Do cats really hate water?

Do cats really hate water?

Cats' aversion to water is widely accepted as fact -- but in truth, not all cats feel the same about taking a dip. One domestic breed, the strikingly beautiful Turkish Van cat, actually delights in getting wet. His ancestors did, too, plunging into lake waters to better cope with the extreme summer heat in the Lake Van region of Turkey, where the breed originated.

If your cat is any other breed, he probably views swimming and bathing as spectator sports -- and the prospect of being caught in a thunderstorm with raindrops drenching his fur is unthinkable. What do most felines really think of water? Here's what we've found:

Water Aversion

If a cat's experiences with water are mainly exposure to a sopping rainstorm, a forced bath or being sprayed with water as a disciplinary measure, why wouldn't she shy away from water? Scientists contend that cats' dislike of water comes from house cats' owners shielding them from the elements since the earliest periods of domestication and from their ancestors -- wild cats in Europe, Africa and China's desert cat -- whose limited experience with water did not require adapting and evolving to deal with it. Lions and leopards avoid river-dwelling predators (like crocodiles) by staying away from water.

On the other hand, some big cats in the wild, especially those in hot, arid areas, regularly swim and bathe to stay cool or catch dinner. The Asian fishing cat is a skilled swimmer, with partially webbed paws, that dives to nab its prey.

That Mesmerizing Drip

Despite not enjoying a full immersion, many house cats are fascinated by water, dipping an exploring paw into the water bowl to scatter a few drops or running into the bathroom at the sound of a shower.

A dripping faucet is a cat magnet, an interactive toy that draws playful paws eager to catch a drop or two. But even without a drip, a cat may gaze at a faucet, hoping to see a trickle.  Author Susan Conant, known for her mysteries starring dogs, also wrote "Scratch the Surface," in which she described a fictional Chartreux cat's encounter with a faucet: "How long can a cat safely go without water? The question never occurs to Brigitte, who nonetheless jumps to the kitchen counter, scampers to the sink and trains her amber eyes on the faucet. Just in case." For cats fascinated by water, flowing pet fountains that recirculate water in a continual whirl are great fun, and a good way to get them to drink more.

Conquering Bathtime

Unlike dogs, cats rarely need a bath because they do so much self-grooming. But if yours gets into something sticky or smelly, or has a skin condition that requires bathing, you'll want to help Kitty cope with the watery experience. If you begin bathing a cat when he's young, he will grow accustomed to the feeling of water. Place him in an empty tub or sink, speak reassuringly, and run a washcloth wet with room-temperature water over his fur -- just enough to get him damp. If he's calm enough, start filling the bath or use a tumbler or pitcher of warm water -- never hot -- and slowly pour this over his fur. You can also try a hose attached to the faucet to saturate his coat. Working from head to tail, apply a small amount of diluted feline shampoo and work up the suds, cleaning the cat's fur and skin. Be sure to rinse more than once to prevent shampoo residue from irritating his skin, or getting into his mouth when he tries to lick himself dry. Dry him with a clean, fluffy towel, praising him for braving bathtime.

How to Choose a Cat Sitter

Housecats rely on their pet parents for food, water and the occasional treat. Other than these basic needs, cats seem to prefer an independent life. So why not just set out a three-day supply of food and water when you leave town for a long weekend?

Turns out, cats do need us -- maybe more than we realize. Hiring a pet sitter will ensure that your cat has adequate food, water and supervision. This is especially important because these creatures are accustomed to human companionship and become stressed by its sudden absence. Plus, a pet sitter can contact a veterinarian if your cat becomes ill or injured.

As a general rule, your cat should not be alone for more than 12 hours. If your cat has a strict feeding schedule or requires medication, she may be able to spend only three or four hours alone. You can expect most professional cat sitters to come to your home at least once a day -- more often if your pet's health demands it.

"We do no less than one visit per day for cats," says Jennifer Pierce, who, along with her husband Andrew, owns the Atlanta-based Spoiled Rotten Pet Sitting Service. "Some pet sitters will visit every other day, but that's way too long to leave a cat if something goes wrong. A cat's health can go downhill very quickly."

