Hill’s Pet Nutrition Launches New Pet Food for Hyperthyroid Cats

I think this is really exciting news, and a great development in feline medicine!

This short video explains how a new Hill's Prescription diet formula can help restore thyroid function in cats suffering from hyperthyroidism. Simply click the link to watch the video. Enjoy!

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Launches New Pet Food for Hyperthyroid Cats

You can read more about hyperthyroidism here.

Tips for Bringing a New Cat or Kitten Home

Bringing a new cat or kitten home is exciting! However, what some new pet parents don't realize is that the new kitten or cat often needs time to adjust to his or her new home. Using these tips may help your new pet adjust to your home.

Coming Home: When you pick up your new feline from your shelter, adoption center, or breeder, have a carrier ready to take him or her home in. Most shelters and adoption centers will provide cardboard carriers for you to take home your new kitten or cat. Take your new pet directly from the shelter, adoption center, or breeder to your home. Do not stop and visit with anyone else or stop to go shopping. It is always dangerous to leave a kitten or cat in a car alone due to temperatures inside the car at any time of year. Therefore, purchase everything you need for a new cat or kitten ahead of time, if you don't already have a resident cat at home. In addition, if you have children, do not allow them to take your feline out of the carrier while you are in the car. Cats are almost always afraid to ride in the car, and taking your pet out will only cause chaos and more trauma for him or her.

Preparing a Place: New felines tend to be very nervous in new surroundings; moving from one home to another or from the shelter or adoption center to a home is very stressful for them. Thus, it is a great idea to set up a special quiet place for your new pet. This could be a spare room or in your bedroom, for instance. This space should contain a litterbox, food, water, toys, and a comfortable place for your cat to sleep, like a cat bed.

Be Patient: New feline owners must realize that when a cat moves into a new (or different, if previously owned) forever home, he or she needs time to adjust to his or her surroundings. Give your cat at least one month to adjust to your home. If he or she is hiding, simply let him or her be until your pet is ready to come out and explore. However, if your feline isn't drinking, eating, or toileting, it is time to call or visit your veterinarian.

Spend Time With Your New Feline: It is advisable to get your cat or kitten on a day when you can be at home with him or her, such as a weekend. Once you take your new feline out of his or her carrier, immediately show him or her where the litterbox is and provide a bowl of water. PAWS recommends waiting an hour to provide your new companion food.

Throughout the day, spend a lot of time with your new pet, talking calmly and softly to him or her and playing if he or she is interested in doing so. Supervise all visits children have with your new companion and remind them to treat the kitty with tenderness. PAWS also advises keeping children's visits to a minimum as to not overwhelm your new furry friend.

It is also common for felines to exhibit behavior problems in the first few days or weeks after moving into a new home. These problems often go away as your new pet adjusts to your home. Remember to give your kitty a month to adjust to your home before becoming concerned about any behavioral issues. If your pet is still exhibiting behavior problems after a month has passed, your veterinarian or vet behaviorist should be able to help you and your cat through the problem.

Additionally, it is quite common for a cat or kitten to hide in his or her new environment or for adult cats to jump up onto high furniture. Don't panic if your new cat or kitten does this. He or she will come out of hiding or down from the furniture when he or she is ready. Simply continue to talk calmly and gently to your feline.

Finally, find out what type of litter and food your cat or kitten was using before you bring him or her home. Continue to utilize the same litter and food your kitty was using previously to decrease the number of changes your new companion must cope with at once.

Bringing a new feline into your home is certainly exciting. Following these tips and being patient with your new companion will help you develop a loving, lasting bond with him or her.

Foods Toxic to Cats - Part 1

Veterinarians always encourage pet owners not to feet their cats food from the table. This is partly because a lot of the food we consume is toxic to cats. These are some known foods that are toxic to felines and how your kitty may react if he or she ingests them. Please do not use this list as a complete list of toxic foods to your pet.

Apples, apricots, peaches, cherries and plums: If your kitty ingests apples, crab apples, apricots, peaches, cherries, or plums, he or she may experience panting, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, and/or panting.

