Cat Q&A

Posts Tagged ‘cat care’

Cats can make excellent pets as they don’t require as much attention as dogs or other pets. Cats don’t need to be taken for a walk, and they don’t bark all day like a dog.Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to, and they are very independent. Most cats are content to play with toys by themselves.

This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. However your cat won’t come running when you come home at the end of day and knock you over. You don’t have to worry about them biting people when you have visitors. Cats seem to know when you need some comfort and will jump up on your lap and give you a fuss.

A cat is a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. Providing they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy and contented. Indoor cats learn quickly to use a litter box so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around your home. However, you need to clean the litter box regularly because cats do not like to use a dirty litter box.

In the majority of cases, cats lead a very happy and long life without too many problems. They don’t cost very much because cat food and litter are very cheap. Unlike dogs, cats don’t require as many vet visits for routine shots which can become quite expensive. Cats are clean animals as they spend a large amount of time grooming themselves each day.

For those that have problems with mice, cats make a great natural system for taking care of them. This means you won’t have to deal with messy traps or dangerous poisons around your home.

Cats are very precious and beautiful animals as well. They have coats in all colors as well as eyes that are very shiny and bright. Each cat has their own personality and you just can’t help but adore them. There are many breeds of cats if you want a particular kind but some of the most beautiful cats are those that are mixed breeds.

Cats are very smart animals too so they will quickly catch up to what you like from them and what you don’t based on the praise you give them. Contrary to popular belief, cats are obedient and they want their owner’s to be happy with them. They will learn fast that you don’t like them scratching on the furniture or putting their tail in your face while you are sleeping.

If it’s been a while since you had a cat in your home, or if you’re bringing your first cat home as a pet, you will need to review some basic advice in house cat care. Like any pet, a cat has very specific needs and the more information you have, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to guarantee your cat’s health and happiness. Just take a few minutes to look over the advice given here to ensure your cat’s well-being and long healthy life.

The first step is cat-proofing your home. You should try to see through the cat’s eyes before you bring the cat home. Go through the rooms of the house that your cat will be in and watch for any risky places that could endanger the cat. To spare yourself any hassles in the future, just move the furniture that you really don’t want damaged to another area where the cat won’t be around it.

Keep in mind that house cat care includes providing a litter box for the cat, of course. You will need to scoop the waste from the litter box daily, sometimes more frequently, and it can’t be in an area of the house with heavy traffic, or around other animals or young children. Cats naturally know how to use the litter box, but when you introduce it to them, you may have to put them in it and just show them how to scratch at the loose gravel.

If your cat has longer hair, you will also want to remember that your cat needs to get used to being brushed. By keeping your cat brushed, you’ll be able to avoid having your cat swallow its own hair and develop hairballs.

This can lead to more serious health issues later in life. Remember that house cat care means your cat needs to be picked up and brushed. The best time to begin this is when the cat is young, if you can.

In general, the best way to care for a cat is to use common sense and, remember to watch your cat. See if he or she is doing anything out of the ordinary and figure if their behavior changes and why. Good observation can keep a little problem from turning into a big one, and you’ll find that it is a great way to get to know the newest addition to your family!

During hot summer months, it can get pretty hot. Learning how to take care of a cat during this season is important.As a cat owner it is important for you to take extra precautions for your cat’s health during hot weather, otherwise, your cat may suffer from dehydration.  Since your cat can’t tell you when it is feeling dehydrated, it is up to you to pay attention to your cat’s behavior and provide cooler living conditions if necessary to prevent overheating.

Bring your cat indoors when you notice the temperature is rising.  Stray cats learn where to keep cool, but your cat is a pet and may not have the instincts to find a cool place to rest.  If it does find a cool place, you may not even know where your cat is all day because it will stay there until the sun sets.

If you are the kind of cat owner who likes to take your cat with you in the car, take extra care to get the cat out of the car with you every time you park.  In a very short period of time the interior temperature of your car can soar on a sunny day. 

Even when you try to park in the shade to prevent your car from heating up, as the sun moves throughout the day.  The heat travels from hot areas to cold areas.  Dogs can sometimes alert passers-by that they are in discomfort, but a cat is unable to do that and may die in as little as fifteen minutes.  Always get your cat out of the car with you when you park. 