According to Pet Sitters International, it takes about 30 minutes for a professional cat sitter to care for one cat per visit. During the visit, the sitter will feed and water your cat and change the litter box. A cat sitter also will play with your cat, so be sure to leave plenty of toys -- including a few new ones to keep your cat entertained.

If you hire an amateur cat sitter, such as a neighbor or friend, make sure you choose someone reliable who will be able to come by at least once a day for at least 30 minutes. A professional may be better trained to handle fussy eating habits or medication, but a cat-owning or otherwise capable friend is a good choice, too.

Be sure to ask any cat sitter about their previous cat care experiences. Ask a professional sitter for references -- and be sure to call them. As a bonus, professional pet sitters are typically bonded and insured, which provides additional safety and peace of mind.

There are a number of boarding facilities that accept cats for overnight care, but this option may be nerve-wracking for cats that are used to a far more private (and quiet) environment. Hiring a pet sitter to watch your cat at home sidesteps this issue, and is often about half the price of boarding your cat away from home.
On average, a pet sitter will charge $15 to $20 per day for one cat, with an additional $5 or so for each additional cat. It may cost more for the sitter to pay early morning or evening visits to your home. Pierce adds that if a cat requires more than 30 minutes of care or entertainment, her company charges an additional fee.
Industry organizations like the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International offer training and certification to their members, as well as online member databases to help you locate a pet sitter in your area. Your cat's veterinarian or fellow pet parents also may have suggestions.
Expect your pet sitter to use a contract that details their services, fees and responsibilities -- some sitters will even water houseplants or bring in the mail. Ask the sitter how they would care for your pet if a natural disaster occurred while you were gone, or if your pet becomes sick or hurt.
Most pet sitters will come to your home several days before their services are needed. This way, the sitter can meet the cat, get a quick tour, go over the cat's schedule and answer (or ask) additional questions.
If you hire a friend or neighbor to check on your cat during your absence, you could offer to pay them $5 to $10 a day or present them with a gift upon your return. Or you could return the favor instead. For example, PetSwapUSA.com matches pet owners willing to watch each other's pets -- for free.
Whether you choose a professional or a volunteer to cat sit, the time and effort you put into planning will help ensure that your time apart is a positive experience for your feline friend.

us to cats?

What are the most common cat diseases?

What are the most common cat diseases?

More CatsCat Breed Selector, Feline Fact Puzzles, Match the Cats, Kitten's First Year, Ginger's Hidden Adventure Game

Cats are prone to a handful of specific illnesses, all with distinctive symptoms. Knowing what ails them and why will help you determine the right treatment to get them healthy again. Preventing problems, from viruses to worms, will keep your cat from being sidelined by discomfort. Here are some diseases to watch for:

 Viruses and bacteria can invade a cat's nose, throat and sinuses, causing upper respiratory infections (URIs). Feline calicivirus and feline herpes virus are the most contagious types of URIs. In multi-cat homes or shelters, viruses are passed through shared food or water dishes, grooming or sneezing. Secondary bacterial infections may develop along with the viruses. Stress and overcrowding contribute to URIs, and cats with flat faces, such as Persians, are more susceptible to infection. Signs of URIs include a runny nose, congestion, nasal discharge, fever, loss of appetite and rapid breathing. Antibiotics, isolation and fluids will effectively fight URIs. Keeping your cat indoors to limit contact with infected cats, minimizing stress, and having up-to-date vaccinations and regular vet exams, help maintain a healthy immune system.

Feline gingivitis, or gum inflammation, is the earliest stage of periodontis, the most widespread feline dental disease. Gingivitis is caused by plaque, a combination of a sticky bacterial film and food particles accumulating along the gumline. Cats that've been fed a high-carbohydrate diet become more sensitive to plaque bacteria. Mingled with saliva and minerals, plaque can harden into tartar, a yellowish crust that irritates the cat's gums. Left untreated, tartar eventually builds up under the gum, separating it from the teeth. Reddened gums, bad breath and difficulty eating are early signs of gingivitis, which usually begins with one tooth but can spread quickly. This bacterium can spread to other organs through the bloodstream and cause kidney damage.
If gingivitis has been diagnosed, your cat's teeth should be professionally cleaned. Follow up with daily brushing, using a special feline-formula toothpaste. Good oral hygiene is the best way to fight gingivitis, and special dental-formula cat foods can help keep teeth and gums strong. Your vet may also prescribe antibiotics to treat gingivitis.

