Hairballs: a cat’s worst enemy.

No cat owner enjoys the site of seeing their poor kitty vomiting up foam and moist balls of hair. Though hairballs are a notorious cat trademark, they have the potential to cause serious health problems.

Hairballs are created due to activities like grooming, where hair enters the digestive system. Although the feline digestive system is unable to digest hair, a diet with a good amount of fiber, fat, and oil will allow some hair to pass through. When there is too much hair that enters the digestive system, or if a cat has a lack of fiber, fat, and oil in his diet, this is when hair is vomited out of the system in the form of a hairball.

Now this may seem all fine – a hairball will be vomited out, cats are known for this; so what’s the big deal? Well, hairballs can have serious health implications that include:

• Eliminating appetite
• Acting as a cork in the intestinal tract, leading to a serious infections
• Causing diarrhea or constipation
• Inducing vomiting all year long
• Requiring surgical removal (severe cases)

As a cat owner, what can you do to help ease the stress of hairballs in your cat?

• Groom your cat more often
• Provide a high quality diet, rich in essential vitamins and minerals
• Administer a vet-approved oral lubricant 2-3 hours before a meal
• Feed your cat ½ tsp of butter daily
• Rub Vaseline onto the roof of your cat’s mouth or onto his fur
• Offer a pinch of psyllium powder to your cat

Of course, every cat is different. You may need to try different products and remedies for different cats. When unsure about a product or remedy, always consult your vet.

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Like HIV, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a highly contagious disease that eventually results in the development of an AIDS-like syndrome.  The prevalence of FIV in North America hovers around 2.5 per cent, although the virus may be much more prevalent in other countries (up to 44 per cent in some locations).  It is generally believed that there are five strains of FIV that each causes an AIDS-like syndrome in cats.  In fact, FIV is the only non-primate variation of immunodeficiency viruses that are associated with AIDS.  While not usually fatal in cats, the effect of FIV on the immune system of house cats has justified the development of a vaccine.

In March of 2002, researchers announced that they had discovered a vaccine for FIV which was subsequently approved by the FDA.  The discovery of this vaccine was not only of great importance in the veterinary world but was also heralded as a breakthrough in the search for a vaccine for HIV.  The excitement about the vaccine notwithstanding, subsequent researchers and veterinarians have questioned its efficacy.  Indeed, since its introduction to the medical community, the FIV vaccine has been criticized for many reasons.

First of all, all cats treated with the FIV vaccine test positive for the virus.  For many cat owners, this has sparked justifiable fears that if their cat runs away and is found by animal control, it will likely be destroyed because it is FIV-positive.  In addition, the vaccine does not provide full protection against the virus.  At the moment, researchers are aware of 5 subtypes of FIV but the vaccine only protects against two of those strains.  Finally, the FIV vaccine has been shown to possibly cause sarcomas which are equally dangerous to FIV.

Ultimately, whether you should vaccinate your cat against FIV is a very tricky decision and one that should not be taken lightly.  Speak to your veterinarian and make an informed choice regarding the health of your cat.

Stress can have serious implications for the health of your cat.  Just like stress in humans has a negative impact on various organ systems, stress in cats can likewise lead to more severe illnesses.  Moreover, stress in cats is often manifested in behavioral problems like litter box avoidance, scratching, aggression, and even depression.  Because stress in cats is known to exacerbate existing medical conditions while creating behavioral issues, it is important to limit your cat’s exposure to stressful situations.

Like humans, stress in cats may be the result of emotional factors.  Separation anxiety and the associated feelings of loneliness are among the most likely causes of stress in cats.  Furthermore, environmental changes, exposure to new family members or pets, loud noises, and other environmental problems can lead to stress in cats.  The most important responsibility you have as a cat owner is to help your cat alleviate stress and to avoid stressful situations.

Exercise is crucial for cats, humans, and just about any animal for coping with stress.  Our stress responses have developed over many generations as a way to help us avoid dangerous situations and as a result, stress is actually a very natural response.  Too much stress, unfortunately, causes serious health problems.  Exercise is known to reduce stressful feelings while also promoting healthier responses in stressful situations.  Regular play and even walks around the neighborhood are great ways for your cat to get the exercise it needs to reduce stress.

In addition, there are a number of natural remedies available for stress.  The efficacy of such remedies, which are usually developed using plant and herbal extracts, is yet to be seen but many cat owners rave about holly, rock rose, and vine essences for ameliorating stress in their cats.  Still, most importantly, you can reduce your cat’s exposure to stressful situations.  Give your cat time to adjust to new environments and introduce new family members gradually.  Ultimately, your cat will be happier.

Vitamins, minerals, protein, and fat are all aspects of your pet’s diet that help them to maintain a healthy coat and skin.  Without proper nutrition, their skin may become dry or too oily.  Your pet’s coat is vital to protecting their skin and body as it can keep foreign bodies out and prevents bacterial and viral infection.  In addition, your pet’s coat is vital for regulating body temperature.  Changes in your pet’s coat are usually a sign of some kind of nutritional deficiency and should not be overlooked.

For the most part, the coat of your dog or cat is made from protein.  When pet’s suffer from a lack of protein in their diet, their coat can become weak, brittle, and dry and you may even notice that their hair is always falling out.  On the contrary, your pet’s skin is composed of flat, tightly packed cells with durable membranes of fat and protein.  When these membranes are weakened because of nutritional deficiencies, water can escape the cells and your dog or cat are more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.

Ensure that your pets receive an adequate diet rich in protein, fats, and the proper minerals and vitamins.  Animal-based proteins from meat are the best source of protein for your pets.  As far as fats are concerned, your pets need adequate amounts of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid which are both omega-6 fatty acids.  Linoleic acid helps to condition the skin and coat while arachidonic acid prevents the coat from becoming dry.

In addition to proper nutrition, regular grooming helps to maintain your pet’s coat.  Brushing your dog, for example, helps to distribute natural oils through the coat so it is strong and healthy.  As a side benefit, regularly brushing your pets removes loose hairs that often end up on your furniture, draperies, and flooring.