1. How do I stop my neighbours’ cat coming into my house?
2. How do I care for a very small kitten? Her eyes are still closed.
3. I have a tom cat who is always spraying the corner of the door. What can I do to stop him?
4. My female cat’s hair is falling out. What can I do?
5. Crying and scratching kitten
6. Neighbourhood cat spoiling for a fight...
7. My cat tends to scratch my furniture, what can i do?
8. Cats and Asthma, what you should know!

1. How Do I Stop My Neighbours’ Cat Coming Into My House?

First, try closing your windows for a few days – if he comes in at night – close them at night – if in the day – close them then. He’ll soon realise that there is no way in and stop trying. Otherwise, if you see him when he comes in, try a simple plant sprayer or just splash water from a cup at him – cats do not like water and understand human actions very well – he’ll soon get the idea you don’t like him and stop coming. Also, make sure there is no food lying around that is tempting him, or anyone else in your house who is encouraging him in and stroking him.
And, of course, talking with your neighbour about it helps too!

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2. How Do I Care for A Very Small Kitten? Her Eyes are Still Closed.

You will need to keep her warm and feed her warm Nestle evaporated milk from a dropper every two hours. You can buy the kitten milk and dropper from a pet shop or just use baby milk powder and a medicine syringe.

You will also need to wipe her bottom with a damp tissue after she has drunk the milk to encourage her to urinate.

Wipe her eyes with a warm damp cloth, gently passing the cloth from the top of her closed eye to the bottom. Do not try to open her eyes – they will slowly open in a few days or so. When they do, just clean them the same way.

After cleaning her eyes, use the cloth (without wetting it) to wipe over her body , top and underside, around her head, chin, neck and behind her ears and along her tail. This is like giving a baby a massage and she will love it!

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3. I Have A Tom Cat Who Is Always Spraying the Corner of the Door. What Can I Do to Stop Him?

This is his way of marking his territory. It must mean another cat has been there and he is trying to override his scent. You must first wash the door area thoroughly with a disinfectant two or three times. A cat's sense of smell is way superior to ours so what you smell as gone, he may still smell as not his own.

Then, if your cat is not sterilised, please have that done at your vet as soon as possible. Once neutered his likelihood of spraying is reduced and if he does, it is just urine which is emitted, which is less pungent. You could also trying spraying vinegar on the door area.

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4. My Female Cat’s Hair is Falling Out. What Can I Do?

The first thing you must do is bring her to the vet. It could be due to many things such as hormonal changes in her body, stress, skin irritation, allergy, fleas, mites, poor diet etc. Only the vet can tell you based on a thorough analysis of her fur and skin and prescribe the right treatment.

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5. Crying and Scratching Kitten:
I have a cute female kitten - about 7 months old. I play with her alot. But lately she has been crying and scratching at the doors - it is a funny kind of meow - is she in pain?

No - she is not in pain, but she IS very frustrated. She is most likely on heat. This means she is ready to find a mate to make kittens.

It is a natural cycle which will wear off after a while - that is provided you keep her indoors and put up with her noise and restlessness. Make sure she doesn’t get out or she will find a mate and then you’ll have up to six more kittens to play with!

It is better for her (and you!) to have her sterilised. This prevents her from having kittens and stops this urge she is having which will happen every three months or so. (It is important to sterilise male cats as well.)

It also prevents many reproductive organ illnesses common in cats. It is a swift operation your vet will perform under GA - and in a few days she’ll be her spritely self again.

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6. Neighbourhood Cat Spoiling for a Fight:
There is a neighbourhood cat who always comes into my house to pick a fight with my cat. How can I stop him without resorting to drastic measures or really hurting him?

Thank you for not wanting to hurt him. He is probably upset by your cat who is loved and cared for as he sounds like a stray or an unloved pet.

Cats do hold grudges and never let them go! This is not an easy problem - there are sprays available such as Tom-Off or Boundary which are usually used to defend females from males during mating times - but they work just as well to ward off unfriendly advances too.

Or you could try to get them to make peace with each other - show both loving attention - offer the interloper strokes and tickles and some milk or cat biscuits when you feed your cat.

You could also try to seal up your house for a while - until he forgets his grudge - or just gives up. Speaking to your neighbour might help too - they may not know what he is up to .

Make sure it is not your cat causing the problem - if your cat is antagonising the other one try to break the habit.

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7. My Cat Tends to Scratch My Furniture. What Can I Do?

A cat scratches furniture to keep its claws in shape (not with the conscious effort to destroy things) and at the same time, leaving a trace of its scent through its paws.

De-clawing the cat is not the solution to this as it renders the cat defenceless and is most cruel. A scratching post is a simple solution that is hassle-free and can be easily bought from pet shops.

