Cat Health | felineinfo.com

Archive for Cat Health

Cat Pregnancy Facts and Tips

Posted on November 19, 2011 by admin

Is your cat pregnant? If so, you will want to make sure that her pregnancy goes well so that she delivers a litter of the healthiest kittens possible. Find out what to expect during the pregnancy and precautions that you need to take.

A pregnancy lasts between 64 and 66 days. :It can be confirmed by a blood test after mama has been expecting for about thirty days or via ultrasound after 22 to 25 days Litters usually range in size from three to six kittens.

At about 45 days, the skeletons of the kittens will be visible on an x-ray which will tell you how many babies to expect. Some vets are experienced enough to tell you how many kittens are coming just by feeling mama’s belly.

Prior to the pregnancy, make sure that the mother is up-to-date on all vaccinations as giving them after she is expecting can lead to issue in the kittens. To ensure a healthy pregnancy, the mama will have to be watched closely and kept inside so that she doesn’t fight with other cats and dogs since she will not be as agile and less able to defend herself. Proper nutrition and hydration must be provided as well. Also, fleas and worms will need to be controlled since they can be transmitted to the kittens when they are born.

Mother cats generally like to deliver alone although you will need to keep a close eye out in case of problems. One thing to look for is significant bleeding as this could indicate that the litter is coming too soon. You will need to get the assistance of a veterinary if this happens.

Hopefully, your mother cat has a smooth delivery, and you can soon enjoy playing with her kittens.

NOTICE: This is a paid affiliate website. The site owner may be compensated for any links clicked. Felineinfo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Information on this blog should not be construed as advice from a veterinarian. Please consult your veterinarian if you have questions about your pet's health.

Categories : Cat Health

Comments (0)

What to Consider Before You Breed Your Cat

Posted on October 22, 2011 by admin

Breeding cats can sound like a fun and profitable endeavor, after all, who doesn’t love kittens and a little extra money? However, most new breeders fail to consider all of the work, time, and expense that are involved.

If your cat is not a purebred, then carefully consider whether she should be allowed to mate. Can you find homes for six kittens? Shelters are perpetually overcrowded, and many wonderful animals are put to sleep that could not be placed in a permanent home. If you have a purebred, talk with some breeders about the advisability of breeding your particular animal.

If you still want to breed your feline, consider the money involved. :You will have vet checkups for mama and the future babies, vaccinations, medicines, supplies, and the potential for major expenses if a surgery like a C-section is needed. You time is also a factor. Mama could die in childbirth or refuse to nurse one or more of th kittens which will make you on the hook to bottlefeed kittens. The babies will also need to be well-socialized with humans which means that you will need to spend time daily interacting with them.

You will also need to think about how you will tolerate a cat that is in heat. You will have to keep other males away from herr beyond the one you have selected to be daddy. The average heat cycle is seven days. During this time, she will be very affectionate. She’ll stick her rump up in the air, cry constantly and possibly mark areas with urine. The cycle repeats every ten days until she is mated or cold weather arrives.

Should you breed your cat? Only if you can be a responsible breeder including having homes for all of the kittens and shoulder the expenses to properly care for a family of cats.

Tags: cat, cat breeding

Categories : Cat Health

Comments (0)

Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Cat

Posted on September 20, 2011 by admin

Spaying your female cat or neutering your male cat has many important advantages. The obvious one is that your kitty won’t be contributing to the huge population of unwanted animals. However, there are several other considerations that make altering your pet a good idea.

Neutering will make male kitties much less likely to engage in traditional tomcat behaviors such as marking, roaming, and fighting. With less wandering, the chances of the feline being hit by a car. having an adverse encounter with another animal, or contracting a serious disease are greatly reduced. Testicular cancer is also less common in the fixed population, too. Some males have cryptorchid testicles which means that they did not descend into the scrotum. This can be a major risk factor for later cancer, and neutering is definitely recommended for these animals.

To neuter a male, both testicles are removed under general anesthesia, and only a day is needed for recovery. This surgery eradicates the hormone testosterone, which is the cause of the undesired behaviors.

Spaying females is recommended as it can largely decrease their chances for getting breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. Going into heat can cause complications such as pyometritis bacterial infections, spraying urine, and howling.

Spaying is a major surgery for females. Both ovaries and the uterus are removed via an abominal incision. While the sutures and incision site will require care following the surgery, females usually only need one day of hospitalization for the procedure.

If you are a pet owner, spaying or neutering your pet is the best option to ensure your pet’s continued good health and to reduce the population of unwanted cats. Only experienced breeders who are trying to improve the characteristics of a specific breed really have a need to leave animals unaltered.

Tags: neuter, spay, cat

Categories : Cat Health

Comments (0)

What You Need to Provide for Your Cat

Posted on August 23, 2011 by admin

Cats tend to be a fairly low-maintenance pet. However, they do need their owners to provide several critical items.

First, they need to be in a safe environment. A kitty running loose may very well get injured or killed due to cars or other animals. Encounters with other strays could lead to contracting a disease. Eating spoiled food can lead to sickness. Cats fare best if they are kept indoors or in contained outdoor areas where other animals cannot enter.

Proper nutrition is very important. Since cats are carnivores, they do need animal-based protein along with minerals and other nutrients. Portion control is critical as many felines will overeat and gain too much weight if given the opportunity.

Water is critical and should be available at all times. Canned cat food also has a high water content and can account for some of the pet’s water intake.

Proper healthcare is important. Vaccinations or titers to make sure the cat has immunity to various disease are vital. Parasites such as fleas should be controlled for the cat’s comfort and to prevent illness. Litter boxes that are cleaned daily are critical to make sure that kitty eliminates properly.

Grooming is another consideration. Some breeds require a daily brushing while those with shorter hair can get by with fewer grooming sessions. Nails should be trimmed regularly. An occasional bath is also a good idea, especially for the longer-haired breeds that tend to pick up more dirt in their coats.

While providing toys and items like perches is fun, your kitty really wants you to take care of the basic needs mentioned above first. Then, you can worry about purchsing robotic mice and other amusing cat products.

Tags: cat

Categories : Cat Health

Comments (0)

Kitten Diseases

Posted on July 23, 2011 by admin

While kittens are generally healthy, they can occasionally get sick. Since they tend to be very active, your first clue that something is wrong is when they get lethargic and refuse to play. Below are some common physical problems that kittens can develop.

Vomiting can be caused by many factors. Many times, it’s not serious such as when kitty may have eaten something that doesn’t agree with him. But, continuous vomiting can also signal a potentially severe gastrointestinal virus or a major case of worms. If kitty vomits more than once, a vet visit is in order as kittens can rapidly become dehydrated which can prove fatal.

Worms can be the cause of a kitten that looks like it has a pot belly and seems to be generally unwell. Hookworms can drink enough blood to cause anemia while roundworms can block the intestines. Your vet can make sure your kitten is placed on a regular worming schedule.

While fleas are pretty common, they are bad news for kittens. They can drink enough blood to cause anemia that may even require a blood transfusion. If you see fleas, be sure to get recommendations from your vet for which products to use as many are not safe for young animals.

Upper respiratory infections or ‘kitty colds’ can cause symptoms like a runny nose and sneezing. Conjunctivitis or a sticky discharrge can mat the eyes shut. In young kittens, a URI can be potentially fatal if pneumonia sets in. See your vet immediately to get medication if your kitten develops these symptoms.

Since kittens are relatively fragile, you need to be aware of any changes in their activity level or other signs of illness and seek treatment immediately. Then, your kittens will have the best chance of growing up to be healthy adults.

Tags: kitten

Categories : Cat Health

Comments (0)