Keeping your cat’s fur needs to be kept short and well groomed to help it stay cool.  Frequent combing will allow you to remove shed fur that may still be on your cat.  Cat’s which have natural long fur often give you no option but providing a cool environment.  This includes cats like the Persian and Siberian.

Make sure your cat has access to clean water.  Regardless of the season, it is important to allow your cat to stay well hydrated.  Keep water cool by changing it a few times each day during hot weather.  The goal is to keep your cat’s body temperature constant. Keep some of these tips when you are also choosing a pet for kids.

Cats in the wild can take care of themselves, that’s not the case with household pets.  House cats become completely dependent on humans for their care, feeding, and other attention.  Responsible cat ownership and the proper care of your cat is important. Check local bookstores or the humane society for educational material to help you learn to care for your cat.  Here are some tips for how to care for a cat.

You may not know it, but cats can be trained.  Like other animal training programs gentle, positive training will work best.  Offer your cat a treat when they behave correctly or as you have taught them.  When they misbehave just ignore them.

It’s true that cats keep themselves clean.  They like to clean themselves up a little daily.  Nonetheless, your cat needs a good bath every three weeks.  Products designed just for cats are available at your local pet store, but any mild soap is sufficient.  Some, if not most, cats don’t care for baths. Unless you train your cat from the time it is a kitten to get used to bath water and reward it with a treat following every bath, you will have a scratchy situation on your hands when you try to bath the cat when it gets older.  Start when your cat is a kitten and you should be able to acclimate the cat to bathing.

Do everything you can to make the bath fun and rewarding for your cat.  Don’t hit or punish your cat at bath time.  This will only cause your cat to be more apprehensive about bathing in the future.

Use a q-tip to gently clean and dry your cat’s ears and nails after bathing.   Do not use a hair dryer because your cat’s skin is much too sensitive and can easily be burned.  Not only that, but the noise and strong, hot air will probably cause your cat to freak out and try to run away.  Towel dry your cat and finish with a good, gentle brushing.

It’s a good idea to buy your cat its own bed.  While it is common for cats to sleep with their owner, your cat will be just as satisfied sleeping beside your bed.  This will keep your clothes and bed linens from always being full of cat hair.  Some people are allergic to cat hair, and you don’t want to have to choose between your cat and your sleeping mate.

It’s best to place the litter box where the odor will not bother the family.  Keep the litter box clean or your family may not appreciate you or your cat! Keep some of these tips in mind when it comes to choosing a pet for kids as well.

heart disease

As cats get older, problems with their heart, kidneys and other organs can occur. Cancer, renal or kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism (disease of the thyroid gland), dental disease and heart disease are the most frequent diseases found in aging cats. Cats age seven times faster than humans and examinations done by your veterinarian twice a year can help detect diseases earlier when they can still be treated. Diagnostic tests such as blood work, ECG, ultrasound and blood pressure monitoring can help detect problems sooner.

The most common heart diseases that affect cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Cardiomyopathy is found more frequently in cats than in dogs. HCM is an acquired heart disease that affects the muscular walls of the ventricles causing them to become abnormally thick. As the disease progresses the pumping capabilities of the heart decreases. The wall of the heart gets thicker and stiffer reducing it’s ability to contract and pump the blood efficiently. The chamber of the heart is smaller, so less blood is pumped out of the heart., This results in the amount of blood that once filled the heart is less than it should be and the heart muscle can’t contract as well to move the blood out of the heart into the body. The diseased heart now has to pump harder and faster than it once did just to keep the blood flowing throughout the body. As the blood backs up into the lungs, edema develops resulting in congestive heart failure.

Sometimes, the faulty heart can have changes in the conduction system that tells the heart when to contract. Irregular conduction can occur in the diseased heart resulting in sudden death, similar to young athletes that die during practice.

Another problem that can occur from the cardiomyopathy is a disease called feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE). Occasionally, blood clots can dislodge and clog the arteries going to the rear legs. The dislodged blood clot causes blockage of the blood flow to the legs resulting in severe pain and paralysis. This condition is sometimes referred to as a saddle thrombus. About 40% of the cats recover from a saddle thrombus with intensive therapy and may regain use of their legs over time. However, these cats can still risk develop another episode and will continue to suffer from the primary heart condition.

