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466 results for “cat temperature”
Recipe: Chicken Paste for Cats
Chicken paste is one of the easiest homemade cat foods to make, and its soft texture makes it ideal for kittens, older cats, or any cat that needs extra hydration. Poach a chicken breast in water for about five minutes, then blend the meat and broth together for a minute or two until smooth. The result is a gentle, high-protein meal you can serve on its own or stir into a cat's regular food.
Health Checks Every Cat Owner Should Know
Must-do checks: a baseline exam plus a four-way infectious test (panleukopenia, herpes, calicivirus, coronavirus) for every new cat—do it early, before symptoms turn deadly. Antibody tests suit cattery-bought kittens. Pre-surgery bloodwork matters for seniors; post-illness rechecks and fecal/SAA/urine tests catch parasites, inflammation, and urinary disease. Skip unnecessary ones: toxoplasma testing is mainly for pregnant households, and X-rays are for swallowed objects or fractures.
Recipe: Duck Jerky Cat Treats
Duck jerky is one of the simplest homemade cat treats, and duck is a lean, novel protein that many cats enjoy. The method is easy: slice duck breast into strips, dehydrate at 68°C for about eight hours, and store it dry at room temperature. Five hundred grams of raw breast shrinks to roughly 100 g once dried, so a batch goes a long way as an occasional reward that also helps with teeth.
Why Is Your Cat Shedding?
Shedding is often normal: kittens lose soft baby fur around 4–8 months, and all cats do a seasonal coat change in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). But it can also signal trouble—external parasites (mange mites, fleas) cause redness, itching and hair loss; poor nutrition or too much salt weakens the coat. Rule out illness, then manage loose hair with a vacuum and a de-shedding tool. Never over-salt the food, and keep protein and vitamins adequate.
Why Is My Ragdoll Cat Breathing Heavily?
A Ragdoll that breathes noisily isn't automatically sick—it may simply have exercised hard or be reacting to heat. But if the heavy breathing persists, it can signal real problems: respiratory disease, obesity, heatstroke, infectious peritonitis, liver-related fluid buildup, or heart disease. Watch for other symptoms and see a vet if it continues. For overweight cats, weight control helps; in hot weather, keep them cool and hydrated to prevent heatstroke. This article covers the likely causes and the practical steps you can take at home.
Why Is Your Cat Meowing So Much?
Frequent meowing is like a baby's cry—usually a need or a bid for security. Check the basics first: hunger (refill food), thirst (cats hate stale overnight water—change it daily, use cooled boiled or purified), a dirty or moved litter box, temperature (or tight clothing), and pest bites (time to deworm). Heat (intact cats, females ~6 months, males ~10) and illness or pain are next; do a one-minute body and stool check, and consult a vet if it persists. Some breeds (Devon Rex, Li Hua, Ocicat) are just chattier, and some cats learn that meowing earns treats—reward quiet instead.
How to Make Alfalfa Powder for Homemade Cat Food
Alfalfa powder is a simple, nutrient-rich topper for homemade cat food, yet many owners aren't sure how to make it. The process is quick: a handful of alfalfa, a few seconds in a grinder, and it's done in under five minutes. Alfalfa grows on fertile soil with roots that reach deep for minerals, and as a dried plant it keeps its enzymes and is packed with vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K plus antioxidants that aid digestion. A teaspoon a day for a 4-5 kg cat is plenty, and it stores dry at room temperature.
How to Tell If Your Cat Has Feline Rhinotracheitis (Cat Flu)
Cat flu and a common cold look alike, which leaves many owners unsure whether their cat has feline rhinotracheitis — an infection caused by the feline herpesvirus. The reliable approach is twofold: watch the symptoms and confirm with a test. Early signs are subtle — sneezing, a runny nose, watery eyes, low appetite, no fever — while the active phase brings a high temperature near 40°C, persistent coughing and sneezing, and thick eye and nose discharge. A test strip or a PCR check at the clinic confirms it, but the result must be read alongside the symptoms.
Grooming and Coat Care for Your Cat
Shedding is normal—fur renews daily and surges with the seasons (long coat out, short coat in for summer; kept for winter). But shedding also rises from artificial temperature swings, poor diet (low protein/vitamins), skin damage (parasites, bad shampoo), hormonal imbalance after spay/stress, or old age. Improve coat quality with a clean, suitable environment, sunlight in short doses, and enough protein plus meat toppers. Groom by brushing out loose fur, massaging the skin, and a warm damp-towel wipe once a week to cut random shedding.
The ‘Sandwich’ Training Trick to Make Your Cat Cooperate
The 'sandwich' method borrows a conversation technique of praise–criticism–praise and applies the same pattern to cat training. Once you master it, tasks your cat used to resist—giving pills, trimming nails, brushing, detangling—will be met with cooperation. The principle is simple: first do something your cat loves (play, treats); then quickly perform the 'scary' procedure (pilling, etc.); and finally end with something it loves again. Learn what your cat enjoys—chin scratches, baby food, laser pointers, catnip—and identify the procedures it fears, from nail trims to temperature checks. With patience you will discover its motivators, and over time the 'scary' routines lose their fright. A small tip: for long procedures like nail trimming, give a full sandwich after each single nail.