Cat Eye Care - Do You Properly Care For Your Cat?

As a loving cat owner, you want your feline friend to be as healthy as possible, and a big part of that means taking care of her eyes. You should frequently inspect your cat’s eyes, and if you notice any changes or problems, seek prompt medical care, before your cat’s health is impacted. There are many things that you can do for your cat on a regular basis that can help keep her eyes healthy, but are you willing to invest the time to do them? One of the easiest things that you can do for your cat is to keep her eyes clean and free of mucous, which could build up and turn into a raging eye infection. Use a damp cloth and gently wipe her eyes at least once a day or whenever you notice mucous. This small step goes a long way in caring for your cat’s eyes. You should also protect your cat’s eyes anytime that you need to use chemical treatments on her skin, such as flea dips. Talk to your veterinarian before treatment, and ask him for suggestions on how to protect your cat’s eyes from the chemicals. He will likely give you a neutralizing ointment, which you will apply to your cat’s eyes before using the chemicals, and will neutralize any chemicals that may inadvertently come into contact with her eyes. If your cat has long hair, you should keep in trimmed so that it stays out of her eyes. Anything that comes into contact with the eyes can cause irritation, and even lead to infection, so this is an important step in your cat’s eye care. When you look at your cat’s eyes, they should be moist and clear, as well as free of mucous. Anything to the contrary could indicate a problem that may need veterinary treatment. Although your cat won’t enjoy it, you should clean her eyes at least once a week, even if you wash then with a cloth and water everyday, they still need to be cleaned. You can ask your veterinarian for tips on doing this, and he may suggest a commercial product that you can use, or you can make your own. To make your own cat eye cleaning solution, mix about 1 capful of baby shampoo with about 20 capfuls of water. Dip a cotton ball or Q-tip into the solution, and use it to clean your cat’s eyes, starting with the eyeball and working outward. Once you have finished, use another cotton ball with just water and rinse the eyes in the same manner. If your cat develops an eye infection, your veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotic medication, which you apply directly to her eye in the form of eye drops. Again, your cat will not like this treatment, but it is for her own good, and something that you must do if you want her to be healthy. Eye ointments are much easier to use, however if you apply too much at once, you could worsen the problem, so you have to be careful. Few people realize how important it is to take care of their cat’s eyes, and often don’t even think about it until a problem develops. By properly performing cat eye care, and seeking veterinary care for any problems promptly, you are ensuring that your cat stays healthy and happy, so that she can be with you for a long time to come! About the Author: Jean Morgan is a writer of articles concerning pet health and the owner of Natures Healthy Pet Visit Natures Healthy Pet for more information about Cat Eye Care Read more articles by: Jean Morgan Article Source: www.iSnare.com Share: Del.icio.us Google Y! MyWeb Digg

Cat Eye Care - Do You Properly Care For Your Cat?

