Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Cat Care? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Cat Care.

Owning a pet has certain responsibilities. You have to feed and groom it as well as keep them away from various diseases. This is what cat care and health is all about and by doing it correctly, they can live for 10 years or even longer.

Cat vaccinations are the most effective means of fighting a disease. This also prevents the cat from ever becoming a carrier. Some of the common vaccinations given are for cat flu, feline leukemia or FeLV, Feline Chlamydophilosis and Feline Infectious Enteritis or FIE.

If your cat is given a vaccination, be aware that they may experience some side effects. This goes away shortly even if they develop flu like symptoms or fatigue in the next dew days. In rare cases, the cat may develop cancer where the injection has inserted that may develop in weeks, months or even years.

Cats just like humans experience allergies. This may come from pollen, dust, disinfectants and others. If you notice your cat experiencing any symptoms, you should stop using such products, keep them away from plants and make sure your house is clean.

Another problem that your cat may face is fleas and ticks. You will know they are there if they scratch more often than usual. You should check around the neck to see if there are any black dots using a special flea comb to look deeper into the fur.

If your Cat Care facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Cat Care information slip by you.

Treatment against fleas and ticks is done by dabbing a small amount of liquid on to the back of their necks once a month. As for those that are already present, you can pluck them out one by one using a pair of tweezers or applying Vaseline over the affected area. Always wear rubber gloves when you are doing this so the bacterium does not transfer to your fingers.

Unlike fleas and ticks that you can see, cat worms are inside their digestive system. There are three of them namely hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms. If left untreated, they will have an upset stomach that at times can be fatal.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to give them worming tablets annually. But if it is already there, then you have to get a prescribed medicine from your doctor. Another option is to use a tick remover spray that is available in pet stores. You will notice a wound when the tick or flea is removed. This must be treated by bathing the area with salt water afterwards so no infection develops.

Cats can cause damage and hurt people. You can prevent this from happening by providing them a scratch pad to play with and trimming their nails on a regular basis.

Ever heard the line curiosity killed the cat? Well this also happens if they roam freely around your house. To prevent this from happening, make sure all cabinets are closed, the windows are shut, medicine and rat poison are hidden. You must never given them chocolate as a snack as this can be fatal.

Proper cat care is the most effective means of keeping them healthy. Studies have shown that cats that are kept indoors and loved by their owners live 5 times longer than those you see on the street. Since you decided to own one, you should cherish it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, owner of this site as well: Wealth Upgrade Club (click to claim your FREE membership)!

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Cat Care to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Cat Care experts.

Owning a cat and treating it as a pet requires more than including your furry friend on your monthly budget. You have to be an instant parent once you become involved. You have to know their basic needs and all there is to understand about cat health care.

First, in order for your feline companion to be happy and contented, you need to provide them a home. Yes, it can be left to wander about your own house and treat it like their kingdom. But you have to make sure that the surrounding is safe. Do not hang about things that would cause injury and further mishaps to your cats.

Second, make sure that your cat gets the necessary nutrition that it needs. To do so, you have to give them only the best kind of cat food. The best will not necessarily mean expensive. You can ask your vet for recommendations given the amount that you can allot for this purpose.

And lastly, think about your cat health care. This is so vital because if you were caught unaware of a sudden incident, you may easily lose you beloved pet just because you didn’t know what to do.

So know your cat. Observe it well. Know their usual interests, the way they eat, they way they interact with the other pets and also the people in your house. If you feel that something seems to be out of place, then call your vet immediately for advice.

So find a veterinarian nearest your place and get their contact information immediately. They are your lifeline whenever your cat’s life seems to be in danger.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

You will be the first judge if something seems to be wrong with your cats. Here are some indications.

Grooming Style
These creatures are known to be vain. They are always grooming themselves. If they are grooming too much on one side, they might be bugged by something like, yes, bug or fleas. The process may hurt them. So interrupt and act upon it.

