Chepstow Cat Sitting

26/08/2024

Grooming of a cat’s hygiene area is vital, not only for cleanliness but to stop matting. This area is the most susceptible to matting and one of the hardest to groom (for the cat and groomer).
Regular grooming makes it easier for the cat to maintain and less stressful for the cat when groomed.
Grooming in your own home can be booked by calling
07714175481

25/08/2024

What Does A Cat’s Meow Mean?

Interestingly, cats almost only meow to humans, not other cats. When cats are kittens, they will meow to their mothers for help. As they mature in the wild, the instinct to meow slowly disappears.

Domesticated cats, on the other hand, retain their instinct to meow. This may be because they are cared for by humans. In other words, they are constantly babied and nurtured by their human owners, and they certainly don’t mind it.

Most of the time, a cat’s meow means that they want something. Whether it’s attention, food, or outdoor time, cats meow to communicate a need. Meows can also mean that the cat is excited to see you, almost like they say, “Welcome home!” whenever you get home from work.

24/08/2024

Cats have a poor sense of taste:

While humans have around 9,000 taste buds, cats only have approximately 473.

They are able to detect salty, bitter, sour and umami, but cats have a very weak ability to detect sweet. This inability to taste sweet tastes is reflective of a cat's natural carnivore diet.

23/08/2024

Funny Friday !!!

22/08/2024

Can cats eat earthworms?

Cats are carnivores by nature, and they’ll chase after and hunt any animal they can when they’re outside. This includes even the smallest, most unlikely of prey, such as earthworms! Cats are opportunistic hunters who’ll eat any small creature if it’s a viable source of nutrition, and if your cat comes across an earthworm, they may eat it.

Although cats can eat earthworms, it’s wise to stop them from doing it as much as you can. Earthworms can carry parasites that cause disease in cats, so preventing them from ingesting earthworms is the best course of action.

21/08/2024

Coconut water is the liquid found inside young coconuts. As the coconut gets older, the moisture inside is replaced by flesh. The water is rich in carbohydrates and contains electrolytes like magnesium and potassium. People are encouraged to consume coconut water because it can help combat high blood pressure and is also a good source of hydration and electrolytes after exercise.

Coconut water is different from coconut milk which is made by mashing the flesh of the fruit with water. It is also not the same as coconut oil which is the oil extracted from coconut milk.

Coconut water is non-toxic to cats, so if your cat has consumed a small amount, there should be nothing to worry about. Watch for signs of diarrhoea and vomiting, and speak to your vet, if your cat does suffer gastrointestinal upset.

21/08/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/sm1nR9ndto8AEWtc/?mibextid=WC7FNe

The specialist veterinary team at Edinburgh University are warning vets about an outbreak of TB in raw fed cats.

Although so far only 11 cases have been confirmed, TB is not a condition many vets will think about because it is so unusual, the symptoms are vague and can mimic other conditions and the testing needed for a diagnosis is very specific.

It is also extremely serious, sadly 8 of the infected cats have already been euthanased and it can make humans very ill as well. Which is why it is important that the word is spread.

All the cats so far diagnosed were fed the same raw diet. They were mainly indoor cats and did not drink raw milk, so had no other risk factors that might have caused the disease.

The company impacted is aware but has not yet been named and the vets are at pains to point out that they appear to have followed all the regulatory requirements and that this is simply an inherent risk (albeit thankfully a low one) of raw feeding.

As yet, as far as I am aware, a recall hasn't been issued.

Infected cats have presented with weight loss, coughing (a real concern as this could increase the ability of the disease to spread, particularly to people), abdominal abnormalities and were often very poorly by the time a diagnosis is made. Their blood tests generally only show non-specific changes like a mild anaemia.

Although TB in cats can present with skin lesions, this strain (similar to the last time this happened) appears to mainly cause respiratory signs and abnormalities may well be seen on chest x-rays.

If a lung wash is performed the bacteria might be identified but any vets doing one on a suspicious case must take care to wear PPE to protect themselves.

If you are concerned you might have a case, the team at Edinburgh, which includes Danielle Gunn-Moore and Conor O'Halloran, are very happy to help and advise you.

They have this webpage which is great; https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/services/small-animals/vet-professional/specialist-services/feline/mycobacteria and advice on suspected cases from this outbreak will be given free of charge.

You can also contact Conor directly on [email protected]

And don't forget that TB is a notifiable disease, so the APHA must be contacted, and they are also a good source of support.

