Caring for Elderly Cats

Basic Cat Care: How to Clip a Cat's Claws

2010-05-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

Feline maintenance extends way beyond filling a bowl with chow, popping a pull-tab on a can, filling a water bowl, and scooping the cat box. Indoor cats need help to minimize the length of their claws. In the wild, cats wear down their nails with daily hunting and scenting activities. In the home, this isn't quite so easy.

Some cats take an extreme liking to the end of a sofa. The cat will visit the same spot daily to rake his claws down a roughened fabric surface. The cat really isn't intentionally scratching to ruin your furniture. Cats naturally perform this motion to sharpen and clean the nails. Your cat is also marking that sofa with a scent from the pads of his paws. That sofa belongs to kitty. It's part of the cat's territory.

Cat owners cannot squelch instinct. However, we can perform basic feline maintenance to diminish damage from cat claws. Definitely provide a sisal-wrapped scratching post. Many cats adore the disposable, pressed-cardboard scratching posts available at pet stores. Provide a scratching area and sprinkle it with catnip to encourage the cat to use the scratch pad instead of your furniture. Discourage the continual scratching on sofa and chair sides by draping a blanket over the edge to the floor.

Teaching your Cat to Like Grooming

Clipping claws requires some adjustments on the part of the cat and the caregiver. If you're leery of tackling this cat grooming activity, start slow. Cats don't like to be messed with, but you can get your cat used to being handled. Rub your cat's feet and wiggle your fingers in between the paws. Do this on a regular basis to acclimate the cat. Break out the hairbrush and give the cat a good brushing. This teaches the cat that your care isn't scary and mean.

Some owners can hold a cat on their lap and clip claws in record time. This cat has obviously adjusted to the grooming. The owner obviously feels quite confident with the clippers. For everyone's safety, place a towel flat on a surface and wrap the towel so it opens in the back. The towel should reach the cat's neck and should be pulled tight enough to prevent the cat's legs from sneaking out.

Claw Clipping

Sit in a chair and place the cat on your lap with his belly facing up. Have a small set of nail clippers handy. Pet stores sell a variety of nail clipping devices for pets. It's much easier for a novice to control a small set of "human" clippers. You really don't need a special tool.

Fish one leg out of the towel and press a finger into the center of the cat's footpad. This spreads the cat's retractable claws. Squeeze a little and the full claw will be exposed. You'll see the pointy nail and the underlying nerves and blood vessels. This area looks pink in color. Do not cut into this "quick" area to prevent the cat from experiencing a few painful days of walking.

Hold the paw firmly with the nails extended and grab the clippers. Position the clippers over the nail end, avoiding the quick area. Clip claws with the top blade of the clippers cutting straight down on the top of the claw. The cat may jerk the foot away in response to the clipper motion. Grab the foot and continue clipping the other claws. Don't be surprised if kitty gets mad or if you need more than one session to clip all his claws. Less is more with cat nail clipping until both owner and cat learn to tolerate this necessary task.

The dew claw is located on the back of a cat's leg, slightly above the foot. This claw rarely gets worn down on a scratching post. This nail has the potential to wrap around and embed into the skin. Clip the dew claw and switch to the other front foot to clip all claws. If the cat is reacting badly, have a helper hold the scruff of the cat's neck. This often calms the cat enough to finish the clipping task.

The back legs present a particular challenge. Cats use the rear legs to gut prey. It's best to keep these tucked safely inside the towel for as long as possibly. Pull one rear leg out at a time for claw clipping. If necessary, clip the front claws and let the cat go. Ambush him later for rear claw clipping.

Cats need their claws for a myriad of kitty activities during the course of day. Your furniture can coexist with your cat with a small amount of effort on your part. Provide alternatives for the cat to scratch and clip the cat's claws regularly to moderate indoor scratching behavior.

For more information, visit the University of Washington College of Veterinary Medicine.

How to remove cat urine smell from flooring

2010-04-11T05:55:00.000-07:00

Older cats inevitably have those questionable "accidents" associated with pet parents simply not responding quick enough to whatever the animal wants. Whether it's attitude or illness, the destruction of flooring and your home by the smell of cat urine requires heavy duty action to repair the damage.

Instead of purchasing a one-way ticket to the vet, give the method in this article a try. Baking soda, peroxide and a scrub brush. The smell will be gone!

How to help your shy cat become friendlier

2010-04-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

As the years go by, the behavior of a shy cat can increase with the loss of hearing and eyesight. All pets benefit from constant contact with pet parents to ground the animal and provide security.

