Scratching and Dandruff Remedies
I just rescued a cat. the elderly owner passed in July and this cat has been alone except for someone stopping in to feed and scoop every other day since then. She has been pulling hair out, but that's not the issue because it should get better now she's with me. She was perfect from noon until 9 last night, then started scratching.
As I brushed her, I saw black specks but didn't see any actual fleas (so I need to treat all her soft toys and scratching post, can you tell me the best way?). She also is very dandruffy. I had put out the food that she came with, but she did get some treats that my cat was getting. Allergies? She's on Iams food, as is my cat. Also, I had put out that fresh step crystal litter, so could that do it? She came with a nasty cat box and a new box of arm and hammer litter, so I've cleaned the box and put that litter out for her. I"m going to see if I can get her in to my vet asap, since they had no clue about shots or any other health checkups and she's very overweight (30 lbs?).
Please advise. I don't have tons of money for special food or treatments and really don't want to give her back (terrible life! ), but will do what I can for her. I've had cats all my adult life and never had one that scratched like this. I do keep my cats on flea/tick monthly treatments because I get eaten up by fleas, and I know this isn't the best for the cat but either they get treatment or I don't have cats. And my cat goes outside and brings in ticks all spring and summer.
Thanks.
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
“Essential Oils Safe for Cats
Not all cedarwood oil is pet-safe, but some companies manufacture properly diluted cedarwood oil. These companies make sure to use oil from non-toxic cedar (namely Juniperus ashei), and take special care to remove harmful phenols. Like fleas, cats dislike the smell of cedarwood oil.”
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
Don't use any scented litter, preferrably use the nonclumping Tidy Cat gray clay litter if you think she may have allergies of some sort. Sometimes the litter is the problem too....
(Indiana)
09/29/2020
I rescued a cat with a severe skin problem, I rubbed coconut oil all over her every day. Within a few weeks, her hair was back and she looked great. Also, from licking the coconut oil, her digestive track got straightened out.
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
Try grain free cat food, also if you live near a dairy which sells raw milk, bathe her in that, also feed it to her. Don't give her pasteurized milk, only raw. It will help her gut flora
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
Try diatomaceous earth.
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
The black specs is flea poop. So sadly she's got fleas
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
I use the barn cedar pellets from Tractor supply, very cheap.no perfumes and doesn't make a mess like regular cat litter.I also put rubbing alcohol in a jar with a top, dip a flea comb in it and comb the pet.If there is a flea it slows it down so you can dip in the jar and kill it.
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
(Ec's Facebook Page)
09/29/2020
Being overweight can be a health issue. This cat needs a good steady diet lots of activity to help it loose weight before diabetes sets in. coconut oil.. rub on her skin will stop the itch. but treat her for the fleas and prevent further damage this cat just needs your tlc. you dont want your cats to get lyme sickness treat for ticks and fleas.
(Madison)
09/30/2020
Ok, I treated her with the capsaicin pill for fleas. She had a ton of them! so, fleas are now gone, she had a great grooming session. She's still losing clumps of hair, but I expect that's from the previous damage and itching. I will never use diatomaceious earth again! It's dust is so damaging to lungs and it really does nothing for bugs. I used it years ago for chickens and all I got for my trouble was more bugs. It may work to prevent infestation, but not at all for a bad one. She's getting coconut oil daily, just a spoonful in a dish and she's eating it. I also give her goat milk kefir, I can't get raw milk where I am so this is the best I can do. She is doing very well. Now we just have to get her to be friends with the other cat, but that will take time.
(Madison)
10/05/2020
Well, Miss Kitty, now known as Heidi, is doing very well. The only issue she has still other than her weight is that she's pulling out her hair. No more scratching, but she'll pluck hair. I put coconut oil on the spots, which soothes them, but I think this is just an anxiety thing. I ordered her the Feliway(?) pheromone that is supposed to calm cats down, it'll be here Wed. Today I left the door open and she went outside for a bit, stayed on the porch but seemed to enjoy all the smells. I'm gone all day and don't know how to keep her active while I"m away. She has the other cat for company, but I don't know that they do much. I plan to put only a little kibble in the bowl tomorrow. If they finish it all then they wait until I get home for more. I've been putting 1/2 cup am and pm, but I'll reduce it just a little.
