Depending on the size and breed of a cat, each one has a specific weight requirement that is best for a long, healthy life. For pet parents with overweight or obese cats, finding the right diet is paramount. We have partnered with , who have provided us with some helpful information about reaching and maintaining your cat’s weight goals. What Causes Obesity In Cats? Even a regular feeding schedule can result in an overweight cat. Things such as treats and an unbalanced diet can lead to cat obesity. To determine the best diet for weight loss in cats, it is important to understand the leading causes of feline obesity. Free Feeding For those who have a busy schedule, allowing their cats to graze on a large amount of food throughout the day is a tempting option. However, when a cat is allowed to free feed, she tends to eat more than she needs. Cat Treats It is hard for a cat to turn down a tasty treat. Since cat treats tend to be small, many pet parents do not realize how many extra calories they are giving their cat. Too many cat treats can cause cats to gain weight quickly. Nutrition Cats are “obligate carnivores.” This means that for a cat’s nutrition to be at its absolute best, diets need to be meat-based. Meat provides the amino acids and vitamins that cats need to stay healthy and happy. Ensure your cat is eating a food that is properly balanced to meet her biological needs. This can help in maintaining a healthy weight. The Best Diets for Weight Loss in Cats Putting a cat on a weight loss diet is as easy as knowing the right foods to feed her. Here are the best weight loss diets to feed an overweight or obese cat, and the benefits: High-Protein Diet Cats do best on a high-protein diet, especially those who need to lose weight gradually over a period of time. High-protein diets contain carnitine, an amino acid that cats need to turn fat reserves into energy. While found in abundance in animal meat, many plants that can be found in many dry cat foods, such as wheat, lack the carnitine that cats need. Scheduled Feeding Diet Teaching a cat to adhere to a food schedule is easier than most people think. The first thing to know is the amount of food the cat needs every day. This does vary depending on the size, age, breed, and health of the cat in question. As a baseline, your average house cat needs about 150-200 calories a day, equivalent to about 1 can of your typical 5.5-ounce cat food, about ½ a cup of dry food, or about 5 ounces of fresh food. Once a vet has determined the right weight for the breed of cat, taking up a scheduled feeding diet allows pet parents to gradually control the amount of food their cat eats every day. Pet parents should feed their cat two to four times each day with a set amount of food that is to be eaten in one sitting. Every pet parent wants to give their cat the right nutrition and to make sure she stays active and healthy. If you suspect that diet is playing a role in your cat’s unhealthy weight, trying perfectly portioned, fresh meals may be the answer. Our fresh food partner is and to give their delivery service a try. They are , only available to the iHeartCats community. The post appeared first on .

