Cats

Just like their human counterparts, kittens may experience diarrhea from time to time. However, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore it or consider it normal. When a kitten has diarrhea, it means something in their system is amiss. The key is finding out what that is and determining the best treatment (if any). So, what are the possible causes of kitten diarrhea? Let’s find out.,Jump to section Is It Normal for Kittens To Have Diarrhea? Causes of Kitten Diarrhea Kitten Diarrhea Signs and Symptoms Kitten Poop Color: What’s Normal? How Long Does Kitten Diarrhea Last? When Do I Need To See a Veterinarian? Kitten Diarrhea Treatment Kitten Diarrhea Prevention

By Helen Anne Travis Whether you call them teacup cats, dwarfs, or miniatures, there’s no denying the cuteness of these fun-size felines. But the breeding practices that go into creating such a small cat could lead to a host of health problems for the pet and a host of heartaches for the pet parent. Here’s what you need to know before spending big bucks on a tiny cat. What Is a Teacup Cat? Teacup cats are cats who have been bred to be as small as possible. While most adult cats weigh around 9 to 10 pounds, teacup cats are bred to be about two-thirds that size, says Dr. Jane Brunt, a feline veterinarian at Cat Hospital at Towson in Baltimore, Maryland, and the executive director of The CATalyst Council, a group dedicated to promoting the health, welfare, and value of the companion cat. Some adult teacup cats weigh as little as 5 or 6 pounds, she says. To make a cat that tiny typically involves mating an undersized male with an undersized female, she says. But not all small cats are created equal. While some animals are naturally petite, others may be stunted in size because of health problems, disease, or undernourishment. “These cats were born runts for some reason. Something is not quite working in the body,” says Katie Lisnik, director of cat protection and policy at The Humane Society of the United States. “That’s one of our major concerns with breeding for purely physical attributes. It could lead to genetic disorders and health concerns.”

Bearded dragons have quickly become one of the most popular reptile companions for reptile owners. With their calm temperaments, quirky “beard puffing,” and fun personalities, it’s easy to see why. But keeping your dragon happy and healthy starts with one of the most important care essentials: diet.  So what do bearded dragons eat? The answer is more than just crickets or lettuce. These fascinating lizards need a variety of foods at different life stages to grow strong, stay active, and live a long, healthy life. 

Is plain rice good for cats? While plain rice is safe for cats, it doesn’t provide any nutritional benefits, says Dr. Rachel Barrack, DVM, CVA, CVCH, and owner of New York City-based veterinary practice Animal Acupuncture. That’s because… Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they benefit from high protein diets. Felines have very limited carbohydrate needs. That’s true for most cats, so plain rice—being a carbohydrate—doesn’t have much of a health payoff for kitties. Cats can have difficulty processing and digesting carbs, like rice. Plus, eating too many carbohydrates can predispose purr babies to conditions like obesity and diabetes. Can cats eat brown rice? Is brown rice better for cats? Sure, cats can eat brown rice. And while brown rice is technically slightly better for cats (over white rice), “neither have much nourishment for them,” Dr. Barrack says. Brown rice has slightly more nutrients than fortified white rice, but because cats can only have a small taste or two of rice, the nutritional pros and cons of each aren’t going to make huge differences for our feline friends, she adds. Can cats eat plain white rice? Yes, cats can eat plain white rice. If they handle it well, it won’t hurt them to have a tiny taste now and again. If you decide to serve some grainy goodness to your cat: Keep servings small. Just offer a teaspoon of rice. Dole out rice as an infrequent treat. It’s not an essential part of your pur-ry friend’s diet, so no need to overdo it. Is white rice toxic to cats? White rice is not toxic to cats. However, “many cats do have difficulty processing and digesting carbohydrates such as white rice,” says Dr. Barrack. Carbs can also make our cool cats prone to weight gain and diseases, like diabetes, she adds. Why is it bad for cats to eat white rice? While not technically “bad” for them, white rice isn’t particularly helpful for cats because they’re obligate carnivores. This means they benefit from a meat-based diet, and as Dr. Barrack points out, “the majority of felines don’t have much need for carbohydrates.” How much rice can a cat eat? How much rice a cat can eat depends on their overall daily calorie intake. Here’s how to figure out the appropriate amount of rice: Total treats should be no more than 10 percent of your cat’s daily calorie intake. Let’s say your kitty takes in 200 calories a day. Treats should then make up no more than 20 calories of their daily food allotment. Because a teaspoon of rice has only about 5 calories, that’s 2.5 percent of their overall calories—well within snacking range. Talk to your vet about your kitty’s needs, and try this handy calorie calculator from the Pet Nutrition Alliance. Observe your pet. If your feline is healthy, likes rice and has no ill effects from indulging, it won’t harm adult cats to have some rice in their wet cat food or as a separate little tidbit. Don’t use rice as a meal replacement. Rice isn’t a requisite part of cat diets; and while the periodic bite or two is appropriate, it doesn’t provide the needed sustenance for tip-top feline health. How often can a cat eat rice? How often a cat can eat rice depends on your cat’s overall health and tolerance for this food. For fit felines with a hankering for rice—as long as they digest it well and have no underlying health issues—a bite of plain boiled or steamed rice once in a while is reasonable. “Keep in mind that cat treats should not account for a significant amount of their daily calorie intake,” says Dr. Barrack. Rice should only be an infrequent refreshment, since indulging in too many carbohydrates can cause long-term health issues, as well as diarrhea, bloating and gas.,Jump to section FAQs About Cats and Rice Benefits of Feeding Cats Rice Downsides of Feeding Cats Rice How to Feed Rice to Cats

