Cats are generally known to be an independent breed. When it comes to pregnancy, too, the cat is more or less independent throughout the gestation period and during the delivery. She will decide who does and does not she want to be with and will also look for a cozy place in the house on her own to deliver her litter. The cat goes through the pregnancy and delivery almost without any trouble. The owner may not have a big role to play. He will just need to pay attention to her nutrition and general pet health care during her pregnancy and give her affection, fresh water and make a comfortable litter box for her.

When a cat gets pregnant, she will show many physical and behavioral changes. She will have a bigger appetite, will gain weight and her nipples will be larger and rosier. There will be behavioral changes as well. A cat that likes being outdoors will be seen around indoors more often. She will be more subdued, lazy and will want to sleep more than usual. An important part of pregnant cat behavior is her disinterest in male cats and other cats in general, as she wants privacy during gestation period. So, it would help if the other cats in the house are kept away from the pregnant queen. The cat will shower more affection on her human companions and she will also seek more attention from her owner. The owner must give her that attention but try not to pick her up too much as this will make her irritable. In some cases, the pregnant cat may avoid her human companion and behave moody. But once she has delivered, her behavior will be back to normal.

During the last stage of pregnancy, the cat will be restless and try to find a comfortable place in the house where she might deliver the kittens. This is perfectly normal. But if the cat gets too irritable and restless, or pants and paces around too much, the owner must consult a vet immediately. One of the reasons for such a behavioral problem can be eclampsia (depletion of calcium from the blood stream), which is one of the pet health issues found in cats during the last stage of pregnancy. If you see cat behavior problems like not eating and being too lethargic along with passing a discharge, you must have your cat checked by a vet immediately.

Usually, the owner cannot tell that his cat is pregnant for the first three weeks, unless he has bred her and keeps a track of her pregnancy. A sign like a bulging stomach becomes visible only a couple of weeks before the cat is due to deliver the litter. So, a cat’s pregnancy often goes undiscovered till she is well into the pregnancy period. One can determine whether a cat is in gestation or not by knowing some pregnant cat symptoms, which are both physical and behavioral.

One of the first cat pregnancy signs is a stoppage of her heat cycle. The pregnant cat will stay indoors and away from male cats. This can be seen as the first sign of pregnancy. About three to four weeks after conceiving, the cat’s nipples become more visible, softer and pinker. This change is called pinking. Other than these, signs of a pregnant cat also include increase in its appetite and weight gain. Since the cat has to eat for herself and her fetus, she will crave more food and after four weeks of pregnancy gain considerable weight too. The weight gain will be more on the stomach and mid-section. Just like human beings, a pregnant cat also suffers from morning sickness, that is, she will have occasional bouts of vomiting in the morning. While this is perfectly normal, if the episodes of vomiting become too frequent, a veterinarian must be consulted.

The owner will also be able to see a change in the cat’s behavior when she is pregnant. She will seem lazier, quieter and will tend to sleep more. Jerky and sudden movements such as stretching will be avoided by the pregnant cat. Though the pregnant cat will be less affectionate towards male cats, she will have affection in abundance for her owner. This is often credited to her maternal instincts. During the advanced stages of pregnancy, she will look for a warm, quiet and secluded place to deliver her litter, a behavior that has been termed as the ‘nesting behavior’. It becomes important to pay attention to pet health care when the cat is pregnant and give her nutritious food. Though these signs show that a cat is pregnant, ultrasound procedures are recommended to rule out abnormalities in fetuses that can pose pet health issues later. Another important pet health information for a pregnant cat is that she must be given adequate clean water and exercise to prevent obesity and to keep her muscles toned.

