Cat Health

The Siamese cat is easily one of the most recognizable of all breeds, especially when it flashes those almond shaped blue eyes. Siamese cats may have a very distinctive look, but they still have to be tended to very much in the way that you would look after any other cat, with grooming being very high on that care list. The good news for Siamese owners is that their cat does a pretty good job of looking after its own fur, although they are a breed that do like to be pampered and preened, so regular brushing is still a good idea.

The one time your cat may need some help is when you have a Siamese kitten that hasn't quite learned the skills of proper grooming, and also during the winter, when just about every breed of cat grows a heavier undercoat to protect themselves against the approaching temperature drops. Grooming doesn't just begin and end with looking after the fur, and the Siamese cat in particular has some very specific issues that require the attention of a loving owner.

Let's start off with the coat though, and while Siamese cats have short fur that they do a great job of maintaining themselves, grooming them on a regular basis will help keep that excess hair under control, as well as being a very nice way to bond with your cat. Brushes can oftentimes be a little rough on the short hair of your Siamese, so it may be a good idea to use a comb, or even better yet, add a little moisture to your hands and run them across your cat's body. The excess hair will stick to your hands, and kitty will get a nice little massage in the process. During the winter months you could warm your hands under the hot water tap first, so that he gets a double combo of heat from the grooming.

The claws of your Siamese are a very important part of the grooming process, and that is because they cannot fully retract them. Make sure to keep them clipped, which will reduce the risk of them nicking themselves, and you too for that matter. The beautiful eyes of the Siamese have a tendency to tear up, so you should regularly wipe the surrounding area with a damp cloth; try to keep one hand free so that you can pet your cat to keep him relaxed during this process. There really is very little else to do when it comes to grooming, and if you focus on doing these things regularly, then your Siamese cat kitten will grow into a beautiful looking adult.

To find out more about Siamese Cats and what is happening in the world of Siamese Cats please refer to http://www.SiameseCatsToday.com

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Being a pet owner comes with a great deal of responsibility, and that takes on all new levels of car when the pet that you choose is one that requires a lot of attention. When it comes to felines, there may be no other breed that will require more of your time and pampering than the Persian cat. They are beautiful animals, but their fur needs constant attention if it is to maintain its everyday luxurious appearance.

Most cats hate being bathed, but given that caring for your Persian is a daily chore, it might be a good idea to try to get your Persian kitten used to being bathed every two to six weeks, which is generally all they will need as they get older. The care of the fur really gets important to increase the number of times you brush, come winter time when your Persian will start to shed profusely. This may mean several sessions of brushing per day, to help them effectively get rid of that excess fur, and to prevent the possibility of matting.

The best way to groom Persian kittens and cats is to use a wide, metal comb, as that is the most effective at keeping the fur separated, and free from loose, shedding hair. It's especially important to make sure that you thoroughly comb behind the ears, as well as in the armpits, as this is where most cases of matting tends to begin. As you comb, you should closely inspect the coat for dirt, as the thickness of the fur can hide any signs of dirt that may have accumulated.

When it does become necessary to give your Persian cat a bath, you should do so in a room that is warm and dry. Fill the tub with a couple of inches of warm water, and then slowly lower your cat into the tub, petting him as you do so. It's a good idea to keep them calm and relaxed during the process, which is why it's important to start getting them used to bathing when they are kittens, usually starting when they are around 3 months old. Once they are comfortable, you should then use a small cup to pour the water over their fur, making sure to keep it away from the eyes and ears. Next up is the shampoo, being sure to use one that is appropriate for Persians, rinse him off, and then repeat, making sue to get the belly and paws cleaned when you do so.

Many people buy Persian cats in order to take them onto the show circuit, but even if you only want one as a loving home companion, you have to realize that this is a cat that requires a lot of grooming and maintenance in order to keep it beautiful appearance.

To find out more about Persian Cats and what is happening in the world of Persian Cats please refer to http://www.PersianCatsToday.com

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Years ago my aunt, a huge animal lover, started to receive late night visits from a gorgeous ginger stray cat. Due to disgusting abuse by his previous owners he had no teeth or claws left and was very under nourished and extremely frightened. My aunt being very sensitive to animals saw that he was so hungry that his fear was overridden by a desperate need for food. He would let no one else near him except for her and if food was left out by someone else, he would know and leave it to go stale. She really had an amazing gift with animals.

Eventually he trusted her enough to allow her to stroke him, but nothing more. He was content to live a wilder life if it meant he was safe from humans. We really are a disgrace to this planet.

So how do you help stray cats? How do you gain their trust?

First of all you need to know the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat. It's not always easy to tell because in time a stray cat will revert back to its natural instincts, which is the same as a feral cats behaviour.

Obviously a stray cat will have been abandoned by their owners or may have got lost. They might have a collar, but if not you should be able to tell by the quality of their coats if they have recently become strays, rather than being a feral cat. If you can, take a photo of it and check with your local vets if anyone has lost their cat. Don't just assume you can take someone else's cat, in a lot of areas it is illegal. Also there could be a very good reason for them getting lost and there may be a family trying to find them. Usually you can take responsibility and become a stray cats owner after about two weeks of notifying the local animal shelters, vets etc.

A feral cat will be much less inclined to engage with you and will be more likely to show you aggressive, wild behaviour. You're also less likely to see them for any length of time, as any sign of a human and they're off. Can't blame them for that!

Feral cats have been born into the wild from either feral parents or stray cats that have become pregnant. They tend to live together in casual family colonies and are able to survive in urban and rural areas. They aren't always popular as like other wildlife they will rummage through your bins for food. So be warned, your neighbours may not take kindly to you starting a feeding programme for them.

So, if you want to help a stray cat the first thing to do of course is feed them.

An adult stray that is under nourished will build up quickly on kitten food. However switch back to adult food as soon as you see an improvement. They will need the nutrients from adult food once they have initially recovered.

Try wet food as well as dry. See what their preferences are.

Buy new cat bowls as they won't like the scent of other pets.

Always provide fresh water every day.

Feed them at night to start with, but leave dry food out in the daytime in case they start to gain courage and come to your garden more often. They need to feel they have a safe place to come to.

After a while try to be present when you know the stray is going to turn up. Place the food down, step back and speak in a soothing tone. Don't attempt to stroke the cat. Let it feed and leave if it wants to. The main point is to slowly gain trust. You know you can never rush a cat.

On the next occasion offer some food from your hand. They may or may not take it, persevere and try again next time.

If no one claims the cat and you decide to rehome this stray then capturing it in the most humane way is your next step. You may not be able to do this, so it's a good idea to contact your local animal shelter and they may be able to send someone to help.

Once you've done that go straight to the vets for a thorough check up. Deworming, flea and ear mite treatments and neutering must all be done.

If you have other pets keep the new cat in one room until they've settled down and slowly introduce them.

Once you've taken responsibility of a stray cat and brought it into your home, be prepared for the settling in period to take some time. You don't know what they've suffered, be patient. They will probably want to stay by your side as much as possible. In time this should calm down but remember they may be a little apprehensive of this new home.

Pamper them with new cat toys, cat bed and stand. You may want to try using a feline facial pheromone spray or diffuser to help calm their nerves.

At http://www.petpromenade.co.uk/ we understand how important it is to not only have the latest cat toy, or the trendiest dog collar, but also to make sure the boring bits are covered. That's why we have a variety of flea, worming and fur treatments.

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