Healthy Cat Blog

The Healthy Cat Blog lists all the updates to this site. I'll let you know as soon as I add new pages or change anything. I'll also let you know when I find other great resources to keep your cat or kitten healthy and happy.

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May 9, 2008, Tape Worm Tab Dosage

Bridgette from the U.S. writes:

"Hello,

I purchased Tape worm tabs. Does my cat only get 1 pill? Please help me out. I do not know the dosage.

Thank you so much!"

The proper dosage is based on your kitty's weight. Please see the "permalink" for more details.

Apr 11, 2008, Choosing the Best Cat Food

Premium cat food nutrition is essential for your cat's good health. What to look for on cat food labels...how much to serve...dry food or wet food...treats for your cat. Info on pet food recall.

Mar 7, 2008, Plan to Sleep In This Weekend?

"My cat informs me that my desire to sleep in on the weekend is directly proportional to his need to attack my foot at 4:30 a.m."

--Chris Thornton

Jan 28, 2008, Cat and Kitten Needing Different Food

Barb Thomas writes: I have a new kitten who has a poor tummy. She does well on kitten food, but I also have a cat who will eat whatever. Can the Cat eat kitten food? It would be about 4 months (Tess, the kitten, is about 6 months old already).

Dear Barb,

Thank you for your email. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, but this website is a part-time endeavor for me. (I hope that I encourage people enough to contact their vets if there is a problem with their kitties!)

Yes, the older cat "can eat kitten food." The problem is that age-specific (and other "specialty" foods) are formulated for specific cats. So your older cat may not get what she needs in her diet. This can potentially lead to health problems later on. It's important to keep Tess on the kitten food as it will provide her with the extra nutrition she needs to grow.

You really need to find a way to give them both the "right" food. (I know how difficult that can be! I have a neighbor whose cats I care for frequently and I have to stay and supervise their eating.) If there's no way to supervise your kitties, I would contact your vet and ask them for a pet food recommendation (or go to Only Natural Pet Store). They also have a vet you can write to, but it takes them a while to respond. Unfortunately, both responses may be that you just have to feed them separately.

Good luck,
Debra

Dec 22, 2007, How to Heat a Cat Bed

Heated cat beds are great at this time of year (for those of us who live in cold places, of course). However, they can be costly. I personally have some concerns about their safety, but I tend to be very cautious when it comes to the health of my kitties.

I recently heard of another great way to warm up my cat's bed. I tried it and my older cat loves it! The trick? Add a hot water bottle to your cat's bed.

Of course, it will depend on your kitty's bed as to where the best place will be to put the hot water bottle in relation to the bed. You want to be careful that your cat doesn't puncture it (not only will this make a mess, but it could burn your cat!).

Hot water bottles usually are made from very thick material, but you may want to put another layer or two around the bottle. You could use, for example, a towel.

Dec 22, 2007, Mistletoe is a Poisonous Plant

This from the ASPCA:

"While it may be nice to run into your sweetie under the mistletoe, this traditional holiday plant can be potentially toxic to our animal companions.

Found throughout the United States, American mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant that lives off a variety of different tree species. If ingested in large enough quantities, mistletoe can potentially produce gastrointestinal irritation, excessive thirst and urination, a drop in blood pressure and heart rate, seizures, coma and even death in pets. According to our experts at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), however, most animal ingestions involve small quantities—not more than the amount found in a sprig or two—and typically result in mild stomach upset that resolves with little or no treatment.

Remember, if you suspect that your pet has ingested a potentially toxic substance, contact your local veterinarian or APCC at (888) 426-4435. For more pet poison prevention tips, visit ASPCA.org."

Nov 30, 2007, Cats Can Purr When They are Sick

I was talking to a friend recently about the fact that cats sometimes purr when they are in pain or distress. She was unaware of this fact. I used to be, too. I have in the past taken comfort in a purring kitty who I thought was sick (and in fact was). I thought that since they were purring, they must have felt OK.

