Showing posts with label Cat Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cat Health. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Giving Your Cat MEDICATION

English: animal medication
Animal medication (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There are times in every cat's life when he will need to take medication of some sort.  Cat owners who have been through this know how hard it can be getting the cat to cooperate.  Below are a few suggestions that may help in your endeavour.

The first choice is to hide medication in some of your cat's favourite food.  This may not always be easy, as in the case of capsules or pills.  The cat's keen sense of smell will also be a problem, so it is advisable to pick some of the smelliest food you can if you use this method.

Liquid medication works well mixed into food, especially salmon.  The liquid mixes well with the oils and is almost undetectable by your cat.  If at all possible, ask your vet for medication in liquid form.

Crushing a pill or emptying a capsule into food is risky.  The taste and smell are often bitter and easily detectable by the cat.  If you must use this method, make sure whatever you use is sufficiently strong in both smell and taste.  It will also be necessary to make sure your cat eats the entire portion in order to get all the medicine into his system.



If you must give medication to your cat without the benefit of food, pick him up by the back of his neck like a mother cat.  This will render him momentarily unmovable.  Gently pry open his mouth and place the medication as far back as possible.  Holding his mouth gently closed, stroke his throat. This will cause a reflexive swallowing reaction.  Once the medication is down, give him cuddles.

If all else fails, you can talk to your vet and have him show you how he suggests administering medication to cats.


Sunday, February 18, 2018

Skin Disorders in Cats

Eosinophilic granuloma in a cat - Photo: Wikimedia
Most cats are covered with a thick, protective fur. This makes it extremely difficult to tell if a cat has a skin problem before it becomes extreme. It is important to take time on a regular basis to examine your cat’s skin closely for anything that may be wrong.

Run your hand gently over his body and explore the skin for any unusual patches. If you find any, part the fur by brushing it slightly, so that you can see beneath the fur and have a better look at the skin. If you do this often enough and understand your cat’s body, you should be able to spot any irregularity easily. You will learn to know what looks normal and what doesn’t.

Cheyletiellosis is a skin disorder in cats is caused by skin mites and is particularly contagious between cats as well as humans. In cats, the symptoms are itching and it usually results in heavy scaling and flaking of the skin, which is why Cheyletiellosis in cats is often known as “walking dandruff”. This skin condition is usually not deadly and can be easily treated with the right medication once the condition has been diagnosed and confirmed.

Alopecia is a skin disorder in cats that will cause hair loss due to endocrine disturbances, localized infections, or generalized illnesses. The condition can also be a result of stress. The symptoms included bald patches on the skin and can be accompanied by a reddened or inflamed skin. Not a deadly skin disease, and with proper treatment, the fur would most likely grow back. 

While most skin conditions are caused by allergies to food and pesticides bite and can be easily managed and treated, early detection is still important. A few minutes each day could very well prevent days of discomfort later.


Sunday, January 14, 2018

Giving Your Cat A PILL

Giving a cat a pill can be a nightmare.  No cat wants something shoved down his throat, and he will fight you tooth and nail to prevent it. Although most cats are small in size, you’d be quite amazed by how much power they actually have.  There are ways that you can get your cat to take his pills, which we will cover below.

The easiest way to give a cat pill is to crush the power into a powdery form by putting it between two spoons.  Once the pill is powder, mix it in with some wet cat food.  Cats that are used to eating dry cat food will see the wet food and think of it as a treat.  They will normally eat it up, unaware that they just took their medicine.


If the medicine happens to be in capsule form, all you have to do is pry the capsule apart then sprinkle the medicine on some wet food and serve it to your pet.  If the food also contains the pill or if your pet is sick, chances are he won’t eat it.  In this event, you should look into a pet piller.  You can get these handy devices from your veterinarian.  They are plastic rods that hold the pill until you press a plunger.  When you get one, you should always get a long one with a softer tip.

When you get your gun, your vet should show you how to use it.  The most difficult aspect of using the gun is getting your cat to open his mouth.  The gun will more or less shoot the pill in the cat’s mouth, and down his throat.  You’ll need to hold him tight, to make sure that he doesn’t wiggle his way lose.  Once you have his mouth open, you’ll need to squeeze the trigger and pull the gun away quickly.  After the pill has been inserted, make sure you give your cat a treat.

If you aren’t comfortable using the gun, you can always try giving your cat his pills by hand.  To do it this way, you’ll need to hold your cat still and open his mouth with your hand.  Once you have his mouth open, you should aim for the back of his throat and throw the pill in.  Once it is in his mouth, you should close his mouth with your hand and hold it shut for a few moments.  This way, your cat will swallow the pill if he hasn’t already.

If you can’t get any of the above techniques to work, you can always go to a local pharmacy and get them to a make flavored gel or liquid using your cats' medication.  You should use this as a last resort though, as it can tend to get expensive.



