Cat Illness - Diabetic Feline Neuropathy

This condition although rare is a complication of feline diabetes and is the result of nerve damage caused by prolonged high blood glucose levels. This results in a chronic degeneration in nerve tissue in the hindquarters, leading to weakness, wastage of muscle tissue and a distinctive gait, and its diagnosis is confirmed by nerve biopsy, and routine blood and urine tests.

One of the problems is of course that although humans can report signs and symptoms of neuropathy, cats are reliant upon humans for detection and treatment of their ailments, and the first you will know that a cat has developed neuropathy is that he will not be as agile as he usually is. He can't let you know that he has tingling or numbness, or even pain, but you will notice that he isn't so inclined to jump up on the chair or the garden fence.

You'll also notice the curious gait particular to feline diabetic neuropathy, in that rather than walking on tiptoe as all cats do he will be using the whole of the length of the lower two joints of the back legs in a crouching or a half-sitting position. When he does try and walk any distance you may notice that his back legs slide away from him and he won't be able to walk for any distance.

In more advanced cases the neuropathy can extend to include the front legs, and treatment may take longer to have any effect or may only result in a partial recovery.

The condition usually resolves with the introduction or adjustment of insulin therapy, as recovery is reliant upon insulin therapy being prescribed to treat the underlying diabetes, and it is thought by some that a form of vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) is useful in the repair and treatment of nerve damage.

Feline diabetes often causes weakness in the hind legs of cats. Rather than walking normaly, the cat will walk on his hocks (see image below). This condition, neuropathy, is nerve damage caused by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). If your cat has weak hind legs, you should see a vet to discuss treatment options.

Nerves, cells in the eye, and kidney cells are particularly sensitive to damage since these cells do not require insulin in order to take up glucose from the blood. Where blood glucose is very high in poorly regulated diabetics these cells take up lots of glucose which causes internal damage. Keeping blood glucose levels as near normal as possible and avoiding large fluctuations in the levels helps to prevent this type of cellular damage in diabetics

In the case of leg problems, many cats will improve tremendously when their blood sugars come under control. In these cases, the hind leg weakness may be caused by electrolyte imbalances (e.g. low potassium levels) related to excessive urination. There is some evidence that methyl-B12, a vitamin, also known as methylcobalamin, may be a beneficial supplement. Also, diabetes that is not under control causes muscle wasting (diabetes is a CATABOLIC or "breaking down" disease) and your cat's back leg problems may be due to extreme muscle weakness.

This is a common problem and a heartbreaking one. If the problem seems to come on rapidly, check your cat's blood glucose level (or several levels) to make sure her blood sugar is under control. An alternative is to have your vet draw blood for a fructosamine test to check for longer term control. Your vet can do an examination and check a potassium level, also.

And make your cat exercise! Physical therapy can do wonders for improvement.

More on Methyl-B12:

Methyl-B12, also known as methylcobalamin, has worked wonders on many cats with neuropathy. It is important that you use METHYL-B12. Other forms of vitamin B-12 will not work. You may obtain this supplement at many health food stores. Most FelineDiabetes.com users will give their cat 3-5 mg per day to treat neuropathy.

Diabetic Cat Food - Special Diet For Cats With Diabetes

here are a number of diabetic cat food brands available on the market, most of which are available through your vet surgery. Some may need to be specially ordered but you could persuade a suitable local retail outlet to stock them for you. You need to discuss brands with your veterinary surgeon and decide which would suit your cat best, so that the surgery will have a record of what your cat is being fed as part of his diabetic management plan. Ongoing treatment will be greatly helped by having a careful record of his insulin regime, regular diet and exercise plan.

There are a number of proprietary weight-loss and low carbohydrate, high protein feline diets on the market suitable for diabetic cats, some of which are available through your veterinary surgeon or through a specialist centre. Below you will find some commercially produced diets but bear in mind that some kibbled foods have been reported by owners and veterinary experts as causing urinary problems, so make sure to talk through your choices with your vet.

Wellness manufacture a wide range of quality diet cat food products that do not rely on fillers and bulk and which can be.

Purina diabetic cat food comes in the form of a range of gourmet options. Purina are addressing the link between obesity and a high carbohydrate diet -their latest product is Fancy Feast, which contains very little in the way of fillers and non-fish/meat ingredients.

Eukanuba and Iams both manufacture high quality, animal protein-rich and calorie-light kibbled diets useful for reducing obesity. They use only healthy ingredients including vegetables as well as premium meat.

Hill's Science Diet offers both kibbled and canned food, and has a low calorie, high fiber option as an aid to weight management. Their range of products caters for all ages

Royal Canin (formerly Waltham) manufactures a range of kibbled food, and their Fit range is useful for the diabetic cat.

If you are able to prepare a natural raw and balanced diet for your cat at home using lean meat and other raw ingredients as advised by your vet, this is considered by many experts to be by far the best option. Not only will you be able to feed your cat a diet relevant to your cat's needs in terms of his genetic disposition to eat raw meat, but he will also have less frequent problems with hairballs, since a raw meat diet will help him ingest the fur he licks during grooming.

Diabetic Cat - Feline Diabetes Diet

When your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes you will need to work closely with your vet so as to maintain the recommended diet and medication regime.

If your cat is obese, your vet will advise gradual weight loss at between 2-4% of its body weight a week. Whether you use a prescribed diabetic diet or you prepare your cat's meals at home, an overweight cat will probably be put on a high fiber diet, which will help to control the blood glucose levels. Talk to your vet about what to provide, and stick to the diet suggested unless your vet advises that you can alter it. You will probably need to change the diet when the ideal lower weight is reached.

An underweight cat will firstly need to gain weight to reach its ideal level, and this can be achieved by feeding your cat a high calorie diet. Again, discuss this with your vet so as to make sure that high calorie does not mean high sugar or fat. Once the ideal weight has been reached you can then change to the high fiber diet.

