Amongst the most serious cat health care problems in the UK is obesity. There are more obese pet cats than ever before and the result is that serious cat health care problems are becoming more prevalent. Unfortunately, obesity in cats creates a cycle that is very hard to get out of: overweight cats are less likely to be physically active and are therefore more likely to remain obese.

This common cat health care problem is easier to spot than most others: all it takes is a careful look at the cat. A cat which is a healthy weight will have an obvious waist just in front of its hind legs when viewed from above and, if it is a short hair cat with a thin coat, you should be able to feel but not see the cat’s ribs.

A vet will diagnose obesity by weighing the cat and will be able to advise on the best way for your cat to lose weight. If left to remain overweight, cats can go on to suffer various cat health care problems including, arthritis, difficulty breathing, heart problems and diabetes. Obesity really could kill a cat.

Pet shops and vet surgeries stock reduced calorie cat foods. Owners should remember that cat treats are included in the daily calorie allowance for their pet. Similarly, it is important to remember that titbits and human food leftovers could seriously upset the delicate balance of your pet’s diet. Many pet owners are not aware that their cat is being fed by well meaning neighbours, as well as at home. Politely asking neighbours not to give food to your cat might be helpful.

Cat owners have a responsibility for cat health care and this includes encouraging exercise and physical activity, although this is harder for cats than dogs. Try to send your cat outdoors for some time every day so that it can take a stroll. You could also try engaging your cat in play more often. Having your pet chase balls and other playthings will help keep their weight down.

Any type of animal that you take in as a pet will require time from you. And this is true for a cat as well, even though they are not as demanding as dogs. But all the same, cats need care especially when they are left alone with nobody to let them in and out of the home. A way of avoiding this is by setting a cat door so you don’t have to be present at home all the time. Naturally, the door has to have the right size, so it will let your cat inside, but keep dogs and small children outside at the same time.

How Useful Is A Cat Door?

Some cats can be extremely persistent about going in and out of the home. By having a cat door installed, you won’t have to interrupt your work or studies to stand up and let the cat in or out. Your cat can go in and out of the house as desired without your help.

Some times, if you have a cat or more, it’s a good idea to install a cat door not only on your front door, but also a smaller cat door on a door that leads to another room in the house. This way, you can give your cat access to another, safer room where it can hide if it’s chased by a bigger animal. Also, dogs will eat whatever you put in front of them, including cat food, so if you have a dog and a cat, you can leave the cat food in the other room where the dog can’t reach it.

In areas where winter is harsh, your cat can get frostbite on its ears, paws, and nose if it’s left outside the house. In addition, not being allowed to go in leaves the cat in a vulnerable position, both in the countyside and in the city. By having a cat flap installed, your cat can escape both cold weather and danger from the exterior.

A cat door will not only save you time and energy, but will also make your cat a happier pet. It’s a better alternative than trying to train a cat, which is almost impossible. This way, you’ll be satisfying your cat needs without any effort from your part.

Is cat urine odor a problem in your home?  If your kitty is urinating in different places all over your home, you have a problem that can’t be overlooked.  Often a stressed out cat is at the root of the problem.

Cat urine problems are sometimes caused by a health issue, including feline diabetes, or a feline urinary tract infection, so your first response should be to take the kitty to the vet for a check-up.You can turn your focus to solving her stress problems once you know she has no health issues.

Cat Litter Pan Problems Due To Stress Are More Common Than You Think

What could be better than being a cat?  All you have to do is just lay around and sleep all day, right?  Well, life for your kitty may not as rosy as you believe it is.  Stressed out cats are a bigger problem than most cat owners realize.

If your feline doesn’t have anything much to do except for eating and sleeping, stress may result.  Cats get bored, just like we do.  Set aside time to play with your kitty several times a day.  She needs the exercise, and enjoys interacting with you.

If you only have one cat, and she spends most of the day by herself, consider getting her a feline companion.  Or buy a cat video that features birds and other creatures that she can watch on TV while you’re gone.

Another pet, or even a child, may be the cause of the problem.  If a dominant cat, a dog, or a small child is bothering Kitty while she’s in the litter box, she just may find another, more private place to do her business.

Your feline may not like where her cat litter pan is located.  If you keep it in the basement, she may be scared of the furnace, or the washing machine, since they come to life when she least expects it, and make lots of noise.  Look at the situation from your cat’s point of view.Kitties have a different way of looking at the world than people do.