Friday, January 12, 2018

HEARTWORM Treatment For Cats

Austin Community College Vet Tech Program
Photo  by Austin Community College 
As most pet owners already know, heartworm treatment for cats and dogs isn’t the same. Never, under any circumstances, should you give your cat heartworm treatment that is designed for a dog – or vice versa.  Even though you may own both dogs and cats, you should always give them medicine that is designed for their species.

No matter how you look at it, heartworm treatment isn’t easy.  Your goal is to get rid of the heartworms, although there are several factors that you’ll need to consider.  The first thing to do is take your cat to the vet, as he will be able to run tests to determine just how many heartworms your pet has.  He can also find out how the worms are affecting your cat and if your cat can deal with any side effects that the treatment medicine may impose.

Heartworms are a very serious condition, as the worms will feast on the vital areas around your cat’s heart.  Treatment can be serious as well, especially if something goes wrong.  Veterinarians are trained to deal with heartworms though, in both cats and dogs.  Even though you may be able to buy treatment medicine at your local department store, you should always consult with your vet before you give anything to your pet.

Treating your cat for heartworms may indeed be no treatment at all, as cats are extremely difficult to treat.  The dying worms have side effects as well, often times causing more than 1/3 of the treated cats to end up with serious problems.  Dying worms can become lodged in the arteries of the heart, which are already inflamed due to the worms being there.  When a lodged worm starts to decompose, it can lead to very serious problems.  Pets that have a serious infestation with heartworms may need to spend some time at the hospital, to ensure that they are properly treated.

Some cats may not be able to take a certain type of heartworm treatment medicine.  Depending on the side effects and how the medicine affects the cat, some breeds may not be able to take some of the better medicines.  To determine the best treatment options for your cat, your vet will need to run several tests.  Once the tests have concluded, your vet will be able to tell you the best options available for treatment.


With all diseases, prevention is a lot better and safer than treatment.  Be sure to talk to your vet and find out what heartworm prevention medication is the best to use.  Your vet can tell you what you need to get, and how to use it.  This way, you can prevent your pet from getting heartworms – and the serious side effects and life-threatening issues that go along with them.



Friday, December 1, 2017

Things To Know About ABUSED CATS

my love
Photo  by Katie Tegtmeyer 
Cats that have been abused can appear severely maimed and damaged all over their exterior.  Some may appear to be in perfect shape on the outside, although all of the damage they sustained may be internal or emotional.  Even though physical damage is bad, the emotional damage is much tougher to fix.  Cats who have physical abuse will still answer to a soft touch and soft voice, as long as they know that the abuse has come to an end.

When you have a cat that has been emotionally abused, you’ll need to wait until the cat comes to you.  You’ll need to use patience, as the cat will be confused and not know if you plan to hurt him or not.  If you take your time and let him know that you are nothing to fear, he will eventually come to you.  When he starts to come to you, you can let him sniff you and pet him.  After a while, he will learn that he can trust you and he will come to you when you call him.

Yelling, raising your voice, or using disciplinary tools such as flyswatters or water guns the wrong way can lead to emotional damage.  If you continue to use the wrong means of discipline on an emotionally damaged cat, the cat can become mean or lethargic.  When a cat turns mean, it’s not always a bad thing.  Meaner cats are easier to reach, as they still care a bit about what happens to them – while lethargic cats could really care less.

Cats that have become lethargic won’t play, take treats, or respond to anything you say to them.  With a lethargic cat, the ideal way to get him to respond is to bring in a companion cat.  Over time, a lethargic cat will eventually look for attention, normally a scratch or a pat.  When this happens, you should always use a soft voice and snuggle with him.  Never raise your voice at this point, and make sure you let the cat know that his behavior is a lot better.

You should make slow movements around a lethargic cat, as he is still quite traumatic.  Once he is coming around and letting you touch him again, he is getting back to his normal self.  Keep in mind that it may take some time, which is to be expected with this type of situation.  If your cat starts to get upset again or if you raise your voice, he will hide again.  If you continue to use a soft voice and have patience, your cat will eventually get past this.  If you get a cat that is lethargic, you should prepare yourself for a long and very intensive healing period.



Angry or mean cats, on the other hand, will either fight and scratch with you or simply run away from you.  With mean cats, the best thing to do is use gentle treatment with a soft voice.  You can never try to raise your voice or use strict discipline, as it will only make the cat meaner.  Never attempt to trap the cat either, as trapping it will only make the cat react.  If you take your time and let the cat know that you are there for him, he will eventually calm down.

Abused cats are truly a sad thing, although they are out there.  Abused cats can be a sad thing to see indeed, especially those that were physically abused.  Abused cats need a loving home and a loving owner who will give them the type of lifestyle they deserve.  Always remember that if you are dealing with an abused cat – you should always be as gentle as you possibly can.


