I have seen far too many people think their pudgy little cat is cute. However, did you know that cat obesity is just as dangerous in our furry little friends as it is in humans? Therefore you’ll want to do something to cut down on your cat’s weight as quickly as possible. This can be a little difficult if you have an indoor cat as generally they don’t get the exercise they need. However, if you follow the tips in this guide you should be able to make even the laziest cat in the world drop the excess pounds.

First and foremost, you’ll want to determine if your cat is overweight. Some cats appear to be a little chunky, but that is how they should be due to their breed. To quickly check, you should feel around your cat’s ribs, they should be easy to identify. If you cannot feel the ribs then your cat is overweight. There are also a number of online ‘calculators’ which will also help you determine whether your pet is suffering from cat obesity.

One of the biggest tips I can offer is to change the food your cat is eating. You should look to purchase better quality food, such as a grain-free food that doesn’t contain corn. Cheaper foods contain more fat and fillers than they need to, and they also don’t have the proper nutrients. Therefore, cheaper foods could do your pet a lot of harm, so steer clear of those. Don’t worry, purchasing better quality cat food isn’t that much more expensive and you will probably need to feed your cat a lot less. In fact, purchasing a higher quality pet food will save you money in the long run, as it will result in fewer trips to the vet, because you’ll have a healthier cat.

Another helpful suggestion is to invest in a pet food bowl with a portion control dome in the center or what is often referred to as a slow feed bowl. I have been very successful using these types of bowls in the past to slim down my fat cats. These food bowls help to control pets that gobble up their food too fast, which can result in overeating.

The next step is to cut down on the treats that you are offering your pet. Many people give their furry friends cat treats on a daily basis, and this contributes to cat obesity more than anything. Save the treats for special occasions, and even then, you can purchase ‘low fat’ treats from your local pet store, so use those instead!

You will also need to exercise your cat more often. If you have an indoor cat, then grab a leash from a pet store and take them for a walk at least thirty minutes a day. This is also great exercise for you as well! Also, interactive toys are a great way to keep your cat active and can also strengthen the bond between you and your pet. My cat’s love the Da Bird feather toy, which they absolutely can’t resist; even my laziest kitty will get off the couch for this toy. It is by far the best cat toy I can recommend for interacting with your furry friends.

Finally, ease your pet into the diet plan gradually, especially if you are changing their food. This is because sudden changes in food can wreak havoc on your cat’s digestion, and can even make them sick.

Follow these simple tips and you should start seeing your kitty drop those excess pounds. When you are putting your cat through a ‘weight loss’ regime, you will want to constantly check them to ensure that they are actually losing weight. So keep feeling around those ribs, and weigh your pet from time to time. Remember though, your goal is to get your cat down to a ‘healthy’ weight, don’t take it too far, plenty of people end up with a cat that is far too skinny, and that is not what you want.

Foods to Avoid Giving Your Pet!
by Isaac MaCalister

Your cat is an important part of your family, so it’s definitely natural to include him in family festivities and celebrations. As in any get-together, food and drink are the center of attention and the focal points, but try to avoid indulging your cat in table foods. It may seem harmless to share food with your cat, but many common foods can be dangerous for your cat.

Fatty foods:

Rich or fatty foods can cause digestive stress for your cat. For example, turkey, ham or other meats rich in fat will result in diarrhea. Large amounts of fat digested may lead to a life-threatening inflammatory disease called feline pancreatitis. The calling signs of pancreatitis can include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and a loss of appetite. If you must feed your feline meats, satiate his hunger by giving him turkey-flavored cat food.

Bones:

Any bones from meat, fish and poultry can be a potential danger to your kitty and should be avoided at all costs. If your cat decides to pull a bone from your waste basket, or from the table or counter his digestive tract could be severely damaged. A bone can cause laceration or obstruction within your kitty’s digestive system.

Onion and garlic:

You may also be tempted to give your kitten baby food. This may contain onion powder, which is highly toxic for your cat. Any type of onion or garlic, raw, cooked or in powder form can damage your kitten’s red blood cells and cause life-threatening anemia. Another hiding spot for onion and garlic can be stews, soups and sauces.

Undercooked meat:

In rare cases, raw or undercooked meat may contain bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Also, keep your cat away from moldy or spoiled foods, which can contain toxins, that cause tremors, shaking, seizures, diarrhea and vomiting.

Some nuts:

Most nuts, including macadamia nuts contain an unknown toxin, which can affect your cat’s digestive and nervous systems. Nuts have also been known to cause muscular weakness and tremors in dogs as well. Many researchers believe that macadamia nuts can have the same effect on your cat.

