Gold Coast Cat Care

31/07/2024

17/07/2024

24/06/2024

When you adopt a cat, you have hopes of establishing a good relationship and loving bond. Whether you’re bringing home a happy, healthy kitten, or rescuing a cat where you have to work on undoing past emotional damage, your mission is to create a loving and nurturing environment so the relationshi...

08/06/2024

Your cat's nose is so sensitive. Avoid using air fresheners and other heavily scented products. Also, when it comes to the litter box, look for unscented litter, and keep up on good litter box maintenance.

28/01/2024

I am a proud member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

26/01/2024

There seems to be a recent trend in cats being transported in backpack carriers 😕 No doubt there will be a surge in popularity again due to the new Argylle movie 😿

They may seem like a fun way to move a cat from one place to another, but I would urge caregivers to take a moment to think about their cat's wellbeing before purchasing a backpack carrier - the bubble carriers are particularly unpleasant for cats.

Issues with backpack carriers include:

😿They are usually too small for cats to turn around in and position themselves in a way they feel most comfortable

😿They move around a lot during transportation, which is stressful and uncomfortable for cats - most of these carriers are not very sturdy either

😿There is no opportunity for cats to hide, they are almost forced to look out through the bubble window. This means cats have to face lots of things they might find frightening during their journey, such as dogs, unfamiliar people and cars

😿The carrier is facing backward, which can be very disorientating for cats - some will experience nausea and vomit

😿 The carriers are not easy to clean, making them less hygienic

😿 Air circulation is poor, which can make cats overheat

😿Cats can arrive at their destination in a high state of arousal due to experiencing intense emotions of anxiety, fear, or frustration - this makes examinations by the veterinary team more difficult, which could impact the effectiveness of any care that cats receive (and need)

Although there are some differences in these types of carriers (ie some are a bit larger or stronger), cats can be trained to use different types of carriers and every cat and their caregiver is different, most backpack carriers are not cat friendly for the average cat. Unless this is the only way a cat can be transported to the vet in an emergency they should be avoided 🚑

😻There is plenty of useful information on what type of carrier to choose and how minimise stress during travel on this International Cat Care webpage👇 https://icatcare.org/international-cat-day/icd-2022/travel-tips/
Or visit this webpage to access the International Cat Care guides, which includes a handy downloadable guide on taking your cat to the vet 👇
https://icatcare.org/advice-cat-carer-guides/

22/09/2023

The laser light toy may initially appear to be a great way to give your cat some exercise. The problem though, is that it doesn't provide the tactile satisfaction of having "caught" anything. Cats have carpal whiskers on their paws that tell them when they have captured the prey and whether there's any movement or not. With the laser toy, your cat never gets that message. Playtime isn't just about getting your cat to move, it's also about providing satisfaction and building confidence. Don't frustrate your cat. Use an actual interactive toy so your cat can enjoy being a successful hunter.

If your cat is obsessed with the laser toy, start the game with the laser and then direct the light onto an actual interactive toy. This way, you can gradually wean your cat off the frustrating light.

15/09/2023

Place scratching posts where your cat spends the most time. If your cat scratches the furniture, put posts next to those objects to provide a better option. In a multicat home, have several scratching posts scattered around.

Vertical scratching posts need to be tall, sturdy, and covered in a claw-appealing texture such as sisal. For horizontal scratching, use corrugated cardboard scratch pads or sisal pads.

Scratching serves many functions so it's not just about conditioning the claws. Scratching is a marking behavior, a way for a cat to stretch, and it's also a displacement behavior. Scratching is an important part of a cat's life.

13/09/2023

Dr. Jennifer Grota explains the safe way to clean a cat’s ears, including advice on how often to clean them and what supplies you will need.

21/08/2023

As you know, it’s crucial to stay on top of monitoring your cat’s health. As a responsible cat parent, you pay attention to your cat’s happiness, nutritional needs, litter box habits, behavior changes, and veterinary care. One issue in cat healthcare that some cat parents may miss is dehydrati...

20/08/2023

https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2023-08-19-cats-combine-foods/

Have house cats retained the wisdom of their wild cousins when it comes to fulfilling their daily nutritional requirements? Apparently yes, according to this study. If you are owned by a cat, this may be the most important information you'll ever see about feeding your pet.

03/06/2023

To my cat loving friends - I'm on my soapbox again.

Dry Cat Food Linked to Obesity and Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

A study published in 2011 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery2 took a look at risk factors for urethral obstruction, clinical signs, outcomes, and recurrence rates in 82 cats. Urethral obstruction (UO) is a very common, life-threatening condition in cats and is one of several conditions that fall into the category of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD).

Notably, the cats with UO were significantly younger than a control group of healthy kitties, significantly heavier, and most (over 80 percent) were fed dry food only. Not one of the 82 cats with UO was fed an exclusively wet food diet.

Cats need moisture-rich diets because they don’t have a strong thirst drive compared to other species. They are designed to get almost all the water they need from the food they eat. Cats in the wild hunt prey, and prey consists of about 75 percent water. Canned cat food contains at least that much moisture. Dry food, on the other hand, contains only about one-tenth that amount.

The bodies of felines aren’t built to digest carbohydrates efficiently, and dry pet food is typically loaded with carbs. Cats lack the necessary enzymes to break down and digest carbs, or turn them into energy. The majority of carbs in a cat’s diet are therefore stored as fat. Given the ingredients in most dry cat food, it’s easy to see from a physiological standpoint how cats become overweight.

Moisture-Rich Diets Help Prevent/Resolve Obesity in Cats

Researchers at the University of California, Davis conducted a study to determine how the water content in food affects the amount cats eat and their body weight.3

The study involved 10 young, healthy, intact male cats, and results showed that consumption of canned food resulted in less food eaten, a decrease in body weight, and no change in body composition (lean body mass, fat body mass, and total body water).

The UC-Davis researchers concluded that canned (wet) diets result in cats voluntarily eating less and a corresponding reduction in body weight. Further, nutritional content and digestibility were not compromised, which is a big concern with low fat/weight loss dry cat food formulas. Also, the kitties "greatly preferred" the canned (wet) diets.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of transitioning any cat still eating kibble to a canned food diet, and then ideally to a balanced, species-appropriate raw diet.

02/06/2023

Very often, even the most loving cat parents get bitten or scratched because they didn't pay attention to a cat's body language signals.

27/05/2023

JC Cherubini

Listen to the audio version of this article Introducing a second cat to your resident cat is one of the most frightening and frustrating aspects of living with felines. It’s often a nail-biting experience but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to do a gradual introduction and give the cats a reas...

26/05/2023

Great advice. As a cat sitter, I also think it is important to maintain their schedule when you are away as well. If they are used to being fed twice a day, don’t hire a cat sitter to come just once a day. I understand that it is more expensive, but it is what is best for your cat(s). Health issues can arise when cats become stressed. They are already stressed when you are away. No reason to add more stress by changing a routine.

Stress is a big enemy in a cat's life. There are a number of ways to reduce stress and one important way is to maintain consistency in your cat's daily schedule. Routine and predictability are very comforting.

26/05/2023

Listen to the audio version of this article Introducing a second cat to your resident cat is one of the most frightening and frustrating aspects of living with felines. It’s often a nail-biting experience but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to do a gradual introduction and give the cats a reas...

24/05/2023

Many cat parents are unaware of the dangerous flea products that our out on the market. Many of these are even vet recommended...