There are over 100 different recognizable cat breeds worldwide. Some originated naturally in specific places and are the products of random, or wild, breeding. Others have been selectively bred by humans to preserve certain features, such as body shape, facial structure, coat color and quality, and other distinctive characteristics.
A Look at Feline Genes
The domestic cats that we know, love, and live with today are the descendants of the wildcat. Originally common in Africa, Europe, and central Asia, wildcat genetics inform the color and quality of the fur.
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There are numerous chronic health conditions facing cats today. Most of them can be managed effectively with little impact on quality of life or longevity. But among the different types of potential health concerns, heartworm disease in cats stands alone.
Spread by the bite of a single infected mosquito, a heartworm infection is fatal for felines. The good news is that year round adherence to your cat’s parasite prevention greatly reduces the risk.
The Straight Story
Cats are not the only pets that suffer from heartworm disease. Dogs and ferrets are good hosts to this parasite as well as various wildlife such as wolves, foxes, coyotes and sea lions.
Heartworm treatment for these other animals exists, but it is toxic in cats. That means that the only defense against heartworm disease in cats is complete prevention.
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Imagine having an itch that just won’t go away. No matter what you do, you can’t figure out how to soothe yourself. And the worst part? You’ve scratched at the itch so much you’ve actually broken the skin and are now suffering an infection.
The idea of an itch that won’t go away seems unbearable, and yet it’s surprisingly common in our feline friends who suffer from allergies. Allergies in cats are no fun to deal with (especially if you’re a cat!), but when they’re quickly recognized and treated, they can be successfully managed.
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If you’ve been the proud owner of a cat for many years, it’s probably time to consider their aging process if you haven’t already. Cats age faster than we do, and as a result, they benefit from routine wellness checks every 6 months once they hit the age of 8. Increasing their annual exams from 1 to 2 times a year helps to prevent age-related issues and detect health conditions before they become serious.
Senior cat care doesn’t have to be stressful, and once you know what to expect, you and your cat can move toward the golden years together.
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After a very busy end to the holiday season, the team at Cat Care of Vinings pauses and considers all of the things that have happened in 2019. One of our best memories is serving our furry patients with excellent care and getting to know our fur families. Because we care so much about the health and well-being of our pets, our hope with our blog was to instill confidence in cat owners to provide the very best for their pets.
We are happy to know that our blog has served this purpose of educating, raising awareness, and entertaining our readers with quality content. These are our top 5 cat blogs according to our readers. Have another great read!
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As we roll out the red carpet for Santa, it’s easy to feel consumed by the seemingly endless naughty and nice lists. Not only are we distracted by shopping for family meals or neighborhood potlucks, but there are always last minute gifts to purchase, and a million other things to do.
The collective frenzy of the holiday season can cause us to shift our priorities a bit, and we’d be willing to bet that our cats sense it. Luckily, with a few minor adjustments, you can improve your cat’s quality of life for the new year that is just around the corner.
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Homeless cats don’t have easy lives. They suffer through weather extremes, dangerous battles over territory, traffic, exposure to contagious diseases or parasites, and terrible mistreatment from people and other animals. They never know exactly where the next meal is coming from, or whether they’ll have a warm, dry place to sleep.
Stray cats are those that were, at one point or another, family pets. Whether they became separated or were abandoned, stray cats can be rehabilitated and re-homed. Feral cats, on the other hand, have never been dependent on human care and rely only on their survival skills. With more than 70 millions homeless cats in the U.S., how can communities help feral cats as well as strays?
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Natural disasters are some of the scariest and most damaging phenomena out there. Since they happen with little or no warning, they often cause chaos and confusion if not planned for in advance.
If pets are a part of your family, it’s important to include them in the family disaster planning and preparation. Cats especially require some specific thinking as you plan how to keep them safe in the worst case scenario.
The team at Cat Care of Vinings wants to help give you the knowledge and skills to make disaster planning for cats a breeze. Let’s get started!
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Our vision at Cat Care of Vinings is simple: to provide veterinary excellence to every single one of our valued feline patients. And, by achieving the Gold Standard from the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), we get to do that – and much more!
Indeed, our feline friendly practice is part of a global movement that supports and elevates cat health. By focusing on the comfort and safety of our feline patients, we reduce stress and anxiety. In turn, this cultivates trust between our veterinarians, patients and their owners.
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There’s no question we’ve become a feline-obsessed culture. They’re in a majority of American homes, they’ve infiltrated YouTube, and cat characters abound in pop culture. And when we look at the cats we love, it can feel overwhelmingly like we just couldn’t live without them – aside from all the obvious reasons (they’re beautiful, clever, snuggly, and smart).
The history of cat ownership was initially built on mutual benefit, but has become so much more.
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