A topic that I love to discuss is whether pet ownership is not only enjoyable but also beneficial to our health as pet owners. So let’s take a brief look at some of the talk around whether pet ownership leads to a healthier life.

Research

Much research has gone into studying the health benefits of pet ownership. Science studies in Australia, Britain, Germany and the United States during the 1990s have come pretty close (in social science terms anyway) to establishing that pet ownership produces health benefits in some shape or form. But pet ownership is not necessarily all smooth sailing. Both benefits and detrimental effects can be experienced, often to the same degree as the highs and lows of a relationship between two humans.

Direct and indirect benefits

It is important to note that the very definition of health needs to be looked at in a broader sense when thinking of the benefits of pet ownership. There are many direct health benefits attributed to pet ownership such as:

• reduced risk of asthma (in children)
• reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
• improved physical condition of older people within the community.

Studies also suggest that there are also many indirect benefits of pet ownership. Typically this is the general well-being of the pet owner that is improved, from a physical and mental aspect. Companionship is the common reason for increased well-being; the very reason why many pets are adopted by owners. In addition, recent news has indicated that the indirect benefits are being taken more seriously - a good example of this is a published news article from the Australian newspaper the Herald Sun, reporting that a Victorian prison had recently taken on the rehabilitation of greyhounds as domestic pets for prison inmates with great success.

In my opinion

For me, there is no doubt in my mind that pet ownership at the very least encourages greater social interactions with other people (E.g. interacting with other like minded pet owners - this may well be one reason you are reading this post!) not to mention pet ownership often being the social catalyst that helps alleviate loneliness and isolation. This of course is experienced at various levels depending on the pet owner, their social situation and the pet, but I would take a guess that at least once, every pet owner has felt calm and with company having their pet around whilst they are on their own.

I for one are thankful for my cat Charlie’s company whilst my partner is away from home; Charlie and I have a strong bond and Charlie seems to even understand that more of his company is needed when I am on my own! Very smart cats those Tonkinese!

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In one word Wow!  

A very quick post to let you all know about my new favourite puppy website The Daily Puppy.  This website is jam packed with puppy goodness such as puppy articles, blog, videos, forums and the aptly named “pupfolio” (where you can view all of the pictures of puppies that appear on the The Daily Puppy).  All in all, a very comprehensive website for the puppy lovers out there.  Enjoy!

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Siliga gel

Crystal cat litter is typically made of silica gel, a porous granular form of sodium silicate. The litter beads come in a variety of sizes and shapes, the most common being pieces similar to that of a fine gravel.

The good

The main claim to fame of crystal litter is that it has far better absorption qualities than conventional or clumping litter; the more liquid that is absorbed the better the odour is retained. This being the case, the litter lasts longer (up to a month) than conventional or clumping litter and does not seem to be affected by changes in temperature (E.g. house heats up but the litter does not increase in odour).

The bad

Crystal litter like most products is not perfect. Some cats are particular about litter and will not take easily to crystals. In addition, crystal litter can be up to double the price of conventional / clumping litter meaning that although it lasts longer, the increased cost of the litter eliminates any potential savings.

The verdict

Many cat owners swear by this product particularly where odour retention is an important requirement (E.g. within a small apartment). For me however, the increased cost of the litter does not outweigh the additional benefits. I would agree that the odour retention is improved with crystal litter (and typically Charlie’s litter will last a week longer as well) however this I believe tends to lead to owners not cleaning / changing the litter as regularly (ideally your cat’s litter should be cleaned daily and replaced every few days). Put simply, I would rather buy recycled conventional litter and spend the savings on better quality pet food for my cat (and if odour is a problem, then maybe try some of the odour reducing pet food that is now available).

Verdict: 7/10

Addendum: Modernpet have just posted a great cat litter comparison; although the products are all American based, the review is a great read when considering what litter is the most appropriate for you and your cat(s). 

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As an avid reader of moderncat, I knew I was in for a good thing when modernpet entitled a recent post “Quite possibly the best video I have ever seen”.  With quotes like “tuna is like cocaine for kitties”, put simply this is a must watch video and such a refreshing change from the majority of pet related videos on YouTube. Enjoy Buzz Pet readers (both cat and other pet owners).

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For all current and future pet snake owners, this informative video from Expert Village provides a good insight into snake ownership including top health tips for your snake. Enjoy!

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I came across this great article published in The Telegraph today - Britain’s Top 20 family pets according to Pete Wedderburn, a freelance veterinary journalist. The list is a great one for families considering a pet, not to mention a fun start to the old age debate……. what is the best pet? 

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The Lost Dogs Home

One of the many pet related organisations that truly adds value to our community is The Lost Dogs Home based in Melbourne, Australia.   The Lost Dogs Home was founded in 1910 and is Australia’s largest animal shelter, providing services such as animal shelter, animal management, veterinary and pet registration and identification.  