Severe Respiratory Remedies
Hello: I have an 8 lb./8 y/o Maine Coon mix cat with severe respiratory problems, and, lately, very smelly poo. She appears to breath normally. She has episodes of what at first seems like vomiting, but, is actually a congestion type cough that goes 10 rounds each. Her stool has become very smelly although otherwise appears normal. She has been fed healthfully with WELLNESS cat food and additions of fruits/veggies, given no supplements. She is a complete indoor cat--never goes outside--ever.
I have tried a remedy containing Yarrow, Lemon Balm, Ester Flowers, Echinaces, Goldenseal--with no results. Weight is holding--no loss. No other symptoms.
Has anyone tried successful respiratory remedies on their cats? Thanks.
(Hope, Canada, B.C)
02/23/2013
After losing several cats due to respiratory illness where antibiotics only made them worse, not to speak of the bills! I am using turmeric on my cats when they come down with stuffed nose, etc. Take a syringe with a mild solution of turmeric and water (more turmeric the better) and immediately stand by with paper towels when they expell and retch. A lot of mucus will come out, the nose clears and they can smell again and eat. Turmeric is a natural antibiotic and has many health benefits including cancer treatment. My cat, so treated, was well within three days and I was amazed. I am not using vets/antibiotics any longer. It is useless and draining on the resources. I wish I had known this before. There is Om's Organics on the net, read up on turmeric. (it is not me). Good luck. Om
(Ky)
12/20/2015
★★★★★
One year my whole lot of kitties came down in wintertime with respiratory infections (looks to me like a cold). My oldest was already taking L-lysine for his herpes with sneezing, so I figured it was worth a try. I tried it and it worked. None of them died on me.
After trial & error, the easiest way I have found to do this is... get a short/wide glass jar, put in about 30 (number doesn't matter as long as you match the correct amount of water with it) 500 mg L-lysine tablets in it, then take a syringe and put in 1cc of filtered water in it for each tablet (So, if you had a syringe that went up to 3cc's, you would only need to put in 10 of those full, and it doesn't have to be exactly perfect either.) Then leave the tablets and water sit up in the cabinet overnight with a lid on it. The next day it might turn out smooth, or it may be lumpy (I don't know why it turns out lumpy sometimes), but if it's lumpy just strain it through a metal strainer and then it will stay fine.
Now, you have 30 doses of lysine at the ready. Just take out the jar, stir it up a little, and fill the syringe up to the 1cc mark for each dose (I give mine slightly more, but wouldn't give them more than 1 & a half cc's a day. I use to have to crush a pill every time to give a dose. This is much easier and last a long time. If it starts to get cakey before you finish, you might could add a little water to it or just start over.
This method has made my life so much easier. I hope it helps someone else also.
God Bless All... GRG7 : )
(Temecula Ca.)
02/11/2016
(Riverside Ca.)
02/11/2016
(Hope, Bc Canada)
02/13/2016
Amy (Riverside, Ca.)
Dear Amy, in my rescue years I have lost a number of cats due to upper respiratory illness. Nothing I tried worked and I can truly say the vets helped death along wit their antibiotics.
But now my oldest, over twenty, is the last and very ill. I ordered SERRAPEPTASE from Dr.'s Best on Amazon and this is the second day. I opened the capsule and emptiet this into a tiny glass bottle, taking out a good pinch mixed with a good drop of water and put it into a syringe. He took it nicely taking his time. But the entire day he sneezed very little and seemed at ease and slept well. I am much relieved. I gave this three times a day but hope to go down to two times a day away from food. If one uses high potency, this has to be considered.
When needed, I use his cotton wash cloth and turn on hot water. Then squeeze it out quickly and after making sure, it is bearable, wipe his face and eyes. He likes it as it seems to ease the pain from his sinuses.
