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Do Prescription Cat Food Diets Really Work? | Catster

 

Is it important for cats' health to stay on them? Such diets exist for kidney disease, diabetes, intestinal problems, and urinary problems.

Dr. Eric Barchas  |  Jun 18th 2013  |   9 Contributions

 

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Lots of special diets exist for cats. These diets may be recommended by veterinarians or pet store staff based upon life stage, lifestyle, breed, or known medical problems. How useful are they? How strict must one be when feeding the diets to cats?

This article will focus primarily on the diets designed to treat medical problems. These diets are known as prescription diets because they most often are used on the recommendation of a veterinarian. In the past these diets were only available through veterinarians; in the Internet age, it is now possible to purchase most of them online and often from pet stores.

But before we delve into the prescription diets, I want to touch briefly upon the life stage, lifestyle, and breed-based diets mentioned above. Special diets exist for kittens, elderly cats, indoor cats, outdoor cats, Persians, Siameses, and many other cats who can be shoehorned into some category or other. These diets have been tweaked to "fit" the age, lifestyle, or breed of the targeted individual (for instance, kitten diets contain more calories than adult maintenance diets). However, it is my opinion that most of them, and especially the breed-based ones, are more marketing ploys than good-faith efforts to better serve cats and their owners. I'm generally not a fan of them.

 

Cat licking her chops by Shutterstock.

What about prescription diets? These diets are manufactured by a few different companies. Hills, Purina, and Royal Canin are the market leaders. These diets are produced to address issues such as obesity, pregnancy, diabetes, urinary problems, skin problems, kidney disease, thyroid disease, intestinal problems, and pregnancy. Some of them seem to work better than others. A discussion of all of them is beyond the scope of this article, so I will focus on four of the most commonly used classes of prescription diets: those used to treat kidney disease, diabetes, intestinal problems, and urinary problems.

The ordering of the four classes that I just listed is not a coincidence. I have listed the diets in order of, in my opinion, increasing importance and efficacy.

Prescription diets for kidney disease

It may surprise many people to learn that I am not terribly impressed with prescription diets designed to treat kidney disease. Since kidney disease is one of the most common medical conditions in cats, kidney formulas (such as Hills k/d, Purina NF, and Royal Canin Veterinary Renal LP) are very commonly used.

The logic behind their use goes like this: It is the job of the kidneys to remove waste products from the bloodstream. The primary waste products they remove are the result of protein metabolism. Protein contains significant quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus, and the waste products that build up in the body with kidney disease are high in nitrogen and phosphorus. These waste products cause cats to feel sick. Therefore, kidney formula diets are low in protein to reduce the levels of these products and also to reduce the "workload" of the kidneys.

That sounds good in theory, but it appears there may be a flaw in the logic. Namely, cats' bodies have very little control over their protein metabolism. This means that their bodies may be prone to metabolizing a similar amount of protein no matter how much of it they eat. Some experts therefore believe that kidney formula diets do not significantly reduce the workload of the kidneys, nor do they delay the progression of kidney disease.

 

White and gray cat with food by Shutterstock.

To make matters worse, cats find protein palatable. Cats with kidney disease often have poor appetites, and they may be picky about foods that are low in protein. Also, increased consumption of protein is linked to a higher lean body mass, which in turn is linked to greater longevity. Many experts believe that older cats -- the type of cats that usually have kidney disease -- generally need more protein than their younger counterparts. Since cats don't have much control over their protein metabolism, cats fed low protein diets may still break down as much protein as those fed high protein diets. That protein will come from their muscles, reducing their lean body mass. And, since protein is palatable, cats may eat less of the low protein diets, leading to even great reductions in lean body mass and therefore shorter life expectancy.

However, owners should remember that kidney diets do tend to affect blood phosphorus levels in a good way, and phosphorus appears to be linked to clinical symptoms.

