Cat Health Secrets
"Many people assume that because cats are domesticated pets,
they’ll behave in a similar fashion than dogs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Why? Because inherently, instinctively – cats aren’t pack animals like dogs."
--Chantal Williams
The BARF Diet for Cats

 "Many people, unfortunately, make little distinction between caring for these two entirely different species – from what to feed them to how to recognize potential health problems: there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation out there. In this book, we’re going to examine some of those issues, and take a look at some of the common feline health concerns. We’ll talk about kitty
nutrition and why cats and dogs can’t be fed the same diet. We’ll look at the
traditional methods of treatment for cat ailments and I’ll introduce you  to some newer, more holistic trends in cat health care. And throughout,  I’ve included some really fun facts about cats that I’ll bet you never knew!"

Chantal's book helped me to change how I thought about our cat which led
me to change how I treated Milo and how I tended to his cat care needs.

Cat behavior, can be frustrating. I think most of that  frustration is due to the context that new cat owners, and experienced cat owners, look at their cats behavior.

Here again, Chantal's book helped me to look at Milo's cat behaviors
from a cat centric point of view, and because I understood cat
behaviors from a cat's point of view, I was able to change his
environment which caused him to change his unwanted behaviors.

One of the things I really like about, "Cat Health Secrets", is
Chantal's writing style. Very down to earth , un-assuming, it's almost
like having a conversation with a close friend.

Chantal covers a lot of topics not mentioned above. Here is the table of contents from Cat Health Secrets, her book, to give you an idea of some of the other
topics Chantal Williams covers..

