About the Cattery

Pricing / Terms

FAQs

How to Find Us

Blog

Keeping your Cat Healthy & Happy

Unlike us, our pets can’t speak for themselves. In many cases, they won’t tell you when something is wrong. In order to keep our pets healthy they need regular trips to the vet, even If you check your cat at home, veterinarians are trained specialists and have the equipment and expertise that allow them to find something that you may have missed. It is essential that kittens are taken to the vet on a regular basis for a check-up and vaccinations. Young cats are also more susceptible to disease and infection, so don’t hesitate to take your kitten to the vet if you suspect any illness is present. Please, please take your cat for routine check-ups and take them immediately if you suspect something is seriously wrong. If you’re unsure or are seeking advice on your cat’s health, many vets offer phone consultations, which will save bringing your kitty in and causing unnecessary stress.

You can take a number of steps to prevent your cat from getting an illness, and it is important to uphold these measures for both your wallet and cats safety.

Neutering/Spaying your Cat

The one seemingly obvious thing that can keep your cat in a healthy condition is neutering. Unless you have a pedigree cat and are planning on breeding, it would be a really good idea to get them neutered.

Neutering (male cats) or spaying (female cats) can stop certain types of cancer growing in both sexes, and it will also decrease the risk of your cat catching a UTI (Urine Tract Infection). Among other health benefits, having your cat neutered ensures that he or she can’t produce offspring. Unplanned feline offspring can have serious underlying health issues, which can lead to entire litters being euthanized. So, unless you are planning on breeding your cat, it is highly recommended that you neuter him.

Preventing disease in your cat

As well as preventing disease in, you can also protect against harmful parasites like intestinal worms, ticks and fleas. If you suspect your cat has worms, you can check their stools for confirmation.

Worms, ticks and fleas

The most common sign of your pet having worms is finding worms in their stool (worms look like small white silk-like strands), however, tapeworms can sometimes cause vomiting and loss of weight and may not necessarily be present in your pet’s faeces. In any case, if you suspect your cat has worms please take them to the vet, a veterinarian will confirm the diagnosis before prescribing the right deworming medication. Once you have the medication it is your responsibility to treat your feline friend by feeding them the correct dosage of medication at the correct intervals. For other parasites like fleas and ticks, they can be spotted quite easily on your cat’s fur and skin. They can be easily treated with a ‘spot-on’ solution, which is normally applied to the back of the neck, this should prevent your cat from getting either of these pesky parasites. If you do spot your cat with fleas, after treating them, make sure to deep clean your entire house, to stop an infestation.

Diet and exercise – keeping a kitty fit and healthy!

Playtime for cats!

Playtime for kittens is essential to their cognitive development, but older cats also enjoy stimulating interactions with their owner. Your cat may enjoy lazing around and sitting on your lap, however, it is important that your cat gets exercise and stretches their muscles. Even simple activities, like using a scratching post, allows cats to stretch out. Without this and other forms of exercise, your cat may lose mobility over time. Playing with toys for mental stimulation is also recommended to keep your cat healthy. You should use a range of interactive toys, which you can rotate to keep your cat interested. You should also keep most toys in a secure place when not playing with them. This stops your cat using them when you are not around. If overused, some toys will lose their novelty value. Cats are naturally curious and respond well to novelty items and games. You should use this fact to help establish a stronger bond between you and your feline friend.

Diet

Dietary requirements for cats are frequently misunderstood. Descended from African wild cats, the modern day domestic cats are reliant on a 100% meat diet. In the wild, they would hunt day and night for small prey, and it is natural for them to eat 5-7 different times throughout a 24hr period. A lot of owners don’t feed their cat nearly half this much and in way too big portions. Unfortunately, these types of schedules are not very convenient for owners who work full time. Most cats also eat at the same place, day in – day out. No effort or brain power is required. To optimize your cat’s stimulation at feeding times, place several timed or puzzle feeders throughout the house. This keeps things fun and interesting for your cat on a day to day basis.

