Spay or Neuter a New Cat
Millions of cats are euthanized each year in shelters due to the overcrowding of animals. Cats can easily have over 10 kittens in a given pregnancy leaving owners with problem of trying to find homes for these kittens. There is an easy remedy to this problem and that is spaying or neutering your cat. Not only is this the responsible thing to do but it is better for your cat. If unspayed female are more at risk of developing the following conditions: breast cancer, pyometra, tumors of the uterus & ovaries. While unneutered male cats run a risk of developing testicular cancer. 

The Price of having a cat
When people see a cute kitten they immediately decide to adopt it. Once home they realize they have made a mistake. They are not prepared for the responsibility of a cat, not all members of the family are happy to have a cat, resident pets don't adapt well to the new addition or it just doesn't fit into your lifestyle. The costs of pet ownership can be quite high. Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, vaccinations, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter, and other expenses add up quickly.

Checking the health of your new cat
When a household decides to adopt a cat, be it from the shelter or a breeder a great deal of time should go into selecting the right animal. Have questions about where the pet came from, how they have interacted with the staff, do the pet have a behavior issue, etc. If you are buying from a breeder, ensure they are registered with an appropriate cat council. When visiting the cattery check out the overall health of the animals. Always have everything in writing, including the final cost of the cat, health guarantees etc.

Buying purebreds from pet shops or backyard breeders
If you are buying a cat from a pet shop or a backyard breeder there is probably little chance that a proper screening of genetic problems has taken place. Pet shops generally charge more for purebred kittens than a registered breeder would. Not only this, but they most likely won’t have certified paper to ensure their authenticity and health. As a result, you may be buying a cat that could have substantial medical bills in the future or even pass away suddenly. 

Seek veterinary help
People don't realize the seriousness of a medical condition & fail to take appropriate action & get the cat to a vet. This may be due to the lack of knowledge they posses or funds. Cat owners should look into the cost of having pet health insurance or a special Cat Fund prepared in case of emergencies.

Flea Control Product
Unless recommended by your veterinarian, cats should be treated with a cat flea treatment only such as Frontline. Pet owners think they will save money by sharing their dog’s flea control product with their cats. This can prove fatal as cats are extremely sensitive to pyrethrins & pyrethroids which are often in dog flea products. The use of these on cats can result in death.

An appropriate diet
Cats have very specific dietary needs and as such need a balanced diet. There are many commercially available brands of cat food available which will fulfill your cat's dietary requirements. Don't attempt to feed your cat a home-made diet or other human consumed foods unless you have spent a great deal of time researching, as certain food s can do more harm than good.

Your roaming cat
Some owners feel that having your cat roam outside the home is beneficial for them. In actuality it may do more harm as free roaming cats & their lifespan is considerably shorter than that of indoor only cats, or cats with limited/supervised access outside. Outdoor cats run the risk of being highly stress by been hit by a car, attacked by another cat or dog, plus many other dangers they encounter which is very traumatizing.

Declawing VS not Declawing
Declawing has been a heated debate for many veterinarians, cat advocates, and owners alike. Some veterinarians consider declawing a "routine" surgery, while cat advocates consider it cruel, inhumane, and unnecessary in almost every case. Declawing is not for everyone and cat owners should have all the facts before making this decision.

Litter Box Maintenance
Cats will use a litter box only if it is kept clean, and if the litter is not scented or pleasant to the cat’s feet. Carefully maintaining your cat's litter box will almost guarantee that you will not be faced with litter box avoidance problems. Don’t try to over clean the box with disinfectant or bleach as cats are very sensitive to these and other chemicals. It is also recommended to have an automatic litter box to help in reducing the maintenance. If your cat suddenly starts urinating outside the box despite your careful maintenance, you should immediately suspect a urinary tract problem and call your veterinarian.

Cat enclosures can be defined as any structure that confines a cat to a given area. As you have likely figured out, if you search for that term you will find a collage of different "enclosures". Below I have listed several different types of enclosures, starting with the more traditional and representative structure of cat enclosures.

Cat Walk – Cat walks usually offer passage into the house and stretch into a backyard. The walk allows your pet to roam in the yard protected by a half-cylindrical mesh. This structure can be pieced together to extend the distance, allowing your feline friend to cover more ground. This design is the most popular choice for residences, like homes and apartments. Some walks can break down and fold into carry bags so you can bring your pet virtually anywhere.  Costs can range from a hundred up to the limit of your bank account, depending on how ambitious you get with your design.

Cat Cages – Like the walk, cat cages allow pets to roam in the backyard and are sometimes offer passage to the house. Cat cages range from small indoor aluminum structures to zoo-size enclosures.  Heavy constructions can be required with larger cages and the structures are typically permanent. Due to their premium cost, people usually opt for the cat walk in lieu of the grandiose design of the larger cat cage. Smaller cages can be found for a hundred dollars but permanent backyard enclosures will easily soar into the thousands. Cat cages can support many cats and are often themed with different landscapes.

