Feline Health Problems

By Saman Rashid

Similar to the way families are prone to have certain health concerns, such as diabetes or heart problems, the same is true for even the best cared for cat. Cats have some specific health concerns that should be learned if you own or are planning to own a feline friend.

Here are a few common concerns, including eye problems, diarrhea, colds, bites, and urinary or digestive problems:

Cats can catch a cold but it is common and is usually taken care of by their immune system. However, if a cat is not eating and appears lethargic, you should consult a vet for medication.

House cats do not need to worry, but if you allow your cat to go outside even part of the time, he or she may get into frequent fights with other animals. Bites and wounds could come from a variety of animals and should be taken care of by a vet immediately.

Outside cats also need to worry about picking up parasites such as tape worms, which result in diarrhea and vomiting. Vets have the medication to eliminate and prevent these parasites.

Cats that are not neutered can get a urinary tract infection which causes the cat to stop using the litter box and also gives the urine to have a distinct odor. These are symptoms that should be discussed with a vet quickly.

Cats will groom themselves and ingest fur which is normal and passes through their system, but it builds up in the stomach. This can cause a fur ball that is lodged in the intestines or digestive tract resulting in lethargy and constipation. Fur balls are usually coughed up. Brushing a cat frequently reduces fur balls.

Luckily, with new medicines, some fatal cat diseases are almost wiped out, including feline leukemia which is prevented with regular vaccines.

Remember your cat will show signs when he or she is sick and should be taken for regular vet visits.

Saman Rashid is an experienced writer who is very knowledgeable about pets. She has written various articles on pets to help people deal with their PET problems. For further details, please visit http://allpetsinformation.blogspot.com/

Heartworm Treatment For Cats

By Max Young

As most pet owners already know, heartworm treatment for cats and dogs isn't the same. Never, under any circumstances, should you give your cat heartworm treatment that is designed for a dog - or vice versa. Even though you may own both dogs and cats, you should always give them medicine that is designed for their species.

No matter how you look at it, heartworm treatment isn't easy. Your goal is to get rid of the heartworms, although there are several factors that you'll need to consider. The first thing to do is take your cat to the vet, as he will be able to run tests to determine just how many heartworms your pet has. He can also find out how the worms are affecting your cat and if your cat can deal with any side effects that the treatment medicine may impose.

Heartworms are a very serious condition, as the worms will feast on the vital areas around your cat's heart. Treatment can be serious as well, especially if something goes wrong. Veterinarians are trained to deal with heartworms though, in both cats and dogs. Even though you may be able to buy treatment medicine at your local department store, you should always consult with your vet before you give anything to your pet.

Treating your cat for heartworms may indeed be no treatment at all, as cats are extremely difficult to treat. The dying worms have side effects as well, often times causing more than 1/3 of the treated cats to end up with serious problems. Dying worms can become lodged in the arteries of the heart, which are already inflamed due to the worms being there. When a lodged worm starts to decompose, it can lead to very serious problems. Pets that have a serious infestation with heartworms may need to spend some time at the hospital, to ensure that they are properly treated.

Some cats may not be able to take a certain type of heartworm treatment medicine. Depending on the side affects and how the medicine affects the cat, some breeds may not be able to take some of the better medicines. To determine the best treatment options for your cat, your vet will need to run several tests. Once the tests have concluded, your vet will be able to tell you the best options available for treatment.

With all diseases, prevention is a lot better and safer than treatment. Be sure to talk to your vet and find out what heartworm prevention medication is the best to use. Your vet can tell you what you need to get, and how to use it. This way, you can prevent your pet from getting heartworms - and the serious side effects and life threatening issues that go along with them.

Max Young is an information researcher whom presents working information to be used for every day experiences. To get the inside word on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors like aggression and dominance in your dog/cat, click now on the following link. http://www.squidoo.com/why-dose-my-cat-bite

Understanding the Declawing of Your Cat

By Joseph Devine

When you bring a new pet into your home, there are a number of precautions that you need to take in order to ensure that your family and this new pet are safe. Cats can be social creatures with a strong relationship between them and their owners. If you are just bringing a kitten into your home, there are a few things that you should do to help your kitten become socialized well in your home.

Declawing your cat is an option for anyone wanting to protect their cat from being hurt. Before you make a decision such as this, you should take into consideration a few different factors. One of the first things that you should understand is that a cat's claws are not like a toenail. These claws are deeply embedded into a cat's paw. The claws are also attached to the last joint in each of the cat's toes. So, you should realize that taking the claws away may cause severe amounts of pain to the cat because you have to take out the last joint of the toe as well. Another fact that you should consider is that when you remove the claws, the doctor will be required to put the cat completely under in order to cut off the ends of the bones.

