When we feel pain in our bodies, we can easily tell someone that there is something wrong and that person will be able to take you to the infirmary. Pets cannot do that merely observing them can tell you a lot of things. which is why owners should employ cat care and be aware of the symptoms.
Discussed beneath are a few diseases and their symptoms you should look out for.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is the most feared disease by cat owners. It is a acknowledged fact, that it is the leading cause of death amongst cats. It is caused by a coronavirus infection and what is yet worse, is that the symptoms are very much like other diseases so it is really hard to diagnose.
There is also Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) that is similar to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Just like the human variant, it is a life long infection that progresses slowly and kills the cat.
Cats can as well be infected by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). It is a retrovirus that causes fatal cancerous and non-cancerous diseases. Fortuitously, it can be treated using some household detergents and bleach as well as warmth and drying. It is carried through the saliva, tears, urine and feces of infected cats. Unlike the other two, it is unable to survive that long in the environment so it is only transmissible when the infected cat stays with some other cat for a long period of time.
Worms are also another threat to cats and this is caused by a fungal infection that is spread through spores. Since it is a self-limiting disease, you do not need to do anything to make it go away. It will in time clear up but it may just take a few months.
If you have a overweight cat, then the prospects are it will already have feline diabetes. The symptoms of this disease are pretty easy to see and are excessive urination and thirst as well as weight loss or gain. Veterinaries are of yet uncertain what is the cause of this, but recent research studies that have been done, have indicated that there is a link between pancreatic disease, hormonal imbalance and particular medications.
The symptoms of most of the above diseases mentioned are very similar. These include diarrhea, vomiting, lameness lasting for more than 5 days in one leg, a reduction in vision, excessive panting, a seizure, blood in the stool or urine, hair loss, persistent coughing or gagging and breathing heavily or rapidly while at rest. In order to find the answer, your cat will have to undergo some tests, at your local veterinary surgeons.
Your veterinarian will take some blood, urine and feces samples and ask for input from you, about any observation you have made. When the tests results come back, only then will the proper treatment be administered to your cat as each case is different, so what worked for another cat may not have the identical positive effect with yours.
Your cat will always be healthy if you give it constant attention. This is done by giving it leading quality natural food, giving it fresh water daily, allowing it to exercise, proper grooming, making sure it stays indoors and taking it for frequent visits to your veterinary surgeon.
If you miss any of these simple steps, then something wrong is certain to happen to your cat and you will soon notice a change in the behavior of your cat and if you do nothing about it, it is just going to make matters far worse. So you require to observe proper cat care and watch out for any symptoms.
By: G D Williams
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
This article was written by G D Williams, an up and coming authority on Pet Health. Did you find this article on Long Term Cat Care helpful? You can find out a lot more Free information and help about Cat Care by going to Caring For Your Cat.
Vaccinations For Cats
The debate on giving annual vaccinations to ensure good cat health versus the unhealthy implications of inoculation on the pet health has been going on for years. Many veterinarians believe that there is enough evidence to suggest that annual vaccine shots for deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, is unnecessary and even harmful in some cases.
There is no doubt vaccinations (immunizations, "shots") have saved the lives of millions of cats. Before the days of effective vaccines, cats routinely died from panleukopenia ("feline distemper") and complications of upper respiratory (herpesvirus, calicivirus) infections. Newer vaccines are available to protect against feline leukemia virus infection, feline infectious peritonitis virus and other infections (chlamydia, feline bordetella, ringworm). Current vaccination programs protect our cats (and us) from the threat of rabies.
Cat health related vaccines that have been licensed by the federal government are tested to make sure that they protect pet health against diseases for one year. But, because these vaccines are not tested for long-term pet health side effects nor do they measure the time for which the vaccine will be effective, some studies at universities have suggested that cat health can be protected by these vaccines for many years negating the requirement of annual shots. This also means that pet owners don’t have to waste money on annual inoculations for better pet health and cat health.