Cat Gestation

Other than how many kittens a pregnant cat would be delivering, the most likely question about cat pregnancy is: how long are cats pregnant. The usual cat gestation period is 58 to 65 days, that is, about nine weeks or a little over two months. However, the cat can have a normal delivery approximately five days before or after the stipulated date too. So, over all, the cat pregnancy period can be as short as 58 days or go up to 70 days. If the owner is breeding the cat, he will be able to keep a check on the gestation period. But, if the cat is in heat, meets an unneutered male cat and has an unplanned pregnancy, there are chances that the owner will discover it after about three weeks. This is because the cat will not show any signs or symptoms of pregnancy for about three weeks after breeding, and her abdomen will bulge only a couple of weeks before she gives birth to kittens. If one finds the cat’s nipples getting softer, rosier and warmer, it should serve as the first sign of pregnancy. Other than that, the cat’s appetite increases, it gets more affectionate, gains weight, and suffers from morning sickness. If all these signs are visible, the cat must be taken to the veterinarian to confirm pregnancy.

Cat Pregnancy Tips

Even though cats are self sufficient during pregnancy, it is very important to give the pregnant cat the right care throughout the pregnancy period. One important pet health fact about a cat’s pregnancy is that she must be kept indoors as much as possible throughout the cat gestation length as she can be on heat during pregnancy as well. She can have two different sets of litter at the same time. Anyway, kittens must be delivered only in a warm environment. The cat must be fed nutritious food high in proteins and calcium. To ensure that the cat produces a healthy litter, one can mix cat food with a premium kitten food as it has more calcium, fat and protein than regular cat food.  Other than specific pregnancy tips, the owner needs to keep general pet health care in mind during pregnant cat care. She must not have fleas or intestinal worms as she can pass them on to the kittens through her womb or milk. It always helps to have your cat checked by a vet regularly to prevent any pet health issues especially during pregnancy.

How to Stop Cat from Biting:

Biting is one of the natural instincts of cats along with other behavioral issues such as scratching and urinating in inappropriate places. Cats, despite their wild streak, can at times be quite predictable and there is little that they do without reason. Here are a few reasons attributed to cat biting:

Cats don’t always bite or scratch out of hostility or fear, but at times may simply be trying to grab on and get a firm grip. At other times they may bite or scratch accidentally while playing, not realizing how rough they can be.

A cat’s reaction depends largely on your relationship with it, and if you do harass your cat or force it to do things it does not like you can expect to be scratched or bitten. Most cats will however not bite or scratch their owners if they have a trusting relationship, and have been discouraged from doing so.
Cats are the natural predators. Even a domestic cat grows with hunting skills. Biting and scratching are part of a cat’s hunting skills. As the cat grows older, it keeps practicing its skills. By doing this, it sharpens its innate properties.

Inadequate training or socializing during the kitten stage makes a cat suspicious about strangers. They display anger by biting or scratching. However, in certain cases, even a trained cat can also do this out of the fear of being touched by a stranger. Cats are very particular about their territories; they hardly resist any intrusion. If they do, they react by biting or scratching.

Health is also an important reason which has an effect on their biting behavior. If they react unpredictably, then it is time to visit a veterinarian.

Here are some ways to stop a cat from biting:

• Domestic animal training is very important when a pet is young. It is important to deliver good training to your cat to cover its behavior with you and in a social situation. Keep a close watch on behavioral changes. Always fix a boundary and set a play time with your cat.
• If your cat bites even after  the training, then follow the methods given below:
• Always keep a spray bottle by your side and spray the cat every time it bites you. Avoid spraying water into or near its ears.
• If your cat bites you due to you touching it or petting it too much (cats tend to construe unwanted attention and affection as harassment!), then try avoiding your cat for a while. Fix a limit to show your affection and try not to bother your cat too much. Your cat will come to you of its own free will.
• Respond by yelling ‘ouch’ or a loud ‘no’ to your cat when it bites. By doing this each time, your cat will get the idea that it hurts when it bites.
• Spend quality time with your cat and reward it for good behavior.
• Socializing cats when they are kittens is very important. It will help get rid of fears of being touched by strangers. Never force your cat to meet strangers. Treat them with their favorite food if they show some positive signs of mingling with strangers.
• Though cat biting is a part of their growing behavior, it can be dangerous for you sometimes. A good training session and continuous visits to a veterinarian can keep stop your cat from biting.

Keeping Feline Healthy:

Cats are beautiful creatures and great house pets for you and your family. Everyone loves their kitties and wants the best for them. As a responsible pet owner, you must provide special care and attention, and also watch closely for signs of sickness. You must provide natural mental and physical stimulation to your cats to prevent them from succumbing to both boredom and obesity.

Cat health problems range from simple inconveniences to life-threatening illnesses. The common cat health problems are cat hairballs, fleas, plant poisoning, worms, viral, and other infections. The common symptoms to look for in your cat or kitten that requires a vet’s visit are loss of appetite, a dull coat, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive itching, lethargy, weight loss, drinking excessive water, and change in litter box habits.

Here are a few simple steps to keep your cat healthy and happy for life:

• You must get your cat vaccinated against all common diseases as recommended by your veterinarian to ensure that your cat doesn’t fall victim to diseases such as feline leukemia and feline immune deficiency.
• It is usually recommended that you take your cat to a vet in order to have your cat’s nails cut short. By doing this, you can ensure that it does not hurt itself, your family, or you by scratching.
• You must feed your cat with a bit of garlic every once in a while to protect your pet from worms. Cats are susceptible to many kinds of worms like ringworms, roundworms, hookworms, lungworms, and tapeworms.
• You must brush your cat’s coat every week as it helps reduce the occurrence of hair balls.
• When you take your cat outdoors fleas, which are infection carrying parasites, attach themselves to the cat’s coat. You must use flea medication that effectively kills flea larvae and adult fleas.
• You must put your cat on a diet that is high in proteins and low in carbohydrates. Your cat should also be given minerals and essential fatty acids to boost its immune system.
• You must be cautious while choosing house plants as plants like dieffenbachia, poinsettia, English ivy, and crocus are poisonous to cats.
• If you see your cat scratching excessively behind or inside its ears, immediately take your cat to a vet; your cat could be infected by ear mites. This requires constant medication.
• You must check your cat’s eye regularly. If you see any cloudiness or excessive discharge, take your pet to the vet immediately.
• You must get your cat spayed or neutered as it not only keeps your cat from getting pregnant, but also provides many health benefits. Spaying your cat at a young age lowers the chances of breast cancer. Neutering (spaying) will also improve your cat’s personality.
• You must take your cat for a routine checkup that involves a physical examination of its body from its tail to nose; checking its temperature and weighing; inspecting for abnormal discharges from its bodily orifices (eyes and nose); checking its gums, teeth and ears; and checking for parasites and abscesses by a vet.

Skin Bruising in Cats Remedies:

Cats have a thick coat of hair that provides natural protection from external injuries. However, if your cat gets into fights with other cats in the neighborhood, chances are that the soft and relatively unguarded portions of skin around its eyes, nose and ears may get bruised. A miscalculated jump or move may also lead to minor bruises on cat skin that usually heal on their own. Parasitic worms may also cause minor bruises to appear on the skin of your pet if they manage to attach themselves at the base of the dense hair on the cat’s body. A simple way of preventing this from happening is to run your fingers gently over your cat’s entire body and check carefully if there are any mites or fleas on the surface of its skin. It is sufficient to groom your cat daily with a soft hairbrush in order to minimize the chances of parasitic organisms from causing skin infections. Make it a habit to check your cat for fleas and mites in this manner every time it returns from out of doors. You may use a pair of tweezers very carefully if you find any parasitic worms attached to its skin. You should, however, refrain from trying to bathe your cat, as they are quite capable of keeping themselves clean through licking. The saliva of cats contains chemicals that help heal minor wounds and bruises naturally. You may soak a wad of cotton wool in a very mild soap and water solution and apply it gently over cuts and scrapes on the cat’s skin in order to prevent local infections. Bandaging is usually not necessary as the cat’s own hair covers up the wound quite well.

