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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.”

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

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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.

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.

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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.

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

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Roundworms, Tapeworms, Hookworms

When cat owners get together, they exchange stories about how quirky or cute their pets are, laugh over the “biggest hairball I ever saw” joke but they almost never discuss deworming their pets! Yet, worms are a very common ailment, even in well cared for animals.

ROUNDWORMS (Toxocara cati, Toxascaris leonina)

These are the most common form of parasite in today’s cat. Roundworms can grow from 2-4 inches long and can overwhelm a cat’s stomach giving it a potbelly appearance.

Cats can easily pass a whole live, roundworm (thin, spaghetti-like critters) which results in a freaked out call to the vet from horrified owners! Roundworms can cause weight loss and diarrhea or vomiting. And in very severe cases, they can actually so numerous, that they can cause bowel blockages!

Cats can get roundworms from other cats, infected prey animals (rodents, rabbits and squirrels) or even from the soil where other infected animals have defecated.

Roundworms are also the cause of Visceral Larva Migrans in humans. Young children are at high risk for this disease due to roundworm eggs being found in sandboxes, playgrounds and yards. Visceral Larva Migrans can affect the lungs, liver, eyes, the brain, heart, and other organs.

HOOKWORMS (Ancylostoma braziliense)

Hookworms are dangerous bloodsuckers that can kill a kitten or adult cat depending on the severity of infestation and the overall health of the cat. At other times, a cat with severe hookworms may require a blood transfusion in order to recover. Hookworms are most often found in areas with warm, moist environments.

Signs of hookworms are anemia (pale, mucus covered gums), dark stools (passed blood), weight loss and dull, poor looking coats. Hookworms can’t be seen with the naked eye, so if you suspect or know that hookworms are prevalent in your area, take your pet to a vet for tests immediately.

Hookworm eggs can lie dormant for months in the soil around apartment complexes and other outdoor areas that infested animals may frequent. Even if you pet lives alone, just by playing in an infected area, it can ingest a hookworm egg or even have one burrow under its skin while resting on the ground.

TAPEWORMS (Dipylidium caninum, T. taeniaeformis)

Tapeworms round out our worm trilogy. Tapeworms are visible to the human eye like round worms. The first time a cat owner usually knows their pet is infested is when they notice “dried rice” or “sesame seeds” stuck to the cat’s bedding or on its anal area. These nasty bits are dried tapeworm segments.

The most common way for tapeworms to enter a cat’s system is via fleas. Yes, our vampiric friend, the cat flea is also a prime carrier of tapeworms. Tapeworms if left to grow can cause very horrible stomach cramps, diarrhea and even convulsions in cats as their systems become overwhelmed with toxins from their uninvited guests.

Like roundworms, humans can sometimes become infested with tapeworms due contact with infected animals. This is yet another reason that you should control your cat’s flea problem.

Both roundworms and tapeworms can now be treated with over the counter tablets that are inexpensive. Hookworms, however, must be treated by your vet since it can quickly lead to more serious conditions. But if you are not sure which type of worm infestation your pet is suffering, please visit your local vet for a proper diagnosis.

Like most mammals, your cat’s intestinal tract is host to many different kinds of tiny biological critters. Most are harmless but the ones that instinctively give people the shudders are worms.

These parasitic pests can enter your cat’s body in numerous ways; some kittens are even born carrying worms!

If you want to know how to prevent and treat worm infestations in your pet, then you should learn the follows signs.

Signs of Feline Worms

Loss of Appetite: In advanced stages, worms can cause considerable pain and discomfort that makes eating difficult or stressful for your pet. Also over time worms can cause damage to the digestive tract.

Dull coat: Worms compete for nourishment with the host animal and a sign of this may be a lackluster coat.

Potbelly: Especially with roundworms, a cat or kitten can develop a distended or potbelly appearance.

Weight Loss: A cat with worms will have a sudden drop in weight. Although weight loss is one of the signs of worms, it can also be indicative of other problems such as diabetes or heart problems. So weight loss must to taken in combination with other symptoms. Please visit your vet for a profesional diagnosis.

Stunted growth: This is seen in kittens and young cats. But older cats may be slow to heal or recover from illnesses.

