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Some General Care And Health Tips

Cat guardians contribute a great deal to the health of their pets. Loving devotion is a priority while a balanced diet, regular grooming, and exercise play a big role.

You want your little pussy to be healthy all the time. But like human beings cats too face general health problems. But taking care of small things you can go a long way in keeping your cat hale and hearty.

Annual Check up:

Have a thorough annual check up of your pussy done by an experienced vet. This should include examination of the cat's body, from nose to tail; weighing and taking its temperature; listening to the cats heart and lungs; checking for abnormal discharges from any bodily orifices, including eyes and nose; checking its teeth, gums and ears; inspecting for parasites and abscesses; feeling the cats internal organs. Stool test should also be conducted to test the presence of parasites.

Vaccination:

Get your cat vaccinated against all the common diseases.

Excessive licking and grooming:

Excessive licking and grooming can have several causes: stress, food allergies, and more. The first step is to take the cat to a vet to determine whether it's a health or behavior problem. Many cats are allergic to corn, a main ingredient in most dried cat foods. If an allergy is suspected change the cat's food and watch for improvements in your cat's coat and behavior. Your vet can suggest brands of food that will help the most. If the licking is due to stress, try to remove the source, or simply manage the stress.

Poisonous House Plants:

Be cautious when choosing houseplants for your home, if you have kitties or children. The Berries on Mistletoe are poisonous to cats and humans. Other dangerous plants to cats include: Diffenbachia, Poinsettia, English ivy, Crocus, and others.

Neutering/Spaying:

Get your cat neutered or spayed preferably at the age of 6-7 months

Increased Thirst:

Increased thirst is an indicator of diabetes, kidney or liver problems, and these are important to consider with the health care of an elderly cat. Although an older cat needs fewer calories and more fluids as he ages, it is better to consult a veterinarian and go for a thorough checkup.

Controlling Hairballs:

Hairballs are a problem mostly in longhaired cats. Hairballs are caused by too much hair in the cat's stomach from their own grooming. Daily brush your cat, especially during the warm months of the year to prevent hairballs. If the problem still persists take your cat to a vet.

Ear mite:

Ear mites are highly infectious little pests that feed on the lining of the ear canals. Its symptoms include scratching behind the ear and inside the ear; a dark brown wax inside the ear; and other signs that are not visible without the special equipment a vet uses. Take the cat to a vet immediately if you suspect that she has an ear mite. Persistent medication is required to treat ear mites.

Don't give cow's milk to kittens or adult cats because it may cause gas and diarrhea.
Furniture just for cats can help increase your cat's living space, without taking up too much room in a small house or apartment.
Keep all yarn, string, thread and needles in a secure cabinet. Yarn and string can become caught on a cat's barbed tongue and may be swallowed.
Always use a carrier when transporting your cat. Even if your cat loves car rides, it may get underfoot or escape if startled.
Certain foods and medications are extremely harmful to cats. Do not leave chocolate, onions or medications ( aspirin, ibuprofen, cold medications, vitamins and diet pills.) out on counters.
Never hit your cat. Use spray bottles with water if discipline is necessary. Physical punishment doesn't teach your cat appropriate behavior.
Antifreeze is sweet but deadly. Keep it out of reach because even one teaspoon is fatal. Antifreeze has the highest fatality rate of all poisons, especially for cats. Signs of ethylene glycol toxicity are vomiting, tremors and frequent urination, leading to kidney failure within 12 to 24 hours.
Many health problems in cats are directly related to cleanliness cleaniness of environment enviroment. Always make sure that your cat's environment enviroment, food and water dish are clean.
Each cat in a cat-owning household should have its own food dish, water dish and litter box.
Head-butting is a friendly cat greeting, equivalent to a feline handshake or a peck on the cheek.
When it comes to cat toys, toys are not optional. Every cat needs appropriate toys to keeps its mind and body exercised. Provide solitary and interactive toys for your cat.
Cat's scratching and clawing is a normal feline behavior used to remove the outer sheath of their nails and to communicate to other cats. Always provide your cat with a scratching post to help prevent your cat from destroying your furniture.
Indoor cats typically live three times longer than an outdoor cat. Give your indoor cat a taste of the outdoors--safely by putting a cat tree near a window or add a window perch. Your cat will enjoy hours of natural stimulation through watching birds, squirrels and rodents from a window, without the dangers.
Stimulate your cat's hunting and chasing instincts with lots of play and toys that simulate natural prey. Always use wands, feather toys and/or a laser mouse,-- never use your hands. Adding a little catnip can add new life to an old toy.
Cats commonly sleep up to 16 hours per day. Try to provide a warm, quiet spot for your cat's bed, to provide uninterrupted beauty sleep and quiet time.
Cats are naturally attracted to plants and will not refrain from chewing or eating on them. Be sure to keep all plant out of your cat's reach.
Your cat's diet changes as he/she matures from kitten hood to adulthood. A kitten requires more mineral for strong bones, more protein for proper growth and more calories for energy than an adult. Check with your vet to make sure your cat is getting his/her required nutrients.