Amazon has over 500 customer reports on Serrapeptase. It is an enzyme from the silk worms and not a drug. People use it also for their dogs. It seems excellent for many conditions and I have started to take it myself once a day.
You may want to try this.
Namaste. Om
(Il)
08/21/2016
Dear Om, I am interested in trying the Dr's Best Serrapeptase for my cat Blue but can only find the veg caps which I believe are liquid. Can I squeeze the liquid out into distilled or spring water and give it to him by syringe and if so how much per dose and how many times a day do you suggest? I have taken him to the vet at least 4 times in the last few month's with sneezing, runny eyes and nose and coughing and they tell me each time he has a cold and respiratory problems. So each time they give him antibiotics and a steroid shot which only helps him for a short amount of time and then he starts the symptoms all over again. I don't want to take him back to the vet again as I believe it is only making things worse instead of better. I am hoping the Serrapeptase will help him. Thank you!!
(Texas)
10/27/2022
They sell L-Lysine for cats with a tuna flavor online- just search L-Lysine for cats (chewys, amazon, ect) no prescription, and my cats love it. Also it comes with a scoop and tells you how much to give. Very Easy and reasonable price. Hope this helps someone.
Sinusitis Remedies
My 6 month old kitten got feline flu when in the RSPCA rescue kennels with her mum and sister. She got really bad over a period of 2 months ending with a big cyst full of pus over her sinusis. I treated her with homeopathic Kali bich/goldseal/pulsatilla drops and the cyst burst and she recovered very quickly, having a quick grow spurt and catching up with her sister soon. The whole cat family got feline flu nosode in their drinking water for a period of two weeks. After that, Jinx (the poorly one) got the sniffles again after one month. Another dose of homeopathic kalibich/goldseal/pulsatilla drops sorted her out within 2 days. Mummy cat and sister got some sniffles at the same time but nothing serious. No mucky eyes or discharge from the nose in any of them, other than a bit of sneezing so now and then, and some crumbly brown discharge from both kittens left ear, no other symptoms were noticed on this occassion.
Now, Jinx has gone down again with a severly blocked nose. NO discharge other than her ear again, which is minimal. This time the drops have no effect at all. The nosode added to her drinking water is not doing anything either. I have been given her half a capsule of Echinasea in her food 2x day for the last week, ACV diluted in water 3x a day for the last 3 days, and this morning I rinsed (very carefully) her nostrils with sea salt solution. Nothing seems to have any effect. Her breathing is laboured and sounds very dry and although she just accepts her lot and eats and drinks well, it is making her tired and she has not grown as well. She looks good generally, although she is still smaller and not so active as her sister but I worry how the lack of good breathing is going to affect her in the long term.
Has anybody any advise? There is no homoepathic vets nearby, and I have tried everything I feel could help her. They are fed natural food and our house is not central heated or carpeted. I really would appreciate your advise. THank you very much.
Note: whilst in the RSPCA kennel, the whole family had their first Feline flu vaccination (I don't do vaccinations, not for our animals or my family).
(Moulton Seas End, Lincolnshire)
04/24/2013
I posted here hoping to get help for my kitten. Does anyone have any suggestions as she is struggling to breath trough her nose at the moment. Even been to my vet and he said that other than trying some anti biotics, he has nothing for her, but he thinks there is no infection as such, so doesn't like to dish out unnecessary medicine. Any help to make her breath better would be very appreciated.
(Bellevue, Wa)
04/27/2013
Astrid, I have come upon a website from a homeopathic vet in the USA who does consultations by email or phone or Skype. I have never used his services so I cannot vouch for his efficacy, but since you mentioned that there is no other such vets close to you, it might be worth consulting with him: http://www.homevet.com/
(Moulton Seas End, Lincolnshire, Uk)
04/29/2013
(Va, US)
05/17/2014
(Texas)
10/27/2022
Most vets will tell you if your cat has the flu to put a humidifier in a small bathroom (any small room) with the cat for 15-20 minutes and to do this several times a day. Echinacea is supposed to help with the symptoms. I ordered it specifically for pets on amazon (Super Immune-by animal essentials) Also can use (nettle-eyebright, by petwellbeing)& (L-Lysine by Tomlyn). I ask my vet and she said all of these things were good to give and said I could even give Benadryl (1/3 -1/2 tablet encapsulated) up to 3 times per day. If you do not put the piece of Benedryl in a capsule- forget it they will foam and drool and it will be stressful to all!!! It works like a dream when you put it in a small capsule-and after pilling them let them have something wet to eat or drink to make sure pill goes down good. That's important! Hope your babys do well.It can take as many as three weeks for the cat flu to finish its course. Do be watchful as they can get a secondary infection which will require antibiotics. But antibiotics not cure the flu…..it must run its course.
