Cat Holiday Safety - 4 Ways to Keep Your Cat Safe During the Holidays

By Debbie Davis

If you own a cat, safety is a continuous and daily commitment that you make as its owner. During the holidays as our schedule becomes busier, strangers (to your cat) come into your home, and as we are required to multi-task more, some safety precautions may fall by the wayside. Don't let that happen to you or your cat. Here are 4 ways to keep your cat safe, especially during the holidays.

Avoid Holiday Plants

Mistletoe and Poinsettias are 2 favorite holiday plants that many people bring into their homes for the holidays. If you have a cat, keep both these plants out of your home. They are both toxic-the Mistletoe more than the Poinsettias, but don't take a chance with either of them.

Clear Away Small Toys

If you are having small children as visitors during the holidays that will bring small toys such as beads, marbles, small game board pieces, make sure your cat is confined to another room or the cage in the same room so it remains safe but feels included in the gathering. Warn children not to feed the cat anything unless you give them permission. After the children have gone, make sure all small pieces that could possibly cause choking have been cleared away before allowing your get to run free again.

Keep Away from People Food

Holiday parties contain a lot of food that is great for people but toxic for cats. Remember your cat can climb to unbelievable heights so make sure that foods that are toxic to cats such as chocolate, tomatoes, green potatoes, garlic, grapes and raisins are contained in pet proof containers. To avoid any possibility of your cat ingesting these foods from the table at a party, or having an unknowing guest feed these foods to your cat, put your cat in his cage with a favorite toy in a room well away from the party, and ask guests who know you have a cat not to go into the room.

Contain Electrical Cords

An increased number of electrical cords are often used during the holidays to light up decorations. Many times they are seen as a new toy to your cat who may be tempted to swat at (and knock over) decorations, chew, or pull-none of which are good. Make sure that you tape cords together to avoid tangling or hanging, or enclose the cords in heavy plastic tubing that can be purchased from most hardware stores and reused each year.

An excellent resource for a HEPA air purifier to remove cat odor, hair, and dander from your home in time for the holidays is offered by PurerAir - the Pet Machine Purifier at http://purerair.com/austin_air_pet_machine.html

How Much Do Persians Cost?

By Dennis Cheesman

When you first consider getting a Persian cat, one of the first things you will want to know is how much you should expect to pay for your Persian. The truth is that there is no pat answer to this question, as the cost of the Persian depends on many variables.

First note that if you find a Persian priced under $200 you probably are not getting a purebred. At the very least, you will be getting a purebred that has no pedigree - and this does happen. The typical cost of a purebred Persian kitten is about $500, but again, this isn't written in stone because many other variables come into play.

When it comes to price, you should know that prices in one area may not be the same as prices in a different area - even if the kittens are comparable as far as bloodlines and such go. As with any type of commodity, the price goes up when there is a greater demand, and the price goes down when there is less of a demand. Typically, the prices charged on the East coast of the United States are higher than those prices charged in the central part of the country or on the West coast.

The time of the year matters a great deal as well. Cats are generally in heat in the early spring and into the summer. This is when the most Persian kittens will be available - Spring, Summer, and even into the fall. However if a litter is born in the winter, you can expect the cost of those kittens to be higher - because there aren't as many kittens available.

If the Persian kitten's parents are registered, this raises the price of the kittens, which will also be registered - or pedigreed. If the parents have won awards, this again raises the price of the kittens, because they are proven to be show quality animals based on their parent's achievements. Show quality Persians always cost more than pet quality Persians.

The color of the kitten and the rarity of that color or pattern can also drive the price up. At the same time, however, if one color is currently more popular than others, which is shown by what the judges seem to favor at the cat shows, the cost of kittens of that color or pattern go up. The health guarantee that the breeder offers will also bring the price up. Good breeders have their kittens checked by a veterinarian, and this also drives the cost of the kittens up.

Overall, with all of these factors in play, one should expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1200 for a purebred Persian kitten. Older cats typically sell for less, and the Persians that you find at Persian rescue centers and Humane Societies will of course cost even less.

You may also visit our Pets site! Where we have more Pet Articles and related resources!

Cat Pneumonia - An Owner's Guide to Pneumonia in Cats

By D Swain

Pneumonia in cats is a serious condition. It occurs when there is inflammation in the lungs. The condition can quickly become life-threatening as it progresses. As the disease advances, your cat will have more and more trouble breathing. It can effectively be treated if caught early enough.

Causes

The inflammation in the lungs is a condition caused by bacteria. However, this is usually the result of a viral infection that affects your cat's lower respiratory tract. Common viruses that can result in cat pneumonia include feline parainfluenza virus and calicivirus.

Symptoms

Pneumonia in cats is easily noticeable as your feline will appear extremely ill. He will stop eating and drinking which can lead to dehydration, a potentially serious condition. As the disease advances, your cat will have breathing difficulty. Some cats also develop a fever.

Treatment

As mentioned earlier, cat pneumonia is caused by bacteria. Therefore, treatment involves the use of antibiotics. It's important not to discontinue this medication too soon or the bacteria may become resistant. As you already know, some cats with this condition experience trouble breathing. These cats will need to be provided with supplemental oxygen.

When your cat goes back home with you from the vet, there are a few things you can do to make him more comfortable. Make sure he has a warm, dry place to rest. If you can, you should also be a humidifier in the room. You will also need to prevent your cat from exercising too hard, or he may experience more trouble breathing.

Pneumonia in cats is a serious condition, but it can be treated effectively. There are many other cat illnesses that can affect your beloved pet. It's best to learn the causes, symptoms, and treatments of some of these conditions so you can protect your cat. So, stop by cat-illnesses.com today to learn about some of these conditions like feline arthritis.