Wednesday, November 8, 2017

FELINE LEUKEMIA Virus Disease: A Major Threat to your Cat

Just like in humans, cats can develop very deadly medical conditions. One of the most common and fatal kinds of disease a cat can contract is feline leukemia virus disease, known as FeLV. Leukemia, which is also found in humans, is a disease of the white blood cells. There are three major types of this leukemia. Today, we can protect our cats for FeLV with a vaccine, so it is important to have your pet up-to-date with medical care at all times.

With FeLV, there are three disease categories. The first are the leukemias, which are similar to what leukemia is like in humans. This is cancer of the white blood cells. However, not all FeLV diseases are cancer. Lymphosarcoma is the second category. Also cancerous, this disease begins in the lymphoid tissue around the lymph nodes. It affects the intestinal tract, kidneys, liver, spine, brain, blood, and bone marrow. The third category is the non-cancerous diseases that fall under the umbrella of FeLV and include immune suppression, anemia, and arthritis. Some of these medical conditions may also be fatal.



Cats are most commonly exposed to FeLV when they get into fights. FeLV is a virus that is spread mainly through saliva, and the wounds a cat receives from bites during a fight provide an entry point into the body. Cats can also get FeLV from sharing food or water bowls, grooming one another, and transmission from mother to kittens. If your cat contracts FeLV, there may be many possible outcomes. Some forms of the disease cannot be treated, however, so prevention is important. Remember, though, that a cat can live with the disease for many years and so your vet can help you choose the best course of action. Cats infected with FeLV are dangerous to other cats, and so they must live in confined single-cat homes, or you can choose euthanasia.

So far, there have been no studies that have found any correlation between this disease in cats and diseases in humans, so your family should be safe. That said, high-risk individuals should avoid contact with a sick animal. This includes newborns, senior citizens, AIDS patients, and chemotherapy patients. Because the virus cannot live for more than a few hours outside of the cat, you are safe in having cats return to your home as soon as two days after the infected cat is gone. Talk to your vet for more details.



Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Tips For Preventing CAT HAIRBALLS

A cm ( in) cat hairball.
Cat Hairball. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In real life, you certainly cannot laugh out loud if you see your kitty obviously choking on something. Oftentimes, you will battle between immediately wanting to do a Heimlich maneuver and just thwacking the cat on the back. Ideally, this is a bad idea and might also be counter-productive due to the fact that the back of cats will not resist pressure like human backs do.

Well, experts say that your cat regurgitating hairballs must not concern your too much; unless, the balls will continue to become bigger and bigger, if they will be stained with blood, or if your cat will suffer from hairballs a couple of times in a week. You must be aware that it is very important for cats to take such indigestible elements out of their system. But in case the hairballs are stained with blood and the gaggling became somewhat a frequent occurrence for them, it is a smart idea for you to take your cat to your vet. Have your pet be checked by the expert since such situation might actually be more complicated than it may appear.

The Danger Of Cat Hairballs
When cat hairballs will become bigger and bigger, the danger in here is that getting them out can be very painful and hard for the feline. It is actually like constipation in the throat. When not addressed early, you might not be able to remove it; thus, it will result in a very serious health issue. If this will happen, your feline will lose its appetite and will certainly become very weak. To address such concern, your vet might prescribe laxatives or perhaps even a surgical procedure to be carried out in order to relieve the cat from the hairball stuck in its system.

Preventing The Occurrence Of Hairballs
You have to become more proactive when it comes to grooming your cat in order to prevent this hairy condition from happening. For you to reduce the risk of fur that is being licked off by the tongue of your cat, you have to comb the cat's fur on a regular basis. Apart from that, you have to use a fine steel-toothed brushed as this will comb loose hairs. You must know that this can be very relaxing not just for your cat but also for you.



Other preventive methods that you have to implement will include feeding your cat high-fiber treats, hair-ball preventive, as well as using hairball relief gels that is capable of lubricating the intestinal tract of your cat so the hairball will be eliminated. Indeed, these methods will keep the hairy situation under control. More information mentioned here.

    By Cristina Gandia
    There are many ways on how to prevent cat hairballs. Knowing such preventive methods will certainly help you in making your cat healthy and happy at all times. For more info, visit this site.
    Article Source: EzineArticles


Monday, August 28, 2017

CAT BLADDER STONES - A Straightforward Guide to Preventing Cat Bladder Stones

Cat bladder stones could be really painful for your cat. This problem is often accompanied by other symptoms like fever, vomiting, inactivity, and inflammation and is really hard on your cat's immune system. As a cat owner, you can take steps make sure you do everything to treat the problem effectively and take good care of your cat.