Check out this article for information on how to help your shy cat become friendlier - even your old shy kitty.

How to Choose a Cat Food

2009-09-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Non-cat owners don't seem to realize that the "finicky cat" thing actually exists. I've been a cat owner all my life and I've yet to run into one that eats like a dog. My cats are picky, finicky eaters and this increases as they move into their geriatric years.

You might find a portion of the cat chow your old kitty loves so much remains in the bowl when you come home. Maybe your cat doesn't come running when he hears the chow pellets hitting his metal bowl. Whether it's canned food or dry food, your cat's food needs have changed as he's moved into the senior years of his life.

Chow

Chow often serves as a mainstay in a cat's diet, especially in homes where pet parents work all day. Pop some chow into the bowl, fill up the water and off you go to your busy day. Don't worry about the cat because he'll spend 80 to 90 percent of his day sleeping anyway. This might be true of a younger animal but older cats require an adjustment.

Older kitties tend to have either missing teeth or sensitive gums. Pick one of these and you've got a cat that doesn't really want to crunch on chow all day. You might see a decrease in weight on the cat. Or kitty may completely ignore his chow. Don't rush out and buy a new brand. Consider switching to wet foods in cans to supplement your older cat's fluid intake needs.

Chow works very well as a supplement to a standardized wet-food diet. Consider chow a treat but not a staple in your elderly cat's diet. Cat chow contains grains as well as ingredients to create the kernel-like consistency to bind the meal into a nugget. In the wild, cats consume animals that don't contain any grains. See where this is going? If your elderly cat still wants chow, provide a small amount of the highest quality cat chow you can afford. Holistic/all natural is best.

Canned Food

Again, choose the very best canned foods that you can afford. Cat food manufacturers don't use the most appetizing ingredients in cat foods. It's frankly a little too gross to ponder in this article. But, as a responsible elderly cat owner, you can steer your cat to better health by choosing higher quality pet foods. No, you won't find these at the grocery but instead, at pet stores and specialty pet food stores.

Many brands have an elderly line of products. However, take a look at the best of the best. You'll pay more but your cat will be getting all-natural ingredients, little-to-no grains and additional moisture with a change to a wet food diet. If you must choose a food from the grocery, consider those brands that aren't generic with names you recognize such as Purina. Advertising on cat food bags and cans is a lot like advertising everywhere else. They can stretch the truth a little. Some stretch it a lot. And some who were involved in the pet food recalls in 2007 have completely revamped their product wrappings to fool the customer.

Picking a Food

Choosing a food involves looking at the ingredients on the cat. Most manufacturers list items in order of content. If something says all natural, the first ingredient should be one of the meats all cats love as obligate-carnivores. Cats don't eat what cows do - namely grains - so avoid those foods with grains, glutens and rice. Some contain these products in safe amounts while others use these products to excess as fillers.

In the cat food world, you get what you pay for.

Resources

Do your research online before purchasing any food. Simply Google the pet food name and add review to your query. So many pet lovers take the time to provide their experiences with cat foods and products. Use this information to help you make informed decisions to better your elderly cat's diet. Remember that purchasing the very best foods that you can afford will help extend your cat's life and provide his aging body the nutrients he needs during the older stages of life.

How to treat hairballs in cats

2009-02-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

Most cats are fastidious creatures. They groom their fur, clean their toes, and wipe their faces after every meal. This grooming causes many cats to perform a disgusting little ritual of choking and coughing until the offensive hairball ends up on the carpet. Cats are just doing what's natural by expelling the ball of fur.

I'm tasked with cleaning up these lovely little "cat presents." Somewhere along the way, my wonderful family decided covering the hairballs with a paper towel was sufficient. Like a little red flag, it's my notice that the cat has done something that is just too gross for anyone but Mom to clean up.

If you're like many cat owners, cleaning up hairballs ranks pretty low on the cat care scale, right along with dumping the cat box. It's a nasty chore despite the actions of the cat being a wholly natural body response to an accumulation of hair in the stomach. Since hair itself isn't digestible, the cat's stomach reacts by emitting digestive juices that cause the cat to expel the hairball. There are many remedies, all of them relatively simple and inexpensive. Sometimes, your cat just might need a little help!

