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Cat Health Problems

Cat Health Problems

I adopted a cat with bad teeth. I had several of her teeth pulled over the years. She would rub and paw away at her face. I looked in her mouth and discovered she had terrible teeth. The vet pulled her bad teeth out, and it took her about two days to eat moist cat food. She was able to eat the hard cat food in about five days.

When your cat gets fleas, it will scratch away at its face, body, ears, etc. I prefer the flea treatments you place on the nape of your cat’s neck. A cat can get fleas from old kitty litter that is not changed often enough or a  floor or carpet that is not kept clean. Make sure your cat’s bedding and litter boxes get cleaned thoroughly. Do not let your cats in and out of the house in the late spring or fall before a killing frost, or they may bring unwanted fleas into your home.

Make sure your cat gets distemper shots and rabies shots, and more when needed. Make sure you have your cat wormed at your cat’s checkup also. I have a cat that was born with upper respiratory problems. I found a sinus medicine for him that seems to help. Cats can get urinary issues. If your male cat is howling in pain at the litter box, get him to the vet ASAP, as he will die from septic shock or kidney failure. If your cat gets worms, you may see them in the litter box, and your cat will be lazy and weak and have diarrhea. If your cat has diarrhea, try canned food with pumpkin or rice. If your cat does not get over diarrhea in two days, take him to your vet ASAP, as diarrhea can be severe.

Suppose your cat gets cut; try to stop the bleeding and call your vet ASAP. When a cat gets ear mites, I put some ear mite treatment in its ears, and it stops shaking and scratching at its ears. If you suspect your cat has eaten or ingested something that may be poisonous, call your vet immediately; otherwise, your cat could die quickly. When a cat’s weight goes down quickly, there is some underlying cause, and it should be taken to the vet. The older your cat gets, he will need rest and quiet time. I hope you and your cat live nine lives.

Copyright 2019. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Having The Right Supplies For Bad Weather

Having The Right Supplies For Bad Weather

I always have plenty of food for myself and my cats in my house. I buy up extra bags of cat food and kitty litter. I buy up frozen foods and canned goods, and paper supplies. I have a generator ready to go if the heat goes off. I do not want to use propane heaters in the house as they can take all the oxygen out of the air, and you can die from carbon monoxide poisoning. I plug infrared heaters into the generator. The generator can power my well, refrigerator, and more.

Always keep the necessary medicines on hand, as you do not want to run out of treatment in a horrible storm. I have extra heavy quilts and flannel nightgowns for winter emergencies. Keep flashlights on hand with fresh batteries. Have water on hand. Keep plenty of gas in your vehicles.

What to keep in your car

I keep blankets, a flashlight, flares, sand, a candle, a coffee can, a red handkerchief, food, water, a saw, a tarp, gloves, a hoodie, matches, a shovel, and other tools in my vehicles. When running your wrecked car in the winter, ensure your exhaust pipe is not covered by snow, or you can die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Put a red handkerchief on your vehicle’s antenna so that the snow plow won’t hit it and it can be seen easily.

what to do to stay safe

Before working outdoors in bad weather, have your fully charged cell phone. Let someone know when you will be out working and when you plan to return to your house again. Stay hydrated with plenty of water to drink. Take frequent breaks while shoveling and if you have chest pain, stop working and call 911 if you have a medical emergency such as a heart attack or another major health problem.

Ensure your propane tanks have enough propane to get you through the winter months. Make sure heat vents and regulators are not covered over by snow. Clean a path to fire hydrants. Keep ice and snow off of your sidewalks for the safety of every one.

How to dress for cold weather

Please do not leave pets in dangerous blizzards, as they could get frostbite and die. Treat your pets as you would want to be treated. When I go out in cold weather, I dress in layers and wear a hood that covers my face and another hood over that one. I wear 30 below socks and lined boots, and waterproof gloves. With dangerously low wind chills, you can get frostbite in ten minutes or less. Stay at home unless there is an emergency when there is imminent or lousy weather. Get supplied for bad weather before it comes, and stay safe and sound.

