Signs of Cat Illness

The initial indication that your pet cat is unwell is a change in its usual behavior patterns. For example, an active cat becomes inactive and is noted to be sleeping more and refuses to eat. Note also changes in the cat's physical appearance and movements. If the stealth-like movements of your cat be com clumsy or awkward then your cat might be unwell.

Look for the following signs of illness in a cat"

- unusual behavior (inactivity and reclusion)
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- excessive grooming
- excessive drinking of water
- regurgitation of food
- difficulty in breathing
- loose stools
- cloudy eyes
- awkward movement
- poor balance
- excessive vocalization

Cat Litter Tray and Litter Boxes

A  cat litter tray is an indoor toilet for your cat.  It acts a replacement for the place where the cat would usually perform these functions outdoors.  An outcoor cat would toilet in loose soil or leaf litter and would cover up its wastes.  For practical, health and feline privacy reasons,  covered litter trays are best.

There are many litter materials available, the best is the one a cat willingly uses.  materials range form economic wood and paper chips to expensive dolomite varieties - based on usage, the best may be the fine, granular "clumping litter".  This material is also easy to clean, as the results of a cat's toilelting are absorbed, clumped and easily isolated from the whole tray.

To encourage a new kittern ot use its litter tray, it is a good idea to place a kitten that is just waking up directly into the tray.  Instinct will often take over as it moves its paws around the litter material.. Once your kitten has used a tray once, it will instinctively try to "over-mark" its own toilet scents.

It is wise to change litter material on a daily basis but young kittens will not usually produce large amounts of urine and feces so you can clean the trays after a few days.

Cats are very clean animas.  to maintain an adult cat in good health, it is important that its litter train is always kept clean.

Dried Cat Food

The development of "complete" cat food has changed the way cat owners feed their pet cats.  Here are the disadvantages and advantages of dried cat foods.

Advantages:

- storage life and weight-t0-cost ratio are comparable with that of canned and semi-moist foods

- valuable vitamins and minerals are stabilized

- contents do not deteriorate as quickly as with tinned or fresh food

-food can left in the bowl for the cat to eat as and when it requires.

-crisp texture can help to keep the cat's feet from plaque.

-quantities can be accurately measured out with no left-overs in the fridge.

Disadvantages:

- it is a predictable diet and the cat may become bored with it.

- additives and taste enhancers have to be added to make it more attractive and interesting to cats

- cats will need access to more water and will then have to urinate more.

Feeding for Kittens

(Note:  photo from Winona Area Humane Society)
The type and quantity of food varies greatly with the age of the kitten.  From 4 to 6 weeks, a kittien should eat moist food, after which it can be given a combination of mostly solid foods (fresh, tinned or diet).  One feed can also consist of a paste based on a special cat milk and baby kitten food.
At 8 weeks old, it should be on solid foods already.  The following months should be a gradual reduction i the number of feeds to two or three bigger meals per day.

An active outdoor kitten burns more calories than an indoor kitten so it willl need extra protein to help with body and muscle growth.  Food quantities for the outdoor kitten should be more compared to the indoor kitten.

feeding guide for kittens:

0 - 3 weeks:   requires a substitute for the mother's milk plus vitamin and mineral supplement
                                       
4 - 6 weeks :  1 teaspoon or slightly more moist kitten food mixed with baby milk subsitute, should be fed  4-5 times a day.


                                                              
6 - 12 weeks:  2 - 3 large teaspoons of solid kitten food (tinned moist and semi-moist or dried), 4 - 5 times a day
                       .            
3 - 6 months :   increased quantities of solid foods, decrease feeding from 5 to 2-3 times a day.

FEEDING GUIDE FOR CATS

For cats 9 - 12 months of age: they may be fed 2 - 3 meals daily.  Food:  1 titbit, 1 dry, 1 moist

For cats 12 - 36 months:  Active cats should be fed 2-3 meals daily; food should consist of 1 titbit, 1 dry, 1 moist.  Indoor and less active cats are fed 2 meals daily and are given 1 dry, 1 semi-moist or titbit.

For cats 3 - 5 years of age:  Active cats are given 2 meals daily, food is usually 1 dry, 1 semi-moist or titbits.
Indoor, less active cats are fed once daily with completely dry food and small amounts of titbit treats.

For cats 5 years +:  Active cats are fed twice daily with 1 complete dry or semi-moist food and 1 titbit while indoor, less active cats are fed once daily with a completely dry "mature cat" food and occasional titbit treats.

If a cat is given a healthy, balanced diet which includes complete cat food and fresh food; this usually suffices for all the vitamins and minerals it needs.  However if the cat is physically or mentally stressed (recovering from an injury, surgery or pregnant cat, post natal) it would be advisable to add supplement to the diet.

CAT FOOD

Some food that are intended for human consumption are not suitable for your pet cat. You pet cat would probably refuse to eat them.

Cat foods are developed by major pet food manufacturers and they have spend a great amount of time and money on research so that the cat foods they sell offer an ideal, balanced diet. Cats need a meat-based diet because they are carnivorous.

Pet owners of domesticated cats have so many choices of food to offer their pets. There are dried, tinned, semi-moist and fresh foods. There's also a wide range of tasty food treats raniging from a freeze-dried to fresh prawns, tuna and all kinds of meat.

Low cost food many not contain the ideal balance between proteins, carbohydrates, bulk, vitamins, and minerals but these can sustain a cat. More expensive foods offer the ideal dietary balance as well as the freshness ot the ingredients.