How to Manage a Finicky Cat

Hungry Calico kitty named Calleigh

There are many reasons your cat may not be eating. If she isn’t sick, you must do a little investigating to find the cause.

A cat may actually have trouble eating from a bowl that is too small or too light. If the bowl moves too much, your cat may find it not worth the effort. And some cats don’t like where their food bowl is placed – try simply changing its location. 

If you have other cats or pets, other animals may intimidate your cat. A cat may find it difficult to eat from a bowl placed near a dog’s bed, near a noisy appliance or near a busy area of the house. Some cats will wait until a room is completely empty before eating. Many dogs will instinctively try to eat cat food when it is placed down. 

And consider how long a bowl of cat food has been left out – food left out overnight or in hot weather may be unappetizing to your cat. And cats – even indoor cats - tend to eat less in warm weather. 

Some cats don’t like changing food. If you decide to change your brand of cat food, do so gradually over several days. Mix a little more of the new food into the old food each day until you have completely changed over. 

If your cat’s diet consists of mostly dry cat food, try giving it a treat of canned cat food occasionally, or add a little broth to its food. Some older cats or cats with sore gums or teeth can find dry food difficult to chew. 

With a little investigation, you will be able to figure out just why your cat isn’t eating. An adjustment here or there can turn your finicky cat completely around.
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Cat Language

Feather, the cat, purring and kneading her fav...

Cats are very good at communicating. Taking time to understand exactly what your cat is saying will make your relationship stronger. 

A bristling tail held straight up, or one that thrashes back and forth are warnings. If a cat is feeling defensive, the tail is usually arched. Hissing and backing away with ears flat against the head are other defensive poses. You can tell a lot about a cat's state of being from its eyes. Wide, dilated eyes communicate anger or fear. A contented cat slowly blinks its eyes, or keeps them half-closed. 

When it comes to sound, cats say more than meow. Did You know there are at least nineteen different types of "meow"? Their vocalizations fall into three groups, murmurs, open/closed mouth and intensity sounds. Murmured sounds include the low sound cats make when treats are coming, as well as the famous purr. Purring is usually interpreted as a sound of contentment, but it is really more a vocalization of intense emotion. In fact, an injured cat, or one being handled by a stranger - like a vet - often purr. 

Open/closed mouth vocalizations include all the variations and intonations of "meow" that a cat uses to greet you, or ask for food, or otherwise demand attention. Intensity vocalizations are created when the cat holds her mouth open the entire time she is making sound. These are the highly emotional vocalization of fear, anger, and extreme pain. 

Some cats are more talkative than others. Many owners notice a difference in the types of noises their cats make for them as opposed to strangers or other cats. The more time you spend with your cat, the more she'll communicate with you and the better you will understand what she is saying. It is well worth the time to learn.
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Urinary Tract Infection in Your Cat

Panther, a toilet-using cat, photographed in S...
 Does your cat show signs of UTI?

Possibly the single biggest cause of cats not using the litter box is a medical condition called Feline Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Your cat often may not display outward symptoms of discomfort and pain early on. It's only after your kitty feels significant pain, time and time again, that she stops using her litter box because she associates her urinary pain with the cat litter box.

However, there are a few signs you should be on the lookout for. While none of us really want to watch our kitty use the litter box, it's a good idea to observe her a couple times a week. This way, you can separate normal litter box behavior and habits from those that indicate something is not quite right. 

First, we are looking to see if our cat cries or howls in obvious pain while she's urinating. If this is the case, run, don't walk to the phone, and call your vet immediately! 

Next, even if kitty does her business in silence, look at the urine ball (or puddle) before she buries it. If you see any tinge of red or pink - get your cat to the vet as fast as you can, because she definitely has a UTI in full bloom. 

After she uses the box and covers her business, if she licks her genitals excessively, and meows, you can be pretty sure she has a feline UTI. Particularly if you see this behavior coupled with "accidents" around the house, you can be pretty certain you are dealing with a UTI. 