Avocado: The fruit, seeds, bark, and leaves of avocados are all likely toxic to pets. If your pet ingests any part of an avocado, he or she may vomit and/or have diarrhea.

Garlic and leeks: Garlic and leeks can cause serious symptoms if ingested by your cat. These include: the breakdown of red blood cells (which may result in Heinz body anemia or hemolytic anemia), vomiting, panting, a high heart rate, blood in the urine, and/or weakness.

Corn plant and cornstalk plant: Corn plant and cornstalk plant are both toxic to kitties as well. If your pet ingests these planets, he or she may experience vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, depression, excessive salivation and/or dilated pupils.

Fig: If ingested, your pet may salivate, vomit, or experience irritation in his or her mouth. If your pet's skin comes in contact with fig, he or she may develop dermatitis.

Chamomile: Chamomile can cause contact dermatitis where your cat's skin came in contact with the plant. If your feline ingests chamomile, he or she may experience an allergic reaction, loss of appetite, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Coffee: Coffee can increase a cat's heart and respiratory rates, can affect the central nervous system, and cause restlessness.

Grapefruit, lemon, and lime: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and possible photosensitivity are the clinical signs you may notice if your kitty has ingested grapefruit, lemon, or lime.

Grapes: diarrhea, lack of appetite, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, lethargy, and kidney damage may all occur as a result of your kitty ingesting grapes.

If you believe your cat has been in contact with or has ingested a toxic food or plant, please call your veterinarian, local veterinary/animal hospital, or the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 right away. It is important to note that a $65 fee may be charged to your credit card for utilizing the ASPCA's National Animal Poison Control Center.

Dry Cat Food Recall

Nestle Purina PetCare Company in St. Louis is recalling nearly 900 bags of dry cat food due to concerns of potential Salmonella.

Nestle Purina PetCare Company is recalling approximately 870 bags of dry cat food that were originally shipped to cat food customers in Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho. However, these customers may have distributed the product to other Western states as well.

The company is recalling 6.3-pound bags of Cat Chow Natural Dry Cat Food with UPC 17800 and 3.15 and 16-pound bags of Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food with UPC 50000. All bags of recalled food have a "Best By" date of AUG 2012. The date and production codes on recalled bags are "10331083 13" or "10331083 06." All of this information can be located on the back of the cat food bag.

The company is encouraging anyone who has a bag of recalled cat food to throw it away and contact them by phone 800-982-6559 or via their website for a refund.

Source:

CatChannel: Some Dry Cat Foods Recalled Due to Salmonella Concern

How to Tell if Your Cat is Sick - Part 2

In my last post, I discussed some ways in which you can tell if your cat is not feeling well. In this post, I will continue that discussion so that you have the best chance of spotting illness or pain early in your feline.

Skin and Coat: Changes in your cat's skin and coat is one sign that your furry friend may not be feeling well. A healthy feline's coat is slightly lustrous, clean, and soft, according to the website How Stuff Works. If your cat's coat is looking unkempt, dry, oily, or dull, he or she may not be feeling well.

If you see bald patches or spots with thinning hair on your cat, he or she could be experiencing an allergic reaction, flea infestation, or obsessively grooming oneself in reaction to stress.

As you probably already know (if you are a cat owner), cats are very diligent about keeping themselves clean. If you suddenly see your feline stop bathing or grooming himself or herself, he or she may be ill or in pain.

Of course, sometimes when a kitty looks unkempt, it is merely a sign that he or she needs more grooming attention from his or her human. It is always best to ask your veterinarian about changes you notice in your feline's grooming habits.

Ears: The appearance of the ears is another way in which you can determine if your pet is healthy. You should look inside your cat's ears periodically. Checking your pet's ears during grooming time is a good way to get into a routine. Ear mites look like dirt or coffee grounds in the ears. While some felines will itch or rub their ears if they have ear mites, not all of them do. Seeing a blue or yellowish tint in or around the ears indicates something may seriously be wrong with your kitty and you should call your vet immediately if you notice this.

