Our Healthy Pets

The reason why cats purr has been the subject of great debate among feline experts. At present, there is still no consensus regarding whether the behavior of purring is voluntary or involuntary.

Although we may never know exactly why cats purr, perhaps we can all agree that purring is a most pleasant sound, and that our cats must feel some contentment while making those light lulling rumbles.

Hyperthyroidism has become a frequently diagnosed illness in cats in recent decades. And new research implicates an environmental source.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s), chemicals used only in recent decades as a flame retardant, have been shown in research to cause injury to the feline nervous system, as well as interfere with the production of certain hormones. Scientists are concerned that these chemicals could also lead to similar symptoms in humans, too.

PBDE’s have now been phased out of commercial production, but many of the products that contain them, like fabrics, furniture, foams, some plastics and other items, are still in use.

This evidence suggests that if your cat is suffering from hyperthyroidism, it could be the result of an object in your home – one that could be removed, and possibly lessen the severity of the illness.

Source: Environmental Science and Technology, August 2007

  The Bengal cat was created by crossing an Asian Leopard Cat with a domestic cat.  Over time, this breed has become a visual and temperamental success—preserving the strong physical resemblance to its beautifully wild ancestor while inheriting a pleasant, domestic disposition.  Talk about best of both worlds.

Large and sleek, this cat is as alert as it is affectionate.  Its distinctive leopard spotted or marbled coat enhances its wild appearance as it roams the house. Unlike any other breed, some Bengals appear as if they were dipped in gold or silver glitter.  Their voices are distinct and versatile, from a coo to a chirp.  They love to jump, somersault and play with water just like wild and feral cats. 

These cats have beautifully crafted personalities and are a joy for family-filled households. Lively and interactive, these cats are not known for their aloofness, haughtiness or dullness. They’re not only zany, they’re affectionate. They may come and nuzzle your face in the middle of the night, purring softly or spend hours pleasing themselves by stretching frequently or rolling on their backs in pure, uninhibited rapture.

The Bengal’s athletic ability is downright astonishing. Not only can they climb doors and cupboards, but they can also turn light switches on and off with a single leap.

These cats tend to be really picky about their litter boxes and can have less than desirable toilet habits if their litter boxes aren’t changed often enough or if the litter is not the sand type that they tend to prefer. Other than that, there are not many drawbacks to this delightful breed. They are buoyant, acrobatic and will always give you a sense of awe.

Bengals are one of the few breeds that are fond of water! Some play quite contently in deep water and some even like to go swimming! They also love to take baths! You’ll have no problems using HealthyPetNet’s Spa Scents Shampoo on these cats!

It’s so sad to see a dog scratching, crying and rubbing its face against the carpet in an attempt to feel better. Cats hide their displeasure better than dogs, at least most of the time. They will lick their ears, shake their heads and loose their appetite. And some times for both dogs and cats, the odor is downright putrid.

Some pets are more prone to ear problems then others:  Those pets with food allergies, skin conditions, and floppy ears that are always dark and moist inside the ear canal. Those that have significant hair in the ear canals (poodles) and pets that swim in ponds or play where small objects can wedge deep in the ear. Those that have ear mites and those pets that have already had at least one ear episode are considered at high risk.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

• dark waxy discharge
• dark coffee ground discharge
  in cats
• blood or pus
• bad odor
• redness and hot to the touch
• frequent scratching
• excessive shaking of the head

If your pet is showing signs of these symptoms, it’s time to visit your family veterinarian. Left untreated, an ear infection can rupture the eardrum, causing middle ear infection, deafness and problems with balance.

As far as choosing an ear cleaner, you want to use something that’s soothing, makes the job easy by bringing the dirt and debris to the surface and doesn’t require that you sink a Q-tip into your pet’s ear. Q-tips are incredibly dangerous in all pets but cats have a tendency to jerk and thrash while getting their ears cleaned. You don’t want to take a chance of jabbing your cat’s inner ear and rupturing the ear canal. Furthermore, you don’t want to push something further down into the ear canal.

