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Advice on Feeding a New Cat

Cat Advice Admin — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:19:13 +0000

One of the most important things to consider when bringing home your new cat is it’s health and nutrition. A balanced, healthy diet is essential to the growth and well being of your kitten. Variety in a diet is always important as it ensures two things. Firstly, that the cat receives a wide range of nutrients to promote health and growth, secondly it will prevent her from getting bored of what she eats. Cats can be quite fussy eaters.

To ensure a healthy supply of protein, include offal, fish and eggs in her diet. To promote good eyesight, taurine is an effective option. Cats enjoy fat in their diet. A moderate supply of fat is healthy and is a good source of vitamins A, D and E. Calcium is essential for healthy teeth and bones, this is found in milk but not often found in canned foods. Milk is often a good supplement for canned foods which alone, can sometimes provide inadequate for growing cats.

It is possible to over-feed or under-feed your cat. Be sure to monitor her weight and level of activity carefully and adjust food intake levels accordingly. It is less likely that you will over-feed a kitten than you will a more mature, less active cat. Nevertheless, always pay close attention to weight and mobility.

Canned foods offer a quick and easy way to feed your pet but sometimes do not provide adequate nutrients for a growing cat. It is you role as a responsible cat owner to find out which type offers your cat the best nutrition. Many commercial brands have a variety of different ‘dishes’ and kitten food. The same brands often advise cat owners to supplement the pre-preared food with milk and non-canned nutrients. Whiskas offer a specially formulated milk which is digested more easily by young cats. Certain cats find it difficult to digest milk if it has not been treated in order to remove certain enzymes.

A cat should not be fed on a human diet. Their digestive systems are not as resilient as dog’s and they would find it difficult to cope with bits of steak or sausages handed down from the dinner table.

Cat owners wishing to feed their cats on a strictly vegetarian diet should do so with caution. It is important to remember that cats are meat eaters by nature. Their digestive systems are not designed to be deprived of meat. A cat gets many of it’s essential vitamins and minerals from meat so consider the implications of this before you make the final decision.

If any cat owner is unsure of how to be feeding their cat they should their vet or a dietician.

Separation Anxiety in Cats

Cat Advice Admin — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:56:34 +0000

It’s an increasing concern for many cat owners, how to keep their cats pacified when they leave the home. Unlike dogs, cats aren’t as prone to separation anxiety – but keeping our cats entertained when we’re not home is good for their mental health and provides adequate brain stimulation for them.

Separation Anxiety in Cats – Top Tips

Millions of cats watch as their owners leave for work every morning, with only themselves for company until teatime. Too many people are under the mistaken assumption that cats will happily fend for themselves. Cats can fend for themselves but they won’t necessarily be happy doing at all the time.

Cats are animals which thrive on mental stimulation and the company of humans.

Cats often augment their reputation as destructive house pets by doing things out of boredom. Cat owners could prevent this type of inconvenience by simply trying one of many easy and effective methods of feline entertainment from the comfort of your own workplace.

Cats will benefit the most from having companionship all the time. If you are a full time worker and can see no other alternative to letting your cat roam free, why not consider acquiring another cat or even a dog. This will develop the social skills of both parties and will prevent any remote chance of boredom.

If a second pet is not an option for you, an alternative is to place mirrors around the home. Although this sounds not unlike an insult to the cat’s intelligence, it does provide a very useful function. It will enhance the amount of visual stimulation that your cat will receive while she is on her own. It will also help or socialisation techniques and prevent her from becoming lonely.

Any movable objects are fantastic stimuli for the active and inquisitive cat. A weighted ball that changes direction is a fantastic and trouble free way of entertaining her, and it will keep her fit. Always ensure, as with children, that there no dangerous components to any of the toys you give to your cat which could be swallowed and cause choking.

