January Updates

Hi Folks..

Some updates. We have moved to our own house at Seri Kembangan. No more landed. It is an apartment. One of the room we made it as cat room. The cat room is done, but cat proofing is on the way.

Po / Chu

Somewhere around late October to early November, we foster a 3 weeks old kitten. Her rescuer name her Po, but we name her Chu (cause she looks like Chewbacca of Star Wars).

Now Chu is 3 months old and after drinking about 8 bottles of goat's milk, she is healthy and naughty (face palm). She can't stop biting my toes, and I can't wait to neuter her! Muahahahha..

Having Chu around is entertaining. Well, atleast Pendek have friend to run with. Other cats like Thor, Chot, Tigger and Kiki are still in Cyberjaya. Our friend is taking care of them while we are searching for potential adopters. We do drop by Cyberjaya everyday to feed strays and checkout on their wellbeing. We plan to neuter whoever not neutered after collecting my angpows.

We were in Miri celebrating Chinese New Year when we received a call saying that Chot gave birth. That was on Saturday 21st January 2012. On New Year's night we received another call saying that Chot was laying down with blood coming out from her mouth. She died a few hours later. Not long after Chot died, Thor died. Same symptoms, but Thor had  white foam coming out of her mouth. I suspect they were poisoned or ate something poisonous.

I reached KL yesterday. Once touched down, we went straight to Cyberjaya. We took those poor kittens back to our home. We tried to get goat's milk but no stock til next Monday due to Chinese New Year holiday. Just our luck we found powdered goat's milk at a Mamak Stall and finger crossed. Hopefully they are okay. Every 2 hours we got to get up and feed them as well as stimulate their anus & anal to make them pee and poo. Now we look like zombiesssss...

All four kittens seems dehydrated and they get pee burn because no Mama to clean them. Cats can get blood burn, or pee burn, or milk burn if they are not clean after pee or after milking. That's why MamaCat always lick them. Now we use wipes to wipe them (so they feel like MamaCat licking them).

We are searching for MomCat who can milk these poor kittens. If you can help or know anyone who can help me, please contact me directly via mobile phone @ 012-8742457.

Thanks guys. More updates coming soon..

Tigger Update

Update on Tigger.
 We took Tigger back home one day after vet did the surgery. Everyday for 2 weeks we got to clean his wound, bandage his head, and feed him anti-flame and antibiotics.

Stuff that we need for Operation : Treat Tigger. I believe these items should be in Kitty First Aid as well.

1. Crepe Bandage
2. Gauze Swabs
3. Scisor, cotton pad
4. Surgical tape
5. Antiseptic wash & iodine
6. Herbal spray (to avoid flies lay egg at wound and causing maggots)

Gauze swabs, crepe bandage, and surgical tape which you can find at local pharmacy near you.

Tigger's wound after surgery. Vet removed the rotten flesh leaving one big hole under his chin

Antiseptic wash. Ratio for antiseptic wash over water is 1:10

Wash the wound with antiseptic wash

Iodine which we bought from vet. Ratio iodine over water is 1:5

Dab cotton of iodine to wound as well

Meganex spay which you can get at vet or pet store. It is very useful to shoo away flies which may cause maggots at wound. 

Spray Meganex onto cotton pad.

Dab cotton of Meganex AROUND the wound. NOT on the wound.

Use gauze swab which has been mixed with iodine and place it on the wound. Then bandage kitty's head with crepe bandage.

While bandaging kitty's head over its ear, don't forget to cut a hole for its ear.

And that's Tigger sleeping in his cage. He will be caged til he is pink again.

Ear cleaning tutorial

Sorry Farah for the long waiting on my ear cleaning using Shaws Ear Care Lotion tutorial. Today I am going to clean Kiki's ear using Shaws Ear Care Lotion.

Cat's ear anatomy

1. Shake well before use.

2. Pour solution onto cotton pad / cotton ball

3. Wipe around kitty's ear pinna.

And that's all.. simple right??

Flea shampoo review

Tulipspet Flea Shampoo

This week gonna be review week. I've tried few products for 1-3 months to see how effective commercial pet products are in our market today.

Today, gonna talk about flea shampoo by Tulispet.