Brush your cat

Once of the best ways to prevent a hairball from even happening is to grab a pet hairbrush and brush your cat's fur. This is a ritual that so many cats love. Quality time with Mom! Regular brushing helps remove the cat's loose fur and will often reduce the incidence of hairballs. Once or twice a week if sufficient for short haired animals. Long haired cats should be brushed daily to prevent excessive hairballs.

Special foods

Some cat food manufacturers have created chow and treats to help keep things moving along kitty's digestive tract. These special foods include a lubricant and fiber to aid your cat's passing of any offensive hairballs. Some cats just love the food while others have increased vomiting or other reactions. I'm personally not a fan of hairball remedy cat chows, but then I not a fan of cat chow. There are many other choices to alleviate excessive hairballs rather than switching the animal's entire diet.

To read more about treating hairballs in your cat, click here

How to keep cats off countertops

2009-02-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

One morning you enter your kitchen and see a trail of perfect little kitty paw prints lined up along yourkitchen counter top. Looks like your cat has been on your counters again, despite your repeated attempts to stop this behavior. It's time to train that kitty even though you might often feel that you're the one being trained.

Cats love to be up high; on top of cabinets, high shelves, and the highest level of a cat-climbing tree. There's a measure of safety and security in being able to look down on their world. In addition, cat's have a "bird's eye" view of their domain when perched above the rest of the world. An added benefit to this new height is that it's the perfect place to ambush unsuspecting humans or other pets in the house.

When this climbing tendency results in nasty cat paws across your counter, you're got to control the cat. Remember that consistency is the key to training your cat. Training must be fun, must be repeated, and certainly must have an adequate reward to keep kitty in the frame of mind of trying to please you. It's really quite simple. You need to re-establish who is boss in your house.

So what's on your cat's feet?

Counter surfing is great fun for a kitty. A sure way to attract immediate human attention, very few cats can resist the temptation of fun AND food all in one spot. This great form of entertainment for your cat is really just spreading germs via kitty's feet. Litter box residue (and subsequent feces and urine), dust from the floor, dirt from the flooryou name it, it's on the cat's feet.

Unless you're planning on using the floor as your dinner plate, it's frankly pretty gross to let kitty prance happily on the counter. The 5-second rule for dropped food should apply to the floor, not your counter. Has your cat decided he likes the sink better than his water dish? Well, is his water dish clean and fresh? A hundred things entice your cat to climb. Bottom line is that it's really unclean to have the cat walking on the surfaces that you cook and prepare food on. In addition, if you use any cleansers on the counters, your cat may be ingesting the residue when he cleans in paws. I shouldn't even need to mention the dangers of a hot stove!

Stop that counter-surfing!

Water

I confess to spritzing my cat with the kitchen sink sprayer to prevent his jumping into the sink. Just a little spray and he hasn't done it since. Many folks use a squirt bottle. Make sure it's filled and the nozzle is turned to the "stream" setting. Keep it handy. Cats will almost always stop the unwanted behavior after just a few squirts. Make sure to combine the spray of the bottle with a firm "Off!"

Tin Can Rattles

Most cats will startle at loud noises. Throw some change or rocks on an empty coffee can and keep it on the counter. If kitty counter-surfs, rattle than can. It might freak them out the first few times but you can be sure that even the sight of the can will make your cat think twice about jumping on the counters. Don't forget to soothe that ruffled fur a few minutes after the rattle sounds.

Tape or aluminum foil barriers

Imagine your totally indignant cat with a big piece of tape stuck to his paw, shaking his foot for all he's worth in an effort to dislodge it. Pretty funny mental image. Some folks try this method. In truth, I haven't although I just might because of the sure entertainment value. It seems it would work although I imagine lining the edges of all your counters with 2-sided tape might be difficult as well as inconvenient. Some folks try aluminum foil on the premise that cats don't like the feeling of the foil on their feet. These are great additional options for folks who've failed with water and the tin can rattles.

Commercial products

Commercial cat repellents are available at local pet stores and vendors. If all else fails, this might be the ticket for the most stubborn cat. It's important to remember that training a cat is never an easy proposition. Don't expect to find a simple solution in a can of spray repellent.

An important reminder

It is so very important to consider the health and well being of your animal. Never is this more important than when you are training your animal. Never smack your cat; never hit him anywhere on his body. Remember that you are trying to foster a changed behavior, not create an angry cat with issues. Positive training brings about positive change in your cat. And soon the kitty counter surfing will be a thing of the past!