Unfortunately, most weight reduction foods focus on weight loss but not on sound health. These foods are formulated to deliver a diet of low protein, low fat, low calories and high fiber. While one would think that cat owners would be content with the weight loss, if there is any, they generally discard the diet food because of the consequences: itching and scratching, dandruff, excessive shedding, dull brittle coats, insatiable hunger, changes in personality and overall lack in
vitality. Since older cats are generally the victims of this food, one must be concerned about their already-frail immune systems. Unless your cat is extremely obese and/or are under veterinarian orders to lose weight, the alternatives are:

Increase Daily Exercise

Feed a High Quality Premium Food

Most owners of obese cats seek out a diet, light or senior food hoping that this will be the key to weight loss. Unfortunately, in most cases, a cat becomes obese simply because he is over fed. Since every nugget contains calories, some more then others, the key to a slim waist line for a kitty is to measure the amount of food being fed. Since every food contains different amounts of calories and is metabolized differently, one must follow the feeding directions for the selected food and then lower the amount if necessary. If the food is decreased by 25% and the kitty is not loosing any weight, then changing to a weight loss food may be necessary. A cat doesn’t have to stay on that weight loss food forever. Once a waistline returns, the cat can be changed back to regular food. Measure out the food and don’t free feed. Spread its allotted amount of food into two to three meals per day.

Life’s Abundance Health Food for Cats is an excellent, nutrient rich food for felines.

Felines and Water - How much water does a cat need?The amount of water needed by cats will vary dependent upon unique factors, such as age, diet, weight and environment. However, we know that when cats hunt in the wild, their prey contain anywhere from 40% to 80% water. This is part of the rationale behind recipes for canned food, which typically has between 76% and 80% water content.

The problem with eating canned food alone is that cats require a great deal of protein and nutrients. Since most canned food can only have about 20% dry matter, it takes a number of cans of food for the cat to get all its nutritional needs met. In fact, in order to fulfill the nutritional requirement of a 7-9 pound cat, the majority of supermarket canned foods recommend feeding three cans per day! As any cat owner knows, very few cats are capable of consuming that much food on a daily basis. This is the fundamental question in formulating canned cat food – how to balance the nutritional content and the water necessary to fully hydrate the body. To solve this, Dr. Jane formulated Instinctive Choice. The nutrients in this recipe are almost all-protein, as this is the true source of feline nutrition. And the water in Instinctive Choice is infused with nutrients from meat and fish sources, mimicking the water found in prey – Dr. Jane calls it “biological water”. Think of biological water as a nutrient-dense broth that delivers both the fluids necessary to sufficiently hydrate the body and the additional nourishment to support the functions of a healthy body.

Many of us often associate the whole enterprise of treat-giving with dogs and not with cats. Our perception of dogs is often colored with their inexorable weakness for table scraps and bone-shaped treats, while cats…not so much. To the cat owners who believe this…boy have you been missing out!While treat-giving is in fact a fantastic way to train canines, it’s equally effective for our felines as well. Through using treats, you can train your cat to do a plethora of things, from fetching small things and coming when you call him, to toilet training. HealthyPetNet’s Gourmet Cat Treats - Hairball Formula are the perfect treats not only for positive reinforcement, but also for shameless cajoling. Not only are they yummy, but they are also great for intestinal health, which is so important to felines because of their hair. 

Using Positive Reinforcement
to Train Your Cat Treat-giving is an integral part of positive reinforcement. In fact, we think it is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or altering your cat’s behavior. Positive reinforcement is essentially a form of mental conditioning. We believe that positive reinforcement or giving your pet something rewarding immediately after a display of desirable behavior, makes your pet more likely to repeat that behavior in the future. Some people give their cats treats while others combine treat giving with a gentle brushing.

More and more, we are beginning to see our sweet house cats with a view toward their evolutionary roots – as descendents of hunters in the wilderness. Cats are classified as obligate (or true) carnivores, indicating their diets should consist primarily of meat in order to satisfy their specific nutritional requirements. Their feline ancestors were primarily desert animals, and received the majority of their hydration from prey. This is largely believed to be responsible for felines lacking a strong desire to drink, apart from when they eat.

This concept inspired Dr. Bicks to formulate our popular canned premium cat food, Instinctive Choice. She has applied this same philosophy of nutritional food development to re-formulate Advanced Daily Supplement for Cats. The result is the delicious new and improved supplement renamed Immune & Body Support for Cats.