Even indoor cats can get worms. Roundworm is one of the most widespread forms, contracted from eating infected insects, rodents or birds or by contact with contaminated soil. Roundworms invade a cat's intestines, and can migrate to his bloodstream and organs. Spaghetti-shaped strings in his feces or vomit, a distended belly, dull coat, lack of appetite and diarrhea indicate roundworm infestation. A large buildup of roundworms can be fatal for kittens.
Cats get tapeworm, long and ribbon-shaped, from ingesting a flea that has consumed tapeworm eggs. The larvae hatch in the cat's stomach, attaching to its small intestines. Tapeworms sap nutrients; a feline heavily infested with tapeworms will lose weight and suffer mild diarrhea. Rice-shaped grains around the cat's anus and in his feces signal tapeworm.
Oral dewormer medication is the treatment for roundworm and tapeworm. Cleanliness, flea control and keeping the cat indoors will help fight worms.

 Urinary tract disease occurs in the bladder and the urethra, the tube leading from the bladder that carries urine out of the cat's system. Characterized by blood in the urine and painful urination, urinary tract disease has no specific cause but several possible ones: cystitis, dehydration, bacterial infection or the high ash and mineral content in dry cat food. Cats experiencing urinary or bladder problems may strain while urinating, squatting and meowing in pain. Your vet may discover a thickened bladder wall, and blockage of urine flow or urinary crystals. With prescribed medication and a change in the cat's diet, the infection should cease within 10 days. Your vet will conduct several urinalyses to monitor the presence of blood in the urine. A low-stress environment and the proper nutrition can help prevent urinary tract infections.

Feline kidney or renal failure involves the breakdown of the kidneys, which regulate blood and water levels, and filter and process waste. Chronic renal failure (CRF) stems from the gradual deterioration of the tiny units called nephrons , which process waste and maintain hydration. Some experts believe CRF is caused by poor-quality nutrition. Because it occurs gradually, cats may show no signs for years. By time they exhibit symptoms, damage is usually irreversible. Extreme thirst and frequent urination are among the signs of CRF, along with drooling, dehydration, weight loss and bad breath. Although CRF is incurable and progressive, a cat can be kept comfortable with dietary changes supervised by your vet, along with IV fluids and specific medications.
Acute renal failure occurs quickly, usually from accidental ingestion of antifreeze, or illnesses that affect the kidney area. Symptoms include straining to urinate, lack of coordination, vomiting, not eating, seizures and bad breath. Immediate vet attention is needed. Removing the toxins and restoring the electrolyte balance is the first step, and full recovery depends on the severity of kidney damage.

What are the symptoms of feline diabetes?

What are the symptoms of feline diabetes?

More CatsCat Breed Selector, Feline Fact Puzzles, Match the Cats, Kitten's First Year, Ginger's Hidden Adventure Game

You might want to be a fat cat, but you sure don't want your feline to become one. There are a many reasons to keep your cat at a healthy weight, but avoiding feline diabetes may be the biggest.

Feline diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a common disease often found in older and overweight cats. Similar to diabetes in humans, feline diabetes occurs when there is not enough insulin (a hormone made in the pancreas) in the cat's body to balance out the glucose (sugar) in the cat's diet. In normal cats, food is broken down during digestion and the resulting glucose enters the bloodstream. Insulin is then released to regulate the blood's glucose levels. If your cat isn't producing enough -- or any -- insulin, he will become diabetic. And if too much glucose builds up in his body due to the lack of insulin, the disease can become dangerous and even life threatening.