Product claim that it prevents pet from pest's bites & infestation, improves and maintain pet's health & skin, enhances coat brilliance & shine, and shampoo is PH controlled. It is recommended for dogs & cats with extreme poor coat condition. It is poison free, human & pet safe.

How to use this shampoo? Wet fur thoroughly. Apply shampoo generously. Avoid eyes, nose and mouth. Scrub, then rinse and dry well. (If flea presence, add a mixture of shampoo and sufficient water ; ratio 2:1; rub mixture into fur and skin and leave for 5 minutes, then rinse)

My verdict?

Oh yes! This is my second bottle!! My all time favourite. It not only kills flea, but makes kitty coat soft and shiny. I didn't realize what this shampoo can do until one of my customer told me that her cat's coat is sooo soft after I bath her kitty. She told me that her kitty's coat never as this soft and smooth though she uses spa shampoo. 

Er, well, that's the power of Tulipspet Shampoo. Shampoo is also suitable for dogs. Nice.. Expensive doesn't mean good, cheap doesn't mean bad. As for price wise, 350ml cost me RM12.50 at Pet Lover Centre. 

Some tips when using flea shampoo, before wet kitty's fur, mix shampoo with lil bit of water. Quickly smear mixture onto kitty's neck. Make sure mixture penetrate fur until kitty's skin. This is to avoid flea hide in kitty's ear when bathing. After you've smear mixture onto kitty's neck, you can start wet kitty's fur and follow product's directions.

Price: RM12.50 (350ml). You may find a few sizes on shelf

Where to buy? : Pet Lovers Centre. You can also find this product at most of the pet shop Malaysia wide.

Foot note: Guys, remember, to kill/prevent flea, it doesn't work if you only shampoo your cat with flea shampoo. Since Malaysia is tropical climate, we have hot and humid all year round. This mean, flea can breed all year round as well. Flea shampoo only kill adult flea by suffocating them. This mean, egg can always hatch, larvae grow and turn into adult flea. What you need to do is cut the life circle.
1. Shampoo kitty with flea shampoo to kill adult.
2. Put on flea spot on to kill larvae
3. Use flea collar to prevent flea picnic on your kitty's body.

Flea that you see on your kitty's body is just 1% of flea in your home or garden. Flea can always live in carpet, furniture, parquet, and garden. So, once you spot flea on your cat, you shouldn't just think about killing fleas on kitty, but in your home as well. All you need are:
1. mosquito spray (water base) - Spray your furniture, parquet, carpet and even your garden.
2. vacuum.
3. put moth ball (ubat gegat) in vacuum cleaner dust bag, furniture. - moth ball kills flea egg, larvae as well as adult.
4. repeat til no more flea at home.

I know it is a hassle when your home has flea infestation. That is why, prevention is better than cure..

The Sad Truth

Please don't just show your sympathy. We CAN CHANGE the reality if we want to.
NEUTER your cats/dogs. If you don't have one, SPONSOR to NEUTER STRAY. If you PLAN TO HAVE A PET, DON'T BUY; ADOPT one.

This is the REAL SAD TRUTH happening not only shelter in US, but shelter ALL AROUND THE WORLD.. including MALAYSIA!

They are not sleeping. They are DEAD.

A Letter from a Shelter Manager - anonymous in North Carolina

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.

Tiger's eye

Tiger

It has been one month now. It started with Tiger having teary eye. So we bought an eye drop from vet (not our normal vet). Somehow, he actually has cornea defect which means, the eye drop that vet gave should not contain steroid. Wrong eye drop makes the eye worsen.

I  am not aware about two different eye drop. So our vet told us that for normal eye problem (usually happen to kitten eye where it swell and teary) we shouldn't use the one with steroid. Eye drop with steroid only can be use for certain cases only. So if we want to stock up cats eye drop, we need to make sure it does not contain steroid.

Our vet is trying to safe Tiger's right eye. He said, "Cat with blind eye is better than one eye."

Now we are waiting for Tiger's swollen eye to subside before vet can investigate what makes his eye swell. Somehow it looks like there's something growing in his eye. Vet say it might be cancer but he's too young to have it. Case is rare.

