Lots of information about cats - FELINE FANTASIES! Luxury cat furniture

WHAT ABOUT cat illnesses, and sick cats?

If your cat is not eating.

When cats get sick, they often don't show signs of illness other than a decreased appetite for weeks! Really sick cats just won't eat anything! If more than 3 days go by and your cat has not eaten anything, it would be a good ideato take it to the vet.

Cat disease symptoms. Although the following symptoms are for cancer they can

also be a sign of other problems.

Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow.

Sores that do not heal.

Weight loss.

Loss of appetite.

Bleeding or discharge from any body opening.

Offensive odor.

Difficulty eating or swallowing.

Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina.

Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating.

Cats can get heat strokeso be sure you cat has a cool place and plenty of water.

Here's some symptoms to watch for:

Rapid panting; Bright red tongue; Red or pale gums; Thick, sticky saliva

Depression; Weakness; Dizziness; Vomiting - sometimes with blood

Diarrhea; Shock; and even Coma.

Parasitic infestations are a major cause of illness in animals.

There are too many for me to list here but if your pet is ill this

could be what is causing it to be sick. It's worth a trip to the vet

to find out for sure because there are many parasites that humans

can catch from their pets.

Lumps and bumps:

These could be tumors of a sign of cancer. If detected early enough, many tumours can be successfully removed.

A lack-lustre coat

could mean your cat has or is heading for a variety of problems and any change is worth reporting.

Loss of appetite

is normal with elderly cats, but a true reluctance to eat is a different matter. If your cat goes 3 days without eating it would be a good idea to have it seen by a vet.

Drinking more than normal

could mean the onset of diabetes or one of a variety of chronic disorders .

Fat cats

are not necessarily happy cats. Middle Age Spread could spell problems, a sudden weight loss is equally concerning.

Lethargic behaviour

Could be from the heat but if it continues for several days is worth taking seriously. You could have a very sick cat. Have your cat checked out by a vet.

Cats and Tapeworms:

Cats can get tapeworms from eating mice. If your cat catches a mouse it is best to take the prize away from it. The average cat food meal is the equivalent to about five mice. Though rare, cats can contract canine heart worms. Cats can also get tapeworms from eating fleas. These worms live inside the cat forever, or until they are removed with medication. They reproduce by shedding a link from the end of their long bodies. This link crawls out the cat's nus, and sheds hundreds of eggs. These eggs are injested by flea larvae, and the cycles continues. Humans may get these tapeworms too, but only if they eat infected fleas. Cats with tapeworms should be dewormed by a veterinarian.

Tylenol and chocolate are both poisionous to cats. Never give your cat pain medicine without checking with your vet first. Any kind of chocolate is dangerous but baking chocolate is the most dangerous.

A form of AIDS exists in cats.

Your vet can test and treat this or if not present, vaccinate for it.

When your cat starts urinating in places other than its litterbox.

Whenever cats are having unusual toilet habits, it's important to check for physical problems that may be causing it. Infections, diabetes, and other diseases can change the behavior of a normally litterbox trained cat. Once my mother's cat jumped in the bathroom sink and urinated. She was shocked but quickly discovered there was blood in the urine. A trip to the vet proved Shadow had a blatter infection. Cat's have their own way of letting us know something is wrong so before you scold them watch carefully to see if they are trying to tell you something.

Can you tell if your cat is sick by whether it's nose is cold or not?

Sometimes a cold, wet nose is one sign of good health but not necessarily. Even a healthy cat can have a warm, dry nose on occasion. Therefore, don't rely on this method. If your cat isn't eating, or otherwise is acting unusual, it is best to check with your veterinarian to be sure.

What about vomiting?

The two most common culprits that cause cats to vomit are eating too much or too fast, and hairballs. During grooming, tiny barbs on you cat's tongue pull loose hairs from the coat. These hairs are then swallowed. Since hair is largely indigestible, it is not dissolved by the cat's digestive system. It may then accumulate in the stomach and the intestine. The accumulated hair can interfere with normal digestion and elimination.

