Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Cat - Some Fun Cat in the Hat Party Games

Here are a couple of Cat in the Hat party games that can make any themed party fun and they are just as interesting as the Cat in the Hat.

The first game is called 'Alibi'. In this game you choose two players to play the children who were left alone at home on that rainy day when the cat in the hat came. Their mother has come back home and the kids have to concoct a watertight alibi to explain what they were doing while she was gone.

Have the two players leave the room for ten minutes so they can get their stories straight and then call one of them back into the room and question the player about what happened. Then call out the other player and question that person about what happened when the cat in the hat was at the house. The point is to try and make the second player say something that doesn't match what the other player says happened. If you can't after five minutes of questioning both earn a point and you pick another two players to concoct their alibi's. Anyone who manages to make it through the game with points wins and gets a treat.

The second game is called 'Sardines'. This is a fun sort of hide-and-seek game for the kids. Pick someone to play the cat in the hat. You can give him/her a funny hat to go with the part if you like. Then have everyone else group up in pairs. Pick one pair to run off and hide while the rest of the players close their eyes and count to thirty. Then have the cat in the hat count an additional thirty while the rest of the paired players run off to look for the hidden pair of kids. The pairs that find the hidden kids must squeeze themselves into the hiding place with them.

So after a while you can imagine that the hiding space gets a bit crowded, but the paired groups aren't allowed to hide anywhere except with the first hidden pair if they can find them. Meanwhile the Cat in the Hat will be set on the loose after he or she finishes counting and everyone must try to avoid him/her. Any pair tagged by the cat is out and the game ends when the cat finds everyone's hiding place.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Cat in the Hat party supplies and fun free educational party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Shop has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

Cat - Make It Easier For Yourself - Train Your Cat To Use The Toilet

Cleaning out a smelly litter box is not exactly the most appealing activity one can imagine. And the messy litter that sticks everywhere on the carpet, the room smelling like ... But have you ever thought of training your cat to use the toilet? Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you could just flush it down?

There are some questions which you should take into consideration before you decide to toilet train your cat. Cats are not able to flush the toilet simply because they are not heavy enough to manipulate the flushing mechanism. So, you will have to do it yourself. This means that the eliminations may sit in your toilet for a while. However, the smell of cat's poop is much less evident when submerged in water. If you have two separate bathrooms in your house, you could assign less frequently used toilet to your cat so you don't feel embarrassed when you get visitors.

You can find many books and articles on cat toilet training but what works and what doesn't depends on your cat's personality and individual preferences. Young kittens cannot balance very well so you will need to wait until they are 5 to 6 months old at which age their musculoskeletal system and locomotion are more developed. On the other hand, a cat is never too old to be toilet-trained unless it suffers with a condition preventing it from jumping and balancing, such as arthritis.

Before you start training your cat to use the toilet, it should be trained to use the litter box and the family members should get used to keeping the bathroom open and toilet lid up!

Measure the widest diameter of your toilet and buy a metal bowl which will sit in it securely. You may need to make some adjustments. Do not buy anything from plastic; it is just not strong enough to support cat's weight and could bend and break. You will also need to buy some flushable litter at this stage so your cat has time to get accustomed to it

Gradually move the litter box closer to the bathroom. Allow a few days for cat to get used to each new position. Once the box sits next to the toilet and your cat is used to it, you can start to raise it higher until it is leveled with the toilet. Make sure the box is stable and cannot flip over. At this point, you should place the metal bowl in the toilet. Wait a few days until the cat is comfortable using the litter box at this level

Now is the time to make the transition from litter box to the bowl. Fill the bowl with the (flushable) litter the cat is used to and take the litter box away. Wait a week or two to give the cat time to feel comfortable with using the bowl.

Then gradually reduce the amount of litter in the bowl until there is no litter at all. Wait again until the cat is used to eliminate in the empty bowl. If the cat's feet are still resting in the bowl at this stage, you can fill it with water as cats don't like to get their feet wet. This should help the cat to learn balance on the seat. Wait again. Then cut off the bottom of the bowl so that all eliminations fall straight into the toilet water. Wait a few days and then take the bowl away. Voila, your cat is toilet trained.

Most cats can be successfully toilet trained. Some of them learn fast and can be trained in as little as 2-3 weeks, others may take 2 months or longer, but it is worth to be patient if your reward is saying good buy to smelly litter box forever.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Cat - Make It Easier For Yourself - Train Your Cat To Use The Toilet

Cleaning out a smelly litter box is not exactly the most appealing activity one can imagine. And the messy litter that sticks everywhere on the carpet, the room smelling like ... But have you ever thought of training your cat to use the toilet? Wouldn't it be a lot easier if you could just flush it down?

There are some questions which you should take into consideration before you decide to toilet train your cat. Cats are not able to flush the toilet simply because they are not heavy enough to manipulate the flushing mechanism. So, you will have to do it yourself. This means that the eliminations may sit in your toilet for a while. However, the smell of cat's poop is much less evident when submerged in water. If you have two separate bathrooms in your house, you could assign less frequently used toilet to your cat so you don't feel embarrassed when you get visitors.