(Kentucky)
11/23/2022
★★★★★
Geranium oil and Pine Needle oil for snotty cats. My cat (well, it's the neighbor's cat but that's another story) has had a sinus infection for 2 years. I tried herbal remedies in it's water bowl off amazon but did not work.
I can't remember where I read it but Geranium oil and Pine needle oil are safe for cats to use.
Recipe:
5 drops Geranium oil
5 drops Pine needle oil
1 teaspoon MCT coconut oil
Apply a few drops with an eyedropper to your cat's nose bridge and the sides of the nose bridge over the sinus plex. She stopped sneezing in a few hours. The next day only a few times so re-apply once daily til they stop sneezing altogether.
Spirulina
★★★★★
The first time I gave my cat spirulina he gobbled it up and then sat there with his eyes bugged out looking around like he just took his first hit of acid and was seeing the world for the first time.
Dosing: 1/2 teaspoon of powder in a pile on the linoleum kitchen floor
Now I mix a dash in his wet food when he looks like he needs some excitement.
He also loves brewer's yeast and the diatomaceous earth (+ - 1/4 tsp/day) seems to be reducing the cyst in his ear. I'll get back to you about that if it goes away entirely.
(Abu Dhabi)
05/26/2021
★★★★★
My cat loves spirulina. My spirulina comes in little candy like triangular tablets. Whenever I take my daily dose, she's there waiting for her share.
She is an indoor outdoor cat and I feel confident that her regular consumption of it (just one tiny tablet a day) is keeping her healthy.
Spraying
I have a 9 year old neutered siamese cat who has been spraying for the past 6 months since another cat moved in. They get along ok, and the litterboxes are kept clean. He has really good food and no health issues, but clearly he is not a happy camper. Does anyone have any suggestions?? please please? the homeopathic remedy stramonium helped a little but he is still spraying at least twice a week. any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks
(Chicago, Il)
03/27/2011
Cats spray out of frustration resulting from many factors. In this case your Siamese is clearly upset by the newcomer, doesn't feel safe any longer, and/or perceives a threat to its territory. In response it's spraying in frustration, fear, and/or is marking in a (futile) attempt to maintain its territorial boundaries against the invader.
You didn't describe the new cat but I hope it's both younger and smaller than the other cat so the Siamese perceives it as less threatening than otherwise. It may also be that the Siamese was #1 and is stressed because it perceives that the new cat is vying for his spot in the pecking order. Siamese are a particularly emotionally sensitive breed, so I also hope you introduced the newcomer very slowly. Suggestions:
- Most importantly, immediately get a pheromone collar for the Siamese. About $13 each, it emits a "you're safe, be happy! " smell that should change your Siamese's mood immediately from stressed to calm. It will last about a month of constant wear. I've used these collars in the same situation and they work wonderfully! In addition, you could buy a plug-in diffuser version that consistently sprays a bit of the same scent into the air; it's more costly but if your furniture is being ruined the cost probably doesn't matter in comparison. But in any event please buy the collar. The most popular brand smells to humans like lavender.
- Keep two litter boxes so that each can have a bit of its own territory in that area at least. After three or so months, change back to one large box (if they let you - ha! )
- remove as much of the spray odor as possible. The proteins in cat urine are almost impossible to remove completely. You may wish to try an enzymatic cleaner worked in and covered with a warm wet sponge first, then a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (after you test for color fastness) which you can vacuum off after it dries. Physically cover and/or block the area so the cat can't return to the same spot to spray again, as they usually do.
