Most cases of diarrhoea in properly vaccinated cats are trivial in health terms, and if your cat toilets outdoors you maybe oblivious to it - though it will be a different matter if she uses a litter tray - in which case it can be smelly and messy. Most cases are the consequence of a minor gut upset and resolve themselves without the need for veterinary intervention. Sometimes it's a process that young cats go through whilst they get exposed to common bugs for the first time. At other times it's because they're being fed something which simply doesn't agree with them. Milk, for instance, known universally as a favourite of cats will in fact cause diarrhoea in some, as they lose the enzymes necessary to digest it as they grow up. Diarrhoea can also be due to worms and other parasites, and if your cat has not been wormed in the last three months (or the past month for kittens under 6 months) then this should be done.
There are some cases of diarrhoea which mark serious illness, so if you are worried or if the diarrhoea lasts for more than a couple of days, a visit to the vet is in order. The first approach if you see diarrhoea starting and which lasts for at least a day is to put your cat on a bland diet of white meats, e.g. white fish (e.g. like cod, pollock or plaice, not mackerel, salmon or herring.) or chicken, together with moist boiled rice. This should be fed until the diarrhoea has ceased and the normal diet introduced gradually over a period of about three days. Most cases in otherwise fit cats will respond to this simple approach but more serious cases require medication and perhaps intravenous fluids and hospitalisation.
One effect of diarrhoea is that the 'good' (as opposed to disease-causing) bugs that normally inhabit the gut get a bit out of kilter, so after a bout of diarrhoea it's a good idea to give probiotics to help ensure that a normal intestinal flora is established for rapid return to full health and a more robust constitution - see the 'intestinal recovery' link to see our range of gut conditioning products.
One of the more unusual causes of diarrhoea is a lack of the normal digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas gland. This condition prevents cats from properly digesting their food and they tend to have permanent loose faeces and, because they get little goodness from their food, they are thin and look underfed. Fortunately it's an easily controlled condition (though it cannot be cured), with the missing enzymes simply added to the food on a daily basis - follow the 'Pancreatic Deficiency' link to see the range of these products available.
You should be aware that some of the bugs that can cause diarrhoea in cats can also infect humans and cause illness, so it's important to observe hygiene precautions for you, your pet and your home when dealing with cases of diarrhoea. It's important to take your cat to the vet if diarrhoea is a recurring problem.

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Vomiting in cats is indicative of gastric irritation and may come from something happening locally, like eating food that hasn't agreed with her, or hairballs, or as a sign of an illness elsewhere in the body, such as may happen in cases of nephritis (inflamed kidneys). Particularly in young cats it can be due to worm infestations - so look for roundworms, like thin white spaghetti, in any vomit you have to clear up (follow the link below for our range of bargain priced top quality non-prescription cat wormers).
Cats can vomit much more readily than humans - so don't interpret a single episode of vomiting as necessarily indicative of a problem. However, if your cat vomits more than a couple of times it indicates there is a problem that needs attention - but as in the case of diarrhoea it is often just a symptom of mild inflammation of the digestive tract and will respond to a period of dietary rest, simple gut-protecting medications and unrestricted access to water (to replace fluids lost in the vomit). Vomiting has a lot in common with diarrhoea - it's the same process that's going on in the animal but just in a different place - higher up the digestive tract in vomiting, lower down in diarrhoea, and in both places if the cat has both conditions. And as is the case with diarrhoea, if vomiting persists for more than a couple of days, or if it is excessive, and if your cat is obviously unwell, then an urgent visit to your vet is called for. Simple cases of vomiting in otherwise healthy cats usually respond to 24 hour starvation (but with constant access to water) followed by three or so days on a bland diet of white meats, e.g. white fish (e.g. like cod, pollock or plaice, not mackerel, salmon or herring.) or chicken, together with moist boiled rice, fed a little and often. This should be fed until the vomiting has ceased and the normal diet introduced gradually over a period of about three days. See our range of products for helping cases of vomiting by following the link below.
One effect of frequent vomiting is that the 'good' (as opposed to disease-causing) bugs that normally inhabit the gut get a bit out of kilter, so after a bout of vomiting it's a good idea to give probiotics to help ensure that a normal intestinal flora is established for rapid return to full health and a more robust constitution - follow the 'intestinal recovery' link to see our range of gut conditioning products.
Hair balls, or fur balls, collect in the stomach of some cats - usually long-haired cats - as they swallow hair whilst grooming. These compacted wads of hair are commonly vomited up, or cause constipation if they pass through the gut. Hair balls tend to recur in individual cats - so if they have them once they will tend to have them again, and most owners come to recognise their signs. The problems they cause can be prevented by regularly giving hairball remedies - follow the 'Hair ball' link to see the MyOnlineVet.co.uk range available.
It's important to maintain hygiene standards for you, your pet and your home whilst your pet is experiencing a period of vomiting - follow the links for products specifically available to help with this.

