Cat Parasites – Who Else Wants to Know About Pot Bellied Cats?
By Kate Rieger

The vet confirmed your newly adopted kitten wasn’t pregnant, but she was was loaded with cat parasites. Here’s how to help free her of this cat worm mess.

Its been a few days since you first saw the abandoned calico running away from her hiding place in the garage. You caught her attention by offering her a can of cat food which she promptly inhaled. Starving yes, she was, but you couldn’t help notice that she had a big pot belly.

Pro Vet Secrets Revealed - Treat Your Cat at Home

A quick test by your vet which confirmed that she was loaded with cat parasites. There are two types of cat worms: roundworms and tapeworms. Just in case you’re wondering, the details of this article probably would not make good dinner conversation!

Roundworm cat worms are most common in kittens. Kittens contract roundworms through their mother’s milk; the mother usually becomes contaminated with these cat worms via contaminated soil.

Kittens with roundworms usually have enlarged pot bellies. Roundworms look like cooked spaghetti and can appear in vomit or poo. Sorry for that detailed description, but it’s all part of being a responsible kitty caregiver, right?

Most kittens are born with roundworm cat parasites. All kittens should get a vet checkup to see if deworming medication is necessary. Oftentimes kittens need to take deworming medication for several months to get rid of cat parasites. In fact, you should consider putting your cat on a regular program to keep her free of the creeps.

Tapeworms are most common in adult cats. The cat ingests a flea while grooming; the flea has a tapeworm inside it. Outdoor cats may contract these cat parasites by eating raw flesh from prey such as small animals or fish.

OK, if you thought the roundworm description was gross, brace yourself for the tapeworm description! Tapeworm parasites are approximately one-fourth inch long. You may see them moving about in the fur surrounding your cat’s anus. You may also see what looks like dried up grains of rice in areas where your cat sleeps; these are pieces of dead tapeworms.

Tapeworm cat worms also signify that your kitty has a flea infestation. So when you visit the vet, you’ll probably need a deworming medication to get rid of the cat parasites and a flea medication to stop the cycle.

Although its rare, sometimes cats have reactions to prescribed medications that treat cat worms. Symptoms include shaking, poor coordination, vomiting and diarrhea. If your cat experiences these symptoms after taking a over-the-counter dewormer, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Better yet, take a turn for a gentler, natural solution to cat parasites. Visit http://Cat-Bladder-Problems.com and download your free e-report to learn what natural remedies are best for getting rid of cat worms in your cat or kitten.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Rieger

http://EzineArticles.com/?Cat-Parasites—Who-Else-Wants-to-Know-About-Pot-Bellied-Cats?&id=3565333

Gathering the Tools Required For Grooming Your Cat
By Damian Cross

Felines are really amazing animals. Their history and background is as rich and complex as the history of dogs. In some nation’s cultures cats are presented in their writings as loveable and friendly creatures, while other depict them as deeply related to evil. One side of the cat’s personality aims to seek you out for praise and caress, as if he couldn’t live without you. Another side of cats can go for weeks on end, without as much as a glance to its pet owner.

Cat Care Secrets Revealed

One of the most notable aspects of cats in general is their attention to cleanliness. Felines practically put themselves in auto pilot when it comes to house training, give them a brief tour of the installations and they will take it from there. Furthermore, if you commit to doing your part by keeping their litter box clean, they will reciprocate by using it, instead of your living room floor. Cats in general are able to spend countless hours in personal grooming. Their favorite tool for the job is their tongue, which they use to remove dirt, excess hair and comb themselves. The process can be quite a show for by standers.

Most pet owners with cats in their home grow so accustomed to cats taking care of themselves that completely forget that they need to complement their efforts with a few chores as well. Some of the responsibility falls on the pet owner, such as clipping the claws on your cat, removing obnoxious knots from the cats hair, and looking after the feline’s teeth for tartar and caries. In order to accomplish these chores, pet owners will need to assemble a special tool box for your cat grooming needs.

An item that should be first in the list should be the traditional brush. This particular brush should be strong enough to remove straws, dirt, falling hair and other debris off your cats coat, while being gentle enough that it does not hurt his delicate skin. If your cat has a tendency to acquire knots in his hair, you might have to invest in a pet groomer, or be prepare to engage your cat with water in order to prevent the knots from forming.