Table of contents

WHY CATS ARE DIFFERENT................................................................................................................. 8
CATS IN ANCIENT EGYPT.................................................................................................................... 9
A KITTY INQUISITION ........................................................................................................................ 10
OTHER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CATS AND DOGS ..................................................................... 11
CAT NUTRITION .................................................................................................................................... 14
CARNIVORES VS. OMNIVORES ........................................................................................................ 14
THE PET FOOD INDUSTRY................................................................................................................. 15
B.A.R.F. DIET – FOR CATS................................................................................................................... 17
NECESSARY NUTRIENTS................................................................................................................... 19
Water.................................................................................................................................................. 19
Protein ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Essential Fatty Acids.......................................................................................................................... 20
Vitamins and Minerals....................................................................................................................... 20
SUPPLEMENTS .................................................................................................................................... 22
BASIC HEALTH CARE ........................................................................................................................... 24
A NOTE ABOUT ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS.............................................................. 24
WHAT EVERY CAT OWNER NEEDS TO KNOW.............................................................................. 25
In General .......................................................................................................................................... 25
Giving Medications............................................................................................................................ 26
HOW TO CHOOSE A VET..................................................................................................................... 28
24 Hour Emergency Care ................................................................................................................... 29
What Services Does Your Vet Offer? .................................................................................................. 29
Cost .................................................................................................................................................... 29
Physical Characteristics of the Facility.............................................................................................. 29
Communication.................................................................................................................................. 30
QUICK HOME CHECK UP.................................................................................................................... 31
MAKING YOUR HOME KITTY FRIENDLY....................................................................................... 32
POISONOUS PLANTS.......................................................................................................................... 33
House Plants ...................................................................................................................................... 34
Outdoor Plants................................................................................................................................... 35
ASPCA POISON CONTROL LIST ........................................................................................................ 37
A FEW WORDS ABOUT AGING CATS............................................................................................... 39
Kitty Senility....................................................................................................................................... 40
Geriatric Kitty Health Issues .............................................................................................................. 40
THE CAT LITTER CONTROVERSY.................................................................................................... 41
COMMON CAT CONDITIONS .............................................................................................................. 43
FELINE ACNE....................................................................................................................................... 43
ALLERGIES .......................................................................................................................................... 44
Flea allergies ..................................................................................................................................... 44
Insect Bite Allergies ............................................................................................................................ 45
Allergic Reactions to Plants................................................................................................................ 45
ARTHRITIS ........................................................................................................................................... 47
ASTHMA............................................................................................................................................... 49
BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.................................................................................................................. 51
Aggression ......................................................................................................................................... 51
Destructive Behavior .......................................................................................................................... 52
BOWEL DISORDERS........................................................................................................................... 54Inflammatory Bowel Disorder (IBD) .................................................................................................. 54
Colitis................................................................................................................................................. 55
Constipation....................................................................................................................................... 55
CANCERS.............................................................................................................................................. 57
Common Signs of Cancer in Cats ....................................................................................................... 57
Common Types of Cancer in Cats....................................................................................................... 57
Treatment Options .............................................................................................................................. 58
CAT SCRATCH DISEASE (BARTONELLA HENSELAE).................................................................. 59
CARDIOMYOPATHY ........................................................................................................................... 60
CHLAMYDIA........................................................................................................................................ 61
CHYLOTHORAX.................................................................................................................................. 62
DECLAWING........................................................................................................................................ 63
DENTAL CARE..................................................................................................................................... 64
Tartar buildup.................................................................................................................................... 64
Rootwork............................................................................................................................................ 64
Bad breath.......................................................................................................................................... 64
DIABETES............................................................................................................................................. 66
EAR INFECTIONS ................................................................................................................................ 68
EPILEPSY.............................................................................................................................................. 70
Common Types of Seizures ................................................................................................................. 70
EUTHANASIA ...................................................................................................................................... 72
EYE PROBLEMS................................................................................................................................... 73
Glaucoma........................................................................................................................................... 73
Cataracts............................................................................................................................................ 74
Conjunctivitis ..................................................................................................................................... 74
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) .................................................................................................... 74
Ulcerative Keratitis (corneal ulcer).................................................................................................... 75
Uveitis ................................................................................................................................................ 75
FELINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA........................................................................................................... 76
FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS................................................................................................... 77
FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS ............................................................................................. 78
FELINE LEUKEMIA............................................................................................................................. 80
FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA.................................................................................................................. 81
FELINE UROLOGICAL SYNDROME.................................................................................................. 82
FLEAS.................................................................................................................................................... 83
HEART PROBLEMS............................................................................................................................. 84
HEARTWORM...................................................................................................................................... 85
HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS (FATTY LIVER DISEASE)............................................................................... 87
HIP DYSPLASIA................................................................................................................................... 89
HYPERTENSION.................................................................................................................................. 90
HYPERTHYROIDISM.......................................................................................................................... 91
KIDNEY FAILURE ............................................................................................................................... 93
MOUTH PROBLEMS............................................................................................................................ 95
Eosinophilic granuloma (rodent ulcer)............................................................................................... 95
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ................................................................................................................. 96
Harelip............................................................................................................................................... 96
Wounds .............................................................................................................................................. 96
Stomatitis and Glossitis...................................................................................................................... 97
OBESITY ............................................................................................................................................... 98
PANCREATITIS.................................................................................................................................... 99
PARASITES......................................................................................................................................... 100
Wormlike Parasites.......................................................................................................................... 100
Roundworms................................................................................................................................ 100
Protozoan Parasites (One-Celled Parasites).................................................................................... 102
Treatment......................................................................................................................................... 103
PATELLAR LUXATION ..................................................................................................................... 104RABIES................................................................................................................................................ 105
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS .............................................................................................................. 107
Nasal discharge ............................................................................................................................... 107
Bronchial Infections......................................................................................................................... 108
Lung Disorders ................................................................................................................................ 108
SPAY AND NEUTER ISSUES............................................................................................................. 109
Neutering ......................................................................................................................................... 109
Castration ........................................................................................................................................ 109
Spaying ............................................................................................................................................ 109
VACCINATIONS ................................................................................................................................ 110
ZOONOTIC DISEASES ....................................................................................................................... 112
TRAVELING WITH KITTY.................................................................................................................. 113
TRAVELING BY CAR......................................................................................................................... 113
STAYING IN MOTELS........................................................................................................................ 114
TRAVELING BY PLANE .................................................................................................................... 114
OVERSEAS TRAVEL......................................................................................................................... 115
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A PET SITTER......................................................................................... 116

Take a few moments to purchase and read this book. You will be happy you did.  Do it for your cat, if not to be a better cat owner.

Be Well, Successful, Gods Speed,
Stephen G. Bergkamp
04/05/2005