How often is it normal for a kitty to urinate a day ?

The answer is – it depends. Some cats will urinate a couple times a day – others more frequently depending on much water intake.

I'd say most cats urinate two to four times per day. If a cat frequent urination, This is...

5 Possible Causes of Frequent Urination in Cats

and What You Can Do About It

Let's face it. In a cat frequent urination is a worrisome symptom. It can signal a serious illness or a bacterial infection but either way it can become life-threatening if not treated timely. Many factors such as your cat's urine smell, age, sex, and general behavior will help you determine what is causing your cat's urination problem. Here are 5 possible causes of frequent urination and what you can do about it.

1. Maybe you're thinking, "Help! My cat is urinating often!" There is no need to panic because the symptom is very common in cats of old age. Your old cat may urinate frequently because he is not capable of holding in his urine due to a loosened sphincter. It may frustrate you if you see your cat pee on the carpet or in another inappropriate area but try not to get angry because it is involuntary. Give your cat a homeopathic remedy to help strengthen his bladder sphincter.

2. In a cat frequent urination could be due to behavioral issues. Some cats spray or urinate to mark their territory. This type of behavior can be fixed in unneutered male cats by neutering them.

3. If you're thinking, "My cat is urinating often," it could be because she has a feline bladder infection. The infection may also cause her urine to smell bad. Take her to the veterinarian to get diagnosed. The vet will do some tests and prescribe antibiotics. Don't give her antibiotics and instead try to heal the infection by giving her plenty of filtered water to drink and administering a homeopathic remedy. The homeopathic remedy takes a little longer to work than drugs but it is completely safe and effectively relieves the pain and gets rid of the bad smell of your cat's wee. Mild infections can be easily treated with homeopathy.

4. In a cat frequent urination may be the sign of a serious disease like diabetes, cancer, or Cushing's disease. Your veterinarian will have to do some tests and exams to determine if a serious illness is underlying the symptoms. You can give your cat a homeopathic remedy as a complementary treatment to whatever treatment your vet decides to give your cat. It will help your cat recover more quickly.

5. If you're thinking, "My cat is urinating often," a blockage by a crystal or stone in your cat's kidney, bladder, or urinary tract may be the cause. A blockage will keep your cat from being able to empty his bladder completely. When the bladder gets very full, it pushes against the blockage and leaks around the sides. This leads to your cat having the frequent urge to urinate.

Your next step? Keep this information in mind the next time you notice strange symptoms in your cat. If your cat urinates in unusual places or has peed more or less often than normal, you should get him checked out as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will need to examine him to figure out the cause. Whatever the problem, homeopathic treatment is hands down the best way to take care of the job. In a cat frequent urination does not need to be treated with harsh drugs because a homeopathic remedy can do the trick. Obviously diseases and other serious issues need to be addressed but even in those situations a homeopathic remedy works great as a complementary therapy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Jones

Why we cats should not trim our eyebrows

( Photo from my main blog, but it's Smudge not me. I show his photo because his eyebrow is more obvious than mine )

Today I'm going to talk about eyebrows because one of my friend, she had a question ( She is a Tuxedo Lady Cats ) Should she trim her eyebrows ?

In my opinion, we should not change the way we are but some time, it's hard to tell the girl like that. So I must find the good reason...Why ? Why the cat should not trim eyebrows. We all know about what is cat whisker for ? but what's about the eyebrow ! so I did send my mom to find out, and she came back with this information.

Why we cats should not trim our eyebrow.

A cats eyebrows act as a sort of detection system. They work in collusion with the muzzle whiskers, and the whiskers on the side of the face to tell the animal the size of an opening, and any other data necessary that will provide information to the animal about the issue surrounding the degree of its safety.
Girl !!! now you know why and I think you don't want to end up being Miss Clumsy : )

And the eyebrow is part of our face to help us to show our emotion ...just like in humans !

What Cat Bowls and Cat Food Dishes are Safe for Cat to use?

Cat Food dishes are a very common and easily found cat food item. Yet sometimes, if there isn’t a shop in your near you might have to go online to find the right cat food dish. In which case you should first compare a few different cat food dishes and cat food bowls before deciding for one specific cat food bowl.

You can also compare prices for your cat food dish in a few different shops, but mostly the prices for cat food dishes will be the same, since it’s such a low priced item any way…..

All cats need to eat from something and of course if you have a cat you will need to have a cat food dish or food bowl. There are the most common kinds of cat food dishes such as plastic food dish for cats, stainless steal cat food dish and a ceramic or porcelain cat food bowl.

Compare these three most common cat food dishes and cat food bowls to find which one is the right one for your cat!

There are three common kinds of cat food bowls and cat food dishes:

A ceramic or porcelain cat food dish, A plastic cat food bowl, A stainless steel cat food dish

A Ceramic or Porcelain Cat Food Dish

A lot of ceramic and porcelan cat food dishes are very beautifully decorated. Ceramic Cat food dishes are heavier then other cat food dishes and won't fall over if thrown around.