In the event that you have decided to keep the claws on your cat, these will need to be clipped. Wild cats require their nails to defend themselves and to capture prey, they keep their length in line by sharpening them against hard surfaces, such as rocks. However, the use of claws for your regular house cat is limited to scratching furniture and an occasional attack at the hand that feeds him. Is the pet owner’s responsibility to keep the claws in line. This is not only important for your own safety, but for others as well. For this job you will require a cat nail clipper. You are best advised to ask your veterinarian for the best size clipper for your cat. Furthermore, it would be best if you watch him do it the first time.

Dental hygiene is also of crucial importance in the health of your pet, and by no means should be considered just pet games to look into your cat’s mouth. The tools required for this job could be limited to a small mirror and a tooth brush. A simple inspection with the mirror and removing debris with the toothbrush is enough as far as maintenance. Further examination and attention should be provided by your cat’s veterinarian.

Enter the exciting world of free pet games. Play Puppy games and other pet games online at Petgames123.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Damian_Cross

http://EzineArticles.com/?Gathering-the-Tools-Required-For-Grooming-Your-Cat&id=3571548

Feline Conjunctivitis – 7 Signs Your Cat Has Pink Eye
By Richard Glenn

Feline Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the eye. It’s more commonly known as “Cat Pink Eye” and is probably the most common eye problem cats have. Actually to provide a more precise definition, conjunctivitis is an inflamed conjunctiva, which is the thin, delicate membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelid. The conjunctiva also creates a seal with the nictitating membrane “the third eye.” (The nictitating membrane is a transparent or translucent third eyelid present in some animals like the cat that can be drawn across the eye for protection and to moisten the eye while also allowing visibility.)

A healthy conjunctiva is a slightly pale pink. When infected it swells and becomes much darker. This is why cats with conjunctivitis are often referred to as “pink-eyed.”

Natural Home Remedies for Cats

What are the Signs of Cat Pink Eye?

1. Frequent squinting – your kitty looks sort of like one of the “Lolipop Kids” from the Wizard of Oz.

2. Watery or mucous-like discharge that’s clear, yellow, and gray with pus.

3. The pink membrane lining, or conjunctiva, that surrounds kitty’s eye is a much darker pink almost red and swollen.

4. Third eye protrusion. The nictitating membrane actually begins to protrude a bit because of the swollen conjunctiva.

5. The part of the eye called the iris, the beautiful colored part of kitty’s eye will probably appear duller than usual or in some cases be an entirely different color.

6. Kitty is pawing or rubbing the eye.

7. Sometimes cat eye infections are accompanied by frequent sneezing and possibly an upper respiratory tract infection.

It is important to note that conjunctivitis should be treated as soon as possible. Although conjunctivitis is not life threatening, if it isn’t treated in time, can spread from the conjunctiva to other parts of the eye eventually causing severe damage to the cat’s eyesight.

Besides, all you have to do is take one look to know that the infectious condition is red, raw and sore. And you can tell immediately by paying attention to kitty’s behavior that Feline Conjunctivitis is a very upsetting condition. The sooner you get relief for kitty the better!

To grab your free report on your cat’s health and to receive some really good tips on owning and caring for a cat visit http://buyingandowningacat101.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Glenn

http://EzineArticles.com/?Feline-Conjunctivitis—7-Signs-Your-Cat-Has-Pink-Eye&id=3560447

Diagnosing and Treating Cat Asthma
By Matt LeClair

When you think about Asthma you probably think about it as being a disorder found only in humans, but you probably didn’t realize that it could be present in your cat. There are many symptoms common to those who suffer from asthma and if your cat is showing these symptoms, then you may want to consider having your cat checked to see whether or not he or she has asthma.

Pro Vet Secrets Revealed - Treat Your Cat at Home

So what exactly is asthma in cats? It is labeled as an immune mediated disease which can portray a number of symptoms such as infrequent coughing which may seem to be a common hairball cough, or random occurrences of respiratory distress which is more commonly known by veterinarians as acute dyspnea.

The onset of these symptoms can stem from a number of sources including certain allergens that may be present or by increased levels of stress. It is also possible for other symptoms to occur immediately after the initial symptoms previously mentioned. These other symptoms may include sneezing, vomiting, and perhaps even what we commonly know as wheezing. You may be able to notice that your cat is having problems breathing right away as they will be breathing heavily, or the problem may come about gradually in which case they will slowly exhibit signs of troubled breathing.

