Simple Tips For The Healthiest Cats

Expert Author M. Tracy Robinson

Clean Water and Litter Boxes

Cats are incredibly clean creatures. They don't like to eat in the same area as a dirty cat box. Cats bury their feces because of instincts. In the wild, cats bury their feces to keep away wild predators. You want to scoop out their litter at least one time a day. Wash their cat litter boxes out with dish detergent and warm water every week or so. Don't use harsh cleaners like comet or ajax, they can be toxic to your loved kitty. Water is essential for your cat. Keep clean, fresh water available at all times. Cats don't like water so if your kitty isn't drinking, a water fountain from a pet store might be a good solution. The best premium canned cat food is also an excellent way for your cat to get their extremely important moisture intake.

Your Cats Nutritional Needs

Cats have different nutritional needs than other pets, like dogs. Cats unique dietary needs include Taurine. Taurine is essential for your pampered cat's eye and heart health and is especially important for pregnant cats. It is vital for their babies. Your cat's protein needs to come from a high quality source, so choose a food with high quality protein. For the healthiest cat, learn exactly what is used as the protein source. Watch out for labels that read meat protein and do not specifically say if that protein is from chicken, egg, turkey, fish etc.. Foods sitting on the store shelf have the potential to be old with no nutritional value. Cat food on store shelves possibly use toxic preservatives. The raw diet can have salmonella. The healthiest cat food not only has the highest quality in ingredients but also is fresh and comes from a manufacturer with tough safety standards.

Visiting The Vet

Annual visits to the Vet are an important way to keep up on your cat's health. Your vet should contact you when shots are due. As a cat parent keep your cat's shots records in your kitty's file in your desk. Double check to make sure your cats shots are really due and there is not a mistake in the Vet's paperwork. Over vaccination has been linked to serious health issues, even death. Vets are not schooled in healthy cat nutrition as a whole. They had a day or two of cat nutrition in class. These classes are taught by the big pet food companies. Vets get kick back on some foods they sell, not knowing if that food is healthy. Prescription diets are different. But the same advice is to check prescription diets so you know what you are feeding your cat has their prescription needs and also the best quality ingredients available.

For the healthiest cat, keep your cat's nutritional needs in mind. Have plenty of clean water available. And keep their cat box clean. These basic needs will help ensure a good long life for your pampered cat.

How to Find a Pet Cemetery in Your Area

The death of a pet can be a distressing experience. However, it is inevitable. If you have just lost a pet and want to provide your beloved animal a final resting place, you should consider burying them in a pet cemetery. There are many such cemeteries all over the world and more and more are cropping up all the time. These cemeteries are just as well maintained and manicured as the ones for humans, and take some of the burden off your shoulders when it comes to burying a pet.

While there is no dearth of pet cemeteries, finding a good one can be a challenge. In fact, certain cities don't have any regulations in place regarding the burial of animals, forcing people to find alternate ways of creating a memorial for their recently departed pet.

One of the best ways of locating a pet cemetery in your area is by using the internet. A simple search using any search engine will help find a facility that is nearby. After you have found one, pay a visit to the premises and see the layout of the cemetery. The lawn should be healthy and covered with lush green grass. There should also be ample space between grave markers. Meet with the staff and explain what you are looking for. Make sure that they are compassionate and attentive. If the staff members seem callous, either contact the management or look for another cemetery.

Before deciding on a particular pet cemetery, remember to ask about any restrictions in place regarding the memorial service. They should be willing to allow you to hold a small service with close family and friends. You should also be allowed to visit the burial site whenever you want. If such things are not allowed, you would be better off looking at other options. There is no point in having a memorial at a place you can't easily visit.

In case you are not able to find a pet cemetery in your area, you should consider other options. You could bury your pet in some other location or, if you want, in your own backyard. In some cases, depending on the location of the cemetery, opting for a backyard burial can be an extremely convenient option. If you have decided to bury your pet in your property, make sure that you check up on all the regulations in place in your city. You will be able to find the required information either on the internet or by contacting your local civic authorities.

A loyal and loving pet is, for a lot of people, nothing less than a family member, and the grief of losing one can often be completely overwhelming. By burying your pet in a pet cemetery in your area, you will be able to erect a memorial which you can visit to offer remembrance. At a pet cemetery, you will be able to concentrate on the memorial service and other aspects, while leaving the body to be handled by professionals.

Ringworm and Treatment for Persian Cats

Ringworm - What Is It?