Hairballs can cause chronic vomiting, constipation, lethargy, and/or loss of appetite. Hairballs are very uncomfortable for your cat and can lead to more serious complications such as dehydration, weight loss, or intestinal obstruction. Daily brushing of your cat's fur to remove loose hair is good preventive practice. In addition to grooming, hairball lubricants aren't expensive and can be used to help eliminate hairballs and prevent their reoccurrence.

When a cat has consistant, chronic vomiting it is possible that he could have hyperthyroidism. Cats with normal thyroid hormone measurements can still have hyperthyroidism and chronic vomiting can be a symptom. If your cat seems to be vomiting bits of food try giving it small portions at a time. Tubes of hairball lubricants can be found just about everywhere. Personally I've found most work the same the difference is sometimes the taste (our cats like the malt flavor) so you'll have to find out which one your cat likes. Be sure to give your cat the hairball lubricant on an empty stomach (not with his food).

Cats are subject to gum disease

Check their teeth and gums now and then. Once a year they should have their teeth cleaned by the vet or the cat dentist..

Is it okay to feed my cat milk?

A cat's digestive system doesn't digest milk well so it can cause diarrhea. Therefore most veternarians don't recommend it.

Should I feed my cat tuna fish?

Once in a while probably wouldn't hurt but the human variety of tuna fish contains an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1 (thiamine). Cats who regularly eat tuna can develop a vitamin B1 deficiency, which results in neurological symptoms like dilated eyes, loss of equilibrium, seizures and death if this vitamin is not replaced. If your cat likes the taste of tuna then it is better to choose tuna cat food.

What about dog food?

A steady diet of dog food may cause blindness in your cat - it lacks taurine.

Many people fear catching a protozoan disease, Toxoplasmosis, from cats.

This disease can cause illness in the human, but more seriously, can cause birth defects in the unborn. Toxoplasmosis is a common disease, sometimes spread through the feces of cats. It is cause most often from eating raw or rare beef. Pregnant women and people with a depressed immune system should not touch the cat litter box. Other than that, there is no reason that these people have to avoid cats.

The chlorine in fresh tap water irritates

sensitive parts of the cat's nose. Let tap water sit for 24 hours before giving it to a cat.

Purring does not always mean happiness.

Purring could mean a cat is in terrible pain such as during childbirth. Kittens will purr to their mother to let her know they are getting enough milk while nursing. Purring is a process of inhaling and exhaling, usually performed while the mouth is closed. But don't worry, if your cat is purring while your gently petting her and holding her close to you - that is a happy cat!

You check your cats pulse on

the inside of the back thigh, where the leg joins to the body. Normal for cats: 110-170 beats per minute. Normal body temperature for a cat is 102 degrees F.

Pain?

A cat will tremble or shiver when it is extreme pain.

What about asthma?

Cats, just like people, are subject to asthma. Dust, smoke, and other forms of air pullution in your cat's environment can be troublesome sources of irritation.

A great website that has tons of information about all types of cat diseases is: messybeast.com I highly recommend it.

How to keep cats off counters and furniture.

We all love our cats dearly and frequently spoil them, still, we don't like them on our kitchen counters and special furniture. Here's some suggestions that will help.

Two types of the most popular devices that can take care of this are Scat mats which are flat mats that vibrate when an animal steps or sits on them. Pets dislike this stimulation and will avoid it. The other device is a sonic device. It is equipped with a motion sensor. When the motion sensor is triggered, an ultrasonic frequency is emitted that scares the pet away from the area. The sound is barely audible to humans (you would have to hold it up to your ear), so it will not be disruptive. I have a link on my web site to PetSmart who carries these. Their prices are as reasonable as I have found.

Here are a few suggestions you might want to try first since they cost very little.