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Cats normally pass fairly hard faeces - it's quite natural. However, they can become constipated and you'll know if they have to strain unnaturally to try to pass faeces. A common cause of constipation in cats is having hair mixed through their faeces. The hair, or fur, is swallowed by the cat when grooming - and not surprisingly this is more common in long-haired cats. Wads of this hair may be vomited up as 'hairballs' (also called 'furballs'), or it might pass through the digestive system causing constipation. Hairball treatments are simply given and readily accepted.
Constipation can be caused by other things too, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, things which can be resolved through a change in how you look after your pet such as a change of diet and more play and toys.
An important first question when an owner reports constipation is to check if the cat seen straining to pass faeces is actually constipated - because sometimes these cats are in fact suffering from diarrhoea and they strain as if constipated merely because they have bowel irritation.

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Firstly be aware that all cats scratch themselves as a normal response to everyday living. Excessive scratching however usually means that your cat is carrying some 'passengers'. The commonest such things are fleas - fast-moving, chestnut-brown, 2mm or so, and difficult to catch as they race through the parted fur. They have the well known prodigious ability to jump amazingly with their powerful hind legs. You may spot them from a distance if they are on your cat's ears, where they tend to sit on the very edge of the ear. If you live in the country and your cat hunts rabbits she may come home with ranks of rabbit fleas lined up on her ears. However, even if you cannot find fleas there's a fair chance that that's what the problem is. Though they used to be mostly a summer problem, our warm houses allow them to be active and a problem all year round. Because cats get fleas so readily you should control them as a matter of course. Click below for a selection of products available from MyOnlineVet.co.uk for treating fleas effectively and at a bargain price without the need for a prescription from your vet. Prescription products are also available and are shown separately.
Cat's aren't bothered as much as dogs are with skin problems, but one problem they often contract is an allergy to fleas ('milliary eczema') which causes a lot of scratching, loss of underfur and spots, typically down their backs towards the tail head. The treatment for this is to control the fleas and to control the allergy - all treatments that are available from MyOnlineVet.co.uk.
Some cases of scratching are caused by dirty skin and coats which become infected with superficial bugs causing low grade inflammation - in this case, washing with a medicated shampoo is called for. In other cases, dietary supplements can help to make the skin healthier and the coat look, feel and perform better.
Still other causes of scratching include mite and other infections, and are best dealt with by a visit to your vet. Take a note of whether your cat is scratching a specific area or seems itchy all over as this can help with the diagnosis.
Minor skin conditions - small patches of inflammation, cuts, etc can be treated with a number of products - follow the link to 'First Aid for Skin'.

