You are viewing entries tagged 'health'.
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Each cat in a household needs to have his or her own dish with his or her own portion of food. Try to notice which style or size of shallow bowl your cat prefers so you can always choose that one for him/her.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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Getting a cat bite or scratch can be a very serious medical issue for people. So if you have a cat that needs a wound medicated or other procedure that would cause him or her to be aggressive, consider a muzzle made just for cats. You slip the muzzle on just for the few moments it takes to do what you need to do for the cat’s own good – and the muzzle keeps you safe.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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With all the flus and colds going around right now, chances are you’ll be taken down by a bug at some point. If it’s the same devilish sickness I had, you sure won’t feel like doing anything but sleeping. But your cat doesn’t go on vacation when you’re sick so how are you going to take care of her?
First, prioritize. Does her litter box absolutely have to be cleaned today? Probably not. But she absolutely needs fresh water and food. Next, substitute. If you normally play with her each day and just aren’t up to it replace it with cuddling. And, third, don’t imagine things. Resist the urge to worry about possible cat problems – when you’re sick, everything tends to look bleaker. Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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If your cat stops using the litter box you may be convinced it’s because he’s mad at you or there’s some other behavioral reason but the first step is to call your vet. Surprisingly, a large number of inappropriate elimination cases are due to medical causes such as feline lower urinary tract disease, renal failure or diabetes. Even if you’re convinced the problem is behavioral have him examined to rule out any underlying medical cause. Cats are creatures of habit and when they display a behavior that’s not typical there’s a good chance something is up. A normally-tolerant cat who has started biting when handled may be in pain. A normally-outgoing cat who suddenly withdraws may be sick.
Pam Johnson-Bennett, CABC, is a certified cat behavior consultant and author of seven best-selling books on cat behavior. Her website is www.catbehaviorassociates.com. |
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Before it is filled, a cat’s stomach is about the size of a quarter. There are different opinions on how to determine the quantity of food to give her. Some say a cat needs about two tbsp of food each meal; others say the average cat should eat the equivalent of 10 mice a day, with each mouse at 30 calories. For the average cat, half a can of food per meal is about right. However, you don’t really need to portion out a cat’s food because she will eat as much as she needs. So you can meet your cat’s needs by feeding her twice a day and giving her 15 minutes to eat her fill. Put down a little food and if she polishes that off, refill until she’s no longer interested.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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Cats who chatter are doing it because they see possible prey. Some cats will make a strange chattering noise that is a rapid clicking of their teeth with a high-pitched whining sound to go with it. It’s probably because they have an abundance of adrenaline, a surplus of energy as they anticipate the hunt when they see that bird or mouse.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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Diminished grooming is usually a sign of ill health in a cat – if it’s accompanied by lethargy and/or lack of appetite you should take your kitty in for a check-up with the vet right away.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter and be sure to check out her website. |
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It seems to be easier to remember to keep dogs up to date with vaccinations and registration than cats. Perhaps this is because our cats live inside and some of us might subconsciously think: “She’s not in contact with strange animals – I can put off her vaccines.” Or, if you have many cats, it may tough to keep up. But we need to keep our cats safe. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1. Vaccinations – Some are necessary for indoor cats such as Panleukopenia or Feline Distemper. 2. Licensing – Most communities require cats to be registered. This is also helpful if your cat is lost. 3. Tagging and Microchipping – To help ensure that your indoor cat can be found if lost, make sure she has an address tag and consider microchipping.
Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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When feeding your cat canned food, think of it being the equivalent of the temperature a cat would encounter in a bird or rodent he or she hunted. Cold food, directly from the fridge, is a turn-off to many cats.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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Your cat should remain indoors at all times. Indoor cats now live up to and beyond 20 years of age in some cases. The most recent cat touting the “oldest cat” title was 29! However, cats allowed outdoors unsupervised often face a much earlier death due to predators (living and mechanical), injury and disease.
If you feel that Fluffy must experience the great outdoors, provide direct supervision and protection. You can leash and harness train your cat to take walks with you outside. Or, you can purchase an outdoor play area designed specifically to allow your cat safe outdoor time. You can also decide to just enjoy the view of the great outdoors from an enclosed porch or Florida room. Miranda K. Workman owns Purrfect Paws Animal Behavior Center, LLC in Western New York. |
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