Got A Cat As A Pet? Here's How To Keep Them Healthy...
Our pet cats are often as close to us as members of our family.
In fact, they virtually are members of our family! That's why
cat owners should know as much as they can about cat health.
Here are the major things to know about caring for your pet cat
in a loving way:
GROOMING: Long-haired cats should be groomed regularly for
optimum cat health. Use a pet brush and groom no less frequently
than once a week.
DIET: Cat health is strongly affected by what your cat eats.
Obesity is a major factor in heart disease particularly as your
cat gets older. Choose a pet food for your cat that is right for
it's age but feed it regularly. Consistency is the key to a
well-fed cat.
OLDER CATS: Some diseases occur simply because your cat is
getting older. These can be labeled elderly cat health problems.
As cats age their kidneys and eyesight fail and they may need
special diets.
LITTER: The litter box can be dangerous to both cat health and
human health if it isn't cleaned regularly. Change your pet's
litter no less than once every four days and keep a small dish
of baking soda near the litter area.
SCRATCHING: Scratching is a major cat health concern because if
a cat scratches regularly it is often a sign of other problems.
If your cat is scratching a particular area often try a
delousing product and then take your pet to the vet.
DECLAWING: Declawing your cat can be a major factor in Cat
health. If you choose to declaw your pet it is important to
remember to keep them inside at all times.
BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: Many cat health problems relate to difficult
or uncommon behavior. Listlessness can be a symptom of
depression. Strange aggression is sometimes caused by hormone
imbalances.
STRESS: Your cat can easily get stressed out. Stressful
situations like moving, travelling, natural disasters or even
changes in the family can affect cat health. To minimize the
effects of stress on your pet, buy a tranquilizer for distance
travelling and have a place in your home where your cat can
escape if there are busy changes in the house.
POISON: Make sure dangerous poisons like antifreeze cannot be
reached by your pet. Some plants are fatal to cats so make sure
to raise your plants and lock your toxins.
PARASITES: Parasites such as ringworms, heart worms and rabies
can greatly affect cat health. Blood in a cat's stool or
uncommon appetite are common signs of parasites.
MOUTH: Cats often have mouth diseases and this can influence cat
health. Cats are just as prone to gingivitis as humans. For
problems like rodents ulcer or bad breath, brush your cat's
teeth with a small child's toothbrush.
INDOORS/OUTDOORS: One of the greatest factors in determining cat
health is whether your pet goes outdoors. Cars, children, other
animals and toxins are all dangerous and should be avoided by
keeping your cat indoors.
Taking care of your cat is critical to your cats health.
Hopefully this article has provided you with information that
will make your pet's life much safer, healthier, happier and
longer
