A Cats Guide

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) remains one of the most important causes of disease and death in cats. It causes a variety of malignancies, but persistent infection can also cause severe immunosuppression and profound anemia. The virus is present worldwide.
Prevention and Control: A test and removal program to rid catteries and multicat households of FeLV can be extremely effective if these guidelines are carefully followed:

1) All cats should be tested for FeLV viremia (IFA is best).

2) All viremic cats should be removed.

3) All dishes, litterpans, and bedding should be disinfected.

4) All movement of cats in and out of the cattery should be prevented.

5) All cats should be retested after 12 weeks to detect cats that may have been incubating the virus at the time of the first test.

6) The quarantine can be lifted when all cats have tested negative on two consecutive occasions, 12 weeks apart.

7) All cats should be tested and quarantined before introduction to the cattery. Ideally, two tests 12 wk apart should be done.

Breeding should be only to cats known to be FeLV-negative, and cats should be introduced only from FeLV-negative colonies.

FeLV vaccines are intended to protect cats against FeLV infection or, at least, to prevent persistent viremia. Types of vaccines include killed whole virus, subunit, and genetically engineered. Vaccines may vary in protective effect, and manufacturers’ claims and independent comparative studies should be carefully noted. The following guidelines for vaccine use have been recommended:

1) Only healthy, afebrile (no fevers) cats should be vaccinated.

2) Cats from a high-risk or unknown background should be tested for FeLV before vaccination.

3) All cats at risk of exposure to FeLV should be vaccinated.

4) Positive and Negative cats should be kept separated, even if the negative cats have been vaccinated.

Ever wonder what cats are thinking, why they keep schedules, or sleep all day? Yes, indeed, no one can deny that sleep is a wonderful thing, who can deny it. Indeed, in my next life I am coming back as house cat in a really nice family. I will expect gourmet food and a comfy couch to nap on and some cool play toys! Most cats seem to take these things for granted, but really they are happy to have a nice home, that’s why they purr so much. Would you like to learn more about cats? Well, let me recommend a very good book to you then;

“The Beauty of Cats” by Howard Loxton - 1972.

The book starts with a couple of great pages of Cat Poetry, then gets into things in the first chapter discussing the issues with the big cats, like lions, tigers, cheetahs and wild other ferocious cats like Mountain Lions, bob cats and such. Much different than house cat species as the author shows through pictorials and explanation of some of the most popular cats that people own as house cats or show cats.

Learn about the history of sacred cats, cat art and the mystery of cats. The book also gets into the types of food cats in the wild eat and the types of cat food they love, and the unfortunate parasites and diseases that they attract and how and when it’s time to see a vet. This is a wonderful coffee table book about cats that is great for young or old, cat lovers or cat owners. I highly recommend this book, if you love cats.

As most people know, when you have cats you face the possibility of also having fleas. There are few pests worse than fleas, who almost microscopic in size and hard to banish. If you want to know how to get rid of fleas on cats, without getting rids of your cats, then keep reading.

If you need to know how to get rid of fleas on cats, then you already have a flea problem. Remember, getting rid of the fleas on your cats isn’t enough - you’ll have to free the entire house of fleas in order to keep them away from your cats for good. Getting rid of fleas can be a somewhat tedious process, so be ready to do some work to get rid of fleas.

Though there are many pet products you can buy for over-the-counter use, if you want to know how to get rid of fleas on cats you want to take them to the vet’s office. Let the professionals treat your cats and have them keep your cats overnight. Though this separation will be painful, it’s necessary so that you can prepare your home for the arrival of flea-free house cats. The vet’s office will apply special medicine to your cats that will not only kill existing fleas, but keep future fleas from being attracted to them.

If you want to know how to get rid of fleas on cats, the first rule is don’t try to do it alone. You need the cats removed from your home to be properly treated for fleas - otherwise, you’re fighting a losing battle. Take the cats to the professionals, and then you can focus on getting fleas out of your home.

In addition to using a flea bomb (be sure to follow the directions exactly), you want to shampoo all the fabrics in your home. This means carpeting, curtains, bedding, upholstery, and especially areas where the cats sleep and play. Ridding your home of fleas is how to get rid of fleas on cats so that they will not come back. Removing fleas from cats is not enough - you must also remove fleas from your home to keep your pets safe.

Cats has been closely associated with humans for thousands of years. Today cats are the second most popular pet, with dogs being first. If you are away from your house for a extended period of time, either at work or at school cats are good pet for you.

Unlike other pets cats do not need much time, they only need to be given food and a little attention, for example dogs need to be walked on a regular basis and this can be very exhausting and time consuming. Cats can be a great pet for anyone because they are very adaptable and can live almost anywhere and would even live happily, healthy and comfortably in a small apartment. Cats are very affectionate, playful and loyal to people of all ages, to many people a cat makes the perfect pet.

Most domestic cats that people own are not pedigree cats, meaning that they are a mix of different breeds. Only 3 percent of domestic cats are purebred, there are no distinct advantages or disadvantages of buying a purebred cat and they can be very expensive. Different groups from around the globe have classified just over 100 different purebred cats.

The differences in breeds consist of the shape of the body, the size, length of coat, colour of coat, colour of eyes, personality and more. Today, there are two main categories that cats are grouped in, short hair and long hair. The most common out of the two being short hair cats.

