The Pets City » cat

Cat Eating Disorders: Thin Finicky Cats

Andrea — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:36:12 +0000

In the previous article on obesity in cats, I mentioned that overweight cats can suffer numerous health problems, including a serious liver disease that is often fatal. On the other end of cat obesity, cats that are not eating enough is just as dangerous.

Reasons For Cat Eating Disorders

Finicky Eaters: It’s very rare to see a cat would pass up food for no apparent reason. However, there are a few finicky cats out there who are so choosy about what they eat that they end up being malnourished and underweight. These cats can become this way for a variety of reasons, but is typically the fault of the owner.

Cat owners get lazy and they buy the same old cat foods—canned after canned or pack after pack—until one day they realize that their cat isn’t eating the food anymore. The cats simply got sick of the same old food day after day. One way to counteract this problem is to cycle different flavors of cat food during the week, as well as try out different brands of cat food periodically.

Medical Issue: If your cat still refuses to eat despite all the various methods and is looking very thin, chances might be a medical problem which may be unknown to you and you may have to seek veterinarian help. But before you head to the veterinary clinic, check if your cat’s ribs if they are clearly visible. If they are, you would want to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Trash Eating: If your cat isn’t eating the food you bought but still remain her usual weight, then most likely she is eating trash bin food. The problem is easily solved if you cover your indoor trash bin with lid on and secure it if necessary.

What if your trash bin is outdoor and is securely covered? Yours maybe, but what about others? Cats, by natural, are explorers who practically live outside the home if they figure a way to get out when you aren’t around at home. The solution to this is to make sure that your cat has totally no excess to outside the home without your supervision. So check for any possible areas (e.g. ventilation windows) that your cat could easily squeeze through to the outside world.

Although eating trash food may not seem like a major problem, but there is a good likelihood that your cat may eat something that is bad or toxic food or pick up fatal diseases while scavenging. So don’t wait until your cat got sick to do something about it.

Pet Obesity: Cat that Is Overweight?

Andrea — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:14:31 +0000

Feeding your cat and keeping him healthy is usually a very easy process. It doesn’t take much to keep up with feeding your cat two or three times a day with decent cat food. However, there are times when your cat may go through periods of eating problems. Some cats become way too fat from overeating and others lose weight rapidly because they are not eating enough.

What Is The Healthy Weight For A Normal Sized Cat

Of course some breeds of cat are larger than others, but an average sized cat will typically weigh between seven and ten pounds. If you are unsure how to gauge your cat’s weight, all you have to do is take a look at his ribs.

If the bones are prominent and obvious, then your cat is a bit on the thin side and there is a problem. On the other hand, if his ribs are completely hidden and they are hard to locate with your hand, then he is obviously too fat.

Overweight and Obese Cats

Did you know that obesity is one of the highest nutrition-based problems that veterinarians handle with cats? Records show that almost 50% of the cats that show up at veterinarians each year are considered overweight. And if you ask any of these cat owners about their overweight cat, most will smile and explain that they feed their cat out of love because the animal enjoys food. Unfortunately, this is a serious health issue that these people are clueless about.

Obesity Can Kill Your Cats

We have all heard on the news just how dangerous it is for people to be overweight because it causes a variety of diseases. The same holds true for cats. Obese cats can suffer an enormous amount of health problems. For example:

Problems with tendons
Torn ligaments
Diabetes
Breathing issues
Skin diseases (because overweight cats cannot groom and clean themselves properly)
Hepatic Lipidosis (an extremely serious liver disease that afflicts overweight felines)

The bottom line here is that if you care for your cat and you know you are the cause of feeding him too much food, then you have the responsibility as the loving pet owner to keep him healthy. First be sure to take him to the veterinarian for a complete check up. The doctor will be able to assess his current condition and assist you in making the necessary dietary changes needed.

Responsible Pet Ownership: What Is Expected of You?

Andrea — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:36:56 +0000

Having a pet is a lifetime commitment and to be a responsible pet owner goes beyond than price—”How much is that doggy in the window?”, merely provided food and shelter for your pet. Before you rush into the pet store to purchase that dog/cat/hamster/rabbit/guinea pig, stop and think for a moment. Do you have enough time, money, and energy to be a responsible owner? Are you ready for the commitment?

What You Can Expect Once You Take Over Pet Ownership

Dogs

Cost of Food: $5 to $20 per pack (for small breeds).
Grooming: From $35. Long-haired breeds require daily brushing and regular visits to the dog groomer.
Amount of Attention: Dogs need daily walks. They also need their owners to spend quality time with them. They can get bored and lonely if left alone for too long.

Cats

Cost of Food: $5 to $18 a pack
Grooming: $70 onwards. Long-haired breeds require daily brushing.
Amount of Attention: Cats need relatively less attention from owners than dogs. But even though they do not need daily walks, quality time should be spent bonding with them.

Rabbits

Cost of Food: Pellets from $5. A bag of hay is about $9.
Grooming: About $15. Long-haired breeds require daily brushing.
Amount of Attention: Regular cage cleaning is needed.

