Too Many Cats?
Cats are becoming increasingly popular as pets these days, and a big question is, how many cats should a family have? For some people, one is more than enough, others have half a dozen or more. Here are some sure- fire ways to know when you've reached your limit.
You know you have too many cats when: Your annual cat food bill is more than the combined Gross National Product of Liechtenstein, Andorra, and San Marino.
Your last three cats are named Puss, Kitty-cat, and Hey You.
You and your spouse are sleeping on the floor because there's no more room in the bed.
The cleaning lady at the vet's office calls you by your first name.
All your windowsills are occupied.
Your neighbors forget your last name and start referring to you as "you know, the cat people".
You have to change the vacuum cleaner bags every week.
You're running out of corners to put litter boxes in.
Even your coffee table has a slip cover.
The most important crop in your garden every year is catnip.
You can't remember what a house plant looks like.
Flea collars smell good to you.
You actually understand what your cats are saying.
More than half your mail comes from Purina and Friskies.
Every year you get a personally autographed Christmas card from Morris.
Your cat door has been replaced three times.
For Mothers Day last year the kids pooled their money and bought you an electric cat brush.
You thought it was the perfect gift.
The End
Copyright 1998, by Kathleen Mc Pugh
Kathie Freeman is the author of Catwalk, a Feline Odyssey. http://home.att.net/~kathfreeman/book.html
For more of her articles and short stories visit Kathie's Stories and Tails at http://home.att.net/~kathiefreeman/
This article is free to use as long as the byline and this source information is included.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathie Freeman is a life-long cat person who along with her husband has been owned by as many as 13 cats at once. They currently share their California home with four cats and a dog.
She is the author of "Catwalk, a Feline Odyssey", the captivating story of a wandering tabby cat and the people she meets on her journey of adventure and discovery.
Ms Freeman is also the author of "The Retro", as well as numerous short stories and articles, most of which can be read free on her website.
Cat's news
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
How To Have A Healthy Happy Cat
We all have the tendency to take our pets for granted, butyou're making a big mistake if you do so. Cat owners, inparticular, share the erroneous belief that their four footedcompanions know what's best for them and rarely thinkabout their pet's diet or health until the animal becomes visibly ill.
The truth is, smart as cats are, you're smarter! With minimaleffort - essentially a once a month home examination andyearly veterinarian exam, you can avert a variety of problemsand unnecessary trips to the vet, and keep your cat asfit as it ought to be for life.
1. Have you noticed any recent changes in your cat'sattitude or behavior, such as listlessness, restlessness,loss of appetite, aggression?
2. Does your cat's coat look dull or feel dry, brittle, orgreasy?
3. Are his whiskers short or broken?
4. Using your hand, brush your cat's hair backwards fromtail to head. His skin should be a normal grayish white.Is the skin a healthy color, or is it red and irritated? Isthe tail area greasy with sparse hair?
5. Also look carefully for fleas or any little blackflecks (the excrement of fleas) on the skin. Do you see any?
6. Does the neck, back or base of the tail show any lesions?
7. Smell your hand after running it through yourcat's fur. Your fingers should not have an unpleasantfishy, rancid odor.
8. Are you able to feel good muscle tone aroundthe sternum (breastbone)? If should not be soft orflaccid.
9. Do you feel a firm muscle mass when you run your hand down your cat's spine and over the ribcage? There should not be more than a pinch of fat.
10. Open your cat's mouth and smell his breath.It should smell clean and not have an offensive odor.Does it smell clean?
11. Look at the gums. They should be pink, not pale or white, nor should they be swollen, bright red,or bleeding.
12. Check the teeth. Do they look white and healthy?They should be free of tartar and not loose.
13. Examine your cat's eyes. Are they clear of filmand free of mucous discharge? Is there any crustingaround them?
14. Feel the inner side of your cat's thighs. Arethere any roundish bumps or swellings? These couldindicate enlarged lymph nodes and usually thepresence of worms.
