Feline Leukemia Before Acquiring a Cat

As a leading cause of disease and illness in cats, feline leukemia has become a major health scare for cat owners. Protecting the health and security of a family cat is crucial. For this reason, understanding the cause, origin, symptoms and treatment options for feline leukemia may improve the longevity and health of the family cat you plan to adopt.

Feline leukemia is a general term used to describe a non-curable viral infection affecting both domestic and wild cats. Most commonly found in wild male cats, feline leukemia can afflict any cat, both wild and domestic, at any time. Considered a retrovirus, feline leukemia is often fatal as it progressively weakens the cat's immune system resulting in a general inability, by the cat, to fight a variety of infections. Considered an auto-immune disease, both the domestic and wild cat can acquire feline leukemia through transmission from other cats via saliva, tears or even feces and urine. Unfortunately, pregnant cats may also pass the feline leukemia virus to a litter of kittens. For this reason, when adopting a cat or kitten, it is imperative the kitten or cat be tested for feline leukemia prior to accepting ownership. Through pre-adoption testing, as a cat owner you will better understand the nutritional and medical status of the cat providing for a more educated decision during adoption.


Symptoms of feline leukemia are varied. When the domestic cat is struck with feline leukemia symptoms will often exhibit as general fatigue, diarrhea, weight loss, bloody stools and, in some cases, difficulty breathing. Upon examination by a veterinarian, the domestic cat will show evidence of anemia and lymph node disorders. However, because feline leukemia attributes to a depressed or supressed immune system, the range of symptoms are endless depending on the secondary infection the cat may acquire due to the feline leukemia virus. The most important aspect of symptomatic cats is to seek veterinarian attention as soon as abnormal symptoms appear.

Treating feline leukemia primarily involves a strategic approach to ward off feline leukemia symptoms. While some cats carry a natural ability to ward off the infection, other cats will fall on the deep end of the spectrum and suffer from severe illness and disease throughout their entire life span. Again, for this reason, prior to adopting a cat or kitten, be sure the feline leukemia test is completed. If the cat or kitten is fortunate to test negative for feline leukemia, acquire the vaccination for the feline leukemia disease prior to bringing the cat home. Although the vaccination is not 100 percent effective, it does provide a significant protection against acquisition of the disease, if exposed. If the cat or kitten you plan to adopt tests positive for feline leukemia, adoption may still be an option but, as a new cat owner, be sure you are well educated in the medical implications.

As a new cat owner, protecting the cat from disease and illness is a primary concern. While most cat owners assume a cat is healthy at adoption, it is an unfortunate fact that many are not. Adopting a cat with feline leukemia is encouraged when and if the potential cat owner is fully aware of the significant impact feline leukemia virus will have on the cat and the family unit. Additionally, when adopting a cat with feline leukemia it is highly recommended the cat remain in a home where no other cats face potential for exposure. Whether afflicted with feline leukemia or not, the cat or kitten you plan to bring home will be a great addition to your family and provide many years of enjoyment.




By Christine Cadena

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Cheap Cat Insurance Give Your Cat The Unsurpassed Healthcare Benefits

Usually, we do every possible thing to secure our family members; in fact, our pets also get same care and security as any other member of our family. However, there are many times when we feel helpless and stressed; basically it happens when our loved pet face any critical health problem. Since pets cannot express their problems in words, we need to be more careful in understanding their problem. It is true that unavailability of proper understanding and treatment can put our pets life in danger therefore we need to take out pet to the best doctor so that he or she may get best care and treatment. Since people have become more conscious for the wellbeing of their pets, they are buying various insurance policies to cover various requirements of their lives. When it comes to buy an insurance policy for your sweet little cat, there is a long list of insurance plans in the marketplace. However all policies carry distinct benefits but if you are looking for the most affordable policy then it is always better to go for cheap cat insurance.

There are several things you need to consider when looking for cheap cat insurance for your beloved cat. Though cheap cat insurance policies offer low rates but it is always better to compare all plans and their cost as it helps in finding out the most reasonable deal. With sensible comparison and research you can get the most suitable insurance plan for your sweet little cat; in fact, this plan will cover all possible medical and hygiene expenses of your cat. Basically, deductible and co-payment are the two possible ways of payment for your cats medical treatments under such insurance. In deductible process, you will have to pay for all medical treatments as the insurance company will reimburse that amount after completion of the treatment; whereas with co-payment procedure, your cat gets reasonable concession on every treatment.

