Health

Just like most female mammals, cats experience breeding cycles – however this is quite different from the menstrual cycle in humans. In this guide, find out all you need to know about the cat heat cycle, including how often they go into heat and whether or not you should let your feline go through an initial cycle prior to spaying.

Tears are produced constantly by cats to offer essential protection to their eyes. The fluid is responsible for removing debris, keeping eyeballs moist and providing essential nutrients. As tears are in permanent production, some crusting around the eyes is normal, but if your cat’s eyes are watering excessively or the discharge seems to be very thick and mucous-y, it can be a sign of something wrong.

All cats deserve a loving family and a forever home. But there is a special group of felines that need a little bit of extra attention and care. In return, they’ll give their owners plenty of love for welcoming them into their life. These are the special needs cats, a lovely group of furballs that are often overlooked during the adoption process. Some of them have been harmed or treated poorly, others have an illness or condition that requires life-long care and possibly ongoing medication. All of them need our affection more than we’ll ever know, but don’t require as much effort as you might think. Adopting a cat or kitten is extremely rewarding. With patience and guidance from the vet, there is no reason why they can’t have fun-filled lives, despite their special health condition. After all, they still have eight lives left to live! So, if you want to know more about special needs cat adoption and what life might be like with one of these amazing fellows by your side, here are some of the common physical limitations in cats who may be struggling to find a new home.

Cats seem to be some of the most resilient animals out there, from fearlessly climbing trees to always landing on their feet, so it’s no wonder we like to say they’ve got nine lives! However despite this, as with all living beings, they can get a variety of ailments, and one of them is cat dandruff, the small, white flakes that fall off of dry skin. While dandruff is definitely unsightly, it can also cause real discomfort to your feline friend, especially if left untreated for extended periods of time. Luckily, dandruff can be spotted early on, and with the right treatment, it can go away faster than you might think. To make sure you’re prepared, check out some of the potential causes and symptoms of cat dandruff, as well as a few tips on how to get rid of those annoying white flakes:

Keen to keep both your plant collection and your cat happy and thriving? It’s entirely possible. We are well aware of how much our feline friends like to visit the plant pots for a snack, and how difficult it can be to stop them munching on everything they’re not supposed to, including poisonous plants. Toxic plants can be very dangerous if ingested by your cat and so, if your cat does manage to eat a plant you’re unsure about, be sure to get in touch with your vet straight away! But on a more positive note, there are lots of cat-safe plants out there that do not cause toxicity if your cat does manage to nibble on them. Here is a list of non-toxic plants for cats that are attractive to look at, but less risky for your feline friend. Note: Although the plants listed are non-toxic – meaning they are unlikely to be dangerous if ingested by a cat – if your cat does manage to eat these plants it can still cause a stomach upset, which can result in diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as a very sore tummy! Because of this, we always advise to keep these plants out of reach of your cat to try and prevent them from having a sneaky nibble!

Many cat owners are concerned about keeping their feline at a good weight. Most commonly concerns are centred around obesity, but your cat losing weight unintentionally could also be a sign that something’s wrong. Your feline may be eating well and still losing weight, they may have a reduced appetite, or they may just be avoiding food entirely. Weight loss can be a sign of a number of different health problems so, if your cat is losing weight, it’s best to contact your vet as soon as possible. In this guide we look at the most common reasons why your cat may be losing weight as well as the other symptoms you should be on the lookout for.

You’ve trained your cat to use the litter box and you may have cleaned up after the occasional one-off accident, but that’s not the end of a cat owner’s dealings with their pet’s toilet habits. In this article we’re looking at all things cat poo, so you can have a better understanding of what should your cat’s poo look like and what to do if what you find in the litter box doesn’t match that description. Although this is not the most glamorous part of your life together, keeping an eye on your cat’s poo is another important task you should add to the list of cat-related responsibilities. Your pet’s bowel movements offer valuable clues that could help you identify unusual symptoms and possible health issues. It’s an early warning system for all sorts of cat conditions such as liver problems, food allergies and anxiety, but unfortunately, it’s quite easy to ignore or misunderstand.

If you suspect that your cat has an illness, they may need treatment prescribed by a vet. This might include antibiotics for cats if the illness is caused by a bacterial infection! Find out all you need to know about your feline’s antibiotic treatment below.

Some cats are naturally smaller than others, but unlike this natural variation in size, feline dwarfism is often associated with numerous health issues. Dwarfism in cats is the result of a genetic disorder, and there are a few cat breeds in which this genetic disorder is selectively bred, such as the Munchkin.

Like humans, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease can infect cats. However, Lyme disease is much more common in dogs and humans and the illness is rarely seen in our feline friends. Add to this the fact that cats do not always develop symptoms and this can make reaching a diagnosis quite difficult. So how is Lyme disease in cats transmitted? The bacteria that cause Lyme disease is spread by ticks. Cat ticks are very good at passing on infections from one animal to another. Ticks feed by biting an animal and feeding on its blood. They may stay on the skin for a few days and then once they’ve had enough, they drop off. The ticks can transmit microbes that cause diseases, such as Lyme disease or babesiosis but it’s unusual for cats to catch either disease.

Does your cat seem to be losing balance, their sense of direction or having trouble standing up? These might be signs of a syndrome called feline vestibular disease. Keep reading to find out what it is, as well as the main symptoms to look out for, so you can intervene promptly and seek veterinary advice to help your cat feel better.

We never like to think of our cats as being unhappy, or feeling sad, but in many ways they can experience feelings in a similar way as we do, and sometimes they can suffer from a feline equivalent of depression. Lots of things might cause a cat to feel a bit down in the dumps. For example, most cat owners tend to think of their cats as independent creatures, who prefer to be alone. But that is not always true. Some cats need companionship and like to be cuddled and loved, and so sometimes a lack of affection can lead them to feel blue. Knowing what signs to look out for will help you to determine whether your cat is suffering from a low mood state and what you can do about it. Carry on reading to find out all you need to know about depression in cats.