CAT HEALTH INFO
Know Your Cat's Behaviors, Routines and Habits!! 
A cat has 9 lives :-) ~ help him/her live each one to it's fullest!
Being aware of your cat’s normal everyday activities and his general healthy physical appearance makes it easier for you to notice subtle changes in your pet. Many times, recognizing and treating early signs of sickness in your cat can stop an illness from becoming serious.
We recommend using adjuvant-free vaccinations. All “modified live virus” vaccines are adjuvant-free, regardless of the manufacturer. We use Fel-O-Guard Plus 3 by Fort Dodge (Rhinotracheitis - Calici - Panleukopenia) at 8, 12 & 16 weeks of age. One adult vaccination 1 year after the 16 week vaccination and then you may go for at least 3 years before vaccinating again. We do not vaccinate for FIP, FeLv, Chlamydia or Rabies. If you must vaccinate for rabies by law, PLEASE request the PureVax Feline Rabies Vaccine from your vet.
VACCINATIONS:
The Cornell Feline Health Center College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University & The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines.
Feline Panleukopenia ~ FPV vaccine induces immunity that is sustained for at least 7 years. Therefore, following the initial series of vaccinations and revaccination 1 year later, cats should be vaccinated no more frequently than once every 3 years.
Feline viral rhinotracheitis and Feline calicivirus Infection. ~ FHV-1 and FCV vaccine induces protection that lasts at least 3 years. Therefore, following the initial series of vaccinations and revaccination I year later cats should be vaccinated once every 3 years.
Rabies ~ Inflammatory reactions am commonly observed at sites where adjuvanted rabies virus vaccines have been administered, and concern has arisen regarding the possible association between these reactions and vaccineassociated sarcomas. With the exception of a recently approved canarypox virus-vectored recombinant feline rabies vaccine (PureVax Feline Rabies Vaccine, Merial Ltd), all rabies virus vaccines currently on the market contain adjuvants. Rabies vaccination is NOT required by law in Arizona.
Feline leukemia virus Infection ~ Although vaccine-associated sarcomas have been reported to develop in association with administration of other vaccines, current data suggests they are more frequently associated with administration of FeLV vaccines and adjuvanted rabies virus vaccines. Vaccination is not recommended for cats with minimal to no risk of exposure, especially those older than 4 months of age. The ELISA is the preferred screening test; the IFA is the preferred confirmatory test.
Chlamydiosis ~ The frequency of adverse systemic events associated with C. psittaci vaccines is higher than that associated with other commonly used vaccines. Routine vaccination against C, psittaci infection is not recommended.
Feline infectious peritonitis ~ At this time, there is no evidence that the vaccine induces clinically relevant protection, and its use is not recommended.
Dermatophytosis ~ (ringworm) Vaccination has not been demonstrated to prevent infection or to eliminate M. canis organisms from infected cats. Therefore, routine vaccination against M. canis infection is not recommended.
Giardiasis ~ Routine use of this vaccine is not recommended.
For more info: Link 1 & Link 2
The outside world in many parts of America is a very dangerous place for small animals such as cats. Below, I have listed the main dangers.
An Indoor Cat Is A Happy, Healthy Cat
Oldest known cat was 34 years old.
Spaying and Neutering Your Cat
It is the duty of every responsible pet owner to have his or her feline spayed or neutered. Unwanted litters contribute to a vast oversupply of cats in the United States. This is a particular problem because felines, if left unchecked, can reproduce in staggering numbers over a short period.
Unless you plan to breed your cat (which is not recommended, except in the case of highly valued purebred models), it should be sterilized before reaching sexual maturity. For males this is called neutering (removal of the testicles); for females, spaying (removal of the ovaries and uterus). Without neutering, the habits of a male cat (marking its territory with urine; engaging in fights with other males; patrolling ceaselessly in search of females in heat) can be nearly intolerable. The neutering process deletes these subroutines along with the testicles. Neutered males also experience fewer health problems.
Likewise, female cats spayed before puberty are spared such malfunctions as uterine and ovarian cancer—two common disorders. Female cats will also stop going into heat (a two-week-long trial of house-soiling and howling that occurs three or more times each year).
HOA Rewards Residents for Spaying, Neutering Feral Cats
by Weldon B. Johnson - Aug. 7, 2008 07:24 AM
The Arizona Republic
With an estimated 350,000 feral cats in the Valley, chances are there is a colony near you.
What's unique about the situation is the HOA board has backed the approach by reimbursing residents for their costs.
