Pet Haven

Cats are territorial animals and will fight with other cats to establish territory or to defend their existing territory. As a result fight wounds occur commonly in cats. These wounds often result in an infection that can be quite nasty, especially if left untreated.

Fight wounds occur more in male than female cats. Un-neutered males are especially prone to fighting.

Bacteria trapped under the skin following a bite wound can multiply for several days before any signs of infection become visible. Swelling and pain at the puncture site are the most common signs of infection.

Fever is not rare. If loose skin is present around the puncture sites, a pocket of pus will form an abscess. If the skin is not loose, such as on a foot or the tail, infection spreads throughout the tissues, but the swelling may be less visible than with an abscess. This particular infection is called cellulitis. With both an abscess and cellulitis, trapped pus can made the cat quite toxic and extremely ill.

When a cat bites, its teeth go through the skin, and then it releases quickly which results in small puncture wounds in the skin, with holes about the same diameter as the cat's teeth. These holes seal and virtually disappear within hours, trapping bacteria from the cat's mouth under the skin of the victim. The types of bacteria which live in the cat's mouth grow in an environment where the oxygen concentration is low. Once the wound seals shut, bacteria can begin to multiply at a rapid rate.

The organisms most commonly involved with cat bites are Pasteurella multocida and Streptococcus; as previously stated, bacteria which can survive with little or no oxygen are often involved.

Treatment

Treatment of cat bite wounds varies. If you know that your cat has bite wounds from a fight, antibiotics given within 24 hours will usually stop spread of the infection and prevent the development of an abscess. If several days have elapsed since the fight, an abscess will usually form. The abscess must be drained through the bite wound holes or by incising the skin over the abscess. Occasionally, a latex drain tube must be placed to keep the wound open and allow pus to drain out completely.

Antibiotics given by injection and/or by mouth complete the treatment. The abscess usually heals within 2-5 days. If cellulitis occurs instead of an abscess, drainage is not possible because the infection is not confined to a local area. In this case, antibiotics are the sole treatment. Cellulitis is slower to heal than an abscess but will usually take place within 3-7 days.

Neutering the male cat can make a huge difference in decreasing or even eliminating the problem of bite wounds. If their territory is invaded by another cat, however, they will defend it by fighting. Female cats, whether intact or spayed, will also defend their territory.

Keeping cats indoors and away from other cats can also help in management of this problem.

More than half the pet owners travel by air with their pets. By taking a few precautions, you can make flying safe and healthy for your cat.

Flying as carry-on baggage is much better than the traditional flying in the baggage, for the latter is not always adequately shielded against the extremes of heat and cold and cats cannot be monitored during the flight. Generally, airlines admit pets about 40 pounds, including the weight of the carrier, if the carrier is small enough to fit under the passenger’s seat. To make your cat more comfortable, try taking early morning or late evening flights, for they are cooler in the summer. Flies with a minimum number of stops and the ones less crowded are also better for cats.

Before traveling, make sure that you update your cat’s health and rabies vaccination certificates. Upon arrival, your cat should be exercised and picked up. Your cat’s carrier has to be ventilated on at least two opposite sides, with exterior knobs to prevent blocked airflow and it must be large enough for your cat to move in. Make sure that the label “Live Animal” and the arrows indicating the carrier’s upright position are clear and readable.  

More importantly, you should consider whether your cat is comfortable with traveling or not, and if the answer is “no”, please keep in mind that sedation is not the best solution.

Moving to a new home is as stressful to your cat as to you, therefore, you have to be patient and understanding. To make things easier for your cat, you can follow a few rules.

It is better, in the first few days in the new home, to confine your cat to one room that includes her litter box, food and water bowls and toys. This will give you time to put the rest of the place in order.

To ensure that your cat will live longer and healthier, resist her attempts to go outdoors and make your cat an indoor-only pet. By stopping the cat from establishing and outdoor territory, he/ she will be less interested to go outside. You can also entice your cat to stay inside by supplying lots of attention and playing with the cat.

Some people believe that it is all right to feed your cat dog’s food and vice versa. To them, cats and dogs are furry animals walking on four legs and this means they can eat the same food. It is time to set the record straight: never do that.

Even if cats look like small dogs, they have totally different dietary requirements. Cats are real carnivores and they require a diet based on meat and meat products. For example, taurine, an amino acid found in animal tissues, helps the cats to avoid heart problems, blindness and respiratory problems. Animal tissues are also rich with pre-formed vitamin A which cats need. A necessary fatty acid, arachidonic acid, is essential in a cat’s diet and, as expected, can only be found in animal tissues.

Whether your cat’s diet is dry or soft, make sure it is a diet specifically sold for cats.

One of the most common diseases cats face are dental diseases. Like humans, cats need to keep plaque and calculus off their teeth. The first step you can do is to have a vet clean those teeth and afterwards, you can keep brushing those teeth regularly.

It is better to use special toothpaste, for cats are known to swallow it all the time. Changing the eating habits also helps in protecting your cat’s teeth, for example, you can provide them with soft food in stead of dry food to be able to chew better. Another sign of bad teeth is a decreased appetite or a change of eating habits. You should be also tentative to your cat and when you notice symptoms such as mouth odor, mouth pawing, abnormal salivation, sneezing, bloody nasal discharge or facial swelling, you should quickly visit your cat’s vet.

Cats are known to be artists in the field of laziness, their favorite being snoozing in the afternoon sun. However, despite their image of immobility, they need to stretch and move on a regular basis.

Unlike dogs who are supposed to have long, slow-paced exercises, cats prefer short, frequent periods of intense activity. You can, therefore, entice your cat into activity by: providing your cat with things to bat; giving it things to chase like some strings; empty boxes have proved to be great for enticing them to explore; giving it things to scratch allows it to stretch and tone the muscles and at the same time, save your sofa from the same activity.

However, whatever you offer your cat to play with, do not offer your hand or fingers as bait, for this encourages the cat to scratch and bite your hands.