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.

 

 

　

Anyone who owns a pet knows that one of the scariest things in the world is when your pet gets sick and you don’t know how to treat the problem. For cat owners, one major illness is cat ear mites. When your cat comes down with this disease, which is when insects called mites get inside the cat’s ear and hatch eggs in it, there are many ways to treat it depending how deep in the ear the ear mites have gotten.

Herbal remedies work well on the outside of the ear, but if the ear mites have gotten in a bit further, medications can work to rid the ear mites from the cat’s ears. If the mites have gotten to the middle and inner ear, the veterinarian needs to be seen immediately to prevent further damage.

One of first signs that your cat has cat ear mites is when you see a black or brown discharge from the cat’s ear. At this point, it is a good idea to swab the cat’s ear with a cotton swab. If you pull out the cotton swab and it is covered with ear mites, see the vet immediately. Within 21 days, the ear mite eggs can hatch so treatment needs to be done every single day for all 21 days to make sure your cat is rid of the problem completely. The treatment needs to be done in each ear even if the mites are only present in one ear. Ear mites travel across the head of the cat and can get into the uninfected ear very easily so treat both ears to rid your cat completely of the mites. If you own any other pets or if your cat is in contact with any other animals, they need to be treated as well as the ear mites can spread very easily from one animal to another. If you take the precautions listed and treat your animal for all 21 days, you can easily get rid of this annoying pest. 

For someone who wants to protect their cat from ever getting ear mites, there is one home remedy that has proven effective. It is a mixture of mullein flowers and olive oil. Cook the mixture for six hours on low heat in a crock pot then strain the flowers and put the liquid into a jar in your refrigerator for one month. When you want or need to use the mixture, just warm to room temperature and put a dropper’s worth into your cat’s ear to prevent ear mites from taking up residence. When you do things like this to take care of your cat’s ear, ear mites shouldn’t be a problem.

Arlene developed a suspicious looking spot on the tip of her left ear. Like most blue-eyed, fair complected individuals, she was naturally more prone to sunburns, but the spot was largely ignored. She later died from complications due to skin cancer. A tragic and cautionary tale. But unlike other similar stories, Arlene was a cat. A lovely white cat with a pink nose. Her owner did not realize that Arlene could be prone to cat skin cancer and only after a fateful vet trip did she realize that her death could have been avoided.

It is important to note that not all cats are prone to cat skin cancer. Just as light skinned people are more at risk than dark, so it is the same with felines. A cat’s fur normally affords them natural protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays. However, white fur on ears and pink noses do not provide any immunity since the tissue in those areas are thinner and burn easily.

There are three things a concerned owner of a feline prone to cat skin cancer can do to avoid this illness. The first is to keep the cat indoors. Obviously, if the cat is never exposed to the sun’s harmful rays, then the problem is avoided altogether. However, this is sometimes not possible if the kitty is only an outdoor pet or is already accustomed to having the run of the neighborhood. The second method a concerned owner can do to prevent cat skin cancer is to apply a complete spectrum sunscreen to the ears and nose. Veterinarians recommend using lotions designed for babies and toddlers, since they contain less irritating ingredients that could be toxic to the cat. The last prevention method of cat skin cancer is to have the cat’s ears and nose tattooed a darker pigment so those areas are no longer vulnerable to UV rays and skin cancer.

Last, if a cat owner notices an irregular shaped dark spot on their cat’s ears or nose, it is a good idea to have it checked by a veterinarian right away. If it turns out to be cancerous, the vet can perform surgery to remove the tumor or provide radiation therapy. Remember the best treatment is prevention!

Are you thinking of adopting a cat? Yes, they do make great pets, but you need to understand what caring for a cat involves, before taking on the responsibility of cat ownership. 

Do you have the financial means to support a cat?

The cost of cat ownership can really add up with food, treats, toys, scratching posts, cat furniture, litter, litterboxes, flea treatment, veterinary visits, pet medications, pet insurance, cat sitters, other miscellaneous expenses.

