Purina Cat Chow: Cat Care Center: Adult Cat Care Center

Physical. Emotional. Complete.® - That's the Purina® Cat Chow® Way of Life®

They're all grown up—it's time to start treating, and feeding, them that way. Just because they're older, however, doesn't mean they're completely self-sufficient. Adult cats have nutritional needs particular to their life stage just as kittens and senior cats do, and they need your help to meet them. The CatChow.com Adult Care Center will clue you in on what you need to know.

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Topic: General Health

Consulting a Veterinarian

Are You Allergic to Your Cat?

Common Cat Ailments

Administering Medication

Facts and Fallacies Concerning Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

My cat chews on anything that is plastic. Is this bad for him?

My cat is shedding like crazy. He has several spots that are almost bald. What can I do?

My cat is missing some fur in front of her ears. Is there something wrong? What can I do?

Is it possible for a neutered male cat to spray and not have the usual urine smell?

What is the normal temperature range for a neutered two-year-old male cat?

I like the scoopable cat litters; however, they give you the impression that it is not necessary to clean the litter box, but rather, you just add more litter. Is this true? How often should I wash my cat’s litter box? Can cats actually get sick from an unclean box?

I have two cats - 13 and 6 years old. They are definitely second floor apartment cats. I have not given them their shots for two years now and they seem to be fine. Please advise!

With the onset of cold weather our cat gets shocked whenever she brushes against people, door frames, etc. Is there anything that we can do to help get rid of some of the static? I feel terrible that she may be hurt every time it happens!

Does a cat’s age compare to that of a dog (1 year equals 7 years)? If not, how is a cat’s age calculated?

Why does my cat like to eat grass?

My cat’s feces have a very bad odor. Is there something I can do about it?

Do cats get headaches?

How common is it for a cat to be born with a bobbed tail?

Can I expect to train my 8-week-old kitten to urinate outside right away? How long do I need the litter box? Suggestions in this training?

Are Christmas trees (needles) poisonous to cats?

How long can I leave a cat alone if I am away without being checked in on?

With the holidays coming, I was wondering how long I can leave my cat alone with no one to check on him? This is of course assuring he has two litter boxes and enough food and water.

I've been told by many that moist food is not healthy for cats. Does it harm the kidneys in any way - depending on the cat's age?

We have constructed an insulated shelter/box for our three outdoor cats. We were considering installing a light bulb for warming purposes. Will the light affect the cats' sleep pattern or have any other negative effects upon their health?

What are the effects of acepromazine, and for what conditions is it used?

My cats like to be outdoors during the day and sleep in the house at night. How cold is too cold to leave them outside all day while I am at work?

We have a male polydactyl cat. We would like to breed him to produce polydactyl kittens. Should we try to find a female polydactyl? Or, can we breed him with a regular female?

I've heard that its possible to toilet train cats. I'm wondering if its possible to toilet train an adult cat, as opposed to starting as a kitten. If so, what kind of time commitment would be required, and how difficult would this be?

I would like to know what are the vaccinations for a 4 month old kitten and a 5 year old cat, other than the obvious rabies shot?

I am taking care of a male Siamese mix for a month. When he was dropped off, he smelled rather rank, reminded me of skunk. After a few days, the odor subsided. One day, he had a confrontation with a neighborhood Tom. When I picked him up, he had the odor again. A friend suggested the Siamese cats have special glands that produce this smell as part of their defense. Is this accurate?

I applied a deep heating rub to my elbows and the cats went nuts from the smell - almost like it was a catnip for them, yet they were a bit more aggressive and nipped at me. They would also lick the sheets or my hand or wherever they smelled the scent. Will licking an area where the ointment has been applied (or rubbed off onto) hurt my cats from being ingested and secondly, what causes them to behave in this manner?

What are the symptoms of urinary tract infections in female cats/kittens?

Are there any vitamins/minerals that will help to strengthen a cat’s immune system?

Are heart murmurs are common in kittens, and what kind of treatments might be necessary?

How hot is too hot for a cat? We like to turn the air off during the day, but I don't want our indoor cat to get too hot in Florida.

