7 Ways to Know Your Cat is Having Feline Urinary Problems

By Laura Ramirez

Tell me, does this sound like your cat? Is he frequently urinating, grooming his genitals, and urinating in inappropriate places? These are signs of feline urinary problems and you need to take your cat to the veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and treatment. Here are 7 ways to know if your cat is having urinary problems so you can seek treatment before it is too late.

1. Is your cat whinier than usual? If your cat is crying often, this could be a sign that he is in pain. Often feline urinary tract infections are difficult to detect because cats have a high tolerance to pain but if your cat is whining more than usual and you notice other signs of infection, take your cat to the veterinarian.

2. The first sign of feline urinary problems is a change in normal urination patterns. If your cat is urinating more or less than usual, it could be a sign of a problem.

3. Has your cat stopped urinating altogether? If so, get to the vet immediately because a complete blockage can be fatal if not treated in time.

4. If your cat is constantly dripping urine, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Feline urinary tract infections cause frequent urination and incontinence.

5. If there is blood in your cat's urine, he is most like suffering from feline urinary problems and needs to be taken to the vet immediately.

6. If your cat is grooming his genitals more frequently than usual, it could be a sign of urinary tract infection, especially if it is accompanied by crying.

7. If your cat is urinating outside of his litter box in inappropriate places, feline urinary tract infections are most likely the cause. Your cat is probably urinating outside of his litter box because he associates the pain accompanying urination with the litter box.

Do yourself and your cat a favor by keeping these signs of feline urinary problems in mind. Quick diagnosis and treatment are important in order to keep your cat out of harm's way. Better yet, preventive treatment through the use of homeopathic remedies and implementation of lifestyle change are the most beneficial ways to keep urinary tract infections at bay. If you spot the infections early enough, you can take care of them at home and won't ever even have to go to a vet. After all, prevention is the best medicine and homeopathic treatment can maintain your cat's bladder health as well as combat infection. The ultimate goal is permanent recovery and it can be achieved most effectively with lifestyle change and homeopathic treatment.

Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of natural remedies which heal disorders and keep pets vibrant and healthy. To learn more about her findings, go to http://www.pet-ut-health.com.

Pet Collars - There Are Many Styles

By Jennifer Akre

You may have checked out many different pet collars for your beloved furry friend. You noticed that there are many different styles to choose from and the materials vary widely as well. These collars have many uses for your pet, including their identity, their safety, and sometimes, just for style.

Depending on the type of animal you have, will determine the size and the material for the one your pet needs. They come in various sizes, and the materials ranging from plastic, leather, to even chain link. You can be decorative and try to give your pet some style or use the basic plain ones that just offer usefulness and no added flair.

Cat Collars

You cat will need one to display their tags; you want to ensure that if fluffy gets lost, your address is displayed and he can be returned to you safely. There really is no need for a leash to be attached to the one for your cat, as I have not seen many cats that are willing to be walked.

You would want to find a thinner option for your kitty, the material is non important as there is no need for restraint. Most people buy pet collars for their cats, just for the he decorative appeal. The cat may not like wearing a pink one with a princess crown on it, but without thumbs, he is helpless and can not stop you from displaying that he is your little princess.

Dog Collars

The pet collars for dogs have different uses than those of the feline. Dogs will need walked, restrained, and sometimes trained with them. Small to medium size dogs that remain mostly in the house can have cloth, or plastic ones without worries of them snapping them when on a walk. You want to make sure the dogs tags are attached so if he is out or gets lost, he can be returned to you safely.

Larger dogs will need to have thicker ones, made of leather or chains. You want to be bale to restrain the dog if he becomes overly excited during a walk. If you run in to another dog and the one your pet has is too weak, you may risk injury to yours or another's dog.

There are choker pet collars for your dog as well, these are used in training. You may have an overly excitable dog that needs to be restrained more than once or twice during a walk. The choker ones are designed to add pressure on the dog as he strains and pulls against you, eventually training him to be more obedient and calm during an encounter with another person or animal.

The ones for large dogs can be very stylish as well, you can go for the brute look and have spikes on a leather one, or turn your pit bull in to a pretty princess, just like the smaller dogs and even the cats. Whatever pet collars you decide to purchase that fit your needs, always attach the tags on to it, to ensure your pet is always returned to you in the event of them getting lost.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living room, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous pet area by using modern cat furniture and other pet supplies to keep your fuzz face happy.

