There are various different signs that will let you know when your cat is not feeling the best or when some action is necessary where you might need to take it to the vet for a checkup.

For instance, if you find that your cat is vomiting, it is not necessarily a problem unless it appears to be apathetic and low on energy.
Cats will eat grass to induce vomiting often to eliminate hair that they’ve ingested while grooming themselves.
If this is happening consistently then you might need to spend a little more time grooming your cat to remove the excess hair and stop it from swallowing it when it licks itself.

Cold food can also cause your cat to vomit and it is not a good idea to take the cat food directly from the refrigerator and feed it to your pet.
Heat the food in a microwave for a few seconds before placing it on the plate and you might find that your cat has a lot less problems with its food.

If you find that your cat is scratching itself quite a lot then this can be a sign that it needs additional grooming to remove fleas or ticks.

You can often see flea dirt in the fur and even if you can’t find the fleas when grooming this is a sign that they are there and need to be eliminated.

There are various different treatments available for fleas, from pills to powders, and even collars that can be worn around the neck.
You need to be careful when putting a collar on a cat as they like to climb and these can get caught in branches and other things that could result in dire and life threatening circumstances.

Some of the flea treatments can also make your cat feel unwell for a day or two afterwards so look out for any signs and use an alternative treatment next time if you feel that it has been upsetting your cat.

Before the introduction of tin cat food, pouches, dry food and all the rest most cats tended to eat the leftovers from their owner’s meals. They might be given some of the cheaper portions of fresh fish such as cod cheeks but there were no specialist pet foods.

There does appear to be a clear connection with the development of these cat foods with the fact that generally cats seem to live longer now than in the past. However, how do you make sense of the wide selection available when you go out to buy cat food? Most food stores and supermarkets have a selection of the popular cat foods. Whether you buy the tinned versions or those coming in a pouch is purely down to which you and your cat prefer. The pouches tend to be in a one portion size which makes it easier to gauge how much to give your pet, but generally the tinned varieties tend to work out cheaper.

When you visit vets they may entice you to buy cat food from a display in their waiting rooms. These are often the top of the range cat foods that are at the top end of the price range. If you choose to buy ct food from your vets you can be assured that you are getting quality but not necessarily value for money.

Many of the cat foods on offer at your vets will be of the dry food “crunchie” variety. Dry foods are also available from food and pet stores and are very popular with some cats and their owners. The important factor that you need to remember if feeding your cat dry food is to make sure they have a readily accessible supply of fresh water. A cat needs to drink plenty of water if they have a dry food diet or otherwise they could develop kidney problems.

When you first get a cat the question of their food is going to be very much trial and error. Your pet will quickly show you which brands and types of food it prefers. Be aware though that cats just like humans and can be fickle quickly going on or off certain foods. When you go to buy cat food it is a good idea to bring a little variety into your cats diet.

Most of the items found in a human first aid kit can prove useful in a cat emergency although you should be cautious using human remedies for cats as they could be harmful to your pet. Some of the items that you should consider including in a feline first aid kit are:

Olive Oil which can be useful for cleaning out your cats ears and it is also a good treatment should your cat become constipated.

Thermometer. It is best to use a rectal thermometer which should be available either from your vet or local pet store. Before using it make sure that you shake it down so that you get an accurate reading. A cat’s temperature normally should be between 38.3 and 38.9C (1201-102F) and just a little lower for kittens.

Disinfectant A mild disinfectant would be useful and your vet should be able to ad vise on a suitable one for use on your pet.

Cotton wool, guaze pads and cotton wool buds are also useful items as are a couple of suitable sized bandages.

Cats are prone to bite sand scratches and a useful addition to your first aid kit would be a tube of an antiseptic cream formulated for cats.

IN addition a pair of round ended scissors and a pair of tweezers to remove any kind of splinters would more or less complete the basic cat first aid kit. However, to avoid infecting yourself whilst treating your cat you might like to add a pair of thick gloves to the kit to avoid being scratched whilst treating your cat.

One final consideration is that if your cat becomes suddenly sick or injured you will need to get them to vetinary help as soon as possible. Therefore, you should make sure that you have a suitable carrier in which to transport your cat.

It is always hoped that you will not need your feline first aid kit but it is always better to be prepared just in case.

Stewie the cat  soothesbaby Connor.

Tip 1. Prepare before the kitten arrives. There are some essential items that you should get hold of  before arrival day. Your new kitten will need some very basic supplies to be in place before you bring him home. Your kitten will need food and water dishes that are clean, preferable ceramic. You will also need a litter box that is accessible to a small kitten that is located in a place that will give your kitten privacy from other household animals or small children.

Tip 2. Simply relax. You will be surprised how quickly you and your kitten will get used to each other and your little ways.

Tip 3. Keep the kitten in 1 room. Confine your new kitten to just one room of the home for the first day (preferably the one with the litter box in it). After a few days, allow the kitten to explore another area of the home. Make sure that you have kitten-proofed each area before allowing the kitten in it. This means no cleaning products, no small objects that a kitten can get lodged in the throat, and no poisonous plants. Every few days expand the area of the home to include more space until eventually your kitten is allowed to explore all areas of your home.

Tip 4. Watch your step. Get used to looking where you are treading. Kittens are very small and it is easy to tread on them if they are scampering around the floor, so be aware.

