The cat-carer's guide to : A for : -

If you don't know where to start, I recommend the leaflets page and the page about protection, parhaps the adoptions page or the story of how the species we call the "cat" came to Europe !

ABANDONS
ABSCESS (ABCES)
DENTAL ABCESS (ABCES DENTAIRE)
ABDOMEN
JOIN (ABONNEMENT)
HUT (ABRI)
EAR-MITES (ACARIENS)
ACCIDENT
ACNE
ACTION DE JARDINS FELINS
NEWS
ADOPT AN ADULT
ADOPT A KITTEN (ADOPTER CHATON)
ADOPTIONS
AGE
AGRESSIVITY
AGRICULTURE
HELP (AIDE)
HELP US (AIDEZ-NOUS !)
ALIMENTATION
ALLERGIC
ALUMINIUM
WEIGHT LOSS (AMAIGRISSEMENT)
FRIENDS (AMIS)
FRIENDS OF JARDINS FELINS (AMIS DE...)
CAT FRIENDS SPEAK UP (AMIS DE...)
LOVE (AMOUR)
ITCHY BUM (ANALE IRRITATION)
ANEMIA (ANEMIE)
SORE THROAT (ANGINE du PHARYNX)
HEART PAIN (ANGINE de POITRINE)
ENGLAND (ANGLETERRE)
ANOREXIA
ANTIBIOTICS
ANTI-FREEZE (ANTIGEL)
ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES
ANTI-SPASMODICS)
ANXIETY
FLAT (APPARTEMENT)
APPETITE
APPRECIATION
LEARN (APPRENDRE)
CAT TREE (ARBRE A CHATS)
AROMATHERAPY
ARTHRITIS
ASSISTANCE
ASSOCIATION
ASTHMA
UNUSUAL ATTITUDES (ATTITUDES INHABITUELLES)
ATTITUDES
TAX ADVANTAGES (AVANTAGES FISCAUX)
BLIND (AVEUGLE)

ABANDONS : -

To prevent abandons : stop giving away kittens : have them spayed/neutered !

To avoid abandons that are caused by behavioural problems : get cats sterilised, never give a kitten before having it spayed/neutered. Ask for reimbursement of the sterilisation fee as proof of good intention.
When you want to adopt a kitten make sure the mother cat has been spayed, find her.

ABSCESS : -

An abscess is a localised infection that develops in the body due to internal, bleeding, a fall, or deep wound, open or closed.
A closed abcess causes swelling and pain from internal pressure.
Eg. after a fight or an ear infection.
Most small skin abcesses go unnoticed.
They are potentially dangerous as they can burst inside the body.
Care
For an abscess that refuses to heal, a vet has recommended local application of antibiotics to remove a resistant colony of Staphylococcus aurens using Ciprofloxacine and Rifampicine.
To disinfect an open abscess wash it with salty water (a tablespoon of salt in half a pint of water) or apply rosemary water using coton wool or a syringe.
Even if the abscess is not yet open, crush up a leaf of Verbascum thapsus, put it in a bowl with some coconut oil or olive oil and mix with a spoon to obtain a paste that you can apply to the abscess.
If one side of the face is swollen, it is probably due to a dental abscess.
See Tooth abscess and Holistic.

TOOTH ABSCESS : -

When a tooth root is infected, the abcess can go up to the sinus cavities on that side of the face and it is very serious.
A pouch can form under the infected eye and the cat needs to be taken rapidly to a vet clinic because the abscess must be drained in order to prevent the infection going up to the brain.
Antirobe is a useful antibiotic for abcesses in "deep" tissues such as gums.
See Dents.

ABDOMEN : -

Voir Tummy.

JOIN (ABONNEMENT) : -

Voir Supporters.