By now your head may be spinning, so let's cut to the chase. Here are my recommendation for cats with kidney disease. The most important thing is to maintain lean body mass. Therefore, the most important thing is that your cat actually eat the food on offer, and that his weight be maintained at a healthy level to the geatest extent possible. If your cat is enthusiastic about a kidney diet, then so be it -- the decreased phosphorus may make him feel better. However, if your cat won't eat the kidney diet, then find something that he likes. The most important thing is to keep him eating, and to monitor his weight and kidney values; if these parameters are unsatisfactory then an adjustment may be necessary.

This also means that occasional deviances from kidney diets aren't likely to cause harm. A treat of some Thanksgiving turkey will not significantly affect the outcome in a cat with kidney disease.

Prescription diets for diabetes

 

Cat eating from a metal bowl by Shutterstock.

Diabetes is one of the more common health concerns in humans and cats. The type of diabetes that is most common in cats is physiologically similar to the most common type (adult onset, or type 2) of diabetes in people. Dietary modification is a mainstay of type 2 human diabetes treatment in people. Shouldn't it therefore also be so in cats?

Yes and no. Diabetes is a disease characterized by high blood sugar. Current feline prescription diets designed to treat diabetes (such as Hills m/d, Purina DM, and Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Diabetic Formula) contain high protein levels and low carbohydrate levels because it is easier for the body to metabolize carbs into sugar. In my opinion the logic behind these diets is sound. But there is a rub.

Human diabetics often have blood sugars in the range of 200 mg/dL. Veterinarians don't bat an eye, nor do we stat treatment (in 2013 -- things may be different in 2025) when we see such a reading. Cats with diabetes often have blood sugar readings in the range of 400 to 600 mg/dL. (Seeing such a reading would probably cause a human physician's eyes to pop.)

Dietary modification most likely will help cats with diabetes. But it rarely is enough on its own. The overwhelming majority of cats with diabetes also require insulin. I therefore recommend that diabetic cats be switched to a diet designed for diabetes, but I warn clients not to expect a miracle. It is best to try to stick to diabetic diets exclusively, although an occasional deviance is not likely to be catastrophic. Fortunately, most diabetic cats are not picky eaters, so these diets are accepted by most of them.

Prescription diets for intestinal problems

Cats with infiltrative/inflammatory bowel disease or food intolerances may exhibit chronic intermittent diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, poor appetite, or any combination thereof. The most basic way to treat these problems is with dietary modification. Some cats may respond to over-the-counter sensitive stomach diets. For others, prescription diets (such as Hills i/d, Purina EN, or Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal) that are easily digestible, or limited-ingredient diets (such as Hills z/d or d/d, Purina HA, or Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Limited Ingredient) may be effective.

 

Cat eating kibble by Shutterstock.

It often is necessary to experiment with a few diets in order to find one that works for cats with IBD or food intolerance. But if you can find one that works, I recommend that you stick with it and avoid treats or other dalliances. These syndromes are often treated with medications such as prednisone; if possible it is better in my opinion to try to manage the problems with diet alone.

Prescription diets for urinary problems

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC), also known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) and Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS) is a common condition that causes bladder pain, house soiling, and in male cats a life-threatening catastrophe called urinary obstruction. Although the causes of the condition are controversial, most experts believe that diet plays a role. I am not an expert (I do not have advanced certification in veterinary internal medicine), but as an emergency vet I have seen more than my share of urinary obstruction, and I firmly believe that diet plays a role.

Diets designed to prevent FIC (such as Hills c/d, Purina UR, and Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary SO) appear, in my experience, to be very effective at reducing crises associated with FIC. I recommend their exclusive use for cats with the condition.

What about raw?

Improperly prepared raw diets are nightmares full of Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, and malnutrition. Those first three items on the list are bacteria that can spread to people in the house. Bad, bad, bad!

However, at the risk of being labeled a veterinary apostate, I am obliged to note that properly prepared raw diets may actually have some potential to treat each of the four syndromes addressed in this article. That said, I have yet to see sufficient evidence to enable me to recommend them.

As a side note, I am aware that many people believe that the major pet food companies are big and evil. I should point out that I have not seen any evidence to date that convinces me that commercial raw manufacturers are any less greedy (although they certainly are smaller). If said companies wish to provide me with evidence, I suggest that they fund (but not interfere with) some well-run studies on the effects of feeding raw diets to cats suffering from any of the above conditions.

