One of the most common conditions that cats face is diabetes. Cats suffer from this condition if insulin in their bodies don’t balance glucose properly. Obese and older cats have an increased risk of developing diabetes, although it can affect cats of any age or breed. Keep reading to learn all about diabetes in cats.

Cause

Your cat can develop this condition for two main reasons. Either the body produces insulin but doesn’t use it properly, or it fails to produce enough. The risk of developing this condition is increased if your cat suffers from a variety of diseases.

Obese cats have a high risk of developing diabetes, as mentioned earlier. Other things that can play a role include hormone imbalances, genetics, and diseases of the pancreas. The condition can also develop due to your cat taking certain medications.

Signs

Diabetes in cats doesn’t usually produce any symptoms in its early stages. Liver disease and secondary bacterial infections are common as the disease progresses. Increased urination, lethargy, rough hair, and increased appetite are all common signs. Although cats can start to eat more, they sometimes lose weight. Your cat’s hind lings will become weak if he develops a condition called neuropathy.

Diagnosis

At the beginning of the visit, your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination. Diabetes may be suspected based on your cat’s signs. A blood and urine sample will show a high level of sugar.

Treatment

Your cat will die from this disease if it isn’t treated. Like humans, this condition needs to be treated with insulin shots either once or twice a day. Oral medication and a special diet may be enough to battle this disease in rare cases. The amount of insulin your cat needs may change over time. Therefore, your cat will need to see the vet regularly to get this checked out.

All owners should know a little something about feline diseases. Fortunately for you, you can learn about a wide range of these conditions at cat-illnesses.com. Click over right now.

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Anemia in cats is a condition that occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin or red blood cells produced. You should know that this isn’t a disease itself, but simply a sign of an underlying problem. You may be wondering what exactly causes anemia in cats.

Causes

Many things can cause this condition. The kidneys are responsible for producing hormones that stimulate red blood cell production. Therefore, many cats develop anemia due to kidney disease. Anemia may also occur if your cat is infected with parasites such as fleas, hookworms, and ticks.

Traumatic injuries can also cause anemia. The traumatic injury can damage internal organs or blood vessels. Serious diseases such as feline immunodeficiency or leukemia virus may also be to blame. Ingesting toxins or chemicals can also be to blame.

Signs

Cats normally have pink tongues, noses, and gums. These areas will lose their pink color if anemia develops. These areas will be pale in anemic cats. Lethargy is also a common symptom of anemia.

Treatment

As you may recall, this problem isn’t a disease, but merely a symptom of something else. It’s necessary for the vet to treat the underlying problem in order to resolve anemia. It’s sometimes necessary for your cat to receive a blood transfusions. Medications that stimulate the production of hormones responsible for red blood cell production will also help.

Prognosis

Most cats are able to recover from anemia without problems. However, this condition can be caused by some serious diseases. In these cases, anemia will be one of the least problems to worry about.

All owners should know a little something about health problems in cats. You can read up on many different potential health problems at cat-illnesses.com. So, come by right now to become informed.

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Ear polyps in cats are benign growths in the middle ear, close to the ear drum, or in the back of the throat. These growths are very rare in felines. Cats less than four years old are usually affected. However, felines of any age or sex are at risk. Keep reading to learn all about cat ear polyps.

Causes

You may be wondering what causes these growths in your cat. Unfortunately, no one knows their exact cause, but there are a few possible reasons for their appearance. One theory points to bacteria or fungi causing inflammation. It’s also possible that these growths can be due to calicivirus in cats.

Signs

Ear polyps in cats causes some of the same symptoms brought on by an ear infection. Your cat will shake and scratch his head frequently. Sometimes, a thick discharge will emerge from the affected ear. Cats may also experience loss of coordination that will prevent them from walking in a straight line. Other cats experience trouble breathing and swallowing.

