YOUR CAT QUESTIONS ANSWERED |
YOUR CAT QUESTIONS ANSWERED |
Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative joint disease, is a common condition in cats, often going unnoticed due to their remarkable ability to mask pain.
What is Osteoarthritis? OA is a chronic condition affecting the joints. Cartilage, the smooth cushion between bones, gradually wears down, leading to inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Common Signs of OA in Cats: Reduced Activity: Less jumping: Difficulty reaching favourite perches, beds, or window sills. Reluctance to play: Decreased interest in chasing toys or interacting with other pets. Avoidance of stairs: Difficulty navigating steps or climbing onto furniture. Gait Changes: Stiffness: Slow to rise from lying down or after rest. Limping: Occasional or persistent lameness in one or more legs. Changes in posture: Hunched back or a stiff, stilted gait. Grooming Difficulties: Reduced grooming: Inability to reach certain areas due to stiffness. Changes in grooming habits: May lick excessively in an attempt to alleviate discomfort. Behavioural Changes: Increased vocalization: May vocalize more frequently, especially when moving. Aggression: May become irritable or aggressive when touched in certain areas. Changes in litter box habits: Difficulty stepping in and out of the box. Important Note: Subtlety: Cats are masters at hiding pain. Subtle changes in behaviour or activity level may be the first signs of OA. Risk Factors: Age, overweight/obesity, and certain breeds are at increased risk. What to Do: Observe your cat: Pay attention to any changes in behaviour, activity level, or grooming habits. Consult your veterinarian: If you suspect your cat may have OA, schedule a check-up. Maintain a healthy weight: Weight management is crucial for reducing stress on joints. Early diagnosis and management can significantly improve your cat's quality of life. Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian for any concerns regarding your cat's health.
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Cats are extraordinary beings with unique personalities, needs, and preferences. Identifying your cat’s temperament can help you provide them with a superior quality of life.
Several studies have shown that cats’ personalities vary just like humans’. Some are confident, bold, and sociable. Others are timid, reserved, or fearful. Similarly, each cat behaves differently when confronted with a particular situation or event. Let’s assess what shapes a cat’s temperament: Your cat’s personality is influenced by their genetics and the environment they’re nurtured in. Genetics can impact how comfortable your cat is with people and other animals, how active and curious they are, and how they like to play. The Oxytocin Receptor Gene (OXTR), which is related to a human-dog attachment, may also foretell a cat’s sociability or roughness. Domestic cats are generally approachable, less fearful, and more exploratory, while feral cats are more vigilant to danger and potential threats from people. For a cat to live comfortably in your home, they should experience positive interactions with people when they are a kitten. Kittens are most responsive to learning about their surroundings and their experiences can shape their response to humans for a lifetime. Likewise, kittens who have pleasant encounters with other pets are likely to get along with them more easily throughout adolescence and adulthood. Kittens also benefit from positive exposure to a broad range of novel situations. Lack of exposure to certain sights, sounds, smells, and new people may make cats fearful of the unfamiliar. They may avoid those unfamiliar things throughout their lives by hiding away or being defensive. Cat personality assessments consider the cat’s behaviours and emotional expressions, which are constant across time and in various contexts. Temperament evaluations are usually conducted and measured across short vs. long-term observations, across distinct tests, in addition to behavioural plus personality questionnaires, and by monitoring cats during their habitual life situations to produce personality types. Recent research from 200 cat owners conducted by Dr. Lauren Finka suggests cats will have one of five personality types. These five types are influenced by each of the components we discussed—genetics, environment, and developmental upbringing. Let’s examine what personality type your cat has according to Dr. Finka’s study: The Human Cat is sociable and enjoys affection from their owner. They love sharing your space with you and are always ready to cuddle or just be near you. They probably want to sleep in your bed at night and right on your keyboard during the day. This cat is incredibly friendly, calm, and responsive toward people. They display affection through kneading and will get lonely without daily social attention. The Inquisitive Cat is eager to investigate new scents, sights, and sounds around their environment. This instinct is formed by early exposure to new stimuli during the socialization and habituation period. This cat will thrive in an energetic environment by meeting new people and being exposed to novel events and settings on a regular basis. Keep them engaged with puzzle toys, foraging boxes, and cat castles. The Hunter Cat expresses the most predatory hunting behaviour by stalking and capturing prey. Indoor-only Hunter Cats will especially enjoy “hunting” inanimate objects like mice and feather toys. They might even present you with their latest kill as a gift! Embrace this predacious behaviour to prevent boredom and dissatisfaction. The Cantankerous Cat’s love language is not physical touch. They aren’t aggressive, they just want you to respect their space—and that’s fair! They are vulnerable to touch, hypervigilant about their environment, and easily frustrated. Be patient, keep them comfortable, and love them on their terms. They may even love to be near you—just not picked up or petted much. Provide plenty of toys for independent play and respect their boundaries. The Cat’s Cat enjoys sharing their home with other cats. These feline friends could be related or non-related and may even become a bonded pair. Cats like this are likely to have been socialized with other cats when they were young. They will play, groom, and cuddle their feline roommates. They might not even mind being left home alone as much because they have a valuable friend. Each cat has a unique temperament with a genetic link. When you choose a kitten or adult cat to live closely with you, think about their individuality to make sure they’re well suited to your family and lifestyle. This will help improve the human-cat bond, decrease a cat’s frustration, and enhance their well-being. Bird flu (H5N1) is a serious concern for cat owners. While the risk to humans remains low, this strain of bird flu can severely impact cats, often with fatal consequences.
