Urine Removal
Soft
Paws
Pet
Breath
Sticky
Paws
Odor
Control
Grass
Eating
Persian?
Plant
Eater?
Catnip
Bubbles
Abscesses
Fleas
Declawing
Urinary Tract
Dental
Care
Litter
Pearls
Heartworms
Tapeworms
Tooth Brushing
Senior Cats
Hairballs
New
Baby
Pedigree vs. Non-Pedigree
Third Eyelid
FeLV
& FIV
Ear Mites
Urine Removal -
Do you have a dog or cat
that is marking their territory around your house? Need to find all those
"secret" spots that keep them coming back? Try using a black light to
illuminate those hard to find hidden spots.
The first
step in stopping the behavior is to remove as much of the smells as possible.
Black lights will illuminate any invisible areas. Use the black light at
night and turn off all the lights. Use a piece of chalk to outline the
area. Once the areas have been identified...use an enzymatic cleaner to
remove the stains. Enzymatic cleaners contain natural enzymes that eat and
breakdown the stain and smell. There are lots of products that can be
found at your local pet store. The most popular product is called Nature's
Miracle.
Do not
forget the most important step which is retraining....without retraining, your
pet will continue it's behavior.
Important -
if this is a new behavior, please make sure there is not a medical reason for
the behavior such as a blocked urinary tract or bladder infection.

Soft
Paws - Invented
by a vet and designed to keep cat and dog nails from destroying your home...Soft
Paws are plastic nail caps that are simply glued over the nail. A great
alternative to declawing! Check with you local vet for purchase or check
out the website below for more information:
www.softpaws.com
Sticky
Paws - A great new humane
product to stop your cat from destroying your furniture, speakers, and
curtains! Sticky Paws have earned the "Best New Product" award
from CatFancy Magazine. Sticky paws are clear strips of double sided
adhesive that can easily be applied to any surface. Cats (and dogs) do not
like the stickiness and steer clear. You can find more information on
Sticky Paws by visiting their website below or asking for the product at your
local pet store.
www.stickypaws.com
Pet
Breath - Have you ever
thought...my pet's breath could be used as a national defense system? Bad
breath in dogs and cats, as in humans, is caused by the build-up of plaque and
bacteria. The best solution is to have your pet's teeth cleaned on a
regular basis. The first line of defense is a toothbrush, doggie tooth
paste, and a weekly cleaning. You can also schedule regular dental visits
to your vet to remove the built-up plaque. Other lines of defense include
dog and breath mints and odor absorbers. When purchasing breath mints,
look for products that contain mint, parsley seed oil, and chlorophyll, all of
which are effective in reducing bad breath. Odor absorbers are used to
absorb odors from the digestive tract. Look for products that include
charcoal such as charcoal biscuit treats. Wild dogs and cats chew on bones
to help keep their teeth clean. With this thought in mind, try giving your
dog a natural bone treat found at your local pet store. Since cats are not
quite so easy, you could provide hard kibble treats that promote dental
health. Another preventative, is a proper diet. A pet feed canned
food all his life will have many more dental problems and can live a shorter
life. Dry kibble helps to keep a pet's teeth healthy.
If bad breath is
new to your pet or the smell has become worse this can be an indication of
illness or serious dental problems. Please check with your vet to be sure
your pet is healthy.
Catnip
Bubbles - Looking for a new toy
product for the kitty who has everything? New Catnip Bubbles have hit the
market. This new product takes a biodegradable and non-toxic bubble
solution and infuses it with organic catnip. We think this may be a
hit! Look for the product at your local pet store.
Grass
eating
is a very common and normal behavior in dogs and cats. It is
believed to be associated with an upset stomach. Have you noticed that
your dog has diarrhea? This can also be an indication of an upset
stomach. Most dogs and cats that eat grass immediately throw-up after
eating the grass. It is believed that this is the way they relieve gas
pressure and other stomach upsets.
Try feeding your dog smaller
meals at regular intervals (not large meals once per day) and try
feeding an allergy diet like lamb and rice or fish and potatoes (stay away
from wheat products). Try feeding mostly kibble that is eaten more
slowly rather than soft food which is gobbled down and can cause stomach
upset. Most dogs that experience stomach upsets may have some type of
food allergy. It also doesn't hurt to supplement any diet with a daily
multi-vitamin.
Cats also use this as a type
of gas pressure release. Have you ever heard your cat burp? Cats
are considered grazers and should have access to food all day like dry kibble.
