Most people feed their cats a diet of dried food for the reason that it’s more convenient and their cats enjoy it. Plus, it’s cost effective as well, unfortunately this is not good for their health.

The majority of the dry foods for pets lack qualtiy nutrition, in opposition to what the manufacturers want you to believe. A healthier diet you can provide for your cat is one that is similar to what they would eat in the wild.

The food cats eat in the wild is much higher in protein compared to most of the commercial dry foods. Another thing to be concerned about dry food is that it is deficient in moisture and it is essential for the cat to drink plenty of fresh water when eating mostly dry food.

Although, there are formulations for young and old cats, fur ball formulas, and a variety of combinations intended to enhance your cat’s health, a diet consisted of fresh meat, fish and poultry will improve your cat’s health even more those processed foods.

Then there are high quality canned cat foods on the market that contain high protein and adequate moisture to maintain your cats health.

However you need to know about the ingredients being used in these canned cat foods, while there are still some actually high in carbohydrates which can result in your cat becoming diabetic.

There are many byproducts put in pet foods which are not of high nutritional value. Also most cat foods have wheat products, garlic, and onion, corn and other ingredients that aren’t just bad for your cat, but can make your cat very ill.

Making sure your cat gets good nutrition is as important as providing a safe environment to see to it that you’ll have the joy of having him around in the years to come.

Exactly what should your cat be eating?

You have to understand what cats in the wild require in order to choose the best quality food sources for them. Cats in the wild will eat mice and birds. This type of diet is high in protein and and it is important for your cat to have adequate protein to sustain good health. 

A steady diet of feeding your cat carbohydrates could result in not producing enough insulin and not being able to maintain normal blood glucose levels. 

A few symptoms that your cat is becoming diabetic could be from drinking large amounts of water in addition to eating more often than before. You could have also observed a sign of weakness in the back legs as they are likely to wobble somewhat while walking.  

The most effective way to find out if your cat is developing diabetes is to get a blood test done. However you could have the urine tested to examine the blood glucose levels, although not the most accurate method.

In contrast to humans and other animals it is possible for cats with diabetes to go into remission when high carbohydrates are cut out of their diet. Additional protein will help get the blood glucose back at normal levels.

Most dry commercial food is especially harmful to cats due to being high in carbohydrates and although your cat may enjoy eating it, as a result of the additives being put into these dry foods, it doesn’t do much good for their health.

The reason dry food is well-liked is simply because it’s convenient and cats tend to be very picky eaters. Unfortunately, they will eat anything that appeals to their tastebuds even though it is not healthy for them. That is why it is important to make sure you feed them a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. There are commercial foods on the market that are high in protein, low in carbohydrates, free of harmful ingredients. The first ingredient on the label should be animal based protein. The entire protein should be listed first. Essential fatty acids must be added – this is the utmost importance for allergies, arthritis and cancer prevention. It should also contain additional antioxidents, such as vitamin E, vitamin C and flavanoids. Also making your cats food is another option to consider.

Cats that have suffered abuse may have bodies that look horribly maimed and damaged, while others may come across unscathed in their physical appearance, they may have endured internal and emotional damage, which is harder to overcome. Cats who have been through physical abuse will still respond to a soft touch and soft voice, once they know the abuse is over for good.

With a emotionally abused cat you will need to be patient with him and let him know you are nothing to fear. Give the cat time to come to you, he doesn’t know whether you will hurt him or not. When he does come to you, let him sniff you, speak to him in a soothing tone of voice while you pet him. In a matter of time he will be able to trust you and come to you when you call him.

If you yell, raise your voice, incorrectly use flyswatters or water guns as disciplinary tools it can cause emotional damage. With an emotionally scrarred cat, repeating the wrong type of disipline can make the cat mean or lethargic. Mean cats are easier to work with, because they are concerned about what will become of them, while lethargic cats simply don’t care anymore.

Cats that become lethargic refuse to play, accept treats, or respond to anything you say to them.

