This can be an emotional subject but it boils down to two undeniable facts: (1) it is better for your pet and (2) it is better for our community. It is better for your pet because a desexed dog or cat is happier and healthier; and it is better for our community because you will not be adding to the tragedy of hundreds of thousands of homeless pets being put down in Australian pounds every year.

A puppy or kitten needs to be desexed (spayed or neutered) no later than 6 months old to prevent having a litter. The simple, routine surgery can be done as young as 3 months and up to any age. It’s never too late.

Happy and Healthier Pets

Male and female dogs and cats which have been desexed are usually more relaxed and settled than those that are not because they are not troubled by hormonal urges which compel them to go out and find a mate. Male desexed pets are often less aggressive, less likely to mark their territory with urine, less likely to perform “humping” behaviours, and less likely to roam and to try escape their yards.

When your female dog or cat is desexed you won’t have to deal with the mess of her period or the worry of having strange males trying to get at her. Female cats won’t yowl out for a mate.

Undesexed male and female cats and dogs get more cancers then desexed cats and dogs. Females can also develop the life threatening disease pyometra, which affects the uterus. Undesexed females also run the risk of complications and death from
pregnancy and giving birth.

Better for Our Community

Every year, 250,000 homeless dogs and cats are euthanised in Australian pounds, according to www.deathrowpets.net. Even if you think you can find homes for your pet’s litter (a litter of 12 is not uncommon), there is no guarantee they won’t wind up dumped in a few months or years. Also, many of your pet’s offspring will breed, and their offspring will breed, and the pet overpopulation problem will continue to get worse and worse.

Read more about the pet desexing at http://tinyurl.com/desexyourpet The next article in this series will address some myths about pet desexing.

Guest Author: After a long career in IT, Terri now divides her time between bookkeeping for the family business and volunteer work with Dog Rescue Newcastle.

Petitude, in partnership with Dog Rescue Newcastle, will publish pet care guide and pet adoption articles until end of 2010. To learn more about Petitude’s new advocacy campaign and what you can do to help our less fortunate furry pals while doing your online shopping, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Winter is not just for us human to enjoy. Even pet cats can enjoy the outdoors provided that they are dressed for the season. Here are some winter activities that you can enjoy with your pet cat:

Take him for a walk – since the weather in July offers a slightly warm temperature in some parts of the country, your precious cat can really enjoy the nice breeze.

Just don’t forget to put his favourite winter cat clothes on to ensure that he is always protected from the cool wind especially in the morning and afternoon. If you’re in Sydney, here are some of the attractions that you can visit: The Rocks, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australian Museum, Hyde Park, Chinatown and Darling Harbour.

Let him play in your yard – cats are always fascinated with balls, especially those that have bright colours. What you can do is to buy some of these and let him chase after them. This also a great form of exercise for your feline buddy. Just make sure that he does not go over the fence to avoid any accident.

Take him to your family vacation – one of the best ways of bonding with your beloved feline buddy is to take him with you on a vacation. For example, if your family is planning to visit a ski resort this winter, take him with you. Just make sure he has enough food, he is dressed with winter cat clothes and you bring his cat toys with you to keep him active and busy during the trip.

As always, winter should not bore you and your precious cat, so make sure you have different outdoor fun activities lined up for the rest of the season.

Cats that are used to the outdoors may find the winter season a very stressful part of the year because they will have less time to enjoy outdoor activities. If  you have a cat that enjoys the outdoors so much, the best way to help him enjoy the cold season is to create an “outdoor environment” indoors.  Here’s how:

No matter how much she meows and yowls, do not give in. If you do, he will learn that all he has to do to force his will on you is to make enough noise. Instead, try to get him away from the door by distracting him with a food treat followed by a play session.

During the play session, make your house appealing and provide your pet cat with fun, outdoor-like activities. You can start with interactive play sessions that can simulate his senses like hunting or hide and seek. In this activity, you can buy him a cat tunnel where he could use as his hiding ground. You can also buy him a cat scratching post to allow him to relieve some of his stress by letting him mark his domain. Cats always find comfort every time they climb higher grounds so a nice cat tree will allow him to be happy and contented even when confined indoors.

Just like you, your precious cat also needs to enjoy the winter season. By preparing different indoor activities for him and getting toys and furniture to keep him busy and occupied, he will surely enjoy the cold months the way you want him to.

The cold weather can be difficult for cats to deal with, just like it is with humans. This is why as soon as the weather becomes cold, it is important that you know how to protect your cat from catching any illness or disease brought by the winter season. The most important thing to do is to keep your cat indoors. This is probably the best prescription. To give you an idea on the common health problems your cats may get or experience this winter season, please refer to this list:

1. Arthritis- just like in dogs, cats are also prone to have arthritis especially during the colder months. The most common signs of feline arthritis and joint disease include stiffness, limping or favouring a limb particularly after sleep or rest, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, and noticeable pain. There are many causes of arthritis and joint disease in cats. These include trauma, infections, immune system disorders, the cold weather and developmental disorders such as hip dysphasia. Also, be particularly gentle with elderly and arthritic cat during the winter. This is because the cold weather can leave her joints extremely stiff and tender. If you can, consider making your home easier for her to get around to avoid any accident. Make sure that you also buy her a thick, soft bed in a warm room to help her get through the cold nights.

2. Hypothermia- is a body temperature that is below normal. This is a condition that occurs when the cat is not able to keep his body temperature from the normal state. It happens when he spends too much time in cold temperatures, or when cats with poor health or circulation are exposed to the cold weather. In mild cases, your cat will shiver and show signs of depression, lethargy, and weakness. As the condition progresses, her muscles will stiffen, her heart and breathing rates will slow down, and she will stop responding to stimuli. If you notice these symptoms, you need to get your cat warm and take her to your veterinarian immediately.

3. Colds- even cats can catch cold and flu during the winter season. To prevent this, give your cat vitamins E and B complex that will strengthen the tissues and make him more resistant to the cold weather. But you should be careful because providing additional vitamins can actually cause imbalances in her diet and medical problems.

Should you see any unwanted signs and symptoms, it is best that you take your cat to the vet right away. Remember, better safe than sorry.

Have you considered declawing your pet cat? Before you do, please read the rest of this article.

You probably think that the best way to stop your cat from scratching your furniture is to have your cat declawed. Yes, it is an option but it will not be the best for your cat. Surely you can say that since you own the cat, you can anything as long as you do not hurt her physically, right? Well, that could be acceptable but the emotional part will be quite different. This is because your cat will feel the urge to scratch. Having lost her claws will make trying very frustrating for her. Remember that scratching is a regular practice for cats. Therefore, it is something that you cannot easily remove from her system. The least that you can do is to trim her claws regularly.

Declawing a cat will just make it more nervous and quite difficult to deal with. The cat has to act upon its scratching needs from time to time. And declawing your cat is definitely not something that can totally remove her urge or need to scratch. You will just make things worse for your cat. You also need to know that declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat’s claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. It is closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your cat’s claw has to be removed, too. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat’s “toes”. When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Just imagine the pain and hassle that it could cause your cat if you do this. If you love your cat, declawing should not be an option.