Cat Care Zone

The new buzzword in the health industry is probiotics or “healthy bacteria”.

Probiotics work by repopulating the intestine with healthy bacteria, which can help with digestion and digestive tract complaints such as diarrhea and IBS.

The benefits of having a well functioning digestive system replete with great numbers of healthy gut flora are a greater immunity against disease and illness.

It has also been scientifically proven that people who are allergic or intolerant to foods or substances can benefit.

Everyone know that antibiotics can help get rid of nasty persistent bugs, but they also kill off beneficial flora in our intestines so probiotics are often recommended after a course of pills.

The risk of not having enough friendly flora is that more sinister bacteria can claim a greater presence which may affect the health.

To maximize your immune system you should also follow a nutritious diet in conjunction with probiotic use.

A healthy immune system also requires good diet too, so any course of probiotics should be supported by the intake of good, wholesome food.

Purina Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Supplement for Cats contains microencapsulated active cultures which help to restore and maintain your cat’s digestive health.

Food allergies, diarrhea and bowel illness are all conditions that may benefit from probiotic treatment.

Your animal doctor’s opinion should be sought though before embarking on any treatment.

Purina Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Supplement for Cats comes with the full backing of vets, who suggest it particularly for cats with diarrhea.

It contains Enterococcus, which is instrumental in restoring your cat’s digestive processes to normal.

With protein, antioxidant- strong vitamins and minerals thrown in, Purina Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Feline Supplement for Cats can be easily administered as it comes in a powdered form to be scattered over the food.

All you need to do is to sprinkle it onto your cat’s meal. So tasty your cat will think he is being given a treat.

Your cat’s immune system will be fortified by Vitamins A, E, C, proven to have antioxidant value, which will in turn help restore his health to perfect.

With antioxidant Vitamins A, E, C to add to the health equation, your cat’s immune system will be on top form and any intestinal problems will be given the best chance to clear up.

As mentioned before, diet plays an important role when taking probiotics.

Cut out any treats, and switch to food with a lower fat content as fatty food may make the problem worse.

Source: Pets and Animals

Category: Cat Care | No Comments »

Bree&#100 S&#116an&#100ar&#100 &#65n&#100 His&#116ory Of W&#104i&#116e Persian Ca&#116s

Persian ca&#116s are one of &#116&#104e ol&#100es&#116 bree&#100s of ca&#116s &#107nown &#116o man. Long &#104air an&#100 a snubby face &#116&#104a&#116 of&#116en lea&#100s &#116o some &#104eal&#116&#104 problems for &#116&#104e bree&#100 c&#104arac&#116erize &#116&#104em. T&#104e Persian ca&#116 bree&#100 is among &#116&#104e mos&#116 wi&#100ely recognize&#100 &#100ue &#116o &#116&#104e c&#104arac&#116eris&#116ics &#116&#104a&#116 are presen&#116 in &#116&#104is par&#116icular bree&#100 of ca&#116.

T&#104ere are many color &#118aria&#116ions of &#116&#104e bree&#100 as well as color pa&#116&#116ern. T&#104ere are also some &#118aria&#116ions of &#116&#104e facial fea&#116ures in some of &#116&#104e Persian ca&#116s &#116&#104a&#116 range from a snubby nose &#116o a s&#116raig&#104&#116er nose. W&#104i&#116e Persian ca&#116s are among &#116&#104e mos&#116 popular colors soug&#104&#116 by buyers an&#100 pe&#116 see&#107ers.

Bac&#107groun&#100 Of Persian Ca&#116s

T&#104is bree&#100 of ca&#116 origina&#116e&#100 in &#116&#104e Iranian pla&#116eaus bor&#100ering Mesopo&#116amia. Some illus&#116ra&#116ions also connec&#116 &#116&#104e Persian ca&#116 wi&#116&#104 &#116&#104e ancien&#116 Pallas ca&#116. &#65n I&#116alian by &#116&#104e name of Pie&#116ro Della Valle in&#116ro&#100uce&#100 &#116&#104e bree&#100 &#116o European socie&#116y. T&#104e firs&#116 &#107nown wri&#116&#116en ac&#107nowle&#100gemen&#116 of &#116&#104e Persian ca&#116 was in &#116&#104e year 1871 in &#116&#104e annals of &#116&#104e Ca&#116 Fanciers &#65ssocia&#116ion. W&#104i&#116e Persian ca&#116s were alrea&#100y aroun&#100 &#100uring &#116&#104a&#116 &#116ime.