However, if small swollen and red patches appear on the surface of the cat’s skin without any determinable cause or recent injury then there could a more serious underlying problem. Look out for other symptoms like paleness, weakness, loss of appetite and fever in your pet, as these may be signs of an internal hemorrhage of which skin bruises are only one of the outward manifestations. In such a case, you must immediately take your pet to a vet. Bleeding from the gums or the corners of the eyes are also danger signals. Vasculitis, which is the inflammation and damage of blood vessels, low blood platelet count and feline leukemia are some of the major internal causes that could lead to the appearance of bruises on your pet’s skin.

Home Remedies for Dry Skin in Cats:

Cats suffer from dryness of skin mostly during the harsh, cold winter season. If your cat scratches itself frequently and begins to lose dander at an abnormally high rate, you should take these as signs of dry skin. Your pet is also likely to lose the natural sheen of its hair if it is suffering from dryness of skin. A close observation of the cat’s skin may also reveal dry, crusty flakes at the roots of the hair, which are basically the thin outer layer of the skin that have lost their natural moisture content. The deficiency of certain essential nutrients in the cat’s diet may also contribute to the dryness of its skin. Dry skin may lead to dandruff in cats, which may lead to itching and irritation to the creature.

There are a few simple home remedies for solving this problem. One of the best ways of ensuring that your cat’s skin does not turn too dry is to regularly groom it with a soft hairbrush. This helps improve blood circulation in the cat’s skin and prevents it from becoming excessively dry. Also, make sure that the cat food you buy does not contain a very large percentage of corn. Instead, opt for those varieties of cat food that contain other nutrients in higher amounts to keep your pet’s skin naturally well nourished. You may also add 2 drops of fish oil to your pet’s food each day in order to enrich its diet with fatty acids that play a crucial role in keeping the skin supple and well moisturized. Once a week, you should also add a few drops of olive oil to the cat’s food as supplement.  It is also recommended that you do not let your cat out during the peak hours of the day, as the rays of the sun are at their harshest around noon and may rob the creature’s skin of its natural moisture content. Also, make sure that the room your cat spends most of its time in is not overheated due to the use of room heaters. It is a good idea to use a humidifier if you use room heaters regularly in order to prevent the cat’s immediate environment from becoming too dry. You may also try running a hot shower for 10 minutes and then place your cat into the bathroom full of steam for a few minutes. This may be useful in relieving the dryness of its skin.

Symptoms of Cat Sickness:

The issue of symptoms of sick cat is a tough one because there are so many possible symptoms of sickness in cats and, often, the less obvious ones are simply overlooked. There are obvious signs of a sick cat such as the appearance of lesions which could imply a number of things such as parasitic worms or some kind of allergy. There could be other symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea or it could be simply that the cat visibly looks sick. The cat could have lost weight and its coat could be unhealthy. Overt problems are usually picked up on by their owners, yet there is always the possibility of mistaking a serious illness for a minor one or simply misdiagnosing the cat. This is a possibility even with a veterinarian involved because it is simply impractical to order a full battery of tests for the cat when presented with seemingly minor symptoms. Misdiagnosis is often too common and one could always be mistaken about symptoms. For instance, there is the possibility of believing that the cat is sick or is simply overweight when the cat is in the early stages of pregnancy.

Then again there are subtle signs of sick cat, which are often not noticed till the problem becomes severe. For instance, it is easy not to notice that one’s pet cat has not been as active of late or is disinclined to move about much. With cats spending a large part of their days sleeping, it is easy for such signs to go completely unnoticed. It helps if owners look for signs of listlessness, depression or growing lethargy to catch problems early. Behavioral changes are often common in cats experiencing health problems. Symptoms often involve regular habits of your cat such as visits to the kitty litter box or when it comes to eating. Changes in such behavior, such as lesser frequency or increased frequency, could be a sign of trouble. In some cases, sickness might have no obvious physical symptoms in your cat but behaviors might be different or the owner simply suspects that something is off. The cat’s coat is typically another good indicator of the cat’s state of health as sickness invariably shows up quite noticeably. As you can tell, looking for signs of a sick cat is never really simple and it is best to trust your instinct in such cases.

