Monthly Archives

September 2012

Sweet Cat!

written by Marie

Cats and dogs are popular pets for kids, these cuddly and playful animals are quite hard to resist that some parents avoid taking their kids to the pet shop until the kids are ready to have their own pets. Kids can be very persistent once they have set their minds into getting something that they really want. Deciding on having a furry pet in the house can be difficult especially when it comes to children with allergies. Choosing the right pet highly depends on the family lifestyle and personality of the child.

One of the most practical pets that parents can give their kids is a cat. These sweet, playful and adorably furry friends are self-groomers and require less exercise than dogs. However, this doesn’t mean that cat owners need not groom their cats. These affectionate creatures would appreciate a few brush strokes on their manes from their owners too. A five to ten minute a day grooming period should be enough to make them feel cared for. Cats reward their owners with loyalty and companionship. They are considered as great human companions because of their faithfulness and love for communication. Purring, pawing or cuddling is their way of expressing their affection while their body language and behavior are usually reflective of their mood. The cat’s playful and curious nature also makes them fun to be with that kids can even be entertained by simply watching their antics. Pet owners who love to teach their pets a few tricks won’t be disappointed in the intelligence and learning ability of their feline companions.

These are just some of the reasons why people love having pet cats in their homes. But there is one reason that keeps parents from getting a cat for their children and that is allergies. Asthma and allergies shouldn’t be taken lightly, but it doesn’t have to be a hindrance in getting a pet for kids. Having pets can help kids outgrow their allergies by taking proper precautions. Parents can choose cat breeds that produce lower allergens than others and limit the child’s exposure to the cat to minimize allergy risks.

September 28, 2012 1 comment

Fish

The Silver Arowana

written by Marie

Image: Markus, our silver arowana

It’s been years since we last had an arowana at home. Superstitions aside, since we don’t really believe in those, hubby and I took it in simply because we just saw it a fish shop, for the first time. Out of being spontaneous we just took this in much to the kids delight. They named this silver arowana, Marcus.

Friends and visitors find the arowana a curious fish. Most would ask what kind of a fish it is as this amazonian dweller is rarely available in our region.

Having one, we learned that these predators are high jumpers. That’s how they catch prey in the wild so it is best to have the tank covered. I read somewhere that it can feed on monkeys too. Ö It is also good to consider the tank an arowana would be in, make sure that it can turn around without bending its long body much as this will cause deformity. The arowana is an active swimmer…At best, use a 300-gallon tank.

We have only fed ours with floating fish pellets as we thought giving it live food would only make it prone to disease. During its stay, we had a plecostomus of almost the same size with it in the tank. Putting in anything smaller would have been a prey to the arowana but it did get along well with the pleco as it would be hard for it to swallow.

Marcus grew up to be 15 inches while at home. As most aquarium fish would, it is relaxing to watch him swim back and forth…even if he appears to be frowning. :/

plecostomus and arowana

September 16, 2012 1 comment

Dogs

Akita Inu

written by Marie

Our Akita Inu friend…Ceasar in winter.

There are dogs that are cute, there are those that are elegant and there are dogs that are…handsome. I think of an Akita Inu as the latter and as a proud, laid back breed. Its broad, fox-like head which are always looking up shows how confident they are. Thus goes for their pointy ears as though they are very keen. They have curled up tails that adds cuteness and somehow a contrast to their exuding a strong personality. Akita Inus seldom bark, they are very friendly and playful, especially in the snow. Though they don’t warm up easily to strangers…you will definitely find them charming…

Being a large and sturdy-built dog, the Akita Inu is not easy for kids to walk around but they love being with them… It’s also a very intelligent dog, you need to have something for it to do often otherwise, it will get bored.

One of the famous Akita Inu throughout history is Hachiko, whose story has been adapted into films. Hachiko also called chuken Hachikou or faithful dog Hachiko was born on a farm near the city of Akita Prefecture in Japan. Hachiko remained waiting for his owner at the Shibuya train station, even many years after his death. A truly remarkable act of loyalty. To this day, there is a bronze statue of him at one of the station’s exit rightfully called Hachiko-guchi (Hachiko entrance-exit).

September 8, 2012 16 comments

Dogs Featured

We love Dogs (and Cats too)

written by Marie

Studies have shown that owning a pet comes with health benefits for both kids and adults at home. Caring for pets helps reduce stress and anxiety, provides companionship, boosts immunity for allergies (though I’m still too afraid to risk…having an asthmatic kid), and gives a regular dose of physical activity through play.

One of the most popular, and probably the best, pet that you can have for the family is a dog. These four legged furry pals are intelligent, loyal, and playful. All these come with a unique personality which makes it easy for people to adore them. Allowing kids to have their own pet dog is a major responsibility for the child and the parents as well. Family members should be prepared to help the children in taking care of their pets and give pointers on growing up with a pet dog.

September 2, 2012 21 comments