Help and Advice for Our US followers

Nobody looks forward to using insurance, but having proper coverage is something many are thankful of later. The 2022 guide on money.com helps give peace of mind for pet owners when choosing the best insurance for them.

Many of our supports are in the United States, so we wanted to share some advice for our overseas followers from our US based friend over at Feline Living.

FelineLiving.net is your one-stop shop for all things cat and kitten stateside! They have a wealth of information about how to best care for your cat through every stage of their life., from toys, nutrition guides, product reviews, behaviour tips, and up-and-coming cat news - they have got you covered.

In terms of things such as cat food, and even laws, our two countries differ with different products available and different rights and rules surrounding cats and ownership. Given the variations in cat food available, do see here for tips on how to improve your cat’s nutrition, as well as information on what to feed your cat based on their age and overall health status. They have unbiased cat food reviews and suggestions helping you properly balance your cat’s diet for optimal well-being with what food is available on the US market at present.

Laws differ between the UK and US, and even state to state they can differ drastically. This bog has a wealth of information to inform cat owners of the best and worst rates states in the US, with information on issues such as kill shelters and declawing. Declawing was outlawed by the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which explicitly prohibited "interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of the animal, otherwise than for the purposes of necessary medical treatment." Even before the 2006 Act, declawing was extremely uncommon in the UK. Sadly, declawing is still legal and a first option for cat owners in the US in some states, although many charitable organisations are doing a wonderful job nationally aiming to outlaw the practice in all states.

Certain genetic issues facing certain breeds remain the same worldwide, but environmental factors can make some illness and disease more prevalent in some countries and less so in others. Rabies for example is deemed non existent in the UK. Public Health England state that rabies does not circulate in either wild or domestic animals in the UK. However, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention records around 250 cases of rabies in cats annually. Feline Living have a large catalogue of info about issues affecting cats of all breeds, sizes, and ages. They offer important information including signs and symptoms of the most common US cat diseases, how to treat and prevent illness and injuries, which pet vaccinations your animal needs here.

Cultural 'norms' surrounding cats tend to differ greatly between the US and UK. With it being widely accepted that cats free roam in the UK, the US tends to favour a more indoor only approach. While it would appear out of place in the UK to see a cat on a lead perhaps, it would be quite normal and common in the US. This means it would be unusual for a UK based organisation to review cat leads, and why we felt it important to highlight Feline Livings care page which gives an option for our US followers to review the best products on the market in that regard, perhaps for things we normally would not highlight in the UK as the focus differs from indoor and outdoor based ownership. Whether a US or UK cat is indoor or outdoor, it's important people know the best products and advice for the scenario their cat finds themselves in.

Another area where our countries tend to differ could be things such as natural disasters. Where our two countries sadly both suffer from drastic storms and floods, natural catastrophes such as tornadoes and bush fires sadly rip through some US states annually. Currently the west coast are fighting devastating wildfires, with thousands having been ordered to evacuate as the death toll sadly continues to rise. This is why advice such as Feline Livings disaster preparedness blog is crucial for people to be aware of so as they can prepare as best they can, and include pets in all evacuation procedures.