With a lethargic cat, the best way to get him to respond is to take in a companion cat. In a matter of time a lethargic cat will seek attention, usually a scratch or a pat. When this happens, you should talk to him if a soothing voice and snuggle with him. Never raise your voice at this stage, and always let the cat know his behavior has changed for the better. 

Always be careful when moving around a lethargic cat for he hasn’t recovered from the trauma. Any sudden movement or raising your voice will only frighten the cat and drive him back into hiding. You need to continue to speak to him in a soft voice and be patient. Overtime your cat will eventually overcome this. Expect to go through a long and intensive healing period when dealing with a lethargic cat. It will take patience on your part.

On the other hand, mean cats will fight or scratch you, or run away from you. When working with mean cats, it is best to treat them gently while using a soft voice. It will only make the cat meaner if you raise your voice or use strict disipline. Don’t ever trap a cat, trapping will only further upset the cat. The cat will eventually calm down if you take your time and let him know you are there for him. 

Sadly, there are cats who have suffered horrific abuse. Abused cats need a caring owner who will provide a loving, stable home environment for them. They have been through a traumatic experience and need to be treated with tender loving care.

If you are planning on traveling by airplane and want to take your cat with you. Then you will want to know what to do to prepare your cat for air travel in order for the trip to go more smoothly.

First of all you need to know what the restrictions and policies are for pet travel. Not all airlines allow pets to travel in the cabin with their owners, but only in the cargo hold.

Which can be dangerous to your cat. Cargo holds are noisy and the temperature changes can be severe. As a result he could experience psychological damage, even die from frostbite or heatstroke. Then there’s always the risk the cat will end up getting lost.

To ensure your cat’s safety while flying, it is better to choose an airline that will let your cat ride in the cabin with you. If someone tells you that pets are permitted in the cabin, then get it in writing to prevent unpleasant surprises at the airport.

You’ll have to purchase an airline ticket for your pet. The cost of the ticket is determined by the type and size and the airline.

Get a pet carrier that is durable, non-collasible, locking carrier. Also the carrier must meet airline requirements as far as size and dimension is concerned. Each airline has different requirements.

Take your cat to the vet for a check-up to be up to date on your cat’s health and any vacinations that may be required when traveling with your cat. You’ll need a health verification certificate from your veterinarian 10 days before your flight to ensure your pet will be able to board the plane.

Provide your cat with a portable water bowl, mini food dish, a pee pad and other things he may need while traveling.

It is important for your cat to wear a collar with an ID tag for the duration of the trip. Also the carrier should have your name, both home and cell numbers, home address, travel destination. Plus include your pet’s name, gender, age, specie type, any health issues he may have. The veterinarians name and phone number should be provided as well.

Take into consideration that cats don’t like to be taken out of their territory, so you may want to sedate him for the flight. Always give your cat lots of tender loving care to sooth him.

If you are looking to give your cat that sleek look, then you will want to start with the top cat grooming tools. With so many different kinds of brushes, combs and shampoos to choose from – how do you know which tools are right for your cat? The following information in this article will help you better decide.

A soft bristle brush works well on any cat, shorthaired or longhaired. Picking a brush with a broad head and supple bristle will make brushing more pleasant for your kitty as well as you. The soft bristles remove loose hairs and stimulate the cat’s skin oils. Longhaired cats need to be brushed at least two times a week. Brushing alone might not get rid of all the mats and tangles, so additional tools may be needed.

A metal comb has stiff, sturdy tines can effectively loosen mats, A steel comb works best for grooming wirehair cats.

A grooming glove is ideal for cats who don’t like to be brushed. You put the mitt over your hand and run the glove over the cat in a petting motion while the rubber bristles catch the loose fur.

The de-matting tool is designed with specially-shaped tapered metal tines placed at a right angle to the handle. This tool works best for loosening those stubborn mats, which is perfect for longhaired cats.

The tangle splitter works best on the most difficult mats. This device is equipped with one or two blade-like tines for spot grooming.

And if your cat has fleas, the flea comb has narrow tines to help remove fleas while you comb the cat.