Provide areas for the cat to go where she can reach different heights and angles. This will satisfy her climbing urges and will be a safer and more convenient alternative to a sharp set of claws travelling up the side of any valuable furniture. She will be able to experience different temperatures and lights and will be able to get away from the boredom of the house.

Cats enjoy exploring boxes and tubs so any old packaging left for to play with will provide her with lots of new spaces and areas to go into.

Rotate her toys so that she thinks she has a new one each day, this prevents her from getting used to the same challenge. Leaving the radio or television on will also help prevent boredom and will provide a feeling of familiarity to an otherwise lonely house.

If you haven’t already, install a cat flap so that she has access to a garden or yard. If you do not wish for her to have constant access to the outside world you can get flaps that can be locked or fixed so only certain actions can be made through the cat flap. (For your information. Sir Isaac Newton, the man who discovered gravity, is also the man who gave the world the cat flap)

If none of the above are possible, at least ensure that she has access to a window so that she can have a look at the outside world.

How to Stop Cats from Fouling in Your Garden

Cat Advice Admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 10:12:18 +0000

If you have a garden, one of the most important pet questions you might have is probably how to get the neighbourhood cats from fouling in your flower or vegetable patch. The truth is any cat that doesn’t use a litter tray will have to do his business somewhere and the garden usually seems like the ideal place!

The garden is so appealing to the neighbourhood cats because it offers ample opportunity to cover up what they have left behind. However, while most cats do cover up their business, others do not. And that’s likely where the problem of cats fouling your garden comes in. This can be especially irritating if the culprit is not your own cat. The idea of cat faeces lying in your garden can be smelly and disgusting. It can also become a danger to your family, especially the children.

Dangers of Cat Faeces

Cat faeces are harmful to humans when close contact occurs. The most common risks from cat faeces include toxoplasmosis and E. Coli. Toxoplasmosis is actually an infection caused by a parasite that can only happen when it is ingested. Ingestion of toxoplasma gondii occurs when someone comes into contact with cat faeces and doesn’t wash properly afterward. Anyone with compromised immune systems is at high risk of this infection.

The E. Coli bacterium is usually harmless as it lives in most animal and human intestine tracts. However, some strains can cause illness if ingested that ranges from diarrhoea to death. Both can be avoided by washing well after coming into contact with cat waste. The higher risk comes from cat diarrhoea. You can minimize risk by properly managing cat waste in your garden or by preventing the cat from using your garden as a litter tray.

Methods of Prevention

There is no one way of stopping the neighbourhood cats from fouling in your garden because every cat and situation is different. So, what works for one of your neighbours may not necessarily work for you. There are a number of ways you can get a cat to stop eliminating itself in your garden. Your best bet is to try different ideas until you find a solution that works for you.

First of all, if the cat fouling your garden is your own, make sure Kitty has a clean litter tray. If you know who the cat belongs to, speak to the owner about the same topic. If that doesn’t work, you will want to try planting shrubs or placing potted plants around the area the cat likes best. Mulch, gravel, or rocks in the garden also make the garden a little less appealing for the cat.

However, if you are unable to try these ideas, some natural methods may work. Fresh manure or blood meal can be an effective deterrent; however the smell may affect you worse than the cat faeces. For something a little more pleasant, sprinkle a heavy helping of cinnamon, fresh coffee grounds, or citrus peel in your garden every few days. Other natural deterrents include citrus essential oil (lemon or orange), garlic cloves, vinegar, red wine vinegar, and even pine cones. A good old-fashioned squirt gun or sprinkler might also do the trick.

Regardless of what method you prefer to try first, when using spices or oils, it is wise to make sure the soil is damp so that it sticks. However, the damp soil may also deter the cats on its own as they prefer dry soil to damp for relieving themselves. Remember, cats are naturally cleanly animals and prefer not to get dirty.

Many people think that these natural methods of preventing cats from fouling your garden are simply myth, but we can attest that they do work with diligence. One thing to remember is to avoid cruel and unusual methods – natural as some of them may be. Cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, and chilli powder can actually end up harming the cat as they burn. Other repellents such as mothballs, laxatives, and poisons will only be a danger.

