Senior Cat Supplements that Can Boost Your Cat's Health

Is your cat getting up in the years? An older cat has special dietary and nutritional requirements in order to maintain optimal health. A healthy diet is important, but the absorption of some nutrients may slow down due to the aging process. For this reason your senior cat may benefit from nutritional supplements to help prevent the diseases of aging. Here are some of the best nutritional supplements for senior cats:

Senior cat supplements: Supplementation for joint health

If your cat isn't climbing the stairs as quickly as he used to, it may be because his joints aren't as fluid as they once were due to the effects of arthritis. Fortunately, some of the same supplements that help humans with arthritis are effective for cats. One of the best joint supplements is glucosamine with chondoitin sulfate. Glucosamine is one of the key components of healthy cartilage in both humans and animals. Studies have shown that supplementing senior cats with glucosamine can help to boost joint function and even repair aging cartilage. Glucosamine has also been shown to be effective in improving the symptoms of hip dysplasia in cats. Other nutritional supplements that may improve arthritis symptoms in cats include bromelain and vitamin C.

Senior cat supplements: Probiotics

In order to maintain a healthy digestive tract, both humans and cats need friendly bacteria to aid in digestion and reduce the risk of illness. As cats age, the quantity of these friendly bacteria may decline increasing their susceptibility to infection and predisposing them to digestive related problems. Levels of gut friendly bacteria can be increased by giving your cat a probiotic supplement containing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Do some research before selecting a probiotic since there's a lot of variation in the number of active cultures in various brands of probiotics.

Senior cat supplements: Antioxidants


We've certainly heard a lot about antioxidants when it comes to humans. Antioxidants are substances that help to wipe out damaging free radicals formed by the body, potentially decreasing the risk of a variety of chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, and cataracts. Some of the more common antioxidants are the vitamins A, C, and E. Although it's ideal if your cat can get these antioxidants in sufficient quantity in his diet, antioxidant absorption may be diminished due to age. For this reason, you may want to ask your vet if your cat is a good candidate for antioxidant vitamin supplementation.

Senior cat supplements: Immune system boosters

As cats age, their immune systems may become less efficient at fighting off infection and disease. Certain foods and supplements have been shown to potentially have some immune enhancing effects in cats including wheat grass and barley grass which are natural cereal grains.

Senior cat supplements: Omega 3 fatty acids

Several studies have shown that supplementation with the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oils may help to reduce the risk of disease in the aging cat by suppressing chronic inflammation. They help to preserve heart health as well as promote good vision and joint health. There are now omega 3 fatty acid supplements available specifically for the health needs of cats.

If your senior cat could use a little boost, why not consider adding some of these supplements to his diet? It may be just what he needs to act like a kitten again.





By Kristie Leong M.D

Read More

Cat Vegetarian Diet Research is It Healthy For Your Cat

We can understand why humans decided to maintain a vegetarian diet because of various health reasons. We also know that human may possibly live a healthier lifestyle on a vegetarian diet, but is it the same for cats? Is there a need to transform your cats diet into a vegetarian one just because you are one?

Like me, if the vegetarian cat diet issue has bothered you for a long time, I hope this little research article can help you clear some doubts on whether a vegetarian cat diet is a healthy diet:

Source 1. Dr. Richard Pitcairn, author of Dr. Pitcairns Complete Guide to the Health of Dogs and Cats, Rodale Press, notes that the Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom reported that cats did well on meatless diets in Great Britain.

Nevertheless, he warns that cats are true carnivores and have dietary needs that can only be satisfied by ingesting animal tissue. He states that unlike humans and dogs, cats cannot convert beta-carotene to vitamin A. They also need sufficient taurine, which is not found in plant material. In short, Dr. Pitcairn does not feel that meatless or near meatless diets supplemented with taurine are healthy for cats.

Source 2. The Vegetarian Society, a UK organization founded in 1847, warns against feeding cats a vegetarian diet. The society explains that cats are natural carnivores and are likely to find their meat elsewhere by hunting rodents and birds. They also reminds cat owners that cats require nutrients that are found only in meat. These nutrients include: taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B12, niacin, thiamin and protein.