If her pan is in a busy, noisy place, she may be unhappy with it, too.When using the bathroom, your feline prefers a private place.

Tips For Solving Your Cat Urine Problems

If you have more than one cat, you should have one box for each feline, plus an extra one.Put them in various places around the house.  This helps to prevent one cat from claiming the litter pan as hers alone.  Be sure there’s an extra escape route available at each litter pan, so one cat can’t trap another one in there.

Try putting the cat litter pan in the location where the cat has been urinating.This may give her the idea to use the pan instead.After she starts using the pan, move it an inch or so every couple of days until it’s in the location you prefer.

Feeding the cat where she’s been urinating is suggested, because kitties prefer not to eat where they potty.Covering the area with aluminum foil or a plastic runner will make the area less inviting to your kitty.  Be sure to use a pet deodorizer to neutralize cat urine odor, so she won’t be drawn back to use the same place again.

Cat urine on carpet is something nobody wants to deal with.  Learn how you can end your cat urine problems once and for all by clicking on any link in this article.

A diagnosis of feline diabetes comes as a complete shock for many cat owners.  You probably have many questions.  What exactly is cat diabetes?  What options do you have for feline diabetes treatment?  Can natural remedies for cats help in controlling diabetes in cats?

What Is Feline Diabetes?

A kitty with this disease has problems either producing or using insulin, which keeps the levels of glucose in the blood at normal levels.  High blood sugar levels cause liver and kidney problems, gastrointestinal troubles, and an increased risk of infections.  If left untreated, a diabetic cat can go into a coma and die.

If you have a male cat who is middle-aged or older, and is overweight, he’s at risk of developing diabetes.

Feline Diabetes Treatment

Treatment for feline diabetes often starts with the cat being hospitalized while his blood sugar levels are stabilized.A long-term treatment plan will be developed by you and your vet before Kitty comes home from the hospital.It’s essential that good communication exists between you and your cat’s vet, because you’ll both be working together to treat your diabetic cat.

Be aware that caring for a diabetic cat does take a lot of time, especially at first, when you’re learning how to check your kitty’s blood sugar levels, and how to give him insulin injections.

Many cat owners are able to negotiate the learning curve, and become successful in controlling diabetes in cats.  After a while, blood sugar tests and insulin shots will become routine, both for you and your feline conmpanion.

Are Natural Remedies For Cats Helpful In Controlling Feline Diabetes?

Many human diabetics are using herbal remedies and dietary supplements to help control their blood sugar levels.Research has proven the safety and effectiveness of these remedies for cats, too.You’ll want to check to be sure the remedy contains the mineral chromium, along with the herbs goat’s rue, fenugreek, and astragalus. 

Always talk with your vet before you start using natural remedies for cats.These days, most vets are already familiar with these remedies, and yours will probably be willing to work with you.  Since it may be possible to control diabetes in cats by making dietary changes and using natural remedies, you’ll need to check your kitty’s blood sugar levels often.It may be necessary for your vet to adjust the insulin dosage as time passes.

Just click any link in this article to learn how diet, exercise and natural remedies for cats can help to control diabetes in cats.

Most cats can see to themselves when it concerns cleanliness. Yet in order to keep your cat in the best possible hygienic health, you also need to do your own share. You can make sure that your pet isn’t having issues with pests such as ticks and fleas by grooming it on a regular basis. It is also advised to inspect for any skin concerns, injuries, or bald spots at this time. Continue reading for tips on the essentials of cat grooming.

Before you start grooming, the required pet grooming supplies should be obtained to help make the job less difficult with a better outcome. Purchase items such as a comb, brush, grooming scissors, and cat grooming glove. Only use products specially made for the care of your cat.

Keeping the hair washed and neat is one way to keep your cat looking good. By combing and trimming the hair on a regular basis you’ll both be able to enjoy the benefits of a well groomed cat. Utilize a brush with a number of tiny pins for grooming your cat’s coat. For brushing to go more effortlessly the head should be fairly small. Brushing your cat in the direction of hair growth is the proper grooming method. If you do not, you will probably have an angry cat, and many scratches.

An occasional bath is an important component in the grooming routine for your cat. While the use of a towel will keep her as calm as possible, the use of a carrier will make the job of bathing simpler. The shampoo you select ought to be formulated for cats and work up plenty of lather. The shampoo should also be formulated to ease dry, flaky skin and thereby make your cat feel better.

