BBfaq

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

CURRENT DIET PLAN
My cattery is currently maintained primarily on Genesis Adult Cat Food. Prior to the introduction of Iams to grocery stores, I used this as 50% of the diet, but found that with the changes to the formula, there were severe problems with diarrhea, and I've been researching other brands. Genesis is an excellent food with no bi-products, but is not as commonly available. Other recommended foods are Nutro's Natural Choice, and Nutrients.
My vet advises that cats should have at least 2 meals a week of canned food. The hard kibble is harsh on their bowels, they can form cysts, which can rupture having blood in the stool, and scaring the heck out of the owner. Giving your cat a couple of canned meals a week will allow the bowels a chance to relax. I do not believe that it is critical to be very selective with the canned food, as this is not the main part of their diet, and afterall, most of us go to MacDonald's every now and then.
If you are going to feed your cat a different brand, then you must introduce it gradually, (over several days if possible) mixed with the regular diet. Although kittens adapt more easily than adults, sudden food changes will cause diarrhea.
When I first started breeding cats, I was buying a more economical cat food. On the advice of another breeder, I decided to try the more expensive foods. It became obvious within 2 weeks, that the change was far more nutritious, since the coats became much more relaxed and silky and stoped matting. The coat is the best indication of good health in your cat. Therefore, if you purchase the top end foods, your cat will be healthier (saving money on vet bills), you will spend less time and frustration on grooming your pet, and you will have less to clean up in the litter box.

TREAT YOUR CAT
Since cats are carnivorous, the best treats would be cooked meats; steak, beef, and especially chicken. However, beware you do not start to feed your cute little kitten from your plate as you will be encouraging bad habits. I also give my cats Pounce Treats for tarter control and occasionally a pinch of catnip.

CAN CATS SURVIVE ON A VEGETARIAN DIET?
NO! A cat who is only fed a vegetarian diet will always go blind from lack of taurine, and will become ill rapidly and die an extremely painful death. Taurine is an amino acid found only in animal flesh. Humans - and some other animals - can manufacture their own taurine, but cats cannot. Cats are natural carnivores. Meat is essential to their physical well being. They also need to get Vitamin A and arachidonic fatty acis from animal sources. The best source for Vitamin A for cats is liver and kidneys.

NEVER GIVE YOUR CAT
MILK - Whole milk is high in essential amino acids that humans need, but is low in taurine which cats need. Milk contains lactose, which cats often can't digest and in most cases it results in diarrhea. (This isn't true for all cats.) Milk is not a substitute for water, which is essential to protect your cat from dehydration.
TUNA - Contains a high amount of polyunsaturated fats, which cannot be metabolized by cats. The vegetable oil it's packed in can rob a cat's body of Vitamin E. This can cause a steatitis, which results in the nerve endings becoming so supersensitive, the cat experiences pain when held or even touched. Cats can become addicted to the strong flavour, which is why it is included in many canned cat foods. It also contains extremely high levels of mercury. Pure canned tuna can be fatal and must NEVER be given to cats.
CHOCOLATE - Contains oxalic acid which prevents calcium absorption, and theobromine, which is extremely toxic to cats, and can cause seizures and death.
CHRISTMAS TREE TINSEL AND METALLIC RIBBONS - They love to play with it, but if ingested, this can rip up their intestines, and cause irreparable damage.

OBSTRUCTIONS
Obstructions to the flow of intestinal contents in the upper gastrointestinal tract lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Obstructions of the colon or rectum can lead to constipation. The most easily cured cause of constipation has the serious-sounding designation of pseudocoprostasis (literally, false fecal impaction). It is seen when hair around the anus (usually in longhair breeds) becomes soiled and matted across the anus, preventing the cat from passing stool. The condition may appear quite serious, with the animal straining and crying in distress. The solution is simply to clean and/or clip away the matted material. It is particularly important to check your kitten regularly for a clean bottom.

