We Wish You A Catty Christmas...

Santa has his elves and we have cats. Trouble is that elves are good at Christmas, some cats can be quite naught while for others Christmas is just plain bad for them!

Christmas trees and decorations
Some cats (Douglas, we're thinking of you here) view Christmas trees as a mix between gymnast's parallel bars and a parkour practice range! So think carefully about where you position your tree and what you put on it.

If possible select somewhere where you can secure the tree (such as against a wall or low ceiling) to help prevent it tipping over if/when the cat's climbing leads to it over-balancing. One way of doing this is to use thread or transparent fishing line which is has the benefit of being both strong and (mostly) invisible. You can secure this discretely to a ring hook or cup hook on the wall or ceiling.

It’s also important to ensure that the base of the Christmas tree is as secure as possible and stable - maybe bolstering that little plastic three-legged stand. As an extra precaution you can add some soft padding around the tree to cushion any landing if your cat should climb and fall.

Here's a picture one of customers shared on Facebook. If you look closely, you can just see Betsy as she hunts a bauble!

Also watch out for things that your cat could swallow. Cat’s love playing with tinsel but if chewed it could get swallowed and cause all manner of gastric problems. Similarly pine needles, ribbons or hooks from ornaments could also get lodged if swallowed, so always make sure these are swept or vacuumed up. This may feel like a chore, but it is better than a trip to the vets on Christmas day.

Visitors and visiting
Christmas can be a stressful time for cats! Lots of extra noise and people can make cats anxious. Unlike dogs, most cats don’t like new visitors. I know ours detest the disruption to their routines. And the fact guests use their chairs (which of course they see as beds)! If you are having visitors it may be worth thinking about some calming treatments like Zylkene or Feliway, for use before during and importantly after the event.


Best Festive Wishes
Pet Drugs Online

Ageing gracefully

Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine over the last few decades, the average life expectancy of a cat has nearly doubled. It’s brilliant news; we get double the time with our beloved felines, which means double the purrs and double the love. The same is essentially true for dogs (although the size of breed has more of an impact), but here I'll use cats as the example as I've known more elderly cats.

 
Living longer sadly also means they can suffer from a larger range of age-related conditions. While some of these conditions can be managed and the effects of others offset, it’s important to keep an eye out for any changes in your ageing cat’s behaviour.
 
The first and most important thing you can do is take them for regular veterinary checks. Just as with your own doctor, be frank about your cat’s behaviour. They’re relying on you for important clues about your cat’s health.

• Are they eating more or less?
• Drinking more?
• o they urinate more often?
• Groom them regularly and pay particular attention to their coat condition.
• Are they stiff when they get up from a nap?
• Or do they seem to forget where they are and yowl?

They’re all things worth mentioning.

As cats age they simply don’t process food as effectively as they used to. It can lead to gradual but consistent weight loss and leave them looking skinny. There are specific higher-calorie foods for senior cats, so ask your vet. If your older cat starts drinking more it can be a down to a range of conditions which again can be treated with special foods. These foods have added vitamins and minerals and can help correct specific nutritional balances. But an increasing thirst can be a symptom of other more major problems - so tell their vet.

Poor coat condition can be symptom of under-nourishment or because they’re losing interest in grooming. You can give them a boost with supplements such as Omega 3 & 6 or Evening Primrose. Adding these nutrients to their food can help to keep coats looking glossy and minimise the need to groom.

A wide range of supplements are also available to help repair, maintain and loosen stiff joints. They come in tablet, capsule and liquid form so no matter how fussy they are you should be able to find a delivery method that will help their ageing bones. My cat Macy begs (quite literally upright with front paws flopped down)  for a Seraquin tablet as a morning treat!

Senility or loss of cognitive function is increasingly common in our ageing cat population. It usually shows up as confusion or a sudden departure from a lifetime’s routine (such as missing the litter tray). Again, supplements specifically designed to boost or support brain function in older cats can really help – Senilife, for example. Also just be patient with them, it is not their fault.

The best advice of all is to enjoy the developments in their personality as they age. Treasure your time with them and never forget their glory days when they could leap up a fence panel in a single bound!

Talking of ageing gracefully allows me to gratuitously post a picture of our cat Fudge. She made it to the grand old age of 22. A lovely girl, she was a little wobbly on her pins in the last few months but was still mobile - even if she did occasionally forget where she was! This is her on the day of her 21st birthday.

10 Important Points On Pets & Parasites

Or how to take action against sea of troubles (well, fleas & worms if not the 14th century Danish court) and by opposing end them!

