CAUSE SIGNS & TREATMENT OF A CAT ABCESS

THE SIGNS
Bacteria which are trapped under the skin following a bite wound can multiply for several days before any signs of infection are seen. Swelling and pain at the puncture site are the most common signs of infection; When cats are afflicted with an abscess they generally run a fever, quit eating, sleep more than usual (like 22 hours a day instead of the usual 21!) and may exhibit pain. The sooner a treatment for a cat abscess is administered, the sooner the health of the cat can be restored. . Many times a pocket of pus, called an abscess, will form. . The most frequent sites for bite wounds are the face, legs, back, tail and over the rump.
THE CAUSE
When a cat bites, the teeth go through the skin, and then it releases quickly. This results in small puncture wounds in the skin, with small holes. These holes seal and virtually disappear within hours, trapping bacteria from the cat's mouth under the skin of the victim. The type of bacteria which live in the cat’s mouth thrive in an environment where the oxygen concentration is low. Once the wound seals shut, bacteria can begin to multiply at a rapid rate. The organisms most commonly involved with cat bites are Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus.
TREATMENT
Once the cat abscess opens and the pus has a way to escape, the healing process can take over. The purpose of intervening in a case of a cat abscess to to assist the cat in this process by facilitating the escape and cleaning up of all those dead and dying defenders, plus, often when the pus drains the offending instigator of this whole process gets swept right out of the cat with everything else! Some gentle flushing of the wound cavity cleans things up quickly, a touch of antibiotic prevents the damaged tissues from being reinvaded, and the painful pressure from the abscess is relieved. READ MORE HERE;http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/abcat.html
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CHOOSING A CAT- CAT OR KITTEN? MALE OR FEMALE?

CHOOSING A CAT
Do you want a male or female cat? Generally females are cautious, gentle, and quiet but unless you have your cat spayed, you will have to contend with heat cycles. Males are larger and more outgoing, though unneutered males tend to spray urine to mark their territory, roam, and are prone to fights with other cats.
Do you want a long- or short-haired cat? Long-haired cats are glamorous, but it will be someone's job to keep it that way. Long-haired cats shed a great deal and tend to get hairballs more frequently.
Do you want a purebred or mixed-breed cat? If you want a purebred cat, make sure you buy it only from a reputable breeding establishment and know what you're looking for before you actually buy.
Do you want a kitten or a cat? Kittens are cute but they require more time and patience. Older cats require more socialization but generally are easier to care for. READ MORE HERE;http://home.howstuffworks.com/cat-care-tips.htm

WHY DO CATS & KITTENS PURR?

WHY DO CATS PURR?
And so it is with cats purring. We cannot purr, so we are interested in how cats can do it. It turns out that domestic cats, some wild cats like pumas and mountain lions (in general, any big cat that cannot roar) and even raccoons are all able to purr. Humans happen to smile and laugh when they are happy, and dogs wag their tails. So it is not unusual for an animal to have a physical reaction to happiness. Cats show happiness by purring. They may also purr when startled or upset.
It turns out that cats have special wiring! The wiring travels from the brain to the muscles in the voice box, and this wiring is able to vibrate the muscles so that they act as a valve for air flowing past the voice box. The muscles work both during inhalation and exhalation, which creates the impression that cats can purr continuously. The air passes through the valve, which opens and closes rapidly to create the purring sound. READ MORE HERE;http://science.howstuffworks.com/question394.htm

CAT VACCINATIONS WHAT SHOTS TO GIVE YOUR CAT OR KITTEN

WHAT TO VACCINATE YOUR CAT FOR

Feline Panleukopenia (feline distemper) is a widespread, potentially fatal viral disease. Most cats will be exposed to it at some time, so vaccination is critical. Kittens whose mothers have panleukopenia during gestation or who survive the disease themselves often suffer permanent brain damage and other lifelong problems.
Feline Rhinotracheitis is a viral disease that causes severe upper respiratory infection. It is widespread, and although vaccination won't prevent the disease, it will make its symptoms more mild.
Feline Calicivirus is a viral disease of the upper respiratory system and is responsible for nearly half the upper respiratory infections in cats. Once infected, a cat can continue to carry the virus and suffer runny eyes and sneezing all its life, even if it is treated

Rabies is perhaps the most frightening of the viral diseases that threaten pets because it can affect any mammal, including people, and it is always fatal once symptoms appear. The rabies virus, which attacks the central nervous system, is spread in the saliva of an infected animal, usually by way of a bite. Rabies is fairly common in wild animals, including skunks, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and bats, which can pass the disease on to domestic animals.

