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Is your feline leaving puddles of urine in your bathtub or on your tile floors? Making lots (and lots) of trips to the litter box? Or crying out in pain when they pee?
Sounds like
tinkling trouble.
Your furry friend might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is just scientific jargon for a collection of painful conditions that can wreak havoc on your kitty’s bladder and/or urethra.
Some of the most common FLUTD diseases include urinary tract infections, urinary stones caused by a buildup of minerals, obstructions within the urethra or an inflamed bladder.
Not drinking enough water
Not urinating often enough
A urine pH level that’s too high
Too many minerals and not enough water in the urine
Being a male cat — because their urethras are longer and narrower
Stress or anxiety
Keep your
eyes peeled for
peeing problems ...
The Opens a new window American Veterinary Medical Association says to watch for these major signs:
Straining to go
Frequently urinating a little at a time
Prolonged attempts to go
Crying out while urinating
Excessively licking their genital area
Peeing outside the litter box
Passing blood in their urine
Get your cat back
on the right tract.
First things first, if your feline seems to be in a lot of pain or isn’t able to pee at all, get to the vet — stat!
Your cat might have a urethral obstruction, a life-threatening condition that your veterinarian must treat quickly!
Seriously, don’t dillydally.
Feed smaller, more frequent meals.
Always provide your cat with clean, fresh water.
Encourage your feline to drink as much as possible to help keep mineral buildup at bay and flush your feline’s urinary system.
Be sure you have the right number of litter boxes — usually one more box than the number of cats you have.
Place litter boxes in quiet parts of the house.
Always keep litter boxes clean — they should be scooped once or twice a day.
Maintain a steady routine and make your home as stress-free as possible. Consider how your own stress level, any visiting house guests and any other pets might be affecting your cat.
Take this old adage to heart:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
In addition to the tips above, feed your cat delicious Opens a new window IAMS™ PROACTIVE HEALTH™ Urinary Tract Health, made with real chicken.
It helps promote your cat’s urinary system health by reducing urinary pH and helping to control mineral levels.
How’s that for
a win-win?!
We use a sodium salt to acidify urine and help prevent struvite crystals from forming.
Our formula helps control levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus in your cat’s urine, which is a good thing!
Next stop? Litter box bliss.
(Ahhhh.)
Rabies is a dangerous virus that affects the warm-blooded animal kingdom. It spreads through the bite or starch of an infected animal, making the infection easily transmissible amongst animals and humans alike. Since there is no effective rabies treatment yet, the only solution to combat this fatal virus is through vaccination. Veterinarians recommend anti-rabies vaccine for pets to protect them and their humans from this deadly virus.
Anti-rabies vaccine is one of the core vaccines for cats, in addition to the 4-in-1 cat vaccine. It helps prevent the cases of rabies in cats and kittens, contributing to the overall health of your feline friend. However, before getting your cat vaccinated with rabies injections, it is essential to know a few details about this disease and how to prevent it. So, let’s dive right into it.
The rabies virus depends on the host body for survival. As the virus cannot survive outside of the host body, it spreads through open wounds and mucous membranes in the eye, mouth, and nose. The virus transmits through the saliva of the infected animal. If a rabies carrier bites or starches your pet, then it too becomes infected with the virus. Typically, the incubation for rabies in cats ranges from a few days to a few years.
Since rabies is a deadly infection, it is imperative that you, as a cat parent, watch out for its symptoms. So, let’s take a look at a few signs of rabies in cats:
Fever
Lethargy
Low appetite
Difficulty breathing
Hypersalivation
Difficulty swallowing
Abnormal behaviour
Curing rabies is not an option post-incubation as there is no proper medication available in the market yet. Hence, keeping this fatal infection at bay is of paramount importance. And how can you do that? By ensuring that your cat is vaccinated with an anti-rabies injection.
Anti-rabies vaccine for cats is a must. Veterinarians monitor rabies shots for both indoor and outdoor cats. While there is a misconception that rabies vastly affects dogs, it can find its way to cats and other warm-blooded animals as well. Cat’s rabies vaccination prepares your indoor kitty to fight the deadly virus. Hence, do not skip on annual booster shots for both indoor and outdoor cats.
While you may think, your indoor cat is safe from the fatal disease, it is best to ensure complete healthcare for its overall well-being. Cats often socialise with outside cats by licking, sniffing, or starching each other. Indoor cats can get the rabies virus if they socialise in this manner with an infected outdoor or stray cat. Anti-rabies vaccination is the best way to avoid any remote possibility of your kitty getting infected. It builds antigens in the cat’s body, so your fur baby can tackle the rabies virus.
Various brands offer anti-rabies vaccines for cats in the market. Hence, it is best to seek a veterinarian’s advice regarding vaccination. They will take multiple factors, such as your kitty’s age, breed, and lifestyle, into consideration before recommending a brand. Similarly, when it comes to the frequency of taking the anti-rabies vaccination, it all depends on the type of vaccine recommended for your pet. If your vet recommends an adjuvant vaccine, your cat might have to be inoculated once every year. On the other hand, if they suggest a non-adjuvant vaccine, you must note that these vaccines are generally administered once in three years.
Anti-rabies vaccine is one of the core vaccinations for cats. It prepares your cat to fight the virus by boosting immunity. The first dose of the anti-rabies vaccine is administered once the kitty turns 12 weeks old. After the initial dose, depending on the type of vaccine, you will need to get your feline friend vaccinated either annually or once in three years.
As a cat parent, you must know the potential side effects of this vaccine. So, let’s take a look at them:
Low-grade fever
Lethargy
Low appetite
Swelling and redness at the injected site
Cat parents should monitor not only the anti-rabies vaccine but also other core vaccines like 4 in 1 cat vaccine, FeVac 5, and 3-in-1 cat vaccine. Regular vaccination and annual health check-ups ensure your kitty leads a healthy life. So, ascertain that you provide your fur baby with all the care it requires.