Grooming your cat also comprises making sure that your cat’s hair is not knotty or tangled. If your cat’s hair is long, trim it regularly making use of the right grooming tools along with a comb. Always move carefully to avoid puncturing or scratching sensitive skin on your cat.

To reduce shedding and make brushing smoother and gentler, use a grooming glove on your cat. Find a pair that can be washed in the machine. You can also use it to get cat hair out of your upholstery and carpet.

Good grooming tools can mean the difference between a well groomed cat and a mangy looking one. The tools you use for grooming ought to be utilized in a way that makes the experience calm and pleasant for your cat.

For centuries we have been enthralled and entranced by felines. cats were first worshipped and domesticated in Egypt before being bred and exported overseas, where they became trustworthy companions and widely admired.

Cats have been a source of inspiration for writers and artists–one has only to look at the Broadway musical “Cats” for evidence of this.

There is the tale told by Tolstoy, of a cat who was critical to his story “Master and Margarita”; Sir Winston Churchill always had his pal Jock in the room when meals were to commence because he felt they were important companions.

Sir Isaac Newton created the cat flap, now called the door flap, to stop his cats from allowing too much light in the laboratory by opening the door. Invented in the 17th century, the door flap is still used to let both cats and dogs in and out of the house on their terms.

The gifted inventor Nikola Tesla first wondered about electricity as a young child while petting his cat Macak. Tesla was intrigued by the static and sparks that occurred as he stroked his friend and his curiosity ultimately led to his groundbreaking findings in electrical and mechnical engineering.

People are easily entranced by a cat’s graceful gait, their hypnotic eyes and relaxing purr. You can even find cat fancier clubs just for cat lovers as well as salons and pet clothing lines that cater to your feline’s needs. Consumers not only love their pets, they also love to spend money on their pets and they like to buy specialty items — the frontline for cats is an example.

Cats may be lovely to look at but they are also very therapeutic and offer health benefits to their owners and people who spend time with them. Contact with cats can help lower high blood pressure according to a study published in 2002 by professors W.B. Mendes, J. Blascovich and K. Allen of the State University of New York. The article was titled “Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets friends and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs” contains ample evidence and support that cats can indeed reduce stress and be beneficial to a cat owner’s health.

Cats are low maintenance, house animals, that is one of the reasons for their popularity in the US and overall North America. According to a research conducted in 2007 by the American Veterinary Medical Association , there are over 82 million cats, kept as pets in the United States. Wikipedia states that cats typically live longer if they live exclusively indoors. They are less exposed to bacteria and diseases, are safe from cat fight injuries and are not exposed to risks caused by motor vehicles. However, keeping a cat indoors or letting it out, is a purely personal choice, that depends on many circumstances. You must love and care for your cat. We are responsible for those we take in. Do not let them down.

”Time spent with cats is never wasted” – Sigmund Freud.

As some people are curious what certain cat breeds are like beyond just reading about them – here is a video to kick that off.

This is a female British Shorthair, silver-spotted. Very beautiful, soft fur and feels very stuffed-animal like. Unfortunately, with that luxury comes a shedding issue, which if you are willing to brush regularly helps control the issue.

British Shorthairs overall are extremely smart, and the silver spotted is known to sometimes be uncannily so. They find ways to communicate with their human owners which some don’t expect. They love to play and interact, which is why they make a great cat if you have kids.

However, if you are not one who likes to engage in ‘kitty play’ for, at least, 20 minutes per day and would prefer a lazy cat who pretty much sits around minding her/her business, then I would strongly suggest not going with this breed. It would be a disservice to both of you. This cat, at least, is not much a lap cat, but loves to be pet and is very affectionate…but on her terms!

Feel free to submit any videos of your cats too!

You love your cat, the way she sits in your lap and purrs, her silly little tricks, and the unconditional love that she has for you. Cleaning her litter, well, that’s something else again. No one likes cleaning a dirty smelly litter box. The litter box can present a health risk, especially to pregnant women, and it stinks. Litter is expensive and presents an environmental hazard. You don’t have to be a professional animal trainer to train your cat to use the toilet.! With the right techniques, anyone can do it. Potty training! your cat eliminates a dirty job, a health hazard, and banishes the smelly litter box forever. Professional trainers suggest the following method for training your cat.

