pica in cats

Pica in cats: The two most obvious reasons a cat may no longer want its food, is firstly has the food gone bad. Sometimes cat food can become tainted in its packaging, check to see if the can has any dents in it or if there is damage to the packaging in any way. Smell the food your self and see if there are any unusual odours or any mould on the food. Secondly, is the cat ill in any way? Sometimes bad teeth can cause problems or they have a stomach bug. A vet should check out any suspicions of illness immediately.

Cat and Kitten Picture Gallery
The Cats and Kittens of CatNews.org

CatNews.org - HOME
Take me back to the front page



pica in cats




An Ezine for cat owners that changes each time you visit


Tell your friends about CatNews.org

If you have a blog or a social network page please give CatNews.org a mention or better yet a link back to the site.
Thanks for your help - Russell :)




Cat and Kitten Picture Gallery

Article Index Need to find information fast? Look here for our list of informative articles about cats and kittens. We add new articles monthly

Litter box article index
Cat peeing outside the litter box? Find help to combat cat urine order, cat urinary infections and cat spraying. Litter box training and cat urine odor - Urinating outside the litter box - Cat litter box health concerns - Cat litter box retraining - Teach your cat to use a litter box - Plus many more articles

Mac Daddy Cat Challenge- Can your cat hack it? Think you have a Mac Daddy Cat? Upload your cats photos and let the world decide.

Add Your URL To Our Directory
Submit your link to our open link directory - all websites are welcome to post their link

Information Center
Find the answers to anything - Over 200 subjects and growing

litter box
New Article - Photographing Your Elusive Feline



Free Cat and Kitten Content For Your Site

If you are looking for cat and kitten articles for your budding site please feel free to copy this article.

Important

- If you use an article from my site you must give credit to the author and provide a link to the authors site.

You must also give CatNews.org a link back from the posted article
All the links you need are already in the code
Image #2

HTML Code for Image #2



Pica And Other Cat Eating Problems

Most cat owners will notice from time to time that their cat decides for no apparent reason that they just don't like their cat food any more and won't eat it. This often completely puzzles a cat owner, as usually their cat just can't get enough of their so-called favourite food.

Everything a cat does, even if it is the strangest behaviour you've ever seen is always caused by something. It is never because they are being awkward or naughty and the secret to finding out why they no longer like their food is to look at it through the eyes of the cat. This way the cause is often much clearer.

The two most obvious reasons a cat may no longer want its food, is firstly has the food gone bad. Sometimes cat food can become tainted in its packaging, check to see if the can has any dents in it or if there is damage to the packaging in any way. Smell the food your self and see if there are any unusual odours or any mould on the food. Secondly, is the cat ill in any way? Sometimes bad teeth can cause problems or they have a stomach bug. A vet should check out any suspicions of illness immediately.

Other reasons why your cat won't eat its food are:

Getting food elsewhere - your cat may be catching its own meals if you live in an area where rodents are prolific. Or a neighbour could be feeding them. Cats have fairly small stomachs and need time between meals to digest their food. So a non-hungry cat may just be full. Mating season - female cats when in season will go off their food naturally. So if you have a queen who stops eating but starts to display normal mating behaviour this is probably the cause.

Changes in situation - cats are renowned for being very fussy about change and they generally like their world to remain consistent. So even something as small as changing their feeding bowl or area can cause them to feel insecure about eating. Look around for little changes that may be causing your cat some concern.

Over feeding - In the wild cats choose to hunt and eat small rodents and birds. When you consider how much of a small meal this is, you may begin to realise that by providing your cat with a large bowl of food, you are providing too large a meal all at once. So when you see your cat eat a little then walk a way it's not that they are "off their food", it's because they want time to digest what they have just eaten. Unfortunately if the rest of the food is left to sit in the bowl all day it is likely become less appealing and the cat will not eat it. Most cats will self regulate their food intake like this but in some cases you will get a greedy cat who will stuff themselves with a large bowl of food leading to an overweight kitty. As a rule it's best to feed your cat small portions of food throughout the day to avoid overeating and wastage.

A less unknown fact about a cats appetite and feeding habits is that they have an inbred instinct to change their diet from time to time. This is a survival mechanism to prevent starvation in the wild if a particular food source disappears. This instinct is still present even in our domestic cats that have no worries of this. So from time to time a cat that normally loves to eat, say fish may suddenly only want chicken. From an owners point of view this is not only inconvenient but may also cause concern if their cat just won't eat it normal food. A solution is to always have some other flavour of food in stock for these occasions so that worries of ill health can be eliminated from the owner's minds.

A more serious eating problem known as Pica that some cats suffer from is a rather unusual condition where a cat will choose to eat non-food items. The most common substances are rubber, electric cables, fabric and wool. The cause of this unusual eating behaviour is unknown, although it is thought that it may be caused by under stimulation, in other words boredom. This is because most cases are reported amongst indoor cats, who do not have the normal cat stimulus of hunting, exploring and climbing etc.

