Cat Health

The longevity of cats varies according to each cat. If your older pet is overweight, the chances of living a long, healthy life is not going to be good, as overweight cats are susceptible to a lot of diseases, like diabetes and heart disease. Cats can live anywhere from 12 to 20 years. It has been recorded that one cat lived 35 years.

Elderly cats are similar to elderly people. They get hearing loss, arthritis, failing eyesight, gum and teeth problems, dehydration, weight gain, constipation, gray hair, cancer, hyperthyroidism, heart disease, lack of exercise, kidney failure, and many other similarities. There are some things you can do to ensure that your aging cat has a long, healthy life.

1. Arthritis - If your older cat gets arthritis, and has trouble jumping up or walking, you can make them more comfortable by trying the following. Put a piece of memory foam in their bed. It softly protects your aging cats bones, as a memory mattress does with older people. Also, many veterinarians recommend Glucosamine for aging cats, as it helps the pain. Call your veterinarian to find out the proper dosage that is good for your older cat. When your aging cat uses the litter box, put a small step so they can get in and out of it better. Sometimes they stop using the litter box only because they do have a hard time getting in and out. This is a proven fact.

2. Exercise - Your aging cat probably sleeps all day, but they do need some exercise, because as in humans, use it or lose it. It is a good thing to take time to play with them. Find a toy that your cat really likes and spend some time playing with them everyday. If your cat does not respond, keep trying, it will make a difference in your cats attitude and health. Exercise also helps to keep your cats weight down.

3. Gums and teeth - 75% of cats have some kind of dental problems. There are many flavored types of toothpaste for cats that you can use to brush their teeth. You can be sure that if your older cat has bad breath, that they could need their teeth brushed or there could be teeth or gum problems.

4. Grooming - As cats age they tend to groom themselves less and less. Also, that can be a real problem with fur matting of long haired cats. Invest in a good grooming brush and softly brush their coat. It will not only make their coat nice, but it will relax your cat as well. They will love the extra attention, and also the company. When you do this, it shows your cat that you love them.

5. Diet - As your pet ages, they lose their sense of smell and taste, among others and the food that you have been giving them is now becoming tasteless. For older cats who eat dry food, try adding a little warm chicken broth occasionally to their food. If your cat has diabetes, giving them a high protein diet has been known to reverse diabetes in some cats.

It is a good idea to take your aging cat to the veterinarian once or twice a year to keep a check on their health.

Mary Carpenter is an entrepreneur and writer. Check out one of her business at http://www.jazzeecattoys.com

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Most cat owners know that a feline companion can be just as territorial as their canine counterparts. In the wild, a cat is mostly a solitary animal. Although it is not uncommon to see them in defined families, they will vigorously defend their personal space. A cat's instinct is to wander and explore, in search of mental stimulation. Denying them this opportunity can result in a multitude of behavioral issues. Outdoor cat perch houses are a great way to give a safe haven, prevent behavioral problems, and give them a home of their own.

Cat behavior is characterized by periods of intense activity and restful slumber. In fact, most will sleep close to 12 hours a day. When awake, they often yearn to roam their territory. Important psychological factors are the ability to hunt, make friends, play, and have a defined zone that belongs to them. Cat houses offer a type of home base, a safe place where they can return and sleep.

There are dangers inherent to a cat living outdoors. Cars and other animals pose a great risk to their health and safety. A cat's territory is defined by the distance that they must travel to meet their psychological and physical needs. These risks increase based on how far they travel. Outdoor cat perch houses, if well designed, can keep a cat closer to home by providing an opportunity to play and explore their space.

Undesirable behaviors in animals are usually the result of unfulfilled instinctual need. For cats, this is especially true. Owners struggle with inappropriate elimination, property damage resulting from scratching, and aggressive tendencies. Assuming that any medical issues have been eliminated as a cause, many of the "acting out" cats simply need greater mental stimulation. Cat houses address this issue by incorporating fun elements into the design.

Cat houses outdoor advantage is that it is built specifically with feline preferences in mind. Cats love to climb and hide, so elevation is important. The addition of an enclosed house offers a spot where they can sleep away from prying eyes. It should be easy to clean and keep up. Cat houses outdoor weather proofing is also an important issue. It should withstand rain and snow. The roof construction should prevent leaks, and insulation is a nice added feature. Regardless of the style, an outdoor cat perch house is an easy way to do something good for a pet.

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Diet is definitely an important part of any detox program, be it for you or your favorite pet. This is because many of the foods that our pets and we eat contain chemicals and ingredients that are toxic to our bodies. With commercial pet food, toxins found in the food will cause more damage to your pets than you would believe. This is because pets are smaller than we are, and their organs have to work a lot harder to get rid of toxins. It is important to detox your pet if you want it to live a long life. Still, one of the things that people often forget about detoxing any animal is that diet is only half the equation.

Diet Detox - The First Steps

It is true; however, that diet will count for a major part of your pet's detox. If you do not stop most toxins from entering your pet's body, you are not able to actually get rid of the toxin build up. The first thing that you are going to need to do is to wean your pet off commercial pet food. Commercial pet food has a slew of ingredients that take a major toll on a pet's digestive system, including ingredients like diseased animals, road kill, and fillers that actually are not quality protein for a cat.

Food is a good start, but you are forgetting another thing that your pet regularly ingests - water. The tap water that comes out of your faucet might have toxins that you do not know about. You need to purify and filter your water; otherwise, your pet might be taking in fluoride, chlorine, and heavy metals. Because a cat is so much smaller than humans are they are more susceptible to these chemical toxins that over time will cause disease and death.

Just Like Humans, Animals Need To Get Rid Of Their Toxins

Animals and humans both get rid of toxins the same ways - through their body's naturally occurring functions. Skin, muscle tissue, and fat trap the toxins and will only be removed through exercise. The easiest way to get your pet detoxed is to help them sweat out the toxins. Engage your pet in an hour or so of play a day.

Another major method of toxin elimination comes in the form of your digestive system. Unfortunately, even the most active animal cannot get rid of the toxins that get stored in their bodies through digestion. With small animals, the amount of toxins they get from food often gets stored in their livers, kidneys, and sometimes even in their intestinal tract. Without help, those toxins will never get out. Both humans and pets alike occasionally will need a boost from herbs and nutraceuticals that kick the digestive system into overdrive.

It is also a very good idea to get liver support supplies for your pet while they undergo detox. Detoxing will put the liver under a lot of strain due to the amount of elimination that occurs. This also applies to the pet's kidneys. There are some very effective herbal tonics available from quality online herbal stores.

You Need To Avoid Toxins Outside Of Food, Too

Food is not the only source of toxins. You will need to make sure that your pet avoids chemicals that you often use. This includes outdoor pollution, chemical cleaners, flea products, and even pet shampoos. As a basic rule, if you think that a chemical or product is not healthy for you, than it is not healthy for your pet. Learning more about detoxing your pet can help you prevent an early pet death, and it can make your pet's detox a lot more effective.

I have been a pet owner all of my life and for the last thirty years my wife and I have raised over a dozen cats. Please visit my website at: http://tipsaboutcats.com is your information source for their health, diet, disposition, and exercise. We even show the basics of making your own cat toys and condos. All tips and proceeds from this website is contributed to our local animal shelter who is short of funds from the county. I have a number of recommended natural food, supplements, products and books that are in my store which will save you time hunting on the web for at http://tipsaboutcats.com/store/. There are two expert interviews in the blog pages that are must reads because they will answer most of your questions and concerns about natural cat health and diet. Please feel free to leave comments on my website where you will also find links to me on Facebook and Twitter.

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