Cat Health Care Tips

By Trevor Kassulke

Taking care of a cat to insure proper health care for your cat is very important. You don't want to inadvertently do something that will make your cat sick or ill. Some well intentioned things that cat owners might do can actually be damaging to cat health.

One of the important things to consider in Cat Health Care is the proper feeding of your cat. The best foods for your cat are the commercially prepared foods, as home prepared diets, especially vegetarian diets, are not properly balanced for cats and can contain too much or too little of the nutrients necessary for cats, leading to illness. For proper care you should be sure that you don't give your cat chocolate or onions. Treats like fish and liver can be given on special occasions. Carbohydrates like rice, pasta, and potatoes can be mixed into your cat's food for variety. However, the majority of your cat's diet should consist of commercially prepared hard cat food since this will help keep the cat's teeth and body as healthy as possible.

It is not healthy for cat's to get too fat, so you need to try to prevent this as part of your Cat Health Care regimen. Feed your cat small amounts a few times during the day, and try to feed it at the same times every day. Also, try to ensure that your cat gets some exercise. Play with your cat and provide your cat with balls and other toys that it can bat around and chase after in order to get exercise. If your cat does happen to get overweight, you should cut out all extra treats and try to get the cat moving around a bit more. However, you don't want to cause the cat to lose weight too quickly or it could be at risk for a liver disease.

Cleaning your cat's teeth is another part of the cat's care. You want to get a special toothbrush from the dentist, as well as toothpaste made for cats. You don't ever want to use toothpaste made for people, as this can make your cat sick. It might be easier to get started brushing your cat's teeth if you start by dabbing a bit of toothpaste on the cat's lips so the cat can get used to the taste.

As a part of Cat Health Care you should also try to keep your cat clean. If your cat's hair should happen to get dirty or tangled, a little bit of talcum powder brushed through the hair should help to take care of this problem.

Trevor Kassulke owns and operates http://www.catcareguidance.com Cat Health Care Tips

What to Get Your Cat For the Holidays

By Roman Brown

The Holidays are fast approaching and just as the pitter patter of young hearts jumps with expectation and delight, the shopping list grows for all our loved ones. For those with beloved felines at home, we have taken a few moments to go over some basic ideas for gifts for your cat.

Just like toy trains, race tracks, and stuffed animals for children, never underestimate the classics when it comes to picking out gifts for your purrrrfect companion. If you have never had one, or haven't bought one in a long time, consider a scratching post. If you have several cats, one of the multi-tiered scratching posts is another great idea. If that's not in the budget, you can also give the old one a good rug shampooing and be sure to sprinkle with some cat nip for true delight.

The common squeaky toy or jingly ball are two more great toys to surprise your cat with over the holidays. Anyone who has had them in the past can vouch that they don't necessarily stand up to the test of time, but that is why they are also usually sold in multi-packs and for a low price. If you care to step it up a notch, there are a handful of items out there designed to make your life easier and give your feline friend a high tech boost. Consider a self-cleaning cat litter box.

There are battery operated mice you can buy for your cat for the holidays. Since it is the holidays, though, why not help you cat get into the spirit. There are holiday inspired and styled hats and stockings you can buy for the cat-sure to look great for family photos or just for fun. No holiday would be complete with all those great treats, though. Don't leave your cat out of the fun, but don't put them in harm's way either, by giving them unhealthy people food. Splurge a little and buy your cat some extra treats for the holidays. From hard and soft pieces, if you're not sure what to get your cat, look online or visit a local pet store. Your cat's veterinarian may also have some good suggestions on what treats or toys are best for you cat this holiday season, based on the cat's age, normal diet, and any special health considerations.

The holidays are meant to be shared among loved ones, and that includes the four-legged members of our families. If at all possible, take them with you on your visits or have someone who will take care of your pet while you are gone for the holidays.

Make sure to visit the spoiled pet for all your cat training needs this holiday season!

Cat Worm Symptoms - Your "I'm Not an Idiot" Guide to Recognizing the Symptoms of Cat Worms

By Kate Rieger

Read this guide and your cat will thank you for recognizing cat worm symptoms before these parasites do her long term harm. There are several types of parasitic worms that can infest your cat like: lungworms, hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and cat heartworm. There's plenty of synthetic parasiticides on the market, but you can opt for a natural approach to treating cat worms.

Some cat worm symptoms can be pretty darn obvious, like when kitty vomits an enormous load of half digested breakfast along with something that looks like short spaghetti. Chances are you're looking at roundworms.

Other times, the problems caused by cat worms aren't as obvious. Perhaps your cat is wheezing - you may think she has asthma or a cold. Every year veterinarians are presented with thousands of cats showing all the signs of a respiratory illness. In fact, a microscopic exam of your cat's feces may indicate the presence of lungworms in her respiratory tract. The presence of lungworms will cause her to exhibit symptoms similar to asthma, but the proper remedy is much different than the treatment for asthma.