You can choose either one or both options for your cats insurance policy but always make sure that you observe the difference between deductible and co-payment options. There are many cheap cat insurance policies that offer barred service just to allure the pet owners therefore, if you find any such provision or facility with any policy then never go for it as it can cause big financial trouble to you. If you have a cat with any ongoing medical condition such as diabetes, then your cat will be secured up to a certain limit only.

Once you avail that maximum limit for your cats treatment, you becomes liable to pay father medical expenses from your own pocket. In fact, these policies do not cover any medical expenses prior to purchasing the insurance policy. Since age of your cat determines the cost of policy, always remember that the older your cat is, the more expensive the policy may be. Therefore, if your cat has been diagnosed with any long term disease, then immediately buy an insurance policy for her as it will give you the great financial relief during her treatment.





By: Robert Scott

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Your Cat's Health Cat Parasites

Whether your cat claims its domain inside, outside, or a combination of both, you're bound to run into a little (or big) parasite problem at some point during your pet's lifetime. Getting a case of fleas isn't uncommon and it's also not so hard to fix either. The key is in simply spotting these troublesome miniatures before they cause your kitty any further complications.

Fleas are probably the most common of parasites and they infect a wide range of different animals. As such, it's not hard for your cat to pick them up from other cats, the outdoors, their own bedding, or another pet of yours. In fact, fleas are so common that there are always a number of advertisements on television concerning flea treatments for your cats and dogs. Flea sprays work well as application is easy and no fuss, however, a simply shower with your favorite brand of flea spray isn't going to make your flea problems cease. You'll probably end up with another flea problem within days. In order to truly rid your kitty of its flea infestation you'll need to undertake a complete territory clean. Meaning, you need to clean all it's areas. Clean its bedding and spray it with a special spray to kill fleas and their larvae. These sorts of sprays can be found in a local pet store and probably your vet's pet shop as well. If your cat's favorite sleeping spot is on the family love seat, you'll need to treat that as well. Give your home, especially the cat's favorite spots a thorough cleaning and spraying with the flea killer. Make sure to take measures outside if your cat is outside constantly. While you can't kill all the outside parasites, you can clean your kitty's house and any other pets that may also have fleas. If your cat wonders about a lot, talk to your veterinarian about flea collars and other flea prevention options.
Believe it or not, fleas can actually lead to further parasite infestation problems. Tapeworms develop within fleas and when a cat is grooming and eats a flea they are then also infected with the tapeworm. (RSPCA, 2005). Tapeworms can grow alarmingly large and will attach themselves to the intestinal wall of your cat. Although they are hard to detect, if your cat has fleas you'll want to have them checked for a tapeworm as well. Often times tapeworms can be spotted around the area of your kitty's behind. It's not exactly a pleasant search, but you can look there for symptoms of the infestation. A tapeworm looks like segments white grains of rice. (RSPCA, 2005). Roundworms can also be present, but will generally be easier to detect do to their symptom of diarrhea. However, if your cat has diarrhea don't immediately assume it is roundworms and search for an over the counter cure, take your kitty to see his veterinarian immediately. Diarrhea can also be a sign of other more serious internal problems.

As a prevention method for any worms, take new kittens to the vet and have them checked out thoroughly. Your veterinarian will probably ask to do a full check up before giving vaccinations anyway and new kittens will also probably need to be vaccinated. In reality, any new pet whether it be a kitten or otherwise should take a trip to see the veterinarian for a complete health check up. You want to make sure your pet is safe and healthy so that they are happy. Furthermore, you want to make sure that they aren't going bring anything into your home to you or your other pets.

