Feline Housesoiling

By: Christian Yost

March 28, 2009
It can be frustrating to live with a wonderful cat that cannot seem to find the way to the litter box. There are many possible reasons for this. If you take a calm, rational approach to uncovering the cause and treating the problem, you will have great chances for success, which begins with the right kitten training.
Inappropriate Soiling

Inappropriate soiling involves the act of squatting to defecate or urinate outside the litter box. This often occurs when something about using the box becomes disagreeable. Pinning down the exact cause is very important and may take some careful thought. Consider any changes that occurred at the time the problem appeared which might have caused the problem.

Reasons Why a Cat May Potty Outside of the Litter Box

• Medical problems (bladder infection, intestinal upsets, constipation)
• The litter box is not cleaned often enough
• The type of litter (texture or odor) is disagreeable
• The litter box is located in an area with too much traffic
• The cat was teased or frightened in or near the box
• The litter box is too near the food bowl
• Anxiety (long absences by the owner, punishment, new pets, new baby)

Could This be a Medical Problem?

A variety of medical problems can lead to housesoiling. None of your attempts to guide your cat back to the litter box will work if she has a medical problem that�s undiagnosed and uncorrected. Signs might include:

• An increase in frequency of urination
• Large volumes of urine
• Straining or discomfort when soiling
• Blood in the urine
• Diarrhea or constipation

If your cat is experiencing these signs, it is important to visit your veterinarian. The doctor may recommend tests for her urine, feces or blood.

Taking Care of Business

Pinpoint and address the cause of the problem. Treatment of housesoiling problems involves three major considerations:

• Remove the cause
• Re-establish the habit of litter box use
• Prevent the cat from returning to previously soiled areas

If the Problem Is Litter Box Related�

• Take immediate control of the problem!
• Clean the litter box more often.
• To help a timid cat, move it from a busy area to a quiet one.
• In multi-cat households, it may also help to provide one litter box per cat.
• Confine the cat to a small area, such as a bathroom, along with the litter box. Most cats prefer using the box rather than the floor. It is then a matter of confining her long enough for a consistent habit to become established.
• Only allow your cat out of the confined area when you can supervise at all times.
• Gradually allow more freedom once the litter box has been used in a confined area for one to four consecutive weeks. During this confinement period, remember to play frequently and interact socially with your cat. Let her out often, but only under close supervision.
• Offer different types of litter to find one your cat prefers. It is better to use another box entirely rather than go through a series of litter changes in one box.
• Occasionally, some cats prefer actual sand in the box mixed with a few handfuls of soil. If this is the case, gradually replace the sand mix with cat litter after several weeks.
• Removing the odor from the affected area is important. Use a good commercial product that is specifically made for use on feline stool and urine odors. Most products need to make contact with the urine or stool. Use as directed.
• To be effective on carpeting or other porous surfaces, you may need to clean more rather than less. If nothing else is available, a 50:50 mixture of white vinegar and warm water will do a good job.
• Safeguard previously soiled areas by placing motion-detector alarms, food bowls, bedding or toys on them. Plastic, foil or double-stick carpet tape can also be used.
• If your cat has developed a preference for the bathtub or sink, an inch of water in these locations will curb soiling there.
• Move furniture or close doors to deny the pet access to previously soiled areas. You may consider placing a litter box where the cat has been soiling.
• Please visit us at  www.siamese-cattailscattery.com

How to Tell if Your Cat is Ill

By: Christian Yost

March 26, 2009

Your cat cannot explain his symptoms, so it’s the responsibility of you and your veterinarian to keep him healthy. Cats are very good at hiding their illness so it is up to you to observe your cat for abnormalities.  indications of a “sick pet” include: lethargy, disorientation, weakness,weight loss, seizure, lack of appetite,vomiting, diarrhea, unproductive retching, straining to urinate, bloody urine, difficulty or inability to walk, bleeding, pale mucous membranes, difficulty breathing and persistent cough. You know your pet best and can often notice subtle early warning signs that someone else may not detect. If you observe any of the mentioned symptoms or other signs that concern you, call your veterinary hospital. The safest approach would be to have your pet examined.

Once your pet is at the hospital, your veternarian may ask additional questions to help localize or diagnose the problem. It may help to be prepared to answer some of the following questions:

How long have you owned your cat?

What is the age of your cat?

Has your cat experienced any previous illnesses?

Is your cat currently under treatment for an illness or disease?

Has your cat ever been tested for Feline Leukemia  or Feline AIDS

Where did you get your cat (adoption center, breeder, previous stray, etc.)?

What preventative medications is your cat currently taking?

Does your cat receive any consistent flea treatment?

Has your cat been vaccinated? When? For what?

What other type of pets do you have?

Are any other pets ill?

Have there been any recent acquisitions?

Have there been any recent activities such as boarding, grooming, etc.?

Is the majority of your cat’s time spent indoors or outdoors?

Have there been any recent changes in diet or eating habits?

What brand of food does your cat eat? How much? How often?

Do you offer your pet table scraps?

How frequently and what type of treats are offered?

How much water does your cat typically drink per day?

Have there been any recent changes in water consumption?

What type of litter do you use and how frequently is the litter box cleaned?

Have you noticed any coughing or sneezing?

Have you noticed any lumps or bumps on your cat?

Is your cat urinating normally?

Is your cat having normal bowel movements?

When is the last time he/she had a bowel movement?

Have you noticed any recent weight loss or weight gain?After answering some general questions, more specific questions need to be answered. A brief cursory exam of your pet at home can help you determine the answers. These questions are also commonly asked when pet owners are seeking help over the phone. Be prepared to answer the following questions, depending on the problem with your pet:

Regarding the eyes

Have you noticed an increase or decrease in tear production?

Do the eyes appear cloudy or red?

Have you noticed any discharge?

Do the eyes appear bloodshot?

Are the pupils the same size in both eyes?

Have you noticed your pet rubbing or pawing at eyes?

Is your cat squinting his/her eyes?

Do the eyes appear to be sunken or excessively protruding?Regarding the ears

Do you notice any swelling or discharge from the ears?

Are the ears drooping when they normally stand erect?

Are the ears red and inflamed?

Do you notice any odor?

Is your cat rubbing or pawing at the ears?

Have you noticed a lot of head shaking?

Have you noticed any pain or crying when you rub or scratch your cat’s ears?Regarding the nose

Have you noticed any congestion,sneezing or coughing?

Have you noticed any blood coming from the nose?

Have you noticed any nasal discharge?Regarding the mouth

Have you noticed any swelling of the lips or tongue?

Have you noticed any bleeding from the mouth?

What color are the gums – tissue just above the teeth?

Is your cat able to open and close the mouth normally?

Is there any pain involved in opening or closing the mouth?

Have you noticed any excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth?

Is your cat able swallow food normally?

Are there any foreign objects such as bones or sticks stuck on the roof of the mouth or around the teeth?Regarding the chest

Is your pet experiencing any difficulty breathing?

Have you noticed panting?

Is there any pain when the chest area is petted?

Have you noticed any recent coughing?

What is the heart rate?

Is the heartbeat steady and consistent?

Place your hand or your ear on the left side of your cat’s chest, just behind the elbow. You should be able to feel or hear the heartbeat. Count how many beats the heart pumps in one minute.Regarding the abdomen/stomach area

Has your cat been having any diarrhea  or vomiting?

Is your cat able to eat and drink normally?

Does the abdomen/stomach area appear swollen or distended?

Does your cat have pain when the stomach area is petted?

Is your cat known to chew on non-food items such as clothing, towels, strings, etc.?Regarding the urinary and reproductive systems

Have you noticed any difference in urinating?

Does your cat seem to strain to urinate or cry in pain?

Does your cat repeatedly try to urinate with no urine produced?

Is there any blood in the urine?

How frequently does your cat urinate?

Is your female cat spayed? At what age? Did she ever have kittens?

If your cat was not spayed, when was her last heat cycle and was she bred?

Is your male cat neutered? At what age?

Do you notice any discharge from the vaginal area?

Do you notice any discharge from the penis?

If your cat is not neutered, do you notice any swelling of the testicles?

Have you noticed your cat excessively licking or grooming the genital area?Regarding the musculoskeletal system – bones and joints

Have you noticed any limping?

Are any legs or joints swollen?

Has your cat been excessively licking at one area of his/her legs?

Does your pet show signs of pain when walking?

Is your cat able to walk normally?

Does your cat walk on his/her knuckles?

Does your cat drag any legs when walking?

Have you noticed signs of pain when petting your pet?

By supplying the answers to these questions, your veterinarian will be in a much better position to help your pet. Additional tests  may be necessary to find out what the problem is but the answers to the above questions can greatly narrow the area of concern.

Please visit us at www.siamese-cattailscattery.com

Should You Let Your Cat Go Outside?

Should You Let Your Cat Go Outside?

By: Christian Yost

March 24, 2009

You’ve just adopted a cat who will be your companion for many years. One of the big decisions you must make about your cat’s care is whether to allow him access to the outside. You’ll find cat lovers on both sides of the indoor vs. outdoor fence.

This decision will have a serious effect on the quality of your cat’s life – and may well determine how long your cat lives. Those who live outdoors have a far shorter life expectancy and are at far greater risk of contracting serious illnesses.

The Outdoor Life

Long viewed as independent creatures, cats are still considered by many to need the freedom of the outdoors to stay happy. Outdoor living, or even visiting, offers natural stimuli that cats may find exciting and fun – trees to climb, mice and bugs to chase and sunlight for leisurely naps.

Cats allowed outside may choose to relieve themselves in the nearest garden thus eliminating the need for you to clean the litter box as often or buy as much litter. The outdoors is an appropriate environment for a cat to exhibit behaviors such as scratching and spraying to mark territory. If your cat exhibits the same behaviors indoors, they become problems that must be solved to maintain a happy and livable household.
If you adopted a stray or feral cat (one that has never lived with humans), he may be more insistent about continuing to go outside than a cat that has always lived indoors. A stray or feral cat  may be more likely to make your life miserable or cause you to reach new heights of creativity to keep him content indoors.

The Dangers of Outdoor Life

On the other hand, the health of outdoor cats is threatened by contagious diseases such as feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline infectious peritonitis and rabies.

Feline immunodeficiency virus, or feline AIDS, for example, is a fatal disease that is carried by up to 14 percent of the cat population. It is transmitted from cat to cat by blood and saliva. This happens primarily through biting so outdoor and male cats that fight with other cats are at greatest risk.

Parasites such as fleas, ticks and worms most commonly attack outdoor cats. If you allow your cat to go in and out at will, he will carry these parasites back into your home. Outdoor cats are more likely to contract diseases such as toxoplasmosis, ringworm and roundworms, all of which are zoonotic meaning they can be transmitted to people.

Outdoor cats may be attacked by wildlife or free-roaming domestic animals. As unpleasant as it is to think about, they may succumb to traffic accidents, pet-theft, poison, mutilations, traps and animal abuse. Cats living outside must deal with harsh weather and the physical problems that go with it such as frostbite or hyperthermia.

Neighbors may not appreciate your cat digging in their gardens or making deposits on their property. As a result, your outdoor cat may be the victim of neighbors who take matters into their own hands.

Cats are notorious hunters, and even if fed, may seek out wild prey to satisfy their instinctive urges. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that cats, along with other factors such as loss of habitat by land development, threaten many songbird species. The ABC has developed an initiative to encourage cat owners to keep their cats indoors. Other major animal organizations promote indoor living for cats as well.

Sexually intact cats allowed to roam freely contribute to pet overpopulation by reproducing indiscriminately.

The Indoor Life

Perhaps the biggest argument for keeping a cat indoors is his life expectancy, which is dramatically greater than that of a cat living outside or even one allowed out via a pet door or other access method. Cats who live solely outdoors live about three to five years on the average while the average life expectancy of indoor cats is 14 years or longer.

If you’ve adopted a cat from a shelter or purchased a pedigreed cat from a responsible breeder, you may have signed a contract requiring that the cat be kept indoors. Both may follow up with you after a few months to check on how the cat is doing and ask if you are keeping your new companion indoors.

Putting an indoor cat out is not the solution to a behavior problem, and letting your cat outdoors is no insurance that he will not develop a behavior problem when he comes inside.

Keeping a cat indoors is not completely without risks and is no insurance that the cat will not contract a contagious disease. By weighing all the factors, you will need to arrive at your own decision about the environment – outdoors or indoors – in which you want your cat companion to live.

Please visit us at www.siamese-cattailscattery.com