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Grooming
can be a special bonding time between you and your cat. You can also use this time to check your cat’s health. Look carefully for signs of fleas, ticks, skin irritations, lumps or painful spots. Check your cat's eyes, ears and teeth regularly. Consult your veterinarian if you find anything unusual or concerning. Most people find that their cats do a good job of grooming themselves but longhaired and medium haired breeds as well as older cats need extra attention.
Shedding
Hairballs are common especially in longhaired cats. To minimize hairballs, brush your cat thoroughly and regularly or try a commercial hairball remedy like Lax’aire™, closely following package directions. You may also use a dry pet food with a hairball control formula. (More Cat Grooming Care Products)
Brushing and combing
Shorthaired cats generally require once a week brushing with a slicker brush and maybe a fine-tooth comb. Longhaired cats require more frequent grooming up to 2-3 times a week with a brush, wide-tooth comb and a flea comb, like the one found within our Cat Flea Control Products. Outdoor cats may require daily brushing and combing, particularly if they have long or medium length coats. If your cat's seems to be scratching excessively, or it’s hair is falling out, or you notice any form of skin rash, consult with your veterinarian. (More Cat Grooming Care Products)
Bathing
Generally speaking you should not have to bathe your cat. Cats do a really good job of keeping themselves clean. However, should bathing be necessary, use a mild cleansing shampo like Berry Gentle Tearless Shampoo designed for cats. Remember, just because it works for the dog does not mean it works for the cat. Rinse and dry your cat thoroughly. Introducing cats to baths at a young age makes the job much easier and less stressful later in life. (More Cat Grooming Care Products)
Trimming nails
Cats living indoors may need their nails clipped once a week to minimize destruction of furniture and draperies. If your cat's nails snag on fabric or carpet it's time to clip them. Specially designed clippers should be used. Scissors can crush and injure your cat's nails. Clipping a cat's nails is generally a job for two persons. Gently pressing on one toe with thumb and forefinger cause the claw to "pop" into full view for easy clipping. Be careful not to cut into the quick (the pink area at the base of the nail containing nerves and blood vessels). (More Cat Grooming Care Products)
Ear cleaning
It is important to check your cat's ears once a week for dirt and debris. If your cat's ears need cleaning, use a product designed for cleaning cats’ ears such as MalAceticOtic™. If you are unsure, ask your veterinarian to show you the proper cleaning procedure. Clean gently and never go deeper into the ear than you can see. Consult your veterinarian if you find deeply embedded wax or debris or detect redness or pain. (More Cat Ear Care Products)
Hairballs in Cats
Hairballs in cats are an accumulation of hair in the feline's stomach or small intestine. For a detailed article on the subject go to our Hairballs in Cats article. Since cats spend a lot of time licking and cleaning themselves hairballs are a common problem in both shorthaired and longhaired cats. Normally most of the hair that is swallowed is passed through the animal's digestive system and out in the stool. Occasionally the hair that doesn't get excreted gathers in the cat's stomach or intestine forming a thick ball that cannot be passed. The ball is then vomited or causes an obstruction.
The signs of hairballs in cats are related to the digestive system and can include gagging, vomiting, weight loss inappetance or constipation. Hairballs are actually one of the main reasons why felines vomit. The hacking sound you may notice when your cat is bringing up a hairball is often gagging or retching as the cat attempts to vomit and not coughing as is often suggested.
Though it's normal for a feline to have hairballs on occasion, large numbers of them can be dangerous. They can block the intestinal tract making it impossible for the cat to pass or vomit. There have even been cases where hairballs the size of baseballs were removed from the stomachs of cats.