Wish Tiger to get well soon. Somehow Tiger's appetite is normal. He plays, he eats, he sleeps like nothing happen..

So, what should you do if your cat is sick? Just give medication as instructed by your vet? What can you do to help your vet to figure out what is happening to your cat?

1. Make sure you know what pills or drugs your vet is giving to your cat. You never know you might need to get second opinion. At least your second vet knows what medicine has been given to kitty.

2. Pay attention to your cat. Is he eating , drinking, pooping normal during medication. This is important so that vet know is he responding to medication or not.

3. Is your cat getting better or worst. If there is any slight changes on your cat's physical, (eg: kitty start shivering. Or kitty eye from cloudy eye turns red)  note them down.

4. Always ask your vet.. What circumstances that you need to bring back kitty for vet visit? (Eg: bring back kitty to vet if kitty doesn't respond to food for 2 days)

So far, I can only think these 4 points.. Will show you guys an example note in later update.

Guten Nacht =D

International Homeless Animal Day

Today is Sunday. I just knew that yesterday was International Homeless Animal Day. International Homeless Animal Day will be held every third Saturday of August. I didn't know such day exist until I received a newsletter from Dr.Jon. But, everyday is Homeless Animal Day for million homeless cats and dogs in the world.

Some sad facts I wanna share with all of you out there. Last year, over 17MILLION dogs and cats been turned over to animal shelter. OUT OF 10 were taken in, ONLY 1 found home.Of the rest, 13.5MILLION had to be DESTROYED. (quoted from http://www.petplace.com/dogs/homeless-animal-day/page1.aspx?utm_source=catcrazynews001et&utm_medium=email&utm_content=petplace_article&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter )

What about in Malaysia? 

SPCA (Selangor) itself receives average 7,000 unwanted cats and dogs a year, and out of 7,000 only 1,200 were rehome. Another 5,800 sadly need to be destroyed. (quoted from http://www.spca.org.my/v51/about_history.php)

How bout PAWS? H.O.P.E Malaysia? Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better? And many other shelter out there.... 

Though some are Non-kill shelter, how long can they withstand, trying to survive and help more homeless and abused animal if adoption rate is less than received?

Though these homeless are healthy and adoptable, their chances to get a new home been outweigh by overpopulation, and yeah, of course, people prefer pedigree breed rather than the "no brand ones" or "second hand ones". 

Don't you know that 1 female cat and her offsprings CAN PRODUCE 420,000 cats in 7 years? O.O

Meanwhile 1 female dog and her offsprings CAN PRODUCE 67,000 dogs in 6 years!! =O

Yes, they are indeed, very productive!

 I believe this problem, the whole overpopulation thingy can be solve when everyone..YES I SAY EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU do your part. 

The holy word is NEUTER! NEUTER! NEUTER!

For those who are pet owner, neuter your pet. Not only the female ones, even the male ones.

We Malaysian should also start thinking about T-N-R. Trap-Neuter-Release. I always believe this could solve stray problem in Malaysia. Let me tell you a story on my visit to Singapore early this year.

I was walking my way to the MRT from hotel when I saw a stray cat "lepak-ing" happily under the pedestrian bridge nearby the MRT station. My brain automatically switch to "Must Be Hungry Poor Stray Kitty" mode because in Malaysia that is the reality. So I bought some kitty food and fed him. To my shock... He looked at me then continued sleeping. WTH??????

Then I realize, the stray is product of T-N-R. That is when I put my faith on T-N-R. No kitty begs food at restaurant. No kitty fight with other kitty. No kitty horny noise in the middle of the night. And.. NO MORE NEW BORN STRAY Kitty.. How beautiful T-N-R system works and I want to educate Malaysian to implement this system too. I started T-N-R in Cyberjaya area. Though it is still a tiny winy project, but IMAGINE if EVERY ONE OF US NEUTER 1 STRAY DOG/CAT, there are about 27MILLION people living in Malaysia... Do the math guys... 

Ear Mites

Pendek is scratching is ear out! I thinkhe has ear mites. Found a natural remedy using vinegar, olive oil and vitamin E to cure ear mites infection, but before trying, I think I should do deep research into this. If it is safe, than this may save lots of money.