Cat lovers rejoice! Thanks to , we now have the ability to learn the genetic makeup of our feline friends, just like our canine counterparts have been able to do since 2007 when became commercially available. There are many compelling reasons why you need this information and the reporting at makes the data crystal clear. Let’s take a deep dive into genomic testing for cats. Why Should You Get DNA Testing on Your Cat? DNA tests are the best way for you to get to know your cat from the inside out. The information contained in a report will help you make informed healthcare decisions, better understand your cat’s temperament, and open your eyes to the wonderful variety of breeds that are similar to your beloved feline. Health Matters: When you understand the genetic profile of your cat, you are able to give her the best possible health care. Being made aware of ailments or conditions particular to the breeds her DNA most closely resembles means that you can recognize potential problems early and seek help. Just as a family health history is critically important to understanding your own health, the information you will discover from your cat’s DNA test will play a vital role in keeping your cat healthy and well. Personality Traits: Naturally, you have an understanding of your cat’s temperament. Nobody knows your fur baby as well as you do. That being said, having research-based information about the known traits of breeds that are similar to your cat’s genetic makeup will help you better understand her behavior. Thinking about getting another cat? What about bringing a dog into the house? Starting a human family and want to know if she will be okay with kids? These kinds of questions are addressed with known personality traits. Read Your Cat’s Story: Humans love a good story. We understand our history and our family traits through the telling and retelling of stories over generations. From physical traits like freckles or blue eyes to personality traits like hot headedness to natural abilities like perfect rhythm…they are part of your genetic story. Wouldn’t it be interesting to read the familial story of your kitty? In the case of genetic testing, curiosity will most certainly help the cat and his parent. How Does it Work? The good folks at make it super easy to obtain your cat’s genetic profile. You simply order a cat kit and they ship it to you. You painlessly swab the inside of your cat’s cheek and send it back to . They then run the DNA against their ever growing database of pedigreed feline DNA. Your cat’s DNA will be visually depicted in your report (more on that later) in a “” This is a way to visually show your cat’s genetic code information and allows you to better understand the genetic similarities that your cat has to pedigreed samples. One of the most impressive things about the process is that as their , your cat’s profile reflects that additional data. Over time, you continue to receive new information about your cat as the scientists at identify and include the genetic results of additional pedigreed cats in the database. What Will the Report Tell Me? Let’s get into the nitty gritty. If you receive a , it will contain a number of useful sections. Information on the history of cat evolution as well as . A summary section gives you the highlights of the findings including the top 3 pedigreed breeds most similar to your cat and which wild cats are most like your cat’s genetics. A section with the percentage of each of three breed groups (Western, Eastern, Hybrid) present in your cat’s makeup as well as the aforementioned chromosome map. Several sections that dive deeper into the most closely matched genetic profiles to your cat, i.e. Russian Blue, Siberian, etc. A section that pulls in all actionable health and wellness data gleaned from the full picture to help you give your cat the best care. recently made a huge splash at the largest pet industry trade show, Global Pet Expo as finalists for the coveted . Being the first to hit the market with an at-home genetic test for felines made quite the impression on the panel of expert judges with good reason. This product gives cat parents the opportunity to deeply understand and care for their cat, unlike they have ever been able to do before. What are you waiting for? Order your cat kit today and prepare to be wowed with what you learn. The post appeared first on .

Before , cat litter was often thought of as a necessary evil. A hassle. Large, heavy bags. The dusty mess. And the odor. Thankfully, eliminates all these problems – even the odor! Best of all, not only makes life easier for you, it can make life better for your cat, too. 100% safe for your cat. Let’s get a little technical for a moment. is made of silica gel crystals – NOT crystalline silica. These two sound like the same thing, but that’s where the similarities stop. Silica Gel, which is found in , is non-toxic and non-flammable. Silica gel is completely safe for humans and cats. Crystalline Silica, on the other hand, can cause damage to the lungs known as silicosis. You cat’s health is our primary concern, so rest assured that using in no way poses any risk to your cat. In fact, it’s the only litter that can help ensure the health and safety of your feline friend. It’s what inspired the creation of PrettyLitter. “Having lost my cat to an illness, it was a heartbreaking experience watching her get ill without having been able to help her early on. I created PrettyLitter to give cat owners the power to keep daily tabs on their cats wellbeing.” -Daniel RotmanCEO, PrettyLitter A change in color tells you about your cats health. With , you get peace of mind. Our revolutionary formula can signal you to possible health issues before they become major problems. Simple changes in color let you know there could be something wrong, possibly saving your cat’s life. Potential health issues that can be associated with color change include: Blue Litter (ALKALINE) – If the litter turns blue or dark green, it could mean your cat’s urine has a high pH level. This could signal a possible urinary tract infection. High urinary pH can lead to bladder crystal and stone formation. Yellow Litter (ACIDITY) – Yellow or orange litter is a possible indication of abnormal acidity, such as metabolic acidosis & kidney tubular acidosis. Low urinary pH can lead to Calcium Oxalate. Red Litter (BLOOD) – If a pet parent finds splotches of red in their cat’s , it could mean there’s blood in the cat’s urine. This could be a sign of bladder inflammation, bladder stones or a urinary tract infection. Less litter, lasts longer. Each bag of weighs just 4 pounds, so no more breaking your back as you lug around 20 or 30 pound bags of litter. Thanks to our revolutionary formula, absorbs and eliminates moisture, so there’s no need to change the litter throughout the month, so you use less. And each bag typically lasts for one month. Free shipping right to your door. Never worry about running out of kitty litter again. Every month, you’ll receive another bag of right to your door, and shipping is free in the continental US. Goodbye Odor! is odorless and scentless. More important, , unlike clumping litter, absorbs moisture, eliminating the urine and trapping the odor. So you only need to scoop the poop. Here’s the deal! iHeartCats.com is proud to partner with . This amazing litter helps make your life easier while keeping tabs on your cat’s health too. For a limited time, when you use code IHEARTCATS. So enjoy peace of mind like never before. is so much more than just litter. It’s a lifesaver! The post appeared first on .

