How to Take Your Adopted Shelter Cat Home

Animals make lots of people happy. They give love, comfort, companionship, and company to their owners. Anyone who has any kind of pet knows how important they are to the family. You should spend time deciding on the right pet for you and your family, and when you decide to adopt a cat or kitten, remember that how you bring it home is just as important as the food and litter you choose to take care of it.

Adopted cats and kittens often need extra care. Because many of them were abandoned or abused (and sometimes both), they're afraid of anything outside their kennels, and anyone outside the shelter workers they know and trust. So when you bring home an adopted cat or kitten, special care has to be taken to make sure they're made comfortable and eased into a new environment. Before you bring your cat or kitten home, make sure you've already set up the litter pan and food and water dishes. That way, when your little one is brought into your home, it can find its food and litter right away, instead of waiting until you've set it up.

It's also a good idea to have a few toys out and available for the cat or kitten before it's brought home. This will give the pet options for play right away, discouraging it from getting into something that may cause trouble, such as electric cords. When you bring home the cat or kitten, let it explore your home. Don't force it to play with you or sit on your lap. Though you're familiar with your home, your new pet isn't, and it needs to check things out and make sure it's safe before it feels comfortable enough to play.

Some cats or kittens may hide under the furniture for a while, and that's okay. Just be patient, and your new kitty will get used to you and your home, and will soon come out for attention. It's important to keep in mind your pet's background, if you know it. If your cat or kitten was abused, it may be afraid of people, so you need to be extra gentle when handling it, and use a soft voice when speaking to it, so as not to startle your cat or kitten. Try not to make any sudden movements, and let your pet adjust to you in its own time. If you don't know the background of your cat or kitten, you should err on the side of caution.

Every cat is different, so you shouldn't rush your pet into cuddling with you or playing with you. Let it adjust to being in a new place at its own pace, and before you know it, your pet will be following you around your home, begging for attention! Bringing home an adopted cat or kitten is an exciting experience, and as long as you know what to do to help make the transition smooth for you and your new pet, it can be a great memory!

For more information about pets and animals, be sure to check out [http://www.my-animal-blog.com] Videos and posts are updated every day.

The First Few Days with a Grownup Adopted Dog

Often people who get a dog from a rescue or adoption shelter find themselves with a grown animal that they must become acquainted with. What you may not be aware of is that there are some simple things you can do to make this first period of adjustment easier for both you and your new pet. This article covers a number of things you should be aware of during the first few days following the adoption of your new dog.

There are a number of basic supplies you should purchase for your pet prior to adoption. Most of the supplies can be purchased used from a garage sale, or on sale at pet stores. Food and water bowls, should be washed and rinsed so that they are clean and fresh for your new animal. Also, you should come up with some materials for bedding. Often thin blankets or even a section of an old comforter make great bedding for your new pet to rest peacefully on.

Although some pet shelters will provide a leash and collar when you pick up the animal, it may be your responsibility to take care of this. If this is the case, you should proceed to your local pet store, or one-stop shopping center. Most medium to large size pet stores contain machines that will allow you to create an ID tag immediately. While you're at the store, you should take the time to pick up a large bag of dog food. If you have extra money, you may find it helpful to purchase a Rubbermaid brand container to store the food in. This will allow easier access to the food and keep it fresher for longer periods of time.

On the first day home with your new pet, you can do a number of things to make things easier for you and your new dog. Unless you buy the exact type of dog food your new pet was eating at the rescue shelter, your dog might undergo diarrhea as a result of the change of diet. There are two types of common foods you can use to help ease the transition and avoid this. One is to feed boil some potatoes and mix it in with your dog's food for the first few meals. Alternatively, you can mix boiled rice in with the food.

At first, you should keep your new dog on a leash around the house. Show him or her where his bed will be and where he can find his food and water dishes. Be sure to keep your pet close by when you are in the house, and allow him or her trips outside. Give your dog kudos when he or she goes outside until the activity has become routine. If your pet has an accident inside, it isn't necessarily because he or she isn't housebroken. It is more likely that it hasn't understood its new surroundings yet.

