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January 4th, 2009 by PetGuru

Just imagine if your feline friend developed a cat urinary blockage.  This condition is a serious complication of feline lower urinary tract disease, also known as FLUTD.  It’s often caused by cat bladder stones blocking the urethra so your male cat can’t pass any urine.

Why Does This Happen To Male Cats?

A cat blockage is rarely seen in female cats.This is due to females having a urethra that is much shorter and wider than in males.  Although this puts females at greater risk for cat bladder infections, this does protect them somewhat from a feline urinary blockage. 

Because male cats have a much smaller urinary opening than females do, it doesn’t take a very big feline bladder stone to cause urinary blockage in cats.

How Your Vet Treats A Urinary Blockage In Cats

If your cat is unable to pass any urine, or can pass very little, this is an emergency.  Your cat’s kidneys stop functioning when the urine has no place to go, which allows toxins to build up in the body very quickly.  This toxin build-up causes death within a few days if it’s not treated.

Your vet will insert a catheter to allow the urine to drain out of the bladder.Since the catheter will need to be stitched in place, your cat will be a guest at the animal hospital for a few days.To get rid of any bladder stones that are present, your vet may flush your cat’s bladder out with fluids. 

To prevent dehydration, your cat will receive fluids, either by IV or under the skin.  He’ll also be assessed for any problems related to the toxic build-up in his system.

Most cats can go home after a few days.  But you’ll need to feed your cat a special diet for the rest of his life to prevent bladder stones from forming again.

What If The Blockage Happens Again?

If your cat continues to have problems with a cat urinary blockage, surgery may be the next step.Blockages can be prevented permanently with an operation called feline perineal urethrostomy, which enlarges the urinary opening. 

This operation only prevents cat blockage, not FLUTD.  A cat who has had this operation is more likely to develop feline bladder infection and bladder stones.  He should have urine cultures done three or four times a year to be sure he’s not suffering from a feline lower urinary tract infection.

Prevent Cat Bladder Stones

If your cat never develops cat bladder stones, he can’t get a blockage from them later on.  Cats with very concentrated urine are more prone to developing stones. 

Your cat should be eating a high quality canned food instead of dry food to keep this from happening.  Cats are meant to get most of their water from the food they eat.  A high quality canned food has a moisture content closer to what a cat in the wild would eat.If your cat is only fed dry food, he’s more than likely chronically dehydrated.

Be sure your cat always has access to plenty of clean, fresh drinking water.

Herbal and homeopathic remedies for cats are now available.  These remedies are especially formulated to treat and prevent cat urinary problems.  It’s essential to purchase these safe, effective remedies from a well-known company with a great reputation for manufacturing the highest quality pet products.

Now that you have this information, you can take steps to protect your kitty from ever experiencing a cat urinary blockage.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health.  Here you can discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help prevent and treat feline bladder infection that can lead to urinary blockage in cats.  Find the best place to buy these remedies at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

January 4th, 2009 by PetGuru

Are you sick and tired of dealing with feline bladder infections?You and your cat aren’t the only ones.  Cat urinary problems are probably the most common reason for a vet visit.We’re going to look at how your vet treats a cat bladder infection, and thngs you can do at home to help your cat.

Cat Bladder Infection Treatments

Your vet may want to do a urinalysis to check your cat’s urine for the presence of bacteria, blood, white blood cells, or crystals.  White blood cells indicate an infection, while crystals can show that bladder stones are forming.  If your vet suspects bladder stones, x-rays or an ultrasound may be the next step.

Most bladder infections are treated with antibiotics.  If your cat suffers from frequent feline bladder infections, your vet will want to do a urine culture to try to identify the bacteria involved.The results will help your vet choose the right antibiotic.

If your cat has a bladder infection, it’s very important to treat it.  If you don’t, it can progress to a feline kidney infection, cat bladder stones, or other cat urinary problems.

Home Treatments for Bladder Infections In Cats

Diet is very important for cats with urinary problems.Most cat owners are shocked to learn that if their cats eat only dry food, they’re probably chronically dehydrated.If your cat is dehydrated, his urine is very concentrated, which can cause a cat bladder infection or cat bladder stones.

Some cats don’t drink enough water either.  This is because cats in the wild get most of their water from their prey, so they don’t have to drink a lot of water.It can lead to big problems down the road for your cat if you feed him only dry food.

