Raising just-born kittens involves building a warm nest for them and feeding them an appropriate milk replacement throughout the day. Make sure the kittens are free of any diseases with information from a practicing veterinarian in this free video on pet care. Expert: Marcia Martin Contact: www.drmarcia.wordpress.com Bio: Dr. Marcia Martin is a 1990 graduate of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. Filmmaker: Suzie Vigoin
the kitten is half the size of the other three kittens. He is nursing but the bigger kittens push it away when nursing. I am feeding him some kitten formula a few times a day but he doesn’t seem to like it. He is alert but not as strong and playful as the other kittens? How can I help him to gain weight? Is there a good supplement? he is almost four weeks old-is it too soon to start feeding him a little baby food?
Tags: Care, kitten, underweightExcellent Ebook – everything a potential or current Bengal cat owner needs to know!
Bengal Cat health and Care Guide
Cats need a high-protein diet, rich in fats. They normally eat small meals all through the day. Cats maintain their body weight by sticking to the diet they take in. To keep cats healthy, owners have to ensure that the foods they give to their cats are rich in minerals, protein and vitamins.
In addition, the diet needs to be limited. Increasing the food intake for cats may invite serious health problems.
Necessary Nutrients:
Cat owners need to check, if their pet food offers the following nutrients:
1. Pet food has to contain vital nutrients such as minerals and vitamins. One vital nutrient is Vitamin A and vitamin E, which helps to build resistance against a variety of diseases.
2. Animal protein from poultry, meat, egg sources and fish helps to keep bones sturdy and strong.
3. The diet needs to have accurate balance of fatty acids that nurture the skin and coat health.
4. Taurine, an amino acid, extracted from meat sources such as fish and chicken. This helps in keeping the eyes healthy and preventing heart diseases. Taurine supports fetal growth, development and reproduction in cats.
5. Next, a fiber source such as beet pulp, which maintains the digestive system of cats, is also a necessary nutrient.
Special Dietary Needs for Pregnant or lactating cats:
Pet owners have to take enough care of their pregnant cats. Increase their intake by 50 per cent than their current diets. The owner may give kitten food as a nutritional support to cats at the time of conception.
After the mother cat gives birth to young kittens, gradually increase the intake to 75 per cent. Maintain this diet until the kittens get used to eating canned or dry food. The moment kittens begin eating substitute food, incorporate the normal food again so that the mother cat keeps away from any weight gain.
Avoid Obesity:
Generally, indoor cats do not get the opportunity to exercise as compared to outdoor cats. Due to this, indoor cats fall prey to obesity. To avoid this, pet owners have to allow their cats to exercise in open the way they wish.
Preventing Cats from Developing Hairballs:
Cats take their own time to arrange themselves neatly. They constantly lick their fur and in the process, sometimes swallow hair. If the hairball fails to pass into the intestines, the cat may land in trouble. It may try to eject the hairball. To avoid this, pet owners have to make sure that they supply a nutritional diet to their cats.
What Every Cat Needs:
No matter what food they get to eat, owners need to make available plenty of water for their cats, always. It is advisable to place water at a distance three to five feet from the food.
This prevents the cat from swallowing water hastily. Cats demand comfortable place to eat and prefer to stay away from people around them. Last of all, the cat owners need to take their cats to the veterinarian at regular intervals. This will help in keeping pet cats healthy and happy.
Go to Cat and Kitten Zone to get your free ebook about Cats and Kittens at Cats. Cat and Kitten Zone also has information on Kittens, Cat Supplies and a Cat and Kitten Forum where you can connect with others who love cats and kittens. You can Find Cat and Kitten Zone at www.catandkittenzone.com.
Copyright 2005 Dave Markel
There area many common sense rules to follow when caring for
your cat. These rules are simple and will ensure your cat will
be healthy and happy.
1. When your cat arrives at home: Bringing your new cat home cat
be frightening for it. Be prepared by having a food and water
spot already set up. Also have a litter box setup in a quite
spot away from the food. Your new cat should be transported in a
cat carrier. When you bring the cat inside set the carrier down
and open the door. Let the cat come out and explore on its own.
Confining the cat to a quiet room for a day or two will make the
experience less overwhelming.
2. Going Outside: Before letting your cat outside for the first
time be sure it is comfortable with you and its indoor
surroundings. There are many dangers outside so let your cat
have an escape route in case it needs it. My cat uses a cat door
and it has save him a few times.
Judge the risk to letting your cat outdoors. If you live close
to lots of traffic having an outdoor cat may not be a good idea.
3. Litter Boxes: If you are using a cat box it should be cleaned
daily. Clumping cat litter makes this easy. Simply scoop out the
clumps and you’re done. Put the litter box in a place where the
cat will not be disturbed.
