Cat Health Weight

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 04:20:29 GMT

Fat cats may look cute but feline obesity is a very serious issue, and every cat lover should be aware of it. Veterinarians from almost every country, agree that Cat Health Weight is of utmost importance, because excess weight does lead to increased stress on your cat's joints and organs, leading to a shortened lifespan.

Cat Health Weight

One of the best ways to help domesticated cats slim down is to increase their activity. This may be easier said than done, given today's busy schedules, which makes it more than difficult for every cat owner to ensure that his or her cat is getting all the exercise it needs. Domesticated cats confined to the indoors in particular, can be prone to inactivity and even boredom, which is the cause of feline depression and weight gain.

Feline health a weighty issue, says the Dayton Beach News Journal in their story published on the 11th August 2012

This week at Halifax Humane Society we received a trio of cats -- Frank, Holly and Wooshie -- that weighed more than a combined 80 pounds! These three cats are an extreme example, weighing an average of 27 pounds each, but many domestic cats are overweight. Luckily there are plenty of ways to work with your cat to get its weight down to a healthy level.

Contrary to common belief, most cats do not get enough exercise simply by being allowed to roam the house freely. Cats are predatory by nature, so it is important to find ways to let them use their hunting abilities safely. Even for indoor cats, this can be very simple.

Planned playtime with toys is generally the best way to get your cat the extra bit of exercise it needs. However, cats will grow bored with toys quickly if left to play with them alone. The key is to treat the toy as a prey animal. Use toys to mimic the running of a rodent or lizard, or wave a wand toy through the air like a bird in flight. You could also use a laser pointer to move along the ground like a bug.

Read More: Feline health a weighty issue. By Tyler Stover, Tails from the Front

If your cat is obese, or is tending to become obese and you have to be Cat Health Weight conscious, here is some very good news. Just a few minutes of extra activity each day can make a huge difference in your cat's health. It's even easier when you can give your cat that workout with just the touch of a button. You can do just that with an automated toy like the FroliCat Bolt laser toy. Your cat can get in shape even when you are away.

Caring For A Cat With Diabetes.

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 05:16:00 GMT

Some cat owners tend to feel caring for a cat with diabetes is an exhausting task, because they have found that it has impacted on their lives.

Caring for a cat with diabetes can be tasking and a bit tiresome, but that would only be at the beginning. Cats with diabetes need to have blood sugar levels checked, given their insulin shots and be fed their proper diet all at the correct time and without anything being missed.

This is what may impact upon the cat owner, but after a very short time it will all become so routine that it would stop being a bother any more.

People have allays turned to Yahoo Answers with questions on topics that mattered to them. Here are a few questions by people with cats diagnosed with diabetes.

Caring For A Cat With Diabetes.

Maria asks…

cat with diabetes information?

I am taking care of some cats for a friend and one of them I got to give a shot of medicine every 12 hours because it has diabetes, I was wondering would it be ok to give it the shot like 1 hour before schedule time? can any one help?

Admin Answers:

What were your instructions as to when to give it it's shot? The shot should be given as directed. The shot is usually coordinated with the time the cat eats.

Nancy asks…

Diabetic Cat Care - food, insulin and infections?

Can anyone help, I am driving myself nuts trying to make the best decision for my cats care. She was diagnosed with Diabetes a year ago. She had been overweight for yrs,diets didnt work, her coat looked scruffy and vet said it was ago.Eventually she started weeing and drinking loads and scavenging for food and lost weight rapidly. We started on 1 unit, then 2 and eventually 3 units of insulin, she was so much better.

When diagnosed they mentioned food might need to be changed (life long dry Science Plan diet!) Anyway, before Christmas the fructosamine blood test was only good, so the vet upped the insulin to 4 and then 5. She had a hypo. I managed to test her Blood Glucose at home with a meter a couple of times around 5hrs after insulin and it was at 7. The insulin was reduced back to 3 and she seemed well.

