Cat Lovers

Bladder stones in cats can result in severe disease, infection, and if the blockage is total, even the death of your cat. Depending on the type of bladder stones or crystals that your cat has developed, they will definitely have to be placed on a diet. Because of the severity of this condition, any diet and treatment should be thoroughly discussed with your veterinarian. Using the wrong type of diet will not only magnify this condition; it can actually increase your cats chances of developing either stone or crystal formations.

The term, bladder stones in cats, is quite misleading as the problems they cause are not always from what would be considered a stone, as it could also come in the form of crystals. Some cats will develop extremely small microscopic crystals in their urine, while other may develop much larger growths that are referred to as stones. Crystals may or may not be associated with urinary tract infections, but they are still very dangerous. They are almost like a very fine form of sand, and they can seriously irritate your cats bladder.

In male cats these crystals can very easily plug the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from your cats bladder through the penis, and then to the outside of their body. Although these are much different than stones, it is still a life threatening situation as your cat will not be able to urinate. The larger stones are referred to as urinary calculi, and this condition is called urolithiasis. These stones can form anywhere in your cats urinary tract, as they can found in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or the urethra.

Signs and symptoms:

This is where bladder stones in cats can become very challenging for an owner, as there are several distinctive signs you cat may show you, but that key words are may show you. It is estimated that in over 50 percent of the cases, cats will demonstrate no signs or symptoms and they are only discovered during a routine examination. If your cat does show signs, the first sign that you will see is a gradual but building of frequent urination. As this builds, you may also start to see small indications of blood in the urine.

It is never normal to see blood in your cats urine, and this sign should be taken very seriously. Other symptoms to watch for is a sudden straining while trying to urinate, as well as holding their body in the urinating position much longer than normal. As their owner, only you will able to notice these subtle changes in habits. However, if your cat starts to lick their genital area, this is not only a warning sign, but understanding this sign combined with any of the other small changes, may save their life. Most cats will start to do this when they cannot urinate at all, which is now a life threatening emergency.

How stones or crystals are formed:

In understanding bladder stones in cats, it is very helpful to understand how they form, what kind of stones they are, but more importantly, how they can successfully be treated. Contrary to a lot of misconception, there are actually three types of crystals or stones, not just two. The types include Struvite, Oxalate, as well as Urate stones; however, the most common are Struvite and Oxalate. It is also very interesting to note that though the late 1980’s the ratio of stone development was 75 percent Struvite as compared to only 2 percent Oxalate. However, in the last few years this ratio has changed dramatically to 49 percent Struvite and 41 percent Oxalate.

Bladder stones in cats are formed by minerals, which in most all cases precipitate out of the urine as very small crystals. Once this process occurs, additional precipitation starts to form on the stones surface where they can eventually grow to be as large as one inch in diameter. However, with any type of crystal or stone that develops in your cat, they all have one thing in common; your cats diet. The development of any type of stone also depends on two other factors; the urine pH as well as the concentration of minerals in your cats urine.

Struvite Crystals and stones:

This form of bladder stones in cats is made up of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate, and is usually formed in alkaline urine. The major factors in your cats diet that contribute to this type of crystal or stone are urine pH and the amount of water they consume. Commercial pet food has been radically modified in the last few years to minimize the chance of this occurring, which is the major reason for the shift in the ratio. Most commercial food is now lower in magnesium, and as a result, the pH levels drop in your cat.

However, specialized diets are available through your veterinarian and they should be the only source to recommend which type of commercial food your cat is placed on.

Although this ratio has dropped, this is still the most common type of crystals or stones that will develop in your cat. Prior to the development of these specialized cat foods, Vitamin C was also given to help to lower the pH level. This vitamin is still recommended by several in the medical community as part of the diet. Urinary acidifiers were also used, but it is extremely important that if you have your cat on a special diet to reduce acids, you should never, under any circumstances, use these in conjunction. If the acid in your cats urine is reduced too much, it is just as serious and in some cases, could have catastrophic effects on your cat.

The way in which you feed your cat if they are on a specialized diet and prone to these types of stones, is also very important. However, the most important aspect is the amounts of water they receive. You should always feed a cat prone to these stones in an ad libitum environment, meaning they can eat anytime they want to. It is also extremely important to make sure you cat drinks enough water.

The more water consumed, the lower the chances on developing these stones. In conjunction with the importance of water, you may also need to switch to canned food or a liquid centric raw diet. Cats on raw diets have a dramatically lower chance of developing these stones.

