Taking care of cats

Identifying, Exercising & Maintaining an Indoor Cat

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

1- Exercise your cat. Have him run around and chase a toy. You can either purchase a toy or use a home-made version such as the ring from a gallon of milk, paper bags, boxes, or small plastic balls. They also love string, but be sure to supervise them when playing so they do not become tangled. You can tie a string around a doorknob and let it hang so the cat can play whenever he feels like it. Provide a scratching post if your cat is not declawed, or a tower with shelves they can climb.
2 -Change the cat litter box two times per week and scoop it out daily. If you have more than one cat, you will need to change more frequently, or even daily. Put a few boxes out to avoid accidents or if you have a multi-level home. Add litter box deodorizer at the bottom or baking soda for freshness and odor control.
3- In nicer weather, leave a window partially open so the cat can sit on the ledge. Just be sure the screens are secure and the cat cannot push his way out.
4- Have the number of your vet handy and know where you can take your cat if he gets sick after normal office hours.
5- Tag your cat. In other words, purchase a collar for him and put an identification tag on him with your name, address and phone number in case your indoor cat decides to venture outdoors. Wearing his collar all the time gets him used to having something around his neck.
6- Place a microchip in the cat for identification in case they get out and are lost. Pet stores, animal shelters and veterinarians will do this for an extra charge. This is optional but a sure fire way to identify a lost pet and get them back to their owners.

Feeding and Grooming an Indoor Cat

2011-10-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

1- Feed your cat "Indoor Cat" food. This can be any brand so long as your cat seems to enjoy it. Be sure to measure the cat's daily food and feed according to package instructions. If your cat will eat it all in one sitting, split it up into 2-3 feedings per day.

2 - Give your cat "Weight Control" formula or a special type of food if your vet asks you to do so. Cats can have a tendency to be overweight when they are indoors all the time. They do not get as much exercise.

3- Brush your cat. If you start when they are younger, they usually tend to at least tolerate it. Some even love it and will purr and roll over to show gratitude. Brushing also fends off hair balls and is absolutely necessary for long-haired cats.

4- Wash cat as needed. Use Cat Shampoo and stay away from their eyes. They do not like water, so do it only as needed or give them a sponge bath.

5- Feed your cat treats, especially as a reward for desired behavior. Use the tartar control treats to clean their teeth. Give them these treats according to their weight and package instructions.

6- Change the cat's water 3-4 times per week or if it gets dirty. You may want to purchase a self-watering and self-feeding station for the cat, especially if you are not home much or are busy.

Feline Diabetes

2011-10-22T04:02:00.003-07:00

It may be a bitter pill to swallow, but feline diabetes is commoner than you think, and vets across the world report a growing number of cases as more and more people opt for cats as pets, without adequate knowledge about feline diets and metabolisms. The result: diabetes, which is just as serious a disease in cats as it is in humans.

A colleague reported a few months ago that her cat "Duncan" had been urinating far above his usual level for quite a while. However, the family took no notice until Felix also began to display symptoms of unusual tiredness and listlessness. “We realized something was seriously wrong when Felix began drinking huge amounts of fluid. Earlier, he would have to be persuaded to drink his required amount of water,” says the colleague.

The diagnosis: feline diabetes. It came as a complete shock to our colleague and her family, because they had always been reasonably careful about what Felix ate and drank, and couldn’t imagine what could have brought the disease on.

In order to understand that, however, we need to know a little more about diabetes itself. In very basic terms, diabetes is the medical condition that occurs when the blood sugar level, controlled by a hormone released in our bodies called insulin, rises or falls abnormally owing to a reduction or increase in the levels of insulin. More commonly, humans as well as cats experience a rise in blood sugar levels owing to a decrease in the production of insulin in the pancreas.

How do you know when your cat has feline diabetes? Well, though symptoms vary from cat to cat, the more common symptoms include excessive passing of urine, increased thirst, weight loss, lack of appetite, poor coat condition and a general lethargy.

