All posts by Jennie Richards

Cat Care Tips, Elderly Cat Care, Medical & Health Care

Treating Your Cat’s Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – A Helpful Guide

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is relatively common in mature, senior and geriatric cats. This year, my 17-year-old cat Marcel was diagnosed with advanced, late-stage chronic kidney disease. In a short period of time, I scrambled to learn everything possible about the disease and how to treat it. Had I known before what I quickly learned, about providing the best possible treatment options and support for early and late-stage CKD, I could have possibly prolonged Marcel’s life and quality of life significantly. But the motto, too little too late, applied in my personal journey. The application of my new valuable knowledge came just too late to save him. But it’s not too late to help your cat and provide you with what I wish I had known months earlier. This guide is an effort to give owners of CKD cats the best, most valuable resources possible, in the shortest time possible. CKD is a very manageable disease in cats, but it’s critical to catch it early in order to manage it and prolong your cat’s life. Getting a diagnosis as soon as possible, as early in the disease, will give you more time to apply all the best treatments available to help your cat. Here is the most valuable and useful information and guidance I can provide you and your CKD cat, all in one page with links to some of the best resources and support available today. May your cat live a long, healthy, and comfortable life with CKD with much more quality time spent with you! 

Chronic kidney disease in cats is not a life sentence, but if it is properly treated, your cat can live a long and happy life. So let’s begin. 

Continue reading Treating Your Cat’s Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) – A Helpful Guide →
Elderly Cat Care, Medical & Health Care

Treating My Cat’s Severe IBD and Gastrointestinal Inflammation

2 Comments

In July 2017, my then 17-year-old cat Romeo started presenting with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, mild weight loss, and lethargy. Up to this point, Romeo had been a very healthy male cat with no medical issues other than a low-grade heart murmur, one eye infection, periodic dental cleanings, and routine annual checkups to maintain his health. But things were about to change for Romeo and his cat parents.

Concerned that Romeo’s diarrhea and vomiting had become more than just an isolated event, we scheduled an appointment at Four Corners Veterinary Hospital in Concord, our trusted vet who has been highly supportive and a critical partner in managing all of our cat’s health over the years. Romeo’s doctor did a full physical exam—palpating his abdomen—finding some thickening of his intestines. He took Romeo’s blood and ran a blood chemistry profile and urinalysis. Then recommended diagnostic tests—specifically an ultrasound that would rule out things like a GI tract obstruction or abdominal mass, but would provide a detailed examination of Romeo’s internal organs from all different angles, the sizes of the organs, as well as their functioning. An ultrasound evaluates the cat’s liver, spleen, kidneys, gallbladder, lymph nodes, small and large bowels, bladder and pancreas and is able to determine the size, shape and texture of each—revealing any abnormalities, enlargements, masses, fluids, stones, thickening, dilation or if any lesions are present. So we ponied up the $450 dollars (at the time) to get to the bottom of what was going on with Romeo’s gut. 

TREATING MY CAT’S SEVERE IBD AND GASTROINTESTINAL INFLAMMATION
Continue reading Treating My Cat’s Severe IBD and Gastrointestinal Inflammation →
Cat Care Tips, Medical & Health Care

What Are the Warning Signs Your Cat is Sick?

11 Comments

Don’t miss the warning signs your cat is sick and may be in pain. Research shows that cats feel pain just like we do. But they tend to hide their pain—so just because they don’t show you obvious signs of pain, doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering or in distress. It’s up to you to know the signs that something is wrong and advocate for them by getting them the help they need.

When cats aren’t feeling well they give us clues. The clues may be physical or behavioral, or both. Some signs require immediate veterinary attention like respiratory problems or changes in breathing; straining to urinate, defecate or crying in the litter box; dilated pupils, or having any dramatic changes in behavior from normal. Some signs may increase over time with illness and won’t go away until your cat is diagnosed and treated by your veterinarian.

Continue reading What Are the Warning Signs Your Cat is Sick? →

Cat Care Tips

What are the Safest Cat Food Bowls?

3 Comments

Believe it or not, shopping for a safe cat food bowl is an important decision, and one that can make a huge difference to the health of your cat, especially over time. Here I will share my research on the safest cat food bowls to use.

Decisions about bowl size and shape are less important than the material of the bowl. Material really does matter and there are real reasons why to avoid certain materials like plastic, and very good reasons why to choose safe materials like glass and stainless steel.

The safest materials for cat food bowls are glass, stainless steel, and some ceramics. Avoid plastic altogether. And here’s why.

Continue reading What are the Safest Cat Food Bowls? →

Cat Care Tips, Medical & Health Care

What are the Signs Your Cat is in Pain?

It can be easy to miss the signs your cat is in pain since cats try to disguise when they’re suffering, but if you know the signs you’ll be able to quickly detect if your cat is in pain. Some signs are more obvious, but others are harder to detect. Most signs can be seen in a cat’s physical posture, facial expression, behavior, response to touch, vocalization, or change in daily habits.

Cats in severe pain may become more aggressive and agitated—even sometimes frantic—and behave more erratically. They can pace about in their restless discomfort and vocalize more. But often the signs are more subtle and easy to miss. They may hide in a corner or closet, or sit in a “crouched” position, and may even purr when they are distressed and uncomfortable. Here are some common signs of pain in a cat to be on the lookout for:

Continue reading What are the Signs Your Cat is in Pain? →

Cat Care Tips, Library & Resources

Most Toxic Plants for Cats, Lilies and More

With Easter right around the corner and springtime here, it’s time to highlight the list of the most poisonous and toxic plants for cats.

