How to Bath a Cat

Today you will learn how to bath a cat! Bathing a cat is a tedious process that must be done with care. Cats are strange creatures, and very delicate. You want to be as gentle as possible while you give you feisty feline a bath. How to bath a cat properly is not as easy as it sounds.

First you have to understand that cats hate - hate water. So keep that in mind as you bathe them. You want to make sure that your cat actually needs a bath. You don't want to torture your feline with that dreadful water if the cat doesn't need the bath.

If you have decided that your cat needs to be bathed, next step is to figure out what water temperature you need to have to give your cat a nice bath. You don't want to get the water too cold because just like everyone else no moggy likes a cold bath. You also want to make sure that the water is not too hot. This is very important as a cold bath can make it uncomfortable for the cat but a hot bath can hurt the cat and burn it.

Now that you have figured out the right temperature you want to fill the bathtub with about 4-5 inches of water. You want to fill the tub before you bring the cat in as the running water will only frighten the cat. Bring the cat in and gently lower the cat into the tub. Make sure not to drop the cat in too fast as this too will scare the cat. Ease the cat down to the water letting it know that the water is safe.

Once you have the cat in you want to get a cloth and dampen it by the water in the tub. You want to make sure you have the right shampoo for your cat. You can get these at any pet store and will give your cat a clean feeling! DO NOT use normal shampoo - it will dry the skin out.

Make sure to rub thoroughly but not too hard. You want to make sure the shampoo gets down to the skin to clean any dirt the cat may have. Rinse cat of all shampoo and grab a towel. Gently dry off the cat. Make sure not to leave fur wet. You now have a clean and happy cat!

5 Interesting Facts on the Zebra

The zebra is a creature that draws the interest of people because of its unusual coat of black and white stripes. Other than their physical appearance, most people do not know much about the zebra. A fact that tends to surprise people is that there is not just one zebra; there are actually three different main kinds. The three sorts of zebras are the Grevy’s zebra, which lives mainly in Kenya, the second (the kind that is most often seen), the Burchell’s, and the third kind is a mountain zebra typically found in Africa, called the Equus. The Burchell’s zebra actually has two sub-types of its own, the Grant’s zebra and the Chapman’s.

A second interesting fact regarding zebras is just how important their family group is to them. With the birth of a new foal, the mother keeps it with her only for about three days just to let it become used to her smell, sight and voice before meeting any other members of the family. When attacked, all zebras will face down the predator in a half-circle rather than leaving any member who may be lagging behind for the predator. Instead, should one of them be attacked, all of the zebras will stand around that one in order to protect it from the predator.

That is not all, either. There are other facts about zebras that are very interesting, regarding their stripes. The stripes of a zebra are not all the same, even though they may appear that way from a distance. Actually, the truth is that the pattern of a zebras stripes are extremely distinguishing, they could be compared to people’s fingerprints because they are so distinct from zebra to zebra, right down to the patterns and widths of the stripes.

While they may not look like it, mountain zebras have the ability to climb quite well. Since they live in mountains areas, they are made for navigating the mountain slopes that they live in. Their hooves are perfect for mountains, hard and pointed, and allow them to climb up to two thousand miles above sea level.

A fifth and final interesting fact about zebras is that even though they are animals that live in the wild and are not generally kept as pets or in captivity outside of zoos, the zebra is part of the same family as both horses and donkeys, a fact that tends to surprise most people due to how different they look.

Famous Funny T-Shirts That Made a Splash

Fashion has a way of defining an era, many are able to pinpoint the decade of an old music video simply by the clothes that the band is wearing. When a trend becomes incredibly popular and catches the attention of everybody, this is when fashion goes mainstream and becomes an attachment of the era; a defining, iconic quality that represents the general mood and feeling of the time.

One of the most popular forms of this mainstream fashion quirk is the t-shirt. Most everybody wears t-shirts and for this reason it can be considered extremely accessible to all people. Novelty shirts first become extremely popular in the 1980's and arguably have never returned to that level of popularity. However, there have been iconic t-shirt designs that have endured through the decades and modern designs that have captured the attention of many.

A classic example of a memorable, funny t-shirt is the 'Frankie Says Relax' t-shirt from the 1980s. The shirt's origins are lyrics from a famous Frankie Goes To Hollywood single, but the shirt was made even more famous by George Michael and his band Wham! The t-shirt was worn by many teenagers and young adults throughout the 80s and is considered to be the landmark of novelty, funny t-shirts.

