Cats

Explore More at petMD.com How to Choose the Best Cat Food How to Read a Cat Food Label,How to Battle Your Cat’s Bulge By Amanda Baltazar Obesity is on the rise in cats. But it’s not just the discomfort of carrying around a few extra pounds that’s the problem: Overweight cats are more likely to suffer from other diseases including diabetes, arthritis and fatty liver syndrome, which can be lethal. Our cats are becoming rounder, says Kerri Marshall, DVM, and executive vice president of customer experience with Trupanion. This is partially because there’s been a transition from cats being indoor-outdoor cats to them staying indoors all the time and thus getting much less exercise, she says. To return your cat to his or her pre-obese shape, you need to consider both exercise and diet. Here are some other tips from Dr. Marshall… 1. Know Your Cat’s “Body Condition Score” Google “cat body condition score” and you will find that many websites provide pictures of cats from above and from the side to help you compare your own cat’s status, whether he or she is overweight and by how much. In general, says Dr. Marshall, “you should be able to feel your cat’s ribs and his backbone. And check under the belly, which is a common place for fat to develop.”

Here’s something to chew on: currently fewer than 20 percent of aluminum pet food cans are recycled in a market with sales of over 6 billion dollars. (How many cans is that? Do the math and let us know.) The good news is that most pet food cans are made from aluminum and steel and are recyclable. Rinse and recycle! Open the windows and pull back the drapes! Let nature come right on in. You and your pet will feel so zen-sational. (And that’s not just good advice from Mom—here’s the science of why). Changing the water in your pet’s drinking bowl? Waste not, want not by using it to water houseplants or garden containers rather than dumping it down the drain.,This April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, an annual celebration of the beauty of the natural world and a call to action to do more in our daily lives to help keep our planet clean, green, and thriving. (Do you remember your first Earth Day? We do.) As pet parents who want to give our furry (or feathery) family members the best life possible, of course we want to do our part. So, to get you started we’ve rounded up 24 ways to make a difference. Got 5 minutes, an hour, even the whole day? Here are some easy-to-do ideas divided into how much time you have to devote. (And no, you don’t need to do all of this in one day.) Remember, it all adds up!

Routine vet visits are one of the best ways to protect your cat’s health. But how often does your feline friend really need to see the vet? The answer depends on their age, lifestyle, and any health conditions they may have.  Whether you’re raising a curious kitten or caring for a beloved senior, this guide outlines how often to take your cat to the vet—plus what to expect at each visit and signs it’s time to head to the clinic right away. 

How To Draw Blood From Your Diabetic Pet Many pet owners are nervous about taking blood samples, but it gets easier with practice. Ideally, you should find at least two locations on your pet that are comfortable for both you and your pet and rotate through them. In cats, the best place to take blood from is the tiny vein at the edge of the ear flap (the marginal ear vein). Other options is the accessory carpal pad, or the pad on the front leg closest to the cat’s body.  Make sure that you don’t draw blood from a spot your cat will be walking on. In dogs, you can also target the marginal ear vein or accessory carpal pad. Other options in dogs include the inside of the upper lip or the callus on the elbows. It is best to find at least two locations on your pet that are comfortable for you and them and rotate through them. This way your pet does not get sensitive to excessive sampling in one area. Before drawing blood, be sure to warm the sample area so that you get an adequate sample. Warming the area helps to bring blood to the surface and makes for easier sample collection. You can simply rub the area with your fingers or apply a warm cloth. For pets that have long hair, shaving the sample site may make drawing blood easier. If you are sampling blood glucose only once a day, ask your veterinarian what time of day is best and test at that same time each day. There are several on-line tracking apps for monitoring blood sugar levels, (AlphaTrack, Vetsulin) that can be helpful when monitoring your pet’s glucose at home.,Additional Home Monitoring Options for Diabetic Pets Continuous glucose monitoring is a new type of monitoring that was adapted from human medicine to help diabetic patients. Currently, no continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are FDA-approved for use on pets at this time, but there have been several published studies that suggest the Freestyle Libre is safe, accurate and effective for use in both dogs and cats. Some vets recommend it off-label. Using a CGM enables you to constantly monitor your pet’s glucose levels without having to obtain blood samples. The Freestyle Libre is a small, round glucose sensor that has a tiny sampling tube that’s implanted under your pet’s skin at the veterinarian’s office. The sensor monitors tissue glucose levels continuously for 14 days and then the sensor and probe are removed until your vet recommends another round of monitoring. Monitoring is generally recommended after changes in insulin dosage, every three months in stable diabetics, or as directed by your veterinarian. It does not measure glucose in the bloodstream. Instead, it checks glucose in the fluid that is in the tissues under the skin. This sensor then links to an app on your phone or a reader (a separate device to collect and interpret the data from the sensor, which can be purchased separately) so you can easily keep tabs on glucose values. Each sensor is used only once, and it intended to be used for 14 days to provide continuous glucose data. There are multiple advantages to this system: It’s pain free, collects continuous glucose data over the course of 14 days and the data is collected at home where your pet is happy and comfortable. The downside, however, is that CGMS aren’t quite as accurate as manual glucometers. If your pet has a very abnormal reading, you’ll want to double check it with a glucometer.  Urine testing: Test strips can be used to measure how much glucose has spilled over into the urine because levels exceeded what the kidneys can handle. Your veterinarian might advise urine testing if your pet has been recently diagnosed with a diabetes. Featured Image: iStock.com/didesign021,If your pet is diabetic or recently diagnosed as one, you’re probably learning everything you can about managing a diabetic pet at home. In healthy pets (and people), a hormone called insulin moves sugar from the blood stream into the cells where it can be used for energy. If your dog or cat has diabetes, however, their pancreas does not produce insulin or sufficient insulin. Typically, pets are not classified into type 1 or type 2 diabetes as are humans. However, for understanding the similarities, type 1 diabetes is where the pancreas is not producing insulin. Dogs get type 1 diabetes and cats can have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.  With type 2 diabetes the pancreas is still producing insulin but not in sufficient levels. As a result of either type of diabetes, the amount of sugar (glucose) in their bloodstream can become dangerously high causing a condition called hyperglycemia. To keep your pet healthy, you’ll have to give it injections of insulin, but you’ll need to avoid overdoing it. If you give them too much insulin, their blood sugar levels could become dangerously low (hypoglycemia). That’s why regular monitoring of glucose levels and adjusting insulin doses is crucial, as directed by your veterinarian.