Then the manufacturer stopped insulin we used so we had to transist to a new one, all was well, we sent her into the vet for the day to do a blood glucose curve just to check she was regulated as well as possible. I had tried to hometest with no success. The curve went down really quickly and fairly low too - this was at the vets when she was stressed! The vet still said the fructosamine didnt say excellent control.

My question is what food can I feed her to get the best chance of her reducing her need for insulin and perhaps regulating the highs and lows of the day by removing carbs. Incidently the vet advised Hills W/D in january and now I know this is not low in carbs. I cannot home test and I dont know why she is not as regulated as she could be and frankly the vet is a little blase, e.g she is ok so dont worry too much! She also has periodic cystitis which I know will effect her Blood Glucose levels.

I am considering Purina wet food which is 4% carbs. I am happy to try shop bought food, a little wary of getting a regular diet though, with carbs, calories etc the same.If there are too many variables I am wondering if it will be too hard to tell what is happening, insulin dose, food or perhaps infection. Any ideas for food or anything else are most welcome.

Thank you

Just to add - I am not on the same page as my vet, she has been very good, but very text book and cant seem to answer many of my questions. I want to avoid going back for tests when they dont seem to take me much further in regulating my cat. Its very frustrating as home testing seems the ideal - i really have tried and tried and cant be successfull regularly enough. I test urine when i can and keytones

Admin Answers:

Canned food is right on the money, for both the diabetes and cystitis. Here's a chart of foods and their protein/carb content - not sure how many of these brands you have around so may not be too helpful. Http://binkyspage.tripod.com/nonusfd.html http://binkyspage.tripod.com/CanFoodNew.html Good page on what the right diet can do for diabetes :) http://yourdiabeticcat.com/diet.html Kitten food is recommended here in brands that sell adult and kitten versions. Kitten food tends to have more protein and less carbs. Since changing the diet can have a big effect, it's important to work with your vet. If she is open to you trying new things, even if she doesn't agree, that will work. If she outright refuses to work with you if you go in a different direction, you may want to consider trying another vet, especially if you are not having success with home testing. 4% carbs is one of the lower amounts so hopefully that does it for ya. Good luck!

James asks…

What to Do: Old Cat with Diabetes?

We have this old cat, he's probably about 11. We adopted him from the humane society, and he's always been a lot more difficult to care for than any other cat we've encountered. There's always something: scratching everything, hairballs, won't leave anybody alone at night, etc. But anyway, we've put up with him. Just a few weeks ago, he started urinating on all the rugs, and just last week, he urinated on my parents' bed--a brand new one too, so my dad said "That's the last straw. Either the cat or me." My mom likes the cat but my dad hates him. Anyway, so it turns out he has diabetes, so now the question is what to do, because as bad as it sounds, my family probably can not take him back in the house. My mom doesn't want him to be an outdoor cat because "he might get run over." So yeah, both parents being a bit unreasonable here. He's probably too old to be adopted? And I don't know if people would adopt a cat with diabetes. Any suggestions are much appreciated, thank you.

Admin Answers:
First of all... 11 is NOT old. Cats easily live into thier 20's these days. Second of all... Why the hell would you not take the cat back? Diabetes is easily treatable. We don't thow out humans with diabetes why would you do that to your cat? Here are some good places to start your research. Http://www.catinfo.org/felinediabetes.htm http://felinediabetes.com/ http://www.yourdiabeticcat.com/ http://www.mypetcarnivore.com/feline_diabetes_mellitus.htm http://www.catnutrition.org I would HIGHLY recommend a Raw diet. Many cats are no longer insulin dependant once they are fed a species appropriate diet. Considering the diabetes was probably caused by feeding a species inappropriate diet of dry food to the cat for its entire life, a few appropriate diet is a good place to start!

David asks…

Does anyone have any experience with feline diabetes?

