Archive for July, 2009

Many people doesn’t realize that kittens or cats need regular Cat Vaccinations just like as puppies and dogs do. By getting routine vaccinations for your feline companions would greatly reduced their risk of getting several feline diseases.

Below are some of the diseases and vaccinations that your cat should have to keep them healthy and fit.

Feline infectious enteritis also known as FIE is a severe and often fatal internal infection.

Cat “flu” has two types of Cat Vaccinations which are to prevent feline herpesvirus also known as FHV-1 and feline calicivirus (FCV).

Feline leukemia virus also known as FeLV vaccination is a must if your cat goes outdoors. It is very important to protect your cats from this very serious disease.

Feline chlamydophilosis causes conjunctivitis in cats. It is spread by direct contact between cats. If you have a multi-cat household or have kittens you should ask your vet if your cats should be vaccinated for this.

Once your cat has been vaccinated or receives a booster shot, you will be given a certificate stating that your cat has been vaccinated and for what. Many animal boarding places won’t allow your feline companion to stay unless you have a certificate verifying they have up-to-date vaccinations.

The average lifespan of a healthy indoor cat is 15 years. You have health insurance on the rest of your family and for peace of mind you might want to consider getting cat insurance on your feline friend.

Cats seem independent and self-sufficient, but cats need just as much care and attention as other pets. Cats are prone to a number of serious diseases and it is extremely important to ensure that your cat is vaccinated from an early age. Further prevention from diseases is necessary to maintain your cat’s health with annual booster injections.

Cat vaccinations are important as almost all catteries will only permit cats that have past records of vaccinations. This measure serves to protect your cat as well as to ensure other cats in the cattery are not infected should your cat be ill. Travel restrictions for pets can be stringent for most European countries. Your vet would also advise you on the necessity of giving your cat a rabies shot, particularly if your cat has contact with other feral cats in the neighborhood and gets into scrapes. Feline infectious enterovirus (FIE, also known as the feline panleukopaenia virus.

Feline herpesvirus (otherwise known as feline calcivirus, or cat flu)
Feline leukaemia. A vet will test a cat’s blood to see if there is already an immunity built up from previous contact, and if the test shows negative i.e. there has been no contact and therefore no immunity built up the cat should be vaccinated.

Feline Chlamydophila, which causes conjunctivitis. Vaccination may save your cat’s life should it get into any contact with any horrifying diseases. Although vaccines do hold risk for a small minority of cats who received them, proper vaccination is still the best solution and protection your cat can have against infectious disease.

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Feline Quiz

How much do you know about cats? Below you will be presented with some general trivia questions that I have compiled about cats. I have also included some facts that will be of interest. Have fun!

How many bones does an adult cat have?

There are 230 bones in a cat’s body.

Cats have 30 vertebrae. Cats use their tails to maintain their balance.

Which culture believed that cats pulled a chariot?

Norse

According to ancient Norse mythology cats pull a chariot belonging to the goddess Freyja.She was the goddess of fertility, love and beauty.

In the old wives tale how many lives does a cat have?

9

In the most common myth a cat is said to have nine lives but some say that a cat has seven. Cats seem to have an uncanny ability to get out of life threatening situations, this may be a part of the superstition’s origins.

Cats have how many teeth?

30

Cats have 30 teeth, including 4 canines and 4 molars.Cats are only able to move their jaws up and down. Unlike cats both humans and dogs can move their jaws laterally.

How many whiskers are on a cats face?

Twenty-four

Cats have four rows of whiskers. To help measure distances a cat uses its whiskers.

A fear of cats is what kind of phobia?

ailurophobia

People who suffer from this condition not only fear being bitten or scratched. They are often under the misconception that cats are evil. Some people beleive that cats actually bring bad luck.

If you clocked a cat at top speed, how fast would it be running?

Thirty-one miles per hour

They can only do this for very short distances. A normal cat will have four toes on its back feet and five on its front. Cats actually walk on their toes. Cats do not walk on their whole paw, they actually walk on their toes.

What was the punishment for killing a cat in ancient Egypt?

You would be sentenced to die.

Cats were so revered that if a cat died the owners would shave their eyebrows. The god Bast was a cat. Bast was the guardian of the home, and protector of the fields.

The first formal cat show was held in what year?

It was held in 1871.

The first country to have a show was England. It took place in the Crystal Palace. The first North American show was in 1884.

How may weeks will a cat be pregnant?

Cats are usually pregnant for nine weeks.

Cats usually give birth after a 66 day pregnancy. A normal litter is between 2 and 5 kittens. Kittens are blind at birth, their eyes usually open when they are about seven days old.

