Pet Sitting Care by Nanette Gordon

Cats very often like creamy foods - sugar not recommended - adn be careful - they can cause stomach issues and fat cats!

Dealing With Finicky Cats

Finickiness is one of the most famous of all feline traits. According to many behaviorists, however, it's a learned behavior and not an inborn one. Cats will happily eat the same food twice a day for their entire lives, provided it's nutritionally complete and tastes good enough.

Indulging in your cat's finicky eating
habits will only make them worse

Surprisingly, a lot of feline finickiness is taught to cats by their owners. Thinking the cat will get bored with a single flavor or brand, owners stock up on a variety of foods, trying different ones with each meal to determine a pet's favorites. If a cat walks away from a particular brand or flavor and the owner immediately opens another can, box, or bag, the cat quickly learns that finickiness pays.

As a professional pet sitter in east Boca Raton, Florida, I take care of many house cats when their guardians go away so I get to observe their eating habits and also the many varieties of cat food on the market chosen by my clients.

If you feel you must vary the flavors in your cat's diet, adopt the old-fashioned approach of, "Eat what's put in front of you. If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it -- but that's all there's going to be until the next meal." Unless a cat eats absolutely nothing for a couple of meals running, there's no danger to her health if she has a few lean meals now and then.

Try the 20-minutes-and-up method

Cats have reputation for being finicky eaters but sometimes this is learned behavior - from their caregivers!

If you find yourself opening six cans at every meal and following your cat around the house, trying to coax her to have a nibble, you've got a serious finickiness problem going. At the next meal, put down a food you know the cat has eaten before. Wait 20 minutes, and then pick up the food and do not give any other food, snacks, or treats until the next meal. Repeat the process at that meal and every subsequent meal.

Be prepared for an all-out tantrum by your cat -- loud meowing, attempts to steal food, being an incredible pest, the works. Be strong and don't cheat to try to appease her. This method has a remarkable success rate. Many owners see improvement after three days, although some cats may persevere for several weeks.

When to Call the Vet

If a previously good eater suddenly becomes finicky or finickiness persists despite the 20-minutes-and-up method, your cat may have a physical problem and need veterinary care. Any cat who quits eating completely or has a loss of appetite accompanied by other symptoms of illness should be seen by the veterinarian right away.

About the Author: Nanette Gordon is a professional pet sitter for her pitting service company "All the Best Pet Sitting" in east Boca Raton. She serves her local areas of the city of Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Highland Beach, coastal Delray Beach and Lighthouse Point. She is a cat and dog sitter, dog walker and provides her services for many other domestic pets.

Senior Dogs & Cats: The Signs

Since I am a professional pet sitting service provider and pet care specialist in east Boca Raton, I take care of many senior pets, including dogs, cats, birds and rabbits. It is important for me to be aware of the special care they require due to their age and I also like to help my clients understand their pets better.

Being aware of the normal aging changes for your senior pet will help you identify when there is a medical problem that should be addressed.

What is "old age" for dogs?

The old classic "one human year equals seven dog years" is an easy way to calculate and relate to your dog's age, but isn't the most accurate. Large breed dogs (i.e. Great Danes) are considered a senior at 6 or 7 years of age, whereas small breeds (i.e. toy poodle), aren't considered a senior until their teen years. I have seen more than one poodle in the 18 to 20 year range. There are studies to suggest that certain breeds are more long-lived than others, too.

As a general rule of thumb, a dog who is 7 years or older should be considered middle to senior aged, and a consultation with your vet is in order to determine the best health care maintenance program for your dog as s/he ages. For smaller breed dogs, your vet (in consultation with you) may elect to wait a couple of years before doing any geriatric monitoring.

What things should I expect as my dog ages?

Each dog, like each human, is different. Here are some general things to watch for as a pet ages.