What Studies Tell About Pet Health VaccinesTypically, rabies is the only pet health disease that can pose a threat to people; most vaccines aren’t statutory by law. However, vets recommend annual boosters to guard cat health against those potential diseases that can be life threatening (parvovirus in dogs, distemper, herpes in cats etc). In advent of this new and scientific data that cites annual booster shots leading to certain health risks such as hyperthyroidism in cats, more and more vets are now making changes in their practices. According to a poll, it has been found that the vaccination count has fallen down by 49% than the figure 5 years ago.
It’s safe to assume that no one, including vets, scientists etc, knows the duration of protection cat health vaccines offer. Moreover, vaccine makers don’t wish to spend millions of pounds on proving the duration of their vaccines nor do they wish to test it.
Health Problems Related to Cat Health VaccinesMore studies, off late, are beginning to link many chronic pet health problems to inoculations. Cat health skin related problems such as hair loss, ulcers, lesions, indurations and serious problems such as indurations or hard lumps at and around the site of the injection have often been related to vaccines. While these adverse reactions to pet health vaccines may not pose the threat of an epidemic, it definitely rings an alarm bell and warrants a re-examination of the conventional beliefs related to vaccination practices.
Adverse Reactions to Pet Health VaccinesAdverse reactions to pet health vaccines include fever, stiffness of joints, lethargy, abdominal tenderness, anaphylactic shock, kidney and liver problems among others. In some cases, vets believe that those cats/dogs that have a pre-existing health problem may suffer a much faster decline in their health when given annual booster shots.
By: Thierry Babineaux
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
If you need further information on pet health, including discussion groups visit our pet forum. We also have a great directory of pet issues on cat health with hundreds of related subjects.
There is no doubt vaccinations (immunizations, "shots") have saved the lives of millions of cats. Before the days of effective vaccines, cats routinely died from panleukopenia ("feline distemper") and complications of upper respiratory (herpesvirus, calicivirus) infections. Newer vaccines are available to protect against feline leukemia virus infection, feline infectious peritonitis virus and other infections (chlamydia, feline bordetella, ringworm). Current vaccination programs protect our cats (and us) from the threat of rabies.
Cat health related vaccines that have been licensed by the federal government are tested to make sure that they protect pet health against diseases for one year. But, because these vaccines are not tested for long-term pet health side effects nor do they measure the time for which the vaccine will be effective, some studies at universities have suggested that cat health can be protected by these vaccines for many years negating the requirement of annual shots. This also means that pet owners don’t have to waste money on annual inoculations for better pet health and cat health.
What Studies Tell About Pet Health VaccinesTypically, rabies is the only pet health disease that can pose a threat to people; most vaccines aren’t statutory by law. However, vets recommend annual boosters to guard cat health against those potential diseases that can be life threatening (parvovirus in dogs, distemper, herpes in cats etc). In advent of this new and scientific data that cites annual booster shots leading to certain health risks such as hyperthyroidism in cats, more and more vets are now making changes in their practices. According to a poll, it has been found that the vaccination count has fallen down by 49% than the figure 5 years ago.
It’s safe to assume that no one, including vets, scientists etc, knows the duration of protection cat health vaccines offer. Moreover, vaccine makers don’t wish to spend millions of pounds on proving the duration of their vaccines nor do they wish to test it.
Health Problems Related to Cat Health VaccinesMore studies, off late, are beginning to link many chronic pet health problems to inoculations. Cat health skin related problems such as hair loss, ulcers, lesions, indurations and serious problems such as indurations or hard lumps at and around the site of the injection have often been related to vaccines. While these adverse reactions to pet health vaccines may not pose the threat of an epidemic, it definitely rings an alarm bell and warrants a re-examination of the conventional beliefs related to vaccination practices.
