By Joe Leicht
The debate over the best non-human housemate-dog or cat-seems never ending.
Truth be told, the canines have probably had the better of the public-relations battle. Where in feline lore is there a counterpart to Old Yeller, Clifford, Buck, Krypto, Snoopy, or Scooby-Doo?
But that doesn't mean a thing to the Woehlke family of Columbia and the other cat lovers and their swishy-tailed companions who came to the Humane Society of Monroe County's first-ever Feline Frenzy at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia's fellowship hall Feb. 24.Mona, a 3-year-old domestic short hair, is the "lazy cat" of the Woehlke household in Columbia.
"So lazy she lies down to eat," Jennifer Woehlke said of her daughter Madison's cat.
Then again, Madison's sister Faith's 3-year-old Maine coon cat Lilo claims she is "queen of the house."
"Forget water bowls," Lilo, as translated by Jennifer, said. "Those are for the dogs. I sit patiently on the sink and wait for the trickling of the faucet. There is no ignoring me. I will get what I want."
Still, the judges were most impressed with Buggatti, a 6-month-old Siamese/ragdoll mix who is the third cat in the Woehlke clan.
Buggatti, adopted by the HSMC, "likes to get into as much trouble as possible," including dives into the washer from which he emerges sopping wet.
Buggatti gained first place in the Feline Frenzy cat show.
The kitties were "judged" by short narratives written by their owners describing them, their backgrounds and their antics.
Breezy, owned by Haley Jackson, is loathe to put her face into her water dish to drink, preferring to dip her paws into the dish. Breezy was the 2nd place cat in the show.
Janice Matthews' 4-year-old cat Gabby, as her name suggests, "likes to talk a lot." Her downside? Gabby also "loves to bite."
Ike is Erin Pozniak's first cat ever and is "no ordinary cat. He will let you hold him all day long" and "does not mind water at all. He will jump in a sink or bathtub when you are using it."
Red wandered into Celeste Knierim's backyard when she was living is South St. Louis and she cemented their friendship by feeding him.
"It took me six months to just touch him on the back and then he would run from me," Knierim said. Red, apparently abused by a previous owner, walks with a limp.
The free meals, a cat door Knierim installed in her basement and the open invitation of affection eventually won the former Tails Magazine Pet of the Month over.
"Now Red is a house cat and follows me everywhere and sits on my right side when I am on the couch," Knierim said. "When I have my laptop, he will reach up and put his paw on the mouse."
Marjorie Sue Phillips, a HSMC volunteer, owns a Schnauzer but helps care for three rescued cats.
"I kept getting asked by the cat lovers 'when are you going to have something for cats?'" Phillips said, referring to the HSMC's annual Me & My Mutt Dog Walk in Columbia and Jingle Bell Dog Walk in Waterloo.
"Cat owners know cats are independent, so training a cat is different than a dog," she said. "Dogs seek attention. Cats decide when they want it. Both cat and dog owners are usually caring, sensitive people and will treat their animals as a member of the family.
"The advantage to cats is that they are more self-entertaining and self-sufficient."
Cat Constipation
By Kristy Annely
Normally a cat has bowel movements once or twice a day. If the pet does not do it or strain to do it with hard feces, the cat is suffering from Constipation. It is a very common problem with cats and an occasional bout of Constipation is nothing to worry about.
But when a cat is chronically constipated it needs serious attention. As the cats age they are more prone to this problem. There are quite a few causes of Cat Constipation. Obstructions like hairballs, tumors and foreign bodies stop the movement of the feces inside the colon, and the fecal matter builds up. This becomes a hard dry mass and distends the colon, which looses its ability to contract and expel feces. This condition is known as megacolon.
When the cats are constipated they behave in a typical manner. They run to their litter box quite often and strain to pass stool. They make noise and start licking the anal area. They lose their appetite and become sluggish. Vomiting and passing a small amount of liquid feces is quite common.
If the Constipation is not very severe, an enema will clear the colon. Hard impacted feces may have to be physically removed in a veterinary clinic under anesthesia. Intravenous liquid is also given to prevent dehydration.
After the bout of Constipation is cleared, the underlying problem, like obstruction in the colon, has to be tackled. For the cats suffering from megacolon or an untreatable or unknown problem, a management regime has to be adopted. A high-fiber diet increases the bulk and assists in bowel movement. Increase the liquid consumption of the cat by feeding canned cat food rather than dry. Milk and soup can also be tried. We have to try and get the cat to consume liquid by a means that the cat likes.
If the megacolon is advanced, no amount of management can make it propel the stool to the exit. The only alternative is surgery. The colon is removed, and most surgeries are successful.
Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious? .
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Normally a cat has bowel movements once or twice a day. If the pet does not do it or strain to do it with hard feces, the cat is suffering from Constipation. It is a very common problem with cats and an occasional bout of Constipation is nothing to worry about.
