Cats

5. Groom Your Cat Cats often demonstrate their affection toward one another through grooming, and sometimes grooming can be a way to bond with your cat as a pet parent, too. But Lusvardi says you shouldn’t force grooming if your cat doesn’t enjoy it—unless you have a longhaired cat that needs regular brushing to avoid matting and tangles. “It should be a pleasant experience for both you and your cat,” Lusvardi says. Keep your brushing sessions with your cat short and sweet, and stop before your cat shows signs that they’re not interested anymore.,You’ve brought a cat into your life, and now you’re ready to grow that special pet-human relationship. But the way to a cat’s heart isn’t always intuitive. These sweet animals often need time, space, and understanding to build trust and affection. And depending on the cat, you may need to put extra care into how you go about getting to know each other. “Cats are really social and friendly and will come to you, but a lot of cats actually require relationship building,” says Jennifer Van de Kieft, a certified advanced feline training professional in New York City.  If you ignore your new cat, they’ll likely ignore you in return. But learning how to bond with your cat and taking the steps to do so can help you create a strong, meaningful connection that will enrich your life. Here are expert-recommended tips for bonding with your cat. 

In This Article What Is Hydrangea Poisoning in Cats? View 6 More +

In This Article What Is Jaundice in Cats? View 7 More +

Leopard geckos are one of the most popular pet reptiles—and for good reason. They’re hardy, low-maintenance, and have great personalities. But even with their easygoing nature, you must meet their needs. Whether this is your first leopard gecko or you want to improve your gecko’s care, this guide will help you improve your scaly pal’s diet.

Pet parenting can be a dirty job. One of the most dreaded chores? Litter box duty. No matter how tidy your cat or how clumpy your litter, no one looks forward to scooping. But it has to be done—and regularly. In fact, some finicky felines will even boycott boxes that aren’t up to their standards. That’s why we love self-cleaning litter boxes. By automatically scooping messes in a waste drawer after “business” wraps up, an automatic cat litter box reduces odors, eliminates the need for daily cleaning, and keeps everyone (humans and cats alike) happy. All you have to do is empty the waste drawer. There are a number of robotic litter boxes on the market these days, with varying high-tech features and amenities. These are the best self-cleaning litter boxes, based on Chewy customer reviews, customer ratings, sales and expert input.

Pets can experience side effects to medications they are given, just like people. These can range from mild to more severe reactions, depending on many factors. It’s always best to discuss the risks of a drug with your veterinarian and decide if the potential benefits outweigh the potential side effects. If you suspect your pet is having any side effects, speak with your veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the next steps. Common Medication Side Effects in Pets Symptoms of a drug reaction in pets, or side effects to that drug, can be based on: The type of medication and how it’s administered. Usually, injectable medications have a higher chance of causing side effects than oral medications. Your pet’s health status and age. Older pets that have a medical diagnosis might react differently to the same medication given to a young, healthy pet. These are some of the most common side effects that pets experience: Gastrointestinal Upset  One of the most common side effects of pet medications is mild stomach upset. This is because most medications are taken by mouth and absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Some pets have a more serious reaction, including vomiting, diarrhea, and decrease or lack of appetite. These symptoms often resolve as their body adjusts to taking the medication, but sometimes the symptoms can become severe. Ask your veterinarian if the medicine should be given with or without food, because that can make a big difference on how your pet tolerates the medication. Some medications that commonly cause stomach upset are: Antibiotics. Consider giving your pet probiotics when they are on antibiotics, to prevent or relieve antibiotic-associated diarrhea, vomiting, and appetite issues. Levothyroxine (used for hypothyroidism in dogs) Methimazole (used for hyperthyroidism in cats) Steroids such as prednisone and prednisolone Blood pressure medications Gabapentin (especially in cats) Oral and topical flea and tick medications Excessive Salivation Excessive saliva production, or hypersalivation, is a common side effect with some pet medications. Often this is because the medicine has a bitter or unpleasant taste. For these medications, it is not recommended that the pet parent crush the medication, which can make it taste much worse. Tramadol, a pain medication, is a very commonly prescribed pet medication that’s known to have a bitter taste; it should not be crushed. Medications such as antibiotics, antihistamines, and steroids can cause dry mouth, which triggers saliva production. Other medications known to cause hypersalivation include methimazole, flea and tick medications, and gabapentin. Stomach Ulcers Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as carprofen (Rimadyl), deracoxib (Deramaxx), meloxicam, and robenacoxib (Onsior), as well as steroids like prednisone and prednisolone, are known to increase your pet’s risk of getting gastrointestinal ulcers. These ulcers can then cause vomiting and diarrhea, with or without blood and/or dark, tarry stools. These medications should NEVER be given together, as it greatly increases the risk of ulcers. Stomach ulcers are often treated with medications that reduce acid production and protect the lining of the gastrointestinal system. Lumps and Bumps Side effects of medications that affect the skin are very common among pets. Lumps and bumps on the skin are most often caused by injectable medications. After the injection, you may notice a small lump where the medication was administered. These lumps often go away quickly as the medication is absorbed into your pet’s body. Skin Irritation Oral, injectable, and topical pet medications can all cause skin irritation. Antibiotics, thyroid medications, steroids, and flea and tick medications have all been associated with skin irritation in pets. Hair loss, itchiness, swelling, redness, scabbing, red bumps, hives, and blisters are the most common symptoms of skin irritation in pets. Skin reactions vary highly in severity and level of pain. They can be mild and resolve easily, or they can be severe, leading to immune system conditions such as lupus. Skin irritation in pets can also cause intense licking, biting, and chewing, which can cause worse damage to your pet’s skin. Liver or Kidney Damage Any medication your pet receives needs to be broken down by the body to be effective. The liver and kidneys do this, and they can be damaged in the process. Common side effects are increased thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and lethargy. NSAIDs used short- or long-term are commonly associated with liver and/or kidney damage. This reaction is commonly called idiosyncratic, which means it is unpredictable. In general, if an NSAID medication is given at the correct dose for the correct period of time, these side effects should not occur. Steroids are known to cause liver issues, but usually only when given at high doses for long periods of time or if the liver was already compromised before starting the medication. Blood pressure medications have also been known to cause kidney dysfunction. Lethargy or Behavioral Changes Pet medications often affect a pet’s brain, causing them to behave differently. Sometimes this behavior change is what they were prescribed for, such as with anti-anxiety and sedative/pain medication such as opiates, tramadol, and gabapentin. However, other times it’s an unintended side effect, like restlessness and hyperactivity. These behavior changes can be mild to severe, even causing dysphoria. Dysphoria is an altered mental state where your pet might vocalize, pant, or have difficulty settling down. Dysphoria is also common after or during anesthesia in pets. Metronidazole, which is used to treat infections, is an antibiotic known to have effects on the brain in older pets or if too high a dose is given. Most antihistamines, which are commonly used for a wide variety for allergy manifestations, can also cause lethargy or hyperactivity, depending on the pet. Other medications known to have these side effects are levothyroxine, steroids, blood pressure medications, insulin, antihistamines, and flea and tick medications.