Feline Miliary Dermatitis:

What appears to be red bumps on cat could mean a variety of things and it would be best to let the veterinarian do the needful to determine the cause of these red bumps. Prima facie, these red bumps could be referred to as feline miliary dermatitis. This is the term given to skin problems faced by your cat and could also go by different names like feline eczema. To reiterate, this is just one explanation for these red bumps you see on your cat and there could be other explanations for the same. It is ultimately for your veterinarian to decide the nature of these bumps. Aside from a physical examination, your cat’s vet might need to test your cat to get a better understanding of the causes behind the appearance of these red bumps. The inflammation could be accounted for by a number of different triggers such as a possibility that your cat is allergic to something. A flea allergy might be behind these bumps and it would be advisable to treat both the cat and the cat’s surroundings, or the environment if you discover or suspect even a single flea. Flea allergies are common not only in cats but also in other pets, such as dogs. Such a skin inflammation could be caused in your cat by a host of other problems such as infections and diseases. For this reason, it would be advisable to seek out causes behind the dermatitis before attempting to treat the cat yourself. It might be tempting to apply topical solutions and other generic ointments but unless you know the reasons why these bumps have cropped up, simply treating the symptom alone can be dangerous. For instance, it could be that an autoimmune condition has led to miliary dermatitis.

These red bumps or lesions on cat could appear in a number of places and the spread could also vary. These could also cause your cat to scratch a lot since the itch can be terrible. It is important to note that since causes could be as varied as intestinal parasites and food allergies so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis. For instance, if it is a flea problem, as is most commonly seen in such cases, the solution could lie in eliminating the fleas from your pet as well as taking care of the cat’s environment so as to bring down any chances of recurrence.

Cat Skin Problems:

Cats can have a variety of skin infections and problems and thus there could be a number of ways of treating the same. In the first place, it helps to know what kind of infection affecting your cat you are dealing with. For this purpose, a visit to the vet would be the best course of action. For instance, it could be an underlying cat health problem which affects your cat’s coat, which then looks like a skin infection. Genetic diseases in cats often result in such skin problems. On the other hand, the skin infection your cat has could be bacterial in nature and this typically results from a cut or some kind of scrape that your cat has had. A third possibility is that the infection afflicting your beloved cat is fungal in nature. As you can see, a cat skin infection is not always a straightforward problem and it does require a lot of attention. When it comes to genetic problems affecting your cat’s skin or possible bacterial infections, in general the term skin dermatoses is used.

The problem with home remedies is that it is dangerous to let your cat’s skin infection go unchecked when the underlying problem is unclear. Your cat deserves a thorough checkup with a physical examination and possible blood and urine tests. The cat’s veterinarian would be able to tell you about the necessary tests depending on your cat’s condition as well as history. In the case of home treatment for cat skin diseases or to supplement the medication prescribed for your cat, in addition to basic hygiene you might have to look at options like an Elizabethan collar, depending on the infection. It could help to look at more discernable sources of skin problems such as fleas that might have led to an allergic reaction in your cat. Another place to look would be your cat’s general diet and see if improved nutrition helps your cat and results in a better coat. In some cases, medicated shampoos have successfully been used at home, depending on your cat’s skin infection. These tips might help in general cases of cat skin disease but your vet would be in the best position to guide you regarding the infection your cat’s skin seems to have. It is important to have timely intervention before your cat’s skin infection gets worse. In the case of some bacterial infections there is a danger posed to your cat since there is the possibility of spreading to your pet’s bloodstream.