When cats live outdoors they feed primarily on mice, rabbits, rodents and even insects. What you may not realize is that nearly 90% of a rodent's body is composed of water. So, when cats eat mice and rodents they are naturally keeping themselves properly hydrated.

BladderStone.jpg

"BladderStone" by Bludwar  Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.

As cat owners, we've pretty much taken away our cat's natural food and replaced it with dry cat food. The dry food absorbs the water in your cat's digestive tract and actually contributes to a dehydrated state. When your cat becomes chronically dehydrated this opens the door for the formation of a cat bladder stone.

More and more, cat owners are turning to a natural raw meat diet or at least switching to a high quality canned food diet for their cat. The moisture content in canned food helps keep your cat properly hydrated. Also, don't hide the water bowl, in fact, keep several fresh water spots available for your cat.

Cat bladder stones, like I already mentioned, can be really painful. Especially, if a stone blocks the urethra of your cat. This is extremely painful and life threatening. So, as soon as you notice the symptoms, you should take your cat to your vet.

Bladder stones are usually caused by bacterial infections and dietary reasons. So, in order to treat this problem and to prevent it in future, you should make some changes in your cat's diet as suggested early and add some homeopathic remedies to cure the infection and strengthen your cat as well.

The size of a cat bladder stone can differ a lot - it could be just about the size of a grain of sand or the size of a small pebble. The larger the stone, the more difficult it would be for your cat. Very small bladder stones can be flushed out of the system through the urine. However, if the stone is big in size, you need to give your cat the right kind of medications to treat the problem.

When it comes to treatment, most vets suggest antibiotics. While antibiotics are effective to some extent, they can weaken the immune system of your cat. Moreover, certain types of antibiotics could increase the inflammation and make things worse for your cat. So, it is always better to stay away from antibiotics and opt for some natural remedies instead.



Homeopathic remedies are fast becoming the way to treat bladder infections, feline UTI, and similar cat urinary tract problems. Unlike antibiotics, homeopathic medications for cat bladder stone do not have unwanted side effects.

They can treat bacterial infections extremely well and boost the immune system of your cat. As a result, your cat is not only cured of its problem but also becomes stronger. These medications can also prevent recurring infections. So, it is a good idea to give a regular dose of these medications to your cat.

Homeopathic remedies are effective and safe. Moreover, they do not burn a hole in your pocket. They are very much affordable. Now, why would you look for any other treatment option to treat cat bladder stones? Make the right decision today and take good care of your cat.

    Kate Rieger is partnered with the Kentucky SNIP clinic and together they provide affordable spay/neuter services to pet owners. 
     Article Directory: EzineArticles


Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health of Cats

Cats are susceptible to urinary tract health problems. In fact, 30% of cats in the entire world could suffer from urinary health problems at some time in their life. One way to keep your cat away from urinary problems is to give it urinary tract health cat food. In our modern society today, there are cat foods which are specifically designed to boost the urinary tract health of cats.

cacatfood8
Cat Food - Photo by pathwithpaws 
Cats are not fond of drinking water. This is because they descended from a family of desert creatures. Their liquid intake depends on the food they eat. When cats do not get enough water daily, they become susceptible to urinary problems such as urinary tract infection. Likewise, they could suffer from dehydration. It is imperative, therefore, that cat owners give their cats urinary tract health cat food that are specifically designed to address the specific daily nutritional requirements of cats.

Cat food for urinary tract health helps prevent the onset of urinary tract infections in cats. If the cat already has the infection, cat food for urinary tract health could help accelerate the cat's faster recovery from the infection.

Urinary tract health cat food may come in different forms. Commercially sold urinary tract health cat food may be sold in dry form or in wet form. This may also be frozen or premixed. No matter what form it comes, however, cat food for urinary tract health is supplemented with the right vitamins and minerals and other necessary nutrients, such as the amino acid derivative taurine, arginine, niacin, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin B12.

Most often than not, when a cat has suffered from urinary tract infection, the veterinarian would give prescription food designed to alleviate or prevent the recurrence of the disease. Nonetheless, the cat owner could still opt to give his cat other forms of diet that contain the necessary nutrients needed for the faster recuperation of the cat.

Wet Food vs. Dry Food

Dry cat food is cheaper compared to wet cat food. It is also more convenient as it could be left out in the cat's bowl for several days without the danger of spoiling. Moreover, it is thought to help scrape off the dental calculus of cats. However, dry cat food is found to be associated with the problem of obesity in cats. Likewise, it could lead to some urinary problems in cats as it contains less moisture and does not add to the daily requirement of liquid intake in cats.

Wet cat food, either canned or home-made may contain 75-78% water and therefore, provides the cat the necessary liquid intake required for it to effectively flush out unwanted organisms and bacteria in its system. It helps keep cats away from being dehydrated as well. Giving your cat wet food is one way to prevent urinary tract problems in your cat.

