Yearly Archives: 2016

FELINE URINARY TRACT HEALTH

Cats are an important addition to farm and home life. They make wonderful companions and are excellent at keeping rodents under control. If your cat is exhibiting unusual behavior, consider your feline’s urinary tract health.

Inappropriate urination is the number one behavior problem in pet cats, but often this problem is caused by treatable medical conditions. Bladder health problems in cats may have many causes. One cause is inflammation of the lower urinary tract. If crystals and or stones form in the urinary tract, they can cause painful urination or even completely obstruct the passage of urine, especially in male cats. Complete obstruction is a life-threatening situation and necessitates immediate medical attention.

There is no single cause of feline bladder health problems, but there are some factors that increase your cat’s likelihood of developing such problems. Proper nutrition is vital for a cat’s urinary tract health. An abundance of certain minerals can cause crystals to form in the urine, which sometimes leads to the formation of stones. Food influences the pH, or acidity of urine. Urine should be moderately acidic in order to maintain a healthy urinary tract because it is more difficult for struvite crystals and stones to form in an acidic environment.

If your cat is not drinking enough water, the risk of bladder health problems may be increased. Cats that are in a state of stress, such as that which may be associated with moving to a new house, or the introduction of a new pet into the household, can internalize that stress and may develop painful inflammation of the bladder. Your cat may associate painful urination with the litter box and stop using it.

Signs of feline bladder health problems include:

Urinating outside the litter box
Straining when urinating
Loss of bladder control
Increased frequency of urination
Blood in the urine
Crying out when urinating

Remember that if your cat is not urinating freely, a urinary blockage may be the cause and your cat should be seen by a veterinarian immediately, as this condition may be life threatening.

Proper nutrition, adequate water intake, and a stress free environment may help decrease the risk of your cat developing urinary tract problems.

Flirting with Spring

In January and February, winter flirts with spring on occasional warm days. Quince, Forsythia, and Pussy Willow begin to emerge from dormancy. With this slight swelling of buds, it is time to cut a few branches to bring spring indoors!

To force branches, select plants like those listed below that have set their buds in the fall or early winter. Look for branches with plump flower buds, and cut branches that you would have normally pruned in order to preserve the shape and health of the plant.

Next, scrape about 2 inches of the bark from the pruned end of the branch and make a 3 to 5 inch cut (lengthwise from the pruned end) to allow water to be absorbed. You can also split the end by carefully hammering it, but avoid crushing. Fill a tall container or vase with room-temperature water and florist preserver, then place the cut branches in it. Place in a dimly lit room for 2 to 3 days, then move into a brighter area (but no direct sunlight). Change the water and cut 1 inch off the bottom of the stem each week. Mist the branches daily. Although they may take up to 3 weeks to bloom, the delightful bursts of color will be a celebrated reward for your time and efforts.

FLOWERING BRANCHES FOR FORCING

Early Blooms:
Witch Hazel
Cornelian Cherry
Forsythia
Pussy Willow
Azalea
Flowering Quince

For Later Blooms:
Magnolia
Apple
Crab Apple
Flowering Dogwood
Hawthorn
Red Bud
Mockorange

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