Also beware if they are no longer cleaning up on their own. It may be a sign of depression. You also have to consult the vet about it if this happens.

Eating Style
If you know your cat very well, you will easily see if there are any changes to their eating habits. Don’t let them go through the day without eating too much. This may be a symptom to something else. So this is also a good time to call on your vet.

The Behavior
If your cat is friendly and it all of a sudden becomes aloof, you need to raise the alarm level. This also goes with the way your cat walks. If it seems to be doing this thing just a bit too odd, it may be something to be concerned about.

As the owner, you need to be very cautious with everything that your cat does. You have to take note of their vowel elimination. Just like humans, they may sometimes suffer from diarrhea or the likes.

Although calling the vet is always the best choice for you to do, you can also search the web for quick solutions to minor problems. The Internet offers a vast resource for your every cat health care question. So take time to read some info and apply it on your own pets.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

It may be hard for a pet owner to notice a pet cat getting older. Outside, pet cats may show the same things- playing with toys around the home, taking naps sprawled on a favorite spot inside the home, snuggle up with you on the sofa. But inside, it might be a whole different thing. And health care for cats as they get old may change a little bit.

When caring your an aging cat, there are some things that a concerned pet owner should know about. When a cat approaches somewhere between the ages of eight or twelve years, this is the equivalent of a human being approaching middle age. This will be the time that your pet cat may be needing a bit of extra attention.

Most veterinarian generally estimate that cats start their geriatric years when they reach twelve years. This will be the time that caring for your pet cat would have to change to accommodate the needs that aging brings.

A major part of caring for older pet cats involve feeding them. As cats get older, their digestive systems do not function as efficiently as before. Aging cats may need to eat smaller and easily digestible meals in a day rather than just two square meals. Try also to make sure that you give your cat a variety of food to eat to ensure that it gets a well balanced diet.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

There are also a number of cat food now available as food for the different life stages of your pet cat. There is cat food that is specially formulated for older cats as well as for the less active ones. The best advice in feeding your aging pet cat would be to ask your vet about the nutritional needs of your cat.

When cats age, they also start to lead a less active lifestyle. Whereas cats enjoy playing around and hunting during their younger years, older cats seem to prefer spending more time quietly around the home. This would be a benefit for some pet owners since they no longer have to worry about their once playful cat overturning and breaking things around the house. But this sedentary lifestyle would not be good for the cat.

Even though your pet cat would you may still need to keep them active since the exercise would help keep them healthy. Try to have them active as often as possible to keep them active. As they age, cats may also need to have their vaccinations up to date. Older cats have a less efficient immune system and may need vaccinations to keep them protected from diseases.

Dental problems may also become a concern for old cats when they become prone to having loose teeth, tartar buildup, and sore gums. This can have a big effect on your pet cat’s well-being. Dental problems may be the reason why they are not eating well. A regular dental check up might be needed as part of health care for old cats.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

Ever dreamt of becoming a pet owner? How about taking care of a three legged cat? If you are serious about caring for a feline companion, you have to be ready for any comeuppance.

Being a care giver to a normal cat is also not as easy as you think it is. Responsibility comes with hard word, practice, learning and applying all those to the way you do things. But with a three legged cat, everything must be done with extra cautiousness and care.

If you know your pet’s peeves, you might as well double the effort of avoiding such if you are taking care of a three legged cat.

The Pet’s Peeves

More than the purring or meowing, you should be able to identify the body language of your cat to its mood. You must take note of the mood changes. What seems to be simple to you may already be a sign of something worse. So be in the know. And don’t be the last to find out.

What are the things that may upset your feline friend? By taking extra care with such pet peeves, you will make your cat’s life happier and more comfortable.

The Litter Box

Cats have very good eyesight. But they have better sense of smell. And they don’t like anything that stinks. So watch out for those litter boxes. If you don’t keep them maintained, your pet may opt for the laundry basket that smells a lot better.

