Are you a dog lover who wants to own a cat? If so, the Maine Coon Cat is the breed for you. This breed is extraordinarily intelligent and has a personality that is more like a dog than a cat; for example, a Maine Coon Cat might decide to take a leisurely dip in your family's wading pool.
The Maine Coon is known as a gentle giant. These lovely cats weigh in at anywhere from nine to 22 pounds and even at the heavy end of the scale, they are not fat. They have a square face, a thick neck, large ears, big, rounded eyes, and a large, muscular body. The tail is long and quite bushy.
This cat breed was first seen in Maine in the late 1800’s and most likely developed its thick coat as a way to protect itself from the bitterly cold winters in that area. When the breed was first established, only the brown tabby color was recognized. This coat color and the Maine Coon's bushy tail gave it the look of a raccoon, hence the reference to “coon” in the name. Today, this breed comes in many more recognized colors, including black, blue, cream, red, tortoiseshell, blue tortoiseshell, white, smoke, silver tabby, brown tabby, red tabby, blue tabby, cream tabby, and bicolor. Cats can have green or gold eyes, unless their fur is white, in which case, eyes can also be blue or mismatched.
The Maine Coon gets along well with other cats, dogs, children, and just about every other type of animal, except rodents of course. They are notorious for excellent hunting abilities. Additionally they have wonderful personalities and are the perfect breed for families. However, they are also content being the only animal in a quiet household.
Maine Coon Cats are a bit on the vocal side. However, the mewling these cats make is a pleasant chirping sound that few people find annoying.
With his long coat, the Maine Coon needs frequent grooming. You should be prepared to thoroughly comb out your cat's coat at least twice a week. If the coat begins to develop knots and snarls, you may need to groom him even more frequently.
Overall, this descendant of hardy farm cats is a healthy breed. If your cat seems to be feeling under the weather, he most likely has a hairball problem. Of course, you should seek veterinary care to be sure it’s nothing more serious. While you are talking to your veterinarian, you may want to consult him about feeding your cat a cat food with hairball control.
Dave Owen is the owner of My Pussycat, where you get the information you need before buying your cat...
How to Photograph your Horse
A good photograph portrays your horse in his best possible light. A bad photograph, by contrast, draws attention to every fault, no matter how insignificant, and sometimes even exaggerates those faults!
Whether you are advertising your horse because he is for sale or advertising his recent show ring accomplishments, knowing how to photograph your horse correctly is a skill you must develop. If you derive income from your horses getting good photographs of them to put in front of the public is absolutely integral!
So, how do you take good photographs of your horse? Well, the first thing you should know is that it takes a little bit of practice. You shouldn't expect to load your camera, take a few rolls, and be Robert Vavra over night! However, if you follow the following tips you'll be shooting great pics of your horse in no time.
• Film matters! That's right, use good-quality film such as Kodak or Fuji, and you'll see it really does make a difference. If you are using a 35 mm format opt for 200 ASA. Going digital? The higher the pixels the better.
• Pick the right day. A bright day is good, but pick a day that isn't too sunny. Too much sun will create dark shadows, and can be particularly problematic if you are shooting a dark horse. If you have no choice but to shoot on a sunny day, use a flash to eliminate shadows. It sounds counterintuitive, but it really does work!
• Prepare your horse. Now I know you are not going to stand him up hairy and dirty, but in addition to good grooming you might want to take some extra steps to ensure your horse looks his best. If appropriate to the discipline in which he participates, braid his mane and oil his hooves. Make sure his coat and his tail are shiny and well-brushed.
• Pick a uncluttered background. A natural background such as a field, woodland, or pasture is a good choice. The barnyard or driveway, no matter how neat and clean, is not a great choice because of the stuff that is bound to be in the background. You want the viewer to be wowed by your horse, not your new Cadillac Escalade. Look at the details before you click! Sounds crazy, but how many amateur photographs have you seen that depict horses with pitchforks growing out of their heads? As improbably as it sounds, I bet at least one, right? It bears repeating—check the background!