I'm planning on adopting a cat with feline diabetes and would like to hear from anyone who has had EXPERIENCE caring for a cat with this disease. I've looked up info on the web but would like some personal stories. The shelter stated that this cat's diabetes is solely diet controlled and if I continue to maintain his diet (which is 1/2 can of Hill's m/d prescription food mixed with 1/2 can other food twice per day) he will not become insulin dependent. Is this true? Am I getting myself into something that will be very expensive and time consuming? Any personal info and/or advice you could give me would be great! Thanks so much - this is an adorable cat and appears (temperament and size-wise) to be a great match for my family. Also, I have not yet adopted this cat and, although I feel right now that he is a good match for us, I can still change my mind.

Admin Answers:
Our cat was already 15 when she was diagnosed with the disease and was insulin dependent right away. We certainly switched to a lighter food as well, but what it required was 2 daily shots. Essentially all you needed to do was get a piece of loose skin around the neck and inject it there...I'm very needle phobic and for a long time I was afraid to try, but one time my wife was not home at the time the cat needed her shot, and I had to give it. From that point on, I realized it really wasn't bad.

Basically, if it can be controlled with food, great, you'll have no problem...and it's certainly possible, just as much as it's possible for a pre-diabetic human to change his/her diet and not have to go down that road. I really don't think you'll notice it, particularly if it's your only cat. If there's more than one cat, which was our situation, it might be a little harder if you don't intend to feed all your cats the same thing. Whereas we always leave food down for our cats and fill the bowls a couple times a day when they all eat the same thing, if you have more than one you might want to consider having set meal times for the cats, where you'd bring one into a room and feed that cat, then continue until all cats are fed. Obviously this is time consuming and doesn't lend itself to travel, because even if you have someone catsit, usually you're not going to want to ask them to go to that level. You do of course always have the option of boarding your cat if you travel (or bringing the cat along when possible), but a lot of cats really don't like to be put in a kennel in some strange place (imagine that).

With insulin dependency it's a bit harder, for the same reason it would be if you have different cats that are fed different things, because within one hour of the same time every day, 2 times per day, you need to give the cat a shot, and make sure the cat eats right afterwards so as not to develop low blood sugar. It's definitely doable, we did it for 2 years, and again travel is difficult unless you have a really close friend who is reliable and willing and able to stop by two times a day when you're out of town to give your cat a shot and make sure the cat eats. Or again, you can board the cat or bring the cat with you.

In terms of cost, expensive foods may seem a lot more pricy when it comes to reading the sticker, but realize you're going to be feeding the cat 2 cans of food a day, so maybe you're talking a few hundred dollars a year for food, whereas maybe you get by for a couple hundred if you were to just buy dry bagged food...if that's going to break you, then that's what you have to worry about. If not, then it's probably worth doing.

The other expense is if you do have insulin, it seems to me I spent maybe $100-$150 a year on insulin and needles, maybe not even that much...the stuff wasn't very expensive. All told, even if you take this cat to the vet more often than you would a non diabetic cat, and do all sorts of things that you might not otherwise do, I can't see it costing more than an extra $100 a month vs what a healthy cat would cost, and probably closer to $50. Chances are you pay that now for cable or sattelite TV or a cell phone, or high speed internet. Other than mixing the food and maybe feeding the cat(s) actively instead of just laying food down might consume a couple hours a month of your time.

Our cat sadly just before New Years' Eve 2003/New Years' Day 2004 just went to stand up one day, then fell on her side and pretty much acted paralyzed. We spent quite a bit in vet's bills just to have her observed, keep her hydrated, etc., and eventually to euthanize her. Now, she was 17 years old, which isn't bad for a cat, and maybe the high blood sugar caused her to eventually have a stroke or something, but I don't really think you can count how a cat dies and how much that ends up costing you in the whole "is it worth it" discussion, because the cat's going to die some day, maybe while sleeping, or the cat may linger, causing you a great deal of expense and heartbreak...could happen either way with any cat for any reason at any time, so I wouldn't worry that maybe the condition was going to wreak havoc. If you're committed to controlling it and doing what the doctor says, you can have yourself a loving companion for many years to come.

