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Cats with fleas can be a problem for virtually any home with pets. If your cat has fleas, those fleas can easily spread to other animals in your home and may even end up biting you and the other people in the house as well. Additionally, they will be distracting and uncomfortable for your pet. Thus, there are many reasons to take precautions to ensure that you deal with fleas as soon as they come up, if not beforehand. While there are a number of chemical treatments for fleas, many people prefer to avoid these in favor of safer and more environmentally sound homeopathic remedies. Read on for some of these remedies.

1. Cleaning the Outdoors

Fleas will enter your home from outside. In many cases, they will attach themselves to a pet or to a person who is outdoors and will then come inside and populate a home. By keeping your outdoor areas free of fleas, you’ll help to reduce the infestation inside as well. Sweep up all brush and debris in areas where your pets will spend time. You may even wish to vacuum up your deck or patio in order to help ensure that no fleas can live there. In addition to these measures, you may wish to keep your pet indoors more of the time.

2. Vacuum the House Regularly

The vacuum is a great remedy against fleas indoors as well. Vacuum up your carpets, rugs, and furniture regularly. This helps to ensure that the fleas and flea eggs that are there will be eliminated before they can cause any problems. By vacuuming every few days when you have flea problems, you can help to dramatically reduce the flea population and keep your pet’s clear.

3. Bring in Spiders

Although many people are not fans of spiders, these bugs are great as a way of keeping out a variety of other pests. Spiders thrive on eating other bugs, including fleas. By introducing a few spiders into your home (and by ensuring that you don’t eliminate them when you see them later on), you can introduce a predator to the flea population that will help to get rid of these nuisances.

4. White Vinegar

White vinegar naturally repels fleas. Mix a bit of white vinegar in with water and collect the solution in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the surfaces of furniture that may have fleas on it.

5. Hydrogen Peroxide

Give your pet a hydrogen peroxide bath in order to help prevent fleas from being able to take hold of his body. When you do this, however, be sure that you don’t get the hydrogen peroxide in his eyes, nose, or mouth. A regular bath every few days will help to keep the flea population down and the fleas off of your pet’s body.

For additional ideas about how to deal with fleas on your cat with homeopathic means, consult with your vet.

What is cat diarrhea?

To start with, it is worth saying what cat’s diarrhea actually is. When can we be sure that the diagnosis will confirm diarrhea in the cat, and not e.g. changes in stool caused by nutritional or stress factors? First of all, diarrhea in a cat is diagnosed when the animal has a bowel movement with loose, often watery or mucous stools more often than before, usually from 5-6 times a day.

It is worth remembering that cat’s diarrhea is always only a symptom, not a disease in itself. Stopping diarrhea does not cure the animal, but it is helpful to prevent dehydration or improve a cat’s mood.

Diarrhea in a cat can take several forms. A mild form occurs when the cat gives stools in limited quantities, although they are typically diarrheal; in addition, there are no other symptoms such as apathy, reluctance to eat or apathy. The acute form is sudden diarrhea with frequent, abundant bowel movements, in which, for example, blood appears quickly, and the animal clearly loses strength, refuses to eat; this symptom progresses very quickly. In turn, chronic diarrhea lasts longer than a few days, it may not give additional symptoms or give them to moderate intensity.

Cat’s diarrhea – causes

There can be many causes of diarrhea, so it is difficult for the owner himself, without adequate knowledge and diagnostic tools, to assess what causes it. Diarrhea in a cat is especially dangerous when it occurs in acute form and it happens to the outgoing cat; the basic suspicion is then consuming something poisonous. It can be both a poison scattered on purpose, as well as, for example, a plant that is toxic to cats or a chemical substance used for spraying. In the case of poisoning, additional symptoms often occur, e.g. vomiting, blood in stools, neurological symptoms. The cat’s condition deteriorates quickly, which is why intervention by a veterinarian is necessary and should be urgent.

One of the causes of mild diarrhea is … a change in nutrition. Giving a cat other food than before or something that is not poisonous to him, but caused irritation of the digestive system – e.g. cow’s milk – often causes diarrhea.

Sometimes diarrhea is one of the signs of infection. It often occurs with other symptoms, e.g. vomiting, fever. In this case, a visit to the veterinarian is necessary to find out what’s wrong with the cat and to introduce appropriate treatment. Chronic diarrhea as the only symptom of the disease often indicates chronic diseases, especially those related to the intestines, liver or pancreas. Diagnostics are necessary in this case.

The cat has diarrhea – what to do?

To start with, it’s worth just observing the animal. If diarrhea is mild, it is often enough, because it can disappear on its own – especially if it is caused by e.g. a change in karma or temporary indigestion – and in addition, does not cause any side effects in the form of e.g. dehydration. With acute diarrhea, it is worth going to the veterinary office quickly, especially if the animal disappears in the eyes. In turn, chronic diarrhea should be diagnosed if it does not occur, e.g. as a side effect of treatment. In this case, it’s worth mentioning to your veterinarian.

What can we do if the cat has diarrhea and we want to help him with home remedies? Nothing much. If you want to give any diarrhea preparation, it is good to ask about it in the veterinary office in advance to find out, among others for the correct dosage or combination with other drugs in the case of chronic diseases. As part of home methods, it is good to encourage the animal to simply drink water regularly – this will prevent severe dehydration. If the animal has moderate appetite and thirst, we can crush cooked chicken meat in water with the addition of a smooth sauce from a sachet for cats – this should encourage the animal to eat.

Regardless of the circumstances, it is good to plan a visit to the veterinarian. He should routinely examine the animal to see if the case was one-off and what are the causes of diarrhea.

