Fri, 12 Apr 2024 17:12:53 -0700WeeblyThu, 07 Sep 2017 13:56:06 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/10-most-common-diseases-in-cats10 Most Common Diseases In CatsHaving a happy and healthy kitty is one of the unsung joys of being a cat owner. Cats with low maintenance are some of the ideal pets to own. However, no matter what we do, sometimes a cat will become ill, whether it is from their environment, their innate curiosity or if they happen to come into contact with other cats. Unfortunately, when your cat gets sick, you'll have to make some decisions that will, hopefully, work out best for you and your fur buddy.
You can take several ways of action, from watching and waiting if the symptoms don't seem overly severe, to letting the illness runs its course, or by being concerned enough to make an appointment with the vet. One thing is for sure, if you know about the most common cat diseases that may afflict your cat, you'll have a better understanding of how to act and what to do.
Some of the most common diseases are feline leukemia, chronic kidney disease, upper respiratory infections, rabies and more. Having knowledge about these diseases will allow you to carry out the right plan of action for your cat.
Finding Advice
As any expert will tell you, knowledge is the key to first understanding an illness, and second, to getting effective treatment. Finding expert advice that details the symptoms, procedures and the treatments, goes a long way to making an informed decision to keep your cat as healthy as possible for their entire lifespan.
The Primary Caregiver
No matter where you get your feline friend from, a shelter, Humane Society or a friend, you have just become the primary caregiver in its life. They don't know it, but your cat is going to count on you for everything it needs to flourish and thrive. Not only does that include quality food, grooming and play time, it also includes regular trips to the vet for shots, spaying and/or neutering and emergencies. 
Your cats quality of life relies completely on you, and one of the best ways to make sure they remain vibrant and vigorous is to learn about the 10 Most Common Cat Diseases. Doing just that will give you a heads-up if an illness strikes your cat, for life.
]]>Sun, 05 Oct 2014 13:25:49 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/7-hypoallergenic-breeds-for-people-sensitive-to-most-dogs-written-by-mary-risman-from-what-about-me-kitty-and-pet-sittersIf considering getting a dog but a little apprehensive
  because of allergies and sensitivities. There are quite a few dog breeds that
  one might consider. Just remember to get the right one suited for your family
  it just should not be for allergy reasons even though that would be the main
  reason. You should check for temperament. Does it get along with people,
children or other dogs and animals? 
Does it need a lot of exercise? How large will this breed get? Once you
do a little bit of research this could actually save you from not getting what
you need for the family.

Here are some 7 hypoallergenic dog breeds

1)     
Bichon
Frise

This breed is a small hypoallergenic dog
that would be a great family dog. They are a breed that is naturally gentle,
  intelligent, playful and happy. They should not be in a household with small
  children as if they become snappy if bothered too much. They do require a lot
  of attention from its owner but does get along with other animals and dogs in
  the same household. As they are a very social dog they should not be left alone
  for hours as they can start chewing on their own skin and fur. They do not
require a lot of exercise.

2)     
Havanese

These little dogs were developed in Cuba
  and became popular in the US during the 70’s. They do not shed much, but the
  coat needs to be brushed out regularly as dander does collect. They are a smart
  and affectionate breed and they are easy to train as they are quick
learners.

3)     
Maltese

They are a small breed that ranges in
size from 3 to 7lbs and also has no undercoat so shedding is almost
non-existent. They are very playful so they need to be stimulated by playing
indoor games as they are an urban dog. They also need to go on regular short
walks to keep them healthy and stimulated.

4)     
Portuguese Water
Dog

As the name implies, these dogs
originated in Portugal and love the water as they have webbed toes so that they
could navigate easier in water. They tend to bond to one family member. They are
very smart and easy to train, since they are a working breed they need to be
busy otherwise they can become destructive. They need regular grooming to keep
coat from matting and the coat needs to get trimmed as it grows all the
time.

