Cat Healthcare Tips and Advice: Common Problems

We all love our little feline friends and want the best for them — to be happy and healthy. That’s why in this article, we are going to outline some cat healthcare tips to keep your cat feeling purrfect.

Cat Care 101: How to Keep Your Cat Healthy

Groom your cat regularly. Cats do like to self-groom, keeping themselves looking elegant as always. However, by regularly combing or brushing your cat, you can remove the dead fur, which will prevent them from ingesting it when self-cleaning.

Provide your cat with fresh water every day. A healthy cat needs good, clean water. Also, a water bowl can accumulate bacteria after a day or so, which is why it needs changing daily.

Train your cat to use a scratching post. Cats need to keep their claws clean and healthy, and one of the best ways for them to do that is by scratching a specially designed post. It is good exercise, a bit of fun for your cat, and it also prevents your furniture from getting shredded!

Cat Weight Problems: What’s a Healthy Cat Weight and How Can Your Cat Lose Weight?

A healthy weight for cats depends on the breed. In general, a healthy weight is around 10 lbs. However, a Siamese cat can weigh as little as 5 lbs, and a Maine Coon can weigh as much as 25 lbs, both being healthy.

If you are concerned about your cat’s weight, here are some recommendations:

• Feed your cat canned food, not kibble. Cats are carnivores and, therefore, need a high protein diet. Kibble is low in protein and high in carbohydrates.
• Choose balanced food. Look for a statement on the canned food saying that it is balanced and complete. Cats need a range of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy.
• Avoid giving your cat toxic foods: chocolate, caffeine, dairy products, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chives and yeast dough.

Cat’s Eyes Watering: Causes and Solutions

Watery eyes are common among cats with short faces. Short-faced breeds — with their short noses and bulging eyes — are more likely to get watery eyes because their outset eyes are not protected from dirt, pollen and other particles that can inflame the eyes.

Common causes of watery eyes include:

• Conjunctivitis
• Eyelid tumours
• Trauma
• Scratches
• Trapped foreign bodies in the eye.

If your cat is suffering from watery eyes, then we recommend getting the condition diagnosed by a vet.

How to Give Cats Pills and Medicine

There are multiple methods for giving cats medicine. One way is by putting it into their food. Some tablets are designed to be palatable for cats, so you may be able to feed them to your cat without having to hide them in food. Other tablets are small and can be easily placed in food to hide them.

It is important to make sure your cat is hungry; otherwise, the tablet may be left uneaten, and if you have other pets, it may be consumed by one of them. Therefore, it is recommended to let your cat fast for 12 hours before providing the meal with medicine.

Signs Your Cat Is Sick

Cats can be stoic creatures, often hiding their discomfort when they are sick. However, some clues can indicate if your cat is feeling unwell:

• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• A sudden change in typical behaviour
• Changes in drinking or eating habits
• Weight loss or gain
• Neglecting grooming or overgrooming.

If your cat shows any of these symptoms, it is always best to get them checked by a vet to diagnose the problem. Do note, if your cat is struggling to pass water, it is an emergency, and they need to be seen by a professional as soon as possible. While a blocked bladder is most common in males, it can also affect cats that are overweight, stressed or on a dry diet, with symptoms including a painful tummy, low energy and straining when trying to urinate.

Our #1 Cat Health Care Tip: Find a Great Vet

Looking after your cat’s health is vital, and the best way to do that is with a good vet. Also, we recommend you take your cat for regular checkups, which can prevent serious health problems.