4. Food and water: Your cat should always have a supply of fresh
food and water. I prefer to use a heavy ceramic bowl to prevent
the cat from pushing it or tipping them over.
The water bowl should be changed daily and food should be added
to maintain a good supply.
My cat is now on a high quality dry food. I found feeding him
can food was a waste. He generally left some behind at each meal
regardless of the portion. At 15 I weaned him onto dry food only.
5. Scratching Posts: Any cat is going to have the urge to
scratch. The question is where is it going to do it? Best to
have a scratching post that is safe and secure. Play with your
cat on the post so it gets used to being allowed to scratch
there. Rubbing a bit of cat nip on the scratching post will
encourage your cat to scratch.
6. Cat Toys: There are so many different cat toys on the market
these days it is hard to choose a toy your cat will like. After
much trial and error I determined my cat likes the string
attached to the toy much better then the toy. Whenever I want to
play I get a string, or better yet, my gold necklace (his
favorite).
7. Sleeping Places: A cat always needs a quiet, out of the way
place to sleep the day away. A bed near a heater or furnace vent
is ideal. In the winter most of the vents in my house have a cat
bed near them.
If you have small children make sure they can’t disturb your cat
when it sleeps
8. Care for eyes and ears: When cats get a build up of discharge
around the eye simply clean it with a damp cloth. A small amount
of discharge is normal for a healthy cat but if there are
excessive amount then consult a vet.
Regularly check your cats ears for dirt or ear mites. Any dirt
can be removed with a damp Q-tip. If you spot small brown clumps
of discharge you should consult your vet. This is a sign of ear
mites.
9. Care for the claws: If you have an outside cat, claw care is
less important. Climbing trees, and other outdoor stuff helps to
keep claws well maintained.
An inside cat has far less need for its claws. There is really
no environment where your cat needs to use its claws. You should
trim your cats claws once or twice a year. Clip the very tip of
each claw. Taking any more then just the tip can hurt your cat.
It is recommended that you have a vet show you how to clip their
claws properly.
10. Care of the mouth and teeth: As cats age their teeth start
to get calcium build up which can cause gum inflammation. Check
your cats mouth every 6 or 8 weeks. Find and remove and calcium
build up before deposits get too large.
Caring for a cat is quite simple, common sense really. I believe
that good food, fresh water, lots of love and exercise is best
for a cat. By following these 10 simple guidelines your cat can
live a long and healthy life.
For more free articles about dogs and the reeds visit http://for-more-info.com/dogs/choosing-breed.html.
{Cat Care}
Below are some cat care tips we’ve compiled that will make life for both you and your cat happier and healthier.
Handle your cat frequently. Some cats just don’t like to be picked up. If you can start handling your cat when it’s a kitten, chances are better that it will enjoy the handling later in life. It will also be easier when it comes time for check-ups at the vet, having claws trimmed, etc. Also make sure you massage your cat’s feet and toes often so your cat gets used to having it’s paws restrained.
To prevent hairballs, improve the look of your cat’s coat, and give yourself an excuse to check on your cat’s well-being, groom your cat at least once a week. Most cats learn to enjoy the grooming process, although some will become over-excited by it and can only take so much.
Use weekly (or more frequent if possible) grooming sessions to examine your cat for common health problems. Check your cat’s gums, teeth, eyes, ears (look for signs of ear mites), skin, and limbs for possible problems. Check for signs of pain, swelling or injury. Clip your cat’s nails regularly. If your cat’s claws get too long, they may curve back into the toe pad. It’s also more likely that your cat’s claws will get caught on something if they’re not trimmed.
Every major cat care organization recommends keeping your cat indoors for safety, better health and a longer life.
One of the most important cat care tips is regarding the litter box. Place the litter box in a place your cat likes. The number one reason adult cats are brought to shelters is for unresolved litter box problems. Place the box in a relatively quiet area that your cat likes to frequent and make sure there are multiple escape routes. Also make sure to provide enough litter boxes for your cat. We suggest following the one plus one rule – one litter box for each cat in the house plus one more.
Play with your cat daily. Play with dangle toys and chase your cat around the house as much as possible. Get your cat exercising daily and it will help lower risks of diseases and minimize vet bills.
Give your cat at least 10 minutes of physical attention every day. Take time to pet, stroke, scratch or brush your cat for at least 10 minutes daily. It will calm and relax both not only your cat but you too. Recent evidence shows that contact with cats may actually reduce your risk of heart attack by as much as thirty percent! What a great bonus for giving good cat care!
