The modern age has provided us with luxuries that most people did not have up until a little less than 100 years ago. Humans are not the only ones that have benefited from technological advances. Today’s feline certainly has many more advantages than the feral and even domesticated cats of ages past. Today, the house cat can now experience the most advanced forms of feline comfort in ways that mimic our most coveted human luxuries.

One of the latest advancements in cat furniture is called the Kittypod. The Kittypod is an elegant cat bed and scratching post. After getting a good morning stretch, the cat can descend from its bowl shaped Kittypod and get a good scratch on its supporting pillar below. Continue reading »

Keeping Your Cat’s Ears Free Of Diseases

Many cats get a disorder of their ears which is called “Otitis Externa“. This disorder causes the external ear canal to be inflamed. It is typically caused by mites, which are very tiny annoying parasites that measure from 0.3 to 0.5 mm, and belong to the genus Otodectes family.

Not all cats will develop these types of disorders, even if they are being inhabited by mites and other parasites. The truth is that it depends on the health of your cat and how resistant he is to attacks. For example, when I brought my cat to his first check-up my veterinarian told me that he had been a carrier of mites for at least six months, but because he had high resistant levels he remained healthy.

Continue reading »

Guest Blogger: W. P. Allen

If you are a cat owner, it is immensely important for you to know about cat poisoning symptoms. Anything injurious to our body is known as poison. Cats, at times, get in touch with things like insects, dead animals and toxic plants because of their curiosity of pursuing objects such as trivial game or wood piles, weed thickets and storage ports. It is a tough job to know the cause of poisoning because of the existence of a mixed bag of poisonous plants and shrubs, unless the owner is an eyewitness to it. Consequently, sometimes the object remains unknown, whereas, sometimes we point out the wrong ones.

Household chemicals, plants, trees and shrubs can all be harmful for a cat and the cat owners should have an apt knowledge of it. When you suspect a case of poisoning, the job of a vet becomes easier, if you can particularly name the object causing this poisoning. Some plants and household chemicals are mentioned here that can affect your cat; although, it is tough to know about the agent once your cat steps out.

Continue reading »

Cat dandruff is common among diabetic cats. A study shows that about 1 in 200 cats have what is known as diabetes mellitus (DM). There are many other kinds of skin disorders that can affect cats. If your cat is suffering from a skin problem, and if you want your pet to get better, here are some things you can do.

Often, a skin problem is caused by poor nutrition. So it’s a good idea to start by changing your pet’s diet if you’re currently feeding one of the budget brands of cat food. There are many high quality foods available on the market. Your vet might even suggest a prescription food to address certain dietary needs.

You can also give your cat supplements of fish oil, which has been shown to help get rid of the dandruff problem. Tuna, which is rich in Omega 43 fatty acids, will also help to improve the problem. Continue reading »

Do pet cats need to be vaccinated? The short answer to this question is yes. If that was all you needed to know, the rest of this article is perhaps meaningless and you should go immediately to your veterinarian to get the annual shot for your cat right now. However, for those of you still unsure of whether or not you should get your cat vaccinated, I have a little story for you that may help round up your emotions to make a good decision.

Imagine little Fluffy running through the forest. Out of nowhere, a feral cat attacks little Fluffy. Little Fluffy seems fine and you do not take him to the veterinarian. A year passes and Fluffy decides to bite your next-door neighbor’s child because Fluffy did not like his tail being pulled. Because Fluffy was not vaccinated, little Fluffy, regardless of who’s fault it was, will probably be put down because he did not get his vaccination. Continue reading »

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a big supporter of pet rescue.  With the exception of 1, all of the dozens of cats and dogs we’ ve had the pleasure to share our home with have been rescued from either a shelter or an abusive or neglectful situation.   A good portion of our yearly charitable contributions go to animal rescue organizations.

The other day, I became aware of an organization that I had never heard of: The Blind Cat Rescue and Santuary, a no-kill, no-cage shelter in St. Pauls, NC.  Their main focus is caring for blind cats that probably would otherwise be euthanized because of their handicap.

Although I have had a couple blind dogs in the past, it never occurred to me that there were rescue organizations dedicated mainly to caring for blind pets.  In retrospect, it seems silly that I never considered it.  After all, it takes specialized knowledge to know how to care for a blind animal (never mind multiple blind animals at once).  I can attest to that.

You should take some time and check out their web site.  You’ll be amazed at what they’re doing. for these pets that would otherwise be forgotten.  And please make a donation if you can.  These folks are doing some great work.

http://BlindCatRescue.com

Nick Bulka “The Pet Supply Guy”

Using the right grooming tools, cats are very simple to groom, especially once they get used to being brushed and combed.  This is true regardless of what type of cat you own: short haired cats, medium haired cats, and wire-haired cats. All you have to do is run the comb over their fur and follow through with a grooming glove or slicker brush to create a soft coat that is filled with luster and shine.

Grooming Short-haired Cats

One huge benefit of grooming a short-haired cat such as a Cornish Rex is that you can use a flea comb on their fur. Flea combs have very narrowly placed teeth that scrape up those pesky little fleas while at the same time giving your cat’s fur a thorough brushing.
Continue reading »

It should go without saying that you should never, ever use violence to attempt to correct unwanted behavior in your cat. And when it is necessary to discipline your cat, never let your cat know that the discipline is coming directly from you. That may sound strange at first, but it is quite fitting, especially since your goal is to create a strong bond with your little feline friend.

If your cat relates discipline, anger, or pain with you, then you run the risk of having your cat fear you when your goal is to have him love you. There’s not much of a relationship when your pet runs away every time you approach. It’s much better to develop methods of discipline that the cat will not associate directly with you. This way, they associate an unpleasant result, and not you, with their unwanted behavior,

In other words, disciplining your cat should be done in a way so that he directly relates the action with whatever he was doing “wrong” - not you. Continue reading »

It’s important for all cat owners to pay attention to their cat’s dental health.  Unhealthy teeth can lead to other serious health problems.  Consider that if it’s painful for a cat to eat, their diet will be affected because they may not eat a sufficient quantity of food to maintain a healthy weight.

Cats may suffer from a wide range of dental conditions if they are not properly cared for. That is why it is the responsibility of the pet owner to make sure that his or her pet cat follows a regimen of good dental hygiene. It may be work, but it well serve you and your feline friends well in the long run.
Continue reading »

Cat furniture is a commodity that is known by many names. The most common include Cat Trees, Cat Condos, Kitty Condos, Cat Towers, Cat Climbers, Cat Scratchers and Cat Gyms. There are dozens more, but whatever term you use to describe cat furniture, the purpose is the same - to enable your cats to follow their instinctual desire to scratch without damaging your furniture, carpet, or other belongings, and also to give them a place of their own where they can exercise, play, and lounge.

There are many different types of cat furniture, made from such a variety of materials, that shopping for cat furniture can be confusing. Which materials are better? What design is the most stable? What size should I buy? Which style would my cat like? In this article, I’ll try to help you answer these questions so you can make a more informed buying decision.
Continue reading »