1. Nearly every puppy and kitten has worms. You're not a poor pet parent, it just happens! These are passed to them from their Mother before and after they are born. Sometimes worms can slow an infant animals growth and, in severe cases, can also cause illness. All puppies and kittens need frequent worming in the first few months of life.
2. As many as 1 in 3 puppies and kittens may have a parasite, such as fleas, living on their skin when they go to their new home. Small numbers of parasites on a mother can cause bigger problems in their offspring. So be ready for them.
3. The common dog worm Toxocara can cause disease in humans, especially children. The problem arises from coming into contact with dog faeces contaminated with worm eggs. This can be totally prevented with regular worming. Think of it as an extra incentive to keep up a constant and comprehensive worming regime. We've got a full range of dog wormers and cat wormers that can help.
4. Cats and dogs that hunt and eat mice and rabbits are at risk from tapeworm. Your pet can also catch worms from its fleas - a double-whammy! This is because the flea is host to the Tapeworm, Dipylidium caninum.
5. Fleas and ticks live freely in the environment. This makes then hard to find until it's too late and an infestation has been established. Prevention is often better than cure - but is a constant and never ending battle.
6. Fleas and ticks need a blood meal to breed. A flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day after feeding. The best chance to target them with products to kill them is while they are on your pet, either with treatments given orally or applied to the skin (to see our range of flea treatments click here for cats and here for dogs). You will also need to treat the house with anti-parasitic spray to fully break the flea life-cycle.
7.  Fleas and ticks love heat and humidity. Wet, warm summers and mild winters are perfect conditions for them to breed. And, when it gets cold outside, we turn on the heating and create perfect conditions for fleas to breed inside. Some areas in the UK are worse than others for ticks, which can carry disease, but usually the more rural the area the greater the risk.
8. Your pet does not need to go outside to be exposed to fleas! The hitchhiker flea can come home to your pet with you from outside your home, especially if you meet other pets with fleas.
9. Fleas are the most common cause of skin disease in pets. Pets with allergies often react to the flea's saliva when it bites, resulting in red itchy spots which rapidly get worse as the pet scratches.
10. People frequently react to flea bites. Although we won't play host to the parasite for long, some people may develop uncomfortable red wheals and spots if exposed to their pet's fleas.

Hope you're not feeling too itchy!
Pet Drugs Online

Managing the fussiest eater ever - your cat!

I'm NOT eating that!

Cats can be picky eaters, so making sure that they get a good and nourishing diet can be a real challenge. Firstly, acknowledge that your cat is a meat eater. Some people, with the very best of intentions, feed their cats meat-free meals. But cats need taurine in their diet and the only way they can get it is by eating meat.

Secondly, understand that when it comes to pet foods you get what you pay for. Some cheaper  options vary wildly in the range of nutrients and minerals they contain – even between different batches of the same brand. This makes it difficult to ensure your cat is getting all their necessary nutrients and to accurately measure their calorie intake.


If your cat is fit and healthy, then your primary choice is wet or dry food. Well, I say ‘choice’ but it’s not really a choice that cat owners get to make; as our feline masters usually express a clear preference! There's no point arguing. Just bear in mind that with dry food cats will need access to plentiful supply of fresh water. I can personally recommend the Drinkwell Water Fountain - Molly our Bombay is huge fan. It might look a bit gimmicky, but it keeps circulating water and cats seem to love the trickle effect.


Like the human population, cats are also getting fatter and it’s mostly down to portion control. If you feed your cat biscuits or kibbles, it’s important to stick to the recommended daily amounts on the side of the bag. A quick way is to measure and mark up a small cup so you know how much to give them per meal. It won’t look a lot, and your cat may/will complain, continuously but it’s the only way to keep them trim.


With wet food, again note how much your cat should have each day. It probably won’t tally with the size of the tin/sachet but remember; overfeeding is not a kindness. Nor is it cheap.


If your cat suffers from any long-term conditions, the right nutrition can help. Specific prescription foods are available for all kinds of conditions, from joint stiffness, renal problems and sensitive stomachs to brain ageing. Your vet can recommend the best foods to support your cat’s condition. Once they’ve pointed you in the right direction you can buy the full range from Pet Drugs Online and get it delivered to your door. And remember - although they’re termed ‘prescription diets’ you don’t actually need a prescription to buy them.


To give a quick real life set of examples of how targeted foods can help - we've got a 17 year old Bombay on Renal (wet and dry), a 5kg+ cat on obesity (dry) and some semi-feral young 'uns on Calm (dry but mixed with regular wet food). One helps medically, one helps with the waistline and the other means we don't get our fingers gnawed. As much!

