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Dog food

Dog food is food intended for consumption by dogs or other canine. Some people make their own dog food, feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores or give their dogs a raw food diet. Many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.

There are varying opinions on what type of diet is best for dogs. Some argue that dogs have thrived on leftovers and scraps from their owners for thousands of years and that commercial dog foods (which have only been available for the past century) contain poor-quality meats, additives, and other ingredients dogs should not ingest. Some maintain that commercial dog food is not nutritionally sufficient.

Most store-bought dog food does not comes in either a dry form (also known in the US as kibble) or a wet canned form. Dry food contains 6-10% moisture by volume, as compared to 60-90% in canned food. Semi-moist foods have a moisture content of 25-35%. Pet owners should make sure to never feed their pets a strictly wet food diet because of the high water content. It can be used as filler or over dry food (which is much more beneficia). Pet owners often prefer dry food for reasons of convenience and price. Despite the fact that dry food can be left out for long periods of time, it is recommended that pet owners portion control and feed their pets fresh food twice a day, as they would with wet food.

Many dry foods can be less expensive, per pound, than their canned (wet) or semi-moist counterparts, and are less likely to spoil than an open can. In addition, dry food is much more nutritious than canned food because of the canned food's high water/moisture content (anywhere from 60%-90%, depending on brand).

Pellets of dry dog food, called kibble in the US, are produced by one of two methods, extrusion and baking. During the extrusion process, cut dough or a mixture of raw materials is fed into an expander, while pressurized steam or hot water is added. When removed from the high pressure that results, the pellets puff up like popcorn. The resultant kibble is allowed to dry, then sprayed with vitamins, fats and oils, or any other ingredients that are not heat-tolerant.If extruded kibble is exposed to air for too long or not properly stored, the fats and oils added after cooking can become rancid, and vitamins and minerals in the food may be destroyed by heat during storage or shipping.

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs allergic to common ingredients such as chicken, wheat, or corn. These foods usually contain "novel proteins" and substitute uncommon starches for the usual grains. Meats used in allergy formulas can range from the mundane, such as lamb, beef, or whitefish, to the unusual, such as venison or duck. Carbohydrates in allergy formulas are usually a less common grain, such as rice or barley, but such ingredients as potato and quinoa are sometimes used. Allergies are more likely to develop with consistent exposure to certain proteins (i.e. prolonged feeding of the same food).

It should be noted that the commercial approach to allergies in dogs is not the same as the veterinary approach. Prescription diets, purchased from a veterinarian, will often contain common ingredients that have been hydrolyzed to prevent them from triggering an immune response.

Some foods are designed for dogs with maladies, such as urinary tract infections, and some are tailored to the dietary needs of especially young or aging dogs. There are also vegetarian dog foods, for owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products, as well as for dogs who have experienced allergic reactions to a number of animal-based ingredients.

Signs You Might Be A Cat

You can get cuddles whenever you want them.

You yowl loudly if your litter box is not clean.

You yowl loudly at the full moon.

You yowl loudly for no reason.

Floor swimming!

Ping Pong balls!

You find yourself bathing Daddy every day because he doesn't know
how to clean himself.

You don't understand the language that your pet humans use, but
you always know when they are talking about you.

Daddy won't change the weather no matter how many times you tell
him to.

Sleeping near the air conditioner is always bad, no matter how
hot the weather is. It's better to curl up under a lamp in the
hot summertime.

Cat food

Cat food is food intended for consumption by cats. As cats are obligate carnivores most commercial cat foods are fortified with supplemental nutrients. One of the most important is the amino acid derivative taurine, as cats cannot synthesize the compound. Cats fed taurine-deficient dog food may develop retinal degeneration and go blind, for example.

Most store-bought cat food comes in either dry form, also known in the US as kibble, or wet canned form. Some manufacturers sell frozen raw diets and premix products to cater to owners who feed raw.

Dry food (8-10% moisture) is generally made by extrusion cooking under high heat and pressure. Fat may then be sprayed on the food to increase palatability, and other minor ingredients, such as heat-sensitive vitamins, which would be destroyed in the extrusion process, may be added.

Major brand-name dry cat food formulations consist of grain and animal material. The food labels 'premium', 'natural' or 'holistic' currently have no legal meaning. Products labeled "grain-free" may use potato or tapioca in lieu of grain. Starch allows the kibble to hold its shape.