You cat can smell 14 times better than you do. So you really need to do extra effort on the cleaning part. Because what may be good to you may still smell foul for your pet. Sounds like a lot? Just think of it this way. You will be doing your home a great favor. You will be doing your share to make the place smells nice and clean for your furry companion.

If your Cat Care facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Cat Care information slip by you.

The Horror Medicine

Cats don’t like the taste of most of their meds. But as their owner, you know that you can’t do without it. So you have to find ways that your cat will be able to take the medicines without causing you too much trouble.

They particularly don’t like those in tablet and capsule forms. Such meds can stay in their esophagus for five minutes or longer that may cause to more serious trouble. So take this task seriously. Ask your vet for suggestions on how to do so.

The Food

Watch out when you give your cats their food. Make sure that they don’t eat spoiled food. It will cause you a lot of trouble because your cats are sensitive to such.

Petting Styles

You have to take note of your petting styles. Being too aggressive or too playful may irritate your cats. You have to treat them with care. And you have to know what tricks they like so that you can give them exactly that.

Jealousy Attack

If you will be introducing a new pet or a new member to the household, you have to integrate them slowly even with your cat. Cats tend to be jealous when they are being given less attention than what they were usually getting.

Taking care of a three legged cat is easy. You just have to know what to do and what to avoid in order to have a harmonious relationship with your feline friend.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

Are you searching for holistic cat care in Florida? Going back to the basics or being holistic and natural is not limited in Florida. You can be anywhere in the world and still find ways to go holistic.

Natural Caring

Everything must start from the heart. Cats are good pets to have. But it can be a lot of hard work. So as a pet owner, you must be ready for all the good and the worst case scenario.

You have to treat your cat part of the family and therefore part of the budgeting. You need to allot money for their food, for their maintenance and health concerns. So before even thinking of having a pet, check on your budget and see if you can afford it.

Do not think about having a cat because you are bored. How about on the days when you are no longer in the same state? With cats, you can’t be all too sweet and hugging one moment and the next days, you don’t even throw glances at them.

This will be taken seriously by your cat. This may even lead to depression and anxiety. You have to always put their feelings into consideration. Yes, they can also feel. They can love. And therefore, they can get hurt. Cats also feel jealous when the attention they were getting before suddenly shifts onto another pet or even another human being.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Cat Care. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

You have to slowly integrate the new face or the new pet in the whole system. You cannot act on an impulse and expect your cat to absorb everything. And be considerate. If the new pet is cuter, don’t let it show. Shower all your pets with same kind of love as well as attention.

Going Holistic
This process must not replace the scientific ways of treating your pets. But it can be used alongside to ensure only the best kind of health for your pets. What are these so-called holistic procedures?

The more common ones are acupuncture, even massage therapies that you may also enjoy and other homeopathic kind of remedies. This also includes herbal therapies, even vitamin and mineral augmentation.

You can also target the diet if you want to opt for the natural way. How about turning to natural raw foods? Giving then raw meat will not be a problem since it is the cat’s nature to hunt for such if they live in the wilds. Or if you still like to buy the available cat food at stores, you can check the ingredients and make sure that there are no added chemical additives.

You can also start the natural process of things by thinking like your pet cat. This way, you will know what they really like. You will be able to provide for them well and good. They are not humans so you don’t have to treat them such. But how would you do it? You will learn that through time. Just be patient and observe.

So search on the Web for the holistic cat care in Florida or wherever else in the world. You can also ask other pet owners who have taken the transition. You will be surprised about the new information that you will gather. And you might just be swayed that the natural way is always the best.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO to claim your $1 trial membership!

A cat can be a pet an also a friend. If you want the feline to be with you for the long term, it pays to know proper cat care.

Before getting one from the pet store or animal shelter, be sure to have a bed, dish bowl and litter box ready. By giving them their own space, they will be able to adapt to the new environment that you have made for them.

Since the cat will explore around the house and might even go out, it is advisable to put a collar around its neck which has your name, contact number and address so in case it wanders off, one of your neighbors will be able to return it.

