Happy Cat Blog

Danger to your cat, Feline Obesity

admin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:22:00 +0000

Here’s an article I ran across. I know many of you are concerned about your "fat cat". Maybe some information here will be helpful to you.

Feline Obsity, a Danger to Your Cat

The growing epidemic of obesity in the United States isn’t restricted to the human population alone, an increasing number of house cats are now mirroring their owners indulgent behaviours.

In the past, most cats served a purpose; rodent control. The domesticated cat was allowed to roam freely, hunting mice and other rodents around the family farm or house. In more recent times, we have developed a real fondness for our feline companions, and although it is still common in rural areas to find barn cats, the majority of the cat population is now housebound.

As the dynamics of cat ownership has changed, so has the feline menu. No longer is Kitty hunting for meals, but meals are provided, sometimes without limitations. Therefore, Kitty has grown quite a paunch! Many cat owners love their chubby felines, but do not realize that they are killing their cats with kindness.

An obese cat is at a high risk for many preventable diseases, one of which is diabetes. The risk for diabetes in an obese cat is almost four times greater than in a slim cat. In an obese cat, the body secretes more insulin in response to the increase in blood glucose levels. Over time, the demand for insulin is greater than what the pancreas can produce, and it shuts down, resulting in diabetes.

Another very serious danger is called fatty liver disease. This illness is usually secondary to another problem that develops first; if for some reason, an obese cat suddenly stops eating, the cat’s body will send fat cells to the liver for fuel, resulting in what could be considered a "fat overdose" for the liver, which is not efficient at processing fat cells. This results in liver failure which will inevitably kill the cat if left untreated.

A few other problems, if not as serious as those listed above, can be uncomfortable for the overweight cat. The risk of arthritis is greater, as more weight is being put on the joints, resulting in weakening and lameness. A fat cat cannot maneuver itself gracefully and will often injure itself trying to jump on and off furniture.

Grooming also becomes a serious problem; how to get around all this berth? Physically, it is impossible for the poor cat to be able to keep itself clean. This results in skin conditions such as dermatitis, dandruff, and a matted coat. Basically, a smelly cat.

Cat owners need to be aware of the potential for health risks in allowing their overweight friends to continue on the path to obesity. If nothing else, the shorter life span should be enough to inspire any cat owner to take steps to ensure their cats’ health.

There are many things to consider when evaluating a cat’s lifestyle before making any changes. One of the first steps is a change in diet; the majority of commericial cat foods contain an alarming amount of carbohydrates, which contribute to weight gain. Cats are true carnivores, and should be fed as carnivores. When shopping for dry cat food, find one that lists meats as the main ingredients instead of grains. Most dry cat foods will list at least one grain; try to find a food that uses brown rice or millet which is more easily digested by cats than any other carbohydrates.

Canned foods can also contain grain products, so be wary and check labels. In general, holistic pet foods are a good place to start searching for a new food, since most holistic or natural pet food companies produce foods for cats based on their carnivorous nature.

Portion control is common sense, and the labels on the food packaging should be used as a guide only. In general, feed the lowest recommended amount listed on the package, and adjust the amount fed as needed. Keeping track of your cats’ weight with weekly weigh-ins will help

As in humans, exersise is very important for a cat. However, it is not practical to try to teach kitty to run on a treadmill…….here is where we need to be creative.

Cats love to sharpen their claws. Most cats find scratching posts to be completely useless, to be honest…..why not just use the couch? Here is a tip: cats love tree bark. There are great products out there that use cardboard products to make scratching "boxes" for cats that mimic the bark of a tree; you sprinkle some catnip on them, and they love it. This is good exersise for all cats; and psychologically very healthy also.

Toys…….there are so many out there, and a good choice is those little fuzzy mice. Store your cat’s toys in a bag of catnip; every day, give them some fresh toys and replace the ones they’ve been playing with back into the catnip bag until tomorrow. I’ve never met a cat that doesn’t like catnip, and nothing like it to get them moving.

Climb those stairs! If you have access to a staircase, use it to your advantage. Put that fat cat’s food upstairs and make him climb for it. Keep his toys and litterbox downstairs so he has to come back down later.
Invest in a harness and leash and take kitty out in the yard. Being in the outdoors may inspire her to move around and check things out.

Naturally if a cat is very obese and cannot handle some of the above activities, don’t push it. After all, we are not punishing your cat. After dietary changes are made and a few pounds are lost, activities like climbing stairs will become easier.