Wet shampoo: Shampooing your cat is a question of whether he needs it or not. If your cat requires a bath then choose shampoos that are strictly for cats to prevent your kitty from being exposed to any dangerous chemicals. Also take into consideration what your cats needs are when choosing a shampoo. There are products that are tearless, protein-enhanched for a sleeker coat, de-shedding, color-enhanching, flea eliminating or kitten friendly.

Dry shampoo: You can try dry shampoo if your kitty can’t stand taking a bath. Dry shampoo comes in a spray bottle and safely remains on the cat’s coat after spritzing – no water is needed

Eyes and Ears Grooming Tools

Cotton balls work best to reduce the stress while cleaning the cat’s eyes and ears. When cleaning a cat’s ears, dip a cotton ball into a ear flushing solution formulated only for cats. Be careful and don’t over-soak the cottonball, because the excess liquid could get inside their ears. Carefully pull back the cat’s ear and wipe the inside with cotton, but avoid pressing too far into the canal. 

You can also use a similar technique to clean a cat’s eye with a cotton ball swabbed in an eye-flushing solution.

Tear stain remover works by applying a small amount of the solution to the stained area using a cotton ball. For best results, repeat this practice for over several days to maintain a stain-free eye area.

Claws And Teeth Grooming Tools

Feline nail clipper: Nail clippers designed only for cats will increase the safety of the claw-clipping procedure. Cats have a vein in their nails called a quick, which can be painful to clip into, so only clip the tips of the claws. Press the pad so only the nails stick out. Start clipping at the very end and clip only a little bit at a time. If the nail starts to look pink, then it’s time to quit.

Feline toothbrush: A brush with bristles works best for oral hygiene care. Unfortunately most cats will not tolerate even the smallest toothbrush. As an alternative, there is A user-friendly feline toothbrush that fits right over your finger for easy cleaning.

With the right grooming tools and approach you will have your kitty looking healthy and pretty in the least amount of time.

Cats are naturally nightime creatures. In the wild they do most of their hunting at night and sleep during the day. But your cat is in indoor cat and doesn’t need to hunt for his food. Still he keeps you up at night due to his nocturnal instincts. The good news is you help him meet his needs and you can still get good nights rest.

Here’s what you can do. Play vigorously with him for 30 minutes before you go to bed. When you play with him use toys he can, stalk, chase and capture. After playing, give him food high in protein. This will satisfy his hunting needs. Afterward take the time to groom him to further relax him. He will then be sleepy.

Also you can provide your cat with many different toys, scratching posts, cat trees and cat activity centers to help him use up excess energy during the day, which in turn will make him less active at night.

Just don’t play with him at night before bed but schedule a time to play during the day as well. Cats enjoy human companionship and it’s a great way for you to bond with your kitty. Which means he won’t be waking you up for attention.

If your cat wakes you up at night, don’t get up to play and feed him this will only encourage him to wake you up at night, thus becoming a habit. Better yet, keep your cat in another room with food, water, toys, litter box, scratching post and a comfortable bed to keep him from disturbing you at night.

Don’t use physical punishment on a cat when trying to solve any problem behavior. It will only make the cat afraid of you and it won’t solve anything. Instead get the cat to associate the bad behavior with negative consquences.

Another thing, if your cat has been quiet during the night but has started disturibing your sleep then taking him to the vet might uncover a medical problem you weren’t aware of.

Now that you know what you need to do to calm your cat down, hopefully you can sleep peacefully. Sweet dreams!

A cat’s claws are used for different reasons. The claws mean a lot to cats, since they help a cat to balance himself. If you have ever watched a cat jump and hold onto a high object, most likely you see that he used his claws for getting up. When they climb up a tree, cats typically use their claws to hold onto the limb and climb where they are going.

Cat’s claws are also used to stretch, walk, and run. A cat’s claws are the main way it has to protect itself from harm, from people and from other animals. Nearly all cats have very sharp claws, since a cat’s claws and teeth are generally the only weapons they have. The claws are necessary for taking care of bathroom duties also, since cats use claws to dig and hide their excrement with dirt.