- You don't mention if the new cat is fixed. If it's not, do so when it's old enough.
- Give the Siamese more time and attention. Don't punish it for spraying other than to bring it to the spot and tell it "no! " once or twice. It's nervous and unhappy already so you don't want to make it worse. Good luck!
Stray Cats
your site is wonderful. We feed stray cats and of course they have all types of problems. The info you give helps us to care for them. without the info on your website we would not be able to financially take care of them. THANKS!!
EC: Hi Ta,
Thanks very much for your kind words of support. Glad you are finding helpful information on Earth Clinic.
Tea Tree Oil Warning
★☆☆☆☆
Warning
WARNING!
While researching tea tree oil as a skin healer, I noted that tea tree oil can be very toxic to cats. A couple of comments here mention tea tree oil use for cats to help prevent fleas. Thought I should just mention it.
(Marshall, Missouri)
12/29/2008
I have used tea tree oil shampoo on my cats multiple times, however I use it sparingly and only on one of them. My cat Brok will sometimes rub himself raw on a spot on his back. He is overweight so he cannot groom certain areas on his back properly. I will give him a bath with regular cat shampoo, then treat the balding area with a dime size of tea tree shampoo. He never got sick or showed any symptoms that I read about over the internet. I believe as long as you use it sparingly, and make sure to completly rinse the area you used it on, you won't have a problem. Don't use straight oil either, you can pick up tea tree shampoo from a health food store. I have also used this to prevent a mange break out on three previous cats of mine with no ill effects. I think as long as you use it sparingly (ie. bald spots or mange) then it will be fine. but do keep the other health warnings in mind, such as not using it on open sores, or on a cat that was recently shaved.
Teeth Issues
I have an older cat with bed teeth. I cannot have him put under anasthesia as he is too old. I would like to know if there is a natural solution. He is currently on antibiotics which I don't like but I have no choice at this point.
(Tn)
10/18/2015
Teething
My girlfriend has a new kitten that's 3 1/2 months old. She is looking for any ideas for teething remedies - besides him chewing on her fingers and toes. I have 3 cats of my own, but teething was never an issue. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Thyroid
I would like to know if I could use apple cider vineger for my cat, she has lost a lot of weight very quickly, has been eating loads. I took her to the vet last week and she had blood test done, the results are that she has an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). I would like to give her a natural product instead of drugs from the vet.
(Boston, Ma)
12/31/2011
My cat had a very rare reaction to the medication used to treat this condition, so she is unable to take it and has remained untreated for almost 3 years now. I have to tell you that not treating the cat with the medicine is very risky and her health will decline. I can't give her the medicine because it will kill her (very rare reaction so rare that they had to do research and get back to me) so this has caused lots of issues with her including liver problems, kidney problems, heart problems and high blood pressure.
My best suggestion is to try the new food they have out called Y/D it's a prescription diet and apparently it works to help the condition. Speak to your vet if you don't want to put her on meds put her on the prescription diet, but this must be her sole diet and no other foods. My chichi won't eat this food so again she is left untreated and I tell you it's just one medical issue after another so please consider the medicine or prescription diet. Good luck with your kitty.
(Batesville, In)
01/11/2013
Hi, I'm new. But really need some answers. Our almost 15 yr old cat has just been diagnosed with thyroid issues and liver problem. Her urine was orange-ish, she'd been throwing up, which the vet gave her a shot for. He wants to start her on either a diet or pills for her thyroid.
Does anyone have any suggestions what to do to get her healthy?
We are very careful about her diet since we lost her sister a few yrs back from thyroid issue that led to leukemia, we don't want the same for Mojavi.
We make sure her food does not have bi-products or corn, etc... Should we go back to making raw again, would this help? Please help ASAP!
Torovirus
Hi, I've taken my cat to the vets and he was diagonosed with the torovirus. Is there anything you would advise on giving him to help him get rid of it? All the vet said is to keep him hydrated. Best wishes, Kathryn
(Mpls., Mn)
05/06/2014
Hey Kathryn!
