The most obvious inherited health issues of the Peke-face Persian: BAS.

Although the Peke-face Persian (flat-faced Persian) can suffer from all or one of 16 inherited diseases, the one highlighted in the infographic below is the most obvious. It is perhaps the classic consequence of breeding cats with unnaturally shaped heads and faces to try and meet an aesthetic which pleases the eye of some. Heavens knows why because the Peke-face is certainly uglier than the Doll-face.

There is no cure for this or the other Peke-face Persian inherited diseases because they are caused by a distorted face and head due to extreme breeding. You have to change the breeding practices over a long time if you are to 'cure' this shameful state of affairs where the cat fancy have abdicated their responsibilities to ensure that they breed healthy cats. In fact I think you'll see that the CFA demands in their breed standards that health should not be compromised BUT IT IS (in the most gross way)! And has been for decades in really serious ways causing distress and unhappiness in these cats. 

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS) in Peke-face Persian cats by Michael Broad

If you click on this link: Infographics on Peke-face Persian health problems, you'll see some more health issues associated with this breed, if that interests you. Each one is a 60 second read. The goal is to explain sometimes complicated medical information in studies in an infographic. I want everyone to have access to this kind of information as it is good for cat welfare and to educate potential adopters of purebred cats.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

America's top 2 cat associations should be ashamed of the Peke-face Persian

Here is another infographic about the health problems associated with the Peke-face Persian which is bred to extreme to create an entirely unnatural facial appearance which leads to many serious health problems. More to follow! Here are three concerning the mouth, coat and eyes. I am on the attack against cat associations which refuse to amend their breed standards to prioritise health in breeds.

When these cat associations - The International Cat Association (TICA) and the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) insist on certain anatomical features such as a sheer, flat face and a super-long hair you get the kind of health problem referred to in the infographic.

Flat-faced Persian cat coat, eye and mouth problems. INFOGRAPHIC. by Michael Broad

It is just not right that these cat associations have been encouraging and supporting breeders to create these unhealthy cats through their breed standards which, in Germany, would be called 'torture breeding' and banned.

There are other breeds that are inherently unhealthy and which should not exist such as the breed made popular by Taylor Swift who is incredibly influential; the Scottish Fold. She should be ashamed too. She is looked up to but she has her flaws, one of which is promoting an unhealthy breed that is also banned in Germany. The breed should not exist.

More: Vet accuses Taylor Swift of not being a true cat lover.

Below is a picture of a champion Peke-face Persian cat on TICA's website. Behind that image there is pain and distress in many ultra-Persian cats. It is a false representation of the state of this breed. It is a con basically.

 

7th Best Kitten Of The Year IW BW Dark Diamond’s Sebastian/CF. Image credit as stated in the photo.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Time for the cat fancy to do something about the Persian cat's polycystic kidney disease

It is well beyond the time when the cat fancy - and I'm referring mainly to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) - does something tangible about the shameful health of the flat-faced Persian cat, created through decades of selective inbreeding of cats carrying the disease to fix the cats strange appearance which as a consequence, and as a side effect, has led to this breed suffering, interminably, from a nasty kidney disease which quite often proves fatal.

That disease, as mentioned in the title, is polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Cysts form on the kidney rendering the organ ineffective and it can start at a very young age. Ultrasound detects it which is why sometimes it cat shows you will see an ultrasound engineer on site to scan the interior of a Persian cat and other cats if need be. See video at end of article. The infographic sums it up.

Update: Some cat associations such as the UK's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) require breeding Persians to be screened for the PKD gene defect. Langford Veterinary Diagnostics have documented a decreasing prevalence of the PKD gene in Persians in the UK, from ~28% in 2005 to ~2% in 2016, showing how effective this type of targeted intervention can be. - quote from the following study: Persian cats under first opinion veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) in Persian cats in an infographic by Michael Broad

I know I have banged this drum for far too long. I've become boring in constantly restating my distaste at knowing that the cat fancy has allowed this ill-health to be perpetuated for so long. The Persian cat was an extremely popular cat. In fact it was the top cat breed in terms of popularity for many years in America.

But nowadays, it has relinquished that top position to other cat breeds such as the Maine Coon. And it is very plausible to argue that a major reason is this inherited health problem combined with other inherited health problems such as tear duct overflow due to a distorted tear duct thanks to the flat face.

It's just not right. We don't have to be so obsessed with the appearance and in any case the cat fancy has overshot the mark with the Persian cat because initially they wanted the face to be a little more flat but now it has to be completely flat as if the cats been punched in the face. All the elements of the face of got to be in vertical alignment which is frankly madness. How did they get to this situation?

My answer to that is that the CFA administrators have been working in this closed shop for decades feeding off on another and supporting each other with what can only be crazy ideas. They think that the flat face is attractive compared to the traditional Persian cat which has a much more normal face which is in truth far more attractive. They tried to make that attractive Persian face more attractive but ultimately they went in the other direction and made the cat very unnatural and unattractive in my view and I would argue in the views of many others.

Let's tackle this PKD problem in Persian cats as soon as possible. The only way to do that is to lay down some laws regarding the breeding of this cat which would introduce fresh genetics into the Persian breeding lines to improve genetic diversity, to remove some of the inbreeding which would change the appearance of the cat but most importantly improve their health. And as mentioned to screen for PKD and 'cull' (remove) these cats from breeding programs.

Inbreeding causes inbreeding depression among other things. This is a weakened immune system and general ill-health.

Health supersedes appearance if we are really concerned about domestic cats. Unfortunately for many years appearance has trumped health in the cat fancy or in various elements of the cat fancy. I can't generalise because some breeds are healthier than others and clearly some administrators are more concerned about health than others.

On this page is an Infographic, as you can see, which was created by me and which summarises in a few words the important information about PKD in Persian cats. I hope it helps.

Below is a video of ultrasound scan on a Persian cat at a cat show in the US to check for PKD:

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Cat and human obesity can damage health due to lower production of propionic acid

Obesity can damage the health of cats and people in similar and substantially. There are some amusing stories on the internet about very fat cats being rescued and dieted. They make good stories and fat cats look funny but there is a very serious story behind the fun: serious ill-health at least potentially. Studies regarding animals' gut health can be very useful in understanding the impact that the gut biome has on the health of humans. There is a big overlap here.