If you just adopted a kitten or an adult cat, its a pretty sure bet she came pre-loaded with cat worms. If you haven't made it to the vet for a final diagnosis, monitor her stools in the litter box. A black, tarry or even bloody stool is a sure sign of a hookworm infection. Take her in to your vet for a reliable diagnosis.

Cats that have an advanced case of roundworms may exhibit cat worm symptoms including serious diarrhea, frequent vomiting or both. Blood may be present in the the diarrhea and vomit. The poor creature is trying to expel these bloodsuckers naturally. Unfortunately, the persistent diarrhea dehydrates her. When she vomits she ends up swallowing some of the regurgitated roundworms.

All cat worms are parasites; they suck blood. Cats and kittens are candidates for anemia. The most tragic health threat is an impacted intestinal tract - your kitten's intestines packed with a mass of roundworms. Young cats are particularly susceptible to an intestinal perforation when this mass moves about.

Tapeworms aren't as devastating to your cat's health as some of the other parasites. You can recognize these cat worm symptoms too. Take a look at her anal area. She's probably showing it to you 2 or 3 times a day during your petting sessions. Seize the moment. Do you see small, white, rice-like segments? Well, its not rice - its a segment of tapeworm.

A cat infected by a cat heartworm may be gagging, coughing, have difficult breathing or vomiting. Or she may show no signs of cat worms - she may suddenly drop dead.

So here's your "I'm Not An Idiot Guide To Recognizing To Recognizing Cat Worm Symptoms"

Your cat is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms...

1. Coughing, wheezing or problems breathing;
2. Vomiting a batch of white, short spaghetti-like casings;
3. Gagging;
4. Frequent bouts of vomiting;
5. Diarrhea;
6. Black, tarry stools;
7. White, rice-like casings sticking around her anal area

Its likely your vet will suggest a topical or oral synthetic treatment for purging cat worms. However, many cat owners are opting for more natural treatments using herbal remedies like Artemisia absinthinium (also called Wormwood). This herb is widely used in homeopathic practices to treat cat parasites. Consider it as a viable option to rid your cat's parasites and free her of debilitating cat worm symptoms.

Kate Rieger has been owned by 15+ cats and is a champion of spay and release for her feral cat neighbors. She is partnered with the Kentucky S.N.I.P clinic and together they provide affordable solutions for pet owners. Never one to be short on opinion, she is on good behavior during her speaking engagements at local organizations where she spreads the word about natural alternatives to helping cats live long lives and teaching owners how to treat cat worm symptoms with natural remedies. Drop by and pick up a free copy of her eBook '111 Things You Don't Know That Could Harm Your Cat' that shows you how to protect your cat from conditions that could injure your cat. Pick up a copy and protect your cat today.

The Bare Bones of Cat Ownership

By Debbie Foster

Having any family pet is a big responsibility so you must know all the basic steps on how to care for it. So if you are interested in having a cat, you should know more about cat care. Owning a pet cat is not as easy as feeding it every day. Food is not the only thing a pet cat requires to stay healthy and happy. Just like you and me, cats also need some of their basic needs to be taken care of. Caring for cats is more than just the caring part, you need to know what to do and how to do it. As a conscientious cat owner, here are some things to be aware of.

Some people feed their family cats leftover foods or table scraps, but you should understand that those foods are cleaner. A combination of the two provides the right kind of nutritional food for your pet. It can be affordable if you make it part of the monthly household shopping budget.

Next, they need a home. You should make sure the immediate area will be safe and secure for your pet. Much like the way we take care to remove all potentially dangerous and threatening items from the home area when there is a child in the house. Of course, you'll require a good quality litter box for your cat. These can be very inexpensive or more pricey like the self cleaning type. Cats love toys to bring out their playful side, so you'll want a few of those. Then to further show you care, cozy cat beds are nice. Again, these run from very affordable to more expensive like in the temperature regulated heated cat beds.

Exactly like a baby, your cat needs to get regular check-ups with their veterinarian. It's also important to take them to the veterinarian to have them neutered or spayed unless you purposefully plan to breed. Felines require vaccinations from time to time, and the costs of such shots may vary. Cats also need annual check-ups with their vet. Scheduled veterinary visits, as well as emergency visits from sickness or injury can cost a pretty penny, so be prepared and keep emergency funds available. It's better to plan for the worst than to be regretful in the end. Cat care may seem like a piece of cake initially, but it is a full-time obligation to be a fully responsible cat owner. Before you dream of owning a pet, or actually getting one, please make sure you're able to care for it in every sense.

An animal advocate, Debbie Foster owns http://www.petbedsunlimited.com where you'll find a wide selection of quality pet beds, dog crates, dog carriers, dog pens, cat beds, cat carriers, large dog beds, pet strollers and more.

The Proper Kitten Diet

By Christine Pinkston

Kittens need an average of fifteen percent more protein to get the proper muscle development. The proper muscle development is important because that includes their heart.