Grooming

Cats are usually very good at grooming themselves, however, it is important, from time to time, that you give them a helping hand. Cats only clean the surface of their hair. By using a brush you can help to get old hair and dead skin out from underneath. Older cats especially need help with grooming. Due to their age, they may be unable to thoroughly groom, which is why it’s important to take more time brushing senior cats. You can bathe your cats too! While a lot of cats dislike water, it isn’t going to harm them. In fact, it is a good way to make sure your cat stays clean and healthy. Cats like to roll around in a variety of things while out adventuring, so bathing alongside brushing also allows you to spot any changes, lumps or spots that can then be checked by the vet as soon as possible. To make bath time easier on you and your pet, take the time to get your pet used to the bath as a kitten, or, if you adopted an older cat, try to get them used to the surroundings and the bath. Introduce things gradually, like letting them sniff the cat-friendly shampoo, start with tiny amounts of water so that your cat won’t panic and injure itself or you.

Filed on Thursday, March 1st, 2018 at 12:01 am under: Cats holiday Brighton, cattery Brighton

21 Cool Cat Facts

All cat lovers will tell you that cats are incredible. They are loving, fun, loyal, clever – well really there just aren’t enough words to tell you just how amazing they are! But how much do you actually know about them? Have a read below to find out our favourite 20 cat facts.

1. The average cat sleeps 16-18 hours per day.

2. Most cats are lactose intolerant and should not be given cow’s milk.

3. Cats knead with their paws when they are happy.

4. A male cat is called a “Tom” and a female cat is called a “Queen.”

5. Cats can get tapeworm from eating mice.

6. Cats have more than 100 different vocal sounds.

7. An adult cat has 30 adult teeth.

8. Cats can run up to 30 miles per hour.

9. A cat can jump approximately seven times its height.

10. A female cat carries her kittens for about 58-65 days before they are born.

11. Cats cannot taste anything sweet.

12. A cat’s sense of smell is approximately 14 times greater than that of a human.

13. A group of kittens is called a kindle; a group of adult cats is called a clowder.

14. Cats have five toes on each front paw, but only four toes on each back paw.

15. Cats who fall five stories have a 90 percent survival rate.

16. A cat’s whiskers aren’t just for show – they help cats detect objects and navigate in the dark.

17. Cats cannot see in complete darkness, only at low light levels.

18. Humans greet each other by shaking hands; cats greet one another by touching their noses together.

19. Cats have sandpaper-like tongues that they use to clean groom themselves.

20. Unlike humans, cats only sweat through their paws. This is why you may see them leave moist paw prints in the summer time!

If you need an outstanding place for you cat to stay whilst you are away, whether for the weekend or on holiday then give us a call on 01273 857 539

Filed on Thursday, February 22nd, 2018 at 1:49 am under: Uncategorized

How To Prepare Yourself for a New Cat

If you are thinking about adopting a new cat, then you have probably thought about adapting your home as well. Since those little furballs are pretty curious, you’ve come to the right place to learn about bringing a new pet into your home and the steps you should take to make sure that their insatiable curiosity doesn’t become their downfall. These tips will help you kitten-proof your home and prepare yourself for your new furry friend.

Make a safe place

When you bring a new kitten home, it will probably try to hide underneath a bed or behind the couch until it feels comfortable enough to explore the new surroundings. Cats are particularly sensitive to new surroundings, and some may hide for days or even weeks. Try to make sure that you don’t leave space behind your furniture because you will have a huge problem with feeding your new kitten or showing it the litter box it should use. Make a safe place within your house where the cat can go and relax, or hide away when it needs to. You have to give it time to feel secure in your home. It can be a regular small cardboard box or even a shoebox. Cut out the small hole that can be used as an entrance and place the box somewhere in the corner. That way you will create a small safe corner shelter for your kitten.

Move stuff from floor to shelves

Look at your home with a curious cat’s eye view for climbing and exploring the potential. First of all, forget about decorative accents on the floors or lower shelves. Kittens are like most babies, pretty clumsy and curious and they will most definitely try to climb on, jump over, and subtly wriggle between your furniture and all breakable decoration. Also, put potted plants on the top shelves since your new kitten will probably play with it and dig a hole in the soil or simply nibble the leaves. If you wonder why, well, it’s just because they want to do it. But they look so cute doing it! Also, put away all unnecessary items or if you are ready to get rid of the excessive belongings contact rubbish removal services to save time, money and give your full attention to your new cat in your (now) minimalistic home.

