The Truth About Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health

By Rebecca Shelly

You've probably heard it a hundred times in the past when you would go to the veterinarian, dry food is best, it controlled weight and helped keep the cats teeth clean. Dry food may help with cleaner teeth, but free feeding of dry food is leading to obesity and other diseases. It is not just the quantity of dry food, it is the quality.

We are feeding our cats food which they really were not meant to eat. Dry food can cause dehydration and adding a small amount of water to the dry food can help with hydration levels but the best cat food for urinary tract health are diets high in moisture and are not fish based, but meat based. If your cat loves his dry food which is only about 10 percent moisture, try mixing a moist canned or packet food and gradually increase the moist food until he eating a mostly a canned food diet.

Cats need a natural raw diet of meat, bones and organs (originally this was a mouse or small rodents). Cats crave meat so adding raw meat or changing to a raw food diet would be an ideal cat food for urinary tract health. A healthy diet for the owner of the cat would include grains and vegetables but cats are carnivores and are not meant to eat vegetables, cereal and grain fillers. They are meant to eat meat, bone, organs, along with the fiber, minerals and vitamins, all of which is in the perfect food of a mouse. This is impractical for a domesticated house cat, so commercial products were made.

Now it is thought that the pH balance of urine is the cause of urinary problems, so pet food manufacturers wanting to sell their products have come up with all sorts of additives to prevent urinary problems. The manufacturers of urinary tract health cat food are putting urine acidifiers in the food which can cause metabolic acidosis, resulting in impaired kidney function and a loss of potassium which leads to mineral imbalance. This type of prevention only leads to problems of another sort.

The best urinary tract health cat food would be a diet with raw foods or canned, because although a cat eating only dry food does drink a bit more water than a cat on a canned or raw diet it is still only half of the water compared to a cat eating canned foods. When a cat is only eating dry food the urine becomes very concentrated which can contribute to feline urinary tract associated illnesses.

Cat food for urinary tract health includes raw or canned food, and adding natural immune builders, to support a healthy immune function and an overall balance to keep our pets healthy for years to come.

Rebecca Shelly has been studying alternative cat health applications for a many years. She is a regular contributor to natural pet health sites, discussing some of the most promising natural treatments for pet health on the market today. For more information on urinary tract health cat food visit http://www.pet-natural-cures.com to learn more about UTI medications and why we choose this natural remedy above all others.

How to Play With Your New Cat

By Dr. R.J. Peters

Those calendars of kittens playing with balls of yarn are cute, but don't let that give you the impression that cats should be playing with yarn... at least not by themselves.

A string-based cat toy should not be used by kitty without your supervision, as many cats will chew on string (or yarn) and swallow it, causing severe digestive tract damage. If it causes a stricture of the intestine, it could mean a painful death.

Cats and kittens love to chase stringy things, though, and it is generally safe to use them for play time. Just put those toys away when you are not present. After all, when cats play in the wild, their "toys" aren't always present, so don't feel you're hurting their feelings by taking them away. It's OK to leave the little fake mice out, or a ball, however.

They also tend to enjoy furry things, such as fluffy bedroom slippers, so if your cat is attacking yours, try to find a fluffy toy for her instead, unless you don't mind your slippers getting a little chewed up.

One of the purposes of cat play time in nature is to teach the young ones some living and survival skills, such as hunting and how to dispatch the prey once caught. It also may teach them how to get along with other cats and how to exert their dominance when needed. These skills may not be learned correctly if you bring home a kitten and use your own playtime methods instead.

For example, in the wild, catching a small rodent requires attention to the tiniest movements and sounds. So you might try tantalizing your little lion with a ball tied to some string, which you gently jiggle behind a chair or table leg, and let kitty attack it when she's ready to pounce. Jerk it away as she approaches, since a mouse would attempt to run away at the last moment, and kitty will learn the art of pursuit while developing quick reflexes.

To help her gain confidence as her skills improve, be sure to let her catch it often enough to encourage her.

You also might try lifting the ball into the air quickly to give her a chance to leap into the air, as if going for a bird. This type of play also helps a cat develop strong muscles and coordination.

