If you have a kitty, you must learn about feline leukemia. Many cats die each year from this dangerous disease, which has been found to be caused by a virus which is highly contagious. To protect your precious cat learn more about feline leukemia and what you need to do to protect your kitty.
Feline leukemia is a virus that causes more serious diseases, such as anemia and cancer. There is only a 10% chance of survival for cats that catch feline leukemia, very few living longer than 3 years after catching the virus. Any cat can catch feline leukemia, but young kittens which younger than 6 months are particularly vulnerable.
Like many other diseases, feline leukemia is spread through the saliva of infected cats. Since cats often groom each other, and eat and drink from the same bowls, it is easily spread from cat to cat, especially those who are in close contact with each other all the time, such as cats living in the same home. Female cats that have feline leukemia can also pass the virus along to their unborn kittens, who through their milk when feeding their young. Most cases of feline pregnancy in cats infected with feline leukemia never make it to term, the unborn kittens succumbing to the disease and dying in the womb before they are ever born.
Cats that have feline leukemia often have frequent illnesses, since the disease destroys their immune system, making them unable to fight off disease causing bacteria and germs. Over time, feline leukemia takes its toll on the cat’s overall health, and you will see the cat getting sicker and sicker. Cats with feline leukemia will often run fevers, have little energy, refuse to eat, or eat very little, and will lose weight rapidly. Cats that have feline leukemia will often become anemic, and many of them will also develop feline lymphoma, or cancer.
Much like HIV, there is no current treatment for feline leukemia. Once a cat has contracted this disease, all you can do is try to keep the cat as healthy as possible, to try to postpone the inevitable. If your cat does become sick, you have to seek immediate medical treatment, often in the form of long courses of high-dose antibiotics. Since you cannot treat this deadly disease, all you can do is try to keep your cat as healthy and comfortable as possible, for the duration.
Some cats are naturally resistant to feline leukemia, their immune systems being able to kill the virus before it causes any real damage to the internal organs of the cat. If the virus spreads into the cat’s bone marrow before the immune system is able to destroy it, the cat will eventually succumb to the virus.
There are vaccines available that can help prevent feline leukemia, however they are not one 100% effective. Before you bring a new cat into your home, you should have it tested for feline leukemia, to be certain that you aren’t putting your other cats at risk, even if those cats have been vaccinated.
If your cat does contract feline leukemia, you should do everything you can to limit contact with other animals, to prevent the spread of the disease, and to keep your cat from contracting potentially deadly infections.
As a cat owner, you should learn about feline leukemia, have your cats vaccinated, and limit their contact with other animals as much as possible, to prevent the spread of this highly contagious feline disease.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Cat Allergy
Allergies occur not only people but also cats.
Some people may be allergic to cats. People in the presence of a cat starts sneezing, red eyes and tears. In severe cases asthmatic effects can appear. The symptoms are similar to the manifestations of hay fever, that is a seasonal allergy to pollen plants. Only in the case of allergy to cats cat allergens are wool, leather or even cat saliva. Allergics often offer nonhairy cats: either Rex breed with a short curly fur without undercoat or nearly hairless sphinx with a few short hair. But there are people who have cat allergy even on the sphinx! So if you or a member of your family has allergies to cats, cats in the house is better not to keep. At the same time, allergy to pollen plant for food, for medicine, for the dust is not an obstacle to the maintenance of the cats. In a weak form of allergy to cats you can have cats at home, but allergic individuals is better to limit their communication with cats, and caring for the cats, especially wool nits, to designate to another member of the family.
Do cats themselves are also various allergic reactions. The symptoms of a cat allergy may be sneezing, coughing, runny eyes, diarrhea, Hair Loss. Different symptoms manifest themselves in different types of allergies. Food can also cause cat allergy. Аllergic reactions can cause not only industrial feed but also a simple home products. Quite frequently allergic to milk, not all adult cats retain the ability to digest lactose, such allergy manifested diarrhea. Registered cases of cat allergy to meat! Sometimes allergens are perfumes, deodorants, lotions, and other things enjoyed by cat owner. Most of the cats there allergy to dust during construction repairs, the glue or paint. In this case the inhaled cat starts sneezing, coughing, runny eyes. This is also allergic to household cleaning agents, dust or cigarette smoke! Some cats have allergy to fleas. If such a cat flea settled, it starts itching strong, it starts all the time, at selected sites beginning to fall wool. People! Keep track on your pets, with suspicious symptoms please contact with a veterinarian as fast as possible. If cats discovered allergy, try to exclude the possibility of allergens from her life. Do not use it in the presence of perfumes and cleaning means, not let the room during the repair, during destroy parasites gipoallergennym forage and feed. Even if your cat has no allergy, try to use less chemicals, it is, by the way, will be useful for your health also!