You’d never forget to get your fur baby or your favorite cat-loving friend a Christmas gift, but not just any cat gift will do.  After all, some cats like climbing to the highest heights (let’s just hope that doesn’t include your Christmas tree), while others prefer to cuddle up in a comfy closet corner. Some cat lovers are always on the go, go, go, while others prefer the creature comforts of home.   To help make your holiday shopping easier, we’ve rounded up a range of gifts for cats and cat lovers.   From cat beds and toys to home décor and high-tech gadgets that make life easier, you’re sure to find a gift that fits the two- or four-legged friend on your shopping list.  

Described as similar in type and personality to the American Shorthair, with quiet, loving traits, the name says it all—this cat has a unique crimped, coarse coat. But that distinctive wiry fur is rare even in litters from two Wirehair parents. Joan says that only 90 percent of those kittens and just half of any outcross litter will be “wired.” The American Wirehair’s special mutation hasn’t yet been reported in any other country.,Who’s the rarest cat of all? According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association, all pedigreed cats can be considered rare. In fact, the CFA estimates just two to four percent of owned cats have pedigrees. But while cat lovers can recognize a Siamese with ease, or pick a Persian out of a lineup, the characteristics of more exotic felines elude us. Joan Miller, who chairs the CFA’s Outreach and Education, and who’s judged rare cats at shows nationwide, graciously gave us a crash course highlighting 10 special breeds. “I have judged and known all of these breeds, and feel if they were better known they would be extremely popular as pets,” says Miller. “Each has tremendous beauty as well as appealing personality.”

Some estimates put the cost of cat ownership to upwards of $1,000 per year. If you’re budget-minded you might wonder how to save money on staples such as kitty litter, which can cost up to $165 a year. We know you don’t want to skimp on the quality or comfort for your cat, so what are some things to factor in when shopping for cat litter, and what are some ways you can make it last longer? We’ve drummed up some ideas on how to stretch your dollar and make your litter go the extra mile.

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Sometimes referred to as the Domestic Shorthair, the American Shorthair was the cat breed found on the Mayflower catching mice! Affectionate and endearing, it quickly became one of the earliest cat breeds kept in the home.

Mixing wet and dry cat food is different than adding a topper, which is often used to aid in weight gain or boost certain nutrients. Instead, cat parents and their vets combine wet and dry foods for more practical reasons, such as increasing palatability and improving appetite.  ,Does your feline seem to have a strong opinion about her food? She loves it one day, but the next day won’t even look at it? You’re not alone. Cats can be notoriously finicky eaters, making it harder to find the right options that provide a healthy, balanced diet they will consistently devour. This can be especially true for senior cats. If this sounds familiar, you might consider mixing wet and dry cat foods together at meal time. Besides increasing palatability, it turns out there are some potential health benefits to feeding a combination diet. Read on to find out when and how it makes sense to transition your cat to a mixed diet. As always, if you have questions about your cat’s feeding, your vet is a great resource.