Holidays: A Dangerous Time for Your Cat

Keeping you cat safe during the holidays can be hard. There are numerous things you have to do to get your cat ready for the holidays. Your vet can give you more specific instructions, but I have listed some here for your convenience.

Flowers: No holiday is complete without decoration and sometimes decorations include flowers. If you have toxic flowers in your home, remember to place them very high where you cat cannot reach them. Some of the most popular flowers that are harmful to your pet include bleeding hearts, calla lilies, poinsettias, daffodils, Easter lilies, irises, ivies, tulips (the bulb part), and a number of other plants. Most cats will not go out of their way to eat these things, but to be on the safe side, put them in a place where your cat won’t reach them. Better yet, don’t bring those flowers into your home at all or opt for fake plastic versions. There are many kinds of plants that can harm your cat, so check with your vet to make sure before bringing new kinds of plants into your house.

Guests: Unless you are visiting relatives or going out during the holidays, you can expect guests. Guests can be very scary for your cat, unless he or she is used to unknown human contact. It’s a good idea to keep your cat in a room away from the party with the door shut. This will prevent your cat from being scared. When people are coming into and out of your house, there’s also the potential that your cat could get outside, and there is also the danger that guests will feed your cat unsafe human foods. It is better to keep your cat away from the party.

Alcohol: Alcohol and animals do not mix well. In fact, alcohol is deadly to animals. You or your guests might think its funny to put a little beer into your cat’s water bowl. When you have guests, put your cat’s food and water bowls somewhere safe where no one can tamper with them.

Candles and lights: Candles and electrical lights could also be unsafe for your pet. Cats are attracted to bright lights, and a candle could not only burn your pet, but could also start a fire in your house. Or, at the very least, you cat will spill wax onto furniture or carpets. Use electrical lights instead, but remember to keep the cords covered and taped down so your pet isn’t tempted to play with them. Overall, keep an extra eye on your pet during the holidays to make sure they are staying safe at all times. You can have a good time without compromising your cat’s health.

Signs and Symptoms of Ringworm- and How to Treat it

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

What is ringworm? Ringworm is not a worm as the name might suggest, but a type of skin disease that affects many cats. This medical condition is actually not caused by worms at all, but rather by a fungus. The sores on the skin due to ringworm fungi are circular, which led to the belief at once time that a curling worm under the skin caused this disease. However, there are no worms involved. If you believe that your cat has ringworm, take your cat to see the vet as soon as possible.

Ringworm is also called dermatophytosis. There are four species of fungi that cause ringworm in a cat, and because some of these organisms are so well adapted to a cat’s body, about 20% of cats have ringworm and show no outward signs of the disease. Ringworm commonly infected the dead skin, nails, and hair on an organism, using the keratin in the tissue as food.

What causes ringworm? The cat’s genetics and environment decide if he or she will develop ringworms. For example, research has shown that certain cat species develop the disease more readily. Ringworm spreads quickly between cats, it is best to isolate the disease ridden cat form other cats. Ringworm caused the hair to break off at the skin and may be itchy.

How to treat ringworm: If your cat has ringworm, there are a lot of ways to treat it. Ask your vet about medications that will clear up the ringworm inside the body. You’re your vet to make sure that the medication won’t cause any side affects. Anti-fungal shampoo baths may also work. These baths should be given every day regularly and are great for cats that don’t mind the water. Lime sulfur dips, done weekly, can also be affective. If you have other pets, they may need to be treated as well to prevent the ringworm from spreading. Vaccines are available to help build an immunization to ringworm. If you cat has extremely long hair, clipping it may be necessary.

Prevention: Remember, ringworm can infect humans as well as cats, especially children. If your cat has ringworm, or if you suspect this is the case, see your vet immediately. He or she can recommend what course of action you should taken in order to help your cat overcome the ringworm as well as to help the fungi from spreading to other animals and people in your house.

What to Do if Your Cat Has the Flu

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

Did you know that cats, like humans, could get the flu? Flu in cats is due to an upper respiratory infection and can affect cats of any age. It is normally found in young or old cats. If you see any symptoms that suggest your cat has the flu, take him or her to the vet to get checked up.

Flu symptoms: Flu symptoms in cats will look the same as flu symptoms in humans. Depending on what virus is causing the flu, there will be a wide range of symptoms. Telltale signs that your cat has the flu include inflammation around the eyes and nose, discharge from the nose, weakness and loss of appetite, a raised temperature, coughing, and sneezing. It is important to get treatment for your cat immediately so that your cat is not left with chronic diseases.

How to treat the flu: Because a virus causes the flu, your vet cannot cure it. But you can treat it by supplying all your cat needs to produce antibodies. It is important for your cat to get plenty of nutrients during his or her illness, so that strength can be regained. Encourage your cat to eat and drink, and if your cat is not adverse to water, gentle baths may be relaxing. Talk to your vet about specific treats you can use, like sardines, which will get your cat to eat more even if he or she is ill. If your cat’s condition worsens, or is very severe, it is extremely important for you to take your cat to the vet. A vet hospital stay may be necessary to allow re-hydration and feeding.

How to prevent the flu: There are certain safety procedures that you could take to make sure that your cat doesn’t get the flu. Vaccination for the flu will drastically reduce the severity of the flu if caught. If you have multiple cats in your house, you should isolate the cat that has the flu, since this disease spreads quickly. Remember to clean things that your cat is in contact with often. Always wash and disinfect your hands after handling the sick cat. You can also talk to your cat’s vet in order to find out other things you can do to help your cat feel better more quickly and further information on how to prevent your cat from getting the flu in the first place.

Getting you Cat to Swallow Pills

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

If your cat is sick, there are many things that you can do to help him or her regain health. A vet will be able to explain to you all of the treatment options available. Sometimes, this means feeding your cat pills. Cats can be very sneaky and devious! Many cat owners think that their cat has eaten the pill only to find the pill on the bottom of the food bowl! There are many ways you can make your kitty swallow all of the proper medications in order to heal as quickly as possible.

No matter how smart your cat is, you’ll never be able to explain to him or her that a pill is the first step to feeling better. Therefore, in order to teach a cat the importance of pills, teach your cat to accept pills! Many cat treats that you purchase look like pills. They can be given to your cat regularly to get him or her used to pills. That way, if your cat ever needs pills, he or she will not resist. When you do this, give your cat the pill, and then immediately give your cat the pill-shaped treat.

If your cat has not had pills before, don’t worry—you can still trick them into your cat’s system. Most cats will not resist pills if they don’t know what they are. First, feed your cat some pill shaped treat—cat chocolate is a good place to start. You can feed the cat a few of these pill-like treats, and then the real pill. Follow up with the treats once again.

You can also hide the pill so that the animal swallows it without realizing what he or she is doing. Push your cat’s pill into a chocolate treat that is made for cats (human chocolate is very harmful to cats and dogs), and feed it to him or her. Some people coat the pill in butter. Make sure, however, that your cat can have the pill with food. Some medications require that the cat have an empty stomach.

If your cat still won’t swallow the pill, you can also push the pill down his or her throat. This may seem a bit inhumane but it is the best choice if you cat needs the medication. You can purchase pill pushers, but it is usually better if you do it by hand. Ask your vet to teach you how. If you don’t do it correctly, your cat might bit you. Stroke the cat’s throat and insert some water into the cat’s mouth to make him or her swallow. Pills and medication are very important to your pet, so make sure that your pet is eating them to stay healthy.

How to Keep Kitty’s Teeth Healthy

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

It is important to take your cat to its dentist annually. Teeth are very important to your cat! What many people don’t realize is, dental health plays a big role in overall health. Whenever your cat goes to the vet, discuss your cat’s dental health with your vet. If your cat is exhibiting strange eating habits, take him/her to a vet to make sure dental problems aren’t an issue.

Kittens have fewer teeth than adult cats. Each kitten has 26 temporary teeth that begin to appear at about three weeks of age. An adult cat will have 30 permanent teeth—16 on the top and 14 on the bottom. A cat usually begins getting his or her permanent teeth when he or she is three of four months old. Some of these teeth will have two roots while others will have three.

Reapportion lesions and gum disease (gingivitis) are the most common kinds of dental problems for cats. Reapportion lesions are also known as cervical line lesions or neck lesions and often result in tooth loss. These lesions are difficult to detect, as they often grow below the gum line. Gum disease is found in over 70% of cats by the age of three. You should look for yellow and brown tarter build up along the gum line and over the tooth. Red inflamed gums, and chronic bad breath are also symptoms.

If your cat has oral disease, get it a complete checkup. Oral disease could be a harbinger for more serious problems. For example, it is common for a cat with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) to have oral health problems. Dental problems are also commonly found with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline calicivirus. Therefore, if your pet is having dental problems, you need to see a vet right away to make sure it doesn’t have a more serious disease.

Cats occasionally accidentally break teeth. This is normal. It can be a result of a fall, a fight with another cat or other animal, or biting into something too hard to chew. Usually, the upper canine tooth will be the tooth fractured. This is the tooth in your cat’s mouth that looks like a large fang. If this is fractured, your cat may or may not be in pain. The first symptom of this kind of a fracture is continuous sneezing.

Oral health is important to all mammals. Cats are susceptible to a number of dental disease and problems, just like humans. By taking your cat to the vet often and asking about oral health, you can make sure that you are providing the best health care for your feline friend’s teeth.

Household Poisons that Can Harm Your Cat

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

To protect you cat, it is important to know the different things in your household that could poison your cat. Remember, your cat can’t resist tasty or smelling unusual substances. Because your cat can’t tell you what he or she has ingested to make him or her feel badly, it is important to know which items you own could hurt your pet and keep these items secured in cabinets and other placed in places your cat cannot access. If possible, keep these items out of your home altogether.

Things that can harm your cat: First, many homes have bleach products. You’ll find bleach and Clorox mainly in the laundry room or in other cleaning supplies; however, you can also find bleach products in swimming pool supplies. In generally, household bleaches are fairly mild. Although they will make your cat feel ill, most animals are smart enough to not drink enough to kill. Signs that your cat may have drunk a bleach product include excess drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. If your cat seems to be in pain, smell his or her fur if possible to detect the scent of the bleach. In general, call you vet and have your cat drink large quantities of milk or water if you possibly can. Monitor your cat for bloody vomit and difficulty breathing, and wash the paws and mouth area thoroughly.

Mothballs and other products containing naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene can also make your cat sick. Ingesting this substance can cause liver damage and seizures. Symptoms include vomiting, seizures, blue or brown colored gums, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. If you cat has eaten mothballs or items like toilet bowl cleaner or bathroom deodorizer, call your vet immediately.

Citrus oils, which are found in shampoo, insect repellent, fragrances, and insecticide are very harmful to cats as well. Although these items can harm all pets, cats are more sensitive than dogs and if you treat a cat with dog products, the result could kill your pet. Signs that your cat has ingested citrus oils include that common citrus smell, drolling, falling, trembling, and weakness. Eventually, liver damage occurs, and many cats experience liver failure, resulting in death. If your cat is treated, the prognosis is good, but left untreated, this poison could be deadly.

Treatment: Therefore, it is simply important to call your vet if you see anything wrong with your cat at all. Cats are creatures of habit, so if your feline seems to be acting strangely, it is best to schedule an appointment. Do what’s best for your pet and try to keep harmful products in places where they can’t be reached.

How to Care for Kittens

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

Kittens need extra care and attention in order to stay safe and healthy. If your cat has recently had kittens, you need to be a second mother to these new little additions to the family. It is crucial that you provide the best possible care and environment for them during their first few weeks of life.

What’s normal and what’s not: During the first few days of a kitten’s life, his or her mother will spend most of her time lying with the kittens. This is a natural for the mother cat. It is “programmed” into her through thousands of years of evolution. You should put the food and water to be very close to the mother so she doesn’t have to roam to find nourishment. Check the mother cat a few times during the day to make sure that she is producing milk properly. If the mother leaves her kittens along constantly, something may be wrong. First-time mothers are especially prone to bouts of anxiousness. When a mother is worried about her kittens, she may move them constantly. If she feels very threatened, she may even kill her kittens to “protect” them. If you see your mother cat exhibiting any unusual symptoms mentioned above, monitor her activity and the kittens closely. If things get out of control, consider keeping her caged.

The environment kitten needs: Kittens need a very warm temperature to survive. If the mother does not stay with the kittens (see above), you should probably use an external heat source, like a heat lamp. Large litters will typically stay warm by themselves. Make sure that the box where the newborn kittens are staying is about 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit for at least the first week of life. However, mothers may feel as through their kittens are in danger if there is too much light. You can calm an anxious mother by placing a blanket loosely over the top of the box.

Kittens need to sleep: Don’t be alarmed if the kittens are not moving around much at first. Newborn kittens sleep and eat 90% of the time for the first two weeks of life. Crying is common if the mother leaves for any amount of time, but if the kittens cry excessively, it may signal that they are not getting enough to eat or they are sick. Call your vet if this occurs. You should also call your vet for special instructions if there are more than 5 kittens in the litter, which may mean that the mother cannot supply enough milk. In general, it is simply best to talk to your vet about what to expect with your new kittens.

