How to Apply Advantage Flea to Cats

By Paul Kramer

You might have already known by now that the best anti-flea remedy for your cat is Advantage Flea Medicine. Just in case, here are some refreshers for you. Advantage is far different from other flea and tick medicines that you can see online or offline. Advantage's active ingredients do not cause skin irritation and the possibility of losing a lot of fur. Advantage starts to work immediately instead of hours or days and you only need apply little amount either in your pet's shoulder or in places where your little fur ball is used to curl up and around. Advantage is also cheaper but with high quality. Now, do you remember what Advantage flea and tick medicine is? But the other question is, do you know how to apply Advantage flea to cats?

Actually, this product is probably the easiest one to handle and to apply. What you just need to do is to apply a pre-measured dose even just once every month to your pet at the base of their hair or between the shoulders. That way, there is no mess to deal with and it won't leave your pet's hair or fur slimy and all or even greasy.

What's best about Advantage is it will also take care of the root cause, so to speak. Not only will it target fully-grown lice, fleas or ticks, but it will also maim and destroy flea larvae and eggs as well. This product will use your pet as its catalyst to kill fleas everywhere.

Imagine this. You put Advantage on your cat, then, when it starts to roam around the house, curl up a bit in its own bed or in your carpet or anywhere else especially in dark, isolate and warm corners of your humble abode, it will start killing those annoying and health-threatening parasites.

Then, one more important pointer is, you should continue the treatment every month after that even if it's not "flea season" to ensure that fleas can be completely annihilated. It might not be flea season anymore or yet but larvae and eggs are scattered all over and when it's flea season time again, it's back to the old drawing board for you and your cat.

It might be easy to apply Advantage but always remember this is another form of chemical and with that in mind, be sure you are very responsible in handling this kind of product. If you have children around the house, be sure to safely stack it away, away from their sight.

Also try to remind them constantly that they should not play with your pet while it's still under medication as it can be hazardous to human health, too.

One final note, maintaining healthy living and without compromising everybody's health depends on the proper usage or learning how to apply Advantage flea to cats. As a responsible parent and a cat owner at the same, you have to be aware of the precautionary measures especially when you're handling chemicals. Responsible parenthood and "pet ownerhood" is the key to the success of healthy living and flea-free environment.

To learn more about how to apply advantage flea to cats and the different types of pet meds for your dogs, cats, horse, etc., and how to get discount and cheap pet medications, make sure to visit http://www.callpetmeds.com where you will find everything on getting quality yet affordable pet medications as well as tips on how to take care of your pets like the experts.

How the Experts Identify If Their Cat Has Any Signs of Illness Or is Sick

By Paul Kramer

As intelligent as your cat is, he cannot tell you if he is feeling sick. As a responsible pet owner, it is up to you to be alert for signs of illness and act quickly if you think he is sick.

A drastic change in any area of his life (including eating or sleeping habits, change in general temperament, or bad litter box behavior) is a signal that something is wrong. If you know how your cat usually acts, you will notice when he is not behaving normally.

If you think your cat is ill, take him to the vet immediately. Do not wait and hope that he will get better on his own or that the problem will go away. Depending on the illness or medical problem, delaying treatment could be fatal, and in most cases, waiting makes the situation worse. It is better to be safe than sorry, so seek veterinary advice right away.

A list of common signs of illness follows. If your cat displays any of these symptoms, take him to the vet as soon as possible.

- bleeding

- bloated or distended stomach

- blood in urine or stool

- coughing

- crying, hissing, or growling when picked up or petted

- diarrhea

- discharge from the nose, ears, eyes or anus

- drooling

- excessive eating or drinking

- fever

- labored or rapid breathing

- lethargy

- limping

- loss of appetite or will not drink

- rapid weight loss (or rapid weight gain)

- runny nose and/or discharge from the eyes

- straining in the litter box with no results

- sudden personality change (biting, scratching or hissing)

- third eyelid (haw) exposed for a prolonged period of time

- trouble walking or walking off balance

- vomiting

As a responsible pet owner, you need to be alert for any signs of illness and act quickly if you think your cat is sick.

To learn more about the different types of pet meds for your dogs, cats, horse, etc., and how to get discount and cheap pet medications, make sure to visit http://www.callpetmeds.com where you will find everything on getting quality yet affordable pet medications as well as tips on how to take care of your pets like the experts.

Feline Panleukopenia Disease

By Omer Ashraf

Feline Panleukopenia or Feline Distemper is a serious disease that occur in cats. It is also known as Feline Distemper. The illness is caused by a Parvovirus that is present everywhere in the environment and has been recorded in many countries. As such most cats are exposed to the pathogen to varying degrees. However, the disease only takes hold in cats with weakened immunity.

