"How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Cat Feeding Explained"Written by n
"How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Cat Feeding Explained"Cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters, but that is usually a distortion of truth. Cats have a very keen sense of taste and smell, and they know what they like. If you have fed your cat same food for years, then change brands, she may boycott new menu. If you must change her diet, do it over time, mixing just a bit of new food with plenty of old favorite. Slowly increase amount of new food and decrease old. Cats are creatures of habit. Your feline friend will feel more calm and comfortable if you feed her at same time each day. If more than one cat shares your home, be sure that each has a food and water bowl of its own. This lessens competition, territoriality, and ensures that everyone is getting their fair share of nutrition. Cats have unusual nutritional needs and you should check labelling of your chosen cat foods to ensure they are included, or consider nutritional supplements. These include: * Vitamin A * Niacin * Essential Fatty Acids * Taurine The amount and frequency of food you put out depends on age, health, and activity level of your cat. Kittens under 12 weeks of age usually need to eat about four times each day. Adult cats benefit from twice-a-day feedings. Read packaging labels or ask your veterinarian for guidelines on how much food your cat should eat each day. Don't panic if your cat skips a meal, but if she doesn't eat for more 48 hours, contact your vet. But, keep in mind that if your cat is allowed to roam outdoors, she may be ruining her appetite at a neighbor's house. Never feed your cat table scraps. They are unhealthy for her, and create annoying begging behaviors.
| | "Caring for an Older Cat - Cat Health and Cat Care"Written by NS Kennedy
Cats are living longer lives thanks to dedicated care from their humans, and advances in veterinary medicine. Most experts consider a cat's "senior years" to begin on her 10th birthday. After this point, aging process begins to slow in even most playful feline. Yet, with a little extra attention from her owner, Miss Kitty might enjoy another 5-10 years of life and love. Just as with humans, cats often lose ability to hear as they age. This often goes unnoticed by owners, who might chalk their cat's lack of response to typical feline aloofness. Without keen hearing and vision, however, an older cat is more vulnerable to threats from cars and dogs on street. It is best to keep an older cat indoors. If she loves fresh air, make sure you supervise her in a protected area. Even most easygoing cat can become a finicky eater in her later years. As an older cat's senses of smell and taste begin to diminish, she becomes less interested in her food. Adding moist food and warming her meals will amplify scent and make it more tantalizing. Moist food will increase amount of water in your cat's diet. It is important to keep fresh water available for your older cat, and to monitor her drinking habits. Her natural thirst drive can fade with age, causing her to become dangerously dehydrated rather quickly. Take note of about how much water your cat drinks each day. If amount suddenly drops, and you know she is not getting water from any other source, contact your veterinarian. Remember that there have been huge advances in medical care for cats in recent years. Online shopping for cat medication has become popular, but remember that there is no substitute for regular check-ups with your veterinarian.
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