Pit bulls are affectionate and devoted dogs that will go the extra mile for those they care about. Hades, a pit bull that lives with his family in Mexico, is showing the world what big hearts the breed has, writes blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood

The adorable dog takes after his father, Juan José P Flores, who shows compassion to those in need. Flores noticed an elusive stray cat in the neighborhood, so he left out food so the cat wouldn’t go hungry. He never expected Hades to befriend the little feline.

Don’t let his name fool you, Hades is a sweet and gentle dog who saw a friend in need and offered his home as a safe haven.

One day, Hades was creating such a ruckus near the back door that Flores went to see what was causing all the commotion. It turns out, his beloved dog wanted to show him something inside his doghouse. Inside was the stray cat lounging on the soft blankets.

The sweet dog proudly showed his dad that he gave up his home for the pregnant stray cat. Hades never left the side of his feline friend and stood guard at the doghouse while the cat gave birth to two kittens. “I think he felt that he was a father,” Flores told The Dodo.

A photo of the incident went viral and people could not help but joke that the cat has simply taken over the doghouse. Flores even joined in and wrote, “Cat taken advantage, with that you don’t have to pay rent.”

All joking aside, the dog’s kind gesture didn’t go unnoticed. Countless people praised Hades and commented on his adorable face. One person said, “The most beautiful face !!!! They take the lead in humanity .”

Flores shared the touching story in hopes that people will view pit bulls as the loving dogs they are. “Pit bulls are good dogs,” he said. “Hades put everything aside to help someone else. We should do the same without expecting anything in return.”

Source: blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com

Cats are good at self-maintenance. But even your fastidious feline can't prevent some of these more common cat diseases and health issues.

1. Vomiting

Vomiting is a very common problem with cats with a multitude of causes. They range from eating something poisonous or inedible (like string), to infection, urinary tract disease, or diabetes to hairballs.

Symptoms are usually obvious, and include drooling and abdominal heaving. Vomiting can quickly leave your cat dehydrated, so if kitty continues vomiting or acts ill, call your vet right away. It may help to collect a sample of your cat's vomit and take it with you to the vet.

2. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Diseases (FLUTD)

Some estimates say as many as 3% of cats seen by vets have feline lower urinary tract disease ( FLUTD), which is actually a group of feline diseases with multiple causes.

Female and male cats can get FLUTD, and it often occurs in cats that are overweight or unfit or who eat dry food. Stress, a multi-cat household, and sudden changes can all raise a cat's risk of FLUTD, and treatment depends on the type of FLUTD your cat has.

FLUTD symptoms include:

• Straining to urinate
• Bloody urine
• Urinating in unusual places
• Crying when urinating
• Licking around the urinary area (often because of pain)
• Depression
• Dehydration
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting

It's always an emergency if your cat can't urinate. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem.

3. Fleas

Fleas are a very common external feline health problem. But it's one you can easily treat. Signs your cat has fleas include:

• Flea dirt on its skin (they look like tiny black dots)
• Constant scratching
• Frequent licking
• Red or irritated skin
• Hair loss
• Skin infections or hot spots

Fleas can live for more than a year, and your cat risks anemia if the problem becomes serious, so be sure to treat your cat's flea problem and prevent future infestations.

Talk to your vet about which flea control would be best for your cat. Treatments include oral medication, powders, foams, and topical medication. Fleas are uncommon in Utah. If you adopt a pet from a region outside of Utah or are housing a pet that recently came from another state, please be aware of fleas.

4. Tapeworms

One of the most common feline health problems inside your cat, tapeworms live in kitty's small intestine and sometimes grow as long as 2 feet.

Symptoms of a tapeworm infection can be subtle but may include vomiting and weight loss. The easiest way to tell if your cat has tapeworms is to look at its feces and around its anus. If you see small white worms or what look like grains of rice or sesame seeds, your cat likely has tapeworms.

Treatment options include injection, oral, or topical medication. But because cats almost always get tapeworms as a result of swallowing a flea, be sure to handle any flea problems your cat has before tackling tapeworms.

5. Diarrhea

Many things can cause diarrhea in cats, including spoiled food, allergies, infection, liver disease, cancer, and more.

Symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery, or liquid stool. Depending on its cause, diarrhea can last for a day, a week, or months.

If your cat has diarrhea, offer kitty plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent  dehydration. Then remove kitty's food for no more than 12 to 24 hours. Take your cat to the vet if he or she still has diarrhea after a day or immediately if you notice vomiting, dark, or bloody stools, fever, lethargy, or loss of appetite or if your cat is straining to defecate.

6. Eye Problems

Eye problems in cats can be caused by a number of things, including  conjunctivitis, cataracts, glaucoma, trauma, viruses, inflammation, and retinal disease.

A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, tear-stained fur, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, gunk in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.

Unless you know what's causing your cat's eye problems, there isn't much you can do other than wipe away any gunk with a damp cotton ball. After that, call your vet.