The best treatment plan is one that can reduce the amount of hair the cat ingests grooming while increasing the motility of the digestive tract so that hairballs don't have a chance to form. Routine treatments usually consist of using a mild laxative formulated for cats such as Lax’aire™. It is not recommended to use human products, as they can be too harsh or strong, nor homemade products containing butter or oils, as they can bring about other digestive problems or be absorbed before they have a chance to work. (More Cat Grooming Care Products)
Cat
Nutrition
A major responsibility of cat owners is to provide their cat with the necessary nutrients required for its growth and maintenance. Cats need a diet that contains protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, and water. Those nutrients are the building blocks of body tissues, essential for normal metabolism, and necessary to supply energy for growth and maintenance. The basic minimum nutritional requirements for cats are established by the Feline Nutrition Expert (FNE) subcommittee of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Pet-food manufacturers use those standards when producing cat foods.
Commercial cat foods are formulated as dry, semi moist, and canned. The products differ in water content, protein level, caloric density, palatability and digestibility. The differences are primarily attributed to the processing methods used by pet-food manufacturers. A quality cat food provides the necessary nutrients in a properly balanced proportion. Poor diets need to be supplemented with the appropriate vitamins. FaVor is an excellent cat and kitten vitamin, providing all major vitamins and minerals your cat or kitten needs.
Reading the nutrition label on the package is the best way to compare cat foods. Pet-food manufacturers are required to supply certain nutrition information on the package. Labeling regulations are established by the AAFCO and the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to ensure compliance with federal and state feed regulations. The section labeled "guaranteed analysis" lists the percentages of protein, water, fat, fiber, and ash.
The amount to feed your cat should be based on caloric content, quality of nutrients, and your cat's special dietary needs. Meat scraps from the table and specialty cat treats can be fed from time to time but should not be a steady diet for your cat. Those treats often lack the proper proportion of basic nutrients a cat requires to maintain its health. A rule of thumb is not to let treats exceed 10 percent of your cat's daily diet. Although raw meat is an excellent source of many nutrients, it is not recommended as food for cats, because it is a potential vehicle for toxoplasmosis and salmonellosis.
Throughout a cat's life, there are stages in which the cat requires different nutrients. Those include kitten hood, pregnancy, lactation, and old age. Be certain to select a food designed for your cat’s stage of life. Also, there are special dietary needs associated with certain nutrition-sensitive diseases such as food allergies, kidney disease, liver disease, congestive heart failure and diabetes. Consult your veterinarian with any questions you might have concerning the proper feeding of your cat. (More Cat Nutritional Health Products)
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Eye Health
The cat eye is one of the most important sense organ they have. Cat Eye Health is a great article about cat and kitten eye problems. Without them they have a very hard time getting around and it greatly reduces their ability to interact with the rest of the family. Eye injuries and diseases are very serious and as such, any problem with your pet’s eyes needs to be addressed by your veterinarian as soon as possible. The ophthalmic antibiotic ointment Terramycin™ is great for the local treatment of superficial ocular infections in dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, but is not a cure-all for all eye diseases. As such, unless you know what you are dealing with, consult your veterinarian. (More Cat Ear, Eye & Skin Products)
Dental Health
Your pet’s dental and gum health is very important for her overall health especially as she ages. Teeth are important for chewing food and playing. A healthy mouth is a happy pet. As tartar accumulates on the teeth, severe irritation occurs along the gum line. This is termed gingivitis and is caused by bacteria living in the tartar. Those same bacteria are also a major cause of halitosis (bad breath) in pets. As the gums become more diseased from the bacteria and tartar they erode to expose and breakdown the roots of the teeth and their attachments. This process is termed periodontal disease. Over time bacteria around and under the gum tissue invade the body through the blood supply. This can cause infections on the heart valves and in major organs such as the liver, kidneys and pancreas. Cats and dogs are affected equally. Overtime, periodontal disease can lead to a much-shortened lifespan.
The best prevention of periodontal disease in dogs and cats is by preventing tartar accumulation in the first place. Tartar is formed after plaque (that filmy substance on your teeth if you haven’t brushed in a while) has remained on the tooth for 48 hours. By brushing the teeth every day, you can prevent tartar accumulation on your pet’s teeth and provide her with a better quality and longer life.
The easiest way to brush your pets teeth is with a finger brush or a pet tooth brush. Our handy dental kit by C.E.T. is a great place to start for dogs and cats. If you can rub your finger in between your pet’s teeth and lips, then you will be able to brush their teeth. The toothpaste that comes with the kit and is also sold separately (C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste) is safe for pets to ingest, unlike human fluoride paste.
