About Cats: Health Threats to Kittens

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Cats Cats Cat Basics Health & Behavior Photos & Forums From Franny Syufy, your Guide to Cats Lots of things to read this week, and much more in weeks to come. April is full of pet events, including First Aid Awareness Month, Earth Day, National Kids and Pets Day, and Sunday is the start of National Pet I.D. Week. It's also the month for Spring showers, butterflies, and hugging your cats. Or just holding them close for some purr therapy. Facebook | Twitter | Google+ Health Threats to Kittens Health Threats to Kittens is a new three-part lesson which is part of the ongoing Cat Health 101 online tutorial. This lesson covers infectious disease in kittens, along with a number of other health threats. One of the most common infectious diseases falls under the URI (Upper Respiratory Infection) category. My Billy, pictured here in the center, came to us with a URI when we adopted him, and had to be isolated from our other cats until he recovered. He was actually five months old when we brought him home, but only weighed about three pounds. Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy Read more about Health Threats to Kittens, for much more information. See More About:  sick kittens  upper respiratory infections in kittens  core vaccines for cats A Short History of the Domestication of the Cat Cats have come a long way from ancient Egypt, where they were worshiped as gods at the temples of Bastet. Of course we all know that cats have never forgotten that important fact. The cat has had a history of highs and lows, from being revered to being burned at the stake along with witches, during the middle ages. We can almost catch a glimpse of that history, by looking into the soulful eyes of a cat. Although both ancient Egyptians and residents of the fertile crescents domesticated cats, pedigreed cats were the first pampered house pets. Nowadays, the most popular "breed" by far is the ordinary domestic cat. Walk with me through a brief tour of the history of the unforgettable cat. See More About:  the cat  origin of the cat  bastet How and Why Cats Purr Some time ago, an email from a reader asked "Do cats purr when they are alone?" This question led me to a fascinating exploration of the physiology of a cat's purr. Truthfully, I don't know if cats purr when they are alone. It seems likely that they do, if one understands a little about how and why cats purr. Most experienced "cat wranglers" now know that cats don't purr only when they are content and happy. They also purr during tense or traumatic moments. When suddenly and violently injured, even at moments near death, a cat will often purr. It is thought now that purring releases endorphins (morphine-like substance) which help relax the cat and ease pain. Another theory postulates that the range of frequency of a cat's purr strengthens bone density and facilitates healing. It is not too far a leap to consider that this healing ability of a cat's purr may also benefit humans. Certainly, it is a well-known fact that the sound and vibrations of a cat's purr helps lower humans' blood pressure. Learn more about the hows and whys of cats' purring. See More About:  why cats purr  purring under stress  how cats purr Cat Picture of the Week: Molly Molly is a seven year old tortoiseshell girl, who was adopted from a shelter when she was about one. Unfortunately, the rabies vaccine she received at her routine veterinary appointment shortly after her adoption was apparently responsible for the VAS (vaccine-related sarcoma) she was diagnosed with a few years later. Surgery failed to stop the disease, and subsequently Molly had to have her right rear leg amputated, followed by a round of chemo. She appears to be doing very well now - goes twice a year for veterinary exam and tests, and is considered to be in remission for the VAS. Read more of Molly's story and see a full-sized photo of this beautiful tortie cat. Photo Credit: © misssashagirl Cats Ads Cats and Kittens Cats Having Kittens Cats Health Cat Health Cats Kittens Featured Articles Cat Breed of the Week: Javanese Pregnancy / Mating Kitten Care Senior Cats Behavior &Training Spay & Neuter for Cats   More from About.com Financial Emergencies An unexpected change in your financial situation can be incredibly stressful. Here's how to cope. More> Retirement Planning Learn the top five things you need to do in order to start building a retirement nest egg. More> This newsletter is written by: Franny Syufy Cats Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Cats newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads Cat Behavior 101 10 Top Mistakes of Cat Owners Cat Years Is Your Cat in Heat? Your Kitten's First Year   Follow me on: Advertisement