Most cat owners are unaware of Feline Panleukopenia since kittens are routinely immunized against it as part of the standard vaccination regimen. The disease thus appears in feral, abandoned and other stray felines that have not received adequate protection. Once the illness takes hold, it is deadly - killing up to nine out of every ten individuals. No cure exists apart from dietary support and loving care. If the cat is able to pull through the acute phase lasting the first week, it is likely to survive and develop complete future immunity against the illness.

Feline Panleukopenia is quite a contagious disease and spreads readily through bodily secretions and fecal route. Often numerous cats in shelters and other crowded settings catch the infection. The virus spreads through the body's lymphatic system upon entry and rapidly enters the bone marrow where it shuts down production of body's protective white blood cells (panleukopenia). The result is a catastrophic decline in body's defensive abilities that often leads to mortality through secondary bacterial infection.

Next the virus moves to the intestines where it destroys the protective gut lining, again exposing the cat to infection as well as causing life threatening diarrhea. Since there is no medicinal cure, the virus completes its natural cycle of progression until either the victim succumbs or recovers enough to combat it. The virus, however, stays in the animal for several weeks and is capable of spreading to other felines even after there are no residual signs of illness in the originally infected cat.

Examination of infected cats reveals high fever, dehydration and lymphadenopathy. Blood picture reveals a universal reduction in leukocyte (white blood cell) count. Therapeutic options are mainly limited and supportive, comprising mainly of fluid infusion and antibiotic prophylaxis to protect against opportunistic infections. In pregnant cats even a mild infection may lead to abortion or cerebellar hypoplasia in kittens.

The author is a blogger about cats and an expert on Feline Panleukopenia.

How to Take a Tick Off a Cat

By Katie Appleby

Ticks are arthropods that survive on our pet animals. They feed on warm-blooded animals, often spreading germs and diseases to our four-legged friends.

Ticks are the root cause of many dangerous diseases. So getting rid of the ticks our cats becomes extremely important. The method used for removing ticks by old wives is quite dangerous. Follow only a proper method approved by veterinarians.

Wearing gloves is essential while taking off a tick from a cat. Once the work is done wash your hands properly. You'll want to remove all the ticks from the cat's entire body.

Pulling them off will remove just half the tick and will not resolve the problem. So get closer to the cat's skin; this can be best done using tweezers. Avoid doing insane things like burning, smothering or drowning the tick. Most likely, you'll injure your cat without removing the tick.

Remember that the saliva of the tick is poisonous and has already entered the cat's skin. Antagonizing the tick will cause the tick inject excessive saliva. The best thing to do would be to grab it firmly by its head with the help of tweezers and quickly remove it.

Many times, the head will remain in the skin. But the head will not cause problems; it is the saliva that will cause problem. The head will be flushed out from the cat's body naturally.

Topical products when applied on the skin of the pet, in between the shoulder once in a month have been effective as well.

Ticks are resilient and can survive drowning. The air sac present in them helps them to survive. Since alcohol is poisonous to ticks, dropping them in it will definitely kill them in less than 10 minutes. If you are unable to remove it personally, take the cat to the vet and he will remove it professionally.

Tick collars prevent new ticks from getting attached and promote detachment of ticks too.

Best of all, you should try to prevent ticks from entering the body of pets. Take extra care while the cat is in the wood or among low bushes and tall grass. Watching your cat while he is outdoors will help him stay pest-free.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about how to take a tick off a cat, please visit Tick Treatment Site for current articles and discussions.

Cat Tick Collar

By Katie Appleby

Collars are a simple and quick way of controlling tick infestation. There are safe on kittens as well as adults cats, and give them with much needed respite from the scratching and itching caused by ticks. Collars are available in all sizes and fits cats of different sizes.

Cat tick collars play an effective role in killing ticks, but should be properly applied. A cat must feel comfortable in a tick collar. So make the perfect measurement by placing two fingers between the neck and the collar. Cut off all surplus parts from the collar after it has been applied properly. This is to prevent the animals from chewing its ends.

Read the instructions given on the packet. Many collars lose effectives upon getting wet. Check if the collar is causing irritation. If so, you may have to use a different product.

Never use collars which contain amitraz, organophosphates or permethrin on cats. Instead use collars containing pyrethroids or carbamates as they are safer for your cat.

Remember to get rid of ticks, the tick has to actively contact with the ingredient. For example, the tick needs to come near the collar and feed on the pet. Only then will the insecticide enter the tick and kill it. An effective tick collar can wipe out the ticks in a matter of 24 hours or even less. This will reduce the danger of transmitting diseases caused by ticks.

The collar must be loosely worn, but secure enough to stop easy removal. Leave sufficient length for the collar to expand, especially for kittens, as a cat will keep growing.

Replace the collar once every four months. Do not use it on sick and nursing cats not on aged and pregnant ones. Repeat treatment only if tick problem persists.

You can make a naturally effective tick collar made from essential oils. Choose absorbent collars that will soak up essential oils. Use oil that is 100% pure, such oils repel ticks. Use an eyedropper, as just one or two drops will be enough. In case the cat is sensitive to strong smells, start with one drop and gradually increase it to two. Avoid citronella as cats are hyper-perceptive to citrus.

