This page is supplied as a guide for feline health issues.

Some of the issues I've had first hand experience with and others I've

learned about along the way.

The couple pages following this are a guide of what to be careful of

concerning our pets however there are so many it may not be

possible to list them all.

DEDICATION

I have dedicated this page to Pepe', a kitten I had for such a short time.

When he went to Rainbow Bridge he was only 2 months old.

I lost him due to FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).

A terrible sickness cats somehow get and is incurable.

It was the first (and hopefully the last) time I heard about this disease.

You can find Pepe's story on this "Sanctuary03" page.

If I had a picture of him, he'd look like this kitty.

A brown kitty, part Maine Coon and such a good boy.

The HSUS's SAFE CATS CAMPAIGN

was created to help you keep your cat safe and happy by making the great

indoors both interesting and comfortable. The campaign can teach you how

to "bring the outdoors in" and enrich the life of your cat. There are lots of things

that you and your cat can do together for fun�and you will have longer to

enjoy one another if you keep your cat safely confined in his natural habitat:

the home you share.

WHY DOES MY PET EAT GRASS

You can think of grass as an herbal medicine. It acts as an internal cleanser,

expelling excess mucus, bile, and other impurities. It also cleanses the bowels

and expels worms. Cereal grasses contain enzymes, vitamins, minerals,

and amino acids. Grass also contains chlorophyll, which was used for relieving pain,

treating infections, ulcers, skin diseases, and anemia prior to the use of antibiotics.

Some pet owners grow grass specifically to give to their pets to prevent or

treat diarrhea, anemia, cataracts, fleas, tumors excessive shedding, and other

pet health problems. Pets that are fed grass on a regular basis are less likely

to crave outdoor grass. So, if you don�t feel comfortable with your pet eating

the grass in your lawn, you may want to grow your own grass for them to eat.

Try growing rye or barley sprouts. These sprouts are preferred over wheat

grass because some animals are sensitive to wheat.

Follow these instructions to grow rye or barley grass. Soak one cup organically

grown grain in one quart water for 8 to 10 hours. Then drain the container

and leave it on its side in a warm place, away from direct sunlight. A tiny

white rootlet will sprout from each grain within 24 to 48 hours. Caution:

If you don�t see these rootlets, your grain isn�t viable and should be thrown away.

Next, spread the sprouting grain on one inch of moist potting soil or top soil in

a plastic garden tray. For drainage create a one inch channel around the soil.

For two days, cover the tray. Then uncover it, and water thoroughly.

Place the tray in direct sunlight or under grow lights. Keep the soil moist

by watering when needed.

When the grass is 6-8� tall, cut it with scissors or a sharp knife. Place

grasses in a ziploc bag, along with a damp paper towel. Be sure to expel air

from the bag before sealing. Then store the grass in the refrigerator.

When feeding the grass to your pet, cut or mince it into tiny pieces, or place

a small amount in a blender or food processor with other foods. To be sure

your cat or dog will accept the grass, begin feeding just a fraction of a teaspoon.

Increase the amount gradually to approximately one tablespoon

per 50 lbs. of body weight.

Once your pet is given the amount of grass his body needs, you probably

won�t be seeing him eating the grass in your lawn. And you can feel relieved

knowing that you�re feeding him something that he craves and that his body needs.

HEARTWORM DOES POSE THREAT TO CATS
(Mosquito-borne disease is not limited to dogs)
By Mike Murphy

BRIGHTON -- Veterinarians are trying to get the word out to cat

owners that an infection normally associated with dogs can have a

deadly effect on cats.
   Dr. Jim Botsford of Woodland Animal Hospital has diagnosed three

cases of feline heartworm disease in the past three months.

The veterinarian is concerned that other cats in the area may have

the disease, which is transferred to pets by mosquitoes.
   "It's our first experience with it, and it's a bit disconcerting," Botsford said.

"It tells us that the prevalence of exposure is a lot higher than we thought."
   One possible reason for the appearance of the disease in Brighton may

be the large number of lakes and ponds in the area.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water.
   Common misconceptions related to the disease are that cats aren't
susceptible to infection from heartworm and that cats that do get the
disease are outdoor cats. That's not always the case, Botsford said.
   "The three cats we're seeing with the disease are all indoor cats, and
they're all doing well," Botsford said. "Unfortunately, a lot of cats that
get it die from it suddenly with no external symptoms."
   Botsford said that pet owners who witness symptoms such as coughing

and vomiting in cats should be concerned about heartworm,

which can be detected with a blood test.
   Other symptoms listed by the American Heartworm Society include

loss of appetite and respiratory distress.
   Heartworms are not transmitted directly from one cat to another

nor from a dog to a cat. When a cat is bitten by an infected mosquito,

heartworm larvae enter the cat's bloodstream. It takes several months

for the heartworm larvae to mature and to move to the cat's heart and lungs.