First of all, ringworm is NOT a worm, it is a fungus. Ringworm spores can travel great distances on air currents, and can be brought into your home on your clothing/shoes, and/or by your dogs and other pets; basically, ringworm spores are everywhere in the environment; outside as well as inside our homes. Anyone who owns (or has owned) a Persian cat knows that at some time or another they will have to deal with ringworm. In our opinion, any cattery that says they have never had a case of ringworm may have failed to recognize the signs of infection in their cats. Ringworm and Persian cats (and other long-haired breeds) go hand in hand. Especially, when bringing in a new cat or kitten. The stress of the move and the age of the cat, can all play a part in that new cat or kitten developing ringworm within 3-4 weeks of coming to a new home. The very young, the very old and immunosuppressed cats or kittens are at the highest risk of getting ringworm. Ringworm exposure is why it is imperative to isolate or quarantine a new Persian kitten or cat for at least 4 weeks to make sure that it has not developed ringworm and could potentially infect other household pets. Sometimes, a cat can be an asymptomatic carrier which means that it can have ringworm, but not show any signs of having it. However, a carrier sheds the spores and infects other cat(s) in the household. Ringworm is a zoonotic disease (can be transmitted from animals to humans).

If left untreated, ringworm can be very difficult to eradicate from a household the fungal spores can contaminate the environment a cat is housed in. Ringworm is a systemic disease which requires treatment with an oral medication as well as an anti-fungal dip (Lime Sulphur Dip) for the spores. Failing to use this two prong approach means that the Ringworm will not be fully eradicated!

Treatment

Sporanox (brand name) - oral medication (generic name: Itraconazole). This medication should be administered under the care and guidance of a licensed veterinarian as it can damage the liver. Sporanox is usually dispensed in a 150 mL bottle, at 10mg/mL strength. The dosage for treating ringworm in cats is 10mg/kg once a day (or 0.50 mL per one pound) and should be given with a high fat food (a tab of real butter or canned food is best). The liquid medication seems to be easier to dose as it is more accurate for dosing than the pills. The cat also has to be fully treated for at least 21 days with the oral medication and the fungal dip every 5-7 days for at least a month beyond the 21 days of the oral medication treatment. Do NOT skip a day! Again, this medication is hard on the liver and the cat should have free access to water at all times! If the cat exhibits signs of anorexia, dehydration or other symptoms, discontinue the use of Sporanox immediately and contact your veterinarian.

Lime Sulphur Dip is an antiseptic, keratolytic dip in scentine lime sulfur concentrate for the treatment of Sarcoptic mange (ringworm). Lime Sulphur Dip treats ringworm on the skin and hair of the cat. "Dip" the cat at least once each week and continue for at least 30 days beyond the cessation of the oral medication. Mix the Lime Sulphur Dip according to the bottle directions which is usually 4 ounces of Lime Sulphur Dip to a gallon of water, put the cat in a small tub with the Lime Sulphur Dip solution, and then pour the solution over the cat to coat its back, neck and chest areas. Soaking the cat in water until it is wet to the skin beforehand helps the Lime Sulphur Dip penetrate down to the skin better. Make sure the Lime Sulphur Dip gets into the nooks and crannies of the cat's claws, a soft toothbrush can be used to gently "scrub" the Lime Sulphur Dip onto the toes, nail beds and in between the toes. Do NOT rinse off the Lime Sulphur Dip. (Do NOT get the Lime Sulphur Dip in the cat's eyes or mouth as it is very caustic. Follow label directions if this happens.) Gently pat the cat with a towel and then completely dry the cat using a dryer. Do not let the cat lick the wet/damp Lime Sulphur Dip solution off of its fur. Once the cat's coat is completely dry, the cat may safely bathe itself without adverse effects.

Lime Sulphur Dip stinks like rotten eggs - the house will stink, the cat will stink - everything will stink. However, it will kill the spores on the cat. If the recommended protocol is followed, along with getting three negative results from your veterinarian (the veterinarian will recommend when these skin cultures should be done), the Lime Sulphur Dip, coupled with the Sporanox oral medication, will definitely eradicate the ringworm and your Persian cat(s) will be ringworm free. This is the only sure fire way to successfully treat ringworm in the Persian cat breed!!!

