Month: March 2018

Kitchen Safety Precautions

With the Easter celebrations right around the corner it is time to review the kitchen and home precautions for our cats. The kitchen will be a busy place with guests and pleasing aromas. Your kitty will want to be right in the middle of it.

Home Precautions

With the season comes the decorations. New houseplants are part of every ones home. Are your houseplants safe for your cat. The Easter Lily is a toxic plants for cats. Other plants include Jade plants, Azalea, Geranium, Aloe, Corn Plant, Dieffenbachia, Daffodil and several others. When ever we bring a new plant into the house we always do an internet search to check for animal toxicity.

 

The Kitchen

This is where all the action happens. The Chefs are busy and they don’t need snoopy help. If you can’t tolerate kitty watching perhaps they should be isolated in another room. If you don’t mind the help take the necessary precautions to prevent accidents. Other foods to avoid for your pets are chocolate, tea, coffee, grapes and raisins. Uncooked yeast dough can be fatal. Hot stoves and oven door can cause serious injuries. I place pots with water on hot elements as they cool.

With meat preparation it is best not to let the cats eat raw meat because of salmonellosis. This is a symptomatic infection caused by bacteria of the salmonella type. Do not let any pet munch on onions. This is due to an ingredient called thiosulphate which is toxic to dogs and cats. If your cat drinks cows milk you can expect a session of diarrhea soon.

Cooked poultry bones will splinter and pierce your kitties insides. Other foods to avoid for your pets are chocolate, tea, coffee, grapes and raisins. Uncooked yeast dough can be fatal. As your prepared food comes off the stove the cats will try to lick everything. Aluminum foils meat wrappings and plastic can be eaten by your cat with disastrous results. Cooked meat soaked string can be eaten by your pets. This will require a vet visit. If you see string hanging out of either end of your cat do not pull it as it could be tangled around something. This will require surgery. Be careful and have help with your pets. We all want to have a nice weekend that means not being at the vet.

Unattended cooking is a common cause of kitchen fires. If there is no one to watch the kitchen while you are out of the room shut every thing off. I think things in the oven are fine. Stuff on top of the stove can be dangerous.

Guests

Prepare your guests for your pets. Tell them ahead of time that you have pets then they can mentally prepare for the visit. I will not tolerate rough handling of my pets and I set rules. If you have a puppy that might chew strangers shoes have a place to store jackets and boots. I have found that if you feed your pets before your main supper they just might not hang around the table. With seven cats and two dogs I have had little trouble with meal time and guests if I feed the cats and dogs first.

The Bathroom

The bathroom must be clean and free of any cleaning chemical in order to be safe for your cats. I always keep the toilet bowl clean. The bath room also includes all your cats litter boxes. Be sure they are all clean and deodorized before your guests arrive.

Surprise Pets As Presents

This season has some folks thinking that giving a kitten, puppy or bunny as a gift is a nice gesture. If this has not been prearranged and every body is on the same page giving a pet is a poor idea. After the Easter thrill has worn off bunnies have been released into the wild. This is cruel. Don’t do it.

How long Is Pet Care? – Its FOREVER.

Movie Review

I have recently watched the movie DUMA. This movie is set in South Africa and is about a young boy and his orphaned pet Cheetah cub. The movie is based on the book “How It Was with Dooms”.

 

 

It is a marvelous movie for the whole family. A great story, a good message and beautiful scenery.

That’s my story for today. I would like to thank everyone for reading Car Care. Please leave a comment below and if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.
Now hug a kitty and do something green for the environment.

Trevor

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What Causes Cat Allergies

People with cat allergies are reacting to the Fel d 1, a protein found on cat skin. All cats produce this protein. The Fel d 1 protein is quite small. It attaches itself to the cat hair or skin and can linger for hours. All cats produce this protein. The protein is found in the kitties’ saliva, urine and dander or what is known as dry flakes of skin. Remember that cats are always grooming themselves and their saliva is all over their fur. Individuals with allergies can have an oversensitive immune system. Your body will then mistake the harmless items like cat dander for dangerous invaders and fight against them as they would a virus or bacteria. It should be noted that if you have an outside cat your kitty could be bringing pollen in from outside that you could mistake for an actual cat allergy. It is always recommended not to self diagnose and before you blame the cat consult your doctor.

Symptoms of Cat Allergies

Common symptoms of cat allergies can include sneezing, coughing, rashes, red and itchy eyes, a runny and stuffy nose. A visit to your doctor will confirm if in fact you have a cat allergy. This is usually done with a skin or blood test.