Most Toxic Plants for Cats
The Lily is Extremely Toxic and Deadly for Cats

Many people give and receive lilies for Easter, but know that lilies are considered highly toxic and poisonous to cats—they are so severely poisonous they are in fact deadly.

The reported mortality rate for lilies is as high as 100% if left untreated later than 18 hours after ingestion.

For cats that even ingest a small amount of most types of lilies, severe kidney failure can occur within 36 hours. Just the yellow-orange pollen that falls off the stamen onto your table or counter is lethally poisonous to cats. Since cats groom, if the pollen gets onto your cat’s fur, be sure to wash it off with water or a wet towel, and make sure there are no traces left. Continue reading Most Toxic Plants for Cats, Lilies and More →

Cat Care Tips

8 Tips to Make Travel and Vet Visits Less Stressful For Your Cat

Do you dread taking your cat to the vet because it’s so stressful? Does your cat run at the first sight of their carrier, then valiantly and determinedly resist going inside by muscling their way out? You’re not alone. Cats fear change, and many associate their carrier with negative experiences—like going to the vet’s office, car travel, or a bad memory associated with the car. Some cats become so stressed seeing a carrier or being inside of one—they immediately urinate,  meow loudly, drool excessively, and some even vomit. It’s that traumatic for them. It’s enough to make a cat parent’s blood pressure skyrocket!

But what if you could transform your cat’s negative association into a positive experience? Here’s a step-by-step process for making your cat carrier a more inviting, welcoming and non-threatening place, and your cat’s trip to the vet a far more enjoyable, less stressful experience.

Continue reading 8 Tips to Make Travel and Vet Visits Less Stressful For Your Cat →

Library & Resources

List of Cat Rescue Groups in the U.S.

Looking for a cat rescue group near you? Wanting to adopt a rescue cat or volunteer for a rescue group?

Here are resource lists of cat rescue groups in the U.S. 

State List of Shelters and Rescue Organizations

There are public and private animal rescue organizations located in all 50 United States and the District of Columbia. These shelters, rescues, and organizations are there to provide assistance to animals in need as well as assisting those who can no longer take care of their animals. 

https://www.dogloversdigest.com/adoption/state-list-of-shelters-and-rescue-organizations/

Search for Animal Welfare Groups by Location

https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/search/

Continue reading List of Cat Rescue Groups in the U.S. →

Cat Care Tips

How to Protect Your Pet With a Pet Trust, Will and Pet Protection Agreement

Have you thought about what will happen to your cat if you become ill, or incapacitated and must move into a care facility, or you unexpectedly die? Have you made permanent arrangements for your cat after you’re gone?

More than 500,000 pets that were loved and cared for are euthanized every year in U.S. animal shelters because their caregivers became incapacitated or died and they made no prior arrangements for the ongoing care of their pet. In addition, around 360,000 cats are euthanized in shelters in the U.S. due to being abandoned, or forfeited to a shelter. This is tragic, but it doesn’t have to happen. Here’s how to protect your pet with a pet trust, will and pet protection agreement.

It’s critical to have a plan in place for when you die. Your plan should include two elements: an emergency plan that goes into effect to provide immediate care for your pet, and a long-term plan through a trust or pet agreement that is shared with a good friend, relatives, and neighbors. This will ensure that your pet receives the immediate care needed and promptly goes into the right hands that know your plan.

Continue reading How to Protect Your Pet With a Pet Trust, Will and Pet Protection Agreement →

Elderly Cat Care, Medical & Health Care

The Importance of Annual Physical Exams for Cats

1 Comment

Maybe you adopted a new cat or have had your cat for years now—in either case annual physical exams are highly recommended for maintaining the optimal health of your cat. Your cat may be low-maintenance, but that’s no reason not to take them for a wellness exam every year. This article will highlight the reasons why annual physical exams for cats are so important, how annual checkups can prevent and detect disease as early as possible, reduce factors that may be health risks,  correct or delay the progression of disease, and help to give your cat the healthiest, highest quality of life possible for as long as possible.

Cats mask when they are sick or feel bad—they can hide suffering and pain very well, it’s an evolutionary trait—so you may not know they are suffering or are in pain. And just because your cat lives indoors doesn’t mean they can’t get sick or develop a congenital or chronic disease, or a bacterial or viral infection, or severe tooth decay and gum disease, or inflammation that causes health issues, or a possible stress-related illness. All of these are very possible health issues for indoor-only cats.

Benefits of Annual Physical Exams for Cats

Annual physical exams give you peace of mind knowing the state of your cat’s overall health. Annual exams give you a baseline for what is normal for your cat’s health so you can readily see any changes from the previous year or years. Annual checkups can lengthen your cat’s life expectancy by addressing health issues early-on before they become more serious or advanced and difficult to treat. Your veterinarian will be able to detect any new health problems or chronic conditions and treat them immediately—that would otherwise have been delayed and left untreated if you waited another year. By treating your cat’s health problem and not waiting longer to diagnose and medically treat it, your cat will be more comfortable.

Continue reading The Importance of Annual Physical Exams for Cats →