The reason for the white cat coughing is strangulation! Photo by aylaujp (Flickr)
The reasons for coughing in feral cats is going to be the same as for domestic cats only the feral is obviously more exposed to viral and bacterial infections and serious ill health so you are more likely to see a feral cat coughing than a well cared for domestic cat.
As it happens, I have a page on the website about the cat cough, which may help concerned people to diagnose a possible cause...Cat Cough.
That said the only way to deal with a feral cat that has a cough that looks like something serious (and not all coughs are serious) is to trap the cat and take him or her to a vet and there are very few people who are prepared or who have the equipment and know how to do that.
Most coughs that require no action are due to foreign objects in the throat and which can be removed by coughing.
All the other causes will require veterinary treatment. If a cough lasts more than 5 days it requires veterinary treatment1.
Note:
1. Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - Drs Carlson and Giffin
From Coughing In Feral Cats to Home Page
Showing posts with label cat health 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cat health 2. Show all posts
Friday 14 January 2011
Monday 5 July 2010
Cat Vitamins: Functions and Imbalance
A list of vitamins, what they do and some signs that there might be a deficiency. This page is for informational purposes and not for self diagnosis. That is the domain of the good veterinarian.
Vitamin A - necessary for: proper vision, cell maintenance, bone development, teeth development, normal skin. Deficiency results in impaired growth and skin infections and lesions.
Vitamin D - necessary for normal calcium absorption and metabolism. Deficiency is rare and results in rickets in kittens and osteomalacia (softening of the bones due to defective bone mineralization) in adults.
Vitamin E - protects cells from oxidative damage. Deficiency results in impaired immune function, reproductive failure.
Vitamin K - for normal blood clotting. Deficiency leads to increased clotting time.
Thiamin (B1) - for carbohydrate metabolism. Deficiency leads to anorexia and neurological disorders.
Riboflavin (B2) - for "normal oxidative reactions and cellular metabolism". Deficiency results in skin lesions and neurological disorders.
Niacin - for oxidation and reduction reactions and metabolism. Deficiency: skin lesions.
Pyridoxine - involved in metabolism of protein and amino acids. Deficiency: anemia, anorexia and weight loss.
Pantothenic Acid - involved in carbohydrate, fat and amino acid metabolism. Deficiency: impaired growth, weight loss and anorexia.
Biotin - necessary for the metabolism of fats and amino acids (skin and hair health). Deficiency: dermatitis and skin lesions.
Folic Acid - for normal red blood cell development and DNA synthesis. Deficiency: pernicious anemia. Cats eat grass to ingest folic acid, it is thought. Snow leopards living at high altitude eats lots of vegetation.
Cobalamin (B12) - function is linked to folic acid. Deficiency: pernicious anemia, leukopenia.
Choline - part of the cell membrane (constituent of phospholipids in cell membranes), Deficiency: Neuroloogical disorders and fatty liver.
Vitamin C - necessary for the formation of collagen. Deficiency: none - cats synthesise this vitamin themselves so it need not be ingested in food.
Source: The Cat, Its Behavior, Nutrition & Health by Linda P Case
From From Cat Vitamins: Functions and Imbalance to Home Page
Vitamin A - necessary for: proper vision, cell maintenance, bone development, teeth development, normal skin. Deficiency results in impaired growth and skin infections and lesions.
Vitamin D - necessary for normal calcium absorption and metabolism. Deficiency is rare and results in rickets in kittens and osteomalacia (softening of the bones due to defective bone mineralization) in adults.
Vitamin E - protects cells from oxidative damage. Deficiency results in impaired immune function, reproductive failure.
Vitamin K - for normal blood clotting. Deficiency leads to increased clotting time.
Thiamin (B1) - for carbohydrate metabolism. Deficiency leads to anorexia and neurological disorders.
Riboflavin (B2) - for "normal oxidative reactions and cellular metabolism". Deficiency results in skin lesions and neurological disorders.
Niacin - for oxidation and reduction reactions and metabolism. Deficiency: skin lesions.
Pyridoxine - involved in metabolism of protein and amino acids. Deficiency: anemia, anorexia and weight loss.
Pantothenic Acid - involved in carbohydrate, fat and amino acid metabolism. Deficiency: impaired growth, weight loss and anorexia.
Biotin - necessary for the metabolism of fats and amino acids (skin and hair health). Deficiency: dermatitis and skin lesions.
Folic Acid - for normal red blood cell development and DNA synthesis. Deficiency: pernicious anemia. Cats eat grass to ingest folic acid, it is thought. Snow leopards living at high altitude eats lots of vegetation.
Cobalamin (B12) - function is linked to folic acid. Deficiency: pernicious anemia, leukopenia.
Choline - part of the cell membrane (constituent of phospholipids in cell membranes), Deficiency: Neuroloogical disorders and fatty liver.
Vitamin C - necessary for the formation of collagen. Deficiency: none - cats synthesise this vitamin themselves so it need not be ingested in food.
Source: The Cat, Its Behavior, Nutrition & Health by Linda P Case
From From Cat Vitamins: Functions and Imbalance to Home Page
Sunday 4 July 2010
Cats Can't Give Informed Consent
The obvious fact that cats can't give informed consent places us in a position of responsibility that a lot of cat keepers don't recognise. How do I know that? Well, it's easy really. In the USA there are about 20 million cats that have been declawed for the benefit of the person and to the detriment of the cat. Clearly millions of cat keepers in America have not taken on the burden of responsibility to protect the rights of their cats.
It is very easy for us to become complacent about the rights of our cats. They are in fact quite vulnerable despite being under our care. We have total power over them.
The concept of informed consent, in relation to medical procedures for a human, means that we are clearly informed about the procedure and then we make a decision whether we should undergo it. The objective is to improve our health and wellbeing.
In respect of medical matters regarding our cat we listen to the veterinarians advice and make a decision. We are the vet's client from the vet's perspective. This is wrong. For the vet the client should be the cat and the cat owner or keeper is the cat's guardian and spokesperson. With that perspective in mind, it is possible to envisage a lot of decisions concerning the health of cats having a different outcome.
For a start there would be no declawing - none whatsoever because the cat would obviously object to it. In the same vein of thought, a cat would not accept the administering of drugs to modify its behavior. Some cats might be considered troublesome with so called behavioral problems when in fact the behavioral problems could well be ours in not accepting a cat's normal but sometimes disruptive behavior.
When administering medical treatment to a cat, both the veterinarian and the cat's owner should place themselves in the shoes of the cat and make a decision accordingly. In short both human parties should protect the cat's rights and give informed consent on behalf of the cat.
A cat has no legally protected rights in a general sense in the USA as far as I am aware other than standard animal cruelty laws. In the UK there is the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which also sets a framework for animal welfare. There appears to be a gap in the law here. A cat is protected against cruelty under criminal law. But a cat is not protected in respect of the need to obtain informed consent before medical procedures are carried out on the cat.
The only way around this is to make it law that veterinarian medical procedures must only be for the promotion of the cat's health and not for the convenience of the person. A vet's oath and guidelines say that this must be the case at all times. But it is flaunted and ignored in the USA hence the need for legislative protection.
From Cats Can't Give Informed Consent to Home Page
It is very easy for us to become complacent about the rights of our cats. They are in fact quite vulnerable despite being under our care. We have total power over them.
The concept of informed consent, in relation to medical procedures for a human, means that we are clearly informed about the procedure and then we make a decision whether we should undergo it. The objective is to improve our health and wellbeing.
In respect of medical matters regarding our cat we listen to the veterinarians advice and make a decision. We are the vet's client from the vet's perspective. This is wrong. For the vet the client should be the cat and the cat owner or keeper is the cat's guardian and spokesperson. With that perspective in mind, it is possible to envisage a lot of decisions concerning the health of cats having a different outcome.
For a start there would be no declawing - none whatsoever because the cat would obviously object to it. In the same vein of thought, a cat would not accept the administering of drugs to modify its behavior. Some cats might be considered troublesome with so called behavioral problems when in fact the behavioral problems could well be ours in not accepting a cat's normal but sometimes disruptive behavior.