Canned or wet food (75-78% moisture) generally comes in common can sizes of 3 oz (85 g), 5.5 oz (156 g), and 13 oz (369 g). It is also sold in foil pouch form by some manufacturers. Although having a higher water content concern that a cat is drinking too much is at best a cat to cat basis, mainly because cats are not 'naturally voracious drinkers'.

Many ask the question or think, "Doesn't dry food help a cat's teeth stay clean?". The idea is that as a cat eats their food, the abrasive action of the food scrapes away left over food, that could lead to inflammation and erosion of the teeth and gums, therefore creating healthier teeth. According to Dr. Brown, on cathealth.com, the exception to this rule is with special dental diets. Studies have not shown any difference between a dry or wet food diet for dental health. Another thing is that cats generally do not 'chew' their food, and usually only crunching its teeth once or twice before its down the hatch. As well cats lack the enzimes that humans poses inside their mouth to help breakdown the food they eat.

The energy requirement for adult cats range from 60-70 kcal metabolizable energy/kg body weight per day for inactive cats to 80-90 kcal/kg BW for active cats. Kittens at five weeks of age require 250 kcal/kg BW. The requirement drops with age, to 100 kcal/kg BW at 30 weeks and to the adult requirement at about 50 weeks. Gestating cats require about 90-100 kcal/kg BW and lactating cats 90-270 kcal/kg BW depending on litter size.

Vitamin deficiencies can lead to wide ranging clinical abnormalities that reflect the diversity of their metabolic roles. Twelve minerals are known to be essential nutrients for cats. Calcium and phosphorus are crucial to strong bones and teeth. Cats need other minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium, for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cell signaling. Many minerals only present in minute amounts in the body, including selenium, copper, and molybdenum, act as helpers in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions.

Malnutrition can be a problem for cats fed non-conventional diets. Cats fed exclusively on raw, freshwater fish can develop a thiamine deficiency. Those fed exclusively on liver may develop vitamin A toxicity. Also, diets excessive in protein and phosphorus yet deficient in calcium, vitamin E, and microminerals such as copper, zinc, and potassium are of particular concern. Energy density must also be maintained relative to the other nutrients. When vegetable oil is used to maintain the energy balance cats may not find the food as palatable risking a calorie deficiency.

Bird food

Bird food is food (often varieties of seeds) eaten by birds. Humans generally make or buy bird food to feed to pet birds or use in birdfeeders. Birdfood can be natural or commercial. The choice of what to use as birdfood depends on the species of bird being fed.

Black sunflower seeds are highly recommended for use in bird feeders because they attract a wide variety of birds, have a high ratio of meat to shell, and are high in fat content. Other common birdseeds include niger, or thistle seed, a favorite of goldfinches, millet for sparrows and juncos, and safflower for cardinals, among others.

Not all birds eat seeds. Suet (beef or mutton fat) is recommended for insect-eating birds like nuthatches and woodpeckers. Nectar (essentially sugar water) attracts hummingbirds. Bread and kitchen scraps are often fed to ducks and gulls. Chickens are commonly fed corn, wheat, barley, sorghum and milling by-products.

These seeds and non-seed supplies are commonly obtained as by-products on farms, but can also be bought from independent retailers. A wide variety of commercial bird food is available to bird owners. However, bags of mixed birdseed often combine attractive bird food like sunflower seeds with "filler" materials that birds enjoy less. Birds tend to pick out their favorite seeds and simply leave the rest uneaten. Other birds that favor some of the uneaten seeds, due to shape, taste, or size, then come and eat those seeds.

Farmed birds fed commercial bird food typically are given very specific scientifically designed preblended feed. Examples of commercial bird food for chickens include chick starter medicated crumbles, chick grower crumbles, egg layer mash, egg layer pellet, egg layer crumbles, egg producer pellet, and broiler maker med crumbles. Pellet crumbles are often prepared for tiny chicks. Mash is more finely ground.

Fish food

Fish food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pet fish kept in aquariums or ponds. Fish foods normally contain macro nutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish exclusively prepared foods that most commonly are produced in flake, pellet or tablet form. Pelleted forms, some of which sink rapidly, are often used for larger fish or bottom feeding species such as loaches or catfish.[citation needed] Some fish foods also contain additives such as sex hormones or beta carotene to artificially enhance the color of ornamental fish.