An Old Cat Often Equals a Picky Eater

2009-01-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

Elderly cats seem to develop the uncanny ability to drive us batty opening can after can of wet food in an attempt to get them to eat. I know I've opened up to 5 cans before Maui finally showed some mercy and caved in. Why are old cats such picky eaters?

Very likely, your old kitty has a reduced sense of smell. With age comes the loss of senses and frankly, we all gotta admit we like smelling good food before we eat too. With cats, this lack of smell can throw off their appetite. Putting out cans of stinky tuna blend cat foods just isn't the answer either. High smell doesn't necessarily mean a happy cat.

First, rule out any other reason for finickiness. Does your old cat have a cough or sneeze that might indicate an upper respiratory infection? If so, visit the vet. If not, move to step two. You might have created the monster. It's tempting to feed foods that are familiar and as a result, put your cat right into a feeding rut. Change up the foods frequently, using high quality, low fat foods that offer a wide variety of tastes to challenge your old kitty's palate.

A new dish can work wonders for making a kitty happy. As simple as this sounds, a stinky plastic dish being washed is still a stinky plastic dish that's been washed. Purchase a long lasting ceramic or metal dish to eliminate any smell residue that might annoy your cat. Wash it thoroughly after every feeding.

If your old cat is stuck in a confirmed feeding rut, rise to the challenge. Purchase a variety of healthy wet foods and provide a little buffet to challenge his or her taste buds. Try no more than a tablespoon of wet food each time. Let your cat choose for awhile. You're also showing him that there are other options if he'd prefer.

Cat food is expensive, especially the high end brands. Not to worry. Cover and refrigerate unused portions for the next feeding. If your cat turns up his nose at cold food, add warm water in small amounts to make some gravy to bring the food to room temperature. Make sure it's not too hot so you don't burn the cat's mouth. Never heat any pet food in the microwave.

Peanut Butter Pet Food Recalls

2009-01-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

I know this blog focuses on elderly cat care but it's so important to reach as many people as possible with any pet food recall. The peanut butter nightmare is now affecting pet foods.

See the following for more information:

PetSmart Voluntarily Recalls Grreat Choice® Dog Biscuits
Contact:
PetSmart Customer Service
1-888-839-9638

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- PHOENIX, AZ, January 20, 2009 -- PetSmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice® Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Georgia facility.

Although PetSmart is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has removed these products from its store shelves and website and is conducting the recall as a precautionary measure.

The recalled products include only the following types of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits sold between Aug. 21, 2008 and Jan. 19, 2009:

Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900
Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb., UPC 73725700601
Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700605
Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb., UPC 73725702755
Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700638
Extra Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700779
Peanut Butter 4 lb., UPC 73725700766
Customers who purchased the recalled dog biscuit products should discontinue use immediately and can return the product to any PetSmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com for more information or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.

No other products or flavors are included in this recall.

How to Put Your Cat on a Diet

2009-01-16T16:44:00.000-08:00

"Your cat is fat!" Those horrifying words reverberate around the vet's examining room. What you thought would be a simple visit for shots and a checkup ended up being a brash assessment of your kitty's physique. You've got a fat cat and you don't know what to do.

Cats have a metabolism, just as people do. Lazy or older cats tend to have a slower metabolism and as a result, burn the calories consumed from foods slower than more active cats. As calorie consumption increases, and with it your cats need for more and more food, kitty can pack on the pounds just like humans do on a diet of chocolate candy bars.

The theory of weight loss and gain is similar to humans. However, it is absolutely necessary to make sure your cat is getting enough food and water every day for maximum health. Any drastic change to your animal's diet can be traumatic. It makes more sense to put your cat on a diet that will encourage slow and steady weight loss. Consult your vet about the exact amount your cat should be eating every day. Ask exactly how much you should decrease the amounts of foods each week. Be as specific as possible with your questions.

Dry Food

I'm not a proponent of dry cat chow. It's packed with carbohydrates and fillers like grains and oils that your cat simply doesn't need. Cats are obligate carnivores that require meat in their diet, not grains. So consider the cat chow as kitty potato chips that are packing on the pounds and wrecking your cat's svelte figure.

If you're free feeding your fat cat dry kibble all day, it needs to be stopped. Do it gradually by feeding high quality canned cat food in place of the filled chow bowl. Reduce the chow in the bowl by one third every 2 days and add a wet food feeding. Most adult cats require one 5.5.-ounce can of wet food each day. However, some differ. If you need to add a little more wet food, then do it to keep kitty from starving as his body adjusts to less food.