15. Is your pet's stomach unusually distended?
16. Look at the paw pads. Are they smooth withoutdry, cracking lines?
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For more really cool info on all aspects of Dog, Cat, Horse & Bird Care visit our site and take advantage of our extensive library of f r e e pet care tips & pet fun info.
http://petcaretips.net
The truth is, smart as cats are, you're smarter! With minimaleffort - essentially a once a month home examination andyearly veterinarian exam, you can avert a variety of problemsand unnecessary trips to the vet, and keep your cat asfit as it ought to be for life.
1. Have you noticed any recent changes in your cat'sattitude or behavior, such as listlessness, restlessness,loss of appetite, aggression?
2. Does your cat's coat look dull or feel dry, brittle, orgreasy?
3. Are his whiskers short or broken?
4. Using your hand, brush your cat's hair backwards fromtail to head. His skin should be a normal grayish white.Is the skin a healthy color, or is it red and irritated? Isthe tail area greasy with sparse hair?
5. Also look carefully for fleas or any little blackflecks (the excrement of fleas) on the skin. Do you see any?
6. Does the neck, back or base of the tail show any lesions?
7. Smell your hand after running it through yourcat's fur. Your fingers should not have an unpleasantfishy, rancid odor.
8. Are you able to feel good muscle tone aroundthe sternum (breastbone)? If should not be soft orflaccid.
9. Do you feel a firm muscle mass when you run your hand down your cat's spine and over the ribcage? There should not be more than a pinch of fat.
10. Open your cat's mouth and smell his breath.It should smell clean and not have an offensive odor.Does it smell clean?
11. Look at the gums. They should be pink, not pale or white, nor should they be swollen, bright red,or bleeding.
12. Check the teeth. Do they look white and healthy?They should be free of tartar and not loose.
13. Examine your cat's eyes. Are they clear of filmand free of mucous discharge? Is there any crustingaround them?
14. Feel the inner side of your cat's thighs. Arethere any roundish bumps or swellings? These couldindicate enlarged lymph nodes and usually thepresence of worms.
15. Is your pet's stomach unusually distended?
16. Look at the paw pads. Are they smooth withoutdry, cracking lines?
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For more really cool info on all aspects of Dog, Cat, Horse & Bird Care visit our site and take advantage of our extensive library of f r e e pet care tips & pet fun info.
http://petcaretips.net
Cat Anxiety and Cat Litter Box Problems
Like humans, cats like their routines and daily habits. When something changes in their home, one way their anxiety may manifest itself is by urinating outside the cat litter box. With a little bit of work and patience, your kitty can be calmed down and get back to her good litter box habits.
Here are just a few situations that can make cats anxious:
- A new person or pet comes to live in your household
- You change jobs and your daily schedule
- A trip to the vet
There are many more situations, but these can be fairly common stressors for felines.
A new person or pet comes to live in your household:
If you're introducing a roommate of the human kind, be sure this individual understands that cats are different from dogs. They don't play the same, and cats may be viewed as being cold or aloof. Tell your new roommate about your cat's personality, likes, and dislikes. Then introduce them to one another. It may take a couple weeks for everybody to get adjusted to one another.
One thing you may want to do during this transition period is to either confine your cat to her favorite room with her food, water, clean cat litter box, and toys, or keep the roommate's bedroom shut to prevent your cat from marking the new housemate's clothes, furniture, and possessions. Supervisor your cat's forays into this person's space. Your new roommate may opt to keep the door shut permanently. This won't be a problem unless your kitty is constantly curious about what's behind the closed door.
You change jobs and your daily schedule:
Cats like to know when their big cat mom and/or dad are coming and going, so they can adjust their schedules accordingly. If you or your partner takes a new job that drastically changes your household routine and lifestyle, your cat may get upset. She might react by refusing to use the cat litter box.
Observe your cat carefully. If you find cat urine puddles outside the litter box once the new routine has been established, you'll need to confine your cat to limit the damage to one area of your home and retrain her to back to good litter box habits. For the first week or so, spend more time with your cat and reassure her that everything is OK, and her life is going to be just fine.
