First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘cat care’

To keep your cat healthy a majority of time, all you really need to do is give him good shelter, food, and plenty of water.  Like other living things however, cats can get sick from time to time no matter what you do. 

As a cat owner, you’ll want to ensure that you feed your cat only the best.  Premium cat food is the ideal for cats, as the food is designed to keep your pet happy and healthy.  You’ll also need to pay attention to his behavior, so you’ll know when he’s sick and when to take him to the vet.  Most of the more common ailments and sicknesses are minor, although there are some cases where a vet can be the determining factor between life and death for your cat.

Your cat’s behavior will be one of the most critical factors when you are trying to determine whether or not he is under the weather.  Acting sluggish, laying around all the time, lack of energy and not eating are all signs that you need to take him to the vet immediately.  His coat is also a good thing to watch as well.  If you notice his coat dull and patchy or notice him shedding abnormally, you should contact your vet as soon as you possibly can.

Diarrhea and vomiting are sometimes common, even with basic sickness.  On the other hand, if your cat seems to be doing either one of the two for more than a day, you should contact your veterinarian.  Coughing is common as well, simply because coughing will cats dislodge hairballs.  If your cat seems to be coughing for another reason, you should have him checked out as soon as possible.

To make sure that your pet cat is not at risk of common diseases, you should actively take care of it’s proper vaccination. There are several diseases out there that require vaccinations, including rabies and feline distemper.  Feline distemper is one of most devastating diseases a cat can get, yet it is also one of the easiest to prevent as well.  The disease strikes cats very fast, and leaves you as an own very little time to seek treatment.

Feline leukemia is another disease that is very deadly, yet can be prevented early on with the proper vaccinations.  Although the disease isn’t possible for humans to contract, it can be spread quickly among cats.  There are vaccinations that can treat the disease these days, although you’ll still want to be careful and not expose other cats around a cat you know has feline leukemia.

One more problem, that is associated strongly with Cats that spend time outdoors , is worms.  Cats that have worms will normally have a lackluster coat and little to no appetite.   There are several different types of worms, including ringworm and hookworm.  Worms can come from fleas, lice, or even the organs of dead rodents that cats consume.  Normally, the cat will digest the eggs which will later mature and attach themselves to the walls of the intestines.Frequent feeding of Garlic to the cat can help in protecting it against common worm infestations.

If you take care of your cat, chances are you’ll keep him healthy for years to come.  You should always make sure he has quality food, and doesn’t miss any of his scheduled checkups with the vet.  If he gets the proper vaccinations when he is required to get them, he should be safe against numerous pests and diseases.  Taking the proper steps with your cat now will prevent anything from happening in the future.

Today’s domesticated cat has become the pet of choice for millions of people worldwide. In the United States alone, over 30 million domestic cats now outnumber the dog population by many millions, with the gap growing ever wider every day. For what reason has the household feline gained in popularity? What is it about this puzzling creature that appeals to so many of us?

The answer to this definitely has to be the ambiguous personality of the cat. Extremely intelligent, it possess a remarkable amalgamation of personality traits not found in other houshold pets. Captivating and quiet, self-sufficent amd poised, athletic and fastidious, the domestic cat is seldom needy. It loves company but is also content to pass the time alone for hours at a stretch, making it the perfect pet for single people especially, let alone families.

This autonomous streak, a result of cats in nature living alone by themselves, gives the household cat a slightly haughty attitude about life; for them, the sun does not rise and fall with humans, although they will take us when they can get us, thank you very much.

The ability with which cats survive, with  or without humans could just be one of the top reasons why we like them so much. Emotionally needy pets (or people) tend to grate on the nerves after some time; cats are delightful narcissists. This, combined with their dignity, grace, beauty, and ease of care, always makes them dsireable.

We also like cats for their ability to say, ” we are your roommate, not your servant,” and for their capacity to recognize the value of a good nap. And who can fail to appreciate the cat’s clean, fastidious nature and built-in toilet training? Good luck getting a Schnauzer puppy to use a litter tray!

There’s no doubt that cats enjoy all the consideration we humans give to them, though they will, given the chance, deny it. They are content to stay with us because we love them and look after them, but if we vanished from the planet tomorrow, chances are the cat would mourn somewaht, meow some, and then continue with the business of finding a furry morsel to eat – all the while lampooning the millions of rudderless, brokenhearted pooches wandering around aimlessly, wondering what to do next.

If my life experience is anything to go by, closer ties have been forged with a cat when an owner doesn’t smother the animal with unwanted affection at times when the cat just wants its own space. As my grandmother used to say: “You’ll never own a cat but one may choose to live with you”.