Oxalate Crystals and stones

These forms of bladder stones in cats are much more likely to occur when the acidic urine in their blood has elevated amounts of calcium. This is usually caused by excessive intakes of calcium, protein, sodium, or Vitamin D. There are also some diseases such as cancer and Cushings disease that also cause these stones to develop. However, these stones can also develop in some cats with normal calcium levels, although it is quite rare.

There are also specialized commercial diets that are formulated specifically to make your cats urine more alkaline. Increased water consumption is also very important to help produce dilute urine, and urinary acidifiers are also very dangerous if used in conjunction with these stones or crystals.

Urate Crystals and stones:

This form of bladder stones is legendary in Dalmatians, and although not nearly as common in cats, they can occur occasionally. They occur in acidic urine but are commonly associated with liver disorders and some metabolic disease. Because they are not nearly as common, there is no specialized commercial diet available.

Summary:

Bladder stones in cats can be a very serious situation if they cause any type of major obstruction. Once your cat has developed them, there are several treatments options, but the most severe of cases will require surgery to effectively remove them. Specialized diets can dissolve them in some cases, but the key is to prevent them. If your cat is prone to developing these dangerous mineral growths, moist diets and raw diets with a plentiful and fresh water supply is the most effective defense.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a “mutt” that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.
He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds.
After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.
After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats.
I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

Several of the articles that I have written can be found on my website;
Liquid Vitamins & Minerals for Humans & Pets
http://www.liquid-vitamins-minerals-humans-pets.com/

Cats are curious creatures that are drawn to small, tight spaces. Many times you will find them snuggled up in a dresser drawer or wedged between two pieces of furniture. Outside cats can often be found nestled between a building and some other object or burrowed into a crevice. They are also creatures of comfort, often seeking out bedding and other soft object to create a cozy den for themselves. Purchasing a cat bed for your feline friend will provide them a small, comfortable space to lounge and sleep in.

Cat beds come in all different shapes, sizes, colors and textures, which makes fitting them into your home easy and practical. While they come in a variety of forms, there are really only a couple of things to look for when purchasing a cat bed. First, make sure it is in proportion to the size of your cat. If you have a kitten, you will need a smaller bed to give them the feeling that they are in a small space. A larger one will want a larger bed they can fit comfortably in. Second, many are drawn to soft, plush objects, so make sure your bed has plenty of padding and is covered in an inviting fabric. Third, make sure the bed has sides rather than just a pad (bottom). This gives your pet the feeling they are in their own space.

Once you have selected the perfect bed, placement is also key. If your cat is the private sort who likes to be off away from all the action, placing their bed in an unoccupied bedroom would be ideal. If your pet likes to be in the center of attention, placing the bed in a common area such as a living room or den is more ideal. Many also like to be warm. Placing their bed in front of a sunny window or under a heat register will make their bed more inviting for them.

Cats are fun animals and make wonderful pets. Providing them with their own cat bed will give them their own space and make them feel secure in their loving home.

Minor and major irritations from allergies affect both people and animals. When our cat experiences cat allergies, what can we do?One of the first and most popular body organs to be attacked is the skin. The skin will display:

• pink to red colored rashes, with or without inflammation
• infected sores with or without drainage
• lumps and bumps
• blood streaks
• hair loss

You will see and hear your cat scratching or biting at the allergy site trying to remove or get relief from the itching, tingling, and/or pain.Much allergy information about our household cats and dogs are available in brochures, magazines, books, and the Internet. A cat vet who specializes in feline health care will have cat allergy information available for your education.Five causes of allergies are:

1. fleas, ticks, and mites
2. airborne toxins, household and outdoor chemicals
3. foods
4. fungus, mold, bacteria, yeast, viruses
5. infected animals

How to eliminate or control allergies:

1. Use flea and tick medications as prescribed by your cat vet.Prevention is the key to help keep your cat from agents that cause allergies. Do use flea and tick medicines. Large numbers of fleas and ticks on a cat are harmful and can be deadly.

2. Remove any known toxins, indoor and outdoor chemicals, and insecticides from your house and property which may be the source or cause for the allergy problem.Investigate and identify which toxins, chemicals, and insecticides may be contributing or causing the allergy and remove it. Remove one item at a time and observe the reactions of the cat. Read the labels on the containers to see if there is one particular ingredient that is the irritant. For example, alcohol or ammonia fumes.

3. Feed your cat high protein foods or hypoallergenic foods.Start eliminating food ingredients one at a time. Replace eliminated food with a protein source and observe and record. For instance, replace dry food with a high quality meat source and note any changes in the health condition of your cat. Remove any food which your cat has not eaten to avoid attracting unwanted harmful organisms contaminating uneaten food.