Carol asks…

Diabetes and cats Does your cat have it?

This is a disease where you need to be proactive and be the primary care giver with the vet as a secondary source. I can help you learn what you need to take control. Here are some tidbits. Doses should never be raised based on fructosamines or a single test at the vets. That could be dangerous Curves at the vets can be off by more the 100 points due to stress and other factors. Insulin needs can change over time. Are you feeding DM or MD?? You can do oh so much better for cheaper. Lower carbs is what reduces insulin needs. Were doses ever raised by more then 1/2 bid at 1 time? They shouldn't be. Are you giving more then 5 bid of insulin? Sometimes ok but by far in the minority. Do you home test or know how to? it is the ONLY way to know if it is safe to give insulin and get the info u need to treat this correctly. I can teach you how. If you want help with this and are proactive and care i can help. I work with diabetic cat owners from all over the world teaching them how to care for their pets. There is nothing in this for me except the pleasure of helping. I have owned and adopted diabetic cats Interested? Contact me direct justken@rocketmail.com I am not a vet pay it forward. Here are some people from answers with whom I have worked.

Admin Answers:

Ken guided me and worked with me from the very first day I took my Sniff (14 yrs old) to the vet, who was basically useless besides the fact that he charged me over $600 just to tEll me my baby was diabetic. $400 just for a blood and urine test and $200 for his insulin and DRY diabetic cat food (which Ken helped me understand is the culprit and worst thing to feed your cat). My vet insistEd I go back for check ups on his sugar levels at least twice a week,$20 a visit. I never went back. Thanks to Ken I started home testing and monitoring Sniffs sugar levels at home, changed his diet to canned food, and reduced Sniffs insulin intake from 2 units twice a day to .5 units within the first month. I haven't given my baby an insulin shot for about 2 months now. He's producing insulin on his own, sugar has not been over 115 (it was at 600 when we went to the vet), moving like he did 5 years ago and acting like himself. Ken you are a life saver. This cat means more to me than most people I know. Thank you I will always recommend you and be in debt!!

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If you are a cat owner who is currently caring for a cat with diabetes, you can take courage from the fact that with the advancements made in the field of medicine, diabetes is now more controllable than it ever was, and one day it may be even reversible.

Feral Cat As Pets

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:56:00 GMT

Feral Cats As Pets.

Hostile humans, who have no love for cats, make useful and convenient scapegoats of the unfortunate feral cat. A striking example would be the landscaping of the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, which led to the loss of habitat and food for the local songbird, leading to the decline in its numbers, which was blamed on the feral cat population in the area. This being the case it is sometimes difficult to consider raising the question of feral cats as pets.

It is very humbling to take into account the stellar work of those who spend every spare moment they have in feral cat rescue work, as evidenced by the queries raised on Yahoo Answers.

These recued cats need homes, so it opens the question of feral cats as pets, which some people tried to find support for in Yahoo Answers.

James asks…

Where can I find feral cat rescue in Sacramento California?

I am looking for feral cat rescue / farms in the Sacramento area in California.

Admin Answers:

Here you go. Http://www.rivercitycatrescue.org/links.aspx

Linda asks…

Feral Cat Rescue?

Within 1.5 I humanely trapped and neutered 5 cats in my subdivision. I am moving away in 3 weeks and want to make sure that they are taking care of: -3 kittens will be put up for adoption and they have been tamed - papa cat was neutered/got his shots but he is feral and it is impossible to tame him because he is rather agressive and territorial. Currently he is in a large crate as I am getting ready to place him with farmers 40 miles away -mama cat has been spayed/received her shots and is recovering in a crate. She is not agressive but she is feral. If I would have time I would try to tame her or keep her as my yard cat. -i am in a process of rescuing last feral (i do not see any more). he is a male and he is not veruy agressive. Here is a question: I found a farm for them to be barn kitties. I will be visiting the place this week for assessment. It takes time to make these 3 adult cats to get used to the area so they have to be in crates for 4 weeks. But there are no gurantees that they will stick around there. And this is where my dilemma comes from. Should I release them back to the subdivision? Or do I take them to a farm so they can become barn cats? In my subdivision a lot of people have put up houses for sale. It is a nice area but many renters now live in these houses. I am sure cats have been getting food before I started feeding them but they are not really needed here. What if someone will decide to capture them and take them to a pound since they are a nuisance? On a farm, if they will adapt they can leave a cats dream life but theyre might be preditors there like coytotees or hawks. I would appreciate input of a professional or a rescue worker. Thanks

