By: Gregg Hall
Cats are beautiful, affectionate animals that bring a lot of love and joy into your home. They are much more independent than dogs, but that does not stop them from showing how much they care about you.
They'll twine around your legs or rub their face against you while you're preparing food, just to let you know they are there. They'll hop into your lap while you watch television or amuse you by chasing and batting around a catnip toy that you give them to play with.
Just like all pets, cats need to be watched for signs of illness, such as feline diabetes. This disease is just as dangerous for cats as it is for humans and if left untreated, could become deadly.
The pancreas not secreting the natural insulin that the body needs to control blood sugar causes diabetes. Uncontrolled blood sugar will then build up in the blood stream and can cause serious effects such as stroke. It also lowers the immune system and desensitizes the extremities. When your cat hurts its paw, it will be reflected by the way it walks. The combination of the side effects can make your pet unable to feel when they have cuts that need to be treated. By not giving signs of pain, you won't realize that the cat needs to be treated and infection can occur.
There are signs that may indicate that your cat has contracted diabetes, such as constantly drinking water. Diabetes causes extreme thirst and your cat may be drinking tons of water in an effort to satisfy it. Another sign is a decrease in weight as well as its fur losing its luster. Your veterinarian will be able to determine if the cause of these symptoms is feline diabetes.
The good news is that this illness can be successfully treated with insulin shots and a structured diet. Care must be taken that the shot never be given prior to the cat's meal. This could result in too much insulin in the blood stream and cause a stroke. Even if you feed your cat before administering the shot, you must still watch it closely, since the prescribed dosage may need adjusting. If you notice that your cat is vomiting and has a low amount of energy, return to the vet because the dosage may not be high enough.
Treating your cat for diabetes will help it to lead a longer life, with less threat for the serious side effects that the disease can cause. If your cat has this disease, keep it inside where there is less chance of injury. Give your cat lots of affection since having to get needles can be traumatizing and be sure to follow the eating plan that your vet prescribes. This way, not only are you helping your cat to live a long and healthy life, you are ensuring that it will continue to twine around your legs and love you for years to come.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as pet medication at www.petmedicationandsupplies.com
Akirah's Story - Marking Territory With Cat Urine
By: Rebecca Prescott
Cat owners who have had problems with their cat urinating in the wrong place, or spraying, may understand some of my recent experiences well. As a little bit of background, I have 4 cats. One of them, whom I am closest too, is a Tonkinese called Oscar. He is also the oldest cat I have, aside from one who adopted our household, and whose exact age I don't know. Her name is Milo, and she is of similar age to Oscar I would say.
Aside from some occasional hissing, and some jealousy on Oscar's part, Milo is not the problem however. The chief culprit is a moggie I found in the shed in the ground of the apartment I live in. It was raining outside, and when I investigated, I found 4 tiny kittens. To cut a long story short, I ended up raising one of them, Akirah, from when he was about 10 days old. I'd given his mother an opportunity to take him back, but she only took his brothers and sisters.
Akirah has grown into a big boy. He has been desexed (of course! I never understood why people don't desex their cats). But even before he was desexed, he would urinate in inappopriate places. I thought he would grow out of it. It was generally pretty manageable, so I didn't really take proactive action. He would use the litterbox as well, so this wasn't a problem.
But then another cat showed up outside. I'm not sure where this cat comes from, whether it is a stray, or the owner just lets it out at night (another thing I never really understood about some cat owners, given that this is when most fights occur).
Akirah started to spray more, marking his territory. I didn't realize until I did some reading that there was probably an element of stress and insecurity involved. I generally try to keep this in mind when I'm cleaning it up, as I certainly don't want to add to his feelings of insecurity.
Funnily enough, not long after this other cat appeared on the scene, I noticed a change in his behaviour when I opened the door to let my cats outside during the day. Akirah usually ran straight out, eager to explore the world outside (he is a very playful cat). But then he started to just sit at the door. He'd sniff the edge of the door, and I'd gently try to nudge him out, but he wanted none of it. He was quite happy to stay inside, and watch my other cats play outside.