(FeLV), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), chlamydia (see Common Feline Diseases), and ringworm. The AAFP recommends that FeLV and FIP vaccinations be given only to cats who might be exposed to the diseases through contact with other cats. The decision to vaccinate against chlamydia or ringworm should be based on the cat's risk of exposure.

READ MORE HERE;http://life.familyeducation.com/cats/disease-prevention/45702.html

FAT CAT ? PUT YOUR CAT ON A DIET

Obesity in cats is as rampant as obesity in people in the United States. It is your job as a responsible pet owner to help fluffy trim those extra pounds. And it will be hard on both of you.
How did this happen? Obesity in cats has the same root causes as obesity in people: too much to eat, especially carbohydrates, too little exercise, and too many snacks. Many cats are fed "free choice", which means there is food available all the time and the cat eats whenever it wants.
Free choice feeding has probably been the biggest single factor contributing to feline obesity. Although kitty kibble is fast and convenient, it is loaded with carbohydrates in the form of flour and sugar that hold the other ingredients together. Read more:http://qualitycatresources.com/putting-a-cat-on-a-diet-2007-09-11

CAT LITTER / SWITCH YOUR CATS LITTER SLOW

SWITCHING CAT LITTER
For many cats, the slightest change in what they're used to can create stress. So if you're thinking about changing their brand or type of litter, plan ahead and decide the best way to do it based on your particular cat.
Method #1. Gradual Transition. When a cat enters the litter box, she expects to encounter the same scent (or lack of) and texture on her paws every time. If she steps in and is confronted with a foreign scent or texture, it could potentially create enough confusion for her to feel as if another location would be a better option for elimination. Unfortunately, her location choice might not be to your liking.
If you have to change brands or types of litter, add just a little of the new kind into the current litter at a time. Each day, increase the amount of the new litter so that the transition lasts about four or five days. To maintain an appropriate litter level, just start removing some of the current litter in the box.
If you're switching from a traditional clay litter to a clumping formula, keep in mind that the new litter won't perform as expected during the transition. READ MORE;
http://pets.yahoo.com/blog/catbehavior/2881/switching-litter-take-it-slow/

CATS AND KITTENS TEETH

During its lifetime, a cat has two sets of teeth, a deciduous set and a permanent set. Kittens have 26 deciduous teeth (molars are absent); adult cats have a total of 30 teeth.Deciduous or “milk teeth” begin to appear when the kitten is about four weeks of age. At six weeks of age all 26 deciduous teeth are present. From 11 to 30 weeks of age, kittens lose their deciduous teeth. During this time they may eat less because of sore gums.When the deciduous teeth fall out, they are replaced by 30 permanent teeth. The permanent teeth should be in place by about six months of age.A cat's teeth are well-suited to rip and cut. Twelve tiny teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors): six in the upper jaw, six in the lower jaw do some scraping. They are flanked by two upper and two lower canines, sometimes described as “fangs,” designed to hold prey and to tear flesh. Ten sharp premolars and four molars act together to cut food. READ MORE: http://pets.yahoo.com/cats/health-and-nutrition/244/a-cat-s-teeth-timetable-and-functions/

YOUR CATS HEARING

Hearing
The cat's outer ear (pinna) is connected by 27 muscles and can rotate 180 degrees to scan the environment or to direct its attention to a particular source of sound. Cats can detect higher frequencies than dogs (e.g., a mouse's ultrasonic squeak). They can discriminate with 75% accuracy between two sound sources separated by an angle of only 5 degrees. The direction of the source of sound can also be calculated by the cat sensing differences in the time of arrival and intensity of sound received by the two ears. Rodents don't have more than a sliver of hope of escape when this little tiger is on the prowl! READ MORE CAT FACTS:http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/senses_and_features/hearing.html

CAT LITTER HOW DID IT START?