Insulin dosage will depend on your cat's blood sugar levels and you will need to learn to take blood samples to test blood glucose. Your vet will give you every support and encouragement whilst you learn the techniques and how to calculate the insulin dosage, and will suggest the best time for the morning and evenings meals and medication.

If your cat is to have one insulin injection a day this will usually be in the morning, at which time you would feed half the amount of food for the day. The second meal would be given at the time of peak insulin activity which you would check at that mealtime.

Remember always to double check the bottle of insulin and its date of expiry, and double check the dosage needed.

If your cat is to have two injections a day, then the two meals can be given at the time of each injection, but you will still be taking blood samples regularly to make sure that the blood sugar levels are at normal levels. You need to make sure that your cat is hungry enough to eat the second meal as a delay between your giving him the insulin and his eating the meal will make his blood sugar levels incompatible with the dose you have given and he may become ill again.

If your cat is on oral, the best way of keeping the glucose levels steady is to feed small but frequent meals throughout the day so that there is a steady level of glucose being made available to the cat.

Cat Illness - Cat Diabetes (Feline Diabetes)

iabetes is a disease of the pancreas, which is an organ found in the abdomen just under the stomach. The pancreas is part of the endocrine system which regulates hormones in the body and produces some of the digestive enzymes responsible for the breakdown and absorption of food, and insulin which regulates carbohydrate absorption and conversion to glucose for energy.

In the cat which has developed diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) the pancreas either fails to produce sufficient insulin (Type I) or the body is not able to use the insulin properly (Type 2). This results in abnormally high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood and leads to a set of signs and symptoms classically associated with feline diabetes:

• Drinking copious amounts of fluid
• A much larger appetite than normal
• A marked loss of weight despite the increased appetite

The diagnostic signs of feline diabetes are excess levels of sugar in the urine (glycosuria) and high blood sugar levels (hyperglycaemia) and your cat's blood and urine will be tested by your veterinary surgeon to confirm the diagnosis.

If the condition is left untreated the symptoms will worsen, leading to vomiting, a reduction in appetite and severe dehydration caused by the excess amounts of water passed. The dehydration is a direct result of the excess glucose in the urine and its increased production, and despite drinking so much fluid they lose too much water to stay sufficiently hydrated.

Diabetic cats lose their resistance to infection because of their raised blood glucose levels and often fall ill with urinary, skin and lung infections. A classic sign of advanced diabetic emergency is ketoacidosis, when the body goes into overdrive in an effort to produce more glucose for energy. Ketones can then be detected on the breath of the cat and smell like peardrops. In such cases immediate and emergency treatment is required as it is likely that the cat will fall into a diabetic coma without intervention.

Unfortunately feline diabetes is becoming much more common, especially in the mature cat, simply due to weight gain from eating too much food and not burning off the calories with enough exercise. The insulin produced just cannot keep up with the amount of carbohydrates being taken onboard and the symptoms if not treated adequately and in time will lead to a rapid worsening of their condition.

You can help prevent cats developing diabetes by watching their dietary intake and encouraging more active playtime. Once overweight cats get used to running around the weight will start to drop and energy levels will increase markedly in relation to the reduction in weight. This care in conjunction with the insulin regime your veterinary surgeon will prescribe, and will ask you to administer on a daily basis in the form of injections, will control the disease to give them a happier life.

If you are about to get a kitten, diabetes is less likely to develop if you take early steps to regulate diet and promote exercise to keep them lean and healthy. Cats are not meant to be fat - they are hunters by instinct with highly developed muscle control and keen senses; to let your cats overeat and become overweight is letting them down in your commitment of care and your responsibility for their health and welfare.

Living With A Diabetic Cat - Feline Diabetes Mellitus

Much like in humans, an overweight cat has a significantly higher risk of contracting diabetes. Diabetes in cats works in the exact same way that it does in people -- the body's ability to produce insulin and process sugar is hampered. Diabetes is rare among cats, especially younger cats. However, a cat with diabetes can have very dire complications. In this section, we will show you how to diagnose cat diabetes and how to reduce your cat's chances of contracting the disease. We will also alert you to the signs that your cat could be falling into hypoglycemia.

Diabetes mellitus, or "sugar" diabetes, is a common disorder in cats and dogs, caused by the inability of the hormone insulin to properly balance blood sugar (glucose) levels.

Diabetes is a disease of older cats, rarely occurring before the age of seven years. It can be managed through diet and, when necessary, supplementary insulin. With treatment, diabetic cats can live ordinary lives, and a few may return to normal function for reasons that are not well understood.

Glucose is processed by the body into energy. After food is digested, glucose enters the blood stream -- in a healthy body, insulin is then secreted signaling the cells to begin the process of converting the sugars into useable energy. As more food is consumed, more insulin is secreted, and the needed glucose is consumed. The pancreas secretes small amounts of insulin -- just enough to ensure blood glucose levels don't rise too high (hyperglycemia) or fall dangerously low (hypoglycemia).

One of the most important aspects of managing the health of a diabetic cat is consistency. Food and medication must come at regular times, so be sure you always have an adequate supply of both and never skip or substitute.

Occasionally, a diabetic cat on insulin will have her blood sugar level suddenly swing dangerously to the low side -- a condition known as hypoglycemia. Signs of hypoglycemia include shaking, disorientation, salivating, staggering and falling, and seizures. Keep an emergency sugar source on hand at all times (honey or Karo syrup are the usual recommendations). At the first sign of hypoglycemia, rub some on the cat's gums -- and call the vet immediately.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, and type 2 when the body's cells don't respond well to insulin. Both result in high blood sugar levels because the body is unable to process the available glucose. In the early stages, diabetics may gain weight as appetites increase and their insulin levels rise and fall. However, in spite of maintaining a good appetite, diabetics ultimately lose weight since the body isn't able to process sugars into energy. Essentially, diabetics begin to starve to death.

