Traditional Cat Health Care

By Gary Pearson

Pet health care draws up images of trips to the veterinarian's office and fighting with your pet to take medications, but every day traditional pet health care is far more simplistic than that. And it is less painful for you and your cat. Generally, pet health begins with the food you give them. If you offer your cat a diet high in fat and preservatives, or even worse, people food, they will not develop a healthy internal system and chances are that they will develop a terminal medical condition. So pet health begins with what is in their food bowl. Provide a balanced diet that is high in protein; remember, in the wild, they eat raw meat and tissue, so provide them a diet that is high in protein relatively similar to a diet they would receive in the wild. However, just providing raw meat to your cat, while they may be satisfied, will not satisfy their nutritional needs. They need additional vitamins and nutrients that raw meat alone cannot provide, so pick a cat food that is a well rounded meal.

The second most important thing in traditional pet health is exercise. It is very important to engage your cat in some sort of physical activity, whether it is providing toys for their exercise entertainment, or by playing with your feline. Cats love to play hide and seek. It is indicative of their wild natural behavior, so playing a game of cat and mouse in your living room can get their heart rate going and help keep them young and spry. There are lots of toys available which can provide exercise for your feline, from balls which they can bat around, to feathers which can be whipped around in the air, taunting your cat. Cats need mental stimulus such as these toys can provide, so make sure that your cat has plenty of different toys to ensure strong mental health.

Thirdly, and something most pet owners do not consider a potential problem for pet health is poison and this can be anything from anti-freeze to drain cleaner. Anything you would not want to put in your body should not go inside your pet's. Many pets are lost each year to accidental exposure to lethal and toxic chemicals. Keep all cleaning products, medicines and poisons out of sight and in an area which your cat cannot access. Cats are clever, they can figure out how to get into spaces you would not think to consider, so make sure that your products are locked away.

By taking these small steps to providing general pet health care you can ensure that your cat is healthy and happy for many years. There are so many things that can be done as preventive measures to help ensure the health of your pet, just a few moments can mean the difference to a healthy pet. Many of us consider our pets extensions of our family, so why not take the steps to protect their health and safety too?

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about cat health care visit American Short Hair Cats for current articles and discussions.

Myths of Cats - Common Misconceptions

By Gary Pearson

Most people have misconceptions about felines. While our four legged friend can be elusive, independent and mysterious, they are no different than any member of our tow legged families. There are also many misconceptions about pet health and personality too. Here are a few about felines which are simply just not true.

While pet health is always a concern, spaying and neutering your cat will not cause them to suddenly go lazy and sluggish. They will not gain weight and become roly poly because you have them fixed. Cats are naturally energetic and curious as kittens, but once they reach adulthood, they become a bit more sedate naturally. Cats generally sleep eighteen to twenty hours a day, as a way to digest and maintain their internal functions. It is the same with big cats in the savannas of Africa. Sleeping allows the cat's body to digest their meals and rejuvenate their muscles.

Another misconception people have in regards to cats is that cats should be kept outside. They simply are not indoors pets. The idea is completely false. Many cats enjoy indoor life and have better pet health since several life threatening elements, such as traffic and other animals, are avoided. In fact, indoor cats have almost three times the life expectancy than outdoor cats. Indoor cats live an average of ten to twelve years while outdoor cats average three to five. Granted, this is not the case for every outdoor cat. There are some wily cats who can outlive their indoor cousins. But generally, indoor cats are exposed to less life threatening elements so it makes sense that they live longer. Of course, this also means that we as their owners need to make sure our wily indoor cats live in a safe environment, meaning all poisons or deadly chemicals are out of the reach of our four legged friends. Another aspect of this misconception is that indoor cats become psychologically bored and anxious because there is nothing to 'hunt' within the house. Any cat lover will tell you that it is simply not true. Cats have keen ability of finding something to play with, much to the chagrin of their owners. Making sure there are plenty of engaging toys available will keep your cat happy. Also, playing with your cat can keep them psychologically engaged and mentally satisfied with living indoors with you.

While spaying and neutering is important in population control, allowing a female to have a litter before spaying to calm her personality is completely false. There are some females which cannot handle the hormonal changes of pregnancy. There are some who do not have the maternal instincts either. Female cats are much like human females in the sense that pregnancy affects each individual differently. It will not definitely calm her personality; it will most definitely change it in some aspect, either for good or bad. It is best to spay your female than to allow her to have a litter, unless you want the responsibility of the litter. Consider your pet health prior to deciding on having a litter. It will be your responsibility too but it will affect your pet health.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about cat myths visit Ragdoll Cats Online for current articles and discussions.

Ear Mites and Ear Health Care in Cats

By Gary Pearson

If your cat is scratching uncontrollably at her ears or rubbing his head on the furniture continuously, there might be an ear problem that needs your attention. Since pet health, particularly cat health, can quickly fail, if your cat is making repetitive motions, it is best to get treatment for their issues before they become sicker. If your cat is diagnosis with ear mites, it is important that you get her to the vet immediately, as ear mites can lead to further infections and permanent hearing loss.

So what are ear mites exactly and how do they affect pet health? Ear mites are tiny, spider like insects which crawl into the warm, darkness of your cat's ear and set up shop. While they are small, they are visible to the naked eye, so pet owners can actually check their pet's ears to ensure there is not an ear mite infestation. Ear mites will look like tiny white specks against the dark color of the ear wax. Your cat might even give you signals that there is something going on. If they are heavily scratching at their ears or shaking their head, there might be an ear mite infection. You may even see them crawling out of the ear, or in some of the bedding your cat frequents. Believe it or not, your cat will let you know if there is something wrong, particularly if you are attentive to their pet health needs.

While ear mites are not fatal, it is important to pet health that they are immediately remedied. Ear mites are contagious, so if you have a household with multiple cats and one has ear mites, chances are very good that the others are infected too. Treating ear mites is simple. A vet can prescribe eardrops which will kill of the ear mites. It is also advisable to use flea powder on your cat, as flea powder will kill off any eggs which are attached to your cat's fur. While you have the flea powder out, treat your home and your pet's bedding to make sure that any and all eggs are abolished.

Other things to consider when managing your pet health care are protecting your cat from sunburns. Cats are not immune to sun burn, particularly light colored cats can get severely burned on their ears, causing cancers and eventual amputation of the ears. Use non toxic sun screen. If you are unsure, ask your vet. Also, regularly check the ears for debris, as trash in the ear can draw bacterial and fungal infections. Whether your cat remains indoors or outdoors, debris can always find its way into their ears, so it is wise to step up a schedule to monitoring your cat's ear health. Perhaps when you apply the monthly flea control, you can inspect your cat's ear health. Including it with another scheduled pet health care will help you remember to check. The inner ear of a cat is just as fragile and important as your inner ear, so maintaining a health environment for that ear drum is clear.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about ear mites in cats visit American Short Hair Cats for current articles and discussions.

Cat Scratch Fever - What is It?

By Gary Pearson

Bringing home a new kitten not only means exposing your kitten to your home, but exposing your pet health issues to your household as well. Kittens are notorious Petri dishes of bacteria and unwanted germs. While most people have images of the song when they hear the term Cat scratch fever, but it is a devastating and terrible bacterial infection which can be fatal in certain individuals.

The bacteria Bartonella henselae is responsible for cat scratch fever in humans, mostly in young children, as they are the ones who have the most contact with kittens. Though the infection is not limited to children only. Adults can contract the infection which causes lymph nodes in the body to swell profusely. While the bacterium has limited stress on pet health, it can be fatal in immune compromised individuals and children.

A cat can become infected with the bacterium through a flea bite, which is why flea control is so important in pet health care. Most individuals contract the bacterium through a scratch or bite from kitten, though some adult cats can expose people to the bacterium. The bacterium is passed into the cat through a flea bite but does not affect the cat in any certain terms. The cat can live with the bacteria their entire life with the bacteria simply living as a flora of their system. It lives within the saliva of the feline and can only be transmitted to a human when saliva comes into contact with broken skin. This is why kitten bites are likely to expose a person to the bacteria. Since kittens are more likely to play and bite, they are more likely to expose their owners to the bacteria. However, once a person is exposed to the bacteria, they will be immune to future exposure.

While the bacterium does not affect pet health, what it can do to human health is agonizing. The person develops swollen lymph nodes that are tender to the touch and can be upwards to two inches in diameter. Depending on the location of the bite, the bacterium will infect surrounding lymph nodes, that is, if a person is bitten on the arm, the lymph nodes in the shoulder and neck area will become infected. A mild fever sometimes accompanies the swelling. The enlarged lymph nodes are generally the indication for diagnosis, though there are a few blood tests which can be run to search for the bacterium. However, if the bacterium is left untreated, it can spread into the liver, eyes and brain, causing greater infection and even seizures. While it can take some time to recover, most individuals make a full recovery with treatment.