Another slogan t-shirt was “where's the beef?” which originates from a 1984 Wendy's commercial. This catchphrase took on a life of its own and became an oft-used phrase by many during the 80s. The slogan took on a somewhat ironic, knowing meaning as it was used in a variety of ways. The exact meaning is ambiguous, but it became something of an in-joke to many and the mustard-yellow t-shirt that it was printed on became an iconic item of apparel during this time.

Towards the latter half of the 1980s, The Simpsons came onto the scene and captured the hearts and minds of kids and adults alike. During the early seasons, Bart could be heart to say “don't have a cow, man” and this quickly become a national catchphrase. Of course, it didn't take long for this phrase to make it onto a t-shirt and it was extremely common to see children wearing this shirt.

The novelty shirt has never gone away, but since the 1980s it could be argued that it has not received the same level of national exposure. However, this does not mean that iconic t-shirts in general are not still popular. For President Obama's election campaign in 2008 he used the incredibly famous 'change' design on t-shirts (among other things) and these shirts received worldwide exposure on a level that had not been seen for many years.

The appeal of the novelty shirt will always be around and while its general popularity will hit peaks and lows, there is undying appeal to a funny t-shirt.

How to Communicate with Your Cat

Many people do not enjoy living their life without a beloved pet by their side, as nothing can replace the inner warmth that an animal can provide for its owner. Although sometimes having pets around can cause a lot of extra stress, many find that being without them can cause even more.

While owning a small dog seems to be the popular choice for pet owners these days, some still find that having a cat is the way to go, and the more emotionally rewarding animal to call your own. Establishing a good relationship with your cat is very beneficial to not only the cat, but to you as well. The best way to do so is being able to communicate with your cat and let it know that you understand its needs.

However, this must be a two-way street, as you must allow the cat to understand you as well. Having this two-way street of communication will go a long way in creating a warm and loving relationship between you and your pet.

There are several ways to communicate with your cat, both verbally and non-verbally. Using a specific tone of voice with your cat is crucial, as you must establish a different tone of voice to address various acts. For example, when it is time to eat, you want to use a nice high pitched voice to show the pet that it is time for a rewarding experience. However, when the cat does something bad, you want to use a low pitched mean sounding voice, so then the cat will begin to understand when it is doing something that is not acceptable. The way you use your voice is key and will go a long way in developing a solid foundation of communication.

Furthermore, it is also a good idea to form a pattern with your cat, as they often will be much more comfortable with their surroundings if they know what to expect on a daily bases. Be sure to listen to your cat very closely as well, as a long drawled out meow noise, normally means they are angry or possibly in some type of trouble. Short quick meows usually means that it is hungry, or thirsty. Learning to understand the pet’s noises will allow you to be more responsive and better equipped to properly communicate with your cat. Using these tips will allow you and your beloved moggy to have a cross-species relationship like you never thought possible!

The Camouflaged Tigers of Thailand

One of nature's most ferocious animal are the tigers of Thailand. They are practically on top of the food chain. Tigers are very powerful cats and can move swiftly and stealthy to capture their prey. They are intelligent hunters that scout their prey and wait until the most opportune moments to pounce on it.

The feline will crouch, pretty much hug the ground, and slowly move towards the target. Inexperienced targets, like young mammals, are common victims because they do not notice the tiger's presence. This unfortunate prey is an easy target for the feline. However, if the prey does notice a disturbance in its immediate surrounding it will run away, obviously. That is not a missed opportunity for the tiger because it is capable of chasing its prey. Tigers are unbelievably fast, considering they have a huge body. The mixture of speed and power already makes tigers dangerous, but the biggest asset a tiger has over its prey is its surroundings.

The environment really gives the tigers a huge advantage over their prey. They have an orange-brownish fur with vertical stripes. The tiger's fur patterns help it blend in the background of orange wheat and grass. Just having a quick glance at a field in Thailand could miss a hiding tiger. The tiger uses its surrounding really well to camouflage itself. About half of the t-shirts people wear regarding tigers pay homage to the tiger's use of its background. T-shirts like the “Tiger Surprise”, “Tiger Face”, and “Power and Grace Tiger Shirt” have a base color of brownish-orange. From these shirts, one can clearly see how dangerous tigers are in their environment. Imagine yourself in a crowd of people that are wearing darkish colors. You will blend right in just because of the base color of your shirt. Once you get close to another person, though, the shirt design will stick out.

