Pet Haven

Owners of cats and dogs in the same household often wonder if they can feed dog food to their cats as well, simply because it is more convinient. However, feeding your dog food to your cat is extremely dangerous. Dog food lacks the essential nutrients called taurine and arachidonic acid. Taurine deficiency can result in blindness as well as other health problems. Arachidonic acid can lead to dry and flaky skin. Felines require a higher protein and fat content in their diet than dogs.

More and more cat owners change to more nutritious foods for their feline friends, due to specific health problems they have encountered. Many are advised by their veterinarians, others have read reviews and heard news reports about a certain brand, or the word of mouth will usually work as well. We all have our reasons why we use this brand of cat food and not the other.

However, the most important criteria while chosing a good nutrional cat food is not met. People do not read the lables!

 Table Scraps can be a dangerous factor to your cat’s health as well. Some people believe that the food they eat is good enough for their pets too. Wrong! Most human foods have proven itself to be very dangerous to pets, some even fatal! Cats have a complete different body chemistry and nutritional requirements as humans and the wrong food can do a lot of wrong to your kitty!  

This decision would have to be made for every cat on individual basis. Some cats are more independent than others. Every cat needs a certain amount of human companionship and affection. Why have a pet that you do can’t or don’t want to spend time with? That would be a little bit selfish now, wouldn’t it?

If you do lead a busy lifestyle, spend a long time away from home working, it is strongly suggest that you have at least two cats. Cats like to be amongst their own kind and they can keep each other company.

You might be concerned that you will be left behind if you have 2 cats. Do not worry. As soon as you get home, your cats will compete for your love and attention!

Fact: Many cats just love to drink cow's milk, which includes canned milk, but I advice strongly against it! Most cats, or all mammals for that matter, are lactose intolerant and letting them drink milk will result in an upset tummy and diarrhea, which is especially dangerous, even fatal sometimes, in kittens who can dehydrate quickly.

An adult cat doesn't need to drink milk at all. If you must give your cat milk, it is recommended you purchase special "cat's milk" which has been specifically formulated for cats to drink.

Should you get end up with an upset tummy, it is ok to offer her a table spoon full of plain yoghurt. The natural bacteria in the yoghurt will help settle down the stomach and aid the digestion.

Grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. A few dogs eat them and have no problems.

Some dogs, however, become violently ill after eating only a few grapes or raisins. Symptoms are vomiting and restlessness. Kidney failure follows which is often fatal. Yet, the toxin itself is not known as of this writing, nor is has been much research done to find out why some dogs have a toxic reaction to raisins and grapes, and some dogs do not.

Vets report fatalities after dogs have eaten as little as 7 raisins! Please be aware of the dangers and do not give grapes or raisins as treats to your dog!

Other toxic foods for your dog include, but are not limited to: chocolate, bread dough, macadamia nuts, salmon and trout, onions and garlic, xylitol sweetner, chicken bones, cocoa bean, poinsettias, and mistletoe.

No, they don't always fall on their feet. Sometimes they fall off a low lying place and the distance to the ground is too short for them make a turn in mid air. If the place is high enough, the cat will certainly turn so she will land with her feet first.

Having said that, please bear in mind that any cat will be seriously hurt and maybe even killed if she falls from a great height.

American veterinarians have a new term called the "high rise syndrome". Due to the rising human population high-rise buildings are erected and 3 stories and higher apartments are becoming more and more available, which results in more and more cats falling out of the window with horrible results.

There are window safety guards available for your windows. Please be a responsible cat owner and save yourself and your cat from such terrible accidents.

If your cat makes a mess on the carpet, rub her nose in it.

Wrong – this will not only confuse your cat but also scare her off.

Possible causes are:

• Health Problems - Urinating is sometimes the only way for a cat to tell you that something is wrong with her. Listen to her!
• The litter box is too dirty. 
• Your cat doesn't like hooded or open litter boxes. 
• Your cat disapproves of the location of the litter tray (might be too busy, too loud, too dark, too light, you name it! Cats are vulnerable while going potty, keep that in mind).

Cats can have cow's milk

Wrong - Most cats and kittens are lactose intolerant. Feeding them milk will result in diarrhea which is especially dangerous to baby kittens that can dehydrate quickly and even die. Always use the commercial milk replacer. There is no valid reason for an adult cat to have to drink milk at all.

My female cat should have one litter before she is spayed

Wrong – Research has proven that it is better to have her spayed before 6 months of age to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.