Fur, Jaws, and Claws

posted by fmoore on Dec 23

By being aware of how your cat is feeling and what it is doing you will help to ensure that its health remains at an optimum level.There are three different problems we will deal with that will be made aware to you by your cat vomiting. This is the way your cat lets you know it is not feeling its best. If you find that your cat is vomiting, it is not necessarily a problem unless it appears to be apathetic and low on energy. You can then decide if it will be necessary for your cat to go to the holistic vet for a checkup.

First, we are going to discuss hairballs. Your cat will eat grass to induce vomiting, often to eliminate hair that they’ve ingested while grooming themselves. If this is happening consistently, you will need to spend a little more time grooming your cat to remove the excess hair to prevent it from swallowing it when it licks itself.

Second, cold food can cause your cat to vomit. It is not a good idea to take your cat’s food directly from the refrigerator and feed it to them. Allow your cat’s food to be at room temperature before placing it on the plate. Make a habit of feeding your cat at the same time everyday to make sure your cat is not waiting on its meal. You may find that this will decrease your cat’s problems digesting its food.

Lastly, we will deal with pest control. If your cat is scratching itself quite often this can be a sign that it needs additional grooming to remove fleas or ticks.

Flea dirt is often visible in the fur. Even if you can’t find the fleas when grooming, this is a sign that fleas or ticks are present. Your cat may vomit due to discomfort but you definitely do not want it to get to that point.

There are different treatments available for fleas, from pills to powders to collars, which can be worn around the neck. However, you need to be careful when putting a collar on a cat as they like to climb. These collars can get caught in branches and other things that could result in dire consequences and life threatening circumstances.

Now this is the most important paragraph of this last point. Flea treatments that are heavier on the chemical side than the natural side can cause your cat feel unwell for a day or two after being administered. So look out for any adverse reactions. Whether you notice visible adverse effects or not, be sure that you use an alternative treatment every time for your cat. It will thank you for it.

If you want to find out the best and natural pest treatments for your cat, be sure to download Fur, Jaws, and Claws for your cat. Your cat will thank you. Trust me.

posted by fmoore on Dec 2

Hey, everyone. I love finding articles that may have gotten past you during the ins and outs of life. This a short and sweet article about Dr. Karen Halligan that I think you will find beneficial to you and your cat. Enjoy!

by Dr. Karen HalliganParade November 2, 2008

The high cost of care may make you reluctant to take your pet to the vet. Home remedies can help with minor ills, however, sometimes you need a doctor to keep a simple porblem from becoming a big one. Here’s how to decide.

Vomiting. A symptom rather than a disease, vomiting can occur with numerous illnesses. The most common cause, however, is often the most ovbious: eating something (for example, hair for cat or table scraps for dogs) that upsets the stomach.

If your pet vomits but seems otherwise healthy, take away its food for 12 to 24 hours and provide only water. Then, if no further vomiting occurs, start your pet on frequent, small feedings of its regular diet and gradually increase to the normal amount.

If your pet can’t keep water down, is lethargic, has abdominal pain or a fever, or still can’t digest food, go to the vet. Even simple cases can lead to death from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Puppies, kittens, and older pets are especially at risk.

Diarrhea. Diarrhea can be a symptom of anything from cancer to a change in diet. Mild cases may be resolved with simple, at-home treatments, but see a vet immediately for diarrhea that is bloody, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms such as vomitting, lethargy, or pain.

As with vomiting, the best treatment for diarrhea is withholding food for 12 to 24 hours to allow the intenstinal tract time to heal. (Be sure to provide water.) Then start your pet on a diet of bland foods for two to three days.

Limping. If your pet is limping but will let you examine its leg and is not in too much pain, try letting it rest for a few days. If the lameness improves, slowly work up to a normal walking routine. Never give your pet over-the-counter pain medication without first checking with the vet. And seek help right away if your pet can’t put any weight on its limb, is in great pain, or has a fever.

If you are looking to find the best holistic vets in the WORLD, make sure you download our Fur, Jaws, and Claws guide which includes a BONUS e-book of all the best holistic vets in the WORLD. I cannot guarantee it will be availabe at the beginning of the year so act NOW!

posted by fmoore on Nov 30

Whether your cat is a short hair or long hair breed, grooming your cat on a regular basis will remove any loose fur that could end up in your cat’s digestive system, causing constipation, fur balls, and discomfort that can also result in your cat vomiting on a regular basis.As a cat grooms itself by licking its fur, quite a large amount of that fur ends up being swallowed. This combined with the food in its stomach causes fur balls to develop that need to be eliminated one way or another.

In addition to removing the loose fur, grooming eliminates any fleas that might be on your cat. If your cat is living near farmland, it may venture out into the fields and pick up ticks in vast numbers in a very short amount of time. While there are good flea and tick formulations on the market, the simple act of grooming is an inexpensive and natural way to eliminate pests without harming your cat.

