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A Fat Cat Is The Biggest Risk Factor For Feline Diabetes

Our kitties depend on us to feed them properly to keep them healthy.  Unfortunately, most people think all they have to do is leave dry food out in a bowl for their feline friend to snack on whenever they want.  Although this is what the pet food companies tell us to do, feeding your kitty like this is sure to lead to a weight problem, and other health issues, including diabetes in cats and kidney problems.

What wrong with dry food?  There are three problems associated with a dry food diet for kitties:

1. The type of protein is wrong – there are too many plant-based proteins, as opposed to animal-based proteins.
2. The carbohydrate level is too high, leading to weight gain.
3. The water content is too low, which can cause kidney failure later in life.  The leading cause of death in older felines is kidney failure.

You need to understand that felines are obligate carnivores.  They are meant to get their nutrition from animal protein in the form of meat.  They aren’t meant to digest a large number of carbohydrates.  Feeding your kitty a diet high in carbohydrates will only lead to feline obesity, which, in turn, opens the doors to a wide array of other health problems.

Your pet is meant to get most of his water from his diet.  Cats don’t normally drink a lot of water, so feeding him a dry diet can lead to kidney problems later in life.

Feeding him a high-quality canned food is the best way to prevent both diabetes in cats and feline kidney failure.

Keep Your Kitty Active

We aren’t the only ones who aren’t getting enough exercise.  Our pets are couch potatoes, too.  Your kitty needs exercise every day to keep him healthy, and to burn up extra calories.  Exercise is also great for keeping blood sugar levels normal.

Try to schedule two or three exercise session every day with your kitty.  You want him jumping around and getting out of breath.  A cat toy that looks like a fishing rod is a great way to get him up and moving around.  He just can’t resist chasing it.  You’ll enjoy watching him act like a kitten again.

Prevent A Diabetic Cat With Natural Remedies For Cats

Good diet and lots of exercise are wonderful ways to keep your beloved kitty healthy.  But wouldn’t it be great if there was also a dietary supplement you could give him every day that would prevent feline diabetes?  You’ll be pleased to know that there is. 

This remedy has been carefully formulated for companion animals.  The ingredients have been well-researched, and they’re safe and effective.  The best part is that it’s very easy to give to your pet.  Just break open the capsule, and mix it with your feline friend’s food.  You won’t have to struggle with trying to get a pill down an uncooperative kitty.

Now that you have this information, what are you waiting for?  Start today to prevent your beloved kitty from ever becoming a feline diabetic.

Feline asthma, also referred to as chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma and allergic bronchitis is a common feline ailment.  It is usually caused by inhaled allergens that lead to the clinical symptoms of feline asthma.

How do you determine what your cat has inhaled to cause the symptoms?

According to most vets, it is virtually impossible to determine exactly which allergens caused your cat to come down with feline asthma symptoms.  Some common culprits include:

·         Grass

·         Tree pollens

·         Cigarette smoke

·         Fireplace smoke

·         Various sprays such as hair sprays, deodorants, flea sprays, deodorizers

·         Dust from cat litter

My cat is still a kitten, can kittens have feline asthma?

In fact, feline asthma can occur in cats of all ages and is found in all areas of the world.  There is no safe place to hide from the ailment with your kitten or cat.  It is estimated about 1% of the general cat population has at some time or another experienced feline asthma.

What are the symptoms?  Common symptoms include:

·         Wheezing

·         Coughing (a dry, hacking cough that might be confused with gagging or retching)

Many cats are diagnosed as having hairballs, when in fact, it is feline asthma.

In very severe cases, cat may:

·         Have daily coughing and wheezing

·         Many bouts of airway constriction, leading to open-mouth breathing and panting that can be life threatening

In mild cases, cat may:

·         Cough and wheeze only occasionally

A few cats with feline asthma are asymptomatic in between acute and severe bouts of airway constriction.

