Category: cat

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5 Holistic Treatments for Cats You Should Know About

Cats tend to be independent creatures and do everything they can to hide their pain and suffering. Their instincts tell them that when they show that they are ill or injured, they are more susceptible to predators. Unfortunately, they cannot always heal their own illnesses and injuries, and they can’t always keep themselves safe from developing health problems.

That’s our job as pet owners. A veterinarian can help you ensure a happy and healthy life for your kitty, but they aren’t your only line of defense. Holistic treatments can play a beneficial role in your cat’s health as time goes on. Here are five holistic treatments for cats that you should be aware of.

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The 5 Holistic Treatments for Cats

1. Therapeutic Massage

Massage-of-the-cats-hind-leg_Ekaterina-Kuzovkova_Shutterstock
Image Credit: Ekaterina Kuzovkova, Shutterstock

This type of holistic treatment involves manipulating the body’s soft tissues to improve blood circulation and relieve stress. Therapeutic massage helps release endorphin hormones to help relieve pain due to injuries and problems such as arthritis. Just like for humans, massage can also help relieve muscle tension and stiffness and to release knots in tissue.

You can offer light massage sessions to your cat at home, but to reap the full benefits of therapeutic massage, we recommend working with a qualified and experienced veterinary massage therapist who understands the specific techniques and pressure points to focus on for optimal healing.

2. Acupuncture

Placing tiny needles in specific areas of your kitty’s body is an effective way to relieve pain and get rid of unnecessary body inflammation. These are not sewing needles, however, and this treatment should not be attempted at home. You should have a skilled professional administer veterinary acupuncture treatments to your cat in a controlled setting, where it is safe and secure.

During treatment, the service provider will place needles in areas where the body’s nerves and blood vessels meet to help stimulate blood circulation and treat problems such as kidney disease and arthritis. The number of treatments required for relief can vary depending on your cat’s condition.

3. CBD Oil

Human giving CBD Oil to cat
Image Credit: Lightcube, Shutterstock

With more than 100 active compounds, CBD oil is becoming a popular holistic treatment for anxiety in cats. It helps calm their mind and body without the psychoactive side effects that THC is known to generate. However, that’s not all it does. CBD oil is used by pet owners and veterinarians alike to treat problems such as inflammation, joint pain, and even epilepsy.

It’s important to point out that no official large studies have been done to verify the effectiveness of this treatment option. Anecdotal evidence is abundant, however. You should also know that giving your cat too much CBD oil at any given time can result in gastrointestinal distress.

CBD oil comes in liquid form and can be added to your kitty’s food or water bowl. Follow the package instructions for dosage or contact your veterinarian for guidance.

4. Flower Essences

If you are worried about your stressed-out cat, flower essences may be able to help the situation. Each flower essence does something different, so they can be used as standalone treatments or mixed and matched to create a custom treatment. Here are a few options to consider talking to your vet about:

  • Walnut — It helps cats adjust to big changes in their lives.

  • Cherry Plum — It reduces the urge to act aggressively.

  • Mimulus — It increases confidence in easily scared cats.

  • Chicory — It encourages more independence and less territorial behavior.

  • Star of Bethlehem — It helps cats recover from trauma.

You must source flower essences that are manufactured just for pets, to ensure that no ingredients are included that could harm them. Flower essences can be preserved with a variety of materials, including alcohol, so make sure you know exactly what is in a product before administering it to your cat. If you’re ever in doubt, call your vet for consultation.

5. Coconut Oil

coconut oil in wooden board
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Coconut oil can be used topically or internally as a holistic treatment for felines. When administered topically, coconut oil can improve the condition of your cat’s skin and coat, minimize itchiness, and reduce symptoms of skin allergies. When consumed internally, your cat can benefit from a boosted immune system, decreased body inflammation, and improved gut health.

You can rub a small amount of coconut oil on your cat’s skin where needed or add ½ a teaspoon or so of it to their food. Most cats enjoy licking coconut oil straight off a spoon. Some owners even use coconut oil as a natural toothpaste for their cats.

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Conclusion

Cats are hardy animals, but they are not immune to injuries, illnesses, and diseases. While veterinarian care is essential, the inclusion of holistic treatments can help keep your kitty healthy throughout their life without exposing them to the risks of side effects.

Sources

 

Featured Image Credit: Erin_Hinterland, Pixabay

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Do British Shorthair Cats Shed a Lot? What You Should Know!

Distinguished by their affable natures, large, stocky frames, and dense, plush coats, it’s no wonder British Shorthairs draw the attention of cat lovers the world over. But what are they like in terms of maintenance? Fortunately for current or prospective British Shorthair parents, these cats do not shed a lot and don’t require as much grooming as some other breeds.