Cats are very good as masking underlying physical problems so early detection is key to helping these cats live a full life. A cat that is fat and lazy and doesn’t move around a lot, may actually have a heart disease. Of course not all fat and lazy cats a have heart disease, but the only way to tell is with full exams by your veterinarian. Diagnostic tests, such as, EKG, blood pressure monitoring and ultrasound can help the veterinarian detect heart disease. The thickened walls of the heart can be seen with ultrasound and is a screening tool for cats as well as our young athletes.

Medications can help cats with their heart function, reduce the edema in their lungs and may help reduce the blood clot formations. The prognosis for a cat that has already developed the congestive heart failure is guarded, and even with medication, survival rates are 12-18 months after diagnosis and sudden death can occur at any time.

Develop a wellness plan with your veterinarian for early detection and diagnostics. By detecting diseases earlier, small changes in diet or medications can help your cat live longer.

You can find more on Cat Health Care at LuvUrCat.com

These days, cats are among the most popular pet you can own.  There are several breeds available, with the most popular being Persian and Siamese.  Cats are a domesticated animal, with origins dating back some 8,000 years and beyond.  Like any other pet that you may own, including dogs, cats cost money to take care of properly.

When you get a cat, you’ll need to think about the costs.  You’ll obviously need food, and you’ll also need to plan ahead for vet costs.  You’ll also need litter, which can tend to get quite expensive as the years go by.  Your cat will need a litter box, food dish, and water dish.  You should also invest in some toys as well, such as a scratching post, cat toys, a pet carrier, and a bed.  You should also look into getting an ID collar as well, just in case your cat ever gets lost.

Age of a pet is an important thing to keep in mind in order to feed them.An older cat needs two small meals or one large for the whole day.  Kittens on the other hand, require several feedings a day until they get around the age of 12 weeks.  Cats that are between three and six months of age need to be fed three times a day.  Canned food can be fed to cats, although any food that has been left out longer than 30 minutes need to be disposed of.{ Canned food can get expensive fast, and you should always keep in mind that some may get invariably wasted when you buy it}.  Cats loved canned food, although it doesn’t have any benefits to their dental health like dry food does.

As an alternative plan, you can always leave a supply of dry food out for your pet.  When you give your cat dry food, you should always make sure that he has enough water. Dry food costs less than canned food, and it can also help to prevent the buildup of tartar on your cat’s teeth.  When you buy dry food, you should always look in terms of health and benefits, and stay away from generic food.Although generic food is devoid of quality nutrients up to the mark which your pet requires, but it may be cheaper in comparison to other foods.

If you own a kitten, you should only give you kitten food designed for him.  You’ll also need to clean and refill his water dish every day.  Even though kittens and adult cats like cow’s milk, you should avoid giving it to them as it can cause diarrhea.  Treats are fine on occasion, although too many of them can cause your pet to get fat.  Feeding your kitten human food is good on occasion, although you may have to mix it in with his cat food.

By themselves, cats stay fairly clean.  Although you don’t have to bathe them that often, you’ll need to give them a brushing at least once a day.  Brushing will reduce the risk of hairballs and keep your cat’s coat nice and clean.  If you are keeping your cat indoors, you’ll need to have a litter box in an area that is easy for your cat to access.  You should always scoop it on a daily basis, and clean it out once a week.Cats prefer clean and nice litter boxes and they are reluctant to use the dirty ones.

Although cats do require some work, they are great pets that will provide you with years and years of companionship.  As long as you take care of your cat and take him to the vet for his checkups, he should remain healthy.  Even though cats can get sick from time to time – knowing how to care for him will make a world of difference.

We all know that cats are loving and truly wonderful creatures.  These days, it isn’t out of the ordinary to see a cat in virtually every other home, sleeping in the window or cuddling up on the laps of their owners.  Although cats have been popular pets for as long as most can remember, they weren’t domesticated less than 5,000 years or so ago.The researchers say today to us, that domestication of cats started in the valley of the Nile.

In the beginning, people were very grateful to cats and encouraged them to stay with them by feeding them various scraps of food.  Once they were fed and perceived humans to be no threat, the cats would move in permanently with their human owners.  As time went by, even the wildest of cat would allows humans to approach him, often times even hold and touch as well.

