Prevention & Health
| Lacey |
| Finnegan |
As with any disease that has no specific cause or cure, it’s hard to know exactly what to do to prevent the
onslaught of that disease or the conditions relating to it. There is no guarantee that even if you do the very best
for your cat that they still won't get IBD or any other disease, sometimes we just never know why it happens.
But knowing what instigates and irritates the disease can help create guidelines for care and prevention.
Most cat owners treat their fur kids like they were human kids already. So just as in humans, preventative care
is very important with animals. And we’re learning more and more that they need as much clean and healthy
living as we do. Being vigilant and proactive in your cat’s healthcare is more important than ever given all the
serious obstacles we face with trying to keep them healthy. They depend on us for everything just like children
so it’s up to us to make sound and informed decisions on everything we do for them from food to products used
for grooming.
Research all of the products you use with your kitty. If using bath wipes, shampoo, flea and tick medications and
preventatives, etc., make sure they don’t contain anything harmful. When buying a product I usually check it
online and look at the ingredients first. If I’m not sure if that product is safe or has an ingredient I’m not sure
about, I send the link to someone I know that has more knowledge about these things and check with them. Ask
some of your online friends what they use. Because we form that bond with people in support groups for our
kitties, we get a lot of feedback on everything to do with our cat’s health. Even if your kitty is perfectly healthy,
join an online cat community. The more brains to pick, the better. Try to go as eco-friendly as possible with all
products, but be aware that doesn’t always mean it’s safe. Stay away from anything with essential oils,
fragrances, etc.
Try to feed your cat the best food you can find or make. Look for organic ingredients with low-fat, low
carbohydrates, high-protein, mostly meat varieties. Say NO to grains and gluten, especially corn! Don’t even
give treats that contain grains, there are plenty of foods and treats out there that are much better for your cat
than what’s available at the supermarket. Cats are natural carnivores so meat and protein form the basis of their
diets. A low protein diet won’t provide enough of the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Rotate their diet every three to four months so their systems don’t get used to one specific ingredient and
develop allergies. I actually rotate their food on a daily basis, from different flavors to different brands. Nature’s
Variety has a rotating system of raw, to canned and kibble. I don’t recommend a kibble only diet at all but am
okay with giving a small amount, once in awhile as a treat. I usually give mine a quarter of a cup a couple of
times a week as a snack in the middle of the day, plus two cans of food. Rotating different brands of foods will
also help to diminish any allergies as ingredients can vary greatly between brands.
Also, use a water filter for your cat’s sake as well as yours. There are too many dangerous chemicals and
bacteria in tap water. I have an over-the-counter filter that attachs to my faucet from Paragon Water Systems.
On the food page of this site I have a section on the importance of a filter and why I use this one.
I’ve also included a link for the company if you choose to look for one. I don’t work for them or make any money.
It’s just the best filter around for removal of not only toxins and bacteria but parasites as well. Look for one that
removes the same things when buying one.
If your kitty gets an infection of any kind and needs to be put on antibiotics, keep in mind that this will destroy
not only the bad bacteria but the good as well. After they're done with their meds, give them a probiotic every
day to replace the healthy flora that was lost. I think too many times we give our kids antibiotics and forget to
give them the tools they need to keep a healthy immune system. We strip away the healthy bacteria needed to
fight future intestinal issues and then wonder why they're getting diarrhea, gas, vomiting, etc. Go to the
supplements page for a list of probiotics that are safe and effective for your kitty.
Use environmentally safe and animal friendly cleaning products. Some products contain not only toxic cleaning
chemicals but oils and fragrances that can accumulate in your cat's system after a certain amount of exposure.
These oils can eventually lead to liver damage and toxicity, lung disease and other health hazards. These are all
things I never knew about until Alex passed away and I developed this website. Researching has opened up my
eyes to a whole lot of dangers to a cat's health, so just as if you had a human baby in the house, keep chemicals
and cleaners out of the reach of your furbabies.
Keep your pet at a healthy weight for their age and frame. Check with your vet to see what that weight should
be and get a baby scale, one that has a hold button for better accuracy for when your kitty is wiggling around.
You can also tell if they’re gaining weight by feeling their hip area and their underbelly for extra fat. If you feel
mostly muscle and bones and a little fat in the area where they were spayed or neutered, they’re in good shape.
They’ll almost always have that fatty area where they were fixed, it’s normal. Also watch how they walk. If you
see them start to waddle too much, it’s time to take a weight check to see what’s going on. It may not be a
weight issue but a joint issue, which should also be checked out by your vet.