Admin Answers:

While coyotes are a problem, if the farm has a dog the coyotes won't enter the yard or barn area. Hawks won't be a problem, I've not seen any on my folk's place that ever went after a full grown cat. The farm would be the best place for them, for the reasons you gave. I think you could crate them for 2 weeks there, not wait four, and have them stay in the area. They'll pick up fast that the barn has pigeons, rats and mice.

Ken asks…

I am semi-involved in feral cat rescue - along with two of my co-workers.?

I've trapped five in the last two years and found homes for three, taken one home myself and one just would not integrate. So my cat - Trapper - has totally become a human-friendly cat. But I can't have any other cats because Trap HATES them! Neighbor cats - whatever. I'm coming to the conclusion that you can only take a feral so far. In other words - you can take the cat out of the wild but you can't take the wild out of the cat. Hard to believe - because he sleeps in my BED. But something is imprinted in his DNA that says other cats are bad. Anyone else been through this? Because I'd really like to bring another cat home - but this IS Trapper's domain after all - and I don't want to tip his world over. Gawd - I just read what I wrote. It's true - we really ARE owned by our cats, arem't we?

Admin Answers:

That's the way cats are...it's like having a wife...then try to bring a second and feral wife into the house...same results. You can bring an additional cat into the house, but depending on the personality of the indigenous feline, it may take weeks to months for them to get along without fur flying at every moment. I've had pretty good luck bringing feral KITTENS into the household that already has adult cats on premises...in both cases, the adults were mother and son. But also, they remained grudging acquaintances all of their life...never really becoming best pals. Even today, one of my feral "kittens" is eight years old and he still picks fights (and vice versa) with the senior cats. ...as they say..."Dogs have masters; cats have staff."

Sandra asks…

Feral cat rescue group in CT?

I found 2 black /gray cats- very friendly must have been pets at one time. I was told they are strays. I would help them myself but am allergic!

Admin Answers:

If your description is correct, they are not ferals. They are either strays or roaming pets who have homes in the area. Ferals treat humans as dangers and are not, in any sense of the word, "friendly." Ferals and strays are handled differently. Strays are usually easily put into a carrier and easily socialized, sometimes with no effort at all. Ferals usually have to be trapped with a baited trap and, depending upon age, may not be tamable and often are nuetered and returned to where they were trapped. You don't want a feral group, you want to contact a humane society, the ASPCA, APA (Animal Protective Association), or other shelters. Look in your white pages under ASPCA, APA, Humane, Animal Shelters. Look in the yellow pages under humane societies. Here is the first page of a Google search on: cat shelter OR humane OR aspca OR APA ct OR connecticut. Go to that search and start looking at the pages it found.

Lisa asks…

I adopted a rescue cat and a feral cat and they both have issues...?

Prior to adopting these two cats, I have a two year old male indoor cat (Cloud) who is neutered, box trained, and people friendly. The rescue cat, Aeris, is a two year old female cat that is spayed and has lived in a home with other cats. She's very mellow, people loving, and gets along with my male cat. I was told by her foster mom that she was boxed trained, which I'm guessing was a stretch of the truth. Aeris will use the box to defecate but, she will urinate on my carpet and tile. I've tried giving her urinary tract treats and food but, no results. I'm tired of daily floor mopping. What can I do to get her to urinate in the box?