Cats who spend time indoors and outdoors or who stay outdoors all the time also need to have their ears inspected regularly. In winter, a kitty's ears can develop frostbite in as little as an hour's time. Additionally, if your cat gets into a fight, his or her ears are easy targets for scratches and bites. Examining your pet's ears regularly will help you avoid infection if injury occurs.

Gums: Changes in the gums are another sign that something is wrong with your pet. In order to open your cat's mouth, How Stuff Works recommends placing one of your hands on top of your feline's head with your thumb on one side of the mouth and fingers on the other side. Lift your cat's head up so that his or her nose is pointed upward. Next, take your other hand and put one finger where your cat's front teeth meet. Push down on the lower jaw gently to open the mouth.

It is not uncommon for a feline's gums to take on the color of his or her coat. Additionally, orange cats can have harmless freckles on their lips, noses, and inside their mouths.

Your cat's gums should be a pink color (if not the color of his or her coat). White gums may mean your kitty is suffering from anemia. If your cat's gums have a bluish tint, he or she may not be getting enough oxygen. Finally, if you notice the gums have a yellowish tint, there may be something amiss with your furry friend's liver.

Eyes: A cat's eyes are also a good source of information about his or her health. Cat pupils come in different shapes naturally. However, if the shape or size of your feline's pupils change, it could be an indication that something is amiss. Additionally, if your pet's eyes appear milky, cloudy, or filmy, your furry friend may be suffering from cataracts, viral ulcers, or another type of vision problem, asserts the website How Stuff Works.

The iris, the colored part of the eye, is often a shade of blue, yellow, or green in cats. Some cats even have two different colored irises. If you notice changes to your pet's iris or if you notice the appearance of spots or splotches in the iris, call your veterinarian. Sometimes the iris looks like Swiss cheese, as if it's falling apart as a feline ages, even though it isn't.

The sclera, the white part of the eye should be white; you may also be able to see some small blood vessels as well. However, you should be concerned if the sclera is "bloodshot," contains ulcers or splotches of color, is yellow, or has obvious signs of injury like scratches, bruises, or scrapes.

Felines also have a third eyelid known as the nictitating membrane. Normally, you probably do not notice this eyelid very much. However, one of the ways you can tell your cat is sick is if his or her third eyelid is up - partially occluding the eyeball.

Finally, the pink fleshy part under your furry friend's eyelids is known as the conjunctiva. As with the third eyelid, you probably don't usually notice the conjunctiva. If the conjunctiva swells, it may give your cat's eye a "meaty" appearance and is an indication that something may be wrong.

If you notice any of the signs or symptoms discussed in this post or my last post, it is best to call your veterinarian for his or her opinion and recommendations on your cat's health.

May all the beloved felines and their humans remain healthy :)

Source:

How Stuff Works: How to Tell if Your Cat is Sick

How to Tell if Your Cat is Sick - Part 1

Cats are notorious for being able to hide their illnesses and pain from everyone. They've had to do this historically in order to not appear vulnerable to predators. However, their great ability to hide pain and illness can also make it difficult for feline parents to recognize when a cat is sick or in pain. Getting to know your cat's routine and his or her habits is very important for being able to recognize the early signs of possible illness or pain in your pet.

Appetite and Eating: Knowing your cat's eating habits will help you recognize when something is amiss with his or her appetite or eating. For instance, if you feed your cat dry food in the morning and it typically lasts all day, you'll recognize your cat is not eating as much or doesn't have an appetite if his or her bowl is half-full at the end of the day. If you feed your cat wet (canned) food everyday and he or she is typically excited about it, you can assume he or she has no appetite if your cat doesn't come running for his or her wet dinner as usual. However, if your cat comes running for his or her dinner and then doesn't eat much (or anything at all), your cat may not feel as if he or she can eat much. Loss of appetite and/or changes in eating habits is one sign your fur baby may be ill.