Try to stay away from feeding cans of soft cat food once per day that are
gobbled down which can cause stomach upset of gas pressure. You can also
provide your cat an in-house greenery. Most pet stores now carry cat
grass that can be grown right in your windowsill.
If this is a change in the
normal behavior for your dog or cat, this can be an indication of
illness. Any change in eating habits or behavior can be the first sign
of illness and should be checked by your veterinarian.
Below is a link that has more
information on grass eating:
Odor/Flea
Control - Farnam Pet Products
has introduced a new product called Fresh & Free that controls pet odors
while, at the same time, controlling fleas. Use this product on pet beds,
carpets, and furniture. This unique product contains Nylar which stops
fleas from developing into egg laying adults. Please be sure to read their
product instructions and precautionary statements before using the
product. Ask for this product at your local pet store. To receive a
discount coupon and find out more information, please visit the Farnam's website
below:
http://www.farnam.com/new_products/fresh&free.html
Preparing
Pets For Your New Baby - Cat or Dog: Obviously a new baby in the family brings changes for everyone.
Sometimes we forget that it also means changes in our pet's lives. They have the
same feelings of being left-out, abandonment and confusion. The best way to reduce
the amount of stress on your pet is to start socialization with other children and
retraining prior to the new arrival. The first step is socialization and
involves introducing, playing and handling by children. If your pet is nervous, try
having the child give treats to your pet and praising your pet when he takes the treats.
(Do not let a child handle a pet that is in any way aggressive!). Progress
slowly always reinforcing good behavior with treats. The second step is to retrain
your pet as to who is the boss and retrain the simplest commands. By establishing
dominance you set the rules on how your pet should act around the new arrival.
Dominance training includes making him sit prior to feeding, not letting him on the couch
unless invited (this is your territory not his), no lap sitting unless invited, not
letting him sleep in your bed (especially if you plan to have the baby sleep in your bed),
keeping him off the counters, and keeping toys in a box until time to play (this is
helpful when little hands start playing with dog toys). Last but not least, give
them as much extra attention and love as you can!!
Litter
Pearls Cat Litter - Have you
discovered this new cat litter yet? If you haven't we highly recommend
litter pearls. Most major brands are introducing their own version of
litter pearls. We have tested Harvest Ventures Litter Pearls and love
it. At the Super Zoo Pet Show we tested the product by spraying liquid on
the pearls over and over and then handling the pearls. They were
completely dry to the touch. After testing them on a two cat household, we
found a definite reduction in odor. The only thing we had to scoop out
were the "poops". Some people have said they did not like the
pearls turning yellow from the urine, but remember, they are still dry to the
touch and odorless. Your cats will love it. Try mixing the new
litter pearls with the old litter first and add more until the old is
gone. The litter pearls bag suggests completely replacing the pearls once
per month. You will need to judge this on how your cats use their litter
box. They are more costly, but we found them worth the
expense. Below is a link to the company for frequently asked questions:
Litter PearlsŪ technology
is very unique. It makes Litter PearlsŪ super absorbent, locks odors
inside the pearl, and allows the liquid moisture to evaporate out so that it can
absorb again over and over during the month. There are special porous
channels in side Litter PearlsŪ that grab the odor particles and lock them
tightly inside its core.
http://www.harvestventures.com/CatFaqs.asp
Plant Eater - Anyone who has a plant eater knows how frustrating a habit
this is to break. We suggest that you try a squirt or two of diluted lemon juice.
In a water spritzer that has only had water, put in half lemon juice and half
water. Spray your plants thouroughly. The lemon juice will not hurt your plant
or your pet and has a sour taste. If it does not deter your plant eater, try making
a stronger solution with more lemon juice.
- Persian?
- Do you own a Persian cat? Are you aware that your Persian may require a special shaped diet due to the
"squished" features of their face? Persians are specifically
bred for their "squished" face features prized by owners. Unfortunately, this can lead to
eating problems as well as breathing and
sinus problems. Help is on the way!!! Cat food manufacturers are now
selling food that is made specifically for Persians. This food is almond
shaped and has a texture that is easier for Persians to eat. Royal
Canin is one of these manufacturers. Look for and request these
special diets at your local pet store.
www.royalcanin.com
Abscesses
- This is a common problem in unneutered males
and outdoor cats. Abscesses are basically an infection that is caused from
another cat bite, or injury. They are most commonly seen on the head and
neck area. They are characterized by a build-up of pus under the
skin. Your cat will also show signs of a fever, be lethargic and have loss
of appetite. This can develop into a life threatening infection if not
treated by a Veterinarian. If you suspect your cat has an abscess,
take him immediately to the vet. Common treatments include lancing the
abscess and antibiotics.
