Cat Nip

At one time, I was skeptical of giving my cats Cat Nip but then I did some research and learned it's not bad for them at all! Plus, they really enjoy it every once in a while. There is something special about watching your senior cat play like a kitten again.

Cat Nip is a part of the mint family. It's a perennial herb that grows in the wilderness, you could even grow your own at home. There are a few different catnips out there so if you don't know which one to get, experiment with the ones from the store or buy some seeds and do it your self. The people at the pet store are always very helpful, they could steer you in the right direction.

You also don't have to worry about your cat overdosing, they actually have a sense of when enough is enough. Some cats prefer toys with catnip in it and some prefer the actual leaf that they can chew on, bruise and rub up against. Catnip gives them a high feeling that can either make them more lethargic or really hyper and playful. All cats are different, so maybe it won't even affect yours but you won't know until you try!

Flea Collars

There are a few things to take into consideration before putting any kind of collar on your cat, especially a flea collar. It is possible for your cat to have a bad reaction to the medication on the collar, be sure to check up on the area often while they are wearing it. It's always a good idea to talk to your vet before giving anything to your cat that could possiblly harm them.

There are many flea collars out there to choose from so reading the label and learning what is on them is the first most important step to buying one. There is a toxic nerve gas that is on the collar that soaks into your cats skin and also inhaled by your cat and the fleas. Using chemicals can be very dangerous to your cats health, in my experience they don't help a whole lot.

I would suggest using other methods such as Frontline, Advantage or others they have out there on the market that your vet can suggest. It's a safer and more healthy option for your cat that will get rid of the fleas much quicker.

Mange

Mange in cats is a skin condition caused by non-burrowing and burrowing mites. This is not a fatal disease but it can make your cat extremely uncomfortable. The burrowing mites get into the skin and live there for their entire life span. Non-burrowing mites just live and feed on the cats skin. Either way this causes them to itch and cause raw irritable spots on the skin.

There are two different types of cat mange that can all types of cat breeds, the first one being Notoedric Mange which is also called Scabies is brought on by the burrowing mites. This is the kind of mange that will cause your cat to scratch until the hair is missing and the skin is very crusty. This can be passed on to humans as well so it needs to be taken care of right away.

The second kind of mange is also known as ear mites. These are the non-burrowing mites that feed on your cats skin scales. Inflammation and scratching of the ear are symptoms of this type of mange. It may lead to an ear infection which can turn into something more serious if not taken care of right away. One of the most important responsibilities of owning a cat is preventative cat care. Stay on top of things and pay close attention to your cat and nip it in the bud before it causes major health problems.

Flea Prevention

It's always a bummer when you first notice your cat itching like crazy and chewing at it's legs. That's when you know they have a flea problem. Your cat may even be allergic to the fleas and they could form hot spots. There is always a threat of a flea infestation every year which we all know as "flea season". Now just because your cats stay indoors doesn't mean they can't get fleas. They could come in on your shoes!

You can use spot treatments and sprays on your cat but when it comes to kittens, it's a different story. Using what you normally use on an adult cat could be very harmful to a small kitten. Bathing them in warm water is a great way to start. There are many people that use dawn dish soap to bath their kittens as it kills fleas on the spot. After doing so, you should comb your kitten with a flea comb to get rid of all the excess residue or fleas that have been left behind.

Just because you have treated your cats for fleas doesn't mean they have left the building. Treat your home and make sure that they don't come back in by using some form of flea prevention.

Training Your Kitten

Training a kitten should be pretty simple. The kitten training needs to begin as soon as possible so bad habits don't develop. First thing is showing them where there litter box is, a few times. They will use it but not if it's where they eat. It's up to you to put in the best spot. It also needs to be easily accesible for your kitten. You need to have a good quality litter in the box as well, preferably one that is highly scented.

When it comes to scolding your cat for bad behavior, physical punishment is a big no-no. My kitten training techniques have always been successful with out physical contact. You can use a very stern voice or a loud clap of the hands. I have also used a little water gun on my dogs before and it works on cats too. Cats don't like to get wet, well most of them anyway so this really gets the point across. Just one squirt, not in the face, should do the trick. You may have to do this repeatedly but trust me, it works.

Cat trees are a safe and fun way to keep your cat entertained. They can use them as a scratching post, instead of your furniture, and it's a good way to keep them active. It's always a good idea to have some kind of scratching post for your kittens as they love to shapren there claws and it's just something cats do.

Birman Kittens for Sale

All Birman kittens are born white and they don't develop their color pattern until 7-14 days. Birman kittens have many different color variations which include: seal point, lilac point, cream point, chocolate point, blue point and a few others.

When looking for Birman kittens for sale, it's best to know what kind exactly you are looking for first, as you can see above Birman's come in quite a few different colors. To some, color doesn't matter.

Here are a few Birman breeders to check out:

White Sox Birmans

Kitty Cat Breeders

Birman Kitten Adoption

Cats of Australia

Birman Cat Breeders

If you are looking for a local Birman Cat breeder, try these resources:

Birman.net

Birmanbreeder.com

Prairiepointsbirmans.com

Birman Cat Breeders at CatChannel.com

Whitesoxbirmans.com

Remember, there are thousands of FREE Birman Cats that need homes on PetFinder.com
- Click here to see some Birmans who need some love.