This gave me a clue that he was in fact disturbed by this other cat, even though he seemed to be quite aggressive at times. He would fight through the door when the other cat appeared at night, and he's managed to rip through some of the fly screen at the bottom of the door. Because he was aggressive, I didn't think that he could also be afraid of it. But his hanging back, in the safety of the apartment, seemed to indicate otherwise.
Cats are very complex creatures. I think a measure of trying to understand their perspective, and what they may be feeling, is important when trying to deal with problem behaviours. It's very easy to get angry or frustrated, especially when cleaning up strong smelling cat spray. Taking that anger or frustration out on the cat, even by scolding them, can stress our cats even more. This is particularly true if we come home after work to find our cats have sprayed whilst we were out. Cats, who love us dearly and are eager to see us after we have been away all day, won't understand why we are suddenly being cold towards them, or scolding them. And they certainly won't understand having their noses rubbed in old urine.
We have to learn to put aside our own emotional responses, and remember the joys of their unconditional companionship - even when the first thing we are greeted with (aside from 4 eager faces all trying to say hello at the door), is the smell of cat urine. I have even noticed that my cats act up more when I spend a lot of time cleaning it when I get home, rather than follow my usual routine of petting them and saying hello.
There are a lot of products on the market to help retrain cats, calm them down, deter other cats, and remove the smell of old urine. And dealing with the cause of the behavioural problem, rather than scolding the cat for doing the only thing he or she felt able to do at the time, out of fear and insecurity, is a far more effective approach in the long run.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
For some tips on cleaning cat urine, click here. Rebecca presents the site, Cat Born, dedicated to feline friends everywhere.
Cat owners who have had problems with their cat urinating in the wrong place, or spraying, may understand some of my recent experiences well. As a little bit of background, I have 4 cats. One of them, whom I am closest too, is a Tonkinese called Oscar. He is also the oldest cat I have, aside from one who adopted our household, and whose exact age I don't know. Her name is Milo, and she is of similar age to Oscar I would say.
Aside from some occasional hissing, and some jealousy on Oscar's part, Milo is not the problem however. The chief culprit is a moggie I found in the shed in the ground of the apartment I live in. It was raining outside, and when I investigated, I found 4 tiny kittens. To cut a long story short, I ended up raising one of them, Akirah, from when he was about 10 days old. I'd given his mother an opportunity to take him back, but she only took his brothers and sisters.
Akirah has grown into a big boy. He has been desexed (of course! I never understood why people don't desex their cats). But even before he was desexed, he would urinate in inappopriate places. I thought he would grow out of it. It was generally pretty manageable, so I didn't really take proactive action. He would use the litterbox as well, so this wasn't a problem.
But then another cat showed up outside. I'm not sure where this cat comes from, whether it is a stray, or the owner just lets it out at night (another thing I never really understood about some cat owners, given that this is when most fights occur).
Akirah started to spray more, marking his territory. I didn't realize until I did some reading that there was probably an element of stress and insecurity involved. I generally try to keep this in mind when I'm cleaning it up, as I certainly don't want to add to his feelings of insecurity.
Funnily enough, not long after this other cat appeared on the scene, I noticed a change in his behaviour when I opened the door to let my cats outside during the day. Akirah usually ran straight out, eager to explore the world outside (he is a very playful cat). But then he started to just sit at the door. He'd sniff the edge of the door, and I'd gently try to nudge him out, but he wanted none of it. He was quite happy to stay inside, and watch my other cats play outside.
This gave me a clue that he was in fact disturbed by this other cat, even though he seemed to be quite aggressive at times. He would fight through the door when the other cat appeared at night, and he's managed to rip through some of the fly screen at the bottom of the door. Because he was aggressive, I didn't think that he could also be afraid of it. But his hanging back, in the safety of the apartment, seemed to indicate otherwise.
