Category: Senior Cats

Cats are aloof. They rarely show affection and are unemotional. As a cat parent I am sure you would never agree with this myth. I bet you know how your cat particularly showers you with their love and gratitude. In fact, cats show affection towards their caregivers by using their body language, posture and vocalizations.

Cats unlike dogs do not wag their tails and slobber you with wet kisses. They are subtler as they quietly signal you their affection. Here is how!

• Cats show affection through their eyes – If your cat looks at you through their half-closed eyes or are blinking its something like them blowing you a kiss. You can in turn return the gesture by blinking your eyes as well!
• Cats show affection through their tails – Tail position in cats helps us to understand their feelings of fear, aggression and even affection. So, if your pet is wrapping their tail around you and when their tail is fluffed up at the base and is slightly quivering it means they are expressing their affection.
• Cats show affection through cheek rubs – Cheek rub is the way cats greet the ones they trust and feel secure with. Cheek rubs also encourage socialisation. Interestingly, cats have scent glands in their cheeks which produce pheromones. In addition to showing their loved ones affection, cats rub cheeks to mark their ownership and to spread their scent to whom they are close to.
• Cats show affection through head bunting – If your cat bumps their head on you it means they are showing their affection. It is a social behaviour that encourages marking and mixing of their scent with yours. It’s a sign of trust and friendship and head bunting surely means the proclamation of ownership!
• Cats show affection vocally – Soft purrs, meows and chirps are ways in which cats express their affection. Cats definitely have special sounds that they express to only their favourite people. So, when your pet softly purrs at you while touching you with light kisses, paw or tail it means that they are feeling safe, secure and happy with you.
• Cats show affection through grooming – Cats that are attached to another usually groom each other as this behaviour helps them to relax, encourage trust and friendship among their community. Cats also groom their human caregivers and friends to show their affinity with them.
• Cats show their affection by hanging out with you – Cats love to be around people whom they feel safe and secure with. They may sit in a position that makes a part of their body touch you. Although, they may not sit on your lap they will still express their affection by sticking close to you. They may simply tag along with you wherever you go.

So, you see cats are not the cold creature that most people think they are. They express their feelings of love, trust and friendship by blending body language, posture and vocalisations. They have their own special way of showing love towards their human family!

A moment of serenity for any cat lover is to have their feline friend blissfully purring their happiness on the lap of their caregiver. We all have our own little ways to express our joy. Humans smile, dogs wag their tail and cats purr.

So, when you cat decides to seek your company by curling up on your lap and you stroke them you will find them purring with pleasure. But purring is always not a sign of happiness. It can just be an emotional response or an indicator of pain. Cats can also purr while they give birth as purring works as a mechanism to help them rest.

Purring is also a behaviour that comforts a cat. It is seen in kittens that are a few days old who purr to call out for their mother for their feed. This type of communication continues even through their adult life.

How do cats purr?

Purring is done by the movement of the muscles of the larynx or voice box when combined with the movement of the diaphragm. The muscles move 20 to 30 times per second.

As they breathe the air touches the vibrating muscles thereby producing a purr. Each purr made by your cat is different. Some are high pitched and others very low. Few are very faint and you need to be very close to your pet to hear it. Others will be so loud that you might just need to stay away.

The purr and meow combo

Cats have a special purr sound that they use when they want your attention, especially when it is feeding time. This is otherwise known as the ‘solicitation purr’ which combines their sounds of purrs and meows. Cat caregivers respond to this sound the same as human parents do to the cry of their baby.

If you have a cat at home then it’s very common to see cat hair all over the house. It is one of those things that you will have to learn to love about your feline friend. The shedding may not be much of a bother to you but will be a great source of frustration and annoyance when you have certain friends or family members visiting you.

Some people may playdown their allergies while certain others will be very verbal in expressing their opinion of your cat that is causing them unpleasant sensations like coughing, sneezing itching and hives.

You may start wondering whether to believe such drastic claims made by your friend. To help you figure this here are few things to help you understand more about cat allergies.

Myth 1 – People are allergic to cat hair

For people allergic to cats, just the sight of their hair spread everywhere will have them reaching out to tissues and eyedrops. A shedding cat can help to flare up allergies, but it is not the hair that causes problem but the dander or dead skin cells which clings to the hair that makes people to have the sniffles and sneeze.