Explaining that meat is the only major source of arachidonic acid, and cats lacking the ability to synthesize niacin from protein. There are little replacements as cats cannot use the B12 in cereals, and egg and dairy products are actually poor sources for the vitamin.

Source 3. Wysong, a premium pet food manufacturer, has a vegan cat food formula on its list, but guess what, they themselves warns that the food does not meet feline protein requirements. Wysong advises that the decision to feed a cat that is a natural carnivore an all vegetarian diet brings inherent risk with an artificially imposed, imbalanced and deficient diet. The vegan food formula the company offers is to be used for specific purposes:

1. For when a pet has food allergies, use the vegan cat food as part of an elimination diet to see what meat products your pet is allergic to.

2. Use the food as a base and add fresh meats and organ meat.

Also, Wysong notes that since not 100% is known about nutrition or nutrition of cats in particular, calling a food 100% balanced cannot be truly accurate. One can extract from that statement that how can we truly know what other nutrients may be missing from a cats diet that is meatless and how can we be sure we are supplementing sufficiently?

At the moment of time, the decision of most cat owners to go with a vegetarian diet is really more of an ethical choice than of a health-based one. If you are thinking along the line of ethics, maybe you can consider the reasons why you are forcing your cat to eat a diet that goes against its nature and possibly put its health at risk. If you decide to stick with a vegetarian diet for your cat, do consult your veterinarian regularly and bring him for an extra checkup annually.



By: Moses Wright

Read More

Cat Allergy Symptoms

Cat allergy symptoms afflict many people. Sufferers are in real trouble if they happen to own a cat. This might not make sense to the ordinary person but to a cat lover it does. The symptoms may developed long after they have acquired their furry companion so getting rid of the rascal my simply not be an option. So for many cat lovers and owners living with cat allergies is a real problem that they have to live with.

Allergies in general are still not completely understood by the medical community. Inroads have been made but the fact remains that not enough knowledge has been gained on allergies to completely eliminate them. Some of the best experts on allergies in the medical community are themselves allergy sufferers. This in itself has allowed them to make the observations necessary to gain a better understanding of allergy symptoms.

Cat allergy symptoms can manifest themselves in many forms. They can appear singularly or in combination. They can come and go for no apparent reason. So you may have been mistaking your symptoms for a lingering cold and or a sore throat that comes and goes. A rash that sometimes responds to topical treatment and sometimes doesn't. Sneezing fits that you blame on dust or pollen allergies.

Some of the symptoms are clogged and ringing ears. Sneezing fits. Red and watering eyes. Burning eyes. Skin rashes. Cold-like symptoms. Sore throat. Sound familiar? If you are a cat owner and you have these symptoms on a regular basis that you may be suffering from cat allergies. You can however take steps to reduce your suffering and still keep your beloved friend.

Until recently the actual cause of the allergy symptoms was a mystery. People thought they knew but in the end no one really knew for sure what in fact was on the cat that was causing the suffering. Hair?small skin flakes? The cat box? It turns out it is the cats saliva that is the culprit. By licking its hair, which is a cats favorite past time, your cat is spreading the stuff that is the root of your suffering.

The best method of determining if you are suffering from cat allergies is to remove your cat from the house for about two weeks and vacuum and clean anything your cat is in contact with and see if the symptoms disappear or are lessened. Not doing a thorough cleaning defeats the purpose of this test. This is a common test for most allergy sufferers. Remove the suspect material and see if it goes away.

Assuming that you have made a determination that you are in fact suffering from cat allergies then the next question is what to do about it. The easiest and most complete solution short of finding your cat a new home is to make it an outside cat. This might seem like a great sacrifice to yourself but your cat may love it once it has adjusted. A cat door can be installed on a side room or garage so it can still come in from the weather.

Other solutions can be had but they are not as completely as effective as putting your cat outside. Vacuuming and cleaning your house more often helps. It's a lot more work for yourself but the allergen can be removed. Receiving medical treatment for your allergies can be effective if you respond positively to the treatment. Limiting your cats access to your whole house particularly your bedroom is a must.