The last time I had to put down a cat (dear Keiko) is when I learned that cats can and do purr when they are sick and/or dying. That was quite a shock. The news made my friend very sad, as well.

Nov 13, 2007, Healthy Cat Pregnancy

Need-to-know information on cat pregnancy, including how to care for your pregnant cat, cat pregnancy signs, and how to prepare for the birth.

Oct 30, 2007, Microchipping Your Cat

Microchipping your cat can help get her home quickly and safely. Veterinarians inject microchips under your cat’s skin. The chip contains your cat’s identifying information.

Oct 29, 2007, Cat Flea Allergies

Some cats suffer severely from flea allergies. One flea bite can make your cat miserable. Endless scratching and biting is very uncomfortable and harms your cat.

Oct 29, 2007, Important Info for Your Cat's Health

I often receive emails from people describing some health problem that their cat or kitten is having. I'm asked by the writer to diagnose the problem and make a recommendation.

These emails are sent to me through my Contact form. On the page for this form, I write, "But please note, that we are cat lovers like yourself, not veterinarians, and we cannot give you veterinary advice. If you suspect that your cat or kitten is sick, please contact your trusted vet right away."

People still write. I write back and tell them again that I'm not a vet and ask them to take their kitty to their vet.

Please, please, please take your cat or kitten to a trusted veterinarian if you suspect your kitty is sick. Don't waste precious time writing to cat lovers with websites. We care, but we cannot help your sick kitty.

Oct 28, 2007, Who's Smarter, Cats or Dogs?

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow."

-Jeff Valdez

Oct 27, 2007, Another Difference Between Cats and Dogs

One difference between cats and dogs is that dogs come when they are called. Cats take a message and get back to you.

Oct 26, 2007, Mark Twain on Cats and Humans

"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat. it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat."

-Mark Twain

Sep 29, 2007, Litter Boxes and Toxoplasmosis

I clean my two litter boxes two times a day and I wash my hands immediately afterwards. That's two times a day that I'm thinking about writing an article about toxoplasmosis for My Healthy Cat.

Until I get around to writing the article, just trust me. Wash your hands after you clean the litter box.

Sep 27, 2007, Cats Giving Birth to Kittens

I highly recommend getting your cat spayed or neutered. There are already too many homeless cats that are being euthanized in animal shelters. Please consider adoption.

However, if you do find yourself with a pregnant cat, do you know what to expect at the birth time? Check out this page to learn about cats giving birth to kittens.

Sep 25, 2007, For the Love of Cats

I've added a new resource to my Cat Resources page. It's a comprehensive site about cats by a Cat Whisperer.

Check out this page for a list of other cat- and pet-related sites.

Sep 19, 2007, Cats and Their Tails

Question: Where does a cat go when it loses its tail?

Answer: The retail store.

Sep 6, 2007, Care for a Pregnant Cat

How to care for a pregnant cat during the early and later stages of feline pregnancy.

Sep 5, 2007, Choosing the Right Cat Bed

Cats spend most of their time sleeping. What to look for when choosing a comfortable cat bed for your healthy cat. Be sure to keep it clean and put it in a place your cat likes.

Aug 30, 2007, Common Cat Health Problems

Some cat health problems are minor problems if they're taken care of right away. For example, fleas can be eliminated with a number of conventional and natural methods. However, left untreated, they can lead to tapeworm and anemia.

Check out our page on other common cat health problems and what to look out for.

If you suspect your cat or kitten is ill, please call your veterinarian right away.

Aug 30, 2007, Outdoor Cat Flea Control

Outdoor cats and indoor/outdoor cats have a greater likelihood of getting fleas than indoor-only cats. Not only do you need to control the fleas on your cats, but eliminating the fleas outside is also a good idea (if not a challenge!).

