For older cats, one of the most common problems is hyperthyroidism; a diagnosed condition which occurs as a result of an over-active thyroid gland and includes symptoms such as fast heart-rates, over-activity, vomiting and agitation. The problem is treatable and there are a number of prescription-based medications available.

Vidalta is one such option and comes in the form of a sustained-release tablet that slowly releases its unique formula over the course of the day. The product is often recommended by veterinarians and has proved remarkably valuable in managing and improving the symptoms that occur as a result of an over-active thyroid gland. Another approach is to try a product such as Felimazole. This prescribed medication controls the amount of hormones released by the thyroid gland to effectively manage your beloved feline’s symptoms. The tablets are sugar-coated, and should be administered through the mouth (you can also add them to your cat’s food).

When attempting to implement one the aforementioned treatments, it is always important to be aware of any potential side-effects such as vomiting, diarrhea or excessive itching. If these occur frequently you should discontinue use and immediately consult an expert. Nevertheless, such treatments have proved noticeably beneficial in treating hyperthyroidism and are an option worth exploring.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that a healthy and balanced source of nutrition goes a long way to calming the condition; a product such as Iams cat food is a good choice and can provide a wholesome and healthy diet that can go a long way to containing the problem. It’s true; cats are strikingly independent. But every now and then they need a little help from their owners, who will reap the rewards when it comes to snuggling up on a comfortable sofa with a contented feline for company.

If you’re providing your furry friend with good quality food such as Royal Canin Cat Food, then the problem is most likely to concern the amount of food provided. Overfeeding can be a common cause in pets not eating their food, as they start associating the food with feeling nauseous after previously having overeaten.

There’s a simple test you can try out to determine the issue, simply imagine what your pets’ reaction would be if you were to feed it no more than a tea spoon of food a day. Would they eat it keenly, or would they leave it? If they eat it then chances are rather high that it is just being overfed. However, if they still refuse to eat the food then it either has something to do with the quality of the food, or it may be something more serious in which case it is highly recommended to take the pet to a vet. For example, issues with the bladder can cause a cat to stop eating. Royal Canin Sensitivity is a good cat food that has been especially designed for cats with bladder problems. Sometimes them not eating is the only sign you get before the animal starts feeling serious pain and is unable to go to the toilet at all, which usually marks the point where it is too late for your pet to recover. Therefore, seeing why your cat isn’t eating its food can be very important!

If you are thinking of what kind of food is right for your pet, there are many options. Some pets are fine with whatever, some prefer dry food to wet, some prefer wet to dry. When your cat rejects the pet food you provide and he/she is looking for an alternative, it could also be because a lot of cat foods contain high levels of carbohydrates. Try switching to a more natural choice such as James Well Beloved to see if the cat goes back to eating.

Some of the most common reasons why a cat might destroy your property with scratching are:

• As a way of declaring their personal territory
• As a mode of exercise in order to stretch out in a tight environment
• As a way of getting rid of their excess energy

There are certainly other reasons why cats might scratch, but these are some of the most common that you will run into once you start leaving your pet unattended in the house.

What does all of this mean for the new cat owner? It means that you really have no chance of completely making your cat stop scratching. It is a natural cat activity, so they are going to continue it. The best thing for cat owners to do is to help cats channel their scratching into more possible modes.

How to Train Your Cat

If we have established that your cat is going to scratch something regardless of what you do, then you have to start putting out things that your cat will enjoy scratching. How do you do this? Figure out what things he is enjoying scratching and then try to go out and buy an object that shares the features of what he has been scratching. For instance, if he is scratching your best pillow, go and purchase a cheaper, acceptable pillow that you won’t mind him destroying.

Still, you can’t just hope to leave the old object in its old place and expect the cat to learn a new trick. The best thing for you to do is to cover up the old object with something that your cat will not like. Typically, cats run as far away from tape, sandpaper, and similar objects as they possibly can. Some people will tell you to put an unfavorable smell on the objects, but that will make your home stink.

It is important that you put the new, acceptable objects in a place where your cat is comfortable. For instance, you are not going to have a lot of success in getting your cat to scratch a new pillow in the bathroom. Put that new pillow somewhere around the den and slowly move it to a more desirable spot.

Different cat owners have their own methods for handling cat scratching. Some feel that discipline is the best option, but cats are fickle creatures that do not respond that well to punishment. If you really want to get through to your cat, follow the steps above and make sure that you give him an acceptable alternative.

Some of the most common problems you’re going to encounter owning a cat will be related to its gastrointestinal tract. Cats have a sensitive digestive system, so it’s not rare to see your cat with diseases and conditions like diarrhea; you must know how to approach the most common ones immediately and then contact your vet as soon as possible, and also learn how to spot the potentially really dangerous ones compared to conditions that will most likely pass quickly and harmlessly.