Dental
Care - Tooth and gum disease is a major contributor to feline health as your
cat ages. Most cat owners are unaware that for their cats health, it is a
good idea to get a yearly dental cleaning. As your cat ages, they become
susceptible to gum disease including swollen gums, bad breath, drooling, and
loss of appetite. Just like in humans, plaque builds up on the teeth and
needs to be removed. If left untreated, your cat may lose their teeth at
an early age. To prevent plaque build-up and gum disease, the first step
is to feed a dry kibble that helps break-up the plaque and give weekly teeth
cleanings with a cat toothbrush and cat toothpaste (human toothpaste can cause
stomach upset). Check with your veterinarian if you think your cat may
suffer from a dental problem.
Hairballs - What are they and how
do I keep my cat from throwing them up? Hairballs are one of the most common
complaints for cat owners. Hairballs are basically balled-up hair that your cat has
ingested while cleaning itself. The hair is not digestible and collects in your cats
digestive tract. There are two ways for your cat to get rid of the hair; 1.
Throw the hairball up along with food material, or 2. Loosen and breakdown
the hairball until it passes out in the feces. Symptoms or hairballs are vomiting
and gagging directly after eating, coughing and gagging until the hairball comes out (it
may take several trys for it to come out). To ease your cats symptoms and the mess
it can make, there are several products and tips we recommend below:
At your local pet store, you can purchase hairball remedies called
Laxatone or Petromalt. These are ointments that you can feed to your cat once per
week. The ingredients help to break-up the hairball so that it is easier to pass.
These ointments have a taste that most cats will like, however, the first try
may not go well. We suggest that you put a little dab on your cats paw or nose.
Your cat will immediately lick it off. Eventually they will lick it off your
finger. Follow the instructions given with the product.
If your cat has an constant problem with hairballs, we suggest you try the
new hairball cat food and treats available that have ingredients to help alleviate
hairballs.
Keeping
your cat well groomed is one of the best ways to prevent
hairballs.
Did you know there are many new products on the market that help combat
this problem? Check out the new cat foods and treats that contain ingredients
specifically formulated to help reduce the bouts of throwing up and coughing due to
hairballs. They can be found in your local grocery store and pet store.
If your cat is vomiting continuously for more than a day, this could be a
sign of a serious illness. Please take your cat to the vet if vomiting continues for
more than a day.
Third Eyelid - Have you noticed your cat has a strange
skin flap that is covering the inside corner of his eye? This is called the third
eyelid and is used as a protective lid and to produce moisture for the eyes.
However, it is not normal for the third eyelid to be always showing or covering the
eye. This can be a sign of illness such as an upper respiratory infection or a
foreign body in the eye. If you notice the third eyelid suddenly showing, please
contact your veterinarian for a thorough examination.
Ear Mites - Cats are notorious for
getting ear mites. These little mites are easily picked up when your cat is on an
outside adventure. They quickly multiply in the warm and humid recesses of your
cats' ear. They cause excessive itching and, in extreme cases, sores. Most
cats have an occasional itch in their ear. However, there is a definite difference
because with ear mites you will notice that if you rub your cats' ears, he will start
scratching with his foot immediately and urging you to continue to rub his ear. Your
cat may also shake his head vigorously. In extreme cases there is pain
associated with the mites. You may also notice a brownish/black wax build-up in the
ear. This is the excrement from the mites and blood. Your local pet store has
an over-the-counter medication to treat ear mites. Follow the directions carefully
and complete the medication to make sure all ear mites are gone.
Pedigree vs. Non-Pedigree Pedigree vs. Non-Pedigree - There are advantages and disadvantages to both sides of
the fence.
| |
Pedigree |
Non-Pedigree |
| Pros |
Bred for specific characteristics
and behavior |
Hardy and Healthy, Less Maintenance |
| Cons |
Costly, Inherited Health Problems,
High Maintenance |
Can be more temperamental |
Senior Cats - When our pets get older it is important to maintain their
health for their quality of life. Here are some tips that we recommend to help your
pet live longer, happier and healthier.
Vet checks every six months
to catch any hidden problems sooner.
Keep vaccinations current.
Older cats are more susceptible to illnesses such as upper respiratory infections
and distemper.
Teeth should be brushed
weekly and make regular dental visits to the vet to prevent tooth loss and malnutrition.