When administering medical treatment to a cat, both the veterinarian and the cat's owner should place themselves in the shoes of the cat and make a decision accordingly. In short both human parties should protect the cat's rights and give informed consent on behalf of the cat.
A cat has no legally protected rights in a general sense in the USA as far as I am aware other than standard animal cruelty laws. In the UK there is the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which also sets a framework for animal welfare. There appears to be a gap in the law here. A cat is protected against cruelty under criminal law. But a cat is not protected in respect of the need to obtain informed consent before medical procedures are carried out on the cat.
The only way around this is to make it law that veterinarian medical procedures must only be for the promotion of the cat's health and not for the convenience of the person. A vet's oath and guidelines say that this must be the case at all times. But it is flaunted and ignored in the USA hence the need for legislative protection.
From Cats Can't Give Informed Consent to Home Page
Sunday 15 March 2009
Feline Polycystic Kidney Disease
I'll keep this straightforward and as direct as possible as feline polycystic kidney disease is probably one of the best known and widely documented cat diseases. Lets analyse the language:
So, we can see that cysts form in the kidneys causing the kidneys to malfunction resulting in the cat becoming ill. Here is some detail. It is an inherited disease. It is found in these cat breeds primarily (Persians and derviates particularly) and in fact all cats to varying levels:
As mentioned the disease is inherited. It is caused by a defective autosomal-dominant gene. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (AD-PKD) is the most common genetic disease in cats (src: http://www.bristol.ac.uk). The cysts can normally be detected using ultrasonography. In 2004, the University of California Davis developed a DNA test for PKD. Accordingly, the disease is now detected by a genetic test from a swab taken from the cheek epithelial cells or from a blood sample. This saves a visit to the vet provided the sample is taken properly.
Because the gene has been identified, over time it should be possible to eradicate the genetic mutation from the breeding lines through selective breeding. I have no data on the current success rates. I am surprised in one way and not in another that these figures are not published widely. Is the incidence of feline polycystic kidney disease in, say, Persian cats on the decline because it should be and if not why not? Apparently positive tests for PKD have been found in virtually all the major lines of Persians, hence the very high incidence of feline polycystic kidney disease in Persians.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms? This is the kind of thing people who live with companion cats want to know, because it will inform them of the disease. It is a "late onset" disease showing up later in the life of the cat, typically at 7 years of age (source: http://www.felinepkd.com/). However, one breeder says she lost cats to feline polycystic kidney disease as young as 18 months of age and up to the age of 14. Obviously kidney function is impaired and they ultimately fail. The symptoms of this disease are then the symptoms of kidney malfunction (i.e. when the presence of the cysts reach a stage when they cause renal failure - when 2/3rds of kidney function is lost - src: Susan Little DVM, DABVP (Feline)), which are:
What is Happening?
The kidney's enlarge due to multiple fluid filled cysts. "[the]cysts accumulate fluid, they enlarge, separate entirely from the nephron, compress the neighboring renal parenchyma, and progressively compromise renal function." (Wikpedia verbatim).
Click on the following link if you would like to read about Feline Kidney Disease generally. Clearly this short post is to provide us with sufficient knowledge to take immediate steps to see a veterinarian as soon as the symptoms become apparent. As mentioned, the symptoms are those of kidney failure or the kidneys failing. The underlying cause needs to be identified and it may not be feline polycystic kidney disease.
From Feline Polycystic Kidney Disease to Cat Health Problems
Photo: A Vet's cat - by fotobydave and published:
- Feline = cat
- Poly = meaning more than one or many (Wikipedia)
- Cystic = Having or containing cysts or a cyst (the Free Dictionary)
- Kidney = Either one of a pair of organs that function to maintain proper water and electrolyte balance. They also regulate acid-base concentration and filter metabolic waste from the blood, which are then excreted as urine. (Free Dictionary definition, modified)
- Disease = an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions, associated with specific symptoms and signs (Wikipedia,verbatim - this is allowed).
So, we can see that cysts form in the kidneys causing the kidneys to malfunction resulting in the cat becoming ill. Here is some detail. It is an inherited disease. It is found in these cat breeds primarily (Persians and derviates particularly) and in fact all cats to varying levels:
- Persian (very high incidence - reported at 38% in the USA and 49% in the UK (src: http://www.bristol.ac.uk). This may be changing due to better breeding practices. I am not sure as to what date these figures relate to - see Persian cat health problems
- Himalayans (a long haired Persian either in Ultra type or traditional)
- Exotic Shorthair (a shorthaired Ultra type Persian)
- Selkirk Rex
- Maine Coon - and see Maine Coon cat health
As mentioned the disease is inherited. It is caused by a defective autosomal-dominant gene. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (AD-PKD) is the most common genetic disease in cats (src: http://www.bristol.ac.uk). The cysts can normally be detected using ultrasonography. In 2004, the University of California Davis developed a DNA test for PKD. Accordingly, the disease is now detected by a genetic test from a swab taken from the cheek epithelial cells or from a blood sample. This saves a visit to the vet provided the sample is taken properly.
Because the gene has been identified, over time it should be possible to eradicate the genetic mutation from the breeding lines through selective breeding. I have no data on the current success rates. I am surprised in one way and not in another that these figures are not published widely. Is the incidence of feline polycystic kidney disease in, say, Persian cats on the decline because it should be and if not why not? Apparently positive tests for PKD have been found in virtually all the major lines of Persians, hence the very high incidence of feline polycystic kidney disease in Persians.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms? This is the kind of thing people who live with companion cats want to know, because it will inform them of the disease. It is a "late onset" disease showing up later in the life of the cat, typically at 7 years of age (source: http://www.felinepkd.com/). However, one breeder says she lost cats to feline polycystic kidney disease as young as 18 months of age and up to the age of 14. Obviously kidney function is impaired and they ultimately fail. The symptoms of this disease are then the symptoms of kidney malfunction (i.e. when the presence of the cysts reach a stage when they cause renal failure - when 2/3rds of kidney function is lost - src: Susan Little DVM, DABVP (Feline)), which are:
- depression
- lack of appetite
- excessive thirst
- excessive urination
- weight loss
- vomiting
What is Happening?
The kidney's enlarge due to multiple fluid filled cysts. "[the]cysts accumulate fluid, they enlarge, separate entirely from the nephron, compress the neighboring renal parenchyma, and progressively compromise renal function." (Wikpedia verbatim).
- Nephron = the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. It eliminates wastes from the body and regulates blood volume and blood pressure. It also controls the levels of electrolytes and metabolites, and finally regulates blood pH. (src: Wikipedia modified)
- Renal parenchyma = the functional tissue of the kidney, which includes the nephrons (src: the Free Dictionary)
Click on the following link if you would like to read about Feline Kidney Disease generally. Clearly this short post is to provide us with sufficient knowledge to take immediate steps to see a veterinarian as soon as the symptoms become apparent. As mentioned, the symptoms are those of kidney failure or the kidneys failing. The underlying cause needs to be identified and it may not be feline polycystic kidney disease.
From Feline Polycystic Kidney Disease to Cat Health Problems
Photo: A Vet's cat - by fotobydave and published:
Homemade Flea Control
There is no such thing as homemade flea control. Not really. Except, if we mean vacuuming the carpet. That is part of flea control. That is to vacuum the carpet regularly in the area where our cat (with fleas) sleeps or indeed any other area where he or she sleeps. It might be a cat bed or a blanket or our own bed. All these areas should be hoovered and cleaned regularly but not excessively as part of homemade flea control.
While vacuuming picks up the fleas from the floor (fleas spend part of their life cycle off the animal and on the ground) there are only 2 safe ways to get the nasty little monsters off the cat and that is by flea combing or if there is an infestation a product like Front Line (drops that are placed on the back in between the shoulder blades). I would not use a stray that is sprayed onto the cat's coat. A cat will lick it off and ingest the stuff and the spray will contain some nasty chemical, no doubt.
