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Neutering cats is an effective way to fight overpopulation. And it can even be beneficial for your tom cat.

Many vets advise to spay and neuter cats. In other words: to make a cat sterile to prevent further litters. Queens are spayed, males are neutered or castrated.

Why?

Let a simple figure tell the story.

In the US alone over 10 million dogs and cats are being put to death each year in animal shelters. REASON: there are no homes for them.

So, your queen may be pregnant, or your tom cat may have found a nice girl friend, but basically there is no demand for more pregnant cats. There are enough kittens born, thanks to professional breeders and unplanned meetings of queens and tom.
But overpopulation is not the only good reason why you could consider having your cat castrated.

NEUTERED CATS LIVE LONGER THAN ENTIRE ONES.

They like to stay indoors more. That makes them less susceptible to contagious diseases. The chance of becoming involved in cat fights or car accidents is also considerably smaller.

Don’t think your cat will turn into a fat and lazy pet. Contrary to popular belief, laziness and excess weight are caused by overfeeding and lack of exercise, not by neutering. If you think your cat eats too much, check by using the cat food calculator.

ONE THING IS TRUE: once neutered, tom cats get calmer and more affectionate.

One more benefit?
Here’s a big one.

CASTRATED TOMS STOP TERRITORIAL SPRAYING.

Days of urine smells may be over. As long as you don’t forget to clean your cat’s litter box.

Some critics say neutering cats is against nature. But castration does not create different animals. Your cat’s personality will not change. He will still be a hunter and a player. He will enjoy life just like he did before, only without being focused on reproduction.

Male cats may be castrated after they reach the age of four months. Some vets prefer them a little older. But even a sexual mature cat can be neutered.

IT IS NOT DANGEROUS TO HAVE YOUR CAT CASTRATED.

Neutering cats is a routine operation. It’s one of the most performed operations. Vets use general anesthesia for neutering cats, but the dose is not heavy. The actual castration takes only a few minutes. In most cases you can take your cat home the same day.
Within a few days your tom cat will be the same as before. Well, almost the same …

The most common tapeworm in cats in North America is called Dipylidium caninum (DIE-pih-LID-ee-um K-nine-um). The infection is common and found throughout the world.

How did my cat get the Dipylidium tapeworm? By swallowing a flea infected with a tapeworm larvae. A cat may swallow a flea while grooming. Once the flea is digested inside the cat, the larval tapeworm is free to develop into an adult tapeworm.

The adult tapeworm in cats is made up of many small segments, called proglottids (pro-GLOT-ids), each about the size of a grain of rice; adult tapeworms may reach 8 inches in length. As the tapeworm matures inside the intestines, these segments (proglottids) break off and pass into the stool.

HOW DO I IDENTIFY TAPEWORM IN CATS?
Although cats are rarely ill as a result of a Dipylidium tapeworm infection, the proglottids can sometimes be seen crawling near the anus or on the surface of a fresh bowel movement. Proglottids contain tapeworm eggs; these eggs are released into the environment when the proglottid dries out. The dried proglottids are small (about 2 mm), hard and yellowish in color and can sometimes be seen stuck to the hair around the pet’s anus.

WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY TAPEWORMS IN CATS?
Tapeworm in cats are not usually harmful. Weight loss may occur if your cat is heavily infected. Sometimes, an infected cat will “scoot” or drag its anus across the ground or carpet because the segments are irritating to the skin in this area.
Occasionally, a tapeworm will become attached to the intestinal wall and move into the stomach. This may irritate the stomach, causing the cat to vomit; if this happens, a worm several inches in length may be seen.

HOW IS A TAPEWORM IN CATS DIAGNOSED?
Tapeworm infection is usually diagnosed when the moving segments are seen crawling around the anus or in a bowel movement. Dipylidium tapeworm eggs are rarely released into the feces and are therefore not usually detected by routine fecal exams performed by your veterinarian. Because of this, veterinarians depend on you to notify them of possible tapeworm infection in your pet.

 

CAN I GET A TAPEWORM INFECTION FROM MY CAT?
Yes. For a person to become infected with tapeworm in cats, he or she must accidentally swallow an infected flea. Most reported cases involve children. The most effective way to prevent infections in cats and humans is through flea control. The risk of infection with this tapeworm in humans is low but does exist. A child who is infected will usually pass proglottids in a bowel movement or have visible tapeworm segments stuck to the skin around the anal area.

HOW IS TAPEWORM IN CATS TREATED?
Treatment for both cats and humans is simple and very effective. A prescription drug called praziquantel is given, either orally or by injection (cats only). The medication causes the tapeworm to dissolve within the intestines. Since the worm is usually digested before it passes, it may not be visible in your cat’s stool. The drugs are generally well-tolerated.

 

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK MY CHILD IS INFECTED WITH TAPEWORMS?
See your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment.

 

HOW CAN TAPEWORM IN CATS BE PREVENTED?