Drinking: Your cat's drinking habits are another important thing you should know about him or her. If your cat is not drinking as much as usual, he or she may become dehydrated and may need to get fluids at your veterinarian. In order to tell if your pet is dehydrated, gently lift up the skin between his or her shoulder blades and release it. If the skin falls back into place immediately, your feline is hydrated. If the skin does not snap back into place immediately, your cat is likely suffering from dehydration.

Similarly, if your furry friend begins drinking more water than usual, it could be a sign of a serious problem, such as diabetes.

Elimination: Though it may not be the most comfortable thing to think about, it is important to know your cat's usual elimination habits. If your feline is litterbox trained and typically uses his or her litterbox, he or she may be ill or in pain if he or she suddenly stops using it and eliminates elsewhere. Of course, a refusal to utilize the litterbox could simply mean that the box is not clean enough for your furry friend. However, if after cleaning the box and filling it with fresh litter, your cat still refuses to use the litterbox, there is likely something amiss with your pet.

Personality and Behavior Changes: Personality and behavior changes are another sign that may indicate something is wrong with your pet. If your cat typically greets you at the door when you come home and stops doing so, there may be something wrong. If your furry friend usually follows you around your home, but stops doing so and begins sleeping in another room while you are at home instead, this could mean your fur baby is ill. Lethargy and sudden aggressiveness are some other changes you might see in your pet if he or she is not feeling well.

These are just a few of the signs that may indicate your pet is not feeling well. I hope you will return to learn about other signs that your feline may be ill or in pain.

Dangers of the Great Outdoors to Cats

Many cat owners debate on whether they should allow their furry friends to go outside or whether they should keep their furry friends as indoor-only cats. Consider this: according to Traci M. Jones who wrote, "Perils in the Life of an Outdoor Cat," the average lifespan of a cat who spends all of his or her time outdoors is approximately a year and a half whereas the average lifespan for a cat who spends all of his or her time indoors is more than 15 years. There are several dangers to consider when deciding whether to allow your cat to spend time outdoors, and if so, when and where.

Heartworm: Cats, like dogs, can get heartworm when they spend time outdoors. This occurs when an infected insect bites a cat. If you allow your cat to spend any time outdoors, please be responsible and provide your furry friend with heartworm prevention. You can get heartworm prevention through your veterinarian.

Diseases: While there are vaccinations for some diseases, vaccinations have not been created against every disease your cat can get outdoors through other animals. Furthermore, according to Tracie M. Jones, while there are vaccinations against feline leukemia and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), they are not reliably effective.

Fleas, Tics, and Worms....Oh my! While fleas, tics, and worms do not pose life-threatening dangers to your cat, fleas, tics, and worms can make your cat - and you - very uncomfortable. When a cat gets fleas and brings them into your home, the fleas are just as likely to start biting you as they are your kitty. Additionally, getting rid of fleas is time-consuming and challenging! If you allow your cat to spend time outdoors, please be a responsible pet owner by putting regular flea and tic prevention on your kitty. You can purchase good quality flea and tic prevention, like Frontline or Advantage, from your veterinarian. Please do not utilize over-the-counter flea and tic prevention products such as Hartz as these products are often not safe for your furry friend.

In addition to fleas and tics, kitties can contract different types of parasites and worms while spending time outdoors. For instance, cats can contract ringworm by digging in dirt. Ringworm is very contagious to humans as well.

Toxic plants: There are hundreds of toxic plants to cats. If ingested, these plants can cause everything from vomiting to coma to death, depending on the plant ingested and how much was eaten. A few of the plants toxic to felines include: all types of lilies, cherries, daisies, spring parsley, tulips, irises, tomato plants, wisteria, and yews.

Cruel people: You might have a fence in your backyard, but this means nothing to your furry friend. To your furry friend, a fence is merely an obstacle to get over, not a barrier to keep him or her in your yard where he or she might be safe. If your cat jumps your fence into a neighbor's yard, your neighbor may or may not mind. If your neighbor doesn't want a furry visitor in his or her yard, though, your neighbor may not have any problem shooting, hitting, poisoning, or harming your fur baby in any other way.