How can a cat owner know whether or not their cat has feline asthma?

A vet can perform chest x-rays, a complete blood count, a feline heartworm test, and a technique to sample cells from the lower airways.

Feline asthma is a chronic progressive disease that cannot be fully cured.  Medications will help reduce the symptoms, but may not be able to eliminate coughing completely.

One of the most effective therapies for feline asthma is to use inhalers such as human asthmatics use.  There is a mask and spacer system that enables cats to use inhalers or puffers.  The system is similar to the mask and spacer system used to treat babies and small children.

Treatments: 

If your cat has been diagnosed with feline asthma, ask your vet about the AeroKat system for cats.  The most important type of drug is a corticosteroid to reduce the chronic inflammation.  Commonly prescribed is corticosteroid inhaler Flovent.  Another medication type is called a bronchodilator that helps open the airway at times of severe coughing or wheezing.  A common bronchodilator inhaler used for humans and cats is Apo-Salvent.  Some cats may even be given oral medication usually a corticosteroid like prednisone.  Oral therapy may be less expensive; however, inhaler therapy can probably do a better job.  Be sure to notify your vet if there is any change in your cat’s condition while on asthma medication.

Other things you can do to help your cat are:

Avoid smoke from fireplaces and cigarettes Reduce the use of air fresheners and other household sprays Use human grooming products that are in spray form, such as hair sprays or deodorants, far away from the affected cat Change to a low-dust clay cat litter or one made of an alternate material Air purifiers might be helpful Avoid taking the cat outside in cold weather Obese cats will probably benefit from losing weight

Disclaimer:  The information in this article is not meant to diagnose or treat any kind of health problem in your cat.  You should always consult with a trusted veterinarian for all health problems.

Source:  The Winn Feline Foundation Online

Cats are extremely territorial so you should be wary if you already have a cat in the house and you are thinking of getting another cat. In fact, most people would choose not to get a second cat. However, this does not really mean that no household would be harmonious when there are two cats under the same roof. Still, if you want to get rid of the nasty hissing bouts that would inevitably occur, there are things you can do to foster a more peaceful environment.

The key here is in the introduction stage. Yes, you will have to introduce your new cat to your first cat very carefully. Doing this the right way would make things smoother in the end. However, it is not going to be easy so you have to be patient with the results here.

The first thing you have to do is enlist the help of a friend. Your friend should be the one to carry the new cat into the house, preferably in some sort of cat carrier so that it would not be too alarming a sight for your first cat. But why get a friend to do this? Your old cat would not be appreciative of seeing you holding another cat in your arms. Thus, you have to get a friend to do this for you initially.

Once you, your friend, and your new cat are inside the house already, make sure to take the new cat into a separate room. Do not attempt to have both cats inside the same room at this stage. You are asking for trouble if you would do this. In this separate room, make sure the new cat has its own sleeping place, a litter box, feeding dish, water dish, playthings, and most importantly, its own scratching post. With its separate room, your first cat will soon notice that there is indeed another cat holding its own territory in the same house.

Cats’ sense of smell is very intense so you can expect your old kitty to notice the presence of the new cat by its scent even beyond those closed doors. The key here is to let your kitty smell the new cat in an indirect manner. You can do this by rubbing the new cat with a cloth or towel and then have your first cat smell that material. Eventually, your old cat will become accustomed to this new smell.

After some time, you should then swap the rooms of the cats so that each cat can sniff each other’s presence out, making both of them more accustomed to each other as well. Eventually, allow the cats to spend time together in the same room. This may take a few tries, but be patient. If this is still not enough, then you can enlist the services of your veterinarian. This way, you can maintain a peaceful and harmonious environment for both of your beloved felines.