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Itchy, waxy ears, typically with a hard, dry wax are usually caused by ear mites, which are parasites just visible to the (patient!) naked eye as very tiny dots moving over the surface of the discharge. Once bacteria and yeast get in on the act the discharge tends to be moister. Usually both ears are affected and it may affect other pets in your household - the same ear mites are able to affect both cats and dogs. If you see this combination of signs then the best thing to do is take your cat to your vet as most likely there is an established infection ('otitis externa') that needs treatment with a prescription medicine. Once the immediate acute problem your cat is experiencing has been resolved with the treatment prescribed by your vet it's important to keep your cat's ears healthy and clear of wax - by doing so you can prevent a recurrence of another painful, uncomfortable and costly attack of otitis externa.
MyOnlineVet.co.uk offers a selection of proven non-prescription products at low prices to keep ears healthy through regular use to gently removing wax and debris. Follow the link below to choose from our selected products available without prescription to have in your pet's first aid kit. You may wish to save money by buying the treatment prescribed by your vet to treat the initial infection from MyOnlineVet.co.uk, and you can if you order online and send us the prescription, but if your pet is experiencing acute discomfort it's best to pick up your prescription direct from your vet so you can start treatment immediately. If your cat requires repeat prescriptions of prescribed ear treatments then that would be a good opportunity for you to save money by buying from MyOnlineVet.co.uk - follow the link below to see our range of prescription ear treatments.

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Fast-moving, chestnut-brown, 2mm or so, fleas are difficult to see let alone catch as they race through the parted fur - if you corner one it's likely to display their well known prodigious ability to jump amazingly with their powerful hind legs. You may have come across a flea when stroking or grooming your cat or perhaps you yourself have been bitten, or you have found fleas in your house, or maybe you have noticed your cat scratching excessively. You may spot them from a distance if they are on your cat's ears, where they tend to sit on the very edge of the ear.
If you live in the country and your cat hunts rabbits she may come home with ranks of rabbit fleas lined up on her ears. Another sign of fleas is flea allergy ('milliary eczema') which causes a lot of scratching, loss of underfur and spots, typically down their backs towards the tail head. However it is that you've found your cat has fleas, they need to be controlled. Though they used to be mostly a summer problem, our warm houses allow them to be active and a problem all year round. Because cats get fleas so readily you should control them as a matter of course - the link below to non-prescription flea treatments will take you to quick, effective and very economic control products to apply to your pet or in your household.

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Most limping cats are suffering from either an injury or infection. Injuries are usually the result of an accident, though a few have been intentionally inflicted by warped individuals. Common causes of accidents are road injuries and falls. Some of the commoner injuries inflicted by humans include being shot with air guns and being kicked. Infections causing lameness are often the result of fights with other cats - for some reason cats often bite one another in the forearm or at the tail head. It should be clear from all of this that a visit to your vet is called for if you suspect any of these things to have happened.
Cats aren’t as prone to the sort of 'wear and tear' arthritis that dogs get but nonetheless some do suffer arthritis, especially if overweight, and require treatment. Like dogs, cats can benefit from nutrients that help support the growth of healthy joint tissue. Follow the links below to see the MyOnlineVet.co.uk range of cat joint nutrients and treatments.

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Cats are very fastidious and won't eat unless everything is just right. Even a change in diet (often to a cheaper brand!), which wouldn't bother a dog, is sufficient to put them off their food - so it's not always a sign of illness. But it might be illness - it could be a reflection of a general illness affecting the whole body, or it may be something to do with the eating process - bad teeth and sore mouth for instance. If the problem isn't associated with a change in diet, and lasts for more than a day or two then get your cat seen by your vet.
If your cat has always been a 'picky' eater then a number of things may put her off her feed such as a change of routine, stress, etc. If you can only persuade your cat to eat certain foods you should feed mineral and vitamin supplements to balance any deficiencies that may occur.
If your pet isn't eating well following a period of illness or surgery it's important to ensure that adequate fluids, energy and protein are available for the body to properly recover. Our range of convalescence products will be of great help in this situation.

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Clinical experience shows that whilst most lumps that appear in dogs are tumours, most lumps in cats are abscesses, caused as a result of bites from another cat during fighting. These abscesses are typically very painful, often bursting to yield quite large volumes of foul-smelling bloody pus - perhaps not surprisingly these abscesses can make your cat sick and decidedly narky. Having said tumours are less common, they do occur: mammary tumours and skin tumours being two of the more frequently encountered types. In any of these cases, it's clear that you need to consult your vet as a matter of urgency. Tumours don't necessarily signify the last of your cat's 'nine lives' - many are benign and those that aren't may be successfully treated (this may be surgical and/or medical - see our range of products). There are of course other reasons for lumps appearing - other infections, haematomas (blood blisters), fat, fluid, fractures and hernias for example.

