Common Health Problems Of Cats

If you are new to owning a cat, you may be surprised to find that health problems are a common thing.  No matter what breed of cat you own, health problems are to be expected.  Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented.

Worms

No matter what breed of cat it may be, worms are a very common and recurring problem. Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats.  Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms.  Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairball

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats.  All cats groom themselves on a daily basis, normally swallowing the loose hair that comes from their coats.  On occasion, this loose hair will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cat’s stool.  When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball.  Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems.

In rare cases, a hairball can pass through to a cat’s intestine, creating a blockage.  Blockages are very serious problems, and can be life threatening if they aren’t treated.  If your cat becomes constipated, isn’t eating properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a blockage.  If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take him to the vet immediately.  You can prevent hairballs and blockages by brushing your cat 2 – 3 times a week to remove loose hair.  You can also feed him food that is designed to control hairballs as well.

Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is also a common health problem with cats.  Urinary tract infection is more common with male cats that haven’t been neutered, although females can suffer from this problem as well.  When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter box, this problem is normally the cause.  Another symptom is when the cat’s urine starts to smell really strong.  If you suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, you should take him to the vet.  Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

Feline leukemia

In the past, feline leukemia was the biggest cause of death in cats. These days however, there are vaccines available that can treat the disease.  To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed.  Even though death doesn’t happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don’t have a long life span.  If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups.  If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life.  Although some health problems can’t be avoided, most of them can.  You can also keep your cat indoors as well, which will protect him from a majority of health problems.  If your cat is an outdoor cat, regular visits to the vet will keep him healthy.  As long as you take your cat to the vet and keep him healthy – he will be your companion for years to come.

A Look At Cat Breeds

Over the last thousands of years, cats have pretty much handled their breeding themselves.  In the beginning, they were used for one purpose - hunting and killing rodents.  As the years progressed, we began to breed cats more to our liking.  Now days, there are several different breeds of cats - which you can tell if you look closely.

These days there are over 70 distinct cat breeds, which are recognized through cat registries.  There are several registries that will recognize around 40 breeds or so, as they exclude the more domestic breeds such as tigers.  There are also many variations as well, including wild cats that have longer hair.

There are some cat breeds who have roots going back quite a bit in history.  Some Japanese breeds, such as the Japanese Bobtail, can be traced back more than 1,000 years in history.  These cats were very common and well known throughout Medieval Japan.  Now days though, they are all but a myth throughout Japan and the entire world.

The more common cat breeds that are found in North America include the alley cat, long haired cat, and Persian cat.  Siamese cats are also common, although they are well known to be destructive and to have a foul temper.  Persian cats are very popular, proving to be loving companions.  Persian cats can be very expense, depending on where you get it and what type of Persian cat it is.

Alley cats are the most common in North America.  There are actually several different breeds, although most of us just refer to them as alley cats.  They make good pets, although there are literally thousands of them in existence.  Cats are known to breed more than any other pet, and they will continue to breed until they are stopped.  Alley cats are among the most bred, as there are hundreds of thousands of cats that are homeless - and have nothing to do but breed.

The look of the cat is the easiest way to tell what breed he or she may be.  Some people choose to go by color, although color isn’t as easy to identify.  Different breeds of cats have different looks, such as the Siamese and Persian cats.  Siamese cats are almost always black, and easy to identify by their color and their eyes.  Persian cats on the other hand, are easily identified by their body type and their hair.

Over the years, there has been quite a few breeds come along.  Cats were one of the first pets, and easily one of the most popular.  Millions of people around the world own cats, with many people preferring a cat over any other pet - including dogs.  No matter breed of cat you get - you’re sure to get a pet who make for a great companion for years and years to come.

How to Make Cheap and Easy Eco-Friendly Surface Cleaners

There’s been a lot of talk lately about needing to take better care of the environment. New cleaning products available which claim to be good for the earth; however, they can be expensive. Below are instructions on how to make a cheap and easy eco-friendly surface cleaner you can use all over your home.

#1 – One of the easiest and most economical cleaners is simply to put 6 ounces of vinegar in a clean 12 ounce spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water and shake. Keep out of the reach of children and do not mix this with bleach. It can be used all over the house. You may also add essential oils – more drops if you want a stronger smell – and one tablespoon of liquid soap.

** Add essential oils to your homemade cleaners: Cleaning Blend 100% Pure, Best Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil - 10ml - Lemongrass, Lemon Eucalyptus, French Lavender, Rosemary , Tea Tree 

** Get more tips from Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home: 200+ Amazing Household Uses for Tea Tree Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lavender Oil, and More

#2 – Make an abrasive powder cleaner by combining equal amounts of Borax (found in most grocery store laundry aisles) and baking soda and mix until thoroughly incorporated. To use the cleaner, sprinkle it on any wet surface and scrub with a sponge. Rinse the area with water to remove any residue.