Some like it hot - but not dogs!

With a three day heat wave just starting it is time for the "scary summer heat and pets blog post". A quick look at how the heat can affect your pets.

Keeping Your Cool

You'd hope that relentless campaigning has made everyone aware of the risks of leaving a dog in a car during the summer. But even a moderate (to us) rise in temperature on a walk, in the garden or in the house can be have a significant effect on your dog. These elements are amplified by your pet's physical condition (are they obese, dehydrated or recuperating?), their age (the very old and the very young are most at risk) and even their breed (eg the brachycephalic breeds can struggle). So give full and honest consideration to how the heat can affect your pet.

Is Your Journey Really Necessary?

In all honesty it is probably kinder to leave your pet at home on very hot days, and if you do then ensure they have access to plenty of water (pop some ice cubes in their drinking bowl as you leave) and open windows for ventilation or switch on the air conditioning. If you must travel with your pet, ensure they have constant access to cold water and open windows for ventilation or switch on the air conditioning. Sound familiar? And even if you leave your car in a shaded area the sun will move and the temperature will rise rapidly; so there is no such thing as "just five minutes", simply never leave dogs in a hot car.

Hot Dog

A dog regulates body temperature primarily through respiration as they cannot sweat like we do, so they can easily over heat. Warning signs of this include excessive panting, a fast heart rate and a muddy coloured gums; without treatment this can become very serious indeed. A dog's normal body temperature is 38.6C (101.5F) but if a dog’s body temperature reaches 40.5C (105F) it is difficult for them to regain control. If their temperature exceeds 42.2C (108F), cellular damage can start to occur. So suspected instances of heat stroke must be treated as an emergency which requires veterinary assistance. So on a hot day if you spot any of the symptoms described above, call your vets immediately, and be ready to initiate first aid. Don't worry about looking silly or think that you are over reacting. You probably are, but as you are potentially saving your dog's life, who cares!

Not Cool For Cats

You may not realise it but sunburn commonly affects cats and some dogs with white ear tips and white or pink noses. Leave this unchecked for a number of years and you'll see reddened looking skin. This can develop into solar dermatitis or the forming of scabs. Applying a waterproof, sensitive, sunblock daily will help prevent this. So just like you would for a human, make sure that you apply a suitable sun cream regularly and carefully - we've got sun screens for both dogs and cats.

Don't be too afraid

Now all the above makes it sound like we should just batten down the hatches, turn the AC up full and hide in the cellar until autumn, but that would miss out on dog walks without three coats, wellington-free excursions to the park and or sitting in the garden to the puzzlement of the cat who thinks it their own personal fiefdom! Enjoy the summer with your pet, just be aware of the dangers of hot days.

Looking after your cats while you are on holiday.

The summer can be a traumatic time for cats. They face trips to the cattery, cat sitters invading their house twice daily or disruption to their routines when the kids are home all day. The Pet Drugs Online vet looks at some solutions to your questions on how to help cats cope with the summer time blues.

Q: While we’re on holiday our cat is going to a local cattery. Is there anything we can do to help her cope?

A: Taking your cat the cattery is very traumatic for both you and your cat. The change of location is compounded by the travel to and from the cattery. To help minimize the distress you can use calming and stress relief products like Zylkene or Feliway Spray. Zylkene is a milk-based food supplement that mimics the enzymes found in their mother’s milk when they were a kitten, so cats feel safer and protected. Given for about a week before any change of situation, it can gradually help put them at ease. Pheromone sprays like Feliway can be used directly in their carrier, the car and their cattery bed to offer an instant additional calming boost.

Q: We have cat sitters come in and feed our while we’re away, but she often misbehaves or sprays. Is there anything I can do?

 A: Cats absolutely hate change or disruption to their routine. It feels like they’re saying “how dare you go on holiday!” when what they're really feeling is insecure. There are steps you can take to help them adjust. Zylkene (as suggested above) can be added to their food. Perhaps even more effective is the use of a pheromone diffuser like Feliway. This fills the room with calming scent that makes them feel safer. Start this a week or so before you go away, so that it is normal by the time you leave. We do also sell a range of cleaners and disinfectants though – just in case!

Q: Is there anything we should treat our cat with before sending them the cattery?

A: In an ideal world you should always keep your cat wormed and treated for fleas – although, let’s be honest, we all lapse at times. But if you know your cat is going to the cattery, it's absolutely essential they have up to date flea treatments, as itching and scratching will only compound any distress felt by your cat during their stay. It may also be worth getting a quick health check from your vet so they can make sure your cat’s vaccinations are up-to-date.

 View our range of cat stress relief products.