Janet Nusbaum asked:


a cat to share your life with can be a rewarding experience. This furry family member can often be aloof, but he needs your love and care to thrive. In order to protect the health of your cat, it is important that you become familiar with common feline health problems. By knowing what to watch for in your cat, you will be able to keep him healthy and happy throughout his life.

HEARTWORM

Heartworm is one of the most common and well-known health problems that your cat may encounter. Heartworm is contracted by contact with mosquitoes and can cause very severe reactions in cats. Dogs get heartworm as well but they do not have the same reactions and symptoms as do cats. For obvious reasons, it is more common for an outdoor cat to contract heartworm. There is a possibility of a mosquito getting inside your home, so indoor cats can be at risk as well.

There are several symptoms to be aware of that are consistent with heartworm. These symptoms are coughing, lethargy, weight loss, and vomiting. Prevention is the best way to protect your cat from this deadly disease, which can come from heart worm medications.

FELINE DISTEMPER

Feline distemper is a viral disease that is very contagious. This disease is most common in younger cats and kittens. Feline distemper is passed from cat to cat through direct contact, which makes it more common for cats to contract this disease that are around other cats.

There are many symptoms of feline distemper. These symptoms are very common to many feline health problems. The symptoms that you need to watch out for are loss of appetite, fever, and depression. It is important to take your cat to the vet if you observe any of these symptoms.

When the need to board your cat arises, be sure that the facility you choose requires that all cat boarders are current on the Feline Panleukopenia vaccine.

FELINE LEUKEMIA

Feline Leukemia is one of the most fatal diseases that your cat can contract. The most important thing to do to help your cat with feline leukemia is to through prevention. There are vaccines that your cat can get at the vet to help prevent this disease. Some of the symptoms of feline leukemia are fever, vomiting, and yellow around the nose and mouth.

Keeping your cat healthy is important to you both. By being knowledgeable about the common health problems in cats and their symptoms, you will be able to protect and advocate for your furry loved ones.

Brian Cosgrove asked:


Tough economic conditions have peaked the prices of all products and services. Pet care is no exception. We all want to pamper and love our pets. They are members of the family and there is nothing more important than their long-term health and happiness. But the escalating costs of dog care and cat care in these worsening economic conditions have forced many families to give up their beloved animals. Dog care and cat care is expensive and individuals or families that need pet insurance are often denied due to their animal’s age or breed, or pre-existing, chronic and hereditary conditions. Even those who do find cheap pet insurance are in for a rude awakening when their claims are denied due to coverage exclusions, benefits schedules and payout limits.

Studies indicate that the pet adoption rate has slowed down very much because of the rising prices of dog care and cat care. Many pet owners around the country are forced to give up their pets for adoption, as they are not able to afford the costs associated with pet care. Thankfully, now there is a perfect solution for this situation – programs that offer discount vet services. Just keep reading to learn more about how discount veterinary care can help you care for your pets.

What Is A Pet Care Discount Program?

You are well aware of the countless pet insurance plans that are currently available. Pet care discount programs are alternatives to pet insurance. When you compare pet insurance to discount veterinary care programs – you will see that pet insurance plans are becoming much more expensive. Pet care programs provide a competitive but cheap pet insurance alternative. Most of these pet insurance alternatives come with a very reasonable annual fee and multiple plans providing discount vet services that accommodate any budget. By becoming a member of such pet health care programs, you are eligible for discount veterinary care; discount veterinary medications and emergency vet discounts.

Becoming A Member Of Pet Care Discount Program

With the huge demand for pet insurance alternatives, various discount veterinary care programs have surfaced. It’s up to you to compare pet insurance benefits to discount vet services. Referring to client testimonials is a great way to compare pet insurance plans to what is available through a pet health care program. Client testimonials often help consumers identify the pros and cons of a given service. Make sure to spend considerable time online researching pet insurance companies or discount veterinary care programs before signing up.

Benefits Of Joining A Discount Pet Health Care Program

As already said, these discount veterinary care programs are pet insurance alternatives and hence will have all the benefits that apply to a pet insurance. However, discount vet services do not cover the entire costs involved in pet care, instead they provide some kind of discount relief. Some of the best discount Pet Health Care Programs offer discounts of up to 65%. Members are eligible for discount veterinary visits; discount veterinary medications and emergency vet discount. Even aging animals, those with pre-existing, chronic or hereditary conditions, are eligible for discount vet services up to 25%. Membership charges for these pet health care programs can be less than a dollar per day.

A discount pet health care program is really a great boon to the pets and the pet owners. Visit www.happytailsmembership.com to learn more specifics about their popular pet care discount program.

Michael D. Rosenthal asked:


When it comes to household pets, there are very few that bring as much excitement and joy than bringing home a new kitten. Just remember that you will be responsible for this pet’s care and health for an average of 10-15 years. Suffice it to say, felines make for very special and unique pets and their uniqueness is the key to knowing how to care for them properly. Their needs are the key to working with your veterinarian so that your new kitten will have the best care possible and be a member of your family for years to come.

Initially, when you first bring the new kitten into your home, there are issues that need to be addressed immediately. Obviously, if you have decided to have a cat for a pet, you have accepted the responsibilities of providing the following:

· food

· grooming

· proper veterinary care

· shelter

And let’s not forget lots of TLC and affection. In return for all the love, money, and time that we spend on them and with them, we are rewarded with a content companion that is affectionate and healthy.

The Adjustment Period

First and foremost, you’ll need to put in some due diligence as you prepare your home for the new family member. Addressing the kitten’s needs is paramount because they will first require your patience as they adjust to their new surroundings. By the same token, you will need to adjust to them now being a family member. Additionally, if you have children and other pets in your home, there will most likely be some adjustment issues in those arenas as well.

It is necessary that you ease the kitten through this adjustment period, especially when there are young children around, as well as other pets. In addition to supervising your children when they are playing with the new kitten, you should teach them how to handle the kitten with the utmost care and respect.

The Kitten’s Basic Needs

There are certain basic resources that the new kitten will need specifically, food and water. Initially, it is a good idea to provide them with their own private food and water bowls. Once they have integrated well with the other pets, a single feeding and watering station should be the norm. However, until that time arises, keeping them separated from other animals in the house (especially dogs) is the best idea.

If you haven’t chosen a veterinarian, then do it now. Besides the medical issues, your veterinarian will be able to recommend a proper diet for the kitten as well. Where the kitten’s food and water are concerned, it is imperative that they have water at all times and that you clean their food and water bowls regularly and thoroughly.

The next order of business is their litter box. Make sure that it is situated in a quiet yet easily accessible location and that it is not too tall for them to get in and out of. Seeing as how there are a multitude of choices in the marketplace, you may find this somewhat challenging. Just remember that cats normally prefer very fine-grained litter when selecting one for your kitten. Also, the clumping kinds will make your job of cleaning out the litter box on a daily basis a lot easier. Additionally, the box should be completely, disinfected, emptied, and refilled with fresh litter on a regular basis.