“FLUTD”

One of the most common causes of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is what your cat eats. A feline diet that is too high in carbohydrates and magnesium, and low in protein can lead to FLUTD. When their cat is initially diagnosed with FLUTD, feline owners will usually first try to get their kitty to eat the prescription food recommended by their vet.

But what if the cat rejects their offering? As an alternative, there are specific, non-prescription cat foods available to maintain your cat’s urine pH balance at 6.6. A high urine pH value indicates struvite crystal formation in your cat’s urinary tract. The challenge is to find the right cat food that appeals to kitty, contains the proper amount of protein and magnesium, and has few or no by-products.

If you turn out to be one of those owners who has to find an alternative cat food, then here’s five things to evaluate when selecting cat food to prevent future FLUTD occurences in your kitty:

1. What’s the Most Common Ingredient?

The first and most common ingredient that should be listed is protein – meat or fish. Read the label carefully – here’s some variations you could see:

Canned cat food:

• Beef
• Chicken Liver
• Deboned Chicken
• Beef Broth

Dry cat food:

• Chicken
• Organic Chicken
• Herring Meal
• Chicken Meal

Some other good ingredients that will help your kitty maintain good urinary tract health are blueberries and cranberries. Vegetables such as carrots are good, and rice is a good grain for your kitty to consume.

2. Are There Any By-Products?

Are by-products listed as one of the ingredients? If so, put that food back on the shelf and keep looking. By-products are filler material, and have limited nutritional value for your kitty. By-products are typically carbohydrates, and since cats are carnivores, they need protein, not carbs, for proper nutrition.

Here are some examples of by-products:

Canned cat food:

• Corn gluten meal
• Ground yellow corn
• Soybean meal
• Beef By-Products
• Meat By-Products

Dry cat food:

• Ground Yellow Corn
• Chicken By-Product Meal
• Corn Gluten Meal
• Wheat flour
• Corn Meal
• Soy flour

3. How Much Moisture Is In the Cat Food?

What’s the percentage of moisture in the cat food you’re evaluating? The higher the number, the better for your kitty. More moisture means your cat will urinate more. Increased urination will flush out any crystals that may be trying to form in your cat’s urinary tract. Canned cat food has a higher moisture content than dry.

4. How Much Magnesium Does the Cat Food Contain?

An excess of magnesium will contribute to struvite crystal formation (FLUTD). Some magnesium is necessary, but generally look for cat food that has a maximum of 0.025% magnesium to prevent struvite crystals.

5. Does the Cat Food Contain DL-Methionine?

DL-Methionine is an amino acid with sulfur, which helps regulate ammonia formation in urine. This amino acid helps maintain your cat’s urine pH balance around 6.6, which is normal and does not encourage crystal formation.

And…since cats are cats (which means they are in charge!), be aware that what you select for them may not be what they want to eat, if they don’t like the taste. If this happens, you’ll need to start over again until you find a wholesome, nutritious cat food that merits two paws up from your feline!

Keep these five factors in mind when shopping for cat food to maintain your kitty’s urinary tract and prevent FLUTD.

And remember, when you’re considering changing your cat’s diet, consult with your vet. She or he will give you expert guidance and information to make the transition easier for you and your kitty.

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“Diabetic Cats”

By Marc de Jong.
“Your cat has feline diabetes.” If this is your vet’s message after examining your beloved friend, it will come as a shock. Yes, your cat has a serious disease. But you can treat it!

I got the message myself early 2003. My (then) 10-year-old neutered cat Duvelke had been urinating and drinking more than usual for a few weeks. First it was thought to be connected with a previous medication. But after urine and blood tests the veterinarian was certain. “Your cat has feline diabetes.”

Now what is diabetes?

Blood contains sugar (glucose). The blood sugar level is controlled by the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. If this organ produces not enough insulin, we speak of diabetes.

Symptoms of feline diabetes differ. Duvelke started to pass more urine than usual, and had an increased thirst as a result of this. Other possible symptoms are weight loss, decreased appetite, lethargy and a poor coat condition.

Cats with untreated diabetes will become inactive, vomit regularly, stop urinating and fall into a coma. But if you treat feline diabetes correctly, your cat might still be able to lead a long and happy life. It does take effort and dedication, though.

