After living with cats for over 20 years now, I sometimes think I know a lot. Actually, I know very little, but I am always eager to learn more especially when it concerns the heath and nutrition of my kitties. I read over 50 cats blogs a day as well as Cat Fancy and Modern Cat. I also read every book about cats that I can get my hands on.
Recently, I have been learning some basics that every cat owner should know. A local shelter has a low cost clinic that is a Godsend being that my husband and I have 15 cats. I apologize to those that read my blog as I have already passed this information along, but if a few more people can benefit from it then it is worth repeating.
I brought Polar Bear in for a checkup when he had a respiratory infection. I also wanted blood work done because he seems to have lost a little weight. They were kind enough to tell me to wait for 4-6 weeks after he recovers from the infection before having his blood tested. I didn’t know that many diseases like kidney and liver will test normal when the cat is sick. I appreciate their not wasting my money as well worrying about my pet’s health.
Another one of our cats, Millie, was recently diagnosed as having hyperthyroidism. The vet was also nice enough to let me know that we should eventually test for kidney disease because that can be disguised behind the hyperthyroidism. Millie also gave me a lesson I would like to forget regarding worms.
When he originally went in for a checkup because he was losing weight, I had him dewormed. I thought maybe that was why he was losing weight and even though our cats stay inside, we had fleas last summer. My fear was tapeworms and of all things, he passed a round worm. Apparently, cats can pick up eggs from our shoes and potting soil. Millie loves to “wear” our shoes so he could have gotten it from there. Our plants are off-limits in the diningroom, but I planted cat grass in potting soil so he may have gotten it from there. If your cats have access to shoes or soil, I recommend you deworm and keep those items away from them.
Hope this information has been useful to some of you.
Thanks Ellen
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My two get dewormed once a year despite being indoor only cats. Heard that one about the worm eggs on shoe soles and find it hard to believe but better safe than sorry.
I am going to deworm twice a year now too after what happened with Millie. I am sure the eggs on shoes is extremely rare, but can happen.
I always appreciate honest vets and we are lucky that is what we have here..i also have had cats for a long time…about 26 years but still learn something new all the time 🙂 as long as we keep sharing info and personal experience our cats can benefit 🙂 living on aceage i am always aware of transfer from soil borne contaminents..but had no idea that illness can make some tests look ok ..so i learnt something else today thanks Ellen 🙂 hugs Fozziemum xx
I am happy that you learned something 🙂 I love to share information and I read all the blogs about cats to learn all that I can. Hugs to you too 🙂
There is always much more to learn 🙂 xx
I love learning new things about animals generally :-). Before Christmas I learnt that if something comes towards a cat face on then their whiskers moves forward. I had to try this and Archie’s whiskers did just that 🙂 x Look forward to 14th March
I am going to try that now 🙂 I am looking forward to meeting you too 🙂
This is very informative and new to me. Thanks!
Thank you 🙂
What a luck you did the deworming.
Yes, I still can’t believe how big that worm was-ick.
First, this is excellent and very important. Second, in younger cats that are not CRF cats, I suggest using Revolution (or a similar product) as it does treat you cat for fleas, ticks and worms. Its also a very toxic (and NOT an herbal product). I used it until my cat turned 15 and started showing signs of renal failure. Then we went to a renal diet which has controlled the renal values. She showed signs of hyperthyroidism at age 17, and that is controlled with methinazole. We are lucky as there is a small %age of cats that get “itchy face” and will self-mutilate, meaning they cannot tolerate the only medication available. A cat that age is WAY to old for radioactive iodide treatments. My cat was hypertensive, but we have stopped that medication as now her blood pressure is very low.
The most important take away, regardless of the KIND of veterinarian you choose to use, is that your cat get the care he or she needs. A cat that is almost 19, like Ms. Cali, is in the veterinary clinic for some test or need almost every two months and it is not cheap. In fact, it does break the bank. But I will never deny her the veterinary care she needs. And, she always gets hands on exams from the veterinarian at least 3-4 times a year. As animals age, their need increase and your wallet feels it. Is it worth it? You need not ask. Frequent veterinary care from a really good doctor you TRUST is a NEED, not a want. <3 Sheryl
Thank you for the Revolution suggestion. I hope to use that this year when it gets warmer. I am taking a chance and not treating for fleas right now because all the kitties are indoors and I would hope with it is so cold out that we aren’t bringing any inside. I really hate to use stuff every month if I don’t have to because of the toxins and the cost. I do agree that proper care is worth it. And you are wise to go so often with an older cat because a couple months of their life is like a year in ours and things can change quickly.
Interesting – I did not know some of these! Thanks for sharing! Ellie
You’re very welcome 🙂
Very informative, thank you! The furry beasts in my house got hookworms from soil in the yard. Now my moms give them a heartworm pill that also kills fleas and lots of different kinds of worms.
Hook worms sound awful. I am glad your Mom gives them medicine for it.
<—has a cat with kidney issues…on renal essentials. What's your take on the low-protein diet recommendation? I found this food that's not Science Diet (was worried about that) called Dave's restricted diet that's low protein…
I wish I knew more about kidney issues. My KaChoo died in 2010 from it, but hers was pretty sudden and she didn’t live long enough to know if the food would help her ( she had other issues as well). I would trust Dave’s food because I know he cares about animals. Dave’s is a small chain of stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts- there is one in my town 🙂 His brand of food is sold through a lot of places now. You could always bring a list of ingredients to your vet and get his/her opinion- sorry I can’t be of more help.
Great information. We’re very alert for this. Last year I had a lot of fleas and Granny and Grandpa did everything what they could, but every time that I was flea-free and got outside, I came in with a lot of fleas again. I felt kind of guilty, because Granny and Grandpa went out to see what caused the problem and then they looked inside the water that was standing outside for the froggies and birds… it was filled with fleas… So they had to wash and change the water every day and I didn’t have had any flea ever since…and no worms too 😀 Pawkisses 🙂 <3
That water sounds awful-ick. I am glad you stopped getting them after that. The trouble with fleas is their life cycle is 3 months so you need to treat the kitties and your entire house for those 3 months. I had to vacuum a lot too and always dump it in a bag and throw it out in the trash or those little suckers jump right out- learned that the hard way 🙂
The old-fashioned “bath-with-pine-tar-soap” worked better than any toxic flea treatment. There’s also this stuff that works amazing, for dogs and for cats (see link below). Couple this with d-earth, and it fixed the flea infestation. Plus, keeping the pet strictly indoors helps (if they’re a cat).
They have indoor, stuff you can apply to the cat, and stuff you can attach to a house and spray around the house perimeter and the porch. http://www.vetsbest.com/products/dog-flea-tick.php
We only use natural treatment against fleas, also to spray the house 😉
Hi the cat 🙂
Nice to re-read you, Ellen 😉 ! Purrs
Great( and a bit scary..) Info! thank you Ellen for taking the time to share.
Thanks for the valuable info about lab tests. I didn’t know that.
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I found it most helpful. I would have preferred to be happy-go-lucky but Vinnie came along and adopted me. There’s nothing worse than feeling helpless.
Thank you 🙂 I am glad Vinnie found you.
Great info, thanks!
Glad you liked it 🙂