Cats may not even be safe in your own backyard. I heard a very tragic story where a cat was taken from his own backyard and dunked in paint thinner! The cat ultimately lost his life due to the insanely cruel actions of another person.

Automobiles: In addition, if your cat escapes from your yard, he or she runs the risk of getting hit by an automobile. I used to live in the country where there are no speed limits on roads and it was not an uncommon occurrence to see a poor fur baby laying on the side of the road. It's horrible to think about, but the sad truth is, a lot of people never see cats (speed limit or not) until it's too late.

All of these dangers pose very real threats to our fur babies, but that doesn't mean you can't let your furry friend enjoy the great outdoors. If you choose to keep your cat strictly indoors, you can buy him or her nature DVDs that allow him or her to see the outdoors from the safety of your home. Window perches are another great way to allow your feline to enjoy the outdoors while inside. If you want to let your kitty go outside, my best advice would be to either build (or buy) him or her a secure outside enclosure or to put a harness and leash on your feline and take him outside with you so you can supervise his or her outdoor time.

Heat Stroke in Cats

In the heart of summer, the extreme heat may lead you to become dehydrated, and to experience physical symptoms such as dizziness and heart palpitations - signs that you may be suffering from heat stroke. Likewise, the heat can lead your cat to experience heat stroke as well. While our furry friends cannot tell us they are too hot, you can observe several signs in them that will tell you they are overheated.

At-Risk Cats:

Some cats are more prone to developing heat stroke than others. However, remember that ALL cats can suffer from heat stroke.

Cats who are especially prone to developing heat stroke include: kittens, senior cats (8 years old and older), obese cats, and cats who have dense coats, such as Persians.

Signs of Heat Stroke in Cats:

• Anxiety - your cat may be agitated or pace around.
• Lethargy.
• Panting.
• Gums that are dark red or pale in color.
• Bright red tongue.
  
• Increased internal body temperature - according to About, normal body temperature for felines is between 100.5 to 101.5 degrees. An internal temperature of 104 degrees or higher is cause for concern.
  
• Diarrhea and/or vomiting.
• Collapse.
  
• Nose bleed.
• Muscle tremors.
  
• Increased heartbeat.
• Lethargy.
• Hyperventilation or respiratory distress.
• Coma.
  

Preventing Heat Stroke in Cats:

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways in which you can help keep your kitty from overheating during the summer months. First, keep your cat indoors during summer months in a cool interior room of the house (preferably with some air conditioning or a fan). Some cats enjoy laying in the bathroom because the tile floor is often cooler than carpeted spaces.

One suggestion About has regarding keeping your cat cool that I really like is to take a bag of frozen peas and put them in your cat's bed. The peas will mold around him and he or she will have somewhere very cool to sleep.

Never leave your furry friend alone in a parked car, even for a few minutes. The temperature in a parked car rises very quickly, even in the cooler months, so it is essential that when you are traveling with your feline that there is plenty of ventilation.

In order to ensure your cat stays hydrated, ensure he or she always has a supply of fresh, cool, water. You might want to put more bowls of water down for your kitty during the summer because staying hydrated is so important. You can even drop an ice cube in your cat's water to encourage him or her to drink it.

If your cat shows the signs of heat stroke, it is essential that you begin cooling your cat as soon as possible. Get your kitty wet with cool, but NOT cold water. Next, wrap some cool, damp towels around him or her so that he or she can continue to cool down while you take your furry friend to the vet. If your cat exhibits the signs of heat stroke, it is essential that you take him or her to the vet (or a vet hospital) immediately, as this is a life-threatening condition.

You can help your cat stay cool this summer by utilizing these techniques. If you have found other techniques to work for keeping your feline cool, please feel free to share them in the comments section.

Types, Treatment, and Prevention of Sunburns in Cats

As I noted in an earlier post, cats can get sunburned just like humans. Sunburns raise the risk of your cat developing skin cancer in the future. Thus, it is important to know how to prevent sunburn. It's also important to be able to spot the signs and symptoms of sunburn in your cat so that he or she can get prompt treatment for it if it occurs.