Manual and laborious flea combing is the safest and cats like it anyway. It is a kind of proactive measure, really. It is sort of homemade too. Another proactive measure if we have lots of cats and a functional rather than "pretty" home might be Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. This is a natural and safe product too. It kills fleas by cutting their exterior skeleton and drying them out!
Some time ago I tried a device that emitted light and had some sort of sticky substance inside it but it didn't work. My cat had caught fleas from me. They were Italian fleas from Rome. I had fed a feral kitten at a restaurant and caught the fleas from her and imported them into England!
Some posts on fleas
While vacuuming picks up the fleas from the floor (fleas spend part of their life cycle off the animal and on the ground) there are only 2 safe ways to get the nasty little monsters off the cat and that is by flea combing or if there is an infestation a product like Front Line (drops that are placed on the back in between the shoulder blades). I would not use a stray that is sprayed onto the cat's coat. A cat will lick it off and ingest the stuff and the spray will contain some nasty chemical, no doubt.
Manual and laborious flea combing is the safest and cats like it anyway. It is a kind of proactive measure, really. It is sort of homemade too. Another proactive measure if we have lots of cats and a functional rather than "pretty" home might be Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. This is a natural and safe product too. It kills fleas by cutting their exterior skeleton and drying them out!
Some time ago I tried a device that emitted light and had some sort of sticky substance inside it but it didn't work. My cat had caught fleas from me. They were Italian fleas from Rome. I had fed a feral kitten at a restaurant and caught the fleas from her and imported them into England!
Some posts on fleas
Wednesday 11 March 2009
More Fat Companion Cats
The reason why there are more fat companion cats these days is because we, as people, have a different perception of what body weight is acceptable and the supply of food is such that it is easier to creep up in body weight (and accept it). I think we can turn to America as the "laboratory" where we can do our research on being overweight and why.
The food supply in America is the greatest in the world, bar none and without any doubt. It is astonishing. The choices and prices are fabulous. This is fantastic but also a problem. As humans we are easily tempted. Food is a source of pleasure as well as sustenance. When there is that much food around at the prices asked, people will tend to eat for pleasure more often and not merely for sustenance. That makes us, over time, a little fatter. We learn to accept that because we don't want to stop that source of pleasure. In accepting it we gradually alter our perception of ourselves. The standard changes. The norm shifts. We lose our bearings on body shape and size and bingo a very fat person in America does not look that odd or noticeable anymore. It is a part of the new norm.
And where humans go the darling companion cat will follow because we are responsible for the companion cat. The cat looks to us for sustenance. If we have a shifted attitude to body shape and weight we do not see anything wrong with an overweight cat. I have mentioned America as the "laboratory" in which to study this phenomenon but it happens in most countries where there is a plentiful supply of food. In the UK for instance a vet recalls an incident of a lovely old lady who came into his surgery with a cat who could not support his own body weight making him immobile and she couldn't see anything odd about that. She probably asked the vet to fix the problem!
Apparently, there are a lot more fat companion cats in the UK than before; about 25-30% of pets are now obese (in 2007 it was 21%). Another reason for obesity in cats is perhaps the food. Dry food contains starch (to make the manufacture of it viable) and this, it is argued, can cause diabetes and overeating. Starch in cat food is unnatural. We should in an ideal world provide best quality homemade cat food but very few do (and I am one who doesn't but I should, I really should, and I am thinking about doing it).
More fat companion cats means more ill cats and the kind of illness more likely to attack the overweight cat are:
More Fat Companion Cats to Cat Facts
More Fat Companion Cats -- Photo by *phototristan and published under creative commons:
The food supply in America is the greatest in the world, bar none and without any doubt. It is astonishing. The choices and prices are fabulous. This is fantastic but also a problem. As humans we are easily tempted. Food is a source of pleasure as well as sustenance. When there is that much food around at the prices asked, people will tend to eat for pleasure more often and not merely for sustenance. That makes us, over time, a little fatter. We learn to accept that because we don't want to stop that source of pleasure. In accepting it we gradually alter our perception of ourselves. The standard changes. The norm shifts. We lose our bearings on body shape and size and bingo a very fat person in America does not look that odd or noticeable anymore. It is a part of the new norm.
And where humans go the darling companion cat will follow because we are responsible for the companion cat. The cat looks to us for sustenance. If we have a shifted attitude to body shape and weight we do not see anything wrong with an overweight cat. I have mentioned America as the "laboratory" in which to study this phenomenon but it happens in most countries where there is a plentiful supply of food. In the UK for instance a vet recalls an incident of a lovely old lady who came into his surgery with a cat who could not support his own body weight making him immobile and she couldn't see anything odd about that. She probably asked the vet to fix the problem!
Apparently, there are a lot more fat companion cats in the UK than before; about 25-30% of pets are now obese (in 2007 it was 21%). Another reason for obesity in cats is perhaps the food. Dry food contains starch (to make the manufacture of it viable) and this, it is argued, can cause diabetes and overeating. Starch in cat food is unnatural. We should in an ideal world provide best quality homemade cat food but very few do (and I am one who doesn't but I should, I really should, and I am thinking about doing it).
More fat companion cats means more ill cats and the kind of illness more likely to attack the overweight cat are:
- Diabetes (in humans being overweight can cause diabetes) - this is due to insulin resistance
- Weakened immune system
- Doubled heart disease risk
- Joint and bone related problems
- Locomotion problems
- Homemade Cat Food
- Diabetic Cat Food
- Low Carbohydrate Cat Food
- Low Magnesium Cat Food
- Your Cat by Dr Hodgkins
- Inactive Cat Food
- Feline Diabetes
More Fat Companion Cats to Cat Facts
More Fat Companion Cats -- Photo by *phototristan and published under creative commons:
Friday 6 March 2009
Cats Get Cancer by Passive Smoking
I know it is stating the obvious but some cats get cancer by passive smoking just like humans. There have been a raft of laws introduced to protect people in the workplace and in public places in the UK and abroad but I am sure that a lot of us don't really think about how it might affect our cats or dogs or any companion animal for that matter. Cats have a similar anatomy to ours at a fundamental level (see cat anatomy) and a study has established a not unexpected link between passive smoking and cancer.
See many links to cats and cancer
In a study between 1993 and 2000, Dr Antony Moore and colleagues at Tufts University in Massachusetts found that cats exposed to cigarette smoke were twice as likely to get cancer. If exposed to passive smoking for 5 years or more the risk of getting cancer was three times more likely than normal. Passive smoking by cats has been found to be associated with lymph gland, nasal, and lung cancers and also allergies plus eye and skin diseases as well as respiratory problems in cats.
This cat had cancer of the ears probably caused by sunlight as he is a white cat. He is a nice boy apparently (I think he is a boy cat - he looks like one). Photo teddybear.crafts aka Mike
Dr Antony Moore made the point that some people might give up for the pet's sake. In a later study involving smokers in Michigan, USA, it was found that the harm done to companion cats by passive smoking would help them to quit smoking:
Lets remind ourselves that in a household what we do affects our cats and it need not just be smoking. Excessive noise or arguments, as an example, is another thing that can hurt our cats. Cats have fantastic hearing and loud noises will sound frightening to them. There are many other examples.
Cats get Cancer by Passive Smoking to Cat Health Problems
Cats get Cancer by Passive Smoking -- Source for second survey: http://www.newstrackindia.com
See many links to cats and cancer
In a study between 1993 and 2000, Dr Antony Moore and colleagues at Tufts University in Massachusetts found that cats exposed to cigarette smoke were twice as likely to get cancer. If exposed to passive smoking for 5 years or more the risk of getting cancer was three times more likely than normal. Passive smoking by cats has been found to be associated with lymph gland, nasal, and lung cancers and also allergies plus eye and skin diseases as well as respiratory problems in cats.
This cat had cancer of the ears probably caused by sunlight as he is a white cat. He is a nice boy apparently (I think he is a boy cat - he looks like one). Photo teddybear.crafts aka Mike
Dr Antony Moore made the point that some people might give up for the pet's sake. In a later study involving smokers in Michigan, USA, it was found that the harm done to companion cats by passive smoking would help them to quit smoking:
- 28.4% of those questioned agreed that they would more committed to stopping knowing that their cats were harmed
- 14% of smokers said they would tell their smoking partners to smoke outside
- For non-smoking partners of partners who smoked, 16% of them declared that they would ask their smoker/partner to quit and 24% said they would tell their partners to smoke outside.