Another option is to insert a microchip under their skin. Putting this device into the feline is very similar to giving it a vaccination. Aside from using it merely to identify the cat if it gets lost, it also has another purpose which is a flea deterrent because it has a chemical that helps keep these parasites away.

You must only buy high quality cat food for your pet. These should be rich in protein that may come from meat, fish or poultry. These are available either in canned or Kibble and most nutritionists agree that a combination of both is ideal so they do not develop food addictions.

One thing you must never feed a cat is chocolate because it has certain chemicals that could be fatal for them.

If your Cat Care facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Cat Care information slip by you.

Aside from food, you can also give your cat food supplements such as Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Taurine which is an essential amino acid.

Don’t forget to bring your cat at least once a year to the vet. This is to check on your pet’s state of health as well as giving the annual vaccinations. You should know that the older the cat gets, such visits to the vet should be done every 6 months because they also get old.

If there is a problem or suspect that something is wrong, drive down to the vet even if you don’t have an appointment. Remember that when it comes to dealing with felines, this professional is the specialist.

Cats have the ability to clean themselves but they can only do so much on their own. While they are young, they have to get used to the idea of giving them a bath. Once dried, their hairs should be combed so it does not get tangled.

You should trim their nails so they don’t scratch too hard and hurt themselves or even you. Since they love to scratch and this may cause damage to your furniture, make sure to also have a scratch pad nearby positioned by their bed or the furniture.

House cats should always be kept indoors. This will prevent them from coming into contact with other animals that may be carriers of infectious diseases that may be fatal to them. If ever you go out, make sure all the windows and doors are locked.

Long term cat care may let it live for ten years or more. If others are able to do it, so can you. Just remember that it is a responsibility that you got yourself into so make the most of it.

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in Cat Care. When people start looking for more information about Cat Care, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest site: Power Copy Club to claim your FREE membership!

Pet cat health care may be similar to caring for other pets. But such care may also have its own differences. One of them is that pet cats may suffer from a host of different diseases that other pets may not go through. Here is a list of some feline diseases that pet cats may suffer from at some point.

Feline Distemper

This disease usually affects pet cats at a young age. Known medically as feline panleukopenia, this type of viral infection lowers down the immune defenses of young kittens by severely affecting the production of white blood cells. This infection can make young kittens pass, liquid stool with blood due to the severe hemorrhaging that happens in their small intestine.

Fever may also be expected and will lead the young kitten to become depressed and then refuse to take any food and water. It may seem to the pet owner that the cat has a temperamental personality, hence the name feline distemper. The infection actually has no effect on the cat’s personality in any way. Sadly, recovery for such conditions is very rare for a cat.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

This is another viral infection that is also fatal in cats. Once your pet cat shows signs of this infection, it can take years and years of trouble. This infection is usually common mostly in young adult cats and can be transmitted to other cats. There are two known types of this infection.

There is the “dry” type where the young adult cat is affected by high fever as well as problems with internal organs such as the kidneys, lungs and the intestines. With this type of infection, the cats never seem improve no matter how well the treatment is given.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Cat Care, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

There is also the “wet” type of the disease has the young adult cat having a fluid discharge within the abdomen. Occasionally the cat’s chest displays a golden and dense liquid that contains flakes within. This infection makes the cat run a high fever and would usually not eat well.

The only protection that cats can have over the disease is vaccination. But vaccines should be given to pet cats prior to any exposure to the virus or else the vaccine would not be very effective to prevent any infection.

Feline immune Deficiency Virus

This disease is similar to the Human Immune Deficiency Virus or HIV in humans. This virus in only found in cats and is being spread mainly through a bite from an infected cat. This disease suppresses the cat’s immune system and leads the cat to be more prone to all sorts of infection. There is an intranasal vaccine available to protect cats from the FIV infection although some veterinarians are not that convinced that it can protect more effectively as compared to other vaccines.