While white cats are especially prone to sunburns, any place where a cat has thin fur is also prone to getting burned. These places include a feline's ears, stomach, and nose.

Prevention:

Prevention is always best when it comes to sunburns in pets. There are several ways in which you may prevent your furry friend from getting a burn in the warmer months. First, make sure your cat stays out of the sun during the sun's peak hours - between 10am to 4pm.

Next, if your kitty goes outside, lays in sunbeams, or sits in the window while the sun is out, you can put sunscreen on him or her to protect your kitty from burns. Some veterinarians recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher that is safe to use on infants. Ask your veterinarian for his or her recommendations for your furry friend. Be sure to apply the sunscreen to your cat's thin-skinned areas if he or she is not white or light-colored. If your furry friend is white or light colored, it is best to apply sunscreen all over his or her body to protect against sunburn. You should reapply sunscreen every two hours for best protection.

Finally, make sure your cat always has access to shade, whether he or she is spending time indoors or out. If your kitty likes spending time sunbathing or looking out the window, you can buy UV window film from your local home improvement store. The film is easy to apply and remove. The film is also available for sliding glass doors. As an added bonus, the film also helps keep your home cooler during the summer.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of sunburn in your cat will help you know when your pet needs medical attention.

Types of Sunburns:

First degree burns: When your cat has a first-degree sunburn, the top layer of his or her skin is affected. The burn will be red or pink in appearance.

Second degree burns: When your feline is suffering from a second degree sunburn, not only is the top layer of skin burned, but so is the layer of skin underneath the top layer. The burned skin will be red in appearance. There may also be blisters present.

Third degree burns: A third degree sunburn affects all the layers of a feline's skin. The affected area may appear white and dry or crusty.

Cats who are suffering from any degree of sunburn may begin to experience itchiness and/or pain. If your furry friend itches a sunburn a lot, it may also lead to bleeding and/or infection.

Treatment:

If you notice your cat has ANY degree of sunburn, it is important to get him or her veterinary care as soon as possible.

Treatment for sunburns in cats depends on what type of burn your furry friend has. Cleaning the burn, shaving the hair around the burn, antibiotics, and topical creams may be needed for first and second degree sunburns. Treatment of third degree sunburns requires hospitalization with intravenous fluids, daily bandage changes and wound care, topical creams, and possibly skin grafts.

Please take care of your cat's skin this summer to prevent your kitty from getting burned.

Protecting Your Cat Against the Sun

This Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer, unofficially. Thus, it's time to remind all cat owners of the dangers the sun poses to your cat.

Many cats are at risk of developing sunburns, even those who remain strictly indoors. White cats and cats who have thin fur are especially at risk for developing sunburns. However, certain parts on every feline's body where the skin is thinner can easily be burned. These areas include a cat's ears, tummies, and noses, especially pink noses.

If your cat spends time outside during the summer, he or she needs to have access to shade at all times. In addition, you should apply sunscreen to your cat's entire body if he or she is light-pigmented and to thin-skinned areas if your cat is not.

Even cats who spend time indoors sunbathing or looking outside the window can get sunburned. Similar to cats who spend time outside during the summer months, you should apply sunscreen to your feline's entire body if he or she is light in color and to thin-skinned areas if he or she is not light colored.

Dr. Alison Diesel, who is a lecturer of small animal dermatology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences asserts that sunscreens with SPFs of 50+ and that are safe to use on infants are also safe to use on felines. However, it is always best to ask your veterinarian for his or her suggestions about what is safe to use on your cat. Though they are hard to find, there are sunscreens on the market made specifically for cats.

Similar to humans, you will need to reapply sunscreen to your cat every two hours, regardless of whether he or she is spending time outside in the sun or inside sunbathing or spending time perched in the windowsill.

Darker colored cats are also prone to the dangers of the sun. These felines are more prone to heat stress because their coats do not reflect as much light as lighter coated felines do. Thus, darker coated cats may be more prone to developing heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Keeping your cat out of the sun at the sun's peak hours will also help you protect your feline from developing sunburns, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion. The sun's peak hours typically span from early afternoon to evening.

