Veterinary Hospital Rockwall Guide to Elderly Cat Requirements

Your cats needs can change dramatically as he grows older. Demonstrate to your cat how much you value his many years of company by taking care of his needs as he gets on.

By paying attention to your elderly cats extra needs, you will help to ensure many more years of enjoyable companionship.

Grooming Requirements

Grooming is called for more frequently with old cats. If you do not groom your cat sufficiently, it could acquire uncomfortable hair balls, a problem that goes worse with old age. Check carefully for any lumps, bumps or sores as you groom your pet, they may be the start of a problem that needs a trip to the veterinarian.

Oral Hygiene

The gums and teeth of an older cat are very much more defenseless to decay and disease than kittens. Have a chat to your veterinarian about professional cleaning and periodic dental check-ups, also try to brush your cats teeth as much as you can.

Keeping Active

Elderly cats still need physical exercise, but the type of exercise is going to be quite different than the exercise they needed as a kitten. Give the cat slower toys to play with. Provide videos of cats for mental exercise. Do not permit your cat to become too inactive, as this can lead to sickness and reduced muscle mass.

The Need for Solitude

Some alone time is necessary and very much valued by older cats. If you can, provide a nice calm spot where your cat can go for a rest when he requires it. This might be as simple as underneath your bed or in your wardrobe, but make certain any other pets and humans in the house leave the cat alone when he is in his spot.

Regular Vet Trips

Do not miss routine vet care for your elderly cat. You will discover that small troubles can speedily grow into significant problems with an aging pet, so adopt your vet’s advice about your pet’s health.

Stop Hairballs By Grooming Your Cat Regularly Says Veterinary Hospital Rockwall

Cat owners know that where there are cats you will also find hairballs. The grooming habits of a cat entail swallowing lots of hair. Most of the swallowed fur travels harmlessly through the cat’s digestive system, however, difficulties arise when the hair doesn’t make its way out of the system. Over time the undigested fur begins to accumulate and collect, and soon a hairball forms in the cat’s stomach. The bigger the hairball becomes, the greater a risk it can pose to the cat’s well being.

The majority of cats can rid themselves of a hairball by coughing it up. The noise they make when trying to cough up a hairball is similar to someone experiencing dry heaves, but the noise is slightly higher in pitch.

As upset as cat owners may be about having balls of half digested hair littering their house, they will be even less happy about large hairballs which stay in their cat’s stomach. If the massive hairball passes into the cat’s bowels it may create a blockage that often means a quick trip to the vet for emergency surgery, and this can set you back several hundred dollars.

Indicators that your kitty is struggling with a hairball are: ignoring their normal grooming routine and permitting their coat to get dirty and matted, continuous coughing and hacking, loss of appetite, constipation, and lethargy. Long haired cats, on account of the length of their coat, are more at risk of hairballs than their short haired counterparts.

Grooming is a terrific way for cat owners to prevent the formation of hairballs. Brushing your cat once each day will take away dead hairs from your cat’s coat. Which means they won’t be around to stick to the cat’s tongue and later be swallowed to create a hairball. Although any brush can be utilized to groom your cat, a cat brush sold at a pet store has bristles that are specially made for cat fur.

Should you have a long haired cat, or maybe a short haired cat that seems susceptible to hairballs, you may wish to look into giving your cat a haircut to eliminate excess hair. Fur that is no longer on your cat’s body isn’t able to wreak havoc in its digestive tract.

Veterinary Hospital Rockwall Shares The Causes of Cat Diarrhea and How To Treat It

Do you know what is causing kitten diarrhea? Like humans, kittens can experience having runny unformed stool in place of regular healthy excrement. There are many different reasons why your kitten may have diarrhea, some are quite serious. Many times your kitten has just eaten something disagreeable to their stomach, and there is no great cause for alarm.

Kittens can get parasites like tapeworm, roundworm and hookworms. Left untreated your kitten may experience diarrhea. How do you know if parasites are behind your kittens diarrhea? Simple – take her to the vet clinic. Your vet will be able to test for parasites.

Did you change your kittens standard food recently? A kitten whose food has suddenly changed from one brand to another can get diarrhea. Changes in cat food should always be done slowly and gradually over a few days.

Poisons in the form of chemical cleaners and houseplants can be the source of your kittens diarrhea. If you suspect this – take your kitty straight to the vet. Be sure to let them have a list of all houseplants and cleaners you have in the home.

For mild cases of diarrhea in kittens it is appropriate to treat at home. If you suspect that your kitten may have diarrhea for a serious reason contact your veterinarian for advice. Your kitten is in danger of dehydrating when she has the runs. Make sure she has enough fresh water to drink to keep her safe from dehydration.