HUT (ABRI)

See Hut

EAR MITES : -

Ear mites (acariens) cause cats to shake their heads.
They are in the environment outside therefore impossible to eradicate, but a good vacuum cleaner can make the interior parasite-free.
Anti-mite products contain nerve toxins deadly to cats even in minute quantities ingested when washing, or when there is the slightest fissure of the ear-drum.
After their use the cat is weaker and new accariens recolonize the clean ears a few days later (if the cat has not yet died from treatment).
Lindane and fiprinol are the pesticides generally used in such products and are excluded from agriculture due to the severity of damage they do to health.
Lindane damages the kidneys, the liver and the bone marrow, provoking headaches, dizziness, fatigue, tummy and leg pains (neuralgia, "sciatica", oedema, etc.) followed by kidney insufficiency or even the abrupt end of kidney function causing death.
Even at very tiny doses used rarely, these substances damage liver function, lodge in stored fat, lead to cancer, and damage the kidneys.
Such treatments are worse than the problem they are supposed to treat.
A typical case of "Results of treatment : treatment successful but, patients dead".
Treated cats are even less able to put up with the presence of mites, new accariens cause itching within two or three days.
Care : Choose one of the following remedies and use it once a week.
If you want to change, leave a week or two before starting a new remedy.
# A few drops of St John's Wort (Millepertuis) maceration, in each ear, cleans, calms pain, and disinfects.
# A very salty solution, to "saturation" or at least four heaped table spoons in a small spray bottle of water, is effective against all parasites like fleas and mites.
# Fine green clay powder (sold in chemists and organic foods stores) put in ears calms, but can stay long term in the ear (harmlessly though).
# Use catnip essentiel oil (Nepeta cataire) diluted in olive oil or huile de coprah or coco.
See Ears.

ACCIDENT : -

To remove a cat lying in the road, first open wide the car door, then place a flat object on the ground behind him, (a flattened cardboard box, a piece of stiff carpet, the back window shelf), hold the object down with your feet while you slide your hands gently under the cat's shoulder and hip to pull it onto the flat object without upsetting the cat's body position in case there is internal damage (fractures, bleeding, hernia, rupture).
If unconscious, make sure the cat's head is in normal alignment.
Lift carefully the object and put it in the car.
If the vet can save the cat he will, then he can reclaim his charges from a member of a charity like JARDINS FELINS.
NOTE : IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO HELP A CAT DON'T WAIT TO FIND A NEEDY CAT YOURSELF, GO AND INFORM THE VET THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR ONE RESCUED CAT'S NEEDS.
If you pay, you will get 66% tax relief for this gift to the action of the charity JARDINS FELINS.
If a cat is wounded but still conscious, he will be in a state of shock (cold and frightened), approach speaking quietly to reassure it that you don't want to hurt it.
After its visit to the vet, keep it in your home because, even if you don't want to adopt it, it needs a warm and peaceful room at these moments.
Watch his progress without manipulating or lifting him.
He may not eat : if this is the case don't worry, it is because he is using his energy for healing.
So don't insist, let him rest, but check he drinks some water several times daily, and offer fresh Whiskas cat milk occasionally.
He will show interest in food or Whiskas cat milk (or other lactose-free milk) when his body is ready to digest.
Suitable foods would be slivers of lamb, chicken or egg yolk.
Don't keep served food longer than a few hours : give that to other cats who will eat it immediately, wash the bowl so that the convalescent's bowl is always clean.
The vet may have a client who no longer has a cat or you can put a poster in his waiting room.
See Deshydratation, Re-homing, Euthanasia.

ACNE : -

Causes : Certain bowl shapes or plastic bowls are not good for cats depending on the shape of their chin.
It might not be a simple acne, but zona (herpes) after a stress.
See Herpes, Staphylococcus.

ACTION OF JARDINS FELINS : -

See the leaflets page.

NEWS (ACTUALITE) : -

See News page and Press page.

ADOPT AN ADULT : -

See the page Adoptions.

ADOPT A KITTEN : -

See the page Adoptions.

ADOPTIONS : -

See the page Adoptions.

