Pets Care

No cat wants to be dirty, and it’s up to you to ensure that your cat stays clean. Grooming is very important, as it helps your cat remain clean and healthy. Grooming starts with brushing, as brushing helps to keep the cats hair from becoming hairballs.

Brushing will remove loose hair, and help prevent the risk of hairballs. A lot of cats have trouble dislodging hairballs. If the cat isn’t able to get a hairball out, it could result in a blockage of the intestines. Blockages are very serious, and can quickly become life threatening for your pet.

Cats that have long hair need to be brushed and combed on a daily basis, while cats with short hair need to be groomed on a weekly basis. When you brush your cat, you should always watch for lumps in the coat and skin irritations. You should start brushing along the cat’s back, going from his head to his tail. Do this a few times on one side, and then switch to the other. Each area should be brushed a few times in the direction of the way your cat’s hair is growing.

When you brush your cat, you should always avoid brushing his face and paws. If a cat doesn’t like to be brushed, you can still groom him using another tool. The grooming glove is an excellent alternative to the brush, as most cats don’t mind it at all. Starting out young is the key to grooming, as it will get your cat used to brushing and grooming. Some cats that have started grooming when they were kittens grow to love it, many of which often look forward to their grooming time.

When brushing your cat, make sure that you check his ears, eyes, teeth, and claws. His eyes should be bright and clear with nothing residing in the corners. His ears should be clean, pink in color, and no sign of ear mites. Ear mites result from dirt built up in a cat’s ears, and can result in the ears shriveling up and your cat losing his hearing. Ear mites are very annoying for the cat, and hard for you as an owner to get rid of. The best way to get rid of them – is to ensure that your cat’s ears stay clean and healthy.

Each time you groom your cat, you should always aim to go a bit further with your examinations. When your cat remains still, you should always praise him and give him a treat. If your cat doesn’t cooperate and starts to struggle, you shouldn’t fight with him, but instead let him go and try the next day. Once your cat gets used to grooming he will look forward to it each and every day.

Here’s a spot remover that will help you get rid of grease spots in your pet’s fur between baths, especially those spots that cats get on their heads from prowling under cars.

Rub a few drops of Murphy Oil Soap and a small amount of warm water onto the greasy spots. Then rinse thoroughly with warm water.

From Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

For pets that just won’t put up with water baths, try this simple dry shampoo.

Place 1/2 to 1 Cup bran, oatmeal or cornmeal on a cookie sheet. Put the oven on low for 5 minutes to warm the grain. Removing a little at a time, so that the rest stays warm but not too hot, rub the grain into the fur with a towel. Concentrate on the greasy, dirty areas. Then brush these areas thoroughly to get the grain out.

From Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

Rosemary tea makes an excellent conditioner that promotes a glossy coat and helps to repel fleas.

1 tsp dried rosemary or 1 Tbsp fresh

1 pint boiling water

Combine and steep for 10 minutes, covered. Strain and cool to body temperature. Pour it over your pet after the final rinse. Rub in and towel dry without further rinsing.

When you’re finished with the bath, use several towels to blot off excess water. Then let your pet do what comes naturally, shaking and licking off more of the water. Make sure your pet has a warm place to dry off.

From Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

Cats are excellent at self-grooming. Besides other reasons, they groom to heal wounds and minor abrasions with the ‘antiseptic saliva’. However, the cat tongue is rough and during the process quite a few loose or dead hair tend to stick to it, which are then swallowed. Hair tissue is not easily digestible and accumulates in the cat’s stomach or intestinal tract, forming what we know as a ‘hair ball’. A cat retches out the hair ball when it irritates the stomach. If the hair balls do not pass out with stools, they can block the intestinal tract leading to loss of appetite, constipation and weight loss.

Formation of hairballs is natural in cats. Unlike medical and physical conditions like feline hair loss, cat dandruff and feline acne, it does not require any complicated process for prevention. If you pay good attention to hair growth and hair shedding in your cat, you will be able to limit the accumulation of hairballs in the cat’s body.

