Image by drp via Flickr

A cat’s meow can be entertaining or frustrating, depending on the situation. If you’re trying to sleep at night and your cat is meowing loudly through the night, you may be at your wit’s end about what to do. The best strategy is to understand why a cat meows. Vets and experienced cat owners believe that a meowing cat is either physically struggling, hungry or just lonely and wants companionship.

A Hungry Cat

The simplest way to determine if a cat is meowing due to hunger is to feed it. Your cat will be happy after eating and the meowing will stop. If your cat is a big eater, you may hear continued meowing until all hunger has been satisfied.

A Cat in Pain

If your cat is new to you and it suddenly begins meowing incessantly, there may be a physical issue. The best solution is to take it to a vet for a complete check up. A cat in pain will meow to alert that it needs help. It’s best not to ignore the meow in this case and get to the bottom of it. Once your cat has a clean bill of health from the vet, you can investigate other possible causes for the meow.

A Lonely Cat

Cats will also talk incessantly when they are lonely. If you’ve left a cat alone for long hours, it may begin talking to you when you arrive home. If you’re the primary affection giver and you are not home for many hours, the other people in your household may be getting an earful of meowing until you arrive home. With a little bit of attention and affection, your cat will quiet down and purr again.

Image via Wikipedia

Border collies are known as one the smartest breeds of dogs worldwide. This energetic and active breed was initially bred for herding livestock, particularly sheep. Now, border collies may be seen in dog sports competitions and are common pets around the world. If you are interested in seeing competitions or shows, you can have a look at http://www.ebayclassifieds.com/ for more information.

The Look of a Border Collie

Border collies have a thick coat and come in a variety of colors, including combinations of black and white, with tan mixed in or a reddish, tan and white mixture. They are beautiful dogs with eye colors that range from blue to brown to a mixture of colors.

The Border Collie’s Personality

Given their heritage of herding livestock, border collies are very active dogs that need mental stimulation. In short, these dogs need something to do. Without this stimulation, they are prone to neurotic behaviors that include chewing on blankets, shoes and other household items.

The Border Collie’s Intellect

Border collies have distinguished themselves as highly intelligent dogs. One particular border collie was in the news for having learned the names of more than a thousand objects. Border collies will look at you intently when you speak to them. Some of them move their heads from side to side to acknowledge that they hear you.

The Best Way to Care for Border Collies

Proper care of border collies includes giving them adequate attention and exercise. They must be physically active daily, sometimes twice daily. Running with them and throwing a Frisbee are excellent ways to keep them moving. In addition, giving a border collie a job to do will keep it mentally stimulated. For example, you can train it to fetch your shoes or carry your water bottle in a backpack as you hike a trail.

Image via Wikipedia

Pets can be amusing, cute and fun, but do they have an impact on your health and well-being? Although more research is needed in this area, studies indicate that a wide range of benefits are derived from owning a pet. From dogs that barked in time to save their owner’s lives to the cats that provide comfort for lonely people, pets are known to decrease stress levels, remove loneliness and bring warmth to a person’s life.

Human Response to Stress

One study showed that people who owned either cats or dogs had a lower physical reaction to stressful events when their pets were with them. This same effect was not observed when pet owners were exposed to the same stressors without their pets present.

Pets and Decreased Human Loneliness

Studies also have found that women who live alone can benefit tremendously by getting a pet. In terms of reducing loneliness, this benefit is on the same level as getting a roommate. It just goes to show you that pets can increase a person’s happiness simply by their presence.

Dogs vs. Cats

One study found that pet owners showed greater psychological happiness after six months of owning a dog or a cat. Interestingly, dog owners experienced sustained happiness beyond the six months.

An Increase in Social Well-Being

Dog owners, in particular, are known to engage in more social interaction simply due to being out and about with the dog, walking it and hanging out in dog parks. These outings present dog owners with opportunities to talk to people, exchange dog stories and make new friends.