At present there is no cure for Pica but as it is quite dangerous for cats to eat these substances, the main treatment is to make the substances they crave either inaccessible or taste very unpleasant. Whilst at the same time making their environment more stimulating and interesting, with toys, climbing frames and games. One such game is to hide small treats inside tubes or boxes, so that the cat has to seek them out and has to put some effort into retrieving them.

More cat health and cat care tips can be found at our site http://www.our-happy-cat.com, a feline friendly community full of helpful advice and fun things to do to make sure you have a happy cat and a happy you.



About The Author

Copyright 2007 Kate Tilmouth
More cat health and cat care tips can be found at our site www.our-happy-cat.com, a feline friendly community full of helpful advice and fun things to do to make sure you have a happy cat and a happy you.




Strategy
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com



temperament of cats
New Article - The Temperament of cats

Also see : Christmas Gifts For Cats And Lovers:
The act of offering Christmas gifts is always enhanced if you take some trouble in matching the gift with the recipient.


Singing Kitten
Buy at AllPosters.com

Recently added articles

How to Use a Cat to Attract a Woman
Attention to all desperate men out there. Are you having trouble attracting women in your sexual life? Then go buy a cat! Cats are known to be extremely smart animals. They are known to drive all the negative energy away, they are very clean, sensitive, independent and of course they can help you impress most women.

Tips on Getting Your Cat to Eat
Cat owners are very familiar with the "fussy-eater" syndrome that most cats have. Many worry that their cat will become malnourished or just be constantly hungry all the time. There are several reasons why cats will not eat what's put before them. Here are a few tips on how to get your "fussy-eater" to try their food.

Cat History And Cat Classification Of Domestic Cats
Scientists classify living organisms into different kingdoms, family, and orders to study more about them. Although, most people do not get into such details, but certain individuals who love cats, will definitely want to know the scientific classification of cats.

Blindness in Cats - Five Common Causes of Feline Blindness
Cats naturally have superior vision. However, there are various conditions that can cause blindness in cats. Some of these conditions include hypertension, glaucoma, and cancer. Let's take a look at some of these causes of feline blindness.

The Importance of Potassium With Older Felines
As your cat ages, they will encounter numerous changes over time that will eventually lead to a failure of their organs and internal systems – this is a fact of life. However, it is possible to prolong their longevity by paying attention to the special needs that of older felines and by providing your cat with those elements that they will benefit from as they grow older.



temperament of cats
New Article - Abused Cats



temperament of cats
New Article - Floppy Cat

Also see : Enzyme Cleaners - The Only Effective Cat Urine Odor Eliminator:
The first time a feline owner encounters an out-of-the-cat-litter-box experience, she probably uses whatever cleaners she has on hand. Initially, it appears she's cleaned the cat urine odor and stain from the location.

So You Want a Cat or Kitten?
As an ardent reader of the Collins Dog Photoguide I came across this article, which I feel, might be of interest to readers.


Siamese Kittens
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com

Also see : Feline Cancer - Preventing the Spread of Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) In Foster Cat Homes
The feline cancer Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) weakens the immune system, causes anemia and the growth of tumors in cats. The lifespan of a FeLV cat is short as about 85% of infected cats die within 3 1/2 years of infection. If you are a foster cat care giver, there are steps you can take to prevent the spread of the disease to the non-infected cats in your home.

Your Cat's First Vet Visit
So you've got a new cat, and she needs a checkup. On your first vet visit, your vet will take the lead and give you some basic information, and probably will go through a fairly standard routine.


Kittens on Fence
Buy at AllPosters.com



Is Your Cat A Mac Daddy Cat?


Mac Daddy Cat Challenge- Can your cat hack it? Think you have a Mac Daddy Cat? Upload your cats photos and let the world decide.Can your cat hack it?

temperament of cats
New Article - I'll Take My Cat

Do You Have A Blog?

Kitten articles for your blog
Kitten articles for your blog

Also see : Feeding Your Elderly Cat:
An elderly cat's metabolism slows down, just as it does in a human. Owners should take this into consideration when feeding their cat. Older pets get less exercise, which means less lean muscle, so their food requirement is reduced

Thyroid illness in cats and dogs
Common clinical signs of hypothyroidism in dogs include weight gain, lethargy, reduced exercise tolerance and poor coat quality. However, the disease affects almost all body systems


Dog and Cat White
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com



temperament of cats
Pet Loss: Should You Clone Your Cat?

Also see : Training Your Cat to Train you for the Holidays
Hanging the stocking with care in hope the cat will not interfere.