The feral cat, Cid, is a 12 week old male. He extremely loving, adores people and gets along with my other two cats. His problem is that he's food aggressive. My two cats share out of a big bowl with no problems. When I pour food out, Cid is the first one there. He'll start eating when I'm in the middle of pouring and is completely oblivious to the food falling on his head. When the other two cats try to share the bowl, he growls at them. He forgets that he's smaller than the other two and is outnumbered. He also gorges himself and is getting chubby. He will defecate in the cat box but alas, he also urinates on the floor. What can I do about him?

Admin Answers:

Agree with the others -- separate bowls / litters are suggested for any cats, but especially introducing new cats and with feral / special case rescue cats. Did you ever try asking the foster mom if she was REALLY litter trained. Let her know you won't get mad no matter what the answer, you just want to know if this issue is old or new to the new home.

The gorging himself part -- like someone said, feed him in another room, but don't feed him unlimited amounts. Don't leave food out in between meals. My cats did that when I first got them -- like yours rescue cats that are still 3/4 wild (well, not to me, but they don't like visitors) but they are getting better about it. It will take a while, maybe months for him to understand that food will appear in his dish tomorrow too.

Read more answers for questions on Feral Cats As Pets in Yahoo! Answers

If you are want a cat for a pet, visit any feral cat rescue center and consider those rescued feral cats as pets. If you have a large property and if you can afford it, install an outdoor cat house on it, that can give shelter and a new home to a feral cat or two.

Questions For A Cat Behaviorist

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:42:00 GMT

Oscar the cat, who was adopted by the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island when he was six months old, has accurately predicted more than 25 deaths. If Oscar hops onto the patient's bed, and snuggles beside the patient, then that patient passes away in the next hour or two. Oscar nearly always appears at the last hour or so. Surprisingly he shows no special interest in the patients who are simply in a poor shape or even in the patients who are dying, but who still have a few days.

Does it make Oscar unique from other cats? Or is this a question for a cat behaviorist?

Informed sources claim that many animals such as dogs or other felines have the ability to sniff out diseases or even detect a natural disaster such as earthquakes and tornados. However, Oscar is definitely an extra ordinary cat, as established by his behavior at the nursing home, for the final care, comfort and companionship he provides to the terminally ill patients.

Questions For A Cat Behaviorist.

You can find more Questions For A Cat Behaviorist at Yahoo Answers.

Paul asks…

Question pertaining to being a Cat behaviorist?

I want to know if that is possible, I heard there is already one famous cat behaviorist known as Jackson Galaxy, and I wondered if there is ever room for more?

Admin Answers:

It's possible, but I think only the desperate and ridiculously wealthy would pay for a cat behaviorist for their house cats. You may have more luck going into Zoology and working with big cats.

James asks…

Would you use the services of a cat behaviorist/cat trainer?

If your cat sprays, doesn't use the litter box, scratches the furniture, is aggressive,fearful,ect. would you hire a cat behaviorist to correct the behavior problem? If so how much would you be willing to pay? $50,$75,$100??? cat's most certainly can be trained. The problem is people think they can train a cat like they would a dog when they are two completely different species.

Admin Answers:

I would. I want to know how to stop my cat from meowing all the time, and also how to deal with what I think is seperation anxiety. I think it's a neat idea. There are so many options to work with dogs, but nothing for cats. So many people think you can't do anything with cats, they're just there, but I don't agree. I don't understand cats, or how they work, really, so it would be nice to get advice. I would pay up to $100, if they could really help with the issues I have.

Michael asks…

Is "cat behaviorist" and dog behaviorist real jobs?

I always wondered are dog and cat behaviorist real jobs? How much do they make?

Admin Answers:

Cat behaviorist? No. Dog behaviorist? Absolutely.

Donald asks…

Cat behaviorist: I've introduced a kitten to my other two old-timers and they don't like him!?