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Anyone who has taken the bold step of taking their cat out for a stroll knows that this is almost impossible. Getting your cat to wear a leash can be the most challenging part of the deal. Those lucky few who get a collar on their cat are bound to spend the majority of your time convincing your cat to go the same direction that you want to go.

Most people quickly give up and take their cat back home. Indoor cats often miss out on the sights and smells of the outdoor world. A great new way to take your cat out for a walk is by using a cat stroller. Cat strollers are something most people have not seen. While they are gaining popularity in larger cities if you live in a smaller town you probably have not seen one.

You can select from several different styles of cat stollers. Larger models will resemble a baby stroller with an an enclosed area that allows you cat to view out comfortably. Others are smaller and look more like a pet carrier with wheels and a handle. Before you select a pet stroller it helps to think about how it will be used.

Small folding cat strollers are the best choice for those who are short on space. Unless you have an extremely large cat most cost strollers can accommodate almost any cat. It may be a little more difficult to find a cat stroller for a very large cat. When picking a stroller for your cat consider their personality and which style of stroller they are most likely to enjoy riding in.

While cat strollers are available at most local pet stores online retailers will usually have the best selection at the best price. When you shop for cat strollers online it is easier to browse through many different retailers to compare prices and selection. When shopping online always make sure the company accepts returns in case your cat does not like it.

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Cat Treatments and Therapies

Cat Illness Symptons

Giving cat’s pain relief is not recommended without the say so of a veterinarian and prescription and should always be under supervision. We should always be sure that there is something wrong with the animal before administering any kind of help. Unfortunately for cats they often suffer from bone and joint diseases. Most of the time, animals just ignore their discomfort so you do not know that they are in any pain. One common problem is cat arthritis pain.

As cats are unable to actually comminucate what is wrong with them, it can be hard sometimes to know what is making them ill. A cat is able to hide the fact that it is suffering much better than humans or dogs can, they dont appear to like sympathy. 2. It can be hard to tell what is wrong with your cat especially if it sleeps a lot anyway but you should check how much food it is eating and if it is being overly aggressive. Sometimes cats can seem disinterested in grooming themselves as well, which is in most cases unusual. A lot of people go overboard when grooming their cats, which can result in very red and raw patches.

Signs of illness can include obvious agitation and growling, as well as fast breathing. Most of the time it is best to just book an appointment with the veterinarian and get the cat diagnosed as quickly as possible. Pain relief for cats is often varied as a lot of the time it is hard to predict just how much pain the cat is in or how the cat will react to the medication. As cats can suffer side effects from their medications it is better to look for joint meds that can be given in lower doses. Seeing your cat in pain is something no one likes and so you should make a real effort to get it treated as soon as possible. As soon as your cat begins to behave differently to how it does normally, you should book a vet appointment for it could be very ill.

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Building Cat Houses is Easy

Cats enjoy to have their own houses which provide them hours of entertainment as well as safe and warm places to rest. There are many different plansof cat houses you can buy, but it is relatively uncomplicated and handy to build a cat house yourself. By doing your own project yourself, you have the advantage to design exactly what you need for your location and your cat or cats.

You will need the following paraphernalia, which you can get at your local hardware store: One 4′x8′ sheet of 3/8″ plywood, three 2″x4″x8″ studs, one box of 5/8″ wood screws and rug remnants. Divide the plywood and the each stud in half and then take each piece and cutsaw them in half again. You should end up with eight pieces of plywood each measuring 2'x2'. These sections will be used for the floor, walls and roof of your cat house. Cutting the studs will result in twelve pieces that are each 2′ in length. These will form the configuration to screwthe plywood to. Use a staple gun or glue to attach the carpet remains to the plywood. The carpet covering lends a expanse for your cat to to take care of his need to scratch and stretch his claws, sparing your furniture.

Congratulations! Your cat house do it yourself project is now complete. This project is not slated to be used as an outdoor cat house since supplies used are not waterproof. You may change the house for use outdoors by the adding a roof in the form of a triangle. This will require extra studs and plywood covered with roof shingles so any rain will run off without affecting the house.

The project to be used outdoors should not have carpet on the outside because moisture trapped in the fabric will eventually cause the plywood to rot. For outdoor use you may alter the carpet with a water sealant to strengthen the life span of the habitat.

A safe and warm habitat for your cat to hang out does not have to be opulent nor expensive. Add your own particular touch and construct what is right for your pet and yourself.

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Cats by instinct have great vision and in the wild they much so rely upon it. However there are fairly common illness’s that can cause your domestic cat to go blind over time. Your cat may be suffering from Retinal Atophy which unfortunately is not a curable illness and only worsens over time until your cat may go completely blind.