A study checked out the effect on gut biome of dieting obese cats and found that it affected the levels of propionic acid

"When the cats are on the special diet formulated for weight loss, propionic acid goes up and stays high, and then goes back down when they’re put back on the maintenance diet. So it really is a dietary change. This paper highlights that when we calorie-restrict cats that are obese, we can alter their microbial ecosystem and those community shifts that we see likely correlate with some metabolic outcomes.” - Jenessa Winston, assistant professor of veterinary clinical sciences at The Ohio State University (Ohio State), US, where the study was conducted.

So what is propionic acid? I consulted with Google's AI bot, Gemini to tell us all about it and more. Here is the dialogue.

What is the role of propionic acid in the gut of animals and humans?

Propionic Acid: A Key Player in Gut Health

Propionic acid is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by gut bacteria through the fermentation of dietary fibres. It plays a crucial role in maintaining gut health and influencing various bodily functions.

Role in the Gut:

• Energy Source: Propionic acid is absorbed through the colon wall and transported to the liver where it's used as an energy source.
• Gut Barrier Function: It helps maintain the integrity of the gut lining, preventing the leakage of harmful substances into the bloodstream.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: Propionic acid has anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to overall gut health and potentially reducing inflammation in other parts of the body.
• Gut Microbiome Balance: It influences the composition of the gut microbiota, promoting a healthy balance of bacteria.
• Appetite Regulation: Some studies suggest that propionic acid may play a role in appetite regulation by signalling to the brain.

Beyond the Gut:

• Liver Function: As mentioned, the liver utilizes propionic acid for energy production. It's also involved in gluconeogenesis, the process of creating glucose from non-carbohydrate sources.
• Potential Systemic Effects: Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, propionic acid has been studied for its potential role in various conditions beyond gut health, such as metabolic disorders and neurological diseases. However, more research is needed to fully understand these effects.

In summary, propionic acid is a vital component of gut health and has far-reaching implications for overall well-being. Consuming a diet rich in fibre can promote the production of this beneficial SCFA.

Would you like to know more about how diet can influence SCFA production?

Yes,

Diet and SCFA Production

Fiber is the key ingredient when it comes to boosting SCFA production. It's the preferred food source for gut bacteria. Different types of fiber influence the production of different SCFAs.

• Resistant starch: Found in unripe bananas, cooked and cooled potatoes, and green bananas, it promotes butyrate production.
• Inulin and fructans: Present in garlic, onions, asparagus, and chicory root, these fibers increase the levels of propionate.
• Pectin: Found in fruits like apples and citrus, it can also contribute to SCFA production.

Other factors influencing SCFA production include:

• Overall diet: A diet rich in processed foods and low in fiber can hinder SCFA production.
• Gut microbiome: A diverse and healthy gut microbiome is essential for efficient SCFA production.
• Antibiotics: These can disrupt the gut microbiome and negatively impact SCFA levels.

It's important to note that while fiber is crucial, consuming a balanced diet with a variety of plant-based foods is generally recommended for optimal gut health and SCFA production.

Does obesity limit the production of propionic acid? Yes.

Obesity and Propionic Acid Production

Yes, obesity can indeed limit the production of propionic acid.

Here's a breakdown of how:

• Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis: Obesity is often associated with alterations in the gut microbiome, a condition known as dysbiosis. These changes can lead to a decrease in the abundance of bacteria that produce propionic acid.
• Reduced Fiber Intake: Individuals with obesity often have lower fiber intake, which is a primary substrate for propionic acid production.
• Increased Inflammation: Obesity is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, which can negatively impact the gut environment and hinder the production of beneficial SCFAs like propionic acid.

Therefore, restoring a healthy gut microbiome, increasing fiber intake, and reducing inflammation are essential steps in potentially increasing propionic acid levels in individuals with obesity.

Improving Gut Health in Obesity

Improving gut health is crucial for individuals with obesity. Here are some key strategies:

Diet

• High-fiber diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. These provide the necessary fuel for beneficial gut bacteria.
• Limit processed foods: These often contain harmful additives and lack essential nutrients.
• Consider a Mediterranean-style diet: Rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil, this diet has been linked to improved gut health and overall well-being.

Lifestyle

• Regular exercise: Physical activity can help reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and support a healthy gut microbiome.
• Weight management: Gradual weight loss can positively impact gut health by reducing inflammation and improving gut bacteria diversity.
• Stress management: Chronic stress can negatively affect the gut microbiome. Incorporate relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga into your routine.
• Adequate sleep: Sufficient sleep is essential for overall health, including gut health.

Supplements

• Probiotics: These contain live bacteria that can benefit gut health. However, their effectiveness varies, and it's essential to choose reputable brands.
• Prebiotics: These are non-digestible fibers that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. They are found naturally in many foods but can also be supplemented.

It's important to note that while these strategies can be beneficial, individual responses may vary. 

Important note: diet cats slowly. Consult with your vet.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

American insurance company Nationwide stops insuring 100,000 cats and dogs

AMERICA: I'm told by news media that Nationwide is America's largest pet insurer. And they've decided to stop insuring 100,000 pets. But read on. 

Image: The Canine Review.

It seems very bizarre because normally it is people who decide to stop insuring their pet's health because the insurance premiums are too high. This is the other side of the coin as this insurance company blamed inflation and the cost of veterinary care as two reasons why they have decided they can no longer insure pets. 

It would seem that some pets are uninsurable as far as Nationwide is concerned. It is pretty cynical because the policy concerns pets that need insurance. Nationwide want to insure health pets!

It has 100,000 pets on its books whose insurance policies are being terminated. There will be many customers who will no longer be receiving pet health insurance when their policies terminate unless they can find an alternative. Some pet owners are concerned that they won't be able to find an alternative at a suitable price.

Another problem which may be the central problem and which is not been fully clarified to me is that there have been recent underwriting changes in the insurance industry concerning Nationwide. The company feels that these changes have made it unviable to continue.

