The cat is different. She serves no one, knowingly or willingly. Her one accomplishment — the hunting of mice, rats and other rodents — is self-taught. The man does not live who can claim to have trained a cat to perform a task for human benefit. There are no police cats, no watch cats, no sled cats. The cat does not even come when she’s called, unless it suits her.

Dogs are dependent upon humans.  They seek humans for companionship, play and care.  They enjoy the role of being part of the “pack” and will go to great lengths to keep that position.

Cats are also quite self-sufficient. You never have to entertain them. This is not to say that they cannot be entertained or that they themselves are not entertaining. It is just that their errands are many and their schedules full.  Cats prefer going it alone, depending upon their own wit to survive.

Whether you choose to share your home with a dog or a cat depends a great deal upon your own personality.  If you seek to be in charge, you will come to blows with cat every time.  She cannot be controlled.  If companionship and undying loyalty are what you seek, a dog will fill the position willingly.

There are homes and people for both dog and cat—examine what you expect carefully and choose accordingly.  Your home will be blessed with the presence of either.

Contact allergies generally result in a fairly localized reaction on the skin. The cat may scratch a lot or there may be an indication of irritation at the place of contact. Most common causes of contact allergies in cats would obviously be items with which they come in close contact such as flea collars, bedding, toys, etc. The simplest cure is to remove the contact.

Flea allergies are very common in cats. A normal cat may simply bite or scratch for a while and then go on to other things, but a cat with a flea allergy may scratch, chew, and worry at the spot until large amounts of fur are lost.

Inhalant types of allergies are probably the most common in cats. Your cat can be allergic to the exact same allergens that you are. Tree pollens, grass pollens, and weed pollens along with the rest of the items we humans fear; mold, mildew, dust mites, and dust itself can all trigger allergic reactions in cats.

As in humans, true food allergies in cats can be extremely difficult to pinpoint. One reason is that they commonly demonstrate many of the symptoms of distress seen in the other groups. True food allergies in cats can cause itching and/or respiratory problems. Most food allergies will center around the type of protein common in the cat’s diet, such as beef, pork, poultry, or lamb. Simply eliminating that type of protein by changing to another type of food will usually take care of the problem.

The best way to ensure that your cat does not become overweight is by feeding him correctly with a balanced diet, but exercise also plays a part in keeping your kitty healthy. If yours is an indoor cat, then playing with you may be his only opportunity for exertion and staying trim.

Playing will help your cat to become confident. Also regular play periods, coupled with petting sessions, will get your cat used to human interaction, he will be less likely to shy away and hide, when visitors call.

Playing will help your cat develop his hunting abilities. Hunting is a natural instinct for all cats, a cat confined to indoors usually has little chance to express and develop this instinct. Encourage kitty to chase a toy mouse, allow him to pounce for the ‘kill’. This will aid him should he ever get lost and need to find food.

Playing will help your cat release aggression. Cats often display aggressive traits through boredom. Tutor your cat not to scratch, bite or attack you with play sessions. Use praise to reward your cat for playing gently, as soon as he shows any sign he is about to use his teeth or claws – end the play session. This will teach your cat that aggressive cat behavior is best directed to his toys, and not you!

Cats need fun in their lives, just like humans need it. Relieve the monotony of eating, snoozing and using the litter box by putting a bit of fun in your cats life. You will have a happier, more confident and less aggressive kitty.

Feline asthma is an immune-mediated disease characterized by symptoms ranging from infrequent, hairball-like coughing, to sudden onsets of respiratory distress (which veterinarians call “acute dyspnea”).

Episodes are usually triggered by an allergen or stress, and can be accompanied or followed by vomiting, sneezing, or even wheezing like a human allergy sufferer. Respiratory signs may be slow and deliberate (more abdominal breathing), to fast and labored.

True asthma, as opposed to bronchitis, normally responds quickly to a combination of bronchodilators, oxygen therapy, and fast acting steroids. Diagnosis is usually confirmed with an x-ray, and possibly a slide cytology of the airway.

Because asthma can mimic other feline diseases (bronchitis, heart disease, pneumonia), a veterinary diagnosis assisted by an x-ray is essential. In many ways, feline asthma is very similar to human asthma, although our understanding of the causes of clinical feline asthma has been growing in recent years.

Long-term treatment of asthma usually includes short or long- term use of corticosteroids (such as prednisone), and bronchodilators (such as terbutaline or aminophyline). While severe “episodes” of dyspnea can occur, the long- term prognosis for this disease is generally excellent. If diagnosed early, any structural changes to the lungs and airway are usually reversible, and damage can be minimized.

Recent investigation into alternative treatments for asthma include injectable steroids (for that patient that simply can’t be pilled), Cyproheptadine (formally used as an appetite stimulant), Cyclosporin A (limited to severe cases), and Anti-Interleukin-5 Antibody (still experimental).

Removing allergens from the environment (use of an air purifier, dust free and unscented litter, no odor controlling sprays, etc.) could possibly help to relieve symptoms.

Feline infectious enteritis (FIE)
This is a vaccination must – unvaccinated cats are at a significant risk as the virus is so widespread in the environment. FIE is a severe and often fatal gut infection, which is caused by the feline parvovirus. In other words, it’s nasty and needs to be avoided.

Cat flu
It’s also a must that your cat is vaccinated against the feline flu. There are two common types, feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus, although there are so many strains of the illness that the vaccine cannot totally eradicate the threat of infection.

Feline chlamydophilosis
This vaccine is not required by all cats, so speak to your vet about whether your feline friend needs the jab. The bacterium causes conjunctivitis in cats and is spread by direct contact with other animals rather than the air, meaning it largely affects multi-cat households and kittens.

Feline leukaemia virus
If your cat is going to spend any time outdoors – which is the vast majority of felines – than it’s highly recommended they are vaccinated against this nasty virus. It’s a lifelong infection that kills most cats within three years of diagnosis, usually from illnesses caused as a result of getting the virus. Like Feline chlamydophilosis, it’s not an airborn disease and is passed through direct contact such as saliva and bites.

Of course, for more information on these illnesses, vaccinations and general cat health, it’s always worth speaking to an expert. You may be wondering: ‘why do cats get certain illnesses and not others?’ Or want to know more about ways you can protect your feline friends against nasty bugs? Then your vet should always be your first port of call.