• Control fleas on your cat and in their indoor and outdoor environments.
• Have your veterinarian treat your cat promptly if he has tapeworms.
• Clean up after your pet, especially in playgrounds and public parks. Bury the feces, or place it in a plastic bag and then put it in the trash.
• Do not allow children to play in areas that are soiled with cat or other animal feces.
• Teach children to always wash their hands after playing with the cat and after playing outdoors.

This article is for information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about tapeworm in cats or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.

 

Feeding kittens differs from feeding adult cats. But if you know what kittens need, it is easy to serve a healthy and tasty meal for your little feline friends. It is also a good idea to get the right feeding equipment for your kitten such as a feeding bowl without edges and even a cat drinking fountain – Click here for our recommendation.

The first few weeks you won’t have to do anything. Kittens drink mother’s milk and that’s about all they want and need. Kittens don’t have teeth at this age, so anything else would be problematic anyway.

When the litter is large, some kittens may have difficulty finding a free nipple and remain without food. You can help by hand-feed these kittens with a dropper. Give them special nutritious kitten milk like KMR Liquid, available at pet stores both online and offline.
You won’t have to use force when you are feeding kittens with a dropper. Kittens suck instinctively.

AT THREE WEEKS YOU CAN START GIVING YOUR LITTLE CAT SOLID KITTEN FOOD TOGETHER WITH MILK.
Build it up week by week till your kitten is two months old. By the time your cat is eight to ten weeks it should have fully switched to solid food.

Water will have replaced mother’s milk by then. If you want to give milk as a treat, only serve lactose free milk. Otherwise your pet might get diarrhea or start vomiting. Most cats of three months are not able anymore to properly digest regular milk. Lactose free milk is available at pet stores.

WHAT KIND OF KITTEN FOOD IS THE BEST?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions about feeding kittens.
If you buy food in your local store, read the labels first.
Dry food should contain about 30 percent protein and about 15 percent fat. Canned food should contain about 10 percent protein and about 6 percent fat.
Extra protein won’t harm your kitten. Proteins make your cat grow.
Kittens also need amino acids and taurine. Unfortunately, amino acids and taurine are not alwats listed on the label. However, if meat, chicken and fish are the main ingredients, these nutrients are usually in the food.
If your kitten was not born at your home, ask the breeder or seller what brand of kitten food it was eating before you adopted it.

Stick with the same brand, or switch gradually by mixing the previous brand with the one you prefer. Add a little more of the new brand everyday and eventually your kitten will eat only this.
Kittens usually eat three times a day until they are six months old and twice a day until they are one year old. Adult cats may have enough with one meal a day.

 

Cat furniture. You may think it is ridiculous to buy furniture for a cat, but it does have many benefits. For your pet and … for you!

Let’s face it. Cats are wonderful animals, but they can make a mess of your household. They damage and sometimes even ruin bedding, chairs, sofas, carpets, wallpaper … well, we could go on for a while, but let’s not occupy your time.

Kittens are worse than mature cats when it comes to messing things up, but even elderly cats still put their nails in your carpet, if they like to.

IF YOU GET YOUR CAT ITS OWN FURNITURE, YOURS WILL NOT BE DAMAGED AND RETAIN ITS LOOK.
One of your cat’s favorite pieces of cat furniture will be your bed. Cats need a warm bed too. They may choose yours. Cats also like to play with moving little objects. Like your feet or toes, while you are in bed.
If you give your pet its own bed and some furniture for entertainment, you can sleep well again.
It may be a small investment or – if you build your cat furniture yourself – cost you sweat and creativity. But once your pet put its claws into its own supplies, your chairs, carpets or curtains do not have to be repaired or replaced. Cat furniture keeps your home intact.

IN THE END CAT FURNITURE SAVES MONEY.
Felines have other interests than worry about money. They simply love to climb, play games, scratching their nails. Good quality cat furniture supplies these wants. It stimulates activity.

KITTENS WILL LEARN FROM CAT FURNITURE, AND MATURE CATS STAY BRIGHT AND ACTIVE.
So let’s not forget one more reason why scratching posts, nest beds or cat condos are important to own:
Cats like them!

That is, if it is really good. Modern day cat furniture is designed with the assistance of animal behaviorists and really appeals to most cats and kittens. OK, cats are obstinate and maybe yours will reject that beautiful condo, but good pet stores will refund your purchase if you are not satisfied.
Pet supplies can be bought in your local pet store. But:

YOUR CAT ACCEPTS FURNITURE BOUGHT FROM AN ONLINE SHOP QUICKER THAN FURNITURE FROM YOUR LOCAL STORE.
Did you know that?

Here’s why:
Cat furniture from an online pet store comes to you brand new in the box. In your local store it may have been lying around for some weeks or even months, absorbing smells from birds, dogs, pet food, strange people and so on. Felines have an incredible nose, as we all know, and if your cat does not like one of these smells, it may reject your well chosen piece of furniture.

You can read helpful reviews on cat furniture on https://stuffcatswant.com