The older cats are brother-sister. The girl cat is really a tough broad, hunts, stays out allllllll day and is very mean (never a scratcher, just lotz of 'tude!) She really has a problem with our new kitten and I find she has taken revenge by PEEING!!! I feel like killing her when she does this, but I know she's telling me something. How to I get her to just accept the addition to the family and quit being so bitchy?

Admin Answers:

Cats don't adjust well to change in any way. It will take some time for them to accept what is happening. I have 3 cats and each time I got a new one they other (s) would be pretty mad but they all get along now so don't lose hope. It only happens with time and naturally, you can't force them. Be sure to give your others cats lots of love and attention so they don't fell left out! Also be careful if the other cats are mean to the baby don't leave them alone we had to keep my kitten(s) in another room if were weren't home because they weren't big enough to defend themselves from the large cats.

Lisa asks…

CAT SECTION REGULARS: What is all this business about Housecat Housecall?

I'm talking about the ad that keeps popping up on the side of the page in the pet section. Is it like a cat behaviorist?

Admin Answers:

Well I only began noticing it about a week ago and have never clicked on it! I'm now refreshing my page to try and see the ad again and it hasn't shown up (since the ads are all on rotation here at Yahoo!) but when I do click it, I'll let you know what I think it is. Of course, you could click it too... :P Alright, I finally came upon it again. As the person below me said, it's a new reality tv show for cats. Here is the synopsis: "Each week Dr. Katrina will visit three families and, with the help of the Housecat Housecall™ Mentors Dr. Debra Horwitz and Dr. Stacy Fuchino, she'll try to make some sense out of a wide range of feline puzzlers. Whether it's just a quirky behavior or something more complex, Dr. Katrina and her team work out real solutions that help bring peace, harmony, and well-being back to the homes of cats and owners." So, sounds like you're right-- it's going to be a reality show about cats, their behaviors, and remedies for those behaviors.

Find more revealing answers on Questions For A Cat Behaviorist at Yahoo Answers

Feral Cats and Florida Law

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 23:02:00 GMT

Ruth asks…

is there a law in Florida against feeding feral cats?

Admin Answers:

Google is probably a good source but I would think that's very sad if there's a law like that. The only reason I could think of to have that law on the books is to encourage adoption.

Donald asks…

Anyone know of a feral cat rescue operating in South Florida?

I'm looking for an organization such as the Feral Cats Coalition that is operating in South Florida. Just wanting to get involved. Any information or links would be greatly appreciated!

Admin Answers:

Call any vet's office or the Humane Society. They will know. Good luck and thank you for caring for such a great cause.

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Your Questions About Cat Health Facts

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:20:44 GMT

Sandy Asks…

Is it dangerous for your own health to feed your messy cat raw meat?

I've tried to switch my cat to a raw food diet (using frozen, raw meat specially packaged for cats). I know normal raw meat "hygiene", like washing my hands, utensils, and counters after touching it, but what about the fact that my cat is getting the meat all over herself, then walking around the whole house? I couldn't possibly disinfect her pathway around the house after every meal. And what about when she tries to lick my face after eating? Help!

Admin Answers:

Both of my cats are on raw diet, as long as their eating area is clean and bowls are washed everyday there shouldn't be a problem.Just make sure you worm them every 2 months.

Jenny Asks…

Should I quit dog sitting for a friend due to the facts her dogs hate cat's?

I own one and all they do is bark at her and it's starting to make my blood pressure rise and give me a migraine and it's stresses me out when they are here and the boy is so attached to me he won't let me sleep during the night he knocks all night until my new roomie goes to bed with her pug and the only problem is I could use the money but I think my health is more important am I correct?

Admin Answers:

Yes you are correct. You should tell this person that your health is getting affected with you dog sitting. I am sure the person will understand and ger a new dogsitter. And for the money try finding something else you really enjoy doing. Hope this helps.

Michael Asks…

which has less health issues a male or female cat?