But when a cat is chronically constipated it needs serious attention. As the cats age they are more prone to this problem. There are quite a few causes of Cat Constipation. Obstructions like hairballs, tumors and foreign bodies stop the movement of the feces inside the colon, and the fecal matter builds up. This becomes a hard dry mass and distends the colon, which looses its ability to contract and expel feces. This condition is known as megacolon.
When the cats are constipated they behave in a typical manner. They run to their litter box quite often and strain to pass stool. They make noise and start licking the anal area. They lose their appetite and become sluggish. Vomiting and passing a small amount of liquid feces is quite common.
If the Constipation is not very severe, an enema will clear the colon. Hard impacted feces may have to be physically removed in a veterinary clinic under anesthesia. Intravenous liquid is also given to prevent dehydration.
After the bout of Constipation is cleared, the underlying problem, like obstruction in the colon, has to be tackled. For the cats suffering from megacolon or an untreatable or unknown problem, a management regime has to be adopted. A high-fiber diet increases the bulk and assists in bowel movement. Increase the liquid consumption of the cat by feeding canned cat food rather than dry. Milk and soup can also be tried. We have to try and get the cat to consume liquid by a means that the cat likes.
If the megacolon is advanced, no amount of management can make it propel the stool to the exit. The only alternative is surgery. The colon is removed, and most surgeries are successful.
Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious? .
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Pets: Cats And Feline Diabetes
By: Nicholas Tan
Cats are one of the most popular pets in North America. They are loving pets, capable of providing you years of companionship. Like other pets, cats can sometimes get sick. There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes. Feline diabetes is a serious disease, although it can be treated by a veterinarian.
Diabetes is more common with humans than with cats or other animals. The cause of diabetes is actually quite simple. Sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood. The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces. When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, diabetes is to blame.
The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary. The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst. Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat. An increase in thirst is easy to detect, as you can easily notice the water dish empty throughout the day.
If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma. On the other hand, if you get the diabetes treated in time, the cat will more than likely lead a normal and healthy life. Keep in mind that treatment doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication.
Cats that have feline diabetes will need to be given food at the same time every day. They should be prevented from going outside as well. If your cat has diabetes, you’ll need to give him insulin shots once or twice or a day. Once your veterinarian checks your cat, he will tell you how many shots and how much insulin you need to give your cat.
Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has some food first. If he hasn’t eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock. This can also occur from too much insulin as well. A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. If your cat gets a hypoglycemic shock and you aren’t around, he may end up dying.
If you have to give insulin shots to your cat due to feline diabetes, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after you have administered the shot. After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your vet may reduce the amount of insulin. Even though he may have to stay on insulin the rest of his life, he will lead an otherwise healthy life.
We provide grooming for dogs and cats, and free pet grooming consultation services & free grooming tips by breeds! Our pet products include fashionable carriers, embroidered shirts, reversible raincoats, pet shoes, cotton dresses, pet food, pet carrier, dog ribbons, and other related pet products.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Cats are one of the most popular pets in North America. They are loving pets, capable of providing you years of companionship. Like other pets, cats can sometimes get sick. There are several different types of ailments that cats can get, one of which is feline diabetes. Feline diabetes is a serious disease, although it can be treated by a veterinarian.
Diabetes is more common with humans than with cats or other animals. The cause of diabetes is actually quite simple. Sugar, or glucose, is found in the blood. The level of blood sugar in the body or the animal is kept under control by hormone insulin, which the pancreas produces. When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, diabetes is to blame.
The symptoms of feline diabetes will vary. The most common symptoms include an increase in urine and an increase in thirst. Other symptoms of feline diabetes include a loss of appetite, weight loss, and a poor coat. An increase in thirst is easy to detect, as you can easily notice the water dish empty throughout the day.
If you don’t get your cat treated for feline diabetes immediately, the cat will eventually become inactive, vomit on a regular basis, and eventually fall into a coma. On the other hand, if you get the diabetes treated in time, the cat will more than likely lead a normal and healthy life. Keep in mind that treatment doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and dedication.
Cats that have feline diabetes will need to be given food at the same time every day. They should be prevented from going outside as well. If your cat has diabetes, you’ll need to give him insulin shots once or twice or a day. Once your veterinarian checks your cat, he will tell you how many shots and how much insulin you need to give your cat.
Before you give your cat his insulin shot, you should always make sure that he has some food first. If he hasn’t eaten and you give him a shot anyway, he could end up with a hypoglycemic shock. This can also occur from too much insulin as well. A hypo can be really dangerous, and should be avoided at all costs. If your cat gets a hypoglycemic shock and you aren’t around, he may end up dying.
If you have to give insulin shots to your cat due to feline diabetes, you should always keep a watchful eye on him after you have administered the shot. After your cat has been on insulin for a period of time, your vet may reduce the amount of insulin. Even though he may have to stay on insulin the rest of his life, he will lead an otherwise healthy life.
We provide grooming for dogs and cats, and free pet grooming consultation services & free grooming tips by breeds! Our pet products include fashionable carriers, embroidered shirts, reversible raincoats, pet shoes, cotton dresses, pet food, pet carrier, dog ribbons, and other related pet products.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com