Some people may be allergic to cats. People in the presence of a cat starts sneezing, red eyes and tears. In severe cases asthmatic effects can appear. The symptoms are similar to the manifestations of hay fever, that is a seasonal allergy to pollen plants. Only in the case of allergy to cats cat allergens are wool, leather or even cat saliva. Allergics often offer nonhairy cats: either Rex breed with a short curly fur without undercoat or nearly hairless sphinx with a few short hair. But there are people who have cat allergy even on the sphinx! So if you or a member of your family has allergies to cats, cats in the house is better not to keep. At the same time, allergy to pollen plant for food, for medicine, for the dust is not an obstacle to the maintenance of the cats. In a weak form of allergy to cats you can have cats at home, but allergic individuals is better to limit their communication with cats, and caring for the cats, especially wool nits, to designate to another member of the family.
Do cats themselves are also various allergic reactions. The symptoms of a cat allergy may be sneezing, coughing, runny eyes, diarrhea, Hair Loss. Different symptoms manifest themselves in different types of allergies. Food can also cause cat allergy. Аllergic reactions can cause not only industrial feed but also a simple home products. Quite frequently allergic to milk, not all adult cats retain the ability to digest lactose, such allergy manifested diarrhea. Registered cases of cat allergy to meat! Sometimes allergens are perfumes, deodorants, lotions, and other things enjoyed by cat owner. Most of the cats there allergy to dust during construction repairs, the glue or paint. In this case the inhaled cat starts sneezing, coughing, runny eyes. This is also allergic to household cleaning agents, dust or cigarette smoke! Some cats have allergy to fleas. If such a cat flea settled, it starts itching strong, it starts all the time, at selected sites beginning to fall wool. People! Keep track on your pets, with suspicious symptoms please contact with a veterinarian as fast as possible. If cats discovered allergy, try to exclude the possibility of allergens from her life. Do not use it in the presence of perfumes and cleaning means, not let the room during the repair, during destroy parasites gipoallergennym forage and feed. Even if your cat has no allergy, try to use less chemicals, it is, by the way, will be useful for your health also!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
How to choose your first cat indoor
You must understand one thing: if you want to be a cat owner its is a big responsibility. Indoor cat can bring years of enjoyable pleasure for you and your new companion friend. Although cats are seen as self-reliant, you as the owner will always have to be the diligent parent.
If you’ve never owned any pets before, you should get some pet education before bringing your new furry friend home.
Probably the best way to find out about caring for an indoor cat is to visit the homes of friends who have indoor cats. Your friends can be an excellent resource for what’s going to be required of you to care for a cat. Other resources are community cat clubs, veterinarians, animal shelters, books, tapes, videos, and the Internet.
Before you get your first cat, decide what your commitment to this relationship will be. How much devotion, cost, effort, and attention are you willing to provide to your new friend. Also consider what your personal preferences are for the new family addition. Are you looking for?
-Longhair or Shorthair
-Adult or Kitten
-Pedigree or Non-Pedigree
-Male or Female
-Breed (Persian, Burmese, etc)
To many, a kitten is a cute, cuddly bundle of joy, just like a new born baby. But like a baby, you’ll need to watch over carefully to the health of the kitten as it grows to adulthood. An adult cat, on the other hand, is more capable of attending to its own personal care.
Hair
Cats shed hair, just like humans. Some breeds shed more hair than others. Cats are fastidious groomers. Be prepared and none too surprised when they vomit a hairball from time to time -- completely natural with little cause for alarm. It’s a good practice to routinely brush your cat to collect the loose hair.
Shorthair cats usually need less routine brushing than longhairs. If you brush your cat routinely, they can have less incidents of hairballs and upset digestion. Giving your cat a bath (cat formulated shampoo only) once in a great while is good also.
Pedigree
You may choose a pedigree cat if your intention is to invest, breed, or show. There are other reasons why someone would choose a pedigree over a non-pedigree, and that’s a personal choice. Expect to pay more for a pedigree primarily because its lineage can be traced and its pedigree is highly prized by others.
Breed
Generally the cat's breed isn't a factor and your selection usually is a personal preference.
Gender
Cats are individuals. Both female and male cats can make wonderful companions. If the cat has been spayed or neutered, then the cat's gender doesn't play a huge role. The cat's own unique personality will determine how good of a pet it will make. Your personal preference may be to choose a cat whose personality is agreeable to yours.