There is little an individual can do to ensure their pet health is not exposed to this bacterium. The only thing pet owners can do to prevent any exposure is proper flea control. As fleas can transmit many different bacteria which can affect pet health, it is a good idea to properly manage fleas with flea control. A topical flea control can help keep the little monsters off your cat and household treatments can eliminate and possible future attacks.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about cat scratch fever visit Ragdoll Cats Online for current articles and discussions.

How to Stop Cats From Pooping in Your Yard

By Donna-Marie Coggins

Most cats that don't use kitty litter trays will develop the habit of doing their business in gardens -- where they can cover their business up afterwards. However not all cats do this or sometimes they use a dirt area but the dirt is just too hard/rocky and they aren't able to cover up afterwards. After a while this can become very annoying, frustrating and smelly -- particularly when it's not your cat that's messing in your yard.

Now I know some people will say they have to do it somewhere, just put up with it, but it can be a problem after a while, particularly when it's right where you walk or beneath the kitchen window.

This article outlines a few suggestions for how to stop cats leaving their business in your yard. Remember, all cats are different and all situations are different, so what works for one household may not work for another. I suggest trying whichever method seems easiest for you and if that doesn't work, just keep working through the list until you find something that does.

1. If it's your own cat, ensure it has access to a kitty litter tray that is cleaned regularly, preferably daily.

2. If you know who owns the cat, speak with them politely and ask if they can ensure their cat has access to a clean kitty litter tray.

3. Where possible, try planting shrubs or placing pot plants or some other item in the area the cat is using as its toilet (e.g. I have an area where I keep my rubbish bins. Every week, on the night the bins go out, the neighbor's cat leaves a 'present' there for me. I now keep some large pot plants in that area and when the bins are out awaiting collection, I spread the plants out to cover the area that would have been left as a bare dirt patch. It only takes an extra minute or so each week.)

4. Fertilise the area with blood meal fertiliser, fresh manure (although this smell could be worse than the cat poop!) or a liquid fertiliser.

5. Fairly heavily sprinkle cinnamon, citrus peel or fresh coffee grounds on the area. You may need to repeat this process every couple of days and after rain.

6. Spray the area with some citrus essential oil -- lemon or orange.

7. Spread a few garlic cloves around the area.

8. Spray the area with vinegar or red wine vinegar.

9. Place a few pine cones around the area.

10. If possible, consider covering the area with some mulch (e.g. wood chips), gravel or rocks.

11. Use a commercial cat repellent available from many pet stores or vets. (e.g. 'Shake-Away Domestic Cat Repellent Urine Powder)

12. Depending on the area, you could also try placing some chicken wire there or pieces of aluminium foil. Hold the foil in place with a few rocks. This may not be ideal long term, but hopefully after a short time the cat will get the idea and find a more suitable place.

13. In some drought-ridden areas (such as where I live) the use of sprinklers is banned. However if this is an option for you, a motion sensor sprinkler works well.

14. You can also try keeping the area damp as cats generally prefer to use dry soil.

15. Keep a spray bottle of water handy and if you see the cat in the area, give it a quick squirt with water. Don't drench the cat -- just a quick one-second squirt is usually enough to deter it. Again, it will eventually get the idea that this is not an area for it to do its business.

16. If you have a sandpit in your yard make sure you keep this covered when not in use as the sand is ideal for cats -- they may see it as a giant litter box.

WARNING: Many people have recommended a heavy sprinkling of chilli powder, pepper or cayenne pepper on the area. While this may well keep the cat away, it actually gets up their nose and in their eyes (via their paws) and burns them. This is extremely cruel and has been known to cause terrible injuries as the cats try to stop the stinging. Please DON'T USE this method!

Similarly, other forms of insect repellents (e.g. mothballs), poisons and laxatives are very cruel and may cause the cat a lot of pain before slowly killing it.

Remember, the cat is only doing what comes naturally. It just needs a little guidance and education and training.

Donna-Marie grew up surrounded by pets on her family's farm and began working as a Wildlife Officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service when she was just 18. She has since worked as a Mobile Wildlife Education Officer and assisted at veterinary surgeries and animal rescue shelters, all while running a successful business and family (with plenty of pets). To download your free sample chapter of Donna-Marie's new book, "How To Adopt Pets" and for more pet adoption and care tips, visit http://www.HowToAdoptPets.com today.

Vaccinating Your Cat

By CS Swarens

Getting your cat properly vaccinated is essential to its health. In fact, before vaccinations became more commonly place, many cats died on a regular basis from a condition called panleukopenia, which is more commonly known as feline distemper. They were also more likely to die from upper respiratory infections such as herpesvirus and calcivirus. With the help of vaccinations, death from these diseases, and many others, have become far less common.

