Training Tips for Cats
Housebreaking/soiling the house: Kittens and cats have a natural affinity to using a litter box, but it is important the help your kitten get off to a good start. The first step to ensure successful house training is to make sure you have the right equipment. If the kitten was using litter prior to coming in your home, make sure you use the same type of litter. The litter box should be made...
Read MoreIncreased Appetite with Cats
Polyphagia is the term used for an increased consumption of food. Animals with polyphagia are generally described as having a ravenous appetite. It is important to differentiate polyphagia caused by a diseased state from that caused by psychological reasons. Psychological polyphagia is often the result of learned behaviors and overfeeding, causing weight gain and obesity. In polyphagia associated...
Read MoreDifficult or Painful Urination in Cats
Dysuria is defined as difficult or painful urination. It is characterized by straining to urinate, frequent attempts at urination, and evidence of discomfort when urinating. Discomfort may be demonstrated by crying out during urination, excessive licking at the urogenital region or turning and looking at the area. What To Watch For Straining to urinate Frequent attempts at urination ...
Read MoreTrouble Breathing in Cats
Respiratory distress, often called dyspnea, is labored, difficult breathing or shortness of breath that can occur at any time during the breathing process, during inspiration (breathing in) or expiration (breathing out). When your cat has trouble breathing, he may not be able to get enough oxygen to his tissues. Additionally, if he has heart failure, he may not be able to pump sufficient blood to...
Read MoreLicking of Genital Area in Cats
A normal healthy cat keeps him/herself relatively clean. Cats are fastidious and spend a significant amount of time grooming and keeping clean. In addition to cleaning their legs and body, cats will also lick their genital areas in an attempt to remove dirt, discharge or debris. Excessive licking in this area may indicate a medical problem and can be a cause for concern. Causes in Males In males,...
Read MoreBad Breath in Cats
Halitosis, or bad breath, is an unpleasant odor coming from your cat’s mouth. Usually halitosis had oral causes, although sometimes it can be caused by other disease processes. There are several products on the market to help you deal with bad kitty breath including cat toothbrush and paste, cat treats that can help minimize tartar or freshen cat breath as welll as kitty breath drops. It is...
Read MoreBloody Urine in Cats
Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells in the urine. It may be gross (visible to the naked eye) or microscopic. Possible causes of hematuria include: Bacterial infections of the urinary and genital tracts such as cystitis (bladder infection) or vaginitis Cancer of the urinary or genital tracts Calculi (stones) in the urinary tract Congenital urinary tract abnormalities (those present at...
Read MoreDehydration in Cats
Dehydration occurs when the total body water is less than normal. Usually it involves loss of both water and electrolytes, which are minerals such as sodium, chloride and potassium. During illness, dehydration may be caused by an inadequate fluid intake. Fever increases the loss of water. When there is not enough body water, fluid shifts out of the body cells to compensate, leaving the cells...
Read MoreBlood in Stool in Cats
Hematochezia is the presence of bright red, fresh blood in the feces. Hematochezia usually occurs with bleeding in the lower intestines (colon, rectum). Hematochezia should not be confused with melena, which is the passage of dark, tarry, black feces. Melena represents the passage of old, digested blood that has occurred with bleeding higher up in the intestinal tract. The presence of...
Read MoreWeight Loss in Cats
Weight loss is a physical condition that results from a negative caloric balance. This usually occurs when the body uses and/or excretes essential nutrients faster than it can consume the. Essentially more calories are being burned than are being taken in. Weight loss is considered clinically important when it exceeds 10 percent of the normal body weight and is not associated with fluid loss....
Read MoreConstipation in Cats
Constipation is infrequent, incomplete, or difficult defecation with passage of hard or dry feces. Constipation is sometimes used interchangeably with obstipation, which is intractable constipation where defecation becomes impossible. It may cause great distress and pain. Causes Dietary Environmental Drugs/Medications Painful defecation Mechanical obstruction (physical...
Read MoreLethargy in Cats
Lethargy is a state of drowsiness, inactivity, or indifference in which there are delayed responses to external stimuli such as auditory (sound), visual (sight), or tactile (touch) stimuli. Lethargy may also refer to the general malaise and decreased activity exhibited by animals that do not feel well. Lethargy is a nonspecific sign associated with many possible underlying systemic disorders. It...
Read MoreVomiting in Cats
At one time or another your cat may have about of vomiting. Usually he’ll have eaten something disagreeable, eaten too much or too fast, played too soon after eating or any number of non-serious conditions. Vomiting may be a sign of a very minor problem. Or it may be a sign of something very serious. Vomiting (emesis) is the act of expelling contents from the stomach through the mouth. It’s a...
Read MoreDealing with Cats that Won’t Eat
Anorexia is a term used to describe the situation where an animal loses his appetite and does not want to eat or is unable to eat. Appetite is psychological, dependent on memory and association, as compared with hunger, which is physiologically aroused by the body’s need for food. There are many causes of anorexia in cats. Often, a loss of appetite is the first indication of illness....
Read MoreItchiness in Cats
Pruritus or itching is an unpleasant sensation that causes a cat to scratch or bite at himself. It is caused by chemical reactions that occur in the skin and stimulate the nerves, causing the brain to feel the itch. In fact, the act of scratching itself may stimulate these inflammatory reactions in the skin and make the condition worse. Any skin condition that causes inflammation can cause...