Cats also enjoy reaching into things to grasp and remove something. This may come from a hunting instinct also, such as reaching for a small animal in a burrow. This skill can be honed by providing a toy that uses the principle of reaching and grasping, such as a box with holes in it just large enough for the cat's paw and arm, but too small to crawl into. Put fun items into the box for kitty to discover and recover.

Climbing is a natural activity for cats, too, so instead of yelling at the cat for climbing the drapes, it's a good idea to provide something you approve of, such as a cat tree or a tall scratching post. Maybe they will leave the drapes alone...

Lastly, a word of caution: Never use your hands for play. Always and only use a toy. Your hand should represent affection and comfort, so only use your hands for gentle handling and petting. If you allow your cat to play-attack your hands, or feet, you are only helping your cat to become a biter. This is never acceptable, and could lead to some serious injury when the cat becomes a large adult.

If your kitten or cat does attack your hand during play, don't yell or jerk back. This actually excites the hunting instinct, since you're acting like prey at that moment. Instead, freeze. Glare at the cat, and speak sharply, "No!" or, "Ouch!" When he lets go and looks at you quizzically, just ignore him and calmly do something else (such as leaving the room to get a bandaid!). Give him at least 5 minutes to also calm down before you begin a new play session.

For more information about solving cat behavior problems, visit Dr. Peters' web site: http://www.theproblemcat.com/faq.html

New Born Kitten Care

By Debra Atkins

Every so often you may find it necessary to take the place of the mother cat to care for the kitten. This could be due to several different scenarios. First off, the mother cat, for what ever reason may die. This could possibly leave several kittens motherless. Sometimes the mother cat will abandon a newborn for several different reasons. She could be sick herself and unable to attend to the kittens. She could have given birth of too many kitties or the abandoned kitten may be sick and the mother cat also referred to as the queen, will not take care of it. Or worst, someone dumped the kittens and left them to die. Sad but it does happen.

It is very important for the new born kittens to be warm and dry. A chilled kitten will die very quickly. Holding the kitten next to you will give it some warmth. You can use a heating pad on low, or a heat lamp if you use caution. Make sure the kitten has plenty of room to crawl away from the heat source, being it will overheat as well. A cardboard box with old towels will work fine. Do not try to feed a chilled kitten, this is very dangerous. A newborns normal temperature should be between 95°F and 99°F before trying to feed it. To avoid metabolic shock the kittens temperature should not drop below 94°F.

Take a few minutes after the kitten is warm to look at it and check for several different signs of sickness. Are the eyes clear and alert or do they have pus in them or mattered together. Does the ears look okay? Is the kitten active and moving around? If the kitten does not look or act alright, chances are it needs a vet. If this is not your kitten and is just a stray you found, and you do not want to take responsibility, please take a few minutes and call your local shelter. Someone will pick up the abandoned kittens and see that they are either taken care of or put out of their misery.

If this is not your kitten and you do plan to take responsibility, good for you. Next you need to hydrate the kitten. Some pedialyte, the same as given to humans will hydrate the kitten and keep it from going into shock. From the pet stores you will need K.M.R. or the equivalent. Do not use cow or any other type milk. Using an eye-dropper, syringe or a bottle you will need to feed the newborn kitten as many as 12 meals around the clock. Just like a human baby the kitten will want to eat during the night. Instructions on the box of K.M.R. will be very helpful for feeding by the weight of the kitten.

The new born kitten can not voluntarily eliminate feces or urine until around the age of three weeks. They will need to be stimulated by external means. The mother cat will take care of this if she is there, but if not the caregiver will have to help. Very simply, with a warm cloth or cotton ball gently rub to stimulate the urogenital reflex after every feeding and swab the perineal area. Also remember to wipe over the entire kitten to promote and ensure cleanliness. After about three weeks you can start the process of moving the kitten to a solid diet from a dish. Using the K.M.R. and making a milkshake or mush mixture out of the canned or dry kitten food will be a good way to start. Just be sure to use the kitten food and not the adult cat food. You may have to get a little creative in tempting the kitten to start eating. Perhaps with the kitten right at the dish of food, you dip a little on your finger and let the kitten eat it off your finger. As the kitten learns to eat, you can reduce the amount of K.M.R. Kittens will generally eat four or five smaller meals per day. Try not to leave the canned kitten food out in the dish. The canned food will spoil fast. Keep unused portions covered in the refrigerator and can be warmed in the microwave for a few seconds before feeding. Be sure and check that the food is not too hot.