Source: CatChannel: Sun Danger for Cats

Helping an Arthritic Cat be More Comfortable at Home

Arthritis makes your kitty’s joints painful. In addition to treating your cat medically, there are things you can do at home to make your furry friend’s life more comfortable.

Beds: Arthritic cats may find it painful to lay on bare surfaces, so it’s important to provide him or her with soft, comfortable places to lay. Be sure your cat can easily access his or her resting areas. For instance, if you live in a two-story house, put bed on the ground floor so your feline won’t have to climb the stairs to find a comfortable resting place.

You could buy soft, cushy beds for your kitty at pet stores like PetSmart or department stores like Wal-Mart. Alternatively, you could lay soft blankets on the floor for your kitty. Carmine enjoys laying on my bed or in one of his soft kitty beds.

Litterboxes: It is also important to have a litterbox your arthritic cat can utilize easily. If your cat is having difficulty getting in and out of the litterbox, consider getting a pan with shallow sides. Additionally, the litterbox should be easily accessible. If you live in a multiple-story house, put at least one litterbox on each level to prevent your kitty from needing to run up or down the stairs to use the bathroom. If you have a large home, you may want to consider putting more than one litterbox on each floor so that your kitty doesn’t need to travel as far to use the bathroom as well.

Perches: Cats love vertical space; they feel safe and secure on perches at or above eye-level. However, it is often painful and difficult for a cat suffering with arthritis to reach high places. You can help your kitty access his or her favorite high spots by utilizing ramps. You could also use a series of smaller jumps to help your pet reach high spots. For instance, Carmine can easily access one of his favorite windows by jumping up onto my bed, then jumping into the window sill from there. He can manage these smaller jumps very easily. J

Food and Water: As with beds and the litterbox, your kitty needs to be able to easily access his or her food and water dishes. It is essential for arthritic cats to maintain a healthy diet and continue drinking water. Put your cat’s food and water dishes in a room where he or she spends most of his or her time. You may also want to consider slightly elevating your cat’s dishes so that he or she doesn’t have to bend down as far to eat and drink.

Along with medical treatment, making these simple changes at home can help your cat live a more comfortable, less painful, and happier life.

If you have other tips to share, please do so in the comments section. I would love to hear your experiences.

Symptoms and Treatment Approaches to Feline Arthritis

As I discussed in my last post, arthritis is a progressive condition in which a cat’s cartilage breaks down and his or her joints become inflamed and painful.

If your kitty has arthritis, he or she may exhibit some of these symptoms:

• Decreased flexibility.
• Crying or other displays of discomfort when you hold or pet your cat in a certin way.
• Lethargy or inactivity.
• Stiffness.
• Swollen joints.
• Inconsistently using or no longer using the litterbox due to pain when climbing in and out of it.
• Hesitating to do certain activities, such as: jumping, climbing stairs, and running.

Because the symptoms of feline arthritis may be due to another condition, it is important for you to take your cat to the veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis before beginning any treatment.

Your cat's veterinarian will perform a physical exam, take blood, and take x-rays to determine if your kitty is suffering from arthritis. If your vet determines your pet's symptoms are due to arthritis, he or she will recommend the best treatment for your furry friend's specific circumstances.

Treatments for feline arthritis include:

• Nutritional supplements - Glucosamine and Chondroitin are known to help painful, inflamed joints. You can often find these two supplements in products for cat arthritis together, like in Cosequin.
  
• Anti-inflammatory medication - There are not many anti-inflammatory drugs for cats and they can have side-effects. Thus, vets will typically recommend a nutritional approach to treating arthritis and use anti-inflammatory medication as a last resort.
  
• Weight-loss for obese or overweight cats - Weight-loss has been shown to be beneficial for cats who are overweight or obese. Weight-loss can be attained through proper diet and exercise, which should be guided by your veterinarian.
  