If you catch your dog having an accident you should loudly say "NO." and take the dog outside right away. It is not helpful to try and correct the action after it has already had the accident and never hit your animal if they have a mistake. You will not help the animal understand what went wrong, and will instead bread behavioral problems in your new pet. Always perfect your pets behavior with praise when it does something right.

Lastly, understand that there will be a period of adjustment for both you and your dog, but that the dog will need time to understand what you expect from him or her. It is vitally important that you exercise patience with the animal and do your best not to create a situation where problems are likely to occur. Do your best to be consistent with your animal, and within a short time you will be living together happily.

Tom Samus is a retired legal clerk and dog lover. He enjoys writing and has been published on sites such as Free Dogs and Safe Pets [http://safe-pets.info-zoom.com/].

Interview with Retz Reeves, Author of "Adopted Paws"

A native of Oakdale, PA, Retz accepted a job in Florida, a state she had never seen, over the phone. She moved to Miami the following weekend with not much more than a bikini and a bottle of suntan lotion. Hurricane David teased the Florida coastline the next Saturday. Undeterred, Retz pursued her investment career during the day and studied microbiology and business at night. After almost a decade of no sleep, Retz finally graduated from Florida International University, after which she obtained her MBA from Nova Southeastern University, married Randy Reeves and started adopting stray animals-or the animals adopted them.

When she's not traipsing around the world looking for investments for Hansberger Global Investors, Retz enjoys working and living in South Florida and the Florida Keys with Randy, some of their critters introduced in "Adopted Paws." and a few more who strayed into their lives.

Tyler: Welcome, Retz. I'm glad you could join me today. I understand "Adopted Paws" is about how you and your husband have adopted several animals over the years, and this animal adoption all resulted from when you first met your husband, Randy, and his chow chow, Bo Jo. Will you tell us a little bit about that meeting?

Retz: First off, let me say thank you, Tyler for inviting me to discuss "Adopted Paws."

Actually, I met Randy before I met his chow chow-meeting Bo Jo, however, did work to cement our relationship. Randy I met while studying at the pool at the complex where we discovered we were practically neighbors. As it turned out, he had seen me fighting pillows while crossing the parking lot as I was moving in. After our first meeting, where he learned what a "Retz" was, we ran into each other frequently and began dating.

Most people meet their significant others' relatives-to find out if their respective families are compatible or should be kept apart at all costs-early in the relationship. In Randy's case, it was more important for him that I meet his dogs.

The first meeting, I was overwhelmed with his two Dobermans that jumped all over me. But Bo-Jo, the chow, was as a huge moving pile of hair with a long purple tongue that somehow stood out from the other dogs. Randy handed me the leash and Bo, who I didn't know was not used to being walked anyway, plodded down the street with me while the other dogs and Randy explored elsewhere. He was adorable and I fell in love with him that day and was glad when Randy moved into his house that Bo was able to go with him.

Tyler: Retz, were you an animal lover prior to meeting your husband?

Retz: Tyler, as I lived up the hill from my grandmother's farm, I learned to appreciate animals at an early age. I remember shooting a basketball at the hoop on the barn, and my grandmother's cow sticking her head through the fence watching. My father's family and my brother Michael kept hunting dogs-in fact, one of them, Bonnie, I introduced in the book. Of course, these were animals kept for practical purposes, but I still remember them with affection.

My mother loved animals and had several small dogs. I adopted kittens either from my grandmother's farm or from friends who no longer had room for them in their homes. Still, sometimes there were more kittens available than there were homes, which of course led to some sad moments.

Tyler: I understand you and your husband have adopted more animals since you married. How many animals do you now have and would you tell us a little about them?

Retz: Since we were married, we adopted Pete the poodle and Samantha a very big lovable, but abused, mixed breed. We also adopted the cat Molly, from the phone yard where Randy worked, and her son Lucky and daughter Cali. These animals were all introduced in "Adopted Paws." Of this group, we still have Samantha, Lucky and Cali.

Since "Adopted Paws," we have also adopted other dogs and cats so in total we have two dogs and three cats, and before I forget, a bunch of finches. Perhaps I should save more details about this group for the sequel.

