How to care For Your Bird

CAGE MAINTENANCE                                                                            

Clean droppings and dried or discarded food out of your bird’s cage daily.

Deep clean monthly with a cage cleaner and ongoing with an odorless cleaning solution. Remove your bird and all his toys, bowls and other removable parts of the cage.

GROOMING

Before you start doing any grooming on your own ask your veterinarian to teach you the safest and most comfortable way to groom. Once you're accustomed to the grooming process you may want to purchase small scissors, bird nail scissors, a grinding file, bird misters or spray bottle, and a styptic powder.

PLAY & HIDE

While all birds love their play and interaction time, all species have different preferences. You can begin interacting with any species of bird just by feeding and cleaning his cage, all of which offer the perfect opportunity to talk, whistle or hum to your bird as an added interaction. Inside the cage your bird will love foraging and task completion activities with interactive toys or even household items with fun shapes and textures, such as uncooked pasta.

Some birds will be more vocal than others – doves like cooing, canaries like talking and whistling, conures like talking – and other species love music, including conures who will bob their head. If you’re interested in training your bird to do tricks or talk, consult your breed-specific books and resources to find out what type of language capabilities your breed has and to research the best training methods. Birds are very reward-oriented and will need to be enticed with treats. Some books even recommend clicker training.

WHILE YOU’RE AWAY

Because birds are such social animals they need plenty of stimulation while you’re away. The best way to make sure your bird is happy when he's alone is to think of the five senses:

• Sight: Give him something interesting to watch, including a TV or feeder
• Sound: Leave talk radio or music playing from a stereo
• Smell: Give your bird citrus or mint to chew on for some soothing scents
• Taste: Feed varied food or leave special morsels in a treat dispenser, or hang leaves or fruit on a skewer
• Touch: Trade out sets of toys each week and give him perches with different textures

How to Care for a Cat

You may have heard that cats have nine lives. Well, maybe that's true, but one thing is for sure -- your cat can have a long and healthy life with the proper care. There are many things to consider when caring for a cat, and we'll cover them all in the following sections:

• How to Choose a Cat Choosing the right cat can be a big decision. Cat's can live up to 20 years, and a simple adoption can mean a big commitment. In this section, we will show you how to find the perfect cat. We will weigh the pros and cons of an adult cat versus a kitten. We will also examine where the best place is to find a new cat: a shelter, a friend, or a stray. We will also help match a cat to your lifestyle so you can have the cat that truly suits you.
• Choosing an Indoor Cat vs. an Outdoor Cat Another huge decision to make when owning a cat is whether or not you will have an indoor cat or an outdoor cat. In this section, we will first explore whether or not cats need to go outside. Is there an advantage to letting your cat roam the neighborhood? Of course, there are many more dangers in the backyard that in your home. Also, if you do make the decision to let your cat outside, we will show you the safest way to introduce your cat to the great outdoors.
• Cat-Feeding Tips Feeding your cat is obviously an important part of pet ownership. After all, it's one of the few duties that you will have to perform every day. Simply remembering to put some food in your cat's bowl is only the beginning. You must also decide what kind of food to feed your cat. We will also examine how to stop your cat from eating your houseplants, and whether or not you should give your cat "people food." Finally, we will also look at how much water to give your cat.
• Store-Bought Cat Food vs. Homemade Cat Food In this section, we will compare the benefits of store-bought cat food and homemade cat food. Homemade cat food has the benefit of giving you the peace of mind that you know exactly what you are feeding your cat. However, in most cases you can probably trust the medically and scientifically designed formulas of the major cat-food manufacturers. We will review the various types of store-bought cat food such as kibble or "wet" cat food. We will examine the pros and cons of each type, and which will be best for your cat.
• Cat-Grooming TipsCats are usually considered to be very clean animals, and, for the most part, this is true. However, this does not mean that cats do not need regular grooming. In this section, we will discuss the proper grooming of your cat. First, we will discuss the grooming benefits of a short-haired cat to a long-haired cat. Next, we will examine whether or not you should seek the help of a professional groomer. Finally, we will show you how to execute proper grooming at home, including how to prepare your cat and when you should stop.
• Cat-Bathing TipsUsually cats do not have to be bathed. Aside from the occasional grooming, most cats are able to clean themselves. There are a few reasons why you would have to give your cat a bath. For instance, if your cat has fleas or gets sprayed with something unpleasant. In this section, we will show you the proper way to bathe your cat. We will show you all the steps from preparing all the equipment you'll need to drying and fluffing.
• How to Cat-Proof Your HomeYour home can be a veritable obstacle course for you cat. While your cat may be able to live happily in your house for many years without encountering an accident, that doesn't mean there won't be danger lurking around every corner. In this section, we will show you all the potential hazards that disguise themselves as common household objects. We will also show you how you can make your house safe your cat and what to do if your cat eats something poisonous.
• Cat ToysMost cat owners love to watch their cat play with the various toys they bought them. However, some of these toys can be dangerous for your cat. Yarn, for instance, a staple among cat toys for years, can actually cause very serious injuries. In this section, we will show you which cat toys are safe for your kitty and which could be harmful.
• Veterinarian Visits and VaccinationsPerhaps the most important step you can take in caring for your cat is finding a reliable and competent physician. In this section, we will show a step-by-step process for finding a veterinarian that will be perfect for both your and your cat. We will let you know the various organizations to which you can turn for vet recommendations. We will also let you know what you should do before your first visit to the vet. Finally, we will examine feline vaccinations and whether they are a must for your cat.