New kitten essentials

Let’s start with the necessary items you will need to set up space and make your new kitten feel more secure in your home. So, you will need a litter box and litter (it would be great if you could use the same type the kitten used – ask the previous owners so that it doesn’t feel confused). Dishes for food and water (avoid purchasing plastic or steel ones, opt for ceramics – easier to clean and healthier to eat from, plus they don’t keep the smell of food). A cat mat for dishes (to reduce the kitten mess), a scratching surface (kitty needs to take care of its claws) as well as a few cat toys and a comfy bed for your fur baby (even though your lap will probably be the best bed for your new kitty). If possible, buy a cat tree for your new family member. Cats like to survey their territory, so a high perch is often a favoured resting place.

The types of litter

When picking a litter type, avoid strongly scented ones and try not to mix them (avoid buying different type with every purchase). It’s a good idea to choose the soft type at the beginning since kittens have the most sensitive paws (and definitely the cutest and fluffiest ever). Make sure to choose a shallow enough litter box to make it easier for your little ball of fur to enter. You can also put a cat mat underneath the litter box and prevent messiness around it.

Carefully choose the food

Make sure you purchase food according to your kitten’s age since they need a lot of energy to play and grow in their first few months and therefore stronger food. It’s best to give your cat the same food they ate at the shelter or foster home, at least at first. The junior cat food has enough vitamins, high-quality ingredients and everything your kitten needs to grow which is extremely important from the start. Plus, it is softer, so it is easy for them to eat it. And remember to follow the portion dosage to avoid having an overweight cat with health problems.

Patiently train your cat

Teach your cat things it should and shouldn’t do but do it patiently. You shouldn’t allow your kitten climb on tables for example because if it gets used to doing so, there is almost no chance to change that kind of behaviour later on.

Finally, after following these tips, your home will be perfectly set for your new bestie. And remember, set boundaries but don’t yell at the kitten, you don’t want to traumatise it or make it aggressive to people when it grows up. And pet your kitten a lot; the purring has a great impact on people as well!

Have a plan for when you need to go away

It is important to ensure you have reliable, affordable care for your new kitten when you go away, whether for a long holiday or a weekend break. Kittens need a lot of care and attention and it is essential to make sure they are with someone who can look after their needs. This could be a family member, friend or a cattery. Do your research and visit where you think you would like your kitten to stay before you need to drop them off. If you are stressed or not happy with the level of care and accommodation then your cat will quite likely be also!

At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel we ensure each cat/kitten receives all the care and attention they require. We have over 29 years experience in looking after cats and kittens of all breeds, shapes and sizes. We encourage clients to visit our cattery – no appointment necessary 7 days a week. To find out more call us on 01273 857 539

Filed on Friday, February 16th, 2018 at 8:07 am under: Uncategorized

Modern, spacious cattery in Poynings, Brighton.

At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel we have a modern cattery with spacious runs overlooking our gardens. If your beloved cat needs a home away from home book him or her in to our luxury cat boarding accommodation. Cats generally prefer their own company, so each of our cat guests has their own private accommodation with all the creature comforts of home. When two cats are from the same family we are happy to house them in shared accommodation.

Cat runs are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected daily
Scratch posts are provided for cats to keep their claws sharpened
Cat toys for cats to pounce and play
Cuddles and pampering to make your cat feel right at home

We encourage all of our loving pet owners to come and take a look at our cattery in Poynings, Brighton before booking their cat into our cat boarding accommodation. Our friendly staff will show you around the cattery and answer any questions you may have. We recommend that you transport your cat to us in a secure cat carrier. If you don’t have one, we have cat carriers available from our Cattery free of charge.

Please feel free to bring any of your cats’ creature comforts from home to help them enjoy their stay in our cattery. Baskets, beds, toys or blankets are all welcome.

For even the fussiest furry feline friend, call Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel. Call us on 01273 857 539 to book in your cats stay or find out more.

Filed on Saturday, February 10th, 2018 at 3:23 am under: Uncategorized

Not just for your holidays – Cattery Brighton

At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel near Brighton, we not only provide care and accommodation for cats whilst their owners are on holiday.

We have provided care for cats whose owners are moving house, getting married, throwing a big party and many more reasons. Whatever the reason you need your feline friend cared for – why not give us a ring. We encourage people to visit our cattery in Brighton before booking to see our fantastic full height cat chalets set in beautiful surroundings.