Allow your cat to choose favorite spots to hang out around the house, then make them more comfortable with blankets and pillows..
Feed your cat premium cat food. High quality cat foods meeting AAFCO cat food standards will ensure that your cat gets a balanced diet with the right nutrients. Feline diets deficient in certain nutrients can cause diseases, including blindness.
Take your cat to the vet for a check-up at least once a year.
For more information visit http://www.animal-world.com.
http://Animal-World.com will strive to provide accurate and timely information. The knowledge we have today will surely be expanded upon and modified as new studies and discoveries uncover new facts. For more information on cat care visit http://www.animal-world.com.
When my kids came home begging me to get them a cat, I had no idea what to expect or how to care for a cat. Before I relented, I did some research and found out that there are some cat care basics with which I needed to be familiar before we would bring a cat into the home. We had to make decisions about food, litter, cat furniture, toys, fleas, grooming, and vet care. It was not a decision to be taken lightly, but it was one we decided to take on.
Here is some of the information I uncovered doing my research before we brought our new cat, Tommy, into our home.
Cats need a specific diet. Not all cat foods are good at meeting the natural dietary needs of cats. You would think that if a manufacturer says a food is good for cats, it has to be good for cats. But determining whether or not a food fits the dietary needs of your cat is up to you. The manufacturer is trying to sell his product, so do your homework.
Dry foods have different health benefits and drawbacks than canned foods. I didn’t know that! Cats don’t need a lot of vegetable fillers in their diet. I didn’t know that either! Cats need a high-protein, high-animal fat diet. That sounded a bit off until I thought about it. Cats are carnivores in the truest sense of the word. They eat only other animals when they are in their natural habitat. Now I understand why I need to read labels and choose the diet that is best suited to Tommy’s natural needs.
Another area I looked into was what toys are best for a cat. I saw a lot of really cool, colorful, texture-rich toys in the pet store. They would be great! Any cat would have so much fun with such a toy. Not so. Cats are not completely color blind, but they do not make much distinction in colors. A colorful toy has little influence on its attractiveness to a cat.
I also thought a big ball of yarn would be fun until I found out that cats can ingest yarn and it embeds in the lining of their stomachs. That is not a scenario I wanted to know about personally! The cool crinkly toys I saw have had problems with the crinkly part coming out when the cat plays with it. Again, ingestion of the material can cause serious health risks. I had a lot of things to consider if I was going to have a cat and provide safe, fun toys for him to play with.
Do you know how many kinds of cat litter are on the market? Did you know some cats won’t use certain types of litter? Some of them are very expensive, and others have a more reasonable price tag, but while some cats enjoy the more expensive, others will only use the cheapest kind of litter. I was getting quite tired just thinking about how many experiments we might have to do if we brought a cat home. How much clean up was I willing to do if the cat didn’t like the litter I bought?
Cat furniture is another issue I researched. I know cats scratch, and I had heard that declawing is an unpleasant and unnecessary procedure. I wanted to know what my options were and how effective I could be in preserving my furniture and carpets. There is a large variety of options for furniture. There are textures cats prefer, along with structures that they enjoy. I learned that most important was to provide variety in any furniture I chose. I also learned that it is significantly cheaper (though requires an investment of time) to build my own.
Finally, I turned my thoughts to the physical health of a cat. I know worms can be a problem for a lot of cats. What I didn’t know was how easy they are to treat if you are diligent about keeping up with the general health of the cat. I also learned that there are things you can do to make your cat’s habitat less conducive to picking up worms. Cleanliness is important in the house as well as the yard!
And what about fleas? While fleas can be a problem, and they can cause some other health issues if they get out of control in a cat, they are also a minor problem if you are taking charge of your cat’s overall health. There are many monthly-use products that keep fleas at bay just by being faithful to giving them to your cat.
Ultimately, I learned a lot about taking care of a cat. My kids were asking me almost daily until I gave in and we brought Tommy home. I have been diligent about providing for his needs. He sees the vet on schedule. He has a healthy, protein-rich diet, he has toys that cannot hurt him, and we did finally find a litter he will use! He has quit scratching the furniture, and we are all enjoying having him in our home.
Be diligent in your research about cat care basics. If you will pay attention to your cat’s needs, you will be able to avoid illness, injury, and outrageous vet bills!
Kelly is a frequent contributor to www.freecathealthtips.com, a website that provides free information on cat care and cat health tips. You can learn more about cat care and cat health tips for free at: Cat Care
Our cats become a part of the family over time. But unlike humans, who are considered elderly at 60 or 65, cats are considered “senior citizens” at the ripe old age of 10. It is important to understand the proper care of cats at all stages of life. A kitten cannot be fed, groomed, medicated, and treated the same way as an elderly cat. Here is a guide to proper Elderly Cat Care.