Few of us hesitate to allow our cats to sleep in our beds with us. If all that stands between happiness and our kitties is a leap onto the mattress, why would we say no? A 51-year-old woman who has been suffering from Lyme Disease for years has a warning for those of us who snuggle up with our cats at bedtime. Lisa Vallo’s symptoms began almost a decade before she was diagnosed three years ago. Sadly, she believes her love for her cat may have contributed to the issue. Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria carried by the blacklegged deer tick – the same kind of tick that will sometimes attach themselves to feed on our cats. These ticks aren’t picky, they’re happy to feast on pets or humans. Those of us with pets risk extra exposure, especially if we have furry friends we allow outdoors. You may never notice the presence of a tiny tick on your body, but the signs will become evident within 3 to 30 days. include fever, headache, fatigue, and a bright red rash that can look like an oval or a bullseye. Without treatment, the disease can move to the joints, heart, and nervous system, causing pain, arthritis, facial palsy, and other serious issues. Lisa recalls waking up one morning and finding a tick on her body. The night before she had allowed her cat to sleep in her bed. She told SWNS: “I woke up in the morning and noticed a black dot on my tummy. I thought it was some dust or fluff and tried to scratch it off but I couldn’t. I went into the bathroom and managed to pick the dot off with my nail and noticed it had legs and was wriggling.” Lisa saw several doctors over the years, and was misdiagnosed by all of them until recently. Though lab testing can confirm a diagnosis, Lyme disease can be missed when diagnosed based only on the symptoms. Once confirmed, Lyme disease can be successfully treated in only a few weeks with antibiotics – which makes it all the more unfortunate that Lisa has been suffering for years. “There isn’t enough expertise or publicity about Lyme disease and that’s why I’m speaking about it. Thousands and thousands of people suffer from the disease and don’t know about it, just like I don’t.” Lisa believes she was bitten by a tick because she shared a bed with her cat, but even if you don’t allow your cat on your bed there is still a risk. To help both you and your cat avoid ticks, make sure your cat is on a flea preventative that includes ticks, even if your . Check these common areas regularly on your cat: , and don’t be afraid to speak up to your doctor if you experience the symptoms above and think you may have Lyme disease. See the full list of symptoms for all stages of Lyme disease at . H/T: The post appeared first on .