Cat diarrhea – treatment

Cat’s diarrhea is a disease symptom, which is why its treatment is also symptomatic. Usually, preparations limiting the number of stools are used, and in the case of dehydration, also subcutaneous infusions or intravenous drips strengthening the cat’s body.

Usually, it is said that cats don’t like changing their environment and that transporting them everywhere, can cause large amounts of stress that you should avoid. Going on holiday with your cat isn’t always easy. But there are some breeds that are better suited to the constant travelling.

First of all, you have to know that the main caracteristic of a cat able to travel is its capacity to adapt to new situations and surroundings. A cat that is usually relaxed and confident should tolerate the change easier than a more nervous one. Therefore, here are 5 breeds of cat known for being good travel companions.

The Chartreux

The Chartreux is a cat able to easily adapt to new situations. The nickname for the Chartreux is « soft giant » as males can weigh upto 6 kg (females are slightly lighter). Usually, they get along well with all other animals as well as children.

The Tiffany

The Tiffany makes for a great travel companion because of its calm and easy-going nature. They need a small, daily brushing but they are very strong, healthy cats with lots of love in them.

The japanese Bobtail

The japanese Bobtail is a confident, inteligent and energetic cat that easily adapts to new environments. Its ability to get used to new surroundings, people and animals makes it the ideal travelling partner. They are very healthy cats that symbolise luck for the Japanese.

The Pixiebob

The Pixiebob can seem a bit wild and savage, but it can develop very strong bonds with its family and loves travelling in the car. The Pixie-Bob is also known for easily walking with a lead and loving to play. These caracteristics make it a particularly appealing cat, and some people go as far to say that they have the character of a dog.

The Scottish Fold

The Scottish Fold has a soft and affectious character. Its relaxed cold-blooded nature allows it to adapt to new situation easily, which is needed in a travel partner. Furthermore, they get along well with other animals, as well as dogs and children. However, this breed of cat does need a certain level of maintenance. Regular brushing and cleaning of the ears is all part of owning one of these cats.

Advice for travelling with your cat

Whatever the breed of the cat, you have to make sure it is safe when travelling with you. In the car, your cat has to be safely attached and locked in a cage: even cats used to travel can escape from your vehicle if you open the door or can decide it’s a good idea to take a nap under the brake pedal.

Also, in case of an accident, if your cat isn’t restrained, it could end up flying and breaking through the windscreen.

Remember that your cats hearing is very sensitive and as a result won’t appreciate you blasting your music as loud as possible.

If you’re travelling in a plane, choose a company that allows you to bring your cat inside the cabin and make sure you receive the reservation confirmation for you but also your cat. Your cat can also travel in the baggage area in a specially designed carrier.

Finally, remember that your cat needs its own bags as well as its essential carrier cage : a water bowl and another for water (the ones its used to), a litter tray and a toy. You could also bring a Feliway diffuser which spreads calming hormones. Keep in mind that changes of food or water can lead to digestive troubles. And that water isn’t necessarily drinkable

SHE SIGHTS A BIRD EMILY DICKINSON

In She Sights a Bird Emily Dickinson describes the tension of a cat about the pounce…

She sights a Bird—she chuckles—
She flattens—then she crawls—
She runs without the look of feet—
Her eyes increase to Balls—

Her Jaws stir—twitching—hungry—
Her Teeth can hardly stand—
She leaps, but Robin leaped the first—
Ah, Pussy, of the Sand,

The Hopes so juicy ripening—
You almost bathed your Tongue—
When Bliss disclosed a hundred Toes—
And fled with every one—

For more brilliant cat poems please click here.

Once upon a time, a very pretty white persian was born in Cape Town, right down at the bottom of Africa.
Her breeder thought she was so pretty she showed her picture around the world.

A very kind lady called Sally in the USA fell in love with her and asked to buy her. We called her Cleocatra as she was from Africa.

As she had to have a rabies shot she could not be flown until she was 5 months old. So Sally and the breeder kept in touch and exchanged pictures.

Cleocatra at 12 weeks old

Eventually the day arrived when Cleo had to be shipped to the USA to her new home.

Picture taken an hour before she was shipped

Her breeder very sadly took her to the airport on a Friday afternoon as she was due to fly overnight to Amsterdam where she would be fed and watered and then put on a connecting flight to Boston USA the next day to arrive on Saturday night 11pm  -South African time.
We had arranged that Sally’s sister in law would email the breeder to tell her of the safe arrival of Cleo. The breeder anxiously downloaded her email only to get the message that Cleo was not on the flight.!!

Pandemonium reigned as it was now 2am in South Africa and no one from the airline could be found to find out where Cleo was. Amsterdam was phoned and we were told she was not there and not on the incoming flight either.
After a harrowing night we finally got hold of the airline to find they had forgotten to send Cleo on her flight! She had sat on Cape Town airport for 24 hours and then was put on the next days flight to Amsterdam. Amsterdam was again phoned and confirmed she was in the animal hotel and well. Apparently a security guard had found her in a holding room  at Cape Town airport and fed and watered her with the food the breeder had fortunately attached to the carrier
Poor Cleo finally arrived in Boston Sunday night at midnight (SA time).60 hours  after leaving home. She then faced a 6 hour drive home with her new owner. The poor thing had severe diarrhea in the car.
She settled down quickly in her new home tho’ diarrhea continued to be a problem and she had picked up a new habit of putting her whole face in her water bowl.  Her new owner said she sometimes seemed a little sad. So her breeder recorded a little voice message for Cleo and emailed it to her owner. This is what happened.

Apparently her eyes lit up and she got all excited.

Pretty soon Cleo went to her first show where she got 5th best Kitten!

Cleo being comforted by a friend

So time goes on and Cleo is very happy with her new caring owner and pretty soon she will go on show as an adult. We will update her story as time goes by.

5/6/2000

Cleo makes CFA Champion!!