Support Your Local Cat Adoption Programs

Behavior Training for your stubborn Cat
New Article - Behavior Training for your stubborn Cat

Keep your cat disease free
New Article - Home remedies for cats & other pets: Remedy for broken bones

Groom your cat to avoid hairballs
New Article - How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Cat Feeding Explained

Cat Watching

Cat allergies

New Kitten Care - How to Kitten-proof Your Home

A very important aspect of new kitten care is keeping your kitten safe from danger. There are a lot of potential hazards round the home for little kittens. This article lists the most common ones and suggests ways you can minimize risks to your kitten and keep her safe.

Washing machine and tumble dryer:
If you leave the door open and there are clothes inside, there's a good chance your kitten will climb in and go to sleep. Always check your kitten isn't inside these before you use them.

Fridge and freezer:
As soon as you've used these, shut the door.

Hob and oven:
Shut the oven door as soon as you've finished with it. Cover hot hob plates.

Raw meat:
Keep it out of reach - it can give your kitten food poisoning.

Garbage:
Put all garbage in a sealed bin that your kitten can't access.

Plants:
Many plants are poisonous to cats. If you're not sure whether a certain plant is safe for your kitten if she eats it, put it out of her reach.

Pot pourri:
The oils used to scent this can be poisonous.

Open fires and candles:
Use a guard on the fire. Never leave a kitten in a room alone with lit candles.

Electrical wires:
If your kitten is a wire chewer, you'll need to put wires out of her reach or buy plastic covers for them.

Curtain tie-backs and cords on window blinds:
Kittens can get caught in these. Either remove them completely or tie them up out of reach.

Filled bathtubs and sinks:
Make sure your kitten doesn't have access to the room when the tub or sink is full.

Open toilet:
Try to get into the habit of keeping the lid down when the toilet's not in use.

Medications:
Keep them in a cupboard that your kitten can't get into.

Small objects:
Kittens can swallow small things like paper clips, rubber bands, staples and needles.

String, wool, fishing line and thread:
Kittens can swallow large quantities of these. For this reason, balls of wool or string and pom-poms aren't good toys for cats.

Household chemicals:
Most cleaners etc. are highly poisonous to cats and need to be kept somewhere your kitten can't access.

Tobacco:
Tobacco, nicotine patches and nicotine gum are all poisonous to cats.

Reclining chairs, futons, folding beds, drawers:
If kittens get caught when this type of furniture is moved, they can get crushed. Make sure your kitten isn't asleep somewhere she could get trapped before you use any of these.

Safety is a major factor for new kitten care. It's fairly easy to keep your kitten safe as long as you anticipate potential dangers and take the necessary steps to prevent them. Putting brightly colored post it notes up around your home is a good way to do this. Stick the notes on or near potential dangers - for example the fridge, washing machine, oven, toilet and futon - and anywhere else that could be a hazard.

About the Author
Liz Allan
Liz Allan has 25 years experience of caring for cats. To find out more about new kitten care, visit: http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com/all-about-kittens.html

Getting Ready for the Newborn Kittens

Caring for your cat during pregnancy may require a lot of time and effort in your part but it is a very wonderful and rewarding experience. But after the kittens are already born, you will need to do a different task and that is to take care of the newborn kittens. These kittens will need special kind of attention and care and you must make sure that you could provide it to them.

One good way to start is to prepare your home for the arrival of the newborn kittens. Kittens tend to play with, chew, or nibble anything that attracts their interest like plants, cords, and other materials. You should remove the things that could be harmful to the newborn kittens like anything that could poison them or hurt them. Electrical cords must be kept out of reach. Look for anything sharp and pointed and remove them from the area immediately. Deal with anything that could strangle your kitten like ropes, ribbons, and cords to provide a safer place for your kittens.

You might also want to save your curtains and drapes from kitten scratches so it would be advisable to tie them up so your kittens will not be able to reach them. Make sure that the cabinet for your cleaning liquids are out of your kittens’ reach. Most of these cleaning liquids are poisonous and you wouldn't want your kitty to play with them to prevent any kind of accident.

Another good preparation that you should not forget is to shop for things that your kitten will need. You will have to shop for foods that are suitable for newborn kittens. You should opt for foods that could give your kittens the kind of nutrition they need for growth. The food should also be easily digestible by kittens to prevent any troubles with their tummy.

You should also get them the things they need like their own bowls, kitty basket or bed, blanket, litter box, and toys. This is to ensure that your kittens will be comfortable and that they will have a good playing time. You should provide them with warm and comfortable place or area to sleep in. When choosing toys for your little kittens, make sure that they are safe and will not put the safety of your kittens at risk.

Lastly, you must make sure that your kittens are healthy. After birth, you could have a vet take a look at them to check them up for any illness and to give them vaccines that they need. If your vet saw some signs and symptoms that suggest illness, your kitten might be subjected to some tests and examinations. This is to ensure that they will grow healthy and will reduce the risk of getting sick. These things will help prepare you and your home for the arrival of your cat’s newborn kittens. You will not have to get worried about their safety inside your home and you can be sure that you will able to provide them with anything they need for them to grow happy and healthy.