#3 – You can also make an all-purpose cleaner by dissolving 1/8 cup Borax in 1 quart of hot water. If you want to make larger quantities, use 1/2 cup Borax to 1 gallon of water.

** Get the MILLIARD Borax Powder - Pure Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2 lb. Bag

#4 – Try cleaning tiles surrounding your tub by cutting a lemon in half and dipping it into a plate of Borax. Use the lemon to scrub the tile. Rinse with warm water.

#5 – Make this all-purpose disinfectant by mixing 2 teaspoons Borax, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 3 to 4 cups of hot water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle. To make the mixture clean better, try adding 1/4 teaspoon Castile liquid soap.

** Get Dr. Bronner's Fair Trade & Organic Castile Liquid Soap - (Unscented, 16 oz) 

#6 – To clean wood surfaces, mix equal amounts of olive oil and vinegar and polish the furniture with a soft cloth.

Popular Brands of Energy-Efficient A-Shape Bulbs

A-shape CFL bulbs look almost like the standard incandescent bulb. They come in different sizes and wide range of brightness. A-shape bulbs are most suitable for lamps, ceiling fixtures and fans, recessed can fixtures, wall sconces, track lighting fixtures, and hanging pendants.

Here are popular brands and makers of energy-efficient A-shape bulbs:

11-watt Soft White A17 (General Electric)
Size: 4.4 inches long
Brightness: 400 lumens, equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is for home use. Its warm white light and low brightness are perfect for ambient lighting
Life expectancy: 10,000 hours

15-watt Soft White A19 and A21 (General Electric)
Sizes: 4.7 inches and 5.4 inches long
Brightness: 825 lumens, equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is good for home use. Its warm white light and medium brightness particularly suit hallway and room lighting.
Life expectancy: 10,000 hours

20-watt Soft White Biax A23 (General Electric)
Size: 6.1 inches long
Brightness: 1,125 lumens, equivalent to a 75-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is good for home use. Its warm white light and medium brightness particularly suit hallway and room lighting.
Life expectancy: 10,000 hours

13-watt A-Style (Maxlite)
Size: 4.3 inches long
Brightness: 800 lumens, equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is good for home use. Its warm white light and medium brightness particularly suit hallway and room lighting.
Life expectancy: 15,000 hours

20-watt A-Shape Soft White (Westinghouse)
Size: 6.58 inches long
Brightness: 1,000 lumens, equivalent to an 80-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is for home use. Its warm white light and high brightness are suitable for reading
Life expectancy: 6,000 hours

Diet Strategies That Lower Cholesterol Levels

Have you been eating oily and fatty foods for as long as you can remember? You may have to have your cholesterol levels checked. A diet high in cholesterol poses risks to one’s health and increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

You can modify your eating habits slowly and with conviction until you reach normal cholesterol levels. Diet modification may sound like you’re stripping away all the fun in eating, but it does not really. Sensible diet strategies and personal discipline will provide you good food and good health. A well-balanced diet from all food groups is doable. Here are ways to cut down on saturated fat:

Put vegetables on top of your list
Remember what your mother used to tell you at the dining table? Eat your vegetables. Research has proven that a diet that consists mainly of vegetables help reduce a person’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Vegetables are rich in fiber that help flush out bad cholesterol, vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system, and antioxidants that fight cancer.

Use non-fat milk or soy milk
It may be good to eat fiber-rich whole grain cereals every day. But if your milk of choice for that bowl of cereal is high in fat, you may not reach your desired cholesterol levels at all. Choose non-fat milk, skim milk, or soy milk for your cereal. The taste is almost the same but the nutritional benefits are definitely high.

Choose lean meats
Do you like grilling meats during a cookout or picnic? Consider using lean meats. These don’t have that much fat in the center and in the edge but taste just as good as the usual slab of steak. Enjoy lean meats with mash potatoes (use low fat butter) or vegetable salad.

Eat seafood more often
Food from the sea is rich in Omega 3, a type of oil that fights the bad cholesterol in our body. Eat fish or shellfish every day for lunch or dinner. A seafood diet can be very effective in lowering levels of cholesterol. Best to have the fish grilled or boiled instead of fried.

Have nuts and fruits for dessert
Candies, cakes, and ice cream are all rich in sugar and fat. Do away with candies altogether. Eat cakes in moderation and go for ice cream that contains less fat or no animal fat. The best desserts by far are nuts and fruits. These contain high levels of vitamins, minerals and fiber which are all good for your body.

Don’t chicken out on chicken 
Love fried chicken? Roasted, poached, or steamed chicken may be better. Flavor the dish with herbs and olive oil to make it more delicious. In time, you’ll learn to say no to fried chicken. It is never too late to make some changes in your lifestyle and diet. You can have more control over your plan if you cook your own food. Recipes and cookbooks on healthy eating are available everywhere. Come up with your own low-cholesterol recipes and share them with friends and family!