Apart from the dander bringing on the allergies, people who are allergic to cat will also be allergic to the protein Fel D1 produced in the cat’s urine and saliva. Each cat produces the Fel D1 protein differently. The female cats produce lesser protein than the males and light- coloured cats produce lesser allergy provoking protein than the dark coloured cats.

Long haired cats do not cause more allergy than short haired cats. In fact, they may disperse very few allergens as it stays in their hair more than the short haired ones.

Myth 2 – Cat allergies will get cured with constant exposure

Subjecting a person who has an allergy to constant exposure to cats when you are under the impression that their will get used to the cat gradually is just a myth. In most cases, the allergy may only stay the same or get worse with continuous exposure.

People with cat allergies may have severe reactions to one particular cat and may show mild symptoms when they are exposed to another. This is because the severity of the allergy depends on the level of protein produced by the cat.

Myth 3 – There are allergen free cats

There are hypoallergenic cats. But you must keep in mind that no cat is free from allergy producing proteins. If you or any other family have an allergy to cats then bringing home a hypoallergenic cat is a safe option. Even then these breeds can make you cough, sneeze and wheeze. So, it is a good idea to take advice from your doctor to help you manage the symptoms of allergy and to keep your place allergen free.

Myth 4 – You will be safe from cat allergies when outside of the home

A person who is allergic to cats can just casually walk into a house that does not have cats but still feel the symptoms of allergy. This is because cat allergens are unfortunately, very sticky. It is more likely to travel through clothing and other common surfaces. A person may have dander in their clothing and give a friendly hug to a person allergic to cats. So, a person who has an allergy to cats must always be prepared and learn to manage their symptoms.

Eggs are a delicious source of high quality protein. But, sadly many people believe the popular myth of eggs containing high levels of cholesterol and are wary of the yolks. As a result, most people usually consume the whites while leaving the juicy yellow yolks to our four-legged buddies. So, here’s the important question – How can something that is said to be unsafe for you be safe for your pet? Are eggs in totality good for our feline buddies?

Thankfully recent researches have proved that eggs are not to be held responsible for causing heart diseases in humans. They are a good source of fat and the bad cholesterol rises only when people eat too much of unhealthy food and not get enough exercise. So, eggs are safe for human consumption.

The same holds true even for cats. Cats do fall prey to heart diseases but not the type that is caused by raised cholesterol levels in humans. Cats may suffer from only two types of heart diseases. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – that is an inherited disease and not due to their lifestyle, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy – which is caused due to taurine deficiency. Usually cat foods have taurine present in sufficient quantities to eliminate this problem. Also, keep in mind that eggs are a wonderful source of taurine.

So, eggs are an excellent source of protein recommended by nutritionists especially for our feline friends. It is therefore recommended to serve only cooked eggs to your pet but in moderation.

Why must cats eat eggs in moderation?

Eggs undoubtedly are nutritious. But they do not make for a balanced meal for your pet. A cat that is only fed eggs will develop nutrition deficiencies. If you follow the one egg a day plan for your pet then you will be inviting health troubles for your pet. Think of it like this, one egg for a cat is equivalent to eight eggs for a human! Definitely not healthy for your cat.

To sum it all, eggs are good for your cat. They are healthy and nutritious. But feed them in moderation for them to enjoy good health!

You can always contact your vet for further professional advice.

Is your cat turning away without tasting their food? Are you trying very hard to convince them to eat? If you think that you are well on your way in raising a picky eater then you are sadly not aware of one vital thing that is necessary while feeding a cat – the food temperature.

Yes, the temperature of the food plays a big role in its selection and palatability. Majority of the cats prefer their food at about 35 degrees centigrade. This not only makes the food appear appetizing but there are certain theories to support the fact that it closely matches the temperature of a freshly killed prey. Anything above 40 degrees centigrade or below 35 degrees centigrade will be rejected by cats due to its unpalatability.

The length of time that you can leave the food out uneaten depends on the room temperature. The thumb rule while serving cat food is to not leave it out for more than 20 to 30 minutes else the food turns stale.

If you are feeding your pet canned food then ensure that they are covered adequately and are refrigerated immediately after opening. Any uneaten food can be stored in disposable plastic cans or bags. If you need to heat it up, place them in a microwavable dish and just warm the food in a low setting. Warming the food to room temperature will make it not only smell good but taste great as well.