Aug 27, 2007, Drooling Cats

I guess I'm fortunate that my two kitties don't drool when they're happy. I have one cat friend (Sidney) who is a big boy. He's a grey tabby and very sweet, although if he gets overstimulated from too much petting, he'll turn around and attack you. But before that point, he purrs and drools up a storm (or is that a puddle?).

Aug 23, 2007, Plants Poisonous to Cats

A friend of mine is moving across the country. She has a bunch of indoor plants she is leaving behind. She offered me her plants. For two reasons, I had to decline her offer.

The first reason is that I'm not good at identifying which plants are poisonous to my cats. The other reason is that I'm just not very good at keeping them alive!

Aug 22, 2007, Cat Flea Insecticides

Are you using conventional flea medication for your cat? Each of the popular flea control medicines have different insecticides. Before choosing which product you will use, it's a good idea to know what the potential side effects are.

Aug 21, 2007, Long-Haired Persian Cat Humor

I was visiting a friend who was housesitting the other day. The resident cat was a Calico-colored, long-haired Persian cat. She was about 18 years old. She was sitting in the middle of her people's king-sized bed. I had to reach a long ways to get a good petting in. I stroked and stroked the little kitty. She was probably 70 percent hair! By the time I stroked her and got her purring up a storm, all her hair was smoothed down.

Here's the funny part. She gave a good shake and all her hair puffed out increasing her size by about three times! It was the funny thing I'd seen in weeks!

All you long-haired cat people find this to be an every day occurrence. But I'm a short-haired cat person, so this was extra fun for me.

Jul 28, 2007, Choosing a Cat Litter Box

Small cat litter boxes, large boxes, automatic self-cleaning boxes, domes, rectangles, open, hooded; there are so many different kinds of litter boxes or litter pans.

How do you know which one is best for your healthy cat or kitten?

Jul 26, 2007, Cat Litter Discussion

A complete cat litter discussion about choosing the right cat litter for your healthy cat. Natural cat litter, flushable cat litter, dust-free cat litter; which is best for your cat's health?

Jul 24, 2007, Choosing Cat Furniture

Basically, all the furniture in your home belongs to your cat! However, if you want to encourage your cat or kitten to keep off "your" furniture, you'll have to provide some quality, comfortable cat furniture for your feline friend.

Jul 14, 2007, Cats and Dogs Living Together

Is it possible for cats and dogs to live together in peace and harmony? Or at least to leave each other alone?

The relationship between your cat and dog will depend, in part, on how you make the introductions.

Jul 12, 2007, The Multi-Cat household

Are you bringing your new cat or kitten home to a household that already has a resident cat? If so, here are some ideas to help you make the adjustment easier.

Jul 8, 2007, Bringing Home a New Cat or Kitten?

Do you know what to do to make your home ready for a new cat or kitten? Do you have all the cat supplies you need?

Here are some tips to make your home cat-ready and comfortable for the new addition to your home.

Jun 30, 2007, Is Catnip Addictive?

Can my healthy cat become addicted to catnip? Is catnip dangerous to my cat or kitten? Is it OK for my cat to eat catnip? Will catnip make my cat aggressive?

Here are the answers to your catnip addiction questions.

Jun 27, 2007, Grow Your Own Catnip

Cats go crazy over catnip and it's a wonderful treat. However, just as with anything you give to your cat, you should only give the best. Organic catnip ensures that your cat isn't exposed to harmful pesticides used for traditional plants.

Even better, grow your own catnip to have a constant fresh supply on hand.

Jun 26, 2007, Kittening Box

Until somewhat recently, I had never heard of a "kittening box." As you can probably figure out, a kittening box is a box for pregnant cats to give birth to their kittens in. As I am a big fan of spaying and neutering, I have only had one experience kitten birth. I was a child of twelve at the time. My mama cat decided to give birth to her kittens under my bed. It was a dark and secluded place with easy access for the mother cat. Kittening boxes have these features, too, but they make it a lot easier for you to keep clean the area where your kittens will be spending the first weeks of their lives.