Excessive urination is a classic sign of diabetes in pets, and is likely what led to your diagnosis. Diabetic pets that develop hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) will begin passing the excess sugar into their urine (glucosuria). As glucose builds in the urine, the body responds by trying to flush the excess from the kidneys through urination. The condition of excess urination (polyuria, or PU), accompanied by excessive thirst (polydipsia, or PD), are classic signs of diabetes in pets. As you regulate your pet's diabetes, the PU/PD will become controlled as well.

If your cat shows signs of diabetes, schedule a veterinary exam as soon as possible. The longer a diabetic cat goes untreated, the more serious her condition gets. The earlier you can catch and control her diabetes, the more likely she is to have a normal life.

Understanding Feline Diet And Cat Allergy

Cats are no different to humans in that they can develop allergies to a number of potential irritants, and once identified can easily be treated and controlled.

The most common feline allergies are connected to diet and parasites. Fleas can be a real problem, not only because of the irritation they cause but because a cat can be allergic to the flea bite and develop skin rashes and general malaise. Flea control is important for your cat of any age, and you should groom your cat regularly to see if you see any evidence of fleas and eliminate them on your cat and in the home environment

If you notice that your cat is developing an intermittent allergy, cat food may be the source of the allergen. Make an appointment with your veterinary surgeon to check your cat's immune responses and general health, and if it is the diet that is causing the problems you will be able to plan a diet to work out what exactly it is that is causing the allergy.

Treatment will consist of identifying the allergen by withdrawing food and then offering a hypoallergenic diet. These diets contain low allergy ingredients and incorporate animal proteins not commonly found in proprietary cat food. They also contain ingredients which are gentle on the stomach and intestinal tract, such as rice and soya. Once your cat shows no sign of allergy to any of those ingredients you can then slowly start to reintroduce ingredients from his previous diet and identify which it is that causes his allergy.

Another alternative is for you to start preparing tour cat's meals at home using a natural, raw diet, as this is the most likely way of ensuring that he isn't exposed to the additives in proprietary cat food brands.

The most common food allergies in cats tend to be fish and milk, simply because they are the least natural foods for them to eat. Milk from a cow or a goat is not suited to their digestive systems and they may show mild intolerance by having diarrhoea after drinking it, or they will develop a visible allergy. Fish too can be a source of irritants and if he is allergic to fish you would need to make sure that none of his supplements or food contain fish oil or derivatives.

It's possible for cats to be allergic to vaccinations and medication too, and following any course of treatment you should watch him carefully for any signs of reaction. Allergy in cats presents most commonly as a skin infection especially around the feet and claws. They may also sneeze frequently, or develop skin infections, abscesses or lesions. They may develop diarrhoea in order to expel the toxin from the system.

Your vet may also suggest supplements for boosting the immune system, such as Echinacea in drops or tablet form, but do not buy and administer these remedies before taking him to the vet. Giving him medication before he is seen will sometimes make clinical findings in the process of the disease harder to interpret, as the symptoms may change according to the remedy you give him.

Cat Illness Problems - Excessive Cat Shedding

The domesticated cat has lost the seasonal triggers that tell his body to shed his coat according to the time of year. In spring the feral cat will shed its coat over a period of time to thin the density, whereas in winter he will shed much less in order to maintain the thickness and retain the insulation properties of the fur.

In the domestic cat these natural cycles may be compromised because of the near constant temperature of human dwellings and he will therefore be more likely to shed hair on a continual basis throughout the year. This is perfectly normal and you will be able to help your cat by grooming him regularly with brush and fine comb so as to stimulate the skin and remove the dead hair, otherwise he will ingest a great deal of fur when grooming which will lead to frequent furball. Long haired breeds need much closer attention of course. It is particularly important to check the underlying skin as much as possible when grooming to make sure there are no areas of redness or infection which might indicate a condition made worse by the denseness of the fur.

When cats shed more hair than usual there is likely to be an underlying disease or condition which is leading to excessive hair loss.

One behavioural factor is a cat obsessed with cleaning himself, which can lead to patches of baldness where he has licked the fur away. This type of behaviour tends to be seen in stressed cats upset by change of environment or location, and can also be a sign of depression.

Some allergies lead to skin irritation which because the blood supply is compromised will affect the health and growth of the hair follicles and you will notice he is shedding more. Fleas and internal parasites may have this effect of causing allergy and hair loss.

Skin infestations such as ringworm will cause round bald patches which are due to the fungus inhabiting the hair shaft and weakening it so that it breaks close to the skin.

There are treatments or supplements that your vet may prescribe so as to improve his general health and improve hair growth and condition. These are likely to be oils that he can take as a food supplement, or as a tablet, or even as a preparation that can be smoothed on with the hands, but the key to maintaining healthy fur growth is to feed him a healthy, well balanced diet which will contain all the nutrients he needs for good overall condition. Once these nutrients are in his bloodstream they will reach the base of the hair follicles through tiny capillaries which feed the base of the hair.

Cat Illness Problems - Sneezing Cat

The occasional sneeze from your cat is nothing to worry about. Like you and me, they're susceptible to random irritants in the air and it's the body's way of trying to get rid of these irritants.

These can include household dust and the finer particles in cat litter, and because cats use their sense of smell to investigate anything they're likely to sniff in particles and sneeze. You might notice that your cat sneezes if you use a spray like household polish or air freshener and you need to make sure that you don't use these sprays in high concentration near your cat as they can act not only as irritants but can inflame their air passages too.

If you hear a sneezing feline in the garden he has probably been investigating flowers and bees and has sniffed up some pollen which has irritated his nose. Sometimes cats develop a form of hay fever in the summer months when pollen levels are high, and this will result in more prolonged bouts of sneezing.

Any allergies such as fleas and parasites or food may result in some sneezing but this is more likely to be due to a reactive mucus in the eyes or ears when the cat develops a generalized allergic reaction.

