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.
Have you ever considered a cat’s eye view of a visit to the vet? I was purr-fectly happy snoozing on the sofa, when along comes Mum, scoops me up and shuts me in a plastic box smelling of damp and fear. A nausea-inducing car ride later, we arrive at a place that reeks of disinfectant. Mum puts the box on the floor and this huge, nosy hound sniffs around, but I’m trapped and …
Continue Reading about How to Prepare Your Cat for their First Vet Visit
Natural disaster or Act of God, call them what you want, but some events are beyond the control of man. Be it earthquake, hurricane, flood, severe storm, or bushfire -- occasionally the elements threaten our homes and the lives of those we hold dear. Keeping everyone safe is of paramount importance, which may mean securing the house or even evacuating your property. But in …
Continue Reading about Are You and Your Cats Prepared for a Natural Disaster?
How often do you take your cat to the vet? If the answer isn't "every year," it might be time to rethink. The annual health check for cats is about catching problems early – sometimes before you even notice any signs. Cats hide pain and illness remarkably well, but subtle clues like weight loss or changes in behaviour can flag larger health concerns. An annual health check …
Continue Reading about Annual Health Check for Cats: Essential for Their Wellbeing
Does your cat cough? Unlike dogs and people, it takes a lot to make a cat cough (a proper cough, different from the “I’m about to bring up a hairball so everybody look,” sound). Cats have a weak cough reflex and so if you answered “Yes, my cat coughs”, this is significant and you should get her checked by a vet. Indeed, one of the few things that cause cat’s to cough is …
Continue Reading about Feline Asthma and Bronchitis: Triggers and Treatment
As a loving pet parent, you probably want to show your cat all the love and affection you can, but how safe is it to kiss your cat? And should you kiss your cat on the mouth? Many people, in particular those who aren’t owned by a cat themselves, are repulsed by the thought of a human kissing their cat, “he licks his bum with that mouth!”, but to you it’s just …
Have you ever recoiled from your cat’s bad breath? If your cat suffers from fish-breath, it could be their dental hygiene leaves a lot to be desired. Indeed, bad breath can be an indication your pet has dirty teeth or gum disease. Worse still, inflamed gum tissue harbours bacteria (which causes the bad smell) and can lead to dental discomfort, wobbly teeth, and difficulty …
Continue Reading about The Importance of Good Dental Health for Your Cat
From your own experience, you know there’s a big different between having a head cold and the flu. It's the same for cats. Cats can get upper respiratory tract infections (a ‘cold’ in plain English) that are mild and don’t need treatment, but catching cat flu is a whole different story. What Causes Cat Flu? Traditionally cat flu is a viral disease, caused by feline Calici …
Continue Reading about Cat Flu: Sneezes and Sniffles…or Something More Serious?
If you enjoy decorating your home with festive plants or giving plants as holiday gifts, please keep in mind that many Christmas plants are toxic to cats. Let's look at Christmas plants that are poisonous to cats, signs of toxicity, and what to do if your cats ingests a poisonous plant. Mistletoe – a potentially deadly plant Mistletoe may look pretty with its leaves and …
Continue Reading about Holly, Mistletoe and Other Christmas Plants Toxic to Cats
A kitten is arguably the cutest thing in the world! But did you know the “Awww!” feeling you experience around kittens, is down to an oxytocin rush? Oxytocin is the hormone a nursing mother releases when she sees her baby, and its nature’s way of bonding them. So if you’re a sucker for cute kittens and find them irresistible, it’s all down to hormones! Aside from …
Continue Reading about Kitten Development: From Newborn to Active Kitten
Does your cat spend ages in the litter box? Straining and feeling the urge to constantly visit the litter tray are signs your feline friend may be suffering from FLUTD. Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is common, with your average vet practice seeing more cases of FLUTD (5% of their caseload) than kidney disease (4.2%). But if you think a sore bladder is all …
Continue Reading about FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease) and Your Cat