By: Sven Ullmann

Read More

Cat Training And Cat Behavior Will Cat Problems Be Solved

The cat's probable social behavior varies extremely from ferociously self-determining to compatibly outgoing with other felines. According to a few professionals a cat's social qualities are in evolution from self-dependent to mutually dependent.

In reality, a cat's behavior and resultant societal relations with other cats are dependent on factors such as population density of neighborhood cats, premature knowledge and the amount of food available in the vicinity.

Variation In The Population Density And Grouping Dynamics:

The family cat is a solitary seeker. It requires a large area to catch adequate prey, while scrounging for itself and it will protect that area from other cats too. From a study, it is revealed that a vicinity of sq mile (1 sq km) will sustain nearly five cats in the agricultural areas of Europe, North America and Australasia.

Altering circumstances such as new felines, absence of few cats or new people greatly affects the social dynamics of cats. Social acquaintances generally develop between females and kittens, and rarely by adult males in a characteristic assembly of tamed cats, who stay with humans. Cats settle differences normally by visual contact or occasionally by a swipe of its paw once, there is friendliness amongst cats residing in the same place.

When two cats meet up suddenly, the cat that has a higher status is generally the superior at that time. However, it might not be the same during the next meeting. Odor and well-being also affects the status of a cat. When a cat comes home after undergoing treatment at a hospital for some medical issue, sometimes a healthy household cat attacks it. Once a status is formed in a multi cat home, however differences are rare.

Behavioral Changes Caused By Food:

When food is available in plenty, social relations increase because the reasons for fighting decrease. Sparsely distributed hunting cats exhibit defensive gestures rather than social while well-fed cats in neighborhood areas usually exhibit outgoing social interactions. Household cats are the friendliest, since food is aplenty at home.

The Importance Of Family And Matriarchy:

One should not expect a household cat to be pleased with the arrival of a new feline just because it gets plentiful food and it has a very easy life. It is nearly impossible. Cats can get along with one another only, if they share a blood relationship.

The other important thing is early castration. Although untamed male cats make very less social relations than females, neutered male cats make the same number of social contacts as neutered female cats. Neutering improves male feline relationships considerably.

The cat family is mostly matriarchal. Untamed cat population generally contains four or more blood-related feline generations. The most frequent social communication amongst females is licking rather than rubbing.

The mother, grandmother, sisters and other female members remove the male kittens from the colony as soon as they mature and exhibit rough play behavior. These males accompany other males, who generally hover around and prevent any unrelated male from coming near.



By: Martin Marks

Read More

Symptoms of a Sick Cat Know When a Trip to the Vet is Necessary

Cats are not complainers. They do not come up to you and show you an injury, or come to you when in pain. Their meows do not often convey discomfort. Moreover, when in pain, they still purr. Therefore, WHAT can we, as responsible pet owners, look for in our beloved felines that would necessitate a trip to the veterinarians? As we are such responsible pet owners, we should be aware of the normal appearance of our feline. We should be aware of our pet's normal behavior and routine. A cat's eating habits should be familiar as well. Should you notice your cat not eating as much over the course of a few days and being lethargic- a trip to the vet could be vital. Yes, cats sleep upwards of eighteen hours a day, but you, as a responsible pet owner can tell if your cat is sleeping more than usual. You will know if your cat usually sleeps beside you nightly, and now is sleeping next to the water bowl that something is amiss.

Other signs to be aware of in our kitty's health:

Nose:

Is your cat sneezing more, having more nasal discharge, or green mucus running out? Is there reddening around the nasal cavity? If you observe your cat sneeze once or several times in quick succession, do not rush your kitty to the vet. Cats do have allergies, too. If you had just opened the door, something could have blown in, creating a sudden urge to sneeze. However if the sneezing continues, a trip to the vet could be in order.

Ears:

Is your cat scratching and shaking his or her head more than usual? Is there a balance impairment you have witnessed? A head tilt? It might be more than fleas. (Which as a resposible pet owner you are already using a preventative for right?)

Eyes:

Is there more discharge (eye gunk as we call it) than normal? Is there a small black dot in the eye (a sign of a corneal sequestrum), or a film over one or both of the eyes?

Fur and skin:

Is your cat's coat normally soft and silky but now it appears course and greasy? Could be indicative of a greater problem. Inspect your cat's fur on a regular basis (when grooming on a regular basis) for any bald patches (a possible fungal infection), scratches, cuts, or any other alterations to their body.
Teeth, gums, and mouth:

Most of us, even the most responsible of responsible pet owners do not brush their cats' teeth. However, looking for obsessive drooling, salivating, inflammation, or wounds is the responsible thing to do as a responsible pet owner. Has your cat suddenly developed a small bump on the upper or bottom lip? Could be something as simple as food allergy. A steroid shot and a change in food might be in order.

Lungs and Respiratory System:

Is your kitty having labored breathing? Is he or she coughing more? Does he or she seem to be panting or open mouth breathing? Is there black gook build up around their nose and mouth?

Intestines, stomach, and urinary tract:

Cats have hairballs-that is normal. Nevertheless, if you notice your cat is vomiting- not normal. A trip to the vet may be in order. If you have observed diarrhea, constipation, abnormal stools, or blood in urine and /or stools a trip to the vet is definitely in order. Normal feline behavior in your home that you have observed is kitty drinks a half a bowl of water a day, suddenly you notice you are having to fill the bowl more than once daily-get kitty to the vet!!!

Know your cat, protect your cat.

By Lori Piper

Read More

Cat House Training Using Cat Care Techniques

Cats are clean creatures and are usually easy to train to use the litter box. Using their inborn behavioral instincts will aid in cat litter box training. Choosing the correct box, litter type, and being persistence in your house training process is critical for success.

The right litter box for the job is a must. The box must be big enough for your cat to maneuver in. The cat should be able to perform a full turn easily inside the box. The box must be placed in an area where it is readily accessible by the cat but private and out of the way of foot traffic. Make sure it is not placed in a room that is closed off from the rest of the house by a barrier or where a door is frequently closed. If you have a large house you may want to invest in two boxes places strategically in different areas in your home. In household with multiple cats, some cats will decline to use a box used by another cat so it is a good rule of thumb to provide a litter box for each cat.

Use enough kitty litter to allow your pet to scratch and cover her waste. Keep the box clean. Cats prefer a clean litter box and often refuse to use a dirty one. To make it easier in keeping the box clean try using a clumping or scoopable type of litter material so solid and liquid waste is easily removed. Remove waste twice a day for optimum cleanliness. After cleaning the box replace the removed litter with more as needed. A thorough cleaning of the box should be performed once a week. Although scoopable litter is more expensive up front, if you decide to use the less expensive non-clumping litter you will have to clean the entire contents of the box several times a week and will spend as much or more in the long run. Steer clear of perfumed litters. The scented types are meant to please humans but not the cat. A cats sense of smell is far greater than ours and most dont like the scent of heavy perfume and may turn away from the litter box.

Pay close attention to your cat if it is not litter trained. By careful observation, you will notice your cat moving in a different manner and be able to anticipate when it needs to eliminate. When you notice the telltale signs, especially after a meal, pick up your cat immediately and take it to its litter box. If you catch your cat making a mistake, quickly pick her up and place her in the litter box. Do not scold your pet anymore then to tell it no in a firm voice. Excessive punishment will only reinforce that the litter box is a place for punishment. With time and persistence your cat will soon recognize what her litter box is for.

Taking advantage of the fact that cats are clean animals will aid in the house training of your cat. Getting the right sized litter box, the correct litter, and being consistent will have your cat house trained quickly.



By: Jay S Grey

Read More

Find Out How Cat Allergy Depends On Cat Breeds

If you are one of those persons who have allergies due to cats, here is information on how different sort of cat breeds influence your reactions.

To begin with you must remember that the majority of individuals cannot tolerate the saliva of a cat and not the cats hair. Cats are constantly grooming themselves, resulting in saliva spreading to all the parts of their hairy bodies. This hair could be found all around the room or vicinity and can trigger an allergy. Even those cats which are hairless will carry saliva on their bodies, creating what is called dander.

In an average home the amount of dead skin scattered inside would amaze you. A human being rebuilds new skin every two to three weeks, so the upper most layers of skin is constantly wearing off resulting in the accumulation of a lot of dust. The same holds true for cats, dogs and other animals. Hence it becomes important to keep your house clean and vacuum regularly to keep a check on this dust.