Your aim is to provide your cat with 2-3 feedings per day of wet food only. By eliminating chow, you're eliminating a ton of unnecessary calories. Don't expect the change from dry chow to wet food to be easy. Be patient with the cat. We humans don't like giving up our junk foods either.

Cat chow doesn't have even a minimal amount of the moisture that a cat needs to consume on a daily basis. Many cats aren't great water drinkers so adding any to their diet is a must for kidney health. Not convinced yet that chow is bad?

Try this fact. In the wild, cats get every bit of water that they need from the prey they eat. They don't need to drink water.

Wet Food

There's simply no way to take a field mouse, chipmunk, or bird and stuff it in a can to make the perfect cat food. However, manufacturers of pet foods have added an acceptable combination of protein, vitamins and minerals to make a can of cat food a more than adequate diet for your cat. The caveat is the quality of cat food that you buy. To place an obese cat on a diet, it is simply unacceptable to feed anything from a grocery or chain pet food store. All-natural foods are the only way to go. Natural pet foods contain less filler, starches, and are generally packed with

Wet food has added bonuses too. Within a few weeks of feeding your cat a high quality wet food, you'll see a noticeable difference in the texture of his fur. It's truly amazing. Plus, wet food has an added benefit of increasing the amount of water in a cat's diet because water is used in the preparation of the food. Moisture is so important for a cat's proper kidney function. The added benefits to feeding the highest quality food that you can afford is a definitive decrease in health problems as your cat ages, translated into dollars and cents NOT spent at the vets.

Some tricks for tricking a dieting kitty

Cats hate change so expect a little pouting when the chow bowl goes empty permanently. Remember that you're trying to teach your cat to eat properly. In actuality, your cat can't understand the insulting comments made at the vets. It's up to you to translate it to a new and interesting way of feeding.

Plastic dishes retain the smell of foods. Pitch the plastic dishes and invest in ceramic coated or metal dishes. These are so much easier to clean and very likely, your fat kitty will appreciate a change. In fact, you might want to change the feeding area completely. This slight alternation may be enough to signal to the cat that change is coming.

When feeding wet foods, make sure you spread the canned food across the bottom of the dish. Use a fork to mash the food flat. Your aim is to teach your cat to eat slower. Chunks of food can be gulped down but mashed food requires the cat to lick slowly to eat his meal.

Fresh water is a must for every cat, every day. Standing water gets a film across the top of it in just one day. Kitty spit, fur, and food particles end up in the dish, often making it resemble the neighborhood pond. So wash that dish and add fresh water every day.

Make this a fun time for your cat by adding some daily exercise. There's no need to buy expensive cat toys. Grab a bottle cap and toss it across the floor. Put your hand inside an oven mitt and wrestle with the cat. Any increase in exercise will burn some calories.

Keeping things moving, so to speak

2009-01-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

Despite my absence from updating this blog, I am here and I'm still doing 'CatMom" type things. Maui,the lovely old lady that graces the banner of the blog, had a rough go of it a few weeks ago. She had a urinary track infection that required a vet visit. She's now on antibiotics and doing wonderfully. But for a few days there, I thought I was going to lose her. Having lost 2 animals to kidney failure, I'm tuned in to the distinctive signs. It's not pretty.

During my discussion with the vet, he noticed Maui is...let's put this delicately...a little "backed up." He said that as cats age, their food processes slower so sometimes we need to help things along. Maui does her business every 2-3 days and he said it won't hurt her. However, she'd feel alot better going more frequently.

The vet recommended putting a teaspoon of vegetable oil or fish oil into her food once a day. A completely safe and fast way to make sure things are all moving well.

Maui gets very happy when she does her business. In fact, she acts like the kitten she once was racing around the house.

There's nothing so wonderful as a happy cat! Even if a potty stop is the reason!

Creature comforts for old kitties

2008-12-04T05:34:00.000-08:00

Old kitties love to be warm and toasty during naptime. Snuggling makes them happy. Why not get your cat a warm kitty bed for the holiday?

Maui is quite possessive of her bed and actually gets an annoyed look on her face when Clyde takes a nap in her sleeping spot. Sometimes she'll even pile in there with him. More often than not, she'll perch on the back of my chair and watch me write, soaking up the sun.

Simple kitty bed's start at $20 at Pet Smart or Petco. Most are easily machine washable - just toss them in on the gentle cycle. Let them air dry and put them on fluff in the dry to pull of the cat hair. I've put Maui's bed about 2 feet from the heat vent, tucked in a corner so she's nice and warm.

