Ragdoll Cats | Care, Feeding, & Grooming Tips

Preventing toxoplasmosis infection involves some simple precautionary steps for both you and your cat. While there’s no guarantee that you or your cat won’t get it, every step you take may help.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a single-celled parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Both domestic and wild felines are the definitive hosts for T. gondii, which means that the cat is the only animal in which the organism reaches sexual maturity. Both cats and humans may become infected by coming in contact with it.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that the Toxoplasma parasite may infect as many as 60 million people in the United States. Worldwide estimates are that up to 80 percent of some areas of the world may have it. Toxoplasmosis symptoms, however, are relatively rare, causing few people to seek treatment. Cats that are infected may or may not show signs of the disease.

Eating raw or undercooked meat is the primary culprit, but there are other risk factors as well. In third world countries, walking barefoot on infected soil is a major risk factor.

There are a number of things you can do to prevent both cat and human toxoplasmosis infections. Below are a few of them.

Do not eat raw or undercooked meat. If you touch raw meat, do not touch your face.

Ensure that you thoroughly clean your utensils, hands, cutting boards, and sink with soap and warm water after preparing food.

All raw vegetables and fruits need to be thoroughly washed.

Turn over litter box duties to another person if you’re pregnant.

Have the litter box cleaned at least once per day or more. Bag and remove cat feces quickly before it becomes infective.

If you do clean the litter box, wear disposable rubber gloves and a mask to avoid breathing dust. Wash your hands after cleaning the litter box.

Always avoid sandboxes since roaming cats may defecate in them.

Wear gloves when gardening. Keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth, and nose. Wash your hands when finished.

Do not drink unpasteurized dairy products, especially goat’s milk.

Here are some things you can do to help prevent your cat from contracting the disease.

Never feed undercooked or raw meat to your cat.

Make your cat an indoor cat to prevent her from hunting birds or rodents that might be carrying the disease.

Keep your cat indoors in order to keep her away from contaminated soil, plants, or insects.

While not usually fatal, cat parasites are a common occurrence. If left untreated, they may cause serious damage, so it’s a good idea to know something about them.

Here we’ll discuss some of the more common feline parasites and associated warning signs. In some cases, these creatures may weaken your cat and expose her to possible secondary infections that could be life threatening.

Ear Mites in Cats — Feline ear mites are the most common cause of outer-ear inflammation in cats. Frequent scratching of the ears and head shaking are the most common symptoms. The most obvious sign is a build up of dry, black wax that resembles coffee grounds.

Ear mites are tiny crab like parasites. They may lead to secondary infections, seizures, deafness, and can cause a rupture of the ear drum. Ear mites need to be treated by a veterinarian since improper cleaning of the ear can make the condition worse and damage the ear.

Giardia — Giardia infection is relatively rare in otherwise healthy cats. Giardia is a single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal infection known as Giardiasis. The organism is protected by an outer shell, so it can survive outside the body for an extended period. It can be difficult to treat as it is often resistant to medications.

Your veterinarian will prescribe anti-parasitic drugs for the infection. Giardia may lead to bowel movements containing blood, acute diarrhea, and vomiting, so dehydration is obviously a danger with this condition.

Worms in Cats — Hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whip worms are some of the more common worm-type parasites. Worms generally live in the intestines and rob your cat of blood and nutrients.

Worms can lead to a number of symptoms, including excessive vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, constipation, and anemia. Left untreated, worms can cause serious illness or death, especially in elderly cats and kittens.

Testing should be done at least once a year at your cat’s annual check up. Multiple treatments may be required to eradicate the worms.

Fleas — Fleas feed on your cat’s blood and may cause severe discomfort in some cats. Symptoms of flea infestation include itching along with excessive licking and scratching.

Flea control is essential to controlling another cat parasite, the tapeworm. Fleas may ingest tapeworm eggs. In the process of grooming, your cat may ingest the flea, and therefore the tapeworm egg along with it.

Eliminating fleas requires treating both your cat and the environment she lives in, including eliminating the eggs.

Excessive vomiting and diarrhea are a side effect of some parasites, which leads to dehydration. Dehydration is highly dangerous and can cause death. If you suspect your cat has a parasite, contact your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.

I recently saw a very sore nose on a white cat. The cat, whose name is Johnny Cash, loves the sun. Unfortunately, white cats have very little pigment and are prone to sunburns and skin cancer. And sunburn is common in pale and short-haired dogs, usually on the bridge of the nose, the abdomen, groin, and insides of the legs.

Your pet’s belly is prone to sunburn because of sunlight that reflects up from the sidewalk, or if your pet spends a lot of time at the beach, she can get sunburn from sun reflecting up from the hot sand.

Sunburn and excessive, repeated exposure to UV radiation can lead to skin cancer, in particular squamous cell carcinoma. This is the same in dogs and cats as it is in humans. Therefore, breeds such as boxers and Weimaraners - breeds that are predisposed to cancer - need extra protection from the sun.

Sunburn also can cause ulceration of the skin, and this can leave the skin susceptible to opportunistic bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections. Sun exposure can also worsen autoimmune skin diseases (in which the immune system actually attacks skin cells), such as pemphigus and lupus.

So what is a pet owner to do?

To protect your pets from sunburn and the related consequences, apply sunblock on the small susceptible areas of skin, such as along the bridge of the nose, and on the ear tips. It’s a good idea to also apply a line of sunblock along any part in your pet’s fur, along the head or back. For your cat, sunblock is usually sufficient. However, for dogs, sunblock is usually not effective on the abdomen. Sunblock on the abdomen can rub off in tall grass, wash off at the beach (in the water or rolling on the sand), or be easily licked off by the dog or her playmates.

There are spandex-type bodysuits on the market designed to block UV radiation. I highly recommend these for dogs who spend a lot of time outside, especially dogs who visit the beach. Although the idea of bringing a bodysuit-clad dog to the park or beach may sound ridiculous or embarrassing, it may be the most effective and important sun protection you can provide for your pet. Doggie bodysuits are common at some beaches, and they don’t look ridiculous if all the other dogs are wearing one

You can easily find sunscreen made for pets at quality pet supply stores, or you can simply apply zinc oxide or PABA-free sunscreen to your pet. Just be very careful not to get the sunblock in your pet’s eyes. And now that you’re prepared, enjoy the dog (and cat) days of summer!

Dog arthritis is as much a problem for our canine friends as it is for humans.

A dog with arthritis will most likely feel a great deal of discomfort, even if he is lying down.

Don’t let your dog suffer needlessly though - there is help at hand.

The miracle supplement glucosamine is often used in the treatment of arthritis as it soothes the discomfort, can aid in connective tissue and cartilage regeneration and decreases the puffiness around joints.

There are degrees of severity with arthritis; mild cases can be treated with glucosamine and Vitamin C; whereas glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin may be a better choice for chronic cases.

MSM is believed to reduce swelling and chondroitin plays an important role in the structure of cartilage.

PNP Healthy Joints Dog Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM is just what it says on the packet This supplement have a beneficial effect on sore joints and can help reconstruct connective tissue.

This supplement has another hidden advantage in the form of supergrade Vitamin C known as Ester C.

PNP Healthy Joints Liquid Glucosamine MSM for Dogs is the great benefit of glucosamine in liquid form.

This is a high quality product which tastes great and gives fantastic health benefits for your dog.

Like the previous product it is most useful when given to dogs in advanced stages of arthritis.

PNP Healthy Joints Glucosamine Vitamin C for Dogs is a fantastic choice for dogs without or with mild arthritis.

It can also be used as a preventative measure against arthritis setting in.

Your dog will snap them up too as they are made in a chewable format in a lipsmacking liver flavor.

Obviously diet is key to your dog’s health.

The Missing Link Plus Canine Formula is a magic powder that you can sprinkle over his dinner.

This wonderful melange of glucosamine, health foods and omega 3,6 and 9 are top quality and come in such a convenient powder format.

Likewise, a fantastic supplement for your dog is Lipiderm Hip and Joint Support for Dogs.

This supplement will promote healthy skin, bones and coat thanks to the blends of Omega acids, glucosamine, MSm and manganese.

Whether it’s arthritis or flea dermatitis you are battling, this delicious fish flavored supplement will come to the rescue.

These days you don’t have to let your best friend suffer in silence - there is so much you can do to ease his pain.

Consult with your vet first for expert advice and consider investing in some of these great products.

