Cats are renowned for their ability to mask pain and discomfort. They do this so well that they could be in excruciating pain without you knowing it, even if you’re the person closest to them.
This is a great advantage when cats are out in the wild around predators that look for signs of weakness. It’s a big problem, however, when your cat is ill or hurt but you have no clues to tell you that there’s a problem.
Cats may not speak, but they do communicate their pain in their own subtle ways
As a cat parent, you play a crucial role in ensuring your kitten grows up to be a confident, friendly, well-adjusted cat. Socialization, the process of introducing your pet to different sensations, people, places, and other experiences, teaches your cat that they can trust the world around them.
The benefits are endless, from reducing anxiety and fearful behaviors like cat biting and hissing, to giving them a better chance at a long, healthy life.
So how do you socialize a kitten? Follow t
Protecting Pets During Hot Summer Months
There’s a lot to love about summer. Longer days and warmer temperatures mean it’s a great time to get outside – especially with our pets. Most owners – and their pets – look forward to summer. But the season does come with certain hazards for pets. Pet owners should be aware of these increased risks during summer months and should know what proactive steps to
Tularemia is a bacterial disease that affects people and many species of wild and domestic animals. It is caused by toxins in the blood produced by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. The bacteria can survive for weeks or months in a moist environment. There are 3 types of organisms that differ based on the severity of the disease they produce. Type A is most likely to cause severe disease and is found most commonly in North America. Disease res
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. The disease affects practically all species of vertebrates, and, before control measures were adopted, was a major disease of humans and domestic animals. Signs and lesions are generally similar in the various species. Tuberculosis is uncommon in cats in North America.
There are several species of bacteria that cause tuberculosis. Each type is
Trichinellosis is a parasitic disease that can be transmitted to people. It is caused by a type of worm known as a nematode. The name of the disease comes from the scientific name for the worm, Trichinella spiralis. Humans become infected when they eat undercooked infected meat, usually pork or bear, although other meats can also be responsible. Natural infections occur in wild meat-eating animals; most mammals are susceptible.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that infects humans and other warm-blooded animals. It has been found worldwide. Wild and domestic felines (members of the cat family) are the only definitive hosts of the parasite. Infected cats can transmit the disease to humans and other animals.
There are 3 infectious stages of Toxoplasma gondii: tachyzoites (rapidly multipl
Tetanus toxemia is caused by a specific toxin, or poison, that blocks the transmission of inhibitory nerve signals, resulting in severe contractions of muscles and exaggerated muscle responses to stimuli. The toxin is produced by Clostridium tetani bacteria in dead tissue. Almost all mammals are susceptible to this disease, although cats seem much more resistant than other domestic animals.
Clostridium tetani
Q fever (coxiellosis) is an infection caused by Coxiella burnetii bacteria that rarely causes noticeable illness in animals. It can be passed from animals to people, however. Transmission to people usually occurs by direct or indirect contact with the bacteria that are shed in large numbers in the placenta and birth fluids of ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Other wild and domestic animals, including cats, can also play a role in the sp
Plague is a sudden and sometimes fatal bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis. It is transmitted primarily by the fleas of rats and other rodents. This is the disease, often called the Black Death, that swept through Asia and then Europe in the 14th century. Over 25 million people (one third of the population) died of this disease in Europe between 1347 and 1352. Devastating outbreaks of this disease recurred with regularity throughout the ne