Saline solution

Meanwhile Tigger is sick. His right eye keep on discharge yellow liquid. Need to buy antibiotic eye drops for him. Since the vet has closed, I use Saline solution (you can get it at drugstore) to flush his eyes and wipe with cotton ball. Will update later with picture. I learn this technique from vet in case of emergency. Saline solution saves money because I don't have to buy those expensive tear remover to wipe off kitty's tears and buildups.

ID Tag

Some may think it is not important, but I say YES, it is important! No matter indoor or outdoor cat. You can't predict accident. 

Kitty might get naughty that day, run out and get lost.

There's fire in your house, you need to let your cat out of house.

Your cat might wonder outside of your garden, end up lost her way.

Anything can happen. If your cat has an I.D tag, at least those who found your cat can contact you. 

I know in Malaysia, engraved I.D tag may cost up to RM30 each. I found an easier way to D.I.Y pet I.D tag. 

Ingredients:

1. shrink plastic (found at One Utama craft shop opposite F.O.S at RM25 for 10 pieces)

2. permanent color marker / acrylic paint

3.oven.

Step:

1. Design the plastic with permanent color marker or acrylic paint.

2. Leave color to dry and punch a hole onto the plastic.

3. Pre-heat oven 250 degrees then bake the shrink plastic.

4. Leave it to cool down. Make sure plastic doesn't curl. If it curl, flatten it using spatula.

Cat's age in human year

I always wonder how old is Pendek if he was a human, so I google around and found this conversion chart. Thanks to Purina UK website , now I know how old is Pendek if he is a human... He should be 32+ years old. In this age, Pendek should be a career man and married.

So how old is your cat if he/she is a human?

Kitty see in colour?

Keeping in mind that your cat evolved from hunters, you can understand why his sense of sight is one of his strongest. But cats are generally considered colorblind.

The retina – the nerve center at the back of the eye – contains cells called cones (responsible for converting light into color) and rods (responsible for black and white). In cats, rods greatly outnumber cones.

Theoretically, color perception is possible since the eye contains some cones, but distinguishing color isn't necessary for cats. Brightness is far more important. He can see in the dimmest of lights; his eyes can open about three times as wide as the human pupil and let in as much light as possible at the normal "hunting" times of dawn and dusk.

Because of the differences between human and cat retinas, the animals can see using one-sixth of the amount of light people need: At night, for example, objects appear six times brighter to a cat than they do to humans, which helps the animals hunt. In addition to better brightness vision, cats can also detect minute movement, which is easily missed by people - another benefit for a hunter.

Source: Dr. Dawn Ruben

The Sick Cat Checklist

I subscribe to daily newsletter and I received a checklist for 10 of the most common signs of health problems among cats which I want to share with you. If your cat shows any of these signs, please bring them to your vet immediately.

Less active - Cats that don't feel well are often less active.  This is often mistaken for "getting older".  The safest thing to do is to have your vet examine your cat to ensure there are no underlying health issues that are making your cat less active.

Weight loss - Losing weight is another common sign of disease or illness.  Sometimes it is difficult to notice weight loss, especially in longhaired cats. If your cat feels bonier, lighter, or if you can easily feel the ribs, it could be a sign that there is a problem.  Seek veterinary care.

Increased water consumption - Drinking more water is associated with a few diseases including kidney disease and diabetes mellitus. If you notice your cat is drinking a lot more water, see your veterinarian.

Not grooming - Cats that don't feel well don't groom themselves. Sometimes this is the first sign of illness that cat owners notice. The hair coat is matted or just not being kept as clean. If your cat is not grooming like normal, see your veterinarian.

Bad breath - Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can result from dental disease as well as other metabolic disorders.

Inappropriate elimination - Most often this involves urinating outside of the litter box.  This can be a behavioral disorder or it could be caused by a variety of urinary tract diseases. Have your cat checked by your vet to determine if there is an underlying medical problem.

Sleeping more - If your cat is sleeping more and showing less interest in life, it could be a cause for concern.  Cats sleep an average of 13 to 16 hours each day depending on the age and personality of the individual cat.  If you notice that your cat is sleeping a lot more than he used to, don't assume it is just age.  Make sure that it is not an underlying disease or illness.