On the other hand, she may adjust with no reaction whatsoever, because she realizes you're still coming home at night, and she's getting love and delicious cat food from you.
A trip to the vet:
This ranks high on any kitty's list of terrors! The loud noises, the strange smells, and unknown people handling her can be very stressful. Once you get kitty home from the awful place where she's stuck with things in unmentionable places, you may want to confine her to a quiet location in your home for a few hours. Give her food, water, a clean cat litter box, and her toys. She'll generally be just fine in less than half a day.
What are the solutions for these situational anxiety problems?
Many feline owners have discovered natural flowering essences and synthetic feline pheronomes are very effective in alleviating cat anxiety. Some of the more popular ones are Bach's Rescue Remedy, Nerve Ease, Calm Supplement, and the Feliway Comfort Zone Plug in modules.
Bach's, Nerve Ease, and Calm are liquid compounds that can be administered directly into your cat's food or water. A few drops twice a day make a big difference for most anxious cats.
The Feliway Comfort Zone Plug in modules are synthetic feline pheronomes that calm cats down. The Feliway module plugs directly in your electrical wall socket. The pheronomes are then diffused, or transmitted throughout the room. Many cat owners buy several of these of these plug in modules, and install them in kitty's favorite rooms throughout their house. Each bottle lasts approximately 30 days.
All of these solutions are effective within several hours of administration. You can use them singly, or combine them. My cat Scout, improved noticeably within 24 hours of getting the natural flowering essences in her food, and the installation of the Feliway modules.
For any feline anxiety based on situations, try either the natural flowering essences or the Feliway Plug in modules. One or the other work very well for most cats.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Here are just a few situations that can make cats anxious:
- A new person or pet comes to live in your household
- You change jobs and your daily schedule
- A trip to the vet
There are many more situations, but these can be fairly common stressors for felines.
A new person or pet comes to live in your household:
If you're introducing a roommate of the human kind, be sure this individual understands that cats are different from dogs. They don't play the same, and cats may be viewed as being cold or aloof. Tell your new roommate about your cat's personality, likes, and dislikes. Then introduce them to one another. It may take a couple weeks for everybody to get adjusted to one another.
One thing you may want to do during this transition period is to either confine your cat to her favorite room with her food, water, clean cat litter box, and toys, or keep the roommate's bedroom shut to prevent your cat from marking the new housemate's clothes, furniture, and possessions. Supervisor your cat's forays into this person's space. Your new roommate may opt to keep the door shut permanently. This won't be a problem unless your kitty is constantly curious about what's behind the closed door.
You change jobs and your daily schedule:
Cats like to know when their big cat mom and/or dad are coming and going, so they can adjust their schedules accordingly. If you or your partner takes a new job that drastically changes your household routine and lifestyle, your cat may get upset. She might react by refusing to use the cat litter box.
Observe your cat carefully. If you find cat urine puddles outside the litter box once the new routine has been established, you'll need to confine your cat to limit the damage to one area of your home and retrain her to back to good litter box habits. For the first week or so, spend more time with your cat and reassure her that everything is OK, and her life is going to be just fine.
On the other hand, she may adjust with no reaction whatsoever, because she realizes you're still coming home at night, and she's getting love and delicious cat food from you.
A trip to the vet:
This ranks high on any kitty's list of terrors! The loud noises, the strange smells, and unknown people handling her can be very stressful. Once you get kitty home from the awful place where she's stuck with things in unmentionable places, you may want to confine her to a quiet location in your home for a few hours. Give her food, water, a clean cat litter box, and her toys. She'll generally be just fine in less than half a day.
What are the solutions for these situational anxiety problems?
Many feline owners have discovered natural flowering essences and synthetic feline pheronomes are very effective in alleviating cat anxiety. Some of the more popular ones are Bach's Rescue Remedy, Nerve Ease, Calm Supplement, and the Feliway Comfort Zone Plug in modules.
Bach's, Nerve Ease, and Calm are liquid compounds that can be administered directly into your cat's food or water. A few drops twice a day make a big difference for most anxious cats.