Guinea Pigs

Cost of Food: Food pellets are from $5. Bag of hay about $9.
Grooming: About $15. Long-haired breeds should be brushed daily.
Amount of Attention: Guinea pigs are social animals. If you have only one, you should spend more time with it to prevent loneliness.

How To Stop Your Cat From Eating Houseplants

Andrea — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:39:05 +0000

Although the costs of owning a cat are low such as food and the occasional veterinarian checkup, however, the amount of damage a cat can cause to our other processions such as furniture, clothes, shoes can be quite pricey. And for some reasons many cats just love to attack houseplants.

If you also have a green thumb for growing plants inside your home while at the same time own a “plant-loving” cat, then your job is to make your plants as undesirable as you possibly can to that cat. Here are a few tips that can help you solve the battle between your cat and houseplants.

3 Ways You Could Stop Your Cat From Eating Houseplants

Foul Condiments: Cats, in general, enjoy chewing on plants. One of the ways to get they off your houseplants is to make them taste or smell terrible. However, do avoid spraying any toxic material on your plants as it may also harm your cat. You don’t have to look far for those foul smelling products. A little vinegar with water or Tabasco sauce is good enough to do the trick—getting your cats off your houseplants. Do not underestimate these condiments; they are so potent that some cats won’t even need to take a taste test in order to be turned off. Just getting close and taking to a whiff of that spice and bitterness will be enough to send them running.
Scar Tactics: This technique may not work for all cats but give it a go if you don’t want your plants to smell anything like Tabasco or vinegar. What you could do is to make your houseplants look as unattractive as scary as possible. One method is to run aluminum foil wrapped around the sides of the pots and then extend a couple lines of foil rolled up and coiled 3 feet out, like a big bird claw. To us, it looks awkward but to the cats—it’s scary. You can brainstorm and find other ways to scare off your cats that may suit you better.
Go Up: If the above two methods—having a bitter aroma running through the house from Tabasco sauce or your living room looking like a science fiction movie with all the aluminum—aren’t your cup of tea. Then you have to use the “upgrade” version. Simply turn your houseplants into hanging plants. Unless your house or apartment is loaded with high levels that your cat can get to, turning your houseplants into ceiling plants is probably the most successful technique that can be used to keep your plant from becoming cat food.

Cat: Bengal

Andrea — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:55:57 +0000

Origins: Cat lovers who admired the beauty of wild, spotted cats tried to breed a type of domestic cat with a wild-cat coat. In the 1960′s (in North America), the first planned breeding took place between a short-haired domestic cat and an Asian Leopard Cat. The mating was successful and fertile offspring were produced, but it was not until the 1980′s that a concerted breeding program was put in place.

Size: Big. Full-grown male Bengals can weigh up to 20lbs or 9kg.

Physical Appearance: Sleek and muscular. Sports a beautiful spotted or marbled coat. Show-quality Bengals display very clear and distinct spotting or marbling, while pet-quality ones may show more ticking. Coat is rich and smooth in texture, and appears almost to glitter from certain angles. Hindquarters are rather longer than the front half.

Characteristics: Friendly, loving, alert, curious, intelligent, charming. Affectionate and very much enjoy being part of the family, but their athleticism and high activity levels can be challenging to cope with!

Colors: Various colors, most with “leopard-spot” or marbled markings on a background of brown or white.

Special Facts: Despite its wild and exotic looks, the Bengal is very much a domestic cat. It was bred with only the appearance of the Asian Leopard Cat in mind; its personality is all kitty-cat.

Cat: Cornish Rex

Andrea — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:50:05 +0000

Origins: The Cornish Rex came about as a result of a natural mutation in 1950. One of the kittens born to a cat on a farm in Cornwall has an unusually wavy coat. This offspring was later mated back to its mother, resulting in more curly-coated cats. One product of this amateur breeding program, already pregnant, made it to America. There, Siamese and other domestic cats were brought in to widen the gene pool and develop the breed.

Size: Appears most delicate and fins, but can weight about 4kg.

Physical Appearance: This cat has exotic—some say alien—looks. Its amazingly fine coat over a long-limbed, long-tailed, slender yet muscular body gives it a near-naked appearance compared with regular-coated cats. The large, high-set ears, oval eyes and crinkly whiskers add to the exotic effect. The coat is wavy but short and extremely soft to the touch. Profile of the head is long and straight.

Characteristics: Cornish Rexes can be mischievous beyond belief! They are intelligent and active, love people, and love being part of the family.

Colors: All colors.

Special Facts: While most domestic cats have an undercoat covered by guard hairs, Cornish Rexes have only one layer of fur. They should therefore be kept mainly indoors, to protect them from both wet/cold weather and harsh sunlight.

How To Train Your Cat To Use The Door Bell

Andrea — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:44:27 +0000

Are you tired of hearing your cat meowing up a storm or scratching up the door trying to get in? There is one simple solution to this problem. That is to train your cat to use the door bell—not the human door bell but a DIY cat door bell. This training aid will help to train your cat to alert you when she’s ready to come in.