Feline Leukemia Virus

This virus can severely limit an infected cat’s immune system. With the affected immune system, the cat has limited ability to defend against all sorts of other infections. This virus can be spread from contact with infected cats. Many cats can become carriers of the virus for years without displaying any outside symptoms of the infection.

Cats harboring the virus may at times develop clinical signs of the infection if they undergo surgery, get injured or when they get lost outside their usual environment. These diseases may give pet owners an idea of how pet cat health care may be important to ensure that their pets live healthier and longer lives.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, still having the Free Adsense Templates available for instant download

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Cat Care is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Cat Care.

Pet cat care should be your responsibility if you have your pet cat at home. Knowing if you have a healthy cat would require that you know how to observe how your cat looks. You should be able to judge if your cat is too thin or too fat. The best thing to do it is to observe your pet cat and see how it looks.

When examining your cat, you may be able to see the telltale signs if it is either too thin or too heavy. Your pet cat may be too thin if the ribs are obviously visible on your short haired cat. The ribs may show or you may be able to feel it on a thick haired cat with seemingly no palpable fat anywhere. You may also observe some slight abdominal tuck as well as no visible fat on your pet.

A cat that is too heavy may have their ribs not easily obvious that may be covered by excess fat. If you observe your cat, you may notice that it might not have a visible waist that has become rounded with excess fat. Your cat would seem rounded with the prominent abdominal fat as well as with fat deposits over the back area. This would be one of the signs that your cat may be overweight.

One of the solutions to problems concerning your pet cat’s weight would be the proper feeding regimen that you cat goes through. It is important that, as a pet owner, you will know the right proportion of food to give to your pet cat. At different points of their life, your pet cat would require different nutritional needs and therefore a varied feeding program.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

When you have a pet kitten, you should know that they require twice as much energy per pound of their body weight as compared to a mature cat. Kittens need to be weaned for about the first six to eight weeks of their life and then they can be given a regular diet composed of a well balanced food that will ensure proper growth. Kittens should be fed three top four times a day with a source of clean water always made available for them at all times. This regimen is to help provide the cat’s nutritional needs during its rapid growth.

After seven months to one year, you may now need to bring down feeding your cat to just twice a day. But this should be seen on an individual basis. The amount that you would eventually feed would depend on the level of activity and body condition of your cat. Your vet can assess and would be able to provide you with the right diet to provide for your pet cat.

When you have an adult cat that go through just the normal day to day activity, diet wold be to maintain that type of feline lifestyle. At this time, a cat food that is well-balanced for maintenance of cats in all life stages may already be used. Be also aware that cats are occasional eaters.

They do not seem to finish up their food at just one sitting. You may observe them to eat a bit of the food you serve but never seem to finish them. They usually try to eat at various times of the day when they feel like it.

For this reason, you might need to provide all-day access to food for your cat along with a clean source of water supply.

That’s the latest from the Cat Care authorities. Once you’re familiar with these ideas, you’ll be ready to move to the next level.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, still letting you get the Automated Traffic Blueprints for cheap

You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Cat Care in the following paragraphs. If there’s at least one fact you didn’t know before, imagine the difference it might make.

Proper pet cat care and is the only means of preserving its health. If you fail, your feline friend will get sick and die. Surely, you don’t want to happen so you should practice the ways of making this happen.

When you get a cat, it has probably had already one vaccination. If you are not sure, ask the seller about this and the documents to prove it so you need to bring this every time you go to the vet.

Most of the vaccinations given to the cat are injected into their system. There are usually some side effects that go with it like flue like symptoms or fatigue. If it lasts longer than expected, bring your cat back to the vet.

Cats also encounter ticks and fleas. You can remove them by hand and shampoo them. But if you want to hit two birds with one stone, tell your doctor to give your feline friend a microchip. The device inserted into their skin has a dual purpose. First, it makes your cat easy to identify if it leaves the house. Second, it is a coated with a chemical that acts as a tick and flea repellant.