Invisible/Radio and Wireless Fencing - Radio fence utilizes a buried wire that is stretched along a perimeter decided by the user. A transmitter collar is utilized to keep the pet away from the perimeter through subtle shocks or audible signals. The encouragement is enough to let the cat know the boundary without hurting the animal.  Wireless fencing works on the same principle, however the devices create a signal that forms a radius, allowing your pet a space to roam freely. Wireless fencing is normally utilized for mobile people that want to enjoy the company of their pets without bringing a cage or leash. These cat enclosures are excellent for owners who do not want a physical structure in their yard. Invisible/radio fencing can cost around $500.00 depending on property size, while the wireless fencing costs only a couple hundred.

Reinforced Fencing – Attached to the top of the fence, at some distance apart, are 3'-4' "hangers" that angle inward toward the yard . A mesh is secured to each hanger creating netted barrier. Not only does it increase the fence's but when the cat grabs onto the mesh, springs in the hangers allow flex, the cat feels the give and ultimately releases. The more expensive units come with mesh, however cheaper versions are available. The less expensive units simply raise the fences height and angle towards the yard with wire strung between hangers. The added height, angle and wire provide a rigid barrier between your pet and the outside world. Usually these units do not have flex and use strands of wire as opposed to netting. Reinforced fencing usually cost $600- 900 but can cost more or less, depending on property size.

Did you know that they make Frontline for pets in a lot of different varieties?

You can customize your pet's flea medication based on:

Pet's size (weight)...
Type of Pet (dog or cat)
And even application method (sprays and drops).

It's important to choose the right variety of Frontline for pets and not share amongst pets of different types or sizes.  To do so, would jeopardize your pets health and/or potentially be less effective. Whenever using a chemical flea killer, even a well-known brand with the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, like Frontline Plus, it's important to read and FOLLOW the package instructions when you are applying the flea medication to your pet.

Personally, I have used and prefer the flea drops version of the Frontline pet meds, not the flea spray.  I like that I can control where the medication goes so it's not spraying all over my house, into the air, or into my pet's face.  However, if your dog has skin allergies or a severe flea infestation, it may be better to use Frontline flea spray.  I would check with a veterinarian or, if you order online, you can talk with a pet pharmacist about what's right for your dog or cat.

As with any new medication or topical treatment, it's a good idea to test a small amount of the flea drops, first, to make sure your pet's fur is not discolored by it and that he does not have any other negative reactions, such as skin irritation.  The package directions will tell you exactly what precautions you should take and what side effects to look out for.

Remember, flea control products are an important part of your pet's overall health care, so make sure you talk to your vet to find out what he recommends for you.

Sad as it may seem to the Feline Image Association of America (yes, I made that up...) cats and fleas have been seen together! How can cats get the advantage? Flea control for cats may be the answer! So why, when it comes to flea control products for cats, does it seem like our furry felines always get the short end of the stick?

Even though cats seem to groom themselves religiously, they still get fleas on their adventures through the out of doors. They need a flea control product that is safe for their sensitive skin, and also safe in light of their grooming behaviors. That's where many people succeed with a quality, veterinarian-approved flea control product such as Frontline for cats, Advantage flea control for cats, or another flea killer designed for cats' sensitive skin.

Which product is best? It's hard to say.

For example, both Frontline and Advantage for cats stop the biting of fleas in 3-5 minutes (by paralyzing them) and kill 98-100% of adult fleas within 12-24 hours. These products are stored in the cats' skin and continuously reapply themselves onto the cat's hair, staying effective for a month. The continuous monthly application of a product like Frontline Plus for cats, or Advantage flea drops will help break the flea life cycle, as eventually no adults will be left to reproduce.

However, by the time you spot fleas, it's likely that the adults have already had the opportunity to lay eggs, which drop off your cat and into your carpet or yard. These can stay viable for up to two years before they hatch, so it's important to keep up your flea control program with regular vacuuming to get fleas out of the carpet, and regular use of either Advantage flea control for cats or Frontline flea control products. Otherwise, even if they don't pick up any new fleas from going outside, they can be re-infected by flea eggs already hiding in your house.

Both Frontline for cats and Advantage flea products are meant to be applied as a few liquid drops behind the back of the head and then they spread throughout the cat's body. They will need to be reapplied every month, though. And, Frontline for cats and Advantage flea killer are both chemical pesticides, so it's very important to read the instructions and follow them to the letter. Also, the first time you use the products, be on the lookout for side effects.

If you do notice side effects from your flea control product, I would suggest switching brands.

Fortunately for us, Frontline for cats, and Advantage flea control for cats, both have DIFFERENT active ingredients, so if your cat has sensitivities to one (or your fleas have immunities!) you can switch to the other and see if it is more effective for you.

Protect your cat or kitten from fleas and ticks with this fast-acting, once-a-month medication. The waterproof treatment gets rid of fleas, ticks and chewing lice within 48 hours after application. The protection continues for up to 4 weeks to prevent reinfestation.Product Features:

Kills fleas, ticks and chewing lice to prevent them from living and breeding on your catFor cats 8 weeks and olderStarts working within 48 hours after application and lasts for up to 4 weeksHelps guard against Lyme disease by getting rid of ticksWaterproof formula prevents medication from coming off your cat's bodyApply once a month3-month supply

(Model 78899579012)