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Bad breath usually means bad teeth and gums - get them checked by your vet as they may need treatment. This treatment usually involves dental tartar being cleaned off, loose and painful teeth being removed and infections being treated. Once the teeth have been cleaned up you can help keep them clean with a pet toothbrush and toothpaste, both available from MyOnlineVet.co.uk through the link below. If either you or your cat can't face the prospect of a feline toothbrush, you'll find there are also specially formulated dental cleaning pastes that don't need brushing to be effective available through the link.
Cats with bad kidneys (a common problem in older cats) often have bad breath as part of a complex of signs of disease.

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Aggression may commonly be directed towards people or other cats. Either way it can be distressing for all concerned - indeed the aggression is usually based in the aggressor being distressed. There may be all sorts of reasons for this - sometimes it's because of changes in the household that cause stress, sometimes it's because of challenges to the 'pecking order' between individual cats, sometimes it's a protective reaction in cats which feel threatened, sometimes it's because of chronic pain, sometimes it's because cats have been poorly socialised as kittens. And sometimes it's just simply because you've got a narky, bad tempered cat which has no reason to be aggressive. Because aggression is a deeply engrained and a useful survival instinct it cannot be eliminated altogether, but misplaced and excessive aggression can be very effectively controlled. One of the factors which is at the root of many cases of aggression is fear, and fear is a complex set of reactions in which pheromones (chemical triggers) play an important part. Cats use pheromones extensively as a means of communication - they spread them around their environment by rubbing their chins on items of furniture, their owners, feeding areas, etc. This sends a message out to other cats that this is a safe place, not to be feared. These pheromones have a marked calming affect on nervous and aggressive cats and they have now been isolated, their chemical structure identified and artificially produced and presented for administering into cats' environments to control their behaviour. The development of these pheromone products - Feliway and Felifriend - has been a milestone in our ability to influence cats' behaviour and has seen the resolution of many cases of difficult aggressive and fearful behaviour, with happier pets and happier owners. Follow the 'Fear and aggression' link below to Feliway and Felifriend from MyOnlineVet.co.uk at bargain prices.

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Like most people you may become aware of worms in your cat by seeing tapeworm segments on the hair around her rear end. These segments make their own way out of the anus and when newly emerged they move actively and can be seen wriggling on the hair. They rapidly dry out and shrink to resemble flattened rice grains which tend to remain stuck to the rear end until dislodged on bedding, etc. These segments are little more than packages of eggs and represent a stage in the life cycle of the worm which sheds these segments regularly once it is mature. Another type of cat worm, and one regularly encountered in younger cats is roundworm, these being seen in vomit as white and spaghetti-like. Follow the links below to effective wormers available without prescription - these are all you need to eliminate any worms your cat has. There's also a link to prescription wormers.
No wormer is effective beyond the day it's been given - so your cat may become re-infected and, in the case of tapeworm, show signs of worms again in a matter of a month or so, with more segments appearing at your cat's rear end. If this is happening it suggests your cat is either hunting a lot ...or has fleas. Why? Because the tapeworm life cycle always involves an 'intermediate host' and the usual tapeworms our cats get have either prey animals like mice or voles as intermediate hosts, or fleas. So, if your cat isn't a hunter then you need to attend to flea control. Follow the link to effective flea control products available without prescription.
You should worm your cat as a routine at least every 3 months. Cats which hunt regularly should be wormed more frequently - as often as every month perhaps.