Some people consider this type of surgery to be inhumane for the cat. In different parts of Europe, this type of surgery is illegal because of the pain it causes to the cat. Declawing your cat is only an act done in America for our convenience. You should realize that the cat is going to require an extensive amount of time for recovery. Although it may not appear so, your cat is learning how to survive in a different way. The cat will not show any signs of pain, but it will be enduring a lot just to go about its daily tasks.

Declawing your cat is a major decision that needs to be made with both care and compassion. If you are even slightly unsure of your decision, you should not go through with it. You cat is made with claws for a reason, and you should take that into consideration when you are thinking about taking those claws away. Some cats also experience a change in personality when they undergo the declawing process.

For more information on declawing your cat, contact the New York Vet Clinics at http://www.newyorkveterinarianclinics.com Joseph Devine

Bengal Cats - The Hot New Pet

By Joseph Devine

When you are looking for a pet that is really on the exotic side, there are many different options that you can look into. Currently, exotic cats are becoming quite popular because of their overall look and size.

Bengal cats are slowly becoming one of the most popular cats available on the market right now. These types of cats are a new breed and only available at select breeders around the US and the UK. A Bengal cat is a cross between a normal domesticated cat and a Bengal tiger. These cats usually end up the size of a slightly larger house cat with features that generally relate to those of the Bengal. Most of these types of cats are considered exotic or specialty cats. There are many different types of these exotic cats depending on what exactly you are looking for in the color and personality of your cat.

Using a different type of breed such as this tends to show differences in the personality of the cat. These types of cats are much more attached to their owner. They also have slightly longer tails with much larger body frames. The overall size of the cat will make a large difference when it comes to how much this cat is able to eat. You need to be prepared for all that you will be responsible for when you purchase a cat such as this. These cats are also highly intelligent cats that will respond to any command that is given to them. They are also highly attracted to water, unlike a normal house cat. These cats have a tendency to play in and enjoy bath time because of the running water that they get to be around. Bengal tigers generally enjoy running water which is where this trait seems to come from. Most of these Bengal cats are slightly on the expensive side when you are purchasing them from a breeder. The reason they are highly priced is because of the genetic engineering that must take place in order to come out with a cat that looks like a miniature Bengal tiger.

Bengal cats prefer a wet food for their diet and will hardly eat any of a dry cat food. You should understand that it will be hard to find specific food for your special cat so you may have to try a few different brands before you find one that your cat will eat. Because these cats are special, they will usually require a special diet. You should also consider that Bengal cats require a lot of attention in order to continue to be happy in their world.

For more information, contact the Phoenix vet clinics at http://www.phoenixveterinarianclinics.com Joseph Devine

Cat Furniture - There Are Many Great Options For Cats to Enjoy

By Jennifer Akre

Some cats think they're dogs. Usually these are cats that have been raised with dogs and only learned how to act by a canine member of the family. Usually these felines will show traits of both animals - their instinctual cat traits and the learned dog traits. Because of this 'split-personality' you may have to purchase some cat furniture items that are not traditional for cats.

Sleeping Arrangements

Bed time is most of the day if you have a normal cat. But when a cat has been around a dog for most of its life, it may not be sure of what type of bed it should be in. While, by nature, cats usually like to perch high above the world and curl up to sleep, a cat that has been raised by a dog may also think lying on the floor by the side of your bed is a good place. If you have purchased a mat or bed for your dog, you are going to need to buy one of these pieces of cat furniture for your feline as well, so it can have it's own personal space near you.

Watching TV

Lots of dogs love to lounge in front of the TV with their owners and enjoy a lazy evening. Cats who think they are dogs will do this too. Once again, you need to consider the kinds of dog furniture you have and make sure the cat has complementary cat furniture in this space. While you may be tempted to let them split one bed, it is best to give each animal it's own personal space for the days they may not want to be that close to one another. Just like people, animals have their days when they want to be alone. Giving your cat his own cat furniture in the living room will make sure they can.

Meal Time

While a canine cat may run to their food dish beside the dogs when meal time comes up, you should not let them eat side by side. Dog food and cat food are not created the same, yet most dogs don't care and will dive into the cat's food bowl. So, you may want to consider elevated cat furniture in the kitchen. This will allow your cat food bowl to set up higher and keep the snooping dog out of the cat's meal.

Grooming

Many a cat, seeing the dog get a good brushing, will want one too. This is a great thing since the more your cat is brushed, the less cat hair he will be shedding all over the house and your furniture. The one important thing to keep in mind is that you should have different grooming items for each animal. Remember, while your cat thinks it's a dog, it still is a little more fragile than a dog and their skin can be sensitive. You should use a lighter cat brush on your feline to avoid any irritation. Also, note how your cat is responding. Some cats like being brushed in particular ways. Watch his response and change your tactics accordingly.