Copyright 2019. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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What Not To Give Your Cat For Christmas

What Not To Give Your Cat For Christmas

Do not let your cat eat any poinsettia leaves or any part of the plant. Your cat will most likely be unable to meow for about one week. Mistletoe will kill a cat if they ingest it. Chocolate will also destroy your cat if they eat any of it. Please do not feed your cats any bones; they could get lodged in their throat or cut their esophagus. Please do not feed your cat as many table scraps as he could throw up or get horrible diarrhea. I only give my cats a few little turkey pieces at Christmas.

I do not put up a Christmas tree since I have house cats. Cats can drink the water under the tree, and some water has been treated with chemicals that keep your tree looking better longer but will kill your house cat if they drink that water. Tinsels will get lodged in your cat’s stomach or digestive system if they play with it and then eat it. Cats can chew on Christmas lights, bulbs, and more which could harm or kill them.

Give toys to your cats with no eyes or anything they could pull off and eat, as they could choke to death. Give your cat toys made for cats to be on the safe side. Never let your cats play with plastic bags, as they could quickly smother to the end. Throw wrapping paper in the garbage soon, along with ribbons and strings. Strings are hard to remove from your cat’s mouth and might be ingested to where your cat would need surgery to draw the downed line.

As you clean your home for Christmas gatherings, remember to put away your cleaning supplies ASAP so your cat will not get poisoned by you because you got into too much of a hurry trying to get ready for Christmas. I hope you and your cats have a Merry, safe Christmas this year and forever more.

Copyright 2018. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Some Cat Hazards

Some Cat Hazards

Cats can get themselves into all kinds of predicaments. They say curiosity killed the cat, which can be a true statement regarding our feline friends. Cats are very adventurous and will try to attempt the impossible sometimes. As the old saying goes, cats do not always land on their feet.

Cats love eating house plants or flowers that may kill or make them sick. I do not keep any plants or flowers in my house. If someone gives me flowers, I put them in a room my cats cannot access. Cats can vomit, go into convulsions or die by eating leaves and flowers or drinking water with chemicals to preserve the flowers.

Keep antifreeze, oil, gas, and farm chemicals in closed containers so your cat will not suffer from a painful death by ingesting these substances into their body. Put mouse and rat poison in an enclosed trap so your farm cats cannot eat it and bleed—tight paint containers and cleaning supplies. Never leave your medicine sitting out, as a kitty could knock the bottle over, ingest your pills, and die. Keep all your household cleaners closed; your cat cannot assess in an area.

Ensure you have not locked your cat in a building where he could starve to death. Check under your car tires or your car’s motor if you do not happen to notice your cat. Many cats have gotten run over by accident or succumbed by the car motor or belts, or blades in your car.

Do not leave your house with just the screen in your window. Cats have clawed up the screens or pushed against them so hard the screen gave away, and their cat fell out of a high-story building. A house cat does not stand much of a change if it gets outdoors as it does not know how to fend for itself and all the dangers that lurk outdoors.

I hope you and your cat stay safe and sound for many years to come and create many perfect memories throughout your years together.

Copyright 2018. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Tips To Help Your Cat Survive The Heat This Summer

Tips To Help Your Cat Survive The Heat This Summer

Provide your cat with plenty of fresh cold water. The water will get hot in a hurry when it is hot out, and no one wants to drink hot water when it is unbearably hot outside. Find a place for your cat to sleep outside that is in a cool place with a nice gentle breeze. I check on my cats several times daily to ensure they are doing OK with the unbearable heat. Ensure you have combed out your cat’s old winter coats of fur, as they will feel more relaxed without the old hair heating their body. I have a fan running in my other house for my cats. Ensure you have not locked your cat in a building after performing an outdoor task such as mowing the yard. Cats are fast and love to sneak into places even when you think you are watching out for them.

Clean your cat’s litter box out every day to prevent fleas. I sweep around the litter boxes daily so there is no cat litter on the floor which helps prevent a flea infestation. I also clean out the litter boxes with dish soap and an old scrub brush before the summer season begins.