Since cats rely on their food intake to get enough water, most veterinarians and cat experts would recommend cat urinary tract health diets that contain a lot of moisture. Thus, most prescriptions may consist mostly of wet food and other forms of diet which could supplement the liquid intake of your cat.



Tuesday, July 18, 2017

How to Prevent Your CAT's Bladder Stones by Changing Her Diet

Most of us haven't heard of a bladder stone, as it's usually a kidney stone humans struggle with. However, this problem can occur in a cat or dog because of a mineral deposit that has formed in its urinary bladder. Many times these stones or crystals will dissipate on their own, but it becomes problematic when they bond together. Then the cat's bladder stones become so large it's hard for a cat to pass it through urination.

X-ray of a Struvite bladder stone in a cat
X-ray of a Struvite bladder stone in a cat
(Photo credit: 
Wikipedia)

These bladder stones are actual stones made of minerals like calcium and magnesium. They can be a single deposit or can be a collaboration of smaller pieces. The stones can become quite large and take up most of the bladder or be very fine so they pass through while the cat urinates.

This formation of stones is called urolithiasis and develops within the urinary tract, the ureter, the kidneys or in the bladder. Most times this problem happens in the cat's bladder. Part of the issue is the pH difference in the urination, which causes the mineral deposits to develop and turn into crystals or stones.

If you want to stop cat's bladder stones from forming, then give your cat a balanced diet. Sometimes people unknowingly feed their pets a cat food which is high in minerals. Some cat food makers report that when cats consume magnesium ammonium, they'll develop bladder stones or crystals. This is why the manufacturers increased the acidity in the food so magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals won't develop. The problem is very few cats have this urinary issue, and when the rest of the cat population eats this food, they are more acceptable to calcium oxalate crystals. This is as problematic and can also cause painful results for your cuddly pet. The best way to know what your cat is eating is to look at the cat food's ingredients. It needs to be low in calcium and magnesium.

When you feed your cat correctly, it will be easier to achieve a urination pH level that ranges from 6.4 through 6.6. You want your cat's digestive system to be functioning with the highest efficiency. The digestive enzymes need to be formulated with the right mineral balance, and when this happens, bladder stones aren't going to develop as easy.



However, if you suddenly see signs of a problem, then take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Some of them are similar to a bladder infection, but both need to be treated appropriately. Symptoms don't always appear with some cats, but there can be urinating troubles, straining or blood. Even a never-ending bladder infection can be because of a stone. At times, a vet can feel the cat's bladder stones through their abdominal wall. Other times the stones can be discovered through an x-ray or ultrasound.

The best way to prevent cat's bladder stones from starting is to feed them correctly - it's the best kind of love! This is why it's important to stop these stones from starting in the first place.



Saturday, July 15, 2017

3 FELINE SKIN DISEASES That All Cat Owners Should Know About

Just like humans, your precious kitty is also prone to several skin diseases. Cat dandruff, ring worms and acne are 3 of the common feline skin diseases that can affect your pet. Although proper grooming is the best method to prevent these skin problems from occurring in the first place, you have to be extra aware and attentive in case your feline friend has been already affected by any of these ailments. Here are some general facts that will help you keep these skin problems at bay.


Feline chin acne.JPG


Acne

Feline acne is one of the most common skin irritations that a cat may experience. Symptoms of this ailment include the cat getting a lot of blackheads on its chin. Acne occurs mostly due to excessive oil secretion in the skin. However, poor diet and improper grooming can also be a factor. Though acne is not as serious as other cat health problems, you should not ignore this skin condition as it might worsen anytime. Fortunately, you should be able to find special acne shampoo and antibiotic creams that can help take care of this condition. However, in case of excessive inflammation, you have to take your pet to the vet.

Cat Dandruff

Skin diseases in cats are usually a result of poor nutrition and improper grooming. Though cats groom themselves, it is seldom enough to keep them healthy. Dandruff is mainly caused due to the dryness of the skin, which again is the result of lack of nutritional elements in the body. If you are continuously feeding your cat cheap dry food, change her diet immediately to good quality canned food as these will provide the essential nutrients to her body and keep her skin hydrated. You might also want to use special cat dandruff shampoo to prevent the occurrence of dandruff.

Ringworm

This is another skin problem that can affect a cat at any point of time. Mainly caused by fungus, ring worms can spread to the surrounding areas if you are not grooming your cat regularly. The skin of the affected area shows signs of crusting, scaling and redness. If your kitty has been affected, bring her to the vet and he will prescribe oral medication and specific shampoo to deal with this problem. Your vet may also ask you to clip the hair in that area.