These warning signs should be enough for you to see the vet immediately, because if you don’t, you will lay your beloved cat open to the perils of untreated feline diabetes. Recorded case histories show that cats with untreated diabetes will vomit frequently and regularly, thus becoming dehydrated because of which they will stop urinating, become so lethargic as to be almost inactive, and gradually lapse into a comatose condition. And that, as we know, is not too far from the end.

However, feline diabetes is fairly easily controlled, if not always entirely cured. Of course, it will require a great deal of effort on your part, because cats don’t take to disciplining kindly, but you will get there in the end.

Most importantly, your cat will need to be fed only at set times, and should not develop a habit of snacking whenever s/he feels like it. You, too, should take care to see that s/he doesn’t get more food than s/he needs. Also, keep him/her indoors as much as you can because over-exertion can be a problem with diabetes patients.
Finally, and crucially, you will have to give your cat insulin shots. The vet will determine the frequency and dosage, but you can quite easily do it at home. Just remember to feed your cat before s/he gets the dose, because an insulin dose on an empty stomach can be fatal and result in a hypoglycemic shock. In case your cat does get a ‘hypo’, feed him some glucose immediately.

Traveling With Your Cat

2011-10-22T04:01:00.000-07:00

Cats get very attached to their surroundings. Add the fact that most car trips result in humiliating (and sometimes painful) sessions at the vet, complete with pokes, prods and injections, and it's no wonder your cat disappears at the sound of his carrier being brought out.
While many dogs like nothing better than to accompany their masters on car outings, travel with a cat can be difficult. Even if your cat is a decided homebody, there are ways you can help him cope a little better.

Cats tolerate carriers and the travel implied by them much more easily if they have been acclimatized at a young age.
If you take your cat for frequent short drives to the store, to visit friends or even just for the occasional spin around the block, then he won't be as likely to associate travel with unpleasantness, such as those traumatic visits to the vet.
If your cat is trained to a harness and leash, take him on car rides to check out nature a bit farther away than your backyard.
When your cat becomes accustomed to these trips, you can begin to try longer ones.

If you will be away quite awhile and feel the stress of traveling can be offset by the pleasure of you and your cat being together, you may consider taking your cat along.
Or, perhaps you've taken your cat on progressively longer rides and feel he can cope with an extended trip.
If you are leaving the country, call the animal authorities in the jurisdiction to which you are traveling to find out about special vaccination requirements, what documents you will need and any other regulations concerning animals. International traveling papers can take time to process, so apply for them well in advance.
If quarantine is required, forget about taking the cat; the stress isn't worth it unless you're moving permanently.
Visit the vet for a checkup and shots, advice on any sedatives and details on fasting before the trip.
Make sure your destined lodgings allow cats.

A collar and identification tag with your cat's name, your name and the address and phone number of both your home and place of destination is essential. Your cat will also need his harness and leash, his usual food (to avoid stomach upsets), a bottle of his usual drinking water (gradually substitute local water at your destination), his bowls, litter box, a supply of litter and a scooper, first-aid and grooming supplies, health records (including vaccination certificates) and medications, plus a few favorite toys from home. Don't forget cleanup supplies, including paper towels and spray cleaner. Lining the bottom of the carrier with disposable diapers will soak up any "accidents" and simplify cleanups.

Substances That Are Hazardous to Cats

2011-10-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

-Acetaminophen/aspirin

-Antifreeze
-Bleach
-Boric acid
-Brake fluid
-Cleaning fluid and solutions
-Deodorants
-Deodorizers
-Detergents
-Disinfectants
-Drano (and the like)
-Dye
-Floor wax
-Fungicides
-Furniture Polish
-Garlic
-Gasoline
-Gypsum board (sheetrock) dust
-Herbicides
-Insecticides
-Laxatives
-Lysol
-Metal Polish
-Mineral Spirits
-Mothballs
-Nail Polish Remover
-Onions
-Paint
-Paint Remover
-Rubbing Alcohol
-Shoe Polish
-Snail/Slug Bait
-Suntan Lotion
-Tar
-Tee tree oil
Symptoms of poisoning will range from seizures and foaming at the mouth to vomiting and coma. Immediate medical attention - as soon as you see the cat has eaten a toxic substance (don't wait for symptoms to appear) - is necessary.

