Winning the War Between Cats and Parasites With Year Round Prevention

A grey striped cat receiving parasite treatment.
Parasite prevention for cats is easy and well worth the trouble.

Organisms that live on or inside other species at their host’s expense aren’t welcome in our homes, but sometimes they come in without an invitation. All these blood suckers need are hosts to feed from, and cats are easy targets no matter the season. The war between cats and parasites rages on year round, but parasite infestations are easy to prevent.

Continue…

The Fur Tumbleweeds are Flying! How to Reduce Your Cat’s Shedding

If you are a cat owner that has had to replace one too many vacuums, we know the struggle. How to keep your cat from shedding so much is a common complaint we hear a lot at Cat Care of Vinings. Unfortunately, shedding happens.

Did you know we offer grooming for long haired cats? We don’t always recommend shaving them down simply for shedding, but a lot of owners with long haired cats choose shave-downs to prevent matting and hairballs!

There are some good solutions to reduce your cat’s shedding, which is why we are devoting an entire blog on this hairy situation!

Continue…

When It Comes to Senior Cat Care, Less Is Not More 

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. 

Continue…

So Much Love to Give: How Communities Can Help Feral Cats (and Strays!)

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?

Continue…

Disaster Planning For Cats

Natural disasters are some of the scariest and most damaging phenomena out there. Since they happen with little or no warning, they often cause chaos and confusion if not planned for in advance.

If pets are a part of your family, it’s important to include them in the family disaster planning and preparation. Cats especially require some specific thinking as you plan how to keep them safe in the worst case scenario.

The team at Cat Care of Vinings wants to help give you the knowledge and skills to make disaster planning for cats a breeze. Let’s get started!

Continue…

The Real Deal: What it Means when Cats Knead

Cat owners are lucky to be able to closely observe feline behavior every day. We’re in awe by their reflexes, impressed by their accuracy, and inspired by their cleverness. However, one of the cutest, sweetest things that cats do is knead.

Also called “making biscuits” or “working the dough,” this action consists of rhythmically pressing their front paws into a warm, squishy surface (like your lap!). Knowing why cats knead may help their owners understand – and appreciate – the wonders of this feline behavior.

Continue…

A Quick Guide to Feline Behavior: What Does It Mean When Cats Hide?

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.

Continue…

Do You Have Doubts About Boarding Your Cat? Let’s Dispel Them.

Boarding your cat can be a great alternative to a pet sitter

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.

Continue…

Owning a Cat Improves Your Human Relationships in Wonderful Ways

Documented research proves that dog owners are more outgoing and social than other people, but the reach and power of owning a cat is not as well known. Cat owners know how wonderful it is to share their home with a cat or two. While it’s fun and rewarding to have a cat, we also learn a great deal from our feline relationships.

What does this mean for our human relationships? Only great things!

Continue…

Kitten Care: The First Three Months

kitten careThere’s something undeniably special about kittens; maybe it’s the large and inquisitive eyes, or the precious and tiny paws, or the little tails that continually twitch in the excitement of exploring a new environment. Taking care of a kitten is an exercise in playfulness and delight, to be sure.

Continue…