Non-pedigree cats are just as cute and cuddly as the pedigree. A lot less expensive too!
Summary
A cat is a wonderful addition to your family and will give you many years of enjoyable pleasure.
If you’ve never owned any pets before, you should get some pet education before bringing your new furry friend home.
Probably the best way to find out about caring for an indoor cat is to visit the homes of friends who have indoor cats. Your friends can be an excellent resource for what’s going to be required of you to care for a cat. Other resources are community cat clubs, veterinarians, animal shelters, books, tapes, videos, and the Internet.
Before you get your first cat, decide what your commitment to this relationship will be. How much devotion, cost, effort, and attention are you willing to provide to your new friend. Also consider what your personal preferences are for the new family addition. Are you looking for?
-Longhair or Shorthair
-Adult or Kitten
-Pedigree or Non-Pedigree
-Male or Female
-Breed (Persian, Burmese, etc)
To many, a kitten is a cute, cuddly bundle of joy, just like a new born baby. But like a baby, you’ll need to watch over carefully to the health of the kitten as it grows to adulthood. An adult cat, on the other hand, is more capable of attending to its own personal care.
Hair
Cats shed hair, just like humans. Some breeds shed more hair than others. Cats are fastidious groomers. Be prepared and none too surprised when they vomit a hairball from time to time -- completely natural with little cause for alarm. It’s a good practice to routinely brush your cat to collect the loose hair.
Shorthair cats usually need less routine brushing than longhairs. If you brush your cat routinely, they can have less incidents of hairballs and upset digestion. Giving your cat a bath (cat formulated shampoo only) once in a great while is good also.
Pedigree
You may choose a pedigree cat if your intention is to invest, breed, or show. There are other reasons why someone would choose a pedigree over a non-pedigree, and that’s a personal choice. Expect to pay more for a pedigree primarily because its lineage can be traced and its pedigree is highly prized by others.
Breed
Generally the cat's breed isn't a factor and your selection usually is a personal preference.
Gender
Cats are individuals. Both female and male cats can make wonderful companions. If the cat has been spayed or neutered, then the cat's gender doesn't play a huge role. The cat's own unique personality will determine how good of a pet it will make. Your personal preference may be to choose a cat whose personality is agreeable to yours.
Non-pedigree cats are just as cute and cuddly as the pedigree. A lot less expensive too!
Summary
A cat is a wonderful addition to your family and will give you many years of enjoyable pleasure.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Cat eye health care
Caring for your cat eye health is an important part of thir grooming. Cats eyes are sensitive just like humans, and need to be taken care of. Different breeds of cats require different type of care, due to the difference in eye types. There are many different types of eyes, so you may want to speak to your vet for specific instructions. Here are a few free tips for you.
If you have a cat that seems to have build up in their eyes on a daily basis, wiping them daily would be a good idea. Removing this build up will help decrease the chance of the eyes getting an infection. Make sure you start in the corner of the eye and wipe outward. When wiping the eyes, be sure to use a damp washcloth and be careful not to scratch the eye.
No matter what kind of cat you have, you need to make sure their eyes are taken care of. If there seems to be something abnormal or different about your cats eyes, you may want to think about taking them to the vet and having them checked out. Your cat eyes are very important to them.
Cats who have eyes that protrude from the face tend to dry out easily. In order to prevent your cats eyes from getting too dried out, you should get some eye drops. Visit with your vet to determine the best type of eye drops for your breed of cat.
For cats who have watery eyes that seem to drain a lot, cleaning cats eyes on a daily basis is necessary. Make sure to wipe the eyes everyday to prevent tear stains from showing up on the fur. Wiping should be done with a wet washcloth and once again, be careful not to scratch the delicate eye.
Checking your dogs eyes everyday will help keep them healthy and help you notice a problem as soon as it occurs. The sooner a problem is taken care of, the easier it is to get rid of. This will also get your cat used to his eyes being wiped and it will become easier the more you do it.
If you do notice something that does not look normal while wiping your cat eyes, it is a good idea to visit the vet. Yearly visits to the vet are also recommended to make sure that not only the cat eyes are healthy, but the rest of your cat as well. The sooner an illness or disease is detected, the better chance you have of treating it and getting rid of it.
If you have a cat that seems to have build up in their eyes on a daily basis, wiping them daily would be a good idea. Removing this build up will help decrease the chance of the eyes getting an infection. Make sure you start in the corner of the eye and wipe outward. When wiping the eyes, be sure to use a damp washcloth and be careful not to scratch the eye.
