Cat Hairballs - How to Prevent Them and Treat Them

By Claudia Escobar

Most cats suffer from cat hairballs. What causes hairballs? Cats are known for their meticulous grooming habits. They lick themselves constantly, and in the process, they ingest a lot of fur. This fur builds up, creating a hairball. Cat hairballs are not only uncomfortable for you cat, but they can also lead to other problems such as constipation, so it is a good idea to prevent, or at least reduce, hair buildup.

So if you already own a cat, or if you just adopted a cat, and need information on cat hairballs, here is some information on the symptoms and prevention of hairballs.

Hairball Symptoms

A hairball problem is relatively easy to spot. Your cat will start hacking and coughing, followed by vomiting. These episodes might occur frequently, especially if you have a long-haired cat.

Even if you don't see your cat going through what I call a "hairball episode", you can still see the evidence: a ball of hair on the floor, or the carpet, or wherever the cat chose to spit out the ball. Usually, a hairball is an elongated mass of fur, similar to a cigar in shape. It is definitely not a pretty sight.

Hairball Prevention and Treatment

The easiest preventive step you may take is brushing your cat on a regularly basis, preferably every day. Even if brushing does not completely eliminate hairballs, it will reduce the amount ingested, thus reducing the frequency of the problem. In addition, brushing your cat will help your cat stay in great shape. And remember that a grooming session is always a great bonding opportunity.

But what if your cat continues to have a hairball problem, even if you brush him or her regularly? Well, you may also try hairball remedies. Take your cat to the vet, and the doctor will suggest the best treatment for cat hairballs. Some common remedies include petroleum-based gels, which are given orally. You may also give your cat a fiber-rich diet. And finally, you may also try home treatments, like giving your cat a little bit of butter once or twice a week. Canned pumpkin is another known home remedy used to treat hairballs. You can mix a bit of pumpkin with your cat's food. Again, always consult your vet before using any of these treatments.

© Claudia Escobar, an avid cat lover, loves anything cat-related. For more information about cat hairballs 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.

Palm Tree Cat Scratching Post - Save the Furniture

By Adam Leeds

A palm tree cat scratching post can be the ideal piece of cat furniture for your cat to keep its nails naturally trimmed. Cats that have not had their claws removed naturally gravitate towards any piece of rough fabric in the house, regardless of where the fabric is located, such as an armchair, couch, or even a pair of heavy window drapes to keep their nails shortened.

Instead of allowing the cat to have access to the furniture and window treatments, a special carpet covered post designed especially for cats is the best way for the cat to spend time trimming its own nails and to play on and even sleep on. A palm tree cat scratching post is designed to meet these needs of any cat that spend most of its time inside the house. Cat furniture does not need to take up a lot of space and a post of this nature and design can be placed in any corner of a room where the cat spends most of its time, such as the living room, kitchen, or bedroom.

A cat can sleep on top of the post or at the base, where both of these parts are covered with a durable carpet. The post itself can be covered with carpeting too although some may be covered with a coated rope that will withstand scratching claws without being completely torn apart. The benefits of this type of furniture for a cat is as follows:

1. The height of each post is tall enough for any cat to stretch while grooming its nails this way because cats naturally exercise this way. Each post is designed to be stable without falling over onto the cat.

2. The post makes an ideal cat-only sleeping place for the cat, even if the cat has already adopted other places in the house for napping purposes.

3. The top of the post where the cat can nap is designed to keep the cat's body warm, even during the cold winter months.

4. The "fronds" surrounding the top platform are flexible so that whenever a cat jumps up to the top platform, there is minimal to zero impact on the cat's leg joints when jumping, making it possible for even older cats to enjoy the palm tree scratching post.

Most cats appreciate having their own private furniture for napping and grooming. Ideally, any cat furniture should be placed near a window where the cat can obtain some warmth from the sunlight as well as being able to sit up and look out the window without straining its neck. Older cats with health troubles especially enjoy the sunlight while napping on top of the carpet covered post. The post can be easily moved around for the cat if it is necessary to relocate the post to another room. Generally, cat furniture of this type does not take up a lot of space and a palm tree cat scratching post can be stored just about any place in the house.

Adam Leeds is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about diamonds and jewels, please visit Best Cat Scratchposts for current articles and discussions.

Why You Should Become a Cat Owner

By Steve Millerman

If you are thinking of becoming a pet owner, you must be ready for the long term cat care. You ought to be familiar with all that is needed, before you start keeping a cat, as this would help you to avoid making mistakes. Cats make loving friends, but know about their feeding needs, which need not be the leftovers. The best thing to do is to get the best cat food that is available, so that your feline friend feels charged and remains healthy. You need to allocate money for that so you may need to sacrifice some luxuries to be able to provide for your pet's needs. You also have to make sure that the surrounding your cat is living in is free from anything that can cause them accidents so do not let anything that is lethal and poisonous hanging about.

