more expensive than regular pet beds, but are a better long-term investment as they are completely washable, even the soft filling. So instead of dumping the bed in the trash after a couple years, the bed should last your pet's lifetime. There are many other eco pet products available, such as environment friendly pet furniture, one stylish example is the 'Kings Bed,' a classy off the ground certified organic pet bed made from bamboo.

Holden designs have produced several upmarket pieces of eco friendly pet furniture including their chic raised pet feeding units. There are also dog and cat houses made of eco-friendly materials, such as replenishable wooden doghouses and interior cat homes made with recycled cotton materials.

Therefore, your pet can be as environmentally conscious as you are, with food, toys furniture and pet houses that are made from materials that will not harm the planet or you're pet.

Kristen Sky is founder of Modern Eco Homes dot com, which sells a wide range of indoor and outdoor eco-friendly furniture and certified organic pet products like pet beds [http://www.modernecohomes.com/eco-pets/]

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Wellness CORE Grain-Free, Fish and Fowl Adult Cat and Kitten Food, 12-Pound Bag

Wellness CORE Dry Cat and Kitten Food 12lbw

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