If you are a cat owner who raw feeds and you are worried, the best people to speak to for information and, hopefully, reassurance are your veterinary team and the company who produces the meals you feed.

It is also worth noting the difference between this problem, with a specific subset of infected animals, similar symptoms, a definitive diagnosis, a common diet and specialist vets at the forefront of raising the alert… and the the issues claimed with Purina pet food at the start of this year, which had none of these typical hallmarks of a genuine food related illness outbreak.

For more information about TB in cats, this article from the Edinburgh team, written in 2019, is very helpful; https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/services/small-animals/information-about-cat-tb **But do note the company mentioned in it is in relation to the outbreak at the time, not this one**

Link to this report; https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/tuberculosis-in-young-raw-fed-cats-in-the-uk

*Letter pictured published with the permission of the Vet Record and the authors.

20/08/2024

Average Hours of Sleep for Kittens and Cats

The amount of sleep a cat gets in a day can vary depending on their age. In general, young kittens tend to sleep more than adult cats. They can sleep for about 20 hours a day. During the hours they’re awake, they’re usually extremely active, curious, and playful.

By the time a kitten reaches young adulthood, they require less sleep and will sleep between 12 to 16 hours. The number of hours they sleep will increase again when they start to reach their senior life stage. Senior cats tend to sleep more and move around less, especially as they start to experience mobility loss and other age-related health issues.

It’s important to note that cats don’t sleep for multiple consecutive hours at a time throughout the day. They usually sleep for a little over an hour and will engage in some sort of activity before taking another nap. Their sleep is broken up at various parts of their day, and the cumulative amount of sleep they get per day adds up to about 12 to 16 hours.

Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?

Cats and humans have different sleep patterns. Most humans are monophasic sleepers, which means that we’ll sleep for one long period, typically at night. In contrast, cats are polyphasic sleepers. This means that they sleep for shorter periods of time throughout the day and night.

19/08/2024

Why Do Cats Suckle?

Felines continue suckling into adulthood for several reasons, and it’s rarely a behaviour that indicates something nefarious is going on. One of the top reasons adult cats suckle.
Genetics
This behaviour can actually be due to genetics, as certain feline breeds are likelier to engage in suckling than others. Compulsive suckling is often found in breeds such as the:

Balinese
Oriental Longhair
Tonkinese
Oriental Shorthair
Javanese
Siamese

It’s unclear why some feline breeds have this trait while others do not, but as many of these are Oriental breeds, there is a theory that they originally took more time for the weaning process than breeds coming from places like Europe or North America. That means these breeds are now weaned much earlier than they used to be, which could be why they are more likely to engage in suckling throughout their lives.

18/08/2024

The Dairy Myth - Can cats eat yogurt?

Many people think giving a cat a bowl of milk is fine because the two have come to be associated with each other. When kittens are born, their bodies produce lactase because it helps them digest mother cat’s milk. But when kittens get to be about 12 weeks old, that lactase begins to decrease, along with their ability to tolerate milk. So, even though some felines might enjoy milk and other dairy products, it isn’t good for them because it could result in gastrointestinal issues.

So, what makes yogurt different? Yogurt is an exception because the process of making yogurt involves fermenting milk with cultures. This breaks the lactose in the yogurt into smaller compounds, making it a bit easier for felines to digest. So, yogurt has less risk of causing stomach upset in felines.

So, just because cats can eat yogurt, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should give it to your cat. While yogurt does offer some nutritional benefits,those benefits might not outweigh the potential risks.

17/08/2024

The 6 Reasons Why Cats Twitch Their Tails

1. They’re Hunting
Cats will sometimes twitch their tails because they’re hunting or playing. This happens when they’re focused intensely on their prey, whether it’s a real-life mouse or a fluffy one from Amazon.

2. They’re Excited
When children are happy and excited, they often jump up and down as a way to release their pent-up energy and express their enthusiasm. Our cats don’t have the same ability to show their happiness, so a quivering tail can also mark anticipation and excitement.

3. They’re Annoyed
When your cat twitches the tip of their tail strongly from side to side, it may be that they’re mildly irritated or frustrated. This could be a warning sign that your pet isn’t fond of something you’ve been doing, but they’re not quite at the point yet where they’re going to take the next step and act on their annoyance.

