Cat Health

Adopting a kitten is exciting, but it comes with several responsibilities. Before you adopt one, you must understand the basics of feeding, medications, grooming, training, exercise and sleep.

Feeding:

There are several types of food you can try with your kitten; it may like some, but not others. It is beneficial to feed him food in a variety of flavors, smells and textures. Depending on its age, the amount it needs to be fed each day varies. For example, a kitten 2-3 months old should eat 4 times a day, but a kitten 6-12 months old typically only needs to eat twice a day. It is also important to provide them with plenty of water. If you suspect there may be something wrong with your cat's eating habits, a veterinarian will assist you in caring for your kitten. You may also want to consider a.

Vaccinating:

You should vaccinate your kitten against certain diseases fairly early in their life. Most cats need to be vaccinated for rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), calici virus and panleukopenia (feline parvovirus). Depending on some other factors, there may be more vaccinations that your kitten needs and can be determined by a veterinarian. All cats should be prescribed with a heartworm medication-this is especially important for felines that live in heartworm areas. It is also important to provide your cat with a flea prevention treatment monthly; there are a number of treatments that can be purchased at the vet or over the counter that will assist you with that.

Grooming:

One aspect of life that most kittens absolutely do not enjoy is grooming. That is why it's beneficial to start early and to make grooming fun. Be gentle while still removing hair to decrease hairball formation. Cats also need to have their teeth brushed every day; however, there are special feline toothpastes that should be used instead of human toothpaste. Check your cat's ears at least once a week to ensure that there are no infections. Not all cats need regular bathing, but if it is something you feel is necessary, be sure to use an appropriate shampoo that is gentle and protects the kitten's skin.

Training:

Training kittens is not difficult if you have patience and use the right tactics. Make sure you reinforce good behavior with praise and treats. Litter box training is the most common training procedure with cats, but it really isn't that hard of a process. Try to buy a fine-grained, clumping litter, absent of perfume. Make sure you keep it sanitary by cleaning the box daily and washing it weekly. It may be helpful to provide your cat with a scratching post so it does not scratch your furniture or other important items.

Exercise:

Kittens need exercise, just like we do! This isn't hard because they are very playful most of the time. Try to play with your feline for frequent, short periods so you don't rid too much of his energy. Also, toys are helpful especially ones that can be chewed as they are beneficial for teething.

Sleep:

Sleep is the final factor your need to think about before buying a kitten. They are most likely going to sleep a lot because they are growing. For example, and 8-week old kitten may need 20 hours of sleep where as a 12-month old kitten may need 12-14 hours. Make sure to provide your kitten with a comfortable sleeping area that may include a bed, towels or anything else to keep them comfortable.

Again, adopting a kitten is fun but it comes with several responsibilities that must be considered. If you have questions, talk to a veterinarian and they will steer you the right way!

We love pets! Probioticsmart.com knows your pet deserves the very best care possible, and we're here to help. Visit our blog for more information, tips and stories on all things pet health. See you there!

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Pet joint pain is a common condition among elderly animals. Cats are part of the pet population that can be affected by it, including cat arthritis. Joint pain can often lead to osteoarthritis and can be caused by excess weight. For this reason it is important to feed your cat the proper diet and keep him moving.

Cat arthritis can be characterized by a number of symptoms, such as: stiffness upon rising from rest, reluctance to jump, obvious pain when walking and personality changes (i.e. depression). If your cat is suffering from any of these symptoms, it may be of benefit to see a veterinarian. The vet will perform a physical examination and rule out other health conditions through blood tests, radiographs, ultrasounds or other procedures.

You may feel helpless when it comes to helping your cat with arthritis; however, there are plenty of ways that you can assist your pet.