Another parasite that you've probably come in contact with yourself as a child, or dealt with as a parent is lice. Like human beings, pets can get lice too. They are a bit hard to spot though, especially on light haired cats as the lice's white eggs are generally a dead give away. Other signs are often overlooked or mistaken by pet owners as fleas because cats will usually lick and bite themselves repetitively. Sounds a lot like fleas, doesn't it? But if your pet is constantly licking and biting themselves, try examining their fur for lice eggs and if none are present take them for a check up to see what the doctor thinks. Misdiagnosing lice simply because you can't see their eggs won't cause any detrimental health effects to your pet, but they'll be quite uncomfortable until the problem is solved, so seeing a professional for a second opinion could save your kitty a lot of discomfort.

Another problematic little pest is the tick. These are more prominent in some areas than others. Ticks in humans can cause lyme disease and is a concern in many states on the east coast of the U.S. You can check the internet to see if there are any such risks in your area, however, either way ticks are bothersome. A tick will burrow into your pets skin sticking it's head deeply in so that it can suck out the blood. Within several days the tick will have filled itself up and will eventually drop off. You'll want to get the tick before it does this if possible. There are methods of getting ticks off your pet, but they don't include using tweezers! Local pet shops or veterinarians will have special tick tweezers that can help. Consult your pet care provider if you have a question about ticks or their health risks to your pet. There are also preventative measures like flea and tick sprays and collars available, so looking into those is a good option.

The last of the parasite problems is the mange. I'm sure you've heard of it before. There are two types of mange; mange that occurs on the body of your pet, and mange that occurs on the ears. This is not limited to cats, and other pets tend to have mange problems as well.

Ear mange is very painful, especially to little kittens that can't handle a lot. Cats infected will scratch at their ears a lot because they are really bothering them, they'll also shake their head or banging it in an attempt to make the pain go away. A brown crust will also be present inside the ear. Always clean your cat's ears, this your cat's ears will stay healthy and you'll be more aware of their condition if something like ear mange occurs. Just be sure you know how to clean the ears properly, a veterinarian can show you while your pet is getting their vaccines or during a regular check up. If any symptoms of ear mange show up, take your kitty to the vet immediately, and be sure to implement any after care your veterinarian advises.

Body mange also requires immediate treatment, and like ear mange causes your pet a lot of pain. Sores and sore skin are often present and varying degrees. Small bear patches on the ears and face can signal mange. This condition is very serious and needs attention right away. Don't try to self treat mange and don't touch the bare patches. They hurt your kitty and they need professional care. The best thing to do is put your put in their carrier and in the car to see their doctor.

Parasites are common ailments of most pets, and most aren't too serious. But serious or not, they are a problem and they can and do affect your pet's health and happiness. Getting them taken care of is important and working with your veterinarian to prevent them in the future is one of the best things you can do for your pet. Your cat needs help with health care just as much as she needs love and affection from you.

References:

RSPCA. (2005). Care for Your Cat. Harper Collins Publishers. Hammersmith, London, UK.

Bonham, M. (2005). Bring Me Home! Cats Make Great Pets. Howell Book House. Wiley Publishing Inc. Hoboken, NJ.

Taylor, D. (2004). Think Cat. Octopus Publishing. Heron Quay, London.




By Lain

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Cat Health And Cat Care Of Cat Skin And Cat Organs

Cats have a dry skin just like humans. The fur on their body protects them from exposure to elements such as dirt. For pet cats that have dry skin, it is advisable to use moisturizing or soap-free products. Cats normally develop skin problems such as Seborrhea. The best way to treat this disorder is to use medicated shampoo.

Sensory Organs:

Cats have the great qualities. They are better than human beings in seeing things and hearing sounds around them. They smell and feel the nature very well. Due to these abilities, cats were often mistaken to possess black magic. The current era does not suspect cats of having an influence over the supernatural powers. It is necessary to know cats' sense, which may help in understanding their behavior much better.

1. Sight: Cats have a good night vision. Where there is no enough light, cats see much better than humans. However, they are not able see in complete darkness. This ability comes at the cost of daytime vision, which is beneficial for nocturnal predators. Actually, cats fail to see distant objects at daytime. People know little about the colors that cats see visibly. Science says that, they can identify some of the colors than humans do. With their eyes, cats detect faster movement of things in their surroundings. On the other hand, it is hard for them to pay attention on slow moving objects.