At least when it comes to neatness, you have the right pet because cats are known to take ample time in grooming themselves. Of course, this grooming habit needs to be monitored as they might just injure themselves while grooming. If you notice the over grooming habit of the cat, remember that this could be early symptoms of flea invasion, so take your cat to the vet for adequate treatment. It is important to remember that cats are proud and egoistical animals, so as an owner you too have to conform to its tastes and habits and keep all your litter bins clean and well kept.

It might surprise you to know that a cat has a powerful sense of smell, 14 times more than humans, so even when you think the air is clean, the cat smells rat! They will not do their thing in the provided litter box if it stinks. You may get the surprise of your life to see your cat's poops well hidden under your clean carpet or how about that basket of clean clothes. Let not such issues compel you to let off the cat to wander into the wilderness, just give them what they want, a clean and non-smelling litter bin.

Make friends with your local vet as soon as you decide to keep a pet, as you would need them more often than you think. Long-term cat care is all about remaining vigilant of early signs and symptoms, which show up, and if you just observe them critically, you would know if there is something that needs attention.

If you are settled at the thought that you want the cat to be with you for long, then you may really be the rightful owner of one. You cannot be act like you want it now and completely scrap the idea the next minute - it won't be good for your feline friend and it won't be good for you either. So before you welcome a cat into the household, think things through over and over again. Never be impetuous when it concerns keeping a cat, and once you do take the decision, act your role of a conscientious pet owner. Aiming for a long term cat care is good and by doing so, you only need to match that goal with the right steps to enrich the lives of your pets as well as yours.

Steve Millerman is a specialist in Cat care. If you want more information about Cat care, visit http://newcatcare.com

Happy Yowl-O-Ween - Keep Your Cat Safe on Halloween

By Tara Nemeth

Parents with young children know the steps to take to keep their kids safe on Halloween night. They inspect their children's candy before it gets eaten, they make sure each group of trick-or-treater has flashlights and keeps to the sidewalk, and they insist that youngsters be accompanied by an adult, especially when entering haunted houses. On Halloween night, pets need protection as much as children. Here are several simple steps you can take to keep your favorite feline safe this Halloween.

Keep your cat(s) in a closed room with food and water and away from trick-or-treaters and Halloween festivities.

Cats are natural escape artists and can easily slip, unnoticed, out of a door opened for trick-or-treaters. Even if you have an indoor/outdoor cat, this is one night your cat belongs indoors. This safety measure goes double for people with black cats which are particularly at risk (black cats are such high risk that many shelters forbid the adoption of black cats the week leading up to Halloween). Even if you keep your cat confined, be sure he is wearing a collar and ID tag in case of an accidental getaway.

Also, many pets are easily frightened by people in costumes. If you are having a party at home, keep your cat away from the festivities and occupied with a toy. Lots of people, strange smells, and loud noises can spook even the calmest of animals.

Keep decorations out of your cat's reach.

Lit Jack-O-Lanterns pose a real fire risk as they can be easily tipped over by a curious cat. Cats also run the risk of getting tangled in decorations or receiving a deadly shock from chewing on electrical cords.

Keep the candy for the kids.

Chocolate contains a lethal ingredient called theobromine, and the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. Candy wrappers can also be harmful if swallowed. If you want to give your cat a sweet treat, offer her a few of her favorite treats.

Dress the children, not the cats.

Most cats do not like, or are even frightened by the constraints of a costume. Some costumes can also impair your cat's sight, hearing, or ability to breathe. Stick with Halloween themed collars if you want your cat to look the part.

Happy Yowl-O-Ween!

Tara Nemeth is the Director of Field Development for Petlane, a pet product company offering the best toys, treats, gifts, and health and safety items for dogs, cats and birds. People, pets and pet products are Tara's passions. She lives in California with her husband and her 6 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Jade. She invites you to visit her company's website at http://www.petlane.com and for great pet parenting ideas, see her blog at http://www.petlane.com/blog

Is an Automatic Cat Litter Box Right For You?

By K C Evans

Automatic litter boxes are a wonderful convenience for cat owners with busy schedules. They don't require daily scooping or a lot of general maintenance which allows us to enjoy more free time with our pets. Many brands, like Littermaid only require that you empty the bottom receptacle a couple times a week, while others like the Cat Genie only need you to keep an eye out for clogs and replace the sani-solution every once in awhile. Of course you would need to do both more frequently in multiple cat households.

My favorite thing about robotic litter boxes is that they allow you to mark cleaning the litter box off of your daily chore list. You also don't have to worry about buying special cat box liners. And best of all there is no more need to scoop the poop because automatic litter boxes mechanically clean up the waste each time your cat uses the bathroom.

This type of litter box has been around for awhile so you have many models to choose from. Some even come with a cover which provides a more pleasing appearance while allowing your cat to have maximum privacy. But most important, a cover will keep litter particles from being scattered about when your pet jumps in and out of the litter box. Its also important to note that most brands require the use of a premium scoop-able cat litter. Premium litters often have better absorbency for trapping urine which will keep the automatic litter box from jamming. Generally a better quality litter will control odor more effectively than any of the cheaper brands you might find.

