Health

Cryptococcal infection in your kitty is harmful for both you and your pet. Here’s more on this fungal infection. What is a Cryptococcosis? It is the most common fungal infection in cats caused by yeasts, known as Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii. The yeasts were first detected in peach juice in Italy (1894). In cats they were confirmed as a disease producing agent in 1952. The yeasts…

Dental disease is the most commonly diagnosed medical problem of felines, based on a recent survey of 14,000 cats in the United States. Let’s see its causes and timely treatment.  Many people might ask themselves, truly, what kind of impact having even minor dental disease would have on their cats? Dental disease can have a significant effect on the general and breeding health of any afflicted…

Purffect Hearing Hearing is a vital part of a cat’s hunting arsenal. A feline’s hearing is incredible and far superior. They can hear high frequency sounds better than either humans or canines. Humans can hear frequencies up to 20000 Hz, dogs to about 45000 Hz and cats to 64000 Hz. Cats can localise high frequency sound sources that are only three inches apart from three feet away! A cat up to…

The most common cause of skin disease in cats is generally caused by fleas. Often skin diseases are seasonal and fleas are most active in summer and autumn. Here’s how to take care of fleas in your felines. Watch out for... The moment you see your cat scratching and chewing at her coat, immediately check, thoroughly, for fleas or flea dirt. If you see a cat who has sores or damp areas, then eczema…

In the last issue, we learnt about the various heart diseases in cats. Here are few FAQs about the same. Mark D Kittleson, DVM, PhD, one of the foremost researchers on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), was asked a series of questions trying to sort out this disease and what it means for breeders. Excerpts: Q: At what age in males and females can this disease 'actually' be diagnosed? Mark: In…

Even cats can be dehydrated, especially in the summer season. Here's how to prevent dehydration in kitties. Some facts… A healthy cat should be sufficiently hydrated. Water replaces fluid lost through urine, faeces and respiration and is essential to maintain appropriate health. It is interesting to know that 80 percent of a cat's body weight is made up of water. The amount of water your cat…

We love to pamper our kitties with the food we eat. But beware, this can be harmful for your cat. Here’s a list of food that should not be given to your beloved kitties: Milk: Large number of cats cannot tolerate milk because of lactose intolerance as cats cannot produce proper amount of lactic acid. The lactic acid contains lactase enzyme which breaks down the milk and helps in digesting it. Lack…

Yes, cats can also suffer from heart disease. Some can be caused by nutrition, but most have a genetic basis. Here’s more on heart disease in cats. Heart diseases… The most common heart diseases are known as Cardiomyopathy. There are often no signs that there is anything wrong with the cat. There are three basic forms of Cardiomyopathies: Dilated, Restrictive and Hypertrophic. Dialated…

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy… same is with our kitties who need play not just for fun, but for bonding with their littermates and pet parents. Importance of play… Play comes natural to kittens. Kittens start to play when they are four weeks of age and this continues up to 10-14 weeks of age. During this period, kittens engage in social play with their littermates. Social play teaches…

Bad breath or Halitosis in cats is rarely seen but if you do become aware of a bad smell in your cat’s mouth then you should attend to it immediately as problems of a lasting nature can occur. There are certain breeds of cats who are inclined to suffer from Gingivitis and this is a problem that your veterinarian can keep a regular check on. It can be very unpleasant and painful for the animal and…

Cats are carnivores and they need to eat a meat-based diet. Certain nutrients are available in meat-based diet only and these are lost to the cat if she is fed only vegetarian diet. For healthy growth, cats need amino acids from proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and water. Proteins Proteins, which provide the much needed energy, should form part of a cat’s daily diet. The protein…

Many pet parents feed only cow’s milk to their cats and kittens. This causes diarrhoea, especially in kittens. People in general think that cow’s milk provides sufficient nutrition for their cats and do not give cat food but it is not so. Let’s shun this myth. Let mother cat feed the kittens… Mother’s milk which contains essential nutrients and antibodies is essential for the healthy growth of…

Sometimes, your cat gets hurt and his ear bleeds...or he can have a broken nail. Here’s how to handle these situations. First-aid for bleeding ears… Cut ears may bleed profusely. Carefully approach the cat and restrain him if necessary. Cover the wound with a clean cloth, sterile dressing or pad. Place dressing material on both sides of the ear flap and hold firmly to control the bleeding.…

Know some facts about feline mammary tumours, which are the third most common tumours in female cats. Around 80-90 percent mammary gland tumours in cats are malignant (serious). Size of the tumour is probably the best prognostic indicator, whereas factors like age of the patient, tumour number and location have less prognostic value. Tumour size larger than two cm is considered to be serious.…

Your proud sweet feline is losing weight or is unusually lethargic…he is throwing up or is showing an abnormal behaviour…do not wait, call your vet immediately…your feline is probably sick. Here’s how to know if your kitty needs a professional care. Kitties can’t talk but as a pet parent, you can analyse when your kitty needs a professional veterinary care. Here’s a list to make it easier for you…

We all love cuddling our balls of fur, giving them warm hugs, showing how much we care for them. But imagine if they start chewing our sweaters while we are expressing our love...well, a bit inconvenient. This strange behavior when they chew on sweaters, towels, blankets or even carpets is commonly called wool sucking... here’s more info about the same. Cravings to chew... The causes of this…

We all know that prevention is better than cure. Here are a few ways to prevent common problems in your furry felines. We cannot keep our cats safe and well all the time, but a little forethought can help minimise the risks to which they are exposed. Our cats cannot understand what these are. So, it is up to us to think about how we take care of them and to keep them as healthy and well protected…

Although your cat may act independent and be litter-trained, he still counts on you to provide him with food, water, safe shelter, regular veterinary care, companionship, and more. Take care of these ten essentials, and you’ll be guaranteed to develop a rewarding relationship with your feline companion. Outfit your cat with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address, and…

As a pet parent, we should learn to observe in detail and know when to take the cat to the vet. How do you decide? Know how much your cat eats. If this amount changes significantly (except in a growing kitten), know what the reason is. See the veterinarian in the absence of a good reason. Cats should have good habits, including keeping their fur and anus clean. If you still find your cat does not…

It is very important to monitor your kitty’s body temperature to ensure she is healthy. Let’s see why. Case file… Tiger, my tripod feline pal, is usually active, naughty and playful. One day I noticed that he seemed to be in a lot of pain and was finding it difficult to walk or run. I took him immediately to the veterinarian. Tiger’s body temperature was taken and it was 104oF and rising fast.…