The Feliway Comfort Zone Plug in modules are synthetic feline pheronomes that calm cats down. The Feliway module plugs directly in your electrical wall socket. The pheronomes are then diffused, or transmitted throughout the room. Many cat owners buy several of these of these plug in modules, and install them in kitty's favorite rooms throughout their house. Each bottle lasts approximately 30 days.
All of these solutions are effective within several hours of administration. You can use them singly, or combine them. My cat Scout, improved noticeably within 24 hours of getting the natural flowering essences in her food, and the installation of the Feliway modules.
For any feline anxiety based on situations, try either the natural flowering essences or the Feliway Plug in modules. One or the other work very well for most cats.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Cat Lover's Gift Basket
Next time you're shopping for someone who is as wild about cats as you and I are, consider the following suggestions. You'll all be happy, including the feline of the group.
First of all, decide upon your "Basket". It can either be a medium-sized wicker basket (cats love to nestle inside of them) or it could be a fairly deep cat bed. Inside, on the bottom, lay out sheets of colorful tissue paper, or even a pretty baby blanket.
Following are some ideas for treats to fill the basket or bed. Customize the list appropiately for the lucky person who is receiving the present.
-A CD of light jazz that he/she and their feline friend will enjoy listening to together. Cats love jazz. They have such exquisite taste.
-A great looking set of water and food dishes.
-A coffee mug with a cat on it.
-A Garfield book of comic strips and/or a Garfield calendar.
-Cat Nip-filled toys or balls.
-A ball of yarn. Stereotypical, sure....but oh so much fun!
-The Video Version of the musical "Cats".
The possibilities are as endless as your imagination and your desire to bring a smile to this person's face.
Visit: Cat Pause.com
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
First of all, decide upon your "Basket". It can either be a medium-sized wicker basket (cats love to nestle inside of them) or it could be a fairly deep cat bed. Inside, on the bottom, lay out sheets of colorful tissue paper, or even a pretty baby blanket.
Following are some ideas for treats to fill the basket or bed. Customize the list appropiately for the lucky person who is receiving the present.
-A CD of light jazz that he/she and their feline friend will enjoy listening to together. Cats love jazz. They have such exquisite taste.
-A great looking set of water and food dishes.
-A coffee mug with a cat on it.
-A Garfield book of comic strips and/or a Garfield calendar.
-Cat Nip-filled toys or balls.
-A ball of yarn. Stereotypical, sure....but oh so much fun!
-The Video Version of the musical "Cats".
The possibilities are as endless as your imagination and your desire to bring a smile to this person's face.
Visit: Cat Pause.com
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Cat Arthritis
Cat arthritis is not a very common ailment among healthy cats. Most arthritis found in cats is from an accident that has made the bones or joints weak. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints and there is more than one type of arthritis that can affect your cat.
Cats usually suffer with two different types of arthritis. The first one being traumatic arthritis, this is brought on by an injury. It could have been a fight with another animal or even being hit by a car.
Osteoarthritis is when a joint just quits working properly and new bone is growing around the joint. Many older cats have this type of arthritis and can be brought on from numerous accidents including dislocations of their joints or even fractures.
Traumatic arthritis does not usually last but can be very painful, if it is more or less a sprain. But, if it involves a fracture then the pain can last a longer time and may even need surgery to heal the fracture or dislocation.
As in the case of Osteoarthritis the pain is severe and your cat will need some relief from the pain. If your cat is overweight the pain can even be more severe.
Talk with your veterinarian if you do believe that your cat does have a type of cat arthritis. Your cat will enjoy life more and be able to chase those mice again if treatment is regular. It is no fun to play and jump and be a cat when they are in severe pain. The longer your cat sits around in pain the stiffer the joints will become. The pain will then increase with every step they take. Be sure to get the treatment your cat needs so they can enjoy life once again.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Niall Kennedy
http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net
Pet Medication Supplies can help you get the best possible protection for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand name
Cats usually suffer with two different types of arthritis. The first one being traumatic arthritis, this is brought on by an injury. It could have been a fight with another animal or even being hit by a car.