Hey, kitty's need presents too!

Be Aware of Changes in Your Elderly Cat

2008-11-30T12:42:00.000-08:00

One of the most important things we can do as pet owners is to be continually vigilant. Our cat's behaviors may become as commonplace as the carpeting, but they shouldn't be. Our awareness needs to be consistent, every single day, especially with an older animal in the home.

Older cats can have troubles with hearing, eye sight, and balance among so many older things. Like their human counterparts, these changes reflect their advancing age. But sometimes these lifestyle changes come along quickly. This can cause behavioral changes that are subtle. If we're being aware as pet parents, we can catch the changes.

Take Maui, for instance. She's deaf. How do we compensate for her deafness? We gently pat her to wake her up for food and we flick the light switches so we don't startle her. We also tap our hands on the floor when we want her to come to us. The whole family makes an effort not to scare her but rather engage her in different ways since she can't hear us. Yes, we still talk to her constantly and she sometimes talks back. More than anything, Maui needs to be engaged in her silent world.

It wasn't difficult to figure out what worked the best. We just found ways to communicate with her. She still is very vocal although we've noticed that her volume control seems to be broken :) She meows very loudly now whereas she never did before. Of course, she's talking to us. What we've found is that she says "jump" and we don't even ask how high. We just do!

Great Websites for Pet Owners

2008-11-29T05:46:00.000-08:00

It shouldn't come as a surprise that there are so many fabulous web sites for animal lovers. But sometimes the scope of what's available just stuns me. People are so innovative. I love creativity.

While writing an article on Thursday, I hunted through the Internet for pet social networking sites. It seems there's a number of heavily trafficked sites. What exactly are pet social networking sites? Think Facebook or MySpace for your critters. Truly extraordinary.

We shower our pets with love and attention so it shouldn't surprise anyone that pet lover's would broadcast this love on the internet. Two sites, www.Catster.com and www.Dogster.com have thousands on members. Dogster has 180,000 members. Wow! Both sites allow picture posting and let your pets have "friends" for socializing.

I came across another site last week that provides a wealth of information for cat owners. www.Catchannel.com is a comprehensive site that can answer questions, provide tips and hints for behaviorial problems, and even has a feature called "ClubCat" for users to set up their very own webpage for their cat. It requires membership.

I'll be posting other links for great sites as I find them. It definitely take a village to take care of our pets too. Sharing information helps to keep our beloved animals healthy and happy.

Pet Food Recall

2008-11-27T05:39:00.000-08:00

It totally sucks to wake up Thanksgiving morning and find that the Mars Company has instituted a recall on two brands of foods for cats and dogs.

Special Kitty and Ol' Roy products are being pulled for suspected salmonella poisoning. Please check the following comprehensive link at PetSitUSA.com for more information:

http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=1457

There's also been a recall of Orijen cat food in Australia. The recall is confined to that country. However, it's is truly horrifying what is happening to the cats in that country. Cats who've eaten the foods have shown severe neurological symptoms after consumption. Orijen is produced by Champion Pet Foods. More info is available here:

http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=1459

What a way to start the day :(

Thanksgiving for Cats

2008-11-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

Behold the familiar sight of your cat circling around your legs or lurking under the kitchen table as you carve your turkey this Thanksgiving and heap the table with home-cooked goodies. Beware though...your cat might end up with a belly-ache or worse if you include heaping his plate full of food too.

Many of the foods we cook just aren't good for your cat. Slipping the cat a piece of chicken or turkey might seem fine, but beware of the seasonings used to cook the food. Onions and garlic aren't good for cats and can cause anemia. The old adage that a cat can handle chicken or turkey bones just isn't true. Any animal (or human) can choke on a bone.

Older cats might still have good enough sniffers to seek out that turkey. My old kitty actually pounced on the turkey one year when we were all having dessert. Left unguarded and uncovered, the turkey was fair game for Cleo. As far as she was concerned. We thought differently.

If you must give a special meal to your kitty at Thanksgiving, why not purchase a premium brand of cat food as a treat? Plenty of brands have turkey. Better yet, buy a can of Weruva. This is basically human food in a can. My older cat loves it as do my younger cats. At $1.69 per can, they'd better.

Too many people in your home might send your old kitty racing from her favorite spot to a quiet spot under the bed. Make sure she's left alone but has access to food, water and a litter box. And of course, keep any tormenting children away from your older cats (and all pets).