What is the Best Cat Magazine

Cat Advice Admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 09:02:27 +0000

We know a lot of our cat loving visitors love to read cat magazines and one of the questions we get asked the most is; what is the best cat magazine?

As you would probably expect, here at cat advice we get through a lot of cat magazines and pet publications in general and there are certainly some excellent cat magazines out there. But let’s change the question around a bit and ask; what cat magazine should I buy? And on this, we have an answer that might surprise you…none of them!

This is because you can get a cat magazine that you don’t have to buy!

Total Cat Magazine is a new magazine that you can get for free (at the time of writing) and for anyone looking to take their very first steps in to the world of cat magazines, what better way to do it than by picking up a cat magazine that is 100% free to subscribe to?

Total Cat Magazine is offering a free subscription to the first few thousand cat lovers who put their name down for the offer.

All you have to do is visit the Total Cat Magazine website (www.totalcat.co.uk) and enter your name and email address.

That’s it!

It’s literally that easy to get a FREE cat magazine subscription (provided the offer is still running by the time you read this).

So in answer to the question: what is the best cat magazine to buy? probably none, when you go and pick one up for absolutely nothing.

www.TotalCat.co.uk

First Aid For Cats

Cat Advice Admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:33:06 +0000

The myth about cats having nine lives can somewhat misleading at times. Especially for the first time cat owner, sometimes they need a little human help in order to keep their impressive reputation in tact. That is why it is useful to have a basic grasp of feline first aid just in case.

Two of the most common feline injuries involve cars and electrical wiring. Cats are inquisitive by nature, especially kittens and can often be found exploring behind the television or on the window ledge. As with most injury related dilemmas, prevention is by far the beast cure. So supposing you have taken all of the precautions you conceivably could and yet your cat still manages to get her teeth round the T.V. cable, what do you do?

In most of these cases where a cat has been hurt or injured, the chances are she will be in shock. Always approach the cat with caution. Do not make undue noise and do not rush up to her as this could well scare her into causing herself more injury. It is advisable to have something handy with which she could be restrained, a cloth or even a t-shirt, is sufficient. If you manage to cover her eyes up she will be slightly less aware of the commotion and subsequently more calm. The next step is to get her to the vet. Before you jump in the car, try to assess the injury. Could there be a broken limb or a deep laceration? In an emergency always call the vet to let him or know that you are on your way so that the right preparations can be made to treat the cat properly.

When lifting a potentially injured cat, do it gently by the scruff of the neck. Also support the cat’s bottom. This will avoid adding pressure or tension to potentially broken skin. Be sure to avoid twisting or bending the spine as this could add more sever injury to an already injured bone. When you have successfully removed the cat from any further danger, it is imperative that you keep her warm. This is to avoid her going into further shock. If she goes into shock she could suffer a cardiac arrest. This is more common in cases where the animal has suffered an initial shock such as a burn or an electrical shock. Keeping the head lower than the rest of the body always help reduce the risk of shock as more blood flowing to the brain aids quicker recovery.

Is your cat often getting herself trapped? It might appear so but this can be misleading. A cat would happily spend a whole day up a tree before she decides to come down for dinner. Leaving a strong smelling food at the bottom and then vacating the area is the best way to encourage her down, tuna is always a safe bet. Human interference in these situations often results in the cat getting scared and vacating the tree via the quickest possible way down, just hope the branches brake the fall!

What if she really isn’t able to get down herself? Get a ladder and slowly and calmly approach her and gently pluck her from her predicament to safety. Check for injuries and keep her warm.

For more serious injuries like a flesh wound, human first aid and common sense are the best ways of helping. Pressure to the wound stems the blood flow and blood loss. Keeping the wound above the heart slows down blood loss, then get her straight to the vet, do not waste time by trying to clean the wound.