Tip 5. Be careful when you close doors and cupboards. Kittens are inquisitive little creatures and they can easily get shut in if you do not know they are there.

Tip 6. Play with your kitten. Kittens generally love to be handled and played with. Spend time playing with your kitten each day. If you have to be out of the home for any lengths of time make sure that your kitten has some toys to occupy itself whilst you are away.

Tip 7. Help it feel safe. Provide your kitten with some kind of bed or sleeping area where it can go and feel secure. Kittens and cats like having some kind of wall around them which is why many choose to sleep in corners. Alternatively, a simple cardboard box with toweling or a blanket in the bottom can provide an excellent bed for a kitten, but make sure it is easy for it to get into.

The first few weeks that a kitten enters your home is going to be a learning curve for you both,. However before very long there will be a real bond between pet and owner.

Before a kitten or cat arrives in your home there are certain essential items that you are going to need to acquire. High on that list of items is a suitable litter box for your pet. If it is a kitten that is coming into your house you will not only have to provide a litter box but also train your kitten to use it. Fortunately cats are very clean animals who can easily be toilet trained.

By training your new kitten or cat to use the litter tray will avoid having to clean up after your pet if it does its business around your home. The simplest form of little try is a simply cardboard box filled with earth. However, these days there are a large selection of litter boxes and trays on the market and these can be purchased either from your pet shop or online.

In addition to buying a suitable litter box you can also purchase a range of litter to put into the tray. Possibly the best is the litter that includes chemicals that kill the smell of urine and faeces.

Choosing the right litter box for your cat is important. This depends on the size of the cat and if the pet finds it spacious inside. Since the litter box is the toilet for the pet, this should be easily accessible both for going in and out of the box.

It is important that you clean and empty the cats litter box regularly as your kitten or cat may not use a litter tray if it is heavily soiled. It is possibly to buy litter trays that are described as “self cleaning” but they are expensive. In truth it takes very little effort to clean out the cat tray regularly. Another option if you really do not like the idea of cleaning out your pets litter tray is to buy disposable trays which you simply replace and discard once your pet has used them.

Some owners feel that their cat deserves privacy when doing their toilet and buy covered litter trays. However, there is little evidence that cats are this sensitive and most are more than happy with a simple open tray..

There are many types of litter boxes available from the small versions for the kittens to the big ones for the full grown cats. With the many types of fillers available, one should choose the best that will be comfortable for the pet.

For a selection of litter trays CLICK HERE

Unlike a dog, cats do not need to be taken for a walk or need any other special treatment. Providing that they get a regular supply of food and water will manage perfectly well. However, cats can become bored especially if they are unable to leave the house in which case it is a good idea to leave some of the curtains open so that they can sit in the window and watch the world pass by. If they are playful animals you should leave their toys readily accessible. Another important point especially if the cat is going to be house bound then make sure their scratching post is left out for them unless you want to come back and find your furniture and upholstery ruined.

Cats that have access to the great outdoors, thanks to a cat flap should have few problems if left. You are going to need a relative or a neighbour who is prepared to come in regularly to feed and water the cat and to attend to its litter tray if necessary. It is important to make sure that you leave them enough of the appropriate food and possibly some of the cats favourite treats.

If you do not have any relatives, friends or neighbours who can keep an eye on your cat then another alternative is to employ the services of a cat sitter. This can be someone who moves in whilst you are away purely to look after your pet. This is possibly the best option but it is the most expensive. These days there are also cat sitting services which will visit your house once or twice a day to feed and check up on your cat and these can be quite good If you are using the services of a cat sitter or service it is a good idea to see if you can talk to someone who has used the service before to get a recommendation.

I am not really lonely

Providing that you observe this simple rules you will return from your holiday to find that your cat will have hardly missed you. However, if it anything like mine it will sulk for a day or two after you get back just to make a point.

One of the surest signs that a cat is not well is if it shows significant changes in behaviour. For instance a cat that is a good eater suddenly goes off its food. There are several reasons for this and the first thing you should do is examine your cat’s teeth. It might be that it has a piece of bone has lodged in the teeth or a tartar build up on the teeth that is causing toothache. Another reason your cat may be off its food is if it get a blocked nose and loses its power of smell. Cats are reluctant to eat if they cannot smell their food and this could be a sign of cat flu.

Cats like some humans like to be alone when they are not well and if your cat suddenly starts hiding away this should be a warning for you to check it out. You should give your cat a physical check for signs of injuries and look at the eyes and ears for signs of  other problems.

Cats that go out doors can often get involved in fights and sustain scratches which can either turn septic of develop into abscesses. These can be extremely painful and although hidden by fur can be detected by gentle stroking. These will need some vetinary treatment.

Bleeding from any orifice should be treated as a serious matter and professional advice sought as soon as possible. Equally so vomiting should also be taken as a sign that your cat is not well although you should be careful not to confuse vomiting with your cat bringing up a hairball. This is perfectly natural, especially with long haired cats.

There are two final points on this subject, the first is that if you have any doubt in your mind as to whether your cat is sick or not then take it for vet advice as soon as possible. Secondly the cost of vetinary treatment is rising all the time and it makes sense for all pet owners to insure their pets for such treatments.