Cat Lovers

If you want to give your indoors only cat a taste of freedom a cat enclosure is a splendid way to do it. Freedom! How can something that encloses a cat allow it freedom? Well it doesn’t of course. But it does allow a cat a taste of fresh air while at the same time protecting the cat from many of the dangers that lurk outside.

Many cat lovers keep their cats permanently inside their home. That way they are safe from wandering into the roadway and being hit by a car or truck, safe from attack by other animals and safe from picking up many feline health problems. Also of course, indoor cats do not get lost.

The trouble is that a cat kept inside the home all the time is likely to become bored. Imagine if you were not permitted to leave your home. Each and every day you have the same few rooms to patrol, same old same old. Imagine too, that you never got to breathe the outside air, or to feel the sun on your face. A cat enclosure could change all that. No, not for you but for your cat!

When the weather permits, and you are there to keep an eye on things, a recreation time in a safe kitty enclosure can do your cat the world of good.

Ready made cat enclosures are available in a variety of sizes and styles. The designs made of pliable netting are a boon if you have limited space available, they can be rolled up for easy storage when not in use.

Your Cat’s Own Outside Room.

The solid wire styles are more permanent fixtures, your cat’s own room out in the garden. This type of cat enclosure is usually much larger, with some you can even place a cat condo inside to keep kitty amused. Many have a solid roof, or a solid roof section, this is important as cats need a shaded area when outside to protect them from the dangers of too much sun.

Solid, cat cage, type enclosures can also withstand a large dog, or other animal, jumping on them in an effort to get at your cat.

Most enclosures are expandable. Start with the basic and add areas over time. Want to attach a kitty run? No problem. Want to increase the area your cat has to roam around? Just add another section. With some, you can add a specially designed tunnel that connects to a window of your home. Any time that your cat wants to be outdoors she, or he, simply saunters down the tunnel and into their own outdoor space. Likewise, when kitty has had enough of fresh air and watching the birds, it’s up the tunnel and back indoors to pester you for food.

Whichever style of cat enclosure you choose, you are bound to make your cat happy. After all, although you are not giving your cat freedom exactly, you are enriching your cats life. A nice safe area out in the open air, what more could your cat want.

You can find companies that will create your cat enclosure on our directory. You can also try a handyman service.

The whiskers of a cat are especially important, vital indeed, when the cat hunts at night. We know this from the following observation. A cat with perfect whiskers can kill cleanly both in the light and in the dark. A cat with damage whiskers can only kill its prey cleanly in light.

Whiskers helps a cat to navigate in the dark, and to feel and interpret the flow of air around objects, giving the cat information so that she or he will not bump into things, they can also use their whiskers to feel their prey location just before they execute the final pounce with their teeth and claws.

The cats whiskers are highly sensitive and act like a finely tuned early warning system, picking up vibrations, breeze direction and motion, magnifying even the smallest movements or disturbance in the air. These specialized hair that the cat possess in the form of whiskers isn’t fully understood. They are thought to be something to do with touch, and removing them can distinctly disturb a cat for sometime.

On average, a cat has twenty four whiskers, twelve on each side of the nose arranged in four horizontal rows. They are capable of moving both forward, when the cat is inquisitive, threatening, or testing something, and backward when it is defensive or deliberately avoiding touching.

People often say that cats have eyes that can see in the dark, which is not untrue since their eyes are designed for primarily low light use. However, it is their upper whiskers, which extend beyond their head, as much as their night vision that make it possible for a cat to get around so well in the dark.

Cat kitty litter box problems originate from various sources. One of the most common reasons is a feline Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

Felines endure soreness very effectively. As a matter of fact, we could be misled that your cat is actually feeling very good because she is eating, purring, and also cuddling up to people for human adoration and interest. However at the same time, in the event that she’s demonstrating out-of-cat-litter-box experiences, she could be suffering from from a feline UTI. It’s up to us all to figure it out.

When you know the symptoms, it gets to be clear that kitty has a difficulty. She may well meow in agony at the same time peeing. She might make an effort to pee, but small amount of urine or practically nothing will come away.

Your trusty cat may possibly groom her private parts excessively, and meows while she does this. Yet the biggest pointer to show your cat could possibly be suffering from a feline UTI, is blood in her urine.

