Posts tagged “Travel Carrier”

It sounds like several things may be going on in your cat. The sores under the chin sound like chin acne, which is a bacterial infection of the hair follicles on the chin. Some veterinary dermatologists have reported that a contact-type allergy to plastic can contribute to the problem, and have recommended avoiding plastic food bowls, using glass or porcelain instead. Mild cases are often treated using a topical ointment. More severe cases require antibiotics. The sores on the edges of her mouth and lips, however, may be something else. Some cats are affected by a condition called eosinophilic granuloma complex. This is an inflammatory condition of the skin that can manifest in many ways. Some cats get a characteristic sore on their upper lip, the so-called “rodent ulcer; others get thick, raised sores on their abdomen and inner thigh (called eosinophilic plaques). I’ve seen some cases that manifest as sores on the edges of the lips. The eosinophilic granuloma complex responds dramatically to steroids like cortisone or prednisone, and the fact that your cat responded to these drugs supports my contention that this is what your cat probably has. Some cats, once treated, do not experience a recurrence. Other cats, however, may have their lesions resolve, only to have them reappear days, weeks, months, or even years later. There’s no predicting. Fortunately, this is not a serious condition. If your cat does need repeated steroid treatments to get the lip inflammation under control, I would treat using pills rather than giving steroid injections. With pills, you can taper the dose down to the lowest dose that controls the disorder. At low doses, the drug has minimal side effects. Steroid injections have the potential for undesirable side effects and should be given judiciously. By: Arnold Plotnick, DVM,Q.

In This Article Why Do Cats Need To Be Vaccinated? View 5 More +

As a cat parent whose furry friend has only ever spent her time indoors, I’ve often wondered if Penny would enjoy it if I let her outside from time to time, or if that would just be a terrible idea. While some owners feel strongly one way or the other—that all cats should remain indoors or that cats deserve to spend some time outside—others may let their cats decide for themselves. If you’re on the fence about what to do with your own cat, consider the pros and cons of indoor vs outdoor cats from Pam Johnson-Bennett, cat behavior expert and author of Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat – Not a Sour Puss.

While this Minion Cat tutorial by 2 Cats & 1 Doll might be a little more labor intensive, what you’re left with is a cat with wearing a Minion hat, so it’s worth the effort, am I right? What a beautiful tribute to those tiny, yellow, babbling monsters.,Mama was a black and white cat that let us put anything on her. I’m assuming she was just super tolerant of children. Kitty was a gray mix who had a fit when we tried to put a collar on her. She hissed at it every time she saw it (even though we had given up and just set it down on the counter). If your cat falls in the spectrum of “I love wearing outfits my humans think are adorable on me,” then this list is for you. If your cat falls on the other side of the spectrum—the “You come near me with that costume and I will end you” side—then you may still like this list, but your cat most definitely will not.

Many people who do not consider themselves to be cat people see cat behavior as random and unpredictable. But for those paying attention, understanding cats’ reactions and behaviors isn’t all that mysterious. Problems arise when people unfamiliar with cat language do not pay attention to the messages a cat is trying to communicate. The result is an unpleasant experience for everyone involved. The key for preventing these negative experiences is through educating people who are not versed in cat language—especially your cat’s—about what is appropriate and what makes your kitty uncomfortable. This is especially important if you plan to have houseguests over who may want to interact with your kitty. Your cat may see your guests as invaders of their space, and thus act accordingly. To make sure that your feline, your friends and your family members get along without a scratch, consider the following tips for helping visitors get better at understanding cats. A Cat’s Curiosity Is Not an Invitation for Contact Cats may approach guests without any desire to interact. And many guests refuse to accept this fact. “If the cat gets up and then approaches, but with a stiff tail or quivering tail, it may be just investigating, not being friendly,” explains Pamela Uncles, M.Ed., CDBC, Companion Animal Behavior, who practices in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. If the cat is receptive—as shown through slowly blinking eyes, head bumps, and other similar behavior—“ask the person to sit down and simply reach out a hand with a finger extended gently, or with hand closed, fingers facing the floor, and allow the cat to approach to sniff or touch the middle knuckle with its nose. “ A guest may allow the receptive cat to rub its face against their hand or even scratch the cat under the chin or behind the ears. But guests shouldn’t go overboard, and neither should pet parents. “Don’t rub the fur or pet vigorously,” says Uncles. “Gently stroke the cat.” When a cat has its ears back, twitches its tail or has dilated pupils, it likely has had enough interaction and would like to be left alone. Remember that cats need to be easily able to escape any situations that are making them uncomfortable. It is smart to offer cats a variety of vertical and other hiding places throughout the home, like cat trees or a cat perch. “This can be very helpful when young children are visiting. Say ‘Leave kitty alone when she is in her tree—that’s her safe place.’”

5. Cat Whiskers Are as Sensitive as Human Fingertips Cat whiskers are thicker and coarser than regular fur and have roots that are three times deeper. They are strategically located on the cat’s face to provide sensory equipment to help guide a cat through the day, aiding vision and helping the cat to navigate, much like antennae on insects. Although the number of whiskers will vary by breed, most cats have 12 whiskers arranged in four rows on each cheek. These whiskers are very sensitive, and this part of the face also contains small glands that smell like your cat. This is one reason many cats love to have their faces rubbed!,6. Cats are Nearsighted, but See Great in the Dark This is all thanks to those sensitive whiskers! Compared to humans, cats are nearsighted because their eyes are so large and placed so forward on their face. In fact, they can’t focus on anything less than 1 foot in front of them. This is where the whiskers come into play, as they can swing the whiskers forward to feel in front of them. However, they make up for this nearsightedness with an excellent ability to see in the dark. Cats have extra dark-specializing cells called rods and a “reflective mirror” called a tapetum in the back of the eye. These work together, so cats can see light at eight times dimmer illumination than you can.,Cats are unique animals, adored for both cuteness and behavior quirks, like their obsession with knocking things off tables and their headbutting love language. But there’s so much more to know (and love!) about cats. Here are some well-hidden secrets and fun facts about cats.