The added benefit of regular grooming allows you to do a thorough check of your cat’s body for any other potential problems. This can be particularly true with tomcats, as they get into fights with other cats that can lead to sores that can become infected.

Longer haired cats tend to have a bigger problem than those with short hair. As a result, they will need our help during grooming to remove loose hair. Grooming with a good natural or organic cat comb regularly will prevent the fur from knotting.

If left unattended for too long, particularly with cats that have long hair, this knotting can get so matted that they need to have the fur cut to remove it. Knotted fur can form into hard lumps that can cause serious distress for the cat.

Regular grooming coupled with good nutrition will ensure that your cat has a nice shiny coat, reduced incidents of constipation via fur balls, and less chance of contracting common skin related problems found in cats.

posted by fmoore on Nov 12

I am sure you can agree with me in that there is certainly not a shortage of cats in the world. In fact, it will be necessary for you to get your cat neutered at some stage in its life, preferrably sooner than later.

Male and female cats that have been neutered have been proven to be better pets, with a calmer nature, and less likely to roam the neighborhood and end up getting lost or injured.

Cats that have been neutered are less inclined to cause trouble with marking and leaving their scent around your property, and that of your neighbors. Territorial dominance, which promotes roaming, becomes an afterthought once this procedure is performed.

It is certainly a high priority with the female cat as having the burden of trying to find a home for a litter of kittens is not pleasant if you can’t find anyone suitable to take them. She should be spayed at approximately 16 weeks of age. This is normally the period before they are likely to come into season.

Depending on your breed of cat, it may take a little longer before it comes into season. So, if you follow this general rule of thumb, 16 weeks is usually a safe bet in the majority of instances.

It is certainly wise to get male cats neutered before they start roaming, fighting and developing their male characteristics, as it can make for an unpleasant pet. Although they can be left for a longer period of time without any problems, 16 weeks is still the rule of thumb, just as it is for females, to get them castrated. There are mixed feelings on when male cats should be castrated due to the fact that if castration is performed to early, the kitten may suffer from feline urological syndrome. Therefore, many owners consider leaving them an additional couple of months to help reduce this painful blockage that can become painful for the cat.

However, there is an exception to every rule. There are breeds of cats, usually pure bred, that must be spayed earlier. In these instances, it is necessary that the breeder give you the necessary information before you are allowed to take your kitten home. An example of the exception to this rule is always playful and always mischevious Siamese.

I truly hope you enjoyed today’s post. If you are looking for a trusted veterinarian in your area to perform this procedure, or if you would like a natural way to help comfort your kitten if a castration or spaying has been done be sure to check out our Holistic Veterinarians Directory and our Holistic Products Directory so that your cat can live the best life possible.

posted by fmoore on Oct 24

Today’s subject is a sensitive one. Even though it has been over 18 months since the pet food recall, many cat owners found out that if they had just spent a little more on healthy diet options, they may not have been faced with the high price of veterinarian care once their cat’s became sick. Or even worse, if their cat had to pay for this unintended negligence with their life. This post speaks to preventing this from happeningn to you and your cat.

While we all expect to pay for pet food on a regular basis when we own a cat, it is those times when we need to get recommended additional prescriptions for medical supplies where the expenses quickly build up.

While you should always listen to the recommendations from your veterinarian, there are alternative places where you can buy medical supplies that are considerably cheaper than many of the outlets we commonly use. These savings have been the result of internet sites and blogs, like this one, that offer advice for pet prescriptions and at discounts that are not available elsewhere. 

The majority of these sites all offer the same products that you would expect to find at your veterinarians, but with reduced overheads and widespread distribution throughout the country. You can save a considerable amount of money and ensure that your cat gets optimal treatment without having to worry solely about the financial aspect that is so often the determining factor for many people with their pets health.

In addition to the prescription medications, you will also find the usual worming tablets, powders and alternative pet health products that you would normally buy at the local pet store, at cheaper rates online.

Even though I am recommending this advice, I will be offering alternatives for your cat that will keep your cat from ever becoming dependent on drugs to become well.

I would like to even take it one step further. Prescriptions should be your last resort when healing your cat. Be sure to do your homework on holistic veterinarians, alternative medicines, and complementary procedures when it comes to healing your cat.

At this point in this post, you no longer have to make decisions that are determined primarily on finances becuase I will continually share and update information in this blog for you to make the best decision for your cat, versus emotion, which many veterinarians play on so they can pitch you THEIR products.

You can even get advice from some of these sites that will help you to resolve minor problems rather than having to take your cat to the vet once they have contracted a major illnesses. You would only need to use this where the problems are minor. You would not like to endanger your cat’s health by making incorrect decisions concerningn its health.

Many of the ailments that your cat might get however, can quite easily be resolved through the use of good information (that you can always find here), common sense, and quality products and services that are designed specifically for problems concerning your cat. If you are looking to reign in the costs of caring for your cat, you will want to read: Fur, Jaw, and Claws: A Definitive Introduction to a Holistic Lifestyle for Your Cat. This will definitely be a decision you can live with.