Grooming is part of a cat’s natural behaviour and our feline companions often spend a lot of time doing it. Unfortunately there are circumstances where cats can groom themselves too much and that often indicates that there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

When a cat is over-grooming it will frequently and obsessively lick, pluck or chew a given area in its body. Owners will usually notice areas with broken or with significant less hair in their coat or even with no hair at all. The most commonly affected areas are their belly, their legs, and the inside of their thighs or their back. Some cats can lick themselves to the point where they damage their own skin and bleed.

Excessive grooming in cats is usually associated with itching or pain. It’s not uncommon for cats suffering from allergy to flea bites or from lower urinary tract disease to display this behaviour. It can also be related to stress and anxiety, in which case it is called feline psychogenic alopecia.

When cats feel anxious they groom themselves because they find it relaxing and comforting. Usually they will groom more frequently when they are left alone and need more reassurance.

Cats thrive on routine and they can be very sensitive to any change in their environment. Changes in the household, new pets, new family members and even if they don’t get along with other cats that might also live in the same house could be a source of stress.

If you notice your cat is grooming excessively please seek veterinary assistance. Your vet will need to find what is causing the problem so he or she can recommend an adequate and effective treatment.

It is very important for the cause to be investigated in order to achieve a successful treatment so if your cat is over grooming do not hesitate to bring us your feline companion.

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

Cat obesity affects one out of three adult cats in the UK and it is very important for owners to be aware of this problem. It is recommended for pet owners to monitor their pets’ weight and body condition, so they can act and help their pets return to their normal weight, if necessary.

Being overweight can have a significant impact in your pet’s life. They will feel tired and breathless with only mild exercise and many cats will struggle with their daily grooming. Overweight pets are also at a greater risk of developing more serious health issues such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, lower urinary tract problems, constipation, respiratory problems, heart disease, heatstroke and even reproductive disorders.

The primary reason for a cat to gain weight and eventually become obese lies in the fact that they are consuming more energy than they are expending. There are several factors that contribute to this problem: age, level of activity, lifestyle (indoor or outdoor), neutering, and of course, their diet.

There is a lot you can do to help your feline friend become fit and healthy. Please remember that food is only part of the cause – your cats’ environment and lifestyle will also affect their weight. In particular, lack of exercise can pile on the pounds, so it’s a good idea to encourage your cat to stay active in order to burn off any excess energy.

Here is what we recommend:

• Daily playtime to encourage exercise: many cats enjoy climbing, scratching towers and spending time chasing a ball or a ‘fishing’ toy; you can also put some of their food into a special feeding ball, which they’ll need to play with to release the food inside
• Portion control: try not to overfeed your pet by following the guidelines on the food package
• Seek veterinary assistance: your vet can help you start introducing some changes to your cat’s usual routine, as well as recommend a specific lower calorie diet that can help you manage your pet’s weight.
• Treats: be responsible with the amount of treats you feed your pet with; choose healthy treats

It is very important for your cat’s weight loss to be slow and steady, as a rapid weight loss is dangerous and can also lead to serious health problems. Follow your vet’s advice and remember that the treatment for obesity is focused on weight loss and on maintaining a healthy weight in the long term.

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

Antifreeze is highly toxic for pets. This substance is easily found in households all over the UK during the cold months, since it is commonly used to de-ice windshields after a cold night.

Antifreeze and water coolant from cars contain ethylene glycol, a chemical that is extremely poisonous for pets if ingested, even in very small amounts. This type of poisoning leads to kidney failure and it is often fatal. Cats are particularly sensitive to the damaging effects of this substance.

Common signs of antifreeze poisoning include appearing uncoordinated, vomiting, depression, lethargy, breathing difficulties, fits and ultimately death.

Cats usually have access to this chemical when it leaks from a car’s engine or when it is spilled somehow. It is not uncommon for cats to hide under cars for warmth during the colder months and if the liquid is leaking, the puddle that forms on the ground is very likely to be the only liquid that is not frozen around the area. An outdoor thirsty cat will easily find it and drink it. Cats can also step on the liquid and swallow it when they groom their coat or their paws afterwards.