How Cats Can Get Infected: Eating Contaminated Food: Feeding your cat raw meat (including poultry), raw eggs, raw milk, or raw dairy products increases the risk of infection. Contact with Infected Birds: Exposure to infected wild birds, poultry, or even areas where they have been can transmit the virus. Indirect Contact: Touching contaminated surfaces or interacting with people who have been in contact with infected animals can also pose a risk. Signs to Watch For: Early Signs: Lethargy, loss of appetite, fever. More Serious Signs: Neurological: Loss of coordination, stumbling, circling, tremors, seizures, blindness. Respiratory: Difficulty breathing, coughing, sneezing, eye and nose discharge. Severe Depression: Lack of interest in anything. Protecting Your Cat: Feed a Safe Diet: Always feed your cat-cooked, commercially prepared cat food. Avoid raw food diets completely. Keep Cats Indoors: This is the best way to prevent exposure to infected birds and other wildlife. Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly after handling your cat, any poultry or livestock, and after interacting with wildlife. Avoid Contact: Keep your cat away from areas where there are known outbreaks of bird flu. If You're Concerned: Contact Your Veterinarian Immediately: If you suspect your cat has been exposed to bird flu or is showing any of the symptoms, consult your veterinarian right away. Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Many cat owners are surprised when their veterinarian tells them that their cat has dental disease because the concept of dental disease in cats is not common knowledge. By the age of 4, most domestic cats will have some level of gum disease, which is called gingivitis.
It's true that many cat owners are surprised to learn about their cat's dental health issues. By the age of four, most cats have some level of gum disease (gingivitis). This is often undetected because cats don't always show obvious signs of discomfort and may only visit the vet for vaccines or when sick. Dental disease is a serious issue for cats. It's painful and can negatively impact their overall health. Here's what you can do: Annual Checkups: Have your cat's teeth checked by a vet once a year. Home Care: Establish a dental care routine at home. Watch for Signs: Be aware of signs like bad breath, which could indicate dental problems. If you have concerns about your cat's dental health, consult your veterinarian. Many people are surprised by the cost of veterinary care when their cat becomes unexpectedly sick or injured. Furthermore, when your cat gets sick or injured you are already worried, and unexpected veterinary costs can make a stressful situation worse.
Sometimes you can’t afford the care that your cat needs, which can lead to unnecessary suffering and in some situations, euthanasia. This is also stressful for your veterinarian, who wants to practice good medicine and provide the best care but is under the constraints of a small cash business (which is what most veterinary hospitals are). That is why planning for veterinary bills is important, even if you just adopted a healthy young cat or kitten. What You Can Do About It: Start an emergency savings account that you only access for veterinary care, aim to save $2,000 to $5,000. Get a credit card and only use it for veterinary bills. Open a line of credit with Carecredit or Scratchpay so you have it if you ever need it. Purchase pet insurance BEFORE your cat gets sick or injured. Cats are wonderful pets, but people don’t always understand them well. If we provide our pet cats with the things they need in their environment, it helps them to be happier and healthier. This applies not just to the physical environment, but also to social interactions with us and any other animals in their space. If not provided, our cats may become stressed and show signs of behaviour problems.