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol

Pet cats are house-trained to use a litter box when they are unable to go outdoors to relieve themselves. The litter box is bedded with a material to catch the cat’s urine and feces. This is called cat litter in short. The cat litter in general use is very much like clay and is called clumping. Cats get used to this very easily and quickly because that’s their natural habit. There is one drawback in the use of litter boxes and traditional clumping – the odor from the litter box is nauseating! Till the owner removes the cat litter, the odor just won’t go away. But help is at hand in the form of pine cat litter. This litter is made up of pine pellets which absorb moisture and trap the cat’s solid waste. The natural odor of pine is very refreshing and it masks that of the cat’s droppings.

The shelf price of this new variety of cat litter is twice that of traditional varieties of cat litter. But the new product proves to be cost effective since it absorbs twice the amount of moisture compared to the ordinary variety. So there is really no increase in your monthly expenditure on this account.

The acceptance of pine cat litter is still an issue, not by the owners but by the cat itself. Cats are reluctant to use the pine cat litter because the ‘feel’ is unnatural. The pellets tend to be a little rough on the cat’s paws. The cat’s acceptance or rejection of pine cat litter will be the sole deciding factor in the success of pine cat litter in the market.

My suggestion is to introduce the pine cat litter in a gradual fashion. Mix a little pine cat litter with the normal stuff. Let the cat use it and get used to the mix. It may take a day or two for the cat to get comfortable with the mix. Then increase the dose of pine litter and reduce the amount of the ordinary litter. Let the cat get used to the increasing amounts of pine cat litter gradually. Finally, you will have a 100% pine cat litter in the litter box, and 100% freedom from that very strong odor! That is if your cat decides to play ball and adjust to pine litter. If your cat resists, and even refuses to visit the litter box, then it’s back to the good old clumping and the bad old smell!

If the odor from the cat’s litter is driving you round the bend, and you’ve made up your mind to use pine cat litter, then do what many other owners are doing. Fill the litter box with pine cat litter, and then put down a surface layer of your cat’s favorite litter. This way, your cat is satisfied and so are you!

Hardly have we worked our way around problem #1, than problem #2 crops up. It appears that pine fragrance is not very popular with cats. Now that’s something that we can’t do anything about. After all you’re using pine cat litter solely for its fragrance, and there’s your cat wrinkling up its nose at the very idea! That apart, pine cat litter is completely safe for your cat. All toxic substances have been removed from the cat litter.

Pine cat litter can be composted and used as garden manure. The solid waste must be removed before composting the litter. So pine cat litter can claim to be environment-aware and environment-friendly.

Whether pine cat litter makes its way into your house on a permanent basis depends entirely on your cat! If your cat converts to pine then you’re home free, to a home free from that awful stench! On the other hand, if your cat gives pine cat litter a paws down, then you’ll just have to grin and bear it!

Let me ask you a simple question:  Do you know how natural feline urinary support can prevent frequent cat urinary problems?  If your cat suffers from cat bladder infection, there are three ways you can support feline urinary health.

Diet And Feline Urinary Support

Your cat’s diet is extremely important in promoting cat urinary health.  Many cat owners are unaware that a one-year study showed that feeding a high-quality canned food reduced feline urinary problems significantly.  Why is this?

It’s been proven that the best way to prevent feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD, is to increase the amount of water that goes through your cat.  The easiest way to do this is to feed him canned cat food, which has a moisture level of around 75%.  This is much closer to a cat’s natural diet. 

You see, cats are meant to get most of their water intake from their food.  Dry cat food has a very low moisture level, under ten percent.  A cat who eats only dry food must drink a lot of water to get enough fluid intake to prevent cat urinary problems.  Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get your cat to drink enough water, since he doesn’t naturally do this. 

A cat with a low water intake is more than likely chronically dehydrated.  His urine is very concentrated, which can lead to cat bladder stones.  These stones irritate the bladder wall, and cause feline cystitis, which is a bladder inflammation.  Just feeding your cat moist food can help to prevent this problem. 

Another way to get your cat to drink more water is to divide his food into three equal amounts and feed him three times a day.  It’s been shown that feeding your cat two or three times a day as opposed to once a day is associated with an increase in his daily water intake.