Is there anything you can do to avoid this?  The best answer is to feed your cat a good-quality canned food.  Canned food has a moisture level similar to a cat’s natural diet in the wild.  

Be sure that your cat always has access to clean, fresh water.  You wouldn’t want to drink water that’s old and has stuff floating in it, and your cat won’t either.

Cranberry juice is an old remedy for preventing bladder infections in people.  However, most cats won’t drink it.  You can find cranberry capsules at the drugstore.  If you’re good at giving your cat pills, this can be an effective way to prevent and treat bladder infections in cats.  But if you’re like most cat owners, poking a pill down your cat’s throat is not high on your list of fun things to do.

How To Treat Cat Urinary Problems With Natural Remedies For Pets

Over the centuries, people have learned by trial and error which plants can help heal different health conditions.  Uva ursi and barberry are two herbal remedies for human urinary tract problems that have stood the test of time. 

Safe, gentle homeopathic remedies are very effective for bladder problems in people.  Cantharis and Staphysagris are proven natural remedies to support bladder health.

The question is, how to use these natural remedies on your cat.  It’s very important to find a product that’s specially formulated for pets, not people, so it’s safe for your kitty.  And of course, it has to be easy to give to your feline friend, or you won’t use it for long.

Take charge of your cat’s health by finding a product that’s effective and easy to use, and so safe that you can give it to your cat every day. This is the easiest way to prevent feline bladder infections.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health.  Here you can discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help prevent and treat feline bladder infections.  Find the best place to buy these remedies at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

January 2nd, 2009 by PetGuru

Cat owners know, scooping a smelly cat box and lugging large sacks of kitty litter home is nobody’s idea of a good time. You may have seen pictures of cats using a toilet and wondered how that pet owner got so lucky. Cat toilet training can be conducted in as little as 3 or 4 weeks, or for harder to teach kitties, up to 3 or 4 months. Learn how to potty train your kitty and the reward for your effort will be the end of scooping a stinky litter box.

To start potty training your kitty, go slowly. The transition from litter box to toilet should be accomplished in a series of stages. If at any time he has a setback and uses a rug instead of the potty, then you may be going too quickly. Just back up a stage or two and try again.

The first step in cat toilet training is to place your cat’s usual litter box next to the toilet. Give him several days or even a week to get used to the new location. Over, say a week or two, elevate the litter box a few inches at a time until it is the height of the toilet seat. You can use telephone books, a stool and stacks of magazines or newspapers; just about anything that will add height but is stable while your cat is using the box.

Now, move the litter box over so that it is sitting directly over the toilet seat. Let your cat adjust to this for a few days. The next step in potty learning is a big one. Take away the box entirely.

Toilet training for cats is big business and many companies sell “kitty potty training” kits or a toilet training system online and at pet retailers, or you can purchase a metal mixing bowl or aluminum roasting pan for this next step. Place either container (measure the inside of the rim to make sure your bowl or pan is big enough) inside the toilet bowl and lower the seat. Fill it with a few inches of scoop-able litter. You may need to tape it in place to prevent it from sliding around.

Begin reducing the litter in the container every few days. Go as fast as your cat will feel comfortable with. Make sure to flush the waste immediately to minimize both the smell and the possibility that your cat tries to cover it up and ends up tracking unpleasantness into the rest of the house.

By now, you should be down to a teaspoonful of litter in the bottom of the container. Start adding a little bit of water to the container. Increase the water level every few days. Remember that if your kitty isn’t adjusting well, back up a step and try again more slowly.

Once the water in the bowl or pan is a couple of inches deep and your cat is comfortable with everything, take the container away, leaving the bare toilet. The task of potty training is now complete.

Cat toilet training can take a short time or long time, depending on the kitty. Don’t forget that if your cat becomes reluctant at any stage of the training, go back a step or two. Just slow down, follow these potty training tips and your patience will be rewarded. Felines adapt to toilet training quite well.

January 2nd, 2009 by PetGuru

Today’s domesticated cat has become the pet of choice for a people around the world. In the United States alone, over 30 million pet cats now eclipse the dog population by many millions, with the gap growing ever wider every day. For what reason has the domestic feline gained in popularity? What is it about this puzzling creature that appeals to so many of us?

The answer to this certainly has to be the enigmatic personality of the cat. Extremely intelligent, it possess an exceptional combination of personality traits not found in other domestic pets. Captivating and quiet, poised and self-sufficient, fastidious and athletic, the domestic cat is seldom needy. It loves company but is also content to pass the time alone for hours on end, making it the perfect pet for single people especially, let alone families.

