conscious living, health and happiness for cats and their humans
This is a sponsored guest post by Carolina Gonzales, R&D Coordinator at Basepaws*
Did you know that diabetes in cats has increased by 18% over the past ten years, and one out of every 230 cats is affected by feline diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body cannot properly produce or respond to the hormone insulin. This results in elevated levels of the sugar glucose, which is the body’s main source of energy. Continue Reading
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent conditions in cats, affecting as many as 45% of all cats, and 90% of cats older than 12. Osteoarthritis is often not diagnosed in cats because it is so difficult to recognize. The signs can be subtle and it often remains untreated, even though the pain can be debilitating.Continue Reading
A cat’s sense of hearing is more sensitive than that of humans. Cats’ ears can rotate up to 180 degrees, which allows them to locate and identify even the faintest noise. In a healthy cat, ears are generally “self-cleaning,” but regular monitoring can help prevent problems that may interfere with hearing or health.Continue Reading
Even though most New Year’s resolutions are abandoned within a month of making them, the New Year is still a good time to start fresh and create some healthy habits for yourself and for your cats. The following tips will help get you started.Continue Reading
Guest post by Ingrid R. Niesman, MS PhD
Thanks to improvements in veterinary medicine, better nutrition, and the fact that most pet cats are indoor cats, cats are living longer than ever before, but with longer lifespans, they are also facing the inevitable issues of old age. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) is recognizing these dramatic changes since they last published senior care guidelines in 2009. The 2021 AAFP Senior Cat Care Guidelines, created by a task force of experts in feline clinical medicine, consist of 26 jam-packed pages of health management practices for feline practitioners, stressing the importance of engaging the cat parent in all aspects of caring for aging cats.Continue Reading
This is a sponsored guest post by Carolina Gonzales, R&D Coordinator at Basepaws*
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major feline health issue affecting approximately one in 30 cats. It often goes undiagnosed until the illness reaches a more advanced stage. The set of signs and symptoms of CKD are caused by a progressive degeneration of functional kidney tissue. Although we do not know the exact cause of CKD, the disease progression can be slowed down with proper care and your cat can live a happy life. The challenges associated with CKD diagnosis and timely management make clear the urgent need to provide accessible and affordable testing options that screen for CKD in cats and can help early diagnosis of the disease.Continue Reading
This is a sponsored post*
Archie was rescued when he was five weeks old. “We got a plea from the shelter about a kitten with hind limb paralysis that would be euthanized if not pulled by a rescue,” said Carol Gonzales, the Director of Baby Kitten Rescue in Los Angeles, CA. “We quickly realized he was not completely paralyzed in his back legs and had some use of them, even though he mostly dragged them to get around.”Continue Reading
This post is sponsored by Assisi Animal Health
Cats are living longer and healthier lives, thanks to improved veterinary care, better nutrition, and the fact that most pet cats are indoor cats. The definition of an older cat is usually preceded by the term “senior” or “geriatric.” Cats 10 years or older are considered senior. Aging is not a disease. It is a slow and gradual process, and there are plenty of things you can do to help keep your senior cat happy and healthy well into her golden years.Continue Reading
This is a sponsored guest post by Carolina Gonzales, R&D Coordinator at Basepaws*
Basepaws, a leading innovator in pet biotechnology, is committed to research and discovering new knowledge that will help veterinary professionals provide better care for their patients. We are developing a unique category of screening tools that combines genomic, microbiome and health history data to identify pre-clinical indicators associated with health-related outcomes.Continue Reading
Have you ever wondered about your cat’s genetic background? Maybe you’d like to learn more about which breeds make up your rescue cat? Maybe you’re curious about whether or not her coat color influences her personality? DNA Testing can do all that. More importantly, it can identify genetic health conditions so you can be proactive about preventing them from manifesting. Having a DNA test done on your cat not only benefits you and your cat, it can also contribute to our scientific understanding of the feline genome and thus improve the health of all cats.Continue Reading
Cats are masters at masking pain. Their ability to hide pain goes back to their wild origins. In the wild, a sick animal becomes prey. While acute pain may be more obvious, chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis can be challenging to discern for even the most dedicated cat parent. Even veterinarians often overlook signs of feline pain.Continue Reading