Your cat is a hunter, chasing red dots. He’s a world-class napper. He pours himself into boxes and claws scratching posts. He’s totally one-of-a-kind and he does it all with a yawn and a flick of his tail. So cool. There is no other cat in the world like your cat. So it’s important to keep your kitty in tip-top shape as best you can, because he won’t be replaced. The road to health starts at his bowl – and now is time to get all four paws on it! Treat your special kitty to food as unique as he is! has something to get both you and your cat purring. They’re making fresh, delicious, quality meals that come straight to your door. No more hauling heavy bags home. No more crunchy kibble that only tastes like it was in the same room with a fish once. has real protein, real nutrition, real taste, and it’s real easy! recipes for cats are made with ingredients that are safe and healthy. You’ll know exactly what you’re putting into your cat’s body because all the ingredients can be counted on one hand, and they’re all things you probably put on your own plate! Vet nutritionist Dr. Justin Shmalberg formulates every recipe to give your cat the nutrition he needs for his best health. This includes own special nutrient mix that gives your kitty’s bowl and body a healthy boost that he won’t get anywhere else! Each recipe also includes taurine which is vital for kitty. Their recipes are made by hand in their own kitchens with everything your cat needs. Nothing is “meat flavored” – there’s real protein in there. And because your cat is a carnivore, it’s a lot! No fillers, no starches, the recipes are designed to match the nutrient profile of your cat’s natural prey species! And it’s high moisture content will help keep your cat hydrated – something that dry food just can’t do for him. There’s no need to sacrifice taste for health, either. food is so delicious that even the pickiest eaters will have no problem clearing their plates! This is food that is truly as unique as your cat is. That’s because it’s made and portioned especially for him! doesn’t just want to feed your cat, they want to help you take control of your cat’s dietary needs. Over 60% of cats are overweight or obese, which can cause other health issues. Whether you have a chubby cat or a skinny kitty, they can help your feline reach his weight goals by portioning his meals for you without skimping on nutrition. Then it’s packed up, and shipped straight to you and your kitty! All you have to do is open the package and pour it out for him! He’s the apple of your eye, curled up in the warmest places of your heart. He has a personality and charm that other people may not see, but you know it’s all him. Whatever it takes is worth it to see his eyes light up and hear his purr from across the room! You and your cat can experience the feeling together at every meal time when is doing the cooking! iHeartCats wants you and your kitty to feel the love cooks into their incredible food! To give cat moms and dads like you a chance to see the difference, they’re offering $25 off your fist order to get started right meow. The post appeared first on .

The litter box in your house might have a bad reputation, but a new name in kitty litter is changing everything pet parents know about how to keep cats healthy. is the of iHeartcats, and their revolutionary kitty litter is not only affecting how people view litter boxes, it’s also saving lives and keeping families together. Let’s face it, you love your cat, but you don’t love the daily task of cleaning out the litter box. It’s not as fun as kitten playtime or cat cuddles, but you do it because it keeps your feline friend happy, clean, and healthy—not to mention it keeps your . You’re used to performing the necessary chore for the sake of sanitation, but with , cleaning the litter box is an opportunity to safeguard feline health. uses special color-changing health indicators to reveal potential health problems. Known for their stoic natures, cats don’t always show when they aren’t feeling well. They hide their symptoms and behave normally even when their health is at risk. As a result, pet parents have to wait for symptoms to progress before they realize it’s time to schedule a vet visit. By that point, it’s often too late. Inspired by Love to Protect Feline Health founder Daniel Rotman knows first-hand how it feels to lose a feline friend too early. After graduating from Harvard, Daniel knew he had to follow his passions.He had countless doors open to him in the professional world, but an experience from his past inspired him to do something meaningful for future pet parents and feline health. Growing up, Daniel loved a cat named Gingi. Gingi held a special place in his heart, and years after the cat’s death, Daniel still thinks about that special relationship. When Gingi got sick, there was nothing Daniel and his family could do. The symptoms presented themselves too late, and the beloved cat soon died from what could have been a treatable feline illness. The loss was heartbreaking, but Daniel translated that difficult time in his life into an idea that’s helping countless cats just like Gingi. Gingi’s death became the inspiration for PrettyLitter, and Daniel’s memory of his precious pet is making a big difference for families with felines. When Gingi was sick, Daniel took note of how veterinarians used urinalysis to test for and identify different health issues. He thought that if only he could do that on his own, he could tell when something wasn’t quite right with his pet. Now with his degree and backing from industry experts, that’s exactly what does. How PrettyLitter Works When a cat climbs into a litter box full of , it’s like an at-home urinalysis. Health indicators in the litter measure the pH levels of urine and change color based on feline health. The color changes are obvious and make it easy to keep cats healthy and spot otherwise invisible health problems. Once you know what’s going on, you can make the decision to take your cat to the vet. Blue Litter: If turns blue or dark green, it means the cat’s urine has a high pH level. In veterinary terms, this means the cat could be suffering from a urinary tract infection, and they’re at a high risk of developing bladder crystals and stones. Yellow Litter: Yellow or orange litter is an indication of abnormal acidity. The cat may be experiencing metabolic acidosis or kidney tubular acidosis. It can also mean crystals and stones are forming in the bladder. Red Litter: If a pet parent finds splotches of red in their cat’s kitty litter, it means there is blood in the cat’s urine. detects even trace amounts of blood that would otherwise go unnoticed. Kidney disease, clotting disorder, bladder cancer, and bladder inflammation, are all possible reasons for the blood. Veterinarian-Trusted Kitty Litter Technology has been proven to work, and veterinarians and pet parents alike are using it to save feline lives. Dr. Geoff DeWire, recipient of the Pfizer Clinical Achievement Award in Veterinary Excellence, tested with cats known to have urinary tract infections and other feline urinary health issues. He saw first-hand how accurate the technology is, and he recommends pet parents use to keep cats healthy no matter their age. Early detection of an illness is crucial. It means treatment can be started sooner, pain and suffering is minimized, and cats have higher chances of . Gingi didn’t have the advantage of , but your cat does. This forward-looking brand of kitty litter is affordable, odor-trapping, and it’s . Protecting feline health has never been easier. The post appeared first on .