Prices for these type of litter boxes can range anywhere from one hundred to three hundred dollars. But if you are tired of raking, scooping and bagging cat litter, investing in an automatic litter box can be worth every penny. They are convenient, clean and most of the popular brands on the market today will adequately sense movement to rake away your cat's waste in a matter of minutes.

Overall, an automatic litter box is a great investment for the dedicated cat owner. They reduce the amount of litter used on a day to day basis and at most you will only need to keep an eye on when its time to empty the receptacle bin. They keep the house consistently odor free and allow us to enjoy our cats without the constant stress litter box cleaning. Chances are you will feel that it was worth the investment and your cat will thank you.

Want to learn more about automatic litter boxes visit http://www.healthycatcare.com Kate Evans is both a web author and cat lover. She lives in the South with her two cats, Gia and Einstein. If you'd like to read more of her articles visit http://www.healthycatcare.com

The Pet Porte Microchip Cat Flap Has Arrived, at Last

By James Winsoar

The Pet Porte is a new kind of cat flap that protects your home from invading cats. It has a unique sensor that reads your cats existing microchip before instantly unlocking the door. The extra strong locks stop other cats from bashing their way in.

It's powered by a low voltage AC adapter and comes in a choice of three attractive colours to suit any decor.

It's one of those amazing ideas that is so simple you wonder why it took so long for someone to think it up. It's the brainchild of a vet who lives in Guernsey.

So many clients told him about their cats being bullied that David Chamberlain set about doing something about it. The idea happened like a bolt of inspiration whilst David was routinely scanning a cat's microchip. And the idea for the Pet Porte microchip cat flap was born.

He patented the idea of a cat flap combined with a vet's microchip reader so that when your cat approaches the door it opens as if by magic and all other cats are locked out (only the cats you program in are allowed access and your cat doesn't have to wear any special collar or collar attachments).

Cats just love going out and coming in when they please - but they don't like it when other cats start coming in and invading their territory.

The cunning features of Pet Porte are popular with cat owners. Cats also love the fact that this cat flap is collarless. Owners save money on cat food now they don't have to feed the entire street's feline population anymore and cats are less stressed and more contented.

Even better, Pet Porte has a unique light sensor that can unlock the cat flap in the morning and lock it again at night for owners who want to keep their cats inside at night. No more getting up on a Sunday morning just to let the cats out. Don't you deserve to laze in bed longer?

The night sensor is also very handy if there are fireworks being let off outside at night time or if you live near a road that is busy at night.

Pet Porte is for spoilt cats and thoughtful cat lovers everywhere!

A Pet Porte microchip cat flap makes a great addition to your home in terms of security and just sheer usefulness! It is backed by an 18 month manufacturers warranty so if in the unlikely event that anything goes wrong you can rest assured that the manufacturer will put it right. You can even try it in your home risk free for 30 days and if you aren't 100% delighted you can return it for full refund!

If a microchip reading cat flap appeals to you then check out the Pet Porte microchip cat flap at http://www.microchipcatflaps.co.uk/ 32 year old cat fanatic from Nottingham, England.

First Days With Your New Cat

By Doris J Canova

Part of being a new pet owner is that you will have the responsible of caring for your new pet. When you go out and bring home a kitten, you are taking on a responsible as well as making a long term commitment that, with any kind of luck, could be as long as 15-17 years in some cases. Now that you have decided to add a new pet to the family household, there are a few things that you should know and understand.

It has been noted that a lot of people choose a cat because they seem to think that cats are very independent animals and that they do not require a lot of attention and care. In fact the opposite is true. Cats show you what they need, sometimes in unique ways that are not always easy to understand. As a new pet owner you will have to be on guard for these little changes in your pet's behavior, and you will need to be sensitive to their needs for affection.

Some of the things that you will need to give your kitten are, of course, the proper food as well as other things such as a litter pan, a bed, food and water bowls, and maybe even a cat carrier. It would be a good idea to also include a scratching post. The kitten will get a lot of exercise from it, and of course they will leave the sofa and drapes alone!

Cats are, for the most part, generally inexpensive to care for, but you will still need to make adjustments to the family budget for yearly medical checkups, routine shots, and other visits to your vet. There may be times when a possible emergency comes up as well.

One of the most important things to remember is that your cat has feelings. You need to be kind to him and give him good treatment. You and you alone are responsible for the care of your new pet. Believe me, when you do all these things, your rewards will one of life's most joyful blessing, as well as a great pleasure. You will have long-lasting and loving relationship between you and your pet.

NOTE: This article is for information only. See your veterinarian for medical advice

We plan to post articles that are informative and helpful to other cat lovers. Having been "owned" by cats for years, we know they can be demanding, but also be very entertaining and fun. Best House Cat Care Visit our website for products your cat may enjoy http://www.besthousecatcare.com.