AGE : -

- Cats outside rarely live more than seven years because living outside is constantly stressful, especially the cold of night.
In inclement weather, the cat turns its back to the wind or curls up, which means it is the temperature-regulators, the kidneys, that get damaged by too low temperatures, wind and damp.
It is therefore preferable when cold or windy to keep cats indoors with windows closed.
If a cat gets wet in the rain, dry it and keep it in a warm room until its coat is completely dry.
Un-sterilised cats generally only live about 2 years, because they wander and suffer pregnancy or fights.
- An elderly cat is more appreciative than a kitten.
Calmer, an elderly cat is less likely to scratch your furniture.
- Often a cat has a friend and they help each other with washing, which is even more appreciated as they get older because they are less supple.
- Older cats need a larger, softer bed, in a completely draught-free place.
- Elderly cats don't like being alone at night, if your cat cries at night, put its bed beside yours, or adopt a calm, lonely cat from a cat-rescue group.
- If you have a garden, your ageing cat will still like to accompany you, but don't forget to make sure he comes in when you do, to keep him safe from the road and harmful people.
- A small amount of rolled oat flakes in boiling water left to cool, is appreciated by lots of cats (sloppy porridge).
- See Ageing, Kidneys, Heart.

AGRESSIVITY : -

See the page Comportements (click here)

AGRICULTURE : -

Only organic farming protects the renewal of resources and fertility of soils, ensuring produce for consumers long term, without polluting groundwater, nor deteriorating soils, landscapes and wildlife.
See Farms, Universités, and soon some technical articles.

HELP (AIDE) : -

See Assistance.

HELP US (AIDEZ-NOUS) : -

See Supporters.

ALIMENTATION : -

See Food and Nutrition.

ALLERGIC : -

See Humain health page.

ALUMINIUM : -

For more than ten years scientists have shown that aluminium is the cause of central nervous system damage, from autopsies done on people with Alzheimers and other forms of deterioration into debility or thought to have CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jacob).
The anti-sticking agent added to table salt to prevent clumping, is aluminium.
Antiperspirants can contain aluminium for its pore-filling ability.
Doctor Garnier of the Paris antipoison centre wrote in the "Concours Medical" of February 1997 : Each vaccine contains 1.250 microgrammes of aluminium in a form that is very difficult to eliminate from the body.
There is an increase of the number of cases of ESB following each vaccination spree.
See Vacines.

WEIGHT-LOSS (AMAIGRISSEMENT) : -

Fast weight-loss is a sign of serious illness, kidney insuffisence for example.
See Intestinal occlusion, Diabetes, Urinary Thyroïde, Anemia and Dishydratation.

FRIENDS (AMIS) : -

It will be a security for the cats if you have friends who are also responsible cat Feeders.
See Holidays.

FRIENDS OF JARDINS FELINS : -

Voir Friends page.

CAT FRIENDS SPEAK UP (AMIS DES CHATS S'EXPRIMENT) : -

Extracts from letters : -
1). "We are all against attempts to create the perfect human, so why should selection by breeders be acceptable ? Selecting to produce "fashionable" cats that suit the passing tastes of certain humans and allow the aggravation of characteristics that are unpleasant for the animal (sphynx, rex, persian modern, curl, fold, white with blue eyes, Manx, for this last "race" or "type of degeneration" there are still-borns in every litter because of spine defects affecting vital organs).
Shelters are full of pretty cats of all types and "pure-breds", please adopt them and use the remaining euros to spay some strays." - Mme S. Hamblett, Warrington, Cheshire.

