Posts in Category: Cat and Kitten Care

As fellow animal lovers, we understand that pets are like family. Their health is of utmost importance. Pets can experience sudden health emergencies just like our human family that require immediate attention. Understanding how to handle these situations can make a significant difference in the outcome. 

For many cat owners, watching their house panther enjoy catnip is an enjoyable and often humorous experience. But is catnip okay for your cat? Do catnip effects have harmful consequences? Your resource for all things feline here at Curem Veterinary Care has the answers you are looking for about Nepata Cataria (catnip) and your kitty. 

Even the most involved, vigilant, and responsible pet owners cannot control every possible circumstance related to a pet’s health and safety. The fact is that despite best intentions, pet emergencies simply come with the territory. The good news is that not all scenarios are perilous; however, the more prepared an owner is to handle essential pet first-aid techniques, the better the outcome. 

With each passing year, veterinary medicine becomes more and more advanced. Many of our clients at Curem Veterinary Care are familiar with (or have utilized) rehabilitation therapy for their dogs, but far fewer realize that our cat patients can benefit as well. Read on to learn how feline rehabilitation techniques are improving the lives of cats everywhere.

It’s easy to understand why so many households have pet cats. They’re clean and cuddly, inquisitive and intelligent. But, like any living creature, they have their not-so-well-behaved moments, too. If your cat scratches furniture, snarls at the dog, or insists that her favorite place to potty is right beside the litter box, take heart! If you’ve got cat behavior problems, our team at Curem Veterinary Care has cat behavior solutions.

Keep reading for cat behavior tips to help you and your fluffy feline restore harmony at home.

While it can be tempting (and easy!) to spoil an adorable household cat with tasty treats, we know that excess weight can be downright dangerous for our feline friends. One of the most loving things you can do as a pet owner is help maintain your kitty’s weight and fitness!

Here’s what you need to know about preventing cat obesity for your pet’s best health:

If you’ve adopted a shelter dog before, you might recall that bringing them home for the first time left an indelible impression. The following days and weeks likely unfolded in a happy haze of new smells, experiences, and connections that helped them navigate their new life. The special joy associated with an auspicious adoption typically gives way to the long-term satisfaction that is responsible dog ownership. Dog adoption is one of the most worthwhile adventures in life. 

October is Adopt a Dog month. With millions of dogs waiting in shelters for their forever homes, could the timing be right to bring one home?

Cats are pretty amazing animals. Well-tuned machines, they are incredible hunters and even more incredible companions to us. As pet owners, we want to take the best care of them we possibly can. The foundation of good pet care starts with feeding, and feline nutrition can be a bit of an overwhelming topic. Curem Veterinary Care aims to get our pet parents started off on the right paw when it comes to feeding their animals. 

How Feline Nutrition is Unique

Cats are not small dogs, nor should they eat like one. Understanding the differences is key to determining a balanced diet for cats. 

When considering feline nutrition, it is important to note that:

• Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat to thrive
• Cats do need nutrients from non-meat sources as well
• Felines require 2-3 times more protein than dogs do
• Cats need external sources of amino acids like arginine and taurine since they cannot manufacture their own 
• Many essential vitamins for cats must be provided in the food including vitamin A, vitamin D, and niacin
• Feline species have unique metabolisms that affect their use of essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, and need for B vitamins

This means that it is very important to choose a diet for your cat that has been carefully formulated to result in the perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals for cat health. 

Feeding Your Cat

When it comes to feeding your cat the best diet possible, it definitely takes some knowledge. While it may seem easy to throw together a few ingredients to result in a tasty meal, most non-researched diets are lacking in the nutrition department. 

When selecting a food for your cat, be sure to choose a diet that:

• Meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for your cat’s life stage (growth, adult, senior, etc.). The more specific the better!
• Ideally has been passed through animal feeding trials to prove suitability
• Has been formulated by a nutritional expert (ideally a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a PhD in animal nutrition)
• Is manufactured in a plant owned by the manufacturer
• Participates in quality control measures
• Provides owner access to customer service 

Not all of the most important information is on the label of your pet food. Pet Nutrition Alliance maintains a database that contains some of this information for you. 

Avoid common traps of falling for flashy buzz words, paying too much attention to the ingredient list (this can often be misleading), or putting too much stock in ratings websites or pet store “experts” who are trying to sell you something. 

When it comes to cat food ingredients to avoid, the list is pretty short. Cats cannot successfully eat vegetarian diets, and obviously added color dyes and the like are not ideal. For the most part though, if a food is formulated by a professional nutritionist, each ingredient serves a valuable purpose.

We are here for you as a resource as well. Never hesitate to contact us with your questions about feline nutrition, or anything else for that matter.

Animal reproductive health is important, and understanding all your pet’s parts is an important component of good animal care. Curem Veterinary Care knows how serious paraphimosis in pets can be, and we want you to understand what it is to get it properly treated. 

Congratulations on your decision to welcome a new pet into your home! If you’re still on the fence about whether to buy from a breeder or adopt from a shelter, you’ve come to the right place. The benefits of adopting a pet are many, and our team at Curem Veterinary Care encourages you to consider the following reasons to choose adoption: