Cat Specific Health Articles

Siberian Cats have been termed hypoallergenic. For me this is true. The definition of hypoallergenic is lower in allergens, not allergy free. Each and every cat is different as is each and every person. We have 5 breeding cats here at Kings Choice Siberians and one neuter plus kittens off and on. I am highly allergic (hives, asthma, allergy, etc.) complete with the allergists’ test to prove it. I can live with 2, no problems. This many, I do need some slight medication. I bath them every 2 – 4 weeks – Siberians can be bathed and in fact many enjoy the water, it removes any small amount of Fel d1 and after I always indulge myself by burying my face in their clean, dry fur. In my home, I have no curtains just blinds and carpets are throw only. I also don’t let my cats sleep in my personal bedroom, to create a free zone. Finally, I assign litter duty to others and have rolling self clean litter boxes in case I do end up doing it. With all of that, I do fine. Temporarily, until the kittens are homed – we have 10. I am currently sitting here fine typing this, in the spring no less, not clawing out my eyes like I would be in the home of someone with just one domestic cat. Each person and cat differs. I do get slight itching when a kitten’s claw punctures me, but they are very young and covered in momma saliva. Just a touch of Benadryl cream and it is gone.

Vacuum, bath them and invest in an actual purebred Siberian – not a shelter cat. Honestly it is very doubtful any purebred Siberians are in shelters. If you are willing to take medicine occasionally and/or Benadryl cream for scratches (assuming you are very high allergy like me) you should do well. Customers with lesser allergies tell me that they have no symptoms whatsoever. As I said, all cats and people differ. We raise traditional Siberians only. The difference between a traditional and “not” is that the others have a color-point gene. They received this somewhere in their backgrounds by crossing to Siamese. These, I shy from as I do not wish to add any potential allergy level to what is already an amazing breed. They have been named Nevas, Neva Masquerade, Color Point Siberians, CP or even Lynx – all are the same. Some allergy sufferers also claim to do well with the Nevas, but for me, it is not worth the risk. You will know them immediately by their white coloring and Siamese style markings. Traditional Siberians come in every tabby color and many solids. Cinnamon, lilac and fawn are the only non-allowed colors. The reason for that is that again it was produced through out-crosses. They are not natural traditional colors for Siberians.

I have people ask me about Fel d1 testing. This is not a great way to choose your Siberian. The testing facility will tell you they have a 50% error margin on perfect tests. That percentage of failure actually increases with any errors in the collection. This makes the test worthless. It is also very expensive. Breeders offer these numbers more to please the public than for any real worth. Fur testing is also useless as the breeder could have bathed the cat 1st. Bathing with the month before voids the test. Another cat may have licked the test cat transferring saliva with Fel d1. So how does this boil down? Well, NOTHING is allergy free. They have recently discovered people can be allergic to cold air. So to say allergy free is to lie. However, as I said hypoallergenic means lower in allergens. Yes, it is possible for a Siberian to be hypoallergenic. Even a sever allergy sufferer like myself can live happily with a cat of their own. You have to be willing to do the footwork to investigate your cattery of choice, to pay the fees required for the breeding of such a miracle animal and to take cleanliness precautions so that you can live a long happy life with a wonderful pet that often lives past 20 years. If you always wanted a cat – it’s your dearest wish and you’d be willing and responsible, then I do suggest you check out the breed. It might be just what you always wanted.

Fleas are a big problem and when it comes to your kitty, the situation becomes even more difficult due to the irritation caused by these pesky parasites. The problem is that your cat scratches and bites itself, which results in skin irritation due to the presence of fleas. The most important thing as a cat owner is to recognize that your tabby is actually suffering due to fleas. This write-up will give you enough ideas about that along with the serious effects that fleas can have on her.

Before beginning with the central topic, it is very important to understand what exactly are fleas and how do they affect your furry friend? Fleas are bloodsucking parasites that are visible when you part the fur of your kitty and scrutinize the skin with close scrutinization. These pests have mighty back legs that enable them to jump and move easily through the cat’s fur. In order to confirm the presence of fleas on your feline, keep the pet in an upright position. Keep a piece of white paper beneath her paws. Try to rough up the coat. If you see dark things falling on the paper softly, spray them with a demister bottle containing water.

