Cats and Kittens

When was the last time your two year old WILLINGLY did as you asked? Hard to remember when the previously docile, easygoing baby was of limited mobility and easy to manage. Increased independence brings numerous more battles.

With an estimated intellectual capacity of an average two-year-old child and stubborn as they are independent, it’s almost understandable why a cat would refuse to do the silly bidding of its surrogate parents. With so much MORE out in the world like mice and laying in the sun it seems almost ridiculous to expect a cat to eagerly beg for a stale meow mix biscuit or fetch the same rubber ball over and over again.

Like with stubborn children, routine and consistency can mould a cat into a fairly trainable lump of clay. The key is to start early and go through the same routine often. An older cat, set in its ways should be considered a lost cause for purposes of novelty tricks. A kitten or a cat aged only a couple years is the perfect candidate for behavior modification. You will need a hearty supply of cat treats/favorite food and a load of patience. Remember, like a small child, cats have a short, selective attention span, so it’s best to train in short increments of 10-15 minutes once or twice a day. After several days, the average cat should be able to pick up your command more than half the time if a reward is present, but don’t be fooled: just like you thought your two year old had FINALLY obtained toilet training regression can occur suddenly and for no reason!

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Common Diseases in Elderly Cats

Cats are susceptible to the same symptoms of aging that affect humans. Since cats age much more rapidly than humans do, a cat of twelve years is rapidly approaching his senior years. Many housecats live to be sixteen years old or better, which leaves the owner to deal with the same kind of health concerns such as diabetes and thyroid problems that are found in an aging human. In addition to this, cats have own special health concerns. Anyone who has ever owned an older cat knows that the older they get the more likely they are to have “accidents” due to frequent urinary tract infections and kidney disease. Here are some tips on how to recognize signs of trouble and how to find a remedy to make your aging cat more comfortable.

DIABETES

A cat with diabetes will exhibit specific symptoms. These symptoms include excessive thirst as well as frequent urination. Weight loss and lethargy are also common warning signs that your pet may have diabetes. If not treated, severe diabetes may eventually lead to nerve damage and blindness.

Diabetes is treatable in cats. In some cases a change in diet may help. Many commercial foods, especially dry foods, contain a lot of sugar. A healthy cat can break down the sugar, but a cat with diabetes may require a change in diet. These special diets usually consist of a pet formula specifically designed for diabetic cats.

A cat with serious diabetes problems may require shots. The vet will prescribe insulin and give instructions. Shots are usually given twice daily. Giving a cat a shot is not as difficult as it may seem. Usually, the skin at the back of the neck is pulled up and the shot is injected there. The cat doesn’t feel a thing, and usually doesn’t protest. It is important to have your diabetic cat’s blood sugar level tested at the vets periodically.

THYROID PROBLEMS

Thyroid problems are quite common in older cats. Hyperthyroidism is the most common ailment in older felines. The symptoms of thyroid problems include excessive hunger or loss of appetite. If you older cat suddenly acts greedy or can’t seem to get enough to eat, this is usually a symptom of thyroid imbalance. The cat suffering from a thyroid imbalance must be tested and treated with pills for the condition. Sometimes it can be difficult to treat.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND KIDNEY DISEASE

Perhaps more than anything else, urinary problems cause more trouble than anything else for the owners of older cats. As they age, cats often begin wetting the rug or not using the litterbox. Two things that may help is talking to the vet about a special diet designed to keep the kidneys functioning healthily. Also be sure to have your cat checked for urinary tract infections. Older cats develop these frequently. They are easily treated, and are a major cause of wetting the rug.

Kidney disease is the leading cause of death for cats. Symptoms of this disease, among others, are excessive urination, increased thirst, listlessness, and fatigue. Since the symptoms are similar to those of diabetes and other problems, it is important that a older cat be checked out by the vet if it displays serious symptoms.

