Here Are Some Home Remedies for Common Cat Ailments

Natural remedies are becoming more and more popular for both pets and their owners alike.  While you should always count on the expertise of your vet with any health concern regarding your pets, there are a plethora of natural remedies for common ailments that you might find helpful.  Below are several holistic methods that are done with standard tools and ingredients found in your own home.

• Constant Itching

There are many different causes of itching including, but not limited to dandruff, allergies or pests such as fleas.  Regardless of the culprit, itchy cats are generally grumpy and standoffish pets.  Turn that frown upside down with a homemade remedy made of peppermint, rosemary, or pennyroyal.  Use caution when using essential oils as cats are finicky and don’t respond well to ingesting them.  Alternatively, you can try a calming bath with tea and catnip or aloe to soothe your cat’s irritated skin.

Is dandruff or skin flakes the problem? Skip the dandruff shampoo and try a humidifier first.  A humidifier combined with a healthy diet will naturally rejuvenate and hydrate your cat’s dry, scaly skin.  This condition is usually caused by a lack of moisture in the air but occasionally has other causes.

• Hairball Control

Probably one of the most annoying and, yes disgusting, issues with owning a cat is hairballs.  These gross little “surprises” seem to appear out of nowhere, and you always tend to discover them while barefoot.  (Eww.) Especially if your cat is one that likes to scatter them like a minefield.  While taking your cat and shaving them might sound like a fabulous idea, we don’t recommend it.  Have you ever seen how pathetic those hairless cats look or even your cat when they’re wet? Your newly shaved cat will look very much the same (and that’s just a pitiful image).  Instead of shaving, try a less drastic and traumatic remedy by brushing your furry friend daily and then wipe down their fur with a damp towel to get all the loose hairs.  This keeps your cat’s fur nice and maintained without them having to solely rely on their own grooming which is where the hairballs come from.

You can also ease your cat’s ability to pass the hairballs by giving them a little butter to eat. Keep the amount small, no more than a half a teaspoon for a few days.  Of course, a high fiber diet and consistent exercise also help with hairballs.  So get going and make your home blissfully hairball free.

• Bladder Issues

Cats are relatively susceptible to bladder or urethra problems including infections and blockages.  Male cats are especially prone to these type of health issues.  If your cat tends toward this kind of problem, we recommend unsweetened cranberry juice to prevent a reoccurrence.  Cranberry increases a cat’s urine acidity which helps to combat infections and creates less chance of blockages.

How do you give them the juice? Try adding cranberry powder to your cat’s food or put a few drops of cranberry juice into their water.  If that doesn’t take, then use a syringe of juice straight into your cat’s mouth or a cranberry capsule daily.  Proper dosage should be discussed with your vet to ensure that your cat is getting all the benefits without any issues.

• Turf Wars

Cats, like many animals, can be very territorial.  Some can’t wait to start a fight with whatever or whoever get in their way.  Minor scratches as a result of an altercation are hardly a reason to go to the vet for an expensive checkup.  However, make sure you tend to the wounds as quickly as possible. Cleanse the wounds to prevent infection with either a saline solution or diluted baby shampoo.  Saline Solution is simple to make at home with salt and water, or you can buy a pre-made first-aid solution which can be found at any pharmacy.  It’s a good idea to slightly trim the fur (or just keep a close eye on the wound) around the injury to check for inflammation or infection.  If any of those symptoms occur, contact your vet immediately.

Now you have some tools at your disposal to hopefully help you take better care of your adorable feline friend.  Just like anything else, research any home remedies or holistic treatment before you begin to ensure that you won’t do more harm than good.  When in doubt (or if your kitty shows no signs of improvement) contact and visit your vet right away.

We hope you enjoyed this article. It’s always nice to be more holistic with our pets. However, we recommend before giving anything to treat your cat is to contact your veterinarian.  Please feel free to share your holistic approach to good cat care.  We would love to hear and share. Please visit your facebook page at www.facebook.com/2pawsuppetsitting. If you want you can send me an email barbie@2pawsupinc.com or call 770-695-3096. We also offer cat sitting. Check our website http://www.2pawsupinc.com/