Cat Care - Longhaired Manx

The Long Haired Manx is a type of cat that comes with special care requirements. This cat does depend on you for shelter, food, health care and love so there is an immediate need for you to at least know the basics of how to care for her. Let us take a look at some cat care tips you might not have known, tips that will aid you in providing the perfect health environment for your Long Haired Manx and more.

First of, if your kitten is younger then 6 weeks you will need to talk to a vet. The Manx breed requires this because it can develop Manx syndrome, a condition that is deadly and is caused by the Manx's tailless gene. This condition might not appear before the cat reaching 4 months. Kittens younger than 6 months must be fed canned kitten food around 3 to 4 times per day and once it reaches around 7 months you should reduce the feeding quantity to just 2 times per day. With this in mind you realize that keeping dry kitten food and fresh water is always needed. Once the Long Haired Manx reaches 1 year of age you can make the switch to adult food but not directly. First mix a quarter of adult food with 3 quarters of kitten food. s time passes you can increase the amount of adult food in a period of 5 to 10 days. Avoid generic brands and always give your cat cat food that is for cats and not other animals, as some people end up doing. Keep in mind that cats enjoy variety so you can mix wet and dry cat food and never give you cat bones while also avoiding uncooked food. Milk should also be avoided.

Female Long Haired Manx should be spayed at 4 to 6 months while males neutered at 6 to 7 months. This is because females can start reproducing as nearly as 4 months. This breed is highly multiplying and females can get pregnant again while nursing the first litter. Waste from the litter box must be thrown away daily and refilled weekly while keeping an identification tag on the cat is always a good idea.

Being a Cat Sitter

It is not always easy to keep an eye on a cat, especially if it is not yours. There is a huge chance that you might be asked to do so by a friend or relative while the owners are out of town so you do need to know some basics about cat sitting so that there will be no problems. First off you will need to find out if the cat is friendly or shy. If it hides you will need to know the hiding places so that you can at least see if she is ok or not.

First impressions always count so you should open the door slowly when you come in. This is because a lot of cats have the habit of running out when the door opens. The first thing you need to do once you are in is to call the cat's name. If he does not appear then you have to look in those hiding places you found out. Do not put pressure on him coming out as he will do so alone when he is ready and confident enough.

Next you will need to sit down and call the cat over if she does not look to be fearful. You will probably see her wanting to check you out and maybe even want to sit on your lap. If she does so then stroke her gently and use a reassuring voice if you are speaking to her (it is actually recommended that you do this). Purring is always a very good sign and you should stay and do this for some minutes because the cat is probably missing her family.

In order to get rid of boredom you will need to spend some time playing with the cat and keep in mind that they enjoy various toys that they can chase or take a swipe at. There is a big chance that such toys already exist in the house so use them as playing with the cat does create a good bond. Feeding the cat should be done as to the owner's instructions and always make sure that the water bowl is filled with fresh water. Most cats only eat when they are hungry so if she is not eating you should not worry about that. Treats must also be supplied as to the owner's instructions.

Never forget taking out the waste and scooping out waste from the litter box while also learning how to change the litter (meaning the time) according to the owner's instructions. Always leave on light on for the cat and also to trick burglars. Bring in all mail, fliers and newspapers that have been left outside. Take note of the cat's regular veterinarian and also the closest animal emergency clinic in the area. Being a good cat sitter is not difficult and as you realized all the hard work stands in finding out information about the cat. After that all you really need is being a cat lover.

Things to Know About Cat Food

Just like us, cats need a complete, healthy diet. In the few words below I will try to bring to your information, things that we, the cat owners should know about their diet. And even if you don’t own a cat, you might find these things quite interesting. But as I always say, remember to check with the vet, no matter what, or how small a problem may seem.

Some pet owners forget that humans require a variety of foods to ensure the consumption of nutritionally balanced meals. A quality cat food has the proper balance of all the nutrients a cat requires together with a high level of palatability. Adding human food to a nutritionally balanced commercial cat food may upset the nutrient balance of the diet.

Milk is a food and not a substitute for water. As a food, milk is incomplete and does not provide a balanced diet. Milk contains lactose, which requires the enzyme lactase for breakdown in the intestinal tract. If the intestinal tract does not contain sufficient lactase, consumption of a high level of lactose can cause diarrhea.

Repeatedly adding raw eggs to a cat's diet can cause a deficiency of the vitamin biotin, which can lead to dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), loss of hair, and poor growth.

Some raw fish can cause a deficiency of the vitamin thiamine. Signs of a thiamine deficiency include anorexia (complete loss of appetite), abnormal posture, weakness, seizures, and even death.

Although we humans may associate meat or meat by-products with a cat's nutritional needs, it must be combined with other ingredients to provide complete nutrition. Raw meats may contain parasites, and cooked meats can be high in fat and do not contain a proper balance of nutrients.

Raw liver, fed daily in large quantities, can cause vitamin A toxicity in cats. Small soft bones (such as pork chop or chicken bones) should never be given to cats, as they may splinter and lodge in a pet's mouth or throat.

Supplements are not necessary when a normal, healthy cat is being fed a complete and balanced food. However, factors like feeding table scraps, inconsistent exercise or stressful changes in routine can leave cats with special nutritional needs.

Some pet owners believe that additional calcium, and possibly other minerals, should be added to the diets of pregnant and nursing females and growing puppies and kittens. It is true that more minerals are needed at these times, but they are normally obtained through increased consumption of a high quality, nutritionally balanced diet. Adding them out of proportion to other nutrients can contribute to skeletal deformities and other problems.

Finally, table scraps will not provide the balanced diet which cats require. Table scraps should not be fed.

So all in all…be careful! As I always say when I approach subjects related to pet’s health, the vet is your friend, and your pet’s health and life, has no price.