About the Author
Shaun Bradley
My name is Shaun Bradley and I am an avid Cat Lover/Owner. I have had cats ever since I can remember. Now I have just two cats named Sylvia and Goldie. They are great pets and fairly simple to take care of as long as you know some easy cat training tips. Visit my website for more information http://www.trainingyourcats.com

Dental disease in dogs and cats
New Article - Cat Litter Box Health Concerns You Need To Know:



temperament of cats
Can Cat Lovers Ever Love Dogs?

Cat Health Articles

Cat health articles
Is your cat sick? Find out why.

More Cat, kitten, cat litter, free content, Articles


Feline Urinary Tract Infection - Antibiotics or Natural Treatment
Feline urinary tract infection can be dangerous for you cat if not treated. Your cat will experience pain in the abdomen, pain when urinating, itching, burning, and fever. Without proper treatment, the infection can progress to chronic status and cause veterinarian bills to stack up. Learning the types of treatment and prevention available will save you and kitty a lot of pain and suffering.

Beware of Holiday Goodies for your dog or cat:
The holidays mean lots of rich and fatty foods for most people. Who can resist ...... candy, cookies, fudge, egg nog, pumpkin pie, not to mention the home cooked meals and family togetherness? It's part of the spirit of the season.

Tell a friend:

Cat Krazy
Buy at AllPosters.com



temperament of cats
New Article - About Your Cats Tongue





cat food factors that discourage feline utd
New Article - Cat Chat: How Cats Communicate

Training a cat to do tricks
New Article - How to Make your Cat Urinate in the Litter Box



health risk of catnip
New Article - Feral Cats Can Make Good Pets

Feral cats
New Article - All About Traveling With Cats

cloned cats
New Article - How to Solve Litter box Problems in Multi-cat Homes

cat food
New Article - New Recipes Transform Canned Cat Food

kitten
New Article - How to Control the Smell From the Litter Box

Cats and kidney disease
New Article - Cat Bathing Tips and Tricks


San Antonio Texas Pet Scene

'cat
Add a Shelter Cat to Your Family Today

Stray Cat Adoptions of Texas (SCAT)

P.O. Box 700571
San Antonio, Texas 78270
Attn: Denise Duchaine
SCAT runs weekend cat adoption centers at several PetSmart locations in San Antonio.

San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition

San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition
San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition is organized to promote Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and public education of feral cat issues in the San Antonio area.

South Texas Persian Rescue

South Texas Persian Rescue
We are a rescue specializing in rescuing persians, himalayans, exotic shorthairs, and ragdolls. Most of our rescued cats are pulled from shelters. Some are given up by their owners due to family situations, financial situations, or a behavioral problem the cat is having. All cats are treated for any existing medical condition(s); they are spayed/neutered, FIV/FELV tested, and given all necessary immunizations before adoption; and any behavioral problem(s) the cat may have is addressed and resolved. All of our foster kitties are housed in actual homes with foster parents - so they get used to being in a home environment.

The Humane Society / SPCA of Bexar County

The Humane Society / SPCA of Bexar County
The Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County has served Bexar County and its surrounding areas since 1952.

Animal Defense League

Animal Defense League
The ADL has a nice Cat House and always has cats and kittens for adoption

Become part of the San Antonio Pet Scene

Email me your Pet related announcements and I will post them for free. clark2368@aol.com

Cat
New Article - Are You Abusing Your Cat?

Newest Cat and Kitten Articles

Tips For Awesome Looking Pet Portraits
We love our pets. They do such cute, adorable, and funny things. They are more often than not, an integral part of our family. As such, you probably want to capture your beloved friend with great pet pictures. What if, when you go to take those perfect pet portraits, they run and hide, or simply won't cooperate? In this article we give some great tips to help you next time you go for that dog photo or pet picture of your best friend.

One of the most daunting tasks that you have as a cat owner is litter-training them. You would not want your cats to soil your bed sheet or wet your favorite furniture.
In litter-training your pet cat, make sure that you start while they are young kittens and they will surely carry this habit as they grow. Here are the basics on how you can successfully litter-train your cat:

Cat Diseases : Watch For Early Warnings:
Watch your cat and disease signs that may indicate a variety of health problems. Being alert to these indicators can help treat your cat quickly and efficiently.