The best way to avoid these accidents is to check your car regularly to ensure it is not leaking water coolant. It is also recommended storing antifreeze in secure containers, safely kept away from pets. Spills should be cleaned up as quickly as possible to avoid the possibility of a cat drinking or stepping on this substance.

If you notice any of the previously mentioned signs on your pet or if you suspect he or she may have ingested ethylene glycol, please do not hesitate and take him or her to the vet immediately. Early treatment is your pet’s best chance of survival and recovery!

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

Many cat owners have probably seen their cat cough and wondered if that was just an occasional cough or if there was something else to it. It is normal for cats to cough every now and then, as there is always something in their environment that can irritate their airways and cause them to cough. It is also not uncommon for cat owners to mistake retching, a sound that cats often produce when they regurgitate hairballs with cough.

If a cat’s cough seems to persist, if it becomes severe, productive or if you notice your cat starts showing other clinical signs such as being depressed or lack of appetite, then it is time to take your cat to the vet.

There are several different causes of cough in our feline companions: a foreign body lodged in their air passages, pulmonary parasites, bacterial or viral infections (cat flu for example), heart disease and the most common cause, feline asthma.

Feline asthma, chronic bronchitis, or allergic airway disease is usually triggered when cats inhales any substance that causes irritation in their airways. This means that feline asthma can be caused by common household cleaning sprays, dust, mould, pollens, cat litter dust, cigarette smoke and even perfume.

When these substance are inhaled they will travel through the cat’s bronchial tree and not only there is contraction of the muscle that lines the bronchial tree but also mucous starts being produced to trap these agents and prevent them from advancing further into the cat’s lungs. All these reactions will trigger cough which basically tries to get rid of the mucous containing the irritating substances.

The continuous irritation of the cat’s airways will result in the narrowing of those airways. This is why if your cat seems unwell and shows persistent cough it is very important to seek veterinary assistance. Some cats are just mildly affected, but others can develop more serious clinical signs. If left untreated the problem then becomes chronic and the narrowing of the cat’s airways is irreversible. The cat can have breathing difficulties and that the disease can be fatal.

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

If you are a cat lover or a cat owner then this post is for you. Cat flu is a common disease caused by viruses or bacteria that affects the upper respiratory tract of cats. Cats suffering from cat flu will show clinical signs similar to the ones caused by a common cold in humans.

The viruses involved are usually the feline herpes virus (FHV), also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis virus, and the feline calicivirus (FCV). The disease can be caused by one or by both of these viruses and it may be further complicated by bacterial infections. Chlamydophila felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica are also commonly involved in this disease.

Although the clinical signs observed in cats are very close to the ones humans show when they have a flu, the disease in humans is not caused by the same agents. You can rest assured that cat flu is not transmissible to humans.

Cats suffering with the condition will often present an elevated temperature, cough, a running nose and eyes, sneezing, ulcers in their mouth, loss of appetite, and dribbling. Clinical signs can take up to three weeks to appear after the cat is infected.

The disease can be transmitted through an infected cat’s nasal discharge, saliva and even through its tears. The viruses that cause cat flu can survive in the environment for about a week and they can be carried on objects such as food bowls, clothing, cat carriers and even in human hands.

There is a lot you can do to help your feline companion if you notice he or she is showing signs of cat flu: make sure your cat gets plenty of water, try to stimulate its appetite with tasty and smelly food and keep your cat warm and comfortable, preferably in a quiet environment. You can gently clean the discharge from your cat’s eyes and nose using a damp piece of cotton wool, you can take it into the bathroom when you’re about to have a bath (inhaling steam can help improve their breathing) and you should always have your cat checked by your vet.

The best way to reduce the risk of your cat getting cat flu is to make sure his or her vaccination plan is up to date, since the flu vaccine is part of cat’s regular vaccination plan. Vaccinated cats can still get infected but the clinical signs will be much less severe.

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

Did you know that cats can also have dental problems? Unfortunately dental disease can affect cats of all ages and is actually quite common, especially in older cats. It is thought thatmore than 80% of cats over three years old have some type of dental disorder.

