Cat Health Problems and Remedies

For all of us cat lovers out there, we all worry about our cats. We should and trying to find good information is sometimes an issue. I know of some common cat health problems and would like to share with you some of them and some remedies for them. This is for cat lovers that would like to find out about hairballs, fleas, constipation, diarrhea and worms.

Hairballs in cats is a normal thing if they get them once and awhile. If your cat has quite a bit of hairballs then maybe it could be from them shedding too much. Do you find them having lots of hairballs in the spring, the shedding season? If so there is an easy remedy for this from just combing them. Now if you find that combing doesn't help then ask yourself do you have other cats or does your cat hang around other cats? If so your cat could be grooming the other cats and getting hairballs from them. Then of course there is other problems such as diets, or digestion problems.

Now to fleas, you don't need to worry if your cat has a few but I would still recommend treating your cat. If you do not treat your cat it could let your cat become infested with them. If your cat does get infested with fleas, it is best to treat them as quickly as possible. In not treating a flea infestation you could let your cat become dehydrated from the fleas feeding off your cat. Treating your cat is simple with flea treatments, and to help prevent fleas you can get a flea collar.

Constipation is not nice to go through and sometime can be painful, as so with our cats. Even simple hairballs can let our cats be constipated, so remember to comb them regularly. If you are helping your cat from having less or no hairballs then perhaps you changed their diet? There are simple remedies for constipation that you can get. If you see bloody stool however then please take you cat to a vet immediately.

Now diarrhea is not a pleasant thing to think about, but if it last longer than 24 hours, you can help ease it. Diarrhea is a safety mechanism, if your cat ingest something it doesn't like, then it passes through the stomach with little water/liquid absorption which in turn becomes diarrhea. That is why I suggest to give it 24 hours as that is usually the time it takes to let it pass as long as it doesn't intake any more of what it doesn't like.

Worms in cats, there is four types I have found out to be fairly common for cats, roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm and heartworms. What I found out to be somewhat disturbing is that some of these worms, us the owners can get. So treating them is what we would like to get done right away. Not only us but our other pets like dogs can also get them. There are some great dewormers out there to help you get them treated. But it is sometimes best to take your cat to the vet as you may need them to be surgically removed.

These are some of the common cat health problems I found and as a cat lover would like to share with other cat lovers. The nice thing about this website is that they also would like for us to help each other and give them our own personal cat health problems we have come across, and if we know them, the remedies. I hope that all the cat lovers out there will help and give them other good topics on this to allow us all to have a good informative meeting place.

Do Cats See In Color Or Black And White?

For years the general consensus was that cats saw the world in black and white, and did not have the ability to perceive color. Recent research has shown evidence that suggests that cats may have a great deal of color vision after all. It's now believed that cats can see different shades of the colors blue and green, but that other colors are not all perceived as we see them. 

Cats only have two types of cones (photoreceptor cells) in the retina of the eye that are responsible for color vision. There are three types of cones, and cats are missing the cones that correspond to the color red. Humans have all three, allowing us to perceive more color and intensity of color. It's believed that cats have a limited ability to distinguish the difference between reds and greens at all - which is actually a form of color blindness also found in humans.

To answer the question simply - no, cats do not see only in black and white, but they do appear to suffer from a form of color-blindness.

While humans definitely have cats beat in terms of looking at a sunset, their vision in other areas is vastly superior to ours. While they have less cones in their eyes, they have more rods - making their eyes more suitable for perceiving motion than color, and more suitable for seeing at night. Cats are hunters by nature, and their visual skill set provides excellent tools for that. Cats can detect the most minute motions far away, and hone in on them in a way we couldn't even hope to do.

Cats also have fantastic night vision, due to their eyes ability to control brightness to their advantage, needing very little light to see. A cat needs only one sixth of the amount of light a human needs to see. This is achieved as cats have what is called a tapetum lucidum within their eye. 

The tapetum lucidum (which means "bright tapestry" in Latin) lies just behind, or sometimes within the retina and reflects light that passes through the retina back into the eye, giving that cat a vastly increased ability to see in very dim light. It's this tapetum reflecting light back that sometimes causes a cat's eyes to appear to glow in the dark.