Control Of Allergies

I have noticed that a lot of advice on the control of cat allergies recommends reducing your contact with cats. If you are like me this is not an option as my cats are too much a part of my life. Some things that can be considered are air purifiers, basic house cleaning and wash your hands often. If you have to live with the cat and your allergies you can try not allowing the cat in your bedroom and handle the kitty as little as possible. It is recommended to bath the kitty often, however over washing will take the natural oils from the cats skin. I have a shampoo recommendation on my Caring for Senior Cats Post.

Allergies can controlled by some over the counter medications and nasal sprays. Before you self medicate see your doctor.

Best Cats For People With Allergies

Because all cats produce Fel d 1 protein there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic cat, however there are cat breeds that are better for people with allergies than others. Here is a list. The Balinese, Russian Blue, Bengal, Devon Rex, Oriental Short Hair, Cornish Rex, Siberian, LaPerm, Sphynx, Javanese.

Zooeyia

This new term for me “Zooeyia” (ZOO-ey-ah) is a recently invented word to describe the relationship of the human animal bond. It is probably not a surprise to anyone who reads this page today of the positive benefits of having an animal companion. Doctors say that if a child grows up with a pet here is less chance of allergies and I believe that there is more respect for nature and animals in general.

In return our animals expect to be looked after with food, shelter and protection. In a recent news article I read where in Ontario, Canada people are going to the country and dumping cats in farm yards or on the road.

This week I noticed that my little girl Esther was always looking at the door. I put her in a harness and took her outside. She did not like it! She ran for the door and wanted in and could hardly wait for the harness to come off.

The moral of this story is that house cats will not become good outside cats. When my Lacy escaped she lost weight and when she was recovered she did not want to go outside anymore. They will probably starve or be killed in any number of ways. They will be prone to disease and if they have had the cruel procedure of being declawed they will not even be able to hunt. I can not imagine the emotional shock of being dumped after living in a house.

Cat Care is FOREVER. Bringing a cat home must be a family decision. Animals as surprise presents or as a holiday celebration should be avoided. How many bunnies have been abandoned because the Easter thrill has worn off?

Adopting a cat is an important and serious decision. Are you ready for it.

 

 

That’s my story for today. This information provided here today is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian or doctor.
If you have any questions or comments please do so below. Don’t forget to have a look at the Cat Care Products Page for something to make your cat maintenance easier. Now hug a kitty and do something green for the environment.

Trevor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are Essential Oils Safe

Essential oils are nothing new. The Ancient Egyptians invented the distillation methods and observed the medical benefits of essential oils. The Chinese, Indians as well as the Greeks and Romans had knowledge of essential oils.

Essential oils are botanical extracts of different plant materials such as flowers, leaves roots bark or stems. The word oil implies an oily substance, but in fact most essential oils are not oily at all. A lot of essential oils are clear while some oils are amber or yellow. It must be noted that essential oils are not perfumes, but are highly concentrated true essence of the plant it was taken from.

When your cat or your dog inhales the fragrance of the essential oil the molecules of the fragrance is taken in to the limbic system of the pets brain. The oil works there to promote calmness, mental happiness and general well-being.

ALL OILS ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS

They have to be used properly and correctly. An interest in natural medicine for people have also promoted an interest in natural cures for your pets. What this means is that cats and dogs, birds are susceptible to the missuses of essential oils. The reasoning that natural cures are harmless it should be emphasized that not everything in natures is complimentary and safe. Remember our list of poisonous houseplants that look and smell nice but are deadly to our pets. When one considers a cats small size and unique physiology its may not be obvious that essential oil treatments might do more harm than good.

Essential oils are processed through the liver. There is an enzyme called glucuronyltransferase and cats lack this liver enzyme. Because of this it is not recommended applying essential oils directly to the cats or use diffusers in the home. It may be noted that while your cat may not exhibit any symptoms of poisoning the effects of exposure can be cumulative. Cats should not be trapped in a room where diffusers are being used.

Therefore, all essential oils can present problems for your pets. Products high in 1,8-cineole, camphor, pinene, limonene, methyl salicylate, ketones, and phenols are especially dangerous. These include, but are not limited to, bergamot, camphor, clementine, clove, eucalyptus, fir, most species of frankincense, grapefruit, juniper, lavender (spike), lavandin, lemon, lime, mandarin, orange (including bitter, blood and sweet varieties), oregano, peppermint, pine, rosemary, sage, spearmint, spruce, tangerine, tea tree, thyme and yarrow. This list comes from an article on essential oils and should not be considered complete and I cannot guarantee its accuracy. The point here is if you are considering using essential oils in your home or on your pets it would be wise to CONSULT YOUR VETRENARIAN first. Any house bound pet must be considered when introducing essential oils to your home.