 5)     
Miniature
Schnauzer

This breed ranges in size between 11 and
  15lbs and is usually low shedding therefore great for people with allergies.
  Miniature Schnauzers are great watch dogs and will alert you when someone
  enters the home. They usually have an alert look. They need to have a lot of
  playtime and romps in the park. Not good with other animals in the home as they
  have a very high prey drive.

 6)     
Airedale
Terrier

This is a large breed that is very
  intelligent, but is known to be stubborn and difficult to train. They can get
  easily bored with training sessions. They need creativity. They also need a lot
  of exercise and physical stimulation. They are low shedders and grooming is
  typically done by shedding the loose fur as it is removed from the undercoat.
They excel in obedience, agility and protection work.

7)     
Standard, Miniature and Toy
Poodles

The poodle breed comes in three sizes the
  Standard (large), the Miniature poodle and the Toy poodle. The best size to get
  if you have small children is the Standard size because the other two can get
  easily hurt. They are very intelligent and smart, so they do excel in every dog
  sport, great at retrieving, as they are very smart they learn many commands
  fast. Grooming needs to be done every 6 to 8 weeks as this breed is considered
  non-shedding because the fur is not fur it is hair.

If considering getting a hypoallergenic
  dog. You should do more research as you want the best dog for your
lifestyle.

References

www.dogguide.net

www.sheknoes.com

www.justdogbreeds.com


 
 
 
         


]]>Sun, 24 Aug 2014 20:56:11 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/all-about-the-samoyed-the-smiling-dog-of-the-north-by-mary-risman-of-what-about-me-kitty-and-pet-sittersIt makes sense to write about my favorite dog breed the
Samoyed those furry, playful dogs of the North, originated in Northeast Siberia
north of the Arctic Circle. They are one of the oldest living breeds of living dogs. They were bred as a sled,
herding, guard dog and companion dog for the Samoyed tribes. I have been blessed to have own two of them one of them was called Misty who lived till about 13.5 years and it broke my heart when it was her time to depart this earth, but what a great life she had as she a lot of dog friends being in the dog business and
smart as a whip. I now own Holly a beautiful 10 year old and what a personality so playful, kind, smart and intelligent not a mean bone in her body but anyhow.I just love these breeds as their temperament is fantastic; they are loyal,gentle, intelligent, adaptable, and friendly, alert, and full of action, not distrustful or shy as they are also companion dogs, any aggression in these types of dogs is not tolerated and should be dealt with right away as it is not a common trait.


Over the years of owning these beautiful dogs I have now decided to try grooming them myself. It is sometimes a chore as Holly decides when she had enough, does not growl but lets me know and that is fine with me as the job does get done but anyhow I wanted to write about their coats. The coats of the Samoyed in my opinion are gorgeous with an undercoat of soft, short thick wool with longer hair growing through it to form the outer coat. The coat should glisten with a silver sheen. It should be thick and water resistant. The males carry more of a ruff than the female. The colours of the Samoyed coat must be white, white and biscuit, white and cream or all biscuit any other colours disqualify.


I am glad that Holly is medium sized as I could still pick her up when I want to. We do play these little games where I say I am going to catch and pick you up and she runs the other way, she knows it is a game as she will
allow me to pick her up if need be. Here is some info that my breeder puttogether about their size. The Samoyed should be considered a medium sized dog with males being 53 to 60 cm at the withers and females 48 to 55cm at the withers. The weight of the Samoyed should be proportion in size and becausethey are good in agility and speed their bones should be heavier than their size but must be proportionate in size.


When you first see a Samoyed puppy, one will notice that they are cute as a button and they look like baby polar bears because of their fur. My advice for a healthy happy puppy is to socialize them like crazy, get them used
to grooming tools, give them a lot of attention and love and they will love and  award you back in so many ways throughout the years.