Long hair cats are harder to care for because they need daily grooming, they are at a higher risk of having hairballs, it is much harder to get rid of fleas and when they cut or graze their skin it is harder to care for.

In the ongoing battle of cats versus dogs, pet owners continue to sing the praises of their animal of choice. While dogs are vastly considered to be the more family-friendly pet, cats have their own equally enthusiastic fan club that can easily rattle off the attributes of their feline in-residence. The truth is that cats – loyal, loving, and often misunderstood – are just as popular in the world of pets as their canine counterparts.

The history of cats goes back nearly 9,000 years to ancient civilizations. Always the skilled predators, cats were often relied upon to keep vermin at bay. But there is also speculation that cats were kept as house pets as early as 7,500 BC. We do know that ancient Egyptian civilizations revered cats – so much so that anyone convicted of killing a cat was put to death. Cats were often even mummified along with their owners.

Today’s domesticated cats are beloved fixtures in many a home, a valued and loved member of the family. There are literally dozens of breeds of cats from which to choose – the personalities of each separate and distinct. Deciding which of these beautiful cats would best be suited to your home and family is largely dependent on the disposition of the cat in relation to your lifestyle. There are many breeds of cats that – in keeping with their species’ tradition of independence – are completely ambivalent about human interaction. There are other breeds of cats, however, that enjoy and seek out the company of their human owners. The choice is ultimately dependent upon your own personality as it relates to pets.

Choosing to own cats means a dedication to being a responsible and caring owner; be sure to research the responsibilities of cat ownership including the nutritional needs of your cat, space considerations, and veterinary appointments.

Cats are wonderful pets and companions and having one in your home can be a joy for you and your family. Choose your cat wisely and prepare for an addition to your family.

The recent christmas period has, it seems, witnessed a rise in the number of stray or abandoned cats. The staff at the Bury St Edmunds branch of the Cats Protection league have witnessed a growing crisis as they have been called in to look after more cats than they can easily cope with.

They predict a crisis as foster homes are full and there are less people able or willing to offer a cat a home. Unfortunately the volunteers look to house 12 cats per month in a small town in Suffolk, England.

Margaret Spratt, a volunteer, says “Our pens are always full, and we can’t even take any more animals in at the moment.”

The main source of cats needing help are those that are abandoned, those that are stray and those that have been the victim of a death of an elderly lone owner. Mrs Spratt reports that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to rehouse cats.

The recent christmas has seen more cats than ever being brought into the center. They report having to turn cats away, which is clearly not an ideal situation. “We do the very best that we can for the animals in our care, and we just hope that eventually we can find the right homes for them,” said Mrs Spratt.

There appears no clear reason why the supply of unwanted cats has increased. The hope is that there will be a settling of the problem so that current cats can be rehomed. If the situation continues in the same pattern then new methods of cat care and cat care funding will need to be devised.

Cats need to scratch because scratching is a natural part of cats’ instinctive grooming habits. Unfortunately, scratching can also be annoying for cat owners because cats often damage furniture, curtains or other property. Additionally, many cat owners worry that their cat’s claws may carry germs – and it is true that a cat’s claws can be a great medium for bacteria and viruses.

Some people address these issues by declawing their cats, which is the removal of the cats’ claws. However, most people who elect to declaw do not realize the seriousness of the procedure: Cats’ claws are directly attached to muscle, so declawing can be compared to the amputation of the half of the cat’s toes.

Cat’s claws are an essential part of the animal’s anatomy:

- Claws help the cat walk, run, and spring

- Claws are cats’ main protection when they feel threatened

- Removing its claws is very tough on a cat, and it may find it hard to resume its normal activities after being declawed

- Declawing renders cats defenseless in the face of attacks

- Declawing is very painful

- Declawed cats may develop infection and bleeding problems.

So, before you decide to declaw your cat, think about it very carefully and think about alternatives:

- Scratching may be resolved through scratching posts

- Your cat’s claws can be made less dangerous with plastic covering

- You can also enroll your cat in a cat training school, especially if your cat is young enough.

Declawing is very extreme measure. It will hurt your cat more than you can imagine.

Like people, cats have needs and depend on us to meet them when we are their provider. These are basic needs for the material comforts. What matters most is the care and affection that you give them. They are most appreciative when they feel the attention is sincere.

By watching the cats diet, you can make sure they don’t eat too much. There is a correct amount of food Until they are about 12 weeks old, young cats need four meals each day. Two meals a day is all they need when they are older. They must have the correct amount of water, but milk should not be fed because it will cause diarrhea. Cats need to eat grass now and then to aid their digestion.

You need to provide some items for the cat to feel comfortable. These items will also help you have a clean and orderly home. A litter container is very important to the cat. The cat will be much cleaner with the litter box. A well maintained litter container will help avoid bad oders.

Cats have a need to scratch with their claws. By providing a scratching post, the cat will have its own place to indulge this need. Without a scratching post, the cat will use the furniture for a place to scratch.

Cats need to be clean. Cats need to groom and be groomed. Cats will let you know when they are feeling pampered by purring.. Long haired cats will need to be combed and bathed regularly.. Short haired cats need to be treated for parasites and fleas.

These needs will help your cat be happy and comfortable. Cats will return you care and affection.