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Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

1. Top Ten Cat Breeds in the UK

   Posted September 2nd, 2011

   by Mo Raja

   4 Comments »

   If you’re thinking of getting a pet cat, there are many considerations to bear in mind – such as maintenance, health issues and pet cat insurance costs. However, the most important considerations will be the cat’s looks and character, so here we describe the UK’s top ten breeds.

   1. Persian Cat
   Well-known for its beautiful long coat, as a result the Persian does require more time grooming than other breeds. It comes in black, white, grey, orange and mixed colours.

   2. Siamese Cat
   With distinctive elegant bodies and posture, the Siamese craves attention and loves nothing more than being groomed and stroked.

   3. Maine Coon Cat
   One of the better-natured breeds of cat, the Mancoon is a good choice for children. Fun-loving and loyal, they shouldn’t cause problems with playful kids.

   4. Ragdoll
   Ragdolls are very gentle cats with medium-length hair. Their easy-going and affectionate nature is best kept indoors, as there are many threats outside to such an innocent cat.

   5. Burmese Cat
   This breed develops a strong bond with its owner and, like the Siamese, may become quite vocal if they are left alone for long periods.

   6. Manx Cat
   The Manx gets its adorable cuddly image from its rounded body and short tail. They are among the more social cats and have no problems around strangers.

   7. Siberian Cat
   In terms of temperament, this breed shares many characteristics with your typical dog – intelligent, loyal and affectionate. Coupled with its allergy-friendly fur, it makes a great choice for a family pet.

   8. Somali Cat
   Fluffy hair and a big bushy tail is the hallmark of this breed. They are curious, fun-loving and playful. They also require fairly little grooming because they tend not to shed very much.

   9. Russian Blue Cat
   This breed has a striking blue-grey coat and green eyes. They develop a strong bond with their owners but they aren’t great with strangers.

   10. American Bobtail Cat
   Named for their short tail that looks like it might have been docked, these cats have a cheery personality and short or long coats.

   

   Posted in Pets | 4 Comments »

2. Pet Pampering – Has it gone too Far?

   Posted June 1st, 2011

   by Mo Raja

   Comments Off

   I recently read an article in the national press about Britain’s most pampered pooch. In case you don’t believe any of the following facts, you can Google the dog in question and check. His name is Prince and he’s a Chinese Crested.

   His owner spends over £250 per month on an incredible range of clothes, toys and other goodies. Prince has more than 200 different outfits to wear, and he has his own car seat and pushchair. He doesn’t even have to get his paws dirty when he goes for a “walk.” His daily routine includes: bubble bath with shampoo and conditioner; Clarins moisturising lotion; scrambled eggs for breakfast; lightly tossed fruit and vegetable salad for lunch; playtime with dozens of dog toys including a skateboard; gourmet dog biscuits for dinner and teeth brushed and flossed every night before bed.

   Now obviously this is what you’d call a worst case scenario and absolutely absurd excess, which the dog’s owner freely admits. But it’s becoming ever more common for animal lovers to splash out on beauty treatments, clothes, toys and other luxuries for their four-legged or feathered friends. The question is: Where do we draw the line?

   Personally I like to keep things simple. I’m a pretty straightforward guy – I like my hair short, my shoes shiny and my beer cold. Anything else is considered a luxury. In the same vein, my dog enjoys and requires very few creature comforts. His bed is cleaned regularly, he gets a bath every week whether he likes it or not, and he eats a healthy diet. That’s just how we like it, and just like back in ancient Sparta – we don’t need that many amenities to get by.

   My major concern is doing the right thing by my dog and taking care of his needs. I don’t do anything for him unless it’s necessary. He doesn’t need his coat a different colour, or his paws manicured. He doesn’t need to wear a daft-looking jacket or a camp doggy twin-set. He doesn’t need to eat lemon-sautéed sea bass. In my book there are only three necessities:

   1. Keep him clean. Not pristine, nothing over-the-top – just clean. Wash him and brush his coat regularly. Clean his teeth periodically. Keep him naturally hygienic.
   2. Feed him and exercise him well. I really think the greatest gift I can give my dog is a long and healthy life. The food he really loves sadly isn’t the best for him, so you have to focus on giving him what he needs, and a tasty cut of meat on special occasions.
   3. A good pet insurance  policy. This is vital, unless you’ve got more money than sense. My policy covers check-ups at the vet, any medical fees resulting from illness or injury, and other benefits like compensation if I’m taken in and need to put him in kennels. My policy is quite cheap, there are even better ones available.

   If you cover these three bases, you can’t go wrong. Anything else on top of that is up to you – but it’s definitely unnecessary. You may think that you’re doing your dog a favour with all of this pampering, but try to remember that your dog probably gets absolutely nothing out of it. Keep him healthy, and give him lots of affection – if you just do that, he’ll love you as much as he possibly can.

   

   Posted in Pets | Comments Off

3. Getting Valuable Pet Insurance

   Posted May 1st, 2011

   by Mo Raja

   Comments Off

   Don’t put yourself in debt because of a sick or injured pet.

   These days, vets can provide treatments that up until a few years ago would only be available to humans, such as chemotherapy, kidney transplants, aqua-therapy and radiation treatment. Conditions that need treatments like these would have cost the lives of your pets; instead, these treatments cost thousands of pounds. Vets now use expensive diagnostic and treatment tools, such as MRI and sophisticated x-ray techniques, which means that even an examination can cost you dearly.

   Perhaps your pet develops a condition that means they need long-term treatment, or hospitalisation, or if the vet needs to do multiple tests to diagnose and treat the problem, the costs involved would quickly add up.

