Cats

It might be difficult to believe that cats can get stressed. After all, they get bottomless bowls of dry cat food, spend most of the day sleeping and, well, they don’t have to hold down a job. Who hasn’t looked at a dozing cat on their way to work and thought, “I wish I was you?” Cat behavior helps us understand the cat signs and cat symptoms of a scared cat and helps us calm his anxiety. Cats are creatures of habit, and if something is amiss, they don’t have the words to tell you they’re worried. Situations you might not consider stressful–such as an influx of people into your home for a party–can be incredibly anxiety-inducing for animals. “Anything new that’s outside the ‘normal’ of a cat’s lifestyle can be a stress factor,” says Dr. Robert Trimble, DVM, Head of Veterinarian Services and Lead Veterinarian at Yourfuzzy.com. “Even down to as something as insignificant as the type of cat litter in the litter box.” “One of the first things we look for when cats are stressed are behavioral symptoms,” Dr. Trimble says. Here are some cat symptoms that any concerned pet parent needs to be on the lookout for: Inappropriate urination or defecation outside of the litterbox Excessive vocalization Excessive, compulsive grooming Heavy, open-mouthed breathing So whether your scared cat is exhibiting any of the above cat signs or anxiety or you’re trying to preemptively treat stress (especially if you have a veterinary visit or a move coming up), we’ve gathered some expert-approved solutions to make a scaredy cat feel at-ease. SHOP CHEWY: Best Cat Stress & Anxiety Products

In This Article Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside the Litter Box? View 3 More +

Cats are typically self-cleaning creatures, and many kitties can go their whole lives without needing a bath. But some cats require them, either on an occasional or regular basis. Pro Tip: Use positive reinforcement and clicker training to help your cat become acclimated to taking a bath. Here are a few instances where you may need to know how to give a cat a bath: You have a hairless breed. Hairless cats need regular baths with medicated shampoo to remove excess oil from their skin. You have a long-haired cat. Even if you keep your cat well-brushed, long-haired breeds might struggle to keep themselves clean. Your cat can’t clean themselves thoroughly because they are obese, arthritic, or elderly. Your cat has fleas, lice, or another parasite. You may need to bathe your cat with a special shampoo. Your cat has a bacterial, yeast, or fungal (ringworm) skin infection. Your vet may recommend a bathing program with a medicated shampoo. Your cat gets into something. Cats tend to get into sticky situations—sometimes literally! If your cat is sticky, smelly, oily, greasy, grimy, or otherwise dirty, they’ll need your help to get clean. If your cat dislikes water, only bathe them if you absolutely have to. It’ll save stress for both you and your kitty.,Picture this: Your kitty has rolled in something sticky or stinky and needs a bath ASAP, but the groomer can’t get you in right away. What do you do? Bathe your cat at home, of course.  You don’t need a pro to wash something gross off your cat. You just need the right cat bathing supplies and clear instructions. Here’s how to bathe a cat.

We’ve all heard the saying cats have nine lives—but where did this myth come from, and why is it still around today? Here’s a look at its origins and how cats’ impressive biology led to an enduring legend.  

In This Article Cat Life Stages View 3 More +

In This Article What Is Reverse Sneezing in Cats? View 6 More +

3. Not Use a Carrier Keeping smaller or more anxious pets in a carrier is just as important as keeping a larger one on a leash. Many pets feel safer when they are in an enclosed space that protects them from other animals in the veterinary office. Without a carrier, a cat, bird, reptile, or small pet can run away or seriously harm themselves. Carriers also make it easier for veterinary staff to handle your pet. Here are a few great options for carriers: Small pet carrier: Frisco Top-Loading Small Pet Carrier Bird carrier: Prevue Pet Products Bird Travel Carrier Cat/small dog carrier: Frisco Two-Door Top-Load Dog and Cat Kennel Pro tip: Look for a cat or small-dog carrier with front and top access, such as the one below. This makes for easier entry and exit, and pets are less likely to get trapped in the carrier during emergency medical situations.,Some pets enjoy vet visits, but many do not. They can’t comprehend that the procedures and medications they get at the vet clinic are for their own health and well-being. However, there are several ways you can help make the experience at the veterinarian’s office easier for your pets as well as for you and the staff. So let’s look at what not to do at the veterinarian’s office.