In addition to these approaches to treating arthritis in cats, you can also make changes in your home to make your kitty more comfortable. I will discuss environmental changes you can make for an arthritic cat in my next post.

What is Feline Arthritis?

Arthritis in cats often develops as a cat ages in much the same way it does in humans. While the most common cause of arthritis in cats is aging, it can also occur after an injury or infection.

Feline arthritis is inflammation in the joints. As a kitty ages, the typically smooth surface of the cartilage wear thin. The body repairs the cartilage as it erodes. However, the surface of the cartilage may become incomplete or irregular. Changes in the surface of the cartilage cause the bones to rub together, inflammation, and joint pain.

Obese cats are at especially high risk for developing arthritis because excess weight puts more strain on the cat’s joints. For this reason, weight management may be a part of a treatment plan for obese cats suffering with arthritis.

The most commonly affected joints include the hips, shoulders, ankles, and elbows, though any joint in the body can be affected.

Unfortunately, arthritis is a progressive disease and most senior cats will suffer with arthritis to some degree.

Please be sure to check back tomorrow to learn the symptoms and treatments for feline arthritis.

Carmine: Arthritis & Cosequin

Approximately six weeks ago, I took my kitty Carmine to the vet. My kitty had lost 10 ounces over the past year and I was very concerned about him. After doing blood tests, a urinalysis, an x-ray, and getting exams, Carmine's vet decided that his weight loss was due to stress. Thankfully, he has maintained his weight over several weeks and has not lost any more. In fact, I've noticed that he's recently started to eat more kibbles, which is definitely a positive sign! :)

However, Carmine's x-ray revealed that he has mild arthritis in one of his hips, which none of us were expecting seeing as he is only six years old. I had noticed that he was laying around and sleeping more than he used to. I just figured that this was typical because he is middle-aged now.

After discovering the arthritis, Carmine's vet suggested I put him on a joint supplement called Cosequin. It's available in powder form - you get it in capsules, which you can open and sprinkle onto wet or dry food. I give Carmine his Cosequin on his wet food because I have another cat who shares Carmine's dry food bowl.

Within the past few days, I've noticed Carmine runs around - up and down the hall - like he used to do as a kitten! He also jumps more. He's more active, the way I've always known him to be.

I was reminded how much cats truly hide their pain from us. It is a cat's instinct to hide their pain and illnesses from everyone. Even though many cats have loving, safe homes, like my kitties do, cats have learned to appear healthy to keep themselves safe from prey.

That's why it's so important for us, as caregivers of these precious creatures, to pay close attention to our cats' behavior. Knowing your cats' behavior and typical routine will help you spot changes in behavior, which is often a sign that a cat is sick or in pain.

I'm so glad we found out that Carmine has arthritis early. This will give us the chance to make sure he is not suffering in pain and that he can live a comfortable and happy life. The Cosequin has really helped him a lot, and it makes me happy seeing him more active, in less pain, and content. He is my angel. :)

The Science Diet Million Pound Pledge

Indoor cats live happy, healthy, and safe lives. Unfortunately, they can also become overweight or obese due to the lack of hunting that's required by cats living outdoors. Being overweight or obese puts cats at-risk for health problems like diabetes.

To help combat feline obesity, Allison Sweeney, host of NBC's, "The Biggest Loser," and Hill's Pet Nutrition have started a new initiative - The Science Diet Million Pound Pledge.

You can begin by going to this website and taking the pledge stating that you will help your cat (or dog) lose weight so that you and your furry friend can share a long, happy, healthy life together. Once you take the pledge, you can print out a rebate form to send in for the purchase of the Science Diet weight-management food of your choice.

Hill's offers over-the-counter weight-loss/weight-management food and prescription weight-loss/weight-management food available through a veterinarian for both cats and dogs.

Remember, it is always best to discuss your pet's diet and nutritional needs with your vet before you begin a weight-loss regimen.

Feline Blood Types

In browsing CatChannel today, I found this quiz on Cat Blood Types.

Enjoy learning about your feline's blood type :)

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