Giving Vaccinations

Traditionally, vaccinations were given to cats through injections. Today's medical technology has advanced in many ways, however, and injections are no longer the only method available for administering vaccinations. In fact, it is possible to administer some vaccinations through the nostrils. As advances in medical technology continue to be made, the methods for administering vaccinations will likely continue to expand.

Vaccinating Kittens

When your kitten is between the ages of four and 20 weeks old, most experts recommend administering a series of vaccinations. Typically, the series should begin when the kitten is between the ages of 6 and 8 weeks and should be continued every 3 or 4 weeks thereafter until the entire series is administered. In most cases, the last shot is administered by the time the kitten is 14 or 16 weeks old. These vaccinations are designed to protect the cat against feline panleukopeni as well as upper respiratory viruses.

If the kitten is an outdoor cat, it is also important to have it vaccinated against the feline leukemia virus. There are other types of vaccinations available in addition to the feline leukemia virus vaccination, so it is a good idea to discuss your options with your veterinarian in order to choose the vaccinations that are best for your kitten.

Vaccinating Older Cats

Once your cat reaches 20 weeks to 2 years old, it will typically require booster shots in order to maintain immunity from various diseases. Cats over the age of 2 years old should also receive booster shots, though it is a good idea to talk with your veterinarian about the benefits as well as the risks associated with receiving annual vaccinations. At this time, there is no national standard regarding booster shots and experts are not in agreement about how often these shots should be administered. For that reason, some veterinarians recommend staggering booster shots rather than giving them every year. Some shots, such as rabies, must be administered in accordance with local laws.

Providing Aftercare

Although vaccinations are considered safe, it is still important for you to monitor your cat after it receives its vaccination. That way, if you notice any unusual behavior or if your cat becomes ill afterward, you can contact your veterinarian right away and get the proper care for your cat.

Although experts do not agree completely about booster shots and how often they need to be administered, nearly all are in agreement that vaccinations are an important aspect of proper pet care. By having your cat vaccinated, you help keep your pet from getting ill while also helping to stop the spread of feline disease.

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065 For additional information on dogs, cats, birds, horses, and exotic pets visit the internet's resource for cats for sale. Research over 45 cat breeds.

Cat Behavior - What is Normal Cat Behavior?

By Luke Blaise

Cat behavior problems are a common cause of concern for many cat owners. Many cat owners can tell when a behavior is abnormal, but for some people reviewing what is normal behavior is a good refresher.

Cat behavior problems are one of the most common reasons why cats are given over to shelters by their owners. The two most common reasons for this are feline aggression and litter box problems. For many owners they reach a point where they have tried everything and can not tolerate the problem anymore and so are forced to give the cat up.

For many people when learning about cat behavior it is important that they should learn what normal cat behavior is.

Cats normally eat several small meals a day. Normally their meal size is about 10 to 20 grams which is approximately the size of mouse. Cats like eating several small meals a day which helps them with digestion. Remember it not abnormal for a wild cat not to eat for a day to two between meals. Lions and tigers routinely go for days between meals in Africa.

Also cats love to take naps during the day and all night long. Cats can be very active at night. Some new owners get concerned when their cat sleeps all the time. While sometimes there might be a medical concern, most times it is just a normal cat behavior.

Cats also like to cover their feces in the litter box. Many cat owners get overly concerned when a cat does not cover its feces in the litter box. Most cats learn to do this from their mothers so this cat my have grown up by itself as a stray.

By knowing what normal cat behavior is you can better identify abnormal cat behavior. By taking an interest in cat behavior you can really learn to appreciate how complex your cat really is.

Get this great report NOW: Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

Cat Behavior - Cat Training Using Incremental and Positive Reinforcement Techniques

By Luke Blaise

Many people say cat training is difficult to do. Cats are too hard to train. Well, if you use some basic training techniques cat can be just as easy to train as dogs.

When it comes to cat training most people don't even try because they think it is way too hard. Dogs on the other hand seem overly eager to learn tricks to get our affection. Cats on the other hand do not seem overly interested in learning tricks just to get our affection, they seem like they just want to be left alone to sleep.

There are many examples of how to train a cat. For instance my friend taught his cat how to use a human toilet, and my cat knows how to play fetch. Teaching your cat these and other behavior is easy if you use positive reinforcement and incremental training.

Positive reinforcement just means rewarding your cat for simple things they a have done right. For instance when ever my cat would bring the toy back to me I would show it affection by petting it.

When my friend trained his cat to use the toilet he used incremental training. He slowly, very slowly would move the litter box closer to the toilet every day until the cat was used to being next to the toilet, and then he put the litter box on top of the toilet, and then finally placed a recessed bowl in the lid, and then finally removed it.

