If you’re looking to bring a new four-legged friend into your home and love the thought of petting a soft coat but don’t want all the grooming requirements of a long-haired breed, a short-haired cat could be just what you’re after. Keep reading to discover how to care for short-haired cat breeds and learn all about our favourites and their unique personalities. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your next furry best friend! Grooming short-haired cats Short-haired cat breeds have relatively easygrooming needsas their coat is much less prone to matting and many tend to do a pretty good job of grooming themselves. With that being said, we still recommend grooming them every week or so, to keep their fur and skin in tip-top condition and remove any dead hair which can cause those peskyhairballs. 11 short-haired cat breeds Now you know how to groom short-haired cats, check out our favourite 11 breeds below and find the purrrfect companion to add to your life.

Just like most female mammals, cats experience monthly cycles. However, their ‘periods’ are quite different from the menstrual cycle in humans. In this guide, find out all you need to know about the cat heat cycle, including how often they go into heat and whether or not you should let your feline go through an initial cycle prior to spaying.

Incontinence in cats is a condition that’s most frequently observed in older felines. Just like with humans, when cats reach their senior years, it can be quite common for them to develop certain health conditions such as cognitive impairment and loss of muscle control that can lead to problems with defecating and urinating. If your cat is leaking urine or seems to be having problems with defecating, it could be a sign of incontinence. Keep reading to find out what can cause this problem and the possible treatment methods. What is incontinence in cats?

Pugsare so easy to love. They’re intelligent, have a sweet nature and bring plenty of humour to households. They also have huge personalities that somehow manage to fit into their small statures. You might not guess it when you see them strutting confidently around the house, but some of the characteristics that make them so endearing might cause certain health conditions that are typical for these little fellows. This doesn’t make them any less loveable, but owners should be aware of the specific Pug health problems. The sooner the symptoms are recognised and treatment can be offered, the quicker your dog can go back to being the awesome pups they are. The 9 most common Pug health problems you should know about Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)

French Bulldogs have become an incredibly popular breed in recent years, which is due to their adorable bat-like ears paired with their wrinkly face, alongside their quirky and playful personalities. Sadly, this popularity has also had a downside and there’s now a long list of French Bulldog health problems that have arisen due to irresponsible breeding practices. French Bulldog health problems French Bulldogs are currently classed as a category 2 by the UK Kennel Club which means they have some particular points of concern. The most common health issues to affect the breed are listed below. French Bulldog respiratory system disorders

If you spot a long-haired dog, it can be next to impossible to resist petting their luscious locks. Their fluffy coats give them an almost teddy bear-like appearance which makes them nothing short of adorable. But this luxurious coat usually comes with great responsibility in terms of extragroomingto keep them in tip-top condition. If you love your pups with a little extra fluff, keep reading to find out our top 12 long-haired dog breeds and their grooming requirements! 1. Afghan Hound One of the most famous long-haired dogs and possibly the most glamorous breed of all time, the Afghan Hound boasts a long and silky flowing coat that comes in shades of black, rust or cream. These gorgeous coats don’t just serve to make them look fabulous either, their original purpose was to protect them from the cold temperatures of the Afghanistan mountains from which they hail. Grooming requirements:High maintenance, coat requires misting prior to daily brushing to prevent damage. Regular bathing will also be required. 2. Bolognese Resembling a small cloud, the Bolognese has a glorious long, cotton-like coat in a bright white colour. A firm favourite of Italian royalty thanks to their stunning appearance and fun natures, this long-haired dog breed makes a wonderful companion for those looking for a smaller fluffy dog with tonnes of personality. Grooming requirements:Surprisingly the Bolognese doesn’t shed very much, but they will need daily brushing to prevent tangles. The coat can be clipped shorter for easier maintenance.