In case your kitten has quit using her cat litter box, and she’s urinating over a floor that is white or very light colored, the blood may clearly stand out in the kitty urine puddle.

A lot of cats who suffer from a feline UTI associate the litter box with the soreness that comes from this illness. Their cat reason states if they stop using the cat litter box, perhaps the ache will not come around once again. This is when you start discovering cat pee messes around your home.

If you’re one of the fortunate ones whose cat continues to be using her cat litter box while suffering from a feline UTI, the cat litter coloring and composition may possibly hide the blood. It is usually a good idea to carefully examine your kitty’s deposits frequently to ensure she is healthful.

Feline UTIs may be curable with medicines from your vet. If you suspect a feline UTI, phone your vet
instantly and comply with her guidelines for bringing in your kitty for additional analysis.

After the feline UTI is actually diagnosed and taken care of, your kitty should take back her excellent litter box routines once again. If not, a short period of confinement for cat litter box re-training can be quite successful.

Feline UTIs are usually preventable with a permanent change in your cat’s eating habits. Consult with your vet regarding how to safely move forward on this.

We get a warm fuzzy feeling that the cat is contented, happy, at peace, and most importantly likes us. But is that all the purr means?

When a cat purrs they are communicating something to us. Some of these may be “play with me”, “feed me”, “I’ve found you YAY”, “hold me”, “oohh yeah I like it when you stroke me like that” and “do you like the present I just brought in for you – I am so proud of myself”. These are quite self-explanatory so let’s look at some other theories. There are a number of theories suggesting what this communication is actually all about: happiness, affection, healing/therapy, reassurance, fear/ anxiety and passivity.

Happiness

These are the basic theories all cat owners know. Basically they deal with the areas of contentment of finding a nice warm cozy spot to lay down in, a good feed, and love gifts offered.

Affection

These are related to the happiness purr but may be viewed as more personally oriented towards their favourite person. Basically this one says “I love you”.

Healing/therapy

This is seen as the most scientific explanation. The frequency of a cat purr lies between 25Hz – 150Hz. So what? I hear you say. Well, it has been scientifically shown that these low levels actually perform curative, healing properties affecting the cat’s physiology. It can act like a sedative as long as the pain is not too intense. Bone density can be improved. Sometimes they purr while dying. Sometimes it can just be a form of relaxation therapy they perform on themselves.

Further to this, it is a fact that cat owners have lower blood pressure. What perfect therapy for us humans to relax and unwind at the end of the day!

Reassurance

Vibrations of a mother cats purr reassures her kittens and helps them find her while they are still unable to see. This also works for the cat itself if it is anxious or ill. Purring is associated with nicer experiences for the cat so it helps him/her calm down.

We are also recipients of such reassurance. Have you noticed if you are upset how your cat will come to you and purr? Basically he/she is saying “I’m here for you”!

Fear/anxiety/passivity

All animals display an “I’m no threat to you” vibe or posture. Cats are no different. Visits to the vet may make your cat nervous. By purring your cat is trying to avoid being hurt. Sometimes when they have been hurt by a predator they may also purr to let them know they do not want to be hurt anymore.

So did you know all these forms of communication were going on from your cat’s simple little purr? Hopefully now that you know there are many reasons you will become more attuned to your cat’s purr improving not only his/her life but yours as well.

And just as a passing thought go cuddle up to a cat and see if you can benefit from its healing properties to alter your mood or relax your muscles.

Hyperthyroidism is among the most commonly seen disorders of cats involving the endocrine system. This system involves glands which generate hormones. The adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands usually three of the most familiar.

Hyperthyroidism is normally a result of the overproduction of hormones via the thyroid gland. The hormones created by this amazing gland normally accountable for regulating metabolic rate combined with impacting on other body systems.

What are the signs pointing to hyperthyroidism in cats?

First, they can suffer from weight loss at an alarming rate. Nevertheless they are actually taking in additional food ordinary, the loss of weight will probably persist.

One additional warning sign may be the activity output. It will likely be enhanced and the pet will discover it almost difficult to be without motion for almost any time frame. Diarrhea, nausea additionally decrease of hair are other signs and symptoms of this illness.

Although these signs and symptoms usually do not suggest that the feline has hyperthyroidism, they are one specific very good sign. This is the reason normal examinations using your vet tend to be integral. Lab tests could be carried out to evaluate regarding other issues with related signs.