Never leave your cat in your vehicle in the summer months, as it can reach 173 degrees in your car in 30 minutes when it is 80 to 100 degrees outside, even with the windows open. Your cat will most likely die if left in a car in the summer. Do not let your indoor cat out in the heat. Your indoor cat is used to AC and does not know where to go in the heat to stay cooler.

 

If your cat is panting, has a rapid pulse and breathing, is vomiting, is passive, and stumbling, she is overheated and must be put in an excellent spot ASAP. Call your vet ASAP if you notice that your cat is overheated. Your cat may stagger around as she walks or pass out, which means she is critical. If you doubt the state of your cats’ well-being, call your vet ASAP.

I hope you and your cat survive the heat and have a fantastic, fun-filled summer.

Copyright 2018. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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The Older Cat

The Older Cat

As your cat gets older, he will require more sleep. My older cats like to sleep in the warmest place possible in my house. They want to sleep next to heat runs and in heated cat beds.

All of my older cats still love to play with cat toys. Having a young cat in the house with your older cat will make your older cat more active. My older cats still rule my house. If they want to sit on my lap, they give my young house cat a gentle little nip on the rump, and my lap is theirs now.

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Some older cats get arthritis; your vet can give them some pills to lessen their pain. The older cat does not maneuver around as well as he used to. He might jump on top of something and knock things down now.

I have had several cats live to be eighteen years old. They were very limber up to about age seventeen. They would still chase rabbits and kill mice. One of my fifteen-year-old outdoor cats had one kitten on Dec. 1 . She managed to keep the kitten alive. She would sit on her kitten most of the day to keep him warm.

Older cats will not be able to groom themselves like they used to. The barbs on their tongues wear down with age. Help your older cat by brushing and combing out his hair; his coat will have that magnificent luster again. Remember, your older cat’s immune system is not what it used to be. Please make sure all of his shots are up to date, and remember to keep his annual checkups with your vet. You and your cat can enjoy each other’s company for many years. I hope you and your cat stay happy and healthy to a ripe old age.

Copyright  2017. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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A Stray Cat With Digestive Issues

A Stray Cat With Digestive Issues

A stray cat came to a friend’s house. She was very friendly, and she sat on their lap. She would gently rub across their legs. They gave her to me, and I named her Faith because I have Faith that she will get better. She could not keep any food down for about five days. She must have kept a small amount of the tuna and salmon I was feeding her. She had healthy-looking bowel movements. I was very concerned for her. My friends said that they would pay my vet bill. I took her to my vet to be tested for feline leukemia; luckily, that test returned negative. She also had a whole battery of blood tests. I have not yet received the test results since it takes one week to process them.

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I had been feeding her the same dry cat food my other cats eat. She was so thin and emaciated that her stomach could not digest foods right from lack of food over a long period. I went to a pet store, and they suggested feeding her grain-free cat food. Faith has been able to keep all of her food down now. Her grain-free cat food is free from dyes and preservatives, and her stomach can digest it without any trouble. My vet said to keep on feeding her grain-free cat food.

I am sure she used to be a house cat someone no longer wanted or could not afford to keep. My vet said she was one year old. I had guessed her age to be about six months old. Poor Faith had to fend for herself for who knows how long. Faith would have starved to death had it not been for people intervening. As good stewards, we are to care for all of God’s crGod’sre,s tremendous and trim. I have Faith that Faith’s blood test will be OK and that I can provide her the loving home she desperately needs. Always have Faith.

Faith has now recovered from her ordeal. She has gained weight and has not vomited for over a month. With Faith, all things are possible. Faith has to be only the size of a mustard seed but can have huge rewards. Never lose Faith that things will get better.

Copyright 2016. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Kohl and his Cyst Removal

Kohl and his Cyst Removal

I took Kohl to one of my vets because he had a large cyst above his left eye. My vet said he could not remove the cyst, which would keep getting more significant. The cyst would get so large that Kohl could not open his left eye eventually. My vet gave him an antibiotic shot. The shot did not help the cyst get smaller.