How To Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy - Playtime for Kitty:
While dogs tend to get lots of exercise, cats are often left to their own devices, having to find their own ways of exercising if they are kept indoors. Cats have gone from working animals to creatures of leisure

Taking Care of an Older Cat
Cats are not turtles. Okay, I know what you're thinking, people aren't turtles, either. However, when you really think about it, people are a lot closer to turtles than cats in the sense that turtles, as well as people, can live to be 100 years



Cat
Shelter Cats Make Great Companions

Other Crazy Stuff

Identity Theft a real threat to cats

'cat
Identity Theft Is Real

'cat
Don't Be Fooled

Catnews.org is currently investigating the real threat of identity theft to your cat or kitten. We have a reporter deep under cover to gather the facts. We will be reporting on this vital issue soon.
'cat
Our Reporter On The Inside

An Engineer's Guide to Cats



Worlds First Bio-engineered Pet

GenPet
See The Gen Pets



Proof That Osama Bin Laden is Dead
Dateline: Jan. 2008



Yemengzhu - The 3 billion dollar rock

Yemengzhu
Yemengzhu - The 3 Billion Dollar Rock
What weighs 6.2 tons and is worth more then 3.1 billion dollars? Are your guessing a new high tech battleship or maybe a new stealth fighter? Well it's a big ball of glow in the dark fluorite. Thats right a rock!
read more --- Yemengzhus, 亦稱傳奇光亮珍珠在中國, 是罕見的煥發的球在黑暗的熒石。

Red fluorescent cats

Fluorescent cats


Red fluorescent cats: This picture, taken through a special filter in a dark room, shows a cat, left, possessing a red fluorescent protein that makes the animal glow in the dark when exposed to ultraviolet rays, appearing next to a normal cloned cat.

Pet Classifieds Free Pet Classifieds

Our Awards

'Purrfect Site' Award

Meet My Cats

I am a slave to 8 cats

'cat in heat

Rare Picture Of All My Cats



'cat behavior training
Trouble, Patches, and Sweetie Pie enjoying a sunny San Antonio Day. (What a life!)

'cat stomped to death
Cassidy and Snowflake Same mom different litters - Rescued from a feral colony in San Antonio

'custom road bike stand
Cassidy was born with a club foot and two different color eyes

'cat need a collar
Cassidy runs and plays just like her normal sisters

'introducing two cats
Sarafena - Queen of the Witches

'cat_whisperer
Cookie Monster came from a local flea market

'cat urine smells
Trouble (Grand Ma) weighs in at 18+ pounds. At 12 years old she still plays with the young cats.

'cats first vet visit
Starvin Marvin - AKA "Whizzer" - Our only Tom. Marvin Has FHIV but is healthy and living high on the hog.

Welcome to my website - Don't like what you see? Refresh the page for a whole new web adventure

Editor - Russell Clark (clark2368@aol.com)
Adopt a shelter cat today. - Better yet, adopt two.

Honoring Our Troops

'cat

'cat

Cat Fist Aid

Something New!

'cat

Sign My Guest Book

Whats News

I Think My Cat is In Heat, What Do I Do?

Cat's Heat Cycle
If you ahve an un-spayed cat, whether because you haven't gotten around to having her spayed or because you don't believe it spaying female animals or whatever the reason, you should be prepared for the cat to go into heat.

Usually a cat will come into her first season between 4 and 10 months old. That is a pretty lengthy time span, which is why if you don't want to deal with the cat going into heat, you should consider spaying the cat as soon as your vet recommends.

A cat's normal heat cycle lasts between 7 to 10 days, and occurs every 2 to 3 weeks.

If you do not spay your cat and you do not breed her, there is a high risk that the female cat will develop cancer in her reproductive organs or she can develop pyometra, which is a fatal infection in the uterus. So, needless to say if you do not want to breed your cat, then it's highly suggested that you spay the cat by at least 6 months old.

Signs of a Cat in Heat
Any or all of the below signs may indicate that your cat is in heat.
* More affectionate.
* Rolls around on the floor more than usual.
* Carries tail to one side.
* Very vocal, meowing a lot, with a more piercing tone.
* Points bum in the air with head and front half of the body on the ground.
* Licking vulva area.
* Rubs face against you or furniture more than usual.
* If an inside cat, she may try desperately to escape and run outside.
Precautions to Consider When Your Cat is In Heat
Continue Reading



QUICK CAT FACTS

'cat

ARE GINGER CATS ALWAYS MALE?
No. This is a common misconception. Ginger cats can be either male or female although ginger females are less common.

The genetics of ginger is explained in more detail in Tortoiseshell and Tri-Colour Cats (ginger is caused by the same gene as tortoiseshell), but this is a short version for those wanting a quick answer.

The ginger gene changes black pigment into a reddish pigment. The ginger gene is carried on the X chromosome. A normal male cat has XY genetic makeup so he only needs to inherit one ginger gene for him to be a ginger cat. A normal female is XX genetic makeup so she must inherit two ginger genes to be a ginger cat. If she inherits only one ginger gene, she will be tortoiseshell with some ginger areas and some black/brown areas.

The ginger gene is called a sex-linked gene because it is carried on a sex chromosome.

Also, if you look closely, ginger cats have tabby markings though these may be faint or only visible on the face, tail and lower legs. They are also visible in the ginger areas of tortie cats. This is because the gene that turns off tabby to give solid colour cats does not work on the ginger colour.

ARE GINGER FEMALES RARE?
No. They are less common than ginger males, but they are not rare. It is possible to selectively breed ginger female cats by mating ginger males and ginger females together. They will have ginger offspring.