Are you home often enough to give a cat the attention and care it needs? 

Although cats can be left alone for hours at a time, they still crave love and affection from their owners. It is important that you spend at least 15 minutes a day playing with the cat. Cats need fresh food and plenty of drinking water provided for them daily. Their litterbox needs to be scooped everyday and washed at least once a week. Plus, cats need to be combed everyday, especially longhaired cats. 

Are you willing to put up with any damage that might occur? 

Even though you can train a cat to use a litterbox and scratching post, chew on toys, still you can’t expect your home to be totally free from damage with a cat around. There’s a chance the cat may scratch your furniture, urinate or defecate, vomit on the carpet and furniture. The cat could unexpectly start chewing on things around the house that aren’t appropriate. 

Is your home suitable to accomodate a cat with?

If you have a dog or young children, you need to be certain the cat will be able to adapt to them. Also you need to catproof your home, like keeping the cat away from toxic plants and chemicals. Keeping electrical wires covered up or spraying bitter apple on the wires to prevent the cat from chewing on them.

Will you be able to care for your cat if he becomes ill? 

Cats can and do get sick like people. There’s the possibility you may have to miss a few days from work, stay up all night with your cat, give him medication, clean his eyes, ears nose, abcesses.

Are you willing to make the commitment? 

Cat adoption is not to be entered into lightly. It is something that needs to be well thought out.Cats can live well into their late teens, even twenties. A cat is not like a possession you can decide to get rid of like a household item that no longer suits you. Cat’s can suffer feelings of rejection when abandoned by their owners. You need to expect to be in it for the long haul.

If you can provide a safe, loving home envirement and enough time and commitment, then cat adoption may be an enjoyable experience for you , providing you with unconditional love and companionship for years to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding cat behavior is the key to having a well behaved cat as well as bonding with him.

Most people really believe cats are anti-social and selfish, only showing affection to their owners when they want food.

The truth is most cats really do crave human affection. Usually they are there to greet their owners when they first arrive home, brushing up against them and meowing happily. Eager to sit in their owners lap and be stroked.

Even cats who aren’t lap cats will miss you if you go away for even a few days. For example, my cat Oscar will let me pet him, but does not like to be held. Whenever I go away for more than a day, he’ll let me know he missed me by curling up next to me in bed the first few days I’m back. Once he knows I’m here to stay, he’ll go back to sleeping at the foot of the bed or his mat. Every cat has his own unique way of showing his appreciation for you.

In fact cats are really sensitive creatures and are devastated if they are abandoned by their owners.

Cats have no problem letting you know when they are content, angry, or frightened.

If a cat is content, usually his ears are standing straight up on his head with his tail up in the air while purring.

You can tell a cat is angry when his ears are folded back while giving you a fixed stare, accompanied by a thumping tail. Usually he will growl or hiss or both. He is warning you to back off.

When his ears are flattened against his head with his pupils being dialated that means the cat is really scrared.

Have you ever noticed how a cat rubs his face against people and furniture? They have scent glands around their mouth to mark their territory.

Another way cats mark their territory is by scratching. Cats need to scratch in order to clean their nails and to stretch. Scratching is natural to cats. You can’t stop a cat from scratching, but you can train a cat to use only the scratching post or pad as well as train them not to shred the furniture and drapes.

Cats leave their pheromones by spraying to mark their territory, to relieve stress, communicate with another cat. This can be really annoying when they do it indoors. One of the most effective ways to stop cat spraying is by having your cat neutered or spayed. Also figuring out what could be making your cat stressed and relieving his stress is another way to nip the problem in the bud.

Never yell or use physical punishment to try to correct your cat”s spraying problem. It will make the cat afraid of you and it won’t solve the problem.

Yes cats do have qiurky behaviors which drive you crazy sometimes, but they have their own personalities that make them so lovable.