Observable signs of essential oil poisoning will be depression, weakness, muscle tremors as well as in coordination. Other symptoms may be breathing problems, vomiting, drooling or looking like they are trying to bring up a hair ball.

Today’s post on Essential Oils came about from a book I bought on these oils for your pets. As a skeptical layman I did more research and at that point began to wonder exactly what to do. I wanted to calm my new arrivals and calm down the established cats. I have come to the conclusion that with the proper veterinarian consultation some products are usable. While this post is directed to cat lovers, dogs, birds and reptiles can be equally at risk. We must educate ourselves to make the best decisions possible. In closing all the advice in the world does not over rule the advice from your vet.

That’s my story for today. If you have any questions or concerns please leave a comment below. Afterwards take a moment and have a look at my Cat Care products page.

Now hug a kitty and do something green for the environment.

Trevor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Often Should Your Cat See A Vet

 

The importance of the veterinarian in your life and your cat can not be underestimated. No amount of internet advice comes close to the quality advice from a trusted Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine. Your vet will provide the pet owner with proper care and treatment to ensure that your cat has the best health care possible.

Your vet will advise you on the proper visit schedule for cat. After the initial vaccinations and the spay and neutering is complete the usual procedure is to go yearly. Some clinics are now recommending vaccinations every two years. I personally agree with this as I think it is possible to over vaccinate. Elderly cats might need special attention. If your cat is allowed to free roam it will necessary to consider rabies vaccinations as recommended by your vet. Remember there is no cure for rabies after it develops and that’s for people too.

When your cat is healthy it is quite an easy job to look after kitty. Good quality food, clean water, a clean litter box plus some toys and love, your cat is happy. A healthy cat is easy to observe. If you grab a pinch of skin at the back of the neck and release it, the skin should fall right back into place. This means that your cat is properly hydrated. If your kitties gums are moist and pink your cat is probably in good shape.

Its times when your cat quits eating or has trouble going to the litter box, it is time to go to the vet. I always recommend to occasionally watch your cat go to the litter box and observe anything out of the ordinary. Crying when peeing or blood in the stool should be investigated immediately.

There is an abundance of medical information available on the internet. Internet advice usually tries to be all-inclusive and with that a layman can be overwhelmed with medical advice. It is important at this time to not self medicate without a vet consultation. I am hesitant to try homeopathic remedies without talking to a professional first.
Another caution is to not give your cat people medicine. Over the counter pain killers will do serious harm to your cat.

How To Select A Vet

 

Selecting a vet is as important as selecting a doctor for your family. The office should be clean and the receptionist should be pleasant and knowledgeable. There should be appropriate certificates on the wall. The examination rooms should be clean and you should be able to attend the examination. The doctor that examines your cat should be gentle and have good bedside manner. If you cat has to be left overnight ask if someone checks on the patients through the night. Do not be afraid to get a second opinion or leave if you are not happy with the service. One feature I like is the 24-hour emergency phone number. I have used this more than once. The cost of veterinarian care can be expensive. If your cat is young enough there is health insurance available and your vet can advise.

Black Cats

 

With Marvel Studios releasing the Black Panther movie there has been an adoption craze of black cats. I sincerely hope that when someone adopts these cats it is realized that CAT CARE is forever and not a fad. I am happy when any cat gets adopted and finally the black cat is not a subject of fear and superstition. Let’s hope all these black cats get caring and loving homes.

The same thought comes to mind with the Lykoi or Werewolf cats. I hope that whoever owns these cats loves and protects them with the respect a cat deserves. My hope is that the Lykoi cat is expensive enough so that only responsible people own them.

I am an advocate of adopting cats and removing as many as possible from the shelters. It saves lives and reduces animal suffering. This does not mean that people should not buy from breeders. These cats are special too. It is the buyers’ responsibility to hold breeders to a high standard. Preventing animal abuse is every ones responsibility. No one should tolerate cat and puppy mills.

Hint For Today

I actually have two hints for today.

First hint: If your cat is eating to fast put a golf ball in the food bowl of wet food and let them work for it. What do you think?

Second hint: Salt Lamps are dangerous to your cat. Cats will lick the salt lamp and get sick and it may be lethal. Salt poisoning in cats can cause kidney damage. No salt lamps. Remember dogs can get sick from salt lamps as well.

That’s my story for today. I hope you have enjoyed reading this and if you have any comments please leave them below. Is there a topic you would like discussed, let me know. Now hug a kitty and do something green for the environment.

Trevor