Your cat will need to get food at set times, and preferably should stay indoors.

And ? this is essential – you will have to give your cat insulin shots. Once a day, often two times daily. Your vet will determine the quantity and tell you how to do it. It is not scary!

But keep an eye on your friend. Your cat should have had food before getting the insulin shot! If not, a hypoglycemic shock (a ‘hypo’) may occur. This is also possible if your cat gets too much insulin. And this is really dangerous. If you are not there to help, your cat might die from a hypo.

Duvelke has had a few hypos since 2003. He survived. How? By putting glucose in his mouth, on the inside of his cheeks. Honey on his tongue also worked well.

Duvelke’s quantity of insulin has been reduced considerably the past year. And he’s doing really fine. If you didn’t know about his disease, you would assume he is a perfectly healthy cat.

So, with a proper treatment, diabetic cats can still lead a happy life!

About Author:
Marc de Jong. Journalist, web site builder and cat lover Marc de Jong lives in Belgium. He is the owner and editor of http://www.cat-pregnancy-report.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

“Ear Infection”

By: Deena Caruso.
Is your dog or cat tormented by ear infections? Do you spend time and money at the veterinarian’s office trying to bring relief to your beloved pet, only to find that another infection appears over time? If so, you may want to try some more natural approaches to preventing and treating your pet’s ear infections.

Dogs and cats have an incredible sense of hearing. To protect their hearing and prevent damage to the ear drum, their ear canals are L-shaped. The problem with this design is that it allows the ears to trap parasites, moisture, debris, and earwax, and any of these can lead to ear infections. Up to 80 percent of ear problems in dogs are linked to allergies, and earmites are often the cause of ear infection in cats.

The traditional treatment for ear infections is to give antibiotics, antifungal medications or other drugs. The problem with this approach is that drugs upset the normal chemistry inside the ear and can possibly turn a simple infection into a long-term problem. It makes more sense to deal with underlying allergies and strengthen the immune system so that it is able to fight bacteria and other germs BEFORE they cause infection. Also, there are many natural treatments for cleaning the ears and stopping infections without using drugs.

These are the Signs of an Ear Infection:

• Pet shakes head or holds it to one side.
• Pet scratches or rubs ears, or rubs head against furniture or carpet.
• There is a yellow, brown or black discharge in one or both ears.
• Ears smell bad or are tender or red.

The Solutions:

• Clean the ears with vinegar – If your pet’s ears are filled with brownish-pink wax, there is a good chance that allergies have caused a yeast infection. To clear up yeast infections, clean the ears thoroughly. Veterinarians often recommend using white vinegar, also called acetic acid, because it removes dirt and debris and helps restore a healthy chemical balance in the ears. Diluted vinegar works well. When using vinegar, pour a small amount into the ear canal, massage the area, then gently wipe the inside of the ear with a cotton ball. Do this once a day until the ear is better.
• Stop infections with pau d’arco – The herb pau d’arco, which comes from the inner bark of a South American tree, is a natural antibiotic that quickly kills fungi and bacteria. At the first sign of infection, mix equal parts pau d’arco tincture and mineral oil and put several drops in your pet’s ears. Give the drops two or three times a day for several days.
• Reduce inflammation with vitamin C – The adrenal glands produce a natural steroid that can help reduce inflammation when ears get infected. Giving pets vitamin C can help the adrenal glands work more efficiently. Pets weighing under 15 pounds can take between 100 and 250 milligrams of vitamin C a day. Cats and dogs 15 to 50 pounds can take 250 to 500 milligrams a day, and larger dogs can take 500 milligrams two or three times a day. Vitamin C can cause diarrhea, so you may have to cut back the dose until you find an amount that your pet will tolerate.
• Eliminate toxins with a healthy, all natural diet – Giving your pet a healthy, homemade diet or high quality commercial food that doesn’t contain corn, additives or preservatives can greatly reduce the amount of wax that the ears produce, while also helping to boost the immune system.
• Air out the ears – Increasing air circulation inside the ears can control the growth of bacteria, yeast and fungi. Trim or pluck hair inside the ears periodically to allow more air to get inside.
• Strengthen the digestive tract – Supplements such as bromelain and quercetin (with bromelain) can help prevent an allergic response in the gastrointestinal tract, making food allergies less of a problem.
• Stop ear mites with oil – When an infection is caused by ear mites, putting a few drops of almond oil or olive oil in each ear will smother the mites and may allow the infection to heal. You usually need to continue the oil treatments for three to four weeks, putting three to seven drops of oil into the ear canals each day. To help the treatment work more efficiently, clean wax and other debris from the ears before using oil.
• Try an over-the-counter remedy – One of the best ways to stop ear mites is with over-the-counter products containing pyrethrins. Made from chrysanthemums, pyrethrins are natural insecticides that are very safe to use. Just follow the instructions on the label.