Cats with hair

All the cats with hair on their bodies will inevitably have saliva on their hair. The cat will lick itself and then the hair will fall off. Its absolutely necessary to tidy the house of all the hair and vacuum the rooms so as not to cause any problem to an allergic member. We possess a Roomba that wanders around each single day and it is just amazing how much cat hair it gathers on a singular day. And we have just two cats at home.

You need to chalk out a hair management system, if you have a cat with hair. If we clean up just a week, we see all the hair. But if vacuum everyday, then it becomes easier to keep the house clean and tidy. I have observed a big difference in my day to day responses on the basis of the levels of hair.

Cats without hair

Many people wrongly think that cats without hair can cause no allergy. Generally, I do not judge a pet by its capability to cause allergies, but I suppose I can feel it if you have swollen glands or eyes, that you would like to look for an alternative. All through life you will come across many things that can cause allergies, but pets are so adorable that they can compensate for a little bit of puffiness. Having said that, let me mention that cats without any hair do not rid you of any allergy problems. The allergies originate from the tongues. So a cat without hair does not mean a cat without allergies!

So in this case there would not be floating hair all around it is the dander of cat that would cause the allergy. All creatures that breathe shed and renew their skin. As a human individual you shed skin every two or three weeks, so there would be lot of dead skin fluttering around if you do not clean properly. Other pets including cats go through the same process. So it is crucial to keep your house neat and tidy to keep those allergens at bay.



By: Lindsay Robertson

Read More

Cat Health Symptoms Of Kidney Disease

Cat health symptoms of kidney problems can lead to serious health issues for a cat. Chronic kidney failure happens to older cats more than it does to younger cats. Cats develop kidney problems gradually over time and usually do not show any signs until it becomes serious. With proper check ups and blood tests veterinarians can find problems before they become more serious.

Causes of Chronic Kidney Failure

Once a cat has chronic kidney failure, they will need special care and treatment. Kidney failure is irreversible and can lead to other health problems. Kidney failure is caused by many different reasons including trauma, bacterial infections, medications, toxins and cancer along with fungal infections and autoimmune disease. Kidney failure may also be due to hereditary or congenital abnormalities.

Some Cat Health Symptoms of Kidney Failure

One sign the cat has a medical problem is inability to urinate. The chronic kidney failure problem may be caused by kidney stones, urethral obstruction or bladder stones. If this symptom occurs, seek immediate medical attention before the problem becomes fatal to the cat. Kidney failure shows no early signs, but as it progresses, sign start to appear.

Another symptom of kidney failure is increased thirst. Because the cat is drinking more water, the urine does not bring along all the toxins in the kidneys, which remains in the kidneys and results in kidney failure. Other cat health symptoms of kidney failure are poor appetite, depression and lack of energy.

Cat health symptoms of kidney failure are diagnosed by blood tests and urinalysis. The BUN levels of a cat with kidney failure will be higher than a cat in perfect health. The Creatinine levels will also be higher than normal, which leads to the diagnosis of kidney failure in the cat.

Treating Chronic Kidney Failure

Treatment of kidney failure in cats requires kidney transplant or dialysis. By the time kidney failure is diagnosed the cat may already have so much damage to the kidney that any type of treatment would not benefit the cat and a decision to euthanize the cat before any more suffering occurs would have to be discussed.

Because every owner wants their cat to live a healthy and happy life kidney transplants have become more popular in cats and has allowed them to live a good life. If a kidney transplant does not happen, other methods of treatment may help the cat such as dialysis, which in most cases does work as it filters the kidneys and eliminates the toxins. This procedure requires weekly visits to a veterinary clinic for treatments, which requires a few hours of treatment. For more info see http://www.aboutcathealth.org/cat/CatHealthIssues/EarIssues.php on Cat Ear Issues.

If the cat has kidney failure a low protein diet helps maintain lower BUN levels, which helps with the metabolic system, but not the renal problems. Proper diets and proper fluid intake requires dedication on the owners part. If the cat has a kidney transplant, hospitalization and further medications will be required for a successful kidney transplant that functions properly.



By: David Faulkner

Read More