Your Cats Need a Natural Shampoo Wash

Unless you started bathing your cat when he/she was a small kitten and got her adjusted to it slowly, bathing a cat is definitely not going to be your favorite thing to do. Felines hate water and, regardless of how much love they usually show you, when you try to put them in water, the teeth and claws are coming out.

A few of the things you will need are, a couple of towels, some natural cat shampoo (bought or home made), a bowl or pitcher, a sponge and the mindset that you are probably in for a battle. First run a couple of inches of water in the tub and place one of the towels in the bottom where you plan to bath your cat. Then, go and get her, pick her up as if you were just going to pet her or take her for a treat, and head for the bathroom.

Cats are very intelligent animals, so when you enter the bathroom they will probably start struggling because they have already figured out you are up to no good. So, before you put your cat in the tub and begin, be sure and shut the bathroom door. If you have had a cat for long you know if they escape and don't want to be caught, they won't be caught. Not only are they fast, they know the places, like under the bed, where you can't get to them. If you have already gotten her wet down and applied shampoo, should she struggle and get loose you are going to have a mess on your hands if she has the whole house to run through.

Okay, you have your supplies ready, the door is closed and you are ready to begin. The first thing that will probably happen as you try to put the cat in water is she will suddenly become firmly attached to your arm with those very sharp claws. Just bite your lower lip and ease her down in the water while talking in a soft, gentle voice. Hopefully she will calm down after a couple of minutes. Continue talking quietly in a loving, reassuring way and begin to wet her down. After she is wet, take a safe, natural cat shampoo and slowly massage it into her fur. She may even like this part. After you have finished bathing her, gently wash off the shampoo. Be sure and get it all off so there will be nothing left that could possibly irritate her skin. Lastly, dry her down with the towel and put her in her favorite resting place.

Luckily for the owner, cats spend half the day bathing themselves with their tongue, so you only need to wash your cat very few times a year, for instance in flea season. However, try and remember when this task does come to hand, to use natural bath washes when shampooing your feline. Talk to your pet store owner or vet for suggestions. Also, there are many great home made shampoo recipes on the internet you might want give a try. Some of them are even dry shampoos that don't require water. Your cat would probably love you to give that one a try first.

Gum Disease in Cats and How to Prevent It

A cat's teeth and gums are a way to determine the animal's general health. If your cat has a bad breath the first thing you should check is the cat's mouth. Swollen gums, yellow buildup or brown strips are the signs you should look for. These signs mean tartar, which is the main cause of gum inflammation and gingivitis. If the problem is chronic then you should take the cat to a veterinary, which will probably anesthetize your cat and clean its teeth. Here are some advices that may help you avoid this situation.

Start checking your cat's teeth since it is still a kitty. Cats don't usually like heaving their mouth checked but if they get used to it won't be a problem anymore. A healthy cat doesn't have gingivitis. This is why you must regularly check for a ref strip along the gums. Wrap gauze around your fingers and clean your cat's teeth and gum periodically to avoid the appearance of buildup and inflammations. You don't even need to use special toothpaste. Plain water is just what you need. You can even remove small pieces of tartar with your fingernails before they get big and start causing problems.

It is known that dry food can clean a cat's teeth preventing tartar. However eating crispy food is not healthy for your cat. Dry food is mostly made of carbohydrates which are not healthy for a cat's teeth. Furthermore cats don't have grinding teeth so there's no way how a cat can clean its teeth by eating dry food. You've probably seen how cats turn their head from side to side when they eat dry food. That's because cat's teeth are for ripping and not for grinding.

To prevent tooth problems you should feed your cat with quality food. Therefore you should stop giving dry food to your cat. You will notice that your cat will not encounter any dental problem anymore. If you feed your cat with homemade and canned food the teeth diseases will be completely one. Besides feeding your cat with healthy food, you can also perform a monthly home tooth cleaning which will improve the health of your cat's teeth. Another tip that can prove very useful is to give your cat a few pieces of cheddar cheese every week. Cheese contains enzymes which destroy the harmful bacteria which causes gum disease.