In case, the dark things are bleeding on the paper with a reddish stain, it means that these are flea dirt – the fecal matter of adult fleas, that mainly is composed from your cat’s dried blood. If sand and pepper colored residue is present on the kitty’s skin, it means that there are fleas on her body. The white things that you see are nothing, but the flea eggs. While the dark ones are dirt flea, upon which the freshly born larvae will soon be fed.

Three Serious Effects Of Fleas On Cats

• These pesky parasites can have adverse effects on your feline along with other pets residing in the household. It also harms humans that share the environment. A flea bite can cause irritation and itchiness in cats. Certain felines are allergic to the saliva of fleas that can result in great distress and discomfort in them. If your kitty is allergic to the flea bites, she would bite the affected area, until the hairs come out and the area becomes red and raw. It can even result in dermatitis, that can cause further aggravation, if the itchiness does not go away.

• Even dog tapeworm can lead to a flea infestation, as fleas become host of these worms that get ingested by the feline, while grooming. There are certain fleas that carry tapeworm cyst. The peculiar thing about these tapeworms is that they grow in the intestine of the kitty, that can be seen in the form of small worm segments close to the anus. This is the most commonly found tapeworm form that can be seen in cats. It is mainly caused due to fleas.

• Human beings are also not spared by fleas. Young kitties get painful and allergic reaction with the flea bite. The problem is that since these pesky parasites have the ability to fly more than 12 inches. They can swarm your feet and lower legs and ankles, while attacking you and sucking your blood.

Since flea bites are extremely lethal for the health of your kitty, it is important to get a good flea preventative treatment from the market; to get rid of these irritating pests.

The Cat as Part of Your Life

There are days when you wake up at the wrong side of the bed. Your alarm did not ring, and the whole day is spent catching up. As you run yourself ragged on errands and projects, your old car goes caput. When the tow truck pulls away your car as well as your patience, it is about time to retire for the day. The levels of stress and frustration have hit an all time high. It is a good thing that when you reach home, your top fans Tom and Kitty are there to welcome you. Ever since these two amazing cats have arrived in your home, so far, you have not experienced an uneventful day.

Even if you feel weak after what has occurred during the day, you manage to find your way to your room while Kitty does her customary habit of quickly rubbing her body against your leg. When you drop your bags and settle in, Tom jumps on your lap so you can scratch the back of his ears and neck. This is when your body and breathing begin to relax. Your shoulders release all the tension. You smile with ease. Soon enough, you and Tom are enjoying the quiet time together. During these moments, the things you have been thinking of have flown away from your mind and your stress levels have plummeted, liberating you from the negative emotions that have built up in the last 10 hours.

Don’t you believe in a cat’s capability to do all this? Well, it is the truth. According to studies, stroking a cat for a number of minutes actually releases “feel good” endorphins inside the brain and produces tranquility in the person who strokes the cat. Petting on its own, though, is not the only thing that relieves stress. Loneliness or the feeling of isolation aggravates sadness and depression. Pets give unconditional love and companionship. As an example, when you lose a spouse, or kids have left for school, it can be overwhelming to be left home alone. However, with a Kitty or a Tom to accompany you while reading the newspaper, you can overcome loneliness. Just by being around, cats can complete your day and home as well.

Taking care of a cat can be comforting and fulfills the humans’ need to be caregivers. Shopping also take on another dimension when you own a cat. You need to add cat food, toys and litter to your cart. You can imagine the fun in store for your cats when you buy new toys and treats. Cats are fond of exploring the contents of that shopping bag or that intriguing closet. You can brighten your mood when you use a kitty fishing pole or feather wand in interactive cat play. You will smile and laugh like you never thought you could.

Studies have proven that support of family and friends is vital in protecting our health. Pets help maintain our healthy emotional balance when treated as family or friends. Owning a cat adds to that sense of family, contributing to a healthy emotional balance. For this reason, pet owners are confined in hospitals less often than non-pet owners. If ever they are hospitalized, pet owners stay for a shorter time. They have every reason to get well. Their cat is at home, waiting for them.

