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How to Clear Your Cat’s Stuffy Nose

Posted on June 22, 2011 by admin

If your kitty has an upper respiratory infection, she may have a stuffy nose. Find out some tips to help your pet breathe a little easier.

First, chances are medicine will help clear the underlying infection. See your vet to get your pet started on medication as soon as possible, especially if you have a kitten or immunocompromised animalThese infections can lead to pneumonia in these populations, which can be very serious.

A vaporizer can be helpful if you keep the cat confined to one room. If you don’t have one, you can get the same effect by having kitty accompany family members to the bathroom while they shower.

Unfortunately, cats don’t know the command ‘blow your nose.’ Applying a warm cloth to the nasal area can encourage those secretions to flow. Sometimes a suction bulb used for human babies can be helpful, although some felines will not tolerate this.

Another option is using a product called Little Noses. This is marketing for clearing the noses of human babies, but it can help with kitties, too. There are several versions of this product. BE SURE TO GET THE SALINE VERSION. Other versions have medication which may not be safe for cats.

Stuffy noses can cause felines to refuse to eat. Be sure to monitor food and water intake to make sure the animal is properly hydrated.

Try the suggestions above if your cat has a stuffy nose. Your kitty will thank you!

Tags: cat

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Categories : Cat Health

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Causes and Treatment of Cat Diarrhea

Posted on December 18, 2010 by admin

Causes and Treatment of Cat Diarrhea
Cat diarrhea is not much fun for the pet or for the owner. Most kitties will have a bout with it at some point. What causes it and what can you do about it?

Loose stools are often the result of something the feline ate. They could have eaten too much too quickly, sampled your new plant, or finished off your dinner unbeknownst to you. Stress can also be the culprit. Parasites such as worms can also cause the condition. Less commonly, runny stools can be caused by other illnesses such as kidney or pancreatic disease.

The primary concern is that kitty is kept hydrated. If you notice dehydration, vomiting, losing large amounts of liquid, or blood in the stool, visit a vet immediately. Ditto if you have a kitten with it because they can quickly die from dehydration.

For an otherwise healthy adult cat, try stopping food for 24 hours. Often, the diarrhea will resolve by that time when you introduce food again. If not, then take the animal to the vet.

If you suspect stress as the cause, you will probably notice other symptoms such as not eating or fearful behavior. Try to figure out the cause and reduce the stress on kitty. You might try giving your pet her own space away from other animals and household activities until she calms down.

For parasites, you may notice small white matter in the stool. This will require medication to resolve the issue. Also, de-worming medications themselves can cause diarrhea.

While not a cause for alarm in a healthy adult kitty, cat diarrhea is a condition that should be monitored closely along with how much water the animal is taking in.

Tags: fearful behavior, behavior, vomiting, kitten, Stress

Categories : Cat Health

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Abscesses and Cats

Posted on November 18, 2010 by admin

Abscesses and Cats
Cat abscesses are not uncommon in the feline population. These can be dental abscesses or located elsewhere on the body such as the head or tail. What causes them and what can you do?

You may find the abscess when grooming your animal. You might notice a hard lump or maybe one that appears to be filled with fluid. Be cautious when touching the lump as it is most likely painful and may cause the animal to bite or scratch. If the wound is draining, you may smell a foul odor which is common.

Bacteria such as Staphyococcus, E. Coli, and others are the culprits. The infection creates pus which is contained within the abscess. Dental abscesses can result from peridontal disease or injury to a tooth. Bites from other cats are often the cause of abscesses located elsewhere.

A vet visit is required when you find an abscess regardless of the location. A local infection can spread to the bloodstream which can cause a life-threatening emergency. Generally, the abscess will be lanced and drained, probably under anesthesia. Antibiotics will then be given. For the dental type, dental work may be required. This could involve even involve removing the involved tooth.

To prevent body abscesses, you will need to keep kitty away from other cats to prevent fights. This can be difficult to do, especially if he or she is used to going outdoors. Neutering males can help stifle the urge to battle. Good oral hygiene can help to prevent the dental variety.

Tags: cat, visit, variety, injury, peridontal disease

Categories : Cat Health

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Is Your Cat Constipated?

Posted on October 20, 2010 by admin

Is Your Cat Constipated?
Cat constipation can range from annoying to a major medical emergency. How can you tell if you cat is constipated and how can you remedy the situation if found?

Although cleaning the litter box probably isn’t your favorite chore, it can hold important clues to your feline’s health. If the amount of waste produces is much less than usual or it is hard and dry, kitty is probably constipated. If you notice that your pet is not eliminating at all, this may indicate a blockage which requires an immediate vet visit as this is a ilfe-threatening emergency. Also, you may notice kitty straining when eliminating, suspect constipation. You may also see liquid or mucus passed instead of stool.

What causes constipation? A common culprit is dehydration. Another is that something could be causing a blockage such as a hairball or a bone. If kitty is taking medication, this could create difficulty eliminating. Tumors or other diseases can cause it. Even something as simple as stress or a change in routine can cause kitty litter box difficulties.

Even for mild cases, a vet visit is necessary to pinpoint the cause. An x-ray that may even include a barium enema can show blockages. A colonoscopy could be performed where the vet looks at your kitty’s colon with a scope.

For treatment, your vet will urge you to push fluids and may even do an IV. For blockages, surgery may be necessary. An enema may be used to get feces out of the bowel. Many of the treatment options involve an overnight stay at the vet.

Once you get kitty through this bout of constipation, know that the condition tends to occur. For prevention, you may be instructed to increase the fiber in your feline’s diet. Adequate water intake is also extremely important. A cat fountain may encourage your pet to drink more.

With cat constipation, it is important to treat promptly and take measures to prevent it from recurring.

Tags: vet visit, kitty litter box, culprit, medical emergency, mild cases

Categories : Cat Health

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Help a Kitty in Need – Fostering

Posted on September 20, 2010 by admin

Help a Kitty in Need – Fostering
Have you ever wished you could have more cats but can’t afford the cost? Do you love raising litters of kittens? Would you like to help kitties in need? Fostering may be the perfect fit for you.

What is fostering? You sign up with a rescue organization, and they give you cats to house for days to maybe even months. This could be due to overcrowding at a shelter and the kitty just needs to stay until there is more space. Kittens have to reach a certain size before they can be spayed or neutered, so you might take in litters of tiny kittens and keep them for a couple months until they reach the right size. Some may need to be bottle-fed which requires you to be available every two hours around the clock.

Another common reason that felines are fostered is sickness. Upper respiratory infections are common in kitties, and the stress of the shelter environment can bring them on. Unless the animal is a tiny kitten or immune-compromised adults, this mostly amounts to a ‘kitty cold’ and just requires medications for a week or so. Others may need to recover from surgery or have conditions requiring more complicated care.

Socialization may also be a reason to foster. If a cat is not very friendly , has been traumatized, or is just not thriving in the shelter environment, the kitty may be sent to you. As the foster parent, you will work with the animal to get it used to human interaction and living in a household.

Some rescue organizations will provide all of the food needed, vet care, and even supplies like litter boxes. While you will need to provide transportation to pick up the cat and take it back, you may not have expenses beyond that. Note that small kittens will have to be taken to the vet every couple of weeks to get their shots.

Fostering is a great way to get to enjoy interacting with adult felines and kittens while giving of your time to a worthy cause. It’s very rewarding to know that you played a part in getting a needy animal a home.

Tags: environment, household, food, cat, home

Categories : Cat Health

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