Check out this link for information on keeping your cat safe this Thanksgiving:

http://www.catchannel.com/news/2008/11/26/animal-groups-talk-turkey-for-cats.aspx

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hydrating your elderly cat

2008-11-19T07:16:00.000-08:00

I'm a big advocate of water - for humans AND cats. Especially older cats. Having seen the damage done by food contaminants in my older cats and the incredible benefits of immediate fluids, it doesn't take a rocket scientists to put 2 and 2 together.

So I feed wet food, have plenty of water available, and encourage my cats to play in their water, generally making for a fun kitty time. Kidney health is so important in older animals.

Many older cats already have some reduced kidney function. For that reason, diet and water consumption should be a pet parent's focus. Tied to this issue is also bowel movements. Hydration plays a very important part in keeping your cat's entire intestinal system working properly.

For a comprehensive article and a case study on colon issues caused from possible dehydration from the SunHerald.com, visit this link:

http://www.sunherald.com/pets/story/964579.html

It shouldn't take much to convince anyone. But this does it.

8 Ways to Improve your Old Cat's Health Right Now

2008-11-17T06:46:00.001-08:00

Want to have immediate impact on your elderly kitty's health immediately? Try the following:

1. Feed a high quality wet food. Forget the grocery store brands. Choose a brand that lists meats in the ingredients first. And limit the cat chow intake too.

2. Add a little water to the wet food with every feeding to make gravy. Some cats are notoriously finicky water drinkers. Boosting their water intake is always a bonus, especially for kidney function.

3. Pitch those plastic cat dishes. Plastic retains the smell of all the food you've put in the bowl. Get a glass dish or bowl and use that instead.

4. Spruce up that water bowl with a cat fountain. Cats fountains encourage kitties to drink and play in the water. Models start at $35.

5. Give kitty a good grooming with a wide comb and brush. Older cats aren't as flexible and sometimes, it's just too much to reach all those spots on the body. Your cat will love the attention as much as you love showering him or her with attention.

6. Clip those claws carefully.

7. Break out the toys for some playtime. Why not give your old kitty a little exercise with a laser light or even a string?

8. Have yourself a good snuggle session with your cat. As kitties age, the might be shy or less inclined to seek you out for attention. A few pats and strokes will remind you both of why you have each other.

Abandoned animals are victims of economy too

2008-11-16T19:12:00.000-08:00

Abandoned cats and dogs are filling shelters as families struggle to pay mortgages and bills and simply don't have enough left over to care for the family pet. A sad state of affairs.

Here's an article of what's happening at a Boston shelter: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2008/11/16/shelters_crammed_with_abandoned_cats/

The reasons might be eviction or foreclosure. The result is a heartbroken animal needing a new home. And a heartbroken family having to give their beloved animal to the shelter.

This shelter has waived the $75 adoption fee in the hopes of having some of the hundreds of cats adopted quickly. Such a sad situation that's being repeated across this country.

And I truly can't help wondering about the real commitment we make to our animals as soon as they enter our lives. It's not an obligation we can take lightly. What a painful double-edged sword for owners and pets.

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month

2008-11-15T04:13:00.000-08:00

How about that?

November is Adopt a Senior Pet Month. What better way to brighten your own home, lift your spirits, and the life of an animal than by choosing to adopt an already trained, older companion animal?

Did you know that cats are considered senior at 7 years old? And dogs at 5? Pretty amazing but then older animals dietary and physical activity needs change early so it's important for pet parents to be attentive to any little changes in their lives, including the addition of birthdays.

I adopted 2 cats this year as carefully chosen companions for Maui. She was so terribly lonely with the loss of her brother. She's deaf and howled herself and us right up the wall. After contacting a wonderful rescue organization called Friends of Montgomery County Animals, I found O'Malley, a gentle orange tabby who was recovering from being hit by a car. My handsome orange boy did the trick. He became her fast four-legged friend who checked on her, tried to get her drawn into rather undignified playtime, and generally gave her incentive to get out of bed in the morning. A few months later, we adopted Clyde (2 y.o. ragdoll) to help O'Malley shower attention on Maui and be a romping playmate for O'Malley.

Maui is in cat Heaven now. She's got Clyde who she can snuggle up to at the storm door as they gaze out at the world and he piles into her cat bed to keep her warm. He cleans her face, rubs on her, and pays attention to her (including stealing her food!) Another kitty to give Maui reason to get moving each day.