Reduce Cat Stress To Reduce Cat Bladder Infection Problems

Cats appear to lead charmed lives, but this isn’t really true.  Our kitties are creatures of habit, and they don’t like changes at all.  Moving to a new home, remodeling, adding a new pet or person to your household, and even changing your feline’s food causes cat stress.  Cats don’t handle stress well.  In fact, stress in cats has been linked to feline idiopathic cystitis, which is a bladder inflammation that doesn’t appear to have any cause.

Be on the lookout for anything that’s stressing your cat.  Reducing or removing the cause of the stress may help to reduce cat urinary problems.

Natural FLUTD Treatments

Humans have been dealing with bladder infections since the beginning of time.  Before we had access to modern antibiotics, herbs were the usual treatment for this condition.  In many parts of the world, they still are.  Can these natural remedies work on cats too?

The answer is yes.  Uva ursi and barberry are two herbs that have stood the test of time for treating cystitis in people.  The homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagris also have a successful track record in treating human urinary tract infections.  These four remedies have been specially formulated into a remedy that’s not only safe, but effective, to prevent feline urinary problems. 

For your cat’s safety, be sure to make your purchase only from a long-established company that’s well-known for producing only the highest quality natural pet remedies.

Do your kitty a favor and improve his cat urinary health by using natural feline urinary support to prevent cat bladder infection.

One of the more common domesticated house pets is the cat. If you are contemplating having one for a pet, there are certain aspects that you need to be aware of before you bring one into your household, specifically basic care issues and proper nutrition. Feline companionship brings with it a variety of responsibilities but your biggest obligation to that pet is the attention and care that you give it.

One of the elements regarding the basic care of cats is the initial preparations needed before bringing the animal home. The basic items needed immediately are a litter box and litter, separate food and water bowls, a brush designed for the type of fur the cat has (i.e. long-hair or short-hair), and a carrier to bring it home in and as well as for trips to the vet. And of most importance, cat toys since they enhance the bonding process. Eventually, you may want to consider a bed or basket for them to nap and sleep in.

Once you have determined what type of cat they will be, as in strictly indoors or indoor/outdoor, then there are additional care issues to be covered. If the cat is going to be outdoors part of the time, one of the first things you should get them is a collar. It will obviously hold the cat’s identification tag and veterinary status. Make sure that the collar has an elastic section so that if they get caught on something and start panicking that they can escape from the collar without severely choking themselves.

The tag attached to the collar should provide vital information specifically, your name, address, and phone number. Modern technology has created an identification microchip that vet’s can inject into the skin of a cat’s neck. Speaking of veterinarians, that is the other most important aspect of the cat’s health and well-being. If you want them to be around for a lot of years, every penny you spend on veterinary visits will have benefits and your pet will live a happier and healthier life that way.

Finally, unless you are looking at the cat as an investment, as in breeding them for money, once they have reached the appropriate age, get them neutered or spayed. The ideal age for this is once they are six months old. Where males are concerned, it’s an out-patient type surgery, pending any complications — bring them in first thing in the morning, and pick them up towards the end of the day. Females will vary, but usually the spaying is a 24 hour turnaround.

The first rule of thumb with feline nutrition is that cats are not vegetarians — they require meat in their diets so that they have a sparkle in their eyes and a glossy coat. They require certain dietary needs and animal derived nutrients are one of the main ingredients necessary to their good health. The cat food that you feed them should come from a reputable manufacturer and be given to your cat at room temperature. One important note here is that you should establish a routine as to the place and time of day that you feed your cat.

Another aspect of feeding is that there should always be fresh dry food and water for them to take advantage of throughout the day. If you include canned food in their diets, it is recommended that they receive two or three small feedings per day, not one big one. And remember that until they are out of the kitten stage, that they are constantly eating and drinking.