Prepared foods are those foods that are non-living and are made by the aquarist or bought already prepared for consumption for fish.Flake food is a type of proprietary or artificially manufactured fish food consumed by a wide variety of tropical and saltwater fish and invertebrates. It is ideally suited to top dwellers and mid-water fish though numerous bottom dwelling species consume flake food once it has settled on the bottom. Flake food is baked to remove moisture and create the flaking, thus allowing for a longer shelf life.[citation needed] Generally the more moisture a particular example of fish food contains, the more readily it will deteriorate in quality.

Dry foods is also available as pellets, sticks, tablets, granules, and wafers, manufactured to float or sink, depending on the species they are designed to feed. Fish food should ideally provide the fish with fat (for energy) and amino acids (building blocks of proteins) and the fish food (whether flake or pellet) must be speedily digested in order to prevent build up of intestinal gas, renal failure and infections (such as swim bladder problems and dropsy) and to avoid aquarium pollution due to excessive ammonia. Aquatic diets for carnivores must contain vegetable matter such as spirulina.

Building block ingredients of fish food: 

  * Amino acids are the basic components of proteins. An example of an aquatic diet that is a good source of amino acid is a crumbled hard boiled egg offered to small fry. Large amounts of DL-Methionine enhance the headgrowth of the Lionhead goldfish.

    * Fats that are broken down into fatty acids are the main source of energy in fish especially for the heart and skeletal muscles. Fats also assists in vitamin absorption. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble or can only be digested, absorbed, and transported in conjunction with fats.

    * Carbohydrates are molecular substances that include sugars, starches, gums and celluloses. Most of the carbohydrates that are incorporated into aquatic diets are of plant origin and are sources of the enzyme amylase. Carbohydrates, however, are not a superior energy source for fish over protein or fat but digestible carbohydrates do spare protein for tissue building. Unlike in mammals, glycogen is not a significant storage depot of energy in fish.

Sources of fish food :

    * Fish meal (protein source) have two basic types: (a) those produced from fishery wastes associated with the processing of fish for human consumption (such as salmon and tuna) and (b) those from specific fish (herring, menhaden and pollack) which are harvested solely for the purpose of producing fish meal.

    * Shrimp meal is made from cull shrimp that are being processed before freezing or from whole shrimp that is not of suitable quality for human consumption. The material to be made into shrimp meal is dried (sun-dried or by using a dryer) and then ground. Shrimp meal is a source of pigments that enhances the desirable color in the tissues of fish. It is also a secondary supplemental protein source for fish.

    * Squid meal is made from squid viscera portions from cannery plants including the eggs and testis. Squid Meal is a highly digestible protein source for fish which provides a full range of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and cholesterol (1.0–1.5%) of cholesterol suitable for fish fry and young fish.

    * Brine shrimp (adult Artemia) is a common food source for fish that are available in adult-form, as eggs or freeze-dried. Brine shrimp is a source of protein, carotene (a color enhancer) and acts as a natural laxative in fish digestive systems. Brine shrimps can also supply the fish with vegetable matter due to their consumption of algae.

    * Soybean meal is a high protein source for fish and has become a substitute for traditionally-used marine animal meals.

    * Spirulina is a blue-green plant plankton rich in raw protein, vitamins A1, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, beta-carotene, color enhancing pigments, a whole range of minerals, essential fatty acids and eight amino acids required for complete nutrition.

    * Whole wheat (carbohydrates) is not the best source of energy in fish but is an excellent source of roughage for fish such as Goldfish and Koi. It is also a natural source of vitamin E which promotes growth and enhances coloration.
 

Top 5 Unusual Pets For Sale – Buying A New Pet

f you are looking into getting a new pet but don’t want to go down the traditional route of a cat or dog, then why not consider getting something a bit unusual or exotic? There are a number of unusual pets for sale available on the net.