Drooling - Drooling or hypersalivation can be associated with oral or dental disease and should be evaluated by your veterinarian.

Difficulty breathing - This is a very severe sign of illness.  It can be a sign of heart or lung disorders or anemia.  If you notice that your cat is breathing more quickly, exerting more effort to breathe, or if you notice open mouth breathing or a posture in which the arms are slightly abducted and your cat's neck is extended, see your vet immediately.  This is a life-threatening emergency.

Bloody urine - This can be a sign of urinary tract disease or infection in cats.  It should be evaluated immediately. 

source: PetPlace.com

Hyper

Shrek the hyper cat. Picture source from Nurul Farahana Zaidi Facebook photo

One of my friend rescued a cat from the street and after neutering him, he goes hyper. Met him before neutering, he was a lazy bump with sleepy eyes. All he did was sleeping. Wonder what makes him hyper after neuter.

I did some readings. After neuter, cats will not be stress because they don't need get stress finding partners and less territorial (so they'll act cool whenever there's other cat around. So act cool, less stress). So what really triggers his hyper mode?

1. He could be bored. Since he's alone, most experts will advice to get another cat which is nearly the same age and same temperament. When your hyper cat has a playmate, at least you don't have to entertain your bored cat 24/7.

2. Play with him. Get toys which may burn up his energy such as laser beam, balls, strings, feathers or stuffed mice. Cats are born to be hunter so toys which can challenge their hunter skills are the best toys.


Citation:

Tabbi. (2008, September 19). Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral) - Crazy Hyper Cat. Retrieved February 19, 2010, from All Experts website: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Training-Behavior-3489/2008/9/Crazy-hyper-cat.htm

Tabbi. (2008, October 14). Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral) - Cat is Hyper. Retrieved February 19, 2010, from All Experts website: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Training-Behavior-3489/2008/10/Cat-hyper.htm

Hyperactivity. Retrieved February 19, 2010, from Fox Valley Humane Association website: http://www.foxvalleypets.org/cats/default.asp?details=23&page=329

A Must have

image source: http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-047009530X,descCd-authorInfo.html

We never know when our cat gets sick. Sometimes, we are not sure whether symptoms shown by our cat indicates serious illness or not. Knowing what is wrong with our cat might save our cat's life. I always encourage cat owner to have this book. It is very useful and handy.

Book Title: Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Fully Revised and Updated, 3rd Edition

Author: Debra M.Eldrege,DVM, Delbert G.Carlson, DVM, Liisa D. Carlson, DVM, James Giffin, MD, Beth Adelman (Editor)

ISBN: 978-0-470-09530-0

Spotted at: MPH Bookstore

Price: Approx. RM130

rescue kitten

Something to share with all of you.

Options when you find an Orphaned Kitten:

1. Nursing mom: Kittens under 5-6 weeks should not be put on a nursing mom unless both moms have been tested for FeLV & FIV. Kittens can pass diseases to the nursing mom and the nursing mom can pass diseases to the kittens.

2. Original mom is best: A mom cat will still produce milk to feed her kittens after being spayed. Mom's milk is the best for the kittens. They get immunities from mom's milk.

3. Bottle feeding: When bottle-feeding kittens, use a different bottle for each litter if you have more than one litter. Also, change your clothes to prevent upper respiratory infections (URIs) and other diseases from passing from litter to litter.

4. Supplementing a litter of 6 kittens or more with a mom: If you have a mom with a litter of 6 or more kittens, watch them carefully around 3-4 weeks of age. Mom may not have enough milk for the entire litter and all the kittens will suffer. You may need to supplement the feedings with Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) or equivalent

Aging the Kittens:

1. Umbilical cord attached: They are 3 days or younger.

2. Eyes: They begin to open at 7-8 days and all eyes should be open by day 10. Their eyes generally change from blue to blue/gray then yellow/green between 6 1/2 to 7 weeks of age but can vary kitten-to-kitten and litter-to-litter. In one litter, kittens can be conceived 4-5 days apart. This also contributes to the different days the eyes open.

3. Ears: Their ears stand up at 3-1/2 weeks of age.

4. Teeth: Another way to age the kittens is by the teeth. The following is from the Cornell Book of Cats. The ages are when the teeth break the skin or 'eruption of the teeth' happens, or when they break the surface.