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 for both humans and pets alike. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous indoor area for your pet by using sturdy cat furniture and dog furniture. Each would be a great investment.

Signs of a Pregnant Cat

By Ian Pennington

If you have an unspayed cat or kitten and you are not an experienced professional breeder, you would be wise to have her spayed so as to prevent any unwanted pregnancies. Should you think that she is fertile and has been in contact with an un-neutered tom, you will need to know the signs of a pregnant cat. It is not always immediately apparent that your cat is expecting kittens and the first sign that you may notice is that she is not going through her regular heat cycle. If this is the case, she is almost certainly pregnant.

One of the other signs of a pregnant cat which shows itself quite early is a noticeable difference in her nipples. They will become slightly swollen and take on a pinkness in colour. This is called 'pinking' as is quite normal. They should not be sore or inflamed. Your cat will probably become more hungry than normal and start to become more interested in her food. This is a natural instinct to provide nutrition for her growing litter.

As with humans, you cat may suffer from some morning sickness. Again this is one of the normal signs of a pregnant cat and, unless it becomes excessive, there is no cause for concern. By all means contact your veterinarian practice if you feel that this is causing any trauma or if you feel that your cat is becoming dehydrated or malnourished as a result.

If you have not spotted any of these signs and are still unaware that your cat is pregnant, a swollen abdomen by about the fifth week of her pregnancy may give you a definite clue. One of the other signs of a pregnant cat is possible behavioural changes. Just like humans, a cat will start preparing for the new arrivals and show signs of nesting. They may start looking for places to give birth. It is a good idea to see where she is checking out as they do have a habit of having their litter in some pretty strange places. It would be wise to have an idea what plans she has. It would be awful to shut a cupboard door whilst she is inside! Behavioural changes may also include an increase in her affection. You may find that she is closer to you and a little clingy. Give her plenty of attention as she may be feeling a little worried about the changes, especially if this is her first litter.

Once you have spotted the signs of a pregnant cat and you are confident with your diagnosis, it is not always necessary to take her to the veterinarian surgery. If you feel that she is strong and well and her pregnancy is moving along without any problems you will just need to make sure that she has plenty of good food and water and is happy and healthy. If you are at all concerned, take her to receive medical advice straight away.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about cat pregnancies, please visit Spay and Neuter Online for current articles and discussions.

Savanna Cats

By Elsa Albro

Savanna Cats are the result of breeding of an African Serval wild cat with a domestic cat. This produces a large, tall and slim, wild looking cat with a playful personality and dog-like loyalty.

Charecteristics

Savannah Cats are one of the larger breeds of domestic cats. The markings of the coat tend to be that of an exotic looking spotted tabby. The face of Savannah cats have a tear-stain marking from the inner point of the eye downward. The tall, erect ears have ocelli, a central light band bordered by black, dark grey or brown. The tail is short with black rings and a black tip. The eyes may be green, brown, or gold and are slightly hooded. Early generations were known for a light coat and dark spots. Today the breed standard identifies four color variations:

• Brown spotted tabby, shades of brown coat with dark spots
• Silver spotted tabby, silver coat with black or dark gray spots
• Black, black with black spots
• Black smoke, black tipped silver with black spots.

Temperament

Savannah Cats are playful and social, interested in dogs and children. They possess a dog-like loyalty and will follow their owners around the house and can also be trained to walk with a leash. They frequently greet people with head-butts or an unexpected pounce. Savannah Cats are known for their ability to jump from a standing position as high as eight feet to the tops of refrigerators and high cabinets. They have no fear of water, in fact, they may play in it.

History

In 1986, Judee Frank crossbred an African Serval with a domestic cat producing the first Savannah. In 1989 Patrick Kelly purchased one of Franks kittens and started pursuing other cat breeders in an attempt to develop this new breed. Finally Kelly convinced Joyce Sroufe to join him in founding the Savannah Cats breed and in 1996, they wrote the original version of the breed standard.

Early generations of Savannah Cats weighed from 10 - 25 lbs, while some breeders report Savannahs weighing in at 30 lbs. More recent generations are usually between 8 - 17 lbs. It was relatively common in the early generations for these cats to chirp and hiss, like their wildcat fathers, and meow, like their domestic mothers. The wildcat hissing sounds like a very loud snake hiss. However you don't hear the chirping and wildcat hissing as often in recent generations.

Some breeders recommended a diet which includes raw feeding of 32% protein and no grains or by-products. Otherwise, care and grooming of Savannah Cats ought to be kept up as with any other housecat; good nutrition, regular play and veterinary visits.

For more information on the care and feeding of our favorite furry pets, visit: lovefatcats.com lovefatcats.com