10 Quality Play Tips For Your Cat

Boredom can sometimes be the root of feline behavior problems such as neurotic chewing, compulsive grooming, over eating, and in some cases aggression.

Even 15 minutes of quality play with your cat could prove to be beneficial when it comes to improving your cat's mental health and physical well-being. In addition, playing with you cat regularly will also help to strengthen your bond.

Here are some fun ideas to add a bit of excitement to your cat's every day routine.

PAPER BAG (without handles)

Cats love little places where they think nobody can see them. Get out a paper bag, and watch how much fun your cat will have with such a simple item. They love to play in and out of it. You could even cut out a few holes in the bag and put in one of his favorite cat toys. This is sure to keep him busy!

BURIED TREASURE

Stuff one of his toys in between the couch cushions, or under a pillow. Your kitty will enjoy this hunting game. Once he has retrieved it, try another hiding place.

SWAT GAME

If you don't have a cat toy which you could dangle in front of your cat, create one. Simply tie a string to the end of a chopstick and attach an object to the string. You could try a feather or one of his existing toys.

Cats love this game of back and forth SWAT!

TOILET PAPER ROLE

Make sure the toilet paper role has no toilet paper on it. He will bat it around for quite a while. You could also put an object in it, such as a solid ball that has a bit weight to it, and then tape up the both ends of the roll. This gives it a wobble when he bats it around.

TISSUE IN A BOX

Your cat will enjoy taking the tissue out one by one. This could make a huge mess, but it's worth it and your cat will have great fun doing this!

LASER LIGHT

Take caution when using a laser light. You should never shine it in the eyes!!! A flash light may be used instead.

Your cat will love to chase the little light around the floors and walls; it's a great challenge for him and gives him a bit of a workout.

BOUNCY BALLS

They are always BIG fun for your cat!

SOCKS

Your cat will surely enjoy a stuffed sock! Stuff an old sock with different sized cotton balls and a bit of catnip, and watch that crazy cat go!

ICE CUBES

Slide an ice cube back and forth across your kitchen floor. You now have a game of feline ice hockey that he is guaranteed to win!

PING PONG BALLS

A couple of ping pong balls dropped in your empty bathtub is another great way to keep him entertained.

These are games your cat and you can enjoy together. Two or three play sessions a day, preferably at times when he tends to be most active will keep him happy and fit.

Have fun!

Potty Training Readiness for the Squeamish

"Potty Training" - Do these words send chills up and down your spine? Do you lay awake at night wondering if keeping your child in diapers until he graduates high school makes you a bad parent? Perhaps you are even considering taking out an ad to hire someone to do the job for you? Just because you do not want to keep diapering your toddler, it doesn't mean you are looking forward to potty training either. Well fear not, there is plenty of information that has been written on how to complete this daunting undertaking. We will explore some main points further here to help the faint-hearted parent with potty training.

There are opinions on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to potty training. Some experts think that you should pretty much leave the child alone and let them advance at their own pace. I know that as a squeamish parent you hope for that. However, while it is true that some children can train themselves with little guidance, other authorities believe that the parent ought to be keenly involved in this effort. The approach that most parents should take probably lies somewhere in between these two views in varying degrees depending on the individual child's needs.

Due to the expense and inconvenience of diapers, most parents would like their toddlers out of them as soon as possible. But what is the proper age for beginning to toilet train? The age range in reality is large spanning anywhere from as early as 18 months to as old as three years of age. Most children will fall within these limits, although some perfectly normal children can be younger or older. The whole process once started may take up to nine months or so to finish.

So how can you narrow down the starting time for your child to familiarize him to the idea of using the potty? Looking for readiness indications are a better gauge than the age of a child to know when a child is ready to attempt potty training. It may be time to begin once he is in the stage of development where he exhibits many of the signs listed below:

Physical Signs

1. Ability - Your child is capable of dressing and undressing. He can pull down his own pants and underpants. Then pull them back up again. It is a good idea to have easier fastening and looser fitting clothes.

2. Actions - He fidgets, wiggles, strains and even grabs the area. He may hide behind the sofa, which shows that he is becoming aware of the sensations.

