See below the interview of the founder of our company, Mr Georgios Tsappis, who with his 45 years of experience in the field of animal feed speaks to In Business News magazine about the quality and perspective of the industry on the island of Cyprus.
Here in Cyprus, we don’t usually experience those heavy winter days as in other countries. Still, we have to protect our furry friends by following some simple, cold winter tips.
Here are 6 ways to keep your dog warm in the winter!
Dogs that are sick, small, short-haired, very young, or old tend to get cold faster, so you need to reconsider changing daily walks. Buy some winter gear when venturing outdoors in cold weather.
Check your dog’s paws after every walk for signs of cold weather injury or damage, such as cracked or bleeding paw pads. Wipe down and wash with warm water immediately when you are back inside.
Sensitive tissues like ears, nose, and paw pads are extra susceptible to frostbite during the cold winter months. Regularly check these areas for frostbites.
Always leash your dog during winter walks and make sure they have ID tags so they can be safely returned to you.
In cold weather conditions especially, stray cats seek shelter and warmth under parked cars. Honk, to wake them up before starting your car during the winter.
With walks cut short and less time spent outdoors, pets may experience unhealthy weight gain so it’s best to find some indoor playtime and adjust meal quantities or formulas.
Enjoy the season and keep warm!
There is no other time in the year when we make as many changes in our home as we do on Christmas. The new decorations and the new smells of the festive season are very tempting for our curious cats!
And although it may seem almost impossible to keep your cat (especially younger kittens) away from your Christmas decorations and above all the Christmas tree, you can reduce the problems from a kooky cat who likes to climb.
Kittens and playful cats are more prone to accidents that can be caused by the materials of the decoration but also adult cats can be stressed by the changes in the house or by the people we can host during the holidays.
But what are the most common problems that can arise?
And how can we minimize the risks?
There is nothing more interesting for cats than Christmas decorations. Shiny balls, ribbons, hanging ornaments and even a whole tree in their living room!
The first thing you need to insure is the Christmas tree. Whether true or false, you need to make sure it does not fall easily if your cat climbs on it. Put it in a corner and ideally tie it somewhere and invest on high strength base. If you have fragile ornaments, then it is good to place them at the highest points of the tree. If the cat is very busy with the tree it might be a good idea not to allow it access when you are not at home. A good idea also is to empty the area of furniture because cats can easily climb on them and shoot straight at your tree.
You should also watch your cat to see if he tends to chew on ornaments or tree branches. Chewing and swallowing such objects is very dangerous.
Garlands and ribbons are something that cats go crazy for! Try to use garlands and ribbons made of fabric or paper, as foils garlands are dangerous for cats if swallowed and are unfortunately the most tempting for them.
Before we put flowers and plants in our house for Christmas, it is important to know that they can cause damage if our cats drop the vases or use them as a toilet. But the most important thing is to know which plants are safe in case the cat bites them or swallows them (check the list of ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s https://bit.ly/337EwbK to discover which houseplants are a potential hazard to your pet). Of course, fake plants are a safe solution.
The cats love the heat from the candles and the fireplace. Some cats and especially small kittens can get very close to the fire, usually burning their whiskers.
Always have candles out of the reach of cats, the protective screen in the fireplace and never leave your cat in areas with candles or a lit fireplace if you are not with her.
Preparing food for the festive table our kitchen is usually a mess. It would be best to remove the cat during preparation. The cat can cause damages, get injured or eat some food that is not good for its health.
Turkey, stuffing, pork and other temptations, have their place of honour during the holidays. The cat can certainly dismiss many treats that are not part of its daily diet. But you should avoid giving the cat any foods that will irritate it.
Cats usually avoid foods that are toxic to them, such as onions, avocados and chocolate. Cats can also experience diarrhoea and vomiting if they eat foods high in fat as well as dairy. Give your cat selected pieces of meat if you want to eat some of the food you have prepared, but do not let it eat leftovers from your table. If you think your cat has eaten something it should not, contact your veterinarian.
For your cat, an electrical cord is another string to play with. But they are dangerous because they can get entangled around the cat or get an electric shock if it bites them.
Hang the lights in places that they cannot reach and secure the cables as much as you can so that they do not hang or are on the ground.
Many of us may find amusing photos of cats dressed in Christmas costumes. The expression of the absolute annoyance that has made us laugh and this proves that our cats do not like to dress them at all. If you really want to wear clothes to the cat then you must choose something that will not cause difficulty in the movement of the cat and will not bother her eyes and ears. Put the clothes on your cat, take some pictures and take them off!
Christmas is a time when we have people at home, music and even fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Cats are very sensitive to sounds, and especially the cats that are shy with strangers can be very stressful. Create a safe space for your cat away from noise and chaos in one of the rooms of the house, put food, water and sand in it and inform your guests not to enter that room.
Giving a cat as a gift to someone for Christmas may seem like a very nice move but it is usually a bad idea. Becoming a cat guardian is a serious matter and requires time and responsibility. So ask yourself: the person which accepts that gift is ready for it?
So, with a little care, your cats will spend happy holidays like you and most importantly… safely!
Cats and dogs are excellent non-verbal communicators. They can’t speak to us in our language, but they “speak” to each other and us via a rich vocabulary of expressions that enables us to understand and respond appropriately.
Pets instinctively use a combination of posture, tail position, eyes, ears, and facial expressions to send a message. Although dogs and cats often show emotion in similar ways, there are species-specific differences.
Observe your pet’s body language, compare it with these typical behaviours, and see if your dog or cat is sending you a message:
DOGS’ EXPRESSIONS
Happy: Rapid tail wagging from side to side or in circles is a sure sign of doggish joy when ears are in a natural position and the mouth is relaxed or slightly open. Some dogs even appear to be smiling.