Other stories by Dr. Eric Barchas:

• What Is "Fading Kitten Syndrome," and Why Do So Many Foster Kittens Die from It?
• Why Do Vets Take Cats "Into the Back?" What Happens There?
• A "Day" in the Life of an Emergency Vet Is Actually a Night Shift 

Got a question for Dr. Barchas? Ask our vet in the comments below and your topic might be featured in an upcoming column. (Note that if you have an emergency situation, please see your own vet immediately

Ways to keep pets cool during the ‘dog’ days of summer - The Marshall News Messenger: Pets

Laverne Hughey

It is definitely summertime, with temperatures already reaching the 90s and sure to go even higher. “Summertime and the livin’ is easy” is not always true for many dogs and cats.

Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems in hot, humid weather just as humans do, such as overheating, dehydration and even sunburn. By being aware of possible problems and taking simple precautions, our companion animals can be comfortably cool and avoid serious weather-related problems.

Small dogs that stay inside the home will not have problems; nor will the cats that live indoors. Outside pets can easily get into trouble on a hot, humid day. No matter what a pet is accustomed to, it should never, ever be left in a vehicle during this hot weather, nor should a dog be left in the back of a pickup truck. Even with car windows open slightly, temperatures that seem pleasant to people will rise dangerously high in a vehicle, often reaching higher than 100 degrees.

Pets can quickly suffer heatstroke. According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, heatstroke is “a serious failure of the body’s heat-regulation mechanisms resulting from excessive exposure to intense heat and characterized by high fever, dry skin, collapse and sometimes convulsions or coma.”

According to the ASPCA, the right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal of when the weather is hot and humid. Even though your dog may be accustomed to taking a walk or run with you, please consider that asphalt and concrete become extremely hot. The dog’s body can heat up rapidly and sensitive paw pads can burn. Walk your canine pal as early in the day as possible before the street or sidewalk has had time to heat up or wait until the pavement has cooled in the evening.

We should be especially thoughtful of pets that have reached their senior years, as well as overweight animals during the hot weather. If they absolutely cannot come inside to stay cool, be sure there is a shady spot in the yard for them. Dogs also enjoy wading in a child’s shallow pool which will help keep them cool if the pool is kept in the shade.

Pets with heart or lung diseases should be indoors in air conditioned comfort as much as possible, especially mid-day. This also applied to snub-nose dogs, such as Pekingese, Boston Terriers, bulldogs, Shih Tzus and Lhasa apsos.

Naturally, plenty of fresh, cool water should be available at all times for all outside pets. Food bowls should be removed as soon as outdoor pets have finished eating as ants and other insects find the food almost immediately. If the dog or cat comes back for a second helping, it will have a very painful surprise with the first bite.

Fleas and ticks are sure to be plentiful this year, so consult with a veterinarian as to the best way to prevent them attaching your dog or cat. Mosquitoes are already plentiful, and if your dog or cat is not on heartworm preventive medication, take Sam or Sweetie to the vet for a blood test to be sure he or she is not infected with heartworms, and get your pal on the preventive. Heartworm treatment is very expensive; therefore, prevention is definitely the way to go.

Thinking of shaving the dog or cat? Not a good idea as the pet can easily suffer sunburn. Experts advise shaving or clipping no closer than one inch of hair. That way, the pet will be protected from the sun as well as insect bites. A hairless dog or cat is at the mercy of hungry, biting insects. The animal will no doubt be more miserable than if it had long hair. If in doubt, ask the veterinarian, always.

Keep your cat indoors as their life may depend on it

Keep your cat indoors as their life may depend on it

Inside is the safest place a cat like two-year-old Champlain, a domestic shorthair recently adopted from the Niagara Falls Humane Society.

ByCathy Fugler

On my way in to work on a recent Sunday morning, I met with a chilling sight. Two of the biggest coyotes I have ever seen were walking leisurely out of a residential neighbourhood, and both were carrying a cat. One black and white, one orange tabby ... both helpless small animals who died unnecessarily in terror and pain.

