The Cat Collective

Tag: Cats

  • Common Health Issues Cat Owners Should Be Aware Of

    Common Health Issues Cat Owners Should Be Aware Of

    When getting a pet, it can all feel like sunshine and rainbows until it isn’t. As pet parents, there are more responsibilities that go beyond food, toys and affection. One of the most important things is staying on top of your cat’s health.

    For many cat owners, recognizing when something is wrong isn’t always easy, but knowing what to look for can make all the difference.

    Cats are often seen as these “low-maintenance” versions of dogs that don’t require vet check-ups or up-to-date vaccines. According to Angie Kautz, a vet tech assistant, a cat should visit the vet every year to ensure everything is okay.

    Jean Paul Aragon and Klaus pose for a picture at the park (Photo by Silvia Pinto Becerra/SAIT)

    Among some common misconceptions about cats’ health, there’s the belief that some diseases are unmanageable, making people take their cats back to shelters because they can’t deal with the emotional and financial burden of a sick pet.

    This couldn’t be further from the truth; some diseases can be very challenging, but most of them don’t mean the end of the world. “People are very hesitant to keep an animal with that potential risk,” said Kautz. Like urinary tract infections, those come with potential blockages and can be a lifelong illness, but “it can be very well managed.”

    There are three main things you should be paying attention to daily: diet, litter box habits and water intake. On top of that, “minimizing stress, minimizing anxiety, and making sure that they drink a lot of water,” said Stephanie Cheung, a veterinary medicine student at the University of Calgary, are things you can do to prevent health issues.

    Cats are masters at hiding pain. “They are very good at hiding it for a very long time, and you don’t recognize it until it’s too late,” Kautz said.

    “It’s less common for cat owners to be able to recognize illness in their pets,” said Cheung. “In veterinary hospitals, 90 per cent of patients are dogs, and 10 per cent of patients are cats, just because cats are so good at hiding their illnesses.”

    Because of this, it’s important for owners to recognize subtle warning signs.

    One of the most common situations cat owners encounter is cats peeing outside of the litter box. More often than not, this is not just a behavioural issue; it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

    If your cat is peeing where he shouldn’t, this may not be the only sign that something is wrong. Keep an eye out for:

    • Sneezing
    • Poor grooming
    • Drooling
    • Not acting like themselves
    • Not following their routine.

    Small changes in their routine can mean more to you than you think. Cats may not be able to tell you something is wrong, but they will show you.

    CAT GRIMACE SCALE

    Familiarize yourself with some of the physical signs that your cat could be in pain. Using the Cat Grimace Scale: a tool used to identify subtle signs of pain in cats based on facial expressions.

    Images of cats in which pain was absent, moderately present, or markedly present (Courtesy of Dr. Paulo Steagall)

    Urinary Issues & FLUTD

    One of the most common medical conditions that presents in cats is feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

    Some of the most common symptoms are:

    • Blood in their urine
    • Straining to urinate
    • Urinating in small volumes
    • Not able to urinate at all
    • Increased frequency of urination or urinating outside the litter box
    • Vocalizing
    • Looking uncomfortable
    • Hiding

    Male cats are more prone to urinary tract infections, which can lead to blockages. In some cases, these issues can be triggered by stress, like a new person in the house or the introduction of a new pet.

    A male cat becoming blocked and unable to urinate at all is a life-threatening emergency. “A cat will pee out potassium. When they can’t pee, this potassium builds up in their body, and it causes their heart to gradually slow down and then eventually stop,” explained Cheung.

    Another condition that presents FLUTD symptoms is feline idiopathic cystitis, which is an unknown cause of bladder inflammation.

    “Some factors that contribute to feline idiopathic cystitis are cats being overweight, anxiety, frequent diet changes, genetics, age, non-clumping litter, a multi-cat household, or a lack of play behaviour,” said Cheung.