TREATMENT FOR DIARRHEA
It is possible that your kitten/cat will occasionally have diarrhea. For adult cats, the recommended treatment for this is - No food or water for 24 hours. DO NOT GIVE KEOPECTATE OR PEPTOBISMOL - The new formula contains "Salicylates"which are harmful to cats & dogs. It sometimes rectifies itself be giving the kitten natural yogurt with live bacteria (mixed in canned food if kitten won't eat it straight). This can restore the bacterial balance of the kitten, but do not continue after 2 doses. This is also recommended after any period when an animal has been given anti-biotics. Canned pumpkin is another trick of breeders - it adds fiber to the diet and often firms up the stool. The biggest concern is that your pet does not get dehydrated. The formula for rehydration fluids is as follows;
1 Tablespoon Sugar, 1/8 teaspoon Salt, 1/8 teaspoon Baking Soda, 1 Cup water
This can be given by syringe or put in their water bowl. If the diarrhea is persistent, then you should be feeding meat baby foods, or make up boiled chicken and rice puree the mixture in a blender (1/2 to 2/3 chicken) until it is the consistency of most canned foods. You may want to take the precaution of making an appointment at the vet and take a fecal sample (even if it is a puddle covered in cat litter). The vet can give you assurance that you are following correct feeding procedures and/or that there are other problem areas that should be taken care of. There are also medications to stop severe diarrhea. Hill's prescription A/D is a canned food available only at the vet's - high in protein and calories, but low in stool production - this is highly recommended to restore your kitten's health. For those of you living in the Kitchener/Waterloo area; I have noticed on several occasions, that when the humans in the household have a sudden change in bowel movements, most of the cats are affected as well. To alleviate this problem, I suggest the precaution of boiling water specifically for the cats, or your could use bottled water.

HAIRBALLS
There are several "Hairball Remedies" available at pet supply stores, but the most economical and equally effective remedy is (Vaseline) petroleum jelly. If your cat will not lick it from your finger, then put a dab (at least once a week) on their paws. This will cause the hair to pass through their bowel safely. Without using any of the remedies, your cat will have to endure the discomfort of vomiting up hairballs or worse. Hairball stools, although rare, must be surgically removed or are fatal. This would apply to hairball intestinal obstructions as well.

RUNNY EYES
All animals bred for a flat face are prone to at the least, occasional runny eyes. Cat's tears are not like human tears. They are a clear brownish liquid which congeals and hardens if not removed. Make a light paste of baking soda and water and using a warm, damp face cloth, wipe away the stickiness. If there is noticeable swelling or reddening of the eye lids, eyes sticking shut and possibly pussy - try Polysporin eye drops for humans (perfectly safe for cats). You can administer one drop 3 times a day for a couple of days. If this doesn't clear up the problem, then you should see your vet as soon as possible since a virus or scratch on the eye can form an ulcer which must be checked and treated with anti-biotics or there could be the possibility of partial blindness.

DO CATS GET ACNE?
Yes. They have a tendency to develop acne on and under their chins, particularly during autumn and spring shedding season. There are two common causes; If food in unintentionally left on the chin, it is often overlooked while grooming. From eating out of plastic bowls. Change your food/water dishes to glass or metal and wash the chin with warm water and baking soda paste on a face cloth.

FELINE LOWER URINARY TRACT DISEASE (FLUTD)
Up to 10% of cats admitted to veterinary hospitals have FLUTD. Because the disease can be fatal, every cat owner should take it seriously. FLUTD refers to a group of urinary tract problems, most of which are feline urolithiasis- stones or crystals. A mass of crystals and mucus can form a plug that blocks the urethra. Other forms are bacterial infections, inflammation of the bladder and inflammation of the tube between the bladder and the outside of the body. FLUTD can be caused by a variety of things: viruses, bacteria, decreased water consumption, urine retention and diet. Sometimes, a cause can't be determined.
Signs include;
Blood- tinged urine.
Difficult or painflu urination
Frequent urination
Urinating outside the litter box
"crying" while urinating
To distinguish between a behavioral house-soiling problem or FLUTD, think of "wall versus floor." A behavior problem cat backs up and sprays or marks objects, while a cat with FLUTD squats to urinate due to the sudden bladder pain; he won't have control over location.
Time is critical in treating FLUTD. The worst cases are in cats who've been blocked too long. Not being able to urinate backs up the kidneys, potassium levels skyrocket causing cardiac arrhythmia. So now you have a cat in severe pain, possibly with a ruptured bladder, ready for a heat attack. Most cast aren't completely blocked. Cats can have a few crystals in their urine without problems, but the condition is sometimes progressive.
Who's at risk? Neutered male cats are the most prone to blockages as a result of urinary tract problems. Crystals or stones that might pass through a female's wider urethra can cause obstruction in the male cat. These cats are in agony and their condition can quickly become life-threatening.
Struvite crystals seem to occur more often in female cats, especially ones between the ages of 1 and 2.
Calcium oxalate crystals affect males a bit more frequently than females. The risk for this type of crystal will increase with age; the patient with the greater risk is the 10-15 year old neutered male. These crystals also seem to occur somewhat more frequently in Persians, Himalayans, and Burmese cats. Cat foods help maintain urinary tract health by reducing urinary pH and providing low dietary magnesium. If your cat has ongoing problems, your vet may recommend a different diet. Feeding free - choice dry food with small meals of canned food may be the best approach. Recent research indicates nibblers stay healthy. Be sure your cat drinks lots of water.

