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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.

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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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Cystitis or Bladder Inflammation and Your Cat

Cystitis or Bladder Inflammation and Your Cat

My Russian Blue cat Catrenia had Cystitis. I had Catrenia for about four years before she got Cystitis. She was not as active as usual. Catrenia started sleeping a lot. I noticed her using the litter box quite often. Every time Catrenia used her litter box, she did not have much urine output. I took her to my vet, and he said she had Cystitis. My vet gave her antibiotics, some medicine, and exceptional cat food that helped with Cystitis.

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My vet had told me he would like to have Catrenia if I ever wanted to part with her. My vet told me this about four years ago. I told my vet then I did not want to part with her. I was told by two of my vets that she would get a flare-up of Cystitis for the rest of her life now and then.

I have two other house cats, and buying expensive cat food for Cystitis for all three of my cats to eat was not an option that would work. I knew I would miss Catrenia terribly, but I thought her best option would be to live with my vet, who always wanted to have her. I called my vet and asked him if he would still like Catrenia, and he said he would still love to have her. Catrenia lived in the vet’s office for some time and recovered entirely by eating her exceptional cat food for Cystitis. She could get a flare-up again, but now she lives with a vet that can treat her every need. I visited Catrenia at my vet’s office at least once every two weeks. I could see that she was healthy and very contented living there.

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Catrenia now lives in my vet’s house along with one other house cat that my vet has. Catrenia can now get all the care that her condition calls for 24/7.

Copyright 2015. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Curiousity Can Kill Your Cat

Curiosity Can Kill Your Cat

Cats have been trapped behind walls during remodeling. Kittens have fallen in wells. The kitten’s owner tied a towel on the end of a fishing pole and managed to get the kitten out of the well by the kitten grabbing onto the towel and reeling the kitten up out of the well. One party lit a candle in their kitchen, and their cat knocked it over and burned most of their house.

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A tenant of mine did not know that her cat had gotten in her clothes dryer. The cat tumbled around in the clothes dryer for at least 20 minutes. When my tenant opened the dryer door, her cat stumbled out and had blood coming from her mouth. Luckily her cat made a full recovery. Another person told me her cat had gotten into her washing machine. She was washing her clothes on a gentle cycle. When she opened the lid to the washing machine, her cat was furious and upset. Her cat made a full recovery.

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Cats love to sit on car motors and tires when the weather gets colder. Look at your car tires to ensure you do not run over your outdoor cats. Put used motor oil and anti-freeze in a container your cat cannot get into. Anti-freeze has a sweet taste that cats like, and they will die from drinking it. Keep all of your poisons and chemicals out of kitties’ reach.

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We once had a cat that got in our grain auger and survived his ordeal. He rode in the grain wagon to the elevator. When the wagon was dumped at the elevator, he staggered out. They put him back in the empty wagon, and we let him out at home. He was fine and lived to be an old cat. I think he used up at least one of his nine lives.

Cats are interested, which is a sign of intelligence. They can get into trouble in a hurry by their trinket’s nature. Always ensure your cat is accounted for when working on different projects in your home and outdoors. Your cat’s life may depend on it.

Copyright 2015. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Picking Out a Veterinarian

Picking Out a Veterinarian

I have several vets that I can choose from. I like all of my vets equally. I have three different vets that I can take my cats to.

I want a vet that genuinely loves and cares for all pets. I can depend on my vet for a nighttime emergency. My cat Kohl broke his leg at 8:00 PM one evening. My vet put a cast on his leg that evening. He was very concerned about my cat’s pain and immediately gave him a pain pill.

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My vets send reminder cards of when my cats are due for distemper or rabies shots. When I have taken a cat home after being spayed or neutered, they call me to ensure my cat is OK.

Pick out a vet that will answer your questions quickly and accurately. I need a vet that is on call 24/7. Our pets can get very sick in the middle of the night. I do not want to go to a vet in the middle of the night unfamiliar to my cat.

If you are boarding your cat, give them your vet’s contact information, or they will take your pet to their vet on call.

Some of my vets are large and small animal vets. My other vets specialize in small animals only. They will trim my cat’s claws free of charge if I visit them regularly.

My vets are polite, helpful, compassionate, and concerned about my cat’s well-being. They treat my cats gently and always give them a complete checkup when needed.

I hope this helps you pick out a vet for your cat.

Copyright 2015. Not to be reproduced in any form.

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Signs of a Sick Cat

Signs of a Sick Cat

A healthy cat should have bright and shiny fur. They should have bright clear eyes. The ears should be clean and free of ear mites. A healthy cat will want to play and be outgoing. A healthy cat will eat the food you generally put out for him. Their tail should be straight up or slightly down.

If you notice a sudden change in your cat’s behavior,r he may be sick. A cat that quits using his litter box could have a bladder problem or diarrhea. A cat that starts sneezing or coughing could have something more severe or distemper. If your cat displays an odd behavior you have never noticed, watch him, as he may be ill.

The sick cats that I have had displayed their symptoms of sickness slowly. Kittens have started with a sneeze that has turned into a distemper. If your cat starts sleeping most of the day away in an area away from you, it could be a sign of illness. Sleeping in the bathtub could mean he has a bladder problem or kidney failure. They sleep in your tub to cool down from a fever. If your cat seems to be straining or howling in pain at the litter box and is a male, he may have a blockage as far as being able to pass his urine. Take him to your vet ASAP. A condition such as this can be life-threatening quickly. When cleaning your cat’s litter box, if you notice blood in their bowel movement, have your vet give him a blood test to determine the cause. If you see worms in the litter box, have your cat dewormed. Worms will cause weight loss and a lack of luster to their fur.

I discovered one of my cats had terrible teeth by scratching under her chin. She winced in pain. My vet pulled the bad teeth, and she was fine.

If your cat vomits for three days, take him to your vet ASAP. He could have a severe condition. He could have a blockage in his intestines.

If your cat fails to clean himself or the tail hangs down, he is not feeling well. Another sign of bad health is runny or dirty eyes.

Make sure your cat has his shots up to date. Take your cat in for his annual physical, as this will prevent many health problems. I hope you and your cat stay healthy.

Copyright 2015. Not to be reproduced in any form.

184Fans
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184Fans
81Followers
338Followers