1. Citrus odor is usually offensive to cats so you could try a citrus spray. My cats used to sit on my washer and dryer, which I didn't mind. However, I bought a citrus odor absorber and put it on top of my dryer because that's where I keep one of their litterboxes. I later noticed they no longer get on the washer and dryer. It's worth a try.

2. Place double-sided tape all over the forbidden area or putting a plastic carpet runner upside-down on it.

3. Another method is to cover the table or counter with something that cats don't like. Cats have a fairly long list of things they could do without, and right on the top of that list is double-sided sticky tape. Check to make sure it won't hurt the surface first, then run strips of this tape across your counters. One jaunt across the sticky stuff should keep your cat grounded for a while. Covering a counter with plastic or tin foil should also do the trick.

4. Make some shake cans. Take a few empty soda cans and put a few pennies in them. Tape over the hole in the top of the can. Next, place some cans all around the edge of your counter. When your cat jumps up, she should knock the cans all over the place. Most cats aren't very fond of loud noises. Cans full of pennies crashing to the ground is usually enough deterrent to keep your cat away from high places for a while.

What about giving cats a bath?

Well I'd definitely say it is better to start bathing them when they are kittens. Spaz was a little older when we started bathing him and doesn't like it at all. We still end up with a lot of scratches.

Now my Mom's cat, Shadow, started getting baths when he was a baby. He whines a lot but doesn't fight her. However, her new kitty, Cuddles, was older when she found him and he throws a fit when she gives him a bath.

When you need to bathe your cat use luke warm water (a couple of inches). Put something in the bottom of the bathtub that will keep him from slipping. This is important......Close the bathroom door. Place kitty in the tub and prepare for a battle.

Cats (especially house cats) are generally pretty clean and a bath once a month will probably be enough. Most over-the-counter pet shampoo will work. Avoid using human shampoos and other human products because they're much too harsh. If your pet has a skin condition, then you need to see your veterinarian because a special shampoo may be needed.

What about teaching a cat to walk with a leash?

I'm definitely not a professional but I know people who have done this. I've noticed that the cats I've been around all seem to have different personalities, just like people, and as we know different things work for different people, same for cats. No matter what type of harness you have give your kitty time to get used to it before trying to take him for a walk.

My mother recently taught her cat, and he is 13 years old. Mom has one of the Safkat Jackets she sells. First she put the jacket on every day for a few minutes until Shadow got used to it. Then she put the leash on every day for short periods of time. The first time she didn't hold onto the leash, just let Shadow walk around the house dragging it. Next she held it but let Shadow do all the leading. Gradually over time Shadow would go where Mom wanted. Then and only then did she take him outside with the leash on. Now he loves it because he knows he gets to go outside. Cuddles, however, didn't want the darn thing on and fought her all the way. When he was small he was able to squirm out of it but as he grew the jacket fit tight enough he couldn't therefore, He too eventually lost the battle and now loves to go for walks.

Teaching a cat to use a scratching post.

An important part of scratching is the cat's desire to mark a territory, so a scratching post should be in an area that's used by the family, not hidden in a back corner. After a time you can move the post away to the periphery of the room, but you'll need to do this gradually.

Initially, put the post where your cat goes to scratch. This may be by a sofa, a chair or wherever Kitty has chosen as her territiory, and you may need more than one post to cover her favorite spots. Security is a major factor in making the post appealing to your cat. If it topples or shakes, she won't use it. It should either be secured to the floor or have a base wide enough and heavy enough to keep it stable.

Don't try to force your cat to use the scratching post. Instead, encourage her to use her post with clever enticements. Feed her and play with her by the post. Rub dried catnip leaves or powder into it. Make all the asssociations with the post pleasurable. Reward her with a favorite treat when she uses it. Have her chase a string or a toy around the post or attach toys to it, which will result in her digging her claws into it. Eventually she will learn to love it and regard it as her own. It's also a good idea to put a post where Kitty sleeps. Cats like to scratch when they awaken, especially in the morning and the middle of the night. If space permits, a scratching post in every room of the house is a cat's delight. The most important place is the area of the house in which you and Kitty spend the most time.