Baby teeth:

Center (4) Incisors (front teeth between the canines) 2-3 weeks
Outer Incisors (still between the canines) 3-4 weeks
Canines 3-4 weeks
Upper molars (called a premolar) 2 months (8 weeks)
Lower molars (called a premolar) 4-5 weeks

Adult teeth:

Center (4) Incisors (front teeth between the canines) 3-1/2 to 4 months (14-16 weeks)
Outer Incisors (still beaten the canines) 4 to 4-1/2 months (16-18 weeks)
Canines 5 months
Upper molars (called a premolar) 4-1/2 to 6 months (depending on tooth)
Lower molars (called a premolar) 5-6 months for all
Upper molar in back, no baby tooth, just the molar at 4-5 months

5. Mobility: They are unstable on their feet until they are around 4 weeks of age and can run pretty well by 5 weeks. If you see kittens running around a yard, they are at least 5-6 weeks old.

6. Eating: They generally are eating on their own between 5 and 6 weeks of age. Some will eat as young as 4 weeks and some will take as long as 8 weeks to stop the bottle if you are bottle feeding. The older kittens who refuse to leave the bottle are generally needing the one-on-one affection they are receiving.

Care: 911:

1. If you find a chilled kitten: If you find a chilled kitten, warm it up before trying to feed the kitten. Hold the kitten close to you to get warmth into the body. Give it warmed sugar water in the mouth. You can also rub Karo Syrup on the gums. The syrup will inter the body quickly through the gums. Also, if the kitten is dehydrated, give it lactated ringers (fluids) via sub-Q (can be done by a vet).

2. If you find an over warmed kitten: If you find an over warmed kitten, cool it down before trying to feed the kitten. Put in cool water to lower the body temperature. Administer room temperature water into the mouth. Then, give the kitten room-temperature sugar water or Karo Syrup and lactated ringers (fluids) sub-Q as listed in #1.

3. If a kitten doesn't eat on his own after Karo Syrup: A kitten who is still doesn't eat may need a dose of antibiotics. They often get an imbalance in their intestines and need to correct the bacteria. They should eat within 12 hours of the first dose. Continue through the entire dose of drugs.

Care: non food related:

1. Very young need attention: If the kitten(s) do not have their eyes open, they are young and they should be held a minimum of three hours per day. Transfer what we know about monkeys in a cage without TLC, and you'll understand why the kittens need to be held. Without this affection, young kittens will often die. Hold them SEVERAL HOURS A DAY and you should have success with the kitten.

2. Clear Urine: Urine should be clear, not with mucous, blood or yellow. If there is blood or mucous, see a vet immediately. If the urine is yellow, the kitten is probably dehydrated. You may want to have lactated ringers (fluids) administered by sub-Q .

3. Bathroom stimulation: Stimulation is required for the release of both stool & pee until 3-4 weeks of age. use rough material, not cotton, to resemble mom's tongue. Use a warmed, wet wash cloth or a rough paper towel. Make sure the towel is wet. Slowly massage the genitals until the kitten has peed and pooped. The stool should be softly formed, not runny. If the stool is runny, it is likely you are overfeeding the kitten or it has a parasite. It is better to feed more often and give less food each time than to overfeed a kitten. Potty them before and after each feeding.

4. Keep warm and away from drafts: Young kittens do not keep a steady body heat. Keep out of drafts. Also, heating pads are essential if the weather is under 75 degrees. Put the pad on low and cover with a towel. The kitten will move off the pad when warm enough, so allow enough room in their 'area' for them to move off the pad.

5. Sucking on each other: If the kittens suck on each others genitals, separate them immediately. This can be painful to the kittens and can cause sores as well as protruded genitals (which will calm down when separated) Once they stop sucking, you can put the kittens back together. This can take several days.

6. Litter box usage: When starting to use a litter box, if the kittens poop outside the box, pick it up and place it into the box for training. Most kittens train themselves with a litter box with a little nudge from us. If you have the kittens in a large area, you may wish to provide more than one box so 'accidents' don't happen.

