Top Hat And Tails Pet Sitting ~ Somerset, New Jersey: December 2014

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Cold Weather Tips

Brrrr—it's cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips. Source: ASPCA 2014

Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, dogs can easily become lost. Make sure your dog always wears ID tags.
Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted winter wear.

Cat, Dog, Bird, Fish And Hamster Facts

Cat Facts

A third of cats' time spent awake is usually spent cleaning themselves.

A cat's heart beats almost double the rate of a human heart, from 110 to 140 beats per minute.

A cat's meow is usually not directed at another cat, but at a human. To communicate with other cats, they will usually hiss, purr and spit.

Most cats don't have eyelashes.

Dog Facts

Greyhounds can run as fast as 45 mph and are the fastest canines on the planet.

A typical dog has a mouthful of 42 permanent teeth, while the average human has 32.

The Prairie Dog is actually part of the squirrel family. Early settlers named them after canines because their calls sounded like barking dogs.

33 percent of dog owners admit to talking to their dog over the telephone, often leaving them messages on the answering machine.

A typical dog has the same brain aptitude level as a toddler. Dogs can comprehend about 250 words and count up to 5.

Dogs' sense of hearing can reach four times the distance of humans.

The seeds of apples and pears should be kept away from dogs. Their composition includes arsenic, which could kill your dog.

A dogs' first sense to develop is touch.

Bird Facts

Many birds kept as pets, including doves, parakeets, and lovebirds, enjoy living in pairs for companionship.

It is estimated that one third of all bird owners turn on a radio for their pet when they leave the house.

The first bird domesticated by humans was the goose.

If you help your baby bird become accustomed to being gently handled now, you will prevent many problems later. For example, gently playing with your bird’s feet and toes will help it tolerate toenail filing. Gently lift its wings, so a trip to the groomer doesn’t become a nightmare later on.

Pet birds spend a large portion of their day grooming their feathers and nails. You can help your pet bird with its grooming process by offering it a bath.

Fish Facts

Tropical fish are one of the most popular pets in the U.S.

Feed on a schedule - Most tank inhabitants will do well if fed twice daily. If possible, more frequent and smaller feedings are preferred. In the wild, most fish do not eat large "meals" like we do, but are foraging and "nibbling" throughout the day.

Fish have been on the earth for more than 450 million years.

Angelfish are intelligent and can recognise their owners!

Angelfish can live for up to 15 years

The fish in the middle of a school control the school. The fish on the outside are guided by those in the middle. Only bony fish can swim in highly coordinated groups.

Hamster Facts

Hamsters have a natural instinct to burrow

A hamster can store their food in their cheeks as they collect it and then take it to their colonies to eat it all later

There are 4 basic breeds of hamsters, namely the Syrian, Russian Dwarf, Chinese and Roborovski hamsters

A hamster's diet consists of dried food, nuts, seeds, vegetables and berries but they are what is called omnivores which means they like to eat meat as well as vegetables

Hamsters are nocturnal mammals which means they are more active at night and they sleep during the day

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