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:

• Wikipedia
• The Free Dictionary
• IngentacConnect

From Feline Epibulbar Dermoids to Cat Health Problems

Cat Quotes

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Cat Quotes

Sorry for the inconvenience. The new page is bigger and better though...Michael

Animal Bill of Rights

Is there is such a thing as an animal bill of rights? Well there is a Universal Declaration on Animal Rights. A Bill of Rights should be a document that prepares the way for a law on animal rights. In the UK it is the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42), which is largely taken from European law.

I don't know of a bill on animal rights but if there was such a bill it may be based on the Universal Declaration referred to above. There is probably no need for one to be honest because it is more direct to simply enact animal welfare law and there are some good examples of animal welfare law in the world. See for example Swedish law and UK law.

Animal Bill of Rights to Cat and the Law.

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

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Source:

• Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
• Proven Marketing Tips for the Successful Cat Breeder

Cat Lovers Should Support HSUS

GuangZhou city（廣州）, GuangDong, China - photo by *LJ*. GuangZhou is the world capital for cat cruelty. These cats are dead. They were doomed.

Cat lovers should support HSUS because what they are proposing in their CHANGE AGENDA FOR ANIMALS can only benefit cats and as far as I can see it will not have a negative impact on good and proper cat breeders or cat keepers (people who keep or "own" cats). Yes, the proposals affect bad cat breeders (and dog breeders) but that helps the careful and caring ones. There is a proposal that "all dog and cat breeders to comply with AWA requirements". AWA stands for Animal Welfare Act. Why should cat breeders object to the legislation set out in an act of government. Lets remind ourselves that government should reflect the peoples' opinions. How can people who care about cats object to these carefully prepared proposals presented to the new administration under President Obama?

For example (and this is one of many examples), the HSUS proposals ask that the government "encourage more humane practices in China, where dogs and cats are rounded up and brutally killed for their meat and fur" (apologies for quoting that but I hope HSUS accept that - see cat meat name and shame). Cats are shipped to GuangZhou city or taken from the streets of the city to be caged, brutally half killed (to preserve freshness) and cooked. Yes, for some of us this is sick for the peope who don't find that sick, you are sick. How can anyone be against that, never mind people who care about cats? There are many other examples where HSUS makes correct and carefully considered decisions. Yet I read on the Internet people talking about the proposals eroding the "property rights" of people. Come on. Please get real. There should be no infringement of the rights of humans in these proposals. If someone or, more particularly, some business, loses some form of rights or privileges it will be because they are abusing the natural rights of animals in contradiction of a proper and natural order in the world. Yes, businesses that abuse animals will object.

An example is Class B Dealers who round up and acquire pet animals from various sources to sell for animal testing. How base is that? The animals concerned suffer at both ends of that process. No one, except the businesses, should object and the businesses should stop this trade in any event. Sure, where business is affected negatively there is a likelihood of even more unemployment. This will no doubt be a major factor in deciding if the HSUS proposals should be supported by the government. But eventually these changes will be implemented as it is part of the gradual evolution, not of cats, but of the government of the human race. Cat lovers should support HSUS now and businesses who turn a profit on the back of vulnerable animals should adapt to a new order.

Cat Lovers Should Support HSUS to Cats and the Law

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