After neutering ive heard neutered male's are more prone to kidney and urine tract infections but i haven't heard any bad things about females but just want to know all the facts i can before i go to the rescue centre.

Admin Answers:

Either one, depending on the genetic make up of the cat. Will it be an indoor only or go outside. Indoor only will be a healthier cat, not prone to diseases and fights and being the wild life prey also there are cruel humans out there. But you have to make a commitment to keep the the yearly vet check ups. This won't say that problems won't pop up but in the long run the vet will be able to help you. Building a good relationship with your vet is very important for the health of your cat. And let the cat pick you. R P Cat Maine Coon.

Linda Asks…

Can someone settle this cat health debate?

Okay, so my cat is cute but dumb as toast and evidently got into a fight with one of the neighbourhood kitties who are quite a bit more skilled than he is. He is covered in scratches that have scabbed over. My mom and brother, for some reason, seem to think that because the scabs have been there for almost a month, it's in my cat's best interests to remove them. I, however, believe that the fact that the scabs are still there just means that the scratches were pretty deep and they're taking a while to heal, and that the scabs should stay to keep infection out. Can someone please set us straight? (and I know, everything I've read says don't pick them or whatever. My family's just stubborn.) Thank you! I'm just worried about my cat's health is all :((I realize it would be easier to turn to some information site, I just want other people to tell us what they think :/ ) thanks guys, the cat's fine, the scratches had already pretty much scabbed over when he came in after the fight. By now the scratches are all tiny, like the kind you get when you pick up an angry kitten. It's not so much worry about problems he already has, just the ones that'll result if my mom and brother decide to go at the scabs themselves. I just needed a convincing argument :)

Admin Answers:

As a kid, when I got a boo boo I remember my mom always told me "don't pick on the scab." As usual mom was always right. However the temptation to pick on the scab over came mom's good advice. Sure enough, after I picked the scab off, before it was ready to fall off by it self, it started bleeding all over again. Then I had to wait for the, now new open boo boo, to heal all over again. After that being said, leave the scabs alone and let them fall off by them selves when the boo boo is healed. "Don't pick on those scabs."

Sandra Asks…

CAT HEALTH HELP. UTI. MICROALBUMINURIA.?

I am in desperate need of some help, I am searching for people who really are knowledgeable in Feline health and will be able to provide me with some sense of what may be a sign to look out for; how to help bring my Kitty to good health. I would appreciate it so much ~ as my little kitty is very dear to me. I recently noticed frequent use of the litter box and took my cat, Purple, into the vet. They did a urinalisis and blood test. They found high levels of Albumin ( 4.2 to be exact Refrence Range is ; 2.5 - 3.9), low levels of Platelet Count ( 144 Reference Range is 200 - 500 ), High Occult blood, High levels of protien, and High RBC. They indicate that there is a high level of Microalbuminuria. It is 8.5 and Reference Range is <2.5 So aside from that, everything is functioning correctly. I put Purple on K/D food to help with her liver and to lower her protien intake. She is doing well, aside from the fact she was heavily sedated last night. She is her spunky self but just sleeping a lot (because of the sedation coming down). We have her on Clavamox as well, and have been keeping her hydrated with water. I am just in such desperate need of help. Unfortunately the vets in my town have been so unclear on explaining what anything means. They did not go over the Lab Results with me accurately. I thank you so much for even taking the time to read this, and bless your heart if you can help me in anyway. PURPLE IS 2 YEARS OLD WHAT FOODS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

Admin Answers:

Hard to say what's going on. That may be why your vet doesn't have answers. The high levels of protein and albumin can be due to dehydration, which might be due to whatever the real issue is. If kitty's not feeling well she might not be drinking enough. Low levels of platelets can sometimes indicate leukemia, lymphoma, or even an infection. I also wanted to note that using low protein diets for kidney issues is a little old school. Many cats on these diets long term will just kind of slowly waste away. Many vets now reserve these diets for end stage renal failure. Something you may want to do your own research on and ask your vet about.

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