Lets remind ourselves that in a household what we do affects our cats and it need not just be smoking. Excessive noise or arguments, as an example, is another thing that can hurt our cats. Cats have fantastic hearing and loud noises will sound frightening to them. There are many other examples.
Cats get Cancer by Passive Smoking to Cat Health Problems
Cats get Cancer by Passive Smoking -- Source for second survey: http://www.newstrackindia.com
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Cat Blood Bank
A charity concerned with the acquisition and storage of dogs blood for use in operations has turned its attentions to cats to build a cat blood bank. This is how I understand it, anyhow. The charity is based in Scotland and is called Pet Blood Bank UK. The home page states that the charity "provides a national canine blood bank". Canines usually means dogs although the charity has started a drive to build up a feline blood bank as stated.
As is the case for people, blood transfusions are important, even vital sometimes in operations on cats after an accident, typically. One problem is that we are taking blood from an animal, the domestic cat, that is not sure what it happening and is likely to be uncooperative. That might require sedation, which carries health risks. So the intention is to try and train the donor cat to accept the process of giving blood without being drugged.
The first donor seems to be Basil. In the past is seems that the vets have asked the owner of an injured cat if they have another cat companion from which blood can be taken. Clearly a blood bank will put the matter on a proper footing. I had never though about this which shows how short sighted I am. It is pretty obvious when you think about it. I would expect the charity to be pleased to hear from people who on behalf of their cats are willing to donate. The cat should be:
Cat Blood Bank to Cat Health Problems
Photo: y Brit.
As is the case for people, blood transfusions are important, even vital sometimes in operations on cats after an accident, typically. One problem is that we are taking blood from an animal, the domestic cat, that is not sure what it happening and is likely to be uncooperative. That might require sedation, which carries health risks. So the intention is to try and train the donor cat to accept the process of giving blood without being drugged.
The first donor seems to be Basil. In the past is seems that the vets have asked the owner of an injured cat if they have another cat companion from which blood can be taken. Clearly a blood bank will put the matter on a proper footing. I had never though about this which shows how short sighted I am. It is pretty obvious when you think about it. I would expect the charity to be pleased to hear from people who on behalf of their cats are willing to donate. The cat should be:
- between 1 and 7 years of age
- have up to date vaccinations
- and be healthy
- be over 4.5 kg in weight
Cat Blood Bank to Cat Health Problems
Photo: y Brit.
Friday 20 February 2009
Cat Wounds
Cat wounds are best taken care of by first (a) stopping the bleeding (if the wound is bleeding) and (b) preventing infection. Care should be exercised in treating a wounded cat for obvious reasons. Careful and proper restraint may be needed.
Note: once immediate care has taken place a trip to the vet is recommended as wounds if treated correctly and promptly may not become infected.
Cat wound - cat fight - photo by natmeister
Bleeding
There are two types. When an artery bleeds the blood is red and if a major artery it might spurt. When a vein bleeds the blood is dark red and the bleeding oozes. There are two methods to control (stop) bleeding (a) tourniquet (b) pressure dressing.
Tourniquet
This is used for heavy bleeding from an artery, for example. It can be applied to the legs or tail above the wound. It should be released every 30 minutes for 3 minutes to let blood into the limb.
Pressure Dressing
If a gauze is to hand this should be placed over the wound and bandaged firmly but not such that circulation is restricted. If there is no gauze a suitable alternative is the only way forward and it should be held against the wound.
Treating the Wound
Cat wounds are contaminated with dirt and bacteria. Our hands should be clean when treating the wound. The hair should be trimmed back to expose the wound. The wound should be "irrigated" (flushed) with water and the area cleaned. Antibiotic ointment should be applied and a bandage fixed over the wound. Bandaging cats is problematic for the cat keeper as cats don't like bandages. They tend to try, and sometimes succeed, in getting them off. Personally, I would leave bandaging to a vet. Wounds around the head that are infected are best left open in any event, after treatment. Timmy our stray cat scratched his wound (see cat abscess below). He stopped after I applied antibiotics (by pill). A helpful tip is to clip the cat's nails (carefully) to help prevent scratching causing damage to the treated wound.
Older cat wounds that are covered with a scab and perhaps where there is some oozing of puss should be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide diluted 5 parts water to one of the peroxide (use once only). Then apply Betadine solution (one part Betadine to ten parts water). Dry the area and apply an antibiotic ointment. The wound should be left open or bandaged.
Old wounds could will probably be infected requiring veterinary treatment. All cat wounds require a trip to the vet, in fact unless the damage is slight, for safety's sake. Bites from other cats will be heavily contaminated and likely to become infected - see cat abscess.
It would seem sensible to keep a cat first aid kit available, which would no doubt include, bandage, gauze, plaster, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment such as Triple Antibiotic Oitment or Neomycin and Betadine (these particular drugs are USA based, as I understand it).
Source:
Note: once immediate care has taken place a trip to the vet is recommended as wounds if treated correctly and promptly may not become infected.
Cat wound - cat fight - photo by natmeister
Bleeding
There are two types. When an artery bleeds the blood is red and if a major artery it might spurt. When a vein bleeds the blood is dark red and the bleeding oozes. There are two methods to control (stop) bleeding (a) tourniquet (b) pressure dressing.
Tourniquet
This is used for heavy bleeding from an artery, for example. It can be applied to the legs or tail above the wound. It should be released every 30 minutes for 3 minutes to let blood into the limb.
Pressure Dressing
If a gauze is to hand this should be placed over the wound and bandaged firmly but not such that circulation is restricted. If there is no gauze a suitable alternative is the only way forward and it should be held against the wound.
Treating the Wound
Cat wounds are contaminated with dirt and bacteria. Our hands should be clean when treating the wound. The hair should be trimmed back to expose the wound. The wound should be "irrigated" (flushed) with water and the area cleaned. Antibiotic ointment should be applied and a bandage fixed over the wound. Bandaging cats is problematic for the cat keeper as cats don't like bandages. They tend to try, and sometimes succeed, in getting them off. Personally, I would leave bandaging to a vet. Wounds around the head that are infected are best left open in any event, after treatment. Timmy our stray cat scratched his wound (see cat abscess below). He stopped after I applied antibiotics (by pill). A helpful tip is to clip the cat's nails (carefully) to help prevent scratching causing damage to the treated wound.
Older cat wounds that are covered with a scab and perhaps where there is some oozing of puss should be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide diluted 5 parts water to one of the peroxide (use once only). Then apply Betadine solution (one part Betadine to ten parts water). Dry the area and apply an antibiotic ointment. The wound should be left open or bandaged.
Old wounds could will probably be infected requiring veterinary treatment. All cat wounds require a trip to the vet, in fact unless the damage is slight, for safety's sake. Bites from other cats will be heavily contaminated and likely to become infected - see cat abscess.
It would seem sensible to keep a cat first aid kit available, which would no doubt include, bandage, gauze, plaster, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment such as Triple Antibiotic Oitment or Neomycin and Betadine (these particular drugs are USA based, as I understand it).
Source:
- Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
- Personal Experience
Cat Abscess
The cat abscess is more common amongst feral cats. Timmy the stray cat we feed and care for has got into several fights. Feral cats will do this, particularly male cats (see Cat Fights of Male Cats). Fights lead to scratches and tears around the head, shoulders, ears and legs. I knew that Timmy had got into a fight because he has small scratches on his skin in these places. But an inspection did not reveal anything big or troublesome. Then I saw a small scratch on the back of his head and a small patch of hair missing. I thought for a while that this was ringworm as it looked a bit like it and he has given me ringworm (it is a zoonotic disease, a fungal disease in fact - see cat ringworm).