Feeding Time
Most pet supply stores sell specially formulated cat foods that are designed to provide proper health and nutrition to elderly cats. Some formulas assist with proper digestion, since this can often be a problem with older cats. Senior cats cannot assimilate their food in their digestive tracts in the same way that they did when they were youngsters.
Older cats can also have problems with their teeth that cause them to eat less. This is why it is important to maintain good dental hygiene in cats at a young age by either brushing, taking them to the veterinarian for a cleaning, or feeding them snacks that clean their teeth. If your elderly cat eats less, it may be due to a toothache, thus it is sometimes ideal to feed them softer foods, mostly wet, canned foods, so that chewing their dinner won’t be as much of an obstacle.
Many cat owners find that their cat’s coat becomes dull with age. This is due to poor nutrition. Feed your older cat a diet rich in essential fatty acids to fix this problem. When organisms, including cats, get older, they have an increased production of free radicals in the body. Free radicals contribute to the degeneration of cells in the body. Help build up the immune system of your beloved cat by increasing his or her intake of vitamin C and E.
Finally, you want your cat to remain active in old age. The more energetic activities your cat participates in the better health it will remain in. If you allow your cat to become obese it will lay around the house and have reduced quality of life, as well as a decrease in general health. Watch your pet’s eating habits and assure that it is not overeating, or eating as a recreation as some cats do.
Grooming Elderly Cats
Another element of proper Elderly Cat Care is grooming. When cats age, they sometimes stop grooming themselves with the same frequency as they did when they were younger. This can create a matted fur coat that is dirty and smells bad. Bad hygiene will eventually lead to bad health. Because of this, it is important that you groom your eldery cat yourself. Purchase a good cat brush that doesn’t just brush the outer coat, but one with bristles that reach down to the skin to pull up old hair.
It sometimes helps to give your cat a bath, even though most cats hate them with a passion. The best way to wash a cat is to place them in the tub and gradually introduce water. You certainly don’t want to throw them into the tub with hot water running inside! You may get a deep claw mark in the arm that will never heal and remind you to never do that again. If you apply water gradually to the cat’s coat until they are completely wet and then work in some shampoo quickly, you should be able to accomplish that goal.
Vet Visits and Medication
When your cat grows into old age, it may have health complications that require regular medication. You should schedule a regular vet appointment for your elderly cat to assure that you are keeping up with all details of its health regimen. In older age, cats may seem fine but still have complications. Ask your veterinarian to give your cat a blood and urine test to find out if there is anything to be concerned about to head off any future problems. Going back to dental care, most older cats develop gum disease which can lead to health problems down the line. Gum disease can be treated by your veterinarian.
Just as with a human who has to take daily medication, if your cat has been prescribed to take medications on a daily basis it is helpful to keep everything in one place as a reminder. You do not want to miss a day of any crucial medication as the system of your older cat is much more delicate than those of younger cats.
Pet Insurance
Insurance companies are coming to recognize the love that people have for their pets. Thus, there are many new pet insurance products popping up on the market. It is best to enroll your pet into an insurance program at a younger age to assure a more reasonable premium, but you may still be able to enroll your elderly cat into an insurance program where his or medical bills will be partly covered in the case of a medical emergency. Some pet insurance companies will charge anywhere from $20-$50 per month per cat, depending on their particular situation.
The costs of pet surgeries and treatments can be way out of the budget of most households, so having a pet insurance plan to back you up can be a great asset. It will also give you peace of mind about your cat as it ages.
Activities of the Elderly Cat
The activity level of elderly cats vary. Some cats become inactive and spend most of their day sleeping or sitting. But other cats can be just as active in old age as they were in their younger days. These cats may still like to play with you, run, and chase the other cats around the house, but you just need to be understanding that they may not be able to participate in these games for as long as they used to. For example, a game cats love to play is “chase their owner.” Instead of letting them chase you up and down the stairs as you did when they were young, maybe you could keep the activity to one level of the house. That way you will not overexert your cat and help prolong his time spent active.
Most cat experts agree tht a cat is generally healthy and happy when they are “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.” Another indication of a healthy cat is a lustrous, shiny coat, and a tail that sticks straight up in the air when the cat is walking. Proper elderly cat care is dire if you love your senior cat and want to keep it in good physical health.
David Beart is owner of the Professors House, a site dedicated to family, relationships, cat information, and household issues.
You’ve brought your kitten home. You’ve got her set up with all her needs. Now, you’re faced with some of the more puzzling aspects of cat care. You’re wondering about declawing. And that’s just for starters. Not to worry.