At the Niagara Falls Humane Society, we ask all adopters to keep their cats indoors. We do not adopt to anyone who intends to let their cat roam free. We hear it all the time: “But he wants to go outside.”  “We live on a very quiet street.”  “It’s cruel to keep her in.” Although cats may enjoy being outside, it’s a myth that going outside is a requirement for feline happiness. Daily playtime with your cat easily keeps your pet stimulated and provides the exercise needed for them to stay healthy and happy. Kittens who are kept indoors usually show no desire to venture outside when they grow up.

Do the work to ensure a happy cat. Feline needs include the need to hunt, the option to retreat and hide, the pleasure of climbing and, in general, the need for a cat to have a sense that it is in control of its own activities.

Bring the outdoors in by planting cat grass in indoor pots so your cat can graze. Make sure the litter box is kept clean. Cats love to scratch and doing so enables them to remove broken claws, stretch muscles, and mark “territory.” The best way to save your furniture is to provide lots of “approved” places to scratch. Cat trees and posts, cardboard scratching boxes, and those ingenious “cat tracks” (a ball in a circular, partially open plastic tunnel surrounding a cardboard scratching pad) are big hits. Sprinkle catnip on them weekly to keep cats interested and be sure to replace cardboard inserts when they get worn out. Provide a room with a view. Windows can be a cat “TV” — a birdbath or feeder placed near a window can provide hours of entertainment. Toys can be important. Choose toys that your cat likes to chase and play with. Try a range of toys — small furry ones that squeak and move rapidly are popular. Or feathered toys at the end of a wand-like rod that you can flick back and forwards. You could also consider a “cat activity centre” that allows a cat to climb up and down, with a few dangly toys attached, and perhaps a scratching post, too (essential if you do not want your cat to shred your furniture and wallpaper). Cats like to be “high up” in a room — it makes them feel secure — so make sure that you provide cat-accessible elevated sleeping spots around the house.

Sharon Richardson, who manages our Cat Adoption Centre at Niagara Square, comments: “I keep my cats indoors as it’s much safer for them. I don’t have to worry about them getting sick from other animals or from something poisonous they got into or worrying if they are ok when they don’t come home. They are happy looking out the window. At the AC we see so many cats with sad stories because they were outside-like the FIV+ cats. They would have never become infected if they had been indoor cats, and now they have a harder time finding their forever homes.”

Co-op student Alexis has a soft spot for the senior cats who have had a tough life. She says “I feel as if my cats are my family. Having them outside all hours of the night would worry me too much to even consider having them on their own without me. It is like leaving a child outside all day and night not even having a clue where they are and if they are OK. I prefer to know that my family is at all times somewhere safe. And the safest place is inside my home.”

Your cat depends on you. You are all they’ve got. Keep them safe.

For more information on events and about the shelter, please visit our website, www.nfhs.ca and like us on Facebook.

Cathy Fugler is Communications Director for the Niagara Falls Humane Society. Contact her at [email protected]

Catit Senses- This is a great deal!

Catit Senses

A full line of fun for your cat!

The Catit Senses Line was designed to incorporate all of your cat’s senses while he or she plays. The products in the Senses Line include the Catit Senses Massage Center, Scratch Pad Center, Play Circuit, Speed Circuit, Food & Treat Center and Grass Garden Center. The products have the ability to be used alone or interconnect to build your cat a compact play center or an entire entertainment playground. The possibilities are endless; add as many Play Circuits or Speed Tracks to connect as many or as few Senses Centers as you wish. The Catit Senses toys are easy to assemble and disassemble allowing you to create a variety of play areas for your cat.

Each of the toys targets different senses of your cat, but when combined it becomes a collection of innovative cat products designed to enrich a cat's life by stimulating all of his or her senses. Building your cat a complete Catit Senses entertainment center is even a great way to help occupy your cat when you might be away on a trip for a day or two!

The Catit Senses Circuits are the key components of any play set design. Add as many Circuits as you wish wrapping them around each of the play centers. Each play center comes with a nonskid mat that provides stability. As you design your Senses playground try wrapping the play centers with Circuits, this provides additional stability for those times of rough play.

