Cats

A cat loaf pretty much looks like what it sounds like: a loaf of bread that’s compact and rectangular in shape but with rounded edges. “When cats loaf, they tuck their paws in and curl their tail around their bodies so you really only see the body and their head—a cat loaf!” says Stephen Quandt, CFTBS, founder of Stephen Quandt Feline Behavior Associates, LLC, based in New York City.,My cat will sometimes sit with her legs all tucked under herself. I heard this is called a “loaf.” Why do cats loaf? She is eating, sleeping and drinking fine and seems healthy otherwise. Is this normal?

What makes your darling, sweet cat companion switch from snuggly to snarly when visitors arrive? Why is it your friends and family never see the “real” kitty you live with? And, is there anything you can do to change it? Many cat owners keep their pet indoors at all times to keep them safe and healthy. By staying inside, cats are protected from predators, vehicles and diseases — which is a great thing. But one potential downside to the situation is that indoor cats may live in a small “territory” with very little variety from day to day. We all get used to standard things in our environments, and expect some consistency. Some of us are more accepting of change, and some are not. Cats are no different. We know one reason for differences in acceptance of new things is being exposed to new things (scientists and animal trainers call these “novel stimuli”) during certain periods of development when the animal is more “open” and accepting to learning. For kittens, that period is the ages between 3 to 8 weeks. Kittens who are kept away from people and do not get early exposure may start life with a deficit for accepting strangers. Additionally, past experiences with people will have an effect — pleasant experiences make cats think people are good, and less happy experiences may make cats afraid of new people. Not all kittens are given opportunities for multiple safe encounters with people at that early age. Consequently, many cats are undersocialized, which means they are not comfortable with new or unusual things. A cat who lives with just one, two or only a few humans may find several new humans very frightening.

Cats are obligate carnivores—that means their bodies are designed to thrive on a meat-based diet and they need it to survive.    So, an animal-based protein isn’t only important for cats, but it’s also essential. And choosing the right high-protein cat food can make a big difference in their health and well-being. 

Cat vaccines have been an integral part of preventive health care programs for several decades. No other medical development has been as successful as vaccination in controlling deadly diseases in cats. Cat vaccinations can be divided into two broad categories: core vaccines, those recommended for all cats; and non-core vaccines, those that may or may not be necessary, depending on the cat’s lifestyle and circumstances. Currently, vaccines against cat panleukopenia, cat herpesvirus, cat calicivirus and cat rabies fall into the core vaccine category. The most commonly used vaccine against panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus is a multivalent vaccine: it contains viral antigens for several diseases together in the same dose, and is commonly abbreviated as the “FVRCP” vaccine. The rabies vaccine is usually a monovalent vaccine. It contains viral antigens for one virus: the rabies virus. Vaccines against feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), ringworm (a skin fungus), Chlamydophila (a respiratory pathogen, formerly called Chlamydia) and Bordetella (another respiratory pathogen) are considered to be non-core. Some of the non-core vaccines have questionable efficacy for your cat’s health and are not generally recommended. For your totally indoor cats, I recommend the FVRCP and the rabies vaccine. Although you referred to these vaccines as yearly, some of these vaccines are not necessarily required annually. The FVRCP vaccine has been shown to confer immunity for at least three years, so vaccinating your cats with this vaccine any more frequently is probably unnecessary. Cat rabies vaccines are available as 1-year vaccines and 3-year vaccines. Check with your cat’s veterinary office to see exactly which of your cats are due for vaccinations, and see if you need vaccines for indoor cats. Only a few of them might be due for vaccinations. Keep in mind that during the vaccination visit, your cat is also receiving a good physical examination, and this is necessary to keep cats healthy. Regular veterinary examinations allow illnesses to be detected early, when treatment is likely to be less expensive and more effective, so consider packing your cat in a cat carrier and visiting the vet.,Q:

An upper respiratory infection in cats is similar to a human cold: It can leave your kitty feeling sniffly, stuffy, and not their best. Caused by viruses—and occasionally bacteria—these infections spread easily among cats, especially in multi-cat homes or shelter environments.  We spoke to two veterinarians to understand what causes upper respiratory infections in cats, how to tell if your kitty has one, and how to help them recover.

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4. Ask Your Vet About Dental Diets One way to help keep a cat’s teeth clean is by feeding them a nutritious dental diet. These are prescription diets that help to reduce plaque and tartar. The kibbles are designed to act like a toothbrush with every bite. Their large size allows your cat to crunch them up instead of swallowing them whole, mimicking a toothbrush-like effect. Cat dental diets also contain antioxidants and other ingredients that support your cat’s overall health. Other at-home dental care items include water additives or supplements formulated to be tasty to cats.,Many cat parents don’t think about their cat’s dental care until they notice stinky breath or their veterinarian brings it up at a yearly exam. But dental care is an important part of keeping a cat healthy, because dental disease can contribute to other systemic illnesses and inflammation. Prevention can go a long way in keeping cat teeth healthy. Here’s how to clean cats’ teeth.

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