Another health issue is your cat’s weight. Avoid letting them overeat. Just like with us, a cat can develop obesity and overweight issues. Arthritis, heart problems, and a shorter lifespan are issues that can result from a cat being overweight. So take care on this matter. Based on the breed, adult cats should way between 9 and 12 pounds, and the males tend to be heavier than the females. If you feel that your cat is overweight, a trip to the vet for a check-up and some questions is a good idea. Oftentimes, the weight issue is related to a hormonal problem, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

One of the drawbacks of cat ownership is that sooner or later, you will have to deal with the issue of cat pee. Most people find the odor of cat urine very offensive, so cat house training and controlling the odor from litter boxes are critical issues that you will have to learn about.

Cat pee is very strong and potent for several reasons. Cats do not drink much water when compared to other animals, so their bodies tend to concentrate the urine more.

This can become a problem because stones and “sand” can build up and form in the urinary tract of the cat. This can cause blockages and other serious health problems. Cats can become so particular about their water that they simply do not drink enough to stay healthy.

Leave water for your cats that you change often to keep it fresh. Use bowls or containers they like and will drink out of. Lots of water will help dilute the cat pee, so that it doesn’t have such a strong odor.

Some veterinarians have suggested adding a pinch of salt to cat food. This will encourage cats to drink more, but please check with your personal vet before trying this tip. Out in nature, cats need strong smelling urine to mark their territory and establish who’s in charge.

Only indoor cats mark their area by a term known as”spraying”. This is the release of urine along with some glandular secretions. It contains an odor that is very pungent.

It is possible to train males (and even some females) that spray, through various methods of house training. It is also common practice to neuter your cat at a young age.

Training is incredibly easy for cats that are physically and emotionally healthy. Most kittens, when only a few weeks old, will follow their mother’s example in using a litter box without any need of special guidance.

Cats transitioning from rovers to indoor pets will not know a litter box’s purpose and may need special training. This could be done by adding to the box some herbs or urine from an “accident”. After they use the box, normal training is complete.

No matter how effective the litter, the odor of cat pee will become more offensive as time goes by. Litter should be scooped promptly or changed regularly.

Many litters contain special odor reducing ingredients. In addition, automatic litter boxes can help solve this problem. If a box is too soiled, a cat may protest by refusing to use the box and go elsewhere. Cat owners often misconstrue this behavior as a training accident.

An upset or ill cat may also deposit urine outside of their litter box. Cats can be spiteful and punish their owners for things like moving their items or bringing in another pet to the home. Giving the cat some extra affection may help the situation.

When a sick pet goes outside of their litter box and can be a sign of some serious issue, so it is essential to call the vet for a check up appointment.

Cats are an inseparable part and parcel of our life. The creature is highly liked for its soft and abiding nature and can give the human life a new meaning. In fact, a new study says that terminally ill patients are healed faster with the help of pets. The mere presence of pets instills a sense of calm and provides compassion to the patients in the most painful phase of their life. Besides this, in our mundane lives too, we don’t seem to live without them. Yet it is a fact, that cats and other pets do fall ill due to some reason or other. Cat health insurance is the answer to most of your problems related to the health of your pet. With the help of this policy, you can provide your provide your cat with the best possible health care.

Getting a cat health insurance policy done for your cat, you are lessened of your worries related to taking care of your pets. You can cover all the expenses related to the cats as a daily routine and also go for the medical treatment in case your cat is unwell. Cats are the joy of our life. Since the creature is delicate and needs extra care, one should be free to get as much amount as is possible for its routine care and upkeep. An insurance policy is right thing to go for, since this is quite apt to provide your cat with exclusive medical and health care. Cat health insurance is a package designed for the pet lovers who wish to give that extra comfort for their pets. So go ahead with this policy, if you really care for your pet and wish its well being forever.