Just about every cat owner has experienced excited meowing, the rubbing against your legs and the pleading stare—let’s face it, cats have a way of getting what they want! Unfortunately, sometimes when they get that worked up for a meal or treat, moments later, we’ll hear the familiar sound that sends us running for the paper towels. And then there’s the cleanup of the snack that now lies on the floor, looking completely undigested. How do we stop this cycle of cats eating too fast? A Cat That’s Eating Too Fast Might Regurgitate the Meal The good news is that there are several ways to slow down a cat that’s eating too fast. But first, what triggers the reflex that leads to regurgitation? Kitty eats too quickly—especially dry cat food—which then absorbs water, swells and sends the memo to the brain that the animal has overeaten. The brain does the logical thing: Too much food in? Let’s get rid of some, and the regurgitation reflex is triggered. This is slightly different from the mechanism involved in cat vomiting, which can be a more concerning symptom. That being said—if your pet regurgitates frequently or shows any additional sign, such as weight loss, a trip to your veterinarian is warranted.

Many people burp after eating a large meal or drinking a beverage. Dogs also routinely burp after drinking a lot of water on a hot summer day. But can cats burp? And if they can, does it mean something is wrong? Here’s what you should know about cat burping and what you should do if your cat burps. Is It Normal for a Cat to Burp? In a short answer, no. Cats are normally not going to let out a loud belch while lying on the couch after finishing supper. Burping in cats is uncommon and rarely seen on a daily basis. Cats primarily breathe from their nose, so excess air entering their gastrointestinal tract is relatively uncommon compared to other species.

Another supplement Dr. Trimble frequently recommends for older cats is fish oil. “Dry, flaky coats, allergies, arthritis and kidney disease can benefit from fish oil or other sources of omega fatty acids,” she says. Nature’s Logic North Atlantic Sardine Oil is a popular option derived from harvested wild sardines. Sardine oil contains more EPA and DHA than salmon oil and has naturally lower levels of environmental contaminants.,With more and more people turning to vitamins and supplements to fulfill their daily recommended intake of nutrients, it’s only natural that they would want to do the same for their cat. But, before you designate a section in your supplement drawer for your furry friend, it’s important to first consider whether they will truly benefit from supplements in the way that humans do.

This content was written and reviewed by veterinary professionals to answer your most common questions about this topic. This content shouldn’t take the place of advice by your vet. No vet writer or qualified reviewer has received any compensation from the manufacturer of any medication or product as part of creating this article.   Itchy skin, hair loss, ear and skin infections: Allergies in cats can manifest in many ways—none of which are particularly comfortable for your furry friend. Luckily, though, there are several options for allergy relief in cats.  Always work with your veterinarian if you have a cat with allergy symptoms to get to the bottom of the problem and solve it, if possible. Many other skin conditions such as mosquito bite sensitivity, bacterial skin infection, yeast skin infection, skin mites, autoimmune skin disease, and ringworm (fungal) infection have similar signs to skin allergies but require different treatments.   Talk to your veterinarian before starting any treatment for allergies.