"We'd been dealing with the issue for quite a while," said Sherrie Griffin, a Bordeaux resident. "Finally, one neighbor took it upon herself to do the trapping. We were at a board meeting and she mentioned that she'd made a donation to get it (trapping the cats) done. The board said they would reimburse her if she got them a receipt. "We're very, very fortunate we have a proactive board."
The organization Griffin and her neighbors have dealt with is a group called Altered Tails (formerly AZCATS), a non-profit organization that oversees the trapping, sterilization and return of feral cats to the communities from which they were taken.
Altered Tails President Cheryl Weiner said the situation in Bordeaux was indeed unique.
"The most frequent call we get is from individuals who ask us to speak to their homeowners association in defense of trap-and-return and explain the benefits of trap-and-return vs. trapping and killing," Weiner said. "I won't say trapping and killing is rampant in the Valley, but more the norm than trap-and-return. That situation is the positive extreme."
The main benefits of the trap, spay or neuter and return strategy is that it limits or stops some of the nuisance behaviors of feral cats, such as fighting, spraying of territory and breeding. According to Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, it stabilizes the colony population and is cheaper than extermination.
When the cats are trapped and removed - with the animals either being killed or relocated - that opens up territory for another cat colony and the nuisance behaviors start over again.
"If you trap and kill a colony, what you'll have is a vacuum effect," Weiner said. "You have a habitat that is already set up for them and it will attract even more cats. Then you'll end up with more cats than you had before."
Having the cats spayed or neutered also can decrease the approximately 60,000 cats that are euthanized in local shelters each year.
"This really is a good way to handle the issue," Griffin said. "We're seeing fewer cats. We're not having the midnight mating howls. I've talked to some of my neighbors, they're just glad that the cats are quiet, they don't mind them walking around. We haven't seen other cats move in and I haven't been seeing kittens."
Feline Nutrition While younger cats tend to regulate their intake, overeating and obesity become greater concerns as the feline ages and its activity level declines. Depending on the habits/needs of your cat/kitten and your daily routine, you may "free feed" or select a standard time to offer a meal (it should not vary from day to day), then present the food. In most cases there will be no question of leftovers; once the cat understands the system, it will polish off each portion rapidly. Two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening (to correspond to the feline's traditional hunting times), are sufficient for an adult cat. Very young kittens can have as much food as they care to consume, usually provided in three- or four-times-a-day feedings or free feeding. As the kitten ages, gradually decrease the frequency of feedings. An 8-month-old cat should be ready for the standard two-a-day regimen. Cat food makers are required to post nutritional information about their products on their containers. Such labels must list, among other things, the ingredients and a statement of nutritional purpose and adequacy (essentially, an explanation as to what sort of cat the food is meant for). Examine the statement of nutritional purpose and adequacy first. A product for kittens might say it offers "complete and balanced nutrition for early development." Or a food for full-grown cats might say, "complete nutrition to support the health of adult cats." The best products will state that they are "Formulated to meet the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Cat Food Nutrient Profile for . . ." Do not buy pet foods that do not mention the AAFCO on their labels. After selecting a balanced, nutritionally complete product fine-tuned to your cat's needs, examine the ingredients. The heaviest by weight is listed first. Wet foods almost always list a meat product first, while in dry preparations meat may appear farther down the roster. This is because in wet foods the meat is hydrated and therefore heavier. Dry products may contain just as much meat, but because it weighs less it sits slightly lower on the ingredient list. In general, one or even two meat products should be at or near the top of the list. Meat by-products (these can range from bone meal to fish skin) are generally of lower quality. Also study the "guaranteed analysis" section of the label, which among other things, states what percentage of the food is composed of such important elements as crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber (an adult feline-maintenance food should ideally contain a minimum of 26 percent protein and 9 percent fat; a formulation for kittens and pregnant or lactating females should contain no less than 30 percent protein). It is also vital to examine the wording on the front of the label. If a product advertises itself as "chicken cat food," then at least 95 percent of the product must be composed of the named item (or 70 percent, if moisture content is included). If the product contains more than 25 percent but less than 95 percent of its signature item, then it must be called "chicken formula," "chicken platter," or use some other qualifier. And foods incorporating the word "with" (as in "cat food with chicken") may include as little as 3 percent of the named ingredient.
Cats are what are known as 'obligate carnivores', a fancy term that means they obtain a lot of their nutrition through sources of animal protein. Never think that you could raise a vegetarian cat as their physiology's just aren't geared for this!