Another cat disease related to the digestive system, though manifested in the urinary tract, is cystitis – that unpleasant infection that affects humans as well and makes it painful and difficult for the animal to urinate. In most cases it can be treated easily with some prescribed antibiotics, though make sure you consult your vet first – and make absolutely sure to visit them again for a follow-up inspection to make sure everything’s fine.

Hairballs are another good example of commonly occurring gastrointestinal problems in cats, though they’re certainly nothing to be worried about in most cases – a cat will form hairballs in its digestive tract naturally quite often and its organism will expel them harmlessly. In the worst case you may have to clean up some vomit but it’ll certainly be nothing to worry about unless the hairball becomes really large and causes serious issues to the cat’s stomach.

Allergies are also something cats are naturally prone to, though not as much as us humans. A rather unpleasant potential effect of an allergy in your cat can lead to the development of asthma, which can give your cat attacks later on, sometimes serious enough to kill it. This makes asthma – and allergies in general – a serious cat disease that requires your immediate consideration if you want the animal to live safely and for long.

Go to your vet and inform them of your decision, and the doctor would then either perform the procedure personally or direct you to somebody who can take it up. The standard procedure for cat euthanasia is to use sedatives, in order to let the animal die slowly and without suffering any pain.

You can choose to remain during the procedure, or stay out and only be informed when it’s done. Make sure you let the vet know of your choice beforehand though, as once the whole process is set in motion, there’s no turning back. If you feel you can’t bear the sight of your kitty passing away though, it’s perfectly acceptable to prefer to wait outside – it’s actually what most people choose in this situation.

You’ll have to make one more decision after the cat’s death – what to do with the body. You can either arrange a funeral and bury the remains (or cremate them) and give the cat a proper goodbye, or you could let the veterinarian deal with the disposal of the body. If you choose to bury the cat yourself quietly in your backyard though, that’s a valid option as well and you should just request to receive its body.

Dealing with your loss afterwards can be difficult – anyone who’s lost someone close to them knows how it feels; sharing a pain always makes it easier on you though, so try and talk to others and just let it all out. Especially if you can find other people who’ve had to deal with the same kind of tragedy – sharing your pain with someone who’s gone through the same is definitely a good way to give yourself some relief. After all, remember that you did this for the cat’s own good.

Spotting feline leukemia relies on a number of symptoms, including a sudden loss of weight, decoloration of the gums, as well as displays of weakness and tiredness on a regular basis. A cat affected by feline leukemia would commonly become lethargic and lazy, immobilizing itself for prolonged periods during the day. Some odd colors may also appear in the eyes of the cat as well.

On the bright side, vaccines for the disease have existed for quite a while now, and they’re a surefire way to ensure your cat stays safe and protected from feline leukemia at all times. This is actually something any good vet should make sure to tell you when you’ve recently gotten a cat, and if your cat still isn’t protected against feline leukemia you should get it vaccinated as soon as possible.

There are several types of vaccines available on the market nowadays, most of which rely on the traditional method of containing an inactive form of the virus in order to provide adequate protection against it. You should keep in mind that as with any other type of vaccine, there’s a small possibility of the cat rejecting it, but don’t worry – there are different types of vaccines available and it shouldn’t be difficult at all to find one that works for your cat and can provide it with immunity to feline leukemia. It’s important to get this done as early as possible to maximize the efficiency of the vaccine, though.

If your cat is already affected by the condition, there’s sadly no cure for it known to medical science yet. There are various continuous treatments, on the other hand, which can at least prolong your cat’s life and lessen the symptoms of the disease. Ultimately though, nothing can be done to save the poor animal.

Spotting fleas on your cat can be somewhat tricky if you’re not looking for them – some signs to look out for include frequent scratching, black dots covering the fur of the cat, as well as a general behavior indicating unease and restlessness. The cat may not always scratch itself frequently though, and sometimes it may not even scratch a lot – and it may not be easy to spot fleas with your bare eyes if you’ve got a dark-furred cat with long hair.

When you have spotted fleas on your cat though, you must prepare yourself for quite the challenging battle and put all your effort into getting rid of the condition. You may be tempted to go for some of the most commonly advertised products such as sprays, powders and the famous flea collars – but these are rarely a good solution to the problem, especially if you’re dealing with an infestation in a more advanced state.

Start with a shower, and be gentle on the cat but make sure you rub deeply into its fur to get all the fleas out safely. Change the water a few times during the bathing and use shampoo each time. Afterwards, if the flea problem still persists go to your vet to discuss a more direct approach to the infestation. You’ll probably be prescribed a medication (most commonly administered orally, though topical solutions exist as well), which you’ll have to treat your cat with for a brief period of time. Most of these medications aren’t specifically designed to kill fleas, mind you, as they’ll also improve your cat’s well-being in other aspects.