Cat Scratching Posts - They Provide Your Pet With a Nice Place to Scratch

By Jennifer Akre

The new furry feline that you brought into your home like to do one thing and that is scratch your furniture as much as you can. So, you need a way to keep him from ruining your furniture, well, turn to cat scratching posts to solve the problem.

Cat scratching posts will provide your cat with a lovely place to do his scratching. The reason is because of this cat furnishing's design as it simply sits on a pedestal and has a post that sticks out into the air. The pedestal that the post sits on will be weighted so the whole unit will not fall over and one will typically be crafted from some type of wood and then covered in a durable fabric like carpeting. There are some options that are even made with sisal rope instead of just carpeting, giving your feline an even better spot paw and play.

And, speaking of places for your cat to play, there are a slew more options than simple cat scratching posts. For instance, maybe your cat loves to run around and jump on things, especially your furniture again. Well, you can give him his own special spot to play by purchasing him a cat tree. It has the same type of shape as a real tree and is crafted out of wood and typically covered in carpeting just like with the scratching posts. Your kitty can jump from limb to limb to have a good time. Or, if you want to give your kitty an even better place to play, you can purchase a kitty gym for him. This selection is like a more extravagant version of a cat tree because in addition to featuring limbs, it also comes with perches, ramps, tunnels, hanging hammocks, and even hanging toys built right into them. If you do not have a lot of room to work with, but want your furry companion to have something nice to play with, you can always get him some toys like those motorizes mice that move across the floor all by themselves or other toys that have catnip.

If you feel like pampering your cat, not only should you look into getting cat scratching posts for him, but other deluxe cat furnishings like a posh place to put his litter box. There are actually selections that will enclose his litter box so he can have some privacy when he does his business. There are also perches you can put on your home's windows so he has a nice place to enjoy the view of the outdoors and even cat fences to keep your cat in your yard if he goes outside. For a nice way to see all these cat items, just turn on your computer and do some online shopping. It is an easy way to check things out and when you do decide on something, you can generally get it at a pretty reasonable price.

In the end, if your cat likes to scratching, provide him with a lovely spot to do just that with cat scratching posts. One would be a nice way to make sure your furniture does not get ruined.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous pet area by using the essential cat supplies and puppy supplies that your little furballs will need.

Cats in Ancient Egypt

By Claudia Escobar

Cats played an important role in Ancient Egypt. From protectors of their grain, to pets, to deities, cats' influence on Egyptian life was unmistakable. The popularity of Egyptian cats is reflected in the many Ancient Egyptian paintings and artifacts in which they appear.

Indeed, just the mention of cats and Egypt evokes beauty, mystery and supernatural imagery. Surely, cats and Egypt share a long, interesting history. Many cat experts believe that Ancient Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats. At first, it was a practical matter. Cats were brought in to protect granaries and homes from small vermin. Eventually though, Ancient Egyptians - especially the wealthy - started to adopt cats as pets.

Paintings on tombs and other buildings show spotted, slender cats, which are believed to be the first domestic cats. It is believed that these early Egyptian cats were the ancestors of the Egyptian Mau. Even though this breed is not as known as other cat breeds, its popularity is increasing.

Over time, cats in Ancient Egypt became part of the family. Ancient Egyptians held cats in such a high regard that they went into mourning whenever any of the family cats died. They even had them mummified.

Animals in general - and felines in particular - were so revered in Ancient Egypt that they became deities. However, according to many experts, Egyptians did not worship animals per se. Rather, they thought that animals embodied certain divine qualities and used animals to depict such attributes.

Cats were believed to be direct representatives of Bastet, the cat goddess of protection, fertility and children. Bastet, also known as Bast, was depicted as a woman with the head of a cat or just as a desert cat. Priests would keep a cat in the temple in honor of the cat goddess.

The other feline goddesses were Sekhmet and Mafdet. Sekhmet was depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness. She represented destructive power. Mafdet, the cheetah goddess, represented swift justice and judgment. She was also known as the panther goddess.

