Archive for the ‘Cats’ Category

How do I get caked on urine off a hard plastic pan without scratching the finish?

If the plastic pan has urine caked on it and it will not come off when soaked in soapy water it is probably time for a new litter pan.

My one year old cat cleans herself very well, except for the area below her anus. Could…

This is likely not diet related unless she is having soft stool. If she is having softer stool that gets stuck in her fur or around her anus, your first step should be consulting your veterinarian. Another possibility is that she may not be interested in cleaning back there. She may also not be able to reach if she is overweight. Keeping it clean with a warm cloth is a great thing to do, just be sure she does not stay damp.

I am adopting a 5 month old kitten. I just spoke to the agency leader and she said that…

I am so sorry that you have recently lost a feline companion. Getting a male cat neutered is important to help decrease roaming behaviors, urine spraying, fighting and prevent unwanted litters of kittens and should be done. Many kittens both those obtained as strays and those born in the home can have intestinal parasites the need treatment. It would be best to discuss your concerns with the veterinarian at the shelter who can explain what was found and what is being treated and then discuss any long term health repercussions.

No Matter What

We all want to be accepted as ourselves– in our families, at work, among our friends. Recently I got dentures. Let me tell you, when I take my teeth ‘out’ I am quite a sight (argh, hideous). But then my Katee jumps on my lap, looks at my face, and purrs and lets me know I’m hers. No matter what I look like, no matter what, she accepts me as I am.

A Great Cat

On October 3, 2008 I had to put my 14-year-old cat, DC, to sleep. This will be my first Christmas without her and I am
devastated. She was not a friendly cat to other people, but she was great to me. She was very smart and listened well. We
moved around a lot and she always made herself at home wherever we went. She liked to sit on a chair with me while I watched
movies and purred the whole time. She was my loyal companion and friend. She remained playful even in her last year. I miss her
badly! I have since rescued a kitten that was abandoned in a laundromat near my house. She is awesome and her name is Amy.
She won’t replace DC but she is really helping me get through the rough times. If anyone just lost a cat please consider adopting
a kitten or adult cat. They really help ease the pain!

My Sister’s Cat, Bub

Bub came to Mitzi, my sister, a very hungry–nearly starved–cat of about a year old. He was an outdoor cat to begin with. Mitzi wasn’t sure she wanted another cat as she had just had her cat, Sadie, put to sleep due to her having cancer and was starting to suffer. But she took Bub in and soon had him looking like a well-fed tom. Bub is a brown tabby and is now about 20 to 24 pound cat. He was an ornery cat for almost a year. Mitzi found she had melenoma of the eye, was then declared cured of it in her eye BUT it had gone to her liver and right lung–too late to have surgery. As she got weaker, Bub, became her shadow and kept Mitzi always in his sight and finally the last three weeks before my brother took Bub (he found out she was so worried what would happen to Bub after she was gone.) Bub was constantly on her lap when she was sitting down and would follow her whenever she got up. Mitzi died one week and a half day after Bub went to live with my brother–she died at her oldest daughter’s and even told them the exact time she would die and the day (January 22, 2005 at 11:30 a.m.).She was a wonderful Christian woman who did a lot for her church and all her neighbors here in the Retirement Village where we both live. Bub is now a very laid back cat that my brother has spoiled rotten. He is now a very loveable cat and loves to be carried around in my brother’s arms—he just looks around as if to say, “now this is the cat’s meow, and the life all cats should have.” He gets Purina dry cat food and two tablespoons of canned tuna every night. Thanks for a wonderful food that we can trust to give our pets. My Tiny Tina is a year old and is doing so well.

Our seven-month-old orange male tabby, Colby, has what I would call "abandonment issues…

Continue to reassure him. I cannot accurately predict if he’ll outgrow this or not. But chances are with time and experience (that nothing bad happens) he’ll likely get much better with his outside excursions. These needy cats can be wonderful, affectionate pets. And actually, if he doesn’t want to spend time outside and is perfectly happy indoors (where it’s safer!) I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Just let him stay inside and watch the other kitty through the window.

Is it possible for a cat to be born with both female and male genitalia?

It is unusual but it can happen. It is still important for cats with this condition to be spayed or neutered and its organs should be submitted to a pathologist to confirm this condition.

Can cats reverse sneeze like dogs do or is it an asthma attack? How can I tell the…

Great question. Cat’s can have reverse sneezes like a dog although they are more unusual. The description usually goes like this: the pet assumes a wide-based posture with the neck extended and makes short, harsh INSPIRATORY efforts that are often followed by a gag and swallow. The sneeze is a breathing in. Then everything is normal. A true asthma “attack” usually includes difficulty in breathing increases in rate and labored breathing. A cough that could be indicative of asthma, is usually a honking EXPIRATORY noise that sounds similar to a cat bringing up a hairball. A cat with asthma may also have changes in the way their lungs sound through a stethoscope whereas a cat with a reverse sneeze will usually have clear lungs. Your veterinarian is in best position to listen for changes.
pIn most cases, reverse sneezes are not dangerous to cats but they can sound very alarming. They often can have an underlying cause like a foreign body in the back of the nose or a polyp so it always best to have it checked out. Asthma can be very serious in cats and I consider an asthma attack an emergency. Hope all this info helps you to sort things out! Good luck. /p

My six-year-old male cat is very afraid of thunder and lightning and he shows this by…

Allow him to hide. There’s not much you can do to relieve deep fear, and trying to restrain him by holding/cuddling could actually increase the upset. It could even have him start to associate you with his fearful feelings.
pYou may help him calm down by playing soft, soothing music. Harp music has a beneficial effect on pets, and can work as a mild sedative. Take a look at the website a href=”http://www.petpause2000.com/” target=”_target”www.petpause2000.com/a for further information. /p

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