Rabies is deservedly one of the most feared diseases on earth. Basically incurable and always fatal, this disease affects the central nervous system resulting in seizures, intense salivation, staggering, uncontrollable aggression or fear, and blindness. Spread by bite, rabies can be acquired by humans from an unvaccinated cat with the disease.

Panleukopenia is a nasty disease that will hit kittens the hardest. Death can result from this illness and the virus responsible attacks the bone marrow and gastrointestinal system. A kitten or cat that is lethargic and has fever and diarrhea could well be infected with this virus. Humans cannot catch this disease from their cats.

Feline leukemia mostly affects cats that go outside. However, if you have several cats and allow even one to roam outdoors, all the cats could become sick with this viral disease. Cats with feline leukemia will suffer weight loss, fever, anemia, and listlessness. Unfortunately, many cats with feline leukemia do not survive.

Feline calcivirus is a relative newcomer on the scene and often occurs in combination with other respiratory viruses. Calcivirus will cause, in addition to the usual respiratory symptoms of sneezing, coughing, and discharge, sores in the mouth and on the tongue; it has also been linked to arthritis. This disease will sometimes mutate to a more severe form that can affect and cause damage to multiple organs and systems in the cat’s body.

Vaccines for the above illness are considered to provide ‘core protection’ for your cat. Unvaccinated cats are at the risk of chronic conditions or death from diseases that can be easily prevented. Caring for a sick cat at the veterinary hospital is costly, and home care to nurse a sick cat back to health is time consuming and emotionally draining.

It is quite true that side-effects can occur when your cat is vaccinated. Fortunately, in most cases, the cat may run a slight fever or be fussy for a day or two. At times, a knot will form at the site of the injection, and if this does not vanish within a few weeks, your vet should take a look at it. There is also a very slight chance of a severe allergic reaction to a vaccination, which is why your vet may ask you to remain in the clinic for a few minutes to make sure that no such reaction is occurring in your cat.

Rabies vaccines are the ones most likely to cause problems. It is possible for a mast cell tumor to develop where the vaccination was given. However, the severity of rabies and the possibility of your infected cat spreading the virus to you and your family should overrule any fears you may have about side-effects from the vaccine.

As a dependable feline holder, you can help keep the repeat of the sickness. There are approaches to treat and keep the repeat of bladders stones. One route is to give your pet abundant measures of fluid consistently. Fluid or water can help keep the pee ph of creatures at an ordinary level, keeping the development of struvite stones. Struvite gems can structure and piece the bladder when the ph of the pee is excessively basic or acidic. At the point when the ph level of the pee is typical, urinary stones can’t structure and subsequently, no blockage will happen.

An alternate common cat bladder stone treatment is verifying that the pet gets enough sustenance and is consuming the privilege diet and proper cat supplement for stones. Sustenance and eating regimen assumes an incredible part on whether bladder stones will structure. Some business pet nourishments that we are sustaining our pet may really contain fixings that can incline out pet to bladder stones and other urinary issues. To guarantee that the feline is consuming right, you may need to cook a hand crafted formula complete with nutritious elements for it.

Giving cats natural and homeopathic cures and other common cat supplement for stones likewise help in treating and forestalling bladder stones. Common supplement items, for example, UTI Free may contain characteristic fixings that are particularly helpful to feline’s wellbeing. Normal elements for these items incorporate Staphysagris, Cantharis, Berberis vulgaris and uva ursi which are known to support the resistant framework and keep the event of disease and other urinary sicknesses.

Raccoons, opossums, mice, bats, and birds can all be adorable and fun to watch, but some people just don’t understand the potential dangers that these forms of wildlife can pose to their family and pets. An encounter with even a small and seemingly harmless wild animal that finds their way onto your property can result in serious consequences for you, your children and your luxury dogs and cats.

Wild mammals and birds can damage your property, upset trash receptacles and set up nests in your yard, in your shed or even in accessible areas of your home. Certain forms of wildlife carry fleas, lice and ticks and can bring the threat of potentially deadly diseases like rabies.