However if you buy a fancy painted cat food bowl, make sure that it is marked “safe for food”. Some fancy, decorated and beautiful cat food dishes contain lead in the paint or glaze (or other things), which is poisonous when eaten by humans or pets.

Usually if the food dishes are safe for people to use, then they will probably be safe for your cat. Just check to make sure!

Plastic Cat Food Bowl

Plastic cat food bowls are commonly sold in pet supply stores and are easy to clean, can not be broken and are usually very cheap too.

Nevertheless, plastic cat food dishes are not highly recommended.

They tend to get scratched easily and Plastic can accumulate bacteria, which sometimes causes "cat acne" around the cat's mouth and chin.

The plastic cat food dishes also get slime on the sides and that can cause serious problems for your cat and for you too.

WARNING: Sometimes, a very cheap plastic cat food dish might come with a very sharp edge that could perhaps cut your cats lips or skin. Therefor check any plastic cat food dishes before buying any cat food dish or bowl.

Stainless Steel Cat Food Bowls

Stainless steel bowls are sold almost everywhere. Stainless steal cat food bowls are dishwasher safe and sturdy. However there are some minuses to consider before buying any stainless steal cat food dish.

Some people think that stainless steel cat food bowls are not a good choice either since they give the cat food a bad metallic taste. 

Cat Food Bowl Tips:

1. Whatever type of dishes you purchase, make sure they are washed out and refilled every day with clean fresh water.

2. Use a wet sponge to rub the sides and corners of the cat food dish to make sure that no bacteria and slime are growing there.

Yoga meditation music helps cats relax

A study shows that when they are unwell,

cats became less stressed when they listen to relaxing music.

Student veterinary nurse Sian Barr carried out the research on cats being treated at a vet's surgery.

She found that those who were played yoga meditation music and Om Shanti tunes calmed down and began to breathe more slowly while in cages at the practice in Powys, Wales.

Miss Barr, who has just graduated from veterinary school with a first class honours degree thanks to her research, said: "Stress in small doses can be a good thing, such as if a cat is under stress to eat, then it can perform better.

"But otherwise, it will have a negative effect, such as in a veterinary practice.

"This is because a cat is in a cage and isn't able to do what it would like to do, so stress levels will increase and it will become wound up and angry.

"This is bad for not only its behaviour, becoming difficult for staff to handle, but also for its immune system and ability to heal."

Miss Barr, of Waterlooville, Hants, studied cats when they were first admitted by assessing their ear and eye activity, how they were communicating and respiration levels.

The 21 year old then split them into two groups, only one of which was played the relaxation CDs.

She added: "I then repeated the test after 40 minutes and was able to assign each cat a cat stress score.

"By comparing the scores, I found the music had a dramatic effect on respiration rates, with those exposed to the music decreasing to a relaxed rate much quicker than those not exposed."

Start to read ingredients before you buy Food for your cats

Do you know some ingredients in Commercial Cat Food are harmful to your cat if fed over time, and will result in poor health and a shorter life span.

Ingredients to avoid.

The word by-product in any form

such as meat by-product, or chicken by-product. This is always very bad news.

by-products contain little, if any, meat. These are the parts of the animal left over after the meat has been stripped away from the bone. " Chicken by-products include head, feet, entrails, lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, liver, stomach, bones, blood, intestines, and any other part of the carcass not fit for human consumption ,"

Wheat gluten.

This is what was contaminated and killed thousands of pets in 2007, Wheat gluten into its cat. It is highly allergenic for cats and can cause irritable bowels, just like it does in humans. It is used as a very cheap filler and very poor source of protein. It is used to boost the protein content of the food, so that it appears to be healthier than it is.

Any type of carbs is not good.

Wheat, rice, soy or corn flour. All bad for cats

Cats are obligate carnivores, their level of carbs should be kept to a minimum, ideally less than 6 per cent. Kibble will have a higher percentage of carbs and many cats will have no problem eating these. Carbs are required to make gravy so it's not good to feed their cats canned foods containing gravy.

Corn isn't digested by our carnivorous cats and can be very allergenic and may can cause much stress to the cat's system.

Ground rice or brewers rice.

May lead to an increase in heart rate, temperature, seizures, and in large quantities, even death.

BHA, and BHT

are both known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction

Ethoxyquin, a known Carcinogen

is bad for liver, kidney and bladder

And why they put all these ingredients in our cat food,

Because it's cheap !

Just have to remember one thing,

The very top notch quality cat foods are always Grain Free

How Cats Uptake Water by Lapping

How Cats Uptake Water by Lapping

Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat

Human Tuna

The reasons vets say tuna is bad are:

1. Human Tuna is high in poly-unsaturated fatty acids. If a cat is fed this as their main diet, these fatty acids oxidize and destroy vitamin E, which can lead to a disease called “steatitis” otherwise known as “yellow fat disease”. This disease is very painful for cats. It causes lumps in the fatty tissue which harden, and the cat feels pain when moving.