These 3 common skin conditions are some of the cat health problems that might affect your kitty. When in doubt, always check with your vet.



Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Why Is My CAT So Fat?

Is your cat overweight? The odds are pretty good that it is. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has research that shows as many 57% of house cats in the US are overweight. First, you should learn the best way to tell if your cat is overweight. Then we can look at why your cat is so overweight. After that, we can look to the next steps to get your cat's weight back under control.

This is Chloe's first big baby boy. He doesn't...
This is Chloe's first big baby boy. He doesn't have a real name like his brother but we do call him fat cat most of the time. All he does is eat and sleep. He loves to lay on his back and he loves to have his belly rubbed & his lower back close to his tail. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How do you know if your cat is overweight? What does a fit and healthy cat look like? You can answer this with a body condition score of your pet. First, look down on it from above. Can you see a naturally occurring waist between the back of its ribs and its pelvis? With a fluffy cat, you may need to use your hands to feel for this. Then put your hands on its chest. If you can easily feel its ribs, it is probably fine. If you can feel a thick layer of fat between your hands and the bones, then your cat is overweight.

So how did your cat get so fat? Many people think that spaying or neutering their cat made it overweight, and veterinarians say that removing your cat's hormones can change its metabolism and it can change its activity level. Just like with humans, if a cat develops a sedentary lifestyle and doesn't change the way it eats, it will probably put on weight. So if you have recently had your cat fixed, it makes sense to monitor its body condition score a couple of times a week. If you see its body begin to fill out, change its diet. The earlier you make the change, the better off your cat will be.

How can you stop your cat from getting overweight? Or if it has already gotten a little thick, how can you stop the weight gain before your cat becomes enormous? There is no trick to this. Just like with people, the answer for cat obesity is diet and exercise. The vet really can't help that much. There is a medication for overweight dogs, but it is not safe for cats. So it is up to you to improve your cat's diet, cut down on the amount of food it gets in a day, and provide it an opportunity for exercise.



Just because you have an indoor only cat, that is no excuse for it to be lazy. A healthy cat will exercise and play if it is given the chance. You just need to make sure that it has something it can climb up on. Cats love to climb and look down on people. They also love to look out of windows, so if you have a window sill your cat can climb up on, make sure you keep it uncluttered so he can enjoy it. You may want to buy it some kind of carpeted climbing structure, but before you do, check to see if there is anything in the house that discourages your cat from being active. You might not have noticed this before, but it could be that anytime your cat moves around your house, your dog chases it. Or worse, your children do. So before you add things to the environment, it may be there are things you need to take away, or little people who need some instructions on how to play nice with the cat.

If you think your cat is overweight, you may be right since well over half of US cats are. You can check your cat's body condition score to know if it is overweight or not. It could be that your cat is fat in response to having been spayed or neutered, or there could be something else that changed its activity level. You can do your part to help your cat's health by altering its diet and giving it more chances to play and be active. So why is your cat so overweight? Because you haven't started helping it lose weight yet.

    By Kef Hollenbach
    Having been raised with six, yes, 6 house cats, I thought I had learned everything about our precious felines. A rude awakening when what I thought would be easy turned out to be very, very difficult. Taking several years of painful, and expensive, learning.

    Article Directory: EzineArticles



Monday, June 12, 2017

SENIOR CAT Care Symptoms

Advances in medicine have increased the mortality rate of humans. You can say that the same goes for animals that just like humans need constant cat care when they reach their senior years. These symptoms vary so you have to be ready.

Cats reach their senior year or are classified as such when they have lived for 10 to 13 years. You might think that is nothing but one year for a cat is already 5 to 7 human years for them. So, if your cat is 10 years old, he or she is 70 years old?

Русский: Кошка
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chances are, you have probably lost track of how long your cat has been there but a regular checkup with the local veterinarian can tell you if things are beginning to change.

Samples will then be taken from your cat and everyone will have to wait for the results. These consist of a blood sample, urinalysis and feces. It is here that the doctor can tell if your cat is anemic, has leukemia, is a diabetic, have kidney problems or has worms in the digestive system.

Aside from the physical, the vet will ask if you have noticed any changes in their activities or behavior. Some of the things often associated with old age that you should be aware of is the loss of sensory perception. This means their senses do not respond that fast anymore even if you try your best to play and train them to keep these sharp.

Another indicator is when your cat gets into a fight with another cat and there are injuries, the healing time may not be that fast anymore.

Studies show that one of the first things to wear out in a cat is the kidney as a result of hormone imbalance. If you notice that urine comes out while he sleeps or he urinates more frequently, then there is something wrong. The good news is that this can be treated if this was detected early.

Senior cats can no longer eat the same high quality diet as they used to in the past. They require specially formulated food that keeps their weight under control and helps reduce the consumption of nutrients that are risk factors in the development of diseases.