4. Maintain daily cleanliness of your home and property. Good housekeeping will remove or lower the infestation level of molds, fungus, yeasts, bacteria, and possibly some viruses and make the environment less hostile and more pleasant for your cat and your family.

5. Remove any infected animals from your cat and family members. Remove other infected animals, their toys, their food and water dishes, and their bedding. Isolate each animal from the other. The parasite or other agents that are causing the allergy can be contagious to other animals and family members.Use natural home remedies to help relieve allergies. Visit the pet section of Tricia Deed at http://www.Infotrish.vpweb.com/ Review Time Tested Home Remedies that Heal Your Pet.

Cats have a body language all of their own. They use their eyes, ears, tail and whole body to get a message across at times. They will also use psychological tactics to let you know what is going on, just as we do.

I’m sure we have all been given the ‘cold shoulder’ by friends, especially when we were at school. It can also happen in the workplace when work colleagues seem to ignore us for some reason we can’t work out. Well, your cat will do the same thing. She will ignore you, and it is up to you to work out why. At work you can ask questions. Not so with your cat who has suddenly turned her nose and tail in the air and walked off when you bent down to stroke her.

Cats will ignore you for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you went shopping and she was left on her own all day. Maybe you went out in the evening to a meeting, or a show. You might have been late in feeding her, or even fed her something she didn’t feel like today.

She will ignore you as punishment for your perceived wrongs. If you left her alone too long, she will do the same back to you. If she didn’t like what you fed her, she will show her displeasure by ignoring you. She may even make a ‘present’ of it on your carpet. Cats are very intelligent and know what they’re doing. And they only do things for a reason. By ignoring you, she is seeking justice for what you have done.

Cassie is very good at this. I am a member of many community organisations so have a number of evening meetings to attend each month. Every time I come home late, she is sitting there looking at me with what I imagine to be a disapproving look. Almost as though she is my mother and demanding to know where I’ve been. Then, she will turn her back on me and walk off. As I know what I’ve done wrong, I know what to do. I follow her back to her ‘place’ and talk to her to apologise. It might only take a few minutes, but she has made her point.

Sometimes you cannot work out just what is wrong. You haven’t fed her too late or the wrong food, you’ve been home all day and night, you’ve talked to her and played with her during the day. Yet suddenly, she’s ignoring you and nothing you say will get her attention. During these times she has gone off into her own world and is daydreaming. Just like we do.

Whatever the reason, your cat is upset with you, ignores you and leaves you to work it out. And ignoring her back doesn’t work, as it breaks down the bond you have. Your cat is waiting for you to find out what you have done wrong, and it isn’t hard to imagine her pleasure as you try to figure it out. Done correctly, you can make it into a game. But to do this, you need to know and understand your cat really well.

As our cats age, their bodies stop working as well as they used to. Just like with us. I’m sure most of us have noticed our grandparents needing more care as they age. Our senior cat needs to be watched more closely for signs of body functions not working as well as they could.

Kidney disease is something your older cat is at risk of. Sometimes it is because of changes in the kidney, and sometimes it can be due to other organs in the body not functioning properly. If the heart is not working at full capacity, there will be a decreased blood flow around the body and into the kidneys.

Sometimes the first sign of kidney disease is an increase in water consumption and urination. However, these symptoms can also be put down to feline diabetes and many other medical problems. If you do notice your cat drinking and urinating more often, lethargy or tiredness or constant scratching, any weight loss (especially in the muscles), please check with your vet as it could be due to the loss of kidney function. Your cat may also have a decreased appetite because of the build-up of the toxins in the blood stream. Anaemia is another indicator of possible kidney problems so check your cat’s gums to make sure they are still a healthy pink color.

Remember, the kidneys will start to lose their ability to properly filter the blood and remove waste products which will mean an increase of toxic materials in your cat’s body. Make sure there is always plenty of fresh water for your cat to drink. If the tap water is treated with chemicals as is the case with many local authorities these days, give your cat filtered or bottled water to drink. If you drink bottled water, so should your cat.

Unfortunately there are often no clear signs of kidney failure until around 60-70% of the kidneys are no longer functional. This is why it is essential to be aware of your older cat’s habits and note any changes.

The liver is something else that starts to deteriorate with age. Healthy liver function is essential for your cat’s health. It detoxifies the blood and produces necessary chemicals and proteins to enable the metabolism to function properly. If the liver is not working efficiently, your cat’s body won’t be able to detoxify itself in the proper manner. This in turn will accelerate the aging process. Cats can also get ‘fatty liver’ or ‘Hepatic Lipidosis’ if they stop eating for a few days. This can be life threatening so make sure your cat eats regularly. Livers can heal themselves but you will need to feed it a high quality high protein diet for a number of weeks and also stop feeding it any dairy products such as milk.