Regular veterinary check-ups are more important for aging cats. Many problems can be treated before they become serious. With a little effort, your beloved pet can remain healthy and active into the senior years.

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Number one toy for my cat is a piece of ham on top of a plastic bowl . In a few quick mouthfuls he has gobbled down the ham and spends ages licking the plastic bowl clean as a whistle. He never tires of playing the game of “ham in the bowl for a spoiled kitty.” Without a doubt it is his favorite toy.

Number two toy for my cat is his drinking bowl . He pretends not to be interested in it until it is filled with watered down milk warmed in the microwave oven. As soon as he hears the timer bell go off on the microwave oven and sees his “beer mug” come out he gets all excited . More excited than a real kid with a new toy. He jumps up and down and bumps against your legs until you place it down in front of him.

Number three toy for my cat is a small tin of tuna with some of the tuna left in it. He spends ages pushing it around the floor trying to lick the last piece of tuna that somehow sticks to the bottom of the tin. I often worry that he will cut his tongue so I make sure there are no sharp edges on the tin before letting him play with it.

Number four toy for my cat is a dry cat food packet with two or three small pieces of the dry cat food left on the bottom. The cat loves to play at sticking his head as far as he can into the packet to get at the dry food. You can add to his fun by tapping the packet with your fingers once he has buried his head in the packet. Be careful though when you tap your fingers on the outside of the packet . Your cat will quickly get into the swing of things and start to swing his paws,paws that have sharp claws.

Number five toy for my cat is a live mouse. Cruel as it may seem my cat will torment the mouse for ages .He will toss it up in the air then pretend he has lost it . If the poor mouse manages to hide under some cover my cat will upend everything until the mouse is back in his mouth. Nine times out of ten I don’t know about it because my cat catches the mice at night. When I do see him with a mouse for some strange reason my cat loses interest and the mouse escapes to live another day. My cat gives me a strange look as if to say ” Listen stupid don’t expect me to bring home the food if you are not going to eat it.”

Number six toy for my cat is live lizards .He is only now interested the small variety that are usually quicker than him to escape into nooks and crannies in the garden . The lizard can be well hidden but my cat will scrounge for ages looking for it. My cat however has learned to leave big

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I spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect toy for my darling kitten Jerry. I went through toy after toy and he turned his nose up at them all.

I would try and try to get him to pay attention to the toy. I throw the little balls I would buy him in front of him onto the floor. He’d look at them and then at me. He spent all of two minutes with them. Then there were streamers and mice.

He ignored all of them. Not more than a passing interest did he show in any of them. He ignored all his cat treats too.

I tried and tried to get him to play with something for more than a minute before he lost interest. Nothing seemed to work; then one day it happened.

Jerry just happened to come upon the baby rattle that had fallen in the floor. He went crazy for it. Forget the Mice and the streamers or the little cat nip balls. He would play with that rattle day in and day out. Every time he passed by it he would play with it.

It was funny to watch him chasing it around in the floor when he’d throw it with his tiny paws. He seemed to be in his own little world when he found it. At times it seemed as if he was playing hide and seek with the new noisy toy he had found.

I am telling you the ideal gift for your cat is a baby rattle. They enjoy chasing the sound around and if it’s shaped right they can entertain themselves with no demands for your attention when you’re tending the new addition or trying to take a rare but much needed break.

He would even bring his new toy to me. He wanted me to throw it around. If he didn’t bring it to me and I made an attempt to touch it he would try and guard his new toy. He would even try and take it from me if I managed to get it before he could get there to stop me.

So now I know if it makes noise then it is a definite must for my darling cat. He will ignore shinny colors and streamers but he loves the little noise of the rattle.

The noise is the main thing. You can even make your own rattle for your cat.