All that being said, grooming is still an important part of the British Shorthair’s general care routine. Read on to find out more about British Shorthair cats’ coats and what they’re like to care for.

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British Shorthair Coat: The Basics

The British Shorthair has a short, dense coat and a vast number of coat colors and patterns are possible, including blue, black, red, lilac, and cream to name but a few. Patterns include but are not limited to tabby, calico, and tortoiseshell. According to the Cat Fanciers’ Association’s breed standard, British Shorthairs should not have double coats nor should they be “woolly” in texture.

British Shorthair
Image Credit: Alexas_Fotos, Pixabay

Do British Shorthairs Shed?

Though healthy British Shorthair cats do not shed heavily, like other cat breeds, they do shed seasonally. Shedding seasons are spring and fall, so don’t be alarmed if you spot your British Shorthair shedding more than usual during these times as long as they seem otherwise healthy.

In preparation for shedding seasons, it’s a good idea to acquire a lint roller and a shedding comb or brush to give your kitty a hand removing loose hairs on a daily basis. Work the comb or brush gently through the coat from head to tail, not forgetting the belly and chest. Be sure to brush your British Shorthair in the direction of the hair’s growth.

Outside of shedding seasons, you can brush your British Shorthair one or two times per week to distribute the skin’s natural oils throughout the coat and get rid of loose hairs. This helps improve and maintain your cat’s skin and coat condition.

Should I Bathe My British Shorthair?

Contrary to what some think, it’s not necessary to bathe your cat as a rule because they’re so adept at grooming themselves. Keeping up with a good brushing and grooming routine is sufficient for supporting a healthy skin and coat condition in most cases. This is great news for cat parents everywhere because, as we all know, bathing a cat can be stressful—to put it mildly—for both us and them.

The only occasions you might need to bathe your cat is if they get especially dirty for whatever reason or if your vet has recommended it. For some health conditions like skin problems, vets may prescribe pet-safe medicated shampoos to help treat your cat.

a person brushing the hair of a british shorthair cat
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Why Is My British Shorthair Losing Hair?

Though seasonal shedding in cats is perfectly normal, in some cases, hair loss can be caused by a medical condition. Watch out for symptoms like patchiness, dry, itchy skin, redness of the skin, bumpiness, and overgrooming.

In certain cases, non-skin-related medical conditions can cause hair loss in cats, so also keep an eye out for symptoms of illness including appetite changes, diarrhea vomiting, lethargy, urinating more, drinking more, and a swollen belly.

If you suspect that a medical condition might be causing your British Shorthair to lose more hair than usual, consult your vet to find out what may be behind it.

Conditions that can cause unusual or excessive hair loss in cats include (but are not limited to):

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Final Thoughts

To recap, British Shorthairs don’t shed a lot throughout the year but experience seasonal shedding during spring and fall. It’s normal for healthy British Shorthairs to lose more hair at these times and they’ll need daily brushing to keep things under control.

If you’re concerned because your British Shorthair is losing hair or has bald spots or other unusual symptoms, please get them checked by a vet so that they can be diagnosed and treated for potential underlying medical conditions as soon as possible.

Featured Image Credit: Oleksandr Volchanskyi, Shutterstock

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What to Feed a Cat With Cancer (Vet Answer)

Most of the time, when a cat has cancer, the question of what to feed them is not as important as how to feed them as well as how to get them to eat enough in the first place.

Getting a cat to eat enough is the biggest and most common challenge. Many cats lose their appetite because they do not feel well, are in pain, are stressed, or sometimes their medications and treatments have side effects.

Plus, even if we mean well, many cats do not like it when their diets change, and they can starve themselves if we are not careful. So, if you do change your cat’s diet when they are diagnosed with cancer, proceed with caution but be persistent with encouraging them to eat.

divider-catA Healthy Cat Diet

Cats need diets particularly high in fat and protein, and they need certain proteins that other animals (dogs and humans) do not need in their diet, such as taurine (a type of amino acid). Therefore, it’s important cats are not on human or dog diets and are always given a cat-specific food.

A healthy cat can be fed once or twice a day, but a cat with cancer may need to be fed more frequently. For example, 3–6 small meals can not only encourage a cat to eat more but also be easier to digest.

Sometimes, cats are grazers. Even when they are healthy, they eat small bits throughout the day. Most of the time, this is not a problem as long as they do not have a condition contraindicated with this feeding style, like diabetes or obesity.

British-shorthair-cat-eating
Image Credit: Chendongshan, Shutterstock

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The 5 Nutritional Steps to Caring for a Cat with Cancer

1. Encouraging a Cat to Eat

Small changes at home can help encourage a cat to eat. The first thing to consider is how to reduce stress and help a cat feel more comfortable eating.