S&#116an&#100ar&#100 of &#116&#104e Persian Ca&#116

Persian ca&#116s usually come in a &#118arie&#116y of colors suc&#104 as w&#104i&#116e, blue, blac&#107 an&#100 &#116or&#116oises&#104ell. &#65n&#100 are generally accep&#116e&#100 in any color or any pa&#116&#116ern mar&#107ing as well. Sil&#118er, blac&#107 an&#100 w&#104i&#116e Persian ca&#116s &#116op &#116&#104e mos&#116 soug&#104&#116 af&#116er colors as pe&#116s w&#104ile o&#116&#104er colors are also soug&#104&#116 af&#116er for s&#104ow. W&#104i&#116e Persian ca&#116s an&#100 o&#116&#104ers wi&#116&#104 lig&#104&#116er colora&#116ion &#104a&#118e a &#100ifficul&#116 &#116ime &#107eeping &#116&#104emsel&#118es clean an&#100 may nee&#100 &#116&#104eir owner?s &#104elp in &#100oing so. Regular ba&#116&#104ing, conscien&#116ious &#100rying an&#100 brus&#104ing are among &#116&#104e grooming c&#104ores &#116&#104a&#116 &#116&#104ese long&#104aire&#100 ca&#116s nee&#100.

T&#104e &#116emperamen&#116 of Persian ca&#116s is basically similar &#116o o&#116&#104er ca&#116s. T&#104ey are &#104ig&#104ly in&#100epen&#100en&#116 an&#100 nee&#100 &#116o go ou&#116 once in a w&#104ile. Despi&#116e &#116&#104eir &#118ery refine&#100 appearance, Persians, especially sil&#118er or w&#104i&#116e Persian ca&#116s are &#118ery capable of &#116a&#107ing care of &#116&#104emsel&#118es. T&#104ey may loo&#107 fragile bu&#116 &#116&#104ey are &#118ery &#104ar&#100y.

Persian ca&#116s are co&#118e&#116e&#100 because of &#116&#104eir beau&#116iful loo&#107s. T&#104e more popular ca&#116s are sil&#118er, blac&#107 an&#100 w&#104i&#116e Persian ca&#116s. T&#104e coloring of &#116&#104e ca&#116s &#100oes no&#116 affec&#116 &#116&#104eir &#116emperamen&#116 or &#116&#104eir ac&#116i&#118i&#116y. T&#104ere are some illnesses or sic&#107nesses &#116&#104a&#116 are associa&#116e&#100 wi&#116&#104 Persian ca&#116s &#100ue mainly &#116o &#116&#104eir facial s&#116ruc&#116ure. Some bree&#100ers s&#116ri&#118e &#116oo muc&#104 &#116o ge&#116 &#116&#104e blun&#116 face&#100 ca&#116s &#116&#104a&#116 some selec&#116i&#118e bree&#100ing &#104as &#116urne&#100 ou&#116 &#100eformi&#116ies in &#116&#104e ca&#116s. T&#104ese &#100eformi&#116ies con&#116ribu&#116e &#116o &#100ifficul&#116y of brea&#116&#104ing an&#100 nasal problems.

Source: Pets and Animals

Category: Cat Breeds | No Comments »

Preventing toxoplasmosis infection involves some simple precautionary steps for both you and your cat. While there’s no guarantee that you or your cat won’t get it, every step you take may help.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a single-celled parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Both domestic and wild felines are the definitive hosts for T. gondii, which means that the cat is the only animal in which the organism reaches sexual maturity. Both cats and humans may become infected by coming in contact with it.