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Runny or discharging eyes are a common problem for cats. In many cases the problem is caused by respiratory viruses and accompanies other signs such as sneezing and nasal discharge. Assuming your cat is properly vaccinated and receives regular boosters, it should be protected against the most severe of these respiratory infections, but if not properly vaccinated a runny eye may herald the beginning of a serious attack of cat flu. Other causes of runny eyes include either an excess production of tears, or failure of the tears to be drained away properly so that normally produced tears simply overflow.
Excess production is usually caused by irritation or infection, and this in turn can be caused by all sorts of things - dust, foreign bodies, injuries, hair, bacteria, viruses - whilst drainage problems are usually due to blocking or narrowing the 'naso-lachrimal duct' that runs from the eye to the nostril and which normally drains the tear fluid in a continual manner as it is produced. Runny eyes may also indicate the presence of conditions affecting the whole body - general infections and dehydration being examples.
The actual discharge from the eye may be clear or contain mucous or even pus, depending on the degree of infection present, and the surface of the eye may be discoloured, inflamed or roughened, and the eyelids may become very swollen and partially or completely closed.
Given its importance and its delicate nature, you can't risk an eye problem getting worse, so have a runny eye checked out by your vet.
Non-prescription eye cleaners available through the link below are helpful for those cats which experience recurring bouts of simple eye irritation. Prescription eye treatments are available too, also at bargain prices. Young cats may have defects of the eyelid which result in them having a discharge and such cases may require corrective surgery.

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There are a number of regularly encountered causes of cats drinking more than normal and all of them require veterinary investigation, so take you cat along to your vet so that a diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment prescribed. Conditions that cause excessive drinking include kidney problems, thyroid gland problems and diabetes. Whatever medicines are prescribed you can buy them from MyOnlineVet.co.uk at bargain prices through the links below.
One innocuous cause of apparently excessive drinking is caused by cats fed on dried food simply taking in the same amount of fluids as cats being fed on moist food.

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Some cats are naturally lethargic and their idea of bliss is to laze around and let everyone else rush around expending energy - a rather envious existence! Others however become lethargic over a period of time as a result of changing body circumstances and these things need to be investigated as they can be caused by a number of conditions, many of which will respond to treatment very well if caught early. So this is another case when a trip to your vet is called for, and diagnosis may well involve blood tests to check on various hormone and enzyme levels. Treatment will depend on diagnosis, but any medication required will be available from MyOnlineVet.co.uk at a bargain price.
Failing kidneys is a common problem in older cats and a common cause of progressive lethargy.
We sometimes find cats slowly becoming lethargic without owners being particularly aware of it and this is sometimes due to general discomfort from joints, particularly in overweight cats - they just becoming old and stiff in other words. Such cases may respond well to joint supplements.
Older animals may suffer from age-related mental decline which, amongst other things, makes them lethargic. Such cases can be helped with products designed to improve mental agility.
Some specific hormonal imbalances can cause cats to become lethargic, with thyroid deficiency being the most common - similar to the human condition it responds well to treatment.

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Vaccinating your cat is something we at MyOnlineVet.co.uk don't have any involvement in (as it must be given by your own vet) but we do recommend that you keep your cat fully vaccinated. The vaccines that are given to provide routine protection to cats cover them against truly dreadful diseases which are heartbreaking to witness. So if your cat is overdue her booster, take her along to your vet and get it done. She may need two shots instead of one to get back on track, but it's worth it for the reassurance and security it provides.

This is one of the worst of smells! It's typically associated with entire (i.e. not castrated) tom cats territory marking by spraying urine on vertical surfaces, but it is a deeply engrained cat behaviour and, if stressed, females and neutered (i.e. castrated) toms sometimes display the same behaviour - though not with the same smell, thank goodness! Whilst entire toms spray mostly outside, to scent mark their territory, they sometimes do it in the house if they need to reinforce their presence - usually if there's a turf war in the local feline neighbourhood. There's usually only one way to stop an offending tom cat from spraying - the surgeon's knife, but if the behaviour is too deeply engrained it may be too late for castration to guarantee an absolute cure. Cats other than toms may start spraying in response to stress from several sources - perhaps other cats, perhaps dogs, perhaps people. One very useful and effective treatment is Feliway and Felifriend, which contain pheromones which are released into the air and have a calming, reassuring effect on cats - they are available through the link, below.