Cats are very complex creatures. I think a measure of trying to understand their perspective, and what they may be feeling, is important when trying to deal with problem behaviours. It's very easy to get angry or frustrated, especially when cleaning up strong smelling cat spray. Taking that anger or frustration out on the cat, even by scolding them, can stress our cats even more. This is particularly true if we come home after work to find our cats have sprayed whilst we were out. Cats, who love us dearly and are eager to see us after we have been away all day, won't understand why we are suddenly being cold towards them, or scolding them. And they certainly won't understand having their noses rubbed in old urine.
We have to learn to put aside our own emotional responses, and remember the joys of their unconditional companionship - even when the first thing we are greeted with (aside from 4 eager faces all trying to say hello at the door), is the smell of cat urine. I have even noticed that my cats act up more when I spend a lot of time cleaning it when I get home, rather than follow my usual routine of petting them and saying hello.
There are a lot of products on the market to help retrain cats, calm them down, deter other cats, and remove the smell of old urine. And dealing with the cause of the behavioural problem, rather than scolding the cat for doing the only thing he or she felt able to do at the time, out of fear and insecurity, is a far more effective approach in the long run.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
For some tips on cleaning cat urine, click here. Rebecca presents the site, Cat Born, dedicated to feline friends everywhere.
Why You Should Consider Herbal Products For Your Cat
By: Gregg Hall
Cat owners everywhere are choosing to pamper their loving feline companions with all-natural herbal products instead of conventional veterinary medicine. The holistic philosophy teaches that a natural diet and lifestyle are best for sustaining a healthy, long life. Herbal holistic medicine was popularized for use in people, but it didn't take long for cat lovers to begin taking care of their feline friends in the same manner. Herbal products are being successfully employed to treat and prevent health issues targeting cats. Holistic treatment utilizes natural products from our environment instead of synthetic medications. It also treats the animal as whole, as opposed to focusing on one specific area at a time.
Herbal products to take care of your cat typically come in liquid or powder forms. You can mix the product with food, feed it to your pet with a dropper, or mix it in their water dish. Herbal products exist for every ailment and chronic condition your cat might face. There are also herbal products which serve as vitamins to promote general health for your cat. Holistic veterinary practitioners have discovered herbal remedies for your cat for everything from dental hygiene to intestinal health.
For example, if your cat suffers from anxiety when going to the vet or traveling in the car or any other potentially stressful events, there are herbal products which will soothe and relax it. If your cat suffers from allergies, there are herbal products designed to ward of the symptoms. There are herbs for your cat to help it maintain healthy teeth and clean gums. For upset stomachs and digestion problems, give your cat an herbal product made just for such issues. Herbal products will aid their digestion, relieve gastro-intestinal inflammation, and improve their bowel movements. Tonics are available which will stop chronic vomiting. To make sure your cat has healthy eyes, you can find herbal products to help their vision. Herbal remedies exist to help your cat deal with the itching, swelling, and pain from the bites and stings. Herbal products for the skin and fur maintain coat health and decrease shedding. If your cat has joint pain and inflammation or circulatory problems, there's relief in the form of an herbal product made just for such issues. Even the seemingly unavoidable hairballs can be eliminated with laxatives and all-natural organic herbs.
Aging cats can be rejuvenated with herbal remedies. An herbal remedy which targets the thyroid gland can help when your cat has become chronically sluggish. These remedies will make your cat more alert and lively. Such herbal products also improve their coats and will address weight issues. Since overweight cats have more health problems, keep your cat slim with an herbal product designed to help them lose weight. Cats commonly experience urinary difficulties, and there are herbal products which will relieve them of such troubles. Another issue commonly afflicting older cats are joint problems. Have no fear, there's an herbal product for your cat which will have her springing onto countertops in no time.