This autonomous streak, a result of cats in nature living a largely solitary life, gives the domestic cat a slightly cavalier attitude for life; for them, the sun does not rise and set with people, although they appreciate what we have to offer, thank you very much.

The capability cats have to survive, with  or without humans may perhaps be one of the main reasons why we like them so much. Emotionally needy pets (or people) tend to wear one down after a while; cats are delightful narcissists. This, combined with their dignity, grace, beauty, and ease of care, make them always desirable.

Humans also love cats because they say, ” we are your roommate, not your servant,” and for their ability to realise the value in taking a nap. And who can fail to appreciate the cat’s clean, fastidious nature and built-in toilet training? Good luck getting a Schnauzer puppy to use a litter box!

Cats enjoy all the consideration we humans give to them, though they will, given the chance, deny it. They are perfectly happy to remain with us because we love them and provide for them, but if we vanished from the planet anytime soon, chances are the cat would mourn a bit, meow some, and then continue with the business of finding a furry little meal - all the while laughing at the millions of aimless, grief-stricken dogs aimlessly wandering about, trying to gigure out what to do next.

If my life experience is anything to go by, closer ties have been developed with a cat when an owner doesn’t smother the animal with unwanted affection at times when the cat just wants its own space. As my grandmother used to say: “You’ll never own a cat but one may choose to live with you”.

December 29th, 2008 by PetGuru

Practically everybody who owned an indoor cat knows what a mission it is, to frequently clean a litter box. And so many owners of indoor cats have experienced what an even more unnerving chore it is when the kitty doesn’t take the litter box! Of course there are those among us always dreaming of more important things and do not want to improve litter box cleaning. For these kitty owners, there is good news now. Yes, believe it or not, cats can be trained, to use a real toilet. When you are toilet training your cat, you will teach it in the process to to do business on the toilet instead of using the litter box. In case this sounds too good to be true, don’t be disappointed when you realize that you still have to press the toilet flush button for your kitty.

1. Moving Your Cat’s Litter Box

In case your cat’s litter box is not yet in the bathroom, you have to place it there. The cat box should be near the toilet on the floor for several days. After a few days you will raise your litter box up several inches using something very stable to sit under it. In case you have no appropriate furniture fitting this description, you could use books if they are stacked in a stable fashion. The goal is, to arrive at the point where the edge of the cat litter box and the toilet bowl are even. Then you should put a sturdy aluminum pan over the toilet bowl in a manner that will support your cat without wobbling as you begin the toilet training. Reduce the amount of cat litter now to less than an inch across the bottom of the pan.

2. How to make your Cat feel Comfortable using the new Toilet Seat

When you have removed the litter box and have the kitty using the pan only, you are now ready to begin the last part of toilet training of your cat. You should begin the training by putting some holes in the bottom of one side of your aluminum pan. Yes, you will need to reduce the cat litter so it doesn’t go down the toilet. And, you should consider using flushable kitty litter at this point. The holes are supposed to direct your cat to put its front paws on the toilet seat as it needs to potty. After your kitty has been doing this for some days, you can put holes on the other side of the pan and that the kitty can stand entirely on the toilet seat. The difficult step of the toilet training is that after your kitty has been doing this successfully for a quite some time, you have to totally remove the pan. If you are a successful cat instructor, your cat will from now on take the bathroom toilet!

One Final Info on Cat Toilet Training

These two lessons could take as long as two to three months time with a narrow minded, older cat. So be patient with your feline companion. Try to remember that water isn’t something cats are usually comfortable with. Don’t give up if your kitty does not want to use the new toilet every time it has to go. Don’t throw away your pan in case your cat is resistant or is momentarily not in the mood using this toilet. You can simply put the pan back again on the toilet seat and the cat can re-learn to take the toilet again quite fast. The benefits of toilet training your cat are plentiful.

December 28th, 2008 by KittyKitty

Your cat brings you joy as she curls up on your lap and purrs herself to sleep. She provides you with endless entertainment as she chases her feather wand with enthusiasm. But from time to time, she might also drive you crazy as she scratches your favorite chair, executes sneak attacks on your ankles, or stops using the litterbox.