If you notice the white part of your cat’s eyes are looking yellow, contact your vet immediately as this jaundice is one of the main indications of a liver problem.

If you older cat is on anti-inflammatory medication for arthritis, be aware that some of these can lead to kidney and liver disease if used over a long period. Talk to your vet about this if you have concerns.

I also suggest talking to your vet about some probiotics to help reduce toxins in the body. Why not find out about herbal and/or homeopathic remedies to help your older cat’s kidney or liver problems.

While all of this might seem like a lot of work, looking after your cat and feeding it the best food you can afford throughout its life will help reduce problems when they get older. And looking after an older cat who has given you years of love and joy is a small price to pay.

Kathy Robinson has been writing articles on cat problems and the care of cats on her website http://www.CatProblemsResolved.com for a number of years. Why not download your free copy of The Joy of Owning and Caring for a Cat when you sign up for her free Cat Care Newsletter at http://www.catproblemsresolved.com/660

Although we usually believe that our pets can’t get sick with the same diseases that we do, they can sometimes fall ill due to diseases that are as dangerous as ours. There are many animals that get sick everywhere, and one of the most dangerous diseases for cats is feline leukemia.

Leukemia in cats is also known as the Feline Leukemia Virus or FeLV. This disease is fatal and can be infectious as well. It can cause cancers and other disease and can seriously affect your pets health. It so far has not been documented to affect any humans or other animals. Feline leukemia causes cancer in the lymph nodes of cats.

The virus requires a cat to be around the infected saliva, feces, and other bodily releases for a long time. It thrives in cold and damp environments as well. Cats who like to bite each other or share water can spread the disease to each other as well. Another way that this disease is transmitted is through fleas and mosquitoes that bite and suck blood from infected and uninfected cats.

Most cats catch this virus at some point in their lives, but they usually recover and don’t get seriously ill. Though, weaker cats or those in an environment with many other felines in one home can get the virus easier and have a higher chance of getting sick. Some cats can also have the virus and not show it, so it is important to have all cats checked if you find one that has the disease.

Some cats can also have antibodies, which will definitely help them stay healthy and fine for most of their lives.

It is important to prevent this disease before it affects your cat. In order to do this, you should keep your cats away from strays since they might give the disease to your cat. It is also important to give your cats vaccines so that your cat will not get the disease at any time.

There are many different ways that you can vaccinate your cat from the cat leukemia virus. They all provide protection from the disease though, and will help your cat stay immune to the disease. Though, even if a cat has been vaccinated, it is still important to keep vaccinated cats away from any cat that definitely has the virus.

It is important to spot symptoms of cat leukemia early in their lives. Symptoms include fever and vomiting which can be very uncomfortable for the cat and if it is noticed it should be brought to the doctor right away. Also, if their lymph nodes are swollen then there is a higher chance that they could have cat leukemia.

By preventing and curing cat leukemia, you will give your cat a longer and healthier life. So if you find out that your cat is sick or has feline leukemia, make sure to give them medical assistance as soon as possible. If you catch the disease early, your cat won’t have to suffer and you can rest knowing your kitty is safe.

No-one wants to have an unhealthy cat. We hate being ill, and so do our cats. Here are my favourite tips for keeping your cat healthy.

1. Feed him the best food you can afford. Providing good food with the right balance of nutrients, will keep him healthy and able to exercise and play. You will notice his coat becoming shinier and thicker. And even better, by providing healthy food will save on vet bills.
2. Make sure there is plenty of fresh water. If your tap water is treated by the local authorities, why not give him filtered or bottled water. If you drink bottled water, why shouldn’t your cat. Those chemicals won’t be good for him.
3. Play with him daily. Not only will this give him a fun way to exercise, it will strengthen the bond between you both. And depending on the games you play, you could be getting part of your daily exercise quota as well.
4. Groom your long haired cat daily and your short haired one two or three times each week.
5. While you are grooming, check your cat’s body for any unusual lumps, abscesses, scratches or parasites such as fleas. The skin should be pink and healthy looking.
6. Make sure that there are no discharges from ears, eyes, nose, mouth or genital area.
7. Check your cat’s teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy looking without a build up of tartar.
8. Be aware of your cat’s behavior and any changes. These could be due to medical or physical problems, or it could be that your cat is under stress for some reason.
9. Check with your vet to make sure all vaccinations and booster shots are up to date.
10. Unless you plan to breed, make sure your cat is neutered or spayed. This will prevent unpleasant spraying activities.
11. Make sure your can can move freely and still jump easily onto your lap or the furniture.
12. Be aware of your cat’s age and the changes you need to make nutritionally. Make sure his bed is in an area that is warm in winter, cool in summer and free from drafts.
13. Make an appointment for your cat’s yearly check-up. You see your doctor for a check-up each year and your cat needs this too. Most vets will do this routinely at a reduced cost.
14. Unless you live on a farm or have plenty of room for your cat to play outdoors safely, keep your cat inside. Make sure there are enough toys or activities to keep him from being bored. Some toys infused with catnip can provide hours of fun for housebound cats. Make sure he gets fresh air through a window or vent.

