From the category archives:

Cats

A Natural Approach to Flea Control

July 29, 2010

Flea control is a major concern for many dog owners (and their dogs). In some parts of the U.S. temperatures never get cold enough to completely kill off these pests. Even in areas where fleas are rare it’s possible to find an occasional infestation. Many people turn to “spot on” treatments and sprays to get rid of fleas. They may even use dips and other pesticides. However, some owners are concerned about the potential side effects these chemicals may have on their dogs and family members. Here are some suggestions for a more natural approach to flea control.

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Joint Rescue

July 27, 2010

Does your dog need help getting up the stairs? Does your cat have difficulty jumping up onto your lap? Are your pets stiff and lacking energy in the morning? Unless you have acquired loving pets equipped with super powers, then you’re well aware that pets, just like us, are susceptible to getting arthritis and joint stiffness problems as they age.

Can the dreadful signs of joint deterioration and arthritic symptoms be treated naturally? Maybe! Stephanie Evans of Bottled Fitness thinks so. She’s written to tell us all about Joint “Rescue” Chewables, a homeopathic pet remedy for dogs or cats suffering arthritis or other joint problems.

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How to Stop Pets From Peeing on Carpets

July 13, 2010

Both cats and dogs are very olfactory creatures. Many decisions they make are based on what they smell. We as people will walk into a room and look around and size up the situation. Cats and dogs will explore a room and smell things.

This is important to understand if you are going to get your pets to stop peeing on your stuff.

Rule number one
You must…

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P&G Recalls Specific Canned Cat Foods Due to Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

June 11, 2010

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:PG) is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Iams canned cat food in North America as a precautionary measure. Diagnostic testing indicated that the product may contain insufficient levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1), which is essential for cats. Cats that were fed these canned products as their only food are at greater risk for developing signs of thiamine deficiency.

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Fresh Step Wipes – A Spotless Performance

April 14, 2010

I think I can say without fear of contradiction that the least appealing aspect of owning a cat is having to clean the litter box (or boxes). I know it is for me. But since I’m not rich enough to purchase one of the fancy-schmancy, state-of-the-art, self-cleaning litter boxes, I am simply relegated to cleaning the darned things myself. Such is life.

I also know that such things as litter box liners exist, but I personally don’t think they’re the final answer in keeping the box clean. Think about it this way – you put garbage bags in your garbage can, but is the can itself spotless? Yeah, mine isn’t, either. So, while they’re helpful, they’re not the solution I was seeking.

Thankfully I discovered a little helper in my quest for a clean facility.

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Questions Answered About Feline Heartworm Disease

March 9, 2010

Heartworm disease affects many animals, even some humans. The worm itself is known as Dirofilario Immitus and can grow up to 14 inches in length. Because heartworms can’t spread from animal to animal, mosquitoes play the role of transmitter. It only takes one mosquito bite for your cat to contract heartworms.

Mosquitoes will bite a heartworm-infected animal and carry microscopic versions of the heartworm, microfilarie, to another animal. When the mosquito bites the second animal, the heartworm microfilaria is transferred and begins to travel through the blood stream and makes its way to the tissues of the heart. It takes between 70 and 90 for the microfilariae to make it through the animal’s body to get to the heart which is where it thrives. If both male and female worms are present, they will begin to reproduce up to six months after the initial bite.

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Soft Claws: Scratching the Surface

March 5, 2010

Meet Jazzmine, the adorable brown tabby cat I rescued from a local shelter. She’s just shy of ten months old and, like most kittens, she loves to claw at things.

My groomer suggested that I try out a product called Soft Claws. These plastic nail caps are glued onto the front claws, and are designed to remain on until they grow themselves off, which the groomer told me takes about a month or so. They come in a variety of colors, or just plain clear. You can apply them yourself if you’re brave (and/or masochistic), or you can pay to have the groomer apply them for you. I went with the latter option. $45 and fifteen minutes later, my adorable kitten had ten little plastic tips attached to her claws, and was none too happy about them.

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5 Easy Steps to Keeping Your Pet Healthy

March 4, 2010

Bringing home a new pet is a really big step. It can be both scary and exciting all at the same time. As a pet owner, you now have the responsibility of another little life.

Your new pet depends entirely on you to provide everything they’ll need. Here are five easy steps to help ensure that your new family member lives a long and happy and healthy life.

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The Massive Maine Coon Cat

January 20, 2010

Patriotic pet lovers can proudly call the Maine Coon a Native American breed. Maine Coons have an interesting back story, rife with inane speculation and possible connections to major events of world history.

Some have hypothesized that Maine Coons resulted from breeding a cat with a raccoon while others suggest that as Marie Antoinette was fleeing to America to escape seizure and beheading, her smugglers boarded her six cats with all her other belongings. Although she was eventually found, arrested, and beheaded, her longhaired cats made the trans-Atlantic journey to Maine, bred with American cats, and started a new breed altogether.

What is known for sure is that these cats make great pets and companions.

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FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Alerts Veterinarians About Problems with Vetsulin®

November 3, 2009

FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine Alerts Veterinarians About Problems with Vetsulin® to Treat Diabetes in Dogs and Cats

Nov 2, 2009: The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health are alerting veterinarians and pet owners that Vetsulin®, a porcine insulin zinc suspension used to treat diabetes in animals, may have varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin in the formulation.

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Voluntary Recall of Premium Edge Cat Food

November 2, 2009

October 20, 2009: The FDA is providing the following information from Premium Edge Pet Foods to alert pet owners of a voluntary recall of certain cat foods manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods for Premium Edge. The affected brands were found to contain an inadequate level of thiamine, which may cause clinical signs of thiamine deficiency in cats eating this food.

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Alternatives To The Dreaded Elizabethan Collar

October 27, 2009

by Jennifer Martiny

“Forsooth and alack, ’tis an awkward plight . . .” muttered Will, the English Mastiff as he tried to maneuver through the doorway and into the lobby after being stitched up. The difficulty caused by the slight sway and stagger from the anesthesia that hadn’t quite worn off was exacerbated by the giant plastic cone — Elizabethan collar — that encircled his head like a . . . well, like an Elizabethan collar.

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