Kittens also need about twenty percent more fat in their diet. If you are feeding your kitten homemade food (this is advisable) make sure that the fat they are getting is uncooked. Cats can not digest cooked fat and in fact it can cause problems in the future.

Almost all cats are lactose intolerant so keep your cheeses and dairy to a minimum. If you have a recipe that calls for a lot of dairy try using lactose free milk. My cats love lactose free milk. Lactose intolerant means that an enzyme in their stomach is missing so they can not properly break down the sugar (lactose) in regular milk.

Cats are mainly meat eaters but adding some vegetables to their diet is recommended. Just be careful what vegetables you add. Stay away from garlic, onions, and cherry tomatoes. Foods from those food groups are poison to cats. Another one to avoid is bell peppers.

Cats, like out in the wild, need raw food without preservatives to get the proper nutrition. For the most part if you feed your cat homemade food, use raw everything. The exception is potatoes and eggs. Both of those need to be slightly cooked.

The average store bought food does not contain the proper nutrition that cats need. When my cat was about three years old he got crystals in his urinary track (this can be deadly if not caught in time). My vet told me that the food I was feeding him was the cause. Now this confused me because I was using an expensive name brand food. My vet told me that most of the store bought food was the equivalent, nutrition wise, of Twinkies.

The more I looked into the ingredients of store bought cat food the more appalled I became, to the point that I did not even want to touch my cats food to feed it to him. In order to give your kitten a diet that will allow him to get the nutrition he needs to grow strong and healthy a combination of homemade kitten food and safe store bought food is recommended. Cat food secrets will give you a safe, easy way to combine homemade food and commercial food, show you what commercial food is good for your cat, and help you to help your cat live his life to the fullest potential. Don't let your cat be a victim to bad commercial cat food learn more about a kitten's diet.

Cat Grooming Tips - What Other People Are Not Telling You on How to Bath a Cat

By Paul Kramer

Yes, cats can be bathed, and cat bathers can survive the process. Most felines do not need to be bathed very often, but occasionally a bath is necessary. If someone in your household has allergies, regular rinsing or bathing can remove allergens from the fur.

If your cat is exposed to a toxic substance such as a garden chemical or household cleaner, a bath will remove the poisons that she would otherwise ingest by licking. If she gets fleas, you can remove them by bathing as part of a comprehensive flea control program.

Here is how to give your cat a bath and live to tell about it. First, brush your cat thoroughly, particularly if she has a long coat. You must remove all tangles and mats, because once they get wet, they will be almost impossible to comb out, and is left after the bath, they will hold moisture, creating a perfect place for bacteria and yeast to reproduce.

For your own protection, you may want to trim your cat's claws, too. Choose a mild shampoo formulated for cats, and use it sparingly and according to directions. Some pet shampoos need to be diluted, and even those that do not are easier to apply and to rinse out if diluted with an equal part of water.

You can find all sorts of special cat shampoos, although for most purposes you do not need anything fancy. No rinse shampoos can be handy because you do not need to wet or rinse your cat with water.

If you do not want to get her wet at all, a dry cat shampoo can be used to clean mildly oily skin. If your cat gets a petroleum product on her fur, use a mild dish detergent, veterinarians recommend Dawn to remove oil.

Rescuers often use Dawn to clean up victims of oil spills. The detergent also will remove skin oils, though, so use a moisturizing conditioner on your cat afterward. Do not use flea shampoos or medicated shampoos without consulting your vet, especially if your cat has any kind of medical condition.

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How the Experts Do Cat Grooming As a Health Check and Prevent Hairballs From Happening

By Paul Kramer

Grooming sessions are the perfect time to check your cat for potential health problems. After all, the sooner you catch a problem, the better chance that your veterinarian has to fix it.

So, while grooming, look for the following symptoms:

- lumps, sores, or tender areas anywhere on her body or changes in her fur or skin

- excess discharge from her eyes, signs of squinting, or other abnormal eye appearance.

- excess discharge from her nose

- excess discharge or sore or red areas in her ears

- cuts or other abnormalities on her feet

- redness or sores on her gums, loose teeth, lumps in the mouth or drooling

Proper grooming is important throughout your cat's life but especially so in her senior years. As your cat ages, stiffening joints and waning energy may make it difficult for your old friend to groom herself.

The infamous hairball is formed when your cat ingests hair while licking herself. Her stomach cannot digest the hairs, and they gloom together into a ball. As owners know all too well, most cats cough up their hairballs.

Sometimes, though, hairballs cause vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite, and in severe cases they must be surgically removed. You can protect your cat from these problems by brushing her frequently, especially when she is shedding, and by feeding food designed to prevent hairballs. If the problem is frequent or severe, talk to your vet.

When humidity is low, especially in winter with the heat on in the house, you can get quite a charge out of your cat, a charge of static electricity. To reduce the chock, try rubbing a small amount of no rinse conditioner for cats into her fur. You also might consider adding moisture to your home with a humidifier.

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