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Chewy: Speaking of which, tell us about how Hauspanther came to be. Benjamin: In the mid-2000s I was working as the director of marketing for a startup that designed children’s products. I realized there was a lot of conversation within the mommy-blogger community about modern kids’ toys and other items, and how just because you have kids, it doesn’t mean your home has to look horrible. I thought, “Why is no one talking about this for cats?” So, I started a blog myself about things I felt were examples of good designs for cats—items that were aesthetically pleasing, but also innovative and functional and make your life better. From there, I began hand-making cat toys with this functional-stylish take in mind and selling them on Etsy. They were so popular that eventually I was able to hire a manufacturer to make them more quickly. My goal has always been to get great stuff into the hands of cat parents, so that the cats will have what they need.,We’ve said it (more than) once, and we’ll say it again: Pet stuff can be stylish! And Kate Benjamin, the Phoenix, Arizona-based cat style expert and designer behind Hauspanther, is part of the reason why. For decades, Benjamin has been a cat product pioneer, designing scratchers, cat toys and more that satisfy felines’ every need—and that pet parents can be proud to display in their home. We talked to Benjamin about how she combined her design education with her love of felines to create a fulfilling and thriving business—and how her products can actually save cats’ lives.

How Vets Diagnose Cats That Pee Frequently Most veterinarians will want to do a thorough head-to-tail examination on your kitty, feeling the kidneys and bladder area. Sometimes it is possible to feel stones inside of the bladder or identify painful areas near the kidneys with a careful examination. During the process, they will likely ask a number of questions about your cat’s diet and litter box history. Next, your veterinarian will want to examine a urine sample. It isn’t typically possible to reach a diagnosis without a urine sample. In many cases, cats with urinary problems will have a small bladder, and it can sometimes take several hours for it to fill to the point that your veterinarian can obtain a sample. It can save time and money to bring a sample with you. Depending on what is found on the above tests, your veterinarian may recommend an x-ray, an ultrasound, or some bloodwork. These tests are commonly done with cats that have recurring urinary problems, those with additional signs such as weight loss or poor appetite, or those that are candidates for diabetes. Once your veterinarian has all the information necessary, it will become much simpler to reach a diagnosis and create a treatment plan.,Treatment for Excessive Urination in Cats The treatment recommended by your veterinarian will depend highly on the diagnosis and the specifics of your cat’s medical history. If your kitty is found to be diabetic, a change to a high-protein canned diet as well as administering insulin will be necessary to control the problem, as well as treating any underlying bladder infection. For cats with kidney disease, your veterinarian will likely recommend testing to stage the disease, and there is a very wide variety of treatments available for these kitties. If urinary crystals or stones are the problem, the treatment will depend on the severity. Stones most commonly require surgical removal. Crystals can sometimes be dissolved with special diets, and since canned diets produce more urinary flow, these are often preferred. Long-term or lifelong treatment is sometimes required for these cats. And if your cat has a simple urinary tract infection, a round of antibiotics is sometimes all it takes to get things back on the mend. It can be scary to see changes in the litter box, especially if there’s blood or your kitty isn’t feeling well. However, acting quickly and checking things out at the vet’s office can get things turned around as quickly as possible. Featured Image: iStock/CasarsaGuru,Over time, you start to know the normal size of daily urine clumps for your cat’s litter box. Suddenly, however, you notice the clumps seem to be getting bigger, and the waste bag is heavier each day when you scoop the box. Is this normal or a sign of a problem? How Much Should Cats Pee? There are quite a few factors that affect how much and how frequently cats urinate. These include hydration levels, age, body size, and health status. There is an important distinction here, however, between a large amount of urine and frequent urination. These have different causes and medical approaches. The bottom line is knowing what’s normal for your cat and noticing when things seem to be changing in your cat’s litter box. Most cats will urinate each time they go to the box, and for most cats, this averages out to about twice per day. The clumps are usually golf-ball to tennis-ball sized and easy to distinguish from the tubular stool that you’ll find once per day on average. Learn the patterns for your cat and watch how they change over time. Kitties that eat canned food may urinate more than cats fed dry food. Kittens may pee more frequently than adults. Senior cats should not urinate more volume or more frequently than adult cats, so noticing this is the sign of a potential medical problem. You can keep track of how much urine your cat is producing by simply scooping the urine clumps into a plastic bag and weighing it on a scale each day before discarding it. Doing this while your cat is healthy will give you a baseline record to refer to over time. Then when you notice an issue, weigh the clumps and compare to the baseline weight.