National Pet Register

The National Pet Register is a not-for-profit pet identification service currently run by The Lost Dogs Home:

“The National Pet Register is a national pet identification service for microchips, and free ID tags. Both forms of ID are popular, and all visitors have to do to get a free ID tag is complete our online form and
we’ll send the tags in the mail. Each tag has a unique ID and our 1800 number should it ever become lost. We operate an Australia-wide 24/7 hotline, and reunite hundreds of animals per week.”

So if your cat or dog is yet to be micro-chipped and/or requires an ID tag, I encourage you to visit the National Pet Register website.  With so many pets going missing each year in Australia, taking advantage of this service could alone be the reason for a successful reunion with your pet if he/she goes missing.

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More and more cat owners are keeping their cats indoors on a permanent basis. This can be for many reasons, such as to avoid outdoor risks such as traffic, fighting with other cats and diseases. Due to these reasons, indoor cats typically live longer when compared to outdoor cats.

Indoor cats do however have special needs that if considered will avoid behavioural problems from being indoors all the time. Below are Buzz Pet’s Top 7 Tips when keeping an indoors only cat.

Tip #1 - Litter trays

Litter trays are a fundamental requirement for any indoor cat. General rules that apply are:

• 1 tray per cat, placed in an accessible, quiet location AWAY from where the cats sleep and eat
• Most cats prefer larger trays with no cover (so try to avoid the covered trays with a cat flap)
• Litter preferences also matter (you may want to read my post on litter); if you find a litter your cat seems to like then do not change!
• Clean the litter daily, and rinse the tray each week.

Remember the better the hygiene the happier your cat (and lets face it this is not much different to us humans!).

Tip #2 - Scratching poles

Cats love to scratch and scratching is a fundamental activity for all cats; the trick is to provide the “right” options for your cats to scratch, rather than the expensive furniture! Scratching poles are great, available in a variety of colours and most these days come with replaceable covers - when the cover wear’s out, simply replace it. Locate poles near the entry of rooms and sleeping areas - cats also scratch to leave their scent.

Tip #3 - Cat trees

Cats love to be up high so that they can observe life going by. Cat trees provide this opportunity and can serve two purposes as most trees these days have scratching poles built in. Many trees have multiple levels for your cat to enjoy, some with the additional of toys hanging off each level to keep your cats amused.

Tip #4 - Toys

There are literally thousands of cat toys available, but finding the right toys for your cat can be a challenge. Try both hunting style toys such as mice and birds, and less traditional toys such as balls, string etc. Sometimes the simplest of toys such as scrunched up paper or ping-pong balls can provide hours of cat entertainment. Make sure you rotate the toys and leave them out for play when you are not home.

Another hot tip is to set up a fish aquarium at home; this will provide hours of entertainment for your cat (just make sure that they cannot get access to the water!).

Tip #5 - Outdoor Cat Enclosures

Cat enclosures really provide the best of both worlds for you and your cat by allowing your cat to get outdoors in a safe environment. There are professional ready-made cages down to DIY home-made ones; you are really only limited by your creativity (and your where you live of course).

Tip #6 - Cat walking

You can also train your cat to wear a harness and walk on a lead; this can be a slow process at first, one good approach is to allow your cat to feel comfortable wearing the harness before heading outdoors. One trick is to train your cat to associate wearing the harness with fun things such as playing with a certain toy. Similar to most training, it is best to begin this from an early age whilst your cat is still a kitten. Note that some breeds (I have had some success with Charlie our Tonkinese) will adopt walking very quickly, whilst others may take more training. Patience is the key!

Tip #7 - Indoor plants

Cat grass, cat herbs, potted plants -anything that grows indoors may well take the eye of your cat. Most cats like to graze on grass at sometime so it is worth considering setting up a simple “cat garden”.

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Two very good friends of mine have been going through a tough time this week. Oscar, their male Tonkinese kitten has been fighting for his young life after contracting Feline Panleukopenia, a highly contagious virus caused by the feline parvovirus. This virus has in the past been the leading cause of cat death but today is rather uncommon due largely to the effectiveness of vaccines. I personally have never heard of this virus let along a kitten contracting a serious virus after being desexed (which occurred in Oscar’s case). Needless to say my heart sank when I heard the news and I wish Oscar a full recovery (apparently he is a tough little thing and is hanging in there, under observation at the vet).  I will keep you all posted on how Oscar progresses.

Further reading on Feline Panleukopenia (FP) can be found via the links below:

• American Veterinary Medical Association
• Wikipedia
• Zoologic

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My partner kindly picked me up this pen from the Swedish stationary shop Kikki-k the other day; not exactly the most masculine of pens to be using at the office, but I am a sucker for stationary let alone stationary that is cat related. Check it out the next time you are stationary shopping.

Verdict: 9/10

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