So what symptoms should you look for? Begin by monitoring your cat more closely, especially if he's older or is overweight. Have you observed him drinking or eating a lot more than usual? Take note if his water bowl goes dry or his food dish empties faster than it used to -- especially if he's eating more and still losing weight. Another symptom to watch for is unusually frequent urination. All of these are key signs that his glucose levels are going unregulated -- the lack of insulin is preventing his cells from absorbing and getting energy from glucose, and the resulting excess glucose in his blood is making him thirsty. If you observe these symptoms, make an appointment to see your vet. She can run a laboratory test to check how much sugar is in his blood or urine and make a diagnosis.

According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, about 50 to75 percent of cats with diabetes need to receive insulin injections, and some may also be prescribed pills to help regulate their glucose levels. Crucial to the treatment of diabetes is revisiting your cat's diet. You'll need to work with your vet to change and watch his diet, feeding him smaller portions of foods specially designed to help his body handle sugar. Monitoring his food and water intake, waste output and weight will be important in making sure his diabetes is properly treated. Some trial and error might be necessary in finding the best treatment for him, so call your vet right away if your cat's symptoms return.

Although there isn't a cure for diabetes, some cats -- even after just a few months -- will stop needing insulin. This is most common in overweight cats that lose their extra weight -- the cat's pancreas can once again supply the amount of insulin his body needs. 

Diabetes is a challenging disease to deal with, and it's best prevented by keeping your cat at a healthy weight. However, with good monitoring and care a cat with diabetes can live a long, happy life.

What common plants are poisonous to cats?

What common plants are poisonous to cats?

More CatsCat Breed Selector, Feline Fact Puzzles, Match the Cats, Kitten's First Year, Ginger's Hidden Adventure Game

Here's a riddle for you and your cat. What's mostly green, grows in a decorative pot and looks great on the coffee table? You say, "Houseplant." Your cat says, "Dinner!"

Indeed, Tina Wismer, DVM, medical director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center, says one of the most common calls to the center concerns a cat making a meal of a houseplant or some flowers. In the wild, cats probably ate plants and flowers as a source of fiber, so if your cat licks his lips at the sight of a potted plant, he may be responding to this genetic predisposition. Unfortunately, the wrong bite can include more than fiber for your feline.

Many plants are toxic to cats, and reactions can vary from mild irritation of the mouth and gums to vomiting, seizures and even death. This doesn't mean you have to strip your house of all greenery. You just need to be aware of the plants that can harm your cat.

 

 Particularly Poisonous Plants

Some plants are more toxic than others, and Dr. Wismer suggests that cat owners be particularly aware of the dangers associated with these common houseplants.

- Lillies (Lilium spp). Although the toxin involved has not been identified, one bite of a leaf or a taste of the pollen from a plant in the lily family can cause lethargy and vomiting within 12 hours of ingestion. If not treated, your cat may go into kidney failure.

- Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta). Once exclusively an outdoor plant, the sago palm has recently begun making an appearance on windowsills and coffee tables. The entire plant is poisonous to cats, but the seed pod, sometimes called the nut, contains the greatest amount of toxin. Just a few nibbles can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even seizures. If left untreated, cats can experience liver failure.

- Calcium Oxalate plants. These include dieffenbachia, philodendrons and Chinese evergreens to name just a few. Insoluble calcium oxalate, microscopic crystals that look like needles, is present throughout these plants. One bite and the needle-like crystals shoot into a cat's gums and tongue. Symptoms include drooling and vomiting. To reduce irritation, give your cat milk or other calcium-containing substances, such as ice cream or yogurt. If enough mouth swelling occurs, breathing could become difficult, but this is rare.

- Dracaena. Over 40 species are included in this family of popular houseplants, including the red-edged Dracaena, the dragon plant, and the Dracaena Janet Craig. Cats that eat the long, skinny fronds that are typical in the Dracaena plant family will vomit, sometimes with blood, become depressed and lose their appetites. Kittens can get a little wobbly and appear to be drunk. Luckily, these plants are not usually lethal and symptoms should disappear in 12 to 24 hours.