2. Sound: Cats have very sharp ears. Even when fast asleep, cats trace the noisy sounds of small rodents. Their ability to hear sounds is three times as high as that of human beings. Cats move their large ears sideways to capture the sound more accurately. For this, they first locate the place from where the sound actually comes. While chasing the target, they sometimes pause to listen and determine the location of their prey.

3. Smell: Cats largely depend on their sense of smell. They always sniff their food before eating. Smelling things is the essential part of feline communication. There is a mechanism at the top of their mouth, which makes possible for them to analyze smell. With the help of this mechanism, cats twist their lips, open their mouth, and express disgust over certain things.

4. Taste: Cats use this sense to decide the foods good for them. They are truly carnivores. As such, their sense of taste best lies in recognizing fat and protein. Unlike dogs, cats prefer to stay away from sweets. In addition, cats do not respond well to the taste of salt. Experts suggest the reason behind this as, cats get enough salt from the meat food.

5. Touch: Cats have touch receptors all over their body. These receptors are nerve cells that transfer sensations of pain, pressure and temperature from any point to the brain. The nerve cells are concentrated mainly on their front paws and face. The hair, covering body of cats, help them to stay alert even on the slightest touch of air passing by.



By: Martin Marks

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How To Eliminate Your Cat Allergy Symptoms No More Wheezing Sneezing Or Itching

Allergies to cats are quite common.

The allergic reactions can be immediate, or they can begin to show up gradually over time.

Often someone has owned a cat for some time, sometimes even years, before the allergic reactions begin to show.

Having to give the cat up at that point may be heartbreaking for everyone involved, including the cat.

Most often the first recommendation from medical doctors is to relinquish the cat.

That could have been good advice in the past, however, the past 15 years have seen a whole new breed of therapy methods based on the bodies energy system who are extremely effective at resolving allergies at its deepest core -your energy system.

The methods are generally referred to as Energy Therapy Meridian Therapy or Energy Psychology.

One of the easiest and most effective method is Tapas Acupressure Technique or, TAT. Generally, TAT is recognized to eliminate allergies in
about 85% of cases, and that has been this authors experience as well.


The major distinction between these therapies and traditional aids or therapies, is that instead of attempting to clear the allergen out of the air using all sorts of filters, specialized vacuums, Hepa filters, limiting the exposure to the cat, medications etc. the energy therapies work on your own energy system so that it can be in harmony with the allergen.

Very different concept.

Instead of (unsuccessfully) trying to change the environment so we can live in it without feeling ill, or to manipulate our system by medications, Energy Therapies very effectively balance the part of our energy system not in harmony with, in this case, cats.

Pretty much in the same way that Chinese medicine views illness as a disruption of the flow of vital life force in your system, Energy Therapies view an allergy as a substance your energy system is not in harmony with and is trying to repel.

It is the repelling of the allergen that causes the allergic reactions.

So, here is how you can view it. You feel OK, and then you are in contact with a cat, or breathe air containing the allergen. This causes your system to become disrupted.

The flow of energy is now disrupted, causing a horde of symptoms, as in all your allergy symptoms.

Sounds almost too simple, yes?

The energy therapies, using either acupuncture needles, or simply your fingers, will, by using special acupuncture points, balance the system in regards to the offending substance.

To do that, you first need to cause the same disruption your body, or energy system, would have if in actual contact with a cat.

That can be accomplished in a few different ways. The practitioner may have a vial containing cat dander that you can hold in your hand, or, even more effective, you can simply think about cats.

Thinking about cats when you are allergic to them is enough to cause an imbalance of your energy system.

Now, while your system is in imbalance, the intervention takes place. The intervention can be acupuncture needles inserted into key acupuncture points, or, an even more effective method, as in TAT, is to hold, with your own fingers, certain acupuncture points known for their effect on the brain.

The treatment may have to be repeated a few times. In most cases less than 3, in order to be able to allow your system to be in balance in the presence of cat dander.

Once your system is in harmony with the car dander, (or other allergen), there are no more reactions. Once the intervention is completed, the effects are most often permanent, requiring no re treatment.

The person who used to have a cat allergy can now interact with cats feeling perfectly OK.

Having to relinquish your cat because you have developed allergies is a painful decision no one should have to make.

Today, with modern cutting edge resources available, that decision may be one you never have to make.



By: Eva Marklund

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