Cat Information And The Facts Behind Cats Having Nine Lives

Ever wondered when cats fall, they always seem to land properly on their feet. Moreover, they do not suffer from any bruises or injuries. Does it have to do with the old mythological saying that cats have nine lives? Some say cats survive huge fall because they are tenacious and determined of life as compared to other animals. However, why nine lives? Let us explore this issue. 

According to the ancient Greek mythology, nine refers to trinity of all trinities. Nine is a mystic number that invokes tradition and religion. Greeks believed Atum-Ra the sun god gave life to nine gods. These gods were together called as Ennead or Nine. 

Atum-Ra the sun god took the appearance of cat and instilled its soul in each of these gods. When evil power came to destroy these gods, they survived unhurt because they had an instillation of sun god in them. Later, people in ancient Greek followed sun god. They started worshipping cats and believed that cats have nine lives same as these gods.

According to the legends, in AD 962, Count of Ypres Baldwin III hurled some felines from the top of the tower but to his surprise, they survived without a single bruise. He hurled them nine times and to his astonishment they survived every time and so, he left them alone. Since then, the Belgian people celebrate the cat history by throwing artificial cats from hall tower. 

What Science Has To Say:

The miracles of the medieval period became science of the nineteenth century. In the year 1894, a renowned French life scientist Etienne-Jules Marey explained the remarkable ability of cats to survive huge falls and escape unhurt. Marey held a feline upside down and hurled it downwards. 

The research unit captured the entire film, using a camera, which took about 60 images per second. This film made clear as how cat lands on its feet every time when it falls from high altitudes. Thus, a conclusion was made that, when the cat falls downwards the automatic twisting effect begins in the body of the cat. 

The cat directs its head, legs, tail, and body towards the ground and readies itself for a stable landing. The reaction is so immediate that cat judges the gravity and guides its body accordingly. Thus, cats have the instinct of physics too. 

Moreover, scientist says that cats have an inherent ability to land on feet every time they fall. However, this happens only during one or two occasion. It is same as the reaction of human body during critical situations. Studies also show that 90 percent of cats survive the falls and go unhurt. 

However, a cautious note for people who might try throwing their cats out of their house is to understand that most domestic cats of recent times may not possess this skill as their lives have increasingly become sedentary. 

Overview: 

The mystery of nine lives began during the medieval period. Although, Greek people no longer worship the cats and all the nine gods are elapsed with time, but the resilience of cats continues to inspire fascination. That is the reason why the myth of nine lives of cat endures until now.

The Basics Of Pet Insurance

Bringing home a new puppy any time is the equivalent of adding a brand new member to your family - literally. With this new edition to your family comes lots of love and excitement, as well as a boat load of new responsibilities - especially in his first few weeks at his house.These responsibilities include the basics of feeding him and providing the puppy with necessary supplies such as a blanket, crate, collar and leash, toys, etc. Most importantly, though, you will need to make sure that your dog is healthy and will stay that way throughout his entire life.

Very Important, Finding The Right Vet

Many new pet owners tend to overlook this very important requirement - finding the right veterinarian for their new puppy or dog. Taking your puppy to your vet right away (preferably within the first two days of bringing him home) is an absolute must. This is the best way to ensure that your puppy is in perfect health and that he is getting all of the preventive care needed right off the bat - things like vaccinations and regular routine exams.

Often times your family or friends can recommend you to a nearby veterinarian clinic that they have used. You can also do your own research by calling several clinics in your area and setting up an appointment to see the place and find out first hand if it is the right one for you and your pet.

Basic Veterinarian Expenses

For most dog owners, finding the right veterinarian is not the problem, but rather paying for the overall costs of veterinary care. Visits to the vet can be really expensive - even minor cases such as getting a yearly vaccination or having a routine checkup. Additionally, any kind of illness or severe injury can occur at any time. As a result many dog owners end up having to pay a lot of out-of-pocket expenses to their own vet clinic. This is why it is highly recommended that you research and get pet insurance as soon as possible.

Pet insurance is a very practical way to cut the cost of vet expenses, whether it is related to routine care, or accidents, or injuries. Having pet insurance is the best way to make sure that your puppy is getting the best health care possible. Pet insurance often covers the costs of such things as minor or major surgeries, treatments for illnesses and diseases, and other medical procedures such as neutering or spaying.

Health care is increasingly expensive today, for humans and for our pets as well. Finding the right, affordable pet insurance for you can be as easy as picking up the yellow pages, getting referrals from friends, your vet or family, or searching online. Most pet health insurance plans offer a monthly premium that is less than what you typically pay for your phone bill.

Think of it like this, combined veterinarian and medication costs were well over the $10 billion mark last year - shouldn't pet insurance be a consideration for you and your family pet right now?

Supplementing For Joint Health

No horse is perfect - brittle hoofs, overly excitable, problems with digestion or weight loss. But with supplements, nearly all horses can be brought to optimum health and performance. One of the most common supplements used by many horse people are joint supplements. They are used for a variety of reasons - from simple stiffness to degenerative diseases. And there's a variety of supplements to choose from. Joint supplements can help support the health of the structures between bones, like cartilage, and keep the joints lubricated with synovial fluid between the joint spaces.