The five pillars of a healthy feline environment are described by the International Society of Feline Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners, based on the scientific evidence on pet cats. They consider that cats evolved as solitary hunters and that cats can be solitary or live in groups. They also reflect what we know about the cat’s senses, and that kittens have an optimal period for socialization. A Safe Space Cats like to feel safe. They prefer to avoid confrontation and their natural response to something stressful is to hide. One study that gave shelter cats a choice of different enrichment items found they preferred the hiding place. From a cat’s perspective, a safe space is somewhere that is enclosed and just the right size for them. Cats also like to be high up where they can see what is going on around them, so good hiding places can also be high up, like enclosed spaces in a cat tree or a perch at the top of a cat tree. The good news is that a safe space can be as simple as an upturned cardboard box with a hole cut in for them to get in and out. If you look around your home, you may identify other places that will make good hiding places. Maybe there is a shelf where you can clear a cat-sized space and put a fleecy blanket to make a nice perch. You can make places feel safer by having a cat bed or blanket that smells of the cat, or even putting some of your own (already worn) clothing down for them to relax on. They will feel comforted by your smell. Ideally, your cat carrier should be a safe space for your cat and can be out at all times as a space for your cat to relax in. Multiple and separated key environmental resources The things that matter to your cat should be in different places, and there should be enough of them that your cat does not have to compete with other cats (or even the dog) to gain access to them. The key environmental resources for your cat are their food bowl, water bowl, litter tray, scratching post, somewhere to play with their toys, and cat beds or other nice places to rest. Every cat should have a choice, so even if they already have one scratching post (for example), they should also have another. For litter trays, a general rule is to have one per cat plus one spare. They should not all be located in the same place, otherwise in a multi-cat house it would be possible for one cat to block the other cats’ access. If your cat has outdoor access, these resources should also be provided outside if possible (although this may not be appropriate for food, which could attract rats, raccoons, and other animals). If you have more than one cat in your house, they may form one or several social groups. Ways to tell if cats are part of the same social group include if they groom each other, rub their faces or bodies on each other, and tend to rest or sleep near or even next to each other. Each ‘group’ should be able to access their resources without having to compete with the other group. Opportunities for play and predatory behaviour Cats are solitary hunters, and if not cared for by a human would need to spend a lot of time each day hunting. Play is important for cats, and allows them to satisfy their predatory instincts, for instance by chasing a wand toy or catching a toy mouse. This also helps the cat to get some exercise (especially important for indoor cats). Cats can have toys they can play with on their own, as well as toys for interactive play with you. Wand toys can be moved to mimic prey, and allow your cat to chase; bigger toys can allow your cat to hold it and kick with their back legs; and cats like smaller toys they can pick up with their mouth and walk off with as if they just caught it. Food puzzle toys are also a great way to provide play opportunities. Providing daily play opportunities has been linked to fewer behaviour problems in cats. Toys can also contain substances like catnip or silvervine which many cats love. Be sure to pick toys that will be safe for your cat, as string or bits that fall off can be ingested and cause a blockage. Always put wand toys away when not in use. Positive, consistent, and predictable human-cat interaction Cats like to have regular interactions with their humans, but being cats, they also like to feel in control. The guidelines say that “Many cats prefer high frequency, low-intensity level of social interaction with humans. A scenario that gives them a good deal of control.” You can help by giving your cat a choice of whether or not to interact with you, either by calling them to you (and waiting to see if they come or not), or getting down to their level and putting out a finger or hand to see if they approach. Kittens need to get used to being handled, and it is best if at least four people handle them during the sensitive period to help them learn that people are safe. It is important to ensure these are positive experiences in which the kitten has a choice, as bad experiences at this time can have a serious impact and may make the kitten fearful. Kittens and young cats tend to prefer longer interactions and play sessions, and as they get older they may prefer shorter sessions. An environment that respects the importance of the cat’s sense of smell Cats have amazing noses, as well as a vomeronasal organ that allows them to detect pheromones (chemical signals). Cats use pheromones in several ways. When a cat rubs their head on you, for example, they are depositing pheromones. They also deposit pheromones when scratching (one of the reasons scratching is a normal behaviour for cats, and why they need us to provide suitable scratching places). Cats can find strong smells very unpleasant. One of the ways we can respect their sense of smell is to avoid using cleaners with strong smells and avoid bringing strong smells into the house. Don’t use scented litter, as most cats do not like it. Remember that your cat’s scent on their bedding helps them to feel secure, so wash their bedding on rotation instead of all at once. As a behaviour consultant and cat sitter, I have been going into cat owners’ homes for 20 years and have noticed that several basic feline welfare mistakes tend to crop up repeatedly. It is not that cat owners don’t care about their cats rather they don’t take the time to view their homes from a cat’s perspective.