By combining incremental training and positive reinforcement you can quickly train your cat, just as fast as training a dog. Start today, by picking a simple trick you would like to teach your cat and start your cat training.

Get this great report NOW: Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

A Cat's "I Should Have Stayed in Bed" Day

By Jeanette Barron

Woke up this morning. I needed to pee, badly. Ran to the litter box. It was being used. Ran to the other litter box, it was also in use. Ran to the litter box in the bathroom. The door was closed. Peed on the floor. Human came out of the bathroom and stepped in it. Got yelled at. Not my fault! Went to a corner in the basement to sulk.

Got called up to have breakfast. Didn't get upstairs fast enough and the dog ate most of it. Now I only get tasteless, low fat, diet crunchies for the rest of the day. I am really pissed off. This reminds me, I need to go again. See an empty carton lying on the floor in the hallway. Humans are so careless, I'll show them. Peed in the carton.

Went to have a nap and put this horrible morning out of my mind. The dog was sleeping in my favourite chair. Wanted to smack him but would probably get yelled at. Going down to sleep in Tiger's bed, I dare him to complain.

Couldn't sleep. Tiger kept hitting me on the head or jumping up and nipping my bum. Chased him away but I knew he'd be back. Moved to a corner in the basement.

Had a good nap. Came up to look out the window for awhile. Saw a strange cat on my deck. Yowled and howled and hissed at him to get out of my yard. Got yelled at.

Ate a good supper. Ran around and knocked a few things over. Felt much better until human saw pee in carton. Got yelled at.

Going to bed and pull the covers over my head.

My name is Max and I've had a bad day.

My blog about my cats: http://beautifulfelines.blogspot.com Training Your Cat to Harness and Leash: http://www.catsread2.info

Cat Nutrition - What is the Best Food For Your Cat?

By Gary Pearson

If you are bringing home a new kitten or newly adopted cat, it means that need to consider their diet to ensure your pet's health, naturally. If you have walked down the pet food aisle at the supermarket or local store any time recently, you know that choosing a food for your pet is confusing. In fact, many cat owners are quite perplexed as to just what is the best cat food for their new pet. A well balanced diet is necessary for the wellbeing of your pet. But it can leave a pet owner wondering: just what type of food should they get for their new cat?

Your pet's health is the important thing, so providing a healthy diet for your cat can help promote physical well being and prevent unnecessary medical condition. However, there are so many provisions available that assert to offer your cat that suitable nourishment. Which ones are best? Dry cat food is unmistakably the finest food form out there. It can provide the essential nutrients and minerals that a feline needs, just as long as your pet has plenty to drink, as dry food does not provide the necessary water that cats need. Dry cat food offer the greatest combination of nutrients, as well as sustaining fit teeth and gums for your cat. However, wet cat food tends to be kitty's favorite type of food, as it is quite similar to the texture of the organic food they would eat in the wild. However, wet cat food does very little to help maintain good dental hygiene and can be smelly and unhygienic for you and your family.

Trying to remember that our four-legged friends are an integral piece of our family means we must remember that they are not us and do not have similar dietary requirements. A vegan diet is not healthy choice for maintaining your pet's health. A feline in the wild exists on a diet that is mostly meat based, that is, cats feed on other animal's meat and tissue. Cats are carnivorous, which means kitty will needs a diet high in protein. Feeding kitty vegetables and grains will not provide the proper nourishment to sustain a healthy pet. While kitty may need the occasional green to keep them regular, cats need protein and calcium they received from their carnivorous diet. These are nutrients that they cannot receive from a vegan diet.

Giving kitty a raw meat diet is not advisable either. If you want an organic diet for your cat, it is best to consult your veterinarian to help design an organic diet for your cat. By asking a veterinarian, you can ensure that your kitty is getting the proper nutrients it needs to ensure the best for your pet's health. While protein is the main constituent of their diet, raw meat does not have the absolute composition of nutrients that your cat can receive from dry food or a well balanced organic, physician designed diet. If you wish your cat to have a more organic diet, there are plenty of resources that can aid you in drawing up an organic diet for your feline that has the entire, essential nutrimental requirements it needs for a joyful, fit lifestyle.

Your pet's health should be considered when choosing what to put in their food bowl. Do not settle for the cheapest, biggest bag of cat food at the store. If your four legged friend is relying on you to provide proper nutrition to help them maintain a healthy mind and body, why disappoint them with a less than balanced diet?

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about cat food visit Life With Cats for current articles and discussions.