Additionally, part of treating ringworm is either getting rid of (or disinfecting with bleach) all bedding, scratching posts, cat trees, litter boxes(s) and anything else the cat may have come into contact with. If the infected cat has been in contact with other cats in the household, it is best to treat every cat in the household to avoid cross contamination and possibly passing the ringworm back and forth for months on end.

Again, a word of caution, do NOT get this solution into the cat's eyes or mouth as it is extremely caustic - and avoid contact with your eyes. It is also a good idea to wear gloves to protect hands and wear eye protection.

This Neat Trick Stops Cats And Dogs From Making A Big Mess On The Floor When They Eat

You must have the same problem that I have when it comes to our pets' eating habits. They are sloppy eaters!

Since I have several cats and dogs that eat three times a day, I always have a huge mess to clean up. Food gets everywhere. Food gets stepped on and trying to grab the food with a towel makes even more of a mess. It's frustrating.

Has this ever happened to you?

I have a Salukis that loves to pick up his dish and splatter food everywhere on the floor.

This is why I tried to figure out an easier way to keep the house clean and I am happy to share with you my new discovery. I hope this is extremely helpful for you as it was for me. Before we begin, I noticed cats and dogs have a slightly different approach with the placement of food.

You only need 2 easily obtainable items:

1. Cookie sheet

2. Parchment paper

Let's start with the cats. Here is what I did.

First place a cookie sheet tray down and place parchment paper on top. Then simply take the cookie tray with the parchment paper and the food on top to their dining area.

Clean up is a breeze. When your cats are done eating just pick up the parchment and throw away. No washing or extra cleaning needed. I love it! You can also just use the cookie sheet to feed them or if you have only one or two cats you can just use the parchment paper alone.

Now the dogs. I tried the same approach with my dogs. I quickly discovered that some of my dogs didn't mind eating off the tray but the others made more of a mess by pulling the food off the tray. This is what I did that seems to be working for me for now. I use the same set up for my cats. I take the food over to my dogs. The only thing that different is I slide the parchment paper off the tray to the floor.

By putting this simple solution into practice your will be able to enjoy you pet far more. Others in your home as well as visitors will appreciate your new cleaner look. And your pet will have a better life living in more orderly, less messy conditions. And, of course, you will experience a lot less frustration.

Now that this problem is solved, how about messy cat litter? Is there really a solution to stop cat litter from scattering all over the floor? Does it really work? You bet there is. It's an unbelievably simple solution that's begging you to give it a try. Interested in finding out what it is? Email me and let me know you're interested and when it ready to be revealed I will tell you.

Before Getting a New Kitten or Cat

Before getting a new kitten or cat, one of the things to ask yourself is: Can I properly care for a cat and provide a stable, safe home for its lifetime which is typically about 15 - 20 years? Many statistics show that as much as 50 percent of all cats change owners at least once in their lifetime. This is an appalling and alarming statistic.

Can I Afford A Cat?

The initial purchase price (or adoption fee) of a cat is not the most expensive cost as there will be many other costs over the cat's lifetime. Those costs include food, litter pans, litter, toys, scratching posts and/or cat trees, and veterinary care. Veterinary care (without taking into consideration any catastrophic health problems) will run about $100 - $300 per year. Preventive and consistent care is vitally important to any cat's overall health. If an owner cannot afford veterinary care, it is probably a good idea not to get a cat. Additionally, depending on where an owner lives, there will be a one-time fee of anywhere from $70 - $500 for the cost of getting the cat spay or neutered. Even if the cat is an indoor only cat, it recommended that it have all of its vaccinations, including rabies (a rabies vaccination are legally required in many cities and/or states for cats and dogs), and depending on where you live, there may be other medications that are strongly recommended by the veterinarian on a yearly basis (such as a heartworm preventative medicine). Many people believe that because their cat is an indoor cat, it does not need a rabies vaccination. However, consider what would happen to you and/or your cat if it bit someone while they were in your home? First of all, the authorities will most likely remove the cat from your home and quarantine it for a period of time (at cost to you for boarding and care); if on the off chance your cat shows signs of rabies it will be destroyed. It is highly recommended that a potential owner check with their veterinarian to find out what vaccinations are required by law.

What Breed of Cat?

All kittens are cute and most people fall in love with a cat or kitten because of its look (the cuddlebility factor). Some people prefer a pedigreed cat because of certain breed characteristics while others prefer a mixed breed cat. If desiring a pedigreed cat, careful consideration should be given as to the breed characteristics of that breed. For example: how much grooming will the cat require, how much will it shed, how playful or active is the breed, how big will the cat get? Are you looking for a cat that gets along well with small children or elderly people? Do you need a cat that gets along with your dog? Do you desire a cat that is calm and loves to cuddle and will sleep with you at night? These are just a few of the things to consider before bringing a cat home.