First just use your finger and some pet toothpaste and rub the tooth and gum lines. Do this for a few days. Then, use the finger brush and paste for a few days. Last, use the appropriate sized toothbrush. If your pet will only allow the finger brush, that is fine, just continue to use it. Try to make it fun and play with your pet afterward or go for a walk as a reward. She will learn it is a good thing to get her teeth brushed. (More Cat Health Care Products)
Flea
Control
Controlling fleas can be the most frustrating thing for us to do. Once you know how fleas live and reproduce, however, you can wipe them out and prevent reinfestation completely and easily. Please read the article 4 Factoids of Flea Control for more detailed information.
Flea Life Cycle 101
| Fact
#1: |
Fleas
spend 99% of their adult life on the dog or cat. They do not jump
from dog to dog, or drop off of a cat to digest a meal before jumping
on another cat. They prefer a permanent residence. They do not stay
on humans. |
| Fact
#2: |
The
fleas support mechanism and outer body is called an exoskeleton and
is composed of chitin (pronounced “ki-ten”). Every time
a flea grows or molts it must produce chitin in order to do so. Also,
for a flea larva (baby flea) to hatch out of an egg it must have an
egg tooth composed of chitin in order to do so. |
| Fact
#3: |
Although
an adult flea can live for only 6 months, a flea egg or pupae (flea
in a cocoon) may stay in the environment for many months waiting for
ideal conditions to emerge. |
The products we recommend for optimal flea control are Advantage Flea Control, Frontline Plus Flea Control and Siphotrol Plus 2 Premise Spray. Advantage Flea Control kills adult fleas on the pet. Frontline Plus Flea Control kills fleas, their larva and ticks. Siphotrol Plus 2 Premise Spray controls fleas and flea larva in the environment.
| Step
1: |
All cats and dogs need to be on Advantage™
or Frontline Plus Flea Control. |
| Step
2: |
Siphotrol
Plus Premise Spray™ should be used on the pet’s bedding and
locations where they spend a lot of time. Also spray under furniture
and areas out of direct light. Tile or linoleum does not need any
spray because the flea eggs will dry out in the unprotected open environment. One or two applications two weeks
apart will be enough. |
Shampoos
and Skin Health
Care for the largest organ of the body is one of the most important things
you can do for your dog or cat. The skin and hair coat of your pet can
be an indication of their overall health.
Make sure your pet is on a high quality diet. If any skin problems arise,
seek advise from your veterinarian.Two very good general cleansing shampoos are:
Berry Gentle Tearless Shampoo and Ultrasensative Tearless Shampoo. Both clean and condition the hair coat. Berry Gentle Tearless Shampoo has a better fragrance and the Ultrasensitive Tearless Shampoo is very similar to baby shampoos, but made for puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats. It
is recommended to bathe your pet no more than once per week, but with
the shampoos recommended in this article every other day bathing can be
done without drying the skin.
Dry, flaky, irritated skin is often a sign of mild
skin allergies. Often, 3-V
Caps™ and a moisturizing shampoo such as Relief
Cat Shampoo will alleviate the problem. A great and safe brightening shampoo, especially for dogs and cats with white fur, is PearLyte Shampoo. PearLyte Shampoo also has oatmeal conditioners that help with itchy skin. Fleas
can cause a lot of irritation and inflammation of
the skin. A good flea shampoo is
Ectosoothe
3X™. Ectosoothe
3X™ kills fleas and moisturizes irritated,
sensitive skin. Skin infections often called bacterial
dermatitis or pyodermas can be prevented and sometimes
controlled using Chlorhexiderm™.
For skin infections that also have hair follicle inflammation
(folliculitis), SulfOxyDex™
is a wonderful shampoo. For oily, irritated and itchy
skin, NuSal-T™
shampoo will provide quick relief.
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Visit www.ACatDog.com today to order these products online in a safe and secure environment.
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