 First of all, evaluate your horse's joint condition. Does your horse come out of his stall stiff? Does he work out of it with some warm-up? You may want to work with your veterinarian on this with x-rays or ultrasound to define the problem. Additional factors will be your horse's age, the type and amount of riding you do and whether there have been past joint or tendon/ligament problems. Even young horses may benefit from a joint supplement as it may prevent future problems. 

Not all joint supplements are created equal. Joint supplements are technically known as "nutraceuticals." According to the American Heritage Medical Dictionary, a nutraceutical is a food or naturally occurring food supplement (nutrient) thought to have a beneficial effect on human health. Nutraceuticals are not regulated by the Food & Drug Administration so the amount and type of ingredients can vary. Results can also vary from horse to horse. One nutraceutical may work wonders on one horse, but not so well on another. So be willing to experiment with different products and different combinations of ingredients. Some of the most common ingredients are: 

If you're on a budget, finding a supplement with adequate doses glucosamine and chondroitin should be your first priority. They are also especially good as maintenance for horses without any clinical signs of joint problems. 

There are several other ingredients that you may find in a joint supplement. Two of the most common are:  Many joint supplements contain Vitamin C. It is a water-soluble vitamin and antioxidant that is needed to synthesize collagen and connective tissue. However, unlike people, horses can produce adequate amounts of vitamin C so beware of oversupplementing your horse. 

In addition, there are several herbal products with potent anti-inflammatory properties available today. Two good examples of this are devil's claw and yucca. Other herbs containing anti-inflammatory properties include: astragalus, boswellia, cayenne, chamomile, dandelion, licorice, marshmallow, slippery elm, turmeric, white oak bark, willow and more. Using these products alone or in combination may reduce or even eliminate the pain and inflammation of joint problems. 

Finally, to keep your horse comfortable and in shape while waiting for joint problems to resolve, consider installing stall mats (like those from Classic Equine Equipment) to cushion his joints and using a treadmill like Classic Equine Equipment's FullStride Treadmill. Horses run on a stable, padded surface that reduces stress to bones and joints.

Tricks You Can Train Your Dog With Toys

Anything a dog puts in their mouth is special, certainly to your canine it is. Therefore it makes sense that the first step in training your canine to retrieve would be to get your dog excited to show you his "Prize Treasure". All your canine must do to learn this step is come back to you with his prize. The focus here is on the Bring, not the Give.

You will need to line up a number of toys and treats. If your dog is too treat focused and will not leave your side if there's a treat on the scene, you have to keep food rewards out of the equation all together. As a result, in cases like this your intensified enthusiasm together with love will be you dog's reward. Begin the training with gently tossing a toy a few feet away from you. Every time your canine brings the toy back to you, lavish him with praise but do not take the toy away from him. When your dog catches on and comes jogging back to you beaming with joy, say to him "Bring". 

Keep in mind, patience plus repetition is critical so your pet will understand and learn. Should you discover your dog is simply not understanding this, then perhaps your wonderful furry friend is still playing the keep away game? If so, attempt going into a smaller space within your house, for instance maybe a bathroom. Once again, gently toss the toy. The second your dog picks it up, begin praising or giving him a treat. Resume this game until finally your dog's perspective shifts. When your canine comes up to you, toy in mouth, praise as well as pet him heartily, or maybe give him his favorite treat, being sure to leave the toy in his mouth. 

Another solution you might want to try if your dog still does not seem to understand, is to toss him a different toy. Should your dog ignores you when he obtains the toy, try running away from him immediately after he has picked the toy up. In the event that he still will not bring it back, pretend to nibble on a bit of his treat. When he brings the toy back over to you, praise him and give him lots of love but do not reach for the toy at this time. As soon as your dog has the hang of it and is bringing you the toy with the "Bring" command, you are then ready to go on to the next step which is the "Give" training.

Relinquishing a toy would be the trickiest part of the retrieve training, especially if you have chased your canine for items previously. Something to bear in mind is, whenever you run after a dog to get a special toy or other object, you are communicating what is refered to as the "Prize envy", meaning what ever the dog possesses, must have real value if you want it back. Be patient, always be consistent, do not ever lose your temper, even if you know your dog is trying to outsmart you. 

The "Give" training is the next step. With your dog's favorite toy or treats in close proximity, call your canine over, present him the toy, and praise him if he takes it. With a treat in hand say "Give" Praise him and reward him the instant he picks the toy up, look at him and state "Give" as you reward the release. In order to best indicate the "Give" order, open your palm and hold it in front of your dog's mouth. Chances are you'll notice that your dog releases the toy as soon as you approach or he may toss the toy on the floor next to you. If he tosses the toy on the floor in front of you, this is satisfactory when starting out, but eventually you may need to become more selective with your rewards if you want your dog to put the toy in your hand.

If you do want deliveries to be made from the dogs mouth to your hand, once more, call your dog over to you from the same spot you started out with. Give your dog the toy and say "Give" while you extend your hand under your dog's mouth. Should your dog toss the toy on the floor, ignore the result and start over from the beginning again, Start over again each time he tosses it on the floor, eventually, he will learn. Once your dog has it figured out, praise and reward him the moment the toy drops into your hand. Remember to always have patience and consistency.