Listless or Lethargic Your normally happy-to-see-you cat, who greets you at door, now seems not to care anymore. Worms often cause anemia and poor nutrition in infected cats that make it difficult for them to maintain their natural energy levels. To check for anemia, look for pale pink gums in your pet.

Diarrhea or vomiting: All types of worms can cause intestinal distress that can lead to loose and watery stools or vomiting.

Constant licking around the anal area: Worms are very irritating and your cat can be seen frequently licking or grooming around their anal areas. Look for bits of something that looks like “dried rice or sesame seed” (dead tapeworm segments) sticking to your animal’s fur.

If your cat is experiencing any noticeable pain or discomfort, you should take them to your vet immediately because some worm infestations can become life threatening.

Yes, Your Cat Can Get the Flu…

Some cats like some people can be prone to upper respiratory problems. Signs of that your cat may have a “cold” or “flu” are:

• Sneezing
• Sniffling
• Runny nose and eyes
• Coughing
• Fever

An upper respiratory infection can last anywhere from 7 to 10 days. Longer than this and you should take your pet into see your vet.

Cat Flu (an old name for Feline Upper Infectious Respiratory Disease) is still very common in cats. The cause of most cases of upper respiratory infections is believed to be a form of either Feline Pneumonitis, Rhinotracheitis or Calcivirus viruses. Rarely is Cat Flu dangerous to an healthy animal but it can be fatal in an animal with a weakened immune system such as in kittens, older cats or cata with other health issues.

This type infection can easily be spread to other cats via nose or eye discharge, contaminated food dishes and human hands or shared bedding.

The best treatment for a cat with a cold is surprisingly similar to human care. Keep your pet warm, quiet and away from other cats, if possible. In order to avoid dehydration, you can try mixing extra water in with their regular moist or dry food. In case, a runny nose stops them from eating due to loss of smell, you can drizzle a little bit of canned tuna fish or chicken broth over their chow to perk up the taste buds.

Feline Asthma

Suddenly one week, my old tom cat started wheezing with his sides bellowing in and out as he struggled for breath. Imagine my shook when I discovered that he has a feline version of “asthma” similar to mine.

Despite its name many vets believe that this disorder is actually an allergic reaction of your cat to their environment. Numerous outside factors such as molds, mildew and other common allergens can make your cat suffer all the symptoms of a classic asthma attack: wheezing, coughing (sounds similar to a hairball session but without the mess), shortness of breath, labored breathing or panting with heaving sides.

A cat having an asthmatic episode can be very frightening for both the cat and the cat owner. Feline asthma is a chronic and progressive disease that can’t be cured and may even be fatal. So please take your cat to an emergency vet if their condition worsens over time.

What animal can leap longer than 100 times its own length? Or can lift a weight a 100 times heavier than its own body weight?

Yes, you guessed it, the common cat flea. Cat fleas are one the most annoying and resistant pests that pet owners normally encounter.

Next to roaches and ants, they are one of the most common household insects in the country. And the little buggers have a stinging bite like a 200 lb vampire!

What are cat fleas?

A tiny wingless bloodsucker, that moves about by leaping from pet to owner to carpet and back again. Except for their painful, itching bites, fleas would appear to be harmless but these small parasites can host lots of ugly diseases and illnesses for both you and your pet. Fleas can be carriers of tapeworms and a type Typhus. Both can be transmitted to humans.

How can I tell if my Cat has fleas?

The main symptoms you will recognize are increased licking and scratching. Flea bites are very irritating to the skin and your cat will respond to bite sites with an almost violent reaction of scratching and licking.

Another sign will be signs of “flea dirt”. Flea dirt are tiny bits of dried blood and fecal matter that looks like grains of black pepper on your pet’s coat. Check the back near the base of the tail for the signs of these dark specks. If the flea infestation is heavy, you can check your pets gums for signs of anemia.

How to Combat a Flea invasion

Fleas are tiny and drop their eggs in pet bedding, carpets and furniture, basically anywhere your cat can travel. So the first step is to vacuum. I mean not just your normal housecleaning but break out the crevice tools and do a really deep vacuum of all areas your cat loves to frequent. Make sure to take the used vacuum bag outside to the trash as soon as you finish because fleas can crawl back out if you are not careful!