Sneezing may be the warning sign of an upper respiratory tract infection. Cats are susceptible to bacterial infections such as streptococcus which is a very common airborne bacteria, or he may have fallen prey to cat flu. There have been occasions when even cats who have been vaccinated against flu will still contract the infection and he will need careful care and monitoring, The sneezing is caused by the inflamed nasal airways producing large amounts of mucus which block the nasal passages and his only way of relieving the blockage is to sneeze.

If there is no sign of infection but you notice your cat sneezing a lot, it may be that he has inhaled a foreign object which is lodged in the narrowing of the nasal passage. Because sneezing is a natural defence, the cat will continue sneezing to try and dislodge it, and if he can't do this he will need an examination with your veterinary surgeon.

Checking your cat's teeth on a regular basis will ensure that you discover any abscesses forming - if these develop these too may cause sneezing as the pressure of the abscess will affect the nerve supply to the nose and this will trigger sneezing.

If your cat is sneezing due to a disease or infection and his nose is running or blocked you can use a swab dipped in warm water to wipe away the exudates, washing your hands thoroughly afterwards and disposing of the swab. Dry and frequent sneezing may be helped by putting a humidifier in the room so as to moisten his air passages and help to damp down the irritation that is causing him to sneeze.

Cat Constipation Symptoms and Treatments

One of the most common reasons for feline constipation is simply a refusal to open his bowels. If he normally goes outside and the weather is bad, he may not be keen to brave the cold and rain and what he'll do instead is 'hang on'; if he does this enough times eventually his gut will absorb water from the faeces which will result in a harder, dryer stool which is difficult to pass.

A cat who uses a litter tray regularly may simply refuse to use it if the tray is not cleaned regularly. Cats are normally fastidious and will avoid using a neglected and dirty tray.

Cats swallow hair when grooming and unless this is vomited up it will pass into the gastrointestinal tract and may disrupt normal bowel function. If you feed him plenty of natural animal protein and encourage him to exercise, the natural digestive process will help to carry the hairball through the tract. There are oral treatments such as Lactulose to get him moving, but talk to your veterinary surgeon first so that your cat can have a check up to determine the exact cause of the constipation and the vet can advise the most appropriate treatment.

Constipation appears to become more prevalent in the older cat, simply because many become less active in their mature years, and if he is obese he won't be running around very much at all. Keep an eye on his diet, and feed him wet food as well as kibbled so that he has enough water passing through his system. Keep him as active as possible within his limits.

Those who choose to prepare the food at home and feed their cats on a raw natural diet report that their cats have no problems whatsoever with constipation or with hairballs, and this is attributed to the composition and digestion of meat and simple fibres that cats have eaten for generations.

The most important complication of constipation is that should he not pass stool for a few days he may develop severe intestinal blockage. Remember that although one of the signs is straining with an inability to pass stool, you should always make sure that he can still pass water because straining may also be a sign of dysuria (inability to pass water) which needs immediate treatment. If he is constipated he will be in discomfort and won't take much interest in anything, and he'll lose interest in grooming himself. His appetite will go and he will be reluctant to drink. Speak to your vet, who will be able to prescribe your cat laxative treatment to help him relieve the constipation.

However if he is left untreated he is likely to develop megacolon and obstipation, conditions in which the colon becomes completely flaccid and its contents become dry and hard because all water is being absorbed back into the gut. The blockage will stop the passage of all faecal matter and the colon can become distended to three times its normal size. Treatment involves surgical intervention to remove the affected piece of bowel, or careful manual removal of the colon's contents under anaesthetic

Cat Diarrhoea Symptoms and Treatments

Diarrhoea is generally uncommon in cats unless they are suffering with an internal problem, and a short episode of it is unlikely to be of concern. It may simply be that your cat has managed to steal something from the food cupboard or from next door which hasn't agreed with him, and it has given him the runs. If you give your cat milk it may not agree with him although he likes it so much, and in general it is unwise to give milk to cats. Water is far healthier and natural for him to drink. There are 'cat milks' now available should you want to continue giving him milk but because it is a different formula to cow's milk it won't affect his digestion.

Any other reason for diarrhoea on a persistent basis is likely to warrant veterinary intervention, as continually losing fluid in this way will lead to a huge loss in vital salts and minerals which will lead to a deterioration in your cat's health and strength.

There are many reasons for diarrhoea in cats and it's important to have its cause diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. If you can, take a sample of the diarrhoea with you to the veterinary surgery. This is extremely helpful in aiding diagnosis and will speed up the process so that treatment can start. You should also take details of how often your cat has diarrhoea and how long he has had it. If the diarrhoea seems to be persistent but your cat is otherwise quite happy the vet will want to check for parasites in the stomach or the gut, otherwise the possibilities are gastric or intestinal infections. It would also be important to determine whether there is an underlying illness or stress-induced condition present for which the diarrhoea may be the first visible symptom.

You should maintain good hygiene levels if your cat has diarrhoea, and wash your hands after handling him. If your cat's diarrhoea is caused by an infection he should be looked after in isolation and all his food bowls, bedding, litter trays etc washed and disinfected scrupulously and you should protect your hands with gloves when emptying the litter tray. It's advisable to keep him indoors for a good 2-3 days to allow the symptoms to settle and to prevent him wandering off and infecting other cats or spreading it round the neighbourhood.

Your vet will prescribe all the treatment and helpful things that you can do to support your cat through illness. You will probably be advised to build up his fluid levels again and to add supplements to boost his mineral levels and to introduce food slowly and in small quantities over the time that you nurse him until he is fully recovered.

Cat Flu Symptoms and Treatments

Although cats can be vaccinated against flu it isn't always completely successful, and a particularly virulent strain can affect a cat even if all the vaccinations and boosters are up to date. Diagnosis is confirmed by taking a mouth swab.

Cat flu is caused by a couple of viruses:

Feline calcivirus
There appear to be a few strains of this virus, and it has been found that once a cat recovers from a bout from one strain it is possible that he may be infected yet again by another. The symptoms include patches of ulceration in the mouth and some discharge from the nose, and milder symptoms in general than those seen in feline herpesvirus.