Osteoarthritis is when a joint just quits working properly and new bone is growing around the joint. Many older cats have this type of arthritis and can be brought on from numerous accidents including dislocations of their joints or even fractures.
Traumatic arthritis does not usually last but can be very painful, if it is more or less a sprain. But, if it involves a fracture then the pain can last a longer time and may even need surgery to heal the fracture or dislocation.
As in the case of Osteoarthritis the pain is severe and your cat will need some relief from the pain. If your cat is overweight the pain can even be more severe.
Talk with your veterinarian if you do believe that your cat does have a type of cat arthritis. Your cat will enjoy life more and be able to chase those mice again if treatment is regular. It is no fun to play and jump and be a cat when they are in severe pain. The longer your cat sits around in pain the stiffer the joints will become. The pain will then increase with every step they take. Be sure to get the treatment your cat needs so they can enjoy life once again.
Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Niall Kennedy
http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net
Pet Medication Supplies can help you get the best possible protection for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand name
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Caring For Your Cat's Health
Just like humans, cats feel miserable when they are sick. As a pet owner, it is your primary responsibility to keep your feline friends healthy and happy.
With proper care and nutrition you will have a friend for life in the form of your pet cat.
Here are some tips on how you can properly care for your cat's health:
1. Feed them properly.
Every cat has a preference when it comes to food. There are several types of cat food available in the market. Try each one until you find out which variety your cat prefers.
However, you can still try to mix the variety of cat food you prepare so that your pet will have a nutritious and balanced diet.
Commercial cat foods have been well-researched so you do not need to worry about the nutritional value of what you are feeding your pet.
Also, supply your pet with a lot of clean water to drink. Having an ample supply of drinking water will lead to a healthier animal.
It does not matter if you serve dry, canned or moist cat food. Just make sure that you preserve the freshness of the food that they eat.
You would also want to opt for a healthy and natural cat food. Remember that it should be made of quality ingredients.
2. Remember that even domestic cats are natural hunters.
Mice can serve two purposes in your cat's life: prey and dinner. Hunting for mice would preserve their natural abilities to hunt and seek prey.
If you decide that you do not like the idea of your cat regularly "hunting" for dinner, make sure that you provide them with a proper diet. This will result to your cat ending up just chasing and running after their prey for satisfying their natural hunting urges.
3. Watch out for unusual behavior.
If your pet is exhibiting unusual behavior, then the cat might not be at its best condition.
Try to look out for the following symptoms:
- being lethargic or less active than usual - shedding of the fur or coat - it has waxy ears - looks poor and unhealthy
If you see these symptoms, you might want to change the food that you are serving your cat.
Better yet, consult a professional if you see your pet being less active than usual. Your pet might have a sickness or disease, and as a pet owner and cat lover, you would not want that to happen.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
With proper care and nutrition you will have a friend for life in the form of your pet cat.
Here are some tips on how you can properly care for your cat's health:
1. Feed them properly.
Every cat has a preference when it comes to food. There are several types of cat food available in the market. Try each one until you find out which variety your cat prefers.
However, you can still try to mix the variety of cat food you prepare so that your pet will have a nutritious and balanced diet.
Commercial cat foods have been well-researched so you do not need to worry about the nutritional value of what you are feeding your pet.
Also, supply your pet with a lot of clean water to drink. Having an ample supply of drinking water will lead to a healthier animal.
It does not matter if you serve dry, canned or moist cat food. Just make sure that you preserve the freshness of the food that they eat.
You would also want to opt for a healthy and natural cat food. Remember that it should be made of quality ingredients.
2. Remember that even domestic cats are natural hunters.
Mice can serve two purposes in your cat's life: prey and dinner. Hunting for mice would preserve their natural abilities to hunt and seek prey.
If you decide that you do not like the idea of your cat regularly "hunting" for dinner, make sure that you provide them with a proper diet. This will result to your cat ending up just chasing and running after their prey for satisfying their natural hunting urges.
3. Watch out for unusual behavior.
If your pet is exhibiting unusual behavior, then the cat might not be at its best condition.
Try to look out for the following symptoms:
- being lethargic or less active than usual - shedding of the fur or coat - it has waxy ears - looks poor and unhealthy
If you see these symptoms, you might want to change the food that you are serving your cat.
Better yet, consult a professional if you see your pet being less active than usual. Your pet might have a sickness or disease, and as a pet owner and cat lover, you would not want that to happen.
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Repel Cats Safely and Easily
Cats in general are loveable creatures. However, it is possible that some of them get on the bad side of the household. Thus, it is necessary to address the situation when the cats are the problem.
Stray cats are actually the problem. Cats that do not have owners to train them have made the whole neighborhood their home. They ruin the garden. They mess up the trash can. Thus, one should seek for solutions that will keep the cats away. Repel them.
At the same time, repelling cats should be done in the most ëhumaneí way possible. There are several options to consider in keeping those mean cats away, easily and safely.
Cat Powder Easy to apply to the garden, these cat powders appeal to the instincts of the cats. These contain the scent of a predator, usually a coyote. Cats recognize the territoriality of animals, thus having such scent in the house would keep them away.
One only has to sprinkle this in the desired area. The ones available in the market are usually not harmful to children and to the plants in the garden.
Sound Repellent This creates sounds that are extremely annoying to a cat but remains undetected to humans.
Cat Scatmats Some use the scatmats for the more stubborn ones. These are thin mats that can be situated on the floor, garden furniture or window sills. They are battery-charged. Any animal that would walk on it will receive an unpleasant shock. Cats are found to be sensitive to the mild shock, enough to discourage them from returning.
Water Sprayer The market offers this very helpful repellent. It is connected to the garden hose and has a sensor for movements. Any unwarranted movement of a stray cat will result to a blast of water to fright the cats.
Liquid Repellent It can be sprayed on any surface that cats may or constantly claw on. It has a terrible taste that would be noticed by the cat when it grooms itself. The cat will automatically avoid such locations.
Air Repellent Some repellents use a blast of air to keep cats away. Cats will find this scary. The tools come with a distinct sound that will be helpful in scaring cats away.
Odor neutralizer Cats often leave lingering scent trail on the garden that only attract more cats The odor neutralizer will use enzymes that will rid of the odor and bacteria. Just make sure that this is applied directly to the scent trail.
With these aids and tools at hand, the cat problem is resolved. These defenses are sure way to secure the household and get rid of the headache.
About the Author
Anita hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Stray cats are actually the problem. Cats that do not have owners to train them have made the whole neighborhood their home. They ruin the garden. They mess up the trash can. Thus, one should seek for solutions that will keep the cats away. Repel them.
At the same time, repelling cats should be done in the most ëhumaneí way possible. There are several options to consider in keeping those mean cats away, easily and safely.
Cat Powder Easy to apply to the garden, these cat powders appeal to the instincts of the cats. These contain the scent of a predator, usually a coyote. Cats recognize the territoriality of animals, thus having such scent in the house would keep them away.
One only has to sprinkle this in the desired area. The ones available in the market are usually not harmful to children and to the plants in the garden.
Sound Repellent This creates sounds that are extremely annoying to a cat but remains undetected to humans.
Cat Scatmats Some use the scatmats for the more stubborn ones. These are thin mats that can be situated on the floor, garden furniture or window sills. They are battery-charged. Any animal that would walk on it will receive an unpleasant shock. Cats are found to be sensitive to the mild shock, enough to discourage them from returning.
Water Sprayer The market offers this very helpful repellent. It is connected to the garden hose and has a sensor for movements. Any unwarranted movement of a stray cat will result to a blast of water to fright the cats.
Liquid Repellent It can be sprayed on any surface that cats may or constantly claw on. It has a terrible taste that would be noticed by the cat when it grooms itself. The cat will automatically avoid such locations.
Air Repellent Some repellents use a blast of air to keep cats away. Cats will find this scary. The tools come with a distinct sound that will be helpful in scaring cats away.
