Most cats love to bask in the sunlight, which could be one of the reasons that squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, is among the most common malignancies found in felines. Although any cat can develop skin cancer, it’s more prevalent in those with white coats. Check your cat’s skin from time to time (squamous cell carcinoma typically occurs around the nose or ears), looking for signs of trouble, such as a wound or a scratch that refuses to heal or a lump that’s irritated. When skin cancer is caught early, treatment with surgery or radiation therapy is likely to be successful. Drug therapy or chemotherapy is usually not as effective, but your veterinarian should be able to guide you towards the best option.

Not all cat food is created equal. Cats respond in a much different manner than do other animals to certain chemicals. These can be in drugs, foods, plants, and other substances where the cat may contact or ingest these chemicals. A cat’s physiological response is quite different than that of other species of animals. This means your cat has to be watched more closely than might other pets.

Fat pets are hitting the headlines more and more often recently and with Animal Welfare charities such as the RSPCA beginning to intervene is it a case of the ‘nanny state’ for our pets or is obesity in cats and dogs becoming a real problem? The answer seems to be yes. Our pets are getting fatter just like us and a whopping 76% of veterinary practices now have ‘fat clinics’ for pets. It is estimated anywhere between 30-60% of all dogs and cats in the UK are overweight.

As the winter months set in, many consumers could see themselves developing financial difficulties as a result of health conditions, new research indicates.

However, the study conducted by Sainsbury’s Bank shows that Britons may not discover they have problems in managing money because of medical problems experienced by themselves, but rather those which are suffered by their pets. According to the financial services firm, animal lovers should take the time to ensure that they have an adequate insurance policy for their furry friends as 37 and 35 per cent of policies on the market do not cover conditions lasting for more than a year for dogs and cats respectively. As a result, consumers who own animals which have ailments likely to last for more than 12 months, such as eczema, epilepsy or diabetes, could see themselves be forced to meet the costs of medical treatment themselves. Consequently this could impact upon their ability to make repayments on loans and plastic card bills.