Compare Cat Insurance

Cat Advice Admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:15:15 +0000

Cat Insurance Comparison Site

CompareCatInsurance.com is a new cat insurance comparison site launched by specialist pet publishing company, K9 Media Ltd.

The market for a cat insurance comparison site is growing as more and more cat owners seek to compare cat insurance polices when deciding on the best cat insurance product for their pet.

Along with dog insurance, there has been a steady increase in interest from cat owners, keen to learn about the various benefits to cat insurance.

You can use the site to compare cat insurance polices or to get a best cat insurance quote:

www.comparecatinsurance.com

Toxic Mould Can Kill Cats

Cat Advice Admin — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:48:10 +0000

The deaths of two cats from what is believed to be the first documented case of toxic black mold poisoning in pets point to a new health concern for pet owners, according to a veterinarian who co-authors a report in the Sept. 1, 2007, issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Douglas Mader, a veterinary specialist in Marathon, Fla., was performing routine dental procedures on two cats when he noticed frothy blood within endotracheal tubes used to supply anesthesia to the animals. The veterinarian immediately stopped the procedures, but both animals died — one the following day, the other about two weeks later.

“The circumstances of these cases are just not heard of,” Mader said. “Anesthesia doesn’t cause pulmonary hemorrhage [bleeding from the lungs.]” These were healthy, indoor cats. Examinations conducted prior to the dental cleanings showed no indications of illness.

Blood collected prior to the cats’ death was tested and demonstrated the presence of the toxin produced by Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as “toxic black mold.” Exposure to the mold can cause respiratory-related health problems, pulmonary hemorrhage and death in people. It had not previously been associated with disease in pets, Mader said.

The toxin from the black mold causes a weakening of the capillaries in the lungs. When the capillaries are stressed, they burst and bleed. The cats died from complications arising from the pulmonary hemorrhage.

The cats lived in a home that sustained water damage during a hurricane in October 2005, seven months prior to the development of pulmonary hemorrhage. After Mader discovered the presence of the toxins, he urged the cats’ owners to check their home for mold.

“Sure enough, they had very severe mold contamination in their walls,” Mader said.

Mader hopes the report will raise awareness that illnesses associated with mold can also affect pets, particularly those living in flood-prone areas. He also suggests pet owners share more information with their veterinarian.

“I think the most important thing is for clients to be aware of things in their environment that could potentially impact the health of animals,” Mader said. “They need to let their veterinarian know.”

The AVMA and its more than 75,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health. Visit the AVMA Web site at http://www.avma.org/ for more information.

Litter Box Problems With My Cat

Pete Meisinger — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:06:39 +0000

- Q – I have had Musette for five years, and during that time traveled considerably with my job. Musette and I moved to Virginia in June 2002. I do not travel as much, but must go hom to check on my Mother periodically in North Carolina. Now when I travel, even though she has a pet sitter, she has started pooping on the rug once a day instead of the litter box (still pees in the litter box).

Since my last weekend trip, she has started pooping on the rug once a day even when I am home (usually at night when I am asleep).

Her litter is cleaned every day; she gets plenty of food and drinks plenty of water; she get s a great deal of play time. I need some advice on how to stop this new bad habit, or some advice as to why she is doing this. If it was just when I am out of town, I would say it is because she does not like to be left alone at night; but now that it is happening when I am in the house, I am at a loss.Please help me to help her — she is a very sweet, very playful cat.
Paula J. Garber, Sterling, Virginia

- A - Paula, Has she had any type of surgery or have you changed the type of litter you are using? I would:

1. Make sure the spot she is using on the rug is completely clean and deodorized to remove her scent from the area (they sell these products at Petsmart)
2. Put her in a Tokyo cage with food, water and a litterbox for 3 or 4 days to retrain her, or confine her to a smaller room such as a bathroom for the same reason. Let her out to play with you but put her up when you go to work or at night for those few days.
3. Try a different litter; if you are using clay try clumping, etc.You need to nip this quickly as the longer she continues the harder it will be to break her of this new habit. Please read the article at the following URL as it deals with litterbox problems.

