Does anyone have any home medicine tips for cats?

I have 7 adult, short haired, indoor cats that adopted me a few years ago, and now that I am semi-retired, I have the time to take better care of my 'friends'. Does anyone out there in the Yahoo Community have any tried and proven home health care tips for cats? All my guys and gals are over the 8 human years mark and by knowing as many home health tips for cats, I can save some money by not going to the vet.

If a serious medical condition did develop with any of my cats, I will be the first one to get them to my vet, ASAP, but what I am looking for are non-life threatening types of home remedies that other cat owners have used on their pets and solved whatever problem their beloved cats were having.

Anyone have any useful health tips you can pass on to me?

Thank you in advance!

For hair balls you can use Vaseline just put some on their paws weekly and when they lick it off it helps. Also you can use eye wash once a week to keep their ears clear from ear mites. If your cat has any arthritis pain you can use this new juice called Mona Vie, it is a really great health drink for adults and children but it is also safe for animals. My parents use it to control their pain and they have a 10 year old little toy poodle that was in alot of pain but sinse they started giving it to her she acts like a puppy again. I hope that this helps. cheryl2120@sbcglobal.net

The only home healthcare tips that I can give that works is taking them for their yearly checkups, feeding them the proper amount so that they keep within a healthy normal weight and give them lots of love and attention. Oh yeah, and keeping them indoors.

Home remedies for what kind of non life threatening things exactly?

There aren't very many. I am a vet tech and all I can say is to make sure your kitties are on a good food, and pay attention to their behaviors. If they start urinating frequently or are overweight, they are subject to getting urinary infections and diabetes.

I'm the same way:) If any of my cats (I have 10) has a serious medical condition, I'll get them to vet as fast as I can, but for minor things, I like to take care of those myself.

For ringworm (one of my cats had it at one time) apple cider vinegar usually does the trick.

For tapeworm, you can buy praziquantel tablets online (it's much cheaper than anything the vet can offer and it's effective.)

For fleas, besides treating the cats with advantage, (which I buy online) I vaccuum my rugs and my cats' furniture twice a week and change all bedding once a week. (That gets rid of the flea eggs. It's a very good preventative measure.)

For hairballs, I give them hairball remedy cat treats and when they're having a big problem, I give them a dab of vaseline. A little bit won't hurt and it lubricates their esophagus, which helps with hairball elimination. I also find that using a deshedding tool keeps hairballs down.

Leslie Siegel novelist performance artist has many suggestions for you to take for your feline pals! I have a wonderful cat named Timmi, a female I found in front of a Jewish temple about 4 years back! She is totally an indoor cat, and I give her the following for health and medicine: LOVE, ATTENTION, PETTING POWER, FOOD, CLEAN WATER and of course the most important ... a clean litter! Leave the medicine to the vets, and if your friends become sick, bring them to the Vet is the best medicine for them!