Stray Cat Helps Owner Overcome Anorexia

She was 20 years old. She was 6-foot tall and weighted 108 pounds. And she began to accept the idea of an early death - until she met an Orange Tabby.


Click here to read what happened.

How to calm a cat for treatments, clean-up, etc.

Sometimes we need to hold down our cats and calm them down to clean them or for treatments. Here's how a vet does during treatment. Mother cats lift kittens from the same spot.

Does your cat have allergies?

What Are Allergies?
When a cat has allergies, her immune system is overly sensitive to certain everyday substances and begins to identify them as dangerous. Even though these substances—or allergens—are usually common in most environments and harmless to most animals, a cat with allergies will have an extreme reaction to them. As her body tries to rid itself of these substances, she may show a variety of symptoms.

What Are the General Symptoms of Allergies in Cats?
Sneezing, coughing (if the cat has asthma), wheezing
Itchy skin/increased scratching
Itchy, runny eyes
Itchy back or base of tail (most commonly seen in flea allergies)
Itchy ears and ear infections
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Snoring caused by an inflamed throat
Paw chewing/swollen paws

Can Cats Be Allergic to Food?

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Cat Vomiting

Cat vomiting may be caused by various reasons. Some cats vomit often, some very rarely. Cats may vomit and not be sick as in humans. As long as your kitty eats normally, plays, uses the litter box, and is not losing weight, there should be no reason for concern.

Causes
• Hairballs
• Overeating or eating too quickly
• Food allergies
• The food is too cold
• Hunger...

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Weight Checker : RSPCA Pets Get Slim

Not sure if your pet is overweight?
Click here and find out.

A Guide to Feline Dental Care

Feline dental care is perhaps the most overlooked and under-treated area in small animal medicine. Cats are affected by many of the same dental problems that affect dogs (periodontal disease, fractured teeth, and oral masses) in addition to special syndromes (tooth resorption, gingivostomatitis).

More than fifty percent of cats over three years old will be affected by tooth resorption (TR). These tooth defects have also been called cavities, neck lesions, external or internal root resorptions, or cervical line erosions. Teeth affected by lesions will erode and finally disappear when they are absorbed back into the cat's body. The root structure breaks down; then the enamel and most of the tooth become ruined, and bone replaces the tooth. This most commonly happens where the gum meets the tooth surface. Some molars are most commonly affected; however, tooth resorptions can be found on any tooth. The reason for the resorption is unknown, but theories supporting an autoimmune response have been proposed.

Cats affected with tooth resorption may show excessive salivation, bleeding in the mouth, or have difficulty eating. Tooth resorptions can be quite painful. A majority of affected cats do not show obvious clinical signs. Most times it is up to the clinician to diagnose the lesions upon oral examination. Diagnostic aids include a probe or cotton tipped applicator applied to the suspected resorption; when the probe touches the lesion, it causes pain and jaw spasms. Radiographs are helpful in making definitive diagnosis and treatment planning.

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10 Subtle Signs of Sickness.

Inappropriate Elimination Behavior

Client education about litter box care and normal elimination behavior is important for prevention and treatment of medical and behavioral problems. Clients should be aware that inappropriate urination and defecation often accompany an underlying medical condition and do not occur “to get back at the owner.”

A cat that is urinating inappropriately may have any number of conditions associated with the behavior, including lower urinary tract disease, kidney disease, urinary tract infection and diabetes mellitus. It can also be a sign of arthritis, which makes it difficult for the cat to get into the litter box.

Blockage of the urinary tract signals a veterinary emergency. A blockage is treatable, but timing is critical. Once identified, the cat must receive veterinary care as soon as possible. Otherwise, fatal complications could develop. Signs include straining in the litter box with little or no results, crying when urinating and frequent attempts to urinate.

>> What are the 9 other symptoms? Click here to read.

Is it Cancer? Lumps and bumps on your pet.

Source: http://ow.ly/3VwUF

Five Valentine's Day Rules for Pet Owners.

Who says that pets can't enjoy Valentine's Day? But how much fun is too much fun for your furry friend?

1. Your little one shouldn’t eat any candy on this chocolate filled holiday.
2. Watch out for those flowers.
3. Don’t let your romantic dinner turn into your pet’s first fire.
4. >> Read more

Helpful information on senior cat diets.

Although your cat is no longer the spry youngster that it once was, senior cat diets are not for all senior cats. Before you decide to switch your cat from the adult cat food that it's accustomed to eating, you should think about more than just her chronological age.

>> Click here for helpful information on Senior cat diets

Small pet stores see healthy growth of organic food sales

Awesome trend!

“It’s done wonders for our business,” Castro says. 
(Los Angeles Times)

Sales of premium-priced organic and natural pet food are expected to grow three times as fast as pet food sales overall through 2015.

Organic, raw and even gluten-free food choices aren't just for people anymore.

These options are showing up at local pet shops that are looking to distinguish themselves from big-box competitors. After a slowdown in sales of premium-priced food during the recession, independent pet shops said the sector was recovering.

>> Full Story

Fat Cats - Weight Issues in Cats

Researchers estimate more than half of all cats owned in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Weight creeps on at a young age. By age one, roughly 15 percent of cats are overweight. By two, the proportion reaches 20 percent. One study found apartment dwelling cats were two times more likely to be overweight than cats that were free-roaming or live in larger homes. Mixed breed cats are more likely to be overweight than pedigreed animals. Neutering and eating a prescription diet are also associated with higher rates of overweight in cats.

>> Full story

‎[Useful App] Paw Card-for keeping track of your pet's vital information.

click here to iTunes.com

Should Cats Receive Annual Rabies Vaccines?

Q: I am about to make a vet appointment for my 9 year old cat. She had a Rabies vaccine a year ago. My friend told me some vets are giving the shot yearly and that is not needed and can kill your cat. What are your thoughts. My cat Miss Molly is an inside cat.

Mitch
Hudson Beach, FL

A:

It is my opinion that cats, especially indoor cats, need rabies vaccines much less often than yearly. There are three reasons why vets give the vaccines yearly.

Legislative mandate is the most common reason for annual feline rabies vaccination. Remember that cats receive rabies vaccines in order to protect humans from the disease. Annual rabies vaccination is required by law in many municipalities. It is my opinion that annual feline rabies vaccine requirements are out of date. However, vets have no choice but to comply with the law.

Some vaccines are labeled as effective for only one year. Most notably, the feline Purevax (made by Merial) must be given annually in order to comply with manufacturer specifications.

The third reason why some vets give annual rabies vaccines is force of habit. Some vets have been giving cats shots every year for as long as they can remember (and these vets usually are old, so we’re talking about a long time). They see no reason to change their practices.

I disagree strongly with the philosophy behind the last reason. Rabies vaccines have been linked, in approximately one out of every 10,000 cats (but not at all in dogs), to a type of cancer (called fibrosarcoma) at the vaccine site. Those aren’t huge odds, but I see no reason to take any unnecessary chances.

Mitch, your best option is to talk to your vet. If the vet recommends a rabies vaccine for your cat, ask him why. Ask him to discuss the risks and benefits of the vaccine before it’s given.

http://ow.ly/3v061

Alley Cat Allies - Winter Tips

Winter Weather Tips

Stray and feral cats are at home outside, but they can always use some extra help in cold or severe weather. Follow these tips to help them stay even safer, warmer, and healthier during severe storms and winter months.


Shelter

Shelters keep feral cat colonies comfortable in cold and other harsh or severe weather conditions. Placing discreet shelters in quiet locations away from foot traffic helps keep cats from taking shelter in places where they are in danger or not welcome.

There are endless variations of cat shelters. Check out our list of shelter ideas sorted by ease of set up, or learn how to build one yourself. Dog houses also do the trick with a few modifications (read on.) Here’s a few tips to help you get started:

A good size for a shelter is at least 2’x3’ and at least 18” high. Larger shelters are not necessarily better, since heat disperses quickly, leaving the inside as cold as the outside.

Cats will huddle together inside for warmth, so provide colonies with multiple shelters that can fit three to five cats each. If you are caring for fewer cats, use a smaller shelter so it takes less body heat to warm up.

Make sure the door is no bigger than six to eight inches wide to keep out other animals. If you’re modifying a dog house, you’ll need to block off part of the door to make it cat-sized. A flap on the door will also keep snow, rain, and wind out.

Insulate the shelter with straw to repel moisture and keep cats warm and dry (note: Make sure it’s straw, but not hay, because hay absorbs moisture). Blankets may seem like a good idea, but since they are also extremely absorbent, they make bad bedding.

Raise shelters off the cold ground to conserve warmth. Wooden pallets stuffed with insulation work well for elevating shelters and keeping out drafts.

That’s a start – read more about constructing feral cat shelters in our Colony Care Guide.

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Natural Remedies for Treating a Cat Cold

Sneezing and a runny nose are signs of the typical cat cold, caused by a bacterial infection in the nose membrane. If the cat is exposed to cold weather or is dehydrated, the nose's thin membrane, which is the cat's defense against bacteria, is infected or dried out, letting bacteria freely pass through. Bacterial infections will produce the same symptoms as a common cold, but may be the means of a more serious respiratory disease. Have your vet give an assessment of the cold if the nose discharge turns yellow or green.

A low immune system is also the culprit of many cat infections. Boosting your cat's immune system will be a good approach to improving her health if she is frequently ill.

Viral infections may also cause the cold. If the runny nose discharge is clear and fluid, your cat probably has a viral infection. These are not cured by medicine, but should run their course. However, you can make your cat a little more comfortable with some natural remedies.


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The Special Needs of the Senior Cat

The Special Needs of the Senior Cat

Just as people are living longer than they did in the past, cats are living longer too. In fact, the percentage of cats over six years of age has nearly doubled in just over a decade, and there is every reason to expect that the "graying" cat population will continue to grow.

So how old is my cat, really?
Cats are individuals and, like people, they experience advancing years in their own unique ways. Many cats begin to encounter age-related physical changes between seven and ten years of age, and most do so by the time they are 12. The commonly held belief that every "cat year" is worth seven "human years" is not entirely accurate. In reality, a one-year-old cat is physiologically similar to a 16-year-old human, and a two-year-old cat is like a person of 21. For every year thereafter, each cat year is worth about four human years. Using this formula, a ten-year-old cat is similar age wise to a 53-year-old person, a 12-year-old cat to a 61-year-old person, and a 15-year-old cat to a person of 73.

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Cat Eats Plastic Bags and Vomits

Hi, Doc....

Our cat eats plastic bags and soon thereafter vomits. My girlfriend and I always try to remove any accessable bags from the cat. Unfortunately, she constantly seeks out plastic and sometimes finds some. Why?

What can we do further? Is there some medical issue involved? Bella is a 4-year-old domestic short hair indoor cat. She looks like Felix the Cat from the cartoons. Our other cat never eats plastic. What can we do? Thanks for your help.

Sincerely.... Jake

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Human Foods to Avoid for Cats

Tweet this:
Toxic food for cats: Onions, Garlic, & Related Root Vegetables, Green Tomatoes, Raw Potatoes, Chocolate, Grapes and Raisins. http://ow.ly/2TTjo

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Let's face it: some cats are inveterate "bums" and will beg and plead most appealingly while you try to eat. While I will (rarely) give a cat a tidbit of chicken or turkey from my plate, it's a practice I don't encourage as a regular habit for a few reasons. First, because cats need the nutrients specifically provided for them in good, premium cat foods, and any "extras" that they consume will take away their appetites for their regular meals. A sliver of turkey or chicken from your dinner plate certainly won't kill a cat, but you're helping him develop bad habits. What happens when Aunt Phoebe comes for dinner and Simon jumps on her lap to scarf up her meal?

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Cats Who Chew

Some cats love to chew and whilst this habit can be a normal part of your pet’s development, when taken to extremes, it can become dangerous. If you start to worry for your pet’s health or safety, your cat insurance may be able to protect you financially from the costs of specialist treatment.

Click here to read more @ North Whales Chronicle