D0-It-Yourself Cat Door Bell

Materials:

Bell: Bells come in a variety of sizes. A small one, size of a meatball, would be the prefect for most cats. Bells are very inexpensive and can be found and purchased in many craft and DIY stores.
String: Almost any string, yarn, ribbon will do. The length of the string or yarn should be long enough for your cat to reach the bell without having to jump at it or use the door for support.
Catnip: Catnip is not essential but good to have for beginning training. Get catnip in a spray and spray a small amount of it on the string or bell. Cats love catnip and this will attract them to play with the bell.

Method:

Tie the string or yarn to the bell.
On the other end of the string, tie it to the door knob and let it hangs down.
Make sure the length is reachable for your cat.

Steps to Train your Cat to Use the Door Bell

Bring your cat outside, facing the main door.
Encourage your cat to ring the bell, once. Reward her with treat.
After she rings the bell, open the door for her to go in. Reward her again.
If she refuses to move, carry her in. And then reward her.

Repeat step one to three for three more times until your cat gets the message. Reinforce this behavior for 3 or 4 more days until your cat can do it without prompting. Make sure to keep the training short.

Cat: Norwegian Forest

Andrea — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:26:20 +0000

Origins: Developed in the northern Scandinavian regions. Although it was officially recognized by a major international cat fanciers’ federation only in the late 1970′s, the breed has long been known in Norway, this breed’s long-haired ancestors probably reached the country from the more Eastern parts of Europe via Viking trade routes.

Size: Large. Weight up to 22lbs (10kg).

Physical Appearance: This elegant cat has a thick, waterproof, double coat of long glossy guard hairs protecting a dense undercoat, a characteristic passed down by those ancestors who were able to survive harsh Scandinavian winters. Head is triangular, with large, high-set eyes and tufty ears. Tail is beautifully plume-like.

Characteristics: Strong, lively, independent; needs freedom and space, but also loves company greatly, so should not be left alone for long.

Colors: Most colors except for chocolate, lilac, and Siamese.

Special Facts: Norwegian Forest Cats are excellent climbers who can deal with almost-sheer surfaces and make it to high-up spots that other cats can’t reach.

Cat: Persian

Andrea — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:28:59 +0000

Origins: One of the oldest breeds of domestic cat. Believed to have originated in the Middle East. The name “Persian” points to its introduction to Europe through trade with Persia (now Iran), but the breed dates back much further than that, and its precise origins are unknown.

Size: Medium. Persians look huge, but that is because of their super-fluffy coats. Full-grown Persians usually weigh up to about 12lbs or 5.4kg.

Physical Appearance: Broad and heavy-boned, yet soft and rounded. Hair is long and flowing, and stands away from the body for that fluffed-up look. Face is round and flat, eye are huge, round and full. Ears are round-tipped and relatively small.

Characteristics: Very playful, loyal, gentle, sweet-natured.

Colors: Wide range of colors, from solids to shaded tabby, bi-colored, Himalayan, and more.

Special Facts: Because of their great beauty, Persian cats are often depicted in movie as the spoilt, wicked pets of debauched villains. But they are actually lovable, sweet cats deserving of good homes and the best care. Their coats must be groomed and eyes cleaned daily to prevent problems from matting and tearing.

Cat: Maine Coon

Andrea — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:07:50 +0000

Origins: This is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cat from North America, possibly the result of cross-breeding between domestic cats and longer-haired ones from Europe, brought over by traders or even the Vikings. Its name reflects the belief that it originated in the American state of Maine, and the resemblance of tabby-brown individuals to raccoons.

Size: Maine Coons of healthy weight can be as heavy as 20lbs or 9kg. FYI: Most average “street cat” weighs about 6 – 9lbs or 3 – 4 kg—it’s like carry two cats in one body!

Physical Appearance: Glossy, water-resistant long coat and a long, bushy tail. Ears are heavily furred, and paws are big and tufty.

Characteristics: Gentle, good-natured, relaxed, with a soft, chirpy voice. Strong, rugged.

Colors: Wide range of colors, except pointed Siamese. Tabby brown is a common and popular color.

Special Facts: Unlike most other domestic cats, which reach their adult size fairly young, Maine Coons are not fully grown until they are three to five years old. Also, in the past, many Maine Coons had extra toes, but these are not so common now as such features automatically disqualify a cat from recognized cat shows.

The Pets City » cat

Cat Eating Disorders: Thin Finicky Cats

Reasons For Cat Eating Disorders

Related Topics

Pet Obesity: Cat that Is Overweight?

Overweight and Obese Cats

Obesity Can Kill Your Cats

Related Topics

Responsible Pet Ownership: What Is Expected of You?

What You Can Expect Once You Take Over Pet Ownership

Related Topics

How To Stop Your Cat From Eating Houseplants

3 Ways You Could Stop Your Cat From Eating Houseplants

Related Topics

Cat: Bengal

Related Topics

Cat: Cornish Rex

Related Topics

How To Train Your Cat To Use The Door Bell

D0-It-Yourself Cat Door Bell

Steps to Train your Cat to Use the Door Bell

Related Topics

Cat: Norwegian Forest

Related Topics

Cat: Persian

Related Topics

Cat: Maine Coon

Related Topics