Herb Zerden: Cat Tips

• Cat Collars Safety Guide
  Cat collars are more than just ornamental. With the right ID tag, or even with your phone number embroidered into the collar, they can be a real life saver should your cat ever get lost. They also make it easier for people to identify your cat as a lost cat, rather than a feral. It could mean the difference between straying further away and being returned home safely. The aesthetic aspects are welcome as well, as many of us find the image of a collared cat quite endearing.


• How to Take Good Pictures of Cats
  If you have your heart set on creating a special cat picture, the setting is one of the first things to consider. Make sure that your setting is clear and uncluttered, so that the cat can be the main focal point in the image. You may want to use a sheet of fabric, or a pretty blanket, to set the background with. A plain one, without a pattern, would probably work best, allowing the eye to focus on the feline in the picture. Adding a special prop can add life to your picture. Any pretty object can achieve the desired effect, but if you opt for a cat toy, or some other item that your cat is likely to interact with, you can bring a whole new dimension to the scene. Many cats love getting inside boxes and baskets, and these make wonderful props for an imaginative shot.


• Litter Box Location Secrets
  The litter box plays an important part in the life and happiness of your cat. Your cat is programmed to bury its waste, away from its main living area. Part of their survival strategy as small predators, they do this to prevent odors being traced back to their territory. This trait makes them a perfect pet for indoor living - as long as they do indeed use the litter box.


• Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma In Cats
  Some cats (existing data reflects a number somewhere between 1 in 2,000 and 1 in 10,000) show an increased potential to develop malignant skin tumors at sites on their bodies where vaccines are administered. These tumors are extremely aggressive, have a very high likelihood of regrowth after conservative surgery, and an unpredictable rate of spread. The prognosis is normally not optimistic in cats that present with them.
  
  These tumors are a form of cancer called "Sarcoma". Most feline sarcomas are not associated with vaccines in any way, but those that are associated have both pet owners and veterinarians alike deeply concerned. When they occur at a site where vaccines are administered, they are referred to as "Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma".