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Quick
Tips:
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Kittens can be very rambunctious,
playing aggressively, climbing furniture and draperies. Often, simply
clapping one's hands loudly can send a negative stimulus which will stop
the undesired behavior.
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Is your cat suddenly
becoming clingy, when she is normally otherwise shy and aloof? Is she
seeking you out, wanting to constantly sit on your lap or be near? She
may be trying to tell you something. Behavior changes sometimes can be
due to an underlying medical condition. Contact your veterinarian.
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Is your cat digging in
your potted plants? You can drape foil loosely over the surface of the
soil to make it less attractive. Popsicle sticks pushed into the dirt
may also discourage digging.
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Is your cat displaying
play behavior that is borderline aggressive, or testing the boundaries
of what is acceptable behavior? Place cans containing coins within easy
reach around the home and when the undesirable behavior occurs, shake
a can. This will send a negative signal and will likely create a negative
association with the behavior.
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Did you know that having
a cat can be good for your health? Studies have shown that petting a cat
decreases blood pressure and heart rate, while increasing one's sense
of well-being.
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Have you ever noticed
that your cat can bat you around her paws and never delivers a single
scratch? This is because she has retractable nails. She can voluntarily
control her nails and keep you out of harms way.
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Is your cat waking up
earlier and earlier every day to be fed? If you oblige your cat, you are
reinforcing this behavior. Consider keeping the bedroom off-limits for
your feline friend. After a few mornings of noise outside your door, your
cat will learn that she can no longer set the feeding schedule.
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Cats may cough for any
number of reasons. Hairballs, asthma, heart disease, infections (pneumonia,
heartworm disease), and neoplasia to name a few. If your kitty is coughing
consistently or has a long coughing spell, see your veterinarian.
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Not all cats vomit hairballs,
but all cats have to process the hair that they ingest when they groom.
A hairball remedy given 2-3 times weekly will help move the hair along
in the digestive tract and lessen the chances of vomiting, bowel irritation
and constipation.
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Do you know the number
one disease in adult dogs and cats? It's periodontal disease, or disease
of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. See your veterinarian
annually for a physical exam for your pet and brush your pet's teeth regularly.
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Cats have very specific
dietary needs, being strict carnivores. They require a much higher level
of protein than dogs. As a matter of fact, a cat cannot survive for an
extended period of time without protein. This is one reason why you should
not allow your cat to eat your dog's food.
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Your cat may not love
to swim or bath in water, but she loves her drinking water. It is important
to rinse the water bowl daily and scrub once weekly. If your cat prefers
running water you can leave a faucet in the bathroom on a slow drip or
purchase a kitty fountain.
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Cat fights, infectious
disease and vehicular danger are a few reasons to keep your cat indoors.
The biggest reason is that indoor cats live an average 2 years longer.
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Is your cat wreaking
havoc on your living room, leaping from the top of the book shelf and
swinging from the drapes? You may be able to curb this behavior by providing
an alternative. You can purchase or build cat perches of varying heights,
ideally carpeted with built-in rope scratching posts. Most cats will preferentially
climb these structures.
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In a multiple cat household
you should have one more litter box than the number of cats. For example,
if you have 2 cats, you should have 3 boxes. This will help deal with
territorial issues and may aid in preventing inappropriate elimination.
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It is important that
you scoop your cat's litter box on a daily basis. Cats are finicky about
their personal hygiene and may refuse to use a box that is very soiled.
On a weekly basis wash the box and completely replace the litter.
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Beware of a sudden change
in the type of cat litter you provide for your cat. Many cats have a distinct
preference for the first type of litter they were exposed to as kittens.
Abrupt changes may confuse your cat and could create a litter box aversion.
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Is your cat suddenly
sneezing a lot or having watery eyes? If you recently changed the brand
of cat litter you use, it could be causing mild irritation to your cat's
respiratory system. If you decide to change brands, do so gradually so
that you can be assured your cat will tolerate it.
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Cats are American’s
favorite pets, and lots of felines live their lives "uptown."
However, many others are back-street cats, just trying to get by. Domestic
cats that have "gone wild" are known as feral cats. Although
their numbers are difficult to track, estimates range from 10 to 60 million.
Lacking human companions, they depend on their natural instincts to survive.
It’s a hard life and feral cats must deal with hazards like disease,
injury, malnutrition and predators. While some get along fairly well and
are healthy, most don’t live long in such conditions.