Diagnosis

The ear drum can become severely damaged if ear polyps aren’t detected early enough. A special instrument called an otoscope allows the vet to see clearly inside your cat’s ears and mouth. If a growth can’t be detected this way, a head x-ray may be required. If one is found, a biopsy will be done to determine if its cancerous or benign.

Treatment

If your cat develops polyps, he will likely need to undergo surgery. Your cat can undergo two different forms of surgery. During one procedure, the stalk will be cut so the polyp can then be removed. However, this method has one main fault. The polyp will likely recur in a few months since its base wasn’t cut.

Your cat could also have the second form of surgery. This procedure removes the base so the polyp doesn’t recur. During surgery, the bone that surrounds the inner ear will need to be removed so the base can be cut. This method of treatment leaves the least chance for recurrence.

Cats can be affected by many different diseases. Fortunately, cat-illnesses.com provides a wealth of information on a range of these conditions. So, stop by today to learn about a wide range of these conditions.

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Are you living with a cat that refuses to use its litter box? Maybe your cat is insistent that your furnishings make a far better scratch post than the big fancy one that you bought! Or is your cat waking the entire neighbourhood with its cries for food at 3am? If this sounds familiar then you need to seriously think about training your cat to solve your cat behaviour problems, however before you can do that you need to determine WHY your cat is behaving like he is.

The first and most common reason for cat behaviour problems is a medical problem. If your cats’ behaviour changed suddenly from being the perfect pet into a problem pet overnight then you need to get him checked out by a vet to rule out any medical problems. For example, a cat with a urinary tract infection will find it painful to urinate and will associate its litter box with pain so will seek out an alternative. Another example, a cat that is in pain when touched will react viciously, not because he doesn’t like you but because when you touch him it causes him pain. Cats generally do not show any signs of illness so it is hard to know when your cat is ill. If you try to correct your cats behaviour problems when his is in fact ill then it will only confuse him.

If you have ruled out a medical problem then the next step is to determine whether the root of your cats’ problems is environmental. If your cat’s behaviour changed suddenly (and it is not due to a medical reason) then it may have been caused by an environmental change. These are things such as moving house, new baby, new cat or even a new cat to the neighbourhood. The most common behavioural changes for these causes are spraying indoors and using furnishings as scratch posts. This is your cats’ way of marking his territory.

The last cause is that your cat is the boss of you. In this case your cat needs to be retrained to obey the house rules. Your cat feels that your house is HIS territory and will therefore do with it as he sees fit. The reality is that YOU need to be the boss of your cat and this is where the retraining comes in.

If your cat has a medical problem then once it has been treated a cat will usually settle back down to his old ways very quickly and hence very little training is required unless he picked up some bad habits whilst he was ill! For a cat with environmental changes or a cat with bad habits it is a simple job of retraining your cat the correct way of doing things. The methods can vary depending on the problem you are trying to fix. If however your cat is the boss of you then it will take a little longer to retrain your cat. In this case you may want to consider cat training programs.

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Much like people, cats can suffer from allergies too. There are four types of feline allergies. These types include food, inhalant, flea, and contact. Here’s a look at different types of cat allergies.

Food

Some felines develop an allergy to certain ingredients in their food. Most cats develop this type of allergy after consuming the food over a long period of time. Some of the ingredients that cause the most problems include milk, chicken, beef, wheat, corn, and eggs. Signs of a food allergy include digestive problems, respiratory problems, and severe itching. You will have to keep an eye on what foods your cat eats. Some cats also have to take steroids and antihistamines.

Flea

Cats normally don’t have much of a problem when they’re bitten by a flea. However, this isn’t always the case. Some cats will suffer a severe reaction to just a single bite. The intense itching will prompt your cat to chew or severely scratch himself. Hair will eventually start to fall out after the area has been chewed and scratched so much. Your cat can also develop open sores which may open him up to a bacterial infection. It’s vital to control fleas if your cat is allergic to their bites.