With over 29 years of experience of running our cattery, you can rest assured that your cat will be treated as one of the family. We provide scratch posts, toys and all cats have access to outdoors through an outdoor passage for security.

Why not take a look at our review page and see what some of our lovely customers have to say about us or give us a ring on 01273 857539

Filed on Friday, February 9th, 2018 at 12:47 pm under: Uncategorized

10 CAT MYTHS UNCOVERED

While the myth that cats have nine lives was debunked long ago, there remain a number of old wives’ tales that continue to steer many cat owners in the wrong direction.

Myth 1. Cats always land on their feet

Fact: Cats instinctively fall feet-first due to their flexible spine and “superior righting reflex”. However, this is not to say that a cat can’t be injured in a fall.

Myth 2. Milk is good for cats

Fact: While cats love milk and will readily lap up a whole saucer, it is not good for their health. Most cats are lactose intolerant and cannot break down the enzymes in cow’s milk. For a special treat, you can give your cat lactose-free milk occasionally.

Myth 3. Pregnant women should not own cats

Fact: It is true that some cats (especially those who actively hunt) carry a disease called toxoplasmosis, which can harm an unborn baby. Pregnant women can catch the disease from a variety of sources, including through accidentally swallowing the parasite through contact with cat faeces. However pregnant women can still own cats; they just need to be vigilant about washing their hands after close contact and avoid handling kitty litter.

Myth 4. Garlic keeps worms and fleas at bay

Fact: There is no scientific evidence that garlic prevents worms or fleas. In fact, garlic can actually cause anaemia in cats.

Myth 5. Cats eat grass when they’re sick

Fact: Grass is a natural laxative for cats, as it contains enzymes that cats cannot break down. Eating grass in small amounts is a safe and natural way for cats to regurgitate unwanted bones, feathers and furballs in their digestive tracts.

Myth 6. Butter on the paws keeps kitty from getting lost

Fact: If you are moving house, rubbing butter on your cat’s paws will do nothing more than provide a brief distraction. The best strategy is to keep your cat in a purpose-built enclosure for a couple of weeks so he or she can have a “territory”. When you do let your cat outside, make sure he or she is microchipped with collar identintification.

Myth 7. Cats can eat dog food

Fact: A regular diet of dog food can be extremely dangerous for your cat as it does not contain essential nutrients that your cat needs, such as taurine and arachidonic acid. Taurine deficiency can lead to blindness and arachidonic acid can lead to dry, scaly skin. If your cat has a habit of eating the dog’s food, try to feed your cat and dog in separate areas at the same time and remove any leftovers.

Myth 8. Cats must be six months old to be desexed

Fact: With modern anaesthetics, most cats can now be safely desexed from eight weeks. Check with your veterinarian about the best time to do this.

Myth 9. A cat with a bell will not catch birds

Fact: Cats are clever animals and learn quickly how to move so the bell doesn’t ring. Some research suggests cats with bells are actually better at catching prey as they learn to move with more stealth. The best thing you can do to prevent your cat catching birds is to keep him or her in after dark.

Myth 10. Cats don’t need companionship

Fact: This is entirely dependent on the individual cat. Some cats are more independent than others but generally all cats need some companionship. If you lead a busy lifestyle and spend long hours working it is advisable you have two cats, so they can keep each other company while you are out.

At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel we know and love cats. Your pet will receive top quality care and attention whilst staying with us in their home away from home. We encourage you to come and visit us, no appointment necessary. To find out more or to book you cat in for their holidays call us on 01273 857 539

Filed on Thursday, February 1st, 2018 at 12:42 am under: Uncategorized

Catnip

Originally from Europe and Asia, minty, lemony, potent catnip — Nepeta cataria — has long been associated with cats. Even its Latin-derived cataria means “of a cat.” And research shows that cats big and small adore this weedy, invasive member of the mint family. But why do they like catnip so much? Is it safe? And what does it mean if your cat doesn’t like it?

Catnip’s Effects

It’s genetics that determines whether your feline friend falls for this cousin to basil and oregano. About one cat in two inherits a sensitivity to the herb. But you won’t know if your kitten is one of them until sometime between ages 3 and 6 months.