Feline herpesvirus
This is a particularly virulent flu virus, and although there is just the one strain its effects are severe. The feline herpesvirus I (FHV-1) is also the causative virus of Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), an upper respiratory tract infection. Your cat will not only suffer a long drawn out period of primary infection lasting several weeks of primary infection from the virus but will also develop secondary infections such as conjunctivitis, a streaming nose which will make him sneeze frequently when it blocks, and a persistent chest infection. Your cat will be extremely lethargic and depressed and may not want to eat.

Precautions
If your cat is being nursed at home rather than at the veterinary surgery, you should keep everything your cat uses scrupulously clean. This includes the feeding and water bowl, the bedding, and any toys or playthings. You should wash your hands as frequently as possible when handling your cat. If you have more than one cat you should nurse your sick cat in isolation so as not to infect any others, and keep the room as quiet as possible.

Treatment
As it is a virus that causes flu, antibiotics will not cure it and will only be effective in treating the secondary bacterial infections. However, you will be able to do a lot to relieve the cat's symptoms. As his nose and airway will be discharging and possibly blocked, a humidifier is useful so as to help loosen the discharge and help him breathe more easily. If you have central heating don't turn it up as this will dry him out and block his air passages, which will make it more difficult for him to breathe, but keep the temperature warm for him and provide him with warmth-reflecting bedding so that he doesn't chill.

Using a piece of cotton wool in warm water you can gently wipe discharge away from his nose, and you can do the same for his eyes if they are gummed up with conjunctivitis, but make sure that you do not use the same piece of cotton wool so as not to spread the infection even further. Again, always wash your hands after handling him.

If his appetite is poor you can see if you can tempt him with a morsel or two of what he enjoys, and encourage him to drink water. This will help to loosen the mucus in his airway and will maintain a good urinary output so as to keep his kidneys flushed and healthy as well as helping to flush out toxins from infected cells.

Should your cat become severely dehydrated and ill, your vet may suggest taking him in to have intravenous fluids and to monitor him closely, but unless your cat is receiving treatment fairly late in the progress of his flu or he is very ill he is unlikely to need intensive treatment.

Cat Illness Problems - Vomiting Cat

Most cats have a problem with hairballs, and usually they'll simply vomit them up. Grooming as meticulously as they do, they're bound to ingest a certain amount of fur each time, and it's likely they will bring up the resultant collection. This is a particular problem in long haired cats of course, and frequent brushing and combing will help to keep down the amount of fur being ingested each time your cat grooms. There are also proprietary treatments for helping hairballs pass through the digestive tract rather than having your cat throw up to get rid of them, and your veterinary surgery can suggest what they think might be useful.

If you see your cat vomiting just after a meal it might simply be that he has gobbled it down far too fast, and if he tends to bolt his food you can try giving him more frequent meals but serve less each time so that there's less food in the stomach to be expelled. He's also likely to vomit right after a meal if he rushes off to play straight away and doesn't give himself a chance to digest what he's eaten.

Naturally you'll never feed him anything that is likely to harm him, but another cause of vomiting is getting a bone fragment stuck in the throat, particularly if he's found an interesting chicken bone thrown away somewhere. Chicken bones are notorious for being brittle and it's too easy for a cat to choke on one of these fragments. - in his efforts to expel it he'll make himself sick.

It's important to be able to know when vomiting is simply because he's bolted his food or if there is something actually wrong which needs immediate treatment. There are many other reasons for a cat vomiting, and these can be due to a number of illnesses or conditions related either to the digestive tract or to other parts of the body. Monitoring your cat daily, you will be able to pick up any signs and symptoms of impending illness and can take him for expert advice so as to diagnose and treat as soon as possible. If vomiting occurs more than on the odd isolated incident, this may be a sign that he needs checking out to identify anything making him ill.

Always make sure that your cat doesn't swallow elastic bands or lengths of string - if these are ingested they can cause problems in the intestine, which will lead to a closure of the digestive tract and resulting in vomiting. In these cases it's highly likely that he'd need an operation to remove what he's swallowed.

Cat Illness Problems - My Cat Is Not Eating

Occasionally you may find that your cat isn't eating his meal as soon as it's put down, or is only eating part of it and walking away. Perhaps he's not eating at all and seems disinterested in anything.

Knowing your cat's habits will help you recognize when his behavior changes and you can work out why he may be unwilling or unable to eat as instinctively as he did before. Cats are so sensitive to changes in routine and atmosphere and it may be something as simple as your having introduced a new cat to your household and he's feeling insecure, or you've changed the furniture around and he feels unsettled.

If he's portly round the waist and has been used to being given tibits and carbohydrate rich food he might not like it all that he's now on a weight reducing diet. Refusing to eat shows a bit of attitude in not being given what he wants. He's under the impression that if he waits for long enough you may relent and give him something he's used to; sadly you know he's in for a disappointment if he's going to be healthy in the long term.

Have you been on holiday recently and left him with a cat kennel, or perhaps someone came in every day to feed and look after him? It might be down to a simple case of depression that will only be relieved once you've coaxed him back into being his old self with some TLC and a few healthy nibbles.

All these reasons are easy to deal with. It is simply a case of getting your cat interested in eating again, and this is easy to do by offering a little healthy treat to tempt him into having a mouthful or two, or perhaps putting a little bit of meat jelly onto his gums to persuade him to have just a little something. You could try offering a taste of something your cat really does like, to see whether he's turning his nose up at what he's been offered or whether it really is the case that he doesn't feel like eating. Minor issues like these need not cause you any worry.

There may be an underlying problem though, and if your cat persists in not eating for more than a day or two he should have a veterinary examination.

It may be that there is something wrong with his teeth or jaw which makes eating painful or difficult, as would any problems associated with his digestive system. Perhaps he has an inflamed or broken tooth, a cut in his mouth, or an abscess in his jaw from a deep scratch. He might have stomach problems or be developing an intestinal condition which will take away his appetite.

