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What better way to celebrate National Cat Health Month than to discuss Cat Care of Vinings’ favorite tips for keeping your cat healthy? Keep reading for our best feline wellness tips!

Have you ever bought something that you thought your cat would love only for it to be totally ignored? It happens to all of us. It’s very”cat-ish” to keep us guessing about their likes and, more to the point, dislikes. The result is that we keep trying to deliver the best cat gifts to them in the hope that they’ll be happy and healthy for as long as possible, which is why we keep trying. What can we say? We love cats!

Like all pets, cats are prone to accidents, injuries, and illnesses. In fact, all pets, for the most part, will have at least one medical emergency in their lifetime. While we don’t want to think that something serious can happen to our beloved cat, there is every reason to be aware and prepared, should the unexpected occur. 

Do you know how to recognize a cat emergency? Are you prepared for what to do if your cat has an emergency?

The team at Cat Care of Vinings wants to give our wonderful cat lovers a better understanding of the signs of an emergency and how to quickly respond.

If you’ve been the proud owner of a cat for many years, it’s probably time to consider their aging process if you haven’t already. Cats age faster than we do, and as a result, they benefit from routine wellness checks every 6 months once they hit the age of 8. Increasing their annual exams from 1 to 2 times a year helps to prevent age-related issues and detect health conditions before they become serious. 

Senior cat care doesn’t have to be stressful, and once you know what to expect, you and your cat can move toward the golden years together. 

Whether it collects in the corners, gets all over your clothes, or shows up in an elongated regurgitated “ball”, cat hair just comes with the territory of feline cohabitation. A gleaming coat is one of their finer physical attributes, but let’s face it, cats shed. Loose, dead hair is set free 1-2 times a year, usually becoming airborne at some point only to settle in places you’d least expect it. 

Yes, cat lovers must be willing to put up with loose hairs around the house. But is it always part of a normal process, or could excessive shedding be explained by something else?

Homeless cats don’t have easy lives. They suffer through weather extremes, dangerous battles over territory, traffic, exposure to contagious diseases or parasites, and terrible mistreatment from people and other animals. They never know exactly where the next meal is coming from, or whether they’ll have a warm, dry place to sleep. 

Stray cats are those that were, at one point or another, family pets. Whether they became separated or were abandoned, stray cats can be rehabilitated and re-homed. Feral cats, on the other hand, have never been dependent on human care and rely only on their survival skills. With more than 70 millions homeless cats in the U.S., how can communities help feral cats as well as strays?

The ideal weight for a domestic cat is about 8-10 pounds. Some breeds, like the Maine Coon, can top out at about 15 pounds, while Siamese cats may weigh as little as 5 pounds. In striking contrast to these figures, the majority of pet cats in our country are considered overweight or obese. 

The best way to counter the health ramifications associated with too many pounds? Prevention, of course! Staying in front of feline obesity is an enormous responsibility, and we’re here to help our patients live their longest, healthiest life possible.

When cats hide, they aren’t simply waiting for you to seek them out. Instead, cats sniff out quiet, dark, seemingly inaccessible places so they can go it alone – especially if they are in ill health. But why do they do this? How can cat owners help? Paying extra close attention to the subtle art of feline behavior is a good place to start.

February is National Cat Health Month; and while we focus on cat health every day, we wanted to take advantage of the spotlight to showcase this often-misunderstood feline behavior.

Many cat owners believe that their cats are better off at home instead of a boarding facility, since felines are incredibly territorial. However, despite every last effort to ensure their safety and wellbeing, accidental injury or sudden illness can happen while you’re out of town. Sure, a friend, relative, or neighbor might pop in for daily meals, litter box duties, and attention, but unless your cat is being closely monitored in your absence, calamity can occur. Boarding your cat with us is the best solution!

The Difference

The primary reason why cat owners ultimately decide to board their cat instead of hiring a cat sitter is medical care and attention. Veterinary hospitals provide consistent monitoring of daily health and wellbeing, and we know when something is “off”. Our trained staff can address any needs that pop up in your absence.

Additionally, cats that depend on medication, subcutaneous fluid therapy, or specialized diet can have all their needs promptly addressed by a caring, professional staff.

It is good news is that humans are living longer, healthier lives. But the great news is that our cats are living longer, healthier lives too! Our feline companions used to be considered “getting up there” at around age 10 or 12 years of age.

Now, according to Cornell University Feline Health Center (CFHC), that figure needs to be adjusted downward to 6 to 7 years of age. According to CFHC, the idea that one human year equals seven cat years is incorrect: a 10-year-old cat is really closer to 53 in human years, and a 15-year-old cat is more akin to a person aged 73! Continue…