Pet Meds, Food and Supplements We Use For Our Own Cats

Diamond and Twoie's Meds: Diamond and Twoie are two beautiful working barn cats. But, don't let the word barn fool you, they actually have a very good life, they get the best food, vet care, meds and health products money can buy. Their four acres is also protected by welded wire and hot wire, and, they have the added protection of two working pyrenees as well. They can also come inside if they so desire, but they seldom want to. They are two healthy cats, and seldom require any medications, however, prevention is always key, so they get the best in food, and, flea, tick and heartworm meds too.

Prescription Cat Food:   Hill's Prescription Feline C/D Cat Food
The feline urinary system can be irritated by "impure" water sources, consequently, one of the hazards outdoor cats face is less than desirable drinking water. We keep clean, cool fresh water up off the floor in an area only they can reach available at all times. As an extra precaution, our veterinarian has sisters Twoie and Diamond on a preventative prescription cat food, specifically Hill's Feline C/D Prescription Diet, and it has proved to be very beneficial for our girls, succesfully keeping any potential urinary tract infections or related issues at bay.

Medications Pill Administration:   Pill Pockets for Cats
Our cats seldom get sick but have on occasion needed an antiobiotic medication for abscesses or other health related issues. We have to admit we're terrified at the idea of trying to hold and force a pill down our cats throat, it's just that those teeth are so sharp, and that's not to mention that cats are not very forgiving regarding such matters. Fortunately, we've always had good luck with wrapping the pill in some velveeta cheese. However, this was messy, so we were glad when Pill Pockets came out for cats. They make it so easy to hide the pill and our cats love them. We give our cats an empty pill pocket treat on a regular basis, that way, when we have to put a pill inside they won't suspect anything and reject them. Flea, Tick and Heartworm Preventative Meds:   Revolution   Frontline   Heartgard
Twoie and Diamond love to explore the high grass and brush, and that means fleas and ticks. Cats are also vulnerable to heartworms just like dogs. We tried Heartgard Chewables for cats, sometimes they liked them and sometimes they didn't, so it wasn't always easy to get them to take it. Revolution for Cats took care of this problem, feline revolution combines flea, tick and heartworm protection all in an easy to administer topical spot on product. We used to use Frontline flea and tick control meds on our cats and it worked great, but we switched to Revolution because we liked the spot on option for the heartworm prevention medicine as well. It's rare to see a flea or tick on our cats, but, it is important to remember to administer revolution on a timely basis, every four weeks, or you will start to see them once it's effectiveness wears off. Keeping Our Cats Warm In The Winter:   Kane Heat Mat
We're quite the softies when it comes to our cats and we can't stand the thought of them being cold. In the winter, when snow is expected or temperatures reach the high twenties, we bring them inside wether they want to come in or not. We also want to make sure they have a warm, wind free spot for any nippy day or night that might come along. When fall hits we keep a large pet heat mat on the porch for our cats to lie on as they wish. We've tried several different brands over the last several years but we've been happiest with the Kane Pet Heat Mat shown here. Our cats love it too. We've actually had one heat mat for our goat's house that has lasted over four winters and is still going strong today. A Place To Hang Out:   Two Story Kitty Condo     One Story Jumbo Condo     Cozy Snuggle Cat Bed    
Our cats love to nestle in cozy areas, in the barn we discovered they liked to find little cave like areas created by the hay being stacked unevenly. We were happy to let them enjoy these special areas but once we needed the bales making the cave, the cave was gone. So we grabbed a couple of these little two story cat condos and nestled them in a more permanent area of the stack, and they seem to like them almost as much. We also have a few in our house for when they come inside. They really seem to like the coziness and round shape of the condos. If you put on of these in your barn you'll want to be sure it is in a dry area. Regarding suitability for your cat, the small two story one we use may not be big enough for a cat over 12 lbs., however, there is a one story, larger jumbo version that might work better for larger felines. When inside, our cats also enjoy laying in cozy beds and donuts placed on top of a table, desk, chair or dresser. Keeping The Dogs Away From The Cats:   Four Paws Wood Frame Wire Mesh Gate
Okay, so cats can jump a 32" inch gate with the greatest of ease, but we actually use these gates to control where the dogs can and cannot go. When inside, the cats have the back bedroom, they love its large beautiful window. It is also where their litter boxes and kitty condos reside. We believe our cats need a place to get away from the dogs, but, like any cat they don't like to boxed in anywhere, even a dog free environment. We open the bedroom door and place the gate in the doorway, that way the cats can come and go as they please, but the dogs cannot. We like this gate because the wire mesh is strong and durable and the mesh holes are small enough to avoid your pet's head from getting stuck in between. They are also easy to open, close and move around. The 32" height works great for our big dogs too, it's tall height helps keep them from trying to jump over.

Meds, Medication, Food and Products We Give Our Dogs         An Air Conditioned Dog House For Our Goat