If at first Kitty is reluctant to give up her old scratching areas, there are means you can use to discourage her. Covering the area with aluminum foil or double-sided tape is a great deterrent. These surfaces don't have a texture that feels good to scratch.

Remember too that Kitty has marked her favorite spots with her scent as well as her claws. You may need to remove her scent from the areas you want to distract her away from. You will find pet odor removers in pet stores and many supermarkets as well. Cats also have an aversion to citrus odors. Use lemon-scented sprays or a potpourri of lemon and orange peels to make her former scratching sites less agreeable to her.

If Kitty still persists in scratching the furniture, try squirting her with a water gun or a spray bottle . Another option is a loud whistle or other noise-maker. You must employ these deterrents while she is scratching for them to be effective. The point is to establish an aversion to the spot you don't want her to scratch.

Interesting information about cats:

Cat Bowls: Cats whiskers are very sensitive, so much so that they can detect an object in the dark by the air turbulence against their whiskers. Because their whiskers are so important to their survival, they don't like to have their them soiled or smashed against the side of the bowl.

Cats need a dish that is shallow and wide -- at least five inches across. For food, the bowl should be no more than 1 1/2 inches deep; for water the bowl should be between 2 and 3 inches deep and kept full whenever possible. That the bowl is shallow is more important than the width of the opening. Choosing a bowl that is the right size honors the nature of the cat and their needs.

Cats eyes have a full inner-eyelid, or nictitating membrane. This inner-eyelid serves to help protect the eyes from dryness and damage. When the cat is ill, the inner-eyelid will frequently close partially, making it visible to the observer. A cat cannot see directly under its nose. This is why the cat cannot seem to find tidbits on the floor. You can tell a cat's mood by looking into its eyes. A frightened or excited cat will have large, round pupils. An angry cat will have narrow pupils. The pupil size is related as much to the cat's emotions as to the degree of light. Recent studies have shown that cats can see blue, green and red. A large majority of white cats with blue eyes are deaf. White cats with only one blue eye are deaf only in the ear closest to the blue eye. White cats with orange eyes do not have this disability. Did you know that what humans see on a bright moon-lit night is equal to what cats see in total darkness.

Cats with white fur and skin on their ears are very prone to sunburn. Frequent sunburns can lead to skin cancer. Many white cats need surgery to remove all or part of a cancerous ear. Preventive measures include sunscreen, or better, keeping the cat indoors.

A cat can jump even seven times as high as it is tall. The cat's footpads absorb the shocks of the landing when the cat jumps.

Cats lack a true collarbone that's why they can generally squeeze their bodies through any space they can get their heads through. You may have seen a cat testing the size of an opening by careful measurement with the head.

A female cat may have three to seven kittens every four months. A cat is pregnant for about 58-65 days. Mother cats teach their kittens to use the litter box.

The way you treat kittens in the early stages of it's life will render it's personality traits later in life. A pet cat will respond and answer to speech , and seems to enjoy human companionship.

When well treated, a cat can live twenty or more years but the average life span of a domestic cat is 14 years.

Neutering a cat extends its life span by two or three years.

You check your cats pulse on the inside of the back thigh, where the leg joins to the body. Normal for cats: 110-170 beats per minute.

A cat's whiskers are thought to be a kind of radar, which helps a cat gauge the space it intends to walk through.

Both humans and cats have identical regions in the brain responsible for emotion.

A cat's brain is more similar to a man's brain than that of a dog.

Cats must have fat in their diet because they can't produce it on their own.

The gene in cats that causes the orange coat color is sexed linked, and is on the X sex chromosome. This gene may display orange or black. Thus, as female cat with two X chromosomes may have orange and black colors in its coat. A male, with only one X chromosome, can have only orange or black, not both.