First and foremost, realize that the first step to successful cat ownership is to love your cat. Filling in the blanks on the information you don’t know yet will come. And here’s some information and knowledge to get you started. Of course homeopathic care for cat is something that is all over the news right now, but there’s actually a lot more to know then that.
Yes, cats shed. And the shedding of a long-haired cat is more noticeable than that of a short haired feline. Expect your cat only to shed at the change of the seasons. That’s not so. Because of his exposure to a constant temperature and continual artificial light, your indoor cat sheds year round. But it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds.
Here’s a good piece of important cat care information, cats take care of a lot of their shedding on their own. They are fastidiously clean animals. You’ll discover they are constantly cleaning themselves with their rough, sandpaper-like tongues. The very mechanism, though, that helps them to control shedding also contributes to one of their health problems, hairballs. Hairballs are a very real threat to your cat’s digestion. They can block the food that’s already been digested from traveling through his intestines.
So how can you tell when your cat is experiencing hairballs? You’ll be able to recognize them if he coughs them up – as cats are prone to do. If you find cigar-shaped masses of some indistinguishable matter on the floor or on your furniture, you’ve discovered a hairball.
Sometimes, though, a cat will expel them along with his feces in the litter box. If you find that your cat’s bowel movements have hair on them, that means he’s got hairballs. Another symptom your feline may exhibit is dry coughing or a hacking. This will especially occur after he’s eaten. In fact, if your cat has a sudden, unexpected loss of appetite, you may suspect a hairball is at the root cause.
So how do you prevent hairballs? Take matters in your own hands, literally! Brush! Brush! Brush! Groom you kitty often. Most cats find it most enjoyable and it builds a marvelous bond between you and your feline.
If you discover that your kitten may need more aid than this, there are many effective hairball remedies on the market today. They come in a variety of forms, from granules you sprinkle inconspicuously on his food to gels.
Thinking about declawing?
If you haven’t heard, declawing your cat so he doesn’t ruin your furniture or accidentally seriously scratch an individual is controversial. A generation ago, this operation was routine, many times performed at the same time the kitten got spayed or neutered.
The public today, though, is more widely educated on exactly what surgery for declawing entails. It’s not just a matter of pulling the claws out of the kitty. To remove a cat’s claws, a veterinarian must actually amputate the cat’s paws at the first joint. This would be the equivalent you getting your knuckles amputated right below your finger nails. Ouch!
In order to perform the surgery, your veterinarian will anesthetized your cat as well as give him pain medication. He will literally cut the first section of your cat’s paw off, since the claws are intricately intertwined in the first “knuckle.”
Following the surgery, your cat’s paws are carefully bandaged. Your cat will undoubtedly spend the night at the animal hospital. The following day you’ll be able to bring her home.
Be prepared! Your cat – understandably – will be distinctly uncomfortable for several days following the surgery. (Actually, she’ll probably be in great pain. But felines are wonderful actors. Cats hate to show that they’re in any type of pain.)
Considering, though, the extent of the surgery, your cat heals quite quickly. You’ll notice that your pet walks around the house rather gingerly. That’ll last for about a week. After that she’ll back to her old self.
To help prevent infection, you should replace her litter with some shredded paper. This avoids getting granules of litter in his already very tender paws.
Declawing your cat does more than just eliminate the problem of scratching. Her claws -and that portion of the toes that are removed, are valuable to her in another vital way. Removing her claws may throw her entire system of natural balance off.
A cat, you see, is classified as a “digitigrade.” It’s a strange label, but essentially it means that she walks on her toes. But, a cats toes are used for so much more! Her entire balance and form are based on the length of her digits. Nature, it seems, designed the cat’s body – including her back, shoulders, paws, leg joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons and even her nerves! – based on walking on her toes. Because of this, her weight is distributed across its toes as it walks, runs and climbs.
That means a cat’s claws are absolutely essential for her balance as well as for her ability to exercise effectively. Not only that, her toes – and especially her claws are vital aspects of her stretching. Notice when your cat scratches at a post (or, yes, your furniture!). We all assume she’s just sharpening her claws. Not so! She is really stretching her entire body. When you declaw your kitten, it throws her entire body alignment off.
Hairballs and declawing. Not usually subjects that come up in everyday conversations, now are they? But these are only two of the important bits of information that every cat owner needs to know in order to give Fluffy the best of care. That, and your love, will help your kitten live a long and healthy life.
From experience Jim Moore knows all to well that your cat is one of the family and as such deserves all the care and loving attention you can give to them. Jim owns and maintains A Purrfect Cat at: http://www.apurrfectcat.com .