4. They’re Feeling Aggressive
Tail twitching is sometimes also associated with aggression. The more your pet’s tail moves back and forth, the less happy they may be. Rapid tail movements can mean they’re issuing a threat to you or another pet in the home. You might also see other aggressive behaviors, such as growling or hissing. Their tails may also thwack audibly on the floor or nearby walls.

5. They’re Spraying
You know your cat is spraying when they stand up, hold their tail straight up in the air, and put their rear end toward a target (e.g., walls, bedding, curtains, etc.). Their tail will be quivering, and they’ll spray urine onto an object.

6. They Have Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS)—also known as “twitchy cat syndrome”—is a rare condition that causes increased sensitivity to touch and uncontrollable muscle contractions. FHS is poorly understood, and its root cause is still unknown, though it is most often attributed to neurological, psychological, or dermatological causes. Before it can be diagnosed, other conditions that cause similar signs must be ruled out.

16/08/2024

Funny Friday!!!

15/08/2024

Why do cats sit on you?
Downtime would not be the same without a purring cat on my lap.
1. Your warm, cats like warmth.
2. They crave connection. They seek connection with favourite people.
3. It makes them feel safe.
4. Smell - they like you smell and it makes them feel safe
5. To show trust, they really do have to trust you to sit on your lap.

14/08/2024

KNOW THE SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE IN CATS
Cats are affected by the sun in the same way humans are. They can get heat stroke in the same way and develop skin cancer from sun burns – even on cloudy days. Keep an eye on your cat's behaviour and know the signs of heatstroke:
Agitation
Stretching out and breathing rapidly
Extreme distress
Skin hot to the touch
Glazed eyes
Vomiting and drooling
If your cat is displaying odd behaviour or you notice any skin changes during hot days, contact your vet immediately and seek advice.

13/08/2024

Arum italic 'Pictum' commonly known as Lords & Ladies, this plant produces a spectacular show of berries in late summer. However, they are bad news for inquisitive cats (& young children). Leaves appear after the fruits and are equally as poisonous as the berries. The sap can act as an irritant.

13/08/2024

Cat flap training:

Whether you’re installing a cat door in your home for the first time or have just moved somewhere that already has one, it can be a little concerning as you watch your cat actively avoid it. But while some cats need a little help getting there, with a bit of time, patience, and training, you can get just about any cat to use a cat door.

Contact me for a step by step training guide.

12/08/2024

The 5 Reasons Why Cats Rub Their Faces on Corners

1. Marking Territory
One of the most widely accepted theories for cats rubbing their faces on corners is that they’re leaving their scent on objects. Cats use scents to communicate, and they have scent glands located around their cheeks. When cats rub their faces on objects, they leave behind a scent that other cats can detect. Cats can pick up information about other cats when they sniff these scents.

Cats may tend to prefer rubbing their cheeks against corners because corners provide the best grip for them. Rubbing their faces against flat walls can be more difficult, so they’ll usually opt for wall and furniture corners.

2. Greeting
It’s common for cats to greet each other by rubbing their faces. This behavior enables them to exchange scents and learn more about each other. If your cat starts to feel comfortable and likes you, they can start to rub their cheeks against you as soon as you return home to them. You can take this as a sign that your cat is greeting you and wanting to let you know that they like that you’re home.

It’s important to note that not all cats will engage in this behavior with humans. So, you don’t have to be too concerned if your cat doesn’t rub their cheeks against you. They’re probably showing you love and affection through other means and expressions.

3. Wanting Attention
Cats are observant animals and are quick to know what sorts of behaviors grab your attention. Therefore, if you have a habit of giving your cat attention when they rub against you, they’re more likely to continue this behavior. This behavior is reinforced each time you acknowledge your cat when they rub their face against you. Consequently, many cats will start to rub their cheeks against their owners when they’re bored, hungry, or feeling lonely.

4. Showing Affection
Your cat may also rub their cheeks against you as a means of showing affection. Similar to marking territory, cats leave their scent on people by rubbing their cheeks against them. Rather than seeing it as possessiveness, you can receive this behavior as a compliment. Cats won’t rub their cheeks against people they don’t trust or don’t like. So, you can take it as a sign that your cat likes you and sees you as one of their own if they start to rub their cheeks against you.

5. Stress Relief
The act of rubbing faces against something often feels comforting and relaxing for cats. So, they may engage in this behavior when they want to relax or self-soothe. Sometimes, cats will begin to rub their faces against something when they’re feeling stressed or anxious and want to calm down.

