Understanding Feline Diabetes
There are two types of Feline Diabetes Mellitus. They are: When there is less creation of insulin inside the body and When the body can’t manage the body’s cells in a proper way.
Though this disease can occur in any cat of any age group but it is more prevalent among the older cats and the male gender.
Diabetes can also take place due to drug intake or illness which damages the original emission of insulin or the tissues that gets affected.
The Signs and Symptoms of Feline Diabetes:
1. When the amount of urine and thirst increases.
2. When the body can’t manage glucose it looses weight.
3. Nausea feeling.
4. Not feeling hungry.
5. Feeling weak
6. The skin gets bad
7. Problem in breathing
8. Lack of fluid
The Truth About Commercial Pet Food
A tragic conspiracy is underway in this country and it is the voiceless innocent who are made to suffer. Many veterinarians say that feeding commercial dog food to your beloved pet is cutting its very life short! Leading dog-health authors continue to warn us about the deficient nutritional value and often poison-tainted content of commercially produced dog foods.
On top of the less than nutritionally fulfilling ingredients that go into commercial dog foods, there is the added danger of the chemical preservatives added to the mix. These chemicals are added to prolong the shelf life of these foods in the store, regardless of the detrimental effects it may have on the health of the animals that consume it. In order to maximize profits the dog food manufacturers have to make their product last as long as possible. It is a well-known fact that these chemicals are dangerous but to the big dog food companies it is money, not your pet, that is the most important concern. Read more
Common Health Issues in Cats
Cats can suffer from many different types of health problems. While many are just minor aggravations, there are many that can threaten your cats life!
One of a cats most common problems is hairballs. Their rough tongues actually pull out hair as their constantly grooming. Most often this hair is easily digested through the cat’s system, but sometimes it will gather in a ball that the cat will vomit up!
The best way to deal with hairballs is to help prevent them. Brushing your cat will remove any loose hair and keep him from swallowing it. You can also look for cat foods and treats with ingredients to prevent hairballs.
Another very common problem is of course, worms. There are several types of worms that cats can get such as roundworms, tapeworms, ringworms and hookworms. Worms are a serious health concern, they make your cat very sick and left untreated can even cause death. Some good signs to watch for are diarrhea, gas, dull coats or a bloated belly.
Lungworms may be the most serious type of parasite for a cat because they are often undiagnosed. With lungworms, the cat will find it hard to breathe and cough a lot. These symptoms could appear to just a minor illness or even a hairball. The problem with lung worms is that the symptoms don’t get really serious until the infection gets really serious!
Aside from your cats health, many types of worms can be transferred to other pets and even to humans! Regular checkups with your vet is the best way to protect your cat and your family.
Fleas aren’t only annoying they can become dangerous to your cats well-being. They can cause hair loss, allergies, tapeworms and even cause your cat to become anemic! There are many flea control products available such as collars, dips and shampoos. The type of product that’s best for you and your cat is a personal preference. An indoor cat that is in close contact with you or other family members, may need to be treated differently. For a more natural remedy, it is believed that feeding your cat garlic will deter fleas!
However, there are other ways to avoid smelly collars, dips and powders. Have the vet vaccinate your cat against fleas, the shots will need to be repeated every six months. You can also use many of the monthly treatments available, these are tubes of treatment that you apply to the back of the cats neck.
No matter which solution you choose, you will need to treat both the cat and his surroundings. Ridding your cat of fleas won’t last long if his bed, your carpet or furniture is full of them!
If you notice that your cat has just suddenly stopped using his litter box, he may have a urinary tract infection. This infection is common in cats of both sexes, but males that aren’t neutered are most often affected.
The cats urine will develop an even stronger smell, it will often appear painful to urinate and he may stop urinating at all. This is a problem best left to a professional, your vet will prescribe the right anti-biotic and dosage for your cats weight and infection.
Proper Care For Orphaned or Abandoned Kittens
Your chances for successfully raising a litter of kittens that have been orphaned or abandoned depends on the age of the kittens. Although, it’s not impossible to play surrogate Mother and rear a whole litter of healthy babies it is quite demanding!
Kittens bodies are unable to maintain the correct body temperature during the first few weeks. They keep warm by laying up against the mother or each other. Chills can cause a serious illness and may even cause death, so warmth is critical.
Keep the box or basket holding the litter in an area that is from 85 - 90°F during the first five days after they’re born. Light bulbs can be hung at a distance and heating pads can also be used.
Between the ages of five and ten days, slowly start lowering the temperature down to about 80°F. Keep lowering the temperature until they are four weeks old and you’ve gotten the temperature down to around 75°F.
Keeping the kittens and their bedding clean will help prevent diseases and weak, sick kittens. It should be cleaned at least once a day and if it’s a large litter it may need to be cleaned twice a day.
Kitten Milk Replacement “KMR”, can be found at most pet stores or veterinarian offices. This formula is as close to the mother cats own milk as you can get. Regular cows milk doesn’t contain enough protein for healthy kittens.
Small bottles made especially for feeding small animals can be purchased. But, you can easily use an eye dropper or a small fillable bottle that’s made for dolls. The amount you feed the kitten’s isn’t going to be of a major concern. Most kittens will just simply refuse to eat anymore once they’re gotten full, so overfeeding isn’t too much of a problem.
If you’d like to be more precise, feed each kitten 20% of their body weight daily for the first week. Kittens should be feed six times in a 24 hour period, so you would need to divide the amount of formula into six separate feedings.
For each preceding week of age, add another 5% to the formula amount. Once the kittens are a month old, the feedings can be reduced to four times each day. And, you should start the weaning process by feeding them small amounts of soft foods.