Dental disease starts with the accumulation of plaque, a film of bacteria that develops on the surface of a cat’s teeth. This happens to humans too but the development of this film is usually stopped because humans brush their teeth. In cats, plaque gradually becomes thicker and eventually a soft grey or yellowish substance covers the tooth surface.

As time goes by tartar or calculus starts forming and becomes very easy to see. Calcium starts depositing in the plaque layer making it darker and harder. Tartar appears as a yellow or brown crust substance usually seen at the gum edge of your cat’s teeth. At this stage tartar can only be removed with veterinary assistance and under anaesthesia.

The formation of plaque and tartar will cause gingivitis, an inflammation of the gum surrounding the tooth. Over time this inflammation will affect the ligaments surrounding the tooth, eventually leading to permanent tooth loss.

Periodontal disease will not only cause pain and discomfort to your pet but it will also become a source of infection that can spread to other organs such as the kidneys or the heart. Cats can also suffer from many other dental conditions such as stomatitis (an inflammation of the oral cavity), tooth fractures (common in cats that have suffered trauma), excessive tooth wear, etc.

Owners may not always notice that their feline companions are suffering from dental disease since they will naturally try to hide any signs of discomfort. However, over time, clinical signs of dental disease become harder to hide. Cats that are struggling with oral disease will often have bad breath, eat less and lose weight as a consequence, dribble (sometimes with blood) and they can even have trouble swallowing. Some cats may present obvious discomfort when they try to eat, vocalising or dropping the food from their mouths. They may also present red looking gums that may bleed easily and loose or missing teeth.

Brushing your cat’s teeth can help remove plaque and keep their gums healthy. However, it can be very difficult to brush a cat’s teeth especially if your cat has not been used to it from a young age. Dental disease is just one more reason for your pet to visit the vet for annual routine check-ups. You vet can help if treatment is necessary and give you good advice on what can be done to avoid these problems such as feeding your pet with a specially formulated diet.

Most dental conditions in cats are treatable and more importantly they are preventable!

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

Unfortunately there are several life-threatening infectious diseases that can affect our pets and this is also true for cats. Vaccination has been the best protection for our feline companions from preventable death and it is still the simplest and most effective way of protecting them against these diseases.

Vaccinations work by stimulating a pet’s immune system to produce antibodies against specific diseases without causing them to get sick. When our pets are vaccinated, they are injected with an attenuated form of those diseases which is unable to cause the disease but will trigger our pet’s immune system to start producing antibodies against it. If the vaccinated pet ever comes across that disease again, its body will recognise it and immediately start producing the antibodies they need to fight it!

Kittens usually start their vaccination protocols when they are 9 weeks old and are routinely vaccinated against “cat flu”, enteritis and feline leukemia. In general, these are given in two vaccines administered two weeks apart, followed by annual boosters.

Cat Flu is very similar to a human cold causing respiratory disease. Affected cats will have a discharge from their nose and eyes, an elevated temperature, depression, cough and sneezes. It is not usually serious in adult cats but it can be dangerous for kittens or for older cats. The main causes for Cat Flu are viruses (the Feline Herpes Virus or the Feline Calicivirus) but other agents (such as the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica) can also contribute this disease. The condition is spread from cat to cat through direct contact, through sneezing, or shared food bowls.

Feline Infectious enteritis (panleucopenia) causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and it is often fatal for kittens. It is caused by a virus very similar to the one that causes ‘parvo’ infections in dogs and affected cats will pass the virus in their faeces. This virus can survive for a long time in the environment and common disinfectants are not very effective against it.

Feline leukemiais caused by a virus that attacks the immune system and leaves the cat more susceptible to other infections, anaemia and even tumours. This virus is often compared with the human HIV virus, as it affects cats in a similar way. Feline leukemia is transmitted through direct contact, often through mutual grooming, fighting or mating. Kittens can also get it through their mother while they are still in their womb or through their milk. None of these conditions are transmissible to humans.

A pet’s vaccination schedule should be defined according to its particular needs and lifestyle, which means your vet may suggest a different vaccination plan depending on your cats’ individual situation: an indoor cat may have a different vaccination schedule than an outdoor cat for example. It will also vary with the manufacturers’ specifications for the vaccines involved.

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses