First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘cat care’

Cats can make excellent pets as they don’t require as much attention as dogs or other pets. Cats don’t need to be taken for a walk, and they don’t bark all day like a dog.You can interact with young cats and kitten, as they are extremely playful, but they are also very independent. Most cats are content to play with toys by themselves.

This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. However your cat won’t come running when you come home at the end of day and knock you over. You don’t have to worry about them biting people when you have visitors. Why you’re feeling down and lonely, a cat will sense this and jump up on your lap and give you a fuss.

A cat is a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy. Cats are intelligent, so cat that are kept Indoors learn quickly to use a litter box so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. You will have to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.

In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. Another bonus is they don’t require as many vet visits for routine vacinations like dogs do and these are quite expensive. Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day.

For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home.

Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.

Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.

Cats in the wild can take care of themselves, that’s not the case with household pets.  House cats become completely dependent on humans for their care, feeding, and other attention.  Responsible cat ownership and the proper care of your cat is important. Check local bookstores or the humane society for educational material to help you learn to care for your cat.  Here are some tips for how to care for a cat.

Many people falsely believe that it is impossible to train a cat.  You can train a cat with any positive training program that is based on a system of gentle training and rewards.  Rewarding good behavior and ignoring bad behavior is a proven way of training your cat.

Even though cats are relatively clean, it’s good to bathe your cat about every three weeks.  You can use a mild soap which you have at home, or purchase a specialty product made just for cats.  Some cats are difficult to bathe.  Prevent bath time from becoming difficult by bathing your cat from the time it is a kitten.  When bath time is over, reward your cat with a snack.

Try to keep going into the bathroom for a bath calm.  If the only time you take your cat in the bathroom is for a bath, it is going to tense up when you pick it up and head for the bathroom.  Allow the cat to enter the bathroom with you at other times so that it becomes just another room in the house.  Then, when it is bath time, try to keep your cat calm and entertained.

Don’t forget to clean your cat’s ears and nails with a gentle q-tip.  Towel dry your cat after its bath.  Don’t even consider using a blow dryer.  The noise and hot air will scare the cat, and the hot air can damage your cat’s sensitive skin.  Brush your cat after the towel dry.

It’s a good idea to buy your cat its own bed.  While it is common for cats to sleep with their owner, your cat will be just as satisfied sleeping beside your bed.  This will keep your clothes and bed linens from always being full of cat hair.  Some people are allergic to cat hair, and you don’t want to have to choose between your cat and your sleeping mate.

Keep the cat litter box in a place where the cat can easily reach it, but where the smell will not disturb you or your family.  Keep the litter box clean for the health and safety of your family and your cat. Keep some of these tips in mind when it comes to choosing a pet for kids as well.

If it’s been a while since you had a cat in your home, or if you’re bringing your first cat home as a pet, you will need to review some basic advice in house cat care. Like any pet, a cat has very specific needs and the more information you have, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to guarantee your cat’s health and happiness. Just take a few minutes to look over the advice given here to ensure your cat’s well-being and long healthy life.

You have to pay attention first to cat-proofing your home. Try to visualize what the cat sees before you bring the new cat into your home. Go from room to room in your house and check that there is no danger that the cat could get exposed to. To prevent some significant problems, be aware that you will need to remove any important furniture that you value to another room that your cat won’t be going into.

Remember that house cat care will require that you use a litter box for your cat. Remember that this litter box should be scooped at least once a day, preferable more often, and that it should be placed away from the busy areas of your house and out of the reach of other animals or small children. You’ll find that cats are generally easy to house train; all you usually have to do is to put them in the litter box a few times and let them know where they can scratch at loose gravel.

If your cat has longer hair, you will also want to remember that your cat needs to get used to being brushed. By keeping your cat brushed, you’ll be able to avoid having your cat swallow its own hair and develop hairballs.

You could run into worse health issues because of this later. House cat care requires that you handle and brush your cat. To make things easier, start this practice when your cat is a kitten, if you are able to.