Exercise is another way to keep your cat in shape. This slows down the deterioration that takes place inside their body. Cats don’t play catch like dogs so give them a ball of yarn or some other toy to play with.

If your cat is in pain and something has to be removed, you have no choice but to let it undergo surgery. You should check with the vet if they will be given anesthesia before hand so they don’t feel anything during the operation.



Other symptoms you have to be aware of once you cat reaches senior age includes a significant increase or decrease in appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, lameness lasting for more than 5 days in one leg,   a decrease in vision, excessive panting, a seizure, blood in the stool or urine, hair loss, persistent coughing or gagging and breathing heavily or rapidly at rest.

The second any of the above symptoms occur, you should bring your cat straight to the vet because just like humans who have reached the golden years, senior cats need more attention especially when any of the symptoms are present.


Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Deworming Multiple CATS

Ah yes, everyone's favorite pet chore. One day you clean your cats' box and discover little white chunks of what appear to be cooked spaghetti lodged in the feces, that is, until one starts to move. 

You know then that it's time to deworm your cats. If your veterinarian says that your cat doesn't have anything particularly tough or nasty then he or she may recommend a regular schedule using commercial dewormers that can be found readily in any pet store. Your veterinarian even may have a good general purpose dewormer on hand for your use. Fortunately, there is a wide range of deworming medicines available on the market. Most are liquid or pill form.


If you have only one cat, your task is relatively simple. Choose a dewormer that your cat will find acceptable if not palatable. Many liquid dewormers claim to be very tasty to cats. Unfortunately, many cats would vigorously disagree with that assessment. In such a case, if you have access to a pill form of dewormer that your cat is willing to swallow, you're in luck. If your cat won't swallow pills without major mayhem breaking out and turns his nose up at every liquid dewormer you try, then you have a problem. If you have more than one cat, it can become even more of an issue. If your cats will
happily take whatever you offer, then the only thing you have to worry about is keeping the greedy guts from getting more than they should. But, If each of them has a different idea as to what is acceptable (or not) for deworming medicine, then you have a major headache.

Rather than cater to each cats whims and maintain a veterinary pharmacy worth of dewormers in your house or routinely running your finicky feline into the veterinarian every to he needs deworming, you might try a different route. You will need a liquid deworming medicine and a syringe. Syringes are readily available in the livestock medication section of farm supply stores. You only need the section with the barrel and plunger. No needles are needed or should even be used. Syringes in farm supply stores usually offer the two sections separately. Select one of smaller size. Your cat won't need large amounts of medicine at any one time.

Measure out the proper amount of dewormer for your cat into a measuring cup. A measuring cup usually comes in the package with a liquid dewormer. Take one of your syringes and place the open end (where the needle would normally attach) into the measuring cup and draw the medicine up into the barrel by pulling upward on the plunger. Try to get it all at one time. You could do this task by increments but trying to manage a squirming cat while refilling a syringe really is more difficult than it is worth. Now restrain your cat gently and situate yourself so that you can hold the cat and use the syringe easily. It could require some experimentation to work out a suitable position for the both of you. . If you keep one hand underneath the cats head and cradle his chin it will make this part of the task go more smoothly. Slide the end of the syringe a little bit into your cat's mouth and slowly depress the plunger This will empty the medicine into your cat's mouth slowly enough that he can readily swallow it without choking. Repeat for each cat.

Naturally, your cat will not be particularly pleased with this method. He may object rather strenuously. With repetition, however, you will become much smoother with the task. You don't need to rush during this task. Take your time to discover what will work best for you and your cats. Your cats will become more accustomed to it despite themselves. This method will ensure that each cat, even your most finicky, gets the proper amount of medicine he needs. And that, of course, is the whole reason for the entire exercise.


Saturday, May 20, 2017

Taking Kitty to the DENTIST

It is important for you to go to the dentist at least annually for checkups. This is, however, also important to your cat! Many people never think about it, but good dental health can keep your cat happy and disease-free. Whenever your cat goes to the vet, make sure that dental health is checked and discussed, and if your cat is acting strangely at all, especially with eating habits, make sure that dental health problems are not a concern.

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Photo by www.ilmicrofono.it

Kittens, like baby humans, have fewer teeth than adult cats. Each kitten has 26 temporary teeth, which begin to appear at about three weeks of age. An adult cat will have 30 permanent teeth-16 on the top and 14 on the bottom. A cat usually begins getting his or her permanent teeth when he or she is three of four months old. Some of these teeth have two roots while others have three.


The most common dental diseases found in cats are resporption lesions and gum disease (gingivitis). Resorption lesions are also known as cervical line lesions or neck lesions and often result in tooth loss. These lesions are difficult to detect, as they often grow below the gum line. Gum disease is found in over 70% of cats by the age of three. You can tell if your cat has gum disease by looking for yellow and brown tarter build up along the gum line and over the tooth, red inflamed gums, and chronic bad breath.