In those days, cats were very loyal and endearing pets.  They proved to be great hunters, as they done their sleeping in short periods and were much easier to wake up than dogs.  Cats also have better night vision than dogs, and much better hearing as well.If they heard any suspicious noise or the noise of someone’s moving through the house, they would at once wake while the dog might be sleeping right through this incident.People love having cats in their surroundings, and they seemed to get  along good with dogs too.

These days, cats are used for both companionship and show.  They aren’t used much at all for hunting mice and rodent anymore at all.  There are a lot of breeds available, from the traditional alley cat to the well known Siamese.  All breeds are unique in their own way, and will provide you with years of companionship if you take care of them.

You will at first want to check the source, before you have a kitten or even an older one of the species.  If you are getting the kitten from a breeder, you’ll want to make sure that the breeder has a reputable reputation.  You’ll also want to ensure that the cattery is clean and in good shape.  The kittens that are still there shouldn’t be overcrowded, and their surroundings should be clean.  The litter boxes there should be kept up and both the food and water dish should be clean and full.  The kittens shouldn’t be caged, instead free to run around.  All cats that are there should appear healthy, with shiny coats and none of their ribs showing.

When you get your kitten, it should be used to being touched and handled.  The kitten should be sweet, not afraid in the least.  Kittens that have been handled young normally have a better temperament.  The better breeders won’t allow their kittens to leave the nest until they are around 12 weeks old, with some waiting until the kittens are 16 weeks.  By doing this, breeders ensure that the kitten is in good health and his immune system has properly developed.

There’s no mistaken the fact that cats are great to own.  You can get a kitten from a reputable breeder, through a local newspaper, or an adoption agency.  Cats can also be obtained from a local pound, although people normally don’t like to choose this option.  No matter which way you decide to pursue, you should always make sure that your cat is healthy.  If you get a healthy cat, you won’t have a lot of problems later on down the road.  Healthy cats were taken care of – and normally have everything up to date – including their vaccinations.

Dog is considered to be man’s best friend. Cats are now considered by dogs as their formidable allies, therefore, a cat can also be man’s best trusted ally & in the ethics of logic or the logic or ethics, whichever you choose, this is currently precisely correct and it can be probable (whoever made the notion that dogs and cats are worst enemies? And why the phrase “raining cats and dogs”, eh?) Anyway, that’s right and you can confirm that today because a lot of people prefer to have cats as pets over dogs. There is even this social networking site on the Net that has an article about how other individuals loved cats most than the barking animal. That’s why, today, buying a kitten can also be one of the best thing that people, especially cat lovers, need to know about.

You might have a notion that there is never an issue in getting a pussycat on your own or you might way, you just go to a pet store with eyes closed, then, let your fingers point to a “police line” of kittens and then, whatever you are pointing to while you expose your eyes is what you’re going to get, talking about cat random selection. No, that’s not it, for 100% certified cat lovers, maybe. There are lots of things to consider when buying a cat from a pet store or from any establishment that sells cats or from a legitimate cat breeder.

When planning to buy a cat, you need to regardmake some contemplation before you do. Choosing a cat as a pet is a big chore and should not be taken lightly. It will need attention, routine veterinary treatment, grooming and daily care, that is, if you really are a lover of cats and not just some bloke who wants to have a pet cat, period. When you take a cat for a pet, you have to know that it would take 10 to 15 years to groom it, pet it and taking care of it. Here are some tips and tricks in acquiring a kitten. First of all, it is always strongly recommended that you find a good and competent breeder. The advantage of buying from a breeder is that the breeding has already been carefully planned and well taken care of. The breeder will just have to orient you with all the necessary things you need to know about that cat. When buying from a pet store, be sure that the cat you choose is healthy and with a breeder, you can get personal views of cat care tips. You wouldn’t want to purchase a weak animal and then having a hard time when you don’t know how to take care of it, right?

To keep your cat healthy a majority of time, all you really need to do is give him good shelter, food, and plenty of water.  Like other living things however, cats can get sick from time to time no matter what you do. 

As a cat owner, you’ll want to ensure that you feed your cat only the best.  Premium cat food is the ideal for cats, as the food is designed to keep your pet happy and healthy.  You’ll also need to pay attention to his behavior, so you’ll know when he’s sick and when to take him to the vet.  Most of the more common ailments and sicknesses are minor, although there are some cases where a vet can be the determining factor between life and death for your cat.

