Cat Health Advice
From Adviceopedia
Cat Health Advice and Tips
Normal Cat Body Temperature
Your cat's normal temperature ranges 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Although most of us are not intrepid enough to venture taking our feline's temperature ourselves, noting a fever can be the first clue your cat is ill. It's good to know the baseline so you can compare.
Have Your Cat Vaccinated
Every cat should be vaccinated against common contagious viruses that cause serious illness and/or death.
Most vaccination schedules include boosters against:
- Rabies
- Panleukopenia
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis
- Calicivirus
Schedule Regular Veterinary Checkups
Routine veterinary care can reveal health problems as they pop up, increasing the chance to deal with them successfully. Checkups also give you the opportunity to get pet health advice directly from a professional.
Veterinary checkups usually include:
- Booster shots
- Fecal examinations for worms
- Weight check
- Ear examination
- Dental exams
Feed an Age Appropriate Diet
Kittens need a higher nutrition kitten diet to meet their rapid growth needs. The extra nutrition provided during this growth stage will help assure the proper formation of internal organs, muscles and bones, as well as optimal brain function.
Adult cats who have reached their full size should be fed a cat food formulated to help maintain their weight and condition. Switching from kitten to cat food around one year of age will help keep your pet from getting fat.
Senior cats tend to have lower nutritional needs as their bodies and activity levels slow down. You may choose to feed a senior/health specific diet mix, or a low fat adult cat food, but it's usually sufficient to feed a regular adult mix, and just control the portions if your cat begins to grow heavier.
Watch your Cat's Weight
Cats can become overweight even when they are being fed an age appropriate mix. Obesity puts undue stress on a cat's internal organs and skeletal/muscular structure.
This can lead to:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Arthritis
Give your cat a quick check each month to make sure you don't feel excessive fatty bulges. If you do, gradually reduce the portion size of his food until you are able to maintain your pet at a healthy weight.
Clean Your Cat's Teeth
This is serious cat health advice that all too many owners ignore. Built up tartar on your cat’s teeth contains bacteria which can work its way into your feline's gums. Once there, it can cause a gum infection that can travel through the bloodstream and cause damage to your pet's heart.
Vets recommend brushing your pet's teeth once a week with a dental kit designed specifically for pets.
Use a Sickness Indicating Cat Litter
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common among cats, but we don't usually notice a problem until our pets are really suffering.
Scientific Professional brand cat litter includes a sickness indicator in the material that turns pink when your cat has an infection, signaling the need for veterinary attention.
Signs of Ear Mite Infestation
Ear mite infestations can make your cat miserable and damage its hearing.
Signs of ear mites include:
- Excessive head shaking and ear scratching
- Foul odor coming from the ears
- Brown or bloody waxy build up in one or both canals
If you notice these signs, a trip to the vet is in order. He/She will clean and flush your cat's ears and prescribe a ten to fourteen day course of medication to kill the infestation.
Hairball Prevention
Your cat swallows hair every time it cleans itself, and this fur can ball up and lodge in your pet's digestive system.
Tips for lessening hairball production:
- Brush the loose fur from your cat's coat two to three times a week.
- Add one half teaspoon of olive oil to your pet's food twice a week.
- Administer a vet-recommended commercial anti-hairball solution following the label directions.
Avoid Poisonous Plants
It's an often overlooked area of cat health advice, but cats love to nibble on greenery, and some of it can actually make them sick.
House and garden plants to avoid include, but are not limited to:
- Poinsettia
- English ivy
- Dieffenbachia
- Crocus
- Live Christmas trees- can trigger allergies
- Cactus
- Lilies
- Philodendrons
- Sago palms
Your lawn can also present a toxic temptation for your pet if your use chemical weed killers and fertilizers. If you'd like to offer your cat safe greens, try an indoor grass growing kit designated safe for pets.
Provide Your Cat with Mental Stimulation and Exercise
Cats need exercise to keep their bodies’ fit and mental stimulation to keep their minds active. A cat tree offers a solution for both needs.
Cat trees offer your feline a place to climb, scratch, nap, and plot his/her next diabolical move. Most models have rings to attach an assortment of cat toys that will keep your pet busy for hours. Try changing the toys from time to time to keep things fresh and entertaining.
Spay or Neuter Your Cat
Here's another bit of cat health advice you may be unaware of. Spaying/Neutering can actually add years to your feline's life, plus provide you with some benefits as well.
Altered cats:
- Rarely spray urine in the home
- Acquire fewer urinary tract infections
- Acquire fewer parasitic infestations
- Roam less, thereby avoiding vehicle accidents
- Fight less
Spaying and neutering also eliminates the chance of developing:
- Testicular cancer
- Ovarian and uterine cancer
- Uterine infections
- Unwanted litters
Keep Your Cat Indoors
Keeping your cat indoors reduces its exposure to fleas and ticks, and reduces your pet's chances of picking up a worm infestation.
Just as with spaying and neutering, keeping your cat indoors means less opportunity to fight with other cats and dogs. It also eliminates the chance your pet will wander into the road and get hit by a car, or contract rabies from an infected animal.