If your cat decides a houseplant is put to much better use as food than as decoration, your first step should be to call your vet. She will want to know what plant ended up in your cat's stomach. Use a smartphone or digital camera to take a close-up picture of the plant and email it to your veterinarian for identification. If you're not sure which plant your cat has gotten into, get your pet to your vet as quickly as possible so that the vet can observe any symptoms for clues.

If the plant is toxic, your vet may suggest inducing vomiting at home or giving your cat activated charcoal capsules. Activated charcoal, which can be purchased at a pharmacy, binds to toxins while still in the stomach, preventing absorption into the blood stream.

It's a good idea to have activated charcoal on hand for emergencies, but Dr. Wismer warns never to attempt any home remedy without contacting your veterinarian first. Making a cat vomit or swallow pills can be tricky, and activated charcoal capsules are not as concentrated as the liquid version used by veterinarians. Getting to the vet should be your priority. If something as toxic as a lily is ingested, expect your cat to be placed on intravenous fluids for a couple of days to flush out the toxins.

The ASPCA's Web site has a comprehensive list of toxic and non-toxic plants. The center is also staffed with veterinarians available to answer questions if you suspect your cat has ingested a poisonous substance. The 24-hour emergency poison hotline number is 1-888-426-4435. A fee is required but may be well worth it for your peace of mind or your cat's life.

What does it mean when your cat licks you?

What does it mean when your cat licks you?

 

More Cats Cat Breed Selector, Feline Fact Puzzles, Match the Cats, Kitten's First Year, Ginger's Hidden Adventure Game

Dogs may lick our faces -- remember Lucy from "Peanuts" exclaiming, "Aaack, dog germs!" after a kiss from exuberant beagle Snoopy? -- but cats are more refined in their public displays of affection. When your cat licks you, usually after a mock-bite or firm grab with his paws, she's doing what her mother did during the early weeks of her life: providing a good cleaning that also speaks of caring and belonging. You've seen cats licking each other, helping in the grooming ritual, especially around the hard-to-reach ears and top of the head. But why is Kitty inspired to lick your arm or toes -- or even your hair? Here's what we've discovered.

Territorial Rights

Being licked is the first tactile experience your cat remembers -- that washcloth feeling of her mama cat's tongue thoroughly rubbing her coat, ears and every part of her little body. A mother cat initially washes her babies to remove the afterbirth fluids and to stimulate the kittens' breathing. She'll also clean them whenever they return to the nest, firmly re-establishing her scent on them. For cats both male and female, licking is a social exchange as well as a rite of cleanliness. Cats groom each other to remove debris and share scents, just as cats scratch in a favorite place where the scent glands of their paw pads will mark the territory as their own. When your cat licks you, she's cleaning you up and claiming you -- just as she would for a feline friend or litter mate.

What Licking Feels Like to a Cat

Some experts believe that orphaned kittens or those weaned too early from their mothers and litter mates develop oral behaviors such as suckling and licking, and exhibit these babyish habits into adulthood. But as with so much about cats, that's a generalization. The favorite hobby of Kelsey, a 6-year-old tabby who shares a household with her mother cat, is washing people -- and Kelsey's mother still scrubs her every day. Licking is a comforting, soothing sensation to cats, and feels like the gentle stroking of your hands petting them. If a cat licks you, she's returning that favor: She figures, who wouldn't enjoy being petted and assured of affection?

Excessive Licking

If an older cat who's never shown such affection suddenly begins licking you or suckling at your clothing, pay close attention to this change in behavior. Cats that start vigorously licking themselves may be seeking relief from a skin irritation, fleas, an insect bite or an infection. Help soothe Kitty by examining her skin and fur for problems, and ask your vet to recommend the right treatment.
If your cat's licking is not linked to illness and you simply cannot tolerate the ticklish feeling of her tongue, do not punish her for this normal behavior. Try gently discouraging your cat by moving away from her when she starts licking. Spritz your arms or hand with lemon juice, an immediate feline turn-off. Offer her a stuffed terrycloth toy to lavish her affection on instead, or just turn the tables and pet her lavishly, assuring her that you love her even if you don't like the licking.