Should You Get a Kitten or an Adult Cat?

Many people, when considering whether or not to get a cat, will only consider getting a kitten. Here are a few reasons why an adult cat may be desirable:

An adult cat has already developed its personality so you will know exactly what you are getting;

An adult cat is already litter box trained;

An adult cat should only need yearly examinations and vaccinations (instead of a series of vaccinations that a kitten will require in the first 6 months);

An adult cat has already gone through its "teenager" phase;

An adult cat can "bond" just as well as a kitten with a new owner.

Where to Get a Cat?

Animal Shelters - While many shelters are no-kill, most are not. Getting a cat or kitten from an animal shelter may well save it from being put to death. Typically, you should look for a cat that looks clean, healthy, with a shiny coat and clear eyes. Ask to visit with the kitten or cat in a private area to see how it will interact with you. How friendly is it? If the kitten or cat appears lethargic, it may be best to look at another one as this one may be sick. Ask the actual caregivers of the cat or kitten for any information they may have on it. Ask why the cat was surrendered to the shelter. Keep in mind that many people do not always tell the truth to shelter personnel when they surrender their pet. So, sometimes the shelter may not be aware that this cat or kitten may have undesirable behavioral traits (i.e., not using its litter box) or have some type of major health concern which may shortly require a very high veterinarian bill. Many shelters will have already spayed or neutered the cat or kitten prior to its going to a new home. If not, they will generally require that you do so within a certain time period. Do not over-look the adult cats.

Responsible Breeders - If you are looking for a purebred/pedigreed cat or kitten, it is best to locate a responsible breeder. To find such a person:

Visit a local cat show which is a great way to see the different breeds of cats, meet breeders, and ask questions.

The Cat Fanciers Association ("CFA") has an on-line breeder referral list which can be searched by breed, location, and other search options. (Please Note: the CFA does not endorse or recommend any particular breeder or cattery on the list.)

Nowadays, there are many show breeders, as well as hobby breeders, that have web sites. To locate a breeder in a particular area via the internet, use a search engine (i.e., yahoo, Google, etc.) and type in the particular cat breed and the state you reside to get results for breeders in your particular state or locale. Some breeders advertise in Cat Fancy or other such publications.

Responsible breeders will have (at a bare minimum) a written health/genetic guarantee, provide a starter kit that goes home with the kitten or cat (containing the type of food it has been eating, feeding instructions, breed information), have some provision for (or already had it performed) the spay/neuter of the kitten or cat, provide documentation of pedigree, parentage, and vaccination records. When interviewing a breeder, listen to your intuition; if anything feels "off" about a breeder, do NOT get one of their kittens. If this happens, it is recommended that you seek out and interview another breeder. Remember, a responsible breeder will want to interview you and get to know you as a potential owner as much as you may want to interview them.

Pet Stores - A responsible breeder would not allow their kittens to be sold in a pet store or other re-sale outlet where they could not personally interview the buyer to make sure they are aware of the responsibility of caring for an animal. Most responsible breeders belong to breed clubs and sign a breeder's code of ethics which prohibits them from selling to retail outlets (pet stores). More often than not, the puppies and kittens for sale in a retail outlet are from commercial, "puppy" mill type operations. Some stores (i.e., Petco, etc.) do have cats for adoption through a local animal shelter but are not actively involved in the resale of cats and dogs. If getting a shelter pet through this type of adoption process, make sure that the adoption procedures comply with that shelter's normal adoption process.

Private Sources - Sometimes, if an owner can no longer keep their adult cat, they may place an ad through a local newspaper, grocery store bulletin board or veterinarian's office. As long as you can meet the person, observe the cat in its home environment, and make sure the cat is healthy, there is no reason not to get a cat this way. If it is a kitten, make sure it is at least 12 weeks of age, is properly litter box trained, had age-appropriate vaccinations/wormings, and appears healthy. (Warning: responsible breeders would not advertise this way nor use Craigslist or something similar).

Getting a cat is a lifelong commitment of not only an owner's time, but their money in order to keep them in food, toys, and proper health. If the on-going cost of keeping a cat beyond the initial cost of it (i.e., veterinarian, vaccinations, cost of spay/neuter, unforeseen health issues/costs and more), then perhaps it is not the time to get a pet.