Cats scratch with claws also, and this marks their area. Their claws have glands that secrete. When they put their mark on an object, they leave a secretion on the place where they scratched. The cats can detect this, but people can’t. Occasionally, they will scratch so that an older claw will drop off and the new claw under this will grow out.

As disappointing as it is, many pet owners value their possessions, like costly furniture or carpets, more than their cat. The cat owners are scared that the cat will destroy their furnishing or carpeting, and this is why they make a decision to have their cat de-clawed. Having a cat’s claws taken out is an operation, which consists of the end joint in a cat’s foot being cut off where the nail is connected. 

If you have been considering having your cat de-clawed, you should be aware that this could completely alter his personality. After the cat is de-clawed, he will be hurt and confused. It will be difficult, maybe even impossible, for him to jump on the couch, get through the window, or play like he used to. Some cats, following being de-clawed, become mean and use their teeth to bite. In other words, the cat will be very unhappy, which is hard for loving owners to cope with.

People who choose to have cats should be aware that a cat can scratch occasionally. People should not consider owning a cat if they cannot accept that a cat will scratch sometimes. Cats make wonderful pets, however cats have claws and they will use them sometimes. There are many other wonderful pets available if you can’t deal with a cat. If your concern is only your furniture or carpet, there are methods you can use to prevent your cat from scratching your possessions.

Purchasing a scratching post, showing it to your cat, and demonstrating how to use it is one of the first steps you should take to keep him from scratching on other things. You can also buy a rush mat, which will assist your cat with his inclination for scratching. You might have to show your cat how to use the mat or post, but they’ll learn quickly. Your cat will stop scratching on your furniture and carpet once you have demonstrated the way he should use the scratching post or mat.

Many people don’t realize that there are alternatives to getting their cat de-clawed that will still protect their possessions. Having a cat’s claw taken out hurts very much and it is perplexing to the cat, and it might completely alter the way he looks at things. For the sake of your cat, you should consider other available options before pursuing the inhumane treatment of de-clawing your cat.

If you observe your cat backing up against something like a door and raising his tail to pass urine, this is a sign of trouble. This issue is called spraying, and it is quite typical for indoor cats. It can be really annoying, but you can fix it. 

Despite common beliefs, spraying has nothing to do with litter box issues, but is rather about marking territory. Cat pee that is sprayed has pheromones in it, which is a chemical that cats and various animals use to communicate. Pheromones are similar to fingerprints, in that they help with identification of cats and different creatures. 

As a cat sprays, he is only marking his area with his pee. Spraying is merely how a cat marks out the boundaries of his domain for other animals. While it might cause you to become angry, this does not do anything to resolve the problem. Shouting at or scolding your cat often just causes it to spray again. 

When cats are in heat, they find the smell of urine very appealing. When cats are in heat, they spray to attract a partner. Frequently a cat that sprays when it is in heat will deliver kittens within a matter of months. Remember that it is not always because they are in heat that cats spray; some will also spray if they come up against another cat, or during other times of stress. 

While cats use spraying in order to communicate, the odor is quite foul to humans. Luckily the most common place for cats to spray is outside rather than indoors. Those who own cats that are always kept inside may have a real issue with spraying. In the event that you observe spraying in your home, it is necessary to act on this at once. 

The best and most easy method to put a stop to spraying is to have your cat sterilized or spayed, depending on if it a male or a female. Male cats which are neutered no longer spray, stopping as soon as the procedure is performed. 

If this situation occurs with your cat, discuss it with your veterinarian. It is possible that this is a health issue, and your veterinarian will be able to determine this. Additionally if your cat is spraying because he is going through a stressful situation, you have to find out why he is this way; then you can deal with it and mostly likely he will quit spraying completely. You must always react the moment that spraying begins – just because cat pee has a bad smell and it can leave spots anywhere in your home.