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The most likely conditions which cause this are grouped under the name 'Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease', or FLUTD, and are more common in neutered cats, cats fed dried food and those subject to stress. The likely specific cause will depend upon whether your cat is male or female.
If female, repeated squatting to pass urine is a common sign of cystitis. Affected cats often cry when passing urine like this - and only pass small amounts at a time. If using a litter tray with pale cat-litter you may see that the urine is blood stained. If this describes what your cat is doing, a trip to the vet is called for as antibiotics will probably be needed to treat the infection. Unfortunately a lot of cats which have an attack of cystitis will suffer repeated bouts - these cases may respond to urinary acidifiers which alter the pH of the urine making it more difficult for infection to take hold.
If your cat is a male, and particularly if neutered (castrated), repeated attempts to pass urine may well signify urinary gravel blocking the urethra (the narrow exit tube from the bladder). This condition needs urgent veterinary treatment to relieve the bladder and your vet will advise about managing the problem. This will usually involve a changed dietary regime, and, depending on the type of stones present, the use of urinary acidifiers to dissolve any new stones.
Follow the links below to choose from a range of items which may help your cat, including the urinary acidifiers mentioned.

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Sneezing - or at least a series of sneezes - may herald the start of an infectious respiratory disease, particularly so if accompanied by runny eyes and a nasal discharge. Assuming your cat is properly vaccinated and receives regular boosters, it should be protected against the most severe forms of respiratory infection, but if not properly vaccinated a bout of sneezing may be the first sign of a serious attack of cat flu. If flu sets in then you've got a nursing job ahead of you, ensuring your cat is kept in the best condition to fight the virus infections involved. If she becomes generally sick and stops eating or if her breathing becomes strained then she should be taken to your vet for treatment to address these problems. The most important nursing task for you is to keep her fluid intake up and to keep her eyes and nose clear of discharges - allowing them to build up makes her feel worse, lessens the chance of her eating unaided and allows secondary infections to take a hold. Whatever medicines are prescribed you can buy them from MyOnlineVet.co.uk at attractive prices.

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Unexplained weight loss is quite commonly encountered in older cats and may be a sign of quite a number of different conditions affecting your cat. These conditions may be relatively trivial, such as a bad tooth, but they also include such things as kidney problems, thyroid problems and diabetes. It's certainly something which needs to be investigated by your vet so a proper diagnosis can be made. If medication is needed it will be available from MyOnlineVet.co.uk at bargain prices.
Chronic kidney disease, which is a common problem in cats, usually results in lost bodily condition as large amounts of protein are lost through the kidneys into the urine.
Worms may be a cause of weight loss, though this is unusual.
Nutritional imbalance is another cause and may be seen where cats are fed on a home-made diet which may lack certain essential dietary components - in such cases it's important to ensure that she receives all the necessary minerals and vitamins.
A condition we occasionally encounter is pancreatic enzyme deficiency. This sees the failure of production of the enzymes the pancreas normally produces and excretes into the intestines as part of the digestive process. The result of this is that food isn't properly digested and so affected cats lose weight and have almost permanent diarrhoea. Fortunately it's an easily treated condition with pancreatic enzyme replacement medicine.

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Cats always fight - it's their job. The problem is that it's pretty tough on the loser - they get bitten, scratched, get their ears shredded and suffer horrible infections. Most fights occur outside at night and are turf wars between cats encroaching on others' territories. We vets have all experienced the periodic upsurges that occur when a family moves into a property with their cats who then have to become established and carve out a piece of territory for themselves. It can be ugly and bloody. We'll often know the local king-pin too - it's usually a big bruiser of an uncastrated tom cat. Having read this you can conclude a few things - get your cat dressed, don't let him or her out at night, take care when moving home, and get your cat treated if he or she has been involved in a fight so that any infections that are starting can be nipped in the bud.
If the fights are happening between cats within your own house then Feliway may well be the solution to your problem. One of the factors which is at the root of many cases of aggression is fear, and fear is a complex set of reactions in which pheromones (chemical triggers) play an important part. Cats use pheromones extensively as a means of communication - they spread them around their environment by rubbing their chins on items of furniture, their owners, feeding areas, etc. This sends a message out to other cats that this is a safe place, not to be feared. These pheromones have a marked calming affect on nervous and aggressive cats and they have now been isolated, their chemical structure identified and artificially produced and presented for administering into cats' environments to control their behaviour. The development of these pheromone products - Feliway and Felifriend - has been a milestone in our ability to influence cats' behaviour and has seen the resolution of many cases of difficult aggressive and fearful behaviour, with happier pets and happier owners. You can find these and other useful products through the 'Fear and aggression link, below.
If your cat comes home fresh from a fight you should attempt to clean up her wounds with first aid products available through the link below.