Our young cat cannot jump. After x-rays our vet indicated our cat has "shallow hips." After speaking with a veterinary orthopedic surgeon, he placed our cat on glucosamine and recommends follow up x-rays in 6 months. Can you tell us more about this condition and future implications with or without surgery? (i.e. conditions that the cat may be more susceptible to).

Do a cat's back paws need to be clipped? My cat does not like them being touched and I don't want to force the issue if I don't have to.

Our declawed cat has protein growths on her paws. We don't know if it is ok to clip them off or leave them alone. They are large enough to make a clicking sound when she walks on hard surfaces. We thought she would trim them on her own, but she's not. Any suggestions?

My cat, for over a year now, rubs his tongue against his upper teeth in a manner like he has something stuck in his mouth. After examining him there is nothing evident. Also, I feel a small lump on his throat similar to a humans "Adam's Apple" - do cats have one or is this something I need to be concerned about.

A family friend has been taking care of stray cats for years. Recently, a female with a cold "found" them and they took her to have her fixed. She died when the vet put her under anesthesia. How does anesthesia affect cats/animals and how does that differ from humans? Do animals die under anesthesia often? Should I be concerned about my cats and future surgeries?

I have a black male cat and we live where both heat and humidity is high. What signs should I look for overheating and too much sun?

I want to have the micro chip put into my 2 year old cat and my 3 month Pomeranian but I have been told that when there is lightning or if you walk your dog under electrical lines it can agitate even hurt the animal. Can you please tell me if that is true?

My boyfriend and I both smoke (I know it's horrible) and we have a wonderful indoor cat named Frisco. He is three years old and seems happy enough. Anyway, I was wondering how second hand smoke affects cats. We keep the windows open whenever we do smoke and do our best to see that we are not in the same room with Frisco. Can the smoke cause him to get cancer, like in humans?

We have three indoor cats and one indoor/outdoor cat. Do all four cats require heartworm prevention? Could our outdoor cat bring something in? All four use a different litter box and our outdoor cat usually goes to the bathroom outside. All four are current on their shots and the only thing we use is Advantage for fleas.

My cat is 12 yrs.old and has frequent diarrhea. A stool culture tested negative for any parasites. I was told to feed him a bland, dry cat food. Any recommendations?

Is the new Capstar pill safe and is it as effective as Frontline Topspot, and how do the two products differ in price?

I own several cats and I have heard that when owning many cats the health of the cats suffer. Is this true? I want my cats to have playmates but how many is too many?

The region in which I live has recorded a record number of scorpions. I have in fact found a few inside of my house and my 2-year-old cat seems very curious about these strange creatures. My question is thus, what do I need to know if my cat is stung by a scorpion and are they lethal?

Are cats or kittens able to pick up illness from humans, such as mono?

How do I keep my cats cool in hot weather?

Sulfur taken in small amounts is used as a holistic remedy by humans to repel ticks. Would minute/trace amounts of sulfur have the same effect on mature cats?

The mosquito virus in Florida, is it harmful to my cats and dogs? The mosquitoes are bad this summer.

Can a cat get laryngitis?

Looking all over for the answer to one question. How much phosphorus is too much? I know that excess phosphorous can cause renal failure in cats and from what I've seen in comparisons is that Purina Cat Chow has the most of the commercial brands. I hope you don't work for Purina and if you do please tell me the truth. I love my cat very much.

Years ago, my mother had an Australian Shepard that had to be put down because there was something wrong with his brain. The dog was about three years old. When talking to the vet, he said that the color of his eyes should have been a giveaway regarding the animal’s mental health. The dog’s eyes were a warm brown topaz color. I have a tiger stripe cat with the same color eyes. Is this something I should worry about in the future? He is a 1 year old neutered male. Can you tell an animal's mental disposition by the color of its eyes?

My cat, a 4-month-old male, has a problem with gas. He positively stinks! Is there anything I can do? I've tried changing food, but that doesn't seem to help.

Our cat is 17 years old and recently broke her jaw, which was surgically fixed. Can you tell by a cat’s eyes if they are not feeling well?

How can you tell if your cat is sick?

How can you tell when your cat is not feeling well?

What kinds of home treatments are available for a sneezing kitten? (recently adopted from the SPCA).