Statistics show that Toxoplasma may be carried by up to 80 percent of the population in some parts of the world. As many as 60 million Americans may be infected. Patients who display Toxoplasmosis symptoms, however, are relatively rare and may be mild. Few people in otherwise good health seek treatment. Infected cats may not show any signs of the disease.

The primary risk of exposure is from undercooked or raw meat, but there are other risk factors as well. In underdeveloped countries, infected soil is a factor.

Here’s a list of a few of the things you can do to keep your cat and people in your household from contracting toxoplasmosis.

Do not eat undercooked or raw meat. If you touch raw meat, do not touch your face until you’ve cleaned your hands thoroughly.

Ensure that you thoroughly clean your utensils, hands, cutting boards, and sink with soap and warm water after preparing food.

Wash all raw vegetables and fruits thoroughly.

Get someone else to empty the cat litter box. Pregnant women should take special precautions and have someone else on cat box duty.

Have the litter box cleaned every day or more than once per day and get rid of cat feces before it becomes infective.

If you handle the cat box duties yourself, wear a mask and disposable rubber gloves and avoid breathing the dust. Wash your hands after cleaning the box.

Always avoid sandboxes since roaming cats may defecate in them.

Wear gloves when gardening. Keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth, and nose. Wash your hands when finished.

Do not drink unpasteurized dairy products, especially goat’s milk.

Here are some things you can do to help keep your cat from being exposed to the disease.

Never feed undercooked or raw meat to your cat.

Keep your cat indoors to prevent her from picking up the disease from rodents or birds that may be infected.

Keep your cat inside to prevent it from coming in contact with contaminated soil, plants, or insects.

Source: Health

Category: Cat Care | No Comments »

Depending upon the type and stage of the disease, feline diabetes symptoms will vary from cat to cat. The prime candidates for diabetes are over weight older males, but cats of either sex and any age may be affected.

Excessive urination and thirst (known as polyuria and polydipsia) are the most obvious early signs of the disease. Initially, your cat may show only these symptoms, or no symptoms at all.

In addition to polyuria and polydipsia, progressive symptoms may include an increase in appetite, while at the same time losing weight.

In addition, diabetic cats may develop a condition known as diabetic neuropathy, which causes weakness in the back legs. Sick kitties may also become lethargic.

More severe symptoms may include loss of appetite, vomiting, and dehydration. Over time, afflicted cats may present with liver disease, secondary infections, and display poor hair coat.

A potentially fatal condition known as ketoacidosis can develop in some cats with diabetes. This may bring on breathing abnormalities, and vomiting and diarrhea.

With treatment, feline diabetes is usually a very manageable disease. Body weight and level of exercise are both factors here. Ensure that your cat remains active and does not get heavy throughout her life. This will prevent both the onset of the disease, and help with disease management should your cat be afflicted.

Source: Pets and Animals

Category: Cat Care | No Comments »

Think of your dog as a machine, with his organs as the major parts which work together to provide life.

Think of all the smaller elements, such as blood cells, natural chemicals, and antibodies to name but a few, as the cogs which turn, and protect on a minuscule level.

Cells are essentially what we are made up of, so we shouldn’t ignore the small guys.

We all know from neglecting our things though that it is possible to go on with a few wear and tear problems, but it may only be a matter of time before something major occurs.

Try that analogy with humans and animals, through our own choices or sometimes circumstances we can let our health slide, but we do run the risk of contracting something serious by doing so.

And like an airplane component failing, it can lead to a bigger problem in the long run.

The major organs are particularly at risk as they hold the key to life for every creature.

If you think a transplant will sort the issue, remember they are expensive, donors can be hard to find and there are associated risks. Why not prevent rather than cure?

Nutramax Denosyl SAMe tabs for dogs are available as a nutritional supplement. What it does is to stimulate glutathione levels in the liver.