We love our cats, and the best way to show our love for them is to take care of them responsibly, which takes some discipline on the part of the cat owner. And remembering that a fat cat doesn’t necessarily mean a happy cat.

Used by permission

————————-
Ian White Moderator Housecarers
Provide links from blogs, forums, websites to housecarers.com and earn 50% commission on housesitter signups. Articles available for publishing and other promotion ideas. Join Housecarers free affiliate program

Edited: 01/21/2008 at 12:19 AM by IanLWhite

Here at Happy Cat Retreat we see a lot of overweight cats. A lot of owners are aware of the problem and are taking the necessary steps to get their kitties weight under control.

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Happy Cat Has Clientele from far and wide

admin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:46:00 +0000

There aren’t any quality cat boarding facilities like Happy Cat in Northern Colorado. We have clients from Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, North Denver, Greeley, Estes Park and from Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

We also get cats from far and wide when people are moving to our area. We will pick up the cats at DIA airport if needed.

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Pet Sitting or Cat Boarding, Pros and Cons - Part 1

admin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:46:00 +0000

Pet Sitting or Cat Boarding, Pros and Cons - Part 1

So your job is sending you out of town, or you are going on vacation, and you can’t take your cat. What to do? You are considering pet sitting but you have also heard about cat boarding. Which way should you go?

Yes, some cats prefer to stay home, maybe they all do. We get requests for pet sitting where the owner only wants us to look in on their cat once every other day. I’m sorry, I can’t condone pet sitting under those circumstances. Think of the cat. Don’t you think they would feel abandoned?

On the other hand, some cats don’t fit in very well with cat boarding. Once in a while we will get a cat that refuses to eat for 2 days, but when they get hungry, they’ll eat…

Personally, I’m prejudiced. I prefer cat boarding. After the cat gets accustomed to the surroundings, I think they like it. There is constant hubbub and activity. Feeding the cats, cleaning the litter boxes, customers coming and going, there is a lot of day to day activity to keep them interested.

Pet sitting has the advantage in that someone can pick up the paper, collect the mail, check on house, put out the garbage etc. Pet sitting involves a lot more that just caring for the kitty. Pet sitting also involves a stranger going into your home. Are you comfortable with this?

More next time in Part 2

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Fort Collins Boarding|Cats

admin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:48:00 +0000

Uptight about Boarding Your Cat - Try Cat Boarding in Fort Collins, Colorado

Are you planning to go away for several weeks and don’t know what to do about your cat? Well help may be as close as your nearest cat boarding facility. If you haven’t checked into this, this may be an answer to your plight.

First you should arrange a visit to the cat boarding facility. When you visit, keep these points in mind:

The cat boarding owners should ask for emergency numbers where you can be reached as well as your Vet’s phone number. In addition they should have a plan on where to take the cat in case of an emergency.
Trust your senses (as well as your common sense) when visiting a cat boarding kennel as a possible "vacation" spot for your cat.
Make sure that the whole cat boarding facility, outdoor and indoor areas included, is clean and orderly.
Make sure there are no offensive smells. There should be adequate ventilation. A well-run cat boarding facility should not stink of kitty odors.
Make sure the temperature is adequate, not too warm and not too cold.
If the cat boarding facility has an outdoor enclosed area, ask to see it.. It should be clean.
The cat boarding facility should ask to see the cat’s vaccinations and will require proof of certain shots.
All responsible cat boarding owners and operators will show you each area in which the cats are kept.
The outdoor area - and the whole kennel should be very secure. Many cats will attempt to escape, so talk to the cat boarding owners about this if you’re worried.

If possible, try to drop in unannounced. See if you can tour the facility when you weren’t expected.

Some last tips…

If possible, you may want to consider several short stays for your cat to get it used to the cat boarding. You could try an overnight or weekend stay. That way, both you and the cat are more at ease when the time comes for a longer stay.

Bring along your cat’s bed and favorite toys. When you leave, be positive and upbeat. Keep the goodbyes short and sweet.

Ask for a phone number where you can call and check on how your cat is doing. This will make you sleep better. You may return and find that your cat enjoyed his cat boarding "vacation" just as much as you did!