Alert: Glance is intense and focused. Ears perk up and angle forward – head and neck are erect or slightly cocked. Posture is upright with the dog’s weight distributed equally on all legs. The tail is stiff and still.
Excited: Weight shifts to back legs as a dog readies for action. Ears are up, the tail is held high and mouth may be slightly open in anticipation.
Friendly: A friendly dog will look up at you and may jump up on you or bring you one of its favourite toys.
Playful: A dog who wants to play, may first stretch into a bow to let you know he’s up for fun and will show you some bouncy moves. He may also, nuzzle or paw at you and then take off running in the hopes you’ll chase after him.
Afraid: Scared dogs appear to cringe and shrink in size as their ears flatten out and their tail descends low or goes between the legs.
Submissive: Submissive dogs try to make themselves look small and they walk low to the ground. They tuck their tail low or between their legs while avoiding looking at another dog or a person in the eyes.
Dominant: Dominant dogs are standing tall and looking large as they tilt their body forward. Their tail is high, ears are up, and they look at other dogs or people without blinking their eyes.
Aggressive: When a dog is aggressive is staring at a person or an animal unblinkingly. Posture is intimidating, with weight shifted forward. Their tail is raised high while exposing its teeth. The dog may vocalize with low, threatening growls or barks. Try to avoid them without staring back to them.
CATS’ EXPRESSIONS
Happy: When cats are happy their eyes are closed or half-shut, as their ears are angled forward and their tail is up. Their fur will be flat and they may begin to purr, stretch out, rollover or knead with their front paws.
Alert: When they have their eyes wide open and their ears subtly tipped forward that’s when cats are on alert mode.
Friendly: Cats that are blinking slowly indicate affection and contentment.
Playful: It’s time for a game. Cat’s ears are open and tilted slightly forward as its tail curled upward indicating that it’s willing to engage.
Afraid: A fearful cat tucks his tail low between his legs, shifts his ears sideways and his pupils widen. When they are afraid, they want to be anywhere but there and may run away in order to find a safe spot.
Submissive: Submissive cats are starting to crouch and getting small while their ears are getting flattened.
Tense: To show their tense, cats are narrowing their pupils and see their tail standing upright while vibrates almost imperceptibly.
Angry: When you see a cat’s ears getting flatten and point upwards, its pupils narrowing, its whiskers pointing forward, and its tail beginning to thrash something has probably bothered her. Also, its back arches, fur stands on end, and claws extend. It’s time to back off!
Defensive: Cats’ behaviour is defensive when their pupils are getting shrink, their tail twitches. Their response to a perceived threat is by growling, snarling, hissing or spitting.
Remember, once you understand what your pet is saying, you will develop a deeper bond of trust and respect. Plus, your newfound understanding of your pet’s emotional state will help you predict their behaviour and prevent problems before they occur – protecting both of you from dangerous situations.
According to a study by the University of Cambridge, children often have a closer relationship with their pet than their siblings. Taking care of a pet can help children develop social skills. Kids tend to think of all the good, fun benefits of having a pet but don’t ever think about passing the parental involvement in that relationship as it is necessary to help make pet ownership a positive experience for everyone. The parent can teach its children the best way to take care of an animal, and treat it kindly and patiently. If this process develops normally, your child should be taught automatically on how to treat people with the same tender way.
Here are several positive reasons to bring a pet home for your kids:
Despite these advantages are important, have always in mind that there are also risks associated with providing the child with a pet. Parents who buy a pet for their children must take into account temperament of the dog and the dog’s age, while as a very young puppy/kitten cannot understand that the child is not a toy. If the children are very young, the dog or cat may not be the ideal pet, because even the quietest / gentlest pet cannot respond properly to a child who does not know how to play gently with the animal. There are PetSafe pet products you can buy tho that help train dogs and pets to behave better. Parents must be willing to take responsibility, both financially and for any pet, which they bring home for the child otherwise, the Pet will end up in a shelter and homeless as many parents do after they feel that their kids did not respond well or are tired of taking care of the pet themselves.
Choosing the right food can make all the difference to the health and happiness of your dog, but it can be a daunting task trying to work out what’s actually best for your pet.
In order to tell which food is best for your dog’s specific needs, you might want to look at these significant factors to consider.
LOOK for the words “Complete & Balanced” on your dog’s food. This means the food has been formulated to ensure that it contains all essential nutrients your dog needs in sufficient amounts.
READ the label carefully and pay attention to the recommended daily feeding guiding table.
ASK yourself three important questions.
A) What is my dog’s age?
i.e Puppy Adult
B) What is the daily activity level?
i.e for hunting and maintenance – hard working dogs
C) What are the size, breed, sensitivity and its reproductive stage (female)?
i.e small breed / husks or akita / grain free
FIND out if the manufacturing company follows quality control practices.
Important to know… that our Champion team is here for you, always happy to assist you! Contact us now to help you with our 25+ years of experience in the animal feed & nutrition.
If you’re planning on taking your dog for a refreshing swim or bringing it along with you on holiday to Cyprus, here is a list of the beaches you can DIVE IN WITH YOUR LOYAL FRIEND and have fun!
Here are all the dog-friendly beaches listed by the Cyprus Tourism Office in accordance with the seashore protection regulations (click on the beach name to check the spot on the map):
🐾 Take a dive and have a splashing 💦 time but also have in mind!!!
Take care of your dog, obey to all hygiene and safety rules and regulations, keep clean and respect the environment.
💦 🐾