    Diet also plays a role in urinary health. Changing their diet regularly can trigger a change in the pH of their urine and cause struvite crystals. They’re at higher risk with diets high in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium chloride, fibre, and protein. “However, it is important to note that crystals in the urine can be normal in cats,” said Cheung.

    Other common conditions

    Chronic kidney disease, CKD, is also a common condition that presents in cats, which means a gradual loss of kidney function. Some common clinical signs are weight loss, increased urination and increased water drinking, subtle changes that are easy to miss until the disease has progressed.

    Beyond kidney disease, dental health is another area that owners often underestimate. Brushing your cat’s teeth might seem like a stretch, but dental hygiene plays a bigger role in their health than most owners realize. Without it, cats can develop gingivitis and tooth loss, and may be silently suffering through every meal.

    For cats that won’t tolerate a toothbrush, alternatives like raw chicken necks, chicken feet, or silvervine sticks can help keep their teeth clean.

    Just as overlooked, but equally serious, is obesity. While chubby cats may seem adorable, the reality is that obese cats are at significantly higher risk of illness than their leaner counterparts. A healthy diet and a consistent play routine can do wonders for your cat’s longevity.

    Toxicities

    Many common household items can be life-threatening to cats, and new owners are often unaware of the risks.

    Veterinary emergency hospitals are seeing more cases of cat toxicities. One example is something as simple as acetaminophen. “If ingested by a cat, [it] causes injuries to red blood cells, resulting in inadequate oxygen delivery,” Cheung said. This is a real emergency that needs urgent attention.

    Medication should be stored in a locked area, out of reach of pets and children.

    Another silent killer is any type of lily. They are extremely toxic to cats, acting as a rapidly absorbed toxin and causing acute renal failure. It can be fatal within 24 hours. Cats will start showing clinical signs within 5 to 10 minutes of ingestion.

    It’s not only the plant itself — it’s the water it sits in, and the dirt it grows in, so outdoor cats are also at risk of coming across lilies.

    It is very common to be unsure whether what your cat is showing requires emergency attention. In the past couple of years, some resources have come forward, like Animal Health Link, which works like a tele-triage system for owners who aren’t sure if they should go to the ER or not.

    When in doubt, it’s better to go and be told it’s nothing than to wait and lose valuable treatment time.

    Being a pet parent means paying attention because your cat is counting on you, even if they’ll never say so.

  • 8 Must-Have Items Every Cat Home Needs

    8 Must-Have Items Every Cat Home Needs

    Cat tree

    Cats love tall spaces, feeling like the kings of the world and seeing everything that’s happening around them. Besides the height, most cat trees come with scratching posts that help keep your cat’s nails healthy and prevent overgrowth. “They had their instinct to be on top, seeing the overview of their place,” said Rommel Mercado, owner of a little calico cat named Pukingkay.

    Litter box

    Cleaning your litter box regularly is one of the most important things you should do as a cat owner. A basic litter pan and scoop are all you really need, but if you want to upgrade, options like sifting or automatic litter boxes can make the process easier. “I would get one,” said Abdullah Elshazly, a 10-year cat owner. “If you have multiple cats… It’s a lot more manageable.”

    Lint rollers

    As a cat owner, cat hair just becomes part of everyday life. That’s why lint rollers are your best friends. There are many options, disposable, reusable, cheap, or high-end, but they all get the job done, including some that resemble a potato peeler. “You drag it along your couch or your carpet or whatever, and it just rips all the cat hair out,” Elshazly said.

    Cat springs

    You wouldn’t believe how much fun cats have when playing with these springs. According to Elshazly, they love “any object that’s small, and if they hit it and goes really far.”

    Shallow plates and lots of them

    It is important to use shallow dishes to avoid whisker fatigue. Washing them after each feeding is also key. “It’s probably good to have at the very least three. I have six because you always want to be interchanging your plates,” Elshazly said.

    Tip: Put a little extra water into your cat’s food to improve their water intake.