Preventing fleas from reproducing is crucial to the whole process and their ability to do so will be controlled by the medication – so you may have to keep applying it for some time after any noticeable signs of the infestation are gone, to prevent it from developing again. Make sure you go around the house and treat it as well – fleas can very easily take temporary refuge in various places (including on you!), which can defeat the whole purpose of combating them so diligently in the first place – so do a careful search around the whole house after you’re done treating the cat.

There are several types of cat worms that commonly affect all breeds, and the most prominent ones are tapeworms, roundworms as well as a species known as Coccidia. All types of cat worms share some common symptoms though, and knowing what they are is key to winning your battle against them for good.

Some of the more commonly encountered symptoms of cat worms include vomiting, diarrhea, as well as the fur coat of the cat falling off. The animal may lose weight as well, depending on the severity of the condition.

One important thing to remember in the upbringing of your cats is to always have them regularly checked by a vet, and the examination should include the cat’s stool as well – it’s not difficult for a good veterinarian to tell if your cat has worms in its stomach from some simple analyses on the stool it produces. Depending on the age of the cat, you’ll have to get these examinations done at different periods of time, so check to make sure you’re on schedule.

Treating cat worms isn’t that difficult in most cases – if you’re dealing with tapeworms, you should just buy some medication from your veterinary pharmacy, and use it according to the instructions provided. An important fact to keep in mind is that cats affected by worms who’re displaying symptoms like weight loss and an increased appetite should be treated with liquid solutions only, as otherwise the treatment wouldn’t be very effective and you actually risk causing an unwanted reaction.

Roundworms are also easy to treat, but it’s vital to address them as soon as they’re spotted, as otherwise you risk putting your cat’s life on the line; if the number of infections grows too much, the cat’s intestines may be blocked which will prove fatal. Once again, over-the-counter medication should be all you need to address the issue and clear your cat’s intestines of its worms; in some cases you may need to continue using the medication for a specified period of time to prevent the condition from ever manifesting itself again and ensure a safe and healthy life for your cat.

In most cases, bad breath is the result of an increased level of bacteria that produce odors in the mouth of the pet. This can occur as the result of a gum disease – there are some cats that are especially prone to such problems and should be cared for very carefully to keep their health in balance.

Sometimes, the owner of the cat would think that leaving the problem alone would make it go away in due time – but that’s far from true when it comes to bad breath issues, especially if the underlying cause is related to a developing disease. You must brush your cat’s teeth regularly, otherwise you risk developing plaque that sticks to its teeth and damages them over time. The cat’s gums will also start swelling and may contract gingivitis, all in all damaging the animal’s health very severely, and in some cases irreversibly.

You may have to change your habits a bit if you’re having trouble getting to brush your cat’s teeth properly though. You need to be gentle and never try to force the animal into it – apply the toothpaste on the inside of the cat’s mouth gently, you can even use your finger for this; after the cat has become accustomed to the taste and feeling of the gel, you can try using a toothbrush, but make sure you buy one with extremely fine hairs and rub it very, very gently.

Occasionally though, your cat may just get bad breath out of nowhere and for no good reason – and as long as it’s not a repeated occurrence it’s nothing to worry about. Sometimes the reason is as simple as the cat’s last meal and its contents – you can’t really expect your cat to not have a bad breath after a meal of smelly tuna fish, so remember what you’re giving it and you should be able to pinpoint the source of bad breath if it lies in the food you’ve been giving your cat.

Cat form hairballs naturally due to their grooming habits – you may have frequently seen your cat licking itself to smoothen its fur, which is actually one of the primary causes for developing hairballs. Pieces of hair find their way into the cat’s mouth, and since they can’t be digested they start rolling up inside and mixing with other substances in the digestive tract. Sooner or later, the cat’s organism expels the hairball naturally as a protective measure – and the result can be seen on your rug occasionally.

Other signs that can indicate your cat is having hairball problems include constipation, loss of appetite, and a general state of depression and inactivity. This is due to the negative impact the hairball has on the cat’s organism, leading to a decreased productivity and activity in general.

Luckily, preventing cat hairballs is far from difficult if you’ve got the right knowledge. The most important thing is to remember to frequently give your cat a brushing. This is actually quite pleasant for the cat itself (provided, of course, you do it the right way and only brush following the direction of the cat’s fur). Apart from the obvious benefit of getting rid of loose hairs, frequent brushing also holds the benefit of helping you build a tight bond with your cat, as the soothing activity helps it become more comfortable and relaxed around you.

Of course, more specialized methods exist if your cat’s hairball problem is more persistent. You can try using a specialized food additive in its diet, though these products should be used carefully as they’re not ideal for every cat out there and can sometimes cause even more problems. In general though, approaching cat hairball issues through the animal’s diet is a good way to minimize the risk and prevent the cat from developing hairballs in the future. It may take some time before you see actual effects of the treatment you’ve chosen, but once it’s done you shouldn’t have any more issues at all.