Chocolate, raisins and grapes:

Unlike dogs, most cats are not drawn to sweets. Even so, take note: a chocolate snack can cause increased heart rate, tremors and hyperactivity in your cat. The severity of the reaction depends on the type of chocolate and how much is eaten. Dark baking chocolate will cause a more severe reaction than milk chocolate. Also, raisins and grapes have been proven to induce kidney failure in dogs. There have been reports of similar effects on cats, so it is wise to avoid letting your cat ingest these fruits.

Cow’s milk:

We all picture pouring our beloved kitten a fresh, cold saucer of milk. Unlikely as it may seem, milk is a no-no for your cat. Shortly after they’re weaned, kittens lose the ability to digest milk. More than a few of licks could translate into a very messy episode of diarrhea. If your kitten has a taste for milk, specially formulated lactose-free milk products are available for cats which should satisfy his craving.

The most important thing you can do for your cat is to ensure that he receives the nutrition and care that he needs. If you remember the things to avoid giving your cat, as well the things he needs to thrive, your cat will have a long, happy and healthy life as member of your family.

Check out Hartz for more helpful articles and information and tons of pet products for all kinds of animals.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

The last portion of this article is certainly a lesson that I learned the hard way. My beautiful tuxedo cat, named Liberty was my first kitty and I loved to spoil him by giving him a bowl of warm milk every evening. To my dismay, I noticed he was having constant diarrhea and I couldn’t figure out what was causing the problem. I did a little research into the issue and found that you should never give a cat cow’s milk as their bodies can’t seem to digest it properly and they should only be given specially formulated milk made for cats.

This is an interesting article on the topic of whether to feed your cat canned or dry food. I have recently been researching the subject myself and to my surprise found that the experts seem to be saying that you should be feeding your cat canned food exclusively. I’ve always been under the impression that a dry food diet was good for your pet, because it promotes healthy teeth and gums. The experts are now saying that cats don’t drink the water needed to sufficiently keep their bodies hydrated and that a diet consisting of all canned food would provide your cat the proper hydration needed for optimal health.  

What You Should Feed Your Cat
by Monica E Salois

Veterinarians say that cats can live up to 30 years on a natural diet, but most domestic cats only live for 14 to 18 years on average. Why is that? The difference has a lot to do with diet.

Dry cat food has been found by the American Veterinary Medical Association to be less nutritious than canned food. There are several major reasons why dry food is not as good for most cats:

1. The main, and sometimes only source of protein, is usually from animal by-products, which is not the best quality. These are the parts of dead animals considered unfit for human consumption such as feet, intestines, feathers, pieces of fur, egg shells, and sometimes even include organs from diseased animals.

2. They actually contain an insufficient amount of animal based protein most of the time compared to the vegetable protein content. Most dry cat food consists of vegetable based meal flavored with meat flavorings and it usually has a high gluten content. As with humans, there are many cats that are allergic to gluten.

3. Most dry cat foods contain too much starch, or carbohydrate. Cats are pure carnivores that do not need, nor thrive on, the excessive carbohydrate based formulas commercially available. The average dry food contains from 35% to 50% carbohydrates and some of the cheaper brands contain even higher levels. Cats simply have no dietary need for high carbohydrates and food with too much starch can actually be very detrimental to their health.

4. Cats sometime do not drink enough water to compensate for the lack of moisture in their dry food. Insufficient fluid from their food source can cause bladder infections and kidney stones. This is why it is so important to always serve fresh water with any form of dry cat food. Be careful not to give them milk once they have reached adulthood. Most cats become lactose intollerant as they age and milk gives them diarrhea. They may like it and drink it, but it has no nutritional value for them. It is better to use a milk substitute if they like the taste, such as Cat’s Sip, or something similar.

5. Most brands of dry cat food use unhealthy preservatives such as BHT, BHA, and ethoxyguin to prolong shelf life. Generally, BHA is used to keep fats from turning rancid and it is also used as a yeast de-foaming agent. BHT also prevents oxidative rancidity of fats and is often used to preserve food odor, color, and flavor. Preservatives that prolong shelf life of a product are not healthy for any living creature.

6. Most dry cat food loses nutrient value due to the long cooking times used in their processing, and very high temperatures. Dry cat foods tend to be little more than non-nutritious, flavored bulk meal.

7. The dry food formulas that contain oils can often become rancid over time when stored on warehouse and supermarket shelves. Generally, most cats refuse to eat rancid food and it can make them ill.

8. Some dry cat foods often contain a life-threatening and extremely dangerous fungal toxin caused during transportation or storage, and this can poison your cat.