The disease can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication until the
heartworms die off. More advanced cases require open-heart surgery.
   The cure can take up to two years in cats.
   Screening methods for heartworm in cats range from simple blood

tests to X-rays and ultrasound. The disease can be prevented with

Heartgard, which is administered in a pill or as a liquid rubbed on the

back of the cat's neck, where it is absorbed through the skin.
   Preventative heartworm medication for cats is available only by
prescription and costs about $30 for a season's supply.

Blood testing for heartworm also costs about $30.
   "It's easy, inexpensive and very safe," Botsford said.
   Botsford said Woodland is just starting to implement routine testing for
heartworm in cats, but cat owners haven't embraced the practice.
   "They think that we're just trying to sell something to them and they
don't really need it, but it's important," Botsford said.
   Dr. Valerie Chadwick, assistant professor of small-animal clinical
sciences at the Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, has
seen numerous cases of feline heartworm. She said all cat owners should be
concerned about the disease.    "Basically, all it takes is for a mosquito to get

into the home and bite the kitty, which is easy to do, and it can be life

threatening," Chadwick said.    Chadwick said that while some cat owners

balk at the cost of preventatives, alternatives to prevention can be much costlier

and much more dangerous.    There's a 30-percent mortality rate for cats that

are treated for heartworm, so there are risks involved in treatment,

Chadwick said. The dog and cat heartworm is not a threat to humans.

Cat Issue Library

For basic information for cat care from A-Z

General care, tips for new owners, health basics, pregnancy & newborns,

safety & household hazards, feeding & nutrition, behavior, training,

tips on introducing a new cat & owner responsibility issues.

Pet Education (cats)

So many topics to learn from.

Pet Med Express

The website as seen on TV.

Where you can purchase top quality pet products and medical supplies

for less than you may be paying now, delivered to your door.

FELINE OBESITY

Your cat might look cute all fat and cuddly, but it may need a diet to stay healthy.
According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, there's an "epidemic

of obesity" among American house pets. As many as one-third of cats in

the U.S. are overweight - about same percentage as some estimates of overweight

children in this country. And, like obese humans, fat cats face a

shortened lifespan full of medical problems.
People love their pets - they feed them really good quality food, but most of the

time they feed them too well. Because pets are usually confined, they rarely get

the exercise their bodies were designed for. When Rex can't burn off energy,

the kibble calories turn into fat, making your once-sleek tomcat

look like a walking fur sausage. Food manufacturers don't make it easier with

packaging information that sometimes can be misleading.
Every pet is different, just like every person is different. "Some people can

eat a four-course meal every night and not gain weight,
others can eat a salad and still have to worry about their weight. Another
thing we find is that owners inadvertently overfeed their pets, using scoops
instead of kitchen measuring cups or filling up the bowl till it looks about
right. It usually tends to be a lot more than a pet probably should have."
Then there's that enemy you just can't defeat or slow down: age.

The solution, is more exercise and less food.
"The owner needs to be aware of his or her contribution to the problem,"
Cats dogs don't open the refrigerator."
And just as with humans, those extra pounds mean pets can face bone
problems, muscle stress, heart problems and assorted organ ailments.
How do you get back your thin kitty when he's turned into a sphere?
"Just like with people, exercise and diet work hand in hand.
Don't go for starvation diets, which can cause serious harm. Gradually
decrease the amount of food you give your pet. If your cat is used to
three feedings a day, keep to that feeding schedule - just make sure there's
less for him to nosh on. And try never to get your cat into the habit
of being fed from the table or from your hand or he may never shake the
taste for unhealthy human foods.
And just as important but perhaps harder to do, cut back on those
calorie-laden treats. Give your pet half a treat as he's less concerned with the

amount he's getting than the fact that he's getting something at all. Never give a cat

chocolate, which can cause epilepsy or be very harmful to some cats,

in addition to being fattening. Ideally, owners would never give their cats treats,

but giving them up entirely is something that needs no counsel. We owners just

can't do it. Sometimes it's harder to deny our pets than it is to deny ourselves.

Also read the label on "low-calorie diet" cat foods. A recent
Consumer Reports article notes that there are currently no regulations on
what exactly constitutes "diet" in pet food, and some diet foods may
actually have more calories than another brand's regular formula.
Finally, be cautioned against overdoing it. A slightly chubby tabby isn't the end

of the world if its weight has been consistent over the years.
They have the perfect American pet," she said. "A touch overweight, but healthy."
~Associated Press contributed to this report~