Tigers being represented in t-shirts should reflect the feline's ability to blend in with its surroundings. This means that images of tigers should be printed on neutral colors that do not stick out. This would mean that darkish colors, a mixture of brown and orange for example is fantastic, and could be the base color of the shirt. In addition, the image of a tiger makes you feel like you were as powerful and swift as the tiger itself – a great appeal of this breed of cat for many animal lovers.

5 Incredible Domestic Cat Facts

Felis silvestris catus, better known as the domestic cat, is an eternally popular choice for pet owners. There are hundreds if not thousands of cat breeds that are able to survive almost anywhere that humans are able to live. They are, without fail, the most popular pets in the world. They are valued for their independence, their cleanliness, and their propensity to hunt vermin that live within their environment. Usually we see cats and do not give them a second thought. However, there are some things you may not know about these animals! Here are five things you didn't know about domestic cats.

It seems that, with millions of cats across the world, they would have to be descended from many different cats. Actually, a study in 2007 showed that all cats have the same lineage: five or more of the members of the subspecies Felis silvestris lybica, or the African wildcat.

It is commonly known that the Egyptians believed that cats were sacred; as such, it makes sense to think that cats were first domesticated in Ancient Egypt, right? Wrong! Cats may have been domesticated as early as the Neolithic Era, which is part of the so-called Stone Age. This was over 12000 years ago!

Cats of all types, including domesticated cats, are some of the best hunters in the animal kingdom. They have the ability to retrace their steps in order to minimize visible tracks - they will step with their forepaws, and then place their hind paws in the same exactly spot. Due to the padding on their paws, they are also exceptionally quiet when walking. Their sharp claws and teeth are ideal for hunting - after all, think of the term "cat and mouse"!

Many domesticated animals quickly become used to their new surroundings, rendering them incapable of surviving outside of the home. This is especially true for dogs, who quickly become accustomed to these comforts. Cats do not suffer from domestication in quite the same way. They retain many of the skills that allowed them to thrive in the wild, such as their sharp claws and teeth, and their taste for meat. A cat in good condition can run up to 31 miles per hour. Because of these features, even the most well-trained and domesticated house cat can survive in the wild, in unfamiliar conditions.

The sound that humans most associate with cats is their meow. However, cats can produce over 200 unique sounds from growls and hisses to purrs. They retain their meow for humans only. Cats are also the only animals who naturally purr as a form of communication.

Cats are unique and wonderful creatures that have been near and dear to human's hearts for thousands of years. Perhaps their mysterious nature is justified - after all, there are many things we don't really know about them!

The Giraffe – a “High Blood Pressured” Mammal

Giraffe derives from the Arabis work “Xirapha”, meaning “one who walks swiftly”. While they are unable to maintain high speeds for long periods of time, they can run up to 35 miles an hour. This is useful to quickly move away from lions and other predators. On average giraffes can live from 20-28 years in captivity, and 10-15 years in the wild. There are 9 known subspecies living in various African regions of the family Giraffidae. The Angolan, Baringo, Kordofan, Masai, Nigerian, Nubian, Reticulated, Southern, and Thornicroft are all types of giraffes, and have different color patterns.

Giraffes begin their lives by falling 6 feet to the ground, and are roughly 6 feet tall at birth. The animal will continue to grow; most females average 14 feet tall and the males average 20 feet, making the giraffe the tallest land mammal in the world. Giraffes have just as many vertebrae in their neck as humans; however, each of the seven vertebrae is about 5 inches long giving them a neck roughly 6 feet long. These large animals will weigh anywhere from 3,000-4,000 (males), and 1,500-2,500 (females) pounds.

In order to get to that weight and size giraffes will consume roughly 77 pounds of food on average each day. Giraffes are herbivores, and seem to prefer twigs and leaves from the acacia tree which contain a great deal of water in the leaves. Luckily giraffes are able to go for days without water; this reduces their chance of being attacked by predators at a watering hole. However, when they do drink, an average adult giraffe will consume 12 gallons of water in one sitting. This is a challenging and dangerous task for a giraffe. In order to reach a watering hole they must sprawl their front legs to lower their neck and upper body. Once in this position, giraffes loose the advantage of being able to see predators approaching and are unable to quickly maneuver upright to sprint off if the need arises.

A giraffe’s tongue is close to 2 feet long, and they can use it clean their own ears. In addition, their heart is also almost 2 feet long, and will weigh in around 20-25 pounds. Do to their large size giraffes have one of the highest blood pressures of all mammals. Their heart must pump around 20 gallons of blood per minute, and their blood pressure is 2-3 times that of an average healthy human adult male.