Cat abscess on ear recently treated (drained and medicated) by a vet. This is not my cat as I was too concerned to photograph Timmy at the time, racing around to a vet and being concerned that he wouldn't cooperate as he is a feral cat etc. Photo by appaIoosa. The cat in the picture is called Tabitha who got the damaged ear in a, yes, you guessed it, fight.
Anyway, the next day the area under the skin where the scratch was had become hard and swollen and I knew he had an infection, a cat abscess. I could have done better, though, as an infection from a puncture wound from a cat fight can be prevented if proper care is given with the first few hours. One of the problems with this feral boy cat is that he is just that and he comes and goes. So I cannot act quickly as he is not here. He may also "belong" to someone else. I just don't know.
Well I took him to the vet and he was treated (see the full story of this and update by clicking on the link above or here: Cat Fights). This then is what happens when there is a cat abscess:
A stray cat gets into a fight and gets an abscess from Michael Broad on Vimeo.
I am yet to see Timmy since he went out yesterday. I couldn't keep him in. But see update below.
Update: 6 hours after I wrote the above, Timmy came in. This shows Timmy's wound after going to the vet and one day later. I gave him his antibiotics in his food and washed his wound with salty warm water. He was a good boy and ate well. I was pleased to see him. The cat abscess looks a lot better. It is dry and hard but there is still some puss underneath. I hope it will go with the antibiotics.
Update: Timmy made a full recovery, the antibiotics working efficiently and his abscess disappeared in about a week. His hair grew back in about two months. Timmy still comes around, still eats like a horse and stays a while sometimes. If I moved home I would have to take him with me as he is part of the family; only beforehand I would put a collar on him with a message asking the owner (if he has one) to come forward.
Here is a video about cat abscesses:
For more, generally please see:
Photo published under creative commons license:
Cat abscess on ear recently treated (drained and medicated) by a vet. This is not my cat as I was too concerned to photograph Timmy at the time, racing around to a vet and being concerned that he wouldn't cooperate as he is a feral cat etc. Photo by appaIoosa. The cat in the picture is called Tabitha who got the damaged ear in a, yes, you guessed it, fight.
Anyway, the next day the area under the skin where the scratch was had become hard and swollen and I knew he had an infection, a cat abscess. I could have done better, though, as an infection from a puncture wound from a cat fight can be prevented if proper care is given with the first few hours. One of the problems with this feral boy cat is that he is just that and he comes and goes. So I cannot act quickly as he is not here. He may also "belong" to someone else. I just don't know.
Well I took him to the vet and he was treated (see the full story of this and update by clicking on the link above or here: Cat Fights). This then is what happens when there is a cat abscess:
- it is commonly caused by a cat fight
- the skin is punctured
- puncture wounds allow skin bacteria to get established beneath the epidermis. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin
- a cat abscess is a localized pocket of pus beneath the skin
- the area will be tender and will feel warm and firm (fluid under pressure). It may appear red. On Timmy it didn't as far as I could see
A stray cat gets into a fight and gets an abscess from Michael Broad on Vimeo.
- the vet shaved away the hair around the wound
- drained the puss from the infected area
- administered anti-inflammatory and pain killing drugs
- left the wound open as this allows it to heal faster
- gave me instructions to administer one antibiotic pill daily and to wash the wound area with salt water daily
- Timmy was not fitted with a collar (lamp shade type to stop him scratching). I suppose this was because he is feral. Timmy did scratch it, which concerned me.
I am yet to see Timmy since he went out yesterday. I couldn't keep him in. But see update below.
Update: 6 hours after I wrote the above, Timmy came in. This shows Timmy's wound after going to the vet and one day later. I gave him his antibiotics in his food and washed his wound with salty warm water. He was a good boy and ate well. I was pleased to see him. The cat abscess looks a lot better. It is dry and hard but there is still some puss underneath. I hope it will go with the antibiotics.
Update: Timmy made a full recovery, the antibiotics working efficiently and his abscess disappeared in about a week. His hair grew back in about two months. Timmy still comes around, still eats like a horse and stays a while sometimes. If I moved home I would have to take him with me as he is part of the family; only beforehand I would put a collar on him with a message asking the owner (if he has one) to come forward.
Here is a video about cat abscesses:
For more, generally please see:
Photo published under creative commons license:
Thursday 19 February 2009
Cat Rabies Symptoms
Rabies Sign by bartmaguire
It is probably worth recognizing cat rabies symptoms as rabies does occur in cats in many countries and in the United States, the home of the biggest domestic cat population. America also has the most developed cat fancy, I would say, despite the cat fancy starting in England in the 19th century. In England rabies does not exist, by the way, due to stringent controls over many years. Perhaps the fact that it is an island also helps a lot. I read somewhere that the channel tunnel (connecting England to France) is jeopardizing the rabies free environment of England.
I was prompted to make this post because of news story of a domestic cat in Gainsville, America that caught rabies.
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Two residents of Gainsville were bitten by the domestic cat in question and had to be treated. Treatment (post exposure to rabies) consists of a series of injections and is normally successful, as I understand it. The cat, an outdoor cat, must have come into contact with an infected wild animal. Apparently, there were 43 confirmed cases of rabies, in wild animals, in Hall County in 2008.
The cat appeared to be ill and was being taken the vet by its keepers. The vet put the cat down (euthanized the cat) and tests took place to confirm rabies. Clearly the symptoms of rabies presented as a general illness to the owners. What are cat rabies symptoms? Of course cat rabies is the same as rabies found in any animal, wild or domestic including humans.
Rabies Symptoms
Rabies Symptoms
The incubation period (the time from first infection to signs of the disease) can be short or long. The incubation period can be from a week to a year. The closer the bite to the head of the victim, from the infected animal, the shorter the incubation period. Symptoms start with pain and/or tingling at the site of the wound combined with fever, loss of appetite and headache. There are two ways it can develop:
- Furious Rabies - this is the form that took hold of the cat mentioned above. Symptoms in order of arrival: anxiety, jumpiness, disorientation, stiff neck, seizures (fits), convulsions, dilated pupils, sensitivity to sound, light and temperature. Within a week there a fear of swallowing, attempts to drink cause spasms of the throat and diaphragm (fear of water - hydrophobia). Even the sight and sound of water brings on these symptoms. Next: delirium, hallucinations and delusions develop. This is when the biting takes place. These attacks of biting occur in between non-delusional states but there is still acute anxiety and mental distress.
- Dumb Rabies - Less common. The spinal cord is affected causing muscle paralysis, which in turn leads to lung and heart failure and death usually about one week after the severe cat rabies symptoms show.
There is an argument to vaccinate against rabies (it is obligatory in the US but not in the UK). It depends on where you are. However there is a change in thought about vaccinations generally as cat vaccinations can cause severe health problems of their own. Vaccinating our cat should be considered as a medical procedure not a routine and automatic process. Here are some Cat Vaccination Recommendations.
Saturday 14 February 2009
What is Melamine?
What is melamine? - the answer concerns people who keep cats and many millions of other concerned people. The story is shocking. Melamine is an industrial chemical that is used in the manufacture of a variety of products such as "melawares" (a kind of plastic plate etc. to me and you) and kitchen cabinets etc. These are a far cry from food! It is simply not meant to be eaten. Despite that, there seemed to have been a long standing culture of adding it to livestock feed in China to boost perceived protein levels. I can remember many years ago people talking about melamine in relation to kitchens as it creates a hard washable surface.
Melawares
To quote Wikipedia (which I am allowed to do as their work is released for publication under creative commons):
Melamine is combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a very durable thermosetting plastic used in Formica, and melamine foam, a polymeric cleaning product. The end products include countertops, dry erase boards, fabrics, glues, housewares and flame retardants.
FDA scientists explained that when melamine and cyanuric acid are absorbed into the bloodstream, they concentrate and interact in the urine-filled renal microtubules, then crystallize and form large numbers of round, yellow crystals, which in turn block and damage the renal cells that line the tubes, causing the kidneys to malfunction.