11/08/2024

The 4 Reasons Cats Like Feathers

1. Simulates Prey
The main reason cats enjoy playing with feather toys is that they simulate prey and trigger our feisty felines’ prey drive. Your cat will often chase after toys with feathers on the end, sometimes stalking and pouncing.

2. Colourful Attraction
Cats don’t see colours quite the same way that we do. However, they do have cones, the colour receptors in the eyes, so they can likely see some shades. Feather toys are often quite colourful, so between the prey-like fluttering, the colours should trigger your cat to treat the toys with feathers like prey.

3. Unpredictable Movements
Like the colourful nature of feathers, the movement of feathers can attract cats. As you whip the feathers on the end of a stick around, they flutter and drift like a bird, which can bear a striking resemblance to prey.

4. Enrichment
Playing with feathers is one of the many ways you can offer your kitty enrichment activities. They stimulate your cat’s mind and can help keep her away from trouble triggered by boredom.

10/08/2024

10/08/2024

We clip your cats claws in your own home less stress for the cat and you!

09/08/2024

Funny Friday!

08/08/2024

Having his hygiene trim! The face says it all.
A large Main Coone who because he is regularly groomed just enjoys the pamper.

07/08/2024

It’s important to introduce kittens to the grooming experience while they are young so when fully grown they are accustomed to being handled and groomed.
This Main Coone kitten will grow to be 8-10kg.

06/08/2024

05/08/2024

How Do whiskers Function?

They are often called "tactile hairs," but they don't feel things the way we do; instead, they communicate with sensory cells when they pick up on objects or motions.
The scientific name for whiskers, vibrissae, comes from the Latin word "vibro," which means
"to vibrate."
The sensitive whisker vibrates and activates the hair follicle's nerves when air or an item brushes against them.

04/08/2024

Dangers of Leaving Wet Cat Food Out

Don’t leave wet cat food out for more than 4 hours when the room temperature is above 10C Bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter thrive as temperature, nutrition, and moisture rise, and wet food offers the ideal environment for contamination. If the room is hot. humid, or poorly ventilated, spoilage can accelerate, with food often going bad in as little as 2 hours.

As wet cat food goes bad, it dries and gels to give the food an unpleasant texture and taste. Paired with the cat’s natural aversion to spoiled food, this is often enough to keep them from eating an old meal, lowering the risk of illness. However, if they do choose to eat spoiled food bacteria can lead to infection of the gastrointestinal tract. If mold has grown on the food there is the risk of mycotoxins causing signs of toxicity from tremors to vomiting.

Signs of Foodborne Illness

Age and health status can affect a cat’s susceptibility to illness, as the potential is higher for young, senior, or immuno-compromised pets.

Depending on the pathogen, food poisoning can be apparent within a few hours or several days after your cat eats the contaminated meal.

03/08/2024

How Long Can You Leave Wet Cat Food Out?

The clock starts ticking as soon as you open your cat’s can of food. Feline wet food will grow bacteria, accumulate bacterial toxins, and spoil much faster than dry food.

Generally, wet cat food can only stay out for around 2 to 4 hours before becoming potentially dangerous for your cat to eat. However, you can safely leave it in the fridge for 3 days.

Wet cat food usually contains roughly 80% moisture and plenty of organic material, making it ideal for microbes to breed. While mold doesn’t begin growing for at least 24 hours, bacteria can double in only 20–30 minutes under optimal conditions, quickly making food unpleasant and hazardous.

02/08/2024

Olympics?
Easy, tucked pike dive - done!!!

02/08/2024

Funny Friday !!

01/08/2024

What is Lavender Poisoning?
While a lavender plant itself isn’t toxic to your cat, formulations from the plant can be. Your cat can eat a lot of lavender and may suffer only an upset stomach, but on the other hand, lavender essential oil can be deadly for your pet because of its concentration. A cat’s liver lacks several specific enzymes that helps it to safely process the volatile compounds in essential oils, so these should be kept far away from your cat.
Symptoms of Lavender Poisoning in Cats
If your cat has gotten into a lavender plant and eaten a large quantity, you’ll notice the following symptoms:
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Lavender essential oils can easily be absorbed through your cat’s respiratory system, where they then move into the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, they move into the cat’s liver. Your cat’s skin is delicate and thin, so rubbing a “soothing” blend of lavender oil that hasn’t been diluted with a carrier oil can lead to liver problems for your cat, as well as chemical burns. Likewise, liquid potpourris contain cationic agents and essential oils.