All the latest info on caring for your pet

So, having bought or rescued a new female cat, you will find yourself with an array of bewildering decisions to make. You have: 

1. Tackled the minefield that is settling on a name that reflects the personality of your miniature tiger.
2. Chosen that flash diet that has subliminally been making an impression during commercial breaks of your favourite soap.
3. Bought some designer cat furniture costing more than the average family sized 3-piece suite.

Now the day has come to take your bundle of fluff, teeth and sharp claws to see the local vet. Jabs for ‘X, Y & Z’, spot-on for this, tablets for that, and the inevitable questions regarding your pet’s family planning. The promiscuity of cats being what it is, the decision for most will be to have their cat spayed to avoid being inundated with hundreds of kittens.

There are many reasons why your cat may toilet in a place other than the litter tray. If it’s just a one off, consider if your cat could’ve been trapped in a room, unable to access the litter tray. If it’s a recurring situation then something has happened in your cat’s world to upset them. Cats are fastidious so this is no ‘dirty protest’ and it’s important not to scold him or her. In this blog we delve into the minds of our cats to understand things that may affect their behaviour and toileting habits. While it’s important to try understanding your cat’s point of view, as this issue is often behavioural, it’s also important to rule out medical causes. Contact your vet to discuss a check up as part of the process. 

Ouch! Cat bites can be very unpleasant and always best avoided. As natural skilled predators, cats have sharp teeth and a firm bite. A common question from pet owners is why their cat indulges in this behaviour towards their owner… and how they can avoid it! Bites from pet cats are not uncommon, but interestingly are often not a sign of true aggression. 

Just like us humans, cats can also suffer with anxiety. They will experience anxiety if they perceive a situation as dangerous (regardless of whether it actually is or not). Although they can’t tell us, there are a few telltale signs they may show to indicate that they may be suffering with stress and anxiety. 

In Part 1, we looked at the causes and adverse effects of obesity. In this Part 2, we will discuss how to manage it. What should you do about an obese cat or an overweight dog? 

Well, the mainstay of obesity management are weight loss programmes that alter diet and exercise. Other things can be done alongside, but diet is almost always the most important factor to address first.