Ear mites in cats are a fairly common occurrence in the United States. They can be very unpleasant for your cat, and in more severe cases, dangerous.

If left untreated, they can lead to secondary bacterial and yeast infections. Over time, some cats seem to develop immunity to mites, so younger cats with developing immune systems are more likely to to be afflicted. Cats with weakened immune systems are at higher risk as well.

What are ear mites? — Mites are small, crab-like parasites that typically live on the head, and in the ears. In more extreme cases, they can cause a rupture of the ear drum, and may lead to deafness and even seizures. Mites are the most common cause of outer-ear inflammation in cats.

Sensitivity to mite infestations varies, with some cats appearing less bothered by it than others. Younger cats are typically more sensitive than older cats.

Symptoms of mites — The most common symptoms of ear mites in cats are head shaking and excessive scratching of the ears. The most obvious sign is a build up of dry, black wax that often resembles coffee grounds.

As can happen with parasite infestation, secondary bacterial infection is not uncommon. Some cats may experience a loss of hair around the ears, and the waxy build up may cause additional irritation in the ear.

In more severe cases, excessive scratching may cause ulceration at the back of the ear. This may lead to permanent disfigurement.

Treating mites — To avoid damage to the ear, treatment for ear mites in cats should be done by a veterinarian and begins with cleaning out the ears.

The wax may be softened with mineral oil prior to flushing out the ears. This breaks up the wax and removes a large number of mites.

Following the ear cleaning, an ear mite treatment can be administered. In order to prevent recurrence of infestation by mites that have migrated away from the ear, flea control medication may be used. Over-the-counter remedies may work, but treatment will typically take longer than preparations from your veterinarian.

Since ear mites in cats can also be spread to humans and dogs, it is necessary to take some precautions. Physical contact with affected cats should be limited. In more difficult cases, your veterinarian may administer “off-label” drugs. This is a very treatable condition, although treatment may take some time in more severe instances.

For the best health possible Dick van Patten’s Natural Balance Dog food is a natural choice.

Made with premium quality meat, this USDA-backed food also contains a fantastic medley of veggies and wholesome grains.

By-products are never used in this brand of food, as they are deemed less beneficial to the health.

Premium health comes from a nutritious diet and the combination of meat plus carbs plus veg provides all the minerals, vitamins and goodness your dog needs.

The key ingredients bring together the wholesome nutrition of carrots, potatoes and nourishing goodness of brown rice, key staples in a human diet too.

The major benefit of Natural Balance if the high degree of digestibility thanks to the blend of ingredients that go into every can.

If the body has to work hard to digest its daily food, the immune systems and other functions can be affected leading to poor health.

Everything your dog’s system requires for acceptable weight, healthy resistance against disease and great wellbeing are contained in this nutritionally balanced product, developed by vets and experts.

You can really be creative with Natural Balance canned food too. Whether for a young dog or old dog, this food is suitable meaning no need to buy different brands if you have more than one dog.

It can be served on its own, or mixed proportionally with dry food to offer your dog and your pocket what it needs. Remember though puppies and pregnant or nursing bitches will need up to three times the quantity of an average dog, and older and inactive dogs may require a reduction in quantity.

That’s the great thing, you just adjust the amount you give.

Did we say it was delicious?

In a range of exciting and appetizing flavors such as Beef, Chicken, Duck & Potato, Fish & Sweet Potato, Lamb, Liver and Venison & Sweet Potato, you are sure to find something to tempt the most picky eater.

You don’t need to feed your dog a huge amount either.

The correct amount for a grown up dog is between half and one 13oz can, unless you are serving up a wet/dry combo.

When you add it up, it’s a very reasonable price to pay given the quality of the food.

You will be pleased you chose Natural Balance as your dog grows proportionally and enjoys great vitality.

A great diet on Natural Balance Dog food is only half the story - remember to give him plenty of exercise too.

Ear Mites affect both dogs and cats. You will probably know if your pet has ear mite problems by the behavior he or she displays.

The following are sure signs that your pet is suffering from an ear mite infection; continual scratching around the ears, head shaking, restless behavior, some brown material present in the ears, a bad smell and your pet yelping if you touch the ears.

You are probably asking what an ear mite is. Deep in the ear canal is the home of small parasites known as ear mites.