Slowing down - You may notice that you dog slows down some with aging. This isn't always the case, but look for subtle changes in how s/he gets up, lays down, and uses stairs. Is there any hesitation or stiffness? Does a change in the weather (rainy, cold) make it worse? Arthritis is common in dogs as they age, particularly large breeds. Arthritis can occur in any joint, most commonly the legs, neck and back (spine). There are many different medications available to help ease the discomfort of arthritis -- see your vet if you notice any signs of slowing down in your dog. Another potential cause of slowing down is hypothyroidism , an endocrine disorder common in dogs. This condition is easily diagnosed and treated with proper veterinary care.
Graying around the face, muzzle - One of my dogs went prematurely gray at two years of age, but most dogs commonly show a bit of gray starting at middle age (5-6 years).
Reduced hearing - Is your dog hard to wake up after sleeping or does s/he become startled easily if you approach from behind? Hearing loss or deafness may be a reason for this. There isn't a lot that can be done for age-related hearing loss, but a vet exam should be done first to rule out other medical problems, such as an infection, growth, or foreign body in the ear. If your dog does experience hearing loss, take care to protect him/her from hazards, such as cars and kids that s/he may not hear (or see). Dogs do learn and adapt well using hand signals to come, stay, sit, and so on. It is a good idea to "cross train" your dog early in life to recognize basic hand signals.
Cloudy or "bluish" eyes - As they age, dog's eyes often show a bluish transparent "haze" in the pupil area. This is a normal effect of aging, and the medical term for this is lenticular sclerosis. Vision does not appear to be affected. This is NOT the same as cataracts. Cataracts are white and opaque. Vision can be affected by cataracts, and your vet needs to be consulted (see "when is it time to see the vet?" below).
Muscle atrophy - Mild loss of muscle mass, especially the hind legs, may be seen with old age. Some muscle atrophy, notably on the head and the belly muscles, can be significant. Be sure to have your vet check this out if any muscle loss is noted.

Now About Cats

As a general rule of thumb, a cat who is 10 years or older should be considered middle to senior aged, and a consultation with your vet is in order to determine the best health care maintenance program for your cat as s/he ages.

What things should I expect as my cat ages?

Each cat, like each human, is different. Here are some general things to watch for as a cat ages.

Slowing down - Admittedly, this can be hard to discern for many cats!

You know your cat best - do you notice any of the following:

sleeping more than usual?
Not wanting to climb the cat condo as much?
Any difficulty grooming the "hard to reach" areas?
Difficulty going up or down the stairs, jumping up or down off of favorite perches?

Reduced hearing - Cats can experience hearing loss. The loss may be barely noticeable, or, as in the case of some cats, the hearing loss can be total. Always have your vet examine your cat's ears if there is question of hearing loss -- to rule out parasites, infection, growths in the canal, or other medical problems that could interfere with normal hearing.

Cloudy or "bluish" eyes - Like dogs, cat's eyes often show a bluish transparent "haze" in the pupil area. This is a normal effect of aging, and the medical term for this is

lenticular sclerosis. Vision does not appear to be affected. This is NOT the same as cataracts.

Cataracts - are white and opaque. Vision can be affected by cataracts, and your vet needs to be consulted (see "when is it time to see the vet?" below).

Thinning of the iris - - Also known as iris atrophy, some cats eyes, particularly those lighter in color, may appear to be "moth-eaten" as they age. This does not appear to affect vision, but some cats may become more light sensitive. Increased pigmentation in the iris may indicate a risk for malignant iris melanoma and should be checked by your vet.

Muscle atrophy - Mild loss of muscle mass, especially the hind legs, may be seen with old age. If your cat is having trouble walking, see your veterinarian. Some cats with Diabetes Mellitus can have nerve problems and become "dropped in the hocks" and have trouble walking, see your vet if your cat is having trouble standing or walking.

As a pet sitter, I care for many senior cats and dogs so I recognize the above conditions and act accordingly while they are in my care and recommend to their guardians that veterinary care is necessary. I also like to help my clients with their questions about how to change behavior around senior pets, change exercise routines and generally be more gentle with our senior pet family members.

About the Author: Nanette Gordon is a professional pet sitter, dog walker and house watcher in Boca Raton, Florida since 2002. She provides her personal, exclusive and qualified services for a localized area to ensure the best care possible. Visit her website for more details: http://nanettegordon.com

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August 2011

How to Deal with Finicky Cat Feeding Issues

Senior Pets: Recognize the Signs of Aging Dogs & Cats