LOVE (AMOUR) : -

Subtle but strong, love transmitted by relevant attention and soft touch in circles, is essential to the survival of kittens and sick cats.
We all need to express and share affection, and everyone has something unique.
Make note of what is special in each cat, (eg. one holds herself up to see far off happenings, another eats by bringing food to her mouth with her paws, each has its own way of saying hello, each has different things to say with its eyes, its habit like catching your ankles, stroking you, snuggling, and being.)
Cultivate your gentleness around cats: moments with them are precious.
A day is like a week for a cat, don't put off till tomorrow.
Each cat needs you in its own way, you are the hope, the sun, do all you can to make them happy and comfortable each day.
Is there something it does usually that it doesn't do today ? Perhaps pain is preventing it.
Does its environment allow its way of expressing its uniqueness ?
Cats are emotive, sensitive, and perceptive.
These tiny felines are perfect companions, the presence of cats is essential to any civilized man, they help us so much and protect from all illnesses of civilisation.
See Human health and The big History of the little cat.
Cats are completely in the moment, they feel your emotions, and know you better than you know yourself : they help you to improve if you let them guide you.
Living with you your cat becomes your furry mirror of love.
Love is the attachment to the health of the loved one(s) and to the happiness created and maintained by their presence.
If you ask yourself whether you love someone, that prevents you from feeling the love because you're off in your intellect and that cuts off your emotions.
Love is beneficial because it is an emotion that creates feelings of happiness, affection, comfort and safety, which enables internal activities of cellular repair and protection.
Say often "I love you" to each cat when it is in your arms, when you play together, when you serve its food, and whenever your eyes meet.
Often touch just to stroke, and if it likes a kiss on the forehead, or a cuddle.
Tell it in reassuring tones that you are happy that it appeared in your life and tell it that it has a home with you forever, and that you will never give it to anyone.
See Behaviours, Intuition, Illness.

ANAL IRRITATION : -

See Irritation : anal

ANEMIA : -

Symptoms : Breathlessness, apathy, eye-lids and mouth pale, anaemia can be a symptom of poisoning, or trauma, or an unbalanced vital organ.
Causes : -
# Rat poison causes internal haemorrhages.
Poisoned animals bleed to death, unless you take immediate action : go to a vet's clinic for vitamin K, to be administered once a day for five days in a row.
See ¨Poisoning
# Medicines, especially anti-inflammatories, X-rays, and some antibiotics, cause serious anaemia by damaging bone marrow, kidneys, liver and heart.
Unless urgent, avoid X-rays.
Always refuse anti-inflamatories and use Filipendula almaria (Meadow sweet) tea or Ribes nigrum buds in glycerine maceration (gemmatherapy).
If you see anaemia in a cat on medication, don't give any more of the new medicine.
Notify the vet about the anaemia and ask him to send a report to the board of vet councillors.
See Medicines : Anemia, Anti-inflammatories and Ears.
# Blood in urine is du to chronic dehydration causing over-acid urine that damages the inner walls of the urinary apparatus, making it bleed.
In the kidneys, dehydration progressively causes kidney insufficiency.
Cristals form in concentrated urine (stones or gravel) and these also cause bleeding.
# Anaemia can be a symptom of lucaemia virus infection, or Hemobartonella felis bacteria infection which can be transmittined by a mosquito, a tick or a flea (if the parasite is infected).
There is a test the vet can do to find out if it is this bacteria, and seven days on Tétracycline antibiotics is adequate treatment.
See more info at Bartonella, Leucose, Lucemia.
# Blood-loss caused by intestinal worms can lead to anaemia.
In this case a good all-round wormer, at the right dose, will make the cat better.
See Worms.
# Kittens, because they are small, can become anaemic if they have lots of fleas, but a kitten must never be treated with anti-flea products.
Urine kills fleas, so the mother may have peed on her kittens to reduce the irritation : change the bedding as if normal and treat the problem as follows :
Put one drop of essential oil of Nepeta cataire or Eucalyptus in a dessert spoonful of olive oil and, with this mixture massage the head, neck then the back and legs near the body.
If you have the mother, give her the same massage and change the nest every three days (new cardboard box and clean bath-towel).
If you have mint growing, put some little sprigs of it in the box with the kittens.
See Protéger la santé des chats.

SORE THROAT (ANGINE du PHARYNX) : -

If the cat has difficulty swallowing food, try Apis mel 4CH, (two drops every two hours).
If the cats seems bothered by pain, take it to the vet quickly, it could be something worse.