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Taking Your New Kitten to the Vet

The addition of a new kitten into your family is always a joy whether it’s a pre-planned or spontaneous event. But with this addition comes much responsibility and usually one of the first orders of business is taking that kitten to the vet. Typically, the first question that needs answering is “At what age should I take my new kitten to the vet?” In addition to dishes, food, litter boxes, and toys, make sure that you need to know when to take the kitten to the vet for its first checkup.

There really isn’t a hard and fast rule established for the age at which the first visit to the vet should occur, although it is often recommended that you make an appointment within 24 to 72 hours of bringing the kitten home. Sometimes, taking the kitten to the vet when you are initially heading home with the kitten is a preference. A lot of the planning will relate to the circumstances behind bringing that kitten home.

For instance, in the case of kitten rescues or an urgent adoption, it may not be possible to take the kitten to the vet immediately. However, you should make every effort to get the cat to the vet in timely fashion. Should this be the case, you should take steps to quarantine the kitten from the other cats in the house (if there are others). Typically, the bathroom is the ideal candidate for kitten quarantine headquarters. Make sure that the kitten has food and water, as well as their own litter box as well.

The purpose of the quarantine is obvious it reduces the chances of spreading disease or parasites to the other cats in the house. All too often, kittens are made available for adoption to early in their little lives. If it is possible, and you know that the kitten is still with the mother in the nursing stage, wait to adopt until they are about 9 to 10 weeks of age. This allows for three important aspects to occur:

optimal health benefits (from the nursing stage)socialization process (giving the kitten time to adjust to its surroundings)weaning time (psychological effects on both mother cat and kitten)

So, for the purposes of health, socialization, and weaning, a kitten that is 9 to 10 weeks old benefits the most. If you notice that your kitten is sneezing or apparently having other health issues, remember that their first vaccination may have to wait until he or she is healthy. Additionally, it is suggested that you take a fecal sample to the vet with you as well.

The general rule of thumb with new kittens is that they should receive their first vaccinations between the ages of 8 and 10 weeks. If the mother cat has a healthy track record and has been receiving the proper veterinary care, then the kitten has a better chance of following suit. Again, circumstances will mandate how this is handled. In certain situations, kittens won’t have the luxury of the time factor if they are placed in the adoptive home. However, if the kitten is 6 weeks old or younger, take the kitten to the vet at your earliest convenience.

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Any time your cat shows signs of listlessness, or doesn’t eat for more than 2 days you need to take a closer look.

Try gently grabbing the loose skin behind his shoulders and pulling it away from his body, release it and see if it snaps back. If it just hangs there, he may be dehydrated.

Next, take a look at his or her eyes. When cats are ill, they may show a thin pink membrane, called the “third eyelid” partially covering their eyes. Their mucous membranes should be pink, if they are pale and any of these other signs are present, its a good idea to make an appt at the Vet.

When considering whether to adopt or bring home a new cat, you may use these methods to evaluate the prospective addition for general health. If there is crusting of the cat’s eyes, this can also be sign of illness. Be sure to listen to the cat’s breathing. It should be steady and quiet. Any rattling or wetness is also a bad sign.

Distemper is extremely infectious and any cat suspected of having it should be kept strictly separate from other cats. Make sure you change your clothes after handling a sick cat before touching or feeding healthy cats.

Get all of your cats vaccinated as soon as you bring them home and keep vaccinations up to date. Many shelters or vet clinics will offer cheap vaccination days or be willing to negotiate “group” discounts for large cat families. If you have a new addition, keep the cat separate until a vet has examined the animal and vaccinated him or her. An ounce of prevention can save a lot of heart break.

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The Burmese is a unique breed as all cats are descended from one single feline. The lady in question was an attractive, walnut-brown female named Wong Mau, and a Dr. Joseph Thompson found her in Burma in 1930. He brought her to his home in San Francisco and bred her with a Siamese cat. The Cat Fanciers’ Association first recognized the breed in 1936. There was some argument arising from Siamese breeders that the Burmese were in reality poorly colored Siamese, and this dispute, although eventually resolved, caused a suspension of registration by the CFA between 1947-1953. The four colors currently recognized by the CFA are sable, champagne, blue and platinum.