Comb your cat’s coat regularly, preferably daily. Use a comb that helps you in removing dead hair effectively. The choice of the comb should depend upon the breed of the cat that you have and the length of the hair. If the dead and loose hairs are removed regularly your cat will tend to swallow lesser hair in the process of self-grooming.

Treatment for hairballs in cats is even easier. It does not involve medication like other cat and dog skin problems. Like self grooming cats are very good at self treatment too, at least in as far as it concerns hairballs. A cat with hairballs indulges in eating grass and plants in an effort to rid itself of hair balls. The fiber in grass and plants facilitates easy elimination. In case you want to help your cat in getting rid of hair balls, this is exactly what you need to do to augment its own efforts.

* Feed extra fiber to your cat. Catnip, wheat, oats and barley, pumpkin, oat bran, green beans, flax and psyllium husk are natural sources of fiber. Add small quantities to the feed every alternate day. A high fiber diet helps in easy elimination of hair balls.

* Petroleum jelly acts as a lubricant and makes it easy for the cat to excrete the hairballs. Petroleum jelly is perfectly safe for cats and passes out unabsorbed. There are commercial products available that contain petroleum jelly. If you do not wish to buy some, the best way is to either administer it directly as a treat or apply some on the leg below the elbow for the cat to lick.

A word of caution regarding high fiber diet needs to be added here. High fiber may be necessary for treating hairballs in cats but it can cause certain symptoms that you need to be aware of.

* High fiber holds more water in the system and this can lead to concentrated urine making your cat more susceptible to a urinary tract disorder.
* Fiber does not guarantee elimination of hairballs that get stuck in the stomach.
* Too much fiber can lead to diarrhea or a significant increase in the bulk of stools.

Hairball formulas available commercially may deny your cat some other nutrients that are necessary for growth. These formulas can also be expensive. If you do have to opt for a hairball formula, choose a natural product over chemical ones to avoid any further side effects.

References:

http://www.odordestroyer.com/news/story54/cats_hairballs.html

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/hairballs-cats.htm

What are tear stains?

Tear stains are reddish/brownish marks found on the inside corner and just below the eyes of pets. These are most often found on animals with light-colored fur as this makes them more visible.

Tear stains are caused by an overflow of tears which then react with normal bacteria found on the skin to produce the darkened color. Red Yeast is a common culprit in producing tear stains as this organism - like most fungi - thrives in the warm and damp environment just below your pet’s eyes.

Although tear stains do not generally pose any serious health risk, in some cases they may be associated with bacterial or yeast infections and are also unsightly and particularly undesirable in show dogs.

What is PetAlive i-Clenz?

PetAlive i-Clenz contains a blend of natural, cleansing ingredients in an herbal tincture and will effectively cleanse unsightly tear stains in pets as well as improve general eye and visual health.

Use PetAlive i-Clenz:

* To remove tear stains from cats and dogs
* To promote healthy vision
* To control bacterial and fungal growth which can contribute to staining
* To reduce inflammation and soothe the eyes
* As a general tonic for the eye and surrounding area

What are the ingredients in i-Clenz?

PetAlive i-Clenz contains the following 100% natural, herbal ingredients:

Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright) has been used since the Middle Ages to reduce eye inflammations like conjunctivitis and sties. Eyebright will reduce redness and any inflammation associated with eye infection, as well as excessive discharge from the eye. It is also excellent for treatment of eye fatigue and other disturbances of vision.

Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) is a well-known and effective herbal cleanser found all over the world. This herb will also act as an antibacterial and antifungal agent to prevent infection of the eye and fungal overgrowth contributing to tear stains.

Matricaria recutita (German Chamomile) was regarded as one of the nine sacred herbs given to the world by ancient Anglo-Saxons. In modern times it is widely used as a gentle cleansing, anti-inflammatory and soothing herb. Chamomile is also an effective tonic for the eye and surrounding area.

(PetAlive i-Clenz contains no gluten, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives)

How has PetAlive i-Clenz helped others?