Simple Steps to Protect Your Family and Pets

Even if you live in an area where wildlife sightings are very common, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there needs to be an imminent danger to your kids, dogs, and cats. In fact, there are some very simple steps that you can take to minimize the potential risk of an unwanted wildlife encounter:

Keep Trash Bins Securely Covered

Squirrels, rats, raccoons, opossums and wild cats all love to rummage through the garbage that contains scraps of food. By keeping trash in tightly tied bags and in cans with secure lids, you eliminate a major source of attraction for wildlife.

Make sure your Fence is in Good Condition

Fixing holes or replacing missing planks in the fence around your property keeps rabbits, raccoons, and many other mammals off of your property. A secure boundary really minimizes the chances for a potentially dangerous encounter between a wild animal and your pets or children.

Don’t leave Pets Outside Unattended

Even with a solid fence, some animals will still find their way into your yard. If your dogs are out roaming for extended periods they have a greater chance of coming across a wild animal that has made its way onto your property. If the animal has a nest or a food source nearby they may become aggressive and look to protect instead of escape. This can result in serious injury to both your pet and the wild animal.

Keep Cats Indoors

Cats are natural hunters and are not necessarily deterred by your fence. If there is a bird or rabbit in a neighbor’s yard, they will likely give chase. A cat who exits the confines of your property is at a much greater risk of injury due to a wild animal attack, but to other dangers (like traffic, poison or traps left out by others for wild animals, etc.)

Ultrasonic Pest Protection

Ultrasonic pest repellents use high-frequency sound waves to drive away a variety of pests, rodents, and insects. For homeowners who are looking for a hands off and mess free method of keeping unwanted pests out of their home, this can be a safe and effective solution.

Ultrasonic repellents are safe for humans and family pets (you can’t hear the sounds, neither can your pets, there are no poisons and no danger of pets or kids suffering the injuries that can occur from snap traps). After the fast and easy initial setup, there is nothing to do but allow the device to work driving away unwanted pests.

In addition to the steps above, simply avoiding contact with wildlife is also a major factor in keeping pets and family members safe. Don’t leave food out for wild animals, don’t intentionally engage with them and never encourage your pets to interact with wildlife.

Even those with the best of intentions and those who have taken the proactive measures mentioned above can still find themselves in a position where a wild animal has entered their home or garage and is posing a potential threat. In these instances, it is important that the situation is handled properly to minimize the risk.

It’s never a good idea to attempt to poison a wild animal on your property. Poison baits have elements that attract wildlife (they look and smell like food), which may also attract your family pets.

Cornering a wild animal is also not advisable. Raccoons, opossums, and birds can all become very territorial, especially if they have a nest nearby. Cornering them can insight an attack, which can result in serious injury for any people or pets in the area.

If a wild animal has set up residence in your home, garage or yard or is posing a threat to your family it makes sense to enlist the help of a professional. A wildlife control expert can quickly analyze the wildlife threat on your property and take the best steps toward removal in a manner that ensures the safety of your family and your pets and with minimal risk to the wild animal.

• Clay is heavy, so bags and containers can be harder to lift.
• Although clay is a natural product, it’s a nonrenewable resource.
• It can be dusty.

SCOOPABLE LITTER

This is also known as clumping. Basically it clumps together when wet into balls and for that reason it can be easily scooped and disposed of.

Benefits of This Kind of Litter:

• With this kind of litter, manufacturers add some kind of odor control such as baking soda or activated charcoal.
• As it is scoop able, so the clean up process is really very easy.

Drawbacks of This Kind of Litter:

• As these are scoop able so the base of this product is often non renewable resource.
• There are many cat owners who used to flush this product down the toilet which in future can clog the plumbing system and hurt the environment.

BIO-DEGRADABLE LITTER

Among the other litter, this is known as the best cat litter. They are made from various plant resources like wood, products, corn, wheat, barley and even dried citrus peels.

If you are a new cat owner then you need to consult with an experienced and professional specialist as they are the best medium to help you out from the problem. They can suggest you the best possible measure to make you and your cat happy.