Glutathione is a good thing, and here’s why. It’s a naturally occurring antioxidant which will help fight off attack, disease and other unfriendlies and will repair liver cells, providing healing at basic level.

The best way to avoid disease taking hold is to ensure the cells in the body are healthy; many cells are destroyed each day by the body’s defense systems if they mutate.

Your body destroys thousands of irregular or infected cells every day, but your body has to be healthy in order to fight back.

It can be used as a preventative or in conjunction with other treatments to prevent or treat the following diseases and related illnesses: Hipidosis, Chronic Hepatitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Drug-induced Hepatitis caused by Prednisone or Rimadyl, and Pancreatitis.

Nutramax Denosyl SAMe tablets for dogs are an economical preventative measure any dog owner can take to give their dog the best fighting chance against liver problems.

Spend a little bit now in order to avoid potentially costly vets bills later.

If humans choose to abuse their body, it’s their choice, but our canine friends will generally eat what we put in front of them and their lives and therefore health are controlled by us their owners.

Nutramax Denosyl for dogs is one obvious and easy way to do just that.

Source: Pets and Animals

Category: Cat Care | No Comments »

Cats are clean creatures. They continually clean and groom themselves throughout the day. They do this by licking their fur with their tongue. Their tongue is composed of a rough surface with small barb type bumps call papillae. The papillae is made of the same sustains that human fingernails are made of, keratin. The papillae forms backward hooks that provide the roughness needed to comb through the cats fur. This action causes the cat to ingest its hair. Unfortunately, cats are unable to digest hair but some fur does pass through the digestive tract. The problem why cats can not pass the hair most likely is because of the lack of fiber in their diet. When the cat has a fiber deficiency the undigested hair accumulates in the back of their throat or stomach.

Symptoms of an impending hairball episode will be forewarned by gagging and retching in an attempt to it throw-up. An occasional hairball is not something to worry about but if it is a constant problem it could be cause for concern. Frequent bouts with hairballs can cause your pet to have loss of appetite and constipation. Digestive track trouble may also result.

There are steps you can take to help cut down the amount of hair your pet swallows. Brushing your cat’s hair will lower the consumption of fur that is ingested. Long haired cats need to be brushed every day while a short hair cat will only need to be brushed 2 to 3 times a week. Commercial products are available to increase your cat’s fiber intake and natural remedies can be tried as well.

Other things to try are specialized cat food and treats made with the intent to prevent hairballs. Some owners add canned pumpkin to their cat’s diet. Grass, such as rye, wheat, or oat is another remedy to try. Do not let your cat eat chemically treated lawn grass.

There are various reasons why your cat might throw-up. For this reason it is advisable to check with your veterinarian to make sure there are no other issues plaguing your cat. Following your veterinarian’s suggestions and trying some of the products mentioned earlier will make it possible to eliminate your cat’s hairballs.

Jay Grey has owned and cared for his own pet cats for years. He is also owns and runs Cat Care Zone. http://catcarezone.com

Tags: cat care, cat distress, cat fiber, cat hairballs, cat remedies | Category: Cat Care | No Comments »

Cat dandruff is common among diabetic cats. A study shows that happens in 1 in 200 cats have what is known as diabetes mellitus (DM) and if you want your pet to get better, here are some things you can do.

The cause of this problem is associated with poor nutrition. So, instead of buying one of those generic brands of cat food, maybe you should change it and go for one of those that are of good quality even if it may cost a little more.

You can also give food supplements that contain fish oil which have proven to correct the dandruff problem. This may also come from canned tuna since it is rich in Omega 43 fatty acids that will improve their hair in about a week.

The symptoms that will tell you if your cat has a skin care problem like dandruff includes an increase in their appetite, excessive thirst or urination, dehydration, depression, muscle wasting, lethargy, weight loss and an umkempt hair coat that is a direct result of poor grooming. It gets worse when the cat displays weak rear legs.

Aside from a cat being diabetic, other risk factors include certain steroid injections, neutering and old age. The cold weather could be another cause since it dries the cat’s skin. If your hunch is correct, you can fix this problem by buying a topical and oral treatment that is designed to treat dry skin.