Inhalant

Some cats also experience inhalant allergies. Most cats suffer from this cat. Mold, mildew, pollen, and dust mites can all be problem. If your cat is allergic to pollen, he may experience flare-ups at certain times of the year, just like people. Cats allergic to some of the other substances may suffer problems at any time. Some cats are treated using hypoallergenic shampoo, while others undergo desensitization.

Contact

Contact allergies are also common in felines. Your house likely has many different materials that can prompt an allergic reaction. Flea collars and bedding are common items that cause problems. To prevent a reaction, you will simply have to keep your feline away from the material that he’s allergic to.

All owners should know their pet can fall victim to diseases in felines. Fortunately for you, you can learn about a wide range of these conditions at cat-illnesses.com. Click over right now.

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Various fungal organisms can lead to cat ringworm. Young cats don’t have a developed immune system yet. This is the reason why they are usually affected. Also, cats that have long hair have an increased risk. The condition is also very infectious as it can be transmitted to other cats, dogs, and even you. Keep reading to learn more about feline ringworm.

Forms

As I mentioned earlier, cat ringworm is caused by various fungi. They include Microsporum Canis, Microsporum Gypsum, and Trichophyton. Microsporum Canis is usually the organism responsible in cats. So, what are some of the symptoms you should look for?

Symptoms

This fungus dwells in your cat’s hair follicles. As the shafts become weaker, your cat will start to lose hair. As the condition progresses, the hair loss will develop into circular patches usually on the head and limbs. The skin may also become dry and flaky. You would notice your cat scratching at it because it’s also itchy.

Diagnosis

There are multiple methods your veterinarian can diagnose this disease. The easiest way is to use an ultraviolet lamp. The lamp causes different species of fungus to glow fluorescent green. Another way to diagnose ringworm in cats is to remove a few strands of hair and ship them off to the lab. This method is very time-consuming though. The sample needs to sit for a while because fungus grows slowly.

Treatment

If left untreated, your cat will likely get rid of the condition himself in two to four months. However, in the meantime, your cat could easily pass the disease on to you or other animals. So, it’s best to get it treated quickly.

Most cats can be treated for ringworm using a lime sulfur shampoo. Antifungal medications can also be used to treat this condition. If your cat has long hair, you should clip it so the treatment regimen is more effective. Other animals in the household need to be treated as a precaution.

All owners should know a little something about illnesses in felines. You can read up on many different potential health problems at cat-illnesses.com. Click over right now.

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Cat Scratching posts

Cat Scratching posts

She looks so forlorn in the shelter’s cage, so you decide to take her home. You couldn’t be happier!

Apart from being litter trained, she is sweet and affectionate! You cannot help the feeling of wanting to take her back at the week’s end!

The front corner of your once beautiful chintz love seat has been reduced to shreds, all thanks to your precious kitty.

Wait! Taking her back is not the answer! A solution is at hand. What you need to buy, right away, is a good cat scratch post. After all, she’s doing what comes naturally to her, looking for a strong and stable surface to scratch. Your loveseat is the best available option!

Cats have to establish their territory. It is their territorial instinct that prompts them to scratch and leave a mark.

Since their paws have scent glands that leave a distinctive scent, cats scratch surfaces in your home to let other cats know that they’re wandering into marked territory.

Not knowing when another cat would turn up, your kitty would do it even if you don’t have any other cats! It also feels good, so cats scratch for that good feeling!

By purchasing a cat scratching post, you solve two problems:

Number one:
Your kitty doesn’t scratch your furniture anymore, and

Number two:
She keeps herself in shape, and at the same time satisfies the urge to scratch. Every time she attacks the scratching post, she gets the workout she needs, with the stretching, pulling and working of the muscles of her front quarters!

Purchase a cat scratch post with a rough surface, like sisal material or something similar and she would actually prefer that scratch post to your love seat. Forget the soft, pretty posts! They will not gain her interest al all.

Cats have a need to shred and sisal material (not sisal rope) is perfect for them. Cats cannot resist the urge to shred things! Your kitty needs to get a healthy stretch while she scratches, so make sure that the cat scratch post is at least 28″ high.