When to Call the Vet

Ear infections can look and smell awful, but they usually affect only the outer part of the ear and aren’t too serious. If you’re unable to get to the source of the problem (especially if your pet is still scratching a lot), you will want to see your veterinarian to find out what is causing the problem. Vigorous scratching can break blood vessels in the earflap, causing the entire ear to swell like a balloon. This condition is called hematoma and must be drained by a veterinarian to prevent permanent damage.

Other symptoms to watch out for include head tilting, clumsiness, walking in circles or drooping eyes. These are signs of an inner-ear infection, and must be treated by a vet. Your pet will probably need antibiotics to knock out the infection. In addition, your vet may need to drain pus and other fluids from inside the ear!
About Author:
Deena Caruso, author, teacher, & distributor of natural pet products Helps pet owners create healthy, happy pets. To receive FREE “Pet Pointers” Newsletter, go to: http://www.healthyfoodforpets.com deecaruso@cox.net Ph: 760/758-7963, 877/877-0665

“Pilling a Cat”

Pilling a cat can be a “nightmarish” experience. Cats don’t want something pushed down their throats, and they’ll fight with all their might to prevent it. In fact, it’s amazing how powerful their small bodies can be. Here are some ways to make the pilling process easier and less stressful ? for both you and your cat.

The easiest way of pilling a cat is to crush the pill into a powder by using mortor & pestle or by putting the pill between two spoons. Then mix the powder with a small amount of wet food (preferably a preservative free, healthy wet food). If your cat usually eats dry food, she will probably view the wet food as a treat and eat it up.

If the medication is a capsule, just pull the capsule apart, sprinkle the contents on the wet food, & mix, & serve.

If your cat won’t eat the wet food that contains the pill or if she is too ill to eat, you can get a “pill gun”, also called a “pet piller”, from your veterinarian. This is a plastic rod with little rubber cups on the end that hold the pill until a plunger is pressed. It’s best to get a long gun with a soft tip.

Your vet can show you how to use the pill gun, but here are some basic instructions. Getting your cat’s mouth open is going to be the most difficult part. First, be sure the pill is in a handy place. You can put your cat on a bookshelf with her bottom in a corner or you can put her on your lap firmly braced. Have your cat facing to the right if you’re right handed, & vice versa. With your left hand, grip your cat at the cheekbones, putting your palm at the top of her head. Keeping your finger off the trigger, with your right hand, insert the pill gun until the pill is positioned over the tongue & open throat. Then pull the trigger & withdraw the gun quickly. Be sure to give your cat a treat directly after giving the pill.

If you don’t feel comfortable using a pill gun, you can try giving the pill by hand. Extend your cat’s head backwards just far enough so that her nose is pointing towards the ceiling. At this point, most cats will slightly open their mouths. With the little finger or ring finger of the hand holding the pill, open the bottom jaw a little more. You may need to hold her top jaw with your other hand while doing this. Aim straight and lightly throw the pill or drop it so that it hits beyond the hump in her tongue. (Be sure to drop or lightly throw the pill rather than shoving it down so that your cat is not as likely to gag and so that you lessen your chance of getting bitten). Most cats will then instinctively swallow the pill.

In case none of these “pilling” strategies work, as a last resort try to find a compounding pharmacy, and have them make flavored liquid or gel out of the medication.