References:

My dogs breeder Linrosa Samoyeds who had supplied me with this information

And of course some personal stuff by Mary Risman


 
]]>Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:27:34 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/how-to-care-for-your-cat-if-you-suspect-that-he-or-she-has-arthritis-by-mary-risman-of-what-about-me-kitty-sitters
Many cats middle aged and over have Arthritis but it is harder to
detect as they are not active like dogs are.  Arthritis is not just one disease it is
a combination of problems in the joints, ligaments, cartilage, joint sac,
  tendons, muscle and connecting tissues. So how can you make it easier for your
cat?
1) You can start off by raising the food bowls 2) play with your cat to
  increase mobility 3) a warm bed for your cat to lie in 4) have ramps in place
  so that your cat does not have to jump high 4) massage

If you do suspect that your cat has arthritis there are a lot of
holistic remedies that you could try such as:

1)     
Acupuncture helps to reduce
pain

2)     
A Veterinary chiropractor to
help with body problems

3)     
Homeopathic herbs such as
Devils claw and spirulina will help to support muscles and
joints

4)     
Fish oil supplements will
help to keep joints, eyes, heart and lungs healthy but only one tsp a
day

5)     
Glucosamine helps to maintain
the fluid needed for joints

Keep in mind that house cats can live to be 12 to 15 years and
some longer and within that time they could start having issues. I have given
you some info to research but the best thing to do is consult with a
  veterinarian. I prefer holistic but that is entirely up to you.


References:


www.facekitty.com


www.motherearthlving.com


www.cat-health-guide.org

]]>Wed, 25 Jun 2014 17:53:08 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/so-you-decided-on-a-cat-by-mary-risman-of-what-about-me-kitty-sittersSo you have decided on a cat as they are usually easier to take
care of then a dog as you do not have to take it for a walk, plus you have a
choice if you want them outside or inside. I myself prefer them to be inside as
outside can be quite dangerous for them such as getting eaten by another animal,
getting run over by a car, getting sick because someone poisoned it
etc

There are also other factors to consider when purchasing a cat
such as:
1)     
Allergies
2)     
Hair
lengths
3)     
Kid friendly
cats

We are going to start off with allergies as there are many breeds
that you can consider if you have an allergy, but there is no such thing as a
hypoallergenic breed just to let you know that people are not allergic to cats.
They are allergic to the saliva, urine and the glands of cats, however there are
many cat breeds that you could consider because they would be less irritating to
you such as a
1)     
Main coon
cat
2)     
Cornish
Rex
3)     
Oriental
Shorthair
4)     
Russian
Blue
5)     
Siberian

Second on the list that I mentioned
would be hair lengths. A lot of us might not think about it. I myself decided to
go with a short haired cat because the grooming would be less then if you had a
medium to a long haired breed and of course there are cats that are more or less
shed free such as
1)     
The Cornish
Rex
2)     
The Devon
Rex
3)     
The
Sphinx
4)     
La
perm
5)     
The Selkirk
Rex
The last on my list are kid friendly cats. I wanted to put this
on as there are some cats that are friendly and some that are not. Here are some
breeds that are
1)     
The American
Bobtail
2)     
The
birman
3)     
The
Ragdoll

There is also the issue what do you want the purebred or the
domestic. There are pros and cons of both. Let’s start off with the purebred
the pros are

1)     
You can choose what type of
cat you want, the personality and the look
2)     
They can be less shedding
than the domestic

The cons are:
1)     
Can be too
inbred
2)     
Expensive
3)     
More health
issues

The pros of the domestic are:
1)     
Less health
issues
2)     
Less
expensive
The cons are:
1)     
Can be flighty and
aggressive

Whatever you choose is your decision, I just wanted to hopefully
help make it easier for you to chose and remember they all want attention and
love.