Alternatively, if you have a fat cat and he has either been put on a crash diet or is simply refusing to eat low carbohydrate food, a period longer than a couple of days is likely to result in liver problems as your cat draws on his fat reserves and doesn't take in the protein which he needs.

However, keeping an eye on him and knowing his behavior will help you deal with any problems before they get worse or chronic, and you and your veterinary surgery can make sure he has a full and happy life.

Cat Illnesses Symptoms and Treatments

Loss of appetite: its a very probable symptom of disease, but it also depends on how well you know the animal. Most of them are always eager to eat or even eat reluctantly.

If you know the feeding pattern of your cat, you will know how to detect the chances that indicate that something isn't well. The same as in people, the loss of appetite can be due to many things. A cat that has the freedom to go outside to streets may have caught a prey or been fed at another house.

If he has fought with another cat, the stress might also inhibit him from eating.

Inside the house, there are many stress factors as in the arrival of another animal; changes of routine or the changing of the place of furniture can make the cat loose its appetite for several days. Also, it is not rare that a cat that has been being fed with a determined canned food product during a long period of time one day decides to stop feeding on it.

One way to verify if there is a health problem is to offer the cat a really tasty food, as are sardines on oil; but be careful not to enter into a psychological battle with him.

If you observe that he doesn't eat because he doesn't want to, and not because he is ill, next time give him normal food. Or on the contrary, the cat may decide to only eat tasty food that isn't exactly a balanced died.

Other symptoms: usually, the loss of appetite due to a disease comes accompany by other symptoms, such as apathy, bad humor, tendency to hide at unusual places inside the house or, in the case of cats that go outside, the negative to do so. Again, it's a question of knowing the animal.

However, it's dangerous for cats to be too many days without eating, because it could affect its metabolism; if your cat has more than 24 hours without eating, consult with the veterinary. As with many animals, and also people, the instinctive act of a cat when not feeling well they cuddle in a corner to sleep to see if it ends, and it often happens.

The appearance of the third eyelid on its eyes usually indicates that there is a health probable. This appears when the cat is sleeping and disappears when he is widely awake. The state of the coat is another indicator.

If the hair is unusually "open" or erect and separated, it can be a sign that the cat is trying to regulate its body temperature.

Other symptoms are the difficulty they have for urinating or to defecate, to drivel, make strange sounds or to drink too much water, as not cleansing itself after feeding.

Vomits: occasional vomits, as annoying as they are, without other symptoms are not preoccupying. Cats vomit with easiness, and for several reasons doing lots of noises.

It's the way they have to eliminate the balls of hair inside its stomach. It also may be that they have eaten some prey that they don't like or, simply, that they have eaten too much and too fast.

The food goes to the stomach without being chewed and the digestive system must shred them, process that most of the mammals, including humans, starts at the mouth. This way, the system may be overloaded; reason why cats tend to do pauses when they feed.

Anyway, if your cat vomits too frequently, it may be something serious. Equally, isolated cases of diarrhea or sneezes aren't alarming safe when they are repeated constantly.

Urinating: to do it in an unusual way around the house may also be a symptom of disease. In fact, it indicates that there is something abnormal in the cats life that is causing him stress and, if it persists, the best is to visit the veterinary if after the examination the cat seems physically healthy, then maybe it would be recommended to take the cat to an animal psychologist or even to prescribe him a

Cat Nutrition - An Overview To A Healthy Feline Diet

Cat Nutrition - An Overview To A Healthy Feline Diet

Cats have different dietary needs compared to dogs. Many of the special needs are due to a difference in liver and digestive enzymes between the two species. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has developed separate minimum requirements for dog and cat foods (See Table 1), and from these, it becomes evident why dog food should NOT be fed to cats. Special feline nutritional needs include:

High protein
Protein is a source of nitrogen, and cats require a higher protein level than dogs. This may be due to the cat's inability to regulate the rate at which liver enzymes break down protein. If dietary protein is in low quantities or not available, the cat's body will soon start breaking down the protein in its own muscle.

Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid, which is necessary for proper bile formation, health of the eye, and functioning of the heart muscle. Cats require a high amount of taurine for their body functions, yet have limited enzymes which can produce taurine from other amino acids such as methionine and cysteine. Therefore, they need a diet high in taurine. If taurine is deficient, signs such as a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, retinal degeneration, reproductive failure, and abnormal kitten development can occur.

Arginine
Arginine is also a form of amino acid. Most animals manufacture the amino acid ornithine through various processes, some of which require arginine. In cats, the only method to produce ornithine is to convert it from arginine. Ornithine is necessary because it binds ammonia produced from the breakdown of protein. If cats are deficient in arginine, there will not be enough ornithine to bind the ammonia, and severe signs such as salivation, vocalization, ataxia, and even death can result from the high ammonia levels. These signs often occur several hours after a meal, when most of the ammonia is produced. Although deficiencies are rare, they cat occur in cats who are not eating or have certain liver diseases such as hepatic lipidosis.

Arachidonic acid
Arachidonic acid is one of the essential fatty acids. Dogs can manufacture arachidonic acid from linoleic acid or gamma-linolenic acid. Cats can not. Arachidonic acid is necessary to produce an inflammatory response. In many cases, such as in allergies, the goal is to suppress the inflammatory response. But in other cases, the response is a necessary means by which the body can protect itself. Arachidonic acid also helps to regulate skin growth, and is necessary for proper blood clotting, and the functioning of the reproductive and gastrointestinal systems. Arachidonic acid is found in animal fats which must therefore be included as part of the diet. Like dogs, cats also require linoleic acid, another fatty acid.