Experiment with the following ideas to see if any help with your cat:

  • Keep the food away from the litter tray

  • Do not let other animals dominate the food bowls

  • Ensure easy access (a cat with cancer may no longer want to walk upstairs)

  • Offer both wet and dry food

  • Mix dry & wet food together

  • Offer smelly food

  • Warm food to body temperature (make sure it doesn’t burn them)

  • Make sure food is fresh

  • Feed in wide bowls that do not get in the way of whiskers

2. Positive Reinforcement

If your cat enjoys human company, you can feed them in the same room as the family. On the other hand, if they like their privacy try creating a secure and quiet place for them to eat alone.

Sometimes, particularly if your cat is very friendly, you can encourage them to eat by praising and petting them when they eat.

cat eating dry food on the floor
Image Credit: Elena Spac, Shutterstock

3. Hand Feeding

Hand feeding can also help encourage a cat to eat more. But be careful you are not force-feeding them. Cats can develop an aversion to food if they eat a certain food while they feel sick, and they may never eat it again.

4. Increasing Water Intake

Adding water to cat food is almost always a good thing to do. It can often encourage the cat to eat more. And it increases their water intake, which is also almost always a good thing. Think of it as making a cat-soup or a cat-gruel.

You can also make small changes to their water bowl to increase drinking, such as:

  • Make sure they have access to fresh water

  • Use a moving/bubbling water fountain

  • Offer both still and bubbling water

  • Have a water bowl in every room

  • Make sure other pets are not guarding the water

white Persian cat drinking from water bowl
Image Credit: Punyaphat Larpsomboon, Shutterstock

5. Selecting a Diet

If your cat is not eating, or losing weight, make sure every bite counts by offering high-calorie foods, comparing labels, and selecting the ones with more calories.

There are also many commercial diets that are specifically designed for this. They are usually called critical care diets and are so high in calories, proteins, and fats that they are not good to feed to healthy cats. But they are scientifically balanced for the special nutritional needs of cats, which can be hard to do with homemade diets.

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4 Types of Cancers in Cats and their Dietary Needs

1. Kidney Cancer

If a cat has kidney cancer, a diet low in protein and phosphate may help their kidneys function longer. However, for it to work, they need to exclusively eat the special diet, which means no treats, no human food, no stealing other cat’s food, and no hunting. This can be very difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.

Especially since many cats do not like it when their food changes, cats with kidney disease also are often nauseated and painful and not likely to eat anything. So, remember, be persistent.

Image Credit: JumpStory

2. Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas generates molecules that are actively crucial for metabolism, so depending on what part of the pancreas has cancer can significantly alter the nutritional and survival rates.

It is a complex organ. Cancer in the pancreas may need a low-fat diet for dogs; however, there is little evidence that this is true in cats. The pancreas is also responsible for generating insulin, which regulates glucose in the body. Therefore, it is vitally important to discuss diet with your veterinarian if your cat has cancer in its pancreas to get the specific diet just right.

3. Liver Cancer

Cancer in the liver rarely needs a special diet, and the goal is usually to ensure appropriate weight maintenance, making sure they eat enough and do not lose weight.

sick white cat lying on the floor
Image Credit: Iryna Mylinska, Shutterstock

4. Gastrointestinal Cancer

Cancer in the gastrointestinal tract may need special, individualized attention. Particularly since the GI tract is responsible for digestion, certain nutrients may simulate disease if there are intolerances or allergies.

Protein is important but many proteins are allergens. And, while many human diets recommend restricting fats, cats need more fat than humans; plus, fat is often an important way of increasing calories.

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Cancer’s Effect on Digestion

Cancer can also slow digestion and cause food to move along the GI tract slower, so offer food that is easy to digest and moves through quickly.

Ways to increase digestibility:

  • Small meals

  • Frequent meals

  • Watery and liquidized food

  • High in calories

  • Avoid known allergens & intolerances

It is also good to encourage gentle movement. Even the gentlest walk across the living room can help a cat’s digestive tract move along.

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Preventing weight loss and keeping an ideal weight is the main goal when feeding a cat with cancer. Find a cat-specific diet they want to eat and be persistent in encouraging them to eat.

If your cat is not eating despite all your best efforts, talk to your vet, they may be able to prescribe medication that can help reduce pain, anxiety, and nausea. And remember, sometimes eating anything is better than nothing.

Sources
  • Lindley, S., & Watson, P. (2010). BSAVA manual of canine and feline rehabilitation, supportive and palliative care: case studies in patient management. British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
  • Scherk, M., Little, S., Maddison, J. E., Murrell, J., Hibbert, A., & Taylor, S. BSAVA Manual of Feline Practice. A Foundation Manual. BSAVA British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

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