It’s not okay to have an overweight pet, take it from me. Alex’s problems stemmed from being overweight and
she suffered for it. You may think it’s cruel to hold food from your cat when they’re sitting in front of you with
those sad eyes! But the cruelty actually lies in giving them everything they want and having them develop IBD,
fatty liver, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, etc. Fat leads to inflammation and inflammation
leads to disease, it’s that simple. Cats are usually gluttons and will gorge themselves with as much food as you
put down. It’s a myth that a cat will stop eating when it’s full. Most of the time, they’ll come back to that bowl
and keep snacking. Leave the bowl down for approximately 30 minutes at the most after they’ve started eating.
If they don’t eat anymore after that, remove the food until the next feeding.
Keep certain items handy at home like the baby scale, an ear thermometer, canned pumpkin for constipation or
diarrhea. You can go to the Tips and Tricks page for more information about how to use these products. Keep a
couple of jars of baby food handy but make sure there isn’t any onions or garlic at all in it. Also keep a pet pill gun
and some hairball remedy in the house.
When scooping or changing the litter box, inspect what’s in there and make sure they’re going to the bathroom
the way they should. Chronic loose stools, diarrhea or constipation is not normal and should be checked within a
couple of days of first spotting it. Their diet may need to be adjusted but if you let it go too long, it can become a
much bigger problem. If you see blood in their stools or urine, call the vet immediately. If your cat has hairballs
once in awhile, that’s normal. I brush my cats several times a week even if it’s just for a couple of seconds.
Feeding them the proper diet should prevent them from shedding excessively and vomiting. This sounds
disgusting but when they do vomit, look at it. If it’s food or hair, that’s normal. If it’s bile or white foam, that’s
not normal. Vomiting more than once every week or two isn’t normal either and irritates their digestive tract, it’
s acidic just like with us. If they start to vomit too often, they may stop eating, which is very dangerous for a cat.
As always, if your cat vomits blood for any reason call the vet immediately or get your cat to an ER if you can.
Because canned and dry cat foods are over-processed, giving probiotics once a week would be helpful to keep the
good bacteria available for fighting off anything like upper respiratory infections. I give mine Kyo-dophillus
powder and L-Lysine powder once a week for that specific reason. Finnegan and Lacey both had upper
respiratory infections when I first got them and the L-Lysine powder, Viralys, works fantastic at keeping them
breathing right and keeping their eyes and noses in great condition. I have links to all of these products on the
supplements page.
I also give my kids a B12 sublingual tablet at least once a week. I only use one that is a vegetarian version, no
fillers, sugars, sugar substitutes, grains or soy. I either put it in a treat or make a meatball with their food from
the fridge they don’t even know it’s in there. Because of everything I’ve learned about the importance of B12 in
all living things I’ve taken it upon myself to make sure they get an extra dose once in awhile. The amount I give
is such a small dose it’s not going to hurt them in anyway as they’re water soluble, meaning they’ll urinate what
they don’t use. B12 is a very important vitamin that helps to regulate the absorption of other nutrients. The
older we get, animals and people alike, the less stored B12 we all have in our reserves. If your cat is older than
five or six years, consider giving a twice-weekly B12 sublingual. Start out with two B12 dots, (they look like little
dots, 1,000 mcgs), a day for a week. Then go down to one a day for another week and then one every other day,
to a couple times a week for life. If they’re older than 10 years, give one every day for life after the first couple of
weeks. Your cat may need a multivitamin as it gets older or has other health conditions for extra support. But
check with your vet first as it’s easy to give them too much which can be dangerous and toxic. For more
information on B12 and the different conditions it helps, go to the Supplements page and click on B12.
Look at your cat’s behavior and mood to make sure they aren’t depressed or lethargic. That’s a sure sign that
something deeper and usually health related is going on. Alex was depressed and staring out the window for
months before she took her sudden downturn. And not the kind of window gazing a cat usually does. She was
sad, lethargic and didn’t want to play anymore. I should have had it checked out sooner and because I’m a
better-informed parent now I’ll never make that mistake again. Although cats are notorious for hiding their
illnesses, they’re happiness is an important step in their health process. It can pave the way to their feeling good
and strong for most of their lives.
There’s so much to learn and so much more to know about their health than we ever have in the past. Gone are
the days when you can say that cats just take care of themselves and all you have to do is feed and clean up after
them. We as the human race are the ones who domesticated them and we are the ones who need to take
responsibility for their well-being. We don’t take a life into our home just to have them for a few years if we
know we can do better for them, we can and we have to. We are their parents and they’ll love us even more for
it.