As a loving cat owner, you want your feline friend to be as healthy as possible, and a big part of that means taking care of her eyes. You should frequently inspect your cat’s eyes, and if you notice any changes or problems, seek prompt medical care, before your cat’s health is impacted. There are many things that you can do for your cat on a regular basis that can help keep her eyes healthy, but are you willing to invest the time to do them? One of the easiest things that you can do for your cat is to keep her eyes clean and free of mucous, which could build up and turn into a raging eye infection. Use a damp cloth and gently wipe her eyes at least once a day or whenever you notice mucous. This small step goes a long way in caring for your cat’s eyes. You should also protect your cat’s eyes anytime that you need to use chemical treatments on her skin, such as flea dips. Talk to your veterinarian before treatment, and ask him for suggestions on how to protect your cat’s eyes from the chemicals. He will likely give you a neutralizing ointment, which you will apply to your cat’s eyes before using the chemicals, and will neutralize any chemicals that may inadvertently come into contact with her eyes. If your cat has long hair, you should keep in trimmed so that it stays out of her eyes. Anything that comes into contact with the eyes can cause irritation, and even lead to infection, so this is an important step in your cat’s eye care. When you look at your cat’s eyes, they should be moist and clear, as well as free of mucous. Anything to the contrary could indicate a problem that may need veterinary treatment. Although your cat won’t enjoy it, you should clean her eyes at least once a week, even if you wash then with a cloth and water everyday, they still need to be cleaned. You can ask your veterinarian for tips on doing this, and he may suggest a commercial product that you can use, or you can make your own. To make your own cat eye cleaning solution, mix about 1 capful of baby shampoo with about 20 capfuls of water. Dip a cotton ball or Q-tip into the solution, and use it to clean your cat’s eyes, starting with the eyeball and working outward. Once you have finished, use another cotton ball with just water and rinse the eyes in the same manner. If your cat develops an eye infection, your veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotic medication, which you apply directly to her eye in the form of eye drops. Again, your cat will not like this treatment, but it is for her own good, and something that you must do if you want her to be healthy. Eye ointments are much easier to use, however if you apply too much at once, you could worsen the problem, so you have to be careful. Few people realize how important it is to take care of their cat’s eyes, and often don’t even think about it until a problem develops. By properly performing cat eye care, and seeking veterinary care for any problems promptly, you are ensuring that your cat stays healthy and happy, so that she can be with you for a long time to come! About the Author: Jean Morgan is a writer of articles concerning pet health and the owner of Natures Healthy Pet Visit Natures Healthy Pet for more information about Cat Eye Care Read more articles by: Jean Morgan Article Source: www.iSnare.com Share: Del.icio.us Google Y! MyWeb Digg

Feline Flea Control Tips And Tricks That Every Cat Owner Should Know

No matter how meticulously clean you keep your cat, or how hard you work to prevent them, fleas are bound to make an appearance sooner or later. If you have never tried to convince your cat of the importance of flea dips, you are missing out a truly harrowing experience, let me tell you. Your cat will most likely want no part of what you are proposing, no matter how much you bribe or beg, and it will probably end in a major battle of wills and brute force, with you hopefully, being the winner. However, I do have some good news to share with you…..you don’t have to fight the battle of the feline flea dip anymore. There are several new flea control methods that are safer, and easier to use, so you and your cat can toss the flea dip out the window, and both of you can do the happy dance once again! Yes, you can still go the traditional feline flea control route, of using collars and shampoos, but there are still better, easier options out there. There are now flea control medications that you can give your feline friend one time a month, that work wonders on preventing fleas and other parasite infestations. You can give these medications to your cat by mouth, by injection (ouch!), or topically, however you prefer. No matter how you get it done, you must practice some form of feline flea control, if you love your cat. Fleas and other parasites can carry hundreds of deadly feline diseases; can cause tapeworms, infection, and even allergic reactions. Some animals who aren’t properly cared for have actually died due to massive blood loss caused by tick infestations. So, you can likely now see the importance of feline flea and parasite control, even if you didn’t think it was a big deal before. These new flea control medications work differently than those you may have used in the past. These medications actually kill the parasite on contact, meaning that it doesn’t have a chance to hang around on your cat and have parasite babies, as they often did with the old medications. Talk with your veterinarian about trying some of the new feline flea control medications, and discuss the risks and benefits of them before making a final decision. One of the new monthly flea control treatments doesn’t kill mature fleas, but can kill eggs before they hatch. This flea control medications uses a chemical called lufenuron, and can be used once a month if taken orally, and semi-annually if administered by the veterinarian in injection form. One disadvantage of this medication other than it not working on mature fleas is that it does nothing to protect your feline friend from ticks. Frontline, however, does have a feline formula that you apply directly to your cat’s fur, which kills both fleas and ticks, and prevents new infestations from occurring. The active ingredient in this feline flea control medication is fipronil. If you prefer topical feline flea control treatments, rather than those given by injection or orally, you might want to try Advantage. Advantage can be applied once a month, and will work regardless of how many baths your cat gets during that time. This flea control medication doesn’t work well against other parasites. The best feline flea control medication that works to prevent both flea and ticks infestations is Revolution. This medication comes in the form of a liquid that you apply directly onto your cat’s skin. This feline flea control not only kills and protects against fleas and ticks, but also can protect your cat from heartworms, hookworms, ear mites, and even roundworms. If you haven’t always done such a good job with feline flea control, your little feline friend may very well already be infested. If that is the case, you will never completely get rid of the fleas until you treat your home too, both inside and outside. You could always contact an exterminator, if you don’t want to deal with the problem yourself, but you can expect to pay a hefty sum for their services. To handle the problem on your own, purchase at least one flea fogger for each room of your home, and purchase flea spray for areas that are hard to reach, such as behind appliances or in corners. Vacuum everyday, so that you can get all of the eggs out of your carpets, preventing new hatchlings from re-infesting your home; change your vacuum bag after each use. If your cat has soft bedding or toys, they should be cleaned as well. To treat your yard, you can purchase special flea sprays that are environmentally safe, some even come in containers that hook onto your water hose, making it quick and easy to take care of those outdoor fleas, and protect your cat. It can be frustrating to get rid of fleas once your cat and home have been infested, but with patience and hard work, as well as a good flea control medication, your feline can be parasite free again! About the Author: Learn more about flea prevention and Holistic Pet Health at Natures Healthy Pet Read more articles by: Jean Morgan Article Source: www.iSnare.com Share: Del.icio.us Google Y! MyWeb Digg

