Cats sulk for a number of reasons. A cat that has been scolded by its owner oftentimes will turn its back and with disdain refuse to look at him or her. Some cat owners describes this 'snubbing manner' this way: My cat turns its back, sits down on purpose, and will not respond if we call its name as it normally does, although it occasionally lays one ear back.' This conduct, noted by some owners when their pets have been corrected or disciplined in some manner, is generally referred to as a dignified sulk. But why is the cat really behaving this way?

What could be more beautiful than having the experience of watching colorful birds from your window everyday? birds are wonderful creatures that add color and life to your otherwise dull backyard. More and more people are turning their backyard into a haven for colorful wild birds by using different kinds of bird feeders to attract different kinds of birds.

Rescuing a pet can be a very rewarding experience for both the organization providing the adoption and for the adopter. Most people are unaware that 25% of the pet population in Humane Societies and shelters are purebred and 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year. Most breeders are reputable, however, puppy mills, "backyard" breeders, and lack of spay and neutering in this country are creating more pets then can currently be adopted. Stephanie Hiemstra, executive director of The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe states, "The pet overpopulation problem in this country is an unnecessary tragedy. It could be solved if people would simply get their pets spayed and neutered. The irresponsible breeding of dogs and cats leads to millions of animals being euthanized in shelters each year for no reason other than there is no place for them to go."

If you want a companion or a little company in your home, consider buying a pet. There are many types of pets to choose from and you should choose your pet to fit into your lifestyle and the size of your home.

If you live in an apartment building, getting a dog may not be your first best choice. Dogs must be taken outdoors several times a day, and if you leave home to work, your dog will be left alone in your apartment and will become lonely, may disturb the neighbors with barking, plus you will need to hire someone to come and take your dog out for walks while you are away.

Cats are carnivores, natural hunters, and experts at survival. Once, when the United States had more of a rural society, cats were easily capable of roaming outside during the daytime to help keep the property rodent-free and then retreating inside a house or a barn for shelter at night. In today's world, however, cats are not as safe as they once were. Although their sharp teeth and claws protect them in many situations, teeth and claws will not protect them from fast-moving cars on the highway outside their front door. There are, in fact, many benefits to keeping a cat inside. Some of these benefits include:

Many households have successfully adopted more than one cat. Other households have not been so lucky. What causes family cats to fight? Why do some multi-cat households live in peace while others are scenes of rivalry? What can be done to bring harmony back to your multi-cat household?

There are several possible causes for aggressive behavior between cats.

TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION: Both male and female cats are very territorial; much more so than dogs. In this type of aggression, one cat will stalk, chase and ambush the "intruder." This type of aggression may occur when a new cat is introduced into the household or when a kitten comes of age. It is not unusual for a cat to be aggressive towards one family cat, yet not towards another.

The methods and training goals used for cats are quite different than dogs. Cats seems to be very solitary creatures and have managed to keep more of their wild heritage than dogs. This creates many challenges when training them to perform certain tasks, but can also be used to your advantage if their behavior is well understood.

Cats are most sensitive to development from 2-7 weeks of age. Cats were found to be friendlier (chin rubbing, head pressing and vocalizing) when handled during this time period.

Tests were performed on feral cats up to 1 year of age on how easily they were handled and if they would play with toy objects. It showed that if feral kittens were handled prior to 7 weeks of age they could make acceptable pets. Here are some simple tips for training your cat.

Mange is the generic term for several skin conditions cause by various species of tiny arthropods called mites. They eat skin debris, hair follicles, and tissue, and cause severe itching, hair loss, and often a flaky crust on the skin.

animals with mange usually scratch themselves raw, making it easy for viral, fungal, or parasitic infections to take hold.

Three types of mange occur in cats:

- Demodectic mange occurs rarely, and it is thought that the cat's immune system must be compromised before the mites that cause demodex in cats can get a foot hold.

- Notoedric mange, also known as sarcoptic mange or scabies, is cause by a microscopic mite that burrows beneath the skin to lay eggs. The eggs hatch in less than three weeks, and the larvae quickly develop into adult mites and begin to lay their own eggs.

A cat's ears are a lot more sharper than those of its owner, which is why cats hate noisy households. Loud music, yelling and shouting are agony to the delicate hearing of the typical cat.

It's the specialized hunting behavior of cats that's led in their improved sense of hearing. While dogs possess a much keener acoustic range than human beings, cats surpass even dogs in their ability to hear high-pitched sounds. This is because humans and dogs rely most on tracking and snaring their prey, whereas cats choose to lie in wait in ambush and listen very carefully for the most diminutive sound. If they're to succeed as lurking hunters, they must be able to detect the most minute rustlings and screeches, and must be able to pick out accurate direction and distance to pinpoint their intended target. This demands a good deal more sensitivity than we as humans have, and laboratory tests have confirmed that domesticated cats do, indeed, possess a very delicate tuning ability.

Cats scratch:

· To remove old nail sheaths from the claws

· To exercise and tone muscles

· To relieve stress, frustration and boredom

· To "warm up" for a vigorous play session

· To mark territory

Training tips:

- Place a sisal rope scratching post in a room where the cat spends a lot of time. Cats often like to stretch and scratch when they wake up from a nap.

- To introduce the post to your cat try using catnip as a lure. (For most cats a lure is unnecessary, but fun) Rub catnip onto the sisal material and call the cat over to the post.