By Ken Marlborough
All cat owners should be aware of the common health problems that their cat could face. Cat health problems can be detected through behavioral changes, symptoms and sounds. Common health problems include anemia, allergies, skin infections and tapeworms caused by fleas.
Flea collars are a popular accessory for solving the cat health problem of fleas, but their effects are still being debated. Some studies show they may also cause some irritation to the cat’s skin. Another cat health issue is ear mites. Ear mites are dark, waxy microscopic parasites, which itch and can be contracted by proximity to an untreated animal. If untreated, ear mites can cause deafness. Several treatments are available to fight this ailment.
Tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and coccidia are internal parasites commonly affecting cats. Symptoms vary from mild to severe diarrhea, weakness, depression, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting and a dull coat. A veterinarian can recommend de-worming medication based on a sample of the feces.
Toxoplasma gondii are small parasites, affecting humans with a weak immune system. These parasites can also affect a cat. Proper handling of food, and regular cleaning of litter boxes prevents the transmission of these parasites. Common symptoms include painful urination or blood in the urine.
Cats may contract upper respiratory infections causing sneezing, running nose, spotty eyes, fever and decreased appetite. Fatal if left untreated and highly contagious, prevention is the best approach. Feline infectious peritonitis is a lethal virus causing fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Blood tests can determine if there was exposure to the virus. There is no effective treatment and prevention using vaccines is the only hope.
Feline distemper is a contagious viral disease transmitted through contact with humans, infected cats, hair, paws and food bowls. Symptoms occur suddenly with vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea. Feline immunodeficiency virus, passed on by cat bites is fatal, causing chronic infections that don’t respond to medication, respiratory problems, loss of appetite, diarrhea and oral infections.
These are just a few common cat health problems. One must be attentive to the cat’s actions and behavioral changes at all times and work with veterinarians to overcome cat health concerns.
Cat Health provides detailed information on Cat Health, Cat Health Problems, Cat Health Insurance, Cat Health Questions and more. Cat Health is affliated with Build Your Own Cat Furniture.
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Cat Biting Behavior - This cat MUST be happy, right?
By Liz Barton
Let me give you some advice that can potentially stop your cat from ever biting you again.
Picture this:
You're relaxing on the couch, deeply involved in your favorite book or TV show, when your cat strolls across the top of the couch and rubs against you, wanting attention.
You give in (like always), let your cat get comfy in your warm lap and proceed to pet, massage and otherwise shower your spoiled cat with affection.
Soon, your cat's tail begins to wag. Slowly at first, and then faster and more enthusiastically. You think “This is great! My cat must be really happy!”
Then all of a sudden “out of nowhere”.....CHOMP – your cat has betrayed you and is suddenly attacking and biting you!
Has your cat gone crazy? Is it time for a trip to the kitty psychiatrist? Why the sudden 'unexpected' bite?
The simple answer is – you have no idea how to read your cat's signals.
Don't feel bad, you're not alone.
In fact, even some cat lovers who “know” that cats don't communicate the same way as dogs – somehow believe that their cat wags it's tail to show happiness.
This is partly true, although not in this particular situation.
Tail wagging and other feline body signals indicate completely different emotions than dog signals do.
For the most part, dogs wag their when they're happy. On the other hand, cat's usually wag their tail when they are distressed or agitated.
So pay close attention to the next time your cat wags it's tail. The faster and harder it's wagging – the quicker you better stop whatever it is you're doing, because your cat is trying to tell you to back off!
Okay, here's another scenario.
Imagine . . you go to a friend or neighbor's house and their cat rubs against your body and then backs up, sits on the floor and looks right at you.
What do you think this cat wants you to do?
Is this cat:
A. Begging you for attention and hoping to be petted. B. Challenging you.
If you chose A, you've just been bitten.
This, and slashing it's tail back and forth are just a few of the many signals a cat may display right before biting.
Do you know what all of the other signals are?
If not, I invite you to visit www.secretsofcats.com
This article was written by Liz Barton, writer for the regular cat e-newsletter Secrets of Cats and author of Cat Secrets Revealed. If you're even remotely interested in getting more information about cat training, cat grooming, cat health, or cat behavior.....you'll want to visit secretsofcats.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Let me give you some advice that can potentially stop your cat from ever biting you again.
Picture this:
You're relaxing on the couch, deeply involved in your favorite book or TV show, when your cat strolls across the top of the couch and rubs against you, wanting attention.
You give in (like always), let your cat get comfy in your warm lap and proceed to pet, massage and otherwise shower your spoiled cat with affection.
Soon, your cat's tail begins to wag. Slowly at first, and then faster and more enthusiastically. You think “This is great! My cat must be really happy!”
Then all of a sudden “out of nowhere”.....CHOMP – your cat has betrayed you and is suddenly attacking and biting you!
Has your cat gone crazy? Is it time for a trip to the kitty psychiatrist? Why the sudden 'unexpected' bite?
The simple answer is – you have no idea how to read your cat's signals.
Don't feel bad, you're not alone.
In fact, even some cat lovers who “know” that cats don't communicate the same way as dogs – somehow believe that their cat wags it's tail to show happiness.
This is partly true, although not in this particular situation.
Tail wagging and other feline body signals indicate completely different emotions than dog signals do.
For the most part, dogs wag their when they're happy. On the other hand, cat's usually wag their tail when they are distressed or agitated.
So pay close attention to the next time your cat wags it's tail. The faster and harder it's wagging – the quicker you better stop whatever it is you're doing, because your cat is trying to tell you to back off!
Okay, here's another scenario.