If the scratching problem still persists, sticky double-sided tape can be temporarily applied to the sides of the object until the problem stops.

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8. Cats and Asthma, What You Should Know:
Is it really true that asthma sufferers can't keep cats? Do cats really cause asthma? What should you do if you have a cat and someone at home has asthma?

Many asthmatic sufferers are advised to get rid of their cats by their doctors who claim that their condition is likely to be caused by their furry friends. This is a misconception that brings severe consequences to the bond between man and pet, and the life of the cat. Before we conclude that these furry friends are the culprit, we should understand what asthma is, and how having pets around us can affect our health and resistance.

What is asthma?
Asthma is a disease of the airways or branches of the lung (bronchial tubes) that carry air in and out of the lungs. Asthma causes the airways to narrow, the lining of the airways to swell and the cells that line the airways to produce more mucus. These changes make breathing difficult and cause a feeling of not getting enough air into the lungs. Common symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness and excess mucus production.

It is caused by intrinsic and extrinsic (inhaled) factors. Intrinsic factors are respiratory infections; a cough, cold or bronchitis; exercise and tobacco smoke or other air pollutants. They can also be caused by an allergy to a particular food or medication. On the other hand, extrinsic factors are pollen, dust, dust mites, animal fur, dander or feathers.

As you can see, asthma is not just caused by having a cat (or any other pets) at home. If there is a lot of pollution and dust, an allergic reaction can also be triggered and cause a sufferer to have an attack of asthma.

Getting rid of your cat does not mean your asthma attacks will go away. Recent studies have shown that pet allergens can remain in the house for up to six months after the removal of the pet. Also there is evidence of cat allergens present in public places like shopping centres, libraries, even in hospitals (1).

It is also interesting to note that removing the exposure to the family pet may trigger greater problems when exposed to allergens from other causes. Some people may become even more sensitive to allergens when they no longer have any cats/pets at home (2).

Responsible Ownership
Having understood the causes of asthma, it is important to consider the steps to take care of yourself (or your asthmatic family members) AND your pet cat. It is important to acknowledge responsible ownership and the following basic steps of cleanliness in order that cat and human can live together in harmony.

1) Removal of all carpets and fabric curtains or any other material which can trap fur and dust. This is especially important in the living area and bedrooms.

2) Vacuum regularly with an effective air filter.

3) Ventilation in the living areas should be good. Opening a window to allow air flow is a good way to remove cat allergen.

4) Use dust-mite preventive mattresses, pillow covers and protectors.

5) Removal of woollen fabrics and even soft toys as they trap dust, dust mites and animal dander easily.

6) Make sure your cat is groomed and cleaned regularly. Prevention of external parasites is important.

7) Prohibit your cat from entering your sleeping area.

8) Do not kiss and hold your cat near your nose if you are allergic.

9) Wash your hands after handling the pet and his litter tray.

10) If you are prescribed medication for your asthma, take it as per instructed. These will help you combat your attacks and strengthen your immunity.

Cats and Asthma
For many years, people have believed that asthma is caused and made worse by exposure to cats. Thankfully, however, more recent research has revealed different results, demonstrating that exposure to cats and other animals when the child is at infancy or toddler stage may even protect him or her against asthma.

In a study of 474 children from birth to 6-7 years old, it was found that exposure to cats and/or other animals in the first year of life reduced subsequent risks of allergic reactions to multiple allergens. Children who are exposed to more animals are less likely to develop asthma and allergic skin conditions than those who are only exposed to none or one pet (3).

Another study with 2,500 children from infancy to 4 years of age revealed that when these children were exposed to pets, they were associated with significantly reduced risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis (4).

Conclusion
Asthma is serious condition and can be caused by many types of allergens and infections. It is important for us to understand that getting rid of our cats or other pets will not remove the problem.

Only by having a clear understanding of the disease and recognising responsible ownership can we ensure that our pet cat remains a faithful furry friend.

(1) Bamsjukus, A.L. Cat and dog allergens: Dispersal, exposure and health effects in childhood. Report by Karolinska Instituete, Stockholm, Sweden., December 2002

(2) Platts-Mills, T.A. Paradoxical effect of domestic animals on asthma and allergic sensitization. Journal of the American Medical Association, 200;:288:1012-1014

(3) Ownby, D.R., Johnson, C.C. & Pet erson, E.L. Exposure to dogs and cats in the first year of life and risk of allergic sensitization to 6-7 years of age. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002; 288: 963-972

(4) Nasfsted, P., Magnus, O., Gaaders, PI. & Jaakola, J.J.K. Exposure to pets and atopy- related disesases in the first 4 years of life. Allergy, 2001;56:307-31

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