This shorthaired breed of cat has extremely expressive yellow eyes and a satiny coat. They are muscular and surprisingly heavier than they appear, and they usually live long and pampered lives. Burmese voices are strong, and the animals are extremely affectionate, forming powerful emotional bonds with their owners. They also like to climb curtains and sit on doors. Easily trained, they are always curious and friendly towards strangers. They are also known to have a sense of humor and to show remarkable ingenuity when it comes to finding warm places to sleep and hide. Burmese are so devoted to their owners that they can be annoying. (If you don’t like being followed, stay away from this breed.)

Burmese cats are adorable and they love to cuddle up in bed either under the covers or on top of their favorite people. They are known to rearrange cupboards in their own special way, and the females, particularly require center stage. The males are more lay- back but just as demanding of love and attention. It is said that even people who don’t like cats are often won over by the endearing charms of this special breed of cat.

Do YOU own a Burmese cat? Please share your experiences.

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Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a retrovirus that infects cats. It attacks the immune system much like HIV does in humans. An infected cat is unable to fight off any diseases, including cancer and bacterial infections. Because of this, the symptoms of FIV infection are extremely varied. If you cat presents with any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with your veterinarian.

SYMPTOMS OF FIV INFECTION

Chronic open sores in and around the mouth is a symptom in about half of FIV-infected cats. The cat may have difficulty eating or refuse to eat, they may have pain when touched on the face, and they may have bad breath.

About a third of FIV-infected cats will develop some type of respiratory disease. The symptoms will be much like a cold in a human; coughing, sneezing, and discharge from the nose and eyes. In more severe cases, the cat could have difficulty breathing.

Some other symptoms that may present in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus are diarrhea, skin infections, and ear infections. The cat may have enlarged lymph nodes that can be felt as lumps under the skin of the armpits. There may be changes in behavior such as excessive meowing, not using the litter box, or inappropriate aggression.

Any cat demostrating the above conditions should be taken to the vet for a check-up. The vet can perform a test for FIV as well as other feline diseases.

TREATMENT OF FIV INFECTION

There are no drugs that can be used to effectively destroy the feline immunovirus. However, FIV-positive cats can live for many years with proper care.

The main treatment for FIV infected cats is to fight the secondary infections that are a result of this virus shutting down the cat’s immune system. The cat should remain indoors and not be exposed to excess stress. It is preferable that the cat not interact with other cats, not only to protect the other cats from infection by FIV but also to prevent the FIV-positive cat from contracting a secondary infection.

Cats with FIV will need to be treated according to the secondary disease they are demonstrating. For example, respiratory infections can be treated with antibiotics, eye infections can be treated with eye drops, cancer can be treated with chemotherapy.

It is important that the FIV infected cat receive proper nutrition and care to ensure quality of life. The cat may need to be put on a special food in order to retain the most nutrients, especially if the cat is having diarrhea. If the cat is refusing to eat, try tempting him or her with the smelliest soft food you can find. Fresh water should always be available and the cat should be monitored to ensure it does not get dehydrated.

An FIV-positive cat needs love and attention just as much as any other cat, if not more. Be sure to pet your cat today.

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Myoxosarcoma is a cancer that is prevalent in cats in particular. It is believed that aluminum in some vaccines may cause this and other cancers. There is also increasing evidence that sarcomas grow rapidly around implanted microchips that doctors recommend for animals. Be wary. These things that you think are helping your pet may ultimately kill them. Here are things that all pet owners should be aware on to avoid this horrific disease.

Sarcoma is a rapidly growing invasive tumor that often occurs at the vaccination site on your pet. It may develop in particular after the FELV vaccine. (Feline Leukemia)

It is generally irregular in shape and may be firm or ulcerated.