Visit my website for information on Cat Blindness.

Cats can have trouble seeing from Kidney Disease, Hypertension or Cancer as well. Similar to us humans a cat can even be diagnosed with Glaucoma. This is most likely for cats from any of the other illnesses. Here you can read more about the cause of Felin Blindness. When you have a cat it is a good idea to become familiar with thes problems because some can be treatable and the sooner you notice the better chance’s your cat will have of getting the proper care.

I once had a cat that was blind in one eye but it was from a vehicle or it could have been another cat that must have done the damage. This cat was my favorite cat when I was still a kid. His name was Sim and it’s quite possible he out lived more than just the standard 9 lives. I believe it was his third time being hit by a car on our busy street that made him blind in one eye. My family and I took Sim camping with us one weekend up in the Gold Country in Northern California and it wasn’t the first time the cat went with us. Although this time the day we were ready to pack up and go, Sim was no where to be found. We yelled him a bunch too. We walked a good amount around the outer part of the site into the woods and he just wouldn’t show up. We evetually decided we better go because we had reasons to get back soon and were very sad all the way home of the five hour drive even.

Well we thought for sure we would never see him again but hopped he would be ok to survive in the wild. Several months later we had an oportunity to go camping again and drove up to the same site we camped before. Low and behold the second day we woke up to a bunch of noise in our camping spot only to find Sim looking perfectly healthy and ever so happy to see us as we were to see him. Our drive home the following afternoon with our furry friend Sim being reunited with us was absolutely wonderful and I will never forget it.

Besides Sim being blind in the one eye I personally have never had a cat suffer with any kind of illness causing feline blindness. If you think your cat might be going blind it may not be the end of the world for your cat. Get more information about why your cat is having trouble seeing and if it isn’t treatable your cat has excellent hearing and balance it will fine tune those skills to get around better than you might think.

Visit my website Cat Training or more information on what can cause Cat Blindness.

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Cat lovers enjoy almost every thing about their pets. The purring, adorable antics, meowing and affection the cats show their owners, make cats a joy as pets. The litter box is another story, nobody enjoys cleaning out a dirty, smelly litter box. Cats are clever and clean creatures and with a little effort on your part, your cat can be trained to use the toilet. Professional animal trainers have been potty training cats for years. Training your cat to use the toilet, not only eliminates a dirty job, it saves you money. Cat litter is expensive and it’s an environmental hazard. Training your cat to use the toilet will rid your home of the unpleasant smells of a litter box. Here are some basic tips for cat toilet training.

Move the Litter Box

The first thing to do is to move the litter box to your bathroom one day at a time in two inch increments. You can train a cat to use the toilet, but it is a step by step process. Next, you will want to place the box up so that it is higher. Try using telephone books or cement blocks for this purpose. Do this until the litter box is at the same level as the toilet itself. Each time you increase the height of the litter box, be sure to remove some of the litter. Be sure to secure the box to the base you are building.

Once the litter box is at the same height as the toilet, you need to start moving the box closer to the toilet. Try to do this in half inch increments. You can train a cat to use the toilet by teaching the cat that the litter box is the same thing as the toilet. Physical proximity will help with this. Keep removing a bit of litter with each move so that the cat becomes used to their being less and less litter. Keep doing this until there is less than an inch of litter left.

Making the Switch

You can train a cat to use the toilet if you can teach the cat that the toilet is where he or she should be when it comes time to use the bathroom. Thus, you now need to replace the litter box with a training box. To do this, lift the toilet’s seat and secure an aluminium pan to the edges. Next, put the seat back down so that the pan is secure. Add flushable litter to the mix. You may need to use industrial strength tape to keep the pan from moving when the cat sits in the device.

For the final step in toilet training your cat, cut a small hole in the bottom of the pan. If you have a kitty training aid, it may have pieces that can be removed so you won’t have to cut a hole. Gradually enlarge the size of the hole a little at a time.. As you enlarge the hole, the cat will get used to not having litter in the pan. When the hole is nearly as large as the opening of the toilet, you can remove the pan. Toilet training your cat is mostly an investment of your time and patience. The investment is worth it and you don’t have to deal with litter boxes again. Now, if you could only potty train the dog.

 

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Toys for Cats

Stop wasting money on toys for cats. The first thing you do when you get a new cat is grab the necessities like a water bowl, food and of course cat toys.

There are thousands of cat toys on the market, so choosing the right ones for your feline friend can be confusing and overwhelming.The tips to follow will help you in choosing mentally stimulating and fun to play with cat approved products.

