Kittens and cats are so cuddly and lovable. In our hands they feel soft and warm. We love stroking our felines and hearing them purr ever so gently. It is a bonding and loving moment between pet and human being sharing a tender moment.

Oh, no! Why is my cat scratching? Does my cat have skin problems or allergies? My poor baby is miserable. If you are a first time cat owner, do not panic; calm down, relax, and observe.

Cat Care Secrets Revealed

The beautiful fur coat of your kitten or cat should be soft, clean and slightly lustrous. If the coat has been dry, dull or oily, help your feline with additional grooming. The skin being dry may have your pet itching and scratching.

Cats are excellent with their personal grooming hygiene. Perhaps, your cat has not been feeling well. Or is she possibly being lazy about her grooming.

How you can stop the scratching can be as easy as brushing her fur. Remove any long, loose, hairs and untangle any matted hair. As you brush your cat, search for any abnormalities present in the skin or caught in her fur.

If you discover dry skin, add humidity to her environment. The climate control in your home or the outside environment may be drying the skin of your cat.

Cats scratching? Here are some questions to help detect what may be causing this behavior:

1. Is the appetite good or bad?
2. Is your cat drinking water?
3. Is elimination appropriate?
4. Are the urine and stools appearing normal?
5. Is the mouth and butt healthy in appearance?
6. Is your feline under stress or anxiety?
7. Do you see evidence of fleas or mites?
8. Do you see raw, red, irritated or bald areas of skin?
9. Is there a skin infection?
10. Does the skin appear dry or oily?
11. Do you see any scratches or abscessed areas on the skin?
12. Has your cat been coughing, sneezing, or having eye or nose discharges?
13. Do the eyes appear normal?
14. Does your cat have a fever?

If after reviewing this list and having brushed your cat, then decide if your pet has an emergency that needs attending by either a cat vet or will a natural home remedy solve the problem.

Natural Home Remedies for Cats

Cat owners are turning to natural remedies for their kittens and cats as an alternative because it is more affordable. Many of us feel that vet costs are either too expensive or not affordable for our household budget.

Many of us have natural products available in our homes and this would save us an unnecessary or an inconvenient trip to the local store or to the vet, especially if a natural product will take care of the condition.

Most of the natural products have no man made chemicals for ingredients, and you are less worried about possible side effects from medicines.

Without naming a particular human medicines that is advertised on television, do you ever listen to the side effects that they recite at the end of the commercial? The side effects seem worse than the disease.

As cat owners we are scared of side effects from ingredients made from chemicals and synthetics. And I believe that this is why many pet owners have turned to natural remedies for both their cats and dogs for healing minor health issues.

Are you looking for natural products which have been time tested for centuries and are proven to correct minor problems that our cats are experiencing?

These traditional natural pet remedies are much more effective for treating most common ailments than the commercial chemical and synthetic treatment methods.

They certainly contain less risk for any harmful side effects. If you are like me and very concerned about health remedies we use on our cats check out http://www.infotrish.vpweb.com/ for traditional and time tested natural remedies for cats.

There are some special considerations you need to be aware of when taking care of a pregnant cat. Most importantly, she needs to be kept in the best health as possible to ensure the delivery of healthy kittens. If you are breeding, there are some steps to take before mating. However, the majority of us with our domestic cats are usually confronted with the fact that she is pregnant, so I suggest following these tips as soon as you can.

How to Take Care of a Pregnant Cat

Worms

It is very important that she is free of worms as these can be passed to the kittens in while still in the womb via the bloodstream or through the mother’s milk after birth. Worming can be undertaken between the second and sixth week of the pregnancy and I suggest contacting your vet about this. He will be able to assess your cat and give the best treatment necessary. Kittens that are born with a worm load can become stunted in their growth and are generally less healthy. After you have had your pregnant cat wormed, I would advise making sure she cannot be reinfected, either from contact with other cats or through feeding. It is also important to maintain strict hygiene with regard to the litter tray.

Behavioral Changes

You will notice your pregnant cat’s behavioural changes. She will become quieter and more affectionate. She may become more aggressive with any tom cats in the house. She may also rest more often. Be aware that cats can have morning sickness so if your cat starts vomiting, make sure there is plenty of dry biscuits and fresh water available.

Diet

It will be easier for your pregnant cat if you start giving it smaller and more frequent meals. Just like with humans, the kittens are taking up a fair amount of room so your cat won’t want to eat large meals. I suggest increasing the overall quantity of food by around a third to maintain your cat’s good health and the best growing environment for the kittens. Try to feed her the most nutritious food you can afford. This extra expense will pay off in keeping your cat and her kittens healthy.

Exercise

Exercise is important for the pregnant cat. Allow her to play or run around as normal. She will slow down in the final weeks of the pregnancy as the kittens grow. Exercise will help keep her muscles toned which will help during the birth, just as it does for us. Keep your cat inside during the pregnancy as she is at risk of picking up parasites or infections if allowed to roam with other cats.

You will be able to have the pregnancy confirmed by a vet at around 4 weeks. This will be done by feeling the cat’s abdomen. You will also notice the increased girth. By the end of the seventh week, you will be able to see the kittens moving. Look for rippling or sliding movements in the abdomen when she is resting.

Long Haired Cats

With long haired cats, it can be a good idea to trim away the fur around the nipples so to make feeding easier for the kittens. This will have the added benefit of preventing the fur becoming mattered around the nipples.

Nesting

About a week before the kittens are due, your cat will start to look for a nesting place. You can prepare a cardboard box with scrunched up plain paper in it. Paper has the advantage of being able to be thrown out after the birth. Don’t use old newspapers for this as the ink can smudge and run when wet and this can be harmful to the kittens and mother. Place the box in a warm and draft free place that will not be too noisy. Make sure food and fresh water are close by. If your cat doesn’t use this box, keep an eye on where she goes as it could be in a wardrobe or drawer somewhere.

Taking care of a pregnant cat is not hard. Give her the best food you can afford, make sure she is healthy and stays that way, and give her plenty of love and attention. You will be rewarded with a litter of beautiful and healthy kittens.

Kathy Robinson has been writing articles on cat problems and the care of cats on her website http://www.CatProblemsResolved.com for a number of years. Why not download your free copy of The Joy of Owning and Caring for a Cat when you sign up for her free Cat Care Newsletter at http://www.catproblemsresolved.com/660.