The announcement was quite sudden and made in a statement on June 14. All 100,000 policies will not be renewed at the date of their renewal. The non-renewal is not connected with the companion animal's prior claims history - they say. True or false?

'Inflation in the cost of veterinary care and other factors have led to recent underwriting changes and the withdrawal of some products in some states - difficult actions that are necessary to ensure a financially sustainable future for our pet insurance line of business.'

Overall the company says that it it insures more than a million pets - the largest in the country.

Profitability

The reporting is a little confusing and I'll tell you why. Nationwide insure 1 million pets but they are dropping insurance policies on 100,000 pets which indicates that they are being selective and that the termination of these insurance policies is connected with the high level of claims made by some customers because their pets are inherently unhealthy. That's my opinion until I receive better reporting.

And this thought of mine appears to be supported by the fact that many of the affected premiums are for older pets with pre-existing conditions.

My gut feeling is this: this insurance company has decided to take strong action to improve profitability and they are achieving that by stripping out of their customer database those pets that require consistent and routine treatment because of inherited and long-term or chronic illnesses. On the face of it is a cynical move to increase profitability by being more selective in the animals that they insure.

In response, a Facebook page has been set up by disgruntled customers entitled "Dropped by Nationwide Pet Insurance Whole Wellness? Join Us!

I've applied to join the group as it is private. I've not received an acceptance as at the time of publishing this article.

As I said, I think this is a reflection on the fact that some dog breeds are inherently unhealthy such as the French Bulldog. I have boldly claimed that that dog breed is the most unhealthy of all the dog breeds with 21 different inherited illnesses. Extraordinary; right? Other bulldogs have more than the usual inherited health issues. 

Avoid extreme breeding e.g. flat-faced dogs and unnatural looking animals. Mess with anatomy and there is a price to pay - literally.

It would seem that some animals are becoming uninsurable as is the case by the way with some vehicles. Interesting correlation here because in the UK some Range Rover models are uninsurable because they're being stolen all the time forcing the manufacturer to start up their own insurance company!

Self-insurance

Pet owners really should remind themselves that pet insurance companies are moneymaking machines. If they can't make a good profit from ensuring pets they either drop the animal from their books as is the case in the story or they put up the premiums. Either way they make more money.

It's another reminder that the best form of pet health insurance is to start your own savings account which is ring fenced. This is called self-insurance. Save $50 a month ideally before you adopt a companion animal and then when you have adopted the animal you have some savings in the bank allocated solely to treating your companion animal.

In addition, I would do your research on inherited diseases afflicting purebred dogs and cats. It's important you know about them so you can decide whether pet health insurance is necessary or a wise choice in respect of your to be adopted paired or adopted pet.

RELATED: Genetic diseases in cats.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Does chemo work for cats suffering from lymphoma?

Does chemo work for cats suffering from a malignant cancer of the lymphatic system (feline lymphoma) . Some cat caregivers will want to know and the answer according to a study and general internet research is YES but the chemo causes the cats to lose appetite called 'chemotherapy-induced anorexia'.

In the study 26 cats with confirmed high to intermediate grade lymphoma were treated for 12 weeks to a cycle of chemo drugs: l-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisolone.

In 46 per cent of the cases there was complete remission (CR). In 27 per cent of the cases there was partial remission (PR).

The average duration of CR was 394 days (about 1 year and 1 month) while for PR the remission lasted for 41 days.

Overall survival on average was for 78 days with a range of 9 days to 2230 days. Average (median) survival for CR patients was 454 days and for PR cats it was 82 days.

In terms of the affect of the toxicity of the drugs on the cats the most common was anorexia as mentioned.

In cats that achieve complete remission, maintenance-free chemotherapy may be adequate for securing long-term remission and survival.

Steps need to be taken to deal with the anorexia health issue referred to.

Study citation: Treatment of feline lymphoma using a 12-week, maintenance-free combination chemotherapy protocol in 26 cats

Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/vco.12082

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

NHS in UK makes pet owners disgruntled about private vet prices

Yes, vet prices have surged higher in the UK recently because they want to make more money. It is as simple as that. And they want to make more dosh because the unprofitable, independent vets owned by a partnership of veterinarians have been bought up by big business and big business always has an eye on the profit margin and not so much on the quality of the treatment.

Fictional MRI scan for a dog at a vet clinic. 

Having said all that there is a big obstacle in the UK to citizens' perception of medical treatments: the National Health Service (NHS) which is free at the point of delivery.

It is not actually free but paid for out of taxpayer revenue - over £100 billion annually - but it feels like it is free to the citizens who rely on it for the health needs.

In the UK, health care for humans can be free unless the person can afford and selects private health care while health care for pets is never free but sometimes damnably expensive.

Pet health care is as expensive or more expensive than private human health care sometimes in the UK. But let's say that they are on a par, it is still a lot of money when paying for vet services and products.

And it all goes back to perception. Private pet health care as it always is in the UK seems beyond the means of many because they are used to walking into A&E at a local hospital or a walk-in unit for minor injuries and being seen to free of charge.

I am not condoning some of the rip-off vet prices but I think Brits need to put things in perspective. Health care for pets is an important and expensive business with ever more sophisticated diagnostic and treatment machinery. They are expensive.

The third factor is that more pet owners take out pet health insurance which pushes up the quality and price of treatments. It is a virtuous or unhelpful circle which ends up making veterinary care too expensive for many which in turn results in many pets not receiving the care they need and deserve.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Bird flu blinds barn cats and kills half in days on Texas farm

This is a cross post because it is an important story. It is also a tragic story as half of the 24 barn cats on this Texas farm died quickly of bird flu which they contracted, it is believed, from drinking the unpasteurised milk from the cows with which they lived. 

Barn cats drink unpasteurised milk in a milking barn and caught bird flu which killed them. This is a fictional image please note based on the image on the internet. 

Their deaths were unpleasant and painful. The story was announced by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which revealed that at least 24 cats on this Texas farm experienced severe health symptoms such as depression, body stiffness, ataxia (loss of coordination), blindness, circling and extreme upper respiratory infection with excessive mucus from their eyes and noses.