ARE GINGER FEMALES STERILE?
Continue Reading

SOMETHING NEW FOR BLOGGERS

visit CatNews.org

Free changing picture gallery for your blog or webpage

Here is your chance to put a rotating picture gallery of the cats of CatNews.org on your blog or website.

Drop this code into your page and the gallery will function just like the pictures you see on my site, changing each time your visitor refreshes the page. I am always adding pictures to these galleries. They already has quite a few in them.

Gallery 1

Gallery 2

Gallery 3

Focus On Cat Health

Cat Health

As Old as He Feels – Caring for Your Elderly Cat

They say old age creeps up on a person like a thief in the night. This is especially true of your cat. Cats seemingly race through adolescence and adulthood, and suddenly at around 8 years of age, they are entering their golden years. As our cats age, they may have specific needs or problems that must be addressed. The aging process brings about a gradual decline in a cat's physical and sometimes mental abilities. Becoming aware of these issues allows you to provide the best possible care.

Not all cats age at the same rate. A cat's biological age depends upon genetic background, the quality of his diet, his general state of health, and the quality of his living conditions. Research estimates that old age for cats begins somewhere between the 8th and 9th birthday. This is the equivalent of about 55 human years.

Ideally, caring for the geriatric cat should focus on preventive measures.

Whenever possible, it is better to prevent a problem from occurring, rather than to wait for a problem to develop. Detecting diseases in the early stages greatly improves the outcome. Different cats have specific risk factors that influence the diagnostic approach to geriatric medicine. Characteristics of the breed, genetics, environment, and lifestyle of your cat may put him or her at greater risk of developing a particular disease or other age-related changes.
Continue Reading

TOXOPLASMOSIS

Toxoplasmosis (commonly called toxo) is a disease caused by a microscopic protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii. You may have heard about this infection because of the danger to newborn children if a woman becomes infected while pregnant. Another reason cat owners should be aware of toxo is that the cat is considered the "definitive host" of the toxoplasma organism, meaning it is the only animal that sheds infectious toxo in its feces.

All mammals can become infected with toxo. Infection can occur in two ways. One is by ingesting toxo that has been shed in the feces of a cat. This can occur through contact with soil where cats have defecated or through direct contact with a cat or its fecal matter. This is a very uncommon occurrence. The much more common method of acquiring toxo is by eating meat or prey which contains toxo in the form of a tissue cyst. In cats and other predatory animals this occurs commonly when they eat uncooked prey. In people it occurs most commonly through eating raw or undercooked meat since beef, pork and lamb can all contain toxo.

When any animal, including people and cats, become infected with toxoplasma it usually is an inapparent infection with no illness. This is because the body's immune system puts up a defense that stops the spread of the toxo and walls off the organism into a tiny tissue cyst which remains dormant for years. These are the same tissue cysts which if eaten can cause infection.

In people the situation is different if the person who becomes infected has a compromised immune system, such as a person with AIDS or a person on immune-suppressing drugs. In these cases, the spread of toxo may not be held in check and it can develop into an overwhelming and sometimes fatal infection which may affect many organs including the lungs, liver, eyes and brain. The situation is also different if the person who becomes infected is a pregnant woman.

The woman will generally have no apparent illness, but the toxo organism can pass to the fetus and result in damage to the eyes or brain causing congenital disease.

When mammals other than people become infected a similar thing happens. The vast majority never have illness but may carry tissues cysts of toxo for life. Only a few whose immune system fails to stop the toxo will become ill. This holds true for cats as well. A high percentage of cats have toxo cysts but are not ill, but we only occasionally diagnose toxoplasmosis in cats where it causes disease of the eye, lung, brain or other organs.
Continue Reading


PICA In Cats: EATING THE INEDIBLE

Pica means eating non-food items. The behaviour ranges from sucking, chewing and biting through to swallowing bites of items. Pica (from the Latin for "magpie"). It should not be confused with the suckling/nursing behaviour that some cats retain into adulthood. Commonly consumed target items include wool, string, elastic bands, electrical cords, tissues, tinsel and houseplants. Other objects have included cassette tape and the rubber "teat" section of a child's dummy (pacifier). Eating a little grass or herbs is normal cat behaviour; indoor cats may eat houseplants if there is no grass accessible.

Like many obsessive or abnormal behaviours, the cat persists in doing it because the it is comforting or rewarding. The reward might be a nice taste, a full stomach or simply getting attention from the owner. The challenge is to make the behaviour unrewarding and redirect the behaviour into something rewarding for the cat and acceptable to the owner. Sometimes it is a displacement activity where an abnormal activity is substituted for normal behaviour because the cat can't express the more normal behaviour i.e. the normal behaviour is being thwarted.