How To Help Your Cat With Arthritis

Cats can suffer from arthritis just as we humans do, and it mostly affects older cats. There might not be any cure (depending on the type of arthritis), but there are always treatments. Most cats are naturally exceptionally nimble and athletic animals, but as you might expect their joints, ligaments and bones are susceptible to accidental damage, and to the wear and tear of everyday life. On the other hand, giving thanks to their buoyancy, sense of balance, ability to land on their feet and built-in shock absorbers - their forelegs are not connected by bone to the rest of their skeleton, cats do not suffer from as many orthopaedic troubles as they might if they didn’t have all of these great qualities. Arthritis conditions in cats take place most generally as an end result of accidents. Cats can suffer from different kinds of arthritis, which plainly means joint inflammation. However, arthritis is much more compound than a simple inflammation, so this plain name is relatively confusing. For example, check out the wide range of signs of arthritis in cats: • Stiffness • Limping • Favoring One Limb (especially after resting) • Not Wanting to Climb Stairs or Jump • Noticeable Pain • Different Gait than Usual • Nervousness • Aggression • Depression If you notice more than one of these symptoms in your cat, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Usually, as the owner, you notice these things right away and know that something isn’t quite right. Causes Many things can cause arthritis in cats. Main reasons are old age, trauma, infections, immune system disorders and even developmental disorders. Cats most commonly suffer the following two forms of arthritis. One is traumatic Arthritis and this may be caused by a sudden injury to a joint, such as following a vehicle accident, the consequence of a fight or play with another cat or animal, or because of an awkward fall. The second is called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is well thought-out by professionals to be the end result of a joint failure that can occur for nearly any reason. Cats’ shoulder and elbow joints are those most regularly pretentious in older cats. Common causes are repeated episodes of traumatic arthritis, and also joint dislocation or fractures involving joints that occurred in the past and made the joints more vulnerable to disproportionate wear and tear. What to Expect During Your Trip to the Vet Your vet will conduct a regular examination, and comments from you on your cat’s problems. Your vet might take some tests to rule out anything else such as blood tests, radiographs, ultrasound, etc. Treatments If your cat is diagnosed with arthritis, there are many treatments available. Some you can do at home such as gentle massage, weight control, exercise, and warmth. Some medications may be prescribed for your cat such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin, Corticosteroids, Vitamin C, and/or NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs). There are numerous different kinds of joint diseases that your cat could have, too. These include: Feline progressive polyarthritis (which affects more than one joint) Dysplasia Bacterial Arthritis Oseoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease) Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament Luxating Patella Hip Dysplasia Intervertabral Disc Disease Hyperparathyroidism Although most forms of arthritis has no cure to rid your feline of the disease, there are plenty of treatments available. Your cat can live out the rest of his or her life with less pain, more activity, and just being generally happier! About the Author: For more information on pet health visit Natures Healthy Pet Read more articles by: Jean Morgan Article Source: www.iSnare.com Share: Del.icio.us Google Y! MyWeb Digg