The efficacy of tick collars depends on factors such as the climate and mode of utilization. Heat, light, rain, irregular use will reduce a collars effectiveness. The collar needs to be worn constantly for good results.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about cat tick collars, please visit Tick Treatment Now for current articles and discussions.

Cat Flea and Tick Medicine

By Katie Appleby

Ticks and fleas are disease carriers; they transmit tapeworms and cause allergic reactions which can cause scratching, infection and hair loss. A cat, in rare cases, can also contact serious diseases from ticks like Lyme disease which causes swollen joints, fever and lameness.

Specially formulated shampoos, sprays, dips and powders eliminate the problem and will instantly relieve your cat from biting ticks and fleas. Shampoos clean the dirt as well as get rid of biting fleas. Sprays and dips eliminate fleas and their residue. Powders perform the same functions as a spray.

There are various medicines available in the market which halts the complete lifecycle of ticks and fleas. Continue with these medicines even after you have got your cat free of these pests. Collars and spot-ons are some additional products that help to make your cat pest free.

The larvae, flea eggs, adult fleas are killed by spot-ons. It also protects against ticks transmitting Lyme diseases. They kill fleas within 12 hours and prevent infestation for a month. It also eliminates fleas before they begin to lay eggs. These medications are effective and gentle on the pet.

The insecticides present in collars destroy adult fleas and stops the hatching of flea eggs. It is best to treat the surroundings in the house as well as the cat. Rugs, cushions, carpets and mattresses are hotspots and breeding grounds for fleas. These must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent future infestations. Sprays, foggers, carpet powders are easy and quick solutions to get rid of fleas.

For floors, bedding and furniture powders and sprays are the best. Use foggers and aerosols on hard to reach spots. Yard sprays eliminates ticks and fleas from the garden and lawn, and prevent them from spreading indoors.

Since shampoos, sprays and dips have chemicals in them, they could be harsh on your pet. Veterinarians have now started recommending alternative medicines, which are different from traditional brands. This new cat flea tick medicine is also unlike others in that it shows its effect in no time. All you have to do is apply the medication on the head and in between the shoulders. This medication is not messy, slimy or greasy.

Though a little more expensive, it is worth going for, as it works faster. Follow the dosage, which is given in accordance with the size and weight of the cat. This medication should be applied every month to prevent outbreaks when the flea and tick season rolls in.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about cat flea tick medicine, please visit Tick Treatment Online for current articles and discussions.

Why Does My Cat Bite Me - And How Do I Stop It?

By Katherin Towers

Cat biting is the second most common cat behavioral problem after inappropriate cat peeing. Many cat owners just do not understand cat biting behavior, and fail to deal with it properly. Some owners get into a bad relationship with their cats, and end up putting them under. This is very sad. Do not let this happen to you and your cat.

The first question you want to ask yourself is: Does the biting draw blood, and when does it happen? If your cat bites you very often, and frequently draws blood, this is a behavior you want to stop. The best way is to carry a squeeze bottle of water with you. Anytime you are bitten, immediately spray a little bit of water at your cat's face. You want to lightly shock kitty, not drench it. This sends a message to him that biting is not appropriate behavior. If you do this immediately and consistently, you will eventually break your cat of this problem behavior.

Sometimes, you are having fun with kitty, either petting him or playing with him, and he suddenly bites you. You want to take note of his body language - is he sending you a message to "STOP!", or has he just switched to a different game? If he is telling you to stop, then you should stop. Maybe he has gotten bored, or just wants to do something else. You need to respect your cat - that is the only way to have a good relationship with him. On the other hand, if he has switched to a different game, then the ball is in your court. Do you want to play this new game, where he bites you? Or do you want to stop?

Now, you need to know the difference between your cat biting you and nipping you. One draws blood, the other does not. Cat bites which draw blood can be potentially dangerous, and is a behavioral problem you should stop. If kitty just nips you playfully, or gnaws on your knuckles or toes, he is just showing that he loves you. All of you new cat owners out there - this is NOT a problem. Repeat: this is not a problem.

Some cats just do not know how to control their strength. Sometimes, they were removed from their litter-mates or mother too early, and never learned that biting too hard is wrong. Other times, it is the fault of their owners. You may have unknowingly encouraged the cat biting problem. Either way, playtime can get pretty painful - unless you start using cat toys. A plushie or soft, stuffed toy is good. Let kitty play and wrestle with it instead of your fingers. You will both have fun without the pain. Another good toy is a little ball which bounces well. Or something which you can drag along the ground and let your cat chase after it.

Remember, do not over-react when your cat bites you. You need to be sensitive to your cat's moods - is the biting a message, and when is it a behavior problem you need fix?

Does your cat bite you badly? Click here to learn more about why your cat bites you.