The Catit Senses Line works together to form the ultimate play experience for your cat. Whether used alone or all together, with the Catit Senses Line you are helping your cat develop physically and mentally. We use all of our senses every day and it is important for your cat to do the same. Exploring their senses will provide them with the ability to reach their full potential and live a long and healthy life. The Catit Senses Products are each backed by a limited warranty.

Catit Senses Play Circuit

The Catit Design Senses Play Circuit incorporates sight, sound and touch and is specially designed to entice, engage and entertain a cat while appealing to his natural hunting instincts. Designed with a curved and Peek-a-Boo track design, the Play Circuit allows your cat to see, chase and swat the ball. The gray and green swirled ball also entices your cat and helps promote chasing.

Catit Senses Speed Circuit

The Catit Senses Speed Circuit provides endless opportunities for your cat to chase around an illuminated ball and get all the exercise that it needs. The Speed Circuit sends your cat all around trying to get its paws on the ball and provides it with lots of energy. The track can be redesigned any way you like and with individual tracks sold separately, you can make your Speed Circuit as big as you would like! If you constantly change the speed circuits design, you are helping stimulate your cat’s mind.

 

 

PetFusion Cat Scratcher Lounge

Engineered for your cats health and happiness. Designed for your home.
Exceptional value				In your home
		Save your furniture. Made just for your feline loved one(s) to scratch, rest, and play on.			Lounging		Scratching		Perching
		Long lasting. Lasts as much as 10 times longer than cheaper alternatives.			Exploring		Meet up		Modern art
		Healthier, happier cat. Promote healthy nails, muscles, and communication.

Product Description

Tired of purchasing cat products that your feline loved ones get bored of, quickly? PetFusion's Cat Scratcher Lounge serves double duty as both a cat scratcher and lounge that promises to keep your finicky companions coming back for more. Custom made for cats who enjoy scratching, playing and lounging around (what cats don't :). Cats love the feel of cardboard, recalling their days as kittens and are natural scratchers. PetFusion's Cat Scratcher Lounge offers your cats a comfortable place to rest and scratch at the same time. Designed for owners looking to reclaim their homes. Finally a pet product with a stylish design that flows with your home decor. Instead of scratching your furniture, your cats will be more than happy to scratch the less expensive and better feeling cardboard. A win situation for all. Happier cat and owner guaranteed. No assembly required. All materials tested using international safety standards.

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Important Information

Directions
Naturally attracts cats. May consider sprinkling with catnip, placing by a favorite window or room, or using toys and treats to train and reinforce desired behavior

Games and toys will keep your dog or cat healthy and happy | lehighvalleylive.com

 

Our dogs are often as fat as we are, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Family cats can look like furry ottomans. At Tufts University, they’ve set up an obesity clinic at the vet school.

It’s time to get our pets up and at ’em.

Dogs and cats love to play, and there are scores of great toys to engage their bodies and minds.

Be mindful of your pet’s breed and character when choosing games and toys, advises Victoria Wells, senior manager for behavior and training at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ adoption center in New York City.

Dogs

“Scent-oriented dogs will respond best to games that involve seeking out something that has an odor, so hide treats around the house that they have to locate,” she says. “Buy toys that you can hide treats inside, and the dog has to tumble it to get at them.”

Intelligent dogs need mental stimulation just as people do, says Wells.

Spot’s Seek a Treat sliding puzzle and Discovery Wheel might fill the bill. Company of Animals has a Twister treat-finding game. The Kong line of toys are pack pleasers; the toys have holes at one end to hide treats, and the heavy-duty rubber construction makes them tough enough for larger dogs. (Available at many pet stores, or at wag.com.)

Big, energetic dogs will have fun chasing the sturdy Varsity Ball. And for a little humor, consider Moody Pet’s Humunga lips-, tongue- or moustache-shaped chew toys that give your dog a hilarious visage when they’re holding them. (varsitypetsonline.com and moodypet.com)

Dogs that love to interact love to tug — and Wells says that, contrary to some opinion, tugging can be a great game.