Autopsies were carried out on the cats some of whom had died in as little as two days after they fell ill. The virus had spread to their entire body, lungs, brains, heart and eyes.

It also believed the cats contracted the disease from infected cattle by being in close contact with them. Clearly, the disease is a zoonosis (zoonotic disease) because it is transferable from one species of animal to another.

The disease can be transmitted in saliva, droppings and other body fluids and as mentioned in consuming raw milk (colostrum) from the cows.

CDC obtained the bodies of two of the cats as well as samples of milk from the cows. They also examined tissue samples from six of the cows. Three of the cows were euthanized and three had died of the virus.

All the animals were revealed to have been infected with H5N1 bird flu, specifically the one designated 2.3.4.4b, a highly pathogenic variety that killed a dolphin in Florida recently.

The cats had microscopic lesions in their brains, heart and lungs. They examined photographs of the barn where they lived and saw that they drank milk from a designated bowl as well as directly from cows.

It appears that the symptoms were first observed in the cats and so CDC tested the cows in which they found symptoms including tiny lesions in their memory glands.

The situation with avian flu designated A(H5N1) has become serious in America. It first emerged in 1996 but since 2020 the number of outbreaks has increased rapidly with tens of millions of poultry killed and wild birds and land and marine animals also infected.

Being a zoonosis, the disease can be transferred to people and earlier in the month a dairy farm worker in Texas became the second American to become infected with the virus. The farmworker contracted a mild infection with just one symptom which was an inflammation of the eye and recovered well. They were placed into isolation.

It is believed that they didn't transfer the disease to others and were being treated with the drug Tamiflu. This occurred in Texas as well and is believed to be the first case of a human infected by avian influenza from a cow.

The virus is mutating making it easier to jump posts as happened with the Covid-19 virus.

Protections

Cats can be protected from A(H5N1) if they are given a vaccination. However, it’s important to note that cats can still shed some of the virus, albeit in low numbers. If a cat is exhibiting symptoms, it should be put into isolation and kept indoors. Then, it should be taken to a vet for testing to determine the presence of H5N1. Additionally, here are some other preventive measures for cat owners:

1. Limit Contact with Possible Vectors: To prevent the spread of H5N1 among cats, limit their contact with other possible vectors such as birds and cattle. Cats should also avoid contact with fomites, such as milking equipment.

2. Avoid Unpasteurized Milk: Do not allow cats to drink unpasteurized milk, as this could be a potential source of infection.

3. Minimize Unnecessary Contact: If highly pathogenic influenza viruses are found or suspected in a cat, minimize unnecessary contact. Use gloves, a mask, and goggles for protection when handling the cat.

Remember that while the risk of cat-to-human transmission of influenza is low, taking precautions is essential to protect both cats and humans. If you suspect your cat may have been exposed to A(H5N1), consult with a veterinarian promptly.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Amir Anwary a TikTok veterinarian gives us three vital tips on cat caregiving

It is always nice to have a veterinarian provide cat caregivers with useful tips on how to improve cat ownership. There is always a need to improve it although I think we can argue that the Internet has been incredibly useful in educating millions of caregivers.

Amir. Screenshot.

Amir Anwary says that three important cat caregiving tips would be to (1) if you need to change your cat's diet do it slowly to avoid stomach upset and (2) watch out for your cat's changes in behaviour as it might point to a severe disease and (3) know the signs of kidney disease because this is a very common disease in older cats.

@amirthevet Must know for all Cat owners !! The advice you needed to hear ! #catowners #catlovers #veterinarian #learning #vet #cats #catlearning #kidneydiseasecat #fyp ♬ original sound - Amir Anwary

I will briefly touch on these three points.

Changing diet slowly

For me, this applies mostly to reducing your cat's food intake because they are obese. There is an obesity epidemic according to veterinarians amongst the cat population in the West and therefore a lot of cat caregivers will be considering reducing their cat's diet. It should be gradual in order to avoid hepatic lipidosis which is fatty liver disease, a serious disease. You can read about that disease and how it develops by clicking on this link.

As to changing a cat's diet by changing the wet cat food you provide them, I don't think that will cause upset. I am presuming that you buy decent or high quality commercially prepared wet cat food. They are very similar if they are balanced and complete. Your cat will like the food or possibly reject it. You are currently giving them a food they like. If you give them new cat food which they reject then there is no change in diet! Problem solved.

Changing from a good quality wet food diet to a full-time low quality dry food diet will probably cause stomach upsets and may well affect a cat's health detrimentally. There are strong arguments for not providing dry cat food as the sole diet for a domestic cat because it's too unnatural and cats don't compensate sufficiently by drinking more water. 

It's been argued that this kind of diet can lead to cystitis if the environment in which the cat's lives is also stressful. Stressing cats is probably more common than people think particularly in multi-cat homes. Cat caregivers should look out for signs of stress particularly in timid cats who might be prone to hide and are being bullied.

Changes in behaviour

If everything else has stayed as normal by which I mean the environment in which the cat lives, and the cat suddenly starts to behave differently by hiding or becomes lethargic and losses appetite (common signs of illness) then a caregiver might presume there cat is ill. It might be a serious illness. There would be a need to take him or her to a veterinarian for diagnosis.

These changes should be pretty apparent to an observant and reasonable cat owner. Amir Anwary is simply reminding cat caregivers to be aware of these changes in order to allow a veterinarian to tackle any underlying health problems promptly. That I think is the message he is trying to deliver in his TikTok video. A good one.

Kidney disease

As Amir Anwary states this is a very prevalent disease in elderly cats in the West and is probably due to cats living longer (as occurs in humans) and the environment in which they live which may contain pollutants which are hidden or unknown by the owner and thirdly the diet might predispose the cat to this particular health problem. More work needs to be done on this in my view. There may be an inherited genetic element too.

Diabetes can damage the kidneys and diabetes is a growing disease in our feline companions. The increase in kidney disease may be linked to the increase in feline diabetes. Diabetes in fact has a severe negative impact on health in various ways so it's important that caregivers ensure that their cat maintains a healthy weight.