Pet insurance has existed in the western countries for long time now. The concept is similar to human health insurance policy and offers a safety net for your pets. It’s better to properly investigate about the nature of the insurance policy, before going ahead with it. Many of them don’t cover the expenses fro the treatment of chronic conditions, past injuries, flea control, dental and sterilization. Cat health insurance gives the pet owner a freedom to seek any kind of medical care from any veterinary clinic. In the pet insurance policy, mostly, 50% to 75% of the medical expenses are covered during a cat’s lifetime. Usually, this type of policy includes any sudden or possible expenses needed for the cat care and treatment. Besides, the cat insurance also depends upon the breed of cat you own and the insurance companies in this case, charge a higher rate.

The pet insurance package is usually large enough to cover sudden medical emergencies and the owners are able to save their pets from possible death due to the lack of medical care. Cat health insurance helps an owner to lower the costs of all medical expenses. Make a comparative study of the insurance providers before arriving for that final decision. A company should be selected for its years of proven expertise in the pet insurance cases and all the details should be properly understood. A reason why one should go for the pet insurance policy is the fact that it is after all such an affordable price to pay to for the quality medical care of your cat. As stitch on time saves the nine, the insurance policy also provides you with quality medical care on a timely basis.

Have you ever wondered if holistic cat care would help with feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD?  Many cat owners who have had a long and frustrating battle with feline cystitis wonder if natural feline urinary support would help.

What Is Holistic Cat Care?

Holistic care involves looking at your kitty as a whole, as an alternative to  focusing on her kidneys and bladder when she has cat urinary problems.  Instead of just treating the symptoms of FLUTD, a holistic practitioner will want to know about your cat’s diet, and stress in her life.  Natural remedies for pets are often used, too.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease And Your Cat’s Diet

Many cat owners don’t realize that there’s a direct link between their cat’s diet and feline lower urinary tract disease.  Ads on tv and in magazines tell us repeatedly how great dry food is for our cats.  It has all the nutrients your cats needs, yes.  But that’s not the whole truth. 

In the wild, cats don’t drink much water, for the simple reason that they’ve been designed to get most of their water from their food.  All people and animals are over 90% water.  A cat who eats mice and other prey animals will almost completely satisfy her water requirements. 

It’s a different story for our kitties.  We want to do the best for them, so we feed them what we have been told is the best possible diet.  But dry cat food has a moisture content of less than 10%.  This is good for a long storage life, but it’s not so good for your cat’s health.  A cat who eats only dry food is probably a chronically dehydrated cat, since it’s hard for her to drink enough water to make up the difference between what’s in her diet, and what her body needs. 

Did you know that kidney failure is the leading cause of death in older cats?  It can be the result of a lifetime of chronic dehydration. 

It’s also been proven that the best way to prevent FLUTD is to increase the amount of water going through your cat.  A more than adequate water intake flushes impurities out of your cat’s body and his urinary system.  Be sure your kitty always has access to plenty of clean fresh water.

Cat Stress Is Linked To Feline Cystitis

Most of us would think that our cats lead a charmed life.  Wouldn’t it be great to just lay around and sleep all day?

Well, maybe not.  Cats face a lot more stress than most of us realize.  Just being an indoor cat is a stress on an animal that’s meant to be outside hunting, and slinking around in the dark.  Add a lack of exercise, too much of the wrong food, not enough water, annoyances from other cats and pets, and just being cooped up inside, and you can see that maybe life isn’t quite as easy as you thought for your furball.

Feline interstitial cystitis has been linked to cat stress.  If your vet can’t find any reason for your cat’s bladder inflammation, maybe you should be looking for hidden stress in your cat’s life.

Natural Feline Urinary Support

You may be interested in one of the many natural remedies for pets available now.  You should look for one that contains the herbs uva ursi and barberry, along with the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagris.  These remedies work together to provide natural feline urinary support to keep your cat’s urinary system working well. 

Your goal now?  To use holistic cat care to keep your cat healthy and to prevent feline cystitis.