You can find many books and articles on cat toilet training but what works and what doesn't depends on your cat's personality and individual preferences. Young kittens cannot balance very well so you will need to wait until they are 5 to 6 months old at which age their musculoskeletal system and locomotion are more developed. On the other hand, a cat is never too old to be toilet-trained unless it suffers with a condition preventing it from jumping and balancing, such as arthritis.

Before you start training your cat to use the toilet, it should be trained to use the litter box and the family members should get used to keeping the bathroom open and toilet lid up!

Measure the widest diameter of your toilet and buy a metal bowl which will sit in it securely. You may need to make some adjustments. Do not buy anything from plastic; it is just not strong enough to support cat's weight and could bend and break. You will also need to buy some flushable litter at this stage so your cat has time to get accustomed to it

Gradually move the litter box closer to the bathroom. Allow a few days for cat to get used to each new position. Once the box sits next to the toilet and your cat is used to it, you can start to raise it higher until it is leveled with the toilet. Make sure the box is stable and cannot flip over. At this point, you should place the metal bowl in the toilet. Wait a few days until the cat is comfortable using the litter box at this level

Now is the time to make the transition from litter box to the bowl. Fill the bowl with the (flushable) litter the cat is used to and take the litter box away. Wait a week or two to give the cat time to feel comfortable with using the bowl.

Then gradually reduce the amount of litter in the bowl until there is no litter at all. Wait again until the cat is used to eliminate in the empty bowl. If the cat's feet are still resting in the bowl at this stage, you can fill it with water as cats don't like to get their feet wet. This should help the cat to learn balance on the seat. Wait again. Then cut off the bottom of the bowl so that all eliminations fall straight into the toilet water. Wait a few days and then take the bowl away. Voila, your cat is toilet trained.

Most cats can be successfully toilet trained. Some of them learn fast and can be trained in as little as 2-3 weeks, others may take 2 months or longer, but it is worth to be patient if your reward is saying good buy to smelly litter box forever.

Sarah is a vet with special interest in cats. She owns Cat Behavior Training where people can find practical tips & advice on cat training

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Williams

Cat - Providing Your Dog With Enough Toys

Variety is the spice of life. This holds no different when it comes to pet toys, particularly those of a dog. Like a child, having just one or two isn't very stimulating or helpful to the animal. The dog should have a variety to help give a different range of playtimes. Of course, it's not toys like a child where they are pressing all kinds of buttons and learning things. But each dog toy is still unique and provides a different experience for the animal.

My dog has four toys that she loves. She is a beagle, and is easily distracted by so many things, yet these four toys keep her occupied and happy. They promote play, chewing, and just feeling good about doing something. They can keep her from just sleeping and being down when the weather is sad or there is no one home. This is a beneficial view for all dog owners.

My dog's favorite toy is the ball. It is a versatile toy, both for casual and more energetic play. She loves inside the house and outside the house. When she casually plays with it, she just holds it in her mouth, bites down on it a few times, and stuff like that. Sometimes she'll drop it or toss it, watch it roll, and then pick it up again. Nothing much. When she really wants to play with it, she'll have me throw it so she can chase it. It's one of her two active toys.

The other toy that keeps her on the go is Kong. It's a funny little toy that looks almost like a red snowman. It's built to bounce when thrown and is great for the outside, especially for those with big yards or parks to play at. Not only can you throw it far, like a ball, but it has a great bounce to it and can go off in many directions. It keeps the dog on its toys and excited to play.

Her third toy is a red Nylabone that has been around for years. She just loves it and it is her favorite chew toy. It is probably the best chew toy she could have. It's thick, strong, well-made, and still fun to chew on. This is great for dogs to keep their teeth strong and to give them something to chew on other than slippers and furniture.

Her fourth toy doesn't last long and is constantly being replaced, but she loves it. It is a rope, another great chew toy, but for a different reason. It's like a floss for dogs, helping keep their teeth and mouths clean and healthy. She goes to town on it, obsessed with ripping it apart in the first day. If it's a small one, she'll have it in threads all over the rug within an hour. But a nice thick, sturdy one will last for a while and keep her very happy.

These are my dogs four favorite toys, but they are not the only good toys out there for dogs. It depends on the dog's personality and the size. Some toys are great for smaller dogs, some for larger, some for calmer dogs and some for more active. They can be squeaky toys, plush animals, rawhides, and other special bones. They come in numerous sizes, shapes, and designs to provide a great variety of entertainment.

The key is providing your dog with a variety of toys to enjoy. This not only makes sure they will last longer, but also keep your dog occupied. They won't get bored fast with just one toy which can happen. Dogs, like all animals, need a variety of ways to have fun. We can't always be there to play with them, to run around outside or give them the attention they need and deserve. When they are left alone or the owner is too sick or busy, having a nice variety of toys can go a long way and keep the dog happy and amused.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com which is a site for Pet Forums.