What is Melamine? -- Other names for melamine:
2,4,6-Triamino-s-triazine
Cyanurotriamide
Cyanurotriamine
Cyanuramide
Chemical composition
In China, it was put into baby milk, cat and pet food (exported to USA as gluten filler) to increase profit margins. Melamine is toxic in doses that are on a par with table salt (src: Wikipedia). It caused great illness (and death in some cases) in children and pet companion animals (many thousands). Melamine gives the impression of higher levels of protein and it is alleged to have been added to fool government protein content tests.
Ingestion of melamine can lead to bladder and/or kidney stones and bladder cancer. Please see Melamine in Cat Food for more on this.
What is Melamine? to Cat Anatomy
Melawares
To quote Wikipedia (which I am allowed to do as their work is released for publication under creative commons):
Melamine is combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a very durable thermosetting plastic used in Formica, and melamine foam, a polymeric cleaning product. The end products include countertops, dry erase boards, fabrics, glues, housewares and flame retardants.
FDA scientists explained that when melamine and cyanuric acid are absorbed into the bloodstream, they concentrate and interact in the urine-filled renal microtubules, then crystallize and form large numbers of round, yellow crystals, which in turn block and damage the renal cells that line the tubes, causing the kidneys to malfunction.
What is Melamine? -- Other names for melamine:
2,4,6-Triamino-s-triazine
Cyanurotriamide
Cyanurotriamine
Cyanuramide
Chemical composition
In China, it was put into baby milk, cat and pet food (exported to USA as gluten filler) to increase profit margins. Melamine is toxic in doses that are on a par with table salt (src: Wikipedia). It caused great illness (and death in some cases) in children and pet companion animals (many thousands). Melamine gives the impression of higher levels of protein and it is alleged to have been added to fool government protein content tests.
Ingestion of melamine can lead to bladder and/or kidney stones and bladder cancer. Please see Melamine in Cat Food for more on this.
What is Melamine? to Cat Anatomy
Friday 13 February 2009
Cat Pancreas
The cat pancreas has two main functions. The first function is to produce digestive enzymes. If the pancreas is not function properly and these enzymes are not being produced malabsorption syndrome could be the consequence. The second function is to make insulin. Insulin is used in the cat's body for the metabolism of sugars. If the production of insulin is inadequate it causes sugar diabetes in the cat.
Insulin is secreted into the blood circulating in the body. The insulin acts on the cells membranes, which enables the cells to absorb sugars. The sugars undergo a metabolic process resulting in the production of energy. Without this process the sugar is not metabolized and it remains in the blood. This causes hypoglycemia. The excess sugar is urinated causing increased urination which in turn leads to thirst and more drinking.
Some terms:
Enzyme:
Human Enzyme -published under Wikimedia Commons license.
And enzyme is an organic molecule, the purpose of which is to speed up chemical reactions in the body. An important function of enzymes is in the digestive system of cats and other animals. Some enzymes breach down large molecules to smaller ones and some convert sugars to a different type of sugar and in both cases the food is better absorbed through the wall of the cat's gut.
Metabolism:
Metabolism describes the chemical reactions that occur in the body of all animals that allow the animal to live.
See these post for lots more, please:
From Cat Pancreas to Cat Health Problems
Insulin is secreted into the blood circulating in the body. The insulin acts on the cells membranes, which enables the cells to absorb sugars. The sugars undergo a metabolic process resulting in the production of energy. Without this process the sugar is not metabolized and it remains in the blood. This causes hypoglycemia. The excess sugar is urinated causing increased urination which in turn leads to thirst and more drinking.
Some terms:
Enzyme:
Human Enzyme -published under Wikimedia Commons license.
And enzyme is an organic molecule, the purpose of which is to speed up chemical reactions in the body. An important function of enzymes is in the digestive system of cats and other animals. Some enzymes breach down large molecules to smaller ones and some convert sugars to a different type of sugar and in both cases the food is better absorbed through the wall of the cat's gut.
Metabolism:
Metabolism describes the chemical reactions that occur in the body of all animals that allow the animal to live.
See these post for lots more, please:
- Symptoms of Feline Diabetes
- Feline Pancreatitis
- Feline Diabetes
- The Most Common Cat Illnesses
- Is my cat's diet wrong?
- Diabetic Cat Food
- Grain Free Cat Food
- Homemade Cat Food
From Cat Pancreas to Cat Health Problems
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Feline Hemophilia B
Feline Hemophilia B is a hereditary disease concerning clotting factor IX. It has been reported in British Shorthair cats. The deficiency results in excessive bleeding after injury or surgery. A platelet plug forms ordinarily but a fibrin clot does not form to replace the platelet plug which dissipates.
The disease is recessive X-chromosome linked, which means heterozygous females do not have symptoms but transmit to male offspring. The treatment is a blood transfusion or plasma until the bleeding stops. Breeders will test for Factor IX in the cats to eliminate cats carrying the defect.
Hemophilia A has been seen in three unrelated cats (non-purebred).
Feline Hemophilia B to Cat Illness Symptoms
Source:
The disease is recessive X-chromosome linked, which means heterozygous females do not have symptoms but transmit to male offspring. The treatment is a blood transfusion or plasma until the bleeding stops. Breeders will test for Factor IX in the cats to eliminate cats carrying the defect.
Hemophilia A has been seen in three unrelated cats (non-purebred).
Feline Hemophilia B to Cat Illness Symptoms
Source:
- Medical, Genetic & Behavioral Aspects of Purebred Cats
- PubMed
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Feline Epibulbar Dermoids
Feline epibulbar dermoids is a congenital ( existing at or before birth usually through heredity, as a disorder) embryological defect. The disease concerns the cornea, conjunctiva, nictitating membrane and eyelids. The disease can affect one or all of these. A dermoid cyst is a cystic teratoma. A teratoma is a kind of tumor (neoplasm). Neoplasia is the abnormal proliferation of cells, resulting in a structure known as a neoplasm. Finally epibulbar means of or being on the eyeball. OK, Feline epibulbar dermoids is a disease that results in an abnormal growth of cells of the eyeball that is a consequence of a genetic defect.
The dermoid is made up of fibrous tissue that is covered by fat and skin which may contain hair follicles. The hair follicles can cause irritation to the cornea of the eye causing corneal ulceration.
Sources:
The dermoid is made up of fibrous tissue that is covered by fat and skin which may contain hair follicles. The hair follicles can cause irritation to the cornea of the eye causing corneal ulceration.
Sources:
- Wikipedia
- The Free Dictionary
- IngentacConnect
Monday 2 February 2009
Fading Kitten Syndrome
Fading kitten syndrome is similar to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SID). Cat breeders will, I expect, be familiar with it. On the 14th day of life, at the time when kittens open their eyes the chance of a kitten dying unexpectedly and suddenly starts to fade. The first 2 weeks of life for a kitten present the gravest risks in survival. In this brief window of life diseases acquired while in the mother's womb, and injuries sustained during birth can claim the vulnerable kitten.
His name was Cheddar. He suffered from fading kitten syndrome. Photo by Many Cats 4 Me
I would seem, however, that some deaths during this period are due to human error, for example: lack of proper heating in the kitten quarters, not vaccinating the mother and a failure to provide high quality food to the mother. Amongst the litter, the kitten who fails to thrive and is immature developmentally is disadvantaged as this kitten lacks weight, fat, muscle and can be 25% smaller than his or her siblings. This can lead to an inability to keep warm or breath properly.
Small kittens can be crowded out by siblings. Kittens who are underweight have often failed to obtain proper nourishment in the womb. If the litter generally is underweight then the indication is an undernourished mother but if one or two kittens are underweight this, according to Drs Carlson and Giffin, could be due to the placenta failing to provide sufficient nourishment.
Kittens that are likely to suffer fading kitten syndrome should be raised by hand. Some breeders might watch and wait before bonding with new kittens in case one fades. A fading kitten may appear within 24 hours to 9 days after birth. The symptoms include a loss of interest in nursing, the kitten remaining small. The kitten gets cold, dehydrates and her/his blood circulation starts to fail. This causes a drop in internal body temperature, which drops to below 94 degrees F. The kitten eventually becomes inactive, lies on her side, coma and death follow. This would be heartbreaking to a cat breeder hence keeping a distance emotionally for the first 14 days.