Check out Finn and Lacey in action on youtube! http://www.youtube.com/user/finnlacey
onslaught of that disease or the conditions relating to it. There is no guarantee that even if you do the very best
for your cat that they still won't get IBD or any other disease, sometimes we just never know why it happens.
But knowing what instigates and irritates the disease can help create guidelines for care and prevention.
Most cat owners treat their fur kids like they were human kids already. So just as in humans, preventative care
is very important with animals. And we’re learning more and more that they need as much clean and healthy
living as we do. Being vigilant and proactive in your cat’s healthcare is more important than ever given all the
serious obstacles we face with trying to keep them healthy. They depend on us for everything just like children
so it’s up to us to make sound and informed decisions on everything we do for them from food to products used
for grooming.
Research all of the products you use with your kitty. If using bath wipes, shampoo, flea and tick medications and
preventatives, etc., make sure they don’t contain anything harmful. When buying a product I usually check it
online and look at the ingredients first. If I’m not sure if that product is safe or has an ingredient I’m not sure
about, I send the link to someone I know that has more knowledge about these things and check with them. Ask
some of your online friends what they use. Because we form that bond with people in support groups for our
kitties, we get a lot of feedback on everything to do with our cat’s health. Even if your kitty is perfectly healthy,
join an online cat community. The more brains to pick, the better. Try to go as eco-friendly as possible with all
products, but be aware that doesn’t always mean it’s safe. Stay away from anything with essential oils,
fragrances, etc.
Try to feed your cat the best food you can find or make. Look for organic ingredients with low-fat, low
carbohydrates, high-protein, mostly meat varieties. Say NO to grains and gluten, especially corn! Don’t even
give treats that contain grains, there are plenty of foods and treats out there that are much better for your cat
than what’s available at the supermarket. Cats are natural carnivores so meat and protein form the basis of their
diets. A low protein diet won’t provide enough of the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Rotate their diet every three to four months so their systems don’t get used to one specific ingredient and
develop allergies. I actually rotate their food on a daily basis, from different flavors to different brands. Nature’s
Variety has a rotating system of raw, to canned and kibble. I don’t recommend a kibble only diet at all but am
okay with giving a small amount, once in awhile as a treat. I usually give mine a quarter of a cup a couple of
times a week as a snack in the middle of the day, plus two cans of food. Rotating different brands of foods will
also help to diminish any allergies as ingredients can vary greatly between brands.
Also, use a water filter for your cat’s sake as well as yours. There are too many dangerous chemicals and
bacteria in tap water. I have an over-the-counter filter that attachs to my faucet from Paragon Water Systems.
On the food page of this site I have a section on the importance of a filter and why I use this one.
I’ve also included a link for the company if you choose to look for one. I don’t work for them or make any money.
It’s just the best filter around for removal of not only toxins and bacteria but parasites as well. Look for one that
removes the same things when buying one.
If your kitty gets an infection of any kind and needs to be put on antibiotics, keep in mind that this will destroy
not only the bad bacteria but the good as well. After they're done with their meds, give them a probiotic every
day to replace the healthy flora that was lost. I think too many times we give our kids antibiotics and forget to
give them the tools they need to keep a healthy immune system. We strip away the healthy bacteria needed to
fight future intestinal issues and then wonder why they're getting diarrhea, gas, vomiting, etc. Go to the
supplements page for a list of probiotics that are safe and effective for your kitty.
Use environmentally safe and animal friendly cleaning products. Some products contain not only toxic cleaning
chemicals but oils and fragrances that can accumulate in your cat's system after a certain amount of exposure.
These oils can eventually lead to liver damage and toxicity, lung disease and other health hazards. These are all
things I never knew about until Alex passed away and I developed this website. Researching has opened up my
eyes to a whole lot of dangers to a cat's health, so just as if you had a human baby in the house, keep chemicals
and cleaners out of the reach of your furbabies.
Keep your pet at a healthy weight for their age and frame. Check with your vet to see what that weight should
be and get a baby scale, one that has a hold button for better accuracy for when your kitty is wiggling around.
You can also tell if they’re gaining weight by feeling their hip area and their underbelly for extra fat. If you feel
mostly muscle and bones and a little fat in the area where they were spayed or neutered, they’re in good shape.
They’ll almost always have that fatty area where they were fixed, it’s normal. Also watch how they walk. If you
see them start to waddle too much, it’s time to take a weight check to see what’s going on. It may not be a
weight issue but a joint issue, which should also be checked out by your vet.