Hypothermia-A Hazard to Your Cat's Health

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet.

Although your cat may have a furry coat, cold weather can still be hazardous to your cat’s health. Imagine how you would feel after being out on a cold day knee deep in snow for more than a few minutes—even with your winter coat, you are probably still very cold. Cats are the same, and if you leave your pet exposed to the cold for too long, he or she may show signs of hypothermia. In a worst-case scenario, hypothermia can lead to death.

Ways to protect your cat: There are many different reasons why your cat could become too cold. If you typically let your cat outdoors, remember that he or she will need to come back inside more quickly during the winter. This is especially true for smaller cats, cats with short hair, or cats recovering from an illness. Also, never let your cat outside if he or she is wet, for whatever reason. In fact, if you bathe your cat or your cat otherwise gets wet, dry him or her immediately if the weather is cold, even if you are indoors. Make sure your cat cannot get outside in any way—your pet may not be able to figure out how to get back inside, and by the time you realize that he or she is missing, hypothermia could have taken hold.

What is hypothermia? Hypothermia is a medical condition that occurs when the body cannot sustain a constant temperature and drops so low that organs cannot function properly. Frostbite occurs mostly in extreme cold, the body shuts down parts of the body to provide vital organs with enough energy. If you cat has hypothermia, you’ll see your pet shivering, moving slowly, and breathing shallowly. Eventually, your cat will become unresponsive and die. Therefore, it is important to take immediate action to warm up your pet.

How to treat hypothermia: It is important to take immediate action but if you warm a pet too quickly, the damage could be even worse. Resist the urge to dunk your pet in warm water! That is a no no. Instead, warm up your pet slowly. Bring your animal into a warm room and wrap in warm blankets. You can even throw a towel in the dryer for a few seconds. Or use warm water bottles wrapped in a washcloth. Hairdryers work well, as long as you don’t get too close to your cat and keep them on the low settings. Once your cat starts to warm up, a warm bath could be very helpful, although this is not a good idea if you plan to take him or her outside again to go to the vet.

Remember, calling your vet is always your best option. Animals simply sometimes get outside accidentally, no matter how caring you may be to your pet. If your cat shows symptoms of being too cold, you can use these warming techniques to save your pet’s life, and your vet will be able to get you on the right track to helping your pet recover.

How to Treat Hairballs

Your cat’s health is very important. You should always ask your veterinarian when in doubt, but it is important to learn about such things on your own. That way, you will not only notice symptoms faster, you can also save some money and grief. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting treatment as soon as possible, you need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet. One common medical condition that affects many cats is hairballs. While hairballs are normal for a cat to some extent, you should contact your veterinarian immediately if you think the problem is out of control.

Why cats get hairballs: Cats get hairballs mainly because they much of their day cleaning themselves. That’s why frequent baths aren’t necessary. Although cats do not like water, they do like being very clean at all times, and they do so, of course, by licking their fur. You cat probably spends 1-3 hours per day grooming. Because cats also shed, they swallow a lot of their own hair. Most of the hair gets digested and passes naturally through the cat’s system, but occasionally the hair becomes matted and entwined in the stomach, causing a hairball that is too large to pass through the system. When this happens, the cat vomits the hairball.

If your cat seems to have an abnormally high amount of hairballs, you should talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you want Fluffy to remain health and friendly, don’t put off veterinarian visits. About a quarter of all digestive blockages in cats come from hairballs that cannot pass or be vomited. A blockage of the digestive system will make any mammal sick and your cat is no exception. Huge hairballs that size of baseballs have been known to form in a cat’s stomach. A hairball of that size can easily kill your cat.

Symptoms: There are a number of signs you will see in a cat having hairball problems.

Some are listed below:

1. Your cat is retching often
2. Your cat has a change in digestion
3. Your cat has a swollen abdomen

If any of those signs appear in your cat, he or she may have a problem with hairballs.

Treatment: Your veterinarian can give you cat flavored medication that your pet will love. The medication contains inside it non-digestible oil lubricants that will help your cat pass hairballs easily.

Prevention: Taking the medication mentioned above regularly will prevent your cat from ever forming hairballs again. Another great way to prevent hairballs from forming is a high-fiber diet, possibly including a fiber supplement. Home remedies, on the other hand, are not a good idea, because they could cause other problems with your cat’s digestive system.