Alcohol is not good for cats and should therefore never be given to them. This includes beer, liquor, wine, whiskey, etc. Alcohol has the same affect on a cat’s liver and brain as it does on humans. However it takes far less of it to do damage to a feline as it would to a human. In fact, just a teaspoon or two of whiskey can cause a coma in a 5 pound cat and more than this could lead to fatality. The higher the proof of the alcohol, the worse the symptoms and the more serious the case.

Absorption And Alcohol Content

The speed at which alcohol is absorbed into your cat’s system depends on several different factors. These factors include age and weight and both determine just how intoxicated your cat will become. If your cat ingests alcohol on an empty stomach, the effects may have an even quicker onset and before more noticeable than if your kitty had a full stomach when it ingested the alcohol. The type of alcohol consumed may also create differences in the onset, symptoms, and outcomes of the situation.

Alcohol In Lethal Doses

For most cats and dogs, the lethal dose of ethanol (grain alcohol) is said to be around 5 and a half grams per kilogram of bodyweight. This means that if your cat weighs 10 pounds it will most likely not survive an ethanol dosage of more than 25 grams. To put things into perspective, a 12 ounce can of beer, a 4 ounce glass of wine, and/or a 1.25 ounce shot of whiskey all contain enough ethanol to kill your feline companion.

Symptoms Of Alcohol Poisoning In Cats

Most pets who have consumed alcohol whether intentionally or accidently will begin showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours after ingesting alcohol. The following are common symptoms of alcohol poisoning in cats:

• Confusion
• Staggering
• Behavioral Changes
• Excitement
• Depression
• Urinating or Defecating In The House
• Loss of consciousness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Even if you only suspect that your cat may have gotten a hold of alcohol, do not ignore the above symptoms. If left untreated, your cat could die within a matter of hours. Call or visit your local veterinarian or poison control center for animals immediately. If your animal has any chance of recovering it will usually take at least 8 to 12 hours with veterinary supervision. This is no laughing matter.

Raw meats such as chicken, beef, poultry, fish, etc. should not be given to your cat as they can contain bacteria that cause food poisoning. In addition, an enzyme found in raw fish destroys thiamine, which is an essential B vitamin for your cat. A lack of thiamine can cause serious neurological damage and lead to more serious conditions such as convulsions and coma.

In addition to not feeding your cat raw chicken or other raw meats, table scraps such as fat trimmings and/or bones (this includes cooked bones) should also never be given to felines as they are dangerous in a number of ways. Fat, both cooked and uncooked can cause intestinal upset and also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Your cat can also choke to death on a bone. Even if kitty seems to be able to swallow bones without choking, there could still be major issues later on as bones are very easy to splinter on the way down, which can cause an obstruction or laceration to your cat’s digestive system.

Although cats are obligatory carnivores that thrive on meat, and have strong stomach acids used for neutralizing potentially harmful bacteria on meat, letting them consume raw meat is still a threat to their health as many meats on the market today come from factory farms where antibiotics, chemicals, hormones, E.Coli, pesticides, mercury poisoning etc. are all a potential danger. If you have made the choice to try and cut down on feeding your cat commercial dry cat food it is probably best you speak with your veterinarian and/or pet nutritionist to discuss other/healthier dietary options because it is better to be safe than sorry. The occasional cooked boneless beef or chicken is okay for kitty but should be kept in smaller portions and given in moderation. A good rule of thumb to follow is that no single item should ever make up more than 5% of your cat’s diet.

It is never okay to let your cat drink tea. Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a cat, and since many teas contain caffeine, this is a huge no-no for kitty. In addition to tea and coffee, caffeine can also often be found in coffee beans, coffee grounds, cocoa, chocolate, colas and energy/stimulant drinks such as Monster and/or Red Bull. It is also found in some medicines and pain killers.

Symptoms Of Caffeine Poisoning

If your cat consumes coffee, tea, chocolate etc. he or she may become poisoned. The following are symptoms of caffeine poisoning and should not be ignored or taken lightly:

• Restlessness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Heart Palpitations
• Rapid Breathing
• Muscle Tremors
• Fits

A Cat’s Diet

Cats are carnivores and require meat. Talking with your vet about the cat food you provide for kitty and following his or her advice along with the directions on the label will help ensure that your cat’s diet is well balance and that your cat stays in the best of health. An occasional treat every now and then is okay, but it should always be given in moderation and should never become more than 5% of your cat’s daily calorie intake and in any case things like tea and coffee are never okay as they are toxic to cats.

What To Do If Your Cat Becomes Poisoned

If you think that your cat has gotten a hold of something toxic it is important to contact your veterinarian or pet poison control center immediately. Inducing vomiting is also another option and in most cases is what the veterinarian will do when you seek medical assistance. In any case, a medical professional should always be contacted and instances such as these should never be ignored and/or left untreated as it could mean the end for your cat.

A cat’s tail is an appendage to her body much like its paws, it is open to trauma and damage from accidents, and he or she can in fact feel it. However it should be noted that some cats are more sensitive to the feeling in their tails, the rest of this page will explain why.