The cat's night vision is also improved by their very large pupils. Cats have slit pupils, instead of the round pupils humans have. This elliptical design serves to protect the cat's eye from too much light, as cats are not 100% nocturnal like most other creatures with very large pupils. The slit shape allows the pupils to dilate and contract more drastically and quickly than a round pupil can, to adjust to different extremes in amounts of light in the environment.

How to Groom a Kitten

While naturally mother cats take care of their kittens and teach them grooming, keeping your kitten extremely clean is important for its health and well-being. Before they grow and learn how to independently groom themselves properly, you can wash your kitten from the age of 12 weeks. It is especially important to groom kittens daily, because often their coat is of a cottony texture that tangles very easily. 

The kitten will quickly become accustomed to being combed and brushed. So, when you introduce a bath, it will not be difficult. Remember that most cats hate water with an exception of Turkish Van and Bengal breeds.

Like babies, kitties need lots of love and patience especially when being introduced to new things. When introducing it to a bathe, hold it against your body and move it slowly to ensure that it earns your trust, as some kittens get startled at the sound of running water. You need to talk to the kitten constantly as you dip her into the bathing tub.

Cleaning Items 

• A soft cloth 

• Warm water 

• A soft towel 

• Rubber mat to prevent kitten from slipping 

• Pet shampoo/baby shampoo 

• Lots of warmth and affection. 

Washing procedure 

• Half fill the sink or bath tub with warm water and insert the rubber mat. 

• Wrap a towel around yourself to avoid soaking wet. 

• Hold the front feet of the kitten with one hand and gently lower the body into the water with the other hand. Let the front feet stand on the edges of the tub to make the kitten feel more secure and more in control. 

• Shampoo the soft towel and start cleaning from the back, following the direction of the fur. 

• Move on to the tail, hind legs, front legs, neck and then the tummy. 

• Remember to constantly talk to the kitten as you wash it to keep it calm. If it is scared, hold it in your towel for reassurance and comfort. 

• Once rinsed, remove it from the water and hold it in a soft towel to blot out excess water. 

• While doing this, hold and talk to the kitten to calm it down and to earn a lot of trust as possible.

Tips 

• Make sure that the water that you use is close to the kitten's body temperature. 

• Confine the kitten to a certain place to dry off. 

• Kittens only require full baths if they are especially dirty or have fleas. Always use a pet shampoo for this. 

• Spot-cleaning works well for them. Daily cleaning of their behinds will help keep your kitten happier, healthier and keep odors away. 

• Remember not to give your kitten too many baths. The water will dry out his skin and his fur! Once every two weeks is perfect practice! 

• If kitten shampoo is a little out of your price range, Johnson's head-to-toe baby wash works great and leaves her smelling nice longer. It is also very gentle on her skin and is tear-free! 

• You can wash the kitty's face with a damp cloth. 

• Front paws and bib area, may be rubbed gently with cornstarch to absorb the stain, and then brushed off. 

• A paste of cornstarch and peroxide can be used to clean urine stains under the tail and stubborn stains. 

• If you get scratches in the process, quickly use a disinfectant to clean the area thoroughly and bandage them. Check the scratches frequently for any signs of infections. 

Warnings 

• Bathing kittens pose serious health risks to kittens since they are not able to raise their temperature very fast after the fur has been soaked wet. 

• Never get soap into the kitty's face, if it does quickly wash it. Consult a vet if the irritation persists.

Bathing a kitten can be fun and enjoyable when well planned. It controls pet dander and also lessens the risk of hair balls, which can form in the kitty's stomach and intestines if it swallows hair when licking itself.

Common Surgical Procedures for Cats

Cats have been worshiped as gods by the Egyptians, since these were once believed to be the beloved animals of the Egyptian goddess, Bastet. Nowadays, this simple fact does not exclude them from the different surgical procedures available in a veterinarians clinic. As expected, neutering, spaying, and declawing are the top 3 most common surgical procedures for cats. 

Based on annual statistics, the population growth of cats is 1.9% every year, while the dog population grows by only 1.2% every year! Do the math, and it shows that cats reproduce more than dogs - one cat can give birth to as many as 14 cats in a single pregnancy!

Neutering is a surgical procedure limited to male cats. Aside from preventing a male cat from seeking a mate and adding another litter to the cat population, neutering stops the male from urinating all over the house in an attempt to mark its territory. Neutering also lessens aggressive behaviors which allows its owners to fondle and cuddle it as much as they want.