Catnip’s allure is in its volatile oil, specifically one chemical in that oil — nepetalactone. Found in catnip’s leaves, stems, and seeds, it only takes one or two sniffs of that wondrous oil before susceptible felines are licking, chewing, and rolling head-over-tail in kitty bliss.

Though intense, that bliss is usually short-lived, lasting about 10 minutes for most cats. For some, the euphoria translates into aggressive playfulness. At the same time, it makes others mellow and calm. But no matter what reaction your cat has, once the pleasure passes it’ll be about two hours before kitty responds to catnip again.

Catnip: Toys and Training

Because cats do respond to catnip again and again, the herb can be a powerful training aid.

Want to keep kitty from clawing furniture? Rub a scratching post with catnip to make it more appealing. Bought a new cat bed? Sprinkle a little of the herb on kitty’s cushion to make it more attractive to your feline friend.

You can also provide enrichment for an indoor kitty by creating catnip toys. Sprinkle a bit of the herb into an old sock, then knot the top. Or put a big pinch of catnip in a small paper bag and crush the bag into a tight ball.

Filed on Thursday, January 25th, 2018 at 3:40 am under: Uncategorized

Cattery Brighton, Sussex

At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel, we provide much more than a cattery experience. We are committed to ensuring your peace of mind by providing our feline guests with a special holiday experience in a safe, secure and relaxed environment with caring staff who cater to their every need.

Are you planning a holiday to get away from it all or just a weekend break? We also look after cats for many other reasons -moving house, new baby, wedding it doesn’t really matter to us why you need your cat looking after, we just want you to know you can leave your cat with us in complete knowledge they are safe, happy and being well looked after

You can be sure that your cat is in very good hands with us, and will have as good a holiday as you will!

For a tour of our cat boarding hotel near Brighton and Gatwick Airport or for details of availability this summer, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01273 857 539.

Filed on Thursday, January 18th, 2018 at 3:00 am under: Uncategorized

Bringing a New Kitten Home

Kittens

Bringing home a new kitten is a really exciting time for your family. They are cute, cuddly and can be wonderful companions. It is important, however, being prepared and understanding what to expect before bringing home your new furry feline.

Must have kitten supplies

Cat scratch post – Pick a post that is high enough so your kitten can stretch out and scratch, and place it in a location where the kitten will spend most of its time
Bedding – Choose a soft, comfortable bed in a warm location.
Water and food bowls – Choose a water and food bowl of a sturdy, easy to clean material like stainless steel. Place the bowls in a different room to the litter tray, as cats do not like to eat near their bathroom!
Litter tray and litter – Provide your kitten with a litter tray in a private, quiet location. See below for more information on litter trays and litter types.
Grooming supplies – A soft bristled brush will help you to teach your kitten to be groomed regularly. Avoid brushes with sharp wire bristles as they can hurt their skin.
Toys – See below for information on toys for kittens.
Food and treats – Continue with the food your kitten was eating before, as a sudden change in diet will cause a stomach upset. Choose a high-quality complete and balanced dry food, such as Royal Canin Weaning, and gradually change the diet over a week.

My kitten is on heat. What should I do?

Kittens can reach puberty as young as 4 months of age, around their last vaccination. During puberty, kittens will start acting like teenagers and you will notice the following:

Desire to roam
Increased marking behaviour, including scratching and spraying
Calling behaviour to attract all tom cats in the area
Potent urine smell where tom cats are spraying outside your house
Cat fights between tom cats attracted to your female

You cat will roll around on the floor moaning and crying in a sorrowful way. She may also start spraying and back up against you or other items wanting her rump and under the tail rubbed. This is a distressful time for your cat.

Please don’t allow your cat outside at this time. She may be set upon (often forcibly) by several tom cats in a row and end up pregnant very quickly.
To avoid this situation, book your cat for desexing at your earliest convenience before she reaches puberty.

What toys are safe for my kitten to play with?

Your kitten or cat can never have enough toys! Ideally rotate toys daily to keep the amusement going.

Examples include:

Laser light
Feathery toys
Wind up toys that move
Bouncy balls
Empty boxes
Toilet rolls
Cotton buds
Tissues
Hanging items
Dragging items. For example: a string with feather at end attached to your pants as you walk around the house

Cats like fast movement and bouncy things, so think of this when buying/creating your kitten or cat’s toys.