Odor neutralizer Cats often leave lingering scent trail on the garden that only attract more cats The odor neutralizer will use enzymes that will rid of the odor and bacteria. Just make sure that this is applied directly to the scent trail.
With these aids and tools at hand, the cat problem is resolved. These defenses are sure way to secure the household and get rid of the headache.
About the Author
Anita hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Suffering Kitty Cats
Cats often seem prone to urinary tract problems, cystitis. The cause of cystitis in cats isn't completely known or understood; although, a bacterial infection of the bladder can trigger the condition, even if not a common cause.
FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder) or Feline Cystitis, is the inflammation of the bladder and usually includes formation of crystals in the urine. The symptoms, if observed by owners, include frequent trying to urinate with the passing of small amounts of urine. Blood may or may not be apparent in the urine. When my cat became ill, we never noticed any difference in behavior, and he has always been very private about using the litter box. He seemed perfectly fine one day and was in extreme pain the next. When the veterinarian examined the cat,
Even though the exact cause of cystitis may not be known, studies show some predisposing factors that fit most cases of the problem: neutered cats; obesity; indoor, sedentary cats; cats with lower water consumption and fed only dry foods; and cats subject to stress situations. Also certain types of dry foods seems harder on cats' urinary tracts than others, as we discovered with one of our cats since we had him on a food high in magnesium. Another problem can be a dirty litter box.
One possible way to avoid recurrence of cystitis is to be sure cats have ample of clean water. If a cat doesn't or won't drink water (which I've personally never observed in any of my cats), then owners can add additional water to food, provide different liquid sources such as milk, flavored water, and meat juices. Clean water should be available all the time.
When my cat developed FLUTD, he meet two of the predisposing factors: eating dry cat food and being neutered. After a stay in the veterinary hospital and two week of forcing liquid medicine down him, he discovered that canned cat food was added to his diet and a dry food with a formula that helps avoid cystitis.
A discussion with a veterinarian will help owners find solutions for other factors such as obesity and stress. Stress even harms pets, and sometimes if a change of circumstances doesn't help or isn't possible, medications can. Obesity can be helped by reducing food available for the cat and by finding ways to increase its activity. Keeping the "kitten" alive in a cat helps it remain more active.
Funny Face, my cat, was fortunate. Even though his bladder had increased to the size of a tennis ball, he survived with care and hasn't had another episode.
About the Author
A retired English and composition teacher, Vivian Gilbert Zabel now concentrates on writing, with books Hidden Lies , Walking the Earth, and The Base Stealers Club found on Amazon.com and a portfolio on http://www.Writing.com. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.
FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder) or Feline Cystitis, is the inflammation of the bladder and usually includes formation of crystals in the urine. The symptoms, if observed by owners, include frequent trying to urinate with the passing of small amounts of urine. Blood may or may not be apparent in the urine. When my cat became ill, we never noticed any difference in behavior, and he has always been very private about using the litter box. He seemed perfectly fine one day and was in extreme pain the next. When the veterinarian examined the cat,
Even though the exact cause of cystitis may not be known, studies show some predisposing factors that fit most cases of the problem: neutered cats; obesity; indoor, sedentary cats; cats with lower water consumption and fed only dry foods; and cats subject to stress situations. Also certain types of dry foods seems harder on cats' urinary tracts than others, as we discovered with one of our cats since we had him on a food high in magnesium. Another problem can be a dirty litter box.
One possible way to avoid recurrence of cystitis is to be sure cats have ample of clean water. If a cat doesn't or won't drink water (which I've personally never observed in any of my cats), then owners can add additional water to food, provide different liquid sources such as milk, flavored water, and meat juices. Clean water should be available all the time.
When my cat developed FLUTD, he meet two of the predisposing factors: eating dry cat food and being neutered. After a stay in the veterinary hospital and two week of forcing liquid medicine down him, he discovered that canned cat food was added to his diet and a dry food with a formula that helps avoid cystitis.
