Pat, Cat & Dog

Archive for the ‘Helthy Cat – Kitten’ Category

Cat Eye Health Issues And Problems

Executive Summary from Judy Wellsworth’s article.

Proper nutrition and a safe environment, prevents any eye health issues or problems. Cats need their eyes for everyday survival indoors and outdoors. Cat eye health can contribute to blindness and blurred vision in a cat if not properly cared for in the case of injury or disease. A good sign you cat eye health is good is bright and clear eyes with no cloudy coverage of the eyeball.

Cat eye health is sometimes hard to determine, but if you look for the right signs, you can determine if your cat needs medical help to prevent more complications that are serious. The fluorescein stain tests for ulcers of the corneal; the schirmer tear test measures the tear production level and the ocular pressure test to check for glaucoma.

Cat Eye Health and Conjunctivitis

Bacterial infections, viral infections and fungus infections may cause this type of cat eye health problems in cats of all ages. Herpes viral infection also causes conjunctivitis and cats normally need medical treatment. The cat eye health is always important as they could lose their sight if proper treatment is not received. This eye problem also has the same symptoms as conjunctivitis such as a weeping or tearing of the eye.

Treatments of Glaucoma and Cataract

Surgery will remove the cataract before it becomes a cat eye health and causes the cat to lose their sight. Whether the eye problem is for infection or any other health problems, your veterinarian will recommend the best treatment available for your cat.

You may interested reading this article to Pet Cats or Cat Rescue

Most Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Your New Kitten

Summarized from :

Michael D. Rosenthal (http://www.felinehealthblog.com/ ), saries of articles

Once the kitten or cat is home and adjusting to its new surroundings (as well as the family adjusting to the kitten), there will no doubt be questions that arise regarding the care of your new pet.

The most frequently asked questions regarding having a new kitten in the home.

* Is it necessary to have my kitten vaccinated every few weeks as they are growing?

My suggestion here is that you rely on the information that you will find at the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). The AAFP differentiates between two categories of vaccines – specifically, “Core” and “Non-Core” vaccinations. The Core vaccinations include the following:

Rabies – Check to see if your state or county requires this as most states do. This vaccine is typically administered when the kitten is 3-4 months old.

Distemper (a.k.a. panleukopenia) and upper respiratory viruses (e.g. calicivirus and herpesvirus) – These vaccinations are normally administered as a series and given to the kitten every few weeks until they are between the ages of 12-16 weeks

Feline leukemia (a.k.a. FeLV) – The FeLV is a critical vaccination for your kitten if they are going to be going outdoors with any regularity and could possible come into contact with an infected cat or a cat whose health status is unknown.

* My kitten’s fecal samples are negative (clear), so why to I need to keep paying to have them dewormed?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that your kitten be de-wormed beginning at three weeks of age, and done several times despite negative fecal samples. Hookworms and roundworms have the tendency to infect your kitten through the mother cat’s milk.

* Is there a particular routine I should follow when it comes to grooming my kitten?

When you consider how important good grooming and hygiene habits are for human beings, then you should realize that the grooming of your new kitten is equally as important.

Regular brushings that you afford your kitten will help you when it comes to keeping your house cleaner. When it comes to purchasing a brush for your kitten, remember that the length of their coat will determine the type of brush that you purchase.

Long-haired coats – wide-toothed combs (help remove the knots in their fur) and wire “slicker” brushes are recommended.

Short-haired coats – “flea combs” (narrow-toothed) and softer brushes work best for shorter length coats since cats with shorter hair normally don’t develop knots in their fur like the longer haired varieties.

Regardless of the type of coat that your kitten’s has, make sure that you provide your kitten with regular flea and tick baths or preventives.

* What can I do with my overly energetic kitten?

For a kitten to be feisty and playful through the night while napping throughout the day is also normal behavior. Spend time playing with the kitten and more than just once in a while. Playing with your kitten will create a bond between you and them

*How do I know if my kitten is growing properly?

A standard rule of thumb with early feline growth patterns is that a kitten typically gains about 100 grams per week during the first six months of its life. Your kitten should be:

1. eating well

2. exhibiting a normal amount of playfulness

3. having normal bowel movements

If there is a concern about your kitten’s behavior and growth, then by all means, take it to your veterinarian. If you are raising the kitten on a bottle-feeding regimen, then keep a journal daily to note how much weight they are gaining on a daily basis (your veterinarian will appreciate this). Finally, another key aspect is your kitten’s ribcage. If their ribs are too prominent, then you should contact your veterinarian for an appointment.

*When is it necessary for me to take my kitten to the veterinarian?

Kittens come into the house from a variety of different places.

· Breeders (or a “cattery”)

· Farms

· the outdoors in general

· Pet stores

· Shelters

The following 7 behaviors (or signs) should be perceived as “red flags” and you should get your kitten to the vet ASAP:

· Black ear discharge that accompanies frequent itching and/or “digging” at the ear

· Continual or frequent vomiting

· Diarrhea or (conversely) a difficulty passing bowel movements

· Discharge from the eye or nose and sneezing (could indicate an upper respiratory tract infection

· Lethargy and lack of eating

· Loss of hair or a rash

· Not defecating or urinating in the litter-box, or straining while they are using the litter box

There is no other pet that you can bring into your home that is quite as amazing as a new kitten, and that first year of their lives is equally as phenomenal considering that within those 12 months, they attain adulthood.

You may want to check out my other tips on Cat Care or Pat Cat