Tyler: When you tell people you have so many pets, what reactions do you get?

Retz: Well, the reactions vary. Some people think we're a little crazy and amazed that we can balance taking care of animals with living a normal life. Others say "How wonderful!" and begin telling stories about their own present or past animals. Finally, some people are a bit envious-they wish they had a dog or cat, but because of where they live or because of their lifestyle, they are unable to.

Tyler: Do you ever get frustrated by the animals, over things like cat hair or not being potty-trained? Do you have any funny stories about taking care of the animals?

Retz: Funny or frustrating stories about the animals? Do you have a couple of days? On a day by day basis, there are always challenges that you learn to live and laugh at with this many animals. For one, there is cat and dog hair. It's everywhere. I find it on the sofa, on the bed, on my suitcases when I travel and maddeningly in my coffee. My husband loves to laugh at me when I get ready to leave the house because typically he finds a mat of hair covering the back of my carefully put together business outfit.

Trying to get sleep with this many animals is also not easy. Cats jump from the bed to the windowsill to see outside and then back again. The dogs are spoiled and want to sleep in the bed. Samantha will pummel my back when she has running dreams. Both the cats and the dogs snore and sometime even ear plugs can't block out the sound.

Some of the funniest and most touching moments are when the dogs and cats interact with each other. It always makes me smile to see Lucky and Samantha lying next to each other on the bed, totally unaware they are two different species. Gizmo, the Chihuahua, loves to act as peacemaker-he jumps in between the cats, Lucky and Cali, if he is afraid they are going to get into a fight.

Tyler: I understand your cat, Molly, is the heroine of the story, and that she has feline AIDS. Will you tell us more about Molly's struggle? Is feline AIDS common?

Retz: Unfortunately, feline AIDS is common in stray cats-it can be transmitted from cat to cat through blood or fluids by sex or biting. It cannot be spread from cats to other animal species or humans.

We didn't know that Molly had AIDS until after we adopted her and she began behaving strangely. When she was diagnosed, we had a hard time deciding whether to keep her or put her down. Randy decided it was best to keep her as happy and comfortable as we could, which we did with great love, which she repaid. She had several bouts with illnesses, especially ear infections. Luckily, after the last infection, the end came relatively quickly, although we were still shocked and saddened by her passing. We were very relieved though to find out that her son and daughter, Lucky and Cali, were not infected.

Tyler: Retz, after a few difficulties, you and your husband and pets moved to a canal on the Florida Keys. What made this location desirable for you and your pets?

Retz: Randy and I had always dreamed of living closer to the water. Randy grew up in the Keys so that was our first choice. It was fortunate that we discovered not only a beautiful environment, where we can fish on the weekends, but also great neighbors that love animals. We frequently have extra dogs staying the night when their owners go out of town. Randy spends most of his time in the Keys now. I still work in Fort Lauderdale during the week and travel frequently in the US and abroad for business. But I love coming back to the Keys on weekends to enjoy the water and the fish, birds, iguanas and squirrels that are endemic to the area.

Tyler: What do you see as some of the difficulties of being an animal lover and having so many pets?

Retz: Just like people, pets have their own personalities and some of them get along better with each other than others. Gizmo, a Chihuahua, and one of our more recent adoptions, would fly across the couch to attack Samantha, who outweighs Gizzie by about ten to one, when we first got him. Now they are best buddies-Gizmo will stick his head into Samantha's mouth. Oddly, Lucky the cat gets along better with the dogs than the other cats-we think he is a "Dat" or a "Cog." Keeping the whole brood happy is the biggest challenge.

Tyler: What about animals appeals to you and to your husband?

Retz: Animals give love without fear or reserve. They are much more honest than most people. And they bring people together. It's hard not to like someone who likes animals.

Tyler: Retz, I mentioned above that you have a career in investments and you travel a lot. What difficulties or joys do the animals bring to you in relation to your career?

Retz: Most people get homesick when they travel a lot. I do, too. But I really miss the animals when I travel. Unlike, my husband, the animals have no idea why I go away for days at a time and then appear again out of nowhere. But it's one of the greatest feelings in the world to come back home and have the dogs and cats welcome you.