Tips On Taking Care Of Your Adopted Pet

Having a pet completes a family.

This is why you will find a number of families seeking to buy a pet, whether it is cat, a dog or a hamster. This is particularly true for families with no children or for families with pet-lover kids. If you are hesitant on buying a pet from a breeder, then why not adopt instead?

One of the best pets you can adopt is a kitten, a homeless and unwanted kitten. Pet shelters usually save cats from the road or cats under risky environment and bring it to the shelter. However, these shelters can only do so much. The staff will certainly appreciate it if you adopt one and take good care of it.

Should you decide to adopt a cat, you coordinate with the staff in picking the best one for you. The animals have different personalities but the staff should know them very well. You can make inquiries and see which one among your options appeal most to you. After making a choice, check out the package that comes along with the fees you have to pay for the adoption.

A reliable pet shelter should already include desexing, microchipping and vaccination in the package. But if ever one of these is not yet included, make sure that your pet gets vaccinated. Prioritize the vaccination so you can prevent diseases from causing harm on your cat. You can use microchipping then to keep track of your little one.

To give your pet the best care it deserves, visit a vet shop. You will need to purchase some essential goods for your new cat. The stuff you need should include a litter box and a scratching post. You need food and water bowls as well as toys and grooming equipment. You can ask the shop attendants for the right type of food to serve to your kitten.

The best thing about cats is that they are friendlier and more self-sufficient than most dogs. They require less attention so you will not find it a burden to take care of one. It is not at all true that they are aloof and independent. They make really good pets for families. In fact, most tenants do not have a problem about having one in the residential area where a family lives.

Indeed, adopting a cat can be very fulfilling. Make it a lot more worth your time by considering these tips.

5 Things to Know About Sphynx Cats

Even though the Sphynx cats are called hairless, it's not completely true. They may look that way, but their bodies are often covered with a fine down which makes you feel as if you were touching a warm peach. They are usually a very healthy breed, energetic, playful and strong, but they are also very demanding. Here are some things you may wish to consider before buying a Sphynx cat.

You have to clean your Sphynx cat

People usually think that there's no need to bath a hairless cat, but their skin secretes as much oil as any other cat's skin - and they have no hair to absorb it. Think of a greasy body close to the ground, and you'll get the picture. This is why it's necessary to give a hairless cat a bath once a week. The good thing is that the breeders usually teach Sphynx kittens to enjoy warm baths; the owner should continue the practice, rewarding their kitty before and after the bath.

Sphynxes have no hair in their ear canals, either - and they produce a lot of ear wax. This ear wax can block the ear canal if the cat owner doesn't clean it, not to mention it will stain everything it comes in contact with. A gentle cleaning with cotton swabs once or twice a week is necessary. If it seems too repulsive, it's better not to purchase a Sphynx cat.

Sphynxes hate being alone

The Sphynx cats love their human companions, and they usually get along well with other cats and with dogs. They love to play and often enjoy cuddling. If you want an affectionate feline companion, Sphynxes are a great choice, but if you need to leave your home for prolonged periods of time, your cat might become depressed. They need to interact with other friendly beings, be it humans, cats (Sphynxes or not), dogs or other friendly animals.

They need to keep warm

Since they have no coat to protect them from cold, Sphynxes need other means to stay warm. If you would be cold without any clothes on, your hairless cat would be cold, too. They are very smart and will seek warm spots (humans, friendly animals, heated parts of the house), but the owner must provide those places. If leaving the heat on while you're not in the house isn't an option, a good solution is to get a heated cat bed or similar.

Sphynxes are indoor cats

Without the fur, these cats easily get sunburns, which is why they should be kept away from the sun. While they can go outside, they shouldn't actually live there. To protect them from painful sunburns, the owner can install sunblock shades or screens on the windows, and apply baby sunscreen on the tips of the cat's ears and the bridge of the nose. They might want to fall asleep in the sun like any other cat, but it isn't safe for them to do so.

Sphynxes are hypoallergenic

No cat is completely hypoallergenic, but people normally allergic to cats may be able to tolerate Sphynxes. Irritation is usually caused by pet dander (similar to dandruff) and saliva (spread to the body during cleaning). Hairless cats produce both dander and saliva, but with no fur to shed, the chances of allergens coming to contact with people are smaller.