Litter trays are the area where many cat owners make mistakes. Usually, this involves cleanliness. Whenever I ask a cat owner how often he or she scoops out the litter tray the answer is almost always daily. Yet, when I go into the home I find litter trays that have not been scooped for several days. Occasionally I find litter boxes that are in truly appalling conditions. Cats are extremely clean creatures. They do not like to step into dirty litter trays any more than we want to use an unflushed toilet. Indeed, some cats are so fastidious that they won’t step into anything but a freshly scooped litter tray, and some cats prefer to have one litter tray for urine and another for stool. If the litter tray is dirty the cat will likely find somewhere else in the home to eliminate. It is always best to be proactive where the litter tray is concerned. Another common mistake cat owners make with litter trays is not locating them in cat-friendly areas. Litter trays are tucked away in basements, laundry rooms, closets, and bathrooms. This isn’t necessarily bad, unless the litter tray in the basement is so out of sight that it rarely gets cleaned, or the litter tray in the laundry room is near loud appliances that may frighten a cat. No one wants a litter tray right in the middle of their living room, and it is indeed best not to locate the litter tray in highly trafficked areas, but one key factor that is high on a cat’s list while eliminating is being able to see escape routes while in the litter tray. In nature, cats are vulnerable to predators when eliminating so being able to see escape routes is a hardwired survival mechanism. Not having enough litter trays is another common mistake. The general rule of thumb is one tray per cat plus one. So, if you have one cat you should have two litter trays and those two litter trays should not be placed right next to each other or in the same general area. If you have three cats you should ideally have four litter trays, and again these should be located in different areas of the home. Another litter tray mistake I often see is litter trays that are too small for normal-sized adult cats. Cats prefer the litter tray to be 1.5 times the length of their body (from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail). Food and water issues are another area where I see repeated mistakes. Humans tend to think that cats prefer their food and water dishes next to each other because that is what we would want. Cats do not like to eat near their water source. Again, this is a hard-wired survival mechanism. Cats do not wish to foul their water source with their food or attract predators to their water. Cats prefer to separate their eating, drinking, toileting, and sleeping areas. Cats like to have clean food and water dishes. I have had clients tell me I don’t have to bother cleaning the food dish after each meal. No one wants to eat from a dirty dish. Cats possess 200 million scent receptors compared to humans’ meagre 5 million. Foul odours in the food dish can even cause some cats to become anorexic and this can lead to serious medical problems. Dry food left out at all times. Dry food is not species-appropriate food for cats. It is too low in protein, too high in carbs and far too low in moisture. Dry food left out all day will go stale and in humid climates can become rancid. If you must feed your cat dry food feed small amounts (as a treat) and make the cat ‘hunt’ for the food by using a treat ball or food puzzle. This is a far more natural way for a cat to eat dry food. In nature, cats will eat multiple small meals each day AFTER having spent energy hunting that meal down. Many cats lack daily interactive play. Cats need to stalk, pounce, run and leap and cat owners can provide for these needs by playing with their cats with interactive ‘wand’ type toys daily. Several scheduled 10-15-minute play sessions will make a world of difference in the mental and physical well-being of your cat. I see many behaviour problems that are solved in part by implementing routine play sessions. Play alleviates stress and anxiety and helps build confidence. Interactive play is therapy for cats! Lack of vertical space. Just as cats need to play they also need to jump and climb. Cats can jump 5 times their height. Getting up high helps cats feel safer and more in control of their environment. Adding vertical space in the form of cat trees and climbing shelves adds valuable territory for your cat and can help alleviate tensions in multi-cat households. Lack of veterinary care. All cats should be examined by a veterinarian (but not necessarily vaccinated) once a year. Even if your cat seems perfectly healthy an annual trip to the vet is important. Cats are masters at hiding illness and can hide serious illnesses and disease processes until it is too late to affect treatment. As cats age they should be examined more frequently so that problems can be picked up and treated before they reach crisis point. There are many reasons why caring cat owners don’t take their cats in for annual exams the most common being that it is such an unpleasant experience for both cat and owner and causes much stress. Most larger cities and towns have veterinarians who provide house calls. Of all its senses, a cat's strongest is its hearing. They hear about four times as well as a human. Cats possess extraordinary hearing, detecting sounds at frequencies up to 60,000 vibrations per second, while humans can only hear up to 20,000. They also have a superior sense of smell — cats have an astounding 200 million odor sensors, compared to our measly 5 million.