A discussion with a veterinarian will help owners find solutions for other factors such as obesity and stress. Stress even harms pets, and sometimes if a change of circumstances doesn't help or isn't possible, medications can. Obesity can be helped by reducing food available for the cat and by finding ways to increase its activity. Keeping the "kitten" alive in a cat helps it remain more active.
Funny Face, my cat, was fortunate. Even though his bladder had increased to the size of a tennis ball, he survived with care and hasn't had another episode.
About the Author
A retired English and composition teacher, Vivian Gilbert Zabel now concentrates on writing, with books Hidden Lies , Walking the Earth, and The Base Stealers Club found on Amazon.com and a portfolio on http://www.Writing.com. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Cat Training: Do It With Gentle Care by Anita Hampton
Cats are trained and encouraged by treats or rewards. A clear illustration of such behavior is when cats come running when it hears the food bag rustle or the can openerís sound. Cats often relate the sounds to food rewards.
Keep in mind that your cat must be closely examined on a regular basis by the veterinarian, to ensure that there are no unknown problems in your catís health that could be aggravated or intensified during training activities. To further encourage your cat to maintain a good behavior, the most effective way is to offer immediate treats, a full tasty meal, or a favorite toy as rewards.
When saying ìgoodî and offering a treat all together, your cat will later relate the word with its positive act, even if later, food is not available and upcoming. In place of food rewards, you can give your cat an enjoyable playtime or a rub behind its ears.
With the use of positive emphasis and reinforcement, your cat will be willing to learn good behaviors and basic instructions or commands.
Here are training guidelines:
1. It is best to begin training with kittens. They will be more open and responsive to training. Bad behaviors have not yet been formed and not given a chance to develop.
2. Use positive emphasis and reinforcement at all times. A gentle hug, caress, or a whisper has a longer lasting effect than harsh or bitter words.
3. Limit the training time. Make it brief but frequent. Cats normally have short attention and interest spans; so it is much more effective to have four to six sessions of five minutes each, during the course of the day than an hour or two of continuous training.
4. Confine the training to indoors. This is essential so that your cat will not be distracted by other neighboring pets or be attracted to climbing trees instead.
Discipline should be instilled for a well behaved cat, but tough punishment must be avoided. In training your cat so to avoid negative acts, you need to approach it positively. Cats generally will not respond to certain punishments like hitting or yelling. They usually correlate the undesirable act with you rather than with their bad behavior. The outcome will be that your pet either stops loving you or will be afraid of you; not the result that will lead to a loving and warm relationship with your wonderful pet cat!
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Keep in mind that your cat must be closely examined on a regular basis by the veterinarian, to ensure that there are no unknown problems in your catís health that could be aggravated or intensified during training activities. To further encourage your cat to maintain a good behavior, the most effective way is to offer immediate treats, a full tasty meal, or a favorite toy as rewards.
When saying ìgoodî and offering a treat all together, your cat will later relate the word with its positive act, even if later, food is not available and upcoming. In place of food rewards, you can give your cat an enjoyable playtime or a rub behind its ears.
With the use of positive emphasis and reinforcement, your cat will be willing to learn good behaviors and basic instructions or commands.
Here are training guidelines:
1. It is best to begin training with kittens. They will be more open and responsive to training. Bad behaviors have not yet been formed and not given a chance to develop.
2. Use positive emphasis and reinforcement at all times. A gentle hug, caress, or a whisper has a longer lasting effect than harsh or bitter words.
3. Limit the training time. Make it brief but frequent. Cats normally have short attention and interest spans; so it is much more effective to have four to six sessions of five minutes each, during the course of the day than an hour or two of continuous training.
4. Confine the training to indoors. This is essential so that your cat will not be distracted by other neighboring pets or be attracted to climbing trees instead.
Discipline should be instilled for a well behaved cat, but tough punishment must be avoided. In training your cat so to avoid negative acts, you need to approach it positively. Cats generally will not respond to certain punishments like hitting or yelling. They usually correlate the undesirable act with you rather than with their bad behavior. The outcome will be that your pet either stops loving you or will be afraid of you; not the result that will lead to a loving and warm relationship with your wonderful pet cat!
About the Author
Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
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