Tail Me How You Feel

Felines use their tails to show a wide range of emotions. Just a simple tail wag and the way it is positioned can cue you in on how your feline companion is feeling at any given moment whether it be happy, sad or afraid. Tails are also an extension of a cat’s spine. The feline tail is made up of bones, muscles, and several nerve endings that can be very sensitive.

Tail Components

Roughly 10% of all of the bones in your cat’s body are actually in its tail. Depending on the length of its tail, it can have as many as 20 vertebrae bones lined up there. These tiny vertebrae are surrounded by muscles, nerves, and tiny blood vessels and are protected by thick skin and a layer of fur.

Nerves And Sensitivity

As briefly mentioned earlier, some cats have more sensitive nerve endings than others. You might just barely brush up against your cat’s tail in passing and she could quickly move it away in disgust, or you might accidentally step on the tip of it and she could barely flinch and/or vice versa, it all just depends on the cat. Some cats love having their tails scratched or brushed while others might go feral kitty on you just for coming in contact with it. It all just depends on the cat’s sensitivity level. Regardless of whether or not your cat is hyper sensitive or not, extra caution should always be taken to prevent permanent damage to kitty’s precious tail.

Tails And Trauma

Unfortunately cats have been known to get hurt from time to time and often their tails become the poor victim in a traumatic situation. Whether it be getting her tail stuck in a door or accidentally getting stepped on, just the simplest of accidents can lead to disaster. Kitty could potentially dislocate or break the vertebrae inside of her fluffy extension.

Signs Of A Damaged Tail

If your cat’s tail appears to be kinked or if your cat seems to be having a hard time wagging it, you should seek medical attention immediately these are signs of trauma and damage and should not be ignored. Don’t be surprised if kitty seems grumpy. She may snap or growl if you try touching her hind quarters. She is in pain after all. It is for this reason that you must show extra care and be extremely gentle with her and her tail. Vertebrate dislocations can often heal on their own, but if a severe break occurs your veterinarian may unfortunately have to amputate your cat’s tail.

Tailless Felines

Although certain breeds of cats do not have long, flowing tails, the small hump where the tail should be is still highly sensitive. The nerve endings gather in one small area rather than being spread out throughout the entire tail. These nerves are not fully protected and are also often close to the skin. It is for this reason that individuals should avoid poking cats in this area or putting pressure there. Even the tiniest bit of pressure could be painful and traumatic for kitty.

While your frisky feline may jump in delight and meow to her heart’s content at the sight of an open can of tuna, in all honesty it is not the best option as far as a healthy, well balanced diet goes. Cats may love tuna, some may even be addicted to the fishy goodness however the unfortunate truth is that a steady diet of the fish prepared for humans can lead to malnutrition since it will not have all of the required nutrients your kitty needs.

Too much tuna can also lead to mercury poisoning, a very serious and sometimes lethal condition. A can or pouch of tuna every now and then is okay if given as an occasional treat but just remember to only give it to your cat in moderation. In any case, tuna should never make up more than 5% of your cat’s diet and/or daily calorie intake. Speak to your veterinarian about other dietary options to make the best decision for your cat and keep in mind that your feline friend is an obligate carnivore which means he or she needs a diet that most closely resembles the wild prey they would hunt and devour in the wild.

While there is still not much information on whether or not cranberries are toxic to animals such as cats and/or dogs, they should still be used with discretion and best with the advice of a veterinarian as the berries can cause gastrointestinal upset. Nonetheless, if you are worried about your cat having a urinary tract infection, this is something that should be addressed with your veterinarian as medication is almost always needed and is most beneficial to your feline companion.

If your kitty is getting frequent infections there are appropriate therapies, medications, antibiotics etc. that your veterinarian can prescribe to help. Occasionally he or she may suggest using some form of cranberry extract either by itself or mixed in with your cat’s food to help with UTI’s etc. but again giving cranberry juice to your cat is not the best option and probably won’t do much to benefit them in the long run anyways. Especially since these types of juices often contain a lot of sugar and high fructose corn syrups, which are very bad for kitty’s health and wellbeing. Speak to your veterinarian to see what can be done to help your cat if you suspect they may have bladder issues, a kidney infection and/or a urinary tract infection. These types of issues should never be left untreated as they can be potentially fatal.

Eggs are not an ideal form of food when looking at helping your cat maintain a healthy and well balanced diet. Every now and then a veterinarian may suggest scrambled eggs for a cat with an upset stomach, but even this advice seems somewhat skeptical as cats are obligatory carnivores that thrive on meat and not much else.

Dairy products such as milk and eggs (as long as they are cooked) are generally okay to give to kitty once in a blue moon as a special treat but should be just that; a treat. These types of things should be given in very small portions and in moderation.

Raw eggs on the other hand are not safe and should never be given to your cat. There are a few different problems with giving your cat raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria such as salmonella or E.coli. The second is that a protein in raw egg whites, known as avidin, actually interferes with the absorption of the B Vitamin biotin. This can cause skin issues as well as other problems with your cat’s coat.