You might try mixing some activated charcoal in some wet food to see if he takes that, as the activated charcoal will help with enteritis type viruses and the resulting loose stools. If after 2 weeks you do not see signs of improvement then a secondary bacterial infection may be at play, so do not hesitate to bring your cat in to the vet again for a follow up.
The good news is that Torovirus is not considered a serious condition. It is self limiting and require supportive care, ie keep your cat hydrated, keep him warm and comfortable, and keep the litter box clean.
Training Your Cat to Come to Its Name
★★★★★
If you already have a name for your cat, you can skip to the next section. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind when you're trying to come up with a name for your furry feline.
First, try to 'tune in' to your cat and get a sense of what his or her personality really is like. I remember this one sassy cat a friend had years ago who was named "Princess." The name did not fit the cat's personality at all. When I tuned in to her fresh face, I soon felt that a more suitable name for her would be Toots, as in the roaring '20s, "Hey, Toots, whatcha doin' tonight?"
My friend really loved the new name (being a New Yorker), and so the cat finally had a name that fit her and her sassy attitude. So, be fair to your cat - they have really sensitive feelings - and try to resist naming it things like Xanax or Harddrive. Funny though they may be, names like this are just not likely to suit an individual cat's personality. No wonder so many of them seem 'aloof' or unresponsive - the owners have never taken the time to get to know who they really are!
Second, try to come up with a name that has long vowel sounds in it, especially "ee", as this is a sound that is very easy for an animal's ears to hear, like Chi Chi. Even a name like Lulu has long vowels that are easy to hear, as opposed to Princess, which has short vowel sounds that are not distinctive.
Training Your Cat to Come to Its Name
Now we're getting down to the fun part. I came across this information years ago when I was on my own after college and acquired three throw-away kittens. My family had always had pets, but I never had sole responsibility for them until now.
I discovered this old book, The Fabulous Feline, or Dogs Are Passe`, which was very thorough and comprehensive on everything from feeding and grooming to training and cat psychology. The most trainable period for a cat is from 3 to 9 months, very similar to dogs.
The author pointed out that, while dogs are often trained with treats and verbal commands, the key to a cat's heart is pleasure. Yes, pleasure! Most cats - unless they have been abused or abandoned - love to have their spines stroked. It's just like mama cat washing her babies to stimulate the pituitary gland so the kitten grows and thrives. And remember, for 4-legged creatures, the spine goes all the way out to the tip of the tail.
When you're petting your cat - stroking its spine and neck, around the cheekbones and ears - it should begin to purr. Once it purrs, this is when you start to implant the association with its name.
So, over and over, as you stroke and it purrs, you say the cat's name, lovingly. Every time you have the cat in one of these pleasure sessions, repeat the cat's name fondly. Something in their psychology responds well to being adored. (A carry-over from Egypt when they were revered as gods? It might be genetic! )
After a couple of weeks of this, try testing out whether the name has "taken" yet, whether the cat has associated the name and the pleasure response. You see the cat across the room and it's looking at something else or washing itself, whatever, it's preoccupied. Then you call its name and see if it looks at you, or at least cocks an ear in your direction. This is a good sign.
You'll know that the cat really recognizes its name when it comes over to you when you call it. So keep up the association of pleasure and saying its name until you get this result.
When I lived in the country, my cats would roam out into the woods and fields. When I called them for dinner, I'd see them appear from far away, running to the house, just like dogs. People would be amazed that they came to their names but, once you know their secret, responding to their names is as natural for them as it is for us!
Travel
Leaving in 20 days from Long Island, NY to Fort Lauderdale, FL with FIVE cats in a car. I network and plus a family member that went cross country in her car with 2 cats, said Pet travel solution is great to have for the cats. What can you suggest?
Weight Issues
Hi, I have a cat that had an eye infection that went to both eyes I took her to the vet and got medication. Her eyes cleared up, but I noticed she started to lose weight- do you know what can help her gain weight back? I do know she does have allergies and I haven't changed her cat food, but I have been giving her treats.