In general, the best way to care for a cat is to use common sense and, remember to watch your cat. See if he or she is doing anything out of the ordinary and figure if their behavior changes and why. Good observation can keep a little problem from turning into a big one, and you’ll find that it is a great way to get to know the newest addition to your family!

During hot summer months, it can get pretty hot. Learning how to take care of a cat during this season is important.As a cat owner it is important for you to take extra precautions for your cat’s health during hot weather, otherwise, your cat may suffer from dehydration.  Since your cat can’t tell you when it is feeling dehydrated, it is up to you to pay attention to your cat’s behavior and provide cooler living conditions if necessary to prevent overheating.

Pet cats don’t have the same street smarts as stray cats.  They may not be able to find a cool place outdoors.  If they do find one your cat will probably not come home until after the sun goes down.  It’s a good idea, then, to keep your cat inside during hot weather.  Concrete, which may be a cool place for your cat to lay when the weather is not hot, gets too hot for a cat’s tender paws during the hottest seasons.

If you are the kind of cat owner who likes to take your cat with you in the car, take extra care to get the cat out of the car with you every time you park.  In a very short period of time the interior temperature of your car can soar on a sunny day. 

Don’t leave your cat in the car even if you are parked in the shade.  As the sun moves your car may end up in the sun, or it can  get too hot from the sun heated air.  A dog barking or panting is a signal to you or passers-by that it is in distress.  A cat can’t communicate like that, so get your cat out of the car whenever you get out.  A cat can pass out and die in as short as fifteen minutes in a stuffy, hot car. 

Keeping your cat’s fur short will help it keep cool.  It will also help to comb out the fur to remove shed fur that is trapped beneath the top layer.  Cat owners who have cats with natural long hair may have no choice but to provide their cat with a cooler environment.

Keep clean cool water available for your cat at all times and in all seasons.  Your objective is to prevent your cat from dehydrating and getting too hot.  Help your cat maintain its body temperature to be comfortable and safe during hot weather. Keep some of these tips when you are also choosing a pet for kids.

There are several types of illnesses that can affect our pets. Unless you understand what these illnesses are and how to prevent them you are putting your pet in danger. While we typically don’t think about cats as having short lives thier life span can be reduced when they are not provided with adiqute nutrition. Some of the common illnesses among cats are diabetes, kidney failure, bladder infections, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, and several other conditions. These illnesses hamper your pet from functioning normally. Fortunatley they can be controlled through correction offered by the owner. Many points in this article also apply to dog disease,dog illness as well.

Let’s look at diabetes as an example. Diabetes is a aggrivated when there are a lot of carbohydrates in a cat’s diet. It happens when the carbohydrates cause an imbalance in the insulin levels. Obesity can be part of the cause for diabetes in cats. There is an easy solution to the problem of diabetes. By lowering the amount of carbohydrates the cat ingests you can regain a proper insulin balance. If the cat is overweight then a diet may be in order. This can be occomplished simply by implementing feeding times rather than a bowl of food left on the floor.

Another leading cause of premature death in cats is kidney failure. This can be directly attributed to dehydration in most cats. Supplementing their diet with meat protein and canned food can lead to an increase in muscle mass and a better hydrated kitty. When water is already a part of their diet, the animal is less likely to be dehydrated. This will stop kidney failure before it ever gets a chance to develop. 

Water is also important in the prevention of bladder infections and kidney stones. This kind of preventative attitude will allow the pet owner to catch the condition in time and stop it from happening in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. Once the problem has gotten out of hand, sometimes it is too late to do anything about it. Why not eliminate it before it begins?

We have mentioned a lot about the proper nutrition for cats to provide proper health and a long life. We should also mention that health care is essential. Your cat should be taken to the vet for shots, health checkups, and other needs to ensure they remain healthy. 
You also need to promote an energetic lifestyle in your cat. Play with your cat during the evening when you are home or let it roam outside in a controlled environment. A cat tree, pet steps or some other type of cat tree can ensure at least minimal exercise even within the saftey of your home. Providing proper nutrients like calcium for healthy bones and other critical vitamines is another important responsibility of a pet owner.

