Cat health care requires knowing your pet and knowing when something is wrong. Warning signs such as change in appetite, weight loss, weakness and changes in bathroom habits can account for some serious cat health care problems. A healthy cat is one that runs around, purrs and plays while maintaining a healthy and safe environment to prevent injury.

Weight seems to play an important part of feline health care. The proper weight is calculated according to the cat’s size and height. You might use a bathroom scale as a way to check the cat’s weight simply by weighting yourself and then weighting yourself and the cat together. The difference between the two is the weight of the cat. A drastic change in weight might indicate some type of illness. Your cat health care plan must include the weight check to assure you that the cat is receiving the right amount of food to maintain a healthy weight.

Many cat diseases cause the cat to need medications and other treatments to bring them back to health. A bacterial infection, a viral infection and a fungus infection more often then not requires proper veterinary check ups. Other cat health care issues are parasites, metabolic diseases and other abnormalities that could be congenital in nature. These health care issues all account for some weight loss causes.

Some medications that people used to treat aliments, veterinaries prescribe for cats. Some of these medications consist of antibiotics such as amoxicillin and some cold medicines, lasix and Phenobarbital. Although the doses are different and the names the same, you should never give your medication to a cat, they need there own supply with different measurements. Vets have been known to tell an owner to give a dog a half of aspirin, but for a cat, this might be fatal.

Cat health care also includes keeping the cat properly groomed and feeding food that helps to maintain a healthy life. Proper vaccinations need to be given yearly to protect all cats whether they go outside or not. Cat health care also includes proper exercise to maintain healthy muscles and helps keep the cat from becoming overweight. If you keep a healthy environment and good nutritious food for the cat, they can live up to sixteen years or maybe longer.

If you have cat health care issues such as teeth, ears and skin irritations, you might discus this with your vet. Some preventive measures will help maintain the cat teeth and keep them from decaying or breaking, this including cleaning them with baking soda or a commercial pet care supply. Cat health care means keeping the ears free of parasites and using preventive measures to repel ear mites. Flea prevention also needs consideration to keep your pet and home from becoming infested, which can cause serious health problems. Skin irritation results from scratching as well as skin allergies and should be monitored daily. Cat health care does not take much time; just pay attention to your cat’s movements and habits to see if there are changes.

You can also find more information at aboutcathealth.org/cat/Cat_Care_Articles/Care_For_Stray_Cat.php care for stray cat and aboutcathealth.org/cat/Cat_Care_Articles/Cat_Grooming.php cat grooming.

Aboutcathealth.org is a comprehensive resource to find more information about cat health.

Tags: cat diseases, groom, parasites

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Tags: cat diseases, groom, parasites

There is nothing worse for cat or cat owner than a smelly litter box.

For many people, the litter box is the worst of part of owning a cat. Not only is it something people dread to clean but it is also dusty and dirty. And, those who have to clean it can find themselves more susceptible to cat diseases that are present there. Sure, it’s a bad job but it doesn’t have to be too hard either.

There are many new litter boxes being designed to make the job, well, easier. One of them is the hooded litter box. These give the privacy to cats who are more sensitive and they also keep dust down considerably. They are idea of a single cat owner as long as they are cleaned regularly. Those who do not want to handle the litter can use removable liners for these boxes. They can lift out the whole liner and throw it out. All you need to do is put in a new liner and add the fresh litter to it.

Self Cleaning Boxes

Another option is the self cleaning box. These are idea for families that have many cats. Or they can be a good choice for anyone who doesn’t want to have to deal with it. A rake removes the soiled litter into a removable receptacle which leaves the box clean. All you need to do is to discard the contents of the receptacle right into the trash.

To teach your kitten to use the litter box, all you need to do is to position it in the right place and keep it very clean. The litter box should never be located next to wear the cat sleeps or near where his food is.

Once in the right place, you’ll need to tell him what the box is used for. To do this, place the cat in the box and rake your fingers through the litter. The cat may decide to start using the box right away. When he does, praise him greatly. If he just wants out, play with him a few minutes and then put him back in. Repeat this several times but don’t push it. You don’t want to make him frustrated.

When to use the Box?

About ten to fifteen minutes after your cat eats, put him back into the litter box. When he uses it, praise him for doing so. When he is napping, watch him so that you can take him to the litter box as he wakes up.

Remember that cats respond better to praise than to scolding. If he becomes angry or frustrated, you will not accomplish anything. Place the box in the spot where he most frequently has accidents and encourage him to use it.

A cat may stop using his litter box if you don’t keep it clean. Most cats will continue to use the litter box once he has done so several times, but you need to keep it clean. Also, a dirty litter box can lead to cat health problems so make sure to keep it clean.

These are some quick and easy tips to keeping your cat’s litter box clean. If you use them your cat will be your best friend.

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong pet lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information and news, tips and reviews to help ensure best-pet-health.info cat health and happiness. Best-Pet-Health.info Best-Pet-Health.info

Copyright Best-Pet-Health.info All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Tags: cat diseases, kitten

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Spring is here, and with it lots of kittens. If you have an animal shelter near you, perhaps you want to consider asking if they send mother cats and kittens to foster homes and opening up your home to foster a family of kittens.

Many shelters have found that sending the mother cat and her kittens to a foster home is a great way to save shelter money and a great way to keep the kittens away from diseases that are found at animal shelters.

Offering your home as a foster home for kittens is a great way to help the animal shelters, and a great way to be involved in helping your community. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

First, if you already have cats, be sure to get them vaccinated for the most common cat diseases. The kittens and their mother that you take in could be carrying diseases such as feline leukemia and Feline Infection Peritonitis.

You will also want to make sure your cats do not have anything that could be harmful to the mother and her kittens. Having your cats tested for worms and given a health exam would be helpful in keeping the kittens healthy while they are at your home.

Another thing you want to consider is the responsibility. During the weeks you have them, until they are old enough to be altered and adopted out, you will be responsible for their care. If they get sick, the shelter will probably cover the expense, but you will be the one administering the medicine.

You will also be responsible for taking care of the mother and keeping the kittens safe. With a mother cat and her kittens visiting your home you will not be as free to go away, especially not on any overnight trips.

Those are the difficulties of being a foster home for kittens. What are the benefits? First, the enjoyment you get from helping these little creatures. Many kittens kept at shelters do not survive because of disease. It is not the fault of the shelter, but with all the animals coming and going there is little chance kittens won’t get ill. Depending on how weak or strong they are, these diseases can kill them or weaken them for the rest of their life.

Second, you will enjoy watching these kittens as they get old enough to play with each other. Kittens are so cute, and you will get to enjoy them at their cutest until they are old enough to be adopted out (which in some areas is at about three months).

Third, if you want to get one or two kittens (or more) this is a great way to get to know their character before making any decision. And if you do keep any, you will have the pleasure of having known them since they were very tiny, which is a lot of fun.

All these are great reasons to host a homeless cat and her kittens if you are a cat lover.

Filled with information about catloversportal.com cat breeds and how to care for your cat, catloversportal.com catloversportal.com is for cat lovers around the world. Learn about different cat breeds, catloversportal.com/27/feeding-your-kitten-and-cat-what-do-they-need/ how to care for your cat, and how to care for your elderly cat.

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Keeping your cat healthy is a fairly simple task. Proper food, water and yearly trips to the vet, just about covers it all for most cats.

Many people have both cats and dogs and do not realize that the physical makeup of these two animals is not the same.
Cats are not small dogs and small dogs are definitely not cats.

Because of the differences, there are some things that a cat owner should be aware of and this is what my article is about.

A cat’s metabolism differs from that of a dog and thereby creates different reactions to some of the same situations that both species may get into.

Drugs: Drugs are very beneficial to both humans and animals. Cats however, are very sensitive to certain drugs and should never be given any medication without first consulting your veterinarian.

Regular aspirin even in small doses can be fatal to a cat.
Tylenol® and Ibuprofen drugs like Advil® can cause organ damage.

Giving a cat a pill is a job I do not enjoy. I think wrestling an alligator might be more fun. Unfortunately, you cannot fool a cat like you can a dog and hide the pill in its food.

When my cats need medication, I try to get it in liquid form, so that I can wrap them in a towel and feed it to them with an eyedropper.

I understand that some medicines for cats are now being made in a gel form that can be absorbed through the skin.

Personally, I think the best bet is to have your vet give the medication, if possible, by injection. That saves a whole world of trouble.

Poisons: There is an old saying that says “curiosity can kill a cat,” and that can be true in the case of poisons.

If your cat is a plant lover, you need to be very careful of what you have growing around your home. Most plants of the lily family are poisonous to cats, one quick bite can cause serious problems, especially if not treated promptly.

We have often been told that Poinsettias are very poisonous to pets, however in cats, it will just upset its tummy.

The ASPCA has a poison control web site listing all plants that are harmful to cats.

Antifreeze is also a deadly weapon to both cats and dogs. For whatever reason, our pets love the taste and it can be the taste of death.

Be certain, if any antifreeze is spilled, that it is promptly cleaned up and be especially alert if your car overheats and the driveway gets the runoff. Clean it up at once.

Nutrition: Cats are carnivores which means they are meat eaters (mice preferably.) Dog food is meant for dogs, cats need cat food, because it contains the nutritional substances necessary for a cat’s good health.

Obesity is as bad for a cat as it is for us humans, so do not over feed your cat.

If your cat is overweight be very watchful of its eating habits, as overweight cats are good candidates for a condition known as “hepatic lipidosis” also known as “fatty liver disease.”

If your “fat cat” stops eating even for a 24 hour period or shows signs of vomiting, diarrhea or just plain strange behavior, a quick trip to the vet is highly recommended.

If your cat is overweight and stops eating, the liver becomes alarmed at the lack of food and starts utilizing the body fat so fast that it stuffs its own cells with so much fat that they cannot function properly. This is a very serious matter and needs veterinary help at once, as the liver cannot function.

Lean cats have muscle and little fat, so if they stop eating for a day their body burns the muscle, while fat cats have little muscle and lots of fat for the liver to devour.

Do not think if your overweight cat stops eating for a day it will not hurt it because it has plenty of weight to live off of. That thought can create serious problems for you and your cat.

Overweight cats are also prone to diabetes.

Cat diseases:
When it comes to illness, cats tend to be “sneaky.”

Cats are not as active as dogs are, when it comes to jumping and playing. They are more or less sitting creatures, so unless you are aware of your cat’s normal behavior, it may be hard to tell if it is sick or not. A sick cat will tend to go and hide or just stay in one spot quietly, moving very little.

Cats are prone to upper respiratory illnesses and kidney problems. Watery discharges around the nose or eyes could be a sign of a respiratory infection.

Litter box problems could be a sign of urinary tract infections. Cats with a urinary tract infection will sometimes associate the litter box with pain and stop using it.

Take time to pet and pat your cat, feel for lumps or bumps and if you find any, a trip to the vet is a great idea. Cats are known to have different kinds of cancers.

Cats can also develop “sarcomas” which are tumors generally caused by vaccination injections. These need to be looked after.

Cats are also prone to heart disease, this is why a good cat food with Taurine is necessary.

As your cat gets older, instead of the once a year visit to the vet it is recommended that you make it twice a year, just to be on the safe side.

Cat bites and scratches from other cats are two things that should get immediate attention, in order to prevent abscesses and /or the spread of any infectious disease that could be picked up from the other cat.

This article was written as a reminder that cats act differently from dogs when not feeling well and you need to be more watchful of their behavior in order to prevent any unexpected problems.

I am currently the caregiver for 3 cats. It is amazing how each one reacts to being ill. It seems to me that as a cat caregiver you need to be very attuned to your cat’s behavior in order to realize that they may be ill. If this artcle was of benefit to you, you might enjoy reading more articles at cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

Tags: cat care, cat diseases, cat healthy, dog food

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Tags: cat care, cat diseases, cat healthy, dog food