A friend said to take Kohl to a different vet for a second opinion. I am sure glad I listed to her sage advice. I took Kohl to another one of my vets. My vet said he could remove the cyst. I was able to pick Kohl up from my vet yet that afternoon. I had him sleep next to me in a cage all night long so I could keep an eye on him and make sure he got along fine in the night after his surgery.

Kohl profile

The cyst remained swollen for several days. Kohl removed the glue that acted as the stitches. Kohl ate the bond with no side effects. The cyst drained more after Kohl pulled the glue and licked away at the area where the cyst used to be. The swelling in the cyst is about gone entirely now.

Kohl is in good spirits and is very active again and playing with his cat toys. Kohl has a good appetite, and all is well in his World again. Kohl is eight and one half years old. He is sitting in my picture window watching the birds eat out of my bird feeders.

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Always remember to get a second opinion on your pet’s health, just as we humans need a second opinion. If you do not get a second opinion quickly and efficiently, it might be life or death.

Copyright 2016. Not to be reproduced in any form.

Categories
Cat Hazards

Cat Hazards

Many cats die from poisoning every year. Please ensure all your poisons and hazardous chemicals are stored where your cat cannot reach them.

I will give you a list of poisons and chemicals that may be fatal if ingested by your cat:

  • drain cleaner
  • mouse poison
  • makeup
  • perfume
  • oil
  • antifreeze
  • floor polish
  • car wax
  • rust remover
  • glass cleaner
  • medications for humans
  • fertilizer
  • chemicals
  • gasoline
  • diesel fuel
  • and many more

Have a medication on hand that will induce vomiting if your cat has swallowed something that could be fatal. Check with your vet if he wants you to induce vomiting for your cat. It will depend upon what your cat has swallowed if it is necessary to induce vomiting. If you are unsure if your cat has ingested poison, but appears sick, call your vet ASAP. Depending upon what type of poison he may have swallowed, he could die in a manner of minutes.

Cleo as a kitten

Do not put any mouse poison or ant killer out if you have a cat. If you change your engine oil, put the old oil where your cat cannot reach it. Cats will drink antifreeze because it has a sweet taste. The antifreeze will kill your cat. Never, never leave out hazardous items that could kill your cat. Remember to make sure cupboard doors and closet doors are correctly shut. Cats can sneak into the smallest openings and quickly get into trouble.

Addi on a Trixie hammock

Garbage can be a hazard. Your cat can get his head stuck in a can or a bottle and suffocate. Plastic bags can also cause suffocation if they become stuck in them. Dispose of your garbage correctly.

I hope your cat never swallows anything that will harm him. Always be extra careful with all cleaning supplies and chemicals.

Copyright 2015. Not to be reproduced in any form.

 

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My Cats Broken Leg and His Road To Recovery

My Cats Broken Leg and His Road to Recovery

Kohl is my oldest house cat. He was born and raised on my farm. At the age of four, he broke his leg.

He broke his leg on a Thursday evening at 8:00 P M. My cat Garfunkel was walking across the floor while Kohl was jumping down from a desk. Kohl did not want to land on Garfunkel, so he landed wrong from his jump to the floor. I heard Kohl screaming in pain. I thought he had stabbed himself. I looked him over and did not notice any bleeding. He ran down to my basement, screaming in pain. I finally caught him in a fishing net with a long handle. I then put him in a cage and called my vet.

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I told my vet I thought he may have stabbed himself even though I noticed no blood. I was frantic with worry. I talked to my friends through my car speaker phone about Kohl on my way to my vet. I was driving fast, thinking he might die before I arrived. My vet removed him from his cage and placed him on the floor. When he tried to walk, it was clear he had broken one of his legs. My vet gave him a pain pill, and then he put him under the latter and put a cast on his leg.

Kohl did not put any weight on his broken leg for at least one month. I started moving his leg up and down for him. I would hold him up gently and help him bounce up and down on both of his hind legs. This seemed to help build up the muscle strength in his back legs. With my help, he started using his broken rear leg. He made a full recovery.

I hope none of your cats ever get a broken leg.

Copyright 2015. Not to be reproduced in any form.

2014-01-24 18.56.08

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