Feeding on blood, they bite through the lining of the ear, which creates swelling and discomfort for your animal.

If you don’t treat an ear mite infection, secondary problems may set in, including yeast or bacterial infections, sores, blood clots, and surgery.

If you still do nothing your pet could lose his hearing or require expensive surgery.

Bad news if you have more than one pet too as ear mites can be passed from one animal to another.

Remember this if your pet is in contact with others, for example at playtime, in a kennel or if there are multiple pets in your family.

The best advice is to treat the whole group for ear mites simultaneously.

Spaniels are particularly susceptible with their long ears and abundant hair, as are any dogs with similar ears, but every dog and cat can get ear mites.

Ear mite treatments are available over the counter. Clean ears are a must so try PNP Healthy Ears Ear Cleanser for Dogs to get rid of any discharge or dirt in the ear.

Clean ears are less susceptible to infection and the specially designed applicator makes this product simple to apply. You can use it on an ongoing basis and it is especially recommended for after swims.

Lambert Kay Ear Rite Insecticidal Ear Wash is another great ear cleaner product in the battle against ear mite infections.

Ideal for cleaning the outer surfaces of the ear, it makes your dog’s ears less hospitable for opportunistic infections. For dry ears, ClearQuest Ear Powder comes strongly recommended.

It will get rid of any odor problems and will keep ears dry, leading to fewer yeast-type infections.

Ear wipes from ClearQuest make quick work of keeping your pet’s ears healthy.

Each wipe is infused with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents which prevent yeast and bacterial infections forming. Easy to store in a resealable container, this time saving product will do the job, and won’t need any cleaning up afterwards.

Cleaning your pet’s ears with Dr Golds Extra Gentle Ear Therapy might be good for your conscience too.

Be amazed how quickly this product will neutralize the odor from yeast and mite infections, and feel reassured that the product also disinfects with added natural ingredients such as Witch hazel and Tea Tree Oil.

Gimborn R-7M Ear Mite Treatment for Pets is a good choice for severe problems.

With a natural substance that kills mites, it will speedily resolve your pet’s mite problems. This product comes strongly recommended from breeder and people who show dogs.

Zymox OTIC Solution with and without Hydrocortisone is another strong solution to an ear mite infection. It is used in cases where the animal has severe inflammation of the external ear due to ear mite, yeast and bacterial infections.

Use once a day for seven days for acute symptoms and double the time for chronic infections.

Your pet’s ears don’t have to be a problems with so many high grade products on the market.

So watch out for those warning signs and deal with ear mite and yeast problems fast.

Dogs can have the need for a regular manicure probably more than humans do; hence the need for trimmers.

Without nail care in dogs, they can break and causing bleeding.

Your dog’s feet are tough but tender, and any foot injury can cause serious problem to move about.

Does a tapping sound from your dog’s nails seem familiar? If so it’s time for a trim; so the next question is do you go to a pro or do you trust yourself anout to do it at home?

There are a few vital things to bear in mind if you are going to do it yourself.

Invest in a high quality set of trimmers, and ensure you know exactly where to cut the nail.

If you try to cut corners you may end up cutting your dog’s paw by accident.

Dogs have tough feet but the quick of the nail is still very tender, so you need to have a good idea of the limit of how high to cut. On paler and clear nails the quick is clearly visible by its pink color, it is trickier with dark nails.

So you need a high grade nail trimmer next; look no further than the Master Grooming Tools Guillotine Nail Clippers, with fantastic grip and easy-use design. Plus the blades are sharp enough to make easy work of the toughest nail.

Now we are going to talk about how to cut nails.

It is often best to sit with your dog in your lap, holding his paw firmly, but not roughly.

The nail will extend if you gently push the pad; now you have to try to ascertain where the quick is and below that point start to trim at 45 degrees. Little by little is the key, don’t hurry this job.

Once the major clipping has been done, taking care not to trim the nails too short, check the edges for jagged or rough edges and tidy.

Really take care when trimming your pet’s nails; imagine how vulnerable you would feel with someone cutting your toenails!

If by accident you do manage to cut the quick use Gimborn Kwik Stop Styptic Gel with Benzocaine to stop bleeding immediately.