It is imperative that the post is sturdy and won’t move during a heavy duty scratching session! If the post topples on her, she will be frightened of it, and not come near it ever again!

Now that you know the reasons why kitty scratches, don’t hesitate another minute! You both need a cat scratch post, not to mention your beautiful chintz love seat!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The cat has been perceived as a creature of mystery, of magic and sometimes, wittiness. It’s no wonder that the cat has a place in the hearts of men even though dogs are considered as man’s best friend. The Egyptians of long ago are very much fond of these wonderful animals and cats are even considered as the most and best suggested for an ancient Egyptian royal family. Even today, even though the dog is still man’s best friend, cats have places in the houses and in somebody’s hearts. Why, even dogs today love cats. That phrase that say something like “dogs hate cats” or “cats hate dogs who hate them” are just some sort of urban legend. Dogs do chase cats but they don’t fight it out to the end. Maybe cats have found a sort of cat communication to talk it out with dogs and maybe to humans. If you love cats, you sure want to talk to your cat in their own language, right?

For an ordinary person, choosing a cat for a pet is no big deal. He just have to go to a pet store or go to a breeder and then, buy the cat that he wants and that’s it but for those who are really “cat aficionados”, it’s different. Buying a cat takes more than just the simple and usual simple choosing and buying. He needs to find out what kind of a cat breed would he want to be as a pet. You see, not all cats are alike, obviously and they can differ in their attitude, how they were naturally brought up, the way they communicate with other animals and other people. A mild person would want a tabby pet that is also gentle and a wild person might want to have a puma for a pet. No, seriously, that’s just one way of choosing a pet cat even in buying a kitten. Cats are just like dogs and they need to communicate with the master. It is amazing for a person to differentiate a mew that says “I’m hungry” and the mew that says “Help! I’m in pain!”. Therefore, if a cat owner really need to care for a cat in the most tender and loving way, he should try to learn some cat communication skills. To learn these things, it is also recommended to buy a sort of book guide that can teach all the things about how to choose a cat, how to train it and how to feed it to make it feel happy and truly adorable.

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Deciding to get a kitten is a big step in expanding your family. Kitten care also requires more responsibilities, but kittens can grow to become excellent companions and are well worth the time and care in their upbringing.

An important part of bringing home a kitten is preparing your home for the new member. Have a good look around your house and “cat-proof” it. Keep in mind that anything that dangles (such as lamp cords, curtains, etc.) are an extreme temptation for a mischievous kitten. Kittens just love to roam around, hide, as well as chew and “paw” things. Remember this when making your house cat-proof.

Feeding and daily care of a kitten involve just four items: a place for the kitten to sleep, fresh food and water, a litter box with litter and a scratching pad or post. Kittens love toys, too, so be sure to have plenty on hand when your kitten joins the family. Several name-brand foods specifically designed for kittens are available. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations if you are unsure when feeding a kitten.

Before letting your kitten have free-reign of the house, you must consider that some everyday house plants and chemicals can be deadly to cats. If you are unsure about any items in your house, do a bit of research online or phone your veterinarian.

Veterinary visits are a major responsibility when you care for a kitten. You must have your kitten examined soon after you bring it home, not only for required vaccinations, but for a general check-up to make sure your new pal is healthy and happy. You may also be require to register your pet with the local government (many cities require this, however it is not always a requirement for rural communities).

Some people find that litter training a kitten is quite easy. Most cats seem to be drawn to the litter box and need little or no assistance at all. However, some cats can be particularly difficult. You may find it easier to keep the litter box in an open, obvious area that the kitten can easily find. Also, do not completely replace the litter. Leaving a bit of “dirty litter” in the box can attract the kitten there as his nose will associate the litter box as the proper place to potty.

Owning a cat is sure to be a wonderful experience, and with the proper care, the bond between you and your kitten can be a fast and infinite one.

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