When you take your cat for any vaccination, express your concerns to the veterinarian about this cancer. If he/she dismisses this as inconsequential I would find another vet.

The only diagnosis is a biopsy and treatment is surgical removal.

The tumor is extremely aggressive and invasive and often encompasses large amounts of muscle and bone and because it often occurs in the area around the leg where the vaccination is given, amputation is often needed to completely remove it.

Cats that never go outdoors do not usually need leukemia or FIP immunization. Test every cat in the household for leukemia and FIV so we do not have to worry that they will catch these diseases from each other. Test new cats before bringing them into the household.

A growing body of evidence is linking pet vaccines to sarcomas. Tumors are growing where the vaccines were injected in anywhere from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 vaccine injections. While most sarcomas are in cats, dogs can also be victims.

A study in 1993 also links a growing number of cancers in felines to rabies and leukemia vaccinations.

Felines who are outdoors only need a rabies vaccination every 3 years.

Know where the veterinarian vaccinates your cat. Request that the exact spot be marked or shaved so that you can keep an eye on it.

Look for a lump. It may take several months to appear. Be aware of the area for at least a year after vaccination.

Sarcomas may be masked by a hygroma, which is a benign growth. If the vet takes a sample of the growth and finds only a hygroma, do not stop there. Follow up with a bone test. It is a little painful, but may save your animal.

The older the cat, the more likely they will develop a sarcoma. Vaccinations are not usually necessary in older cats, especially if they are indoor.

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Siamese cat origins

Despite various other theories about its origin, this breed really did originate in Siam (now Thailand) many hundred years ago. Cats with similar pointed markings feature in the Cat Book Poems, a manuscript saved from Ayuda, the old capital of Siam, which was burned down in 1767. It is the best known of a number of manuscripts that provide a record of the native cats, dogs and birds of the region at that time.

The Siamese pattern was later recorded in Russia by the naturalist Simon Pallas, in 1793. However, the cats he encountered were of much darker colouring. This could be explained by the fact that the Siamese points darken in colder climates. It is not known whether the Russian cats were descended from original Siamese imports, or whether the Siamese gene mutation (now commonly known as the Himalayan gene) had occupied naturally in Russia,
Siamese cats were already in Britain before 1871, for in that year they featured at the first National Cat Show in London. There were many stories about their origin and at one time they were labeled as ‘an unnatural, nightmare kind of cat.’ Nevertheless, their popularity grew and specimens were taken to America around 1890. The body shape of the Siamese has altered considerably over the years as breeders and judges select ever more extreme ‘Oriental’ type. Breeders have developed a wide variety of coast colours and patterns. The Himalayan gene carried by the Siamese (and other pointed cats) causes dilution of any particular colour. Hence there is no black Siamese because the colour is diluted to a very dark brown, called Seal. Siamese have also given rise to the Oriental varieties which are, in effect, ‘non-pointed’ Siamese

Siamese cat appearance

This is a short-haired cat of Oriental type with a long svelte body and an alert, intelligent expression. The head is long and wedge-shaped, neither rounded nor pointed, with a firm chin in line with the upper jaw. The ears are large, well pricked and wide at the base. The eye shape is oriental, slanting towards the nose and its deep blue in colour. The body is medium in size, long and svelte, with proportionately slim legs. The hind legs are slightly higher that the forelegs, the feet small and oval. The tail is long and tapering. The coat is very short and fine in texture, glossy and close-lying. The mask is completely connected to the ears by tracings. In all colours kittens may not show full masking, nor the adult colour on legs and tail

Siamese cat behavior

Siamese are extremely affectionate, devoted and loyal. They are highly intelligent, inquisitive, active and very vocal. They are also very demanding which make them unsuitable for some elderly people. They “meow” a lot in a loud low pitched voice. Some say that their voice sounds like the crying of a human baby. They also tend to get along well with other cats but they are usually dominant in their relationships with cats of other breeds

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