Whatever “issues” you or your cat may have, we have information that can help you address them. Never get angry with your cat behavioral problem, if you can read this understanding cat behavior

Some behavior problem of your cat:

Why Do Cats Scratch?
It’s normal for cats to scratch objects in their environment for many reasons:

To remove the dead outer layer of their claws.

To mark their territory by leaving both a visual mark and a scent – they have scent glands on their paws.

To stretch their bodies and flex their feet and claws.

To work off energy.

Because scratching is a normal behavior, and one that cats are highly motivated to display, it’s unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. Instead, the goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects.

Training Your Cat To Scratch Acceptable Objects

*Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up. Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub or other unpleasant odor. Be careful with odors, though, because you don’t want the nearby acceptable
objects to also smell unpleasant.

*When your cat is consistently using the appropriate object, it can be moved very gradually (no more than three inches each day) to a location more suitable to you. It’s best, however, to keep the appropriate
scratching objects as close to your cat’s preferred scratching locations as possible.

*Don’t remove the unappealing coverings or odors from the inappropriate objects until your cat is consistently using the appropriate objects in their permanent locations for several weeks, or even a month. They should then be removed gradually, not all at once. For more information, you can check out this link solving cat behavior problem

December 23rd, 2008 by KittyKitty

Those who love cats must want to have a well-behaved cat, and therefore cat training is required. Initially, it may be difficult to go through but cats are easy-trained pet actually. Paying much attention on how to discipline them is what you have to do. For a good result, the cat training should be started right awayafter you bring your cat home.

Potty Training

Reliant on your preferences, you are able to have a little box or a kitty door for your cat to access when the need emerges. Cat training with the kitty door is in fact as easy as putting your cat out when it moves to do its business. You then need to familiarize it with the location as well as the function of door. Initially, your cat may hesitate but generally cats love to wander around and therefore the kitty door would be in good use soon.

Kitty doors are in fact useful for houses but for apartment buildings, you might have no other option but to use a litter box. You do not actually have to go through cat training with the litter box since they usually have this instinct to dig and then do their business. Just make aquatinted your cat with the location of the litter box, especially after meals, and he will do the rest.

Scratching

Cat training is needed to prevent your cat from scratching on furniture, curtains and rugs. The first thing you need to do to start cat training for scratching is to provide a scratching post for your cat as a choice to the furniture and curtains. To get your cat to utilize the scratching post you need to place these posts in the vicinity of the furniture the cat is currently scratching.

You need to select the material to cover the scratching post rooted in your cat’s preference. Usually, cats scratch at rough surfaces to exclude the dead layer of their claws. Actually, this is more for their comfort, thus you can suppose kittens and adult cats to have a go at scratching. Nevertheless, cat training for scratching is simple.

There are numerous advantages of behavioral purposes you can get from cat training. It is essential to understand the cat’s behavior for success cat training. Perhaps, several cats act unusually such as when meeting strange people. You can get your cat comfortable with the presence of strangers and when there are people around, you can keep him less stressed. If you see a change or new behavior pattern in your cat, carry out cat training right away.

Thus, does the above-mentioned information still not satisfy your need in knowing about cat training? Explore more the suitable information herein!

December 17th, 2008 by KittyKitty

Cats are notoriously curious animals who love the great outdoors, but letting them wander isn’t always an option. If you live in an area with lots of traffic or a local population of feral cats, both can pose great danger to your pet. If you’re willing to provide supervision, then walking your cat can be a good solution. Since cats are often less cooperative than dogs, however, you’re going to need to invest some time into training your independent feline before escorting it outside. Help your cat and yourself by clicking for free ebook for cat training

Steps

1. Buy a soft buckle collar or harness made specifically for felines. Buy a separate lightweight leash approximately 6′ long, with a loop handle. Placing the loop over your wrist will help to prevent the dropping of the leash.

2. Trim your cat’s claws.

3. Begin training before your cat’s regular meal time, when they’re most receptive. If you feed your cat “free choice”, take up its food for several hours prior to the training session, so she is hungry.

4.Allow the cat to smell the collar/harness.Start in one safe, small room, with delicious tasty treats your cat loves. Put the collar or harness on the cat. (A small area will prevent a panicking cat from becoming lost in the house wearing its collar or harness for the first time.) The cat will probably do one of two things: sit very still, crouching low to the floor, or squirm in a frantic panic. Immediately give your cat his regular meal. Stay calm and don’t interfere unless the cat seems like it will hurt itself. Repeat this several times a day so that it associates the sensation of the collar/harness with good things. Allow the cat to walk (and lounge) freely in the harness for a time when you can supervise the cat, then take it off.