In the wild, a cat will eat high protein, high moisture foods, mostly from meat-based sources such as mice, moles, bats, rats, small birds, insects, worms, slugs, and small snakes. Only 3% to 5% of a cat’s natural diet contains starch, or carbohydrate. On occasion, cats will eat grass because the enzymes aid in digestion and are a natural laxative. Overall, mice are the best form of food for cats because they have muscle meat, pre-digested stomach contents, calcium from the bones, and moisture from the fluids.

The next best form of food for domestic cats is canned or frozen food with a strong content of animal or fish protein, mostly from muscle meat, not organ meat, such as liver; nor from any animal by-products. Good quality canned cat food should not contain any “meal” or “grains” either. Fat, and some organ meats such as liver and heart, are good for flavoring, but they should not be the main ingredient. Never use any cat food that contains soy, wheat, corn, or yeast. If it does contain a grain, then rice is the safest for cats.

Although cats are carnivores, they can’t survive purely on meat alone. Quality cat food should contain supplements such as oils, vitamins, and minerals. Cats should be fed fish at least once a week, such as canned tuna, cod, or salmon. Cats will also eat spam, ham, raw hamburger, hotdog wieners, and any form of beef, chicken, turkey, and most lunchmeats and cold-cuts. It is good to give your cat a treat once in awhile such as “Temptations”, but don’t let them make a meal out of them or demand them excessively. They are high calorie, dry snacks not intended for meal substitutes. When serving a canned meat, the patte kinds are generally the best because the cat will lick the gravy off the other varieties and leave the meat to spoil. When the cat doesn’t eat it, the owner generally throws it out, which is very wasteful.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

I currently feed my cats both canned and dry food, but after reading this article, it may be a good idea to transition my kitties onto a diet consisting of all canned food. I have one cat who eats dry food only and will not touch the wet stuff, which is going to be quite a challange making the switch. I found a few sites with recipes for making homemade wet cat food which I’m considering adopting in the future. Hopefully these recipes will help me get my all kibble eating addicts to switch to wet food exclusively.

You are getting a new family member and it’s a kitten, you’ll want to compile a checklist of everything that you’ll need to care for your new kitten. Think of this kitten care checklist like a “cat owners manual”.

1. Cat food is the most obvious choice. It may seem like a no brainer but sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we run out of cat food for our pets, so be sure to stock up on your cats brand of cat food. It is essential that your kitty is eating a high quality food developed for kittens. If you purchased your kitten from a shelter, breeder or a foster home make sure he is eating the same food he received there to avoid an upset tummy from a sudden change in diet.

2. A kitty litter box is the next most important choice that you’ll make when preparing for a new kitten. You will need to scoop the poop everyday and also change the litter and wash the litter box out weekly. Also, keep in mind when choosing a litter box to make sure the box is shallow enough for your little kitty to easily enter and exit the box.

3. Cat toys are great things to have for new kittens as they have a lot of playful energy. Interactive cat toys are a great way for you to bond with your new kitten. However, your kitten will usually start playing with something else rather than the toy that you bought, like a wadded-up piece of paper. This is because your cat is absolutely thrilled at anything they can get their hands on whenever they’re in a playful mood.

4. A good vet is another important decision you’ll have to make and a reliable vet will definitely make sure that your cat receives the best medical care possible. You can try asking your friends with pets which vet they recommend or simply call the local animal shelters for any good recommendations on a reliable vet.

5. A brush for grooming your cat is vital. You will both build better bonds when you groom your cat and a brush also helps to control his shedding so he will have less fur to groom himself. This is definitely a good thing for your cat because with less fur, this will reduce the risks of hairballs going into his digestive system.

6. Nail clippers are another item you’ll need, as it is essential that your kitten’s nails are trimmed regularly. Most cats do not usually like to have their nails trimmed, so clipping your kitten’s nails early is another way for you to get them used to this procedure. You might want to give your kitten a little foot rub prior to clipping their nails, as this will encourage them to feel more relaxed and will make nail trimming a lot easier on both you and your kitty.

7. Having a warm toasty bed for your new kitten to sleep in is a plus as kitten’s love warmth. You’ll often see your cat following the sunshine along the floor or stretching out in front of the heat vents; this is because they know these are often the warmest places in the house. The best bed to purchase for your kitten is a bed that is either fully washable or one that has a washable and/or replaceable cover.

8. A scratching post for your kitten is another essential item for great cat care. Scratching posts are an excellent way to ensure mental health and awareness when caring for your new kitten. Kittens love to climb and by purchasing a scratching post, you’ll know how to keep your kitten active, agile and strong.