Aside from dandruff, owners should also worry about allergies as this also causes skin problems among cats. This may come from cleaners, pollen, food and other sources and since it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause, owners are advised to use only natural care products in cleaning the home.

The cat should also be confined indoors to prevent them from roaming outside. Studies have shown that sunburn kills the top layer of their skin causing it to dry and flake off. Repeated sunburn may result to skin cancer so if you decide to let them go out, this should be done before 10 in the morning and after 4 in the afternoon.

During the winter, the cat should not be allowed to sleep near the fireplace as this also dries out their skin quickly. To keep them warm during the cold months, you should invest in a good humidifier.

The cat may also be infested with fleas and ticks. You can check the cat’s skin routinely to pull them out and use powder to flush the rest out. The hair should also be combed so this does not happen again.

If the cat’s skin care problem continues, it is best to bring it directly to the vet as over the counter medications and parasite treatments which you have tried are not good enough to do the trick. Some of the symptoms associated with dandruff could be something else like a skin disorder and one of them is Cheyletiella which requires the help of a professional.

Cat skin care problems like dandruff must be taken cared off immediately before it gets worse. Proper hygiene, diet and grooming are the best ways to keep it away and if household remedies don’t work, you better get help so the exact cause can be determined and the proper treatment can be given.

Source: Cats

Category: Cat Care | No Comments »

Image by Takeshi* via Flickr

You’ve probably spent a lot of time on your garden and the last thing you need is a cat in there digging around. Read below for some tips.

The very first thing you can do when trying to keep cats out of your garden is to make sure that you have your garden boundaries secure. If there are any gaps in your fence (if you use one), you should make sure that you block them to prevent any low access. Cats are very agile animals, and can jump very high. Normally they can jump a small fence, which is why you should also invest in string or taut wire across the top to deter them.

If a cat has made his way into your garden, it may be hard to get him out. Most people choose to use dogs, simply because dogs are known to dislike cats. There are several dog breeds out there that completely dislike cats, such as pit bulls and Dobermans. Cats are completely fearful of these breeds, and will flee if they see them around.

Cats are known to hate water as well. If you spy a cat in your garden, water almost always will get him out. All it takes is a bucket of water or a well aimed squirt with a garden hose to make him think twice about using your garden as his litter box. I have known the real dedicated cat chaser to keep a toy water gun nearby, fully filled for any cat problems.

Protecting your plants is a different story. Mothballs are said to be very effective, as cats don’t like the smell. You can use mothballs around your plants, garden borders, or even along the fence. There are other repellents that you can use as well, such as cayenne peppers, tobacco, lavender oil, citronella oil, mustard oil, and even lemon grass oil. Simply spray a mixture of one of these around the border of your garden.

If you pay a visit your local hardware or lawn and garden store, you can find motion activated sprinklers. They work great in keeping cats out of your garden. Once you install the sprinkler system and a cat comes into the area, the detector will pick up the cat’s presence and immediately shoot out a jet of water that will douse the cat. In most cases, all it takes is a few times of exposure to the sprinkler before a cat learns to stay out of that area.

Sound devices that feature high frequencies are also a great way to scare off cats, although they aren’t annoying to humans. You can find several different models, such as those that stay on all the time, and those that are motion detected. To use this type of device, you’ll need to make sure that the model you have is strong enough to cover the entire area. If you model you are using is strong enough to cover your entire garden, it should suffice in scaring off any unwanted animals.

You can also try commercial repellents to keep cats at bay. Commercial repellents use scents to keep cats away, and shouldn’t be used near any food crops. Due to their high chemical content, commercial repellents can pollute the garden foods that you might eat. You can find them at your local hardware store, with several varieties to choose from, many of which will fend off other critters from your garden as well.

If you have a garden, it can be very annoying if cats and other animals decide to make your garden their home. If you stick to your guns and do your part, you can prevent them from bothering your garden or your crops. Once you have secured your boundaries around the garden, you should try using water first or a fence. If that doesn’t seem to work, you can look into the other methods I have mentioned in this article.