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Oral disease is often an indication of other more serious health problems. For example, it is common for a cat with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) to have oral health problems. Dental conditions are also commonly found with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline calicivirus. Therefore, if your pet is have dental problems, you need to see a vet right away about these conditions to make sure they are symptoms of a much more serious disease.

Cats can also accidentally break teeth. This can be a result of a fall, a fight with another cat or other animal, or biting into something too hard to chew. Usually, the upper canine tooth will be the tooth fractured. This is the tooth in your cat's mouth that looks like a large fang. If this is fractured, your cat may or may not be in pain. The first symptom of this kind of a fracture is continuous sneezing.

Overall, oral health is important in all mammals. Cats are susceptible to a number of dental disease and problems, just like humans. By taking your cat to the vet often and asking about oral health, you can make sure that you are providing the best health care foods and tools for your feline friend.


Saturday, May 13, 2017

RABIES in CATS - The Truth About Feline Rabies

Most people associate rabies with dogs. However, rabies in cats is much more common nowadays. This disease is caused by a virus that is almost always deadly.

Got Rabies?
Got Rabies? - Photo by cbgrfx123 

Transmission

The virus that causes feline rabies is carried in the saliva of animals. These infected animals can transmit the disease to other mammals by biting them. This is the most common method of transmission. However, cats may also become infected if they have an open cut that allows the virus to enter their body. Some cats get the disease when they eat an animal that has the disease.

Symptoms

If your cat has this disease, he will be very irritable and excitable. Rabies in cats can also cause symptoms such as lack of appetite and seizures. As the disease progresses, it leads to paralysis of muscles. This paralysis causes respiratory distress and eventually death.

Diagnosis

Currently, there is one main method to diagnose feline rabies. The affected cat’s brain will have to be examined in a laboratory under a microscope. Obviously, this must be done after the animal has already died from the disease.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for rabies in cats. Once your cat begins to show symptoms, there is nothing you can do about it. Since the disease causes a very painful death, it is common for cats suspected of having the disease to be euthanized. It is very rare for any animal to survive a bout with this virus.

Prevention

The best way to prevent feline rabies is to have your cat vaccinated. In most parts of the United States, it is require by law. You should have him vaccinated at three months of age and again when he turns one year old. When your cat reaches two years old, he will likely receive a booster shot that remains effective for three years. You should also try to limit your cat’s exposure to wild animals that may carry the virus.

Rabies is a very serious disease. There are also many other serious diseases and conditions that may affect your cat in the future such as feline feline herpes virus So, stop by common-cat-diseases.com to learn about more of these other conditions like the feline leukemia virus.



By D Swain

Article Source: EzineArticles




Tuesday, May 2, 2017

The Scoop on Kitty VACCINATIONS

If you’ve bought a pedigree kitten, it should already have had its shots.  If you’re thinking about buying a pedigree kitten, make sure you get paperwork proving that the vaccinations have been given and they’re all up-to-date.  If you’re buying a non-pedigree cat, a moggy, then you will need to consider the issues surrounding each vaccination yourself.

A six-week old kitten.
A six-week old kitten.
(Photo credit: 
Wikipedia)
All kittens ought to be vaccinated before they are allowed outdoors.  This is to build their immune system up.  The vaccination program for kitties starts between 6-8 weeks, so it’s possible that if you take kitty home at 8 weeks, he’s already had his first shot.  The shots are given 2-3 weeks apart, and there are usually 3 shots in total.  As a rabies shot is not always included in the initial kitten shots, if your kitty is going to be going outside, then this is an additional vaccination that you should discuss with your veterinary once kitty is 4 months old.


The shots that young kittens get will cover them against such diseases as:

Rhinotracheitis -  which is characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, fever, ocular discharge, and coughing.

Calicivirus - which affects the respiratory system, and has symptoms such as pneumonia, diarrhea and even arthritis.

Feline leukemia virus
Feline leukemia virus
(Photo credit: 
Wikipedia)
Feline Distemper -  which is associated with diarrhea and vomiting type symptoms.

Feline Leukemia Virus - , otherwise known as FeLV – this destroys the cats immune system and is responsible for many feline deaths as it leads to fatal infections.

Feline AIDS – like FeLV this destroys the immune system of a cat leaving it open to fatal infections.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis, or FIP - this incurable disease attacks the cat’s abdominal area.
Chlamydia – affecting eyes and respiratory area, this disease is both common and contagious.
Some of these vaccines will need to be given annually to ensure that your cat remains immune so check with veterinary clinic to ensure that your cat’s vaccinations are always kept up-to-date.