Having a pet can be a wonderful adventure and they make great companions, but just like having a child, animals can get sick too. So what do you do when your pet has a health problem? In particular, how do you take care of cats eyes? Like any creature that loses their sight, when a cat’s eye infection gets bad enough that it can cause blindness, they become listless and afraid. This, in turn, can cause agitation and aggressiveness in the cat so it is important to stay up to date on how to care for the eyes of your cat and to make sure you know what to look for that would be signs they should see a veterinarian.

With animals, keeping them well groomed and clean can usually make it possible to avoid common problems. With cats, if you keep them clean and monitor their eyes, you can keep the eyes of your cat free from disease. Gently clean their eyes from mucus, make sure the hair around their eyes is trimmed enough that it can’t get into their eyes, and clean the tear stained fur around their eyes.

One of the symptoms of an eye infection in a cat is reddish coloring on their eyes. Cat eyes are always clear and moist. If you see anything other than this, it is a good idea to make sure their eyes are not infected. Excessive tearing or mucus forming in or around the eye are other signs that there could be an eye infection in your cat. Another disease that some cats can get is conjunctivitis, otherwise known as pink eye. This disease is highly contagious and must be treated immediately to avoid your cat passing it from one eye to the other or passing it onto other animals. It is treated with an ointment that you put into the eye of few times each day. 

Most infections can be treated with ointments or drops, but some eye problems need to be treated with surgery. Two of these are glaucoma and cataracts. Both of the surgeries for these diseases are done to avoid the cat going blind. With any infection in your cats eyes, you need to make sure action is taken immediately to avoid it getting this extreme and most of all, to avoid your cat losing its sight altogether.

People who have cats are aware of the truth that bad cat breath is terrible. As is the case with bad breath in humans, it is caused by bacteria found in the mouth; the bacteria breaks down protein and in the process, expels into the air sulfur compounds. If you have ever smelled sulfer, you know it’s really awful on it’s own; this is why breath containing sulfer smells really bad too. The bacteria that results in your cat’s bad breath is usually a result of tartar building up around the teeth and gums. Tartar has a yellow color, and it is a mixture of bacteria, food, and minerals.

To get rid of your cat’s bad breath, you’ll have to get rid of the tartar that has built up on its teeth. If the tartar has built up too much, then you will have to have a veterinary professional clean your cat’s teeth. The foul smelling breath will disappear after you have the tartar removed from its teeth.

You might be able to clean your cat’s teeth by yourself at home. There are a couple of different kinds of toothpastes you can buy for use with your pet; they usually come in a variety of flavors. You wil have to use a mechanical toothbrush, since the movement is extremely vital for taking away tartar buildup. Look for a toothpaste that has enzymes, as they will dissolve the tartar buildup, thus taking care of bad breath. You can retard any kind of tartar buildup that results in bad breath if you begin brushing your cat’s teeth early in life.

Another thing to think about is what kind of food you are giving your cat to eat. There are a variety of pet foods on the market that have impurities that could be the cause of your cat’s bad breath along with other health issues. For your cat’s sake, learn about the ingredients that pet food contains. There are commercial pet foods that are free of harmful ingredients. If you shop and give your cat only healthy foods and treats, it can help eliminate his bad breath immensely. You can also purchase treats that are created to get rid of tartar; use these when you want to give your pet a special treat. Always give cats treats that are made to help control tartar buildup. Plus, brushing or rinsing out your cat’s mouth after he has eaten will get rid of bacteria before it has had a chance to form hard buildup on his teeth. Usually this works best if you wait about 30 minutes, so your cat doesn’t associate mealtime with having his teeth brushed. This will cause the cat to be anxious about mealtime, which could lead to other more serious health issues.

The foul smell in some cat’s mouths may be from a cause other than tartar or just having bad breath. In these situations, this could be a liver or kidney ailment. If you notice your pet has bad breath and you are sure tartar isn’t the cause, you should get your cat in to visit the vet immediately. Even if it could be nothing more than tartar buildup. It’s better to err on the side of caution. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose the problem, tell you what caused it and tell you what you need to do to fix it.

 

 

　

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