Source: cats

Category: Cat Behavior | No Comments »

Cat behavior problems are more common than you think and there are many different solutions for them depending on your cat’s personality. Cats can be trained and bad habits can be broken. Cat behavior problems are solvable but it is easier to correct your cat’s bad behavior problems when they first occur.

The top two cat behavior problems revolve around the litter box and the destruction of furniture and carpets due to scratching.

Proper litter box maintenance is a must. Cats are clean animals and many will not use a litter box that is dirty or used by other cats. Use clumping litter for your kitty and make sure the litter box is clean twice a day by using a scoop to remove and dispose of the clumps and solid waste… Replace with more litter as needed. When using non-clumping litter you will have to dump the box of litter several times a day which is no fun. Perfumed litters are meant to please humans but not the cat. A cats sense of smell is far greater than ours and most don’t like the scent of heavy perfume. Many cats don’t like sharing a litter box with another cat. So how many litter boxes do you really need in a multi-cat household? Well you may have to have one litter box for each cat.

Cat will scratch furniture because of an instinct to scratch or from boredom. A scratching post provides many benefits. Scratching posts and toys will give an outlet for your cat. Scratching posts are made with many different materials but they are mostly made from just a wood frame covered with carpet. Not only will a scratching post protect your furniture and belongings but it also builds the cat’s neck, shoulder, stomach and back muscles.

Cat behavior problems are normal and difficult for owners to deal but can be dealt with in times. Cat behavior problems are more common than you think & there are many different solutions depending on your cat.

Tags: cat behavior, cat care, cat health, cat problems, cat training, cats | Category: Cat Training | 1 Comment »

Cats are playful animals. If you are planning to get one, you should know the basics about house cat care.

The moment the cat is brought into the house, you should give it his or her own room for the time being with food, water and a bed. If it has not yet been toilet trained, you should start teaching it so there are no stains in the carpet.

Teaching the cat how to use the litter box can initially be done by carrying it to the box when nature calls. When you see the cat is able to do it, praise and reward your pet so they know that this is the right to do.

The exact dimension of the litter box depends on the size of the cat. This must be cleaned naturally using soap and water not disinfectant.

If ever they do something wrong like climb up on the table or scratch the furniture, you must never scold them as they are very sensitive animals. You can enforce discipline without causing any harm by squirting water on their face.

There must be food and water at all times. The feeding dish and bowl should be made either of plastic or aluminum and cleaned. Any unfinished food must be disposed of properly.

Their diet must come from high quality cat food and although this may be more expensive than the other brands, you know that it has the right vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy. Aside from food, you can also give them supplements. One example is Omega 3 fatty acids that are good for their nutrition.

For those that have other pets in the house, you should give some time for the two pets to be acquainted with each other. If you have a dog, make sure it is kept on its leash first. If you have another cat, be ready to break off a fight since this normally happens.

House rules must be set regarding what the cat can and cannot do in the home. For instance, you can decide whether or not the cat may be allowed out of the house even if the experts have said that they must always be confined indoors. There are other issues which you have to discuss among yourselves.

You must also provide a scratching pad so it can play around without causing any damage to your furniture. This should be 3 feet in height and placed either near the furniture or their bed. When their nails get too sharp, you better trim it so they don’t hurt you or themselves.

One of the most important things about cat care is proper grooming. You can bathe the cat by wetting their head and tail with shampoo. Never lather their ears or eyes and dry them using a clean towel. Brush the hair lightly and apply combing powder so it never gets tangled with each other.

Lastly, bring your cat to the vet regularly and when you see something new in their behavior as quick thinking could prevent a possible sickness from getting worse. If you don’t know any, get a recommendation from one of your neighbors.

House cat care is challenging but rewarding. You just have to put in the time and effort when you decide to bring a pet into your home.

Source: Cats

Category: Cat Care | 1 Comment »