“cat scratching problem“

Your cat scratching problem at your furniture can not only leave you out of pocket but also very frustrated and annoyed at your cat for being such a bad little kitty. Cats need to scratch, it is something that cats instinctively do, not as you may think, in order to sharpen their claws, but to remove the old layers of their nails.

Do not punish your cat for scratching, or for anything you see as bad cat behavior. Punishment is unlikely to have any beneficial effect whatsoever. Your cat simply will not understand if you try to punish her in any way for something she has done, cats do not relate punishment to the “crime”, they are far more likely to relate the punishment to you!

Even cats that are allowed outdoors will sometimes scratch your furniture, although not as often as indoor only cats. Trees are the natural scratching surface for cats, and to a cat that is kept inside the arms and legs of chairs, and other furniture, sure seems like a suitable alternative!

The most common answer to this cat scratching problem is, of course, a scratching post, or even two. A great variety of posts are available from pet stores and online pet suppliers. They are fairly simple things to construct, but if you do make one yourself, be certain that there are no nails or other sharp things left sticking out to snag your kitty. And make sure that the base is heavy enough, if it falls over your cat will not want to use it again. Cover the post with rope rather than with carpet, the last thing that you want to do is give your cat the message that it is OK for her to scratch carpet!

Ensure that the scratching post is tall enough for your cat, cats like to stretch when they scratch it exercises their muscles. Spread cat nip on one of the platforms to make the post even more attractive to your cat, and attach a few toys to the post so that they hang down temptingly.

If you just put a scratching post down in front of your cat, what is she going to make of it? It may look like a good place to scratch and claw, but then she has been mildly admonished for scratching at things. You may have to teach your cat that it is OK to use the post, that it will not upset you, that scratching the post is what you want her to do.

Every time that you see your kitty about to scratch your furniture, pick her up and gently place her in front of the post. If she decides to use it give her plenty of praise and encouragement. Cover the furniture she scratches with some netting, or aluminum foil. Your cat should soon learn that it is unpleasant to scratch furniture, but great to scratch her post.

If your cat is in the habit of scratching wooden furniture, or doorjambs then strong smelling polish, or vinegar are often good deterrents, if you try the vinegar, check that it won’t harm the surface of the wood. Some cat owners report that half an orange or lemon place by the problem has good results. Do not remove the disagreeable smells or covering from your furniture until your cat has been using her scratching post for about a month.

If your cat is a horizontal scratcher rather than vertical one, in other words she scratches up your carpet or expensive parquet flooring, try persuading her to use a piece of rush matting, tape the matting down to prevent the mat moving.

What ever you do to solve your cat scratching problem, do not even think of declawing, it is barbaric.

Larry@best-cat-art.com

“Urinary Tract Disease”

One of the most common causes of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is what your cat eats. A feline diet that is too high in carbohydrates and magnesium, and low in protein can lead to FLUTD. When their cat is initially diagnosed with FLUTD, feline owners will usually first try to get their kitty to eat the prescription food recommended by their vet.

But what if the cat rejects their offering? As an alternative, there are specific, non-prescription cat foods available to maintain your cat’s urine pH balance at 6.6. A high urine pH value indicates struvite crystal formation in your cat’s urinary tract. The challenge is to find the right cat food that appeals to kitty, contains the proper amount of protein and magnesium, and has few or no by-products.

If you turn out to be one of those owners who has to find an alternative cat food, then here’s five things to evaluate when selecting cat food to prevent future Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) occurences in your kitty:

1. What’s the Most Common Ingredient?

The first and most common ingredient that should be listed is protein – meat or fish. Read the label carefully – here’s some variations you could see:

Canned cat food:

• Beef
• Chicken Liver
• Deboned Chicken
• Beef Broth

Dry cat food:

• Chicken
• Organic Chicken
• Herring Meal
• Chicken Meal

Some other good ingredients that will help your kitty maintain good urinary tract health are blueberries and cranberries. Vegetables such as carrots are good, and rice is a good grain for your kitty to consume.

2. Are There Any By-Products?

Are by-products listed as one of the ingredients? If so, put that food back on the shelf and keep looking. By-products are filler material, and have limited nutritional value for your kitty. By-products are typically carbohydrates, and since cats are carnivores, they need protein, not carbs, for proper nutrition.

