Cat tips

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Current News - Homefront Preparations : One Thread

Cat tips of the day --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Finger Is Not A Toy

Letting a tiny kitty chew on your finger seems harmless, really. Their little teeth don't hurt or break the skin, and their little tongues are sooooooo rough!

No, it's not really harmless. Your little Daisy will grow up thinking it's perfectly okay and will be terribly frightened when you overreact to her more painful adult bites. When Fluffy tries to gnaw on any part of your anatomy (my cat loved my father-in-law's "second chin"), say NO in a firm voice and replace the body part with an acceptable toy that she can chew.

Learn about proper dental health care for your cat at Cat-Dental-Health.com.

To search the largest collection of pet sites on the Internet, go to PetscapeNavigator.com.

- Cat Tip provided by W3COMMERCE.com.

Catnip Activity If your older cat is getting a little heavy around the middle, then you should increase her level of activity. This, of course, is easier said than done with a feline who's set in her ways. My cat isn't overweight, but she just doesn't play with toys. (She does, however, chase invisible birds and squirrels in bursts of activity all over the back yard--we call them her "ghosties.")

Catnip may be a great way to get Gargantua to move around. Not all cats react to catnip. Some tear around in ecstasy; others barely notice. Keep it sealed in an airtight container. If Kitty can smell it, she'll grow immune to it. If you have a Siamese cat, don't be surprised if she turns her nose up at catnip.

The Strength Of Fleas

A major incentive to maintain good flea control for your cat is the issue of tapeworms. Unfortunately this condition is very easy to contract. It only requires your cat to ingest one tapeworm-ridden flea during grooming, before his intestine suddenly becomes home to a maturing 'worm-like' organism.

You may notice tiny white 'worms' in your cat's feces or rice-looking fragments caught in the hair around his rectum or in his bedding. These are not individual worms, only pieces of one worm living in his intestine. Each or these fragments contain more tapeworm eggs that are ingested by fleas and the cycle starts over. If your cat appears to have this condition, talk with your vet regarding treatment. Remember, flea prevention is key!

Read about fleas at SpecificBreed.com. www.specificbreed.com/

'Mite' Be An Ear Infection

Ear mites feed on debris, such as dead skin and fluids, in your cat's ear canal. The ear's natural response is to produce excess amounts of dark wax that resemble old coffee grounds. Watch your cat for excess head shaking and ear scratching for early signs of this condition.

As other ear infections can cause similar behavior, your vet will take a sample of the discharge in your cat's ear to test for the presence of mites, yeast, and bacteria to make a thorough diagnosis. There are several effective treatments that your vet may prescribe. It must be treated, as these parasites are very contagious among animals and home remedies are not particularly effective.

Learn more about mites and other skin conditions at SpecificBreed.com. www.specificbreed.com

From The Jaws Of Defeat

If your cat is sick, it may be necessary to give her a course of antibiotics in pill form. Hold the top of her head with one hand and gently bend it backwards until her mouth opens. With your free hand, drop the pill into the back of her mouth and poke it quickly down her throat with your index finger. If you're uncertain about your finger's safety, use a pilling device available from your vet and most pet stores. With her head still tilted backwards, gently stroke her throat to encourage swallowing. Also you may want to ask your vet if medication is available in a liquid form.

Read up on cat health care at Care-For-My-Cat.com. www.care-for-my-cat.com

On Your Marks

Spraying is the most recognizable form of your cat marking his territory, however it's not his only means. Although serving a dual purpose as grooming, clawing achieves the same end.

By vigorously clawing an item (preferably not your expensive new loudspeakers), your cat is marking territory as "his" through the scent glands on the pads of his feet. This is not a behavior you necessarily want to discourage, however you also don't want to have to re-carpet your home every year. Buy a scratching post and encourage your cat to use it. Cats are generally more attracted to posts covered with sisal than those covered in carpet. For added effect, try sprinkling some catnip on it!

Learn more about clawing at Feline-Behavior.com. www.feline-behavior.com

You Can't Tuna Fish

Bad news for cats: sorry guys, people tuna is bad for you. Not only can you become highly addicted to it, but the canned tuna people buy for themselves lacks many of the nutrients necessary for feline health.

But that's not to say that you can't eat it any more. Just as people eat chocolate or ice cream as an occasional special treat, small amounts of tuna could be yours. Just don't let it become a staple in your diet, okay?

Learn about your cat's nutritional requirements at Cats-and-Diets.com. www.cats-and-diets.com

Good-Bye - Eee!

Have you ever noticed a difference in your cat's behavior when you pull out your suitcase to go away on a trip? If they've seen the suitcase once and you've gone away, they may very well associate the sight of that bag as a symbol of your departure.

If you want to ease the situation for her, try to organize everything for your trip without your suitcase and pack it as the last thing you do. If you have a friend or pet-sitter stopping by while you're gone, maybe have them come by and see to your cat a few days before you leave, so your cat gets used to the idea of having someone else there.

Carry On: Moving

Everybody hates moving. We're naturally a very home-oriented species that likes to have familiar things in familiar places. Being uprooted from this familiarity can be very difficult. Cat's are just the same way, if not more so.

To ease the transition to his new surroundings, get your cat's carrier out a few days before you leave and encourage him to get in it. Maybe put a few of his toys in there for him. Let him sleep in there at night if he wishes. Once you've moved, leave the carrier in an accessible place so that your cat can use it as a familiar base while he surveys the new terrain.

Learn more about moving and traveling with a cat at Cat-On-Board.com. www.cat-on-board.com

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2002

Answers

There's a lot of sodium in people tuna too. But it's handy when a cat is off-color and needs a little appetite stimulant--just dribble some of the liquid over the cat's regular food. Same with most canned fish or poultry. And my cet told me that home-stewed chicken was good for sick kitties because they can digest just about all the protein. That sodium-free chicken broth you get from it can help over their regular food too.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

My cet never tells me anything.

-- Anonymous, April 02, 2002

If I'd only hit the b on the other side of v, since his name is betton. Do you know, the other day he gave me his home phone number and his e-mail address. I was complaining about the emergency vet being over the other side of town and he gave me his phone no. and said, for you, I make house calls. Gawd, I LOVE my cet. (Snort!)

-- Anonymous, April 03, 2002

Moderation questions? read the FAQ