As a pet owner you should make sure that the food being offered to your cat has no harmful chemicals or additives. If you are not sure what is the best choice speak to your vet on the next visit. The vet can steer you towards healthy foods that you should be looking for. In fact they can make sure that you are not offering pre- packaged foods that have an abundance of bad ingredients or carbohydrates. Moderation is the key when it comes to ingredients. Everything can be harmful when given in an overabundance.

Take a proactive role in your cat health and dog health. Doing so will provide dividends down the road that will seem miraculous. Long term health is not something that is gained quickly. Rather it must be a commitment by the owner to do the right thing when it concerns the health of their cat.

heart disease

As cats age they can develop many diseases that affect their heart, kidneys and other organs, just like humans. The most frequent diseases of older cats are cancer, renal or kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism (disease of the thyroid gland), dental disease and heart disease. Cats age seven times faster than humans and examinations done by your veterinarian twice a year can help detect diseases earlier when they can still be treated. Diagnostic tests such as blood work, ECG, ultrasound and blood pressure monitoring can help detect problems sooner.

A common heart problem that occurs cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM affects more cats than in dogs. HCM is an acquired heart disease that affects the muscular walls of the ventricles causing them to become abnormally thick. As the disease progresses, heart function decreases. As the walls of the heart thicken, they aslo stiffen and loose the ability to contract efficiently. The center of the heart that holds the blood also gets smaller and smaller, so less blood is pumped out of the heart., This results in the amount of blood that once filled the heart is less than it should be and the heart muscle can’t contract as well to move the blood out of the heart into the body. The diseased heart now has to pump faster and harder than normal just to keep the blood flowing throughout the body. The increased pressure also begins to back the blood into the lungs causing edema and congestion and eventually leads to congestive heart failure.

Sometimes, the faulty heart can have changes in the conduction system that tells the heart when to contract. The heart may develop arrhythmias and which results in sudden death similar to those found in some of our young athletes that collapse during practice.

Another problem that can occur from the cardiomyopathy is a disease called feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE). Blood clots that form on flaps of the heart valves can sometimes break off and lodge in main artery leading to the rear legs,. The dislodged blood clot can cause severe pain, a lreduction of blood flow to the legs, paralysis and death. The blood clot is sometimes referred to as a saddle thrombus. With intesive therapy, 40% of cats may recover and regain use of their legs. Once recovered, these cats may have another thrombus episode and will continue to have problems with their heart.

Cats are very good as masking underlying physical diseases so early detection is key to helping these cats live a full life. Some fat and lazy cats may be suffering with a heart disease. Of course not all fat and lazy cats a have heart disease, but the only way to tell is with health exams by your veterinarian. EKG, blood pressure monitoring and ultrasound can help the veterinarian diagnose heart disease. The thickened walls of the heart can be seen with ultrasound and is a screening tool for cats as well as our young athletes.

Special medication can be given to help cats with their heart function and reduce the edema in their lungs. The prognosis for a cat that has already developed the congestive heart failure is guarded, and even with medication, survival rates are 12-18 months after diagnosis and sudden death can occur at any time.

Develop a wellness plan with your veterinarian for early detection and diagnostics. By diagnosing disease conditions earlier, changes in diet and medication can help your cat live longer.

You can find more on Cat Health Care at LuvUrCat.com

These days, cats are among the most popular pet you can own.  There are several breeds available, with the most popular being Persian and Siamese.  Cats are a domesticated animal, with origins dating back some 8,000 years and beyond.  Like any other pet that you may own, including dogs, cats cost money to take care of properly.

When you get a cat, you’ll need to think about the costs.  You’ll obviously need food, and you’ll also need to plan ahead for vet costs.  You’ll also need litter, which can tend to get quite expensive as the years go by.  Your cat will need a litter box, food dish, and water dish.  You should also invest in some toys as well, such as a scratching post, cat toys, a pet carrier, and a bed.  You should also look into getting an ID collar as well, just in case your cat ever gets lost.