HEART PAINS (ANGINE de POITRINE) : -

See Heart.

ENGLAND (ANGLETERRE) : -

To go to England :-
1) A cat must have tattoo or electronic identification, be vaccinated against rabies : be sure to have the certificates of identification and vaccination in your shoulder bag.
2) After a minimum of one month, a blood sample is taken by the vet and sent by him to a laboratory that will send back a certificate confirming the effective immunity to rabies.
Keep the blood-test results with the vaccination and identification certificates.
3) Six months later, a health certificat attesting to the absence of parasites must be obtained from a vet the day before the voyage : be sure there are no parasites on your cat, or ask that a Stronghold pipette be applied but no spray or powder as these do permanent damage to kidneys and bone marrow.
You must keep the certificate attesting to the absence of parasites with you and the other certificates mentioned in this article.

ANOREXIA : -

First check out Poisoning.
When you're sure it's not poisoning, check this link in case it could be intestinal blocage.
The first thing to do is consider WHY the cat is NOT eating : think about the last few days.
Has the cat possibly eaten something it shouldn't have, like a thread ?
Are there other signs, like vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, weakness, respiratory problems, pale gums ?
Is the cat crapping and urinating normally ?
Check there are no traces of red in the litter tray and that his "last drop" is not red or orange (blood in urine).
Each of these symptoms should alert you to a medical problem : see Typhus, Anemia, Heart, Dehydration.
If the cat is behaving normally, try the following tips :
1. Offer a different food : eg. chicken, beef, babyfood, vegetable puree, tuna, its favourite food, raw egg yolk, WHISKAS Cat Milk, sardines in oil, "Sheba", WHISKAS terrine, nutritional yeast flakes, Bonito flakes.
2. The food and the bowl must be clean every time.
3. Try hot food, or room temperature at least.
4. Change the dish. Some cats don't like plastic bowls.
5. Change the place where you feed the cat. Even just a metre from the usual place can renew interest, or on a surface up away from the floor, so the cat feels more relaxed.
6. Try different times, even a little, just by changing the order in which you do things.
7. If the cat is still not eating, or if other symptoms appear, take it to the vet for help with finding out why.
8. While a cat is feeling ok and eats, make sure you give it top quality food, like a little fresh, raw meat, and best quality croquettes like ROYAL CANIN, ONE, or HILLS.
A cat that eats little and often is following the natural feeding rhythm of cats : mouse-size meals.
Some cats eat up to twenty times a day.
That does no harm to their health.
Other advice :
Feed morning and evening.
Anorexia is a sign that a cat is sad and / or suffering kidney insufficiency.
Though less demanding than a dog, a cat needs to feel appreciated ; it waits without pressuring you, for you to stroke it and sometimes it won't eat until it has been stroked by it's human friend.
Talk to the cat, stroke it when putting it in front of it's bowl.
Perhaps it misses a feline friend.
If it is impossible to bring its friend back (it is dead), adopt another adult cat, from a shelter or an association that is rescuing cats from shelters' kill-lists, and ask for a calm charactered cat.
Sit beside its bowl and say that you would be happy to see it eat.
When it eats, even just one bite, stroke it and talk happily to congratulate it.
If it moves away, follow, putting the bowl in front of where the cat has stopped.
If the cat doesn't have access to a garden, grow lawn grass (make sure you get untreated seeds) (Dactylis glomerata), or oat seeds, in a pot on a window ledge.
While waiting for the grass to be about 10cm long, offer the cat a handful of grass 10 to 20 cm long.
The plant Silybum marianum supports and improves liver function and digestion.
May cats instinctively avoid tap water chemicals, so only put filtered water, rain water, or spring water in its bowls.
See Kidney insufficience, Intestinal occlusion, Kidneys, Hyperthyroïd Gingivitis, Herb.