You can treat asthma fairly quickly with a number of steroids and other medications such treatments such as bronchodilators and oxygen therapy. There are a few methods that can be used to diagnose the disorder, but the most common method for doing so is by x-ray as well as a slide cytology of your cat’s airway.

The x-ray is in most cases the number one tool for diagnosing asthma in your cat and will help rule out other diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and even heart disease. It is important to use the x-ray because asthma can have similar symptoms when compared to these diseases and may be mistaken for one of them. Because the knowledge of asthma in cats has become increasingly abundant over the years, it’s been determined that the asthma in cats is very similar to the asthma in humans, which has also helped increase the effectiveness of treatment of feline asthma.

The most common treatment for feline asthma has become the use of corticosteroids like prednisone, and the use of bronchodilators like terbutaline. The success rate for treating feline asthma is usually pretty high with positive results achieved more and more frequently, and the occurrences of severe episodes of asthma are becoming less and less. The key to treating your cat for feline asthma is to get them checked as early as possible, which will increase the likelihood of successful treatment and minimize the amount of damage that is caused to your cat’s lungs.

There are alternative treatments that you can be used such as steroids which can be injected, which are very useful if your cat has a hard time with pills. Other treatments include Cyproheptadine which was used to stimulate appetite, Cyclosporin which is typically only used in cases where the disease is more severe, and Anti-Interleukin-5 Antibody which is still an experimental treatment.

One of strategies for relieving allergy symptoms is to remove the allergens that may be present in your cat’s living environment. This may be done with an air purifier, litter that is unscented and free of dust, and perhaps even controlling sprays which are odor free.

Search for dogs for sale, cats for sale, and other animals for sale at FarmMedley.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_LeClair

http://EzineArticles.com/?Diagnosing-and-Treating-Cat-Asthma&id=3569390

Cat Health Problems – 5 Tips to Reduce the Risk of H1N1 Infecting Your Cat
By Richard Glenn

Of all the topics and issues concerning cat health problems I’ll be the first to admit that I’m actually quite alarmed that I have to present information encouraging you to take precautions to reduce the risk of H1N1 infecting your cat however; there is evidence that cats can carry the H1N1 Swine flu virus.

Pro Vet Secrets Revealed - Treat Your Cat at Home

In the first week of November, 2009 the Iowa Department of Public Health reported and confirmed that a 13-year-old domestic short-haired cat had been infected with Swine flu, and it’s believed to be the first case of the H1N1 virus in a feline, according to veterinary and federal officials.

The Iowa cat was taken to the veterinary college at Iowa State University, where tests of a nasal swab confirmed the cat was infected with the H1N1 virus. The family mentioned to the vet that they had also recently battled the illness, which led to testing the cat for H1N1.

The good news is both the cat and its owners have recovered from their illnesses.

Veterinary and federal officials all seem to agree that although it’s rare that cats get infected with any kind of flu virus, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention admits that they’ve known all along that it’s certainly a possibility and is not completely unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in the past.

If a cat does get a human flu bug, symptoms to watch for include lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing, sneezing and breathing with the mouth open.

Veterinary and federal officials are now urging pet owners to take the same precautions against spreading Swine flu to pets as they would with humans; so here are 5 tips to help reduce the risk of H1N1 infecting your cat:

1. Reduce contact with your cat if you are sick.

2. Avoid being around them when you are coughing or sneezing.

3. Get into the habit of washing your hands frequently.

4. It’s very important to avoid contact with their faces.

5. Make sure your veterinarian is aware if your cat is having any health problems whatsoever and especially if your cat gets sick after you’ve had H1N1, or any other infection.

While humans can pass the flu on to a cat, it’s highly unlikely that your cat could transmit it back to humans. If your cat is having health problems, particularly respiratory problems, consult a veterinarian.

To grab your free report on keeping your cat healthy and to receive some really good tips on owning and caring for a cat visit http://buyingandowningacat101.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Glenn

http://EzineArticles.com/?Cat-Health-Problems—5-Tips-to-Reduce-the-Risk-of-H1N1-Infecting-Your-Cat&id=3559151