No matter what kind of cat you have, you need to make sure their eyes are taken care of. If there seems to be something abnormal or different about your cats eyes, you may want to think about taking them to the vet and having them checked out. Your cat eyes are very important to them.
Cats who have eyes that protrude from the face tend to dry out easily. In order to prevent your cats eyes from getting too dried out, you should get some eye drops. Visit with your vet to determine the best type of eye drops for your breed of cat.
For cats who have watery eyes that seem to drain a lot, cleaning cats eyes on a daily basis is necessary. Make sure to wipe the eyes everyday to prevent tear stains from showing up on the fur. Wiping should be done with a wet washcloth and once again, be careful not to scratch the delicate eye.
Checking your dogs eyes everyday will help keep them healthy and help you notice a problem as soon as it occurs. The sooner a problem is taken care of, the easier it is to get rid of. This will also get your cat used to his eyes being wiped and it will become easier the more you do it.
If you do notice something that does not look normal while wiping your cat eyes, it is a good idea to visit the vet. Yearly visits to the vet are also recommended to make sure that not only the cat eyes are healthy, but the rest of your cat as well. The sooner an illness or disease is detected, the better chance you have of treating it and getting rid of it.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Cats toilet training
Cats toilet training: cats are very affecting and sentimental animals. They are cuddly and very beautiful. Cat owners live their cats so much that want them to be only indoors, so that they can be safe and clean always. However, keeping cats indoors poses the problem of dealing with their wastes. Thus it is necessary to cats toilet train.
Cats Toilet Training Essentials
1. Cats should be trained early on. It should start when the kitten is around 8 weeks old.
2. Cats generally are not difficult to toilet train. For one, they have the instinct already to bury their wastes. Thus all that is needed is to provide a litter tray.
3. Before starting with the toilet training, make sure that the cat already responds to its name. This will be very helpful in responding to the behavior of the cat.
This can be bought in pet shops. A litter tray usually is made of plastic or enamel. The container should be filled with soil, sand, sawdust or commercial cat litters.
4. Generally, a kitten that is raised together with a mother that uses the litter tray will learn to use the tray itself eventually.
5. For kittens or cats that still have to be trained, it is best to acquaint them with the litter tray. The cat should be placed inside the tray after being fed, after play or when it wakes up.
6. Make sure that the litter tray is placed in a quiet and secluded place. Cats would not like to be seen when they use the litter tray.
7. When the cat uses the litter tray, make sure that you praise it for the good behavior.
The best way to praise the cat is to pet it or pat it on its head. Food rewards are also good tools to praise the cat.
8. However, a cat or kitten being trained that failed to make use of the litter tray should be reprimanded. The cat must be corrected immediately. A loud and sharp "no" or squirting the cat with water are the usual ways to reprimand the cat. Never use physical punishment. It is not a good practice. It also affects the relationship of the cat to the owners.
The cat has to be constantly praised or reprimanded for its toilet behavior until it finally learns to go to the litter tray by itself.
Owning a toilet trained cat can be very rewarding. Attention and consistent effort will be greatly needed at the toilet training stage. Just be patient always.
Cats Toilet Training Essentials
1. Cats should be trained early on. It should start when the kitten is around 8 weeks old.
2. Cats generally are not difficult to toilet train. For one, they have the instinct already to bury their wastes. Thus all that is needed is to provide a litter tray.
3. Before starting with the toilet training, make sure that the cat already responds to its name. This will be very helpful in responding to the behavior of the cat.
This can be bought in pet shops. A litter tray usually is made of plastic or enamel. The container should be filled with soil, sand, sawdust or commercial cat litters.
4. Generally, a kitten that is raised together with a mother that uses the litter tray will learn to use the tray itself eventually.
5. For kittens or cats that still have to be trained, it is best to acquaint them with the litter tray. The cat should be placed inside the tray after being fed, after play or when it wakes up.
6. Make sure that the litter tray is placed in a quiet and secluded place. Cats would not like to be seen when they use the litter tray.
7. When the cat uses the litter tray, make sure that you praise it for the good behavior.
The best way to praise the cat is to pet it or pat it on its head. Food rewards are also good tools to praise the cat.
8. However, a cat or kitten being trained that failed to make use of the litter tray should be reprimanded. The cat must be corrected immediately. A loud and sharp "no" or squirting the cat with water are the usual ways to reprimand the cat. Never use physical punishment. It is not a good practice. It also affects the relationship of the cat to the owners.
The cat has to be constantly praised or reprimanded for its toilet behavior until it finally learns to go to the litter tray by itself.
Owning a toilet trained cat can be very rewarding. Attention and consistent effort will be greatly needed at the toilet training stage. Just be patient always.
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