Imagine . . you go to a friend or neighbor's house and their cat rubs against your body and then backs up, sits on the floor and looks right at you.
What do you think this cat wants you to do?
Is this cat:
A. Begging you for attention and hoping to be petted. B. Challenging you.
If you chose A, you've just been bitten.
This, and slashing it's tail back and forth are just a few of the many signals a cat may display right before biting.
Do you know what all of the other signals are?
If not, I invite you to visit www.secretsofcats.com
This article was written by Liz Barton, writer for the regular cat e-newsletter Secrets of Cats and author of Cat Secrets Revealed. If you're even remotely interested in getting more information about cat training, cat grooming, cat health, or cat behavior.....you'll want to visit secretsofcats.com
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
The Keys To Proper Care For Your Pet Cat
By Jon Arnold
Pet cats can bring joy, amusement, frustration, and unconditional love. There is certainly no denying that they brighten up your day, but do you really know how to best look after the cat in your life?
Why Cats Make Good Pets and the Most Common Pet Breeds
If you are looking for a pet that has its own mind, that is independent, but who is extremely loving at the same time, then a cat may be the perfect pet for you. They require fairly little maintenance compared to a dog, and they also provide plenty of love and affection – often following you around from room to room. Cats can be much more independent than dogs, but in both cases, both will return the affection you show them in spades.
When it comes to the large variety of breeds, you can choose from, some are definitely more common than others are and there are certain breeds that make better pets than others do. These include:
The Persian
The Persian cat is by far the most popular pet cat in America. Hardly anybody can resist its laid-back temperament and its extremely affectionate personality. Out of all of the different breeds, this one seems to form the strongest loyal bonds with its owners and despite their daily grooming needs they do make the best pets for many cat lovers.
The Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is a large cat and it has a really affectionate nature. They are extremely gentle and they love being around people. Whilst their coats are quite long, they do not require as much grooming as a Persian cat does. Overall, they are gentle giants in the cat world and they have remained the second most popular cat in America for years now.
The Exotic
This breed of cat is generally considered to be a shorthaired version of the Persian and cat lovers like them due to the fact that they are easier to groom. The breed looks particularly sweet and innocent and it is definitely a favorite amongst cat lovers.
So, those are the top three breeds within America and they are all extremely affectionate and loving. The main thing to keep in mind is that no matter which breed you decide upon, they all need some form of grooming and looking after.
Knowing the Grooming Requirements of Your Chosen Breed
All cats need some form of grooming no matter what breed you finally purchase. Obviously shorthaired cats will need less grooming than longhaired breeds so that could be a factor in your decision when purchasing your pet cat.
Longhaired breeds generally need to be groomed daily, though it is always a good idea to research your individual breed. For example, the Persian needs a lot of grooming and it definitely needs doing daily, whereas the Maine Coon, who is another breed with longer hair, needs less grooming. So, research your breed and ensure that you know what you are letting yourself in for.
Overall cats can make extremely good pets, you just have to do your research and ensure that you are purchasing the right breed for you. If you have small children living in the house, cats are pretty forgiving, but you should have a discussion with them about the fact that a cat is a live animal and could scratch or bite them if pushed too far.
Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about having a cat as a pet at his web site at http://www.cat-pet-info.com/
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Pet cats can bring joy, amusement, frustration, and unconditional love. There is certainly no denying that they brighten up your day, but do you really know how to best look after the cat in your life?
Why Cats Make Good Pets and the Most Common Pet Breeds
If you are looking for a pet that has its own mind, that is independent, but who is extremely loving at the same time, then a cat may be the perfect pet for you. They require fairly little maintenance compared to a dog, and they also provide plenty of love and affection – often following you around from room to room. Cats can be much more independent than dogs, but in both cases, both will return the affection you show them in spades.
When it comes to the large variety of breeds, you can choose from, some are definitely more common than others are and there are certain breeds that make better pets than others do. These include:
The Persian
The Persian cat is by far the most popular pet cat in America. Hardly anybody can resist its laid-back temperament and its extremely affectionate personality. Out of all of the different breeds, this one seems to form the strongest loyal bonds with its owners and despite their daily grooming needs they do make the best pets for many cat lovers.
The Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is a large cat and it has a really affectionate nature. They are extremely gentle and they love being around people. Whilst their coats are quite long, they do not require as much grooming as a Persian cat does. Overall, they are gentle giants in the cat world and they have remained the second most popular cat in America for years now.
The Exotic
This breed of cat is generally considered to be a shorthaired version of the Persian and cat lovers like them due to the fact that they are easier to groom. The breed looks particularly sweet and innocent and it is definitely a favorite amongst cat lovers.
So, those are the top three breeds within America and they are all extremely affectionate and loving. The main thing to keep in mind is that no matter which breed you decide upon, they all need some form of grooming and looking after.
Knowing the Grooming Requirements of Your Chosen Breed
All cats need some form of grooming no matter what breed you finally purchase. Obviously shorthaired cats will need less grooming than longhaired breeds so that could be a factor in your decision when purchasing your pet cat.
Longhaired breeds generally need to be groomed daily, though it is always a good idea to research your individual breed. For example, the Persian needs a lot of grooming and it definitely needs doing daily, whereas the Maine Coon, who is another breed with longer hair, needs less grooming. So, research your breed and ensure that you know what you are letting yourself in for.
Overall cats can make extremely good pets, you just have to do your research and ensure that you are purchasing the right breed for you. If you have small children living in the house, cats are pretty forgiving, but you should have a discussion with them about the fact that a cat is a live animal and could scratch or bite them if pushed too far.
Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about having a cat as a pet at his web site at http://www.cat-pet-info.com/
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com