Adverse Reactions to Pet Health VaccinesAdverse reactions to pet health vaccines include fever, stiffness of joints, lethargy, abdominal tenderness, anaphylactic shock, kidney and liver problems among others. In some cases, vets believe that those cats/dogs that have a pre-existing health problem may suffer a much faster decline in their health when given annual booster shots.
By: Thierry Babineaux
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
If you need further information on pet health, including discussion groups visit our pet forum. We also have a great directory of pet issues on cat health with hundreds of related subjects.
Ways You Can Crate Train Your Cat
Taking care of a cat can both be a rewarding and frustrating experience.
The rewarding part is coming home to a cute, furry little creature whose antics can bring a smile to your face.
The frustrating part is trying to house-train and litter train them.
You can get over the frustrating part by starting them young.
Once you have a kitten that you plan to take home as a pet, you may start house-training them. Crate training is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Cats can be your best friend for life if you just care for them properly.
If you will train them at a young age, they will learn to follow "house rules" and not litter on your bed or scratch your furniture with their claws.
A cat needs proper care, time and attention. Here are some tips on how you can use crate-training work to your advantage:
1. Remember that crate training will take some time.
You need all the time and patience that you can muster as a cat owner to fully train a cat. This is why you have to start out while they are young.
Familiarize them with what they can and cannot do using the crate.
If you take your cat along with you when you travel and you are in a place where pets are not allowed to roam around freely, put them in a crate.
This would let your cat know that being outside is not that safe, so your pet will be content to stay inside the crate.
2. Select the perfect crate for your feline friend.
There are some materials that cats love to scratch with their claws. This would make the time that they spend in the crate more bearable despite being confined.
There are metal and plastic crates that your cat can fit into. Make sure that it can move freely when inside. Also, you can put your cat's favorite toy in the crate, like a ball of yarn or a small stuffed toy.
3. Crate-train your pet cat slowly, but surely.
Start by spending time with them while inside the crate. Then you can introduce your cat to eating food inside the crate. Do not worry if they do not respond positively the first time, as they will get used to it eventually.
Later on, they will learn to spend time in the crate when you are not at home or during the night.
The key here is to not let your cat feel frustrated inside the crate and spend enough time with them to make them feel loved and cared for.
By: Jay Schindler
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
To learn about elephant facts and wolf facts, visit the Animals Facts website.
The rewarding part is coming home to a cute, furry little creature whose antics can bring a smile to your face.
The frustrating part is trying to house-train and litter train them.
You can get over the frustrating part by starting them young.
Once you have a kitten that you plan to take home as a pet, you may start house-training them. Crate training is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Cats can be your best friend for life if you just care for them properly.
If you will train them at a young age, they will learn to follow "house rules" and not litter on your bed or scratch your furniture with their claws.
A cat needs proper care, time and attention. Here are some tips on how you can use crate-training work to your advantage:
1. Remember that crate training will take some time.
You need all the time and patience that you can muster as a cat owner to fully train a cat. This is why you have to start out while they are young.
Familiarize them with what they can and cannot do using the crate.
If you take your cat along with you when you travel and you are in a place where pets are not allowed to roam around freely, put them in a crate.
This would let your cat know that being outside is not that safe, so your pet will be content to stay inside the crate.
2. Select the perfect crate for your feline friend.
There are some materials that cats love to scratch with their claws. This would make the time that they spend in the crate more bearable despite being confined.
There are metal and plastic crates that your cat can fit into. Make sure that it can move freely when inside. Also, you can put your cat's favorite toy in the crate, like a ball of yarn or a small stuffed toy.
3. Crate-train your pet cat slowly, but surely.
Start by spending time with them while inside the crate. Then you can introduce your cat to eating food inside the crate. Do not worry if they do not respond positively the first time, as they will get used to it eventually.
Later on, they will learn to spend time in the crate when you are not at home or during the night.
The key here is to not let your cat feel frustrated inside the crate and spend enough time with them to make them feel loved and cared for.
By: Jay Schindler
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
To learn about elephant facts and wolf facts, visit the Animals Facts website.