By making sure your cat stays healthy, you will both enjoy many years of fun and companionship. Don’t forget to take photos of your cat, they will become precious memories and reminders of times that have gone by.

Right now we are going to talk about dirty ears and ear mites. So here’s this wonderful cat and he has some dirt in his ears. When I flip the ear back you can see that there’s some brown, crumbly wax in there. So in order to clean this out and check it for ear mites, jus put a little bit of cleaner on the gauze and kind of soak a little q tip in there and scoop some of that nasty stuff out of there. You can see that his ears are very itchy. He’s helping actually with the process and that thick wax. It’s pretty indicative of ear mites.

This type of mite wax is usually crumbly and thick like that. The ear mites are actually microscopic so you can’t see them without magnification, but they’re little white bugs that craw around dint their ear. So make sure to have this cat some treatment for his ear mites to take care of that itchiness that he’s experiencing goes away. If your cat goes out frequently or if it is an indoor outdoor cat, or if you come across a stray that you decide to make your own, you may notice that these cats get problems with their ears and their skin and basically ear mites are extremely common.

Fleas and ticks are also very much prevalent and so is a ring worm which is really a fungus of the skin. All of these have caused significant harm on your beloved cat or dog. The ear mites are the most common cause of ear infection in cats. An ear infection will show up in two ways: one you will see dark debris inside the kitty’s ears and two, one might see the cat really batting at his ears, shaking his head and then one would notice the debris afterwards.

They could just be infected, but in most cases, those cats have ear mites. There are over the counter products for ear mites that are little bottles of things that one can put in the cat’s ears. The thing is, cats hate it! Cats hate getting wet and they hate putting stuff in their ears and you generally have to do it two weeks on, two weeks off, two weeks on so that you can get the eggs. This is mainly because it will only kill the adults, it won’t kill the eggs and you will have to wait until the eggs hatch and you may have to do that for a couple of months. So treating them over the counter is cheaper, but can be very difficult.

So taking them to the vet, you might find that there are lots of things that are a whole lot easier: drops that go on their back, or even drops that go in the ears. This is specifically a one time treatment and it is just so much, the office call is well worth is compared to what you go through trying to treat it at home.

Wondercide has dedicated themselves to discovering the secret to top quality ear mites remedy. Today, this company proudly offer professional techniques and advice on how to eliminate biting, flying, and burrowing insects by using only the best natural pet products.

Cat Enclosures or Catios are built primarily to keep our sweet felines safe but they serve another very important purpose. Cat cages significantly decrease the number of both native and rare bird deaths across the US.

There are two sides to the argument for keeping cat indoors. Most bird lovers say that felines are natural predators and they pose a significant threat to songbirds and species which are not native to North America. Feline lovers agree that cats are just being cats and they have the urge to hunt. So how do catios solve this problem?

A catio or outdoor cat enclosure is a space that protects felines from roaming free and chasing, hunting or killing various animals. Birds are the number one threatened species when it comes to cats that are allowed to roam, so building a cat run is the best solution to helping keep our cats and our bird population safe.

Every year the bird population is impacted by feral or free-ranging felines that hunt and kill the avian population. In cities where cats live close to parks and can roam free, owners have taken to building outdoor cat enclosures to limit their cats access to these birds, thereby saving the lives of out feathered friends.

Catios or cat cages can be free-standing, attached to windows or can be made by enclosing a balcony with a combination of netting, mesh and various other materials. Catios have become increasingly popular as feline owners seek out a way to keep their felines safe from dangerous predators, and vehicles that are often responsible for cat deaths. A cat run can give your kitty access to fresh air, sunshine and outdoor space while keeping both it and the local bird population safe.

There are many animal groups which insist fuzzy felines should be kept exclusively indoors. Feline lovers disagree and have turned to DIY catio designs to find a safe compromise for their indoors kitties. Although animal groups argue that an indoor cat is a healthier cat, less susceptible to parasites and other health concerns, feline owners think that giving their indoor cats an enclosed outdoor space not only keep them happier is actually improves their health. Catios or outdoor cat enclosures are the best solution to helping keep felines safe while protecting our many beautiful feathered friends.