Flat-faced cats have become extremely popular in recent years with their smooshed faces, button-like noses and doll-like eyes, but there’s a price to pay for this cute factor. The technical term for cats with these flat faces is ‘brachycephalic’, and there’s tonnes of health risks that come with it. If you’re considering a brachycephalic cat, keep reading to find out about the risks involved and how extreme breeding has negatively impacted the health and well-being of these felines. What is a brachycephalic cat? Brachy means shortened and cephalic means head, so to break it down, brachycephalic means shortened head and in brachycephalic cats this is because the skull bones are far shorter than the average, healthy cat. As the face and nose are more pushed in, their anatomy and soft tissue are altered which causes a wealth of physical problems. Flat-faced cats first became popular in the 1950s when a kitten was born with a genetic mutation which gave them a flatter face. Over time this became very desirable so more kittens were bred with this feature in mind. This extreme practice of breeding cats has become far worse as of late with the attempt of making them look more flat-faced, but this comes at the cost of their health and quality of life. Brachycephalic cat breeds The following breeds are currently classed as brachycephalic: • Exotic Shorthair. • Himalayan. • Persian. • Scottish Fold. • Chinchilla. • British Shorthair. It’s important to remember that, within the breeds classified as brachycephalic, some individuals may be affected by this condition to a greater or lesser degree. Do flat-faced cats have breathing problems?

What is FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) in cats? FIP is a relatively rare but often fatal viral disease which is common in young cats (less than 2 years old) and kittens and is caused by an infection with the virus named feline coronavirus. It’s important to note that this is different from the coronavirus that infects people and leads to COVID-19. This is a feline coronavirus that is very common and only causes mild symptoms, but in a few cases, it mutates into the feline infectious peritonitis virus, triggering FIP, a serious disease that is deadly for most cats. A mutated feline coronavirus can trigger feline infectious peritonitis, so before we get to the specifics of the FIP disease in cats, let’s look at what the feline coronavirus is and how your pet might get it. What is the feline coronavirus? The feline coronavirus affects cats and is not contagious to humans. However, it can easily transmit from feline to feline and it’s usually passed in cat faeces. This is why it’s more common in cats that are in close proximity with or share a household with other cats and are in contact with their litter trays. The good news is that, despite being a very transmittable virus encountered by nearly every cat throughout their lives, feline coronavirus doesn’t typically make your cat visibly ill. The infection is normally limited to the intestinal tract, so if symptoms do manifest, they’re mild and you will usually notice your kitten suffering from diarrhoea for a few days and nothing more. Why does feline coronavirus cause feline infectious peritonitis? So how does a seemingly harmless virus turn into a more dangerous strain, capable of activating a disease that is fatal for most cats? As the feline coronavirus starts to replicate inside your cat’s body, mutations might occur. Scientists don’t know yet what is causing these mutations, but a weak immune system, stress and even age (with younger cats being more susceptible to FIP virus) have been proposed as possible explanations. One of these mutations can turn the feline coronavirus into the feline infectious peritonitis virus which, instead of remaining confined to the intestinal tract, infects blood cells that then travel throughout the entire body. The immune system should be able to intervene at this point and fight off the infection, but if this does not happen, the cat will develop feline infectious peritonitis. So, even if the cat becomes infected with the FIP virus, it does not necessarily follow that they will suffer from the FIP disease. A strong immune system will be able to stop the illness from being triggered. However, this means that young and old kittens with weaker immune responses are less likely to stop the virus and FIP will be triggered as a consequence. Despite this, the disease luckily remains quite rare in cats. What are the symptoms of FIP in cats?

If your cat has developed an unusual cough lately, you’re probably wondering ‘why is my cat coughing’ and what to do about it. Although it can be disturbing for owners to see their cat coughing and wheezing, this is not uncommon in the feline kingdom and it’s often a sign of the occasional hairball your pet is trying to get rid of. However, a simple cough can quickly get a bit more complicated when we take into consideration all the possible issues with their nose, throat and lungs that could cause this symptom. And even your cat’s heart might have something to do with it. This means your cat’s cough riddle is best left for the vet to solve. But while you wait for the appointment, here are some of the possible reasons why your cat is coughing. Why is your cat coughing? Top 6 possible reasons Is it an allergy attack, asthma or a lung infection? There are many possible causes for a cat’s sudden coughing fit. Even something as inconspicuous as dust can trigger all that feline coughing and wheezing. The list is long, but we’re breaking it down for you. Here are some of the reasons your cat might start coughing more than usual. 1) Asthma

During the warmer months, it’s common for many of us to grow sweet, juicy raspberries in the garden or buy them from the shop as a deliciously refreshing treat. They’re the perfect healthy snack and taste fantastic in many desserts, but it’s not just us humans that like to munch on the juicy red berries, our dogs can be quite partial to a taste as well! If your dog sneaks a few of these delicious fruits off your prized raspberry bush or keeps begging for a sample when you’re tucking into a punnet, you may be wondering “can dogs eat raspberries?” Find out all you need to know in this guide.