Regular brushing will remove loose hairs, dirt, and external parasites. It will also help spread natural oils produced by your cat's skin throughout its fur. This will increase the overall shininess and sleekness of your cat's coat. Brushing your cat frequently will also reduce the amount of fur that it swallows when grooming itself, thus reducing the number of hairballs it produces. Begin grooming your cat at a young age so that it will get accustomed to it. Professional cat-grooming services may also be available in your area. Prices for these services can vary widely. Long-haired varieties of cats will need more frequent brushing than short-haired varieties. Long-haired cats will need to be brushed once every few days, while short-haired cats may only need grooming once a week. Other experts suggest brushing long-haired cats for at least 15 minutes per day. To brush your cat well, you will need a quality general brush, a steel comb, and a rubber or bristle brush. All of these should be versions designed specifically for cats. Optionally, a fine chamois or washcloth can be used to wipe your cat after brushing. This will remove any remaining hairs and improve the shine of your cat's coat. Starting with the general brush, stroke your cat's fur softly, working from head to tail. Next, use the steel comb the same way. This will help remove any dirt and debris. Finally, use a bristle or rubber brush, which will remove any loose hairs. If your cat's fur has any tangles, carefully work those out before brushing its whole coat. If you wish, wipe your cat with a chamois or washcloth after brushing to maximize the shine of its coat. Make sure to be gentle on your cat's sensitive areas, such as its belly. To brush the tail of a long-haired cat, make a part down the middle and brush fur to either side.
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One-sentence summary -- Groom your cat to improve the look of its coat. Decide how often your cat needs brushing. Gather the supplies you will need. Carefully brush your cat.

Q: Confirm that you're using monophasic pills and that you already have the next pack. Make sure that you can discern between the active pills (which suppress your period) and the placebo pills (which trigger a week of withdrawal bleeding). Use a calendar to chart out your birth control schedule for the weeks leading up to the period that you want to skip. Monophasic pills cause less spotting than multiphasic pills, making them better suited to skipping periods. However, you can still skip a period using multiphasic pills. Ask your gynecologist about which pills you can skip in order to miss your period. If you aren't already on a birth control program, speak to your gynecologist about starting. Only take birth control pills that you've been prescribed by a licensed physician. If you are taking monophasic pills, then you just need to take the same pill every day. If you are using multiphasic pills, then you'll need to be careful to keep to the schedule. If you aren't sure, ask your gynecologist for advice on how to proceed. If your birth control is packaged with a "period week" of placebo pills, feel free to discard the placebos. They are sugar pills, and you won't need them if you are going to skip your "period." Skip the placebo pills. Begin the next month's birth control packet immediately at the end of the regular three-week regimen. Make sure that you are ready with the new pills as the three-week mark approaches! Remember: if you're taking birth control, you are not actually getting your period on the fourth "placebo" week of the month. The bleeding that occurs is "withdrawal bleeding" as your body responds to stopping the hormones. Withdrawal bleeding does not pose a serious risk to your health and skipping withdrawal bleeding does not affect your health. It is safe to skip your period indefinitely using hormonal birth control. You may experience minimal spotting. However, this should not last more than a day. Monophasic pills are more stable than multiphasic pills, and thus less likely to trigger spotting. If you've been taking the pills for three or more weeks, you can pause to take a period whenever it's convenient. Simply stop taking your active birth control pills for four days. Then, start taking the active pills again. Consider taking up to a week's break from your contraceptive after any skipped withdrawal period. It's good to give your body a rest.
A: Prepare your pills. Take the pill as prescribed for three weeks. Start a new pack of active pills. Stop taking the pills to have a period again.

Article: Try one of the following recipes to provide food enrichment that will provide mental stimulation -- and fun! -- for your bird. Punch a hole through a rice cake and hang from a string. Parrot breeds especially enjoy pecking and foraging their way through this treat. Fill a paper lunch sack with nuts, pellets, dried pasta, and/or dried fruit. Tie the sack with a piece of ribbon or string and hang in your bird's cage. Especially eager foragers might enjoy the challenge of a double-bagged sack. Combine chopped walnuts, sunflower seeds, diced pears and apples, and granola and add enough honey and peanut butter to create a sticky mixture. Slather a clean pine cone with the mixture, then roll in millet seeds. Hang in your bird's cage. This enrichment treat is especially popular with parakeets. Just as humans have preferences, your bird will gravitate toward particular flavors and textures. While the list of treat recipes is almost endless, considering categories is helpful. Use your observations to craft homemade bird treats that will delight your pet. If your bird refuses to eat raw vegetables, try feeding it cooked versions. Offer nutritious foods in different shapes. Many birds enjoy peeling their own fruits and vegetables, so offer peas in the pod, oranges with rind, or apples with skin. Quinoa-based treats provide a wonderful source of avian nutrition. Many pet lovers have developed recipes for "birdie bread"; a quick Web search will reveal a wide variety of options. Blend fruit mixtures with ice or fruit juice. Human baby food is also a handy ingredient. Try mixing 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1 cup mixed walnuts and peanuts, 1/2 dried fruit, and 1 T. dry, hard corn kernels. Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Use food for mental enrichment. Watch which foods attract your bird. Trick picky eaters by altering the shape or temperature of their food. Make grain-based treats for birds who are grain enthusiasts. Prepare smoothies and other fruit-based treats for birds who love sweet flavors. Assemble nut, seed, and dried-fruit treats to suit a variety of birds' needs.