Age of a pet is an important thing to keep in mind in order to feed them.  Older cats require two small meals or one large meal for the day.  Kittens on the other hand, require several feedings a day until they get around the age of 12 weeks.  Cats that are between three and six months of age need to be fed three times a day.  Canned food can be fed to cats, although any food that has been left out longer than 30 minutes need to be disposed of.{ Canned food can get expensive fast, and you should always keep in mind that some may get invariably wasted when you buy it}.Cats love to have canned food, though it is does give any benefit to its dental health as the other dry food does.

As an alternative plan, you can always leave a supply of dry food out for your pet.  When you give your cat dry food, you should always make sure that he has enough water.Dry foods are cheaper than the canned ones, additionally it helps in preventing the buildup of tartar on the teeth of your pet cat.  When you buy dry food, you should always look in terms of health and benefits, and stay away from generic food.Although generic food are cheaper in comparison to others, but it may not have the quality of nutrients which your pet requires.

If you own a kitten, you should only give you kitten food designed for him.  You’ll also need to clean and refill his water dish every day.  Even though kittens and adult cats like cow’s milk, you should avoid giving it to them as it can cause diarrhea.  Treats are fine on occasion, although too many of them can cause your pet to get fat.  Feeding your kitten human food is good on occasion, although you may have to mix it in with his cat food.

By themselves, cats stay fairly clean.  Although you don’t have to bathe them that often, you’ll need to give them a brushing at least once a day.  Brushing will reduce the risk of hairballs and keep your cat’s coat nice and clean.  If you are keeping your cat indoors, you’ll need to have a litter box in an area that is easy for your cat to access.  You should always scoop it on a daily basis, and clean it out once a week.Cats prefer clean and nice litter boxes and they are reluctant to use the dirty ones.

Although cats do require some work, they are great pets that will provide you with years and years of companionship.  As long as you take care of your cat and take him to the vet for his checkups, he should remain healthy.  Even though cats can get sick from time to time – knowing how to care for him will make a world of difference.

We all know that cats are loving and truly wonderful creatures.  These days, it isn’t out of the ordinary to see a cat in virtually every other home, sleeping in the window or cuddling up on the laps of their owners.  Although cats have been popular pets for as long as most can remember, they weren’t domesticated less than 5,000 years or so ago.The researchers say today to us, that domestication of cats started in the valley of the Nile.

In the early days, people were obliged to cats and they encouraged them to stay with them by providing them several scraps of food to eat.  Once they were fed and perceived humans to be no threat, the cats would move in permanently with their human owners.  As time went by, even the wildest of cat would allows humans to approach him, often times even hold and touch as well.

In those days, cats were very loyal and endearing pets.  They proved to be great hunters, as they done their sleeping in short periods and were much easier to wake up than dogs.  Cats also have better night vision than dogs, and much better hearing as well.  If someone moved through the house or if they heard suspicious noises, they would wake while dogs would sleep right through it.People love having cats in their surroundings, and they seemed to get  along good with dogs too.

These days, cats are used for both companionship and show.  They aren’t used much at all for hunting mice and rodent anymore at all.  There are a lot of breeds available, from the traditional alley cat to the well known Siamese.  All breeds are unique in their own way, and will provide you with years of companionship if you take care of them.

You will at first want to check the source, before you have a kitten or even an older one of the species.  If you are getting the kitten from a breeder, you’ll want to make sure that the breeder has a reputable reputation.  You’ll also want to ensure that the cattery is clean and in good shape.  The kittens that are still there shouldn’t be overcrowded, and their surroundings should be clean.  The litter boxes there should be kept up and both the food and water dish should be clean and full.  The kittens shouldn’t be caged, instead free to run around.  All cats that are there should appear healthy, with shiny coats and none of their ribs showing.

When you get your kitten, it should be used to being touched and handled.  The kitten should be sweet, not afraid in the least.  Kittens that have been handled young normally have a better temperament.  The better breeders won’t allow their kittens to leave the nest until they are around 12 weeks old, with some waiting until the kittens are 16 weeks.  By doing this, breeders ensure that the kitten is in good health and his immune system has properly developed.