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Most overweight cats, and there are many of them (approximately one in every three cats is overweight), are simply fed too much - too much energy in, not enough energy out. We can't blame them for this, only ourselves. After all, cats are naturally predators, programmed to eat when they can because the next meal may be some time away - they don't have the same brakes on their appetite that we have. The problem is most often seen in lazy, stay-at-home, castrated toms, deprived of their 'get up and go' by that snip. That having been said, some overweight cats are suffering from an underlying illnesses - some, like diabetes, arthritis and liver disorders, may have been brought on by being overweight. Before trying to tackle the issue of an overweight cat and start that long overdue diet, have your cat checked out by your vet to make sure there is no underlying disease that needs to be treated. As for the diet itself, do it gradually, little at a time, and seek help from you diet clinics offered by your vet. The links below take you to things which may well be required once you've seen your vet.

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Clawing furniture is a natural reaction for cats - they're programmed to keep their hunting weapons (their claws) sharp. A cat in the wild with blunt claws may starve. Though they will claw horizontal surfaces, cats naturally claw trees - vertical surfaces, hence their fondness for your furniture. They won't take a telling, of course, and they'll ruin furniture if given the opportunity. The thing is to tempt them away with a scratching post, fixed vertically and at a height that will allow your cat to stretch up to reach it, as they are hard-wired to do with trees. What will make it work, however, is attracting your cat to use the scratching post as opposed to your furniture. The best way to do that is to spray it with Catnip spray which most cats find irresistibly attractive. If your cat is fearful it may sharpen its claws more readily, partly because it can't settle, and partly because it's keeping itself ready for 'fight or flight'. Feliway may help in this situation - follow the link to 'Fear and aggression'.
There are a number of training aids which may help too, including 'Ssscat' which works by emitting a cat-repelling 'hiss' when anything approaches - placed nearby, it might just save your Chippendale chair.

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Cats which shed their hair excessively can create a lot of mess in a house, with their fine hair turning up everywhere, triggering allergies in their owners and sticking to clothes. It's really a problem of domestication - in the wild, cats, like dogs, naturally shed their coat twice a year: once to grow a thick winter coat, once to grow a lighter summer coat. The natural triggers for this process to start is the shortening light and colder days of autumn and the lengthening light and warmer days of late spring. That's fine, and evolution did a good job in devising a system for cats exposed to the rigours of an outdoor life, but bring the cat inside to (virtually) constant temperature levels and unchanging light levels and the poor cat has lost its natural triggers to start shedding its coat. The result is that hair is shed every day of the year, and short of keeping your cat outside or disconnecting your light bulbs and central heating, you can't do much about it. Having said that, some cats will shed hair for other reasons - if they are scratching a lot because they have skin parasites like fleas, for instance, or if their coat and skin are dirty, or unhealthy for dietary reasons.
It's a good idea to get a cat grooming comb and get into the habit of daily combing to get rid of loose hair. Follow the links below for effective non-prescription flea control products, shampoos and supplements.
If you suffer from an allergy to cats, try to reduce the amount of shed hair in your house and try the product 'Petal Cleanse' which cleans the allergy-giving dander from your cat's coat - you'll find it on the Allergies link, below. Remember too that if your cat is shedding a lot of hair there's every chance that she could be bothered with hairballs when grooming herself, and that they can be easily prevented from becoming a problem by using hairball treatments.

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