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Regular vaccinations
for your cat are important to his health, but in rare cases they can be
a problem. Veterinarians across the U.S. are seeing a slight increase
in the number of cancerous tumors, called sarcomas, in places where cats
recently had vaccinations. Sarcomas are uncommon four or fewer per 10,000
vaccinations but serious and very difficult to manage successfully. To
reduce your cat’s risk of developing a sarcoma, talk to your veterinarian
about ways to lessen the number of shots your cat requires. Carefully
examine the cat’s environment, including his potential exposure to
infectious agents. If there’s little risk, certain vaccinations may
not be necessary. For more information, consult your veterinarian.
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The first warm day of
spring, in a tall apartment building. A young cat’s fancy turns to...
that open window with the loose or missing screen. It’s true that
cats can survive incredibly long falls, but recovering from the injuries
is another matter. Veterinarians in New York see the same combination
of injuries so many times they’ve given it a name - the High-rise
Syndrome. If you and your feline friend need an elevator to get home,
remember that an open window can take more than one of your pal’s
nine lives.
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The loss of a beloved
pet can be devastating. For most of us, pets aren’t just animals.
They occupy a special place in our hearts. And when they pass away, we
lose something of ourselves. But several pet loss hotlines are available,
places where grief counselors can help pet owners through the difficult
time. Most hotline volunteers are veterinary students who receive special
training in grief counseling. They don’t give medical advice over
the phone, but they can help a grieving pet owner talk about the loss
and how to move forward. To find pet loss hotline information, visit http://www.avma.org/care4pets/.
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Thinking about getting
another cat so your pet won’t be lonely? It’s possible that
your good intentions won’t work out like you planned. The arrival
of a new cat can turn a one-cat household upside-down. One reason for
this is that cats fall into two distinct personality groups: the outgoing
cat and the defensive cat. The defensive cat is usually OK with the owner,
heads under the bed when company comes. If the new cat is an outgoing
cat, there’s a possibility the owner finds himself preferring the
newcomer to the defensive cat. An outgoing cat can also terrorize a defensive
cat. Since cats are solitary by nature, most don’t actually need
feline company. In addition, many cats who are house pets match their
awake and active periods to times the owner is home. But if you’re
still seeking a playmate for your solitary cat, make sure your new arrival
is compatible.
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Though dogs and cats
area traditionally viewed as adversaries, they can actually make great
companions for one another. Bringing a feline into a canine household"or
vice-versa"can be trying for both animals and owners, so here’s
a technique worth trying: Keep your dog on a leash and give him food treats
for sitting quietly as the cat walks by. This way, you’re rewarding
Fido for non-predatory behavior. Be sure to keep your cat’s claws
trimmed, so that if trouble does arise, it can’t do much damage to
the dog.
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"Fighting like cats
and dogs." It’s a phrase that doesn’t make much sense when
you see a dog and cat basking in each other’s company. Affection
between cats and dogs is actually quite common. A cat will tend to rub
on the dog, marking Fido just like the cat marks his owner. On rare occasions,
you may even see a dog allowing a kitten in the same household to suckle
on them. While not all cats and dogs achieve such ties, the two species
can make great chums in a mixed household.
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When a newborn kitten
is nursing during its first one to two days of life, it receives protective
antibodies called colostrum from its mother's milk. By weaning, at six
to eight weeks, this immunity begins to disappear. At this time, the kitten's
immune system should be stimulated to provide its own antibodies. This
is why vaccination programs should be initiated shortly after weaning.
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Rabies is a viral infection
that can be transmitted from animal to animal to man. It is usually a
fatal disease to which all mammals are susceptible. Infection usually
results from virus-laden saliva entering the body from the bite of a rabid
animal. Once transmitted, the rabies virus travels through the nerve endings
to the spinal cord an then to the brain. Never take chances with this
dreaded disease. All animal bites should be promptly treated and reported
to the proper authorities. Most communities have laws concerning animal
control and require rabies vaccinations for pets.
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Toxoplasmosis is caused
by a single-cell parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, that lives and reproduces
in a cat’s intestine. Cats can become infected by ingesting raw meat
or wild prey such as rodents. The eggs are shed in the cat’s feces
where they may be picked up by another host, usually mammals, including
man, and birds. However, the parasite reproduces only within the intestines
of cats. The parasite rarely causes disease in cats, but if a pregnant
woman acquires toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, birth defects can result.
While it is possible for people to become infected by handling infected
cats, their litter pans or contaminated soil, they can also contract the
disease by handling or eating raw meat.
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