“It’s all about who’s in control of the game. You decide when you play it, when the toy must be released, when it must be dropped,” she says.

Teaching these skills early in a puppy’s life makes play a lifelong joy. But even a rescue dog can learn, with patience and understanding.

Try a tennis ball attached to a rope, which makes retrieving and throwing easy — no slobbery balls to grip. Petco also offers Bamboo’s Combat Bone, a soft and floatable bone-shaped tugger, while Homegoods’ extensive pet department, HG Pet, has great squeak-and-fetch options too. (petco.com and homegoods.com)

Sturdy coils of small, medium or large marine-grade rope also do the job, but for multi-dog tug action, consider Ruff Dawg’s four-handled rubber toy. (wag.com)

If you’ve got a ball-loving dog, you’ve probably spent hours throwing one; tennis balls seem to be the toy of choice. For something a little different, consider the Mystery Tree, which requires the dog to trip a lever to release the ball. And for truly energetic canines, get the Hyperdog Launcher, which shoots up to four balls 220 feet via a slingshot-like contraption. No more goober-y hands or sore throwing arms. (activedogtoys.com)

Some dogs love hide and seek; Kyjen has a plush tree trunk you stuff with mini squirrels for your dog to extricate. (kyjen.com)

And how about chasing bubbles? Activedogtoys.com has the automatic Bubbletastic and Bubble Buddy, which blow bacon- or chicken-scented bubbles.

Perform a toy test: Does your pet respond best to a plush toy, a ball or an interactive food toy?

On his website Cesarsway.com, dog behavior specialist and TV show host Cesar Millan advises that toys can help a dog learn not to bite. With puppies, introduce toys quickly as substitutes for hands.

When you leave the house for a long period, Wells say, “limit the number of toys you leave out. Just like children, pets get bored if their entire toy box is available to them every day.”

Cats

Four-month-old Main Coon cats SaraJen Far Niente, left, and SaraJen Dolce play in 2010 with toys from inside their cage at the Christmas City Cat Club cat show at the Chrin Community Center. Toys such as these keep cats' minds sharp.Express-Times Photo | MATT SMITH

Cats appreciate an interesting toy as much as dogs do. Kitty condos, which often have several elevations and platforms to climb, sit on and hide in, are excellent choices.

“Vertical hiding places and sanctuaries are very important to cats,” notes Wells, since they seek these out in the wild.

Look for upholstered versions in kneadable micro plush or carpet remnants.

Scratching posts made of sturdy jute will save your furniture and can be purchased or made at home. 

Other homemade cat toys include toilet paper rolls filled with catnip or treats, which the cats release by batting the toy around, and wands made out of rulers, rubber bands and feathers, Wells says.

A fun interactive family toy might be the Abo Cat Tunnel: Kids and pets chase each other through a nylon tube. The Bergan Catnip Cyclone involves a circular track on which a cat spins a ball filled with catnip; the more twirls, the more catnip aroma released. A feathery teaser can be attached. The Cataction Magneticat provides a magnetized bug on the end of a wand that bobbles around while your cat tries to catch it. 

The Ba Da Beam Rotating Laser Cat Toy features a battery-operated laser.

At Catchannel.com, find tips on making your own versions of wand, tug and climbing toys out of boxes, paper bags and other household items.

10 Interactive Cat Toys Worth Owning

 

Cats are lazier than their ancestors for a reason. They no longer have to hunt for their food or travel long distances to find new hunting grounds and water. Domestic cats don't have to expend energy defending cubs from larger creatures or fighting other cats to determine who is in charge (though you may see such a tiff in multiple cat households occasionally).

Many cat owners will say that, rather than being lazy, cats are energy efficient. This is true. If you study cats in the wild, they do not waste energy on anything but hunting, play (which develops hunting skills), traveling and climbing, mating, or defending and protecting. Wild cats sleep about 16 hours, while domestic cats often sleep up to 20 hours. For the wild cat, the sleep is needed because, as hunters, they require a great deal of impulsive energy to make their kill. Our cats sleep more, often because they're bored as they don't have the stimulation of the hunt. So, it's up to us to simulate a wild cat's tracking and pouncing on prey by making sure our cats play enough.