How to Care for a Dog

In exchange for all the love and pleasure dogs give their families, they do require various kinds of care in return, many of them several times a day. But don't be scared -- these will quickly become part of your familiar routine, and the better you get at caring for your pooch, the more pleasure you'll both derive from your relationship. In this article, we cover all the key aspects of dog-care, including:

• Dog-Naming Tips Naming your pooch is a joyful task, but one you'll want to put some thought into ahead of time. Both you and your dog will have to live with the name you choose for your entire time together. There are many ways to come up with appropriate dog names, including appearance, heritage, special characteristics, and behavior. We cover them all in this section. We will also tell you about some dog names and dog-naming mistakes you will definitely want to avoid.

• Dog Supplies Think of how many personal items you have, and how many of them are indispensable to your health and happiness. Dogs require fewer accessories than us humans, but theirs are no less vital, and by selecting the proper items, you can improve your pooch's health in ever regard. If you've ever ventured inside a pet store, you know how confusing it can be just picking out a collar or leash. We will cover all the basics like food and grooming accessories, as well as specialty items like a carrier.

• Dog Feeding Nothing is more vital to the health of your dog than proper feeding. Dogs are eager eaters, and this is part of their charm. But it also means that you need to be well informed about what is will give a dog good health and energy and what could be bad for her, despite her willingness to try it out. Here are all the details, including several make-it-at-home recipes for delicious, nutritious and economical dog food. (We also answer the eternal question, "Why do dogs eat plants?")

• Puppy-Training Tips A new puppy can really melt your heart, but they can also be a handful. The sooner your pooch is accustomed to doing his business outdoors and on schedule, the better for all of you. Interestingly, this is made easier when correlated to the feeding schedule. There is more to training your puppy than housebreaking, however. You must also know the correct way to humanely discipline your new dog when he misbehaves. All the details of this crucial stage in your dog's life are in this section.

• Dog-Grooming and Bathing Tips Dogs can get messy, and they don't naturally keep themselves quite as clean as we'd like them to be as co-habitants in our homes. As the owner, proper grooming on bathing is your responsibility. But there is more to caring for your dog than simple bathing. You must also care for your dog's nails, teeth, eyes and ears. So in this section we cover key strategies for keeping your pooch clean and everyone happy. We'll even tell you when it's time to throw in the towel and seek the aid of a professional groomer.

• Dog-Proofing Your Home Dog-proofing your home can be just as challenging as proofing your home for a child or for allergies. For instance, do you know which types of houseplants can be poisonous for dogs? You might also be surprised to learn that some of your favorite treats can really upset your dog's stomach. For everyone's health and happiness, it's vital to make your house safe for your dog and to train the pooch to respect the home, as well. In this section, we give indispensable advice for forging a good relationship between your pet and your residence.

• Dog-Proofing Your Yard Most dogs spend at least a little time in the yard, but this congenial place poses its own challenges and dangers. First, you will need the right type of fence to keep your dog from roaming the neighborhood where he could possibly get injured or hurt others. We will examine the option of invisible fences and the so-called "shock collars." Also, everyone needs a place to call home, and that includes your dog. We'll tell you how to design and build the perfect doghouse. Learn how to keep both your dog and your yard safe and happy.

• Dog-Identification Tips Nothing else matters when your dog is lost. Taking a few simple steps when she first comes home can save everyone heartache later. The right tag can get your dog back home where he belongs in a matter of hours. Here we discuss the best methods of providing identification for your dog. We will also discuss some identification options that you may not have heard of. Did you know that some pet owners tattoo their dogs with vital identification information? How about microchip implants? Regardless of the method you choose, we will also tell you how to register your dog's identification.

Before you can really get to know your dog, you have to give him or her a name. Move on to the first section for some tips on christening your new friend.