Although phobic and extremely fearful domestic cats are not as common as domestic dogs, fearful feline behaviour does occur regularly. The most common phobias in cats are fear of storms and loud noises. One of the main differences between cats …
One of the major medical reasons why a cat may urinate outside of the litter box is the possibility that it is suffering from some type of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). The term FLUTD is a general one …
It is a simple fact of owning a cat that one day you may need to give your cat some medication in pill form. Giving your cat medication is not likely to be a fun task but some simple preparation …
For many, just the thought of a hairless cat is enough to make them shudder. For these people, the sight of a hairless cat is shocking, and touching one is downright scary. If you are one of these people, then this article is unlikely to sway you in the other direction. However, if you are the kind of person who has always been a little bit intrigued by the unique look of hairless cats, read on. Behind their striking appearance is a fascinating background, and if you are considering making a hairless cat part of your family, there is also a plethora of information to know about the proper way to care for these beautiful creatures.
Congenital hairlessness in cats is an extremely rare trait. Essentially, a hairless cat is the result of genetic mutations in one or more of the genes which encode for normal hair development. While the word ‘mutation’ implies that this genetic condition is unwanted and accidental, there are actually many breeders who select specifically for the hairlessness trait and work to maintain the hairless lineage in their cats.
Although any cat can suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension) it is most commonly seen in middle aged or senior cats. In case we have forgotten what blood pressure means, blood pressure refers to the force (pressure) of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels; the higher the force, the greater the amount of stress that’s put on the heart to move the blood. This can cause the heart muscles to enlarge, get thicker, and weaken thereby reducing life expectancy. It’s one of the vital signs used to measure the overall health of many animals including humans.
When people adopt a new cat or are thinking about buying a cat they often want to know how old that cat is. If the cat is a kitten this is usually easy. The original owner should know how old the kitten was or if you bring the kitten to a veterinarian, the vet should be able to tell how old the kitten is with a reasonable degree of accuracy. If good records were kept from kitten-hood or previous adoptions, again this is an easy task. The problem occurs when you are considering getting an adult cat whose age and/or history are unknown.
What do you do if you do not think your cat is getting enough water to drink? You have the water dish filled, but your cat has been turning up its nose at it. The cat can be a very …
When introducing new cats to one another there are some important things to be aware of from the get go. First off every resident cat (the cat that currently lives at the house before the introduction of a new cat) …
When we bring a kitten home for the first time to adopt it as a pet, it should be between nine and twelve weeks old. This is so the kitten has a chance to spend time with its mother and so that the kitten becomes socialized with its littermates and learns proper kitten behaviour. But what happens before the kitten comes home? This article will outline some of the important milestones in kittenhood in an effort to familiarize you with some of the stages of kitten development.
Kittens are born blind and deaf and they remain that way for around the first fourteen days of their lives. They use their sense of smell to find their way toward their mothers for nourishment and heat. They really need to stay close to their mothers for these first few weeks as they are unable to regulate their own body temperature. The umbilical cord typically falls off after the first few days of life.
When kittens are born they are extra small and fragile. This increases their potential of becoming ill or getting an infection. Infections in newborn kittens are quite serious as their bodies are small and they have not built up adequate immunity against many diseases or potential infections that may harm them. This article will focus on three infections that can affect newborn kittens; umbilical infections, toxic milk syndrome and septicemia.
When a female cat (aka a queen) gives birth, she will bite open the amniotic sac that surrounds the kitten. She will then chew through the umbilical cord of the kitten. Normally there are no problems.
The number one complaint that new cat owners have revolves around the litter box. They complain that their cat sometimes (or never) uses the litter box. Obviously no cat owner wants their cat to eliminate in the house. The fact …
In order to keep indoor cats inside the house it’s important to make sure that doors and windows are securely closed. It sounds obvious but cats are creative and very determined creatures and if there is a way for them to escape, they often will. This is especially true when cat owners (correctly) make the decision to turn their outdoor cats into indoor cats.
