helping cats live happy, healthy lives
Want to keep your cat healthy and happy from kittenhood to their senior years? Our cat health articles include advice on feline nutrition, and how to spot the early signs of illness and disease. We also include everyday healthcare tips on grooming, flea prevention, hairballs, dental health, safety and more.
Medical emergencies happen at random when we least expect them. Our previous cats lived an indoor/outdoor life and as a result were exposed to greater dangers and accidents. Angel Rose came home one evening with a broken leg, Angel Bowie was run over by a car on our steep downhill driveway, Angel Ginger went fishing by the creek and came back with a fish hook lodged firmly in …
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Taurine is often one of those words that rings a bell, but you can’t put your finger on why. Actually taurine should have a special place in the heart of every cat owner, because it’s what keeps your fur-friend’s heart and eyes healthy. It is taurine (or the cat’s dependence upon it) that makes felines ‘obligate carnivores’. This means it doesn’t matter what the cat’s …
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Are you obsessed by the contents of your cat’s litter box? Many seemingly rationale people wait with bated breath to inspect their cat’s latest offering. For some people, finding a nice firm sausage puts a spring in the step, whilst a smelly cowpat is likely to dampen the spirits for hours. If this seems strange to you then be thankful that your cat has ‘regular’ habits, …
Has your cat recently got braver? For example, perhaps she’s stopped running from the vacuum cleaner or fireworks no longer make her fearful. In fact, now you think about it she no longer comes running when you open the fridge door. The explanation for this change in behaviour might be that she’s gone deaf. In a similar way that elderly people suffer from hearing loss so …
Where did the idea come from, of cats drinking milk? Think about it logically. In the wild, a cat isn’t realistically going to have access to a cow’s udder. At what point did humans decide it was a good idea to put down a saucer of milk for their cat to enjoy? Milk is a food for young animals before they are weaned, and whilst some adult cats get away with drinking milk, …
FeLV, FIV, and FIP: What do these three have in common? Actually, they have quite a bit in common because they are all viral diseases of cats and don’t have a cure. Also, no cat guardian wants to be told that their cat has been diagnosed with any one of these conditions. However FeLV and FIV arguably have a worse reputation than they deserve, whilst FIP remains definitely …
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We received a complimentary Dr Catsby whisker fatigue cat bowl for review. We only recommend products we believe are relevant to our readers. When I first heard about 'whisker fatigue' I thought it was just another clever marketing gimmick to help drive sales of designer cat food bowls. I’ve since realised there’s more to it than that. The importance of a cat's …
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What mental picture does the words “herpes virus” conjure up? In my mind I see a snuffling, sneezing, snotty-nosed kitten whose eyes are gummed shut. This is because herpes virus is one of the two viruses commonly linked to cat flu (the other being calici virus). But herpes virus also stars in its own solo show and causes an illness known as viral rhinotracheitis. Whilst …
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Mama Meow! Is your cat having kittens? Or perhaps a stray has identified your shed as a safe place to give birth. Whatever the reason, it is a privilege to be part of that wonderful experience that is a mother raising her kittens. Hopefully everything goes well and Mama does all the work, in which case your job is to make life easier for her. But if, for whatever reason, you …
Continue Reading about Raising Newborn Kittens – Tips for Surrogate Cat Mothers
How healthy is your cat’s gut? If your cat uses a litter tray you’ll be well aware of any changes in your pet’s poop. There are many reasons why a cat produces anything other than the perfect nugget, ranging from medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatitis, to a diet change or even stress. If you cat has a problem it might be she is already under …
Continue Reading about Role of Probiotics in Your Cat’s Diet