There are some very clever puzzle toys available, such as CatAmazing, on the market that will entertain your cat.

What kind of cat litter tray is best?

Cats are by nature very clean, so it’s crucial to use a good quality litter tray and litter that your cat likes. Daily cleaning is essential.

For adult cats: A large, deep tray, around 1.5 times the length of your cat and 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) deep

For kitten and seniors: They may need a tray with shorter sides for easy access.

Plastic is a common and suitable material for the tray. Some trays come with a cover. This may contain the sight and odour of the tray, but not all cats are comfortable using these.

What type of cat litter is best?

For many cats, two trays are best. Some prefer to do no.1 in one tray and no.2 in the other, or just have choices!

There are many different types of litter that are both good at absorbing urine and decreasing smell:

Clumping cat litter
Crystal cat litter
Recycled paper litter
Gravel based litters
Scented litter

Some can be scooped regularly (clumping and crystal) and emptied to clean and disinfect the tray weekly or less. Other litters need to be emptied completely and the tray disinfected daily.

Either way, please ensure that your cat has access to a clean litter tray at all times. If in doubt, most cats will like using the finer gravel or clumping types of litter. Just watch that they don’t try to eat it in the beginning, especially a young cat/kitten.

Your cat will prefer a quiet and safe area for its tray, including the laundry, bathroom, spare room or a quiet hallway. Make sure it is an easy area to clean.

How do I clean a cat litter tray?

To clean your cat’s tray, empty all the dirty litter into a garbage bag (try not to breathe in any dust particles while doing so). Scrape the litter on the bottom into the bag if needed.

Scrub the tray in warm water and detergent, rinse thoroughly and leave to dry. For disinfection, bleach can be used according to the instructions on the bottle. Ensure your rinse the tray thoroughly after disinfection.

Don’t let your cat drink any detergent or bleach solution you are using. Please note: Many cleaning chemicals are toxic to cats, so choose carefully.

At Poynings Cattery, Brighton we look after cats of all ages, sizes, breeds and temperaments, Give us a call today on 01273 857539.

Filed on Thursday, January 11th, 2018 at 3:54 am under: Uncategorized

How to Determine When To Contact Your Vet

How do determine when to get in touch with a vet

At Poynings Cat Boarding Hotel we monitor all our cats on a daily basis. Knowing your cat is the key to everything. It’s noticing the changes from their ‘normal’ to abnormal.

In your own home, it’s a little easier to spot changes during the winter. When the cat lives outside during the summer, you aren’t going to see faeces or changes in urine because they aren’t using their litter box. The most common indications that something is wrong are changes in eating habits, activity and coat quality.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Food

Cats are odd creatures when it comes to food. In the cattery the highlight of any day is food times. Everyone knows it’s food time because we try to keep the pattern the same for every day. At home, dining is a much more habitual process, so easy to spot changes. Backgrounds of cats play a part in how they eat. Rescue cats often have ‘food issues’. If there was a level of food scarcity when they were young or they had to fight for it, meal times can be frenetic, there are cats who will gorge, then throw it up making it unpalatable for other animals to scavenge. There are grazers, pickers and night eaters, but essentially a sudden lack of appetite is more noticeable – Sometimes kitty might just be feeling a bit icky, going off a particular brand or they’ve been dining out on raw voles and beetles, but in conjunction with other symptoms, it’s worth checking out.

Toilet

The major advantage that we have at the cattery is that we can always see the contents of the litter box. During the summer, you might not see any results for weeks if they prefer to go outside. However, if they are always eating the same food, the same amount at the same time there will be a ‘normal’ consistency, smell and colour so look out for changes. Straining is a bad sign, particularly when trying to urinate. Diarrhea is a very obvious change from the cat’s ‘normal’ and will result in dehydration if nothing else.