3. Urination - Your child is able to stay dry for over two hours and instead of urinating in small amounts during the day, he urinates less times but in larger amounts. His wet diaper is now becoming bothersome to him.

4. Defecation - Your child does not have a bowel movement while sleeping at night and during the day they are becoming more regular.

Intellect Signs

1. Communication - He has words for going potty, such as number one or two, tinkle and poop, etc. He tells you that he has a dirty diaper or he has to go potty. He is able to understand what you are telling him to do, "Let's go to the potty." for instance.

2. Understanding and Awareness - Your child is becoming conscious that urination and defecation are going to occur or are occurring.

3. Curiosity - He is becoming inquisitive about his private parts and yours too. He conveys curiosity about using the potty by watching you or asking about it.

4. Imitation - At this age, there is a fierce longing to imitate loved ones and he tries to mimic their actions.

Emotional Signs

1. Approval - Your child seeks to gain your approval and acceptance.

2. Personal Growth - He wants to be his own person. He is a big boy and wants to wear big boy underwear. He asserts his abilities by stating he can do things by himself.

Once these signs have begun manifesting, it is time to initiate your child to the concept of toilet training by buying a potty, potty training books and aids. It is important to realize there will be some backsliding at times. Just remember to relax and not pressure your child or you may create performance anxiety in him which could lead to holding it in. Not only is this counter-productive, but it is not healthy as he could develop anal fissures. Realize also that various tactics may work on one child and not another. They also may need to be revised from time to time as the child grows and develops.

Disclaimer - Please remember this article is not meant to replace competent medical consult. If you have any concerns whatsoever, seek advice from your pediatrician.

How Your Actions Affect Your Teen's Body Image

Today’s society places emphasis on the outward appearance of our bodies more than ever before. Our society places a high value on the idea of being impossibly thin. A recent study has shown that the majority of the models we see in print ads and on TV are actually thinner than 98% of most of the women and young girls in the United States.

This is very ironic considering that our society is also one in which food is made to be delivered fast and in large quantities. It is no wonder that so many young women and girls in their early teens are confused about how their body should look.

If you turn on the TV you will notice all the incredibly thin females who are made out to be the perfect female on commercials taunting everything from make up to automobiles. Then you'll see another commercial which is for some type of fast food which is urging you to double the size of your order, even though the kid's meal will fill the stomachs of most adults.

Parents have a larger role when they think they do in how their children view their own bodies. Parents can influence a teen by using not only words, but also through body language. Your glances and gestures can influence a child negatively whether or not you mean for them to be negative. It is therefore advised that when you speak to a teen about eating or about weight issues in general be careful in the type of body language that you use. Each action or gesture, including facial expressions that we make, carries a message of its own. When talking to your teen about healthy eating or possible weight issues, be certain that you are conscious of the facial expressions and gestures which you are using.

How you discuss your own body in front of your children will influence how they feel about their own bodies. By speaking of your body in a negative way it is possible for your child to view their own body in a negative way, especially if you have certain traits in common with your child. Rather than saying how fat you feel, just say that you think you would feel better and have more energy if you began an exercise program. Talking about your body in this manner puts a positive spin which outweighs the negative aspect that you are speaking of.

If there's something about your body that bothers you do not try to hide it under baggy clothes and say that it is taken care of. It is far better for you to admit that you have a problem area on your body, and take the proper action to get it under control rather than to teach your young teen to hide a particular part of their body. Hiding a part of their body will teach a teen to be ashamed of that part of their body, and could cause the child to have self image issues which can follow them into adulthood.

It is no secret how we perceive our bodies, as by our body language and casual conversation we let those around us know exactly how we feel about our body image. It is for this reason that while we are around our children we should try to maintain a level of positive words and actions about our bodies.

Although teens pretend to tune parents out, they actually tune into our actions and mimic our good and bad habits. We can often give teens their best advise by not saying anything but by acting as role models. The way you eat, exercise and spend your free time will influence your teen. By having them grow up in an atmosphere of healthy eating, good body image and regular fitness will be the best lesson of all.