Although it is aimed at the multi-cat household the methods for correction are the same.

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/litter-box-problems.html
Hope this helps. Pete

How to Stop My Cat Chewing

Pete Meisinger — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:59:47 +0000

- Q – My husband and I adopted a cat from a local shelter 8 months ago. For 8 months we have been trying to curb his bad behavior of chewing on cardboard boxes. He has ruined many in our basement. We have no other room in the house for the litter box, other than the basement, so we cannot keep him out of there. What can we do to stop this behavior? We have tried all of the traditional means we can think of, and my husband is really losing patience with him!
Danielle,

- A - You might try spraying the boxes with a hot pepper spray or a cheap cologne/perfume. It will only take a few tastes for him to associate cardboard with a bad experience. I would also look at the food you are feeding; is it a quality food or a bargain brand? He may not be getting the supplements he needs if the food is loaded with fillers such as ground corn rather than meat, vitamins, etc. There are also cat toys with leather laces you could provide to steer his chewing toward a more acceptable manner. All else failing, I would have your Vet take a look at him for his recommendations.

Most Popular Cat Names

Cat Advice Admin — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:46:32 +0000

Consider this, you have just got this cute little kitten, you are prepared, you have got a nice warm home for it, the litter tray is ready and waiting for action, the kitten’s toys are on standby and your cupboard is stocked with food and drink for the little one.

‘What’s it called?’ some one says, you stare expressionless at them, tumbleweed blows across your living room.
The naming of your cat is one of the first steps in creating a long lasting bond with your cat, it is not a decision to be taken lightly, give the matter some thought, and whilst you are thinking, read these tips, they may help you, they may not.

If you are going to choose a ‘Fifi Trixibelle’ type name for your cat, try to make sure that the name can be shortened, preferably to no longer than two syllables. Make sure that you are comfortable with the shorter version, as you will probably find that you use it more. A shorter name is also easier for the cat to learn.

If you have other pets in the house, try to have a distinctive sounding name for your cat. We usually give meanings to names and it wont be easy for any of your pets if they all sound alike, if you call your cat ‘Fluffy’ and your dog ‘Toffee’, can you imagine the melee at dinner time. Dogs and cats do react differently to sound patterns.

Also remember that tiny kitten sleeping in your hands may grow up to be a large cat and you may like the idea of your large adult cat being called ‘Tiny’, that’s your choice and as far as I am aware cats don’t give a monkeys about their name. However, if you are looking for a name that will describe your cats personality in years to come, please bear in mind that as a kitten grows, its looks and personality will change.

If you have named your kitty after a dear departed cat, don’t expect the cat to become an identical cat to it. Each cat is very different, even if the cat looks the same; my guess is that she will probably turn out to be very different.

If you want to be creative with your name, then be creative. The naming of a cat is nothing like naming a child. If you call the cat ‘Twinkle Toes’ you will not cause him any psychological difficulties and as far as I am aware, the other cats in the area will not make fun of the cat because of the name.

There is no right and wrong into naming your kitten, I had two cats called ‘Stan Laurel’ & ‘Oliver Hardy’ because I am a fan of the comedy duo, I made sure that I had a ginger kitten as Stan Laurel had red hair in real life, and I made sure that I had a well proportioned size kitten as Oliver Hardy was, well, well proportioned. I used to call them ‘Stan’ & ‘Ollie’ but would introduce them to my friends as ‘Mr Laurel & Mr Hardy’.

The 10 Most Popular Cat Names (UK)

CATS
1.      Molly
2.      Charlie
3.      Tigger
4.      Poppy
5.      Oscar
6.      Smudge
7.      Millie
8.      Daisy
9.      Max
10.     Jasper