Here are some examples of by-products:

Canned cat food:

• Corn gluten meal
• Ground yellow corn
• Soybean meal
• Beef By-Products
• Meat By-Products

Dry cat food:

• Ground Yellow Corn
• Chicken By-Product Meal
• Corn Gluten Meal
• Wheat flour
• Corn Meal
• Soy flour

3. How Much Moisture Is In the Cat Food?

What’s the percentage of moisture in the cat food you’re evaluating? The higher the number, the better for your kitty. More moisture means your cat will urinate more. Increased urination will flush out any crystals that may be trying to form in your cat’s urinary tract. Canned cat food has a higher moisture content than dry.

4. How Much Magnesium Does the Cat Food Contain?

An excess of magnesium will contribute to struvite crystal formation, Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). Some magnesium is necessary, but generally look for cat food that has a maximum of 0.025% magnesium to prevent struvite crystals.

5. Does the Cat Food Contain DL-Methionine?

DL-Methionine is an amino acid with sulfur, which helps regulate ammonia formation in urine. This amino acid helps maintain your cat’s urine pH balance around 6.6, which is normal and does not encourage crystal formation.

And…since cats are cats (which means they are in charge!), be aware that what you select for them may not be what they want to eat, if they don’t like the taste. If this happens, you’ll need to start over again until you find a wholesome, nutritious cat food that merits two paws up from your feline!

Keep these five factors in mind when shopping for cat food to maintain your kitty’s urinary tract and prevent FLUTD.

And remember, when you’re considering changing your cat’s diet, consult with your vet. She or he will give you expert guidance and information to make the transition easier for you and your kitty.

Nancy has successfully eliminated cat urine odor from her home, and kept the kitty that caused it. The Cat Urine Odor Advisor helps you save money and stop the damage in your household by offering solutions that work together to eliminate cat urine odor from your home.

http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com

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“Cat Drink”

By: Larry Chamberlain.
You know that cats should always have a supply of water, especially if you are feeding them dried food. There on your nice clean kitchen floor is a bowl of nice clean fresh water, in a nice clean bowl.

What does your cat do? Maybe gives the bowl a sniff and walks away from it, or just ignores the bowl completely, as if water were the last thing a self respecting cat would consider drinking.

“Okay”, you think to yourself, “Kitty just isn’t thirsty at the moment”. But then later, you happen to spy your cat busily lapping up stale water from a puddle in your garden as if it was nectar.

Cats are self-reliant, independent creatures, but surely your cat is not going to turn its nose up at the nice clean water you provide, just to let you know it can survive without you? After all, kitty does not reject the food you provide even though it is perfectly capable of catching mice.

No, the answer is not your mouser’s independence. Tap water is usually treated with chemicals, often chlorinated strongly enough for a cat to smell it. Cats noses are far more sensitive than human noses and many cats find this chemical odor very offensive. Stale water in puddles and pools has a far more attractive smell are far as a cat is concerned. Puddles may be full of rotten vegetation and microbes, but cats find this organic soup very tasty.

As well as the off-putting odor of chemicals in tap water, cats find the smell of detergents repugnant. So, because you diligently clean your cat’s water bowl in the interest of hygiene, the detergent that you use deters your cat from drinking from it. You use the same detergent to wash your cat’s food bowl, why then, does your feline friend eat heartily from the bowl, and not be repelled by the smell of the detergent? This is because the aroma of the fish or meat is stronger than the smell of the detergent.

With the water bowl, the combination of the two unpleasant smells, the chemicals in the tap water and the detergent, means that your cat will only quench its thirst from the water bowl if there is no better smelling option to be had.

So, what can you do? You need to rinse your cat’s bowl more thoroughly than you would a plate for a human. Remember feline noses are far more sensitive than ours, every trace of detergent needs to be rinsed off. Secondly, let the water from the tap stand for a while before putting the bowl down for your cat, this will allow the chemicals to dissipate.

These two things should have kitty drinking happily from the dish, unless, of course, kitty has got so used to drinking from puddles it just can’t kick the organic water habit!

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