The biggest sign of kidney disease in elderly cat would be drinking a lot more water and urinating more and more often. That's because the kidneys are malfunctioning and not processing the liquid and so it passes straight through them. This means they're more thirsty and so they drink more and then pee more. Watch out for that particular sign as it will pretty well certainly be kidney disease if your cat is elderly. There is no cure the kidney disease and it often leads, sadly, to humane euthanasia.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Improving your pet's gut microbiota

The health of a cat or dog's gut microbiota is important for their health. A healthy gut microbiota supports the animal's immune system. It affects the animal's hormonal system and affects general welfare. This is about good bacteria in the stomach and how it is vital to both the health of people and their companion animals. It is something that I believe cat and dog caregivers should think about both in the interests of their health and the health of their companion animal.

So how can a cat or dog caregiver improve their cat's gut microbiota? It is also referred to as "microbiome" . The word refers to the microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, that live in the digestive tracts of animals.

A balanced diet is obviously important and you can buy cat foods that feature probiotics and prebiotics in order to support the health of the animal's gut.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that help your cat's digestive system to function well and they aid overall immune function. They support vitamin production and they help to balance the good and bad bacteria within the cat's gut.

Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres. They promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and act as a food for probiotics and encourage the growth and activity.

You can create a calm and pleasant environment for your companion animal which helps to reduce stress which helps to avoid a negative impact that stress can have on gut health.

You can make sure that you minimise the use of antibiotics in treating your dog or cat because antibiotics kill bacteria in the gut and therefore disrupt the gut microbiome. A veterinarian should use them judiciously but I must add that sometimes veterinarians tend to overuse antibiotics as a precaution because they sometimes can't tell whether a companion animal is suffering from a viral or bacterial infection. A cat owner should question their vet if they think antibiotics are being overprescribed.

My research indicates that a minimally processed raw or gently cooked diet is good for cat health. These diets are made from whole food ingredients.

Cats with chronic digestive disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease should be tested for their gut health by a veterinarian. They can then decide how best to intervene.

RELATED: My cat suffers from IBD and will undergo fecal microbiota transportation soon.

There are some probiotic supplements on the market designed specifically for cats to support their cat health and they are listed below.

• Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora for Cats: This liver-flavored powder contains probiotics and yeast. It’s beneficial for cats prone to diarrhea and provides extra gut support. You can sprinkle it on your cat’s food or mix it with a liquid.
• VetriScience Laboratories Probiotic Everyday Gut Health Supplement for Cats Soft Chews: These soft chews are easy to administer and help maintain gut health. They’re suitable for daily use.
• Pet Naturals of Vermont Daily Probiotic for Cats: A budget-friendly option, these probiotics come in chew form. They support digestive health and can be given to cats of all ages.
• PetUltimates Probiotics for Cats: Ideal for cats dealing with constipation, this supplement promotes a healthy gut. It’s available in capsule form.
• Fera Pet Organics Probiotics with Prebiotics: Specifically formulated for cats with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this supplement contains both probiotics and prebiotics.
• Purina Calming Care Veterinary Supplements: While primarily calming, this supplement also supports gut health. It’s suitable for stressed-out kitties.
• Skout’s Honor Probiotic Deodorizer: Not only does it help with odor control, but it also contains probiotics for gut health.
• Healthy Kidney Inc. Kidney Restore: Designed for cats with kidney disease, this supplement includes probiotics to support overall health.
• Vital Planet Flora Cat Probiotic: Boosts immune support and maintains gut balance. Suitable for cats of all ages.
• Nutramax Proviable-DC: Especially beneficial for kittens, this probiotic supplement supports overall digestive health.

A healthy gut microbiome is important in maintaining overall health. It helps break down complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Also beneficial bacteria produce enzymes that aid in nutrient absorption. This make sure that your companion animal receives all the nutrients that they need.

About 70% of our cat and dog's immune cells live in the gut. A well functioning microbiome help to regulate immune responses. And good bacteria prevent harmful pathogens from taking over which reduces the risk of infections.

There is a thing called the "gut-brain axis". It connects the gut and the brain. A healthy microbiome influences neurotransmitter production and mood regulation. Also, some gut bacteria produce compounds which affect stress levels, depression and anxiety.

Weight gain and loss can also be linked to certain gut microbes. A balanced microbiome help to prevent obesity as it affects metabolism and appetite regulation.

Good gut bacteria helps to prevent autoimmune responses and therefore help to prevent inflammation inside the body. It also affects the condition of the cat's coat.

Lastly, some good bacteria metabolises dietary fibres into compounds that can help lower cholesterol levels.

What I have said above applies to people and pets.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Touch your cat and let them touch you for health benefits both ways

A study is out on the Internet at the moment which probably states the obvious but it's always useful to restate the obvious and it might not be so obvious to some people. 😉😎

The conclusion of the study is that people benefit from touch. Yes, a simple act. Touching is part and parcel of the way of life of animals and people. People are animals. The human animal. Let's not kid ourselves that we are any different at a fundamental level which includes experiencing the benefits of touch.

Touch on the face and head is more beneficial than touch on the arm. We can be touched by a professional medical person or a non-medical person but someone we know and the benefits are going to be similar both mental and physical.

People who are ill benefit more than those who are not. Hugging people is touching people. The same benefits. Cuddling your cat is like hugging a person. The same benefits. It cuts both ways by which I mean the cat benefits from your touching and you benefit from touching your cat. Note: hug cats respectfully.

To stress the point, the study states that, "It is widely known that many animal species benefit from touch interactions and that engaging in touch promotes their well-being as well."

You can't really touch your cat enough. You can't overdo it but caregivers should respect the feelings of their cat. Petting your cat is good for both person and cat but different cats have different wishes and people shouldn't overdo petting. Sometimes cats have a limit to the amount of petting they wish to receive.

Notwithstanding that observation, cats enjoy petting and of course people enjoy petting their cats. This is a form of touching obviously and therefore both benefit from it.

