Cat Ear Mites And Other Ear Problems.

Ever noticed your cat shaking it’s head or scratching madly at its ear? Well it might be time to check your pet’s ear to make sure that they don’t have any unwanted visitors like the ear mite.
It is very important to make sure that your cat is free from ear motes as they are not only contagious to other cats in the home but can also infect other animals who live in the same environment. It is also important to keep your cats ears healthy as they rely on their hearing to listen out for their prey and to be able to protect them selves from being crept up upon and being attacked by other cats. Their ears also help them with balance when climbing trees etc. that if not functioning properly could cause all sorts of nasty accidents.
Ear mites are small spider like insects that love to make the inside of a cat ear their home. Unfortunately they cause infections and can cause damage to the eardrum causing a permanent loss of hearing. They are passed from one cat to another, this could be simply sharing the same sleeping places to close contact with other cats whilst grooming or playing together. The mites can also live for a while in the general environment so even if your cat hasn’t come directly in contact with another cat, there is still a possibility of them being passed on by your cat simply passing through a place where another cat with mites has been previously.
It is therefore wise to check your cat’s ears on a regular basis for any signs of infection of the mite itself. It is possible to see them with the naked eye and they look like small white dots against dark earwax. You may even get some indication that your cat has a problem in the ear by noticing vigorous head shaking or excessive ear scratching by your cat or you may notice a build up of excessive earwax that is very dark in colour and has a strong odour. It is always wise to make sure that these symptoms are caused by ear mites and not some other medical condition, so always get a vet to check the ears if you do suspect something is wrong.
If ear mites are correctly diagnosed it is important to kill them off before the infection becomes any worse or that it spreads to other animals. The vet will wipe away a lot of the earwax along with some of the mites that can be seen, he will then administer some eardrops that will be able to get deep into the ear canal. These drops will have to be administered for a three-week period to ensure the total eradication of the ear mites.
It is also important that you treat the cats fur at the same time with a flea powder, this will kill off any dormant eggs which may have lodged themselves in the fur. All the cats bedding and usual sleeping places need to be thoroughly washed and cleaned and the home should also be treated with a flea powder for the home. This will prevent any further re-infecting of your cat after treatments stops.
Other general care for your cat’s ears should include:
Protecting them during the summer months from sunburn with a non-toxic sun cream. This is very important for cats with light coloured ears. These areas are very prone to skin cancers and many cats in hotter climates end up having to have their ears amputated.
Make sure the ears are clear of any debris such as grass seed. If debris is left in the ear it can cause fungal or bacterial infections
Watching for any signs of imbalance or apparent dizziness in your cat. This could indicate an inner ear problem that will need urgent treatment by a vet.
By: ttilmo
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Kate and her partner co-write www.our-happy-cat.com a site full of further cat care and cat health topics. As well as being a feline friendly community site for happy cat and a happy owner. Their second site www.frugal-living-tips.com is all about living simply and frugally in the modern world.

Austin Texas Neighborhood Profile: Cat Mountain

Cat Mountain is one of the premier residential neighborhoods situated just outside of the city of Austin. Located within the hills west of the city, Cat Mountain provides wonderful family-friendly communities along with beautiful views of the heart of Austin. Though the area is only a short 10-minute drive from the city itself, the peace, and serenity of the Cat Mountain area can make residents forget that they are just moments away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
History
Cat Mountain’s original development projects began in the 1970’s. This allowed residents to escape from city life, by living in the hills overlooking Austin. Throughout the years since the community’s inception, growth has continued. After yet another boom in recent years, the community has grown from just a few thousand residents to well over 26,000 people living within the developments in the Cat Mountain area. In just this short time, the community of Cat Mountain has built its own legacy of wonderful community spirit.
Economy/Jobs
In comparison to the rest of the nation, the area including and surrounding the city of Austin, which also encompasses Cat Mountain, has one of the most stable economies. Recent growth and development in the business and technology sectors have brought an abundance of jobs to the area, keeping unemployment rates well below the national average. There is a variety of employers in the area offering technical and manufacturing job opportunities, as well as openings in the education and healthcare sectors. The positive trends of the area look to continue through the near future. The stable location near a growing big city will provide families a solid income for years to come.
Real Estate
Homes in the Cat Mountain area date from the 1970’s through brand new construction. However, even the oldest of homes in the communities are extremely well kept. The median sale price for homes in the area was about $466,750, as of the second half of 2007. There are a very few open lots available for new construction, but plenty of purchasing opportunities for newer and existing homes. As this is an upper-middle class area, home amenities are above and beyond many of the communities of the inner city. It is estimated that at least a quarter of the homes in the neighborhood have amenities that include a private pool, making these homes extremely desirable.
Attractions
Life in the Cat Mountain area provides both the best of quiet country life with easy access to the features of Austin. Residents have access to a beautiful natural park, with access to wonderful hiking and biking trails. Just outside the community is a boat ramp, allowing residents to enjoy the beauty of the local lakes. Of course, being just a ten-minute drive from the downtown Austin area, enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of the “live music capital of the world” is convenient and very enjoyable. No matter what interests a person might have, life in Cat Mountain will provide them with the tools they need to enjoy their passion.
By: Joe Cline
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The author writes articles on Austin Real Estate Blog. For more information about Austin Texas REALTORS, Cat Mountain real estate Austin Texas and real estate Austin can be found on the net.

Caring For Your Cats

All cats, like humans, also need proper attention and nurture. In fact, these domesticated animals can play an important role in our everyday life. Cats are highly known for their intelligence and loyalty that’s why it is also important for us to properly train and take good care of them.
Cats are also considered as great companions and friends and can provide us with lots of love and entertainment. But even though most pet owners know the importance of their cats; only few people know how to properly train and care for them. And this is where the importance of responsible pet ownership enters.
If you want to own a cat, you must be responsible in adopting them. You must realize that developing your pet’s bad habit may not bring happiness to you and the people around you.
In order to be a responsible pet owner, you have to properly nurture your pet. Let’s say you own a cat, make sure that you know how to feed him with quality cat food, provide him a good shelter and give him the best protection just like the state-of-the-art patio cat doors that we offer. This will give them freedom to go in and out of the house without having to scratch your doors.
Similarly, when you have cats at home, you can just give them a clean litter box, a comfortable home, a bit of your affection and they will be very satisfied. Pets are like small children who also need to be treated fairly. So just treat them right while providing their designated boundaries.
Installing window cat doors would help you train and discipline them on how to properly go in and out of your house appropriately. With these wall mount cat doors, you can just leave them at home and just go back from work without worrying if they have ruined all your home accessories.
A cat’s proper behavior will also depend on his or her owner. When they think their owner takes good care of them and knows how to properly discipline them, they will execute a proper behavior. They don’t want to be abused nor beaten and they always wanted to be rewarded and praised. Executing the proper disciplinary action will make them realize the difference between right and wrong behavior.
Hitting or kicking them while training is ineffective and not a good way to treat them and may even cause them to attack somebody. So in order for your pet to respect and obey you or listen to your commands, you must perform the most proper training. Try it and you will be amazed how your pet reacts to your proper disciplinary actions.
By: rayter
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The author is a pet owner connected to a company that offers a wide selection of cat doors, pet strollers and pet containment systems at lowest possible prices.