• Make sure tack is clean. If you photograph your horse in his bridle or saddle, make sure that both have been recently scrubbed. For that matter, anything your horse wears in a photo should be squeaky clean. That goes for the rider and handler, too!
• Enlist the help of a knowledgeable horse person. You can't take pictures and position the horse too, so you'll need some help. It's best if the person who helps you knows how to pose a horse to his best advantage.
• The angle and position of the horse are key. For a full body shot, stand the horse with both front legs together and one hind leg slightly behind the other. To minimize parts looking too large or too small, focus on the middle of the horse, and do not shoot from too high or too low. Make sure the horse looks alert with bright eyes and both ears forward. Horse not cooperating? Have a friend make some noise (outside the frame, of course!) to get your horse's attention.
• Get the right action. If you are taking shots of your horse in action, you'll want to capture his power and impulsion. If your horse is trotting or cantering, try to capture him with his leading leg extended.
• Stay away from the front and rear. Photos from the side come out much nicer than photos taken head on or from the rear, which almost always accentuate unwanted things and make them look, well, HUGE!
• Keep clicking! While skill is most certainly involved, some of the best horse photographs are lucky. That's right. Don't wait for the perfect moment. Just keep clicking and you are sure to get a shot that shows your horse at his best!
Are You Ready to Buy Your First Horse?
You've loved horses ever since you were a kid and have always dreamed of owning one. You've spent the last three years taking horseback riding lessons. You know how to tack up, muck out, and have read just about every book out there on the care and feeding of horses. No one can doubt that you've put your time in. Horses are no fleeting fancy, but are a hobby that is here to stay!
So, are you ready to buy your first horse? Well, before you break out your checkbook you need to take stock of a few things in your life to determine whether horse ownership is right for you.
• Do you have the knowledge? How much time have you really spent around horses, and has it been hands-on? If you ride at a fancy stable that tacks and untacks your horse for you then guess what? You aren't having the full horse experience! Make sure you know what is really involved in caring for, feeding, and cleaning up after your horse. A great way to learn about all that is involved in horse ownership, without making a long-term commitment, is to lease a horse. Try leasing a horse for a year or two and then decide if horse ownership is really for you.
• Now that you know what is involved, do you have the desire? Horse ownership is a tremendous amount of work. Are you up for it? If you aren't, that's perfectly okay. If you really love riding horses but don't enjoy all the extra stuff that goes along with them, then why not just keep taking riding lessons? Ask yourself what you really love about horses. If you love things like mucking out, grooming, feeding, and taking care of horses, then you would probably make a great horse owner!
• Do you have the time for horse ownership? No more showing up at the barn, riding for an hour, and then heading home to your real life. When you are a horse owner, horses are your real life. If you travel frequently, can't or don't want to commit to a regular schedule, or have a very busy work or family life, then this might not be the right time in your life for horse ownership. Remember, horses must be fed, watered, and cared for according to schedule, and it's up to you to be able to maintain that schedule.
• Do you have the space for a horse? You either need good accommodations at home, or you need to find a place to board your horse. If you are keeping your horse at home, at the very least he needs two grassy acres, a run-in shed, and an adequate water supply. If you keep your horse at home you also need to know that he'll appreciate some company. It's best if you have room for an additional horse, a goat, or some other companionable animal.
• Do you have the money for a horse? Horses are very expensive! Add up everything it will cost to keep your horse happy and healthy. Include food, farrier bills, veterinary bills, insurance, training, and board if you keep him somewhere other than home. Now, does this figure fit into your budget? On the fence about whether you can afford horse ownership? Again, leasing is a good option. When you lease a horse, you are responsible for all of his monthly bills for a certain period of time. If you find at the end of this lease period that your horse has eaten well but you haven't, then you may want to reconsider horse ownership when you are in a better financial situation.
Remember, owning a horse is hard work and can be extremely taxing on your time and resources. Before you embark on the exciting journey of horse ownership, make sure you are ready!