Whether you are an experienced owner or looking to get your first animal, an unusual pet can have lots to offer and a lot of them don’t require any more expertise than owning a more traditional pet. You don’t need to own a crocodile or tiger to have an unusual pet and there are so many animals available that are completely suitable to a family home and first time owners. Here is my list of the Top 5 Unusual Pets For Sale:

• Degu: The Degu is part of the rodent family and is native to Chile. They are usually about 7 inches long and look quite similar to a mouse. They are very sociable animals and can be very tame if handled from an early age. It is also advisable to keep them with other Degu due to their social nature.
• Sugar Gliders: Sugar Gliders are small and easy to look after. They have a cute but unusual appearance. They make great pets as they very sociable, entertaining and active. Again due to their nature you should ideally keep them in pairs or groups and they do require a great deal of interaction so would only be suitable if someone is at home most of the time.
• Chinchillas: A more common option is the Chinchilla Handled from a young age they usually become very tame and bond very closely with their owners although in some cases they prefer not to be held or cuddled. Chinchillas are more than happy to be kept on their own and are nocturnal animals so they will always be most active at night. However they do require a consistent feeding routine and can become stressed by change.
• Lemmings: Lemmings make great little pets. They are very active and fun to watch going about their business. Similar to a hamster they require the minimum amount of cleaning out and care so are ideal pets for children. Most of the time they are more than happy to be handled and also like to be kept in small groups of 3 to 5.
• Ferrets: Ferrets are very intelligent animals and can be easily trained. They make excellent pets and have been domesticated for over 300 years. Ferrets are traditionally nocturnal animals but tend to change their routine and sleeping patterns to fit their owners schedule.

As you can see there are lots of options available if you are looking for more unusual pets for sale. As long as you do your research and pick an animal suitable to your home environment and schedule you will find it a hugely rewarding and entertaining experience.

Bill James has been working in the advertising industry for over 15 years. He enjoys writing about motorbikes and pets, especially unusual pets for sale.

Pet food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pets. Typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food. Most meat used for non-human animals is a by-product of the human food industry, and is not regarded as "human grade."
Four companies—Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Mars, and Colgate-Palmolive—are thought to control 80 percent of the world's pet-food market, which in 2007 amounted to US$ 45.12 billion for cats and dogs alone.

Cat and dog food sales exceeded £1.4 billion in the United Kingdom and US$14.3 billion in the United States in 2005.[4] In 2006 the value of the UK pet food market rose to just over £1.6 billion. The leading exporters of pet food for 2004 were France ($993 million), United States ($786 million) and the Netherlands ($511 million). while the leading importers were Japan ($718 million), Germany ($617 million) and the UK ($563 million).

Prepared foods and some raw ingredients may be toxic for animals and care should be taken when feeding animals left-over food. It is known that the following foods are potentially unsafe for cats and dogs:

• Chocolate, coffee-based products and soft drinks
• Raisins and grapes
• Canned tuna
• Macadamia nuts
• Onions and garlic

Generally cooked and marinated foods should be avoided as well as sauces and gravies which may contain ingredients that although well tolerated by humans, may be toxic to animals.

All about a Rottweiler — A Powerful Dog

The Rottweiler dog, often referred to as a Rottie, is an amazing creature. If you want a dog that is a true companion then you should think about choosing a Rottweiler puppy. This large dog is indeed powerful and robust but also sweet and eager to please. The Rottweiler originated from Germany although it has also been linked to Roman Empire days as well.

The Rottweiler is black with beautiful tan markings on the muzzle, cheeks, chest, eyebrows, and legs. The markings are typically clearly defined. There should not be any white or straw colored markings on the dog. An unusual coloring could indicate that the puppy may be a mixed breed.

The one most prominent feature of this breed is the head, which appears to be a little over-sized. Giving the dog its look of being alert, the forehead is wrinkly. Even the coat of this breed is special, being of medium length with an undercoat that is waterproof. The coat requires only minimal brushing to stay healthy and shiny. Rottweiler puppies really don’t come into their voices until they are 2 or 3 years old so if you’re looking for a puppy that doesn’t bark too much you should consider a Rottweiler.Although a Rottweiler is born with a tail, these are generally docked extremely short. The reason is that Rottweilers used for working can have problems with the tail breaking and then getting infected from being in the field.ottweiler dogs are great watchdogs. The size and strength of the breed makes them a great watchdog. Even though this dog does not bark often, when feeling threatened or afraid, the powerful voice is heard. Rottweilers are known to be fiercely protective of their property and their families and are vigilant about protecting what they love. Rottweilers are known to be exceptionally courageous and will put themselves in danger to protect their loved ones.

Socialization is crucial for Rottweiler puppies. Rottweiler puppies should start being socialized within a year. Because of their strength and size it's important to start training early and to socialize early. They need to be taught what acceptable behavior is and how to behave around family members, kids, the general public and other dogs. If the dog is socialized young, handled with a firm hand, and introduced to various situations it will make a wonderful, devoted pet that is great with children and other animals.