Cow's Milk - do not give a cat cow's milk which will cause digestive problems. If you must feed milk to help supplement a young kitten or aging cat, used canned Goat's milk instead.
How to Feed Your Cat
Selecting a Commercial Brand of Cat Food
GRAIN FREE CAT FOOD & TREAT BRANDS
Feline Dental Health
Common Symptoms ~
The precise symptoms will depend on the degree to which the cat's gums and mouth are inflamed and on any specific underlying condition. Typical symptoms may include the following:
Bad breath. Difficulty in eating. Weight loss. Pawing at the face. Drooling salvia (this may be tinged with blood). Reddened gums and mouth lining. Symptoms of periodontal disease. Tacky (somewhat sticky) salvia that stretches across the cat's mouth when it is opened.
Amazingly, many cats who have severe periodontal disease manage to continue eating. Pet owners are often shocked when the extent of the problem is pointed out by their vets during routine health checks.
Plaque is soft, but it rapidly hardens to produce a substance called calculus, or tartar. Unlike enamel, tartar is rough in texture and so plaque is more difficult to remove from it.
The presence of bacteria in the plaque irritates the gum edges and causes them to become reddened and inflamed: a condition called gingivitis (additional information below). As the gum grows increasingly inflamed, other bacteria start to cause further damage, and the gum may begin to recede around a tooth. Eventually the attachments holding the tooth in place are weakened, and it may then become loose.
The whole process can take several years to complete, but it is reversible in the early stages.
Advanced periodontal disease is a painful condition and is likely to result in tooth loss if left untreated.
An infected tooth may also act as a reservoir of infection, and any bacteria may find their way from the tooth - via the cat's blood - to his heart, kidneys, liver and lungs, where they may cause disease.
In some cats, periodontal disease may lead on to long-term gingivitis-stomatituis.
Tooth Brushing Technique ~If you have a kitten, you should start handling his mouth in preparation for tooth brushing as soon as you bring him home. The best time to accustom a cat to this experience is when he is young. If your cat is a wriggler, you may need someone's help to restrain him at first.
Initially, simply allow your cat to become used to having his head held and his lips pulled back. Reward his good behavior immediately with a snack or tiny piece of his favorite food.
Once he accepts this, insert a suitable toothbrush into the pouch formed by his cheek. Hold it there for a few seconds, then remove it. Practice this until your cat is happy with it, rewarding him every time at first and then only intermittently.
When he is comfortable with this, move on to brushing movements. Hold the brush at an angle of 45 degrees to the teeth, and move it gently in an oval pattern. Brush the back teeth at first, then move on to the more sensitive area at the front of the mouth. Only start using toothpaste when you are sure that your cat will tolerate the brushing itself. Do not use human toothpaste!
Why? CLICK HERE
Trimming a cat's claws is quick, easy & painless.
Indications of stress in cats.
Cats, of course, cannot verbally tell us what is upsetting them but there are many ways in which they can indicate their anxiety.
A cat excessively grooming itself, perhaps to the point of causing hair loss, may be an indication that the cat is finding something to be stressful. Conversely, if a cat that normally keeps itself well groomed suddenly looses interest in cleaning its coat, this too may well be a sign of stress.
Aggression from a normally sociable and well-behaved feline, whether towards you or other humans, or other of your cats or pets, is often a big clue that your cat is stressed.
Stress can be the reason for your cat refusing food, although there are medical reasons for a cat not to eat.
Not using the litter box is often an indication that your cat fears losing territory to another of your cats, or a neighboring cat. There are many medical reasons that a cat may stop using the litter box, and you should have your cat checked out by the vet if kitty has stopped using the tray, but the cause also may be stress.
Excessive vocalizing, yowling or crying by a normally quiet animal could be another sign of stress in cats, as could hiding from you, chewing objects, uncharacteristic fearfulness or timidity, and withdrawal.
Reasons For Stress in Cats.
Like humans, cats get stressed for many different reasons. But most of the reasons for stress in cats can be classified with one word - change.
Cats are, for the most part, creatures of habit, they love and understand routine. A change, however small and seemingly inconsequential, may be enough to trigger stress.
Don't give a cat new, don't give a cat different. Give a cat what they know, give a cat what they are used to. What a cat is comfortable with is unlikely to cause anxiety or stress.
Some common causes of stress in cats are:
Routine chiropractic care can benefit your animals.
Learn More!
