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Posts Tagged ‘cat health’

There is perhaps nothing more provoking to a cat owner than litter box accidents. In fact, persistent litter box accidents are the number one issue why cat owners give their cats up to animal shelters. when your cat declines to use the litter box, there is customarily an core reason. Before you become annoyed by your cat’s failure to make it to the litter box, here are a number of general reasons for this issue.

One of the biggest causes why a cat starts to refuse to use the litter box is for the reason that their own litter box is unclean. A lot of cats are extremely fussy about the condition of their litter box, although others will use it no matter how satiated it looks. If your cat has a cat litter pan mishap, the first location you ought to check is the litter box. some pets prefer that their litter box cleaned out after each use. Though this is time consuming for you, it might be a simple fix to this problem. You ought to start a daily habit of cleaning out your cat box and you can find that this resolves your matter.

An added general concern related to the litter box is there are not adequate litter boxes for the number of cats you own. For instance, if you own four cats in your house, and you should own at minimum one litter box per cat. Cats like to have their individual area, and this is exceedingly valid as soon as it comes to their litter box. In fact, many veterinarians suggest that even if you own only one cat, you ought to have at least two litter boxes.

In supplement, as soon as it comes to litter box accidents, look at the sort of litter you are using and the dimension and shape of the litter box. If you own a tray litter box without a lid, possibly your cat would feel more safe in a closed box. If you have an adult cat, or a young kitten, your cat can have a arduous time getting in and out of a closed top box. Observe your cat cautiously while he or she uses the litter box. If you discover that, they are having a arduous time getting in and out of the litter box and ponder getting a different box. moreover, look at the kind of litter you usage. Your cat may be especially particular concerning the odor or grain of the litter. Many individuals favored using the scoop away litter; nonetheless, many cats will not use this sort of litter, because it sticks in the paws. You may additionally find that the litter you usage causes a lot of dust that is displeasing to your cat, perhaps natural cat litter will help with this.

Healthiness reasons
Your cat can be refusing to usage the cat litter box, for the reason that of healthiness related reasons. If you have tried all the above guidelines and nothing seems to be working, then it is time to go to see your veterinarian.  Cats that have bladder troubles, urinary tract infections, kidney failure and diabetes are more prone to litter box accidents than fit cats. You need to get your cat to the vet and have a methodical wellbeing exam done to discover if your cat is suffering from an ailment. If this is the case, your veterinarian may prescribe medication to help your cat.

Routine and Your Cat’s Area
If your cat has been ill or has stopped using the litter box for any aspect, you can find that your cat returns to their old ways out of habit. It is incredibly crucial that while your cat has a litter box accident, that you clean the area completely to get rid of any smells that might remain. In addition, your cat might have not stopped using the litter box at all but as an alternative, your cat is marking his or her territory.  This is extremely prevelent in multi-cat homes or while you bring in new pet into the home. This is also further prevelent in males than females. Even male cats that are neutered can mark their territory by spraying urine.

as soon as you determine the reason that your cat is having litter box accidents, you might find a resolution. It takes time and persistence; nevertheless, this is much more preferable than getting rid of your cat.

Feline coccidiosis is a condition in cats that causes watery stool, dehydration, abdominal pains, and vomiting. Kittens and debilitated cats are prime candidates for its more severe manifestations.

Coccidia is not actually just a cat ailment, dogs can also be affected. Recent surveys suggest that about 37% of cats and dogs are infected by coccidia. They don’t, however, all show signs of having contracted it.

Protozoa, which are one celled organisms, are the cause of coccidiosis. These organisms take residence in the intestinal tract of the cat and may cause symptoms that resemble other parasites such as worms.

However, though the symptoms of worms and coccidia are similar, the conditions must be cured using different treatments. You should therefore take your cat to a veterinarian for a diagnosis before proceeding with any treatment, to ensure that you get the correct medicine.

So, how does your cat get it? Coccidia are transferred via fecal matter. All cat stool contain immature protozoa (referred to as oocytes), which are relatively harmless until they mature in an open environment. The longer a cat stool has been to decay, the more the oocytes develop, and the more at risk cats coming into contact with it become. Another way of cats developing coccidiosis is from licking or eating protozoan infected mice.

To prevent against coccidia infestations, you should…

1. Keep basic sanitation for catteries and kennels. You should make sure your catteries and kennels are tidy and well-maintained. Of particular importance is the disposing of stool within a day or two of it appearing.

2. Disinfect. It’s advisable to move your pet out of the way before proceeding with this. You don’t want your pets to inhale the potentially harmful fumes from disinfectants. As for what disinfectant to use, find one that contains a fair amount of ammonia. Alternatively, just mix a little bleach in with some water.

3. Not forget to tend to crevices, and hard to reach areas. You should pay close attention to them as many forms of parasites ? oocytes notwithstanding, could make their home there.

4. Consider repainting. Repainting the area where your pets live could help destroy coccidian oocytes where they mature.

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We all know there are lots of different cat breeds but for many people their preference will always be the Persian. Well known for their gentle and sweet personalities and their long hair, Persian cats have very attractive features. These Persian cats can become man’s best friend in no time and they require very little attention. However, it is always a good idea to take note of cat health care tips, whatever breed you have.

Although white is the colour normally associated with Persian cats, they actually come in a variety of other colours as well. If Persian cats are entered into competitions then they will get separated into seven different colourway categories, such as silver and gold, tabby, smoke and Himalayan.

Persian cats should always be kept inside of the house, to protect their coat. If they were to end up going outside, their coat can be easily damaged. They will also need to be brushed daily with a metal comb, or their coat can become tangled, which will lead to hairballs. Bathing is also essential. Bathe your cat when it is young and it will be used to it when it gets older. Although some breeds can maintain their coats on their own, Persians can’t. This is due to the fact that the Persian fur is quite dense and long, so you need to brush them on a daily basis to keep their coat healthy.

To ensure your Persian pet stays healthy, the following cat health care tips should prove useful. Make sure you take your pet to the vet on an annual basis for him to check over your cat’s general health. If you do all this and look after your Persian cat, it could live as long as 20 years. Having said this, there is one area that may require some attention and that’s with a Persian cat’s eyes. A Persian cat’s eyes can be quite large and sometimes cause problems for the cat because it cant clean them properly. To experienced cat owners, you might recognise that this is a common problem with the Persian breed, so just check the eyes regularly and you should be fine.

Your pet might need vet prescribed medications sometimes. You may have to consider many different choices regarding the medication such as holistic or commercial? Fluid or powder? Spot on or collar type medication? Though you vet may advise you, the ultimate decision is yours.

Factors to think about:

While no vet would prescribe medication that’s harmful to your pet, some medications are more problematic than others.If your dog or cat needs a trip to the vet for medication do not forget to ask the vet about the duration of medication and what kind of effect that might have on your animal.In case your pet is allergic to any kind of medication, without fail tell your vet about it to avoid any complications with any drugs he or she may prescribe.Also, When it comes to pet medications, cost can be a big issue, so ask your vet if there’s a cheaper yet equally effective alternative for the medicine particularly if you have to buy it on an ongoing basis.Avoid the use of medicines without proper precautionary measures so as to preempt any harm to your pet and family.

What are the best pet meds?

To administer the medication to you pet you need to be around every few hours in some cases, so ask your vet about the medications for dogs which is most effective and suits your routine as well. The more comfortable you are with it, the better will be the health of your pet. If you want to give pills or injections do consult the vet before administering it to your pet.

How to select a good dog or cat treatment:

Make sure that the dog or cat meds is the one which is not so costly, has best effects regarding the health of your pet, and has minimal side effects.The ideal pet medication is also one that is appropriate for the age, weight, species and health of your dog or cat.Always keep in mind that there are many different factors that will influence your decision, such as brand, natural or commercial, home remedies versus manufactured ones. If something doesn’t work there will usually be plenty of other options available.Often you won’t know which treatment will work best, so try out one and monitor the results and any complications carefully, then try a different medicine if there are any problems or the condition persists.

Caveats:

With pet medications, as with your own, always read and follow label instructions. For example, often dog medication is designed for dogs within certain age, breed, or weight range. Review the instructions carefully.Ask the vet about suitable medication according to the age and breed of your pet. Under no circumstances should you give cat treatment to a dog or visa versa!Giving holistic medication may lead to some serious problems if the proper research is not done beforehand.Always consult with your veterinarian before giving any holistic medications or supplements to your dog or cat just to be on the safe side. It is well known, as an example, that cats are a lot more sensitive and prone to serious complications if given natural remedies such as herbal extracts.

For many people, a cat can be an excellent choice for a pet. The main reason for this is the easier care and the flexible time requirements. Cats can be quite independent, and once they are litter trained, you do not have to walk them or let them outside.  

If you purchase perpetual bulk feeders your cat can feed and water themselves as needed. However, cats are not self-sustaining, and they do require care. Here, you will find the basics of caring for your new cat.

The number one rule is never to let your cats outside. Some pet owners think it is cruel to confine a cat inside, but in my opinion this is not the case. In most cases inside pets will live longer and have better overall health then outside ones.

Pets that are allowed to go outside are at greater risk of exposure to nasty diseases and parasites from wild animals. Outdoor cats might be harmed by snakes, dogs and automobiles are another safety concern. There are many cat health problems lurking outside, for your little friend, and he is much safer inside.

How to feed a new cat

Second, choose the right cat food for your animals. A good tip for pet owners is to keep the diet steady. Mixing up their diet can lead to digestive problems.

Make sure that your cat is healthy. Just because cats are more independent does not mean that they do not need the same health care as another type of pet.  Make sure kitty goes for regular veterinarian visits to keep him free of parasites and illness.

Consider getting your cat spayed or neutered. There is a huge amount of unwanted, stray or feral cats in the country. Choosing to have your pet neutered is a big step toward helping with the number of stray cats.

Although cats are good at keeping themselves clean, you do want to consider grooming them. Since cats do lick their own fur, hairballs can be a problem. Take the time to comb your feline friend on a regular basis and you will reduce hairball problems. This especially applies to long haired pets.

After your new cat has been litter trained it will be your responsibility to assure the box remains clean. This is for the obvious reason that you want your home to be a clean and healthy environment. In addition, cats are pretty meticulous about their own cleanliness. A dirty litter box may cause the cat to leave deposits in other areas of the home.

New cat play time

And the last issue to discuss is about playing with your feline friend and paying proper attention to your pets. Just because your cat wants his time alone sometimes does not mean that he will not want your attention. Felines adore love and attention from their owners.

Make sure that you set aside time each day to pet your cat, to scratch his ears or chin, and to interact with him. Look for cat toys that require your interaction like laser pointers, or remote controlled mice. This bonding time will be very beneficial for you as well as your feline friend.

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.

North American are fond of cats.  They are loving pets, capable of providing you years of companionship.  Like other pets, catscan sometimes get sick.  There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes.Even though it can be treated by a veterinarian, diabetes of feline is a serious disease.

Diabetes is more common with humans than with cats or other animals. The reason for diabetes is really very simple.  Sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood.  The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces.When the insulin is not produced in sufficient quantity by the pancreas, diabetes manifests.

The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary.  The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst.  Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat.If you find the dish water empty all through the day, it is the sign of increasing the thirst, and may be underlying diabetes.

If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma.On the other hand, if the diabetes is treated in time by your assistance, the cat will lead more normal and healthy life.  Keep in mind that treatment doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication.

Cats that have feline diabetes will need to be given food at the same time every day. They should be prevented from going outside as well.  If your cat has diabetes, you’ll need to give him insulin shots once or twice or a day.  Once your veterinarian checks your cat, he will tell you how many shots and how much insulin you need to give your cat. 

Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has some food first.  If he hasn’t eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock.  This can also occur from too much insulin as well.  A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs.  If your cat gets a hypoglycemic shock and you aren’t around, he may end up dying. 

If you have to give insulin shots to your cat due to feline diabetes, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after you have administered the shot.  After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your vet may reduce the amount of insulin.  Even though he may have to stay on insulin the rest of his life, he will lead an otherwise healthy life. 

Kitty Cat Health

One of the best friends a person can have is a kitty cat and that is why they are loved by many pet owners. In order to show your love for your kitty cat and provide the best possible cat feline health that you can, you need to educate yourself on kitty cat health issue’s so that you will know the best way to feed and groom your feline friend to ensure proper kitty cat health.