    Lots of cardboard boxes

    Nothing pleases a cat more than a good cardboard box. “They have this weird obsession with biting them. They just love biting them. It’s so funny,” said Elshazly. All cat owners know that no toy in the world can replace the happiness a brand-new box can bring to your cat.

    Water fountain

    Felines are naturally drawn to running water because it’s usually cleaner and safer than stagnant water. Same principle applies at home; some cats are obsessed with an open tap. If you can invest in a water fountain, that could significantly improve your cat’s water intake.

    Automatic feeders

    Cats eat smaller meals throughout the day, so having an automatic feeder will control the quantity and the time of the day, giving you more flexibility and control over your cat’s diet. There are options for both dry and wet food; it all depends on your cat’s needs.

    At the end of the day, the best ‘must-have’ isn’t just a product, it’s anything that keeps your cat happy, healthy, and entertained.

  • Angels that save Pawngels

    Angels that save Pawngels

    When you first walk through the doors of MEOW Foundation, you will be greeted by a small cat with big eyes and a high-pitched meow.

    Cat greeting visitors at the reception of Meow Foundation in Calgary. (Photo by Silvia Pinto Becerra/SAIT)

    As Jenna McFarland, director of programs, arrives at the office in the morning, she tells herself it will be an organized and productive day. But cats will be cats; they start doing strange things, and she often has to run out to deal with it.

    Within just a couple of months of working at MEOW Foundation, McFarland met a very dirty and smelly cat named Pelican, who stole her heart. “I think seeing where he came from and what the public opinion was about a cat that looked like him and behaved like him, and then seeing where he is now, is just pretty incredible. And I think that transformation sort of story that we see here at MEOW a lot is what keeps us all working here,” she said.

    MEOW Foundation has dedicated the last 25 years to supporting cats in need around the Calgary area. With its no-kill policy, the organization strongly believes that every cat can be saved. This volunteer-run organization wouldn’t be possible without its donors — they mean everything.

    Approximately 500 volunteers assist in caring for the cats and support other MEOW programs, including the Rescue and Adoption Program, Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program, and Cat Food Assistance Program.

    “Some of the work can be really physically and emotionally demanding, and the best part is just being able to take a break and pet a cat and remember why we’re here to do it,” said McFarland.

    One of the most challenging parts of being part of rescue work is having to “put aside your own biases and take a leap of faith and trust people to care for animals in the way that you care for them,” she said. “You get very attached to them, and then you don’t want to give them away, especially when you don’t know. It’s so much trust, putting trust in strangers to say, ‘Take care of my baby.’”

    Cats waiting for adoption at Meow Foundation in Calgary.(Photo by Silvia Pinto Becerra/SAIT)

    One of the biggest misconceptions about rescues is that people think the cats that arrive are damaged goods and that nobody wants them. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many reasons why a cat arrives at MEOW Foundation: they may be lost, feral, or surrendered.

    “When I first started, this organization was heavily based on stray and abandoned cats only. Every once in a while, we would take owner surrenders. Now, I would say we’re closer to 50% stray and 50% owner surrenders,” McFarland said.

    The past couple of years have been difficult for many people, and they are struggling financially. It’s coming to a point where some can no longer afford to care for their pets, especially with how difficult it is to find pet-friendly housing. That has changed the type and quantity of intakes for MEOW Foundation. But they strongly believe “that there’s a home for every cat that comes in here,” said McFarland.

    The cat distribution system may be real, and while you could get a cat from the street, a neighbour, or Kijiji, organizations like MEOW Foundation have many resources they can share and can support you throughout the life of your cat.

    Adoption tree wall at Meow Foundation in Calgary. (Photo by Silvia Pinto Becerra/SAIT)

    “I always knew I wanted to help make the world a better place,” said Mollie Mithaug-Cook, volunteer coordinator. While she manages what volunteers do and where they’re needed, what makes the biggest difference is simply showing up and helping, “trying to be a good person every day, because it has a ripple effect.”