References:
www.webmd.com/whichbreed is right for you
www.cat-breeds-encyclopedia.com


 
]]>Wed, 04 Jun 2014 21:49:48 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/how-to-brush-your-cat-and-info-on-why-it-is-so-good-for-your-cat-b-mary-risman-for-what-about-me-kitty-sittersEven-though a cat usually grooms itself and they are meticulous about it. It is a good idea for you as an owner to step in to give your cat that extra boost.  To start grooming your cat you should always attempt to brush when your cat is calm.  If it is the first time then the length of time should be short so as not to aggravate your pet and it is also a good idea to get your cat use to being handled on all parts of their body.

As there are so many different types of coats, the best type of brush or comb for a short haired cat is a bristle brush but for a medium or long haired cat a long toothed comb or brush should be used. All cats benefit from regular brushing here is why.
1)      Brushing helps to remove dirt, debris
2)      Helps to insulate the body
3)      Regulates temperature in hot weather
4)      Keeps coat waterproof
5)      Improves muscle tone

Here are some tips on how to brush your cat’s fur
1)      Use a metal comb to brush from head to tail
2)      Use a rubber or bristle brush to remove loose fur

If intending to purchase a cat. Please take into consideration a short haired cat or a medium to long haired one as a lot of grooming can incur with a longer breed.

References

www.aspca.org

www.vcahospitals.com

www.icatcare.org 


]]>Thu, 22 May 2014 17:22:02 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/benefits-of-cat-grass-for-cats-and-how-to-grow-it What is cat grass? Cat grass is grass which consists of a number
of different types of grass. The two main ones are
1)     
Dactylitis
Glomerata
2)     
Avena
Sativa
Many places are now carrying cat grass or you can grow it
  yourself.
Why do cats eat grass? There are a number of reasons. First of
all I want to mention that eating grass is not a bad thing. The reasons
are:
1)     
It acts as 
natural laxative when your
cat needs a little help with the fur that travelled deep into their digestive
tract to break down and pass
2)     
Eating grass also helps to
bring up hair balls
3)     
Cat grass also help to
provide certain nutrients and vitamins and your cat sometimes likes to
nibble.
4)     
Cat grass contains folic acid
that assists in the production of hemoglobin which is a protein that moves
oxygen in the blood

 How to grow cat
grass
1)     
Obtain cat grass seeds from
your local garden centre
2)     
Add potting mix to
pot
3)     
Place the seeds evenly over
top of soil and push the seeds lightly down
4)     
Add enough water to
moisten
5)     
Place in a sunny
spot
6)     
Water when soil gets
dry
7)     
Should sprout within 5 to 7
days and when the grass reaches 1” to 2” it is ready for your kitty to nibble
on


  

]]>Sun, 18 May 2014 12:31:06 GMThttp://whataboutmekittysitters.ca/blog/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil-for-cats


 There has been a lot of talk on the subject of Coconut oil for health, but many persons still have a negative connotation about it because of their fat chains, but many people do not realize that it is a medium fatty chain called Lauric acid which is a compound that contains antiviral and antifungal properties and what it does is destroy organisms such as fungus, bacteria and viruses. Coconut oil also contains Monolaurin which is a
monoglyceride compound that helps to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot and ringworm and that is why it is so healthy not just for humans but also for cats and of course dogs, but here we are going to talk about why coconut oil is great for cats.

The type of coconut oil that one should
purchase for their cat should be Organic virgin coconut
oil.
Here are some benefits of Coconut oil for
your Cat
1)      Will aid in your cats digestion
2)      Will improve the look of their coat
3)      Will help to prevent infections
4)      Will help to disinfect cuts
5)      Wounds will seem to heal Faster
6)      Will help to deodorize skin

How to use coconut oil for cats
1)      Use 1 teaspoon per day in your cats food
2)      To ward off fleas brush your cats fur with coconut oil
3)      For dry skin or skin issues use coconut oil on skin when needed

Remember not to give too much a teaspoon a day is sufficient

References:
www.wellnessmama.com
www.hubpages.com 
 


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