Proper cat care also involves giving them the right amount of nutrients. Unlike humans that need carbohydrates, protein and fats, they only need only protein that comes from poultry meat or fish products.

These are available in can or in pellet form. So your cat does not get sick and tired of eating the same thing everyday, make changes from time to time or even mix it.

The information about Cat Care presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Cat Care or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

If you think that the food you are not giving is not enough, you can also give it some food supplements. You can buy these off the counter and the best ones to get are those that contain Omega 3 fatty acids and Taurine.

Cats also need a bath. When you do this, make sure that they are comfortably in the tub that has lukewarm water. If it tries to escape, hold it gently on the neck. The shampoo you will be using on the cat should be the kind designed for them exclusively. Before you apply it, put lubricating eye ointment to their eyes to prevent irritations caused by the shampoo. After bathing the cat, dry it with a towel and comb the hairs to prevent entanglements.

Your cat will probably roam free in the house. They may not chew on wires but they may eat things that are left out in the open. To prevent this from happening, make sure no junk is left on the floor or on the table and that all cabinets are secured.

There is only so much you can do as the owner. When it comes to vaccinations and health related problems, make sure that this is handled by the vet. Be ready to answer any questions that are asked about the cat because this information is important in knowing the condition of your pet.

Taking care of your pet cat is a huge responsibility because their health rests solely in your hands. By practicing what was mentioned above, you will be able to spend many years with it by your side.

You might even want to add another cat later on just make sure they get acquainted first and there is no favoritism so no one feels jealous.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about Cat Care.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, now offering Unlimited Reseller Hosting from $5/month

If you are planning to be a pet owner, you must be ready for the long term cat care. That is if you are settled on having cat as pet. You must be off to a good start. Everything must be planned in order to avoid future mistakes.

Cats will be a nice companion. But you have to understand their needs. First, your cat has to eat. But you can’t feed your feline friend your leftovers. It is better to look for the best cat food that can give your pal energy boost as well as good health.

You need to allot money for that. You can sacrifice some luxuries to be able to provide for your pet’s needs. But that will all be worth it in the end. You will be happy to see your cat happy.

You also have to make sure that the surrounding your cat is living in is free from anything that can cause them accidents. Do not let anything that is lethal and poisonous hanging about. And when it comes to neatness, you have the right pet. Cats are known to take ample time in grooming themselves.

Although too much grooming can also be bad because they can hurt themselves in the process. And it is also a sign of fleas and therefore must be taken to the vet for a quick fix.

And because you have a vain housemate, you must also be tidy with everything. You need to keep their litter boxes clean and well maintained. Did you know that the cat’s sense of smell is 14 times stronger than yours? You may not smell a thing but your cat will.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Cat Care? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

They will not do their thing on the provided litter box if it stinks. You may get the surprise of your life to see your cat’s poops well hidden under your clean carpet or how about that basket of clean clothes.

Don’t give your cat a reason to stray when it comes to those things. Give them what they want. And it’s a clean and odor free litter box.

You also have to find a good doctor for your cats. The moment that you got a pet, start making friends with your local veterinarians. Be mindful of the simplest symptoms that your cat may show. Just by observing your pet, you will know if something is wrong. Call the vet immediately and ask their opinion.

Long Term

If you are settled at the thought that you want the cat to be with you for long, then you may really be the rightful owner of one. You cannot be act like you want it now and completely scrap the idea the next minute. It won’t be good for your feline friend and it won’t be good for you as well.

So before you welcome a cat into the household, think things through over and over again. Do not act on your impulse because once you are there, you must not back out. And you must be able to carry out the responsibilities of being a pet owner.

Aiming for a long term cat care is good. By doing so, you only need to match that goal with the right steps to enrich the lives of your pets as well as yours.

You can’t predict when knowing something extra about Cat Care will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Cat Care in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, now offering Unlimited Reseller Hosting from $5/month