A few minutes now can save both you and your cat discomfort later. By knowing what is normal for her, you will be able to catch any problems early and get the UTI cleared up before it becomes too uncomfortable.

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What is Distemper?

English: Dog suffering from Canine distemper F...
English: Dog suffering from Canine distemper (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Anyone with a dog has heard the term distemper, but do you know what it is? The following article will give you a brief overview. 

Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus attacking the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs. Although dogs are the most commonly affected, Canine Distemper is also seen in foxes, ferrets, mink and many other carnivores. These infected animals are often the cause of the spread of this disease to domesticated dogs. 

Canine Distemper is spread through bodily secretions such as nasal fluid. The most common way it is caught is by breathing in particles secreted by infected dogs. For several weeks after recovery, a dog will still carry the virus that can lead to further contamination if not properly quarantined. 

Upon contracting the virus, dogs often appear “normal” for several days. The initial symptoms of the disease are runny nose, water eyes and a sore throat. The dog’s temperature will increase to approximately 103.5°F (39.7°C). Over the next couple of days the symptoms worsen with the tonsils becoming enlarged, and the dog develops diarrhea. After approximately four weeks the virus begins to affect the brain. The dog will start twitching, which will gradually turn in to larger convulsions. The convulsions normally become so frequent and violent, that euthanasia is often carried out at this stage. 

At this time, there is no cure for the actual virus that causes Canine Distemper. Treatment consists of controlling spread and severity of secondary symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Constant care is needed to make your dog as comfortable as possible. 

The best thing to do is to have your dog immunized against this disorder. This will make it unnecessary to put yourself and your dog through the hardship and heartache associated with Canine distemper.










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Your Cat’s Liver Disorder

Goodbye Hone

Liver disease is more common in cats than is commonly realized. It is important to recognize for leaving the disorder untreated will result in the liver shutting down and the cat dying. Literally, your cat will starve to death. One of the earliest symptoms is jaundice, which shows as a yellow coloring of the cat’s eye whites. 

It is hard to identify a cat is suffering from liver disease because the signs and symptoms vary. Some might show decrease in appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and jaundice. Other cats pass off pasty looking stool and display inappropriate urination and defecation behavior. This happen because fatty liver disease causes the liver to be weighed down by rapid fat accumulation and simply shut down. 

Immediate medication treatment is necessary for the recovery of liver disease. The treatment would depend on the cause and may include antibiotics, coagulation treatment for bleeding, intravenous fluid therapy, appetite stimulants, anti-emetics and diet management.

When preparing a diet plan for a cat with liver disease, note that he needs a high-quality protein diet in moderate amount, with most of the cat’s caloric intake coming from non-protein sources. If you are preparing your own food, it is recommended that the diet be based around eggs, cottage cheese, rice and liver. Your cat may also need multivitamin supplement.

Small, easily digestible and frequent meals are generally recommended. Many experts also recommend organic foods because they are not exposed to chemicals, artificial colors or preservatives. 

It may seem like a lot of work, but preparing the special diet necessary is well worth the effort. If you have more than one cat, it will be necessary to keep feeding stations separate so you can watch the cat who is ill. You will need to keep a close eye on his eating habits.
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Parvovirus in Dogs


A female Doberman Pinscher.
A female Doberman Pinscher. 
Parvo is a serious viral disease that can be deadly even if treatment is given. Parvovirus is a disease that attacks dividing cells. The most prominent location for dividing cells in your dog’s body is the intestinal lining or the lining of the digestive system. When this disease attacks and kills these cells it causes dogs and puppies to not be able to absorb nutrients or liquids. Parvo is seen more in puppies than in adult dogs, but both can catch the disease. 

Symptoms of parvo include diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy. Most dogs stop eating or have a loss of appetite, diarrhea, high fever, and depression. Their stool can be very liquid, foul smelling, usually yellow in color, and contain blood. The secondary symptoms appear as severe gastrointestinal distress, which includes vomiting and bloody diarrhea. In the later stages of parvo--dehydration, shock, and death

Transmission of parvo from one dog to another occurs through their feces. Parvo can be carried in an adult dog that shows no outward signs, but the disease can be found in their stool. The disease is not an air born type, but can be transmitted through the sole of your shoe and even birds may carry this deadly disease into your yard if they have been in contact with the infected feces. 