Active form of Vitamin A
Cats lack the enzyme which can convert beta-carotene to retinol, the active form of Vitamin A. Therefore, they require a preformed Vitamin A, which is present only in foods of animal origin, and is usually included in cat foods as retinyl palmitate. Deficiencies of Vitamin A are rare, but signs include night blindness, retarded growth, and poor quality skin and hair coat.

Niacin
Many animals can synthesize niacin, a B vitamin, from the amino acid tryptophan. Cats can not manufacture it in sufficient quantities, thus require higher amounts in their diet. Deficiencies in niacin can lead to loss of appetite and weight, inflamed gums, and hemorrhagic diarrhea.

Starch
Cats have less need for starch, and a decreased ability to digest it. Dogs need, and can tolerate, higher starch levels in their diet than cats.

Basic Cat Care Tips and Guide - Taking Good Care Of Your Feline Friend

Cats can be extremely good companions. They are sensitive, private creatures, and they do not need constant attention from their owners in order to be happy. Cats do not require much supervised exercise and, consequently, they are excellent pets for the elderly and for people with busy lives.

Although cats are friendly and emotional by nature, they are noted for being unfaithful. Many cats have two or more homes and may develop a routine where they spend part of each day with different people. It is common for a cat to breakfast at one houses, lunch at a second and dine at a third; this can lead to obesity on what appears to be a normal diet.

Taking care of your cat means providing it with the lifestyle that suits its needs. Ideally, cats should be allowed to roam freely outdoors. This enables they get adequate exercise, and can satisfy their natural curiosity and develop their hunting instincts all at the same time. In urban areas, if you live in an apartment, it may be safer to house your cat indoors permanently. In this case, you will need to provide plenty of opportunity for play. Cats become bored easily, and a lack of stimulation may encourage the onset of listlessness and ill health.

In the household the cat will need a place of its own to rest and sleep, its own food and water, and a litter tray for hygiene purposes. If you want the cat to be house-trained, you will also need to make sure it can get in and out of the building easily. This may mean installing a cat flap.

While the financial outlay for cat equipment is low, the cost of the cat itself can vary from "free to a good home" to a substantial amount for a pedigree animal. Ongoing costs include feeding and vets' fees. You may decide to put your cat in a cattery when you go on holiday, which will add to the cost of the trip.

Having a cat can be fun. Cat care can be a little bit of work, not much though. Cats are independent. Here are a few tips on cat care that will help insure your cat to be as healthy as they can be.

• The first tip is that you should get you cat or kitten to the vet as soon as you get them. The vet can check the cat over and make sure there is nothing wrong with the cat. In addition, your cat will get the shots they need.

• Make sure you have your cat spayed or neutered. Having your cat spayed or neutered will do two things. It will help your cat live longer and control the cat population.

• Use a spray bottle when your cat is being bad. NEVER hit your cat if they are bad. Spray the cat or kitten with water and say "bad" or "no." Make sure you do not spray them too much also. Spraying them too much can cause a cat to be aggressive to you.

• Get a cat box and kitty litter. Changing the kitty litter once, a week is good. Clean out the waste everyday if you are changing the kitty litter once a week.

• This really is not a tip but it will toss it in here as one. Give the cat or kitten love. The more love you give the cat or kitten, the more you will receive back from the cat or kitten.

• If the cat is going to be an indoor cat, have them de-clawed. Having the cat de-clawed saves you time, spraying the cat when they claw on you furniture and other stuff in your home.

These are just some tips to get you started with you new cat or kitten. Give the cat or kitten a cute name and have fun with him/her.

Insulin Syringes for Cats

Always use the insulin syringes specified by your veterinarian when injecting insulin. Using any other syringe can be dangerous and potentially fatal to your cat.

U-100 Syringes for Human Insulin

If you use human insulin for your cat, use a U-100 insulin syringe with an orange cap.


Capacity: Use a 3/10cc insulin syringe with whole or half-unit scale
Insulin syringe capacity is measured in cubic centimeters (cc), which are the same as milliliters (mL). These measurements are interchangeable. A 1 cc syringe equals a 1 mL syringe in capacity. One unit of insulin is equal to one one-hundredth of a cubic centimeter or milliliter. So, a 1 cc/1 mL syringe holds 100 units of insulin.

Most cats on human insulin are taking 1 to 3 units of insulin twice a day. For these very small doses, a 3/10 cc insulin syringe is recommended. Because it only holds up to 30 units of insulin, it has a wider-spaced scale that is easier to read.

If your cat takes ½ unit insulin doses, for example 2 ½ units per meal, BD offers a 3/10 cc syringe with a half-unit scale. The half-unit marks on the syringe make it easier to draw an accurate dose.

Needle Length: shorter is easier to control

A ½” long needle (12.7mm) might be too long for very thin cats, making it more likely that the needle will go right through the pinched skin and out the other side.

Many cats do well with a syringe needle that is just 5/16” (8 mm) long. This shorter needle makes it easier for you to get the insulin into the fat layer just below the skin.

Needle Gauge: thinner is more comfortable

The word “gauge” rhymes with “cage”, and describes how thick a needle is. When describing gauge, the higher the number, the thinner the needle. For example, a 31-gauge needle is thinner than a 29-gauge needle.

The needle length that you have chosen for your cat may or may not come in a choice of gauge.

The latest U-100 syringes have very thin needles (30 and 31 gauge) that glide easily into the skin, for a more comfortable injection. However, some pet owners prefer a lower-gauge, thicker needle because it is more rigid. Talk to your veterinarian about which needle length and gauge may work best for your pet.

Insulin Pens
If you find it hard to handle an insulin syringe, it might be easier for you to use an insulin pen. These pens use pre-filled insulin cartridges. You dial the correct dose on the pen, and then press on the plunger.

Some people find that an insulin pen helps them keep the doses more accurate and makes it easier to inject the insulin into the cat. However, you will pay for that convenience. Insulin pens with cartridges may cost more than syringes and insulin vials.

BD pen needles fit all insulin pens that are sold in the U.S. The pen needles are available in several lengths and gauges; your veterinarian can suggest which length is best for your pet.