Your cat’s behavior will be one of the most critical factors when you are trying to determine whether or not he is under the weather.  Acting sluggish, laying around all the time, lack of energy and not eating are all signs that you need to take him to the vet immediately.  His coat is also a good thing to watch as well.  If you notice his coat dull and patchy or notice him shedding abnormally, you should contact your vet as soon as you possibly can.

Diarrhea and vomiting are sometimes common, even with basic sickness.  On the other hand, if your cat seems to be doing either one of the two for more than a day, you should contact your veterinarian.  Coughing is common as well, simply because coughing will cats dislodge hairballs.  If your cat seems to be coughing for another reason, you should have him checked out as soon as possible.

To ensure that your cat isn’t subjected to various diseases, you should always make sure that he stays up do date with his vaccinations. There are several diseases out there that require vaccinations, including rabies and feline distemper.  Feline distemper is one of most devastating diseases a cat can get, yet it is also one of the easiest to prevent as well.  The disease strikes cats very fast, and leaves you as an own very little time to seek treatment.

Feline leukemia is another disease that is very deadly, yet can be prevented early on with the proper vaccinations.  Although the disease isn’t possible for humans to contract, it can be spread quickly among cats.  There are vaccinations that can treat the disease these days, although you’ll still want to be careful and not expose other cats around a cat you know has feline leukemia.

One more problem, that is associated strongly with Cats that spend time outdoors , is worms.  Cats that have worms will normally have a lackluster coat and little to no appetite.   There are several different types of worms, including ringworm and hookworm.  Worms can come from fleas, lice, or even the organs of dead rodents that cats consume.  Normally, the cat will digest the eggs which will later mature and attach themselves to the walls of the intestines.If you include garlic in your cats feed on regular basis then you can surely reduce the risk of worm infestation to your cat drastically.

Only if you actively monitor all aspect of cat care, the probability will remain that your cat will live a healty life with you for all it’s years.  You should always make sure he has quality food, and doesn’t miss any of his scheduled checkups with the vet.  If he gets the proper vaccinations when he is required to get them, he should be safe against numerous pests and diseases.  Taking the proper steps with your cat now will prevent anything from happening in the future.

Cats are fantastic pets that bring a considerable amount of happiness in our lives and should be given an equal amount of devotion and love. Welcoming the cat into the new home can be an exciting as well as overwhelming experience but, need some action before they can be safely added to the family circle. The first thing one may need to do is to kitten or cat proof the home, which means removing small items like tinsel, rubber bands etc. that may choke the new addition. Have a cat carrier on hand, which are safe as well familiar places for the cat and, having a litter box would help the cat understand where to eliminate.

Cat Care Also Means Socializing The Cat

Once you have your cat secured in the home, you would need to socialize it and, this cat care chore is essential for it will help it to adapt to new social as well as environmental change. Also, understanding cat behavior can be a bit perplexing and needs time before cat training techniques can be successfully applied to keep the cat from engaging in unwanted behavior. Cat care would generally stress on cat’s food and nutritional needs which change with the animal’s age. Premium cat food formulas can be given at different stages of her life to help it stay fit as well as healthy.

Giving the cat food that has all the necessary nutrients as well as being palatable is essential for its health and, one should refrain from giving it human food, which will upset the nutrient balance of its diet. Obviously, its food would contain milk but, it should be supplemented with raw eggs, though in limited doses, and raw fish and meats should be given with other ingredients to complete a nutritious diet for your cat.

It is necessary to take good care of the cat’s teeth as the pet is prone to dental problems like us hence, the cat’s teeth should be regularly brushed and given appropriate food, it is also advisable to get the teeth cleaned by a registered veterinarian. Good veterinarian dental care would prolong the life of the cat’s teeth as well as ensure that it does not require painful oral treatment.

One should also ensure the cat care that we give it should provide adequately for its safety and, this should be given priority. One should keep windows locked, especially if living in high rise apartments and keep it away from essential oils whose toxicity can harm its skin or be harmful to it, if inhaled. You might required a topical flea control product to prevent your pet from pests infestation and a First Aid Kit for emergency treatment of the cat.