The animals also are great stress relievers after a trip. It's hard not to feel better when Samantha rolls over and waits for me to rub her stomach or when I pet Lucky and hear him purr.

Tyler: What made you decide to write "Adopted Paws" about your experiences?

Retz: Besides a big ego? Seriously, it seemed as if the animals wrote the story, and I took dictation. I have so many friends with whom I have laughed and cried over stories of their and our cats and dogs and that's why I thought it would be worthwhile to share our stories with others. Judging by the reactions I have gotten from people from everywhere-Europe, Japan, India, Korea - people deeply care about animals.

Writing "Adopted Paws" was also therapeutic. Especially, during the time Molly was sick with AIDS and after her death.

Tyler: Will you tell us what some of these readers have said?

Retz: Most readers tell me they laughed and they cried while reading "Adopted Paws." They enjoy reading the antics of our animals, but more importantly, "Adopted Paws" seems to resonate with anyone who has loved and lost a favorite pet.

Because at the end of "Adopted Paws," I wrote about adopting Cali and mentioned there were more critters after her that would disturb the balance of cats and dogs in the household, many readers are curious about what else we have adopted.

Tyler: Will you be writing a sequel? We haven't read anything yet about those finches you mentioned above.

Retz: Right now I am finishing a draft of a book about the challenges women face while traveling-especially abroad. But since Cali, we have adopted two more dogs and another cat and those pesky finches, so I will have no choice but to write a sequel. Or actually the animals will compose the story, I will just take dictation.

Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Retz. Before we go, would you tell us a little bit about your website and how our readers can purchase copies of "Adopted Paws"?

Retz: Thank you, Tyler. Several readers mentioned to me that they were disappointed that there were no pictures of the animals in the book. So I bought a manual on building a website, created http://www.adoptedpaws.com and posted photographs of the "stars" from Adopted Paws. Then I added galleries containing pictures of our current animals, neighbors' animals and some Keys Critters. I also started linking to my favorite South Florida and Keys Artists, Musicians and Authors whose work I believe my readers would enjoy.

"Adopted Paws" can be purchased at online websites such as publishamerica.com and amazon.com and at "Hooked on Books" in Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

Tyler: Thank you, Retz. Best of luck to you and your pets in writing your next book.

http://www.readerviews.com/

Training Your Newly Adopted Puppy

Training a new puppy can be a very daunting task. A new puppy is very raw in nature and its reaction to certain conditions is unpredictable most of the time. Teaching a puppy how to deal with different scenarios and situations is of utmost importance, and this includes the process of educating the puppy about its environment. A puppy should be dealt with extreme care. Proper training will lead to a very strong relationship between the puppy and its owner. If you are interested in getting a new puppy, you should look for pet adoptions in your area.

A role of the owner of puppy is that of the leader. He (or she) is expected to lead the puppy in order to develop proper social habits - otherwise the owner will eventually end up living with the ill mannered dog or completely ignoring the dog because of its bad habits. Free pet adoptions can help you in finding some really good puppies that need a home.

One of the basic ways of getting your puppy to train about living with you is by increasing its time of socializing and meeting other people and dogs of different breeds. This will expand the world of the puppy as it will come across many other individuals and learn from them by simply being around them. The puppy will become more friendly and easy to handle, and will be able to go out with the owner when it becomes full grown. It will be able to meet people more easily and will not be a nuisance for the owner.

Teach your puppy to respect you and also deliver it the amount of love adequate for its grooming. Don't let your puppy do whatever it wants to do. It is the owner's duty to teach the puppy to respect him. Train the puppy in the house about not eliminating in the house. Follow the same techniques which human follow to teach their children about using the toilets. Take your puppy outside after frequent intervals (about 30 to 45 minute intervals) to ensure that they are used of it. After few days try to increase your puppy's eliminating time.

House training also involves the process of keeping control on the barking, whining and howling habits of the puppy. Make sure that your puppy has nothing wrong with it or with the surroundings that may cause it to whine or bark continuously. If the dog is barking without a reason, then reprimand it.

