Not all cats are the same – but most of them do have some characteristic traits in common! Here are a few things you should know about cats and our special relationship with them.
Cats are considered the most popular pets in this country, even though dogs, for example, are much more adaptable. We humans tend to want to control everything around us. But cats cannot be forced. Actually, it doesn't really fit together – and yet somehow it does! When the chemistry is right, people simply find the cat that suits them. And then we learn from each other bit by bit. Some understand that you have to let things slide more often, while others like to be pampered and enjoy spending time with their humans in their shared territory.
Cats cannot be put in their basket or wait patiently in their place until they are called. With a little skill, you can certainly teach your velvet-pawed friend a few basics, but she will probably continue to jump on your desk, tear up sheets of paper or run around on it with dirty paws whenever she feels like it. They will probably also work with you to adjust their diet—entirely according to their own feline tastes.
Your cat will chase flies when it feels like it, even if that expensive vase is in the way. It will beg for cuddles and make itself comfortable in your bed. It will love you and purr, it will enjoy being with you – but only when it wants to.
Anyone who lives with cats knows that cats probably understand every word their human roommates say, but they are smart enough to play dumb. Cats are particularly good at stoically ignoring all human instructions. If your outdoor cat wants to go hunting at night, then that's what it wants, and there's no point in explaining that you'd rather sleep a little longer before getting up and opening the door for it. And that brings us to a crucial point. Your cat understands you, but you also need to understand your cat. With different meows in very different pitches and volumes, your velvet-pawed friend will want to make it clear to you that it's time to open the door to the garden – even if it's two o'clock in the morning.
Let's say your cat has had an operation. Perhaps it has been neutered and is now wearing one of those annoying cat suits that it has to wear to protect the surgical wound. So, your cat has just arrived home in its carrier, still a little groggy from the anaesthetic. You open the carrier, delighted to have your little darling back home – and you're in for a surprise. Perhaps first of all, the suit, which the cat has already removed in the carrier like a snake charmer at work, or directly a powerful paw with extended claws. No, your cat is not an aggressive animal, it just can't pretend, like most dogs, that its visit to the vet was a walk in the park. Cats know exactly what they will and won't tolerate. And why should they let themselves be subjected to something that is unpleasant and causes pain? Vaccinations, dental check-ups, sometimes even well-intentioned chiropractic treatment is "commented on" with a clear expression of disapproval.
Despite all their wildness and stubbornness, your cat will love you. In its own way. It is important that you provide it with a familiar environment. Cats do not like change. A change of location, territory, moving house, renovations – anything that disrupts your cat's routine. If it all becomes too much, your velvet-pawed friend may not come home from their outdoor adventure or may hide quietly in a corner to see if you will come looking for them. Or they may scratch the walls in their new home, even though they have always used a scratching post, just to show you that they would rather leave the house and go back to their old home. Perhaps she will withdraw and your lively house cat will become a sulky kitty. With all this, your cat is trying to show you how much she loves her habits.
Glaucoma describes a condition of increased intraocular pressure (physical pressure on the inner wall of the eye, leading to a constant, smooth curvature of the cornea), which causes damage to the retina and optic nerve. The medical term glaucoma comes from Greek and means "sea-colored," because the cornea turns blue due to the increase in pressure in the eye.
HCM is the most common heart disease in cats. Hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of an organ, in this case the thickening of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy refers to a heart muscle disease. As a result of the thickening of the heart muscle, the heart can no longer fill itself sufficiently with blood and cannot pump enough blood into the body's circulation. This leads to a backflow of blood into the pulmonary circulation, which in advanced stages can lead to water retention and shortness of breath.
Most horse owners are familiar with and fear this scenario. The horse suddenly stops eating, becomes restless, scrapes its hooves and kicks its belly. Colic basically describes any type of abdominal pain in horses. Unfortunately, colic in horses is a very complex problem and should never be taken lightly.
This rightly feared condition is always an emergency. If suspicious symptoms are present, the affected dog should be taken to a veterinary clinic immediately, as it can quickly lead to death if left untreated. A twisted stomach can affect all dogs, but it is more common in medium to large breeds with deep chests.
What child doesn't dream of having their own pony? Many little horse fans beg for one for years. But our little ones don't really know what it means to get a pony and take on such a big responsibility. They just see themselves galloping carefree over hill and dale with their four-legged friend.
As a horse owner, you always want the best for your horse. The selection of muesli, treats, and supplementary feed is huge. But what is right for my horse? Does it really need everything that the horses next door are getting? Unfortunately, overfeeding with individual feed components can also lead to colic, metabolic disorders, laminitis, or other health problems.
Pigs are sociable animals that can become very attached to humans. With sufficient space and a love for these intelligent creatures, living together can be a great joy. However, anyone considering keeping a mini pig like a cat or dog, i.e. in their home, should first read up extensively on the subject and study the needs of a small pig. These are no different from those of large pigs. Mini pigs are sometimes called "teacup pigs" because a piglet is so small right after birth that it fits in a teacup. But mini pigs grow naturally and quickly gain weight. To keep them happy, a mini pig needs enough space and an outdoor enclosure.
Also known as wet tail disease, this infectious diarrhea mainly affects very young hamsters between three and eight weeks old. It can lead to death within 48 hours and must therefore be taken very seriously.
This chronic inflammatory bowel disease occurs in dogs and cats, with a genetic predisposition suspected in certain dog breeds (boxers, German shepherds). IBD is triggered by an excessive reaction of the immune system, can affect both the small and large intestines, and is incurable.
A balanced and species-appropriate diet is an important part of animal health. There are veterinary practices specializing in animal nutrition and dietetics that can advise on feed selection and composition.
Rabies is a viral infection that has been known for thousands of years. Most mammals, including humans, are susceptible to it, and it can also be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonosis). The infection caused by the rabies virus almost always results in fatal brain inflammation. Rabies is a notifiable animal disease in Germany, which means that even suspected cases must be reported to the competent authorities. Germany has been recognized as free of rabies in non-flying animals since 2008. It continues to occur in bats.
Blood in the ear, which primarily occurs in dogs with drooping ears, refers to a specific type of hematoma in the outer ear. Affected dogs display a sudden swelling and warmth in the ear. In most cases, an underlying disease is the cause of a bloody ear. It is therefore extremely important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian in order to successfully treat the underlying disease and the hematoma itself.