Next to socialization start training early. Start teaching your pup to sit, down, stand, stay, heel and come. The most important activities are playing, eating, sleeping and social contact between you and your dog. Control the games, take charge of the sleeping areas, put your Rotti on a feeding schedule and don't let your dog demand your attention. Just like children Rottweiler puppies enjoy having a routine and thrive when they are given lots of training, lots of exercise, and a solid routine.

Rottweiler dogs often gravitate naturally towards children. It’s important to socialize Rottweiler puppies around children and to always supervise a Rottweiler that is around children because Rottweilers are very large dogs and could injure a child without meaning to. As a breed Rottweilers usually bond very strongly to children.All dogs require exercise. Rottweiler's are very intelligent dogs and also require a mental workout. After you have given your dog some physical exercise also spend some time letting your Rotti use his brain.

Selecting a Rottweiler should be done with great care. While it’s true that Rottweilers are not the right dog for everyone, but if you are the right kind of person then owning a Rottweiler can have a lot of benefits. If you want a dog that can help you around the farm, protect your property, and do other jobs then a Rottweiler will be a good fit for you. To ensure the correct breed temperament look for an AKC registered litter.

Dog

The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated form of the wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The domestic dog has been one of the most widely kept working and companion animals in human history. The word "dog" may also mean the male of a canine species, as opposed to the word "bitch" for the female of the species.

The dog quickly became ubiquitous across world cultures, and was extremely valuable to early human settlements. For instance, it is believed that the successful emigration across the Bering Strait might not have been possible without sled dogs. Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and, more recently, aiding handicapped individuals. This versatility, more than almost any other known animal, has given them the nickname "Man's best friend" in the western world. Currently, there are estimated to be 400 million dogs in the world.

Over the 15,000 year span that the dog had been domesticated, it diverged into only a handful of landraces, groups of similar animals whose morphology and behavior have been shaped by environmental factors and functional roles. As the modern understanding of genetics developed, humans began to intentionally breed dogs for a wide range of specific traits. Through this process, the dog has developed into hundreds of varied breeds, and shows more behavioral and morphological variation than any other land mammal. For example, height measured to the withers ranges from a few inches in the Chihuahua to a few feet in the Irish Wolfhound; color varies from white through grays (usually called "blue'") to black, and browns from light (tan) to dark ("red" or "chocolate") in a wide variation of patterns; coats can be short or long, coarse-haired to wool-like, straight, curly, or smooth. It is common for most breeds to shed this coat.

“The most widespread form of interspecies bonding occurs between humans and dogs” and the keeping of dogs as companions, particularly by elites, has a long history. However pet dog populations grew significantly after WWII as suburbanization increased. In the 1950s and 1960s dogs were kept outside, (using the expression “in the doghouse” to describe exclusion from the group signifies the distance between the doghouse and the home) and were still primarily functional, acting as a guard, children’s playmate, or walking companion. From the 1980s we have seen significant changes in the role of the pet dog, and writer John Katz describes the new work of dogs as the emotional support of their owner. People and dogs have become increasingly integrated and implicated in each other’s lives, to the point where pet dogs actively shape the way

A pet dog is part of the Christmas traditions. There have been two major trends in the changing status of pet dogs. The first has been the ‘commodification’ of the dog, shaping it to conform to human expectations of personality and behaviour. The second has been the broadening of the concept of the family and the home to include dogs-as-dogs within everyday routines and practices.

Social geographer Heidi Nast points out the vast range of commodity forms available to transform a pet dog into an ideal companion. The list of goods, services and places available is enormous: from dog perfumes, couture, furniture and housing, to dog groomers, therapists, trainers and care-takers, dog cafes, spas, parks and beaches, and dog hotels, airlines and cemeteries. While dog training as an organized activity can be traced back to the 1700s, in the last decades of the 20th Century it became a high profile issue as many normal dog behaviors such as barking, jumping up, digging, rolling in dung, fighting, and urine marking became increasingly incompatible with the new role of a pet dog. Dog training books, classes and television programs proliferated as the process of commodifying the pet dog continued.

