What Every Cat Lover Should Know About Cat Health

Our pets can sometimes be as close to us as members of our
family, that’s why cat owners will want to know as much as they
can about cat health. The following are the major things to know
about caring for your cat in a loving way:

DIET: Cat health is strongly affected by what your pet eats.
Obesity is a major factor in heart disease particularly as you
cat gets older. Choose a pet food for your cat that is right for
it’s age but feed it regularly. Consistency is the key to a
well-fed pet.

GROOMING: Longhaired cats should be groomed regularly for
optimum cat health. Use a pet brush and groom no less than once
a week.

LITTER: The litter box can be a danger to both cat health and
human health if it isn’t cleaned regularly. Change your pet’s
letter no less than once every four days and keep a small dish
of baking soda near the litter area. 

ELDERLY CATS: Some diseases occur because your pet gets older.
These can be labeled elderly cat health problems. As cats age
their kidneys and eyesight fail and may need special diets.

SCRATCHING: Scratching is a major cat health concern because if
a cat scratches regularly it is often a sign of other problems.
If your cat is scratching an area a lot try a delousing product
and then take your pet to the vet.

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: Many cat health problems relate to difficult
or uncommon behavior. Listlessness can be a symptom of
depression. Strange aggression is sometimes caused by hormone
imbalances. 

DECLAWING: Choosing to declaw can be a major factor in Cat
health. If you choose to declaw your pet it is important to
remember to keep them inside at all times. 

PARASITES: Parasites like ringworm, heart worm and rabies can
greatly affect cat health. Blood in a cat’s stool or uncommon
appetite are common signs of parasites. 

STRESS: Stressful situations like moving, travelling, natural
disasters or even changes in the family can affect cat health.
To minimize the effects of stress on your pet, purchase a
tranquilizer for distance travelling and have a place in your
home where your cat can escape if there are busy changes in the
house. 

POISON: Part of managing cat health is making sure dangerous
poisons like antifreeze are inaccessible to your pet. Some
plants are fatal to cats so make sure to raise your plants and
lock your toxins.

MOUTH: Cat’s often have mouth diseases and this can impact cat
health. Cat’s are just as prone to gingivitis as humans and cats
can also develop. For problems like rodents ulcer or bad breath,
brush your cat’s teeth with a small child’s toothbrush.

INDOORS/OUTDOORS: One of the greatest factors in determining cat
health is whether you cat goes out of doors. Cars, children,
other animals and toxins are all dangerous and should be avoided
by keeping your cat indoors. 

Cat health is an issue that concerns us all and hopefully this
article has provided you with information that will make your
cat’s life safer and healthier.