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Sunday, May 11th, 2008

Feline Diabetes Symptoms

>ne diabetes symptoms can vary from cat to cat and they will not all be seen in all cats with diabetes. Many of the symptoms of diabetes in cats (also known as feline diabetes mellitus) could equally be caused by some other health problem.

A feature of diabetes is an imbalance in blood sugar levels. In a normal human or animal, blood glucose is controlled by the production of insulin in the pancreas. In a diabetic human or animal, either the pancreas is not producing enough insulin to control sugar levels, or the cells have become insulin-resistant so a normal amount of insulin is not sufficient.

Diabetes most commonly develops in older cats. As with humans, there is a greater risk if the cat is overweight. Neutered male cats have a higher than average tendency to develop diabetes.

Here are some common symptoms of diabetes that you may notice in your cat:

- increased thirst

- increased urination

- weight loss

- loss of appetite

- dull coat

- walking on hocks instead of paws

- cataracts forming in the eyes

Increased thirst may be what you notice first. Most cats that are fed on canned foods do not drink much from their water bowl because of the high water content of their food. So you are likely to become aware if the level of water in your cat’s bowl is dropping much faster than usual.

Keep in mind that some of these symptoms may have other causes. For example there are many conditions that may cause loss of appetite, including viruses. But if your cat is displaying several of these symptoms you should have him or her checked by a veterinarian.

Cats can have temporary imbalances in blood glucose levels due to stress or other illnesses, so a veterinarian will run several tests on the cat’s blood and urine before diagnosing diabetes, and will probably check your cat for other problems too.

If diabetes is discovered early, your cat has a good chance of living a normal healthy life. However, he will need regular checks at the veterinarian’s office, and twice daily shots of insulin that you can give him at home. The veterinarian will show you how to do this. You will need to establish a regular routine of giving the cat an insulin shot morning and evening after he has eaten. In some cases the amount of insulin can be reduced once the diabetes is under control.

Your veterinarian may also recommend special diabetic pet food and if so, you will need to keep your cat in the house so that you can control his diet. There is no point you buying special food for your cat if he is sneaking food or treats from a neighbor every day!

If diabetes goes untreated it will eventually be fatal. The cat becomes inactive, falls into a coma and dies. So the most important point is to act on any feline diabetes symptoms immediately by having tests run on your cat.Errores de los Jugadores de pokerкомпютри el primer pano dice “no” teniendo menos de 5 y el segundo pano ha recibido naipe, esta volvera al primer pano; el segundo pano va a recoger el naipe siguiente, haya sido recogida o no por e1 banquero, y este va a proceder segun lo indicado en el apartado anterior.

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Sunday, May 11th, 2008

Excessive Grooming In Cats

Excessive grooming in cats is something that may seem harmless at first but in fact is very bad for the cat. It is a stress-related condition that is a little like self-mutilation or obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans. It can result in physical problems such as skin disorders but primarily it is a sign that the cat needs help and you should talk to your vet right away to see what can be done for your pet.

As you might expect, over-grooming usually starts with a stressful event, which is often a big change in your life too. This may be something like a new pet in the household, a move, a new baby, or something that means that you are around a lot less than you used to be. Normal grooming is pleasant and relaxing for the cat, like a massage. So when they feel stressed about anything, cats will tend to perform this activity to excess, constantly licking or pulling out fur, resulting in bald patches on the legs.

Sometimes over-grooming is not caused by stress but by skin irritations, allergies, ringworm or parasites such as fleas and mites. Either way, you should see your vet right away because either the physical cause or the stress will need to be treated. The longer the habit of over-grooming continues, the harder it will be for the cat to stop. Also, the constant licking at fur is very likely to cause hairballs in the cat’s stomach which can interfere with digestion and cause discomfort for the cat.

If your cat’s constant grooming is caused by stress, there are several things that you can do to help your pet get over it. You may be able to make changes in the house or in your life that will put things back to normal for your cat. Spending more time with the cat will help him adjust to most of the major changes that may have happened. When you see him licking and biting at his fur, don’t scold him but stroke him or talk gently to him.

Playing with the cat and encouraging him to take an interest in toys instead of in his own coat can help too. Take him with you when you go someplace if you can. If you have to leave him in the house when you are not home, think about leaving a cat video playing, put him in a room where he can easily watch out the window, or get a fish tank to keep him entertained.

Your veterinarian may also recommend medications to help relieve your cat’s stress and help him get over the constant grooming. It is possible to get anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds for pets and a course of these will help your cat to break his self-destructive habit. Excessive grooming in cats should not be ignored so do not hesitate about seeking treatment for your pet.

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Monday, April 28th, 2008

Charlie Sleeping Soundly - again!

He can sleep just about anywhere!

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Monday, April 28th, 2008

Selecting A Cat For Your Family

Some folks feel that selecting a cat for the family should not be as difficult a task as selecting a dog; but there are a few things that you should take into consideration when choosing a feline family member.

Different breeds of cat have characteristics that differ from others and should be taken into consideration when selecting your pet. Some cat breeds have long hair and some short; some are very active and others are not; some are very noisy cats and others are not so noisy.

Here are some good questions to ask yourself about your living environment to help determine what cat breed may fit into your home better.

What type of residence do you have? Is it an apartment, townhouse, small home or a house with lots of acreage?

Do you live in the inner city, busy city, suburb, and semi-rural or rural area with not much traffic?

Are you looking to own a indoor cat or a mostly outdoor cat?

Do you have small children at home, older kids or perhaps an elderly person living with you who would benefit from a more sedate cat?

Are there other pets in your home like goldfish, gerbils, dogs or other cats? If you have other pets how do you imagine they will get along with cat?

Would the family members in your home get along better with a good-natured cat, a gentle cat, a playful cat, an independent cat or a high-spirited cat?

How much grooming will you have time to do for your cat? Do you have time to do a lot of grooming, a moderate amount of grooming, just a little bit of grooming or none at all and can afford to have a professional groom your cat?

Do you have the ability and time to care for and train a kitten? Do you prefer an adult cat that has already been trained to be part of a human family?

These questions are important ones to have answers for before you start looking at available cats or kittens.

You should understand something about the nature of a cat before bringing your first cat home. Here is a short description of what you are likely to encounter, so be prepared.

Cats are independent creatures and unlike dogs they usually care little about hurting your feelings. They can be wonderful companions and are usually warm, friendly and even may love to have you cuddle them; but make no mistake the cat will clearly decide your relationship.

Cats can be aloof, or they can be in your face! Kittens love to play and are very active. Cats can also have definite attitudes especially if you forget to clean their litter box. Cats can be very mysterious as they possess a “cat’s intuition” or “sixth sense” that gives them that uncanny ability to know what you are about to do, even before you do.

A cat can very well amaze you with antics, infuriate you with their drama, and comfort you when you are at your worse. Cats can bring immense joy to your life and they will rapidly steal your heart. Be prepared for adventures right from the start that will be like no other you have ever been on.

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Saturday, April 5th, 2008

Affordable Pet Insurance For Your Cat

I have come across a site which I think will be of interest to you. As well as covering more general pet care issues it has a lot of information about the options on Affordable Pet Insurance.

You can take a look at it by going to Affordable Pet Insurance

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