7. Type of litter: Do not use clumping litter with kittens under 4 months. Litter can get into the eyes and cause infections. Kittens also tend to eat the litter when young. You may wish to start out with a small container for the litter box with sides that are only 2 inches high. I use drawer dividers that are 6" x 9" x 2" high from Rubbermaid.

8. Keeping the kittens clean: While you are feeding the kittens, they will get food all over them, especially while you are weaning them. You need to clean them regularly to keep the food off them. They have sensitive skin and can get red, irritated skin if you leave KMR on their skin. A damp washcloth usually cleans them. You don't want them to get too wet and therefore get cold.

9. Parasites: Remove all fleas. I use a citrus based shampoo that doesn't kill the fleas, but slows them down. This also takes the dirt off them. A metal flea comb works great, too. Fleas can cause anemia in a kitten which can kill the kittens. Intestinal parasites can also kill the kitten. if you suspect parasites, take the kitten to a vet for de-worming and stool check. Drontal is a fairly new de-wormer that will kill both tapeworm and roundworm. It can be used on fairly young kittens.

Note: All kittens should be treated at sometime for roundworms, since 95% will have roundworms from their moms. It should be routine with your vet to de-worm for roundworms.

Care: food related:

1. Feeding all kittens: Food should be warmed to room temperature prior to feeding any kitten under 4 months of age. This includes mother's milk replacement. You should only put as much milk in the bottle that will be used at this feeding. After the feeding is over, throw out all remaining milk and clean the bottle and nipple. Re-using milk can cause bacteria in the kittens stomachs, which can make them stop eating. If kittens DO get a bacteria in the stomach (and stop eating), a dose of amoxicillian should fight the bacteria within 12 hours. Use the entire dose of the drug.

2. How much to feed and how often: 8cc per ounce of weight per day, do not overfeed. Feedings should be every 3-4 hours when the kittens are young and should be round the clock. The stool should be soft formed, not runny. If the stool is runny, it is likely you are overfeeding the kitten or it has a parasite. It is better to feed more often and give less food each time than to overfeed a kitten.

3. Position to feed from a bottle: Kittens should eat on it's stomach, in the position one would feed a horse, lamb or cow. Do not put them on their backs and feed like a human baby. This can lead to the formula going into the air pipes which can cause pneumonia and can kill them.

4. How the kittens should suck the bottle: Kitten should suck the bottle, not be forced down the throat. If the kitten is sucking, the ears move and the mouth creates a suction around the bottle. This prevents the food from going down the air pipes which can cause pneumonia. If the milk comes out of the mouth or nose, the hole is too big and you need to replace the nipple with one with a smaller opening.

5. Weaning kittens: Weaning kittens can be frustrating, especially if they don't want to give up the bottle and the special attention you are giving them. Start by mixing baby food (meats like chicken or turkey) or wet food mixed with KMR. You can also puree dry food in a blender and add with KMR.

6. Water dishes: Kittens should start drinking water on their own at 4-5 weeks of age. Don't get frustrated when they are only playing or walking in it. One day, you will see them drinking.

What to feed:

Goats milk or KMR should be used on young kittens. Regular milk (whole, low-fat and non-fat) is not recommended. There are some home made remedies which work, too.

Goats milk: Most grocery stores carry goats milk, and it is available in condensed form to keep in the cupboard.
KMR: Available from a pet store, your vet or a feed store.

KMR is available in both mixed and dry version. The dry is more economical. There is a trick to mixing the water. Get a small container with a secure lid. Add some KMR powder and then add 1/10 the amount of total water needed. Shake until mixed. You should have a thick, smooth liquid. Dilute the liquid with the remaining 9/10 of the water.

Notes: I, personally, don't believe in tube-feeding. A healthy cat will eat. A cat that needs to be forced may need a 12-24 hours of anti-biotics to 'kick in' the stomach. A kitten that has gone a long time without food may have it's stomach shut down. This will result in the milk curdling inside the kitten if the stomach is not functioning. This will kill the kitten. The best thing to do is to give the kitten warmed sugar water or rub Karo Syrup on the gums. Warmed sugar water is water that is saturated with regular white table sugar. Warm up a bit of water and add as much sugar that will be absorbed by the water. Karo Syrup on the gums will be absorbed into the system through the gums. Karo Syrup is easier to digest and is the best for the kitten, but if you are in a jam and don't have Karo Syrup, use regular white sugar.