ANTIBIOTICS : -

# In pregnant cats, antibiotics can cause bone deformations in the foetuses : have her spayed immediately.
# This will be an abortion so don't left her up during the first ten days.
# Don't use antibiotics too often, stop two days after signs of putrid (bacterial) infection cease.
# Don't use at the first sign of a cold except in a kitten.
# Give antibiotics as soon as a bacterial infection starts to fatigue the infected cat.
# Don't wait for test results or anyone's opinion, give antibiotics immediately if more than one cat in a group is ill (give to ill ones only), or if symptoms include lethargy, inflammation, or congestion.
# The dose for a kitten should be at least the amount recommended for a one kilo cat, even if the kitten weighs less than a kilo.
# Antibiotic plants : Hydrastis canadensis, Berberis vulgaris, Berberis aquifolium, Coptis chinensis, Olive leaves : prepare these in decoction form and administer 20 to 30 drops morning and evening.
See Sterilisation, Typhus, Pneumonie, Ventre.

ANTI-FREEZE : -

In French at Antigel
Anti-freeze and cooling liquids contain ethylene glycol which destroys cats' kidneys, even if only traces are licked off the cat's feet.
Attention : underneath cars there can be a leak.
Beware of the ingredients in modern household cleaning products.
This substance is a deadly poison, and it has a sweet taste !
Symptom : Shortly after ingestion, the animal trembles or seems a bit drunk.
The liver is transforming the ethylene glycol to aldehyde and glycolic acid. These substances have started to damage the kidneys, as they try to eliminate the poison.
Care : Take action immediately because, from the start of symptoms the kidneys are being damaged.
Take the cat to the nearest vet clinic for the antidote (Fomepizole) immediately, every minute counts.
If you have brandy or wine, give him twice in a row a half teaspoon but still get as quickly as possible to the vet clinic for the specific antidote : Fomepizole.
Both act by blocking the places in the kidneys where ethylene glycol can be received.
This leads to the rupture of the ethylene glycol to oxalate which will be evacuated by the kidneys.
The antidote is not toxic and it is better to administer it if there is any doubt about the cause of symptoms presented, just in case.
Prevention
The more people contact the manufacturers about this, the sooner the use of this ingredient will cease : write to ELF, HAFA, RENAULT, IGOL, and MOTUL asking them to use glycol propylene instead of glycol ethylene in their cooling liquids and anti-freeze.
Tell them about the tragic results for companion animals, of leaks and spillages of these liquids at people's homes.
Tell them that you read product labels and that you will never again buy a product containing ethylene glycol and that you won't let any garage install any product with this ingredient in your vehicles.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES : -

Before any injection at the vets, check with the vet that it is not an anti-inflammatory, because these medicines damage the internal defences of the body and the kidneys, destroying at the same occasion all "joie de vivre".
Inflammation is always accompanied by chronic dehydration which may not be easily noticed.
Care :
To keep well hydrated, help the cat to drink if he has difficulty, use a dropper or syringe, give camomile tea, or spring water, 50 ml per kilo of the cat's weight, divide that into at least three times spaced through the day.
Give only wet food, no dry cat food.
Plants to use : Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria - flowers in infusion), Ribes nigrum bourgeons (gemmatherapy D1), Agropyron repens racines (a grass that spreads by the roots).
See Antiseptics, Hydrosols, Anemia, Preparations, Inflammation (for more "plantes" details).

ANTISEPTICS : -

Hydrosols, distillation water from the essential oil production process, are anti-inflammatory and antiseptic.
Lavender or Romain camomile waters are excellent for cleaning ears and wounds and help the body repair whereas medicated antiseptics damage the activity of immune-system cells.

ANTI-SPASMODICS : -

Painful spasms are a sign of dehydration, the lack of sufficient water prevents correct enzyme function and the transporting of nutrients to cells.
Plants to use : Viburnum opulus (TM drops in the mouth), Achillea millefolium, Nepeta cataire (herb in food).
See Preparation.