Progression of the Disorder

Most cats less than eight years of age do not develop this particular illness although it may happen. Their standard age of the starting point of this malady can be approximately thirteen years of age.

Striking female and male felines alike, hyperthyroidism does not seem to choose a particular breed. The good news is an extremely minimal percentage – 1% to 2% – of cats experiencing the condition seems to have it resulting from cancer.

Within the past Two-and-a-half decades, this disorder has increased drastically. Although the particular reason will not be known, vets theorize that it may be the quality diets of our furry friends. Actually, the main cause regarded as a compromised immune system or the environmental affects.

It is actually regarded of which cats that aren’t dealt usually are prone to come up with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is in essence when the heart muscle thickens and it will gradually cause the passing away of the cat because of cardiovascular system failure.

Management of Hyperthyroidism

At this time, your vet typically utilize three ways to handle hyperthyroidism. An anti-thyroid medicine, methimazole might be used. This isn’t a cure for the challenge. It is a medication that has to be given regular for the rest of the cat’s existence. This really is often not a option and there is side-effects connected with this specific drug which the cat might be unable to tolerate.

An additional alternative will be removing using surgical treatment. It does require the cat to be strong enough for the surgical treatment. This may be a successful treatment provided that all of the structure involved is removed. There is a possibility that repeat surgical treatment will be needed.

A treatment using radioactive iodine can be an alternative means of removing the tissue involved. This is an expensive procedure and requires the cat to be hospitalized between a couple of days to a week. This is the preferred method when the cat has a malignancy.

Considering that most veterinarians would not have the facilities to carry out this treatment, it might be necessary to go a lengthy distance to find the one that has the necessary equipment. Regular examinations play a key role in the diagnosis as well as treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats, so keep your cat healthy and he can be around for quite a while.

Fleas in cats are one of the fastest growing causes of skin conditions in cats worldwide, as well as one of the most frustrating conditions to treat. For literally millions of owners, this tiny insect is an ever relentless enemy that can be both frustrating as well as very dangerous to some cats. There is a lot of misconception about fleas, the forms of treatments, as well as how to control fleas. But perhaps the biggest misconception surrounds flea collars for cats.

They are not only virtually useless in controlling fleas; they can also be very dangerous to cats as they can cause allergic reactions that can be more serious than the reaction from flea infestation.

When dealing with fleas for cats, it is very helpful to understand what a flea actually is, what it does to your cat, the symptoms to watch for, and than how to treat this condition very effectively and not waste money on useless flea collars. Flea collars can be very effective for a dog, but your cat is not a dog.

What are Fleas?

Fleas in cats and effectively treating them are better understood if you have a full knowledge of exactly what they are. Fleas are small round wingless insects that will utilize their mouths to pierce your cats skin and than siphon their blood. But contrary to a lot of misconception, they do not fly; they are wingless. Some cats can be bitten by fleas and never show any real symptoms, while other can have reactions that will range from very mild to severe. A severe reaction is referred to as flea allergy dermatitis.

The life cycle of a flea has four stages. They start with hatching eggs than develops into larva, than into pupa, and than they mature into adult fleas. Fleas will generally infect your cat not by flying, but instead lay their eggs directly on a host; in this case, your cat. They can also very easily fall off of your cat onto their immediate surroundings such as their bedding, or any part of your yard. Or they may simply lay eggs in these same places.

A female will lay up to several hundred eggs during their lifetime, and the larger the number of fleas that survive the process and than attack your cat, the worse the reactions will be. The larva itself survives by ingesting the dried blood of your cat, the dander, or any other type of organic matter that may be nearby. However, it is extremely important to understand that the immediate source of fleas in cats is not your cat itself, but instead the pupa. Once a flea reaches this stage, they will jump up on your cat from their environment.

Fleas will develop much faster in warm and humid environments, but in this pupae stage they can actually remain dormant for several months. However, if all the conditions are just right, they can complete their cycle in just a few short weeks. If you live in an environment that is warm and humid, they can literally survive almost non stop.