If a male cat is both orange and black it is ( besides being extremely rare ) sterile. To have both the orange and the black coat colors, the male cat must have all or part of both female X chromosomes. This unusual sex chromosome combination will render the male cat sterile.

The color of the points in Siamese cats is heat related. Cool areas are darker.

Siamese kittens are born white because of the heat inside the mother's uterus before birth. This heat keeps the kittens' hair from darkening on the points.

Cats do not think that they are little people. They think that WE are big cats. This influences their behavior in many ways.

Cats sleep 16 to 18 hours per day. When cats are asleep, they are still alert to incoming stimuli. If you poke the tail of a sleeping cat, it will respond accordingly.

Besides smelling with their nose, cats can smell with an additional organ called the Jacobson's organ, located in the upper surface of the mouth.

The chlorine in fresh tap water irritates sensitive parts of the cat's nose. Let tap water sit for 24 hours before giving it to a cat.

The catnip plant contains an oil called hepetalactone which does for cats what marijuana does to some people. Not all cats react to it those that do appear to enter a trancelike state. A positive reaction takes the form of the cat sniffing the catnip, then licking, biting, chewing it, rub & rolling on it repeatedly, purring, meowing & even leaping in the air. Not every cat gets "high" from catnip. Whether or not a cat responds to it depends upon a recessive gene: no gene, no joy.

Cat families usually play best in even numbers. Cats and kittens should be aquired in pairs whenever possible.

People who are allergic to cats

are actually allergic to cat saliva or to cat dander. If the resident cat is bathed regularly the allergic people tolerate it better. Studies now show that the allergen in cats is related to their scent glands. Cats have scent glands on their faces and at the base of their tails. Entire male cats generate the most scent. If this secretion from the scent glands is the allergen, allergic people should tolerate spayed female cats the best.

Want to know more interesting things about cats?

1. Cats respond most readily to names that end in an "ee" sound.

2. Declawing a cat is the same as cutting a human's fingers off at the knuckle. There are several alternatives to a complete declawing, including trimming or a less radical (though more involved) surgery to remove the claws. Preferably, try to train your cat to use a scratching post.

Cats with long, lean bodies are more likely to be outgoing, and more protective and vocal than those with a stocky build.

3. It has been scientifically proven that stroking a cat can lower one's blood pressure.

If your cat snores, or rolls over on his back to expose his belly, it means he trusts you.

Cats respond better to women than to men, probably due to the fact that women's voices have a higher pitch.

4. When your cats rubs up against you, she is actually marking you as "hers" with her scent. If your cat pushes his face against your head, it is a sign of acceptance and affection.

5. Cats can predict earthquakes. We humans are not 100% sure how they do it. There are several different theories.

6. A queen (female cat) can begin mating when she is between 5 and 9 months old.

7. A tomcat (male cat) can begin mating when he is between 7 and 10 months old.

Tomcats can mate at anytime, while quenns can only mate during a period of time called heat or estrus. Heat occurs several times a year and can last anywhere from 3 to 15 days.

8. At 4 weeks, it is important to play with kittens so that they do not develope a fear of people.

Kittens remain with their mother till the age of 9 weeks.

9. It is estimated that cats can make over 60 different sounds.

10. A cat that bites you for rubbing his stomach is often biting from pleasure, not anger.

11. The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak back. You will learn a lot from your cat's wide vocabulary of chirps and meows.

12. Cats often over react to unexpected stimuli because of their extremely sensitive nervous system.

13. Kittens who are taken along on short, trouble-free car trips to town tend to make good passengers when they get older. They get used to the sounds and motions of traveling and make less connection between the car and the visits to the vet.

14. Cats that live together sometimes rub each others heads to show that they have no intention of fighting. Young cats do this more often, especially when they are excited.

15. By the time they are seven months old, a cat has lost it's baby teeth and it's adult teeth are fully developed. This is one of the ways a vet (or you) can tell the age of a kitten.