Do you struggle with whether or not to let your cat outside to enjoy the great outdoors? Do you think they’d be happier if you could let them out to live on the wild side?

There’s a good chance you’ve heard about CBD oil for dogs and cats. In natural health circles, the product has become one of the most popular go-to natural solutions for a wide-variety of ailments from anxiety to joint pain to nausea and digestion problems. Our sister site . While the article mostly focuses on dogs, cats also have the same endocannabinoid (ECS) system as dogs and humans, so many of the benefits may apply to our feline friends. The discusses a lot of the questions around legality and safety, and includes a buyer’s guide as well to help you choose a safe and effective product. The post appeared first on .

For anyone who has a cat, it goes without saying that you want the very best for them. The best food, the best toys, the best home, and–of course–the best litter. All cat litters are not created equal–and that is something that every cat connoisseur can attest to. So, what is the very best cat litter for your cat? Well, the answer is simple: Other cat litters may offer great odor protection, some can give your cat those tiny crystals they love to paw in, but can any of the other cat litters do that and detect health issues? Nope, didn’t think so. This is why is a step above the rest, and your cat needs to try it–like, right meow. Here kitty, kitty We all know that cats would never, ever dare step foot in something they didn’t like, and is proven to attract cats of all kinds. Its premium quality crystals are like music to your cat’s delicate paws, with joy and pleasure packed in to every single kitty scratch and whisker sniff. Just look at these kitties, they’re loving what has to offer: Litter with a Cause: takes all the guesswork out of those troublesome times in between vet visits. No more worrying if your cat is secretly suffering in silence or fears that your precious kitty could be in the developing stages of a painful condition. All you have to do is follow simple color-coded indicators and you’ll be the first to know if anything is plaguing your feline friend. Conditions such as urinary tract infections and bladder infections can be quickly triggered by color coded technology, along with other important red flags to keep concerned cat owners in the know. “Most owners don’t realize their cats are coping with an illness until the disease has significantly progressed, making treatment more difficult and more expensive. PrettyLitter can be a revolutionary feline healthcare product, because it can alert a pet owner of a metabolic problem in their cat before it progresses into a debilitating and expensive disease. PrettyLitter is made of natural ingredients, that are both eco-safe and feline friendly.” Dr. Geoff Dewire, DVM Douglassville Veterinary Hospital So Simple, You Won’t Believe You Didn’t Do it Sooner One of the best things about signup process is its simplicity. No need to stress over late-night kitty litter runs, it ships right to your front door–for free. That’s right, cat keepers. Just head over to get started, and it walks you through a hassle-free process, choosing the purrfect cat litter needs for your home. Whether you’re a happy cat family of one…or two or three, offers you the cat litter needs to meet your home, shipped directly to you and your lucky kitties each month. Here what cat owners have to say about this revolutionary litter: “Your litter was the ONLY thing that alerted me that anything was wrong. Thankfully it was caught early enough.” – Denise A., Carney’s Pt. NJ “Let me clarify the dust bit: None! For me as an asthmatic, the lack of dust is absolutely essential! #PrettyLitterForLife” – Beth Goodwin, Fort Stewart, GA “I can’t believe how spoiled I’ve become with this litter. It makes dealing with cat excrement so much easier! I love Pretty Litter. A lot.” – G. Gregory, Angier N.C. The difference is clear when it comes to : quality litter that you can put your faith in that’s proven to please your kitty posse. We don’t know what’s more purrfect than that if you want to give your cat–or two or three–their very best life. The post appeared first on .

