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.
An owner brings a young cat into my clinic. The cat’s been off her food for a few days, has a dull unkempt coat, and is running a fever. Something clicks and the thought “FIP” pops into my head. I take a history, hoping for a simple explanation, such as the cat got into a fight…but, no, she’s strictly indoors and an only pet…and the suspicion of FIP ratchets up a notch. As …
Continue Reading about Signs and Symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Anyone caring for an older cat knows how they tug at the heart strings. Cats are such independent, graceful creatures, whilst their ageing bodies make it hard to maintain that dignity. For example, stiff joints can make it difficult for an older cat to reach hard-to-get-to places when grooming, which leads to a dull, matted coat. The truth is your older cat depends on you …
Continue Reading about Common Illnesses Older Cats are More Likely to Experience
Accidents happen. Whilst no one thinks it will happen to their pet, the wise owner plans for the unexpected. The aim of pet first aid is to stabilise your pet before taking her to a vet. In a true emergency your actions could save a life, but there’s also a risk (especially with cats) of doing more harm than good. Indeed, the first rule of first aid is to recognise …
Continue Reading about Pet First Aid Tips: What to Do in an Emergency
“Cats are not small dogs” When I trained as a vet in the 1980s, cats had only been treated in their own right for about a decade. (Astonishing I know!) To prove how far things had come in the last ten years, the lecturers often said, “Cats are not small dogs”….and then illustrated the point with a piece of new research that highlighted how ridiculous it was that veterinary …
Continue Reading about Understanding Epilepsy and Seizures in Cats
It’s ironic that indoor cats are so strongly favoured on safety grounds, whilst the dangers lurking within the home are often overlooked. It’s true there are no motor vehicles or venomous snakes inside, but this doesn’t mean living indoors is risk free. To raise awareness of household hazards and ensure your home is as feline friendly as possible, here are 10 common …
Continue Reading about 10 Common Household Poisons Dangerous to Your Cat
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 …