SPAY/NEUTER AND DECLAW
Spay/Neuter and Declaw is done at the same time. The biggest risk factor is the anaesthetic and my personal belief is that they are better able to handle surgery at 6 to 8 months old. More vets are of the opinion that your pet should reach most of his/he adult growth before changing hormone producing organs. There are however, some vets who will do this operation as long as the kitten is 2 pounds in weight.

SPAY/NEUTER
If your kitten is altered before they reach adult age, they will not acquire the primary instincts and actions associated with sexual maturity. This means that they will not be spraying which is a habit that both males and females can exhibit. In regards to pointed Himalayans, they will maintain better body definition - this means that their body colour is not likely to darken as much as they age, leaving their colour points as a sharp contrast.
Females: They do not have a natural cleansing as with a menstrual cycle. The rule for females is spay or breed, as they are ver susceptible to uterine infections which could be deadly if untreated and in some cases, very quickly. There is a misconception that a female will be a more loving pet after having kittens, as well as the fact that many people do not consider all of the possible problems with having a litter of kittens. I was very surprised to find out that the females are often very picky as to which male they will mate with or at all. Equally surprising, some females do not have a clue about mothering and are totally disinterested in rearing a litter. It is very heartbreaking to have waited 9 weeks for the beautiful little bundles of joy, only to watch them die one by one because mother won't care for them and it is virtually impossible to save any kittens from a litter that a mother won't care for. Himalayans have an additional area of concern which is that the kittens have larger heads due to the flat structure of the face, and it is not uncommon for a kitten to get stuck. The cost at the emergency clinics is approximately $700.00 to $1,000.00 for a C-section and this is with no guarantee that any kittens will survive. If you have children, the positive results are terrific, but the negative results can be devastating for them.
Males: There are no health risks for an intact male, and many males raised as indoor pets never spray. However, it is possible for a male to smell a female in heat a few miles away. This can be quite frustrating and males will also call to females in heat, which is just plain irritating. It is not uncommon for sexually active males to start spraying and to start exhibiting more aggressive behaviour and less of the super mush that you have come to love. Also, the litter box of an intact male will have a much stronger smell.

DECLAW
This is your cat, and you must decide what is best for your household. I recommend that you attempt to train your cat for the scratching post (spay/rub with catnip to entice). Crumpled tinfoil and balloons on areas you want them to avoid, a water spray bottle, and a can with coins to startle them away are often used for training. Carpet is only useful on a scratch post if the backing is out. The best thing to take down (file down) the cat's claws is a sisal rope scratch post. Other good choices are clawing logs or rail ties, etc. beside the couch. I use fingernail clippers to trim the claws. This is not a recommended clipper, because it can split the claws. However, I have trouble seeing and I can manage these clippers. I feel it is better to do it in a less than perfect manner, than not to do it at all. Declawing is actually amputation to the fist knuckle, but it is a surgical procedure that most vets are very familiar with and the only thing one usually has to watch out for is a possibility of infection. Most cats recover very quickly, although some do exhibit some resentment behaviour for awhile. It is the removal of the first line of defense for a cat and should be seriously reconsidered if there are other cats with claws in the household - is could result in a biting cat.
Tip: To assure your cat that it is all right - take a paw in each hand and gently squeeze. Do this several times a day increasing the pressure slightly each time. This way the cat will recognize that the booboo is feeling much better, and most cats are recover in 3 or 4 days.

What is the PET agreement from Paula's Pride?
A 50% deposit is required to reserve/hold a kitten & balance is due on pickup.

All pet kittens are sold by a spay/neuter contract and have a 1 year guarantee against any life threatening congenital/hereditary defect. They may or may not be vet checked and are given their first shot at approximately 10-12 weeks of age. Kittens are normally ready to go between the ages of 12-16 weeks.

When shipping is required, all expenses are to be paid by the client.

Please remember to bring a carrier with you when you come for your kitten. We provide a sample of foods from the current diet plan.