Cleaning Cat Ears

Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you." Or maybe your cats won't come when they are called because they can't hear you. It is probably time to learn how to clean your cat's ears. Ear cleaning is an important part of your cat's grooming and overall health care. You can avoid some serious problems by learning how to clean your cat's ears or by having a vet or professional groomer do it for you.

Let's begin with a quick cat anatomy review, so you're familiar with all the parts of a cat's ear.

• The Outer Ear: Also known as the pinna or ear flap. This is the visible part of the cat's ear and it is usually upright with a pointed tip. Some breeds are an exception, such as the Scottish Fold, which has a floppy ear.
• Ear Canal: This is a two inch tube-shaped organ that leads to the eardrum. The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is the essential part of the cat's hearing. The eardrum vibrates when it picks up sound.
• Inner Ear: The part of the cat that's responsible for maintaining equilibrium and balance.

It's safe to assume that your cat is probably not going to look forward to his ear cleaning episode. Following a few simple steps can make the process quicker and easier for both you and your pet. You do not need to clean your cat's ears constantly, but you should check them every other month and be aware of symptoms that might indicate problems with your cat's ear health. The most common problem for cats is a parasitic infestation from ear mites. If you notice your cat scratching his ears excessively or shaking his head, this may be a sign of ear mites or another type of ear infection. A trip to the vet will be necessary.

Supplies You Will Need For Cat Ear Cleaning:

• Ear cleaning solution
• Cotton balls or swabs
• Warm water
• A plastic eyedropper
• Large towel for swaddling a nervous, squirming cat

Step-By-Step For Easy Ear Cleaning:

• Always have your veterinarian examine your cat's ears first before you attempt to clean them yourself.
• Clean the ear with a ceruminolytic (de-waxing) agent. Ear cleaning solutions for a cat can be found at any pet store.
• Hold the cat in your lap swaddled in a towel
• Fold the cat's ear back so that the ear canal is accessible
• Fill the ear with de-waxer solution and massage the ear gently
• Release your cat for about five minutes giving him time to shake his head.

The solution will help loosen any wax so you can remove it more easily. You probably want to have all the doors to the room closed, as the first reaction your cat is going to have once you release him is to take off.

• Wipe the inside of your cat's ear with gauze or a cotton swab
• Never used a cotton tipped applicator! (Q-Tip). You may accidently puncture your cat's ear drum with this type of tool, so it is much safer to stick to cotton swabs.

If you have never cleaned your cat's ears, you should be observant of symptoms that may indicate an ear mite infestation or other infection. Some things to look for include redness, discharge, small black spots that resemble coffee grounds, odor, scratching or head shaking. Normal ear wax will be light brown. Any kind of liquid discharge from your cat's ears is serious and you should contact your vet immediately.

Fast Facts About Cat's Ears:

• There are hundreds of ear cleaning and ear mite products for your cat. Most are available through your pet store or on the Web. Ask your vet to recommend a solution so that you are confident you're purchasing the most effective product.
• Dogs are more prone to ear infections than cats
• Persian cats are more prone to ear infections than other cat breed
• The external canal (Otis Externa) is where most infections occur in a cat
• Chronic ear infections are extremely serious and can close a cat's ear canal. If this happens it will probably require surgery.

If you have an indoor cat and it is your only pet, it will be less likely to catch a contagious infestation such as ear mites. It's still a good idea to gently clean your cat's ears from time to time and be aware of the signs that could indicate a problem.

Source: http://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/cleaning-cat-ears

Raffle Winner

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SlimCat Giveaway with Purchase of Hills Diet Food

Do you have a tubby tabby? We can help! SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser is a playful way to distribute an adjustable amount of dry food when the cat plays with it. Cats that are overweight can particularly benefit from SlimCat. Receive a FREE SlimCat Ball with the purchase of a 17 pound bag of Hills Metabolic Prescription Diet food! Come into The Cat Practice NOLA today to take advantage of this great offer and sure to SHARE this post with your friends and family!

6 Common Cat Health Problems

Cats are good at self-maintenance, but even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of the more common cat diseases and health issues. To help you care for kitty, here's a brief overview of six of the most common cat health problems.

Common Cat Health Problem: Vomiting

Vomiting is a very common cat health problem, with causes ranging from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes.

Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. And, because it's hard for a pet owner to tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation, collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet.

Common Cat Health Problem: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

About 10% of cats brought to the vet have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes.

Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight, unfit, or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has. FLUTD symptoms include:

• Straining to urinate
• Bloody urine
• Urinating in unusual places
• Crying when urinating
• Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain)
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting

It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem.

Common Cat Health Problem: Fleas

Fleas are a very common external feline health problem, but one you can treat easily. Signs your cat has fleas include:

• Flea dirt on their skin (they look like tiny black dots)
• Constant scratching
• Frequent licking
• Red or irritated skin
• Hair loss
• Skin infections or hot spots

Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations.

Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication.

Common Cat Health Problem: Tapeworms

One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine, sometimes growing as long as two feet.

Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle, but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms, or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms.

Treatment options include injection or oral medication, but because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms.

Common Cat Health Problem: Diarrhea

Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including hairballs, spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more.

Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or even months.

If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration, then remove kitty's food for no more than 12-24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day, or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, or if you cat is straining to defecate.

Common Cat Health Problem: Eye Problems

Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease.

A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.

Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet.

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SOURCES: American Veterinary Medical Association: "External Parasites," "What is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease?" 

Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County: "About FLUTD. 

"Veterinary Partner: "Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)." "Vomiting and Diarrhea." 

Suevet.com: "Cat Vomiting." 

ASPCA: “Fleas," “Worms," “Diarrhea," “Top Tips for Keeping Kitty's Eyes Healthy.” 

©2011 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

Cat-Friendly Treat Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup of hamburger

½ teaspoon shrimp paste (see Asian food section of your local grocery store)

¼ cup shelled shrimp, washed in hot water, and minced

½ teaspoon catnip

Directions:

Mix shrimp paste with the catnip and then hand work it into the hamburger.

Add minced shrimp to the hamburger mix and make into little meatballs.

These can be fed raw, or baked at 425° F for 10 minutes.

Cats & Car Engines

Have you heard about the danger of car engines for outdoor cats? Our car engines often stay warm for hours after our cars have been shut off, making the perfect warm place for an outdoor cat to sleep. If a car is started while a cat is lying on the engine, the cat could be injured or killed! Always knock on the hood of your car before you start it…you could save a life!

Thank You Card

We received this incredible Thank You card for having provided care to Lunis. Lunis was spayed and got up-to-date on her vaccines and was put on heartworm prevention. Lunis is a happy cat now!