PICA, WOOL-SUCKING OR PREY-PLUCKING?
Wool-sucking (or fabric-sucking) is a misdirected form of nursing. It's similar to a child's thumb-sucking in providing comfort.. Though sometimes mistaken for wool-eating, the item (sweater, blanket etc) is only sucked, not chewed, bitten or swallowed. Other commonly suckled objects include the cat's own tail, other cats or pet dogs. Behavioural treatment may be needed to build up the cat's confidence so it no longer resorts to "comfort nursing".

In general, the younger a kitten is when it is weaned, the stronger the urge to nurse and the more persistent the comfort-nursing. Usually it decreases naturally as the kitten grows up, but it may persist or resurface in early-weaned or hand-reared cats, particularly at times of stress. More rarely it becomes a compulsive behaviour or progresses to pica.

Some owners provide an old sweater for the cat to suckle on while protecting other garments by storing them away from the cat or dabbing hot chilli sauce onto them.

Plucking the target resembles pica but is a misdirected prey-related activity. The cat holds down the (often woollen) blanket or garment with its paws and uses its teeth to pluck or tear at it. This is the same behaviour found when a cat plucks or tears fur, feather or flesh from larger prey items (e.g. pigeons). The clothing/blanket isn't swallowed anything the cats tears off is discarded. One of my cats, Sappho, exhibited this behaviour towards crochet blankets.

In the case of one Siamese cat, it took a sock to its eating area and plucked at it periodically during the meal (canned food). The owner attributed this to "teeth cleaning" but it was probably misdirected prey-plucking/tearing behaviour as it only occurred at mealtimes.

BREED PREDISPOSITIONS
Continue Reading

Focus On Cat Breeds

cat breeds

History, Temperament of the Maine Coon.

History of the Maine Coon Cat
Maine Coons have been on this earth for many centuries, they were well documented at being in large numbers at American Cat Shows in the mid 1800’s alongside the other popular breed at the time the Persian cat.

There are several theories as to the origin of Maine Coons, the Darwin Theory of an animal’s origin being disregarded and obscured, from being an outcross between a Bobcat/Wildcat and a domestic, coming across as ship cats from Scandinavian countries as Forest type cats and mating with the domestic cats, to Marie Antoinette sending her royal cats on a ship to the safety of Maine, prior to her beheading. Nobody really knows and the cat’s aren’t saying.

Maine Coons are a natural breed of cat or at least the original ones were, and anyone who has ever met one and to everyone who has ever lived with one, the Maine Coon is a very special breed of cat. [1]

Appearance of The Maine Coon Cat
Maine Coons are the largest breed of domestic cat and have a rugged, working cat appearance. They have a lovely semi-longhaired coat of varying lengths and were well built to survive in the harsh North American winters. This coat is very water repellent, but quite soft to the touch. An amazing plumed tail of large proportions finishes off this wonderful coat. They come in a large variety of colours and in several tabby patterns as well as solid and particolours. Brown tabby is the original colouring of a Maine Coon but the rainbow of colours range through blues, reds and creams, silvers tortoiseshell and solid blacks through to solid white.
Continue Reading



Cat allergies

Newest Articles

 Living in a Cat's World
As a human you probably do not think much about your cat's world, other than to feed it and pet it from time to time. We think about our five senses and how we use them, but have you ever really thought about your cat's five senses?

Egyptian Mau - the Facts Every Owner of This Cat Breed Should Know
Egyptian Maus have striking green eyes and an unusual flap of skin extending from the flank to the back knee, which allows for agility. It is the fastest breed of cat, able to reach speeds of more than thirty miles per hour. Average adult male Egyptian Maus will reach weights between ten to fourteen pounds. Females will average six to ten pounds.

Domestic Cats And Feral Cats - The History Of Cats
The first appearance of the domesticated cat according to original reports goes back as far as 8,000 years ago. According to findings, during that era, bones of mice, humans and cats were buried mutually on the isle of Cyprus. Apparently, people then brought together with them the mice, which were unwanted, and the cats to Cyprus.



Cat
New Article - Get ready for kittens

Just For Fun




SOMETHING NEW! - I've added more International Carriers

Send Free Cell Phone Text Messages From Your Computer To Almost Anywhere in the World- Carriers from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, The UK, India, and many other Nations.

You can send free SMS text messages from this website to almost anywhere in the world. Stop sending text messages from your phone; do it online with my free SMS Text messaging program.
keep your message short. SMS text messages are limited to 160 characters.
Don't forget to bookmark us!

