Just Kittens and Cats

posted by Kitty on Dec 6

There are many surprises to new cat owners, including that of the numerous health problems that are very common among most cats.

No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about.  With any breed certain problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented. Worms are a common and recurring problem for every breed of cat.

Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. You should contact your vet and have your cat tested for worms if he or she has problems gaining weight, fleas, or if you see white spots in his or her stool. Please make certain that you have them treated with medication, otherwise worms can prove to be fatal.

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. Cats clean themselves every day, and they swallow the hair that they shed. On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cats stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball - as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Although it is kind of gross, cats can usually get rid of the hairballs without difficulty. In rare cases, a hairball can pass through to a cats intestine, creating a blockage.

Blockages should be taken very seriously, as they can be fatal if not treated promptly. Not eating properly, having a dull coat, and blockage are three factors that could lead to your cat being constipated. Seek veterinary assistance immediately if any of the symptoms listed appear.

By brushing your cat several times a week removes excess hair preventing hairballs and blockages. Urinary tract infection and hairballs are common ailments in cats. You can purchase food specifically designed to control hairballs.

Urinary tract infection is more common with male cats that havent been neutered, although females can suffer from this problem as well. This problem is usually the culprit when your cat(s) suddenly stops going to their litter box. If a cat’s urine smells unusually strong, the cat may have a urinary tract infection and should be taken to the vet. Your vet will supply you with the proper medicine, and give recommendations on how to avoid this issue in the future.

Nowadays, vaccines are available to treat the disease, feline leukemia, which used to be the greatest cause of death in cats in the past. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don’t have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can’t be avoided, most of them can. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.

posted by Kitty on Nov 11

Ow! Your feline just sunk her sharp little teeth into you. Read on for some reasons why your cat bites you.

Your cat may be afraid. Your kid might be pulling on the cat’s tail. Or, maybe an unfamiliar person is tried to pick up the cat. Cats often will bite for protection.

Playing with you or other animals may lead a cat to bite. You might be walking across the room and suddenly feel your toe attacked. Many cats do not like their bellies to be touched and will bite if you try. Even though biting is normal cat behavior, you most likely do not want your cat to be biting you or your family members. Help you cat release pent-up energy with games of chase and pounce by using cat toys that have long poles so that you don’t get your hands injured. Don’t use your hand or other body part as the object to be chased as this cat training will only encourage biting.

Some felines actually bite to express their love. Cats bite each other lightly to demonstrate their affection for each other, and your cat may be giving you love cat-style. Cats may gently nip if they are licking you. Actually, the cat is grooming you, and cats normally give gentle bites when they groom each other.

Cats bite to let you know that they have had enough attention for awhile. You might be petting your cat and listening to her purr when she suddenly bites you to make you stop the petting. Before biting, cats will generally signal that they are at their limit by making tail circles or laying their ears back.

Pain can cause cats to bite. If your cat beings biting and you can’t find the cause, be sure to get a veterinary examination to make sure there are no physical problems.

Handling small kittens in front of their mother can result in a bite since they are extremely protective of their young. Usually, the mama cat will quit biting as the kittens grow older.

You should now understand why your cat bites. By not playing aggressively with your cat, treating underlying medical conditions, and learning cat behavior secrets , you can reduce or eliminate the biting and enjoy your cat friend.

posted by Kitty on Oct 19

When we experience pain in our bodies, we can easily tell somebody that there is something wrong and that person will be able to take you to the infirmary. Pets cannot do that simply watching them can tell you a lot of things. which is why owners should employ cat care and be aware of the symptoms.

Here are a few diseases you should watch out for and their symptoms.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is the most feared disease by cat owners. It is a acknowledged fact, that it is the leading cause of death amongst cats. It is caused by a coronavirus infection and what is yet worse, is that the symptoms are very much like other diseases so it is really tricky to diagnose.

There is also Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) that is similar to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Just like the human variant, it is a life long infection that advances slowly and kills the cat.