Bananas would most likely do your cat more harm than good as cats really have no use for them since cats are obligatory carnivores that eat meat. They have no use for fruits, plants, etc. Not only do cats not really have any real desire for bananas, they also cannot taste sweet things. Carbohydrates and other things that your cat is not used to eating as a carnivore can actually be very difficult to digest and can do more harm than good, also leading to obesity if given to kitty in excessive amounts.

Bananas are also full of acid and sugar, neither of which is ideal for your cat and could upset his stomach. Although your cat will most likely be fine if you happen to drop a piece of banana on the floor and he eats it, bananas shouldn’t be fed to him on a regular basis as it will most likely only lead to diarrhea, vomiting and/or stomach discomfort.

While dogs may be at the top of the league when it comes to playing fetch, some cats have actually been known to get down with a little game of fetch every now and then as well. In fact research has shown feline intelligence to include the ability to acquire new behavior that applies previously learned knowledge to new situations, communicating needs and desires within a social group, and responding to training cues.

The brain of the domesticated cat is about 5 centimeters long and weighs 25-30 grams and its physical structure is actually quite similar to that of a humans. Both the human brain and the cat brain have cerebral cortices with similar lobes.

Many cats have been known to be trained as circus animals because they are so highly intelligent. However some have also been called difficult as they do not like to assume training behaviors except for in exchange for a direct benefit. Another common belief is that cats can be difficult to train because they grow impatient and/or bored with the training exercise at hand. I guess the only real way to see if your cat will play fetch is to try it.

Cats are carnivores, which means that they eat mostly meat or the flesh of other animals. In fact, the cat’s most natural inclination is geared toward the hunting and expelling of their primary food source, or prey. This innate inclination is something that even the tiniest kitten or cub is born with. From the moment he or she starts walking, they can usually be found inquisitively exploring every nook and cranny of their environment and can also often be found stalking, chasing, pouncing, and attacking anything that moves.

A Cat’s Carnivorous Characteristics

The following are just a few of the cat’s carnivorous characteristics:

• Superior eyesight
• Keen sense of smell
• Strong predatory instincts such as stalking, chasing and/or pouncing
• Acute heating
• Soft paw pads that are ideal for silently stalking prey during a hunt
• Sharp claws that have good traction which aids in hunting and catching prey
• Sharp teeth that come together to slice, gnaw, rip and tear the flesh of prey
• Jaws that open and close in a vertical plane only
• Strong stomach acids used for neutralizing potentially harmful bacteria on meat
• Short digestive tract which cuts down digestive time, thus also minimizing the opportunity for potentially harmful bacteria to colonize within the body

What Do Cats Eat?

Some carnivores such as the cat are technically considered to be what is referred to as obligate carnivores. What this means is that they depend only on meat for survival. Their bodies cannot digest plants properly and do not provide felines with enough nutrients.

In the wild, cats would mainly eat small rodents and birds and would consume organs, bones and hide, as well as the meat of these animals. Cats require an amino called taurine for healthy vision and heart function. This amino acid is found in meat.

Protein And Carbohydrates

Over time cats have evolved to eat a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Protein can be found in all types of meat, fish, chicken and eggs. In addition, cats have a short digestive tract that is naturally pathogen resistant and is also very efficient in metabolizing raw meat. Interestingly enough, cats do not actually require carbohydrates in their diet and also do not have the enzymes in their saliva and liver that are required to process them. Typically, carbohydrates are what make many house cats obese.

Commercial Cat Food

Many cat foods come in some form of wet food either in cans or pouches. Dry commercial foods are also sold. For many years it was believed that dry kibble was beneficial to cats and it was rumored to help clean a cat’s teeth, however we now know that this is no more correct than expecting to clean your own teeth by eating food. In addition, we also now know that most dry foods contain excessive levels of carbohydrates because they contain ingredients such as corn, soybean and wheat. Most dry commercial cat foods contain high levels of these types of ingredients because they are cheaper to make than putting animal protein in the kibble. Wet foods are closer to a cat’s natural diet, but still are not exactly ideal and should not be left out for more than a day as they can spoil easily and make your cat ill.

An Ideal Diet

Technically the best food for your cat would be anything that mimics a natural cat diet. A good rule of thumb to ensure that your cat is getting the proper nutrients and not too many carbs etc. is to give them at least one wet meal a day even if it has dry food available all day. Buying cheap cuts like chicken necks can also help strengthen a cat’s teeth. Some owners have even gone as far as to feed their cat feeder mice every now and then.

In addition to feeding your cat well, you should also ensure that he or she always has plenty of water available. A good way to encourage your cat to drink plenty of water is to have several different bowls with different depths scattered throughout the house, readily available to kitty. Never feed your cat cooked bones as they are a choking hazard and also cannot be properly digested. If you decide to transition your cat to a more natural diet it is best to start out with 25% new food and 75% of whatever he or she is used to eating. This transition should be done over a week’s time so as to avoid any stomach issues from occurring and help kitty get used to their new food.