Dental Care
•I can't stress enough the importance of getting regular dental checkups for your cat, especially if they're older and/or dealing with a chronic illness.
•Pain and inflammation in a cat’s mouth can make it hard for them to eat or drink, and the bacteria can even enter their bloodstream, damaging their kidneys, heart and other vital organs.
•This progressive destruction of gums, teeth and the structures that hold teeth in place is called "periodontal disease" and is the most common disease of older cats.
•These problems can largely be prevented with regular cleanings, etc. If your cat is older and has health issues, any treatment that requires anesthesia, can be risky, so again, please schedule regular cleanings with a qualified vet when your cat is healthy!
•If your older or sick cat does however require anesthesia during a procedure, it's recommended that you choose a vet with advanced proficiency in dental care. This helps to minimize any problems that may occur during treatment.
Exercise
•As cats age and especially when they're dealing with a chronic illness, it's still important to try to induce some daily exercise. When cats are exercising, they’re helping to maintain a healthy weight, and keeping their joints nice and loose.
•Cats are most active at dawn and dusk, so scheduling play around these times may help to keep them more interested. You can also schedule playtime around their meals so that you can incorporate food into their daily routine.
•Play sessions should be about 10-15 minutes each and should range from 2-3 daily sessions for older cats if possible.
•Personally, I find that the laser pen is a great source of exercise. I love watching them spin around in circles and chase that little "red bug" around the house whenever possible.
•Keeping a few mice toys or even some small silver foil balls on the floor is also a great way to keep them occupied when you're not around.
Grooming
•Cats do an excellent job of keeping themselves clean. However, it's still a good idea to brush a cat on a daily basis, (especially a long-haired cat) as this helps to minimize hairballs and matting.
•It's also important to keep you cat's nails trimmed every 2-3 weeks if possible. It's best if you can learn to do this at home when they're kittens. Otherwise, a groomer or vet tech can easily handle this.
•Be careful not to cut into their little veins by accident!
Hairballs
•To help control occasional hairballs, try offering your cat a little Laxatone. Apply about a 1/4 teaspoon of the gel to a spoon every 3 days, and they'll lick it right off. The Tuna and Catnip flavors tend to be the preference.
•WARNING - In my cat's 20th year, I eventually had to stop giving him the Laxatone, as his poop developed a sticky film around it and caused occasional dingleberries and some scooting in the process. As it turns out, the Laxatone's sticky quality had helped to clog up his anal sacs (image). He subsequently needed a visit to the vet to express (article) the anal sacs. Not a very expensive procedure, but it certainly was a little uncomfortable for him.
•Here's a short 17 second video of a vet expressing a cat's anal glands.
Litter Boxes
•Having more than one litter box in a home is very important. Even for one cat, and especially for multiple cats. I know it seems like more to tend to, but giving your cats a choice may actually help to avoid the dreaded "out of box" accidents. And believe me, it's certainly no fun trying to get urine out of a carpet!
•Clumping litter seems to be the easiest to clean and dispose of. I also did away with the typical plastic scoop, as they tend to stink after a while. I now just use disposable rubber gloves and place the waste in a small plastic bag for disposal. It's the easiest method I've used so far!
•For the litter box itself, I recommend using a large high sided litter box to help keep the urine inside, in the event you have a cat that doesn't squat enough. This litter box has a lowered side in the front for easy access.
•I also like using Ever Clean Extra Strength Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter. It's 99.9% dust-free, and does a great job of clumping. It also helps to keep the litter box smelling great for up to 2 weeks!
•NOTE: With whatever clay litter you use, you can safely sprinkle some corn starch powder on the litter to help minimize the dust. This helps cats (and people) with dust allergies! Any corn starch will do, but I purchased an Argo product here. I also used a Stainless Steel Dredge to help sprinkle the corn starch evenly over the litter, then just stir in till it disappears into the litter. I'd use a 1/4 - 1/2 cup for fresh litter.
•One last thing I'd suggest, is taking a thick contractor sized trash bag and placing the litter box inside of it. Then just pour the litter in to make total cleanouts a breeze.
Heart Rate
•The normal heart rate in a cat at rest is between 160-200 beats per minute. You can count your cat's heart or pulse rate at home. Just place your hand over their chest just behind their elbow and try to count the number of beats in 15 seconds and then multiply it by 4.
•I like using a Stethoscope, as it really helps to hear their heartbeat a lot easier.
Respiration
•A resting cat will normally take 20-30 breaths every minute.
•Just count the number of breaths in 15 seconds, and then multiply it by 4.
Body Temperature
•The normal body temperature range for cats is between 100.5°F and 102.5°F. A fever is characterized by a temperature of more than 102.5°F, and anything over 103.5°F is considered a high fever and should be addressed immediately through your vet. There are two ways to take your cat's temperature; rectal and ear. I've seen vets use both ways, but it's much easier to use an ear thermometer at home.
•I've had great success with the Braun ThermoScan 7 – Digital Ear Thermometer. It's also great for kids and adults! If you don't have a thermometer at home, and you suspect that your cat may have a temperature, try feeling their ears. They should normally feel cool/warm. If they feel hot, your cat may have a fever. Also, keep in mind that a cat's ears normally feel warm/hot as they sleep, so it's better to feel them after they're wide awake for a bit.
•A warm dry nose is another sign that they may have a temperature. Their nose should normally be cool and wet.
Blood Pressure
•A normal blood pressure range for cats at rest is in the 120-140 mmHg range. BP is typically checked at a vet's office because of the specialty equipment used.
•Keep in mind that a cat's BP is sometimes higher in the vet's office, as they're usually nervous just being there.