Deaths usually occur during the first 72 hours. If the mother is sick herself with, for example, Feline Leukemia, FIP (and see Feline Infectious Peritonitis Prevention) or Feline Panleukopenia then these diseases may be transmitted to the kittens who will be small and weak when born and die within a few days. Drs Carlson and Giffin say that mother's inadequate milk is the most common reason for the death of kittens. In turn the most common cause of inadequate milk is inadequate diet and that comes down to us.
Of course early deaths are not always due to fading kitten syndrome but any number of reasons such as neglect by the mother, disease, congenital abnormalities etc.
Kittens for Dummies
Fading Kitten Syndrome to Cat Health Problems
Photo published under creative commons license:
Source:
His name was Cheddar. He suffered from fading kitten syndrome. Photo by Many Cats 4 Me
I would seem, however, that some deaths during this period are due to human error, for example: lack of proper heating in the kitten quarters, not vaccinating the mother and a failure to provide high quality food to the mother. Amongst the litter, the kitten who fails to thrive and is immature developmentally is disadvantaged as this kitten lacks weight, fat, muscle and can be 25% smaller than his or her siblings. This can lead to an inability to keep warm or breath properly.
Small kittens can be crowded out by siblings. Kittens who are underweight have often failed to obtain proper nourishment in the womb. If the litter generally is underweight then the indication is an undernourished mother but if one or two kittens are underweight this, according to Drs Carlson and Giffin, could be due to the placenta failing to provide sufficient nourishment.
Kittens that are likely to suffer fading kitten syndrome should be raised by hand. Some breeders might watch and wait before bonding with new kittens in case one fades. A fading kitten may appear within 24 hours to 9 days after birth. The symptoms include a loss of interest in nursing, the kitten remaining small. The kitten gets cold, dehydrates and her/his blood circulation starts to fail. This causes a drop in internal body temperature, which drops to below 94 degrees F. The kitten eventually becomes inactive, lies on her side, coma and death follow. This would be heartbreaking to a cat breeder hence keeping a distance emotionally for the first 14 days.
Deaths usually occur during the first 72 hours. If the mother is sick herself with, for example, Feline Leukemia, FIP (and see Feline Infectious Peritonitis Prevention) or Feline Panleukopenia then these diseases may be transmitted to the kittens who will be small and weak when born and die within a few days. Drs Carlson and Giffin say that mother's inadequate milk is the most common reason for the death of kittens. In turn the most common cause of inadequate milk is inadequate diet and that comes down to us.
Of course early deaths are not always due to fading kitten syndrome but any number of reasons such as neglect by the mother, disease, congenital abnormalities etc.
Kittens for Dummies
Fading Kitten Syndrome to Cat Health Problems
Photo published under creative commons license:
Source:
- Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
- Proven Marketing Tips for the Successful Cat Breeder
Thursday 29 January 2009
Kitten Health
Kitten health is particularly important to both the cat breeder and the buyer (and most importantly to the kitten her/himself and the mother cat). In this post I look at the health of a kitten in relation to what to look for in a healthy kitten.
This is Nellie Murmurs, a Ragdoll cat being checked over by vet Willemijn. The cat breeder is Tom Poes. He takes good photographs too - photo by Tom Poes
_____________________________________________
Nose: cool, damp, no nasal discharge.
Eyes: Bright, no prominent third eyelid, eyes straight ahead (no cross eyes - Siamese predisposed), blue iris and white coated cats can be congenitally deaf (see deaf cat).
Ears: Clean and smell sweet (have a sniff). Watch for dark brown waxy discharge (ear mites but these can be treated successfully).
Stomach: Not swollen (swollen might mean poor nutrition and/or worms).
Skin: Clean skin around anus and vulva. Redness or a discharge may indicate an infection, worms, diarrhea (a symptom of a health problem).
Coat: No mats, clean, fluffy, glossy etc (common sense). No bare areas (indicating possible mange, ringworm - see hair loss in cats. Check for fleas (? -see parasite pictures and cat flea life cycle) - I would. Use a fine flea comb around the neck and base of tail - see any dark granular bits or even a flea?
Overall soundness: An important part of kitten health. No obvious abnormalities in legs shape, toes. Kitten should move normally and show usual athleticism. No odd gaits, stumbles, swaying or uncoordinated movements.
Weight: At 10 weeks about 2 lbs. No signs of being underweight.
Personality: An important part of kitten health (mental health). Kitten should stay with siblings and mother until 8-10 weeks (ask). Well socialized. Not nervous. Observe mother. If she is well balanced kitten should be too (inherited good personality). Kitten seeks attention, is relaxed when picked up and purrs when stroked, plays enthusiastically, recovers quickly from a load startling noise, self confident.
Inherited diseases: For Purebred cats I'd check this out first: Genetic Diseases in Purebred Cats. Some breeds are more predisposed to genetically inherited diseases than others.
Vaccination record: Get one plus a diet sheet.
Contract: For purebred cats. Read this before buying. Comply with it. It may include clause for buyer to spay/neuter. Should include terms for breeder to provide certificates of pedigree and/or these are handed over (check validity?). I wouldn't pay until I had the certificates and that I was satisfied that they were genuine (that is just me probably).
Not quite your standard kitten health check but we can see the basic checks as described here being done, plus a check on the heart (stethoscope). The kitten is an Ocelot (wild cat). These are sometimes tamed as pets (see Ocelot kitten).
Kitten Health - Post buying: Best to follow the diet sheet as a change in diet can be troublesome (humans have similar problems, remember the last holiday you went on!?). Best to groom daily, which also creates a routine and is a great way to please your kitten and bond with her (see grooming your cat). It may also be wise to get her used to having her nails trimmed (with extreme care). I will presume that the kitten will not be declawed, which I consider completely unacceptable and essentially cruel (see Helmi Flick on declawing cats). Routine and daily handling will reinforce bonding and socialization and provide an opportunity to monitor kitten health as described above. Check teeth are growing properly. Litter training starts or continues. Cats should use the litter with little training or encouragement.
Kitten Health to Cat Health Problems
Kitten Health - Photo: published under creative commons license: - note: I took the liberty of neutralising the color. I hope the photographer approves. If not please leave a comment.
Safe way to trim claws.
This is Nellie Murmurs, a Ragdoll cat being checked over by vet Willemijn. The cat breeder is Tom Poes. He takes good photographs too - photo by Tom Poes
_____________________________________________
Nose: cool, damp, no nasal discharge.
Eyes: Bright, no prominent third eyelid, eyes straight ahead (no cross eyes - Siamese predisposed), blue iris and white coated cats can be congenitally deaf (see deaf cat).
Ears: Clean and smell sweet (have a sniff). Watch for dark brown waxy discharge (ear mites but these can be treated successfully).
Stomach: Not swollen (swollen might mean poor nutrition and/or worms).
Skin: Clean skin around anus and vulva. Redness or a discharge may indicate an infection, worms, diarrhea (a symptom of a health problem).
Coat: No mats, clean, fluffy, glossy etc (common sense). No bare areas (indicating possible mange, ringworm - see hair loss in cats. Check for fleas (? -see parasite pictures and cat flea life cycle) - I would. Use a fine flea comb around the neck and base of tail - see any dark granular bits or even a flea?
Overall soundness: An important part of kitten health. No obvious abnormalities in legs shape, toes. Kitten should move normally and show usual athleticism. No odd gaits, stumbles, swaying or uncoordinated movements.
Weight: At 10 weeks about 2 lbs. No signs of being underweight.
Personality: An important part of kitten health (mental health). Kitten should stay with siblings and mother until 8-10 weeks (ask). Well socialized. Not nervous. Observe mother. If she is well balanced kitten should be too (inherited good personality). Kitten seeks attention, is relaxed when picked up and purrs when stroked, plays enthusiastically, recovers quickly from a load startling noise, self confident.
Inherited diseases: For Purebred cats I'd check this out first: Genetic Diseases in Purebred Cats. Some breeds are more predisposed to genetically inherited diseases than others.
Vaccination record: Get one plus a diet sheet.