2. Human Tuna contains mercury. Mercury is toxic and can cause brain and neurological damage. If a cat is fed canned tuna as their primary food, mercury can build up in their systems. 

3. Human Tuna lacks the proper nutrients for cats such as taurine. Taurine is an amino acid which is normally added to cat food (dry and canned). Cats can’t manufacture it from themselves – but it is needed for their heart, digestion, eyes and reproductive systems.

In the wild, cats get taurine from birds and mice (it is found in muscle tissue and it is abundant in brains). Human Tuna also lacks copper, iron, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin E.

4. If you think raw tuna is better – think again. Raw fish contains thiaminase – an enzyme that destroys the thiamine vitamin (B1). Be aware that cooking destroys the thiaminase enzyme so canned tuna doesn’t contain it.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

Onion in all forms - powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated - can break down a cat's red blood cells, leading to anemia. That's true even for the onion powder that's found in some baby foods. An occasional small dose probably won’t hurt. But eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause onion poisoning. Along with onions, garlic and chives can cause gastrointestinal upset.

Milk and Other Dairy Products

What could be wrong with offering your cat a saucer of milk, or a piece of cheese? Although kittens, with their undeveloped digestive system, are able to tolerate milk, most adult cats cannot. Their digestive system is simply not designed to process rich dairy foods, and the result can be digestive upset, and can lead to food allergies (which often manifest as itchiness).

Alcohol

Beer, liquor, wine, foods containing alcohol -- none of it is good for your cat. That's because alcohol has the same effect on a cat's liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage. Just two teaspoons of whisky can cause a coma in a 5-pound cat, and one more teaspoon could kill it. The higher the proof, the worse the symptoms.

Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins have often been used as treats for pets. But it's not a good idea. Although it isn't clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats. And, a small amount can make a cat ill. Repeated vomiting and hyperactivity are early signs. Although some cats show no ill effects, it's best not to give your cat any grapes and to keep grapes and raisins off countertops and other places accessible to your cat.

Coffee, Tea, and Other Caffeine

Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a cat. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee -- including beans and grounds -- caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It's also in some cold medicines and pain killers.

Chocolate

Chocolate can be lethal for cats. Although most cats won't eat it on their own, they can be coaxed to eat it by owners and others who think they are giving the cat a treat. The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Eating chocolate can cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.

Candy and Gum

Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol can cause an increase in the insulin circulating through your cat's body. That can cause the cat's blood sugar to drop and lead to liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the cat may have seizures, and liver failure can occur within just a few days.

Fat Trimmings and Bones

Table scraps often contain fat trimmed off of meat and bones. Both are dangerous for cats. Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis. And, a cat can choke on a bone. Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your cat's digestive system.

Raw Eggs

There are two problems with giving your cat raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. The second is that an enzyme in raw eggs, avidin, interferes with the absorption of the B vitamin biotin. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your cat's coat.

Raw Meat and Fish

Raw meat and raw fish, like raw eggs, can contain bacteria that cause food poisoning. In addition, an enzyme in raw fish destroys thiamine, which is an essential B vitamin for your cat. A lack of thiamine can cause serious neurological problems and lead to convulsions and coma.

Dog Food

An occasional bite of dog food won't hurt your cat. But dog food is not a substitute for cat food. They do have many of the same ingredients. But cat food is specially formulated for a cat's needs, which include more protein as well as certain vitamins and fatty acids. A steady diet of dog food can cause your cat to be severely malnourished.

Liver

Liver can be healthy for a cat if the cat doesn't get too much. But eating too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity. This is a serious condition that can affect your cat's bones. Symptoms include deformed bones, bone growths on the elbows and spine, and osteoporosis. Vitamin A toxicity can also cause death.

Sugary Foods and Drinks

Too much sugar can do the same thing to cats that it does to humans. It can lead to obesity, dental problems, and even diabetes.

Yeast Dough

Before it's baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, that's exactly what it would do in your cat's stomach if your cat ate it. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch the abdomen and cause severe pain. In addition, when the yeast ferments the dough to make it rise, it produces alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Human Medicine

Reacting to a drug commonly prescribed for humans is one of the most common causes of poisoning in cats. Just as you would do for your children, put all medicines where your cat can't get to them. And, never give your cat any over-the-counter medicine unless advised to do so by your vet. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers and cold medicine. And, they can be deadly for your cat.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.

Almonds and nuts in general

Large quantities can lead to stomach upset. Limit salted nuts. Just like with babies, whole nuts can pose a choking hazard.

Avocados

There are some worries that avocados contain a toxic principle known as Persin. There have not been any clinical tests on what consititutes a toxic dosage and it may be best to avoid avocado completely.

Spices

Mace, nutmeg, paprika and turmeric should be avoided completely.

Tomatoes and tomato plants

Tomatoes of all kinds are toxic to cats, as are parts of the tomato plant. Ingesting as little as a cherry tomato can cause severe gastrointestinal upset.