Cats can as well be infected by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). It is a retrovirus that causes fatal cancerous and non-cancerous diseases. As Luck Would Have It, it can be treated using some household detergents and bleach as well as warmth and drying. It is carried through the saliva, tears, urine and feces of infected cats. Unlike the other two, it cannot survive that long in the environment so it is only contagious when the infected cat stays with another cat for a long period of time. 

Worms are also another threat to cats and this is caused by a fungal infection that is spread through spores. Since it is a self-limiting disease, you do not need to do anything to make it go away. It will in time clear up but it may just take a few months.

If your cat is obese, the chances are it already has feline diabetes. The symptoms of this disease include excessive urination and thirst as well as weight loss or gain. Vets are not yet certain what causes this, but there have been a few research studies that have established that there is a link between pancreatic disease, hormonal imbalance and particular medications.

The symptoms of most of the above diseases mentioned are very similar. These include diarrhea, vomiting, lameness lasting for more than five days in one leg, a reduction in sight, excessive panting, a seizure, blood in the stool or urine, hair loss, repeated coughing or gagging and breathing heavily or rapidly while at rest. In order to find the answer, your cat will have to undergo some tests, at your local veterinarians.

Your veterinary surgeon will take some blood, urine and feces samples and ask for input from you, about any observation you have made. When the tests results come back, only then will the proper treatment be administered to your cat as each case is different, so what worked for another cat may not have the self same positive effect with yours.

Your cat could still be healthy if you gave it constant attention. This can be done by giving it leading quality food, giving it fresh water, allowing it to exercise, proper grooming, making sure it remains indoors and taking it regularly to the veterinary.

If you miss any of these simple steps, then something wrong is sure to happen to your cat and you will soon detect a change in the behaviour of your cat and if you do nothing about it, it is just going to make matters far worse. So you require to keep proper cat care and watch out for any symptoms.

For further Free information on Long Term Cat Care try visiting Caring For Your Cat Help.

posted by Kitty on Oct 3

A cat can make a wonderful pet. However, this may not always be the case and the kind of cat that will be right for you and your family should only be kept as pet to avoid hassles. To find this out it is necessary to learn about the various breeds of cats and choose judiciously. There are a number of cat breeds that are cute and can very easily adapt to living in your home and become excellent pets for you and your family. Some pet cats can be quite playful and can entertain children very well.

While proceeding to select the suitable breed certain things need to be considered. There are some breeds that are very loud and noisy while others are quiet. If you don’t mind noisy cats or even prefer them then the Korat, Siamese or Burmese cats can be chosen. Quieter breeds are the Scottish Fold, Somali or the American Curl cats.

Again you need to decide whether you wish to keep affectionate and cuddly pets or the ones that remain aloof and are more playful. If you can spend a lot of free time on your pet then the cuddly cats that crave for affection can be opted for. Otherwise it is better to get those that stay aloof.

Some cat breeds are friendlier then others. The Himalayan Persian, Ragdoll, Snowshoe, Abyssinian, and Maine Coon cats belong to this group while the Russian Shorthair, Nebelung and Norwegian Forest are less sociable. The inquisitive and mischievous cats that are always looking for amusement are the Siamese, Sphinx, Rex and Balinese breeds. These are best for those who have lot of time to be with their pets and amuse themselves seeing their pets playing some mischief. The Rex can especially be a great source of entertainment. Their silly acts can indeed be very enjoyable to watch.

Apart from the behavior and temperament of the cat the appearance and body features are important considerations too. Preference for long haired or short haired breeds counts importantly. Since short hair requires less caring, those who cannot spare too much time looking after and grooming the cat can choose short haired cat breeds.

It also needs to be decided wisely whether it is preferable to get a kitten or a little older cat or a full grown one that may have been abandoned. People usually opt for buying kittens from cat exhibitors who are seeking to sell out some of their kitten litter. The older cats can be secured from some place like an animal shelter.