However, neutering also comes with several drawbacks. Neutered cats are more prone to becoming obese, developing hair loss/alopecia, and developing osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is linked to bone cancer, and this develops as a cancerous neoplasm. Other health complications associated with neutering include prostate cancer and the formation of stones in the urinary bladder.

Spaying, on the other hand, is a surgical procedure for female cats. Compared to male cats, females are able to experience heat many times during spring and become desperate enough to escape the house just to find a mate. Owners know when their cat is in heat when it vocalizes a lot, stands with its behind raised, and urinating out of its kitty litter. One of the advantages of spaying a cat is that it removes the risk of it developing breast cancer or mammary tumors.

Like neutering, spaying increases the chances of forming urinary tract infection, obesity, and even hemangiosarcoma. Hemangiosarcoma is a condition where a tumor forms and is continuously filled with blood. Once the tumor ruptures, it can cause the molly to bleed to death. Hypothyroidism and urinary incontinence are also other possible side effects a cat can develop after being spayed.

Finally, declawing is a surgical procedure usually conducted on cats that exhibit destructive behavior by clawing at furniture, curtains, and other things around the house. A declawing procedure is usually done as a last resort, after attempts to train the cat to use a scratching post or even trimming its nails have failed.

Neutering, spaying, and declawing are all advised to be conducted when the cat is about 5 to 6 months old. Some veterinarians even offer to do neutering and declawing or spaying and declawing at the same time, so that they only need to use one round of anesthesia. It also helps to have these two procedures done at the same time so that the cat's owner won't have to put their pet through two rounds of post-surgical stress.

Bengal - Personality To Be Proud Of

The Bengal cat is one special breed that has long fascinated cat lovers and pet enthusiasts alike. Through years of careful selection, this wonderful Breed came about. Not only does the Bengal exhibit the untamed look of the Asian Leopard Cat but it also possesses the unique personality that sets it apart from all other breeds.

Most of the time, you will find yourself wondering how could the Bengal cat breeding program manage to produce such an outstanding personality. It certainly does goes to show that the genetic gamble has resulted in a winning breed. The Bengal cat personality is comprised of intangible qualities that any cat owner will definitely be proud of.

It is always a very fulfilling moment every time you or your friends interact with your Bengal on another level because of its personality traits. It is apparent that it is a breed of cat but when you get to know the Bengal on a much deeper level, you'll realize that its personality is far different from the others.

What exactly are the parts of the Bengal personality that really make it such an unforgettable breed to interact with? Read on and you'll discover just how special the Bengal cat is.

Very smart

Part of the Bengal personality is its extraordinary ability to critically think. The Bengal can figure out things and actually try to get it done on its own. The Bengal cat is a breed whose personality enables it to easily absorb information. With this, you can teach your Bengal different tricks to show everyone how smart your cat is. This aspect of the Bengal cat personality has earned the breed distinguishing labels like "dog-like cat" or "dog-cat".

Focused on you

As the immediate source of care and security, you are the cat's parent. This being a given, you and your Bengal cat get to bond a lot deeper. This cat is so attached to you that a major part of its personality is to be with you at all times. "Talking" is inherent to the Bengal cat personality. Somehow, you understand each other even if you don't really speak each other's language. The Bengal expresses itself vocally, which is another very intriguing aspect of its personality. It is the intimate connection that the two of you have that enables this verbal communication.

Active

The Bengal also has a very active and playful side to its personality. It is one of the valuable traits that it has inherited from the Asian Leopard Cat. This breed is so fond of playing and getting into things around the house that its interactive personality often gets the breed into trouble. You just have to give this cat enough stimulation and attention to bring out and develop this side of its personality. The Bengal is at its best when it always interacts with you, your family, or with other pets in the house.

Curiosity Could Kill Your Cat

Curiosity gets more cats into trouble than almost anything else. Cats are very curious by nature and when you bring them into your house, look out!

I got a Ragdoll kitten (Andy) for Christmas one year and decided we should go and get his brother from the breeder the following week. We thought Andy would be so surprised and happy to be reunited with his brother - ha! He seemed to have absolutely no recollection that he ever had a brother and did not want to share his new home with another kitten at all. He stalked his brother (Amos ) all over the house hissing and growling until poor Amos took refuge in the basement of our house. 