How can you tell if your kitten/cat is full-grown?

I believe a black recluse spider bit my cat. Have you ever encountered this? And if so what are the symptoms?

I have a cold now. How do I tell if I gave it to my cat? Can I give it to my cat?

I've put a lot of thought into this question and I wanted to know what I could do to be a better cat owner. My friend said that I'm not a good cat person, because I had a stray cat and I kind of scared it and my friend said that I wasn't good to house cats, but am good to stray cats. I have a cat name Sapphire and I want to be the best cat person ever. My question is how do I be the best cat person?

Can you tell me anything about cerebral hypoplasia? Can a cat live a long life? Any other problems associated with it?

Can pets suffer from emotional and psychological problems like humans? Can they have ADD or maybe hyperactivity? If you can give me some information I would greatly appreciate it!

My children put cologne (aftershave) on our family cat. Is this harmful to his health and what can I do to help him? I have given him a shower to wash it off. But he licked at some of it before I got him in the shower.

What is the normal heart rate for a cat?

How should I hold a senior cat so that he will be comfortable?

Is a cat's tail their way of balance?

Do you ever use herbs to solve pet’s problems? I use Green tea to clean my cats ears and for ear mites.

My little 1-1/2 year old Boo likes wood, twigs and other branches that I'll bring in for her from outside (she's an indoor apartment kitty). My concern is splinters, is it safe for her to be chewing the branches or should we stick with the regular carpeted scratching posts.

Our newest cat was given to us by friends. She's wonderful and healthy except that she doesn't have a tail! Our vet thinks she's 8 or 9 months old so we have no way of knowing how she lost her tail. Are there any problems we should look for? Will she have any trouble with jumping or balance?

I will be painting my home soon and want to know if there is any danger in painting with my cat in the house. I live in a condo and don't want to make him sick.

I had always thought that tail swishing from a cat was a sign of aggression or that they are upset, like a warning. However, my male 9-month-old kitten was cuddling with me today and purring was almost asleep in fact in my arms. He was swishing his tail back and forth though at the same time, almost wagging it like a dog; did this mean he was happy? He seemed very content. Can they also do this as a sign of happiness?

I study in a college, and I’m working on an investigation about the good results of assisted therapy with animals, but hear there is not much information about that. Please send me information on that topic.

My vet recommended additional vitamin C in my 10 year old female cats diet (to help combat urinary tract infection). He said that I should try to get her to drink cranberry juice. She isn't drinking it on her own, do you have any suggestions for me?

Is the movement of my cats tail voluntary/involuntary? (Do they use it to play with other animals i.e.)?

Can kittens get parvo?

Why does it seem like my cat's tail hasn't grown with her? She's so big and it just seems too small for her.

What causes inguinal ring hernias in female cats and do they always require surgery to repair it? How likely is it their intestines can become strangulated without surgery to correct this kind of hernia? Is this surgery more risky for an otherwise healthy 14 year old cat?

Can my cat's tail be broken if it got stuck in a door?

Is there anything you can give your cat for gas?

I have a one-year-old male red point Siamese kitten/cat. He is extremely healthy & playful. However, he only likes to play with those little fur mice or other fur-covered toys (rather than balls or feathers). He usually plays with them until they are completely shredded (in under one day), and then eats the pieces of fur. I am pretty sure that this isn't too good for him, but hate to take away his favorite play toys. Our vet said it was "hunting behavior" but that he shouldn't be eating the toys. Any thoughts?

I know that female dogs are typically more independent and less lovable than male dogs. What are the personality and behavioral differences between male and female cats?

A pregnant cat adopted us. She has a bobbed tail. I assumed that she had lost it in an accident, but one of the kittens was born just like her. The tails are about one third to one forth as long as one would expect, about three inches on the adult. What causes this?

Can a cat break its tail? I have a 5 year old cat and an 8 month old kitten who like to play and I think that something happened to my older cat's tail because he just drags it around on the floor. When he is happy and tries to raise it, part of it droops over. Is there anything I can do for him?

I have a 7-month-old kitten who purrs extremely loud, almost like he is intentionally making noise. He often sounds like he is under water or has some sort of fluid when he purrs.

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