The remarkable growth of kittens in their first weeks of life is demonstrated by the stages of kitten development. Kittens of all cat breeds progress through the stages of kitten development.

Just like in people, a cat's body changes as the cat ages. Normal aging involves gradual changes, but some senior cats develop age-related illness. Caring for senior cats involves identifying normal age-related changes, caring for the aging cats special needs, and consulting your veterinarian about any drastic changes or questions about the aging cat.

How long do cats live? This is a common question from cat owners. Since many factors can affect the cat lifespan, there is no single answer. However, a healthy indoor cat can live up to twenty-one years.

If the cat is allowed to spend time outdoors without confinement or supervision, the cat lifespan is often drastically decreased. Pat cats who roam outdoors are susceptible to accidents such as being struck by a car, disease contracted from other cats, and poisoning which is usually accidental.

The hazards of being outdoors all the time drastically affects the lifespan of stray cats and feral cats. A large percentage of stray and feral cats only live a few years due to these dangers and starvation.

Cat declawing used to be a widely accepted method for controlling cat scratching behavior. Alternatives to cat declawing are now considered humane solutions to destructive cat scratching.

During the surgery to declawed cat, the last digit of the cat's toes are removed. The veterinarian may opt to do the claw instead of removing the end portion of the cat's toes however.

The main reason that cat owners elect to get their cat's declawed is to stop or prevent destructive cat scratching. Some cat owners believe that they must have their cat's declawed to save their furniture and even themselves from getting scratched. A cat owner who gets their cat declawed to stop cat scratching during play may be disappointed when the declawed cat bites since they can no longer use its claws to defend itself.

Cat cancer is a legitimate concern of cat owners. A cat's life can be significantly shortened by cat cancer. Not all tumors are cancerous. If a cat shows any signs of cancer, the cat should be examined promptly by a veterinarian.

Cancer causes almost fifty percent of pet deaths. The causes of cat cancer are not well understood.

Other diseases can also cause many of the signs and symptoms of cat cancer. Cat owners need to have cats properly diagnosed and treated if the cat shows any signs of cat cancer. Prompt treatment for cancer often gives the cat the best chances of survival.

A common, mild skin condition that affects cats is feline acne. Acne in cats is similar to the acne that affects humans. The faces of cats tend to have acne.

Acne in cats may look like blackheads on the cat's chin. If the acne is not clearly visible on the cat's skin, the chin and lips may look like it is dirty. The acne may form crusts.

Severe cases of feline acne can cause open sores, skin irritation, hair loss, swelling, and infection though most cases of feline acne are minor. If the cat is scratching the area, the risk of these complications increases.

Common causes of acne in cats include poor grooming, stress, allergic reactions, and dirt or food caught in skin folds of the cat's face. Cat acne can be due to overactive oil glands in the cat's skin.