The Litter Box

If your litter box is already in your bathroom, you’re halfway there. If your litter box isn’t in the bathroom, move it slowly, a few inches each day, until it is in the bathroom this is training your cat. Once you have the box in the bathroom, begin elevating it. You can use bricks , concrete blocks or telephone books. Make sure it’s secure so your cat can’t knock it over. Raise the box until it is level with the toilet. As you raise the litter box, slowing reduce the amount of litter in the box, so your cat becomes used to using less litter.

Once the litter box is at the same height as the toilet, you need to start moving the box closer to the toilet. Try to do this in half inch increments. You can train a cat to use the toilet by teaching the cat that the litter box is the same thing as the toilet. Physical proximity will help with this. Keep removing a bit of litter with each move so that the cat becomes used to their being less and less litter. Keep doing this until there is less than an inch of litter left.

Replace the Box

The final step in training your cat to use the toilet is to put a litter pan over the toilet , but under the seat. You can use any pan the will fit, or you can buy a special training pan at your local or online pet store. Put less than an inch of flushable litter in the pan. Make sure the pan is secure and won’t slide around and scare the cat. If you can’t find a training aid pan, or don’t want to spend the money on one, use duct tape to secure the pan in place.

For the final step in toilet training your cat, cut a small hole in the bottom of the pan. If you have a kitty training aid, it may have pieces that can be removed so you won’t have to cut a hole. Gradually enlarge the size of the hole a little at a time.. As you enlarge the hole, the cat will get used to not having litter in the pan. When the hole is nearly as large as the opening of the toilet, you can remove the pan. Toilet training your cat is mostly an investment of your time and patience. The investment is worth it and you don’t have to deal with litter boxes again. Now, if you could only potty train the dog.

Never in a million years would you of guessed that someone would come up with this business idea. Pet Airways is an airline dedicated to transport pets from place to place. The company only operates in America at the moment but they have plans to make this operation go worldwide by the end of next year.

This is not going to be easy but I strongly think it is possible. It may be a bit of a wacky idea but I think that this business model has some real potential.
Many doctors in the field are worried that putting that much strain on animals will cause an increase in heart problems. Pet airways have already announced that there will be an on board animal cardiology vet to take care of any flight trouble. Considering the un-predictability of animals health it is important to take everything possible into account.

At the moment, Pet Airways serves New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles and charges just £91 for a one way fare which is very competitive against the US Airlines prices to take your animal on a flight.

Pet Airways offers a very different service than anything else you have seen before. Dogs and cats alike will be loaded into a normal looking plane with carriers instead of seats. The animals, up to 50 at a time will be escorted to the plane by attendants who will check them every 15 minutes during the flight to make sure they are ok. Local animal hospitals from around the area have been in support over the idea to take animals in the sky by plane and think it is a great idea.

The company, which will begin with one flight in each of its five cities, might add more flights and cities. Within the next year, Binder hopes to develop over 25 desitinations onto their current roster.

Cats are exquisite pets to own. Their play and relaxation times are a pleasure to watch, especially when you have cat furniture. Some people think that cats are relatively moody but for others who love cats, there is no better pet to have in the house.

Whether you have one cat or multiple cats as your pets, having some furniture for them to enjoy keeps them purring and happy all the time. Some cats enjoy beds to sleep in as this comforts them at night and keeps them cozy and warm. A favorite past-time for cat owners who have more than one cat are the cat towers or cat scratching furniture.

Cats can also benefit from cat steps in the home. Many people are under the impression that cats can land any way from a fall and not hurt themselves. This is a myth. The truth is that your cat can get hurt by jumping from a bed or couch to the floor just like a dog.

Cat steps let your pet get from one level to another safely and enjoyable. Cats often love to climb and these steps are the perfect solution to their love of moving up and down from high to low and back again. Adjustable height steps are an excellent solution for the kitten who is still growing.

Did you know that if a cat were to land the wrong way, he could break his legs and even his ribs or neck? Similar injuries occur all the time, which is why more and more retailers are carrying pet steps. Anything from cat tunnels, to towers, to kitty condos are available, and the best deals are usually found online.

Just make sure that your pet is safe when playing or using the steps by keeping toys free of debris and steps clear of obstacles that might cause them to stumble.