ANXIETE : -

Check that the cat is sterilised.
Give it at least ten minutes, every morning and evening, for hugs and tickles.
Anxiety is a symptom of dehydration : Put better water in its bowl.
Get hold of calming essential oils (vanilla, Ravensara aromatica, Camomille, Nepeta cataria (cataire) or Valerian ; dilute one drop of essential oil in one dessert spoon of olive oil, then apply by stroking the head and neck of the cat.
Diffuse a few drops of essential oil by dropping them onto a warm surface like a radiator or sprinkle onto a tissue that you then leave to dry in the room.
Play with it gently so it forgets its worries.
See Sterilisation, Action, Water and Socialisation.

APARTMENT : -

See Logement.

APPETITE : -

Lack of appetite : A sudden lack of appetite can be a sign of typhus, a quick developing disease : so if a cat seems extra lethargic click quickly on Typhus.
Check its bowl is clean and the food has not gone "off".
Keep it in to be sure it is not just filling up at a neighbours house while on the prowl with the risk of not surviving very long with such a dangerous habit (crossing roads).
Excessive appetite : administer an all-round wormer, if it was worms the appetite will then diminish.
Offer some raw meat on a daily basis and choose high quality dry cat food, swell it up in an equal volume of water to make it into "wet" food.
Maybe there is one of the following problems : Infectious enteritis, Intestinal occlusion, Anxiety, Anorexia, Diabetes, Thyroïd, Kidneys.

APPRECIATION : -

Appreciate more each day each of the cats in your care.
That will give you good memories and enable you to get to know them better and, before it's too late, to enjoy the privilege of sharing life with these sweet characters, because each cat-character is unique, funny and imaginative.
See Love.

LEARN : -

Learn how to save cats from the horrors of roads and cold weather, even without adopting them.
See Action, Cat Huts, Town politics.
Click here to learn how to get children interested.

CAT TREES : -

To build a simple cat-tree, start here with Scratching post.

AROMATHERAPY : -

Poisonous doses of essential oils exist at less than one drop, even for those that are helpful to health when diluted : it is always necessary to dilute and to follow recommendations from a herbalist, like Michelle Compton for example, in good quality vegetable oil, before use.
Another aromatic extract from plants is the hydrosol : it is the condensed steam produced during distillation extraction of essential oils.
Against fleas, ticks and mites, hydrosols can be used pure directly on cats without any risk.
Essenteil oils can be used in house-cleaning using a few drops in liquid soap for wahing-up, or in rince water of the washing machine, or in a bucket of water with soap to clean floors, or in vinegar to clean windows.
See Household cleaners, Agressivity, Cystitis, Medicines.

ARTHRITIS : -

If a cat seems to loose agility, check with the neighbours that they are not putting out milk for cats.
If they are, ask them to not do it any more, or, if there is no road between your two houses, ask them to use lactose-free milk.
With the anti-inflammatory properties of some essential oils, their hydrosols, and various plants in other forms, we have solutions without undesirable side-effects.
Anti-inflammatory medicines destroy articulation cartilage and destroy cats' kidneys with fast progression towards deadly insufficiency.
Exercise and fresh air are always necessary, this is possible at home by putting strong metal netting or grid with one inch square holes, and play with your cat indoors, or build a covered enclosure attached to the house.
Offer a small bowl of rosemary or catmint tea.
Mix a few young leaves of blackcurrant or nettle, finely chopped, into its wet food.
Using an electric coffee-grinder, finely grind a spoonful of linseeds and mix this powder with water stirring then add WHISKAS Cat Milk to be sure that the cats will really enjoy it (don't give any Cat Milk separately).
Put a tree-branch where the cats to have fun climbing and scratching it, to encourage them to enjoy relaxed exercise.
See Games, Aromatherapy, Anti-inflammatories, Inflammation.

ASSISTANCE : -

See the page Assistance, Leaflets, Gardens, Cat-huts, and Roles in the action of Jardins felins.