U-40 Syringes for PZI Insulin
If your cat takes PZI U-40 insulin, use a red-capped U-40 insulin syringe.

U-40 insulin syringes are available in ½ mL and 1 mL capacities. You can buy U-40 syringes with a ½” long needle in 28 or 29 gauge thickness.

The thinnest U-40 needle available in the U.S. at this time is a 29-gauge size.


BD™ INJECT-EASE® Automatic Injector
Automatic InjectorAfraid of needles? Not to worry... you can still inject your pet. Designed specifically for people who fear needles or have difficulty reaching some injection sites, the BD™ INJECT-EASE® Automatic Injector holds and conceals a filled insulin syringe. The needle is inserted into the skin at the touch of a button.

With the BD™ INJECT-EASE® Automatic Injector, the insulin syringe is more stable, which allows a more precise injection. The mouth of the automatic injector has more contact with the skin around the injection site, contributing to a reduced pain sensation for your cat.

Insulins for Cats

The Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Sixth Edition, states:

"Diabetic cats are notoriously unpredictable in their response to exogenous (outside) insulin. No single type of insulin is routinely effective in maintaining control of glycemia, even with twice a day administration.

It is not possible to predict which type of insulin will work best in individual diabetic cats. The initial insulin of choice ultimately is based on the veterinarian's personal preference and experience."

Your veterinarian will determine the best insulin therapy for
your cat through a series of insulin and dose adjustments.

Beef-Pork Insulin (PZI Vet® Insulin)

Made by IDEXX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Protamine Zinc Insulin (PZI Vet®) is insulin that is made specifically for cats. The protamine and zinc help to slow down the release of the insulin into the body’s tissues and helps to provide a long duration of action. PZI Vet Insulin requires a prescription and is bought from veterinarians.

PZI Vet Insulin is made of 90% beef insulin and 10% pork insulin. Beef insulin is very similar to cat insulin, differing by only one amino acid. Some cats that do not respond to human insulin can experience better control, consistency and flatter blood glucose curves with PZI Vet Insulin.

In appearance, PZI Vet Insulin is a clear liquid with white insulin crystals at the bottom of the vial. When mixed gently and thoroughly, it looks milky. It is typically injected twice a day, with meals. However, if an owner is not able to give two injections a day, the cat may benefit in spite of being given only one injection per day. Blood glucose control may not be optimal at this level, though.

PZI Vet Insulin has a concentration of 40 units insulin per milliliter of fluid (U-40).

CAUTION: U-40 insulin must be injected with red-capped U-40 insulin syringes, whose scale goes up to 40 units. These syringes are specially designed to accurately measure U-40 insulin.


Human Insulin

Despite the name, this insulin does not come from human beings! Its chemical structure is the same as human insulin and it is made in a factory using a chemical process. Human insulin is readily available from local pharmacies, and may require a prescription.

Your veterinarian will recommend a type of human insulin, such as intermediate-acting or long-acting, for your cat.

No one insulin preparation is perfect for every cat. Your veterinarian will determine the best insulin therapy for your pet through a series of insulin and dose adjustments.

* NPH is a type of intermediate acting insulin. It is successful in controlling the diabetes of some cats. In others, however, NPH does not last long enough in the body for good blood glucose control.

* Insulin glargine (Lantus) is a long-lasting insulin whose effect lasts from 10 to 16 hours in most diabetic cats. It is absorbed and metabolized by the body in a manner that is similar to PZI insulin.

Human insulin preparations are usually injected twice a day, with meals. Human insulin preparations have a concentration of 100 units of insulin per milliliter (U-100).

CAUTION: Human insulin must be injected with orange-capped U-100 insulin syringes. Their scale matches the concentration of the human insulin.

Insulin Onset, Peak and Duration

Insulin package labels describe how quickly the insulin starts to work (onset of action), when it reaches the greatest effect (peak) and how long it lasts in the body (duration).

In animals, (and for that matter, in people, too) the response to insulin varies greatly from one individual to the next, so these insulin performance descriptions do not always apply. For example, most insulins have an immediate onset of action in cats and dogs, and the duration of action may be much shorter than the number of hours listed on the insulin label.

Shelf life of insulin

Always follow the storage and handling instructions that come with your insulin.

Human insulin
Bottles of human insulin, either open or unopened, generally last for one month when stored at room temperature (59 to 86°F). A bottle is considered open if its seal has been punctured. If you remove the cap but do not puncture the seal, the bottle is considered unopened.

Many people store their unopened bottles in the refrigerator and keep open bottles at room temperature because they find it uncomfortable to inject cold insulin. If stored in a refrigerator, unopened bottles are good until the expiration date printed on the bottle. Opened bottles that are stored in a refrigerator should be used within one month of being opened.

Do not use bottled human insulin past the expiration date printed on the label. And no matter what the expiration date is, throw out the bottle one month after you open it. To help you keep track, write the date that you opened the bottle on the bottle's label.

PZI Insulin
PZI insulin is a more stable solution than human insulins. IDEXX Pharmaceuticals has shelf life data for up to 2 months.

Hyperglycaemic, hyperosmolar, non-ketotic (HHNK) syndrome

Hyperglycaemic, hyperosmolar non-ketotic (HHNK) syndrome is an uncommon complication of untreated diabetes mellitus. It is an emergency and the prognosis for recovery is poor.

HHNK syndrome is characterized by extremely high blood glucose levels. The brain may be affected resulting in the diabetic cat lapsing into a coma.
Diagnosis

Before HHNK syndrome develops, typical clinical signs of diabetes mellitus are seen. The diabetic cat then becomes progressively weaker, stops eating, and lethargic and drinks less. The cat becomes severely dehydrated, depressed and eventually lapses into a coma.
Treatment

Your veterinary surgeon will administer intravenous fluids and attempt to lower the blood glucose levels.

Prognosis
The prognosis for full recovery is extremely poor.