Touching can help reduce pain, depression and anxiety in adults and children. In terms of newborn babies, touching helps them gain weight. This is a reflection of the general well-being incurred by the baby when being touched.

The study is titled: A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions. It is published on the Nature Human Behaviour website and the citation at the base of the article provides a link to it.

Overall, touch interventions were beneficial for both physical and mental health, with a medium effect size. Our work illustrates that touch interventions are best suited for reducing pain, depression and anxiety in adults and children as well as for increasing weight gain in newborns. 

The lesson to be learned from the study (if we need to learn a lesson on this topic) is that we should enjoy touching our cat. And our cat will enjoy it. It just needs to be done in a respectful way which means gently and up to the limits allowed by our cat companions. 

You will learn those limits as your cat will complain if you overdo it. Gentleness is a key. Sometimes people can handle their cats too roughly and forgetting that we are bigger and generally stronger. It's a two-way process at all times and interacting with our cat.

And don't treat your cat as a human baby but as a feline, a fine domesticated predator.

RELATED: Picture of Taylor Swift cradling Benjamin Button, her new cat, like a baby.

Citation

Packheiser, J., Hartmann, H., Fredriksen, K. et al. A systematic review and multivariate meta-analysis of the physical and mental health benefits of touch interventions. Nat Hum Behav (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01841-8

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

This cat sneezing fit video will make you smile guaranteed

I am sure that this cat is healthy. Something irritated their nose and this happened. Poor thing but it is not serious. Just a bit amusing.

What causes cat sneezing?

Cat sneezing can occur for various reasons. While the occasional sneeze is normal, frequent or persistent sneezing might indicate an underlying issue. Here are some common causes of cat sneezing:

1. Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URIs): These are often caused by viruses like feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. These infections are contagious among cats but cannot be caught by humans. Stress can worsen the symptoms or increase transmission between cats. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms while the cat’s immune system fights the infection. Secondary bacterial infections may also occur and can be treated with antibiotics.

2. Irritants: Cats may sneeze due to inhaling irritants such as tobacco smoke, dusty cat litter, perfume, cleaning sprays, mold, pollen, or even candles. Pay attention to when your cat sneezes to identify potential triggers.

3. Tooth Root Infections: These infections can drain into the cat’s sinuses and cause sneezing.

4. Foreign Bodies: Inhaled foreign objects like blades of grass can irritate the nasal passages and lead to sneezing.

5. Polyps and Tumors: Polyps or tumours in the nasal passages may cause persistent sneezing.

6. Allergies: Although not common, cats can sneeze if they inhale something irritating.

Remember, if your cat’s sneezing persists or is accompanied by other symptoms like runny nose, eye discharge, coughing, or fatigue, consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. 🐾

Sources: Myself, Purina, PDSA, First Vet, Great Pet Care.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Dedicated veterinarian walks 3 miles through snow to treat a seriously ill cat

NEWS AND COMMENT: The American news media, yesterday, reported on the actions of a dedicated female veterinarian in Birmingham, Alabama.

P.S. Take a look at the frontage of the clinic in the photograph below and you will see two separated front doors, one for cats and one for dogs. Clearly, in this clinic they separate these animals in order to keep the peace and to provide a calmer environment for both while they are waiting to be seen. A great idea and it's a recommendation by veterinarians who are specialists in treating cats.

Image: MikeB from images taken from the clinic's website.

Blueberry, a five-year-old cat was brought to the Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic in Birmingham, last week. Her owners had noticed that she was feeling unwell with an unknown illness. At the time, weather conditions were severe as I understand it with snow on the ground. It was icy and inhospitable.

Blueberry stayed at the clinic over the weekend but Dr Nicole Martin was at that time unable to diagnose the illness. On Tuesday Blueberry deteriorated.

Two vet techs arrived at the clinic through the snow to check up on Blueberry. They took X-rays and these were sent, I believe, over the Internet to Dr Martin. At this stage, I believe, Dr Martin was at home 3 miles from the clinic and was doing her work remotely at this instance.

Dr Martin realised that she had to go to the clinic through frigid conditions and along icy roadways. She believed that there was "no other option other than to walk". It was clearly unsafe to drive.

She discussed the matter with other members of the staff at the clinic and as she was the closest to the clinic it was decided that she would walk from her home to care for Blueberry.

As she hiked over those three icy miles to the clinic she thought about saving Blueberry's life.

She said: "We’ve been with her for days at this point, realizing how much we loved her and, once we saw the X-rays of what was making her sick, it was just in time we all got together to help save her life."

The story ends there as reported by 12WSFA. Like me, I expect that you want to know what happens next but you won't know because I don't know. 

But I am 99% sure that Dr Martin managed to remove what appears to have been a blockage in her digestive tract and that Blueberry is doing fine. Let's hope I am right.

Comment: I love dedicated vets 👍. 

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Cats on a dry food diet intake more 'dry matter' and intake less water than when on a wet diet

It might be common sense to many people but when a cat is fed on a dry food diet all the time, their 'dry matter' intake is greater than when fed on a wet food diet i.e. canned food. In effect this means that they eat more; they ingest more solid foods.

The phrase "dry matter" means wet cat food reduced to dry matter so that it can be compared to dry cat food.

And secondly, when cats are fed on a wet food diet they ingest (intake) more water even if they don't drink any water because wet cat food is about 80% water.

And it won't surprise you to know that when cats eat dry cat food they drink more water than they would if they were on a wet food diet. However, as mentioned in the above paragraph, they still intake more water on a wet diet than on a dry cat.

I hope I haven't confused anybody. The point here is that dry cat food is perhaps, in general, more appetising because of the fatty flavour enhancers with which dry food pellets are sprayed. These can make dry cat food pellets very attractive and almost addictive to some domestic cats.

Wet cat food of a low quality can be less than attractive depending on how hungry the cat is. Which tells us that, subject to affordability, a high quality wet cat food is the best and this should contain as much genuine "meat" as possible. It shouldn't be padded out with grain another nonmeat constituents.

