There are several distinct physical features that can easily differentiate the Showshoe from other breeds of felines. First is the inverted “V” which is considered an accepted facial pattern. Normally, the “V” should start from the forehead and spreading down across the cat’s muzzle.

The second distinct feature is the ‘white boots’ that usually extends below the hock joint and to the bend of the cat’s ankle.

Third, a Showshoe possesses the stockiness of the American Shorthair but has the Siamese cat’s body length.

The typical colors of the Siamese cats are predominantly present in Snowshoes and may be manifested in two patterns—bicolor and mitted. These coat colors include fawn, cinnamon, blue, chocolate, red, cream, seal, and lilac. The most common colors are blue point and seal point. ... Read more »

Whether you love to go on trail rides, or have set your eyes on competing, owning a horse can be very rewarding.

With so many choices to choose from, selecting a horse that will fit in your lifestyle will surely be a challenge, especially if this is your first horse.

While certain horse breeds are more suited to specific disciplines compared to others, many breeds are excellent all-rounders. Making a thorough research before purchasing a horse will help guarantee that the breed will suit you, your ability to ride, and the intended use.

Your location from where a breed of horse is found can also influence, to a certain extent, the horse you buy.

In order to have a perfect fit, the horse breed that you select should possess a temperament that matches your experience. If you are still a novice, you may have a ha ... Read more »

There are breeds of cats that are good candidates for agility training. Unlike dogs, cats have a short attention span with short energy spurts.  This knowledge should be taken into consideration when you choose to train your kitty. Another thing to keep in mind is never to treat your cat as a small dog.

The best results are achieved when training sessions lasts for less than ten minutes. Some owners are able to have two 5-minute sessions a day with lots of positive reinforcement. In addition to treats, cats are motivated to undergo agility training because of the fun and enjoyment they derive from the activity.

In some instances, your kitty may perform poorly because of joint problems. Some of the obstacles in the agility course may be making the joint pains worse. Since cats are experts when it comes to hiding any signs of discomfort or pain, you should watch out for these si ... Read more »

Changing diets, especially if you don’t know how it is properly done, can be an important stress factor for your kitty. Some cats even end up with digestive problems. If you think there is a need to change switch brands of cat food, here are some pointers to help ensure there won’t be any problems as a result of the switching process.

The change from his old diet to a new diet should be gradual and extend over a period of several days.

Mix a small quantity of the new pet food with the old diet. If your kitty doesn’t show any signs of dislike to the new brand, gradually increase its amount while slowly decreasing the amount of the old diet, for the next few days, until such time the entire ration is fully composed of the new diet.

You can ask help from your Olathe vet when switching your pet’s diets to avoid any problem. F ... Read more »

Cats love jumping from one surface to another. In addition to jumping from an elevated point, your kitty may also love jumping onto counter tops in search for food or on the window sill to perch and observe everything from his vantage point. Being able to jump up and stay in an elevated surface will also allow your kitty to keep his distance from a pet dog that loves to pester him.

It is almost impossible to get rid of your pet’s behavior, so your best bet is to pinpoint which surfaces you will allow him to jump on and which ones are off limits. Definite no-no’s include kitchen counters and table tops, as well as on top of the TV and cabinets where delicate china is kept. To discourage your kitty from these surfaces, put on double-sided tape over the area. The sticky surface will be unpleasant to your cat’s sensitive paws.

 If you are dealing with any negativ ... Read more »

There is no guessing when it comes to your cat’s curiosity and the lengths it will go to during its investigation of new things in its environment.

During a storm, it is human nature to prepare by placing candles all around the home and having them on standby in case the power goes out.

Unsupervised lit candles is an open invitation to your cat to investigate the moving flames and a possible “paw slap” to see what happens when your cat interacts with this thing.

One sharp snap with your cat’s paw and the lit candle is most likely going to end up knocked over….a fire in your home is imminent unless you are right there to blow it out.

Keep lit candles very high and out of your cats reach (where you know for a fact that it cannot jump up to that area) or use flashlights and battery operated lanterns instead for additional safety. This website for the veterinary clinic Jacksonville can ... Read more »