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72 results for “feline temperature”
6 Mistakes to Avoid When a Kitten First Comes Home
Six common new-kitten mistakes: switching food at once, bathing too soon, overwhelming it with handling, self-medicating, misplacing the litter box, and skipping socialization. Give the kitten time and a calm space to adjust, and it will thrive.
Helping a Cat Through Moving Stress
After a move a cat may hide, pant, stop eating, or even develop feline idiopathic cystitis from stress. Set up a quiet 'safe base' with its familiar bed, toys, and scent, run a synthetic pheromone diffuser, and speak and pet gently without forcing it out. If it refuses food and water over 24 hours, vomits, strains to urinate, or breathes fast with pale gums, see a vet — adapting can take 1–2 weeks.
Meet the Siamese Cat: A 3-Minute Guide
The Siamese is an ancient palace cat from 14th-century Thailand (then Siam), weighing 8–14 lb for males and 6–10 lb for females, with pointed colors like seal, blue, lilac, chocolate, red, and cream. Its signature trait is temperature-sensitive fur: tyrosinase works faster when cold, so winter deepens the coat and age darkens it. Siamese are dog-like — clingy, energetic, curious, and talkative — and adapt well, making them a good choice for first-time owners.
Extruded vs. Baked Cat Food: What’s the Difference?
Extruded and baked cat foods differ mainly in process. Extruded food mixes meat, grains, and produce, then cooks and shapes it under high heat and pressure (120–140°C) before coating with fat and flavor — the mainstream since the 1950s. Baked food uses low-temperature baking (80–100°C), keeping ingredients and nutrients more intact and needing little starch as a binder, so it is usually grain-free with higher meat content. Extruded is cheaper and easier to store; baked costs more but suits sensitive stomachs and cats prone to chin acne. The real key is ingredient quality, not the process.
Is Tapioca Starch in Cat or Dog Food a Problem?
Tapioca starch (from cassava, a tropical root) in pet food is normal and usually fine in moderation. It helps kibble hold its shape, provides energy, and lowers cost. If it sits near the top of the ingredient list, though, protein may be lacking — and since cats are obligate carnivores and dogs are meat-based omnivores, long-term high-starch diets cause muscle loss and weaker immunity. The 'tapioca is toxic' worry is a myth: raw cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides, but proper soaking, cooking, and drying remove them, and high-heat pet-food processing destroys what remains.
Why Human Cold Medicine Is Dangerous for Pets
Because cats and dogs metabolize drugs differently from people, they may not process ingredients like acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, and caffeine, and even small amounts can poison them, sometimes fatally. Most over-the-counter human cold medicines are unsafe for pets. For mild cases when pet-specific medicine is unavailable, gentle herbal options exist, but vet care is best for serious symptoms.
Can Cat Flu Leave Lasting Effects After Recovery?
Feline rhinotracheitis (cat flu), caused by feline herpesvirus FHV-1, cannot be cured—the virus hides for life in the trigeminal ganglion and can reactivate whenever the cat is stressed, the season changes, or immunity dips. Most cats recover and live normally, but some are left with mild, manageable effects: a sensitive nose that drips in cold or dusty air, heavier tear staining from narrowed tear ducts, or—in high-risk cases—repeated flare-ups that can progress to chronic bronchitis or pneumonia. Good care (warm stable surroundings, humidity control, stress avoidance, balanced nutrition with lysine and vitamins, and regular vaccines) keeps recurrence rare. This article explains the sequelae, why only some cats get them, and how to minimize repeat episodes.
Health Checks to Do After Rescuing a Stray Cat
Before a stray cat joins your home, a veterinary check-up protects the cat, any resident pets, and your family. Strays can carry parasites, skin disease, or hidden infections, so a targeted exam is worth the cost. Core tests include a physical exam, infectious-disease screening (panleukopenia, coronavirus, calicivirus, herpesvirus; add FIV and FeLV if you have other cats), a fecal exam for internal parasites, and a blood count to flag anemia, inflammation, or dehydration. Imaging or a Toxoplasma test may be added for specific risks. To keep costs down, ask clinics about rescue discounts, look for packaged wellness plans, and have the vet handle basic grooming during the visit. Always isolate the new cat for 7–14 days, deflea and deworm, then start vaccines once it has settled in.
100 Essential Tips Every New Cat Owner Should Know
Bringing home a first kitten is exciting but daunting, and poor care can hurt both of you. These 100 essentials cover diet (life-stage food, toxic grapes/chocolate/onion/garlic, no bones or raw meat, fresh water), daily care (brushing, nail and ear cleaning, litter hygiene, n+1 boxes), health (vaccines at 8–12 weeks, deworming, normal temperature 38–39.2°C, spay/neuter, no human meds), behavior (slow blinks, tail talk, no punishment), and home safety (screens, hiding wires, toxic plants, no smoke). Read them once and you'll share a calmer, healthier life with your cat.
How to Keep Your Cat from Getting ‘Air-Conditioner Sickness’
Cats can suffer 'air-conditioner sickness'—discomfort from low temperature, dry air, poor ventilation, and big temperature swings—showing as sneezing, runny nose, loose stools, or even respiratory infection. To prevent it, keep the AC at 26–28°C and avoid direct drafts, hold indoor humidity at 50–60%, and warm weak cats with a soft bed off cold floors. Clean the filter every 2–3 weeks, ventilate daily, watch the cat's condition, and add 20–30 minutes of play. At the first mild signs, turn the AC off and offer warm water; see a vet if it worsens.