There is the occasional cat who plays on her own or with other cats in the house but it's likely you'll need to either be a part of playtime or find an enticing toy your cat play with on her own. The key to catch your feline's interest is to use good interactive cat toys. The toys listed below can be found in many major pet stores or are easily searched for online.

10 Interactive Cat Toys That Rock

• Da Bird - This toy is so popular you may have to get on a wait list. Da Bird is a rod with feathers attached, and it mimics the flight and sound of a real bird. It's quite simple but provides hours of fun.

• Crinkle Balls - These lightweight balls make a crinkling noise that drives cats crazy. They tend to carry these around and bat them with their paws. You can add excitement by rolling them across the floor.

• Panic Mouse - This automated toy has a feather on the end of a wire that moves back and forth and has several speeds to choose from.

• Mewvie Birdland Bonanza - This isn't exactly a toy, it's a DVD full of twittering birds and scampering creatures that will keep your cats entertained for hours. It can be set to play in a loop for those kitties that just can't get enough.

• Furry Mice - This simple cat toy has been around for ages and still entices cats today. Get one that has a cavity for catnip and you'll really get Fluffy interested when you toss it down the hall.

• Crazy Circle - This is a simple interactive toy made of a plastic ring with a ball inside it. There are paw holes all around it so your cat can bat the "prey."

• Neko Flies Cat Toys - Like Da Bird, the Neko Flies collection involves a rod and urges kitties of all ages to sharpen their pouncing and swatting skills. But this time, the dangling object is one of several bugs! And we all know how tantalizing a flying or crawling insect can be to a cat. They also have a mouse option for felines that prefer their toys with some fuzz.

• Peek-a-Prize Box - This is a box with holes on the top and sides. Put your cat's toys in it and watch them work at getting them out. Crinkle balls work well as do treats or treat toys.

• Sisal Roller - This is made by LazyPet, which offers many interactive cat toy choices. The Sisal Roller has a base filled with catnip that is great for cats to scratch. It also has a dangling pom pom and jingle bells. The toy can be rolled to entice your cat to pounce or left standing for your cat to play with on her own.

• Kitty Hoots Bobber - This toy has a rounded base that bobs back and forth when your cat plays with the dangling feather that extends from it. The bobbing movement is very interesting to cats.

There are other ways you can help your cat get more active. Playing is great exercise but you cal also put a harness on your cat and take her for a walk. Some cat owners even get special, small treadmills their pets can use inside. And remember that cats often like the simplest of interactive toys such as a cardboard box or a large paper bag with the handles cut off (safest when played with under your supervision). A bird feeder outside can also be great stimulation for cats who love gazing out the window.

kitty cavities - health tips from Petplan USA

• health
             tips

kitty cavities

Our feline friends are prone to a unique dental condition called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, otherwise known as FORLs, or neck lesions. FORLs affect a cat’s teeth at the gum line and occur in more than 50 percent of the general cat population, regardless of breed or age. 

Veterinarians don’t completely understand why FORLs occur, but they remain the most common cause of tooth loss in feline friends. Teeth develop lesions resembling large cavities at the gum line, and when enough of the tooth is affected, it can break off. Sometimes the tooth root is resorbed, and sometimes it is not.

In any case, FORLs are extremely painful. They may cause decreased appetite, weight loss, bad breath, trouble chewing and depression. Pet owners may notice gingivitis (redness of the gums), and occasionally can spot the FORLs themselves.

Veterinarians can diagnose FORLs during a physical examination. Because severe disease causes the crown to fracture, dental X-rays are always taken to check for the degree of tooth root resorption. It is not unusual to find tooth roots still present where there are no visible teeth, due to severe resorptive lesions.

Treatment involves completely removing the affected teeth under anesthesia. It may sound scary, but don’t worry. Though your cat may come home with fewer teeth, he’ll never miss them (or the pain they caused)!

Seven apps for playful cats | ITworld

Bring your cat toys into the digital age with a few feline-friendly mobile apps.