Grooming is very important in
older cats. If you are brushing your cat daily, you will be more apt to notice
unusual lumps.
Obesity is the number one
health problem in older cats. Keep your cat on a regular exercise schedule.
When you cat reaches the age
of 7, be sure to change their diet to one specially formulated for older cats.
Get a cat condo for your cat
to hide in when he's feeling cranky and not up to speed.
If your pet is an outside
cat, consider bringing him in during cold winter months and summer heat months.
Older cats are not able to control their body heat as well as younger cats.
Pools are dangers to older
cats.
Tooth
brushing
The first experience for your cat with tooth brushing should be gentle and short. Start by using a fingertip brush (a short plastic
finger cover with soft bristles) with a flavored toothpaste. You can find cat toothbrushes and toothpaste in
several flavors at your vets office or pet store.
Let you cat smell and taste the toothpaste from your fingers first. Then gently raise the lips and rub with the
fingertip brush in a circular motion. Eventually,
your cat will enjoy this little tasty treat. To
keep your cats teeth healthy, you should brush their teeth at least once per week. It is also helpful to have your cat on a diet with
some dry food that helps to clean the teeth. It
is wise to keep your pets teeth healthy to reduce veterinary bills as they age.
Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
and Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses (FIV) - These are serious diseases in cats and are transmitted by contact with
other infected cats. Outdoor cats are the most susceptible because of their contact
with other cats. A mother cat can transmit the virus to her kittens. If you
have a new cat, it is important to have a blood test done to determine if it has either of
these viruses to prevent it spreading to other cats. If your new cat is going to be
an outside cat or come into contact with any other cats, it should be vaccinated against
FeLV. FeLV is a treatable virus with a series of three vaccinations. However,
there are no vaccinations available to prevent the FIV virus. Because both of these
viruses attack the immune system, there can be a variety of different symptoms. The
most common symptoms are a constant runny nose, sneezing and runny eyes. They can
also make your cat more susceptible to other problems such as anemia, upper respiratory
diseases and even cancer. If you suspect your cat has these viruses, please contact
your veterinarian immediately.
Urinary Tract Health Neutered male cats can get life threatening blocked urinary
tracts. It was thought that a diet low in ash
would help urinary tract problems in males. It
is now considered better to have a diet that is low in pH and low in sodium magnesium. If your cat is prone to this problem, there are
cat foods on the market that are specifically designed to help alleviate urinary tract
blockages. These blockages are caused by a
build-up of crystals that eventually can totally block the urine path and can be fatal if
not treated. Signs of a urinary tract
blockage can include; lethargy, not eating, urinating frequently but nothing coming out,
and blood in the urine. If this is happening,
take your cat immediately to your veterinarian.
Season
for Fleas
3/20/01 - Flea
Season Remedies -
Ahh Spring! This is the start of the annual
fight against fleas and ticks. Getting a
head start before you see fleas is the key! We have put together a
schedule below for flea control as well as natural alternative ways to control
fleas. To control
your flea and tick problem, it is important to know that you must treat not only your pet
but their environment as well. It is
recommended that you incorporate several types of flea and tick control for the best
results. This involves shampoos, powders,
flea collars, bug bombs (foggers), and yard spray. Shampoos
and powders only work for a couple of days and need to be reapplied. Collars work for longer periods but only work
around the upper body area. Foggers and yard
sprays last for about 3 weeks. Most products
do not kill the eggs of the fleas and ticks. Therefore, you will need to treat the fleas
and ticks in stages as the new eggs are hatched about every 2-3 weeks. The following is a recommended schedule to follow:
Please
check with your veterinarian and doctor prior to using any of these treatments around
children or when treating young animals and cats. Be
sure to also check for compatible chemicals.
· Week
1 Shampoo, powder, and flea collar your pet. Use
a fogger for the inside of the house making sure to follow the manufacturers
instructions carefully. Spray the outside
yard with a flea and tick insecticide.
· Week
2 Shampoo and powder your pet.
· Week
3 Shampoo and powder your pet.
· Week
4 Shampoo and powder your pet. Use a
fogger again for the inside of the house making sure to follow the manufacturers
instructions carefully. Spray the outside
yard with a flea and tick insecticide. Replace flea collar.
· You
may need to follow this treatment for another four weeks.
Other alternatives
for Flea Control: Products
such as Program, Advantage and Frontline can be more costly but are very
effective and eliminate the need for frequent chemical baths, dustings,
etc. These products work by virtually eliminating the fleas from
reproducing. These products are generally applied to the skin or given
orally once per month.