The information comes from a study from as long ago as 1981: Feeding behavior of the cat fed laboratory and commercial diets. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0271-5317(81)80053-X

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Dogs have a sixfold increase in risk of bladder cancer through passive smoking

Purdue University has an interesting article on how cigarette smoke inside the home results in a sixfold increase in the chance of a dog developing specifically bladder cancer. The study worked with Scottish terriers in this test and they say that this particular breed develops bladder cancer at a rate 20 times higher than that of other dog breeds anyway. And when they develop bladder cancer it's a particularly aggressive type. It's due to their genetic make up. It's makes them predisposed to developing bladder cancer.

Scottish terrier 6 times more likely to get bladder cancer through passive smoking. Image: MikeB

And the reason why second-hand cigarette smoke dramatically increases the chances of dogs developing bladder cancer is because the body takes up the chemicals in the cigarette smoke and eliminates them through the urine which leads to cancer of the urinary tract and the bladder is part of the urinary tract.

There has to be a caveat or a warning about the results which they admit in the report namely that not all dogs who were around smokers got cancer and some dogs who are not around cigarette smoke still got cancer. So this is not a hard and fast test but it should be unsurprising to readers that second-hand cigarette smoke can give companion animals cancer just as it does to humans. That's why there are laws now firmly in place and have been for a long time that people can't smoke inside buildings.

This Purdue University cancer test is not earthshattering. It simply reminds us that if you are a smoker and have a dog, you should stop smoking.. Never again. Just stop it. Or if you can't do that then go outside to smoke and then return to protect your dog. And of course the same goes for domestic cats by the way. That's common sense too.

They chose the Scottish terrier because as mentioned they are genetically predisposed to getting cancer and therefore this test is going to be more effective. If second-hand smoke does cause cancer in dogs then the Scottish terrier will throw up a result and expose the problem. Although the use of Scottish terriers begs the question as to whether other dog breeds would develop passive smoking bladder cancer to the same degree.

P.S. Going to a party where there's lots of cigarette smoke in the air and coming back to your home to greet your dog at which point your dog jumps up onto your lap is also going to expose your dog to the possibility of developing cancer through cigarette smoke toxins because those toxins are deposited on your clothes and then transferred to your dog's coat.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

More and more Britons, especially the young and poor are overweight with dire consequences for the NHS (and cats!)

Intro: I believe that it is time for the British people and other Westerners to put aside the sensibilities of obese people and start to criticise them. I know it's difficult and I know it's troubling to do that in a woke world and we need to respect other people. I get all that but human obesity epidemic levels are having catastrophic effects on society and I would argue on our animal companions. 

I would argue quite strongly that obese people are less good cat care givers in general, and I stress "in general" (some are great), and they might be prone to normalising obesity in their cats and dogs. This I think is technically possible and is indeed quite likely. 

When people assess the weight of their cat and dog, if they get it wrong they tend to underestimate it. In other words, many cat and dog owners are incapable of recognising mild obesity in their cat or dog. They think that there cat and dog have correct weights when they haven't. Being obese yourself encourages this perception.

And the obesity epidemic is a much bigger problem than that. It is costing the NHS £19 billion a year in treating those who are too fat and the associated lost productivity costs the economy £15 billion annually. It is putting people out of work. But I believe obesity is a symptom of attitude. Obesity can be beaten with self-discipline and a good attitude. I touch on these matters below.

Note: there is an obesity epidemic among cats as well as people. People should take note of that. It indicates to me that there is a link between human obesity and feline obesity which supports my argument on this page that when people are obese they have difficulty in assessing their cat companion's obesity. It becomes normal. That's the critical point I wish to make.

"Consistent with previous studies, it has been observed that pet owners tend to normalize their pets’ body condition, leading to an underestimation in the case of overweight animals and an overestimation for underweight ones. What was once considered “overweight” now tends to be viewed as “about right”. This shift is further amplified by the influence of social media platforms, and a similar trend may be occurring in the context of pets, perpetuating the belief that overweight animals are the norm in today’s society." - study report: The Perception of the Body Condition of Cats and Dogs by French Pet Owners and the Factors Influencing Underestimation.

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Is the growing obesity epidemic among Westerners - and I am mainly referring to Britons - a symptom of a breakdown in society as we know it which includes laziness! Yes, at its heart this is all about a lack of self-discipline and one consequence of that failing is to become fat. Becoming fat is self-indulgent and sloppy. The papers don't talk about this underlying problem in British society. They just tell us as The Times does today that 3,000 ward admissions a day are linked to obesity in the UK. It is a horror story.

But the press and the government need to genuinely tackle the problem. There is a reticence to criticise people who are obese. I understand it but I am afraid that political correctness and the woke movement has contributed to obesity. Society has accepted it. It has become embedded and normalised.

The government allows food manufacturers to continue to produce unhealthy processed foods high in salt and sugar. Junk food abounds on the shelves of supermarkets. It is addictive food. It seems that many have lost the art of cooking from raw, healthy foods to create simple meals that are cheaper and healthier.

It is not enough to report on human obesity, there needs to be an examination of the underlying causes. These will be deep within society. But a lack of desire to work and to keep oneself in good physical condition must be major contributing factors.

"Hospital admissions linked to obesity have doubled in six years to more than 3,000 people per day according to NHS figures that highlight the extent of Britain's weight problem." - The Times.

I have expanded the geographical area where there is a weight problem to Europe and North America. But the same problem exists I believe.

Obese people are far more likely to become ill. Numerous serious illnesses are linked with obesity. Combine the illnesses that are a consequence of obesity and the obesity itself causing lack of mobility and you have a person who is much less able to be a good cat caregiver. Yep, it comes back to pet cats as well. And the truth is that people who are habitually obese tend to normalise it and believe that obese cats are normal-weight cats when they are not. The result? An obesity epidemic among the cat populations of North America and Britain. More ill-health which could and should be avoided with a bit of self-discipline.

What happened to self-discipline? Why has self-indulgence arrived in the scene so dramatically? Is it partly down to a lack of education? It seems that those who've had the benefit of a good education are less likely to become obese.