Cats' nutritional needs

2011-10-22T03:58:00.000-07:00

Cats' nutritional needs are very specific and the nutritional quality of cat food is one of the most important factors in cats' health and longevity. These resources will help you learn all you need to know about cat food labels, cat food ingredients, and the nutritional needs of cats.

Cats are obligate carnivores and hence, must eat animal tissue to maintain their long-term well-being. If left on its own the cat survives on whatever small animal prey is available in the habitat. From the muscle of its prey, the cat obtains protein. And from the bones and viscera (intestines and other organs), it obtains vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. The cat also meets most of its fluid requirements through its prey. The cat's tendency to eat small but frequent meals.

Food provides the cat with nutrients - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and water - that are crucial to the growth, reproductive, and adult stages of its life cycle. Cats require two essential amino acids - taurine and arginine. Taurine deficiency in cats causes reproductive problems, blindness, and heart disease. An arginine-deficient diet leads to a situation in which the cat develops toxicosis because it can't adequately convert the harmful waste product ammonia into urea (normally eliminated via the urinary system). To avoid the dangers of taurine and arginine deficiencies in cats: make sure that the cat's diet contains adequate amounts of these and other essential amino acids.

A cat's protein requirement varies according to its life stage. A healthy adult cat's diet should contain 30 to 45 percent protein on a dry-matter basis (without the water content of the food). To fulfill protein's requirement buy meat-based high protein cat food. As such cats do not require carbohydrates but most of the cat foods contain carbohydrates. A healthy adult cat's diet should contain 10 to 30 per cent fat on a dry-matter basis. Cats also need vitamins and minerals. But we want to strike a note of caution here - Do not add vitamin or mineral supplements to cat's food without first consulting a veterinarian. It would do more harm than good.

Several factors influence cat's gastronomic habits. Smell and taste play a major role in shaping cat's food preferences. In terms of flavor, cats prefer salty, sour, or bitter-tasting substances. Cats don't develop a sweet tooth because they have no perception of simple sugars. Cats prefer food that is close to their own body temperature.

Contrary to the cat's image cats must develop a taste for milk. Many cats do not enjoy cow milk. Cow's milk can occasionally be a problem for cats that do enjoy it. Some adult cats cannot effectively digest cow's milk (lactose intolerance), which can result in diarrhea.

Cats can provide...

2010-12-23T08:36:00.000-08:00

Cats can be more than just a pet for some people, in their own way they care for your. A cat is very compassionate and caring when you are sick and will often visit and keep you company during times of illness and upset. They are also very independent animals and once properly trained can often be left to their own devices, but take care not to leave them for too long as they will still need feeding and your love and attention.

Cats can provide hours of entrainment for the whole family. As you care for your cat you will start to learn all about your cats quirks, the things it likes and doesn’t like. All cats have their own personality, you just have to give it time to shine through, most are pleasant and happy cats, because their owners have spent time caring for them.

You’ll find many different cats, in all walks of life. Have a look around your local town or countryside, some cats need little or no care a will live on farms or in large industrial areas, where they work for a living, normally they catch vermin in return for a meal and a dry place to sleep. Other may be house cats, living in high rise apartment blocks, a lot of these may be elderly cats which need a lot of care and attention, but are unable to move too far and there for are very suitable for the environment. Then there are even wild cats, these cats need no intervention from us, they are very feral and only ever need any care if they are accidentally hit by a car and taken to a veterinary centre. No matter what your life style you’ll find a cat that will fit in to it.