   Having a good, comprehensive pet insurance  policy is the best way to be certain that you won’t have to worry about the vet’s bill. Protect your bubble provide some of the cheapest pet insurance products on the market, and their dog and cat policies are both flexible and affordable. Additionally, they offer:

   • A choice of three levels of cover: Economy, Standard and Premier to suit your needs.
   • Flexible ways to pay – you can spread the cost of your annual pet insurance premium with monthly direct debits, or pay up front with an annual single payment.
   • Pet Helpline: If you need to find a vet, need some legal advice or even bereavement counseling, helpline details are provided in the policy booklet.
   • Discounts for more than one pet – this great value pet insurance offers 5% discount on any additional pets you insure.
   • Online quote – get a quote in 5 easy steps, or call the UK call centre to talk to a consultant.

   Pet insurance can save your pet’s life. It would be a tragedy if you were forced to let your pet die simply because you couldn’t afford the treatment.

   

   Posted in Pets | Comments Off

4. Scottish SPCA warns against leaving dogs in cars

   Posted August 1st, 2010

   by Mo Raja

   Comments Off

   The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has launched a campaign to alert dog owners to the dangers of leaving their pet to stay inside a hot car during the summer.

   Many owners invest in insurance for their dog, yet are still putting their pet at risk by leaving him or her in their vehicle during hot weather as they are not aware of the possible consequences.

   The Scottish SPCA has said that this can lead to the demise of a dog much quicker than most owners realise.

   Even if the vehicle is parked in the shade, with an open window and water provided for your dog, the temperature can soar inside a car very quickly, leaving the animal with no escape route. If a window is left open enough, the dog may escape or even bite a passerby. Even if an owner has dog bite insurance , this is something that is best avoided.

   Mike Flynn, Chief Superintendent for the Scottish SPCA stated that there had been over 100 occurrences of this during the last year, with several leading to fatalities.

   When illustrating how people roll down the car’s windows or switch on the air conditioning when they enter a hot car, he said: “Imagine being trapped in that same vehicle wearing a fur coat for minutes, possibly hours and you are some way to understanding how your dog feels.”

   A high profile case involved a police officer in Nottingham who left two service dogs inside his vehicle, leading to their deaths. He was officially reprimanded, and has only recently returned to work.

   Some people may be tempted to leave their dog in their car with the air conditioning still running, but this too can lead to tragedy. In 2003, a police dog in Texas died when the air conditioning system of the car malfunctioned and began blowing hot air as a result of the car’s engine overheating. In 2004 a coupe in North Carolina lost two dogs when a similar thing happened, even though they had left bowls of water and ice in the car and had only left the car for 30 minutes.

   The Scottish SPCA’s objectives aim to encourage humanity and kindness towards animals.

   

   Posted in Car, Pets | Comments Off

5. Pet Pampering – Has it gone too Far?

   Posted June 1st, 2010

   by Mo Raja

   Comments Off

   I recently read an article in the national press about Britain’s most pampered pooch. In case you don’t believe any of the following facts, you can Google the dog in question and check. His name is Prince and he’s a Chinese Crested.

   His owner spends over £250 per month on an incredible range of clothes, toys and other goodies. Prince has more than 200 different outfits to wear, and he has his own car seat and pushchair. He doesn’t even have to get his paws dirty when he goes for a “walk.” His daily routine includes: bubble bath with shampoo and conditioner; Clarins moisturising lotion; scrambled eggs for breakfast; lightly tossed fruit and vegetable salad for lunch; playtime with dozens of dog toys including a skateboard; gourmet dog biscuits for dinner and teeth brushed and flossed every night before bed.

   Now obviously this is what you’d call a worst case scenario and absolutely absurd excess, which the dog’s owner freely admits. But it’s becoming ever more common for animal lovers to splash out on beauty treatments, clothes, toys and other luxuries for their four-legged or feathered friends. The question is: Where do we draw the line?

   Personally I like to keep things simple. I’m a pretty straightforward guy – I like my hair short, my shoes shiny and my beer cold. Anything else is considered a luxury. In the same vein, my dog enjoys and requires very few creature comforts. His bed is cleaned regularly, he gets a bath every week whether he likes it or not, and he eats a healthy diet. That’s just how we like it, and just like back in ancient Sparta – we don’t need that many amenities to get by.

   My major concern is doing the right thing by my dog and taking care of his needs. I don’t do anything for him unless it’s necessary. He doesn’t need his coat a different colour, or his paws manicured. He doesn’t need to wear a daft-looking jacket or a camp doggy twin-set. He doesn’t need to eat lemon-sautéed sea bass. In my book there are only three necessities:

   1. Keep him clean. Not pristine, nothing over-the-top – just clean. Wash him and brush his coat regularly. Clean his teeth periodically. Keep him naturally hygienic.
   2. Feed him and exercise him well. I really think the greatest gift I can give my dog is a long and healthy life. The food he really loves sadly isn’t the best for him, so you have to focus on giving him what he needs, and a tasty cut of meat on special occasions.
   3. A good pet insurance  policy. This is vital, unless you’ve got more money than sense. My policy covers check-ups at the vet, any medical fees resulting from illness or injury, and other benefits like compensation if I’m taken in and need to put him in kennels. My policy is quite cheap, there are even better ones available.

   If you cover these three bases, you can’t go wrong. Anything else on top of that is up to you – but it’s definitely unnecessary. You may think that you’re doing your dog a favour with all of this pampering, but try to remember that your dog probably gets absolutely nothing out of it. Keep him healthy, and give him lots of affection – if you just do that, he’ll love you as much as he possibly can.

   

   Posted in Pets | Comments Off

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