Andy was still not happy until Amos found a small hole in the wall and climbed in and disappeared! He managed to get himself stuck in the wall where he couldn't turn around to get himself back out and we had to tear half the wall down to rescue him. Moral of the story is that you need to kitten proof your house to save yourself a lot of headaches.

Placing glass decorations on high shelves turned out to be another poor decision. I swear they would push them off on purpose. Some of the following tips should prevent a lot of needless disasters and trips to the emergency vet's office.

• Tie up hanging drapery and electrical cords.
• Remove plastic bags, twist ties, rubber bands, medications, cigarette butts and ant or roach traps from where they can get into them.
• Check that if windows are open they have firmly attached screens.
• Do not leave candles burning unattended.
• Keep toilet lids closed.
• Do not leave the stove unattended. Burners can remain hot after you turn them off especially if you have a glass top stove. I kept a tea kettle filled with water on hand just for that purpose.
• Christmas trees should have a category all to themselves. You should secure it to the closest wall unless you want to pick it up off the floor after it is fully decorated! Do not use tinsel on a tree if you have a cat or dog in the house. They love to eat it right off the tree for some strange reason. Do not hang glass decorations on the lower branches for obvious reasons.

Many house plants are toxic to cats. Some of the ones you should keep away from your cat are:

Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Oleander, Elephant Ear, Wisteria, Boxwood, Hydrangea, Lilies, Azalea

Rhododendron and Fox Glove.

This is just to name a few. The ASPCA lists over 400 plants that are toxic to cats. I finally gave up and got rid of all of mine. Some cat owners claim that if you give your cats a small container of growing grass in your home they will leave your plants alone. I never tried that so I don't know if it works but it might be worth a try.

One other thing I would do to keep my curious cats safe if to have them micro chipped. A small silicone chip containing the owners' information is painlessly inserted under the cat's skin. If your cat should ever accidentally get outside (trust me, it happens) any local vet or animal shelter would be able to scan the chip and return your cat to you. 

My cats were total inside cats and had not been outside in their lives until the day somebody didn't close the door tightly. One stayed in the house and the other one went exploring. Fortunately we got him back before he got into trouble he couldn't handle. You just never know what can happen and it really helps to try and have all the bases covered before it does.

Picking the Best Cat Food

It's a bit of a maze out there - how do you set about picking the best cat food? Supermarkets have shelves piled high with attractive packets proclaiming health and longevity. Veterinarians have floor to ceiling pet food, claiming the same, but saying supermarket food is bad. Get on the internet and explore the forums and you get a different story again. Many recalls are made almost daily.

How can you possibly know what the best cat food is, with all this conflicting information? Feeding your cat right is essential for their health and well being. The wrong diet can wreak havoc on their health, costing you a lot in veterinary fees.

In the last few decades, the health of cats has declined rapidly. It's not uncommon for cats to get a serious illness when only a few years old. Stomatitis, once unknown in cats, is now common. Diabetes is rapidly becoming common. Serious degenerative diseases, such as cancers and leukaemia, were exceptionally rare not that long ago, but now too common for comfort.

Something is seriously amiss. Somehow, humans have made some wrong choices in the not too distant past. Here are some tips that may help you make the right decision for your cat.

1. Nature never gets things wrong. It's man's interpretation of nature that is often wrong. Cats evolved over a very long time on a particular diet. Their whole physiology has adapted to this perfectly. Go back to a quality, natural diet which is based on their evolution.
2. Domestic cats often have their food left out all day. Being hunters, this is contrary to their evolution. Not every hunt is successful, by any means. So cats are more adapted to going without food, rather than grazing, a predominantly herbivore trait. Stomach problems are common in cats who graze.
3. Dried food is said to be good for their teeth. However, gum disease is common in cats on dried food, so this advice falls short of the reality.
4. Dried food can easily make a cat dehydrated. Coming from semi arid environments, cats rely on their food for their moisture. Often they won't drink enough water to make up the shortfall.
5. There are no real laws than govern the quality of commercial pet food anywhere in the world. The production of most of it is nothing short of shocking.

Picking the best cat food to ensure your cat has vibrant health and longevity means considering a quality, natural, species specific diet. You may need to consider making it yourself.