From:
To cell # w/ area code
Receivers Carrier:
Message:


Blackjack: Play Free Blackjack

the most popular casino game in the world free blackjack
Play Blackjack


Magic Square Puzzle

Try to eliminate all the boxes to win. When you check a box, all the squares around it (one above, one below, and one to each side) are unselected. You can play in five different levels of difficulty.
Magic Square Puzzle
Magic Square Puzzle



Article Authors Wanted

I have my article directory up and running. Anyone with a good article can submit it for posting I am trying to increases my PR with the search engines and am looking For Authors that will give me a back link to their site. I don’t require a back link for you to post on my site, but it would help me reach my goal of 1 million back links within the next three years.
Thanks for visiting my site
Russell - Vist the new article directory

catnews.org Kitty Card Shop
Check out my new Ecard shop. No sign up with dozens of cat and kitten cards to send

Cat litter box location strategies

Delicious Recipes from my visitors - Add Your Recipes

Recipe Box
Have a yummy dish? Post it here and share it with everyone



Information Center

Information Center
Find the answers to anything - Over 200 subjects and growing

Cat
New Article - Common cat ailments

Cat
New Article - Taking care of an older cat

Meow Mix House - Cat Reality Television

My friends at Meow Mix have done it again, they have produced a reality TV show staring 10 homeless cats. All ten cats were chosen from animal shelters from around the country.
The cats are spending their time in a storefront window in New York City. The players are brought to life with the use of voice over and the public votes one of the cats out of the house each week. Sound like something you've watched before?
The best part is when the cats gets voted out of the Meow Mix House they go to an adopted new home and the winner will be the new Meow Mix spokes-cat.
Thanks to Meow Mix for providing great entertainment for us cat lovers.

View the episodes

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Meow Mix House
Cat Reality Television



Cat and Kitten Picture Gallery

Cat and Kitten Pictures



Need Cat Articles For Your Web Site?

Free Feline Content For Your Cat, Kitten or Pet Site
Looking for quality cat and kitten articles to post on your site? I have done the formatting work for you. I am posting the Article of The Day on this page ready to copy and insert into your site.

Attention Authors—New Section - Post Your Articles

Self-Posting Article Directory
All subjects welcome

'cat
Link Exchange
If you have a pet related site and you'd like to link to Catnews.org feel free! Just copy the HTML code beneath the banner you want and paste it into your web page. If you want a reciprocal link in our link directory
please email me at clark2368@aol.com with the page you have posted our banner and the information and graphic for your link

'cat
Link Directory
Visit our friends who support this site

'cat
Hey are you a Pussy cat? Join the CAT WARS - Upload Your Picture and do battle with me and my friends - Can you hack it?



temperament of cats

Recently Added Cat, kitten, cat litter, free content, Articles


Several Classic Cat Health Warning Signs
As a cat owner, cat health problems are at the top of my list of concerns. The various illnesses your cat may face are many and varied, and your cat can't tell you how she's feeling, at least not in words. Feline illness symptoms, like that in humans, often overlap.

Birman - The Facts Every Owner Of This Cat Breed Should Know
The history of the Birman cat is steeped in mystery. According to legend, the people of Asia built a temple to worship a golden goddess with sapphire-blue eyes. A priest often knelt in meditation with a white temple cat. One night the temple was attacked at the priest killed. As the priest died, the cat placed his feet upon the priest and faced the golden goddess. As he did, the hairs of his white body turned golden, and his yellow eyes to sapphire-blue, his four white legs turned brown, but where his paws rested, they remained white. Where this legend ends, history begins.

The Woes of Cat Hair and How to Control It
Cat hair gets everywhere. In the bedding, on the screens, deep in the carpet, and of course, on clothes. While the hair is not an allergen, the danderand allergens stick to it so we sneeze.

Your Cats Health
Cats need only be provided with decent shelter, food and water and they will be quite healthy most of the time. Like any other living thing, however, they can get sick and can come down with anything from a minor cold to a major ailment.



temperament of cats
New Article - Declawing - What You Should Know About

Extreme Cat Urine Problems Are Preventable:
Many times cat owners are at a loss as to why their cat doesn't use their litter box. Here are some great tips that can help you solve the problem

Hepatic Lipidosis in Cats:
Hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver, is a common syndrome characterized by excess fat accumulation in the liver of cats. It can occur in cats of any age or breed and may affect more female cats than males

How To Make Sure Your New Cat Will Be At Home In Your Home:
Buying a cat is a big decision. Do you have time to look after her? Is your home or apartment suitable for a cat?

Training Your Cat To Be Nice To Your House
Is your cat taking over the house? Climbing curtains, chewing cords, knocking over the trash and jumping on the counters? Well you don't have to put up with it!



temperament of cats
New Article -

Some News About Cat, kitten, cat litter, free content,



    cat urine
    New Article

    Link Exchange
    If you have a pet related site and you'd like to link to Catnews.org feel free! Just copy the HTML code beneath the banner you want and paste it into your web page. If you want a reciprocal link please email me at clark2368@aol.com with the page you have posted our banner and the information and graphic for your link

    Attention Authors—New Section
    CatNews.org - Self-Posting Article Directory

    Self-Posting Article Directory
    All subjects welcome

    cat whisperer
    New Article

    cat urine
    New Article

    Cat Web Rings

    I enjoy surfing cat sites via web rings. You will too :)