cat

Uncastrated male cats are great but...

Let me first of all say that I love uncastrated male cats, otherwise known as tom cats. As a general rule toms tend to be more loving and affectionate towards people and they often have alot of personality. That being said, I would never own an uncastrated male cat and can't really understand why anyone would!

Why Not Own an Uncastrated Male Cat

Here's why:

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 from the thyroid glands. It is usually caused by a non-cancerous tumor of the gland, the cause of these tumors are not known but environmental and dietary factors may play a role.

Thyroid hormones influence many of the bodies organs so the effects of overproduction are felt throughout the body.

The signs

Initially the signs are subtle but progress over time. Affected cats:

Part 2

In part 1 we discussed a Chronic Renal Failure, a common cause for older cats to drink more and lose weight. Part 2 deals with Diabetes, another reason we see similar signs in older (as well as some younger) cats.

Part 1

Most of us have seen an older cat, often with an unkempt coat, that has gone from a previously healthy individual to a thin, bony animal in the space of a few months. While there are any number of reasons a cat can lose weight, there a 3 specific conditions that we often see in older cats:

Why there are no healthy vego cats out there

As a vet I see and hear a lot of opinions on how to care for animals. I hear from breeders, owners, lecturers, food reps and veterinary specialist among others. Often there is no ‘Best Way’ and what works in one situation or for one animal, might not work for an other. Rarely though, there are some instances where the answer is black and white and one of those is that cats need meat!

Cats, Exercise- The two words are not often seen together, however exercise is important to your cat for a number of reasons.

Cats have not changed much in the 10,000 or so years since their domestication started. Until recently, they were roaming the countryside earning a living. For example, a scottish wild cat can have a territory of up to 40 square kilometers to patrol!

As well as food and exercise, this activity provides another essential component to cat welfare - mental stimulation.