Neha is worried about her cat. Her cat Pasha always hides under the table or the sofa and any amount of coaxing doesn’t seem to bring him out. Pasha is a new addition to their home and no doubt needs time to adjust to his new surroundings. Neha expected her cat to be the kind that welcomes her home by pawing and licking her and she never expected her cat to be this aloof!

The first thing that every cat parent must understand is that cats are fiercely independent and not very social and affectionate. They will obviously love you in their own special way its just that they do not wear their heart on their sleeve!

Why do cats hide?

Most of the time your cat will sneak into their hideaway place for a nap, which they do quite a lot throughout the day. There maybe also other reasons for your cat’s reclusive behaviour.

Shyness                      

A new cat in the household will be shy as they may feel uncomfortable in their new home and with their new parents. If they come from a disturbing and abusive environment, it may take quite sometime for them to adjust to their new home and will test your patience and perseverance in helping them to relax in their new home and establish a positive relationship with you.

Separation Anxiety

It is possible that a cat may miss its owner to an extent that they feel stressed and will hide under the bed or bookcase. With a little time, patience and training you can coax your kitty to come out of their hiding place and receive affection from you.

Playtime

Maybe your pet is in the mood to play peek-a-boo or hide and seek. It is quite common for a cat to suddenly jump and grab at your legs when you go past their hiding place. They just want to play. So, indulge them by setting aside some time just to play with your feline friend.

Nap time

Your cat will choose a quiet and secluded place for them to feel comfortable, relax and to pass long hours sleeping. It is more of a preservation instinct as they may feel safe from predators or anyone else who may want to disturb them during their sleep time.

Neglect

A bored and lonely cat will want to hide. If they are left alone for a long time with no one to show affection, play or cuddle them then they will turn anti-social and will shy away from human touch. So, you need to interact with your cat for them to be emotionally strong and form a strong bond between the two of you.

When should I worry?

Since hiding is quite an ordinary behaviour in cats you should not be alarmed at this behaviour unless you notice any other unusual behaviour such as,

• Loss of appetite
• Changes in their litter box habits
• Unusual aggressive behaviour

Stress, fear and medical conditions are the main causes for the above mentioned behaviour. So, it is a good idea to seek advice from the vet.

Any changes in your home can cause tension and stress in your pet. So, ensure that they are given enough care, attention and affection. You must slowly understand the characteristics of your cat for you to know when they are being particularly worrisome and when they need a quick snooze or a snuggle.

Bile is a bitter tasting fluid that is yellowish green in colour. It is secreted in the liver and stored in the gall bladder till food is consumed. Bile is then released to the small intestine to help in digestion and to emulsify the food to be used by the body. It also eliminates waste material and other toxins from the body along with faeces.

Bilious vomiting syndrome in cats is a result of inappropriate movement of fluids in the body, especially when the bile enters the stomach causing vomiting and irritation. It occurs when the gastrointestinal tract does not function normally causing abnormal behaviours in the system. Bile that enters the stomach will be thrown out by the cat through vomit.

This is particularly seen in cats during early morning or late night just before they eat their meal. Cats that are fed one meal a day are more likely to face this problem.

Symptoms                               

• Chronic vomiting of bile
• Occurs in the morning or late night before mealtime
• Nausea
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Abdominal discomfort

Bilious vomiting in cats is basically caused by diseases that cause gastritis or inflammation of the intestine. This leads to changes in the movements of fluids in the gastrointestinal tract leading to bilious vomiting.

Treatment

If there is no underlying medical condition, your vet will decide on the right treatment based on the symptoms experienced by your pet. Drugs that promote normal movements of fluids in the gastrointestinal tract and ones that prevent acid reflexes assure a lot of relief. There are also drugs that decrease the secretion of acid in the stomach, thus preventing damage to the stomach wall, which can be prescribed with favourable results.

Cats with chronic bilious vomiting should be on a special diet. This involves giving them smaller portions of meals at regular intervals, especially late at night. Longer hours between mealtimes should be strictly avoided. Foods that are low in fat and fibre will help the stomach reduce the retention of gas in food consumed.

Your vet may also prescribe canned or liquid foods, which are quite helpful, as solid food tends to stay longer in the stomach.

If you notice your pet having the same problem, it is better to have them professionally checked by the vet. You can also post your queries at www.tailslife.app.link/queries for further information.