ASSOCIATION : -

See Friends of Jardins félins

ASTHMA : -

Symptoms
A dry cough, jerking, breathy, that can be serious.
The symptoms are similar to heartworm infestation symptoms (transmitted by mosquitoes in hot climates), heart insufficiency and pneumonia.
Causes of asthma
Asthma is due to accumulated toxins: these toxins or wastes from living cells, accumulate because there is dehydration, poor quality food intake, or too much stress.
If a cat waits till the chlorine evaporates before it will drink water, it will be suffering chronic dehydration.
Tinned and packaged food with vague ingredients like "by-products" or "meat-products" - this could include meat flour.
It would also be useful to avoid UHT milk (antibiotic residues and other drugs and chemicals), tap water (chlorine, aluminium, nitrates...) and harmful air-borne particles (ultra fine dust from mineral cat-litters, household perfumes like air fresheners and perfumed cleaners, smoke...).
Care
# Put in a small bottle, one drop of essential oil (of either Nepeta catairia, Ravensara, Neroli, Camomille or Palmarosa) and one dessert spoonful of olive oil.
Each time the cat's respiration is troubled, spread a few drops of this mixture between your palms, then stroke the cats head and chest.
# Don't give it any more dry cat-food, nor milk, nor tap water : give it filtered water or bottled spring-water.
# Read labels and feed fresh food until cat-food appears that can claim to be "free of colourings and preservatives".
# If you can find untreated dried Chrysanthemum flowers, chop up some petals and add them to the cat's dish.
# Imagine you already don't smoke : see Electronique cigarette.
# Instead of deodorant, use essential oils diluted in alcohol and water, in a pump-spray bottle, or use the antiperspirant stone, sold in health shops.
# Make sure you pass the vacuum cleaner really well everywhere in your home at least once a week : a cyclonic cleaner with HEPA filter is best.
# Don't use aerosols in rooms where cats can go.
# Don't let an asthmatic cat go outside in cold weather.
# Add these two homeopathic remedies to you first aid bag : Drosera D5 and Ipeca D5 in liquid form.
Let a drop fall into the cats mouth at the first sign of a fit starting.
Two other remedies might help : Aconitum D5 (anxiety attacks) and Bryonia D5 (painful breathing)
Links : "Listen to sounds of asthma and of pneumonia, to discern them", "Inhaler to buy in case of bronchical constriction, difficulty for breathing, blue or pale lips".
See Stress, Allergic, Dehydration, Food, Heart insuffisancy, Pneumonia.

UNUSUAL ATTITUDES : -

Click here

ATTITUDES : -

See Unusual attitudes, Shock, Humane education, Behaviours.

TAX AVANTAGES : -

Your gifts to Jardins Félins reduce your tax-bill.
As an individual, your tax-reduction is 66% and can total up to 20% of your income.
You can also spread the tax-reduction effect over to as many as the next five years, which is useful when the amount of the reduction is larger than the amount of tax that would normally be payable.
For a business, you can lower your tax by 60% of your gifts to Jardins félins, you can give up to 5% of you turnover.
You can spread the tax-reducing effect over the next five years.
See Tax reduction.

BLIND : -

Blind cats use their sense of smell and their memory for finding their way.
Don't change the places of the furniture, or the litter box !
Don't clutter a space that is usually empty.
If you carry the cat, that could well disorientate it, put it on the floor somewhere it can recognise.
Sounds being obviously very important for a blind cat, it might like toys that tinkle.
See Age, Aging, Fire.

SUDDEN BLINDNESS : -

SYMPTOMS
A cat that seems confused, disoriented with dilated pupils.
Cause
# This could be an empoisonment.
# Hypertension can cause bleeding from the capillaries in the eyes leading to the detachment of the retina.
Care
The retina can reattach itself over the next three days, otherwise the damage is permanent.
Hypotensors will be prescribed by the vet when he has looked at the cat, if his inspection confirms this is the problem, because you need the vet to check there is not some other urgent problem that cause similar symptoms, like poisoning).
See Hypertension, Hyperthyroid, Empoisonnement, Kidney insufficience, Diabetes.