Wash all pet beddings. Yes, I know cats get upset when you disturb their routine, but nothing will make you more embarrassed than a flea zapping the leg of visiting dinner guest or your boss or church deacon.

Buy a good bug spray that kills adult fleas. Forget about the pupae, when fleas are in their egg cocoons nothing can touch them but you can take of any stray adults and larvae. Spray under furniture and in all the corners since larvae like to hide from the light. Don’t forget to spray out in the yard where you pets play.

Now for the cat. Bet you thought, I had forgotten but first you have to beat back the main army before you work on the snipers lurking on kitty. Grab your fine-tooth flea comb and pour a little rubbing alcohol out in a shallow bowl. Now sit down with your cat in nice quiet corner. Using the comb, remove any adult fleas you may find. The alcohol is to drown and kill them immediately.

Flea collars, sprays, powders are obsolete so don’t waste your money. Buy a good flea killer like Advantage, Frontline (fleas & ticks) and Revolution (fleas, ticks and ear mites). These insecticides are absorbed the skin and kills fleas in a matter of days.

But don’t be surprised that in a week or two, you know yourself slapping your leg again. Now the flea eggs (pupae) have hatched and they are looking for that first blood meal but since your cat is now treated, they are attacking you. So do the deep vacuum and spray down again. This should take care of you and your pet through flea season.

If you live with a cat sooner or later you will hear the charming sound of retching late at night somewhere in the house. You will quickly learn the value of wearing slippers as you stagger around those cigar-shaped masses early in the morning. Yes, kitty has hairballs.

Yep, out side of litter boxes, this is usually the thing most non-cat owners find the least attractive about our feline friends. The sudden gagging and elongated neck movements, I admit can be startling when first viewed. But hairballs are a common part of cat owner’s life.

What causes hairballs?

Basically cats are the neat freaks of the animal kingdom and will spend up 3 hours a day just licking and primping their coats. All this grooming continually pulls hair tufts loose, which your cat promptly swallows down.

Since cats are predators of all things small and furry, you would think that any swallowed hair would, uh…pass out the other end. And most of the times it does, but seems cats have developed sensitive stomachs over the thousands of years of mooching…I mean, living with us humans. All that soft living seems to make hairballs more prevalent.

So over time, these fur masses get bounded up in the feline intestinal tract and can not comfortably pass in the accepted manner. Hence the near death experience to bring up a hairball.

Can hairballs hurt my cat?

Normally no, most hairballs will pass harmless out of either end of your cat or the other and pose no health threat, although human disgust is an unfortunate side effect. Occasional hairballs, 1 to 4 times a month are considered normal.

But you should pay attention if your pet experiences frequent retching or straining without visible results (no hairball). This and staining at the litter box may indicate a possible blockage in the bowels. Take your pet to a vet’s office immediately since a blockage is life threatening.

How to prevent hairballs?

As long as cats groom themselves, this will always be an issue but there are some things you can do lessen the frequency and severity of the problem.

1) Combing or deep brushing your cat. For short hair cats you can use a fine tooth flea comb available from the pet section of a department store. For long or fine hair coats, I have found that instead of a comb that a good wire tooth coat brush (made for long hair dogs) seems to pull out loose hair tufts better than a comb on my pets.

2) Add fiber to your cat’s diet. Cats who travel outdoors often try to remedy this problem themselves by munching on grass. But if your pet is an urbanite or you don’t have access to a grassy enclosure, you can try adding a few teaspoons of canned pumpkin to the nightly dinner bowl. Or switch to a higher fiber dry cat food.

3) Add a lubricant. There are a number of good tasting commercial hairball remedies available. Most are petroleum jelly based and basically acts as both a lubricant and laxative for your kitty. Of course you can always just smear a dab of plain old Vaseline on the front paws of your pet. They in turn will rapidly lick the offending stuff off and into their stomachs.

But be careful that you don’t smear too much or else you will be washing gobs of petroleum jelly off the walls and lamp shades!