There’s no mistaken the fact that cats are great to own.  You can get a kitten from a reputable breeder, through a local newspaper, or an adoption agency.Although normally people don’t like this option, but cats can also be taken from a local pound.  No matter which way you decide to pursue, you should always make sure that your cat is healthy.If you buy a healthy cat, you would not face a lot of problems further down the road.Healthy cats are results of good care – and normally you find every thing up to date in them – which also includes their vaccinations.

Dog is considered to be man’s best friend. Cats today are considered to be dog’s best friend, therefore, a cat can also be man’s best friend in the ethics of logic or the logic or ethics, whichever you prefer, this is presently true and it can be possible (whoever made the notion that dogs and cats are worst enemies? And why the phrase “raining cats and dogs”, eh?) Anyhow, that’s precisely correct and you can corroborate that any time today because numerous people favor to have cats as pets over man’s best friend, the dog. There is even this one social networking site that has an article about how people loved cats most than dogs. That’s why, today, buying a kitten can also be one of the best thing that people, especially cat lovers, need to know about.

You might think that there is no big deal in buying a pussycat on your own or you might way, you just go to a pet store blindfolded, then, let your fingers point to a line of cats and then, whatever you are pointing to whilst you uncover your eyes is what you’re going to get, talking about cat random selection. No, that’s not the way, for true-blue cat aficionados, maybe. There are lots of things to consider when buying a cat from a pet store or from any establishment that sells cats or from a legitimate cat breeder.

When planning in buying a cat, you need to make some considerations before you do. Taking on a purrty animal as a pet is a big task and should not be taken flippantly. It will need attention, routine veterinary treatment, grooming and daily care, that is, if you really are a lover of cats and not just some bloke who wants to have a pet cat, period. When you take a cat for a pet, you have to know that it would take 10 to 15 years to groom it, pet it and taking care of it. Here are some helpul tips in procuring a kitten. First of all, it is always strongly recommended that you find a good and competent breeder. The gain of getting from a professional breeder is that the propagation has already been charily plotted and is already taken care of. The cat breeder will just have to familiarize you with all the necessary subject you need to know about that cat. When buying from a pet store, be sure that the cat you choose is healthy and with a breeder, you can get personal views of cat care tips. You wouldn’t want to procure a sickly animal and then having a hard time when you don’t know how to take care of it, correct?

Cats are fantastic pets that bring a considerable amount of happiness in our lives and should be given an equal amount of devotion and love. Welcoming the cat into the new home can be an exciting as well as overwhelming experience but, need some action before they can be safely added to the family circle. Most importantly one needs to cat proof the home, this implies taking out all small and hazards items like rubber bands, tinsel etc. that may choke the new addition. Have a cat carrier on hand, which are safe as well familiar places for the cat and, having a litter box would help the cat understand where to eliminate.

Cat Care Also Means Socializing The Cat

Once you have your cat secured in the home, you would need to socialize it and, this cat care chore is essential for it will help it to adapt to new social as well as environmental change. Also, understanding cat behavior can be a bit perplexing and needs time before cat training techniques can be successfully applied to keep the cat from engaging in unwanted behavior. Cat care will normally revolve around its food and nutrition needs and these will also change as it grows older. Premium cat food formulas can be given at different stages of her life to help it stay fit as well as healthy.

Giving the cat food that has all the necessary nutrients as well as being palatable is essential for its health and, one should refrain from giving it human food, which will upset the nutrient balance of its diet. As expected, the cats food will always contain its share of milk however, it should also contain raw eggs, meats and raw fish and should be administered with other ingredients to complete a nutritious diet for your pet cat.

It is also essential to take good care of the cat’s teeth as dental diseases affect it as much as humans get affected by dental problems and, the cat should be regularly brushed and be given food in conformance to dietary controls, as well as have its teeth cleaned regularly by the veterinarian. Good veterinarian dental care would prolong the life of the cat’s teeth as well as ensure that it does not require painful oral treatment.

One should also ensure the cat care that we give it should provide adequately for its safety and, this should be given priority. One should keep windows locked, especially if living in high rise apartments and keep it away from essential oils whose toxicity can harm its skin or be harmful to it, if inhaled. One may also need topical flea control products to keep it free of pests and, also have a First Aid Kit handy to prepare for emergency treatment of the cat.