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Luxury Pet Boarding

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Luxury Pet Boarding

What is Luxury Pet Boarding? Well, obviously it implies a higher standard. When we started our luxury pet boarding facility, it was because we had a cat that was bitten by a rattlesnake. Our cat spent 8 weeks at a veteraniaran. While we visited our cat, we noticed numerous cats being boarded 24 hours a day in a small 2×2x2 cube. We figured there had to be a better way.

Our luxury pet boarding facility is built for cats only. Each cat has a condo 4×4x8, with it’s own window, several shelves for climbing, and a separate secure screened outdoor area for each cat.

If you are looking to board your cat, look around in your area for some Luxury Pet Boarding. More than likely it won’t be any more expensive than leaving your cat with a vet. And….the cat will be a lot happier.

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Fort Collins Pet Boarding

admin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:34:00 +0000

If you are looking for Fort Collins pet boarding, check out our cat boarding. Our condos each feature a spacious area, 4×4x8, an individual window and a separate outdoor area for each cat. If you are considering pet boarding in Fort collins, come by for a tour.

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Cat Boarding In Fort Collins Colorado

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:10:00 +0000

Cat Boarding In Fort Collins Colorado

If you are going to be travelling, you may want to consider cat boarding for your kitty. While you are probably a little uptight about someone else taking care of your cat, cat boarding can give you peace of mind while you are away.

With cat boarding, there can be an adjustment period that depends on the cat. Younger cats adjust quickly. Older cats sometimes take 1 to 2 days to adjust. But the main benefit I see in cat boarding is there is activity around. They get to go out for their own personal playtime each day. They can walk by the other cat cages and say "hi" or "hiss". At any rate, they have a little excitement in their day. I think most cats after they have adjusted, really like the diversion from their home life.

In fact, I would say 50% even are reluctant to leave. Their owners come to pick them up and the cat seems indifferent, like "I’m doing fine, leave me alone…". Of course they could be pouting too…You know how cats are. Think about cat boarding the next time you travel

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Cat Boarding or Pet Sitting? Which Should You Choose

admin — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:13:00 +0000

Pet Sitting For Your Cat. Things To Think About.

If you are going to be travelling, you may want to consider pet sitting for your cat. While you are probably a little uptight about someone else taking care of your cat. Pet sitting can give you peace of mind while you are away.

We are pet sitting for some of our customers. Some of them agree to have us visit their cat twice daily. Others only want to pet sitting once a day. And still others, only want pet sitting their cat every other day.

Of course I have the most problem with that last request. Pet sitting a cat every other day is too long a time for the cat to be alone, in my humble opinion. Cats like to know there is someone around. Yes, they sleep a lot of the time, but still I think they appreciate knowing someone is around.

One factor to take into consideration when looking into pet sitting, is the credibility and reliability of the pet sitter. Be sure to get references and check them out.

Another consideration is who has access to your home while you have contracted for pet sitting? No one except the pet sitter should have access during your time away..

Why do I say this? Because last winter I was pet sitting over the Christmas Holiday and there was a big snow storm. When I went to the home to pet sit, the garage door was open half way and the entrance to the house through the garage door entryway was unlocked.

Seems the next door neighbors girls had a key and came over and shoveled the walks. Only problem was, they left the garage door open and house unlocked. What if they had left another door open and the cat got out? Or, someone had come in and vandalized the house. In this case, none of that happened and everything worked out OK. But I now have another requirement if I am pet sitting for someone, — no one else is to have access.

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Cat Behavior - What Makes a Cat… a Cat??

admin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:35:00 +0000

Many people don’t understand cat behavior and what makes a cat? I found this article that puts it all in perspective. At Happy Cat Retreat, we see this behavior on a daily basis.

Cat Behavior - What Makes a Cat… a Cat??

Cats have behavior characteristics that have mystified people since the days of the Pharaohs. Cats are loners, territorial, have regular habits that when disrupted can cause them stress, and have strong maternal instincts for their kittens. All these characteristics can be traced back to their ancestral roots.

And why does a cat stubbornly insist on behaving like a cat??

Just about everyone can list the things that most accurately identifies what a cat is to them. Some will cite their amazing grace, agility and speed. Others will wax nostalgically about their intrinsic beauty. There will always be comments about their powers of concentration, excellent night vision, the cuteness of kittens that elicits such strong maternal instincts, and their seeming aloofness and self-confidence. And why does it seem that cats don’t handle changes or stress well? In reality, these traits and others, are all just the symptoms of underlying characteristics that more rightly define the make-up and nature of cats. The feline characteristics elicit both enjoyable and maddening responses from humans, especially those who expect cats to act like people, dogs or other domesticated animals. Without question, cats are unique. What needs to be kept in mind is the fact that cats are the newest of any of the domesticated species. This puts them very close to their ‘wild’ roots.

Studies of small wildcats, that is, undomesticated or untamed cats that live beyond the comfort of human households, gives insight to what the ‘natural’ character of the cat is. It is generally agreed upon that today’s house cat has descended from a small African wildcat, Felis silvestris libyca. One of the notable characteristics of the wildcat is that in order to insure its own food supply and decrease its chances of becoming prey itself, is to limit it’s activities to seeking food when others aren’t. Namely, at night. Cats have perfected this night-time strategy and can function very well in limited light, or even in what a person might consider total darkness. Along with excellent night vision, some other characteristics have also been developed:

A broken, erratic tabby pattern and coloring of the fur coat which offers a well conceived camouflage for hiding in tall grass or forest settings. A black cat may possess the best camouflage on a dark, moonless night.
How about a keen sense of hearing that can track predators or follow a prospective meal as it moves through the darkness.
In addition to excellent night vision that makes the most of limited light, there’s the additional advantage of eyes that also detect even the slightest motion.

Along with all this night-time advantage, a cat must also be able to move swiftly and precisely through it’s territory to escape predators or other threats. They are able to accomplish this with the use of scent glands located on their feet and on the sides of their face. As they pass through their territory, they’ll mark prominent objects along their path. With these scent glands they can lay down a trail that’s extremely easy to follow. Now, these scent marks can communicate on the brightest day or darkest night and unlike sound, they won’t alert predators. Unfortunately, these marks have to be freshened up from time to time, as well as added to if a new trail is to be explored. A resident cat, that is a cat that has claimed a territory for herself, must continually inspect her territory to keep the scents fresh and to mark any changes to it, such as a newly downed tree or other obstruction on her path. She doesn’t want any surprise encounters in the dead of night while fleeing a predator.

All this scent marking plays a critical role in the survival of the small wildcat. With only so many hours in the day, she can’t spend all her time marking a territory and leave no time for hunting, finding water or mating. If she did she would become extinct quite soon. She can only claim an area that supports her with food (and her kittens, too), and that area must be efficiently maintained with her scent trails. Under these conditions, it’s easy to see that it’s not practical for her to share her space for (2) reasons:

There’s usually a limited food supply in the territory she has to maintain on a regular basis.
The scent trails from other cats would probably be confusing.

Finally, there’s the unique maternal nature of a cat that makes it very different from all other domestic animals. The answer to that question lies in her wildcat heritage, also. Survival of the cat species is dependant upon the survival of the kittens. Unlike ‘pack’ animals, a mother cat, or queen as they are known, is totally responsible for the care of her young. There’s no one else around for her to rely on. She must teach her young everything they need to know to survive and do it before their food requirements exceeds the ability of her territory to provide for them. She must do this is a very short time and the kittens must have the capacity to learn all she has to teach. Needless to say, a very strong maternal bond is necessary if either mom or the kids are going to be successful at survival. And, as they learn to survive on their own, the young will one day leave the queen’s territory and establish territories of their own. Or else, mom will kick them out.

Now, we have (5) characteristics that make a cat… a cat:

Cats are nocturnal
Cats are territorial
Cats are solitary
Cats are predatory
Cats are maternal

So, What’s all this Heat About??

The female cat’s usual heat cycles are influenced by seasonal changes in the amount of daylight. These cycles run from January (as the days begin to grow longer) to October (when the days begin to shorten). She will cycle every 10 to 14 days until she is bred. Heat cycles are easily identified with a lot of vocal calling, rolling on the ground and constantly rubbing against furniture or your legs. She will assume a breeding position with her rump in the air and forepaws near the ground.

Note: Spaying and neutering is the perfect cure for this situation. Heat symptoms will be eliminated as well as the risk for ovarian cancers and infections of the uterus. Not to mention the eliminating of kitten litters that can’t be properly cared for.

Mating in cats presents an interesting diversion for animals known for their solitary nature and a strong sense of territory. In feral colonies it has been noted that a female in heat will mate with 18 or more males in a single day. Some ethologists attribute this rather promiscuous behavior to the fact that cats must really enjoy sex as much as humans do. The point is moot and probably can’t be determined one way or the other. But, it does offer one answer as to why such solitary creatures would gather and form complex social interactions on a seasonal basis. As noted above, the maternal characteristic of a mother cat and her kittens is necessarily strong thus providing a kind of social interaction for cats at a young, impressionable age. So, it’s not like cats never experience any degree of socialization from which they can draw the tools of getting along in a large gathering of like minded animals.