Single kitten syndrome:

Single kittens tend to be biters. This can be helped by putting in a stuffed toy for the kitten to snuggle up to. You may also wish to find another single kitten to merge with this kitten. It is a health risk to merge them together for either kitten, but it can be really hard to break the habit of biting with a young kitten.

Why some kittens are abandoned:

Abandonment at birth: Moms tends to leave some kittens behind at birth if she feels she can not care for, protect or have enough milk for the entire litter. This is usually done within the first 24 hours.

Abandonment after the first week: If the mom has kicked just one out of the litter, there is probably something congenitally wrong with him/her and you will probably loose the kitten. Mom cats can sense if there is something wrong with a kitten.

Caught while moving them: If the mom is in the middle of moving her litter when you find 1-2 kittens, you have a choice. You can let her come back and retrieve her kitten or you can take it/them and care for them until they are adopted. Unlike other creatures (like birds) cats will take their young back after being touched by a human.

Why some kittens die:

Some kittens die for no apparent reason. Any kitten you bring in may die despite your efforts. This is a sad fact of rescue.

Source: http://www.rescueguide.com/orphkits.html

Give them hope

If you're in Penang and looking for a dog to be your companion, drop by PuppyHope.blogspot.com.

They are helping "urgently for adoption" dogs and puppies in SPCA Bagan Serai, Penang.

Give these strays a second chance. Adopt saves live.Provide them hope. Don't breed and buy while homeless animals die.

Hygiene

Today I am going to tell you about the most important topic - DISINFECT.

Some may think disinfect is not important, which actually it is VERY. If you are a cat owner, make sure you practice good hygiene by:

1. Disinfect at least once a week or everytime you change the whole litter. Disinfect litter box and bowls.

2. Wash and disinfect cage and carrier everytime after use.

3. When ever your cat just recover from illness, wash and disinfect places your cats stay while sick

It is not only good for your cat, but also good for you.

If you rescued stray cats and kittens, don't forget to disinfect cage, carrier after using. You never know what virus or bacteria they might bring along. No one knows, it may spread to your own pet.

How to disinfect?

All you need is:-
i. bleach. any brand can do. eg: Clorox.
ii. water

Instructions:-
a. mix 1 part of bleach with 4 parts of water.
b. fill the mixture in spray bottle and spray on area you wanna disinfect, leave it around 5 minutes, then wipe it, or - wash the things you wanna disinfect using the mixture
d. rinse it away with water
e. then dry under direct sunlight.

The truth

Two videos I wanna share with all of you about the TRUTH..


video by By Erik Friedl


video by PoliticallyConfused - youTube

So start neutering your pets..

Yuck!

cat hair ball
source: mycathealthguide.com

When your cat grooms himself, fur balls are caused by the ingestion of hair. The best way to prevent hairballs is to remove as much of the loose hair as possible before your cat has the chance to ingest it. Brush your cat regularly. For long haired cat, you need to brush them everyday. For short haired cat, once a week is essential. Cats also have an instinct to know what helps them, so in this case, they sometimes eat grass outdoors to help passing the hairball.

Dehydration

Dehydration is common in pets, and it can lead to serious problems. If your cat doesn't feel well, if he has quit eating, if he has been exposed to excessive amounts of heat without water, or if he is vomiting and not keeping water down, chances are he's dehydrated.

How to know if your cat is dehydrated?

If a cat is not eating or drinking, or if he is having vomiting or diarrhea, the safest thing is to do is to assume is that the cat is dehydrated. This may not always be the case but assuming that it is dehydration is the safest approach.

Here are some signs of dehydration that you should be aware of:


• Loss of skin elasticity
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Sunken eyes
• Dry gums
• Increased heart rate
• Slow capillary refill time

You will often see veterinarians lift up the loose skin over the back and watch for its mobility. A slow return to normal can be a sign of dehydration. Some cats will also have sunken eyes, an increased heart rate and slow capillary refill times.

If you think your cat is dehydrated - see your veterinarian immediately.