Symptoms:

When your cat is first infected with fleas, they will begin to itch, chew, and lick. All three will depend on how many fleas have affected your cat. If they demonstrate any of these symptoms, you should immediately check you cat for what is referred to as flea dirt. Flea dirt will closely resemble pepper as it will be very small black specks that will be discharging for your cats skin.

However, if your cat is hypersensitive to flea saliva, there will be an entirely new set of symptoms. The first sign that your cat is hypersensitive will be a small hive that develops on the site of the fleabite. It may heal, or it will develop into small red bumps that will eventually become crusty. If this does occur, the next symptoms that you will see are called hot spots, which can be very dangerous. They are the result of your cat excessively scratching and than chewing until that area become raw, hairless, and weeping serum occurs, which is the actual hot spot.

This can also develop into the next set of symptoms, which is scaling of the skin that can very easily become infected and cause pigmentation of the skin or color changes. In almost every case, these symptoms will occur on your cats lower back, the base of their tail, abdomen, flanks, or their neck. However, if it is severe enough, it may encompass their entire body.

There is one other factor to watch for with fleas in cats. When this flea dirt becomes moist at all, it will no longer look like ground pepper. It will instead turn reddish brown as it now contains particles of your cats blood.

Treatments:

In the battle of fleas in cats, there are several new treatments that are very effective. However, it is important to remember that fleas live the vast majority of their life cycle in the environment, not on your cat. For this reason, the first form of treatment should be their environment. If you cat becomes infested, the first step in treatment should be flea foggers or sprays. These should be used at least twice a week for a few weeks initially, and than at least once every two months.

Once sprayed, the fleas biggest enemy is not another chemical, but instead your everyday vacuum cleaner. When you do vacuum, make extra efforts to include every corner, every crack that you can see, as this is their main fermenting territory. But there is also one more step that if not taken, may make the entire process fruitless. Once completed, spread flea power almost in excess and than vacuum that up immediately. Or, discard the bag as soon as you are finished. This puts the final killer thrust on fleas.

Fleas in cats can be very difficult, time consuming, and expensive in cases where the infestation has become severe, but it can be won. There are newer forms of drugs called insect growth regulators that help to interrupt the development process by killing the eggs. They do not kill adult fleas, but they drastically reduce the number of fleas. They are available in both sprays and collars, but the spray is much more effective.

Spot on and oral treatments zero in directly on the adult flea and work very rapidly. Spot-on is applied directly to your cats skin, usually between their shoulders. This includes the product Frontline, Advantage, and Revolution. But there is a very new treatment called Capstar that starts to kill fleas with minutes it is so effective. All are these are much more effective and much safer for your cat than flea collars.

Summary:

Fleas in cats can be very dangerous, especially if the population is intense. Once they have been spotted, attacking the environment as well as defending your cats body will work in even the most severe cases. But do not waste your money on flea collars, as they are both ineffective and dangerous to your cat.

Making healthy cat food recipes will provide your cat with the most variety and so the most nutritional balance. It may take a bit more time than opening a can or packet, but look at the added bonus of great health for your cat.

This directly translates as less spent on expensive professional health care.

Once you get into a routine, duplicating it becomes second nature.

You need to start out by understanding what healthy cat food is. Go back to the evolution of cats. Wild cats kill and immediately eat their prey. This means their diet is all raw, quality food. Everything is in balance. There is no excess fat. There are no chemicals. There are no added nutrients, because they get all they need from their kill.

So let’s have a look at a carcass. Mice are the common prey for the small wild cats, the forebears of many domestic breeds. A mice is largely muscle meat and bones, with a small proportion of organ meat.

So your cat’s diet needs to duplicate this.

By making the meals mostly muscle meat and bones, with a small proportion of organ meat, you are coming as close as you can to their evolutionary diet.

A cat will not always be successful in their hunting. They probably wouldn’t catch more than about three, maybe four mice a day. So their meals need to be spaced out and not huge.

This can translate as two meals a day.

One meal could be based on the muscle and organ meat, the other based on the bone content.

By making half the meat meal muscle meat (such as mince or diced meat, chicken, fish or game meat) and the other half a variety of liver, kidney, heart or brain, you have achieved total balance.

The other meal could be a small whole raw fish (including bones and entrails), a chicken neck or half a chicken wing.

You could soon get into a weekly routine, with seven days of different recipes. That is easy to shop and store, easy to make up as you go and much appreciated by your cat.