Contract: For purebred cats. Read this before buying. Comply with it. It may include clause for buyer to spay/neuter. Should include terms for breeder to provide certificates of pedigree and/or these are handed over (check validity?). I wouldn't pay until I had the certificates and that I was satisfied that they were genuine (that is just me probably).
Not quite your standard kitten health check but we can see the basic checks as described here being done, plus a check on the heart (stethoscope). The kitten is an Ocelot (wild cat). These are sometimes tamed as pets (see Ocelot kitten).
Kitten Health - Post buying: Best to follow the diet sheet as a change in diet can be troublesome (humans have similar problems, remember the last holiday you went on!?). Best to groom daily, which also creates a routine and is a great way to please your kitten and bond with her (see grooming your cat). It may also be wise to get her used to having her nails trimmed (with extreme care). I will presume that the kitten will not be declawed, which I consider completely unacceptable and essentially cruel (see Helmi Flick on declawing cats). Routine and daily handling will reinforce bonding and socialization and provide an opportunity to monitor kitten health as described above. Check teeth are growing properly. Litter training starts or continues. Cats should use the litter with little training or encouragement.
Kitten Health to Cat Health Problems
Kitten Health - Photo: published under creative commons license: - note: I took the liberty of neutralising the color. I hope the photographer approves. If not please leave a comment.
Safe way to trim claws.
Feline Chronic Dehydration
Feline chronic dehydration can be due to prolonged vomiting, prolonged diarrhea. Or during illness it may be due to fever and not drinking enough. Dehydration involves the loss of water and electrolytes, which are minerals (e.g. sodium, potassium etc.).
The skin loses its elasticity. For example, the skin at the back of the neck will not spring back into place but stay where it is, if pulled gently. The gums will not look wet (glisten) but be dry. Treatment is, as expected, rehydration by administering fluids and the prevention of fluid loss. Treatment should be prompt (always advisable in fact).
For mild dehydration simply drinking more will suffice. If the cat won't drink, an electrolyte solution by bottle (baby bottle) or with a syringe can be given (injected gently into the mouth between the cheek pouch and the back teeth).
Kitten being fed wet food by syringe - photo by Tom Poes - the cat is a Ragdoll.
Pedialyte Oral Electrolyte Maintenance Solution, Unflavored, Case of 8 Bottles- each 1 qt (1.8 fl oz) - this is suitable for cats say Dr Carlson and Giffin as a way of treating feline chronic dehydration. It is a liquid manufactured for children. The dosage should be 2-4 mls per lb per hour but a vet's advice is recommended on dosage and treatment.
Feline Chronic Dehydration to Cat Health Problems
Source: Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - Picture published under creative commons:
The skin loses its elasticity. For example, the skin at the back of the neck will not spring back into place but stay where it is, if pulled gently. The gums will not look wet (glisten) but be dry. Treatment is, as expected, rehydration by administering fluids and the prevention of fluid loss. Treatment should be prompt (always advisable in fact).
For mild dehydration simply drinking more will suffice. If the cat won't drink, an electrolyte solution by bottle (baby bottle) or with a syringe can be given (injected gently into the mouth between the cheek pouch and the back teeth).
Kitten being fed wet food by syringe - photo by Tom Poes - the cat is a Ragdoll.
Pedialyte Oral Electrolyte Maintenance Solution, Unflavored, Case of 8 Bottles- each 1 qt (1.8 fl oz) - this is suitable for cats say Dr Carlson and Giffin as a way of treating feline chronic dehydration. It is a liquid manufactured for children. The dosage should be 2-4 mls per lb per hour but a vet's advice is recommended on dosage and treatment.
Feline Chronic Dehydration to Cat Health Problems
Source: Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook - Picture published under creative commons:
Feline Hypothermia Treatment
In the very cold weather there may be a time when feline hypothermia treatment needs to be given at home as an emergency. Prolonged exposure to cold can force a cat's body temperature down to levels that cause illness and worse. Getting wet is the most likely cause. Sometimes I worry about a stray cat that I call Timmy. He comes in for warmth, food and TLC, which he gets but he spends the cold nights outside and he comes in sopping wet sometimes.
Feline Hypothermia can also occur after an operation (after a long anesthetic). The symptoms are listlessness preceded by violent shivering. There follows collapse and coma. The rectal temperature is below 97 degrees F.
Drs Carslon and Giffin recommend the following Feline Hypothermia treatment:
-- Wrap cat in blanket and bring her into the house
-- If the cat is wet a warm bath is indicated. The skin should be dried thoroughly afterward with towels. Hair driers are unsafe as they can cause burns.
-- Apply warm water packs (the temperature of baby milk - warm to touch) to the armpits, chest and abdomen. Fresh packs should be used until the rectal temperature reaches 100 degrees F.
-- Give honey, glucose, sugared water (4 teaspoons to one pint of water).
Feline Hypothermia Treatment to Cat Health Problems
Feline Hypothermia can also occur after an operation (after a long anesthetic). The symptoms are listlessness preceded by violent shivering. There follows collapse and coma. The rectal temperature is below 97 degrees F.
Drs Carslon and Giffin recommend the following Feline Hypothermia treatment:
-- Wrap cat in blanket and bring her into the house
-- If the cat is wet a warm bath is indicated. The skin should be dried thoroughly afterward with towels. Hair driers are unsafe as they can cause burns.
-- Apply warm water packs (the temperature of baby milk - warm to touch) to the armpits, chest and abdomen. Fresh packs should be used until the rectal temperature reaches 100 degrees F.
-- Give honey, glucose, sugared water (4 teaspoons to one pint of water).
Feline Hypothermia Treatment to Cat Health Problems
Wednesday 28 January 2009
Stop Other Cats Using My Cats Cat Flap
How to stop other cats using my cat's cat flap? The fact that this is very common is an indication of both cat and human behavior. A well loved well fed cat living with a human would be disinclined to wander into another person's home (but I guess it still might happen). However, a poorly cared for, neglected and hungry cat or a plain stray or feral cat is likely to use our cat flap to find food and even some warmth. The root cause of the problem is mainly ours.
Poppy with a magnetic collar that has picked up a piece of metal, a Vaseline bottle top! Photo by Thorin
There are only three practical possible solutions, the last of which is the best:
-- find the person who keeps the cat who is coming in and see if they can look after the cat better. This is unlikely to work even if you can find the owner as people don't like to be told how to do things.
-- Remove the cat flap and set up a routine in which your cat tells you when she wants to go out and come in. Mine does this. She sits by the door when she wants to go out and knocks on the door when she wants to come in. It works fine. The only trouble is there is a cat flap which she refuses to use unless she has to as she is old and overweight!
-- Install a Petsafe Cat Flap Magnetic White 4Way Lockthat is operated by a magnet in a collar on your cat. This sounds good. The downsides are cost, training you cat to be comfortable with a large collar and the dangers of collars (they can get caught in branches and strangle a cat although this is relatively rare I would have thought). This should stop other cats using My cats cat flap.
Stop Other Cats Using My Cats Cat flap to Home Page
Photo published under creative commons:
Poppy with a magnetic collar that has picked up a piece of metal, a Vaseline bottle top! Photo by Thorin
There are only three practical possible solutions, the last of which is the best:
-- find the person who keeps the cat who is coming in and see if they can look after the cat better. This is unlikely to work even if you can find the owner as people don't like to be told how to do things.
-- Remove the cat flap and set up a routine in which your cat tells you when she wants to go out and come in. Mine does this. She sits by the door when she wants to go out and knocks on the door when she wants to come in. It works fine. The only trouble is there is a cat flap which she refuses to use unless she has to as she is old and overweight!
-- Install a Petsafe Cat Flap Magnetic White 4Way Lockthat is operated by a magnet in a collar on your cat. This sounds good. The downsides are cost, training you cat to be comfortable with a large collar and the dangers of collars (they can get caught in branches and strangle a cat although this is relatively rare I would have thought). This should stop other cats using My cats cat flap.
Stop Other Cats Using My Cats Cat flap to Home Page
Photo published under creative commons:
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