Egyptian cats surely conjure up images of ancient magic and mystery. If you or your cat loving friends love both cats and Egypt, you will be glad to know that you may find Egyptian-cat inspired artwork, collectibles and statues, both online and off. These make great cat lover gifts.

There are also books about the role cats played in Ancient Egypt and about the feline goddesses mentioned here. These too make great cat gifts.

© Claudia Escobar is a cat lover who loves anything cat-related. For more on Egyptian cats and gift ideas for cat lovers visit her site at http://www.cat-lovers-gifts-guide.com If you would like to reproduce this article please feel free to do so, provided that you publish the article in its entirety and include this resource box.

Do Cats Need Raw Food?

By Abe Kline

Do cats need raw meat in their meal? Quite a few times I caught my pet cat stealing a piece of raw chicken meat from the kitchen. I had let the meat stand in a plate to answer a phone call. It seems the cat enjoys this stolen sweetness. Could it be its body is craving for raw food? I decided to find out more.

Eating processed food is a modern habit of the last few decades. Additives such as preservatives, colourings and flavours are present in processed food. Other addictives are synthetic or inorganic vitamin and mineral additives of questionable biological value. If processed food is bad for human beings, then why are we feeding our pet dogs and cats dried pellets and canned food?

Domesticated dogs and cats have been around for thousands of years. They certainly did not live on processed food in all that time.

By nature, dogs and cats eat other animals such as birds, rabbits and squirrels. This means their natural diet consists primarily of animal tissues. This means raw meat, glands, bones and organs such as liver, kidneys, brains etc. They also eat small amounts of vegetables, seeds. Almost no complex carbohydrates are found in this diet. Enzymes found in raw food helps in digestion and absorption of nutrients.



There is a small risk to feeding our family pet raw food. However, when pet owners are careful in handling raw food, healthy dogs and cats are able to deal with germs and parasites.



I found out that currently thousands of cats and dogs around the world are fed raw food. Vets have yet heard of one case of salmonella as a result. Yet the small risk in consuming raw food is nothing compared to the long term risk of chronic diseases process food can cause.



Here is a quick recipe for No Cook Homemade Cat Food:



· I pound raw ground chicken meat or any meat your cat loves (no pork).

· Combination of small amount of cauliflower, broccoli, leafy greens, cabbage, zucchini, beets. (No onion, tomato, eggplant, potato or spinach.)

· Ground the breakfast eggshells into fine powder for calcium.



Mix raw ground meat with one cup water. Add 4Tbsp of eggshell powder. Chop the vegetables finely. Mix the meat and vegetables in an approximate ratio of two to one. Add hot water until it is stew like. Cool it before giving to the cat. Include vitamins last if your cat takes them. Make enough for one day. Refrigerate the extra portion till the next meal. Serve at room temperature.

Want to learn more about the care of cats? I have started a blog about caring for your cats. Please click http://caringforyourcats.blogspot.com

How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Cats

By Stephen Jones

What if I told you that feline lower urinary tract disease is a silent killer? Many cat owners don't notice the early symptoms of the disease and only take them to the vet for treatment by the time it is too late. In order to keep your kitty safe and maintain cat urinary tract health, you must learn to spot the symptoms of infection early and administer preventive treatments on a regular basis.

Infections of the lower feline urinary tract are not as common as urinary tract infections in dogs. Less than 1% of the cat population is affected by them but 10% of cat visits to the veterinarian have to do with urologic disorders. Tract inflammation in cats is caused by a variety of factors and can be hard to spot since cats are often purring, licking, and snuggling even when in pain.

First of all, knowing your cat's normal behavior is very important in order to be able to tell when he is acting different. Some of the first signs of bladder infection include very little urine, frequent urination, and painful urination. Other common red flags are excessive grooming of the genital area and crying while doing so. Also, you can suspect urinary tract infection in cats when your cat urinates outside of the litter box or you find blood in his urine.

The cause of urinary tract infections can be bacterial, fungal, or viral infection, urethral obstruction, or uroliths aka bladder stones. Conventional treatment aims at suppressing the immediate symptoms by administering antibiotics, catheterization, fluid therapy and surgery in rare cases. These conventional methods are highly effective treatments as a last resort but you should try to avoid them as much as possible because of their dangerous side effects. Prevention is the best medicine so your goal should be to try to maintain cat urinary tract health and treat infections in their early stages with natural remedies.