Read MoreFever in Cats
A fever is defined as abnormally high body temperature resulting from internal controls. It is believed that fever is a method of fighting infection. The body resets the temperature control area of the brain to increase the body temperature – probably in response to invasion of foreign matter such as bacteria or viruses. Since many invaders do not thrive in hot environments, by increasing the...
Read MoreSeparation Anxiety in Cats
Separation anxiety can affect cats. Massive publicity about a new pharmacological medication treatment for separation anxiety in dogs (Clomicalm, Novartis Animal Health) has clued most pet owners in to the existence and nature of separation anxiety in that species. In addition, many parents have heard of separation anxiety that affects some sensitive children going to school for the first...
Read MoreBringing a New Cat Into the Home
Cats are a bit like people when it comes to friendships. Cats living in a group have “preferred associates” (“friends,” if you will), and other cats from which they actively distance themselves (definitely not preferred). Why would this be, you might ask? Background probably plays some role. Many species, including cats, learn a lot about their inter- and extra-species...
Read MoreHow to Convert Your Reclusive Cat to a Cuddly Lap Kitty
First of all, let it be said that it is not possible to convert every single cat into a “cuddly lap kitty,” though there is no harm in trying. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for example, to take a formerly feral cat and convert her into a feline lap-lover that was fawning on anyone’s lap. Experiments in England have shown that if cats are raised without human company...
Read MoreIntroducing Your New Cat to Your Household
Settling a new cat in your household takes time and patience. Remember, the cat is being introduced to territory already “claimed” by your resident pet, so you need to take both cats’ feelings into account. In addition, it is your responsibility to protect the health of your resident pets and the newcomer. For instance, many cats that are adopted from shelters have upper respiratory...
Read MoreCats that Wake You Up
Dealing with cats that wake you up before the alarm clock is frustrating, especially you want to sleep! Contrary to popular belief, cats are not nocturnal. The term “nocturnal” refers to the lifestyle of being awake at night instead of during the day, and that isn’t what cats do. They sleep at night as we do, just not for quite as long. Cats are “crepuscular,” which means they are...
Read MoreDealing with Hypervocalization
All cats have a voice but some are more vocal than others. This is true on an individual basis and breed basis. Orientals are the quintessential loud mouths; they unabashedly voice their concerns in their own unique way using characteristic deep, loud throaty meows. Persians and Maine coons are generally much less vocal. Whether a cat is hypervocalizing or not, depends to some extent on the breed...
Read MoreCats Living with Dogs
A lot of people ask, if I get another pet will it get along with my cat? The corollary to this question, if I get a cat will it get along with my existing pets, is also of interest to some folk. There is no simple answer to these two questions, but there are some facts to consider that might help forecast the results of such interspecies interactions: The species of the housemate you intend...
Read MoreHow to Get Your Cats to Be Best Friends
Sometimes getting cats to live together peacefully can be as difficult as trying to herd them. Others appear to get along famously. Why do some cats get along well together while others do not? To answer this question it is helpful to know something about cats’ natural inclinations toward each other. Cats are not, by nature, as sociable as dogs. When resources are scarce, as they are in nature,...
Read MoreReasons Why Your Kitty Won’t Use the Litter Box
Litter box avoidance and inappropriate elimination are the most frequent and irritating disagreements humans have with their kitties. Inappropriate urination and defecation may mean that the litter box facilities are sub par, that there’s a medical problem or, in the case of marking behavior, that your cat is trying to signal something. Cats use elimination of urine (and sometimes feces) for...
Read MoreHow to Keep Your Cat Off Tables and Counters
Counters and Your Cat Why do cats find counters so appealing? Take this quiz to find out: A. Because they’re there. B. Because cats naturally prefer a three-dimensional environment. C. Because cats occasionally find food morsels while patrolling countertops. D. All of the above. Answer D is correct. The Downside There are many good reasons why your cat should stay off the counter. Cats...
Read MoreFeline Fears
Fear is a normal response for any animal to a fear-inducing stimulus or situation. Without a reasonable amount of fear neither cats nor humans would fare very well. As unpleasant as fear may be to experience, it keeps our animals and us safe by encouraging caution and by preparing us for fight or flight when danger threatens. Problems arise, however, if fears become so excessive and irrational...
Read MoreCats with other Pets
A lot of people ask, if I get another pet will she get along with my pet? There is no simple answer to this question, but there are some facts to consider that might help forecast the results of such interspecies interactions: The species of the housemate you intend for your cat (or proposed cat) The temperament of the individuals to be mixed The early and later experience of the...
Read MoreHow to Keep Your Pets From Feuding
Pets are supposed to be a joy to keep and, in many instances, that’s exactly the way it is. But though they may dote on you, two or more pets may not get on well together. Aggression between pets is one of the more common undesirable behavior problems facing pet owners in multi-animal households. Cat to cat, dog to dog, or dog to cat, aggression within and between species can make living with...
Read MoreFeline Training and Behavior
It is a widely accepted notion that it is impossible to train cats. But, then again, why would you want to? Most people acquire a cat because they view her as a relatively low maintenance, relatively independent pet that they can interact with when they want or leave to her own devices and desires. To some extent, they’re right. Cats do tend to be more independent than dogs and some were...
Read MoreCat Clicker Training
The new wave of pet animal training focuses on positive or reward-based training only. The idea is to train your cat to perform certain desired behaviors rather than to punish his unwanted behavior. For example, you would not train a cat to stop meowing by punishing the unwanted behavior. Instead you would reward the silence that follows. This strategy involves waiting until the noise has stopped...
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