Basic Cat Care

There are several things that cat owners will need to know and deal with. In order to provide basic care for your kitty cat and provide for your cats feline health, you need to purchase water bowls, brushes to keep her teeth clean, a litter box, as well as grooming items to keep your kitty cats coat clean.

If you are not careful about cat feline health you might end up having to deal with health complications including diabetes. Kitty cats also have allergies, acne, and asthma are other aspects to cat feline health that must be looked out for by the kitty cats owner. Kitty cats have been known to develop illnesses such as lymph and blood disorders or a different kitty cat health concern is an illness know as fading kitten syndrome.

Cat feline health issues also include diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, and constipation, while other issues include inappropriate defecation, while cancer is certainly a more serious cat feline health issue.

It is advisable to take your kitty cat to the vet for exams in order to keep a close check on your kitty cats health issues and to make sure that your loved one remains healthy and vibrant. When you bring a kitten home for the first time, you need to know at what age do you need to take the kitty cat to the veterinarians office for an exam in order to provide proper cat feline health.

You also need to take other steps to ensure proper cat feline health and these include socializing your kitten (or cat) and also making provisions for weaning time which should ideally begin when the kitten is between nine and ten weeks old.

Sometimes cats begin sneezing or may otherwise show signs of ill-health. At these times it is necessary to get your kitty cat vaccinated (though only after she is healthy enough to be vaccinated). Also, providing the vet with a fecal sample can help the vet deal with the cat feline health issue in a more effective manner.

If you are looking for more information about how to to provide basic care for kitty cat or more information about cat feline health in general, Dr. Andrew Jones’ Veterinary Secrets Revealed will provide you with those answers.  Dr. A doctor of veterinary medicine for 17 years and the owner of Nelson Animal Hospital in Nelson BC, Canada, Jones incorporates his education as well as his work and life experiences to provide you with more kitty cat health information.

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

Proper cat health relies heavily on preventative measures; this includes routine veterinary care as well as grooming on a regular basis. To make sure you cat stays both happy and healthy it is a good idea to watch for any changes in their condition. The best time to judge the health of your cat is the time when you are grooming it.

Cat Health According To Life Stages

The best way to keep on top of your cats health is by knowing the life stages and what proper cat health is for each stage. This way you can easily recognize when something is going wrong with your cats health and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The first life stage is from birth of sixteen weeks. During this stage you cat is just starting to learn about the world around them. Often cats are playful during this stage of life but they shy around human beings. Cat health is also extremely important in this stage so that they can grow up to be healthy throughout the rest of their life.

The next stage is from sixteen weeks to one year. During this period, cats are often still very playful. In order to ensure you pet cat remains healthy it is necessary to get it spayed or neutered when it is six months old.

Next comes the one to eight year period, which are the prime years for cat health. During this stage of your cat’s life, it is very important to have yearly visits to the veterinarian. Here onwards comes the stage which continues for next ten to twelve years. This is when pre-geriatric cat health comes into play. Your cat will often slow down but their behavior will remain the same.

Geriatric cat health will start when they turn twelve. This stage is often marked with health issues in the pet cat and it deteriorates as they grow older. Cats will often move very slowly since their joints will start to become stiff. Old cat often behave as irritated.

Common Cat Health Issues

There are varieties of health conditions that can affect your cat. A big part of keeping your cat healthy is proper prevention. Contact your veterinarian right away, if you notice any health problems. The following are some of the more common conditions your cat may get.

Flea allergy is a common problem for cats. A cat’s sensitivity to fleabites will increase as they age. Similar symptoms can be observed in an event of a food allergy or a flea bite allergy, the symptoms are vomiting or diarrhea , skin rashes and severe itching.

Hairballs are one of the commonest reason behind vomiting in the feline animal. You can manage this situation by keeping a schedule of coat brushing and rigorously following it. Even with short hair cats, they can get hairballs if you don’t keep them down with routine brushing. You should take your cat into a veterinarian if they have persistent vomiting since this can also be a sign of thyroid or kidney problems.