Windows are a favourite way for cats to escape. Make sure that all of the windows cannot be opened by your cat. If a window is left open slightly, some cats will use their paws to open it more fully. If there is no screen the cat can escape right then and there. If there is a screen, with just a bit of determination a cat might be able to break though it or slide it open. All you need to do to solve this problem is get a piece of wood and put it in the track of the window. Cut the length of wood so that when you place it in the window’s track, you can only open the window a few inches. Always make sure that your cat cannot squeeze through the opening space. Then to keep the wood in the track, screw it securely into the window frame.
Age takes its toll on all living things and our beloved feline friends can also use a bit of help to make their golden years more pleasurable. When cats enter their golden years, cat owners tend to notice a difference …
Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide that is used in agriculture, forestry, home pest control, and in the treatment of head lice in humans. Permethrin is a neurotoxin, meaning it attacks the nervous system of insects causing over-excitation and death. It is found in a wide range of topical flea and tick products that can be purchased in the grocery store, pet store, and large retailers. Although these products are safe when used on dogs they are toxic to cats and cause feline permethrin toxicosis.
There are millions and millions of cat lovers across North America and this is because cats make great pets. In general they are easier to take care of than dogs and much more independent than dogs. They are normally affectionate, cuddly, cute, they don’t eat that much and they don’t put too many demands on their owners. In terms of pleasing our human senses, house cats come in different breeds with different shapes, colours, fur lengths and personalities. But what if you want something a little different, more unique? What if you want a different type of cat, maybe a much larger cat? If you have a flair for the exotic you might consider getting a serval.
Servals are slowly becoming more popular as pets. Servals look like cheetahs but they are much smaller. They typically weigh anywhere from 20-40 pounds depending on their sex (males are heavier) and ancestry. Their body length is anywhere from 2-3 feet and they are about 2 feet tall. The come from Africa and still roam wild in many rural places. They are also slowly starting to become more known as house-pets but they are still quite rare and not for everyone.
Humans frequently bring their cats to professional pet grooming salons in order to keep their pets looking and smelling great. A professional groomer will give your cat a bath, cut its nails and groom its fur. Long-haired cats need more …
Although many people will say that they cannot tell different cat breeds apart as easily as dog breeds, there are a few cat breeds that are easy to spot and one of them is the Siamese cat. Siamese cats originated …
In order to be a diligent cat owner we must pay keen attention to any noticeable changes on our cat’s body. Sometimes it’s easy to spot a difference as in the case of a large growth. Other times though, you …
Cats and strangers in the house
Why do cats tend to gravitate toward those people that don’t like cats?
This is a common occurrence at house parties. A group of friends gather together at a house that has a cat. …
Catnip is a non addictive, harmless herb that just over 50% of cats react to. Whether your cat responds to catnip or not, is genetically determined. The reaction that most cats have to catnip, includes rubbing, rolling around, purring and …
at whiskers are yet another example of nature’s efficiencies. Cats usually have 24 whiskers, twelve (2 rows of 6) on each side of it’s face. They are thicker than ordinary hairs and root through the skin attaching to a highly …
Are my cats playing or fighting – How do I tell?
If you have a multi cat household or your outdoor cats hang out with other cats, chances are you will encounter cat play. Cat play usually involves chasing, swatting, …
Cleaning cat urine stains
Assuming there is no medical problem with your cat, cats urinate where they are not supposed to for many reasons. Some common reasons are;…
The litter box is too dirty and/or the litter box has a
Cat scratch disease (CSD) affects humans, not cats.
Cat scratch disease is also known as Cat Scratch Fever and benign lymphoreticulosis. Cat scratch disease is a rare disease that occurs when you are scratched (or in rare cases bitten) by …
In general it is best for humans not to pick up kittens before they are 2 weeks old. From 2 – 4 weeks old only brief handling is recommended, as this often puts stress on the cat and the mother. …
Medium sized round pewter setting with your choice of 2 stones.
View This ProductPet podcast #35 features an interview with Dr. Lee a veterinarian in Mesa and Phoenix Arizona. In this interview we discuss general kidney failure in cats and dogs. (as opposed to kidney failure due to infection, tumours, cystic disease etc.) …
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