“Your PetAlive i-Clenz formula has completely removed my Maltese’s tear stains. They were terribly ugly and the first thing that one noticed about her face - I am SO thrilled to find a natural product that is so gentle and effective!” - Rita D

“I am planning to show my Poodle but was having a tough time getting rid of tear stains. The vet suggested a medication that dries out the tear glands but this sounded awful to me - I can’t imagine how uncomfortable it would be for him to have dry eyes all the time. A fellow Poodle-owner suggested your i-Clenz and it has worked wonders! Just wanted to let you know- thanks for a great product!” - Louisa M

How do I use i-Clenz?

PetAlive i-Clenz comes in a convenient tincture form which should be applied to a clean damp cotton swab and gently wiped over the fur below the eyes when cleansing is necessary. A weaker solution may be used to cleanse the eye area itself. Add two or three drops to about 25 ml of warm water and apply with cotton swab. Use a new swab for each eye.

Caution: For external use only. Do not apply drops directly into the eyes.

How long until I see results?

Cleansing effects will be immediate. With regular use over several weeks, health and condition of the eyes will improve.

How long does one bottle last?

One 50 ml bottle of i-Clenz will last for 15 - 60 days with daily use, depending on the size and needs of your pet.

Although your cat doesn’t realise it right now, after some tender loving care and a little shampoo, he will appreciate it.

Cats hate water, that much is easy to see as he lashes out at you with his claws when he gets anywhere near it. Why would someone want to bathe their cat, then?

Well, they are dirty and can become flea infested just like a dog, so they do need them. Sometimes, you’ll just have to do it. The key is to not bathe your cat more than once a month as you will damage his skin and his hair if you do so more than that. And, you can do it.

The Supplies

To do the task, you’ll need some supplies. The very least you will need are two cloth towels, a pet safe shampoo and conditioner, a sponge and a sprayer to attach to your skin nozzle. No sprayer? Then use a pitcher of water and keep it near the sink. You should try to have a non skid mat there as well to help your cat feel better about standing in the water.

A scared cat is hard to control. So, if you plan to wash him in the tub, make sure to shut the door to keep him from getting out into the rest of the house.

What To Do

Put the mat at the bottom of the sink or tub. Add about two or three inches of warm water to the bottom and carefully place the cat in. Talk to him quietly and reassure him that he’s okay. More than likely, he’ll settle down within a few minutes. Now that he’s calm, you can wet him down. Use the sprayer but if this scares him, you’ll need to pour water over him using the pitcher. A word of warning, do not pour water on his head. You’ll clean his face later.

Now he’s wet. You can squeeze a palm sized amount of shampoo and massage the shampoo into his coat. Use slow, calm motions and he’ll relax and maybe even will enjoy it. Once he is lathered, you’ll need to rinse him off. Make sure to get all of the shampoo out of his coat as anything left on him will irritate his skin.

Next, do the same with the cat’s conditioner. This step is optional if the cat has short hair. If the cat isn’t too upset, though, you should try to use it on all cats.

Once his body is clean, it is time to do his face. Dampen the sponge and use it to carefully wipe down his face. Pay attention to the area around his eyes too.

After The Bath

Now, he’s done. Wrap him up in the towels and blot off as much of the water as possible from his body. Use a dry towel as a second blotting tool. Now, he’ll finish the job himself. For those who have a long haired cat, you can use a blow dryer at the very lowest setting if you keep it continuously moving so that you do not burn him. Now, you have a clean cat and hopefully no wound marks to show from it.

Your cat will thank you for his bath, and you will both enjoy each other’s company more, next time you snuggle down in front of the fire.

About the Author

Niall Kennedy is a lifelong pet lover and has worked in several pet sanctuaries. Best Pet Health Information is a resource that brings you information about great deals on cat health products.

After trying various methods over the years, the best one I have found is to simply rub your dog vigorously with hay. You can even convince the dog to roll himself in it! I have no idea why this works but it does!