A guide for kitten care care can be found at most of the local veterinarians and pet shops. With the proper kitten care and a lot of patience you will soon have your new friend in very good health.

A Knowledgeable Caregiver Leads to a Happy Healthy Cat!

By Audrey Frederick

What is a healthy cat? Knowing the difference between a healthy cat, one that is "off its feed" or one that is really ill can sometimes be the difference between life and death for a cat.

A healthy cat is bright-eyed, alert and active, wants to play and annoy you, enjoys its food and purrs up a storm. The coat of a healthy cat will be soft and shiny, with little shedding, except in the springtime. The body of a healthy cat will be fairly trim, no sores or rashes, teeth and gums in good condition, no fleas or other parasites, breath should be odor free (except after eating fish) and it should not be coughing, sneezing or have a runny nose.

The inner workings of a healthy cat should follow a normal pattern of regular bowel movements and urination.

A cat "off its feed" will generally exhibit all the healthy cat characteristics except it will not want to eat for a day. I have 3 cats and each one has gone through a day, where food is of little interest (maybe they found a mouse) and they were acting perfectly fine other wise. However, later in the evening or the following day their appetites were back and then some.

A cat that is ill may have many symptoms or just one or two. Some things to look for are lack of appetite that lasts for more than a day. Has your cat's behavior changed? Sudden inactivity may be a sign you cat is not feeling well. Constipation or diarrhea (blood in the stool) that lasts a day or two is also a sign that all is not well internally. Should you see blood in the cat's stool call your vet at once?

The inability to urinate could be a sign of blockage (cats do get kidney stones) or other bladder disorders again if you see any of these signs, including blood in the urine, call your vet as soon as possible. If your cat suddenly starts urinating outside the litter box, it may have a bladder problem. Some cats think the litter box is causing the pain.

Vomiting can be a sign of fur balls a common cat problem, however if your cat vomits more than once a week, call your vet.

A sudden increase in drinking water or an increase in your cat's appetite is also signal that something is amiss. Should your cat show any of these signs call your vet at once as it maybe a sign of something very serious.

A healthy cat will have eyes that are shiny and clear. Cats have what is known as a "third eye." It should not be seen. If you see a covering coming over the eye it is usually a sign that there is a health problem or the cat is suffering from some stress.

A healthy cat should have a soft velvety nose that is moist, but not runny. If your cat's mouth is not pink and clean looking and its teeth are getting a build up of tartar, have your vet examine your cat as soon as possible.

There will be times when you can treat an ailing cat at home, but the best advice I can give, is call your vet and get his/her advice first and then follow through with home treatment.

I tried to treat my cat, Smokey, when he has a small lesion on his leg with a "petroleum based ointment" not realizing that while he was licking it off, he was ingesting the product and as a result got very sick. A quick trip to an "emergency clinic" (night visit) and many dollars later I learned "petroleum based products" and cats tummies, do not get along very well.

So call your vet when you have the slightest doubt about the correct procedure to follow and even if you do know, it is a good idea to verify it with the vet.

One of the most important things you can do for your kitten is to make certain that it receives its kitten shots. These shots are known as the "3 in 1" vaccinations and are given to a kitten at approximately 4, 8,and 12 weeks along with a rabies shot. The purpose is to protect your kitten from some very serious viruses that can be deadly. My cats get yearly booster shots along with their rabies shot. It is my understanding that some vets suggest the booster shots every two years with some states allowing cats to get a 3-year rabies shot. Talk to your vet and follow their advice. The important thing here is that your cats has these shots.

Bacteria, viruses and bacteria-like organisms cause the majority of cat diseases. Your cat can pick up these things simply by inhaling an organism coming through the wind, coming in contact with an infected cat, eating infected food or water or a bite. Realizing this, keeping a cat inside sounds like the best advice I can give. However, my cats, because of the size of our property and the fact our guys stay within the confines of our fence, they are indoor/outdoor cats.

While I have given you an idea of what a healthy cat should be, never hesitate to call or see your vet, should you have the slightest worry regarding your cat's health.

If this article has been of benefit, please visit my web site and blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com