So you may be wondering what exactly is in all these new-fangled herbal remedies. Well, being all-natural you have nothing to fear. These medicines contain well-known ingredients such as dandelion, milk thistle, garlic, echinacea, and gingko. People have been taking these so-called new remedies for centuries, and now you can give them to your cat. In addition to herbs, these holistic products may also employ mineral products such as silicon dioxide, which is a natural dewormer and gets rid of other parasites as well. Another interesting substance employed by holistic veterinarians is lignite. Lignite is a by-product of the coal industry which is not only safe for you cat, but it serves as a detoxifier that helps your cat eliminate harmful chemicals.
Contact a holistic veterinarian for further information to find out more about improving and maintaining your cat's health with holistic herbal remedies and nutritional supplements.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as feline herbal products at www.shop4petstuff.com
Cat owners everywhere are choosing to pamper their loving feline companions with all-natural herbal products instead of conventional veterinary medicine. The holistic philosophy teaches that a natural diet and lifestyle are best for sustaining a healthy, long life. Herbal holistic medicine was popularized for use in people, but it didn't take long for cat lovers to begin taking care of their feline friends in the same manner. Herbal products are being successfully employed to treat and prevent health issues targeting cats. Holistic treatment utilizes natural products from our environment instead of synthetic medications. It also treats the animal as whole, as opposed to focusing on one specific area at a time.
Herbal products to take care of your cat typically come in liquid or powder forms. You can mix the product with food, feed it to your pet with a dropper, or mix it in their water dish. Herbal products exist for every ailment and chronic condition your cat might face. There are also herbal products which serve as vitamins to promote general health for your cat. Holistic veterinary practitioners have discovered herbal remedies for your cat for everything from dental hygiene to intestinal health.
For example, if your cat suffers from anxiety when going to the vet or traveling in the car or any other potentially stressful events, there are herbal products which will soothe and relax it. If your cat suffers from allergies, there are herbal products designed to ward of the symptoms. There are herbs for your cat to help it maintain healthy teeth and clean gums. For upset stomachs and digestion problems, give your cat an herbal product made just for such issues. Herbal products will aid their digestion, relieve gastro-intestinal inflammation, and improve their bowel movements. Tonics are available which will stop chronic vomiting. To make sure your cat has healthy eyes, you can find herbal products to help their vision. Herbal remedies exist to help your cat deal with the itching, swelling, and pain from the bites and stings. Herbal products for the skin and fur maintain coat health and decrease shedding. If your cat has joint pain and inflammation or circulatory problems, there's relief in the form of an herbal product made just for such issues. Even the seemingly unavoidable hairballs can be eliminated with laxatives and all-natural organic herbs.
Aging cats can be rejuvenated with herbal remedies. An herbal remedy which targets the thyroid gland can help when your cat has become chronically sluggish. These remedies will make your cat more alert and lively. Such herbal products also improve their coats and will address weight issues. Since overweight cats have more health problems, keep your cat slim with an herbal product designed to help them lose weight. Cats commonly experience urinary difficulties, and there are herbal products which will relieve them of such troubles. Another issue commonly afflicting older cats are joint problems. Have no fear, there's an herbal product for your cat which will have her springing onto countertops in no time.
So you may be wondering what exactly is in all these new-fangled herbal remedies. Well, being all-natural you have nothing to fear. These medicines contain well-known ingredients such as dandelion, milk thistle, garlic, echinacea, and gingko. People have been taking these so-called new remedies for centuries, and now you can give them to your cat. In addition to herbs, these holistic products may also employ mineral products such as silicon dioxide, which is a natural dewormer and gets rid of other parasites as well. Another interesting substance employed by holistic veterinarians is lignite. Lignite is a by-product of the coal industry which is not only safe for you cat, but it serves as a detoxifier that helps your cat eliminate harmful chemicals.
Contact a holistic veterinarian for further information to find out more about improving and maintaining your cat's health with holistic herbal remedies and nutritional supplements.
Article Source: http://www.petsadvice.info
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as feline herbal products at www.shop4petstuff.com