Monthly Archives: August 2012

Cat

Why Does That Cat Purr?

Fact is, nobody really knows!  I find that hard to believe, don’t you?  But it’s true.

Nobody knows for certain why cats purr, but the following reasons are speculated:

Cats often purr when being petted, becoming relaxed, or when eating. Female cats are known to sometimes purr while giving birth. Domestic cats have been reported to purr when injured, sick, in pain or dying. Purring may have developed as a signalling mechanism between mother cats and nursing kittens. One theory is that it is not a sign of showing relaxation or content, but an attempt at “friendship” or a signal of “specific intent”. For example, when a cat is nervous and cannot escape the situation (at a veterinarian perhaps), its purr may serve as an attempt to avoid being hurt.German ethologist and cat behaviorist Paul Leyhausen interprets it as a signal that the animal is not posing a threat.

Scientists at the University of Sussex showed in 2009 that purring, or some purring, seems to be a way for domesticated cats to signal their owners for food. According to Dr. Karen McComb and her team, purring in the “about to be fed” context has a high-frequency component not ordinarily present. Humans report feeling an urgency to investigate and satisfy the cat’s needs; to wit: “feed me.” However, this variety of purring seems to be found only in cats in a one-on-one relationship with their caretakers. This “soliciting purr” is different from a cat’s normal purring.Another theory states that purring triggers a cat’s brain to release a hormone which helps it in relaxing and acts as a pain killer. This may be a reason why cats purr when distressed or in labour.

Scientists at the University of California, Davis hypothesised that a cat’s purr can be used as a healing mechanism to offset long periods of rest and sleep that would otherwise contribute to a loss of bone density. The vibrations and contractions of a purr work during both inhalation and exhalation show a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz; these frequencies have been shown to improve bone density and promote healing. Dr. Lyons, one of the leading scientists in this study, suggests that this finding may be applicable to astronauts during extended periods in zero gravity. Bone density loss and muscle atrophy is a serious concern for astronauts during extended periods at zero gravity. Since during these periods musculo-skeletal systems do not experience the normal stresses of physical activity, including routine standing or sitting, which requires strength for posture control, exposing these astronauts to sound frequencies similar to those of a cat’s purr could counteract the deteriorating effects of zero-gravity.

Whatever!  All I know for sure is that I LOVE it when my cat comes up to me and starts purring!  My bet is . . . you do too!

Dog

Best Dog Food For Allergies

Food is one of the leading causes of allergies in dogs. When your dog develops an allergy towards a certain food, you need to remove it from the diet and look into other alternatives to find the best dog foods for allergies. Two of the most common alternatives are commercially produced hypoallergenic pet food and homemade dog food.

The important thing to remember is that the ingredient causing the allergy needs to be completely removed from the animal’s diet. Increased exposure to the ingredient will only intensify your dog’s suffering.

Dog food allergies are not predictable. It is entirely possible that your pet may suddenly develop an allergy to a food that it has been eating for a long time. Some of the most common foods found in many different commercial and homemade pet foods and which can cause an allergy include meats such as chicken, lamb and beef. Canines can also develop allergies to fish, wheat, soy, corn, eggs and other dairy products.

There are some commercially produced dog foods that you could give your pet if it is suffering from any form of food allergy. These are usually sold through veterinarians and are known as hypoallergenic pet food. They will not cause your pet any further distress as they exclude all of the most common allergens (ingredients which may cause allergies). The difficult thing with these foods is getting your pet to eat it as they are usually bland and tasteless, not flavoured with extra fat the way regular pet foods are.

These hypoallergenic foods are better for your pet than most commercial canine foods are as they contain no added chemical preservatives, colourings or flavourings, all of which can be very harmful to your dog’s health. However, make sure that they contain all the necessary nutrients that your dog needs in order to be happy and healthy.

Homemade dog food allows you to remove the cause of your pet’s allergy from the diet, thus removing all the discomfit that the symptoms cause your dog. It also enables you to watch the ingredients that go into your pet’s food, and to make sure that they receive all the necessary nutrients that their bodies require.

Anybody can make homemade dog food as it is made using ingredients found in any kitchen. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to make delicious nutritious meals for your pet. In fact, it is so easy that even kids can do it!

To learn more about how to give your dog the best food and nutrition possible, visit http://homemadedogtreatsrecipes.net

Pet Article courtesy of http://pet-articles.blogspot.com.