In order to keep your cat's bladder healthy, make sure that your cat always has access to fresh, clean water. Also feed your cat frequent small meals versus two big meals per day and try to feed him unprocessed foods as much as possible. It is also important to closely observe your cat at all time in order to be able to notice any unusual behavior that may be a sign of cat urinary tract infection. Try to keep your cat from feeling stress by keeping him from being exposed to stressful situations.

If you don't want to risk your cat's health by giving strong antibiotics, try administering a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic remedies for urinary tract infections in dogs and cats are accessible and affordable. Furthermore, they can be highly beneficial as preventive treatment also. All you have to do is sprinkle it on your cat's tongue everyday to support the healthy flow of pee and maintain cat urinary tract health. Homeopathic remedies aim at holistic treatment thus support immune system functioning and overall health. Do your cat a favor by making the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes in order to prevent urinary tract infection and maintain a healthy bladder. It is important to think in prevention as a treatment because the infection will recur otherwise. The keys to cat urinary tract health are healthy diet, observation to spot unusual symptoms, and holistic remedies. If you follow these simple steps, your cat will stay infection-free and healthy.

7 Common Signs of Feline Urinary Tract Infection

By Stephen Jones

Boy, did I learn a valuable lesson. A couple years ago, I rushed my dear, dying cat to the pet hospital due to lower urinary tract disease caused by a blockage of his urethra. I'm not exaggerating when I say that if I waited any longer, he would have died. Thankfully the vet was able to save him although he was in a delicate state for weeks.

In order to prevent this stressful and agonizing experience from happening again, I had to learn to watch closely for the symptoms of feline urinary tract infection so I could treat my cat quickly at home. Better yet, I learned how to prevent feline lower urinary tract infections from happening altogether by making the necessary lifestyle and dietary changes and using homeopathic remedies but it's always safe to know the signs of an infection just in case. There are only very subtle behavioral variations in cats so that makes it extra difficult to spot an infection. Here are 7 of the most common signs you should look out for.

1. If your cat looks like he is in pain when urinating, it could be a sign of cat urinary tract infection. Take your cat to a veterinarian for quick diagnosis if you suspect an infection.

2. Frequent urination can also be a sign of feline urinary tract infection.

3. If your cat stops urinating altogether, you can almost be sure that your cat has UTI. The causes of not urinating could be inflammation of the urinary tract, bladder stones, or urethral obstruction. The most common cause of infection in cats is bladder stones.

4. Excessive grooming of the genitals is linked to the cat urinary tract infection, especially if your cat is crying while grooming. This could signify that he is in pain.

5. Blood in the urine is an almost certain sign of feline urinary tract infection and means your cat is in severe pain. You should take your cat to the vet immediately to prevent stress and further aggravation of the infection.

6. If your cat has stopped urinating in its litter box and urinates in different parts of the house, you can suspect cat urinary tract infection. This is because when urination becomes painful your cat associates it with the litter box and thus tries to avoid it.

7. If your cat is straining to urinate and there are only drops of urine coming out, it may be a sign of feline urinary tract infection. Furthermore, you may notice that your cat is acting extremely lethargic.

If you spot some of the more serious signs of cat urinary tract infection such as blood in the urine, your best bet is to take your cat to the vet immediately and seek conventional treatment. It is important however that once you get home, you start making dietary and lifestyle changes in order to reduce the chance of re-infection such as by feeding your cat fresh, unprocessed foods that are rich in essential minerals like magnesium. If your cat only seems to be in the early stage of an infection, you can try administering a homeopathic remedy at home in order to keep the infection from progressing.

Homeopathic remedies also support overall immune functioning and can be used to complement conventional treatments if you don't feel comfortable using them on their own. It is important to remember that conventional treatments like antibiotics are very strong and can have dangerous side effects. Using a homeopathic remedy promotes overall health and is 100% safe to use. Make no mistake about it. Preventive and homeopathic treatment promotes overall health so your cat can recover from a feline urinary tract infection without having to resort to strong antibiotics or surgery. Make sure to be aware of any unusual changes in behavior so your cat doesn't have to suffer in silence. With the right combination of dietary change, homeopathic treatment, and close observation, you can spot, treat, and prevent urinary tract infection in your cat and promote long term health.