Uber Cute Kitten Roundup: 8 Pics that are Guaranteed to Make You Go Awww.

Well folks I believe we've finally found something that's cuter than a picture of an adorable little kitten. 8 of them!

Photo by Editor B

Photo by Travis Hornung

Photo by Felipe Venâncio

Photo by izzyplante

Photo by Hitchster

Photo by Ainhoa P

Photo by poolie

Photo by Lachlan

How to Care for Your Cat's Claws

Caring for your cat's claws can be viewed from 2 distinct angles. First as part of the grooming process, it is important to trim your cat's claws. But also, managing your cat's claws is an important process as far as it relates to your cat's behavior. Cat owners are well aware of the consequences of cat claws. Cats can destroy furniture and draperies and as such it is important to care for their claws. While some owners will consider declawing their cat, to make their own lives easier, this is strongly discouraged. A cat's claws are actually important tools and especially important defense mechanisms. Not to mention the danger your declawed cat would encounter if it got out of your house, there is some evidence to show that cats can develop biting behavior when they have been declawed.

As such, it is best to learn how to properly groom your cat's nails as well as some behavioral techniques to prevent clawing at furniture and other objects around the house.

Trimming your Cat's Claws

As with any grooming behavior, it is best to begin trimming your cat's claws when they are kittens. This is because your kitten will become familiar with the behavior and will be less likely to struggle in the future. If you attempt nail trimming on an fully grown cat, they will probably try to fight the process and you'll end up with a scratch or two.

Nonetheless, here are some easy tips to follow that will make nail trimming much easier.

• Start with a relaxed or sleepy cat. Your cat will be less likely to struggle when they are tired.
• The first few times you clip your cat's nails it may be easier to work with a partner. One person should hold the cat while the other trims the claws.
• Do not proceed with trimming if your cat becomes overly anxious.
• Make sure you have the clippers handy when you begin trimming.
• Purchase high-quality, sharp nail clippers.

As far as the process of clipping is concerned, it is relatively straightforward.

• Clutch your cat firmly with one arm while holding his front paw with the same hand. Some owners will find wrapping their cat in a towel can help prevent struggle and possible scratching.
• Gently press the pad of your cat's paw causing the claws to lengthen.
• Look closely at the claw and you will notice the quick which is light pink region in the center of the claw. The quick is actually a blood vessel and there are nerve endings in this region as well meaning if you cut it you will cause pain to your cat and she will bleed.
• Quickly clip the tip of the nail being sure not to cut the quick.
• Cutting all your cat's claws should take no longer than 5 or 10 minutes once you get the hang of it. Be sure to reward your cat with a treat as he will learn to associate nail trimming with a reward and will eventually learn to be more relaxed during the process.

Behavioral Techniques

While nail trimming goes a long way to prevent your cat from scratching and destroying furniture, you can also work to train your cat to avoid this behavior all together. First of all, it is advisable to purchase a scratching post. Whenever your cat scratches the post rather than valuable furniture, give her a reward. Either praise or a treat should be sufficient.

Also, you'll want to discourage undesired behavior. You can spray areas where your cat tends to scratch with a citrus-scented deodorizer as cats do not like the smell. Alternatively, covering a scratching area with aluminum foil will also deter your cat.

3 Mistakes to Avoid when Leash Training Your Dog

Anybody who's tried to walk an unruly dog, especially large unruly dogs, can probably tell you about the importance of leash training. Not only for your own sanity but also for the safety of your dog, leash training is an important aspect of basic dog training. To avoid stressful walks where your dog pulls incessantly on the leash, this is crucial training.

Usually, leash training your dog will be a straightforward process. However, this newsletter will discuss the 3 biggest mistakes that owners make when attempting to leash train their dogs. Avoid these mistakes and the training process should be relatively easy.

Inconsistent Training Behavior

Any kind of dog training requires consistency not only in your rules but your reaction when your dog breaks your training rules. Inconsistent behavior from the trainer can be very confusing for your dog and will make the leash training process much more stressful. For example, if your dog commonly becomes aggressive toward bikers or even strollers you must consistently deter that behavior because dogs learn best from predictable patterns. Dogs will learn quickly from cause and effect relationships but the effects need to be the same. When your responses to your dog's behavior are inconsistent this makes punishment or reinforcement seem random to your dog and makes it difficult for them to learn.

An established leash training routine, with consistent rules, reinforcements and punishments is the most effective course of training.

A Lack of Patience

Ultimately, every dog is an individual who will learn at a different pace. Many dog owners can attest to the frustration they have felt from time to time when trying to leash train their dogs. Especially if you've had one dog that learned very quickly, you may find it more difficult to train a dog that isn't picking up on concepts so quickly.

As people, we naturally want to achieve goals quickly and if we are frustrated during the leash training process this can lead to impatience. In fact, often times dogs need rules demonstrated time and time again before they'll pick up on it. Leash training may require an extended period of time to achieve effectively. Furthermore, impatience often leads to inconsistency. If you are always hoping for immediate results this can cause you to abandon your training regime and this inconsistency will certainly confuse your dog.

Be patient with your dog and stick to your routine. Eventually, even the most difficult learners will become leash friendly.

Misunderstanding Your Dog

Many new dog owners will view the leash training processes as one sided. The owner tells the dog what to do and the dog responds. This can be a very destructive point of view when it comes to leash training. In fact, you and your dog are partners in the training process. As the trainer, you may be likely to take all the responsibility for training success or failure on your own without giving your dog any credit in the process. In fact, many owners will blame training techniques and strategies without considering the unique personalities of their dog. Every dog is different and as such leash training requires a flexible mind set on the part of the owner. Remember that your dog is an active participant in the training and sometimes certain techniques might not work. Be flexible and always have a backup plan and soon enough you and your dog can both enjoy relaxing walks together.