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There are so many reasons why your cat might turn their nose up at their food, and your vet is the best one to diagnose the underlying cause.,Jump to section Why Is My Cat Not Eating? What To Do if Your Cat’s Not Eating How To Get a Cat To Eat

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Whether calico, tortoiseshell, orange, black, brown, or gray, a cat’s fur color is derived from two dominant colors: Black and red. These colors can mutate into different shades—black can become chocolate, cinnamon, lilac, blue and fawn. And red, which is determined by the orange gene, can become cream. The color genes for black and red in cats are contained within the X chromosome. This is the same chromosome that, along with Y in males, determine a cat’s sex, says Dr. Jerold Bell, adjunct professor of genetics at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts. “They are actually alleles, meaning they are two variations of the same gene in one location on the chromosome,” he says. So an X chromosome can contain either a black hair gene or an orange hair gene, but not both. “One allele will create orange coloration. This allele will cover up all other colors, except pure white. The other allele will create a non-orange coloration. This allele is ‘recessive’ and allows for expression of a non-orange (usually black) coloration,” says Dr. Susan Konecny, medical director for Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Males normally carry only one X chromosome. Therefore, males can be black or orange (or other color variations based on other gene locations) but cannot have both black and orange hair colors on their body. The female’s extra X chromosome allows the possibility of her receiving both a black and orange gene, says Bell. A cat DNA test, like this one from Wisdom Panel, can help you learn more about your cat’s traits beyond color, such as your cat’s breed(s) or genetic health risks. ,You’ve always assumed the calico cat that sits in your neighbor’s window is a she. And you’re certain that the orange tabby cat you want to adopt at the cat shelter is a boy. Chances are, you’re right. Most orange cats are male and most calicos are female. The color of a cat’s coat is closely linked to its gender. As you may recall from high school biology, mammals have two chromosomes that determine their sex—XX for females and XY for males. But a number of additional chromosomes are present and vary depending upon species, says Dr. Robert Grahn, a forensic analyst at the veterinary genetics laboratory at the University of California in Davis. “These other chromosomes contain genes that affect hair color, pattern, shape and length,” Grahn says. “Since the genes for sex and hair colors are on different chromosomes, they are inherited independently of each other. Thus, no color is associated with a particular sex, except in cats and hamsters.” Nature doesn’t always abide by a rigid set of rules, however, including when it comes to feline fur color. A small percentage of orange cats are female, and even a more minuscule portion of calico cats are male. Below, learn how genetics and sex influences a cat’s coat color, and why some cats don’t fit typical color patterns.

Here are 10 of the most common reasons your cat is walking in circles.,Jump to section Why Is My Cat Walking in Circles? When To Go to the Vet About a Cat Walking in Circles How Do Vets Diagnose the Cause? Treatment for a Cat Walking in Circles

You look over and see your cat hunched down, neck stretched, making a strange, raspy hacking sound. Is it a hairball? A sneeze? Something more serious? Chances are, it’s cat coughing—a reflex triggered when something irritates their airway.  Cat coughing can have a range of causes—some minor, others more serious. Learn the common causes of cat coughing and when to call your vet.