There may also be an ethnic demographic dimension to this story. Luton is cited as the municipality where there is the biggest health toll from obesity with one hospital admission linked to weight for every 20 residents last year. See the quote below on the ethic mix of Luton.

The white ethnic group makes up 45.2 per cent of the population of Luton meaning there is a non-white majority in the town. The next largest ethnic group is Asian which increased from 60,952 in 2011 to 83,325 in 2021. The Asian group makes up 37 per cent of the population of Luton.

Luton Borough Council

It is time for the UK government to be much bolder and stricter in tackling the obesity epidemic engulfing the country.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Around 10% of Taiwanese domestic cats are infected with hepadnavirus linked to chronic hepatitis in cats

I find the conclusions of this study rather alarming. Scientists in southern Taiwan researched the prevalence of domestic cat hepadnavirus which is associated with chronic hepatitis in cats. They say that it is similar to hepatitis B virus infections in humans. It's the first study to investigate the level of infection in Taiwan although it was first identified in Australia in 2018.

Image believed to be in the public domain.

They tested 71 cats, eight of which (11.25%) were positive for this virus (DCH). They say that the "study highlights the importance of continuous surveillance of DCH and further research to elucidate the pathophysiology and transmission route of DCH."

The National Institutes of Health tells us that the first hepadnavirus to be isolated from carnivores came from a domestic cat in Australia. It was subsequently detected in Asian and European cats. It is associated with hepatic disease in cats.

Hepatitis is a liver disorder caused by bacterial or viral infections, parasites or metabolic diseases. It can cause the liver to become inflamed and prevented functioning properly or at all.

In a separate study dated 2022 from Japan, the scientists asked whether the "global prevalence of domestic cat hepadnavirus [is] an emerging threat to cats' health?"

In the abstract of the study, they state that it's prevalence rates were "6.5% in Australia, 10.8% in Italy, 12.4% in Thailand, 12.3% in Malaysia, 3.08% in the United Kingdom and 0.78% in Japan."

Separately, hepatic lipidosis is quite a common condition in domestic cats affecting the liver. It can be caused by anorexia, a loss of appetite which triggers this condition. It's characterised by an excessive accumulation of fat (triglycerides) within the liver which leads to liver failure.

The MSD Veteran Manual says that the cause is unknown but linked with a period of poor appetite.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Can I keep a stray kitten that came into my house?

Image: MikeB

There are two major aspects to the question. There may be more. But this is what comes to my mind: there is the legal aspect namely does somebody own the kitten that came into your home. You don't want to be accused of theft, do you? That goes to answering the question in the title but there is a second aspect; one of animal welfare. You will have a compulsion if you are a sensitive individual concerned about animal welfare to adopt the kitten if in a place to do so. To at least look after the kitten and then rehome them. There will always be pressing welfare issues under these circumstances.

This is a complex question actually. You're going to have to find out whether the kitten is owned which would be unlikely under the circumstances and I'll tell you why. And then you're going to have to look after the kitten and protect them before adopting them if that's feasible and legal or before rehoming them all reuniting them with their owner. You can guess the complexities.

Unowned almost certainly

Perhaps I am making it more complex than it really is because I am sure that in 99% of cases when a kitten comes into a home, they don't have an owner because their mother is a stray or feral cat nearby and their kitten has come in for warmth and feeding. Their mother might also come into the warm and/or other kittens. 

Health often poor

The typical scenario is that kittens under these circumstances are in a bad way with upper respiratory infections, often, and they are commonly flea infested. There is work to do on health issues.

Wait and see

You could just look after the kitten if you want to adopt them and carry on as normal. You can wait and see what happens. Sometimes these things resolve themselves in a natural way over time. For example, if the kitten does have an owner, the owner will come around perhaps and chastise you for stealing their cat at which point you will return the cat to them. All you might argue that you should keep the kitten because you've looked after them and they are in a better place. You will play that card as it arrives.

Rules?

There may be legislation by which I mean local rules in your neighbourhood as decided by city administrators or county administrators or perhaps even state laws if you live in the United States of America. You might wish to check the local laws on this but I don't know of any federal laws which dictate how you should handle this situation.

Circumstances

The natural and normal thing to do is to take the kitten in and look after them. Of course, you might not be in a position to look after a kitten for various reasons. You might have too many cats already. You might have a dog that doesn't like cats. You might have a husband who doesn't like cats or if you are a man, you might have a wife who doesn't like cats. You have to take these things into consideration.

Microchip scanning

As to ownership, you might scan the kitten for a microchip. This would depend on how old the kitten is. If they are very young then they won't be micro-chipped probably. If they are a sub adult by which I mean a kitten that is somewhat grown-up, they might be micro-chipped. You can buy microchip scanners on Amazon quite cheaply. Or you could take the kitten to a veterinarian for a checkup and they scan at the same time.

In fact, this is what normally happens. If the first thing to do is to check for ownership and in parallel the next thing to do is to check the health problems then the natural consequence of those obligations is to take the kitten to a veterinarian for a quick check and scan for a microchip.

Due diligence

If there is no microchip and if on the face of it there is no owner, you can go home and look after your kitten. Or, if you might do due diligence on ownership and knock on a few doors and ask whether they have a mother cat who has given birth to kittens and if so, you can tell them that you have a kitten and can you keep her. That may be the way it pans out. There is an obligation here to try to find the owner but I don't think it extends to trying massively hard. It's just a natural step to take.

Rehoming

If you can't keep the kitten then you might take them to a shelter for rehoming. Or you might rehome the kitten yourself by talking to people you know. I would tend to prefer the latter because you can't always trust shelters as sometimes, they are euthanised even when healthy. But kittens are very adoptable normally and therefore there shouldn't be a problem in this regard.

Personal

The bottom line is that it comes down to whether there is an owner and if not whether you want to keep the kitten and look after them as an adult for the rest of their lives. This is a big obligation and if you've not cared for cats or pets until that moment then you would have to think about this seriously as a cat will change your life. It restricts you and you take on a responsibility in terms of expenditure (it can be quite expensive) and in terms of time and commitment. It's a big step like I say. I wouldn't take it casually.