This adoption story has a purpose. These 2 cats aren't old but they didn't have homes. We took them in, retrained, and enjoy them immensely. We've remedied a situation with Maui that was truly heartwrenching. She's a happy girl again. Our animals are literally the center of this household. Hey, they can't open cat food cans for themselves, can they? Must be that opposible thumb thing :)

Here's a link for elderly cat and dog care products that looks really comprehensive: http://www.seniorpetproducts.com/ Pretty easy name - won't be easy to forget.

And here's a link to an article about November being Adopt A Senior Pet Month: http://www.nwsource.com/shopping/pet-stuff/blog/november-adopt-senior-pet-month?cmpid=2342

Cheers!

Heartwarming story of a older cat reunited with his family

2008-11-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

Did you ever choose to microchip your pet? Here's when it pays off in spades.

George the cat went missing for 13 years. He was finally reunited with his owners when a caring individual took the lost cat to a vet and scanned for a microchip.

He's an older cat now but seems to readjusting to being home well.

Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h0n43GfpPsj8nDMemArm_Wf8LqLQ

Send me your old cat pictures!!

2008-11-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

In honor of the start up of this blog, I'd love to post pictures of your old kitties in action. Please include your animal's name, age, and make and model :) and crazy and interesting things that your cat does.

Picture links can be left in the comment field.

We love all cat's here so if you have a younger kitty who just demands to be in the public eye, we'll post those pics too.

Cheers,
Sharon

Caring for Elderly Cats

2008-11-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

There's nothing quite so sad as watching your beloved older pet reach their twilight years. Your playful kitten that attacked your ankles from under the sofa now reclines on the cushions, barely waking from a nap when you enter a room. It's tough watching your cat age. Making them comfortable and happy should be your primary goal.

Caring for an elderly cat can be demanding. I know, I have one 17-year old kitty. I'm lucky because I'm home all day. At times, they are more demanding than my children. She meows loudly for no reason, demands copious amounts of food, and beg like a dog for table scraps. While I know these are symptoms of aging, I worry like a mother hen over my old girl Maui. Here are some suggestions for what you can do to ease their lives and your own worry.

Vet Visits

Regular vet visits are important for older cats. Take your elderly cat twice a year for a checkup. Older cats can develop diabetes, hyper thyroid, or any number of diseases without showing outward symptoms. A regular vet visit will help catch illnesses early.

Vitamins

Purchase a tube of vitamins from your vet and mix with the cat's wet food. Just as with humans, an elderly cat's body needs additional vitamins and minerals. Elderly cats experience more hairballs. The soft vitamins keep things moving in their digestive tract.

Water

Make sure there is fresh water available ALL THE TIME. I purchased a cat water fountain and I have to admit, they drink much more often now. And stick their paws and heads under the water too, just for my entertainment.

Food

Mealtime has now become their main activity. Adjusting their diet to include more soft food might be necessary if your cats have lost teeth or if you've noticed a decrease in appetite.

Sleep

Elderly cats spend most days lazily snoozing away on the sofa or on a sunny spot on the carpet. Make sure their snuggle spot is comfy and warm. And don't be surprised if your kitty sleeps the whole day away.

Grooming

Your elderly cat's fur might be looking a little lackluster. Many older cats stop grooming themselves as they age. It's your job to take over with a comb and brush. Most cats love to be brushed. They'll appreciate this special time with your undivided attention as long as your are careful and don't pull too much at matted fur.

Claws

Trim those kitty nails. Your older kitty isn't nearly as active. You've probably noticed your furniture isn't taking the beating it once did from scratching. Clip kitty's claws carefully once a month.

Playtime

Yes, it's still necessary to older kitties. You may have noticed that the evening crazies are long gone but your older cat still has some spunk left in him. Break out the strings and soft toys and try to get kitty to play. Some older kitties like chasing a little laser flashlight that can be purchased at any pet store.

Other Considerations

Older cats loose their acute senses too, just like people. Their sense of taste, smell, sight, and hearing will all lessen as they age. Pay attention to these things as they might cause an appetite change, litter box accidents, or unexplained cat howling. Soft pats and snuggles when they are agitated can help comfort them as they adjust to this loss.

The hardest part of being a pet owner is knowing when it's time to let go. Somehow, someway, most of us are lucky enough to have that sixth sense tell us it's time. Making this decision is heart wrenching. Say goodbye to your dear friend, grieve for your companion animal, and be patient with yourself as you move step by step through the grieving process.