Last, but not least, leave your puppy alone for sometime while at home to make sure that it is used to solitude and can live of its own for periods of time and it is not totally dependent on your presence.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about puppy training [http://petadoptionsite.info/training-your-new-puppy], please visit Pet Adoption Site [http://petadoptionsite.info] for current articles and discussions.

After You Bring Home Your Newly Adopted Pet

If you just adopted a cat or dog from a local shelter you are likely somewhat overwhelmed. Adding a new furry member to your family is intensely exciting. Not only do you have an adorable new pet, but you have successfully helped to give an animal in need a new home rather than supporting breeders or pet stores. Getting an animal from a shelter is a great way to get a sense of its personality before bringing it home. This is by far the best way to get a delightful companion. Some breeders use uncouth methods while pet store often get their dogs from horrific, inhumane puppy mills.

But now that you have made a commendable choice by adopting, you should know that shelter pets often have certain needs that differ from those that are bought.

Your Adopted Pet's Special Needs

Perhaps the most obvious difference between a shelter pet and others is that they have an unknown history. Your new pet may have been abused or suffered from poor nutrition for years. This does NOT mean that your pet is defective or in anyway inferior to new, pure bred puppies, it simply means that it may need a bit of extra attention when adapting to its new surroundings.

You can help the transition go smoother by doing the following:

o Providing your pet with healthy food and even vitamin supplements that will help it to get into top physical form faster.

o Showering it with affection. Your pet needs to know that you are a kind owner and that it is safe.

o Providing proper training. As important as it is to show your pet abundant affection, it also needs to know that you are in charge. Gently teaching your animal to obey you will actually help to make it feel more at ease.

The First Trip to the Vet

Despite the fact that the shelter you got you animal from likely fixed it and had a vet examine it briefly, it still needs to go to the vet as soon as you bring it home. Many animals contract diseases at shelters because of the closeness of so many other animals. Respiratory illnesses are particularly common among adopted dogs and cats.

For more information on your newly adopted pet and its first vet visit, visit the website of Austin Veterinarian Clinics.

Joseph Devine

Training Your Newly Adopted Puppy

Training a new puppy can be a very daunting task. A new puppy is very raw in nature and its reaction to certain conditions is unpredictable most of the time. Teaching a puppy how to deal with different scenarios and situations is of utmost importance, and this includes the process of educating the puppy about its environment. A puppy should be dealt with extreme care. Proper training will lead to a very strong relationship between the puppy and its owner. If you are interested in getting a new puppy, you should look for pet adoptions in your area.

A role of the owner of puppy is that of the leader. He (or she) is expected to lead the puppy in order to develop proper social habits - otherwise the owner will eventually end up living with the ill mannered dog or completely ignoring the dog because of its bad habits. Free pet adoptions can help you in finding some really good puppies that need a home.

One of the basic ways of getting your puppy to train about living with you is by increasing its time of socializing and meeting other people and dogs of different breeds. This will expand the world of the puppy as it will come across many other individuals and learn from them by simply being around them. The puppy will become more friendly and easy to handle, and will be able to go out with the owner when it becomes full grown. It will be able to meet people more easily and will not be a nuisance for the owner.

Teach your puppy to respect you and also deliver it the amount of love adequate for its grooming. Don't let your puppy do whatever it wants to do. It is the owner's duty to teach the puppy to respect him. Train the puppy in the house about not eliminating in the house. Follow the same techniques which human follow to teach their children about using the toilets. Take your puppy outside after frequent intervals (about 30 to 45 minute intervals) to ensure that they are used of it. After few days try to increase your puppy's eliminating time.

House training also involves the process of keeping control on the barking, whining and howling habits of the puppy. Make sure that your puppy has nothing wrong with it or with the surroundings that may cause it to whine or bark continuously. If the dog is barking without a reason, then reprimand it.

Last, but not least, leave your puppy alone for sometime while at home to make sure that it is used to solitude and can live of its own for periods of time and it is not totally dependent on your presence.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about puppy training [http://petadoptionsite.info/training-your-new-puppy], please visit Pet Adoption Site [http://petadoptionsite.info] for current articles and discussions.