Repeat this process for however long it takes for your cat to feel comfortable.

A very good way to train them is by giving them rewards after they exhibit good behavior. Do not present the dinner as the reward for the cat. A reward must be in small amounts and should never be substituted for its dinner. Read More On »http://cattrainingsecrets.net/

December 12th, 2008 by PetGuru

If you have never had a cat before, you may be surprised to learn how often they can have health problems.

No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about.  With any breed certain problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented. Worms are a common and recurring problem for every breed of cat.

Some of the most typical worms to infect cats are tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms. There are several symptoms that indicate your cat may require testing for worms including trouble gaining weight, fleas, or white specks in his stool. Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. Cats often swallow loose hair from their coats during their daily self grooming rituals. On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cats stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball - as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Although it is kind of gross, cats can usually get rid of the hairballs without difficulty. Although rare, a hairball can occassionally become lodged in the cats intestines, this creates blockage.

Blockages are not to be ignored, since they can kill you if left untreated. A change in appetite, constipation and a dull coat could be an indication that your cat has a blockage. You should make an appointment with the vet as soon as you notice any of these symtoms.

By brushing your cat several times a week removes excess hair preventing hairballs and blockages. You can also feed him food that is designed to control hairballs as well. Urinary tract infection is also a common health problem with cats.

Pee hole infections happen more with boy cats that haven’t been fixed, but girl cats can have it too. This is the normal cause as to why a cat stops using the litter box. Another symptom is when the cats urine starts to smell really strong. If you suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, you should take him to the vet. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

In the past, feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats. These days however, there are vaccines available that can treat the disease. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don’t have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can’t be avoided, most of them can. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.

December 5th, 2008 by PetGuru

Health Care for Your Pet Cat

Pet cat  care may be similar to caring for other pets. But such care may also have its own differences. One of them is that pet cats may suffer from a host of different diseases that other pets may not go through. Here is a list of some feline diseases that pet cats may suffer from at some point.

Feline Distemper

This disease usually affects pet cats at a young age. Known medically as feline panleukopenia, this type of viral infection lowers down the immune defenses of young kittens by severely affecting the production of white blood cells. This infection can make young kittens pass, liquid stool with blood due to the severe hemorrhaging that happens in their small intestine.

Fever may also be expected and will lead the young kitten to become depressed and then refuse to take any food and water. It may seem to the pet owner that the cat has a temperamental personality, hence the name feline distemper. The infection actually has no effect on the cat’s personality in any way. Sadly, recovery for such conditions is very rare for a cat.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

This is another viral infection that is also fatal in cats. Once your pet cat shows signs of this infection, it can take years and years of trouble. This infection is usually common mostly in young adult cats and can be transmitted to other cats. There are two known types of this infection.

There is the “dry” type where the young adult cat is affected by high fever as well as problems with internal organs such as the kidneys, lungs and the intestines. With this type of infection, the cats never seem improve no matter how well the treatment is given.

There is also the “wet” type of the disease has the young adult cat having a fluid discharge within the abdomen. Occasionally the cat’s chest displays a golden and dense liquid that contains flakes within. This infection makes the cat run a high fever and would usually not eat well.

The only protection that cats can have over the disease is vaccination. But vaccines should be given to pet cats prior to any exposure to the virus or else the vaccine would not be very effective to prevent any infection.

Feline immune Deficiency Virus

This disease is similar to the Human Immune Deficiency Virus or HIV in humans. This virus in only found in cats and is being spread mainly through a bite from an infected cat. This disease suppresses the cat’s immune system and leads the cat to be more prone to all sorts of infection. There is an intranasal vaccine available to protect cats from the FIV infection although some veterinarians are not that convinced that it can protect  more effectively as compared to  other  vaccines.

Feline Leukemia Virus

This virus can severely limit an infected cat’s immune system. With the affected immune system, the cat has limited ability to defend against all sorts of other infections. This virus can be spread from contact with infected cats. Many cats can become carriers of the virus for years without displaying any outside symptoms of the infection.

Cats harboring the virus may at times develop clinical signs of the infection if they undergo surgery, get injured or when they get lost outside their usual environment. These diseases may give pet owners an idea of how pet cat health care may be important to ensure that their pets live healthier and longer lives.