It’s not okay to have an overweight pet, take it from me. Alex’s problems stemmed from being overweight and
she suffered for it. You may think it’s cruel to hold food from your cat when they’re sitting in front of you with
those sad eyes! But the cruelty actually lies in giving them everything they want and having them develop IBD,
fatty liver, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, etc. Fat leads to inflammation and inflammation
leads to disease, it’s that simple. Cats are usually gluttons and will gorge themselves with as much food as you
put down. It’s a myth that a cat will stop eating when it’s full. Most of the time, they’ll come back to that bowl
and keep snacking. Leave the bowl down for approximately 30 minutes at the most after they’ve started eating.
If they don’t eat anymore after that, remove the food until the next feeding.
Keep certain items handy at home like the baby scale, an ear thermometer, canned pumpkin for constipation or
diarrhea. You can go to the Tips and Tricks page for more information about how to use these products. Keep a
couple of jars of baby food handy but make sure there isn’t any onions or garlic at all in it. Also keep a pet pill gun
and some hairball remedy in the house.
When scooping or changing the litter box, inspect what’s in there and make sure they’re going to the bathroom
the way they should. Chronic loose stools, diarrhea or constipation is not normal and should be checked within a
couple of days of first spotting it. Their diet may need to be adjusted but if you let it go too long, it can become a
much bigger problem. If you see blood in their stools or urine, call the vet immediately. If your cat has hairballs
once in awhile, that’s normal. I brush my cats several times a week even if it’s just for a couple of seconds.
Feeding them the proper diet should prevent them from shedding excessively and vomiting. This sounds
disgusting but when they do vomit, look at it. If it’s food or hair, that’s normal. If it’s bile or white foam, that’s
not normal. Vomiting more than once every week or two isn’t normal either and irritates their digestive tract, it’
s acidic just like with us. If they start to vomit too often, they may stop eating, which is very dangerous for a cat.
As always, if your cat vomits blood for any reason call the vet immediately or get your cat to an ER if you can.
Because canned and dry cat foods are over-processed, giving probiotics once a week would be helpful to keep the
good bacteria available for fighting off anything like upper respiratory infections. I give mine Kyo-dophillus
powder and L-Lysine powder once a week for that specific reason. Finnegan and Lacey both had upper
respiratory infections when I first got them and the L-Lysine powder, Viralys, works fantastic at keeping them
breathing right and keeping their eyes and noses in great condition. I have links to all of these products on the
supplements page.
I also give my kids a B12 sublingual tablet at least once a week. I only use one that is a vegetarian version, no
fillers, sugars, sugar substitutes, grains or soy. I either put it in a treat or make a meatball with their food from
the fridge they don’t even know it’s in there. Because of everything I’ve learned about the importance of B12 in
all living things I’ve taken it upon myself to make sure they get an extra dose once in awhile. The amount I give
is such a small dose it’s not going to hurt them in anyway as they’re water soluble, meaning they’ll urinate what
they don’t use. B12 is a very important vitamin that helps to regulate the absorption of other nutrients. The
older we get, animals and people alike, the less stored B12 we all have in our reserves. If your cat is older than
five or six years, consider giving a twice-weekly B12 sublingual. Start out with two B12 dots, (they look like little
dots, 1,000 mcgs), a day for a week. Then go down to one a day for another week and then one every other day,
to a couple times a week for life. If they’re older than 10 years, give one every day for life after the first couple of
weeks. Your cat may need a multivitamin as it gets older or has other health conditions for extra support. But
check with your vet first as it’s easy to give them too much which can be dangerous and toxic. For more
information on B12 and the different conditions it helps, go to the Supplements page and click on B12.
Look at your cat’s behavior and mood to make sure they aren’t depressed or lethargic. That’s a sure sign that
something deeper and usually health related is going on. Alex was depressed and staring out the window for
months before she took her sudden downturn. And not the kind of window gazing a cat usually does. She was
sad, lethargic and didn’t want to play anymore. I should have had it checked out sooner and because I’m a
better-informed parent now I’ll never make that mistake again. Although cats are notorious for hiding their
illnesses, they’re happiness is an important step in their health process. It can pave the way to their feeling good
and strong for most of their lives.
There’s so much to learn and so much more to know about their health than we ever have in the past. Gone are
the days when you can say that cats just take care of themselves and all you have to do is feed and clean up after
them. We as the human race are the ones who domesticated them and we are the ones who need to take
responsibility for their well-being. We don’t take a life into our home just to have them for a few years if we
know we can do better for them, we can and we have to. We are their parents and they’ll love us even more for
it.
Check out Finn and Lacey in action on youtube! http://www.youtube.com/user/finnlacey
Copyright © IBD Kitties 2008-2010, all rights reserved. Contact us at info@ibdkitties.net
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| "The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease." --Thomas Edison |
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