The Scoop on Litter
Before the advent of kitty litter, cat boxes were filled with newspapers. Entrepreneur George Plitt came up with the idea of packaging ashes from burned wood for cats to use. The cat litter industry had its birth one day in 1947 when one of Edward Lowe's neighbors who was tired of dealing with sooty paw prints, asked for some sand. Edward's father owned an industrial absorbents company in Cassopolis, Michigan so instead of sand, Lowe suggested using absorbent clay. The neighbor loved the product and soon returned for more. READ MORE; http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/housesoiling/the_scoop_on_litter.html

IS MY KITTEN / CAT A MALE OR FEMALE ?

Determining the sex of a kitten may be difficult especially before about 8 weeks of age. The male and the female kitten's genitalia look remarkably similar. If kittens of both sexes are available to compare, it makes the process easier and more likely to be correct. In the male kitten, the scrotum is located below the anus and above the back of the hind legs. The testicles are descended into the scrotum presumably at the time of birth. READ MORE @ PET EDUCATION http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1388&articleid=923

SUPPLIES EVERY CAT OWNER NEEDS

If you are going to get a cat or kitten here is a list every cat household needs:
Litter box and litter. The litter box, or pan, should be shallow enough for the cat to jump into easily, but the sides should be high enough to contain scattered litter as the cat scratches in it. Commercially sold plastic litter boxes are excellent. Some have high-domed lids on them to keep flung litter from spreading throughout the house.
You probably won't have to worry about training your cat to use the litter box, but you will need to show your cat where to find it. Cats are fastidious and have a keen sense of smell. It is important to clean the pan daily.
Never place a litter box close to where the cat is fed, because cats believe these two duties are quite separate, and they will choose to do one or the other elsewhere. Many people put the litter box in the bathroom, away from high-traffic areas.
Cat dishes. Each cat should have his or her own food and water dishes. These must be shallow; cats like to keep their faces and whiskers clean while they eat.
Grooming tools. Although cats groom themselves, they generally love to be brushed and combed. Long-haired cats must be brushed daily to prevent their hair from matting. Even short-haired cats enjoy the attention and the stimulation of being personally attended to. Use a daily brushing ritual to keep an eye on your cat's overall health and on skin and coat conditions. Some rubber brushes have special teeth that dig down and remove loose dander and dead skin cells. Metal, fine-toothed combs are designed to extract fleas from the coat.
Nail clippers. You also can use human-nail clippers. Read our tips for trimming your cat's claws (see link below) and, if you have trouble convincing your companion to cooperate, ask your veterinarian or groomer for additional advice or a demonstration.
A scratching post. Cats can be easily trained to scratch on a scratching post instead of the sofa arm or mahogany table leg. The scratching post should be untippable and covered in sisal rope or the webbed reverse side of carpet (a fireplace log is also a good alternative). Do not cover the post with the same kind of fabric that you are trying to protect in your home—upholstery or carpeting. That will only confuse your cat.
An inviting bed. Cats will sleep where they want to, which is usually with you. If you do not want your cat in bed with you at night, you must provide a more appealing option, such as a soft pillow or an inviting old comforter. Anything soft and warm, especially if it has your scent on it, can attract your cat. But let your cat discover it; a cat who is forced to lie down on a restricted spot will summarily reject that spot. And consider rethinking your policy against animals in bed. A purring companion at your feet is a better sleeping aid than anything you can find in a drugstore.
Toys. Many common household items make great cat toys. Ping-Pong balls are fun to chase. Or you can make a "mouse house" by cutting a hole in the bottom and the side of a paper bag; flick a wad of paper inside the bag and watch your cat ingeniously fish it out.
Avoid string, ribbon, or rolls of yarn. Cats' barbed tongues make it difficult for them to spit anything out once they begin to swallow it. Besides the potential for choking, string can cause serious problems if ingested.
When buying commercial cat toys, pick one that you could give to an infant. There should be no parts that can come off and be swallowed. Keep small children's toys away from cats. Contrary to the myth that cats only eat what's good for them, toy soldiers have found their way into cats' digestive tracts.