Purring actually improves bone density and promotes healing within a cat. The purring frequency — 26 Hertz — apparently aids in tissue regeneration and can help stimulate the repair of weak and brittle bones. Cats are better at problem-solving than dogs. And they have a better capacity for visual learning than dogs as well. Cats have a distinct pattern their nose, like a human fingerprint. Cats have a third eyelid called a haw. It’s generally only visible when they’re unwell. Cats can drink seawater. Unlike humans, cats have kidneys that can filter out salt and use the water content to hydrate their bodies. Cats can’t see directly below their noses . That’s why they miss food that’s right in front of them. By neutering a cat, you add about two to three years to its life. Cats may have evolved their “tone of voice” to communicate with humans. Cats' natural vocal range would be inaudible to humans, but they communicate feelings such as affection, hunger, and fear within the range of human hearing. Some researchers believe that this is learned behaviour to help cats to relate to humans. In fact, cats can make over 100 vocal sounds.Dogs can only make 10. If you're a cat owner you're apparently 40 percent less likely to have a heart attack. A ten-year study from the University of Minnesota Stroke Center found that people who owned cats were also 30 percent less likely to have strokes. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, employs 70 stray cats that are tasked with controlling the mice population and preventing them from chewing on the artwork. House cats share 95.6% of their genetic makeup with tigers and they share many behaviours with their jungle ancestors such as scent marking, stalking prey, and pouncing. A housecat can run to the speed of about 30 mph over short distances. This means that a cat can outrun superstar runner Usain Bolt in a 200-meter dash! Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, absolutely loved cats and would play with them for hours. He owned several cats during this time in the White House. Unlike humans and many other animals, cats do not have taste buds that can detect sweet flavours. This is thought to be because their diet, which is high in protein, does not require them to have a sweet tooth. Cats cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require a diet of primarily meat to meet their nutritional needs. Kittens are born toothless, and their first set of teeth break through the gums at around 3 weeks. By the time they’re around 4 to 6 weeks, they’ll already have most of their 26 deciduous teeth. Like humans, kittens lose their baby teeth to make way for adult teeth. By 6–7 months, their 30 adult teeth will come in to replace the baby teeth. Cats have nearly twice the amount of neurons in their cerebral cortex as dogs. Having evolved as a desert species cats don't have a strong thirst drive. In nature they get most but not all of their water requirements from the prey they consume. I have even had cat sitting clients who believe that their cat does not need water because they never see them drink!
But cats, like all living things, do need water and there are even times when cat owners may need to encourage their cats to drink more fluids. Examples of this include but are not limited to:
TYPE OF WATER BOWL Choose a bowl from which your cat will want to drink from.
NUMBER OF WATER BOWLS Have several water bowls so that your cat does not need to go far to find one.
LOCATION OF WATER BOWLS Choose a good location for your water bowls.
KEEP THE BOWLS CLEAN Be sure to wash your cat's water bowls every day and refill with fresh water. Use a tiny amount of dish liquid and a scrubbling pad to clean the water bowl and throughly rinse before refilling, DIFFERENT TYPES OF WATER Consider experimenting with different types of water – see if your cat has a preference. Many cats do not like heavily fluorinated water. Try:
OTHER LIQUIDS TO TRY
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AuthorElizabeth Llewellyn lives in South Burlington, Vermont with her three cats. She has owned a cat sitting service since 2002 and has worked professionally with cats in a variety of settings including, veterinary, boarding and breeding catteries, and rescue organizations. Elizabeth is a qualified feline welfare and behaviour specialist. Archives
January 2025
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