How to Lose Your Cat’s Weight Naturally

Our wonderful cats, are they demanding? Yes. Are they spoiled? Maybe a little. Because of those things are they overweight? If you answered yes, then here are some tips to help you with that problem.

Unlike dogs, who we also love, cats are never easy, especially when we try to introduce change into their life. But with love and patience you can help your cat to lose weight. If your cat seems to be more docile and not playing as much that could be a sign a change of diet may be in order.

For cats weight and too much of it, can be the cause of many diseases. Cats have a higher risk of getting diseases such as kidney stones, or crystals and a very high risk of diabetes, and also their quality of life changes. They cannot jump up to look out the window, which we all know as cat owners they love to be able to sit on a windowsill. The worst side effect of being overweight is their life expectancy becomes much shorter.

Here are some tips to help you with your cat's weight problem.

Tip #1. The first step in helping your cat lose weight is their diet. Is the current food they are eating high in fat and calories? Try slowly changing over their food to a healthy weight loss food. You can select from a variety of very good quality foods that are available.

Tip #2. If your cat is eating people food that has to be cut out. Also if you are giving him/her snacks of any kind, that also should be stopped. Many times, it is better to feed your cat small meals during the day instead of one large meal twice a day. Most important with cats you must do any change gradually. Cats should never lose weight quickly. It is recommended that you allow no more than a couple of pounds a year.

Tip #3. Finally, with a healthier diet your cat should want to be more active. We know our cats can be stubborn, but if possible try to get them to play a couple of times a day. My cat likes to run after rolled up napkins. Roll them in a ball and through it. They are soft so your cat can pick them up. Cats are creatures of habit. They know what they like. Being cat owners we know they do not like change of any kind. Trying to change their diet is never easy, but to keep them healthy and live longer it has to be done if they become overweight.

Just remember help your cat lose weight naturally and safely. Very slow weight loss is best for cats.

How to Make Your Cats Stay Healthy

Owning a cat and treating it as a pet requires more than including your furry friend on your monthly budget. You have to be an instant parent once you become involved. You have to know their basic needs and all there is is to understand about cat health care.

First, in order for your feline companion to be happy and contented, you need to provide them a home. Yes, it can be left to wander about your own house and treat it like their kingdom. But, you have to make sure that the surrounding is safe. Do not hang things that would cause injury and further mishaps to your cats.

Second, make sure that your cat gets the necessary nutrition that it needs. To do so, you have to give them only the best kind of cat food. The best will not necessarily mean expensive. You can ask your vet for recommendations given the amount that you can allot for this purpose.

Next, think about your cat health care. This is so vital because if you were caught unaware of a sudden incident, you may easily lose your beloved pet just because you didn't know what to do.

So know your cat. Observe it well. Know their usual interests, the way they eat, they way they interact with the other pets and also the people in your house. If you feel that something seems to be out of place, then call your vet immediately for advice.

Find the best veterinarian He or she should be near your place. Get their contact information immediately. They are your lifeline whenever your cat's life seems to be in danger and so don't just pick anyone else.

Also, always remember that you will be the first judge if something seems to be wrong with your cats. Here are some indications.

First, these creatures are known to be vain. They are always grooming themselves. If they are grooming too much on one side, they might be bugged by something like, yes, bug or fleas. The process may hurt them. So interrupt and act upon it. Also beware if they are no longer cleaning up on their own. It may be a sign of depression. You also have to consult the vet about it if this happens.

Second, if you know your cat very well, you will easily see if there are any changes to their eating habits. Don't let them go through the day without eating too much. This may be a symptom to something else. So this is also a good time to call on your vet.

Next, if your cat is friendly and it all of a sudden becomes aloof, you need to raise the alarm level. This also goes with the way your cat walks. If it seems to be doing this thing just a bit too odd, it may be something to be concerned about.

As the owner, you need to be very cautious with everything that your cat does. You have to take note of their bowel elimination. Just like humans, they may sometimes suffer from diarrhea or the likes.

Although calling the vet is always the best choice for you to do, you can also search the web for quick solutions to minor problems. The Internet offers a vast resource for your every cat health care question. So take time to read some info and apply it on your own pets.

The life of your cat already is in your hands now. So better know this stuff to enjoy his or her company longer.