All dogs and puppies are susceptible to parvo but there are a few breeds that seem to be more susceptible than others. These include Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, and other black and tan breeds. These breeds usually are more prone to contracting this disease and not recovering. 

Without treatment your dog only has a 20% survival rate and with treatment an 80% survival rate. So, of course, the best medicine is to prevent the exposure and to vaccinate your dog against this deadly disease

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Coronavirus in Cats


Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease in cats which carries a high mortality due to its characteristic aggressiveness and nonresponsiveness to fever, along with other complications. This disease is comparatively high in multi-cat households as compared to those with a single cat. It is difficult to diagnose, control, and prevent, and in cases of outbreaks within breeding catteries and kennels, can result in a high number of deaths. It is most often spread through inhalation of airborne contaminants and infected feces, but the virus can also be transmitted by humans who have come into contact with the virus, or can stay active on surfaces that have been contaminated.

This disease exploits weakened and immature immune systems, spreading by way of the white blood cells as they move throughout the body. The highest incidence is found in kittens three months to three years of age, with incidence decreasing sharply after cats reach three years of age, when the immune system is stronger. Likewise, older cats with weakened immune systems are also more likely to acquire this disease.

Symptoms and Types

Symptoms of FIP vary depending upon the strain of virus involved, the status of the cat's immune system, and the organs affected. There are two forms reported, including wet (effusive form), which targets the body cavities, and dry (noneffusive form), which targets the various organs. The wet form tends to progress more rapidly than the dry form, In either case, the body condition suffers, with the hair coat becoming rough and dull, and the cat becoming increasingly lethargic and depressed.

Wet/Effusive
  • Persistent and unresponsive fever
  • Lack of appetite
  • Weight loss (gradual)
  • Poor appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Gradual swelling of abdomen (potbellied appearance)
  • Accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Sneezing, runny nose
  • Lethargy
Dry/Non-effusive
  • Poor growth in kittens
  • Anemia
  • Jaundice
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Depression
  • Inflammation of various parts of eye
  • Neurological symptoms (e.g., loss of ability to coordinate movements, loss of vision)
Causes

FIP generally follows infection of a feline coronavirus, which typically does not cause any outward symptoms. It is assumed that there are some types of coronaviruses that mutate into the feline infectious peritonitis, either on their own or as the result of a defect in the cat's immune response. Also complicating the matter is that a coronavirus can lie dormant in a cat's body over months before mutating into FIP. The FIP virus then infects the white blood cells, using them as transportation to invade the entire body.

Diagnosis

This disease is historically difficult to diagnose because FIP can mimic other diseases. This is especially true of the dry form. There is no single laboratory test available that can point decisively to FIP, but your veterinarian may be able to make a presumptive diagnosis based on laboratory findings. A complete blood count may show changes in the number of white blood cells (WBCs), and this will indicate that an infection is present, but it may not be clear what infection is present. While an ELISA or IFA test will show the presence of coronavirus antibodies, it cannot distinguish the type of coronavirus, or even whether it is the cause of your cats' condition, only that your cat has been in contact with the virus and has developed antibodies to it. The level of antibodies is not a predictor for your cat's susceptibility for developing the disease.

There are also few changes seen in a biochemistry profile testing. More specific testing may be used by your cat's veterinarian, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which may differentiate the unique DNA of the FIP virus, but again, this often only shows that the virus is a coronavirus, not what type it is.

Your pet’s veterinarian may take sample of fluid from abdominal or thoracic cavity for further evaluation. In some difficult to diagnose cases, abdominal surgery may be required for diagnosis. For the most part, veterinarians base their conclusions on a process of differential diagnosis, by which the veterinarian is guided by a deeper inspection of the outward symptoms, ruling out all other diseases as the conditions are not met, and all symptoms point to one specific disease more than others.
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Coronavirus in Dogs


Trixie-a rescued kennel dog

Coronavirus is a viral infection of the digestive tract found usually in puppies, but also in adult dogs. It is common in unvaccinated dogs boarded in kennels. It is not typically a fatal virus.