By Jasmine France, TechHive |  Software, mobile apps

 

Add a comment

 

June 03, 2013, 12:36 PM — Cats basically rule the world. Or at least they're next in line, as they already run the Internet. Given the high status that our furry feline friends hold in this digital era, it stands to reason that a whole segment of mobile apps is dedicated to their entertainment. Don't think we're kidding: You can find games for cats that feature everything from digital mice and fish to dancing laser dots. Discover what your kitty craves in the seven selections below, and be sure to check out the videos of the apps being tested on real cats.

Game for Cats--iPad (Free)

Game for Cats is a free app for the iPad that plays off of a cat's natural instinct to chase small things. The basic version includes a glowing laser dot that dances around the screen, tempting your kitty to smack it with her paws. You can upgrade from a laser to a mouse with an in-app purchase ($2), which currently includes a "chase a butterfly" level as a bonus. The game also keeps track of scores, so you can see how your cat stacks up against others in battle. My test subjects responded with suspicion initially, but couldn't resist the draw of the laser dot.

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Crazy Cat--Android (Free)

Not that cats need any prodding to act (randomly and entirely) nuts, but if you really want to push their buttons, Crazy Cat for Android does the trick. This free (but ad-supported) app features a variety of cute critters for your furry friend to chase, including scurrying mice and hopping bugs. The faster the creature is moving when your cat hits it, the higher the score. What better way to test those....cat-like reflexes? As with most cat games, Crazy Cat works best on the wider screen of a tablet. And if you have a Bluetooth enabled phone as well, you can even control the motion of the critters, making this game fun for both you and your pet.

Paint for Cats--iPad ($2)

Want to unearth your kitty's inner Picasso? Paint for Cats let's you do just that. This unique iPad app combines chase-a-mouse gameplay with splatters of paint, so not only does your cat get to have some fun, but you get funky splatter art as a bonus. Once your feline is finished batting the rainbow-colored mouse around the screen, you have the option to save and share the finished piece to your photo album, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr, and even print it. My test subject went wild over the mouse, no doubt because he heard a satisfying squeak after each attack. The paintings are simplistic, but it's fun to have a little keepsake from your cat's playtime. The downside: It's much too easy for overly enthusiastic players to pause the game!

Pocket Pond--Android, iPhone, iPad (Free)

I've yet to meet a cat that doesn't like fish, whether chowing down on it or simply stalking the fishbowl. Pocket Pond provides a digital form of the latter, letting your real fish get some much needed respite from your cat's hungry eyes. The gentle ripples of the water will lull your kitty into a trance, or you can add fish or buzzing dragonflies to drive her into attack mode. This app isn't just for cats, either: You can raise, feed, and play with the koi in the pond. You can also decorate your pond to make it attractive to your cat, visit other's ponds, and fish for new koi as well.

Catch the Mouse--iPad, iPhone ($1)

The title says it all: Catch the Mouse for iOS features a snuffling, squeaking mouse that bounces around the screen, taunting kitties to bat at it. The game keeps track of how many times your cat catches the mouse, and you can choose different colors for the background and the creature. That's about the extent of the features, though. Surprisingly, none of my four testers responded much to this game, other than twitching their heads at the motion.

Cat Playground--Android ($2.55)

Cat Playground for Android rolls multiple mini games into one app, and you can choose among four levels. Catch a Mouse features a roving mouse that squeaks when it appears on screen, while Laser Chase features a simple red dot. Whack a Mouse offers a kitty-friendly variation on the traditional Whack-a-Mole game (my cat testers weren't tempted much by this one). And last but not least is Go Fishing, with a swimming fish that gives splashing-sound feedback whenever a paw hits the screen. Of them all, the fish received the most approving meows from the cat gallery.

Laser Chase--Android (Free)

The problem with laser pointers isn't that cats don't love them. It's that you get bored with moving it around after about....oh, a minute and a half. This free app for Android could be the answer to your problem. Laser Chase offers a dancing red dot with movement specifically designed using physics to entertain your cat for minutes on end (hopefully more than two). Kitty will score ten points every time he catches the dot