Holistic Flea
Control: Below are links to
sites that have information on holistic flea control. They use natural
alternatives in place of chemicals. Some of these alternatives include;
Diatomaceous Earth, Pyrethrum Dust, Borax,
Herbal Sprays, and Herbal Oils. Another natural alternative for your yard
are Beneficial Nematodes. These Nematodes are non-segmented worms which
occur naturally in the soil. They eat ants, flea larvae, ticks and other
garden pests. They do not harm "good" garden bugs. They
can be purchased at any local garden center. Nematodes work by seeking out
host insects and entering their prey through body openings and emit an endo-toxin
that results in death for the host insect within 48 hours. The nematodes
reproduce in the dead host and then their offspring feed on the dead host.
The offspring then emerge to seek out new hosts.
http://www.altvetmed.com/fleas.html
- Alternative Flea Control Article
http://www.healthypetnet.com/pamzuppo/
- Holistic Products
http://www.healthypetnet.com/products/care/mist.asp?realname=10020761
Declawing
If you are contemplating getting a cat and considering declawing, a cat
is not for you! Declawing is a very controversial topic among cat owners some seeing it as
very cruel while others seeing it as a last resort solution. While we do not
promote or believe in declawing, we do feel it can be performed as a last resort
if all other alternatives have failed. Other alternatives include behavior
modification, nail caps, pheramone sprays, and sticky tapes. Many cats are
dumped at shelters to be euthanized because their owner couldn't control their
scratching. We
feel declawing can be an alternative to abandoned or euthanized
cats. Below are some alternatives and our thoughts on declawing:
-
Is
your cat indoors or outdoors? Declawing should not be an
option for outdoor cats. Outdoor cats need their claws for defense
purposes and climbing to get away from danger. Declawing should only
be an option for indoor cats if all other altneratives fail
such as plastic caps, behavior modification, sprays, etc (see below).
-
Hind
claws should never be removed because your cat will be completely defenseless.
-
Declawing
can cause behavioral changes such as; biting, nervousness, sacredness, and depression.
-
Declawing
is actually removing a piece of bone from the tip of the cat's toe causing
severe pain and balance problems.
-
Declawing
can be easier on a kitten than an adult cat, however, kittens are very easy
to train and should be given the chance with behavior modification and other
training aides.
If
you are having a problem with your cat scratching the furniture, there
are now products on the market which are great alternatives to declawing:
www.stickypaws.com
is
a double-sided tape that can be applied to furniture to repel your cat.
www.softpaws.com
nail caps
http://www.catscratching.com/
behavior modification
http://www.feliway.com/html2/shop.php3/index.html
pheramone spray
Heartworms
Although no as common in cats as in dogs, they are on the rise in cats. Signs common with heartworms are coughing,
vomiting, lethargy, and breathing difficulties. The
mosquito transmits heartworms. The mosquito
deposits the heartworm larva into the skin through the transfer of blood and from there
the larvae migrates to the heart and develops into an adult heartworm. Heartworms can be very long and usually do their
damage by blocking the flow of blood through the animals heart. Heartworms are generally more prevalent in the
warmer and moister climates such as the southern states where you find lots of mosquitoes. However, they can be found throughout the United
States. The good news is that heartworms are
totally preventable by taking a simple pill or liquid once per month. Check with your veterinarian to see if you live in
an area that is susceptible to heartworms.
Lifecycle
of the Tapeworm
Believe it or not but tapeworms are transferred to your pet most commonly by the flea! Tapeworms look like rice usually
found in the feces or around the bottom area. Animals
that are infected with tapeworms can have symptoms ranging from lethargy and malnutrition
to vomiting in severe cases. Once your pet is
infected, the only way to get rid of the tapeworm is by going to your veterinarian for
treatment. The good news is you can control
the tapeworms by knowing the lifecycle of a tapeworm.
· The
first stage is the egg. When the tapeworm is
outside the host it dries and breaks open releasing eggs into the environment.
· The
second stage is the intermediate host. The
intermediate host is the flea. The fleas are
busy looking for food and ingest the eggs. The
eggs then hatch inside the flea and form tapeworm larvae.
· The
third stage is the final host, your pet. This
is where you pet ingests the flea in the grooming process.
The larvae in the flea then turn into the adult tapeworms and migrate through your
pets digestive tract. From here, the
adult tapeworm is again deposited out of the final host and back into the environment
through their feces.
By controlling your flea
problem in your pet, you will be able to virtually eliminate any tapeworms.