These are just a few items you’ll want to have on hand when your new kitten arrives, you might also consider buying a small kitty condo or crinkle tunnel for playtime and fun. Congratulations and good luck with your new kitten, with the proper cat care your new kitty will enjoy a long and healthy life!

So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into your home could be great for your current cat for companionship. And you remembered how much fun your cat was when she was a kitten, and you might love to re-live those glory days.

It’s generally thought that cats thrive better with the company of one more feline, particularly cats limited indoors. However, before you rush off to your local cat shelter or breeder, here are a few suggestions to make bringing home a new kitten as relaxed as possible.

Choose a time when your home is not too active and you have the time and energy to dedicate to your brand new kitty and your existing pet, avoid holidays, for example, or some other occasions when family and friends tend to visit.

Before bringing home the new kitten, take her to your animal medical practitioner to get her examined in addition to vaccinated, kittens possess fragile immune systems and are generally more likely to pick up something at the shelter or perhaps cattery. Consider adopting a kitty of the opposite gender to your current cat, this will steer clear of same sex competition and also associated issues. For several reasons all your felines should be spayed/neutered.

If possible arrange to bathe your new cat at a friend’s house before you bring it home, this will neutralize kitty’s odor, and go along way in preventing further disturbance with your current cat.

A shorter isolation period is important when presenting a completely new cat. It would be ideal to have a separate room for the brand new kitten; your new kitty will need her own litter box, water and food bowl. A few cats will hide out beneath furniture for a few days, much more adventurous ones will be eager to investigate their new house almost straightaway. Don’t try and pressure your new kitten to leave the area, you’ll know when she is ready.

Give your new kitty time to explore your house while your older cat is in another area. Help make the introduction, slowly, bit by bit, it’s an excellent idea to allow your current cat the opportunity to smell your new kitten’s blanket a couple of times before they actually meet. Help make the preliminary periods of contact short. Progressively increase the time they invest together as they get used to one another. It’s not uncommon for them to end up having a couple of quarrels in these first meetings, therefore do not let them be together unsupervised for long periods until they get along. If a fight should break out, distract the combatants and get them directly into individual rooms as soon as possible, never punish either cat.

The process of introducing a new kitten to an older cat can be relatively relaxed and need not be full of problems. The bottom line is making the introduction slowly, and perhaps the best idea would be to give your more mature cat just as much attention as well as affection as you give the newcomer.

Before long you will have two feline friends that enjoy each others company.

The most essential decision a pet-parent has to make is that of selecting a vet. It’s the veterinarian who will understand your pet in the event they should get sick and also your vet who will care enough to stay in the for front of advancements in preventative veterinarian medicine.

By no means should you choose a vet simply because he has a good smile, a beautiful office or is the least expensive. Select a veterinarian who thinks about your pet the same as you do and will always keep your pet’s best interest at heart. The veterinarian will need to love the breed that your pet is as well as:

• Be gentle and kind when dealing with your cat or dog. He must not leave diagnosis as well as examinations to assistants.
• He or she would be wise to stay in front of advancements within medicine and update his skills along with continuous understanding.



• The vet should be in a position to stand by you through thick and thin along with proper timely guidance.
• The clinic should be spik and span and have room for an overnight stay with thoroughly clean kennels, space to run, and staff who love pets.
• It would be beneficial that the clinic be located near your home and it provides health care plans for your family pet.
• Ask the clinic if they have emergency contact numbers so that you can call in the event that an unforeseen problem happens in the middle of the night or on a holiday.
• Verify that the clinic provides specialists consulting with them like orthopedic doctors and eye specialists.

As a concerned pet parent you must make a list of questions you need answers to and spend some time finding out whether or not you would be more confident with an allopathic vet represented by the American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA or possibly a holistic vet represented by the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, AHVMA.

While allopathic veterinarians practice conventional medicine, a holistic veterinarian may make use of medicinal herbs, nutritional changes or even supplements, vitamins, along with enzymes, chiropractic manipulations, homeopathy, Bach flower remedies, as well as massages for treatment. And, in the event that is what’s needed, they’ll prescribe allopathic medicines. They try and also treat the cause not merely the symptoms of virtually any ailment.

It is essential for you to pick an animal medical practitioner who’ll work alongside you in looking after the pet. He or she must be patient, love your pet, and make time to explain things to you as well as listen to your opinion of things. In the end, simply no one can know your pet better than you. A vet must care for the pet for around 10-15 years. He or she must be organized in addition to maintain health records with excellent detail from the day the pet is born to the day it passes away.

A pet may lead a complete existence only when you, the veterinarian, as well as trainer operate in harmony and also side by side. Therefore, selecting a suitable vet is an important decision that should be done after weighing all the benefits and drawbacks.