The majority of contemporary dog owners describe their dog as part of the family, although some ambivalence about the relationship is evident in the popular reconceptualisation of the dog-human family as a pack. A dominance model of dog-human relationships has been promoted by some dog trainers such as on the television program Dog Whisperer, however it has been disputed that "trying to achieve status" is characteristic of dog–human interactions. Pet dogs play an active role in family life, for example, a study of conversations in dog-human families showed how family members use the dog as a resource, talking to the dog, or talking through the dog, to mediate their interactions with each other. Another study of dogs’ roles in families showed that many dogs have set tasks or routines undertaken as family members, the most common of which was helping with the washing-up by licking the plates in the dishwasher, and bringing in the newspaper from the lawn. Increasingly, human family members are engaging in activities that are centred on the perceived needs and interests of the dog, or in which the dog is an integral partner such as Dog Dancing and Doga.

Why Do Cats Eat Grass?

Some cat owners make the mistake of preventing their cat from eating grass. There are various reasons for this, one being that they think it makes their cat ill or upsets their stomach. This is an incorrect assumption and in fact the eating of grass followed by regurgitation is a perfectly natural behavior for all cats.

Cats do not possess the ability to separate meat from fur bones or feathers before eating like we do so they have to eat the digestible parts along with the indigestible parts. When the cat has finished digesting what he can the rest has to be removed from the system. To try and pass this through the digestive tract could cause obstruction and severe illness so this is where grass eating comes in.

The habit of eating grass triggers the natural process of regurgitation of indigestible foods including its own fur balls which would otherwise obstruct the system. This can appear to us humans as if the cat is being violently ill but this is not the case and in fact is very beneficial to the cat.
What about other plants and vegetables?

Cats cannot produce the enzymes needed to break down plant matter. Even when pureed or powdered, vegetables simply pass through the digestive tract without leaving any of their nutritional content. This alone is not harmful to your cat, but when undigested plant matter mixes with highly digestible food such as meat, indigestion and other complications may occur. Grass is an exception however; some cats compulsively eat grass when you leave them outdoors. This will cause them to regurgitate the indigestible matter, including raw vegetables.

If your cat is unable to get access to grass he may attempt to eat your house plants instead. This could be dangerous because some house plants and flowers are toxic to cats, so if you have a house cat like a Ragdoll cat for example you should provide a regular supply of potted grass to prevent him looking elsewhere. And most importantly do not punish your cat for regurgitating on to you carpet because he will not know why you are punishing him. Regurgitation is an involuntary action of your cat’s stomach so he could not stop it happening even if he tried. Cleaning up after the occasional regurgitation should be an accepted part of being a loving cat owner as they are only doing what comes naturally.

Pet

A pet is an animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, as opposed to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, or for their song. Pets also generally seem to provide their owners with non-trivial health benefits, keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress to those who like having animals around. There is now a medically-approved class of "therapy animals," mostly dogs, that are brought to visit confined humans. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.

Around 63 percent of all U.S. households (71.1 million) are pet owners, and more than half of these
households have more than one animal. The two most popular pets in most Western countries have been cats and dogs. In the United States, a 2007-2008 survey showed that dog-owning households outnumbered those owning cats, but that the total number of pet cats was higher than that of dogs.Combined reptiles are the next popular followed by birds then horses.


Animal protection advocates call attention to pet overpopulation in the United States. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized each year in the country and many more are confined to cages in shelters. This situation is created by nonneutered animals (spayed/castrated) reproducing and people intentionally breeding animals. A particularly problematic combination of economic hardship combined with a love of animals contributes to this problem in parts of the rural United States. In an average year, a fertile cat can produce three litters of kittens, with up to 4 to 6 kittens in each litter. Based on these numbers, one female cat and her offspring could produce up to 420,000 cats over a seven year period if not spayed or neutered. There are also major overpopulation problems with other pet species, such as birds and rabbits. Local humane societies, SPCAs, and other animal protection organizations urge people to neuter their pets and to adopt animals from animal shelters instead of purchasing them from breeders or pet stores.

Health risks that are associated with pets include:

• Aggravation of allergies and asthma caused by dander and fur or feathers
• Falling injuries. Tripping over pets, especially dogs, causes more than 86,000 falls serious enough to prompt a trip to the emergency room each year in the United States. Among elderly and disabled people, these falls have resulted in life-threatening injuries and broken bones.
• Injuries, maulings and sometimes deaths caused by pet bites and attacks
• Disease and/or parasites due to animal hygiene problems or lack of appropriate treatment (faeces and urine)
• Stress caused by behaviour of animals
• Fear or distress from animal presence or behaviour
• Spread of diseases like the fatal rabies when not properly taken care of.