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We love our pets and they love us. This blog is dedicated to all of our furry friends.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Summertime Care for Your Cat- CLICK HERE!

During the summer, your cat can be affected by the hot summer heat as much as a human. Cats need a cool, shady place to spend their summer days with access to a supply of fresh water. Here are some tips to help keep your cat in good health throughout the summer:

- In order to avoid an over-heating cat, make sure that your cat has plenty of water. A simple dish of water is all you need to help keep your cat hydrated. If your cat enjoys spending time outdoors, it is a good idea to set up a little oasis for your cat with a fresh supply of water. Try to keep your cat’s time spent outdoors to a minimum.

- Make sure your cat is properly groomed during the summer. Keep your cat’s fur clean and neat. If your cat has long hair, it is important to brush the fur on a regular basis to help reduce the amount of shedding and the build-up of hairballs.

- Hairballs tend to be worse in the summer, so make sure that you give your cat some hairball relief. A great hairball treatment for cats is the Miracle Malt Hairball Remedy by Four Paws. This gentle treatment helps to prevent and treat hairballs.

- Fleas are also worse in the summer for your cat. To help prevent fleas from bothering your cat, use a flea treatment such as Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Repellent for Cats. This treatment will help keep fleas off of your cat and out of your home.

Labels: cat dishes, cat flea treatment, Cat Hairballs

posted by WildBirds # 7:40 PM 0 Comments

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Cat Hairballs - Why, When and How to Prevent- CLICK HERE!

Hairballs happen because of a cat's natural grooming ritual.

When the cat licks and inevitably ingests his own fur, knots of hair gradually build up in the cat's stomach. Once a ball of hair forms it stays trapped in the stomach. These hairballs can grow bigger as more hair tangles up with it. Finally the hairball gets coughed up - (usually on your favorite couch or carpet).

Some cats have no problems with hairballs, but for other cats – especially longhair cats - hairballs can be an annoying fact of life. Occasional hairball episodes (a few times a month) are considered very normal for most house cats and usually hairball prevention is the best treatment.

A daily ritual of gently brushing out your cat's loose fur is the best remedy. The less loose cat fur on your cat, the less fur ends up in his stomach. It is EXTREMELY important during heavy shedding seasons. A daily brushing habit established early in a cat's life will be looked upon by the kitten AND YOU as a wonderful ritual spent between the two of you.

Although it is possible and even probable, starting a daily grooming session later in life can pose it's own challenges. Start your grooming ritual when your cat is still a kitten.

If daily brushings aren't keeping the hairballs to a minimum, then other treatments can include petroleum-based laxative preparations such as Laxatone. Smear laxatone on your cat's chin so that he’ll lick it off.

This won’t prevent new hairballs from forming, but it should bring up any stubborn hairballs that kitty has been unsuccessfully gagging on. Another remedy to try might be a cat food that contains a hairball control component like:

Indoor Formula Soft Chews for Cats

Grass Gel for Cats

Cat Hairball Reduction Formula Cat Food

Hairball Treats For Cats

Note: Any hairball problem that cannot be solved with extra daily brushings should be referred to a vet. Cats vomit for a number of different reasons, some of them quite serious.

A condition that appears to be “chronic” hairballs could actually be a severe stomach problem or even a life-threatening intestinal disorder, and would require veterinary testing in order to determine the correct diagnosis.

Labels: Cat Grooming, Cat Hairballs