Happy Pets

Despite such Far Eastern reservations, about the cat’s exact intentions towards humanity, it is considered wise to hedge one’s bets and to treat cats with respect, as in Persia (Iran), where black cats are said to be jinns (spirits that assume feline form) or hemzads (individuals’ guardian ‘angels’). The world over, the cat’s mysterious, far-seeing eyes are considered to reveal its clairvoyant powers, as well as its agility and cunning ingenuity, just some of the characteristics for which it is respected as a totemic animal by many African and Native American peoples. (more…)

When your kitten feels secure in its immediate surroundings, you can take it to explore the rest of the house. When? It may be only a matter of hours, though sometimes it can take a couple of days before an established cat and a new one are prepared to risk sharing territory. Before you let it pass through any door, make sure all the doors and windows in the room or hall beyond are closed in case something scares the new arrival and it bolts through the nearest available opening. (more…)

Nephritis

Kidney damage, reducing the cat’s ability to eliminate wastes, may have several causes, including bacterial infection, but a chronic nephritis of unknown cause is most common, especially in elderly cats. It usually develops over a long period so that symptoms may not be

noticed until the ailment is well advanced, with the kidneys becoming scarred and smaller. Cats may lose appetite and drink noticeably more water; they will therefore urinate more frequently and may show signs of pain, arching the back when doing so. Sometimes there will be vomiting or diarrhoea, yellowing of the gums and ulcers in the mouth, and the breath may become increasingly unpleasant; the cat itself may begin to develop a urine-like smell. Blood and urine samples will confirm a diagnosis. Treatment may include a special diet and measures to reduce strain in the cat’s life to improve its general condition and slow down the development of the disease, but a complete cure is impossible. (more…)

Cats can suffer from many of the ailments that affect humans — cancer, leukaemia, pneumonia, arthritis, diabetes and tuberculosis among them — but fortunately there are few diseases of cats that can be transmitted to man. However, there are some parasites that can affect both. Cat fleas are different from ours and are host-specific, though they can be a considerable irritant before they realize that they have leaped on to the wrong species and find another cat to jump on.

Scratches from cats can sometimes lead to cat-scratch fever (possibly caused by a virus) which makes the patient weak and can cause the lymph glands to swell. Needless to say, any sign of this should warrant immediate consultation with your doctor and then with the vet. (more…)