The kittens should always be awake when you feed them and you will need to burp them just like a baby! Gently rubbing their stomachs will stimulate urination.
Their rectums also need massaging to promote bowel movements. You can use a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil to gently rub the opening of the rectum.
After the kittens eyes have opened, you need to wash them with warm water on a daily basis. Kittens are babies and just like babies they need a lot of sleep during the first few weeks of life.
If you want to keep a close check on the kittens progress, weigh each one every day and keep a record. The kittens growth won’t be very quick, but they should continue to gain a few ounces at a steady pace.
Declawing Your Cat Is Inhumane and Painful
Many people consider their cats part of the family. They’ve became integral parts of our lives offering love and companionship. Yet, declawing them has became as common as spaying or neutering.
If you’re considering declawing your cat, there’s some things you should know about the surgical process. It’s not simply a type of manicure as most people might think. It is a very serious, painful surgery and it will takes weeks for your cat to re-cooperate! In some countries declawing is considered an inhumane mutilation and it is actually illegal!
A cat’s claw isn’t a toenail, it is adhered to the bone, sort of an extension of the bone. Declawing involves literally amputating the last bone in your cats paw! It is comparable to removing the last joint on all of a humans fingers! And, even worse it’s not just one amputation, it is literally ten amputations in one surgery!
In rare instances declawing has damaged the tendons in the cats legs making it painful for them to walk! In even more common instances the cat’s personality will change. They will become depressed, lethargic and often quit doing things that involve scratching such as using a litter box! Declawing is very traumatic to a cat and some never return to their old selves after the surgery.
A cat’s claws are it’s only means of protection from predators. Without a means of defense your cat is left helpless and can fall prey to the neighborhood dogs!
Cat’s by nature are built to be graceful, agile, well balanced creatures with a love for climbing. Different from most mammals that walk on their feet, cat’s walk on their toes and their claws are used for balance. Declawing a cat drastically changes the way the cats feet touch the ground. This unnatural angle causes back pain much like the wrong shoes cause back pain in humans. Their claws are also used for exercising and stretching. Cats will dig their claws into a surface and pull back to stretch the muscles in their shoulders, backs and legs.
All cats love to scratch, it’s just a fact that you’ll have to deal with if you’re going to be a cat owner! But, the solution isn’t declawing, the solution is to redirect the scratching! Scratching is how a cat marks it’s territory! Through scratch marks and a scent that is released by glands in their paws, they’re letting other animals know that this is their home!
If your cat is shredding furniture try buying a scratching post. Just keep in mind that cats like surfaces that are rough, though a fancy scratching post might look better sitting in your living room, kitty probably won’t like it! One of the best materials for a scratching post is sisal. Even studies have shown that it’s a perfectly textured material for a cats scratching needs. The post should also be taller than your cat is when standing. This will allow them to be able to fully stretch their bodies and it needs to be stable so that it don’t fall over on the cat.
To redirect the cats attention to the scratching post, try placing it in the area where the cat has already been scratching. If the cat likes to scratch a certain chair or the sofa, place the post in front of it. You may also be able to entice the cat to the post by rubbing it with catnip. Spend some time playing with your cat around the post, let it chase a string around the post or attach toys to the post.
If the cat still seems to prefer shredding the furniture, there are totally pain free ways to change it’s mind! Try spraying the cat with a water gun when you catch it scratching. You can also try spraying the furniture with a lemon or orange scented air freshener. Most cats really don’t like citrus smells and this may keep them away from the spot!
Cat’s instinctively hide pain, they know that showing pain is a sign of weakness and vulnerability to a potential predator. But, your cat still feels pain just like any other living creature!
Declawing is as emotionally devastating to a cat as losing a limb is to a human. It’s a inhumane, unnecessary surgical procedure that can forever change the cat you’ve grown to love so much!
The Best Nutrition For Your Cat
Your cats nutritional needs are very different from that of a dog. Being strict carnivores, cats need foods with very high levels of animal proteins. In fact, cats require twice as much protein as a dog.
No certain food is perfect for every cat. Their personalities differ as much as that of humans and so does their preferences for food. Some cats may prefer fish while others may prefer chicken.
The best way to make sure that your cat is receiving the nutrition it needs to stay healthy is to read the labels. The very first ingredient should be protein that comes from fish, beef, lamb, chicken or even eggs!
Cats also require amino acids like arginine and taurine. A diet low in taurine can result in your cat going blind and having heart problems. Fatty acids are also very important, look for linoleic or arachidonic acids on the label.
Many pet foods are made of meat by products for cost efficiency. These are literally the waste scraps from slaughter houses and can be anything from diseased and molded meat, to rotten, spoiled meat!
Although most cats usually love tuna, it’s one fish that should be avoided or used just on an occasional basis! Tuna has a high ash level which contributes to Feline Urinary Syndrome and Vitamin E deficiency!
In most instances canned cat food is much better for your cat than dry foods. Most dry foods are high in plant proteins and are often made of meat by products.
A high protein level on the label of dry foods can even be misleading. Dry foods are cooked for long periods of time with high heat which removes most of the nutritional value of the protein!
While purchasing the cheapest cat food that you can find may seem like a money saving idea, it can cost more in the long run. Sub-standard foods with low nutritional value can lead to many health problems and expensive veterinary bills.
Another thing to consider when purchasing your cats food is the stage your cat is in. There are many foods available to target specific needs such as age, weight and sensitive digestive systems.
The main thing to keep in mind when purchasing food for your cat is the protein level and the source of the protein. Purchase the best quality cat food that you can afford, read the label and your cat should have many healthy years ahead of him!