Although it is tempting to buy all the cat toy items in the store, make sure to limit the number to just a few.  Cats can easily get bored with toys, so a good idea is only to leave a few toys out at a time. Keep other toys stored away and occasionally switch them out.This will be like new presents after a few months.

Remember that, just because your friends cat liked a certain toy does not mean that yours will be the same. All cats have a unique personality, the toys that made one feline happy for days may not interest another cat at all.

Just because your cats behavior makes them appear bored with a toy now does not mean he will not love it three hours from now.Let the new toy have some time to catch on before you give up and toss it. Some cats will surprise you when they attack and play with the item they did not care about the day before.

 

Favorite toys for cats

When choosing toys for cats, there are certain types that generally are a success, no matter what the cat’s personality may be.

Laser pointers are usually a popular favorite.Many cats will chase the pointer light beam for hours on end.  Just make sure not to shine the light into kitty’s eyes or into any person’s eyes either for that matter.

Another favorite is the something on a string.Items at the end of the string can include bouncy balls or fur mice.You might buy a string on a stick type toy for hours of fun for all involved.  Dangle the toy above a cat’s head and you are almost guaranteed to get a reaction.

Some toys will use the hide concept to interest the feline customer.  Plastic balls on a track, or mice hidden in a big plastic piece of cheese will peak your cat’s interest and stimulate his mind while he tries to figure out how to capture the toy.

In addition, you may want to consider the classic favorites: the little ball with a jingle bell inside, the furry mouse, a good scratching post, and the crackly toy.  

Keep in mind when you choose a cat toy that your pet may hate one and love another.Finding a favorite toy may take more then one attempt. Do not get frustrated if you cat does not like the toy you picked out.  

Give him a little time, and if he is still not interested, then try a different type of toy. Play time is important to overall cat health. So do not give up, you are sure to find the right items to keep your cat happy and active.

 

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All About Roundworms In Cats

Roundworms in cats are one of the most common internal parasites. They infect the intestine and average between three and six inches long. Kittens with a severe infestation may die. Here is everything you need to know about roundworms in felines.

Transmission

Most kittens that are infected with these worms got them from their mother. Mothers can pass these parasites on to her kittens while nursing if she was infected late in her pregnancy. Roundworms can also cause problems if your cat consumes eggs in the soil or an infected rodent.

Symptoms

If the problem is mild, your cat may show no symptoms at all. It’s common for cats to experience coughing, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting as the infestation worsens. It’s also common for cats infected with these worms to develop a dull coat of hair and a pot-belly.

Diagnosis

It’s usually easy for a vet to tell whether or not your cat is infected with roundworms. A stool sample will be analyzed to detect the presence of eggs. The sample will be mixed with a solution so that the worm eggs will float and be detected easily.

Treatment

Cats can easily be treated for an infestation of roundworms. Deworming medication is necesssary to treat this condition. This medication will incapacitate the worms so that they are passed out of the body in the stool. However, this deworming medication has no effect on immature worms or those that are still migrating to the intestine. Therefore, your cat will likely have to take two or three rounds of this medication a few weeks apart.

Many different health problems can affect your pet such as cat lymphoma. Luckily for you, www.cat-illnesses.com provides all the information you need. So, come by today to start reading about various diseases that can affect your cat like feline asthma.

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If you are worried that something is seriously going wrong with your pets heart then there are a few things that you can check before rushing off to the local animal hospital.

There is a major problem with the early stages of a cat and dog having heart failure and that is that they have no visible signs at all which is why it is best to have it dagnosed through an evaluation by a vet.

There area few very similar things to look for in both cats and dogs with mild to moderate heart failure can sometimes experience heart enlargement, coughing, lethargy and difficulty breathing.

To check if there is some really severe heart failure is going on you can usually tell by the animal having difficulty breathing (even when at rest), fainting, not wanting to exercise, loss of appetite and weight loss. Sometimes even drooling can be involved so watch carefully to see if your dog is drooling (more than usual).

If some of these symptoms to exist then it is best to go directly to your local animal surgery and have your vet take a look at your pet.

There are ways that your vet may check to see if your pet has heart problems are EKG, chest x-rays, blood testing, or a heart ultrasound. The ultrasound is going to be the one to be of the most use to you as it gives your vet the ability to be able to see and measure the heart disease.

If the worst comes to the worst and there is something wrong with your pet then it is not to worry as there are many vets now that are experts in pets cardiology enabling them to even a pacemaker into your pet.

So if you think that your pet may have one or some of these symptoms it is best to at least get it checked out to see if it is a heart problem or not. If left untreated it can result in worse problems or even death of a pet which as everyone who has gone through that knows it is not easy to have a pet pass away at all.

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