Petsmu

There are some simple things you can get yourself aware of while taking care of your cat’s health. Realize that health problems with pets are a common thing.It doesn’t matter what breed of cat you have but cat health problems are inevitable and will be there. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.

Worms such as tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms etc. infect cats and can be fatal. Your cat can become weaker day by day if this is ignored, hence get him tested by a veterinary doctor. Hairballs also cause cats a lot of problems. Usually , cats swallow the loose hair that comes from their coats and this will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cat’s stool. Although most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems but sometimes, a hairball can pass through to a cat’s intestine, creating a blockage which can be threatening. Cats can also suffer from constipation because of hairballs and hence it is best to get it solved as soon as possible by visiting your vet.

When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter box or when the cat’s urine starts to smell really strong, it may be due to Urinary tract infection which is also a common health problem with cats.Urinary tract infection is more common with male cats that haven’t been neutered, although females can suffer from this problem as well. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

Cat eye health care is also an important part of the responsibility of owning a cat. Note that your cat’s eyes should be clear and when you see the outer part of the eyeball it should be white. Keep your cat’s eyes free of mucus by gently cleaning his or her eyes.Apply a neutralizing ointment before bathing the cat or before flea treatments.Keep hair out of your cat’s eyes, this is particularly true Continue Reading »

Fatter cats may be cuddlier, but they don’t live as long as average weight cats. Sad but true. Fat cats are twice as likely to die in middle age. They are also 4.5 times more likely to develop diabetes, seven times more likely to become lame from arthritis and three times more likely to have skin problems.

About 20%-30% of domestic cats are obese, particularly older females.

It is important to recognize if your cat has a weight problem. To do this you need to be prepared to admit that you have played a role in this, however unwittingly. Nobody sets out to make their cat overweight…it can just sneak up on you.

How to tell if your cat is overweight
Cats at a healthy weight have a waist. If you have difficulty feeling your cat’s ribs when applying a small amount of pressure, you have a problem. When you look down at your cat, if you see a bulge around his stomach, he is overweight. An average weight cat’s sides will look pretty straight. Continue Reading »

Everybody knows how good it makes us feel to be around a cat that is purring. But have you ever really thought about what causes this phenomenon?

When you were a child, you were probably told that cats purr when they are happy. Therefore, we learned to associate the purr with pleasure, and we assumed that every time our feline friends were purring, it was because we were doing something to make them happy.

Some new information provided by respected veterinarians, Doctors Foster and Smith, provide some more nuanced information about purring cats. If you want to learn more about what REALLY gets your cat’s motor running, read on!

Most pet owners interpret a purring, squinting cat as an obvious indication that their pet is both happy and healthy. They think that the purr always expresses contentment, showing that the cat is comfortable and feels secure.

This is not totally false, but it is also not the whole story.

Many cats do purr when they’re happy. Recent research by pet behaviorists has suggested that purring originally developed as a communication mechanism between mothers and kittens. The kitten could purr to his mother, thereby signaling that “everything is alright.” This occurs most frequently when kittens are nursing, because kittens can’t meow and nurse simultaneously. Purring and nursing at the same time, however, can be done. When the mother hears the purr, she may reciprocate, thereby reassuring the kitten by this communication mechanism.

This explains why your cat may purr when you pet him: he instinctively gives the “everything is alright” message so that both of you know all is well.

But what are the other possibilities?

Sometimes, older cats use purring as a form of communicating when they approach other felines. This helps them show that they are not an enemy and that they want to come closer, maybe to play.

Perhaps most surprisingly, purring is also a way that cats communicate when they are scared or in distress. Have you noticed that cats in the veterinarian’s office often purr? So do cats who are injured or otherwise ill. This might be a way that cats try to calm themselves down and reassure themselves.

Purring is only one way that cats communicate their moods, desires, and needs non-verbally. They may also use their eyes, squinting or blinking slowly. Other “typical” cat behavior, like stretching, facial rubbing, or spraying can also be forms of communication. If you really want to establish a connection with your cat, try purring back. You’ll both know that you’re listening!

About the author: Ian Spellfield, an occasionally frustrated pet owner, tests and reviews cat urine removal products at his blog Urine Off Reviews.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com