Giardiasis is an intestinal infection caused by a parasite. It is found in dogs and humans, too. It’s not a worm, but a one-celled protozoan, so tiny it’s microscopic. Your veterinarian will have to diagnose giardia – you won’t be able to tell by looking for evidence. Cats usually get giardia by ingesting the organism,…

Dealing with feline pregnancy can be challenging in its own right, but it’s only the beginning. The real challenge often comes after the birth. Just like with humans, newborn kittens are extremely fragile, and there are a number of things that can go wrong. If you are caring for a pregnant cat, please read this…

“Help! My cat is having kittens, and I think there’s a problem!“ When we get that title to a thread, it’s usually accompanied by several more exclamation marks. Indeed, when you think something is going wrong with a birth, it can be immensely stressful. If your cat is giving birth right now and there’s an…

The skin is the largest organ a body has and that goes for cats as well as humans. The skin can be directly affected by disease and parasites or it can display symptoms that are related to a disease in another body part. Here’s a quick overview of feline skin conditions and what you can…

One of the questions often asked on our cat forums is, how can I give a pill to my cat? Unless you find a super-tasty pill your cat happens to love (like the one shown in the picture here), you need to know how to properly administer a pill. Technically speaking, the procedure itself is…

Cats tend to throw up stuff every now and again. If you share your life with a cat, you probably know the picture and the soundtrack, too: your cat meowing loudly in a low-pitched tone, heaving and retching pitifully until some intermediate wet mass comes out of her mouth. Scary as it may seem to…

We have a special a guest blog post today by veterinarian Dr. Kristopher Chandroo, DVM. You may already be familiar with Dr. Kris’ posts here on TCS. Dr. Kris will be hosting a special guest forum next week! The topic will be Kidney Issues in Cats and you’re all welcome to prepare your questions. Guest…

So, you have a very pregnant cat on your hands and you have everything that you need for the birth ready. Now, how to tell when the kittens are really going to pop out? The gestation period of cats is an average of 64 days from the time of mating. Do you know when your…

It’s the perfect picture. A cat owner is sitting on a chair with their cat curled up in their lap. Unfortunately, a closer look reveals the owner’s red eyes, and blotchy skin. Does getting close to your furry family member result in itchy, watery eyes and sneezing? Many cat owners are allergic to their pets,…

If there could be one thing you could do to save your cat’s life in an emergency, would you? 53% of cat people say they would be willing to give their cat CPR but how do you do it? There are classes to teach you basic first aid for both cats and dogs. Finding a…

Fleas – if your cat ever goes outdoors or comes in contact with animals that do, you are probably familiar with these pests. Given the right conditions, these tiny brownish insects can quickly multiply and turn into a horrible infestation.Many cats are allergic to fleas. For them, even a single fleabite can trigger an acute…