Grooming

Cats’ lifestyles range from living under hedges, covered in twigs and goosegrass to soaking up the sunshine from a radiator hammock. Their fur can be long or short, dense or smooth but again you need to spot any changes. At home you’re looking for a change in grooming, not as much time spent, an unkempt look, greasier pile or matts forming. Amongst other things this could mean a depression, an injury or arthritis … at the other end of the spectrum, there’s over-grooming – When a cat can’t stop licking a particular spot. We see cats who suddenly develop the habit of removing the fur at the base of their tails or turn up with bald bellies. There’s numerous reasons for these changes from particular mites, to fleas causing skin irritation, or indicating something below the skin is causing your cat concern. Or it could be a psychological reaction with no physical cause.

Sociability

It’s difficult for us to monitor changes in attitude in the cattery because it’s a place of safety, a cave of warmth and comfort. Obviously, if a normally placid cat becomes suddenly angry or starts peeing outside their litter tray, we assume that the cat has been perturbed by some change in his home environment – A new cat in the neighbourhood, a new addition such as a dog or baby in the house, or moving home. If your cat is ‘normally’ sitting on your lap when you sit down or watching you cook or playing with the tap water, that’s his ‘normal’. If you notice him being nervous or huddling in corners, there’s a good chance that there’s an underlying emotional or physical injury.

Walking Normally

When we injure a leg or more often a foot, the pain shows on our face with every step … A cat (and probably every other mammal) keeps going until it can no longer walk. A cat’s survival instinct will hide pain without showing any facial expression so look for a change in stride length, or a limping gait. A change in how a cat walks could be the result of an injury or in older cats the onset of arthritis.

SLOW TO SHOW PROBLEMS

A lot of symptoms are slow to appear and it’s easy to overlook specific conditions and not notice anything out of the ordinary until the condition has sufficiently progressed. Identifying the problems early will go a long way to find treatments that are more effective.
Respiratory problems and allergies

Cats have extremely delicate respiratory systems and will sneeze at environmental changes as often as we have hot dinners. Pollen, dust, any kind of particle and they’re off. However, unusual breathing and feline asthma are the two real symptoms when you need to alert the vet. Noisy breathing, open mouthed breathing or snoring are all worth checking out as abnormal behaviour.

Teeth and gums

Dental care is part and parcel of standard veterinary healthcare. All vets should be checking your cats mouth, teeth and gums on every visit. If your cat has bad breath, drops a lot of food while eating or drools when purring you should look at his mouth area. If you’re worried push back your cats cheek and check for redness and inflammation around the gums. Look for missing teeth or grey teeth, maybe there is an abcess or lumps – Cats do have teeth removed quite often, especially when heading for double figures with a lifetime of a soft food diets behind them.

Urinary & renal issues

Urinary tract infection affects a small number of cats annually. It increases probability with gender and age, with male cats being most susceptible. The symptoms are varied, but strong smelling urine, excessive water intake, not enough urine excreted are the easiest to spot – These conditions are easily managed and best caught at the early stages.

Fat Cats

By the time your cat gets to middle age, he’ll have started to take it easy and slip into blissful inactivity after every meal. If your cat puts on a significant amount of weight, he will do it slowly. If he does, then it’s a lot more difficult for him to lose it. Regular check ups at the vets will tell you during their well-being check up or annual booster examination whether they are overweight or not.

Arthritis

As in humans, arthritis can’t be cured, only alleviated. Inflamed joints causes the cat pain, so they move less or their gait changes. Handling them helps with diagnosis: they can nip if you touch, stroke or brush a tender area and they can be wary when being picked up or cuddled. At home look for slow cautious movements and some stiffness when moving or walking.

WHEN TO GET IMMEDIATE HELP

Severe bleeding, particularly from anywhere on the head, or from the backside

Shallow breathing or rapid breathing

Collapse or unconsciousness

Fits or convulsions

Obvious wounds, a bone protruding through the skin are caused by accidents

Shock – panting, shivering, vomiting, body cool to the touch, and the lips, gums and tongue may appear very pale and cold

At Poynings Cattery near Brighton all our staff are experienced and dedicated and will take the time to get to know your cat and ensure their health is their number one priority. Should a cat be showing unusual signs or symptoms we will contact their owner immediately and if necessary the vet. You can rest assured that when you leave your cat with us we will treat them as we would our own.

Call us now on 01273 857 539 to find out more about how we care for your cat during their holiday with us at Poynings Cat Bording Hotel near Brighton

Filed on Friday, August 4th, 2017 at 2:10 am under: Uncategorized

01273 857 539

Customer Comments