When cats gather around a regular, dependable food supply, such as a dump or rodent infested barn, a queen may not wean her young for up to eighteen months. This does have some distinct advantages:

Nursing keeps the queen and kittens together longer than is usual in the wild, keeping everyone social longer and living peacefully.
Since lactating females won’t come into heat, the population is limited and preserves peace.
The nursing kittens won’t mature sexually quite as fast which also keeps peace and provides some population control.
With a more complex social environment, the kittens will learn more social skills. The longer a kitten nurses, the longer she is in a learning mode, hence, the more she learns.

When a wildcat queen teaches her kittens to accept kill as nourishment and then to hunt for themselves, they will make the transition back to solitary behavior. As the kittens provide more for themselves, the queen will resist nursing. The kitten play will become more aggressive and each will eventually make their way to the solitary life. She will resume her solitary life and the kittens will assume theirs. But, in the feral colony supported with a reliable food supply the driving survival instincts may be ameliorated or softened because of the plentiful food resources and an enhanced social development amongst the neighboring cats. That’s not to say that the colony won’t outgrow the ability of the territory (dump or barn) to provide food and some may find themselves striking out on their own for greener pastures. One might surmise that cats can get along in groups, establish rules of engagement for mutual survival and be quite successful at it. But, they are not afraid to go it alone and can be very efficient at surviving by their own guile if they have to. They really are quite amazing animals.

So, when you watch your cat as she displays her everyday habits, remember she has a lot of inherited behaviors that are motivating her. Whether it’s her scratching or spraying instincts, or walking her domain in the same fashion every day reestablishing her scent trail, or arguing with other pets in your home or neighborhood (because it is after all, her territory). She does so because she learned to survive in an elegant, complex, yet sophisticated way. And it’s probably just as hard for her to adjust to your domesticated life as it would be for you to adjust to surviving in the wild. It helps to remember… you’re both pretty smart creatures.

The next time someone asks what makes a cat… a cat. Go ahead and tell them. "It’s their cute paws, nubby nose, soothing purr, the way she rubs against your leg when you come home, etc, etc, etc". But, you’ll know there’s a lot more to it than that. www.catlover-giftsworld.com

By Robert Gallegos
Published: 5/21/2007

And now you know. They are a truly unique animal and a little understanding goes a long way. The next time your cat does something you don’t understand, perhaps this article will help unlock the puzzle.

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Tips For Choosing A Cat Boarding Facility While You’re On Holiday

admin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:38:00 +0000

Tips For Choosing A Cat Boarding Facility While You’re On Holiday

If you find a good cat boarding facility for your cat, there are considerable health advantages for your cat. Here are some guidelines on choosing the right facility.

One clear advantage in choosing a cat boarding facility to board your cat while you are on holiday is that the staff are trained to find signs of illness that friends and neighbors are not. Some signs of illness are quite difficult to spot to the untrained eye. These include:

* lethargy - which can be mistaken for simply sleeping
* blood in the urine - it cannot be seen on the grass, and this can be a symptoms of urinary problems
* blood in the stools - most people don’t think to check for this, and it can signify serious intestinal problems

Of course, choosing a facility where staff members are knowledgeable of current cat health developments is important. Veterinarians are a good source of recommendations, and you can always phone the American Boarding Kennels Association (719-667-1600) to see if a pet care center is accredited with them.

Here are some tips for choosing a cat boarding facility:

* Visit the prospective facility. Is it clean, does it smell? It should not smell, and they should not have any parasites, dirt, or a build up of feces. They should be disinfected regularly, preferably with professional disinfectants.

* Phone a boarding facility first to see if they can take your cat. They may be overbooked, or they may not be able to take more specialized cases, such as very young kitties, or cats on particular medications or feeding schedules. If a facility can take a cat on a special diet, they may ask you to bring in a supply of the food for the duration of your cat’s visit. These sort of details will generally be covered before the time comes to drop off your cat. It’s a good idea to give the facility your vet’s name and phone number. Also if you have a cell phone or a phone where you can be reached, this is a good idea too. In case of emergency, leave instructions on where your cat is to be taken.

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