Signs & Symptoms of Coronavirus
  • Very foul smelling, watery, yellow/orange diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Vomiting
These symptoms are sometimes worsened due to environmental stress or concurrent infections. Vomiting and fever are not usually common symptoms of coronavirus, but are often seen in a similar disease called parvovirus. Dogs infected with coronavirus are often infected with parvovirus as well. Coronavirus is not typically fatal.

Causes of Coronavirus
Coronavirus is spread through direct contact with infected oral and fecal secretions.

Diagnosis of Coronavirus
Diagnosis begins with a complete history and a physical exam. Your veterinarian will be most likely to do the following:

CBC/Chemistry Panel - These blood tests will evaluate various internal organ functions, including the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, metabolism, and electrolyte balance. The CBC is a measure of the amount and different kinds of red and white blood cells that are present in the body. This will indicate the severity and presence of coronavirus infection in your dog.

Fecal Antigen Test - This test will rule out the presence of the virus known as parvovirus, which has similar symptoms to, and is often present along with, the coronavirus. A fecal sample will be mixed with a reagent specific for the virus and then introduced to a SNAP ELISA test. This test will indicate positive (usually within 10 minutes) if the virus is present in the dog’s body. Keep in mind that false positives may occur due to recent exposure to the parvovirus vaccine.

Fecal Floatation - This test is used to rule out the presence of parasite eggs in your dog’s stool, which may also cause diarrhea. It involves taking a small fecal sample from your dog using a lubricated fecal loop. The feces are then put in a small container with a solution that will allow most of the fecal matter to sink, and the parasite eggs to float. A slide is then made of the floating material and examined under a microscope for parasite eggs.

Radiographs - This may be done to rule out an intestinal obstruction, which may also cause diarrhea and lethargy.

Treatment for Coronavirus
Coronavirus is associated with severe dehydration, which can be treated with fluids. Medication may be administered to control vomitting or diarrhea.

Infected dogs may suffer a recurrence of symptoms three to four weeks after recovery.

Prevention of Coronavirus
  • Regular vaccination of your dog starting at around 6 weeks of age. 
  • Regular sanitation of kennels and boarding facilities may help control the spread of coronavirus.




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Making Homemade Pet Food


Public domain photograph of various meats. (Be...

We want our pets to have the best possible care—and this includes feeding them appropriately. Below is a brief idea of what food is best for your pet.

Animals, because they are color blind, choose their foods by smell. Most dogs like liver, fat, garlic, onions, horsemeat, lamb, beef, cheese and fish. Cats enjoy chicken, liver, fish, turkey, lamb, and yeast, and prefer fresh to aged flavors.

Animals do not need salt added to their diet as the natural salt in the food is enough for them.

Dogs may eat any vegetable they want, but cats should not have any starchy veggies, like peas and corn. Some dogs and cats even enjoy fruits!

It's a good idea to always add a grain, such as Kibble, wheat germ, cooked oatmeal or whole wheat bread to meat dinners. For dogs use 75% carbohydrate foods (grains and vegetables) to 25% meat; for cats use half carbohydrate foods to half meat.

One way of making sure your dog or cat gets a healthy diet is to make it yourself. This way you can be assured it is fresh and contains only healthy ingredients. A very good recipe that can be adapted for either a dog or cat is:

Combine 1 chicken liver, 1 giblet, 1 chicken heart, 1 chicken neck, 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley. Cover and simmer until the giblet is tender. Chop all the meat for dogs removing bones and mix with kibble; for cats, you may want to grind the meat in the blender.

Taking the time to prepare your pet’s food will not only save you money in the long run, but also provide them with healthy meals that can be adapted to add variety and account for personal tastes. What more could your pet want?







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