Master Grooming Tools Guillotine Nail Clippers are excellent tools for either home or professional use.

They are a great investment too as they are designed to last, and perform well with a lifetime guarantee.

The trimmers are great both for the dog, with sharp blades to make nail trimming stress free, and good for the owner with the ergonomic design to reduce stress on the body or the chance of accidents.

There are many supplements to help animals with sore joints, one of which is Cosequin, which some of you may have heard of, or may have bought. Most likely it was a purchase to try to help your dog with hip troubles.

To clear up any confusion, let’s discuss Cosequin in detail. It is important that consumers understand fully about the product they are buying so they can make an informed choice.

Some of you may be under the impression Cosequin is a drug; in fact it is not - it’s just a brand. It is pretty much the same product as Healthy Joints Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM?, another joint product. It is the difference between using a brand name and the name of a substance.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are the principal ingredients in these supplements. In fact, they are the only ingredients in Cosequin. Other joint support formulae include MSM, or Methylsulfonylmethane, an active ingredient Cosequin does not contain.

The addition of MSM is an interesting aspect to talk about with regard to Cosequin and other supplements as it is known to be vital in controlling inflammation and pain. If your animal suffers from arthritis, MSM would be a vital ingredient to have in any joint support supplement you chose.

So that leaves Cosequin rather less attractive if you are looking for a supplement for dogs with arthritis. It may be a perfectly valid choice for those who want a mainstream joint supplement with Glucosamine and Chondroitin.

There are some advantages to Consequin if it’s the supplement for you, it comes in various strengths and you can get it as a chewable and a capsule. If MSM is a must-have, Consequin isn’t the supplement for you.

If your vet mentions the brand Cosequin when examining your dog and advises you to administer him with it, he is probably only advising you to purchase a good quality joint support product. Any high grade product would be suitable, not only Cosequin.

Truth be told, you can use many brands for the same result; so ask your animal doctor to explain which elements your dog needs. Cosequin might be the right one for you, but you could choose a different brand, or you might find Cosequin doesn’t fulfill all your needs.

The holy trinity of MSM, Glucosamine and Chondroitin can be found in a variety of products. Pet Nutrition products are created from the best ingredients and you can be sure what you get in the bottle is what is described.

Interestingly enough it has been proven that many brands do not label accurately, so you may be wasting money on an inferior product.

It’s not just you who could do with some fabulous accessories, there’s a wide range especially for your dog too!

From designer dog apparel to ’seatbelts’ for dogs, your best friend can benefit from unique products designed especially for canines.

Your dog will be turning heads with the selection of fab dog accessories on offer.

Take designer charms for example; they come in all kinds of cute shapes such as the Aria Enamel Bone Charm or Pawprint Charm, or for especially regal pooches you might want the Majestic Crown.

Charms are a really popular accessory for tiny dogs, as they give a ‘toy-like’ look and the charm can be color co-ordinated to match an outfit.

The Sweetheart charm is just lovely for a female dog, the Skull and Crossbones is recommended for young tearaways!

It’s not just your outfit which you have to take into consideration these days, with the rising popularity of tiny dogs such as chihuahuas as a handbag accessory for rich heiresses is spreading to the mainstream too.

For any dog, how he is turned out will say quite a bit about it owner, a raggle-taggle dog, dirty, unkempt etc might be a perfectly happy dog, but you will be seen as a neglectful owner.

Dogs love bath time, and you will love it too, with such a wide selection of shampoos, sprays and treatments to leave your dog smelling fragrant.

Your dog can smell less like a dog and more like Crisp Apple, Coconut and Pineapple and Fresh Berry with 8in1’s scented sprays, which are intended to be used in between bath times to freshen up your dog’s natural smell.

Other cute novel ideas are pet checks, with fantastic dog and cat inspired illustrations from top artists.

These checks can be used just like regular checks, and make a great and individual gift for a friend or a relative, especially for dog or cat lovers at Christmas or birthdays.

A travel harness could save your dog’s life, making it a wonderful gift.

While the whole family is belted up in the car, the poor dog is loose and could jump out the window or be thrown about in an accident.

Cruising Companion make these ingenious harnesses to keep your canine VIP safe.

More and more great gifts and accessories for dogs are becoming available to consumers.

You will just love creating that new look for your pet with all those great accessories.