OWNER TIPS
Recognising the Symptoms of Cystitis
As cat owners, we all want our furry friends to live happy, healthy lives. But just like humans, cats can experience health issues, and one common concern is cystitis. Cystitis is an uncomfortable and potentially painful condition that affects cats, particularly those who are indoors and prone to stress. In this guide, we’ll help you spot the signs of cystitis in your feline companion and take the necessary actions to ensure their well-being.
Understanding Cystitis in Cats
Cystitis, in simple terms, is inflammation of the bladder. While
Hot Tips for Cool Cats
Introduction: As the temperatures rise, so does the concern for our furry companions. Cats, in particular, are sensitive to the sweltering heat, making them vulnerable to dehydration and heat stroke. In this article, we’ll explore how climate change affects our feline friends, especially as they age, and provide you with essential tips to ensure your cat stays cool, hydrated, and healthy during the hottest months.
Feline Vulnerability to Heat: Whether you’re a climate change believer or not, there’s no denying that summers are becoming hotter. Cats are not
Why Fishy Breath Isn’t Normal For Any Cat
Introduction: Have you ever marveled at your cat’s impressive set of teeth? These tiny wonders aren’t just for show – they are finely tuned instruments evolved over millions of years to turn your furry friend into a top-notch predator. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the incredible design of feline teeth, their unique functions, and what you, as a cat owner, should know to ensure your cat’s oral health.
A Glimpse into the Evolutionary Marvel: When dogs and cats embarked on their distinct evolutionary journeys,
How Arthritis Affects Young Cats As Well As Old
Introduction: Have you noticed your usually sprightly feline friend becoming a bit of a couch potato lately? Is that graceful leap onto the kitchen bench now more of a hesitant scramble? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Just like us, cats can feel the effects of aging, and even the cold weather can take a toll on their joints. In this blog post, we’ll explore why your cat might be freezing up, how arthritis affects our agile companions, and what you can do to help them regain their
Zebby – The UK Cat of the Year
Have you ever experienced the pure magic that pets can bring into our lives? Well, let me introduce you to Genevieve Moss and her feline friend, Zebby, whose story will surely warm your heart and remind you of the incredible bond between humans and their furry companions.
Picture this: Genevieve Moss, a spirited soul with a heart full of love, was flipping through her local newspaper one April day back in 2021. She was in Chesterfield, England, feeling the weight of loneliness due to her profound hearing loss.
How Dr Kim deals with Feline Diabetes Mellitus: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Introduction
Diabetes is not just a condition that affects humans; it can also affect our beloved feline friends.
Just like in humans, diabetes in cats occurs when the body is unable to properly regulate blood sugar levels (this is the Mellitus or ‘sweet urine’ part of the name).
This blog post aims to shed light on the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for feline diabetes, providing valuable insights for cat owners and those interested in learning more about this condition.
It is important to know that, if left untreated for long enough, feline diabetes will be very painful
Interpreting Home Urine Tests
Monitoring Feline Diabetes Treatment
This is the 3rd article in my series on understanding your diabetic cat’s urine tests. On this page we examine what the feline diabetes results mean…
Make sure you are fully familiar with the process of collecting feline urine samples and the equipment you need before taking these next steps
Collecting the feline urine
There are many ways you can gather the information from the urine that you and the vet will want. Here are my favourites. Whatever method you choose, always remember to keep all the utensils sterile and
How To Know if Your Cat is Sick
10 sick cat symptoms to watch out for
Telling a moody from a sick cat is a vital skill for the caring owner.
As we know cats can sometimes be quite temperamental. They also don’t like to admit they are sick. So it’s important to be able to tell the difference between fluffy simply having a bad day and asserting her independence and when you have a sick cat that needs your help.
The key to identifying illness in cats is to notice any CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR and routine from what your feline friend
Managing Care For an Elderly Cat
A senior cat care plan has specific challenges for you to address – just like the ageing human population! And, like us, prevention is better than the cure…
The types of problems senior cats experience
There are the ‘young old’ who have few health issues despite being of advanced years. And there are the ‘old old’ who have advanced years plus failing health systems and whose medical and maintenance care needs are complex and individual.
And then there is just the cranky or ‘demented old’ – and yes, cats can get dementia! But not
When and Why Your Cat Should be Neutered
Vets neuter cats for medical and social reasons. Whatever your motivation it is an essential part of your pet cat’s health and wellbeing.
Neutering cats is not just an effective way to make sure there are no kitten-surprises every few months. It improves the cats health and wellbeing and for outside cats can have a positive impact, lessening the desire to hunt wildlife.
The operation involves a day in hospital, then a quiet couple of days afterwards. I recommend spaying females at 4 months old, as well-fed kittens can be pregnant by 6
Making a Natural Cat Litter
Cleanliness is next to catliness, and sometimes a natural cat litter is best! So how do you make a homemade tray smell and feel like shop bought?
A cat won’t go where a cat has gone before
As you will already know, cat litter can be a major household expense, and rather than try to save by cleaning the tray less, you may like to try some of these natural litter tray substrate options.
The good news is that only half of cats care about the type of litter. So you have a 50/50 chance
How to Get Rid of Fleas
If you find yourself shrieking “My Cat Has Fleas!” don’t despair. Here’s the low down on fleas, where they’re from and how to treat your cat and flea proof your home so they don’t come back.
Cats and a few friendly fleas have lived in harmony together for ever for centuries. But in recent years the balance has changed and Ctenocephalides felis, (the cat flea) has become prolific and a real problem both for the cat and in the home.
Much research has been done on the treatment
How To Train a Cat
Cats learn naturally and, like humans, they learn differently. But can you train a cat like you would train a dog? Well, yes and no. Like with dogs, the sooner you start the training, the better but, unlike dogs who often can’t help themselves, the degree of success when trying to train a feline can vary significantly from breed – and cat – to breed.
Nonetheless, here are a few answers to the more common questions for budding lion tamers out there.
Can You Really Train Cats To Do Tricks?
Lions and
Cleaning the Cat Litter Tray
Cats are fastidiously fussy about cleanliness, both their own and their environment. They won’t for instance, settle for a litter tray that’s next to their food or bed, and will react as they see fit when confronted with a tray that they don’t like the look or smell of.
So, despite seemingly being a simple and fairly innoccuous question, “How to clean a litter tray?” can have serious repercussions for both the cat and you. However, there’s no need to panic, as the answer is actually quite simple.
Although the smell of bleach
Homemade Cat Litter for Urine Collection
Homemade cat litter works well for everyday use. It’s cheap, keeps most cats happy and is effective. It also works well if you need to collect urine for diabetic monitoring or other reasons.
Your pet cat only needs to scratch something after peeing to feel the job has been done properly. This means that if you don’t want to use commercial litters then plastic homemade litter is a viable option.
Further, if you have suddenly found yourself in the business of collecting feline number ones, you have many options as to the material